London Southend airport in Southend on Sea, England. (John Keeble/Getty Images) Only nine commercial flights a week are leaving London Southend Airport, as the global coronavirus pandemic continues to crush the travel industry. Stobart Group (STOB.L), which owns London Southend, said on Monday that Wizz Air and Loganair are the only carriers still operating flights out of the airport and even they are running reduced schedules. Wizz Air is flying only three times a week to Bucharest, while Loganair is flying three times a week to both Derry and Aberdeen. The reduced schedule is in stark contrast to the airports usual operations. London Southend typically offers flights to 40 destinations and last year had an average of 5,500 passengers departing from the airport each day. Many airlines have ceased operations since the coronavirus pandemic swept the world. At London Southend, 20 aircrafts are currently grounded, Stobart Group said. London Southend has just a skeleton airport staff, Stobart Group said. The company, which also has an energy division, has furloughed around 750 staff under the governments job retention scheme. The slump in flights comes as the COVID-19 pandemic brings the global travel industry to its knees. Separately on Monday, Norwegian Air said passenger numbers slumped by 61% in March and the founder of easyJet warned his company could run out of money by August. Around 1.7bn people are estimated to be under government-ordered lockdown around the world, according to the Guardian. Demand for air travel was already slumping prior to widespread lockdowns. The challenges presented by the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus have been significant, Stobart Group chief executive Warwick Brady said in a statement. However, I am immensely proud and humbled by the response of our people to this global crisis. Stobart Groups board and senior leadership have agreed to take 20% pay cuts due to the coronavirus crisis and all bonuses have been delayed until at least August. The company is also cutting spending and has utilised all measures made available by government to help conserve cash. While commercial flights have been hit hard, Stobart Group said logistics flights from London Southend were operating as normal. The agency is likely to recommend that people who can consistently wear N95 or KN95 masks, rather than cloth masks, should do so. Coming Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. ET The family of a dissident who is serving a prison term for demanding the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's resignation said on Sunday he has been infected with coronavirus in prison. In a tweet on Sunday the brother of Mohammad-Hossein Sepehri said he has caught the virus and is held in solitary confinement with little access to medical care. In a recorded phone call which is attached to the tweet, Sepehri recounts his situation in prison. Sepehri and thirteen other political and civil rights activists wrote an open letter in June 2019, calling on Khamenei to step down and allow for fundamental changes in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic in view of his ever-expanding absolute power and authority. "Herald a new national movement," they encouraged the Iranian people in their letter, "by demanding Khamenei's resignation". Several members of the group which included Mohammad Maleki, the former chancellor of Tehran University, Mohammad Nourizad, a documentary film director, Hashem Khastar, an outspoken defender of teachers' rights and Ms. Gohar Eshqi (Eshghi) whose young son was killed under torture behind bars, were consequently arrested and put on trial for insulting the Supreme Leader and acting against national security. In February a court in Mashhad sentenced eight of the signatories of the letter to Khamenei, including Sepehri, to a total of 72 years in prison. Despite a deadly coronavirus epidemic, Iranian Judiciary and security forces have continued the persecution of political dissidents, activists and critics with great zeal. Since the outbreak in February a number of individuals with no political affiliations including a whistle-blower nurse have also been detained by security forces on charges of "spreading rumors" about the coronavirus situation in several cities. Fearing uncontrollable outbreak of COVID-19 in prisons Iran's judiciary has allowed tens of thousands of prisoners to go on furlough. However, the permission to go on furlough has obstinately been denied to many political prisoners and prisoners of conscience even despite their poor health. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the scientific and medical face of the national battle against the coronavirus, gave a green light of approval Monday to Gov. Pete Ricketts' decision not to order a statewide shelter-at-home directive in Nebraska. "Even though they have not given a strict stay-at-home order, what they are doing is really functionally equivalent to that," Fauci said during a presidential coronavirus briefing at the White House after speaking with Ricketts and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds by phone earlier in the day. Fauci said he had "a really good conversation" with the two governors. Nebraska and Iowa are among only a handful of states without stay-at-home orders in place. "They are really doing a very good job," he said. "They have a lot of things in place that are totally compatible with what everyone else is doing," Fauci said. The phone conversation was arranged by the White House. Earlier in the day, Ricketts had tweeted that Fauci "supports our plans and says our states are 'on the same page' with the direction he's giving." "We briefed him on our COVID-19 social distancing rules," Ricketts said. Fauci is director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and has been a strong voice in favor of shelter-at-home directives. During his afternoon coronavirus news briefing, Ricketts said Fauci characterized Nebraska's measures to limit social interaction as "what we have been preaching as well." Ricketts has directed that no more than 10 people gather together and that people keep a 6-foot distance from one another while allowing restaurants and bars to provide only takeout, drive-thru and delivery service. That directive began in Omaha, moved into other areas as evidence of the virus' spread, and it has now been applied statewide. Answering a direct question at his briefing, the governor said that Fauci "did not recommend that we go to shelter-in-place." Ricketts spoke Monday from a lectern that carried a sign reading: "Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected." That's not a directive, the governor said, but "a slogan we want to promote." Following the briefing, Ricketts later tweeted: "We are asking Nebraskans to further limit social interactions. Everyone should work, go home and shop once a week." Turning to the recent outbreak of identified coronavirus cases in Grand Island, Ricketts said Nebraska National Guard personnel are being dispatched to the city to assist in increased testing. Grand Island is one of a number of cities in Nebraska where meatpacking plants rely on a largely immigrant workforce that labors virtually shoulder-to-shoulder on a swift-moving production line. "We want to make sure companies are taking steps to protect workers," Ricketts said, while recognizing that the industry is essential in providing the country with "a strong food supply chain." When asked whether the recommended 6-foot separation between individuals should be applied to workers on meatpacking production lines, the governor said the directive applies to "how we social distance." "It's OK if you're doing it for business purposes," he said. "We understand business needs to go on. "We want to make sure it's as safe as possible," the governor said. While the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration establishes rules for meatpacking plants, states are empowered to apply more-stringent requirements. Ricketts said the state is "working with companies directly" to respond to the current challenge. Earlier, 45 Grand Island doctors sent a letter to the Omaha World-Herald urging the state to conduct more testing for the virus in their community. Grand Island and Hall County have the second-largest number of identified cases trailing only Omaha and Douglas County. The governor said increased testing will also occur in Kearney. As of 6 p.m. Monday, the current numbers in Nebraska were eight deaths, 412 positive tests and 6,462 negative tests. In Hall County, the number of COVID-19 cases grew to 62 on Monday. Ricketts once again noted that April is going to be a challenging month, when the virus is expected to peak in the state. "The data indicates that our plan is working," he said, "but we will make any changes that are needed" as the month unfolds. "We will take other measures if we need to," he said. While encouraging separation, Ricketts said, "we want people to go outside and get exercise, but keep the social distancing guidelines." Ricketts used the briefing to deliver the message that conditions requiring stay-at-home restrictions can lead to increased domestic violence and asked Nebraskans to be aware of that and "look out for our neighbors." The governor encouraged Nebraskans to take advantage of the opportunity to vote by mail in the May 12 primary election and urged them to respond to the 2020 federal census form, which they can do online. Ricketts said he will participate in another televised town-hall program Thursday on NET and NET Radio, beginning at 8:30 p.m. Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon Some American politicians and doctors are sparring over whether to use hydroxychloroquine against the new coronavirus, with many of scientists saying the evidence is too thin to recommend it now. HOW IS IT BEING USED? The drug can help tame an overactive immune system. It's been used since the 1940s to prevent and treat malaria, and to treat rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. It's sold in generic form and under the brand name Plaquenil in the United States. Doctors also can prescribe it "off label" for other purposes, as many are doing now for COVID-19. WHAT'S THE EVIDENCE? Four small and very preliminary studies give conflicting results. One lab study suggested it curbed the virus' ability to enter cells. Another report on 11 people found it did not improve how fast patients cleared the virus or their symptoms. A report from China claimed the drug helped more than 100 patients at 10 hospitals, but they had various degrees of illness and were treated with various doses for different lengths of time, and might have recovered without the drug there was no group that didn't get the drug for comparison. Finally, researchers in China reported that cough, pneumonia and fever seemed to improve sooner among 31 patients given hydroxychloroquine compared to 31 others who did not get the drug, although fewer people in the comparison group had cough or fevers to start with. Four people developed severe illness and all were in the group that did not get the drug. These results were posted online and have not been reviewed by other scientists or published in a journal. Larger, more rigorous studies are underway now. WHAT'S THE RISK? The drug can cause heart rhythm problems, severely low blood pressure and muscle or nerve damage. Taking it outside of a scientific experiment adds the risk of not having tracking in place to watch for any of these side effects or problems and quickly address them if they do occur. In scenes reminiscent of the Great Depression, dairy farmers across the US have been ordered to dump perfectly good milk into their fields and lagoons where it will seep into the earth. The inability of the capitalist system to scientifically plan and coordinate production has left producers no choice but to dump millions of gallons of milk, with no end in sight. Images of farmers dumping their milk has provoked outrage among workers, as grocery stores across the country are still limiting purchases of essential dairy products. While being told to shelter in place, millions of people are obliged to make return trips to the grocery store in order to purchase perishables such as milk, putting their families and essential workers at risk. This comes at a time of mass layoffs, with millions of families being thrown into food insecurity and compelled to rely on food banks for sustenance. In an interview with the Guardian, Jerry Brown, media spokesman for St. Marys Food Bank Alliance, a coalition of 700 food banks, reflected on the unprecedented demand for their services in the US, The 2008 recession doesnt touch this. Its a different ballgame. Cow Stock (Stock image Envato) The implementation of social distancing guidelines has collapsed several traditional milk markets such as schools and restaurants. US public schools were the number one consumer of liquid milk according to Pam Jahnke, editor of the Midwest Farm Report. Unable or willing to make the societally beneficial investments to freeze and store the milk for later use or distribution, the market demands it be discarded in order to keep prices artificially inflated. The capitalist system has no answer for the crisis of overproduction. In her editorial Jahnke advised readers who wanted to help farmers to Pray that COVID-19 dissipates. Pray that life begins to return to somewhat normal patterns. Pray that this milk dumping situation is just a temporary story. Pray for all the farm families that are trying to make their way through this. While the almighty hasnt yet intervened, travel restrictions and tariffs have crippled supply chains and slowed trade, especially between China and the US. Before the restrictions were implemented, China was the number one importer of dairy products in the world. Even though this pandemic was foreseen for months, food and dairy processors took no steps to prepare for possible disruptions. Instead of preparing their facilities to switch from wholesale to retail production by ordering the necessary equipment and packaging materials, processors have been scrambling to shift workers from wholesale plants towards retail plants, laying off workers in the process. These shifts have ensured the continued spread of COVID-19 among the workforce. In Greeley, Colorado an estimated 900 workers called off work on Monday after several COVID-19 cases were confirmed at the JBS USA meat processing plant. The plant, deemed an essential facility, operates 24 hours a day and has three shifts employing some 4,500 workers, members of the United Food and Commercial Workers union. The UFCW has worked with company management to keep the line moving during the pandemic and done nothing to make sure workers are protected on the job. Kim Cordova, president of UFCW Local 7, speaking to the Denver Post, grudgingly conceded maybe folks are sick, adding she didnt, want to speculate until we get the information. Unwilling to provide a safe work environment, processors have meanwhile had a difficult time keeping up with the increased demand from farmers looking to dispose of their products as restaurants and schools turn away deliveries. In addition to workers falling ill at plants, causing slowdowns, the increased retail demand has resulted in shipping delays. Long-haul truck drivers who transport the bulk of consumer goods in the US have either been unable to pick them up or forced to wait hours for their deliveries due to increased traffic congestion at the plants. Because of this and a shortage of drivers, agriculture groups have been lobbying states to raise truck weight limits on highways, increasing the danger of accidents or rollovers. Speaking in a radio interview with Farm Report, Ryan Elbe, a dairy farmer in West Bend, Wisconsin, confirmed that his family farm had already dumped 250 million pounds of milk by April 1 and would continue dumping for at least another week. Elbe told reporters he expected his family would be compensated for their milk, however he did not know by whom or when. Elbe confirmed that his family received a phone call from the Dairy Farmers Alliance (DFA) on March 31, instructing Golden E Dairy that due to an oversupply of milk in the market they would have to begin the dumping process. The DFA is a dairy cooperative in which concentrated animal feeding operations, that is farms that have a minimum of 1,000 animal units as defined by the US Department of Agriculture, are organized under one umbrella group. While these organizations are billed as grassroots cooperatives, farmers have no input or say in how their milk is produced or where they can sell it. Instead the DFA operates as a cartel in which farmer-leaders are elected and overseen by a 49-member board of directors. The DFA has been the defendant in several class action lawsuits brought by farmers alleging everything from price-fixing to monopolization of the market. In 2013 and 2014 the DFA settled two lawsuits out of court, while admitting no fault. The settlements required the DFA to pay farmers $140 million in one case and $50 million in the other. The DFA claims it serves more than 14,500 dairy farmer-members representing 8,500 dairy farms in 48 states. It is unclear if all of its farmers are going to dump milk. However, Elbe was able to confirm that every farmer-member in the co-op that he spoke to had received the same call his father had. The same day, March 31, that the DFA ordered its membership to begin dumping milk, a federal bankruptcy court in Kansas City, Kansas, where the DFA is headquartered, signaled its approval for a DFA bid to buy out Dean Food Company assets for $433 million. Dean Food had declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2019. Shortly thereafter DFA submitted several bids to purchase a majority of the assets of the company, the largest dairy processor in the US. The purchase would include the assets and properties related to 44 fluid and frozen dairy facilities. For the bid to be approved it will need to be signed off on by the US Department of Justice, as it would mean the largest dairy cooperative in the US would also become the largest milk processor in the country. It is not just the US dairy industry that is facing a crisis of overproduction, an absurd situation given the chronic hunger suffered by millions in the United States and globally. This crying contradiction is a product of the capitalist profit system, which subordinates any consideration of human need to the drive for profit. This same absurd situation is being replicated globally. After the shuttering of restaurants in the Netherlands, the potato crop is at risk of going to rot as storage tanks remain full from last year's harvest. Speaking to Reuters, Dutch potato farmer Dirk De Heer said he had hoped he would be able to sell his crop at 18 euro cents per kilogram. After finding no other buyers De Heer has been left with no choice but to sell his crop to a dairy farmer at one cent per kilogram. As mosques ban congregational prayers due to coronavirus, many set up live-streaming to broadcast prayers and sermons. For weeks now, mosques worldwide have taken a series of measures aimed at curbing the spread of the new coronavirus. As an increasing number of countries announced lockdowns, so did mosques, with many closing their door completely and others banning congregations and using their speakers to remind people to stay at home. With the global death toll from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, exceeding 70,000 and more than 1.28 million cases of infection confirmed, many mosques are trying to keep their communities engaged by using live-streams and local stations to broadcast sermons and classes. Heres a look at how some of the worlds largest mosques have adjusted their services in the time of COVID-19: Meccas Grand Mosque It remains unclear if this years Hajj pilgrimage will be held as the threat of the coronavirus continues [File: Ganoo Essa/Reuters] Worshippers have not been allowed to enter Meccas Grand Mosque nor the Prophets Mosque in Medinah, the two main mosques for Muslims, since Saudi authorities suspended prayers on March 19 in an effort to combat the spread of the virus. The ban followed a series of other measures in Mecca including: an initial ban on worshippers praying near the Kaaba, the cube-shaped structure in the centre of the Grand Mosques courtyard which Muslims across the world pray towards; and a ban on the Umrah pilgrimage, which seven million Muslims perform every year. It remains unclear if the Hajj pilgrimage, which every able-bodied Muslim must perform once in their lifetime, will be held this year. Only employees at the Grand Mosque are currently allowed to enter its premises, according to locals. For several weeks, the call to prayer has included a line at the end asking people to remain home, said Mecca resident Fuad Mohamed. No prayers nor Friday sermons are held at the Grand Mosque, added Muhamed, noting that some of the citys smaller mosques live-stream their sermons online. Saudi authorities imposed a 24-hour curfew in Mecca and Medina on April 2, forcing residents to stay home at all times other than to buy food or access medical care. With more than 2,400 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 35 deaths, Saudi Arabia is the worst affected by the pandemic among Gulf Arab states. Jerusalems Al Aqsa Mosque Al-Aqsa Mosque compound has been closed off to all worshippers and visitors due to the coronavirus outbreak [File: Anadolu] Muslim prayers at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa Mosque have been suspended since March 23 until further notice. The doors of the mosque and of the adjoining Dome of the Rock were shut a week before implementation of the full ban, allowing worshippers to only gather for prayers in the open areas of the compound. Al-Aqsa compound is where the al-Haram al-Sharif or the Noble Sanctuary is located. It is the third most sacred site for Muslims and the site they believe Prophet Muhammad began his night journey to heaven. According to Zeinat Abusbeih, who heads security at Al-Aqsas female quarters, the compound has been completely shut, with the exception of employees at the mosque This has been painful but necessary, Abusbeih told Al Jazeera, adding that a line calling on people to pray at home was added to the end of athaan (call to prayer). Abusebeih said that while worshippers are not allowed to attend the Friday sermon, it is still held by the imam with employees at the mosque joining in. To keep people around the world feeling connected to Al-Aqsa, security personnel have been live-streaming the Friday sermon and prayer, she said. There are more than 8,600 coronavirus cases in Israel and at least 50 deaths. In the occupied Palestinian territories, the ministry of health has confirmed more than 200 infections. Turkeys Fatih Mosque Fatih Mosque, one of Istanbul largest and most historic mosques has banned congregational prayers to curb the spread of the virus [File: Chris McGrath/Getty Images] Turkey has cancelled all congregational worship at mosques, including Friday prayers, since March 16. Many mosques have since added a few lines to the end of the athaan, notifying people of the decision and calling on them to pray at home. Larger mosques have also been broadcasting prayers through speakers. While Fatih Mosque, one of Istanbuls largest and most historic mosques built after the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror, has kept its doors open, congregational prayers are banned. Any group prayers are strictly prohibited, but many activities, including classes and Quran reading, are still conducted online, said Bunyamin Topcu, an imam at the mosque which is also considered a centre for Islamic studies across the Middle East. The athaan continues to be called out without additions or omissions. We do not, however, hold Friday sermons nor prayers, said Topcu, explaining that a single mosque in the capital, Ankara, does that on behalf of the whole country. In the evening, some prayers and Quran reading is broadcasted through our microphones, he said. Turkey is among the 10 worst-hit countries world, with more than 27,000 coronavirus cases and nearly 600 deaths. UAEs Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Abu Dhabis Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has suspended daily and Friday prayers since last month [File: Tony Gentile/Reuters] Sheikh Zayeds Grand Mosque has been closed for prayers and visits since March 15. Located in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, the site is the countrys largest mosque and the principal place of worship for daily, Friday and Eid prayers. As well as being a site for worship, the mosque is also considered a top tourist attraction. According to Amr Salah, an Abu Dhabi resident and frequent visitor of the mosque, the complex has been completely closed off. It is only the athaan that still goes off. It always ends with a line calling on people to pray at home, he told Al Jazeera. This has been the case for all mosques across the UAE, not just the big ones, he added. With about 1,800 cases and 10 deaths so far, the UAE has the second-highest number of COVID-19 infections in the Arab Gulf region. Iraqs Moussawi Grand Mosque As one of Basras largest and busiest mosques, the Moussawi Grand Mosque continues to broadcast its Friday sermon through al local channel [Hussein Faleh/AFP] Iraqs top Shia leader Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has issued several edicts calling on citizens to social distance and avoid religious gatherings in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Like other mosques across the country, the doors of Mousawi Grand Mosque in Iraqs southern city of Basra have been shut to worshippers and visitors. The athaan hasnt changed since the onset of the pandemic. But before the athaan or at the end of the day, the mosques always issues a reminder through its speakers that mosques are closed, Hussein Faleh, a Basra-based photojournalist and resident, told Al Jazeera. As one of its biggest and busiest mosques in the oil-rich city, the mosque has used a local channel to broadcast the Friday sermon and prayers for Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and a central religious figure for Shia Muslims. Not all mosques do this, but because Mousawi Mosque is a central one, the broadcast has been an attempt to keep members of the community feeling connected to their place of worship and their spirits high, Faleh said. Iraq, which has imposed a nationwide curfew since March 17, has more than 950 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 60 deaths. National Mosque of Malaysia A Muslim Imam leads a prayer inside empty National Mosque, after all mosques in the country suspended Friday prayers during the movement control order [File: Lim Huey Teng/Reuters] Malaysian authorities have imposed a movement control order since March 17. According to Siti Syuhada, a Kuala Lumpur resident, the directive has meant that all mosques are closed off to the public, with only the imam and staff members allowed to enter. At Malaysias National Mosque, a tourist attraction and key religious hub in the capital, the mosque has continued to make the five daily calls to prayer. At the end of the call, the muezzin [caller to prayer] reminds people in Malay to perform their prayers at home, explained Syuhada, adding that many classes are being conducted online via Facebook, YouTube and Zoom. Friday prayers are not being held, and as per the movement of control order, people pray at home with their families, she added. Malaysia has more than 3,700 COVID-19 cases and 62 deaths to date. East London Mosque After taking an initially restrained approach to curbing the spread of the virus, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a nationwide shutdown on March 24, closing public spaces and banning people from leaving their homes unless for necessary purposes. Before the move, Muslim associations including the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), called on leaders of UK mosques to prepare for a suspension of communal prayers by setting up video links to live-stream sermons and activities. At the UKs largest mosque in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, the East London Mosque (ELM) has banned the entry of all members of the public. But the ELM, one of the largest mosques in Europe, still broadcasts the five daily prayers, as well as the Friday prayer and sermon via its Adhan Radio and YouTube and Facebook pages, according to Abdallah Faliq, a member of the mosques trust. In the athaan, weve replaced hayaa ala al-salah [come to prayer] with the words sallu fi buytutikim (pray in your homes), said Faliq, adding that ELM is the only mosque in London allowed to broadcast the call to prayer from its minaret. Faliq explained that other services, including talks and classes, are also carried out online. The United Kingdom has one of the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, at more than 48,000, and nearly 5,000 deaths. Islamic Cultural Centre of New York US President Donald Trump issued a travel warning for the hard-hit New York area to limit the spread of the virus [File: Rashid Umar Abbasii/Reuters] As of March 20, the Islamic Cultural Centre of New York, which is one of the largest mosques in the US city, banned all congregation including Friday prayers as well as weekly and weekend classes, according to its website. Meanwhile, the building housing New York Universitys Islamic Centre, which acts as a busy community and student hub for Muslims in New York City, has also been closed. According to the centres website, Friday prayers have been suspended, but regular classes and activities are being conducted virtually via Zoom and Facebook Live. US President Donald Trump issued a travel warning from March 28 for the hard-hit New York area to limit the spread of the virus. Topping the list of countries with confirmed COVID-19 cases at more than 330,000 cases, the United States has also reported more than 1,500 deaths. Egypt postpones researcher Zaky's hearing again Lawyer tells ANSA COVID-19 was justification given (ANSAmed) - CAIRO, APRIL 6 - Egypt has postponed a hearing that was to have been held Monday to decide whether or not to extend for another 15 days custody for Patrick George Zaky. Zaky is an Egyptian student who was studying at the University of Bologna when he was arrested two months ago on a trip home to the Egyptian capital. He is being held in Cairo on charges of engaging in subversive propaganda. The news was given to ANSA over the phone by his lawyer, Hoda Nasrallah. The lawyer said the hearing had been postponed for a week. (ANSAmed). The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday called for thorough investigation into the allegations of alleged torture, inhuman and degrading treatment of an official driver attached a Cross River Magistrate. The Executive Secretary of NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, made the call in a statement on the alleged torture. He stated that the 35-year-old driver was allegedly beaten by the sons of Magistrate Agnes Onyebueke (under her directives) for being rude to her. Information reaching the Commission, revealed that since assumption of duty with the said Magistrate, the driver has perpetually been subjected to a series of inhuman and degrading treatments. These degrading treatments ranged from verbal, physical assaults and other forms of oppression. This particular one has left him with a broken rib, legs and bursted eye. Theres no justification for any form of human rights violation by anybody, especially those looked upon as the custodians of the law based on fairness and equity, he said. He therefore directed the Cross-River Coordinator of the Commission to collaborate with the state Commissioner of Police and relevant authorities and immediately commence a full-scale investigation into the matter with a view to ensuring that there is accountability for the human rights violations. If it is found that the magistrate and her sons have a case to answer, the Commission would collaborate with the relevant authorities to ensure that justice is done. All the stakeholders in the Criminal Justice Administration system including the National Judicial Council, should ensure that perpetrators of any form of human rights abuse/violation, no matter how highly placed, are brought to justice. Their victims must also be adequately compensated as prescribed by Nigerian law he said. In another development, Mr Ojukwu also commended the Akwa Ibom Police Command over the action taken to penalise an erring police official for assaulting a medical personnel on duty as the country battles to contain the Coronavirus Pandemic. The commission also commend the military for identifying and arresting the officers involved in the death of a civilian in Delta as well as those who posted threat video on the social media. Mr Ojukwu enjoined all law enforcement agencies in all locations to ensure accountability for any human rights violations including sexual and gender based violence during the enforcement of Covid-19 Regulations. There is a need to reclaim the country from the impunity of individual officers and men who smear the name of our law enforcement agencies and the government, which has the ultimate responsibility for the protection of human rights he said. (NAN) PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-06 14:30:23 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 483 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Interactive Touch Panels and Online Learning SoftwareTOCCOA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / April 6, 2020 / Galaxy Next Generation, Inc. (OTCQB:GAXY) ("Galaxy" or the "Company), a provider of interactive learning technology solutions, is please to announce that it has been selected to provide 120 75-inch interactive touch panels and software totaling approximately $350,000 in revenue from Valdosta City School District in Georgia.This purchase order is expected to be installed between now and June 30. The online learning software will be provided on each interactive panel for student and teacher use.The Valdosta City School District is a public school district in Lowndes County, Georgia, based in Valdosta, with 7,000 stident enrollment and 450 faculty. It serves the city of Valdosta and the surrounding communities of Lowndes County, with its five elementary schools, 2 middle schools, one high school, one alternative school and one academy.For additional information on Valdosta City Schools, please visit:Gary LeCroy, Galaxy's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Valdosta has been a long-time customer of ours, having previously integrated our G2 panels throughout their brand new high school a couple of years ago. We are pleased to continue and expland our relationship with our latest and largest interavtive panels and now include our online learning software." About Galaxy Next Generation, Inc.Galaxy Next Generation (OTCQB:GAXY) is a provider of interactive learning technology solutions that allows the presenter and participant to engage in a fully collaborative instructional environment. Galaxy's products include Galaxy's own private-label interactive touch screen panel as well as numerous other national and international branded peripheral and communication devices. Galaxy's distribution channel consists of 22+ resellers across the U.S. who primarily sell the Company's products within the commercial and educational market. Galaxy does not control where resellers focus their resell efforts, although generally, the K-12 education market is the largest customer base for Galaxy products - comprising nearly 90% of Galaxy's sales.For additional information, please visit our website at: www.galaxynext.us Safe Harbor StatementThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of management and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect the company's current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. A more extensive listing of risks and factors that may affect the company's business prospects and cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the reports and other documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.Investors Contact:IR@ GalaxyNext.us p888-859-1274SOURCE: Galaxy Next Generation, Inc. Haryana saw a sharp spike in the number of COVID-19 cases which touched 96, with most of them linked to the Tablighi Jamaat event, officials said on Monday. Of the fresh cases, nine are from Palwal district, six from Nuh, four from Karnal and one from Charkhi Dadri, according to the state Health Department's bulletin in the evening. The positive cases on Sunday stood at 76 and the state recorded a jump of 26 cases in a single day. At present, there are 79 active cases in the state, 15 patients have been discharged while the state has recorded two COVID-related deaths. Reports of 459 samples were awaited. Among the total positive cases reported, six are Sri Lankan nationals, and one each is from Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia and South Africa while 29 are from other states of the country, including Jammu and Kashmir UT, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana and Punjab, as per the bulletin. Home Minister Anil Vij said 40 of the total active cases in the state are those linked to the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi. He said that until Monday, 1,526 Jamaat members, which include 107 foreigners, had been tracked down by police in the state, out of which 678 were traced from Nuh district, all of whom have entered the state before the nationwide lockdown was announced. Among other districts, 231 Jamaat members have been tracked down from Yamunanagar district, 136 from Faridabad and 117 from Panchkula, he said. He warned that all those Jamaat members, who may still be hiding, are given time till 5 pm on April 8 to report to concerned district administration, failing which strict action will be initiated against them as per law. Vij, who is also state's health minister, said as against earlier decision to take samples of only those Jamaat members for COVID-19 testing who had entered the state less than a month earlier, now it has been decided that all of them will be tested irrespective of when they entered Haryana. Officials said it was a cause of as a chunk of the fresh cases were linked to the Tablighi Jamaat event. Meanwhile, Chief Minister M L Khattar, during a televised address to people of the state on Monday, informed that 13 of the 14 Italian tourists, who were admitted to the Medanta hospital in Gurgaon last month after they were found COVID-19 positive, had been discharged. Khattar touched upon various steps which the state government has been taking to check the spread of COVID-19 in the state, besides extending help to those poor sections of the society who have been adversely hit in the wake of the nationwide lockdown. He said the state has adequate number of personal protection equipment available which are needed by doctors, nurses and paramedical staff who are at the forefront of the battle against COVID-19 while orders are being placed at regular intervals to procure new PPE kits. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ In addition to physical violence, which is not present in every abusive relationship, common tools of abuse include isolation from friends, family and employment; constant surveillance; strict, detailed rules for behavior; and restrictions on access to such basic necessities as food, clothing and sanitary facilities. Home isolation, however vital to the fight against the pandemic, is giving still more power to the abuser, Dr. Hester said. If suddenly people have got to be at home, she said, that gives him an opportunity, suddenly, to call the shots around that. To say what she should be doing or shouldnt. The isolation has also shattered support networks, making it far more difficult for victims to get help or escape. Fragile resources, overwhelmed After her husband attacked her with the high chair, Lele limped to the next room and called the police. When they arrived, however, they only documented the attack, then took no further action. Next, she hired a lawyer and filed for divorce only to find that the epidemic had cut off that avenue of escape, too. Her divorce proceeding was postponed until April. She is still waiting for the courts decision. And finding a new home amid the outbreak proved difficult, forcing Lele and her daughter to continue to live with their abuser for weeks. It is a pattern playing out around the world. Institutions that are supposed to protect women from domestic violence, many weak and underfunded to begin with, are now straining to respond to the increased demand. Some of the 1,000 beds on the Navy hospital ship that docked in New York City last week to help relive the stress on medical facilities treating people with the coronavirus will be allocated to patients from New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday, Murphy announced at his daily coronavirus press briefing that New Jersey patients who need other types of treatment will soon be hospitalized on the USNS Comfort. The governor learned of the news just before the briefing in a phone call with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. Thats a big step for us, Murphy said. I thank the president and the vice president. The ship arrived at Pier 90 in Manhattan from Virginia on March 30 to provide relief for New York City hospitals that needed space for people who tested positive for the coronavirus. New York leads the nation with the most coronavirus cases. By serving these emergency patients away from the hospitals, beds will be opened up all over the city for those who are infected, Trump said last week. This ship can handle a lot of people, so it will open capacity all over the city. And it will be ready to address any life-threatening medical emergency. The 70,000 ton Comfort has 1,000 hospital beds, a medical laboratory, a pharmacy, an optometry lab, digital radiology, a CT scan, two oxygen-producing plants and a helicopter deck. New Jersey has at least 41,090 cases of COVID-19, including at least 1,003 deaths, officials announced Monday. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. If tests are not available, a loss of taste and smell could be the best way to detect whether someone has contracted the coronavirus, according to U.K. researchers. A research team at King's College London assessed the responses of more than 400,000 people reporting one or more suspected symptoms of COVID-19 to an app. The data analyzed showed that 59% of those who tested positive for the virus reported a loss of smell and taste, compared with only 18% of who tested negative for the disease. These results, the researchers said, were "much stronger" in predicting positive COVID-19 diagnoses than a self-reported fever. This appears to indicate that a loss of smell and taste should be added to the list of common coronavirus symptoms. Until now, health authorities like the WHO have said a fever, dry cough and fatigue are the symptoms to watch out for. The general advice for those who display symptoms of COVID-19 is to stay at home in order to reduce the risk of spreading it to others and call your health facility. As of Monday, more than 1.28 million people had contracted COVID-19 worldwide, with 69,789 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (FOR USE AS DESIRED) The iconic "A Friend" statue by Wilmington, Del. artist Charles Cropper Parks (1922-2012) is photographed outside the Philadelphia Police Administration Building (the Roundhouse, Police Headquarters) at Race and Arch Streets September 10, 2019. The sculpture was commissioned by the City of Philadelphia Percent for Art Program and was installed in 1977. It was restored in 2013 by Materials Conservation Collaborative with funding from the Kal and Lucille Rudman Foundation. It depicts a standing uniformed police officer holding a small child in his arms symbolizing the protective role of the police officer in the community. Parks attended the University of Delaware and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and created over 500 sculptures during his career. Read more A Philadelphia police lieutenant has died from the coronavirus, the Montgomery County Coroners Office said Monday the citys first employee to die as a result of the pandemic. Lt. James Walker, 59, was pronounced dead Sunday at Abington Hospital-Jefferson Health, the Coroners Office said. A 32-year veteran of the department, Walker had been assigned to the traffic division. He previously worked in eight different police districts as well as in Internal Affairs and on the Narcotics Strike Force, the Police Department said. Word of Walkers death came as law enforcement sources told The Inquirer on Monday night that 52 city police officers had tested positive and dozens more were self-quarantining, either because they are symptomatic and awaiting test results, or because they had been exposed to others who have tested positive. Walkers wife, Vita, said Monday that Walker was admitted to the hospital on March 27 for symptoms including difficulty breathing, and that his positive test result for the coronavirus came back the next day. He remained hospitalized as his health declined in the days that followed, she said, and was eventually placed on a ventilator. She was unable to see him because she is asymptomatic, but said a nurse was with him when he died. Vita Walker described her husband of 36 years as dedicated to his family and the Police Department, a no-nonsense and straightforward man with a bigger-than-life personality. He was a good man, Vita Walker said. He was a man among men. Mayor Jim Kenney said Monday that officials were not certain how or where Walker might have contracted the virus. Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said in a statement that Walkers death was deeply painful," adding: The loss of his life illustrates the commitment that he and members of the Philadelphia Police Department have to serve the communities of this city, even in times of unprecedented risk and challenge. John McNesby, president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, said in a statement late Sunday: We should never forget the sacrifices of our officers and those on the front lines battling this pandemic and working tirelessly to keep our great city safe. Tributes to Walker began pouring in on social media, with friends describing his death as heartbreaking and surreal. Inspector Verdell Johnson wrote on Twitter on Monday that Walkers death was another devastating blow to the Police Department. Walkers death came weeks after Sgt. James OConnor IV was fatally shot in Frankford while seeking to arrest a murder suspect. The city has been unable to hold traditional funeral services for OConnor due to restrictions on large gatherings amid the pandemic. It also came as law enforcement agencies across the country grapple with how to serve their communities while continuing to protect officers health. Two Pennsylvania state troopers have tested positive for the coronavirus, said State Police spokesperson Ryan Tarkowski, and three troopers who had close contact with them are self-quarantining as a precaution. The national Fraternal Order of Police said Sunday night that at least 21 officers across the country have died from the virus. And in cities such as Detroit and New York, hundreds of officers have called out sick or remain under quarantine. Nearly 20% of New Yorks Police Department called out sick on Sunday, according to the Staten Island Advance, and more than 2,000 NYPD employees have tested positive for the virus. Philadelphia officials have declined to confirm how many police officers have tested positive for the virus. Managing Director Brian Abernathy said Monday that he did not see a benefit to making that information public. Abernathy said the city was not seeing unusual absences among police officers and that "were a long, long way away from needing to enact contingency staffing plans. Last month, Outlaw announced a new policy instructing officers to delay arrests for most nonviolent crimes and instead issue warrants for suspects to turn themselves in after the pandemic subsides. The decision, which was made in part to try to protect officers health, was praised by advocates, the police union, and District Attorney Larry Krasner. Vita Walker said shed spent nearly every day with her husband over the last 36 years, and that being apart from him while he was sick was unbearable. She said Walker is also survived by two daughters, Qiana and Khalia, and that funeral arrangements were pending. Staff writers Mike Newall and Chris Williams contributed to this article. The cry of the peacock, birdsong at dusk and dawn these are sounds one now hears in the part of Noida where I live. Until a few weeks ago, the only noise that overwhelmed us was that of vehicles. But while the return of natures sounds should occasion joy, the circumstances we find ourselves in with the relentless march of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) fill us with fear and trepidation. The number of positive cases is rising every day, and so is the death toll. Scientists seem to believe that this pandemic will wreak more havoc on the world than those before it. This is why governments all over the world have prohibited the movement of people. Half the world is also under a lockdown, underlining the common challenge humanity confronts. India has been under a complete lockdown for the last two weeks. Most people are voluntarily following the restrictions, but there are some, either due to ignorance or arrogance, who are not ready to make the sacrifices needed to deal with the pandemic. This is dangerous, for they are at risk of not just harming themselves, but communities around them. On Friday, dozens of people gathered in Kannauj city to offer prayers. The police and administration tried to convince them that this was not the right time or way to do this. Several Muslim scholars including the ulemas of Deoband, Bareili and Firangi Mahal, have already said that during this hour of crisis, it is appropriate to offer namaz at home. But the crowd was not willing to listen. The situation became tense and the gathered congregation attacked the police. They then proceeded to set fire to a police post. It was only when a large contingent of police arrived that the crowd was chased away. This is not an isolated incident. There have also been cases on attacks of teams of health workers. Who are these people who are attacking the true warriors at the frontline of this battle? Is this spontaneous or orchestrated? If it is the latter, who is planning it? Do these individuals not understand that by their appalling and criminal behaviour, they are putting in danger human lives? The renowned poet, Rahat Indori, was so shaken up the incident of assault on doctors in Indore that he said, Tell me which house was it where doctors and health workers were spat on, so that I can go there and touch their feet, plead that they should have mercy on themselves, their community and their country. Ever since the Tablighi Jamaat incident, which has led to Indias sharpest spike in cases, there has been a constant effort to vitiate the atmosphere. There must be no attempt to communalise the situation. At the same time, it must be recognised that not only was the gathering wrong but members of Jamaat, who were kept in quarantine, have behaved appallingly, completely at odds with what is expected from religious persons. In the government hospital in Ghaziabad, where reports suggested they harassed health care workers, particularly women, their behaviour was outrageous. In Agra, their compatriots refused to eat the simple food served to them. Before this, some of them protested against being tested because this was against their religion. This is the first time that people have behaved in such an irresponsible manner on a vital public health issue, citing religious reasons. According to the health ministry, as many as 1,445 people linked to the Tablighi Jamaat event tested positive for the coronavirus, accounting for 35% of all cases of infection in India. The health ministry has also pointed out that this has undermined the potential benefits of the lockdown. This kind of uncivilised and irresponsible behaviour will only strengthen fundamentalists in other religions. Arguments and debates on social media provide ample evidence of this. Are we moving forward as education progresses or going back to some sort of medieval barbarism? There is no doubt that by implementing the lockdown in time, the spread of Covid-19 has been limited. It has given the government enough time to prepare to contain the virus and ramp up the health infrastructure. Optimists even thought initially that this would save us from entering the third phase: Community transmission, where the source of the infection is not known, thus showing its wide spread. Unfortunately, poor planning of the lockdown, which resulted in the exodus of migrant workers from cities, followed then by the movement of infected people from the Jamaat congregation to 20 states, have raised new doubts and fears about the spread of the virus. Will the government have to extend the lockdown after April 14? The government will have to take a considered, careful decision. Shashi Shekhar is the editor-in-chief, Hindustan The views expressed are personal The trajectory of coronavirus infections in Iran appears to have started a "gradual" downward trend, the government said Monday, but it warned the disease is far from being under control. The COVID-19 outbreak claimed 136 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing Iran's overall death toll to 3,739, health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour told a televised conference. Iran registered 2,274 new cases of infection over the same period, he said, putting the total number at 60,500 across the country. The figure shows a drop in officially reported new cases of the novel coronavirus for the sixth consecutive day after a peak of 3,111 reached on March 31. Iran is by far the country most affected by the pandemic in the Middle East, according to official tolls released by each state. "Due to the intensification of the social distancing policy, we have seen a gradual and slow decline in the number of new cases in recent days," Jahanpour said. President Hassan Rouhani reiterated a call for people to stay at home as he warned Iran could be "put back in a difficult situation" unless people follow guidelines. "I hope that the strongest possible adherence to these instructions... will allow us to enter a phase of disease control and containment," Jahanpour said. In an attempt to limit the spread of the disease, the authorities have not confined the population but have resorted to other restrictions such as closing most businesses deemed non-essential. Rouhani announced on Sunday that the authorities had given the go-ahead for the resumption of certain economic activities "step by step" from April 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) James Drury, an actor best remembered as the stolid, black-hatted title character of the long-running NBC western The Virginian, died on Monday at his home in Houston. He was 85. Karen Lindsey, his assistant, confirmed the death in an email but did not specify a cause. Mr. Drury, who had iceberg-blue eyes and a no-nonsense mien befitting a frontier hero, appeared on television westerns like Broken Arrow, Cheyenne and Wagon Train before he landed the role on The Virginian. The show, which was loosely based on Owen Wisters novel The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains (1902), began airing in 1962. Mr. Drurys character, the tough but fair foreman of the Shiloh Ranch in Wyoming, was never named, and little of his history was revealed. He tussled with cattle rustlers and other outlaws threatening the ranch until The Virginian was canceled in 1971, after 249 episodes. Only two other television westerns, Gunsmoke and Bonanza, lasted longer (Gunsmoke the longest). New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday that the state was starting to see positive signs that its social distancing policies were helping to curb the spread of the coronavirus. "Too early to tell, but we are seeing the positive cases that are coming out each day continue to show a little bit of a sign of flattening, and that's a good thing. And then we went through some modeling today, and the good news is that we don't have the runaway freight train catastrophe that we would have had if we had done nothing," Murphy said on "Fast Money." New Jersey had more than 41,000 confirmed cases of the virus and more than 1,000 deaths as of Monday afternoon, according to the state's website. That represented an increase of 3,663 cases from the day before, slightly more than the increase reported on Sunday but below the number of new cases reported on Saturday. Even though the growth in cases does not appear to be accelerating, New Jersey is still short on medical equipment, including ventilators, Murphy said. "Even that number, unless we stay on that and stay even more aggressive, will swamp our health-care system," Murphy said. Murphy first issued a stay-at-home order for the state on March 21. He said travel between New York City and New Jersey is "overwhelmingly" only essential workers at this point and that he is working with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the governors of Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Even though recent numbers show the spread of the virus may have slowed, Murphy said he doesn't want to reopen nonessential businesses too quickly and expects social distancing measures to stay in place for at least another month. "I see nothing that doesn't say we aren't in this at least deep until May," Murphy said. To boost the morale of the people amid increasing cases of coronavirus pandemic, the priests in the Philippines delivered blessings from the back of trucks and motorized tricycles by adapting the traditional way to battle against coronavirus infection. In order to seek blessings from the priests, the citizens lined up in front of their homes amid the COVOD-19 lockdown, maintaining the strict instructions of social distancing. Priests deliver blessings As and when the procession of the priests moved on the streets, they made the cross sign in the air as they rolled past waving residents marking Palm Sunday week which culminates with Easter. Several people thronged outside their houses to take blessings and one of the citizens who was a part of the celebrations reportedly said that the celebrations will continue to happen despite the increasing danger of the deadly virus in the Philippines. This act of kindness by the priests of showering blessings on the people come after the country registered a total of 144 cases of fatalities and 3,094 confirmed virus cases, and the numbers continue to soar as the nation has increased testing for COVID-19 patients. Read: Coronavirus: Man Shot Dead In Philippines For Violating Lockdown Read: Philippines Ambassador To Lebanon Dies Of Coronavirus Complications The quarantine period that has closed several schools, businesses and halted all social and religious events across several nations, is expected to get extended beyond mid-April, authorities have reportedly said. Easter is an auspicious and major holiday in the Philippines when millions of people who are staying outside the country, come back to their native towns. But, due to the heavy restrictions this year citing the COVID-19 disease, the trips will get disrupted. Bans on a large number of public events will also mean that churches that were once thronged by people will be empty and save for the priests to perform mass that will be live-streamed into millions of homes. A man shot dead for violating lockdown While the unprecedented outbreak of coronavirus has forced world leaders to intensify their precautionary measures to curb the spread, a 63-year-old man in the Philippines has been shot dead for violating isolation rules. According to international reports, the police said that the man threatened the village officials and the policemen with a scythe checkpoint assembled for the COVID-19 outbreak. The man is believed to be intoxicated with alcohol when he threatened the villagers as well as the police officials in Nasipit in the southern province of Agusan del Norte. Read: Lionel Messi's Statement About Man City Prodigy Phil Foden Proves Right With These Stats Read: New York Knicks Could Hire Philadelphia 76ers Elton Brand As Their New GM: Reports As of April 6, the Philippines has recorded at least 3,414 confirmed cases of the coronavirus with 152 fatalities. However, according to the police report, the suspect was first cautioned by a worker in the village for not wearing a mask to prevent COVID-19 spread. Image Credits: AP Americans braced for what the nation's top doctor warned Sunday would be the hardest and saddest week of their lives while Britain assumed the unwelcome mantle of deadliest coronavirus hot spot in Europe after a record 24-hour jump in deaths that surpassed even hard-hit Italy's. Britain's own prime minister, Boris Johnson, was hospitalized, 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19 in what his office described as a precautionary step. Amid the dire news, there were also glimmers of hope some hard-hit areas the number of people dying appeared to be slowing in New York City, Spain and Italy. The was cautiously welcomed by leaders, who also noted that any gains could easily be reversed if people did not continue to adhere to strict lockdowns. US Surgeon General Jerome Adams offered a stark warning about the expected wave of virus deaths. This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment,'' he told Fox Sunday. But President Donald Trump later suggested the hard weeks ahead could foretell the turning of a corner. We're starting to see light at the end of the tunnel, Trump said at an evening White House briefing. In New York City, the U.S. epicenter of the pandemic, daily deaths dropped slightly, along with intensive care admissions and the number of patients who needed breathing tubes inserted, but New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned it was too early to tell the significance of those numbers. Italy and Spain also got some encouraging Italy registered its lowest day-to-day increase in deaths in more than two weeks 525, said Angelo Borrelli, the head of the national Civil Protection agency. The pace of infection also seemed to be slowing. Even so, Borrelli warned, This good news shouldn't make us drop our guard." Confirmed infections fell in Spain, too, and new deaths declined for the third straight day, dropping to 674 the first time daily deaths have fallen below 800 in the past week. The outlook, however, was bleak in Britain, which reported more than 600 deaths Sunday, surpassing Italy's increase. Italy still has, by far, the world's highest coronavirus death toll almost 16,000. In a rare televised address, Queen Elizabeth II appealed to Britons to rise the occasion, while acknowledging enormous disruptions, grief and financial difficulties. I hope in the years to come, everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge, she said. And those who come after us will say that the Britons of this generation were as strong as any. Johnson, meanwhile, has been hospitalized, though his office said it was not an emergency and that the 55-year-old Conservative will undergo tests. There are concerns that Johnson's government did not take the virus seriously enough at first and that spring weather will tempt Britons and others to break social distancing rules. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the U.K. might even ban outdoor exercise if people still ''flout the rules.'' The vast majority of people are following the public health advice, which is absolutely critical, and staying at home," Hancock told Sky TV. "But there are a small minority of people who are still not doing that it's quite unbelievable, frankly, to see that. As the numbers of infections rose, Saffron Cordery, the deputy head of Britain's National Health Service Providers, said the agency needed to focus on quickly increasing ventilator capacity and getting more protective equipment for health care workers. Italians have not been immune to lure of the good weather, either. Top Italian officials took to national television after photos were published showing huge crowds out shopping. Health Minister Roberto Speranza told RAI state television that all the sacrifices Italians have made since the nationwide lockdown began risked being reversed. Restrictions on movement vary from country to country, state to state, locality to locality. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [April 06, 2020] Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP Announce Proposed Settlement in the EverQuote Securities Litigation The following statement is being issued by Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP regarding the EverQuote Securities Litigation: SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK: COMMERCIAL DIVISION X Index No. 651177/2019 : CLASS ACTION In re EVERQUOTE, INC. SECURITIES LITIGATION : : This Document Relates To: : ALL ACTIONS. : : X SUMMARY NOTICE OF PROPOSED SETTLEMENT OF CLASS ACTION TO: ALL PERSONS WHO PURCHASED OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRED EVERQUOTE, INC. ("EVERQUOTE" OR THE "COMPANY") COMMON STOCK PURSUANT OR TRACEABLE TO THE COMPANY'S REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS ISSUED IN CONNECTION WITH EVERQUOTE'S JUNE 2018 INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING ("IPO" OR "JUNE 2018 IPO")1 THIS NOTICE WAS AUTHORIZED BY THE COURT. IT IS NOT A LAWYER SOLICITATION. PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY AND IN ITS ENTIRETY. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that a hearing will be held on June 11, 2020, at 2:30 p.m., before the Honorable Andrew Borrok, J.S.C., Supreme Court of New York, County of New York: Commercial Division, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007, to determine whether: (1) the proposed settlement (the "Settlement") of the above-captioned Action as set forth in the Stipulation of Settlement ("Stipulation")2 for $4,750,000 in cash should be approved by the Court as fair, reasonable and adequate; (2) the Judgment as provided under the Stipulation should be entered; (3) to award Plaintiffs' Counsel attorneys' fees and expenses out of the Settlement Fund (as defined in the Notice of Proposed Settlement of Class Action ("Notice"), which is discussed below), and, if so, in what amount; (4) to award Plaintiffs for representing the Settlement Class out of the Settlement Fund and, if so, in what amount; and (5) the Plan of Allocation should be approved by the Court as fair, reasonable and adequate. This Action is a consolidated securities class action brought on behalf of those persons who purchased or acquired EverQuote common stock pursuant or traceable to the Registration Statement and Prospectus for EverQuote's IPO, against EverQuote and certain of its officers and directors and the IPO's underwriters (collectively, "Defendants") for, among other things, allegedly misstating and omitting material facts from the Registration Statement and Prospectus filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the IPO. Plaintiffs allege that these purportedly false and misleading statements inflated the price of the Company's stock, resulting in damage to Settlement Class Members when the truth was revealed. Defendants deny all of Plaintiffs' allegations. IF YOU PURCHASED OR ACQUIRED EVERQUOTE COMMON STOCK BETWEEN JUNE 28, 2018 THROUGH AND INCLUDING FEBRUARY 15, 2019, YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE SETTLEMENT OF THIS ACTION. To share in the distribution of the Settlement Fund, you must establish your rights by submitting a Proof of Claim and Release form ("Proof of Claim") by mail (postmarked no later than June 25, 2020) or electronically (no later than June 25, 2020). Your failure to submit your Proof of Claim by June 25, 2020, will subject your claim to rejection and preclude your receiving any of the recovery in connection with the Settlement of this Action. If you are a member of the Settlement Class and do not request exclusion therefrom, you will be bound by the Settlement and any judgment and release entered in the Action, including, but not limited to, the Judgment, whether or not you submit a Proof of Claim. If you have not received a copy of the Notice, which more completely describes the Settlement and your rights thereunder (including your right to object to the Settlement), and a Proof of Claim, you may obtain these documents, as well as a copy of the Stipulation (which, among other things, contains definitions for the defined terms used in this Summary Notice) and other settlement documents, online at www.EverQuoteSecuritiesLitigation.com, or by writing to: EverQuote Securities Litigation Settlement Claims Administrator c/o Gilardi & Co. LLC P.O. Box (News - Alert) 43353 Providence, RI 02940-3353 Inquiries should NOT be directed to Defendants, the Court, or the Clerk of the Court. Inquiries, other than requests for the Notice or for a Proof of Claim, may be made to Lead Counsel: ROBBINS GELLER RUDMAN & DOWD LLP Ellen Gusikoff Stewart 655 West Broadway, Suite 1900 San Diego, CA (News - Alert) 92101 Telephone: 1-800-449-4900 IF YOU DESIRE TO BE EXCLUDED FROM THE SETTLEMENT CLASS, YOU MUST SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR EXCLUSION SUCH THAT IT IS POSTMARKED BY MAY 28, 2020, IN THE MANNER AND FORM EXPLAINED IN THE NOTICE. ALL MEMBERS OF THE SETTLEMENT CLASS WHO HAVE NOT REQUESTED EXCLUSION FROM THE SETTLEMENT CLASS WILL BE BOUND BY THE SETTLEMENT EVEN IF THEY DO NOT SUBMIT A TIMELY PROOF OF CLAIM. IF YOU ARE A SETTLEMENT CLASS MEMBER, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT TO THE SETTLEMENT, THE PLAN OF ALLOCATION, THE REQUEST BY PLAINTIFFS' COUNSEL FOR AN AWARD OF ATTORNEYS' FEES AND EXPENSES, AND/OR THE AWARDS TO PLAINTIFFS FOR REPRESENTING THE SETTLEMENT CLASS. ANY OBJECTIONS MUST BE FILED WITH THE COURT AND SENT TO LEAD COUNSEL AND DEFENDANTS' COUNSEL BY MAY 28, 2020, IN THE MANNER AND FORM EXPLAINED IN THE NOTICE. DATED: March 6, 2020 BY ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NEW YORK: COMMERCIAL DIVISION THE HONORABLE ANDREW BORROK, J.S.C. 1For purposes of this Settlement only, the Settlement Class includes all persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired EverQuote common stock between June 28, 2018 and February 15, 2019, inclusive. 2The Stipulation can be viewed and/or obtained at www.EverQuoteSecuritiesLitigation.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005001/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Bollywood producer Karim Moranis daughter Shaza has tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, the Morani family has been placed in quarantine. Morani has backed many Bollywood films like Chennai Express, Dilwale, Dum, Ra.One and Happy New Year among others. Confirming the detection of coronavirus in Shaza, BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) corporator Renu Hansraj told SpotboyE, The entire Morani house is under lockdown. There are 9 people living in that building. All will be tested tomorrow. We shall take all steps to be extremely co-operative with them. Other family members have also been put in home quarantine in their Juhu house to prevent the spread of the contagious virus, the report added. Before admitting his daughter to the hospital, Karim had sent a text message to his friends. My daughter Shaza has not mingled with any foreign travellers and had no COVID-19 symptoms at all. It is my duty to inform you as we are law-abiding citizens. We are admitting her in Nanavati Hospital to be kept under isolation. The municipal authorities will be here, tomorrow, at 10:30 pm," quoted the report as saying. Shaza has worked as an assistant director in movies like Always Kabhi Kabhi, produced by Shah Rukh Khan, and Happy New Year starring Shah Rukh, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Jackie Shroff among others. As of Monday morning, the number of coronavirus cases rose to 4067 in India with the pandemic claiming 109 lives. Follow @News18Movies for more Huw Edwards has revealed he has been in hospital with pneumonia and warned everyone to 'keep safe and follow the stay at home coronavirus guidelines. The BBC newsreader, 58, was treated at Kings College Hospital in Camberwell, London, but is set to return to screens in the coming days. Mr Edwards uploaded a post to Twitter that read: 'Big thanks to @KingsCollegeNHS for superb care #pneumonia I'll be back at @BBCNews this week keep safe everyone and follow the guidelines #StayHomeSaveLives.' The broadcaster did not say whether he had tested positive for coronavirus during his hospital admission. But well-wishers including Sky News' Alistair Bruce sent their good thoughts to him on Twitter and congratulated him on 'conquering' the killer bug. Huw Edwards has revealed he has been in hospital with pneumonia and warned everyone to 'keep safe and follow the guidelines' Mr Bruce wrote: 'Huw, really good news that you have conquered this vile pestilence and our thanks to those that fought with you. #NHSheroes.' It comes as the NHS continues to be stretched amid the coronavirus epidemic. Pneumonia is an inflammation of the tissue in one or both lungs usually caused by a bacterial infection. Symptoms include a cough, high temperature, difficulty breathing and a rapid heartbeat, according to the NHS. The BBC newsreader, 58, is being treated at Kings College Hospital in Camberwell, London, but is set to return to screens in the coming days Mr Edwards went on a health kick last year and dropped from 16 to 13 stone since overhauling his workouts, and now boxes three times a week. His makeover began last year when he started a fitness regime with ex-boxer Clinton McKenzie. Edwards has since attracted hundreds of compliments from fans online and gained 26,000 Instagram followers. In 2012 he admitted 'always being on a diet' because of his job, saying: 'I am one of those people who can put on weight simply by looking at a Twix.' In an interview with the Mail in 2012 he said he no major health problems and the worst issue he had was when his appendix burst when he was 30. He said: 'I felt relatively calm until the doctors started to look panicky. Its an experience I will never forget as it took several weeks to recover from the emergency operation'. Myanmar migrant workers who returned from jobs in nearby China sit outside a building in the Mongla region of eastern Myanmar's Shan state, April 3, 2020. Up to 400 migrant workers returning to Myanmar from China amid the spread of the coronavirus are stranded near the border in Shan state, where authorities have blocked access to roads and are forcing them to remain during a mandatory 14-day quarantine period, two of the laborers said Sunday. The workers said they are living outside on streets in the Mongla area near a border crossing because Myanmar authorities prevented them from traveling onward after they returned to Myanmar on April 3 from jobs in the China-Myanmar border area. Around 200 of us are in trouble in Mongla, said migrant worker Aung Win. We are appealing [to the Myanmar government] for help. The hotel costs are so high here. We dont have any cash. Local authorities have blocked access to the main road under government orders, he added. Myanmar migrant worker Nyunt Htay Hlaing put the number of stranded laborers at roughly 300, though an RFA reporter at the scene estimated that there were 400 workers. There are around 300 migrant workers here, he told RFA. We have no food or drinks and no place to stay. Theyve blocked access to roads but have made no arrangements for stranded travelers. The Chinese police helped us get to the China-Myanmar border, but the authorities here wont let us proceed, he added. They said they would talk to their superiors to see about letting us go. They said all roads are closed and that we have to stay here, Nyunt Htay Hlaing said. Most of the laborers are from Yangon and Bago regions, and from western Myanmars Rakhine state. When RFA contacted the liaison officer of Shan State Special Region 4, as the Mongla area is formally known, based in the town of Kengtung, he said he had no information about how local authorities are handling returning migrant workers. As of Monday, Mongla region government authorities began providing some food and accommodations for the workers and are now conducting medical checks on them, Aung Win said. Officials from the military, the police force, lawmakers, and Health Department personnel visited the stranded workers Monday afternoon and provided food, Nyunt Htay Hlaing said. On March 18, Myanmars Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the closure of all border checkpoints to foreign tourists as a preventive measure against the coronavirus, though workers have been permitted to return. Stuck for 14 days Myo Tun, Shan states minister for social affairs and chairman of the local Coronavirus Protection and Treatment Committee, said authorities in the Mongla region informed his office that the migrant workers must remain in place for two weeks of medical observation to ensure they do not have the virus, officially known as COVID-19. The authorities in Mongla told us that the migrant workers passing through the region will be quarantined for 14 days, and then they will be allowed to go, he told RFA, Township administration employees will help them make arrangements for their return journeys. Mongla authorities have temporarily banned visitors from entering the region and said that Myanmar nationals who want to enter the region must inform them of their plans three days in advance. Since March 29, everyone entering the Mongla region has been subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine at their own expense. Tens of thousands of Myanmar migrant workers have returned to the country from neighboring China and Thailand after factories there temporarily shut down amid the spread of the contagious virus. Now additional migrant workers are returning following the issuance of restrictive measures by China. Some Chinese employers also are asking their foreign laborers to return home as a preventive measure. As of Monday, Myanmar registered 22 confirmed cases of the coronavirus with one death. The latest confirmed case is a 51-year-old woman who has been quarantined in Myanmar since her arrival from the United States on March 26, the Myanmar Times reported, citing information from the Ministry of Health and Sports. Her 24-year-old daughter with whom she was quarantined at a hotel in Yangons Botataung township tested positive earlier for the virus after both of them and the 51-year-olds son returned to Myanmar via South Korea and Thailand. The son has remained COVID-19 free, the report said. Myanmar military personnel wearing protective clothing disinfect a Hindu temple as a preventive measure to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the capital Naypyidaw, April 1, 2020. Credit: AFP Swiss woman recovering A Swiss national Myanmars seventh confirmed coronavirus case who is recovering in a hospital in the capital Naypyidaw has now tested negative for COVID-19, deputy mayor Ye Min Oo told RFA on Monday. The woman works for the United Nations and flew from Geneva, Switzerland, to Yangon via Bangkok on March 18, he said. She was taken to Naypyidaw General Hospital on March 26 after she came down with COVID-19 symptoms. After being treated for 10 days, she has tested negative, but the Health Ministry is monitoring her condition, and she will undergo more tests, Ye Min Oo said. A military guest house in the capital meanwhile has been turned into a temporary shelter for hundreds of civilian residents who have returned from other regions and countries and must undergo Myanmars mandatory quarantine. More than 830 people are under quarantine at the No. 3 Military Interrogation Centers Guest House, as well as at the Municipal Guest House and in Naypyidaw hospitals. Kyaw Thura, a volunteer from a civil society group in the Naypyidaw region's Pyinmana township, said workers are going to villages surrounding the city and disinfecting them so that villagers do not transmit the virus to people in urban areas. Naypyidaw is not like Yangon and Mandalay, he said. It is connected to villages, [and] about 80 percent of those who work in shops and supermarkets in Pyinmana are from villages around the city. They come to the city every day to work. People from the villages can be carriers. Thats why we have disinfected the villages. Lockdown in Sagaing The central government has ordered further restrictions on peoples movements, including lockdown orders, a ban on public gatherings, and the temporarily suspension of public transportation in some cities as preventive measures. Government officials in northwestern Myanmars Sagaing region ordered a two-week lockdown starting April 7 in a bid to contain the spread of the virus, ordering residents to remain at home and only go out to buy food or receive medical care. Those who must travel to other states or regions in response to emergency situations must first obtain permission from the regional government. The regional government is providing food and funds to its 34 townships to pay for their daily operations, though bus transportation will be temporarily suspended, and hotels, inns, parks, and playgrounds will be closed, said Lar Htaung Htan, Sagaings minister of Chin ethnic affairs. We have already arranged for food rations and will provide 8 million kyats (U.S. $5,200) to each of the four largest townships and 5 million kyats (U.S. $3,250) to the rest, he said. There will be donation centers in the townships. One Sagaing bus line manager told RFA that Monday was the last day for service and that the business would fully reimburse riders for their unused tickets. Another resident of the region expressed concern over the duration of the lockdown. We dont know how long the regional governments lockdown will last, said the person who declined to be identified. Weve bought a lot of food, but were worried that the lockdown will last much too long. Central Myanmars Mandalay region declared a similar lockdown beginning Monday and running until April 21, while Yangon region officials have announced a lockdown from April 10 to 19. Myanmar's national-level COVID-19 response team said Monday that the government will provide basic food and an electricity subsidy for those without regular incomes during the 10-day Thingyan New Year holiday that begins on April 10. Reported by Kan Thar, Thiha Tun, Thet Su Aung, Waiyan Moe Myint, and Thant Zin Oo for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung, Khet Mar, and Maung Maung Nyo. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Queen Elizabeth addresses Brits as coronavirus spreads Excluding her yearly Christmas messages, it is only the fifth special televised broadcast the longest-reigning monarch has given in her 65-year-reign. Queen Elizabeth II addressed the UK and Commonwealth on Sunday amid the coronavirus outbreak. Together we are tackling this disease and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it, she said. We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again, she said. "WE WILL SUCCEED" The Queen, 93, pre-recorded the message earlier in the week. It was broadcast at 8 p.m. local time. It was recorded at the Windsor Castle, where she is staying with her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, 98. The Queen thanked staff in the countrys National Health Service, saying: I want to thank everyone on the NHS frontline, as well as care workers and those carrying out essential roles, who selflessly continue their day-to-day duties outside the home in support of us all. I am sure the nation will join me in assuring you that what you do is appreciated and every hour of your hard work brings us closer to a return to more normal times. The moments when the UK has come together to applaud its care and essential workers will be remembered as an expression of our national spirit, she said. The Queen instilled a sense of hope and pride in her country and commonwealth, saying: "We will succeed - and that success will belong to every one of us. I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge." Israelis who keep beards for religious reasons to get custom-made masks, as coronavirus infections rise. Israelis who keep beards for religious reasons will get the option of custom-made face masks to protect them from the coronavirus rather than being asked to shave, a government official said on Monday. As part of measures to combat the pandemic, Israeli authorities last week told people to cover their mouths and noses in public. Many of the countrys Jews and Muslims, and some Christian religious leaders, wear beards as a mark of faith, and the government order raised questions as to how facial hair would be accommodated. Health Ministry Associate Director-General Itamar Grotto said masks would be adapted accordingly. We are creating an industrial certification for masks, which means that in a few days there will really be masks of different sizes, he told Army Radio. [So] those with beards will be able to use the appropriate masks. A spokesman for Israels Chief Rabbinate has said it might consider issuing a ruling asking religious Jews to shave if the ministry were to deem it necessary. Grotto said seeking a rabbinical dispensation to remove facial hair was not on the agenda right now. Under-testing Palestinian citizens Palestinian citizens of Israel, who comprise about 20 percent of the countrys population, have felt left out of the countrys protective measures to fight the coronavirus, according to Member of the Knesset Ahmad Tibi of the Joint List, a coalition of predominantly Arab parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel in parliament. The coalition has 15 seats in the current 120-seat Knesset. Tibi, a doctor by profession, told Al Jazeera that in the initial few weeks of the spread of the pandemic the state did not conduct rigorous testing. He accused the Israeli authorities of not implementing strong health measures to safeguard Arab towns and cities as it has done with Jewish towns. Tibi commended Palestinian doctors and other health professionals working in Israeli hospitals for being on the forefront of the Israeli fight against the coronavirus pandemic. In Israel, at least 51 people have died and 8,611 people have been infected with the virus that has killed nearly 70,000 people worldwide. Tibi said that infections within the Palestinian population were very low compared with the national average, but added that Palestinian citizens were under-tested and under-reported. In the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Authority spokesman Ibrahim Milhim said there were a total of 252 cases of infections in Palestine, including 40 children. Yeh Hai Mohabbatein actor Aditi Bhatia is unable to return to her hometown from Los Angeles due to the lockdown in India. Read the details here The total number of coronavirus cases in India has now crossed 3000. Though the entire country is under lockdown and the public is advised to stay at home to avoid the transmission of the virus. Some citizens of the country are still stuck in foreign lands due to the lockdown and the outbreak. Recently, the reports revealed that Yeh Hai Mohabaatein star Aditi Bhatia, popularly known as Ruhi in the show, had traveled to the US for attending an acting workshop on February 14. Later, even after her course got ended, she decided to stay back for a few more days to meet her childhood friends and was supposed to return on March 5 after exploring Los Angeles. But due to coronavirus outbreak, everything got changed not just in foreign lands but in India as well. She revealed that she got a call from her airlines that her flight has been canceled due to the lockdown in India. Later, Aditi Bhatia also revealed that during such crises, it is very important to be in your hometown. She added that she will quarantine herself for 14 days but currently she is homesick and even the thought of traveling has become scary for her due to the increasing number of cases in the US. She added that lockdown with your family is great rather than being alone in such a time. Also Read: Coronavirus lockdown: Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Randeep Hooda, Shreya Ghoshal, Kangana Ranaut, light lamps, diyas, candles to fight darkness of COVID-19 pandemic The 20-year-old actress also added that some time back even her mother traveled to Philadelphia to meet her aunt. Post to which, she was supposed to meet her but she canceled her flight as traveling is not safe currently and it is better to be stuck and be safe. For all the latest Entertainment News, download NewsX App The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to install close circuit television (CCTV) cameras at major religious places in the state in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Monday. Thakur said the deputy ioners concerned would provide details of such religious places in their respective districts so that CCTV cameras could be installed at the earliest. A Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin last month is being blamed for the surge in coronavirus cases in the country. The chief minister held a video conference with all the deputy commissioners, superintendents of police and chief medical officers from Shimla to take stock of the situation. He said the 12 people who returned to Himachal Pradesh after attending the Tablighi Jamaat congregation and their 52 primary contacts would be tested for coronavirus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In August, months before the first case of the new coronavirus was documented, some of Colorados top health officials gathered in a room at the state Department of Public Health and Environment to train for a pandemic. The hypothetical scenario: A highly infectious and lethal new virus had jumped from animals to humans in China and was now being spread across the globe by travelers. A month-and-a-half after the first person infected with the virus was identified in the United States, the state is seeing a rising number of cases, and national estimates are that the virus could sicken more than 100 million people and kill more than 500,000 by the time its all over. The nationwide Crimson Contagion exercise (under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) this past summer was the kind of regular training that used to provide reassurance the nation would be ready should a pandemic ever hit our shores. The training pulled together 19 federal departments and agencies, 12 states including Colorado, 74 local health departments, 15 tribal nations and 87 hospitals. And it gave each of those entities an early and eerily prescient chance to practice how to respond to the situation they all now face. But, in retrospect, the training also revealed the flawed assumptions that informed state and national preparedness for decades and have now made the United States a global epicenter for the coronavirus pandemic. The country was not prepared to scale up testing fast enough for a new virus. Its national stockpile of medical supplies wasnt equipped to handle large requests from many states at the same time. Colorado health leaders are now speaking more bluntly about how the nations pandemic planning did not anticipate the challenges of the coronavirus. None of this is built around the fact that were all going to get hit at once and there is no federal support, said Scott Bookman, CDPHEs incident commander for the response to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. The federal system has failed us here. There is another reason that the state and federal governments developed blind spots in pandemic planning, a simple theme that ties together many of the problems that have hindered response to the coronavirus: We were preparing for the wrong virus. Focus on Flu Colorados official document for pandemic response is called the CDPHE Pandemic Influenza Plan. The draft executive orders that a special committee had prewritten for the governor to potentially sign during a pandemic all focused on influenza. Even the virus in the Crimson Contagion exercise was a hypothetical new strain of flu. We sort of tend to plan for what we know, said Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. And, in terms of pandemics that weve seen in the past century, theyve largely involved influenza. The pandemics of 1918, 1957, 1968, all caused by strains of influenza, were most on officials minds as they developed pandemic plans in the early 2000s. Nuzzo said theres usually three flu pandemics per century, and, by 2004, health officials had become concerned that another one was overdue. Thus kicked off what Nuzzo described as a modern high point for pandemic planning in 2004, 2005 and 2006 all of it focused on the flu. That paid off during the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic. But when that pandemic wasnt as bad as feared and when pandemic preparedness ran smack into a worldwide shift toward tighter government budgets during the Great Recession pandemic planning kind of stopped evolving, she said. I think that led to some complacency, she said. The nations strategic stockpile of medical supplies withered. And plans didnt expand to consider how to respond to pandemics caused by different kinds of viruses even though outbreaks of SARS and MERS had shown that coronaviruses were fully capable of causing pandemics. Nuzzo and her colleagues have been warning for years that coronaviruses and other kinds of viruses should be considered in pandemic planning. In October, they published a report called the Global Health Security Index, which examined nations readiness for a pandemic. Among their findings was that countries pandemic plans focused heavily on the flu. Only 5% of nations had a plan in place to share genetic data or clinical specimens for viruses that werent influenza. There exists a stark disparity between the level of readiness for pandemic influenza and other potential high-impact respiratory pathogens, Nuzzo and colleagues wrote in a different report, published in September. It is important to more fully understand the systems that have been built for influenza and consider the extent to which they would be of value for responding to other high-impact respiratory pathogens. Nuzzo said many of the systems put in place to respond to a flu pandemic will work for other kinds of pandemics, as well. For instance, ventilators and critical-care capacity at hospitals are vital for both flu and coronavirus pandemics. But Nuzzo said its also clear that a pandemic caused by a virus other than flu is more difficult to respond to. Take, for example, medicines and vaccines. There are already antiviral drugs that work against the flu, so they would give doctors an obvious weapon to blunt a pandemic caused by a new strain of flu. The Crimson Contagion exercise assumed as much, making its hypothetical new flu virus susceptible to drugs like Tamiflu, according to a federal report on the exercise obtained by The New York Times. Similarly, not only are there already vaccines against the flu but there is also a flu vaccine industry, Nuzzo said. That means theres already a research base from which to adapt a vaccine for a new flu strain and there are factories with the equipment needed to produce that new vaccine in large quantities. None of that exists for the new coronavirus, she said. Research that had begun on a vaccine for the SARS virus which was a coronavirus similar to the current one petered out shortly after its epidemic did. Without a virus actively menacing the globe, there was no market for private industry to continue developing a vaccine, Nuzzo said. So, while a vaccine for a new strain of flu could be ready in as little as six to eight months, Nuzzo and other experts have said a vaccine for the new coronavirus could take as long as 18 months. And then companies will need to scale up their capacity to produce that vaccine in large enough quantities to meet global demand. Its a very different timeline to get to immunity than we have with influenza, she said. Testing for New Virus Perhaps the biggest hindrance caused by the nations and Colorados focus on influenza in prior planning has been testing. Flu tests are plentiful, with results returned quickly, all across the country. Even if they cant automatically identify new types of flu, they serve as a vital early warning signal to the presence of a dangerous new strain. We better know what normal looks like, so when something abnormal happens like a pandemic strain, we can better differentiate, Nuzzo said. But screening for the new coronavirus which required the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop a whole new test has been a constant struggle in the United States. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has said it was a failing for the federal government not to get the test more widely distributed early on. Neither the states nor the federal governments reports on the Crimson Contagion exercise suggest the training focused much on testing. Colorados pandemic plan calls on the state lab, which Bookman also oversees, to increase testing capacity and provide support for other labs to do the same. But Bookman said the system is not designed for CDPHEs lab to bear the entire burden of testing in a pandemic. It has never been the role of public health to do mass sample collection, he said. Its just never been our job. Were doing everything we can to rise to the circumstance. . But its never been a part of our work at this scale. Hospitals have begun to pick up more testing for their own patients, and private labs have begun to gear up to analyze samples from the general public though widespread testing is still far off. But Bookman said the new challenge has become finding health care workers and the equipment needed to protect them who can collect testing samples. That is the single biggest bottleneck in the system, he said. Federal Help Apart from the focus on flu, there are other ways Colorados and the nations pandemic response plans failed to prepare for the current situation. And the Crimson Contagion exercise laid them bare: A lack of coordination between local, state and federal governments for supplies and funding. States experienced multiple challenges requesting resources from the federal government due to a lack of standardized, well-understood, and properly executed resource request processes, the federal after-action report on the exercise concluded. Colorados after-action report, which CDPHE provided to The Colorado Sun, reveals a similar confusion over requesting aid from the federal government and coordinating local efforts. The process for requesting help from other states was unclear. The report says an understanding of whats available from the Strategic National Stockpile needs to be improved. It was clear that resource ordering and sharing is an unfamiliar subject, Colorados report states. No one was quite sure where to look for statewide resources. Colorado has already emptied its state cache of medical supplies to send out to local hospitals and public health agencies, Bookman said. It makes no sense to hold them in a warehouse when they could be distributed now to where they will be needed. But Bookman said the support from the federal government to replenish those supplies has not arrived as Colorado competes against other states for resources that are distributed in uneven fashion. According to the state Health Department, Colorado has received about 99,000 N95 masks, 230,000 surgical masks, 43,000 face shields, 43,000 surgical gowns and 108,000 gloves from the Strategic National Stockpile projected to be enough for about two days worth of operations at Colorado hospitals. Bookman said the states request was multiple orders of magnitude greater than what they sent us. Were working under the assumption that they are going to send us what they can when they can, he said. Defenders of the federal governments response say it is unfair to expect the Strategic National Stockpile to provide for the needs of all 50 states at the same time. It was designed as a stopgap solution in times of local crisis, not a nationwide storehouse. The Strategic National Stockpile is not designed to be the sole solution to these problems, Greg Burel, who directed the stockpile program for more than 12 years, told NBC News. But that underscores the point that Nuzzo and others are making: State and federal governments may have been prepared for a pandemic just not this one. And its why Bookman says the state and local governments, health care providers and everyday Coloradans must work together to make sure the state can squeeze the most out of what it has available. I think what we are learning in the state of Colorado and across the nation today is that a lot of our plans assume there would be surge capacity and assistance coming in from other areas, Bookman said. What we are realizing is that when a pandemic hits everybody all at once, those planning assumptions are no longer true. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics COVID-19 USA Training Development Colorado Despite weeks of warnings from medical professionals, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, that the drug is still unproven, the president continues to stun experts by defying all scientific advice. What do you have to lose? Mr. Trump said in a press briefing on Saturday. I really think they should take it. But its their choice. And its their doctors choice or the doctors in the hospital. But hydroxychloroquine. Try it, if youd like. As a person with lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, three other lesser known autoimmune diseases, chronic asthma and other health issues (Im a bit of an overachiever), I fall into that small percentage of people who are most likely to die from the coronavirus. For the last two months I have been isolating in our tiny New York City apartment, terrified that I would become infected. So far, I have been lucky; Ive not been exposed to it. But now I have to worry about dying from a lack of hydroxychloroquine. Back in 1997 I was a young public defender, one of the original eight attorneys who opened the Bronx Defenders nonprofit. I was working day and night, too busy to worry when I discovered my hair falling out; I chalked it up to stress. When my knees started to swell, I figured it was from standing in the courtroom all day. It wasnt until I couldnt get out of bed that I finally sought medical attention. I was given a diagnosis of lupus and immediately put on hydroxychloroquine, along with some other stronger medications to help calm the flare. Since then, hydroxychloroquine has been my saving grace. Ive been taking it for more than 22 years. I even took the medication while I was pregnant. Conclusive studies not the kind Mr. Trump is citing found that keeping pregnant women with lupus on hydroxychloroquine stabilizes the mother and consequently the fetus. Im not trying to say that my life matters more than others. But I do have a young daughter and loving husband, and while I cant practice law anymore, I do teach narrative medicine, an emerging field in health care, at two medical schools and try to make a positive difference in the world. I am not ready for my flame to be snuffed out. Whoever says that old and sick people would want to die to save our economy is dead wrong. Spread of COVID-19 Slowing in Spain as Daily Rise in Cases, Deaths Declines Minister 16:19 GMT 05.04.2020 MADRID (Sputnik) - The COVID-19 outbreak in Spain may have started to slow as the daily rises in both fatalities and new cases are starting to decline, the country's Health Minister Salvador Illa said at a press conference on Sunday. "Spain is in the process of slowing down the epidemic The data indicates that the quarantine measures are working," Illa stated. The Spanish Ministry of Health on Sunday stated that 6,023 new cases of the disease were confirmed in the 24-hour period up to 19:00 GMT on Saturday, a decrease of 1,003 new positive tests compared to the previous day. Additionally, the ministry announced 674 more deaths on Sunday, a drop from the 809 deaths announced on Saturday. During the press conference, Illa also announced that the Spanish Ministry of Health has distributed 58 million pieces of personal protective equipment, including 28 million protective masks and 1,500 ventilators. According to the emergency measures enacted by the Spanish government, people are only allowed to leave their homes to buy food and medication, travel for work or to a medical facility, or to help those in need. On Saturday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that he would ask parliament to extend the lockdown measures, which have been in force since March 14, until April 26. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Operation Rangdouri Behak was conducted over five days and reflected the determination of the Army not to let the designs of Pakistan succeed. The soldiers were operating in extremely challenging terrain in very high snow levels and over extremely steep slopes in hot pursuit of the terrorists sent by Pakistan. Giving details of the operation in which five personnel of Special Forces lost their lives, Lt Gen BS Raju, Commander of Srinagar-based 15 Corps, said all the five terrorists who were killed came from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. He said the infiltration happened on April 1 early in the morning and the bid was immediately detected by the battalion deployed along LoC and they were given a chase. Despite extremely challenging conditions, the battalion was able to make contact with terrorists at 1 pm and in the brief fire-fight that took place, the terrorists abandoned their heavy loads and bolted down a deep gorge. Lt Gen Raju said by late evening, the formation responsible for that particular area was able to successfully isolate the terrorists in the north along LOC and in the South on the Shamshabari range. "Over the next two days, on April 2 and 3, the formation conducted multiple helicopter and UAV sorties to get better situational awareness. They also used this time to isolate the terrorists both from the east and west," he said. Lt Gen Raju said that on April 4 by mid-day, based on the information available of the likely location of terrorists, special forces were dropped in the close vicinity by helicopters. "As this column was approaching the target area, one of the terrorists, who probably was a guide, started to return back towards the LC and he was neutralised immediately," he said. Lt Gen Raju said that the special forces, who were approaching the target area, were traversing an extremely challenging terrain in very high snow levels and over extremely steep slopes. He said the special forces were able to neutralise the remaining four terrorists. "In this operation, we were able to recover 5 AK-47 rifles along with its ammunition, two pistols, satellite radio communication equipment, VHF equipment along with a large quantity of administrative stores," he said. Lt Gen Raju said the operation clearly shows the complicity of Pakistan in aiding and abetting infiltration and, as a consequence, terrorism in the valley. "This act of Pakistan is specially reprehensible as when the whole world is fighting against COVID-19 and its aftermath, here is Pakistan which is aiding and abetting infiltration," he said. The Army commander said that five brave soldiers were martyred in defence of the nation in the operation. "I would also like to take this opportunity on all behalf of all ranks of Chinar Corps to pay my tribute to these five men and their families and the sacrifice they have made is in the true spirit and highest traditions of Indian Army. I would like to assure countrymen that while you are busy fighting COVID, we deployed along LOC will guard it and allow no mischief by Pakistan," he said. An Army infantry battalion Commanding Officer said that his battalion is deployed on LoC in Kashmir in extremely harsh terrain at 11,000 feet. "On April 1, we detected an infiltration and immediately launched the operation. My boys have been operating day and night in subzero temperatures in inclement weather traversing steep slope of 70-degree gradient, wading through 6 to 10 feet of snow in hot pursuit of the terrorists," he said. He said the sustained operations over the last couple of days, made possible by gritty Indian Army soldiers, persisted with the singular aim of preventing infiltration of terrorists into the hinterland where they may have caused mayhem. "The continuous pursuit led to the neutralisation of five hard-core terrorists. We remain committed in our resolve to guard our border and also ensure zero infiltration," he said. An Indian Army Special Forces soldier, who took part in Op Rangdouri Behak, said they were dropped through helicopter for the final assault and the snow so much that they were into it almost till their chests. "It took us half an hour to get out and check our things. Then we followed their track. We followed the track for four-five hours after which we got their tell-tale signs and then more tactical movement started," he said. He said the terrorists jumped into a nullah when the contact was made. One of the teams realised it was on the cornice and it broke after which they fell into the nullah close to where the terrorists were sitting. "There were two sides, on one side was ours and on the other by Subedar Sanjeev Kumar. Suddenly, a slide happened and two members of Sanjeev Kumarji's team fell. To save them, he too went down and there was an encounter. There was a hand-to-hand encounter. Subedar Sanjeev Kumar held one terrorist closely and was shouting. His buddy also went ahead. Some terrorists were hiding and he was fired upon. He killed both of them. When we saw them in the morning, Subedar Sanjeev Kumar was holding on to a terrorist," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Germany teacher who had cannibalism fantasies is sentenced to life in prison 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 Oil is getting more expensive Mars helicopter Ingenuity preparing for difficult 19th flight Interior ministry: About 8,000 people detained in Kazakhstan Earthquake hits Armenia-Azerbaijan border zone Researchers create substitute for egg whites from fungus Kazakhstan official information channel removes message about 164 casualties EC says construction of new nuclear power plants in Europe will require 500 billion in investment Ghost ship that sank 343 years ago discovered in US Post-COVID-19 antibodies may attack healthy cells, scientists say Pope says he was praying for Kazakhstan Media: 164 people die in Kazakhstan during riots Peskov: CSTO session does not plan to sign documents yet Criminal cases launched after bomb threat in Armenian, Belarus embassies in Moscow Norwegian military surrender panties before demobilization Iranian MFA says Tehran is ready for talks on downed plane of UIA Ukraine Russian defense minister says information war is on all fronts Several strategic objects in Kazakhstan transferred to CSTO contingent under protection David Minasyan elected head of Armenia's Parakar community Bloomberg: US is considering issue of limiting supply of high-tech products to Russia Armenia reports 142 COVID-19 new cases Council of Elders meeting continues in Armenia's Parakar White House speaks on Blinken statement on Russian peacekeeping troops Armed people detained at border in Kazakhstan Kazakhstan talks stabilization of situation in all regions of country Azerbaijanis demand Armenian soldier change his faith by taking away his cross, Ombudsman says Armenian painter Mher Mansurian dies in France At least 17 killed in Egypt road accident NATO chief announces Russia forces continued buildup in Ukraine Armenian militarys transfer to Kazakhstan is completed Azerbaijan opens fire on military positions near Armenia village Unidentified persons report threat of explosion at Armenia, Belarus embassies in Moscow Putin confers with Pashinyan, Lukashenko on situation in Kazakhstan Zakharova: OSCE has not provided real assistance to reporters who were attacked in Kazakhstan Lukashenko, Putin discuss situation in CSTO member countries Russia's Putin has telephonic conversation with Kazakhstan's Tokayev Quake hits waters off Chile President Tokayev declares national mourning in Kazakhstan on January 10 US diplomats do not leave Kazakhstans Almaty yet 1 more person dies of coronavirus in Karabakh Artsakh resident, 91 found dead near village Russia MFA reacts to Blinken's words about Russian military in Kazakhstan 195 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Kazakhstan security committee ex-chief detained Kazakhstan interior ministry: There are foreigners among those detained in Almaty region Russia continues transporting its peacekeepers to Kazakhstan Kazakhstan launches investigation into 180 retailers of liquefied petroleum gas BMW introduces concept vehicle that can change colors Marella Agnelli might be a role model for thoughtful jewelry buyers. One of Truman Capotes circle of socialite swans and a beacon of jet-set glamour, Ms. Agnelli wore her signature jewel a multistrand necklace of ruby and emerald beads accented with seed pearls from the 1950s to her death last year at the age of 91. Valentino Garavani, a friend who designed for Ms. Agnelli long before his first-name-only brand became a global presence, wrote in an email that the necklace was her piece de resistance. When she had a doubt on what to wear, she would pick any dress and wear it with it. Indeed, many photographs over the years show that she paired the necklace with Courreges shift dresses, simple button down shirts and sparkling formal gowns. She received the necklace in 1955, a gift from her husband, Gianni Agnelli, the Italian industrialist who was president of Fiat for 30 years and also known for his style. Kenya Moore's Real Housewives Of Atlanta castmates couldn't help but gossip about her estranged husband Marc Daly's alleged infidelity during this week's episode of the Bravo reality romp. Nene Leakes was ready to talk while meeting up with the ladies at a charity event, telling Porsha Williams and Tanya Sam how she was just reading about Daly's 'multiple affairs' on a blog. In a confessional, Leakes pointed out the irony of Kenya having to deal with her own scandal after butting in to accuse several other castmates' significant others of stepping out. Rumors: Real Housewives Of Atlanta star Nene Leakes gossiped about co-star Kenya Moore's husband's supposed cheating during this week's episode Most recently Moore confronted Sam to tell she'd heard rumors of her fiance flirting with another woman, who was dubbed 'The Cookie Lady.' 'It's very ironic Kenya would bring the cookie lady to face off with Tanya and you got your own cheating mess to deal with,' Nene told the cameras. But Porsha noticed that Moore was still wearing her wedding ring, making her 'hopeful' the relationship could be salvaged. Though Kenya hasn't addressed the cheating rumors on the show, she was adamant about Mark being faithful in other interviews. Kenya later caught up with her Aunt Lisa, who she told she was trying to focus on business in the wake of her separation, and wasn't sure how to go forward with Marc's visitations to Brooklyn, 1. Do tell: Nene Leakes met up with the ladies at a charity event, telling Porsha Williams and Tanya Sam how she was just reading about Daly's 'multiple affairs' on a blog Oh my: The headlines were quite shocking Ironic: In a confessional, Leakes pointed out the irony of Kenya having to deal with her own scandal after butting in to accuse several other castmates' significant others of stepping out 'I don't want him to stay here,' she stressed. In private, the loss of Marc was obviously devastating to her. 'I've never been separated before, and I lost my friend,' Kenya shared. 'I lost being able to communicate with someone every day to make sure they know you're okay and to suffer a loss like that, it's just very difficult.' Lisa told her she wanted her to be happy, and Kenya opined that she could have been happy in her marriage 'if I felt like Marc was in it to be happy as well.' 'One of my issues with him is not being able to have a conversation without yelling or anger or crossing lines,' she recounted. Positive: Porsha noticed that Moore was still wearing her wedding ring, making her 'hopeful' the relationship could be salvaged Venting: Kenya later caught up with her Aunt Lisa, who she told she was trying to focus on business in the wake of her separation, and wasn't sure how to go forward with Marc's visitations to Brooklyn, 1 Only wants the best: Lisa told her she wanted her to be happy, and Kenya opined that she could have been happy in her marriage 'if I felt like Marc was in it to be happy as well' 'I know it's not me. And I know how hard I've fought for this marriage. I stopped caring about feelings and all I was just doing was trying to be everything he wanted me to be, and work through everything as best I could to keep my family together. I just feel like it's always been this block up with him not letting me completely into his life. It's just a lot of things I felt like I was in the dark about.' 'There's a large part of him and the relationship that I was just never privy to,' Kenya told the cameras. 'For example, I'm not allowed to speak to his mother or father. And if you don't know everything about that person's life, you're not being let in.' Kenya told Lisa she wanted her to take care of Brooklyn if anything happened to her. She cried when she thought about her late mother and how sad she'd be if she knew she didn't have someone to care for her anymore, saying she thought her mom had been holding on until she knew Kenya was with someone, meaning Marc. Support: Kenya told Lisa she wanted her to take care of Brooklyn if anything happened to her Feeling betrayed: 'There's a large part of him and the relationship that I was just never privy to,' Kenya told the cameras. 'For example, I'm not allowed to speak to his mother or father. And if you don't know everything about that person's life, you're not being let in' Breaking down: She cried when she thought about her late mother and how sad she'd be if she knew she didn't have someone to care for her anymore, saying she thought her mom had been holding on until she knew Kenya was with someone, meaning Marc Still, Moore was making moves to legally protect herself in case the split becomes official. During the episode Kenya made moves to disinherit ex and protect her daughter Brooklyn. In a estate-planning session with attorney Kristen Rajagopal, Kenya, 49, emphasized that her relationship with Marc, also 49, had flatlined since their October 2019 separation. 'I was hoping that my husband would be open to counseling, which we've discussed many times, but it just never happened,' the haircare mogul admitted, her voice breaking. 'Now, I really have to protect Brooklyn, make sure she's okay.' Legal matters: During the episode Kenya made moves to disinherit ex and protect her daughter Brooklyn Dividing things up: In a estate-planning session with attorney Kristen Rajagopal, Kenya, 49, emphasized that her relationship with Marc, also 49, had flatlined since their October 2019 separation Protective: 'I was hoping that my husband would be open to counseling, which we've discussed many times, but it just never happened,' the haircare mogul admitted, her voice breaking. 'Now, I really have to protect Brooklyn, make sure she's okay' 'Have you given some thought about what you would want things to look like for Brooklyn if something were to happen to you?' Kristen asked. 'Financially speaking, I've already gotten some things in place, but I need to just make sure that it's all in the trust, and I need everything to be handled by one person, and that's my aunt Lisa,' Kenya explained, referring to her father's sister. 'Would you want your husband to be able to access that money at all?' Kristen asked. 'No. No,' Kenya said, shaking her head. 'Because there is no prenup, it's going to be especially important during this time that it's in your documents now,' Kristen said. 'In the event of divorce, he is disinherited from everything.' Hard news: 'Because there is no prenup, it's going to be especially important during this time that it's in your documents now,' Kristen said. 'In the event of divorce, he is disinherited from everything' Decisions: In a confessional, she added, 'If Marc and I choose to move forward with a divorce. I wanna be protected so that I don't have to fight for me to keep the things that I have. I just wanna make sure that things are fair' 'I'm not looking for a payday or anything like that,' Kenya affirmed. 'I mean, I feel like I make more money than him anyway. And I definitely have more assets. So my concern is, I don't want a nasty divorce. I just want him to be able to take care of his child.' In a confessional, she added, 'If Marc and I choose to move forward with a divorce. I wanna be protected so that I don't have to fight for me to keep the things that I have. I just wanna make sure that things are fair.' 'Well, I hope that he will see what it's doing to you and doing to Brooklyn, and realize, 'This is not what I want for my life,' Kristin observed. Kenya teared up and grabbed a tissue to wipe her eyes, saying, 'I'm falling apart. Sorry.' The Real Housewives Of Atlanta returns next week on Bravo. A toddler from Colorado is on the mend after suffering multiple febrile seizures due to coronavirus. Mum Clara Green says one-year-old Natalie has spent most of her life in and out of hospitals due to asthma and the flu. Claras husband Beau was diagnosed with COVID-19 but even though the Greens say their daughter had been a sickly child, they didnt think the novel coronavirus would impact her at such a young age. Clara and Beau Green with their children. Their 1-year-old daughter, Natalie, was diagnosed with COVID-19 and experienced multiple, febrile seizures. (Image via TODAY/Courtesy of Green Family). Originally sharing their story to Facebook, the family went on TV to spread the message that the virus can have serious impacts, even on the very young. We just told the doctors, Hey we have a one-year-old who just doesnt do well with viruses. Is (COVID-19) something we need to worry about? Clara said in an interview with TODAY. And they reassured us, No, shell be fine. Kids arent affected that we know of. So when Natalie came down with a fever, the parents assumed she was teething. Toddler goes into seizures, parents call ambulance The mum treated Natalies fever, but soon the toddler began convulsing and experienced a febrile seizure due to a spike in body temperature. The Greens called an ambulance. She had five or six seizures, which she never had before, and then she was not responsive after, Clara said. Paramedics were informed beforehand that Beau tested positive for COVID-19 and were required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) before entering the house. I felt so bad. My daughter was needing immediate attention and care and they couldnt even come into our house, Clara recalled. They were really concerned and we were scared. Once they arrived at Childrens Hospital Colorado, doctors began running tests on Natalie and took the toddler for a chest X-ray. The hospital didnt have any COVID-19 tests, but when Natalies test results came back negative for other viruses, the family was told by doctors that she was most likely experiencing complications due to the novel coronavirus. The parents said doctors told her they had yet to see any reports of children experiencing febrile seizures to the virus. Story continues Doctors gave Clara instructions on how to care for Natalie and discharged her, explaining that the toddler would be safer at home. Although the seizures stopped and Natalie never experienced a cough or runny nose, the mum said her daughter experienced terrible body aches that no medication could help ease. Natalie Green was diagnosed with COVID-19, and experienced multiple febrile seizures. (Image via TODAY/Courtesy of Green Family). Miserable isnt even the word to describe it. It was like absolutely inconsolable miserable crying, she explained. She was just in absolute pain, which was super sad to see. Theres nothing you can do for the body aches and the rundown feeling. Natalie bounces back after horror symptoms Within a few days, Natalies fever subsided and there was a noticeable change in her temperament, the relieved mother says her daughter is finally happy again. While shes thankful that her daughter is showing signs of improvement, she has become increasingly worried for her husband Beau who, hasnt shown that hes getting better. The stress on the mum of two has taken its toll. While her five-year-old seems completely unaffected and hasnt shown any symptoms, doctors believe Clara may actually have the virus herself. The mother said she hasnt slept in 10 days but wanted to share her story so that people understand the importance of social distancing. We were taking precautions but we were not those people that locked ourselves in the house immediately, Green said. How quickly and how fast it hit my family and affected my child was basically my reason for posting that. If I had a message it is that it can happen to you, too. Lets just be smart. Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com. Local garment factories in the Philippines will start mass-producing much-needed sets of medical-grade personal protective equipment (PPE) to equip health workers in the fight against COVID-19. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, spokesman of the governments task force against COVID-19, said today in a virtual briefing that members of the Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines will start producing 10,000 PPEs a day from April 13. Raw materials for these will be shipped in by this week and the roll-out of production at the garment factories will immediately start after the Holy Week, the spokesman said. For weeks, healthcare workers have lamented the shortage of protective equipment in various hospitals in the country, with the leader of the Philippine Medical Association even saying that the lack of PPEs caused the deaths of at least 17 doctors. At least one hospital in Laguna had to resort to using garbage bags when they ran out of protective equipment. Even the Philippine Government Hospital (PGH) complained about the lack of stable PPE suppliers, and said that they will run out of protective equipment in a few weeks. Nograles said that the design of the PPEs has been approved by the PGH, a hospital that exclusively treats COVID-19 patients. It will include scrub suits, shoe covers, gloves, face shields, and N95 masks. Last week, Nograles also announced that all residents of Luzon will be required to wear face masks such as hankies and reusable cloths when they are out in public to minimize the spread of the disease. The monthlong lockdown imposed over Luzon is expected to end on April 12. However, Nograles said that they are still studying whether to lift or extend the lockdown based on economic factors and if the Philippines is flattening the curve. We will make recommendations to the president, but ultimately he will decide, Nograles said. This article, PH to start mass producing 10,000 protective equipment daily, govt task force says, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters! For hackers who target Windows, the coronavirus pandemic is like Christmas come early. But whats good news for them is bad news for you, piled onto all the other bad news wrought by the pandemic. Undeterred by the crisis indeed, spurred to new heights by it hackers have been coming up with a host of devious ways to use your natural fears in order to infect your Windows PC with malware and ransomware. How bad is it? The security company Malwarebytes calls the pandemic a golden opportunity for threat actors to capitalize on fear, spread misinformation, and generate mass hysteria all while compromising victims with scams or malware campaigns. The hackers bent on doing this range from individuals looking to make as much fast money as possible to governments targeting their adversaries. Malwarebytes notes that government-sponsored hackers from China, North Korea, Russia and Pakistan are exploiting coronavirus fears in order to spy on their enemies. The group APT36, believed to be sponsored by Pakistan, uses spearphishing to trick people worried about the health of their loved ones into downloading a malicious Microsoft Office document that then infects a Windows machine with a remote administration tool (RAT) that lets hackers take control of the computer. The email purports to be an important health advisory about the novel coronavirus, and the downloaded document claims to be an advisory as well. The documents are almost laughably illiterate, containing sentences such as, The outbreak of CORONA VIRUS is cause of concern especially where forign personal have recently arrived or will be arriving at various Intt in near future. But while the hackers grasp of English may be weak, their hacking bona fides are strong. The document drops a RAT on the victims machine, which can then steal private information, capture live screenshots and send it all back to hackers. Its not just government-sponsored hackers who are using coronavirus fears to hack into Windows machines. Forbes notes that millions of people in the U.S. and beyond have been getting similar coronavirus emails. The United Kingdoms National Cyber Security Centre, part of the U.K.s spy agency, warns that criminals are exploiting coronavirus onlineas cyber criminals seek to exploit COVID-19. The World Health Organization cautions that cybercriminals have been sending emails purporting to be from it emails that can infect peoples machines if their links are clicked upon or their attachments downloaded. Similar emails claim to be from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Entire industries are under attack from hackers using these types of Windows-based coronavirus scams and hacks. The security company Proofpoint found that coronavirus-themed ransomware and Trojan cyber-campaigns have targeted U.S. healthcare, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals industries. Proofpoint warns, To date, the cumulative volume of coronavirus-related email lures now represents the greatest collection of attack types united by a single theme that our team has seen in years, if not ever. Weve observed credential phishing, malicious attachments, malicious links, business email compromise (BEC), fake landing pages, downloaders, spam, and malware, among others, all leveraging coronavirus lures. As millions of people have started working from home for the first time because of the need to minimize time spent out in the world, hackers are directly exploiting that as well. Many businesses allow their at-home workers to remotely access enterprise data and resources using Microsofts Windows Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), which has proved to be notoriously insecure. The security company Radware warns, While RDP can be a very effective tool to let users quickly connect to a remote desktop and perform their daily tasks from home, threat actors have been known to leverage RDP as an attack vector for ransomware campaigns. It gained traction in 2018 and by Q1 of 2019, it was by far the most preferred infection vector for ransomware. As a result, the company warns, RDP is one of the most dangerous Windows attack vectors being used by coronavirus hackers. If all this werent bad enough news for Windows users, coronavirus hackers have come up with a particularly insidious attack using phony coronavirus maps that claim to show the extent of the viruss spread across the world. The Next Web reports that hackers have found a way to use these dashboards to inject malware into computers. They design websites that look like maps and dashboards tracking the coronavirus, and prompt people to download an app that will track it. That download, though, contains Windows malware used to steal private data. Microsoft is well aware of all these hacks and is doing what it can to protect against them. It recently announced that, starting in May, it would halt all normal monthly Windows updates so it can focus instead on security updates. Microsoft explained its decision this way: We have been evaluating the public health situation, and we understand this is impacting our customers. In response to these challenges we are prioritizing our focus on security updates. In addition to that, Microsoft has extended support for Windows 10 Enterprise 1709 and Windows 10 Education 1709 by six months, to Oct. 13, from its original end date of April 14. That means it will continue to issue security patches for it. But by itself, Microsoft cant protect you and your company from coronavirus scams. Just as you need to follow health protocols such as social distancing and rigorous hand washing to protect you and others from the coronavirus, you need to follow cybersecurity protocols for protecting your machine, and the machines of others, from coronavirus malware. That means updating all of your software with the latest security patches, particularly for Windows and Office. It means not clicking on email links or downloading files unless you are absolutely sure not only that you know who sent it, but also that the sender is reliable and has a machine that hasnt been infected. It means making sure your company has the latest security patches installed and trains all employees in cybersecurity. Do those things, and youll be able to fight coronavirus hackers, much as you are fighting the coronavirus itself. This week Foreign Correspondent takes an epic journey across Antarctica with a crack team of scientists on a mission to unlock our planets secret history. They hope clues from the earths pre-industrial past will illuminate our climate future. Its a mission six years in the making. A top team of scientists from the USA and Australia are finally realising their dream: theyre heading to a remote corner of the Antarctica to execute an ambitious plan. They want to drill hundreds of metres deep into the earths frozen past in a bid to illuminate its not-so-frozen future. We need to see how the atmosphere has handled the emissions that we have thrown at it, says CSIROs Dr David Etheridge. The teams destination is Law Dome, a mountain of ice holding a precious, pristine climate archive stretching back over 80,000 years. To reach the site, the scientists must first haul hundreds of tonnes of equipment on sleds 130 kilometres from their base at Casey Station, then set up a high-tech lab for three months on ice. Their quarry is tiny: individual atoms that should reveal the truth about the detergent of the atmosphere. It really is a question of increasing the sum of human knowledgein terms of climate science and ultimately the future of our planet, says Dr Andrew Smith from Australias nuclear research organisation ANSTO. Film-maker Dr Richard Smith was embedded with the scientists and his brother Andrew recording them as they carry out extraordinary work in the most extreme of environments. They endure snow blizzards and ferocious winds, lose weeks of precious research time in weather lockdown, camp in freezing temperatures and (almost) run out of clean socks. I dont want to just come down here for a jolly. Spend three months of my life toiling away drilling ice, says glaciologist Dr Peter Neff. I want to do it so that we have the best information with what we can expect from the atmosphere and its influence on us as people living on Earth. Theyre mining for air as old as Ned Kelly and Edisons light-bulb. It will be taken back to Sydney for analysis at ANSTO where the team hopes it will yield crucial missing information about how well we can expect the atmosphere to clean itself in the years ahead. This is certainly a very unique and a very difficult experiment that were undertaking, says the understated Dr Smith. It may not work. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Antarctica in summer, this program showcases the passion and commitment of a dedicated team of scientists, seeking to give us all a clearer view of an uncertain future. Tuesday 7 April at 8pm on ABC. In developing countries around the world, the demand for skilled and adaptive workers is growing. Rapid technological advances, as well as other forces, such as rising economic nationalism, threaten to disrupt the traditional development path from agriculture to manufacturing to a knowledge-based economy. As a result, developing countries must find a way to enhance their own innovation capabilities. If the workforce has insufficient soft skills and critical-thinking capabilities, however, that will be exceedingly tough to do. Vietnam has made a bold move to address the challenge. In 2018, the Vietnam government, in partnership with the US government, created a new, independent, nonprofit university to bring the American tradition of liberal arts education to Vietnam. The new school, Fulbright University Vietnam, will graduate its first class in 2023. The American model of liberal arts education must be modified in light of the context of the country in which such a university will operate. BCGs work with the founding team to develop the value proposition and operating and financial models, and the subsequent preparation and codesign phases, revealed powerful insights. First, although the American style of liberal arts education is highly valued around the world, the model must be modified in light of the context of the country in which the new university will operate. Second, it is critical to attract the right group of students, faculty, and staff to create the culture required to make the university thrive. Third, students should be integrated into the design process to develop and refine an outstanding curriculum and overall university experience. The culture the university has built in a short period of time has allowed it to respond and adapt to the disruption created by the COVID-19 outbreak, including by accelerating plans to offer online courses in partnership with universities around the world, such as Princeton University and American University of Central Asia. Other governments exploring the feasibility of building new universities from the ground up would do well to study and learn from the Fulbright model. A Market Imbalance Fulbright University Vietnam addresses a significant gap in Vietnam: large demand for top-tier higher education but limited supply, resulting in some 130,000 Vietnamese students enrolled abroada figure that has been growing at a clip of 15% per year. The new institution offers an educational experience built on cross-disciplinary learning, problem-solving and collaboration, and adapts the liberal arts college model to the culture and reality of Vietnam. (See the sidebar Creating the Harvard of Vietnam.) Creating the Harvard of Vietnam Fulbright University Vietnam is the result of more than two decades of education exchange and ongoing reconciliation by American and Vietnamese leaders. Among the notable efforts was the Fulbright Economics Teaching Program (FETP), a joint program between Harvard Universitys Kennedy School of Government and Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics. The program, which was established in 1994 and trained Vietnamese government officials on economics and public policy, played a critical role in guiding Vietnams transition to a market-oriented economy. Building on the track record and success of FETP, the US and Vietnamese governments collaborated to develop Fulbright University Vietnam. The agreement included three critical elements: startup funding from the US government, land in Ho Chi Minh City from the Vietnamese government, and, most important, the promise of independent autonomy in governance and academic freedom. Fulbright is absorbing and building upon FETP to establish Vietnams leading graduate school in public policy, as well as leveraging the FETP reputation to establish a flagship undergraduate program in the liberal arts and sciences. Adapt the Liberal Arts Model to the Local Context Although the founding Fulbright team knew that it wanted to create a vibrant liberal arts institution in Vietnam, just what such an institution should look like was far from clear. So, BCG conducted extensive research to understand the higher-education landscape, the possible positioning of Fulbright, and the views of such key stakeholders as Vietnamese students and parents and higher-education experts from around the world. A Deep-Dive into the Market. We studied a variety of higher-education archetypes, including traditional US liberal arts colleges, such as Amherst and Wellesley; research-based universities, such as Dartmouth College and the University of Texas; smaller community colleges; and newer innovative schools, including Olin College of Engineering and Minerva Schools at KGI. We also held interviews with key leaders and stakeholders and conducted focus groups with students and employers in Vietnam. And we fielded a survey of 2,000 students and parents in roughly 40 cities and provinces. A number of important findings emerged. We determined that the new university should offer an English-centric program with US accreditation and incorporate collaborative team-based work and small group discussionspedagogical approaches nascent in Vietnam. We also identified exchange programs as a valuable offering because research showed that students and parents wanted their education to reach beyond Vietnam. We determined that appropriate tuition levels would need to be financially sustainable for the school but also affordable for any qualified student in Vietnam. Ultimately, tuition was set at a rate that is higher than most other schools in Vietnam. But the university offers need-based financial aida first in the country. The work also revealed a critical challenge: the liberal arts education label did not resonate in Vietnam as it did in other markets because parents and students worried that such an education would not position graduates well in the job market. As a result, Fulbright makes sure to address that concern through its messaging. The university remains firmly committed to the liberal arts approach but communicates how such an educationwhich develops critical-thinking skills through helping students learn to learnis an asset in the job market. Developing the Operating and Financial Models. We set out to design the program on the basis of the clearly defined value proposition. Classes in all years would be mostly small in size, and the later years would include independent research, co-ops, and internships. Those experiential components would be crucial because students would develop skills that are well suited to working in business and government in Vietnam and could start building local networks. This would be a unique differentiator for Fulbright when compared with universities abroad. Though the right operating model was firmly established, the financial model needed to be more flexible. BCG assessed the potential cost structure of the university, including the amount of faculty and administrative staff required depending on different scenarios for student enrollment. We also explored a series of fundraising sources as varied as high net worth individuals, corporations, and public and nonprofit institutions, creating an initial engagement strategy for each. Then we used that insight to create three different scenarios for the initial takeoff of the university, spelling out the adjustments that Fulbright would need to make in each case. Ultimately, a combination of US and local government support, tuition revenue, and philanthropy provided the financial means to launch the university. The operating and financial models created the vision and basic principles for the new university. Then it was up to the Fulbright team to implement the plan, making adjustments and changes according to the actual circumstances in Vietnam. Students and Faculty Create the Culture With the basic blueprint for the university established, the Fulbright team set out to recruit students and faculty who reflectedand would help fosterthe right culture. Fulbright students had to be willing to take a risk on an innovative and unique institution that didnt yet exist. The Fulbright student body needed to be a special group. The team was looking for students who were willing to take a risk on an innovative and unique institution that didnt yet existand that had no current student body, faculty, or campus. The team also needed students who were eager to play a role in shaping Fulbright and willing to embrace an ownership role, rather than being essentially customers of the university. The process of recruiting and selecting those young people started with an all-hands-on-deck campaign to win the hearts and minds of prospective students, their families, and the Vietnamese public. To do so, the Fulbright team needed to overcome three primary obstacles. First, Fulbright was new and not well known, so the team traveled across the country to visit high schools and engaged print and digital media outlets for exposure. Second, given the skepticism about the value of a liberal arts education in Vietnam, the team engaged reputable educators and journalists to earn their visible support (through social media and events), while at the same time hosting demonstration classes for students in key cities to allow them to get a sense of what the educational experience at Fulbright would be like. Third, in a society where need-based financial aid is a new concept, the team sought to inform families across the socioeconomic spectrum of the opportunity and encouraged their children to apply. Fulbright also attracted unique students through a highly differentiated admissions process. Instead of using Vietnams national standardized exam, Fulbright conducted a comprehensive admissions process that included personal essays, the submission of an original piece of work of any medium, and participation in a group interview day that simulated what it would be like for a student to attend and help build Fulbright University Vietnam. At the group interview day, students formed teams and pursued a project, for example constructing a series of paper airplanes that could fly further than those of other teams. The exercise, which required the teams to collaborate, test, and refine their products, helped identify students well suited to the agile culture that would define Fulbright and get those students excited about coming on board to shape the new university. Ultimately, among the hundreds of students who applied, 55 enrolled to form Fulbrights first cohort of undergraduate students, called the Co-Design Year class because they would spend a year prototyping and building various aspects of the university with the faculty. The faculty hiring process similarly aimed to attract instructors who were a match for the new universitys mission and culture. The Fulbright team had applicants conduct classes in front of groups of potential students, collecting feedback from those students on how compelling and engaging the instructors were. In addition to interviews with the Fulbright leadership, each faculty candidate also gave a talk outlining the impact they could have on, and the unique contribution they could bring to, the university. The Fulbright team was looking for creative and driven faculty who had a vision for the type of class and program they would create at the school and who would thrive with a high degree of autonomy and responsibility. Through the process, they found and hired 15 founding faculty members who would join the Co-Design Year students in building the universitys academic program. In parallel with recruiting students and faculty, the Fulbright team began work on the design and construction of the new campus. With the goal of creating a modern, sustainable, and connected campus, Fulbright brought in a leading New York architecture firm, which specialized in designing world-class facilities for technology companies, to work in partnership with a local architectural firm that had a deep understanding of the local context. Iterate and Refine Through Codesign The new faculty and student body drove the next, and perhaps most critical, stage: prototyping and developing the university. That process borrowed from the creative approach taken by Olin, which recruited 30 students to spend six months testing and brainstorming the development of the new schools curriculum and student life. Fulbright embraced the approach and formally launched the Co-Design Year in fall 2018. Architects for the campus interviewed students and faculty to integrate their input into the design. Fulbrights 55 students and 15 faculty members were sorted into teams to help shape everything from student life to the curriculum. Some teams helped to develop the activities that were integrated into dorm life and established student clubs and organizations, such as the debate, film, and business clubs15 of them in the first year alone. Other teams tested and refined class offerings. That process was designed to answer two key questions: What elements of the traditional liberal arts style of education should be incorporated into Fulbright, and which elements should be changed to reflect the specifics of Vietnam? What features should be included in Fulbrights model to make it relevant for the new century? The development of Fulbrights rhetoric class, based on liberal arts courses designed to help students learn to make logical and well-reasoned arguments, illustrates how the codesign process answered the first question. The original syllabus was heavily weighted toward the western tradition of direct, and at times vigorous, debate. Students formed a group to research and redesign the class to integrate a more eastern approach to the course, which focused more on building consensus and cooperation. The second question is equally important. As technology continues to transform society, it will be critical for workers to have both the technical and interpersonal skills required to fully harness the potential of those tools. Students in the Co-Design Year participated in an engineering class that incorporated such thinking. During the course, students spoke with elderly citizens to understand their needs and challenges, and then developed products that would help address those issues. As a result, some promising new products were identified. But more important, the class helped students understand the power of collaboration and empathy. In September 2019, 120 students from across Vietnam, including returning students from the Co-Design Year class, arrived on Fulbrights campus for the official inaugural school year. As has been the case with higher-education institutions around the world, Fulbright needed to respond quickly to the fast-moving COVID-19 pandemic. The universitys agile culture was a major advantage. Fulbright quickly switched to virtual learning while also accelerating the rollout of online courses in partnership with universities around the world, including Bard College, Dartmouth College, and Princeton University in the US and American University of Central Asia. Fulbright will rely on student input, much as it did during the codesign year, to refine its online-learning approach. And the school is developing new ways to run student recruitment and admissions activities online. While these moves will be critical right now, many actions will likely remain part of the model even after the pandemic subsides. Regardless of those adjustments, the key pillars of Fulbrights success will remain firm: the power of a liberal arts education, the importance of building the right culture, and the need to draw faculty and students into the development process. CPA MESSAGE IN SOLIDARITY WITH PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO AND THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE The Communist Party of Australia (CPA) condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent trumped up charges of narco-terrorism on President Nicolas Maduro and other top government officials of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Showing support for Venezuela in Perth last year. Putting a price on the head of a legitimate president is a very dangerous precedent. It can only be compared to the past overthrowing of governments and assassination of leaders, including military invasions organised, sponsored and carried out by the United States in Latin America, Asia, Africa and elsewhere. The world is currently calling for the end of blockades and sanctions imposed on some 39 countries including Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, DPRK, Syria and others to help them deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The Trump Administration has responded with more sanctions and other atrocities such as the accusations against the government of Venezuela. Venezuela has seen its resources stolen or frozen by the financial system controlled by the United States. Billions of dollars that belong to the Venezuelan people, which could be used to purchase food, medicines and medical equipment, have been blocked. The people of the world are suffering with the COVID-19 pandemic and it requires international cooperation to be able to eradicate the pandemic. The sanctions must be lifted and these latest attempts to overthrow the legitimate government of Nicolas Maduro have to cease. The CPA joins the international community in demanding that the economic sanctions on Venezuela be lifted and that recognition be given of the legitimate government lead by President Nicolas Maduro. The CPA stands in solidarity with President Nicolas Maduro, his government and the people of Venezuela in these difficult times of the coronavirus pandemic. Humanity shall overcome! Communist Party of Australia, CPA International Department 30th March 2020 Another 143 people in Tokyo were confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus on Sunday. The figure is a record daily high, and brings the total in the prefecture to 1,034. The daily tally has topped 100 for two days in a row. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is again calling on people to refrain from non-essential and non-urgent outings on weekends. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. A Phoenix police officer connects crime scene tape together outside the scene of a deadly shooting, in Phoenix, on March 30, 2020. (Matt York/AP Photo) 1-Year-Old Girl Shot Outside Her Home in North Carolina Authorities in North Carolina said a 1-year-old girl was shot while playing outside a home at McDougald Terrace in Durham Sunday afternoon. Investigators at the Durham Police Department told ABC 11 the gunman fled the scene and police were not able to make an arrest. A stray bullet hit the baby girl, and the apparent shooting was not meant to hit the child, WRAL reported. The toddler was transferred to a nearby hospital with minor injuries and is expected to be okay. The child was supervised by a parent who was outside at the time of the incident. The parent did not get injured, but investigators believe the parent was the target of the shooting, instead of the child, ABC 11 reported. The shooting happened just after 4:30 p.m. on Truman Street in Durham and was reported by multiple residents, police said. Many residents gathered around the scene, with some being worried about the current social distancing measures to help curve the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a CBS 17 reporter said at the scene. An active investigation is currently ongoing, and no additional information was released. Durham County is located about 50 miles from Greensboro and 121 miles from Charlotte in North Carolina. The News & Observer reported that McDougald Terrace is Durhams largest public housing community and was built in the 1950s. Earlier this year in January, some residents had to evacuate the community housing area because apartments furnaces, water heaters, and stoves needed replacement due to exposure to carbon monoxide. Hundreds of families were evacuated at the time, and some residents just started to return after authorities fixed the households. From NTD News E. Margaret Burbidge, an astrophysicist who made pathbreaking findings about the state of the cosmos, not the least of which was discovering precisely what it entailed to succeed as a woman in a male-dominated universe at midcentury, died on Sunday at her home in San Francisco. She was 100. Her daughter, Sarah Burbidge, said the cause was complications from a fall. A native of England who worked largely in the United States, Dr. Burbidge built a career that was stellar in both senses. She was considered one of the foremost astronomers in the world, long regarded as a trailblazer for women in the field. Dr. Burbidge was the first woman to serve as director of the Royal Observatory, the storied British institution. She was also a contributor to the design of instruments carried aboard the Hubble Space Telescope and a recipient of the National Medal of Science, bestowed in 1985 by President Ronald Reagan. She has a huge imprint on the history of modern astronomy and cosmology and nuclear astrophysics, George Fuller, a theoretical astrophysicist at the University of California, San Diego, where Dr. Burbidge taught for many years, said in an interview for this obituary in 2017. Forty-four-year-old Lekhraj Singh has been suffering shoulder pains at nights over the last week. A field worker of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), he carries a 10-litre backpack tank of disinfectant to spray at quarantined households every day. Even the heavy laptops you carry on your back to office dont weigh more than three kilos, he says, with a smile. Singh has been spraying mosquito larvicide in drains for the last 13 years, for a monthly salary of 13,300, which, he says is meagre, compared to what the abroad returns, whose houses he is spraying disinfectant in, make. I have been provided a list of addresses, of those who have recently returned from abroad or a visit to the airport. I have been asked to cover the Khel Gaon (CWG) Towers near Akshardham and Mayur Vihar, particularly. My job is to reach their doorsteps, inform them of my purpose and spray the sodium hypochlorite solution on their doors, especially the knobs/handles, doorbells and vehicles, he says. When asked if the residents acknowledge his efforts, he says that some people appreciate it. About 10% of the people offer me water or tea, and I really appreciate that. The rest peek through their doors and then shut it, after which I do my job. Maybe they are just scared, says Singh, shrugging it off. The weather, though, hasnt been kind to Singh or the 124 other field workers deployed by the EDMC to do this job. Most people are staying indoors due to the lockdown and dont realise that it has become quite hot already, he says. Its just the beginning of April, but the afternoons are hot and sunny. We (the field workers) move about on our bicycles. Some of us have motorbikes, but the corporation doesnt compensate us for fuel expenses; so this is more economical. By the time I finish my work, which goes on from 9am to 5pm, I am drenched in sweat, he says. The lockdown has created such a circumstance that in case of a tyre puncture, there is no repair shop to be found, he says. In a few instances, workers bicycles have been stolen while the workers are disinfecting an area inside a building. This happened to my colleagues last week. Thankfully, it hasnt happened to me so far, Singh says. Besides, Singh says that the workers have to put up with misbehaviour quite often. On March 31, I was leaving the house of a quarantined family when a man shouted at me from his balcony O Macchar! Yahan bhi spray maar ja. (Hey mosquito! Spray the disinfectant here as well), he says, about name-calling, which has become common. However, he says that he will continue to do his work meticulously. He says that the happiest part of his day is when he can spend time with his family. My wife Sunita keeps badgering me to stay home, but I feel one must not turn their back on their duty. Besides, when my two sons, both of whom are in college, find employment, I can enjoy my time at home, he says. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Jon Afrizal (The Jakarta Post) Jambi Mon, April 6, 2020 17:52 644 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd013993 1 National Riau,Jambi,Jambi-Police,protected-species,birds Free Investigators at the West Tanjungjabung Police have arrested a bird trader for allegedly smuggling hundreds of songbirds, including species listed as protected, from Riau to Jambi on Saturday evening. The trader was driving a Toyota Avanza minivan with 1,218 birds to cross province borders. He was identified as 32-year-old Norman Widodo, a resident of Sungai Baung II village in West Rengat district, Riau, West Tanjungjabung Police chief Adj. Comr. Guntur Saputro said. He was arrested on Jl. Lintas Timur at kilometer 140 in Gemuruh village, Tungkal Ulu district, West Tanjungjabung regency, heading toward Jambi, he said on Monday. The suspect and evidence were transported to the West Tanjungjabung Police office. The car was full of protected birds, including kacer (oriental magpie-robins), greater green leafbirds, lesser green leafbirds, black-naped orioles, bar-winged prinias, Sumatran padda and hummingbirds. The songbirds, also known as perching birds, are known for their melodious sounds and often used in songbird competitions. The birds would have been brought to someone who ordered them in Jambi, Guntur said, adding that the collector who was waiting for the birds lived in Mendalo in Jambi city. Read also: 10 new bird species and subspecies found on remote Indonesian islands The police said it was the suspects second time delivering the birds and that, on his first trip, he was not caught by law enforcement personnel. Norman faces charges under the 1990 law on natural resources conservation, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of Rp 100 million (US$6,050). The head of the Jambi Natural Resources Conservation Agency, Rahmad Saleh, said the arrest was made thanks to coordination between the agency and the police. He said the illegal smuggling of protected species was rampant in Sumatra despite repeated arrests by law enforcement officials. He urged residents not to buy exotic animals to help decrease poaching. Illegal wildlife trade not only violates the law, it is also harmful to the ecosystem. Ridwan said the agency would release the captive birds into their natural habitats. (vny). Coronavirus patients from around the world are pleading to join studies of an experimental US antiviral drug that could help fight off the potentially deadly disease. Interest has been so great that the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) is expanding its study of remdesvir, which has nearly reached its initial goal of 440 patients. The drug's maker, California-based Gilead Sciences, says it is quickly ramping up its own studies as well. Originally developed as a treatment for Ebola, the medication has been shown to fight against coronaviruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which is a cousin of the new virus. More recently, it was found to help relieve symptoms in the first American coronavirus patient while he was hospitalized. It comes on the heels of news that Gilead said it plans to distribute 1.5 million doses, for free which could mean hundreds of thousands of treatment courses. Hundreds of coronavirus patients are hoping to join clinical trials of remdesivir, developed by California-based Gilead Sciences. Pictured: A vial of remdesivir is visually inspected at a Gilead manufacturing site in the US, March 2020 Remdesivir was originally conceived as a drug to fight Ebola and works by blocking a protein that helps coronaviruses make copies of themselves. Pictured: EMTs bring a patient into Wyckoff Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, April 6 Gilead has given remdesivir to more than 1,700 patients on a case-by-case emergency basis. Pictured: EMTs bring a patient into Wyckoff Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, April 6 Dr Jag Singh, a heart specialist at Massachusetts General, became a patient at his own hospital because of the virus. His alarm grew as he saw an X-ray of his pneumonia-choked lungs and colleagues asked his wishes about life support while wheeling him into the intensive care unit Then was offered a chance to help test remdesivir and 'it did not even cross my mind once to say: "No",' said Singh. Dr Libby Hohmann placed Singh and nearly 30 others in the NIH study at Mass General and said it was a no-brainer. 'I would enroll my family in a heartbeat,' she said, adding that having no approved medicines for COVID-19 now is 'kind of terrifying.' For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, which can include fever and cough but sometimes pneumonia requiring hospitalization. The risk of death is greater for older adults and people with other health problems. In the US, more than 347,000 confirmed cases and more than 10,300 deaths Remdesivir, which is given through an IV, is designed to interfere with an enzyme that reproduces viral genetic material. In animal tests against SARS and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), diseases caused by similar coronaviruses, the drug helped prevent infection and reduced the severity of symptoms when given early enough in the course of illness. It's farther along in testing than many other potential therapies and the current studies could lead to regulatory approval. Gilead has given remdesivir to more than 1,700 patients on a case-by-case emergency basis, but more people ultimately will be helped if the company does the needed studies to prove safety and effectiveness, chief executive Dan O'Day wrote in a recent letter to the public. 'Many people have reached out to Gilead to advocate for access to remdesivir on behalf of friends and loved ones. I can only imagine how it must feel to be in that situation,' he wrote. 'We are taking the ethical, responsible approach.' Gilead said it has 1.5 million doses, which could mean more than 140,000 treatment courses, that it plans to distribute for free. Pictured: EMTs bring a patient into Wyckoff Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, April 6 The company hopes to make more than a million treatment courses available by the end of the year. Pictured: Medical workers move the body of a deceased patient from a refrigerated overflow morgue outside the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, April 4 In another letter on Saturday, O'Day said the company has 1.5 million doses, which could mean more than 140,000 treatment courses, depending on how long treatment needs to last. The company is providing the drug for free for now and has set a goal of making 500,000 treatment courses by October and more than a million by the end of the year. Gilead supplied remdesivir for two studies in China expected to give results by the end of the month. It also launched two studies for hospitalized patients in the US, Asia, Europe and elsewhere. One in severely ill patients tests five versus 10 days of treatment. Another in moderately sick patients compares those two options to standard care alone. 'There's so much anxiety about the disease that the patients are quite interested' and no one offered the chance has refused, said Dr Arun Sanyal, the study leader at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. The first patient he enrolled was a previously healthy middle-aged man who had an out-of-state visitor a few days before his symptoms began. What started as mild illness escalated to profound shortness of breath requiring supplemental oxygen. At University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Dr Grace McComsey has enrolled roughly half a dozen patients. 'We're seeing more and more younger people, like 30, really sick,' she said. The NIH study is the most rigorous test. It compares remdesivir to placebo infusions, and neither patients nor doctors know who is getting what until the end of the study. Besides the US, it's open in Japan, Korea and Singapore. In Chicago, an 89-year-old man was Northwestern Memorial Hospital's first participant and 'the family was very excited' to have him included, said infectious diseases chief Dr Babafemi Taiwo. At the University of California, Irvine, Dr Alpesh Amin has enrolled several patients. All are getting standard care even if they wind up getting a placebo rather than remdesivir, Amin said. The Boston cardiologist, Singh, said he was willing to take that chance to advance science even if he personally winds up not benefiting. He's now recovering at home after spending a week in the hospital. 'The word "placebo" freaks some people out,' Hohmann said. However, rigorous testing is needed to avoid giving false hope or using something unsafe. Still, she says it's tough to face patients with no proven therapy. 'The worst thing is seeing some really young people who are really, really sick,' such as a 49-year-old man with three young children on life support, Hohmann said. 'That's pretty awful.' Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the launch of an e-service for Saudi citizens wishing to return to the kingdom, said a report. The Ministry said that all requests will processed electronically and travel dates will be set according to the approved plan, said a report in Saudi Press Agency Citizens wishing to return to the kingdom can use this e-service starting from today for five days, with priority given to Saudi citizens in countries mostly affected by the coronavirus, the elderly and pregnant women. The Ministry pointed out that the returning citizens will be subject to quarantine for 14 days, the report said. WALLINGFORD - The coronavirus pandemic has created an increased demand for food as people lose their jobs and schoolchildren in low-income households go without free meals during the day, Paul Shipman, spokesman for Connecticut Food Bank, said this week. Shipman said the food bank is working to source more food and increased its deliveries to help its network of community-based food assistance programs keep up with the need. The shortage of food at pantries and food banks has become a crisis nationally as the pandemic takes grip. To that end, iHeartMedia New Havens KC101FM has joined with Connecticut Food Bank to offer a virtual food drive to support the food banks response, Shipman said in a release. For the month of April, donations can be made online at www.ctfoodbank.org/KC101FoodDrive. Our partner agencies are telling us they need more food, said Connecticut Food Bank spokesperson Paul Shipman. More people are seeking help after suffering reduced hours or layoffs. Food pantries are ordering more food to distribute and are trying to give households enough food to get them through longer periods at home as we are all asked to practice social distancing. The KC101 Connecticut Food Bank Virtual Food Drive provides an opportunity for people to have the feeling of a community fundraiser, officials said. We cant gather a crowd like our annual Stuff-A-Bus Food Drive, but we hope that people will feel the same community spirit and get creative by building teams for the virtual drive to see who can generate the most support, Vanessa Wojtusiak, vice president of marketing for iHeartMedia Connecticut, said in a release. We will keep you updated on-air and will be sure to highlight the leaders each day we can create some of that energy we all love at Stuff-A-Bus. Shipman said, Its easy and fun to support the food drive. KC101 is a longtime supporter of Connecticut Food Bank with events that include Stuff-A-Bus, the two-day turkey and food drive held each fall in Hamden that brings in hundreds of turkeys, thousands of dollars and thousands of pounds of food for Connecticut Food Programs across the area. During this time of need in the community, were glad to be supporting the outstanding efforts of Connecticut Food Bank, Steve Honeycomb, president iHeartMedia Hartford Area, said in a release. These are challenging times but by binding together, we can make life a little easier for those in need to access basic needs, like putting food on the table. As Australias gyms shut their doors, many thought the nation would descend into dad bods and jiggle bellies. How wrong they were. Instead, it appears, every Aussie and their dog are running the countrys boardwalks into dust. There are way more people than usual, no one really respecting social distancing people running very close to other people and almost touching them when running past, one Northern Beaches local told 9 News last week. Shirt hanging out of shorts, pecs bouncing, skin turning Merlot-red, sweat pouring from temples, running seems to have gone from that thing some people do to Australias number one hobby. Aside from inspiring a new branch of clickbait literature the one person you should avoid at all costs, this new trend has posed some legitimate health concerns. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mitch Morgan (@mitchmogz) on Dec 10, 2019 at 7:12am PST Without jumping on the drama bandwagon, its true that running involves excreting a great deal of bodily fluid. Its also true that with so many people out of a gym (and with two hours extra a day to kill, working from home, or out of a job altogether), the nations running trails and boardwalks are arguably seeing higher usage than before the lockdown. Ironically, this makes it harder to do what is now crucial to give each other a bit of space (at least 1.5 metres). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stephanie Miller (@stephclairesmith) on Oct 29, 2019 at 10:15pm PDT For those Australians that face this dilemma of wanting to run (after all theres only so many home-workouts you can do before you fancy a change of scenery) and who want to limit their chances of getting the virus or infecting others, heres what you need to do. Drawn from the tips David Nieman, Dr.PH., health professor at Appalachian State University and director of the Human Performance Lab at the North Carolina Research Campus, and Brian Labus, Ph.D., MPH, assistant professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Nevada Las Vegas recently gave Runners World, heres what you need to know before running right now in Australia. Run alone: even if if youre technically allowed to exercise with your live-in partner, its better to run solo as you are not so hard to overtake Run outside of peak times: avoid the 7 to 8am pre-work rush-hour, and the 6 to 7pm blow off steam session Run in less crowded areas: make like a surfer, shrug off the crowds Dont touch things if possible: and if you do, dont touch your face until youve washed your hands Reap the health benefits of keeping fit: theres a reason youre doing it, after all Read Next KABUL, Afghanistan Mahdi Noori, a young Afghan refugee in Iran, was left jobless when the factory where hed worked cutting stone was shut down because of the coronavirus outbreak. He had no money, was afraid of contracting the virus and had no options. So he headed home. He joined a large migration of some 200,000 Afghans and counting who have been flowing home across the border for weeks from a country that is one of the worlds biggest epicenters of the pandemic to an impoverished homeland that is woefully unprepared to deal with it. At the border, Noori lined up with thousands of other returning refugees earlier this month, crowded together waiting to cross. I saw women and children on the border, and I was thinking, what if they get infected now, here? the 20-year-old told The Associated Press. Image: Volunteers spray disinfectant on storefronts (Rahmat Gul / AP) The massive influx of returnees, who are going back untested and unmonitored to cities, towns and villages around the country, threatens to create a greater outbreak in Afghanistan that could overwhelm its health infrastructure wrecked by decades of war. So far, Afghan authorities have confirmed 273 cases of the new coronavirus, more than 210 of them in people who returned from Iran. Four deaths have been recorded. Afghan Health Minister Ferozudin Feroz says the virus has already spread because of the returnees. If the cases increase, then it will be out of control and we will need help, he said. He and other Afghan officials expressed concern that Iran would push out the more than 1 million Afghans working illegally in the country. Iran has already barred entry from Afghanistan, preventing any who left from coming back. Iran has had more than 58,000 coronavirus cases and more than 3,600 deaths. So far, the International Organization of Migration has recorded more than 198,000 Afghans returnees from Iran this year, more than 145,000 of them in March as the outbreak in Iran accelerated. At the height of the influx, 15,000 people a day were crossing the border, according to Repatriation and Returnees Minister Sayed Hussain Alimi Balkhi, though it has gone down slightly since. Story continues At the border, the IOM gives tents and blankets to returnees who have nowhere to go and transportation money to others. But the Afghan government and independent agencies dont have the capacity to test, take temperatures or quarantine the returnees. Almost all go back to their home provinces using public transportation, around a quarter of them to Herat province, bordering Iran. Nooris experience mirrors that of many other returnees. He quit school to go work in Iran when he was 15, bouncing between multiple jobs, most recently cutting stone in a construction materials factory in the central Iranian city of Isfahan. He earned enough to send $180 a month back to his impoverished family of eight. When the factory shut, he lost his income. He feared that, if infected, he would get no treatment because Afghans are far down in priority. He tried to get tested in Iran but was refused, he said. He traveled back with other workers, not knowing if any of them were infected. Once in Afghanistan, he took buses across almost the entire breadth of the country to reach the capital, Kabul. On the buses, he was met with hostility from other Afghans who told him, Fear of coronavirus brought you home to kill others with it, he said. He reached his home in Kabul on March 17 and isolated himself for two weeks from his family, fearing he could infect them. I experienced the worst moment of my life, meeting my parents, sisters and brothers from a distance after such a long time, he said, speaking by phone from his home. The government ordered a lockdown on March 28 in Kabul and Herat province, shutting down businesses, restaurants and wedding halls, just as the traditional spring season for weddings was beginning. But the response has been hobbled by a government crisis that has seen two candidates claiming to have won recent presidential elections and by continued violence. On Monday, neighboring Pakistan said it would reopen its border for four days so that Afghans wishing to return home can go back. On the other side of the border, which closed nearly a month ago, the Afghan government has set up a quarantine camp for the returnees. Pakistani nationals stranded in Afghanistan will also be allowed to go back. According to the IOM, 1,827 undocumented Afghan refugees had returned from Pakistan between Jan. 1 and mid-March. Habibullah Zafari, who had been studying in Iran, returned to Kabul four weeks ago. The next day, he went to the testing center in the capital, where they didnt test him but instead took his temperature and checked for symptoms. They declared him negative. The Supreme Court of Florida stated that anyone who violates the states Safer at Home order amid the CCP virus pandemic could be held without bail pending their first court appearance. Chief Judge Michael T. McHugh signed a directive on April 3 saying that perpetrators would be given no notice to appear, meaning they will remain in detention until their first date in court. In other words, they will not be released under any local bond schedule. Upon the arrestees first appearance, the State Health Officer or Department of Health will be heard and a judge may decide to grant bond or bail, the 20th Judicial Circuit said. The directive is valid until further notice. *LATEST ADVISORY* People arrested for violating Department of Health isolation or quarantine orders will be held on no bond pending first appearance in all counties of the 20th Circuit. More information is on our website: https://t.co/w8dlGJiqRJ pic.twitter.com/Ybpyo2qbVX 20th Circuit Florida (@SWFLCourts) April 3, 2020 Violation of any requirements made by the Department of Health related to a public health emergency is considered a second-degree misdemeanor. The decision came after Governor Ron DeSantis issued an Executive Order for a Safer At Home directive on Wednesday that restricts Floridians to their homes except for essential activities, such as going to the grocery shops or the pharmacy in order to stem the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19. While self-isolation directives may be strict in Florida, the Philippines has seen this Stay at Home message emphasized in a different way. Shoot Them Dead: Philippines President Says He Wont Tolerate Lockdown Violators Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned violators of the CCP virus lockdown measures they could be shot for causing trouble, saying that abuse of medical workers was a serious crime that would not be tolerated. In a televised address, Duterte said it was vital everyone cooperates and follows home quarantine measures. A man without a protective mask walks past closed shops in an empty street following the lockdown in the Philippine capital to prevent the spread of the CCP virus, in Manila, Philippines, on March 24, 2020. (Eloisa Lopez/Reuters) It is getting worse. So once again Im telling you the seriousness of the problem and that you must listen, Duterte said late on Wednesday. My orders to the police and military if there is trouble and theres an occasion that they fight back and your lives are in danger, shoot them dead. Is that understood? Dead. Instead of causing trouble, I will bury you, he said. The national police chief on Thursday said that police understood Duterte was demonstrating his seriousness about public order, adding that no one would actually be shot. Reuters contributed to this report. Supraja Mahesh By Online Desk One day in December 2019, a 34-year-old ophthalmologist named Dr Li Wenliang tried to send a message to other medics warning them about a new virus in the city of Wuhan, China. The communist state took action against Dr Li and ordered him to avoid making 'false claims.' Dr Li would go on to die on February 6 from the virus, which we now know as COVID-19. Little did we know that what started in Wuhan in December 2019 would lead to a global pandemic affecting over 200 countries, millions of people and every individual in some way or the other. Many countries are dealing with the invisible 'monster' by urging people to self-isolate, practice social distancing and stay clean. But an excruciating battle, it still is. 'COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon' On March 19, the Governor of California ordered a complete lockdown, thereby making it the first state in the United States to do this. Vivek Balasubramaniam from Ontario, California, who has been living for almost 12 years in the USA, says 'these are (indeed) unprecedented times'. He doesn't anticipate the pandemic to go away anytime soon. With well over 300000 positive cases and 10000 deaths, US has entered its most crucial week in the coronavirus crisis as per reports. According to Vivek, California has identified 17 essential services across different business categories such as energy, public health providers, essential manufacturing units, pharmacies, supermarkets etc. Vivek has friends in Kansas city who tested positive but are now recovering. The 33-year-old engineer feels that despite measures taken by the US government to minimise the spread of COVID-19, there is no specific rulebook that can prepare an administration or public for such a rapidly spreading pandemic of which we know very little. Vivek lives with his wife and a newly-born baby girl and is working from home. He says even if things settle down in a few months, he will still hesitate to move out considering his family. 'Need for emphasis on how to tackle future pandemics' Empty streets, working from home and cancelled classes are common across countries. 24-year-old Arman Aijaz Ilmi, a student of Sciences Po College in Paris, talks about how he tries to stay positive despite everyone whom he knows in the city being affected by the virus in some way or the other. Europe has been the worst affected continent from coronavirus pandemic with over 30,000 deaths spread over the past three months. Many of these deaths were recorded in Italy, which has recorded 12,500-plus fatalities, followed by Spain and France. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in fact, called the pandemic a 'bigger challenge than World War II'. Arman recalls that his landlady's sister was among those who tested COVID-19 positive. With his university classes now taking place online, Arman says moving out is limited to just buying groceries and medical supplies. It has been 20 months since he moved to France and he says never before have the beautiful roads of Paris been so empty and lifeless. And how does he view the future now? Arman says coronavirus has tested people's humanity, and the governance and healthcare facilities of every country. The only thing to be done now is to place an emphasis on how to prevent another pandemic like this in the near future. 'The uncertainty is worrying' While countries find ways to tackle the coronavirus, the impact of the pandemic has brought various professions and businesses to a screeching halt since the beginning of this year. With more and more countries going under lockdown, the impact on the economy is beyond imagination. Pay cuts and job losses are the next big worry. 29-year-old Vibha lives in Belfast, UK. She works for a plane manufacturing company (name not revealed on request) and says that 'initially all employees were asked to work from home but as the uncertainty increased, many employees lost their job and some have been put on a furlough.' Needless to say, the aviation sector has borne the brunt of COVID-19. Passenger flights being cancelled and travel restrictions staying in place in many places have forced many airlines to ask their employees to take sabbaticals. Vibha says this is just the beginning and 'tougher times' are ahead. Talking about the initial spread of the virus, she says the problem stemmed from China, which was too late to let the world know about the deadly virus. While she feels necessary steps are in place in the UK to minimise the spread, there are also people who are flouting lockdown rules, which is troublesome. Khushboo Tanwar, who lives in Toronto, Canada, too has a similar tale of woe to narrate. Khushboo worked for a Canadian company that had to temporarily shut down amid the ongoing pandemic. She says everyone around her is affected by the coronavirus either physically, professionally or mentally. It has been three years since she moved to Canada from India and says living during a global pandemic all alone, away from parents, can make you numb. Praising the Canadian government's efforts to ensure everyone feels safe and at home, the 23-year-old says 'though I try to remain positive, frustration is inevitable especially when your job is at stake.' Many governors have been pleading for supplies at news conferences, as well as in direct communications with federal officials all the way up to the president. New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D), whose state has tallied more than 4,700 deaths and is home to the nations largest virus epicenter in New York City, frequently chronicles the shortage of ventilators for patients with the most severe breathing difficulties. The Amish are known for their large families, large gatherings and large church services. They also shun technology, and modern trappings such as television and the Internet. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, this pastoral but insular way of life poses unique challenges and concerns with regards to ensuring public safety not just among the Amish community but their English neighbors. Overall, though, the Amish seem to be complying with directives regarding hand hygiene and social distancing, said Steven Nolt, a senior scholar at Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College. But he stresses a caveat. They take this seriously and have gotten messages from trusted sources, Nolt said. At the same time many Amish folks are also taking their cues from their non-Amish neighbors and friends. In a rural context, a semi-rural context, I think we are seeing that not necessarily all Americans in those settings are responding in the same way. Just this week, Nolt pointed out, a media outlet published a photo of an animal auction in New Holland, Pennsylvania. The photo showed a large group of Amish men standing close to one another. Nolt spoke with the reporter, who said all the participants at the livestock auction - Amish and non-Amish alike - were violating social distancing protocol. Thats what I mean by them taking cues from their non-Amish neighbors, friends and acquaintances, Nolt said. Pennsylvanias Lancaster County has approximately 40,000 Amish residents - what the community calls the Lancaster Settlement, which includes parts of western Chester County. Census data shows that approximately 340,000 Amish live across the United States, including remote rural areas in western New York and upstate Minnesota. Nolt, like the majority of Americans, has been sheltering in place in recent weeks. He has had no interaction with the Amish community in Lancaster County recently. He said Pennsylvanias Amish community tends to be well integrated with its non-Amish neighbors. The Amish may not be as connected to current news sources as the general public, but they are also not cut off. There is a popular impression that the Amish are entirely sequestered and that they have no idea what is going on in the world, Nolt said. "Thats simply not true, especially here in southcentral Pennsylvania, in Lancaster County. The Amish are regular newspaper consumers, and have regular contacts with non-Amish friends and co-workers who tend to keep them apprised of current events. Craig Lehman, a Lancaster County commissioner, said county and state officials have rolled out a robust outreach in Lancaster County to inform the Amish community about the coronavirus pandemic. The outreach has been carried out by a number of trusted authorities in the Amish community, including Penn State Extension, Ephrata Hospital and the Clinic for Special Children, a primary pediatric care and gene research clinic in Strasburg. We are all concerned about our Amish neighbors, Lehman said. They are well informed and know what is going on. We are trying to maintain the lines of communication open and we are at least informed in what steps they are taking to mitigate this COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning in mid-March, Alice Yoder, the executive director of Community Health for Penn Medicine Lancaster General, began to roll out a concerted effort to connect with the Amish community and raise awareness of the impending pandemic and its dangers. Trust within the context of non-Amish relationships is critical in moving forward with the Amish community, so Yoders team leveraged the relationship her office has with the community to blast health and safety education on coronavirus. Theyve been very open, wanting to understand what COVID is about and what it meant to them, she said. When it comes to disease, the Amish, in general, prefer to prevent rather than treat, she said. Her office has communicated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control on COVID-19 but in plain language. We felt we still needed to distribute the basic information - wash your hands, practice social distancing. The basic things we all are practicing, Yoder said. Her office even took out ads in the Busy Beaver, an Amish publication widely read by the community. It also distributed information through fire departments and EMS teams, both trusted sources within the Amish community. The Amish have retained an attorney who calls the proposed laws blatant discrimination and has vowed a court right if they are enacted. The ordinances make no mention of the Amish. From the start, the aim has been to connect with Amish leaders and convince them to cancel large gatherings and events. If they had to meet we encouraged them to practice proper hygiene, Yoder said. But we really talked to them about strongly considering canceling large events. I think for the most part weve have had a great reduction in those gatherings. Lancaster County officials as of last week had confirmed that Amish leaders had canceled church services up to March 29. Lehman said he did not have an update as to whether church services were canceled this weekend. Lehman also confirmed that the Amish had also taken cues from their neighbors and canceled schools. 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. Still officials remain concerned as to the social aspects of Amish life, in particular weddings and funerals, both of which traditionally bring out entire communities. Lehman said the Amish community has been advised to reduce the size of those gatherings - even postpone weddings. Im not aware that there is any word that weddings are to be canceled, he said. There is sensitivity to the size of them if they are held. An Amish couple walks to a church gathering on a Sunday morning in Lykens Valley in this file photo. The Amish population in the valley and in the United States has been increasing over the years. | Sean Simmers | PennLive/The Patriot-NewsPatriot-News Nolt, who has authored and co-authored 14 books on Amish, Mennonite, and Pennsylvania German history, notes that Amish funerals, in particular, present a public safety challenge amid the pandemic. The Amish adhere to the tradition of holding a funeral within three days of a persons death. Funerals are widely attended by the community. Its pretty important traditionally, Nolt said. The idea of keeping people apart during periods of grief is something that would be hard for people to swallow. The Amish turn to trusted non-Amish funeral directors for their services but they hold funeral services and viewings in their private homes. I dont think the Amish will defy orders but there may be some hard conversations around funerals, Nolt said. Another looming challenge from within the Amish community is the upcoming biannual communion church service that coincides with Easter. The Amish have communion services twice a year, in the fall and again in the spring. Nolt said it is a community-wide service. Everyone attends. Its really important, the fact that we are coming up toward Easter, he said. I wonder if there will be strong resistance to not having church. That would mean not having that service, which is really important. Getting news out to the Amish can sometimes be difficult, but in spite of any limits or lag, it does get to them. Schools have been closed. Churches are not meeting for worship on Sunday mornings," Nolt said. "I think its been taken seriously with the caveat that they are somewhat taking cues from their non-Amish neighbors who may or may not be following directives as carefully as we would wish. Yoder said she was confident the Amish community was aware of and receptive about the information and guidance on the pandemic. Its not like they dont know what is happening in the world, she said. We have a good sense that they do. We cant say all but the message is out in the Amish community about how to prevent it and that it exists. MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE Commentary: How cronavirus pandemic is challenging US food system What I can do when real estate buyers wont leave their house for closing during pandemic? Tax expert answers your questions on federal coronavirus relief U.S. wasted months before preparing for COVID-19 pandemic Cops bust NJ man for corona party with Pink Floyd cover band, 30 guests Thiruvananthapuram, April 6 : Even as the Congress led opposition in Kerala supported the efforts to contain the Covid-19 spread in the state, a top leader on Monday asked Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to conduct a detailed probe into the death of former state police official Abdul Azeez. Azeez passed away on March 31 and Vijayan had announced it was the second death of a coronavirus positive patient in the state. Congress vice-president T.Sarathchandra Prasad has now asked Vijayan to conduct a comprehensive probe into the death of Azeez. Prasad said the residents at Pothencode from where Azeez hailed in the capital city outskirts are living in fear and hence a comprehensive probe is needed. He also demanded the release of the results of the Covid 19 test done on the police officer. "Azeez was a man who lived with his entire family consisting of his wife, daughters and grandchildren. The test results of all his family members have come and all have tested negative. Now their family members categorically say that Azeez did not have the coronavirus and he had other serious heart and kidney ailments," said Prasad. Prasad said it was on March 23 that he was brought to the state run Medical College hospital in the capital city. "Azeez, who had underlying other ailments was angry when he was straightaway admitted to the Covid ward and he voiced his displeasure. The first test conducted on him was negative and the second test according to the authorities turned positive. Now we have come to know the third test result has come. We want all the three tests results to be published," said Prasad. So far in Kerala two people have died due to coronavirus and at present 256 are positive and undergoing treatment across the state. - Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla wrote a lengthy letter addressed to President Rodrigo Duterte - In his letter, Remulla appealed to the President to include the middle-class families in the social amelioration programs - He explained that those who belong in the middle class are struggling as well and need assistance from the government - The DSWD is implementing the social amelioration programs which include cash subsidiaries to families greatly affected by the COVID-19 crisis - However, only 18 million families will be covered by the program in 2 months PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed! Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla wrote a letter to President Rodrigo Duterte with regard to the national governments social amelioration programs. KAMI learned that Remulla appealed to the President to include the middle-class families in the cash subsidy program during the COVID-19 crisis. Through a lengthy Facebook post, Remulla commended the national governments efforts to address the COVID-19 crisis in the Philippines. We finally have the leader we have been waiting for, he wrote. Issues which only you had the authenticity to battle. Despite the crisis, the countrys economy is in resilient shape and promises to have a sharp rebound after. Your economic advisers have served you well, he added. However, Remulla suggested that middle-class families should be part of the social amelioration programs by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). I write to you today to appeal for the middle class, Remulla said. The governor explained middle class people rely on their monthly pay and government loans and income taxes are deducted from it. It is a time of crisis for everyone. Not just the poorest of the poor, but also those who have built much but not enough, he said. They wait for the LGUs to give them relief goods but those come few and far in between. They scrimp and pawn and borrow. They are barely surviving. As governor, I am respectfully asking that you consider them to be part of the social amelioration program. They may not get as much as the poorest of the poor but please consider their welfare. They are often over looked. They pay the most taxes. They keep our economy alive. They are mostly law abiding citizens. They need a break, he continued. In a Facebook post by the DSWD, the social amelioration programs include financial aid or Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS). It also mentioned that 18 million families coming from poor and informal sectors will benefit from the program. Ang bawat sambahayan ay makatatanggap ng PHP5,000 hanggang PHP 8,000 na halaga ng mga programa sa social amelioration, batay sa maximum na subsidy sa bawat rehiyon, it read in the post. PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! As of posting time, the Department of Health (DOH) has recorded a total of 3,245 cases in the Philippines. Among the patients, 152 have passed away, while 64 of them have recovered. 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! Kapuso star Kris Bernal participated in the new episode of our Tricky Questions feature! Check out all of the exciting videos and celebrity interviews on our KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: KAMI.com.gh Actor Akansha Ranjan Kapoor, who made her debut with Netflix original "Guilty", says she is thrilled with all the positive messages coming her way and wants her second project to be equally meaningful. Directed by Ruchi Narain and set at the peak of India's #MeToo movement, "Guilty" explored different versions of truth that emerge when a small-town girl accuses the college heartthrob of rape. The film, written by Kanika Dhillon and Atika Chohan, has been praised for the way it deals with prejudices against women coming forward to report cases of sexual violence against them. "Even before 'Guilty', I wanted to do something which wasn't just fluff. Not being disrespectful, but I didn't want to be an actor who just does song and dance. I'm hoping to stick to this kind of stuff which makes an impact and do more films which speak to the audience," Akansha told PTI. For the newcomer, landing a role in "Guilty" was a dream come true. Akansha, who is the sister of Anushka Ranjan Kapoor and the daughter of Shashi Ranjan and Anu Ranjan, said she gave as many as 60 auditions for different projects before "Guilty" came her way. "The first time I tested for Mukesh (Chhabra), five-six years ago, he told me I needed a lot of work to do. In my head, I grew up thinking 'I'm Kareena Kapoor' and this was a reality check. I've got no experience except for auditions. "With auditions, you get actual feedback in perspective. You're in a tiny room with someone blankly reading your line, which you have to perform to another level. That really helps. It gives you confidence and makes you comfortable in front of the camera." Bagging a role in "Guilty" came as a relief for Akansha "because after every audition, you feel you'll get it but then you don't." Akansha said the only acting advice that her friend Alia Bhatt gave her was to stay true to her craft. "For my craft, Alia has always told me to just surrender completely. Don't look left, right, just give whatever was asked of you. I keep joking that I'm always on time, sometimes even before the production comes, so I asked her whether there will ever be a time to come late, she said never, not even after ten years. "She said keep being punctual, kind and surrender yourself completely because those are the three things people notice about you." The actor said though the "Gully Boy" star is her one of her closest friends, she doesn't discuss work with her until something is finalised. "If I feel I'm going to get a partwhich till 'Guilty' I didn'tand it'll be mine, then I tell her the story and ask for her opinion. We are testing so much, we don't need to talk about every screen test. "Like for 'Guilty', I didn't tell her till my second meeting. But now of course, when I get offers, I will take her opinion because she has a good idea of what scripts work," Akansha added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Editors note: This post includes updates related to COVID-19 and its effects on Albuquerque and the rest of the state. PICTURES UPDATES 6:36 p.m. Emergency order places restrictions on Santa Fe grocery stores Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber has introduced new restrictions for grocery stores as part of the citys ongoing emergency order. The new guidelines, which went into effect at 10 a.m. Monday, bans the use of reusable bags brought from home and prohibits stores from charging customers a fee for bags, requires stores to keep the number of the people in the store to 30% of the buildings listed fire capacity and prohibits them from having self service food stations and providing food samples. What were trying to do is create consistency and a protocol that everybody can follow, so that shoppers, employees, managers will all be operating with the same requirements, Webber told reporters during a virtual meeting Monday morning. Read more >> Edmundo Carrillo 6:06 p.m. Gov orders early release of some inmates from prison Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has issued an executive order releasing some prison inmates Monday as a way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Those who are released will be on parole for the remainder of their sentence. The early release of incarcerated individuals who are near their release date and meet certain criteria will help to protect public health without a concomitant risk to public safety, the order states. This measure will serve to protect the health of those individuals, of staff and inmates at all state correctional facilities, and of all New Mexicans. The inmates who are eligible to be released include those whose were scheduled to be let out of prison within the next 30 days and who have a parole plan in place. Read more >> Elise Kaplan 5:51 p.m. Navajo Nation COVID-19 cases reach 384, weekend-long curfew ordered The Navajo Department of Health reported a total of 384 COVID-19 cases on Monday, an increase in 30 cases from Sundays report. The Department said there have been 2,134 negative tests so far. The Navajo Nation reported one new death from COVID-19, bringing the total deaths to 15. The Navajo Nation will institute a 57-hour weekend curfew from 8 p.m. on Friday, April 10, to 5:00 a.m. on Monday, April 13, in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. The curfew mandates that individuals remain home except for emergencies. Essential employees like medical providers and first responders must have official identification. We are seeing way too many people contract the virus and we need to step up measures to begin to reduce the numbers, said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez. Our health care system cannot manage the growing numbers of patients and those who need to be admitted. We continue to receive reports of people on the road and traveling with families to nearby border towns. A public health emergency order for the weekend curfew says failure to comply will result in a citation and a fine. The Navajo Police Department will increase roadway checkpoints on to enforce the stay-at-home order and the curfew. President Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer met with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Monday to discuss the possible use of the Miyamura High School gym in Gallup as a medical station to house COVID-19 patients from neighboring Navajo communities. The leaders are also assessing sites in Shiprock and Crownpoint in New Mexico and Tuba City, Kayenta and Chinle in Arizona. A daily curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. remains in effect on the Navajo Nation, as does a stay-at-home order. The number for the Navajo Health Command Operations Center is (928) 871-7014. Theresa Davis 5:48 p.m. Governor extends emergency order until April 30 Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Monday extended a public health emergency order through the end of this month, with a coronavirus outbreak rippling through nearly all parts of New Mexico and hitting some regions particularly hard. The extension, which Lujan Grisham had previously telegraphed, means a ban on public gatherings of five people or more will remain in place and all businesses not deemed essential will stay closed at least until May 1. We must carry on undaunted in our fight against COVID-19, the governor said in a statement. These measures will help us prevent a sudden spike in infections that would overwhelm our health care system. This virus is still spreading, and we must remain vigilant about physical distancing from one another. She also said state agencies would ramp up their enforcement efforts in an attempt to ensure residents and businesses comply with the orders. Read more >> Dan Boyd 4:24 p.m. 62 new cases bring NMs total to 686 Top New Mexico health officials announced 62 additional confirmed cases on Monday, bringing the statewide total to 686 cases. Of the new cases, 25 were in northwest New Mexicos San Juan County, where state officials have been warning of a spike in positive test results. Twelve people have died so far in New Mexico due to COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, with most of them being elderly individuals with underlying health issues. However, no new deaths were reported Monday, and the Department of Health said 133 individuals are now designated as having recovered. A total of 48 individuals were reportedly hospitalized, though state officials did not provide a county-by-county breakdown of hospitalizations. Dan Boyd 4:03 p.m. Heinrich announces Hometown Heroes initiative U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., announced the launch of the Hometown Heroes initiative Monday to spotlight on some of the local heroes who are serving their communities during the coronavirus pandemic. The coronavirus pandemic has brought upon some of the most challenging times many of us will ever face., Heinrich said. But it has also shown us how dependent we are on one another for support. So many New Mexicans are showing up in moving ways to demonstrate our states trademark creative tenacity and incredible ingenuity in the service of others. Individuals can nominate a New Mexico Hometown Hero by going to the senators website. Heinrich is also encouraging people to post on social media about heroes in their communities using the hashtag #HometownHeroesNM. Scott Turner 3:19 p.m. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson moved to intensive care British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was moved to the intensive care unit of a London hospital after his coronavirus symptoms dramatically worsened Monday, just a day after he was admitted for what were said to be routine tests. Johnson was admitted to St. Thomas Hospital late Sunday, 10 days after he was diagnosed with COVID-19, the first major world leader to be confirmed to have the virus. Downing Street said Johnson was conscious and did not require ventilation, but he was moved into intensive care in case he needs it later, his office said in a statement. Read more >> AP 1:23 p.m. Kirtland closes Eubank Gate Eubank Gate at Kirtland Air Force Base closed Monday because of light essential mission-only traffic caused by the raised health protection level in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Gibson Gate will then assume 24/7 operations in its place, allowing the Eubank Gate area construction project to accelerate its completion, according to a base release. Wyoming Gate is moving to a 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven-day schedule. Eubank Gate is expected to reopen in early June. The Eubank construction began last fall and is expected to be completed in September. The project includes access for the new National Nuclear Security Administration Albuquerque Complex in addition to addressing security concerns at the gate, the base said. Changes in the commute pattern will be posted on the Kirtland website. For more information, go to the Kirtland App or the KAFB website at https://www.kirtland.af.mil/. Scott Turner 12:29 p.m. UNM launches programs to help students with remote learning The University of New Mexico has awarded more than 200 mini-scholarships so students can pay for internet service, loaned out more than 100 laptops and distributed iPhones in an attempt to help lower-income students take classes remotely. UNM, like colleges around the country, is holding classes remotely for the rest of the semester to try to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. But while increasing safety, the tactic could create a struggle for lower-income students who may not have the equipment and resources to finish their coursework, said Pamela Cheek, the associate provost for student success. So the school put in place several measures to help students. They gathered about 200 laptops from various sources around campus and bought about 100 iphones to loan to students. The school by last Friday had given 210, $200 scholarships to students so they could buy internet access, said Duane Arruti, the chief information officer at UNM. The school has directed these resources at students who receive Pell Grants federal grants to students who have a financial need and students who were referred by faculty and advisers, Cheek said. Currently, it look like the services match student demand. About half the laptops have been sent to students, Arruti said. The goal is to make it possible for students to have the connectivity necessary and the equipment necessary to continue with their studies this semester and gradaute from UNM. And we want to do what we can to make that happen, Cheek said. The students who are most eligible are students with the greatest degree of financial challenges. Ryan Boetel 6:05 a.m. Americans brace for hardest, saddest week of their lives Americans braced for what the nations top doctor warned Sunday would be the hardest and saddest week of their lives while Britain assumed the unwelcome mantle of deadliest coronavirus hot spot in Europe after a record 24-hour jump in deaths that surpassed even hard-hit Italys. Britains own prime minister, Boris Johnson, was hospitalized, 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19 in what his office described as a precautionary step. Amid the dire news, there were also glimmers of hope some hard-hit areas the number of people dying appeared to be slowing in New York City, Spain and Italy. The news was cautiously welcomed by leaders, who also noted that any gains could easily be reversed if people did not continue to adhere to strict lockdowns. U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams offered a stark warning about the expected wave of virus deaths. This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment, he told Fox News Sunday. Read more >> AP 6:05 a.m. U.S. wasted months before preparing for virus pandemic As the first alarms sounded in early January that an outbreak of a novel coronavirus in China might ignite a global pandemic, the Trump administration squandered nearly two months that could have been used to bolster the federal stockpile of critically needed medical supplies and equipment. A review of federal purchasing contracts by The Associated Press shows federal agencies largely waited until mid-March to begin placing bulk orders of N95 respirator masks, mechanical ventilators and other equipment needed by front-line health care workers. By that time, hospitals in several states were treating thousands of infected patients without adequate equipment and were pleading for shipments from the Strategic National Stockpile. That federal cache of supplies was created more than 20 years ago to help bridge gaps in the medical and pharmaceutical supply chains during a national emergency. Now, three months into the crisis, that stockpile is nearly drained just as the numbers of patients needing critical care is surging. Some state and local officials report receiving broken ventilators and decade-old dry-rotted masks. Read more >> AP Pennsylvanias confirmed coronavirus cases top 11,500, with 150 deaths, while New Jerseys coronavirus death toll moved closer to 1,000 as its positive cases reached 37,500 yesterday. President Trump has declared a major disaster area in Delaware due to the virus. Nationally, Surgeon General Jerome Adams issued a dire warning on Fox News on Sunday, comparing the pandemics impact to historic tragedies including the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Josh Rosenblat (@joshrosenblat, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com) Hospitals throughout the region are bracing. Pennsylvania needs more ventilators. But a new challenge is on the horizon related to them. Theres a looming shortage of more than a dozen medications needed to keep patients on a ventilator. Were now about four weeks into the regions crisis, and government data and interviews indicate that Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and some cities and towns within them have increased their stockpiles of equipment, but remain short of the medical equipment they need. Hospitals attempts to catch up also arent being helped by out-of-state patients seeking medical attention at Philadelphia hospitals. And, experts say the coronavirus is putting even more strain on an already desperate situation for emergency medical services in rural areas of Pennsylvania. The state has thrown out a lifeline for hospitals, but it seems as if it has left out some of the neediest ones. Philadelphians living in higher-income neighborhoods have gotten tested for coronavirus six times more frequently than those living in lower-income areas. A Drexel epidemiologist made the discovery using the Philadelphia Department of Public Healths data. What it shows is social inequality, the epidemiologist said. This needs to change. There also appears to be racial inequality in how the coronavirus is spreading in Philly. At first, it was primarily detected among white people, according to limited city data. But over time, the demographics shifted. New cases are predominantly among African Americans, raising fears that existing inequalities in the city will be exacerbated by the public health crisis. One is the darling. One is the technocrat. And one is the Ph.D. Can you guess whos who? New Yorks Andrew Cuomo (the darling), New Jerseys Phil Murphy (the technocrat), and Pennsylvanias Tom Wolf (the Ph.D.) have those in our region tuning in to hear three very different Democratic governors update them on the coronavirus pandemic. Cuomo has taken the national spotlight with media appearances, colorful briefings, and his willingness to go toe-to-toe with President Trump. In Jersey, however, Murphy has leaned on a mix of data and diplomacy. And, across the Delaware River, Wolf has allowed state health secretary Rachel Levine to take the lead in Pennsylvania. What you need to know today Through your eyes | #OurPhilly Love seeing these out in the wild. Jace Florescios rainbow balloon garlands are just one way Philly is showing signs of solidarity through street art. Thanks for sharing, @faygirl_9a! Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and well pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout-out! Thats interesting Opinions It really is the lonely disease. Being there by yourself, its a strange feeling when youre at your most vulnerable, youre feeling your sickest, youre confused, youre scared. says Maureen Boland, an English teacher at Abington High School, in a video about her fight for survival against coronavirus. She also wrote a piece for The Inquirer that details what it was like to fight the lonely disease. What were reading Your Daily Dose of | No wedding party, no problem Who says you need to have a big wedding in order to get married? The coronavirus meant that some couples couldnt celebrate their vows with others. But they still tied the knot. A Meath mum who had to give birth alone because of Covid-19 hospital restrictions had to Facetime her partner so he could meet his new baby daughter. Emily Watson's dad, who flew home from the UK to see his new grandchild, also had to greet the baby through a window when the couple arrived back to their home in Trim after she was discharged. The 32-year old mum gave birth to her fourth child, little Charlotte Hope, in Mullingar Hospital on March 28 with the support of only the midwives and other women who were well separated in the ward. Charlotte arrived into the world, weighing 8lb 4oz at 5.28pm and had to meet her daddy Tommy Collins through Facetime a short while later. However, Emily was full of praise for the midwives, who she says had been receiving abuse over the phone from family members of other expectant mums who weren't allowed to have birthing partners due to the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions. "I was brought in to be induced and had to stay overnight because the first induction wasn't successful," said Emily, who already had two boys and a girl. "I had been told that I wasn't allowed have any birthing partners so I was prepared for it and the midwives were amazing. "One stayed with me the whole time minding me and a further two arrived to help with the birth. "After Charlotte was born and as soon as I was able, I Facetimed Tommy to show him his new daughter. "Of course, we were upset he couldn't be there but we both knew this measure was going to keep the baby safe. "There were lots of angry dads and family members ringing and giving the midwives abuse but it's not their fault. "These measures were taken by the HSE to keep us all safe. I have to admit I was anxious about going into the hospital after reading about a Covid-19 case there, but all was fine. "Nurses did constantly have to ask the same questions to see if I had symptoms but neither I nor the baby were tested. "There were other women in the ward, all socially distanced and we all supported each other. Cuddle "My dad Neville came home from the UK to meet Charlotte but he could only see her through the window. "He's home for a while now but we don't know when he'll be able to cuddle her. "My mum has met her on Facetime and Tommy's parents have been sent pictures on Facebook so it's a really tough and emotional time for all of us. "My teenage daughter Eleanor gave Charlotte her middle name - Hope. "It's all everyone can do right now to see the end of his virus." Resolution Regarding Refugee Settlement in North Carolina Resolution Allowing Concealed Carry for Beaufort County Employees in Most of Beaufort County Government's Buildings As the Beaufort County Commissioners defy the prudent concerns of some, and meet as per our body politic charter pursuant to the North Carolina general statute regarding Open Meetings, I, as a commissioner, will have a very busy night with three very important agenda items. These items are as follows:All issues are important, some more essential than the others; one has been discussed before but not voted upon ; however, all are topical to the issues that that are brought to bear upon what occurring now in our communities, our state, our Republic. I shall explain here below.The first resolution offered to the Beaufort County Commissioners concerning the actions of unilateral actions of North Carolina's governor asking for refugees from Third World countries. This governor's request for refugees, many without proper documentation, coupled with his Open Border position of acquiescence regarding knowledge of who is within the borders of our nation, our state of North Carolina makes this governor the untested, and incapable authority on keeping our people safe. That pertinent resolution is below:the Trump administration, unlike its predecessor, is listening to state and local governments on whether they want to accept settlement of refugees, andNC Governor Roy Cooper has written to federal officials saying that North Carolina will accept settlement of refugees, andmost refugees these days come from Third World countries, many of them Muslim countries with active jihad terrorist movements, andJihadi terrorist groups like ISIS have openly boasted of inserting their terrorists into the refugee stream, andrefugees granted asylum in the United States are granted immediate rights to receive all forms of welfare, a right they retain for life, and are thus subsidized by American taxpayers, with part of that paid subsidy by the state and locality where they are settled,that Beaufort County refuses to accept settlement of refugees in our county, and that this decision be communicated to the state and federal governments.The second resolution that I will offer at the April 6, 2020 meeting is that Beaufort County Employees should be allowed their Constitutional right to Conceal Carry on Beaufort County Property should they qualify to do so. In these times of community stress due to the Coronavirus pandemic and pandemonium, it is imperative that our qualified county employees feel safe, but effectively are safe in the event that a deranged shooter attacks a county facility that is not otherwise enveloped in a conventional security setting.In these times of high anxiety, which will probably continue as this self absorbed society reflects upon their collective predicament, it is not the time to deny qualified public employees to their Constitutional right to protection, as dicussed openly in the resolution below:the Beaufort County Commissioners support the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution, and the inherent right of lawful owners of firearms to lawfully carry in Beaufort County, concealed or otherwise, and;at any moment one or more of Beaufort County's employees lives could be placed in great jeopardy by the wrongful, purposeful evil intent of the deranged individual to kill their fellowman, and;the Second Amendment provides for the lawful protection of our Republic's citizens by ensuring that they may keep and bear arms, when they, at their sole well considered discretion, know that they, or other innocents, are, or will be violently threatened by those of evil intent, and;through the accurate prism of perfect hindsight, we have collected data that definitively states that the greatest protection that a lawful gun owner, and those good citizens closest to them, will ever enjoy is the weapon that they carry for the constitutionally protected purpose of their self defense and the defense of others,The Beaufort County Commissioners support and defend the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution, and are hereby greatly resolved to allow Concealed Carry privileges for all qualified and approved Beaufort County Government Employees in Most of Beaufort County Government's Buildings.My third issue tonight ties all this together as I ask the Beaufort County Commissioners to begin the evaluation of North Carolina's response to the Coronavirus conundrum of pandemonium versus prudent policy, and how to better gauge a more appropriate going forward. While the Beaufort County Commissioners are a sanctioned body politic of the government of North Carolina, and govern at their pleasure, county commissions are the governing authority closest to the people of this state, and do possess the right play a big part in our government's future reaction to the next pandemic, which is a certainty going forward.Whether one believes that North Carolina governor properly followed the general statute to issue his successive Emergency Orders to effectively shut down North Carolina's economy for a period approaching four weeks is an issue that should be discussed, but, effectively, has little bearing on what has been put into place now to combat the pandemic now. What is certain for the logical minded person is that the United States and North Carolina will no longer be able to shut down our respective economies to this extent, nor will we be able to afford to pay for part of its corrosive effects, which is occurring now.The discussion among elected leaders begins now if we are to correct our collective situation to one of a more tolerable nature when the next pandemic slams our nature and our people. In Indias two biggest states -- Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra that have nearly a thousand cases between them -- health officials admitted to a shortage of PPE, saying that private companies had expressed their inability to provide the kits early because of an increase in demand. This is because of a sudden increase in cases, the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said. Admitting the shortage, UP health secretary, Amit Mohan Prasad said 31 units in the state had started manufacturing kits and that the government had also placed orders with other companies. He did not provide any break-up of the kits needed and procured by the government. A doctor in King Georges Medical University in Lucknow, the largest hospital in the city, has been infected. Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic In other states such as Bihar, a large number of health workers have been provided with only masks, gloves and sanitisers -- and not coveralls. To tide over the shortage of PPE kits, we have requested our doctors to utilise the kits rationally, said Sanjay Kumar, Bihars principal secretary, health. The situation is no different in Madhya Pradeshs biggest Covid-19 hot spot Indore, where only half of the health workers have been provided with proper kits. Only 20 to 30% of around 55,000 to 60,000 health workers have been provided with proper kits in the state, said MPs health department employees association leader Laxminarayan Sharma. In the state, eight more health workers and staff tested positive on Sunday. All these officers used to meet one another in meetings held in the state secretariat and the health directorate and monitor implementation of the measures undertaken by the government across the state. At least 50 other officers, including head of the health department, are in self quarantine. State Commissioner of health services, Faiz Ahmad Kidwai, said, We are providing PPE kits to health workers as per guidelines of government of India. Currently we are getting supplies from certain companies including some companies based at Indore. We are trying to get about 1.5 lakh kits in the coming days. The northern states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttarakhand and the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Chandigarh have placed orders with private companies for the kits but havent received them yet. A health worker each in Chandigarh and J&K and two in Haryana have tested positive for Covid-19. Also Read: How Delhi answered PM Modis call to fight coronavirus darkness In Punjabs Patiala and Amritsar districts, nurses protested outside hospitals, alleging a shortage of kits even though the official spokesperson for Covid-19, Rajesh Bhaskar, denied the charge. The Punjab cabinet has authorised additional chief secretary Vinni Mahajan to buy kits and masks for medical staff from manufacturers in the state and elsewhere. Haryana minister Anil Vij said tenders had been floated to get the kits. The eastern states of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal have also reported a shortage of kits even though local manufacturing has started. Bihar has been supplied 16,700 PPE kits against its demand for 960,000 kits. Another 21,000 PPE kits are in transit. Jharkhand has 13,000 kits as against the demand of 21,000. Kumar said they were tapping all possible sources to get the kits. Jharkhands health minister, Banna Gupta, said the state government had placed orders with various companies. We have also requested the central government to ensure supply of the kits but they are not listening to us, Gupta said. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has also blamed the Centre although governor, Jagdeep Dhankhar, had claimed that there were enough kits with the state. Doctors in several hospitals in the state have protested and refused to report for work citing inadequate safety equipment. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Three weeks since Malaysian authorities imposed a restriction of movement order in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus, refugees in the country are struggling to make ends meet in the nation that has the highest reported number of infections in Southeast Asia. Now it is a very critical situation for refugees living in Malaysia, said Rafik Shah Mohd Ismail, coordinator of Human Aid Selangor, one of the community centres trying to meet the needs of the approximately 7,000 refugees living in the Selayang area, on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. The fastest response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the refugee communities in Kuala Lumpur has come from within the communities themselves. Face masks, soaps, sanitiser and food are being distributed in the most crowded and vulnerable refugee communities. Many people call me as a community leader asking for food, asking me how can they go for COVID-19 checks, Ismail said. People cannot go out for doing their jobs anymore. Malaysian people have the government to help them, but the government doesnt provide any aid for refugees. Many of them are daily workers, they earn 30-40 Malaysian ringgit ($7-9), they will use that amount every day to buy food, medicine, and pay their rents. Meanwhile, the refugee communities are actively helping the front line of the fight against COVID-19 by cooking and delivering daily free lunches for medical personnel at the Ampang Hospital in Kuala Lumpur. Twelve chefs have agreed to take turns in cooking traditional foods from their home countries. We know that many amongst the refugees are chefs and so, we approached them to ask if they would cook if we would facilitate the delivery. They immediately said yes, said Mahi Ramakrishnan, coordinator of the move. The initiative has brought about a huge positive response from Malaysians and others. It clearly showed that refugees can effectively contribute to the society, and demonstrated how they are a part of the society. Kathmandu, April 6 Maha Prasad Adhikari has been appointed the governor of Nepal Rastra Bank. He will lead the countrys central bank for the next five years. Taking over the NRB leadership will be like a homecoming for Adhikari as he spent over two decades of his career there. He had retired as the deputy governor in December 2015. As the deputy governor, he worked in close contacts with current Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada who was the NRB governor from 2010 to 2015. When Chiranjibi Nepal was appointed the NRB governor as Khatiwadas successor, Adhikari was also considered a strong candidate for the position. He had even made it to the top three finalists. But the Sushil Koirala-led government had picked Koiralas financial advisor Nepal for the position. Six months after his retirement, the government picked Adhikari for the chief executive officer of Investment Board Nepal. He is leading the board authorised to manage big development projects with foreign investments until today. His term in the IBN was due to expire this June. Adhikari is a chartered accountant by training, but he enriched his knowledge and proved himself to be an expert in monetary economics, international finance and banking regulations during his career in the central bank. He is considered a leader in the field of banking regulations. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned of a 'horrifying global surge in domestic violence' as fear of the coronavirus has grown along with its social and economic consequences. The UN chief, who appealed on March 23 for an immediate cease-fire in conflicts around the world to tackle the pandemic, said in a statement it is time to appeal for an end to all violence, 'everywhere, now.' America's National Domestic Violence Hotline, which usually receives up to 2,000 calls per day, counted 951 callers between 10 and 24 March who mentioned Covid-19 while reporting their abuse, the Guardian reported. Further reports said the Catalan regional government of Spain said calls to its helpline had jumped by 20% in the first few days of the confinement period, and calls to a similar hotline in Cyrus rose 30% in the week after 9 March, following its first confirmed case of coronavirus. Since the start of the pandemic, the UN said that both Lebanon and Malaysia have seen calls to helplines double, compared with the same month last year, while in China the number of calls has tripled. In the UK, British charity Refuge said the number of calls and online requests for help made to the National Domestic Abuse has climbed by 25% since the country's lockdown came into effect, according to the BBC. The UN Chief said the combination of economic and social stresses brought on by the pandemic, as well as restrictions on movement, have dramatically increased the numbers of women and girls facing abuse in almost all countries Guterres said: 'For many women and girls, the threat looms largest where they should be safest - in their own homes. 'And so I make a new appeal today for peace at home - and in homes - around the world.' He said that in some countries, which he didn't name, 'the number of women calling support services has doubled'. At the same time, he said, health care providers and police are overwhelmed and understaffed, local support groups are paralyzed or short of funds, and some domestic violence shelters are closed while others are full. Gueterres said the number of women contacting support services in some countries has doubled (filed photo) Guterres said: 'I urge all governments to make the prevention and redress of violence against women a key part of their national response plans for COVID-19.' . He said that means creating safe ways for women to seek support without alerting their abusers, setting up emergency warning systems that abused women can access in pharmacies and food stores, increasing spending on online services and civil society organisations to help those abused, and declaring shelters an essential service. Many countries have enforced complete or partial lockdowns in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus. Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, will lift its lockdown on 8 April after more than to months. Above, police officers attend the departure ceremony for Chinese medical workers from Wuhan's Shandong province According to media reports, calls to online services and domestic violence cases have increased in the United States and gender-based violence cases doubled in India during the first week of restricted movements. The UN chief urged for governments to address tackling domestic violence as part of their response to Covid-19 The killing of women has surged in Turkey since the government advised people to stay home March 11, and almost 90,000 reports of gender-based violence were reported in South Africa during the first week of its lock-down. In addition, the Australian government reported a 75% increase in online searches for support on domestic violence, and a French minister said domestic violence rose 32% across France and 36% in Paris in one week, according to media reports. The UN chief added: 'Together, we can and must prevent violence everywhere, from war zones to people's homes, as we work to beat COVID-19.' Orcutt Ranch in Canoga Park. With trails closed and L.A. homebound, nature beckons from the page. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) If you notice anything, it leads you to notice more and more. Mary Oliver, The Moths Like many who grew up on the West Coast, I discovered that hikes in the woods in the shadows of mountains were when my chest could crack open and the hamster wheel of thoughts could rest. Many of us are finding comfort now in remembering the enveloping smell of warm pine on a sunny day or the sight of ocotillo in bloom after a desert rain. In the time of coronavirus, we circle our blocks cautiously, while trails and beaches are closed for our protection. Nature flourishes in our absence, awaiting our return. In these 21 nonfiction books, both recent and classic, writers illuminate a natural world that reflects back to us the wonders of this troubled planet. The list is far from complete; consider it a starting point toward virtual encounters with nature until you meet again. By Kathryn Aalto Aalto profiles 25 female writers, activists, naturalists and mavericks who advocate for the natural world. Each profile is a biography but also an extensive reading list of books on or about or even tangentially related to the subject. Its a fantastic resource for readers looking to grow their TBR piles. By Adele Brand (William Morrow) The last wolf was killed in Britain 800 years ago. The red fox, on the other hand, is a frequent sight in the English countryside. In towns and cities, foxes live side by side with Britons and are as ubiquitous as raccoons are in America. Brand has studied foxes on four different continents for 20 years. She shares her observations and the history of an animal remarkably adaptable to human environments. By Alison Hawthorne Deming and Lauret Savoy Thirty writers contributed essays to this anthology, offering ways of thinking and writing about nature that diverge from the largely white field of environmental literature. They map the intersections of environmental awareness, ethnicity and varieties of cultural inheritance. The result is a marvelous, textured demonstration of the immense benefits of diversity in meeting great challenges. Story continues By Annie Dillard Published in 1974, Dillards diary of a year spent by Tinker Creek, which runs near Roanoke, Va., in the Blue Ridge Mountains, combines close observation with a philosophical inquiry about theodicy. Nature evokes questions about faith and the role that a deity may or may not play in what she sees. She has long argued that the book is a work of theology, rather than a nature journal. Why not both? By Gretel Ehrlich Ehrlich has written several books on landscapes ranging from the Southwestern U.S. desert to Japan after the 2011 tsunami to the ice fields of Greenland. This 1995 book covers her time in Wyoming, which she lays bare in 12 essays that could each stand alone. Moving there after a tragic loss, she found a landscape of absolute indifference that nonetheless inspired achingly beautiful prose about love and grief. By Joshua Hammer In 2010, customs agents in Britain apprehended Jeffrey Lendrum, who was smuggling 14 peregrine falcon eggs beneath his clothes. Hammer's investigation of Lendrums theft of the eggs from a cliffside and the underground market for rare raptors is thrilling. Lendrums customers turn out to be powerful, wealthy and ruthless in their demand for endangered birds. By Robin Wall Kimmerer Kimmerer a biologist, professor and member of the Potawatomi Nation examines the reciprocity in the relationships between humans and the environment. The structure of the book resembles a braid, twisting together the three strands she describes as indigenous ways of knowing, scientific knowledge and the story of an Anishinabekwe scientist trying to bring them together in service to what matters most. By Amy Liptrot (W. W. Norton) Liptrot grew up on a remote island in the Orkneys, an archipelago north of Scotland. She fled for London and city life as a young adult, but when a series of bad experiences and alcohol dependency began to take their toll, Liptrot came home to self-isolate, stop drinking and heal. That story of sobriety is woven in with the natural history of these remote, alluring islands. By J. Drew Lanham Lanham has been recognized for his scholarship and essays on birding and nature, but as a black man he is also aware that being able to walk alone in the wilderness is a privilege. In this memoir of a South Carolina childhood, he recounts his familys relationship to the land, his evolution as a chronicler of the beauty of the states forests and farmlands and the dangers lurking in the woods of the Jim Crow-era South. By Barry Lopez The veteran nature writers latest book provides a cartography of his life story, focusing on six geographical areas: the Oregon coast, the Canadian Arctic, the Galapagos Islands, Tasmania, East Africa and Antarctica. He is a terrific guide to Earths wonders, but hes equally effective at calling readers attention to the environmental disaster that will overwhelm us unless we act. By Lindsay McCrae (William Morrow) For 337 consecutive days, cameraman Lindsay McCrae made his home among 11,000 emperor penguins. In Antarctica, he watches as the colony experiences birth, death and everything in between. Annotating his photos, he writes of how penguins and humans alike adjust to an environment where temperatures can reach 60 degrees below zero. Filled with color photographs, this is a treasure. By John McPhee Now 89, McPhee is often regarded as one of the first practitioners of creative nonfiction, including his many books on the natural world. Here he writes at length on the geology of California, narrating the rise of the science of plate tectonics alongside. He mines stories drawn from the history of the Gold Rush and the development of the agricultural valleys that feed much of the United States. By Robert MacFarlane (Penguin) One of the U.K.s premier nature writers turns his attention to the unique ways the wilderness has been marked by language. He intersperses glossaries of regional terms for natural phenomena (twindle, swelk, amod) with essays on the various biomes and geological formations of the British Isles. The result feels like an immersion course in the language of nature. By Lulu Miller Taxonomist David Starr Jordan, born in the 1850s, documented new species of fish and contributed enormously to ichthyology. What made his story remarkable was the number of times he had to reconstruct his research (sometimes from scratch) after disasters destroyed his data. Lulu Miller draws a heartening lesson that chaos, which comes for us all, can be defeated by sheer human stubbornness. By Elena Passarello In 17 essays, Passarello investigates animals that played their part in history. The playful title, taken from a Prince lyric, is matched by the wit and erudition in the essays. Among her subjects are Mozarts starling, who sang one of his early works back to him; Durers rhinoceros, immortalized in a woodcut; and Darwins lovesick tortoise. Each essay is a bonbon as delicious as any Instagram animal pic. By Janisse Ray Growing up in rural poverty in southern Georgia, Ray escaped the disorder around her by seeking solace in nature. This seeded in her an awareness of the environmental threats that surround the ecosystem of longleaf pines, which once covered much of the South but are now reduced to isolated stands. Her impassioned memoir moves between the painfully personal and the long reach of history. By Lauret Savoy Lauret Savoy studies the impact of human migration on the land. Expanding on the idea that sand and stone are part of Earths memory, she asks how human memories of land are recorded or erased. From these questions emerges an understanding of how claims are evaluated and stories told based on the race or ethnicity of those affected. A lyrical and expansive work. By Christopher Skaife A consistent treat for visitors to the Tower of London is its famous resident ravens, and Skaife is the Ravenmaster, given the task of caring for the birds. Legends hold that if the birds ever leave the Tower, the structure will crumble. Skaifes sense of humor inflects the writing. Combining his firsthand observations with historical accounts of other corvidae, Skaife lets readers in on the ravens conspiracies. By Patrik Svensson (Ecco) Eels have fascinated and repelled humans for millennia and inspired those feelings in Svensson since he was a boy eel-fishing with his father. It turns out they were also very mysterious: For the longest time, no one knew where they came from or how they reproduced. Drawing from literature, science and his own studies, Svensson inspires readers to see eels in a whole new way. By Terry Tempest Williams Williams has published multiple books on how our belief systems influence our attitudes. An Unspoken Hunger collects early essays on her work in the field, which took her from Great Salt Lake to the African savannah and beyond. Shes particularly sharp in exposing our domination of the wild as a displaced desire to control the wild within ourselves. By Henry Williamson (New York Review Books) Next month, New York Review Books will reissue Williamsons 1927 novel about the otters of North Devon. If that sounds cute, its not: Writing from the perspective of Tarka as he roams the countryside, Williamson emphasizes the brutality and competitiveness of the species, as well as the bloodlust of humans who hunt them because they envy their salmon. One mRNA vaccine developed by US company Moderna began its first human trials on 16 March, whereas another under development by German company CureVac has been offered 80 million in investment by the European Commission. But what exactly are mRNA vaccines and why could they be promising in the fight against the coronavirus? We spoke to Professor Isabelle Bekeredjian-Ding, head of the microbiology division of Germanys Paul Ehrlich Institut, which provides scientific advice to companies, including CureVac, and who sits on the scientific committee of Europe's Innovative Medicines Initiative. Here are five things to know. 1. Theyre a whole new type of vaccine If an mRNA vaccine was approved for coronavirus, it would be the first of its type. It's a very unique way of making a vaccine and, so far, no (such) vaccine has been licenced for infectious disease, said Prof. Bekeredjian-Ding. Vaccines work by training the body to recognise and respond to the proteins produced by disease-causing organisms, such as a virus or bacteria. Traditional vaccines are made up of small or inactivated doses of the whole disease-causing organism, or the proteins that it produces, which are introduced into the body to provoke the immune system into mounting a response. mRNA vaccines, in contrast, trick the body into producing some of the viral proteins itself. They work by using mRNA, or messenger RNA, which is the molecule that essentially puts DNA instructions into action. Inside a cell, mRNA is used as a template to build a protein. An mRNA is basically like a pre-form of a protein and its (sequence encodes) what the protein is basically made of later on, said Prof. Bekeredjian-Ding. To produce an mRNA vaccine, scientists produce a synthetic version of the mRNA that a virus uses to build its infectious proteins. This mRNA is delivered into the human body, whose cells read it as instructions to build that viral protein, and therefore create some of the viruss molecules themselves. These proteins are solitary, so they do not assemble to form a virus. The immune system then detects these viral proteins and starts to produce a defensive response to them. 2. They could be more potent and straightforward to produce than traditional vaccines There are two parts to our immune system: innate (the defences were born with) and acquired (which we develop as we come into contact with pathogens). Classical vaccine molecules usually only work with the acquired immune system and the innate immune system is activated by another ingredient, called an adjuvant. Interestingly, mRNA in vaccines could also trigger the innate immune system, providing an extra layer of defence without the need to add adjuvants. All kinds of innate immune cells are being activated by the mRNA, said Prof. Bekeredjian-Ding. This primes the immune system to get prepared for an endangering pathogen and thus the type of immune response that is triggered is very strong. There is still a lot of work to be done to understand this response, the length of the protection it could give and whether there are any downsides. Prof. Bekeredjian-Ding also explains that because youre not introducing the whole virus into the body, the virus cant mount its own self-defence and so the immune system can concentrate on creating a response to the viral proteins without interference by the virus. And by getting the human body to produce the viral proteins itself, mRNA vaccines cut out some of the manufacturing process and should be easier and quicker to produce than traditional vaccines. In this situation, the major benefit is that it's easy to produce (and) it will also probably be relatively easy to do an upscaling of production, which of course, is very important if you think about deployment throughout Europe and the world, said Prof. Bekeredjian-Ding. In this situation, the major benefit is that it's easy to produce (and) it will also probably be relatively easy to do an upscaling of production, which of course, is very important if you think about deployment throughout Europe and the world. Prof. Isabelle Bekeredjian-Ding, Paul Ehrlich Institut, Germany 3. Most of what we know about mRNA vaccines comes from work on cancer Most work on using mRNA to provoke an immune response has so far been focused on cancer, with tumour mRNA being used to help peoples immune systems recognise and respond to the proteins produced by their specific tumours. This technology was very good for the oncology field, because you can develop patient-specific vaccines because every tumour is different, said Prof. Bekeredjian-Ding. Using tumour mRNA in this way activates the bodys T-cells the part of the acquired immune system that kills cells, which is useful to destroy tumours. It could be important for coronavirus, too. In viral infections, often we know that there is a need for a strong T-cell response because viruses like to hide in cells, said Prof. Bekeredjian-Ding. There is a certain hope that, especially in this setting, this could really work and thereby eliminate the infected cells from the body. But to combat a virus such as SARS-CoV-2, it is likely that a different part of the acquired immune system also needs to be activated the B cells, which produce antibodies that mark the virus out for destruction by the body. And there is little experience with this (apart from animal infection models), because for the tumour model this was not that relevant. 4. There are a lot of unknowns Because mRNA vaccines are only now beginning to be tested in humans, there are a lot of fairly basic unknowns which can only be answered through human trials. What is really the current challenge, I think, is to understand whether these vaccines will really be able to mount a sufficiently protective immune response in the human and to understand, for example, which quantities of mRNA will be needed to do this, said Prof. Bekeredjian-Ding. Other outstanding questions include whether the proteins that have been chosen for the vaccine are the right ones to prevent a coronavirus infection in the body, how targeted the immune response is to this particular coronavirus, how long any immunity would last, and whether it causes side-effects such as increased inflammatory responses like redness and swelling or, in the worst case, aggravates disease. 5. It would be possible to vaccinate on a large scale. Once an mRNA vaccine has been approved, which could take 12-18 months, it should be easy to scale up production. Because the manufacturing process is shorter than for other vaccines Prof. Bekeredjian-Ding estimates a few months rather than 1-2 years for conventional vaccines there is potential for these vaccines to be scaled up quickly. This is useful in the context of coronavirus, which will likely need mass immunisation programmes. I think we will need a very high population coverage, but it depends a little bit on the countries and the epidemiology, said Prof. Bekeredjian-Ding. In the countries where coronavirus has been spreading very fast, we also expect that there's many people who have been in contact with the virus and who have actually mounted a natural immune response. But on the other hand, if you look at Germany, for example, right now we're all at home, barred, and not allowed to leave the house except for necessities. The population therefore remains susceptible to infection, she says. And so here, you would definitely need to think about vaccinating the whole population. Thats why also these vaccines are of interest, because you could probably manage that, while, with other vaccines, it's harder to produce these quantities (in a short period of time). If you liked this article, please consider sharing it on social media. This post Five things you need to know about: mRNA vaccines was originally published on Horizon: the EU Research & Innovation magazine | European Commission. A group of Kashmiri Pandit employees living in south Kashmir's Vessu transit colony donated Rs 50,000 to PM-CARES Fund to combat the coronavirus outbreak. In a press release, Vessu Welfare Committee president Sunny Raina said, "It is our duty to contribute our little bit on a call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi." The contributions were made by colony members voluntarily, the committee said. Modi had announced creation of the PM's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-CARES) Fund where people can contribute to help the government fight against coronavirus and similar "distressing situations". Vessu Welfare Committee general secretary Sunil Pandita appealed to the people to maintain social distancing and not to come out of their quarters to contain the spread of the virus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Google announced it was buying Fitbit for $2.1 billion in November 2019. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo Google is trying to acquire Fitbit, but the deal is coming under greater scrutiny from regulators. A new report states that the $2.1 billion acquisition is under a second request review, meaning the companies must provide the Justice Department with more details. Google will have to pay $250 million to Fitbit if it terminates the deal. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. It seems the coronavirus hasn't completely distracted Big Tech regulation, with the US Department of Justice reportedly amping up its investigation into Google's proposed buy of Fitbit. The $2.1 billion deal, which would see Google completely acquire the wearables maker, was already under scrutiny from the Justice Department. Now the New York Post reports that the deal has been put under a second request review, asking both companies to provide more documents for the DoJ to sift through and giving more time to the investigation. The DoJ declined to comment to Business Insider. A Fitbit spokesperson said the company still expects the deal to secure regulatory approval by the end of 2020. The main cause for concern here is personal data. An acquisition would give Google access to the data Fitbit's 28 million users, and although Google said it will not use people's health data for advertising purposes, there are still unanswered questions over how else that information might be used. The New York Post's sources said that Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim, head of the DOJ antitrust division, has stepped away from the case due to his previous work lobbying for Google. Attorney General William Barr has reportedly taken the reins and begun issuing civil investigative demands to both companies. It's possible that Google will have to make compromises on how it handles user data. That could take the shine off Fitbit's appeal but if Google pulls out of the deal it will have to pay Fitbit $250 million as a termination fee. Story continues It's still unclear what Google's exact intentions with Fitbit are. It clearly wants to use Fitbit to bolster its own wearable efforts, which have lagged behind Apple and other companies in this space. Google still hasn't launched its own wearable hardware despite coming close and has instead leaned on third parties to build around its Wear OS software. But access to data may be more appealing than the hardware itself here, particularly as Google inches further into the health space. The outcome of this investigation could also have a bearing on the DoJ's wider ongoing investigation into Google, which extends into various parts of the business including advertising, Android, and search. Read the original article on Business Insider KC Osborne found love and a new best friend on the latest season of Married At First Sight. The professional dancer, 31, gushed over fellow MAFS 'bride' Cathy Evans on Monday, as she shared a throwback photo from a magazine shoot, in which she also flaunted her ample cleavage and tiny waist in a red bikini. In the selfie, taken by Cathy, 26, KC is seen in the background flashing the peace sign. Bosom buddies! Married At First Sight star KC Osborne showed off her ample cleavage and tiny waist in a red bikini while gushing over fellow 'bride' Cathy Evans in ta throwback photo on Monday She also had a towel draped around her waist, accentuating her long and lean torso. The brunette beauty was glamorously made up with full coverage foundation and a brown makeup palette. 'It takes me a long time to call someone a friend... I keep my circle small. In this case meeting Cathy I knew she was a friend I wanted to keep,' KC captioned the post Her luscious chestnut coloured locks cascaded around her shoulders in loose waves. Cathy also appeared in a red swimsuit in the photo, as her blonde tresses were coiffed in curls. 'It takes me a long time to call someone a friend... I keep my circle small. In this case meeting Cathy I knew she was a friend I wanted to keep,' KC captioned the post. They're not hiding anymore! On Monday, Married At First Sight's KC Osborne (left) and Michael Goonan (right) finally confirmed their relationship after weeks of rumours and speculation She further gushed: 'This girl is no doubt beautiful on the outside but let me tell you her heart is the most beautiful! Got ya back for life gurlllll'. It comes after KC and Michael Goonan finally confirmed their relationship after weeks of rumours and speculation. KC had been matched with Drew Brauer on the 'experiment', while Michael was paired with Stacey Hampton in a relationship which was plagued by cheating scandals. Bitter end: Michael was paired with Stacey Hampton (right) on the 'experiment' and the relationship was plagued with cheating scandals throughout the show In their first joint interview, the couple told New Idea this week, they had been dating since early March and were self-isolating together in Melbourne. The pair have been together for five weeks and are planning to stay at the businessman's home for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic. 'It's love,' said Michael, who is the managing director of his family's commercial ice business. 'We have one hell of a journey ahead of us.' By Laman Ismayilova A woman has many roles in a society. A loving mother, a lovely sister, a good friend, an affectionate spouse, this list is endless. Azerbaijani woman is a caring mother, loyal wife, wise public figure, and brave soldier. One such famous woman was Sarah Khatun, whose name entered the history as the first female diplomat not only in Azerbaijan, but also in the entire East. Sara Khatun was a woman of strength, courage and dignity; one who values herself and fights for what she believes in. Daughter of Pirali bey and the mother of the ruler of the Akkoyunlu state Uzun Hasa, she was born on the lands of Bayandur. Sara Khatun was a skilful diplomat and headed embassies to resolve disputed issues.At the most difficult times for Azerbaijan, Sara Khatun displayed courage and wisdom. Negotiations with Mehmed II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire were especially successful. Sarah Khatun, who has great authority in the entire Middle East, brilliantly fulfilled her son's mission. The first round of negotiations with Mehmed II was held in 1463, in Goyluhisar. There she could make peace, according to which Uzun Hassan promised not to impede seizure of Trabzon by the Ottoman Turks, and Ottomans had to leave the territory of the Akkoyunlu. She also persuaded the Sultan that the treasury of Trabzon should belong to his bride Despine Khatun, princess of Trabzon and to bring this wealth to a palace of her son. During these negotiations Mehmed II and Sara Khatun called each other "mother" and "son". Sara Khatun also helped the last Trapezuntine Emperor by providing him and his family with freedom. Mehmed II kept his promise, given to Sara Khatun: the Emperor and his children and young nephew Alexis were graciously accepted by Sultan and were sent to Constantinople on a special ship with courtiers and all private property, except piles of jewelry which were given to Sara Khatun as a reward for her polite intermediation. She was famous not only in the Akkoyunlu state, but also in Western countries as incredibly talented female diplomat. Sara Khatun made a significant contributions to the strengthening her own country. She will stay forever in the history of Azerbaijan as a brilliant diplomat, wise woman and courageous leader. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz At a time when the global eyes are focused on the fight against coronavirus pandemic, Pakistan-based terror groups - Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed have started assembling at launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir to beef up terrorist strength and prepare for engagement with security forces this summer. One of the first terror teams that came from across the border has been neutralised by soldiers in Kupwara. J&K Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh told Hindustan Times. The Jammu and Kashmir police chief said the Muridke-based group has also readied terrorist groups for infiltration into Uri, Karna, Keran and Kala Roos sector in north Kashmir. The situation south of Pir Panjal has also been hot with infiltration alerts at Mendhar, Balakot, Savjian, Nowshera, Samba and Hiranagar sectors. Also Read: Five army commandos, 5 terrorists killed in LoC hand-to-hand battle The renewed attempts at infiltration are an attempt to boost the terrorist strength in Kashmir where 50 terrorists have been neutralised in the last three months. According to an estimate by the security establishment, there are, however, no less than 242 active terrorists in the Valley. About 100 of them are foreign terrorists belonging to the Lashkar and Jaish-e-Mohammed. According to inputs, while Lashkar is trying to use the north Kashmir route to infiltrate, the JeM groups are trying to infiltrate in the Jammu sector. Already there are visuals of food and shoes being stockpiled at launch pads at Tattapani across the Kupwara sector indicating infiltration activity will pick up in the coming days when the snow melts at high mountain passes, said a senior security official. According to counter-terror operatives, even though the local youth sentiment may be inclined towards extremism, terror groups had not been able to recruit them due to shortage of weapons and communication clampdown. Kashmir was placed under a communication lockdown just before parliament ended the erstwhile states special status in early August. The internet ban, which was imposed during this period, was relaxed when the government allowed people access to 2G mobile networks. There have, since then, been demands to restore 4G network. Security agencies have, however, asked the government to continue with the restricted internet connectivity. Officials insist that the terrorists were shifting to platforms such as the Wire, Telegram and Conion to communicate, which would be difficult to track. Since these Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) platforms would require 4G networks, security officials are telling the government to continue the restrictions for some more time. Even though the recent release of National Conference father-son duo has been seen favourably by the public in the Valley, it is testing time for the new Altaf Bukhari Apni party as Pakistan based groups will mount heat this summer. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Rafael Marfil knew when he bought a single-family home near Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort in New Braunfels as an investment that the city prohibited short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods. Nevertheless, Marfil hoped to get the ordinance changed so he could rent the home to park visitors. That effort failed, leaving Marfil in a bind. Not only cant he rent the home on a short-term basis, he says the spike in traffic on the street in front of the Union Avenue home during the months when the park is open makes its unsuitable for long-term rentals. Its pure craziness whats happening in a city thats inviting tourism, Marfil said of the short-term-rental law. I can understand if they want to stay off the radar and be a small town. On ExpressNews.com: As travel grinds to a halt, Airbnb hosts in San Antonio see wave of cancellations Now Marfil, 48, and a handful of other homeowners have filed a federal lawsuit against the city seeking a ruling declaring the law unconstitutional. According to the lawsuit, New Braunfels classifies ordinary residences as businesses and nuisances if they are leased for 30 days or less. A homeowner has to obtain a rezoning of the property as commercial to lease it on a short-term basis. A homeowner who rents a home for more than 31 days, though, has an unfettered right to lease without the citys interference, the suit adds. So theyre saying when tenants stay in a home for less than 30 days, then the home is a business, said J. Patrick Sutton, an Austin lawyer representing the plaintiffs. But if they stay the extra day, 31 days, then its not a business. What is the rational basis for making that distinction? There is none. GOOD NEWS: Because we need more of it, submit your story and we may feature it in an upcoming article New Braunfels short-term-rental ordinance has been around since 2011, but this marks the first time its been challenged in court, City Attorney Valeria Acevedo said Friday. We do believe that we have a strong short-term-rental ordinance and a process that provides due process for a property owner to seek a zone change, she said. Were going to vigorously defend these claims. Acevedo declined to address Suttons question about the rational basis for how the city distinguishes short-term rentals from long-term rentals. Im not going to go into argument with the attorney through this article, she said. Hell see our arguments when we meet him in court. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio passes new rules to regulate properties rented through companies like Airbnb The lawsuit says there is no agreed-upon definition for the dividing line between short-term and long-term lease. The state and local governments, however, impose a hotel tax for stays of 30 days or less. Short-term rentals can generate significantly more income, calculated on a daily basis, than long-term rentals, the lawsuit says. Before the ordinance took effect, some New Braunfels homeowners applied and were granted an exemption under the ordinance, allowing them to rent their homes on a short-term basis. The city couldnt immediately say how many are grandfathered in. The plaintiffs allege that the short-term-rental ordinance treats similarly situated homeowners differently, resulting in equal protection violations under the state and federal constitutions. Violators of the law face a fine of $500 to $2,000 for each day a unit is occupied in violation of the ordinance. The lawsuit says the ordinance was motivated partly by concerns that short-term rentals cause problems that other rentals do not. Texas Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox New Braunfels Mayor Pro Tem Wayne Peters said hes heard complaints from residents about trash thrown in homeowners yards, loud music played late into the night and cars parked everywhere at short-term rentals. Its just created a lot of negativity towards having those in these areas, Peters said. The home Marfil owns is in one of New Braunfels oldest residential neighborhoods, Peters said. Acevedo noted that only one of the six plaintiffs resides in New Braunfels. Challenges to short-term-rental rules arent new. For instance, seven Austin homeowners sued that city over its 2016 ban on nonowner-occupied short-term rentals. In November, the Austin-based 3rd Court of Appeals ruled that the ban was unconstitutional. The court said the ban significantly affects property owners substantial interests in well-recognized property rights while serving a minimal, if any, public interest. Austin officials have asked the court to review the ruling, saying it undermines the citys zoning powers. The matter is pending. The New Braunfels homeowners filed their lawsuit in federal court in Waco last Monday. Patrick Danner is a San Antonio-based staff writer covering banking and civil courts. To read more from Patrick, become a subscriber. pdanner@express-news.net | Twitter: @AlamoPD Press Release 6 April 2020 LONDON, United Kingdom - Hospitality Tomorrow - Digital conference will unite the hospitality industry to combat the COVID-19 crisis Over 3,000 hospitality industry professionals have already registered and over 5,000 are expected to attend Hospitality Tomorrow, a free online summit, taking place tomorrow, 7th April, to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the hospitality industry. The event features an impressive array of speakers, all giving their time free of charge to participate. Highlights on the agenda include: Advertisements Dr. Paul G. Stoltz, Founder and CEO of Peak Learning and author of Adversity Quotient, discussing how we survive and craft our response in this moment of truth. He is also interviewed by HARDtalk Presenter, Stephen Sackur Roger Bootle Chairman, Capital Economics, assessing the economic impact of COVID-19 Amr AlMadani, CEO, Royal Commission for AlUla, and Puneet Chhatwal, CEO & MD, Indian Hotels Company Limited, considering how to sustain growth through adversity A top team from HAMA Global, representing over a million hotel rooms, sharing their experiences of the crisis from an asset management perspective Hon. Minister Najib Balala, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Tourism & Wildlife, Kenya, and Roger Dow, President & CEO, U.S. Travel Association, exploring with Anita Mendiratta, Special Advisor to the Secretary General, UNWTO, the creation of global coalitions readying for recovery Olivier Jager, CEO & Co-Founder, ForwardKeys and Robin Rossmann, Managing Director, STR, talking to Nick van Marken, Managing Director, van Marken Limited, about spotting the green shoots of recovery Andrew Sangster, Owner, Hotel Analyst, evaluating the post-virus investment landscape with Desmond Taljaard, Managing Director-Hotels, L&R, and Paul Slattery, Director, Otus & Co Ltd Wolfgang Neumann, Former Radisson CEO, Chairman, International Tourism Partnership and Chairman, Hotelschool The Hague, discussing crisis communications with Peter Greenberg Travel Editor, CBS News, Arnie Weissmann, Editor in Chief, Travel Weekly, and David Tarsh, CEO, Tarsh Consulting In addition, there are breakout sessions featuring many more top executives, covering the prospects for adventure travel, crisis management tips from around the world, the post-corona age, hospitality's role in community resilience and how to capitalise on the downtime. Other popular conference activities will also be replicated online, including speed networking, which will give participants a series of three-minute one on one video calls with other delegates. There will also be an on-line exhibition, where it will be possible to browse through virtual exhibition booths and engage in a live video conversation with a representative of the exhibitor. Jonathan Worsley, Chairman & Founder, Bench Events said: "In difficult times, people have a burning desire to come together to figure out how to address the situation. As that is not possible in person, in just a couple of weeks, we have created the opportunity in cyberspace. I am excited to see thousands of industry leaders from around the world signing up to attend." More information about the agenda, speakers and how to register can be found at www.HospitalityTomorrow.com. Registration is free of charge, although an optional charity donation is requested. About Hospitality Tomorrow Hospitality Tomorrow (www.HospitalityTomorrow.com) is organised by the global event organiser Bench Events, which has a long track record of delivering multiple premium hotel investment conferences and forums across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America. Market leading annual conferences include the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) in Dubai, now in its 14th year, The Global Restaurant Investment Forum (GRIF), the Saudi Arabia Hospitality Investment Conference (SHIC) and the Latin American Hotel & Tourism Investment Conferences (SAHIC). Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 09:17:55|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NEW YORK, April 5 (Xinhua) -- A tiger at New York City's Bronx Zoo has tested positive for COVID-19, the zoo said on Sunday. Nadia, a four-year-old female Malayan tiger, had developed a dry cough before getting tested. Nadia's sister Azul, two Amur tigers and three African lions are also being monitored for similar symptoms, said the zoo in a news release. The zoo tested Nadia for COVID-19 "out of an abundance of caution" and the positive result was confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the release said. "Though they have experienced some decrease in appetite, the cats at the Bronx Zoo are otherwise doing well under veterinary care and are bright, alert, and interactive with their keepers," said the zoo. The animals were infected by an coronavirus-infected zoo employee who exhibited no symptom while caring for them, it added. "It is not known how this disease will develop in big cats since different species can react differently to novel infections, but we will continue to monitor them closely and anticipate full recoveries," said the zoo. The Bronx Zoo has been closed to the public since March 16. Teel Lidow couldnt quite believe the numbers. Over the past few years, the nations largest telecom companies, like Comcast and AT&T, have had a combined 330 million customers. Yet annually an average of just 30 people took the companies to arbitration, the forum where millions of Americans are forced to hash out legal disputes with corporations. Mr. Lidow, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur with a law degree, figured there had to be more people upset with their cable companies. He was right. Within a few months, Mr. Lidow found more than 1,000 people interested in filing arbitration claims against the industry. About the same time last year, Travis Lenkner and his law partners at the firm Keller Lenkner had a similar realization. Arbitration clauses bar employees at many companies from joining together to mount class-action lawsuits. But what would happen, the lawyers wondered, if those workers started filing tens of thousands of arbitration claims all at once? Many companies, it turns out, cant handle the caseload. Hit with about 2,250 claims in one day last summer, for example, the delivery company DoorDash was scared to death by the onslaught, according to internal documents unsealed in February in federal court in California. - A family in Iloilo was inflicted with the deadly coronavirus and it has gotten a lot of people in the area jittery - The head of the family, a 78-year-old, died of coronavirus, leaving three other members, all infected - Their home was stoned by still unidentified suspects and the act has been condemned by local officials - The Board Member of the said area appealed to people to give those inflicted with the virus help and understanding, not stones PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed A sad day confronted a coronavirus-inflicted family in Iloilo, where not only their patriarch had died from the disease, but their home was stoned as well. Stones were thrown at the residence of a family in Lambunao Town, Iloilo, on Friday evening, when news that the 78-year-old head of the family succumbed to the virus. Manila Bulletin reported that Provincial Member Jason Gonzales, former mayor of Lambunao Town, condemned the act. As per Yahoo News, Gonzales reiterated that the patients, the Wong family, didn't choose to get sick. Stoning of home of COVID-19 inflicted family caused local outrage (Photo: geralt/Pixabay) Source: Facebook A report by The Daily Guardian revealed that the family was appreciated by the government as they gave their consent to publish their names so that they can do intensified contact tracing. PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! In a previous report by KAMI, the government faced problems when they imposed the initial community quarantine, which was elevated into the now ongoing enhanced community quarantine. It also suspended transportation causing massive problems with commuters. The coronavirus outbreak started out in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China. Scientists believed that the virus came from an animal at one of Wuhan's wet markets. At present, the Philippines is under a state of calamity while the entire Luzon is under an enhanced community quarantine. Please like and share our amazing Facebook posts to support the KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinions about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts and views on different matters! Are you an avid fan of Liza Soberano? You might want to know more about how she rose to fame. Find out who Liza was before showbiz. Check out all of the exciting videos and celebrity interviews on our KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: KAMI.com.gh It's been one week since passengers on board the Greg Mortimer cruise ship stranded off Uruguay issued a plea for rescue after a handful of fever cases prompted authorities to ban them from disembarking. Now, with 90 Australians among a total of 216 on board, the ship has more than 80 confirmed cases of coronavirus and no clear path for repatriating anyone. Melbourne woman Margaret Zacharin, whose husband is awaiting results of a second test, is pleading for Australia to bring its citizens home. The Greg Mortimer cruise ship is stranded off the coast of Uruguay. "It will be like all the other ships. The longer people wait in an enclosed space of course the majority will get [coronavirus]. And like every other ship, therell be deaths." There are about 260 Australians still at sea on six cruise ships, including the Greg Mortimer. That is down from the more than 6000 Australians on 53 ships last month. We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. Boris Johnsons pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds said on Saturday she was on the mend after suffering coronavirus symptoms. (PA) Boris Johnsons fiancee Carrie Symonds has received a huge outpouring of support after the prime minister moved to intensive care unit (ICU) suffering from coronavirus. Johnson was admitted to St Thomas hospital in central London on Sunday after testing positive for COVID-19. He was moved to the ICU after his symptoms worsened the following day. Symonds, who is pregnant, said on Saturday she was on the mend after also suffering from symptoms. The 32-year-old, who is expecting the couples baby in early summer, falls into the group of vulnerable people urged by the government to avoid contact with those with symptoms of COVID-19. Carrie Symonds said on Saturday she was "on the mend" after suffering from symptoms of coronavirus. (PA) A number of people have spoken out in support of Symonds as she recovers and deals with her partners illness. MPs and commentators from across the political spectrum offered their support. Get well soon, Prime Minister. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Carrie. https://t.co/AtvXsnjuCy Chris Heaton-Harris MP (@chhcalling) April 6, 2020 Thoughts with @BorisJohnson this evening and wishing him a very speedy recovery. We all want him back fit, well and leading from the front as soon as possible Helen Grant (@HelenGrantMP) April 5, 2020 My thoughts are with the Prime Minister, Carrie Symonds and their family, with best wishes for his swift recovery. https://t.co/rrUck9Tq2A Jo Swinson (@joswinson) April 6, 2020 Thoughts with Boris, Carrie and their little one on the way. Get well soon. Neil O'Brien MP (@NeilDotObrien) April 6, 2020 Thoughts are with Carrie Symonds. This must be a terrifying moment and despite social distancing I hope she has someones hand to hold Flora E Gill (@FloraEGill) April 6, 2020 Wishing PM and his family all the very best. And poor Carrie Symonds. What a nightmare. India Knight (@indiaknight) April 6, 2020 On Saturday evening, Symonds revealed she too has suffered coronavirus symptoms. Story continues She tweeted: Ive spent the past week in bed with the main symptoms of Coronavirus. I havent needed to be tested and, after seven days of rest, I feel stronger and Im on the mend. Being pregnant with Covid-19 is obviously worrying. To other pregnant women, please do read and follow the most up to date guidance which I found to be v reassuring. Carrie Symonds announced her pregnancy in February and said she was having a baby in the summer. (PA) A conservationist and environmental campaigner, Symonds announced her pregnancy in February, when she also revealed that she and Johnson are engaged. She is the first non-married partner of a British prime minister to move into Downing Street. Symonds was not living with Johnson while he was isolating with symptoms of COVID-19. After it was revealed the PM had tested positive for coronavirus, his official spokesman said: The prime minister of course follows all of the guidelines which have been issued by Public Health England in full. His circumstance is such that he will be required to self-isolate for seven days. Coronavirus: what happened today Norway says that its coronavirus outbreak is 'under control' after a dramatic fall in the rate at which new people have become infected. Health Minister Bent Hoie said the number of people that each carrier of the disease infects - thought to be around 2.5 without lockdown measures - has fallen to 0.7. Anything under 1 means the disease has effectively stopped circulating and will start to die off. Norway has got the virus under control by carrying out 101, 986 people for the virus - or 18,996 tests per million people compared to the UK's 2,250 tests per million - allowing it to quickly identify and quarantine those with mild symptoms and the people they have come into contact with. The country also banned sports and cultural events and closed all educational institutions to bring the rate of transfer down. It has confirmed 5,760 cases of coronavirus and 74 deaths from the disease to date. Norway's coronavirus cases have declined consistently since April 2. The country has tested 101, 986 people for the disease to date The number of coronavirus deaths in Norway has risen in recent days although they remain mostly inside single figures Norway's Health Minister Bent Hoie said the disease's transfer rate had fallen to 0.7 - meaning it is effectively no longer spreading through the country Mr Hoie told reporters that scrapping the lockdown measures had been the country's goal when it enacted them on March 12. The country's director of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Camilla Stoltenberg, urged caution as there is still uncertainty over the accuracy of the reproduction rate. But, she conceded, the data has shown a 'positive development' in recent weeks. The government is due to decide on Wednesday whether to extend restrictions - which include the closures of schools and nurseries - beyond April 12. The number of new daily infections has been falling consistently since April 2, and while death figures have fluctuated, they have remained low. Norway managed the success by rapidly scaling up testing in the country's 20 labs from the moment the first infection was identified on February 26. The large scale testing meant it was able to also test those with mild symptoms and quarantine them and those they had come into contact with, stopping the virus in its tracks. 'Since the outbreak started, there has been a massive expansion of testing capacity,' Didrik Vesterheim, senior consultant at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, told the Telegraph. ''We are one of the countries that has tested the highest percentage of our population and the assumption would be that the more you test, the more mild cases you will have among the confirmed cases and (this) will impact the estimation of the mortality.' Norway's government has announced lockdown measures have brought coronavirus under control, with the rate of infection plummeting (pictured, journalists practice social distancing during a press conference at parliament) The country has also kept restaurants open, although asked people to sit a metre apart at them, along with many businesses and shops. Anyone flying in was also quarantined for two weeks. Bars were closed across the country, along with public swimming pools, gyms, hairdressers and massage and tattoo parlours. Open-air jogs were still allowed and most shops and businesses remained open. The efforts have halted the virus but, according to Professor Arnoldo Frigessi, at the University of Oslo's Centre for Global Health, that's 'just put the brake on the epidemic, not stopped it'. His words were reported by The Local. Germany's lockdown measures, which have involved closing schools and mass testing, have also been praised across Europe. The country stopped short of telling citizens to remain at home, but banned gatherings of more than two people. It also closed restaurants, hair salons and gyms. Authorities have conducted more than 50,000 tests a day to get ahead of the virus, reports the Financial Times, and has conducted at least 918,460 tests since the outbreak began. Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg enacted tough restrictions in Norway to halt coronavirus transmission It comes as Norway's Scandinavian neighbour Sweden announced a sudden spike in deaths on Monday, bringing the country's total from 401 to 477. The number of confirmed cases in Sweden also rose from 6,830 to 7,206. Unlike most European nations, Sweden has refrained from bringing in a full lockdown and has instead asked people to act 'like adults' and take sensible precautions themselves. The country has face mounting criticism for its relaxed approach. Thousands of doctors and academics including the head of the Nobel foundation have signed a petition urging tougher action, while one scientist accused Sweden of playing 'Russian roulette with the Swedish population' as cases gradually rise. Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said at the weekend that while some restrictions - such as school closures - may be eased soon, others could continue well into the summer. How Europe is planning to lift the lockdown: Austria will open small shops next week, Denmark wants 'staggered' return to work and Germany could re-open schools if infection rate stays low As Britain and America start to draw up plans for life after the lockdown, they may look for inspiration from European countries where the coronavirus crisis has already showed signs of peaking. Austria today became the first country to set out detailed plans for ending the standstill, with smaller shops re-opening on April 14 and larger ones on May 1. Denmark also plans to start lifting restrictions after Easter, but wants people to 'work in a more staggered way' to avoid crowding into trains and buses. Meanwhile Germany is willing to re-open schools on a regional basis and allow a limited number of people into restaurants if the infection rate stays sufficiently low. In Italy, which has been under lockdown longer than any other European country, officials are talking about a 'phase two' where society learns to 'live with the virus' by wearing masks and carrying out more tests. Italy and Germany are among the countries looking at smartphone tracking, which could allow them to jump on new outbreaks without sending everyone back inside. All of those countries, along with Spain, have seen signs of improvement in their recent figures which offer hope that the crisis is past its peak. That moment is still to come for Britain and America, which are bracing for one of their bleakest weeks. However, health officials across Europe warn that life cannot go back 'from 0 to 100' immediately and many lockdown measures will remain in place for several more weeks at least. Denmark wants 'staggered' return to work as restrictions ease after Easter 4,647 cases, 179 deaths This graph shows the rising daily number of coronavirus deaths in Denmark Denmark has been in lockdown since March 11, but wants to start lifting the measures after Easter if there is no surge in new cases. In an interview with DK last night, prime minister Mette Frederiksen said the government was hoping for a 'gradual, controlled and quiet reopening of Denmark'. She suggested that people could go to work 'in a more staggered way' in order to avoid excessive crowds on public transport. The PM did not provide details of what a 'staggered' return to work might look like. However, she warned that 'we will not return to Denmark as it was' when the first restrictions are lifted. 'We are not going to be able to squeeze up close together in trains, buses and subways in the way we have become accustomed to,' she said. 'Or stand very close together with a whole lot of other people and have a good party together.' This chart shows the daily number of deaths, after Denmark registered its first fatality on March 14 The Danish government ordered the closure of schools, day cares, restaurants, cafes and gyms when the lockdown began, and shut all borders to most foreigners. There are fears that a deep recession could cause more damage to Denmark than a second virus outbreak. 'The situation we are in is far more complicated than appreciating human life,' Frederiksen said last week. Nonetheless, some business owners have voiced fears that re-opening after Easter would be too early and could actually delay a return to normal if the contagion returns. Austria will re-open shops but keep public gatherings banned 12,008 cases, 220 deaths Austria's chancellor Sebastian Kurz today became the first European leader to provide specific dates for the end of lockdown measures. Kurz said the aim was to let smaller shops re-open as soon as April 14, with larger ones and shopping malls opening on May 1 if all goes well. Austria's cases peaked in late March and have steadily fallen 'The aim is that from April 14... smaller shops up to a size of 400 square metres, as well as hardware and garden stores can open again, under strict security conditions of course,' Kurz said at a press conference. Customers will be required to wear masks when shops re-open, extending a requirement which already applies to supermarkets. Masks will also be compulsory on public transport. Hotels and restaurants could start to re-open in mid-May, with a decision later this month. Schools will remain closed until mid-May and public events will remain banned until the end of June, Kurz said. Austria has suffered 220 deaths as the pandemic started to make its impact on the country Austria's health ministry says the rate of new infections has fallen significantly, and Kurz wants to 'gradually and cautiously return to normality after Easter' as long as 'we all remain disciplined during Easter week'. If the numbers get worse again, the government 'always has the possibility to hit the emergency brake' and re-introduce restrictions, he said. Italy plans to 'live with the virus' using more masks and dedicated hospitals 128,948 confirmed cases, 15,887 deaths Italy is openly talking about a 'phase two' in which society will have to 'create the conditions to live with the virus' until a vaccine is developed. Health minister Roberto Speranza says more testing and a beefed-up local health system would be necessary to allow an easing of the lockdown. Italy's daily infection count reached a peak of 6,557 on March 21, but has not been above 5,000 in recent days He said social distancing would have to remain in place, with more widespread use of personal protective equipment such as face masks. Testing and 'contact tracing' would be extended, including with the use of smartphone apps, in order to contain new outbreaks. A network of hospitals would also be set up which are specifically dedicated to virus patients, after doctors on existing wards described having to make life-or-death decisions over access to intensive care. Italy recorded 969 deaths in one day on March 27, but the figure has fallen since then, as shown on this graph 'There are difficult months ahead. Our task is to create the conditions to live with the virus,' at least until a vaccine is developed, the health minister told La Repubblica newspaper. The national lockdown, strictly limiting people's movements and freezing all non-essential economic activity, will officially last until at least April 13 but it is widely expected to be extended. Germany plans to open schools, shops and restaurants if infection rate stays low 95,391 cases, 1,434 deaths Germany has set out plans to lift restrictions as long as the infection rate remains below 1. That means each patient is infecting less than one other person on average. If that is achieved, schools could be re-opened on a regional basis, shops could open their doors and restaurants could open with a limit on the number of people in closed rooms. Germany's biggest jump in cases so far was the 6,294 which were announced on March 28, but today's figure is only 3,677 The plans were set out in an interior ministry document which also says that masks may become compulsory in any public building or on trains and buses. However, Angela Merkel warned today that restrictions will be lifted 'step by step', saying she was not yet willing to put a date on it. The interior ministry separately announced plans today to put all arriving travellers in quarantine for 14 days, though not including health workers who live nearby. Germany is also among the countries to suggest that antibody tests could signal a way out of the lockdown, by allowing people with immunity to leave home. These so-called 'immunity passports' could allow people to return to work and travel around Germany without fear that they will spread the virus. Christian Drosten, the head of virology at Berlin's Charite hospital, says the tests could also ease the supply of medical equipment, because doctors who are immune would need less protective gear. 'These tests are the only practical way to get things back to normal,' he told an NDR podcast recently. Germany's daily death toll fell sharply to 92 today after previously showing signs of peaking by flattening around 140 a day Ministers are also looking to South Korea as a model for how to use smartphone tracking, despite the tough privacy laws in Germany where surveillance is a sensitive subject. One German institute is developing an app that would enable the proximity and duration of contact between people to be saved for two weeks on phones anonymously and without the use of location data. Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she will recommend the use of tracking apps if tests on them prove successful. France says lockdown cannot happen 'in one go and for everyone' 70,478 cases, 8,078 deaths France appears less close to ending the lockdown, with the figures improving less clearly than in Italy or Spain. Deputy interior minister Laurent Nunez has warned that 'the end of confinement is not yet on the cards, a deadline has not been set'. France's death rate has spiked in recent days 'I remind you of the rule... one goes out only when it is strictly necessary,' he said. Questioned about the subject last week, prime minister Edouard Philippe warned that the lockdown could not be lifted in one stroke. 'It is likely that we are not heading towards a general deconfinement in one go and for everyone,' he told parliament by video link. Philippe said the government is 'fighting hour by hour' to ward off shortages of essential drugs used to keep patients alive in intensive care. It is also still reporting new cases of the virus Statistics office Insee said last month that the lockdown has slashed overall economic activity by 35 per cent, and estimated that every month of shutdown would cut annual GDP by three percentage points. Services, heavy industry and construction are all taking big hits, Insee said, as factories are shut and only a handful of business sectors, such as supermarkets and pharmacies, remain open. Graphic shows the fluctuating impact of coronavirus cases across Europe, with Spain having the most infected people. Germany is second on the list, most likely due to its higher numbers of tests France appears to have the highest number of deaths from coronavirus, but recently changed the way it is calculated, including care homes, which shows a distortion in the figures. Italy and Spain are considered to have been hardest hit. This map shows the latest number of cases in Europe, with Spain's total caseload now higher than Italy's, although the Italian death toll is still larger STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Three NYPD officers were lauded by top brass on social media over the weekend for arrests on Staten Island involving a report of a stolen vehicle on the South Shore, and several car break-ins. NYPD Chief Fausto Pichardo shared a photo on Twitter of the officers outside the 122nd Precinct station house on Hylan Boulevard in New Dorp. The arrests were effected on back-to-back, overnight shifts, police said. On back-to-back overnight shifts, these @NYPD122Pct cops made arrests for stolen vehicles. In one incident, 3 individuals were witnessed by a local resident stealing a neighbors car & were also linked to numerous car break-ins in the area. Great work by all. pic.twitter.com/PE9OpvnoL7 Chief Fausto Pichardo (@NYPDChiefPatrol) April 4, 2020 On Wednesday, at about 5 a.m., patrol officers Torres-Hernandez and Ruggiero arrested three suspects who allegedly stole a car in Princes Bay, another in Great Kills, and broke in to several other cars, according to a tweet by NYPD Staten Island. On Thursday, at about 3 a.m., patrol officer Vieria arrested a suspect for breaking into a car in Todt Hill. In March, reports of grand larceny auto were up 30% on Staten Island, compared to the same month last year, according to the citys CompStat data. Thats despite an overall drop in crime across New York City in recent weeks, during a citywide shutdown in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Year-to-date, reports of grand larceny auto are up 19% on Staten Island, compared to this time last year. Philippine security forces ride in military trucks while being deployed to remote villages in the southern province of Sulu, Oct. 17, 2014. Philippine troops killed at least three suspected militants during a firefight with more than two dozen heavily armed members of the Abu Sayyaf Group at the weekend on southern Jolo Island, the military said on Monday. On the government side two soldiers were wounded in the clash in the jungles near Patikul town on Jolo, one of the islands that make up Sulu province, a general said. Troops from the 6th Special Forces Battalion launched the mission against a group led by Abu Sayyaf commander Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan before midnight on Saturday, Brig. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, a local army commander, told reporters. The firefight lasted for 35 minutes that left several casualties from the terror group, [which] was forced to retreat, said Nafarrete, who oversaw the Special Forces operation. Sawadjaan became leader of the Philippine branch of the Islamic State extremist group after Isnilon Hapilon was killed near the end of fighting that broke a five-month siege of southern Marawi city by pro-IS militants in 2017. Sawadjaan is believed to have masterminded deadly attacks on Jolo, including last years twin bombings by an Indonesian couple that left 23 people dead at a local church. Nafarrete did not say if Sawadjaan was spotted during the weekend encounter. He said the militants scattered and vanished into the thick forest cover. Army scout rangers, as well as elements of the infantrys mechanized battalion, provided additional support as they overran the militants temporary encampment, Nafarrete said. At the scene security forces recovered a 90 mm recoilless rifle, a portable anti-tank weapon, as well as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), Nafarrete said. Three Abu Sayyaf fighters were later reported to have died in the clash, while an undetermined number of others were believed wounded, he said, citing reports from forces operating in the area. The military had earlier vowed to crush the Abu Sayyaf by the end of March, but officials said their priorities had changed because the government was overwhelmed with having to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. YEREVAN, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS. Armenias healthcare minister Arsen Torosyan urges citizens to continue not going out from home unnecessarily in order to further reduce the spread rate of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). As you know, yesterday, during the whole day we had just 11 new confirmed cases, which is of course a positive news, but we should continue the measures nationwide that will help to keep this number and further lower it. We should double our efforts to break the rate until we are confident that there is no more danger of large-scale spread. I urge you not to go out from home unnecessarily. Go only to store, pharmacy, etc, the minister said on Facebook. As of April 6, 11:00, the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Armenia is 833. 8 people have died. The total number of recoveries is 62. On March 16 Armenia declared a 30-day state of emergency to battle the spread of COVID-19. The state of emergency is effective until April 14, 17:00. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan [April 06, 2020] Victoria D. Harker Joins K12 Inc. Board of Directors K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN)-one of the nation's preeminent tech-enabled education companies and a premier provider of career readiness education services-has announced that Victoria D. Harker has been elected to the company's Board of Directors. She joined the Board on April 2, 2020. Ms. Harker has more than three decades of experience in finance management, information technology, and operations. She currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for TEGNA Inc., formerly Gannett Co., Inc. She was named Chief Financial Officer of Gannett in July of 2012 and is responsible for TEGNA's financial functions and operations company-wide, where she has led more than $7 billion in mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs and divestitures over the past 8 years. Prior to this role, Ms. Harker served as CFO and President of global business services of the AES Corporation: a $12 billion multinational power company where she successfully led the re-engineering of the company's capital structure through $3 billion in mergers and acquisitions, $1.8 billion in debt refinancing and $300 million in share repurchases, allowing the company to initiate its first-ever dividend in 2011. Previously, Ms. Harker worked for MCI Inc. in a variety of executive roles including Acting Corporate Chief Financial Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Mass Market Division. "Victoria is a dynamic leader who has played a critical role in managing transactions that have advanced growth and shareholder value," said Nate Davis, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the K12 Inc. Board of Directors. "Her depth of experience in finance, IT, and in streamlining operations coupled with her love for education enhances the skills, mix, and diversity of thought in our Board." Ms. Harker has a deep understanding of the field of education. She has served on the University of Virginia Board of Visitors (2012-2016) as Chair of the Finance Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee. During her tenure, she championed the implementation of and investment in the university's inaugural $2 billion strategic investment fund, targeted to fund advancement within access and diversity to low-income and first-generation students through academic, financial and health support. She remains committed to higher education through her board roles on UVA's Frank Batten Schol of Leadership and Public Policy and UVA's Health System Operating Board. Ms. Harker was also appointed to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) by Governor Ralph Northam in 2019, where she is Vice Chair of the Resource Allocation and Assessment Committee as well as a member of the Virginia Business Higher Education Council. "K12 is taking a leadership role in career readiness education. The company's approach in this space is addressing our country's worker shortage-an issue that will cost the economy more than $1 trillion over the next ten years," Ms. Harker said. "I am proud to be joining the company's Board of Directors during this exciting time as we work together to help students of every age reach their full potential." Ms. Harker chairs the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Huntington Ingalls Industries, and serves on the Finance Committee as well. She also serves as Chair of the Audit Committee and is a member of the Nomination and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors of Xylem, Inc. (formally ITT (News - Alert)). She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia and a Master of Business Administration from American University. About K12 K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN) helps students of all ages reach their full potential through inspired teaching and personalized learning. The company provides innovative, high-quality online and blended education solutions, curriculum, and programs to students, schools and enterprises in primary, secondary and post-secondary settings. K12 is a premier provider of career readiness education services and a leader in skills training, technology staffing and talent development. The company provides programs which combine traditional high school academics with career technical education through its Destinations Career Academies. Adult learning is delivered through K12's subsidiary, Galvanize, a leader in developing capabilities for individuals and corporations in technical fields such as software engineering and data science. K12 has delivered millions of courses over the past decade and serves students in all 50 states and more than 100 countries. The company is a proud sponsor of the Future of School, a nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the gap between the pace of technology in daily life and the pace of change in education. More information can be found at K12.com, destinationsacademy.com, jobshadowweek.com, and galvanize.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005194/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell on five of six charges of recruiting and grooming teenage girls for sexual encounters with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein is not and should not be the end of the story. While Maxwell has been held accountable for her actions, the men who engaged in th PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maarten is now the recipient of the much-needed medical equipment sent this morning on the Military C 17 aircraft, from the Netherlands at approximately 2:00 pm on Sunday, April 5, 2020, to SXM Airport. The equipment was received by a delegation consisting of Honorable Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs, Dr. Felix Holiday representing St. Maarten Medical Centre (SMMC), ESF 6 Coordinator Fenna Arnell, SXM Airport CEO Brian Mingo, SXM Airport COO Michel Hyman and Head of the Dutch Representation Office in St. Maarten Chris Johnson. Along with six (6) Intensive Care (IC) beds including the medical equipment, St. Maarten received Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), COVID-19 testing kits, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) medicine, and COVID-19 medication to treat COVID-19 patients. The equipment consists of a Military ICU facility which will be assembled tomorrow by the marines and the fire department. The so-called Hospitainer will house six (6) fully equipped ICU beds with six (6) additional ventilators to be used within the compound of SMMC. These additional six (6) spaces at SMMC are intended for the COVID-19 patients for St. Maarten. In addition to these six (6) IC beds, six (6) more IC beds including equipment is expected to arrive in a second shipment. The current six (6) IC beds provided today, to St. Maarten is amongst the forty-two (42) IC beds that the Netherlands has committed to the Dutch Caribbean. The State Secretary of Public Health, Welfare and Sport Paul Blokhuis and his VWS Ministry were instrumental in the coordination of the medical equipment for the island with strong intervention from the Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). According to RIVM, St. Maarten was the first among the islands to receive their units, given the medical capacity and limited resources on the islands. Additionally, St. Maarten is expected to receive some technical support in the form of additional medical personnel. The team of medical professionals will arrive in St. Maarten on April 7 and 8, from the United States and are all screened COVID-19 negative. This forms the first tranche of the aid that the Netherlands has pledged in ensuring the Dutch Caribbean islands and countries can properly deal with the pandemic within our region. We continue to pledge to assist each other where possible, especially our sister islands Saba and St. Eustatius for whom we serve as overflow for medical emergencies even under normal circumstances. We also offer condolences to the Netherlands for the more than 1000 deaths recorded as a result of this COVID-19 crisis and wish each and every citizen of the kingdom and the world much strength as we band together to beat back this monster, disclosed Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs. The distribution of the PPEs will be registered and distributed by the Public Health Department who will be distributing them to all health care professionals who are involved in the care of COVID-19 patients and are serving at the front-lines of this untimely pandemic. Currently, the updated count of COVID-19 cases as per April 5, 2020 at 3:00 PM are as follows: Self- Quarantine: 273 Self-Isolation: 168 Number Tested: 105 o Number Positive: 37 (1 currently admitted to SMMC) Male: 26 Female: 11 o Number Negative: 60 o Number Pending: 8 (3 currently admitted to SMMC) Deceased: 6 Number recovered: 1 Discharged from SMMC in good condition: 3 In 2020, the Russian government will allocate up to one million dollars to the World Health Organization (WHO) to aid in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Meduza reports. The one-time contribution will be draw from the Russian government budget, according to an order posted to the executive cabinets website. Russia will also provide 61.5 million rubles ($805,650) to a number of countries in Eurasia, Africa, and South America for COVID-19 test development. Another government order indicated that up to $1.01 million will be directed from the Russian budget to WHO in 2020 and 2021 for the production and distribution of healthcare information in Russian. WHO has called on donors to contribute a total of $675 million to the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. A fight broke out in the White House Situation Room on Saturday, after President Trump's economic adviser Peter Navarro clashed with Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, over an unproven COVID-19 coronavirus treatment, Axios reports. Four people with knowledge of the matter told Axios' Jonathan Swan the argument took place near the end of a White House coronavirus task force meeting, after Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn brought up hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug Trump has touted as a possible "game-changer" in the fight against coronavirus. When Hahn was finished giving updates on drug trials, Navarro put folders down on the table where Hahn, Fauci, Vice President Mike Pence, and others were sitting. One person familiar with the conversation told Swan the "first words out of his mouth are that the studies that he's seen, I believe they're mostly overseas, show 'clear therapeutic efficacy.' Those are the exact words out of his mouth." Fauci responded that this was anecdotal evidence, and this "just set Peter off," Swan reports. Navarro pointed to the folders and said, "That's science, not anecdote," a source said, and as his voice continued to get louder, Pence tried to intervene. "It was pretty clear that everyone was just trying to get Peter to sit down and stop being so confrontational," another person told Swan. Fauci and other public health officials have said more data is needed before anyone can say the drug is effective against COVID-19, but based on things he's read, Navarro is convinced it works, Swan reports. The task force ultimately decided that publicly, the White House needs to say that use of hydroxychloroquine is between doctors and patients. Read more at Axios. More stories from theweek.com New Zealand PM tells kids the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy are both 'essential workers' Trump's fervor for an unproven COVID-19 drug is reportedly fueled by Rudy Giuliani, Dr. Oz The political lessons of the 1918 pandemic SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J., April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Accurate Diagnostic Laboratories (ADL) and Rutgers University Cell & DNA Repository (RUCDR), through its Clinical Genomics Laboratory, are pleased to announce a joint mission aligning their efforts around improving testing capacity and service for the hospital inpatient population, health care providers and workers, first responders and patients. The relationship will facilitate providing high through-put and industry-leading turn around time for COVID-19 testing, also capitalizing on new methods to test. ADL and RUCDR have a long-standing relationship, where ADL performs diagnostic testing for RUCDR clinical trials, which aides in their data repository management. RUCDR, in conjunction with ADL's clinical client-base, fast-tracked the validation and verification of new testing methodologies, including saliva, for SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19. These alternate collection options will catapult the access of testing and screening to our most needed population. "ADL's laboratory diagnostic capabilities, steeped in a tradition of offering the latest diagnostic technology offerings, is proud to expand our relationship with a local, world-renowned institution in Rutgers University Cell & DNA Repository laboratory. We want to do our mutual part to address the need for improved COVID-19 testing access, particularly for our front-line health care workers, hospital inpatient population, and first responders, by utilizing new collection and testing methods," says ADL's CEO, Rupen Patel. This is a game-changer for the market as "saliva testing will help with the global shortage of swabs for sampling and increase testing of patients, as it will not require health care professionals to collect samples," said Dr. Andrew Brooks, COO and director of technology development at RUCDR Infinite Biologics. He is also a professor in the Department of Genetics at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. As far as we know, we are the first and only laboratory to perform a significant validation and verification on multiple specimen types and not rely solely on the use of contrived samples. Accurate Diagnostic would like to formally thank those health care providers and health systems that assisted in the process to get this testing off the ground. Accurate Diagnostic Laboratories About Accurate Diagnostic Labs: Accurate Diagnostic Labs is one of the largest privately held, boutique, full-service clinical laboratories in the country. ADL, as a full-service core laboratory, proudly works with various entities on laboratory testing for clinical trial drug development and data repository in various market footprints to progress the field of disease state management and personalized medicine. With our local headquarters based in Central New Jersey, we pride ourselves in working with various healthcare corporations, institutions, health systems, and the local providers in the metropolitan area with the common goal of improving local and national healthcare. Contact Information for ADL: For more information on ADL, please call at 732-839-3300 or visit online at www.accuratediagnosticlabs.com. About RUCDR: RUCDR Infinite Biologics, which is part of Rutgers' Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, is the world's largest university-based cell and DNA repository. Its mission is to understand the genetic causes of common, complex diseases and to discover diagnoses, treatments and cures for them. The organization collaborates with researchers in the public and private sectors throughout the world, providing the highest quality bio-banking services and biomaterials, as well as scientific and technical support. Related Files RUCDR ADL press release.docx Related Images rucdr.png RUCDR adl.png ADL SOURCE Accurate Diagnostic Laboratories Related Links https://accuratediagnosticlabs.com OSTERSUND, Sweden, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Skanska has signed a five-year contract with Welsh Water to deliver its Asset Management Programme in the UK. The contract will be worth about GBP 193 M, about SEK 2.4 billion, over the five-year period. Skanska will include the first two years of the contract, worth GBP 52 M, about SEK 640 M, in the order bookings for Europe for the first quarter of 2020. As part of the contract, Skanska is responsible for building critical infrastructure across water treatment works and pumping stations as well as upgrading dams and managing pipe installations. Skanska's focus is on delivering innovative and sustainable solutions that make a positive and lasting difference to Welsh Water customers. The contract runs from April 2020 to 31 March 2025. Skanska is one of the leading development and construction companies in Europe. Outside the Nordics, the company has operations in building construction and civil engineering in Poland, Czech Republic & Slovakia and the UK. Skanska develops commercial properties in select home markets in Poland, Czech Republic, Romania and Hungary, while residential development is active in Poland, Czech Republic and in the UK with the BoKlok concept. In 2019, Skanska had sales of SEK 33 billion and about 11,700 employees in its European operations outside the Nordics. For further information please contact: Kevin Perlmutter Head of Corporate Communications Skanska UK tel +44-7968-221160 Andreas Joons Press Officer Skanska AB tel +46-(0)10-449-04-94 Direct line for media, tel +46-(0)10-448-88-99 This and previous releases can also be found at www.skanska.com. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/skanska/r/skanska-signs-five-year-asset-management-contract-with-welsh-water-in-uk-for-about-gbp-193-m--about-,c3081784 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/95/3081784/1224742.pdf 20200406 UK Welsh Water AMP SOURCE Skanska The Wisconsin vote is seen as a national test case in US in a broader fight over voter access in the age of coronavirus. The Democratic governor of Wisconsin, Tony Evers, on Monday issued an executive order to delay the states presidential primary for two months because of the coronavirus pandemic, but the order was quickly blocked by the state supreme court, leaving Tuesdays vote up in the air just hours before polls were scheduled to open. The court ruled 4-2 on Monday that Evers lacked the authority to move the election on his own. More: Evers had been unable to strike a deal with Republicans to reschedule the election. His order comes after the GOP-controlled legislature refused his request to cancel in-person voting on Tuesday. GOP legislators called his attempt to delay the election a case of unconstitutional overreach. The Wisconsin election is being viewed as a national test case in a broader fight about voter access in the age of coronavirus, with significant implications for the presidential primary contests ahead and, possibly, the November general election. Evers order was blocked late on Monday by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which is controlled 5-2 by conservative justices. One of them is on the ballot on Tuesday and recused himself from this and other election-related legal fights, narrowing the conservative majority to 4-2. Jill Mickelson helps a drive-up voter outside the Frank P Zeidler Municipal Building in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The city is now allowing drive-up early voting for the states April 7 election. [Morry Gash/AP Photo] Evers order came as a separate legal fight was pending before the US Supreme Court. While several states had scheduled primaries in recent weeks, Wisconsin had been alone in moving ahead with in-person voting in the midst of the pandemic. Evers earlier insistence on moving ahead was even more extraordinary given that he had issued a stay-at-home order and closed all nonessential businesses. Dozens of polling places have been closed. Your choice is to go and vote in person and take a chance on contracting COVID-19 or stay home, Democratic state Senator Jon Erpenbach said. What do you think people are going to do? Evers and Republicans initially agreed that it was imperative for the election to proceed because thousands of local offices are on the ballot on Tuesday for terms that begin in two weeks. There is also a state Supreme Court election putting the conservative incumbent against a liberal challenger. The election must happen because of the terms that are ending, said Republican state Representative Ron Tusler, who tweeted over the weekend that elections continued during the War of 1812 and the 1918 flu pandemic. 1/2: Elections History: 1. In War of 1812, after the White House was burned down, we did not cancel elections. 2. In 1918, the Spanish Flu killed 50 million worldwide & 8459 Wisconsinites. We didn't cancel elections. pic.twitter.com/3V4DFI0d1t Rep. Ron Tusler (@Ron_Tusler) April 4, 2020 The state and national Democratic parties, along with a host of other liberal and voter advocacy groups, filed federal lawsuits seeking a delay in the election and other changes. A federal court judge just last week handed Democrats a partial win, allowing for absentee ballots to be counted through April 13, delaying the reporting of election results until then. But the judge and later a federal appeals court, declined to postpone the election. Republicans have appealed to the US Supreme Court, asking that it not allow absentee ballots to be counted beyond Tuesday. They argue that partial results could be leaked. The court was considering whether to take action. Thousands of poll workers had said they would not work on Tuesday, leading Milwaukee to reduce its planned number of polling sites from 180 to just five. The National Guard was distributing supplies, including hand sanitiser, to polling sites across the state. In Madison, city workers were erecting plexiglass barriers to protect poll workers and voters were encouraged to bring their own pens to mark the ballots. George Dunst, 76, of Madison, is the former lawyer for the state elections commission who has volunteered at his local polling site for nearly every election since he retired. But he is not going on Tuesday amid fears of contracting COVID-19. No matter what safety precautions you take, theres going to be exposure, he said. Who knows who comes into the polling place? An albino robin has been forced to lead a solitary life without a mate for the last four years as males do not recognise her without the iconic red breast, it is believed. Entomologist and birdwatcher John Walters from Devon has been following the bird since 2016 and claims she may have not had a mate in all that time. Mr Walters claims this lack of sexual interest from males is likely due to the unique pigmentation and the robin's notably white chest. Scroll down for video An albino robin missing the iconic red breast of the species has been forced to lead a solitary life without a mate for the last four years as males do not recognise her. The robin resides around Bridford, Devon and is completely white from tip to tail (pictured) WHAT IS ALBINISM? Albinism affects the production of melanin. This causes it to influence the colour of skin, hair and eyes. It is a genetic condition that lasts a lifetime but does not increase in severity over time. Albinism is caused by faulty genes that are inherited from the parents. It is seen in a range of species, including humans, robins and squirrels. Advertisement The robin resides around Bridford, Devon and is completely white from tip to tail. The unusual colouring is caused by a genetic mutation and makes wild albino robins very rare in the rest of the world. Also known as snow or albino robins, Mr Walters said he has been lucky enough to discover four in his lifetime. He said that there were two about a mile apart on the Tarka Trail, and there was another in Lelant, Cornwall. He said that while he was sure the bird was female she had been unable to pair and mate. Mr Waltes has been monitoring the bird to see if it could be successful and said now is the time of year when males court their partners and eggs are laid. Wildlife enthusiast John Walters (pictured) from Devon has been following the bird since 2016 and claims she may have not had a mate in all that time. Mr Walters claims it is likely due to the unique pigmentation and the unusual appearance making it hard for other robins to spot her He said: 'It appears this one does not seem to do that. Robins typically only survive for a year, as breeding is so stressful for them. This robin doesn't seem to change. 'It is probably the reason it has lived so long.' Albinism is a natural, if rare, genetic mutation which causes a lack of pigmentation. It is caused by the inheritance of faulty genes from the parents that affect melanin production. This can whiten the colouration of skin, feathers and eyes, depending on the species. Got a question or tip? Contact us at bizmojoidaho@gmail.com. The effort to halt the North Korean ballistic missile and nuclear weapons program has resulted in more scrutiny of the ramshackle North Korean economy, and the causes of the growing hunger, privation and extreme poverty up there. North Korea has a miniscule GDP ($30 billion), which is pathetic compared to South Korea ($1.3 trillion), Japan ($5 trillion) and China ($11 trillion, second only to nearly $20 trillion for the United States.) It wasnt always this way. For about 35 years, from the late 1940s to the 1970s, North Korea was a lot better off economically than now. This was largely because the heavy industry developed in Korea during the Japanese occupation (1910-45) was concentrated in the north, where most of the raw materials (coal, iron ore) were, and still are. The south was largely agricultural. The Korean War (1950-53) devastated both Koreas but South Korea got the worst of it and, for two decades after the war, the north was seen as economically better off than the south. This was partly because of the head-start in industrialization but also because of generous Russian subsidies that ended when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. South Korea finally got its economic growth going in the 1970s and by the 1980s was seen as moving ahead of North Korea. Since then the economic gap between north and south has grown much wider. One of the things that made the economic situation worse in the north was the post-1990s decision to spend more on the military than the economy. The well-being of the population was never the highest priority in the north. Keeping the Kim dictatorship in power was seen as far more important and those Russian subsidies included a lot of military equipment and advice on how to run a Stalinist State. That is a police state based on lots of fear with swift and brutal retribution against any dissidents. Josef Stalin died three months before the fighting stopped in Korea and that was no coincidence. When Soviet era archives were briefly accessible in the early 1990s, it became clear that the Korean War was Stalins idea and, without his support, it would never have happened. The post-Stalin Russian government denounced Stalin and Stalinism for terrorizing the population and government officials, as well as wrecking the economy. With Stalin dead Russia put more effort into economic development and less into the military. That only lasted about a decade and in the early 1960s a less benevolent and more militaristic government came to power. This was done with what amounted to a military coup that led to an arms race that played a key role in bankrupting the Soviet Union and causing the dissolution of the Russian empire. South Korea appreciated this, North Korea did not. The famine and economic collapse that took place in the north during the 1990s (due to loss of Russian subsidies) saw ten percent of the population starve to death and the economy beginning a long period of decline, and reform, which is still underway. In 2006 the second ruler inf the Kim dynasty, Kim Jong Il (son of founder Kim Il Sung) decided that for the Kims to survive North Korea needed nuclear weapons and longer-range ballistic missiles. He secretly established a new government department, Bureau 21, to finance this effort. Bureau 21 got a larger and larger portion of the government, and military, budget. This meant spending on infrastructure (transportation, utilities and health) declined while the military, and especially Bureau 21, got a larger share of the shrinking economic pie. For example, the military and Bureau 21 get about a quarter of GDP and even as the economy suffers under economic sanctions (because of Kim's nuclear and missile program) Bureau 21 maintains spending while even the military faces unprecedented cuts. The third ruler in the Kim dynasty, Kim Jon Un, took power in 2011 and put even more resources into Bureau 21, which he renamed Bureau 11. The name change indicated increased funding and priority for the nuclear and missile programs. The decisions to give Bureau 21/11 priority over everything else has endangered the Kim dynasty because for the last decade there has been growing corruption in the government, even the army and secret police, as North Koreans fend for themselves to survive. Senior members of the North Korean government have been defecting in growing numbers and Kim Jong Un has been executing senior government and military officials he suspects of disloyalty. If all this appears self-destructive and will ultimately destroy the Kim dynasty, it is. But Kim Jong Un shows no interest in changing course. China could arrange a change of rulers in North Korea but does not want to get involved because staging a coup or whatever in North Korea is messy, expensive and unpredictable. South Korea and the U.S. have also made contingency plans for direct action against North Korea. This southern solution would have to deal with the Chinese, with or without China carrying out its northern solution. Kim Jong Un is well aware of these two solutions and is hustling as quickly as he can to create a reliable nuclear deterrent against the northern and southern solution. That is probably not possible or practical but Kim seems to think he has no other choice. Its a mess up there, in so many ways and has been for centuries. Thats another story that only the Chinese seem to be paying close attention to. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. TANZANIA has insisted that it will honour the terms and objectives of the World Bank-supported Secondary Education Quality Improvement Project (SEQUIP). It is now certain that the massive education initiative, which seeks to improve access and quality of secondary education, will be implemented in the country after the World Banks Board of Executive Directors approved a 500m US dollars (1.15tri/-) to Tanzania last Tuesday. And the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology yesterday reaffirmed government position and the countrys commitment to implement the project according to the agreement between the government and the World Bank. Tanzania has insisted that it will honour the terms and objectives of the Secondary Education Quality Improvement Project (SEQUIP) bankrolled by the World Bank. It is now certain that the massive education initiative, which seeks to improve access and quality of secondary education, will be implemented in the country after the World Banks Board of Executive Directors approved a 500m US dollars (1.15tri/-) to Tanzania last Tuesday. And the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology yesterday reaffirmed the countrys commitment to implement the project according to the agreement between the government and the World Bank. The ministry, on the other hand, rubbished off speculations and commentaries in social media regarding the impact of the project, insisting the scheme will benefit millions of Tanzanian children. We wish to assure all education stakeholders that the government is set to implement the project as per the terms of the project design and the related objectives as agreed and approved by both parties, the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and the World Bank Inc., Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Dr Leonard Akwilapo said in a statement issued yesterday. The government apparently ridiculed unfounded claims by a section of activists, noting that the project will indiscriminately benefit directly more than 6.5 million secondary school students across the country. This will include having in place systems that will support out of school children to have opportunities to pursue their educational goals through prescribed alternative ways, said Dr Akwilapo. Dr Akwilapo reiterated that stakeholders will always be formerly engaged at various stages and continuously informed on the implementation progress as per the agreed plan of action as he expressed gratitude to World Bank for supporting the project. On behalf of the government, we once again extend our deep appreciation to the World Bank for their support in this project which will give a lot of impetus to the welfare of our boys and girls in their education progression, he gratified. Tanzanias Fee Free Basic Education Policy has led to more children entering school. Primary enrollment rose from 8.3 million to 10.1 million between 2015 and 2018, while secondary enrollment increased from 1.8 million to 2.2 million. According to estimations, the population of secondary education students in the country could double to 4.1 million by 2024. The five-year SEQUIP operation therefore will help address this demand through four components, with disbursement of funds linked to clearly defined, measurable, and independently verified results through four components. Also, the project aims to improve access to safe secondary education in schools and alternative education centers and to help girls continue and complete this schooling. It aims to help 900,000 more girls attend secondary school. The project will also introduce digital technology to facilitate math and science teaching and improve learning and teacher efficiency, thus, improving the quality of secondary school teaching and learning environments. The SEQUIP will support government efforts to expand the number of secondary school places, reduce the distance between a students home and her school, and ensure that schools offer safe and good-quality learning environments. Theres an old adage: never waste a crisis. Cops say a woman looking to move 100 lbs. of primo pot in Pa. amid the coronavirus took it to heart. As NBC10 in Philly reports, the Pa. pot but was made in Montgomery County, currently shut down by the coronavirus. And police say suspect Kayla Messinese, 24, of Edgewater, Maryland, intended to use the cover of the coronavirus crisis to traffic 100 pounds of high-grade marijuana into the area. This investigation determined that the defendant was going to use the COVID-19 emergency as an opportunity to traffic a large amount of marijuana, traveling several hours to King of Prussia to make the transaction, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele told NBC10. Luckily, police had received a tip from a confidential informant that drug traffickers planned to use the coronavirus pandemic to their advantage by making large-scale drug deals more frequently -- and less discreetly -- under the belief that police had taken their eye off the ball when it came to drugs, as NBC10 writes, adding: Despite the virus and armed with the informants tip police were waiting when they learned Messinese would be traveling to Upper Merion Township on Friday, April 3, to deliver 100 pounds of primo pot, officials told NBC10. Detectives tailed her vehicle to a parking garage, where Messinese was arrested and later charged with possession with intent to deliver, criminal use of a communication facility and other related offenses. The 100 pounds of marijuana police say they found in her car has a street value of $200,000. The pot had been packaged in vacuumed sealed bags inside three large duffel bags. At last report, Messinese was lodged in the Montgomery County Correctional Facility after failing to post $150,000 cash bail. READ MORE: Lowes employee blasts Pa. shoppers: You dont need to plant your tulips amid coronavirus Coronavirus hits Pa. zoo with flock of furloughs Pa. woman, victim of revenge porn, goes public to shatter stigma: Do not suffer in silence Man who spit in the face of Pa. supermarket manager caught on camera Pa. man who admitted sex with 8-year-old now faces 200 felonies for sex with 2nd girl 40 times': police Pa. bar accused of pouring drinks despite coronavirus closing orders loses liquor license Painful purchase: Pentagon to buy 100K body bags for civilian use as coronavirus deaths mount Pa. teen accused of crashing college party, robbing 4 students at gunpoint is charged as adult Pa. man distraught over losing job over coronavirus shoots girlfriend, himself: I talked to God and I have to do this Shots fired at Pa. Sheetz after man coughs, doesnt cover mouth amid coronavirus epidemic: report Coronavirus closes Pa. Sheetz store as still-busy convenience stores become increasing target Coronavirus hits New Jersey Shore rentals as beach town bans Airbnb rentals during pandemic Free food give-away amid coronavirus causes this incredible Pa. traffic jam Pa. Walmart worker accosted, assaulted by 4 men: cops A biological pump that distributes carbon to the bottom of the ocean via tiny plankton is operating twice as rapidly as previously thought, a new study claims. US scientists say that the level of carbon that is distributed to the ocean floor depends on how much sunlight a microscopic type of plankton gets. This phytoplankton, which consumes carbon dioxide and releases oxygen just like plants, is present in the oceans sun-lit surface area known as the 'euphotic zone'. Phytoplankton then enters the food chain or falls as organic dead matter, indirectly distributing carbon to the ocean depths. But variations in the depth at which the euphotic zone ends means differences in how much carbon is being distributed to the bottom. Scroll down for video Masses of dinoflagellates in the water. Dinoflagellates are one of the two main types of phytoplankton, which require sunlight in order to live and grow. They therefore reside in the uppermost layer of the ocean that receives sunlight - the euphotic zone The euphotic zone has generally been said to stretch from the ocean's surface to 650 feet down, followed by the twilight zone, the midnight zone, the abyssal zone and the hadal zone, which exists at in V-shaped depressions at around 20,000 to 36,000 ft By measuring the actual depth of the euphotic zone which is usually said to span from the very surface to 650 feet (200 metres) down scientists say global carbon estimates may be inaccurate. This has implications for future climate assessments and could lead to more accurate standards by which global climate policy is set. WHAT ARE PHYTOPLANKTON? Phytoplankton are microscopic marine algae. They contain chlorophyll and require sunlight in order to live and grow. Phytoplankton are buoyant and float in the upper part of the ocean, where sunlight penetrates the water - known as the 'euphotic zone'. In a balanced ecosystem, phytoplankton provide food for a range of sea creatures including whales, shrimp, snails, and jellyfish, as well as the slightly larger zooplankton. The two main classes of phytoplankton are dinoflagellates and diatoms. Dinoflagellates use a whip-like tail, or flagella, to move through the water, while diatoms rely on currents. Source: US National Ocean Service Advertisement This is a good news story, in that we have been underestimating the oceans ability to take up carbon dioxide, Professor Ken Buesseler, a geochemist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Massachusetts, told MailOnline. Essentially the discovery is not that there is more carbon getting in to the ocean, but realising that we've been measuring this carbon flow too deep, and hence missing the full impact of the sun-lit surface zone. So the ocean is taking up more carbon which is good and if we consider this boundary of light penetration more properly in our models, we can do a better job understanding and predicting the oceans role in the global carbon cycle, and hence climate.' Every spring in the Northern Hemisphere, the ocean erupts in a massive bloom of phytoplankton tiny microscopic marine algae that forms the basis of many food chains. Above right is a graph of carbon loss traditional measurement at 150 meters compared to carbon loss measurement where the depth of sunlight penetration actually is. 'Carbon loss' refers to the amount of carbon that is sinking out as 'marine snow particles' - the downward flow of plankton fecal matter and their decay products. Carbon losses are therefore higher when depths of individual euphotic zones are taken into account These single-celled floating organisms use photosynthesis to turn light into energy just like plants meaning they consume carbon dioxide and release oxygen. When phytoplankton die they form part of what is known is marine snow a shower of organic waste that sinks towards the ocean floor. Phytoplankton are also eaten by the slightly larger zooplankton, which are in turn eaten by larger creatures and distributed as faecal matter. This process of carbon-rich fragments sinking deeper into the ocean is key to the worlds global carbon cycle the cycle of carbon between the atmosphere, the oceans, land, and fossil fuels. During expeditions over the last few years, Dr Buesseler and his team used chlorophyll sensors that indicate the presence of phytoplankton in order to assess various depths of the euphotic zone. Marine chemist Ken Buesseler (right) deploys a sediment trap from the research vessel Roger Revelle during a 2018 expedition in the Gulf of Alaska. Buesseler's research focuses on how carbon moves through the ocean In his paper, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Dr Buesseler and his co-authors call on fellow oceanographers to consider the differences in euphotic zone boundaries. If we're going to call something a euphotic zone, we need to define that so we're insisting on a more formal definition so that we can compare sites, said Dr Buesseler. Using the new metrics, we will be able to refine the models to not just tell us how the ocean looks today, but how it will look in the future. 'Is the amount of carbon sinking in the ocean going up or down? That number affects the climate of the world we live in. Dr Buesseler said that the next step is looking at processes below the sun-lit layers, starting with the mysterious twilight zone. Officially known as the mesopelagic zone, the twilight zone generally spans from just below 200 metres to 1,000 metres deep. In a joint article published in Nature, Dr Buesseler warns climate change is altering the poorly understood twilight zone, which is changing its temperature, acidification and oxygen levels in ways that are likely to affect marine life. We are thrilled and honored to have won these awards, said Michael Rhodes, Principal of Silver Creek Industries. SCI won the Judges Choice award, as well as First Place award in the Permanent Modular Office under 10,000 sf category for its California State University San Marcos Veterans Center. The project consists of a permanent modular office comprising a lobby, meeting space, private offices and support space. The building exterior utilizes a mixture of smooth fiber cement siding, metal panels, and horizontal wood siding and accents. A stepped roof design creates a visual connection with the adjacent structure while screening the mechanical equipment and providing support for future solar system. The unique project site required an installation which cantilevered the building approximately 40 over the hillside. SCI team members collaborated very closely with Cal State San Marcos Planning, Design and Construction on this very special project. SCI was also awarded First Place in the Permanent Modular Correctional category for its Police Station in Corcoran, California which was completed in partnership with Accelerated Modular Concepts. The 11,472 sf modular building houses the Corcoran Police Department. It contains a lobby, community meeting space, private offices, armory, holding cells, a sally port, evidence storage room and various support spaces. The building exterior utilizes brick veneer with plaster accents to provide a distinguished appearance. The building interiors comprise material selections that consider the durability and function required for a law enforcement facility while also providing a comfortable working environment. SCI also received an Honorable Mention award under the Permanent Modular Education over 10,000 sf category for the James Forrest Elementary School site at Wasco Elementary School District where over 41,000 sf of classrooms and restroom facilities were provided. We are thrilled and honored to have won these awards, said Michael Rhodes, Principal of Silver Creek Industries. We pride ourselves on taking an innovative approach and constructing each project to the highest quality. To receive praise for our achievements inspires our team to keep pushing the envelope and thinking outside the box. This years MBI Awards of Distinction included 127 entries from projects worldwide. These projects were recognized and voted on by a panel of industry experts for architectural excellence, technical innovation, sustainability, cost effectiveness, energy efficiency, and calendar days to complete. About Silver Creek Industries, Inc. (http://www.silver-creek.net) Silver Creek Industries (SCI) designs and builds sustainable, high quality, and cost-effective buildings for the education, commercial, medical, military, government, and multi-family housing markets. The company utilizes an integrated project delivery collaborating with architects, engineers, contractors, developers, and various industry partners to provide clients with innovative building solutions that will suit their needs while presenting Faster Time to Revenue. With extensive experience and thousands of projects completed, SCI is building for the next generation with minimized environmental impact using its volumetric construction method. Italian officials said Sunday they may soon have to consider easing restrictions after seeing the daily coronavirus death toll plunge to its lowest in over two weeks. The 525 official COVID-19 fatalities reported by the civil protection service were the Mediterranean country's lowest since 427 deaths were registered on March 19. They also represented a decline of 23 percent from the 681 deaths reported on Saturday. "The curve has started its descent and the number of deaths has started to drop," Italy's ISS national health institute director Silvio Brusaferro told reporters. "If these data are confirmed (in the coming days), we will have to start thinking about phase two," he said in reference to an easing of a month-long national lockdown. Italy's second phase of the battle against a virus that has now officially killed 15,887 may be trickier than the first. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte decided to address Italy's biggest crisis in generations by sacrificing the economy for the benefit of public health. The nation of 60 million became the first Western democracy to voluntarily shut down almost all businesses and ban public gatherings -- including simple walks in the park -- on March 12. His gamble appears to be paying off. Officials reported the first decline Sunday in the number of non-critical COVID-19 patients receiving hospital care across the country's 22 regions. That number fell from 29,010 on Saturday to 28,949 on Sunday. The number of patients in critical condition edged down from 3,994 on Saturday to 3,977 on Sunday -- the second successive drop. But the hit to the Italian economy will be enormous. The country's big business lobby Confindustria estimates that this year's production will shrink by six percent if the lockdown remains in place until the end of May. Confindustria believes that any additional week after that will chop another 0.75 per cent off Italy's total output -- the European Union's third-largest last year. Conte's government is expected Monday to announce new emergency support measures for small businesses and families that expand on a 25 billion euro ($27 billion) programme unveiled last month. The coming easing in Italy has not been tried by any other Western nation since the virus spread from China to Europe in February. Italian health officials remain extremely cautious because they know that the death toll is falling almost certainly because most people are self-isolating. Civil protection service chief Angelo Borrelli called Sunday's drop in reported deaths "good news". "But we should not let our guard down," he warned. Italian media on Sunday said Conte's government was preparing a five-point plan that would open up businesses in stages while keeping many social distancing measures in place for some time. The Corriere della Sera daily said Italians would be asked to go to work with facemasks and required to stay two metres (six feet) apart in public at all times. "Masks are important because they prevent the spread of infections," Borrelli said Sunday. Anyone who shows the slightest COVID-19 symptoms must be immediately reported to the health authorities and isolated for two weeks. Conte's government also intends to secure tens of thousands of certified blood test kits to see how many people have developed antibodies for the disease. Those with the antibodies might have immunity and be allowed to work. But Italy does not have any certified kits at the moment and when these will be available remains unknown. It is also unclear whether people with antibodies can still spread the disease. Italy is also reportedly planning to build more coronavirus-specific hospitals across the country. The government's final proposal involves using phone apps to "strengthen contact tracing" -- a controversial measure opposed by privacy advocates that has been tried in countries such as South Korea and Israel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former vice president Joe Biden on Sunday sharply criticized the dismissal of Capt. Brett Crozier, who was removed from his post as commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt after speaking up in a leaked letter to his superiors about the handling of a coronavirus outbreak aboard the vessel. "I think it's close to criminal, the way they're dealing with this guy. ... The idea that this man stood up and said what had to be said, got it out that his troops, his Navy personnel, were in danger, in danger - look how many have the virus," Biden said in an interview on ABC News' "This Week." He added that Crozier "should have a commendation, rather than be fired." Crozier was relieved of command on Thursday at the direction of acting Navy secretary Thomas Modly, who said Crozier had shown "poor judgment," although he did not directly accuse Crozier of leaking the letter. Two days later, President Donald Trump defended Crozier's ouster, telling reporters at the White House that it was "not appropriate" for Crozier to have written the letter. On Saturday, the Navy said 155 service members on the USS Theodore Roosevelt had tested positive for the coronavirus, the U.S. military's largest coronavirus outbreak to date. The service added that 44 percent of the crew had been tested for the virus. Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Sunday defended Crozier's dismissal, saying in an interview on CNNs' "State of the Union" that Modly had "lost faith and confidence in the captain based on his leadership." Esper argued that any suggestions that the Pentagon had failed to protect the service members aboard the aircraft carrier were part of a "completely false narrative." "We've been on top of this from the earliest days," he said. Esper declined to say whether Trump had ordered the firing, noting that an investigation was still underway and that "when all those facts come to bear, we'll have a chance to understand why the secretary did what he did." Crozier's firing, Esper added, was "just an example of how we hold people accountable for their actions." - - - The Washington Post's Dan Lamothe and Timothy Bella contributed to this report. The analysts covering Suncor Energy Inc. (TSE:SU) delivered a dose of negativity to shareholders today, by making a substantial revision to their statutory forecasts for this year. Both revenue and earnings per share (EPS) estimates were cut sharply as analysts factored in the latest outlook for the business, concluding that they were too optimistic previously. Bidders are definitely seeing a different story, with the stock price of CA$22.98 reflecting a 40% rise in the past week. It will be interesting to see if the downgrade has an impact on buying demand for the company's shares. Following the downgrade, the consensus from nine analysts covering Suncor Energy is for revenues of CA$24b in 2020, implying a sizeable 37% decline in sales compared to the last 12 months. After this downgrade, the company is anticipated to report a loss of CA$0.62 in 2020, a sharp decline from a profit over the last year. Yet prior to the latest estimates, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of CA$27b and losses of CA$0.43 per share in 2020. So there's been quite a change-up of views after the recent consensus updates, with the analysts making a serious cut to their revenue forecasts while also expecting losses per share to increase. Check out our latest analysis for Suncor Energy TSX:SU Past and Future Earnings April 5th 2020 The consensus price target fell 6.0% to CA$34.38, with the analysts clearly concerned about the company following the weaker revenue and earnings outlook. There's another way to think about price targets though, and that's to look at the range of price targets put forward by analysts, because a wide range of estimates could suggest a diverse view on possible outcomes for the business. Currently, the most bullish analyst values Suncor Energy at CA$53.00 per share, while the most bearish prices it at CA$24.00. Note the wide gap in analyst price targets? This implies to us that there is a fairly broad range of possible scenarios for the underlying business. Story continues Of course, another way to look at these forecasts is to place them into context against the industry itself. We would highlight that sales are expected to reverse, with the forecast 37% revenue decline a notable change from historical growth of 4.1% over the last five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in the industry are forecast to see their revenue decline 1.4% annually for the foreseeable future. So it's pretty clear that Suncor Energy's revenues are expected to shrink faster than the wider industry. The Bottom Line The most important thing to note from this downgrade is that the consensus increased its forecast losses this year, suggesting all may not be well at Suncor Energy. Unfortunately they also downgraded their revenue estimates, and our aggregation of analyst estimates suggests that Suncor Energy revenue is expected to perform worse than the wider market. Given the scope of the downgrades, it would not be a surprise to see the market become more wary of the business. After a downgrade like this, it's pretty clear that previous forecasts were too optimistic. What's more, we've spotted several possible issues with Suncor Energy's business, like the risk of cutting its dividend. Learn more, and discover the 2 other warning signs we've identified, for free on our platform here. Of course, seeing company management invest large sums of money in a stock can be just as useful as knowing whether analysts are downgrading their estimates. So you may also wish to search this free list of stocks that insiders are buying. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. [The stream is slated to start at 11:30 a.m. ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.] World Health Organization officials are holding a press conference to update the public on the coronavirus outbreak, which has now infected more than 1.2 million people globally. On Friday, WHO officials warned that countries that rush to lift quarantine restrictions too soon risk "an even more severe and prolonged" economic downturn from the coronavirus pandemic and potentially a resurgence in COVID-19 cases. "We are all aware of the profound social and economic consequences of the pandemic," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a briefing at the agency's headquarters in Geneva on Friday. "Ultimately the best way for countries to end restrictions and ease their economic effects is to attack the virus." WHO officials also cautioned that more young people are becoming critically ill and dying from the virus, even young people with no reported underlying health conditions. Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO's emergencies program, said it's a mistake to believe that the virus only impacts older people and those with underlying conditions. Globally, the coronavirus has infected more than 1,280,000 people and has killed at least 69,789, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. In the U.S., the coronavirus has infected at least 337,600 people and has killed at least 9,648. Read CNBC's live updates to see the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak. Gov. Charlie Baker gives his daily update on the novel coronavirus pandemic and Lauren Baker and Joanna Jacobson, who announced the establishment of the relief fund. Governor Announces COVID-19 Relief Fund, Testing Facility for WMass BOSTON A COVID-19 testing facility is expected to be up and running in West Springfield by the end of the week for public safety workers. The information was provided at Gov. Charlie Baker's daily update on Monday, which also included the announcement of a $13 million Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund to support local foundations and community assets, especially front-line workers during the novel coronavirus pandemic. The governor had indicated on Sunday the possibility of a testing center Western Massachusetts while speaking at the opening of a drive-through testing center at Gillette Stadium for first-responders. Two drive-through testing sites were set up about two weeks ago in Waltham and Shrewsbury. "We've now tested about 76,500 people in Massachusetts and 13,837 have tested positive," he said. "Tomorrow we'll announce a new site, in partnership with CVS, that will conduct up to 1,000 tests a day. ... There's another one that will be going up probably later this week at the Big E in West Springfield." The sites will probably be by appointment and "work through a variety of communities such as first-responders and others in public safety," he said. The governor has stressed the need for more testing and tracing of the contagion even as it remains difficult for people to get a test unless they have symptoms or have been in contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19. The current number tested is only about 1.1 percent of the state's population. He cautioned not to draw conclusions from the daily numbers coming out of the Department of Public Health by reading into one or two-day figures on the contagion's spread. "I know people want to look for trends in this, especially positive trends given the anxiety that's created by the presence of the virus in the first place," he said. "But I think the best way to look at this is is over time ... "I do believe if you follow the trend line right for Massachusetts, you can see it starting to bend a little in terms of the cases but I don't ... I think we should all be very careful about drawing too many conclusions from small points of data." Baker urged residents to continue following recommendations for social distancing, washing hands and regular sanitizing to slow the spread. Not enough is known about this coronavirus to conclude antibodies will be enough to prevent anyone from being infected again, he said. "What I do know is we need, as I said in my remarks, we need to continue to take all the issues associated with distancing and social spread seriously, and I believe that people in Massachusetts are doing that based on, with small exceptions, with based on what we see," the governor said. Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund is being established with seed funding of $1.8 million from One8 Foundation and founded by first lady Lauren Baker and foundation Trustee Joanna Jacobson. The fund will be administered at no cost by Eastern Bank. "There are a lot of communities across Massachusetts where even in the best of times, people struggle. These are communities where families live paycheck to paycheck and they've been particularly hard hit by the COVID-19 health crisis," said Lauren Baker. "We founded the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund to help people in every corner of this commonwealth access the resources that they need." The fund will partners with community foundations and nonprofits to "who have deep roots in their communities and boots on the ground to deploy these funds quickly and effectively," she said. Donors have allowed the fund to launch with $13 million available for people in need. Donations can be made at MACovid19ReliefFund.org "The people of Massachusetts, always step up. We're resilient. We're compassionate and strong. We have proven time and again that we will work together, support each other, and do whatever it takes to overcome any challenge," Baker said. "Well, the COVID-19 crisis is probably the biggest challenge any of us have faced." Jacobson said the $13 million is only a small beginning that can make a great difference in the lives of Massachusetts residents hurt by the pandemic. "It will not be the magic answer to everything. But if we do this well, if we do this together, we can have an impact," she said. UTICA, N.Y. - The Utica Food Pantry is looking for donations due to increasing demand during the coronavirus pandemic. Russell Brooks is the chairman of the Utica Food Pantry. He says the food pantry has seen a 40% increase in demand since the coronavirus pandemic started. "We've had an influx of new people that have been coming in that have recently lost jobs and their income conditions have changed," Brooks said. Life as we know it has changed temporarily, and the need at the food pantry is growing. "If you asked me two or three weeks ago, if we were going to be open, I would say I wasn't sure," Brooks said. But thanks to the community, the food pantry continues to serve those in need, but there is still need for more. "What we desperately need are donations," Brooks said. "Food donations and monetary donations so that we can keep the shelves stocked and help these people." "The community is keeping us going and we're trying to keep the needy in the community going," Brooks said. "When this hit we were really struggling, I can give enough thanks and appreciation to the compassion coalition, they came to our rescue and helps us on a constant basis." The Irish Cultural Center is closed right now, so they donated perishable items like ha and potatoes. Brooks says a local caterer Dave Morgan had events canceled and donated some hams as well. Brooks says he couldn't do it without volunteers. The food pantry has cut back on volunteers to limit the number of people inside. "I can't say enough about these people, they come out of their houses to help others," Brooks said. "I could stay home in my house but I would be thinking about this operation shut down and these people not having food to put on their table." It's a balancing act to continue serving the community and making sure everyone is safe at the same time. "We only allow two people in the actual pantry itself, while they're waiting we're enforcing social distancing, we have lines that indicate how far apart they're supposed to be and basically we;re trying to keep everyone as safe as we possibly can," Brooks said. "All of the volunteers wear protective gear, they have masks and gloves." You can donate online here or in person at the Utica Food Pantry at 729 Broadway. If you need assistance, you will need to fill out an intake form and show proof of identity. You can find that intake form online here or at the Utica Food Pantry. The food pantry is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11 AM to 1 PM. Below is the information for Herkimer County food pantries: Here's the pantry info: Dolgeville Food Pantry- United Methodist Church-21 North Helmer Ave. Dolgeville Hours: Thursday-3:00-4:30 PM Frankfort/Ilion Pantry Annuciation Parish Center-60 West St. Ilion Hours: Mon-Fri 1:00-300PM Kuyahoora Valley Food Pantry 8202 St. Rte 28 Newport Hours: Mondays-1:00-4:15 PM; Wednesdays-1:00-4:15 and 6-7 PM Little Falls Food Pantry Little Falls Community Center-45 Furnace St. Little Falls Hours: Tuesday-Friday 12:00-2:00 PM Herkimer/Mohawk (Salvation Army) Salvation Army Bldg. 431 N. Prospect St.-Herkimer Hours: Monday-Friday 12:30-2:30 PM Van Hornesville/Jordanville Pantry Van Hornesville Post Office-2178 Rte. 80-Van Hornesville 315-219-3942 Hours: Wednesday 12:30-2:30 PM West Winfield Pantry Federated Church-452 E. Main St. West Winfield Hours: Monday-Friday 1:00-3:00 PM Old Forge-St. Bartholomew's Pantry St. Bartholomew's Church-103 Crosby Blvd. Old Forge Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:00-6:00 PM Richfield Springs Pantry Church of Christ Uniting-14 Church St. Richfield Springs Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00-12 noon; 2nd and 4th Saturdays-10AM-Noon For Otsego County, click here. MPLAD fund suspended, MPs to take 30 per cent salary cut says Union Cabinet India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Apr 06: The Union Cabinet today approved the Ordinance amending the Salary Allowance and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954. As a result of this, the allowances and pension of all MPs will be reduced by 30 per cent with effect from April 2020 for one year. Further, it was said that the President, Vice President, Governors of States have also voluntarily decided to take a cut as a social responsibility. The money will go to the Consolidated Fund of India. The Cabinet also decided to temporarily suspect the MP Local Area Development or MPLAD fund for two years. The fund would be suspended during 2020-21 and 2021-22 in order manage heath and adverse impact of the outbreak of coronavirus in the country. Briefing the media after the meeting, Union Minister Prakash Javdekar said that the government was monitoring the situation closely. When asked if the lockdown would continue, he said that they were monitoring the world situation every minute and hence decisions are taken ultimately in the interest of the nation and the people. On Plagues, Prophecies, and Truth Falling by the Wayside Commentary Painfully aware of our mortality, humankind has continuously sought to buffer itself against the existential threats of the natural world. This instinct has led to the prescription of various methods of self-regulation and societal organization. Where we are at today is the result of a centuries-long experiment to deduce mankinds most beneficial modes of being. Sometimes we have worked wonders while other times we failed catastrophically. Over the ages, civilizations have risen and fallen. The historical record shows time and time again that when a civilization fell, it was almost always preceded by a period of immorality, decadence, or tyranny. From the withering of the Greek Empire, to the Fall of Rome, to the collapse of the Eastern European communist bloc in more modern times, hindsight points to moral decay either in the citizenry or the leadership. Greece gradually relinquished the pursuit of knowledge for hedonism, Rome persecuted the Christians, and the USSR arbitrarily brutalized and starved its own citizens. In China, too, a change in dynasty was almost always preceded by corrupt leadership. The COVID-19 pandemic has left us wondering in isolation why the world as we know it has been brought to its knees. Is it due solely to the pandemic or is there a deeper reason? We instinctively want to understand the mechanisms behind the seemingly random events of the world by pondering both the material and metaphysical realities behind them. To this end, its worth taking a look at how pandemics and prophesies are linked by indelible principles of moral conduct that go beyond mere conjecture. Morality and the Metaphysical Humankind has been transfixed by prophecy since time immemorial. Nostradamus is perhaps the most often cited due to his uncanny prediction of world eventsfrom the rise of Hitler to the falling of the Twin Towers on 9/11. As with all prophecy, the language is poetic, vague, and open to interpretation, but pointed enough to ring with truth. The Mayan calendar, another object of fascination, had a great number of people on edge in 2012, the year the calendar abruptly ended. For Christians, the Book of Revelations has long served as the most dire warning of the consequences of mans moral weaknesses. Its human nature to look for ways to predict the future in uncertain times. This holds true today as much as it did in the past. An example is the recent Twitter storm surrounding Sylvia Brownes 2008 book End of Days: Predictions and Prophecies About the End of the World, in which she writes: In around 2020, a severe pneumonia-like illness will spread throughout the globe, attacking the lungs and bronchial tubes and resisting all known treatments. Post-outbreak, the relatively obscure book became an instant bestseller. This search for signposts about the future stems from an instinct for self-preservation and a need to believe there is a way out of the pandemic and the upheaval it has wrought. Truth, the Foremost Virtue Much of the blame for the COVID-19 pandemic can be placed squarely on a singular moral failing of our timesthe rejection of truth as the primary virtue that sustains civilizationwhich not only led to the outbreak but hastened its spread throughout the world. The pandemic is serving as a painful and palpable reminder of the absolute need for truth, trust, and transparency. Since the outbreak, which began in Wuhan and was initially covered up by the Chinese regime, many governments and organizations have inflated Beijings influence and pretence of power and succumbed to appeasement out of their own self-interest or fear. Even with ample evidence to the contrary, few are willing to do anything but take the regimes propaganda at face valuepropaganda that now includes trying to pin the blame for the pandemic on the United States. The World Health Organization was full of praise for Chinas negligent response to the outbreak, never once questioning the legitimacy of the official narrative on the matter. Even when it became increasingly clear that the virus could become a pandemic, those who suggested travel bans or mandatory quarantine for travellers from China were deemed xenophobic and quickly silenced at Beijings behest. There was a serious lack of transparent discussion on these matters even when it became clear that there was a well-founded risk to public health. This endless kowtowing to Beijing by governments lured by economic benefit have made them willing partners in the regimes deceit. And for that they are paying a steep price. Our current, inverted relationship with truth, along with our tolerance for duplicity, is best described in Elena Gorokhovas Soviet era coming-of-age tale, A Mountain of Crumbs. She describes the states political deception thus: The rules are simple: they lie to us, we know theyre lying, they know we know theyre lying, but they keep lying to us, and we keep pretending to believe them. The fine points of morality can be endlessly debated, but the self-evident superiority of truth cannot be wholly removed from its metaphysical underpinnings because its value, especially in times of crisis, is absolute. There is no substitute. Without truth and trust there is no commerce, peace, democracy, or sustainable future. It took centuries for us to get this relationship right and we are in grave danger of losing it. Without truth, our ability to differentiate between good and evil is severely hindered. We see this play out in China today where the moral corruption of communist ideology has infiltrated every aspect of life, leaving people bereft of the compassion, fortitude, and humility needed to weather any coming storms. This moral handicapping cannot be compensated for by affluence or material comfortsuperficial trappings that cant endure without a sufficient ethical compass to keep them in check. China has sought to buy the soul of its people with material wealth. It should not be permitted to do the same to other nations. The world needs to re-align itself with the concepts of transparency, trust, and honesty before its too late. Governments must recognize their missteps and correct course, and the people must demand that, while also coming to terms with their own fear-bound deceptions. We need to be stoic in our response, unbending in our pursuit and loyalty to truth lest we become the unwitting inheritors of dark prophecy. There is room for optimism in this. If we can awaken to the threat of deception and align ourselves with the foremost moral virtue, it might just set us free. And it might just help alleviate the next pandemic. Ryan Moffatt is a journalist based in Vancouver. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Yemeni government officials claimed shelling by Houthi rebels on Sunday hit a prison for women in the country's south western province, killing at least six prisoners. The officials said the attack also wounded at least two dozen prisoners, including four children staying with their imprisoned mothers, at the central prison in government-held Taiz province. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief the media. There has been no immediate comment from the Houthis. The shelling came amid a drastic escalation in fighting between the internationally recognised government's forces and the Houthi rebels in recent weeks. Increased violence in Yemen has displaced more than 40,000 people since January, adding to the estimated 3.6 million who have fled their homes since the war began more than five years ago. Yemen's civil war erupted late in 2014 when the Shiite Houthi rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, along with much of the country's north. The Houthi advance ousted President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. A US-backed, Saudi-led military coalition intervened in early 2015 to try and restore Hadi's government. The war has killed more than 100,000 people, many by Saudi-led airstrikes, and has triggered what the United Nations has described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis, leaving millions suffering from food and medical shortages. The Taliban in a statement Sunday said their peace deal with the United States was nearing a breaking point, accusing Washington of violations that included drone attacks on civilians, while also chastising the Afghan government for delaying the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners promised in the agreement. The Taliban said they had restricted attacks against Afghan security forces to rural outposts, had not attacked international forces and had not attacked Afghan forces in cities or military installations. The Taliban said these limits on their attacks had not been specifically laid out in the agreement with the U.S. signed in February. The Taliban warned of more violence if the U.S. and the Afghan government continue alleged violations of the deal. The militants said they had reduced their attacks compared to last year, but said continued violations would create an atmosphere of mistrust that will not only damage the agreements, but also force mujaheddin to a similar response and will increase the level of fighting.- The Taliban have accused the Afghan government of using indefensible arguments to explain the repeated delays in releasing a promised 5,000 Taliban prisoners in exchange for 1,000 government personnel. The Afghan governments foot-dragging has also left Washington frustrated. Meanwhile, in the Afghan capital, President Ashraf Ghani announced his new Cabinet even as he squabbles with his main political challenger over last years election results. Ghanis move came even as Afghan mediators including former President Hamid Karzai shuttled between the president and his opponent, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, who has also declared himself Afghanistans president. The countrys Independent Election Commission has declared Ghani a winner, but Abdullah and the Elections Complaint Commission have charged widespread irregularities. Attempts to negotiate an end to the political turmoil roiling Kabul have made little progress, frustrating the U.S. and potentially derailing the next stage in the Afghan peace process. Washington has threatened to withhold $1 billion in aid this year if Ghani and Abdullah cant reach a compromise. The Trump administration wants a quick start to intra-Afghan negotiations, the next step in the peace deal it signed on Feb. 29. It looked promising when Ghani announced his negotiating team last week, but Abdullahs response to it has been lukewarm and the Taliban have rejected it as one-sided. The U.S. and NATO have already begun to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. The full withdrawal is expected to be completed in 14 months and is tied to Taliban commitments to fight terrorist groups and help in the battle against the Islamic State group. The withdrawal is not tied to the success of intra-Afghan negotiations, but U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had traveled to Afghanistan last month to try to break the impasse between Ghani and Abdullah. Pompeo left without a solution; however, last week he welcomed that the Afghan government had put together a negotiating team and made progress toward the prisoner releases. Those releases have stumbled even as the Taliban sent a three member team to Kabul last week. SOURCE: AP As bad as it is here, it only gets worse beyond our borders. In shantytowns and refugee camps across the developing world, people are hemmed in. Without the space to insulate themselves, without the health care to heal themselves, they are powerless to protect themselves. For all our panic at home, Canadians can at least do something by doing nothing beyond staying home, working virtually and shopping infrequently. Many of us have the personal power to protect ourselves with social distancing, while our governments have the purchasing power to restock masks and ventilators while reviving our social safety net. But across much of Africa, Asia and Latin America, there will never be enough ventilators, enough medicines, enough room for social distance nor enough resources for social assistance. Refugees with nowhere to go can only shelter in overcrowded camps that have become human incubators for COVID-19. Even in the best of times, the working poor and displaced people lack access to basic health care and welfare. While we grapple with the dilemma of short-term economic pain for long term societal gain, they face the double jeopardy of impoverishment without protection. In many countries, the peril will not only be medical but political. The pandemic will test all of us, but it may also turn the most hard-pressed people against each other. While we reconcile ourselves to social distancing, social breakdown is a risk anywhere from simple disobedience to outright looting or rioting. It hasnt happened yet, but these are early days especially in the developing world, where the curve of the novel coronavirus has yet to go off the charts. Industrialized nations such as Italy and Spain have been stretched to the limit without losing their equilibrium. Developing countries such as Iran have been especially hard hit without hitting the breaking point; India is at the brink, trying desperately to impose a shutdown on the poorest of the poor hundreds of millions of day labourers who were caught without basic transport or access to food and medicine. What looks daunting in the big cities appears even more depressing in outlying refugee camps. Today, tens of millions of refugees around the world are essentially stateless, unable to rely on their home governments to safeguard them, nor count on overstretched relief agencies to reach them (and foreign aid workers might only infect them) During a decade abroad as a foreign correspondent I covered the stories of refugees and the internally displaced from Afghanistan to Gaza, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sudan. It is a difficult sight to behold at any time, but a harder story to tell when people are suffering from refugee fatigue and simply stop listening. Today, in the worst of times, refugee camps are especially vulnerable, a vector for the coronavirus in every way. Millions of refugees from old Middle East conflicts and the recent Syrian civil war are languishing in corners of Greece and Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank. Think of the understandable panic at construction sites across Canada, where workers recoiled over toiling in close proximity without proper toilets or sanitizer. Now imagine a refugee camp where entire families, from elders to infants, live jammed together unable to count on food supplies, social distancing, proper sanitation, primary health care, or sophisticated emergency treatments for the elusive COVID-19. They are at the mercy of a global pandemic that knows no boundaries while raising barriers to entry at every frontier. Many countries that can barely cope with the novel coronavirus also play host to millions of refugees in camps adjoining conflict zones. They can barely look after their own citizens. Now they are locking down any non-citizens, many of whom have already been shut out of their subsistence jobs by economic closures. Yet some of the most vulnerable countries have so far maintained social bonds, even as national boundaries tighten around them. In Afghanistan, landlords are forgiving rent for hard-pressed tenants; in Pakistan, refugees are still being given sanctuary even as the country runs out of money from foreign donors. Like all countries, Canada has turned inwards while complaining about being shut out. People were understandably upset at President Donald Trumps initial order to withhold shipments of masks and protective equipment, yet Ottawa came under harsh criticism for authorizing a similar humanitarian shipment to China in its hour of need last February (with our roles reversed, China later reciprocated and made us whole, while the U.S. was still holding back). Just as all politics is local, so too the impact of a global pandemic is also local. But the dividing line between rich and poor, so profound at home, is even more perilous abroad. It is no comfort to know that others are suffering more than us with less margin of manoeuvre. It is a reminder to continue protecting ourselves from infection, thus shielding our fellow citizens from transmission, that we might also be in a position to help those beyond our borders as the pandemic hits home. President Donald Trump, left, sits with Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, during a full honors welcoming ceremony for Esper at the Pentagon, July 25, 2019, in Washington. AP Photo/Alex Brandon Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly reportedly told a colleague that President Donald Trump wanted to fire the commander of an aircraft carrier who warned of the coronavirus outbreak aboard his ship. According to a Washington Post column, Modly told the colleague he wanted to relieve Capt. Brett Crozier of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, whose four-page letter urging for a "political solution" was leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle. Modly was reportedly advised by military leaders, including the Chief of Naval Operations Michael Gilday, that the decision should be left with the military. Capt. Crozier, who was fired, reportedly tested positive for coronavirus, according to reports Sunday. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The acting secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly reportedly told a colleague that President Donald Trump wanted to fire the commander of an aircraft carrier who, in a leaked letter, warned military leaders of the coronavirus outbreak aboard his ship. According to a Washington Post column, Modly told the person he wanted to relieve Capt. Brett Crozier of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, whose four-page letter urging for a "political solution" and an "immediate and decisive action" was leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle. It was not immediately clear how the letter was leaked and the Defense Department has launched an investigation. Modly said that Trump, referring to Crozier, "wants him fired," the colleague said, according to The Post. The remark was allegedly made on Wednesday, one day after The Chronicle published the contents of the letter. Modly was reportedly advised by military leaders, including the Chief of Naval Operations Michael Gilday, that the decision should be left with the military. Gilday, along with defense secretary Mark Esper and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, leaned towards waiting for the investigation to play out. Story continues Despite the military's counsel, Modly proceeded with firing Crozier on Thursday. His reasoning was that Crozier should not have sent a "blast out" letter by email to 20 or 30 recipients and that there was a "proper way of handling" his concerns. "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," Modly said Thursday. Trump indicated on Saturday he was not involved in Modly's decision but that he supported it "100%." "Well, I don't know much about it," Trump said during a press conference. "The letter was a [four] page letter from a captain. And the letter was all over the place. That's not appropriate." "I thought it looked terrible, to be honest with you," Trump added. "Now, they made their decision, I didn't make the decision." Defense Secretary Mark Esper also defended Crozier's removal, saying on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday, Modly "made a very tough decision." "It was based on his view that he had lost faith and confidence in the captain based on his actions. It was supported by Navy leadership," Esper said. "And I think it's just another example of how we hold leaders accountable for their actions." Crozier left his ship amid resounding applause from his crew members. On Sunday, the New York Times reported he was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus. Around 150 service members of the USS Theodore Roosevelt's crew of over 4,800 people tested positive for the virus as of Sunday, the US Navy said. Read the original article on Business Insider PM Modi to inaugurate 11 new medical colleges in Tamil Nadu on Jan 12 PM Modi, Australian PM discuss COVID-19 response strategies India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Apr 06: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday had a telephonic conversation with H.E. Scott Morrison, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia. The two leaders discussed the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and the domestic response strategies being adopted by their respective Governments. They agreed on the importance of bilateral experience-sharing in the context of this health crisis, including through collaborative research efforts. Coronavirus outbreak: A look at countries that did not register a single COVID-19 case Prime Minister Morrison similarly assured that the Indian community in Australia, including Indian students, would continue to be valued as a vibrant part of Australian society. Both leaders agreed to remain attentive to the wider significance of the India-Australia partnership, including in the Indo-Pacific region, even as they focus on solving the present health crisis. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in India stands at 4,067. The Union Health Ministry has said that 109 people have died due to the virus. Globally, there have been over 12.7 lakh confirmed cases of COVID-19. At least 69,500 people have died so far. Cases continue to rise in the United States, Spain, Italy, Germany and France, among others. As the number of COVID-19 cases breached the 300-mark in Uttar Pradesh on Monday, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said it is impossible to say if the lockdown in the state will be lifted after April 14. His remarks come a day after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the lockdown, which was imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus, will be lifted on April 15. He had also called for a mechanism to ensure crowding doesn't take place, else all efforts will go to waste. "Since the number of coronavirus cases has gone up markedly in the past couple of days, it would not be right to say that the lockdown will be lifted after April 14. If even one case remains, lifting it would not be right as the entire work done so far to control the virus would go in vain," Awasthi said. "At this preliminary stage it is impossible to say if it will be lifted after April 14. It will take time," he said. Awasthi said the number of coronavirus infections in the state climbed to 305 on Monday and Tablighi Jamaat members accounted for more than half of these cases. "The total count of positive cases rose to 305 on Monday. Of the 27 fresh cases reported on Sunday, 21 are linked to the Tablighi Jamaat," he said, adding that eight Tablighi Jamaat members tested positive in Sitapur, five each in Lucknow and Shamli, and one each in Bijnor, Kanpur and Prayagraj. As many as 159 of these 305 cases are linked to the Tablighi Jamaat, he said. At least 9,000 people had participated in a congregation at the Tablighi Jamaat's Markaz (headquarters) in Delhi's Nizamuddin area last month after which many travelled to various parts of the country for missionary works. "Our priority is to first take up the treatment of patients who have tested positive and then those who came in contact with them, besides tracing the chain of other contacts," Awasthi said. He said the list of contacts of COVID-19 patients has also grown manifold. Wherever cases have come to light, police have acted fast to ensure strict compliance of the lockdown, he added. Uttar Pradesh has so far reported three coronavirus deaths, one each from Basti, Meerut and Varanasi. At least 21 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scientists from the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IPC PAS) in cooperation with the Faculty of Chemistry of the Warsaw University of Technology (WUT) have developed a new, solvent-free method for the encapsulation of drug molecules in MOF (Metal-Organic Framework) porous materials. Nowadays, new drug delivery systems for the controlled release of biologically active molecules are instrumental in modern pharmaceutical technology. In recent years, MOFs - a class of organic-inorganic hybrid crystalline porous materials have attracted a great deal of attention as drug carriers due to their amphiphilic internal environment and tunable high and regular porosity. Traditional drug-loading methods rely on the incorporation of a particular drug by soaking an activated MOF in appropriately prepared drug solutions. This seemingly simple procedure is time consuming as it requires many steps such as the synthesis and activation of the MOF, soaking, washing and drying. Furthermore, the loading capacity of the materials obtained in this manner is usually lower than that found in currently used mesoporous silicas or organic carriers. "What we're looking for is a rational design and synthesis of molecular building units and their controlled transformation into hybrid functional materials in bottom-up processes including both traditional wet methods and environmentally-friendly mechanochemical processes," says Janusz Lewinski, the senior author of the study. Now, researchers at the IPC PAS and WUT have developed a new and simple solvent-free drug encapsulation method that uses a pre-assembled metal complex incorporating the drug molecule and this type of cluster acts as both the drug and MOF precursor. According to the researchers, this new approach could both dramatically improve the efficiency of drug encapsulation in MOF materials as well as opening the way to formulating a vast array of "drug@MOF" composites. "This is a very simple and quick procedure, in which the rapid and solvent-free mechanochemical reaction provides us with a "drug@MOF" composite in just 20 minutes," said Dr. Daniel Prochowicz. "The solvent-free mechanochemical synthesis is very simple. We need solid precursors and an electric ball mill to carry out the reaction. Then, during the grinding of the substrates, mechanical force does the job for us," says Jan Nawrocki, PhD student in the Lewi?ski Group and first author of the publication reporting the novel synthetic strategy. The scientists point out that this proof of concept involving a pre-assembled ibuprofen-functionalized copper cluster is only the beginning of their research into more biocompatible metal clusters based, among others, on zirconium and iron ions. "The road to bringing MOFs to the pharmaceutical market is probably still long and winding, but when they are, our method will be the most favourable from an economic point of view," says Prochowicz. ### The findings were published on 9th March, 2020 in the European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry (Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2020, 796) The research was financed by Foundation for Polish Science TEAM Program co-financed by the EU "European Regional Development Fund" No. POIR.04.04.00-00-20C6/16-00 and Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Grant Number: IP2015 064274. The Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (http://www.ichf.edu.pl/) was established in 1955 as one of the first chemical institutes of the PAS. The Institute's scientific profile is strongly related to the newest global trends in the development of physical chemistry and chemical physics. Scientific research is conducted in nine scientific departments. CHEMIPAN R&D Laboratories, operating as part of the Institute, implement, produce and commercialize specialist chemicals to be used, in particular, in agriculture and pharmaceutical industry. The Institute publishes approximately 200 original research papers annually. Dutch GP boss Jan Lammers has called for speculation about re-starting Formula 1 to stop for now. "We actually want to stop reporting until there is more clarity," the former F1 driver, who is the lead spokesman for the Zandvoort event, told the Dutch publication Formule 1. "Every answer raises new questions, and everything is interpreted so widely. So from an ethical point of view, we actually want to set an example," Lammers added. He is obviously talking about the coronavirus pandemic, which has stalled normal life for an apparently indefinite period of time. "The focus must be where it belongs," said Lammers. "We now need to leave the media attention to more socially important subjects. This goes much further than just a motorsport situation - to take even one percent of the victim role would be inappropriate." To that end, he said any talk that the Dutch race could be rescheduled for as early as August is not right. "You have to ask yourself if August is not very early, because then you would assume that this virus will be out of the world in June or July. And then you'd need to wonder if it is appropriate to celebrate while half of Europe is traumatised," said Lammers. "Too much is happening in the world to be selfish." (GMM) Actor and producer Tyler Perry has made social distancing $21,000 easier for a local restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia. Perry, who is known for his charitable work, reportedly left a $500 tip for each of the 42 workers of one of his favourite restaurants according to TMZ. The filmmaker is said to frequent a restaurant called Houstons, which is part of a bigger chain in the US. Getty Images TMZ reported that Perry went to a location on the Northside Parkway, which closed its dine-in service but is still offering take out. He is said to have left a hefty $21,000 tip to support workers who were laid off. Evening Standard Insider has reached out to Houston's for comment. In March, the establishment asked its regulars to continue to support local restaurants during the coronavirus pandemic. It wrote on Instagram, Please support your favorite restaurants (ours and others, too) with takeaway orders. The hospitality industry needs your support like never before. Georgia governor Brian Kemp recently introduced an executive shelter in place order for the entire state, though Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms introduced one for the area earlier. Georgia has 6,742 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 219 related deaths according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. Recently, Perry started the #HesGotTheWholeWorldChallenge on Instagram - singing the classic religious tune of the same name. Like Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot's cover of 'Imagine', celebrities such as Yolanda Adams, Jennifer Hudson and more joined him in an at-home version of the song and he called for people to add to this simple song in every nation as we let it become a prayer for the whole world. In 2019, he also assisted with disaster relief after the Bahamas was hit by Hurricane Dorian. Perry, who called himself an adoptive son of the area, reportedly allowed his seaplane to be used to transport supplies and in 2017 when Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, he donated $1 million to relief efforts. He made history last October when he opened Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, converting a former confederate army base into a hub for television and film productions. The Hohoe Municipal Assembly in the Volta Region has mobilized GH 1,183,572.01 as Internally Generated Fund (IGF) for the year 2019. The amount, which was raised out of the total projected figure of GH1,288,719, fell short of the 2018 performance by 102 per cent. Mr Andrews Teddy Ofori, the Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) who made this known in his sessional address during the first ordinary meeting of the eighth Assemblys first session said the financial health of the Assembly in 2019 was good. He said management had taken steps to augment revenue mobilization, which included the recruitment of 15 new commission revenue collectors, setting targets for collectors, timely distribution demand notices and effective resourcing of revenue collectors. Mr Ofori called on all Assembly members to compliment efforts of the Assembly by educating the citizenry in their electoral areas about their obligations to pay levies and obligations of the Assembly towards them. The MCE said arrangements were underway to inaugurate the Assemblys zonal councils and unit committees as well as constitute membership to the councils to enable them contribute their quota to the development of their areas. He said the Assembly in order to resource Zonal Councils, had procured and distributed a number of laptops and printers from its share of District Development Facility (DDF) capacity grant to functioning councils to enhance their works. Mr Ofori said the Assembly had projected to receive an amount of GH3,779,504 as its District Assemblys Common Fund (DACF) allocation for 2019 and GH339,407.68 of MPs Constituency Development Fund, which were applied in accordance of the DACF guidelines and Assemblys approved Development Plan and providing support for various communities-initiated projects such scholarships for brilliant and needy students. He said the annual revenue estimate of the Assembly for 2019 was GH20,825,524 and out of which an amount of GH 5,890,309 representing 28.28 was received, adding that, an amount of GH30,541,036 had already been approved as its budgeted revenue while management was awaiting the indicative allocation of the DACF for 2020 to finalize its supplementary budget. Mr Ofori said other sources of funds received by the Assembly in 2019 included District Performance Assessment Tool (DPAT)-GH 1,342,312, Persons With Disability- GH 252,129, Ghana Secondary Cities Support- GH257,002 and other supports amounting to GH 894,964. The MCE said the Assembly had also qualified to benefit from $1,500,000 grant under the Ghana Secondary Cities Support Programme (GSCSP) for a five-year period with the objective of the programme being financing urban infrastructure and services as well as strengthening urban management systems. 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. Featured Video Kapurthala (Punjab) [India], April 6 (ANI): The death toll in Punjab due to novel coronavirus rose to seven on Sunday with a 75-year-old woman succumbing to the infection in Amritsar hospital, officials said. Punjab Chief Secretary Karan Bir Singh Sidhu said "The seventh death In Punjab due to CoronaVirus in Amritsar Hospital. The patient was 75 years old and was a resident of Sujjanpur, Pathankot. She was referred to Amritsar Hospital yesterday." Earlier a 69-year old woman COVID-19 positive resident of Pathnakot suffered a cardiac arrest and died at a private hospital in Ludhiana, where she was admitted to on March 31. She had co-morbid conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes, Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Pardeep Aggarwal said. Three more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Punjab tested positive taking the total tally of positive cases in the state to 68 in the state. Out of these, a person who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat meet in Delhi's Nizamuddin area has tested positive for coronavirus in Kapurthala. "One more COVID-19 positive case reported in Kapurthala. Out of 33 people of Tablighi Jamaat, one has tested positive. He was living in Kot Karar Khan village in Kapurthala. The person was residing at a mosque along with other Jamaatis," Bir Singh Sidhu said. According to the chief secretary, the Kapurthala District Administration is sealing the village, mosques and Gujjar Dera and the COVID -19 positive people has been kept in the isolation ward of Civil Hospital Kapurthala. In a late-night update Bir Singh Sidhu said that two primary contacts of the 52-year old COVID-19 positive man -his wife and 16-year old son also tested positive. "Contact tracing for the two has begun and the District Administration has created a buffer zone of 7 kilometres." (ANI) Indian ambassador to Iran Gaddam Dharmendra on Sunday visited Qom and interacted with Indian pilgrims housed in a quarantine facility here due to the coronavirus outbreak. During the day-long visit to the facility, he assured the pilgrims that the Indian Embassy in Tehran is doing everything for the early and safe return of the pilgrims to India. "Dharmendra also called on Governor of Qom, Bahram Sarmast and thanked him for continued cooperation and safety for Indian pilgrims and confirmed coronavirus patients among the pilgrims," the Indian mission in Tehran said in a statement. Meanwhile, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday announced that "low-risk" economic activities would resume from April 11 in the Middle Eastern country worst-affected by the new coronavirus. Globally, the death toll surpassed 69,000, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, and the number of infections rose above 1.2 million. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Aref Mohammed BASRA, Iraq (Reuters) - Rockets landed near a district in Iraq that houses workers for foreign oil companies on Monday, including U.S. oil service company Halliburton, but caused no damage or casualties, oil and police sources said. Police said three Katyusha rockets were launched around 3 a.m. local time and hit the Burjesia residential and operations headquarters west of Iraq's main southern city, Basra. A launcher and 11 unfired rockets were found nearby and dismantled by security forces, according to the statement. The oil ministry denounced the attack and said in a statement one rocket landed near a health centre in a district which includes administration offices for state-run and foreign oil companies without causing any casualties or damage. Another rocket landed near the perimeter of Zubair oilfield, operated by Italy's Eni, without causing any damage or disrupting operations, said oil ministry spokesman Asim Jihad. According to the oil ministry statement, which described the attack as "unjustified criminal acts", five rockets in total were fired. Three landed in an uninhabited area. An Iraqi employee working with Halliburton said the rockets fell far from the site. The district houses foreign oil workers and offices of both foreign and Iraqi oil companies, but has been largely empty in recent weeks after nearly all foreign personnel were evacuated because of the coronavirus pandemic. Two officials with state-run Basra Oil Co, which oversees oil operations in the south, said the attack had not affected production or export operations. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. Police said they deployed additional forces to search the area. Iran-backed paramilitary groups have regularly been rocketing and shelling bases in Iraq that host U.S. forces and the area around the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. (Reporting Aref Mohammed in Basra and Ahmed Rasheed in Baghdad; Writing by Ahmed Rasheed; editing by Larry King and Nick Macfie) Several rockets landed near the site of the US oil company Halliburton in southern Iraq early April 6, marking the latest in a series of attacks on American interests in the country. There were no casualties or damage to the Houston-based oil service providers operations in Basra province, the Iraqi military said in a statement. Security forces are searching the Burjesia area for those responsible for the three Katyusha rockets, Iraqs Security Media Cell said on Twitter, adding that a rocket launcher and 11 unfired rockets were found on the nearby Zubair-Shuaiba road and defused. No group has claimed responsibility as of yet, but the rocket attacks come as tensions are once again escalating between the United States and Iran-backed militias in Iraq. Last month, Kataib Hezbollah and other Iranian proxies were blamed for a number of attacks on bases hosting US troops, including one on Camp Taji that left two Americans and one British servicemember dead. The US standoff with Iran reached a tipping point last January after the commander of Irans elite Quds Force, Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, died in a US-ordered drone strike in Baghdad. Iran responded with a ballistic missile attack on Ain al-Asad air base in western Iraq that left at least 34 American troops with traumatic brain injuries. The April 6 attack was the first such targeting of oil infrastructure since last June when a rocket struck a compound housing international oil companies, including US energy giant ExxonMobil, and injured three Iraqi employees. Amid rising tensions with Iran, the US-led coalition is pulling some of the more than 5,000 American forces stationed in Iraq from some of its smaller bases. The handover of bases to the Iraqi security forces, officials said, was not connected to the recent spate of attacks and had been in the works for months. The coalition is repositioning troops as the coronavirus pandemic sweeps through Iraq. The death toll in the country climbed to 61 with more than 8,000 confirmed cases. Citizens of all walks of life have recognised how important protective gear is for health workers during this time Three months have passed since the novel coronavirus appeared, leading to a global health crisis unrivaled by anything the world had to cope with since the Second World War, with nearly a million confirmed infections and more than 46,000 fatalities across many countries and territories. As the number of cases grows, the Vietnamese government officially tightened the prevention measures last Wednesday, urging people to stay home and practice rigorous social distancing. According to the latest directive signed by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the whole country has begun a nationwide non-mandatory lockdown, during which people are required to stay at home and only go out in case of necessity, such as buying food and medicine, emergencies, and some kinds of work that require their presence like in factories and trading facilities, as well as other essential services. In addition, the government also requested people to keep an interpersonal distance of at least two metres and to not gather in groups of more than two people outside the workplace. Meanwhile, workplaces that are still active shall be disinfected and follow the authorities guidelines strictly, such as requiring their staff to wear face masks and keep distance from each other as much as possible. Unlike in some other countries, businesses and individuals all agree to follow the directive and protect themselves and others. As a result, since April 1, Vietnam has taken up important social distancing measures across the country in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus. According to a recent survey by the Berlin-based Dalia Research GmbH, the majority of respondents in Vietnam said that the government is performing the right amount of actions to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. With these responses, the Vietnamese peoples confidence in the governments handling ranks the highest worldwide. In response to the positive results of the survey, Vietnams top leaders further urged solidarity in the battle against the pandemic and lauded Party committees, organisations, and authorities, as well as businesses and individuals in the society. Party General Secretary, State President Nguyen Phu Trong, appealed to compatriots, comrades, and soldiers nationwide to stay united in their will and actions in the fight against the pandemic. Each citizen must be a soldier in the war against COVID-19, he stressed. Donations have been made nationwide to ensure people have what they need Heroic mothers At the age of 97 and with one of her eyes unable to see, the veteran Ngo Thi Quyt meticulously makes dozens of face masks every day for the poor with her old sewing machine and a lot of compassion. Old people like me often stay at home without doing much. When hearing that the Womens Association was starting a project to sew face masks for charity, I volunteered immediately. Now, I can have the opportunity to help others in need, Quyt said with a smile on her face. She also mobilised people around the neighbourhood to donate clean clothes for the project. For as long as I can breathe, I will be devoted to the country, she said. Since February, Quyt and the Womens Association in her neighbourhood have donated more than 4,000 face masks to people in need. Similar to her past, when she contributed her youth to fighting in the war and sewing clothes for soldiers, she now continues to contribute in another, only this time against an invisible enemy. Following in the footsteps of Quyt, in mid-March, a picture of a handwritten letter appeared on Facebook, written with compassion and a devoted spirit, which warmed the hearts of many of the networks users. The letter belonged to Le Thi Niem, a 78-year-old woman from Nong Cong in the central province of Thanh Hoa, who rode her old bicycle to the communal peoples committee headquarters to donate VND1 million ($43) for the prevention and control of the ongoing disease, along with the emotional letter. My family and I fought in the war and some of us sacrificed their lives. When the country was in economic difficulties, my family also sold grain to buy bonds. Today, as the disease is now our enemy, I want to contribute VND1 million to the state. The amount is not big but it comes with sincerity. I hope the authority will receive it, Niem wrote in her letter. For many years, Niems life relied on the states martyrs subsidies each month. The money she donated to support the epidemic prevention and control came from her savings and was also given by her children whenever they came to visit her. Niem used to be a volunteer during the war and now she is living alone in an old, degraded house of about 40 square metres. The country is finally united, and the war is long gone, but now we have to deal with another enemy, no less fearsome. I really understand the difficulties and losses that families around the entire country are suffering from, Niem said. There are hundreds of mothers throughout the country continuously supporting the united efforts of the people and the government. Some, like Quyt, are investing their energy and craftsmanship, while others donate significant chunks of their savings or directly send rice and other goods to local authorities, hoping to support the nations efforts in combatting the pandemic. Little kids act big In the early days of the pandemic, when hand sanitisers and face masks at pharmacies became somewhat rare for a short while, people crossing Ly Tu Trong street in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City noticed a little boy with medical gloves on, bowing his head politely and giving out face masks for free. The boy was the 12-year-old Andy Dao Nguyen, who spent VND10,000,000 ($430) of his lucky money that he received during Lunar New Year to buy face masks and distribute them for free. I am very happy that the masks can be given to everyone. Though this pandemic has not spread too wide in Vietnam, it is very dangerous, said Andy. I hope my small gift will help more people to stay healthy, the boy said. Andys story inspired others youngsters across the country who started to act with huge determination and responsibility, despite their ages. Several days after Andys kind act, fourth grader Nguyen Ngoc Trinh from Hanoi donated VND3,180,000 ($140) of her lucky money to the Hanoi Youth Union for them to buy face masks and handwash to help people in the community. Trinh shared that she would work with her classmates in a project, trying to raise awareness on COVID-19. In addition to spreading information about the outbreak and common preventive measures, they also donated face masks and handwash to needy children across the city. Trinhs kind support was mirrored in in the central province of Nghe An, where the Northwestern Nghe An General Hospital received over VND14 million ($600) from a pair of sisters, 8-year-old Tran Bao Ngan and 5-year-old Tran Bao Tran. Nguyen Thi Hong Phuong, the mother to the admirable children shared, The money has been saved by my daughters during the past five years. Initially, the girls planned to use this money to buy school supplies and help families in our community to repair their houses. Equally heartwarming was the case in the northeastern province of Yen Bai, where an 8-year-old boy named Nguyen Binh Minh smashed his piggy bank in order to donate all of his savings of more than one year. He donated VND220,000 ($9.50) to a local charity organisation after seeing a Facebook post from Luc Yen charity group calling for donations to buy protective gear for doctors in the province. Were proud to be able to do our small part to help protect healthcare workers who are treating the growing number of coronavirus patients. AJ Manufacturing a leading manufacturer of critical environment HVAC products has introduced a portable version of its Reverse Flow Criti-Clean Ultra Fan Filter Unit (FFU) to quickly and easily create patient isolation rooms. The new units were specifically developed to help protect healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients and to help reduce the spread of the virus. Like the original ceiling-mounted model, the portable Reverse Flow Criti-Clean Ultra FFU connects to existing ductwork and creates a negative pressure environment that removes the air from a patient room and cleans it via the units built-in HEPA filter, keeping airborne contaminants from escaping. The unit comes on wheels for easy movement and can be plugged into a standard electrical wall outlet. Were proud to be able to do our small part to help protect healthcare workers who are treating the growing number of coronavirus patients, said Rob Haake, president of AJ Manufacturing. Our plant is 100% focused on producing both our permanent and portable FFU models for as long as they are needed to help stop the spread of the virus. In addition to reverse flow units that take in air and remove it from a room, standard FFU models both ceiling mounted and portable are also available to bring HEPA filtered air into a room. AJs ceiling mounted FFUs offer the industrys lowest plenum height of just 13.7, allowing easier retrofitting into existing ceiling spaces. For more information, contact AJ Manufacturing at 816-231-5522 or visit http://www.ajmfg.com. About AJ Manufacturing AJ Manufacturing is an industry leader in stainless steel air distribution products for critical environments, such as hospitals, laboratories, pharmaceutical plants and many others. The company offers a wide range of both standard and custom products, including filter and non-filter diffusers, supply and return grilles, dampers, louvers and more. A sign is seen at the NYU Langone Health Center hospital emergency room entrance in New York City on March 23, 2020. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images) NY Gov. Cuomo to Sign Executive Order Allowing Medical Students to Work as Doctors New Yorks medical students set to graduate this spring can start practicing medicine now to help with the states health care forces, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday. I will be signing an Executive Order to allow medical students who were slated to graduate this spring to begin practicing now, Cuomo wrote on Twitter. These are extraordinary times and New York needs the help. I will be signing an Executive Order to allow medical students who were slated to graduate this spring to begin practicing now. These are extraordinary times and New York needs the help. Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 4, 2020 Cuomo also announced during a press briefing that 85,000 volunteers, including 22,000 out-of-state individuals, have come forward to help relieve New Yorks overwhelmed health care system. This pandemic has been stressing our nation on every level and we are doing everything in our power to prepare for the fight that will come at the apex, he said, referring to the predicted high point of incoming cases of the disease before things start to improve. At least five New York medical schoolsColumbia Universitys Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Weill Cornell Medicine Medical College, New York Universitys Grossman School of Medicine, the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinaihave permitted their graduating seniors to finish early to join the fight against COVID-19, the illness caused by the CCP virus. In a March 24 email to the Class of 2020, NYU Grossman School of Medicine said those who wish to join the healthcare workforce could start working as paid interns as soon as April, even if they had not been planning to work in the fields of internal medicine or emergency medicine. The email was first obtained and reported by medical news publication Brief19. Cuomo wrote its all hands on deck and thanked the university on Twitter following its announcement. Students who choose to graduate early are usually assigned to work in a special service within the institution. Graduates from Columbia and Weill Cornell will be deployed to NewYork-Presbyterian, a nonprofit academic hospital in New York City associated with the two schools. NYU Grossman students will be working at NYU Langone as paid interns. Students at the Icahn School of Medicine are also given the opportunity to work at Mount Sinai. As of Sunday, New Yorks health department had reported 18,659 additional cases of the CCP virus, bringing the statewide total to 122,031 confirmed cases. Lucknow, April 6 : A two-and-a-half-years-old son of a woman doctor from Canada, who was the first coronavirus positive patient in Lucknow, has now tested positive for the deadly virus. It is the first case in the state capital wherein a child has tested positive. The child has been admitted to the King George's Medical University (KGMU) here. The woman doctor, who arrived in Lucknow on March 8, had tested positive but recovered and was discharged from the KGMU. Though her husband tested negative, her in-laws also tested positive and are now under treatment at the Civil Hospital. The family has now been come to be known as 'corona family' among many city residents. The logo of Oil and Natural Gas Corp's (ONGC) is pictured along a roadside in Ahmedabad By Shu Zhang SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Russia's Sokol crude, which yields more middle distillates like jet fuel and gasoil from refining, has slumped to a record spot discount in the Asia market, two trade sources said on Monday, as fuel demand takes a hit from the coronavirus pandemic. Indian oil explorer ONGC Videsh sold one 700,000-barrel cargo of Russian Sokol crude for loading between June 2-8 at a discount of around $8 a barrel to Dubai quotes via a spot tender that was closed and awarded last Friday, likely to a trader, the sources said. That is the lowest price differential ever recorded, according to Refinitiv Eikon assessments starting from 2011. In comparison, last month ONGC sold a Sokol crude cargo loading May 22-28 at a spot premium of around $3.20 a barrel to Dubai quotes to a trader, sources told Reuters at the time. Physical crude prices have been hampered globally amid oversupply as refiners in Asia, Europe and the Americas cut runs or shut down plants. Vietnam-Malaysia's medium sweet grade Bunga Kekwa crude also slipped from premiums to a spot discount of around $5 to dated Brent in a tender closed on March 30 for a 300,000-barrel cargo loading May 31-June 1, sources said last week. Transport fuel demand has taken a beating from stringent government lockdown measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The measures have disrupted the normal daily activities of some 3 billion people. Asian refining profit margins - known as cracks - for jet fuel and 10 ppm gasoil slumped to record lows on Friday. Oil traders are awaiting for a meeting to be held later this week among some of the world's top producers - including Saudi Arabia and Russia - to discuss output cuts that could partly alleviate oversupply in global markets, trade sources told Reuters on Monday. [O/R] (Reporting By Shu Zhang; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Tom Hogue) Shes not a doctor or a nurse, but Jeannette Lopez is a key to beating the coronavirus. As a home child-care provider, she is one of many who are watching the children of essential workers health-care heroes who are on the front lines and other courageous soldiers in the workforce who are keeping New Jerseys limited economy running. But the owner of Family Affair Childcare is struggling. She cant pay her bills because parents who are now without jobs dont have the money to pay her, or theyre working from home, so they dont require her services. Having fewer children in her care means she earns less subsidized money, which the state allocates to helps low-income parents pay. At-home providers like Lopez are the only child care allowed to operate during the epidemic, and she so loves the children she cares for that shes willing to take the financial loss for as long as she can. But even that goodwill comes with a price: By staying open, she is putting herself at risk of contracting the virus. This is the predicament she finds herself in after 20 years of loving and caring for Newarks kids. Paul Karr knows Lopezs value. He is communications director for New Jersey Communities United, a grassroots organization that works with in-home child-care providers on behalf of CWA Local 1037. These are the most essential of the essential workers, Karr said. They live in low-income communities and they serve low-income communities. Without them, the other essential workers cant get to work. Lopez is allowed up to five children in her home, and with four, she can break even. These days, the number hovers around two. The anxious irony: While putting herself at risk, she cant afford her own health care. Insurance is too expensive. I dont have enough (money) at the end of the day, Lopez said. I need at least four (kids) to pay rent and bills. A lot of us (home-care providers) are struggling. There could be help on the way, though. Karr said its possible that the state will pay home care providers for contracts they had through April. Lopez said she hopes that will happen, but she isnt counting the money until its in her bank account. And with the lockdown in place indefinitely, shell need help until its over and her business goes back to normal. The biggest problem is not knowing when this thing is going to be over, she said. Meanwhile, Orlene Cummings, another in-home Newark provider, is in the same financial vise, having lost 10 children last month at Future Leader Family Day Care. Her families, some of whom are private pay clients like Lopez, now squirrel away what cash they have because of an uncertain future. Others, she said, are afraid to bring their children because of the virus, while another segment with subsidies are unable to come up with the co-pay for their portion of childcare. Everybody is gone, Cummings said. I understand. With no money coming in, Cummings feels the pinch, but she is not shaken. Shes still open and keeps a normal routine as if the children, ages four months to 5 years old, will walk through the door of her South Ward home. Tajjmah Alford, her assistant, still gets a paycheck that Cummings comes up with from her own savings, a sacrifice she doesnt mind to retain a great employee. I think its only fair, said Cummings, whose been in business since 2009. Alford, a dedicated staff member, is grateful and said shed work for free even if Cummings had to lay her off. It made me feel sad that she had to pay me from her savings, because she worked hard for that money, Alford said. "Regardless, Im going to be here. The duo, however, chooses to be upbeat. They treat every day as a workday, rising at 5 a.m. to exercise. By 7:30 a.m. theyre in place going over lesson plans, reviewing national education standards to keep current. If the parents of her children find another job now, Cummings said shell be ready, and more so when the pandemic loosens its grip on the country. We must represent that face of optimism, she said. I wont have it any other way. Most importantly, shes not afraid to receive children of essential workers. She cautious about it, though, not wanting to take any child, especially if they have symptoms that could be associated with the coronavirus. Fear has forced many of the 1,000 home care providers in the state to close. But as an enticement for home care providers to care for children of essential workers, Karr said the state has lifted the limit of five children that can be in their home during this emergency. It could put more money in their pockets, but Karr said the number of kids hasnt been determined. While they remain open, home providers have to abide by state laws that require assistants when attendance goes over five. Lopez and Cummings, however, havent seen any kids come their way and theres no guarantee that they will. Whatever happens, both women say they are in this work for life. They love these children, whom they take care of all day, some of them since birth. The nurturing and education, they said, sets the foundation for them to start school. This is not babysitting, Cummings said. This is actual school. Even now, they stay in touch, calling the parents and kids to check on them, seeing their bright little faces on Skype. Cummings kids have homework, and she reminds parents of their childs routine. Snack, lunch, nap time, things her parents dont normally do when theyre working all day and dont see their kids until the evening. Lopez does the same as Cummings with video chats, singing her childrens favorite songs or reading a book to them. But Lopez, who said she works paycheck to paycheck, has a decision to make. Taking on additional kids of essential workers will help pay the bills, but since she doesnt have health insurance, should she still care for them? The more she thinks about it, the answer is clear. My heart will give in and Ill do it, Lopez said. Read More Barry Carter may be reached at bcarter@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Mastercard announced today that it is championing efforts to increase contactless payment limits across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region as people look for safer ways to pay in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The initiative is in line with recommendations from global and regional health authorities and governments to practice social distancing that has led a growing number of merchants to encourage consumers to pay with contactless over cash to avoid human-to-human contact. Globally, Mastercard has been spearheading the transition to contactless for over 15 years. In MEA, the company has worked with various industry partners and sectors in multiple markets to increase the use of digital and contactless payment technology in an effort to enhance safety, security, speed and convenience in the payment experience for cardholders. In 2019, the MEA region saw more than 200 per cent growth in contactless transactions. Today almost 1 in 9 Mastercard transactions at point-of-sale (POS) terminals in MEA are contactless. Central banks across the region in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Egypt have already increased the cardholder verification method (CVM) limit, which will ultimately improve purchase experiences for people across the region, making them safer and more convenient for consumers and businesses alike. Mastercard is working swiftly with all financial institutions, issuers and merchants to ensure this update is executed securely for shoppers in the region. Mastercard remains committed to offering safe, secure, and simple payment solutions across the region. In the current environment, we are grateful that contactless payments are available so consumers can follow social distancing recommendations, and that people are embracing these safe and hygienic solutions as their preferred form of payment every day. Todays announcement reflects the pace of those changing behaviors, offering consumers ease, speed and peace of mind in a rapidly changing world. We will continue to work with our industry partners to guide and support them through this effort, said Mete Guney, Executive Vice President of Services, Middle East & Africa at Mastercard. Presently, while following best practices from around the world, Mastercard is working closely with its partners to enable businesses and retailers to implement contactless limit increases quickly and efficiently. Contactless payments for transaction amounts below the CVM limits do not require a physical PIN entry, therefore this important move would allow cardholders to make higher value payments without having to touch the POS terminal keypad enabling consumers to purchase more of what they need with the security and touch-free experience expected from contactless payments. Cardholders should look for the contactless symbol on the front or back of their credit or debit cards to determine whether they have a contactless-enabled card or can add their debit or credit card to their mobile wallets on their contactless-enabled devices to tap and pay where contactless payments are accepted. Mastercards effort to raise CVM limits is one of many the company is leading to do its part for its employees, customers and cardholders. Most recently, the company announced a partnership with The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trust to accelerate the development and access to treatment for Covid-19 with the initial grant of $20 million funding announced to three institutions to fund clinical trials. - TradeArabia News Service Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway (MP) has taken delivery of COVID-19 medical supplies for Ghana and 17 other African countries. The items were presented to the Ghanaian Government on Monday, April 6, 2020, by the Chinese Government towards the fight of coronavirus. They include about 3,000 N95 protective face masks for frontline health workers, 10,000, protective face masks, 2,500 disposable overalls, infrared thermometers, medical goggles, single-use gloves and disposable shoe covers. Speaking at the Kotoka International Airport to take delivery of the items, the Foreign Minister on behalf of the Government and people of Ghana expressed profound gratitude to the Government of the Peoples Republic of China for the kind and timely donation of medical supplies to support Ghanas fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. This donation this morning is testament of the enduring and exemplary relations between China and Africa which is anchored on the principles of sincerity, equality, mutual benefit, solidarity and common development, she said. She indicated that It is also a clear sign of Chinas sense of reciprocal solidarity for African countries in these challenging times. Indeed, the Honourable Foreign Minister explained, in the immediate aftermath of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, African countries led the way in offering solidarity to China. She noted that the President and Vice President of Ghana personally sent solidarity messages to their Chinese counterparts. Incidentally, this donation takes place in a year which marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations between Ghana and China. In this regard, Honourable Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey pointed out that the donation should not only be viewed as Chinas humanitarian gesture towards Ghana but also as a manifestation of 60 years of the two nations collective efforts to broaden and consolidate their bilateral relations. I, therefore, wish to request you, Amb. Shi Ting Wang, to kindly convey our deepest appreciation to H.E. President Xi Jinping, the Government and the people of China for this generosity, she said. Let me also thank you personally, Mr. Ambassador Wang, and your team, for facilitating the speedy arrival of these much needed medical supplies, which will no doubt, go a long way to augment the efforts of Government to fight this pandemic, she added. She indicated that since the outbreak of the virus, Government, under the leadership and personal supervision of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has put in place extraordinary measures, including the establishment of COVID-19 structures at the national, regional and district levels; the sourcing and allocation of funds, the restriction of movement of people, and the procurement of critical PPEs and other logistics, all aimed at fighting the virus and curtailing its spread. Meanwhile, our health institutions are expanding our testing coverage to include all persons believed to have come into contact with confirmed cases, people who entered Ghana between 3rd and 21st March, 2020, as well as people living in areas identified as epicentres, she said. She added that at the same time, our research institutions continue to explore treatment and vaccine options for this novel virus, according to her. COVID-19 is a global problem. It has no respect for physical boundaries or social status. It is a threat to our collective existence, she said. That is why we require a collective response to mitigate and possibly eradicate its devastating impact. The Government of Ghana is encouraged by the global response and highly commends efforts made by all Governments and institutions across the world to curb its spread, she added. Hon Ayorkor Botchwey expressed similar gratitude on behalf of the other 17 beneficiary countries of this donation to the Government of China for its kindness. Foreign Minister Takes Delivery Of Covid 19 Medical Supplies Foreign Minister Takes Delivery Of Covid 19 Medical Supplies Foreign Minister Takes Delivery Of Covid 19 Medical Supplies Foreign Minister Takes Delivery Of Covid 19 Medical Supplies Foreign Minister Takes Delivery Of Covid 19 Medical Supplies Foreign Minister Takes Delivery Of Covid 19 Medical Supplies Foreign Minister Takes Delivery Of Covid 19 Medical Supplies Foreign Minister Takes Delivery Of Covid 19 Medical Supplies Foreign Minister Takes Delivery Of Covid 19 Medical Supplies Foreign Minister Takes Delivery Of Covid 19 Medical Supplies Foreign Minister Takes Delivery Of Covid 19 Medical Supplies Foreign Minister Takes Delivery Of Covid 19 Medical Supplies Foreign Minister Takes Delivery Of Covid 19 Medical Supplies Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, also joined the Foreign Minister to thank the Chinese Government. He said although the Government of Ghana least expected to record cases of the virus infection in the country, it has put in place stringent measures to deal with it. He noted that Ghana is expanding its testing capacity to prevent the spread of the virus. Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman Manu also stated that it is becoming very clear that all and sundry would need to wear face masks encouraging the use of single-use face masks to reduce the risk of infection Presenting the items, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Shi Ting Wang, says the donation is a way to help people in need. He stated that the Chinese Government has chosen Ghana as the transport centre for the donations to the other 17 countries. 0 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 Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has issued a notice saying it has not approved any coronavirus disease (Covid-19) testing kit that can be used at home like a pregnancy kit to determine whether a person is Covid-19 positive. The notice was issued after allegations that a Bengaluru-based start-up was advertising a Covid-19 rapid testing kit on its website, and was offering the product directly to consumers. DCGI said the company was offering for sale a rapid single use finger-prick test for the Sars-CoV-2 virus that will give results in 5-10 minutes. ...The product is also widely publicised in the media. In this regard it is hereby informed that Central Drugs Standard Organisation (CDSCO), the competent authority for the approval and issuance of license for import/ manufacturer for marketing of coronavirus diagnostic kit, has not licensed the aforesaid diagnostic kit by M/s Bione Ventures Private Limited, the DCGI notice said, warning people against buying such a product online. The drugs controller acted on a complaint by the All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN), which said the Bengaluru company provided no details on the foreign manufacturers of the kits, approval status in India or the test kits performance. The kit is being marketed as a single point-of-care home screening kit, and being sold directly to consumers through its website, the complaint said. There is no self-testing kit for Covid-19 approved for sale in India at present. All tests are to be conducted by trained health experts and after following the rules laid down by the countrys apex biomedical research organisation, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON President Donald Trump admitted Sunday that Melania would wear a face mask even as he remained reluctant about donning one after the CDC recommended all Americans do so. The first lady has tweeted the advisory from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention even as the president has said the recommendation is 'voluntary.' 'She feels that way,' President Trump said in response to a question from DailyMail.com. 'I would wear one. I just generally - would you like me to it wear one right now?,' he asked. 'That would be a little awkward I guess, but again, I would wear one if I thought it was important. She likes the idea of wearing it, she does. A lot of people do. Again it's a recommendation and I understand that recommendation and I'm okay with it.' Melania Trump has been an active presence on social media, offering advice and ways to cope with the pandemic and the social distancing guidelines it has brought upon Americans, causing a general upheaval of lives. 'I ask that everyone take social distancing & wearing a mask/face covering seriously. #COVID19 is a virus that can spread to anyone,' she tweeted on Sunday. She's also filmed two public service announcements about combatting the virus. President Donald Trump admitted Sunday that Melania would wear a face mask even as he remained reluctant to do so Melania Trump has tweeted the CDC advice about wearing face masks; the first lady has been active on social media during the pandemic, offering tips President Trump was also asked if his coronavirus task force should wear face masks during the briefings to set an example to the rest of the nation. 'Well, it was voluntary,' Trump said. 'Certainly if they'd want to, I would encourage it. I would have absolutely no problem with that, if they wanted.' Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, said he didn't wear one at the briefings because face masks stop infected people from transmitted the coronavirus and he has tested negative for it. 'Why am I not wearing a face masks now? Okay, there are couple reasons. One of them is that part of, in fact the major reason to wear a face mask is to protect you from infecting you. I have my test yesterday. It was negative, Thursday,' he said. President Trump praised his words. 'Very good answer,' he said. The CDC on Friday recommended that Americans wear non-medical cloth masks - but Trump emphasized 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, Melania Trump tweeted that Americans should take mask-wearing seriously. '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. 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 The president urged Americans not to wear medical-grade masks and instead could make masks from fabric at home 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 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 significant 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. Trump also said that mask-wearing did not replace the social distancing guidelines the government already put out, including standing six feet apart and 'practicing hand hygiene' as the president put it. 'Again, we're all going to come back together here,' he assured the American people. But then reiterated he wouldn't be caught wearing a mask. 'I'm choosing not to do it,' the president said. But stocks rose on Monday on hopes that the coronavirus is abating as daily death tolls fall across Europe. Oil prices skidded on Monday after negotiations between Saudi Arabia and Russia to cut output were delayed, keeping oversupply concerns alive, while stocks jumped as investors were encouraged by a slowdown in coronavirus-related deaths and new cases. Brent crude fell as much as $3 in early Asian trading after OPEC, a group of main oil-producing countries led by Saudi Arabia postponed a meeting over a potential pact to cut production to Thursday. The producers were initially set to meet on Monday, but that has now been pushed to April 9, after they blamed each other for the collapse of talks in March, with Saudi Arabia making a diplomatic attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin. Investors previously hoped that the meeting would have resulted in cuts to oil production of about 10 million barrels per day. We continue to believe that it is going to be difficult for producers to agree on cuts, particularly in the region of 10 to 15 million barrels per day, according to a commodities note from ING. Anything less than this would likely disappoint the market, given growing expectations last week, along with the deteriorating demand picture, Warren Patterson, ING head of commodities strategy and Wenyu Yao, ING senior commodities strategist said. The deal really hinges on the United States though, with Russian participation dependent on the US contributing to cuts, they said. US President Donald Trump said he would impose tariffs on crude imports if that is needed to support the US oil sector. Brent crude slipped close to $30 a barrel in early trade and was at $32.82 by 02:03 GMT, down $1.29, or 3.8 percent. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell $1.66, or 5.9 percent, to $26.68 a barrel, after earlier touching a low of $25.28. Analysts said the news could lead to some sell-off in currency markets too, although movements are still being dictated by the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The United Kingdoms pound sterling fell after Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to the hospital following persistent coronavirus symptoms. Also weighing on the pound were fears other senior government officials who were in the same briefing as Johnson could be affected by the virus, said Karl Schamotta, chief market strategist at Cambridge Global Payments in Toronto, Canada. The pound fell 0.4 percent in early trade on Monday in a knee-jerk reaction and was last down 0.3 percent at $1.2222. Virus concerns It is stating the obvious to say the viral outbreak and the containment measures to fight it are central to market action, said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets. Indeed, equity investors looked at the positives with leading European nations including France and Italy reporting lower death rates. US stock futures jumped more than 1.5 percent in early Asian trading on Monday after US President Donald Trump expressed hope the country was seeing a levelling off of the coronavirus crisis. The gains came despite New York Governor Andrew Cuomo cautioning that it was not yet clear whether the crisis in the state had reached a plateau. Investors took solace from the fact that COVID-19 cases appeared to be reaching a peak in Europe with Italy seeing the number of patients in intensive care falling for the second consecutive day. In Asia, Australias benchmark index added 0.5 percent, Japans Nikkei was up 0.2 percent while South Koreas KOSPI index climbed 1.4 percent. That left MSCIs broadest index of Asian shares outside of Japan up 0.1 percent. China markets were closed for a public holiday. Focus in markets will now turn to the path out of lockdown and to what extent containment measures can be lifted without risking a second wave of infections, National Australia Bank analyst Tapas Strickland wrote in a note. Key to a strong rebound in China will be the continuing lifting of containment measures with Wuhan the epicentre of the outbreak set to lift containment measures on April 8. Strickland, however, noted many in China were still subject to social distancing and isolation restrictions to prevent a resurgence in infections. The pandemic has killed more than 64,000 deaths as it further exploded in the US and the death toll climbed in Spain and Italy, according to a Reuters news agency tally. Concerns about heavy damage to the global economy have pushed investors into the perceived safety of government bonds where yields are at or near all-time lows. Elsewhere in currencies, the US dollar was up a touch against the yen at 108.58.. The euro was barely moved at $1.0803 while the risk-sensitive Australian dollar was up 0.2 percent at $0.6004. Spot gold was down 0.2 percent at $1,612.9 an ounce. The lawmaker alleged that the Ukrainian civilian liner was "no longer under the control of the watchtower and appeared to have come under America's control." The Iranian military did "well" by downing a Ukrainian civilian airliner in January, the spokesman for the parliament's legal and judicial committee said on Sunday, adding that no arrests have been made in relation to the incident, contrary to official claims. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shot down a Ukraine International Airlines jet on January 8, killing all 176 onboard. Iran claimed for days the plane crashed due to a "technical failure" before admitting to shooting down the plane "accidentally," Al Arabiya reports. "The military forces carried out their duties well," Iranian lawmaker Hassan Norouzi told the state-run Hamdeli daily. "The movement of the plane was very suspicious," he claimed. Also, he alleged that the Ukrainian civilian liner was "no longer under the control of the watchtower and appeared to have come under America's control," while adding that "the plane was in Israel the week before and was tampered with." The lawmaker made another unsubstantiated claim that the plane had "special targets in Iran." "Given that the plane was being controlled by other countries, our military forces did their job well," Norouzi said. "Considering this evidence, it would be meaningless to arrest the individuals involved," he said. Read alsoIran says Ukrainian plane's black box damaged media No arrests will be made, stressed Norouzi. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili had previously claimed that several individuals involved in the downing of the Ukrainian airliner have been arrested. UNIAN memo. Kyiv-bound UIA flight PS752 crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport in the early hours of January 8. It was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members on board. Two passengers and the crew members were Ukrainians. There were also 82 citizens of Iran, 63 citizens of Canada, 10 citizens of Sweden, four citizens of Afghanistan, three citizens of Germany and the United Kingdom each. There were no survivors. On January 11, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani officially admitted that the Ukrainian airliner had been shot down by accident as a result of a "human error" and that those responsible would be held accountable. On February 2, intercepted communications between Tehran Airport's air traffic control tower and the second pilot of Iran's Aseman Airlines flight at the time of the crash of flight PS752 were released by TSN.Tyzhden. Tehran blamed the Ukrainian authorities for leaking what it described as confidential evidence, and said it would no longer share investigation materials with Ukraine. On February 14, the Iranian Foreign Minister said Iran did not plan to hand the black boxes over but it would not decrypt their data without the participation of the parties concerned. The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has suspended its flight operations from Karachi after the Sindh provincial government forcibly quarantined its pilots over fears they might be infected with the coronavirus on their return from the UK, according to a media report. The national carrier on Saturday operated two special flights carrying nearly 600 British passengers to Manchester and London. The British nationals were stuck in Pakistan after the government banned international commercial flights from March 21 to April 4 to contain the spread of the deadly virus. However, reacting to the quarantining of its pilots, a PIA spokesperson said that the move was contrary to the directives issued by the Government of Pakistan for aviation staff and all the officials concerned were informed three hours prior the plane returned from London. However, despite instructions, the Sindh health department's officials insisted on forcefully quarantining the pilots, the spokesperson was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune on Sunday. The aviation operations from Karachi would remain suspended until there was a consensus on the directives of the federal and provincial governments, the spokesperson said. Meanwhile, PIA Chief Executive Officer Air Marshal Arshad Malik said the PIA crew was unfairly treated in Karachi and the reports of the presence of coronavirus in them were misleading, according to the report. The PIA aviation personnel are our national heroes who serve to repatriate trapped Pakistanis despite threats, he said. We have ensured all possible safety measures for the aviation staff, he added. The PIA spokesperson said that the crew is in isolation at a hotel and is awaiting test results. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Airlines Pilots' Association has also restrained its pilots from flying, citing inadequate security arrangements for the staff in the wake of coronavirus pandemic and quarantining of the crew. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Serving in the military changes you. The shades and degrees of change vary for everyone, but no one is ever the same as... Italians have never waited for Easter with this much excitement. Of course, at this time, when a lot of families live in their homes with the fear of illness or mourning for their loved ones, they will sit alone at tables and no one will be cheerful on April 12, the day of the celebration of the resurrection. After a month-and-a-half of quarantine, and after the graph of case increases finally began to move horizontally, the government decided to relax curfew on the next day of Easter. However, the science board's instructions are very clear: even if you leave the house, you can gradually return to normal life, provided that social distance is taken into serious consideration and masks are worn in public places. These days, the Italian people, who are excited about the religious holiday, are also full of anger. Italians feel that they have been left alone in their most difficult moments by friendly countries and that have been ridiculed for experiencing this crisis before other developed countries. But the crisis is unfolding in the U.K. or U.S. as well. With these sentiments, the health sector, economy, international political relations, and also how to rebuild trust between peoples after this pandemic would all be of concern. After the Second World War, Italy, like many other countries, had built a comprehensive welfare state. Before this crisis, the health sector was also a major source of pride for this welfare state. On the other hand, in this crisis, despite the enormous sacrifices of the health workers, some inadequacies emerged in the sector in general. Since the 1990s, the health sector has been very weak. In 2017, a thousand institutions of the National Health Sector (52% of which are publicly owned) had a capacity of approximately 191,000 beds, which means 3.6 beds per 1,000 people. But considering the EU average of 5 beds per 1,000 people, the capacities of the mentioned hospitals are insufficient. Ten years ago, the average bed capacity was 4.3 per thousand, while in 1998 it was 5.8 per thousand. So despite the aging of the population, it is clear that there has been a drastic reduction in the number of beds in the health sector. In the context of the budget tightening policies, the state put trust in the investments of the private sector in this area and has restricted the allocated budget to its hospitals. Naturally, the private sector has chosen more profitable areas and avoided investing in intensive care units, which would be the most needed area during such crises, because of the thought that both the costs and risks would be high. As a result, Italy has only 13 intensive care beds for every 100,000 citizens. Turkey, one of the developing countries, ranks first among European countries with 40 beds for every 100,000 citizens. These numbers demonstrate that Italy has to speed up its investments in the health sector, again. On the other hand, road infrastructure shortages in recent months and the resulting accidents indicate that the difficulties and delays of public investment have become commonplace. For example, the metro line in Naples, one of the largest cities on the peninsula, was planned in the 1960s when the economic growth was taking place, but its construction could only be started in 1976. The first part of the metro opened for service in 1993, when the welfare level was still high, while the rest is expected to be completed in the coming months amid the economic recession. Unfortunately, this kind of investment adventure in Italy is not considered abnormal. Moreover, the painful experience of COVID-19 may not have the power to bring about the cultural, legal and economic transformation necessary to change this course. The democratic constitutional regime of Italy is based on the system regionalismo (regionalism), which provides autonomy for 20 regions. Even though the health sector is connected through national coordination, actually it stands among the responsibilities of the regions. Because of this reason, there are serious differences between regions in terms of capability, capacity and investments. The health sector of the Lombardy region, which is most affected by the virus, is one of the best in the country. In Sicily, where health care is the worst, the governor is trying to protect the region by closing all the sea routes connecting the island to the mainland. After the Easter feast, Italians will also consider their livelihoods. Since there is no movement and no shopping these days, there is a very serious decline in the demand in the markets. On the other hand, when the factories are closed or the international supply chain is disrupted, the supply will decrease and the economy will shrink. It will undoubtedly be low-income citizens who will be most affected by this situation. The state provided many financial aids as a precaution to subsistence woes during the crisis. The EU has given up its fiscal discipline policy and given the green light to the budget deficit that would make these supports possible. But despite the historic change in that policy, the companies' finances will not be as good as it used to be after the quarantine. During the global crisis in 2008, states provided nationalization and low-cost resources to prevent companies from going bankrupt. The European Central Bank (ECB), headed by Italy's Mario Draghi, had bought up member states' public debt, dividing the risk of the fragile economies among all the EU countries. A similar application is now being requested to share the risk. Italian politicians have been negative about the European Central Bank's demand to issue bonds to be called "Eurobonds", or "coronabonds". For the first time, 10 members of the union, including France, which represents 60% of the combined gross national product, acted separately from Germany and supported Italy's demands in a joint move. However, with the objections of the Northern European countries and most of all Germany, the European Commission has not been able to make any decisions in this direction as it has already acted on the vital issues. These deep differences of opinion, as previously seen in the refugee crisis or the Libyan problem, are also driving the EU into inaction in the COVID-19 crisis, undermining the continent's global position. Even Russia, trying to regain its global power, has sent tons of supplies and biological warfare experts to Italy with a never-before-seen military parade. Moreover, even two countries that do not aspire to global power, such as Cuba or Albania, have sent 35 and 30 volunteer doctors as aid, respectively, so why the more prosperous countries have not behaved similarly is very suggestive. Rather, why can't Germany, which has brought Italian patients diagnosed as COVID-19 to their hospitals to relieve Italian health institutions, have the effect that Russia, Cuba, and Albania have on Italian public opinion? While Italian public opinion has adopted right-wing populist parties that have been skeptical of the EU in recent years, Europe's cold treatment of Italy and its failure to show solidarity when necessary have important implications. But European countries believe that the weakening of the economy of Italy or any Mediterranean country, due to their interdependence, will be felt throughout Europe. French President Emmanuel Macron stated in an interview with the Italian press that if Europe is going to die, the reason for its death will be its failure to act. Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte also stressed that he did not want to see a Europe that meets in a minimum commonality, but rather that the Europe of the future should be in solidarity and sovereignty. Countries like Germany, on the other hand, do not want to buy the debts of the weak countries and pay the price for their failed fiscal policies. It cannot be said that Germany acts as a completely selfish country on this issue. Italy has a public debt of 2 trillion 443 billion euros and its ability to act alone in these difficult conditions is severely limited. The expropriations that we will see frequently after this crisis pose another danger. Among the companies to be nationalized, the airline Alitalia, which has barely been able to operate any flights in this crisis, is in the first place. But the national airline, which has been in financial trouble for years, was also buoyed up before the crisis, despite numerous bailouts that pushed the EU's state aid limits. While the nationalization or state partnership is certainly an important tool to mitigate the economic effects of the crisis, the country's limited resources will also be wasted if public support is given to the wrong firms. No one is questioning the existence of the EU, which has had severely deep disagreements before. Free movement within the EU is an indispensable element, although it cannot be exploited at the moment. The euro, introduced in 1999, is also important for ensuring financial stability required in such times of crisis, although it limits countries -- such as Italy -- accustomed to more flexible currency policies. Giving up the euro will, therefore, continue to be an empty promise of populist movements, with its cost still high. Countries outside the Eurozone will not give up their currency easily, either. However, the EU's inability to make decisions will make its global power increasingly insignificant, despite its economic size. The regional powers will try to fill the void left by it. In addition to the disagreements in international relations, mistrust among societies is a matter that has to be taken seriously. The first unusual cases of pneumonia were seen in Italy when news of the outbreak first emerged in December from China, which is unreliable now. On Jan. 7, hospitals in Milan reported 50 to 80% more cases of pneumonia than the annual average. In those weeks it was clear that the virus was circulating freely; national and international institutions could take precautions. However, according to the information provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), Italy's Ministry of Health did not recommend any restrictions on international travel, especially in tourism and trade relations with China. In other words, Italy, like other European countries, has had a hard time taking measures that are costly at the expense of the health of its citizens. On the other hand, China, whose published cases and death toll have been dubious, has sent generous aid to influence the international public opinion, while limiting the mobility of the WHO and preventing global measures from being taken. Next Easter, the church of the same name in the heart of Venice, which preserves the relics of Saint Rocco, is going to be opened, but no one will attend the service. Nor will the tourists, who gaze -- bewildered and in admiration -- at the frescoes of the famous Tintoretto in the church. St. Rocco, however, visited the towns and cities in Rome, Piacenza, and central Italy, during the most difficult times, and showed loyalty and courage to help the infected, and cured the plague. Italians now hope that by the night of Aug. 15, when St. Rocco is commemorated, the epidemic will be completely over, the health sector, the economy, and the international political relations will find solutions to the problems caused by the pandemic and the people will have confidence in each other again. Image Credit: (c) AA BULLSHIT Holding her to her own standard is not "weaponizing" anything. Reply Thread Link thank you, exactly Reply Parent Thread Link Wow what a hypocrite. Reply Thread Link she's such a useless poor excuse for a woman Reply Thread Link So it's only being weaponized when it's an accusation against someone she personally supports. That's fucked! Reply Thread Link She's more full of shit than a septic tank, wow. Why even open her mouth and continue showing what a sorry excuse of a person you are? Reply Thread Link This karen can fuck off Reply Thread Link LoL. I just learned this "Karen" is a new slur that is apparently the equivalent of the N word to white feminists??? Ihavetolaugh.gif Reply Parent Thread Link My cousin Karen is very upset and wants to know if we can go back to hating Beckys now. I told her to hang tight, in another year, well all hate Jennifers. Reply Parent Thread Link Oopsies Reply Parent Thread Link what happened? Reply Parent Thread Link Rose has never lied Reply Parent Thread Link Rose worked with a child rapist after learning of his crime and when asked said that she didn't know the details and didn't care to because the rapist and his wife were like family to her, and that it wasn't her business. Reply Parent Thread Link fucking hate liberals Reply Thread Link So she believes all women, except the ones that accuse men she likes, how very Lena Dunham of her Edited at 2020-04-06 07:49 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link well when youve worked with someone for more than half a decade... Reply Parent Thread Link Imagine genuinely liking Joe Biden *shudders* Reply Parent Thread Link About to come in and say the same. Reply Parent Thread Link and it's always these trash men like wow what a CHOICE of a hill to die on... Reply Parent Thread Link Fucking THIS... I got into with a coworker over this... Seriously, who actually LIKES him? Why? God, neolibs are the almost the worst. Reply Parent Thread Link Believe women! Except in this case where I know the guy personally because god knows no man who has ever been nice to other people has ever hurt women, amirite? Whatever on that. I wish people would just own the hypocrisy and admit they only care when it works for them to care. But I guess its easier to accuse Sanders and his supports of bullying then do any self reflection. Reply Thread Link Your entire last paragraph is centrist dems in a nutshell. Reply Parent Thread Link Youre absolutely right, and yet people are shocked that more progressive people are putting their foot down and saying no more Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Exactly. At least the GOP show you who they are...pieces of shit. They stopped hiding it for years now. Centrist Libs are pretending and hiding their shit, and then do low key GOP trash under the radar...which almost makes them worse. Reply Parent Thread Link Yep. And what kills me is that it's not like it's hard to believe Biden is capable of this. He's super fucking sketchy as it in the public eye with girls and women. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I wish it was about self reflection but its not. Its about keeping progressives out of power and as long as they ignore us and blame us and continue to put the stupidest against one another, theyll keep winning Reply Parent Thread Link That would require Alyssa to have some semblance of self-awareness and capacity for reflection. Instead she uses mental gymnastics to rationalize her mindset. Reply Parent Thread Link i knew a former bff a long time and he still turned out to be a sex offender so miss with this. Reply Thread Link My husband's ex wife tried to paint him as an abuser (on advice from her fam) but there wasn't even a single thing she could dig up, not even a raised voice in anger from him, and she gave up on it. And also, Amber Heard. So _how_ can we believe all women? 99.999% of the time they're telling the truth but there are those rotten ones Reply Parent Thread Link i'm sorry his ex-wife did that, but i never said people don't lie?! i'm saying i'm tired of the narrative where people say "i've known x for years so i still support them blah blah blah." i knew my friend for over a decade and he still turned out to be a sex offender. Reply Parent Thread Link I went to the DC Maternal and Child Health summit and she was a key speaker. I will always remember how she told a story about her ASSISTANT getting ovarian cancer as an example of the need for womens health. Everyone else had a moving personal story but this woman Reply Thread Link White women are going to white women I guess... Reply Thread Link you can set the bar on the ground and they still somehow manage to miss it. Reply Parent Thread Link and that she's known Biden for a long time and isn't comfortable throwing him away so bc you know him personally, it's not as easy to discard someone who is a piece of shit. fuck you. Reply Thread Link mte Does she not realize that's the same argument Kavanaugh defenders used Reply Parent Thread Link exactly. people in my family, who i admired as a child, turned out to be criminals and perverts. i knew when it was time to cut the cord. her excuse is bullshit. Reply Parent Thread Link Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - April 6, 2020) - The Stock Day Podcast welcomed HempAmericana, Inc. (OTC Pink: HMPQ), an emerging leader in the CBD products market. CEO of the Company, Salvador Rosillo, joined Stock Day host Everett Jolly. Jolly began the interview by asking for an update on the Company's current projects. "In the six years plus that we've been working, the last six months have been the darkest period for HempAmericana," said Rosillo, before elaborating on the Company's investment structure. "We are still moving forward at this moment," said Rosillo adding that he has personally secured funds for the business as they face limited capital. "I am all in," he said. Jolly then asked about the Company's new website and its capacity for sales. Rosillo shared that the Company launched their new website but soon faced challenges with hackers and confiscated sales from their payment processor. "We had to open a different website called 'hempamericana.store'," explained Rosillo, adding that the website is active and processing sales. "Yesterday, we shipped the first nine orders that came through the website," shared Rosillo. He also elaborated on the Company's new payment processing partner, and shared that the website will eventually shift to a .com domain. Rosillo then shared that the Company will begin selling products through Alibaba, and is developing wholesale and white label products. "We have a great opportunity now," said Rosillo. "Where do we go from here?" asked Jolly. "Now we are entering the marketing stage," said Rosillo, sharing that this is a new effort for the Company. To close the interview, Rosillo shared that the Company currently has 20,000 bottles of CBD products ready-to-go. "We will continue to plug along and make sales," said Rosillo. To hear Salvador Rosillo's entire interview, follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/7549127-hempamericana-inc-discusses-their-new-ecommerce-platform-with-the-stock-day-podcast Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of "Stock Day," and Stock Day Media encourages listeners to visit the company's message board at https://investorshangout.com/ About HempAmericana, Inc. HempAmericana is an emerging leader in the CBD products market. The Company owns and operates a high-capacity, state-of-the-art CBD extraction and processing facility located in Augusta, Maine. This facility is armed with a supersized supercritical CO2 extraction system, centrifugal partition chromatography refinement technology, and a mechanized fully-automated CBD bottling system. The Company's CBD oil business uses the brand designation, CBD Oleum. HempAmericana also researches, develops, and sells products made of industrial hemp, including a popular brand of hemp rolling papers marketed under the brand name, "Rolling Thunders". Safe Harbor Provision Cautionary statement for purposes of the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Information in this news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the execution and performance of contracts by the Company and its customers, suppliers and partners. Please also review Hemp Americana annual and quarterly financials for a more complete discussion of risk factors. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise. This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification of these securities under the laws of any such state. Corporate Contact: HempAmericana.com Salvador Rosillo HempAmericana, Inc. Phone: (888) 977-7985 About The "Stock Day" Podcast Founded in 2013, Stock Day is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Stock Day provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. The Stock Day Podcast is the number one radio show of its kind in America. Stock Day recently launched its Video Interview Studio located in Phoenix, Arizona. SOURCE: Stock Day Media 602-441-3474 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/54161 Shirley and Lewis Buckler finally made it to a port Saturday after the ship they're on, the Coral Princess, was not allowed to let passengers off several times over the past couple of weeks. On Monday, they remained on the ship at PortMiami - running out of medication, without the luggage they handed over two days earlier - with no idea when they would be allowed to head home to Charlotte. They worry that their risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus grows the longer they stay on board. "They won't let us drive home," said Shirley Buckler, 70, a retired potter. "It sounds like they want Scotty to beam us home or to go home in a bubble. And we can't do either one of those." Princess Cruises said on Sunday that new guidance issued overnight by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that passengers not travel on commercial flights or share transportation with non-cruise guests, which, the company said, would require an adjustment to its plan to let people off the ship. "This will unfortunately result in further delays in disembarkation and onward travel for many guests as we work through this complex, challenging and unfortunate situation," Princess said in a statement. "We express continued gratitude to our guests for their patience and understanding as we work to adapt to these new requirements." The ship arrived in Miami on Saturday with 1,020 guests on board after receiving approval for a plan to transport the five sickest passengers to hospitals, keep 65 with symptoms on board to recover, and get the rest home. Some passengers were able to leave Saturday and Sunday, including those with charter flights to California, Australia and the United Kingdom. Other passengers said Floridians had also disembarked. Two people had died on the ship as it approached Florida and 12 tested positive for the virus. A third passenger, San Francisco resident Wilson Maa, died Saturday night at a hospital after waiting for hours to be taken off the ship as his family pleaded with authorities to help him. According to the cruise ship's original plan, "a portion" of travelers who were declared fit to travel would take commercial flights, based on their final destination. All of those passengers were going to be taken to Miami International Airport by private bus. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said in a news conference that a "minority" of the passengers on the ship would be flying commercial. The CDC had allowed passengers from other ships with confirmed coronavirus cases to take commercial flights home. Last month, passengers from the Costa Luminosa - including some who got positive test results midflight - flew back to Atlanta on a charter flight from Europe. Some passengers from that charter flight then took commercial flights to get the rest of the way home. On Sunday, a passenger who had transferred from Holland America Line's Zaandam ship to the Rotterdam, both of which arrived last week in Port Everglades, Florida, after coronavirus spread on the Zaandam, told Fox News he took a commercial flight to New York after his charter flight to Atlanta. "We went from people surrounding us with hazmat suits to mixing with the general population," the passenger, New Jersey resident Rick De Pinho, told Fox. The new guidance from the CDC says that travelers who are well should "only travel with other well travelers by chartered or private transportation. Do not board a commercial flight or other public transportation." As rules for allowing well passengers to leave the ship evolved, the situation on Coral Princess become more harrowing for sick passengers over the weekend. After family members of Maa, the passenger who died in a hospital, pleaded for his rescue from the ship, they had to turn their attention to his wife, Toyling Maa, who was taken to a hospital after waiting for six hours, her daughter said on Twitter. On Sunday, local medical workers boarded the ship to help the medical staffers on board. That day, 12 more patients were taken off the ship to hospitals, according to the county mayor's office. During the evacuation, workers discovered "the ship's oxygen supply was critically low," according to a statement from the county, and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue replaced empty oxygen cylinders with full ones. The cruise operator had not responded to questions by early Monday about how many people had left the ship, either to return home or to go to a hospital, or about a new timeline for the rest of the passengers to depart. The ship left for its South American voyage from San Antonio, Chile, on March 5; it had not been able to find a port to let all of its passengers off after suspending operations on March 12. "Princess Cruises is working around the clock to arrange small group charters and individual car transport for its U.S. guests to comply with the updated CDC guidelines in order to disembark a wide number of guests from the ship," Roger Frizzell, chief communications officer for parent company Carnival Corp., said in an email late Sunday. Coral Princess passenger Katy O'Neill, 64, of Oak Island, North Carolina, said the experience of remaining on the ship has been "surreal." She has watched emergency vehicles and the medical examiner pull up from her balcony, where she posted a sign asking to be tested and urging authorities to let her go. Her husband, John Hutton, 71, is awaiting neurological surgery after they self-quarantine, and he has run out of blood-pressure medication. Both retired teachers - she taught art, he taught history - the couple had planned to drive home. They had friends who are private pilots in North Carolina who offered to come pick them up. "I called downstairs and they said, 'No, you can't do that,'" she said. O'Neill said she planned on Monday to break out her ukulele to sing happy birthday to her 16-year-old granddaughter and try to get through the song without crying. She said she hoped to go home soon for many reasons, one of which was that she had turned over her luggage, as requested, with only two days' worth of clothes on hand. "I hope I fly today, because this linen shirt can't do another day," she said. Myanmar & COVID-19 Myanmar Government Bans Staff From New Year Travel to Stop COVID-19 Spread Thingyan water festival in Yangon in 2019. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy YANGON In a move to control the spread of COVID-19, Myanmars government has banned all civil servants from traveling during the Thingyan water festival. The New Year public holiday normally sees government staff returning to their home towns or planning family trips of five to 10 days. According to the Union Civil Service Board, Myanmar has around 1 million civil servants. The Presidents Office said in a directive issued on Saturday no civil servants would be allowed to travel, except for funerals, from April 10 to 19. It said the ban would prevent civil servants from transmitting coronavirus to colleagues when they return to work and risk disrupting the operations of government. The Presidents Office said alternative holidays would be arranged when the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. Following the directive, many express bus lines in Naypyitaw suspended all timetables. In Naypyitaw, around 100 bus lines are running to 51 cities. The government has banned large gatherings until the end of April, including Thingyan. State and regional governments have ordered residents to stay at home from April 10 to 19, except for medical treatment and to buy food. State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Saturday said the next two to three weeks would be critical as it became apparent how fast COVID-19 was spreading, calling for the public to follow government instructions. Well have to experience a kind of Thingyan that weve never experienced before: a Thingyan where we have to totally avoid crowds. Some will question how many people make a crowd. I would say the fewer the better and the farther apart the better, she wrote. She encouraged citizens not to be disheartened by the lack of water throwing, loud music and merriment. They say that, health is the greatest of blessings. We can all make this great donation with goodwill whereby we can all give the greatest of health blessings not only to ourselves but to others as well In this very special Thingyan, we can perform very good deeds. We can do this at home, without moving. Myanmar confirmed 21 COVID-19 cases by Sunday night. One 69-year-old patient, who had been undergoing treatment for stage-four cancer and tested positive for COVID-19, died on Tuesday. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Told to Brace for Major COVID-19 Outbreak as Returning Migrant Among New Cases Myanmar Suspends Overseas Employment Process to Counter Coronavirus COVID-19-Positive Cancer Patient Dies in Myanmar Hospital Zara Tindall is 'very proud' of her grandmother The Queen after she addressed the nation last night amid the coronavirus crisis. Appearing on GMB, the equestrian, 38, said the poignant television address, where Her Majesty urged the the British public to come together and protect the NHS, was '100% what the country needed' at the moment, adding that she 'hopes everyone listens'. Speaking via video link from her home in Gloucestershire, the Queen's eldest granddaughter appeared on the show with Italian jockey Frankie Dettori to speak about raising money for the NHS through her equestrian charity. The Queen's eldest granddaughter,appeared on Good Morning Britain today where she said she 'hopes everyone listens' to her grandmother and follows government guidelines Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle during her address to the nation and the Commonwealth amid the coronavirus outbreak 'I think were obviously very proud', said Zara, 'And what she said is, I think, 100% what the country needed. 'I hope everyone listens and we can try and get back to normal and support our NHS as much as we can.' Speaking from Windsor Castle, where the 93-year-old monarch is isolating with Prince Philip, she told millions of Brits watching from home: 'If we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it.' Her Majesty's extraordinary intervention is only the fifth time she has addressed the nation during her 67-year reign and comes as the UK death toll from the pandemic neared 5,000. She appeared with Italian jockey Frankie Dettori (right) to speak about raising money for the NHS through her equestrian charity She invoked the spirit of the Second World War, repeating Dame Vera Lynn's famous words as she promised the nation: 'We will meet again'. The mother-of-three, who lives with her rugby player husband Mike Tindall in Gloucester, went on to address those flouting government rules and continuing to meet in large groups. She told that while it's easier for her to cope with lockdown being in the country, and sympathises with those living in the city - she urged the public to 'try and stay safe and protect the NHS'. She explained: 'I think its hard being locked up and getting fresh air into your lungs and being out and about it part of our programming. 'Were very lucky out in the country, we still have to look after the horses. I cannot imagine how hard it is for people in the city. But we have to try and stay safe and protect our NHS.' The monarch shared special praise for the NHS, thanking medical workers for their work and sacrifice in the battle against the virus. Zara told that while it's easier for her and husband Mike Tindall to cope with lock-down being in the country, and sympathises with those living in the city - she urged the public to 'try and stay safe and protect the NHS'. The pair are pictured at Cheltenham Racecourse in March She said: 'I want to thank everyone on the NHS front line, as well as care workers and those carrying out essential roles, who selflessly continue their day-to-day duties outside the home in support of us all. 'I am sure the nation will join me in assuring you that what you do is appreciated and every hour of your hard work brings us closer to a return to more normal times.' Brits stuck at home amid the lockdown tuned in to the speech, sharing photos of their entire families huddled in front of the TV to watch Her Majesty. Britain's coronavirus death toll has now hit 4,934 - including 29 patients yesterday who did not have any underlying health conditions. The current global crisis has no parallel. The Chinese Communist Party, by initially covering up the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak, helped unleash the worlds worst pandemic in more than a century. The world is paying a big price, as United States President Donald Trump said, for what the worlds largest, strongest and longest-surviving autocracy did. The inestimable human and economic toll has shown how one countrys authoritarianism can ravage the world. Accentuating the pandemic is another extremism one grounded in religion. The role of two proselytising fundamentalist organisations in spreading the deadly coronavirus has exemplified how religious extremism threatens public health and national security. South Koreas secretive Shincheonji Church of Jesus sparked a major crisis by importing the virus from Wuhan, where it organised a congregation. More than half of South Koreas Covid-19 cases have been linked to this doomsday sect. Meanwhile, a transnational Islamist movement, Tablighi Jamaat, by holding large gatherings in Malaysia, Pakistan and Indonesia, helped export the pathogen to multiple countries, from Southeast Asia to West Asia. This Sunni missionary movements session in New Delhi spread the virus across India. Through its large events, Tablighi Jamaat which reportedly has long served as a recruiting ground for terrorist groups has emerged as the super-spreader. Its four-day gathering of 16,000 at the Sri Petaling Mosque in Kuala Lumpur at the end of February spread the disease to six Southeast Asian countries. Its March 11-12 congregation in Lahore attracted up to a quarter of a million participants, but ended up creating the largest viral vector in the Sunni world and spreading the coronavirus far and wide from Kyrgyzstan to Gaza. The lesson is that religious fanaticism is often deadly. Indeed, the blind faith of religious zealots has been a significant trigger in spreading Covid-19, as Irans case underscores. Qom became the centre of Irans contagion because clerics, discounting the virus risks, invited the faithful to keep coming, and to lick the burial mound inside the Masumeh shrine, saying the holy city is a place for healing and thus safe from the contagion. Cases in countries stretching from Afghanistan and Iraq to Bahrain and Lebanon were later traced to Iran. Likewise, in Israel, ultra-orthodox Jews (who make up 12% of the population) have caused the coronavirus to spread rapidly by refusing to comply with the governments containment measures. The government has now deployed security troops to police ultra-orthodox neighbourhoods in order to safeguard the wider population. In India, authorities halted a planned March 25-April 2 mass Hindu pilgrimage in the sacred city of Ayodhya by proactively imposing a ban on assembly and blocking the entry of outsiders. However, the Tablighi Jamaats congregation in New Delhi has shown federal and state authorities in poor light. Indonesia banned a similar event on Sulawesi island but not before more than 8,500 Tablighis from 10 countries had already gathered. However, India inexplicably allowed the Tablighi Jamaat activists, including foreigners, to congregate in the Capital from March 13, a day after Delhi state declared an epidemic and shut all schools, colleges and movie theatres. Maharashtra, by contrast, cancelled permission for a parallel Tablighi Jamaat gathering in the state. The New Delhi congregation stretched for 18 days until April 1, when 2,346 individuals were evacuated. Having allowed the gathering, authorities are now trying to close the stable door after the horse has bolted, including seeking to identify and quarantine all attendees. At least 1,445 people linked to the event have tested positive for Covid-19, with multiple deaths reported. Its a sad state of affairs that Indias national security adviser had to personally go to the Tablighi leaders to get them to end their law-breaking gathering. The government has learned little from New Delhis Shaheen Bagh episode. No country will allow protesters to blockade a highway even for one hour. But, here, the government put up with the months-long blockade in the hope of generating a backlash against those protesting the amended citizenship law. Instead, Shaheen Bagh prompted a similar road blockade in a northeastern Delhi suburb, triggering bloody communal rioting. Tablighi Jamaat masks its millenarian philosophy and refusal to recognise national borders by claiming to be apolitical. Some intelligence agencies have linked it to the recruitment of terrorists by groups ranging from al-Qaeda and the Taliban to its two offshoots Harakat ul-Mujahideen and Harakat ul-Jihad-i Islami. The Jamaat, officially, however, has strongly denied these allegations. India has overlooked Tablighi Jamaats known ties with the Pakistan military. The Tablighi Jamaat invites its star recruits from different countries to its centre in Raiwind, Pakistan , and is understood to have allowed terrorist organisations to enlist students. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation, according to a report in The New York Times in 2003, found that al-Qaeda used the Tablighi Jamaat for recruiting new terrorists. Several westerners convicted of terrorism were associated with the Tablighi Jamaat. They include American Taliban John Walker Lindh, shoe bomber Richard Reid, dirty bomber Jose Padilla and Lyman Harris, who sought to bomb New York Citys Brooklyn Bridge. From Chinas authoritarianism giving the world a horrendous pandemic to the role of religious zealots in accelerating the spread of the disease, the global costs of political and religious extremism have been laid bare. Extremism is antithetical to the social and economic well-being of societies. The virulent contagions of political and religious fanaticism have become more pronounced during this pandemic, underscoring that the only way to contain the threat from extremists is to discredit their insidious ideologies. As the Algerian writer, Mouloud Benzadi has put it, Kill extremists and more extremists will appear. Kill extremist ideology and extremism will disappear. Brahma Chellaney is a geostrategist The views expressed are personal Critic, Femi Fani-Kayode has attacked Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun for granting movement exemption to Dangote trucks amidst... Critic, Femi Fani-Kayode has attacked Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun for granting movement exemption to Dangote trucks amidst total lockdown in the State. Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, had in a letter granted movement exemption to Dangote trucks to move anywhere in the State. Thus is to confirm that Dangote PLC trucks are exempted from the restriction of movement and total lockdown of the State as a result of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic. You are requested to permit the trucks move freely within the State because of essential multi-sectoral services the company renders to the public, he said. Reacting to the development, Fani-Kayode said Abiodun ought to explain disparity in treatment between Dangote trucks and others. Dapo Abiodun ought to explain this. Are some more equal than others? It is a crying shame that a few sons of the South West bow, quiver & tremble before their masters. Are Dangotes drivers & trucks immune to COVID-19? Will you give similar exemptions to southern businessmen? Shame on u, he said. Read letter below Amid the coronavirus outbreak, resident doctors of the Government Medical College and Hospital here in Maharashtra staged a protest demanding personal protective equipment and N95 surgical masks for their own safety. Two patients and a staff member of the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) have so far tested positive for coronavirus at the medical facility. The resident doctors protested outside the office of the GMCH dean on Sunday and said the personal protective equipment (PPE) and N95 masks were essential for doctors deployed in emergency health services. They submitted a memorandum to the dean, saying they would stay quarantined in their hostels if the safety equipment are not provided. "Even after some patients tested positive for coronavirus, the doctors treating them in emergency wards were not provided these safety equipment," Mahrashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) Aurangabad unit president Dr Amir Tadvi told PTI. These doctors attend to 50 to 100 patients in a day. It is now dangerous to treat patients without the protective equipment, he said. "We have put forth our demands as per guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research. We expect that these equipment would be supplied without any disruption. We have not stopped working, we have only demanded masks and PPE for our safety," MARD vice president Dr Sandeep Chauhan said. After the peotest, the emergency ward doctors were provided PPE and N95 masks on Sunday, Tadvi said. After a meeting with MARD officials, GMCH Dean Dr Kanan Yelikar issued a release, saying masks and PPE were available in adequate quantity. Presently, the safety equipment are kept with the in- charge ward staff and will be made available to doctors if they demand, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It's official, Western Australia is now an "island within an island". WAxit is in full swing. The hard border was enforced from midnight, with many West Australians scrambling to get back to the state before it was too late. WA has shut itself off from the rest of Australia and effectively become "an island within an island", Premier Mark McGowan said. Credit:File Today there are six domestic flights due to arrive at Perth Airport, with all passengers on board to be met by Australian Federal Police officers who will decide whether they can remain in the state or not. Any passenger who does not meet the exemption criteria will be sent back to where they came from and anyone caught lying could face 12 months in prison or a fine up to $50,000. A one-day-old baby girl has died after her mother contracted coronavirus and went into premature labor. The newborn became Louisiana's youngest victim yet on Monday after her mom was placed on a ventilator, officials there confirmed. In a daily briefing Monday East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner Beau Clark said: 'The baby, because of the extreme prematurity did not survive.' He blamed the mother's COVID-19 disease for putting her into labor, adding: 'Likely she would have not gone into preterm labor and there would have been a different outcome. This is an incredibly sad case.' The girl survived only one day, and the coroner said both he and Louisiana's state epidemiologist agreed that she belongs in the state's grim coronavirus death toll. Clark said the mother was admitted to a hospital on April 1, and remains alive. He provided no details about her condition, and no identifying information. He added: 'The child as of now has not tested positive for COVID-19, however, the mother was, and in speaking with the state epidemiologist, we all agree, myself included and the doctors involved in the care, that this would be a COVID-19-related death because of the positive nature of the mother in this scenario.' 'The baby, because of the extreme prematurity did not survive,' said East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner Beau Clark, who blamed the mother's COVID-19 disease for putting her into labor Cindy Morris, left, and Swarnamala Ratnayaka don personal protective equipment before the begin to prepare RNA for testing for the COVID-19 virus at the molecular pathology lab at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans last Thursday Louisiana's coronavirus caseload grew Monday to nearly 15,000 people with confirmed infections, about 12 per cent of whom are hospitalized Half of pregnant women with coronavirus deliver their babies early, studies suggests Half of all pregnant women infected with the novel coronavirus deliver their babies early and they may even pass the disease to their newborns, two small studies find. In one study, researchers from China examined 33 newborns whose mothers had COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, while pregnant. Nearly 10 percent of the babies - three of them - were found to have the virus - including one that needed to be put on mechanical ventilation. In the second study, looking at 32 pregnant women from China and Hong Kong, researchers found that 47 percent delivered their babies prematurely. Advertisement He added: 'Had she not been COVID-19 positive, had not required ventilator support, had not had the shortness of breath and hypoxia that's associated with the virus, likely she would not have gone into pre-term labor and there would have been a different outcome. 'You hope that this would never happen here in our state, but it has and we're certainly left dealing with that issue.' This premature baby wasn't the first U.S. newborn to die in similar circumstances, he added. Louisiana's coronavirus caseload grew Monday to nearly 15,000 people with confirmed infections, about 12 per cent of whom are hospitalized. With health officials warning that New Orleans area hospitals could soon be overwhelmed, the state Monday opened a makeshift 'step-down' hospital at the city's convention center for people with less severe symptoms who don't need a ventilator or an intensive care unit bed. Gov. John Bel Edwards has ordered schools closed, limited restaurants to takeout and delivery and shuttered businesses deemed nonessential such as gyms, hair salons and bars through the end of April. As testing capacity grows, Louisiana officials are getting more data about the extent of the virus's footprint in the state. Medical workers screen people seeking testing at a drive through testing center for the new coronavirus in New Orleans on Thursday, April 2 A view inside the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center as they prepare for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 5 The state health department has been able to report more than 69,000 test results so far. The results of thousands of other tests are still pending from commercial labs, hospitals and small testing sites, the department said. Louisiana and the New Orleans area have been an epicenter for the virus, and Gov. John Bel Edwards has repeatedly warned of looming shortages for ventilators and intensive care units. In an interview on CNN Sunday, Edwards said the New Orleans area is expected to exceed its ventilator capacity around April 9 and ICU bed capacity days later. More than 10,000 Americans have now died from the coronavirus and the number of infections increased to over 347,000 - as new data predicts the outbreak in the US will peak in 10 days with over 3,000 deaths in 24 hours. The death toll in the United States increased by 1,147 overnight to bring the total number of fatalities to 10,358. The number of confirmed cases across the country increased by 25,841 to bring the infection total to 347,516. India's petrol sales shrank by 15.5 per cent and diesel demand tanked over 24 per cent in March as the economy froze under the nationwide lockdown announced to check the spread of COVID-19. Also, aviation turbine fuel (ATF) sales fell by 31 per cent as flights got suspended alongside the shutting of businesses and most vehicular traffic going off-road. Petrol sales dropped to 1.859 million tonnes in March from 2.2 million tonnes sold in the same month in 2019, according to provisional industry demand numbers. Diesel, the most consumed fuel in the country, saw demand contract by 24.2 per cent to 4.8 million tonnes from 6.34 million tonnes in March 2019. Similarly, ATF sales fell to 2.25 million tonnes from 2.185 million tonnes last year. The only fuel that showed growth was LPG as households rushed to book refills for stocking during the three-week lockdown period. LPG sales rose 3.1 per cent to 2.25 million tonnes in March from 2.185 million tonnes in the same month last year. Industry officials said the pattern in fuel consumption is likely to continue in April as the lockdown is to last till mid of the month and there are indications that part restrictions will continue even after the lockdown is lifted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a 21-day lockdown beginning March 25, shutting offices and factories, barring those involved in essential services. Also, flights were suspended and vehicles went off the road as most people were asked to stay home to help check the spread of coronavirus. March will be the first month in two-and-half-years when petrol sales would see a negative or degrowth. The fuel had registered an 8.2 per cent growth during the first 11 months of 2019-20 fiscal. Diesel has seen a 1.1 per cent rise in consumption from April 2019 to February 2020. It had seen sales slip into negative territory in January this year before rising in February. LPG consumption recorded a de-growth of 4.3 per cent during February and a cumulative growth of 6.2 per cent in April-February. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With tensions rising inside and outside of prisons, the state is stepping up its release of inmates based on a medical vulnerability rating for each person incarcerated, giving priority to those over 50 years old. More than 700 inmates have been released since COVID-19 first struck Connecticut, the largest one-month reduction in the prison population in state history, Department of Correction spokeswoman Karen Martucci said Monday. Its unclear how many of the inmates were released early. All of the inmates who have been let out were approved for early release but the department has expedited the process in light of the public health crisis. I would not classify our efforts as a mass release, however the early focused attention on releases is evident, said DOC Commissioner Rollin Cook during a press conference Monday afternoon. A total of 21 inmates have tested positive for the virus, up from 7 on April 1, according to the Department of Correction. Martucci said the department is also utilizing extra space within the system created by a declining population in recent years to move inmates and spread them out where possible. The news came within a day of developments in the ongoing protests over Gov. Ned Lamont declining to release prisoners. A fight broke out Sunday at the Carl Robinson Correctional Institution in Enfield that resulted in the transfer of more than 100 inmates, including 19 who were found to be organizing hunger strikes and work stoppage protests inside the prison in response to the states handling of the COVID-19. A corrections officer was punched in the face by an inmate during the protest, Martucci said. The 19 alleged organizers were transferred to the highest security prison, in Somers. Another 86 were transferred to various prisons throughout the system, Martucci said. The department brought in additional corrections officers prior to the weekend, anticipating a protest in Enfield where cases have been diagnosed. That medium-security prison in Enfield, with a capacity for 1,200 inmates, uses open barracks-style spaces. Tensions rose, Martucci said, as an apparent result of restrictions designed to limit exposures inside the prison. Tensions are better but that can change quickly, Martucci said. She said the department has seen a significant uptick in correspondence between inmates and family members as a result of the unease among inmates related to the virus. She added that a two page fact sheet about the virus was given to every incarcerated person and informational fliers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been posted throughout the prison system. Still inmates and their families have said they are only so comforted by the departments efforts. The department has introduced a COVID tracker on its website that shows 32 staff members within the prison system have tested positive for the virus. A total of 78 inmates have been tested, but a number of test results are still pending. Only 16 have tested negative for the virus. And, on Monday, more than a hundred protesters showed up for a car protest outside the governors Executive Residence in Hartford to demand Lamont begin releasing inmates at a higher rate due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19 inside the prison system. They stayed in their cars, blocking traffic on Prospect Avenue, and honking non-stop for about 45 minutes before police arrived to break up the protest. The protesters represented numerous advocacy groups. They say they are separating the infected population in quarantine but right now theyre actually putting people into solitary confinement, said Rahisha Bivens, whose brother has been incarcerated for three years, pre-trial, at Garner Correctional Institution in Newtown. Bivens is a justice advocate for Stop Solitary CT. Bivens said she appreciates the accelerated releases but said its not enough at a time when more releases could prevent a pandemic. Nonviolent offenders, especially those near the end of their sentences, should be released in much larger numbers, she said. If we continue down this path people are going to die. Lamont was not home during the protest, but addressed the issue at a press conference Monday afternoon. Give me a call, Lamont said, addressing the protesters directly. Lets talk about it. We dont need people outside protesting right now. We have a public health emergency. If you want to talk about it, youve got my number. kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt Latest on coronavirus pandemic: Over 1.2 million people now infected Iran Press TV Sunday, 05 April 2020 10:11 AM Nearly 1,203,000 people are infected with the new coronavirus and more than 64,770 others have died of the disease caused by it around the world, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University. More than 246,890 patients have also recovered from the disease, COVID-19, so far. The epidemic has also sparked a global economic crisis as strict measures adopted by governments to control their outbreaks have locked down billions of people around the planet. Analysts say it is almost certain that every advanced economy will experience a recession this year. Spain 'close to passing peak' A total of 11,947 people have died of COVID-19 in Spain. The country, which also has 126,168 confirmed cases of the disease, is now "close to passing the peak of infections," according to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. Sanchez also announced on Saturday that he would extend lockdown measures until April 25. Italy reports low daily rise in deaths Italy reported 681 new deaths on Saturday, the lowest daily rise in deaths in almost two weeks but still a huge number compared to much of the world. Italy's cases rose by 4,805 on Saturday, which was slightly higher than recent daily increases. Officials said the number of patients in intensive care had also fallen for the first time. Italy has become the hardest-hit Western nation, with 124,632 confirmed cases and 15,362 deaths. Officials warned people not to flout strict lockdown measures that they say were starting to show results. France's death toll hits new high The total number of deaths from COVID-19 in France reached 7,560 on Saturday. The figure is a new high in the country's toll after the government included on Saturday more previously unreported deaths in nursing homes. The French Health Ministry reported 441 new deaths in the country's hospitals on Saturday. Since the start of the epidemic in the country in early March, 90,848 people have been infected and 7,560 have died. Previously unreported nursing home deaths now make up nearly a third of France's total coronavirus deaths. Germany's deaths on the rise The number of deaths and confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Germany climbed further on Saturday, making the country the third most-affected in Europe after Italy and Spain. Deaths rose by 168 to 1,275 on Saturday, bringing the total fatalities to 1,444. Some 96,092 people are also infected across the country. Greece quarantines 2nd refugee camp Greek authorities said on Sunday they had quarantined a second refugee camp this week after a man there tested positive for COVID-19. The patient, a 53-year-old from Afghanistan, lived with his family at the Malakasa camp along with hundreds of other refugees. He has been transferred to a hospital in Athens. Authorities quarantined the first camp on Thursday after 20 asylum seekers tested positive for the disease. According to Johns Hopkins University data, Greece has 1,673 confirmed cases and 68 deaths. India's cases pass 3,500 India's confirmed cases of COVID-19 reached 3,588 on Sunday. Officials said on Saturday that lockdowns could be extended in parts of the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a lockdown on the country's entire population of 1.3 billion almost two weeks ago. The handling of the epidemic has, however, caused more misery in the country, where countless millions of people live in packed urban areas with poor sanitation and public healthcare. South Korea's cases increase by 81 In Asia, South Korea said its cases had increased by 81 as of Sunday morning. The number of deaths also increased by six, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The country's total now stands at 10,237, along with 183 deaths. Seoul said on Saturday that it would extend its social distancing measures by another two weeks. China reports 30 more cases China reported 30 new cases, and three more deaths, on Saturday. Of the new infections, 25 were imported, by people traveling from overseas, according to the National Health Commission (NHC). The country's total cases of infection now stand at 82,544, with 3,329 deaths across the mainland, according to the NHC. Thailand reports 102 new cases Thailand's Health Ministry reported 102 new cases and three more deaths as of Saturday. That brought the total number of cases to 2,169, and the deaths to 20. The government banned all incoming passenger flights on Saturday to prevent the rise in imported cases. Mexico reports 202 new cases, 19 deaths COVID-19 is also taking a toll on people in North America, with Mexico reporting an increase in the number of its cases. The new cases of the viral infection increased by 202 to a total of 1,890, according to Mexico's Health Ministry. The number of deaths jumped by 19 to 79 in total. Ecuador keeps bodies in giant containers In South America, Ecuador has begun storing the bodies of the victims of COVID-19 in giant refrigerated containers. Officials said hundreds of bodies had already filled morgues and hospitals in the city of Guayaquil, the epicenter of the country's outbreak. Three containers have thus been installed at public hospitals to preserve bodies until graves were prepared, according to Guayaquil's Mayor Cynthia Viteri. A number of bodies have been abandoned by families of the victims on the streets or at homes for lack of burial space. So far, 150 victims have been buried in a private cemetery in the port city. The country has confirmed 318 deaths from COVID-19 and 3,465 cases of infection so far. President Lenin Moreno, however, said this week that the real figure was higher. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Citywide Photo: Teresa Hammerl/Hoodline Muni is shutting down 72 of its 89 lines starting Wednesday, with only 17 routes continuing to operate. As first reported by the Examiner, the only bus lines that will be available after Wednesday will be the 1-California, 8-Bayshore, 9-San Bruno, 14-Mission, 14R-Mission Rapid, 19-Polk, 22-Fillmore, 24-Divisadero, 25-Treasure Island, 29-Sunset, 38-Geary, 38R-Geary Rapid, 44-O'Shaughnessy and the 49-Van Ness/Mission. Three bus replacements for light-rail lines will also continue operation: the N-Judah, L-Taraval and T-Third. The remaining routes will see some modifications. For example, the 44-O'Shaughnessy will be cut short, no longer serving the Inner Sunset and Inner Richmond. Details are still being worked out, and transit riders are encouraged to subscribe to SFMTA's updates. Image: SFMTA The closures reflect a staggering decline in revenue for Muni under the city's shelter-in-place order, with ridership decreases surging to as high as 83 percent on some days. In March, SFMTA director Jeffrey Tumlin said the agency was losing $1 million per week during the shutdown. On Sunday, Tumlin told reporters that the ultimate issue was not cost, but maintaining appropriate social distancing. With more than 30% of Muni drivers not showing up to work, Muni has been forced to run buses less frequently, making it harder for passengers to stay six feet apart when a bus does show up. Consolidating to just a few key lines will allow Muni to run buses more frequently on those lines, giving passengers their needed space. Tumlin also urged anyone who can avoid using Muni buses to do so, noting that service will be greatly affected between now and Wednesday as the agency prepares for the transition to fewer lines. I never thought I'd say this: Please don't take Muni if you have other options. Muni is only for essential workers + trips. We're short >30% of operators. Monday will be a mess. To maintain service on workhorse lines, we need to eliminate many low ridership lines starting Tuesday jeffreytumlin (@jeffreytumlin) April 6, 2020 As of Sunday, five SFMTA employees have contracted COVID-19. Many drivers are currently self-quarantining because they were exposed to those employees, or to other ill people. Story continues With all operators still being paid, many have also chosen to stay home because they are over 60 or have health conditions that make them more vulnerable to the virus. SFMTA representatives said that they expect over 40% of operators to be out in the coming week. Tumlin said that the lines were chosen to ensure essential workers have easy access to hospitals and high-frequency merchant corridors. Some lines will have more frequent service than others as a result. "Our transit planners have been working all weekend to rebuild the entire schedule, a task that would normally take four months," Tumlin wrote. Tumlin reassured riders that the service cuts are temporary, but it's not clear when the agency will be able to return to a normal schedule. In the meantime, SFMTA's latest COVID-19 related updates can be found on the agency's website. For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME. Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire. Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever. Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation. View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union. Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history. Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words. What if you get stuck on the highway in a storm? Here are some tips Scientific research suggests that prayer has the power to calm the mind, increase resistance to temptation and make people happier. One thing prayer can't do, however, is stop the coronavirus. So far, two members of one Sacramento church have died from COVID-19. Four other members of the church are infected. It's important to note that these infections took place before Gov. Gavin Newsom and local officials issued stay-in-place orders on March 19. In Sacramento County, 71 members of the Bethany Slavic Missionary Church near Rancho Cordova have tested positive for the coronavirus. One person has died and the church's pastor is sick, but the leaders of the church which has members in Yolo and Placer counties have refused to communicate with county health leaders. The coronavirus is hitting the faith community hard. More than 100 of Sacramento County's 314 coronavirus cases are connected to churches, said Dr. Peter Beilenson, Sacramento County's health chief. This fact prompted county health officials to issue "a special plea for congregations to stop holding services and prayer groups," according to the Sacramento Bee's Tony Bizjak and Dale Kasler. Sacramento is not the only place where the coronavirus has killed or sickened people of faith. In Washington State, 60 members of a church choir attended practice despite the fact that the virus was spreading in nearby areas. "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. In Arkansas, nearly three dozen people who attended a church event got the coronavirus. In North Carolina, "multiple cases" of infections have been linked to a church meeting that took place despite a stay-at-home order from Gov. Roy Cooper. In Illinois, 10 people at one church tested positive for the virus. In Virginia, one pastor died of COVID-19 after downplaying its seriousness and accusing the media of "pumping out fear." In Italy a country where 83 percent of the population is Christian at least 13,155 people have died from COVID-19. This includes over 50 priests. This much is certain: The coronavirus spreads through droplets from infected people, and it does not discriminate based on nationality, race, creed, color or religion. Yes, it can infect you in church. Yes, it can sicken or kill the faithful. Yes, religious leaders who insist on holding church gatherings despite the high risks are putting lives in danger. Unfortunately, some pastors around the country have decided to make the coronavirus a deadly test of faith for their members. They are publicly defying stay-at-home orders and insisting on in-person church services. Despite a rising number of dead or infected churchgoers, a few selfish pastors around the country are putting their prideful egos ahead of what's best for their congregations. In Lodi, Calif., for example, Pastor Jon Duncan has pledged to hold church services in defiance of the rules. "We are going to meet as often as we can meet," said Duncan, invoking the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. But state and local officials have the constitutional right to issue stay-at-home orders to protect public health. They have also canceled gatherings in parks, restaurants and gyms. Lodi police are rightly threatening to shut down Duncan's services. Police in Louisiana and Florida recently arrested two megachurch pastors who went ahead with large church gatherings in defiance of public health rules. The Florida pastor, "diehard Donald Trump supporter Rodney Howard-Browne," held another church service after his release. On Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis finally issued a 30-day stay-at-home order after weeks of deadly delay, but he exempted churches. He essentially gave careless pastors permission to spread the virus. But let's be clear: Good pastors protect their flocks. Pastors who willfully expose their congregations to this deadly virus do not deserve the title. Church leaders who insist on putting lives at risk should be jailed and their congregants should find new leaders who respect the sanctity of their lives. This is not an easy thing to say. Faith plays an important role in American life, and bans on gatherings offend our common sense of freedom and individual rights. But in a public health emergency, "social distancing" rules are necessary to save lives. Besides, the rules ban all large gatherings, not just those in churches. In this holy season of Easter, Passover and Ramadan, prayer plays a critical role. And people of all faiths can still pray in their homes, pray on the phone or take part in worship services through video services like Zoom and Skype. Nothing prevents believers from calling upon the calming and soul-healing power of prayer in these troubling times. In fact, the world could use a few extra prayers right now. The above editorial appeared in the Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.). It was distributed by Tribune Content Agency. AP Photo/Dana Verkouteren Irek Hamidullin was a foot soldier for the Taliban, captured after a firefight in 2009 in Afghanistan. He and his fellow soldiers had tried to attack an Afghan Border Police post, but were routed by U.S. helicopter pilots who killed everyone in his group but him. No U.S. or Afghan government soldiers were injured in the battle. Imprisoned at Bagram Air Base until 2014, Hamidullin was then brought to federal court in Richmond, Virginia, and prosecuted. He was convicted of crimes including material support to terrorists and attempted murder of U.S. military personnel and sentenced to life plus 30 years. Now that the U.S. has inked a peace deal with the Talibanwith the critical assistance of five former Gitmo detainees exchanged in the swap for Bowe Bergdahland President Trump has communicated directly with Taliban leaders, its time to reconsider whether Hamidullin (who one of us represented in this criminal case) should remain in federal prison. By negotiating a peace deal with the Taliban, the U.S. has recognized that Taliban soldiers should be treated just like any other adversary. Trump Chatted With Taliban Leaders on Secret U.S. Kill-or-Capture List Hamidullins conviction has no precedent in our history. We have always recognized, as the price of war, the right of our adversaries to fight back and insisted that our soldiers receive the same treatment. In 1775, General George Washington complained to his British counterpart that American soldiers should not be put in jails like criminals, and warned that British prisoners would be treated the same way Americans were treated. Confederate soldiers likewise were immune from ordinary criminal prosecution. In 1891, a Lakota chief was famously acquitted in federal court of murdering an Army officer on the ground that he was simply fighting in a war. And the U.S. treated captured North Vietnamese soldiers as prisoners of war. This practice was always meant to protect American soldiers captured by our adversaries. It is summed up by Supreme Court Justice Hugo Blacks observation that it is no crime to be a soldier, which is why soldiers may be held until the end of a war but then must be released. Story continues There are reasons to treat the Taliban differently, of course. Deposed in 2001, the Taliban are not recognized as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, even though they have maintained control over large parts of the country since they were overthrown. Nor do they observe the laws of war. But neither did the North Vietnamese. Hamidullin, moreover, was never accused of committing a war crime. And a soldier fighting on behalf of a deposed government is still a soldier. German soldiers, after World War II, were even prosecuted for executing captured French partisans who fought after the Germans took Paris, because the Free French were still entitled to be treated as soldiers. News reports say that the principal sticking point in the new peace deal is not the ongoing Taliban attacks on Afghan security forces, but the commitment to expeditiously release combat and political prisoners as a confidence building measure, in which up to five thousand prisoners of the [Taliban] and up to one thousand prisoners of the other side are to be released. The plan also provides for the goal of releasing all of the remaining prisoners over the course of the subsequent three months. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who is not a party to the deal, reportedly has objected that freeing Taliban prisoners is not the authority of America, but the authority of the Afghan government. Although he originally authorized the release of fifteen hundred Taliban soldiers as a prelude to peace talks, that decision is now up in the air. But there is one prisoner who should be released by the U.S. government right now: Irek Hamidullin. He is no different than any other soldier in any other war weve fought. He thus committed no crime by fighting on a battlefield against the United States. Now that the U.S. has entered into a peace deal with the Taliban, he should be releasedbecause thats how U.S. soldiers should be treated. Geremy Kamens is the federal public defender for the Eastern District of Virginia, and represented Mr. Hamidullin in his criminal case. Captain Mizer is the lead defense counsel for a defendant facing a military commission at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Melbourne: The corona, which is spreading its legs day by day, is becoming a disaster for the whole world. If there are frequent deaths, then there is a continuous epidemic, the condition of people is getting worse, while thousands of people have died due to the virus. Many lakh people have been infected due to the virus. Corona's awe in Ecuador, dead bodies lying in streets According to the information, the Government of Australia is excited by the sharp decline in the number of new patients of Corona. In the last 24 hours, the number of patients found corona positive in the country stood at 139, which is 5% of the cases reported every day since mid-March. On the other hand, ten out of 72 Indian nationals caught in the coronavirus in Singapore have been cured. Corona wreaking havoc in Spain, more than 600 deaths in day Releasing the latest data, Australia's Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said on Sunday, "It is encouraging, but further caution is needed." He warned that people should follow all the instructions of the government to prevent infection. The number of corona patients in Australia has exceeded 5600. Taking the reduction in new cases as a good sign, Australia's Health Minister said that to win the corona, people may have to follow rules like social distancing for the next six months. In order to prevent the spread of the virus, the provincial governments of Australia are busy in strictly following many rules. Apart from closing public places, the police has been given exemption to impose heavy penalty on those who come out without any reason. Corona's havoc continues over world, condition become worse in these countries The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals has upheld a 55-year prison sentence for a truck driver convicted in the death of six people at the Ooltewah exit of I-75. Criminal Court Judge Don Poole had handed the sentence to 42-year-old Benjamin Scott Brewer following his conviction at trial. He gave him 11 years on each of six vehicular homicide cases and ran five of the cases consecutively. The range was 8-12 years for vehicular homicide. Brewer, of London, Ky., was also sentenced to four years on each of four convictions of reckless aggravated assault involving four people who were injured in the 2015 crash. Those sentences are concurrent. The appeals court, in a 23-page opinion, said, "At the sentencing hearing, the trial court thoroughly discussed the Sentencing Act prior to pronouncing Defendants sentence. The trial court explicitly went through the Wilkerson factors on the record. The trial court determined Defendants behavior indicated little or no regard for human life and no hesitation for committing a crime when the risk to human life was high. "The trial court reviewed the facts from trial that showed Defendant plowed into nearly standstill traffic at around 80 miles per hour, killing six people and wounding several others. The trial court noted that Defendants reckless disregard for the lives of others could have led to even more deaths, because there were many cars stopped in construction traffic that evening. "The trial court determined two of the consecutive sentencing factors pertained to Defendant: (1) that the sentence was necessary to protect the public from further serious criminal conduct; and (2) that it reasonably related to the severity of the offenses committed. In our assessment, the trial courts determinations are supported by the record, and it did not err in sentencing Defendant to an effective sentence of 55 years at thirty percent." Brewer has no prior criminal convictions so is a Range One Offender who is eligible for parole consideration after serving 30 percent of the sentence. Brewer made a statement, saying he is remorseful and prays several times each day for the victims' families. He said, "I am truly sorry from the bottom of my heart. There are now words to express my sorrow." Brewer, who has an eight-year-old daughter, said he prays for the families two or three times a day. He said he is especially remorseful for the two young girls who died along with their mother and grandmother in a car that caught fire. He said of the families, "I hope they will accept my deepest apology." Brewer said he has asked God for forgiveness, and he said he was responsible for taking the lives and inflicting injuries on others. Judge Poole called it "an unbelievably horrible wreck" and said it was testified that Brewer was driving unsafely on I-75 in Georgia before entering Tennessee. He said there was a half-mile sight distance looking toward where a line of vehicles were stopped for a construction project. He said Brewer did not apply the brakes at any point and left a 453-foot trail of "destruction." Judge Poole said he read all of the numerous victim impact statements that were submitted. Killed were well-known Cleveland musician Brian Gallaher and Dalton State assistant director of residential life Jason Ramos. Also killed were Tiffany Watts, her mother Sandra Anderson, and daughters Kelsie and Savannah. A representative of state probation said Brewer has an active warrant from Wisconsin on a drug charge and a prior meth count in Kentucky that was dismissed. He said he suffers from depression and anxiety. Brewer declined to answer questions relating to prior drug use based on advice of his attorneys. He worked for seven years with a car dealership, then was in construction and drover for Ryder before joining Cool Runnings just prior to the deadly wreck. District Attorney General Neal Pinkston had asked for consecutive sentences, while Jay Underwood of the public defender's office argued against any consecutive terms. He said it was "not an intentional act, but a reckless accident." He said of Brewer, "He's never tried to hurt anybody." Thomas Modly, President Trump's acting Navy secretary, told sailors on the USS Theodore Roosevelt that their fired captain was 'naive' and 'stupid' for the missive he wrote complaining about the lack of help for the coronavirus-infested ship and then complained about the flak he was receiving for relieving Captain Brett Crozier of his duties. Modly flew to Guam, where the ship is docked as 5,000 crew members get tested after a coronavirus outbreak on the aircraft carrier, to address the sailors, who cheered Crozier as he left the ship after Modly relieved him of his command. He criticized Crozier for the scathing memo he wrote to Navy officials, pleading to be able to take the Roosevelt to dock to try and contain the growing out break on the ship. 'We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die,' Crozier wrote in the four-page missive, which was leaked to the media and ignited a fire storm of controversy for the Navy. Modly, in remarks sent over the ship's PA system, blasted the captain for going outside the chain of command. 'If he didn't think, in my opinion, that this information wasn't going to get out into the public, in this day and information age we live in, then he was either A) too naive or too stupid to be a commanding officer of a ship like this. The alternative is that he did this on purpose,' the navy secretary told the crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt in a speech obtained by the Daily Caller. After Modly called Crozier 'naive,' a person on the ship is heard shouting 'shut the f*** up,' on an audio recording of the address. Thomas Modly, President Trump's acting Navy secretary, told sailors on the USS Theodore Roosevelt that their fired captain was 'naive' and 'stupid' Captain Brett Crozier was relieved of his duties after a memo he wrote complaining the Navy wasn't doing enough to help with a coronavirus outbreak on his ship went viral Acting Navy Secretary Tom Modly, seen with President Donald Trump at the December Army-Navy game, said he fired the captain because he thought Trump would want him to Modly's speech leaked like wildfire and brought a new firestorm of criticism on the acting Navy secretary with some saying his speech made the situation surrounding Crozier's dismissal worse. He defended his remarks in a statement. 'I have not listened to a recording of my remarks since speaking to the crew so I cannot verify if the transcript is accurate. The spoken words were from the heart, and meant for them. I stand by every word I said, even, regrettably any profanity that may have been used for emphasis. Anyone who has ever served on a Navy ship would understand. I ask, but dont expect, that people would read them in their entirety,' he said. Modly also used his speech to the crew to attack the media for printing Crozier's memo. 'I'm gonna tell you something, all of you, there is never a situation where you should consider the media a part of your chain of command,' he noted in his remarks. 'You can jump the chain of command if you want and take the consequences, you can disobey the chain of command and take the consequences, but there is no, no situation where you go to the media, because the media has an agenda, and the agenda that they have depends on which side of the political aisle they sit. Im sorry thats the way the country is now but its the truth and so they use it to divide us and use it to embarrass the Navy. They use it to embarrass you.' He then went on to complain about the hate being levied at him for firing the 'hero' captain, as Crozier is being referred to by supporters online. 'I cannot control or attempt to change whatever anger you have with me for relieving your beloved CO. If I could offer you a glimpse of the level of hatred and pure evil that has been thrown my way, my family's way and they are taking care of people on the shore who are busting their asses to get them off this ship. They aren't taking shots at them. They're asking how can we help them,' Modly said. The backlash to Modly's decision has been intense and support for the captain is strong. The crew of Theodore Roosevelt applauded Crozier as he descended the gangplank of the nuclear-powered ship after Modly relieved him. In his 15 minutes of remarks, Modly lectured the crew to do their duty and stop complaining even as he complained about his treatment after his decision to relieve Crozier. 'Im gonna give ya little bit of advice to make this important and often difficult job far easier on yourselves. My best advice to you is dont ever be dont ever worry about being loved for what you do. Rather, love the country you are asked to defend. Love the constitution you pledged your life to protect. And, most importantly, love the people you are ordered to lead. Make sure they eat before you do, care about their families as much as your own, be invested in their success far more than your own accomplishments. Nurture their careers more than you pursue your own advancement and value their lives to the point that you will always consider their safety in every single decision you make,' he said. He told the crew: 'Y ou are under no obligation to love your leadership, only respect it. You are under no obligation to like your job, only to do it. You are under no obligation, you are under no obligation to expect anything from your leaders other than they will treat you fairly and put the mission of the ship first.' Then he went on: 'That's your duty. Not to complain. Everyone is scared about this thing. And let me tell ya something, if this ship was in combat and there were hypersonic missiles coming in at it, you'd be pretty f***ing scared too. But you do your jobs. And that's what I expect you to. And that's what I expect every officer on this ship to do, is to do your jobs.' He acknowledged he received a list of questions from the crew that he would answer once he was back in his office in Washington D.C. 'I got your list of questions. Im very, very thankful to have gotten them. I know theyre all sincere. I dont think there is any agenda in any of those. But theres a lot of them and Im gonna answer every single one of them. But Ive gotta do it respectfully, and Ive gotta take some time so you understand all the nuances of the questions you are asking. And theres a lot of them here. So rather than answer them all today Im going to take them back with me to Washington and Im going to answer them,' he said. Modly also brought up former Vice President Joe Biden, who said the decision to relieve Crozier was 'close to criminal.' 'It's not about me. The former Vice President of the United States Joe Biden suggested just yesterday that my decision was criminal. I assure you that it was not. Because I understand the facts and those facts show that what your captain did was very, very wrong in a moment when we expected him to be the calming force on a turbulent sea,' he told the crew, many of who have hailed Crozier a 'hero' for his actions. There was very little upside in this decision for me. You can believe that or not. I made a decision for the Navy I love, for the Navy I serve in and now serve for, and mostly for the sailors I am responsible for. Not just here but on nearly 300 other ships in the fleet. Your captains actions had implications for them too. Imagine if every other CO also believed the media was a proper channel to air grievances with their chain of command under difficult circumstances. We would no longer have a Navy. Not long after that, we would no longer have a country,' Modly added. And he concluded with these words: Still I understand that you may be angry with me for the rest of your lives. I guarantee that you wont be alone. Being angry is not your duty. Your duty is to each other, to this ship and to the nation that build it for you to protect them. Even in the midst of unexpected crisis, it is the mission of this ship that matters. Our adversaries are watching and that is why we are here. We will get you the help that you need. You have my personal word on it. Your CO had my personal word on that from day one. Whatever else you may think of me, I dont go back on my word. And when it comes the T-R whether you hate me or not I will never, ever, ever, ever give up the ship. And neither should you. Thanks for listening and Ill get the detailed answers to your questions to you sometime later this week. Go Navy.' Many sailors on the Roosevelt praised Crozier for his actions and for being a leader when the sailors needed him. 'He had legitimate concerns about his sailors, asked for help in a respectful and honorable way, and then they relieved him of duty' one Roosevelt sailor told The Wall Street Journal. 'Seriously, that's crazy. If anything the guy deserves a promotion. That's the type of leadership they lack, but the type they need,' another said. The acting Navy secretary defended his decision in an interview with The Washington Post, where he explained he fired Crozier because he thought that was what President Trump would want. 'I didn't want to get into a decision where the president would feel that he had to intervene because the Navy couldn't be decisive,' Modly said: 'If I were president, and I saw a commanding officer of a ship exercising such poor judgment, I would be asking why the leadership of the Navy wasn't taking action itself.' He said he did not speak to anyone in the White House before he made his decision. But Modly also recounted how his predecessor, Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, 'lost his job because the Navy Department got crossways with the president' in the case of former Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher. 'I didn't want that to happen again,' Modly said. And the president made it clear he agreed with the decision to terminate Crozier. 'I thought it was terrible, what he did, to write a letter. I mean, this isn't a class on literature. This is a captain of a massive ship that's nuclear powered. And he shouldn't be talking that way in a letter,' Trump said. Captain Brett Crozier was relieved of his command of the USS Theodore Roosevelt on Thursday, two days after his letter calling to evacuate the aircraft carrier was leaked in the media. Video posted to social media on Thursday shows hundreds of sailors aboard the ship bidding a raucous farewell and saluting their fired commander Trump went against Spencer's recommendation and reversed a demotion Gallagher received from the Navy. Gallagher was accused of multiple offenses during his final deployment to Iraq, including the murder of a prisoner of war. Ultimately, a court only convicted him on one count. He was sentenced to time served and demoted. Modly recounted that situation in his interview with The Post. 'I put myself in the president's shoes. I considered how the president felt like he needed to get involved in Navy decisions [in the Gallagher case and the Spencer firing]. I didn't want that to happen again,' he said. Modly is a graduate of the Naval Academy who spent seven years as a U.S. Navy officer before working in the private sector. He's served as acting secretary of the Navy since November. In early March, the USS Theodore Roosevelt made a stop in Vietnam. As it headed back out to sea, crew members began falling ill to the coronavirus with the highly contagious disease spreading rapidly throughout the ship. The numbers rose from from three initially to more than 150 sailors affected. In his memo, Crozier complained about the limitations of the coronavirus test, saying seven who tested negative displayed symptoms of infection one to three days later. He also pointed out the ship's close quarters made it unable to comply with the recommended social distancing guidelines. He wrote that bunk space, shared meals and bathroom spaces are 'most conducive' to spreading the disease. 'With the exceptions of a handful of senior officer staterooms, none of the berthing onboard a warship is appropriate for quarantine or isolation,' he noted. After the memo went viral, Crozier was relieved of command. Modly defended his actions, saying he had his chief of staff reach out to Crozier directly after he learned of the outbreak on the ship. 'That message and all the contents of that message was perfectly fine for him to send to people in his chain of command in a confidential way so they could get acting on it. He, in fact, could have given it to me, either my chief of staff, or to me, as I asked him to do when I first reached out to him on the ship when we first found out that there were COVID cases here,' he told the Roosevelt sailors in his speech. The outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (seen docked in Guam on March 27) was first reported days after the ship concluded a historic five-day visit to Vietnam from March 4-9. Officials say they are still working to trace the origins of the outbreak Sailors say morale quickly plummeted after the first COVID-19 cases were reported on the vessel, which provided the perfect environment for an outbreak given its close quarters. The ship is seen docked in Guam on March 27 And he told The Washington Post he was shocked when the missive from Crozier, which was sent to an email distribution list Modly wasn't on, went public. 'I was flabbergasted,' Modly said. 'My only conclusion was, 'he's panicking.' It was so out of character.' Officials say they are still working to trace the origins of the outbreak on the ship and have not positively determined whether it began in Vietnam. Data from the Vietnamese Ministry of Health suggests that the number of COVID-19 cases in Vietnam doubled during the five days the Roosevelt was docked at Tien Sa port in Da Nang. But sailors were largely unfazed by the virus as they went on shore leave in Da Nang, even as the number of cases across the world skyrocketed. Two Naval Academy classmates of Crozier who remain close to the family revealed that he had tested positive for COVID-19 to The New York Times on Sunday. The classmates said Crozier began to show symptoms of the disease before he was relieved of his command. A spokesperson for the Navy told the Times on Sunday that the captain has been reassigned to the headquarters of the Naval Air Forces Pacific command in San Diego. Before resuming his duties, however, Crozier must complete a quarantine period. News of Crozier's diagnosis comes on the heels of a report claiming that the top US military commander and the most senior naval officer were opposed to Crozier's dismissal but were overruled by the Trump administration. General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Admiral Michael Gilday, the chief of naval operations, believed that the Navy should have allowed an investigation into the letter written by Crozier to run its course. Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Sunday backed Modly's decision to fire Crozier Defense Secretary Mark Esper initially sided with the officers, according to The Washington Post. Esper on Sunday defended Modly's decision to fire Crozier. 'I think acting Secretary Modly made a very tough decision - a decision that I support,' Esper told CNN on Sunday. 'It was based on his view that he had lost faith and confidence in the captain based on his actions. 'It's just another example (of) how we hold leaders accountable for their actions.' Esper was asked if the Trump administration moved too quickly to fire Crozier instead of allowing the military to complete its probe into the matter. The defense secretary replied that it was 'not unheard of' for the Navy to fire a senior officer before an internal investigation is complete. 'All the services at times relieve commanders without the benefit of an investigation up front because they have lost confidence in them,' Esper said. 'It's certainly not unique to the Navy. 'The Navy has a culture of swiftly and decisively removing captains if they lose confidence in them.' READ NAVY SECRETARY MODLY'S FULL SPEECH TO THE CREW OF THE TEDDY ROOSEVELT When I first hear you had COVID cases on here, I was actually planning on being here last Tuesday after I went to see the Mercy off in Los Angeles. So I want you to know that no one in my level has been ignoring the situation here from the very beginning. I reached out to your CO through my chief of staff very, very early on in this crisis. On Sunday, I told him that I wanted to come out to the ship and if it would be OK or if it would be too disruptive. I told him that because I wanted to be able to help, if there was anything else he needed as this massive effort was under way, to get you guys healthy and clean and safe. He waved me off. He said he felt like things were under control. He had been concerned a day or so before that things werent moving quickly but things He still wanted to get more beds. But he didnt think it was necessary. He also talked to my chief of staff and emailed back and forth with him. On Sunday night he sent that email and that email went out to a broad audience of people. I know that I mention that it was over 20. We believe it was forward to far more, even more than that. And immediately it was picked up by the San Francisco Chronicle which published sensitive information about the material condition of a naval war ship. If he didnt think, in my opinion, that this information wasnt going to get out into the public, in this day and information age that we live in, then he was either too naive or too stupid to be a commanding officer of a ship like this. [A voice is heard saying loudly What the f***?] The alternative is that he did this on purpose, and thats a serious violation of the Unitary Code of Military Justice which you are all familiar with. That message and all the contents of that message was perfectly fine for him to send to people in his chain of command in a confidential way so that they could get acting on it. He in fact could have given it to me, through my chief of staff, or to me, as I asked him to do when I first reached out to him on the ship when we first found out that there were COVID cases here. He was a betrayal of trust with me, with his chain of command, with you, with the 800 to 1,000 people who, with your shipmates on shore right now, busting their asses every day to do what they need to do to convert what they do in a normal day to get you guys off of here, get you safe, get you healthy, get you clean and get you back on this ship where you are supposed to be. It was betrayal and I can tell you one other thing. Because he did that, he put it in the public form and its now become a big controversy in Washington D.C. and across the country, about a martyr CO who wasnt getting the help he needed and therefore had to go through the chain of command, a chain of command which includes the media. And Im gonna tell you something, all of you, there is never a situation where you should consider the media as a part of your chain of command. You can jump the chain of command if you want and take the consequences, you can disobey the chain of command and take the consequences, but there is no, no situation where you go to the media, because the media has an agenda, and the agenda that they have depends on which side of the political aisle they sit. Im sorry thats the way the country is now but its the truth and so they use it to divide us and use it to embarrass the Navy. They use it to embarrass you. While youre out here dealing with something that this country hasnt had to deal with in over 100 years, and the world hasnt ever dealt with anything like this on this scale. The American people believe in you and they think that of all the people in the world that can keep their s**t together in something like this, its the United States Navy and our sailors. And theyre stressed. They may be stressed and they may be tired. They may be scared but theyre keeping their s**t together and theyre taking care of each other and theyre taking care of the people on the shore who are busting their a** to get people off this ship. Theyre not taking shots at them. Theyre asking how can we help them, what can we do. How can I help the E-3 that works for me? Im an E-4. Im concerned. What do I do to help the E-2s and E-3s om this ship? Thats your duty. Not to complain. Everyones scared about this thing, and let me tell you something. If this ship was in combat and there were hypersonic missiles coming at it, youd be pretty f***ing scared too. But youd do your jobs. And thats what I expect you to. And thats what I expect every officer on this ship to do, is to do your jobs. One of the things about his email that bothered me the most was saying that we are not at war, that we arent technically at war. But let me tell you something. The only reason we are dealing with this right now is a big authoritarian regime called China was not forthcoming about what was happening with this virus, and they put the world at risk to protect themselves and to protect their reputations. We dont do that in the Navy. We are transparent with each other, using the proper channels with each other, and thats what we are supposed to do and what were expected to do. Ive got your list of questions. Ive very, very thankful to have gotten them. I know theyre all sincere. I dont think there is an agenda in any of these. But theres a lot of them and Im gonna answer every single one of them. But Ive got to do it respectfully, and Ive got to take some time so you understand all the nuances of the questions you are asking, and theres a lot of them here. So rather than answer them all today, Im gonna taken them back with me to Washington and Im going to answer them. And let me say one other thing. Everything that Im telling you right now, I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever throw you guys under the bus in Washington or anywhere else in the media, anywhere else. And I dont expect you ever to do that to your shipmates either, the ones on the shore right now who told me when Captain Croziers email made it to the San Francisco Chronicle after working 15-hour days, they were demoralized because they knew what they had bene doing for you guys since the 25th of March to get you guys what you need. And the other thing you need to understand is that we are in Guam. Its a U.S. territory but they have their own government and their own healthcare problems and theyre scared too, just like every other part of the world. And the governor of Guam has stuck her neck out big time with their own population to say that she is willing to open up hotel rooms all over this country or this state, this territory so that sailors from the USS Teddy Roosevelt can go and be safe. Because she believes that you all are her brothers and sisters, who are protecting this place for her citizens, so shes willing to put all that at risk to take care of you guys. And she told me today that when Captain Croziers letter came out to the public, she then had to deal with them, all her constituents, who are saying: Holy c**p, whats happening? Were going to have 5,000 people with COVI in our city without proper health care and everything else So think about that when you cheer the man off the ship who exposed you to that. I understand you love the guy. Its good that you love the guy. But youre not required to love him. I want to share something with you that I read at the Navy Academy graduation in 2018. I said it to the graduating class, but Ive expanded it a little. As officers and sailors of the United States military, you are given tremendous responsibility to respect and protect those who are placed under your command. The American people entrust you with their sons and daughters. And they place their security and the security of our nation in your hands. Do not expect to be loved by everyone for this, even though it may happen. As Secretary Mattis, my former boss, was fond of saying to us who were so honoured to work for with in the Pentagon he said your job is to protect the nation. So Im gonna give you a little bit of advice to make this important, and often difficult, job far easier on yourselves. My best advice to you is dont ever be, dont every worry, about being loved for what you do. Rather, love the country you are asked to defend. Love the constitution you pledge your life to protect. And most importantly, love the people you are ordered to lead. Make sure they eat before you do, care about their families as much as your own, be invested in their success far more than your own accomplishments. Nurture their careers more than you pursue your own advancement and value their lives to the point that you will always consider their safety in every single decision you make. Its only through this level of servant-leadership that you will maximize and empower those you lead to meet the demands that will face us in this century. And those demands are getting more complicated every day as were all learning. But its also going to incur incredible personal satisfaction during your time of service. Crew of the Teddy Roosevelt, you are under no obligation to love your leadership, only to respect it. You are under no obligation to like your job, only to do it. You are under no obligation you are under no obligation to expect anything from your leaders other than they will treaty you fairly and put the mission of the ship first, because it is the mission sof the ship that matters. You all know this, but in my view, your captain lost sight of this and he compromised critical information about your status intentionally to draw greater attention to your situation. That was my judgment and I judged that it could not be tolerated of the commanding officer of a nuclear [powered] aircraft carrier. This put you at great risk, even though I am certain that he never thought it would. I am certain that he loved you all, as he should, but he lost sight of why the Teddy Roosevelt exists and why fate brought you all here together in the middle of this COVID crisis. Your nation back home is struggling. No-one expected this pandemic so we are all working our way through it. Your fellow sailors in the states are volunteering, putting on uniforms and running into the fire in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and New Orleans. Ive seen them: no fear, running right into COVID. Nothing is easy. Is this for anything? But from the very beginning, we have been engaged from my level down to bring you the help that you need as fast as we possibly could. Understand it takes time to flex up for a crisis this unique. Teddy Roosevelt has to stand strong as warriors, not weak like victims. The Teddy Roosevelt has to work its way through this with grace, not panic. The Teddy Roosevelt has to demonstrate to the citizens back home that it has its act together and that its knocking down this virus just like it would knock down the Chinese or the North Koreans or the Russians if any of those nations were ever so stupid to mess with the big stick because they thought she was vulnerable. I cannot control or attempt to change whatever anger you have for me for relieving your beloved CO. If I could offer you a glimpse of the level of hatred and pure evil that has been thrown my way, my familys way over this decision, I would. But its not about me. The former vice-president of the United States, Joe Biden, suggested just yesterday that my decision was criminal. I assure you that it was not, because I understand the facts and what those facts show was that what your captain did was very, very wrong in a moment when we expected him to be the calming force on a turbulent sea. There were very little upside in this decision for me. You can believe that or not. I made a decision for the Navy I love, for the Navy I served in, and now serve for, and mostly for the sailors I am responsible for, not just here, but on nearly 300 other ships in the fleet. Your captains actions had implications for them too. Imagine if every other commanding officer also believed the media was a proper channel to air grievances with their chain of command under difficult circumstances: we would no longer have a Navy. Not long after that we would no longer have a country. Still I understand that you may be angry with me for the rest of your lives. I guarantee that you wont be along. Being angry is not your duty. Your duty is to each other, to this ship, and to the nation that built it for you to protect them. Even in the midst of unexpected crisis, it is the missions of this ship that matters. Our adversaries are watching and that is why we are here. We will get you the help that you need. You have my personal word on it. The commanding officer had my personal word, from day one. Whatever else you may think of me, I dont go back on my word. And when it comes to the Teddy Roosevelt, whether you hate me or not, I will never, ever, ever, ever give up the ship. And neither should you. Thanks for listening and Ill get the detailed answers to your questions to you sometime this week. Go Navy. Advertisement By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state on Sunday reported eight new COVID-19 cases as the total number of confirmed cases went up to 314. The fresh cases were reported from Kozhikode (five), Pathanamthitta, Kannur and Kasaragod (one each). Of the Kozhikode cases, four had attended the Tablighi Jamaat while the other had returned from Dubai. Thus the total number of Nizamuddin returnees who tested positive rose to 10. Six people recovered in the state on Sunday. The infected person in Pathanamthitta had returned from Delhi whereas those from Kannur and Kasaragod contracted the virus through local contact, said a statement from the health ministers office. Meanwhile, the state government on Sunday sent a 26-member team from the Medical College Hospital (MCH) in Thiruvananthapuram to convert the Kasaragod MCH into a Covid centre. Kasaragod is the worst-hit district. It now has 119 active cases. The Covid hospital, which will come up in the administrative block of the MCH in Kasaragod, will have a 200-bed isolation ward and 20 intensive care units. A team led by Thiruvananthapuram MCH ICU Deputy Superintendent Dr S S Santhosh Kumar will train the staff there, said an official. The total number of people under observation in the state is 1,58,617. Of them, 1,57,841 are under quarantine in their homes and 776 in different hospitals. Advertisement President Donald Trump stopped Dr. Tony Fauci from answering a question about the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in treating the coronavirus as he tried to push a more hopeful message about the pandemic. Trump has promoted use of the drug to treat coronavirus, after unproven evidence in other countries that it might help. He has even said he'd consider taking hydroxychloroquine himself. But when reporters tried to get the opinion of Dr Fauci - who has previously warned against seeing the malaria medication as a wonder drug - Trump stepped in and stopped the question. The president started his daily press briefing on a hopeful note, saying there was a 'light at the end of the tunnel' in the coming days - a marked contrast to his surgeon general who warned earlier Sunday that 'the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans' lives' was coming up in the battle against the coronavirus. Trump's message was different. 'We're starting to see light at the end of the tunnel. And hopefully in the not-too-distant future we'll be very proud of the job we all did,' he said. President Donald Trump stopped Dr. Tony Fauci from answering a question about the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in treating the coronavirus President Trump has pushed the drug as a way to prevent coronavirus but Dr. Tony Fauci has warned it's not a 'knockout drug' He conceded America was in for a tough week, but went on to add that just meant things were about to get better. 'I think we all know we have to reach a certain point, and that point is going to be a horrific point in terms of death, but it's also a point at which things are going to start changing. We're getting very close to that level right now, and the next week and a half, two weeks are going to be - I think they are going to be very difficult,' he said. But his tone grew more brisk as he was questioned on the anti-malaria drug he's advocated as a barrier against the highly contagious disease. Fauci, meanwhile, has warned Americans not to consider it a 'knock out' drug when it comes to the coronavirus. But Trump stopped Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, from answering a question about using hydroxychloroquine to treat the coronavirus during Sunday's briefing. 'You know how many times he's answered that question: 15 times,' Trump told CNN reporter Jeremy Diamond, who tried to question Fauci. 'You don't have to answer that question,' the president told the doctor. And then he turned back to Diamond. 'He's answered that question 15 times.' Fauci told Fox News on Friday that people should take care with the anti-malarial, which has many side effects. 'Weve got to be careful that we dont make that majestic leap to assume that this is a knockout drug. We still need to do the kinds of studies that definitely prove whether any intervention is truly safe and effective,' he told 'Fox & Friends' on Friday. Hydroxychloroquine is primarily used to treat lupus and arthritis. The president announced Sunday the government has purchased and stockpiled 29 million doses of the hydroxychloroquine to send to hot spot areas of the country battling the virus. 'I want people to live and I'm seeing people dying,' he explained Sunday about why he continually touts the drug, which scientists say has not gone under enough testing in regards to the coronavirus. 'I've seen people that are going to die without it, and you know the expression, when that's happening, they should do it. What really do we have to lose? We also have this medicine's been tested for many years for malaria and for lupus, so it's been out there. It is a very strong powerful medicine, but it doesn't kill people,' the president said. 'But what do I know? Im not a doctor,' Trump conceded. 'I'm not acting as a doctor. I'm saying, do what you want.' The president also argued there isn't time to conduct in-depth studies on hydroxychloroquine's effect on the coronavirus. 'I would love to go to a laboratory and spend a couple of years testing something. We don't have time. We don't have two hours because there are people dying right now,' he said. The president grew testy when he was repeatedly questioned about why he pushed a drug medical experts have warned lacks enough information to use for treatment. 'I want them to try it. It may work. It may not work, but if it doesn't work, it's nothing lost by doing it, nothing because we know long-term - what I want, I want to save lives. I don't want it to be in a lab for the next year and a half as people are dying all over the place,' Trump said. He also argued he wasn't promoting the drug even as he mentioned it repeatedly and bragged about how many doses of it the government purchased to combat the coronavirus. 'I'm not,' he said, when asked why he promoted the drug. 'I'm not at all.' And he repeated his willingness to take it himself. 'I would be very serious about taking it,' he said. Hydroxychloroquine is currently used to treat Malaria and also Lupus and comes with a laundry list of side effects President Trump lectured a CNN reporter who asked Dr. Fauci to weigh in about using the anti-malarial as a preventative for the coronavirus Dr. Anthony Fauci sat on the steps of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building before heading to the White House ahead of Sunday's briefing; he told reporters he was on a conference call and enjoying the nice Washington D.C. weather Hydroxychloroquine itself can't be used by all Americans. It has a laundry list of side effects including slowing the heartbeat, arm, leg and back pain, symptoms of heart failure, hair loss, worsening of skin conditions, stomach and abdominal pain. The mental health side effects alone include anxiety, depression, rare thoughts of suicide and hallucinations. Last week, the FDA issued emergency authorization for the use of the anti-malarial drug for some coronavirus patients. Fauci and White House trade advisor Peter Navarro had a heated exchange on the drug during Saturday's coronavirus task force meeting at the White House, Axios reported. Trump tasked Navarro with purchasing supplies to combat the coronavirus and, in that meeting, the trade adviser defended his purchase of hydroxychloroquine at that meeting. Fauci pushed back against Navarro, saying that there was only anecdotal evidence that it works against the coronavirus, Axios reported. Medical officials have questioned why studies in France and China on the drug have not included a control group to measure its effectiveness. Some close friends of Trump are also advocating the drug to the president. Rudy Giuliani, the president's personal attorney, has talked to Trump about it, The Washington Post reported. 'I discussed it with the president after he talked about it,' Giuliani told the newspaper. 'I told him what I had on the drugs.' And Fox News host Sean Hannity has repeatedly touted the drug as a treatment for coronavirus. Orthodox Jewish men move a wooden casket from a hearse at a funeral home in the Borough Park neighborhood which has seen an upsurge of (COVID-19) patients during the pandemic In the briefing, Trump also defended his sounding a hopeful note about the battle against the virus even as Surgeon General Jerome Adams warned of a tough week ahead in the fight against the coronavirus. 'I see light at the end of the tunnel. I think indications are some of the numbers coming out today. I think we had a very good meeting today and we are seeing things we don't even report because it's too early to report. They think we are seeing things happen that are very good and we also know, all of us including the medical professions, we have to open our country up,' the president said. Adams had a different message when he made the rounds of the Sunday morning talk shows. 'This is going to be the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans' lives, quite frankly,' Adams told Fox News Sunday. 'This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment only it's not going to be localized, it's going to be happening all over the country. And I want America to understand that,' he continued in his warning to Americans. Fauci, at Sunday evening's White House briefing, stepped in to explain how Trump's words weren't really contradictory. 'It seems to be inherited contradictory but it really isn't,' he said. 'It has to do with what we explained before about the lag and when you look at the indications that they were talking about, when you see a flattening out of cases and you don't see the realization of what that means until two weeks later. So right now we are seeing, as we all said, correctly that this is probably going to be really bad week. That is a reflection of what happened to a half weeks ago so if we start seeing a flattening or stabilization of cases, what you are hearing about, potential light at the end of the tunnel doesn't take away from the fact that tomorrow or the next day it's going to look really bad,' he said. He added it was important to keep the lag time in the reporting of the numbers in mind. 'We've gotta make sure. We're always talking about a two and half week lag so I wanted to make sure,' he noted. Coronavirus peak death rate will strike U.S. in 11 days when 2,644 people will die in 24 hours as shocking graphs reveal grim state-by-state breakdown of when hospitals will be overwhelmed and how many will die Shocking graphs have revealed the United States is still 11 days away from its coronavirus peak when it is predicted 2,644 people will die in 24 hours across the nation. The stark new model - created by researchers from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics - also shows the country is also 10 days from its peak resource use, when 262,092 hospital beds will be needed. That is 87,674 less than the number of beds the U.S. has to its disposal, the predictions show. A staggering 39,727 ICU beds will be required; the estimated shortage of these will be 19,863, it adds. Researchers also warn 100,000 Americans will die by August 4. Previous White House predictions have put the figure between 100,000 and 240,000 deaths in the US if the nation continues on its trajectory and current social distancing guidelines are maintained. The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics's model details a grim state-by-state breakdown of when hospitals will be overwhelmed and how many will die. Shocking graphs have revealed the United States is still 11 days away from its coronavirus peak when it is predicted 2,644 people will die in 24 hours across the nation Researchers also warn 100,000 Americans will die by August 4, pictured. Previous White House predictions have put the figure between 100,000 and 240,000 deaths in the US if the nation continues on its trajectory and current social distancing guidelines are maintained The stark new model - created by researchers from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics - also shows the country is also 10 days from its peak resource use, when 262,092 hospital beds will be needed The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics's model details a grim state-by-state breakdown of when hospitals will be overwhelmed and how many will die. The figures for all beds are shown The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics's model details a grim state-by-state breakdown of when hospitals will be overwhelmed and how many will die. The figures for all ICU beds are shown The team warns that the protections for each state is assuming that social distancing measures are maintained, such as people staying home and nursing homes barring visitors It allows users to search predictions for any state, not only shows deaths but the demand for hospital services in each state, including the availability of ventilators, general hospital beds, and ICU beds. The team warns that the protections for each state is assuming that social distancing measures are maintained, such as people staying home and nursing homes barring visitors. It shows New York - which continues to bear the brunt as the epicenter of the outbreak in the US - will reach its peak in five days with 855 deaths on April 10. It will need more than 76,000 beds a day before. More than 16,000 people will die by August 4 in New York, the graphs show. But as the nation looks on in despair at the Empire State, others are fast on track to become the new deadly hotspots. The figures for Illinois make for particularly grim reading. COVID-19 deaths there are expected to hit 3,386 by August 4 with the state's peak in 15 days when an estimated 109 people will die in 24 hours. In Florida, the state's peak is expected on May 4, with 175 deaths over a 24-hour period. The model shows Michigan will hit its peak in six days, when 173 deaths are predicted on April 11. The US death toll skyrocketed to 9,662 Sunday and the number of cases surged to 337,915 Americans infected by the killer virus. It shows New York - which continues to bear the brunt as the epicenter of the outbreak in the US - will reach its peak in five days with 855 deaths on April 10. It will need more than 76,000 beds a day before In Florida the state's peak is expected on May 4, with 175 deaths over a 24 hour period In Georgia the state's peak is expected on April 25, with 96 deaths over a 24 hour period In Illinois the state's peak is expected on April 20, with 109 deaths over a 24 hour period Louisiana has become a key concern as it reported a jump in deaths to 409 on Saturday. The graphs show the state will reach its peak in five days, with 76 COVID-19 deaths projected on April 10. More than 1,800 people are predicted to die there by August 4. The Gulf state's largest city, New Orleans, where Mardi Gras celebrations in late February are believed to have helped spread the virus before social distancing orders were imposed, has become a focal point of the health crisis. Patients in New Orleans are dying at twice the rate per capita as in New York. Louisiana Governor John Edwards said he spoke with Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday - and that he had been promised an additional 200 ventilators from the national stockpile. California is projected to see 119 COVID-19 deaths on April 26, its predicted peak; 5,068 deaths are projected by August 4. Washington state, the first epicenter of the outbreak in the US, is predicted to see its peak of the virus in 4 days and experts say nearly 1,000 people could die there by August 4. In Louisiana the state's peak is expected on April 10, with 76 deaths over a 24-hour period In Michigan the state's peak is expected on April 11, with 173 deaths over a 24-hour period In New Jersey the state's peak is expected on April 9, with 104 deaths over a 24-hour period Massachusetts is expected to see its peak in 12 days and more than 2,300 deaths by August 4. New Jersey will peak in four days; Georgia in 20. Dr Ali Mokdad, a professor of Health Metrics Sciences at IHME, explained that the model used mortality rates because when researchers began working on it, the numbers of those tested for the virus were low. 'There wasn't enough capacity for testing so we didn't know how many people are positive,' he told DailyMail.com. '[The graphs] remind us that staying home is very helpful,' Dr Mokdad said. 'It will makes lives on our physicians much easier. We don;t want them to decide which patients are on a ventilator and which aren't as we've seen in other countries, like Italy.' In Washington the state's peak is expected on April 9, with 22 deaths over a 24-hour period Lagos State Government is to prosecute all those who attended Saturdays birthday party hosted by Nollywood star, Funke Akindele. The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN)), said on Monday that they would be prosecuted for flouting social distancing regulation of the state He made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) shortly after an Ikeja chief magistrates court convicted and sentenced Mrs Akindele and her husband for flouting the regulation. NAN reports that Chief Magistrate Yewande Aje-Afunwa sentenced Akindele and her husband to 14 days community service, each. Mrs Aje-Afunwa also imposed N100,000 fine on each of them, directing that they should be isolated for 14 days. The attorney-general said efforts were being intensified to arrest all those who attended the party held on Amen Estate in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos. He said all the attendees will be made to face the full wrath of the law. Once they are apprehended, they will face charges. Today, the state charged two people to court for violating the Infection Disease Regulation of Lagos State Government. They pleaded guilty and the court has sentenced them to pay a fine of N100, 000 each, to observe community service for 14 days and to be kept in isolation in a place to be decided by the Lagos State Ministry of Health, he said. Mr Onigbajo noted that the movement restriction was put in place to protect the lives of the residents. Everybody is urged to familiarise themselves with this law and to comply with it; otherwise, the long arm of government will reach out to them sooner than later. This sentence should serve as a deterrent to everybody, nobody is bigger than the law, he said. Mrs Aje-Afunwa, while sentencing the couple, had ordered that they should provide the personal details of the attendees of the party. Each defendant shall provide the names, addresses and GSM numbers of every person who attended the party within 24 hours, she said. Mrs Akindele was arrested by the police on April 5 for flouting the social distancing regulation of the Lagos State Government. READ ALSO: The actress had on April 4 hosted many people including Azeez Fashola (alias Naira Marley) to her husbands 43rd birthday party at their residence located at Amen Estate, Eleko Beach Road, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos. Videos of the party were posted and circulated on social media platforms. The police said efforts are ongoing to arrest Naira Marley and other persons featured in the video. (NAN) An eminent Indian-American attorney and survivor of COVID-19 wants China to tell the deadly pathogen's "raw truth" to the world so that scientists and doctors could find its cure, saying nobody will go out until a vaccine is available. New York has emerged as the epicenter of coronavirus in the US. By Sunday, more than 1.2 lakh people have tested positive for COVID-19. The city has reported more than 4,150 fatalities, the highest in the US and more than China, from where it all started in November-December time frame last year. "I wish for humanity to survive this deceptively friendly coronavirus. I expect China to tell all - the raw truth - so every nations' scientists and doctors, not just our hero Dr Anthony Fauci can use 'open source' data and find a vaccine as soon as possible," said New York-based attorney Ravi Batra, who and his family recently recovered from COVID-19 which has killed nearly 70,000 globally. "Having talked to death, I feel energised to do good as never before," he said. Along with him, his wife Ranju and daughter Angela tested positive. "Until a vaccine is available, nobody is going out to work, play or go to school. The economy, national, regional and global we knew is dead, it's not coming back," he told PTI. Earlier this week, he engaged in a Twitter war with China's ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun. "Thanks to the joy of seeing Ranju and Angela daily, spending whatever waking time together, accepting dearest (Union Minister) Hardeep's (Singh Puri) daily booster call, and the tsunami of prayers - we are alive today. President Donald Trump was right: with this lockdown, people will discover their family again. A New Yorker, which is the hub of global activities, Batra now has doubts over the continuation of globalisation in its current format. "We are going to see global supply lines become domestic. Ricardo's 'Comparative Advantage' principle is dead in these pandemic days. Our ventilators have parts made all over the world. This will stop. We will make our ventilators and N95 masks in the good ole USA. "Export-based economies will shudder. Globalisation is the OBOR for pandemics and that too must be disrupted for public health reasons," he said. The One Belt One Road (OBOR) is a pet project of Chinese President Xi Jinping, focussing on improving connectivity and cooperation among Asian countries, Africa, China and Europe. "Let honour and humility, not greed and arrogance, define the brave new world after coronavirus is whipped, even as our casualties will be enormous during this near-Biblical war with Mother Nature," Batra said. Not aware of when he got infected with coronavirus, Batra said all he knows is that on March 14 he not only had fever, but a strange feeling in body. On March 20, he received report saying they all tested positive. The doctor prescribed him Plaquenil, and Zpak for all three of them. "During the 104.3 fever days, when I was on fire and was putting ice cubes in my eyeballs, head and wrists to cool my blood, I rejected Ranju's calls to go to the hospital - as I knew our home was cleaner and had fresh air from Long Island Sound. These fire days lasted 2-3 days, and I was richly aware that death was waiting outside my door for me," he said, adding that after sixteen days, he hit 98.6 degrees and became fever free. "Since then, we've continued to remain in quarantine and self isolation; which means we sleep in separate bedrooms and have separate individual bathrooms. "Even when we sit around the dining table for meals, we maintain social distance of 6-10 feet," Batra added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison on Monday and discussed strategies they adopted to contain coronavirus. During their phone call, the two leaders agreed on the importance of bilateral experience-sharing to ward off this crisis. Prime Minister Modi conveyed that India stands ready to provide necessary facilitation and support to any Australian citizen stranded in the country due to lockdown to contain coronavirus, which has infected over 4,000 people in India. Meanwhile, Morrison also assured that the Indian community in Australia would also continue to be valued as a vibrant part of Australian society. The pathogen, which has spread across continents and territories, has infected at least 1.2 million and killed close to 70,000 others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Qantas is in talks with the federal government about emergency flights to pick up Australians stranded in India, despite thousands baulking at the expected $3000-plus cost of a ticket home. While the India flights are yet to be locked in, two more flights have been arranged with Latam Airlines on Wednesday to rescue hundreds of Australians trapped in South America. Qantas is in discussions with the Australian government about running rescue flights out of India. Credit:AAP A recent survey by the Australian high commission in India found just 4 per cent of more than 3100 respondents were willing to pay more than $3000 for a flight home. An email sent to Australians in India by the high commission said evacuation planning had been complicated by the cost of flights and the fact some airlines, such as Air India, had indicated they couldn't conduct repatriation flights to Australia. After roughing it at Phuket crematorium building, stranded Russian tourists moved to resort PHUKET: Three Russian tourists who had been sleeping in an open-air building next to the crematorium at Wat Mai Khao for more than a week as they had been unable to board any flights home have been moved to a resort at Nai Yang Beach. COVID-19CoronavirustourismRussianhealthtransport By Eakkapop Thongtub Monday 6 April 2020, 05:18PM Phuket Vice Governor Supoj (right) visited the three Russian tourists at the temple building yesterday (apr 5). Photo: Winai Sae-iew The three Russian tourists had been sleeping in the open-air building since Mar 25. Photo: Winai Sae-iew The three Russian tourists had been sleeping in the open-air building since Mar 25. Photo: Winai Sae-iew The three Russian tourists had been sleeping in the open-air building since Mar 25. Photo: Winai Sae-iew The three Russian tourists had been sleeping in the open-air building (left) since Mar 25. Photo: Winai Sae-iew The three Russian tourists had been sleeping in the open-air building since Mar 25. Photo: Winai Sae-iew The owners of the resort will provide free accommodation and free meals until a plane from Russia arrives, said Phuket Vice Governor Supoj Rotreuang Na Nongkhai, who visited the Russian trio Nikolai Sharov, 28; Sofia Sharova, 23; and Aleksei Galievi, 30 at the temple yesterday (Apr 5). The Russian government may send a plane to pick up Russian nationals who need to get home, but at this time the exact date and time are not yet known, he added. Also present at the temple to speak with the three Russians yesterday were Maj Ekkachai Siri of the Phuket Tourist Police and Winai Sae-iew, Village Headman (Phu Yai Baan) of Moo 4, Mai Khao. Mr Winai explained that he first learned that the three tourists were staying at the temple building on Mar 25, after he went to investigate reports by local villagers of noises coming from the building. At first local villagers thought they were ghosts, he said. The tourists explained that their flight home was cancelled and that they were waiting for their ticket refunds. They had already informed the Russian embassy of their predicament, but in the meantime they had no money to pay for another flight home or to pay for any accommodation, Mr Winai explained. Our officials checked their temperatures, and none of them had a fever. They are all healthy, Mr Winai said. I also gave them masks and offered them to move to another building, but they declined saying they were fine where they were, he added. Mr Winai continued to check on the three tourists, while news of their predicament made its way to the upper echelons of provincial administration and to leading tourism officials. Mr Winai himself reported the situation to the Phuket Tourist Police. Meanwhile, feeling sorry for the tourists, local residents living around the temple brought the three Russian fruit and other food to eat. All three of the tourists expressed their deep gratitude to the generous Thai spirit. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket Office Director of Napasorn Kakai yesterday became aware of the Russians situation. I asked relevant officials to check the area for where the foreigners could stay, and I asked for health officials check all three of the tourists for COVID-19 just to be sure, she said. I have also asked for local officials to coordinate with the [Russian] embassy to provide assistance, she added. Please, any tourists who need assistance, contact your embassy, Ms Napasorn said. Additional reporting by Tanyaluk Sakoot Theres now a face to go with an abhorrent alleged act in a Pa. supermarket amid the coronavirus. This after police in Allegheny County released surveillance images of a man accused of spitting in the face of a Giant Eagle supermarket manager last week, KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh is reporting. Police near Pittsburgh are asking anyone who may know the suspect to contact them with information. The contact info is Allegheny County Police at 1-833-255-8477. READ MORE: The alleged spitting incident stems from a disagreement over a money order last Wednesday morning, as KDKA reports: Police say the customer submitted a $50 money order but told the cashier he spent $100. The cashier did an audit, confirming it was a $50 money order and even calling in the store manager. None of it was good enough for the customer, who allegedly became spitting mad, according to KDKA, writing: The suspect allegedly became upset and started threatening and yelling at the customer service associate. When the manager walked over to settle the verbal dispute, the suspect allegedly cocked his head under the plexiglass divider, spit in the managers face and walked out of the store. The suspect was seen in surveillance photos wearing a black and white army fatigue hoodie. The male suspect was described by police as a black male with a slender build and some facial hair. In a statement released to the media, Giant Eagle thanked the team member involved in the incident -- and all employees -- for putting communities first during the coronavirus outbreak: We thank our Edgewood Giant Eagle Team Member, and all Giant Eagle, Market District and GetGo Team Members, for continuing to put their communities first during this unprecedented and uncertain time. How this Edgewood guest acted is wholly unacceptable, and his actions do not reflect the calm, positive and appreciative attitude of so many of those shopping in our stores. We support the efforts of local law enforcement to take every action to ensure that this individual answers for his careless and disrespectful behavior, and are working closely with our affected Team Member to provide the care she needs and deserves. READ MORE: Coronavirus hits Pa. zoo with flock of furloughs Pa. woman, victim of revenge porn, goes public to shatter stigma: Do not suffer in silence Pa. man who admitted sex with 8-year-old now faces 200 felonies for sex with 2nd girl 40 times': police Pa. bar accused of pouring drinks despite coronavirus closing orders loses liquor license Painful purchase: Pentagon to buy 100K body bags for civilian use as coronavirus deaths mount Pa. teen accused of crashing college party, robbing 4 students at gunpoint is charged as adult Pa. man distraught over losing job over coronavirus shoots girlfriend, himself: I talked to God and I have to do this Shots fired at Pa. Sheetz after man coughs, doesnt cover mouth amid coronavirus epidemic: report Coronavirus closes Pa. Sheetz store as still-busy convenience stores become increasing target Coronavirus hits New Jersey Shore rentals as beach town bans Airbnb rentals during pandemic Free food give-away amid coronavirus causes this incredible Pa. traffic jam Pa. Walmart worker accosted, assaulted by 4 men: cops Michigan State Representative Says Hydroxychloroquine, Trump Helped Save Her Life A Democratic Michigan state representative said that the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and President Donald Trump helped save her life as she battled COVID-19. State Rep. Karen Whitsett said she tested positive for the CCP virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, and began taking hydroxychloroquine on March 31, which was prescribed by her doctor. Both Whitsett and her husband had sought to treat a number of virus-related symptoms on March 18, she told a local newspaper. Whitsett told the Detroit Free Press on April 6 that it took less than two hours before she started to experience relief from COVID-19, adding that she previously experienced swollen lymph nodes, shortness of breath, and sinus problems. In her interview, Whitsett said she may not have been prescribed the anti-malaria drug if Trump hadnt repeatedly mentioned it during press briefings. The president has touted the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in conjunction with the antibiotic azithromycin, although some health care professionals have said it could be a potentially dangerous combination. But despite the criticism of the drug, a number of hospitals across the United Statesincluding in hard-hit New York statehave prescribed hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19. Gov. Andrew Cuomo last month said health care providers in the state would use the drug in combination with the antibiotic Zithromax, or azithromycin, in some cases. It has a lot to do with the president bringing it up, Whitsett told the paper about the hydroxychloroquine treatment regimen. He is the only person who has the power to make it a priority. When a reporter from the Free Press asked her about whether she thinks Trump saved her life, she replied: Yes, I do, and I do thank him for that. Trump later posted the Free Press interview with Whitsett and wrote, So glad you are getting better! Congratulations to State Representative Karen Whitsett of Michigan. So glad you are getting better! https://t.co/v6z46rUDtg Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 6, 2020 Hydroxychloroquine has long been used to treat malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other conditions. However, the drug can lead to potentially deadly side effects, including fatal heart arrhythmia, hair loss, vision loss, vomiting, and more. Currently, there is no proven way to prevent COVID-19 after being exposed, said Anna Bershteyn, an assistant professor with the Department of Population Health at New York University, according to Fox News. Bershteyn, along with other researchers at NYU, is conducting a clinical trial on the effectiveness of the drug. If hydroxychloroquine provides protection, then it could be an essential tool for fighting this pandemic. If it doesnt, then people should avoid unnecessary risks from taking the drug, Bershteyn said. PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-06 17:15:28 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 710 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 6, 2020 / Stans Energy Corp. (TSXV:HRE)(OTC:HREEF) ("Stans" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Cooperation agreement with its Finance Providers to secure financing for the Award recognition and enforcement proceedings. This Agreement is an extension of the existing Litigation funding agreement of March 2018, and its main terms provide for the following:Stans assigns all its rights to title to and interest in the Award and the Costs Order (by the High Court of Justice of England) to the Finance Providers.Parties to the Cooperation agreement will cooperate in all matters pertaining to recognition and enforcement proceedings relating to the Award and the Costs Order.The Finance Providers bear full responsibility for all collection activities with respect to the Award and the Costs OrderIf the proceeds of the Award and the Costs Order are collected, then the Finance Providers shall pay the Stans an amount equal to US$500,000.Update on the Status of the Lobash-1 Gold-Copper ProjectThe initial review by Stans of the documentation of the Lobash-1 gold-copper project produced the following results:The current status of the Mine Licensing Agreement for the Lobash-1 property, held by the JSC "Promnedra-Regions", is being confirmed with the Russian State Sub-soil Agency.Since exploration began in 1980, 100 exploration drill holes totalling over 23,000 m of core have been completed on the Lobash-1 property. Of these, analytical results from core from 43 drill holes completed in 2009, were used to prepare mineral resource estimates for the property.The preliminary C2 Category mineral resource estimates of the Russian Federation Standard for the Lobash-1 property, as approved by the Russian State Reserves Committee in its report of February 17, 2010, are reported in the Company's Press Release of February 27, 2020.The mineral resource estimates for the Lobash-1 project are not NI 43-101 compliant and should not be relied upon.The Company is continuing its due diligence of the data including exploration and metallurgical test results, as well as the mineral resource estimates, while waiting for licensing issues to be cleared.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.About Stans EnergyStans Energy Corp. is a resource development company focused on advancing rare and specialty metals properties and processing technologies. Stans is now transitioning to become a supplier of materials and technologies that will assist in satisfying the future energy supply, storage and transmission needs of the world. Previously, the Company acquired, among other things, the right to mine the past producing rare earth mine, Kutessay II, in the Kyrgyz Republic. Due to the expropriation actions taken by the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Company proceeded with the international arbitration litigation to protect the Company's rights and in August 2019 won the Award for damages at over US$24,000,000 plus interest.We seek safe harbour.Contact DetailsRodney IrwinStans Energy CorpInterim President & CEOrodney@ stansenergy.com 647-426-1865Boris AryevStan Energy CorpChief Operating Officerboris@ stansenergy.com 647-426-1865FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This document includes forward-looking statements as well as historical information. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, use of proceeds from the Offering, the completion of the Offering, the continued advancement of the company's general business development, research development and the company's development of mineral exploration projects. When used in this press release, the words "will", "shall", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intent", "may", "project", "plan", "should" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. Although Stans Energy Corp. believes that their expectations reflected in these forward looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and no assurance can be given that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statement. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements include the potential that fluctuations in the marketplace for the sale of minerals, the inability to implement corporate strategies, the ability to obtain financing and other risks disclosed in our filings made with Canadian Securities Regulators.SOURCE: Stans Energy Corp. Partners Healthcares top officials informed doctors, nurses and other health care workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic in Massachusetts that they would not be receiving hazard pay. Dr. Anne Klibanski, the company president and CEO, and 12 hospital presidents sent a letter to staff expressing their gratitude to workers for providing exceptional patient care and for supporting each other. They also said the company will not offer hazard pay despite the widespread and severe impact of COVID-19. A core part of our mission is that we deliver the same high-quality care to all patients without regard to the type of severity of their condition. Similarly, we do not calibrate pay and benefits based on the patients condition and for this reason we do not offer hazard or crisis pay, they wrote. The notice also states that the company will offer pay and benefits for employees who cannot work due to a COVID-19-related illness and cover the cost of hotel rooms for those working in patient care who dont have time or energy to commute home in between shifts. We care deeply about all our employees and want to provide as much support as possible through this challenging time, the letter stated. The letter was signed by Klibanski and the presidents of the nonprofits hospitals in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Partners owns Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Brigham Health and Brigham and Womens Faulkner Hospital in Boston. The nonprofits network also includes Newton-Wellesley Hospital; Marthas Vineyard Hospital and Nantucket Cottage Hospital; McLean Hospital in Belmont; Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton; North Shore Medical Center and Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover, New Hampshire. The company did not respond to a request for comment. Klibanski became the first woman to serve as CEO and president for Partners in 2019, the Boston Globe reported. At the time, company officials said her base salary would be about $2 million a year, the same as her predecessor, Dr. David Torchiana. Hazard pay for workers on the front lines has been discussed as the number of COVID-19 cases rise nationwide. Several grocery stores and convenience stores started offering pay increases and bonuses to their employees because of the risk theyre taking by continuing to work. It is unclear whether other Boston-area hospitals have discussed or started offering hazard pay. Representatives at multiple Massachusetts medical networks did not immediately respond to inquiries. President Donald Trump said last week his administration is discussing higher wages for health care workers responding to the pandemic. Its something were discussing in terms of bonus or bonus pay, Trump said Wednesday night during a White House briefing. Theyre like warriors. Theyre like soldiers, and were going to be doing something for them." Sign up for free text messages about important updates on coronavirus in Massachusetts Related Content: Mumbai: Mumbai police has asked Tablighi Jamaat members who attended the Nizamuddin gathering in Delhi last month to approach the nearest police station or call on BMC helpline number 1916 as part of the efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The event, which had more than 9,000 participants, including from several foreign countries, is now being seen as a prime catalyst of the virus spread across states as many attendees have tested positive. The police, in a tweet, said. "We request all attendees of Tablighi Markaz at Nizamuddin, New Delhi to report their travel details on @mybmc helpline 1916 and help us in our fight against this pandemic." "Those failing to cooperate will face strict action under Indian Penal Code (IPC), Disaster Management Act and Epidemic Act. It is our request and your responsibility to report your travel details," it added. Deputy Commissioner of Police Pranay Ashok said the appeal was for everyone's health and safety, including members of the outfit. "We will take action if this dikat is not followed," he added. Jim Lovell is an ex-NASA astronaut who flew with the Gemini and Apollo missions. He's most famous for his role as commander of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission that so nearly ended in tragedy. At the time of the mission, Lovell had spent more time in space than anyone in the world, and in total, logged over 700 hours in space. In 1994, Lovell worked with journalist Jeffrey Kluger to write a book about Lovell's career and the Apollo 13 mission. The book, "Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13" (Houghton Mifflin, 1994), spurred the 1995 movie "Apollo 13," starring actor Tom Hanks. From aviator to astronaut Lovell was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1928. He developed an interest in rocket science as a high school student, and went on to study engineering at the University of Wisconsin, according to The National Aviation Hall of Fame (which he was inducted into in 1998). Lovell then attended the U.S. Naval Academy where he graduated with a bachelor of science degree in 1952. In 1958, Lovell graduated from the Navy's test pilot school and spent the next several years testing fighter aircraft and other jets before they were authorized for use by less experienced pilots. The Navy's test pilots were among the best aviators in the country, and as such, were prime candidates for NASA's astronaut program in the early 1960s. Related: Building Project Mercury: Test flight photos of NASA's first spaceship Lovell was selected as a potential astronaut candidate for Project Mercury but was turned down because of a temporary excess of a protein called bilirubin in his blood, which could have been indicative of a liver problem. When he protested NASA the response he received was, "I have five men out there who don't have a bilirubin problem, and 26 more on the way who probably don't," Lovell recounted in "Lost Moon." But he got a second chance when NASA began recruiting astronauts for the Gemini and Apollo programs, and Lovell was selected for the program in 1962. The Gemini 7 crew: Jim Lovell (l) and Frank Borman (r). (Image credit: NASA) Endurance and moon missions Lovell served as a backup for Gemini 4, before being assigned as one of two crew members on Gemini 7, which launched on Dec. 4, 1965. The Gemini 7 flight was an endurance mission in every sense of the word. Lovell and Frank Borman spent more than 330 hours (nearly two weeks) in a spacecraft about the size of a coat closet. The men carried out nearly 20 experiments and operated without their spacesuits on for the first time, according to NASA. They also successfully rendezvoused with Gemini 6A on Dec. 15, 1965 and the two spacecraft moved around in close proximity for a little over 5 hours. After 209 orbits around Earth, Gemini 7 returned home on Dec. 18, 1965. Astronauts Jim Lovell (leading), command pilot, and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, pilot, leave the suiting trailer at Launch Complex 16 during prelaunch countdown at Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Image credit: JSC/NASA) Lovell's next trip to space was as commander of Gemini 12, the last flight of Project Gemini. Lovell was accompanied by astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who completed three extravehicular activity operations during the mission. The two-man crew also successfully docked with the Agena target vehicle and performed several experiments, according to NASA. Related: Apollo 8: NASA's first crewed trip around the moon in pictures The next step for Lovell was the moon. Apollo 8 launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida on Dec. 21, 1968, with Borman as the commander, William Anders as the lunar module pilot and Lovell as the command module pilot. The mission completed its goal of going around the moon and back, according to NASA. It was the first time any human had journeyed so far, and the men were the first to see the far side of the moon. "On Apollo 8, we were on the dark side of the moon, which was 60 miles [97 kilometers] below us," Lovell told Chicago Magazine in a 2019 interview. "As we kept on going around, we suddenly saw the Earth coming into view 240,000 miles [386,000 km] away. I could put my thumb up to the window and everything I ever knew was behind it. Billions of people. Oceans. Mountains. Deserts." Related: Apollo 8 astronaut Jim Lovell looks back on a historic flight around the moon Lovell's crewmates each wrote farewell letters to their wives before the mission, just in case something happened and they didn't make it back home. But Lovell didn't write a letter, he told Chicago Magazine. "Instead, I went to Neiman Marcus and bought my wife a mink jacket. I had it delivered on Christmas Day with a note that said, 'To Marilyn: Merry Christmas from the man on the moon.'" The crew made six telecast appearances during their trip around the moon. Millions of people watched the astronauts deliver a Christmas address from space, in which they read passages from the Bible and described the view of space and Earth, unfurling beneath them. Apollo 8 returned to Earth on Dec. 27, 1968. Three astronauts rode aboard Apollo 8: James Lovell, William Anders and Cmdr. Frank Borman, shown here in a photograph taken a few months before their flight. (Image credit: NASA/MSFC) Apollo 13 Lovell's last mission was as commander of Apollo 13 in April 1970. He was joined by lunar module pilot Fred Haise, and command module pilot John "Jack" Swigert. Swigert was initially Apollo 13's backup command module pilot, but was asked to join the crew 48 hours before launch time after the original command module pilot, Ken Mattingly, was exposed to German measles. Apollo 13 was the third targeted moon landing. All appeared normal until the evening of April 13, when the astronauts were just a day away from landing on the moon. A stray spark ignited an oxygen tank within the command module, heavily damaging the spacecraft. Related: This stunning 4K video re-creates Apollo 13's perilous trip around the moon The three men huddled in the undamaged lunar module a spacecraft designed for two men to land on the moon for most of the next four days. To save energy, only the most essential systems were kept powered up. The men were cold, uncomfortable and dealing with a constant barrage of minor issues. But with the help of Mission Control, they arrived safely back on Earth on April 17, 1970. Life after NASA Lovell retired from NASA and the Navy in 1973. He went to work for Bay-Houston Towing Company and became the President and CEO in 1975. He later held executive and board member positions for various other companies before retiring in 1991. Lovell has received many awards and honors including the Collier, Harmon (three times) and Goddard trophies, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, NASA Distinguished Service Medal and most recently, the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, according to The National Aviation Hall of Fame. Related: 'I hope they take a camera': Astronaut Jim Lovell talks SpaceX moon mission In 1999, the Lovell family opened a restaurant in Lake Forest, Illinois called "Lovells of Lake Forest," which featured memorabilia from Lovell's time as an astronaut and the Apollo 13 movie. The restaurant saw success for many years but closed permanently in 2015. Now, at age 92, Lovell graciously provides interviews and participates in space outreach programs when he can. The 50th anniversary of Apollo 13 is April 11, 2020. Keep checking in with Space.com for updates about Apollo 13 events and celebrations around the world. Additional resources: Advertisement Sunny skies and crystal clear water have proved impossible to resist for thousands of residents across Sydney who ignored the coronavirus threat and flocked to their local beach on Monday morning. The popular Cronulla Beach Walk was packed with walkers and joggers throughout the morning, despite a regular presence of NSW Police officers to tell anyone who dared stop to chat that it was time to move on. Sitting at either end of a beachside park bench, John West and his friend Greg believed they were entitled to have their morning coffee out in the fresh air. But after being approached by a policewoman, the two men were soon on their way. 'We were told you have to be active, you're not allowed to just sit around and enjoy the fresh air,' Mr West told Daily Mail Australia. Thousands of Sydney locals flocked to beaches such as Cronulla (pictured) on Monday morning, putting sunny skies ahead of the threat of coronavirus NSW Police officers were out in force at Cronulla Beach in Sydney's south on Monday, ordering anyone who wasn't exercising to move on People are only allowed out and about for an essential reason such as exercise (pictured), medical attention or shopping for groceries One of the city's most famous beaches, Cronulla was as busy as usual on the first day of NSW school holidays despite strong social distancing restrictions Despite sitting the required 1.5 metres apart at either end of this park bench, John West (left) and his friend Greg (right) were politely told to move on by a NSW Police officer Police asked this couple to move on after they stopped their bike ride to have a rest and a coffee on a bench at Shelly Park 'She (the policewoman) was very polite and I think it's fair enough. Obviously the rules are terribly inconvenient but we are in a serious predicament.' A further 18 people received $1000 on-the-spot fines across NSW on Sunday, taking the total number of public infringement notices (PINs) to 85. By comparison, Victoria Police issued infringement notices 145 on Saturday alone for those ignoring distancing regulations or caught away from self-isolation. But most of those who got in some exercise on Monday adhered to the social distancing restrictions, giving a wide berth to other walkers or runners as they passed each other on the path. Among them were Peter, 83, and Cara Sigal, 81, who swim all year around down at the Shelly Beach ocean pools, to the south of the main Cronulla esplanade. With the pool closed they ventured down by the water for a brief walk and some fresh air, but said it would be their only outing for the day. 'We come down here and swim every day, even through winter, but it's closed at the minute so we're just going to do a little exercise,' Mrs Sigal said. 'We're in our 80s so we understand the danger and think the restrictions are appropriate, but we need to keep our fitness up and stay active. 'The only way it will be beaten is if we all stick to what we are being asked by the government.' But not all who were out and about were impressed by the restrictions, with one walker labeling them 'bulls**t'. 'To be frank, I think it's a load of bulls**t. The numbers at the minute just do not warrant these restrictions and I'm shocked by how many people are just buying into it,' a woman who wanted only to be known as Rosemary said. 'I think it's a complete over reaction. It can't go on for six months like they are talking about because people will not stay inside that long. 'I certainly won't stay inside that long and I'm not (now). I come out and do what I want to do and then go home. I might walk for two hours - I walk everyday anyway and have been doing for 20 years.' Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting that any of the people pictured were in breach of the law. The number of coronavirus cases rose to 5,750 on Monday morning, with 37 deaths directly linked to COVID-19. Two men aged 85 and 86 died from COVID-19 in New South Wales on Sunday, taking the state's death toll to 18. There are more than 5,700 confirmed coronavirus cases in Australia currently, with 37 deaths linked directly to the virus There was a spike in the number of deaths over the weekend, with two deaths on Sunday following four fatalities of men aged 61, 76, 80 and 91 - three of who were passengers on the doomed Ruby Princess cruise ship - on Saturday, all of them in NSW The Ruby Princes docked at Port Kembla near Wollongong, an hour south of Sydney, on Monday where the 200 members of its crew who have coronavirus symptoms can be treated 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 It followed the deaths of four men - aged 61, 76, 80 and 91 - in NSW on Saturday, three of who were passengers on the infected Ruby Princess cruise ship. There was an increase of just 57 cases in NSW - the undisputed epicentre of the virus in Australia - on Sunday, in a significant change to late-March when more than 400 new cases were being reported a day. While some are claiming social distancing rules are beginning to pay dividends, others point to fewer tests being carried out across Australia over the weekend. It comes after NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller announced a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the docking and disembarkation of passengers from the ill-fated cruise ship on March 19. The investigation - to be led by the NSW Police homicide squad - aims to identify how passengers were allowed to disembark the ship in Sydney, despite more than 100 allegedly showing common symptoms of coronavirus. A total of 622 COVID-19 cases and at least 11 deaths across the country are linked to the ship. The NSW government on Sunday urged young people to take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously, revealing more than a quarter of the state's current coronavirus cases are in people aged under 29. But despite the threat of $1000 fines for breaching social distancing guidelines, some locals on Sydney's northern beaches do not appear to be concerned. Beachgoers flocked to Sydney's Manly Beach to exercise and take in the sunrise as it is reopened on Monday morning, just a day after it was closed due to strict social distancing policies On Monday morning hundreds of people turned out in force to take advantage of the mild Autumn morning for a swim, exercise or catch-up with friends Beachgoers flocked to Sydney's Manly Beach on Monday morning to watch the sunrise despite the beach being closed on Sunday Beachgoers were pictured sunbathing and socialising - some ignoring the government's ban on public gatherings of more than two people Visitors to Manly Beach have come under fire over the past few weeks for an apparent disregard of the COVID-19 restrictions, escalating to a point where the beach was so busy on Sunday that it had to be closed by lifeguards. But the first day of the Easter school holidays again brought the crowds back with hundreds enjoying the sunrise by the water, again flouting social distancing guidelines - seemingly undeterred by the events of the previous day. CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement The three-kilometre strip in Sydney's northern beaches was finally closed to the public at 11am on Sunday by police after locals and visitors packed the beach for the third consecutive day. But less than 24 hours later, Northern Beaches Council declared the beach was open again for 'exercise only'. Photos showed locals sunbathing, surfing and enjoying their morning coffees in defiance of the government's ban on public gatherings of more than two people. 'It looks like it's the end of the footy with the amount of people right now at Manly Beach at the moment,' Manly resident Cecil told Triple M Sydney's Moonman in the Morning. 'I've been here a long time, and to me, it looks like there's more people now then there normally is. 'The one thing i find distributing is most of them are carrying takeaway coffee... it's like they're dying for their next cup. We can have takeaway coffee at home, we don't need to get it. What are we doing?' In NSW, police have issued dozens of on-the-spot $1,000 fines for breaches. But locals were seemingly unconcerned as they sat in groups and watched the sunrise on Monday - with some even complaining about losing their 'basic human right' to access the ocean water. Residents were seemingly unconcerned as they flouted the strict rules, sitting on the beach in groups and watching the sunrise together Swimmers took to the sand on Monday morning to bask in the Autumn sun just a day after the beach was closed to the public Some pictured on the sand at the popular northern beaches hotspot ignored the social distancing rule to keep 1.5 metres away from each another Surfers were spotted getting close in the water at Freshwater Beach on Sunday morning, as swimmers were told they weren't able to enter the water because the beach was closed 'This is ridiculous,' one person complained to the Northern Beaches Council. The man said his son was studying for his HSC, or final year exams in New South Wales, and occasionally jogged down to Manly Beach for a surf to 'clear his head'. 'Now I am truly worried about his mental well-being,' the father said. This is ridiculous... A Manly local on the social restrictions 'Thanks Northern Beaches Council. I thought you lot were at least using some common sense and acknowledging surfing as a form of exercise.' Another local agreed that restricting access to the surf would impact the mental and physical well-being of those who rely on it as a form of exercise. 'Fresh air and nature is a human right,' a Welshman living in the seaside suburb said. 'I find it ridiculous if we can't even go in the water. I work 40+ hours a week from my home, live 50 yards from Manly beach and surf for my physical and mental well-being, and train on the grass by the beach.' A spokesman for the Northern Beaches Council responded to dozens of complaints and questions from locals on its Facebook page on Sunday, ensuring the closures would be reassessed on a daily basis. 'Council's position is that beaches are closed only to swimming at this stage,' the spokesman told beachgoers. 'Walking and surfing is permitted within the rules of no gathering or hanging around. Manly is the exception for today, where police took the initiative to close the beach to surfers as well.' Police have the right to ban surfing and gathering at the beach again at any point if people continue to ignore social distancing measures. Manly Beach was closed on Sunday after repeated efforts to encourage beachgoers to practice safe social distancing The walking track from Curl Curl to Manly has been busy with people milling around despite calls from the government to practice safe social distancing. Authorities were disappointed with large crowds gathered on Friday (pictured) and Saturday Police, lifeguards and council rangers (pictured) approaches groups of people to enforce social distancing measures Sex workers in France on Monday asked the government for an emergency fund to compensate them for lost income, after their work was especially hard-hit by social distancing and confinement measures to combat the coronavirus. "An emergency fund should be created to provide replacement income for the duration of confinement," the Red Umbrella Federation of sex workers' organisations said in a letter addressed to President Emmanuel Macron. France has announced a special aid of 1,500 euros ($1,618) for independent workers who lose income due to the coronavirus lockdown that entered into force on March 17, but prostitutes are not among the beneficiaries. Yet their business has been badly hit, leaving many, and their dependents, in "extreme financial insecurity," according to the letter. The lockdown rules allow people to leave home only for essential outings, and then with a signed and dated self-declaration of the purpose of the excursion. Patrolling police enforce the lockdown and issue fines for violations. Several associations have reported cases of sex workers being expelled from their hotel rooms or apartments for being unable to pay. The sex worker community has launched several fundraising initiatives online, but the proceeds have been insufficient. The Red Umbrella said it feared that hard-pressed sex workers "will be forced to flout confinement... as a matter of survival." An emergency fund, it said, is "the only solution to prevent risk-taking associated with the practice of sex work. It is a matter of public health, not only for us, but also for clients and the general public." Prostitution is not illegal in France, though a law introduced in 2016 did make it illegal to buy sex, shifting the criminal responsibility to clients who can be fined if caught. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pat Ryan of Liffey Mills said feed sales were being driven by atrocious ground conditions and poor grass growth. Demand for bagged and bulk feed is running 15-20pc ahead of normal since the start of March due to a combination of the heavy rainfall, poor grass growth and the impact of the Covid-19. Some merchants were sold out of bagged ration in the northwest earlier in March amid fears that local outlets could be shut due to Covid-19 and farmers left without feed. Demand has settled over the last fortnight, but sales are still running well ahead of normal for this time of year. James Strain of Inishowen Co-op said demand for animal ration from the co-ops mill at Inishleigh Farm Feeds in Newtowncunningham had settled from the crazy levels experienced around St Patricks weekend. However, he said farmer purchasing remained strong. Fiona Heslin of Aurivo in Mohil, Co Leitrim confirmed a massive lift in feed sales, both bags and bulk, since the start of March. She said the lift in sales was definitely weather-related. Further south, Pat Ryan of Liffey Mills said feed sales were driven by atrocious ground conditions and poor grass growth. Grass growth rates remained low all month, according to Teagascs Pasturebase service, with levels running at 14-17kgsDM/ha/day. This is well below that 20-28kgsDM/ha/day that would be expected for this time of year. Mr Ryan predicted that demand for compound feed will remain high through the spring given the poor level of grass regrowth. Meanwhile, ICOS chief executive, TJ Flanagan, urged patrons of co-operative stores and merchants to follow the Covid-19 protocols and help protect the health of other customers and staff. We will need to do our business differently for the foreseeable future. Customers of co-op stores should look to ordering product by phone or online if possible. Try to get product delivered, be organised, visit stores less frequently, collecting more of your requirements at each visit," Mr Flanagan said. "We're in completely unchartered territory and we need to provide for scenarios that would ordinarily be unthinkable. Right now, the best advice to us is that we all need to maintain social distancing in order to minimise the spread of the disease, he pointed out. In co-ops huge efforts have been made to allow trade to continue whilst protecting the health of customers and staff. I would appeal to all customers to fully co-operate with co-op staff, and to maintain that required distance between you and others. This is vitally important, the ICOS leader insisted. 12:03 | Lima, Apr. 6. In an interview with El Peruano official gazette, he assessed the magnitude of the Government's package of measures to face the pandemic, which has impacted the global economy, the strength of public spending, and the investment grade. WASHINGTON Joe Biden said Sunday that the Democratic National Convention, already delayed until August because of the coronavirus, may need to take place online as the pandemic continues to reshape the race for the White House. The party "may have to do a virtual convention," the former vice president said. "The idea of holding the convention is going to be necessary. We may not be able to put 10, 20, 30,000 people in one place," he told ABC's "This Week," calling an online convention "very possible.'' Biden has a commanding lead in the number of delegates needed to secure his party's presidential nomination at a convention in Milwaukee, originally scheduled for mid-July. Democrats hoped an early gathering would give the party more time to unify around a nominee who could defeat President Donald Trump in November. But officials announced on Thursday they were taking the unprecedented step of postponing the convention until August, just before the Republican National Convention is scheduled. The once-crowded Democratic primary has dwindled to Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. But both have switched to addressing supporters online from home, with travel and campaign rallies like many facets of American life suspended for weeks because of the outbreak. Biden publicly endorsed delaying the convention before the move to do so was announced, and said Sunday that the extraordinary measure of holding one all online is still not a certainty. "What we do between now and then is going to dictate a lot of that as well," he said. "But my point is that I think you just got to follow the science. Listen to the experts." Biden also said he planned to wear a mask in public, heeding new federal guidelines that Americans use face coverings when venturing out. That contradicts Trump, who says he's choosing not do that. "He may not like how he looks in a mask," Biden said of the president, adding that it was a mattering of following science. "That's what they're telling us," the former vice president added. Speaking on "Fox News Sunday," Surgeon General Jerome Adams offered some of the starkest warnings about the virus yet, saying. "This is going to be the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans' lives, quite frankly." But he appeared to play down the mask issue, saying that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines emphasize that such coverings are voluntary and shouldn't be used as a substitute for the "social distancing" that has kept millions at home. "The president is making a choice that's appropriate for him," Adams said before showing off a mask he said he wears in public. "What I want Americans to know is, if you're going out in public and you're going to be closer than 6 feet to other people, you can use a cloth facial covering." For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two weeks to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death. Will Weissert of The Associated Press wrote this story. As infections balloon, coronavirus squeezes Europe's armed forces FILE PHOTO: Palm Sunday during the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Venice By Tangi Salaun, Sabine Siebold and Luke Baker PARIS/BERLIN/LONDON (Reuters) - Military forces across Europe have scaled back operations and imposed stricter rules on personnel to try to stem the spread of the coronavirus among staff who often live and work in close quarters, making them more vulnerable to infection. Preventing the virus' proliferation among the military is important both for national security and because specialist army, navy and airforce units are being drafted in to help governments tackle the virus in many countries. Germany mobilised 15,000 soldiers to help local authorities tackle the crisis, for example, while Poland activated thousands of troops to patrol streets under lockdown, disinfect hospitals and support border control, its defence ministry said. Events aboard the U.S. aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt have highlighted the risk of the disease spreading rapidly among personnel. The nuclear-powered vessel with 5,000 crew is now docked in Guam, a U.S. territory, so everyone can be tested. The U.S. Navy has relieved the ship's captain of his command after he wrote a letter flagging concerns about a lack of proper measures to contain the highly infectious disease. [nL1N2BQ2Z0] In France, Italy and Spain, among the nations hardest hit by the outbreak, military operations have been curtailed or in some cases suspended. Germany has changed rules, with no roll-calls or mustering of troops and the quarantining of some staff, while Turkish armed forces have imposed social distancing in mess rooms and dormitories, among other measures. On Sunday, Turkey said it was limiting troop movements in Syria as cases of the coronavirus jumped. [nL8N2BT0SR] "We have had to cancel non-essential maritime missions and deployments, or modify their scope," said French army command spokesman Colonel Frederic Barbry, adding that there had as yet been no impact on "operational capability". French naval vessels in the Straits of Hormuz are no longer stopping at regional ports apart from Abu Dhabi, and air operations have been affected, with exercises cancelled and delays in relieving aircraft in some theatres, Barbry said. Story continues In France, 600 military personnel have contracted the virus, the defence minister said on Friday, while four soldiers serving with the Barkhane operation against Islamist militants in West Africa are also infected. "There will be an impact from this crisis, not only in the resources available for defence and security but in how those resources are distributed," said Malcolm Chalmers, deputy-director of the Royal United Services Institute, a think-tank. HELPING AND INFECTING? Testing of military personnel is critical, but it is unclear how widespread it is. Britain and Turkey declined to say how many military personnel had been tested or had contracted COVID-19, the disease the coronavirus causes. The Italian defence ministry would only give information on officers, saying Chief of Staff Salvatore Farina and a dozen others had tested positive. One lieutenant-colonel has died. In Spain, which stands second behind the United States for the number of infections at more than 130,000, the defence ministry said 230 personnel had tested positive, while some 3,000 military staff are in self-isolation. Spain's chief of defence staff, Air Force General Miguel Angel Villarroya, said no naval operations had been affected by the virus, but the replacement of staff serving with the EU's Atalanta operation off the Horn of Africa had been interrupted. "We had to postpone and repatriate the staff who were to replace those on the mission because we found a person infected with the virus," he told a news conference. A spokesman for the German defence ministry said around 250 soldiers were infected, with fewer than 10 hospitalised. Among them are a handful of soldiers serving with a NATO mission in Lithuania, where they act as a deterrence against Russian interference. A military spokesman said manoeuvres had been suspended because of the coronavirus, even if the main objective of the mission remained in place. German troops going to Afghanistan are being put in 14 days of self-isolation first, while four Italian soldiers deployed to Kabul tested positive when they arrived. Some 200 of the 800 Italian soldiers deployed in Iraq are returning home. But as infections may be starting to peak in Europe, a core concern is ensuring military personnel seconded to combat the virus are not themselves infected. British authorities have been criticised for shortcomings in testing, with only around 65,000 tests conducted as of April 2 among a population of 66 million. The health secretary has promised 100,000 tests a day by the end of the month. Military units are already helping with logistics and distribution of medical equipment around the country, but there is no clarity on how many have been tested. "If the military is widely employed then about 20 percent of them will have it," said Jack Watling, a senior research fellow focused on land forces at RUSI. "And if they start to deploy the military out to sites, they will have to use testing to ensure that they are not spreading the virus." (The story clarifies that figures are for all of France in paragraph 11) (Additional reporting by Inti Landauro in Madrid, Angelo Amante in Rome, Sabine Siebold in Berlin, Ece Toksabay in Ankara and Joanna Plucinska in Warsaw; Writing by Luke Baker; Editing by Mike Collett-White) President Akufo-Addo has thanked all health workers and frontline staff helping to fight the coronavirus outbreak in Ghana, which has, so far killed five people out of the two hundred and fourteen infected persons in the country. In his fifth address to the nation since the disease entered Ghana, President Akufo-Addo said on Sunday that: Let me thank, in particular, all our frontline actors who continue to put their lives on the line to help ensure that we defeat the virus. To our healthcare workers, I say a big 'ayekoo' for the continued sacrifices you are making in caring for those infected with the virus, and in caring for the sick in general. You are the heroes and heroines of our generation, and the government will do all in its power to provide you with the relevant tools to do your work effectively, he noted. To the men and women of our security services, who have been enforcing the directives, by patrolling our streets day and night, conducting surveillance, snap checks and mounting roadblocks, we are deeply in your debt. It is these security measures that have created the basic framework within which our medical personnel are able to pursue contact tracing, testing and treatment of persons with the virus, whose implementation offers us the most secure means to defeat the virus, the President said. ---classfmonline Thousands of private patients could end up on public hospital waiting lists if private only doctors accept a temporary contract to work exclusively for the HSE as part of the Covid-19 response. Thats according to the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA), which is seeking legal advice on a contract being offered by the Department of Health and HSE to around 500 consultant doctors, who work exclusively in private practice. Plans by the Department of Health to temporarily take over 19 private hospitals to boost the capacity of the healthcare service to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak have hit a snag due to differences over the terms and conditions of the temporary Covid contracts being offered. Doctors working exclusively in private hospitals raised concerns over proposals that would effectively see them moving from treating private only patients to treating public only patients. The doctors say the HSE contract, as currently drafted, would create new waiting list problems as it would prevent them from treating private patients, who would ultimately be referred back to their GPs and onto public hospital waiting lists. More than 500,000 people are currently waiting for an outpatient appointment in the public healthcare system. Dr Oisin OConnell, a respiratory consultant at the Bons Secours private clinic in Cork, told RTE Radio that doctors working in private practice were ready to put on the medical green jersey but had issues with a contract that would effectively close their practice and create further waiting list problems for the public health service. The proposed contract, he said, left private practitioners with an ethical dilemma. I want to work frontline, I want to look after Covid patients. I think this is a national emergency but similarly Im left in an ethical dilemma that if I do that, and accept the contract, I have to cancel all my clinic patients, Dr OConnell told the Today with Sean ORourke programme on Monday. Im following up on 2,500 complex respiratory patients, 500 of whom are suspected to have lung cancer, so its very difficult to put them on a public waiting list of 560,000 people. "Ive already set a precedent with these patients that Im following them up. Ive already got their scans booked. Im now being told, as of this morning, I need to cancel that follow up, refer them onto another hospital, who will put them in their system, he explained. The IHCA, which represents the majority of hospital consultants in the country, said one-third of all outpatient appointments were seen by private only consultants every day and that the proposals could have considerable knock-on detrimental impacts on all patients accessing hospital services. IHCA members say they are willing to sign up to a 39 hour week working for the HSE but also want to be able to treat private patients outside of that commitment. Im hoping the HSE will engage with the IHCA and negotiate a way that we can continue to provide continuity of care for our patients and work front and centre. Im very happy to do both, Dr OConnell said. Im not here to profiteer in any capacity. Im completely happy to put on the medical green jersey but I can only assume that this was an unintended consequence that wasnt foreseen but it is going to cause massive issues on the frontline, he added. The temporary contract was initially envisaged to be for three months but the Irish Examiner understands the contract sent to doctors on Monday morning is open-ended and does not specify a time period. For insurance reasons private only doctors cannot currently assist with the Covid-19 response unless they sign a contract to work in the HSE. Around the world, health-care professionals are putting their lives on the line to combat coronavirus. As of Monday, April 6, Johns Hopkins University estimates there are 1,292,564 confirmed cases of coronavirus worldwide and that 70,798 people have lost their lives due to the pandemic among them doctors, nurses and first responders. Now, the next generation of doctors is preparing to join the fight. CNBC Make It spoke with medical students to see how coronavirus is impacting their education and their lives: What it's like to go to medical school online In the United States, many colleges and universities have closed their campuses and moved classes online. This shift has impacted medical students in the first two years of their medical school educations differently than those in their final two years. The first two years of medical school traditionally emphasize in-classroom lectures, discussions and labs, while the final two years of medical school typically involve clinical rotations, assisting doctors and watching procedures in person. Alex Graff is a first-year medical student at Columbia University's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. He says he prefers learning at his own pace but admits the transition to remote learning has been awkward. "The shift to online classes does not feel as dramatic for me as it might for someone who is a religious lecture goer, but the change of going online for small interactive groups has definitely been a little bit difficult, just with the clumsy communication that happens over Zoom," he explains. But for Calvin Lau, a third-year medical student at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine, the shift online has been more significant. Lau had six weeks left of his first year of clinical rotations and is now reading about surgeries and watching surgeries over Zoom instead of observing them in person at the hospital. "I am very aware that this will impact my understanding and perception of surgery probably for the rest of my career," he says. "I'm thinking about doing pediatrics, so I probably won't see surgery in the way I was going to ever again." Canceled commencements The students most impacted by recent events have been fourth-year medical students, who have had their final weeks of medical school cut short and, in many cases, had their graduations canceled. "Fourth years, I think, have had it really hard," says Lau. "You work really hard for three and a half years of med school and then you usually enjoy that last six months to travel with your friends, do electives that you really wanted to do, go to match day with your friends and that is all gone." Erika Wickstrom, a fourth-year medical student at Des Moines University, says she is disappointed that her graduation has been canceled and that her peers are "a little bitter." "But it's something no one could have predicted and it's impacted so many people, so it's hard to be bitter about something so minor," she tells CNBC Make It. "In my world it's a big deal, but I know it's not the biggest deal for other people." Wickstrom recently matched with Plainview Hospital in New York and predicts that she may be treating patients impacted by coronavirus when she starts her residency. Her orientation begins on June 22, and she officially starts July 1. "A lot of first-year residents could be facing this in July," she says. "I'm really hoping that it's under control by then, but it could be a big transition with a bunch of new residents acting as physicians for the first time and then coping with this virus on top of it." Early graduations Many fourth-year medical students may become doctors even sooner than July as states give special licenses to fourth-year students so that they can join the fight against coronavirus. Massachusetts has pledged to give 90-day medical licenses to fourth-year medical students in order to add some 700 doctors across the state. In response, Massachusetts universities such as Tufts University, the University of Massachusetts and Boston University graduated medical students early. Columbia University graduated fourth-year medical students roughly a month early and offered them temporary employment at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Rutgers University expedited graduation for fourth-year medical students as well. "I am proud that Rutgers is able to do its part to act so quickly in the midst of the pandemic," said Brian Strom, chancellor of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences in a statement. "Many of our students have already been volunteering to support COVID-19 efforts and I know these soon-to-be doctors will be greatly appreciated as they enter the workforce." Shreya Thatai, a second-year medical student at the UC Berkeley-UCSF Joint Medical Program collecting personal predictive equipment for healthcare workers alongside fellow students. Wide-ranging volunteer efforts Medical students have found creative ways to support the battle against coronavirus from collecting supplies and raising funds to babysitting and donating blood even if they aren't doctors quite yet. "From what I've seen, medical students, in general, feel very motivated to try to do something to help," Shreya Thatai, a second-year medical student at the UC Berkeley-UCSF Joint Medical Program tells CNBC Make It. "We're in this space of being so close yet so far away from being useful and having our field being called to action." Thatai is part of a student effort to collect supplies for health-care workers. "We're standing outside with signs basically asking private citizens to donate any personal predictive equipment (PPE) that they have, which includes masks and goggles and gowns," she says, estimating that students collected thousands of items over two days, often from families who have emergency wildfire supplies. "I've been super moved." "So much of the messaging has convinced people that masks are going to be what keeps them alive," she explains. "And even with that messaging, people are really digging deep and giving us these masks that they've been keeping, in theory, to protect themselves. And it's been really beautiful to see how people are showing up for each other." Elyse Conley, a third-year medical student at UCLA is part of a city-wide coalition of medical students helping to support health-care workers with everything from buying groceries to scheduling haircuts. "Most medical students that I know go to medical school because they're passionate about helping people," Conley tells CNBC Make It, describing a Google Doc involving more than 80 medical student volunteers who sign up to help in various ways from picking up groceries to hand-sewing masks. A mother of 3-year-old twins, Conley quickly realized that health-care workers would be needing child care and worked to coordinate for medical students to babysit the children of health-care workers including doctors, nurses and medical technicians. Conley was looking for child care for her own kids when she learned that groups of physicians were arranging for the older children look after younger ones. "Maybe that's a good option for some, but it leaves a lot of gaps because that requires you to have a coalition of parents in place," says Conley. "It just left me wondering what was happening to the techs and their kids and the nurses and their kids." Renewed interest in addressing structural issues Many medical students said that the pandemic is putting a spotlight on systemic issues in health care they hope to address. "This has really highlighted how broken our system is here," says Conley. "I'm really interested in health equity issues and public health, so my plan is to go into internal medicine and potentially have a focus on those kinds of areas. This just reinforces my reasons for wanting to do that in my career." Columbia student Graff says the pandemic shows the cracks in the for-profit medical-industrial complex. As a result of the pandemic, he's felt renewed interest to push for a structural shift that incentivizes hospitals to prioritize preventative health-care for all people regardless of race or income bracket over elective procedures that currently generate more revenue. "I want to include fighting oppression in my practice, in whatever form that takes," he says. The next next generation of doctors FY20 has been a tough year for the Indian automobile industry. After facing sales crunch due to GST and the upcoming BS-VI norms, vehicle production across all categories is critically hampered due to the Coronavirus Outbreak that originated in China. Many automakers in India import about 10 per cent of their raw materials from the neighbouring nation, as per auto industry body SIAM. Since production of most plants in China and South Korea has been seized for indefinite period, Indian auto industry is facing it difficult to maintain an inventory. This, combined with the demand constraint due to BS-VI emission norms has created a ripple effect for the industry, which is unlikely to bounce back anytime soon. "Manufacturers are exploring alternatives to fulfil their supply chain demands but that would also take a substantial amount of time to reach stable production scale as these components would need regulatory testing," said SIAM President Ranjan Wadhera in a statement. Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has been in touch with the government with specific recommendations on behalf of the auto industry, he added. While dealers across India were struggling to clear the stocks of older BS-IV vehicles for whom registration will close post 31st March, 2020, they are now struggling to get the supply of BS-VI vehicles. Not just weakened supply of new BS-VI vehicles, coronavirus is also keeping buyers away from showrooms, and automobile dealers fear that they would not be able to liquidate the BS-IV inventory before the month-end deadline. According to automobile dealers' body Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), things started to look under control till February-end until Coronavirus outbreak pushed the buyers away. FADA also said that banks came out with notices that they would not finance BS-IV stock after specific dates in March, further impacting the confidence of the dealers and customers. "So, lot many things have come together and, now, suddenly there is fear among dealers that they won't be able to liquidate the BS-IV stock. At the start of March, we were reasonably confident that the problem of leftover stock would not be much," FADA President Ashish Harsharaj Kale told PTI. FADA has received support from few states where banks have agreed to continue finance for BS-IV units till the March-end. "We have received some support from states like Punjab, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh. They have assured that they will open even on the weekends to clear the registration process," he added. FADA seeked legal remedy to clear the BS-IV stocks as Coronavirus has come into play. While earlier, Supreme Court ruled out any extension of the last date of BS-IV vehicle registration in the country, they have now given 10 additional days to sell 10 percent of BS-IV stocks. These are the only two options available with FADA right now, Kale said. "We will discuss with OEMs how do we do it (sell vehicles)? Should we bring in better schemes or the OEMs take the stock back and liquidate it somewhere else," Kale said. Any unsold BS-IV vehicle would end up as scrap after March 31 as from April 1, only BS-VI-compliant vehicles will be registered in the country. This will result in huge loss for the dealerships across country. With Inputs from PTI The city of Los Angeles is on lockdown in an attempt to deter the spread of the growing coronavirus pandemic. But Stella Maxwell ventured beyond the confines of her home on Sunday afternoon to make a visit to a friend's humble abode. The 29-year-old model, sans face mask or gloves, cut a chic figure in a cropped graphic tee and a plaid longline coat. Social hour: Stella Maxwell stepped out on Sunday afternoon to visit a friend's home in Los Angeles amid the city's coronavirus lockdown Stella's chiseled abdominals were on full display, while her slender stems remained concealed within a pair of edgy leather trousers. She rounded out her ensemble with a waist cinching belt and a pair of black Dr. Martens shoes. Maxwell's signature platinum blonde tresses were neatly scooped back and tied up into a fashionable bun. The Belgian beauty applied a swipe of rouge lipstick to her enviable pout, while she amped up her enviable complexion with a light application of foundation. Chic: The 29-year-old model, sans face mask or gloves, cut a chic figure in a cropped graphic tee and a plaid longline coat Her piercing blue peepers were concealed behind a pair of RayBan sunglasses with silver hardware that coordinated with her chainlink necklace and hoop earrings. With a fresh cup of coffee and a phone charger in hand, it was clear Stella intended to have a lengthy hang out session with her pal. The Victoria's Secret Angel's care free approach to COVID-19 goes directly against the advice issued by Los Angeles city mayor Eric Garcetti last week. In the statement, shared to the LA Times, Garcetti advised citizens to remain on lockdown and to don facial masks while running 'essential errands.' Quarantine: Though she did brave the open air on Sunday, the model has been consistently documenting her time indoors on Instagram Juggling: The face of Max Factor took to Instagram on Friday to reveal a newly acquired skill to her 5million followers Though she did brave the open air on Sunday, the model has been consistently documenting her time indoors on Instagram. The face of Max Factor took to Instagram on Friday to reveal a newly acquired skill to her 5million followers. 'Learning new skillz,' captioned Stella, who could be seen successfully juggling three colorful balls. In the short clip, the model donned a black Burberry hoodie and a pair of coordinating sweatpants, while happily showing off her new talent. Healthy: Aside from picking up new skills, the blonde beauty used her platform to urge her followers to have a 'healthy mind healthy body' in wake of the growing pandemic Yogi: Stella's method of choice to achieving a healthy body and mind is yoga, which she displayed in a video posted last weekend Aside from picking up new skills, the blonde beauty used her platform to urge her followers to have a 'healthy mind healthy body' in wake of the growing pandemic. Stella's method of choice to achieving a healthy body and mind is yoga, which she displayed in a video posted last weekend. Maxwell, performing on the deck of her Los Angeles home, showcased an impressive array of yoga moves that included a headstand and in air splits. Dog mom: In the series of photograph - that have since garnered more than 100,000 likes - Stella can be seen walking her precious pooch, while urging the public to 'practice social distancing' On March 19, Maxwell addressed the pandemic directly, when she graced Instagram in a face mask. In the series of photograph - that have since garnered more than 100,000 likes - Stella can be seen walking her precious pooch, while urging the public to 'practice social distancing.' 'Hi pet parents, we know walking our pooches is necessary so urging everyone to do so safely, and practice social distancing,' she wrote. There are dire warnings from human rights groups who are concerned that, globally, governments may use the coronavirus pandemic as a pretext to crack down on dissent -- or crack down further. Is that what the Kremlin is doing? Or are legal actions linked to COVID-19 likely to be temporary? And has the health crisis brought any letup in unrelated prosecutions? RFE/RL senior correspondent Robert Coalson joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss. Four more people, who attended the Tablighi Jamaats events, tested positive for Covid-19 in Uttarakhand on Sunday, taking the number of cases in the state from 22 to 26. Out of the 26 Covid-19 patients in the state, there are 18 people who were at the congregation of the Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin Markaz in March and elsewhere. The Uttarakhand police on Sunday warned that residents of the state, who last month attended a gathering at Tablighi Jamaat headquarters in Delhi that has since emerged as a Covid-19 hotspot, will be booked for murder and attempt to murder if they fail to report to the authorities by April 6 and in the meantime infect others with the disease. Dr Rashmi Pant, additional chief medical officer of Nainital, confirmed that one Tablighi Jamaat member from Kaladhungi area of the district tested positive for the deadly virus on Sunday. According to health officials, the patient from Nainital had attended a religious congregation in Moradabad and not in Delhis Nizamuddin Markaz and five members of his family were quarantined on Sunday after he tested positive. Also read: Uttarakhand cops fight coronavirus on streets, wives at home, making masks Dr Dinesh Chauhan, additional chief medical officer of Dehradun district, said that three new cases of Covid-19 were reported from the district on Sunday. Three Jamaat attendees tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday. The attendees and their close contacts have been quarantined and their health status is being monitored, said Dr Chauhan. He added that the report of an American citizen who tested positive first on March 23, came out positive again on Sunday. On Saturday, six people who had attended Tablighi Jamaat attendees had tested positive from Nainital and Haridwar and on Friday, six attendees had tested positive from Dehradun and Udham Singh Nagar. Also read: Uttarakhand villagers seal their villages to check spread of Covid-19 Nainital district administration has also quarantined 46 family members of Jamaat attendees who were tested positive for Covid-19. Apart from this, dozens of families have been home quarantined in Banbhulpura area of Nainital, said officials. To prevent community transmission of coronavirus we have taken this strict action in Banbhulpura. As a precautionary measure we have quarantined 46 family members of five Jamaat attendees who tested positive, Sushil Kumar, in-charge of Banbhulpura police station, said. They have been quarantined in different hotels and some at home. Entire village quarantined With rising cases of coronavirus disease in the state, Champawat district administration has quarantined an entire village, Gudmi in Banbasa area, on Sunday. The village is home to around 700 people, said officials. HS Hayanki, chief medical superintendent of the district hospital in Champawat, said a resident of the village working in US Nagar was found to have symptoms similar to those of coronavirus disease. The official said he had walked from Pant Nagar till his village after the lockdown and was suffering from the symptoms, thus the whole village has been quarantined. (With inputs from Ankur Sharma) The Uttarakhand government on Monday put a three-month moratorium on repayment of loans by farmers to cooperative banks. Announced on the directions of Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, the moratorium is part of measures being announced by the state government to give relief to people in view of the prevailing restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. The moratorium can be availed by farmers who have taken agricultural loans from the cooperative banks, an official release here said. There are around 3.5 lakh farmers in the state who have taken loans from the cooperative banks under different schemes, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) London, Apr 6 (AFP) The coronavirus threatened Americans with their hardest week in living memory on Monday and put Britain's prime minister in hospital, despite early signs that some of Europe's hardest-hit countries may be turning a corner. More than 70,000 people have now died worldwide in the epidemic -- some 50,000 of them in Europe -- and, as the human tragedy continues to escalate, the global economy is plunging into what leaders warn will be a historic recession. Japan announced an imminent state of emergency and a trillion-dollar stimulus package, while the US surgeon general compared the likely impact of the epidemic in the week ahead to 9/11 or Pearl Harbour and France warned of the worst economic slump since World War II. In London, Prime Minister Boris Johnson remained in the hospital Monday but was in "good spirits" after being admitted for tests for "persistent" coronavirus symptoms. "The prime minister had a comfortable night in St Thomas' Hospital in London and is in good spirits," Johnson's spokesman said, adding that the 55-year-old British premier remains "under observation". Johnson tested positive for the virus 10 days ago, and despite his hospitalisation, his housing minister Robert Jenrick said the leader was still "in charge" of the government as the country grapples with the continuing crisis. It was a mixed picture in Europe, where countries already ravaged by deadly COVID-19 outbreaks reported lower numbers of new infections and, in Austria and Italy, began thinking about easing lockdown restrictions. The new coronavirus has reached almost every corner of the planet, confining nearly half of humanity to their homes and turning life upside down for billions. The worldwide number of fatalities from the novel coronavirus rose to 70,009 on Monday, according to a tally compiled by AFP. More than 1.2 million declared cases have now been registered around the world since the epidemic first emerged in China in December. About three-quarters of all deaths have been clocked in Europe, and the US now has the most recorded cases of any country -- along with a steadily rising death toll. "This is going to be the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans' lives, quite frankly," US Surgeon General Jerome Adams told Fox News ahead of what is expected to be a tough week for already hard-pressed American healthcare providers. "This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment, only it's not going to be localised." In Tokyo, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said hospitals in Japan face a "critical situation" and that an emergency could be declared as early as Tuesday. "We're currently seeing rapid increases of new infections particularly in urban areas like Tokyo and Osaka," he said. But there was hope in parts of Europe after a weekend that saw Italy reporting its lowest death toll in two weeks and France its fewest dead in a week. "The curve has started its descent and the number of deaths has started to drop," said top Italian health official Silvio Brusaferro, adding the next phase could be a gradual easing of a strict month-long lockdown. In Spain, nurse Empar Loren said: "The situation is more stable. The number of patients in intensive care is not growing much anymore, and we are starting to discharge quite a few." Hard-hit Spain recorded deaths down for a fourth straight day Monday -- but still logged 637 fatalities. At a field hospital set up at a Madrid conference centre, staff applauded whenever a patient was healthy enough to be sent home. The effective mothballing of the global economy is beginning to hit hard with analysts warning millions of jobs will be lost despite unprecedented stimulus programmes. Germany announced that the government would guarantee loans for small businesses but France was gloomy, with Finance Minister Bruno le Maire estimating that the 2020 crunch would be "far beyond" the previous post-1945 worst case. Iran, whose economy has suffered the double blow of the virus and punishing US sanctions, said it would allow "low-risk" economic activity to resume as daily infection rates fell for a fifth straight day. But some in poorer countries are already chafing against curfews destroying their livelihoods. "How can anyone stay home without anything to eat?" asked Garcia Landu, a motorcycle taxi driver in Angola's bustling capital, Luanda. "Better to die of this disease or gunshot than to starve to death." Despite the gloom, heartwarming examples of humanity around the globe have lifted spirits, with ordinary people doing what they can to help those on the medical front line. In a Barcelona restaurant, chefs flipped burgers to deliver to nurses and doctors. "When you deliver the food and you see they're happy, that makes us happy and it makes us stronger," said delivery man Daniel Valls. And in the southern Italian city of Naples, a street artist lowered a "solidarity food basket" from his balcony, hollering: "If you can, put something in. If you can't, take something out". "We started by putting a piece of bread, a bag of pasta, a box of peeled tomatoes," said English-language tutor Teresa Cardo, who also lowered a basket. "And two hours later, the basket was completely full." New Delhi : Eight Malaysian citizens, who attended a Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Nizamuddin here, were caught by immigration authorities at the IGI Airport while trying to flee the country through a special flight arranged for the stranded travellers of that nation, officials said on Sunday. The eight Malaysian Tablighi activists were hiding in the Delhi-NCR region and they tried to take the advantage of a special flight arranged by the Malaysian High Commission for their citizens stranded in India due to the corona-triggered 21-day lockdown. The eight, however, were caught by the immigration authorities at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here before boarding the special flight, a government official said. The eight Malaysians were debarred from boarding the flight as the central government has directed all state police forces to take action against those foreigners who had come to India on tourist visa and participated the Tablighi Jamaat congregation. The government has already blacklisted 960 foreigners and cancelled their visa for violating visa conditions. The eight Malaysians have been handed over to the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police by the immigration authorities. All eight will be put in quarantine, officials said. So far, more than 400 COVID-19 positive cases and about 15 deaths in the country were found to have links with the Nizamuddin Markaz. Action against the foreign Tablighi Jamaat members were taken after over 2,300 activists, including 250 foreigners, were found to be living at its headquarters located at Delhis Nizamuddin last week despite the 21-day lockdown imposed to check the spread of coronavirus. At least 9,000 people had participated at the congregation at the Nizamuddin Markaz last month after which many have travelled to various parts of the country for missionary works. The participants include citizens of 41 nationalities. They are 379 Indonesians, 110 Bangladeshi, 77 Kyrgyzstan, 75 Malaysian, 65 Thai, 63 Myanmarese and 33 Sri Lankan citizens besides others. The Home Ministry had 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 had said about 2,100 foreigners have come to India since January 1 and indulged in Tablighi activities in different parts of the country. Source : Deccan Chronicle EU talks to be most difficult ever, says Italian FM 'Use unprecedented tools for unprecedented crisis' (ANSAmed) - ROME, APRIL 6 - Italian foreign minister Luigi Di Maio on Monday discussed the Eurogroup meeting slated for Tuesday and Eurbonds in an interview with state broadcaster RAI3. "At the European level, these are the most difficult talks we have dealt with thus far. This crisis seems much worse than the 2008-2009 one. It is an unprecedented crisis and it must be dealt with using unprecedented tools," he said. "We are not asking to share the debt. We are asking for a shared path for our future and that of Europe," Di Maio added. "In Europe," he continued, "everyone is now aware that there is no European Union without Italy. If one falls, everyone does through a domino effect. I would like to note the words of Pope Francis, which are applicable to the economic crisis, too: no one saves himself alone." Di Maio stressed that "we are not asking others to pay our debt for us. We will pay it alone. Some countries believe that there is no need to share the risk at the moment. We are not asking to share the debt. We are asking to share a common path for our future and that of Europe. Our idea is that we must spend what is needed for the redundancy fund for workers, to give money to entrepreneurs, and to postpone VAT payments. Whatever is needed, that is what we will do." (ANSAmed). A senior official in the central labour commissioners office said the efforts of the government were to resolve the cases amicably and not to press for legal action against employers. Everyone is going through tough times. We could initiate legal action if we want but thats not the idea. We want to address the issues amicably, the official said. IMAGE: Shopkeepers wait for customers at the INA market in New Delhi during the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus. Photograph: Kamal Singh / PTI Photo. The Central government is scrambling to address distress calls of workers across the country, with the authorities intervening with employers to address concerns on layoffs or unpaid leave during the nationwide lockdown, which is aimed at minimising the spread of coronavirus. The office of the chief labour commissioner, under the Union labour and employment ministry, has written to SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh to comply with the instructions of the government and not deduct the salaries of workers in the lockdown period. Following the outbreak of Covid-19, the aviation industry is one the most severely affected sectors across the globe due to restrictions on domestic and international flights. Low-cost airline SpiceJet had announced a 30 per cent pay cut for employees for March and announced leave without pay during March 25-31. Following the decision, the regional labour commissioners in New Delhi and Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) received complaints from the airlines employees. The government had issued multiple communiques, in the form of advisories and directions, to companies in India to not deduct wages of workers or refrain from layoffs or retrenchment during the lockdown period. While the central labour commissioner asked Singh on April 2 to submit an action taken report on the governments advisories, in Vijayawada, the regional labour commissioner termed the wage deduction violation, and the matter had been taken up with the management, according to documents reviewed by Business Standard. While circulars are being issued by various state government authorities that are in nature of advisories, we wish to state that SpiceJet has neither retrenched nor deducted wages or salaries of any casual or contractual worker, as advised, SpiceJet said in an official statement to Business Standard. The government had announced a nationwide lockdown till April 14 and the airline said the aviation industry came to a grinding halt, leading to disruption in passenger traffic and a complete shutdown in distribution channels, adding that in these conditions, it had ensured that there was no loss of employment in the airline. The complaint against SpiceJet was submitted by a group of employees, who wanted to remain anonymous, fearing their jobs were at stake, to the Union labour and employment ministry. A member of the cabin crew of SpiceJet said the salary received in March by the employee was as low as Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000. The salary package after deduction used to be around Rs 40,000 for me. Almost 70 per cent of the salary hasnt been paid, said an in-flight cabin crew member of the airline. However, the airline spokesperson said the salaries of some employees would be paid in two parts. The first part of the salary was paid on March 31, while flying and performance allowances will be paid later, he said. Mumbai-based Go Air had also announced leave without pay and salary payments in two tranches while regional airline operator Air Deccan on Sunday announced closing operations for four months and its employees would not be paid during this period. A senior official in the CLC (central labour commissioner) office said the efforts of the government were to resolve the cases amicably and not to press for legal action against employers. Everyone is going through tough times. We could initiate legal action if we want but thats not the idea. We want to address the issues amicably, the official said. But SpiceJets is not the only case where the authorities have sought to intervene. The employees of the Bongaigaon refinery of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) in Assam had complained about retrenchment and salary cut during the lockdown. An advice has been given to the refinery management not to do so and have asked to comply with directions issued from various departments or ministries of the government, according to a status note prepared by Chief Labour Commissioner Rajan Verma. Similar complaints were received from the Jamnagar and Vadodara refineries of IOC, along with Power Grid Corporation of India (Kutch) in Gujarat. And the regional office of the labour commissioner has taken up the issue with the principal employer for timely payment to workers and for the payment of wages for the lockdown period also. The regional offices of the labour commissioner have also written to other employers and got assurances from firms such as Vodafone, Hindustan Zinc, JK Cement, Neyveli Lignite Corporation, and Cairns India that they will not deduct salaries during the lockdown period. On a complaint from contract workers at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Thiruvananthapuram, the authorities intervened to ask for timely payments of wages to workers during the lockdown period. Even before countrywide restrictions were imposed on March 25, various state governments had directed industrial units to shut shop temporarily as a preventive measure. On March 20, the labour and employment ministry had sent an advisory to employers, asking them not to terminate jobs of employees, particularly those of casual or contractual workers, or reduce their wages if the unit was non-operational due to Covid-19. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made similar appeals while announcing the lockdown. On March 29, the home ministry issued an order stating all the employers, irrespective of the nature of the establishment, would pay wages to their workers on the due date without any deduction during the lockdown period. India's edible oil imports declined 32.44 per cent to 9,41,219 tonne in March due to government restrictions on purchase of refined palm oil from the overseas market, trade body SEA said on Monday. India, the world's leading vegetable oil buyer, had imported 13,93,255 tonne in March last year. The share of palm oil is more than 60 per cent of the country's total vegetable oil imports. As per the provisional data released by the Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA), there was a 90 per cent fall in import of RBD palmolein at 30,850 tonne in March this year, as compared to 3,12,673 tonne in the year-ago period. Import of RBD (refined, bleached, deodorized) palmolein has reduced drastically as the commodity has been put on "restricted list" of trade since January 8, it said. Putting the palm oil in a restricted category means an importer will require licence or permission for the inbound shipment. SEA further said import of crude palm oil (CPO) and crude palm kernel oil (CPKO) have declined 38 per cent to 3,04,458 tonne during March this year from 4,89,770 tonne a year ago. Import of soyabean oil declined marginally to 2,92,410 tonne in March this year from 2,92,925 tonne in same period last year, while that of sunflower oil to Rs 2,96,501 tonne from 2,97,887 tonne in the said period, the SEA data showed. During the November-March period of the 2019-20 oil year, total edible oils imports declined 10 per cent to 53,91,807 tonne from 60,05,067 tonne in the year-ago period. Oil year runs from November to October. SEA also mentioned that it was unable to compile the data for import of non-edible oils in the current lockdown situation. This is an interim provisional data and a complete import data will be released once the situation returns to normalcy, it added. India imports palm oil mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia, and a small quantity of crude soft oil, including soyabean oil from Argentina. Sunflower oil is imported from Ukraine and Russia. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Edinburgh, April 6 : Scotland's Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Catherine Calderwood has resigned after breaching the lockdown imposed by the UK government in the wake of the coronavirus pandmic, by visiting her second home, it was reported. Calderwood on Sunday apologized for failing to follow the advice that she has been giving to others to stay at home, reports Xinhua news agency. "I am deeply sorry for my actions and the mistakes I have made," she said in a statement on the Scottish government website, adding that she stepped down "with a heavy heart". Calderwood had a further conversation with Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon Sunday evening, agreeing that the justifiable focus on her behaviour risks becoming a distraction from the hugely important job that government and the medical profession has to do in getting the country through this coronavirus pandemic, according to the statement. While Calderwood's advice to the government and to people across Scotland over the past few weeks has been the right advice, her mistake risks distracting from and undermining confidence in the government's public health message at this crucial time, Sturgeon said. "That is not a risk either of us is willing to take," Sturgeon said. Inspired by South Korea's innovative way of testing for COVID-19 symptoms, a Government Medical College Hospital here has set up low cost kiosks at its premises for safe collection of samples of symptomatic people. The indigenously built COVID WISK (Walk-in Sample Kiosk) installed at the Medical College Hospital is shaped like an old telephone booth that is closed from four sides. One side is made of glass with two holes where detachable and disposable rubber gloves are fixed. The gloves are fixed for the health worker to insert a hand and collect blood and swab samples from symptomatic patients. Ernakulam District Collector S Suhas launched the two kiosks at the hospital premises here. "This kiosk is a very safe easy makeable thing. Any health facility in India can make it. More important is that it gives adequate protection to the healthcare workers, as well as the patients. This keeps health workers safe while collecting samples", Resident Medical Officer of the hospital, Dr Ganesh Mohan, told PTI. The cost of manufacturing one kiosk is around Rs 40,000, official sources said here. The Medical College plans to move one of the wisks to the isolation facility to safely take samples of the people tested postive for the COVID-19, Mohan said. He opined that the WISK should be made mandatory in all hospitals. "This is a simple, healthy way of collecting samples of patients with symptoms of coronavirus, H1N1 and any such diseases. It is a low cost, common man's idea which will help everybody", Mohan said. He said the kiosk was developed taking inspiration from South Korea, where such kiosks are used for collecting samples of symptomatic COVID-19 patients. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) To the Editor: Re Captain Crozier Is a Hero, by Tweed Roosevelt (Op-Ed, April 4): I greatly respect Mr. Roosevelt and his familys immense heritage of service to the nation. In the case of Capt. Brett Crozier, however, he is wrong. Captain Croziers emotional letter, addressed to no one in particular, was attached to an email that included, and intentionally excluded, various people from his direct chain of command. Captain Croziers chain of command and my office were communicating with him well before he wrote his letter. He had expressed no alarm at all. The public disclosure of Captain Croziers letter did not affect the flow of support to the ship. The crew was already being tested, isolated and moved off the ship to quarantine. That was all happening as quickly as possible while still providing for the safety of the ship and crew. That plan was in action well before Captain Croziers letter, and it continues to be executed today. The public release of his letter unnecessarily created panic, when what was called for was calm. It was Captain Croziers lapse of judgment in a moment of adversity that led to my loss of confidence in him. The nations leading evangelical archaeology program is closing, partly in response to COVID-19. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) will shut down its archaeology program in May, terminating five professors and discontinuing its degree program, which currently has more than 25 graduate students. The decision came as part of campus-wide budgetary reductions necessitated by the financial challenges associated with COVID-19, according to a statement SWBTS sent to Christianity Today. The change is also part of an institutional reset, according to the statement. The former president of SWBTS, Paige Patterson, was forced out in 2018 after the board of trustees determined he had mishandled two cases of seminary students reporting they had been raped. The following year, the new president, Adam W. Greenway, said the seminary needed to recalibrate and return to its core commitments. The archaeology program was not part of that vision. We will no longer offer degrees in archaeology, the SWBTS statement said, because they are incongruent with our mission to maximize resources in the training of pastors and other ministers of the gospel for the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention. The Fort Worth, Texas, school is the third-largest Protestant seminary in the United States, measured by full-time enrollment. The Tandy Institute for Archaeolgy was started in 1983 with a $100,000 donation and a vision for training committed Christians who believed in the historical claims of the Bible to lead the field of biblical archaeology. The school launched a graduate program in 2007 and is currently the only evangelical institution offering a doctoral degree in archaeology. The cost of an archaeology program is often quite prohibitiveeven for well-funded institutions. Similar challenges face all Near Eastern Studies programs, said Aaron Burke, professor of archaeology at the University of California Los Angeles. In the absence of endowments to such programs, they are proving unviable owing to the size of faculty and resources required to support archaeological field programs and graduate study in related fields, such as Akkadian, Near Eastern History, Egyptology, etc. Back in 2013, Patterson said the program was expensive, but worth it because the work of biblical archaeology across the years has provided significant evidence for the veracity of the Scripture. Steven Ortiz, the director of the Tandy Institute, declined to comment on the seminarys decision and his termination. In a 2017 interview, however, he argued archaeology isnt just important to academics, but to any Christian who wants to understand the Bible. The biblical authors assume their audience knows the context of the revelation, Ortiz said. Unfortunately, Westerners are far removed from the context of the revelation. Archaeology and biblical backgrounds help to place Gods word in its proper context of revelation. Douglas Clark, director of the Center for Near Eastern Archaeology at the Seventh-day Adventist La Sierra University, was saddened by the news of the closure. He called archaeology a critical discipline for informed biblical studies. If exegesis begins with the questions, What did these words mean to the people who first heard them? he said, there is no better source for that information than archaeology. It is not clear what impact the closing will have on the publication of the findings from SWBTSs recent excavations. In 2017, Ortiz and SWBTS faculty finished a 10-year dig at the biblical site of Gezer. The analysis of what they uncovered is still in process, and now in limbo without funding. An archaeological excavation is a long-term project, said Tim Harrison, Chair of the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations at the University of Toronto. You cant just cut something like that. The end of SWBTSs program will not be the only setback for biblical archaeology this year. Across Israel, excavation plans are being canceled or postponed in response to the spread of coronavirus. Grand Rapids Theological Seminary announced a temporary halt to an excavation of Tel Dan, an ancient city on the northern border of Israel. Archaeologists have been digging in Tel Dan for most of the last 50 years, but will put the work on hold. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the 2020 excavation season has been canceled, the seminary said in a statement. We look forward to resuming excavations in 2021. The excavation of the Mt. Zion area of Jerusalem will also pause. It is unfortunate, said Simon Gibson, a visiting professor at the University of North Carolina Charlotte, who has been directing an excavation of the Mt. Zion area of Jerusalem since it began in 2008. But we have to be careful at this point in time. Digging is scheduled to resume in 2021. Some archaeologists are still hoping to get a little excavation done this year. Scott Stripling, who is directing the excavation of Tel Shiloh for the Associates for Biblical Research, is putting off making any decision as long as he can. Right now, it is looking like we will have a postponed and shortened dig seasonif at all, he told CT. Tel Shiloh was the home of the Israelite tabernacle before the Ark of the Covenant was moved to Jerusalem and has been the site of one of the largest excavations in Israel in the last few years. Others are waiting until after Passover to decide. Aren Maier of Bar Ilan University, who is directing the excavation of the Philistine city of Gath at Tel es Safi, said he doesnt have to make a decision right now. Im not very optimistic, he wrote on his website. From what I understand, there are very good chances that the official limitations on university and general public activities in Israel will continue for many months more." When archaeologists cant work in the field, they turn to analysis, writing, and publishing. Archeology in Israel was previous curtailed in 1991, due to the Persian Gulf War, and in 2001, in response to the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. ALBANY A tiger at the Bronx Zoo. Two dogs and a cat in Hong Kong. A cat in Belgium. They all became infected with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. In the Capital Region, some veterinarians are now taking precautions to lessen the chances of pets and cats in particular contracting the virus or spreading it to humans. How real of a threat COVID-19 is to animals largely remains a mystery as millions of Americans now work from home just feet away from their beloved cats, dogs and other pets. For today we are cutting back on feline patients coming into the hospital and working on formulating a plan going forward to help our feline friends in need and keeping everyone safe from COVID-19, Alyce Meyer, chief of staff at Parkside Veterinary Hospital, told the Times Union on Monday. Meyer explained that when the coronavirus pandemic started, Parkside staffers wore personal protective equipment (PPE/masks), ended human entry into their building on Morton Avenue and restricted visits to only urgently sick and emergency patients. Similar measures have been taken around the region and beyond in which pet owners call their veterinarian office, drop off their beloved pets at the door to staffers and pick them up without ever stepping inside. Tiger at NYC's Bronx Zoo tests positive for coronavirus Latest coronavirus-related cancellations, postponements The latest coronavirus numbers in NY Sign up for the Times Union coronavirus newsletter Full coronavirus coverage But Meyer's concerns are now heightened. Last week, she read a peer-reviewed article published in an online service, operated by the acclaimed Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, which found the coronavirus replicates poorly in dogs, pigs, chickens, and ducks, but efficiently in ferrets and cats. We found that the virus transmits in cats via respiratory droplets." The doctor then learned of the coronavirus-infected tiger at the Bronx Zoo and decided to cut back on seeing cats in the office. One of our main concerns is that we will run out of our very limited PPE supply much more quickly if we need to be concerned about cats having COVID-19 and not just acting as fomites, Meyer said, referring to objects that can carry infections. John Kearney, a veterinarian at Bethlehem Veterinary Hospital in Glenmont, said it was a fluid situation. He noted that cats were able to get the original SARS virus, which was identified in 2003 and is closely related to the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Those cats, he said, could not infect humans. But Kearney highlighted a study that indicated humans may be able to infect cats. In the study, blood samples were drawn from 102 cats in animal shelters and veterinary clinics in Wuhan, China, where the COVID-19 outbreak started, between January 2020 and March 2020. The results showed 15 of the cats with signs of the virus -- and the three cats with the highest level of COVID-19 antibodies had belonged to people who were infected. The study showed no signs of coronavirus in 39 samples of cats taken in 2019 before the outbreak. Kearney said the study is on the website -- Worms & Germs, Promoting Safe Pet Ownership -- which is operated by Scott Weese and Maureen Anderson, veterinarians at Ontario Veterinary College's Center for Public Health, whom he described as highly credited. More for you Bronx Zoo tiger is first animal to test positive for virus in U.S. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. "Truth is though we just don't know," Kearney said in an email. "Right now best guess is it appears likely that COVID-19 patients can infect their cats. No current evidence that these cats can then infect other people but...?" The Worms & Germs website said COVID-19 is "almost exclusively a human disease" and that while it is important to investigate and consider findings, not to overreact. "If youre sick, stay away from animals. Keep your animals away from other people or animals. Social distancing applies to the whole household, not just the human members," the website said. "Your own pet poses virtually no risk to you. If my cat is infected, he got it from me (in which case Im already infected) or my family (who pose a much greater risk of transmission to me than the cat). If we keep pets with us but socially distanced from others, we dont need to worry about them as sources of infection outside of the household. At Delmar Animal Hospital, "We have not made any changes to our policies regarding the treatment of cats," it told the Times Union in an email. And at Latham Animal Hospital, veterinarian Kathleen Shaw vehemently stressed that the staff is taking the same precautions for cats as dogs. "... IN NO WAY ARE WE PROHIBITING cats from receiving care here. Based on 3-4 cases out of the millions of cats out there, we are not changing our policy at this time," she stated in an email. State health officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Inspection Service say anyone suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 should restrict their contact with cats and other animals. Although there have been no reports of pets becoming sick with COVID-19, it is still recommended that people sick with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus, said Erin Silk, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Health. This can help ensure both you and your animals stay healthy." The USDA said the infected tiger at the Bronx Zoo was the first of its kind. "We are still learning about this new coronavirus and how it spreads," the website said. "This case suggests that a zoo employee spread the virus to the tiger. Further studies are needed to understand if and how different animals could be affected by COVID-19." In a 2001 photo, smoke billowed from the mine fire along a hillside overlooking the few remaining homes in Centralia. Today, the fire has moved to the perimeter, so haze no longer clouds the heart of the town. Tourists are lured by horrific stories on the web. Read more The coronavirus pandemic may spell the end for one of Pennsylvanias oddest attractions: a road covered with graffiti that runs through a nearly abandoned town with a coal mine burning beneath it. For nearly three decades, Centralias graffiti highway in Columbia County has drawn hikers, photographers, dirt bike and ATV riders, and teens with a case or two of beer. The highway, the former Route 61, is private property, and Pennsylvania state police regularly confront trespassers or issue them tickets. In recent weeks, as the pandemic has spread, those numbers have grown, prompting the owner, Pagnotti Enterprises, to dispatch a fleet of dump trucks there on Monday, all filled with dirt to cover up the road. There have been hundreds of people together, all trespassing, said Robert Hughes, executive director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR). Hughes, who regularly runs cleanups of the area, was scheduled to plant hundreds of apple trees in town on Saturday with volunteers. He canceled due to the coronavirus, but trespassers didnt. They were just rip-roaring through there, he said Monday. In 1963, an anthracite seam beneath Centralia caught fire, and it still burns today. The population dropped from more than 1,000 in 1980 to fewer than 100 a decade later. Today, seven households remain. The former Route 61, which went through town, has been closed to traffic for 27 years, during which time it slowly became covered in graffiti. According to the website Skook News, Pagnotti Enterprises, the owner of the highway and adjacent land, was having it filled in with dirt, trees, and grass Monday. The companys owner did not return a call for comment. A state police spokesperson at the Bloomsburg barracks said the graffiti highway has always been a problem, and troopers use their own discretion when dealing with trespassers. He did not say if any had been cited over the last three weeks. The company decided it has to take measures to ensure the safety and quality of the property, the spokesperson said. The Euro to Pound Sterling (EUR/GBP) exchange rate slumped by around -0.3% on Monday, leaving the pairing trading at around 0.8785. Sterling edged higher on Monday after an earlier slump was reversed on expectations Prime Minister Boris Johnson would be back to work shortly after being admitted to hospital on Sunday night due to persistent coronavirus symptoms. The rebound came after Robert Jenrick, a housing minister said that the Prime Minister was doing well and expected back at Number 10 shortly. Overnight, the Pound hovered near one-week lows. Commenting on the recent rebound, Viraj Patel, global FX and macro strategist at Arkera said: Markets were initially quick to jump to the worst possible conclusion and assume that the PMs illness would create a degree of dysfunctioning within the UK government, which was not the case given that there were measures in place to deal with such a scenario. What were seeing now is the Pound retracing this unusual move lower as details emerge that were far from the worst-case scenario of the UK government being plunged into disarray. However, Sterling was able to make gains this morning despite data revealing the UK construction sector suffered its fastest rate of decline since April 2009. The construction PMI slumped to 39.3 in March as business expectations plummeted to the weakest level since October 2008. Added to this, GfK revealed in a flash report that British consumer confidence suffered the biggest fall in over 45 years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Joe Staton, client strategy director at GfK: Our COVID-19 flash report shows a dramatic result with consumer confidence falling off the cliff in the last two weeks of March. Meanwhile, the single currency slumped at the start of this weeks session after data showed Eurozone construction activity plummeted at the fastest rate in over 11-years. Data from Markit showed that both employment and purchasing activity fell and new orders plummeted. Commenting on the data release, Bernard Aw, Markits Principal Economist stated: The Eurozone construction sector fell into a severe downturn in March as measures to contain the COVID-19 outbreak hit activity and demand. Construction activity fell sharply as firms reported slumping demand. This in turn adversely impacted hiring and purchasing activity. Construction employment shrank at a rate not seen for a decade while firms cut back on input purchases at the fastest rate recorded since the survey started just over 20 years ago. Looking Ahead: German Industrial Production in Focus Looking ahead to Tuesday, the Euro (EUR) could suffer further losses against the Pound (GBP) following the release of Februarys German industrial production data. If industrial production slumps further than expected, it will leave the single currency under pressure, and cause the Euro Pound (EUR/GBP) exchange rate to extend todays losses. Book Cover A philosophy created to help readers practice healthier thinking and unshakeable faith in a loving creator, STABLE is based on decades of NDE research and the extraordinary truths we now know about God and the afterlife. Author April Michelle Lewis developed a fascination with near-death experiences (NDE) studies and discovered that scientific findings of the afterlife reveal universal connections across all religions, cultures, ages and genders and that they hold the key to world peace. Lewis resolves that there is no separation between the secular and the spiritual, and that everyone was created by the same loving intelligence that is calling out to His creation. Finding the unifying message within these studies, she developed the STABLE philosophy that she discusses in her book, STABLE: The Keys to Heaven on Earth. A philosophy created to help readers practice healthier thinking and unshakeable faith in a loving creator, STABLE is based on decades of NDE research and the extraordinary truths we now know about God and the afterlife. The STABLE philosophy contains three core principles: Sound Thought, Always Believe, and Life of Excellence. Each of the three principles in the philosophy grasp at the findings of the afterlife and teach readers how to directly apply those findings to their own lives to heal and find purpose. In addition, Lewis teaches readers how to live the life God has intended for everyone. She encourages all to plan for where they are headed, for the life they cannot see, and to stop living for only what is in front of them. Kirkus Reviews said, . heartfelt bookinvolving, and passionateher [Lewiss] account of her own personal journey from confusion to the clarity of her STABLE philosophy has a powerfully persuasive narrative qualityenthusiastically conceived Lewis hopes that this book encourages readers to think outside of this lifetime and to break down barriers to unite the world. STABLE is truly a book designed for people across all backgrounds and faiths. Lewis boldly states It is not physically possible that we all come from different Creators. Peace can be obtained. It is not impossible and is, in fact, well within our reach and that It is time to live as though heaven is on earth. STABLE: The Keys to Heaven on Earth By April Michelle Lewis ISBN: 9781462404711 (softcover); 9781462404728 (electronic) Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble About the author April Michelle Lewis is a philosopher and speaker who has helped countless individuals improve their lives using the STABLE philosophy. Educated in the Arts and Psychology, she has made it her lifes mission to break down barriers within families, communities, cultures, and religions. To learn more, please visit https://www.aprilmichellelewis.com/ General inquiries, review copies & interview requests: LAVIDGE Phoenix Courtney Vasquez 480-306-7065 cvasquez(at)lavidge(dot)com " " Two Comic-Con attendees get married in the "Geek Chapel" at Comic-Con 2017 in San Diego, California, with actor Orlando Jones officiating. Jones got ordained online courtesy of the Universal Life Chapel. Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images When family law professor Joanna Grossman lived in New York a few years ago, she had to stop attending weddings. More and more of her friends and loved ones were getting married by, well, friends and loved ones instead of priests, rabbis or justices of the peace. It's not that Grossman is a wedding traditionalist, she just understands the real legal risks of getting married by someone who's been ordained online as a minister from organizations like the Universal Life Church. Advertisement "I hated being the only one sitting in the back thinking, 'this isn't even valid,'" recalls Grossman, now a law professor at Southern Methodist University's Dedman School of Law. "Nobody wants that person at their wedding." In 2016, 43 percent of couples in the United States had a friend or family member act as the officiant at their wedding, according to a survey by wedding planning website The Knot, up from 29 percent in 2009. And the trend makes sense. Nearly a quarter of American adults say they're religiously unaffiliated and those numbers go up among millennials, who are smack in the middle of marrying age. In America, state legislatures write the laws about who can perform or "solemnize" marriages, and most give two options: a government official like a judge, city clerk or justice of the peace; or a member of the clergy. For non-religious millennials, that often means a choice between two complete strangers joining them at the altar. That's why the option to recruit a close friend is so attractive. The Universal Life Church is the largest online ordination outfit, stating it has ordained more than 20 million ministers since its founding in 1959. Its ordination process is free but the website offers a well-stocked "minister store" with items like clergy attire, marriage certificates and copies of your ordination license for sale. My wife served as the co-officiant at the wedding of our good friends Katie and Todd. It took my wife just a few minutes to fill out the online form and download her ordination as a minister with the Universal Life Church (ULC). To be safe, Katie and Todd double-checked at the county courthouse in Idaho that my wife's signature would be accepted on the marriage certificate. The ceremony, held outside among the majestic Sun Valley mountains, was beautiful and touching and funny and perfectly Katie and Todd. My wife signed the happy couple's marriage license the next morning at breakfast -- following the ULC instructions to enter her title as "minister" and her religion as "non-denominational" -- and it's been marital bliss ever since. The problem, as Grossman explained in a two-part column, is that marriages performed by internet-ordained friends have not always held up in court. In fact, almost all cases in which ULC marriages have been challenged, the marriages were rendered null and void. On top of that, attorneys general from two states, Tennessee and Virginia, have issued opinions instructing county clerks not to recognize marriage licenses signed by ULC ministers. (In July 2019, a judge paused a law that was to go into effect in Tennessee prohibiting use of an online minister to solemnize a marriage.) But before you start to freak out, an important caveat. If you were married by a friend in any state other than Tennessee or Virginia, there's probably no reason to panic. There has never been a case where some random third-party has sued a couple claiming their wedding was a fraud. No one is going to show up at your house to rip up your marriage certificate. The handful of cases involving ULC annulments mostly concern divorce, where one spouse didn't want to honor a prenuptial agreement or pay spousal support, so they claimed the marriage wasn't valid to begin with because they were married by a ULC "minister." In those cases, individual judges decided that ULC ministers didn't meet the state's definition of a religious clergy member, because the ULC doesn't claim any religious beliefs and its "ministers" don't lead a congregation. That said, divorce happens. And there are several other legal situations in addition to divorce that hinge on the validity of the marriage ceremony, says Grossman, including inheritance rights, survivor's rights under insurance, pensions and tax liability. Most couples, like our friends who got married in Idaho, assume that the city or county clerk's office wouldn't accept a ULC minister's signature if it was against the state law. But Grossman points to the example of the New York City Clerk's office, which recognizes ULC ministers even though New York courts have ruled against ULC marriages on several occasions, finding that ULC ministers don't live up to the state's strict definitions of both a "church" and a "clergyman." "What I tell people I know is, I don't care what the New York City Clerk's office tells you, because they do not have any special powers to interpret the law. If you'd like to be 100 percent sure that your marriage is validly solemnized, go to City Hall the day before your wedding," says Grossman. "And I've had several friends who have done just that out of an abundance of caution." Now That's Cool Massachusetts makes it easy for friends and family to officiate at weddings without having to pose as a minister. For just $20, anyone can apply for a one-day pass as a justice of the peace. Advertisement Originally Published: Apr 2, 2018 No proms, no spring break trips, commencements ceremonies postponed. Michigans seniors will be finishing high school without the social contact that makes that last year so memorable. We want to hear what seniors have to say, after Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday ordered all K-12 schools closed for the remainder of the school year. Districts will implement a process to allow high school seniors to graduate, but this class will have an experience like none other in recent memory. Seniors, wed like to hear from you. Send us a video of yourself following these guidelines: Tell us your name and where you go to high school Do you agree with the governors decision to close the schools? What will you miss most about not completing your senior year in school? Once your video is recorded, please fill out this form, then upload your video using the link below. Loading Please get your video to us by noon on Thursday, April 10 and check back, we might use your video on MLive! Heres an example from Ben Vercellino of Midland: Lori Chapman is a producer on MLives video team [April 06, 2020] Chandigarh University Uses 3D Printing Technology to Design Splitters That can Bridge Ventilators Shortfall in India Research conducted by Chandigarh University can quadruple ventilators capacity in quickest possible time MOHALI, India, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A ventilator is what stands between life and death as it helps the patients breathe by artificially pumping oxygen through their windpipe. According to a WHO report, India has only 48,000 ventilators and as cases tick up in India, ventilators, which are in a short supply, is the biggest worry. To help the healthcare sector, the University Centre for Research and Development (UCRD) at Chandigarh University has come out with a solution with the help of 3D Printing Technology. A team of researchers headed by Prof. Ranvijay Kumar and students of Mechatronics Department have designed 2-way, 3-way and 4-way ventilator splitters which can help in quadrupling the ventilator capacity of hospitals in the quickest possible time. "We have used Polylactic Acid also known as Polylactide (PLA) to manufacture the 2-way, 3-way and 4-way ventilator splitters which is one of the biodegradable and biocompatible thermoplastics derived from renewable sources such as corn starch, tapioca roots and sugarcane," said Prof. Ranvijay. COVID-19 has become the biggest and the most serious challenge for countries all over the world. ith contagious virus infection spreading to more than 206 countries, the global number of coronavirus cases has crossed 1.2 million and claimed about 65,000 lives. Despite nation-wide lockdown India has also witnessed a spike in the number of infection cases in the past week and the number of cases touched 3500 mark. The Novel Coronavirus causes respiratory distress and in severe cases, patients' lungs lose their capacity to pump fresh oxygen into the bloodstream. Prof. Kumar further said, "A splitter can distribute oxygen to four patients from one ventilator as they usually run at 20-30 percent capacity as they can push 2,000 ml of oxygen per minute into the lungs which means that each ventilator can provide enough oxygen for four people." Chandigarh University had constituted a Core Research Group on the call made by Department of Science and Technology (DST) which had invited proposals from companies, universities and research institutions to derive technologically driven innovative solutions like low-cost masks, cost-effective scanning devices, technologies for sanitization of large areas as well as for contactless entry, rapid diagnostic kits and oxygenators, and ventilators. "We have submitted our designs to DST for further testing and Chandigarh University is ready to start mass production of splitters once we get a nod from medical nodal agencies,'' Prof. Kumar added. Satnam Singh Sandhu, Chancellor, Chandigarh University said, "As a higher education institution of the country, our students and faculty are extensively working on research projects and it is fortunate for us that our research scholars have come-up with a solution at such a time when the whole world is facing the challenge to contain the spread of COVID-19. We have allocated a budget of Rs. 5 Crores for our University Centre for Research and Development (UCRD) which will exclusively work on to find solutions to address the problem caused by the COVID-19 pandemic." About Chandigarh University Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and an autonomous educational institution approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honored with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC. Website: www.cuchd.in Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK-a1NM1ZcE [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] As some nations scramble to find protective gear to fight the coronavirus pandemic, Finland is sitting on an enviable stockpile of personal protective equipment like surgical masks, putting it ahead of less-prepared Nordic neighbors. The stockpile, considered one of Europes best and built up over years, includes not only medical supplies, but also oil, grains, agricultural tools and raw materials to make ammunition. Norway, Sweden and Denmark had also amassed large stockpiles of medical and military equipment, fuel and food during the Cold War era. Later, most all but abandoned those stockpiles. But not Finland. Its preparedness has cast a spotlight on national stockpiles and exposed the vulnerability of other Nordic nations. When the coronavirus hit, the Finnish government tapped into its supply of medical equipment for the first time since World War II. Finland is the prepper nation of the Nordics, always ready for a major catastrophe or a World War III, said Magnus Hakenstad, a scholar at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies. Though year after year Finland has ranked high on the list of happiest nations, its location and historical lessons have taught the nation of 5.5 million to prepare for the worst, Tomi Lounema, the chief executive of Finlands National Emergency Supply Agency, said Saturday. Its in the Finnish peoples DNA to be prepared, Lounema said, referring to his countrys proximity to Russia, its eastern neighbor. (Finland fought off a Soviet invasion in 1939.) In addition, most of its trade goes through the Baltic Sea. That, Lounema said, is considered a vulnerability because, unlike Sweden, which has direct access to the North Sea on its west coast, Finland has to rely on the security conditions and the running of maritime traffic in the Baltic. If there is some kind of crisis, there might be some disturbance in the supply chain, he explained. Two weeks ago, as the countrys coronavirus cases ticked up by Sunday, the country had recorded more than 1,880 cases and 25 deaths the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health ordered that stored masks be sent to hospitals around the country. The masks are old but they are still functioning, Lounema said by phone. There is little publicly available information on the number of masks and other supplies that Finland has or where exactly they are stored. All information considering those warehouses is classified, Lounema said. But though details are kept a state secret, authorities confirmed that the stockpiles are kept in a network of facilities spread across the country and that the current system has been in place since the 1950s. That has placed Finland in a more solid position to confront the pandemic. As officials in other countries like the United States lament the shortage of masks, ventilators and gowns and the global coronavirus cases increased to more than 1.2 million by Sunday, with more than 64,000 deaths, tales abound of international skulduggery and domestic price gouging. Nations are competing for medical supplies and racing to create a vaccine. French officials said they were outbid at the last minute by unknown American buyers for a stock of masks on the tarmac of a Chinese airport. And German officials previously said the Trump administration had attempted to persuade a local firm developing a possible coronavirus vaccine to move its research to the U.S., where presumably any inoculation would be available first. Perhaps in response to the threat of shortages, the European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union, announced on March 19 that it was creating its first ever stockpile of medical equipment to help EU countries in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several EU countries have also passed new legislation banning the export of essential materials. When medical device company Molnlycke Health Care, based in Gothenburg, Sweden, tried to send masks and rubber gloves several weeks ago to desperate hospitals in Italy and Spain from its central storage center in Lyon, France, it was blocked by Frances export ban. Its very disturbing; nothing that is sent into France can be sent out of the country, Richard Twomey, chief executive of Molnlycke Health Care, told Swedish public broadcaster Sveriges Radio. One French newspaper described the conflict between the Swedish producer and French authorities as the War of masks between Sweden and France. On Saturday, however, Swedens foreign minister, Ann Linde, said on Twitter that after pressure from Sweden, France had finally relented on the export restrictions on masks from Molnlycke. It was very important that the internal market works even in times of crisis! she said. In Sweden, which has been accused of moving too slowly in its anti-coronavirus measures, supplies were diminished over the past three decades because of a shift in thinking after the Cold War, according to Fredrik Bynander, director at the Center for Societal Security at the Swedish Defence University. The eternal peace had arrived, and we no longer were going to need these stockpiles, he said, adding that the government saw an opportunity to sell them, including the medical and health supplies. Swedens accession to the EU in 1995 also played a part. Since then, the Swedish health and medical care system has been built around just in time deliveries, with hospitals stocking supplies to last only two or three days, said Anders Melander, an analyst with the Swedish Defence Research Agency. We expected with the free market we would always be able to purchase what we needed, Melander said by phone. The privatization of the state pharmaceutical monopoly in 2009 also increased Swedens vulnerability. Until then, the government pharmacy had maintained the countrys supply of medicine for times of crisis. No agency took over responsibility for national stockpiles afterward. Its not really a great plan, Melander noted. Its like saying: I dont have to have a fire extinguisher. I can run out and buy a fire extinguisher when the fire starts. It shows that this free market is only free when everything is fine. Swedish public service broadcaster SVT Nyheter reported Sunday that hospitals were running out of the anesthetic Propofol, a drug used during surgery and, in some cases, to treat COVID-19 patients on ventilators. But though Sweden may have neglected the countrys stockpiles, it has encouraged residents to create their own private stores. The recommendations in the brochure If Crisis or War Comes, delivered to residents mailboxes almost two years ago, covered food, water, warm clothes and candles, and encouraged stocking up on hand sanitizer and extra medicine. Norway used to be more resilient and equipped to be self-sustaining in a national crisis, according to Leif Inge Magnussen, associate professor of leadership at the University of Southeastern Norway. But a risk analysis last year by the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection concluded that pandemics and medicine shortages were key concerns, he said. Audun Haga, director of the Norwegian Medicines Agency, said the country could exhaust supplies of essential medicine within weeks, since much of it comes from China, which is only just beginning to reopen its factories. Society has become very dependent on other countries and just-in-time supply chains, Magnussen said. Some Nordic countries that have not prepped like Finland are scrambling for alternatives to reorganize domestic production of medical supplies. In Norway, medical equipment company Laerdal and a partner promised to deliver 1,000 emergency ventilators by the end of May. In Denmark, pump manufacturer Grundfos made a prototype for protective gear within 36 hours after a government call for aid. In Sweden, laid-off employees at Scania, which manufactures commercial vehicles, have been sent to work with a company that makes ventilators. And vodka-producer Absolut Co. said it was donating ethanol for disinfectant production. c.2020 The New York Times Company By Ofelya Afandiyeva Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the inauguration of medical masks manufacturing enterprise established by Baku Textile Factory LLC in Sumgayit Chemical Industry Park on April 6. Addressing the event the head of state spoke about the importance of this issue: Today, the production of medical masks begins in our country. This is a very significant event. Presently, there is a shortage of medical masks in many countries around the world, including Azerbaijan, and we have always been dependent on imports in this area. However, taking into consideration the current situation, local production was organized in a short time, only two weeks. Entrepreneurs have a great role here, and at the same time, the Azerbaijani state has provided its financial support. Thus, in a short time, a new modern production entity was launched, which will allow us to provide ourselves with medical masks to a large extent. As you know, the use of masks is especially important in the fight against coronavirus. At the same time, the production of disinfectants has been organized in Azerbaijan today. Our advantage here was that there are several medical alcohol enterprises in our country, and they have started to produce disinfectants and are the products are already on sale. Thus, in order to fight more effectively, it has been repeatedly stated that citizens should be more responsible and pay attention to personal hygiene. But there must be resources to ensure this, and today they are already on the market - medical masks and disinfectants, the president said. Aliyev especially urged the people involved in illegal acts in the market: Now one of the main issues is to avoid artificial price increases in pharmacies and other places of trade. Because the shortage of masks has already led to an artificial increase in prices, and in some cases, the masks were sold indirectly and unofficially. These cases should not be allowed at all, and the relevant government agencies should apply a very strict control mechanism. If there is an artificial increase in prices, those involved will be severely punished because in the current pandemic, such steps will be considered treason. It is no coincidence that this production facility was established in Sumgayit Chemical Industry Park. This park was created upon my initiative and many enterprises already operate here. These enterprises also make a significant contribution to our non-oil economy, the head of the state noted. Then, Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov and director of Baku Textile Factory LLC Sakina Babayeva informed the president and first lady about the enterprise. Established by Baku Textile Factory LLC, the medical masks manufacturing enterprise was provided with a venue in Sumgayit Chemical Industry Park and gained Industrial Park resident status. The enterprise creates more than 30 new jobs which will employ people in three shifts. At the initial phase, the enterprise will produce 120,000 medical masks a day. Another production line will be set up in the coming days and in the second phase, the enterprise will double its production and manufacture 200-250,000 medical masks per day. The head of state and first lady then was informed about medical alcohol, disinfectants and protective equipment produced in Azerbaijan. Currently, six companies produce disinfectants. President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva were also informed of the STEAM-Azerbaijan project. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz With Odisha recording an almost eight-fold jump in coronavirus cases in five days, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday directed the administration to increase the state's capacity to test samples of persons suspected to be infected with novel coronavirus to 1,000 every day by April 10. He also asked the administration to increase the number of hospital beds for treatment of COVID-19 patients to 3,000 by April 15. The number of COVID-19 cases in the state soared from 5 on April 1 to 39 on April 5. Patnaik reviewed the administration's preparedness to deal with coronavirus outbreak in the western and southern regions of the state through teleconference, state government spokesperson on COVID-19, Subroto Bagchi said. At present, the administration has a capacity to test 300 samples a day, he said. The samples are tested at RMRC and AIIMS, Bhubaneswar and SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. The chief minister directed officials to conduct tests at VIMSAR, Burla in western Odisha and MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur in the southern part of the state, after securing permission from the ICMR, Bagchi said. The state administration has prepared seven special COVID-19 hospitals so far with 1,497 beds while several other medical establishments are also being readied, he said. Patnaik also underlined the need for sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE), Bagchi said. Of the 39 COVID-19 cases reported in the state so far, only one is from Kalahandi district. The COVID-19 patient from the western Odisha district had recently returned from Bahrain. Meanwhile, the state government has imparted training to around 1,500 doctors, master trainers and medical students to treat COVID-19 patients in district hospitals, officials said. Similarly, training has also been imparted to 360 district and 2,264 block-level master trainers, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Harry Potter author JK Rowling has taken to Twitter to reveal her probable coronavirus ordeal after she reported experiencing all the symptoms, though she never took a test. The worlds bestselling author revealed she has spent two weeks battling what she suspects to be the virus, and has since made a full recovery. J. K. Rowling has revealed a coronavirus scare and the trick that helped her through.y. Photo: Getty Images For last 2 weeks I've had all symptoms of C19 [COVID-19], Rowling wrote, adding: (tho haven't been tested). The 54-year-old took the time to share a video explaining a medical trick she says helps alleviate symptoms, though it should not be used as a replacement to direct medical aide. Please watch this doc from Queens Hospital explain how to relieve respiratory symptoms, she wrote alongside the YouTube clip. Did this on doc husband's advice. I'm fully recovered & technique helped a lot. Queens Hospital is a major NHS hospital in London. Rowling has been married to Neil Murray, an anesthesiologist, since 2001, and reported experiencing all the symptoms of the dreadful illness, and waiting out the experience rather than using a test, eventually bouncing back. The shared video demonstrates a breathing technique to get air into infected lungs, though if you experience symptoms in Australia you are advised to contact the hotline and be tested. In places more severely hit like the UK, some are urging people to simply self-isolate with the symptoms unless they deteriorate so as to save tests and medical resources. The official line in the UK is still to get tested if you have symptoms, though advice has been changing since early March. Love and support online Rowling was overwhelmed by an outpouring of love and support from fans and peers alike. Fifty Shades of Grey writer E L James wrote, Glad you are fully recovered!. Other fans thanked her for the easy, and practical advice. JK Rowling says she tried the technique on husband Neil Murray's advice. Photo: Getty Images Thanks for sharing video, one man wrote. I think it will help a lot of people. Get well soon, we need you. So glad you're feeling better! a fan wrote. I can't believe you've been on here making us feel better during isolation while going through that! Holy moly. You are the kindest & we can't thank you enough for that, genuinely Story continues Rowling last week released new Harry potter content to motivate people to stay home. She sent a touching message of thanks, saying she hoped the video would help people in need. I really am completely recovered and wanted to share a technique thats recommended by doctors, costs nothing, has no nasty side effects but could help you/your loved ones a lot, as it did me, she wrote. Stay safe, everyone. Shes not the first celebrity to be struck down with the illness, as huge names including Idris Elba, and Tom Hanks are forced to contend with the virus. Breathing exercises for coronavirus If you are unwell, or you think you have the symptoms of COVID-19, the Australian Governments Department of Health advises you to seek medical attention. There is a national Coronavirus Health Information Line 1800 020 080 which you can call to get advice on your symptoms 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The video show patients how to best position and exercise their lungs to get air where it needs to be in a helpful addition to existing medical advice in Australia. Filmed in Londons Queens hospital, the video explains and demonstrates the technique that the author says helped her a lot. While you have an active infection you need to get a good amount of air into the bases of your lungs and the only way you are going to do that is by having a technique, the doctor explains. I want you guys to start doing this if you have the infection right from the beginning if you want to do it before you even pick up the infection, good idea. Take five deep breaths in, hold the breath for five seconds, on the sixth deep breath you will take it in and do a big cough, covering your mouth. Do this twice and then lay flat on your bed (on your stomach) with a pillow in front of you and taking slightly deeper breaths for the next ten minutes. The majority of your lungs is on your back, not on your front, so by lying on your back you're closing off your smaller airways and this is not good during a period of infection, it's very important that you guys understand this. Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com. NITI Aayog said that the empowered group conducted detailed deliberations with 40-plus prominent CSOs and NGOs working in different parts of the country and with different communities. New Delhi: NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant has written to over 92,000 NGOs appealing them to assist the government in identifying Covid-19 hotspots and delivering services to vulnerable groups. Kant, who is heading the Empowered Group (EG 6) on coordinating with private sector NGOs and international organisations, has also written to all chief secretaries urging them to instruct the local administration at the district level to utilise the physical and human resources made available by NGOs and civil society organisations (CSOs), an official statement said. The government had on 29 March constituted 11 empowered groups to suggest measures to ramp up healthcare, put the economy back on track and reduce misery of people as quickly as possible post the 21-day lockdown imposed to contain the coronavirus pandemic. "CEO NITI Aayog has written to over 92,000 NGOs/ CSOs registered on the Darpan portal of NITI Aayog, appealing them to assist the government in identifying hotspots and deputing volunteers and caregivers to deliver services to the elderly, persons with disabilities, children, transgender persons, and other vulnerable groups;to create awareness about prevention, social distancing, isolation, and combating stigma;to provide shelter to homeless, daily wage workers, and urban poor families; set up community kitchens for migrants," the statement said. It further said that the empowered group (EG 6) conducted detailed deliberations with 40-plus prominent CSOs and NGOs working in different parts of the country and with different communities. "Several challenges and issues raised by these CSOs were addressed by the EG6 to facilitate their working in the field during this crisis," it added. The statement said the EG6 has contacted start-ups, namely AgVa, Biodesign Innovation Lab, Kaeaenaat, Qure AIDrona Maps, mFine, MicroGo and Staqu, working on innovative ventilator designs, testing tools, and tracking solutions to understand their scale and possible contributions. Industry representatives and the EG 6 deliberated in detail on several challenges on critical issues of health-care intervention, pertaining to ramping up production and procurement of ventilators, personal protective equipment (PPE), testing kits, in collaboration with several other EGs; apart from ways to step up the relief and rehabilitation and information dissemination, it added. Industry representatives have also shared in detail the activities undertaken in public advocacy, philanthropy and CSR by way of running factory kitchens for preparing, distributing free food in coordination with local administration; and making available factory hospitals/ premises/ guesthouses as quarantine and shelter facilities. The other members of the Empowered Group include Vijayaraghavan, (principal scientific adviser), Kamal Kishore (member, NDMA); Sandeep Mohan Bhatnagar (member, CBIC) and senior officials of various ministries. Six meetings were conducted by EG6) between 30 March and 3 April with industry associations and CSOs about their contribution to the response, plans for the coming weeks, and the issues they are facing. He recently confirmed he is engaged to girlfriend Michelle Penticost after popping the question during an idyllic Maldives getaway. And following their return to the UK, Kieran Hayler and his wife-to-be have been keeping their boredom at bay by downloading Tik Tok on Monday. The former stripper, 33, make his debut on the app with his fiancee as they tried out the Flip The Switch challenge, which sees couples transform into each other. Ha! Kieran Hayler and his wife-to-be have been keeping their boredom at bay by downloading Tik Tok on Monday At the beginning of the video, Kieran was sporting a form-fitting black T-shirt teamed with a black cap and tracksuit bottoms while he danced next to Michelle. Michelle appeared to be gyrating against her beau, wearing a silky leopard print night dress complete with a lace-trim robe. Moments later the light switch is flipped off and on to reveal that they have switched looks entirely, with Kieran now sporting the leopard print dress and a brunette wig. Pose: The former stripper, 33, make his debut on the app with his fiancee as they tried out the Flip The Switch challenge, which sees couples transform into each other Work it: Moments later the light switch is flipped off and on to reveal that they have switched looks entirely, with Kieran now sporting the leopard print dress and a brunette wig Lol: Kieran danced for the camera and waved his arms around as he attempted to mimic Michelle for the hilarious clip Kieran danced for the camera and waved his arms around as he attempted to mimic Michelle for the hilarious clip. He captioned the post: 'Well it was bound to happen. I have joined tiktok!!!!! #fliptheswitchchallenge #tiktok.' The video comes just after the father-of-two took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a snap of his bride-to-be's stunning engagement ring, calling it 'the best decision' as he is holed up in coronavirus lockdown. Last month MailOnline exclusively revealed that Kieran proposed to Michelle during their Maldives, as it was revealed he was just 'weeks away' from finalising his divorce from wife Katie Price. We ARE getting married! Kieran confirmed he is engaged to girlfriend Michelle Penticost after popping the question during an idyllic Maldives getaway Sharing a snap of Michelle's stunning engagement ring, Kieran looked back on the moment he popped the question, as they self-isolate during the coronavirus pandemic. He wrote: 'Being locked down in isolation has made me realise this was the best decision!!!! Couples that self isolate together stay together!!!! #makingsomethinggoodoutofabadsituation #love.' Kieran was clearly thrilled to confirm news of his engagement, after MailOnline exclusively revealed the news week earlier when Michelle shared a snap of her ring on Facebook. Stunning: The father-of-two shared a snap of his bride-to-be's stunning engagement ring, weeks after Michelle posted the same snap to Facebook weeks earlier Excited: Kieran branded his proposal the 'best decision' after he popped the question in The Maldives It comes after Kieran revealed that his divorce from estranged wife Katie Price is just 'weeks away.' He confirmed that the legal paperwork has been submitted, and it's now just a waiting game. Speaking of his desire to marry Michelle, in the latest edition of New! Magazine, Kieran said: 'I have to wait for the divorce to come through, which could still take up to 16 weeks. 'But the paperwork's in, so hopefully it won't be much longer,' he added. The update comes after Katie's estranged husband Kieran appeared to have got down on one knee during his recent romantic trip to the Maldives with his girlfriend. Michelle lives with Kieran and his children Jett, six, and Bunny, five, who he shares with ex Katie, as well as Michelle's son from a past relationship. Almost! It comes just weeks after Kieran revealed that his divorce from estranged wife Katie Price is just 'weeks away' after submitting the legal paperwork Bling: Michelle took to her Facebook account to share a snap of her ring alongside the caption 'So today at sunset I became a fiance (sic)' last month Michelle took to her Facebook account to share a snap of her ring alongside the caption: 'So today at sunset I became a fiance (sic)'. She also posted a number of snaps of the proposal itself, showing the couple kissing on a deserted beach. Kieran appears to have kept the moment off his socials, simply uploading a picture of two glasses of champagne sitting on a table. He wrote, 'Love this place', before adding another image of the beach at night. The former stripper and girlfriend Michelle have been inseparable since going public with their relationship in July 2018. Keeping it quiet: Kieran - whose divorce from Katie Price is set to be finalised any day now - kept the moment off his socials, simply uploading a picture of two glasses of champagne He wrote: 'Love this place', before adding another image of the beach at night. In love: Kieran recently paid tribute to Michelle, saying, 'My best friend, my rock and my soul mate. You have completed me and I am the happiest I have ever been' He recently paid tribute to his 'best friend, my rock and my soul mate' in a sweet Valentine's Day post, saying he's the happiest he's ever been with her. Kieran enthused: 'My valentine!!!! My best friend, my rock and my soul mate. You have completed me and I am the happiest I have ever been. 'I Love our little family and I love creating memories every day. People dont even see half of what you do for me and the kids, but that doesnt matter because everything you do, means everything to me. I love you '. MailOnline contacted Kieran's representatives for comment at the time. In February, Kieran sparked rumours he could be set to wed again after he was pictured trying on and buying a suit in a wedding shop, but it later transpired to have been for a special event. Meanwhile, Katie recently declared she was finally getting divorced with their paperwork set to be finalised in 'the next few days'. Katie and third husband Kieran wed in January 2013 following a whirlwind romance, but they split for good in May 2018. Over the course of their very tumultuous marriage, Katie accused Kieran of cheating with her best friend of 20 years, Jane Pountney, as well as sleeping with her friend Chrissy Thomas. Over: Katie and third husband Kieran wed in January 2013 following a whirlwind romance, but they split for good in May 2018 (pictured in February 2017) In August 2017, she famously claimed Kieran had cheated on her for a third time with their nanny Nikki Brown, resulting in the breakdown of their union. The former glamour model spilled the beans in an Instagram post in which she wished her ex a 'happy future' and admitted that she'll never give up on her 'fairtytale ending'. In a heartfelt post to her 2.1 million followers, the star praised her ex for 'not wanting anything' from their divorce as she explained their split has been 'amicable'. She penned: 'Finally me and Kieran will be divorved in next few days and how amicable it has been and respect he is the first man not wanting anything from our divorce and wish him a happy future with Michell and now Im free and will never give up that happy fairytale ending of one day getting married and having my family unit I desire (sic)' She is also mum to Harvey, 17, from her relationship with Dwight Yorke, and Junior, 14 and Princess, 11 from her marriage to Peter Andre. The Loose Women star's well wishes to Kieran and his Michelle comes just months after she reportedly refused to divorce him in an attempt to 'spite' Michelle following their court battle. It was claimed that Katie was declining to move forward with divorce proceedings as a way of 'keeping control' following their school ground spat. It's over: Last month, Katie said she is finally getting divorced with their paperwork finalised in 'the next few days' Katie was served with a restraining order in June last year following a dramatic row with Michelle in the playground of the school their kids attend. The source told The Sun Online: 'Katie is doing this to exercise her control over Kieran and it is a vendetta against Michelle for her taking her to court and winning. 'Katie needs to let go of the past and move on with Kris, or whoever. Kieran wants to be Katie's ex. He isn't Mr Price and hates being referred to as that. Naturally he wants his own identity back.' The Ruby Princess docks at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Sydney, Australia on Feb. 8, 2020. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) Another Ruby Princess Passenger Dies From COVID-19 An 84-year-old passenger from the Ruby Princess has become the fourth death in Western Australia from the CCP virus, as the premier called for a German cruise ship to leave and never return. Of Western Australias seven new cases overnight, six are linked to cruise ships and one a health worker in the Kimberley region who travelled overseas but did not return to work, taking the states total to 460. Health Minister Roger Cook says the new ship cases related to three other vessels, including the Artania, which is quarantining at Fremantle with hundreds of crew on board. The ship is linked to more than 50 previously confirmed cases and the death of a 69-year-old foreign man last week. Premier Mark McGowan says recent vision of passengers gathering on deck before disembarking and flying back to Europe showed isolation directions had not been followed. Now we have people who have the illness who are in hospitals or potentially back in Germany, so that is a big problem, he said on Monday when asked if he believed the Artanias operator had been negligent. He reiterated he wanted the ship to leave as soon as possible, never to return. The 84-year-old man who died in Royal Perth Hospital is one of 12 fatalities among the nearly 3,000 passengers who disembarked from the Ruby Princess cruise ship in Sydney last month. Of 58 people in hospital in Western Australia, 18 are in intensive care, while 162 people have recovered. We have seen no hard evidence of sustained community transmission, Cook said. Western Australias unprecedented hard border closure, which McGowan likened to Brexit, came into effect at midnight, effectively separating the state from the rest of the country during the pandemic. He warned the measure could be in place for many months. Exemptions include compassionate grounds, health workers and emergency services, as well as Fly-In-Fly-Out (FIFO) workers provided they undergo a 14-day isolation period upon arrival. Western Australia is also enforcing intrastate travel restrictions. Eight quarantine accommodation facilities were relatively full, McGowan said, although passengers from the Vasco da Gama cruise ship would leave Rottnest Island later this week. The Westin Hotel will also be used for health workers requiring quarantining. The state has received A$5.5 million worth of personal protective equipment, which McGowan said would last at least two months. There are particular concerns for the Kimberley, which has a large population of vulnerable indigenous people and 13 confirmed cases. Cook said a specialist clinic would open at Broome Hospital on Wednesday for anyone with a fever or acute respiratory infection. In other Kimberley communities, testing is available at WA Country Health Service hospitals, and facilities operated by Aboriginal Medical Services and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. McGowan warned beaches would be closed as the weather warmed this week if people did not practice social distancing. By Angie Raphael and Rebecca Le May Leo Varadkar, who remains the caretaker prime minister of Ireland after the February general election threw up a hung parliament, has returned to his earlier profession as a doctor to resume duty to help with coronavirus patients. He is among several politicians in Ireland and the United Kingdom who have re-joined the medical profession as doctors and nurses to help deal with the pandemic, after governments appealed to retired and former professionals to return to the frontline of treatment. Varadkar, 41, interned in KEM Hospital Mumbai after gaining medical qualifications in Ireland. His Indian father was a doctor in Britains National Health Service and his mother was a nurse; the family moved in the 1970s to Ireland, where Varadkar was born. He remains the prime minister while parties negotiate to form a coalition government. Reports from Dublin said Varadkar, who practiced medicine for seven years before joining politics, rejoined the countrys medical register in March to work a session a week. Varadkar is helping with phone assessments of people who may have been exposed to Covid-19 and are assessed initially over the phone rather than in person to curb the spread of the virus. His partner, Matthew Barrett, and his two sisters and their husbands, also work in the health services, the daily reported. Irelands Health Service Executive appealed in March for healthcare professionals not working in the profession to register in a mass recruitment drive to deal with the crisis. Some 50,000 people applied in less than three days, The Irish Times reported. In the UK, Nadia Whittome, the Indian-origin MP from Nottingham East and the youngest at the age of 23, has also returned to her former work as a carer in a retirement village in Nottingham. Im back in my old team in a retirement village complex in Nottingham that houses 500 residents, 50 of whom receive the whole range of care; from medication and food through to personal and end-of-life care, she said on Monday. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Scripture gives us the names of two good angels, who play important roles in human history. One of these is Michael the Archangel. While we are not given the name of every angel, the fact that he is called out by name in Scripture is quite significant. The name Michael means, Who is like God. In the Bible, he is called one of the chief princes (Daniel 10:13) and "the great prince (Daniel 12:1). Most angels in the Bible are portrayed as messengers, but Michael is described in all three books as contending, fighting, or standing against all evil spirits and principalities. Michael is usually shown with a sword, or carrying the scales of justice. Renaissance paintings show him wearing armor. These are all symbols of his strength, courage, truth and integrity. Michael is engaged in a ceaseless war against the forces of evil. His most famous example of this occurred when he cast Lucifer and his followers out of heaven. How much do you really know about the archangel Michael? Here are eight biblical facts you should know. Michael the Archangel Guides Departed Souls According to the Testament of Abraham, Michael told Abraham he was about to die. Abraham asked God if he could see all the wonders of the world so that he could die with no regrets. Michael developed his guiding expertise by taking Abraham on a tour of the inhabited world. Afterwards, he took Abraham to prepare for his death. Michael is Dependent on the Lord Despite his great power, Michael is still in total submission to the Lord. His dependence on the Lords power is seen in Jude 1:9: But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, The Lord rebuke you.' The righteous angels have a rank and are submissive to authority, and for this reason they are used as a picture of a wifes submission to her husband. The Bible tells us, That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels (1 Corinthians 11:10). If you take into consideration the strength of Michael, the submission to God is all the more beautiful. Michael Stands Guard Over Israel In Daniels last vision, an angel describes how the last days will play out for the Jews. It is at this time that Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people will arise (Daniel 12:1). The angel also refers to Michael as Daniels prince (Daniel 10:21). The Bible doesnt say specifically what standing guard entails, but its very clear that Michael has special responsibilities for Israel. Michael Only Says Four Words in the Bible While there are three Greek words, they are often translated into four English words. In Jude 9, Michael says to Satan, The Lord rebuke you! Michael Argues With Satan About Moses Michael directly opposes Satan. Jude mentions that Michael argues with Satan about the body of Moses. Unfortunately, were not given much more detail on what the argument was about. Jude does share that Michael wasnt so bold as to pronounce a railing judgment but what he does say is enough to merit biblical reference. Michael the Archangel is Military Commander of Some Angels In Johns apocalypse, he sees a great war in heaven: Michael and his angels vs. the dragon (Satan) and his angels. The devil and his forces are too weak to remain in heaven, however, and so they are all thrown down to the earth (Revelation 12:7-9). Michael Has a Prominent Role in the Events of the End Times The archangel Michael has a prominent role in the events of the end times. Daniel was told by the angel of the Lord that, during the time of the end, Michael will arise and there would be a time of unsurpassed trouble a reference to the Great Tribulation (Daniel 12:1). Israel is guaranteed protection during this time, which will be followed by a great resurrection of the dead some to everlasting life and others to everlasting shame (Daniel 12:2). The rapture of the church will be accompanied by the voice of the archangel (1 Thessalonians 4:16); this could be a reference to Michael, but Scripture does not specifically name him here. Michael is Last Mentioned in Revelation 12:7 The final time the archangel Michael is referenced in Scripture appears in Revelation 12:7. During the tribulation, war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels fought back. Michael and the forces of heaven defeat the dragon (Satan) and the devil is hurled to the earth. There, enraged, Satan went off to wage war againstthose who keep Gods commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus (Revelation 12:7). Michael is one of the most fascinating biblical angels. Next to Gabriel and Lucifer (Satan), he is arguably the most famous angelic being in the Bible. Given we dont see a ton of references to Michael in the Bible, the rest is left up to our imagination. While the Bible doesnt say much about the archangel Michael, we can turn to the biblical examples we have to make an assessment of who he is. Most of these references can be found in the book of Daniel. These biblical passages give us a glimpse not only into his personality, but also his character. Angela Merkel today said Europe should become self-sufficient in producing protective facemasks following the coronavirus pandemic. The chancellor said manufacturing masks in Europe should be 'something that we learn out of this pandemic'. She has previously declared the outbreak - which has infected 95,391 and killed 1,434 in the country - the 'biggest challenge for Germany since WWII'. Her statement comes as Germany extended its 1.1trillion coronavirus spending package to guarantee 100 per cent of loans to small and medium-sized firms. Angela Merkel today said Europe should become self-sufficient in producing protective facemasks following the coronavirus pandemic This graph shows the daily number of deaths added to the tally in Germany. Today's figure of 92 was far lower than in recent days Speaking at a press conference today, she said that 'regardless of the fact that this market is presently installed in Asia... we need a certain self-sufficiency, or at least a pillar of our own manufacturing' of facemasks in Germany or elsewhere in the European Union. Merkel's government will underwrite 500,000 of lending to companies with up to 50 employees and 800,000 for firms with up to 250 workers. 'These speedy loans should make sure that middle-sized companies have liquidity quickly, without taxpayers losing too much money,' said finance minister Olaf Scholz. Germany saw sharp falls in both its daily death toll and its new infection count today, offering fresh hope that the lockdown is working. The chancellor said masks should be manufactured in Europe 'as something that we learn out of this pandemic' at a press briefing (pictured) today This graph shows the daily number of new cases, with today's figure of 3,677 marking the lowest in two weeks The government was previously offering up to 90 per cent of loans, but some banks were still thinking twice about awarding loans. Berlin's economic aid so far totals more than 1.1trillion (960billion), the finance ministry said in an answer to a parliamentary question Abandoning its usual fiscal discipline, the government has already promised a 600billion 'stabilisation fund' including loans and debt guarantees. Germany's total number of infections rose by 3,677 today - the smallest since March 22 - to bring the overall tally from 91,714 to 95,391. Meanwhile the death toll jumped by only 92, the lowest in a week, taking the total from 1,342 to 1,434. The resulting fatality rate of 1.5 per cent remains lower than many of Germany's neighbours, although it has risen every day for more than two weeks. The two southern states of Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg - closest to Italy - have been hardest hit, accounting for 824 of the 1,434 deaths between them. Bavaria alone recorded nearly a third of the new infections in the last 24 hours, according to the Robert Koch institute which compiles the figures. Bavaria's capital, Munich, has recorded some 3,500 coronavirus cases in total, although only nine deaths. Berlin has more than 3,600 infections while Hamburg has just under 3,000, the figures show. The mortality rate of 1.5 per cent means that one patient has died out of every 67 who have tested positive for the virus. The figure is notably lower than in Italy (12.3 per cent), Spain (9.5 per cent) or France (11.5 per cent), although it has risen from 0.5 per cent since March 26. The relatively low rate is thought to be linked to Germany's mass testing, meaning that many people with mild symptoms are added to the tally who are missed elsewhere. A patient from France who is seriously ill with the coronavirus is transported from an ambulance plane after landing at Dresden International Airport in Germany Medical student Florian Schwenzer, wearing a protective suit, mask, gloves and goggles sits at a table at the coronavirus care facility at the north stand at Signal Iduna Park Top Berlin virologist Christian Drosten estimates that Germany is now capable of conducting up to 500,000 tests a week, and the country also has more intensive care facilities than Italy. Germany is also planning to buy an 'unbelievable' number of face masks, the country's vice-chancellor Olaf Scholz said yesterday. 'We need unbelievable amounts of masks. Our entire effort is to procure them. That is where we stand today,' he told a TV programme on ZDF. Authorities in Berlin accused the United States of diverting a batch of 200,000 masks in Bangkok, amid claims that U.S. is paying over the odds to get masks. However, the supplier 3M said it had no record of an order from Berlin police and was investigating whether the German authorities had been duped. Washington denied the claim today. 'The United States Government did not take any action to divert any... supplies that were destined to Germany, nor did we have any knowledge of such a shipment,' said a spokesman for the embassy in Berlin. A police officer stands near the Brandenburg Gate yesterday as authorities made announcements for people to keep their distance Speaking today, Merkel also said the coronavirus pandemic is the biggest test that the European Union has faced in its history. She said: 'In my view... the European Union stands before the biggest test since its founding. 'Everyone is just as affected as the other, and therefore, it is in everyone's interest, and it is in Germany's interest for Europe to emerge strong from this test.' Meanwhile, interior ministry officials have drawn up plans to partially lift the lockdown if the infection rate falls below 1.0 - meaning that each patient is passing the virus to less than one other person on average. If that is achieved, schools could re-open on a regional basis while restaurants could open with a limit on the number of customers in closed rooms. Germany is also imposing a 14-day quarantine on all new arrivals, a move mainly affecting German and EU nationals returning home. 'The rise in confirmed new cases is going a bit slower than a few days ago,' Merkel said on Friday. 'But it is definitively way too early to identify a trend and therefore it is also too early to ease some of the strict rules we have set for ourselves.' Merkel has returned to her office after spending nearly two weeks in isolation at home, after she was tested by a doctor who later tested positive. The chancellor, 65, tested negative several times during her quarantine period. The country's 16 states have agreed to maintain curbs on movement until at least April 19. Germany has been taking in patients from overloaded hospitals in France and Italy in a show of solidarity in recent weeks. However, it has maintained its long-standing opposition to taking on joint European debt, despite fresh demands from Italy. How Europe is planning to lift the lockdown: Austria will open small shops next week, Denmark wants 'staggered' return to work and Germany could re-open schools if infection rate stays low As Britain and America start to draw up plans for life after the lockdown, they may look for inspiration from European countries where the coronavirus crisis has already showed signs of peaking. Austria today became the first country to set out detailed plans for ending the standstill, with smaller shops re-opening on April 14 and larger ones on May 1. Denmark also plans to start lifting restrictions after Easter, but wants people to 'work in a more staggered way' to avoid crowding into trains and buses. Meanwhile Germany is willing to re-open schools on a regional basis and allow a limited number of people into restaurants if the infection rate stays sufficiently low. In Italy, which has been under lockdown longer than any other European country, officials are talking about a 'phase two' where society learns to 'live with the virus' by wearing masks and carrying out more tests. Italy and Germany are among the countries looking at smartphone tracking, which could allow them to jump on new outbreaks without sending everyone back inside. All of those countries, along with Spain, have seen signs of improvement in their recent figures which offer hope that the crisis is past its peak. That moment is still to come for Britain and America, which are bracing for one of their bleakest weeks. However, health officials across Europe warn that life cannot go back 'from 0 to 100' immediately and many lockdown measures will remain in place for several more weeks at least. Denmark wants 'staggered' return to work as restrictions ease after Easter 4,647 cases, 179 deaths This graph shows the rising daily number of coronavirus deaths in Denmark Denmark has been in lockdown since March 11, but wants to start lifting the measures after Easter if there is no surge in new cases. In an interview with DK last night, prime minister Mette Frederiksen said the government was hoping for a 'gradual, controlled and quiet reopening of Denmark'. She suggested that people could go to work 'in a more staggered way' in order to avoid excessive crowds on public transport. The PM did not provide details of what a 'staggered' return to work might look like. However, she warned that 'we will not return to Denmark as it was' when the first restrictions are lifted. 'We are not going to be able to squeeze up close together in trains, buses and subways in the way we have become accustomed to,' she said. 'Or stand very close together with a whole lot of other people and have a good party together.' This chart shows the daily number of deaths, after Denmark registered its first fatality on March 14 The Danish government ordered the closure of schools, day cares, restaurants, cafes and gyms when the lockdown began, and shut all borders to most foreigners. There are fears that a deep recession could cause more damage to Denmark than a second virus outbreak. 'The situation we are in is far more complicated than appreciating human life,' Frederiksen said last week. Nonetheless, some business owners have voiced fears that re-opening after Easter would be too early and could actually delay a return to normal if the contagion returns. Austria will re-open shops but keep public gatherings banned 12,008 cases, 220 deaths Austria's chancellor Sebastian Kurz today became the first European leader to provide specific dates for the end of lockdown measures. Kurz said the aim was to let smaller shops re-open as soon as April 14, with larger ones and shopping malls opening on May 1 if all goes well. Austria's cases peaked in late March and have steadily fallen 'The aim is that from April 14... smaller shops up to a size of 400 square metres, as well as hardware and garden stores can open again, under strict security conditions of course,' Kurz said at a press conference. Customers will be required to wear masks when shops re-open, extending a requirement which already applies to supermarkets. Masks will also be compulsory on public transport. Hotels and restaurants could start to re-open in mid-May, with a decision later this month. Schools will remain closed until mid-May and public events will remain banned until the end of June, Kurz said. Austria has suffered 220 deaths as the pandemic started to make its impact on the country Austria's health ministry says the rate of new infections has fallen significantly, and Kurz wants to 'gradually and cautiously return to normality after Easter' as long as 'we all remain disciplined during Easter week'. If the numbers get worse again, the government 'always has the possibility to hit the emergency brake' and re-introduce restrictions, he said. Italy plans to 'live with the virus' using more masks and dedicated hospitals 128,948 confirmed cases, 15,887 deaths Italy is openly talking about a 'phase two' in which society will have to 'create the conditions to live with the virus' until a vaccine is developed. Health minister Roberto Speranza says more testing and a beefed-up local health system would be necessary to allow an easing of the lockdown. Italy's daily infection count reached a peak of 6,557 on March 21, but has not been above 5,000 in recent days He said social distancing would have to remain in place, with more widespread use of personal protective equipment such as face masks. Testing and 'contact tracing' would be extended, including with the use of smartphone apps, in order to contain new outbreaks. A network of hospitals would also be set up which are specifically dedicated to virus patients, after doctors on existing wards described having to make life-or-death decisions over access to intensive care. Italy recorded 969 deaths in one day on March 27, but the figure has fallen since then, as shown on this graph 'There are difficult months ahead. Our task is to create the conditions to live with the virus,' at least until a vaccine is developed, the health minister told La Repubblica newspaper. The national lockdown, strictly limiting people's movements and freezing all non-essential economic activity, will officially last until at least April 13 but it is widely expected to be extended. Norway announces it has 'brought coronavirus under control' after rate of new infections plummets 5,760 cases, 74 deaths Norway appears to be edging towards ending the country's lockdown on April 12 as the transmission rate fell to 0.7 for the first time, meaning the virus has effectively stopped circulating. Health Minister Bent Hoie said scrapping the lockdown measures had always been the country's goal since the outbreak started. Norway's death rate has risen slightly but mostly remains in single figures The country's director of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Camilla Stoltenberg, cautioned that the figures are an estimate but that the data shows a 'positive development' in recent weeks. The number of infections reported has consistently fallen since April 2. To date, 5,760 people have been diagnosed with the virus and 74 people have died from the disease. Norway enacted restrictions on April 12 to stop the spread of the virus, banning cultural and sports events and closing all educational institutions. Anyone entering the country from outside the Nordic region was quarantined for two weeks. It also ramped up testing using 20 labs to check 101,986 people to date, or 101,986 per million of its population - compared to the 18,996 per million in the UK - allowing authorities to quickly identify and isolate those suffering mild symptoms of coronavirus. Norway's rate of infections has dropped since April 2 Restaurants were allowed to stay open, although customers had to sit a metre apart, along with many small businesses and shops. Professor Arnoldo Frigessi from the University of Oslo's Centre for Health warned, however, that the actions have 'just put the brake on the epidemic, not stopped it'. France says lockdown cannot happen 'in one go and for everyone' 70,478 cases, 8,078 deaths France appears less close to ending the lockdown, with the figures improving less clearly than in Italy or Spain. Deputy interior minister Laurent Nunez has warned that 'the end of confinement is not yet on the cards, a deadline has not been set'. France's death rate has spiked in recent days 'I remind you of the rule... one goes out only when it is strictly necessary,' he said. Questioned about the subject last week, prime minister Edouard Philippe warned that the lockdown could not be lifted in one stroke. 'It is likely that we are not heading towards a general deconfinement in one go and for everyone,' he told parliament by video link. Philippe said the government is 'fighting hour by hour' to ward off shortages of essential drugs used to keep patients alive in intensive care. It is also still reporting new cases of the virus Statistics office Insee said last month that the lockdown has slashed overall economic activity by 35 per cent, and estimated that every month of shutdown would cut annual GDP by three percentage points. Services, heavy industry and construction are all taking big hits, Insee said, as factories are shut and only a handful of business sectors, such as supermarkets and pharmacies, remain open. Graphic shows the fluctuating impact of coronavirus cases across Europe, with Spain having the most infected people. Germany is second on the list, most likely due to its higher numbers of tests France appears to have the highest number of deaths from coronavirus, but recently changed the way it is calculated, including care homes, which shows a distortion in the figures. Italy and Spain are considered to have been hardest hit. Geordie Shore star Aaron Chalmers' pregnant girlfriend has urged their unborn baby's arrival, six months after confirming she is expecting the couple's first child. Taking to Instagram on Monday, Talia Oatway shared a snap of her exposed baby bump while posing alongside daughter Siennah, her only child from a former relationship. Sporting a black crop top, the brunette revealed the word 'Hurry' painted onto her prominent belly, while Siennah's exposed stomach was decorated with the word 'Up.' Hurry up: Geordie Shore star Aaron Chalmers' pregnant girlfriend Talia Oatway has urged their unborn baby's arrival, six months after confirming she is expecting the couple's first child Both Talia and Aaron are anxiously looking ahead to the birth of their first child together, a boy, but she recently admitted the process will be harder due to current restrictions put in place to combat the spread of coronavirus COVID-19. With the United Kingdom currently on nationwide lockdown the brunette told Instagram followers in a now expired post that it will be difficult for Aaron when she goes into labour, with many hospitals now stipulating that husbands and partners should not return if they have to leave following the birth. The couple revealed they were expecting a baby in October 2019, shortly after it was reported they had unfollowed one another and split after two years together. Happy family: While Talia is expecting her first child with Aaron, she is also a parent to daughter Siennah from a former relationship Proving they'd reconciled, professional cage fighter Aaron uploaded a snap of an ultrasound, along with a selection of baby clothes, posting: 'The BEST surprises are the 1s you don't expect.... I'm going to be a DADDY!!! Can't wait to meet you @talia.oatway [sic]' The baby news came a month after Aaron predicted: 'I'll be joining the dad group soon, I reckon. 'Since Gaz's [Beadle] missus has been talking about it [Talia's] become obsessed. I've got two dogs and a step-daughter so the next step is my own.' Happy news: Aaron confirmed the gender of his unborn child while holidaying with girlfriend Talia and step-daughter Siennah in November, weeks after announcing the pregnancy Previously: The pair revealed the news of Talia's pregnancy by sharing an ultrasound scan with their Instagram followers He added: 'If you're in a relationship and you didn't think the other person is the one, then there's something wrong. 'Obviously I think she is, as otherwise I'd just be wasting time. 'She's literally my best friend she's my number one fan when it comes to my fights, and she's the one that kicks me out of bed in the morning when I'm going on runs and I'm staying at her's. 'She's literally my number one supporter. I'm f**king over the moon that I met her, and she's an absolutely beautiful girl.' That's where we end today's Brisbane Times coronavirus blog. It was a day that saw the promised released of the government's modelling, which showed just how bad it could get here in Australia, with the hope that worst-case scenario can be avoided. We saw Australia's death toll rise to 48, with Queensland's toll staying steady at five. We have 934 cases in the Sunshine State, with 13 new positive cases recorded today. There have been 61,834 tests undertaken. Nation-wide, the confirmed infection count stands at 5908. Check back in tomorrow as we continue our coverage of this defining event in our state's - and our nation's - history. Stay safe - and stay home! The disappearance of 40-year-old Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean and her eight-year-old son Gideon, lead to a search and rescue operation after their canoe drifted into the waters of Chesapeake Bay. Crews on boats and in helicopters have all been engaged in the search. The Kennedy family is not giving up hope that the mother and son will be found. The search crew are hard at work trying to find them. What the family was up to before the disappearance David McKean last saw his wife and son playing kickball in the backyard, the home is owned by former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. While playing, the ball was kicked into the cove. David said that the cove's winds was calmer than the bay. One of them kicked the ball accidentally while playing. Hence, both mother and son got into the canoe to retrieve the ball, but either the wind or current pushed them far. Also read: Coronavirus Cure: Hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir, Studied As Possible Anti-Viral Treatment So far, the Coast Guard has already searched and covered about 2.275 square miles, but did not find anything. Memories of his wife and son Gideon was 8-years old and he was compassionate. In fact, he expressed dislike to children's songs that had a hint of cruelty. He also hates hearing bad words from anyone especially from his father. Meanwhile, Maeve, who just turned 40 last November, was everything important to David. He said that she is his best friend and a soul mate. Governer Larry Hogan addressed the search for the Kennedy kin on Friday, and said that the people of Maryland were expressing sympathies, and prayers in this trying time. The governor had a talk with former lieutenant governor Townsend Friday afternoon. Extent of the search assets Those involved in the search are crews from Air Station Atlantic City MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter, Coast Guard Station Annapolis 45-foot Response Boat-Medium, an Air Station Elizabeth City C-130 Hercules, and a Coast Guard Station Inigoes. Matthew Fine, a Coast Guard commander, told WJZ that 19 vessels and five planes are used for the operation. The team is searching a total of 2,700 square miles of water for signs of life or worse, bodies of the mother and son pair. Search and rescue for mother and son The Maryland DNR officials set the time of the disappearance at about 4:49 PM in the vicinity of Herring Bay in Shady Side. An official version according to officials, did corroborate with what David said when they tried to retrieve a ball, but failed to get back to shore. There are claims from civilians who caught glimpses of two people in the bay. They said that the ones on the boat were trying hard to return. However, they are not seen again by anyone. At 7:00 PM, rescuers found a drifted overturned canoe and paddle. The search for Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean and her eight-year-old son Gideon is not yet done. There is still a chance that they might be alive, if there are no bodies found. Related article: Coronavirus Outbreak Second Wave? Recovered Wuhan Patients Testing Positive Again @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. On the eve of Mahaveera Jayanti, Jain Temple trusts on Monday donated Rs 51 lakh to Karnataka CM Relief Fund. The amount was handed over to Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. "Jain Temple trusts handover Rs 51 lakh to CM Relief Fund CM Shri @BSYBJP extended his greetings and best wishes on the occasion of Bhagwan Mahavir Jayanthi and interacted with prominent members of the Jain community in Bengaluru who had called on him at his residence," read a tweet on the Chief Minister's official Twitter handle. A following tweet said: "Responding to Chief Minister's appeal, Bengaluru Jain Temple Trusts donated Rs 51 lakh to CM Relief Fund - COVID19. Jain community members present included BJP MLC Lahar Singh Siroya, Prakash Rathod, Prakash Pirgal, Bhawarlal Kataria and Deepak Shah." The total number of positive cases in Karnataka climbed to 163 after 12 more cases were reported on Monday. With an increase of 490 cases in the last 12 hours, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India climbed to 4067, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday. As many as 109 deaths have been reported across the country due to the deadly illness. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) For the first time in recent memory, tourist-dependent Tybee Island, Georgia was trying its best to keep visitors away. The small barrier island shuttered its beaches on March 20 out of fear that out-of-town visitors could bring the novel coronavirus to a community with an aging population and no hospital, and clog the single two-lane highway to the mainland. Other coastal Georgia communities followed suit, closing hotels and motels and banning short-term rentals. But those precautions were abruptly scrapped on Thursday, when Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp enraged local leaders by reopening all the state's beaches. "As the Pentagon ordered 100,000 body bags to store the corpses of Americans killed by the Coronavirus, Governor Brian Kemp dictated that Georgia beaches must reopen, and declared any decision makers who refused to follow these orders would face prison and/or fines," Tybee Island Mayor Shirley Sessions wrote in a furious denunciation on Saturday, referencing a request that the Federal Emergency Management Agency made last week to the Department of Defense. "The health of our residents, staff and visitors are being put at risk and we will pursue legal avenues to overturn his reckless mandate." Kemp's shelter-in-place order, which supersedes those issued on the city or county level, states that nonessential workers should stay at home when not making necessary trips to medical appointments, pharmacies and grocery stores. Residents are also allowed to leave their homes to exercise, and the governor's office has said that officers from Georgia's Department of Public Safety and Department of Natural Resources will be patrolling beaches to ensure compliance with social distancing guidelines. The announcement appeared to catch local officials off guard, with Allen Booker, a Democratic county commissioner in Glynn County, Georgia, calling it "stupid and crazy at the same time." In a Friday video filmed from her porch, Sessions, who holds a nonpartisan position and is only a few months into her first term as mayor, claimed that no one would be available to take down barricades and plywood signs announcing beach closures until after the weekend. She begged visitors to voluntarily stay away, despite the governor's order. "We are now in a position where we are pleading with the public and with our residents to adhere to the beach closing," Sessions said, adding that the coastal city of nearly 3,000 people was in a "very precarious situation." Easily accessible from Savannah, Tybee Island has perhaps the most heavily-visited beach in the state, and also the smallest, Sessions said. And while the city's small police force typically has 25 officers, one has tested positive for covid-19 and five others are self-quarantined due to potential exposure. Saying that the city lacked the resources to monitor its own beaches, Sessions asked residents to send in videos and photos of people gathering too close together. "We don't have life guards on our beaches yet, and if people decide to go into the ocean and there's an accident, something really tragic, Tybee is going to be in a very bad position," she told WTOC. While Kemp hasn't directly responded to Sessions' criticism, he posted aerial footage on Twitter showing that there were "no issues" and "very few visitors" on Tybee Island over the weekend. His office told WSB-TV that he made the decision to reopen beaches after gathering input from public health and emergency management officials. Still, other elected officials have been quick to criticize Kemp, who raised eyebrows last Wednesday when he said he had just learned that coronavirus could be spread by people who aren't displaying any symptoms. One Republican state representative told the Brunswick News that the governor had not only potentially put people at risk, but also gone against the principle of local government control. "We are in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, and while we are closing schools we are reopening beaches," Savannah Democratic Mayor Van Johnson told 'NBC Nightly News' on Sunday. "In my mind that does not compute." Glynn County, Georgia, which is home to the resort communities of Jekyll Island and St. Simon's Island, had ordered hotels, bed-and-breakfasts and short-term rentals to close before Kemp's announcement. In an interview with the Florida Times-Union, Glynn County Republican Commissioner Peter Murphy said that the governor "undid all the good we did in March" with his order. "I've talked to some short-term rental operators, and they said they're being flooded with calls from New York and other hot spots, and we have no way to force them to quarantine," Glynn County Republican commission chairman Michael Browning told the paper. "They're going to be out and about in the community." Murphy also told the Times-Union that Kemp's order came just days after the commission ordered beaches on privately-owned Sea Island to close. The timing was "interesting," he said, because the island's billionaire owner, Philip Anschutz, is a major Republican donor. Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., a prominent Kemp ally, also has a home there. A spokesman for Kemp told the paper that there was no connection. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Georgia spiked on Sunday night, with 359 new cases and 11 new deaths reported in 24 hours. The state now has a total of 6,742 confirmed cases. 219 deaths have been attributed to the virus, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. To ensure that people are only heading to the beach for exercise, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has banned beach chairs, umbrellas and tents. On Saturday, state police on Tybee Island "occasionally made the rounds to eject beachgoers who were obviously defying Kemp's order, with several of them sitting on beach chairs drinking beer," the Savannah Morning News reported. "Other youths played games or went swimming, while quite a few sunbathers stretched any reasonable definition of 'exercise' to the point of incredulity." Locals, meanwhile, weren't thrilled to see visitors returning to their island in the midst of a global pandemic. "In my opinion, they just loaded a gun and pointed it at the beach," Keith Gay, who owns a vacation rental company in Tybee Island, told WSAV. "I hope I'm wrong but, when they put the stay-in-place rule, the weekend following that we had 9,000 cars on the island. Every restaurant, every bar, and beach were completely slammed. This is after there had been a national warning and a state warning about social distancing." One woman wore a hazmat suit as a protest, telling the station that Kemp had put her disabled veteran husband at risk. "We are doing what we're supposed to be doing, and when do visitor's rights supersede the resident's rights?" she asked. A TEAM of 10 medical experts and two officials from China arrived in the Philippines Sunday, April 5, to provide technical support in the battle against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. The team was welcomed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, and Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Sunday. According to Locsin, the Chinese experts are those who fought it on the ground and the only ones who can really tell the Philippines how to handle the virus. Chinese medical experts are going to share their experiences with the Philippines on how to fight it, how to contain it, and hopefully one day, how to cure it, Locsin said. Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian said the Chinese government dispatched the group to assist the Philippines in its fight against Covid-19. The team also brought a new batch of medical supply donations that include 300,000 surgical masks, 30,000 medical N95 masks, 5,000 medical protective suits, 5,000 medical face shields, and 30 non-invasive ventilators. The Chinese medical expert team is among the first three teams sent by the Chinese government to member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Most team members had frontline experience Wuhan City and the rest of Hubei province, epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak in China. The novel coronavirus, officially known as Sars-CoV-2, causes Covid-19. Huang said the team would help the country improve its capability in epidemic prevention, control, diagnosis, and treatment. The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases earlier announced that it has authorized the technical visit of the Chinese health experts. (SunStar Philippines) Television presenter Helen Skelton has said there is a 'massive disconnect' between food producers and the British public. The BBC presenter, who currently hosts Springtime On The Farm, urged consumers to have greater respect for farmers. The 36-year-old grew up on a farm herself, and has a 'huge amount of respect' for those who produce the nation's food. "Now I live on the edge of the city, and there's a massive disconnect between food producers and the rest of the country," she said. Ms Skelton compared the British public's respect for farmers to the situation in France, calling it 'very different'. "You go to the market and you ask the farmer there what you should get, and he tells you and you buy it because that's what's best at that time of year," she added. "We don't do that over here. Like if we went into a supermarket and the guy behind the counter said, 'You should eat this', we'd tell them to mind their own business. "I think that's a shame." She said she hopes programmes such as Springtime On The Farm encourages the public to respect farmers and locally-sourced food more. The Channel 5 programme will return for a third series on 13 April at 8pm. The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has left Nigeria and the entire world grappling for measures to contain the rampaging disease which has led to the death of many citizens in several countries and put the global economy in jeopardy. We note the national address by President Muhammadu Buhari on the issue and commend the Federal Government for the various measures taken to contain the disease and its fallouts. The restriction of movement in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun States are steps in the right direction, albeit somewhat belated. We are not unaware of the raging debates by jurists on the legality of the proclamation and its enforcement; however, we are of the considered view that the Quarantine Act provides sufficient legal shield for the Federal Government. The Act is an existing law which has not been declared unconstitutional by any court. At any rate, the existential threat to the human society as we know it posed by the pandemic hardly presents an ideal setting for arguing fine points of law, especially where lives are at stake. Indeed, self-preservation is the first law of nature. It may even be argued that, as difficult as it is, the lockdown should be holistic and extended nationwide. We commend the Anambra State Government for the measures taken to contain the pandemic within the State. Shutting of schools and markets, prohibition of gathering of large crowds, emphasizing social distancing and maintenance of good hygiene as set out by the State Government are standard defences against the pandemic. We empathize with our people on the hardships wrought by these inevitable measures, and encourage all residents to support the government in discharging its constitutional role of safeguarding public health. Equally commendable are the palliative measures rolled out by the State Government, especially the provision of food supplies to senior citizens aged 70 years and above. It must however be noted that the challenge of arresting and ultimately defeating the pandemic also requires robust involvement of individuals and corporates. Accordingly, we urge all citizens to contribute to the Anambra State Government fund raising effort to combat the pandemic. LAP plans to contribute to the Anambra State COVID-19 Account by mobilizing funds through its members, friends and well wishers. Beyond this, LAP is committed to promote awareness towards eradicating the ignorance and cynicism that still pervade the COVID-19 sphere and create huge stumbling blocks to Governments efforts against the pandemic. Sadly, too many people are still in denial, dismissing the coronavirus pandemic as a hoax, a conspiracy or an exaggeration. However, the near apocalyptic death rates in Italy and the United States indicate otherwise. LAP members are therefore enjoined to take our awareness campaign to all nooks and crannies of the State to convince the doubting members of the public on the pressing need to comply strictly with Governments directives on the pandemic. Given their influence and closeness to the masses, traditional rulers, churches, town and village union leaders should aggressively reinforce Governments directives and the compelling need for compliance. They should also help to organize provision of palliatives for the most vulnerable members of the society to augment Governments effort in that regard. It is in this vein that we find encouragement in a video clip where the Igwe of Ojoto was presumably seen dispersing a large crowd at a funeral, leaving only the officiating priests and close family members of the deceased as directed by the Anambra State Government. It is important that governments at all levels show transparency and fairness in the distribution of the COVID-19 palliatives, whether in cash or kind. This will encourage more people to heed Governments calls for donations. Given certain factors like high population density (second only to Lagos State), the commercial inclinations of the residents and their high international exposure, Anambra State deserves special attention of the Federal Government. Accordingly, while commending the Federal Government for the N10 Billion grant to Lagos State being the epicentre of the pandemic as well as the exemplary leadership shown by the Lagos team in leading the charge against the scourge, we vigorously support the Anambra State Governments request for special funding from the Federal Government to contain the pandemic, just as the State Government should strive even more to rise to the challenge occasioned by the pandemic. This also raises the urgent need to establish coronavirus laboratory and test centre in the state. We urge governments to seize this opportunity to advance industrial capacity in relevant fields including especially in garment, pharmaceutical and medical equipment manufacturing. Face masks, hand gloves and medical workers protective gear are all within the capacity of our local industries. It is noteworthy that the United States Government has engaged General Motors to urgently produce ventilators in great quantities. Innoson Vehicles Ltd has reportedly declared its readiness to produce ventilators if engaged by the Government. Government should urgently initiate discussions with the company in this regard for possible domestic use and with opportunities to also export the ventilators to needy countries such as Italy and United States to earn much needed foreign exchange. It is recalled that Innoson Manufacturing came to the aid of the Nigerian Airforce by fabricating braking systems for some of its old combat aircraft when the spare parts could not be sourced overseas. Finally, the coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated how interconnected and interdependent our world is, and the need for cooperation among all stakeholders. We all need one another and everyone is important. The gravity of the pandemic demands not only that we all take steps individually and collectively to contain the scourge, but that we should also be on the lookout for the weak and vulnerable among us towards lending a helping hand to them. Chijioke Okoli, SAN President League of Anambra Professionals The coronavirus pandemic has affected hundreds of countries across the globe, infecting over 1.2 million people and killing more than 60,000. What started in the Chinese city of Wuhan has now travelled across continents to severely hit the United States and European nations like Italy, Spain, France and Germany. Amid the Covid-19 crisis, one thinks if theres hardly any corner in the world which isnt touched by the deadly contagion - the answer to which is, yes. According to reports, small Pacific Island nations have not reported any coronavirus so far. These island nations benefit from their remoteness as well as travel restrictions. Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa, Kiribati, Micronesia, Tonga, the Marshall Islands Palau, Tuvalu, and Nauru are places where theres no news of Covid-19. Also Watch | Chinas hollow virus diplomacy and a look at Beijings missteps Interestingly, North Korea and Yemen, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan in Asia have not reported any Covid-19 cases. Some international experts are sceptical of North Koreas assertion that it has not had a single case of the new coronavirus, which was first detected in neighbouring China. Im a bit surprised that North Korea decided to go ahead with its spring SPA session, said Rachel Minyoung Lee, a Seoul-based analyst for a website that monitors North Korea, news agency Reuters reported. The coronavirus outbreak infected at least 80,000 people and killed over 3,000 before marching on to the rest of the world. So far, the United States of America has the highest number of cases with over 2 lakh patients and nearly 10,000 deaths. Spain, Italy, Germany and France follow. In India, the number of Covid-19 cases crossed 4,000 on Monday. Nearly 300 patients have recovered while more than 100 have died. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Vietnam begins second morning with no new Covid-19 case A doctor in protective clothes is about to step in an ambulance car at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hanoi's Dong Anh District, March 30, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh. Vietnam reported no new Covid-19 infection Monday morning, recording just one in the past 24 hours. The national tally remained at Sunday evenings tally of 241, the Health Ministry noted. After reporting several cases every morning for almost a month, Monday marked the second morning in a row without new cases. On Sunday evening, a 20-year-old Vietnamese student returning from the U.K. took the countrys total to 241, of whom 91 have been discharged. Many of the 150 active cases are Vietnamese nationals returning from abroad, mostly from Europe and the U.S., and more than 60 people are related to the two major Covid-19 hotspots in the country the Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi with at least 43 cases and Buddha Bar & Grill in Ho Chi Minh City 18 cases. The country began a 15-day nationwide social distancing campaign April 1, not allowing gatherings of more than two people and asking people to stay home and only go out when truly necessary. The step was taken citing a crucial two-week period in the nations Covid-19 fight. The government also suspended all inbound international flights and halted road transport services until April 15 to limit travel in the country of 94 million people. The global death toll in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has reached more than 69,300 people. T hree people have died after travelling on a cruise ship with coronavirus patients that has docked in Florida, authorities said. Two people were reported dead on the Coral Princess, which docked on Saturday in Miami where 14 of its passengers were taken to hospitals. It was not clear if those taken to hospital had coronavirus symptoms, but one person later died. Earlier, Princess Cruises said seven passengers and five crew members on the Coral Princess had tested positive for Covid-19. Passengers on board the Coral Princess, carrying 1,020 passengers and 878 crew members, had been in limbo for days awaiting permission to dock. Those in need of hospital treatment disembarked first on Sunday, the cruise line said. Those fit to fly began leaving on Sunday, while others with symptoms of respiratory illness will remain on board until cleared by ship doctors. Earlier, the cruise ships Zaandam and Rotterdam were permitted to dock at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, with 14 critically ill people taken immediately to hospitals. The remaining passengers were slowly being allowed to board flights for home. The Coral Princess had been on a South American cruise that was due to end on March 19 in Buenos Aires. Since then, the ship has encountered obstacles to docking because of various port closures and cancellation of airline flights, the cruise line said. Passengers have self-isolated in their staterooms and meals have been delivered by room service. Crew members have also remained in their quarters when they are not working. The US Coast Guard said it has been involved with processing about 120 vessels carrying some 250,000 passengers over the past three weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic. SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In addition to providing valuable information, programming and continuing legal education to members, the legal community and the public in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the California Lawyers Association (CLA) continues to add member value in anticipation of a time when social distancing becomes relaxed and people return to work. CLA is debuting a Career Center, which will streamline job searches for California attorneys seeking employment and refine candidate pools for employers seeking candidates. The mobile-friendly platform will enable member attorneys at all stages of their careers, across all disciplines, opportunities to easily see and apply to vacant positions and provide other career resources. It will also be a one-stop-shop for employers seeking California-licensed or resident candidates for jobs. The Career Center is another unique offering for members of one of the largest bar associations in the nation, combining with exceptional in-person and remote networking, high-level training and education, unparalleled events and programming, and access to Fastcase legal research. In addition, CLA's recent partnership with CalBar Connect will offer CLA members access to exclusive deals and discounts on everything from professional liability and other types of insurance to car rentals, appliances, and other products. A portion of purchases made through CalBar Connect will be invested in California legal aid organizations, benefiting Californians in need. "We are proud to offer our members the best resources available to help them connect and succeed," said CLA C.E.O. and Executive Director Ona Alston Dosunmu, "Our Career Center will be an incredible tool to support the professional development and upward trajectory of our attorneys. Our members are already sought out by employers, and this will enhance their ability to connect with the best opportunities as well as provide a service to those California firms who need good candidates," Dosunmu added. The Career Center platform offers CLA attorneys the ability to post anonymous resumes, control which employers see their information, and the option to receive alerts when new jobs that match personal criteria are posted. Employers will benefit from being able to reach, via Job Flash emails, job-seeking CLA members, who may not actively visit job boards. Job content will be integrated into social media platforms to enhance member engagement, and offer exposure to CLA's audiences on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other channels. In addition to career resources, the Career Center will integrate other offerings, such as professional development and training resources, available to CLA members only. ABOUT CALIFORNIA LAWYERS ASSOCIATION Established in 2018, the California Lawyers Association is the bar association for all California attorneys. CLA's mission is to promote excellence, diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and fairness in the administration of justice and the rule of law. SOURCE California Lawyers Association Related Links http://calawyers.org Editorial THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN Bob Dylan once sang those words above, expressing the discontent of the youth against an establishment that was sending thousands of them off into war. Now, discontent is swelling again as the Coronavirus cripples the economy, causing thousands to lose their jobs, without much security. Human history is littered with moments that have served as catalysts for monumental upheavals of our society. The 21st century has already experienced one of those moments in 9/11. The attack on the twin towers saw a ramping up in national security protocols around the world. The US passed the USA PATRIOT Act, and Australia introduced a barrage of national security changes such as granting state police the ability to search without a warrant and giving ASIO the ability to interrogate non-suspects for up to twenty-four hours and detain them for up to seven days. However, not all responses led to reactionary developments. A massive anti-war movement grew as the West entered into a war with Iraq. We saw similar sentiments arise after the global financial crisis with Occupy Wall Street. The success and failures of those movements are outside of the scope of this editorial. However, what is almost certain is that the COVID-19 pandemic will constitute another shift in human history. In some respects, it already has. Many people, some for the first time, are questioning or reassessing the strength and merits of capitalism. And this wouldnt be the first time in our history this has happened. It is not a coincidence that after the Great Depression and World War II that our party saw its membership skyrocket. People, particularly in the West, are seeing the dangerous outcomes of capitalism for the first time. As communists, we need to seize this opportunity in two ways. The first is to make sure the government does not use this as an opportunity to pass reactionary legislation. We must ensure that we remain vigilant against government policies that hurt the working-class. Moments of crisis in capitalism will bring out its most fascistic (if not outright fascism) tendencies, and we cannot allow this to happen. Videos have already surfaced of police in full riot gear appearing at peoples doorsteps interrogating them about where they have been because of COVID-19. We must at all times, keep the government in check, during and after the pandemic. The second way we must seize this opportunity is by promoting the merits of socialism at every turn. We have seen how China, Vietnam, and Cuba have all dealt with the pandemic in their own countries. These countries are in a stage of recovery not seen anywhere else in the world because socialist economies are built to serve the working class, not bourgeoisie. Not only are these countries experiencing recovery rates unseen anywhere else, but they are also doing their part to stop COVID-19 internationally. For example, China and Cuba have sent doctors, medical experts, and medical supplies to Italy, where the pandemic is arguably at its worst. We do not know how exactly the world will look once we come out of this pandemic, but if history is any guide, a shift in the political consciousness of the masses will take place. As communists, we must be there with the working class showing the way forward, fighting against any bourgeois narrative that will attempt to detract from capitalisms failures. Karl Marx famously opened The Communist Manifesto with the words A spectre is haunting Europe the spectre of communism and across the world that spectre is haunting again. The capitalist class is spooked, and like an Ebenezer Scrooge is trying to right the wrongs it has committed against the proletariat. But dont be fooled! Capitalism cannot change its stripes; the temporary relief measures are designed only to save itself. We must strive to raise the working class consciousness if we are ever to see socialism in Australia. Lets not let the political opportunity that this pandemic has created slip us by! 'If many start-ups lose in this environment, there will be less number of people willing to start new businesses.' Photograph: Sivaram V/Reuters In view of the economic disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Kris Gopalakrishnan, below, Infosys co-founder and chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry's Start-up Committee, tells Neha Alawadhi that CII is asking the government for tax breaks and easier regulatory compliance requirements to help start-ups survive. How is the scenario (with coronavirus) looking like for start-ups, especially smaller ones? Its a very difficult period for start-ups, whether they are big or small. Some start-ups have seen a difficult period in 2008 or 2011, but for most this is the first time. It is a once in a lifetime kind of impact. My advice to them is to stick to your employees, work from home, and figure out how you will continue your operations. Second is to conserve cash. Look at all your expenses and reduce those which can be reduced. Some start-ups are also considering salary cuts, especially at the senior level. I would ask them to go back to their investors to see whether they can take their help and support to increase the runway. Investors are also using the same strategy to protect their investments. Rather than looking at new companies to invest in, they need to double down on their existing investments, so they emerge out in a better position on the other side, or at least survive. What is heartening is that the community has come together and is working on projects on a pro bono basis to address the crisis. At the CII level, are there any recommendations that you have made to the government to help start-ups? We are asking for a moratorium, tax breaks, postponement of some of the regulatory compliance requirements. Also things like whether there can be support for salaries below a certain level, so companies don't have to let go of people. These are very similar to what the MSME sector has requested. The urgency is that optimism around start-ups is very high. They have innovated and created scalable new businesses. We shouldn't lose that. If many start-ups lose in this environment, there will be less number of people willing to start new businesses. What are start-ups thinking about recovery, whenever that happens? I think the recovery will be in two steps -- first is how you operate amid social distancing because of the pandemic. The lockdown may be lifted on April 15, but the virus will still be there. So how to provide a safe and secure environment for people to work is essential. The second is that when this health emergency is behind us, we can focus on a full economic recovery. Is the investment cycle going to take some time to pick up? It will. We have requested investors... they are watching the situation, and a lot of them are worried about the money they have invested. The way it looks like right now, we will see some companies fail. So we have to manage all that. The Philippines has suffered over 150 covid19 deaths so far and has about 3,500 known cases of the virus. The government has ordered a nationwide lockdown to halt the spread and make it easier to treat those who have it. So far so good. Covid19 does not appear to have spread to the thousands of Chinese living on existing and artificial islands in the South China Sea that China has claimed and is holding by force against international law and international court decisions affirming the Chinese occupation is illegal. China has offered to assist the Philippines in dealing with covid19 as long as they dont call it the Wuhan virus. China is currently trying to suppress news of the disease inside China, where many locals report their government is not reporting the continued presence of the virus and the growing number of infections and deaths. China is trying to shift blame for the virus to the United States. People in Wuhan find this hard to believe because it was a local doctor who first noticed covid19 in December 2019, raised the alarm and was promptly silenced by the government for spreading rumors. The doctor later died of the virus and has become a folk hero to local Chinese. Diseases similar to covid19 are common in China and scientists found 80 percent of it was identical to the earlier (2003) SARS, a less-lethal covid-type type virus that also originated in China. Filipinos dont trust China, especially given the way the Chinese have handled the outbreak of the Wuhan virus and its subsequent spread. While the Philippines has been able to deal with Moslem separatists, Islamic terrorists, leftist rebels, drug gangs and corruption, China persisted and has become a major threat to the Philippines. April 3, 2020: In the south (Mindanao) four NPA (leftist rebels) members surrendered because they were hungry and tired of hiding from the security forces. April 2, 2020: China has announced that it is establishing scientific research stations on Subi (Zamora) Reef and Fiery Cross (Kagitingan) Reef. Both of these locations are in the South China Sea. Subi Reef is Filipino because it is within 22 kilometers of Pagasa Island, which is Filipino sovereign territory. China also occupies Mischief Reef and Mckennan Reefs which are both on the Filipino continental strength and, according to international law, part of the Philippines. April 1, 2020: In the South China Sea Chinese coast guard ships are patrolling Second Thomas Shoal, First Thomas Shoal, and Half Moon Shoal, all within the Filipino EEZ but now claimed by China. The Philippines EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone, waters 380 kilometers from the coast) in the South China Sea is where Filipinos have been fishing the reefs and other shallow waters for centuries, long before there was a Philippine state and without interference from Chinese fishermen, who only occasionally showed up. Thats because fishing boats with refrigeration, a 20th century invention, only recently made it possible for Chinese fishermen to scour the entire South China Sea for fish to profitably catch, refrigerate and carry back to China. The 20th century also meant the possibility of finding oil or gas deposits in the South China Sea as well as controlling key shipping routes via the Malacca Strait. March 29, 2020: Malaysia has been warned that a group of Abu Sayyaf pirates had recently left Jolo Island in the Philippines and crossed the Sulu Sea towards Sabah, a Malaysian territory long menaced by Abu Sayyaf pirates and raiders. Currently, Abu Sayyaf only has a few hundred active members and is short of cash, local support and new recruits. Kidnapping used to be a good source of cash, especially if a foreigner could be taken. That has become more difficult and risky because the Filipino and Malaysian military has increased the number and effectiveness of its land and naval patrols. Thats one reason most of the recent pirate attacks have occurred in Malaysian waters. Abu Sayyaf also considers itself part of ISIL but that association is second to keeping the Islamic terrorist group operational and that requires cash. March 28, 2020: In the north (Rizal province) troops were attacked by about 30 NPA gunmen. One soldier and one communist rebel were killed. Two soldiers and several NPA men were wounded as the leftist rebels fled. The government criticized the NPA for violating its own ceasefire that started on March 19th. March 24, 2020: In the south (Jolo Island), a kidnapped doctor escaped his Abu Sayyaf captors when the gunmen were spotted by some soldiers and closed in. The Abu Sayyaf men fled without trying to take their elderly captive with them. The doctor had been kidnapped from his local clinic on February 4th and the Islamic terrorists were demanding a ransom of $59,000, which his family had not been able to raise yet. The troops caught up with his kidnappers, who escaped after a brief gun battle. Some of the Abu Sayyaf men may have been wounded. March 21, 2020: In the south (Surigao del Sur province), NPA gunmen murdered two tribal elders. It is unclear why but the reason was probably intimidation, to compel locals to cooperate with the communist rebels. March 19, 2020: The NPA declared a ceasefire, until April 15, so that everyone can deal with the covid19 epidemic. March 16, 2020: In the south (Lanao del Sur province), a BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters) member (a low-level leader) surrendered to the police. Elsewhere in the south (Sultan Kudarat province) an NPA member was arrested. March 14, 2020: In the south (Maguindanao province) over a dozen soldiers were wounded during a series of clashes with BIFF Islamic terrorists. March 13, 2020: In the north (Luzon), police in Baguio City located and went to arrest three wanted CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines) officials. The three were armed, resisted and died in a gun battle. The dead included the head of the NPA. Another of the dead was a member of the CPP executive committee. The CPP has lost the broad support it had fifty years ago when their rebellion began. The NPA is falling apart and a growing number of factions have gone gangster. March 6, 2020: In the south (Maguindanao province), troops clashed with a BIFF Islamic terrorists several times over the last four days and killed about 14 of them while even more of them were wounded and got away. Only five BIFF bodies were recovered but local villagers who reported the Islamic terrorist presence later reported the larger number of dead from airstrikes and artillery fire. Troops captured some abandoned camps that had been hit by airstrikes or artillery and confirmed that blood trails indicated heavy casualties. Weapons, ammo and other supplies were captured. BIFF considers itself part of ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) and has been under constant heavy attack since late 2018. Only fewer than a hundred members remain active and this clash reduces that number considerably. BIFF was originally formed to oppose BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), the autonomous Moslem region because they considered it insufficient. Since it was finally created in early 2019 BARMM has proved very popular among Moslems and that meant much less support for groups like BIFF. In response to the coronavirus crisis, the British Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced plans for the early release of up to 4,000 prisoners in England and Walesjust under 5 percent of the prison population. The selected low-risk prisoners in the last two months of their sentences will be electronically tagged and allowed back into the population to ease overcrowding. But the MoJ confirmed to the Australian Associated Press that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange would not be released on the mendacious and vindictive grounds that he is not serving a custodial sentence and so is not eligible under the terms of the legislation. Assange is currently held on remandthat is, he is not charged with any crime or serving any sentence in the UKin Belmarsh maximum security prison in London. He is part-way through an extradition hearing to decide on his extradition to the United States, where he faces a series of charges under the Espionage Act with a potential combined sentence of 175 years. Assange in Belmarsh Prison sometime after his arrest on April 11 last year The MoJ has in effect ruled that because Assange is an innocent man, he must remain in prison, and at grave risk to his life. Government promises of robust plans to reduce the spread of the virus through the prison system are belied by the rapid spread of cases and suspected cases in jails across the country. As of Saturday, 88 prisoners had tested positive for COVID-19 across 29 prisons, along with 15 prison staff across nine jails, meaning the virus is already present in at least a quarter of institutions in England and Wales. Another 1,200 prisoners are believed to be self-isolating, as are around 8,000 prison staffone quarter of the total. Assanges legal team reported last Tuesday that 200 staff at Belmarsh were among them. Three prisoners infected with the virus have already died, two of them at HMP Littlehey in Cambridgeshire. Lawyer Simon Creighton, who has clients at Littlehey, told BBC Newsnight: If you think about how cruise ships have been seen as Petri dishes, prisons are about 1,000 times worse. Some of the contact I've had with prisoners over the last week has been terrifying. On Saturday it was reported that two prison staff at Pentonville prison in North London had also died with COVID-19 infections. Assange has a chronic lung condition and has had his health systematically destroyed by years of arbitrary detention and psychological torture. After bail was denied on March 16, the campaign group Doctors for Assange wrote an open letter signed by 200 doctors which warned, Julian Assanges life and health are at heightened risk due to his arbitrary detention during this global pandemic. That threat will only grow as the coronavirus spreads. Dr. Stephen Frost, a spokesperson for Doctors for Assange, told the WSWS, This Kafkaesque and sadistic decision by the UK government must be opposed by all doctors. It marks a continuation of the prolonged psychological torture of Julian Assange, as found by UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Professor Nils Melzer, in May 2019. Mr. Assanges life is in grave danger. This past Friday, psychiatrist and co-founder of the Critical Psychiatry Network, Dr. Duncan B. Double, wrote a sharp statement for Critical Psychiatry, concluding, The psychological torture of Julian Assange must end. His mental state is putting him at physical risk of dying. The next day a paper by clinical psychologist Dr. Lissa Johnson, signed by 21 psychiatrists and psychologists, reiterated the physical harm done to Assange by his psychological abuse: Via immunosuppressive and cardiovascular mechanisms, persistently and chronically activated stress physiology causes susceptibility to a range of potentially catastrophic illnesses and diseases With chronic and severe stress, for example, and chronically elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol, both immune cells and brain cells can physically self-destruct, a process known as apoptosis Cortisol also exerts other well documented immunosuppressive effects, which impair the bodys ability to fight disease There is only one conclusion to be drawn from these events. The British government is determined to see Assange dead. The case for his release by any genuine standards of justice is overwhelming. The WikiLeaks founder is one of only two prisoners currently being held in Belmarsh prison on remand, pending the completion of an extradition trial for manifestly non-violent crimesin fact, for the exposure of war crimes. Yesterday marked the 10th anniversary of WikiLeaks publication of the Collateral Murder video showing the indiscriminate killing of unarmed civiliansincluding two journalistsby a team of two US Apache helicopters in Al-Amin al-Thaniya, Baghdad. District Judge Vanessa Baraitsers decision to hold Assangethe most famous political prisoner in the worldon remand as a flight risk in September 2019 was outrageous. Her refusal to grant him bail for the same reasons two weeks ago, under conditions of a national lockdown, was a cruel farce. Assanges state of health puts him clearly in the high-risk category for the coronavirus. The completion of his extradition hearing, scheduled to resume for at least three weeks on May 18, will in all likelihood be postponed. Every day, the danger of his contracting a life-threatening disease increases. Assanges desperate situation demands, in spite of all the difficulties imposed by the pandemic and the lockdown, an urgent response. Dr. Johnsons recent paper concludes, Should Julian Assange die in prison, whether from coronavirus or any other catastrophic health outcome, we will have become a society that tortures its journalists to death publicly and with impunity, as a warning to all. No effort can be spared in the fight to save the life of the most significant journalist of the 21st century. Committees for his defence must be organised amongst colleagues, classmates and neighbours, using every possible avenue of communication and means of organisation demanding his immediate release from Belmarsh prison. The coronavirus pandemic is causing life to be lived hour by hour as news, statistics, policies, procedures and executive mandates are continuously bombarding us. This is especially true at the Mexican border and in the El Paso-Juarez-southern New Mexico region. A major challenge is interpreting what officials are saying or mandating, because one size fits all is hard to impose on such a diverse and dynamic, two-country, three-state region. On March 20, the Trump administration announced it was closing the border to all nonessential travel. This sent a wave of anxiety among many border residents, who struggled to interpret if cross-border travel was completely suspended, which was not the case. The order does allow U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, holders of work visas, students and Mexican citizens deemed essential to cross back and forth across the border. The real gray area in this declaration is Mexican citizens who are essential. These are people who are essential in areas such as medicine, research, logistics and agriculture. After issuance, I started getting calls from colleagues telling me Mexican farmers who export their products to the U.S. were being denied entry into the U.S. to finalize contracts with buyers, set up logistics, or to bank. After discussion with CBP officials, any misunderstandings were clarified. In these unprecedented times, when a declaration is issued, it can take time to properly implement and to develop the requisite policy. On March 23, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a shelter-in-place and ordered the closure of nonessential businesses throughout the state. Certain types of manufacturing were deemed essential under the decree, but it took the better part of two days to clarify gray areas unique to the border. A supplier of textiles for the auto industry is that an essential business? If a company is a public warehouse that stores products ranging from consumer electronics to food packaging, is that an essential business? The following day, El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego and El Paso Mayor Dee Margo jointly issued a stay-at-home declaration and closure of nonessential businesses for the City of El Paso and El Paso County. This created confusion because a lot of El Pasoans work in the Santa Teresa, New Mexico, industrial base. Furthermore, their list of essential businesses differed somewhat from those deemed essential in New Mexico. In light of the shelter-in-place declaration, could these workers from Texas cross the border into New Mexico to go to their jobs if their business was deemed essential in another state? After consultation with both El Paso County and the city of El Paso, officials determined that workers would not be prevented from traveling to their jobs in New Mexico. As a precaution, many businesses in Santa Teresa issued an official company letter to their New Mexico and Texas employees for them to carry at all times, stating that their jobs are deemed essential, and that they should be allowed to travel freely to their places of employment. On March 25, Chihuahua Gov. Javier Corral issued his own stay-at-home decree and closure of nonessential businesses. This was followed by Mexicos federal government issuing a national emergency, suspending all nonessential activities until April 30. This national decree mandated that businesses deemed essential should not have gatherings of more than 50 people. This caused confusion as to whether Chihuahuas huge production base, consisting of many maquiladoras that have hundreds and thousands of employees, would have to shut down. As of the writing of this article, 28 maquiladoras have shut down, but the industry as a whole is still working. Because of the coronavirus, supply chains in North America have been disrupted, due to the shutdown of Chinese suppliers who have seen their workforce ordered to stay at home or too afraid to consistently show up to work. This has affected the auto industry in all three North American Free Trade countries. In the U.S., the Big Three automakers have voluntarily mothballed plants on a temporary basis in order to stem the flow of the coronavirus. Limited production, due to a shortage of production inputs and voluntary or mandated shutdowns, have thrown the supply chain world on its head. The U.S.-Mexico border region is heavily populated by firms supplying steel, plastic injection components, textiles, foam, packaging and other materials to the auto industry. A slowdown in this industry will send reverberations throughout the supply chain. The U.S. federal government, which had suspended routine and non-immigrant visa services, found itself being bombarded by American farmers, ranchers and food producers that needed Mexican laborers to keep their businesses running. This forced the government to declare that it will resume issuing H-2 visas, which are used for temporary workers in the agricultural, construction and forestry management industries. Due to the spread of the crisis, officials have had to act fast. Sometimes this causes confusion as some people and industries fall into gray areas. This is not unusual. It is imperative that communication lines are open and we all work together to move forward. Jerry Pacheco is the executive director of the International Business Accelerator, a nonprofit trade counseling program of the New Mexico Small Business Development Centers Network. He can be reached at 575-589-2200 or at jerry@nmiba.com. Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen on Monday urged the people to not put the nature in crisis as the world continues to seek solutions to defeat the coronavirus pandemic. Pietersen released a video on Twitter, saying that the pandemic should now be enough to make people understand that they do not own this planet. "Resilience is the power to recover quickly in difficulties, we as humans are part of a natural resilient world, micro and macro organisms in nature have countless inter-relationships that keep our planet healthy and our modern world functional. We aren't voids of nature, we are citizens of the normal world, humanity is being reminded more than ever now that we do not own this planet," Pietersen said in the video. "The lessons and solutions rest in nature, ultimately it is the understanding of the natural world and nature that offers us the solutions we seek. As we seek solutions in the terms of crisis, let us not put nature in crisis, but it gives me hope that we as humans are caring," he added. COVID-19 has spread across continents and territories, has infected at least 1.2 million and killed close to 70,000 others. The coronavirus death toll in the United Kingdom had surpassed 4,900 on Sunday after the Department of Health and Social Care announced that 621 more people have lost their lives after contracting the disease. According to the UK government's daily statistical bulletin, the death toll as of 17:00 GMT on Saturday stood at 4,934. The total number of COVID-19 cases confirmed in the UK stood at 47,806, the government stated. On Saturday, the UK government had warned that stricter lockdown measures could be implemented following reports that thousands of citizens took to the country's parks. Currently, the government is allowing citizens to leave their residences for exercise once a day. Several leading government officials, such as Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock have tested positive for COVID-19. The World Health Organisation had termed coronavirus as a 'pandemic' on March 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) JACKSON COUNTY, Mississippi -- A 38-year-old Pascagoula woman was killed just after midnight Sunday when her vehicle crashed into a brick barrier wall, according to Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell. The accident happened in front of a home on Fountainbleau Road east of the Gulf Park Estates subdivision outside of Ocean Springs. The victim, later identified as Danica Cedotal, wasnt wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene, Ezell said. The incident remains under investigation. Some islands have such low elevation, that mere inches of sea-level rise will flood them, but higher, larger islands will also be affected by changes in climate and an understanding of ancient practices in times of climate change might help populations survive, according to researchers. "I'm working in a place (Madagascar) where communities around me are sensing, in the span of a few years, that they are seeing climate change," said Kristina Douglass, assistant professor of anthropology, Penn State. "They have seen climate events take out entire reefs." Douglass is interested in how the archaeological record can weigh in on climate change. She wants to understand how communities adapted in the past and how historical events have increased vulnerability. She and Jago Cooper, curator of the Americas, British Museum, investigated the Caribbean Islands and the islands in the Southwestern Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa from Kenya to Mozambique. "If we look back we see that all the communities have been displaced into marginal land," said Douglass, who is also an associate of Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment. "If they don't see this, they won't be able to find a solution. They have to consider that around the Caribbean and off of Africa there are historical factors that contribute to the problem." Both sets of islands have different histories. Indigenous Native American groups originally settled the Caribbean islands around 6,000 years ago, while continental Africans settled most of the Southwestern Indian Ocean islands (SWIO) only 2,000 years ago. Both groups of islands became the target of colonization in the last 1,000 years and both originating populations suffered marginalization. In the Caribbean, introduced diseases decimated the native population which was replaced by colonists and African slaves. Slavery played an important role in both locations. One of the many problems of colonization was the push in both locations to move from nomadic to stationary lives. The ideal living situation was considered a permanent location with set fields, pastures or fishing areas. Neither group of islanders were stationary before colonization. According to the researchers, in the Caribbean, in the past, when sea level was rising, the population would notice their coastal sources of fresh water becoming salty and they would then leave coastal areas and move to more inland, higher ground. This prevented storm surge from sweeping away anyone because the people were no longer living in the flood zone. "For some islands, archaeological and paleoecological research offer an important record of pre-colonial climate change and its interplay with human lives and landscapes," the researchers report today (Apr. 6) in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "The archaeological record suggests strategies and mechanisms that can inform discussions of resilience in the face of climate change." The SWIO islands are in the tropics and rainfall varies depending on ocean warming and the El Nino/Southern Oscillation. Coupled with the legacies of colonialism, varying precipitation regimes can bring on food insecurity in southern Madagascar. As recently as 2016, insufficient rainfall caused a catastrophic famine due to crop failures. "Being nomadic is a way to deal with highly unreliable climate," said Douglass. "But encouraging sedentary lifestyles made it easier to manage local people." In the past, the prickly pear cactus, introduced from the Americas, served as cattle fodder; a source of water for cattle, people and other plants; and as a defensive barrier for intruders. The Malagasy pastoralists took the non-native plant and adapted it to protect against the vagaries of climate. However, according to the researchers, in the 1930s, French colonists, in an effort to civilize the south, released parasitic cochineal larvae that destroyed the cactus barriers and their water reservoir. This effort to force the people to cultivate cash crops, use irrigation and improve grasslands led to widespread famine during ensuing droughts. Although 1930s farming practices might not be considered modern today, the push for modernization does not always come from outsiders. "There is a globalizing influence shaping people to the ideal of what seems to be modern," said Douglass. Pollution, consumption and waste are real problems on all the islands. For example, islanders resistant to "old fashioned" ideas choose disposable diapers rather than cloth ones, even though there is little space for diaper disposal on an island, said Douglass. Tourism, a major source of income on many islands, also brings increased waste disposal pressures and environmental degradation. According to Douglass, while traditional housing was usually quickly and cheaply built and rebuilt after storms, modern housing forms are far more expensive and labor-intensive to replace. "The desire to be modern, the elite status connected to things from overseas is real," said Douglass. "We need ways to shape views on what is a good house." Housing, agricultural, grazing and fishing practices that are adaptable to the changing climate can be informed by both the archaeological and historic past, but much of that knowledge disappears when people and languages disappear, she added. ### Sarah Ferguson and Princess Eugenie have praised the Queen's speech, after the monarch addressed the nation in a historic television address on Sunday night amid coronavirus outbreak. The Duchess of York, 60, praised the royal, admitting the speech had 'touched her to the core', while Eugenie, 30, thanked her grandmother for 'bringing the country together'. On Monday the monarch's eldest granddaughter Zara Tindall, 38, appeared on GMB to praise the speech, joining the royal family in putting on a united front. On Sunday night the Queen, 93, urging the British public to come together in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak in a poignant television address. Speaking from Windsor Castle, where the 93-year-old monarch is isolating with Prince Philip, she told millions of Brits watching from home: 'If we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it.' Sarah Ferguson and Princess Eugenie have praised the Queen's speech, after the monarch addressed the nation in a historic television address on Sunday night amid coronavirus outbreak Taking to her Instagram account, Fergie shared a picture of her mother-in-law, writing: 'Her Majestys words touched my core and inspired us to never give up. 'To unite as we have before. To never forget the British humour and to remember... We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again'. Her post racked up over 17,000 likes and hundreds of comments, with followers praising the royals. Meanwhile Eugenie shared a picture of the monarch, writing: 'Thank you for your words, they bring us together and unite us in our effort to overcome. On Sunday night the Queen, 93, urging the British public to come together in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak in a poignant television address 'Her Majesty The Queen addressed the UK and Commonwealth tonight from Windsor Castle. 'We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.' Putting on a united front, the Queen's eldest granddaughter Zara Tindall said she is 'very proud' of her grandmother The Queen after she addressed the nation last night amid the coronavirus crisis. Appearing on GMB, the equestrian, 38, said the poignant television address, where Her Majesty urged the the British public to come together and protect the NHS, was '100% what the country needed' at the moment, adding that she 'hopes everyone listens'. Speaking via video link from her home in Gloucestershire, the Queen's eldest granddaughter appeared on the show with Italian jockey Frankie Dettori to speak about raising money for the NHS through her equestrian charity. The Duchess of York, 60, praised the royal, admitting the speech had 'touched her to the core' Meanwhile Eugenie shared a picture of the monarch, writing: 'Thank you for your words, they bring us together and unite us in our effort to overcome' ''Her Majesty The Queen addressed the UK and Commonwealth tonight from Windsor Castle,' Eugenie said 'I think were obviously very proud', said Zara, 'And what she said is, I think, 100% what the country needed. 'I hope everyone listens and we can try and get back to normal and support our NHS as much as we can.' Her Majesty's extraordinary intervention is only the fifth time she has addressed the nation during her 67-year reign and comes as the UK death toll from the pandemic neared 5,000, with 621 new deaths today. She invoked the spirit of the Second World War, repeating Dame Vera Lynn's famous words as she promised the nation: 'We will meet again'. The monarch shared special praise for the NHS, thanking medical workers for their work and sacrifice in the battle against the virus. She said: 'I want to thank everyone on the NHS front line, as well as care workers and those carrying out essential roles, who selflessly continue their day-to-day duties outside the home in support of us all. 'I am sure the nation will join me in assuring you that what you do is appreciated and every hour of your hard work brings us closer to a return to more normal times.' Brits stuck at home amid the lockdown tuned in to the speech, sharing photos of their entire families huddled in front of the TV to watch Her Majesty. Britain's coronavirus death toll has now hit 4,934 - including 29 patients today who did not have any underlying health conditions. The Queen's eldest granddaughter,appeared on Good Morning Britain today where she said she 'hopes everyone listens' to her grandmother and follows government guidelines The Queen is 'only person' who could have delivered such a 'powerful' message to the nation, as she's a 'beacon of stability in a non-political way', claimed a royal expert today. Appearing on This Morning, royal commentator Camilla Tominey admitted it brought a 'tear to her eye', and insisted the monarch was 'really the only one in the country' that could rally the public in such a powerful way. She told that The Queen, 93, 'reassures' the public the pandemic will come to an end, as she remains an 'elusive' figure 'who doesnt wear her heart on her sleeve'. Speaking from her home in Hertfordshire, Camilla told: 'Like you guys, I was watching and listening with a tear in my eye. Her iconic voice. She has this wealth of experience, she was really the only one in the country that could have done it. She went on: 'What she does is support that message and reassures everyone there will be an end to it. 'She has been this beacon of stability in a non-political way and that's what makes her message so powerful. She remains still quite an elusive figure, who doesnt wear her heart on her sleeve.' With New Yorks economy crippled by the virus, a little more than half of all New Yorkers and 58 percent of New York City residents said they were concerned about being able to meet their monthly financial obligations, according to a Siena College poll released Monday. Forty-one percent of all survey respondents said they were concerned about being able to afford food. In New York City, that figure was 49 percent. The survey also offered a glimpse into how many people say they are complying with calls to quarantine, self-isolate and social-distance, all efforts intended to reduce the spread of the virus. Fourteen percent of people surveyed said they were under mandatory quarantine, and 42 percent said they were self-quarantining. Thirty-nine percent said they were not quarantining but were cutting back on going around and also social distancing. In New York City, that number was slightly lower: 35 percent. Only 4 percent of survey respondents said they were going about life as usual. The poll was conducted March 30 through April 2. Don Levy, director of the Siena College Research Institute said the results showed a silver lining: About three-quarters of respondents said they were grateful for having time with those closest to them, and that they enjoy the small things even more now. More students are absent from the online version of school. With the vast majority of the nations schools closed and lessons being conducted remotely, more students than ever are missing class not logging on, not checking in or not completing assignments. The transport industry is seeking to agree a deal with the Government and the HSE for a single plan to ease deliveries to hospitals during the Covid-19 crisis. Aidan Flynn, general manager at Freight Transport Association Ireland, said that couriers and hauliers are seeking an organised plan to cover all hospitals in the State and to end a piecemeal approach that could delay the delivery of all vital supplies. There are instances in which courier firms delivering to hospitals have been concerned by the absence of an organised approach in accepting deliveries at hospitals, and in one or two instances having to walk past isolation areas, said Mr Flynn. We have been asking the Government and the HSE to rectify the problem with a national policy to cover every single hospital, because to keep the supply chain going and safe, there has to be changes to the way that these packages are delivered and in many cases these are vital paperwork and medication being delivered to hospitals. Mr Flynn said that the freight industry was struggling like everyone else to deal with the issues in terms of cash flow and liquidity and changing hours. Some parts of the industry are doing well, including freight transport and couriers, which include retail and pharmaceutical deliveries and the courier business, he said. But others in the food servicing industry such as the restaurants have gone completely dead. The driver shortages that were there just a month ago have gone, but there is also a sense of community in sharing services and helping companies out, said Mr Flynn. In the UK, more than half of their trucks are parked up because every business that closes means that trucks are laid up. Here, the shutdown of building sites means trucks are being laid up because so many building products and cement deliveries and timber manufacturing and all the ancillary supplies have all stopped. He said that there have been no reports of distribution centres shutting down because of illness, which he said was massively encouraging in terms of trying to keep the supply chain going. Distribution centres are still vulnerable, however, but he said he was surprised at the way people have worked together. The industry has been quite good at managing its workforce in case one team went down, there would be another team to replace it, he said. However, issues remain with international supply chains, with goods ordered weeks or months in advance by industries in shutdown still coming into the ports from all around the world. He said that the order by the Department of Transport to take containers out of ports has created problems because they may have nowhere to go and no one to pay from them because payments are not made until goods are delivered. If they are left at the ports they could clog up the ports and we have asked the Government for parking space for unaccompanied trailers that are coming in from the UK and the continent and which are not going to be picked up straight away, he said. We have asked for spaces put aside as part of the Brexit planning to alleviate choke points to allow ferries to be turned around straight away. Meet Chelsey Hibsch, the first woman in the United States Air Force to complete Army Ranger School. She received her Ranger tab on Aug. 30, 2019, at the Army Ranger School graduation at Fort Benning, Georgia, after three phases of intense training in just 62 days. She has been a vocal ambassador for female presence in the U.S. military ever since. Hibsch, from Attica in New York, had her Ranger tab pinned to her sleeve at graduation by her father, Paul, according to Daily Democrat. The tab can be worn on a graduates uniform for the duration of their career. Hibsch speaks during a Womens History Month luncheon at Yokota Air Base in Japan on March 26, 2019. (DVIDSHUB | Machiko Arita) Hibsch maintained that her gender did not differentiate her from her peers. Ranger instructors would just throw something at you, just to see if we could succeed, she said. Everyone is treated just as unfairly to see how well come through. Hibsch previously served with the 374th Security Forces Squadron at Yokota Air Base in Japan as an enlisted airman. Her career trajectory changed lanes after she attended the Air Forces Ranger assessment course, then she further refined her skills at the Tropic Lightning Academy at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. She soon discovered she was eligible for Army Ranger School. Hibsch receives her Ranger tab after graduating from the U.S. Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia, on Aug. 30, 2019 (DVIDSHUB | John Tongret) Hibsch described the assessment course as an unmatched learning experience on leadership and followership, according to the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC). Hibsch gained an insight into what lay ahead at Army Ranger School by being challenged to harness her mental and physical faculties while hungry, tired, wet, cold, and worse. Then, Hibsch added, you have to lead a team of individuals feeling the exact same way. According to Air Force Times, nearly 300 male airmen have earned the Ranger tab by completing the U.S. Armys notoriously challenging Ranger School leadership program since 1955. Only half of all candidates are said to satisfy the requirements to graduate. Hibsch, Maneuver Center of Excellence leaders, and the family and friends of Ranger Class 2019 attend graduation on Aug. 30, 2019. (DVIDSHUB | Patrick Albright) Women were excluded from the program for almost 60 years; Hibsch is a trailblazer. Ranger School is truly not for the weak or faint of heart, said Lieutenant Colonel Walter Sorensen, Chief of Training at the Air Force Security Forces Center. It speaks well of all those who persevere to find that inner grit and motivation to push through all that Ranger School throws at them. According to Sergeant First Class Jeremy Billings, Airborne Ranger and Training Brigades public affairs officer, the Ranger School training program entails three distinct phases, known as Fort Benning, Mountain, and Swamp. Hibsch and her parents at graduation at Fort Bennings Victory Pond in Georgia on Aug. 30, 2019 (DVIDSHUB | Patrick Albright) In the first phase, Billings explained, students undergo training in squad operations, ambush and recon missions, patrol base operations, strategy planning, and platoon operations. In the second and third phases, students hone and refine their skills at the platoon level. After these three phases, said Billings. Ranger Students are proficient in leading squad and platoon dismounted operations around the clock in all climates and terrain. U.S. Air Force Gen. Maryanne Miller (L) and Chief Master Sgt. Terrence A. Greene (R) with Hibsch (C) at Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington on Sept. 25, 2019 (DVIDSHUB | Sgt. Dana Cable) The attainment of a Ranger tab also entails responsibility. An Army Rangers comrades, said Sorensen, look to Rangers for guidance when a mission becomes challenging. While Hibsch is the first female Air Force airman to earn the tab, the very first women to graduate from Army Ranger Schooltwo female Army soldiersdid so back in August 2015. Hibsch provides feedback after a training exercise at the Geronimo Landing Zone at the Joint Readiness Training Center on Fort Polk, Louisiana. (DVIDSHUB | Sgt. David W. Carbajal) First Lieutenant Kristen Griest and Captain Shaye Lynne Haver both attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. Both women enrolled in Army Ranger School after then-Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced that women could apply for all positions in the military. As of September 2019, Hibsch is serving as a security forces officer in the 821st Contingency Response Squadron at Travis Air Force Base in California. Were all incredibly proud of her, said Hibschs commander, Air Force Colonel Douglas Jackson, Military.com reported, but thats the kind of airmen we have in the Wing; folks who are self-starters, motivated, and blazing trails. Video Credit: DVIDSHUB Hibsch told Daily Democrat that several women had approached her to ask for advice on succeeding in military professions. They usually tell me something that theyre afraid of, Hibsch explained. I tell them, Dont be afraid to succeed. Even if you dont make it, Hibsch advised, youve learned a lot about yourself. China's smartphone manufacturer Vivo has launched the latest Y series Y50 (Vivo Y50) at the global level. Users have got the support of 5,000 mAh battery, 8 GB RAM, strong processor and HD display in the latest smartphone. At present, the company has not given official information about the launch of Vivo Y50 smartphone in other countries including India. So let's know about the price and specification of Vivo Y50. Take care of your health like this during lockdown Vivo Y50 Price Vivo has launched the Y50 smartphone in the Cambodia market with 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage. The price of this phone is $ 249 (about 18,950 rupees). This phone can be purchased with blue and black color options. Pre-booking of Vivo Y50 has started from today, which will run till April 11. Likee makeup feature Vivo Y50 specification The Vivo Y50 has a 6.3-inch Full HD Plus display, which comes with a fivehole design. In addition, the company has supported Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 and 8 GB RAM in this phone. This phone works on Android 10 operating system. Know the truth behind video showing Muslims licking plates to spread coronavirus Vivo Y50 Camera Talking about the camera, users have got a quad camera setup in this phone, which has a 13-megapixel primary sensor, 8-megapixel ultra wide angle lens, a 2-megapixel macro lens and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. But till now the information about the front camera of the phone has not been found. PUBG Mobile game may be closed for 24 hours Vivo Y50 Battery The company has given a 5,000mAh battery in this phone for excellent power backup. Users have got features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, headphone jack and USB port in this phone. Aarogya Setu app was downloaded by more than 4 million users THE prosecution in a corruption case facing prominent Arusha businessman Shabiby Virjee and two others will have nine witnesses to testify against the accused. Before Arusha Principal Resident Magistrate Martha Mahumbaga, Prevention and Combatting of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), Hamidu Simbano said the nine witnesses would as well tender to the court 10 documents if admitted in court. The case that has drawn interest from Arusha residents in which with Virjee (34), other accused are police officer PC 8683 Paulo Erasmo (37) and an employee with Oryx Oil Company, Nkenzi Pazi (38). The prosecution read the charges to the accused who all entered a plea of not guilty. Mr Simbano told the Court that they were ready to start tendering evidence with oral testimony of a witness or the production of physical evidence- oral testimony and consequent production of physical evidence. The Court decided that those who were responsible to tender evidence would start entering the witness box April 24, this year. The crux of the case is that the prosecution alleges that the trio in December last year conspired to bribe a police officer 10m/-to do them a favour knowing that it was against the law. Mr Simbano alleged that they influenced another police officer, Staff Sergeant, Meshack Laizer to receive the money to distract a case facing Virjees son Ilphran Virjee and facilitate getting him off the hook. They found PC Erasmo, gave him the money to hand it over on their behalf to Staff Sergeant Laizer who would in turn ensure Ilphran was set free. On their way to accomplish their mission, the prosecution further alleged, were intercepted and arrested by the police led by Staff Sergeant Laizer. The accused are defended by Mr Godluck Maico and Mr Sambo Gwakisa. File photo of the logo of Fortescue Metals Group adorning their headquarters in Perth, Australia (Reuters) - Australia's Fortescue Metals Group said on Monday it had signed a deal with the local unit of Canadian utilities company ATCO Ltd to build and operate hydrogen refuelling facilities for vehicles in Western Australia. To start with, the two firms will work toward building and operating a combined hydrogen production and refuelling unit at ATCO's existing facility in Jandakot, Perth, with the possibility of wider deployment across the state. The new unit will include a fleet of Toyota Mirai fuel cell electric vehicles provided by Toyota Motor Corp's <7203.T> Australian unit, the country's third-largest iron ore miner said. "As the world moves toward a lower carbon future, hydrogen has the potential to play a key role in the future energy mix and we want to ensure we remain at the forefront of Australia's renewable hydrogen industry," said Elizabeth Gaines, chief executive officer of Fortescue. (Reporting by Rashmi Ashok in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur) The Navy's top civilian leader addressed the crew of a carrier days after firing their beloved commanding officer, slamming the captain as "too naive or too stupid" to serve as their leader, according to a recording of the speech obtained by Military.com. Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly visited the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt after relieving Capt. Brett Crozier of command. The ship is sidelined in Guam as thousands of sailors are offloaded as novel coronavirus cases spread among the crew. Crozier wrote a letter to Navy leaders last week pleading for help in dealing with the situation. Modly on Thursday relieved Crozier of command a day after saying the commander wasn't in the wrong for asking for help from his chain of command. But Crozier copied too many people on his email, Modly said, a move he told the crew led to his relief. Listen: Audio Recording of Modly's Address to the Roosevelt Crew "If he didn't think ... that this information wasn't going to get out into the public, in this day and information age that we live in, then he was either A, too naive or too stupid to be a commanding officer of a ship like this," Modly said in the recorded speech. A transcript of the speech was posted on the social media site Reddit. Related: Fired Navy Carrier Captain Has Tested Positive for COVID-19: Report In the recording, people can be heard loudly exclaiming with expletives in response to Modly's statement. Modly in a statement said he hasn't listened to the recordings that have emerged of his speech, but said his words were "from the heart and meant for them." "I stand by every word I said -- even, regrettably, any profanity that may have been used for emphasis," he said. "Anyone who has served on a Navy ship would understand. I ask, but don't expect, that people read them in their entirety." There are nearly 5,000 crew members on the Theodore Roosevelt. CNN reported that Modly addressed the crew from the ship's loud-speaker system. He told the crew members that Crozier not only betrayed him by sending a copy of his letter outside the chain of command, but his sailors as well. That has led to widespread media coverage about a "martyr CO," Modly said of the former commanding officer. Modly went even further as to suggest that Crozier violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice if he sent the information to people outside his command on purpose. "One of the things about [Crozier's] email that bothered me the most was saying that we are not at war, that we aren't technically at war," Modly added. "But let me tell you something: The only reason we are dealing with this right now is a big authoritarian regime called China was not forthcoming about what was happening with this virus and they put the world at risk to protect themselves and to protect their reputations. "We don't do that in the Navy." Modly also cautioned the crew against engaging with the media, which he said "has an agenda." "There is ... no situation where you go to the media," he said. "... The agenda that they have depends on which side of the political aisle they sit, and I'm sorry that's the way the country is now, but it's the truth and so they use it to divide us and use it to embarrass the Navy. They use it to embarrass you." There are at least 114 cases of COVID-19, the serious and sometimes-fatal illness caused by the coronavirus, among the carrier's crew. Crozier is one of them, The New York Times reported Sunday. Navy officials did not respond to questions about whether Modly's comments about Crozier possibly violating the UCMJ raised concerns about unlawful command influence. They also did not answer questions about whether the secretary's comments implying Crozier was "stupid" were inappropriate given that he's now battling the same illness he warned was spreading quickly among his crew. Modly told the crew that he "cannot control or attempt to change whatever anger you have with me for relieving your beloved CO." He also responded to former Vice President Joe Biden's claims that the firing decision was "criminal." "I assure you it was not," Modly said. "Because I understand the facts, and those facts show that what your captain did was very, very wrong in a moment when we expected him to be the calming force on a turbulent sea." After Crozier's relief, videos emerged on social media of the captain walking off the ship. The videos showed hundreds of sailors gathering to see him off, cheering "Captain Crozier, Captain Crozier." One person said that was how a crew sends off their greatest commanding officer of all time. Modly in his speech said he understands why sailors might be angry with him for the rest of their lives. But he then appeared to challenge the crew to rethink their feelings for Crozier. The captain "lost sight" of his mission, Modly told them, and that put them at "great risk." "Crew of the Teddy Roosevelt, you are under no obligation to love your leadership, only to respect it," he said. "... You are under no obligation to expect anything from your leaders other than they will treat you fairly and put the mission of the ship first." -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Read More: Petition to Reinstate Fired Carrier Captain Goes Viral as Lawmakers Call for Probe Typical education routines are being disrupted all over the world right now due to the pandemic virus keeping people indoors and out of group gatherings. The British royal family, who typically make many public appearances as part of their duties, are of course among the people who are impacted by these changes even if some members of the family are a little tone-deaf in their response. Among the royal family members having to adjust to this new normal are Princess Charlotte and Prince George, the school-age children of Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. They like children all over the world will be unexpectedly homeschooling, but they arent the first royal children to get an education that way. Princess Charlotte and Prince George attend Thomass Battersea Both Prince Charlotte and Prince George normally attend Thomass Battersea, a London day school that offers an education for students from ages four to 13 with a selective enrollment process. Prince George, who is 6, is currently in his third year with the school. Young Princess Charlotte, who is 4, just began her first year last fall. Unfortunately, the school has some cases of the COVID-19 virus hitting very close to home. In late February, the school sent out a memo to parents, including Prince William and Kate, to let them know that a few students were being tested for the virus and would be in self-isolation until they were cleared to return. Since then, of course, schools all around the world have taken the necessary step of closing down entirely to help slow the spread of the virus and avoid overwhelming medical resources. Going away to school is relatively new for the royal family While this new standard is certainly out of the norm for Prince George and Princess Charlotte, it has actually been a fairly recent change that members of the royal family leave home to attend school at such a young age. Up until the 1980s, it was typical for the youngest members of the royal family to be educated at home with the help of a governess. Prince William and Prince Harry actually represented the first generation of royals to leave home for nursery school. Prince William attended a nursery school near Kensington Palace in 1985 when he was three years old. His little brother, Prince Harry, followed in his footsteps a couple of years later. Another educational habit that may seem extraordinary to Americans is that many royal family members, including Prince William and Prince Harry, begin attending boarding school (where they live away from home) around age 8. Since Prince George, the eldest of Prince Williams children, is not yet old enough for boarding school, it is unclear if his parents plan for him to follow this path as well. His current school educates children until the age of 13, so its possible he will remain living at home longer than his father did. Queen Elizabeth and her sister were both homeschooled Prince George or Princess Charlotte | Pool/Max Mumby/Getty Images When Queen Elizabeth was a young girl, she received a high-quality education at home with the help of a governess named Marion Crawford and several tutors. This education was not entirely isolated from other children, however. Queen Elizabeth learned alongside her sister Princess Margaret. Very likely, Princess Charlotte and Prince George will be returning to their normal school routines just as soon as the health and safety restrictions are lifted. In the meantime; however, they are taking part in a traditional educational setting that has long been a part of their famous familys way of life. While the circumstances may be extreme and unprecedented, hopefully, the young prince and princess are enjoying themselves. False: Salaries of govt employees not being remitted into PM Cares Fund automatically India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Apr 06: There is a notification doing the rounds which says that the salaries of employees working in the health ministry shall be remitted into the PM Cares Fund. The notification says that 5 days salary of the employees shall be remitted into the fund which was created to battle coronavirus. Keeping in mind the need for having a dedicated national fund, the PM Cares Fund was set up. It has been decided with immediate effect that 5 days salary of employees under the MOHFW shall be remitted to the aforesaid POM Cares Fund, the notification reads. The PM only called for voluntary donations towards this fund. There is no compulsion what so ever towards contributing towards this fund. Moreover health ministry officials have also confirmed to OneIndia that there is no such decision made. The 5 day salary of the employees is not being remitted into this fund. This is completely baseless and no one should believe such rumours, the official also said. The notification is entirely fake, he further added. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, April 6, 2020, 9:29 [IST] Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rizki Fachriansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 6, 2020 13:39 645 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206ffa35a 1 World Monash-University,study,research,COVID-19,coronavirus Free A recent collaborative study conducted by a team from Monash University and the Doherty Institute in Australia has found that a commonly used antiparasitic drug could halt the incubation process of the novel coronavirus and potentially cure COVID-19 positive patients of any ailments caused by the virus. The study showed that the drug available globally called Ivermectin was able to kill SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, growing in cell culture within 48 hours. It must be noted, however, that the study was conducted in vitro in a controlled environment outside a living organism and that more credible data would be obtained pending clinical trials on human subjects. We report here that Ivermectin, an FDA-approved antiparasitic previously shown to have broad-spectrum antiviral activity in vitro, is an inhibitor of the causative virus, the report stated. The drug was previously shown to have been effective against a wide variety of viruses, including HIV, dengue, influenza and the Zika virus, the study claimed. Kylie Wagstaff, a scientist at the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute who led the study, said the optimistic results of the study had warranted the possibility of human trials, which would yield more credible information regarding the drugs efficacy within living cells. Read also: Potential COVID-19 vaccine shows promise in mouse study We found that even a single dose [of Ivermectin] could essentially remove all viral RNA [ribonucleic acid] by 48 hours and that even at 24 hours there was a really significant reduction in it, Wagstaff said in the report. We need to figure out now whether the dosage that can be used in humans will be effective thats the next step, Ivermectin had presumably inhibited the viral process that dampened down the host cells ability to kill it, Wagstaff said. However, the specific ways in which Ivermectin overrides such viral processes have yet to be discovered, she added. Many countries, including Indonesia, are scrambling to find possible remedies for the deadly virus as scientists fast-tracked research on a vaccine. President Joko Jokowi Widodo announced last month that the government had been preparing medicine, including 3 million doses of chloroquine, which he described as having been proven to cure COVID-19 in other countries. However, health experts have since raised concerns over the risks inherent in self-medication using choloroquine phosphate an antimalarial drug as they claimed the medicine had an array of dangerous side effects including diarrhea, breathing difficulties, weakened muscles and mental disorders. Stocks jumped on Monday as investors were encouraged by a slowdown in coronavirus-related deaths and new cases, while oil prices skidded after Saudi-Russian negotiations to cut output were delayed, keeping oversupply concerns alive. Equity investors took solace as the death toll from the coronavirus slowed across major European nations including France and Italy. US stock futures rose more than 4 per cent in early hours , trading close to its upper limit after President Donald Trump expressed hope the country was seeing a levelling off of the coronavirus ... SOUTH AFRICA: Police officers enforce social distancing as they make shoppers stretch their arms in front of them to ensure that they are at least one meter apart from one another outside a supermarket in Hillbrow, Johannesburg. (Marco Longari / AFP via Getty Images) The act of social distancing as an effective protective measure against the coronavirus is becoming a part of everyday life around the world. People are urged to keep at least six feet apart. This kind of social distancing, together with regular handwashing, is key in efforts to halt the spread of the coronavirus. It is suggested that people stay home if they feel unwell. If they have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, they should seek medical attention and call in advance. Stay informed on the latest developments about the virus. Follow advice given by a healthcare provider, the national and local public health authority or an employer on how to protect yourself and others from the coronavirus. Here is a look at social distancing around the world. SINGAPORE: People sit along public benches at Wisma Atria shopping mall using safe-distance markers in Singapore. The government there has introduced several such measures to curb the coronavirus spread. (Ore Huiying / Getty Images) SPAIN: People keep their distance as they wait their turn to enter a Lidl supermarket in Barcelona. Supermarkets have applied stronger social-distancing rules on the first work day of the state of emergency. (David Ramos / Getty Images) RUSSIA: People use their devices as they wait in line, observing social-distancing guidelines, for a coronavirus test in Moscow. (Pavel Golovkin / AP) BRITAIN: The men's toilet facilities at the Strensham Services on the M5 Motorway in Worcestershire, England, where alternate urinals are out of use to maintain social distancing as the U.K. continues in lockdown to help curb the coronavirus spread. (David Davies / AP) HONG KONG: Tables and chairs are taped for social-distancing law enforcement to help curb the spread of the coronavirus at a Starbucks coffee shop. (Vincent Yu / AP) THAILAND: Police use riot shields to practice social distancing to help curb the spread of the coronavirus at the Tha Phra police station. (Sakchai Lalit / AP) ISRAEL: Ultra-Orthodox Jews wait to enter a supermarket while keeping a safe social distance as part of the government's measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus in the Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, a Tel Aviv suburb, Israel. (Ariel Schalit / AP) FLORIDA: Chairs are widely spaced as the Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners enacted social distancing during their coronavirus-related meeting in Shalimar, Fla. (Michael Snyder / AP) AUSTRALIA: Father James Collins holds a service in the yard of St. Paul's Anglican Church in Burwood with seating observant of social distancing in Sydney, Australia. Churches across Sydney have opted to suspend services or hold them outdoors in response to the pandemic. (Jenny Evans / Getty Images) GEORGIA: Will Wheeler prays during the Parking Lot Prayers event near the hospital district in Augusta, Ga. The event was organized by a radio station for people to come together and pray for healthcare workers. To maintain social distancing, participants stayed with their cars and turned on their flashers while being guided in prayer. (Michael Holahan / AP) SCOTLAND: A person walks past a piece of coronavirus-themed art by the artist known as the Rebel Bear after it appeared on a wall on Bath Street in Glasgow, Scotland. (Andrew Milligan / AP) TEXAS: Practicing social distancing amid coronavirus concerns, police officers speak with a man in downtown Dallas. (LM Otero / AP) GEORGIA: Church members practice social distancing and wear masks while attending the Palm Sunday praise and worship service at Union Springs Baptist Church on Sunday in Rutledge, Ga. (Curtis Compton / AP) CALIFORNIA: Reporters practice social distancing as they interview Andrew Goetze, left, who protested a service at Godspeak Calvary Chapel on Sunday in Newbury Park, Calif. (Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP) ITALY: A man wearing a respiratory mask as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus walks past a street musician as people sit at a safe distance from one another, in the background, on Piazza San Silvestro in downtown Rome. (Vincenzo Pinto / AFP via Getty Images) JAPAN: New employees wear face masks as they observe social distancing during an initiation ceremony at the Himeji Chamber of Commerce and Industry hall on Wednesday in Himeji, Japan. (Buddhika Weerasinghe / Getty Images) INDIA: People stand on designated areas to maintain social distancing as they queue outside a grocery store in Faridabad in the state of Haryana during a 21-day government-imposed nationwide lockdown due to the coronavirus. (Money Sharma / AFP via Getty Images) IRELAND: A sign notifies passers of the social-distancing measures in place as people exercise in Phoenix Park in Dublin, Ireland. (Paul Faith / AFP via Getty Images) No one was showing up for the early shift at the Giant supermarket in Largo where she worked part time. Because of the novel coronavirus, the morning was now set aside for the stores elderly customers: the women who could barely walk on their own, who never knew where things were, whom she delighted in guiding to the milk or the store bathroom. There have been a lot of rumors and speculation around the internet about Apple's upcoming iPhone and we all have been eagerly waiting for an announcement. Well, the company's CEO Tim Cook did make a new product announcement today on Twitter, but it wasn't about the iPhone or the Apple Watch. It's a health care product. Tim Cook took to Twitter earlier today to make an announcement on what the company has been doing to fight the coronavirus. First off, he said that Apple had successfully managed to source over 20 million face masks for medical professionals around the world, which is incredible news. Apple is dedicated to supporting the worldwide response to COVID-19. Weve now sourced over 20M masks through our supply chain. Our design, engineering, operations and packaging teams are also working with suppliers to design, produce and ship face shields for medical workers. pic.twitter.com/3xRqNgMThX Tim Cook (@tim_cook) April 5, 2020 Masks are the need of the hour right now, so what Apple has done here to help is quite amazing. But what's more interesting is that the company has come together as one to design, produce and ship the face shields to protect those who are treating COVID-19 patients. Yes, Apple has designed a transparent plastic face shield. Tim highlighted that it packs flat, something like IKEA furniture so that it's easier to ship. It apparently takes only two minutes to assemble, which is awesome. Looks like Apple has already started shipping these face shields to hospitals in the US and the response has been positive so far. The company is ready to ship a million more by this week in the US before sending them outside the country. Reuters In case you don't know, shields like this are very important for people who're working on the frontlines to fight the virus. We need these kinds of equipment in India urgently too since there were reports of doctors using raincoats and helmets while treating the COVID-19 patients are seriously alarming. Let's hope more and more companies will step up in their efforts to provide essential equipment for the frontline workers. The Osun State Government says it has found the only person who reportedly absconded from the Isolation centre in Ejigbo earlier today. The State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode, who made this disclosure in a statement this afternoon, said the woman has been returned to the isolation centre. She said that the State government was still in the process of tracing individuals she might have come in contact with. The Commissioner also noted that security within and around the Isolation centre has been beefed up . Mrs. Egbemode assured that the government would continue to enhance measures to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in the State. Police extinguished a beach barbecue with a helmet in Brighton while windsurfers were fined for driving 125 miles from the West Midlands to North wales to enjoy the waves. Footage showed two Sussex Police officers pouring water on the flames at Brighton beach on Saturday. Twitter user Dave Strauss filmed the officers' confrontation with two people sat at the seaside. Uploading the video, he wrote: 'The ceremonial extinguishing of the bbq using a beach patrol guys helmet. Then tried to eat his wet sausage.' Pictured: Sussex Police in Brighton confront two people having a barbecue despite the lockdown rules Sussex Police officers are pictured confronting two people on Brighton beach as they had a barbecue despite the UK lockdown Social media users commented underneath branding them 'morons' and 'bloody idiots'. Police say the couple became abusive towards Police Community Support Officers when asked to leave. They have been summonsed to court and will be charged under the new Coronavirus Act, The Argus reports. A 31-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman were told to return home. It came after two windsurfers were fined after driving 125 miles from the West Midlands to North Wales to enjoy the waves as police blasted their non-essential trip. The pair travelled to Gwynedd from Birmingham despite the nationwide lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic. North Wales Police said they went to Black Rock Sands in Porthmadog to head out into the sea despite people being told to only travel for essential reasons. The windsurfers were stopped at the Welsh coast and fined as police warned their travel was not essential amid the coronavirus outbreak The force said that if they had got into difficulty in the water, they could have tied up valuable resources. A spokesman said: 'Today two males from the West Mids area were reported by concerned members of the public who spotted them wind surfing at Black Rock Sands, Porthmadog. 'They were issued with penalty notices and advised to return home immediately. Their trip was not essential, and apart from the risks posed by travelling around the country potentially spreading virus anywhere they stopped, they could have tied up valuable resources had they had an accident or got into difficulty at sea, risking RNLI, ambulance and diverting essential NHS resources. 'Stay home to save lives.' A biker was spotted taunting a police officer in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, who was trying to approach him on a bicycle. The motorbike rider mocked him in footage in which he could be heard saying: 'Come on, nearly, f****** hell.' The biker (left) can be heard mocking the police officer (right) who approaches him on a bicycle One family travelled 122 miles for a day at the beach - despite orders to stay at home to save lives. The group flouted strict lockdown measures to make the two hour and 20 minute round trip from Bromley, south east London, to Folkestone in Kent. They were let off with a warning as the council reminded residents 'this is not a public holiday'. Yesterday sadly saw deaths climb by 621 to 4,934 and cases rise by 5,903 to 47,806 across the UK. The rise came as the Met Police used a loudspeaker on Wandsworth Common, south-west London, to disperse people in the park. Two young men ignored the coronavirus lockdown and leapt into the River Irwell in Manchester city centre. The Manchester Evening News has been inundated with reports of people ignoring the Government's advice to stay at home this weekend to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. Two young men ignored the coronavirus lockdown and leapt into the River Irwell (pictured) in Manchester A woman is told to go home by a police officer in London's Primrose Hill to stop the spread of coronavirus People in Roath park in Cardiff are spoken to by police amid the social distancing advice A group of around 15 people were pictured playing football in a park in Rusholme, south Manchester. And the daughter of an intensive care nurse shared images of people flouting the measures with picnics, sunbathing and riding a quad bike in Debdale Park in Gorton. Housing and Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said on Monday that he had called local leaders to warn them to be 'very judicious' in locking open spaces. One London authority closed a park over the weekend after reporting thousands of visitors flocking to it to enjoy the sun and warmth breaking through. But there are concerns public confidence could be lost if those in power with gardens and ample living space tell those who live in crowded conditions they cannot go to the park or exercise outdoors. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick suggested the current lockdown measures could be gradually eased after Easter Mr Jenrick agreed he has a 'lot of sympathy' with those concerns as he said he had spoken to 'a number' of councils who had closed parks over the weekend. He also suggested the current lockdown measures could be gradually eased after Easter - he stressed a full exit strategy will require much more testing. In a series of interviews, he said that if an excess capacity is maintained across the NHS following the building of coronavirus hospitals, restrictions may lift. 'If we can do that then we can look in the weeks to come to begin to very carefully... lift some of those measures,' he said. 'But an exit strategy that's sustainable will also have to be accompanied by much greater testing and tracing than we are able to do today.' It came after Scotland's chief medical officer resigned after she admitted to ignoring her own lockdown advice. The images, published in the Scottish Sun, emerged amid continuing advice from the Scottish government to stay at home in order to save lives and protect the NHS Earlsferry, Fife, is 44 miles away from Edinburgh - a drive of around an hour Last week Dr Calderwood, 51, tweeted a photo of her family from their main residence in Edinburgh as they clapped for the front-line NHS staff working to stop the spread of Covid-19 Dr Catherine Calderwood had earlier apologised live on TV after being given a police warning for twice visiting her family's coastal retreat in Earlsferry, Fife, more than 40 miles from her main home. In a press conference beside Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today, Dr Calderwood said her actions were 'a mistake and human error' and that were 'no excuses'. Dr Calderwood issued an apology and was initially backed by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to remain in the role. Photographs, published in The Scottish Sun on Saturday, showed Dr Calderwood and her family near their coastal retreat in Earlsferry, Fife, over the weekend. In the press conference, Dr Calderwood also admitted to visiting the cottage with her husband the previous weekend. - SAN DIEGO Three years ago, Dimitri Deheyn noticed intensely blue stringy shapes as he examined jellyfish samples through a microscope in his marine biology lab at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego. He assumed his lens was dirty, so he wiped it off with a special cloth. Then he tried taking it apart and airbrushing the optics. But the particles kept showing up. At first, Dr. Deheyn thought the culprit might be microplastics, tiny plastic bits that have invaded the oceans in the past decade. But a quick literature search revealed that the stringy shapes, each about a fifth as wide as a strand of hair, were actually microfibers from fabric. He wondered if they came from his students clothing, or the aquarium where the jellyfish was kept, or the freshwater used to wash down the equipment. But after he collected seawater samples from off Scripps research pier, it became clear that they had come in with the jellyfish from the ocean. Dr. Deheyns microscope problem prompted him to join the growing number of scientists who are scrambling to understand the magnitude of the problem of microfibers in the environment. We shed them while running in our fancy moisture-wicking apparel, and we release a river of them when we wash our clothes. They find their way into our waterways, our drinking water, the fish we eat and even the air we breathe. One 2018 study of the distribution of plastic particles in seawater found that 91 percent were microfibers. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Ethos is a nationally recognized, award-winning independent student publication. Our mission is to elevate the voices of marginalized people who are underrepresented in the media landscape, and to write in-depth, human-focused stories about the issues affecting them. We also strive to support our diverse student staff and to help them find future success. Ethos produces a quarterly free print magazine full of well-reported and powerful feature stories, innovative photography, creative illustrations and eye-catching design. On our website, we also produce compelling written and multimedia stories. Ethos is part of Emerald Media Group, a non-profit organization thats fully independent of the University of Oregon. Students maintain complete editorial control over Ethos, and work tirelessly to produce the magazine. Since our inception as Korean Ducks Magazine in 2005, weve worked hard to share a multicultural spirit with our readership. We embrace diversity in our stories, in our student staff and in our readers. We want every part of the magazine to reflect the diversity of our world. One of Pennsylvanias icons is being covered up in dirt this week as the abandoned stretch of Route 61 known as Graffiti Highway -- one of the last vestiges of the ghost town known as Centralia -- is removed from view. Pagnotti Enterprises, the coal company that owns the road, is planning to bury the roadway this week in order to dissuade the many tourists that come to take photos and wander along the derelict stretch, bounded by foundations where Centralias buildings once stood. Centralia has had a hold on peoples imagination for years, especially those interested in the odd and potentially spooky. The town, located in Columbia County, had a population of over 2,000 residents at one time until an underground mine fire in the 1960s forced the towns residents to evacuate decades later. By 2017 only five people lived in the area. For those who dont know of Centralias history, here is a brief timeline. 1866: Centralia is incorporated as a borough May 27, 1962: Centralia fire company members start a fire to clean up the town dump before Memorial Day. The fire spreads to an old strip mining pit under the landfill and eventually spreads directly under the town. 1980s: As the result of a study on how best to address the underground fire, more than 1,000 Centralia residents are moved out in a $42 million federal relocation program. 1992: The mining town, which once had a population of 2,720, is now home to only about 50 people. Gov. Robert Casey authorizes condemnation proceedings through the Columbia County Redevelopment Authority. 1994: A section of Route 61, abandoned after the underground fire in Centralia caused it to buckle and crack open, is closed permanently. It subsequently becomes covered in graffiti and known as Graffiti Highway. 2002: The Postal Service discontinues Centralias 17927 zip code 2009: Gov. Ed Rendell begins the formal eviction of the few remaining residents. 2010: Seven remaining residents file a lawsuit seeking to block condemnation of their properties 2013: The lawsuit filed in 2010 is settled, with the seven remaining residents of Centralia signing quit claim deeds confirming that the owners may stay in their homes until they die. 2016-2017: PennDOT, concerned about safety because of large cracks in the surface of the road caused by the underground fire, posts no-trespass signs. When the signs are ignored, state police begin issuing citations. Thousands sign a petition asking the state to keep the road open, arguing it is a piece of Columbia County history. Feb. 15, 2018: The state Department of Transportation hands over the Graffiti Highway, located mostly in Conyngham Township, to private owners. What the state did was vacate the easement for the highway so that ownership reverted to owners of adjacent properties. In this case, that was mostly the Pitreal Corp., a subsidiary of Pagnotti Enterprises of Wilkes-Barre. April 6, 2020: Pagnotti Enterprises buries Graffiti Highway under truckloads of dirt due to concerns about liability as more tourists visit the area during the coronavirus epidemic. TORONTO, April 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crystal Peak Minerals Inc. (Crystal Peak or the Company) (TSXV: CPM, OTCQB: CPMMF) today announced that the Board of Directors for the Company (Board) would like to provide an update regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Crystal Peaks plans. The Board would first like to extend its sympathies to those who have been touched directly by the disease. We also wish to thank all front-line medical and emergency personnel who are operating around the globe for their tireless efforts to contain this outbreak. In line with government advice, Crystal Peak has implemented measures to ensure the health and safety of the Companys team. These measures include delaying all non-essential travel, exploring the possibility of holding our Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in Salt Lake City, and curtailing staff time spent in the office. For the next several weeks, the Crystal Peak team will be working from home. Prior to introducing this change, business systems were tested to ensure that core functions would continue while the team worked remotely. This has allowed most day-to-day operations to carry on as usual. Crystal Peak will monitor governmental restrictions and recommendations and will determine appropriate actions as conditions develop. Since the Sevier Playa Project (Project) is not yet operational, there are limited activities at that site. All necessary environmental and regulatory procedures are going forward on schedule. Where appropriate, other activities have been deferred. The Board believes that the current restrictions represent a low risk to the health and safety of Company employees and consultants and that any reduction in activities will have no significant impact on the project in the short term. The key issue facing the company is uncertainty surrounding financial markets and the Companys ability to raise needed funds. While work is ongoing and discussions are progressing with a number of parties, the Company is reviewing all expenditures and will take reasonable measures to preserve cash. All non-essential disbursements and all non-critical engineering work has been suspended until there is reduced volatility in financial markets. Regarding engineering, our team continues to refine its approach. Studies are underway seeking to optimize Project development, reduce initial capital expenditures, improve operating costs, shorten time to first production, and to include the potential benefits of valuable by-products. Furthermore, management continues to work with potential partners to secure an offtake arrangement for the Projects anticipated products. About Crystal Peak Minerals Inc. Crystal Peak is focused on the production of premium-priced specialty fertilizers such as Sulfate of Potash (SOP). The Company controls mineral leases on more than 124,000 acres on the Sevier Playa in Millard County, Utah. In August 2019, Crystal Peak received the Record of Decision from the U.S. Department of the Interior for its Sevier Playa Project, which grants federal permission to construct and operate. With a brine mineral resource known to contain potassium, magnesium, sulfate, and other beneficial minerals, Crystal Peak is targeting the production of specialty fertilizers and associated products through the use of a low-cost brine extraction and solar evaporation process. SOP and other specialty fertilizers are used in the production of high value, chloride-sensitive crops such as tree nuts, fruits, and vegetables. For further information, please contact: Woods Silleroy Corporate Secretary (801) 485-0223 woods@crystalpeakminerals.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. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to the use of proceeds from the Loan, the permitting and construction of the Project, the targeting of the development and production of specialty fertilizers and associated minerals, including SOP, through the use of a cost-effective solar evaporation process; and Crystal Peaks future business. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, is expected, expects or does not expect, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, believes, or variations of such words and phrases; or terms that state that certain actions, events, or results may, could, would, might, or will be taken, could occur, or be achieved. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is made, and is based on, a number of assumptions and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to the timing of obtaining the necessary permits to proceed with the Project, that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Crystal Peak to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Although Crystal Peak has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Crystal Peak does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. The worlds busiest land border has fallen quiet. Restrictions meant to contain the spread of the new coronavirus have stopped millions of Mexicans from making daily trips north to the United States. That includes many who work at U.S. businesses. At least 4 million Mexicans who live in cities along the 3,144-kilometer-long border have been affected by the restrictions on travel. The measures do not permit short crossings into American cities to visit family, get medical care or buy goods. Many of those affected have legal border crossing cards, which are for meant visits not related to work. Reuters reporters spoke to more than 20 people who live in Tijuana, Nogales and Ciudad Juarez. Most use their cards to care for family members on the U.S. side of the border. Some use them to work illegally. All of those who spoke with the reporters said they could no longer make the crossing. This has also affected businesses on the U.S. side of the border that hire them illegally for agricultural jobs. I dont know what Im going to do without money. Im just waiting for a miracle, said 28-year-old Rosario Cruz. She is a mother of two young children and works for a cleaning company. The coronavirus restrictions have stopped all non-essential travel across the border. However, the restrictions do not stop Americans from going to Mexico. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency said it did not have an estimate of how many Mexicans with border crossing cards work illegally in the United States. But U.S. and Mexican immigration experts believe the number is high. The U.S. State Department says more than 4 million border cards have been issued since 2015. The cards can be used for 10 years. Before the coronavirus restrictions, more than 950,000 people entered the United States from Mexico every day. That information comes from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency. Andrew Selee is president of the Migration Policy Institute, based in Washington, D.C. He said limiting border crossing to fight the pandemic was understandable. But he worries that in cities such as San Diego, California, or El Paso, Texas, businesses that really should be open in the middle of a crisis might find that they dont have employees. Were talking about farm work, were talking about caregiving, he said. In U.S. border cities like El Paso and San Diego, the effects are already being felt. Cindy Ramos-Davidson is the chief executive of the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She said the lack of Mexican shoppers was devastating for small businesses downtown. She was also concerned about the nearby farms that use Mexican workers. They depend on farm workers, the day workers, she said. She noted that many of these workers use their cards to work in the U.S. illegally. Paola Avila is a vice president of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. She said the citys so-called retail tourism has been badly affected. Retail tourism describes money spent by Mexicans who cross the border to buy certain goods. Avila is also worried about the effect on U.S. citizens who are cared for by family members who cross from Mexico. If the hospitals overflow, as we predict, and they start sending people to be cared for at home, who will care for them? she asked. Im John Russell. The Reuters News Agency reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story miracle - n. a wonderful event that is believed to be caused by God essential - n. important, most needed pandemic - n. an occurrence in which a disease spreads quickly to a large number of people around the world devastate - v. to cause great harm certain - adj. specific things retail - adj. selling to the public in a store tourism - n. the activity of going to places for pleasure When pandemics spread, they bring on an economic contagion, beyond the morbidity and mortality of the disease itself. Economic activity has been curtailed to enforce social distancing an indispensable bullet in the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) war. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that the virus is pushing the world economy into a recession worse than that after the 2008 financial crisis. Moodys downgraded Indias GDP growth rate forecast for 2020 from 5.5% to 2.5%. A United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report titled The Covid-19 Shock to Developing Countries pleaded governments to do whatever it takes to stop economic contraction becoming a recession or worse, a prolonged depression, and to protect the poorest. United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres called for a large-scale, coordinated, comprehensive and multilateral response based on solidarity and shared responsibility. His proposals for a double-digit-percentage of global GDP investment, massively increasing resources to developing countries by augmenting IMF capacity including through Special Drawing Rights issuance and of MFIs like the World Bank are critical. The G20, representing worlds most powerful economies, expressed its resolve to defeat Covid-19, but so far, concerted global action and cooperation, and enhanced liquidity and funding has not materialised. Significant national relief and stimulus packages announced by the United States, Europe, China and India are expected to help staunch the economic haemorrhage and finance the coronavirus war. Developing countries, including India, face several economic challenges. These include volatility and precipitous fall in financial markets and commodity prices, and financing gap due to shrinking fiscal revenues and Covid-19 expenditure. Liquidity crunch, disruptions in international trade, and transport, depletion of foreign exchange reserves, devaluation of their currencies, fall in export revenues due to export controls and contraction in global markets and economic engines also causes for concern. They also face the prospects of a global food, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies crisis as producing countries impose export control and stockpiling. India could face a remittances crisis due to coronavirus-related redundancies in major labour export markets. The economic impact on India needs to be assessed by what some Harvard economists call the shape of the shock and its structural legacy. These will depend on the nature and extent of the disease burden, resources deployed/diverted for treatment/care/ vaccine, the trajectory of the pandemic, the collateral damage to sectors, state of the pre-crisis economy, policy responses and special measures taken. Resilience and rebound will depend on the duration of the lockdown, the stage at which the lockdown was imposed in Indias case it was early enough and social distancing compliance by citizens. Reducing uncertainties around health security driven economic decision-making will help and slightly longer lockdowns seem better than stop-go options. India has to ensure that in this interregnum, a banking/credit crisis does not occur, liquidity at household and corporate level is maintained, there is minimal disruption in capital formation and investments. Labour displacement is to be minimised and migrant labour encouraged to stay in place or return after the lockdown including though repurposing for the corona war. Skill atrophy should be prevented, output and supply maintained through targeted support to strategic sectors, SMEs, SHGs. Providing social protection to poor and vulnerable farmers and workers is critical. Prime Minister Narendra Modis economic relief and stimulus package seek to achieve these objectives and will continue to evolve. If the lockout lasts for months, there is risk of a prolonged freeze in the real economy and recessionary prospect. We have to keep essential sectors firewalled through protective measures/PPE gear and affordable, rapid status tests and protocol until we open all sectors. Walden Bello, the author of Deglobalization: Ideas for a New World Economy notes that Covid-19 dealt a second big blow to globalisation and connectivity. With China, its flag bearer,becoming the epicentre of the crisis and economic contagion, there is rethink on the global risks of over reliance on this undisputed workshop of the world, the largest trader and exporter. Countries everywhere are considering diversification strategies away from China and rooting for autarky in strategic areas. Global investor reassessment about putting all their eggs in the China basket, presents an unmissable opportunity to attract them to India. Although no one should underestimate Chinas enduring comparative advantage and resilience we should leverage Indias large market, human resources and diversified production base to become a manufacturing, services, research and development, and technology hub. Pharmaceuticals, biotech, medical supplies and equipment and related infrastructure for health sector capacity, supply and value chain is a vital multisectoral cluster to create with all stakeholders private and public. Consumer durables, construction materials, electronics, engineering goods, IT, speciality textiles and garments, AI and robotics are other promising areas. Article XX of GATT / WTO permits countries to take any actions it considers necessary to protect its national security interests. We can use trade restrictions, TRIPs, TRIMs exemptions to support domestic value and supply chains to protect our health, food and economic security. A new India industrial and trade policy is needed to incentivise our entrepreneurs to be makers, not just traders. They must build a Make in India hub to meet domestic and global Covid-19 related demand and subsequent rebound and revenge consumption. The adversity bought on by the virus can become a transformative economic opportunity to Build Back Better. Lakshmi Puri is a former assistant secretary general, United Nations, former deputy executive director of UN Women and former acting deputy secretary general of UNCTAD. This is the last in a three-part series by the writer. The views expressed are personal Actor Matt LeBlanc recounted one of the 'weird things' that happened to him while he was starring in the hit sitcom 'Friends.' According to Fox News, in the pre-recorded visit to 'The Kelly Clarkson Show,' the 52-year-old actor revealed that he encountered some "weird" invasions of privacy. He said, "It was during the week, it was during the afternoon, I happened to be flipping channels and I was watching the news. For some reason, they had a split-screen on the TV, six [sections]... Each was a live shot of each of one of our houses, like a helicopter shot." However, the LeBlanc shared there was a silver lining to seeing his house from afar. The 'Love Sick' actor said that he paused and watched for a moment, despite there being "no information, no news, really," before he noticed something. LeBlanc revealed, "I remember looking closely at my house and thinking, 's**t I need a new roof. So, the helicopter flies away, I get the ladder out and go up there." Matt also discussed how 'Friends' has managed to maintain its popularity since its end in 2004. LeBlanc recalled, "It's funny now, it felt really huge [at the time] but the way things are now with social media and streaming and your ability to binge-watch something, they had VCRs back then... Nobody could figure out how to tape a show. But now, it feels, somehow, just as relevant now as it did back then." The actor also shared that seeing himself in 'Friends' was "funny because the stars have all aged. "It's on TV and you think "God, look, so young,'" he said, admitting he no longer looked like he did back then. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Free hotel rooms will soon be offered to Queensland health workers who do not want to put their families at an increased risk of contracting the coronavirus. The state government has earmarked $17.5 million for public health workers who don't feel safe going home, Health Minister Steven Miles said. Public health workers will be able to access free accommodation if they fear going home. Credit:AAP "They might have a child with an immune disorder, they might have an elderly parent living with them, and all of those things can be taken into account," he said. "It's sending a message to our health workers that no matter what, we have their back. By Chibuike Oguh and Joshua Franklin (Reuters) - Private equity firm Silver Lake Partners is preparing to seek at least $16 billion from investors for its sixth flagship buyout fund, braving the economic uncertainty of the coronavirus outbreak, according to people familiar with the matter. Investing the money raised in the coming months could allow Silver Lake to snap up companies at depressed valuations, given the pandemic's impact on the global economy, including the technology and media sectors that the private equity firm focuses on, the sources said. Buyout funds typically return money to investors three to seven years following their fundraising, long after this pandemic is expected to have subsided. Nevertheless, concerns among institutional investors, such as public pension funds and insurance firms, about their liquidity amid the market turmoil will make Silver Lake's fundraising a key test of buyout firms' ability to fundraise during the crisis. Silver Lake is preparing to start raising the new fund, Silver Lake Partners VI, in the second quarter, amassing between $16 billion to $18 billion, said the sources, who cautioned that the plans are still subject to change. The sources declined to be identified because the preparations are confidential. Silver Lake declined to comment. Last year, Blackstone Group Inc, the world's largest private equity firm, raised a $26 billion flagship buyout fund while Vista Equity Partners Management LLC raised $16 billion from investors for its seventh technology buyout fund. CVC Capital Partners Ltd is also raising up to 20 billion euros ($21.63 billion) for its latest buyout fund, which is expected to be the largest ever fund raised in Europe. More than half a trillion dollars flowed into technology-focused buyout funds, including Silver Lake, between 2008 and 2018, according to data provider Preqin, helping to support dealmaking among companies in software, social media, and cybersecurity. Story continues Silver Lake has $43 billion in assets under management, and its portfolio of companies includes social media firm Twitter Inc, computer hardware maker Dell Technologies Inc, and movie theater chain AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc, according to its website. Silver Lake raised $15 billion from investors in 2017 for its fifth buyout fund. That fund had an initial target of $12.5 billion, and as of the end of December 2018 had delivered an internal rate of return (IRR) of 11%, according to the website of Minnesota State Board of Investment, one of Silver Lake's investors. The prior $10.3 billion fund, Silver Lake Partners IV, had delivered an IRR of 24.4% as of the end of December, according to the Minnesota State Board of Investment. By comparison, the Minnesota State Board of Investment's entire private equity portfolio delivered an IRR of 12.5%. (Reporting by Chibuike Oguh and Joshua Franklin in New York; editing by Diane Craft) In the first week of the coronavirus outbreak in the San Francisco, about the time officials announced the stay-at-home order, garbage collector Aaron Meier was struck by how different the city felt. It wasnt just the suddenly unclogged streets and muted shops and restaurants of the Richmond District. Meier could feel the concern, the worry. So he decided to send a message of hope and perseverance. On Friday of that week, the 50-year-old Recology of San Francisco employee posted the following on Twitter: Right now I am feeling an extra sense of pride and purpose as I do my work. I see people, my people, of my city, peeking out their windows at me. Theyre scared, were scared. Scared but resilient. Us garbagemen are gonna keep collecting the garbage, doctors and nurses are gonna keep doctoring and nursing. Its gonna be ok, were gonna make it be ok. I love my city. I love my country. I love my planet Earth. Be good to each other and well get through this." The tweet logged about a half million likes. I tweet my feelings a lot, Meier says. I just had to put it out there. While trash collector is not one of the riskier essential jobs in the city, Meier has had to take additional precautions. Hes less likely to be infected by another person but stands a greater chance of picking up a bug from a used tissue or dirty diaper or contaminated surface. The way I have to work is to assume the virus is getting on my clothes, and so I take precautions, he says. Im wearing latex gloves under my normal work gloves. I never really touched my face before anyway because Im always wearing dirty work gloves but now Im even more cautious. If it does get on me, I can deal with that if it doesnt get into my respiratory system. He takes care to wipe down his truck's interior with a Clorox wipe, including the steering wheel, dashboard and all the buttons and switches. I really dont want to bring it home thats my main goal I go into the garage, I take off all my clothes, I put them in a garbage bag, then I sneak into the house and take a really hot shower, he says. Getting up first thing in the morning is the most challenging part of the job. He rises at 1:30 a.m. at his home in San Jose in order to start his shift at 3. It used to start later in the morning, but Recology has had to stagger shifts to minimize person-to-person contact during the pandemic. The time is hard for me," he says. "Im not a morning person. So thats difficult. Once Im up and out the door and moving it starts to feel pretty good, because youre kind of exercising on this job. Meier picks up landfill waste and compost bins along his route near Balboa Street and 36th Avenue. Another Recology truck collects recyclables. His truck doesnt have the bin-grabbing mechanical arm you sometimes see on waste collection trucks in suburban communities. The Richmonds streets are too densely packed with parked cars. Instead, Meier has to stop his truck, get out, roll the bins to the truck and physically put them in a tipper on the side of the vehicle in order to dump them. Its a routine he repeats scores of times each day. It wears on your joints over the course of time, so its not always good exercise, Meier says. Maybe not, but sedentary, work-at-home shut-ins might be envious of the 25,000 steps he logs every day. Meier says theres more trash to pick up since the pandemic, but he thinks its mostly recyclables. People are ordering online instead of going to stores, and they have more boxes and other packaging to throw out, he says. Occasionally, customers cant fit all their landfill waste in the bin and they place loose trash outside of it. Meier says that while Recology is happy to pick up extra trash, when it isnt bundled properly, it can fall apart and he has to pick it up. Thats when hes most worried about getting germs and bacteria on his hands and clothes. Meier enjoys seeing people on his route and knows some of them by name. And he keeps an eye out for kids in the windows. I wave and make sure they see me and say hello because this is a hard thing we got to go through right now, he says. One morning he found a customer's note on top of a trash bin. It was really simple, he says. It was just a piece of paper that she had written thank you on. And she put flowers on top of it. Thats all it was. She opened her second-story window and talked to me a little bit. I wish I had taken a picture of it, because it did touch me. Its moments like that we should seek out during the pandemic, Meier says. Right now nothing is normal and weve lost all our gathering places. We need to survive physically, but we also have to survive emotionally. So find little normal moments in your day so you can get through this. MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here. Mike Moffitt is an SFGATE Digital Reporter. Email: moffitt@sfgate.com. Twitter: @Mike_at_SFGate President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky initiated the creation of programs to support small and medium-sized businesses during the coronavirus epidemic, as the press service of the head of state reports. Small and medium-sized businesses today suffer the most because they cannot work and do not have a large financial pillow. But it is business that is jobs and taxes, - Zelensky said at a meeting with representatives of the government and the banking sector of Ukraine. The meeting participants discussed the creation of lending tools for new entrepreneurs, as well as ways to support existing businesses. In particular, it was a question of credit holidays and compensation of interest on loans. We need to create new ones and rethink the existing support programs, that is, expand the support of those who are already working in different fields. To save the business now is how to allow the country to breathe and live in the future, - the president said. In the coming days, the meeting participants will present their programs to support Ukrainian business. As we reported before, Easter festivities will not be banned due to quarantine, but people are encouraged to stay home and watch the broadcast online. Such a decision of the authorities was announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting with the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church His Beatitude Svyatoslav Despite the state's schools being closed and providing supervision only for students who have nowhere else to go, teachers will return to empty classrooms until the Easter holidays start on Friday and prepare a new way to deliver lessons next term. Unlike other professions, if teachers wanted to work from home they would have to either take sick leave, long service, or leave without pay, and still be expected to provide lessons. A new plan of what education will look like in Term 2 is set to be released this week. One teacher told WAtoday it was ridiculous that while they were told to isolate and stay home, hundreds of teachers, and their own children, were still expected to leave their homes to go to school to work online. North Metropolitan MLC Peter Collier asked Education Minister Sue Ellery in Parliament last week to confirm whether some teachers and school staff could be exempt from having to use their leave entitlements if they wanted to work remotely. By Trend So far, 300 medical workers have been infected with coronavirus in Iran, said Abolfaz Afarideh, the offical of Social Security Organization of Iran, Trend reports citing ILNA. According to Afarideh, 10 medical workers infected with coronavirus have died. Afarideh added that there are about 5,000 doctors and more than 30,000 medical workers in Iran's medical sector. The official said that treatment of patients infected with coronavirus in Iran is 100 percent free. No funds are required from the insured. However, certain funds are collected from persons who are not registered with the Social Security Organization. "When it comes to the cost of treating, minimum 4-5 million rials (about $95.2 - $119) are spent for those who do not need resuscitation or special services and more than 200-250 million rials (about $4,700 - $5,900) are spent on those who need these services, he said. Iran is one of the countries heavily affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 58,200 people have been infected, 3,603 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 22,000 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 announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz R emember when everyone was telling us Shakespeare wrote King Lear in isolation? Forget it writing and finishing anything at the moment is an achievement. There's a very strong argument for having a rest, a sleep and not stressing out over deadlines for a bit. But if that's not your style, or you've done it already, there's plenty to be keeping writers busy. Here are some of the playwriting and screenwriting opportunities on the table at the moment. BBC Writersroom: Comedy Every year, the BBC opens up a window for unsolicited comedy scripts of at least 30 pages, whether thats for TV, film, radio, stage or online. Theyre after distinctive voices, well-rounded characters and a good sense of storytelling ability. The call-out says: We are looking to unearth the treasures, the page-turners, the new perspectives, the engaging dialogue and the surprising character creations. Deadline: Monday April 20, 5pm, bbc.co.uk Directors Cut: LockDown OpenUp This initiative was launched the day after the country went into lockdown to motivate writers to use their isolation experience as inspiration. For as long as we are in lockdown, Directors Cut is accepting short script submissions 1-2 minutes long, some of which will be chosen for a showcase at the Southwark Playhouse when theatres open again. Deadline: Ongoing during lockdown, directorscuttheatre.co.uk How to get your cultural fix online - in pictures 1 /28 How to get your cultural fix online - in pictures Hamilton Where to watch: Disney+ Joan Marcus Three Kings Where to watch: Old Vic Getty Images Pina Bausch's The Rite of Spring Where to watch: Sadler's Wells Digital Stage RSC archive Where to watch: Marquee TV (c) RSC Les Miserables concert Where to watch: lesmis.com Matt Murphy Matthew Bourne's ballets Where to watch: New Adventures website Johan Persson To a simple, rock 'n' roll . . . song Where to watch: BBC iPlayer Shakespeare's Globe Where to watch: globeplayer.tv Tristram Kenton for the Globe Headlong's Unprecedented season Where to watch: headlong.co.uk, from May Getty Images Deafinitely Theatre Where to watch: YouTube Simon Annand Hannah Gadsby's Douglas Where to watch: Netflix Ali Goldstein/ NETFLIX 2020 Wise Children Where to watch: BBC iPlayer Steve Tanner Judi Dench in conversation Where to watch: Orange Tree Theatre Soho Theatre on Demand Where to watch: sohotheatre.com Idil Sukan Patricia Gets Ready Where to watch: LIVR Oscar Wilde Season Where to watch: Marquee TV Marc Brenner Royal Opera House online Where to watch: Marquee TV, Facebook, YouTube, Luke Hayes Comedy at the Covid Arms Where to watch: Emailed link after donation Kayla Wren Papatango's Isolated But Open: Voices From Across the Shutdown Where to watch: papatango.co.uk Getty Images Next Up Comedy Where to watch: Next Up Daniel Hambury/@stellapicsltd Live Theatre: 10 Minutes To Live Theatres short play project has writers respond to a different theme each time the current theme is Call Home. While the next performance weekend wont be going ahead, Live Theatre still wants submissions tackling the topic in no more than 10 minutes with up to four characters. Deadline: Thursday April 30, 10am, live.org.uk Xposed: Pride edition Full Disclosure Theatre is looking for emerging LGBTQ+ writers to compose 15 minute plays for a showcase in June (lockdown permitting). The genre of play could be anything the only requirement is that it explores queer themes with an original flair. Deadline: Monday April 13, noon, fulldisclosuretheatre.co.uk Mercury Monologues Mercury Theatre and Josef Weinberger join forces for their new weekly challenge: a theme to write by every week. The first one is temptation so a good choice for anyone hankering after a second walk. Writers should create a monologue no more than four minutes long, with a winner being awarded 100 and the chance to have their monologue read and streamed online by a professional actor. Deadline: Sunday April 5, then weekly, mercurytheatre.co.uk Experience Theatre Practitioners Early Playwriting Award The Finborough Theatres playwriting prize is open to anyone who has worked in theatre for at least two years, but has not had a play produced; this could be people working front-of-house, backstage and in design or administrative roles. The award intends to bring out those who have experience of the theatre world, but not from a writing perspective. The winner will have their play developed with Finborough and receive 6,000. There will be ten runner-up prizes up for grabs as well. Deadline: Tuesday June 30, 11pm, finboroughtheatre.co.uk Flux Theatre: Emerge Short plays or extracts from a longer play are being accepted for the next Emerge prize. Four writers will be selected to have their piece of previously unproduced writing staged at the Arcola when theatre reopen. Theres no set theme, but pieces should be 20 minutes long. MEXICO CITY As its neighbors close borders, shut down their economies and order millions of people to stay at home, Mexico has responded far more slowly to the coronavirus pandemic, its leaders reluctant to put economic constraints on a society in which nearly half the people live in poverty. As recently as March 15, some 40,000 concert goers crowded into the Foro Sor venue for the popular Vive Latino music festival. Tourists from Europe and the United States were able to enter the country without any restrictions until late last week. Restaurants, airports, subways and grocery stores remain open in Mexico City, though churches and large markets have closed. The rapid spread of the coronavirus, however, has begun to increase the urgency of the governments response. Mexican health authorities reported on March 16 that the country had 82 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Two weeks later, the number swelled to nearly 1,000, including 20 deaths. Deputy Health Minister Hugo Lopez Gatell, who two weeks ago dismissed social distancing restrictions as an extreme tactic is now urging citizens to stay at home, stay at home, stay at home. Mexicos response to the coronavirus pandemic has implications for both the United States and Texas, which shares 1,200 of the 2,000-mile U.S. border with Mexico. In normal years, millions of people and $600 billion of goods flow across the U.S. border, with Texas accounting for about one-third of that commerce. TESTING: As companies race to produce COVID-19 test kits, FDA holds up at-home samples Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has placed restrictions on border travel between the U.S. and Mexico, limiting tourism, but his government still allows people going to work or students going to school to cross the border. The Lopez Obrador administration also has no plan for the migrant camps near the U.S. border, where conditions are crowded and sanitation a challenge. The Mexico-U.S. border is one of the most intensely crossed borders, said Dwight Dyer, who recently joined Mexicos Health Ministry as a health security intelligence specialist. The fact of the matter is that there has been an increase of kids in California and Texas testing positive. If Mexico were to react to those developments, it should have done so already Faith as shield Mexico is just one of many nations that reacted slowly to the coronavirus pandemic, which started in China and spread rapidly around the world, in large part because government leaders failed to understand how contagious the virus is and act decisively. Lopez Obrador spent the first half of March dismissing the gravity of the virus, encouraging Mexicans to frequent restaurants and posting videos of himself in crowds, kissing babies. He said Mexicos spirituality would protect the country against the virus and made a public display of pulling out two religious amulets that he said would be his shield. His populist government hesitated to impose strict social distancing and stay-at-home orders, in part because vast numbers of poor rely on daily income from jobs such as street sweeping or selling tacos at a corner stand. Lopez Obrador rose to power in large part by championing the causes of impoverished Mexican villages and urban poor. His personal strengths are beginning to look like weaknesses, said Tony Payan, the director of the Center for the U.S. and Mexico at Rice Universitys Baker Institute. He loves being adored and touched and applauded and he thrives on being with crowds and being praised. The administrations response contrasts with the approach to the 2009 H1N1 swine flu epidemic, when then-President Felipe Calderon immediately launched a coordinated effort, closing schools and non-essential business. Doctors were quickly sent to airports and transportation hubs to screen for infections and $300 million was invested in medicine and equipment to fight the flu. The Calderon administration also established a pandemic emergency system after the swine flu outbreak, giving Mexicos Health Ministry the power to coordinate responses between the federal, state and municipal governments. Lopez Obrador has declined to activate the emergency system. The administration has yet to articulate a strategy for handling the inflow of travelers from Europe and North America who can enter the country without being screened for the virus or required to self-quarantine. European visitors to the U.S. are required to quarantine for 14 days. TOMLINSON: Craven Texas politicians pander to business over public health Some Mexican states, including Guanajuato, in the heart of Central Mexicos manufacturing region, started shutting down large events before the federal government took charge, cancelling its celebrated Holy Week celebrations, in which millions of citizens normally travel around the country. The state of Jalisco, home to Puerto Vallarta, was one of the first to act decisively, announcing in mid-March that bars, casinos, some restaurants and party halls where more than 50 people can gather would be closed. My fellow nationals here have started to pay attention, said Alex Martinez-Arpin, a Mexican citizen and Houston resident who owns a home in Puerto Vallarta, a major destination for cruise lines that largely shut down after COVID-19 infected passengers. The cancellation of the cruise industry was an abrupt wakeup for service workers and others. TEXAS INC.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox The efforts are modest compared to the steps taken in Italy, where the virus has overwhelmed the health care system, and most American states, which have shut down businesses and ordered people to stay home. But they indicate a growing realization in Mexico that the first line of action is changing peoples behavior. Last week, Lopez Obrador finally acknowledged the need for prevention considering Mexicos inadequate resources for battling the virus. But he blamed that on the previous administration and international business. One of the most disastrous legacies we were left with from the neoliberal period is that we dont have the doctors and the specialists that the country requires, Lopez Obrador said at a March 30 news conference. Lost time Meanwhile, good government groups worry that precious time was lost. We are already late in containment measures we should have started much earlier, said Manuel Molano, the director of the Institute for Mexican Competitiveness, a think tank in Mexico City. Lopez Obrador and his team were also vocally on the denial side of the (swine) flu pandemic as well. I dont think they are very prone to correcting themselves and accepting publicly that they are moving ahead with a similar strategy. The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), now sweeping the world, is not only a big test of China's ability to fight the epidemic, but also a great test of international cooperation. With the positive trend of epidemic prevention and control in China, the focus has switched to the increasingly serious situation in other parts of the world. As of April 3, the outbreak had spread to more than 190 countries, the number of confirmed cases had passed the million mark, and the death toll was over 50,000. The World Health Organization (WHO) has already raised the risk of a global pandemic to the highest level. In February, the latest issue of The Economist published a cover chart of the coronavirus' rotation around the earth. The virus knows no boundaries, making unity in fighting it vital. When the Chinese people were fighting the initial outbreak of the virus, especially in February, they had the support and help of the world. Today, when the world is in lockdown, it is China's turn to do everything in its power to help the world with material supplies, financial aids and, even more valuable, by sharing its experiences. On March 7, in response to an appeal by the World Health Organization, the Chinese government decided to contribute $20 million to support WHO's campaign for international cooperation in the fight against the pandemic. Although China's own task of fighting the epidemic remains daunting, still it sent public health and epidemic prevention experts to Iran, Italy and other worst-hit countries. The government and Chinese companies also sent masks, nucleic acid testing kits and other anti-epidemic materials to South Korea, Japan, Iran, Pakistan, and countries in Europe and Africa. The China Red Cross Foundation also set up an International Humanitarian Assistance Fund against Epidemics, which has mobilized social forces to raise funds and materials to help countries more severely hit by the virus. As the outbreak of COVID-19 in the United States worsens, on March 29, the first aircraft loaded with 80 tons of anti-epidemic supplies arrived in New York from Shanghai, carrying 130,000 N95 masks, 1.7 million surgical masks and 50,000 protective clothing. The rapid spread of COVID-19 has taught people all over the world a lesson in building a community of common health for mankind. No country can meet the challenges alone, and no country can retreat behind high walls. Addressing the COVID-19 pandemic is a common challenge for all humanity, and public health security is a common issue the world needs to address. In the fight against epidemics that affect the safety and security of all peoples, solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has stated: "We must all join the chorus of humanity in the fight against the virus and win ultimate victory. The virus is a threat to each of us, and we must unite as one person." The outbreak of COVID-19 is a crisis, a disaster, but also a big test. It proves that China is not talking about a vague idea of "a community with a shared future for mankind" because it already exists here on Earth. On the one hand, economic globalization and scientific and technological progress shorten the distance between countries and between peoples; we are already interdependent and intertwined in economic development and social security, but that could be quickly overturned by a serious infectious disease. The world is now working hard to combat the pandemic. People facing such a huge public health crisis cannot tolerate any kind of recriminations, shirking responsibilities, and stigmatization based on the narrow interests of certain political parties or groups. The world need to work together against the common enemy. The author is senior research fellow of Charhar Institute and Institute of West Asian & African Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 21:55:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- China's measures to curb potential import of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases via international flights have proven effective, an aviation official said Monday. As of April 5, a total of 112 Beijing-bound international flights were adjusted, with about 25,700 passengers arriving through designated first points of entry, Han Guangzu, an official with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) told a news conference. The country decided in late March to redirect all international flights to airports in 12 other designated Chinese cities, as part of efforts to cut down the virus risk for its capital. Redirecting and adjusting international flights helped the country contain imported cases, boost customs clearance efficiency and provide better services for travelers, Han said. Measures were also taken to protect the health of Chinese living or studying abroad, with 11 interim flights arranged between March 4 and April 3, bringing 1,827 Chinese citizens home from Iran, Italy and the United Kingdom, according to Han. While keeping a close eye on the conditions of the outbreak abroad, the CAAC will continue to optimize its prevention and control measures and guide airlines and airports to adopt differentiated approaches accordingly, Han added. Both Austria and Denmark plan to lift restrictions in stages. In Austria, small shops are slated to reopen April 14, with larger stores to follow on May 1. Restaurants, hotels and schools may be able to reopen in mid-May though that decision will be assessed at the end of April. Strict rules about masks, social distancing and the number of people allowed into a store at any one time will remain in place, but public events may resume in July. Democrats and liberal groups on Sunday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to let stand an extended absentee voting period for Wisconsins spring primary, an election unfolding amid public health fears due to the coronavirus. The groups argue that a federal judges order this week extending absentee voting from Tuesday to April 13 is critical for a fair election and to protect public health. They said the crush of absentee ballot requests more than 1.1 million, far more than any previous election has made it impossible for clerks to get them out to voters and get them back in time to beat what had been an 8 p.m. election night deadline. These backlogs and delays will disenfranchise voters, in the absence of any emergency extension of the deadlines for mailing and receiving absentee ballots, they argued. The City Clerks for Milwaukee and Madison have concluded there is no practical way that scores of thousands of voters from these two municipalities alone who have not yet received their absentee ballots will be able to vote and return their ballots by the deadline, which is now completely unworkable. Wisconsin is scheduled to conduct in-person voting on Tuesday despite widespread concern about the health risks to voters and poll workers. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican leaders were initially united in wanting to stick to the election date, but Evers this week reversed course and called for shifting to mail-only and extending absentee voting into May. U.S. District Judge William Conley this week declined to postpone the election, calling it inappropriate for a federal judge to do so, but handed Democrats and liberal groups a partial victory by extending the absentee voting period. Republicans appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court after the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to reverse Conleys order. In their brief Saturday, they argued the extension unfairly creates two different deadlines for voters one for in-person voting and one for absentees. They also argued that election returns would leak out after Tuesdays in-person voting, giving interest groups a chance to strategically chase down ballots to help their preferred candidates, and distort voter behavior. Democrats disputed that, noting Conleys order blocked clerks from reporting results before April 13. There was no indication when the high court would rule. Wisconsin stands apart from other states in trying to hold to its April election date, even as Evers issued a statewide stay-at-home order that Wisconsins chief medical officer has credited for helping slow the rate of infections. Evers has said he cant move or change the election on his own. He called a special session for Saturday afternoon, asking Republicans to take up bills that would convert the election to all-mail and give voters until May 26 to return ballots. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, both Republicans, said they wouldnt do it, and Saturdays session was gaveled in and out in seconds. The election features the Democratic presidential primary between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, but a bigger concern for Republicans is a high-stakes state Supreme Court race featuring a conservative incumbent against a liberal challenger. That court has become bitterly partisan in recent years; Conservatives currently hold a 5-2 advantage. Incumbent Judge Daniel Kelly, a conservative, faces a challenge from Dane County Circuit Court Judge Jill Karofsky, a liberal, for a 10-year term. Fears over in-person voting and a curtailed absentee period may hit Democratic-leaning Milwaukee hardest. City officials there have said they have so few poll workers available that they can operate only five polling sites, creating the prospect of many voters funneled to just a few locations. Other states have delayed their primaries to protect voters and poll workers from the virus. Alaska, Wyoming, Hawaii and Louisiana were set to hold elections Saturday, but theyve pushed those contests back. Louisianas presidential primary is now set for June 20. Democrats in Alaska and Wyoming have decided to hold their party-run contests by mail only and have pushed back the deadline for turning in ballots. (Picture credit: AP) SPRINGFIELD The total number of cases of coronavirus confirmed by Baystate Health on Monday has risen to 471 an increase of 34 from the previous day. Baystate Health also reported 202 people have been hospitalized with COVID-19 or are suspected of having the disease at its facilities. Currently within (Baystate Health), we are caring for 161 hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection, 35 of whom are in our critical care units; we are also caring for 41 hospitalized patients who are under investigation for COVID-19 infection, the health provider said in a statement. To date, Baystate Health facilities in Western Massachusetts have tested a total of 2,131 people for COVID-19 and determined 471 individuals have the virus. Another 1,628 people tested negative. The Springfield-based health provider in still awaiting test results for 32 others. Baystate Health is not providing additional details on patients, such age, gender or residence. As of Sunday evening, there were 12,500 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, resulting in 231 deaths, according to the state DPH. There have been more than 337,000 cases in the U.S. with more than 9,600 deaths reported. Riyadh, April 6 : The Saudi Foreign Ministry announced the launch of e-service for Saudi citizens abroad wishing to return to the kingdom over COVID-19 concerns, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. The ministry on Sunday said in a statement carried by the SPA that all requests will be processed electronically and the travel dates will be set according to the approved plan, reported Xinhua news agency. Citizens wishing to return to Saudi Arabia can be registered in five days from Sunday, the statement said, adding the citizens in countries most affected by the coronavirus, the elderly people and pregnant women will be given priority. The ministry pointed out that all returnees will be subject to quarantine for 14 days. Saudi Arabia has so far reported 2,385 coronavirus cases, including 34 deaths and 488 recoveries. Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Aali, spokesman of the foreign ministry, said during a daily press conference that Saudis represent 47 percent of the total infected cases in the country. In response to PM Modis call for solidarity, the Indian High Commission in Pakistan lighted up lamps on April 5. PM Modi had earlier asked people to light up lamps, diyas and candles in the 9 pm for 9 minutes event which was aimed at showcasing the nation's "collective resolve and solidarity" in its fight against Coronavirus. The deadly virus has till now has infected 3,588 and killed 99 across the Indian Territory. Marking the nations battle against the viral pandemic, President Ram Nath Kovind, PM Narendra Modi, Union Minister Rajnath Singh along with other lawmakers lit up lamps at their residences. Joining them were Bollywood celebrities like Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Bhoomi Pednekar, Alia Bhatt, Randeep Hooda, Vicky Kaushal who all stood together to vanquish darkness caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. Rationale behind PM Modi's appeal On April 3, PM Modi shared a video message with the people of India. He urged everyone to switch off the lights at 9 pm on April 5 and light a lamp, candle or flashlights for 9 minutes to showcase unity in the fight against the novel Coronavirus. However, the PM cautioned against congregating for this purpose. Currently, there are 3577 confirmed novel Coronavirus cases in India, out of which 275 people have recovered while 83 individuals have lost their lives. Read: PM Modi Lights A Lamp During '9 Minutes For India' To Vanquish Darkness Caused By COVID-19 Read: From KCR To Pinarayi Vijayan, Number Of CMs Follow PM Modi's '9 Pm- 9 Mins' Appeal PM Modi had remarked, "We have to end the darkness and uncertainly that has arisen due to the coronavirus crisis and proceed towards light and certainty. In order to defeat the darkness of the coronavirus crisis, we must spread the power of light in all 4 directions. So, all of us must challenge the darkness of the coronavirus crisis on this Sunday, April 5. We must introduce it to the power of light. I want 9 minutes of your time on April 5 at 9 pm. On April 5 at 9 pm, close the lights of your home and light candle, diya, torch or mobile's flashlight on the doorsteps of your home or in the balcony for 9 minutes." Read: Minutes To Go, PM Modi Coins New Name For '9 Minutes At 9 Pm' Covid Battle With Light Read: PM Modi Leads Country In Lighting Diyas To Express Its Resolve To Win Anti-corona Battle Image Credits: ANI The Queen during her address to the nation (Buckingham Palace/PA) The Queens address to the nation on Sunday evening was watched by more than 23 million people. Figures given to the PA news agency by the BBC suggest that the broadcast was watched by 14.1 million people on BBC One and 756,000 on the BBC News channel, with a further 5.3 million watching it on ITV, 2.5 million on Channel 4 and 615,000 on Channel Five. The televised message was the second most watched broadcast since the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics (24.5 million), topped only by Boris Johnsons address last month (25.2 million). It saw her tell how the coronavirus pandemic had brought back memories of wartime. She said: It reminds me of the very first broadcast I made, in 1940, helped by my sister. We, as children, spoke from here at Windsor to children who had been evacuated from their homes and sent away for their own safety. Today, once again, many will feel a painful sense of separation from their loved ones. But now, as then, we know, deep down, that it is the right thing to do. The televised address was only the fourth of the Queens 68-year reign during times of national crisis and grief. Video of the Day Her most recent Christmas Day message drew a combined overnight audience of 7.85 million. Expand Close Prime Minister Boris Johnson (PA Video/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Prime Minister Boris Johnson (PA Video/PA) It comes after Boris Johnsons address last month, where he placed the country on lockdown, was watched by more than 25.2 million viewers. The unprecedented address aired on BBC One, ITV, Channel 4, Sky and others. It beat the highest TV audience measured in the last decade (24.5 million) for the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. That figure was more than double the number (11.6 million) who tuned into the Gavin And Stacey Christmas special on the night it aired. Zara Tindall said she was very proud of her grandmothers efforts. Expand Close Zara Phillips (Joe Giddens/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Zara Phillips (Joe Giddens/PA) Appearing on Mondays Good Morning Britain from her home in Gloucestershire, she said: Obviously, were very proud and what she said is completely, 100% what the country needed. I hope everyone listens and we can try and get back to normal and, as were trying to do today, support our NHS as much as we can. Other public figures, including Sir Keir Starmer and Liz Truss, praised the Queen for her words. The Queen speaks for the whole country and our determination to defeat the coronavirus, new Labour leader Sir Keir tweeted. Trade Secretary Ms Truss described the message as inspiring, while Nadine Dorries MP, who tested positive for Covid-19 in March, said it was perfect. She added: We really are all #InThisTogether. Karnataka curfew: If you have not stocked up booze, then read this Karnataka agrees to open Talapady NH for non-COVID19 patients India pti-PTI Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 06: In a huge relief for Kerala, neighbouring Karnataka has agreed to allow ambulances carrying patients other than COVID-19 cases through Talapady border in Kasaragod district for treatment in hospitals in Mangaluru during the ongoing lockdown. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced the decision of the Karnataka government during his daily media briefing on COVID-19 situation. The breakthrough came two days after the Supreme Court through video conferencing asked the Chief Secretaries of Kerala and Karnataka to hold discussions with Union Health Secretary for an amicable settlement of the issue and decide on parameters to be maintained in case of health emergencies. The court on Friday gave the directive during the hearing of a petition by Karnataka challenging a high court order for opening of borders as to allow free movement of vehicles carrying persons for urgent medical treatment. It also orally asked the Kerala government to not to precipitate the issue of opening of borders till further hearing of the matter on Tuesday. At least eight seriously ill patients have died so far unable to get treatment in Mangaluru as the national highway at Talapady had been closed in view of the 21-day lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus. "Karanataka will open Talpady check post and allow ambulances carrying patients other than Covid-19 infected ones. A medical team of Karnataka will be stationed there and would examine the patient before allowing them to enter that state," Vijayan said. The patients from Kerala need to carry a certificate mentioning the hospital which they plan to visit in Mangaluru, he said. Karnataka had closed its borders with Kerala after Kasaragod became a hotspot of coronavirus with at least 128 positive cases till now. Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa had said opening of the state's borders will be like "embracing death". Meanwhile, Vijayan said Kerala has been allowing people from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to visit hospitals in Wayanad district despite lockdown. The northern part of Kasaragod district depends on Mangaluru for medical facilities especially dialysis patients. While Kasaragod was suffering from lack of medical facilities and rising virus cases, a new COVID-19 speciality center at Kasaragod Medical College has started its operation from Monday. "It took four days to complete the conversion of the medical college block into COVID-19 treatment centre. There are 200 beds and 10 ICU beds in the first phase," Vijayan said. Soon, 100 more beds and 10 more ICU beds will be made ready. Rs seven crore has been spent so far to arrange the modern facilities for the hospital, he added. A 26-member medical team including 11 doctors, 10 staff nurses, and 5 nursing assistants reached Kasaragod to coordinate the activities and train the staff for the treatment of COVID-19, officials said. Four persons were sent to judicial custody on Monday after they were arrested for duping 36 migrant labourers of 40,000 on the pretext of sending them to their home state, Bihar. The accused have been identified as Satvir Singh and Ravinder Singh of Tarn Taran, Omkar Singh, alias Lucky, of Pathankot, and Harsh of Kathua. Desperate to return back home, 36 migrant labourers gave the men 40,000 for facilitation of transportation to Bihar, but were instead dropped at Shambhu Barrier on the on the Ludhiana-Ambala highway. Police said the complaint was lodged by one Arjun Kumar, a daily wager who lives in Kumbra and hails from Balrampur village in Bettiah, Bihar. Kumar told the police that he and 36 others, who got stuck due to the curfew, had been planning to travel back. Kumar alleged that accused Satvir Singh, who also stays in Kumbra, and his friends had assured them that they will drop the migrants back to their village in Bihar. They were asked to collectively pay 40,000 up front and additional 5,000 on reaching Bihar. Kumar said that on April 1, they were taken in two vehicles and dropped near the Shambhu Barrier. Satvir asked them to wait saying he will return after picking up a few more migrants, Kumar told the police. The migrants waited for one entire night and kept calling Satvir, who switched off his mobile phone. The cops deployed at the Shambhu Barrier noticed them and they were sent back to Kumbra in a truck. A case was registered under Sections 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 269 (Whoever 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 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code at Phase 8 police station, Mohali. Investigations revealed that the accused have other cases of cheating registered against them in different police stations of Punjab. Health Minister Simon Harris said a really crucial week lay ahead, as HSE chief Paul Reid said that, due to an increase of laboratory capacity, tests will increase from 2,500 to 4,500 a day but warned that the supply of the reagent needed for tests remains a significant worldwide challenge. Testing had dropped to 1,500 a day late last week due to issues with the availability of the reagent. There had been a goal of 15,000 tests per day, but the lack of reagent severely hampered this target. It also emerged that 20% of the personal protective equipment -PPE- procured from China does not reach the required standard for healthcare workers, according to Mr Reid. Just 10% of the total order worth 200m had arrived in Ireland, he added, and suppliers have been told not to send any more of the kit that did not reach the required standard. Gardai again urged people to follow the guidelines on social distancing, as reports emerged of groups congregating in various places such as beaches over the weekend, despite repeated warnings about the dangers of doing so. Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health,and Dr. Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin Chief medical officer Tony Holohan said: This past week has proven that the nation is working hard, together, by staying at home to flatten the curve. If you develop symptoms of Covid-19 you need to self-isolate and phone your GP. Meanwhile, the Government has ruled out directing people to wear face masks in an effort to slow the spread of Covid-19. The HSEs Martin Cormican said there has been no change to the advice for the public in relation to face masks, as it was unclear whether surgical or medical masks should be worn in public spaces like buses or supermarkets. The direction from the HSE comes as another 21 people succumbed to the disease, with a further 390 cases confirmed. The death toll now stands at 158, with just under 5,000 diagnosed since the pandemic began. Of the latest confirmed deaths, 17 were located in the east, two in the south, and two in the west. Nine women and 12 men died, with 12 reported as having underlying health conditions. The median age of the latest reported deaths is 81, the HSE said. Health officials said there is little evidence to suggest wearing face masks would be effective for the public. Using face masks is unlikely to be of any benefit if you are not sick, said spokeswoman a Department of Health. Sick people will be advised by their doctor when to use a face mask. Advice for healthcare staff is provided by the HPSC [Health Protection Surveillance Centre], is kept under review, and is updated and published as required. Healthcare workers need face masks and other personal protective equipment to protect them from infection during their work. A group of Independent TDs had urged the Government to consider urging people to wear face coverings when out in public. In a statement issued by Roscommon-Galway TD Denis Naughten, the group said face coverings could allow some people to get back to work while continuing to observe social distance and hygiene protection measures. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Minister for Health Simon Harris and Paul Reid CEO of the HSE in one of the Clinic rooms in the Citywest Hotel which will have the use of the 750-bedroom for self isolation.Photo: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland The Taoiseach, meanwhile, has re-registered as a doctor, and will be offering his services to the HSE during the pandemic. Leo Varadkar, who was a doctor for seven years before opting for politics, has offered to work on the front line once a week in the battle against the pandemic. It is understood he signed up again to the medical register last month, and will be conducting phone consultations with patients. A spokesman for the Department of Taoiseach said: He has offered his services to the HSE for one session a week in areas that are within his scope of practice. Mr Varadkar has worked in a number of hospitals across the country, including Beaumont, Blanchardstown, Crumlin Childrens Hospital, Holles Street, and Tallaght in Dublin, as well as stints in hospitals in Navan and Wexford. His partner, Matthew Barrett, is currently working as a doctor in Dublin. The Old Mill Apartment block on Castle Lane North Quay in Carrick On Suir where a man subsequently died from stab wounds Pic Steve Humphreys A man has died in Tipperary this morning following a fatal assault on Saturday. The man, who was in his 40s and originally from Lithuania, was allegedly assaulted at an apartment complex in the North Quay area of Carrick on Suir, around 11.30pm on Saturday. He has been named locally as Alvydas Nekrosius. He was stabbed once to the body while there was a small gathering at his apartment. Despite the injury he was able to alert emergency services himself and neighbours said they saw him walk to the ambulance himself. He was was taken to Waterford University Hospital where he was later described as being in a critical condition. He died in the early hours of this morning. The Office of the State Pathologist has been notified and a post mortem is due to take place today. The incident happened at the Old Mill apartments on the north quay of the town overlooking the river Suir. Mr Nekrosius lived in a top floor apartment there. Today neighbour's spoke of their shock at hearing that he had died. It's sad and frightening, said Mara Vizinteanu, who knew Mr Nekrosius to see. She said she did not hear anything suspicious but then heard a girl talking outside and when she looked out the window she saw Gardai and the ambulance. He lived here for about a year. I knew him to see. He was able to walk to the ambulance and then this morning I heard the news he had died. Im shocked, she added. I saw him shopping on Thursday. This should not have happened with the rules now about not seeing friends and not being too close together, Mara explained. I didnt hear any music or any party, so I am shocked, she added. Gardai remained at the scene this morning carrying out enquiries. An incident room has been established at Clonmel Garda Station and investigations are ongoing. The top floor apartment remains preserved for a further technical examination. A man in his 40s with an address in the town was arrested yesterday in relation to the stabbing. He is currently detained at Clonmel Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. Gardai are appealing for anyone with information in relation to this incident to contact them at Clonmel Garda Station on 052 617 7640 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111. The Security Council will hold on Thursday (April 09) at UN headquarters in New York, a single closed-door meeting that will be dedicated exclusively to MINURSO. The Meeting will not address the latest developments of the Sahara conflict due to the global coronavirus pandemic, according to the Councils April work program. The Dominican Republic, which holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council during this month, has included, in agreement with the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, MINURSO in the agenda of Thursdays meeting. This meeting will take place while the UN chief has not yet appointed a new personal envoy for the Sahara in replacement of former German Horst Kohler who resigned from his post in May 2019, for health reasons. The Western Sahara issue is reviewed at least three times a year by the Security Council, a review which is traditionally crowned with the adoption of a new resolution extending MINURSOs mandate for another six months or one year, on the basis of the UN Secretary Generals report setting out the actions to be followed by the four parties to the conflict (Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and Polisario). On 30 October 2019, the 15-members of the Council had approved resolution 2494 which extended the mandate of MINURSO until 31 October 2020. While waiting for things to move again at the United Nations, Moroccos position has never been as strong as it is today in this territorial dispute which was created from scratch by its neighbor and archrival, Algeria, the main supporter of the separatist polisario front. An increasing number of African and Latin American countries have abandoned the Polisario and voiced firm support to Moroccos territorial integrity and sovereignty over the Sahara. Rapper and prominent marijuana advocate Black The Ripper has died, it has been revealed. He was 32. The musician, real name Dean West, initially rose to fame with his hugely popular mixtapes Afro Samurai and Holla Black, which were released in the mid-noughties. While he continued to make music in the years that followed, he eventually became a voice in the push to legalise marijuana in the UK. RIP: Rapper and marijuana advocate Black The Ripper has died, it has been revealed. He was 32. The star (front) is pictured on the Caribbean island of Montserrat last week While it's not yet known how the star, also known as Ital Samson, died, a host of musicians took to Twitter to share their condolences as the news broke on Monday. Fellow MC Chip, shared a snap of himself posing with the Edmonton, north London, MC in happier times, as he wrote: 'RIP my brother,' preceded by a heartbreak emoji. Posting the same image on his Instagram account, Chip, a longtime friend of West, continued: 'Real tears. I never cry. Rest in peace my bro. Forever here for your son.' Advocate: After launching his music career in the early noughties, the star went on to become a prominent voice in calling for the legalisation of marijuana Plants: In September 2017, posed outside London's New Scotland Yard with two marijuana plants, writing: 'Heard the police are looking for me so I've pulled up to #NewScotlandYard' South London grime MC Novelist stated: 'I can't believe the news I've just got. I had good times with you cuz. Everyone's gonna miss you. Rest in peace Black the ripper.' Krept, of the duo Krept and Konan reacted to the news of West's untimely death by writing: 'No way black the ripper. R.I.P man f***inghell what a horrible year.' [sic] In what may have been his last publicly known picture, West was snapped posing with friends on the Caribbean island of Montserrat, where he has family ties. In the shot, dated April 1, the star was seen posing front and centre as he leaned against a silver Mercedes as he donned a green T-shirt and blue Adidas shorts. Captioning the image, the poster wrote: '2020 we isolated from the Bs. Stay woke @blacktheripper #corona #selflove #1link.' [sic] Last snapshot? In what may have been his last publicly known picture, West was snapped posing with friends on the Caribbean island of Montserrat, where he has family ties Tributes: While it's known yet known how the star, also known as Ital Samson, died, a host of musicians took to Twitter to share their condolences as the news broke on Monday By Monday evening, a solitary picture of West was posted on the same account, alongside the words: '#hope ur at peace my brother This one too mad... RIP @blacktheripper.' West made headlines in 2016, when he joined web comedy troop Trollstation to smoke inside a pod on the London Eye as surprised tourists looked on. The group boarded the Eye at 4.20pm April 20 of that year in celebration of 4/20 to create a music video where they filmed one another smoking and dancing inside the capsule. That same year, he also shared video footage of himself walking around as Asda supermarket as he openly smoked cannabis. After he shared the footage on his Dank of England Instagram account from which a range of cannabis-related merchandise is sold he attracted the attention of Asda. London Eye: West made headlines in 2016, when he joined web comedy troop Trollstation to smoke inside a pod on the London Eye as they celebrated 4/20 Police: Remaining defiant in his pro-marijuana stance, the star also shared snapshots of himself being confronted by police officers for openly carrying cannabis An Asda spokesperson said in a statement at the time: 'Asda is a family-friendly retailer and we expect all our customers to abide by the law and recognise the strict no-smoking policy we have in place across our stores.' Remaining defiant in his pro-marijuana stance, the star also shared snapshots of himself being confronted by police officers for openly carrying cannabis. In September 2017, also boldly posed outside London's New Scotland Yard toting a pair of large marijuana plants, writing: 'Heard the police are looking for me so I've pulled up to #NewScotlandYard and now I'm looking for them.' It is believed that the popular musician's final trip to the island of Montsterrat was for the purpose of overseeing the construction of a home for himself and his family. West, who was born of Montserratian and Guyanese descent, is survived by a five-year-old son and a four-month-old daughter, Soufriere. Island in the sun: In the shot, dated April 1, the star was seen posing front and centre as he leaned against a silver Mercedes as he donned a green Montserrat T-shirt Dr. Anthony Fauci at the lectern as President Donald Trump dismissed a question at a White House coronavirus briefing. Eric Baradat / AFP / Getty President Donald Trump on Sunday did not let Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, weigh in on what he thought about using hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug, on patients with COVID-19. Cutting across Fauci, who did not speak until late in the press conference at the request of a reporter, Trump said: "He answered that question 15 times." The US government had stockpiled 29 million hydroxychloroquine pills for treatment, despite having only anecdotal evidence so far of their effect on COVID-19. The drug is usually used for malaria or lupus, but it is among several drugs being researched as treatments for the novel coronavirus. Trump's dismissal came a day after the coronavirus task force was said to have had a confrontation over the way the White House should characterize hydroxychloroquine. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. President Donald Trump on Sunday told reporters he wasn't a doctor as he promoted the use of hydroxychloroquine, a drug used for malaria or lupus, to treat COVID-19 patients. But when Dr. Anthony Fauci was asked for his opinion, Trump would not let him speak. At a White House press briefing on Sunday night, Trump repeatedly spoke about using the drug on COVID-19 patients despite little clinical evidence that the pills are effective against it. He told reporters he backed the drug as he said: "I'm not a doctor. I have common sense." The US government has stockpiled 29 million hydroxychloroquine pills, and Trump said it was a good option for treatment in lieu of a vaccine. Hydroxychloroquine is among numerous drugs researchers are testing as COVID-19 treatments. "I'm trying to save lives," Trump said. "I want them to try it, and it may work and it may not work." Several times, he rhetorically asked: "What do you have to lose?" Story continues But when a reporter at the briefing asked Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, what he thought, Trump did not let him speak. "He answered that question 15 times," Trump said, cutting the reporter off, before the press conference moved on. Fauci never answered. Fauci took the lectern late in the conference and hadn't spoken before the reporters began asking questions. Hydroxychloroquine, specifically the way US officials should characterize it, was said to be at the center of a confrontation within the White House coronavirus task force at a meeting on Saturday. Citing an unnamed source, Axios reported that Trump's top trade adviser, Peter Navarro, who has been trying to source the drug, told the task force that overseas studies showed the drug had "clear therapeutic efficacy." Fauci, a member of the task force, disagreed and said there was only anecdotal evidence, according to Axios. Navarro, an economist, reportedly pointed to a stack of documents he had brought to the meeting and told Fauci, "That's science, not anecdote." The conversation apparently grew heated before the leading participants ultimately agreed that "the administration's public stance should be that the decision to use the drug is between doctors and patients," according to Axios. Read the original article on Insider 06 Apr 2020, 12:48 PM Coronavirus: US braces for 'toughest' week as death toll rises The United States on Sunday entered one of the most critical weeks so far in the coronavirus crisis, with government officials warning that the death toll in places such as New York, Michigan and Louisiana was a sign of trouble to come in other states. New York, the hardest-hit state, reported on Sunday that for the first time in a week, deaths had fallen slightly from the day before. India faces 'greatest emergency' since Independence, says Raghuram Rajan Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan said that the Indian economy is facing the 'greatest emergency' since Independence, more acute than the global financial crisis in 2008-09. The workers could still go out to work during the financial crisis as against the current situation, Rajan said. Read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: It's going to be a long haul, don't tire, says PM; active cases 3,666 PM Modi calls up Pranab Mukherjee, Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi to discuss coronavirus Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke to former Presidents, Prime Ministers and leaders of Opposition parties as India continues to witness a spike in coronavirus infections and deaths. PM Modi called former Presidents, Pranab Mukherjee and Pratibha Patil, former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and HD Devegowda, and senior leaders, including Congress's President Sonia Gandhi, Samajwadi Party's Mulayam Singh and Akhilesh Yadav, according to government sources. The decision for a nationwide lockdown has received mixed reactions from the Opposition and other parties. RBI revises timings for currency, debt markets; BSE, NSE timings unchanged 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 timing 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 from 11 am to 2 pm. CEOs fear job losses, fall in revenue, profit, reveals CII snap poll A snap poll conducted by apex industry chamber Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on 200 chief executives across sectors found majority of them fearing their revenues would fall more than 10 per cent and profits dip by over 5 per cent during the first six months of the current year 2020-21. While 80 per cent claimed their inventory was lying idle, 52 per cent are foreseeing job losses in their respective sectors, resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and the ensuing 21-day lockdown. Coronavirus cases doubled in 4.1 days; without Markaz incident, it would have taken 7.4: Govt The rate of doubling of Covid-19 cases in India is 4.1 days presently but if the cases linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation would not have happened, it would have been 7.4 days, the Health Ministry said on Sunday. Joint Secretary in the ministry Lav Agarwal said there had been 472 new Covid-19 cases and 11 deaths since Saturday. Also Read: Mukesh Ambani, Ritesh Agarwal lit candles to honour India's fight against coronavirus [April 06, 2020] Austin Chinese Community Rallies at Scale to Help Healthcare Workers AUSTIN, Texas, April 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In an organized effort to help fight Coronavirus on the front lines, the Austin Chinese Community COVID-19-Fighting Alliance (ACCCA) has committed to delivering over 180,000 items of personal protective equipment (PPE) including masks, goggles, thermometers, and more to local hospitals and healthcare workers who are helping Austinites fight the virus. Local engineer Xianghua Xiao founded ACCCA to leverage the desire of the Austin Chinese community to help the city of Austin fight Coronavirus and protect public health. At ACCCA, we have created a team of volunteers to raise funds, procure medical-grade PPE from overseas, facilitate imports of these PPEs to the US, and contact and deliver to organizations who are and will be in need, said Xianghua. We are taking decisive and speedy actions to show our love and care for the greater Austin community, the place we call home and where we are raising our families. The ACCCA has partnered with various local donors to make their vision happen, including technology company Talroo, who is a primary donor, local mathematics school Math POT Inc., Legacy Realty LLC, and more. Austin Great Wall Chinese School (AGWCS) is helping this process as a 501(c)(3) partner. In addition to raising funds, the ACCCA is also sourcing products from China and other locations, managing all logistics, and distributing equipment with help from over 400 volunteers and donors, nearly all from the Asian-American community. Sourcing these certified goods from China and Europe can present challenges due to regulations, customs, and logistical red tape, so the volunteers spend significant hours researching companies and the right partners so that the products can be delivered quickly to meet urgent needs. Once the goods arrive, they are processed quickly and sent where they need to go. Warehouse space, donated by a member of the ACCCA, is used to help register, organize, and sanitize the products. Volunteers call local hospitals, clinics fire and police stations, nursing homes and other organizations to determine PPE needs. Logistics and dispatch take it from there. Fifteen organizations including Ascension Seton, ARC, Austin State Hospital, among the citys largest hospitals, have received donations so far, with many more to come within the next few days. "We have an ongoing need for personal protective equipment (PPE) across our sites of care, and we are grateful for ACCCA's donations to our healthcare system," said Miguel Romano, President of Seton Foundations. "We continue to be amazed and appreciative of the outpouring of generosity from organizations like ACCCA to support our hospital staff, community and patients during these challenging times." Talroos founder and chairman, Bruce Ge, was impressed with the work that the ACCCA was doing in the community and was eager to contribute on behalf of all the employees at Talroo. A local tech company in the recruiting space, Talroo is also helping the healthcare community nationwide by offering free marketing automation for healthcare companies who need to hire critical talent via online hiring events. If youre in HR or talent acquisition for a healthcare company, learn more about the offer: https://blog.talroo.com/healthcare-online-hiring . To join the ACCCAs efforts, please visit their website: https://saveaustin2020.wordpress.com/ . About ACCCA ACCCA (Austin Chinese Community Covid-19-fighting Alliance) is a volunteer-based grassroots group comprised of mainly Chinese Americans living in the Greater Austin area. ACCCA was formed on 3/20/2020 to help Austin to defeat the Coronavirus and keep our healthcare workers safe. In less than two weeks ACCCA has raised over $135,000 and purchased 180,000 PPEs; close to 100,000 have arrived in Austin and another 80,000 are on the way. To learn more, please visit https://saveaustin2020.wordpress.com/, or view on Twitter at @SaveAustin2020. About Talroo Talroo is a data-driven job advertising solution that helps businesses reach the candidates they need to make hires. Through AI, unique talent audiences, and a pay-for-performance model, Talroo enables companies to find their ideal candidates and reduce cost-per-hire. Talroo has earned a spot on the Inc. 500/5000 list of fastest-growing companies for six consecutive years. To learn how Talroo can help your organization hire better, visit talroo.com . Press Contacts Samantha Smith, Talroo 512-717-0650 [email protected] Xianghua Xiao, ACCCA 512-765-2467 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Thiruvananthapuram, April 6 : After 40 Kerala nurses serving in a private hospital in Mumbai tested positive, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Monday spoke to Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope and urged for proper care for them. The Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly requested NCP leader Tope to ensure that all necessary health protocols were followed to take care of the nurses and to see that there were no shortfalls in their care and treatment. The hospital where 40 nurses tested positive has around 230 nurses, of which 200 are from Kerala. In this hospital, three coronavirus positive patients had died. Hundreds of Kerala nurses are employed in different hospitals in Mumbai, which has reported 458 of the 748 corona positive cases in Maharashtra. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Advertisement The UK has declared 439 more deaths caused by the coronavirus today, taking the total to 5,373, and 3,802 new positive tests have pushed the number of patients up to 51,608. In a glimmer of hope after a dark week for Britain, the number of people dying of COVID-19 has now fallen for two days in a row and today dropped 30 per cent from 621 yesterday. Today's death count is the lowest since March 31, last Tuesday, when it was 381, and marks a 39 per cent fall from the UK's worst day so far, Saturday, when the deaths of 708 people were recorded. The number of new cases is also lower than it was for almost all of last week, with the 3,802 new positive tests 2,101 fewer than 5,903 yesterday and only the second time since March that the number has been below 4,000. England accounted for 403 of the fatalities while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland declared 36 more deaths between them over the past day. Number 10 tonight confirmed that Boris Johnson had been moved to intensive care in St Thomas' hospital after being admitted for tests last night as a precaution. A spokesperson said Dominic Raab would deputise for him as his 'persistent' coronavirus symptoms worsen. His deputy Mr Raab, who chaired the daily coronavirus crisis committee meeting this morning in the absence of the premier, dodged giving any timetable for him being back in action this evening. 'He is in charge,' the Foreign Secretary told the daily press briefing. 'The PM will take the medical advice he gets from his doctor.' Mr Raab said he had not spoken to Mr Johnson personally since Saturday. Earlier, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick, said authorities will start to consider easing the UK's lockdown in the coming weeks if the numbers of people being admitted to hospital remains stable. There are fears a long quarantine will cause permanent damage to the economy and the NHS appears to be coping well so far. However, for normality to return experts say antibody tests - which reveal who has already recovered from COVID-19 - will be necessary. But leading scientists have warned the UK is at least a month away from having any that work, adding that all the kits that have been checked already have 'not performed well' and are not worth using. More optimistic statistics come as countries around Europe, including Italy, Spain and Germany, appear to be seeing death rates fall - Germany's outbreak appears to have hit is peak already with just 1,600 deaths. In other coronavirus developments today: Humiliated Nicola Sturgeon has admitted the effort to combat coronavirus has been damaged after she was forced to accept the resignation of Scotland's chief medical officer for flouting her own lockdown rules; Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty is out of self-isolation and has been working after recovering from coronavirus; Worrying figures showed the UK's coronavirus epidemic was set to overtake that suffered by France and Italy; Health Secretary Matt Hancock threatened to revoke the right to exercise outdoors if people continued to flout social distancing measures; The Prime Minister's spokesperson confirmed that sunbathing in public is not allowed and flouts rules allowing only essential movement; Top scientists said it would take at least a month for the UK to develop antibody tests that could be rolled out widely to check who has had the virus already; A report by the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre has found that ethnic minority people are at a greater risk of becoming seriously ill with the coronavirus; A 54-year-old from Essex became the first midwife to die with coronavirus in England. NHS England revealed 403 more deaths have been recorded in its hospitals, among people aged between 35 and 106. All but 15 of them had other health problems. Scotland, which was the first to declare new cases today, noted 255 new positive tests and just four new deaths, taking its totals to 222 and 3,961. Wales declared a further 302 cases and 27 more deaths, meaning it has now had 3,499 positive tests and 193 people have died. The majority of the deaths happened in London again, with a total of 129, followed by 75 in the Midlands, 67 in the North East and Yorkshire, 44 in the East of England, 43 in the North West, 27 in the South West and 18 in the South East. Falling figures may be a reason to be cheerful, but experts have warned against pinning too much significance to day-by-day numbers. Statistics recorded on Sundays and published on Mondays have, since the outbreak in the UK began, been routinely followed by an upward surge on Tuesday. Last Monday's figure was 13 per cent lower than Sunday's. UK WILL WAIT 'AT LEAST A MONTH' FOR ANTIBODY TESTS Britain's hopes of going back to normal today suffered another blow after a top scientist checking coronavirus antibody tests for the Government said none of the ones he's seen so far are any good. Professor Sir John Bell, from Oxford University, said the testing kits he has examined so far 'have not performed well' and 'none of them would meet the criteria for a good test'. Dashing hopes of lockdown ending any time soon, Sir John said it would take 'at least a month' before antibody tests, which tell whether someone has already recovered from COVID-19, would be available for the public. Professor Sir John Bell, from the University of Oxford, said officials are struggling to find a good quality antibody test He said: 'We see many false negatives... and we also see false positives. This is not a good result or test suppliers or for us.' A Public Health England director has also said that the agency has not yet seen a test good enough to be used by the public. Professor John Newton said they are not proven accurate enough on people who had only had mild illnesses. The tests are considered to be crucial to ending Britain's nationwide lockdown because they will give authorities a clear picture of how many people have caught the virus already and shaken it off. Public Health England has refused to reveal what the Government considers an acceptable level of accuracy. The US last week launched its first antibody test after a firm in North Carolina got approval from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). It is claimed to be 93.8 per cent accurate. In a blog post published on the University of Oxford's website yesterday, Sir John, a royally-appointed medicine professor at the university, said the UK was not the only country struggling to find reliable tests. He wrote: 'The Spanish apparently returned test kits that were not working, and the Germans who are developing their own sensitive kits believe they are three months away from getting these available and validated.' Explaining the difficulties, he added: 'To validate these tests you need a gold standard test so you know the correct answer and you need [blood] from patients who have recovered from the virus infection they had approximately 28 days before. 'You also need blood from people who donated before the epidemic so you know whether you falsely see positive tests when there is no Covid-19 in the sample. 'For example, there are a number of other coronaviruses circulating that might stimulate antibodies that cross react to Covid-19 proteins.' Advertisement Today's update comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains in hospital after being admitted in central London last night because he has had a fever for so long. The PM's spokesman said he is still 'under observation' and refused to say whether he has been diagnosed with pneumonia. But he insisted Mr Johnson is in 'good spirits' and still in contact with aides. The 55-year-old was admitted to St Thomas' Hospital, which is near Downing Street, last night after doctors raised alarm that his temperature still not subsided 10 days after his positive test. There are warnings from ministers that he has 'risked his health' by keeping up a frantic work rate, while one senior Tory said he must learn he is 'not indispensable' and has to rest. One MP suggested that he was too keen to emulate his hero, Winston Churchill by defying illness. No 10 has insisted it was not an emergency admission and the premier remains in control of the government's response, despite staying in hospital with no clear time-frame for being discharged. However, his effective deputy Dominic Raab chaired the daily coronavirus crisis committee meeting this morning, and full Cabinet tomorrow has been postponed. Mr Johnson tweeted: 'Last night, on the advice of my doctor, I went into hospital for some routine tests as I'm still experiencing coronavirus symptoms. 'I'm in good spirits and keeping in touch with my team, as we work together to fight this virus and keep everyone safe. 'I'd like to say thank you to all the brilliant NHS staff taking care of me and others in this difficult time. You are the best of Britain. 'Stay safe everyone, and please remember to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.' Experts say there is a risk of pneumonia when a temperature lasts more than a week. There have been claims Mr Johnson has been coughing heavily during conference calls. The PM's spokesman declined to say whether he had pneumonia, although they dismissed claims emanating from Russia that he is on a ventilator as 'disinformation'. Asked if symptoms are 'mild' - the word previously used to describe them - the spokesman instead said they were 'persistent' and included a 'a temperature and a cough'. 'The Prime Minister was admitted to hospital for tests last night, his symptoms have remained persistent,' the spokesman said. 'He had a comfortable night in St Thomas's Hospital in London and is in good spirits. He remains in hospital under observation.' It emerged at the weekend that Mr Johnson's pregnant partner Carrie Symonds has also been suffering coronavirus, although she is now 'on the mend'. The government's chief medical adviser Chris Whitty has also recovered in a glimmer of good news. Hopes are rising across Europe now that governments' drastic lockdown measures are working. Italy yesterday recorded its lowest one-day death toll in two weeks - since March 20 - with 525 fatalities announced. Spain today revealed its fewest deaths in a day since March 24 (637) and Germany announced its lowest number in a week (92). The tumbling figures - if they carry on - show that strict government policies telling people to remain at home unless necessary are stopping the virus from spreading. And some countries in Europe have already started to draw up plans for their exits from lockdown, with Austria setting targets to start reopening businesses after the Easter weekend. Austria today became the first country to set out detailed plans for ending the standstill, with smaller shops re-opening on April 14 and larger ones on May 1. Data collected by the Department of Transport show how the use of public transport and cars has dramatically dropped since the lockdown was brought into place Figures also show how the number of new cases recorded every day has risen since the crisis began to take hold in mid-March Hospital admissions have started to slow down across England but are still rising, according to graphs presented at a Number 10 press conference tonight Figures show how the UK's rising death toll compares to other nations with similar outbreaks, including Spain, the US, Italy, Germany and France Dominic Raab, who chaired the daily coronavirus crisis committee meeting this morning in the absence of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, dodged giving any timetable for him being back in action this evening Countries across Europe, including the UK, Italy and Spain, have seen the numbers of people dying from coronavirus fall in recent days, offering hope that their outbreaks may be slowing down UK LOCKDOWN COULD START BEING EASED TO EASE OFF 'WITHIN WEEKS' The UK's coronavirus lockdown could start being eased 'within weeks', a Cabinet minister said today - as the Treasury pushes for the crippling economic shutdown to end by June. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick suggested the current lockdown measures could be gradually eased after Easter - but stressed a full exit strategy will require much more testing. There were claims today that government officials have started drawing up a list of options for removing some restrictions if hospital admissions stay stable. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick suggested the current lockdown measures could be gradually eased after Easter Senior Tories suggested that there should be a 'staged opening' of schools, shops and restaurants if the risks recede, to avoid dealing more punishment to firms and workers who have already been left on the brink. In a round of broadcast interviews, Mr Jenrick said there was currently 'excess capacity' in intensive care units 'across the country', which had to be maintained to ensure the NHS was not overwhelmed. 'If we can do that then we can look in the weeks to come to begin to very carefully... lift some of those measures,' he said. 'But an exit strategy that's sustainable will also have to be accompanied by much greater testing and tracing than we are able to do today.' The Times said Treasury officials have warned that if the lockdown lasts beyond June there will be permanent damage to the economy. Civil servants in the health and business departments were reportedly asked last week to draw up options for a phased easing. Advertisement Denmark also plans to start lifting restrictions after Easter, but wants people to 'work in a more staggered way' to avoid crowding into trains and buses. Meanwhile Germany is willing to re-open schools on a regional basis and allow a limited number of people into restaurants if the infection rate stays sufficiently low. There have been more than 100,000 cases diagnosed in Germany. In Italy, which has been under lockdown longer than any other European country, officials are talking about a 'phase two' where society learns to 'live with the virus' by wearing masks and carrying out more tests. Italy and Germany are among the countries looking at smartphone tracking, which could allow them to jump on new outbreaks without sending everyone back inside. All of those countries, along with Spain, have seen signs of improvement in their recent figures which offer hope that the crisis is past its peak. That moment is still to come for Britain and America, which are bracing for one of their bleakest weeks. However, health officials across Europe warn that life cannot go back 'from 0 to 100' immediately and many lockdown measures will remain in place for several more weeks at least. Italy is openly talking about a 'phase two' in which society will have to 'create the conditions to live with the virus' until a vaccine is developed. Health minister Roberto Speranza says more testing and a beefed-up local health system would be necessary to allow an easing of the lockdown. He said social distancing would have to remain in place, with more widespread use of personal protective equipment such as face masks. Testing and 'contact tracing' would be extended, including with the use of smartphone apps, in order to contain new outbreaks. A network of hospitals would also be set up which are specifically dedicated to virus patients, after doctors on existing wards described having to make life-or-death decisions over access to intensive care. 'There are difficult months ahead. Our task is to create the conditions to live with the virus,' at least until a vaccine is developed, the health minister told La Repubblica newspaper. The national lockdown, strictly limiting people's movements and freezing all non-essential economic activity, will officially last until at least April 13 but it is widely expected to be extended. German shipbuilding company Fassmer reported that, in December 2019, it signed a contract with Ecuadorian Naval Shipyard Astilleros Navales Ecuatorianos (Astinave EP) in Guayaquil for the construction of a multi-purpose patrol ship Fassmer MPV70 Mk.II for the Ecuadorian Navy. The construction will be carried out by Astinave EP, with the assistance of Fassmer, including the supply of structure parts. German shipbuilding company Fassmer reported that, in December 2019, it signed a contract with Ecuadorian Naval Shipyard Astilleros Navales Ecuatorianos (Astinave EP) in Guayaquil for the construction of a multi-purpose patrol ship Fassmer MPV70 Mk.II for the Ecuadorian Navy. The construction will be carried out by Astinave EP, with the assistance of Fassmer, including the supply of structure parts. Fassmer MPV70 MK II project multi-purpose patrol ship for the Ecuadorian Navy (Picture source: Fassmer) The Ecuadorian Navy has chosen the Fassmer MPV70 Mk.II as a result of an international tender under the Ecuadorian Navy's Multipurpose Combat Vessel programme. The contract was concluded for one ship, and it is still unclear how many such units the Ecuadorian Navy intends to acquire in the future. The Fassmer MPV70 Mk.II project is a multi-purpose patrol ship with capabilities to transport cargo, search and rescue equipment and containerized equipment. The ship will be equipped with a landing platform for an 11-ton class helicopter, two high-speed interceptor boats in the stern, a powerful cargo crane, a fuel and cargo transfer station at sea. It will be possible to transport containers or landing boats In the central part of the hull, on the cargo deck. Full project characteristics are not yet reported, except for the hull length of about 70 meters. The armament of the ship will consist in a 76 mm Leonardo Super Rapid automatic gun and two small-caliber, remotely operated guns (presumably Rafael Typhoon). The radio-electronic armament will include an Astinave EP Orion ASBU and an integrated mast with a multifunction radar produced jointly by Astinave EP and the Italian company VirtuaLabs SRL (presumably based on the VirtuaLabs SEADAR radar). For Fassmer, the contract with Ecuador has been another major success in the Latin American defense market, with various Fassmer projects already under construction for patrol boats in Colombia and Chile, as well as for patrol boats in Colombia. Fassmer MPV70 MK II project multi-purpose patrol ship for the Ecuadorian Navy (Picture source: Fassmer) Popular Nigerian artiste, Naira Marley has surrendered himself to the police at State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, Lagos State. KanyiDaily recalls that the police had on Sunday asked Naira Marley to turn himself in for violating the social distancing order at a birthday party which was organised by popular Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele Bello for her husband, JJC Skillz. Tribune Online reports that the Nigerian artiste arrived Panti on Monday afternoon and is still being interrogated by the assistant commissioner in charge of SCID. Meanwhile, Funke Akindele and JJC Skillz have been dragged before a court on Monday for violating the lockdown order to curb the spread of coronavirus. With the violation of the government order, the three celebrities risk a jail term of one month or N100,000 fine or both if found guilty of the offence. Throughout his presidency, Donald Trump has displayed some core traits again and again: He prefers rash shortcuts to thought-out and sustained effort, as demonstrated by his impulsive foreign policy decisions in Syria and Iran. He scorns scientific expertise, as demonstrated on issues like climate change and vaccinations. And he has a narcissists boundless if unjustified certainty in his own judgment, as demonstrated by well, pretty much everything he says. All these traits have now collided to bring us the strange spectacle of a president pushing an unconfirmed coronavirus treatment as if its a miracle cure, even as his own experts struggle to impose scientific standards. In this showdown between medical science and presidential ego, science is losing. At issue is hydroxychloroquine, a malaria treatment that some studies have shown could possibly be effective in the coronavirus battle. Possibly is the key word. There have been only a few small studies on the use of hydroxychloroquine against the coronavirus, with mixed results. The National Commission for Women has directed the Gujarat police to conduct a thorough probe into the alleged harassment of a woman doctor in Surat for being in close proximity to coronavirus patients. The matter came to the fore after a purported video showing the doctor working in Surat Civil Hospital being physically assaulted by her neighbours, went viral. Considering the gravity of the matter, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has written to Shivanand Jha, IPS, Director General of Police, Gujarat to probe the matter. "NCW directs for a thorough investigation on the matter of the incident to be taken up immediately and also provide protection to the woman. A detailed action taken report be sent to NCW, the women's rights body said in a statement. "The Commission is disturbed by the reported incident, and is concerned about the safety of doctors who are the frontline workers in the period of distress prevailing worldwide due to coronavirus pandemic," it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rizki Fachriansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 6, 2020 19:09 644 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd017ee2 1 National Nahdlatul-ulama,Muhammadiyah,mudik,COVID-19,coronavirus,outbreak-in-Indonesia,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,jangan-mudik Free Two of Indonesia's largest mass Muslim organizations, Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, have advised people against participating in the annual Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) in May, arguing it would exacerbate the spread of COVID-19 throughout the country. Muhammadiyah chairman Haedar Nashir said that although mudik was an otherwise positive tradition under normal circumstances, returning to ones home region was simply not advisable during the pandemic. Religious activities have been limited in accordance with the established religious laws. So, of course, mudik, as a social activity, should also be stopped, Haedar said in a statement on Sunday. He went on to urge Muslims to refrain from carrying out activities that might put themselves and others, including their loved ones, in danger during these challenging times. Now is the time for us to [postpone] all kinds of activities including mudik. It may be postponed until after the disaster has abated, Haedar said. The organization hoped the government would also issue a more stringent restriction to clear up any confusion among the public as to whether mudik was advisable during the pandemic, he said. We wouldnt want it to be a case where mass organizations and religious figures are instructed to advise the public against going on mudik, whereas the government refuses to [impose any restrictions], Haedar added. Read also: COVID-19: Muhammadiyah advises Muslims to not perform mass tarawih, Idul Fitri prayers Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Robikin Emhas, who also is also an expert staff member to Vice President Maruf Amin, has also urged Muslims to refrain from participating in mudik this year. The current state of emergency requires careful consideration. Therefore, lets break the chain of COVID-19 infection by not participating in mudik during this Idul Fitri holiday, Robikin said on March 28. He called on Muslims to remain in touch with their relatives through alternative channels of communication instead, such as video calls. We should still keep in touch [with our family members] on Idul Fitri. We can do so online, by making video calls from our own homes, Robikin said. Scientists have predicted that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country could rise to over 70,000 during the Idul Fitri break if holidaymakers are still allowed to travel across the country. President Joko Jokowi Widodo previously said the government would not ban people from leaving Jakarta, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, for Idul Fitri, instead asking community heads in the other regions to enforce quarantines and cater to the needs of the vacationers soon after their arrival. It is unclear how many people are expected to participate in the annual mudik this year. In 2019, as many as 19.5 million people across Indonesia returned to their hometowns during the exodus. Indonesia had recorded a total of 2,491 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 209 deaths as of Monday afternoon. Oil recorded its first loss in three days on signals that a glut is growing at Americas biggest storage depot and concern that an upcoming meeting among producers wont yield large enough production cuts to offset cratering demand. Futures closed 8% lower in New York Monday, after earlier plunging as much as 11%. Industry data provider Genscape Inc. reported a 5.8 million-barrel rise in crude inventories in Cushing, Oklahoma, last week. This would be the largest weekly build at the hub in data going back to 2004 if the U.S. Energy Information Administration confirms it Wednesday. Cushing is expected to fill up in the next several weeks after the April futures contract expired with a deep contango to May, said Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates in Houston. Cushing will become operationally full over the next four to six weeks and therefore Cushing prices will be under pressure as producers look to divert ongoing output away from Cushing and toward the Texas Gulf. The May contract settled at $3.90 a barrel below June, the weakest spread in a nearly week. The spread could widen further as the United States Oil Fund ETF will start rolling its positions out of the front month Nymex West Texas Intermediate May contract from Tuesday. This will finish by April 13. The fund, with $3.5 billion in assets, holds about 20% of the open interest in the May contract as of Friday. Traders are also concerned output cuts being touted so far for Thursdays OPEC+ meeting wont be enough to offset the 25 million to 30 million barrel a day decline in demand from the coronavirus pandemic, Lipow said. In three days, the worlds largest oil-producing nations are expected to negotiate a deal to stem the price crash. Russia and Saudi Arabia want the U.S. to join in, and Americas energy secretary said he had a productive discussion with his Saudi counterpart over the weekend about the instability in oil markets. Momentum is building for a supply deal to be reached between the Saudis and Russia that will likely involve unprecedented cooperation between OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers, said Ryan Fitzmaurice, commodities strategist at Rabobank. The bar is currently set high at 15 million barrels a day and oil prices risk giving back all if not more of the recent gains if no consensus is reached this Thursday. As crude futures fluctuate, the market for real barrels shows renewed weakness, trading several dollars below futures prices. Sellers from Russia to Congo are slashing prices in an effort to sell cargoes. At the same time, gasoline -- a premium product in normal times -- is currently unprofitable in Europe and barely profitable in America. Riyadh and Moscow are very close to an agreement on cuts, CNBC reported Monday, citing the head of Russias sovereign wealth fund. Still, a lack of participation from the U.S. -- the worlds largest producer -- could prove to be a stumbling block. Despite originally calling for a deal, Trump on Saturday described OPEC as a cartel and threatened tariffs on foreign oil. Meanwhile, Saudi Aramco has delayed the release of its closely watched monthly oil-pricing list until Thursday to await the outcome of OPEC+ negotiations, according to people with knowledge of the situation. The U.A.E. signaled the same move on Monday, while also indicating that it had sharply increased production so far this month. PHILADELPHIAThe coronavirus crisis has had a special and profound impact on women who are pregnant or have recently given birth. Anxiety abounds that theyll contract the virus or that their newborn will. Some are fleeing hot spots like New York to seek care elsewhere. And most women in labour 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 like 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 hospital sooner after birth. The new programs include the distribution of blood-pressure cuffs so pregnant women can monitor their own blood pressure and report it to their doctors via text, potentially eliminating a few check up appointments and a postpartum check-in system that uses a chatbot to answer questions women have about everything from umbilical cords to breastfeeding. And the programs will be used in the future, post-pandemic, to help Penn better tailor care to women who are pregnant. All told, the prenatal blood-pressure cuff distribution could potentially eliminate three in-person appointments, and the postpartum program is aiming to get women out of the hospital a day earlier than usual. Doesnt sound like much. But 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. In the prenatal phase, Penn obstetricians this 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 then report it to the doctors for monitoring. The process is used in conjunction with counselling via phone. Blood-pressure monitoring is a critical component of prenatal care, particularly in the third trimester, Graseck said, as elevated blood pressure among pregnant women, while incredibly common, is also a leading cause of pregnancy-related death if left untreated. Routine prenatal care is anywhere between 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. The distribution of the cuffs could continue in the future HUP delivers about 4,000 babies per year, so Penn could easily enrol 1,000 pregnant women in the cuff-distribution program over the next several months as the pandemic plays out, 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 to promote bonding time in the earliest days. The program, initially piloted last year, involves using augmented intelligence, whereby a new mother and her infant can be discharged from the hospital early, and mom is set up to communicate with a robot via text that can counsel her on frequently-asked questions, said Kirsten Leitner, an assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology who oversees the program. Its not all communication with the chatbot (whose name is Penny, after Penn, of course). Leitner said the questions and answers are all monitored by providers, and any question that isnt answered with a programmatic response is answered by a clinician, who typically responds within 30 minutes to an hour, far sooner than the full business day it can often take to get a phone call back from a physician. In addition to answering questions like when should the umbilical cord fall off? and is this rash normal? providers are also offering lactation counselling and postpartum depression screening, all via text. The early-discharge program can reduce postdelivery time in the hospital from, on average, about two days to just over one day. Its available for mothers who delivered vaginally moms who have Caesarean sections have different questions that havent been programmed in yet and had little to no complications. 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. The University of Liege has developed an automated test for the detection of SARS-CoV-2; the technique allows to increase the daily capacity of detection The University of Liege announces that it has developed an automated test for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for Covid-19. The technique developed at ULiege allows to increase the daily capacity of detection of the coronavirus in Liege by 2000 tests. ULiege thus becomes one of the 5 reference centres for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. The technique could quickly be adopted by the 4 other reference centres in Belgium (GSK, UCB, Janssen Pharmaceutica and KULeuven), as well as by other countries. The test can detect carriers of the virus, whether they are sick or asymptomatic carriers. It is an automated test, less dependent on reagents at risk of shortage and requiring a reduced number of operators. How does the test work? It is based on three successive steps that provide a reliable result in half a day. 1st step: inactivation of the virus. The material in the sample tube (swab) is brought into contact with chemicals and enzymes. This step aims to inactivate the virus while preserving some of its components (genetic material), so that it can be detected in the subsequent procedure. This operation must be carried out in high-security laboratories of L2 or L3 type. 2nd step: extraction of the virus. The SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus; i.e. its genome does not contain DNA. This step aims to extract the viral RNA. Current extraction methods are either manual, requiring time and a large number of operators, or automated, relying on the use of reagents whose supply is no longer guaranteed. It is this step that was limiting and significantly hindered the performance of screening tests. Researchers from GIGA, FARAH, GreenMat/CESAM of ULiege and the University Hospital (CHU) of Liege joined forces to make this step faster, automated and independent of commercial reagents. 3rd step: conversion of RNA to DNA, and DNA amplification After the RNA is extracted, it is converted into DNA, which is then amplified a large number of times in order to be detectable. This step uses the qRT-PCR technique. The RNA is first transcribed (RT) to DNA using an enzyme (reverse transcriptase) and then amplified by quantitative (q) PCR (polymerase chain reaction). By using this method, the genesis of each copy of the SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA is associated with the emission of fluorescence, ultimately confirming whether the sample is positive or negative. With the exception of the inactivation step 1, which requires a larger number of people taking turns in the L2 and L3 laboratories, the other two steps require the simultaneous presence of only 4 people. This automated, rapid and reliable technique for the detection of sick or asymptomatic carriers of the virus allows the ULiege team to carry out 2000 tests per day. The laboratories that have developed this method are now backed up by the clinical microbiology laboratory of the CHU of Liege for the performance of local tests, but will also be involved in mass screening, starting with systematic screening in rest homes where there are many people at risk. The development of this technique is a major step towards providing Belgium, and potentially other countries, with the significant testing capacity necessary to manage the Covid-19 health crisis. ### Advertisement The COVID-19 pandemic is 'almost certainly' killing a number of Americans who are not included in the country's climbing death toll, according to government officials and public health experts involved in the count. At least 25,607 new coronavirus cases and 1,134 new deaths were reported in the US on Sunday, bringing the nationwide totals to 337,915 and 9,622 respectively. As it stands, Sunday's single-day increase in cases is the smallest one recorded over the past six days - though it is expected to rise as more comprehensive figures come in. The single-day spike in deaths is also currently 363 below the one reported on Saturday - but that number is also likely to rise. Officials at the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention have admitted that the alarming death toll is an 'underestimation' - in part because an early lag in available testing meant people with respiratory illnesses died without being counted. Even now, some Americans who die in their homes or at overwhelmed nursing homes are not being tested, epidemiologists tell The Washington Post. Consequentially, public health officials and leaders are missing the full picture of the outbreak as they scramble to stem the spread. The COVID-19 pandemic is 'almost certainly' killing a number of Americans who are not included in the country's climbing death toll, according to government officials and public health experts involved in the count. At least 1,134 new deaths were reported in the US on Sunday, bringing the official tally to 9,622 At least 25,607 new coronavirus cases were reported in the US on Sunday, bringing the nationwide totals to 337,915. As it stands, Sunday's single-day increase in cases is the smallest one recorded over the past six days - though it is expected to rise as more comprehensive figures come in Officials at the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention have admitted that the current death toll is an 'underestimation'. Pictured: Healthcare workers wheel the bodies out of the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in New York City on Saturday 'We know that it is an underestimation,' agency spokeswoman Kristen Nordlund said of the current death toll on Sunday. Postmortem testing by medical examiners can be tricky, as procedures vary widely across the United States and some officials argue testing the deceased is a misuse of valuable resources. The process can also be difficult as examiners, coroners and health care providers are told to 'use their judgement' to decide when testing is appropriate. Additionally, experts said some people who have contracted coronavirus test negative. It's unclear how common false negatives are. It's too early to estimate how many coronavirus-related deaths have evaded official count, according to scientists who analyze mortality statistics from influenza and respiratory illnesses. For a disease with common symptoms like coronavirus, scientists said that deaths with positive results most likely represent just a fraction of total deaths by the disease. Marc-Alain Widdowson, a former epidemiologist at the CDC and current director of the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp in Belgium, doubled down on these claims. 'You can't rely on just the laboratory-confirmed cases,' he said. 'You're never going to apply the test on everybody who is ill and everybody who dies. So without doubt it's a truism the number of deaths are underestimated globally because you don't apply the test.' In New York City, officials have erected makeshift morgues outside of Bellevue Hospital to handle the expected surge in coronavirus victims Pictured: Bodies are wrapped in protective plastic in a holding facility at Daniel J. Schaefer Funeral Home in Brooklyn, New York, as employees are swamped with an influx in cases Officials with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention said the reported number for coronavirus death toll in is an 'underestimation' Clay Marsh, known as West Virginia's 'coronavirus czar', admitted that the state's official count is in all likelihood incomplete. 'Based on the best recent information about limited testing and sizable false negative rates of testing, we are likely underestimating the number of deaths,' said Marsh, vice president and executive dean for health sciences at West Virginia University. West Virginia's count is also low because of the state's rural, small population and the early closure of schools and nonessential businesses. The CDC is currently collecting national data on hospitalizations, illnesses and deaths to estimate the impact of COVID-19. The agency also publishes weekly estimates for flu, where confirmed numbers similarly represents a fraction of national cases. Studies of influenza show that fatality counts are often deceiving during a pandemic. Nordlund said: 'We're probably getting more information on COVID-19 because there's a greater awareness in the community of what it is. The CDC's official fatality count, which is created from reports submitted by state and tops at 7,616 as of Sunday, are noticeably lower than those revealed by media organizations and university researchers. This is in part due to in lapse in official reporting. The lag also happened because the code for recording COVID-19 as an official cause of death was not announced until March 24. The US government's death toll is broadcasted globally each day as a sign of how quickly COVID-19 can spread and how it can debilitate a country. The White House previously estimated that between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans could be killed during the pandemic. Some scientists did not understand how the administration came to those numbers, and the White House has declined to specify. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the US's COVID-19 death toll, supporters of Trump's coronavirus response said the official number is inflated because it includes deceased people who were diagnosed with the disease, even if they died from another cause. Marc Lipsitch, a professor of epidemiology at Harvard University, explained that some people may be dying with COVID-19 and not of it. The muddled distinction is a problem for any cause of death, but it's a minor point that is 'swamped by the opposite problem: deaths that are caused by COVID but never attributed, so the death count is underestimated'. Around the world, officials are wondering if the number of COVID-19 deaths is unwittingly low. The death toll in France shot up by more than 2,000 last week after officials began including unreported deaths in nursing homes. China, where the disease surfaced last December, has been accused of downplaying their infection cases and deaths. The Post reported that the number of cremation urns ordered to Wuhan indicate far more people died of COVD-19 than the official death toll of around 2,500. Chinese officials have denied the allegations, but President Trump doubled down during a briefing that China's 'numbers seem to be a little bit on the light side, and I'm being nice when I say that.' In addition to the previously laboratory-confirmed deaths, the CDC said Friday that death certificates showed 1,150 people have died. Excess deaths - or 'the number of deaths over and above the average number during a particular period' - are what scientists often look at to estimate total fatalities from a disease. The most comprehensive estimates need national statistics that can take up to three years to gather, said Cecile Viboud, a National Institutes of Health scientist who co-authored the study estimating the US undercount during the H1N1 flu. Pictured: A man administers his COVID-19 test at a testing location near Dodger Stadium during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in Los Angeles Critics said the United States' death toll was inflated because it includes deceased people who were diagnosed with the disease, even if they died from another cause The initial number of uncounted flu deaths usually includes people with pneumonia and other respiratory symptoms who never tested for influenza. People who contract the flu, but are more susceptible to die from other conditions are also added. Although people may not be reported as dying of influenza, it still contributed to their deaths. Jeffery F Wakefield Sr, a funeral director in Georgia, said: 'We'll never really have true, true numbers. We'll get almost close, but we'll never have the true numbers of who died from this. ' Even with efforts to expand testing, places like prisons and nursing homes - where the disease is quickly spreading - are still behind. In New York, Suffolk County Medical Examiner Michael Caplan told funeral directors that nursing homes and hospitals are in charge if collecting postmortem samples. It's a move that Michael A L Balboni, executive director of the Greater New York Health Care Facilities Association, said is impractical. 'The last thing that a nursing home is going to do is try to determine if someone who has passed away is COVID or no COVID,' he said. 'They have their hands full trying to dispose of their remains appropriately. . . . Why waste the swabs on decedents?' An operator at a Suffolk County nursing home, who wished to remain anonymous, said almost no one is being tested for COVID-19, dead or alive. Residents taken to the hospital are the exception. 'We're assuming that everyone is positive,' said the operator. 'To utilize a test on the deceased, it's not going to be very helpful. Because at the end of the day, there's a shortage of tests to begin with. We don't have tests. We don't have swabs.' A FBI prison is Louisiana stopped testing for COVID-19 amid a dozen positive results and at least one death. A spokesperson said the decision to test for the disease posthumously is decided by health officials on a case-to-case basis. Sally Aiken, the president of the National Association of Medical Examiners wrote in a press release that the US does not have a 'uniform death investigation system' to count fatalities. 'The public, in general, does not understand that there is not a uniform death investigation system in the United States. . . . So, a uniform response to COVID-19 by Medical Examiners will not occur,' she wrote. Amy Schaefer, an investigator supervisor for the Summit County medical examiner's office in Ohio, agreed. She said: 'You certainly are going to have numbers that aren't being counted because deceased people aren't being tested.' April 1 was a very strange day. Ronan Mullen was elected for the fourth time to the NUI Panel of Seanad Eireann. He was elected on the first count with a surplus and had the honour of achieving election on the first count for the first time since 1989, when Brendan Ryan was elected. He has grown his first preference votes steadily over his three terms of office. Mullen is a formidable debater, a contrarian and a man who is not shy to disagree with the mainstream. For this and more besides, he is an asset to the Upper House. Endearingly, he also happens to be a hilarious mimic. The keyboard warriors unleashed a pandemic of dismay and anger at the result. They spewed contempt for him and for those who voted for him. They castigated the Seanad for being undemocratic and were again asking why the electorate voted against its removal in the 2013 referendum. History would tell them, if they bothered to ask why the Seanad was constituted thus, that its purpose was to give a voice to minorities who otherwise might have been excluded from the public square. Indeed the terror that Mullen struck into the hearts of these snowflakes was so great that several candidates stood on the ticket of not being Ronan Mullen; hardly the best campaign slogan for any aspiring senator. The hypocrisy of those who want to create their version of an 'open, tolerant, liberal society' doesn't extend to respecting those who have a different vision for society and using it at the ballot box (or in this case envelope). And they have neither the humility nor the insight to appreciate that in reality they are bullies and bigots. Another strange event and even more momentous than the Seanad election was the introduction into Northern Ireland of an abortion law that is more liberal than the UK law and very similar to ours. This happened also on April 1. It came about, not because the majority were clamouring for it, but because Sinn Fein opportunistically took advantage of the absence of a government there following the collapse of the power-sharing agreement. Stella Creasy, a Labour MP, spearheaded the move and it passed. Sinn Fein supported the proposal, co-signing a letter from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service with a number of other MPs in July 2018. A party that has Irish reunification as one of its overarching goals, and whose MPs have on principle refused to sit in the House of Commons, was happy to accept the British imposition of an abortion law on the North. The opportunity to end the lives of the youngest citizens was sufficient for them to end their 'Brits Out' policy. The hypocrisy is stunning. And it doesn't end there. The Northern Ireland office conducted a consultation with the public in Northern Ireland on the proposal and it reported that 79pc of the respondents did not want any change to the law. And what did Sinn Fein, the now rehabilitated party of democracy, do? Nothing. Not a murmur was uttered in support of the overwhelming majority who opposed the measure. Meanwhile here in the Republic a few days earlier, other politicians, preoccupied with abortion, were trying to further loosen restrictions on access to the procedure under cover of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid 19) Act (2020). While frontline workers were working relentlessly to save the lives of those seriously ill with Covid-19, Simon Harris along with Solidarity/PBP and Sinn Fein were talking abortion. Nero fiddling while Rome burns springs to mind. They supported a proposal that the examination of a woman seeking an abortion did not need to consult with their doctor face to face but could do it remotely. Quite how this would satisfactorily establish the stage of pregnancy accurately was not asked. There were also proposals to cut the three-day cooling-down period before the procedure. Harris has said he will be changing the guidelines but has not clarified how. The lack of transparency bodes ill. The hypocrisy of earnestly calling for measures to protect the health and life of our vulnerable citizens from the threat of the coronavirus while at the same time easing the remaining barriers to ending the life of vulnerable human beings, before they even had a chance of live outside the womb, is breath-taking and glaringly obvious to all but those in deep denial. Make no mistake, when the Covid-19 crisis is over, every effort will be made to prevent any changes to these altered elements of the abortion law. There are many in this country who can spot the contradictions and dissonances that are currently infesting the body politic. That is why they voted for Ronan Mullen, a man of integrity. That is why they voted for the politicians who opposed the abortion legislation in the February election. April 1, 2020, should be marked down in our history as the day when hypocrisy and integrity intersected. It should be dubbed April Hypocrite's Day. For the moment, hypocrisy is in the ascendant but to quote a well-known politician in a different context, people who value honesty and integrity "haven't gone away, you know". Patricia Casey is Consultant Psychiatrist in the Mater Hospital and Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry, UCD No one was injured when a riot broke out last week at Multnomah Countys juvenile jail, a spokeswoman said Monday. County officials confirmed there was damage to the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center but declined to provide details about the extent of the damage or reports of food thrown, toilets clogged and sprinklers and other equipment damaged. A call to local law enforcement officers went out at 7:13 p.m. Wednesday from an emergency dispatcher: Information for anyone who might think about taking a juvenile to JDH (Juvenile Detention Center), they are having a riot." County sheriffs deputies and command staff responded to the Northeast Portland and were able to "quickly defuse the situation with verbal commands,'' according to Jessica Morkert-Shibley, a county spokeswoman. Sheriffs officers also locked down the detention center. Erika Preuitt, director of the countys Department of Community Justice, said she couldnt give any details because a criminal investigation and internal inquiry are underway. "We hope to have more answers at the conclusion of the law enforcement and our internal investigation,'' she said. No reports on the riot have been forwarded yet to the Multnomah County District Attorneys office for review, according to Brent Weisberg, office spokesman. Family visits and juvenile court hearings have been limited due to the coronavirus pandemic. Juvenile court counselors are still checking in with their juvenile clients but are following social distancing guidelines, according to the court. The Juvenile Services Division has maintained an 8-to-1 youth to staff ratio, according to the county. Oregonian Staff Writer Noelle Crombie contributed to this story. -- 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. Subscribe to Facebook page . BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 6 By Eldar Janashvili - Trend: The work will be carried out from April through May 2020 to provide unemployed people with temporary jobs, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers. Corresponding information is included in the Action Plan of the Cabinet of Ministers on the implementation of the order of the President of Azerbaijan dated March 19, 2020 On a number of measures to reduce the negative impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) and sharp fluctuations as a result of coronavirus in the global energy market and stock market, on the economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, macroeconomic stability, issues of employment in the country and business entities". The work in this sphere will cover 200,000 people registered as unemployed in the state employment service under the Azerbaijani Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population. In accordance with the Action Plan, these individuals will be provided with a lump sum payment in the amount of a living wage (190 manat thats $111) each month. In total, 70 million manat ($41 million) will be allocated for this purpose. The unemployed people will be temporarily employed through the creation of 50,000 paid public jobs. For this purpose, 30 million manat ($17 million) will be allocated. Moreover, it is envisaged to expand and accelerate the implementation of the self-employment program which is launched within the cooperation with the Unemployment Insurance Fund, the United Nations Development Program and the World Bank. This year, the program will cover 11,000 people, and 70 million manat ($41 million) will be allocated for this purpose through the Unemployment Insurance Fund. The Action Plan, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in connection with the execution of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs order dated March 19, 2020, includes the large-scale, effective and targeted measures to reduce the negative impact of coronavirus on the national economy, employment issues, issues related to the entrepreneurship and social well-being in existing conditions. The document focuses on the protection of jobs as well as ensuring employment support and social welfare. The death toll due to the novel coronavirus pandemic rose to 111 and the number of infections climbed to 4,281 in the country on Monday registering a record jump of 704 cases in 24 hours, according to Union Health Ministry data. The active COVID-19 cases stood at 3,851, while 318 people were either cured or discharged and one had migrated, the ministry stated. According to the data updated at 6 PM, 28 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours -- 21 from Maharashtra, two each from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, and one each from Punjab, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. According to the ministry, Maharashtra has reported the most coronavirus deaths at 45, followed by Gujarat (12), Madhya Pradesh (9), Telangana (7), Delhi (7), Punjab (6) and Tamil Nadu (5). Karnataka has reported four deaths, while West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh have recorded three fatalities each. Two deaths each have been reported from Jammu and Kashmir and Kerala. Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana have reported a fatality each, according to the data. The total number of cases includes 66 foreign nationals. However, a PTI tally based on figures reported by states directly showed at least 126 deaths across the country. There has been a lag in the Union Health Ministry figures, compared to the numbers announced by different states, which officials attribute to procedural delays in assigning the cases to individual states. The country-wide death toll on Sunday was 83. The highest number of confirmed cases are from Maharashtra (748), followed by Tamil Nadu at 571 and Delhi with 523 cases. Cases in Telangana have gone up to 321, in Kerala to 314, in Uttar Pradesh to 305, while the number of cases has gone up to 274 in Rajasthan. There are 226 cases in Andhra Pradesh. COVID-19 cases have risen to 165 in Madhya Pradesh, 151 in Karnataka, followed by 144 in Gujarat. Jammu and Kashmir has 109 cases and Haryana has 84 cases. West Bengal has reported 80 infections, followed by Punjab at 76. Thirty-two people are infected with COVID-19 in Bihar, while Assam and Uttarakhand have 26 cases each. Odisha has 21 positive patients, Chandigarh has 18, Ladakh has 14 and Himachal Pradesh has 13 patients. Ten cases have been reported each from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Chhattisgarh. Goa has reported seven COVID-19 infections, followed by Puducherry with five cases. Jharkhand has reported four cases, while Manipur has reported two cases. Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh have reported an infection each. "State-wise distribution is subject to further verification and reconciliation," the ministry said on its website. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The police have arraigned popular Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele, and her husband, Abdulrasheed Bello, for holding a house party amidst the coronavirus lockdown. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the duo was taken to the Chief Magistrates Court in Ogba, Lagos State around 11a.m. on Monday. The police spokesperson, Bala Elkana, confirmed the arraignment to the Punch Newspaper. He was quoted saying: Jenifa, has been taken to a Chief Magistrates Court in Ogba, Lagos. The husband arrived at the SCID around 2am and they will be arraigned together. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the duo breached the Lagos Infection Diseases Regulations 2020 (The Regulations) which prescribes a jail term of one month or N100,000 fine or both for persons found guilty of hosting gatherings or flouting the lockdown order. Mrs Akindele was arrested at her residence on Sunday. The police thereafter ordered her husband and Naira Marley to make themselves available at Panti. Mr Elkana, however, confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that Naira Marley was yet to make himself available at the time of writing this report. The epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Latin America, Brazil's Sao Paulo state, has said it expects 111,000 deaths in the next six months, and extended its stay-at-home measures another two weeks. The forecast -- an official projection, the state government said -- would appear to put Brazil on track to become one of the worst-hit countries in the world. The global death toll from the virus currently stands at 70,000, according to a tally compiled by AFP. Sao Paulo, the teeming industrial hub where the new coronavirus first appeared in Latin America, has confirmed 4,620 cases and 275 deaths so far. Governor Joao Doria, who closed non-essential businesses on March 24 and advised people to stay home, said containment measures would be needed for at least two more weeks or the situation would get far worse. "If we continue seeing people in the streets and gathering unnecessarily, we will go to more restrictive measures," he told a conference. Police are already authorised to break up crowds by force if necessary, he said. Without containment measures, Sao Paulo -- whose capital is the mega-city of the same name -- would register 270,000 deaths in the next six months, said the head of the state's public health research institute, Dimas Covas. Brazil has been the Latin American country hit hardest by the new coronavirus, with 553 deaths and more than 12,000 confirmed cases so far. Health experts warn under-testing means the real number is likely much higher. Sao Paulo, a state whose population of 46 million makes it about the size as Spain, has seen more infections and deaths than any other. The state is probably facing another 1,300 deaths this week, Covas said. The governor has openly clashed over containment measures with far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who claims they are needlessly wrecking the economy over a disease he has compared to a "little flu. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Following a major health scare that happened after several COVID-19 positive cases emerged from an event held in Nizamuddin Markaz, the Haryana government has set deadline for Tablighi Jamaat attendees to disclose their information. Home minister Anil Vij said that the attendees are advised to disclose the information till 5 pm on April 8, following which strict action will be taken against them. So far, 40 Tablighi Jamaat attendees have been reported positive in Haryana and 1526 are traced in the state. Earlier, 107 foreign nationals Markaz attendees were booked in Haryana. The Haryana police had registered 5 FIRs against the foreign nationals who had attended Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin. The FIRs is registered under section 14 of the foreign national act. Meanwhile, over 76 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in Haryana so far, said the state's Health Department on Sunday. Earlier, Himachal Pradesh's Director General of Police (DGP) S R Mardi, on Sunday, warned all Tablighi Jamaat attendees that 'murder and Attempt to murder charge' will be slapped on them if they fail to voluntarily inform the police. He gave all attendees a deadline till 5 PM this evening to inform their whereabouts to the police. Himachal Pradesh had traced and quarantined 204 Markaz attendees till Friday. READ: Himachal DGP warns Markaz attendees of 'attempt to murder' charge unless they step forward What is the Nizamuddin COVID-19 scare? On Monday, sources reported that a religious programme was organised at Tablighi Jamaat's headquarters Markaz Nizamuddin mosque between 13-15 March which had over 3400 attendees from Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Kyrgyzstan and from several states in India. After attending the meeting, prior to the nationwide lockdown, 1500 of these attendees returned to several parts of the country, possibly spreading the COVID-19 virus. The mosque has claimed that while they were letting small groups of attendees leave from the venue prior to the Janta Curfew, several were stuck in the area owing to the nationwide lockdown. All 2631 occupants have been evacuated and the building has been sanitised. The Delhi Crime Branch which has booked the Markaz chief Maulana Saad for violating lockdown is currently searching for him by raiding possible hideouts. READ: PM Modi's FULL Covid speech to BJP cadre: 'This is a long battle; mustn't tire; must win' Markaz attendees throughout India The Health Ministry stated that 1032 attendees have tested positive till date - which amounts to over 30% of all positive cases in India. Overall 3400 people had attended the event - Tamil Nadu: 1500 - 110 have tested positive, rest in quarantine; Gujarat: 1500 attendees - tracing ongoing (29 attendees tested negative); Telangana - 1100, 65 are being traced; 6 have died, 76 tested positive; Uttar Pradesh - 569 (most in quarantine); Haryana- 503 (all traced & quarantined); Himachal Pradesh - 157 (All traced & quarantined); Madhya Pradesh - 107 (trace ongoing), Chattisgarh - 101, Bihar -81, West Bengal -71, Assam -100 - (67 still in Delhi, others quarantined, 1 positive); Arunachal Pradesh -1. Currently, India's COVID-19 tally is at 3374 with 77 deaths. READ: Coronavirus LIVE Updates: India's confirmed cases cross 4000-mark; 109 deaths confirmed READ: India's Coronavirus testing gets big boost: ICMR to get 7 lakh rapid antibody testing kits In a crackdown on those spreading fake on social media about coronavirus, the Punjab Police has booked 34 people, arresting four of them. Confirming it, DGP Dinkar Gupta said in a statement here that police have registered 34 cases so far, of which 27 were lodged between March 21 and April 6. He said the cases lodged in the past a couple of weeks related to the spread of fake information through WhatsApp. Police are also taking stern action against attempts to use social media to spread communal strife, he said, adding that a sedition case was registered on Friday against a Ludhiana resident. The Ludhiana resident had allegedly misled people about the availability of critical medical equipment besides "spreading hatred" against the state government, he said. The DGP had earlier this month constituted a special team headed by a ADGP-ranked officer to monitor all social media platforms to check any instance of fake or information. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SYDNEY, Australia When Terry Hughes surveyed the Great Barrier Reef four years ago from a small plane, mapping the bleaching and death of corals from water warmed by climate change, he hoped such a rare and heartbreaking scene would not be repeated anytime soon. But rising temperatures sent him back to the air in 2017, when the reef bleached again. Then he returned last month, leading to another devastating conclusion: The reef was being ravaged by bleaching yet again, this time across an even wider area. Its the first time weve seen severely bleached reefs along the whole length of the reef, in particular, the coastal reefs, said Professor Hughes, the director of the ARC Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University. Those are bleached everywhere. New aerial data from Professor Hughes and other scientists released on Monday shows example after example of overheating and damage along the reef, a 1,500-mile natural wonder. The survey amounts to an updated X-ray for a dying patient, with the markers of illness being the telltale white of coral that has lost its color, visible from the air and in the water. ABC News(WASHINGTON) -- Anyone on Department of Defense property, installations or facilities must wear a cloth face covering when they cannot maintain 6 feet of social distance in a public area or work centers, according to a new directive released Sunday afternoon. Defense Secretary Mark Esper had said the guidance was coming in an appearance on ABC's This Week Sunday morning. "Now we're going to move towards face covering," he told ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos. As an interim measure, individuals are encouraged to make face coverings from household items or common materials, such as clean T-shirts or other clean cloths that can cover the nose and mouth, according to the DOD memo. Any exceptions to this new guidance must be approved by local commanders and submitted up the chain of command for awareness. Over 1,200 service members and Department of Defense civilians have tested positive for the novel coronavirus since its outbreak. "We want to take every measure to protect our troops (while) making sure we can conduct our national security missions. And to do that we can't always do the 6 feet distancing whether you're an attack submarine, a bomber, in a tank so we have to take other measures," Esper said. Esper also said he fully supported acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly's decision to dismiss the Navy captain who raised concerns on the handling of coronavirus on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in a letter to his superiors that went public. "Secretary Modly made a tough decision -- a tough call. I have full faith and confidence in him, in the Navy leadership and I support their decision," Esper said on ABC's This Week Sunday, telling Stephanopoulos that it was the Navy secretary who made the call to fire Capt. Brett Crozier, the commanding officer on the USS Theodore Roosevelt. In a letter to other senior Navy leaders, Crozier had urged that most of his crew of 5,000 sailors be removed from the aircraft carrier to slow down the spread of the novel coronavirus. "Sailors do not need to die," Crozier wrote in a letter that was leaked to The San Francisco Chronicle, sparking a firestorm of controversy and ultimately leading to his dismissal. The Washington Post reported Saturday that Modly said the president wanted Crozier fired. At a press conference that same day, President Donald Trump said he didn't think the captain of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier should be "talking that way in a letter." "I thought it was inappropriate," he said. When pressed Sunday on whether the president wanted Crozier removed, Esper said, "Look, this was Secretary Modly's call. He came and briefed me the night before. The morning of, he sat down and talked to me. I listened to the recommendations of the CNO, the chief of naval operations, and General Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It was the Secretary Modly's call and I told him I would support it. Also on Saturday, the president announced an additional 1,000 military medical personnel would be deployed to cities across the country to help hospitals overwhelmed with coronavirus patients. "A few hundred" of those personnel will go to New York City hospitals, Esper said. Those personnel would add to hundreds of military medical experts who are staffing New York City's Javits Center, which has been converted into a temporary medical facility. "The Javits Center will become a 2,500-bed hospital. It will be the largest hospital in the United States and it will be run by the United States military," Esper said Sunday. The defense secretary also told Stephanopoulos that the Pentagon would consider allowing coronavirus patients to seek treatment on board two U.S. Navy hospital ships in Los Angeles and New York. The ships are currently taking trauma patients to relieve pressure on hospitals, but critics have argued that the ships are not being utilized to their full potential. "With regard to the Comfort and Mercy, we sent those ships up several days, a week ago. They also arrived ahead of need," he said. The Navy is prepared to open them up to coronavirus patients, as necessary, he said, "We just don't want trauma patients to become coronavirus patients." Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Strange animal attacks against humans, new apex predators, sightings of mysterious creatures New Discovery series Legends of the Wild follows two Aussie wilderness experts, Damian Duffy and Matt Hoffmann as they document, discover, and solve the most extraordinary mysteries of the natural world. Damian Duffy, a former Australian army paratrooper and certified wilderness guide, and Matt Hoffmann, a professional wildlife photographer and storm chaser, are two adventurers who arent afraid of dangerous situations. With an unparalleled passion for wildlife, theyve dedicated their entire lives and careers to taking on and capturing Mother Nature and its many wonders. Together they journey deep into the wild risking it all to explore some of the worlds most hair-raising wildlife legends. In the series premiere, Damian and Matt head to Brazil to investigate why Brazilian ranchers are turning up dead; gored by an unknown creature. Theres a wide range of animal suspects from jaguars to caimans, but could the killer be something no one suspected? From investigating the possible return of a long extinct deadly creature in Australia thats killing kangaroos, to trying to solve the mystery of disappearing villagers and livestock in the Philippines, Damian and Matt set off into the wild each week to find answers. But thats only half the battle they must make it out alive! Legends of the Wild airs during Mystery Month on Discovery Channel which starts 1 May and features titles that are dedicated to unmasking the truth behind some of the worlds most enduring mysteries. Tuesday 19 May at 8:30pm on Discovery. Rice Universitys president on Sunday announced his school would open two residence halls as temporary housing for front-line medical workers at nearby Texas Medical Center institutions. Enabling hospital staff to live nearby will give them a greater opportunity for rest and to work needed hours, David Leebron said in a letter to the university students, faculty and staff. Two undergraduate halls, Wiess and Hanszen, will be available to medical workers after April 12 for those medical workers who want alternative housing. About 50 students and resident associates currently living in those halls will be moved, Leebron said. Although the two halls can house around 500 people, capacity will be limited to around 100 to allow for proper social distancing, Leebron said, adding that Texas Medical Center officials will decide which health care workers move to the campus. The idea was hatched after the university was approached by some of the medical centers hospitals. They were looking ahead towards the future and we decided to take immediate action, he said. Weighing heavily on Houstons health care community is the possibility of a coming surge of patients as has happened in other cities straining resources and exhausting or sickening health care workers. Many front line health workers have said they fear they may become infected as they care for patients and then bring home the virus at shifts end. Some doctors report they already live mostly apart from their families in their own homes, eating and sleeping separately out of fear of unknowingly spreading the virus. Others have even sent children away to live with relatives. Leebron said the spread of the potentially deadly virus has been at turns remarkable and frightening. When I sent the message out canceling classes on March 12, there were 14 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Houston. Now there are over 600 and twice that number in Harris County. Opening his mostly empty halls felt like something tangible the univeristy could do. We are members of this community, he said, and this is a fight that we, our city, our state, our nation need to undertake together. jenny.deam@chron.com @jenny_deam A swimmer has died after being mauled by a shark while swimming with a group of friends off the Great Barrier Reef. The Queensland Parks and Wildlife ranger, 23, was attacked off North West Island in the reef's south just after 5pm on Monday. He had been working on the island in a team of four rangers and was attacked by the shark while they went for a swim off the back of their boat to cool down. Gladstone Police senior sergeant Tony Anderson said the ranger was swimming back to the boat when he was bitten and suffered 'substantial injuries'. A swimmer was mauled by a monster shark off the Great Barrier Reef on Monday afternoon (stock image) He was flown to Gladstone Hospital in a critical condition but died from his injuries about 10pm. 'At the end of the day there was four people swimming of the back of the boat cooling down after a day's work,' sergeant Anderson said. 'This male person was the last person to get out of the water. As he was about to get on the boat he was attacked by a shark.' Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk described the death as a 'tragic' loss of life. 'Once again a family is out there, is grieving for a young man who tragically has lost his life in a horrific shark attack,' she said. 'A lot of his work colleagues I understand are very upset today.' A rescue helicopter with critical care paramedics had been dispatched from Rockhampton after the attack. He suffered serious leg injuries in the attack and was flown in a rescue helicopter with critical care paramedics to Gladstone Hospital in a serious condition A paramedic was dropped to the beach and taken to the victim on a boat, before both were winched back to the helicopter. A report will be prepared for the coroner. The incident is the third shark attack in the area in just over three months. A nine-year-old girl was bitten on the the back of her leg by a suspected lemon shark near the island on January 8, while a 30-year-old man was bitten on the leg by a shovelnose shark off the island on December 30. Nigeria seeks $6.9 billion from lenders to fund coronavirus fight FILE PHOTO: People queue to receive food aid following a 14-day lockdown aimed at limiting the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Abuja By Paul Carsten ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria has requested $6.9 billion from multilateral lenders to combat the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Africa's biggest economy, the finance minister said on Monday. Nigeria, whose revenues have tumbled with the fall in oil prices, has asked for $3.4 billion from the International Monetary Fund, $2.5 billion from the World Bank and $1 billion from the African Development Bank (AfDB), Zainab Ahmed said. Africa's most populous country and the continent's biggest oil producer, which is still recovering from a recession caused by the last period of weak oil prices, had 232 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus and five deaths, as of Sunday. A two-week lockdown was imposed last week on Lagos state, home to the nation's sprawling commercial hub, as well as neighbouring Ogun state and the capital territory of Abuja, in an effort to prevent the virus spreading across the country. The minister told a news conference in Abuja that Nigeria was one of several African states seeking the suspension of debt-servicing obligations for 2020 and 2021 from multilateral lenders. The requests are part of a wider debate over debt relief. But analysts say securing such relief will be a challenge as it requires winning approval from a disparate array of creditors. The IMF, which has received requests for help from about 80 nations including 20 in Africa, is making about $50 billion available from its emergency financing facilities to help countries cope with the crisis. The World Bank has approved a $14 billion response package. Nigeria's finance minister said IMF support would not be tied to a formal programme and the funds would not have conditions attached because the cash was being borrowed previous Nigerian contributions to the Fund. CUTTING SPENDING "It is important to clarify that Nigeria does not intend to negotiate or enter into a formal programme with the International Monetary Fund, at this time, or in the foreseeable future," Ahmed added. Story continues The government said last month that spending in the $34.6 billion budget for 2020 would have to be cut by around $4.9 billion due to low oil prices and the impact of the pandemic, which has driven down global demand for fuel. The minister said the budget would assume an oil price of $30 a barrel, down from $57, and production of 1.7 million barrels per day (bpd) rather than 2.1 million bpd. "The emerging health and economic risks resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and decline in international oil prices pose existential threats to Nigeria's economy, healthcare system, national security, as well as the lives of our citizens," she said. Nigeria, where economic growth had been about 2%, is still struggling to shake off a 2016 recession caused by a previous slide in oil prices to below $30 a barrel. In the latest crisis, oil prices plunged to a nearly two-decade low of close to $20. Fitch on Monday pushed Nigeria's debt rating deeper into "junk" territory, rating it a "B" and saying it expected the virus pandemic to drive the economy back into recession. It forecast the economy would contract 1% in 2020. Ahmed said the government had provided 102.5 billion naira($285 million) to support the healthcare sector, of which 6.5 billion naira had already been made available as critical expenditure for the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. Lagos state, where most confirmed cases of the virus in the country have been identified, had received 10 billion naira in emergency funding, the minister said. The government said on Saturday it planned to create a coronavirus fund to strengthen its healthcare infrastructure. Ahmed said on Monday the president had approved the fund and said backing from lawmakers was being sought to borrow the money from special accounts. ($1 = 360.0000 naira) (Reporting by Paul Carsten and Alexis Akwagyiram in Lagosa; Additional reporting by Camillus Eboh and Felix Onuah in Abuja; Writing by Alexis Akwagyiram; Editing by Larry King and Edmund Blair) The amount of dangerous fine particle pollution emitted by the Vales Point coal-fired power station on the NSW Central Coast has increased by 3000 per cent over the past six years and 181 percent last year. Last year the Yallourn power station in Victoria increased its emissions of the same pollutant by 82 per cent and the amount from the Gladstone power station in Queensland increased by 23 per cent. Environmental Justice Australia reported the increase in fine particle emissions after analysing data gathered and published by energy companies for the National Pollutant Inventory. Vales Point is operated by Delta Electricity, whose company secretary Steve Gurney told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age that the fine particulate pollution, known as PM2.5, appeared to have increased a little bit last year because the stations filters needed replacing at the time testing was conducted. He did not address the 3000 per cent increase since 2013. Over the same period Vales Point increased the amount of power it generated by 63 per cent. The Delhi governments directorate of education (DoE) has identified as many as 346 disabled students enrolled in its schools who are in urgent need of food amid the lockdown and directed the heads of schools (HoS) to ensure that these students get food daily during this period. The DoE has identified another 1,656 disabled government school students who may also need food during the Covid-19 lockdown. A senior official at the Delhi governments inclusive education branch said that there are around 12,175 Children With Special Needs (CWSN) enrolled in their schools at present. The inclusive branch had also issued a circular last week saying that it had carried out a survey to assess the availability of food for the children with disabilities studying in government schools across the country. Its been noticed that 346 students are in urgent need of food and its expected that an additional 1,656 children with special needs may also require food during the lockdown period, the circular stated. The DoE has directed all the HoS of government schools to ensure that the identified 346 disabled children get food during the lockdown and asked them to provide daily Action Taken Reports (ATRs) to the directorate. All HoS of government schools are hereby directed to ensure that all children with disabilities must have food throughout the lockdown in collaboration with nearby concerned hunger relief centres of the government, at schools, or night community centres etc., and provide ATRs for the 346 CWSN daily, the circular added. A home featured in Quibi's "Murder House Flip." (Travis Cox / Quibi) There are phrases one expects from home renovation shows. "This might be a load-bearing wall," for instance. Or "the vaulted ceiling makes the space feel bigger." Or "this kitchen needs updating." Completely unexpected is a declaration like, "This is where she dragged the bodies down to the yard." That is, until Quibi's "Murder House Flip" came along. The series mashes up two of our collective obsessions: true crime and home renovations. The brainchild of "CSI" producer Josh Berman, "Penny Dreadful" producer Chris King and author Katherine Ramsland, the series features hosts Joelle Uzyel and Mikel Welch as they help transform homes where murders have happened. "I've done other home makeover shows. This is the first one where research meant talking to police departments," says showrunner and executive producer Star Price. "My feeling through the whole process was that we had to be self aware of what we were doing. We couldn't take it too earnestly and at the same time we couldn't be disrespectful ... and at times we could have fun." Four California homes get a makeover over the course of the show's first season and "each house gets three Quibis," Price says, referring to the short-form, mobile-only platform's 10-minute episode format. The first site featured is the Victorian-style home where Dorothea Puente, the notorious Sacramento landlady who was convicted in the '90s for killing tenants and burying several of her victims. (Puente died in 2011.) "It's actually sad to say it isn't hard to find homes where murders took place," Price says. The challenge was finding homes where notable crimes took place "that were interesting at some level, as tragic as they were" and willing homeowners who were looking, and in some cases desperate, for some sort of reboot to their house. Story continues The process of making contact with the homeowners to narrow down the list took on a variety of tactics: "We did door knocks, we did Facebook searching, we had some recommendations from police departments... We tried everything," Price says. A homeowner, left, and co-host Mikel Welch in an episode from "Murder House Flip." (Quibi) Deciding what area of the home to make over is guided by the homeowners. An upcoming episode features a young couple living in Oceanside, Price says. The couple were informed when they purchased their home that a man dismembered his wife in the bathtub. "Every time they took a shower, they couldn't get past it," Price says. "So we had to give them an entirely new bathroom ... and in the process of doing that, found something disturbing. And I'll just leave it at that." Tease or not, being in the rooms where heinous acts occurred brought an eeriness to production. "We do a story in Canoga Park where a young woman is sleeping in the same bedroom where a child actress was murdered, with the bed in the same place," Price says. "We walked in that room and we just all looked at each other like, something is really wrong with this space. So yeah, it was there the whole time." Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. AUCKLAND, New ZealandThe lockdown currently underway here in New Zealand is a little stricter than much of whats being enforced in the States at the moment, with the intent of limiting community transmission of coronavirus, flattening the curve of infection here, and eventually eliminating it. No going outside unless for food, medicine, or light exercise in your neighborhood. No leaving your bubble. No nonessential driving. Certainly no swimming. No mountain bike track rides, Health Minister David Clark! No 20-kilometer trips to the beach, newly demoted Health Minister David Clark! Advertisement Its a dark time, with the days blurring together and the hours crawling by. New Zealanders may be known for our laid-back, generally cheerful demeanors, but truth be told were getting pretty ratty, pretty fast. Whats keeping us going? The daily briefings of New Zealands current obsession, an unlikely heartthrob, a mild-mannered health care hero: the national director-general of health, Dr. Ashley Bloomfield. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ashley Bloomfield is the Kiwi equivalent of the United States Anthony Fauci, but with more power to actually make the rules and less outright antipathy toward his countrys leader. Every afternoon, Ashley Bloomfield fronts for the TV cameras (or more accurately, for Facebook Live), either alone or with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at his side, and in his gentle, measured way delivers whatever news he needs to, good or bad. Advertisement Advertisement Waiting for the day that Ashley Bloomfield does a fake-out exit from the podium then walks back for an encore after the gallery journos start chanting Ashley... Ashley... Ashley... "Three more questions." Jamie Morton (@Jamienzherald) April 6, 2020 These briefings always start out the same: a tally of how many more cases and probable cases of COVID-19 there are in the country today, and how many former cases have recovered. Following a quick update on how things are going and any key developments, the floor is open to questions from the media. Nothing Ashley Bloomfield says is particularly remarkable. There have been no mic-drop moments or snappy zingers from the past two weeks worth of appearances. He diligently and clearly answers reporters questions, and when the number of cases rises, hes there to reassure us that this is to be expected: This is how the spread of the virus works, but if we all follow the rules, then we should start to see a change in a few weeks. Literally nothing about this messaging is exciting or immediately satisfying, so you may be surprised to learn New Zealanders cant get enough of watching Ashley Bloomfield deliver it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ashley Bloomfield is by all accounts a nice man who is very good at his job. Given that his job right now is to stop us all from dying in a pandemic, hes become something of a national sensation. Google trends show NZ searches for his name spiking exponentially. A Twitter stan account has been set up, journalists tweet when they find out when his next appearance is scheduled, and his name has become synonymous with doing the right thing. Writer Anna Rawhiti-Connell wrote of our collective infatuation with the man she insists must only ever be referred to by his full name in an essay for the local website Newsroom: On Sunday, Ashley Bloomfield returned to his rightful place as host of the Ashley Bloomfield Power Hour. On being asked about how many people with Covid-19 were Maori or Pasifika, Ashley Bloomfield gave the exact percentages to one decimal place. Advertisement Advertisement Today is the day: Ashley Bloomfield is taking a day off Veronica Schmidt (@veronicaschm1dt) March 27, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement My country expresses its passion for Ashley Bloomfield in a lot of different ways. Were concerned about him: An article about him finally having a day off was syndicated to three local news sites (in a country with about six major online news platforms total). Were horny for him: Ive seen no shortage of tweets like this, and ashley bloomfield wife remains one of the top auto-fill responses on Google. Advertisement Advertisement But mostly, we just want to be taken care of by him. Ashley Bloomfield is, at this moment, his nations collective dad. Dad is calm and reassuring always, even when his children (the press gallery) ask once again why they cant go kayaking even though he just explained why. Dad doesnt lose his temper, even though he is very tired. Dad wants us all to follow the rules, not because he gets off on the power of making them, but because he wants the best for us. This pandemic is fundamentally changing the entire way our world system functions, and its nice to feel like theres an adult in the room who knows what to do next. Advertisement Its something I wish for the U.S., as I watch Donald Trump flailing about from one disastrous press conference to the next, with none of the people able to stop him seemingly willing to, and none of the people (like Fauci) who are willing to step in possessing the structural power to do so. Its dire, and terrifying. In comparison to that daily car crash, Ashley Bloomfields boring civil servant competence is exactly the balm we need right now. Lockdown is forcing us into a period of cultural modesty: no hitting up bars, no hookups, no parties. Were all taking daily healthsome walks, or baking our own bread, or taking up knitting, or seriously thinking about finally reading Middlemarch. That a calm, kind, blandly handsome health official should be one hero of this era seems only fitting. May your country find its Ashley Bloomfield, too. For more on the impact of the coronavirus, listen to Mondays episode of The Gist. ExxonMobil saw its credit rating downgraded by Moodys on Thursday from Aaa to Aa1, with a Negative outlook. Two weeks ago, S&P cut Exxons credit rating. The oil majors struggles are growing, but they predate the pandemic and the collapse of oil prices. It seems like years ago, but Exxon gave a bullish presentation to investors in early March as part of its annual Investor Day. In that presentation, CEO Darren Woods said that Exxon would was leaning into this market when others have pulled back, by which he meant that the company was spending aggressively even as oil prices remained soft. A day later, the OPEC+ talks fell apart and oil careened downwards. The global pandemic was already beginning to ravage Western Europe and would soon spread across the United States. The dual crises exploded the logic of Exxons growth strategy. A raft of spending cuts from the oil majors quickly followed. Exxon itself has said it would rethink its plans and would likely announce spending cuts, but it has waited quite a bit longer than its competitors to ax its 2020 budget. Exxon's cash flow trajectory was already relatively weak entering 2020, as very high growth capital investment combined with muted oil and gas prices and low [earnings in its downstream and chemicals segments] resulted in substantial negative free cash flow and rising debt in 2019, Moodys analysts wrote. Now, the large drop in oil prices and continued weakness in downstream and chemicals performance leaves the company poised to incur sizable negative free cash flow funded with debt. The credit ratings agency does not see Exxon able to regain its higher credit rating in the medium term, according to S&P Global Platts. Even Exxons campaign to sell assets has not gone as planned, as it has struggled to line up buyers. In 2019, the oil major aimed to sell off $5 billion in assets, but only succeeded in generating $3.7 billion in sales. This is no small detail since Exxon has routinely used asset sales to paper over its cash flow gap, a necessary source of cash in order to finance its dividend, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). Story continues Over the past decade, the company has covered one-third of its total cash distributions to shareholders through sources other than free cash flow, IEEFA wrote in an analysis of Exxons situation. Asset sales have provided key cash infusions to make up that shortfall. For instance, in 2019, Exxon paid $15.3 billion to shareholders in the form of buybacks and dividends, but only generated $5.4 billion in free cash flow. The remaining $9.9 billion had to be made up somehow, and Exxon did that through selling assets and taking on debt. Related: U.S. Shale Ready To Fire Back In The Oil Price War But the climate for selling oil assets has deteriorated, to say the least. Lining up buyers will be challenging, and the price of the assets Exxon is trying to get rid of will be notably lower than the company had hoped. Lower-than-expected cash flow from asset sales might mean that Exxon needs to take on more debt, especially since it steadfastly refuses to touch its dividend. The dividend yield recently topped 10 percent and is widely seen as unsustainable. However, more borrowing only piles on more debt, which would put additional pressure on its credit rating. In mid-March alone, Exxon borrowed another $8.5 billion. Moodys said that even if Exxon were to somehow keep pace with its planned asset sales, the company would still take on more debt through 2021. Ultimately, however, Exxon feels it can weather this storm, and it can certainly outlast its weaker shale competitors. The Trump administration hosted several oil executives at the White House on Friday. The oil industry is looking for a handout, and various ideas tariffs on imported oil, filling up the SPR, loans, deregulation, and a global production cut deal are on the table, even if they will prove to be inadequate at dealing with the market surplus. Exxon has pushed back against too much government help or intervention, betting that a lot of shale companies will go out of business. Indeed, according to Rystad Energy, a record number of companies will file for bankruptcy this year. The firm says that more than 70 companies could go under in 2020. And if $30 oil persists into next year, the number of Chapter 11 filings could balloon to between 150 to 200 companies. In our view we will need WTI prices of $40 to $45 per barrel to eliminate the upcoming explosion in the number of financially distressed US E&Ps, while the most efficient and least leveraged players will still be able to survive with oil prices below $20 per barrel WTI, Rystad Energys Head of Shale Research Artem Abramov said in a statement. ExxonMobil wont be one of those companies, but that does not mean that it isnt feeling intense financial pressure. Exxons share price has fallen by half in the past year and is down by a third since February. By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Read this article on OilPrice.com After calling on his Democrats to avoid "playing politics" during the coronavirus outbreak, Donald Trump lashed out at Joe Biden as he continues to find ways to raise questions about his likely general election foe's competence. The former vice president floated a "virtual" Democratic Party nominating convention in August, should the pandemic not allow American life to return to normal -- including large gatherings -- by then. He also said he intends to wear a mask in public, unlike the president, who says it's "okay" if Americans do but it's just not for him. That was more than enough for the ever-opportunistic and always-on-the-attack president to criticise Mr Biden. "Joe Biden wanted the date for the Democrat National Convention moved to a later time period. Now he wants a 'Virtual' Convention, one where he doesn't have to show up. Gee, I wonder why?" Mr Trump said, appearing to allege the former vice president lacks an ability to remain coherent during a convention speech to a large arena crowd. The president also appeared to make a scheduling announcement. Mr Biden last week said he was open to having a telephone conversation with the president about the federal government's Covid-19 response. During the economic recession of 2007-2008, then-President George W Bush hosted then-Democratic nominee Barack Obama and then-Republican nominee John McCain for a White House mini-summit as they tried to forge a consensus about what to do. A Biden spokeswoman last week reportedly said the candidate's team would contact the White House to set up a telephone chat. "Also, what ever happened to that phone call he told the Fake News he wanted to make to me?" Mr Trump wrote on Monday morning. The Twitter volley came a week after Democrats pushed their Milwaukee convention to 17 August and a day after Mr Biden floated the first "virtual" nominating event. (Mr Trump said this weekend that Republicans still intend to hold their convention to again nominate him a week later in Charlotte; both Wisconsin and North Carolina are expected to be among the states up for grabs come Election Day.) "Well, we're going to have to do a convention. We may have to do a virtual convention. I think we should be thinking about that right now," Mr Biden told ABC News on Sunday. "The idea of holding the convention is going to be necessary. "We may not be able to put 10, 20, 30,000 people in one place and that's very possible," he added. "Again, let's see where it is -- and what we do between now and then is going to dictate a lot of that as well. But my point is that I think you just got to follow the science." Mr Biden is leading the president in most national polls -- but the incumbent is running competitively, typically within any given poll's margin of error -- in the six or seven battleground states that political experts say will decide the election. A Reuters/Ipsos survey released last week gave the former VP a 46 per cent to 40 per cent edge nationally. Mr Trump is a notorious poll-watcher. He has been slipping in digs at the Democratic frontrunner since his political rallies were put on hold a few weeks back as the coronavirus began sweeping the country. Over the weekend, he again tried to paint Mr Biden as mentally feeble. "He is probably not even watching right now," he said, "and if he is he doesn't understand what he is watching." The first federal inmate to die of COVID-19 wrote a heartbreaking letter to a judge seeking his release just months before his death. Patrick Jones, 49, was serving 27 years for non violent crimes when he contracted the virus at the low-security facility in Oakdale, Louisiana. He had earlier pleaded with U.S. District Judge Alan Albright for his release in a letter dated October 15, arguing his heavy sentence was also a punishment his young son. 'I feel that my conviction and sentence was also a punishment that my child has had to endure also and there are no words for how remorseful I am', he wrote. Jones added: 'My child having his own experience of raising his own child would validate my life experience and give meaning to my existence in this world, because 83582-180 has no meaning. 'It is just a number to be forgotten in time. But Mr. Patrick Estell Jones is a very good person. Caring, hard working, free and clean of drugs and a lot smarter now, with a balanced outlook on life.' Judge Albright denied his request at the end of February; Jones died on March 21. Patrick Jones, 49, was serving 27 years for non violent crimes when he contracted the virus at the low-security facility in Oakdale, Louisiana Jones had earlier pleaded with U.S. District Judge Alan Albright for his release in a letter dated October 15, arguing his heavy sentence was also a punishment his young son Jones was sentenced to 27 years in the Western District of Texas for after he was caught with 19 grams of crack and 21 grams of powder cocaine inside his home in Temple, Texas in 2007. He had been in custody at FCI Oakdale, pictured, since April 2017 Lawyer Alison Looman, who had represented Jones, told NBC: 'He spent the last 12 years contesting a sentence that ultimately killed him.' She added: 'Ironically, it seems it is his death that might finally bring his case some attention.' Jones was sentenced to 27 years in the Western District of Texas for after he was caught with 19 grams of crack and 21 grams of powder cocaine inside his home in Temple, Texas in 2007. He had been in custody at FCI Oakdale since April 2017. His apartment had been near a junior college and he had been arrested for burglaries when he was homeless. His wife testified against him and did not receive a prison sentence. Under the First Step Act, which gives non-violent offenders the chance to re-enter society as productive, law-abiding citizens, Jones hoped he might see his sentence reduced. Officials said Jones 'complained of a persistent cough'. 'On Friday, March 20, 2020, his condition declined and he was placed on a ventilator. On Saturday, March 28, 2020, Mr. Jones, who had long-term, pre-existing medical conditions which the CDC lists as risk factors for developing more severe COVID-19 disease, was pronounced dead by hospital staff', they said in a statement. The death toll from COVID-19 at the prison in Oakdale where Jones died has continued to climb. On April 2 officials announced a fourth inmate had passed away there. More than 10,000 Americans have now died from the coronavirus and the number of infections increased to over 347,000 - as new data predicts the outbreak in the US will peak in 10 days with over 3,000 deaths in 24 hours. The death toll in the United States increased by 1,147 overnight to bring the total number of fatalities to 10,358. The number of confirmed cases across the country increased by 25,841 to bring the infection total to 347,516. The new coronavirus, which causes the respiratory illness COVID-19, has wreaked havoc on the federal prison system, prompting the bureau to impose a 14-day lockdown for inmates at all of its 122 institutions across the country. Federal Correctional Institution 1, a low-security facility holding about 980 inmates that is one of several facilities comprising the prison in Oakdale in south-central Louisiana, is so far the hardest hit in the nationwide system. As of Wednesday 18 inmates, as well as 17 staff members now have COVID-19, said Ronald Morris, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 1007 union. Dozens more are isolation with symptoms, he added. In addition to Oakdale, other hard-hit prisons include one in Butner, North Carolina and a low-security federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut. The bureau on Thursday identified the third inmate who died of COVID-19 at Oakdale as James Wilson, 57, who went into respiratory failure on Monday. He was taken to a hospital and placed on a ventilator the next day, where he died on Wednesday. Nicholas Rodriguez, 43, died on Wednesday. The bureau did not yet have any further details on the fourth inmate. China has insisted it will not restrict exports of medical supplies amid growing demand for equipment such as masks and gowns around the world. We will not forget that at the beginning of the fight against the epidemic, many countries gave us a helping hand, Jiang Fan, from the department of foreign trade at the Ministry of Commerce, said on Sunday. Therefore, when the situation in China is getting better and overseas epidemic conditions are accelerating, we are willing to make relevant efforts on the basis of epidemic prevention and control to provide support and assistance China does not and will not restrict the export of medical supplies. China exported a total of 10.2 billion yuan (US$1.4 billion) worth of medical supplies between March 1 and April 4, according to Jin Hai, deputy director for general affairs at the General Administration of Customs. These products included about 3.9 billion masks, 37.5 million pieces of protective clothing and 2.4 million infrared thermometers. China also exported 16,000 ventilators, 2.8 million boxes of new coronavirus test kits and 8.4 million pairs of goggles, Jin said. But some European buyers have complained about the poor quality of the equipment. Spain, for example, withdrew an order for 58,000 test kits bought from a Chinese company after it was found to have an accuracy rate of just 30 per cent. Some media completely blamed China's product quality but it was due to many reasons, Jiang said. For example, the standards of Chinese and foreign products are different, there are differences in how they are typically used, and improper use can also raise doubts about the quality. She also said a batch of non-medical masks that China exported to the Netherlands had been approved and distributed to local hospitals. Story continues China is among the biggest exporters in the world when it comes to surgical masks, protective gowns, and ventilators, which are all essential to fight the pandemic. As the number of Covid-19 infections has grown outside China, more governments have introduced export curbs on medical supplies. According to Global Trade Alert, a Swiss-based trade watchdog, dozens of restrictions have been announced in recent weeks and 54 governments had announced restrictions by March 21. The watchdog said that Bulgaria, France, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey and Britain had implemented multiple export curbs on medical supplies, while mainland China, Taiwan and Germany had relaxed their controls to a certain degree. Earlier this week, Chinese manufacturers of coronavirus test kits and related medical supplies were told they would no longer be allowed to export their products unless they had a licence to sell them domestically. The new rule applies to all companies seeking to export test kits, face masks, protective clothing, ventilators and infrared thermometers, according to a joint statement issued on April 1 by the Ministry of Commerce, General Administration of Customs and the National Medical Products Administration. Jiang said China would not tolerate counterfeit products and it would strengthen its supervision and punish those that violate the regulations. While China takes the initiative to strictly control the quality of exported products, we also hope that relevant countries and regions will carry out import checks, Jiang said. As for the relevant issues that arise in the procurement, we recommend that the companies of both parties conduct full communication, negotiate and resolve in accordance with the terms in the contract. Sign up now and get a 10% discount (original price US$400) off the China AI Report 2020 by SCMP Research. Learn about the AI ambitions of Alibaba, Baidu & JD.com through our in-depth case studies, and explore new applications of AI across industries. The report also includes exclusive access to webinars to interact with C-level executives from leading China AI companies (via live Q&A sessions). Offer valid until 31 May 2020. More from South China Morning Post: This article Coronavirus: China promises not to restrict exports of medical supplies first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modis clarion call for a nine-minute blackout and to hold candles as a symbolic gesture of support for thousands who were at the forefront fighting the war against Covid-19, evoked a strong response from citizens of the city. Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan with a candle at Raj Bhavan in response to the call given by the PM Thousands lit candles and flashed torch lights on their and rooftops, while many decorated their balconies with rice lights and the national flag. At Pragathi Bhavan, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao along with Health Minister Eatala Rajender, DGP M Mahender Reddy, MA&UD Principal Secretary Arvind Kumar and other officials held candles for nine minutes starting at 9 pm. KCR congratulated the electricity department for ensuring that there was no problem during the nine-minute blackout. He congratulated Transco and Genco CMD Devulapalli Prabhakar Rao and other officials. The CM said though the demand slipped beyond estimated levels, the power department worked with strategy. Meanwhile, Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan requested people to light candles or diyas to express solidarity and demonstrate the countrys collective will to fight coronavirus. MoS (Home) G Kishan Reddy posted on Twitter: Let us all unite to light diyas and illuminate our surrounding to eliminate the darkness caused by #coronawarriors (sic). The Cyberabad Police Commissioner, too, lit a lamp at his residence. A few citizens went overboard and burst firecrackers, drawing criticism. The Michigan Supreme Court will forgo tradition in response to the COVID-19 emergency and hear oral arguments in four cases using Zoom conferencing this month -- a first for the states highest court. Arguments in the cases will be livestreamed April 15 and 22, the Supreme Court announced in a news release concerning the plan. At least six of the justices will participate remotely. Its not yet known if Chief Justice Bridget M. McCormack will be in the courtroom or participate remotely. On both days, the Court will convene to hear the first case beginning at 9:30 a.m. and the second case at 10:30 a.m., a news release says. Justices will participate in oral argument via Zoom and the attorneys for the parties have all agreed to argue their cases using Zoom. All four oral arguments will be livestreamed at: http://www.youtube.com/c/MichiganSupremeCourt. The move to hear case arguments through video conferencing is the latest fallout on state courts because of the coronavirus spread in Michigan. Last month, McCormack provided guidance to trial courts aimed at reducing the jail and prison populations and courts have cut back on all proceedings, including delays in jury trials. The April 15 cases include an Ingham County case in which arose from a foreclosure action and an insurance claim tied to a hospital renovation project in Midland. One of the April 22 cases arises from the Michigan Sex Offender Registration Act in which the Supreme Court is considering questions including whether the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled correctly that there was no causal link between the Michigan State Polices failure to train its employees and a violation of constitutional rights. The second case scheduled for oral arguments April 22 concerns a lawsuit brought in Genesee County by a man involved in a rollover accident involving an ambulance he was being transported in. A Genesee Circuit judge dismissed the mans lawsuit, which claimed the ambulance driver was grossly negligent in causing the accident and the state Court of Appeals affirmed in a 2-1 split decision. Genesee County court suspends jury trials through April 30 over coronavirus pandemic Gov. Whitmer takes action to protect jails, detention centers from coronavirus Police in Massachusetts are searching for a woman who allegedly sprayed Lysol in the eyes of a cashier at Walmart after the woman was told there was a product limit on her purchase. Leicester police said the incident happened on March 27. The cashier told the woman there was a limit on the number of Lysol disinfectant cans that she was trying to purchase. Americans are being advised to steel themselves for one of the most agonizing weeks in living memory, as President Trump and his advisers predicted parts of the country were nearing a peak of cases of covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The president at Sundays White House coronavirus task force briefing hailed numbers from New York showing a one-day decline in deaths while warning of New York and New Jersey, theyve really become a very hot zone. The dead in the United States already number more than 9,500, triple the toll of the terrorist attacks that brought the nation low on Sept. 11, 2001. U.S. Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams reached back further to find an analogue for the sense of national alarm, as the country surpassed 333,000 known cases. He said the coming days could bring catastrophe comparable to the attack that drew the United States into World War II in 1941. (Washington Post) Featured stories Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson is being treated for the coronavirus. (Pippa Fowles, 10 Downing Street via AP)AP U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson taken to hospital due to persistent coronavirus symptoms (NBC News) Ignoring expert opinion, Trump again promotes use of hydroxychloroquine (New York Times) With coronavirus apex still to come, some U.S. hospitals reeling from capacity crunch (ABC News) He led a top Navy ship. Now he sits in quarantine, fired and infected (New York Times) National news Illinois governor: Its wrong the way federal government has handled coronavirus pandemic (Chicago Tribune) Michigan governor says patchwork response to coronavirus with no national strategy could prolong fight (mlive.com) Louisiana governor says state could run out of ventilators by end of the week if coronavirus cases continue to rise (CNN) Wisconsin mayors ask state health officials to shut down in-person primary voting (The Hill) Mayor of Georgia coastal town assails governors reckless mandate to reopen the states beaches (CNN) After 1 death and calls for help, Miami-Dade pulls more sick passengers off Coral Princess (Miami Herald) Pastor who refuses to cancel Sunday services because of coronavirus greeted by police (Los Angeles Times) Louisiana church holds services, defying coronavirus stay-at-home order (Reuters) Fired intelligence community watchdog breaks silence, saying he faithfully discharged my legal obligations (CBS News) Search continues for Kennedy relatives lost in Chesapeake Bay (The Guardian) Wisconsin teen charged in calculated double homicide of university doctor, husband (NBC News) Fire near Florida airport burns 3,500 rental cars (Associated Press) World news Police officers patrol outside a hospital where it is believed that Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson is undergoing tests after suffering from coronavirus symptoms Monday in London. (Frank Augstein, Associated Press) Coronavirus: Queen tells UK we will succeed in fight (BBC) China sees slight increase in coronavirus cases after earlier drop (The Hill) Chinese tourist sites packed as country comes out of lockdown, but experts say risk still high (CNN) South Koreas return to normal interrupted by uptick in coronavirus cases (NBC News) Virus-hit Carnival cruise ship docks in Australia as countrys death toll hits 40 (Reuters) Japans Abe set to declare virus emergency as cases jump (Bloomberg) Palm Sunday ceremonies in Vatican City, Jerusalem limited over coronavirus fears as Easter restrictions loom (USA Today) Days before 26th anniversary of countrys genocide, Rwanda finds mass grave that could contain 30,000 bodies (CNN) Mexican president pitches frugal economic plan against coronavirus (Reuters) Bad news: radiation spikes 16 times above normal after forest fire near Chernobyl (The Guardian) Interpol has warned of changing criminal patterns and increased threats in certain areas as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement based on information from all 194 members, Interpol said evolving global threats include a marked increase in cyber threats including malicious domains, malware and ransomware, and health service providers and essential products outlets being targeted. Other emerging threats include: Fraudulent and counterfeit trade in personal protective equipment (PPE) and anti-viral pharmaceuticals; Increased drug commerce via social media, encrypted apps, and the Darknet; Individuals and businesses on reduced incomes being potentially targeted by loan sharks. Interpol also said that it is monitoring the impact of Covid-19 on the police forces of its member states and whether it is hampering efforts to tackle the new criminal threats. It issued a global threat assessment on crime and policing to all its members, including advice on best practice to mitigate the effects of Covid-19 related crimes. Interpol secretary general Jurgen Stock said: Law enforcement is learning precious lessons and fast. "Lessons which need to be shared quickly for the benefit of our law enforcement colleagues who have yet to feel the full impact of Covid-19, and who are working hard preparing their agencies for it. The pandemic provides incentives and opportunities for criminal groups and where we have identified new trends, we have quickly shared these with our member countries. Those methods to tackle evolving crime include the use of drones, biometrics, and artificial intelligence. With a significant proportion of the worlds population now in confinement as governments seek to limit the spread of the virus, Interpol said that the number of burglaries has dropped, but thieves are increasingly targeting factories or business premises which are standing empty. It said there has also been a significant rise in domestic violence cases since the start of the global outbreak. In another development, Interpol said in recent weeks there has been increased online activity by paedophiles seeking child sexual abuse material a problem that is being exacerbated by a shortage of moderators who identify and remove offensive material from networks. As for crimes directly related to the virus pandemic, it said purple notices have been issued in relation to increased ransomware attacks and new types of fraud specifically linked to Covid-19. A New York City doctor fighting on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic has publicly called into question Gov Andrew Cuomo's assessment that the rate of deaths caused by the illness is dropping, arguing that it runs counter to what he's been seeing at the hospitals. Dr Stuart Ditchek, attending physician at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn and team leader for the New York Pandemic Response Working Group, on Sunday appeared on Fox & Friends, saying that while New York, which has been hit the hardest in the nation by the pandemic, may have seen its first daily dip in deaths over the weekend, the conditions in the hospitals remain dire. 'We are running out of [ventilators] and we are running out of critical priority ICU medications to keep [coronavirus] patients sedated,' he told the hosts. Scroll down for video Dr Stuart Ditchek, team leader for the New York Pandemic Response Working Group, said on Fox News on Sunday he disagrees with Gov Cuomo's assessment that the coronavirus crisis may have reached its peak in New York The New York governor on Sunday said statewide daily death toll slid to 594 from 630 Ditchek on Sunday sent a letter to President Donald Trump begging him to issue an executive order and divert ventilators from other states to hard-hit New York During his daily coronavirus briefing on Sunday, Cuomo noted that the statewide daily death toll slid from to 594 from 630, leading him to suggest that the crisis may have reached its peak. New York remains the epicenter of the US outbreak with Cuomo reporting on Monday there had been 599 new fatalities making a total of 4,758 deaths in the state and 130,689 cases. Ditchek threw cold water on Cuomo's conclusion, saying: 'I don't agree with that assessment. I think data that comes in through the state and then funneled up to the federal level is often flawed, especially during a crisis when our health care system potentially can collapse.' He went on to say that many patients in Brooklyn have been dying at home, as opposed to the hospital, and raised the possibility that the reporting of deaths has been unreliable because hospitals are overwhelmed. Ditchek added that hospitals in the New York area are in critical need of 8,000 ventilators this week. 'There is no negotiation or debate about that,' he stressed. The doctor went on to criticize the exiting system of medical equipment distribution, saying that it is not working, and claimed that there has been a lack of communication between officials and doctors fighting the disease. 'Nobody is talking to us directly on the ground,' Ditchek said. 'We are on our own at this point.' Prior to his appearance on Fox News, Ditchek sent a letter to President Donald Trump making an urgent plea for help. 'We have no more time. If you and your team do not act now, many more will needlessly die,' he wrote in part. Ditchek asked the president to issue an executive order for the federal government to take resources such as ventilators, other critical supplies and medications 'from minimally or unaffected states' and divert them to New York City. 'You are the only person now who can salvage this crisis in New York, epicenter of COVID-19,' he added. During Sunday's briefing, Governor Cuomo stopped short of saying the worst was over for his state, but suggested that 'the apex could be a plateau and we could be on that plateau now. We wont know until you see the next few days, does it go up, does it go down.' Cuomo on Monday reiterated that the crisis may be plateauing, but he warned against complacency and extended a closure of businesses and schools through April 29 In New York City, there were 64,955 confirmed coronavirus cases and 2,472 deaths as of Monday afternoon. Cuomo again reiterated that the crisis may be plateauing, but he warned against complacency and extended a closure of businesses and schools through April 29. 'While none of this good news, the possible flattening of the curve is better than the increases that we have seen,' Cuomo told a daily briefing, stressing that the numbers remain grim and that it was not certain the state had turned the corner. He added, 'If we are plateauing we are plateauing at a high level.' Cuomo warned New Yorkers that 'now is not the time to slack off' by venturing outside in violation of stay-at-home guidelines to enjoy the warm spring weather. DENVER A Waterloo woman was injured in a crash Monday morning after a plastic bag covering her passenger-side window kept her from seeing a semi. Medics with Denver Ambulance took 51-year-old Sharon Kaufman to UnityPoint-Allen Hospital in Waterloo with non-life-threatening injures following the collision at Highway 63 and Dunkerton Road around 10:48 a.m., according to the Black Hawk County Sheriffs Office. Kaufman was heading west on Dunkerton Road when she allegedly failed to yield to the southbound semi driven by Scott Torkelson, 41, of Thornton, according to the sheriffs office. Kaufman was cited for failure to yield from a stop sign. UPDATE: Coronavirus myths, WHO responds Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A fire at a camp kills children, minor earthquake felt on the Syrian coast, condemnation of Israeli actions in the Golan and Turkey continue to request help from the US. Catch up on everything that happened over the weekend. 1. Four children from the same family lost their lives on Friday when their tent caught fire in a refugee camp in northeastern Hassakeh province, Zaman Al Wasl reported. Three more family members were hurt in the Nowruz camp fire near the city of al-Malikiyah. The family had been displaced along with 160,000 people from the border region of Ras al-Ayn last October when the Turkish military and the Syrian National Army expelled Kurdish forces with the aim of creating a roughly 30 kilometer (20-mile) deep buffer zone. 2. A light earthquake was registered at 4.7 on the Richter scale on Friday evening on the Syrian coast at a depth of 20 kilometers and 65 kilometers from Lattakia city, SANA reported. The National Center for Seismic Monitoring said the earthquake occurred at 9:15 pm local time, and was felt by people in Lattakia, Tartous, Hama, Homs, and Aleppo. 3. Syria has condemned the systematic violations committed by the Israeli occupation authorities, which affect the human rights of the Syrian citizens living in the occupied Syrian Golan. They have denounced their actions as a violation of the relevant United Nations resolutions and the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949. According to SANA, a letter was sent on Friday by Syrias Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Ambassador, Hossam el-Din Ala, to the head of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of Palestinian People and Other Arabs of Occupied Territories. 4. Turkish security forces neutralized at least seven YPG/PKK fighters in northern Syria, said the National Defense Ministry, according to Anadolu News Agency. Two YPG/PKK terrorists, who opened fire in the Operation Euphrates Shield area, and five YPG/PKK terrorists, who were attempting to infiltrate the Operation Peace Spring area, were neutralized by our heroic command, the ministry said in a tweet. Turkish authorities often use the word neutralize to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured. 5. The US is ready to provide an assistance package to Turkey in northwestern Syrias Idleb, if Ankara rejects the S-400 missile systems, US ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison said on Wednesday. According to the Turkish Daily Sabah, Hutchison said, We hope that we can generate a package that can help Turkey, and I also hope that Turkey will not deploy the Russian missile defense system, which blocks some potential support that we can provide to Turkey to fight against Syrian attacks, in response to a question about the risk of clashes in Idleb and Turkeys demand for support from both NATO and Washington. Hutchison added, We want the area in Idleb where civilians got stuck in to be protected We hope that Turkey will eject the missile defense system stationed in the middle of Ankara and will give us the freedom to help them to protect Syria and its civilians. 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 United States has designated the ultranationalist Russian Imperial Movement (RIM) along with three of its leaders as terrorists, marking the first time the classification has been applied to a white supremacist group. Ambassador Nathan Sales, the U.S. State Department's counterterrorism coordinator, on April 6 described the step as "unprecedented," saying in a statement that the movement had "innocent blood on its hands." "RIM is a terrorist group that provides paramilitary style training to neo-Nazis and white supremacists, and it plays a prominent role in trying to rally like-minded Europeans and Americans into a common front against their perceived enemies," Sales said. The movement describes itself as a "Russian Orthodox national-patriotic and monarchist organization" that aims to restore an autocratic monarchy in Russia. The group also seeks the declaration of Russia as a mono-ethnic state centered on what it classifies as the three branches of the Russian people -- Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians. The movement has branches in St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Nizhny Novgorod and its military wing, the Imperial Legion, advertises training in hand-to-hand combat, martial arts, and tactical training. Sales linked RIM to a series of bomb attacks targeting asylum seekers in Sweden in 2016-2017. Prosecutors in a case against three men accused of plotting the attacks alleged that the three had traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia, for military training carried out by the movement, according to The New York Times. "The prosecutor who handled their case blamed RIM for radicalizing them and providing the training that enabled the attacks," Sales said in a statement. Sales added that the battle against "white supremacist terrorism" would continue, and said that the administration of President Donald Trump would use all "counterterrorism tools to this fight." It marks the first time the designation has been applied to a white supremacist group abroad, and comes after Trump signed an executive order in September 2019 that expanded sanctions for combating terrorism by allowing the terrorist designation to be applied to groups that provide training to terrorists. With the designation in place, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that it had added RIM and three of its leaders to its Specially Designated Nationals List that blocks U.S. properties or assets that belong to the movement. While the group is not considered to be sponsored by the Kremlin, it has openly recruited fighters for the Russia-backed separatists fighting against government troops in eastern Ukraine. In addition to the movement itself, three members of the group's leadership were blacklisted individually. The three, who all live in St. Petersburg, are RIM's leader, Stanislav Vorobyev, 59; the group's coordinator, Nikolai Trushchalov, 40; and Denis Gariyev, 42, who heads the Imperial Legion. With reporting by The New York Times and Reuters The Northern-Ireland born president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has stepped down from his post amid fears a woman claiming to be his mistress would reveal embarrassing details of an affair, according to a report carried in the Sunday Times. The newspaper reported that Alan Jones, who is a professor of architecture at Queen's University, is to temporarily stand aside from his RIBA presidency after informing the institute that "a matter had arisen" in his personal life. Mr Jones (55) is married to Laura (54), a dentist. The couple have two children and live in a house designed by Mr Jones in Randalstown, Co Antrim, where he has his own practice. A friend of Professor Jones, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the newspaper: "Alan is a religious man and is working on saving his marriage. "There was a relationship which ended and he believed that the other person involved might make details of that relationship public. "The woman involved is not an architect and the institute has not received any complaint from any member or member of the public. "Alan acknowledges that there was a potential for harm to the reputation of the institute so wanted to inform the council." Kerr Robertson, who is the institute's honorary secretary, confirmed that Professor Jones had temporarily stepped back from his role. He said in a statement: "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. "It would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage." Mr Jones was elected president of the RIBA in September last year. RIBA presidents normally serve for two years. He is the RIBA's 78th president and the first from here. The award-winning architect and academic has championed social mobility within the architecture profession. Professor Jones has won seven RIBA awards and has twice been shortlisted for the prestigious Stirling Prize, an award for excellence in architecture, for which he is a judge this year. Mr Jones has been in the post for seven months after beating Elsie Owusu (67), a Ghana-born British architect, a founding member and the first chairman of the Society of Black Architects. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 14:06:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Revenues of China's software industry plunged during the first two months, weighed down by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to official data. The industry raked in 800.8 billion yuan (about 114.4 billion U.S. dollars) in revenue, down 11.6 percent year on year, according to data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Profits dived 11.8 percent year on year to 98.1 billion yuan in the first two months compared with a 7-percent increase registered in the same period last year. The sector's exports retreated 18.9 percent from a year earlier to 5.66 billion U.S. dollars. The ministry attributed the sharp declines to the coronavirus pandemic, which dramatically slowed software businesses. The sector employed 5.84 million people during the first two months, up 0.9 percent, while their gross payroll fell 2.6 percent year on year. In his recent tweet, multi-faceted actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam party's chief Kamal Haasan said that he expected more from the latest speech of the Prime Minister. "I expected more from the speech of our Prime Minister. Thought he would address on important topics like the scarcity for the Personal Protective Equipment kit, distribution of essential services without any hindrance, how to safeguard the lives of poor people's, and future economical measures but he wanted us to hold our torchlight(the emblem of his political party) which we have been doing for years now", said Kamal Haasan in his statement. Memes of Kamal Haasan holding his party emblem torch light is also doing the rounds on the internet. The fast-spreading novel coronavirus is almost certainly killing Americans who are not included in the nation's growing death toll, according to public health experts and government officials involved in the tally. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention counts only deaths in which the presence of the coronavirus is confirmed in a laboratory test. "We know that it is an underestimation," agency spokeswoman Kristen Nordlund said. 'GASPING FOR AIR': 11 things that helped this Houston woman battle the symptoms of COVID-19 A widespread lack of access to testing in the early weeks of the U.S. outbreak means people with respiratory illnesses died without being counted, epidemiologists say. Even now, some people who die at home or in overburdened nursing homes are not being tested, according to funeral directors, medical examiners and nursing home representatives. Postmortem testing by medical examiners varies widely across the country, and some officials say testing the dead is a misuse of scarce resources that could be used on the living. In addition, some people who have the virus test negative, experts say. As a result, public health officials and government leaders lack a complete view of the pandemic's death toll as they assess its course and scramble to respond. Scientists who analyze mortality statistics from influenza and other respiratory illnesses say it is too early to estimate how many fatalities have gone unrecorded. For a disease with common symptoms such as covid-19, they said, deaths with positive results almost certainly represent only a fraction of the total caused by the disease. BEHIND THE CURVE: Here's why Texas lags behind on releasing timely information on the coronavirus "You can't rely on just the laboratory-confirmed cases," said Marc-Alain Widdowson, an epidemiologist who left the CDC last year and now serves as director of the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp in Belgium. "You're never going to apply the test on everybody who is ill and everybody who dies. So without doubt - it's a truism - the number of deaths are underestimated globally because you don't apply the test." Clay Marsh, West Virginia's "coronavirus czar," acknowledged that the state's count is presumably incomplete. West Virginia was the last state to report a case of the virus and had recorded only two deaths as of Saturday. "Based on the best recent information about limited testing and sizable false negative rates of testing, we are likely underestimating the number of deaths," said Marsh, vice president and executive dean for health sciences at West Virginia University. The count is also low in West Virginia, Marsh said, because the state has a small, rural population and had closed schools and nonessential businesses early. The CDC has launched an effort to use national data on illnesses, hospitalizations and death certificates to estimate covid-19 infections and deaths. The agency already publishes such estimates weekly for flu, where laboratory-confirmed cases and deaths similarly represent only a fraction of the total attributable to the disease. "We're probably getting more information on covid-19 because there's a greater awareness in the community of what it is," Nordlund said. The CDC's official death count, which is based on reports submitted by states, stood at 6,593 as of Saturday. Because of a lag in reporting, the number was significantly lower than the more frequently updated counts by media organizations and university researchers. The Washington Post's own count of fatalities surpassed 8,000 on Saturday. The federal government's death count is broadcast around the world daily as an indicator of how quickly the virus is spreading and how profoundly the nation is struggling. It has clear political implications for President Donald Trump, whose approval ratings rose in late March despite his having downplayed the virus's dangers for weeks. On Wednesday, the White House estimated that 100,000 to 240,000 Americans may be killed by covid-19, far exceeding the nearly 60,000 combat troops killed in the Vietnam War. Scientists said they did not know how the White House had arrived at its projection, and the White House has declined to provide details. The death toll has become a heavily politicized benchmark. Trump's defenders claim the official number is inflated because it includes all deceased people who tested positive for covid-19, even if there was another cause of death, such as a heart attack or an accident. Marc Lipsitch, a professor of epidemiology at Harvard, said there are probably some people dying with covid-19 who are not dying of covid-19. Such misattribution is a problem for any cause of death, he said, but it is a minor issue that is "swamped by the opposite problem: deaths that are caused by covid but never attributed, so the death count is underestimated." Around the globe, public officials are questioning whether the number of deaths officially attributed to the virus are deceptively low. In northern Italy, the town of Nembro recorded 31 deaths from the virus from January to March. But Mayor Claudio Cancelli recently said the total number of deceased in that time period - 158 - was four times higher than the average for that time of year. "The difference is enormous and cannot be a simple statistical deviation," he wrote in a newspaper article co-authored with a medical executive. The number of deaths in France attributed to the virus soared last week after officials began including previously unreported deaths in nursing homes, boosting the count by more than 2,000. Observers inside and outside China, where the virus first appeared late last year, have accused the ruling Communist Party of reporting artificially low infection and death rates. Media outlets, including The Post, have reported that a count of cremation urns ordered to Wuhan, in central China's Hubei province, indicates that far more people died of covid-19 than the official death toll of about 2,500. Trump said Wednesday that China's "numbers seem to be a little bit on the light side, and I'm being nice when I say that." Chinese officials denied the accusation, saying U.S. officials were trying to deflect responsibility for the American body count. Studies of influenza have found that, in the middle of a pandemic, real-time fatality counts are often misleading. Widdowson, the former CDC scientist, was part of a team that estimated global deaths from the 2009 H1N1 swine flu pandemic. The World Health Organization recorded only 18,631 people with laboratory-confirmed diagnoses dying of that disease. But the pandemic probably caused 15 times as many deaths, the CDC team concluded in 2012. A 2013 study by government and academic researchers suggested that lab-confirmed H1N1 deaths in the United States represented only 1 in 7 fatalities attributable to the disease. In the United States, federal and state public health officials for weeks refused to test people unless they met strict eligibility criteria. Testing is more broadly available today, but some experts say the tests may not detect everyone with the virus. Precisely how common false negatives are is unclear. Postmortem tests for covid-19 are happening unevenly across the country, experts said. Medical examiners, coroners and health-care providers should "use their judgment" to decide whether such testing is appropriate, according to CDC guidelines. In addition to the 6,593 lab-confirmed deaths, CDC on Friday reported that death certificate data shows 1,150 people have died of covid-19. The numbers differ in part because of a lag in reporting, and because the code for recording covid-19 as a cause of death was not announced until March 24, weeks after the first known case of an American dying of the disease caused by the coronavirus. Death certificate data will be part of the CDC's new effort to estimate total covid-19 fatalities. To estimate the total fatalities from a disease, scientists often look at "excess deaths" - the number of deaths over and above the average number during a particular period. The most robust estimates require national statistics that in the United States can take two or three years to compile, according to Cecile Viboud, a National Institutes of Health scientist who co-authored the study estimating the U.S. undercount during the H1N1 flu. The number of initially uncounted flu deaths typically includes people with pneumonia and other respiratory symptoms who were never tested for influenza, as well as a larger number of people who contract the flu and are left more susceptible to dying from such conditions as cardiac arrest, stroke and diabetes. Those people may not be reported as dying of the flu, but the flu still contributed to their death. Scientists do not yet know whether or how often covid-19 is killing people with these kinds of secondary problems. But it is clear that covid-19 can cause non-respiratory symptoms, scientists say. Last week, a group of Italian scientists published a study of a 53-year-old otherwise healthy woman who had arrived at a hospital complaining of extreme fatigue. She was suffering from acute heart problems, including inflammation of the heart muscle. She tested positive for the coronavirus. In Albany, Georgia, home to one of the nation's most explosive outbreaks, funeral director Jeffery F. Wakefield Sr. said he treats every body as if it is infected with the virus. Wakefield recently handled the body of a young man, around 40 years old, who died at home alone and was not found for several days. The man's death was attributed to cardiac arrest. He was never tested for coronavirus. "We'll never really have true, true numbers," Wakefield said. "We'll get almost close, but we'll never have the true numbers of who died from this." Epidemiologists say that patients who need medical treatment for conditions other than covid-19 may also suffer and die in places where the health-care system becomes overwhelmed by the virus. Even as testing has become much more widely available, it remains limited in such places as prisons and nursing homes where the disease is spreading quickly. The CDC says hospitalized patients and health-care workers should be at the front of the line for testing. People in long-term care facilities should come next, the agency says. In New York, the nation's largest hot spot, Suffolk County Medical Examiner Michael Caplan said in a memo to funeral directors on Wednesday that nursing homes and hospitals are responsible for collecting samples for postmortem testing. That is unrealistic, said Michael A. L. Balboni, executive director of the Greater New York Health Care Facilities Association, which represents long-term care residences. "The last thing that a nursing home is going to do is try to determine if someone who has passed away is covid or no covid," he said in an interview. "They have their hands full trying to dispose of their remains appropriately. ... Why waste the swabs on decedents?" A Suffolk County nursing home operator, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect the company's reputation, said some residents are sick with respiratory symptoms, and some have died, but virtually no one is being tested, dead or alive. The exception is when residents are taken to hospitals, the operator said. "We're assuming that everyone is positive," the operator said. "To utilize a test on the deceased, it's not going to be very helpful. Because at the end of the day, there's a shortage of tests to begin with. We don't have tests. We don't have swabs." The Federal Bureau of Prisons is no longer testing at a Louisiana prison where a dozen inmates have already tested positive and at least one has died. Sue Allison, a bureau spokeswoman, said that because the virus is spreading inside the facility, any inmate exhibiting symptoms is presumed infected. Allison said the decision on whether to posthumously test inmates who died of suspected covid-19 would be made with health officials on a case-by-case basis, depending on the availability of tests and other factors. In most states, people who die at home or have not been under medical care are reported to a patchwork system of medical examiners, lay and sheriff coroners, justices of the peace and other local authorities. Sally Aiken, the president of the National Association of Medical Examiners, wrote in a news release that "the public, in general, does not understand that there is not a uniform death investigation system in the United States. ... So, a uniform response to COVID-19 by Medical Examiners will not occur." Medical examiners typically investigate accidental deaths, homicides and suicides, and are not going to get involved in a "natural death" such as that caused by covid-19, said Amy Schaefer, an investigator supervisor for the medical examiner's office in Summit County, Ohio, near Akron. "You certainly are going to have numbers that aren't being counted because deceased people aren't being tested," she said. "We need to test people who are still alive." But in Wyoming - the only state that had not reported a covid-19 death as of Saturday - Laramie County Coroner Rebecca Reid said she is ready to test anyone with symptoms who dies at home. "We need an accurate cause of death to give the family some closure and make sure they have been safe," she said. "It's also very important that the public knows the truth." She has supplies to test five people, she said. - - - The Washington Post's Jacqueline Dupree, Abigail Hauslohner, Dalton Bennett and Lena H. Sun contributed to this report. Dr. Anthony Fauci has achieved a new level of fame for a scientist: He's getting his own bobblehead. Fauci, the nation's top expert in infectious diseases, has long been celebrated in the medical world. But Fauci has gained a following beyond the medical world and evolved into a celebrity overnight thanks to his appearances at White House coronavirus briefings. Now, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is turning his friendly face into a bobblehead. "Americans, including us, have fallen in love with Dr. Fauci and his simple and straightforward approach in giving us the facts and medical guidance that we need during these unprecedented times," museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar told CNN. "We think bobbleheads are the ultimate honor and after seeing the doughnuts, socks and shirts featuring Dr. Fauci, we knew we had to make a bobblehead of him." Fauci, 79, is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, appointed in 1984 to the position. He has advised multiple presidents, Democratic and Republican, and played a critical role in the government's response to the AIDS epidemic. His work on the coronavirus task force has brought him to the forefront of public attention again. He has not been afraid to speak his mind at White House briefings, even correcting President Trump at times. He's gained fans across the country and Twitter lights up with #whereisfauci if he doesn't appear at a briefing. Other businesses across the country have quickly caught onto Fauci's fame and plastered him on food, candles, and clothes. The 7-inch Dr. Fauci bobbleheads cost $25 and are available for pre-order. They are expected to ship in July. A portion of each sale will go toward helping produce personal protective equipment for health care workers on the front lines of the battle against the coronavirus. The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum will donate $5 to the American Hospital Association for every Fauci bobblehead sold to raise money for the 100 Million Mask Challenge. Sklar said he hopes the bobbleheads will give people around the world something to smile about in this time of chaos. "I think everyone is looking for ways to help our fellow citizens during this pandemic, and we wanted to do something that would make a difference," Sklar said. "If we could have our factory crank out masks or ventilators, we would do that in a heartbeat." Invesco's best-known fund manager Mark Barnett has been sacked from the Perpetual Income and Growth Investment Trust he run for more than two decades after years of underperformance. The board of the trust served a notice of termination to Invesco and Barnett 'following an extended period of underperformance', in a further blow to the manager who was also sacked by Edinburgh Investment Trust at the end of last year. Barnett, a former protege of fallen stock picker Neil Woodford who has managed the 418million trust since 1999, has been in the firing line for a while as the trust lost almost 40 per cent of its value over the past two years, taking a further hit in recent weeks amid tumbling stock markets due to the coronavirus crisis. The decision comes days after Invesco wrote down the value of the Barnett's unquoted holdings from his Income and High Income funds. Fired: Invesco's best-known fund manager Mark Barnett 'Serving Invesco with protective notice of termination following an extended period of underperformance of the Company's benchmark was a considered decision by the Board following regular rigorous reviews and many challenging discussions with Mark Barnett and the broader Invesco team,' the trust's chairman, Richard Laing, said. The board of Perpetual Income and Growth Investment Trust had been mulling over Barnett's position for a while, after his run of poor performance. In November last year, Laing said they were 'closely monitoring' Barnett's performance. 'The Board had previously made it clear on several occasions that it was concerned with the Company's poor performance and further intensified scrutiny on the manager's investment approach,' Laing said today. 'We gave Invesco time to build on the early 'Brexit Bounce' that was anticipated, but this proved to be short-lived. At the half year, performance was below the benchmark and this has continued in the second half to 31 March.' Perpetual Income & Growth Investment has lost about 40% of its value over the past two years Ryan Hughes at investment platform AJ Bell said the news did not come as a surprise 'given the scale of the underperformance of the trust against the FTSE All Share over the past few years'. 'It clearly was of little comfort to the Board that other value focused investment trusts have suffered even more in the recent sell off, while they also have clearly lost confidence in the manager's ability to capitalise on any post-coronavirus bounce-back which will hopefully come once we emerge from the other side of this current crisis.' It comes as Barnett was also fired from running the 1.1billion Edinburgh Investment Trust at the end of the last year after years of underperformance. Meanwhile last week, Barnett sold all the unquoted investments from his Income and High Income funds. Barnett, a former protege of fallen stock picker Neil Woodford, with whom he co-managed Invesco funds That move comes after Woodford's Equity Income fund collapsed last year, in large part due to holding unquoted investments. Woodford had ploughed millions of pounds of investors' money into unlisted companies, which are often riskier and harder to sell because the shares do not trade on an exchange. The trust's board said they are looking for a replacement and have employed consultancy firm Mercer to lead the search. Shares in Perpetual Income & Growth Investment trust rose 7 per cent to 209p on Monday morning. Christopher Prohaska is a patriot and US Marine Corps veteran who spent nine years in Iraq and four in Afghanistan, leading Worldwide Protective Service Close Protection Teams into some of the most hostile environments on the planet. He has published his latest book Paper Tiger: The Illusion of Security: a candid portrait of the deep disarray plaguing US military contracting installations. The author writes, Paper Tiger is a small concise picture of my thirteen years spent contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Starting with securing weapons of mass destruction in Southern Iraq to giving away billions of US tax dollars while leading teams in Hillarys army. This book was written in the most sarcastic manner; as sarcasm was my endurance formula for the incompetence of leadership provided to us in mission accomplishment. If the enemy ever knew how much we improvised and the illusions we created, then we would all be getting our heads lopped off on the Internet. Published by Page Publishing, Christopher Prohaskas engrossing book is an illuminating portrait of the often unqualified and disorganized personnel working as US military contractors in unstable and dangerous war zones. Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase Paper Tiger: The Illusion of Security at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues to focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. The Irish Hospital Consultants Association says that the agreement between the government and private hospitals will have a negative impact on private patients. Last week it was announced private hospitals would be used by the state to treat both Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 patients. However around 500 consultants at private hospitals say a large number of outpatient consultations will be impacted as a result and will have a detrimental impact on the quality of care received by these patients. They say that consultants who currently treat private patients only are to receive temporary HSE locum contracts to cover their work during the Covid-19 crisis. Many have expressed concern about the terms of such contracts and specifically expressed concern about the negative impact it could have on the patients they currently treat. Under the proposed terms of the contracts, consulting rooms would be forced to shut to outpatients for both current and future private outpatients. Examples of treatments currently undertaken at these consulting rooms include patients with possible cancer-related symptoms, post-operative wounds or blocked catheter issues. "Without access to consulting rooms, private patients with urgent and ongoing medical needs will now present for care to Emergency Departments at acute public hospitals - all of which are already experiencing pressures in managing COVID-19," said Dr Oisin O'Connell, Respiratory Consultant. "Private only consultants believe the solution to this issue lies in a contractual arrangement which enables these consultants meet their obligations under the proposed HSE temporary locum contracts but also permits them to continue to treat their private patients outside of their HSE contract hours. "All hospital consultants, whether public or private, are eager and anxious to play their part in the delivery of frontline hospital care during this national emergency. "However, all solutions must be well thought out and not add to the existing pressures across our hospitals." Dr O'Connell said the group is liaising with the Department of Health and the HSE to ensure all proposed measures protect all patients and their access to quality care. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] (CNN) OPEC and Russia have postponed a meeting set for Monday to discuss supply cuts and ending a brutal price war. The meeting is now scheduled for April 9, an OPEC source told CNN on Saturday. The meeting, which was called by Saudi Arabia, comes after President Donald Trump suggested that massive production cuts could be on the way and Saudi Arabia called for an "urgent" effort to restore "balance" to the oil market. Saudi Arabia and Russia have been locked in an epic price war since early March when the OPEC+ oil alliance cracked, flooding the oil market with cheap crude just as demand craters because of the coronavirus pandemic. Crude has crashed to 18-year lows, crushing American oil companies and energy stocks. The meeting will be held via video conference and will include oil producers from outside the OPEC+ alliance that includes Russia and a few other countries, two senior sources at the OPEC secretariat told CNN Business. The final list of invitees has not yet been set, they said. The United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Mexico could be invited, according to reports. Trump, who met on Friday at the White House with US oil executives, said he's optimistic that Saudi Arabia and Russia will reach a deal to end their price war that erupted early last month. "I think President Putin and the crown prince want something to happen badly," Trump said, according to a White House readout of the meeting, referring to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He added that he's spoken to both the Russian leader and Prince bin Salman. Both Saudi Arabia and Russia would like to get the United States, the world's leading oil producer, to join in emergency cuts aimed at halting the crash in oil prices. American Petroleum Institute CEO Mike Sommers, who was in the meeting, told CNN Business that possibility was not discussed. The official Saudi Press Agency on Saturday said Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud "is still welcoming to anyone who wants to find solutions to the challenges of the oil market." US oil prices soared 25% their biggest one-day gain on record on Thursday after Trump tweeted that he hopes and expects Saudi Arabia and Russia will slash output by between 10 million and 15 million barrels per day. Prices continued to advance Friday, recovering some of the massive plunge seen over the past month. This story was first published on CNN.com, "OPEC-Russia meeting delayed until April 9 amid turmoil in energy markets." Its called take-out for a reason. Get your food and go home. If indoor dining at restaurants is banned to keep people from exposing each other to the coronavirus, it follows that congregating just outside of your favorite dining spot is probably a bad idea, too. Its also against state law under emergency directives issued by Gov. Phil Murphy in response to the ongoing pandemic that has left 917 dead in New Jersey. A concerned Facebook user posted an image Sunday of a large group gathered outside of the Friendlys restaurant on Madison Avenue in Morris Township. Some are seated on benches while other are standing. It seems like a typical weekend scene. Wake up, people, one incredulous Facebook user responded to the post. Police learned of the photo Sunday night they apparently didnt get a phone call and the crowd had already dispersed by the time they arrived. Officers returned Monday morning and spoke with management about cordoning off the outdoor seating area and alerting customers that they should pick up their food and leave rather than linger, explained Morris Township Police Capt. Robert Shearer. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage When Murphy announced closures of non-essential businesses last month, he allowed restaurants to remain open for delivery and carry-out service only. Those same rules about not congregating in large groups be it at a park or for an impromptu concert on your front lawn still apply to the areas immediately surrounding eateries. Many restaurants have removed outdoor seating or roped off these spots. Around the state, police have reported many cases of residents violating social distancing and shelter-in-place mandates. One of those was in Ewing, where police broke up an apartment party attended by 47 people. Residents in Morris Township have been cooperating with the emergency restrictions, Shearer said, noting that this was the first issue they have seen locally. With warmer weather arriving, police will be extra vigilant, he added. Shearers advice to anyone in New Jersey who sees a similar scene is the same. Before you turn to social media, pick up the phone. They should contact their local police department so that it can be addressed, he said. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A German politician who accused the US of diverting a shipment of 200,000 face masks for the police force in the country's capital has backtracked on the claims. Berlin's Senator for the Interior Andreas Geisel had claimed the masks, allegedly ordered from a 3M factory in China, had been taken by American officials when they arrived in Bangkok, Thailand, last week. But he has now U-turned on the allegations, saying the US did not take the masks and that they weren't ordered from American company 3M. The masks, which were ordered from a German company, remain missing. Donald Trump has celebrated the dramatic reverse ferret by tweeting: 'Corrected fake news!' He attached to the message an edited story by the Washington Post. President Donald Trump celebrated after the claims were debunked by tweeting an edited Washington Post article. He is pictured above at a press briefing yesterday in Washington Berlin senator Andreas Geisel had claimed that the US took the mask shipment when it arrived in Bangkok. The 200,000 face masks are yet to be recovered The left-wing politician, who represents Germany's Social Democratic Party, had described the shipment's disappearance as 'an act of modern piracy' on Friday. 'This is not how you deal with transatlantic partners,' he was quoted as saying. 'Even in times of global crisis, there should be no wild west methods. I urge the federal government to urge the United States to comply with international rules.' The order of FFP2 masks was claimed to have disappeared owing to 'the US government's ban on mask exports'. Berlin's mayor Michael Muller also weighed in, saying the alleged confiscation by US officials was 'inhumane and unacceptable'. Andreas reversed his claims on Saturday, however, with his department tweeting they were still trying to 'clarify details'. 'The fact is: The police ordered 200,000 FFP2 protective masks,' they said. 'Not, as claimed, from a US company, but from a German medical retail company.' The masks alleged manufacturer, 3M, debunked the claims yesterday. '3M has no evidence to suggest 3M products have been seized,' they said. '3M has no record of any order of respirators from China for the Berlin police. We cannot speculate where this report originated.' American company 3M, which allegedly received the masks order, said it had no record of a purchase from Berlin's police force France has also accused the US of piracy, saying millions of face masks destined for the country were taken before they took off in Shanghai. Pictured above is an aircraft transporting 10 million face masks after it landed in Paris-Valtry airport from China President Trump had ordered 3M to manufacture more masks for Americans on Thursday as the number of US infections soared above 300,000. There have also been allegations that the US has taken face masks bound for other NATO allies including France, although these have been denied. Two French officials have claimed that Americans paid cash for PPE equipment as it sat in a plane on the tarmac at Shanghai airport. The several million masks had been due to arrive in the Grand Est region in north west France, an area where intensive care facilities are already struggling to cope. 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. 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. The world is battling against the coronavirus pandemic, which has spread to more than 1,200,000 people worldwide. At time of writing the US had identified 1,284,665 cases of coronavirus. As many as 70,320 people had died from the virus so far. Germany has identified 100,123 cases of the virus, and seen 1,584 deaths. France has 93,780 cases of the virus and has recorded 8,078 deaths. Canada has recorded 15,940 cases and more than 200 deaths. Chelsea Bieker, the author of "Godshot." (Jessica Keaveny) For those living near Californias metropolitan poles of Los Angeles and San Francisco, a road trip through the states Central Valley reveals an unfamiliar world. Amid sprawling orchards and windswept pastureland, roadside billboards issue water demands to farmers. Mile after seemingly desolate mile, freeway exits to small towns like Kettleman City, Lost Hills and Buttonwillow point toward a rural way of life beyond rest stop clusters of gas stations and fast food options. Who survives in such a parched landscape? What must their lives be like? If you drive even a little bit outside of Fresno you know thats where the farmers have their crops, and thats where the food is coming from," says writer Chelsea Bieker. I always felt curious about those spaces. Biekers debut novel, Godshot, offers a heightened but still empathetic portrait of those who live and work in her fictional Central Valley town, Peaches. Depicting the ravages of economic disaster and the cruelty desperate people will accept in return for promises of a better life, Godshot is about patriarchy, extremist religion and their result, misogyny and sexual violence. And yet, despite being distressing at times, the book leaves room for light and a twisted sort of humor even as Peaches spirals into darkness. Peaches amplifies elements taken directly from Biekers turbulent upbringing. My grandfather lived in Kerman, and after he had sold the vineyard ... he [still] felt really tied to the outcome of the raisins and the grapes, Bieker explains. We would drive by and sometimes he would climb over the fence, take a bunch of grapes and then jump back in the car, and wed speed away. He just never lost his connection to it. Theres a little of The Grapes of Wrath in "Godshot, but much more too. Its primarily the story of 14-year-old narrator Lacey May, who, in addition to enduring poverty, ecological collapse and the harrowing influence of the towns spiritual leader, Pastor Vern, must face adulthood without the mother who abandoned her. Chronicling Laceys consuming feelings of motherloss was key for Bieker, whose own mother left her at age 9 in the care of her born-again Christian grandparents. Story continues (Catapult) Most parents die in literature, says Bieker, 33, who now has two children of her own and lives in Portland, Ore. There is this clean ending to their life, and while its devastating, the child isnt left to imagine what the parent is doing. The way that Laceys mother leaves her opens the door to this strange grief where it is like a death, but its not a death. A kind of not-quite-magical thinking fills in the gap, the eternal hope of return that only passes in adulthood. The older Ive gotten, the more my view of my mother shifts, and I have more compassion for her, says Bieker, whose contact with her mother is mostly over the phone. I have a different view of her than I did maybe at 18 when I was just full of hot anger and confusion, and everything seemed more black and white. Though Bieker took quickly to the structure and safety of her grandparents religion, she eventually found it difficult to square her political views with the church. The church [in the book] really takes some of my issues with the more traditional churches to an extreme, she says. Theres a lot of groupthink, theres a lot of programming thats really harmful to the women of the church and the men. Back in Peaches, as Pastor Verns unholy plans to summon rain take shape, Lacey grows to question her faith with the assistance of the Diviners, the towns female-run phone-sex operation, which becomes a haven for Lacey as her situation grows more desperate. It does serve as this portal in the book for transformation, Bieker says. While a 14-year-old turning to sex work is just one of many unsettling details in Godshot, Bieker depicts the Diviners as a society out of reach of the patriarchal, all-consuming control of the church. Lacey enters the clan ignorant of her own body, and while the Diviners help set her on a path of discovery, so does a stash of bodice-ripping novels her mother left behind. Bieker took that from her life too: She grew up reading with a grandmother whose romance collection lined the walls. No one was talking about sex to me at all not at school, not at home, not at the church, Bieker says. The novels blew my mind because I was like, Oh, theres words for body parts. Theres language for the way that people are connecting or feeling. Its really cheesy at times but there is something there that was so appealing, because I just wasnt getting that anywhere else. It felt pretty magical. The steady collapse of Peaches and its church resembles a descent into hell itself. With water scarce, parishioners are instead baptized in tubs of warm soda. Laceys grandmother Cherry finds comfort in a collection of taxidermied rodents, and her faith grows increasingly grotesque as shes driven to shave her head clean before church. Even Pastor Verns glitter-dusted sermons exude a threadbare gaudiness that borders on the surreal. The setting of the book is so bleak, everything is beige. And maybe its subconscious, but these people are drowning in dirt, Bieker says. They want to be shiny and they want something beautiful, and I think that intention is universal and not necessarily a bad thing, but it comes out in these sort of funny dollar disco suits and the sequined capes. While writing her larger-than-life novel, Bieker was forced by real events to ground Godshot in harsh reality. She had returned to Fresno to write, and during revisions, the 2018 fires that consumed the town of Paradise shrouded the town in an apocalyptic haze. They also cast a shadow over her fictional town of Peaches. Does dirt burn? Lacey asks at one point, as she considers whether such a disaster will come for her town too. It was impossible to ignore, Bieker says. I was also observing how people there had a different response; it really varied. Some people were not concerned at all, kids were still playing outside. It was this funny thing, and I was really fascinated and disturbed by the black skies and feeling really trapped. With each day bringing more ominous signs on the horizon as many of us, isolated or alone, also choose to see what we like, its easy to relate. Barton is a former staff writer for The Times. Cracking down on attendees of the Nizamuddin Markaz event, Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday, stated that the government will start filing cases against all those who attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi, who test positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19). He informed that the government has zeroed in on 831 attendees from Assam - others are being identified through Mosque Committees. Currently, Assam has 26 cases and has not reported any new case in the past 24 hours. Several state governments - UP, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh have filed cases against those attendees not coming forward or hiding their whereabouts. Himachal man commits suicide despite testing COVID negative, on facing social boycott Assam govt to file cases against COVID-19 +ve Markaz attendees From now onwards, we will file a case against all those who attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi and who test positive for #COVID19: Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma https://t.co/pY84MqqeGo ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2020 Himachal DGP warns Markaz attendees of 'attempt to murder' charge unless they step forward What is the Nizamuddin COVID-19 scare? On Monday, sources reported that a religious programme was organised at Tablighi Jamaat's headquarters Markaz Nizamuddin mosque between 13-15 March which had over 3400 attendees from Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Kyrgyzstan and from several states in India. After attending the meeting, prior to the nationwide lockdown, 1500 of these attendees returned to several parts of the country, possibly spreading the COVID-19 virus. The mosque has claimed that while they were letting small groups of attendees leave from the venue prior to the Janta Curfew, several were stuck in the area owing to the nationwide lockdown. All 2631 occupants have been evacuated and the building has been sanitised. The Delhi Crime Branch which has booked the Markaz chief Maulana Saad for violating lockdown is currently searching for him by raiding possible hideouts. WATCH: Torches lit, followers huddled close, BJP MLA chants 'Chinese virus go back' Coronavirus crisis in India As of date, 3666 positive cases have been reported of the pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19) - 291 have been discharged and Maharashtra reported the highest at 690. 109 deaths have been reported till date. India has suspended all visas and barred travel from Afghanistan, Philippines, EU, UK, China, Malaysia and mandatory 14-day quarantine from several other countries. The Prime Minister has issued a 21-day countrywide lockdown starting from 23 March to April 15 and the Finance Minister has announced a Rs 1.7 lakh crore package under the 'PM Gareeb Kalyan Scheme'. Coronavirus LIVE Updates: India's confirmed cases cross 4000-mark; 109 deaths confirmed Sunnybrook research lead to the early implementation of a hospital-based COVID-19 test. Sunnybrook team of Dr. Mubareka and Dr. Robert Kozak and team of close collaborators isolated the agent responsible for the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19. and team of close collaborators QuestCap to receive a 3.5% Royalty from commercialization of research Acclaimed Stanford Immunology professor Dr. Lawrence Steinman joins advisory board Senior Public Health Policy Leader Mike McCarthy joins advisory board TORONTO, April 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- QuestCap Inc. (QuestCap or the Company) (CSE: QSC; OTCMKTS: COPRF; FRA: 34C1) is pleased to announce an investment of $1 million in the Sunnybrook Research Institutes COVID-19 research. With these funds, Sunnybrook will establish the Sunnybrook Translational Research Group for Emerging and Respiratory Viruses (SERV) and QuestCap will receive a 3.5% royalty on any revenues earned by Sunnybrook from the commercialization of any of the research done by SERV. Led by infectious diseases physician and microbiologist Dr. Samira Mubareka, SERVs work will focus on three crucial streams of research: vaccines and therapeutics, virus biology and transmission prevention. Dedicated investment in SERV means Dr. Mubareka and her team will be able to accelerate the pace of further research into COVID-19 at a crucial time. Dr. Lawrence Steinman and Mike McCarthy Appointed as Advisors QuestCap is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Lawrence Steinman and Mike McCarthy to the board of advisors. Dr. Lawrence Steinman is Professor of Neurology, Neurological Sciences and Pediatrics at Stanford University and Chair of the Stanford Program in Immunology from 2001 to 2011. Mike McCarthy has more than 14 years of experience with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and 24 years in health policy and delivery. He was appointed Senior Policy Advisor to the Progressive Conservative Minister of Health of Ontario, advising on physician, nursing and primary care, public health, laboratories, OHIP, organ transplant, HIV and blood issues. In 2003, he provided strategic support and counsel to the government of Ontario during the SARS outbreak. Lawrence Steinman stated that, The Sunnybrook technology will be a key tool for the development of both powerful and safe vaccines against COVID-19, and for the development of point of care and even home diagnostics to test whether one is immune to the COVID-19 virus. Those who are immune can return to work and can provide safe and needed duties to the community. It would be especially important to know if you are a health care worker, grocer or delivery person whether or not you have immunity. You could then be safe and carry on as a SuperWomen or SuperMan in these times, knowing you are immune! Mike McCarthy adds I look forward to advising QuestCap in its visionary efforts to bring innovative testing and vaccine technologies to Canada and the world to combat COVID-19. The Company has granted 500,000 stock options to Mr. Steinman pursuant to the Companys stock option plan. The stock options shall vest in four equal instalments every three months such that all stock options fully vest by the date that falls 12 months from the date of grant and may be exercised at a price of $0.305 per common share for a period of five years from the date of grant. This grant of options is subject to the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange. Sunnybrook Translational Research Group Sunnybrook has been at the global forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic since the first Canadian case was identified, both clinically and on the research front. Dr. Mubareka, along with clinical microbiologist Dr. Robert Kozak and a team of close collaborators, has led Sunnybrooks research response efforts since the earliest days of the pandemic. Their work has been globally significant, leading to early implementation of a hospital-based COVID-19 test. Most crucially, on March 10, 2020, their team isolated the agent responsible for the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19. The isolated virus is helping researchers in Canada and elsewhere to develop better diagnostic testing, treatments and vaccines, and gain a better understanding of the viruss biology, evolution and clinical shedding. This is extremely time-sensitive research, says Dr. Mubareka. As a scientist on the frontlines, I have seen the devastation this virus can cause. We all feel the effects of physical distancing as our lives are fundamentally changed. This is why support from our community is so important right now. The more we understand how this virus behaves, the better we can limit its spread as we race to find a treatment or vaccine. This investment will be put to work immediately toward our human and operational funding needs to rapidly accelerate research into COVID-19. Now is the time to dedicate as many resources as possible to stopping the spread of this highly contagious virus, explains Dr. Andy Smith, Sunnybrooks President and CEO. On behalf of Sunnybrook, I would like to extend my deepest thanks to QuestCap for stepping up with this inspiring investment. Your support will have a direct impact on the lives of countless people in our communities, across Canada and around the world. With these crucial tools in hand, QuestCap saw an opportunity to give this research a major boost at a critical juncture. As countries grapple with the effects of COVID-19, there has been a collective global effort to help minimize the impacts of this deadly virus, says Stan Bharti, Co-Chairman of QuestCap. QuestCap, through its investment platform, is looking to do its part by providing a critical investment to help fund the vital research being conducted by Dr. Mubareka, Dr. Kozak and their teams. The investment to Sunnybrook will help researchers in Canada and across the world develop better diagnostic testing, treatments and vaccines, and gain a better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 biology, evolution and clinical shedding for the development of commercial applications (Commercial Applications). As consideration for its investment, QuestCap will receive a 3.5% royalty on any revenue earned by Sunnybrook from the any Commercial Applications resulting from the research conducted by SERV. At a time of global uncertainty as COVID-19 continues to devastate people, families and entire countries, the urgency of research has never been greater, says Dr. Kullervo Hynynen, Vice President of Research & Innovation at Sunnybrook. Yet, often times, there simply isnt enough funding for research. I am deeply grateful to QuestCap for this clear statement on supporting the power of research to save and change lives. About the Research SERV is a three-pronged COVID-19 research response program, consisting of the following critically important areas of focus: 1. Virus biology (genomics): Identifying the genetic sequence of a virus is an essential step for identifying key targets for treatments and vaccines. It also tells the story of origin and its relation to other viruses. This approach provides precision genomic data, which will be essential for outbreak investigation. Funds for SERV allow Sunnybrook scientists to turn around whole genome viral sequences at the site of care: Sunnybrook. 2. Vaccines and therapeutics: Our ability to identify and isolate the virus that causes COVID-19, based on samples from infected patients, allows us to collaborate on antiviral research and conduct our own vaccine and transmission work. With SERV, Sunnybrook will share our findings about the virus within the Canadian research and diagnostic community, thereby driving further innovative solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic. 3. Transmission prevention: As part of a World Health Organizations effort to evaluate risk to health-care workers of providing certain support measures, such as high-flow oxygen use, Sunnybrook is building a simulation space for live virus experiments using mannequins with funds for SERV. This is important because protecting care providers is key to preventing the spread of the virus within hospitals. About Lawrence Steinman Steinman is Professor of Neurology, Neurological Sciences and Pediatrics at Stanford University and Chair of the Stanford Program in Immunology from 2001 to 2011. His research focuses on antigen specific tolerance in autoimmune disease and in gene therapy for degenerative neurologic diseases. He has elucidated what provokes relapses and remissions in multiple sclerosis (MS). He is taking forward a pivotal clinical trial with antigen specific tolerization therapy for type 1 diabetes. He serves as attending neurologist at Stanfords Lucille Packard Childrens Hospital. Steinman is an elected member of the US National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine. Steinman was senior author on the 1992 Nature article that led to the drug Tysabri, approved for MS and Crohns disease. Tysabri has been taken by over 200,000 individuals with MS. Dr. Steinman graduated from Dartmouth College, Magna Cum Laude in Physics. His MD is from Harvard Medical School. He was a post-doctoral fellow in chemical immunology fellow at the Weizmann Institute of Science. After neurology residency he remained on the faculty in 1980. He has received numerous honors, including the John M. Dystel Prize in 2004, the Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award from the NINDS twice, the Charcot Prize in MS research, and the Cerami Prize in Translational Medicine. Steinman is a member of both the National Academy of Sciences, and the National Academy of Medicine. Dr. Steinman co-founded several biotech companies, including Neurocrine, Atreca, 180 Therapeutics, and Tolerion. He was a Director of Centocor from 1988 until its sale to Johnson and Johnson. About Mike McCarthy Mike is widely recognized across Canada as a stellar health care advocate and system expert. As a volunteer Vice-President of the Canadian Hemophilia Society, Mike was the national spokesperson for Canadians infected by blood tainted with Hepatitis C. His tireless efforts resulted in a landmark $2 billion settlement with the federal government in 2006, and the Queens Golden Jubilee Award presented by the Governor General of Canada. Presently Mike is a Principal at Grosso McCarthy and provides counsel to clients in both the not-for-profit and for-profit sectors. He helps clients navigate provincial, federal and international governments at the levels of the civil service and elected officials. Mike has also been on the front lines of health care, working for 18 years as a psychiatric nurse. As a principal with Grosso McCarthy, Mike builds on more than 14 years of experience with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and 24 years in health policy and delivery. He was appointed Senior Policy Advisor to the Progressive Conservative Minister of Health of Ontario, advising on physician, nursing and primary care, public health, laboratories, OHIP, organ transplant, HIV and blood issues. In 2003, he provided strategic support and counsel to the government of Ontario during the SARS outbreak. About QuestCap QuestCap is an investment company that seeks to enhance shareholder value over the long term by opportunistically making various investments that may include, without limitation, the acquisition of equity, debt or other securities of publicly traded or private companies or other entities, financing in exchange for pre-determined royalties or distributions and the acquisition of all or part of one or more businesses, portfolios or other assets. For additional information, please contact: G Scott Moore Co-Chairman smoore@forbesmanhattan.com 1-416-861-5903 Media contact: Wynn Theriault Thirty Dash Communications 34 King St East #400 Toronto M5C 2X8 416.710.3370 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the investment with SERV; the grant of options; and Sunnybrook and the appointment of advisory board members. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Although 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. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAS REVIEWED OR ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Family members of a 69-year-old woman who died of COVID-19 in a private hospital here, refused to accept her body and cremate it, forcing the district administration to perform her last rites, said officials on Monday. Her son refused to perform the last rights despite authorities seeking to give him the requisite protective gears and assuring him that it would shield him against the infection, said Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), Iqbal Singh Sandhu. Admitted to a private hospital here on March 31, the Shimlapuri village resident died on Sunday. "It was a big shock for everybody when relatives including, son of the deceased, did not come to claim her body. The body was later claimed by the district administration," said Sandhu. He said the administrative authorities approached family members twice but they refused to claim the body. The son of deceased was also assured that he would be given protective gear for cremation but he refused to perform the last rites, he added. The last rites were performed late mid night by district administration officials while Kaur's son and other family members watched the cremation from a distance of over 100 metres. The incident comes close on the heels of Amritsar's Verka village residents refusing to allow the cremation of former 'Hazuri Raagi' Nirmal Singh Khalsa, who died of COVID-19, in his native village cremation ground. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) U.S. State Department spokesman Morgan Ortagus Monday condemned China for sinking a Vietnamese fishing boat, calling it an assertion of an "unlawful" claim. Ortagus said the U.S. was "seriously concerned" on learning about the incident that took place near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. He said the the incident was another act by China to assert "unlawful maritime claims and disadvantage its Southeast Asian neighbors in the South China Sea." On Thursday, a Chinese coast guard vessel rammed and sank the boat owned by Tran Hong Tho, a native of the central province of Quang Ngai, with eight fishermen onboard as they were fishing off the Phu Lam (Woody) Island in Vietnams Hoang Sa Archipelago (Paracel Islands). Vietnam calls the South China Sea the East Sea. The U.S. State Department spokesman also noted that Beijing has rolled out new research stations on military bases it has built on Fiery Cross Reef and Subi Reef, and landed special military aircraft on the Fiery Cross Reef since the onset of the global pandemic. Maritime militia has also continued to be deployed by China around the Spratly Islands, Ortagus said, adding that Chinas infamous nine-dashed line had been deemed "an unlawful maritime claim by an arbitral tribunal convened under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention in July 2016, a position shared by the U.S. Government." Ortagus called on Beijing to remain focused on working on the Covid-19 pandemic with the international community and to cease its exploitation of "the distraction or vulnerability" of other countries to expand its claims in the South China Sea. Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Thi Thu Hang had demanded Friday that China investigates the incident and " take strict action against the Chinese vessel and refrain from repeating such acts in future as well as pay proper compensation for the damage caused to the Vietnamese fishermen." "These actions of the Chinese vessel have infringed on Vietnam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa Islands and endangered the lives and properties of Vietnamese fishermen," she said. China's actions also go against the common view of senior leaders of the two countries on treating fishermen humanely; as well as the Vietnam-China Agreement on Basic Principles Guiding the Settlement of Maritime Issues. They also violate the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and negatively affect negotiations for a Code of Conduct in the waters, Hang said. The move has increased tensions, caused destabilization and is not beneficial to the maintenance of peace, stability and cooperation in the region, she added. Hang had reiterated that Vietnam has full legal basis and historical evidence under international law to assert its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos. The Vietnam Fisheries Society has also called on the Government Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government agencies to ensure China pays compensation to Vietnamese fishermen for sinking their boats. The Quang Ngais Fisheries Society said that after sinking the Vietnamese boat, the Chinese vessel had picked up eight Vietnamese fishermen and taken them to the Woody Island. Upon receiving news of the sunken ship, three other Vietnamese fishing boats tried to rescue then, but were chased away by the Chinese vessel. Two of the vessels were captured and towed to the island. At 2 p.m. Thursday, China released the two fishing boats and eight fishermen. A day later, Vietnamese authorities received the detained Vietnamese fishermen safely. China seized the Paracel Islands from South Vietnam by force in 1974, and has since been occupying them illegally. In 2014 China brought an oil rig, Haiyang Shiyou 981, and installed it in waters off the Paracel Islands, changing the status quo in the waters. Since then, Chinese ships have chased after and rammed many Vietnamese fishing vessels near the islands in Vietnamese waters. " " The iconic symbol of San Francisco, California, the Golden Gate Bridge spans the Golden Gate Strait, the 3-mile long stretch of water between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Jorge Villalba/Getty Images When it came to laying out the design for my second tattoo, I knew two things: 1) I wanted a simple line drawing that ran from my right elbow to my wrist, and 2) I needed to have the Golden Gate Bridge integrated in some way. As San Francisco has drastically transformed over the last few decades, I've taken (arguably too much) pride in being one of the few true natives, born and raised in an area of the city adjacent to the bridge's Presidio entrance. And while I'm comfortable letting the visual representation of the iconic landmark on my arm speak for itself, digging into the history and significance of the bridge offers some pretty cool insight into my hometown's unique charm. Advertisement The Original Idea It all started in 1916. Or actually, it started around four decades earlier, in 1872, when railroad entrepreneur Charles Crocker called for a bridge to span the Golden Gate Strait, the 3-mile (5-kilometer) long stretch of water that connects the San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. But it wasn't until the early 20th century that the project gained traction as the area's population grew and traffic congestion at the ferry docks was becoming a serious issue. James H. Wilkins, a structural engineer and newspaper editor for the San Francisco Call Bulletin, connected with San Francisco City engineer Michael M. O'Shaughnessy and started talking about what it would really take to make a bridge connecting the city to the Marin Headlands a reality. Three years later, San Francisco officials formally requested that O'Shaughnessy explore the possibility of building a strait-spanning bridge and the engineer began consulting with colleagues around the country. Sure, the idea of connecting San Francisco to the North Bay was nice, but was it financially feasible? Most industry insiders speculated that such an undertaking would cost over $100 million and that perhaps more importantly it just couldn't be built. Joseph Baermann Strauss, however, begged to differ. Strauss, a Chicago-based engineer, presented a plan that not only made a bridge seem possible, but downright affordable: Strauss's plan estimated that the construction could be done for $25 to $30 million. Strauss submitted his preliminary sketches to O'Shaughnessy and Edward Rainey, secretary to James Rolph, the mayor of San Francisco, on June 28, 1921. While his original design (a $17 million symmetrical cantilever-suspension hybrid span) needed some tweaking and didn't pan out, O'Shaughnessy made the design public in December 1922, and although the press described it as "ugly," there was surprisingly little public opposition to the ambitious endeavor. Advertisement The Construction Process While citizens seemed relatively open to approving the massive undertaking, there were more than a few snags along the way to construction. First, O'Shaughnessy and Strauss had to assemble a special district of the state of California to oversee the financing, design and construction of the bridge as a way to give all counties a voice in the process. But ultimately, the fate of the bridge was in the hands of the War Department, which legally ruled all harbor construction potentially affecting shipping traffic or military logistics. When the War Department held a hearing May 16, 1924, to discuss the bridge's potential impact on navigation and financial burden, things got thorny. Plenty of people voiced their opposition, especially the local ferry companies who started a serious anti-bridge campaign in an effort to halt construction. And they succeeded for eight years. " " Construction begins on the Golden Gate Bridge in 1933. Library of Congress But after nearly a decade of jurisdiction and uncertainty, Strauss and O'Shaughnessy were able to create the Golden Gate Bridge and Highway District (composed of the area's six member counties), incorporated by the California state legislature in 1928 as the sole entity responsible for the final design, construction and financing of the future bridge. Secretary of War Patrick Hurley issued the construction permit Aug. 11, 1930 and the building process officially kicked off nearly three years later on Jan. 5, 1933. By this time, the vast majority of residents were stoked, and a groundbreaking ceremony at nearby Crissy Field helped hype the locals for what was to be a somewhat lengthy, but easier-than-expected process. "An interesting fact about the Golden Gate Bridge is that it was completed ahead of schedule and under budget a rarity in today's construction world," Paolo Cosulich-Schwartz, public affairs manager for the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District, writes via email. "The bridge was completed in May 1937 under budget and six months ahead of schedule. It cost about $39 million to build, which equals about $500 million in today's dollars." Not only did the bridge make a name for itself as a relatively quick and painless project (as far as massive constructions go), it also made a mark on history with its construction procedures and safety measures. "The Golden Gate Bridge was a pioneering project for protecting workers by requiring bridge builders to wear hard hats and installing the first safety net for bridge workers," Cosulich-Schwartz says. "I'm proud that the legacy of safety lives on at the Golden Gate Bridge today." Although 11 men died during construction (not unheard of in that risky era of building), a safety net suspended under the "floor" of the bridge during construction saved the lives of 19 men who became known as the "Halfway-to-Hell Club." " " Men on catwalks working on the cables during construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in 1937. That's Alcatraz Island in the background. Underwood Archives/Getty Images Advertisement The Iconic Design There's a reason I wanted the bridge represented in my inked hometown tribute aside from its significance as an instantly recognizable San Francisco staple, it's just so darn pretty. And that appealing design took a ton of thoughtful planning and dedication. Remember Strauss' original plans for a symmetrical cantilever-suspension hybrid bridge? While his staff, led by Charles A. Ellis, found the idea to be practical from an engineering standpoint, some experts started to raise questions. Ellis brought on Professor George F. Swain of Harvard University and Leon Moisseiff who designed New York's Manhattan Bridge to serve on a Board of Consultants for the project and Moisseiff wasn't sold on the design. On Aug. 15, 1929, the Board appointed Moisseiff, as well as engineers O.H. Ammann, and UC Berkeley engineering professor Charles Derleth Jr., to serve as the Advisory Board of Engineers, alongside Strauss. " " Thousands of guests showed up to walk across the bridge on May 27, 1937, the day it was opened to pedestrians. The toll for walking the five miles was five cents for a regular ticket and twenty-five cents for a souvenir ticket. The bridge opened to vehicular traffic the next day. Bettmann/Bettmann Archive At some point in their discussions (the exact date is unknown), the board decided to shift from Strauss's original proposal to a suspension bridge design. The Golden Gate Bridge, Report of the Chief Engineer, written by Strauss in September 1937, doesn't give details on the transition from his originally proposed design to the Moisseiff-inspired suspension span, but simply states, "... In the interval which had elapsed any advantages possessed by the cantilever-suspension type bridge had practically disappeared and on recommendation of the Chief Engineer, the cantilever-suspension type was abandoned in favor of the simple suspension type." There was another mysterious drama during the design process as well: While Ellis was responsible for directing the thousands of calculations required, Strauss unceremoniously fired him in 1931 and handed his job over to his assistant. To this day, Ellis is rarely mentioned in discussions of the bridge. But back to that design. Perhaps the most recognizable feature of the bridge is its eye-popping hue just please don't call it "red." "International Orange is the signature color of the Golden Gate Bridge," Cosulich-Schwartz says. "The color was chosen as the primary color of the bridge by consulting architect Irving Morrow, who noticed the red lead primer of the steel arriving from mills on the east coast. He thought the red primer would serve the dual purpose of making the bridge stand out for ships and planes in the dense fog while blending in with the natural beauty of the area surrounding the bridge. After much study and debate, the color we so closely identify with the Golden Gate Bridge today was selected for the project, and we can thank Irving Morrow for the Golden Gate Bridge's distinctive hue." Today, the Golden Gate Bridge is a critical transportation link between San Francisco and Marin County and the 1.7 mile-long (2.7 kilometer) main span carries about 112,000 vehicles every day. Not only can the number of roadway lanes dedicated to the southbound or northbound be modified throughout the day to accommodate shifting traffic patterns, but visitors are welcome to walk and bike the length of the landmark. Or, if you're a proud native, get its glory permanently etched onto your skin. Now That's Interesting Over 2 billion vehicles have crossed the Golden Gate Bridge (going both north and south) since its opening to traffic May 28, 1937. Doctors around the world are still grappling with how the coronavirus affects the body, perplexed that it can affect different patients so drastically. While some patients suffer little more than a sore throat, in others as we have seen Covid-19 can be fatal. Britain has witnessed a clear example of how variable the infection can be: Boris Johnsons fiancee Carrie Symonds tweeted last week that she has had symptoms yet, after a week in bed, she is now happily on the mend. Britain has witnessed a clear example of how variable the infection can be: The Prime Minister has needed hospital admission ten days after testing positive. The Prime Minister, on the other hand, has needed hospital admission ten days after testing positive. There is no indication that Boris suffers from any serious pre-existing conditions. In fact, he appears in as robust health as could be expected of any 55-year-old who takes regular exercise. Nonetheless, given what Downing Street calls his persistent symptoms, taking him to hospital seems to me a very sensible precautionary measure. Boris has also been working tirelessly leading the Governments fight against this scourge while self-isolating. This lack of rest may have had an impact on his bodys ability to fight the infection. There is no indication that Boris suffers from any serious pre-existing conditions. In fact, he appears in as robust health as could be expected of any 55-year-old But the truth is we just dont know. While scientists are studying the virus, senior doctors working at the NHS coal-face are pooling their knowledge acquired while treating its victims. We know now that certain factors appear to make it more likely that someone will need to go to hospital. We know that children generally fare far better than older people, who are more likely to need urgent breathing support. The risks increase after the age of 50; the highest-risk group is the over-80s. Nearly one in five over-80s infected with Covid-19 is likely to require hospitalisation, compared with around 1 per cent of people under 30. Boris Johnson has until today been chairing morning Covid-19 meetings remotely after self isolating after testing positive for the coronavirus, at 10 Downing Street It has also been noticed that men are far more likely to become very unwell with the virus and to die. This may relate to physiology or to gendered behaviour for example, men leaving it later than women before seeking medical help. Smoking also appears to be a risk factor. One study found that 25 per cent of the people who ended up in intensive care were smokers. Those with underlying conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, high blood pressure and cancer are also at increased risk, as are those with certain autoimmune conditions. Although a lot of unanswered questions remain, our understanding of the virus is growing rapidly. Every day brings us closer to beating it. Your browser does not support the audio element. While many are working remotely from the safety of their homes, frontline squads of kitchen and food supply staff have risked exposure to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) serving sizzling, nutritionally balanced meals to those quarantined at military camps in Vietnam over the past few months. Alongside medical staff working on the front line whose relentless efforts are key to saving lives in the face of the ongoing pandemic, essential supply and delivery workers are also an important driver of the countrys battle against the virus. Among them are kitchen and food distributing staff who are working almost around the clock to prepare and serve meals to people kept in isolation at military camps in Hanoi, the mountainous province of Lao Cai approximately 320 kilometers to the capitals north and the central city of Da Nang. Vietnam mandates that everyone arriving from abroad goes into quarantine for at least 14 days the advised incubation time of the novel coronavirus upon arrival. The tireless dedication of the military personnel responsible for the running of these facilities has warmed the hearts of the people being quarantined and brought smiles to their faces during the isolation period. Two soldiers distribute food into portions for quarantined people at Hanoi Capital High Commands Military School in Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre The soldiers routines include getting up early in the morning, shopping for food, and preparing meals for their guests. After delivering steaming breakfast portions to quarantine chambers at a time when many are still sound asleep, they have little free time to spare before quickly getting down to preparing lunch and dinner. The men normally end their day past 10:00 pm, ready for a good nights sleep before repeating the work on a different menu the following day. Meanwhile, the soldiers in charge of food services at the quarantine zone set up at Hanoi Capital High Commands Military School come in two groups one tasked with preparing and portioning meals into boxes in the kitchen and the other responsible for distributing the boxes to rooms. Boxes of steaming rice and food are handed to quarantined people at Hanoi Capital High Commands Military School in Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre The quarantined people are more than thankful for the clockwork-like service. Some express their gratitude to the staff for their efforts with heart-warming, meticulously penned thank-you notes while others walk away with gratefulness in their eyes upon their discharge as the isolation period draws to an end. Heartfelt wishes from the women of Room 19-3 to those on the mission. Short as it may be, the 14-day isolation period is enough to overwhelm us with good feelings for you, one of the notes reads. May you stay safe and well to continue the nations fight against the virus so that we all can keep our faith and not be gripped by fears, reads another note from a person who went through quarantine at a training facility for military reserves run by the Da Nang Military Command in the namesake central city. The countrys tally now stands at 241, including 150 active cases and 91 recovered patients as of Monday morning, according to data pooled by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. No fatality has been recorded as yet. The days main course served at Lao Cai Military School in northern Vietnam includes braised fish, pork bologna, and vegetables. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre A soldier cooks food in a steamer at a quarantine facility in Vietnam. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre The daily portions for quarantined people have nearly doubled in value, now VND80,000 (US$3.4) a day from the original VND57,000 ($2.4). Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre Rice cooked in huge pots on steamers at a designated area make tasty meals that adhere strictly to hygiene standards. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre Two soldiers are pushing a trolley topped with boxes of rice on their way to the quarantined zone in Vietnam. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre Military staff prepare dinner for quarantined people at Lao Cai Military School in the namesake province in northern Vietnam. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Over 20,000 farmers of 220 villages in six border districts in the state, who own land between the barbed fence and the 553-km India-Pakistan border, have sought the release of Rs 48 crore of compensation given to them due to this adverse location, for the year 2018 and 2019. These districts are Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Ferozepur and Fazilka districts; farmers here claim that they are in urgent need of the money, as the lockdown has affected their crop. The Centre and state governments contribute 50% each for the compensation, which is Rs 10,000 per acre. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government had, during its tenure from 1997-2002, started the scheme as borders farmers faced problems in accessing their land due to the fencing and other restrictions in place. The compensation was enhanced to Rs 15,000 per acre in 2015. The government should release the compensation at the earliest. Now, harvesting of our crop will start only after the lockdown ends. Farmers here do not even have money for harvesting, claimed Surjit Singh Bhura, vice president of Border Area Kisan Welfare Committee (BAFWC), adding that the lockdown had made the situation worse for them. Tarn Taran deputy commissioner Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal said the compensation would be released soon. Welcoming the Centre's decision to cut MPs' salary cut by 30%, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Ahmed Patel, on Monday, said that it was the least one could do to help fellow citizens. However, he added that the Central government could save Rs 20,000 crores by scrapping Central Vista redevelopment project. India's current Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally stands at 4067 cases, with 109 deaths. BIG: MPs, Cabinet Mins' salaries cut by 30% for one year; Prez, VP, Guvs volunteer too Congress welcomes 30% salary cut Apart from cutting salaries of MPs and Ministers , the Central Government can save more than Rs 20,000 cr by scrapping the Central Vista redevelopment project & cutting down on non Covid19 publicity expenses https://t.co/CMl7nlrdCu Ahmed Patel (@ahmedpatel) April 6, 2020 Assam govt to file cases against Markaz attendees who have tested positive for Coronavirus Centre cuts MPs' salary by 30% Earlier in the day, the Central Government decided to slash salaries of Members of Parliament and Union Cabinet Ministers by 30% for one year amid the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar informed that the Union Cabinet has approved an Ordinance amending the salary, allowances and pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954 reducing allowances and pension by 30% w.e.f. April 1 for a year. Javadekar said that an amendment in this regard will be tabled in Parliament once the House is back in session, but the Ordinance, which temporarily allows the law to take effect for six months, kicks into effect the change. Moreover, the Modi Cabinet approved temporary suspension of MPLAD Fund of MPs during 2020-21 and 2021-22 for managing health and the adverse impact of the outbreak of COVID-19 in India. The consolidated amount of MPLAD Funds for two years Rs 7900 crores will go to the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI). The CFI is the account of the revenue the Government of India receives via income tax, Customs, central excise and the non-tax revenue and the expenses it makes, excluding exceptional items. Essentially, a sum of Rs 500 crore from the Consolidated fund of India is transferred to the Contingency Fund of India for dealing with any emergency situation. Coronavirus LIVE Updates: India's confirmed cases cross 4000-mark; 109 deaths confirmed Coronavirus crisis in India As of date, 3666 positive cases have been reported of the pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19) - 291 have been discharged and Maharashtra reported the highest at 690. 109 deaths have been reported till date. India has suspended all visas and barred travel from Afghanistan, Philippines, EU, UK, China, Malaysia and mandatory 14-day quarantine from several other countries. The Prime Minister has issued a 21-day countrywide lockdown starting from 23 March to April 15 and the Finance Minister has announced a Rs 1.7 lakh crore package under the 'PM Gareeb Kalyan Scheme'. Sharad Pawar exudes confidence in winning COVID-19 battle, opines on lockdown importance The Commercial Division of an Accra High Court has ordered Vodafone Ghana to pay Ghc14m in judgment debt to Internet Ghana Co Limited over contract breaches. After 13 years of hearing, the Commercial Court presided over by Justice George Buadi J found Vodafone Ghana liable on 9th January, 2020 but information going viral on the internet indicated that Vodafone Ghana is not in the possible to heed to the orders of the High Court. The judgment creditor has been chasing Vodafone to defray the debt after the Court ruling. According to sources close to Internet Ghana Co Limited, Vodafone signed a number of contracts with the Internet Ghana Co. Limited and was found guilty several; unfair practices. They include anti-competitive practices, monopolistic practices in the DSL technology space, illegal and unlawful seizure of internet Ghana Co limited equipment nationwide, management wide deliberate decision to engage in these illegal and unlawful practices, illegally canceling contracts and predatory pricing policy. In a suit filed by Internet Ghana Co. Limited at the High court, it claimed among others that Vodafone illegally terminated the contracts but refused to pay the underlying bills despite numerous reminders. Download below copies of the High Court ruling: Click here UK COVID-19 Death Toll Surpasses 4,900 as 621 Deaths Reported in 24 Hours Government Sputnik News 15:12 GMT 05.04.2020(updated 15:13 GMT 05.04.2020) LONDON (Sputnik) - The COVID-19 death toll in the United Kingdom has surpassed 4,900 after the Department of Health and Social Care on Sunday announced that 621 more people have lost their lives after contracting the disease. According to the UK government's daily statistical bulletin, the death toll as of 17:00 GMT on Saturday stood at 4,934. The latest figures suggest a drop in the daily increase to the death toll, as the government announced in Saturday's bulletin that 708 people had died in the 24-hour period up to 17:00 GMT on Friday. The total number of COVID-19 cases confirmed in the UK now stands at 47,806, the government stated. Earlier in the day, the UK government warned that stricter lockdown measures could be implemented following reports that thousands of citizens took to the country's parks on Saturday. Currently, the government allows citizens to leave their residences for exercise once a day. Several leading government officials, such as Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock have tested positive for COVID-19. Johnson remains in self-isolation after announcing his diagnosis on March 27, after stating on Friday that he is still displaying symptoms of the disease. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Steve Rogers travelling back in time to live a fulfilling life with Peggy Carter could have created an alternate version of his character through history, a theory says. In Avengers: Endgame, Steve decides to travel back in time to be with Peggy, but that doesnt erase the version weve seen in the Marvel films. One of the films writers, Christopher Markus, had said in an interview that the possibility of two Steves existing in together in the Marvel Cinematic Universe wasnt outlandish. I would like to believe that through some sort of bulls**t time loop paradox throw in the words you use when youre bulls***ting science in a movie: some sort of quantum paradox that there are indeed two Captain Americas in the MCU timeline, he had said during San Diego Comic-Con last year. That Steve Rogers who looped back into time has therefore always been there, and that he is living somewhere else in the movies youre watching. Eagle-eyed fans also theorised that the older Steve was present at Peggys funeral, which happened in Captain America: Civil War. The young Steve was also present. Screengrabs from the scene show an older man carrying Peggys casket, but we only see the back of his head. Also read: All the signs that Robert Downey Jr is likely to return as Iron Man, and may be seen in Black Widow With two Captain Americas existing simultaneously in the MCU, it opens the series up to the possibility of having new, alternate adventures of Captain America. Chris Evans, who played Steve in the films, was said to have retired from the role, but has left the door open for a possible return. He had said during Varietys actors on actors interaction ahead of his last film, Knives Out, You never say never. I love the character. I dont know. Its not a hard no, but its not an eager yes either. Follow @htshowbiz for more The Taloja Central Jail authorities have appealed to the city sessions courts, and other lower courts in Mumbai and its suburban districts, to not send any new prisoners to the jail and instead to grant them bail. The letter from Taloja jail authorities on April 1, 2020 comes after prisons in Mumbai and Thane stopped admitting new prisoners due to overcrowding and the imminent threat of COVID-19 virus. At Taloja prison, every new prisoner is kept in the isolation ward to quarantine for the required period of a fortnight which has seen that the jails capacity to hold more prisoners come down, a senior police officer said. All the prisons from Arthur Road, Byculla, Thane Central prison and Aadharwadi at Kalyan stopped taking new prisoners, and hence all the prisoners were being sent to Taloja. We have been receiving 10 to 15 new prisoners every day, and now we do not have the facility to accommodate all of them. So we have requested the courts to not send more prisoners to Taloja, and to let the accused go on bail if the offence is not grave in nature, said the officer. Beirut, April 6 : Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Monday urged the International Support Group (ISG) for the country to financially support its reforms program. "We will need urgent financial help to support our vital sectors including banks, electricity, water, transport and others. We rely heavily on the financial support of $11 billion pledged by CEDRE which will be invested in infrastructure projects," Aoun said during a meeting with ISG. Aoun gave an economic overview by saying that Lebanon suffers from serious shortage in foreign reserves, an increase in unemployment and poverty rates, and an unprecedented increase in prices with the devaluation of the Lebanese pound in the parallel market in addition to public deficit caused by the drop in tax revenues, reports Xinhua news agency. He added that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated Lebanon's financial distress not to forget the big burden imposed by the huge number of refugees residing in the country and the fear of witnessing a spread of the virus among them. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hassan Diab said that his cabinet has worked on a comprehensive plan aimed at saving the country from its current crises and the strategy will be ready very soon. The ISG for Lebanon was launched in September 2013 by the UN and former President Michel Suleiman in order to mobilize support and assistance. The group includes the US, Russia, China, France, UK, Germany, Italy, the UN, the European Union as well as the League of Arab States. 06.04.2020 LISTEN The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word crisis. One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger--but recognize the opportunity. Introduction The world, through the Coronavirus (COVID 19) outbreak, is experiencing an unexpected crisis which has brought with it partial to complete lockdowns in almost all parts of the globe. This has popularized the mantra Stay home! Go out only if necessary! something that the world would not have envisaged would have been the anthem for the year 2020. In Ghana, particularly, the bleak reality of a second week in lockdown brings a lot of uncertainty and anxiety to many. For sure, the Coronavirus pandemic has taught us one thing if at all; that clearly human life is so connected and intertwined so much so that none of us is safe until all of us are safe. It has shown that indeed the world is a global village and must be viewed as such for all intents and purposes. Social Distancing: The New Normal Ghanaians, a very social and outgoing group of people, have had to join the rest of the world to observe what is now commonly known as Social Distancing. Most, if not all, large gatherings have been cancelled, schools and offices have also been closed. Lively cities, towns and neighborhoods have not been exempted at all! Many major cities and towns globally are currently facing sequestration with individuals alike having to quarantine, either voluntarily or mandatorily. This has proven to be the best and safest way to slow the spread of the virus in the absence of a known cure. Social Distancing is now the new normal: a symbol of hope and an embodiment of the struggle. Social Solidarity: Recognizing Opportunity in Crisis Truly and at times, one needs some form of a crisis in order to get the adrenaline flowing and to help realize ones potential. In times like this, we need to embrace chaos as a people and take the higher path of courage and understanding so as to combat this pandemic. Times like this call for Solidarity! This Social Solidarity, as I call it, involves an interdependence between citizens and all persons across various groups as an essential means of fighting the virus and its related threats. This strengthens and motivates all persons so as to be successful in the fight. On the part of the Government, it encourages the formulation of policies that benefit public well-being even if it tends to be more expensive. Ghanaians can show social solidarity in several ways, some of which I would enumerate below. Ghanaians should in these times take good care of themselves emotionally, physically and spiritually. This would provide the much-needed focus and productivity to combat the virus and its spread. To do this, it requires taking the necessary precautions to keep safe as well as obediently complying with the measures and directions as laid down by the Government. We must remember that we are all in and accordingly there is a need for cooperation rather than hostility and division. Also, Ghanaians must in these times trust in the Government institutions as a way of ensuring compliance. In times of crisis as this, the Government is looked up to as being capable of mitigating the damages that may be caused as a result of the pandemic. They can only do so if trusted fully. To trust the Government means that in times as this, petty politicking should be avoided. Government on its part should exude high level of honesty in its dealings and communication with the people. It is very vital that leaders make decisions backed by empirical evidence, science-based projections and the available resources. In addition to this, Government must follow this up with emergency programs and interventions to support informal and low-income workers, extends exemptions to many persons in the supply chain so as to keep essential goods and services. Above all, together we must all check up on one another, forge newer methods of communication and closeness and more so help tackle the problems as they come. All these can be done whilst respecting the social distance directive and by so doing stoking the fires of solidarity. We shine our lights on all and celebrate those at the frontline of the fight, who are working actively to bring the situation under control. Conclusion These acts of Social Solidarity demonstrate the value of human dignity and recognition of the importance of unity in times of crisis. Many people have been able to come out of various forms of trials and tribulations mainly because together with others, they brought forth acts of courage and compassion. Crisis as this is what we sometimes need so as to bring about much needed reflection and healing as a people and a nation. When these times are over, they would teach us lessons which would provide a watershed moment for readiness to face future trials and challenges. Until then, there cannot be a solution if we dont face todays crisis wisely and courageously! That we would do. Long Live Ghana! Long live the people of Ghana!! Reginald Nii Odoi Most read of the week South Africa: Traditional health practitioners support governments fight against COVID-19 Contact tracing has received a boost with Traditional Health Practitioners (THPs) joining government efforts to fight COVID-19 (Coronavirus). This commitment was made during a meeting held between government and the THPs National Sector Leaders over the weekend. This as the number of those infected with the virus, climbed to 1 655, with 11 confirmed deaths on Sunday. Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said many citizens consult traditional health practitioners. They presented to me that there are many citizens who consult with them and rely on their traditional herbs and remedies for their ailments. Since the lockdown, these THPs have since not been able to provide these herbal remedies to their patients, said the Minister in a statement. Sunday marked 10-days of the 21-day national lokckdown announced by Presdent Cyril Ramaphosa last month. This will assist in coordinating the approach of them referring patients to public health care facilities should they suspect that they may have the COVID-19 virus, said the Minister. In addition, THPs indicated their willingness to participate in governments campaign for hygienic behaviour to the communities they serve. This includes the washing of hands, covering ones mouth when coughing and social distancing. The sector also expressed its concerns about their non-recognition as essential services providers. We acknowledge that government, through the Department of Health has recognised the role of traditional health practitioners through the formation of the interim structure and the passing of the Traditional Health Practitioners Act. The Minister said it is important to define the role of these practitioners during the lockdown period. Therefore, it is important to properly define their role during this lockdown period. I further emphasised the importance of this sector to comply with all the policies and regulations that government has stipulated, he said. This, Mkhize said, will ensure that no one takes advantage of vulnerable citizens in the name of traditional healing. An agreement was reached that ongoing channel of communication with the department for proper coordination and information sharing be established that will assist in this fight against the COVID-19 virus. Provincial breakdown of COVID-19 Meanwhile, Gauteng continued to be the leading province with the highest number of confirmed cases at 704, followed by the Western Cape with 454 cases. KwaZulu-Natal followed with 246 confirmed cases. The Free State has 87, Eastern Cape 31, Limpopo19, Mpumalanga 18, North West 11 and the Northern Cape with eight. According to data released by the Health Ministry, there were 77 unallocated cases. The total number of COVID-19 tests conducted to date is 56 873, an increase of 2 936 from those reported on Saturday. Mkhize conveyed his and governments condolences to the families of the deceased. It is with sadness that we report yet another two deaths related to COVID-19. This takes the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in South Africa to 11, he said. The first deceased patient is an 82-year-old female who was admitted to ICU on 29 March 2020. She had presented with fever, short breath, body pains, dry cough and sore throat. She also had comorbidities that included hypertension, diabetes and cholesterol. The second deceased patient is an 86-year-old male who was admitted to hospital on 26 March 2020, with a diagnosis of bronchopneumonia and respiratory distress. He had an underlying condition of chronic obstructive airway disease (COAD). The provincial breakdown of the deaths is as follows: NO. PROVINCE SEX AGE 1 WESTERN CAPE FEMALE 48 2 FREE STATE MALE 85 3 GAUTENG MALE 79 4 KWAZULU-NATAL FEMALE 46 5 KWAZULU-NATAL MALE 74 6 KWAZULU-NATAL FEMALE 63 7 KWAZULU-NATAL FEMALE 81 8 KWAZULU-NATAL FEMALE 80 9 KWAZULU-NATAL MALE 80 10 WESTERN CAPE FEMALE 82 11 KWAZULU-NATAL MALE 86 African Unions continental response to COVID-19 On Saturday, South Africa as African Union (AU) Chair convened a meeting of the coordinating ccommittee of the African Unions continental response to COVID-19. This meeting was attended by 10 Health Ministers from African countries who received a briefing from the Director of the Africa Centres of Disease Control and Prevention (ACDC), Dr John Nkengasong. At the meeting, AU Health Ministers supported the initiative to coordinate technical experts, researchers and clinicians under the umbrella of the ACDC. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-04-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. It has been more than a decade since Jillian Hickey worked in intensive care, but when the experienced nurse was called on to redeploy to a new ward caring for patients with COVID-19, it didnt feel like she had much of a choice. "It almost sounds cliched saying its your duty, but you do feel compelled to because you know that you can help," she said. Critical care nurse Jillian Hickey. Credit:Justin McManus Ms Hickey is among a team of 50 extra nurses that have been assembled to staff Cabrini hospitals new 14-bed intensive care unit, one of the first completed expansions for the coronavirus pandemic. The facility was put together in a few weeks and planning for how it will be managed provides insight into how hospitals around Australia may adapt to handle the expected influx of seriously ill patients. PARIS The high-speed train whooshing past historic World War I battle zones and through the chateau-speckled Loire Valley carried a delicate cargo: 20 critically ill COVID-19 patients and the machines helping keep them alive. The TGV-turned-mobile-intensive-care-unit is just one piece of Frances nationwide mobilization of trains, helicopters, jets and even a warship, deployed to relieve congested hospitals and shuffle hundreds of patients and medical personnel in and out of coronavirus hotspots. We are at war, President Emmanuel Macron tells his compatriots, again and again. But as the 42-year-old leader casts himself as a warrior and harnesses the might of the armed forces, critics charge that he waited far too long to act against this foe. France, one of the worlds wealthiest countries with one of the best health care systems, they say, should never have found itself so deep in crisis. Macron had just emerged from weeks of damaging retirement strikes and a year of violent yellow vest protests over economic injustice when the pandemic hit. Now he is struggling to keep the house running in one of the worlds hardest-hit countries. The Rungis food market south of Paris, Europes biggest, is transforming into a morgue as Frances death count races past 7,500. Nearly 7,000 patients are in intensive care, pushing French hospitals to their limit and beyond. Doctors are rationing painkillers and re-using masks. Frances centralized state and powerful presidency make it easier to coordinate the exceptional patient-moving efforts, which have crisscrossed the country and even extended to overseas territories. But the pandemic has exposed weaknesses in the world-renowned state hospital system after decades of cost cuts. When the president visited a Paris hospital on the front lines of the virus battle, an angry neurologist challenged him to reinvest massively. When it was about saving Notre Dame, many were moved, Dr. Francois Salachas said, a reference to the Paris cathedral that was severely damaged by fire a year ago, prompting immediate, massive pledges of public and private funds for reconstruction. This time its about saving public hospitals, which are going up in smoke at the same speed as Notre Dame almost did. Many think Macron did not anticipate the severity with which the virus could hit and set a bad personal example. Similar criticisms have been leveled at other world leaders including the presidents of Mexico, Brazil and the United States. In February, Macron made a point of repeatedly kissing Italys premier on a visit to Naples to show there was nothing to fear. At the time the virus was already spreading fast across France, but limited testing meant health authorities didnt yet know. In early March, he toured a retirement home even as he announced that families should no longer visit elderly relatives. That same day he went with his wife to a Paris theater where the owner tweeted that the president wanted to show that life goes on. By then the official virus infection numbers in France were doubling every two days. In mid-March, as COVID-19 was ravaging neighboring Italy, France went ahead with the first round of nationwide municipal elections. First lady Brigitte Macron strolled the banks of the Seine, which were crowded with Parisians enjoying a sunny day despite recommendations of social distancing. It wasnt until March 16 that Macron abruptly changed his tune, declaring war on the virus and announcing nationwide confinement measures. A week later he appeared wearing a face mask for the first time at a field hospital set up by troops outside Mulhouse, the eastern city that saw an eruption of cases stemming from a five-day evangelical gathering. The armed forces took on a key role, as military and hospital authorities worked out the system to shuttle patients to less-strained hospitals and medics to virus zones in need. The first medicalized TGV made its inaugural trip on March 26. Doctors in protective gear pushed gurneys along the nearly empty platform of the train station in the eastern city of Strasbourg as safety warnings echoed from loudspeakers. Inside the double-decker cars, patients and webs of tubes and wires were squeezed past luggage racks and rows of seats. Once they were secured, the train sped off toward less impacted hospitals in the west. While the militarized mobilizations are popular, public debate has mushroomed over issues such as the relatively low numbers of people being tested for the virus in France and shortages of medical equipment. Macron ordered all face masks requisitioned for medical personnel after it became evident France entered the crisis well short of the necessary supply. The question of masks is now the priority question for the French, said Jean-Daniel Levy of polling agency Harris Interactive, adding that the public feels the government didnt take enough responsibility for it at the outset. France has had to send some patients for treatment to tiny neighboring Luxembourg, Switzerland and Germany, which has conducted massive nationwide testing and confirmed more cases than France while recording a death toll about one-fifth as high so far. Macron, a centrist, has taken fire from both ends of the political spectrum. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen told France 2 television that the government lied about the preparedness of the country, while far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon said Macron, a former investment banker, used to think that the free market would meet the countrys needs, so his mental framework collapsed. Among the broader public, Macron is seen as relatively authoritarian, Levy said. That hurt him during the protest movements but helps his popularity now because we want to have a strong authority figure to manage the crisis. In the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, a fact-finding mission is scrutinizing the governments handling of the emergency. Macron, however, said while visiting a mask manufacturing company that its not yet time to focus on what went wrong. When were fighting a battle, we must all be united to win it, the president said. And I think those who seek to send people to trial when we have not yet won the war are irresponsible. ___ Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak The total number of Coronavirus positive cases rise to 536 in India. (Image Source: News18) With Uttar Pradesh's COVID-19 count crossing 300, the state government is considering extending the lockdown period beyond April 15. Additional Chief Secretary Home Avneesh Avasthi has said till the time the state stops reporting fresh coronavirus-positive cases, it will be premature to say that government is contemplating to ease the lockdown restrictions. The number of cases has touched 305 and 27 new cases were reported earlier today. Of this, 21 are related to Tablighi Jamaat. A total of 159 positive cases are those related to Jamaat, Avasthi said. The state plans to go into testing of people in category B and C. Category B implies those who had been directly in contact with the Jamaat attendees and category C would be those beyond. Assam would decide after April 9 on lockdown extension, Assam health and education Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said at a media briefing. 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 Kerala , has set up an expert committee to look into how things can be done after lockdown ends while Andhra Pradesh has no plans yet of extending the lock down and would decide depending on the situation in coming days, sources said. Karnataka had earlier said that the government hoped to phase out lockdown post 14th. However, decision depends on situation in coming days. Maharashtra has also indicated that there are chances of lockdown being extended beyond April 14. Track this blog for latest updates on coronavirus outbreak Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a meeting with chief ministers on April 3 said it is important to formulate a common exit strategy to ensure staggered re-emergence of the population once the lockdown ends. He had asked the states to send suggestions for the exit strategy and reiterated the importance of social distancing in preventing the spread of the deadly coronavirus. Carnival Sells 8 Percent Stake to Saudis After Dire Financial Warning Carnival Corp. stealthily filed its first quarter earnings on Friday, giving insight into a company on its knees as it faces an unprecedented crisis, and disclosing a long list of risk factors to its business going forward. The worlds largest cruise company which has found itself at the epicenter of the Covid-19 crisis with incidents across its fleet paused sailings on Mar. 13 after both the U.S. State Department and the Centers for Disease Control advised against cruising. It has approximately 6,000 passengers on vessels still at sea, which it is struggling to find ports for, creating a PR nightmare as well as a genuine risk of life to crew and passengers on board. The companys share price has been down 80 percent since the beginning of the year. On Monday, shares jumped 25 percent when Saudi Arabias public investment fund took an 8.2 percent stake in the company. Get the Latest on Coronavirus and the Travel Industry on Skifts Liveblog We have never previously experienced a complete cessation of our cruising operations, and as a consequence, our ability to be predictive regarding the impact of such a cessation on our brands and future prospects is uncertain, Fridays filing read. In particular, we cannot predict the impact on our financial performance and our cash flows required for cash refunds of deposits as a result of the pause in our global fleet cruise operations, which may be prolonged, and the publics concern regarding the health and safety of travel, especially by cruise ship, and related decreases in demand for travel and cruising. The Friday afternoon filing was not prefaced with any advance notice to investors or press, nor has a time for an earnings call been announced to discuss the results. Both depart from norms for public companies issuing Securities and Exchange filings. Carnival told Skift on Monday that an earnings call for its first quarter which ended on Feb. 29 has not yet been scheduled. Story continues Profit fell from $336 million in the first quarter of 2019, to a loss of $781 million in the first quarter of 2020. Earnings per share were a negative $1.14, compared to $0.48 in the same period last year. The company said that not only were forward bookings for the remainder of 2020 significantly behind the prior year, but that even bookings for the first half of 2021 are down. It reported having $4.7 billion in customer deposits as of Feb. 29. Its worth noting that the period covered by the filing is before the cruise industry suspended all voyages in mid-March. The company still generated $916 million in cash from its operating activities during the first quarter, indicating that its losses in the second quarter during which no cruises are likely to sail could be much steeper. The company is scheduled to take delivery of 16 new vessels through 2025 with four of those due this year, now likely delayed, according to the report. The company which was left out of the U.S. governments bailout bill is seeking to raise $6 billion cash, after already maxing out a $3 billion credit facility. It estimates that it needs $1 billion in cash per month to continue operations. The risk factors listed on the report make for stunning reading, and range from being unable to accept government assistance without adversely [impacting] our business and operations, to the lawsuits from passengers onboard the Grand Princess, who are arguing the company did not notify them of prior cases on board the ship, as well as other potential coronavirus-related suits. The filing also named the companys ongoing probation obligations for environmental crimes, the result of a plea agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. We remain fully committed to satisfying those obligations. However, COVID-19 presents enormous challenges for the Company, which could result in material adverse impacts. Then there is mammoth price tag of bringing ongoing cruises to a safe conclusion, which it intends to complete by the end of April; repatriating guests to their homes all over the world; assisting crew who are unable to return home with finding food and housing; sanitizing ships; and enacting new hygiene measures onboard. New health and hygiene requirements imposed by regulators could may be costly and take a significant amount of time to implement across our global fleet cruise operations. Lastly, theres the optics, which cast genuine doubt on the idea that cruising will bounce back as a sector in the same way that, say, hotels and airlines might once the crisis has abated. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 on some of our ships, and the resulting illness and loss of life in certain instances, we have been the subject of negative publicity which could have a long term impact on the appeal of our brands, which would diminish demand for vacations on our vessels. We cannot predict how long the negative impact of recent media attention on our brands will last, or the level of investment that will be required to address the concerns of potential travelers through marketing and pricing actions. Subscribe to Skift newsletters for essential news about the business of travel. EDMONTONA televangelist selling silver as a cure for COVID-19. The idea that drinking cow urine or bleach will help with symptoms. Or the suggestion that rubbing essential oils on a part of your body where the sun dont shine will protect you. As someone who has spent decades debunking myths and bad science, whether related to climate change, stem cells or vaccinations, Timothy Caulfield has almost heard it all. But he says hes never seen anything quite like this. This is misinformation on steroids, said Caulfield, referring to the COVID-19 infodemic hes hoping to fight. The University of Alberta professor and health policy expert, host of A Users Guide to Cheating Death on Netflix and author of Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong about Everything? is one of many researchers across the country whos received funding from the federal governments Rapid Research Funding Opportunity. He and his team will be researching how COVID-19 misinformation spreads and how to stop it. With the coronavirus, what were seeing is those concerns Ive been following for decades really amplified, Caulfield said. Even Ive been astounded the degree to which misinformation in this context is spread and the impact its had. Here, its been ramped up very quickly, and on an international scale, and at the worst possible time. Caulfield noticed this is the first pandemic of its scale to take place in the era of social media, where information moves fast and furious. And often inaccurately. And while governments and legacy media were once the gatekeepers of important information related to public health, its much harder to control how misinformation is spread on platforms like Facebook and Twitter, Caulfield said. Misinformation can contribute to fear, confusion and anxiety in a pandemic. But it also has literal life or death consequences. There is actual death and physical harm when people listen to misinformation, Caulfield said. And weve seen that play out in the context of the coronavirus. One of the chemicals touted as possibly effective for COVID-19 is hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria medication. In March, an Arizona man died after consuming chloroquine phosphate, a fish tank cleaner, which he thought was hydroxychloroquine. One of the interesting aspects of this infodemic that Caulfield has observed is the continuum of misinformation. Some ideas, like drinking bleach, would seem patently absurd to most people. But then you have this stuff thats kind of in the middle, that seems more plausible or slightly more credible, like that you can boost your immune system (against COVID-19) or that you should be taking supplements, Caulfield said. On the positive side, there is evidence that people can typically tell when information is accurate if they simply take the time to pause and reflect something Caulfield and his team hope they can help encourage more people to do. I hope that one of the legacies of this event is we can remember the value of good science, the value of trusted voices and also the potential harm of misinformation. Here are seven supposed coronavirus cures debunked by misinformation expert Timothy Caulfield: Hydroxychloroquine The interest in this drug including by the President of the United States (sigh) is largely based on the reporting of one, small, methodologically flawed study. It has led to the hoarding and misuse of the drug. At this point, we dont have the good, clinical data, to support its use. This controversy is a good example of why it is important to report and interpret the emerging science very carefully. Drinking bleach This science-free and dangerous idea has been lurking around on social media for a while. It has, for example, been marketed as a cure for autism. It became part of the coronavirus early on largely because people like the conspiracy-loving followers of the far-right QAnon movement pushed it. Many of them also believe the COVID-19 is a hoax. (Still? You guys, still believe this?) While this may seem kooky and needless to say a terrible idea from a health perspective, the mere fact that we know about it shows how fringe ideas can work their way into broader public discourse. Garlic soup OK, this one feels more plausible. And garlic is so good! There is also some research that seems to suggest that garlic can help with flu and respiratory infections. In fact, the research remains weak and some of it is in vitro (that is, lab research that doesnt involve actual humans). Be skeptical. Indeed, this one is so popular the World Health Organization recently dealt with this specific myth, noting: There is no evidence from the current outbreak that eating garlic has protected people from the new coronavirus. Still, garlic is healthy! Drinking silver This bunk remedy has also been around for a while. It is a classic quack cure-all that has been peddled for every conceivable ailment. There is no evidence to support its use for anything and it may even be harmful. Recently, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the State of Missouri took legal action against televangelist Jim Bakker for selling his Silver Solution as a cure for COVID-19. Snorting cocaine Lets just say, um, nope. Not a good idea. Snorting cocaine will not cure or prevent to COVID-19. Incredibly, the French government had to go so far as to tweet out a warning that No, cocaine does NOT protect against COVID-19. Homeopathy This is one of the most popular alternative remedies. (Homeopathy is a medical practice based on the idea that the body has the ability to heal itself and that like cures like. That is, if a substance causes a symptom in a healthy person, giving the person a very small amount of the same substance may cure the illness.) There is, however, no evidence homeopathy works or could work. It is, in fact, completely scientifically implausible. Despite this reality, the Indian government proposed the use of homeopathy, which was developed in Germany in the late 18th century, as a possible preventative strategy for the coronavirus. The proposal was widely condemned and the government was forced to do a U-turn. Drinking cow urine Nope. Read more about: NEW AGGRESSIONS ARISE AGAINST MADURO In late March the US Department of Justice (DOJ) laid charges against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and several other top Venezuelan government officials, accusing them of engaging in a narco-terrorism conspiracy. Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro holds a copy of the National Constitution while he speaks during a news conference at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela on January 9, 2019. The US State Department has also offered US$15 million for information leading to President Maduros arrest. This is an act of open aggression towards the sovereign Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The indictment document alleges an intricate conspiracy between the Venezuelan government and Colombian Communist guerilla group FARC, to flood the United States with cocaine and inflict the drugs harmful and addictive effects on users in this country [the United States]. The document also contrasts these alleged actions of the Venezuelan government with the equally extraordinary claim that most drug-trafficking organisations in South and Central America have sought to recede from their roles in importing narcotics into the United States in an effort to avoid US prosecution. So while the US DOJ claims that most of the many powerful drug cartels around Latin America have decided it is in their best interest to avoid US soil, the Venezuelan government with a lot more at stake has supposedly come to the opposite conclusion. A small amount of logical consideration casts significant doubt on these theories of conspiracy. The comment on drug-trafficking organisations seems to serve no purpose but to complicate the story. But the seemingly superfluous claim that other cartels are receding, just as the Venezuelan cocaine is supposed to arrive, is a necessary part of the narrative for a simple reason the objective data does not suggest any flood of cocaine attributable in any way to the Venezuelan government. There certainly are several drug crises in the US. But by far the greatest is the opioid crisis, created by the willingly reckless actions of US pharmaceutical companies. Several of these companies have already been convicted of criminal actions but none have been accused of terrorism! The term narco-terrorism has been in the vocabulary of Latin American politics since the 80s. Up until now, it has been used to describe drug cartels which use terrorist acts to intimidate the people and government. But this is an entirely original usage of the term, which instead redefines the concept of terrorist act to include supplying drugs. This new usage has seen no application except to attack President Maduro, without any basis in fact. The concept could be more useful than just a propaganda term; after all, there are plenty of drug cartels worthy of classification as terrorists. However, since its invention, the term has been used almost entirely to attack left-wing groups, and in fact, right-wing governments around Latin America have usually treated right-wing drug gangs as allies against left-wing guerrilla groups, with US backing. The terrorist crimes, committed by these gangs with the support of their right-wing governments, have caused indescribable suffering to millions of people, particularly peasants, trade unionists, and socialists. We can perhaps forgive the Americans for mistaking themselves for experts on the topic of governments using drug gangs to interfere in the affairs of other countries they were certainly the pioneers in that field. Their support to the Contras in Nicaragua is the most memorable example, but there are too many others to mention. Any thinking person must see right through these fake claims being pushed by the US DOJ. I spoke to Mr Daniel Gasparri, Charge dAffaires of Venezuela in Australia. He pointed out to me that over a decade ago, the late President Hugo Chavez predicted this exact scenario: that the US government would use fake allegations of state involvement in drug trafficking to justify intervention in Venezuela. This is despite the Venezuelan governments impressive record of struggle to eradicate the drug trade in Venezuela, which the US Drug Enforcement Administration has itself recognised in the past. Mr Gasparri also highlighted the Venezuelan governments key role in negotiating ceasefires between FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia former guerilla group) and the Colombian government, and FARCs eventual disarmament. He stressed that the Venezuelan government had no interest in the matter beyond peace and the wellbeing of the people in the region, and never has any interest in interfering in the internal affairs of any other country. These aggressive allegations by the US DOJ come at a time when Venezuela, like the rest of the world, is engaged in a life-or-death struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic. The US has made its callous disregard for the Venezuelan people clear as day by its persistence in imposing unilateral sanctions on Venezuela, restricting access to vital resources, including medical supplies. The US persists in these criminal sanctions despite condemnation by the UN, and even the EU. The saving graces for the Venezuelan people in this epidemic have been twofold: the swift and effective response by the Venezuelan government including imposing immediate quarantine measures, mobilising the people to distribute essential supplies, guaranteeing incomes for employees of small and medium businesses, and suspending rent payments; the international solidarity and assistance provided by many countries including Cuba, Russia, and China, which likewise are demonised by the US and made targets of aggression. In a press statement last Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: The United States has long been committed to finding a solution to the man-made crisis in Venezuela. The urgency for this has become all the more serious in light of the Maduro regimes failure to adequately prepare for and address the global COVID-19 pandemic. The failure of which he speaks does not exist in reality, but exists vividly in the wishful thinking of the US regime, which has gone to great lengths attempting to ensure such a failure. If failing to adequately prepare for and address the pandemic means the government responsible should stand down (which is the only solution the US has ever had in mind for Venezuela), then the Trump regime should be the first to go. The Venezuelan government with President Maduro at the head would be one of the few in the world left standing. Pompeo is quite right that the crisis in Venezuela is man-made. But Pompeo, and his co-conspirators past and present, are the men who made it. The COVID-19 epidemic is shining a spotlight on the inescapable failures of capitalism and advantages of socialism. It is in this context that the headquarters of the empire of capital lashes out in extreme desperation, making baseless allegations against other sovereign countries that they have no right to jurisdiction over in the first place. This new round of allegations against the Venezuelan government bear no relation to fact, and are nothing but a last-ditch effort to interfere in Venezuelas affairs after the embarrassing failure of the Guaido coup attempt. The Australian government must cease its flunkeyism towards the US and reject these policies which are alien to the Australian people. The Australian government must recognise President Maduro as the legitimate President of Venezuela, in accordance with fact, and reject the criminal US-imposed blockade which is of no benefit to anything but US geopolitical interests. The CPA stands in solidarity with President Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan government and the Venezuelan people. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) will provide $2.9 million to support a health organisation and the WHO in their efforts to counter Covid-19 in India. A total of $2.4 million will go to USAIDs health strengthening project implemented by Jhpiego, an international non-profit health organisation affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, and $500,000 to the World Health Organization (WHO), the US embassy said in a statement on Monday. The new funds will help the Indian government to slow the spread of Covid-19, provide care for the affected, and support local communities with the tools needed to contain the disease, the statement said. The new funding builds on a foundation of more than $1.4 billion in health assistance, and nearly $3 billion in total assistance, that the US has provided to India over the past 20 years. Praising Indias efforts to counter the disease, US ambassador Kenneth Juster said the USAID assistance will further support the countrys response. Covid-19 is a global public health threat that can be addressed best by close collaboration among governments and international organisations. The US government, through USAID, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other US Department of Health and Human Services agencies, is working closely with the government of India and multilateral agencies to support Indias response to this global pandemic, he said. The US has been the worlds largest provider of bilateral assistance in public health for several decades. Since 2009, American taxpayers have made available more than $100 billion in health assistance and nearly $70 billion in humanitarian assistance globally. US contributions to WHO in 2019 exceeded $400 million, almost double the second largest member states contribution, while US support to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) was nearly $1.7 billion in 2019. US contributions to the UN Childrens Fund in 2019 totalled more than $700 million. Because an infectious disease threat anywhere can become a threat everywhere, the US calls on other donors to contribute to the global effort to combat Covid-19, the statement said. BONITA SPRINGS, Fla., April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Synapse Technologies based in Bonita Springs, FL is enlisting robots and other connected devices in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Synapse, a physician led company, engages in programming and deploying cutting edge technologies to better connect patients with their healthcare providers. They have created a cutting edge, yet easy to use, telemedicine and telehealth conduits and portals, Umedoc (www.umedoc.com). Before the pandemic, the company had already deployed a fleet of robots and other telepresence devices for diagnosing and treating medical conditions in a variety of facilities including skilled rehabilitation facilities, outpatient clinics, and homebound patients. Robots enable medical providers to autonomously see patients remotely. Synapse's medical platform also runs on connected devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones that are readily available. The platform conforms to strict guidelines of HIPAA and NIST, privacy regulations that govern medical care. Synapse has devices deployed in a variety of facilities including Cypress Cove Living in Fort Myers and ManorCare Lely Palms in Naples, FL, and looks to partner with other forward-thinking medical organizations and practices. Since the epidemic has started, Synapse has teamed with Prime Medical Group, a southwest Florida medical practice, to deploy physician and nurse practitioners to enable daily rounding on vulnerable patients at risk of contracting COVID-19. Prime Medical treats patients in skilled rehabilitation and hospital settings. Providing this connectivity helps to reduce the risks associated with healthcare providers unknowingly giving their patients COVID-19 and vice versa. Other benefits include patients who are hearing impaired to be able to see the provider's face and lips on telemedicine. Patients have in fact expressed gratitude that such a technology exists to reduce the threat of the virus further spreading, and promote social distancing without sacrificing quality care. Synapse has also introduced chat-bot COVID screening (Umebot) and a telemedicine website Umedoc ( www.umedoc.com ) built from ground up with in-house coding to help Floridians assess their risk for the virus, assess symptoms, and obtain further testing if necessary. Pairing with local healthcare providers enables them to arm doctors and healthcare providers with the necessary tools to help the fight without being sidelined. Because the pandemic is unprecedented, Synapse is committed to helping the community one byte at a time. If interested in partnering with Umedoc, please contact us at (904) 990-4013 or www.umedoc.com. Ty Hosmer, Lead Sales Synapse Coding 24301 Walden Center Drive Suite 300 Bonita Springs, FL 34134 (904) 990-4013 [email protected] SOURCE Synapse Coding Dana White looks on as Holly Holm and Miesha Tate face-off in 2016. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) UFC president Dana White was reportedly named in a lawsuit on Friday as the prominent Las Vegas businessman involved in a sex-tape extortion scheme in 2015. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Ernesto Joshua Ramos filed the lawsuit against White, claiming that White violated a deal the two had in 2016 to pay Ramos $450,000 for not disclosing Whites name after the criminal sex-tape extortion case closed. HUGE SHOCK: Floyd Mayweather's daughter arrested over stabbing DOING IT RIGHT: UFC star continues bizarre quarantine in the nude Ramos also claimed that he never demanded money from White, and said Whites lawyers provided false derogatory information about him to the FBI, per the report. I just found out that a bulls**t lawsuit was filed against me yesterday, White said in a statement, via the Las Vegas Review-Journal. This guy went to federal prison for trying to extort me over five years ago. Now hes hired a lawyer who is also a convicted felon, and hes trying to extort me again for $10 million (AU$16.6 million). He got no money from me last time and he wont be getting any money from me this time. I look forward to the court dismissing this quickly so I can get rid of these scumbags forever. Disturbing claims against White in lawsuit Ramos was arrested in 2015 and charged with trying to extort $200,000 from a Las Vegas-area businessman after an overseas rendezvous with an adult nightclub dancer. FBI agents videotaped the exchange of money between the unnamed businessman and Ramos, per the report. Ramos eventually pled guilty in federal court and served just more than a year in prison. The businessman was not named in the initial complaint, and a federal judge signed a protective order prohibiting the disclosure of his name, initials and company. White, who Ramos now claims was the unnamed businessman, had been seeing the dancer for months, per the lawsuit. Donald Trump introduces Dana White as he speaks to supporters at the Broadmoor World Arena in February. (Photo by Aaron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) She allegedly taped herself having sex with White without his knowledge at a hotel room in Brazil, too, when White was there overseeing a UFC event. Story continues Ramos lawsuit claims that White and his lawyers offered Ramos money during the criminal case to both keep his name out of it and to persuade him to plead guilty, though they did not ever give him any cash. The actions of White were fraudulent, oppressive and designed to encourage Ramos to plead guilty so he could negotiate a substantial settlement, which would prevent the disclosure of his actions at trial for the personal benefit of White and his related businesses and interest, the suit alleges, via the Las Vegas Review-Journal. By Ryan Young - Yahoo Sports US CLASS DANGERS IN PUBLIC EMERGENCIES On 23rd March, Justin Trudeau held a meeting with all premiers to discuss whether or not to implement the federal Emergencies Act. As this issue of Peoples Voice goes to press, he is stating that he will hold off for the time being. Without question, the coronavirus pandemic is an emergency that warrants urgent and extraordinary action by governments. But it is unclear what powers the federal is reaching for when it looks to the Emergencies Act, or what impact those powers could have on the working class. After all, every provincial and territorial government in the country has already declared some type of emergency, so the main challenge right now seems to be ensuring consistency and improving coordination between those jurisdictions. Canadas prime minister Justin Trudeau. The Emergencies Act was introduced in 1988 to replace the War Measures Act, which had become severely tarnished following its use in October 1970. At that time, the government of Pierre Trudeau used the emergency powers to create a virtual police state not just in Quebec, but across the country in which 3,000 searches were carried out and 500 people arrested and detained without charges or access to legal counsel. The widespread militarisation of society and sweeping suspension of civil and democratic rights was described as unprecedented, and had the (desired) effect of putting a chill on support for Quebec sovereignty, as well as on radical political organising throughout Canada. The current legislation differs from the War Measures Act in that it requires Parliament to review a Cabinet decision to declare an emergency and makes temporary laws declared under the Act to be subject to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It all sounds very transparent, safe, and reasonable. So, what could go wrong? The Emergencies Act empowers the federal government to prohibit travel, forcefully evacuate or remove people, requisition property and penalise people who disobey emergency measures. The Act allows for summary convictions with a fine of $500 and six months in jail, or convictions on indictment with fines of $5,000 and five years in jail. A big part of the current crisis is the deep global economic recession that the virus has triggered. As in the 2008 financial crisis, the federal government is already kowtowing to corporate interests, particularly in the oil and gas sector. The Trudeau government is highly vulnerable to pressure from the right-wing premiers in Alberta and Saskatchewan and has already indicated its commitment to prioritising Canadas petro-economy at all costs. Ottawa will undoubtedly, commit huge resources to propping up the oil industry and removing all barriers to its post-pandemic expansion. Perhaps the main barrier is opposition to pipelines and tar sands development, from Indigenous people and their allies right across the country. There is no question that politicians and oil industry executives have pondered this reality and addressed it in their plans for a corporate recovery. And it is not at all unthinkable that the federal government would be prepared to use emergency powers of requisition, removal and prosecution to ensure such a recovery. Trudeau and company have already shown their willingness to sacrifice reconciliation and sunny climate action on the altar of corporate profit. If theyre prepared to send the RCMP to dismantle an anti-pipeline blockade after only a couple of weeks, what is their limit now? When asked how far he was prepared to go in October 1970, Pierre Trudeau replied, Just watch me. People watched, and they suffered. Hopefully, the labour and progressive movements have learned a thing or two since then, and theyll organise now to defend the working class and oppressed people against the same kind of tyranny. This is no time to watch and wait. Peoples Voice Courtesy Images / Courtesy Images The Woodlands petrochemical company Huntsman is switching production at an Alabama plant to make hand sanitizer that will be sent to health care facilities nationwide as they combat the coronavirus, the company said Monday. The plant in McIntosh normally makes coatings and adhesives for the aerospace, wind energy and automotive industries. The first 5-ton shipment of hand sanitizer will be donated to the Huntsman Cancer Institute and associated medical facilities at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Based on the latest estimates, about half a million people in Iran are suffering from COVED-19, a member of the National Coronavirus Combat Taskforce has disclosed. Speaking to the Islamic Republic's official news agency, IRNA, on Monday, April 6, Hamid Souri asserted that since many patients suffering from mild symptoms of COVID-19 have not yet been detected, the estimate is not accurate. Souri is talking about half a million infections, while Iran's Ministry of Health still insists that 60,500 are currently infected by the deadly virus. Furthermore, describing the situation in Iran as "worrisome", Souri warned that the novel coronavirus curve in the provinces of Tehran, Khorasan Razavi, West Azarbaijan, Bushehr, Khuzestan, Kermanshah, and Semnan was moving upwards. "The coronavirus curve has not flattened in any of the country's 31 provinces", Souri told the official news agency. However, President Hassan Rouhani had earlier claimed that in some provinces the curve of the epidemic flattened and people could go back to school and work. Implicitly responding to Rouhani's comment, Souri said that the decision to resume some activities was based on economic, political and even security-related "excuses", and it could significantly decrease the chance to successfully rein in the spread of the deadly virus. Meanwhile, speaking at his daily video news conference, the head of Iran's Health Ministry's Public Relations Office, Kianush Jahanpur said on Monday that 24,236 people out of a total of 60,500 infected by the coronavirus have recovered while 3,739 have unfortunately succumbed to death. Over the last 24 hours, 136 people died due to the deadly virus, IRNA cited Jahanpour as saying. Referring to crowded streets and heavy traffic in recent days in the capital city, Tehran, Jahanpur, cautioned, "If the current procedure goes on, within seven to ten days we will witness the virus peaking again in Tehran." However, Radio Fardas independent estimate based on local media reports puts the number of those infected at 95,000 and the dead at 6,800. - Co-op Bank said it expected the money to be channelled in the sourcing of critical life-saving medical supplies like ventilators - The lender became the first corporate to donate finances to the emergency response fund created by President Uhuru Kenyatta - The fund constitutes a 10-member board consisting of the country's top CEOs who were tasked with mobilising and managing resources for fighting coronavirus - Global supply of ventilators has not been able to meet the ballooning demand and this has caused an acute shortage of the life-saving machines Co-operative Bank of Kenya has donated KSh 100 million to the country's coronavirus management kitty The lender said the contribution was expected to support the sourcing of critical life-saving medical supplies and equipment especially ventilators. READ ALSO: Kenyan newspapers review for April 6: Elders want government to try traditional medicine in fight against coronavirus patients Co-op Bank said it expects the money to be channelled in sourcing of ventilators. Photo: Coop Bank. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Governor Sonko cancels General Badi's county staff meeting over COVID-19 Co-op Bank became the first corporate to donate finances to the emergency fund and urged other well wishers to pitch in and increase the country's ability to acquire or produce more of the crucial machines. "The Board of Directors and staff at Co-operative Bank is honoured to support with a key cash contribution of KSh 100 million preferably to be allocated towards the purchase of critical ventilators. We once more request and appeal to other corporate institutions and Kenyans of goodwill to join hands and support this most worthy once-in-a-generation fight. We shall overcome," read a statement signed by the bank's Managing Director and CEO Gideon Muriuki. READ ALSO: Wakenya wengi wataka marufuku kabisa ya kutoka nje ili kudhibiti coronavirus - Utafiti A ventilator helps a patient breathe. Photo: UGC. Source: UGC According to health experts, coronavirus attacks the respiratory system and causes the lungs to start filling up with fluid. The infection then causes the lungs to start to collapse, occasioning difficulty in breathing and thus the need for a ventilator to help a patient breathe. READ ALSO: 68% of Kenyans support a complete lockdown to control coronavirus As cases of the respiratory disease continue to spike by the hour, the global demand for ventilators has also been increasing every day. Supply of the equipment has, however, not been able to meet the ballooning demand and this has caused an acute global shortage of the life-saving machines. "This is a crucial moment for our country Kenya. The outbreak of coronavirus pandemic is the biggest crisis of our time particularly in the effort to source critical life-saving medical supplies and equipment especially ventilators that are in short supply globally," the statement from Co-op Bank read in part. Some of ventilator units ready to be used on critically ill coronavirus patients. Photo: MoH. Source: UGC Earlier, Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe said Kenya was in the process of procuring more ventilators adding that some well wishers had pledged to donate more. Kagwe further revealed plans were afoot to start local assembly of ventilators. Since COVID-19 broke out in China in December 2019, the highly contagious disease has been contracted by at least 1.27 million people out of which 69,500 have died while 265,887 have recovered. As at Sunday, April 5, Kenya had recorded 142 cases of the virus. Some four patients have recovered while four other lives have been lost to the disease. 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 World Health Organization | Tuko TV. Source: TUKO.co.ke The death toll from Covid-19 in the Republic is 158, as 21 further deaths have been confirmed. Yesterday, 390 new cases were detected bringing the total number of positive tests to 4,994. As of Friday at midnight, 165 people were admitted to intensive care units while 1,163 cases are associated with healthcare workers. Community assessment hubs are to be rolled out this week starting today. They will provide enhanced community-based supports for people who have tested positive for Covid-19. There will be 12 to 15 of these hubs in place by the end of the week. HSE chief operations officer, Anne O'Connor, says people with symptoms will have to contact their GP first. "These hubs will take place in our primary care centres, they will be open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm. "People will be referred by their GP, they will not be places that people turn up to. The idea being that we adhere to all of the correct infection control procedures. "However, they will provide a timely assessment of people who feel that they are symptomatic." Health Minister Simon Harris says barriers to entry for nurses are being removed to ensure more staff can be recruited. "To waive the registration fee for any new nurse joining the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), we the Department are going to meet the fees for any new registrant to the NMBI provided they have either an offer of a fixed-term Covid-19 employment - so they are going to work for the Health Service during Covid-19 - or that they are living in Ireland and they are available to work." Meanwhile, Professor Anthony Staines from DCU is calling on the HSE to significantly increase its contact-tracing for the virus. "At the moment we are only contact tracing those who have confirmed infections. When in our situation we have such delays in testing, I think that is a high risk strategy. "I think they will bump up contact tracing so we will be contact tracing people with symptoms." [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] LONDON, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite its small size, the Islamic banking sector has achieved tremendous growth in recent years. According to the IMF, Islamic lenders have outperformed conventional banks over the past decade, and there is still plenty of room for growth. Sharia-compliant financial assets are forecast to reach $3.8trn by 2023, averaging annual growth of 10 percent, according to Thomson Reuters' 2018 Islamic Finance Development Report. In the latest edition of World Finance, the 2020 Islamic Finance Awards celebrate the success stories that have emerged out of this rapidly growing sector. These institutions have demonstrated resilience even in the face of unexpectedly low growth last year caused by low oil prices, global trade disputes and political instability. They have achieved this by capitalising on new opportunities such as the digitalisation of the banking sector. Today, there are more than 100 Islamic fintech companies around the world, according to IFN Fintech. Through the deployment of robo-advisors and the creation of alternative asset marketplaces, these companies stand to significantly boost financial inclusion in North Africa and the Middle East, where the unbanked population is still relatively high. Digitalisation has also given rise to a burgeoning regulation technology sector. In its Islamic Finance Outlook 2019 Edition report , S&P Global Ratings said that regulations standardising Sharia interpretation and legal documentation could streamline sukuk issuance and help "unlock the full potential of Islamic finance". Beyond the Gulf states, there are a wealth of new opportunities for the Islamic banking sector around the world. In North Africa and the Middle East, the Muslim population is predicted to increase from 300 million in 2010 to more than 550 million in 2050. Meanwhile, the UK currently has five fully Sharia-compliant banks, a figure experts believe could grow in the coming years. To see which companies are leading the pack in the Islamic banking sector, check out the full list of this year's Islamic Finance Awards winners in the latest issue of World Finance, available in print, on tablet and online now. www.worldfinance.com World News Media, the parent company of World Finance, is a leading publisher of quality financial and business magazines, which enjoys a global distribution network that includes subscriber lists of prominent decision-makers around the world. CONTACT INFORMATION World News Media Barclay Ballard Editorial Department +44-(0)-20-7553-4177 [email protected] SOURCE World News Media Federal authorities are expected to slash 25 percent of Houstons funding to administer the citys coronavirus testing sites and relocate six site workers. Mayor Sylvester Turner and U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, both warned about the cuts at press conferences Sunday. Turner acknowledged Sunday he was disappointed by the abrupt removal of six federal health care workers from city testing sites. But he remained resolute. Were going to just assume that we are going to have to rely on the resources we have, Turner told the Chronicle. Its like what happened after (Hurricane) Harvey; we cant just wait on the cavalry to come. The health care workers to be pulled from the citys testing sites are in advisory roles that help monitor supply levels of such things as infection control, personal protection equipment and processing, Turner said. They are expected to depart April 10. The mayor said he had been in talks with federal authorities over the past week and knew there was a possibility that they might be leaving us, but it was not confirmed. Although the sites are locally managed, they rely on the federal government for testing supplies and additional medical personnel. Officials have not heard where the funding would be diverted or additional details on where the workers would go. CITY RESPONSE: As Houston leaders strongly encourage working from home, own staff report to empty buildings If theyre going back into the general fund that would be highly, highly unacceptable, Green told the Chronicle. This is not a time to try to pad the coffers while we have lives at risk. The Federal Emergency Management Agency notified the city on March 31 that it was making cuts and removing staff no later than April 10. Green wrote in a letter to FEMA on April 1 that the cuts could hamper local responses to COVID-19. This decision could have dire consequences for our constituents, and it is an unnecessary complication for the city to deal with as it tries to respond to this pandemic, he said. U.S. Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee, Sylvia R. Garcia and Lizzie Fletcher, all Houston Democrats, also signed the letter. In the interim, Green has asked FEMA to extend funding to April 30, and if possible, scrap the cuts altogether. FEMA just provided a new round of medical supplies to the county on Thursday after Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo warned that testing sites would shut down if they ran out of equipment. The agency has acknowledged receipt of the letter, addressed to FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor, but has not provided a response, Green said. One question still unresolved is if any resources pulled from the city will return if Houston experiences the kind of surge many health care workers fear is coming but has not yet arrived. Most health care experts believe that the infection rate in Houston is much greater than the numbers reflect because of persistent barriers to testing. As of Sunday, Turner estimated that about 4,500 tests have been conducted so far at the two city sites. The turnaround for results is averaging five to seven days but can stretch longer. gwendolyn.wu@chron.com jenny.deam@chron.com SHELTON Shelton reached a grim milestone Sunday, with the state confirming 113 positive coronavirus cases in the city, by far the most in the Valley. The city had 15 more positive cases in the past 24 hours. Shelton is among 12 communities in Connecticut with more than 100 positive cases. In all, 10 Shelton residents have died from COVID-19-related complications. The deaths have been four women and two men in their 90s; three men in their 80s, and one man in his 70s; with eight being residents of nursing homes or assisted living facilities, according to the Naugatuck Valley Health District. The COVID-19-related deaths reported by NVHD have been confirmed through laboratory testing. Three Shelton assisted living facilities Apple Rehab Shelton Lakes, Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation and Gardner Heights Health Care Center all were listed as having a worker or individual test positive for the coronavirus, according to state health officials. More than 50 such facilities across the state have at least one worker or resident who has tested positive for the virus. Public Safety Director Mike Maglione said earlier this week that several positive cases are in the citys nursing home community, but the virus is also among the general population. There are five nursing home facilities in Shelton, according to Maglione, housing some 450 residents altogether. Positive cases are scattered throughout the city, said Maglione. That is why we constantly reinforce social distancing. Stay away from crowds and wash your hands. The health district has stated that community spread/transmission is now occurring in the Valley. People have been infected with the virus, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected. Please practice social distancing and stay home as much as possible. Statewide, as of April 5, there were more than 5,600 confirmed cases and 189 reported deaths, including the 10 from Shelton. There are 1,142 coronavirus patients hospitalized, up 109 from Friday, Gov. Ned Lamont said. Lamonts executive orders have shuttered all schools until at least April 20, and closed all nonessential businesses until further notice. Gatherings of more than five people are prohibited. The governor said last week that schools may remain closed until the fall. Residents should continue to heed the advice of their chief elected officials, said NVHD Director Jessica Stelmaszek, and stay home as much as possible and continue to practice social distancing to avoid exposure and further spread of the virus. The NVHD defines a person under investigation as anyone who has been identified as someone who may have the virus that causes COVID-19 or who was under investigation but tested negative. The health district has received many requests to report recovery statistics, said Stelmaszek. Currently, there is no reliable recovery data available. Health district staff will continue to work with patients to determine when an individual meets the CDCs criteria to come out of self-isolation. The state Department of Public Health now publishes a report at www.ct.gov/coronavirus that breaks down positive COVID-19 cases by town. The NVHD release states that the physician who ordered the coronavirus test for the patient and health district staff will contact individuals who test positive for COVID-19. Those individuals will remain in quarantine at their homes, stated the NVHD release. Individuals who reside in the same household as a laboratory confirmed positive case will also be required to self-quarantine at their home. Health department staff will work with the patients to investigate and determine if additional individuals need to be notified or require 14-day self-monitoring periods at home. If an individual is inpatient or in a healthcare facility, that facility will lead the investigation. Stelmaszek said health district officials are hopeful that some of our residents will start meeting criteria to come out of self-isolation. Most individuals in Connecticut will not have a test to determine if they are still contagious. brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com BRAINTREE, MA There are 83 positive cases of the new coronavirus in Braintree as of Monday morning, according to the latest numbers from local health officials. The number of cases continues to rise across the state, and additional measures to stem its spread continue to be implemented. In addition to the Stay at Home Advisory and the closing of all non-essential businesses, Gov. Charlie Baker announced last week the closure of parking lots at all state beaches. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported that as of Sunday afternoon, 12,500 Massachusetts residents tested positive for COVID-19. This includes 1,271 residents of Norfolk County. Braintree health officials reminded residents of the following steps they should be taking to limit the spread of the new coronavirus: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Avoid touching your face, eyes or mouth. Frequently clean commonly touched surfaces, including electronics, door knobs and countertops. Avoid sharing food utensils, containers and other personal items. Practice social distancing by maintaining a distance of 6 feet from others. Stay home from work if you are sick. Practice proper cough etiquette. Cover your mouth or nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, throw the tissue away and wash or sanitize your hands. If a tissue isnt available, cough or sneeze into your elbow/upper sleeve. Here are the latest updates on the new coronavirus in Braintree: Braintree residents have been busy designing their windows to show solidarity for their neighbors and that everyone is struggling together. The project was organized by Jen Longobardi and former Town Councilor Sean Powers, which they named Windows of Hope. Longobardi and her daughter Izzy decorated their window with a little birthday message. Izzy's birthday is Tuesday. Longobardi said her daughter misses her friends and was disappointed she won't be able to celebrate with them. Story continues Courtesy of Jen Longobardi So the Longobardis hung up a picture of a cake, some balloons and a sign that read "Hon it's my birthday." Ashlee, Hailey, Everleigh and Jake Cobbett had to postpone their trip to Disney because of the COVID-19 crisis. They decorated their window like Mickey Mouse in hopes of being able to re-schedule the trip soon. Courtesy of the Cobbetts The Braintree Community Task Force has run three drives collecting food for residents and person protective equipment for first responders. Services Coordinator Kate Naughton said the first two drive-thru drives were huge successes and filled eight Brewster vans with food. This article originally appeared on the Braintree Patch California judicial leaders, in their latest round of emergency orders to help courts cope with the coronavirus, voted Monday to eliminate bail for defendants charged with misdemeanors and most nonviolent felonies and to allow pretrial proceedings to be conducted remotely, with a defendants consent. The temporary measures, which also included limits on evictions and home foreclosures, are intended to preserve rights and ultimately preserve lives, Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye said at the teleconference of the state Judicial Council, the governing body which she chairs. The measures are to remain in effect until 90 days after the end of the state of emergency declared by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The statewide rollback of cash bail is one of several pending efforts to reduce the populations of county jails, where crowded conditions increase the risk of exposure to the virus. State lawmakers voted in 2018 to eliminate bail and allow local judges to determine when a newly arrested defendant was safe to release, but the measure was put on hold, and its fate placed before the voters, when bail bond companies qualified a referendum for the November ballot. Cantil-Sakauye urged Superior Court judges statewide on March 28 to reduce bail to zero for all but the most serious crimes, but court officials said the response was mixed, with compliance in some counties, including the Bay Area, and continuation of bail in others. Mondays unanimous Judicial Council vote requires the change in every county as of 5 p.m. next Monday. It does not apply to those charged with violent felonies or with felonies related to domestic violence, stalking, sex crimes or drunken driving. The council also voted unanimously to allow defendants to take part in pretrial proceedings, such as arraignments, by phone or video. A related proposal to require a defendants consent for remote pretrial hearings drew an objection from Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara, a Judicial Council member. Saying the Constitution guarantees only the right to be present when ones case goes to trial, Jackson asked, Why would we extend the right of a defendant to determine (physical presence), putting personnel at risk, in order to support a non-constitutional right? The rights of all sides need to be balanced, Cantil-Sakauye replied, and defendants generally have a right to be present at all critical points in a case. Jackson abstained from the vote that otherwise won unanimous council approval. On evictions, the council approved changes in court rules to implement Newsoms executive order halting removals of renters who are unable to make payments because of virus-related loss of income. This means no CA tenant will be evicted unless its necessary to protect public health & safety, Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, said by Twitter after the vote. 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 council also approved a freeze on judicial foreclosures, which some lenders use to evict homeowners and sell their property when they are unable to make mortgage payments. On other issues, the council voted to extend legal deadlines in civil suits and to lengthen restraining orders that allow judges to prohibit someone from possessing a gun or ammunition, based on evidence of potential dangers presented by family members or police. Judges have been able to prohibit gun ownership for up to 21 days without a hearing, and the new rule increases that limit to 90 days. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tri Indah Oktavianti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 6, 2020 14:29 644 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206ffe7b7 1 City COVID-19,COVID-19-Jakarta,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,COVID-19-joblessness,layoffs Free The number of workers that have been laid off and forced to take unpaid leave has reached 162,416 in the capital as more than 18,000 companies in the city grapple with the impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak, the Jakarta administration has said. Data compiled by the Jakarta Manpower, Transmigration and Energy Agency showed that as of Sunday, a total of 30,137 workers had been terminated by 3,348 companies, while another 132,279 employees had been sent home without pay. A total of 18,045 companies in Jakarta have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak. "[The Jakarta administration] is collecting data on the number of workers who have been laid off and forced to take unpaid leave to be reported later to the Office of the Coordinating Economic Minister and the Manpower Ministry," the agency wrote on its official Instagram account. The Jakarta administration, through the agency, had issued a policy to accelerate the preemployment card program to offer subsidized job training courses and incentives to workers affected by layoffs and unpaid leave to cushion the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) president Said Iqbal has called on the government to prepare more measures to anticipate more layoffs. "The government needs to give funds to workers, app-based ride-hailing drivers, and small businesses. It would ease the burden of companies as part of the payment is subsidized by the government," Said Iqbal said in a statement on Monday. Read also: Airline employees worried about job security as COVID-19 takes its toll He also suggested the government give incentives to tourism businesses by terminating bank loan interests or reducing tourism-related tax to keep the industry alive. Said Iqbal also called on companies to reduce production costs by giving more days off to workers with a rotational policy to ensure production kept ongoing. "It would reduce electrical costs, catering costs and others for companies" he said, adding that companies should still pay workers in full. At the time of the writing, Andi Yansyah, the head of Jakarta's Manpower, Transmigration and Energy Agency, was not immediately available when reached for comment by The Jakarta Post. As of Sunday, the novel coronavirus disease has sickened 2,273 people and killed 198 across the archipelago. Jakarta remains the hardest-hit by the contagious disease as the capital has reported nearly half of nationwide cases, or 1,143 infections, with 111 fatalities. India did not create the problem. But if it had a better functioning government system, it would have been able to deal with it at lower cost to its citizens, explains T N Ninan. IMAGE: A message on coronavirus on a street in Nadia district, Gujarat, April 4, 2020. Photograph: PTI Photo A crisis shows up the strengths and weaknesses of a system. The social stability underlying India's everyday chaos was on display during the wreck that was demonetisation in 2016; people died while waiting in queues at bank branches, but there was no rioting. Somewhat contrarily, the trigger-happy rioting that occurred in north east Delhi recently exposed the social fault lines that cause occasional eruptions. And the initial failure of the police to bring the situation under control showed how much the machinery created to enforce law and order has been compromised and communalised. COVID-19 has exposed new strengths and weaknesses. The prime minister has led from the front in imposing a lockdown and warning people in blunt terms of the possible consequences of failure to observe it. But it is state governments that have led the way to help people affected by the crisis and its economic devastation. This is a reassuring sign, that India has strengths at different levels. And for all the evidence of the media having been cowed or become cheerleaders, there cannot be much doubt that it is the widespread reporting of migrant workers walking to ancestral village homes hundreds of kilometres away (all passenger services having been banned) that has led to the opening of government-run kitchens and the provision of transport. Hopefully, people can go home or stay where they are, near places where they can find work, until a semblance of normalcy returns. The 'JAM' trilogy has certainly come in handy. Just when it had begun to look like Aadhaar being more a menace for government control than a handy tool for transferring benefits, it has proved its worth because many of the measures that the finance minister announced in terms of handing out cash would have been far more difficult without JAM: Jan Dhan accounts, Aadhaar, and mobile phones. The system is not perfect (and exclusions provoke crises for those affected, as experience has shown), but even with its imperfections it is a huge systemic asset. Some of the weaknesses have also been laid bare, like the severe capacity limits of the medicare system. This has been highlighted for decades, with commentators pointing out that (unlike in most economies with claims to having achieved some development) the bulk of the medical expenditure in India is borne privately; the State has had too little a role. Most governments have simply not found this important enough to address, in terms of building a functional government health infrastructure large enough to meet the needs of 1.3 billion people. Should the number of COVID-19 cases in India continue to grow at the present rate of acceleration, the system will quite clearly be overwhelmed. Moreover, the roping in of private capacities has been delayed -- for testing and diagnosis, manufacturing the necessary protective equipment, supplying ventilators, and the like. Hopefully, health budgets in future will show some awareness of what needs to be done. The country's stretched fiscal situation too has operated as a constraint. Deficits have been too high for too long, so that the national debt (while lower in relation to GDP than for many large economies) is still too high and therefore a mental constraint when the government needs to open the spending tap. That might explain why the finance minister's aid package of Rs 1.7 trillion is not only one of the smallest in the world, but only Rs 0.6 trillion of that will be new money as one analyst has argued. It will be many weeks and months before this black swan event gets over, and there could be lasting changes that are wrought. As with the rest of the world, India's growth rates are now forecast to drop sharply, and there will be a price to pay in terms of employment and more limited government resources for essential needs. India did not create the problem. But if it had a better functioning government system, it would have been able to deal with it at lower cost to its citizens. As of Sunday afternoon, the provincial government announced nine new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba, bringing their grand total up to 203. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 5/4/2020 (645 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us CP Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba chief public health officer, speaks during a recent COVID-19 update. (John Woods/Winnipeg Free Press) As of Sunday afternoon, the provincial government announced nine new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba, bringing their grand total up to 203. During yesterday's press conference, Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's chief public health officer, revealed that this number includes 11 people in hospital, seven of whom are in intensive care. To date, the total number of deaths reported in Manitoba due to the novel coronavirus remains at two. The cases of COVID-19 in the Prairie Mountain Health region actually dropped from 12 to 11. However, Roussin later told the Sun that this was probably because of a clerical error, where the province incorrectly attributed a patient to PMH when they actually resided in another health region. Roussin admitted that the recent spike in cases has been quite high, with 131 additional instances emerging since the provinces last Sunday press conference on March 29. "Were seeing evidence of early, community-based transmission and unfortunately we have been seeing severe outcomes," he said. "So now is the time for all Manitobans to act. Stay home whenever you can, only go out for essentials. If you have to go out, practise social distancing strategies at all times." Roussin went on to say that it is especially important to abide by these principles now that Easter weekend is on the horizon, since some people may be tempted to celebrate by organizing large family gatherings. "There will be a time when we can have these get togethers again, but this is not that time," he said on Sunday."We know there has been evidence of the virus being transmitted at such events in other jurisdictions, so we really are asking Manitobans to stay home as much as you can." When asked if recent safety precautions, like closing all non-essential businesses on Wednesday, has had any impact on flattening the rates of infection in Manitoba, Roussin replied it is too early to tell. "We still havent seen the benefits of the escalated measures as of yet," he said. "So were going to continue to follow that and make changes as necessary." Lanette Siragusa, Shared Health's chief nursing officer, revealed on Sunday that the provinces first alternative isolation site, for people who tested positive for COVID-19 but cannot self-isolate at home, will be officially up and running at a Winnipeg hotel on Monday. Siragusa also mentioned that a similar site will be set up in Brandon, although she couldnt identify when this grand opening will occur. "As soon as we feel comfortable that weve got this first site (where) we worked out all the kinks and weve got that process really slick and steady, then were going to take it out beyond," she said. "So I would hope in a couple weeks, perhaps." Shared Healths chief nursing officer also gave a quick shout-out to Westman during todays press conference, praising the Rural Municipality of Pipestone for setting up a grocery deliver service for its residents and offering interest-free loans to local businesses to help keep them afloat. "In Manitoba, when we say were all in this together its not just a tagline," Siragusa said. "Its really how weve chosen to live our lives these last few weeks and its great to see." Manitobas first three cases of COVID-19 emerged on March 12. kdarbyson@brandonsun.com Twitter: @KyleDarbyson Dear Editor, Oh, come on, guys! Whats all this arguing and name-calling about hydroxychloroquine? Why not look at the facts? There is biologic plausibility as to how hydroxychloroquine might have anti-COVID-19 effectiveness, including in vitro activity against a number of RNA viruses, with established mechanisms as to its anti-viral efficacy. There is a small French study which suggests clinical usefulness, but the data was limited and until we have the results of larger clinical trials, the medication, although now widely used, is being used empirically. That said, an expert consensus group from China recommends the drugs use, and most treatment guidelines here in the United States suggest its use. Guidelines are evolving daily as we develop more evidence, so you can expect treatment recommendations to rapidly change as well. Do you know how history repeats itself? During past plagues where there was uncertainty about treatment, fierce debates often arose over patient management. During the yellow fever outbreak in Philadelphia in 1793, one group of physicians believed in bloodletting, while an opposing group strongly felt this was an injurious practice. The debate quickly became bitter and personal, complete with name-calling, spilling into partisan attacks in local newspapers. Sounds familiar? Remember, too, the drug is not completely safe, it can cause lethal cardiac arrhythmias is some people, so right now we dont like to use it unless the patient is on a cardiac monitor. My advice? The drug may be helpful; lets use it carefully for now, and wait for real data before reaching any conclusions. There are a number of other therapies also being evaluated in clinical trials. In the meantime, remember we are fighting the virus and NOT EACH OTHER! If anyone has a question about the effectiveness of a therapy, ask a smart infectious disease specialist; we are lucky enough to have a lot of them around here! Ellis Lader, MD Hurley, N.Y. Fox News is being sued by a Washington nonprofit that claims the television station and its parent companies and owners violated the state's Consumer Protection Act by spreading false information about the coronavirus. The suit, filed on behalf of the Washington League for Increased Transparency and Ethics - WASHLITE - claims the conservative news station engaged in "unfair or deceptive" acts by misrepresenting and downplaying the seriousness of the coronavirus by suggesting that it was being politicised to hurt the president. As a result, it says, viewers failed to prepare and act in ways that could have protected them and helped slow the spread of the virus. According to The Seattle Times, the lawsuit claims the conservative news network contributed to the "public-health crisis" and to "preventable mass death." The suit includes AT&T and Comcast as defendants. The attorney representing WASHLITE, Liz Hallock, said the suit was filed to keep the public safe. "We are not trying to chill free speech here. But we believe the public was endangered by false and deceptive communications in the stream of commerce," she told the Seattle Times. "There are a lot of people who listen to Fox News and they're not taking the recommendations of public-health officials seriously. This is not about money; it's about making sure the public gets the message this is not a hoax." The lawsuit is seeking "nominal damages" and attorneys' fees as well as an injunction to stop Fox stations from "interfering with or undermining legitimate control measures imposed within the State of Washington for the limited time period under which the pandemic is brought under control and until the pandemic is brought under control." According to The Times of San Diego, which broke the story, the general counsel for Fox News Media said that they "will defend vigorously and seek sanctions as appropriate" and that the claims were "wrong on the facts, frivolous on the law." The lawsuit was launched shortly after a letter signed by 80 journalism professors sent by the Columbia Journalism School criticising the network's coronavirus coverage and calling for it to stop misleading the public. Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch have been building a legal team to defend the network in anticipation of lawsuits filed in response to the network's coronavirus coverage. The network has already begun steeling itself against challenges; Fox Business parted ways with anchor Trish Regan after she claimed on-air that the coronavirus was a politically motivated outbreak to re-launch impeachment efforts against President Donald Trump. Sean Hannity, arguably the network's biggest star, has spent the last two weeks walking back claims that the virus was comparable to the flu and was being overstated by Democrats to make Mr Trump look bad. Since then, he has claimed that he always took the virus very seriously. Arthur West, a WASHLITE board member, told The Daily Beast that they weren't intimidated by Fox News or its legal team. "We are not afraid of the big bag Fox," he said. "I'm pretty sure they'll try something like [sanctions] because that's what bullies do." Mr West has won some substantial battles in court against government entities. He won a $192,000 settlement in an open-meetings lawsuit against the agency that governs Washington's legalised marijuana industry and boasted to The Daily Beast that he has won "a number of six-figure awards." Lawsuits aimed at media companies generally elicit an uncomfortable reaction from parties on both sides of the political aisle for their potential to set precedents for undermining First Amendment rights of the press. Bollea v Gawker, which set the stage for the destruction of the often loved, often loathed media site by billionaire Peter Thiel and Terry Bollea, aka Hulk Hogan, was widely condemned as an assault on the First Amendment by a pair of rich men. Eric Goldman, a professor at Santa Clara University School of Law, told the Times of San Diego that the lawsuit looked to be a SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) lawsuit meant to chill the network's free speech rights. "WASHLITE essentially accuses Fox News of false advertising because of its editorial misinformation," Mr Goldman said. "The lawsuit is still a SLAPP, so I'm happy to call it that. There's just not the fast procedural lane provided by the [Washington state] anti-SLAPP law." Mr Goldman does agree, however, that "many thousands of Americans will die because they relied on the misinformation broadcast by Fox News." Mr West says he isn't looking to stifle free speech, but hopes his lawsuit will inject "practical wisdom" into the law to better protect the public. "It is between liberty with order and anarchy without either," he said. "There is danger that, if the court does not temper its doctrinaire logic with a little practical wisdom, it will convert the constitutional Bill of Rights into a suicide pact. A young woman was injured in a landmine explosion Sunday in Paruyr Sevak village of Armenias Ararat Province. The head of the community, Eduard Stepanyan, informed Armenian News-NEWS.am about this. She had gone to collect beets with her mother-in-law; there were 3 other women with them, he noted. "Fortunately, they were not injured. The woman was taken to Astghik hospital [in Yerevan]; most likely, her leg will be amputated." The village head added that the 33-year-old woman had three minor children and that it was very difficult to remove her from the area because it was a minefield and civilians were not allowed to enter. And Police informed Armenian News-NEWS.am that they had received a call from the aforesaid hospital that they had admitted a Paruyr Sevak village resident, who was born in 1987. It was found out that she had accidentally stepped on a landmine, and this had caused an explosion which injured her. The circumstances are being clarified. A report is being prepared. The actions of Chinas Communist leaders concerning the coronavirus pandemic have, yet again, made abundantly clear that totalitarian regimes do not behave like responsible nations. Rather than share information promptly to avert a global health emergency, the revolution, or regime, puts itself before all else, regardless of how many human beings are infected or die. Only when the ghastly reality of the Wuhan coronavirus could no longer be contained did Beijings leadership stop some of the censorship, shifting to propaganda, lies, and baseless attacks to deflect responsibility for the crisis. The Iranian regime has followed a similar pattern. So will Communist Cuba, as history has shown that it cannot be relied on for accurate and complete health data on pandemics or other urgent global health challenges. Unlike China or Iran, however, Cuba is just a 45-minute flight away from the U.S. mainland. To safeguard the American people, it was essential for the U.S. to suspend all travel to and from Cuba. It appears from a tweet Thursday by the U.S. mission in Havana that the administration has implemented such a measure. It should also consider blocking entry to the U.S. for all foreign travelers who have visited the island within the previous 120 days. This suggested timeframe is based on estimates of the spread of the novel coronavirus and on statutory limitations concerning access to American ports by vessels that have been in Cuba. Once the health crisis subsides, the U.S. can reassess travel protocols based on verifiable measures, not Cuban-government rhetoric. Beyond the propaganda, Havanas leaders have a long track record of hiding or manipulating information in some instances, such as infant health and mortality, using extreme measures to create a facade of its alleged excellence in health care. The same is true for its management of virus outbreaks that should concern every American especially those who remain on the island, including several unlawfully imprisoned by the regime. Story continues In 2013, after decades of the regimes claiming that there were no cases of cholera on the island, the Pan American Health Organization was quoted as confirming cholera cases among travelers to the island. News reports further cited anecdotal evidence from Cuban health workers and residents concerning outbreaks in various provinces. In 2016, when the World Health Organization announced a rare public health emergency of international concern over the Zika-virus outbreak in the Western Hemisphere, Cuba refused to cooperate with international organizations. Complete data on the Zika outbreak never materialized. A 2019 analysis by close to 40 specialists and researchers from five countries studied Zika-infected travelers returning to the United States or Europe in 2017 or 2018 and found that 98 percent had visited Cuba, which did not report any cases to global health officials when the islands outbreak peaked. The experts estimated that Cuba had over 5,700 unreported Zika cases. During the summer of 2019, the regime tried to cover up the spread and scope of the dengue outbreak. Whether the outbreaks are of cholera or of infectious diseases resulting from Zika, dengue, or other pathogens, Communist Cubas lack of transparency, crumbling health-care system, lack of basic supplies such as soap, and general police-state mismanagement have impacted the U.S. mainland, especially South Florida. The U.S. must seek to prevent it from happening again, this time with the coronavirus. There are also concerns about Cubas travel-security infrastructure. In the U.S., these have been raised by congressional homeland-security and national-security committees and are relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic. What steps are being taken to sanitize equipment and facilities, such as Jose Marti International Airport, and the Port of Mariel in Havana, where a coronavirus-infested cruise liner was allowed to dock this week? On March 11, the Global Liberty Alliance sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, urging the administration to consider reassessing travel warnings and protocols for travel to and from Cuba. Several Florida policymakers, including Governor Ron DeSantis, Miami-Dade County mayor Carlos A. Gimenez, and commissioner Esteban Bovo, followed suit. They urge that flights to and from the island be temporarily suspended. Every year thousands of travelers come and go between Cuba and Miami International Airport. They also travel to San Antonio, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, Newark, New York, and Los Angeles. Any foreign traveler who does not reside in the U.S. and who has visited Cuba in the past three months should be prevented from U.S. entry until the crisis subsides. For months, Cuba has had a shortage of soap, laundry detergent, and other basic hygiene products. After finally admitting the existence of coronavirus cases, the Communist leadership urged the Cuban people to make their own masks out of any spare material they may have available as they crowd in lines waiting for their food rations. The United States, working with the private sector and the Cuban diaspora, could prepare supplies in South Florida and at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo and deliver them to the people of Cuba. Cubas Communist leaders will likely reject it, as Irans leadership did, but the Cuban people need to know the gesture was made. Meanwhile, at least until American medical experts and policymakers have a better forecast of the course of the pandemic in the United States, Cuba should be off limits to all travelers seeking entry into the U.S. Failure to do so would be like playing a game of Russian roulette with Communist Cuba, a Kremlin client state, as the welfare of the American people is at stake. More from National Review Americans are increasingly being spotted wearing face masks in public amid the coronavirus pandemic, as are people are around the globe. Soon, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may advise all Americans to cover their faces when they leave the house, the Washington Post reported. The agency is weighing that recommendation after initially telling Americans that they didn't need to wear masks and that anything other than a high-grade N95 medical mask would do little to prevent infection any way. FACE MASKS DO HELP PREVENT INFECTION - BUT THEY'RE NOT ALL CREATED EQUAL 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. WHAT TO USE TO COVER YOUR FACE IF YOU DON'T HAVE A MASK So the agency may recommend regular citizens use alternatives like cloth masks or bandanas. '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.' But as the pandemic has spread to more than 164,000 people worldwide, it might be time to consider last resort options. The coronavirus threatened Americans with their hardest week in memory on Monday and put Britain's prime minister in hospital, despite early signs that some of Europe's hardest-hit countries may be turning a corner. Japan announced an imminent state of emergency and a trillion-dollar stimulus package, after the US surgeon general compared the likely impact of the epidemic in the week ahead to 9/11 or Pearl Harbor. But it was a more mixed picture in Europe, where countries already ravaged by deadly COVID-19 outbreaks reported lower numbers of new infections and, in Austria and Italy, began thinking about easing lockdown restrictions. Hard-hit Spain recorded deaths down for a fourth straight day, but still logged 637 fatalities, and France underlined the epidemic's economic toll, forecasting the worst recession since World War II. Val Cloke sits in her living room in the village of Hartley Wintney watching Queen Elizabeth II deliver a special address to the UK and Commonwealth about the coronavirus outbreak. By ADRIAN DENNIS (AFP) In London, virus-stricken Prime Minister Boris Johnson spent the night in hospital for tests, after Queen Elizabeth II delivered a rare emergency address in a 68-year reign to urge Britain to "remain united and resolute". The new coronavirus has reached almost every corner of the planet, confining nearly half of humanity to their homes and turning life upside down for billions on a deadly march that has claimed nearly 70,000 victims. "This is going to be the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans' lives, quite frankly," US Surgeon General Jerome Adams told Fox News. "This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment, only it's not going to be localised." In Tokyo, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said hospitals face a "critical situation" and an emergency could be declared as early as Tuesday. "We're currently seeing rapid increases of new infections particularly in urban areas like Tokyo and Osaka," he said. The United States is bracing for its "Pearl Harbor moment" as the country's death toll races towards 10,000. By Bryan R. Smith (AFP) But there was hope in parts of Europe after a weekend that saw Italy reporting its lowest death toll in two weeks and France its fewest dead in a week. "The curve has started its descent and the number of deaths has started to drop," said top Italian health official Silvio Brusaferro, adding the next phase could be a gradual easing of a strict month-long lockdown. In Spain, nurse Empar Loren said: "The situation is more stable. The number of patients in intensive care is not growing much anymore, and we are starting to discharge quite a few." Makeshift morgues At a field hospital set up at a Madrid conference centre, staff applauded whenever a patient was healthy enough to be sent home. A municipal worker cleans and disinfects walkways in a yard in Moscow, during the strict lockdown in Russia. By Natalia KOLESNIKOVA (AFP) Builder Eduardo Lopez, 59, gave a "10/10" rating to the staff who cared for him "with tenderness and a great dose of humanity". But while the curve showed signs of flattening in Europe, there was little indication of a let-up in the United States, where the death toll approached 10,000 and authorities warned worse was around the corner. Fatalities in hardest-hit New York state rose to 4,159, Governor Andrew Cuomo said, up from 3,565 a day earlier. A man stands in front of giant crosses in the town of Achmiany, some 130 km northwest of Minsk, during Palm Sunday celebrations. By Sergei GAPON (AFP) It was the first time the daily toll had dropped, but Cuomo said it was too early to tell whether it was just a "blip". Images from New York showed medics in protective gear wheeling bodies on stretchers to refrigerated trailers repurposed as makeshift morgues. 'Starve to death' In an empty Saint Peter's Square on Sunday, Pope Francis, head of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, appealed for people to show courage in the face of the pandemic. The elderly pontiff, who has twice been tested for the virus, celebrated his Palm Sunday mass by livestream, as he has done for weeks. Other religious leaders went to more extraordinary lengths to deliver the traditional Palm Sunday blessing, with Archbishop Jose Domingo Ulloa of Panama celebrating from a helicopter. The effective mothballing of the global economy is beginning to hit hard with analysts warning poverty levels will spike with millions of jobs lost despite unprecedented stimulus programmes. Municipal workers disinfect the streets of La Paz, Bolivia, as a preventive measure to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. By Aizar RALDES (AFP) Iran, whose economy has suffered the double blow of the virus and punishing US sanctions, said it would allow "low-risk" economic activity to resume as daily infection rates fell for a fifth straight day. But some in poorer countries are already chafing against curfews destroying their livelihoods. "How can anyone stay home without anything to eat?" asked Garcia Landu, a motorcycle taxi driver in Angola's bustling capital, Luanda. Members of the Kurdish Red Crescent check passengers for COVID-19 symptoms upon their arrival at the Qamishli airport in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province. By DELIL SOULEIMAN (AFP) "Better to die of this disease or gunshot than to starve to death," he said. Despite the gloom, heartwarming examples of humanity around the globe have lifted spirits, with ordinary people doing what they can to help those on the medical front line. In a Barcelona restaurant, chefs flipped burgers to deliver to nurses and doctors. "When you deliver the food and you see they're happy, that makes us happy and it makes us stronger," said delivery man Daniel Valls. And in the southern Italian city of Naples, a street artist lowered a "solidarity food basket" from his balcony, hollering: "If you can, put something in. If you can't, take something out". "We started by putting a piece of bread, a bag of pasta, a box of peeled tomatoes," said English-language tutor Teresa Cardo, who also lowered a basket. "And two hours later, the basket was completely full." burs-dc/jv Top US Health Officials: Shocking US Coronavirus Death Toll Just Ahead By Ken Bredemeier April 05, 2020 Top U.S. health officials warned Americans on Sunday that the United States will face a shocking coronavirus death toll in the coming week as the pandemic continues to ravage the country. "This is going to be the hardest and saddest week of most Americans' lives, quite frankly," U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams told "Fox News Sunday." "This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment, only it's not going to be localized. It's going to be happening all over the country." Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said bluntly on CBS's "Face the Nation" show, "This is going to be a bad week. It's going to be shocking to some." The U.S. has already recorded more than 9,100 deaths and 321,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with officials predicting that eventually 100,000 to 240,000 could die from the pandemic. Models of the advance of the virus show the death toll increasing sharply in the next seven to nine days, with the fatalities often lagging increases in the number of confirmed cases by a week or two. "I wouldn't say we have this under control. We are struggling to get it under control," Fauci said, despite orders in 41 states covering more than 90% of the country's 327 million population to stay home except to buy groceries, keep medical appointments and a few other essential outings. Despite the sharp expected increase in the death toll in the coming days, Fauci said he expects that in eight or nine days, "hopefully we'll see" a leveling off and then a decrease in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases. "We're pushing to get it much better under control," he said. "It's clear we're much better off than we were," with more testing in the U.S., more adherence to stay-at-home edicts and more tracing of contacts with other people by those who have tested positive for the coronavirus. President Donald Trump, however, has refused to issue a nationwide stay-at-home edict, saying he would leave it up to the remaining nine state governors who have not issued such commands in their states to decide whether they should order people to stay home. Fauci said the people in the nine states are "putting themselves at risk" by not self-isolating even if their governors have not issued stay-at-home orders. "This virus does not discriminate" whether one lives in a small community or a large city," Fauci said. Adams told the nine governors, all Republicans like Trump, "What I would say to those governors is, if you can't give us a month, give us what you can. Give us a week" with a stay-at-home order. "Give us whatever you can to stay at home during this particularly tough time when we're going to be hitting our peak over the next seven to 10 days." Adams said he wants the public to know that they, along with the state and federal governments, "have the power to change the trajectory of this epidemic" by isolating and maintaining a physical distance of at least two meters from other people when they are in public. Trump has often said that he believes the use of anti-malarial drugs to treat coronavirus victims might be a "game-changer," although the drugs have not been confirmed scientifically for use against coronavirus. Adams defended Trump's support for use of the unproven drug called hydroxychloroquine to treat the coronavirus, noting there have been "some stories out there" about it helping coronavirus patients. "We feel a bit better regarding its safety than we do about a completely novel drug," Adams said. "And so, we just want to be able to facilitate physicians and patients having that conversation." Fauci said "the data [about hydroxychloroquine] are at best suggestive. In terms of science, it's not proven." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Interior Minister Christophe Castaner has commended French people for following tough coronavirus lockdown restrictions, even as some breached the social distancing regulations during a sunny spring weekend. Amid growing speculation that the sunny spring weather will loosen French people's resolve to respect the confinement, Castaner on Monday tried to set the record straight. "The 65 million French people are globally respecting the confinement," he told French radio France Info. While acknowledging that there had been cases of "idiotic behavior", he insisted that the French were among the best in the world in terms of complying with local lockdown rules. Not all of them are are setting an example, however. Spring temptation Around 480,000 people have been fined since the start of the lockdown on 17 March and police have carried out over 8 million checks to ensure members of the public are sticking to the restrictions. And the warm sunshine has proved too tempting for some, with news outlets awash last weekend with images of joggers and families out on the streets enjoying the outdoors as if on a normal spring day. "The risk is if we let our guard down," Castaner admitted, urging French people not to be lured by the fine weather. "The weather doesn't count in us deciding whether or not to go outside. What counts is the fight against the virus." Police chief engulfed by storm Castaner also flew to the defence of his police and army officers, insisting they were not there to report and fine people but to protect them by ensuring they respect the confinement. He was also asked to comment on the controversy surrounding his Paris police chief Didier Lallement, who last week suggested that "the people who are in hospital or in intensive care are those who didn't respect the lockdown when it began. Lallement has since apologised. For Castaner, the matter "is closed", however he conceded that his chief's comments were incoherent. Although, France's daily death toll from Covid-19 has fallen over the past two days, health officials have warned against complacency. More than 8,000 people have so far died. In a major push for skill development in the technology industry, ABB, in association with the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) has developed a standardized qualification criterion for two IoT-related job roles IoT Network Communications and IoT Cyber Security. This first of its kind industry collaboration will facilitate the much-needed uniformity and formalization by aiding the hiring and evaluation of these high-skilled jobs across the sector. The Qualification Packs (QPs) define the competency standards that will provide a framework for academic institutions to design their course curriculum to better conform to industry hiring standards. The qualification packs for the two job roles have been approved by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), National Skill Development Agency (NSDA), and National Skills Qualifications Committee (NSQC). These standardized assessments will lead to the creation of skilled and certified talent for IoT from which the industry can hire the right talent for new-age jobs, thereby reducing the cost of hiring and increasing the time for productivity. The QPs will be promoted across the industry for the purpose of hiring, promotions and curating learning & development (L&D) programs, thereby laying the foundation for standardized employment practices for skilled jobs in the IT-ITeS industry. NASSCOM estimates that nearly 40% of the countrys workforce needs to be reskilled if they are to work in the artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT), machine learning and blockchain spaces. To this effect, the government will popularize the initiative in academic institutions across the country, to help bridge the prominent skill gap that currently exists in the industry. The initiative will allow the Indian Government to streamline the entry of skilled personnel into the industry and ensure minimal retraining and attrition costs across companies. Commenting on this, Rajarshi Banerjee, Head of ABB Ability Customer Experience and Innovation AMEA, ABB, said, At ABB we take pride in being part of this industry-wide endeavour to navigate through the next era of digitalisation and industry 4.0. The rapid pace of technology disruption continues to render significant shifts in human resource requirements. The need of the hour for the industry is a specialized set of skills beyond the traditional course curriculum, as also demonstrated by the current Covid-19 situation where virtual/digital has become integral to operations in most companies. Our joint effort with NASSCOM has led to the creation of these qualification packs that will serve as a guiding light across the industry recruiters, educational institutes and prospective recruits, as guide-rails both for the curriculum and recruitment. We have created a standardized format for the industry, which we believe will result in developing a quality pool to help companies across sectors, to hire from. Apala Ray, Global Cybersecurity Manager, Industrial Automation Process Industries at ABB, said, An increase in implementation of cybersecurity and other disruptive technologies like IoT, AI etc, has led to an incumbent need for standardizing specialized skill sets, to ensure that the future workforce is equipped with the knowledge and awareness of the applicability that the industry demands and needs. These Qualification Packs will serve as a compass for the future workforce as well as corporates to navigate new technologies in this space and thereby, capitalize on them. We are proud to have been a key enabler in this first-of-its-kind initiative in India. Sharing his thoughts on the partnership, Amit Aggarwal, CEO, IT-ITES Sector Skills Council, NASSCOM, said that, As the world gets increasingly connected, IoT emerges as an even more prominent technology for our future. With the number of businesses adopting IoT technologies constantly growing, the industry is in need of a qualified workforce that can deliver intelligent solutions for changing consumer and business behaviour. We are certain that this initiative will benefit the sector as a whole and help us in our journey to further consolidate India as a talent hub for new-age technologies. NASSCOM has been at the forefront of an industry-driven effort in India to develop Future Skills Competency Standards that define the skills required to do jobs in technologies like IoT, AI, Big Data Analytics (BDA), Cloud Computing and several others. NASSCOM has developed these job competency standards together with the industry representatives that have helped create a common language across industry, academia and government on hiring, training and skilling. For an employer, it means the individual is ready to work from day 1, thus creating a win-win for the employee, the employer and the country. The qualification packs were designed by NASSCOM and ABB in association with other industry partners after detailed functional analysis of the level of knowledge, skills and aptitude required for each of the job roles. This initiative will also form the basis for the government and other tech companies to define job roles and qualification packs for other emerging, new age technologies. One day after his release from prison, Chinese rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang told friends that he is being watched by state agents fueling calls at home and abroad for China to stop using the pandemic as an excuse to extend his incarceration. The European Union said, in a press statement, that it expects Wangs release to be unconditional, with particular regard to his freedom of movement and to establish residence, including the possibility to reunite with his family in Beijing a stance endorsed by many international rights groups. His rights under China's legislation and international commitments were not respected during trial and detention. Reports about Mr. Wang being subject to serious mistreatment and torture must be thoroughly investigated, the EU statement added. An illusion Amnesty International (AI) China researcher Doriane Lau called Wangs freedom an illusion until the Chinese government lifts all restrictions. After Wang completed his four-and-a-half-year detention, the politically motivated campaign against him is only likely to enter a new phase. Despite his release, he will be subject to heavy surveillance and unable to return to [Beijing], Lau warned in a statement. They are taking advantage of the COVID virus situation and using that as a very convenient excuse to basically detain him further or control him further, another AI analyst William Nee told VOA. Nee said that Wangs case is emblematic of Chinas flawed rule of law as it has been riddled with inconsistencies and illegalities even according to Chinas own criminal procedures. The Chinese authorities should stop any form of harassment, the China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group said in an earlier joint statement signed by ten other organizations to call for the international societys attention on Wangs condition. Set him free Beijings insistence on prosecuting Wang reinforces a dangerous mindset: that stability trumps free speech, and a harmonious society, human rights," Sarah Brooks, Asia Advocate at International Service for Human Rights, also said in the statement. Wang, a lawyer who had defended political activists, victims of land seizures and members of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement, is being placed under a 14-day quarantine in his hometown Jinan, Chinas eastern Shandong province 400 km south of Beijing, where his family of three live. During a phone conversation, Wang told peer lawyer Li Heping that state agents in the corridor outside his apartment in Jinan are keeping an eye on him and, before his release, hed been tested five times for coronavirus, Lis wife Wang Qiaoling tweeted early Monday. Unreasonable quarantine That prompted Lis wife to say that lawyer Wang should immediately go home [to his family in Beijing]. No need to wait for another 14 days. The 14-day [quarantine] is unreasonable. In earlier tweets, she complained that police in Jinan were keeping lawyer Wang away from everyone including delivery boys and his closest kin. His cousin and those who tried to deliver food and flowers to his apartment were once taken into the police station for questioning, she tweeted. Li Wenzu, wife to lawyer Wang, reiterated the familys wishes to be reunited in Beijing. Its an illegal act for the government to limit individual personal freedom. This is against our free will. What I and Quanzhang want is to be reunited. We want a family reunion in Beijing, she told VOA. She said their son, who turns seven, keeps asking why his father hasnt returned on Sunday. Calling Chinese officials liars and hooligans, Li said she is worried that Wang will be permanently put under house arrest in Jinan even if the 14-day quarantine comes to an end. On Twitter, support for Wangs genuine freedom has been growing. Growing support online One user wrote Wangs fate in 14 days will be decided by how [strongly] the international society reacts China may adjust [its control of him] if it is under heavy pressure. If not, it will continue its evil act. Shao Jiang, a former Tiananmen movement student protester, who now lives in London, tweeted that Wang must be granted freedom, not non-release release. Non-release release is a term coined by leading New York University School of Law China expert Jerome Cohen to describe Chinas practice of putting rights activists under de facto house arrest upon their release from detention. According to Safeguard Defenders, Chinas practice of non-release release may last up to a year or more commonly for a few months. It is an exercise in controlling news, diplomatic and general media attention in high profile cases, and especially to block reports on victim testimonies of torture or other illegal behavior, the rights group said in a press statement last week. A Chinese lawyer who befriends Wang told VOA anonymously that he remains worried about Wangs mental and physical condition after years of incarceration. He added hes pessimistic that China will cave into international pressure or ease its control of Wang. The rise of China has empowered itself to build up its own narrative, growing more and more reluctant to take criticism from other governments, despite that what China has done [to Wang] is illegal and against human nature, he said. On Weibo, Chinas Twitter-like social microblogging platform, no mention of Wangs release can be found as state censorship is common. New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday (April 6) took a major decision to cut 30 per cent salary of all MPs for one year, and divert MPLAD funds for two years to fight against the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. The deadly virus has so far claimed 111 lives with 4281 positive cases, but 319 have also recovered or cured. Notably, the government will divert nearly Rs 7,900 crores of MPLAD to fund the battle against the deadly virus. The cabinet also approved an ordinance to amend the Salary, Allowances, and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954 reducing allowances and pension by 30 per cent from April 1, 2020, for a year. Union minister Prakash Javadekar said the President, the Vice President, governors of states have also voluntarily decided to take a pay cut as a social responsibility while addressing a press conference to inform about the cabinet decision. "Charity begins at home," Javadkar said and added that the pay cut also includes the prime minister and the Union ministers. This is the temporary suspension of the MPLAD (Member of Parliament Local Area Development) fund scheme during financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22. While there are 543 MPs in Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha has 245 members --788 in all. Each MP gets Rs 5 crore per annum as MPLAD and for two years it would be nearly Rs 7880 crores while by salary cut the government will save about Rs 29 crores a year. The money will be put in the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI) and used for "managing health and the adverse impact of the outbreak of COVID19" in the country, Javadekar said. While the salary cut, not more than 30,000 per month for each MP, may not be a big amount for most of the lawmakers, the suspension of MPLAD fund for two years will deny MPs their biggest tool to push development projects in their constituency. All the revenue received by the government by way of taxes like income tax, central excise, customs and other receipts flowing to the government is credited into the CFI. All government expenditure is incurred from this fund and no amount can be withdrawn from the CFI without authorization from Parliament. Earlier in the day, PM Modi indicated some easing of restrictions in a phased manner after the nationwide lockdown ends on April 14 but asked the countrymen to be ready for a long battle against the outbreak. He also addressed the party workers where he asked the countrymen to feel neither tired nor defeated in this long fight. PM Modi also asked Union ministers to prepare a "graded plan" to slowly open departments in areas that have not emerged as hotspots of the COVID-19 pandemic, while chairing a meeting of the council of ministers through video conferencing. Talking about the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, he said that the government must work on war footing to mitigate the impact, adding that the ministries should prepare a business continuity plan, according to an official statement. In Delhi, however, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases has increased to 525 today. Out of 525 cases, 329 cases are linked to Tablighi Jamaat, said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, adding "COVID-19 cases reached 523 in Delhi, with 20 fresh cases being reported in the last 24 hours including 10 persons of Tablighi Jamaat event in Nizamuddin." Kejriwal added, "One person died of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, total deaths stand at 7. 25 patients are in ICU and 8 people are on the ventilator. The rest of the patients are stable." India continued its battle against coronavirus with the lockdown entering the 13th day and the total number of cases reached 4,281 after the biggest single-day jump of 704 on Monday. There are 4,281 cases in the country including 3,851 active cases and 318 cured or discharged and 111 deaths, according to the latest update of the Health Ministry, which said there has been an increase of 704 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, which is the biggest rise so far in India in a day. Bengaluru, April 6 : The widow and the brother of Karnataka's fourth Covid-19 victim from Bagalkot had tested positive, along with 10 others, taking the number of coronavirus cases to 163, said an official here on Monday. "Till date, 163 covid positive cases have been confirmed. This includes four deaths and 18 discharges," said a health official. The fourth victim's widow, 54, and his brother, 58, have turned Covid-19 positive and designated as cases 161 and 162, respectively. As many as 12 new cases have surfaced between Sunday 5 p.m. and Monday evening. In the state, 136 Covid-19 patients, including a pregnant woman, are isolated at designated hospitals and are stable, except three -- cases 43, 101 and 102 -- who continue to be critical. The other cases include a 32-year-old man from Bengaluru, primary contact of cases 43 and 44. He is Karnataka's 152nd coronavirus positive case. A 62-year-old woman from Kerala, with travel history to Germany and a contact of cases 106 and 133, has emerged as the 153rd case. A 20-year-old man from Mysuru, brother of 104th case, is the 154th case. A 37-year-old man from the same place with travel history to Delhi is the 155th case. Similarly, a 57-year-old man with the same background is the 156th case. A 22-year-old man from the same place with similar travel history is the 157th case. Likewise, a 26-year-old man from Mysuru is the 158th case. A 32-year-old woman from the Mysuru pharmaceutical company is the 159th case, another new case originating from the same point. The state's 160th case is a 35-year-old man from the same place with Dubai travel history. On Monday alone, seven new cases emerged from Mysuru. Cases 161 and 162 are connected to the state's fourth Covid-19 death in Bagalkot. The last case on Monday and the 163rd case is a 43-year-old Tablighi pilgrim from Bengaluru rural. All of them have been admitted to designated hospitals across the state. In Karnataka, 10 new dedicated Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-supported laboratories have been notified for testing coronavirus. Meanwhile, the Karnataka State Board of Wakf has advised all mosques not to allow public for Shab-e-Barat on Thursday during the lockout aimed at breaking the chain of Covid-19 contagion. "No public shall be allowed to perform religious rituals in the qabrasthans or darghas and all the gates shall be kept closed," said an official statement. All Waqf officers and District Waqf Advisory Committees in the state must adhere to the orders, it said. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) The European Union leadership says there is no issue in keeping sanctions against Russia in place amid the coronavirus pandemic, spokesperson for the European Commission Peter Stano told a video briefing on Monday. According to him, the sanctions "do not hamper Russias capabilities to address the outbreak," TASS reported. Answering a question about a letter sponsored by a number of MEPs, demanding that the commission do not "lift the sanctions on Russia under the pretext of the coronavirus pandemic," Stano noted that the sanctions "do not prevent Russia from tackling coronavirus outbreak." "Yes, indeed, we have received this letter and the reply will be sent through the usual channels. Just to recall, the High Representative, Josep Borrell, issued a declaration last Friday on behalf of the EU, where it is stressed that sanctions should not impede the delivery of essential equipment and supplies which are necessary to fight the coronavirus and limit its spread worldwide," the spokesperson for the European Commission added. He points out that the sanctions were imposed following the events that took place in Ukraine and Crimea in 2014. "This means that these sanctions do not prevent Russia from tackling the coronavirus outbreak," Stano stressed. [April 06, 2020] Global Biotechnology Firm STEMCELL Launches COVID-19 Staff Safety App SINGAPORE, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OutSystems announced that STEMCELL Technologies has launched its "My Status" app to help keep STEMCELL staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. The app, developed in one day and built with the OutSystems low-code development platform, helps STEMCELL maintain the production of specialized cell culture tools that are crucial for scientists to research diseases and therapies, including vaccines to combat the COVID-19 virus. STEMCELL Technologies is a global biotechnology company that develops specialized cell culture media, cell isolation tools, and scientific services that are used by life sciences researchers working in cell therapy, immunology, cancer research, and regenerative medicine. STEMCELL products such as PneumaCult play a critical role in helping research scientists in the fight against SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19. Having implemented a work-from-home policy for the majority of its Vancouver-based staff on March 6, STEMCELL needed a way to monitor the health, availability, and location of all employees on a daily basis. Only essential on-site staff directly associated with the manufacturing and shipping of research products are exempt from the work-at-home policy. The requirement was handed to STEMCELL's small application development team late in the afternoon on March 9, 2020. Eric Kao, one of STEMCELL's developers, took on the challenge and worked on it that night. "I was expecting the team to help Eric with development on March 10," explainsBeatriz Clarke, STEMCELL's applications development manager. "But in the morning, I found he had already finished. The application was ready to go live." "Speed of development is critical when facing a rapidly changing situation like the coronavirus outbreak," explains Clarke. Low-code visual development, the ability to reuse pre-built components and application templates, as well as the ability to support continuous delivery, were key factors in the rapid development of My Status. Since launching the My Status app to 1,500 employees on March 11, daily updates to the app have added support for alerts, equipment loans, and dashboards for managers and the safety team. Clarke says feedback from the business has been extremely positive. "Our management was completely blown away that we could develop this in one night, and users find it easy to use," she explains. "From a safety perspective, it has helped us reinforce the precautions our employees need to take, and the daily check-ins and equipment loans give staff the confidence that STEMCELL has their back." Keeping STEMCELL staff safe and keeping management informed of staff location and wellness helps ensure that the production of STEMCELL's research-critical products stays strong. That's good news for the company's scientific client base and good news for the world, as citizens will rely on therapies and vaccines designed using STEMCELL products to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. "The My Status app is just one of many successes that we've had with low-code," says John Lilleyman, CIO at STEMCELL. "OutSystems has helped us transform the way IT delivers value to the business. We're more agile, at least three times faster, and collaboration and trust are greatly enhanced between the business and IT." STEMCELL has donated the application source code so that a generic version of the app can be made available to the broader developer community as a free-to-use template. Anyone using the OutSystems low-code platform will be able to adapt and customize the app to meet their specific needs. About STEMCELL - STEMCELL Technologies is Canada's largest biotechnology company, with over 1,500 employees and year-on-year growth of approximately 20% for the last 26 years. Based in Vancouver, STEMCELL supports life sciences research around the world with more than 2,500 specialized reagents, tools, and services. STEMCELL offers high-quality cell culture media, cell separation technologies, instruments, accessory products, and educational resources that are used by scientists advancing the stem cell, immunology, cancer, regenerative medicine, microbiology, and cellular therapy fields. Find more information at www.stemcell.com . About OutSystems - Thousands of customers worldwide trust OutSystems, the number one low-code platform for rapid application development. Engineers with an obsessive attention to detail crafted every aspect of the OutSystems platform to help organizations build enterprise-grade apps and transform their business faster. OutSystems is the only solution that combines the power of low-code development with advanced mobile capabilities, enabling visual development of entire applications that easily integrate with existing systems. Visit us at www.outsystems.com or follow us on Twitter @OutSystems or LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/outsystems. Logo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20171116/1994802-1LOGO SOURCE OutSystems [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A person was seriously injured Sunday night in a multi-car crash on Interstate 495 in Andover, officials said. Authorities responded to the collision shortly before 10:45 p.m. The crash occurred in the southbound lanes of the highway prior to Exit 41, according to a statement from Massachusetts State Police. The collision caused life-threatening injuries to at least one driver and prompted authorities to close all southbound lanes of the highway, the statement said. The cause of the crash is under investigation, state police said. State police did not release any further details about the collision. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. RIDGEFIELD First Selectman Rudy Marconi has tested positive for the coronavirus, and is believed to be the first municipal leader in the state to contract the disease. Marconi, who has led the town for over two decades, said in a statement Monday that he tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, and is working from home in self-quarantine. Its unclear how he was exposed to the virus. I have offered to step in, but Rudy is still in control from home, Board of Selectmen member Barbara Manners said Monday. Manners, who has also served on the board some 20 years, confirmed she is the designated second selecman who would take over if Marconi needed to stop working. Everyone who was in close contact with Rudy last week has been asked to self-quarantine, Manners said. Rudys office is shut down though people continue to work remotely. ... The phones at town hall are still being answered and the tax collector and town clerk are I believe available by appointment only. Town Hall is locked. Marconi said he wanted to reassure all Ridgefield residents that, while he doesnt feel great, he is doing fine and will work from home as he continues to isolate himself. The towns count of COVID-19 cases rose to 107 on Monday, while the number of deaths from the disease remained at 12. Because I have been extremely careful in following all the directives, this is a reminder of how aggressive this virus is, Marconi said. Please stay home. Marconi could not be reached for further comment Monday. Matt Knickerbocker, president of the Connecticut Council of Small Towns and first selectman of Bethel, said Marconi is the first municipal leader in the state to test positive for the disease to his knowledge. I certainly hope he is able to have a mild case, said Knickerbocker, who said he has been friends and colleagues with Marconi since Knickerbocker won his seat as Bethels top elected official in 2009. Knickerbocker said he sent Marconi a message Monday afternoon wishing him a speedy recovery. Hes a great guy, great leader, Knickerbocker said. Im sure he will be modeling the right behavior to his citizens on how to handle this. Marconi was working daily in town hall through last week. Employees have been on reduced shifts in the building, and have notified of the first selectmans condition, according to town officials. We have been working on skeleton crews and altering days in versus out, and many working from home, Human Resources Director Laurie Fernandez said. People with private offices have been working more regularly. ... We have discussed with those employees who may have had more direct contact about quarantining and working from home. She said town hall will be closed Tuesday for a deep sanitizing, and the annex will be closed Wednesday for a similar procedure. We have sent notice to all Town Hall employees this afternoon as well, Fernandez said. Long incubation Its difficult to know how Marconi may have been exposed. As you know, the problem with the coronavirus and its long incubation time is that it is impossible to know where one has gotten it, said Gerri Lewis, public information officer for the town emergency management effort during the COVID-19 crisis. Rudy continued to go to his office every day, in spite of the health risks of leaving his home, because of his immense sense of obligation to the town he loves. That said, he continued, the town hall staff has taken precautions from the beginning of the pandemic, with most working from home since closing doors to the public. Controller Kevin Redmond is among those who have been working some days in town, and other days from home. Weve been on a skeleton staff for probably a week or two weeks, Redmond said Monday. There havent been too many people here, mostly department heads. Weve been rotating on and off for coverage. 107 cases The Monday update from Lewis in the town emergency managment office said: Health Director Ed Briggs confirms that we have 107 COVID-19 cases reported with the expectation that these numbers will climb later today. Our death toll remains at 12, all associated with a care facility. These numbers remind us of how diligent we must remain in keeping our most vulnerable population safe. Please continue to isolate as much as possible, practicing social distancing when you must go out and following all the CDC recommendations. Anyone who has gathered in groups over the weekend are asked to self-quarantine for 14 days before entering any public areas in Ridgefield. This is the only way we can protect everyone. Ridgefields Emergency Operations Team has posted videos of previous streams where many of the most common questions are answered. Go to ridgefieldct.org. For questions, go to Facebook Ridgefield oem or email selectman@ridgefieldct.org. To sign up to receive messages pertaining to Ridgefield, sign up for CTAlert.gov. For those without an email use: noemail@ridgefield.com. Be sure to put the town in the relevant field and check off how you would like to receive the message. Prioritize how to receive your messages or check phone only. CTAlert messages are delivered Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday or as needed. Stay home, stay safe, stay healthy. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty President Trump announced Fridaysomewhat reluctantlythat the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are now recommending that Americans voluntarily wear cloth face coverings in public. The suggestion comes after weeks of federal guidance that ordinary citizens should not wear masks, and its lukewarm tone doesnt do much to answer the question on many minds: Do I need to wear a mask? As U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said at Fridays briefing: It has been confusing to the American people. To clear up some of that confusion, its important to note that not all masks are created equal. They generally fall into three categories: Respirators : These are the convex N95 masks, approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, that filter out 95 percent of large and small particles in the air. They are often constructed from layers of polypropylene, made to fit snugly, and have an expiration date. Surgical masks : These are loose-fitting, pleated, disposable masks, often in blue or white, that you might recognize from TV medical dramas. Approved by the FDA, they are splash-resistant and act as a two-way barrier to large particles. Cloth masks: These are unregulated masks that can even be homemade and serve simply as an extra barrier with no guarantees. 1216673688 Surgical masks and N95 masks should be reserved for medical personnel. Mario Tama/Getty From the start of the coronavirus crisis, until Fridays briefing, the federal government had been saying that the average person did not need to wear a mask. There were two main reasons for this: Supply issues : Because people began hoarding masks even before COVID-19 arrived in the U.S., there was a massive shortage and medical facilities were having trouble restocking. Authorities wanted to preserve N95 masks for health-care workers who were most likely to be in contact with infected patients, and surgical masks for others in the hospital setting, including sick patients. Transmission risk: In the very early days of the pandemic, there was a widespread belief that there was little risk of someone without symptoms transmitting the new coronavirus. Therefore, health officials didnt think someone who didnt feel ill needed to wear a mask. But a growing body of research has shown that asymptomatic people are indeed contagious, sparking the push for more widespread mask usage. Story continues Even though the understanding of how COVID-19 is spread has evolved, the CDC does not want you to go out and get a surgical mask or N95 mask if you are healthy; those still must be reserved for medical personnel. Instead, the agency is advising use of what it calls simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. So its clear the CDC is not saying a cloth mask will protect you from getting coronavirus from someone sneezing near you in the grocery store; they are saying that a mask could stop the spread of the infection from someone who is unknowingly carrying the virus. Experts outside the government are divided on the wisdom of this: Con: Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, an adjunct professor of epidemiology at the University of California Los Angeles who previously worked for the CDC, said there is no new evidence of the benefit. The response to the epidemic is driven by panic and politics, he said. 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. Pro: But Dr. David Larsen, an associate professor in the Department of Public Health at Syracuse University, said we might as well try it. 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. The CDC is now recommending Americans wear simple cloth masks in public. Christof Stache/Getty The next question on your mind is probably: Can a simple piece of cloth do the job? And the answer is: It might be better than nothing. Just as we tell people to cough into their elbows or cover their mouth when they sneeze, a cloth covering can stop some virus-filled droplets from being spewed into the air and onto uninfected people. How much depends on the material: One study found a single-layer handkerchief had a filter efficiency rate of just 2 percent, and a small 2013 test of homemade masks found that a surgical mask was at least three times more effective. The researchers wrote: A homemade mask should only be considered as a last resort to prevent droplet transmission from infected individuals, but it would be better than no protection. Is there any downside to wearing a mask? Well, Trump thinks it would make him look silly while meeting with dictatorsbut assuming you dont have any such engagements on your calendar, there are a couple of other things to consider: False sense of security : Dr. Deborah Birx, who is coordinating the White Houses coronavirus effort, said there was a concern that people wearing a mask might think they dont need to social distance. We dont want people to feel like, Oh Im wearing a mask, Im protected and Im protecting others.' Experts agree that social distancing is still key to flattening the curve and pales in comparison to masking. Touching your face: Health officials have tried to drive home the warning that as long as coronavirus is around, you must avoid touching your face. Thats hard to do if you are constantly adjusting or taking off and putting on a cloth mask. Make sure you wash your hands before and after you handle the mask to minimize risk of getting or transmitting COVID-19. If you decide to take the CDC up on its recommendation, do everyone a favor and dont go to a dozen stores looking to buy a box of masks. Remember: medical workers and first responders really need those N95s and surgical masks. As the CDC notes, you can sew a simple mask; the internet is full of how-tos. You can buy them on eBay, you can fashion one out of an old bra, or you can do what this brave lady did. Or you can do what the experts agree will help end the pandemic: stay the hell at home. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. 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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 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Monday expressed grief over the death of two Army jawans from the state who were gunned down while foiling an infiltration bid in Jammu and Kashmir. Devendra Singh from Rudraprayag and Amit Kumar from Pauri died of injuries sustained in a gun battle with terrorists along the LOC in Keran sector of Kupwara district on Sunday. Rawat offered his condolences to the families of the jawans. The chief minister said the state government stood with them in this difficult time. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sorry! This content is not available in your region Intelligencer file photo BENLD The Italian-Americans of Benld must wait one more year to celebrate their heritage for the 69th official Annual Benld Italian-American Days. On April 1, president of the Italian Club of Benld, Jerry Saracco made an announcement alerting the community that the celebration will be canceled for this year due to Gov. Pritzkers mandate extension for social distancing until at least April 30. A 68-year-old man who died in a hospital in Maharashtra's Nagpur on Sunday tested positive for coronavirus on Monday, a senior official said. The senior citizen was admitted to the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH) on Saturday for breathing problems. "Our doctors immediately examined him at the OPD for COVID-19 patients and admitted him. They sent his samples for testing. The condition of the man deteriorated on Sunday and he died in night," said IGGMCH Deputy Medical Superintendent Sagar Pandey. The deceased's sample for the novel coronavirus tested positive on Monday, he said. The number of the people infected by coronavirus in Nagpur now stands at 18 with one death. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NEW YORK Americans braced for what the nations top doctor warned Sunday would be the hardest and saddest week of their lives while Britain assumed the unwelcome mantle of deadliest coronavirus hot spot in Europe after a record 24-hour jump in deaths that surpassed even hard-hit Italys. Britains own prime minister, Boris Johnson, was hospitalized, 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19 in what his office described as a precautionary step. Amid the dire news, there were also glimmers of hope some hard-hit areas the number of people dying appeared to be slowing in New York City, Spain and Italy. The news was cautiously welcomed by leaders, who also noted that any gains could easily be reversed if people did not continue to adhere to strict lockdowns. U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams offered a stark warning about the expected wave of virus deaths. This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment, he told Fox News Sunday. But President Donald Trump later suggested the hard weeks ahead could foretell the turning of a corner. Were starting to see light at the end of the tunnel, Trump said at an evening White House briefing. In New York City, the U.S. epicenter of the pandemic, daily deaths dropped slightly, along with intensive care admissions and the number of patients who needed breathing tubes inserted, but New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned it was too early to tell the significance of those numbers. Italy and Spain also got some encouraging news. Italy registered its lowest day-to-day increase in deaths in more than two weeks 525, said Angelo Borrelli, the head of the national Civil Protection agency. The pace of infection also seemed to be slowing. Even so, Borrelli warned, This good news shouldnt make us drop our guard. Confirmed infections fell in Spain, too, and new deaths declined for the third straight day, dropping to 674 the first time daily deaths have fallen below 800 in the past week. The outlook, however, was bleak in Britain, which reported more than 600 deaths Sunday, surpassing Italys increase. Italy still has, by far, the worlds highest coronavirus death toll almost 16,000. In a rare televised address, Queen Elizabeth II appealed to Britons to rise the occasion, while acknowledging enormous disruptions, grief and financial difficulties. I hope in the years to come, everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge, she said. And those who come after us will say that the Britons of this generation were as strong as any. Johnson, meanwhile, has been hospitalized, though his office said it was not an emergency and that the 55-year-old Conservative will undergo tests. There are concerns that Johnsons government did not take the virus seriously enough at first and that spring weather will tempt Britons and others to break social distancing rules. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the U.K. might even ban outdoor exercise if people still flout the rules. The vast majority of people are following the public health advice, which is absolutely critical, and staying at home, Hancock told Sky TV. But there are a small minority of people who are still not doing that its quite unbelievable, frankly, to see that. As the numbers of infections rose, Saffron Cordery, the deputy head of Britains National Health Service Providers, said the agency needed to focus on quickly increasing ventilator capacity and getting more protective equipment for health care workers. Italians have not been immune to lure of the good weather, either. Top Italian officials took to national television after photos were published showing huge crowds out shopping. Health Minister Roberto Speranza told RAI state television that all the sacrifices Italians have made since the nationwide lockdown began risked being reversed. Restrictions on movement vary from country to country, state to state, locality to locality. Swedes have been advised to practice social distancing, but schools, bars and restaurants remain open. In Germany and Britain, residents can get outdoors to exercise and walk their dogs, while in Serbia and South Africa, dog walking is not allowed. The ACLU filed its first lawsuit over coronavirus restrictions, arguing in part that Puerto Ricos curfew leaves people fearing arrest if they help elderly relatives by letting police determine who belongs in a family. A coastal communitys mayor in Georgia fears the governors mandate to open beaches will bring crowds to the small island with older residents and no medical facility. At the Vatican, Pope Francis blessed palms for Palm Sunday in a near-empty St. Peters Basilica. At a New Orleans church, Rev. Emmanuel Mulenga blessed palm fronds and put them on a back table so people could get them while also observing social distancing. Worldwide, more than 1.2 million people have been confirmed infected and nearly 70,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. The true numbers are certainly much higher, due to limited testing, different ways nations count the dead and deliberate under-reporting by some governments. The vast majority of infected people recover from the virus, which is spread by microscopic droplets from coughs or sneezes. For most people, the virus causes mild to moderate symptoms such as fever and cough. But for some, especially older adults and the infirm, it can cause pneumonia and lead to death. The rapid spread of the virus in the United States has prompted a chaotic scramble for medical equipment and protective gear. An Associated Press review of purchasing contracts showed that federal agencies largely waited until mid-March more than two months after the first warnings of a potential pandemic to begin placing bulk orders of N95 respirator masks, mechanical ventilators and other equipment needed by front-line health care workers. By that time, hospitals in several states were treating thousands of infected patients without adequate equipment and pleading for shipments from the national stockpile. Now that stockpile is nearly drained just as the numbers of patients requiring critical care is surging. When asked about the issue, Trump said federal officials and the military had worked a miracle. Rebekah Gee, who heads the Louisiana State Universitys health care services division, warned that the private and public sector have been competing with each other, leading to price increases. Gee said one of her colleagues went on eBay to buy gowns, while equipment her department ordered from China got stalled for weeks in Hong Kong. Our whole country is at war with this virus, said Gee, who once ran the states Department of Health. This needs a coordinated approach, and right now thats not happening. Louisiana and the New Orleans area have been hard hit by the virus, and Gov. John Bel Edwards has repeatedly warned of looming equipment shortages. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said he hoped the pace of new infections would plateau soon, but that the virus is unlikely to be eradicated this year. Speaking on CBSs Face the Nation, Fauci said the prospect of a resurgence is why the U.S. is working so hard to develop a vaccine and conducting clinical trials on treatments. Scientists are still learning about the virus that was first detected in late December in Wuhan, China. In what is believed to be the first known infection in an animal in the U.S., officials said Sunday that a tiger at the Bronx Zoo had tested positive. ___ DEmilio reported from Rome. Associated Press writers around the world contributed to this report. ___ Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak The Meghalaya government on Monday decided to resume MGNREGA work with immediate effect amid the lockdown imposed to contain the spread of novel coronavirus. The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma. "The cabinet has allowed MGNREGA work and permitted farmers to resume agricultural activities with immediate effect," Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters. Tynsong, however, did not cite any reason behind the decision as the nationwide lockdown continues till April 14. "The cabinet also decided to extend the closure of schools till April 30. It directed the government officials, who were given a holiday during the lockdown, to resume work from April 15," the deputy chief minister said. He said road construction work and allied activities sanctioned by the state government in the previous fiscal will begin on April 15. Weekly markets and private transportation will be allowed to function from April 15, Tynsong said. The cabinet has also decided to extend financial assistance to all daily wagers and small traders who have been hit by the lockdown, he said. Daily wagers will get Rs 700 per week under the Chief Minister's Relief Against Wage Loss scheme and the financial assistance will be transferred to the eligible beneficiary's account, he said. Daily wagers registered under Building and Other Construction Workers Act, those holding MGNREGA job cards, casual and contractual wage workers in government and semi- government departments and farmers registered under 'PM-KISAN' are not entitled to receive the benefits of the scheme, Tynsong said. The cabinet urged around 2,192 residents of Meghalaya, who are stranded in other states due to the lockdown, not to return home till the April end. The state has not reported any coronavirus infection yet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) No OTP sharing needed to defer EMIs: Do not fall for this cyber fraud India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Apr 06: With several banks giving customers to opt for a moratorium on their EMIs, a new cyber fraud has come to light. Customers get calls requesting for an OTP to postpone their EMIs. Once the OTP is shared, money is withdrawn from the bank account of the customer. In the wake of this cyber fraud, State Bank of India has issued a warning to its customers alerting them of the same. The bank said that customers are getting calls asking them to share their OTP in order to postpone their EMIs. HDFC loan moratorium explained EMI deferment does not require OTP sharing. Do not share your OTP, the SBI also said. The bank further said that the only way to beat cybercriminals is to be alert and aware. Please note that EMI deferment does not require OTP sharing. Do not share your OTP and for details on the EMI deferment scheme visit the bank's site, the SBI also said. PHOENIX On the heels of dire warnings that America is entering the worst week of the COVID-19 pandemic, Arizona health officials Monday reported a surge in COVID-19 cases over the weekend, with 687 new cases bringing the total to 2,456 known infections and 65 deaths. On Sunday, Surgeon General Jerome Adams on Fox News Sunday warned that this will be the hardest and saddest week of most Americans lives, quite frankly. President Donald Trump on Saturday also warned of a lot of death this week. Arizona, however, is not among the hot spots where spikes are expected this week, according to Dr. Deborah Birx, the White Houses coronavirus response coordinator. On Saturday, she identified the hot spots as New York, Detroit and Louisiana, and said there are growing concerns about Pennsylvania, Colorado and Washington, D.C. As of Monday, April 6, the Arizona Department of Health Services reported 2,456 cases of COVID-19 in Arizona, and 65 deaths. The department said 32,534 tests for COVID-19 have been completed in public and private labs in Arizona, and 30,246 were negative. As COVID-19 cases ramp up, Arizona is reporting a steady decline in flu cases. The flu season, which traditionally peaks in early January, has racked up about 31,500 reported cases as of Monday. Its hard to say for sure if fewer people are testing for flu because COVID is circulating or if this is a true decrease in cases, Jessica Rigler, assistant director for public health preparedness for the Arizona Department of Health Services, told KTAR. Arizona this year reported 136 flu cases in the last week of March, compared with 823 cases in the same week last year. I think people have been much more aware of good hygiene practices, like hand hygiene, disinfecting surfaces and staying more physically distanced from others, Rigler said. That can have a dramatic impact on transmission of all diseases, including flu or COVID. Major disaster declaration approved in Arizona The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Saturday approved Gov. Doug Duceys request for a presidential major disaster declaration for Arizona, which will make available more federal assets and resources for the response to COVID-19. In a letter to President Donald Trump on Wednesday, Ducey said the declaration will help families, individuals, businesses and tribal communities in our state weather this storm and bounce back afterward stronger than ever. School stayed open as COVID-19 spread on Navajo reservation Arizona public schools closed March 16, but a boarding school on the Navajo Nation Reservation stayed open for one more day of classes, and school employees met for at least two additional days, according to the Arizona Republic. Health officials say 354 cases of COVID-19 have been found on the reservation, and leaders are working to contain the outbreak. After Rocky Ridge Boarding School in Kykotsmovi closed, at least four employees and two students fell ill with symptoms similar to COVID-19, the newspaper reported. After the death of one employee, a 55-year-old education technician whose cause of death has not been revealed, Rocky Ridge confirmed at least one case of COVID-19 with the school. Mohave County confirms its first COVID-19 death State officials confirmed the first COVID-19 related death in Mohave County on Saturday. The person was older than 65 and had underlying health conditions, according to the county health department. The county has 20 reported cases of COVID-19 as of Monday, with only three cases involving ages 65 or older, according to the ADHS. Tribal casinos demand payroll help The federal program designed to help small businesses survive the COVID-19 outbreak may not extend its protections to tribal casino workers, according to Indian Country Today. Under the $2 trillion relief bill passed by Congress, businesses with fewer than 500 employees could apply for small-business loans to continue employee paychecks. The issue for the casinos came into play last week as the Small Business Administration set rules, including: If the purpose of the business is gambling, such as a pari-mutuel betting racetrack or a gambling casino, the business is not eligible, regardless of the percentage of gross revenue derived from gambling. The National Indian Gaming Association says the tribal gaming industry employs more than 700,000 and generated $37 billion in 2017. We have been fighting for all of our nations during this unprecedented public health crisis, Ernie Stevens, chairman of the association, told Indian Country Today. We fought for the $8 billion set-aside for all Indian tribes, and inclusion of tribal governments along with state and local governments. Tribal leaders are demanding fair treatment. Physical activity is still important for childrens health Schools have been shut down for the remainder of the year, but children should still stay active during this time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children 6 to 17 do 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily. STEM Sports, a Phoenix-based, company has made lessons available online and free of charge, Cronkite News reported. How to help Arizona Helping Hands, a nonprofit organization serving foster care kids, remains open during the stay-at-home order, but its looking for people to donate money ahead of the April 15 tax credit deadline, in addition to contributions of a limited amount of clothes, toys and other kid-friendly items. Donate at azhelpinghands.org/aztaxcredit. It is already a year since Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir was forced from office on 11 April 2019, after thirty years in power. He was toppled during a palace revolution led by generals who hoped to save their post and their skin in the face of a popular uprising that had begun some four months earlier. The Sudanese crowds nevertheless continued to call for freedom, peace and justice. After weeks of chaotic negotiations, bloody repression and an effective campaign of civil disobedience, the military were forced to relinquish power. They now share it with civilians for a three-year transition period. The demands for justice are still everywhere, on walls, in demonstrations, rallies and conversations. Every third day of the month, in memory of the June 3, 2019 violent clampdown on sit-ins, hundreds of young people, friends and families of victims gather near the Nile to demand justice. The transitional authorities have tried to provide initial responses. Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok has appointed an independent commission of inquiry into the violence of June 3. This commission started work last December, heard thousands of witnesses, watched thousands of videos and read a great many testimonies. It had three months to deliver its conclusions. But this commission was a bad idea, says Mohamed Babiker, who is head of the University of Khartoums law faculty, an expert in international criminal law and lawyer for some families of victims of the June 3 crackdown. According to him, the Prime Minister has boxed himself into a corner. If the commission finds the Military Council in power at the time responsible, it will also be accusing people who now sit on the Sovereign Council, since they are the same ones. If the commission does not say who was responsible, it will incite anger among those who staged the revolution and brought civilians to power. In both cases, it will spark a very serious crisis, says Babiker. The only solution, according to him, is to set up transitional justice. Mural fresco in a district of Oumdourman, opposite Khartoum, calling for freedom, peace, justice. Gwenaelle Lenoir Justice awaits comprehensive peace deal Transitional justice is written into the texts. The Constitutional Declaration signed on 17 August 2019, which serves as supreme law for the three years of transition, provides for the formation of a commission on transitional justice, says Suliman Baldo, a veteran of international human rights organizations and advisor to the Enough Project. But at the moment, its still unclear. To be adopted, the project must go before a joint session of the Council of Ministers and the Sovereign Council. In other words, it must be accepted by the generals who hold five of the 11 positions on the Sovereign Council, the collegial presidency. That is the first difficulty. A draft drawn up by the Justice Ministry has also been heavily criticized by legal experts. It was written without consulting civil society or the victims, says Baldo. Mohamed Babiker deplores the governments lack of vision. Sudan is a special case, he says. We have crimes of a double nature. There are those committed by a dictatorial regime murders, mass disappearances, torture and those committed by a regime at war with part of its population in marginalized regions like Darfur, the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile. This dual aspect makes the establishment of transitional justice even more complex than elsewhere. For the government, the priority is peace. Justice will come in its wake, said Natalina Yacoub Abbo Kanuna, an aide to the Prime Minister, at the end of February. The setting up of independent commissions on things like borders, the future constitution and gender equality, as provided in the Constitutional Declaration, as well as the appointment of the Transitional Legislative Council to sit until elections in 2022 have now been postponed pending a comprehensive peace agreement. This was at the request of the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SFR), which includes the majority of the rebel groups, says Mubarak Ardol, former spokesman for the SPLM-North political party allied to the SFR and now adviser to the Minister of Energy and Mines. The peace talks are taking place in Juba, capital of South Sudan and are dragging on, as warlords joust for places in the transitional authorities. Omar al-Bashir at the ICC? It was in this context that, on February 11, civilian Sovereign Council member Mohamed Hassan al-Tayishi made a stunning statement, saying Sudan was ready to accept the appearance of Omar Al-Bashir and his co-defendants before the International Criminal Court (ICC). The former dictator is indeed sought by the ICC, along with two former senior officials of his regime, a Janjaweed militia leader and a rebel group leader. The arrest warrants for Bashir were issued in 2009 and 2010 and have never been executed. After his overthrow, Bashir was imprisoned and sentenced to two years of house arrest for corruption. But he has never been tried for crimes against humanity in Darfur as charged by the ICC. The February 11 announcement was, of course, a bombshell. The declaration was taken as the announcement of an imminent transfer to The Hague, where the ICC is based. The victims in Darfur rejoiced, says Abdurahman al-Gassim, a lawyer and co-founder of the Darfur Bar Association, which represents several hundred victims, but the excitement quickly subsided as press statements contradicted the declaration. General Abdelfattah al-Burhan, head of the Sovereign Council, was quick to state that there was no question of extraditing the former dictator. A few days later, the president of the Supreme Court, Neemat Abdallah, stated that the Sudanese judicial system was fully capable of judging Omar Al-Bashir, said Abdurahman al-Gassim. Impossible, says the lawyer: First we have to reform the laws. One of them specifies that a man aged 70 and over cannot be sentenced to more than two years in prison. Omar al-Bashir is 76. Above all, says his colleague Salih Mahmoud Osman, the judiciary is not independent, after having been politicised for years. The degree of control of the judicial sector was exceptional under Omar Al-Bashir, says Baldo. Many judges also held the rank of officer in the intelligence service, the NISS. The change will take time, because the government wants to act on the basis of law, not arbitrarily. Therefore, the case of each and every civil servant must be examined. The latest sign that the Sudanese authorities may not be ready to send Bashir to The Hague is that on April 1, the prosecutors office brought new charges against him for violating the constitution during the 1989 coup detat. Recommended reading Sudan: If Al-Bashir cant go to the ICC, will the ICC go to Al-Bashir? The need for comprehensive transitional justice This February 11 announcement is just a PR operation to say you see, we agreed on something, says Babiker. The case of Omar Al-Bashir must be part of a comprehensive transitional justice process that addresses the entire period of dictatorship and fundamentally reforms the legal system and institutions. This is the only way to reach an historic agreement with the military. To achieve this, he and his colleagues are creating a coalition of victims associations, which will also include displaced persons and refugees, and will draft a joint text on their demands for justice. The University of Khartoum was due to host a conference on transitional justice for NGOs, lawyers and the government on 15 April. The event has now been postponed to June because of Covid-19. US officials have denied having any knowledge of a shipment of face masks originally due for Germany, that they were accused of diverting in an act of 'modern piracy'. On Friday, Germanys interior minister, Andreas Geisel, claimed the US had confiscated 200,000 masks ordered from a US producer while they were in Bangkok. We view this as an act of modern piracy, he said. You cannot act in such a way among transatlantic partners. Such wild west methods cant dominate, even in a time of global crisis. The US are struggling to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, amid a shortage of medical masks, but on Saturday, president Donald Trump denied the claims and said that there has been no act of piracy. Jillian Bonnardeaux, the spokeswoman for the US embassy in Bangkok, told Reuters that the claims were being used to harm a global effort to tackle the virus. The United States Government did not take any action to divert any 3M supplies that were destined to Germany nor did we have any knowledge of such a shipment, she said. We remain concerned about pervasive attempts to divide international efforts through unsourced, unattributed disinformation campaigns. Valerie Pecresse, regional president of Paris added to the German officials' claims, by revealing that the US paid extra to take a shipment that was originally ordered by France. A load was taken from us by Americans who overbid on a batch that we had identified, she said. We pay on delivery because we want to see the masks, while Americans pay cash and without looking. Of course, this is more attractive for those who just seek to turn a profit on the back of the worlds distress. On Saturday, Mr Geisel's office said they were still attempting to ascertain the facts on how the shipment went missing, according to Reuters. According to a tracking project hosted by Johns Hopkins University, upwards of 337,971 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the US. The death toll has reached at least 9,653. Thal Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have suspended all non-essential movement of its troops and staffers as they have extended their leaves by another 10 days, till April 15, in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, officials said on Monday. The earlier orders were in the mid March asking jawans and officers of CAPFs to "be where they are" till April 5. "Fresh orders have been issued and all non-essential and routine movements, transfers and postings have been put on hold. No such travel will take place in these forces till April 15 now," a senior official said. "In order to cut down travel risk to prevent the possibility of spread of the disease during travel, the competent authority has directed that all personnel who are already on leave and likely to join duty before April 5 may be asked to extend leave till April 15, the order accessed by PTI said. "This may also be ensured by intimating affected personnel over phone by respective leave sanctioning authorities till further order, it added. The order said the decision has also been taken "in view of the prevailing situation arising out of COVID-19 and the lockdown imposed by the government in the country. The CAPFs have a combined strength of about 10 lakh personnel. These forces comprise the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). Counter-terror force National Security Guard (NSG) has also been included in the order. "This order was first issued to ensure prevention of mass outbreak of the pandemic in these forces that are the backbone of the country's internal security and deployed for vital duties, including border guarding and counter-terrorist operations," a senior CAPF official had said. The troops live very closely in demarcated camp areas and even one COVID-19 positive case among them can lead to infecting hundreds of colleagues in a short time, he had said. A senior CRPF officer said movement of officers and troops on leave or training will only be allowed in case of a strict emergency and that will be cleared after approval by senior commanders who will review and decide each case on its individual merit. The Union Home Ministry had last month directed these forces that all non-emergency leaves of personnel living in units or on-duty should be cancelled in order to minimise the risk of contracting coronavirus during travel and they should get into battle mode to combat the pandemic by ensuring personal and public safety. There have been over a dozen positive cases of infection in these forces till now and all are in the second or third stage of sample collection and testing. CRPF Director General (DG) A P Maheshwari and senior security advisor in the Home Ministry K Vijay Kumar, along with 70 others, have gone into self-quarantine after they came in direct or indirect contact with a CRPF doctor who was tested positive recently. Maheshwari's COVID-19 test came negative on Sunday. In another case, 11 CISF personnel were similarly tested positive and after this development their camp in Navi Mumbai, that housed 145 personnel, was vacated and sanitised. The first CISF jawan, who was confirmed with the COVID-19 infection, has subsequently tested negative in three more tests and his fourth such diagnosis is awaited. A BSF officer posted in Tekanpur in Gwalior has also tested positive and is currently in isolation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 19:19:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia reported 236 cases recovered from COVID-19 on Monday, the highest in a single day since the outbreak, and 131 newly confirmed cases, bringing the total confirmed cases to 3,793. Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said at a press briefing that among the infections, 1,241 have been cured and discharged from hospital, while 102 are currently being held in intensive care and 54 of those are in need of assisted breathing. A total of 62 people have died of the COVID-19 in Malaysia in the country. Noor Hisham reported that two cluster cases had been identified -- one religious gathering in the northern Borneo state of Sarawak resulting in 83 cases and two deaths and another 88 cases traced to a wedding in Selangor state. Previously, a surge in new cases had been traced to a large scale religious event held near the capital of Kuala Lumpur from late February to early March, attended by thousands of people. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Malaysia Health Ministry announced Malaysia's participation in WHO's "Solidarity Trial," an international effort to test several drugs in treating COVID-19 patients. Eight workers at a Queensland hospital pathology laboratory have gone into quarantine after coming into contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19. The staff at Ipswich Hospital were ordered to isolate for two weeks after they interacted with a contractor who was suspected to have gone to work with symptoms. Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young has ordered the expansion of testing in three key parts of the state. The contractor later tested positive for COVID-19. No coronavirus tests are done at the Pathology Queensland laboratory and it is understood the loss of the eight workers will not impact the hospital's ability to run normal tests such as bloods. Chris Evans will take a break from slamming President Donald Trump on social media; not long ago he called the former reality TV star a 'dumbsh*t.' The Captain America star told the April/May cover of Esquire that he needs more time to focus on A Starting Point, a new bipartisan website where elected officials will be a part of educational two-minute videos on a variety of subjects. The purpose is to united the country's divide. Off social media: Chris Evans will take a break from slamming President Donald Trump on social media; not long ago he called the former reality TV star a 'dumbsh*t' The man in charge: President Donald Trump speaks during a coronavirus task force briefing at the White House on Sunday A Starting Point will launch in just a few weeks. 'I'm going to take my foot off the gas [of social media] for a little bit until we get this thing up and running,' he said. He said that he started the project when he found it difficult to Google certain political facts. 'It just was one of those things where you see a hole and you think, I have an idea to fill that,' Evans said. A new project: The Captain America star told the April/May cover of Esquire that he needs more time to focus on A Starting Point, a new bipartisan website where elected officials will be a part of educational two-minute videos on a variety of subjects He and director Mark Kassen have traveled to Washington D.C. to interview and film 160 elected officials including Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar, Mitt Romney and Ted Cruz. 'I just want to say to people, "You know what's helpful?" That's the beginning of the sentence,' Evans said. 'The site is not an antidote. It's not medicine. It's not a cure. It's not the solution. It's just something I think is helpful. A Starting Point will launch in just a few weeks: 'I'm going to take my foot off the gas [of social media] for a little bit until we get this thing up and running,' he said His big film franchise: The actor in Captain America: The First Avenger in 2011 'But one thing I'm really trying to stay away from is declaring, "This is what's wrong with today."' He also talked about filming Defending Jacob in the Boston suburbs, where he grew up: 'It felt like I had a regular nine-to-five job. Id sleep in my own bed; Id see my family on weekends.' He also has a home there now. An interest in politics: He and director Mark Kassen have traveled to Washington D.C. to interview and film 160 elected officials including Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar, Mitt Romney and Ted Cruz. 'I just want to say to people, "You know what's helpful?" That's the beginning of the sentence,' Evans said 'A lot of times you have a bit of a nomadic lifestyle as an actor. You live out of suitcases and in cities youre not familiar with. Doing Jacob made me feel like I was home but still doing what I love. It was incredibly comforting.' Evans said he is close with his dad G. Robert Evans III and was supposed to be named after him. 'I was supposed to be G. Robert Evans IV. I wouldve been Bobby, but my mother was in love with the name Chris. So my dad gave it to herI always wondered if I would have been a good Bobby. Im glad Im Chris. I wouldve been honored to have had that moniker, be in that lineage. But Chris is good, tooI think my dads level head is the thing that makes getting up every day possible for me.' And Chris talked musicals: 'Musicals arent the thing that I fell in love with. I just liked acting. I have a soft spot for theater, because it was such a big part of my childhood, a very sweet chapter in my life. But its not like Ive always said, Man, I got to get back to musical theater! My main reason for doing it was because I liked acting so much.' Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wy.) speaks to media as Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) (L) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) (R) look on, during a break in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 29, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) US Senator From Wyoming: State Not Issuing Stay-at-Home Order The least populous state in the United States wont go under a stay at home order amid the COVID-19 pandemic, one of Wyomings two U.S. senators said. Wyoming is one of eight states that have no stay-at-home order. With under 580,000 residents, the state is the least populated in the country. It has just 200 cases of the new disease, which is caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, and no deaths. A stay-at-home order isnt necessary, Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said on Monday, because residents are already staying away from one another. People are staying at home, Barrasso said during an appearance on Fox Newss Americas Newsroom, noting Gov. Mark Gordon announced a state of emergency last month and anyone entering the state is required to isolate for 14 days. Remember that people are spread out here. We only have about five people per square mile. We have been socially distancing the entire 130 years that we have been a state, he added. Gordon has struck the right balance, the senator argued, adding, The people of Wyoming know whats best in Wyoming. Were going to do thatwere going to continue to follow all the recommendations that are there in Wyoming. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wy.) speaks to media while Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) (L) looks on, at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 27, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Teton County officials last week issued a stay at home order. It is recommended that all individuals, regardless of age stay at home in their place of residence, or current place of abode, the order stated. Exceptions mirror those in other orders, with people allowed to leave to get food, medicine, and for other purposes deemed essential. Dr. Travis Riddell, Teton Countys health officer, told the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle that the order was more of a requirement than a suggestion. Violators face a fine of up to $1,000 and up to one year in jail. Michael Pearlman, Gordons communications director, told the outlet that the governor has watched as nearby states issue stay-at-home orders. His concern is that a stay-at-home order, like weve seen in neighboring states that have pages of exemptions, does little to change peoples behavior, Pearlman said. The emphasis from our side is changing behavior right now. A family walks past the grounds of the Conference Center that sits empty for the 190th Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah, on April 4, 2020. (George Frey/Getty Images) South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, Arkansas, and Utah are the other states without stay-at-home orders. Each state has taken varying steps to respond to the pandemic, with some ordering the elderly or those with underlying health conditions to stay home. Many of the actions are similar to those taken in states with official stay at home orders, which are known by some as shelter in place orders. President Donald Trump has been repeatedly pushed by reporters for a national stay-at-home order, despite a number of experts saying it would be unconstitutional. Both Trump and Surgeon General Jerome Adams have focused on constitutional issues in their responses. Another aspect Trump has highlighted is the vast differences between each state. In some states, you have great distance with big land, few people and theyre in very good shape, Trump told reporters on April 4. Dr. Anthony Fauci, though, a top public health official on the White House Coronavirus Task Force, has said he doesnt know why a national stay-at-home order hasnt been done. I dont understand why thats not happening, Fauci said last week. If you look at whats going on in this country, I just dont understand why were not doing that. We really should be. Washington: US President Donald Trump spoke with Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and "had a good call" about the government's handling of the coronavirus crisis, an aide to Biden said in a statement on Monday. Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks. Credit:AP "Vice President Biden and President Trump had a good call," said Biden's deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield in an emailed statement. "VP Biden shared several suggestions for actions the Administration can take now to address the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and expressed his appreciation for the spirit of the American people in meeting the challenges facing the nation." It was not immediately clear what the full contents of the call were, according to a person who confirmed the conversation took place on Monday. A doctor's husband shot five people dead for making too much noise outside during the coronavirus lockdown in Russia, police say. Anton Franchikov, 31, berated a group of people from his balcony before grabbing a hunting rifle and opening fire when they came inside. The group of four men and one woman were killed when they entered the block of flats, police say. Reports say the female victim was pregnant. A local official linked the mass shooting to tension caused by the public health lockdown. Anton Franchikov (pictured right) opened fire with a hunting rifle after complaining about noise outside. He is pictured with his wife Svetlana who says she was in the bathroom Franchikov had objected to noise on the street waking his baby when people were supposed to be isolating at home, said police. The suspect confessed to three killings, saying he has no recollection of the other two. Franchikov, a non-medical hospital worker who was apparently on paternity leave, was detained in Yelatma, a settlement in Ryazan region with a population of 3,100. The dead were named as married couple Yevgeny and Kristina Tabunov, aged 24 and 22, as well as Ilya Kondrakov, 26, Viktor Kapitanov, 24 and Maksim Ukhov, 31. 'He [Franchikov] tried to escape, but he didn't make it, and was stopped by the police,' said a law enforcement spokesman. The victims included Kristina Tabunova (left), 22, and her husband Yevgeny Tabunov (right), 24 Ilya Kondrakov, 26 (left), and married father-of-one Maksim Ukhov, 31 (right) were also killed in the shooting rampage The suspect, who was said to work at a neuropsychiatric facility, was testifying to police on the incident. A mass murder probe was opened. Footage showed forensic checks being carried out at the crime scene. Local administration head Grigory Danilov tol RT: 'This was a conflict between neighbours which developed into a shooting. 'They exchanged words and he ended up picking up a rifle. 'The second week of quarantine plays badly on people's psychology. 'People miss having communication.' Police examining the crime scene in the village of Elatma where the mass shooting took place The official added: 'I cannot say that he is a stupid or a sick man. I know that he is a married man, he has children. 'They are just an ordinary young family.' His wife Svetlana, 27, a GP based at a local hospital, was interrogated over the incident by the Russian Investigation Committee. She was in the bathroom during the massacre and did not know about the shootings, she says. Under Russia's self-isolation rules, people are supposed to remain at home, and are official on an enforced holiday ordered by President Vladimir Putin. Investigators were checking claims that the suspect had a history of domestic violence and posting extreme material on social media. The Countess of Wessex has been hailed as the royal family's 'secret weapon' at a time of turmoil. Writing for Town & Country, royal journalist and author Victoria Murphy told how Sophie, wife of Prince Edward, the Queen's youngest son, has become a stalwart member of the royal family thanks to her down to earth nature and quietly assured approach to her royal duties. 'Her work does not regularly receive the kind of media attention that the younger royals command, but Sophie, now 55, has become a stalwart member of the "firm",' Murphy wrote, adding: 'The spotlight on Sophie has intensified in the vacuum left as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle step back.' Meanwhile people who have worked with the Countess of Wessex on a professional level told Murphy that they admired her ability to say what she thinks while still remaining polite. The Countess of Wessex has been hailed the 'secret weapon' of the royal family, and is 'down to earth' but not afraid to tell people if she disagrees with them. She is pictured with the Earl of Sussex at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey Sophie is recognised to be the Queen's favourite royal, and Nash agreed the Her Majesty is 'particularly fond of her. She is pictured with Queen Elizabeth at Royal Ascot in 2019 Amanda Pullinger, CEO of 100 Women in Finance, insisted Sophie 'really is down to earth'. She said: 'She actually presents herself as an ordinary person and I think that is increasingly what the royal family needs to do. 'It's interestingshe's not nicey nicey. Of course she's polite, but she'll tell you what she thinks. If she disagrees she'll say, and she's done it to me a number of times. ' Sophie lives at Bagshot Park in Surrey, with Edward and their two children James, Viscount Severn, 12, and Lady Louise Windsor, 16. She is recognised to be the Queen's favourite royal, and Nash agreed the Her Majesty is 'particularly fond of her'. It is often Sophie who's picked to travel with the Queen when she is attending church services at either Sandringham or Balmoral. They are pictured arriving at St Mary Magdalene Church at Sandringham last year It is believed that the mother is now seen by the Queen as the Royal Familys safest pair of hands, because her marriage to Prince Edward has lasted. The pair are pictured at a reception at Buckingham Palace in 2019 It is often Sophie who's picked to travel with the Queen when she is attending church services at either Sandringham or Balmoral. She wins the coveted spot as the monarch finds her presence soothing and likes to be completely calm before church. It is believed that the mother is now seen by the Queen as the Royal Familys safest pair of hands, because her marriage to Prince Edward has lasted, while Charles, Anne and Andrew have all been divorced. Pictured, Countess of Wessex, James Viscount Severn and Prince Edward Trooping the Colour ceremony in London on 08 June 2019 The Queen and Sophie's close bond is said to be down to their similar interests, with the pair often spending Saturday or Sunday evenings together at Windsor, watching old war films and historical documentaries. Sophie, who was brought up in Kent by a tyre company executive father and a secretary mother, is even thought to have convinced the Queen to watch The Crown - suggesting she might enjoy the Netflix series which is based on her reign. She is patron of more than 70 organizations, focusing largely on the rights of women and girls across the world. The publication points out, that on International Womens Day 2019 Sophie stood up in Buckingham Palace and vowed to devote herself to championing and supporting women peace-builders and the victims of sexual violence in conflict. On International Womens Day 2019 Sophie stood up in Buckingham Palace and vowed to devote herself to championing and supporting women peace-builders and the victims of sexual violence in conflict In a passionate speech at Buckingham Palace Sophie said she was drawn to help place women and girls at the heart of resolution conflict and would make this a central pillar of my work in the coming months and years. Addressing an audience of key figures in womens peacebuilding from around the world, include representatives from government, NGOs, charities and academia, she said: Good afternoon and may I begin by wishing you all a happy International Women's Day. Sophie's current royal reputation is a far cry from the turmoil that followed the countess early on in her marriage, when she was still running her own public relations consultancy. A 'royals for hire' storm was sparked after she posed beside a Rover 75 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, having secured a 250,000 contract to publicise it. The Countess of Wessex (pictured), who was recorded by her daughter Lady Louise, can be heard highlighting some welcome advice and support as this new period begins But Sophie's determination saw her take on full-time royal duties, and embrace rural pursuits beloved by the royals, such as riding, fishing, shooting game and carriage driving. Now, like other members of the Firm, Sophie is embracing working remotely, and last month highlighted some useful resources to help support and offer advice to those who are looking after their children at home amid the coronavirus pandemic. In the short video recorded by her daughter Lady Louise shared on the Royal Family Instagram account can be heard saying: For parents and carers, it can be a daunting time to help our children and young people through this period of uncertainty but please dont feel alone. Make use of the resources out there and the fantastic digital communities that are sharing and supporting them. Stay safe and thinking of you all. Video conferencing service Zoom says its product is suitable for Australian companies and agencies that require confidentiality, despite concerns raised by security researchers and reports that some calls and encryption keys were routed through China. With the Australian Defence Force banning its members from using the service, Zoom's head of Asia Pacific Michael Chetner told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald that its platform was subjected to rigorous security testing. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson caused a stir when he ran a Cabinet meeting on Zoom last month. Credit:Twitter/@BorisJohnson "Our platform was built primarily for enterprise customers; large institutions with full IT support. Thousands of enterprises around the world have done exhaustive security reviews of our user, network, and data centre layers and confidently selected Zoom for complete deployment," he said, adding the company is moving fast to deal with a recent 20-times increase in demand. "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 continue running businesses during these times". Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first president baptized in office. Shortly after his inauguration, Edward L. R. Elson of the National Presbyterian Church in Washington baptized the president in a private ceremony. For several reasons, Elson was an interesting figure during Americas civil-religious awakening of the 1950s. First, he was the presidents pastor. Second, he was a pretty effusive flatterer of leaders in high office. He peppered Secretary of State John Foster Dulles with invitations to attend numerous church events, laying it on thick with encomia like Let me tell you how superlatively I believe you are handling your high office. Third, he frequently took the liberty of giving Dulles advice on how to handle affairs of state. And fourth, he was a committed anti-Zionist. Beginning in 1954, Elson was a board member of the American Friends of the Middle East, an anti-Zionist front group sponsored by the CIA. He was determined to get Dulles to assist him in advancing the AFMEs mission. Elson could be startlingly forward with the secretary of state. In 1955, Elson wrote to Dulles, asking how the AFME might be of increased usefulness at this trying time of American relations in this area. In 1957, he invited Dulles to a dinner with Cornelius Engert, one of the AFMEs founders, to discuss Middle East strategy. (Dulless staff, noting that the AFME was a partisan Arab group, declined the invitation on his behalf.) And in 1958, Elson had the audacity to insist that Dulles make a special stop in Egypt on the way to a Baghdad Pact meeting in Ankara because some of our real and trusted friends would be greatly encouraged by your personal appearance in Cairo. With a few exceptions, such as when Elson asked Dulles for a framed and autographed photograph to hang on the wall of his study next to his likeness of Eisenhower, Dulles consistently gave Elson the cold shoulder. Elson believed that support for Israel was antithetical to American interests in the Middle East. He was not interested in any concrete efforts toward reconciliation between Jews and Christians that went beyond prayer, which he described as the best way of reconciliation and tool for peace. A Covenantal Partnership In stark contrast to mainline Protestants like Elson, evangelicals such as Billy Graham were deeply interested in pursuing reconciliation between Jews and Christians. In Covenant Brothers, an excellent new study of the relationship between evangelicals and Israel since 1948, historian Daniel Hummel argues that evangelicals broadly and consistently sought reconciliation with the Jewish people through support of the newly established nation of Israel. In fact, postwar evangelicalism fostered a political and social program crafted to bring American Jews, the Israeli state, and evangelicals into what Hummel calls a covenantal partnership. Over time, this program became known as Christian Zionism. A variety of leading figures helped give it shape, especially after the Six-Day War of 1967. Among them were Graham, archaeologist William Foxwell Albright, scholar Uriel Tal, Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, National Association of Evangelicals president Arnold Olson, Southern Baptist preacher W. A. Criswell, Americans for a Safe Israel founder Herbert Zweibon, and International Christian Embassy Jerusalem head Jan Willem van der Hoeven. Hummels central argument is that Christian Zionism is not the caricature of popular imagination, which treats evangelical fondness for Israel as a product of end-times fascination and American imperial ambition in the Middle East. Rather, evangelical political support evolved from the founding of modern Israel in 1948 and deepened in complexity after 1967. Theology played a role, but so did history, political philosophy, Cold War diplomacy, pragmatic considerations, and even tourism. The one unifying theme that bound American Jews, evangelicals, and Israelis together was the notion of covenant built on a foundation of reconciliation between Jews and Christians. The creation of the state of Israel, and the defense of its existence after 1967, demonstrated to evangelicals that Jewish and Christian identity were bound inextricably through shared sacred texts, theology, tradition, and common experience. Throughout the book, Hummel explores the benefits of this partnership and the avenues of reconciliation it openedwhile also taking seriously its limits and failures. Article continues below Hummel walks readers through the development of Christian Zionism from 1948 to 2018. Using the metaphor of a tree, he skillfully tells the story of how the movement grew into its present forms. His chapters are divided into three parts, categorized as Roots, Shoots, and Branches, but reconciliation is the abiding theme throughout the narrative. Reconciliation, he writes, has underwritten the movements coherence and continuing public success. One of the most interesting chapters in the book is the chapter on tourism, which carries the pithy and descriptive title Sightseeing Is Believing. In it, Hummel shows how Israelis, Jews, and American evangelicals discovered the enormous economic and political potential that lay in the prospect of tourism, especially between 1967 and 1971. The invitation to walk where Jesus walked became central to the appeal of Holy Land tours. As Hummel observes, [Tourisms] fusion of emotional, religious, and political themes expanded Christian Zionisms appeal, providing for a popular movement of evangelical Christians to share in a common experience. By the 21st century, the Israeli tourism industry became inseparable from American diplomacy, with conservative political celebrities like Mike Huckabee leading evangelical tours. On the other hand, evangelicals inability to find consensus on the theological meaning of the modern state of Israel placed limits on the usefulness of tourism as a diplomatic vehicle. Hummels chapter on reconciliation is also fascinating. The Six-Day War provided an impetus for cooperation between evangelicals and Jews, but the 1973 Yom Kippur War fueled new initiatives to that end. The first Jewish-evangelical conference dedicated to reconciliation, held in 1975, represented a turning point in American-Israeli relations. American evangelical influence in Israel reached its peak in the years immediately following the Yom Kippur War. Christian Zionism became a national movement in the United States during this period, when, according to Hummel, it emerged as a key part of American evangelical identity. Another strength of the book is the emphasis Hummel places on the relationship between Pentecostal evangelicals and Israeland on global Christian Zionism more broadly. Just as the Zionism of the Christian Right was focused on reconciliation, so were the Spirit-centered and global Christian forms of Zionism. As Hummel observes, The new movements of reconciliation, visible both in their diversity and in still-deeper community, point to a dynamic future for the movement. Nevertheless, Hummel is careful to stress the deleterious effects of reconciliation efforts that marginalized voices critical of Israeli state interests, to say nothing of Palestinian Christians and Muslims, non-Orthodox Jews, and even non-dispensational Christians. Article continues below A Lasting Contribution Speaking of theology, Hummel has a keen eye for understanding the contours of classical dispensationalism, and how influential that construct was in the creation and sustenance of Christian Zionism. Still, Hummel misses some of the nuances of dispensationalism as it has evolved over time. For example, late in the book, Hummel recognizes recent efforts by scholars such as Gerald McDermott to reject dispensationalism while holding to pro-Israel tendencies. But he does not mention the growth of progressive dispensationalism over the past three decades as represented in the work of theologians Craig Blaising and Darrell Bock. This new movement thoroughly rejects the replacement theology that sees the church supplanting the Jewish people as the object of Gods redemptive worka key belief embraced by classical dispensationalists from the late-19th century through the middle of the 20th century. McDermotts edited essay collection, The New Christian Zionism: Fresh Perspectives on Israel and the Land, is a valuable contribution, alongside Hummels work, that shows much of the complexity of Christian Zionism. Hummels work also pairs nicely alongside Samuel Goldmans Gods Country: Christian Zionism in America, which considers the course of Christian Zionist thought and attitudes since the colonial period. Hummels work goes far in correcting simplistic narratives and misunderstandings about the religious history of American-Israeli relations. Deeply researched, coherently structured, historically focused, and pleasing to read, Covenant Brothers makes a lasting contribution to postwar American religious history as it relates to Israel, the Middle East, and the world. John D. Wilsey is associate professor of church history at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of American Exceptionalism and Civil Religion: Reassessing the History of an Idea (IVP Academic), and he is at work on a religious biography of John Foster Dulles. BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Some Shiite pilgrims returning to Iraq from Syria have tested positive for coronavirus, raising concern that such pilgrim travel could be a source for a larger spread of the disease around the country, a senior Iraqi official and health officials said on Sunday. So far, Iraq has recorded 547 coronavirus cases and 42 deaths, most of them in the past week. Health authorities said there were at least 11 cases of coronavirus in the Shiite holy city of Kerbala among pilgrims who returned last week from Syria after visiting a Shiite shrine there, according to the governor of Kerbala. Everyone who recently returned back from Syria has been quarantined to make sure hes not infected with coronavirus, the governor, Nusayif al-Khitabi, said in a video posted on Facebook. Khitabi said the central government should have included Syria among countries where Iraq banned entry to travelers. Health officials said there had been four other cases of coronavirus in the Shiite city of Najaf among pilgrims who visited Damascus last week. Syria has reported nine cases of the illness, with one death. However, doctors say there are more cases. The government denies it is covering up the extent of the disease. Thousands of Shiite pilgrims from Iran, a hotspot for coronavirus, and other countries also continue to arrive in Syria to visit the Sayeda Zainab shrine in Damascus. The poor state of the healthcare systems in both war-ravaged Iraq and Syria means that they would be overwhelmed by a large-scale spread of the epidemic. (Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed; Editing by Frances Kerry) I am honored to have received this award for client service, said Marci Martinez. Service, in short, is not what you do, but who you are. Its a way of living and bringing compassion, commitment and candor to each client and being there for them on a professional and personal level during a diffi Family attorney Marci Martinez has been recognized as Two Years 10 Best Family Law Attorney for Client Satisfaction in Texas. The prestigious award was given to Martinez by The American Institute of Family Law Attorneys (AIOFLA), which is a third -party rating organization that publishes an annual list of the top 10 Family Law attorneys in each state. The AIOFLA makes its selections based on client and pier nominations, extensive research and detailed evaluation. The purpose of the designation is to aid client in their search for the best attorney for their needs. I am honored to have received this award for client service, said Marci Martinez. Service, in short, is not what you do, but who you are. Its a way of living and bringing compassion, commitment and candor to each client and being there for them on a professional and personal level during a difficult time in their lives. Marci Martinez founded Martinez Legal, P.C. in 2017 and has been practicing law in Texas since 2008. Areas of practice include Family Law and Estate Planning. Martinez is widely respected in Texas and, in addition to the AIOFLA award, has numerous other national and state awards, including Top 100 National Advocates of 2019, Top 10 Attorneys Under 40 of the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys of 2019, Texas Rising Star-Super Lawyers of 2018 and many other awards. The Martinez firm is also highly involved in the greater Denton area community. In January Martinez Legal presented a $1,000.00 donation to the Denton Community Food Bank as part of their continuing commitment to help those in need. In addition, Marci Martinez in involved in supporting the North Texas Opioid Awareness Project and lends her support to the Serve Denton Organization. We are dedicated to the well being of our neighbors and always want to aid those in need, said Martinez. For additional information on Marci Martinez, call Martinez Legal at 940-320-2922 or visit martinezlegalpc.com. Email Marci@Martinezlegalpc.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Isabel Reynolds (Bloomberg) Mon, April 6, 2020 16:43 644 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd00bf1b 2 World Japan,Prime-Minister,Shinzo-Abe,state-of-emergency,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,infection,infectious-diseases,stimulus-package,economy Free Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he will propose declaring a month-long state of emergency in seven prefectures including Tokyo and Osaka, after a renewed surge of coronavirus cases in some of the nations biggest cities. He also announced a much larger-than-expected stimulus package of 108 trillion yen ($988 billion) to support households and businesses struggling from the impact of the pandemic. The declaration, which will also include Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Hyogo and Fukuoka prefectures, will be made as soon as Tuesday, Abe said in Tokyo. The move hands powers to local governments to try to contain the spread of the virus that causes Covid-19, including by urging residents to stay at home. Public transportation will continue to operate, Abe said, adding that the declaration will not lead to the kind of lockdown seen in some countries overseas. Unlike countries like France -- where residents can be fined for leaving their homes -- there is no legal power to enforce such requests. The package of economic measures, set to be Japans biggest ever, surpassed the 60 trillion yen ($550 billion) recommended by Abes ruling party last week. Details of the package are expected to be announced Tuesday. Japan to fight virus with two-stage stimulus plan An emergency declaration enables local officials to take measures such as ordering the cancellation of events, restricting use of facilities such as schools and movie theaters and appropriating land or buildings for temporary medical facilities. The announcement comes after pressure from the public and the medical community. After last week saying the situation didnt yet call for such a move, Abe changed course after cases in Tokyo surged over the weekend. As with many laws in Japan, there are no penalties associated with breaching instructions, except in the case of concealing supplies after the government orders them to be handed over. While much of the order will have no teeth, businesses are likely to further cooperate in closing shops and restaurants, while more residents are expected to stay indoors. A state of emergency can stay in place for as long as two years and can be extended by as much as one more year, under a law updated in March. The prime minister can make the call when the spread of the infection threatens serious damage to the lives and health of the people, as well as to the economy. The move also enables local governments to take steps such as: *. Controlling prices of daily essentials *. Providing loans through government-related financial institutions *. Making compulsory purchases of food and medicines President Buhari and Atiku Bagudu The United Kingdom government has issued another warning to President Muhammadu Buhari governments to do away with any plan to give more than $100million to Kebbi Governor, Atiku Bagudu. The money is part of funds stolen by the late Head of State, Sani Abacha. The U.S. and Nigeria, in early February, agreed on the repatriation of over $308million to Africas most populous nation. A few days later, the world power accused the Nigerian government of a secret plot to give Atiku Bagudu a per cent of the money. On Monday, Bloomberg reported that the U.K National Crime Agency has insisted that the Abacha loot belongs to the people and is opposing the Federal Republic of Nigerias application. The motion was filed by Atiku Bagudus brother, Ibrahim, to the District Court for the District of Columbia in the U.S. capital on March 30. The U.S. had in a statement on February 3, said the Kebbi Governor was part of Abacha network that embezzled, misappropriated and extorted billions from the government of Nigeria. The Department of Justice (DoJ) further said the Buhari administration is preventing ongoing forfeiture efforts against Atiku Bagudu. The 2003 settlement approved by a U.K. court allowed the governor to return $163 million to Nigeria without admitting to wrongdoing, according to U.S. court filings. In return, the federal government dropped all outstanding civil and criminal claims against him, District Judge John D. Bates noted in a December 23, 2019 memorandum opinion. This case illustrates how complex and contentious repatriating stolen assets to Nigeria can be, Matthew Page, an associate fellow at Chatham House. Nigerias lawyers appear to be supporting the interests of one of the countrys most powerful families, the intelligence expert added. Successive governments have so far repatriated more than $2billion stashed abroad by Abacha. Transparency International estimated that the late dictator stole around $5billion during his five-year rule. Singapore, April 6 (ANI) The Singapore government has decided to quarantine returning Singaporeans from overseas in five-star hotels for 14 days as a constructive way to support the local hotel industry in these difficult times. The government has blocked 7500 hotel rooms for quarantine purposes. With the occupancy at hotels plunging to unprecedented levels and many jobs at risk, the Singapore government may have found a novel way to help the hotel industry in Singapore. Last week, the Travel and Tourism Council reported that layoffs in global tourism is mounting at a rate of one million a day, estimating that up to 50 million jobs in the sector are at immediate risk and that the industry may possibly lose as much as USD 2.1 trillion by the end of the year. Singapore reported its first case of COVID-19 on January 23. When it closed its borders to Chinese visitors at the end of the month, it had a total of 16 cases. The situation was very "manageable" right up to till the middle of March. Until then, the maximum number of cases on any given day was 13, and on most days, the number of new cases was in the low single-digit numbers. However, numbers started spiking up from the middle of March. One of the reasons for the spike could be due to residents returning from other countries in March as countries around the started to lockdown and close their borders. Singapore is a densely packed island city on about 720 square kilometers of land and a population of 5.7 million people. Any virus can spread quite easily on the island. About 200,000 residents were expected to return to Singapore in March and April. Since January until early March, the screening protocol at the airport was to check for temperature and respiratory illness at the airport. With the insidious nature of COVID-19 which can be asymptomatic or mild in many people, undetected infected returnees may have spread the pathogen in the densely populated island. From the middle of March, Singapore began tightening restrictions on returnees and by March 20, anyone entering Singapore from anywhere in the was served a legally binding 14-day quarantine or stay-at-home (SHN) noticed. The penalties for non-compliance are severe. In addition to a fine, passports of citizens can be revoked. The UK and the US were identified as countries where many imported cases came from. In order to prevent transmission of the virus to their family members at home, those returning from the US and UK are made to quarantine themselves in hotels fully paid by the government. In a Singapore government statement in March, it explained that the UK and US accounted for the largest share of imported cases in Singapore by far. It added that it expects more Singapore residents, including a sizeable group of Singaporean students, to return from these countries over the coming weeks in response to lockdowns. This started at midnight on March 26. Transportation will be arranged to send the returnees directly from the airport to the hotels. In so doing the Singapore government has not only found a solution to accommodate returning residents so that they do not infect others in the country but is also supporting the hospitality sector which is in a dire situation with next to zero occupancy and potentially safeguarding jobs in the industry. Reports say over 7,500 rooms have been booked for this purpose by the Singapore Tourism Board. Looking at accounts of people who are publicising their serving of stay at home notice at hotels on social media, it appears that the hotels that are being used include the Conrad Centennial, Swissotel The Stamford in Raffles City, Village Hotel Sentosa, Shangri-la Rasa Sentosa Resort and Village Hotel Albert Court. Albert Court is right next to Little India. Those confined to Raffles City or Sentosa have posted stunning views of the sea and sweeping views of Singapore's famous cityscape on social media. However, it's not a total holiday where the special "guests" can use the facilities of the hotels like the bars, restaurants, swimming pools and gyms. The "guests" are confined to their rooms which are on designated floors and sections of the hotel. Food is takeaway served in plastic containers and delivered in a plastic bag hung on the door or on stools placed outside the room. Some hotels allow food delivery services, so some have ordered food from familiar restaurants like Din Dai Fung or burgers from McDonald's. The rooms are not serviced. Every four days, a bag of fresh towels and linen is placed outside for the occupant to replace. You can ask family members to bring whatever you wish to your room. Some have brought Nespresso machines, gaming computers, Play-Station and various devices and gadgets to keep themselves occupied. Others are keeping fit by setting up creative routines to stay healthy. In February, before stringent travel restrictions and lockdown imposed by many countries, the Singapore Tourism Board projected a decline in tourism receipts of 20 to 30 per cent. With global tourism plummeting to levels never seen before, the above projection is now clearly grossly understated. As a measure of the extent of the crisis the tourism industry is facing, the Singapore government in its supplementary budget announced on March 26, has offered to pay up to 75 per cent of the salaries of local employees in the tourism sector for nine months. A further SGD 90 million (USD 63 million) will be aside to help the industry rebound strongly when visitors can return. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] New Delhi: The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic has tightened its grip over the world, including India, forcing the entire nation into lockdown for 21 days from 25th March to April 14, 2020. This has lead to suspension of all domestic and international flight operations, except evacuation and essential cargo flights, but during this crucial period, Delhi Airport has played a crucial role through its social media platforms to facilitate its passengers. During crucial times, when passengers merely depended on Social Media for their inquiries, especially at a time when call center operations too were impacted because of the lockdown, the online related traffic sky-rocketed for all airports. Delhi Airport recorded the highest online traffic as it witnessed the highest traffic ever on its social media accounts owing to the evolving situation due to Coronavirus pandemic outbreak, according to the Delhi Airport statement that cited Konnect Insights data. Delhi Airport recorded the highest engagement levels and use of proactive communication through its social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram during the period 15th to 31st March 2020, while the second most engaging airport was Changi. The two GMR run airports were amongst the top 5 airports during the corona pandemic in terms of social media engagement, it added. According to CEO-DIAL Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, While the whole country was in a state of lockdown, our social media 24X7 command center remained fully functional just like any other essential service at the airport. The cutting edge cloud-based technology deployed by us ensured that the team could operate remotely from their home and adhere to the 21 days lockdown." "We still continue to respond almost real-time to the passengers queries and engage with them proactively through advisories and updates. It has also helped us in gathering insight into the situation on the ground through online conversations. The teams contribution is truly on the lines of #WorkFromHub culture promoted during the COVID-19 crises, Jaipuriar said. Notably, passengers had to depend merely on social media for their inquiries as the lockdown had even impacted the call center operations. During the period 15th to 31st March 2020, Delhi Airport did 99 proactive posts on FB, Twitter and Instagram combined, which is maximum by any global airport. Second highest was Bangalore with 80 proactive posts followed by LAX and Heathrow with 74 and 68 proactive posts, respectively, said the statement. It further added that passengers relied on the Delhi Airports social media handles for any information, such as flight status, availability of transport (taxi, metro, etc), the status of lockdown and critical travel-related information and advisories issued by the government on regular basis. Delhi Airports command center, which is functional round the clock, responded to passengers queries on a real-time basis, besides posting various government advisories and vital updates on the situation at the airport through its various social media pages. Notably, the airport operator also created a dedicated landing page on its official website www.newdelhiairport.in where all essential travel-related information such as latest govt and travel-related advisories, FAQs, important contact details of govt bodies, embassies and airlines have been made available along with the steps taken to safeguard passengers and employees. SGK Kishore, CEO, GHIAL said: Handling the Passengers concerns through the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown has been our top priority. In line with our motto Passenger is Prime, GMR Hyderabad International Airport has been focusing on handling queries and distress calls from passengers and their family and friends in real-time during these unprecedented times by leveraging our 24x7 social media platforms." "These challenging times saw our Contact Centre face a steep rise in the volume of passenger queries of all kinds from flight information to safety measures in place at the airport. But the spike in volume did not deter us from responding to each query with a personal touch in the quickest possible time, he added Notably, GMR run Hyderabad is the only Indian Airport besides Delhi to be in list of top 5 airports in terms of overall social media engagement. While Hyderabad airports overall social media engagement is 4th highest, its engagement levels on popular social media platform Facebook was third highest. Hyderabad airport retained number 4 position on Twitter globally and second in India. Transparent and concise communication is the need of the hour during the COVID-19 crisis times be it for spreading awareness, in giving instructions, assuring people, and to avoid panic reactions. The alarming spread of fake news has made it all the more important for people to know what the true facts are. Adgully has taken on the mantle of highlighting the ground realities of the market amidst the global Coronavirus pandemic through its #TwitterChat initiative. The topics touched upon so far include Responsible Communication During Covid-19 and Managing Creativity While Working from Home. Adgullys #TwitterChat endeavour has received great traction amongst the industry, witnessing a 115 per cent surge in engagement ever since the industry started working from home. Both industry leaders as well as Twitteratis from India and globally have been joining in the discussions. Adgullys #TwitterChat has become an industry platform known to propagate facts and the right communication, as well as providing a digital forum where the industry can highlight relevant issues and find solutions. This initiative has been hugely applauded by the industry. Continuing these efforts, Adgully organised a #TwitterChat on Power of PR During Crisis, where the leading communications experts discussed the role of Public Relations especially in an unprecedented global crisis such as COVID-19. The TwitterChat took place on Friday, April 3, 2020. Joining in the conversation were: Aman Dhall, Head of Corporate Communications, Policy Bazaar (Moderator) Valerie Pinto, CEO, Weber Shandwick Kiran Ray Chaudhary, Co-founder and Joint MD , 80db communications Arwa Husain, Director, Adfactors PR Madhavi Jha, Chief Communications Officer, Cairn Oil and Gas Sujit Patil, Vice President and Head, Corporate Brand Communications, Godrej Industries Limited Commencing the discussion, Aman Dhall asked the panellists, Is the current scenario a crisis situation for your brand? If yes, how are you managing internal and external communications right now? Arwa Husain began the round of answers by saying, The communication line should be kept open with all stakeholders 24X7. She further added, Good public relations will be driven by good behaviour and not communications alone. We will see a new business risk paradigm in the coming weeks. The field of communication, post-Covid will be vastly different from the pre-Covid one we know and are comfortable with. Talking about oil & gas industry, Madhavi Jha said, It is a business challenge and a brand challenge for the oil & gas exploration and production sector. Not only do we have to keep production going as normal, we must do it at an entirely abnormal time. She informed that currently there are 1,800 people from Cairn Oil and Gas working onsite, who have been working all the shifts as a new crew has not been able to relive them due to travel restrictions. We are calling them our own frontline heroes, she added. When asked, How are you assessing the impact of your company's internal and external communications efforts during the current crisis? What's the metric? Jha replied, Producing with a seventh of the workforce on the rigs, with anxious subcontractors and suppliers, and Covid-19 measures, distancing, disinfection, screenings this means having to motivate the frontline crews every day. Dhall also asked about proactive communication and morale of the crew, to which Jha responded by saying, The communication has to be personal, every day, and in every way. We're using Zoom meetings for a virtual coffee with CXOs. Weekly updates on ground covered and battles won from the CEO. And social media features on site and people's achievements. Meanwhile, Kiran Ray Chaudhary remarked, The only way to manage this existential/ humanitarian crisis is through transparent, empathetic and honest communication. Sujit Patil added here, It is important for brands to be purpose-driven, but it is equally important for brands to stay clear of opportunism. Dhall further asked Patil about how Godrej is ensuring purpose driven communication, to which Patil replied, By showcasing the good that we and people are doing in an authentic manner and living up to the larger national calling. From a business continuity standpoint, we have a new normal that we have to deal with. Both at the client side as well as the agency side. Over communication, constant engagement and innovative thinking to recraft the narrative will help tide us over, felt Valerie Pinto. In these times, PR has a strong role to play when it comes to communication in the midst of crisis. Dhalls next question to the panellists was, What are the 3 key principles in your crisis communication strategy? Listen more, Be Authentic, Be Data-Driven in your decisions, was Patils answer, as he suggested, Set a protocol in place, Communicate POEMPurpose before Opportunity, Empathy before Money! Husain listed them down as, 1) Heightened sensitivity and empathy; 2) Be Agile - respond to the dynamic landscape and changing scenario; and 3) Communicate at all times. Citing Adfactors PRs example, she mentioned, We have been able to stay connected with clients, throughout the day. In fact, we are doing BAU++. In the last 10 days, we have successfully held two virtual PCs consisting of 70 to 80 journalists. All our 800 employees are in WFH mode to ensure smooth business continuity. We have been able to successfully put all systems and processes in place, way before the lockdown was announced. Pinto added here, Be transparent and genuine by calling it as it is. Your employees will value you for your honesty at this point. How you live the values of your organisation in this time of crisis will go a long way in defining your reputation. Dhall further asked her, How do you think the PR industry can come together and address some issues. Can PR associations play some role? Pinto responded by saying, As an industry, we stand together on how we arrive at solutions for our people and our business in these critical times. It is our responsibility to carry small and large business along and keep talent as top priority. Continuing the conversation, Dhall shifted the focus to the consumer and asked the panellists, What are the expectations of your consumer in the current crisis? How are you engaging with them? Patil remarked, Campaigns must be symbiotic and not parasitic. If it is not connected to a purpose that resonates with your organisation value, people will call it out. He further added, Share regular updates on product availability, service channels, quality maintenance. Avoid price hikes. Dhall then enquired about the possibility of the PR and Corp Communications industry starting a campaign on the larger issues in the current scenario. To which Patil replied, Of course! Need is to build the country and city branding post the pandemic! Only this fraternity can bring back the good perception! Dhall also asked Patil to cite Godrejs data driven decisions, to which he pointed out, Constantly monitoring the ORM system, listening across platforms, Understanding the trends and not being emotional but objective about any adverse narratives. Chaudhary added here, This is a crisis like no other and does not really have a readymade blueprint! Sure, some tenets of crisis communications apply. This is not really a reputation crisis for brands (unless it becomes one for them), but is existential in nature. Husain noted, Clients are interested in us going beyond the defined scope of work. They want us to tell them reputation risks ahead of time, to be creative and provide solutions and lastly, be honest without any sugar coating. Dhall then enquired about scenarios where the PR has overridden the brand and communication guidelines. Patil pointed out, During such times, when vulnerability to be viewed as opportunistic is high, even if the intent is right, ideally, stick to the guidelines. All guidelines must be regularly monitored, tested and amended to suit the changing scenarios. According to Husain, In these uncertain times you need to be innovative. If this means that you are stepping out of your periphery and communication guidelines, then so be it. You should be guided by your ethical and moral responsibilities. The biggest mistake is being indecisive. There can be no greater sin than inaction in a crisis. It is important to act quick and not deliberate on decisions by weighing all the possibilities and scenarios. Citing an example, she said, We have seen several brands come up with interesting social distancing messages. A consumer brand logo was not appreciated, but what I liked was that they showed sensitivity by withdrawing and even apologising. On the other hand, Jha felt that one cannot override the fundamental thumb rules of accuracy, relevance, timeliness. Albeit, timeliness and speed become more critical, she added. Dhall then wanted to know, Who is more important for you right now from a communications perspective in order of priority -- consumer, employee or government authorities? Husain replied, For our clients: These are anxious times, hence it is important that we stand by them throughout and manoeuvre the ship through this crisis. We are the ship in the storm, our teams are like the sailors, our clients are like the passengers and the government is the beacon of light guiding the ship. Each one is equally important in his/her own aspect. She also added, For our sailors: Yes, we are not used to WFH, hence it is important to stay connected. Especially those who are alone and away from their families. In fact, we have downtime like dumb charade to keep the morale high. For Patil, All stakeholders are important and must be engaged. Reputation is not built by only a particular stakeholder. Communication has to be consistent and segment wise. In the concluding part of the discussions, Dhall asked the panellists their one-line mantra to manage a crisis. This is what they said: Sujit Patil: Preparation for #CrisisCommunications should not be an afterthought. Prepare through the year to ring-fence your brand from plausible crises. Dont be zealous to classify every incident as a crisis. Be data-driven in your decision. Arwa Husain: Display AQ (Adaptability Quotient). An organisation must display strong and effective leadership. Empathy, compassion & generosity should be guiding factors. Stand tall in this hour of crisis. This, too, shall pass. Madhavi Jha: Communicators must be thoughtful, sensitive to time, effort, purpose of everyone doing their jobs. It must serve business and people goals, and not get in the way. Step up and remind business and people of the purpose, principles and values the company must stand for at all times. What Twitteratis had to say However, the conversation didnt end there. Apart from our esteemed panel, we also had responses of other global industry experts and Twitteratis. They not only added to the conversation by giving their opinion, but also raised various questions about the current scenario. Heres how the conversation was driven from their end: It's a global crisis and crisis for all corporates and brands. As in all crises, focus must be on helping those most directly impacted, not on your brand or reputation. The companies that will emerge with the strongest reputations will be those that put people first. #TwitterChat Stuart Bruce PR Futurist (@stuartbruce) April 3, 2020 engagement for sure. Over communication might kill the productivity Rishab Dutt Sharma (@mountainman_30) April 3, 2020 The challenge this time is being on feet 24 x 7 but in lockdown. #PR Anup Sharma B'Harry (@TweetsAnup) April 3, 2020 Three Cs - Clarity, Consistency, Candidness - be clear, be consistent, be transparent, be honest. #TwitterChat Stuart Bruce PR Futurist (@stuartbruce) April 3, 2020 I have an even bigger question which is very challenging. There is a surge in working hours and the pressure is almost doubled to deliver under stress. Are we all taking care of the post Covid19 scenario when employees get back to normal way of working? rneelmani (@rneelmani) April 3, 2020 We at @PRCAIndia have also started a #SupportEachOther initiative and getting experts to guide, counsel and sometimes just to listen. #Mentalhealth is a big challenge for most during these times. PRCAI (@PRCAIndia) April 3, 2020 This TwitterChat on Power of PR During Crisis was a big success and it raised various questions and their solutions in the current scenario. As mentioned, Adgully #TwtterChat has become a platform for industry discussions. Heres how this TwitterChat was appreciated: Thanks @adgully and all for this great session. At these times of #lockdown the insights from you all is really helpful. Learning and Sharing #SupportEachOther #StayHomeStaySafe Anup Sharma B'Harry (@TweetsAnup) April 3, 2020 Great conversation happening right now - The Power of PR during Crisis#PR #TwitterChat https://t.co/twF8qYUqzX SCoRe (@SCoReInd) April 3, 2020 Fantastic and insightful session. Supreeth Sudhakaran (@supreeth_s) April 3, 2020 Great discussion and well moderated by @amandhall25. Was great to get some key insights that can help to give some direction amid the ongoing crisis! Neha Dewan (@neha_d24) April 3, 2020 Also Read: #TwitterChat: Join India's top creative minds to crack the WFH formula today TwitterChat: Being responsible in times of Covid-19, ad honchos show the way Washington: The United States on Monday designated the ultranationalist Russian Imperial Movement (RIM) group as a terrorist organisation, in what the State Department called the first such move against a white supremacist group. US Coordinator for Counter-terrorism Nathan Sales in Washington on Thursday. Credit:AP "These designations are unprecedented," Nathan Sales, Coordinator for US Counter Terrorism, said in a statement. "RIM is still very much in the business of providing training to like-minded Neo-Nazis and white supremacists across Europe. We know that they have recruited individuals from other countries in Europe and continue to do so," he said in a teleconference with reporters. Russian Imperial Movement's members cast themselves as Russian Orthodox nationalists who favour restoring the monarchy and privileging the interests of ethnic Russians, Ukrainians and Belarussians. More than a dozen secretaries of the Union government met on Monday to discuss strategic issues related to 21-days lockdown announced to combat coronavirus endemic, officials said. The Empowered Group on Strategic Issues Related to Lockdown, chaired by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, also discussed the steps to be taken in various sectors for smooth functioning of the normal life. The top central government officials exchanged views on various aspects related to the ongoing lockdown and how to go forward after the curb is withdrawn, a senior government official said. The meeting discussed a graded exit plan and sector-wise impact assessment and demand. For example in case of civil aviation, how many flights would be required and for agriculture sector, how many districts are there where bulk of the harvesting has to happen and how to go about it. The meeting, attended by secretaries of key central ministries and departments, collated suggestions and deliberated on the lockdown and future plans, the official said. Those who attended the meeting include secretaries of the ministries of civil aviation, labour and employment, health and family welfare, micro, small and medium enterprises, information and broadcasting, electronics and information technology. Secretaries of the departments of pharmaceuticals, agriculture, promotion of industry and internal trade, consumer affairs, economic affairs, higher education and representatives of the Railway Board and NITI Aayog also attended it. The 21-days lockdown was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 in a bid to tackle the coronavirus endemic. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Balmoral Resources Ltd. (Balmoral or the Company) (TSX:BAR; OTCQX:BALMF) announced today that it has mailed and filed its management information circular (the Circular) and related meeting materials in connection with a special meeting (the Meeting) of the holders of common shares (the Balmoral Common Shares, such holders of Balmoral Common Shares, the Balmoral Shareholders), stock options and deferred share units of the Company (together with the Balmoral Common Shares, the Balmoral Securities, such holders of the Balmoral Securities, the Balmoral Securityholders) to be held on May 7, 2020. The purpose of the Meeting is to seek the Balmoral Securityholders approval in connection with the previously announced (see NR20-04, March 2, 2020) proposed acquisition by Wallbridge Mining Company Limited (Wallbridge) of all of the issued and outstanding Balmoral Common Shares (the Proposed Transaction). Balmoral Securityholders of record as at March 27, 2020 should receive these meeting materials by mail shortly. The meeting materials are also available on the Balmoral website at www.balmoralresources.com , by following the May 2020 Special Meeting link, and on SEDAR under the Companys profile at www.sedar.com . Balmoral encourages its securityholders to watch for, or request from their financial advisor, the meeting materials and to read them in detail. For Balmoral Securityholders to ensure that their Balmoral Securities will be represented at the Meeting, such securityholders should carefully follow the voting instructions provided in the meeting materials. The deadline for submission of proxies is 2:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) on May 5, 2020. Balmoral provides notice that because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and the constantly evolving restrictions on the size of public gatherings that are beyond its control, attending and voting in person at the Meeting may be difficult . The Company encourages securityholders to vote in advance of the Meeting by proxy via the internet, phone, fax or mail. The Company will provide an option for registered Balmoral Securityholders (or their proxyholders) to participate online and to vote their Balmoral Securities at the Meeting online. Further details on how to vote the Balmoral Securities and the requirements with respect to attending the Meeting online are contained in the Circular. The Proposed Transaction On March 2, 2020 Balmoral and Wallbridge entered into an arrangement agreement (the Arrangement Agreement) whereby, subject to the terms and conditions of the Arrangement Agreement, Wallbridge will acquire all of the Balmoral Common Shares on the basis of 0.71 of a Wallbridge common share for each Balmoral Common Share. Board Recommendation The Balmoral Board of Directors, after consideration of the recommendation of the Special Committee of the Board comprised exclusively of Independent Directors, its external financial and legal advisors and receipt of an Independent Fairness Opinion which, among other things, indicated that, subject to certain assumptions outlined therein, the Proposed Transaction was fair from a financial point of view to Balmoral and the Balmoral Shareholders, has unanimously approved the Arrangement Agreement and recommends that the Balmoral Securityholders vote their Balmoral Securities in favour of the Proposed Transaction. Benefits of the Transaction The Proposed Transaction will result in one of the best financed junior exploration and development companies in Canada. It will combine the gold and nickel assets of the two companies, including Balmorals and Wallbridges highly prospective district scale gold exploration and development projects in Quebec along the Detour Gold Trend, under one management team to more efficiently move them forward. Further information on the benefits to Balmoral Securityholders can be found in the joint press release dated March 2, 2020 filed under each of the companies respective SEDAR profiles www.sedar.com , their websites and in the Circular. Balmoral Special Meeting The Meeting of Balmoral Securityholders to consider and, if thought fit, to approve the Proposed Transaction, will be held on May 7, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) at the Bentall 5 Conference Room, Ground Floor, 550 Burrard Street, Vancouver B.C. and online at https://web.lumiagm.com/267591615. The date and time of the Meeting are subject to any changes which may result from the current global pandemic situation (none of which are currently contemplated). In accordance with Canadian federal, provincial and municipal requirements, any Balmoral Securityholder or proxyholder who chooses to attend in person will be subject to requirements regarding social distancing, and anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms should not attend in person. Balmoral Securityholder Questions and Assistance Balmoral Securityholders who have any questions or require assistance in voting their Balmoral Securities may contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group, the Companys proxy solicitation agent, by telephone in North America toll free at 1-877-452-7184 or from outside North America at 1-877-452-7184 (North American Toll Free) or +1-416-304-0211 (Outside North America), or by email at assistance@laurelhill.com , or their professional financial advisor(s). About Balmoral Resources Ltd. Balmoral is a multi-award winning Canadian-focused exploration company exploring a portfolio of gold and base metal properties located within the prolific Abitibi greenstone belt. The Companys flagship Detour Gold Trend Project hosts the resource-stage Bug and Martiniere West gold deposits, the Grasset nickel-copper-cobalt-PGE deposit and a series of new gold discoveries located proximal to recently discovered Area 51 gold system. Employing a drill-focused exploration style in one of the worlds preeminent mining jurisdictions, Balmoral is following an established formula with a goal of maximizing shareholder value through the discovery and definition of high-grade, Canadian gold and base metal assets. For further information, please contact: Balmoral Resources Limited: Darin Wagner, P. Geo., M.Sc. President and CEO, Tel: (604) 638-5816 Email: dwagner@balmoralresources.com John Foulkes, B.Sc., B.Ed., Vice-President Corporate Development & Officer Tel: (604) 638-5815 Email: jfoulkes@balmoralresources.com The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release This press release contains statements which constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of Balmoral with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words may, would, could, subject to, should, will, intend, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, expect or similar expressions and include information regarding: (i) expectations regarding whether the Proposed Transaction will be consummated, including whether conditions to the consummation of the Proposed Transaction will be satisfied, or the timing for completing the Proposed Transaction, (ii) expectations regarding the potential benefits and synergies of the Proposed Transaction and the ability of the combined company to successfully achieve business objectives, including integrating the companies or the effects of unexpected costs, liabilities or delays, (iii) expectations with respect to the timing and location of the Meeting, (iv) expectations regarding financial strength, trading liquidity, and capital markets profile, (v) expectations regarding future exploration and development, growth potential for the combined companies operations, (vi) the availability of the exemption under Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act to the securities issuable in the Proposed Transaction, (vii) statements regarding the various global-scale uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on any or all of the above and (viii) expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. The three-week lockdown to contain the covid-19 pandemic has deeply impacted Indias real estate sector, which was already reeling from a liquidity crunch and weak residential sales. The impact on discretionary spending may disrupt the retail mall business for a long time, while a sharp drop in home sales will heighten liquidity and cash flow pressures for developers. Affordable housing, which has held up in the five-year-long slowdown, may also get hit by the ongoing crisis. However, the commercial office business, which has been an outlier of sorts, may face limited impact though this may be determined by how the information technology (IT) sector, one of the largest occupiers of office space, performs in the near future. Residential sales are down by 70-80% because of the lockdown and distancing, and there is a postponing of decisions by buyers that may take some time to return to normal. However, housing is a necessity and we hope that those who need homes will buy at some point. The situation is critical and the impact on the sector would depend on how the government handles the situation and the incentives it gives, said Niranjan Hiranandani, co-founder and managing director, Hiranandani Group. Shopping malls would see a 10-12% year-on-year erosion of rental income, given the temporary closure of malls and the risk of reduced footfall and discretionary consumption spends in 2020-21, a 27 March note by India Ratings and Research said. Cash flow gaps could widen in the residential sector, with limited sales in the coming months and debt servicing could be a challenge, especially for non-Grade 1 developers, it said. The situation has added to the liquidity and cash flow crunch in the sector, said Gautam Chatterjee, chairman, Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA). There is a lot of uncertainty now on how long this crisis will last and what happens after that. How long will construction remain stalled? When will migrant labourers return because it is a labour-intensive sector? Lack of money had stopped construction work in many cases and with this crisis now, its important that the construction cycle resumes soon, Chatterjee said. On Thursday, Maha-Rera extended the completion deadline of registered projects by three months. However, Hiranandani said the impact could last longer and a one-year moratorium would be better. Given the impending economic slowdown and job losses, if housing finance companies and banks were to tighten their home loan disbursements criteria, sales or collections could see further pressure especially in the affordable segment, the India Ratings report said. Bengaluru-based Brigade Groups residential sales were good until the lockdown, said its chief financial officer, Atul Goyal. However, once the lockdown kicked in, customer bookings stalled, though Brigade is now taking bookings online. Payments are still coming but the run rate is down. A lot will also depend on job and salary cuts and how the IT sector performs. It helps that Brigade has a diversified real estate portfolio because those only into residential or retail projects may face challenges. Well-capitalised developers will survive, but many others may go for loan deferments, Goyal said. Brigade has already made interest repayments for March, he said. Embassy Group chairman Jitu Virwani said fund-raising may be a problem if this continues, but so far, there has been no significant impact on the office leasing business. The liquidity crisis has been a concern for over a year, with non-banking lenders staying away. The epidemic couldnt have come at a worse time, when the residential sector was expected to slowly recover over the coming months. Americans struggling to pay their mortgages because they've lost a job or income during the coronavirus pandemic can put off that bill for up to a year due to the CARES Act. But while the measures should be creating a feeling of relief, many borrowers have been left anxious because of confusing messages from the government and banks. Some homeowners say Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Chase have told them they have to repay those postponed payments known as forbearance in a lump sum once three months are up. It's an unexpected demand they fear could put them deeper in debt as millions are laid off and watching their retirement savings plunge with the stock market. Anthony Adams is one of the uneasy Americans who is confused and worried about the rules. He is late on his mortgage payment to Wells Fargo after the coronavirus pandemic crimped sales at his familys bakery in Orlando, Florida, forcing him out of a job. Your money is important: Money advice delivered right to your inbox. Sign up here Learn how to navigate life through the novel coronavirus outbreak. CARES Act's new retirement rules: COVID-19 prompts looser rules on retirement savings COVID-19 Money questions:We answer your questions about unemployment benefits Wells Fargo offered Adams a 90-day deferment on his mortgage, which is backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, but the 49-year-old was surprised when Wells Fargo told him hed still owe three months' worth of payments plus the current month once that forbearance period was up. Adams declines to say what his payments are. I feel like Im in this odd Catch-22," Adams says. "I can get some immediate relief from postponing a mortgage payment, but the cost of that relief will put me further into debt. Why the surprise? It's a combination of evolving, sometimes conflicting rules depending on who owns the mortgage and many borrowers not understanding those rules. Experts are concerned about how this will play out for borrowers over the coming months, even after the recently enacted relief package from Congress, called the CARES Act, which allows many people to delay their mortgage payments for up to a year. Story continues The problem with the CARES Act is that it doesnt make clear how borrowers pay back the money during a forbearance period, says Shamus Roller, executive director at National Housing Law Project, a nonprofit legal advocacy center. "Theres a chance that something could go wrong in that process," he says, "and it requires a lot of interacting with servicers that are overburdened with calls. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi discusses the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act on March 27, 2020. Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Chase consistently allow borrowers of mortgages that they own to tack suspended payments on the back end of the loan. If the bank doesn't own the mortgage and acts as a servicer, collecting principal, interest and escrow payments for a loan backed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Federal Housing Administration or the Department of Veterans Affairs, all the payments are due after 90 days, borrowers have been told. Adams says he doesn't know what programs Wells Fargo will offer by the time he reaches day 91, and that makes him anxious because he fears slipping into foreclosure at that point. "Consumers are confused as we try to figure out our relief options," Adams says. "We're hearing from the president's office and other officials that there are forbearance and relief options, but that's actually only specific to certain mortgages." Know who backs your mortgage A mortgage can be owned by a bank, or a bank can service a loan backed by government-sponsored enterprises such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or agencies such as the FHA, which were set up by the government to support and finance the housing market. These entities backing the home loans each have their own rules, experts say, which confuses banks and borrowers. That means anyone with a government-backed loan could be asked to make a so-called balloon payment after 90 days, or they could be offered other options once those three months are up. The Federal Housing Finance Agency dictates guidelines for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac-backed loans. After 90 days, FHFA advises borrowers to work with their lenders to set up a plan to either pay back all of the missed payments at once, tack those payments at the end of the loan or modify monthly mortgage payments. The Department of Housing and Urban Development oversees the FHA, while the Department of Veterans Affairs dictates guidance on VA-backed loans. Those agencies are working on what should happen once a 90-day suspension of mortgage payments is up. The FHA provides a variety of options to lenders that they may offer to borrowers with FHA-insured mortgages. That way, borrowers can avoid foreclosure and having to make a lump sum payment on day 91, according to HUD. We are working now to implement the specific forbearance provisions of the CARES ACT so lenders will also be able to offer this option to FHA-insured borrowers impacted by the COVID-19 national emergency, HUD said in an email to USA TODAY. The CARES Act, which passed last month, gives homeowners with federally backed loans two types of relief. First, it prevents lenders from beginning foreclosure proceedings on federally backed loans for at least 60 days after March 18. Second, homeowners who experienced financial hardship from the pandemic can request a forbearance for up to 180 days, which may be extended for an additional period of up to 180 days if borrowers are still under financial duress. If you dont have a federally backed mortgage, some loan servicers may have forbearance or deferment options for non-government-backed or private loans. For loans that Wells Fargo services, it follows guidance from FHFA, HUD and the VA. At the end of an initial 90-day payment suspension, the bank said, it has options available for customers on a case-by-case basis that could include a continuation of a payment suspension, a loan modification or the addition of suspended payments to the back end of a loan. Bank of America and Chase have similar policies. Struggling borrowers should reach out to their servicers to see what options are available to them, Kathy Kraninger, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, told USA TODAY in an email. If a consumer has an issue with their servicer, we encourage them to submit a complaint to us. Debrena Jackson-Gandy, 53, doesn't know whether her loan is owned by her bank or serviced by it. She is the owner of Masterminds, a personal development company in Seattle. The business events she had planned for the next three months were canceled, hurting her company's revenue and leaving her struggling to pay her mortgage, she said. Her husband has also lost income. When she looked up relief options on the Bank of America website, she thought that she could add deferred payments to the end of her loan. But the bank told her she'd have to pay in a lump sum after 90 days when she called them. It was really shocking, Jackson-Gandy says. Contact your servicer If you can pay your mortgage, experts advise continuing to do so. But if you are experiencing financial hardship because of coronavirus, call your servicer immediately and ask them what forbearance or other relief options are available. Communication is vital, says David Dworkin, president and CEO of National Housing Conference, a nonprofit affordable housing advocacy group. You need to call your servicer and ask for help, and then you need to stay in touch with your servicer as your situation changes. To receive forbearance through the CARES Act, you must contact your loan servicer. There wont be any additional fees, penalties or interest added to your account through this deferment, but regular interest will still accrue, Kraninger says. Be prepared to remain on the phone for a while. Loan servicers, who are receiving many calls, have likely been affected by the pandemic and could be facing staffing issues. Ask when suspended payments are due Forbearance allows you to pause or reduce your mortgage payments, but you still have to repay those missed payments in the future. Pay close attention to when your servicer expects you to pay them back, experts caution. Be sure to ask how that money needs to be paid back once forbearance ends, Roller says. If your mortgage is federally backed and you have economic circumstances that have been harmed by the coronavirus, you have a right to a forbearance. But theres going to be differences in the types of options people receive depending on what servicers they have. Loan modification is an option Experts say that a borrower can seek a loan modification if they're still under financial duress after 90 days. Call the servicer, and they will work with you to continue your forbearance plan in either three- or six-month intervals incrementally for up to a year, says Raphael Williams, press secretary and senior communications adviser at the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The agency controls Fannie Mae- and Freddie Mac-backed loans, which represent about 44% of mortgages in the U.S., according to Williams. The FHFA, which aims to be the standard-bearers for the mortgage market, anticipates that about 90% of mortgages will be covered under some forbearance option, even if it's not formally provided by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or other government entities, Williams says. Document everything in writing If you secure forbearance or another relief option, ask your servicer to provide written documentation that confirms the details and terms of your agreement. Make sure youre familiar with the final terms. One option is to send a letter explaining your situation in lieu of your mortgage payment if you cant pay, experts suggest. Then keep written records with photocopies. Also, follow up any phone conversation with a letter to your bank that includes the name of the agent who helped you, the number you dialed, any confirmation number used, the time you called and what the representative said. Dont bet your house on the ability of phone operators to accurately document every single thing that was discussed during a call, Dworkin says. Help yourself by keeping a written record. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: Mortgage relief is confusing for struggling homeowners SACRAMENTO, Calif. California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday the state would lend 500 ventilators to the national stockpile for use by New York and other states experiencing a crush of coronavirus-related hospitalizations, even as he said the nations most populous state needs to find more ventilators of its own. The loan comes after Californias hospitals added more than 3,000 ventilators to their supplies through refurbishing old or broken ones and buying some new. In total, California hospitals have more than 11,000 ventilators, a boost that Newsom said made the state comfortable to share its supply. Were very proud to be able to extend a hand of support with those 500 ventilators and send them back east, Newsom said during a news conference. But he said the state is not naive to its own needs. We need to continue to procure more ventilators, he said. Newsoms decision follows Oregon and Washington committing to transfer ventilators to New York. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said the state will return more than 400 ventilators of the 500 it got from the federal government. Inslee, a Democrat, said his statewide stay-at-home order and weeks of social distancing led to slower rates of infections and deaths in Washington, which saw the first serious coronavirus outbreak in the country. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, meanwhile, said 140 ventilators would be sent from her state to New York because Oregon doesnt need them right now. The state of Oregon and the state of Washington are leading by example, Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday. California has been hunting for ventilators to boost its own supply for weeks. Officials requested 10,000 ventilators from the national stockpile, though it has received none. Los Angeles got 170 ventilators from the stockpile, though many were broken. Newsom had previously said California had 4,252 ventilators. His spokespeople did not immediately respond to questions Monday about whether that is separate from or in addition to the roughly 11,000 ventilators at the hospitals. The state expects to hit its peak of cases sometime in May. Hydrogen fuel cell manufacturer Bloom Energy has dedicated a portion of its production plants in California and Delaware to repairing old ventilators. As of Monday the San Jose-based company had repaired 1,000 ventilators, and a spokeswoman said it has the capacity to refurbish 2,000 per week. Virgin Orbit, billionaire Richard Bransons company that makes rockets, has developed a prototype for a bridge ventilator designed to help patients breathe until they can be put on a traditional ventilator. The company is awaiting federal approval before it can begin mass producing the model, which was developed in partnership with researchers at the University of California, Irvine. Newsom touted both as part of Californias efforts to procure ventilators. Asked Saturday if California would share medical supplies with other states, Newsom told reporters the state was working day and night to find new ventilators. But, he said, if the state was in a position to share medical supplies or to team up with other states to bulk purchase such supplies absolutely, unequivocally we will do that. While the federal government hasnt given California any ventilators from the national stockpile, it has sent other supplies. As of last week, California had received roughly 837,000 N-95 masks, 1.31 million gloves, nearly 2 million surgical masks, as well as face shields, surgical gowns, coveralls and 2,000 medical station beds, according to the White House. California has recorded more than 15,000 cases of COVID-19 virus infections and at least 320 deaths, according to the latest data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. New York, meanwhile, has more than 123,000 cases and more than 4,000 deaths. If we need them back in a few weeks, well get them back, Newsom said of the ventilators the state is sharing. If Californians continue aggressive social and physical distancing, it will give the state time to obtain all of the ventilators it needs, he said. We looked at our modeling, we looked at conditions on the ground, and we feel confident about our capacity to meet our needs, as we support the needs of others, he said. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. ___ Associated Press reporter Adam Beam contributed to this report. For Sanjay Jaiswal the day begins with a rushed breakfast and some quick exercises. Then he sets out for the hospital, where on any given day he takes between 500-700 phone calls from those seeking medical advice and examines patients. In the wake of the Corona pandemic, and the ongoing 21-day nation-wide lockdown, restrictions have been imposed on patients seeking medical care in hospitals and other medical centres such as nursing homes. It is here that tele-medicine has come to the rescue of doctors. Earlier, there was no permission for doctors to conduct consultations through tele-medicine, but now conditions have been relaxed by the MCI and we can at least see our patients online or speak to them on the phone. My wife is a gynecologist, and we have strict protocols in place to ensure there is no spread of infection in the hospital, he said. In between his duties as a doctor, Jaiswal, who is also the Bharatiya Janata Partys Bihar unit chief and Lok Sabha MP from West Champaran, has to field calls from party workers, and attend daily meetings with party bosses. But it is his Hippocratic oath that overrides all else these days. Jaiswal said, while he has volunteered to be deployed (for care of corona patients); to ensure that the other health care workers in his hospital are safe, a 140-bed isolation ward has been set up in his hospital. We have requisitioned for PPEs and cardiac monitors as there is a shortage all across, he said. Referring to the overall monitoring of Covid-19 spread in the state, which is among the most populous with severe gaps in healthcare, Jaiswal said Asha workers, ANMs and tola workers in rural areas have been empowered to monitor every resident with travel history. Each Asha or tola worker has been assigned 10 people who have come from outside. They check on them regularly and share the data of checking blood samples etc. Luckily, so far we have not had a single positive case, he said. Another doctor-turned-MP, Anil Jain, who is also the BJP general secretary, has been monitoring the situation on the ground in Haryana and Chandigarh. A consultant surgeon with the Apollo Group, Jain has not been practising medicine since he took oath as an MP, but finds time to speak to those who call for consultations. I hear their concerns and tell them what to watch out for and when to rush to the emergency, but I have not been practicising, said Jain, a Rajya Sabha MP. Jain, who also attended party meetings online, is focusing more on logistics on the ground to ensure hospitals have supplies and patients are being looked after. We are making sure that patients who need dialysis for instance are being looked after. While the pandemic has affected regular services, we are ensuring that treatment is not stalled, Jain said. Former minister and now MP from Gautam Buddh Nagar, Mahesh Sharma has also returned to the examining table. As per a party aide, Sharma, who runs the Kailash hospital chain, is also examining patients at the hospital. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday (April 6) urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reconsider the Centre's decision to suspend MPLADS funds for two years, saying they have a demonstrable potential to be deployed as an effective supplement to the initiatives being made by the central and state governments. In a letter to the prime minister, Tharoor commended the government for its decision to revise the salaries of Members of Parliament and offered his wholehearted support for it. However, he expressed concern over the government's decision to suspend all Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds for the period of two years in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. "As I am sure you will agree, by design, the MPLADS has traditionally been utilised to address and remedy gaps in our governance initiatives that may have been overlooked by the state and central government in their announcements of major development projects," Tharoor said in his letter. "By removing the resources at their (MPs) disposal to make critical interventions and bringing them under the ambit of the Consolidated Fund of India, it would centralise the allocation of funds, in turn, potentially leading to significant delays in the devolution of funds. MPLADS preserved the sense of direct responsibility for the well-being of constituents that is a hallmark of an Indian MPs work," he said. The money will now be allocated by the Centre and will follow the priorities and preferences of New Delhi, rather than reflect 543 sets of local needs, the MP from Thiruvananthapuram said. The government's move will also raise other questions regarding allocation, he said. "For instance, despite being one of the most affected regions, my state of Kerala has so far only received 157 crores from the first instalment of the Centre's share in State Disaster Response Mitigation Fund, whereas other states that are less affected have received a larger portion of the first tranche from the Centre," he said. Tharoor said that he agrees with the prime minister on the need to garner additional resources in the nationwide campaign against COVID-19. However, he said, "I would urge you to reconsider the decision to suspend MPLADS funds since it has a demonstrable potential to be deployed as an effective supplement to the initiatives being made by the central and state governments." "As an alternative, the government could use its authority to mandate that the MPLADS should be directed for COVID-19 related initiatives and could issue a fresh set of guidelines to enable the same," he said. There are no political differences in the fight to address the impact of this epidemic but at the same time, it must also be ensured that all branches of the governance structure of the country are equipped in their own way to intervene and offer relief to the people in these trying times, Tharoor said. The Cabinet on Monday approved temporary suspension of MPLADS fund scheme during 2020-21 and 2021-22, and the funds will be used for managing health services and the adverse impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the country. The Union cabinet also approved an ordinance to reduce the salaries, allowances and pensions of Members of Parliament (MPs) by 30 per cent for one year and the amount will be utilised in the fight against coronavirus. The President, Vice President, governors of states have also voluntarily decided to take a pay cut as a social responsibility. Highlights Amazon is likely to postpone its major shopping event, the Amazon Prime Day due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Amazon Prime Day took place in July everywhere, this year too it was scheduled to take place on July 15 In 2019, 175 million items were sold on Amazon in 18 countries during Prime Day sale Amazon is likely to postpone its major shopping event, the Amazon Prime Day due to the coronavirus pandemic. As per a Reuters report, the event has been postponed to August. The Amazon Prime Day took place in July everywhere, this year too it was scheduled to take place on July 15. During the shopping fest, Amazon provides the best deals and discounts on the products on its platforms. In 2019, 175 million items were sold on Amazon in 18 countries and as per the company, the sale exceeded Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined during the Amazon Prime Day event. Amazon might see a $100 million hit from the"excess devices it may now have to sell at a discount, as per Reuters. Amazon, however, refused to comment. Customers are now majorly relying on e-commerce sites like Amazon as one-third of the world has been directed to stay home to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus. To meet the shopping demands, Amazon was looking to hire around 1,00,000 workers in the US. The positions were mainly for the warehouse and delivery workers. Dave Clark, Amazon's senior vice president of international operations in an official blog post wrote, We are opening 100,000 new full and part-time positions across the U.S. in our fulfillment centers and delivery network to meet the surge in demand from people relying on Amazon's service during this stressful time, particularly those most vulnerable to being out in public. Back in India, Amazon had briefly suspended its services owing to the growing demands and the hurdles faced by the delivery executives due to a 21-day lockdown. However, now the e-commerce giant has resumed services in the country albeit in selected cities. They also made it clear that they will only deliver the essential products first and would clear the backlog of items that were purchased before the lockdown through the pre-paid payment mode. Amazon is currently not accepting new orders for non-essential items. The names of cites where Amazon had resumed services include Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jamshedpur, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Mohali, Mysuru, Patna, and Raipur. Amazon also resumed its pantry services in selected cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune. Under the pantry services, Amazon offers essentials like groceries, food items, health and beauty items, beverages, etc. Vera Lynn's We'll Meet Again has soared 830 places to number 22 in the iTunes download charts after the Queen made a reference to the famous WWII anthem during her coronavirus address. The song struck a chord with Britons who had been separated from their loved ones during the chaos of war and has gained a new resonance as millions remain apart during the current lockdown. A version of YouTube has racked up thousands of comments from viewers referencing the Queen's speech, as leading bookmaker Coral put it two to one to become the UK's most popular single of 2020. Today, Dame Vera's daughter, Virginia, spoke of her mother's delight at the news, telling MailOnline: 'The song is still so relevant now and always will be for whatever reason people are having to stay apart. It's gives a message of hope to people for now and the future.' Yesterday, in a stirring address watched by 22 million Britons, the Queen alluded to the tune as she delivered a message of hope to the nation, saying if we 'remain united and resolute' in the face of coronavirus 'we will overcome it'. Scroll down for video. Dame Vera Lynn's WWII anthem We'll Meet Again has rocketed up the iTunes charts after it was mentioned by the Queen yesterday (pictured right is Dame Vera with the monarch) We'll Meet Again was the 30th most streamed song among British iTunes users at around midnight, according to a music data website. By this afternoon it had risen even further to 22. It came after the Queen warned Britons, who have been in lockdown for almost two weeks with thousands dead after contracting Covid-19, 'may have more still to endure'. But she echoed the words of Forces' Sweetheart, who turned 103 last month, as she said: 'We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.' '50% chance' We'll Meet Again will be the most popular UK single of 2020 Leading bookmaker Coral makes it 2-1 for Vera Lynn's 'We'll Meet Again' to top the UK single charts in 2020 following the Queen's address to the nation last night. 'After the Queen quoted lyrics from Vera Lynn's iconic World War 2 song in her address to the nation, we think there is a strong chance We'll Meet Again will top the UK singles charts in 2020,' said the bookmaker's John Hill. Advertisement Turning to her own experiences, the Queen sympathised with those feeling a 'painful sense of separation from their loved ones' and described how during the Blitz in 1940 she gave her first radio broadcast to evacuated children. The then 14-year-old Princess Elizabeth had been sent for safety to Windsor Castle with her sister Princess Margaret, and she called on evacuated youngsters to have courage - telling them she and Margaret knew what it was like to be separated from those they loved. She said: 'It reminds me of the very first broadcast I made, in 1940, helped by my sister. We, as children, spoke from here at Windsor to children who had been evacuated from their homes and sent away for their own safety. 'Today, once again, many will feel a painful sense of separation from their loved ones. But now, as then, we know, deep down, that it is the right thing to do.' The Queen alluded to the tune yesterday as she delivered a message of hope to the nation, saying if we 'remain united and resolute' in the face of coronavirus 'we will overcome it' In a rare televised address to the country and Commonwealth, the Queen sounded a positive note after what has been an unsettling period, saying: 'We will succeed - and that success will belong to every one of us.' The broadcast featured footage of NHS frontline staff, workers making deliveries and military personnel helping to construct the NHS Nightingale Hospital at the ExCel centre in east London. In her own video message, Dame Vera called on the nation to pull together and overcome Covid-19. 'All around the world, people are facing extremely difficult times,' she said. 'It is likely that we will all have to make hard decisions in the coming months. 'I am reminded of World War Two, when our country faced the darkest of times and yet, despite our struggles, pulled together for the common good and we faced the common threat together as a country, and as a community of countries that joined as one right across the world.' Dame Vera, born in East Ham, east London, rose to popularity while performing for troops during the war in countries including Egypt, India and Burma. Her best-known songs include The White Cliffs Of Dover and There'll Always Be An England. The Queen's address was only the fourth time the monarch had addressed the nation during troubled periods. Speeches were broadcast after the Queen Mother's death in 2002, ahead of Diana, Princess of Wales's funeral in 1997 and about the First Gulf War in 1991. Amid celebratory times, the Queen made a televised address to mark her Diamond Jubilee in 2012. Last night, the number of UK coronavirus-related deaths climbed by 621 to 4,934 and infections rose by 5,903 to 47,806. The Maharashtra government is focusing on the containment in coronavirus disease (Covid-19) hotspots such as Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur, which have reported the maximum of positive cases in the past few days. Around 85% of Covid-19 positive cases been reported from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Pune district, the most urbanised parts of the state. Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai make up the MMR, which is located less than 150 kilometres away from Pune. Maharashtra has reported 781 Covid-19 positive cases until Monday morning --- the highest in the country --- of which 670 are from the MMR and Pune. The state has recorded 45 Covid-19 related deaths, of which 36 are from the MMR and five from Pune. The civic bodies in the MMR and Pune have been directed to meticulously implement the cluster containment action plan in a bid to contain the rapid spread of the viral outbreak. The state administration, headed by chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and chief secretary Ajoy Mehta, has been closely monitoring the action plan in these urban areas. Thackeray will hold a meeting with the guardian secretaries -- a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) from each district has been appointed as a point-person for better coordination with the state government -- on Monday. The district authorities are likely to be ordered to ensure the containment of Covid-19 positive cases and a smooth supply of essential commodities. Mumbai and Navi Mumbai municipal corporations have formed 519 and 196 teams of health workers, respectively, to work in the containment zones and monitor the high-risk people. Similarly, Pune and Nagpur have formed 439 and 210 teams, respectively. Weve formed 3,078 teams, comprising more than four health workers in each unit, across the state. Theyve traced over 10 lakh people, who need to be monitored to prevent the viral outbreak, said state health minister Rajesh Tope. Of the 36 districts, around 10 havent reported a single Covid-19 positive case. The outbreak is only restricted to the MMR, Pune and Nagpur. If we could isolate the affected areas from the rest of the state, we could rapidly bring down the number of Covid-19 positive cases. Similarly, the spread within the containment zones can be brought under control, said an official. The authorities, however, are facing a major challenge as far as controlling the crowds at vegetable markets in urban areas is concerned. They have temporarily shifted the markets to open grounds on the lines of their experiment with the Dadar market last week. Plans are now afoot to set up a cluster of small markets in residential areas. Senior IAS officers are appointed as guardian secretary with one district each for better coordination between state amd district administrations. The CM will now discuss district plan with them in the backdrop of covid outbreak. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON STEPANAKERT. On Sunday, at around 5:30pm, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Republic Defense Army serviceman Arayik Shakhpazyan (born in 2000) sustained a gunshot wound at a Defense Army in the military from a shot fired by Azerbaijan. The soldier was immediately taken to the military hospital, and his condition is assessed as satisfactory, the Artsakh Ministry of Defense (MOD) informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. An investigation is underway to find out the details of the incident. The Artsakh MOD calls on the adversary to refrain from provocative actions and states that in case of further escalation of the situation, all accountability for the consequences will fall on the Azerbaijani side. There are 220,000 people at least 65 years old currently living with Alzheimers disease in the state of Ohio. At the same time, the novel coronavirus presents unique challenges for more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimers. To protect the health of their residents, many facilities are restricting access to outside visitors, leaving relatives trying to communicate with their family members as well as get updates on their health. Nancy Udelson, president and CEO of the Alzheimers Association Cleveland Area Chapter, has been focusing on keeping open communication for the residents and following protocol to help stop the spreading of COVID-19. Like everyone else, we are working as hard as possible to keep the lines of communication open with our families but also with our staff, she said. We will continue to respond as best we can and expand virtual services as needed. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alzheimers Association has released its 2020 Facts and Figures. The new report estimates there are currently 5.8 million Americans who are 65 and older living with Alzheimers a number expected to nearly triple by 2050. As Ohios population continues to age, the state will need more medical specialists and better trained primary care physicians to deal with the anticipated onslaught of Alzheimers cases, the report stated. The Alzheimers Association is ready to work to support physicians in Ohio, said Trey Addison, Ohio public policy director for the Alzheimers Association. We realize the shortage of geriatric physicians can impact those living with Alzheimers disease, and individuals in Ohios aging population. Currently, the association is looking at possible legislative and budget solutions that will incentivize more medical residents to pursue geriatrics as a career choice. The report also looks at the number of geriatricians treating older patients. Last year, there were 163 geriatricians in Ohio. By 2050, the state will need 537 geriatricians to serve 10 percent of those 65 or older, which is a 229 percent increase. According to the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University, by 2025 more than 1 in 4 Ohioans will be age 60 and older. Increasing age is the greatest known risk factor for Alzheimers disease, the report stated. Entry of animals and birds in a quarantine area can pose a serious risk of infection spread, say the governments latest guidelines on such facilities where suspected coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients are housed. A separate section on the prevention of the deadly infection in the health ministry document released on Sunday stresses that animals and birds should be prevented from entering a quarantine area, and security personnel should stop any undesired movement, including those by humans. Separate fence needs to be raised around the building to prevent entry of animals, especially dogs, monkeys and even birds if possible. Well-informed and trained security personnel need to be deployed all around the building on 24*7 rotation basis to monitor the facility and to avoid entry of undesired persons or animals and even birds for eating any food remains or droppings inside the area, read the document. Concerns have been raised over whether the infection caused by the Sars-CoV-2 virus can be transmitted between animals and humans; there are reports of a pet cat in Belgium and two dogs in Hong Kong getting infected. Additionally, in quarantine homes, there is a risk that animals could take contaminated stuff, especially leftover food items, outside the facility and spread the infection. The guidelines have been drafted as per the best practices followed globally regarding infection control during an outbreak of this nature. As it is an evolving situation, all previously issued guidelines can be modified based on the change in data to meet norms of the current available evidence, a senior health ministry official said. A team of experts has done a thorough risk assessment with respect to probability of infection from not just movement of people but also animals and birds in the area. It is mandatory to have a special map of the facility prepared to outline the details of movement of health care and other personnel around the quarantine area and in the building so as to reduce the probability of fresh infections, according to the governments guidelines. To ensure that all health care personnel use personal protection equipment (PPE) as per guidelines, they need to be properly trained and assisted during wearing of PPE. Separate areas to be earmarked for PPE donning and doffing. Compliance for same should be ensured by a nodal officer, said the health ministry official quoted above. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rhythma Kaul Rhythma Kaul works as an assistant editor at Hindustan Times. She covers health and related topics, including ministry of health and family welfare, government of India. ...view detail According to Kristalina Georgieva, the Fund, in cooperation with the World Bank and other international financial institutions, is working on measures that would allow mitigating economic losses The current economic crisis, caused by the coronavirus pandemic, is even worse than the global crisis of 2008-2009. It was stated by the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva during a press conference following a meeting with representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), Interfax-Ukraine reports. "Never in the history of the IMF, we have witnessed the world economy coming to a standstill. 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. WHO is there to protect the health of people; the IMF is there to protect the health of the world economy; they both are under siege. And only united we can do our duties," she said. According to her, the IMF is working together with the World Bank and other international financial institutions, bringing the world together to provide protection against this crisis. According to Georgieva, already over 90 countries have been placing requests to the IMF. The outflow of funds from emerging markets is nearly 90 billion dollars. "The highest risk we see is a wave of bankruptcies and layoffs that would make the recovery from this crisis harder," the IMF head added. As we reported earlier, the International Monetary Fund expects Ukraine to adopt amendments to the state budget for 2020. By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Patient readers, I had a spate of connectivity problems; Ill add more in Politics shortly. lambert UPDATE All done! Trade New trade skirmishes are threatening the flow of medical equipment considered critical to fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Curbs on exports of drugs, chemicals, face masks, ventilators and other equipment vital to stopping the pathogen have proliferated as the number of cases world-wide has spiraled amid fears of shortages and higher domestic prices if overseas buyers snap up crucial supplies [Wall Street Journal]. By one measure, governments around the world introduced 70 new export curbs and more are being imposed almost daily. Some economists say the reasoning is shortsighted and may backfire. The limits risk deterring manufacturers from investing in new capacity, could stem the flow of needed parts and may exacerbate the very supply squeeze governments wish to avoid. Evidence also suggests the actions will drive up the price of the equipment just when governments need it most. #COVID-19 At reader request, Ive added this daily chart: The data is the John Hopkins CSSE data. Here is the site. I am using a linear, not a logarithmic scale, because the linear scale conveys the alarming quality of the multiplication better (dont @ me, math nerds). I did not adjust for population, because it seems to me that the epidemics spread through a population in a fractal matter; within reasonable limits, the shape of the curve will be the same. Show me Im wrong! Politics But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? James Madison, Federalist 51 They had one weapon left and both knew it: treachery. Frank Herbert, Dune They had learned nothing, and forgotten nothing. Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord * * * 2020 We encourage readers to play around with the polling charts; they are dynamic, and there are a lot of settings, more than I can usefully show here. Here is a link to alert reader dks project. You can also file bug reports or feature requests using the same contact process as for Plants, below. Thanks but no promises! Once again, we have no new national or state polls today. Either (a) the pollsters have called the election, or (b) the pandemic (though I would imagine anybody sheltering in place would welcome a call). * * * UPDATE Biden (D)(1): Trump, Biden trade barbs over possible virtual Democratic convention [NBC]. Well, were going to have to do a convention, may have to do a virtual convention, Biden told ABCs This Week days after the Democratic Party postponed the event until mid-August. I think we should be thinking about that right now. The idea of holding the convention is going to be necessary, but we may not be able to put 10-, 20-, 30,000 people in one place. Thats very possible. Again, lets see where it is.' And then there are the alll-important meetings on credentials, the platform, and rules and bylaws. How will they be handled? Zoom? UPDATE Biden (D)(2): Joe Biden talked about his chat with Bernie Sanders about a VP pick on This Week: I was apologizing to him by saying 'Bernie, I don't want in any way it's not in any way to demean your effort but if we don't start now we're not going to be able to get there. Holly Otterbein (@hollyotterbein) April 5, 2020 Not sure I want Biden negotiating with foreign leaders if his idea of making a case is saying his counter-party can destroy him, while at the same time not making any kind of offer. Sanders (D)(1): A conversation starter, at least. Thread: Bernie Post-Mortem: He was winning, and then his opponents did something unprecedented to stop him. Everything else is window dressing. And if Team Biden was smart, they would be making massive efforts to heal the wound caused by that unprecedented move. Respectable Lawyer (@RespectableLaw) April 6, 2020 It is true that the Night of The Long Knives orchestrated on Bidens behalf before California was unprecedented; Ive never seen anything like it. At the same time, as so much else, it calls into question the legitimacy of the entire primary. I mean, how many of the candidates were really trying to get elected, and how many were straws? UPDATE Sanders (D)(2): Some Sanders top allies have urged him to withdraw from 2020 race: report [The Hill]. Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), one of the senators top surrogates, were both part of the group that has pressed for him to suspend his campaign, according to the sources. Other Sanders aides and allies such as national campaign co-chair Nina Turner have reportedly encouraged the 78-year-old to stay in the race. Millions of people are counting on him to be on the ballot so they can vote for that alternative vision that they support, Larry Cohen, a longtime supporter who chairs a nonprofit associated with Sanders, told the Post. If he was not on the ballot, they will feel abandoned.' Too bad theres no way simply to poll Sanders supporters. Nobody seems to be suggesting that, oddly (and if its not possible is a deficiency in the Sanders campaign, I would think.) UPDATE Sanders (D)(3): Sanders narrow path to victory gets even narrower [Politico]. It is especially important to these Sanders supporters to maintain the rule changes they achieved in 2016, such as barring superdelegates from voting for presidential candidates on the first ballot. In order for his backers to have negotiating power, they said, Sanders needs to receive at least 1,200 delegates he has more than 900 now so they can introduce minority resolutions. They also hope that Sanders can push Biden to commit to progressive appointments. The party reforms go down the drain if he doesnt stay in, said Cohen, adding that if he drops out before hitting 1,200 delegates, its going to be Bidens people writing the platform, thats it.' Oddly, or not, the pundits are considering only the fate of the candidate and his campaign, and not the movement who backed him. No doubt they would prefer there would never be a small donor-driven insurgency in the Democrat Party ever again. Much will depend on Sanders decision; my personal view is that he owes the Democrat Party nothing. UPDATE Sanders (D)(4): Nurses have a lot of political clout normally, but now: Day by day I am steadily more disgusted with both of the parties in the USA. There is no country. The corporations with their govemental stand ins are strip mining our resources. Speaking for myself, I think it is critical to entertain a 3rd party discussion immediately. RoseAnn DeMoro (@RoseAnnDeMoro) April 5, 2020 Hoo boy. Trump (R)(1): When hes right: Reporter: Biden just attacked you online(in a tweet). Trump: No, he didnt. He doesnt write that stuff. He has democrat operatives write that. If hes even watching this, he doesnt understand what hes watching. Amanda (@AmandaPresto) April 4, 2020 * * * GA: Touch screens a disaster in the making: 1/ A politically diverse group of organizations, physicians, and voters joined @CoalitionGoodGv in asking @GaSecofState to review the public health safety of the 80,000 pieces of touchscreen equipment about to be deployed for the May 19 election. Thread https://t.co/sSPJTZXNhF pic.twitter.com/1oRa6vu3Xt Marilyn Marks #StayHome (@MarilynRMarks1) April 6, 2020 WI: Election Preview: Yes, Wisconsin Still Plans To Hold Its Primary On Tuesday [FiveThirtyEight]. Seems like the only Democrats who havent called for the primary to postponed are the DNC and the Biden Campaign: NEW: Mayors of Milwaukee, Madison, Kenosha and more ask Wisconsin DHS secretary to use emergency powers to postpone Tuesdays election, according to a letter provided to @politico pic.twitter.com/KoK00Rpd7d Natasha Korecki (@natashakorecki) April 5, 2020 I have to say that the Biden personally encouraging his voters to join the lines at the polling booths in the midst of a pandemic and infect themselves and others is, well, novel, like so much else this year. Again, how can anybody regard this election is legitimate? UPDATE WI: Wisconsin infectious diseases expert: Allowing in-person voting Tuesday just seems really irresponsible' [Journal-Sentinel]. James Conway, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Wisconsin-Madisons Global Health Institute, said allowing people to gather at polling locations during Tuesdays spring election will also damage the effectiveness of state leaders message to stay away from each other to blunt the spread of coronavirus. Gov. Tony Evers on March 25 issued an order closing scores of businesses in an effort to limit the spread of the virus and Conway says, so far, that action has been successful in preventing the virus from spreading like wildfire. From a public health stand its both the wrong message and its taking an enormous gamble, Conway said. WI: Wisconsins Pandemic Primary Could Exclude Many Voters [Capital and Main]. If an election indeed takes place Tuesday, it will be chaotic. The state is facing a severe shortage of poll workers as well as a massive number of absentee ballot requests that the state may not be able to handle. Beside the states strict voter ID law, new hurdles borne out of the pandemic will disproportionately affect marginalized populations, including low-income people, people of color, seniors, and people with disabilitiesbut will make voting harder for nearly everyone. WI: Absentee ballots go missing [Channel3000]. Wow, thats a totally unexpected plot twist. RussiaGate National security goons with the self-awareness of stumps or rocks: Can we organize a Deep State Poetry Slam on Zoom? We could call it the Tool of Torture Invitational. https://t.co/YtOEuLrjil Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) April 5, 2020 Realignment and Legitimacy The Democratic Party Must Harness the Legitimate Rage of Americans. Otherwise, the Right Will Use It With Horrifying Results. [Jon Schwarz, The Intercept]. The anger of Americans, once they figure out whats being done to them right now, is going to be volcanic. The fallout from 9/11 and the great recession of 2007-2010 will be imperceptible in comparison. What we know from history is that someone always shows up to harvest this level of ambient rage but it can go in two directions. If people can be made angry at the crime, as Steinbeck wrote, there can be huge positive political changes. During the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt and unions organized the anger and used it to create the New Deal and the largest middle class in history. In unluckier countries, like Germany, Italy and Japan, the political left failed. The fury was organized by fascists, and directed at innocents. No one knows today which path the U.S. will take. But its going to be one or the other: The right or the left will emerge as the champion of the coming American rage. What if essential meant essential? Wouldnt it be crazy if there was a large external shock to our extractive capitalist system that proved without a shadow of a doubt that our entire economy runs on the labor of the working class, not the unseen and immeasurable genius of plucky billionaires? Ben Hauck (@fightdenial) April 2, 2020 Authoritarian followers: Liberals just coming out and admitting that they would be fine with a monarchy if it meant they could go back to brunch https://t.co/5E7PrGRL17 Hilary Agro #IBelieveTara (@hilaryagro) April 6, 2020 Stats Watch At reader request, I added some business stats back in. Please give Econintersect click-throughs; theyre a good, old-school blog that covers more than stats. If anybody knows of other aggregators, please contact me at the email address below. * * * Employment Situation: March 2020 Conference Board Employment Index Plummets [Econintersect]. The year-over-year index growth rate decelerated by 47 % month-over-month and a negative 45 % year-over-year. The Econintersect employment index also slowed. Both of these indices are predicting softer job growth 6 months from now. 47% seems like rather a lot. * * * Shipping: Coronavirus-driven restrictions on travel and tight controls on movement around ports have left growing numbers of crews stuck on ships for long periods, and many face exhaustion and potential illness at sea [Wall Street Journal]. Big cutbacks in flights have made it harder to move the many thousands of sailors that relieve crews at far-flung ports. At the same time, many ports are restricting movements of seafarers from anchored vessels. There has only been one outbreak of coronavirus on a cargo ship publicly disclosed so far. But shipowner groups want governments to act before seaborne supply chains reach a breaking point. Labor Market: The rush to eliminate jobs across the U.S. is stopping at the warehouse doors. Logistic staffing agency ProLogistix says demand for workers is off the charts as retailers and distribution companies try to keep up with enormous demand to replenish stores and feed e-commerce operations [Wall Street Journal]. Warehousing and storage operators brought on 8,200 workers last month by the latest government measure. defying the steep employment downturn in an American economy staggered by the coronavirus pandemic. The March hiring is likely just a sliver of the thousands of new workers heading into warehouses. ProLogistix says some employers are telling recruits their new jobs arent just temporary work, but the broader employment picture carries troubling signals. Manufacturers and other goods-producing companies are slicing payrolls in big numbers, and faltering economic output will likely hit consumer buying power and the demand for all those warehouse workers. Tech: COBOL-coding volunteers sought as slammed mainframes slow New Jerseys coronavirus response [The Register]. Governor Murphy said his staff is doing a heck of a job but literally we have systems that are 40-plus years old and therell be lots of post mortems and one of them on our list will be how the heck did we get here when we literally needed cobalt programmers. Only in the wacky world of software engineering would a program that works for forty years be considered a problem: our world's digital infrastructure banks, climate models, and most of gov tech run on cobol and fortran. As someone who studies software sustainability, I deeply appreciate people who wrote code DECADES ago and it still works. Nic Weber (@nniiicc) April 5, 2020 Especially code written by public servants, instead of, well, the sort of people who programmed Ubers app tp rip off the drivers. Tech: 5G cell towers torched in U.K. amid bogus coronavirus theories [NBC]. You say 5G cell towers torched like thats a bad thing. Employment Situation: COVID-19 and Unemployment Risk: State and MSA Differences [Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis]. Our analysis indicates that there are differences among states and MSAs regarding the share of workers facing a high risk of unemployment in the face of COVID-19. However, it is also important to consider the more detailed composition of these jobs, as aggregate statistics mask important features. For example, Nevada and Indiana both have a large fraction of high-risk workers, but those workers are in very different occupationstending towards tourism in Nevada and production in Indianathat may have very different immediate responses to the COVID-19 outbreak. * * * Todays Fear & Greed Index: 27 Fear (previous close: 21 Extreme Fear) [CNN]. One week ago: 25 (Extreme Fear). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Apr 6 at 11:57am. Now mere fear. Light at the end of the tunnel? Rapture Index: Closes up 2 on Globalism (The massive downturn in the economy is bringing nations together like never before) and Oil Supply/Price (The sharpest ever rise in oil prices (25%) show the unrest in financial markets) [Rapture Ready]. Record High, October 10, 2016: 189. Current: 186. Remember that bringing on the rapture is a good thing. Biggest pop in awhile. Seems like an odd take on Globalism! Health Care HHS to divert some of $100B hospital COVID-19 funding to uninsured [Health Care Dive]. This seems to be the direct payment mechanism: For those who read the New York Times, the Sunday edition was a scary one. A headline blared, Official Counts Understate the U.S. Coronavirus Death Toll. The subheading was even more disquieting (and ungrammatical): Inconsistent protocols, limited resources and a patchwork of decision-making has [sic] led to an undercounting of people with the coronavirus who have died, health experts say. Ah, those experts. What would we do without them? The article opens, as all Times articles are wont to do, with anecdotes. Once upon a time, the Times included those anecdotes to create hooks that made facts more compelling. Somewhere along the line, though, Times writers made the mistake of believing that the plural of anecdotes is data. Thats why Sunday's article opens with three anecdotes about unnamed people a coroner, a funeral director, and some paramedics all of whom think people they saw might have died of COVID-19. However, they dont know, so theyre marking those deaths down as not from COVID-19. With the anecdotes in place, the writers are ready to terrify their audience: Across the United States, even as coronavirus deaths are being recorded in terrifying numbers many hundreds each day the true death toll is likely much higher. With the anecdotes in place, the Times moves on to the experts. Er, sorry. The expert, singular. We hear from Jennifer Nuzzo, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, who definitely think[s] theres under-reporting. We also learn that the CDC has issued new guidelines to help with uniformity, saying the deaths should be identified as COVID-19 if the person tested positive or if the circumstances are compelling within a reasonable degree of certainty. (You can read the new guidelines here -- and then contemplate the fact that they, too, will undoubtedly result in inflated numbers.) The article then assures us that its helpful to have good numbers (duh!). The Times article next moves to Julio Ramirez, 43, who tragically died at home with all the symptoms of COVID-19. Nineteen days after his death, he was finally diagnosed as having COVID-19 when he died (although, since he died at home, that still makes COVID-19 the likely cause of death, not the certain cause). The health department would not respond to the Times questions. The Times then explains that, in a vast federal republic, a variety of professionals across America fill out death certificates, all of which list the immediate cause of death as well as underlying diseases. Given this patchwork, the federal government is keeping a running tally but actually wont have more precise numbers for as long as a year. Having inserted a fact, the Times heads back to anonymous people's concerns: [T]hose who work with death certificates say they worry that relying only on those documents may leave out a significant number of cases in which coronavirus was confirmed by testing, but not written down in the section where doctors and coroners are asked to note relevant underlying diseases. And so it goes. More anecdotes, more unsourced opinions, more people who have feelings about things. Geraldine Menard, chief of general internal medicine at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans, when talking about patients flu-like deaths in February and March (when flu is common) says, I remember thinking it was weird. Im sure some of those patients did have it. What the Times has done is not news. Its a pastiche of gossip, random opinion, and sad stories, all intended to frighten people. Perhaps time's passage will prove that the story's ultimate premise is correct; namely, that COVID-19 deaths are currently unreported. As of now, though, this "news" report, stripped down to its flawed essentials, doesnt make the case. If you go outside the Times, there are facts out there. The most interesting fact is how the models seem to have grossly underestimated the cases. Former Times reporter Alex Berenson has been doing something the Times eschews: Math. What Berenson discovered is that the current predictions all of which were made assuming that lockdowns were already in place are way off the mark. This is the @IMHE_UW model for #Covid_19, the new US standard. It was put out SIX days ago (post lockdown). It projects New York State will have 50,000 hospitalizations TODAY. Instead NYS has 12,000. Wrong by 4x in under a week. What on earth are we doing? https://t.co/zdRwaS4UJr pic.twitter.com/bRroolmKgw Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) April 1, 2020 One senses that leftists are relishing COVID-19s rampage through America. Part of this is the fact that Progressivism thrives on emotion, the more hysterical, the better. Additionally, mainstream media articles use extremist predictions as a springboard for attacking Trump. A subset of this media hatred for Trump is the fact that television news outlets are refusing to carry President Trumps more optimistic press conferences. The media are riding the COVID-19 wave, hoping that, when it hits the beach, its the equivalent of a tsunami that destroys the Trump presidency. They may get a surprise, though, if the wave breaks before the beach and theyre the ones that wipeout. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) is continuing with its development projects, having commissioned eight new 132/11 kilovolt (kV) substations with a total cost of Dh850 million ($231 million) since the start of the year. These have a conversion capacity of 150 megavolt-amperes (MVA) with 16 km of high-voltage 132 kV cable to connect different areas of Dubai. This ensures the efficiency, reliability, and availability of Dewas 132 kV transmission networks. Commissioning these new substations supports the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to enhance economic and social development in the emirate. It also aligns with the continuous growth of Dubai and achieves the objectives of our strategies, especially the UAE Vision 2021; Dubai Plan 2021; and the UAE Centennial 2071 to make the UAE the worlds leading nation, said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dewa. In line with our vision to become a globally leading sustainable innovative corporation, we contribute to enhancing the infrastructure and facilities in Dubai according to the highest international standards. This enhances the economic development of the UAE and consolidates its position as a globally leading economic hub. The power transmission plants are built according to the highest standards of quality and safety. The substations adopt state-of-the-art digital technologies, contributing to promoting their efficiency and reliability, and highlight the construction and economic development plans for Dubai added Al Tayer. The total cost of these projects has reached Dh850 million, increasing the total to 293 132/11kV substations. Dewa is currently testing 12 new 132/11 kV substations which are due to become operational in the second quarter of 2020, at an estimated cost of Dh1.5 billion. Commissioning these stations will raise the total to 305 substations and will cater to the growing demand for electricity for multiple uses and ensures the continuity and stability of supply for different customers all the time. TradeArabia News Service Oakdale Federal Correctional Institution in Louisiana. Google Maps Patrick Jones, 49, has been identified as the first federal inmate to die from the novel coronavirus. Jones, who was 13 years into a 27-year sentence on non-violence drug charges, requested a sentence reduction in October 2019 but was denied in late February. On March 9, he signaled that he would appeal the judge's decision. But just 10 days later he tested positive for COVID-19. Jones had "long-term, pre-existing medical conditions" the put him at a higher risk for the coronavirus. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. A 49-year-old man in Louisiana has been identified as the first federal prison inmate to die from the novel coronavirus. Patrick Jones, who was 13 years into a 27-year sentence on non-violent drug charges, had asked to be released months earlier but was denied on February 26, NBC News reported. He tested positive for COVID-19 on March 19 after complaining of a persistent cough. He died on March 29. Authorities told USA Today that Jones had "long-term, pre-existing medical conditions" that put him at a higher risk with COVID-19. His death comes days after Attorney General William Barr told federal officials to release elderly and medically compromised inmates to home confinement to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Jones had asked for a sentence reduction in October 2019 through the First Step Act, which helps inmates convicted of non-violent drug crimes. "I feel that my conviction and sentence was also a punishment that my child has had to endure also and there are no words for how remorseful I am," Jones wrote to US District Judge Alan Albright in a letter seen by NBC News. "Years of 'I am sorry' don't seem to justify the absence of a father or the chance of having purpose in life by raising my child." Jones was convicted in 2007 after police found 19 grams of crack and 21 grams of powder cocaine at his and his wife's Temple, Texas, apartment. Story continues Because he had a rap sheet dating back to his teenage years, the judge sentenced Jones to 27 years in prison. In court documents filed March 9 and seen by USA Today, Jones indicated that he would appeal the judge's decision to reject his plea for early release. Less than a month later, he died. Jones contracted COVID-19 at Oakdale Federal Correctional Institution in Louisiana. "He spent the last 12 years contesting a sentence that ultimately killed him," said Alison Looman, a New York-based lawyer who once represented Jones, told NBC News. "Ironically, it seems it is his death that might finally bring his case some attention." With 5 COVID-19-related deaths, the facility has the deadliest federal prison outbreak in the country, Reuters reported. At least 18 inmates and four staff members have tested positive, and dozens of the 1,000 inmates are showing symptoms. Read the original article on Insider With increasing forcefulness, workers around the world are demanding adequate workplace safety measures, an end to nonessential work and the resources needed to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Strikes and protests by those who are providing critical services with virtually no protection, including nurses and health care workers, Amazon and postal workers, and grocery, food processing and service workers, have continued to erupt in country after country. At the same time, the Trump administration and its global counterparts are seeking to lay the groundwork to force a return to work, even if it means even more catastrophic death rates among workers and a further spread of the pandemic. At his White House press conferences Saturday and Sunday, Trump warned that the coming week would see a lot of death, but nevertheless revived his demand for the US economy to be quickly opened up. Complaining that were paying people not to go to work, he said. We have to get back to work. Amazon worker at Staten Island Facility JFK8 (Image Credit: @AngeMariaSolis) While Trump and the worlds capitalist governments are preoccupied with planning how quickly they can restart production and renew the flow of profits to the corporations and banks, workers are increasingly asserting their own interests and demands through walkouts and protests, many of them wildcat actions: In Belgium, 10 supermarkets in the Carrefour chain were closed Friday after workers walked out over low pay and inadequate protection against the coronavirus. Workers at a Carrefour in southern France previously walked out in late March. Royal Mail workers at a sorting facility in Kent in the United Kingdom walked out last week to protest the lack of hand sanitizer and other safety measures. The Communication Workers Union called off a strike earlier in March despite Royal Mails intransigent opposition to implementing more safety precautions. Postal workers in the United States started an online petition last week to demand hazard pay. The petition, which had garnered nearly 500,000 signatures by Sunday night, denounced the postal workers union, stating: The union is no help to employees during this time at all. They should be fighting for this hazard pay or threatening another shutdown. We have to get louder, post office!! In the Bahamas, emergency medical workers staged a sickout late Friday to protest the lack of safety measures. In response, the countrys health minister promised a payment of up to $5,000 for frontline health care workers. In Massachusetts, over 10,000 construction workers, members of the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, plan to strike today over worksite safety concerns. The governor has thus far left the decision to local governments on whether to allow construction to continue, while issuing toothless guidelines for safety practices. Nearly 1,000 meatpacking workers at JBS, a major pork and beef processor, stopped work in Colorado last Monday. Much of the heavily immigrant workforce at the plant, who speaks 27 different languages, refused to report to work after as many as 10 workers tested positive for COVID-19. The job action was not organized by the UFCW, the local union president said. Amazon workers at a delivery facility in Chicago demonstrated Friday and Saturday after two of their coworkers tested positive. This followed strikes by Amazon workers in Detroit and New York earlier in the week. On Thursday, dozens of workers walked out at a Hersheys food packing plant in Palmyra, Pennsylvania operated by logistics giant XPO. We demand an explanation of why they did not close the factory since there was an infected person, and they kept it quiet, a worker at the plant told the local press. Over two dozen poultry workers at a Pilgrims Pride plant in Timberville, Virginia walked out to protest the lack of information after a person at the plant tested positive for COVID-19. They worked us all day. They didnt tell us, and we didnt know how long that they have known, a worker told local news. In Louisville, Kentucky, baristas at the coffee shop chain Heine Brothers carried out a sickout Friday demanding better protective measures and hazard pay. Hannah Jones, a shift lead, told local media, This entire COVID-19 outbreak [the company has been saying], Wait and see, wait and see, wait and see. We hear you, we hear you. Were nervous too. She added, They arent coming into contact with 200 people a day. The Trump administration, after saying the economy needed to be raring to go by Easter, temporarily retreated in the face of widespread anger and mounting protests by workers, combined with an accelerating wave of infections and deaths. It is nonetheless seeking to develop a narrative, with support from a pliant corporate media, that it will be possible to safely restart economic activity and a large-scale return to work in the near future. At Saturdays press conference, Trumps Food and Drug Administration commissioner, Stephen Hahn, said that antibody tests will be a tool to help us get people back to work, despite the lack of scientific evidence that the presence of antibodies guarantees immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19. The automakers, which lobbied to be designated essential critical infrastructure by the Department of Homeland Security, remain largely shut down, primarily in response to the wave of wildcat strikes that erupted in late March. Although autoworkers continue to succumb to the pandemic, with at least 11 Fiat Chrysler workers and six Ford workers having died, the auto companies are nevertheless floating the possibility of a restart later in the month. General Motors stated that it would take the situation day by day and would not reopen until April 14, a veteran GM worker in Indiana told the WSWS. But after that, whats going to be different? Are we going to be tested for the virus and get our temperatures taken? At the very least, before we return everyone should be tested once and have their temperature taken at the gate before entering the plant. But if we have a stay-at-home order in the state that goes past April 14, I dont see how they can legitimately open again. I understand that some jobs are essential, but not making new cars. This is getting out of control. The worker denounced the criminal lack of preparation by both the Republicans and the Democrats, saying it demonstrated the governments hostility to workers. This virus has really showed that both parties are incapable. If anything good has come out of it, its that most people will know that our government values profit over lives and thinks that we are expendable. Agreeing that the working class has to lead the fight against pandemic, he concluded, If we dont do it, no one else is going to. I believe in strength in numbers. For so many years we have been complacent. Now we need to stand up for the future generations. A sign reading "Sorry We're Closed" is placed at the Pennsylvania welcome sign on the westbound lanes of Interstate 80 in Delaware Water Gap, Pa. on Saturday, April 4, 2020. The sign is a short distance from the New Jersey border greeting motorists traveling west. Read more Drivers traveling from New Jersey into Pennsylvania are finding a different type of welcome message in the age of the coronavirus pandemic. Sorry Were Closed declared a sign underneath the usual blue Welcome to Pennsylvania sign on the westbound lanes I-80 in the Delaware Water Gap. Its unclear who was behind the sign or when it appeared. Figure Rwandan President Paul Kagame, second from left in the front group, first lady Jeannette Kagame, third from left, African Union President Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, left, and European Union Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker light the flame of hope on April 7, 2019, the first day of the commemoration week of the 25th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, in Rwanda's capital, Kigali. / Embassy of Rwanda By Yi Whan-woo Rwandan Ambassador to Korea Dalila Yasmin Amri Sued has had reasons to endure challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in her first upcoming observance in Seoul, April 7, of the anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Rwandan Ambassador to Korea Dalila Yasmin Amri Sued will observe her first "Kwibuka" here after taking office in October 2019. / Embassy of Rwanda Serving in Korea since October 2019, she has been tasked with sharing the new theme, "Remember-Unite-Renew," of "Kwibuka," weeklong events and activities held worldwide to remember the massacre of the Tutsi by the Hutu-led extremist government. The three pillars were introduced as, 26 years after the mass murder, there have been attempts for cover-ups and denial of the genocide that took more than 1 million lives from April 7 to mid-July 1994. "It reaffirms our fight against all attempts by negative forces to hide and distort the truth of this tragic event," Ambassador Amri Sued told The Korea Times in a recent written interview. She said the commemoration therefore will go on this year in Korea, although it will be kept low-key in line with the Seoul government's social distancing campaign to prevent spread of the coronavirus. The envoy noted this year is the 70th anniversary of the Korean War and something South Koreans and Rwandans could both relate to; the common history of knowing total devastation and mass loss of lives and the rebuilding of a country afterward. "Rwandans are very much impressed by the quick economic recovery and growth of the Republic of Korea having endured total devastation caused by the tragic and disastrous Korean War," Amri Sued said. With 70 percent of Rwanda's population being young, the country has been underscoring their role to inherit the spirit of "Kwibuka" and their role in fighting and combating the ideology that enabled the genocide. Such efforts could give a lesson to South Korea, with many young South Koreans being indifferent toward North Korea or skeptical of possible re-unification of the Peninsula. Before the coronavirus outbreak, Rwanda's economy had grown at an annual average rate of 8 percent. This made the country one of Africa's fastest-growing economies. On Jan. 26, 2018, the U.N. General Assembly officially proclaimed April 7 of each year as "International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda." Thousands of Rwandans hold candles inside the AMAHORO (Peace) Stadium, April 7, 2019 to commemorate victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. / Embassy of Rwanda Actor Huma Qureshi has lent her support to Hollywood stars Jennifer Garner and Amy Adams' charitable initiative, 'Save With Stories', which aims to help children with no access to food as the world fights coronavirus pandemic. The campaign is a fundraiser for Save the Children and No Kid Hungry and features celebrities from across the globe reading children's books on social media. The "Leila" actor uploaded a video on Instagram where she read the story "Mulla Naseeruddin feeds his Coat". "We all know the importance of health, hygiene and safety especially in today's circumstances. But, we can all #SlowtheCurve by thinking beyond our immediate circle and for the care of others especially children who live on the fringes of society without shelter and are at risk," Huma said in a statement. "You can help them now by supporting Save the Children who will continue to reach children at risk of disease and infection through their programmes," she added. Celebrities including Chris Pratt, Reese Witherspoon, Kelly Clarkson, Chris Evans, Eva Longoria, among others have also supported the initiative by reading children's stories on Instagram. "I nominate anyone to pick up and read their favourite story for children. It's simple, grab a tale for kids that inspired you when you were young, put out a book reading video on a post or a story and #SlowTheCurve by donating at Save the Children. Please donate, do your bit," Huma said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ukraine, South Korea to strengthen agricultural cooperation 13:03, 06.04.20 1578 The parties also discussed cooperation to counter the spread of the coronavirus. Sydney, Australia, April 6, 2020 - (ABN Newswire) - Genex Power Ltd (ASX:GNX.AX - News) provide their April 2020 Non-Deal Virtual Roadshow Presentation with significant highlights. EnergyAustralia (EA) has signed a Binding Energy Storage Services Agreement (ESSA) for the Kidston Hydro Project. The binding agreement significantly de-risks the development of the K2-Hydro Project. The key terms of the ESSA are: - A term of up to 30 years with an initial 10 year period and two options (at EA's election) to extend for a further ten years each; - Genex will provide full operational dispatch rights to EA in exchange for a fixed rental annual rental payment, escalating over the total term; - Following the expiry of the full 30 year term, EA have the right to acquire Genex's shareholding in the K2-Hydro project for a fixed cash payment; and - The ESSA is subject to a number of conditions precedent, including financial close, which must be satisfied prior to closure sunset date of 31 December 2020. The signing of the ESSA reflects a significant step towards achieving financial close of the Kidston Hydro Project. K2 -Hydro - Status of Counterparties Energy offtake - Energy Storage Services Agreement signed with EnergyAustralia. Genex equity investor - MOU signed for equity investment in Genex Power. EPC Contractor/supplier of pump turbines - Binding EPC Contract ready to execute, Early Works Stage 1 completed, pricing to be revalidated in April 2020. Federal Government Sole lender providing up to $610 million of long long-term, concessional debt. - Final Board Investment Decision granted, preparing to resubmit based on revised offtake arrangement. Federal Government Grant Body - Discussions being finalised. Queensland Government Construct and operate 275kV transmission line from Kidston to Mt Fox. - Offer to Connect submitted, GPS approved, pricing being revalidated. Treasury/DNRME - co -funding of Transmission line - Discussions well advanced, to be concluded as a priority. Story continues Kidston: Benefits to Northern Queensland - support local businesses First pumped storage hydro project in Australia for 40 years: - Third largest pumped storage in Australia; and - Global first in repurposing of an abandoned mine. Critical contribution to grid stabilisation in North Queensland. Shovel ready project - construction anticipated to start 2020, operational in 2024. 500+ direct construction jobs: - Unlocking additional solar and wind, with another 500+ jobs in the same timeframe. Strong local economic benefits: - Local employment in Kidston, Einasleigh and surrounding area; - Support local businesses; and - Townsville: base for FIFO, port gateway for imported equipment. 50MW Jemalong Solar Project Located 26km south south-west of Forbes, NSW. 50MW Jemalong Solar Project Provides geographic diversity in GNX portfolio. 128,700MWh per annum forecast (P50). Construction underway: Beon Energy Solutions EPC and O&M. Project has a capacity factor of 29%. 30 year project lifespan. Approximately 150,000 Jinko solar panels. Expected to generate enough energy to power up to 23,000 homes. Potential to deliver a step change in revenue by Q4 CY2020. To view the presentation, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/901MAW4Y About Genex Power Ltd: Genex Power Limited (ASX:GNX.AX - News) is a power generation development company listed on the ASX. The Company is focused on innovative clean energy generation and electricity storage solutions which deliver attractive commercial returns for shareholders. The Company has a development pipeline of up to 770MW of renewable energy generation and storage projects within its portfolio, underpinned by the Kidston Renewable Energy Hub in far-north Queensland (Kidston Hub). The Kidston Hub is comprised of the operating 50MW Stage 1 Solar Project (KS1), the 250MW Pumped Storage Hydro Project (K2-Hydro) and the multi-staged integrated Solar Project of up to 270MW (K2-Solar) under development and the Kidston Stage 3 Wind Project of up to 150MW under feasibility. In addition, the Company has acquired the 50MW Jemalong Solar Project (JSP), located near Forbes in NSW, which is also under development. Genex continues to acknowledge the support from the Federal Government, through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), which provided $8.9 million in funding to support the construction of the KS1 Project, in addition to their support of up to $9 million in funding to support the development of the stage 2 projects. Genex also acknowledges the support of the Queensland State Government through providing a 20-year revenue support deed and designating the Hub as 'Critical Infrastructure' to the State. Contact: Simon Kidston Executive Director Tel: +61 2 9048 8852 Email: sk@genexpower.com.au Source: Genex Power Ltd Copyright (C) 2020 ABN Newswire. All rights reserved. lil'gourmets Chef-crafted Varieties For lilgourmets it is particularly important that children have access to fresh and nutritious food. It is a core value for the company and has driven them to donate 2,000 veggie meals to the Greater Chicago Food Depository in March. lilgourmets was created with the goal of cultivating curiosity among young eaters by providing nourishing, organic, veggie-focused meals that will help them fall in love with vegetables and diverse, flavorful foods for life. This innovative brand was founded by two former Kraft Food executives and first-time moms. The fresh, sophisticated, and globally-inspired recipes are not just for lilones but for anyone who wants a ready-made, nutritious, delicious meal or snack. The brand strives to aid their community during this unprecedented time in the world. For lilgourmets it is particularly important that children have access to fresh and nutritious food. It is a core value for the company and has driven them to donate 2,000 veggie meals to the Greater Chicago Food Depository in March. They have since committed to donate a minimum of 1,000 veggie meals in April. In this time of uncertainty, we want to continue to support parents who want to feed their children fresh, healthy options, while also following the social distancing rules to protect the country as a whole, says Shibani Baluja, Founder and CEO. Thats why we are so grateful that our dedicated and experienced partners allow us to continue to deliver our fresh recipes both to our retail partners and directly to your door. In addition, ensuring access to nutritious food, particularly for children, is near and dear to our hearts so we have stepped up our community response during this crisis. lilgourmets launches first-ever Shawarma & Gazpacho for kids Responding to the demand for greater variety of flavors and nutrients, lilgourmets is launching two new ways to cultivate a childs curiosity: Pumpkin Navy Bean Shawarma and Spanish Corn & Bean Gazpacho. These incredibly unique recipes are as healthy as they are delicious and are inspired by authentic global cuisines. Both recipes are 90% vegetables and contain navy beans, an excellent source of plant-based protein and fiber. With their delicious, culturally-inspired spice blends, these two new meal varieties are the first of their kind to be offered with young eaters in mind. Read more about the unique recipes below. -New! Pumpkin Navy Bean Shawarma: Our one-of a-kind Shawarma recipe features a great protein base of navy beans that is combined with a creamy blend of pumpkin, spinach and sweet potatoes, plus extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, tamarind, and a splash of lemon. A delicious mix of seven spices: paprika, allspice, onion, garlic, turmeric, cumin, and cinnamon, bring complex layers of flavor into each bite. -New! Spanish Corn & Bean Gazpacho: The Gazpacho starts with delicious and creamy sweet corn and is rounded out with a generous helping of navy beans and ripe pineapple. Tomatoes, a splash of lime juice, extra virgin olive oil, tamarind, and a complex and flavorful blend of mild ancho chili powder, onion, garlic, oregano, and marjoram come together to create its unique and appealing flavor. And like any true gazpacho, serving this recipe cold allows the fresh, authentic taste of each ingredient to really shine. About lilgourmets: lil'gourmets is known for their organic, veggie meals that feature 70-95% veggies and only 2 to 5 grams of sugar. Each globally-inspired recipe has chef-crafted spice blends for delicious homemade meals that lilones (and even adults!) love. lilgourmets is a perfect meal for a baby, a side dish for a toddler, or a healthy snack or dip for kids and adults of any age. lil'gourmets products are refrigerated, certified organic, non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, and cold-pressure processed. All 6 varieties are now available online at lilgourmets.com, Amazon, and in select grocery and retail locations. Calls to the UKs national domestic abuse helpline have rocketed during the coronavirus lockdown, amid warnings that isolation could increase violence. The number of calls rose by 25 per cent in the five days from 30 March, while visits to the helplines website were up by 150 per cent on the last week in February. The Refuge charity, which runs the helpline, said self-isolation has the potential to aggravate pre-existing abusive behaviours. While in lockdown or self-isolation, women and children are likely to be spending concentrated periods of time with perpetrators, potentially escalating the threat of domestic abuse and further restricting their freedom, said chief executive Sandra Horley. Domestic abuse isn't always physical it's a pattern of controlling, threatening and coercive behaviour, which can also be emotional, economic, psychological or sexual. Abuse is a choice a perpetrator makes, and isolation is already used by many perpetrators as a tool of control. If the UK follows trends seen in countries with more advanced coronavirus outbreaks, it will see a significant rise in domestic abuse, but some police forces have seen a fall in calls amid concerns that victims cannot use the phone while isolating with their partners. In an interview with The Independent, the Victims Commissioner for England and Wales warned that victims may not be aware they can legally leave their homes during the lockdown. Dame Vera Baird called for the government to raise awareness of the law, which lists avoiding injury and escaping risk of harm as legitimate reasons to leave home. Female domestic abuse survivors '44 per cent more likely' to die from any cause If people are urgently in need of getting out, they must not be afraid to because of the law, she added. On Saturday, the national police lead for domestic abuse urged people to continue seeking support and reporting incidents. Deputy Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe said: It is important to recognise that for some people home is not a safe place. For those already living with domestic abuse these restrictions will have left them fearful of being even further isolated and left at home with their abuser. They may feel like there is nowhere to go for help and are now unable to meet the family and friends who act as a support network. Its really important people know there is still support and help available. Ms Rolfe said police could still respond to 999 calls and that people unable to speak can press 55 to ensure a call is treated as an emergency. Social distancing rules have stopped most face-to-face support but Refuge, Womens Aid and other groups are using live chat services and phone helplines as an alternative. Merseyside Police has repeated advice for victims of domestic abuse after a woman was stabbed in the face. The 44-year-old victim was taken to hospital with two facial injuries, while a 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of wounding following the incident in Rainhill on Saturday night. Two children are being looked after by family members following the incident, police said. Anyone who is worried about a loved one, or about isolating with a perpetrator, can contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or online. The Respect phoneline is an anonymous and confidential helpline for men and women who are worried they may harm their partners and families. It can be contacted on 0808 8024040 or online. The government website has a list of support and help available for those facing domestic abuse during the coronavirus outbreak. French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire (R) and Portuguese Finance Minister and Eurogroup chief Mario Centeno speak as they attend a Eurogroup meeting at the EU headquarters in Brussels on February 17, 2020. There is growing optimism that euro zone finance ministers will approve new funding to the countries wrestling with the coronavirus pandemic, but division over so-called "corona bonds" is likely to remain. European economies are at a standstill after many governments implemented national lockdowns to reduce the number of infections from COVID-19, the virus that emerged in China in late 2019. People have been stuck at home for almost a month, meaning all non-essential businesses have closed their doors across most European nations. The economic and political pressure has resurfaced old divisions among European nations. However, three Brussels-based officials, who didn't want to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue, told CNBC that member states are now moving toward an agreement. "We are almost there," an EU official from one of the largest EU economies, told CNBC Monday over the phone. A second official, from a northern European country, said "we are hoping for an agreement." A third person close to the talks said: "We are not there yet," but "there is a convergence (in opinion)." Euro zone finance ministers from those countries that share the single currency are due to have a video call Tuesday, after a meeting between the 27 EU heads of state failed to deliver any meaningful conclusion about two weeks ago. The three officials suggested ministers are likely to approve a credit line through the region's crisis fund the European Stability Mechanism (ESM). The total credit line would be 2% of the euro area GDP (gross domestic product), roughly 240 billion euros ($258.82 billion) and be available to every nation in the 19-member euro area region. There would be in return "very, very light conditionality," the second official said, adding that there would be "no Troika," referring to the three institutions that monitored how bailed-out nations were performing in the wake of the sovereign debt crisis of 2011. For most Australians the Easter long weekend is typically a time to travel, with many families opting for a mini getaway at popular holiday destinations. But this year, measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 through the community mean the holiday will have to be celebrated differently. Public gatherings of more than two people have been banned under coronavirus restrictions, meaning Easter traditions such as egg hunts, Easter mass and family parties cannot go ahead. Holidaymakers have also been urged to cancel their travel plans and spend the weekend at home. So what can you do this Easter? Daily Mail Australia's guide shows you what you can do to celebrate safely. CAN I RENT A PROPERTY OR AIRBNB AND ISOLATE THERE? No. While most Australians are already hunkered down at home with their families, travelling to isolate at a rental property, such as an Airbnb, is still forbidden. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged Australians to stay in and observe Easter at home Non-essential travel has been banned under the government's tight new measures, meaning you should only leave your home if it's absolutely necessary. Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation Kevin Anderson on Monday said there was no reason for people to be staying at property other than their own residence during this time. 'It isn't illegal for them to advertise the [rental] property but guests couldn't get there without breaking the law,' he said. 'It just goes back to whether or not the travel is essential. If it doesn't fit under any of those [essential] categories, then it's not essential travel,' a NSW Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia. On Monday afternoon, Mr Anderson repeated that any suggestions staying in short-term rentals was 'illegal' were incorrect. 'The NSW Government advice to prevent the spread of COVID-19 has been very clear. As per the public health orders, people must stay home with the exception of a number of circumstances including work and to provide care,' he said. 'The NSW Government acknowledges that in these circumstances the provision of short-term accommodation is often critical, particularly for our frontline health workers.' WHAT ABOUT GOING TO THE PARK OR THE BUSH? You can go to the park if you're going for your daily dose of fresh air or exercise and remember to practice social distancing. Crowds of people are seen during the annual Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt in Melbourne. These types of events are banned this year Outdoor Easter celebrations such as egg hunts and picnics however, will not be allowed, no matter how small. Most parks will remain open, but all campgrounds visitor centres, high-visitation areas and historic sites in NSW have been closed as of March 26. CAN I HAVE AN EASTER EGG HUNT AT THE PARK? No. Outdoor gatherings, no matter how small, are not allowed under COVID-19 restrictions. Families can no longer take part in large Easter egg hunts, but are safe to have them within their home or backyards Families are safe to have an Easter egg hunt at their own homes or backyards. A spokesperson for NSW Premier's office told Daily Mail Australia you must have a reasonable excuse to leave your home. WHAT ABOUT CHURCH? For many people who are not particularly religious, Easter may be the only time they physically attend a church during the year. All places of worship are closed to the public and religious gatherings - such as Easter Mass on Sunday (pictured) are restricted Catholic and Anglican congregations have been using technology to overcome not being able to physically gather in churches and will do so over Easter. The Munday family of Sydney are pictured watching a live-stream service from St Paul of the Cross in Dulwich Hill Those people will not able to attend Easter mass this year due to new social distancing rules, but churches and are encouraged to hold services online if possible. In states, including NSW, live-streaming and broadcasting of religious services in places of worship that are closed to the public can still go ahead. CAN I GET IN TROUBLE FOR BREACHING THE RULES? Yes. NSW Police said the current coronavirus public health order which began on March 30 would be in place for 90 days unless revoked earlier. 'There will be no exceptions for Easter,' the spokesman said. (Alliance News) - Argo Blockchain PLC said Monday it saw a slight drop in bitcoin mined in March compared to the previous month. The cryptocurrency miner said it mined 333.8 bitcoin or bitcoin equivalent in March, down from 337.5 in February. This takes the total amount of BTC mined during the first three months of this year to 918 BTC, a record level for the company and more than double the amount mined during the previous three months. Based on daily foreign exchange rates and cryptocurrency prices during the month, Argo said it generated mining revenue of GBP1.8 million during the month. Which is down from GBP2.5 million the previous month. "Argo generated this income at a mining margin of 42% and the company continues to consider its operations to be among the most efficient in the market. Mining conditions were harder in March as algorithmic difficulty increased early in the month, and bitcoin prices then saw a sharp decline in the second week of the month," Argo added. The company generated GBP6 million in revenue in the first quarter. The company also noted its order of 1,000 Bitmain Antminer S17+ machines remains on track. The new hardware is expected to be delivered and installed by the end of April and will bring Argo's total BTC mining capacity to around 730 petahash, an increase of approximately 10%. A hash rate is an indicator of a network's health, with a hash being part of a calculation that is needed to verify a bitcoin transaction. The company's mining operations, which are in North America, have not been hurt by Covid-19, Argo said. Chief Executive Peter Wall said: "Despite challenging conditions the company continues to deliver some of the best mining margins in the industry. This reflects Argo's high-quality mining infrastructure and expertise." Shares in Argo Blockchain closed 6.6% higher in London on Monday at 3.89 pence each. By Paul McGowan; paulmcgowan@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that people from every section of the society and age group demonstrated unity on Sunday by responding to the Prime Minister '9 pm-9minute' appeal and strengthened the resolve to the fight against COVID-19. "We experienced yesterday at 9 pm, the strength of togetherness of 130 crores people of our country," said PM Modi. He further praised the citizens of the country for their support to the lockdown imposed across India in the wake of coronavirus threat. "The maturity shown by the people during the lockdown, in a large country like India, is unprecedented. No one could have imagined that the people will abide by this with such obedience and sense of service," said Prime Minister Modi. "I state it with full responsibility that this is a long war against coronavirus pandemic. But we do not have to get tired or take a rest in this war. We have to emerge victoriously. Today, the country has only one goal and one resolve - to win this war," he added. The Prime Minister continued saying, that the government has developed an Aarogya Setu app through which one can get information regarding the infected cases around them. "I request all of you to tell people about it, everyone should make sure that at least 40 others install it. They will get info through it about possibly infected cases around them. In these tough times, we have to ensure this," he added. The Prime Minister also advised everyone to take necessary preventive measures and stay protected by adopting the mantra of social distancing. "Always remember, whenever you go out your face should be covered, I say you should keep your face covered even at your homes. The mantra today for the whole world is social distancing and discipline," he added. Prime Minister Modi addressed the BJP workers and the nation on the occasion of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) 40th Foundation Day. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Spain is to roll out a universal basic income (UBI) as soon as possible to mitigate the impact of coronavirus. Minister for economic affairs Nadia Calvino told Spanish broadcaster La Sexta on Sunday night that the move was intended to help families during the pandemic. But Ms Calvino, who is also deputy prime minister, said the governments ambition was that UBI could become something that stays forever, that becomes a structural instrument, a permanent instrument. If the payments are successfully implemented, Spain would become the first country in Europe to introduce them nationwide on a long-term basis. Spain is the second worst-hit country by the coronavirus pandemic, reporting a total of 135,032 positive cases and 13,055 deaths as of Monday. The countrys economy has nearly ground to a halt during a strict lockdown imposed on 14 March, with schools, shops and restaurants shuttered. People are only allowed out of their homes to get essential supplies, or to go to work if they cannot work from home. Prime minister Pedro Sanchez said over the weekend the restrictions would remain in place until 26 April at the earliest. UBI is an unconditional, regular payment made to every citizen. The amount of money paid to each person may differ based on demographic factors, such as age. With the exception of Iran, which introduced a UBI programme in 2011 in the form of monthly cash transfers into individual family accounts, most other countries have only trialled the payments for relatively small groups of people or for short amounts of time. The worlds most prominent trial of UBI took place in Finland, ending in February 2019 after two years. During that period, unemployed Finns were given a monthly flat payment of 560 (490). The researchers who led the experiment found recipients were happier and healthier, but no more likely to find employment. Calls for UBI to be implemented in the UK to deal with the economic impact of Covid-19 have been rejected by chancellor Rishi Sunak, who said the government was not in favour of the policy. Over 170 MPs urged the government to consider giving every British citizen an unconditional sum of money each week in a letter to Mr Sunak last month. But Mr Sunak insisted the government has strengthened the safety net for vulnerable people and invested over 7bn in improving our welfare system. People look out from the Coral Princess cruise ship as it is docked at PortMiami during the CCP virus outbreak, in Miami, Florida, on April 4, 2020. (Lynne Sladky/AP) Florida Mayor: 1 More Death Tied to Virus-Stricken Cruise MIAMIFourteen people from a cruise ship that docked in Florida over the weekend with CCP virus patients aboard were hospitalized and one of them later died, authorities said Sunday. Two fatalities had been reported previously aboard the Coral Princess. The Princess Cruises ship, which docked Saturday in Miami, also began disembarking on Sunday fit passengers who were cleared for charter flights out. Passengers with symptoms of COVID-19 or recovering from it were being kept on the ship until medically cleared. In a statement Sunday night, the Miami-Dade County mayors office said one of the six people removed Saturday from the ship had died after being taken by private ambulance to a Hialeah hospital. Two other critical patients were hospitalized in Hialeah and three others whose conditions werent disclosed had been sent to a Tampa-area hospital. Eight others whose conditions werent disclosed were taken off the ship Sunday to hospitals. The Coral Princess cruise ship arrives at PortMiami during the CCP virus outbreak, in Miami, on April 4, 2020. (Lynne Sladky/AP) The statement did not immediately indicate whether the 14 people had a confirmed CCP virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, link. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez on Sunday ordered a local hospital physician and nurses dispatched to PortMiami to assist medical staff aboard the Coral Princess. The statement said officials also replenished the ships oxygen supply after determining it was critically low. Meanwhile, buses lined up near the cruise terminal Sunday to take passengers showing no signs of the illness to the airport, but the process was slow. The cruise line said it was further delayed by a policy the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued overnight, preventing passengers from being placed on commercial flights. Princess Cruises continues to work tirelessly to adjust the repatriation plan to meet the new CDC requirements. This will unfortunately result in further delays in disembarkation and onward travel for many guests as we work through this complex, challenging and unfortunate situation, the company said in a news release. Even before the new policy was issued, the cruise line said getting passengers home would take several days. Disembarkation was limited Sunday to passengers cleared for charter flights to California, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Before Saturday, the 1,020 passengers and 878 crew members of the Coral Princess had been in limbo for days, awaiting permission to dock. The Coral Princess had been on a South American cruise that was due to end March 19 in Buenos Aires. The ship subsequently encountered obstacles to docking because of various port closures and cancellation of airline flights, the cruise line said. Last Thursday, Princess Cruises spokeswoman Negin Kamali had said seven passengers and five crew members on the ship had tested positive for the CCP virus. Passengers were self-isolating in their staterooms and meals were being delivered by room service, while crew members were remaining in their quarters when not working. Princess Cruises is a brand of Miami-based Carnival Corp., the worlds largest cruise company. The cruise line industry announced a voluntarily suspension of most ship operations from U.S. ports on March 13 amid the global pandemic. The next day, the CDC announced a no sail order to all cruise ships that had not suspended operations. For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, and the vast majority survive. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause pneumonia or death. A human rights activist has said that the Pakistan Army is considering a massive deployment of troops in the illegally-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (GB). Amjad Ayub Mirza said the action is being planned in the name of pre-emptive measures against the pandemic of COVID-19 but the real motive is to abolish the legislative framework of GB and replace it with absolute army rule. "Pakistan is planning a massive army deployment in Gilgit Baltistan. All this is being done at the pretext of preventive measures against Coronavirus. They say this is being done to improve the arrangements at the community level. We are also hearing from different sources that Islamabad is planning to impose Governor Raj (Rule) in the region. And the reason they are giving for the move is that all ministers of Gilgit Baltistan have run away and they are not present in relief work being done for the people", said Dr. Mirza. The activist has alleged that a large number of Punjabi people are migrating to PoK. They have used the water route of the river Jhelum and Mangla dam to escape a proper screening. Earlier, Mirza had accused Islamabad of systematically spreading the virus in the illegally occupied territories of GB and PoK. The devious design of Pakistan is just unfolding. He has urged Indian leadership to immediately take cognizance of the issue and act accordingly. The activist termed "sheer negligence" of Pakistani administration as the key reason behind the outbreak of COVID-19 and a rapid rise in the number of infected COVID-19 patients. Dr. Mirza said that Pakistan didn't take enough preventive measures despite being aware of the fact that Iran bound pilgrims had contracted the virus. "The first lockdown was imposed in Gilgit Baltistan only. This was done because the religious pilgrims who were coming from Iran were infected with the virus. It was the responsibility of the Pakistan administration to establish screening centers at the Gilgit Baltistan- Iran border and test people there only. Gilgit Baltistan is going to be under army occupation now", said the activist. The number of cases in GB and PoK is growing rapidly. The exact number, however, cannot be confirmed owing to the secrecy and sanctions around the press in the region. History, however, demonstrates the fact that Pakistan can stoop to a very low level of exploiting a crisis and this time it is trying to gain out of coronavirus pandemic by considering a massive army deployment in Gilgit Baltistan In such circumstances, people of the region are left with no option but to give in to an autocratic and soon to be a military regime. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kornienko says Ukraine has a flatter incidence curve compared with other European countries. Leader of the Servant of the People Party, First Deputy Head of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction Oleksandr Kornienko says quarantine in Ukraine may end no earlier than the middle of May. Read alsoNumber of confirmed coronavirus cases in Ukraine rises to 1,319 by Monday morning "I'm not referring to any official information from Deputy Health Minister Viktor Liashko, the health minister or the prime minister. It is rather intuitive, seeing the dynamics and the fact that quarantine measures are in effect we have a flatter incidence curve so far compared with other European countries. Given that it all started later with us, we are better prepared with quarantine measures. Therefore, there are such cautious hopes that all this will end around mid-May," he said in an interview to the RBC-Ukraine media outlet. The current quarantine restrictions in Ukraine are set until April 24. 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 Apple is sourcing around 20 million masks or face shields to help the healthcare workers who have been fighting coronavirus pandemic at the frontlines. Apple CEO, Tim Cook in a Twitter announcement said that Apple has launched a company wide effort bringing together product designers, engineering, operations and packaging teams and their suppliers to design, produce and ship face shields for health workers. "The number of masks we've been able to source through our supply chain has risen to over 20 million around the world. This is a truly global effort and we're working continuously and closely with governments at all levels to ensure these are donated to places of greatest need," Cook said. He said Apple has shipped its first set of face shields to Kaiser Hospital in California and that the feedback from their doctors was very positive. Giving further details and showing the face shield, Cook said that the shields can be packed flat in a box and that a box can contain upto a hundred masks. "Each shield assembles in less than two minutes and is fully adjustable," Cook said. Apple is sourcing material and manufacturing in the US and China and plans to ship 1 million by the end of this week and over one million per week after that. Cook said that his team was closely coordinating with medical professionals and government officials. He said that the face shields would be delivered on priority to the places which need them the most. Cook said Apple's main purpose behind this was meeting essential needs of caregivers urgently and at a scale at which the current circumstance requires. He also said that Apple hopes to expand the distribution of equipment "beyond the US". Earlier, Cook had tweeted that Apple had donated over 10 million masks for health professionals in the US and Europe. "Our teams at Apple have been working to help source supplies for healthcare providers fighting COVID-19. We're donating millions of masks for health professionals in the US and Europe. To every one of the heroes on the front lines, we thank you." As of April 6, the USA has 3,09,254 active coronavirus cases with around 9,620 deaths, according to worldometers. Apple, like other tech companies, has experienced a slack in production and supply of products because of the global pandemic. Like most of the films in the works, Guadagnino added, work on the sequel was put on hold in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic Still from the movie 'Call me by your name' (Twitter) Actors Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer are coming back for the sequel of "Call Me by Your Name", director Luca Guadagnino has confirmed. The filmmaker said Michael Stuhlbarg and Esther Garrel, who played parents to Chalamet's Elio in the 2017 romance, will also return for the second part. "It was a great pleasure to work with Timothee Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Esther Garrel and the other actors. Everyone will be in the new movie," Guadagnino told Italian newspaper La Repubblica, as quoted by Variety. While not much is known about the new movie, but Andre Aciman's novel on which the original film was based has a sequel, titled "Find Me". It takes place 10 years after the original story. Like most of the films in the works, Guadagnino added, work on the sequel was put on hold in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. "Before coronavirus, I made a trip to the United States to meet a screenwriter I love very much, whose name I don't want to say, to talk about the second part. Unfortunately, we had to put it on hold," he said. "Call Me by Your Name" is based on Aciman's novel which takes place at the height of the AIDS epidemic in 1987. The film showcased Elio (Chalamet) and Oliver (Hammer)'s summer love story in 1983, around the time HIV was discovered. Previously, Guadagnino said he aims to address the HIV-AIDS crisis in the planned sequel. "Call Me by Your Name" earned four Oscar nominations, including best picture and best actor for Chalamet. Veteran screenwriter James Ivory, who adapted the novel, became the oldest recipient of an Oscar at the age of 89 to win the award. Meghan Markle is reportedly "sad and heartbroken" over not visiting her mother, Doria Ragland, following her move to the US due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A source claimed Meghan's move to Los Angeles was mostly due to her mother being in the same area. However, the Duchess has yet to visit her mother, who is older and considered high-risk for coronavirus. Doria and Meghan resorted to using video-conferencing apps such as FaceTime and WhatsApp. 63-year-old Ragland was spotted walking her dogs in Los Angeles on Thursday, a few hours after news outlets revealed the Duke and Duchess secretly move to the city. The Sussexes reportedly took a flight just before the US shut its borders to international flights. They are currently residing in a new home close to Hollywood, where they are observing strict protocols amid the COVID-19 outbreak. They Aren't That Close In February, a media outlet claimed a source close to the Markle family said Doria, a yoga teacher, was not that close with the Suits actress as many believe. The report claimed the media was only seeing the surface and left unaware of everything that's going down behind closed doors. Color us intrigued! The insider further claimed the yoga teacher is happy giving lessons to her clients and is not thinking of moving, even if it's for her daughter and her grandkid. Another source claimed Doria had no plans to relocate anywhere close to the Sussexes following their announcement to step back as senior royal members of the British monarchy. This decision shocked and hurt the Queen and everyone in the royal family. The decision came after Prince Harry and Meghan revealed their struggles in an ITV documentary they made while on they were on the Africa tour. Markle opened up about her struggles on being pregnant and being watched by the public eye. She also said she was horrified at how the British tabloids were portraying her, especially when "majority of it is untrue." Meghan, who married Prince Harry in May 2018, said her friends warned her about the British tabloid's ruthlessness. "I never thought it would be easy," she said, "but I thought it would be fair." Life After Megxit The royal couple, along with their son Archie, is reportedly 'happier and more relaxed' after officially stepping back from royal duties. The couple left their roles formally on March 31 and has been spending more time with their 10-month-old son in the Los Angeles area. Sources said Meghan and Harry would focus on their charity work and are looking forward to "making a difference." The Duchess recently lent her voice to a Disneynature documentary. Many were surprised when Disney announced their collaboration with the actress. The documentary, Elephant, debuted in Disney+ on Saturday. Social media users who watched the documentary flocked to various platforms to voice their compliments regarding Markle's voice. Some referred to her voice as "calming," while others say her voice gave them "all the feels." Disneynature previously snagged a few big names to narrate their nature documentaries, including Meryl Streep and James Earl Jones. Watch the clip of the documentary below: Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Local farms are growing and harvesting plenty of fresh produce. But the COVID-19 pandemic has meant a dramatic drop in business from restaurants and schools. The strain on grocery store supplies has also translated into empty shelves for the Roadrunner Food Bank. The American Friends Service Committee created the Farm to Food Bank Project to bridge the gap between New Mexican farmers and food banks. Farmers are scrambling, especially on our small, sustainable farms, said Sayrah Namaste, program director for AFSC New Mexico. We need to have farms last beyond this pandemic. Its so much work to farm, and we dont want to see them go under. These farms dont want their food to just rot. After listening to worried farmers and seeing the grim photos of bare shelves at Roadrunner Food Bank, Namaste came up with a plan: purchase the produce farmers have on hand and deliver that to the food bank, and then help farmers invest for the future. On Wednesday, Namaste brought root vegetables from South Valley farms in the Agri-Cultura Network to the food bank. The produce was purchased with the non-profits funds. For the long term, we are purchasing seeds and face masks for farmers to eliminate some of that risk, as they are unsure if the market will be there for the food they are planning to grow, Namaste said. In exchange the farms have agreed to donate some of their produce to the food bank. If we buy $500 worth of supplies now, they agree to donate $500 in produce. Mag Strittmatter, president and CEO of Roadrunner Food Bank, said the program was key to helping low-income and poverty stricken New Mexicans access nutritious food. With so many new faces joining the unemployment lines, food banks and our statewide network of food pantry-like locations, we anticipate that hunger will remain in our state for quite some time, Strittmatter said. Namaste said farmers are happy to see the food go to people who need it during this pandemic, and she is excited for the variety of fresh food that will be donated as the growing season comes into full swing. Visit www.afsc.org/story/farm-to-foodbank-response-to-pandemic to donate to the new program. Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal. Neil OBrien: Six lessons that the Coronavirus is teaching us about ways we need to change How will Coronavirus change Britain? How shape Kier Starmers time as opposition leader? It feels too early to ask. Were living in the present. I get hundreds of emails each week from people needing help. The news is bleak, and will be every day until the corner is turned. The only uplifting thing is seeing so many people organising to help their communities. But its already clear that Coronavirus will change things profoundly. First, therell be huge pressure to increase spending on the NHS even faster, (despite ongoing real terms increases) and increase the wages of low paid key workers. Mass public clapping for NHS staff exemplifies the mood, and we must rise to this. A White Paper on social care was due anyway: why not seize the moment for a new and lasting funding settlement for both health and social care? Just as in 1945, people hope the crisis leads to something better But the second big effect of COVID-19 is that well face the same obstacle to building a better tomorrow we did in 1945: well be massively in debt. The Institute for Fiscal Studies think we could easily end up borrowing 200 billion this year around the share of GDP we inherited in 2010. Rishi Sunak is quite right to throw the kitchen sink at helping people through this crisis. But theres no guarantee it will end any time soon: we could be racking up debts at a mindboggling pace for some time. In 1997/98 debt to GDP was just over 40 per cent of GDP. Gordon Brown left it on course for roughly double that. We had it on course to fall from a peak of 80 per cent to 75 per cent. But instead, it will now surely soar past the 100 per cent mark in the next couple of years into what used to be seen as banana republic territory. With an aging society, managing this huge debt is going to be a serious constraint on grand plans. How we respond to this double whammy of greater demand for NHS spending but dramatically higher debt will frame Starmers time as Labour leader. Labour will, of course, continue to say that whatever we are spending isnt enough: thats politics. But across the world less credible governments will be tottering under the weight of their borrowing. And anyway, Starmer will surely want to restore some credibility on the economy. So will he embrace the governments offer to join cross-party talks on social care funding? Third, the case for open borders will be met with more scepticism. Unemployment is likely to remain elevated for some time. We have just had a million claims for Universal Credit. Yet last week the Guardian carried a piece with the headline: Fruit and veg will run out unless Britain charters planes to fly in farm workers from eastern Europe. Really? With unemployment soaring, surely such arguments belong in the past. We must get better at matching the tragically large number of unemployed people were about to have with new opportunities opening up: even now there are some sorts of businesses expanding. This dynamic will be a tricky one for Keir Starmer as a human-rightsy, open-bordersy kind of guy. His campaign video boasts that Keir took the last Labour government to court for its decision to deny welfare benefits to asylum seekers. One of his top campaigning promises is that he will: Defend migrants rights: Full voting rights for EU nationals. Defend free movement as we leave the EU. Is unlimited free movement really what people want now? Personally Im getting more emails asking why borders are open at all. (So people can get home, is one answer.) Giving people from any other EU country who happen to be here the right to vote in our general elections? Starmer must change surely direction now. Fourth, the crisis has made sinoscepticism mainstream in British politics. Coronavirus is indeed Chinas version of Chernobyl. I dont just mean its likely origin in wet markets that were supposed to have been shut after triggering SARS in 2002. I mean in a deeper sense. On the one hand, the Soviet and Chinese communist systems enable extraordinary things to be done once a problem emerges, because of their frightening, iron grip on society. On the other hand such systems make it harder to stop problems occurring in the first place: the Soviets suppressed information about fatal flaws in their reactors, while Chinese authorities arrested doctors who tried to blow the whistle, and denied the extent of the problem: in fact they may well still be doing so. Even without Coronavirus, we were overdue a reappraisal of our relations with Chinas rulers. The Communist party has brilliantly practiced innovation mercantilism, and wiped the floor with the west for decades with a mix of policies both fair and unfair. This years joint statement by the EU, US and Japan represents official recognition that the Wests gamble of the 1990s has failed utterly. China has totally subverted the rules of the WTO and far from democratising, has developed a scary personality cult around now permanent ruler Xi Jinping. (And of course Xi Jinping Thought) Sinoscepticism, like Euroscepticism, cuts across political parties. There are some Baizuo on the left who are prepared to uncritically accept what the Chinese Communist Party say because they are against the west. But there are also people on the Left, like the Right, who have concerns about a regime that is visibly oppressive in Hong Kong and imprisons hundreds of thousands of Muslims in re-education camps. If I were Starmer I would want to be the leading voice for Chinese human rights even if some people in his party dont like it. The question of China leads to two final changes this crisis will surely spur. Fifth, well surely want to put rocket boosters under our industrial policies to protect critical national capacities. Why is Germany doing better on testing than the UK and France? As Matt Hancock said, Britain didnt go into this crisis with a huge diagnostics industry. Developing such capacity is now underlined as a government priority, but the same considerations can apply elsewhere, from 5G to nuclear power. In a more unstable world, there are certain things we must be self reliant in, and others where we should trust only close allies. Sixth, there will be a demand to scrape the barnacles off the ship of state, and slice through bureaucracy. On the one hand, building the Nightingale hospitals in just a couple of weeks changes our sense of whats possible, just as the Second World War did. On the other hand, watching Public Health England in action and its slow, centralised and bureaucraticresponse, makes us realise how much needs to change. Surely its time to learn from Korea? Its no coincidence that countries with the most effective industrial and innovation policies have also been leaders in controlling Coronavirus. The case for a Singaporean-style civil service with high pay, small numbers and sharp accountability has never been stronger. This could mean a battle with unions and Starmer by extension. But we must win hearts and minds: many in the civil service work hard for low wages; are sick of carrying weaker performers; and hate losing ambitious colleagues to the private sector. The coming weeks are going to be tough. For backbenchers like me the focus will be on helping people locally. For the government, on urgent action to manage the crisis. But when this is over, things wont go back to how they were. Who will best speak for the new mood? I trust it will be us. Syracuse, N.Y. Two more Centro bus drivers have tested positive for COVID-19, the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority said today. The two are both Syracuse bus drivers, Centro said. One driver worked as recently as Thursday, Centro said. The driver was separated from close contact with customers by more than six feet as passengers now board using the rear door and are restricted access near the front the bus, Centro said. The driver drove the following routes: Wednesday, April 1 8 a.m. to 840 a.m...Rt. 36, Camillus 4:10 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Rt. 82, Baldinwsille and 182 Baldwinsville 5:50 p.m. to 6:50 p.m. Rt. 58 Parkhill Thursday, April 2 8 a.m. to 8:40 a.m., Rt. 36, Camillus The other driver hasnt worked since March 18, and since its been more than two weeks since then, Centro officials said they arent releasing any more information relating to that driver. Two other Centro drivers have tested positive, making a total of four. Centro said its working with the Onondaga County Health Department on the investigation and has notified Centro employees of this positive test. The health department has identified those individuals who may have been exposed and is contacting them to place them under quarantine. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Coronavirus in NY: Cuomo extends school, business closures until April 29 Behind the Onondaga County execs latest move: Hes frustrated with coronavirus and some slackers Onondaga County warns of potential coronavirus exposure at 3 pharmacies, liquor store Coronavirus in NY: State releases deaths by ages, counties Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Elizabeth Doran covers education, suburban government and development, breaking news and more. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact her anytime 315-470-3012 or by Email The authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have directed college principals to constitute groups of volunteers to assist the administration in the management of COVID-19 pandemic, including in duties related to quarantine and isolating infected people. In an order issued by Higher secretary Talat Parvez, the principals of various colleges across the union territory have been directed to constitute groups of five to 15 staff members comprising teaching, non-teaching, academic arrangement and local fund employees to act as community leaders and volunteers to assist the district administration in the management of COVID-19 pandemic. "One of the members of the group shall be designated as group leader and principals of the college shall act as overall coordinator of all groups of the college and coordinate with district administration for deployment, training and receiving further instructions, the order read. The secretary said group members would observe and educate people about the precautions required for the management of COVID-19, such as use of mask, sanitization, frequent washing of hands, maintaining social distance etc. "All groups created shall assist the district administration by way of community services for helping people to cope up with the pandemic and enrol community volunteers for awareness amongst the public in general. Extend helping hand to elderly sick, specially-abled, destitute, labourers and the like, the order said. Parvez said the group members would assist the district administration in quarantine duties, tracking, tracing and isolating infected people. "Dissemination of information, and communication regarding the pandemic and any other responsibility assigned by the district administration, the order said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Palmdale, CA (93550) Today Mostly clear. Low around 30F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Stronger winds in and below canyons and passes.. Tonight Mostly clear. Low around 30F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Stronger winds in and below canyons and passes. [April 06, 2020] Eightfold.ai Creates Talent Exchange with FMI To Immediately Match Recently Furloughed or Laid Off Employees with Critical Open Jobs MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Eightfold.ai, the inventor of the Talent Intelligence Platform, together with FMI - The Food Industry Association, today announced the launch of the Eightfold Talent Exchange, a nationwide marketplace connecting HR and business leaders to immediately employ associates whose jobs are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The platform will act as a bridge between organizations who need to quickly hire and their counterparts with employees who have been furloughed or laid off, allowing business leaders to collaborate across corporate and industry boundaries to fulfill the tremendous swings in labor needs. "We are in a situation where businesses need to quickly fill roles to keep operations moving at this critical time. Talent Exchange, with its matching technology, is exactly what we need to hire quickly based on talent and potential," said Ashutosh Garg, CEO of Eightfold.ai. "If you're hiring, it's an incredible way to help the community. And if your company is going through tough times, you can place your workers into roles at other companies that need their help. Doing so will fill critical shortages and create goodwill with your workers, in hopes that they will rejoin you when business conditions improve." According to the U.S. Department of Labor, jobless claims rose an additional 6.6 million last week bringing the two-week total to nearly 10 million, revealing the glaring need to find jobs for millions of Americans suddenly out of work. Eightfold Talent Exchange uses AI algorithms that match candidates with available roles, based on each individual's skills and previous experience. How it works: For Employers Current employers can invite employees to participate in the program. Employers will be able to add lists of impacted employees and send them a link to register for the Exchange. These employers can view their entire impacted workforce in a single dashboard and can filter by role, department, or location to see details about the talent needs from hiring companies and how their impacted employees are getting placed in new roles. For Employees Impacted employees can create or update profiles and answer questions about their job preferences, information that is readily available for hiring companies to see. For Hiring Companies Hiring companies see candidatematches generated by the Exchange, so they can contact these prospects or immediately offer them new jobs. Eightfold.ai can automate and personalize this contact as well, expediting the process even further. Hiring companies can add onboarding instructions to allow new hires to start as soon as they are ready. "The food industry plays a vital role in maintaining the nation's critical infrastructure during this national emergency, and we are witness to the unprecedented demand challenges from products to labor," said FMI President and CEO Leslie Sarasin. "Our communities rely on vital frontline businesses in food, manufacturing and delivery services, and this new Talent Exchange will help many unemployed and furloughed workers in their time of need." "The geographic collaboration is critical to match people who need jobs to the open roles in the same or adjacent community," said Kamal Ahluwalia, President of Eightfold.ai. "Talent Exchange is built to meet the needs of all stakeholders and to accelerate this phenomenal collaboration unfolding in front of our eyes." Interested employers should go to https://eightfold.ai/talent-exchange/ or email [email protected]. About Eightfold.ai Eightfold.ai delivers the Talent Intelligence Platform, the most effective way for companies to identify promising candidates, reach diversity hiring goals, retain top performers, and engage talent. Eightfold.ai's artificial intelligencebased platform empowers enterprises to turn talent management into a competitive advantage. Built by top engineers out of Facebook, Google and other leading technology companies, Eightfold is based in Mountain View, California. Recently, Eightfold.ai published its first book, What's Next for You: The Eightfold Path to Transforming the Way We Hire and Manage Talent . For more information, visit www.eightfold.ai. About FMI As the food industry association, FMI works with and on behalf of the entire industry to advance a safer, healthier and more efficient consumer food supply chain. FMI brings together a wide range of members across the value chain from retailers that sell to consumers, to producers that supply food and other products, as well as the wide variety of companies providing critical services to amplify the collective work of the industry. www.FMI.org View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eightfoldai-creates-talent-exchange-with-fmi-to-immediately-match-recently-furloughed-or-laid-off-employees-with-critical-open-jobs-301035635.html SOURCE Eightfold.ai [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Advertisement A drive-through testing facility set up beneath a sterile white tarpaulin has become the single distinctive feature along Sydney's now-empty Bondi beach. The screening service, run by NSW Health and St Vincents Hospital, opened in Bondi on Monday in a bid to identify and reduce the spread of COVID-19. It comes after the world famous landmark was shutdown on March 21 after thousands were pictured on the beach breaching social distancing rules. The facilities are a response to a cluster of 174 cases of coronavirus found in the Waverley council area, which has recorded some the highest numbers of cases within the city. A medical professional cladded in PPE could be seen talking to a patient through a car window and taking notes at the drive-through COVID-19 testing clinic in Bondi on Monday A conscientious health worker assesses a swab test conducted on a motorist to ensure the sample has been collected properly before securing it in a container A health worker secures her mask as she walks towards the next vehicle waiting in queue to receive a mobile coronavirus test The clinic on Park Drive North, Bondi Beach car park was the only spark of activity on the now-deserted shoreline, which normally sees an average of 2.6million international visitors each year. It will operate from 9am until 4pm daily and motorists can remain in their vehicles while being tested. It is the second centre to be established in the popular tourist hub after a pop-up COVID-19 testing clinic was set up at the High Tide Room at Bondi Pavilion a day earlier. Waverley Council Mayor Paula Masselos welcomed the move by NSW Health in a statement on Sunday and encouraged anyone experiencing symptoms or within the testing criteria to get tested. 'Hundreds of people have been tested at the pop-up clinic at Bondi Pavilion since it opened this week and the drive-through clinic is another way the community can help slow the spread of this deadly virus,' Mayor Masselos said. 'I urge people with symptoms or who meet the testing criteria to visit either of the clinics and speak to the nurses for the right advice. 'Together we can save lives if we follow the advice of the authorities.' The clinics have been established for people living or working in Bondi Beach or Bondi Junction who have fever or history of fever- or- symptoms of acute respiratory infection, such as a cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat. Cars seemed few and far between in the now eerily-empty car park which has been set up with a make-shift clinic beneath a white tarpaulin The normally-buzzing beach appeared completely deserted, featuring only a handful of health professionals and locals in vehicles As of Friday, there were 95 cases of COVID-19 across Bondi, Bondi Beach, North Bondi and Tamarama, and 28 throughout Bondi Junction and Queenspark. There were also 15 cases in postcode 2024, which covers Bronte, Charing Cross, and Waverley, 13 cases in Dover Heights, 13 cases in Vaucluse and ten in Rose Bay. Cases have been attributed to a handful of back packers who attended a party after mass gathering guidelines had already been initiated by the government. 'We have had a small number of cases in that community where there aren't obvious links, but a plausible explanation is they have come into contact with an infected backpacker before that backpacker was aware they had COVID-19,' NSW Chief Medical Officer Kerry Chant said last week. 'Our local public health units have communicated to doctors in that area. 'We do know that there is a potential risk that other members of the community may have come in contact with infected backpackers.' A medical professionals administer COVID-19 tests at the Bondi Beach drive-through COVID-19 testing centre A NSW health employee could be seen going through a coronavirus sheet with someone seated in the back of a white car Despite restrictions, people have continued to openly disregard health measures by congregating on beaches and hostels in the area. Noah's hostel in Bondi was shut down after photos emerged of backpackers disobeying social distancing measures to drink together on the roof top. The Northern Beaches, another known hotspot for coronavirus, has the second-highest number of cases in New South Wales, with 101 infections. However, beachgoers were pictured flocking to Manly and nearby Freshwater and Curl Curl beaches on Friday. Nationwide, there are more than 5700 confirmed cases of COVID-19 including 39 deaths. Australia's chief medical experts have declared that current health measures are working to reduce the growth rate of infections but that they will need to be kept in place for six months for results to be maintained. High-priority NHS cancer patients will be treated at private hospitals from today with up to 20,000 of them set to benefit over the coming months. Health officials at NHS England have agreed a deal with Britain's three biggest private cancer clinic networks, Rutherford Health, Genesis Care and HCA UK. Up to 5,000 patients per month can now be treated at the clinics amid fears the NHS is already missing cancer waiting time targets and could face a huge backlog. NHS nurse Heather Wilson's family had raised 50,000 to get her into a private hospital after the Grimsby-based mother had been diagnosed with a rare cancer that had spread in February Thousands of patients have already had treatment cancelled, including NHS nurse Heather Wilson, 55, whose family raised 50,000 to get her into a private hospital. High-priority NHS patients, who are ranked between one and three on a six-point scale, will now be given treatment at the private clinics, reported The Times. The deal was struck between NHS England and the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN), which represents the private operators. Rutherford Health chief medical officer Professor Karol Sikora said the process had been 'staggering', adding: 'I've never seen something done so remarkably quickly.' Examples include a Rutherford centre in Newport taking on patients from a big NHS centre in Cardiff, and a clinic in Northumbria dealing with patients in Newcastle. A Rutherford Health private cancer centre in Newport, South Wales, is taking on patients from an NHS centre in Cardiff, in one example of how a private hospital is now helping NHS patients NHS England has told local trusts to pay the private clinics money for each patient based on a national tariff which sets out the amount for treatments and procedures. Professor Sikora told the Times: 'The NHS are going to take a terrible knock from it all, everything is stopped, thus every day the waiting times are going up. 'Operations were cancelled a month ago in the build-up. The country is already facing a huge bottleneck.' Rutherford Health chief executive Mike Moran told MailOnline: 'We and other independent healthcare providers have been in discussion with NHS England who have asked that we engage with the NHS on a local basis and those discussions are ongoing. 'We are in a position to offer a comprehensive range of cancer services to the NHS to help any burden on the system in these unprecedented circumstances.' And IHPN chief executive David Hare told MailOnline: 'Independent healthcare providers are committed to working hand in hand with the NHS to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic including through the recently announced unprecedented arrangement to put nearly all private hospital capacity at the disposal of the NHS for as long as needed.' 'There continues to be regular dialogue between government and the independent sector about what additional support may be needed but no deals other than those already announced in the normal way have been done.' The news comes after Downing Street said Prime Minister Boris Johnson had been admitted to an NHS hospital in London for tests as his coronavirus symptoms persist. Last night Scotland's chief medical officer, Dr Catherine Calderwood, resigned after criticism for visiting her second home and not adhering to social distancing advice. Earlier yesterday evening, the Queen made a rare address in which she said if we 'remain united and resolute' in the face of the outbreak 'we will overcome it'. The Department of Health said the number of coronavirus-related hospital deaths stood at 4,934 patients as of 5pm on Saturday, up by 621 from 4,313 the day before. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 6, 2020 16:39 644 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd00b2b6 1 Science & Tech Zenius,Gojek,online-learning,e-learning,COVID-19,#COVID19,coronavirus,#coronavirus,physical-distancing Free Educational technology platform Zenius Education has teamed up with on-demand multi-service platform Gojek to launch a free online learning service that is accessible through the Gojek app. By clicking the Zenius option on the Gojek app, users will have access to several services, including 80,000 learning videos and exercises for elementary, junior high and senior high school students; live lessons and live chats with a tutor from Zenius; and daily learning plans that can be delivered to students and their parents accounts every day for a more structured self-learning program. Read also: Studying from home: Seven online learning platforms for students "As a result of this pandemic, we have continued to explore innovations to provide the easiest access so that students can self-learn at home. Hopefully this collaboration will allow more Indonesian students to benefit from Zenius services," Zenius CEO Rohan Monga said in a statement. Meanwhile, Gojek's third party platform head, Sony Radhityo, encouraged the company's communities to practice safe distancing and maintain health and productivity during the crisis. "We always provide solutions based on issues experienced by users in their daily life. This e-learning service is part of our real effort to ensure all Indonesian children stay productive and learn independently and safely at home, he said. Zenius is among a number of homegrown tech startups that have rolled out free services to cater to the needs of students and employees put in self-quarantine in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Other than helping students, recently Gojek announced that it would provide at least Rp 100 billion (US$6 million) to help drivers cope with low demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding is said to come from the salaries of Gojek senior management a quarter of their years pay and the budgeted salary increases of all Gojek employees this year. (wir/kes) SMALL business owners across Limerick can now benefit from a special 2,500 trading voucher which will help them develop a response to coronavirus. The majority of businesses in Limerick have shut down temporarily, with tens of thousands of retail staff losing their jobs as a consequence. However, the Local Enterprise Office based in Patrick Street has responded, making available a new business continuity voucher. Its available to sole traders and companies across each local business sector employing up to 50 people. Worth up to 2,500, the voucher can be used to cover third party consultancy costs in developing short-term and long-term responses to Covid-19. The goal is to help business owners make informed decisions about what immediate measures and actions should be taken to protect staff and sales. When a company is issued with a voucher for third party consultancy, they begin working directly with a qualified expert, selected from existing Local Enterprise Office (LEO) and Enterprise Ireland panels. Head of enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Limerick Bernie Moloney said: For a huge number of small businesses, survival is the over-riding objective at this time so making the right decisions is crucial. This is where the new Business Continuity Voucher can help. The kind of areas that the voucher will help will vary, depending on the needs of each local business, but it will include very important measures such as preparing a business case for application to emergency funding, developing a business continuity plan, reducing variable costs or implementing remote working procedures. Enterprise Minister Heather Humphreys added: I know that this is a very worrying time for businesses. As part of the package of supports, I am making a 2,500 voucher available through the Local Enterprise Offices to enable enterprises to avail of vital business continuity advice. This will assist them to develop strategies to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak in both the short-term and long-term. The voucher will give companies access to contingency planning advice that will help them to continue trading through this crisis and to be ready for the recovery phase, when it comes. It will also help firms to prepare a business case so that they can apply for emergency financial interventions through the banks, the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland or Microfinance Ireland. To apply for the Business Continuity Voucher, companies can submit a short application form to Local Enterprise Office Limerick by e-mail to localenterprise@limerick.ie. Application forms are available to download from www.LocalEnterprise.ie/Response For more information, call 061-407499. US latest country to back wider use of face masks that have long been used in Asia and could reduce coronavirus risk. Taipei, Taiwan The United States is now urging people to wear face masks when they go outside amid growing evidence suggests that even a simple cloth mask can be an effective tool against the coronavirus if it is used correctly, according to health experts. The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reversed its long-standing position on face masks last week telling Americans they should now wear one when they go outside. Much of the confusion has come from a continuing global debate as to how the virus is spread through the air, as well as which masks are most effective between the N95 respirator and surgical masks favoured by medical personnel or the more ordinary dust masks and cloth face coverings. The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to recommend that masks are only needed by people displaying COVID-19 symptoms such as coughing and sneezing, those starting to feel sick and pre-symptomatic, or caring for the sick, emphasising that masks must be disposed of properly. One reason is that mask use can easily backfire if mishandled, according to Dr Dale Fisher, an infectious disease physician and chair of the WHO Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network. False sense of security He said many mask-wearers may feel a false sense of security and can easily end up transferring any virus droplets on the surface of their mask onto their hands or the surfaces in their home when they take off the mask. Commuters wear masks on their way to work at a station in Tokyo after a spike of coronavirus infections. Japanese have long worn masks during the flu season [Kimimasa Mayama/EPA] If you wear a mask in the community, the next thing you realise its on the table beside you or it will be under your chin when you answer the phone. Distancing and washing these are the ways to stop [the virus] not (to) wear a mask all the time, he said. However, Jason Wang, a physician and director of Center for Policy, Outcomes and Prevention at Stanford University, said growing evidence about the nature of SARS-CoV-2, the highly-infectious virus associated with COVID-19, suggests masks may be necessary at all times when in social settings. Some countries have already made it mandatory to wear masks in public no one in the Chinese city of Wuhan where the outbreak began late last year was allowed onto the street without one amid a strictly-enforced quarantine while other governments, such as Singapore, distribute a set of masks to each household. In some cultures, like Japan, South Korea and Taiwan masks have long been on a common sight particularly during the northern winter flu season. While the precise effectiveness of masks is still unknown, a recent study in the highly respected New England Journal of Medicine found that SARS-CoV-2 particles can linger for as long as three hours after they are transmitted. What that means is if it stays in the air for more than three hours and if someone coughs with SARS-CoV-2, you can get exposed. This is nothing to be adamant about this is science. When that happens basically you have to rethink the transmission of this virus, Wang said. A factory worker inspects raw material for making surgical face masks in Taiwan. The island has stepped up the production of surgical face masks [Ritchie B Tongo/EPA] Even the US is changing its tune. Now they are saying a mask wear a cloth mask if you cant find a medical mask or bandana. In the epidemic when you see new studies and new evidence and this is a very well done study then you have to change your practice. Mask shortages Early panic-buying has led to a global shortage of N95 masks, leading many countries to urge the public not to use them or even surgical masks so that there are enough for healthcare workers. The number of global cases of coronavirus has now exceeded 1.2 million and China and now, Taiwan, have begun to send masks to the countries that most need them. As the public looks for more options, Dr Amar Singh, a senior consultant paediatrician and researcher based in Malaysia, said cloth masks may be sufficient for the general public as they have been found to filter 50 to 60 percent of virus-sized particles and last for at least 3 hours. #DYK? @CDCgov's recommendation on wearing a cloth face covering may help protect the most vulnerable from #COVID19. Here's how you can make one today, in just a few easy steps: pic.twitter.com/eFuE7Brw0J U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) April 4, 2020 Handling a mask, however, is critical in their effectiveness, he said, including how the covering is removed and later treated, he said. If you wear a mask and then fiddle with it off and on, you increase your risk of infection. The SARS-CoV-2 virus may be found on the outer surface of your mask and may last there for some time, he said in a statement. Cloth masks should be put immediately after use into a dish with soap and water or into a plastic bag and then hands washed or disinfected immediately. Hygiene crucial Face masks have been widely used across East Asia since the first SARS outbreak in 2002 and their adoption has been credited as one tool in keeping transmission rates low in places like Taiwan, said Steve Kuo, the former director-general of Taiwans Centre for Disease Control and the coordinator of its original SARS task force, although there are few studies on precisely how effective they are. For this reason, medical experts say they are no substitute for the other recommended measures such as social distancing, staying home when sick or exhibiting possible symptoms of the virus such as coughing and fever. Taiwan, which had some of the greatest success in keeping coronavirus numbers down, has seen its confirmed cases surge from double digits to hundreds in March as citizens returned from abroad and began to spread the illness among the general population. It has introduced compulsory quarantines for those coming from overseas but has also doubled down on its initial strategy by requiring residents to wear masks on public transport and in taxis. We learned a lot from the SARS outbreak, and one thing we learned dearly is never celebrate the success prematurely, Kuo said. Its really only the beginning of the outbreak. Nobody can guarantee that we can still get our success all the way down the road. By Liu Hongjie A group of militants raided a gold mine in DR Congo, killing four people, including three Chinese and one Congolese, on Saturday night, according to local media. The attack happened in Sumbabho village, Irumu district, Ituri province. Local tribal leaders in the area said armed men attacked the Ndaki mine and that besides the four killed, one Congolese was seriously injured. An unknown quantity of gold was stolen. The incident raised concerns about security among the local people, but the authorities have released information advising people to not flee from the village. According to a news release issued on Monday, the Chinese embassy in DR Congo has asked the Congo side to take concrete measures to protect Chinese citizens' lives and wealth in that region. The Chinese embassy also said Ituri, South Kivu, North Kivu and other provinces in DR Congo are high-risk areas, and illegal armed attacks and looting incidents occur from time to time. The embassy once again reminded Chinese citizens not to go to the above provinces, and asked local Chinese personnel to evacuate as soon as possible. Headline news: Eva Dichand on art, collecting and newspapers In her passion for both newspapers and art, Eva Dichand has assumed the mantle of her late father-in-law, Krone editor Hans Dichand. Her tastes, however, are markedly more contemporary, as Michael Watts discovered when he went to meet her My recent visit to Vienna to meet members of the Dichand newspaper dynasty prompted thoughts about a media titan who ought to be better known. Hans Dichand, the family patriarch, was an Austrian populist who died in 2010 at the age of 89. He owned and edited Austrias biggest-selling tabloid, Kronen Zeitung, and was a political kingmaker over several decades; he even called his autobiography In the Anteroom of Power. Much of his influence came from a Eurosceptic column he wrote in his paper under the Roman pseudonym Cato; he was possibly emulating the 18th-century essays published in England as Catos Letters, which advocated patriotism, free markets and limited government. Dichands nativism lingers on in Austria, a republic risen from the ashes of the First World War, but still struggling with its identity. Its probable, however, that his more enduring legacy will be his art collection. In 1989, he published, in English and German, a handsome coffee-table book entitled Austria Pioneering Modern Art (Die Kunstler der klassichen Moderne in Osterreich). Dichand owned most of the works it contained, all by artists of the Austrian Secession at the turn of the 19th century, led by Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka, along with lesser lights such as Koloman Moser, Alfred Kubin and Carl Moll. They represented only a fraction of his artworks several, notably Klimts Danae, 1907, and Schieles Mother and Child (Madonna), 1908, now of eye-watering value. Klimts sensual depiction of Zeus seducing the mortal Danae in a symbolic shower of golden rain always hung above the fireplace of one of his houses in Vienna. Works by Serge Poliakoff, Thomas Houseago and others, and a nest of tables by Josef Hoffmann, circa 1904. Artworks: Thomas Houseago, Walking Figure I, 2015. Bronze, 79 x 26.5 x 62 in (200.7 x 57.2 x 157.5 cm). Edition of 3, 2 APs. Thomas Houseago. Serge Poliakoff, DACS 2019. Photograph by Mattia Balsamini Other newspaper tycoons, more familiar in the English-speaking world, have matched his expertise in what was once called yellow journalism, but not in art. Lord Beaverbrook, Britains arch-imperialist and in some respects a political counterpart, collected established British artists, from Constable through to Graham Sutherland. He bought an early Lucian Freud only after Freud had won second prize in a young artists competition in Beaverbrooks Daily Express. In the USA, the eccentric William Randolph Hearst mixed his collection of ancient Greek vases with household stoves, warming pans and door knockers. Nearer to our times, the little that we know for sure about Rupert Murdoch the collector is that he likes the kinetic sculptures of George Rickey. Rickeys Annular Eclipse, a giant pair of wind-powered steel circles, whirrs outside Fox News in Manhattan. Its going to stop traffic, Murdoch rejoiced before its installation. The way you support somebody young is by buying his or her art Eva Dichand What kind of man was Hans Dichand, this son of a leather craftsman who went on to speak to, and often for, his eight million fellow Austrians? I asked Dr Eva Dichand, who is married to his youngest son, Christoph. He was very quiet, actually not shy, just low-key, she says. But I can remember once, I went with him for lunch and there was a politician in the restaurant who wanted to convince him of something. My father-in-law listened carefully and at the very end he just looked at him and said, I will run against that. That was all. The man went away, and I could see his head was bowed. Dichands passion for art and newspapers has passed on, in varying degrees, to his three children, as has his collection. Christoph, 54, is now editor-in-chief of the Krone, and in 2001 he was active in a consortium that acquired the Dorotheum, a prized auction house that has served Central Europe for 300 years. Frank Stella, Bermuda Petrel (maquette), 1980, hangs above a Koloman Moser sideboard dated circa 1900. Frank Stella, DACS 2019. Above the sofa is Daniel Richter, Casting, 2018. Daniel Richter, DACS 2019. Photograph by Mattia Balsamini His sister Johanna sits on its board. When she was 17, she posed for a portrait by Andy Warhol, and was later painted by the Swiss hyperrealist Franz Gertsch, apparently at her fathers insistence. But it is the daughter-in-law who has done most to reinvigorate the Dichand name. Eva Dichand is the daughter of an entrepreneur and a pharmacist from Graz, with a PhD in business administration from Vienna University, and a background in banking and financial consultancy. Clever and ambitious, shes at home in both the society and business pages. Those attributes, together with her air of restless high spirits, were enough to disturb the equanimity of Christoph Dichand, whose public manner is normally as reserved as his fathers. The moment I saw her, I knew I was going to marry her, he has been quoted as saying. I knew I would never get bored with her. This coup de foudre was made more piquant by the fact that they were then on opposite sides of bids to buy the Dorotheum. Its inevitable that she, too, would collect art, as well as the Art Deco jewellery that Hans Dichand also collected, but one suspects that he would have felt challenged by her more cutting-edge tastes. She began collecting at the age of 28, with no obvious formula as to what was acquired. She bought a Thomas Schutte figurative sculpture at Art Basel, and then forgot about it; it was never installed. As a wedding present, she and Christoph received an art photograph by Candida Hofer of the Bibliotheque Nationale de France, part of Hofers series on illustrious libraries around the world. At first we didnt like it, because we were not into photography anyhow, she says candidly, in her charming English. We left it on the floor by the TV, and a friend came so we put it up on the wall; and then, as with all good art, we fell in love with it. After that, we started to get more and more into contemporary art. Artworks including Franz West, Lemura del Porto, 2012. Archiv Franz West Estate Franz West. Kerstin Bratsch, Untitled, 2010 (detail). Kerstin Bratsch, courtesy the artist and Gavin Browns enterprise, New York/Rome. Jose Davila, One in the Other (XII), 2018 (detail). Jose Davila, courtesy of the artist and Galleri Nicolai Wallner. Miriam Cahn, Muttertraum, 22.02.2010. Miriam Cahn. Photograph by Mattia Balsamini The spacious apartment she occupies with her husband and three children near the Staatsoper and Albertina Museum is now crowded with works by Imi Knoebel, Tobias Pils, Sigmar Polke, Kerstin Bratsch, Sarah Crowner, Tomas Saraceno and numerous other, mainly living artists, which look as cool and on-trend as their surroundings. A new acquisition is a startling, yellowy painting by Daniel Richter, a German artist based partly in Vienna, who is known, and reviled by some, for the sexual violence implicit in some works: Casting (2018) suggests a carnal act between contorted figures whose construction clearly owes a debt to Francis Bacon, yet it stands up in its own right. Angry works like this are balanced by a rare Fernand Leger still life (Profil orange, 1928) and sculptures by Franz West and Lucio Fontana, whose bust of his wife Teresita, from 1949, sits on a small plinth. Above a blue sofa, Alexander Calders Red Mobile (1961) is delicately poised, waiting for a gentle breath of animation. Dichand remarks that Miriam Cahns unearthly pictures make her feel a bit afraid, like Max Ernst a little In the first flush of collecting, Dichand bought everything that took her fancy; now she focuses on buying three new artists every year and following their careers. The way you support somebody young is by buying his or her art, she explains. At present, her focus is on the rising young American star Donna Huanca, who, in a complicated transaction between performance art and abstraction, photographs the painted skins of models she calls avatars, prints them on canvas, and then paints over the images with the same vivid oils, such as rich, Kleinian blue. Among her props are ripped stockings, latex and anal beads. Great, great, great, Dichand enthuses. Another, older feminist has pride of place at the far end of the long reception room. Here hangs a huge work by the 69-year-old Swiss painter Miriam Cahn, whose art has slipped in and out of fashion, though not with Eva, who has several of her paintings. This one, a 2014 work called HANDE HOCH! (Hands Up!), she purchased from the Jocelyn Wolf gallery in Paris, and is probably Cahns best- known piece. It shows a naked man, woman and child, almost stick-like and childish in composition, with their genitalia exposed, their hands raised and their watery pink bodies ghostly glowing. Dichand remarks that Cahns unearthly pictures make her feel a bit afraid, like Max Ernst a little, but HANDE HOCH! is full of life. Eva Dichand with a work by Imi Knoebel (detail). Artwork: Imi Knoebel, DACS 2019. Photograph by Mattia Balsamini She is now on the international board of the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the Musee dArt Moderne de la Ville de Paris. But it is not her art that has made Austria sit up and take notice; its the fact that, when she was 29, she launched her own newspaper in competition with her husband and the Kronen Zeitung. She looks disgusted. They were writing, Ah, this tall blonde of the Dichands is starting a newspaper. A stupid project. Heute (Today) is a free daily publication, distributed throughout Austria, which now claims to be the countrys second most-read newspaper, with one million readers and a distribution of 680,000. The sheer brio of its creation came from Eva, whose only previous journalistic experience had been in running a Hello!-style magazine. It was crazy, she laughs. We had only four rooms, and it was like being in a garage. We started to get bigger, and then the first politicians came to see us, and it was so embarrassing to be there. Heute is now found everywhere in Vienna: on public transport and at the airport, in hospitals, in a chain of bakery shops, and in office blocks with 500 workers or more. Dichands original intention was to cut down news and articles from other papers and jazz them up. Soon, however, she was producing her own stories. She has targeted young readers, avoiding party politics because she maintains that young people are not interested in politics and prefer positive stories, and housewives, because theyre the ones who go on public transport after 9am. Health and childcare, shopping, education and work-life balance are her feelgood subjects, everything presented in a nice way. I fight with all my editors because I know that people do not like negative, depressing stories. In recognition of her achievements, the World Economic Forum selected her as one of its inspirational Young Global Leaders in 2010. She also chairs the council of MedUni Vienna, the citys medical university, and is investing in online healthcare and a venture that addresses dyslexia and autism, since discovering that one of her children is severely dyslexic. We collect a lot of things that I am sure will get very famous in the future, but this is not why we buy them Eva Dichand She says shes been asked a few times to enter politics; she has always vehemently refused. A young politician from a liberal party once asked me why, and I said she adopts a comical stage whisper Im much more powerful now. It was meant as a joke. Her press rivals seem fascinated by this glamorous, outspoken figure, whom the austere and private Dichands have produced, like a rabbit from a hat. Addressing the charge of nepotism, she admits, I had a lot of powerful people helping me. Still, nobody gives you five million in advertising revenue because you are cute, blonde and the daughter-in-law of somebody, so you have to perform. This is a tough business. Ive had ambitious enemies from the very beginning and hundreds of lawsuits. The more successful you get, the more enemies you create. Vienna is a city of grand buildings and even grander manners, where, between November and the end of February, when I visited, diaries are reserved for countless high-society balls with names like the Confectioners Ball or the Ball of Sciences. Grandest of all is the Opera Ball, the official ball of the Federal Republic of Austria, where the Austrian president arrives to a fanfare of trumpets. Dichand is both accepted and expected in this world of satin gowns and horse-drawn carriages, and yet the entrepreneur in her rages that Europe in general and Austria in particular are held back by tradition and an unwillingness to give youth its head. Her anger at business negativity there felt justified during a sabbatical in 2016, which she and Christoph spent fact-finding with young American startups. Ach, I should have been in the States when I was 20, she growled on her return. Artworks: Thomas Houseago, Walking Figure I, 2015 (detail). Bronze, 79 x 26.5 x 62 in (200.7 x 57.2 x 157.5 cm). Edition of 3, 2 APs. Thomas Houseago. Tomas Saraceno, Aerosolar Scorpius, 2018. Studio Tomas Saraceno. Heimo Zobernig, Untitled, 2016. Heimo Zobernig, DACS 2019. Miriam Cahn, HANDE HOCH!, 2014 (detail). Miriam Cahn. Frank Stella, Bermuda Petrel (maquette), 1980, hangs above a Koloman Moser sideboard dated circa 1900. Frank Stella, DACS 2019 In Manhattan, the couple were also warmly welcomed by fellow art collectors. The late Si Newhouse, owner of Conde Nast and a fabled collector of post-war American masterpieces (Johns, Lichtenstein, Rothko), escorted them at night around the empty offices of Vogue and its celebrity editor, Anna Wintour As messy as my own, says Dichand, clearly gratified. Newhouses grandmother was Austrian, and he would regularly visit Vienna and Salzburg. On one such visit, Hans Dichand was persuaded by Christoph to show him his own collection. European collectors have a reputation for being secretive. Americans, Eva came to realise, were different; they were proud to display their art. At a lunch in the New York home of the cosmetics billionaire Leonard Lauder, he took her by the hand and led her to his bedroom, pointed at a Klimt painting of Lake Attersee and said, Look, this is my favourite painting! Sign up today The Online Magazine delivers the best features, videos, and auction news to your inbox every week Subscribe WELLINGTON, New Zealand - German tourist Steffen Schmieg joked on Monday that his last option for getting home from New Zealand was to swim. Schmieg is among an estimated 100,000 tourists who found themselves stranded in New Zealand after it went into a strict lockdown 12 days ago in an attempt to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Late last week, officials relaxed the rules enough to allow tourists to begin catching connecting domestic flights and for charter flights to start operating. About 12,000 Germans have signed up for a repatriation program and on Monday, Schmieg joined dozens of other Germans at the Christchurch Airport to catch a flight back to Frankfurt. The flight was chartered by the German government. Schmieg, 26, said he travelled to New Zealand a month ago to visit a friend and tour the country. He managed to see his friend in time but has been holed up at an Airbnb since the lockdown began. Ive been doing nothing, he said. Chilling, relaxing, eating too much. He said New Zealand was a safe place to stay and he was never too worried about getting home: Its been sweet as, he said, using a local phrase that means everything is okay. Fellow German Katharina Genz, 20, said she arrived in New Zealand in late October and watched as the virus spread around the world. I tried to get a flight, but it was delayed, and then cancelled, she said. Of course I was worried. But New Zealand has handled it pretty well, way better than Germany. She said she is eager to get home to help out her family, although shes dreading a planned period of self-isolation in her fathers empty apartment in Berlin before she can see them. About as many British tourists as Germans have registered with officials as they also try to get home. But unlike Germany, Britains government is not planning any charter flights from New Zealand or Australia at this point, and is instead encouraging people to book one of the few commercial flights that are still available. British High Commissioner Laura Clarke said affordability has been a real issue, with some people who have already lost money on their trips facing quotes of up to $3,000 for a ticket home. She said she and her staff have been trying to negotiate with the airlines and to help the most vulnerable get home, including the elderly, young children and those with health issues. She said theyre also trying to prioritize those who work for Britains National Health Service. Clarke said not everybody trying to get home has signed up with them, and they estimate as many as 22,000 Britons are in that position. She said about 1,000 British tourists have secured flights home over the past week. New Zealand has recorded 1,106 cases of COVID-19 and one death from the illness. About 40% of the cases have been linked to overseas travellers returning home, and the country has so far avoided a major local outbreak. New Zealands lucrative tourism industry, which was the nations single biggest earner of foreign income, has ground to a halt due to the global pandemic. Tourism New Zealand estimates the industry accounted for about 10% of the nations GDP and employed 230,000 people. Worker advocates are urging the province to change worker compensation laws to make it easier for health-care and other essential workers infected with COVID-19 to access benefits, according to a new letter seen by the Star. It comes as the provincial workers compensation board has received some 450 benefit claims from workers who believe they contracted the virus on the job over the past month, the Star has learned. The board has also received some 200 reports from employers of potential workplace exposures to COVID-19. The letter, sent Friday to Premier Doug Ford and Ontarios ministers of labour and health, outlines vital proposals needed to protect the provinces essential workers, including thousands of vulnerable non-unionized workers performing essential services. These workers are risking their health and for some, their lives, by carrying out their work responsibilities, says the letter from Ontario Federation of Labour President Patty Coates, and signed by 26 unions, legal clinics and injured-worker advocates. To do this, they must be confident that if they become sick from COVID-19 or must be isolated due to occupational exposure to this virus, they will have the full protection of the workers compensation system. Ontario workers are entitled to benefits and income replacement if their workplace played a significant role in their accident or illness. In most cases if a worker gets sick or hurt on the job, they must prove to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board that it was work-related to be eligible for benefits, including income replacement. But in light of the pandemic, advocates are urging the government to legislate automatic entitlement to workers compensation for essential workers diagnosed with COVID-19. The proposed changes would create a so-called non-rebuttable presumption that the virus was contracted on the job, the letter says. Current laws encode this presumption for a select list of diseases where there is a high degree of scientific certainty that the illness was caused by workplace exposure. The letter calls for the new measure to cover health-care workers, first responders and other essential workers who come into contact with the public, such as those in child care, transit, retail and delivery. Cabinet could make these changes in a few days if it wished to do so, the letter says. In an emailed statement, Bradley Metlin, spokesperson for Minister of Labour Monte McNaughton, said government had taken decisive action to support workers, including job-protected leaves, beefing up inspections and doubling the number of phone agents at the ministrys health and safety call centre. Minister McNaughton has been on the phone every day with labour leaders, businesses and, most importantly, workers. Their advice has been essential in our effort to keep workers safe during this difficult time, the statement said. The premier has been clear that every option is on the table, and our government is prepared to take further action as required. As it stands, the WSIB is making decisions on COVID-19 claims on a case-by-case basis. We have great concerns with that policy, said Janet Paterson, president of the Ontario Network of Injured Worker Groups. (Essential workers) should be able to feel confident that they are going to be taken care of. WSIB spokesperson Christine Arnott said the board has created a dedicated team working through COVID-19-related claims as quickly as possible. We know this is a difficult time for people. We have moved quickly to deliver services remotely, including managing active claims, processing new claims and answering phones. We will do everything we can to help so people can focus on their loved ones and always on their health and safety, she said. Advocates are also calling for workers compensation coverage to extend to independent operators or self-employed workers like those in the gig economy who may not be covered. Some gig employers, such as food-delivery service Foodora, do pay into the workers compensation system. But the letter sent Friday notes that many workers who may put themselves at risk by contact with the public do not have workers compensation protection, either because they work in a non-covered sector of the economy or have been treated as independent operators. Finally, we need to protect community volunteers who step up to help others and become ill or need to be isolated, the letter adds. (Recently, the province enacted new emergency measures that allow hospitals to override collective agreements to draft in volunteer help). Access to workers compensation benefits which are funded by employer premiums could provide an alternate support system to employment insurance and government-funded emergency benefits, which have been inundated with applications. According to its policy document on COVID-19, the WSIB is making entitlement decisions based on factors like whether the nature of the work puts people at risk of contact with the virus, as well as whether workers have personal protective gear a mounting concern given existing shortages. Jessica Ponting, a community legal worker with the Industrial Accident Victims Group of Ontario, said the board also needs to provide other assurances to injured workers amidst the pandemic. Most at risk, she said, are those who were already off work because of a severe injury and may now be facing layoff. The board is basically presuming its a temporary layoff. Thats a problem because when people do start to get hired back, I think theres a lot of discrimination against people with disabilities, she said. The board needs to assume at least for now that its a permanent layoff, she added. That would allow for a continuation of benefits for injured workers who may have enough work hours to qualify for employment insurance. The WSIB recently announced a $1.9-billion relief package for businesses that will allow them to defer premium payments until August. Paterson said she wants to see similar relief programs for injured workers including an end to the practice known as deeming, which is when the board deems an injured worker capable of returning to work, identifies jobs they could theoretically do, and slashes their benefits accordingly. We realize businesses are very much getting impacted, Paterson said. But injured workers are supposed to be the number one focus of the workers compensation system. And we feel like, where are we? Kenneth Anglin felt sick when he returned from a trip through seven states in early March to pick up his daughter and son-in-law from Colorado and bring them back to rural central Florida. The 58-year-old complained of a sore throat, dry cough and tightness in his lower chest, compounded by body aches, chills and a low-grade fever. Within days, his wife, Michelle, was feeling it, too. Disabled and dependent on their fixed income, the couple feared COVID-19 especially because of Kenneths chronic pulmonary disease. We were just so sick, so sick like nothing wed ever experienced, Michelle Anglin said. I am 99% sure it was COVID. Im still coughing, and its been three weeks now. According to the Anglins, their primary physician said no to a COVID-19 test, insisting the problem was bronchitis. He prescribed antibiotics and steroids. They went to the emergency room and were rebuffed again, told they didnt qualify because they had not been out of the country or come in contact with a known person who tested positive. Michelle Anglin said both doctors told her that if they performed a COVID-19 test, they would have to report the results to the authorities. They make it impossible to get tested here, she said. They wouldnt take it seriously. Everyone was more concerned about calling the CDC. While the number of COVID-19 tests across the nation has exploded in recent weeks, a USA TODAY review of state and local data shows that access remains haphazard for many patients. Communities operate under widely varying guidelines for who can get tested. Some have a greater abundance of test supplies than others. READ: From Texas to New York, vastly different COVID test rates Perhaps nowhere is the ability to test patients and identify those carrying the virus more critical than Florida, where state officials delayed aggressive social distancing efforts and one in five residents is 65 or older, putting them at higher risk from the virus. Story continues USA TODAY examined testing rates in each of Floridas 67 counties. The review shows that some communities far lag others in aggressively testing, even when patients arrive showing symptoms of COVID-19. Income and remoteness may be part of whats driving the outcome. Florida Department of Health figures through April 1 show seven of the 10 counties with the lowest coronavirus test rates per capita are poor with median incomes less than $40,000 or rural, or both. None would be considered high-income. Nearly all counties with the highest testing rates have median incomes above $40,000, and two earn north of $60,000. One county with a particularly high rate of testing is St. Johns, home to the quaint coastal enclave of St. Augustine, which has the highest household income in the state: $73,600. The county has completed 422 tests per 100,000 residents. That stacks up well against Highlands County, where the Anglins live in a retirement community tucked between the cow pastures that flank inland Florida. The median income in Highlands is about half that of St. Johns, and the testing rate is just one-fourth what it is in the wealthier community. Kenneth and Michelle Anglin of Highlands County, Fla., suspect they had COVID-19 but were not tested. Highlands ranks near the top for percentages of tests awaiting results and the share of tested patients whose results were positive for COVID-19. Its unclear how much of the disparities are driven by the unequal distribution of test kits versus decisions at the local level. Individual doctors and health systems apply their own judgments about whom to test, and the state chooses how to allocate requests for supplies county by county. Counties differ in how much their residents travel outside the state, a factor that can increase the likelihood the virus is carried home. Emergency managers said they see one systemic reason for shortages in some communities: When ordering test supplies from the state for health care providers, counties with the highest case counts are the ones most likely to get additional test kits. That creates a kind of Catch-22, emergency managers said. Rural communities need more positive cases to get more tests, but they need more tests to show that sick residents have COVID-19. Health care workers fear low testing rates produce statistics that give rural residents a false sense of security. They said the virus is battering Floridas struggling small towns, where supplies that have run out, and a health care infrastructure thats woefully unequipped. We are in a part of Florida where its denial, said Kelly Adelberg, chief operating officer for Treasure Coast Medical Associates, which operates urgent care clinics in Highlands and neighboring Okeechobee County. There are no tests in these areas. It gives people false hope, and they go out shopping. There are people in these areas with COVID, but there are no tests to test them. A vulnerable county Before infections took deep hold in the USA, John Nelson, a mapper at Esri, which supplies geographic information system software, predicted Highlands County would be among four places most vulnerable to the virus in America. The research cited Highlands' high proportion of residents age 60 or older and its score on the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Social Vulnerability Index, which identifies communities most likely to need support during an emergency, using an algorithm that analyzes poverty, mobility and housing conditions. The culmination puts them in what could be considered a dangerous position for COVID-19, Nelson said of the analysis. Despite the risk, the pace of testing has lagged. In Highlands County, 112 patients were tested for coronavirus out of every 100,000 residents for whom results were available as of Wednesday. Only seven Florida counties had a lower testing rate. By contrast, Collier County home to the states wealthiest retirement enclaves has tested more than 370 patients per 100,000 residents. Only seven Florida counties tested at a higher rate. Providers in Collier set up a task force, staffed a call center and opened two drive-thru testing sites, one operated by the health department for residents whove completed a prescreen and another by the private hospital. Together, the sites can test up to 74 people a day. Some residents expressed frustrations even in Collier, where cars with sick residents were turned away from the hospital as testing began. Richard Abood, a physician with Collier Urgent Care, where most of the patients come for respiratory ailments, said he has had no shortage of tests lately for those who need them. We havent heard that at all, Abood said. Hospital staff check documentation from community members wishing to be tested for coronavirus on March 16 at NCH Baker Hospital in Naples, Fla. Some of the difference in each countys approach reflects unequal access to supplies, but health providers and residents said some of it is because not all counties view the threat of COVID-19 equally. All health officials in Florida are part of one statewide agency, reporting to the states surgeon general. As a practical matter, though they coordinate with the state, the approach to managing the pandemic varies from one community to the next. The response is definitely local, said Kristine Hollingsworth, spokeswoman for the Collier County branch of the Florida Department of Health. Across Florida, pharmaceutical companies reach out to private physicians daily with sales calls for newly developed tests. Rural providers are last on the delivery list when competing for these limited supplies of test kits, according to Adelberg, the clinic owner in Highlands County. Those that do become available are reserved for the critically ill. The same goes for other basic medical supplies. The medical supply chain being as fragmented as we are, were getting a little supplies every day, but not what we are ordering, said Mitch Smeykal, emergency management director in neighboring Okeechobee, an agricultural county of about 40,000. We dont have as many testing sites as the metropolitan areas. Highlands County health officials declined to be interviewed by phone. Amanda Tyner, a spokeswoman for the department of health in DeSoto and Highlands counties, said in an email that residents who feel sick should first go to their primary care provider, and if they dont have one, they can call for an appointment to be tested with the health department. Tyner insisted the region could meet testing demands and said a recent order of 2,500 more statewide test kits would help. She had no explanation for why residents and physicians could not get testing. Highlands' tests are sent to both state and private labs, which face major delays across the country. Only nine counties have a greater proportion of their tests awaiting results. With 21 positives and 127 tests awaiting results in Highlands as of Thursday afternoon, the stakes are high. In Highlands County, as in most of its neighboring rural counties, at least one person has died. Highlands' death rate per 100 tests is the second-worst in the state among counties with a fatality. There is a long history of discrimination in the deployment of scarce health resources to poorer populations, said Jay Wolfson, senior associate dean of the Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florida in Tampa. Testing is less prevalent in poorer versus wealthy counties because of fewer public health resources to divert, he said. There has been a dearth of test kits statewide, and the allocation of scarce kits has gone to counties with generally larger populations. 'Creative solutions' With scarce resources and infrastructure never meant for such a pandemic, small and rural towns in Florida are forced to innovate. Putnam County, a rural suburb of Jacksonville, was among Floridas lowest-income counties in 2017, with a median household income of less than $34,000. Despite facing shortages in tests, Putnam was the lone low-income area among Floridas top 10 counties for testing. Health officials said they bucked the trend by devising novel approaches. Specimen collection kits to be used for swab testing citizens for COVID-19 are stacked on a table in the new drive-thru test site at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center parking lot in Jacksonville, Fla. The local health department creates its own tests from synthetic swabs and a sterile saline when kits from the state run out. Emergency officials wash and reuse surgical masks, which are needed for workers to administer tests for the virus, on the laundrys gentle cycle. They hand-deliver tests to the nearest public lab, so the results are typically back within 24 hours. Were finding creative solutions that are consistent with CDC guidance in an effort to conserve resources, said Mary Garcia, administrator and health officer for the Florida Department of Health in Putnam County. In Putnam, officials have tested more than 300 residents and contacted 800 who had direct contact or close association with someone who tested positive. They say one reason for their relative success is that everyone in the county has taken COVID-19 seriously. When were dealing with scarce resources, said Ryan Simpson, Putnam County emergency management coordinator, were able to identify needs quickly and respond quickly. Contributing: Matt Wynn and Kevin Crowe, USA TODAY. Josh Salman is an investigative reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK covering the Southeast. Contact him by email at jsalman@gatehousemedia.com or by phone, 941-361-4967. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus testing gap in Florida may widen by income Germanys Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said the shared experience of battling the coronavirus could lead to a new age of solidarity. Theres little sign of the crisis bringing nations closer together, though: From India to Europe and the U.S., governments are rushing to get hold of masks, ventilators, gloves and medicines in a free-for-all thats stoking tensions in a world already stung by globalization. Countries are rushing to introduce export restrictions, contributing to what the World Trade Organization calls a severe shortage of goods needed to fight the virus. Understandably, governments are taking protective measures to stem the pandemic, the WTO said in a report published on Friday. However, some of these measures may inadvertently impact the flow of critical medical goods across territories. The tussles show just how vulnerable the world trade in medical supplies is to unilateral action by individual nations, and how dependent developing countries are on the richer world for basic medical gear to fight an epidemic. Thats all happening in a climate of distrust as President Donald Trump pushes his America First agenda, which has seen him frequently criticize global institutions as well as long-standing U.S. allies like Germany and France. The wrangling also reflects the rising economic clout of Beijing and its entrenchment in global supply chains. China is either a provider of raw materials for medical equipment for many countries, or their main source of completed goods. As the policy focus shifts to public health, the lack of control over supply chains translates into political pressure on governments. In India, the main opposition Congress Party berated Prime Minister Narendra Modis government for allowing the export of testing kits until Saturday, calling it the ultimate betrayal to India. India also ran afoul of Trump at the weekend when it banned all exports of hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug the U.S. president has repeatedly championed in the fight against COVID-19. Trump said on Saturday that he spoke to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to appeal for the release of shipments the U.S. has already ordered, and that India is giving his request serious consideration. A major exporter of generic drugs, India had already restricted foreign sales of certain medicines and pharmaceutical ingredients in response to the coronavirus crisis. Thats raised concern in Europe. The Indian export ban has been repeatedly discussed by the European Unions Integrated Political Crisis Response mechanism, a group of experts and senior diplomats in Brussels seeking to co-ordinate the blocs policy, according to internal documents seen by Bloomberg. The EUs executive arm has been negotiating with the government in New Delhi to ease the restrictions. Export limits So far this year there have been 91 export curbs implemented by 69 jurisdictions, the overwhelming majority enacted in March as the virus epicentre shifted to Europe and then the U.S., according to Simon Evenett, professor of international trade and economics at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland. That is setting off international friction. Officials in Germany and France have clashed with Washington over what they say are American attempts to unfairly obtain safety equipment. The interior minister of Berlin city state, Andreas Geisel, blamed the U.S.A. for confiscating 200,000 masks ordered from a U.S. producer when they were in transit through Bangkok. We view this as an act of modern piracy, Geisel said. French officials accused unidentified Americans of paying over the odds to secure masks in China that had been earmarked for France. The U.S. Embassy in Paris rejected any suggestion the federal government had been involved in such actions as completely false. Also over the weekend, Spain accused Turkey of retaining a shipment of respirators bought by two regional Spanish governments from a Turkish company. The Berlin official backed off his account on Saturday, saying on Twitter that the masks were ordered from a German company and why they didnt reach Germany is being reviewed. The crunch affects critical medical equipment worth about $597 billion (U.S.) in 2019, according to the WTO. The issue arises because not all countries produce the necessary goods, from hand soaps and sanitizers to syringes and protective glasses. One example: China, Germany and the U.S. export 40 per cent of the worlds personal protective products. China, meanwhile, is the worlds biggest exporter of face masks, with a 25 per cent share. Joint procurement In a bid to ease the flow of imports, the European Commission on Friday waived tariffs and value-added tax on such medical gear until end-July. That reduces the price of masks in Italy by a third, said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. We stand by our health workers and hospitals and we will do all we can to help them further, she said in a video message. The commission has sought to begin joint procurement for various medical supplies while ramping up production of in Europe. Von der Leyen and Thierry Breton, the EU official responsible for the blocs internal market, held talks with industry representatives recently and concluded that boosting output under existing capacity was more feasible than retooling other manufacturing at the likes of auto and aerospace companies. By contrast the U.S., the worlds largest importer of medical products for the last three years, has turned to carmakers such as General Motors to produce ventilators during the crisis. Trump, who has equated himself to a wartime president as virus cases spiked in the U.S., said on Friday that hed invoked the Defense Production Act to ban the export of crucial medical supplies, including high-functioning respirators, surgical masks, gloves and other personal protection equipment. That flies in the face of a recent call by Group of 20 leaders to work together against COVID-19. We need these items immediately for domestic use, we have to have them, Trump said. In a March 26 statement following a special video conference, G-20 leaders including Trump vowed to work to ensure the flow of vital medical supplies, critical agricultural products, and other goods and services across borders. Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Saturday he will speak to Trump in the coming days to point out that Canada also sends key equipment across the border. The race for medical supplies marks a return to geopolitical tensions just months after the U.S. and China reached an initial deal to stave off a global trade war. At root, the political conflict over sourcing the equipment is an extension of trade policy. Governments have not aligned their trade and medical policy responses to coronavirus, Evenett of St. Gallen said in a March report. That incoherence, he said, threatens the lives of people at home and abroad, including those of front line professionals. Read more about: Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. Chicago is empty of people but full of signs. They can make you laugh, like the neat notice on the doors of the Chicago Theatre: Widespread Panic: Postponed. (Tell that to the guy who rations the toilet paper at Costco.) Or they can make you wince, like the sign on the Women & Children First Bookstore, sitting below its motto: Opened in 1979, Open Today, Open Forever. The sign says: Temporarily closed. Advertisement Every city is like this now, as if our protective masks stifled the ability to speak and left us to communicate only in writing. The notes tell the story of the more than 10 million Americans who have lost their jobs in the last two weeks, as almost every state has shuttered nonessential businesses in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American city has always been coated in words, from barroom neon script to the slogan on that fast food marquee. But rarely has this written layer felt so coordinated. On the Kiski Kar Wash in Pittsburgh: Flu Season Is Here, So Wash Your Hands and Your Car. On a suburban sidewalk outside Denver: Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder. At a New Hampshire supermarket: Senior shopping hours, 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. everyday. They are both practical and inspirational, an instruction manual for a new era and a card catalog for a society in crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Messages have appeared on storefronts, sidewalks, in the windows of apartments. They are printed on 8-by-11-inch sheets, drawn on whiteboards, and scrawled in Sharpie. Restaurants say they are open for takeout, sometimes with perks: a cocktail! A roll of toilet paper! Fill a growler from the keg? Please? From a liquor store in South L.A. comes the following message, which I can only convey in its entirety: COVID-19 is some real shit. Cover your fucking mouth. Shut the fuck up! Buy your shit and leave immediately. Absolutely NO titty or sock money! Stand back at least 6 feet, playa. Store capacity limited to 5 motherfuckers at once. You cough, you die. Drink responsibly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the corner of Tompkins Square Park in Manhattans East Village, someone has built a makeshift memorial. Two vases of flowers sit alongside a board that shows a tally of the dead, beneath a handful of American flags. Adjacent on the park railing, a hand-painted warning reads, Stay six feet apart or be six feet under. As a collective expression, New Yorks coronavirus signs recall Subway Therapy, the 5,000 Post-it note messages written on the subway walls at Union Square after Donald Trump was elected president. Advertisement Advertisement With Americans isolated by distancing rules, signs lend each exchange the thrill and weight of performance. In Seattle, a pair of teenagers taped notes in their windows to thank the nurses next door (and also brought cookies). The nurses put up a sign to thank them back. After the state barred visitors from nursing homes, a Connecticut man named Bob Shellard made a poster to wish his wife a happy 67th wedding anniversary from outside her window. (He also called her on the phone: Can you see my sign?) Advertisement Advertisement Due to coronavirus precaution, Bob Shellard isn't allowed to visit his wife in her Connecticut nursing home. So he stood outside her window and held up a sign that said "I've loved you 67 years and still do. Happy Anniversary." https://t.co/cIwZxwmZeN pic.twitter.com/nW86SYm4HU NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) March 16, 2020 Brendan Cormier, a curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, is collecting photographs of COVID-19 signage. They remind him of the Sorry, Out of Gas signs that popped up at gas stations during the oil crisis in the 1970semergency communication, written with whatever was at hand. All cities essentially have an editorial layer to thema layer of words displayed in the public realm, he wrote to me. This for the most part is top-down, safety signs, rules, advertisements and shopfronts. So, with the proliferation of hand-written signs, you see that editorial layer shifting back towards a more democratic and multi-voiced scenario. Advertisement Advertisement Most of the notices appear hasty and impromptu, as if each proprietor had stepped out to lunch and never come back. Quirky, like the Brooklyn newsstand offering home delivery of your favorite magazines and newspapers, signed: From, Us. Who else? Or the note from the eyeglasses store down the block, printed capitals the size of a fist, so that even a man whod broken his glasses could understand why they were closed. Or a sandwich board outside AlleyCat Comics in Chicago: We will hold, ship, or throw comics at your car as you drive by. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government has rolled out its own campaigns. On an Ohio interstate: Limit Travel. Stop the spread of Covid-19. Were all in this together. On a city subway: Please practice social distancing. It does take practice, recalibrating the little magnets in the head that steer you through a crowd. But there is plenty of room for that, because the sidewalks are empty, and also plenty of time, because no one seems to be in a rush. To regulate supermarket lines, safely spaced hashmarks have been drawn on the floor or on the pavement outside. Its the sidewalk ballet, stripped down to the stage directions. Advertisement Advertisement In neighborhoods, children do most of the work, in chalk and colored pencils: Flatten the curve. April distance brings May existence. Notes of thanks and support and encouragement have popped up in windows. Advertisement In Philadelphia, a virtually mapped scavenger hunt for sidewalk rainbows has turned the whole city into a spectrum. Like Italys balcony songs or the French game show played from window to window, its an example of creativity pushing through confinement. In the same city, the artist Mark Strandquist asked artists to create posters that could be reproduced to bring life back to the citys blank spaces. Everything we see sends a message, he told me, and the message I was confronted with was loss. His project, Cover the Walls With Hope, began with submissions from artists he knew but then drew dozens of works from around the city and beyond. He pasted them up himself around town, and then realized other people were doing it tooin the windows of a local nonprofit and a print shop, as a backdrop at a food bank. Advertisement A wheatpaste he posted, by the artist Kayan Cheung-Miaw, shows a face mask beneath a pair of eyes. It says, in English and Mandarin, Dont let racism go viral. We will get through this together. The artist Molly Crabapple drew an old-law tenement, surrounded with flowers, in yellow watercolor and pastels. Housing = Healthcare. Rent Freeze Now. In a separate project, the arts group Amplifier has organized a global call for submissions, offering $1,000 to 50 artists whose work epitomizes the spirit of resilience. The art sends a message that this will end. The children think so too. The notes on the businesses are not so sure. With their typos and mixed-up fonts, they make every hibernating storefront feel humanand mortal. Weve been here 40 years, says the owner of the Brooklyn newsstand. Only a few customers have taken him up on the deliveries. Business is way, way down. TEHRAN,Iran, April 6 Trend: Iranian companies are producing 40 ventilators per day to cover the needs of hospitals during the coronavirus crisis, said Mehdi Yousefi, an official in the Health Ministry, Trend reports via IRNA. "Previously the production of ventilators in the country was 5 devices per day now the production has increased to 40," said Yousefi. "Three manufacturing companies in the country have already provided 1,000 ventilators since the start of the pandemic," he added. "We have reached the conclusion that there is no need for import, while 1,200 ICU beds are to be equipped by mid-May," he said. "The donors' board in the Health Ministry has so far assigned around 6,000 billion rials (about $140 million) to consumed goods in the medical sciences universities, and it will invest in domestic producers to reduce imports," he added. "Previously around 500,000 face masks were produced domestically per day while in the current times, the production has jumped to 4 million masks per day," he added. "We predict the following volume would be sufficient for public demands although the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade has imported masks as well," he said. 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. Iran continues to apply strict measures to contain the further infection 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. Police in Odishas Cuttack have arrested 25 Muslim men for pelting stones at them while enforcing the 48-hour shutdown as part of the state governments measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 disease. Cuttack deputy commissioner of police Akhileswar Singh said the inspector of Mangalabag police station and some other policemen were on foot patrolling in Kesharpur area when they saw some men sitting near the local mosque. When the cops asked the youths why they were not inside their homes as per shutdown order they started pelting stones. The inspector and a few other policemen were injured, said Singh. Soon after the incident, two platoons of the police force were deployed in the locality to avoid any further untoward incident. Police said cases have been registered against the men under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for attacking the police. Odisha police have registered more than 2700 cases and arrested 2600-odd people for violating the lockdown as of Sunday. More than 400 vehicles have also been seized. A Syrian refugee living in Lebanon has set himself on fire, so that he didnt have to face a life of hunger and poverty reports Brocar Press. A Syrian refugee surrendered to hunger and poverty and set himself ablaze in the Lebanese town of Taalbaya on Sunday. The man could be seen in a video walking down the road holding his hands in the air as the fire ravaged his body. The footage was shared multiple times on news and social media platforms. According to Lebanons National News Agency (NNA), the refugee, 50, was provoked by the deteriorating living circumstances and was in a critical condition when he was transferred to the Bekaa Hospital, noting that he suffers from third-degree burns. On social media, people recalled Tunisian Mohamed Bouazizi who set himself on fire in 2010, protesting poor living conditions and eventually setting off the Arab Spring revolutions. Brocar Press has not shared the video due to its sensitive and harsh content. This was not the first incident in Lebanon, another Syrian refugee set himself on fire in 2018 outside a UN office in desperation, after aid was cut off to his family despite their immense need, his wife told AFP at the time. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says more than a million Syrian refugees live in Lebanon. Meanwhile, the government estimates that 1.5 million Syrian refugees are in the country. 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. Vietnams Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh has requested stricter traffic control nationwide as there has been a reported spike in the number of road crashes that could be attributed to emptier streets due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The request was detailed in a document the National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC), of which Binh is chairman, sent to relevant ministries and leaders of provinces and cities on Sunday afternoon. The NTSC said in the document that the whole country has focused on implementing measures to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic, including suspending many socio-economic activities, closing down educational and training establishments, and asking students to stay home, since the end of the Lunar New Year festival in early February. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc issued a directive on March 31 on the implementation of nationwide social distancing, calling on residents to limit traveling and going outdoors unless under absolutely necessary circumstances, such as trips for food and medicine. Commuting demand and traffic density across the country has thus fell markedly, with no traffic congestion on major arteries, in major cities, and in key traffic hubs, the NTSC concluded. On the contrary, it noted, the numbers of traffic law violations and road accidents have spiked. The number of traffic accidents in Ho Chi Minh City increased by 33 percent in March, with 46 percent more deaths compared to the same period last year, according to a report by the municipal police bureau. More severely, two police officers lost their lives while chasing after a group of street racers and bag snatchers in Da Nang last week. The NTSC attributed the spike to the fact that people tend to drive faster and more carelessly on the emptier streets during this period. In the document, Deputy PM Binh was quoted as criticizing those who violated traffic laws and caused traffic accidents in the current context of national efforts to fight the epidemic, emphasizing violators must be condemned and punished in accordance with the harshest sanctions of the law. Deputy PM Binh requested traffic police, in cooperation with other police forces and transport inspectors, to incorporate fining traffic violators into their missions of COVID-19 control and prevention. Drivers found speeding, encroaching on traffic lanes, disobeying signs, drag racing, or otherwise disrupting traffic order must be handled strictly, Binh stressed. At the same time, the mass media are tasked with reminding people to strictly comply with traffic regulations and directives on epidemic prevention. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The usual buzz was missing but Wings India 2020 was one of the few events that braved the coronavirus outbreak that has upended social, political, sport and business calendars across the world. The biennial aero show sees manufacturers bring their latest offerings to one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world. The Brazilian Embraer, too, joined the show held in mid-March, with its newest aircraft-- the E195-E2. Also called the Profit Hunter, Embraer sees the E2 as the missing piece in Indian skies -- a regional jet aircraft. Is it really that one aircraft that Indian airlines need? Your writer took a tour of the new bird at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad and also spoke to Embraers Vice President Asia-Pacific Cesar Pereira to get some answers. Whats the fuss about? Big Boys Boeing and Airbus have orders worth billions of dollars from Indian carriers but they are for medium and long-haul aircraft. On the short-haul, or regional routes as we know them, Franco-Italian ATR and Canadian Bombardier lead the segment with their turboprop planes. It is this segment that Embraer, which is the third-largest producer of civil aircraft after Boeing and Airbus, is eyeing. The E195-E2 is the largest commercial plane built by Embraer. It improves upon the basics of the E195-E1 but comes with a major performance upgrade. The company claims it's the world's most efficient single-aisle aircraft and six airlines are operating it. The plane burns 25% less fuel than the previous generation E1 and is easier to maintain. How about some legroom The aircraft can seat 100-130 passengers, depending on the class configuration. Unlike the A320 and Boeing 737, it has a 2x2 seating, doing away with the often annoying middle seat. The 2x2 design is carried seamlessly into the business class, with both passengers having aisle access. The windows are significantly large for a regional jet, usually seen in a long-body jet like the A350. Lastly, the cabin noise is best-in-class and the overhead bins are large enough to hold a handbag that any other larger aircraft can. Whats with the name? Why would a plane be called Profit Hunter? This is because the aircraft offered the lowest cost per trip, lower fuel burn and lower maintenance, said Pereira. The Brazilian airline Azul had ordered 75 of these jets, he said. The carrier has 50 E1s in service and plans to replace as well as expand its fleet with E2s. He said airlines with bigger planes focussed on cost per seat to maximise revenue, with E2, it would be the cost per flight. When compared to a turboprop, the E2 is twice as fast due to the jet engines. This means more flights per day and maybe even more routes. How about the competition? Asked to compare the E195-E2 with A220 -- both the aircraft operate with the same jet engine the PW1500G-- Pereira said the Embraer burnt 10% less fuel than the Airbus jet, insisting E2 was most fuel-efficient single-aisle aircraft in the market. Crucial equipment like the landing gear was designed to take minimum time to replace and the E2 had a longer maintenance interval, he said. Special attention has been paid to design and engineering, to enhance efficiency. One example is the choice of the tapered wing over winglets. Tapered wings are considered better structurally and aerodynamically. They improve speed and manoeuvrability, they say. Currently, Star Air is the only airline operating an Embraer jet in India, and that, too, a much smaller ERJ-145LR. It operates just three of them. Indias biggest airline IndiGo has a fleet of 220 A320 and 25 ATR-72. SpiceJet has more than 30 QHC-8s. That didnt deter Pereira. "It's about who will be the first one to acquire the E2 and not when, he said. Drawing parallels between the Indian and Brazilian markets, he said both were struggling with inadequate infrastructure and dependence on a hub network (tier 1 airport). Azul's E2 operations could be replicated in India successfully, he said. The UDAN route? The Brazilian company senses an opportunity in UDAN, the governments regional connectivity plan. Carriers like IndiGo, SpiceJet, and TruJet have deployed turboprop aircraft on UDAN routes since the maximum subsidised seats are capped at 40. To fly a sizable chunk of seats at a capped fare, government subsidies come in handy. Embraer is of the view that the E2 can fly higher demand point-to-point routes. The airlines would be able to deploy higher capacity on a regional route without depending on a hub network, Pereira said. Embraer sees the E2 as a disruptor like the Boeing 787, which is smaller than jumbos like Boeing 777, Boeing 747 or the A380. The B787 opened up a string of point-to-point routes that were unfeasible with larger aircraft. The E195-E2 can bring higher capacity, offer flexibility in network planning, and bridge the gap between a small ATR and the larger A320 or Boeing 737. "You don't grow the market by putting more seats. You do it by putting more flights, said Pereira. Embraer insists the aircraft is little maintenance. The landing gear is customised and can be changed within hours, instead of days. It's designed to fly 10,000 hours without any heavy maintenance. The company also says if an Indian airline were to order a plane today, it will be delivered within a year or two. After the handover, the airline can operate it for three to four years before a maintenance check is required, which will give the company five years to set up local maintenance service. Not tried or tested But it is not that simple and straight. The companys claims cant be put to test, not just yet, as only a few aircraft are flying right now. Azul received its first plane in September 2019. And then there is the price tag. The E195-E2 has a listed price of $ 60 million. A brand new ATR 72-600 costs a little more than $ 25 million. This is the price listed by the manufacturers and the selling price varies depending on multiple factors. It's not uncommon for the selling price to be 25% to 45% lower than the listed price. IndiGo has 25 ATR 72-600s. SpiceJet operates more than 20 Dash 8 Q400s and has ordered 40 Dash 8 Q400 NGs. These turboprops can carry 70 to 80 passengers. Both these airlines follow the low-cost model and are always looking for ways to reduce operational costs. These aircraft normally service the northeastern and southern India. As the demand is still low, airlines can't deploy larger planes. The E2 can bridge this gap, for now, but it is expensive and will be insufficient once the passenger load increases. The Indian market is looking for more capacity addition but at lucrative rates. These airlines will simply replace a turboprop with the bigger aircraft they have been using. There is no middle ground for a regional jet. And from an operational point of view, adding an aircraft from a completely different maker will be going against the basic principle of a low-cost carrier -- maintaining a streamlined fleet. To conclude, the E195-E2 is simply too luxurious for India. Carriers like IndiGo have been frugal and even removed curtains from their planes because they were adding to costs. Its A320neo does not have mood lighting. The industry is looking for no-frill planes that can fly efficiently. In a market where a difference of Rs 100 is enough for a customer to change decisions on a ticket, there's little room for added comfort. Embraer has created a jet that offers maximum bang for the buck and keeps passenger comfort in mind. However, India is not the right market at the moment. Facing an existential crisis due to the coronavirus outbreak, Indian carriers cant afford to buy an aircraft from a completely different segment. (The author writes on technology, aviation, and mobility.) Desolate airports around the world bear testimony to the cruel impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on civil aviation both passenger and cargo services. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global passenger traffic data for February 2020 showing that demand (measured in total revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) fell 14.1% compared to February 2019. This was the steepest decline in traffic since 9.11 and reflected collapsing domestic travel in China and sharply falling international demand to/from and within the Asia-Pacific region, owing to the spreading COVID-19 virus and government-imposed travel restrictions. The aviation industry is the thread that stitches the globe together. Without the global connectivity provided by aviation, sustaining global supply chains, as well as developing country industries such as perishable horticulture and tourism would be impossible. It is therefore imperative that governments start examining action plans to create rescue packages for their national carriers in particular and for the aviation industry in general. Otherwise, we risk causing irrecoverable damage to international connectivity. By value, 35 % of international trade flown by air, 57 % of international tourists travel by air and each airline job contributes to 24 more in the wider economy. Around the world, the busiest airports are seeing hundreds of aircraft parked idly in hangers and runways with nowhere to go. Even as passengers protest that issuing travel vouchers in lieu of refunds for unused tickets is unfair, an IATA analysis shows that airlines may burn through $61 billion of their cash reserves during the second quarter ending 30 June 2020. In Bahrain, the COVID-19 crisis is sure to impact the timeline and progress of our local aviation industry, whether in the form of delay in opening the new airport or in the bottom line of our national carrier, Gulf Air. As passengers, we are, of course, very patriotic and I am sure many of us will try to fly Gulf Air for our travels, once the pandemic ebbs. But I appeal to the other stakeholders, be it Bahrain International Airport or Gulf Air to also make an immense effort to woo passengers with the four things that travellers value the most: punctuality, a widespread network, a welcoming service on ground and in the air as well as good fares that make economic sense. All of these will help us join hands and overcome aviations darkest hour when the sun shines again. A big winner of the economic peril caused by the coronavirus pandemic has been the monolithic Wall Street management firm BlackRock, which has been granted sweeping new powers by the Federal Reserve. Last month, the Fed named BlackRock as the adviser and investment manager for three emergency programs meant to prop up the fledgling markets. They are now tasked with controlling the primary market corporate credit facility (PMCCF), the secondary market corporate credit facility (SMCCF), and granting new bond and loan issuance. Critics of the move fear that the agreement between the Fed and BlackRock are recreating the exact circumstances that have allowed systemic Wall Street corruption in the past. By giving BlackRock full control of this debt buyout program, the Fed is further entwining the roles of government and private actors, wrote many different consumer-advocate groups in a letter criticizing the BlackRocks deal with the Fed. In doing so, it makes BlackRock even more systemically important to the financial system. Yet BlackRock is not subject to the regulatory scrutiny of even smaller systemically important financial institutions, the letter added. BlackRock has become the worlds preeminent investment management corporation under the stewardship of its founder Larry Fink. Fink has exploited his Washington D.C. connections throughout his career, and he has particularly strong ties with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Fink was expected to lead her Treasury Department if Clinton defeated President Donald Trump in 2016. With Washington D.C. in his back pocket, Fink has been able to dominate Wall Street despite no apparent expertise or even basic competency. His economic empire is less a result of his economic skills and competitiveness and more a result of his political connections and trillion-dollar state contracts, wrote sociologist and geopolitical scholar James Petras about Finks career. Finks most famous financial product, mortgage-based securities led to the biggest collapse in world financial markets since the Great Depression, Petras added. BlackRock has grown into the worlds most powerful firm because of Finks success in peddling influence with politicians in the Washington D.C. swamp. They capitalized during the last economic crisis, benefiting mightily from sweetheart deals orchestrated under former President Barack Hussein Obama. While corporations were going under left and right in the 2008 economic crash, BlackRock was cleaning up and consolidating power. They profited from the economic misery by being awarded lucrative government contracts, often without having to even bid on them. BlackRock was tasked with managing the proposed rescue operations of Bear Stearns, the American International Group and Citigroup. They also implemented a Federal Reserve program to resuscitate the beleaguered housing market and were brought on as consultants to evaluate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Their growing influence was a major cause of controversy at the time. They have access to information when the Federal Reserve will try to sell securities, and what price they will accept. And they have intricate financial relations with people across the globe, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said in 2009. The potential for a conflict of interest is great and it is just very difficult to police. In other words, the conflict results in an enormous profit for the fund manager at the expense of the taxpayer, wrote Neil M. Barofsky, the special inspector general for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, in a 2009 report about BlackRocks gaming of the system. In a decades time from 2009 to 2019, assets under the control of BlackRock skyrocketed in value from $1.3 trillion to $6.84 trillion. Cronyism has paid off for Fink, and BlackRock is perfectly situated to exploit coronavirus hysteria in order to commit another heist. Petras noted: Fink has turned BR into an empire by spending his time and energy in the politics of controlling and milking the US Treasury. Controlling this activity is more influential than the President of the United States or Pentagon in deciding who among the elite wins and who loses! BlackRock has maneuvered themselves into the same role they were in when they cashed out on the economic peril during the previous crash. While Americans struggle to pay the rent, BlackRock will be racking up trillions more in ill-gotten gains. Dr Alex George has spoken about how some of his colleagues have died after contracting the coronavirus. During an appearance on Good Morning Britain on Monday morning, the former Love Island star spoke about the importance of understanding the severity of the pandemic. The A&E doctor told talk show co-anchors Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid that he believes anyone who says that they're not concerned about catching coronavirus is not being completely open. Of course were concerned, the 30-year-old said. "The vast majority of those who are young, fit, it is a mild to moderate illness, but that's not a guarantee. Some of my colleagues passing away it isnt guaranteed that youre going to have the mild illness. Dr George acknowledged that he may lose more colleagues to the virus, which he described as frightening. We know that we have a job to do, we trained as doctor, as nurses, as physios, occupational therapists and so on because we want to help people, we want to do our bit in times like this, and were doing our best, he said. The doctor also addressed how some people are still refraining from responsibly following social distancing guidelines and thus putting themselves and others at further risk of becoming infected. It is absolutely heartbreaking when you see people not following the guidance, he stated. I drove past Clapham Common the other day to work, mentally preparing for what we would see in A&E, and I saw people lying out and sunbathing, and if they knew the risks and they could see through our eyes and see what we could see, feel what we could experience in A&E, they wouldnt do it. 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 Last week, a retired doctor who returned to work to help treat Covid-19 patients died after contracting the virus. Dr Alfa Saadus son, Dani Saadu, wrote that the NHS were amazing and did everything they could during the two-week period his father was ill. Up until he got sick, he was still working part-time saving people, Dani said, explaining that his father had worked for the NHS for nearly 40 years in the UK and in Africa. The coronavirus is not a joke, the doctors son added. Please take it seriously and listen to the government. Please stay safe and protect your loved ones nothing is more important. Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Union ministers to prepare a plan for their respective ministries to contain the economic impact of covid-19. (Photo- ANI) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked Union ministers to prepare a plan for their respective ministries to contain the economic impact of covid-19 on war footing, while asserting that this crisis is an opportunity to boost the 'Make-in-India' initiative and reduce dependence on other countries. Each ministry should identify 10 key decisions and 10 priority areas of focus once the 21-day lockdown ends, Modi said while chairing a meeting of the council of ministers, held for the first time via video-conferencing amid the country wide lockdown to combat the coronavirus outbreak. "Ministries should prepare a business continuity plan and be ready to fight the economic impact of covid-19 on war footing. The crisis is also an opportunity to boost Make in India and reduce dependence on other countries," Modi told the ministers, according to an official statement. Talking about farmers and harvesting of crops, Modi asked the ministers to explore the use of innovative solutions like 'truck aggregators' on the lines of app-based cab services to connect farmers with mandis. He again emphasised that lockdown measures and social distancing norms need to go hand in hand. Modi said the ministers should remain in touch with state and district authorities, provide solutions to emergent problems and formulate district-level micro plans to combat coronavirus, which has infected over 4,000 people and killed at least 109. The ministers provided feedback to the prime minister on the steps being taken to meet the challenges in tackling the impact of the pandemic. This is perhaps the first time in the country's history that a meeting of the council of ministers or the cabinet was held virtually. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) turns 40 today. It was founded on April 6, 1980, at an all-India convention at Delhi Ferozeshah Kotla Maidan, now Arun Jaitley Stadium. The party has come to be identified with the masses, having won two back-to-back comfortable majorities in the Lok Sabha, the only non-Congress party to have done so. For the BJP, political power is only a means to serve the nation the partys core ideology puts the nation first. The nation first ideology is based on the principles laid down by Jana Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mookerjee. The Jana Sangh, the political predecessor of the BJP, adhered to this throughout the Emergency. Jana Sangh members not only went to jail, but also agreed to merge the organisation with the Janata Party to fight the forces which were trying to subvert the Constitution. This ideology is what drove Atal Bihari Vajpayee to represent the country on a national issue internationally, even when PV Narasimha Rao-led Congress government was in office. Additionally, in July 1991, when Manmohan Singh presented his liberalisation Budget, the Left parties made it difficult for the then finance minister (FM) to complete his speech. LK Advani asked then Lok Sabha Speaker Shivraj Patil to allow the FM to complete his speech. The BJP abides by the politics of consensus even now. In the past two months, the coronavirus pandemic has forced the world to stop and reflect on where we are headed and make course corrections. We need to rewind to the past to look at important lessons we might have missed. The genesis of the new world order can be traced to the French Revolution. The revolution tore the old regime to pieces and from this rubble, modern France emerged. The printing press had made it possible for ideas to spread and a culture of dialogue and debate took deeper roots in the West. The Industrial Revolution and the development of information technology that followed set the world on the path of rapid growth. With the growth of manufacturing and debate and discussion, the world began to democratise at an unprecedented pace. India, which has always believed in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is but one family), was also part of this project. Despite the challenges of global warming and the climate crisis, the world refused to reflect on its development model. It was not sustainable given the wanton exploitation of precious natural resources. The Covid-19 pandemic has alerted us to the perils of unsustainable development. The strongest economies have been brought to their knees and the best medical equipment has failed to bring down the number of fatalities from the virus. Scientists are racing to find a vaccine to deal with the greatest threat since World War II. But our pursuit of development stripped science of its human aspect. Scientific advancements cannot be sustainable unless balanced with human concerns. What should be the road ahead for us at the individual, organisational and community levels. The BJP has to think of how to rebuild the country and its relations with the global community. Mahatma Gandhi provided the answer when he propounded the concept of Gram Swaraj. Gram Swaraj, coupled with integral humanism, is the only way to counter the setbacks that we will face due to the virus. While Gram Swaraj is the model for sustainable development, integral humanism puts the individual at the centre of development and in consonance with the environment. The BJP, in its first budget presented in 2014, put forward a development model based on Gram Swaraj and integral humanism. The government has been working on implementing that model. The government is utilising panchayat raj institutions to develop governance capabilities to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals. It has launched several schemes to strengthen villages as units of sustainable development. The Jana Dhan accounts, the Ujjwala Yojana, among others, are aimed at meeting the target of antyodaya (prosperity for the last person) enunciated by Jana Sangh leader Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. After the nationwide lockdown, as migrant labourers and daily wagers began to head towards villages, the government announced a ~1.74 lakh crore relief package under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana. The scheme will ensure that about 800 million people get free food grains, apart from cash through direct transfers for the April-June quarter. PM Narendra Modi has reached out to leaders not just in Indias neighbourhood, but also the G-20 nations, advocating a global response to the challenge. The BJP continues to believe the world is one community and a pandemic cannot be fought without everyone coming together. The PM has displayed great calm in handling the crisis and reassured the nation during these trying times. On its 40th Foundation Day, the BJP remains committed to working on rebuilding the nation with greater resolve. With reckless development having brought the world to a standstill, our salvation lies in our villages that produce enough for peoples needs, and not for peoples greed. Bhupender Yadav is BJP general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP The views expressed are personal 05.04.2020 LISTEN There are many times in history that emissaries of a great monarch have been forcefully incarcerated. When a silent leader bends on vengeance, that's when oppressors are served as an example to deter others who harbour evil motives. Today, to they that fear, or not, of the COVID-19, have been held hostage against their will. They include those who Christism undergirds their faith. Those who with scorn ridicule Christians too are not exonerated from the lockdown measures. Who's victorious then here? *In the WWII, didn't Adolf Hitler's Nazism brought the world to a standstill?* He met his match in the might of the Allied Nations. My native Goka people say: "the great battle will surely meet the great peacemaker". God, if you answer the prayer of your faithfuls, now is the time you justify why you worth our time and energy. It's time you bring the waywardness of mankind to your revelations of invincibility and omnipotence. The souls of your saints are impaled daily by the spears of the pessimists. We're ridiculed by they who never recognised your existence. We're the subject of their punching bags if they need to direct their energies from blues of boredom under a lockdown. We're in it together. None can boastfully say your saints are the cause of the global pandemic. But the nonbeliever utilize every available space to scapegoat your faithfuls, as if with how they claim to be knowledgeable than believers, the believers cannot have the course to question their innocence for the cause of the pandemic. Or are they not part of the solution? Even they, the Romans and the New World, America, the citadel of Orthodox medicine cry to you in their distress, sequel to the COVID-19 outbreak. Why would you look on unconcerned at the doings of the scoffers in Ghana and Africa who with them we share the same space of the ignorance that incapacitate our continent? We actually do not expect much from the nonbelievers. We'd only expected they out of convention manufactured a vaccine with a magic wand synchronising the spread of the virus. But no, they only sit down and only blame the believers for their woes, and project a year and a half to come with a possible cure. Who can guarantee the existence of mankind by then judging by the lethality of this novel coronavirus if their assurance should be taken for sacrosanct? To you I've prayed, All answering God. Africa is in your hands. If it's never happened, now is the time you proof with actions so our antagonists will learn of the power we accord you with. Hear the prayer of your saints in crisis and heal our land, o Lord, our God. Let we live to tell our experiences post COVID-19 outbreak. *Written by: Charles Yeboah (Sir Lord)* *The Founder of One Ghana Movement (#1GhM)* *Contact/WhatsApp: +233249542111* *Email: [email protected]* BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 6 Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 24 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry on Apr. 6. 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 districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts. The Amish are known for their large families, large gatherings and large church services. They also shun technology, and modern trappings such as television and the Internet. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, this pastoral but insular way of life poses unique challenges and concerns with regards to ensuring public safety not just among the Amish community but their English neighbors. Overall, though, the Amish seem to be complying with directives regarding hand hygiene and social distancing, said Steven Nolt, a senior scholar at Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College. But he stresses a caveat. They take this seriously and have gotten messages from trusted sources, Nolt said. At the same time many Amish folks are also taking their cues from their non-Amish neighbors and friends. In a rural context, a semi-rural context, I think we are seeing that not necessarily all Americans in those settings are responding in the same way. Just this week, Nolt pointed out, a media outlet published a photo of an animal auction in New Holland. The photo showed a large group of Amish men standing close to one another. Nolt spoke with the reporter, who said all the participants at the livestock auction - Amish and non-Amish alike - were violating social distancing protocol. Thats what I mean by them taking cues from their non-Amish neighbors, friends and acquaintances, Nolt said. Lancaster County has approximately 40,000 Amish residents - what the community calls the Lancaster Settlement, which includes parts of western Chester County. Census data shows that approximately 340,000 Amish live across the United States, including remote rural areas in western New York and upstate Minnesota. Nolt, like the majority of Americans, has been sheltering in place in recent weeks. He has had no interaction with the Amish community in Lancaster County recently. He said Pennsylvanias Amish community tends to be well integrated with its non-Amish neighbors. The Amish may not be as connected to current news sources as the general public, but they are also not cut off. There is a popular impression that the Amish are entirely sequestered and that they have no idea what is going on in the world, Nolt said. "Thats simply not true, especially here in southcentral Pennsylvania, in Lancaster County. The Amish are regular newspaper consumers, and have regular contacts with non-Amish friends and co-workers who tend to keep them apprised of current events. Craig Lehman, a Lancaster County commissioner, said county and state officials have rolled out a robust outreach in Lancaster County to inform the Amish community about the coronavirus pandemic. The Penn State Extension Office (Lancaster Farm and Home Center) has distributed this flyer on coronavirus to Amish and Old Order Mennonite families in Lancaster and Chester counties. The outreach has been carried out by a number of trusted authorities in the Amish community, including Penn State Extension, Ephrata Hospital and the Clinic for Special Children, a primary pediatric care and gene research clinic in Strasburg. We are all concerned about our Amish neighbors, Lehman said. They are well informed and know what is going on. We are trying to maintain the lines of communication open and we are at least informed in what steps they are taking to mitigate this COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning in mid-March, Alice Yoder, the executive director of Community Health for Penn Medicine Lancaster General, began to roll out a concerted effort to connect with the Amish community and raise awareness of the impending pandemic and its dangers. Trust within the context of non-Amish relationships is critical in moving forward with the Amish community, so Yoders team leveraged the relationship her office has with the community to blast health and safety education on coronavirus. Theyve been very open, wanting to understand what COVID is about and what it meant to them, she said. When it comes to disease, the Amish, in general, prefer to prevent rather than treat, she said. Her office has communicated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control on COVID-19 but in plain language. We felt we still needed to distribute the basic information - wash your hands, practice social distancing. The basic things we all are practicing, Yoder said. Her office even took out ads in the Busy Beaver, an Amish publication widely read by the community. It also distributed information through fire departments and EMS teams, both trusted sources within the Amish community. The Amish have retained an attorney who calls the proposed laws blatant discrimination and has vowed a court right if they are enacted. The ordinances make no mention of the Amish. From the start, the aim has been to connect with Amish leaders and convince them to cancel large gatherings and events. If they had to meet we encouraged them to practice proper hygiene, Yoder said. But we really talked to them about strongly considering canceling large events. I think for the most part weve have had a great reduction in those gatherings. Lancaster County officials as of last week had confirmed that Amish leaders had canceled church services up to March 29. Lehman said he did not have an update as to whether church services were canceled this weekend. Lehman also confirmed that the Amish had also taken cues from their neighbors and canceled schools. 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. Still officials remain concerned as to the social aspects of Amish life, in particular weddings and funerals, both of which traditionally bring out entire communities. Lehman said the Amish community has been advised to reduce the size of those gatherings - even postpone weddings. Im not aware that there is any word that weddings are to be canceled, he said. There is sensitivity to the size of them if they are held. An Amish couple walks to a church gathering on a Sunday morning in Lykens Valley in this file photo. The Amish population in the valley and in the United States has been increasing over the years. | Sean Simmers | PennLive/The Patriot-NewsPatriot-News Nolt, who has authored and co-authored 14 books on Amish, Mennonite, and Pennsylvania German history, notes that Amish funerals, in particular, present a public safety challenge amid the pandemic. The Amish adhere to the tradition of holding a funeral within three days of a persons death. Funerals are widely attended by the community. Its pretty important traditionally, Nolt said. The idea of keeping people apart during periods of grief is something that would be hard for people to swallow. The Amish turn to trusted non-Amish funeral directors for their services but they hold funeral services and viewings in their private homes. I dont think the Amish will defy orders but there may be some hard conversations around funerals, Nolt said. Another looming challenge from within the Amish community is the upcoming biannual communion church service that coincides with Easter. The Amish have communion services twice a year, in the fall and again in the spring. Nolt said it is a community-wide service. Everyone attends. Its really important, the fact that we are coming up toward Easter, he said. I wonder if there will be strong resistance to not having church. That would mean not having that service, which is really important. Getting news out to the Amish can sometimes be difficult, but in spite of any limits or lag, it does get to them. Schools have been closed. Churches are not meeting for worship on Sunday mornings," Nolt said. "I think its been taken seriously with the caveat that they are somewhat taking cues from their non-Amish neighbors who may or may not be following directives as carefully as we would wish. Yoder said she was confident the Amish community was aware of and receptive about the information and guidance on the pandemic. Its not like they dont know what is happening in the world, she said. We have a good sense that they do. We cant say all but the message is out in the Amish community about how to prevent it and that it exists. More from PennLive Are Pa. rural hospitals ready for coronavirus surge? I dont think any small communities up here are ready York County woman faces $200 ticket from state police under Gov. Wolfs stay-at-home order Coronavirus silver lining: Crime and crashes plummet across Pa. 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. Through that flea and countless others, it morphed into something quite different. Migrating up the Nile River on the bodies of rats, it came to the granaries of Alexandria. Then it crossed by ship in A.D. 542 to the markets of Constantinople. Within five months, it killed up to half of the Byzantine capital's populace. The plague derailed the Emperor Justinian's efforts to restore the Roman Empire in the West. It crippled both the Byzantine and Persian Empires for generations. It left both empires ripe for Islamic expansion in the next century. And it effectively ended the age of Late Antiquity. Or so argues William Rosen in his compelling 2007 story of Europe's first great pandemic, Justinian's Flea. The same theme the power of disease to drive civilizational change was picked up this past weekend (March 28-29) by Yale historian Frank Snowden in a Wall Street Journal profile. Snowden focused largely on Europe's Medieval and Renaissance bouts of the Black Plague. Each of these pandemics happened in Christian cultures. On those who survived the ordeal, "it impressed the idea that 'you could be struck down at any moment without warning,' so you should focus on your immortal soul." This led to widespread "repentance, self-chastisement, and prayer." Demands on the churches were heavy. In ministering to the ill, clergy and religious sustained stunningly high losses. These losses, in turn, colored the character and course of the churches for many decades. Our current virus situation is both different from and similar to pandemics in the past. It's different in its lethality. Coronavirus is a serious matter, with high risk for certain age and health groups, and very contagious. But the great majority of people who contract it will recover. Today's pandemic is also different, and far more survivable, due to the ability of medical authorities to understand and respond to the crisis. At the same time, today's crisis is similar to the past in the shadow of mortality it casts over cultures that had grown fat for decades in self-confidence, distractions, and wealth. Everyone knows that he or she will one day die. But we've become very skilled at evading the thought it will actually happen to us. For rich nations and their elites, the party's over. At least for a while. One other notable fact makes this crisis different: people's religious response. In Iran and other Muslim countries, crowds have stormed closed mosques in order to worship. By contrast, in the West, many Christians have voiced their frustration with the closure of churches, but most seem to accept the prudence of the decision. Sunday Mass is widely available to follow online. So are retreats, reflections, and Catholic courses that fill the worship void. Many priests are hearing confessions in carefully sanitized and regulated environments. Adoration of the Eucharist, with proper social distancing, happens in some parishes for several hours every day. As a nation, we've looked away for decades as others scrubbed God out of our vocabulary, our thinking, and the institutions that support our public life. Now that we need him, many people don't have the words or memories to seek him out. But the sense of a widely shared Christian culture with a language that gave meaning to suffering has been lost and with it, a common turn to "repentance, self-chastisement, and prayer." As a nation, we've looked away for decades as others scrubbed God out of our vocabulary, our thinking, and the institutions that support our public life. Now that we need him, many people don't have the words or memories to seek him out. The most poignant lesson for the faithful as this crisis continues may be the sense of loss and depression felt by many of our priests. The pastor of my parish turned a dying community around in the space of three years. He brought it back to life. He restored a sense of purpose. He made it a joy again to take part in the celebration of Mass. He's a lucky one. He comes from a large family with plenty of loving relatives. He's not totally alone; some of his brother priests have nothing but an empty rectory. But much of his life as the pastor of a living community has been shuttered now for weeks. The parish school is closed. The contributions that sustain parish life, which had greatly improved, have now dropped off because no one's in church. And some of the tepid will simply not come back when the church reopens. They were on the fence. Now they're off. The "civilizational change" wrought by the coronavirus may be less drastic than pandemics in the past. But for American Christians, it may clarify loyalties in a sobering and uniquely painful way. Shortly before he died, the great French Catholic novelist Georges Bernanos wrote that as long as Christian faith and love "hadn't grown cold in the world, as long as the world had its share of saints, certain truths could be forgotten. Now [those truths] are reappearing again, like a rock at low tide. It is sanctity and the saints who maintain the interior life without which humanity must debase itself to the point of extinction." The illness in the world around us this year, as we ready ourselves for Holy Week, holds a mirror up to our real desires and concerns. It's an opportunity to pray for those suffering with the virus; to remember and pray for our priests; to support each other in whatever ways we can; and to treasure the precious time we have with those we hold dear. It's also an invitation to examine the infection of worldliness in our own hearts. Life, we're now forced to remember, is fragile and brief. No one can make us give ourselves fully and sincerely to God. But if there were ever a time to do it, this is it. Twelve new positive cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Karnataka, taking the total number of affected in the state to 163, the Health department said on Monday. "Twelve new positive cases have been reported from last evening to this noon... till date 163 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed. This includes 4 deaths and 18 discharges," the department said in a mid-day situation update. Among the 12 new cases, seven are from Mysuru; two from Bagalkote, who are wife and brother of a 75-year old man who died on April 3. While one is a woman, who resident of Kerala, with a history of travel to Germany and contact of patients already tested positive; the other two are men from Bengaluru (a contact) and Bengaluru rural (details still awaited). Meanwhile, Department of Health Research has notified 10 dedicated laboratories supported by ICMR for COVID-19, in Karnataka. They are: Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences, Mysore Medical College & Research Institute, Shivamogga Institute of Medical Sciences, Command Hospital (Air Force), Bengaluru, Bengaluru Medical College & Research Institute, National Institute of Virology, Bengaluru Field Unit. Also, Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences, Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Sciences, Ballari, National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, and Wenlock Hospital, Mangaluru. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump again touted the drug hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for COVID-19 in a news briefing on Sunday, even though some of his top health advisers are more cautious and remain divided over how to discuss the drug publicly. What do you have to lose? Trump said in the White House briefing room. Im not looking at it one way or another. If it does work, it would be a shame if we didnt do it early. But what do I know, Im not a doctor. But I have common sense. The president said the federal government had stockpiled 29 million hydroxychloroquine pills and sent millions to labs and the military across the country. The drug, derived from anti-malaria drug chloroquine, assists people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. CNBC reported that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, worried that Trumps statements and news surrounding the drug will lead to shortages that could hurt patients who need it for a proven indication. The Food and Drug Administration fast-tracked clinical trials in New York state, but Fauci has repeatedly cautioned that more data is required on the unproven drug. The data are really, at best, suggestive, Fauci said of hydroxychloroquine on CBS Face the Nation Sunday morning. There have been cases that show there may be an effect, others no effect. He was unwilling to say the drug was effective against the deadly new coronavirus in terms of science. Pressed on why he would give Americans medical advice even though hes not a physician, Trump responded that it was because he wanted people to live and Im seeing people dying. We have people dying today, he added, arguing the country did not have hours, let alone years, to test potential treatments. Trump referenced tests in France that had shown positive results. Axios reported that the drug had prompted White House coronavirus task force members to square off in a meeting Saturday. Economic adviser Peter Navarro argued that testing overseas demonstrated clear therapeutic efficacy," but Fauci asserted there was only anecdotal evidence the drug worked against the disease. Researches have noted that studies in France and China did not include control groups, Axios reported. A few weeks ago, the president personally pushed health officials to make chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine available to treat the disease even though it had been untested, Reuters reported Saturday. The federal government then published an unusual guidance informing doctors they had the option to prescribe the drugs, including dosing information based not on peer-reviewed science but on unattributed anecdotes, Reuters reported. Related Content: Fateh Singh (35), the son of Punjabs first Covid-19 casualty, Baldev Singh, was declared as having recovered from the disease on Sunday by the health department after his two samples tested negative for the virus. In a video message, he thanked the doctors and staff of the SBS Nagar civil hospital for giving him the best treatment, saying if anyone gets infected by the coronavirus they must get it treated without getting panicked. My family members being treated in the isolation ward are also in good condition and will get well soon. I urge that everyone must wear masks while venturing out and eat food after washing hands properly, he said. People should ensure social distancing to curb the disease as there is no permanent solution for it so far, he added. Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh tweeted, Good news from Nawanshahr, Fateh Singh & others who had been diagnosed #Covid19 positive on 20 Mar have recovered. Fateh Singh has tested negative & will soon be discharged. 7 others will also be discharged after their confirmatory tests. We will win this War Against #Covid19 (sic). Seven others, including four family members of Baldev Singh (three granddaughters and a two-year-old grandson) besides Baba Gurbachan Singh, head of Dera Bhai Ghaniya Singh and Daljinder Singh of Jhikka, both of whom returned from Germany via Italy along with him and village sarpanch Harpal Singh, tested negative for Covid-19 on Sunday. Baldev (70), a resident of Pathlawa village in Banga sub-division, died on March 18 after he was tested positive for the coronavirus. He infected 27 of his contacts, including 14 of his family members. The year was 1918. That was when the world witnessed its last pandemic outbreak, before COVID-19. In a span of two years, the Spanish Flu infected over 500 million people, all around the world. The First World War was in its final leg when the flu killed more people than the war itself. Even though the two pandemics happened a century apart, the basic human issues and troubles still remained the same in its core. They revolted then, they were revolting right before the lockdown. While Indians at that time were fighting the British, citizens of independent India in 2020 have a different set of demands. Of the protestors, one cannot disregard the students in various Indian universities. Right before people were advised to practice social distancing and the Prime Minister announced a complete lockdown, campuses were fighting against fee hikes, a section of people against policies and the CAA and NRC. Since the beginning of 2020, the students of Pondicherry University were protesting against its administration against the hike in their tuition fees and the introduction of transport fees. A few students went on hunger strikes and even gheraoed the Vice-Chancellor. But then, Corona helped them wind that down quickly. Do they think they will restart when the varsity reopens? We asked these questions to Parichay Yadav, President, Pondicherry University Students' Council. "It will definitely be difficult to mobilise the students again, now that there is a break. This was the major reason why we began the protest right after the winter vacations had ended, even though we paid the fee beforehand. We wanted the protest to be continuous and uninterrupted until we succeed," he says. Parichay adds that the student activists are spreading messages and mobilising students over social media and WhatsApp these days. But can a tweet or a post be as effective as students coming together? Aparna Bhattacharya, a political science researcher in JNU doesn't think so. "Proximity matters a lot, as far as student struggles are concerned. A tweet can convey a piece of information, but it is never an alternative to a protest," she says. "We cannot deny the intensity of the pandemic. The protests have therefore taken a backseat. You cannot defy the lockdown and show up on the streets. As students, you are expected to behave a certain way," she says. Even though Aparna has no doubts about the efficacy of student protests and them happening in universities after the situation gets back to normal, she wonders if they will be issue-specific. "There will be greater solidarity among students, undoubtedly. But the students will have to struggle more to survive. The poor especially will have to fight more," she says. The ABVP-led Delhi University Students' Union had recently gotten its administration to let the students stay in the university hostel. The organisation's Delhi State Secretary Siddharth Yadav feels that rather than conducting protests now, the elected unions must take charge of issues. "The protests will continue once the lockdown is over. But this is a good breather for people to decide between real issues and the ones pushing a certain propoganda," he says. And what about the battleground that was and is JNU. Struggles and protests are part of the Jawaharlal Nehru University's culture, says JNUSU Councillor Apeksha Priyadarshini. In a recent incident, a student was beaten up by the security guards outside the university's campus gates. Despite the current situation, several; students had come in his solidarity. "This is how JNU is. People show up for each other, no matter what. We cannot obviously organise protests right now, even though there are ongoing issues. But once, everything's back to normal, JNU will witness these protests again," she says. In more than a dozen facilities around Texas, thousands of immigrants await hearings that could lead to deportation or permission to live in the U.S. Thats a big deal, right? But its crucial now, with coronavirus on the move, to let these people await their hearings outside the confines of crowded detention centers. Our lawyers and expert advocates routinely communicate with hundreds of people detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. At the moment, we directly represent 60 immigrants from 20 countries, ages 19 to 69. And what we hear from them is rising fear that conditions inside the centers where residents live mostly elbow to elbow in cells or big rooms could needlessly spread the virus, endangering everyone, including supervisory employees. This threat is real. Last month, a 31-year-old Mexican national held in New Jersey was diagnosed with COVID-19 and quarantined just a few days after a jail guard there was diagnosed. Another ICE-held immigrant, 52, has since been diagnosed, along with more staff members. Separately, the Express-News confirmed residents of a South Texas detention center were pepper-sprayed after trying to question whether incoming residents were fully screened for viral symptoms. The Associated Press has also reported the federal government faces mounting pressure to let detainees await hearings by living with family or other sponsors capable of preserving social distance. At the least, we have urged ICE, its critical to start releasing those individuals most likely to be hurt by the virus pregnant women, people 60 and older, and those people with chronic illnesses, compromised immune systems or disabilities. About 80 percent of the immigrants we serve in Texas detention centers have committed no crimes and none have committed violent crimes. These people in peril include mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters grandparents even all simply hoping to persuade a judge that what they fled (usually far away) justifies a life-sparing grant of political asylum. The vast majority of immigrants permitted to live with family and friends continue to pursue their cases through the courts. In the latest 12-month period, from March 2019 through this February, more than 70 percent of Texas residents in immigration proceedings had attended all required hearings, according to figures posted by Syracuse University analysts. That is, letting people live survive in safety wont lead them to disappear. ICE shouldnt wait for more incidents. Start releasing people to family and other sponsors before viral infections spread. Its unwise and un-American to do otherwise. Rebecca Lightsey is executive director of American Gateways, which provides legal help to low-income immigrants in 23 Central Texas counties from offices in San Antonio, Austin and Waco. Aliens' actor Jay Benedict has sadly passed away aged 68 from coronavirus. His official website announced the tragic news on Saturday, writing: 'It is with profound sorrow that we must announce Jays death on the 4th of April due to complications arising from a COVID-19 infection.' The actor who played Russ Jordan in Aliens and starred in The Dark Knight Rises, was also well known for playing John Kieffer, the US Army officer and friend of Christopher Foyle in Foyles War. Aliens' actor Jay Benedict dead: Star, 68, passed away on Saturday 'due to complications arising from a COVID-19 infection' (pictured in 2008) Acclaimed: The actor who played Russ Jordan in Aliens (pictured) but also starred in Foyle's War and The Dark Knight Rises He was married to actress Phoebe Scholfield and together they ran Sync or Swim, a company providing post-production ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) services to the film and television industry. According to his website, recent projects have included Downton Abbey, Dickensian, Call the Midwife and Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands. Jay and Phoebe had two sons together, Leopold and Freddie and Jay also had a daughter called Alexis from a previous marriage. Missed: Allo Allo star Vicki Michelle, 69, paid tribute to Jay on Twitter on Sunday, writing: 'Shocked to hear one of our most brilliant actors and kind lovely man Jay Benedict has passed' Allo Allo star Vicki Michelle, 69, paid tribute to Jay on Twitter on Sunday, writing: 'Shocked to hear one of our most brilliant actors and kind lovely man Jay Benedict has passed. 'Married to my lovely friend Phoebe Scholfield #AlloAllo My heart goes out to her and her family at this sad time #PhoebeScholfield @FreddieBenedict #LeoBenedict #SyncorSwim #COVID19.' John Challis, 77, best known for playing Aubrey 'Boycie' Boyce in Only Fools And Horses also took to Twitter to play tribute. Sad: John Challis, 77, best known for playing Aubrey 'Boycie' Boyce in Only Fools And Horses also took to Twitter to play tribute News: TCG Management also paid tribute after the loss of one of their beloved talents He penned: 'Strangest coincidence this morning-talking on the telephone to my brother in law & telling him that my old friend Jay Benedict died yesterday. 'Talented actor & someone I used to rock around with,& Johnny said Oh no! Jay was my friend at school. Weird or what? @SherrieHewson.' TCG Artists' Management, who represented Jay wrote: 'It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear client Jay Benedict, who this afternoon lost his battle with COVID-19. Our thoughts are with his family.' Born in Burbank, California on 11th April 1951, Jay and his family moved to Europe when he was a young child. He was English/French bilingual, and could also speak Spanish and German due to travelling a lot throughout his childhood. The Kerala government told the Supreme Court Monday that Karnataka's blocking National Highways and border roads due to coronavirus, preventing people's access to medical treatment and movement of essential goods, is violative of fundamental rights of the Citizens. It said eight lives have been lost till date on account of the blockade of border roads by Karnataka and one person had died after an appeal was filed by Karnataka government in apex court against the Kerala High Court order for opening the borders. In its affidavit filed in the top court, Kerala said the Union government, under whom the National Highway fall, is duty bound to issue direction to Karnataka to remove such blockade for transporting patients requiring medical attention as well as essential goods to Kerala. The top court, while posting the matter for hearing on April 7, had on Friday sought responses from the Centre and the Kerala government on the plea of Karnataka challenging the high court order for opening of borders to ensure movement of essential supplies amid the coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic. the act of the State of Karnataka in blocking the National Highways and other roads to Kerala, to extent of even preventing residents of Kerala from getting access to medical treatment and preventing movement of essential goods, is violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed to the citizens of India residing in Kerala under Articles 19(1)(d) and 21 of the Constitution of India, the Kerala government said. It said Karnataka is constitutionally mandated to remove the blockade of various entry points from Kasaragod district in Kerala to Karnataka, including National Highway, and blockade at the ThalasseryCoorg (Kodagu) Road at the Inter State Border at Kuttupuzha. It said the Centre is also mandated under the Constitution to direct Karnataka to remove the blockade. Kasaragod is the northernmost district of the state and it borders Dakshin Kannada district of Karnataka, Kerala said, adding that many people are dependent on hospitals and medical facilities available in Mangalore and Sullya in Dakshin Kannada district because they are the nearest towns. From Talappady in Manjeshwar Taluk of Kasaragod district, there is only 15 kilometres to Mangalore. This has been the practice for decades. So free flow of ambulances and vehicles carrying patients across the border is to be enforced in order to save human lives. "Further, Kerala is a consumer State and depends heavily on its neighbouring States for supply of essential goods. Therefore, essential goods are also transported from Karnataka to Kerala through the roads providing access to Karnataka from the Kasaragod district, it said. Kerala said the roads leading to Mangalore are seen blocked by dumping piles of soil fully blocking the vehicular movement including ambulances plying to Mangalore for medical emergencies for patients in Kasaragod and even there are instances where roads are blocked by Karnataka inside the geographical area of Kerala. It said the contention and averment of Karnataka government that the existing medical facilities in Mangalore were not sufficient to accommodate patients from Kasaragod in Kerala is not correct. Kerala added that Karnataka government had on March 23, issued order directing closure of border roads with Kerala except for medical emergencies and later an addendum was issued restricting even Inter State movements of patients. It said that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Governor Arif Mohammad Khan had taken up the matter with their counterpart in Karnataka and the Centre besides several inter-secretary level deliberations. It claimed that even after the Kerala High Court order of April 1, the district medical officer of Dakshin Kannada district had issued an order directing the hospitals of Mangalore not to admit patients from Kasaragod district. Kerala said Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa had openly declared that the blockade at Kerala-Karnataka border would not be removed. It further added that the alternate routes suggested by Karnataka are either circuitous or create difficulties in so far as Kannur district in Kerala is concerned due blockade of traffic. The top court had on April 3, asked the Kerala government to not to precipitate the issue of opening of borders till further hearing while asking the Chief Secretaries of both the states 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On Monday 30th March 2020, some parts of Ghana started partial lockdown following the implementation of the Executive Order on the Imposition Restrictions Act 1012/2020 announced by the president. This means that movement of people will be restricted, and some businesses will be closed during the period within the affected areas. This move is to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 within the country after recording some confirmed cases. The security and law enforcing agencies were given the mandate to see to the enforcement of this order in the Imposition of Restrictions Act 1012/2020. Before the commencement of the partial lockdown, there were fears among some citizen that, the law enforcing and security agencies were going to harass the public and infringe on their fundamental human rights. To add up to such fears, were many circulating videos and messages on social media platforms of purported warnings and brutalities of civilians by security and law enforcing officers in some parts of the world on lockdown. In fact, some of these videos brought memories of the revolution era in the country which many Ghanaians do not want to experience again. There were assurances both form government and top hierarchies of the security and law enforcing agencies that, they were to protect Ghanaians and not to harm them. One week gone, although there have been some alleged cases of civilian brutalities by the security and law enforcing agencies, many have been refuted by their leadership. The leadership of the security and law enforcing agencies have also warned their personnel to exhibit high standard of professionalism and asked the public to report any acts of unprofessionalism to the relevant authorities. Despite some shortfalls, the security and law enforcing agencies are doing tremendously well in the time of this pandemic. Their presence is felt everywhere, making sure that the presidential orders are complied with, defying all the weather conditions. Most of them have exhibited high sense of professionalism in dealing with the public and creating the awareness of COVID-19 not as a myth. Their education on adherence to safety and hygienic behaviors, the need to stay home, stop the spread and stay safe is commendable. Like other essential service providers, our security and law enforcing officers are highly at risk and are always exposed to the public making sure that life and properties are protected within these challenging times. Our friends have little or no PPES endangering their lives and that of their immediate families, yet they are meant to enforce the law at the pearl of their lives. My dear fellow citizens, please let us assist our officers during this pandemic period by complying to the orders entailed in the lockdown documents. We should avoid going out, thus staying home, stopping the spread and staying face. In an emergency where we need to go out, we must observe all the safety precautions not to get infected. We must cooperate with our officers detailed at the various check points and go by the all the simple orders. Essential service providers are always advised to carry out their form of identification to prevent any form of confrontation with them. To our gallant security and law enforcing officers, kindly continue to exhibit your professionalism despite all the forms of provocations you may be exposed to. Continue to protect lives and properties as we observe the lockdown during this pandemic and wait, trusting in God for a solution. You are doing a great job, AYEKOO. Let me appeal to the government and all the relevant authorities to initiate an immediate life insurance scheme for all our security and law enforcing officers to cater for them and their immediate dependents in critical times like this and any other situation that is life threatening to them in discharging their duties. Let us all remember that COVID-19 is outside there looking for someone to devour, do not be a prey, stay home and be safe. You are an asset to the world, your nation and your family. Dont forget that you have only one chance to live, do not gamble with it. God protect us all. GOD BLESS OUR HOMELAND GHANA By: Jonas Owusu Ohemeng Development Communicator Inspirational speaker Security Analyst. [email protected] CEYLON TEA producing some of the most coveted teas in the world for more than 150 years, has reached its peak demand while making a milestone at the Colombo Tea Auction this week. As a much -needed change in the industrys old traditions, Ceylon Tea conducted its first e-platform auction prompted by COVID 19 Social distancing stringent health precautions adopted by the Island. The very successful auction via an online platform was concluded on a promising note in Colombo for its high grown Teas, while registering as the highest ever in its history. One of the main factors for such high demand could be attributed to the hypothesis developed by scientists that content of Theaflavins in black tea could potentially inhibit a critical SARS-CoV- 2 enzyme, and thereby, theoretically increase the human immunity against COVID-19, tea industry sources revealed. The Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka (TRI) has conducted a study where Theaflavins an antioxidant polyphenols in Black Tea has been found to help control and flush the Virus from the system. The TRI has recently released a scientific paper under the theme: Anti-viral properties of tea black tea may become the unique brew of choice with no side effects to fight against Corona Virus?. This research quoted a study from Taiwan where the chemical structure of 64 compounds had been bioinformatically modelled against SARS-CoV- 2. In contrast to Green Tea, Black Tea is rich in Theaflavins (antioxidant polyphenols that are formed during manufacture of Black Tea). It also alleviates respiratory diseases and opens air passages in the lungs making it easier to breathe. The scientists at the Sri Lanka Tea Board Laboratory suggest that frequent consumption of hot black tea (03 to 04 cups without sugar or milk) and inhaling its fumes is capable of flushing viruses trapped in the throat and nasal area, improving immune capacity and inhibiting inflammation due to Catechins and Polyphenols contained in Black Tea. It is to be noted that Black Tea is neither a medically proven prophylaxis nor a treatment against COVID-19, but it is worth conducting further research. During this Pandemic, Ceylon Tea has now seen a Silver lining for its industry and way forward. (Courtesy Sri Lanka Tea Board- 04/04/20) Yesterday was Palm Sunday and the day reminded me of my days as a Knight of the Alter(Mass Server). Those days, if you are selected by your superior to serve mass then you are on top of the world. #Memories.... Some of these recaps make us feel the reality of the COVID19 and its direct effects on the global community. Everyone is now scared about the person next to him. Not even your parents are trustworthy when it comes to days like this. The reality of the pandemic has broken family ties and has brought equality among humankind except for Nana Addo and his VIP government. Everyone is thinking about His safety before others and government that we all gave power to for our protection in times like this has shown the way that this time its everyone for himself and God for us all. In the midst of all these the question I to ask myself is what would have happened to Ghana today without John Mahama. Just imagine Ghana without Mahama to give a facelift to Noguchi Memorial Health Center which is now doing miracles for the sub Region. Imagine Ghana without John Mahama to build numerous health centers across the country which was called Green book photoshop projects which today one of the photoshopped projects has been set aside as VIP hospital to take care of Nana Addo and his family members. Imagine Ghana without John Mahama to buy the ENUADOR vans which Npp called trotro van which today is going to be used as COVID19 community testing van. Imagine Ghana without John Mahama to purchase the Ayalolo busses which were packed by Nana Addo because it will make people see the good deeds of JM but today has become a saviour to our front liners in the fight against the COVID19. Imagine Ghana without John Mahama to distribute PPEs to our hospitals, by now all our gallant and courageous health workers in our major treatment centres would have laid down their tools like Korle Bu at this crucial moment. Imagine Ghana with John Mahama to build the affordable houses at Seglemi which government has proposed to use for housing of our volunteers' health workers and other frontliners. The REJECTED Stone indeed has become the conner Stone. Am not surprised the people of Ghana are eager to see John Mahama back to the flagstaff House to replace this deadly and infectious government. My prayer today palm Sunday which began Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusalem is for God to RESCUE us from COVID19 and Nana Addo's VIP government. Am Still A Citizen Not a Spectator. Efo Worlanyo Tsekpo. It's just over a month since the first case of Covid-19 was confirmed in Ireland. The challenges faced by this country and its citizens since have been unprecedented. Like other crises which have hit this country, this emergency will pass in time. When it does pass, it is important that we learn from it. Given so many of us have lost money since the crisis hit, what are the financial lessons which can be learned from this - and other pandemics? Always have an emergency fund You should always set aside some savings to tide you over at times of emergency, unforeseen problems, or when income is unexpectedly low. "If there's one financial lesson you should learn from the coronavirus crisis, it's that it's always important to save money - and to know that things could go wrong at a moment's notice," said Tony Foley, emeritus associate professor of economics at Dublin City University (DCU). "So don't expend yourself and don't assume that everything will always be rosy." The easiest way to build up an emergency fund is to do so through a long-term savings account which you cannot access easily. The bigger the emergency fund you can build up, the better. Some financial advisers recommend building up a fund equivalent to about three months' of your salary; others advise setting aside a year's salary. For those who have lost their jobs as a result of the coronavirus, the time to build up an emergency fund is not now, as you're very unlikely to have the money to do so and it is now that you need a nest egg. However, once this crisis passes and you get back on your feet, make it a priority to build an emergency fund. For those who are still working, it would be wise to save more of your earnings and to ensure that you can access those savings quickly if you need to - in case you too lose your job. Protect the breadwinner To help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the Irish Government has advised people to work from home if they can. Follow this advice. Breadwinners - the main earners in a family - are crucial to the economic well-being of a family. Although most of those who contract the coronavirus survive it, it has also made many people very ill - and the number of deaths due to coronavirus is more than 58,000. The importance of the breadwinner is one of the lessons that can be learned from the Spanish flu - one of the deadliest outbreaks of influenza ever recorded. That flu arrived in Ireland in May 1918 and lasted until the middle of April 1919. About 800,000 people in Ireland were infected with the Spanish flu and around 23,000 of them died, although this is believed to be a conservative estimate. Those between the ages of 25 and 35 were badly hit by the Spanish flu. Many young families were left without their breadwinner as a result. "Lots of people lost their homes - as families would lose their income if the breadwinner died," said Dr Ida Milne, a disease historian and author of Stacking the Coffins, a book which shows the devastating impact which the Spanish flu pandemic had on Ireland. "If you were a teacher back then, a house often came with the job, so a family would lose their home if the breadwinner was a teacher who then died." A steady job will stand to you Having a permanent full-time job - as opposed to casual, freelance or contract work - will usually stand to you during times of crisis. You are less likely to lose your job if you have a permanent and pensionable one. And even if you do, you are likely to get better financial and other support from your employer than you would as a casual worker, or a worker on short-term contracts or freelance work (often known as 'gig economy' workers). You are also more likely to have a job to return to once the crisis passes. There are exceptions to the rule: since the Covid-19 crisis erupted in Ireland, there has been a big increase in demand for certain contractors - particularly those experienced in IT and technology, finance, insurance and change management, according to recruitment agency Walters People Ireland. All the same, many contractors and casual workers will lose out in this crisis - particularly those who don't have the experience or expertise currently in demand. This was also a feature of the Spanish flu pandemic. "The Spanish flu affected people in the gig economy very badly," said Milne. "People in the lowest [social] classes who wouldn't have had savings, who often lived in the tenements and who might be dependent on casual labour were hit very hard. Hawkers [people who travel about selling goods] were also badly hit. The rich, on the other hand, had a bit of a cushion." Hits to the economy will affect you The hardest cross to bear with pandemics and epidemics is death and serious illness. However, it is clear that such crises also take their toll on economies - and in doing so, impact upon our quality of life and how easy it is for us to make ends meet. The more prolonged and severe the crisis, the greater the toll. The Black Death bubonic plague, for example, which struck Europe and Asia in the mid-1300s, had a devastating impact on lives and the economy at the time. "The Black Death weakened Europe's economy for 30 years or so - as so many agricultural workers died," said Milne. By contrast, the smallpox outbreak in Dublin between 1902 and 1903 had no impact on the national economy, according to Dr Ciaran Wallace of Trinity College Dublin's department of history. "This outbreak was the disaster that did not happen," said Wallace, who has researched and written about the smallpox crisis. "Considering how highly infectious smallpox is, and the death rate it can produce, Ireland was very lucky that there was a known vaccine and that the administrative structures were in place to respond with impressive speed. As the outbreak was contained while it was still in the streets around Dublin's docks and in the north inner city, there was no effect on the national economy." There were 360 confirmed cases of smallpox in Dublin during that outbreak, with 33 deaths recorded, according to Wallace. "The numbers affected were relatively small - not enough for a national-level response - and the great majority were from the city's poorer streets, where casual employment was the norm," said Wallace. "So once a breadwinner was clear of the disease, they simply returned to the daily search for work on the docks, or in street trading, or as a cleaner in some office or shop." The Spanish flu, on the other hand, had a much harsher impact on Irish people and the economy. That flu silenced entire communities and towns. "When the Spanish flu came, businesses shut down and some of them never reopened," said Milne. "Either families would be wiped out by it, or they stayed at home to avoid getting it." Fallback plans are important One of the lessons which can be learned from the Spanish flu is the importance of having a fallback plan for production supplies in a crisis, according to Milne. "When the Spanish flu hit, farmers went ill - so the women from the towns picked the potatoes," said Milne. "Similarly, many creamery workers had to go out and milk cows - as the farmers were too sick to do so. So those who have a family business today should be training other people up in case they get sick and can't continue." Community and charity matter The Covid-19 crisis has seen communities come together to support each other. This mirrors previous crises here in Ireland. "There were an awful lot of neighbours helping neighbours at that time of the Spanish flu," said Milne. Charities, too, are often drawn on in times of crisis. "In a period of great poverty and limited social welfare, it is very likely that families affected by the smallpox outbreak in Dublin [in 1902 to 1903] called on the services of local charities for the basic essentials," said Wallace. Your health should be your priority Although most of us have lost money in the ongoing crisis, this should not be your priority. "If you lost your job, at least be thankful that you are at home and therefore less likely to catch the infection," said Milne. "Just as the Spanish flu passed, this coronavirus too will pass." REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL Better social welfare than the past This countrys social welfare system is much better than the systems in place during the previous pandemic which hit Ireland: the Spanish flu. The Government has made a number of payments available to help those affected by the coronavirus, including the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment. Today, we have the protection of Government support. There was no such financial support from the State in 1918 [when the Spanish flu hit Ireland], said disease historian Dr Ida Milne. There is, however, a limit to the extent to which the State will be able to support Irish people. The Government has stepped in to support lost income, said Tony Foley of DCU. However, this financial support will only be possible for a short period of time maybe for up to six months because, ultimately, this money has to come from somewhere. Every country in the world is going to be trying to borrow money [to deal with this crisis]. If this crisis continued on for another year, wed have to rethink everything. Taxes would likely go up for those that are continuing to work. More of us have pensions and life cover During the Spanish flu, many Irish people had no pension or life assurance. This is very different today: more than half of Irish workers have a private pension, the state pension is paid to people from the age of 66 (who qualify for it), and there is an invalidity pension from the State for those who cannot work due to a long-term illness or disability. There is a widow or widowers state pension, and many civil service workers pay into a spouse and childrens pension scheme which offers financial protection to families as it provides a pension for the spouse and dependent children of a member who dies in service or after qualifying for a pension. Economy strong before covid-19 The Irish economy was in very good shape when the coronavirus hit so this, too, should stand to us. However, the recent economic boom which saw record employment in Ireland may also have encouraged a certain amount of complacency among people, and made them more inclined to spend, rather than save, money. Record rents didnt help either. Some people dont have the money to save today any more than they did in 1918 due to the high rents being paid by many today, said Milne. It's hard to spend With so many shops and restaurants closed, it is largely only groceries and medicine that we can spend our money on. So for anyone down income, this may be some comfort. Banks and utility companies are also taking a flexible approach to bills, so if you fall behind on bills or loans, you should be given some breathing space. Setting off from Sydney just before sunset in early March, the Ruby Princess went on to cruise along the coast of New Zealand as its nearly 2700 passengers soaked up the scenery and enjoyed the entertainment on board. But the ship now finds itself at the centre of a criminal investigation after disgorging its passengers at Sydneys Circular Quay, 11 days after departing. The Ruby Princess carrying hundreds of sick crew with possible coronavirus enters Port Kembla. Credit:Nick Moir The circumstances that led to them walking off the ship without even a basic temperature check deserve full examination. This bungled operation allowed more than 600 people with COVID-19, of whom 12 have now died, to wander freely through the community to make their way home. And it's not just the passengers caught up in this medical calamity. About 1000 crew from the Ruby Princess are now quarantined on board, docked at Port Kembla, 80 kilometres south of Sydney. Of those, about 200 are showing possible symptoms of COVID-19. NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller says the criminal investigation's main focus will be on whether the operators of the Ruby Princess breached biosecurity laws in failing to alert local authorities as to the extent of sickness on board. They are not the only ones in the line of fire. The heat is also on state and federal agencies that gave the green light for the ship to disembark its passengers, who then caught trains, buses and even overseas flights to get home. FAIRFIELD After three weeks of people apparently still congregating at the towns closed parks, beaches and public spaces, the Fairfield Police Department is ready to write scofflaws $92 tickets for trespassing. First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said the decision to fine people ignoring the order to stay away came after she and other town officials repeatedly received texts, phone calls and emails about people gathering at parks, playgrounds and other town facilities. Kupchick signed an executive order to close Fairfields public recreation areas on March 16 after the first cases of the new coronavirus in town were confirmed. As of Wednesday evening, state officials report Fairfield had 113 confirmed cases of the virus and five deaths related to COVID-19. Over the weekend, it was reported that parents and kids were at McKinley (Elementary School) playground like it was a normal day, like there was no pandemic, Kupchick said Monday, adding that there are signs posted at all public locations saying they are closed. I have also received numerous reports that Warde High School track was used. The first selectwoman said signs notifying people of the closure at Warde had been removed and a barrier preventing people from entering had been ripped down. She said she had several reports of teenagers hanging out in the parking lot. I got reports that Mill River was jam-packed, she said. They took down the barricades. They did it at Lake Mohegan, too. Kupchick said the number of reports of people ignoring the rules was not only upsetting to her, but to members of the community who are doing the right thing. (They) are frustrated that, they feel, there are some people in our community who are putting us all at risk, she said and putting police officers responding to the complaints in danger because they have to interact with the people ignoring the safety measures. Fairfield Police Capt. Robert Kalamaras said encouraging rather than enforcing the rules was not working. He said the department hopes the public now takes the warning seriously. Starting Monday, Kalamaras said, if a person is at any of the towns parks, beaches or open spaces, they will be fined. He said the department is hoping for voluntary compliance. He added that none of the money from the fines would go to the department; it all goes to the state. Our officers are now forced to engage with the public, Kalamaras said. They dont know if that person is infected or not. That person may not know. Its unfortunate that we have to rise to this level. Kupchick said she is also frustrated with inconsistency from Gov. Ned Lamonts administration, which, she said, should be taking the lead when it comes to protecting Connecticuts communities. The first week, the (state) parks were open, Kupchick said. Last week, they (started) restricting access to a certain amount of people. I dont know how theyre doing that. They closed the Grand Canyon. Yellowstone Park is closed. Everybody needs to be on the same page here. Were not on a vacation. This is a pandemic. Kupchick said she has been getting emails from Fairfield residents worried for their own and their familys health. She said that included emails from nurses and doctors who work at hospitals in the area. They cannot believe the public is not doing everything in their power to protect themselves, Kupchick said, so that those poor people, who have to be on the front lines and take care of people, arent overwhelmed. Flash "We are ordinary Chinese American people, we are trying to do a little to help our neighborhood, our city, with our ability, during COVID-19 pandemic," said Maggie Wang, one of the organizers of a Wechat group that has 218 members from the Chinese-American community in Palos Verdes and the Greater South Bay area in Southern California. "We should come out stronger with more love and hope at this difficult time," she told Xinhua in a recent interview. Maggie and her friends heard about the drastic shortage of masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE's) at local hospitals and decided to do something about it. They mobilized to source medical supplies to help meet their local community healthcare-worker's and first responders' needs. Galvanized by the seriousness of the situation, they raised 28,400 U.S. dollars from the Chinese American community to buy medical supplies. They also called on their tightly-knit community to get the word out: "Donate your extra masks, disinfectant, sanitizer, and, yes, toilet paper! Donate what you can!" And the donations came flooding in. Some donations of N95 face masks even came to them still in their DHL shipping bags from China, having been sent to them by family and loved ones overseas. Altogether, the group donated nearly 79,000 face masks, 4,000 medical grade gloves. A total of 20,000 face masks and 4,000 medical grade gloves were donated to the office of LA City Councilman, Joe Buscaino's office, who have quickly distributed the personal protective equipment to LA police officers, fire fighters and first responders within an hour of receiving them. Additionally, some of their donations went to Long Beach Community Hospital, a newly opened hospital designated to combat the coronavirus, to their local City Council, and to the Little Sisters of the Poor, a senior center for low income seniors in nearby city of San Pedro. Some masks have been distributed to local post offices, supermarkets and police stations. "Normally we might mind our own business, but not with a crisis on our hands that is spreading so rapidly and affects everyone," said Mingli Wang, another organizer of the social media group. "We can stay home, but police officers, firefighters, city officials and other first responders have to respond to the community's needs. We should and must support them," said Mingli. "Love spreads more rapidly than the virus," she posted on her WeChat Moments in March, as well as sending many other posts to encourage her friends to make a difference by stepping in to fight the coronavirus pandemic in China, the United States and other parts of the world. "Viruses know no national boundaries or races," she noted. The group had donated money to buy personal protective equipment for six hospitals in Hubei, Beijing and Shandong in February after the outbreak of COVID-19 in China. Little did they know then that just two months later they would find themselves in a similar crisis in America. It turns out that for many Chinese Americans, public service is a deeply engrained family thing, especially amid a serious crisis. Daphne Dai instructed her 11-year old son to call the local police department himself to arrange to donate the masks they'd bought so the boy would learn how to actively contribute to his community. Her 7-year old daughter had amassed 30 dollars in allowance for helping around the house, then the tenderhearted philanthropist-in-the-making donated 20 dollars of it to her mom's coronavirus effort. "I hope to be an active role model for my children at this difficult time. It's good for our children to see us stand up, be courageous, and do something to help," the donor mothers explained. While Maggie Wang was working more than 12 hours a day on their COVID-19 fundraiser, her German-American husband stepped in to help pick up the slack at home and take care of their child. Why? "Because I'm proud of you," he told her. "Every time, when we need more donations, he will open up his checkbook and write a number," Maggie joked, truly thankful for the support of her beloved family members. And their donations have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated by their SoCal recipients. "Thank you so much!" responded Gabriel Medina, the District Director for LA City. Councilman Joe Buscaino, upon receiving the group's donations. "You don't understand what an impact you and the rest of the group have made, we truly appreciate it." Medina told Mingli in a message that those PPE's are much needed and appreciated by "the happy recipients." "It is getting increasingly harder to find the things you and your wonderful group are donating," wrote Anita Uhrich, Volunteer Coordinator at Little Sisters of the Poor in an email to Mingli. "We are so blessed to have your love and generosity towards our Home and all who benefit from your kindness." Officer Drake Madison, from the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations, told Xinhua, "As a police officer, helping out the community is what we do, so it's really nice to see the community want to help us out in return." Deputy Foreign Minister and head of the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) Vietnam Nguyen Quoc Dung on April 6 held phone talks with acting Australian Deputy Foreign Minister and head of the SOM Australia on ASEAN and East Asia Summit (EAS) Justin Hayhurst to discuss joint work via regional cooperation mechanisms amid the complicated developments of COVID-19. Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung Dung expressed wish to enhance close coordination to further deepen strategic partnership and comprehensive cooperation between ASEAN and Australia. He emphasised that fighting COVID-19 is now the top priority of ASEAN, adding that in the capacity as ASEAN Chair, Vietnam is actively promoting common efforts of the bloc and cooperation with partners in the fight against the pandemic. Speaking highly of Vietnams role and efforts in its capacity as ASEAN Chair 2020, Hayhurst said Australia will continue supporting and working closely with Vietnam to step up the anti-COVID-19 fight via regional cooperation mechanisms, including ASEAN Australia cooperation and the EAS. The two officials agreed to maintain the Vietnam - Australia strategic partnership in various areas. Dung thanked the Australian Government for readiness to offer technical support to Vietnam to mitigate socio-economic impacts caused by COVID-19. He suggested the Australian authorities continue supporting Vietnamese citizens and students in current difficult times. Hayhurst, for his part, thanked the Vietnamese Government for providing medical and consular support for Australian citizens and tourists affected by the epidemic. He affirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade will work with education and interior ministries and authorities to have measures to support Vietnamese students in Australia./.VNA PM holds phone talks with Korean President on COVID-19 combat Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on April 3 afternoon held phone talks with the Republic of Korea (RoK)s President Moon Jae-in to discuss the COVID-19 prevention and control in each country and bilateral cooperation in this field. The G20 is emerging as a venue for cooperative efforts to try and calm the oil market, and Bloomberg and others report that a potential meeting of G20 energy ministers could be Friday. Driving the news: U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette discussed the G20 role during a wider discussion over the weekend with his Saudi counterpart, a DOE spokesperson tells Axios. "Secretary Brouillette participated in a productive discussion with Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia, about ongoing challenges and instability in global oil markets," according to Shaylyn Hynes. What they're saying: "[T]he two energy ministers agreed to continue this dialogue through a G20 Energy Ministers meeting in the near future," Hynes said. Catch up fast: The Saudis currently hold the G20's rotating presidency. International Energy Agency head Fatih Birol tweeted yesterday that he spoke with Seamus O'Regan, Canada's natural resources minister, and they agreed the G20 "could play a leading role in boosting market stability." Birol has also held recent talks with U.S. and Brazilian officials. Go deeper: Imagining a new energy normal after coronavirus The Trump administration has taken the historic step of designating a white supremacist group as a global terrorist organization, sanctioning a Russian organization and three of its leaders Monday. The new designation is an escalation in tactics, giving the U.S. government increased enforcement tools against what experts have warned is a growing threat -- white supremacist groups recruiting violent individuals across international borders to train and conduct attacks -- but one that President Donald Trump has at times downplayed. "Today's designations send an unmistakable message that the United States will not hesitate to use our sanctions authorities aggressively and that we are prepared to target any foreign terrorist group, regardless of ideology, that threatens our citizens, our interests abroad or our allies," said the State Department's top counter terrorism official, Ambassador Nathan Sales. MORE: State Dept warns of rise in 'racially-motivated' terrorism The white nationalist group, known as the Russian Imperial Movement, or RIM, has provided paramilitary training to neo-Nazis and white supremacists, and recruited from overseas, especially Europeans, but reportedly including some Americans as well, according to Sales. PHOTO: In this February 28, 2015, file photo, a member of the Russian Imperial Movement, a nationalist group in Russia, walks close to a banner reading 'God.Tsar.Nation.We are Russians, God with us' at a training base in Saint-Petersburg. (Olga Maltseva/AFP via Getty Images, FILE) Among other plots, two Swedish men were recruited by RIM, brought to St. Petersburg for 11 days of paramilitary training, including weapons use, hand-to-hand combat, and "woodland and urban assault," per Sales. Months later, the two men returned to Sweden and conducted two bombings outside a cafe and a migrant center in Gothenburg, with a third attempted bombing failing to detonate. Sales wouldn't preview any other designations of white supremacists, but said the administration "will not hesitate to aggressively use" the same authority to sanction other similar groups that incite, facilitate, direct, or plan attacks, including, in RIM's case, by providing training. Story continues MORE: White supremacists encouraging their members to spread coronavirus to cops, Jews, FBI says The designations also target three of RIM's leaders -- Stanislav Anatolyevich Vorobyev, Denis Valliullovich Gariev and Nikolay Nikolayevich Trushchalov -- and will allow the Treasury Department to freeze any of their or the organization's assets moving through the U.S. financial system. The Homeland Security Department will also be granted broader authority to deny entry to the U.S. to individuals with ties to RIM. "We've seen what RIM-trained terrorists can do in Europe, and we want to make sure that RIM is not able -- or any terrorist group is not able -- to accomplish something similar here in the United States. ... (Designating RIM) enables us to better protect our borders, to keep these terrorists out of our country and to deny them resources they may use to plan additional training that could harm our interests," Sales said, while declining to say what kind of assets the group has that the U.S. could seize. PHOTO: In this Feb. 28, 2015, file photo, members of the Russian Imperial Movement, a nationalist group in Russia, pose for a picture with weapon simulators at a training base in Saint-Petersburg. (Olga Maltseva/AFP via Getty Images, FILE) The designation doesn't allow the Justice Department to bring charges against Americans who provide material support to RIM, but Sales said that U.S. law enforcement has other authorities to go after any of its supporters, referring questions on possible prosecutions to the Department of Justice and the FBI. Sales wouldn't say what contact the Trump administration had with the Russian government ahead of the announcement or whether Vladimir Putin's government has been helpful in combating white supremacist terrorism. Instead, he called on Moscow and all governments to use their own authorities to deny violent actors' ability to travel and their access to the international financial system. MORE: Far-right terrorism in North America, Europe increased even as terrorism deaths declined: Report Senior U.S. officials have been warning for years now that the threat of racially or ethnically motivated terrorism is growing. That includes white supremacist violence in the U.S., where an anti-immigrant gunman killed 20 people at an El Paso, Texas, Walmart and an anti-Semitic gunman killed 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. PHOTO: In this Oct. 28, 2018, file photo, a member of the Pittsburgh police stands outside the Tree of Life Synagogue after a shooting there left 11 people dead in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images, FILE) In January, U.S. law enforcement also arrested seven alleged members of "The Base," a militant neo-Nazi group that advocates for a "violent insurgency" to incite a race war, overthrow the U.S. government and create a white nationalist state. "We are starting to see racially motivated violent extremists connecting with like-minded individuals overseas online," FBI Director Christopher Wray told the House Homeland Security Committee in November. "In some instances, we have seen some folks travel overseas to train," particularly in eastern Europe. PHOTO: In this March 17, 2019, file photo, a police officer stands guard in front of the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, where one of two mass shootings occurred. (Vincent Yu/AP, FILE) Sales warned Monday that even when not in direct communication, these groups and individuals inspire each other, including how the El Paso shooter said he was motivated by an attack months earlier in Christchurch, New Zealand, where a white supremacist killed 49 people at a mosque. MORE: Trump's language about Mexican immigrants under scrutiny in wake of El Paso shooting After the El Paso shooting, Trump called for all Americans to "condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy." But the president has also downplayed the threat of white supremacist violence, saying after the Christchurch shooting that the issue is "a small group of people that have very, very serious problems." Trump has also drawn criticism for proposing a ban on all Muslims to the U.S., not immediately rejecting the support of David Duke, the former KKK Grand Wizard, during his campaign, and saying there were "very fine people on both sides" after the August 2017 clash between white nationalists and anti-racist protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia. State Dept. labels white supremacist group terrorists for 1st time ever originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Changes to Canadian Emergency Relief Program Coming to Expand Eligibility More than 300,000 out-of-work Canadians successfully applied for pandemic-related emergency relief in the first few hours after the application process began on April 6, and Ottawa says it will soon change the rules to let hundreds of thousands more access the help. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not say how many people have thus far not been approved for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, which offers $500-a-week payments for workers who have lost all their income during the COVID-19 crisis. The Liberals were warned last week by experts that the design of the benefit leaves out people whose hours have been slashed, but not eliminated entirely, students who havent earned enough to qualify and people who were already seeking jobs before the pandemic, when they saw their options dry up as the economic shock worsened. Speaking outside his Ottawa residence, Trudeau promised more details on how the government intends to help those whose earnings have plummeted, and those who earn less now than they would if they were receiving the 16-week benefit, citing care workers for the elderly as an example. Were looking carefully at how we can increase their pay a little bit so that they do better off remaining at work rather than going off work and receiving the emergencyresponse benefit, he said. A man is seen in Union Station during morning commuting hours as Toronto copes with a shutdown due to the coronavirus, in Toronto, Canada, on April 1, 2020. (Cole Burston/Getty Images) These are fine-tunings that we knew we would have to do because in any program youre trying to help as many people as possible, there will be exceptions that we have to fill and were going to keep working to make sure we get this right and get everyone the help they need. Only people with birthdays in the first three months of the year can apply for the help Monday, with the process opening more widely each day this week. The Canada Revenue Agency, which is running the system, issued a request for patience as it expected large demand for the new benefit the federal government expects to cost $24 billion. Over the last two-plus weeks, more than 2.5 million people have applied for employment insurance benefitsthe same number the system usually sees in a year. All of them are to be transferred over to the emergency benefit, which will mean a bump in weekly pay for some low-income workers who have been laid off or furlougheda situation that many didnt see happening earlier this year, according to a new report from the Bank of Canada. The survey of consumer expectations released Monday morning said more people anticipated searching for new jobs and expected they would quickly find something new, while fewer thought they would lose their jobs. Household spending expectations continued to edge up faster than expectations for wage growth, which the bank says suggests by mid-February, consumers werent becoming more cautious in their spending. Results from the business-outlook survey suggest business sentiment had softened in most regions before the pandemic intensified. Much of that sentiment emanated from the countrys oil-producing regions, where companies were generally less optimistic, pulling back on capital spending and hiring plans as they watched the price of oil fall. Companies told the central bank they expected the economic shock from low oil prices to be worse than what hit the sector in 2015 and the 2008 economic crisis. As one data point, capital spending was being cut by 30 per cent compared with 2019. The reason, the bank said, was concern that financing was becoming harder to come by for companies that were also anticipating a bottoming-out in the sector rather than a negative shock. The survey also suggested oil-producing companies foresaw few layoffs because they were already pretty lean operations, unless low oil prices persisted over a longer period. The belief was the benchmark price for crude, known as West Texas Intermediate, would be between US$30 and US$35 a barrel. The price to start the week was closer to US$28 a barrel. But oilfield service companies, which employ a large share of the sectors workforce, reported that significant staffing reductions were imminent. By mid-March, restaurants, hotels and other service industries had seen a collapse in sales, had either closed or expected to soon, and were drastically laying off staff or reducing staff hours in line with operations. Others, the bank noted, were moving to food delivery and online sales to find new ways to earn money. Manufacturers were anticipating temporary shutdowns and declining sales from challenged customers. Grocery retailers and related transportation companies saw their sales reach unprecedented levels as workers were being told to stay at home. Northern Ireland's chief medical officer is urging doctors to recruit as many Covid-19 patients as possible for national clinical trials. Dr Michael McBride has co-signed a letter being sent to medics around the UK to remind colleagues that lives will be saved as a result of the ongoing trials aimed at finding effective treatments, which are taking place in the community, on hospital wards and in intensive care units. A letter co-signed by the UK's chief medical officers stated: "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 continued: "These trials are being run as simply as they can to reduce the burden on the NHS, with adaptive designs so further treatments can be added if new promising candidates are identified. "The results are essential to the future treatment of UK and global patients. "The faster patients are recruited, the sooner we will get reliable results. The evidence will be used to inform treatment decisions and benefit patients in the immediate future." Australian fashion designers are repurposing their factories to make medical clothing in high demand during the coronavirus pandemic. Melbourne luxury brand Scanlan Theodore has ordered their factories in Fiji to produce Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), beginning with a prototype gown. The label said on Instagram they are committed to this project and have made it their mission to help others in need by developing the prototype gown further. Melbourne luxury brand Scanlan Theodore has specifically repurposed their factories in Fiji to produce Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), beginning with a prototype gown (pictured) The manufacturing team have sourced the appropriate textile materials to make the product and the brand is now acting immediately to create the new needed gowns The manufacturing team have sourced the appropriate textile materials to make the product and the brand is now acting immediately to create the needed gowns. 'In response to the current global crisis, Scanlan Theodore are repurposing our factory in Fiji to manufacture personal protective equipment, starting with gowns which are now in urgent demand worldwide,' the company wrote on social media. 'As a company, we would like to express our gratitude to our dedicated design and production teams who have exhibited strength, unity and efficiency in a collective effort to support this cause'. South Australia's Harvey the Label is producing face masks to donate to those working in public, including medical professionals, supermarket workers, food workers, face to face customer service people But Scanlan Theodore isn't the only Australian fashion brand that are offering their services during this difficult time. South Australia's Harvey the Label is producing face masks to donate to those working in public, including medical professionals, supermarket workers, food handlers and face-to-face customer service workers. 'We have closed our store, instead of sitting home feeling devastated I am committing my extra time to making masks for anyone that is still working with the public,' head designer Mim Harvey wrote online. After receiving positive feedback from the public, the brand is now selling the face masks for $15 each - and for every mask sold another four will be donated. 'This is the easiest and best way to keep our cause going and also making it accessible to everyone who wants one,' Mim said. 'We have closed our store, instead of sitting home feeling devastated I am committing my extra time to making masks for anyone that is still working with the public,' head designer Mim Harvey wrote online Clothing brand Cue is also manufacturing medical scrubs in western Sydney for frontline workers at St Vincent's Private Hospital. 'I just said, "What is it you need? Give me a list",' executive director Melanie Levis told 9News. 'Production for Cue has stopped or is very limited, and we had a stock of fabric.' 'During this global pandemic, I think this is the first time that retail and healthcare can really come together,' Melanie said. Clothing brand Cue are also manufacturing medical scrubs in western Sydney for frontline workers at St Vincent's Private Hospital 'During this global pandemic, I think this is the first time that retail and healthcare can really come together,' executive director Melanie Levis told 9News Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe moved to declare a state of emergency in seven prefectures including Tokyo and Osaka, and announced a record economic stimulus package as the country braces for a surge in coronavirus infections. Abe said the official announcement of a month-long emergency could come as soon as Tuesday and also announced a much larger-than-expected stimulus package of 108 trillion yen ($988 billion) to support struggling households and businesses The emergency declaration, which will also cover Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Hyogo and Fukuoka prefectures, hands powers to local governments to try to contain the spread of the virus that causes Covid-19, including by urging residents to stay at home. "We are not changing Japan's policy, but strengthening it and asking for full cooperation," Abe told reporters at his official residence. "I want to make clear once again that even if an emergency is declared, we will not impose a lockdown as has been done overseas. It is the opinion of our experts that that isn't necessary." Public transportation will continue to operate and supermarkets will remain open, Abe said, emphasizing that he wanted economic activity to continue as far as possible. Unlike countries like France -- where residents can be fined for leaving their homes -- there is no legal power to enforce limits on people's movements. The package of economic measures, set to be Japan's biggest ever, surpassed the 60 trillion yen ($550 billion) recommended by Abe's ruling party last week. Details of the package are expected to be announced Tuesday. Abe also said he plans to boost virus testing capacity to 20,000 a day as well as increase the number of hospital beds and ventilators. He pledged cash handouts of 200 million yen to small and mid-sized businesses. Japan was one of the first countries outside of the original epicenter in neighboring China to confirm a coronavirus infection and it has fared better than most, with about 4,000 reported cases as of Monday -- a jump from less than 500 just a month ago. That's still the lowest tally of any Group of Seven country. An emergency declaration enables local officials to take measures such as ordering the cancellation of events, restricting use of facilities such as schools and movie theaters and appropriating land or buildings for temporary medical facilities. The announcement comes after pressure from the public and the medical community. After last week saying the situation didn't yet call for such a move, Abe changed course as cases in Tokyo surged over the weekend. As with many laws in Japan, there are no penalties associated with breaching instructions, except in the case of concealing supplies after the government orders them to be handed over. Even so, businesses are likely to further cooperate in closing shops and restaurants, while more residents are expected to stay indoors. A state of emergency can stay in place for as long as two years and be extended by as much as one more year, under a law updated in March. The prime minister can make the call when the spread of the infection threatens serious damage to the lives and health of the people, as well as to the economy. The move also enables local governments to take steps such as: - Controlling prices of daily essentials. - Providing loans through government-related financial institutions. - Making compulsory purchases of food and medicines. The Tokyo metropolitan area is the world's most populous, according to United Nations data. The region accounts for about one-third of the country's gross domestic product, which would make it the world's 11th largest economy on its own, about the same size as Russia's. Osaka prefecture, near the ancient capital of Kyoto and home to electronics makers Panasonic Corp. and Sharp Corp., has a population of about 8.8 million, among the top 3 most populated in the country. The measures come as countries across Asia reinforce their defenses against virus. While the infection rate in some nations, including China, had been falling, the virus's global spread has triggered a new uptick in cases brought in by travelers and citizens returning from abroad. Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan all recently saw record numbers of new cases. China banned foreigners from entering the country amid a rise in so-called imported cases. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has already called repeatedly on the capital's residents to refrain from going out unnecessarily and inadvertently spreading the virus. Even so, the number of confirmed cases in Tokyo surged from about 40 in early March to more than 1,000 in just over a month. While Japan has so far experienced a less severe spread of Covid-19 than many other countries, experts fear the number of infections could shoot up at any time. Abe and other officials have repeatedly expressed reluctance to declare an emergency because of the restrictions on individual rights. : Two coronavirus deaths were reported in Andhra Pradesh, taking the toll in the state due to the disease to three, the government said on Monday. The state also recorded 14 new cases since Sunday night, taking the tally to 266. The total number of Covid-19 deaths in the state has risen to three, a bulletin issued by the Medical and Health Department said. Five patients had recovered in the last few days and were discharged from hospitals. As such, the number of active cases now stood at 258. The latest bulletin issued by the Medical and Health Department on Monday said a 64-year old man in Anantapuramu, who tested positive for coronavirus on April 1 upon his return from Mecca, died in hospital on April 4. Another 55-year-old in Machilipatnam too died due to coronavirus on April 4. His was a case of local transmission as he returned by train from Odisha late last month and was admitted to the government hospital on April 2. The state nodal officer Arja Srikanth said in a release on Monday that this man was an asthma and bronchitis patient. Kurnool district topped the state list with 56 patients followed by SPS Nellore with 34. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dalit leaders have appealed to citizens to celebrate Dr Babasaheb Ambedkars birth anniversary on April 14 at home instead of visiting public places. Dr Ambedkars birth anniversary is celebrated in Maharashtra and across the country by visiting various places related to him and paying homage. Police too put in diversions in place across the city in order to facilitate movement of people to the areas on that particular day. However, considering the Covid-19 pandemic, leaders have asked people to celebrate the birth anniversary at home. RPI leader and Union minister for social justice Ramdas Athwale issued a press statement, saying, Considering the present situation, citizens must remain at home. If people come out to celebrate and do not follow social distancing norms, it would create problems. Residents can hoist a flag at their homes on the 14th and prepare sweets and celebrate it indoors. Many festivals too have been cancelled during this period and hence, it is necessary to cancel the rallies and marches on April 14. Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar also appealed to the residents through social media to celebrate the birth anniversary at homes. Mahila Utkarsha Prathishthans Utkarsha Shelke said,The birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar should be celebrated by reading books. During this lockdown, it would be better to remain at home and read the books written by Dr Ambedkar. Activists can circulate such literature on social media so that people can read it on their mobile phones. Fifteen health facilities in the Agona East District have received COVID-19 sanitary items from Professor Kwesi Yankah, Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education, to help check the spread of the virus. Prof. Kwesi Yankah who is also the New Patriotic Partys (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate said the sanitary items were part of measures to help protect frontline workers from contracting the virus as they go about their duty of care for the sick. The items included 2,000 alcohol-based hand sanitizers, 200 veronica buckets, 500 gallons of liquid soap and 500 nose masks worth GH 20, 000. He said it would go a long way to support health care delivery in the Agona East district, the entire Central Region and the nation as a whole. The Minister said it was sad some personalities in the country were playing politics with the pandemic, which had almost brought the globe to a standstill. Prof. Kwesi Yankah cautioned Ghanaians to desist from politicizing the pandemic because everybody was at risk of the horrific disease. He called on Ghanaians to adhere to the safety protocols outlined by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Health authorities to avoid contracting the disease. The Minister recounted how some world economic giants have been slowed down by the effects of the pandemic with top-class personalities worldwide testing positive for the virus. Prof. Kwesi Yankah asked all political parties to join forces to help fight the spread of the disease to save lives. Miss Florence Yamoah, Senior Staff Nurse of Nsaba Health Center who received the items on behalf of the Health Directorate thanked Prof. Yankah for the gesture, which she indicated was timely and would facilitate their work. She appealed to the Central government and Agona East District Assembly to support the facility with more infrastructure and equipment. Mr Dennis Armah-Frempong, District Chief Executive for Agona East said COVID-19 taskforce has been inaugurated to ensure full compliance of the directives given by the President to stop the spread of the virus. He said the task force has made available three isolation centers at Agona Mankrong Polyclinic, Nsaba and Agona Kwanyako Health centre to hold suspected cases before referrals would be made. It has also intensified its educational campaign in various communities in the District about the dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic and its related issues. Mr Armah-Frempong cautioned the people in the district to be vigilant and report any suspicious case or person who might have travelled outside the country and had sneaked into the Area to the task force for the necessary measures to be taken. 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. Featured Video UKs Johnson In Good Spirits After Being Hospitalized for COVID-19 British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says hes in good spirits after being admitted to a hospital because of lingering COVID-19 symptoms on April 5. Johnson, 55, tested positive last month for the CCP virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus. While Johnson initially was showing only mild symptoms, he was admitted to the hospital after his doctor recommended routine tests, because the prime minister was still showing symptoms more than a week after his diagnosis. Im in good spirits and keeping in touch with my team, as we work together to fight this virus and keep everyone safe, Johnson wrote in a statement on social media on April 6. He thanked National Health Service staff for taking care of him and others amid the pandemic, calling them the best of Britain. Johnson also exhorted members of the public to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. A Downing Street spokeswoman told news outlets on April 5 that Johnsons persistent symptoms led to the doctors advice to get tested; the hospitalization was precautionary, she said. Symptoms included a high temperature and a cough, a spokesman said April 6. Police officers stand in front of barriers erected outside St Thomas Hospital in London on April 6, 2020. (Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images) Doctors told Reuters that a person of Johnsons age with COVID-19 symptoms after 10 days would probably be analyzed for oxygen levels, lung, liver, and kidney functions; an electrocardiogram heart check was also a possibility. Clearly, the prime minister is finding it difficult to shake this thing off, said Jonathan Ball, professor of Molecular Virology at Nottingham University. Johnson is still leading the government response to the CCP virus, his office and top officials said. Last week, he had posted a video to social media saying that he was feeling better. In my own case, although Im feeling better and I have done my seven days of isolation, alas, I still have one of the minor symptoms a temperature, said Johnson, who appeared to be ill in the video posted on April 3. So, in accordance with government advice, I must continue my self-isolation until that symptom itself goes. The United Kingdom is under lockdown in a bid to slow the spread of the CCP virus. Many stores are closed, workers deemed non-essential were told to not go to work, and people were ordered to stay at home, except for essential trips. Medical workers wearing equipment to protect themselves from coronavirus bring a patient to St Thomas Hospital in Westminster in London on April 6, 2020. (Frank Augstein/AP Photo) British authorities on April 5 reported 195,524 were tested and 47,806 tested positive. Hospitalizations reached 16,700 while 4,934 patients have died. We mourn their passing, and we offer our profound sympathies to their families and friends. Ive lost two people that I was fond of, so I understand what a difficult time this is for the country, Matt Hancock, the UK health secretary, said at a press conference. Authorities have said they want to test 100,000 people a day by the end of the month. The virus is believed to primarily spread between people in close contact through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Recent evidence shows that some people infected with the virus never show symptoms, while they and others who ultimately show symptoms can pass on the illness even when showing no signs of being sick. Ways to avoid getting infected include frequently washing hands, especially after visiting public places and before eating; not touching ones eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands; avoiding crowds; and wearing a mask and gloves when leaving home. Jack Phillips contributed to this report. Americans braced themselves for the hardest and saddest week as coronavirus fatalities are expected to peak in some parts of the country while President Donald Trump maintained he had seen light at the end of the tunnel, holding out hope of a turnaround in not too distant future. US fatalities from the coronavirus neared 10,000 with 9,653 by Sunday morning with more than 4,150 in New York state and 3,048 in New York City alone, the epicenter of the US outbreak. The state registered a drop in one-day deaths Sunday though and that gave rise to guarded optimism of a plateauing in the data. The number of confirmed cases in the United States stood at more than 330,000, accounting for a fourth of the global pandemic count of 1.2 million. New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Louisiana continued to be the hardest hit states and New York City, Detroit, New Orleans, Miami among the most impacted cities, with the national capital Washington DC being cited as a growing concern. This is going to be the hardest and saddest week of most Americans lives, quite frankly, US surgeon general Jerome M Adams told Fox News on Sunday and went on to draw parallels with key pivotal moments in US history and lives. This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment, only its not going to be localized. Its going to be happening all over the country. Fatalities are expected to peak this week in some parts of the country, public health officials have said, from infections contracted around two weeks ago, before the country began shutting down with enhanced social-distancing measures and stay-at-home orders now in force in all but eight states. US officials had earlier warned the past week and this would be the hardest hit and President Trump sought to prepare Americans for this as the toughest week with a grim warning of a lot of death. Experts of the White House coronavirus task force have said 100,000 to 240,000 American could die in the epidemic even with the social-distancing measures in place. The Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, an independent body often cited by the White House coronavirus task force, has said the projected peak day is still 10 days away, April 16, when 3,130 deaths have been projected nationwide. And New York state is projected to peak on Wednesday (April 8) with projected fatalities to 878 on that day. But the president sought to strike a note of optimism, as he has throughout this unprecedented health crisis, telling reporters at the daily briefing of the task force on Sunday, We see light at the end of the tunnel. Things are happening. Were starting to see light at the end of the tunnel. And hopefully in the not too distant future well be very proud of the job we all did. He doubled down it with the morning after, with a twitter post in all-caps: LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. Asked if the presidents optimism was contradictory to the spike in death being predicted by experts, Anthony Fauci, the epidemiologist who has emerged as the most trusted member of the presidents task force, said, I dont think theyre so different. I think we all know that we have to reach a certain point. And that point is going to be a horrific point in terms of death. But its also a point at which things are going to start changing. He said there was a lag time of two weeks in cases and fatalities and the impact of mitigation effort in place now will be seen in two weeks. But, he cautioned, What youre hearing about potential light at the end of the tunnel doesnt take away form the fact that tomorrow or the next day is going to look really bad. Deborah Birx, the task force coordinator, concurred, but said that although well see rising number of cases of people who lose their lives to this illness, were also hopeful to see a stabilization of cases across these large metro areas where the outbreak began several weeks ago. The United States has begin to show the effects of social-distancing as was happening in Italy, which had begun to turn after weeks of spiraling cases and death, she added. US Navy commander Brett Crozier whose plea for help for his coronavirus-affected crew led to his dismissal has himself tested positive, in the meanwhile. And a tiger at a New York city zoo has tested positive for coronavirus in a first, the US department of agriculture said in a statement. The animal caught the infection from an employee and this is being called the first human-to-cat transmission of the deadly pathogen. The department went on to caution with people with coronavirus to avoid contact with pets and other animals. . Sweden today announced its biggest jump in coronavirus deaths so far amid growing criticism of its light-handed response to the crisis. The death toll jumped by 76 in the latest figures today, bringing the total from 401 to 477. The previous record was 59. Meanwhile the number of confirmed cases jumped by 376, taking the overall tally from 6,830 to 7,206. Bars and restaurants are still open in Sweden along with primary schools, making it an outlier in Europe. However, the Swedish government today demanded emergency powers while a field hospital opened in Stockholm, suggesting that Sweden's response may be hardening. Sweden's prime minister Stefan Lofven has told his country to prepare for thousands of deaths from the pandemic. Sweden's daily death toll jumped to 76 today, its highest yet, amid growing criticism of how the government has handled the outbreak This graph shows the daily number of new coronavirus cases in Sweden, which reached a peak of 612 new infections which were added to the tally on Friday Today the government proposed a bill to give it additional powers - which could see it limit public gatherings or close businesses - without the approval of parliament. 'Sweden and the world are in a serious situation due to the coronavirus,' health minister Lena Hallengren said in a statement. 'We see a need to be able to act quickly if the situation calls for it, it is ultimately about protecting human lives.' The new bill would only grant the extra powers for a period of three months, but opposition politicians voiced concerns over the proposed law. The leader of the conservative Moderate Party, Ulf Kristersson, said the government has not faced delays in rolling out existing measures to curb the outbreak. Swedes have so far been advised to practise social distancing, but schools, bars and restaurants remain open - to the amazement of neighbouring countries which are enforcing strict lockdowns. Thousands of doctors and academics including the head of the Nobel foundation have signed a petition urging tougher action, while one scientist accused Sweden of playing 'Russian roulette with the Swedish population' as cases gradually rise. The scepticism of Sweden comes amid promising signs that the lockdowns are working for its European neighbours such as Spain, Italy and Germany. Germany's 3,677 new cases today are the smallest jump since March 22, while growth in new cases in Spain and Italy has fallen to its slowest since the crisis began. 'We will have more seriously ill people who need intensive care,' he said to Dagens Nyheter. 'We are facing thousands of deaths. We need to prepare for that.' This map shows the latest number of coronavirus cases around the world. The United States now has the world's largest outbreak by far, although Italy has the most deaths What measures has Sweden taken? Unlike in most European countries, Sweden has not closed shops, restaurants or cafes. Primary schools are still open, although high schools and universities are moving to online teaching. There is no limit on leaving the home or going outside, with Swedes merely advised to keep their distance. They have also been told to self-isolate at any sign of coronavirus. Among the stricter measures are bans on gatherings of more than 50 people and on visits to nursing homes. People over the age of 70 and in high- risk groups have been advised to avoid contact with other people. Officials have also been urging people to avoid unnecessary travel over Easter, a message which was fortified by a televised address from the King yesterday. Advertisement Rather than ordering a lockdown, Sweden has told its citizens to 'each take responsibility' for slowing the spread. Gatherings of up to 500 people initially remained permissible, although this has since been hacked down to 50. Only the most vulnerable citizens have been encouraged to self-isolate at home, while visits to nursing homes have been banned. Restaurants, bars and primary schools remain open, and the streets of Stockholm are quieter than usual but far from a ghost town. 'Everyone is responsible for their own well-being, for their neighbours and their own local community,' said foreign minister Ann Linde. '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. The government-backed Public Health Agency of Sweden contends that Swedes have enough common sense to practice social distancing of their own volition, adding that such restrictions should be light enough to be maintained for several months. However, the tone has shifted as cases begin to mount. Sweden's death toll is now at 401, with 6,830 confirmed infections. In the last week, the infection tally increased by an average of 447 per day, compared to an average 256 the previous week. The figures are likely much higher in reality, as only patients admitted to hospital and health care personnel are being tested for the virus. 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. Last week, the head of the Nobel foundation Carl-Henrik Heldin was among well over 2,000 physicians and academics who penned an open letter urging Sweden to shape up. Some even demanded Stockholm, the capital, be locked down after some 50 senior citizens perished in care homes from the virus. But public health officials have expressed scepticism about the viability of lengthy lockdowns. Crowds of people throng the streets in Stockholm - while most of the rest of the world is on lockdown Sunbathers soaking up the rays at the harbour in Malmo, Sweden as the country defied fears about the spread of coronavirus Germany's daily death toll and new infection count both fall Germany saw sharp falls in both its daily death toll and its new infection count today, offering fresh hope that the coronavirus lockdown is working. The number of infections rose by 3,677 - the smallest since March 22 - to bring the overall tally from 91,714 to 95,391. Meanwhile the death toll jumped by only 92, the lowest in a week, taking the total from 1,342 to 1,434. The resulting fatality rate of 1.5 per cent remains lower than many of Germany's neighbours, although it has risen every day for more than two weeks. The two southern states of Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg - closest to Italy - have been hardest hit, accounting for 824 of the 1,434 deaths between them. Bavaria alone recorded nearly a third of the new infections in the last 24 hours, according to the Robert Koch institute which compiles the figures. Bavaria's capital, Munich, has recorded some 3,500 coronavirus cases in total, although only nine deaths. Berlin has more than 3,600 infections while Hamburg has just under 3,000, the figures show. The mortality rate of 1.5 per cent means that one patient has died out of every 67 who have tested positive for the virus. The figure is notably lower than in Italy (12.3 per cent), Spain (9.5 per cent) or France (11.5 per cent), although it has risen from 0.5 per cent since March 26. The relatively low rate is thought to be linked to Germany's mass testing, meaning that many people with mild symptoms are added to the tally who are missed elsewhere. Advertisement PM Lofven has warned that although the pandemic's hold on Sweden was slower than in Italy and Spain, it did not necessarily mean fewer deaths. 'We will have more seriously ill people who need intensive care,' he said to Dagens Nyheter. 'We are facing thousands of deaths. We need to prepare for that.' However, he appeared to play down Sweden's approach when compared with other states, claiming Sweden also wanted to unburden its hospitals. 'I don't think you ought to dramatise [the differences],' he said. 'We're doing it in a different way. Sometimes that is because we are in difference phases [of the pandemic].' There are however signs the tide is turning. Some institutions, such as the Abba museum, closed of their own volition. The social gathering limit has been cut to 50, while high schools and universities are moving teaching online. Authorities have in recent days stepped up pleas to Swedes to stay home for Easter to slow the spread. King Carl XVI Gustaf yesterday urged Swedes to avoid unnecessary travel over Easter. The holiday is 'a time when we are keen to travel and perhaps spend time with family and friends. Many go to church,' the king said in a televised address. 'But, this Easter, some of this will not be possible. We have to accept this. We have to rethink, prepare ourselves for staying home,' he said. The king, 74, and Queen Silvia, 75, who are considered at risk because of their age, have been self-isolating at a royal castle south of Stockholm, Stenhammars Slott. One professor of endocrinology at the Karolinska Institute, Olle Kampe, claimed the government had 'cynically' permitted the virus to spread in hopes of reaching herd immunity. Herd immunity is achieved when so many people are immune to the virus that it cannot spread and the epidemic comes to a standstill. It was widely discussed in the UK when the government initially took a lighter touch, although ministers now deny that herd immunity was ever part of their strategy. Bars have remained open in Sweden (pictured, a venue in Stockholm on Saturday) meaning citizens have been free to socialise as normal despite the pandemic Young people socialise on a rooftop in Stockholm on Saturday. Officials in Sweden have so far refused to order a lockdown amid the coronavirus crisis Shops, restaurants and bars have remained open in Sweden's capital Stockholm, meaning the streets are still packed with citizens - few of whom are even wearing a face mask The sunny weather and lack of a lockdown order meant many Swedes were out enjoying the sunshine in Malmo over the weekend But, Anders Tegnell, Sweden's chief epidemiologist heading up a coronavirus strategy, said: 'We think we've already taken the most important measures. 'Stay home if you feel ill; work from home if you can; and ensure that we protect our older fellow citizens. You could alter other rules, such as those governing trips to the restaurant or gatherings, but you get the best effect when everyone simply sticks to the basic code of conduct.' Associate professor of political science at Sodertorn University in Stockholm, Nicholas Aylott, chimed in saying Sweden's strategy had been in part rooted in a national 'exceptionalism' - a younger and healthier population than other European countries. Power between Sweden's politicians and its civil service is also a factor, with ministers outlining policy and experts deciding how it should be delivered, meaning Sweden's Covid-19 strategy was directed by Tegnell rather Lofven. 'Who is right? Have Sweden's neighbours overreacted?' Dr Aylott blogged. 'Or has Sweden under-reacted? No one can tell yet. There is no guarantee that insulation from politics will bring better outcomes.' The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed. Following are developments Monday related to the global economy, the work place and the spread of the virus. _____________ CENTRAL BANKS AND GOVERNMENT: The White House is considering coronavirus war bonds to fund the federal response to the pandemic. Larry Kudlow, the director of the national economic council, says the federal government, like most Americans, should make the most of low interest rates. The U.S. government has had little trouble finding people willing to lend it money so far, even without anything branded as war bonds. Its been able to borrow at interest rates near record lows despite ballooning deficits, as investors around the world look for safe places to park cash. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is preparing to announce a 108 trillion yen ($1 trillion) economic package to help the country weather the coronavirus crisis. Abe said Monday he plans to disclose details of the package as early as Tuesday. Abe is expected to announce a state of emergency Tuesday, at least for cities like Tokyo. AIRLINES: American Airlines is suspending more flights at the city's three major airports, JFK, LaGuardia and Newark, in New Jersey. American said late Sunday that it will run 13 flights daily from the three airports beginning this week, down from an average of 271 flights per day last April. United Airlines over the weekend reduced its 157 daily flights, to 17. Spirit Airlines has completely cut off service to the city and JetBlue, which is based in New York City, has slashed operations in the city by about 80%. Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines and JetBlue applied for a share of the $25 billion in federal grants designed to cover airline payrolls for the next six months. None disclosed the amount they are seeking. Boeing said it will suspend operations Wednesday at a South Carolina plant where it builds the two-aisle 787 passenger jet. Over the weekend, Boeing extended a two-week halt in work at assembly plants in the Seattle area. Several Boeing workers have tested positive for the new coronavirus. Boeing rival Airbus is also suspending production at assembly plants in Germany and the U.S. as the coronavirus continues to hit airlines and aircraft makers. Story continues STEPPING UP: Apple has sourced more than 20 million face masks through its supply chain, CEO Tim Cook said in a video posted on Twitter. Apple hopes to quickly expand distribution beyond the U.S. It plans to ship over a million face shields to healthcare workers by the end of the week, and continue to send that many every week going forward, Cook said. Ford Motor Co. has manufactured and shipped over 1 million clear plastic face shields to hospitals and first responders all over the U.S. The company sent its millionth protective shield to New York City as part of a shipment of more than 30,000 spokeswoman Elizabeth Kraft said. Hilton and American Express are donating a million U.S. hotel rooms to medical workers who need to sleep or isolate from their families. American Express and Hilton are paying for the rooms, which are being provided at or below cost by Hilton franchisees. VIRUS DATA: Facebook is inviting users to share their coronavirus symptoms and location to help researchers track how the disease is spreading or abating. A survey will appear on Facebook starting this week for some U.S. users and is run by health researchers at Carnegie Mellon University. If it works, it could later expand worldwide. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a post Monday that researchers and health officials think the data from these surveys can help determine where to allocate health resources like ventilators, where to tighten lockdown orders, and eventually which counties can safely start opening back up again. The company says it is also ramping up efforts to provide user location data to a network of epidemiology researchers who then share their analyses but not individual data with cities and states. Those data-sharing agreements started in March and are supplying customized reports to states including California and Massachusetts, as well as parts of India, to show how social distancing practices are working in specific regions. INFUSIONS: Carnival Corp. shares soared 20% Monday after Saudi Arabia bought a big stake in the Miami-based cruise line. The kingdoms public investment fund acquired an 8.2% stake in Carnival, according to a filing with regulators. The Saudi investors likely saw a bargain: Carnivals shares after Monday's gain were still down 80% since the start of the year as the company canceled sailings due to the new coronavirus. Carnival has more than 100 ships, including the Diamond Princess which was quarantined off the coast of Japan in February. Wells Fargo analyst Timothy Conder said in a note that the companys recent $6 billion capital raise should provide it with enough liquidity through November. Airbnb said Monday that two private equity firms Silver Lake and Sixth Street Partners have invested $1 billion in the home-sharing company. Airbnb said the investment a combination of debt and equity will help it grow its host community, with an emphasis on adding longer-term stays. Airbnb has been struggling with the decline in travel because of the new coronavirus, and said last week it would donate $250 million to hosts over the next two months to make up for canceled bookings. RETAIL ON HOLD: Ralph Lauren Corp. and Gap Inc. both said Monday theyre taking a pause on ordering any new goods for fall, as they try to protect themselves against a widespread retail shutdown. With Gap Inc. stores temporarily closed across North America and Europe, we are acting quickly and prudently to responsibly reduce expenses, a company spokesperson said. MARKETS: Stocks jumped in markets around the world Monday after some of the hardest-hit areas offered sparks of hope that the worst of the coronavirus outbreak may be on the horizon. Crude oil fell, giving up some of its huge gains from the prior week when expectations rose that Saudi Arabia and Russia may cut back on some of their production. Kyiv will send more medical aid and disinfectant to Italy in the coming days. A team of 20 doctors, including surgeons, neurosurgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses, will be deployed to the region of Marche in central Italy for two weeks, Italian ambassador to Ukraine, Davide La Cecilia told Reuters. "The national health service in our country is very stressed. So we badly need medical personnel and are very happy that Ukraine is sending this humanitarian aid," said La Cecilia at Kyiv's airport, before the medical mission's departure on April 4, Reuters reported. Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, who accompanied the ambassador, said Kyiv would send more medical aid and disinfectant to Italy in the coming days. Read alsoNumber of confirmed coronavirus cases in Ukraine rises to 1,319 by Monday morning The head of the Ukrainian medical mission, neurosurgeon Andriy Miroshnichenko, said that all the team members volunteered to work in Italy. "After they come back home, they will be able to treat patients and work having practical experience and knowledge about the disease," said Miroshnichenko. Asked whether the Ukrainian doctors were not afraid to catch the virus themselves Glib Bidyukov, a nurse, said it was "a consciously made choice." "When you choose healthcare, you understand that you put yourself in some danger Each of us made a choice a long time ago," Bidyukov said. AG Nessel Urges Federal Government to Stop Discouraging People from Accessing Health Coverage During Pandemic AG Nessel Urges Federal Government to Stop Discouraging People from Accessing Health Coverage During Pandemic April 6, 2020 LANSING While the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health crisis continues, the Trump administration refuses to confirm that accessing health coverage will not impair lawful immigrants abilities to stay in the country, asserts a recent letter from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and 17 other attorneys general. Following a contradictory and confusing alert from the federal government purporting to address the controversy, Attorney General Nessel has again joined a coalition calling on the Trump administration to delay its public charge rule while the COVID-19 outbreak spreads across the nation. Michigan is home to tens of thousands of legal immigrants who have every legal right to receive health care benefits without facing consequences for accepting them, said Nessel. COVID-19 doesnt care who it infects and thats evident in its impact on our nation and around the world. The federal government should want to do nothing but ensure all who live in this country have access to the care they need to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. I urge our U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services to do the right thing and suspend this rule at least while were in the midst of this crisis. Federal regulations allow many lawful immigrants to apply for public benefits, such as health care, if they have been in the country for at least five years. The new rule creates a bait-and-switch if immigrants use the public assistance to which they are legally entitled, they would jeopardize their chances of later renewing their visa or becoming permanent residents. Nessel is also part of a coalition challenging the rule. The coalition won an injunction in federal district court but an appeals court declined to stay the rule while the case is pending. The letter was sent March 19 to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf and U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) senior official Ken Cuccinelli. It follows a March 6 letter the coalition sent to the same officials calling for the rules suspension. Though neither official responded to the initial letter, USCIS posted an alert on March 13 that said the government would not consider any form of testing or care related to COVID-19 in immigrants public charge assessment, even if such treatment is provided or paid for by one or more public benefits, as defined in the rule (e.g. federally funded Medicaid). However, the letter points out that the alert contains confusing and internally contradictory statements about the impact on non-citizens of using Medicaid. In their letter, the attorneys general assert: If DHS is attempting to ensure noncitizens in our communities remain enrolled in Medicaid so they can use Medicaid services should they have symptoms of COVID-19, the Alert fails to achieve this. And likewise, if DHS is attempting to ensure that noncitizens seek testing and treatment for COVID-19 without fear of public charge consequences, the Alert also utterly fails to achieve this. Given the grave danger facing our nations health and economy, it is imperative that DHS not chill immigrants from enrolling in Medicaid or using Medicaid benefits for any purpose until the COVID-19 crisis is over. To protect the residents of our states and the rest of the country, we ask that DHS immediately announce that the Rule is stayed pending successful containment of COVID-19. Short of that, however, it is imperative that DHS at least make clear that enrollment in Medicaid and the use of Medicaid benefits for any reason will not be considered in the public charge assessment. Nessel joins the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia and Washington in sending this letter. ### Kelly Rossman-McKinney 517-512-9342 Attorney General By PTI NEW DELHI: After bigbasket and Spencer's Retail, ride-hailing Uber has now partnered with Walmart-owned Flipkart to provide people in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi access to everyday essentials amid the nationwide lockdown. Last week, Uber had said two-wheelers (UberMoto) and four-wheelers (UberGo and UberXL) and network of driver-partners on its platform will help support delivery of essential supplies safely to consumers' doorsteps. "We are pleased to announce our partnership with Flipkart today to further consolidate our new last-mile delivery service. The partnership helps keep the economy running and enables Indians to stay at home in line with government guidelines for containing Covid-19, as well as creates earning opportunities for drivers," Uber India and South Asia Director-Operations and Head of Cities Prabhjeet Singh said. Uber will not charge any commission, enabling drivers to keep 100 per cent of his billed amount, he added. Through its partnership with bigbasket, Uber is delivering to customers in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chandigarh and Noida. Singh explained that the partnership with Flipkart will keep vital supply chains running and address the needs of customers to receive essential goods at their doorsteps every day. "It will also support the government's objective of keeping hundreds of millions of Indians at home to contain the spread of COVID-19," he added. Singh, however, did not comment on the number of driver-partners who are helping in carrying out these e-commerce deliveries. In line with the government guidelines and to maintain safety and hygiene for containing the spread of Covid-19, all drivers associated with this service are being provided masks, gloves, sanitisers and safety training, Singh said. "This partnership is to help move essential supplies from our sellers/ vendors to customers in the shortest possible span of time. Flipkart remains committed to supporting our customers and we are mobilizing all possible options to ensure that in this national fight against Corona, we can support the governments, by delivering essential supplies to people who are staying indoors," Flipkart Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Rajneesh Kumar said. E-commerce companies have been struggling to deliver orders since the government ordered 21-day lockdown on March 24 to contain the spread of coronavirus. Even though the government allowed delivery of essential goods, including food, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment through e-commerce, players had complained about their delivery staff being hassled by police. With local authorities shutting down warehouses and stopping trucks from crossing state borders, e-commerce players have seen their operations getting disrupted. The companies have resumed operations and working to complete pending orders. Flipkart had temporarily suspended operations last week and later resumed services the same day after assurance of safe passage of its supply chain and delivery executives by local law enforcement authorities. France could see its deepest recession this year since the end of World War II, due to the coronavirus crisis, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire warned Monday. "The worst growth figure in France since 1945 was -2.2 percent in 2009, after the financial crisis of 2008. We will probably be very far beyond -2.2 percent" this year, Le Maire told a Senate panel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MARION, S.C. The Marion Chamber of Commerce, Pee Dee Electric Cooperative and many other community partners started their annual tour of third grade classrooms in Marion County to distribute the book, Francis Marion and the Legend of the Swamp Fox by Kate Salley Palmer. Its the 10th year third graders received the book. To date, over 3,600 copies of the book have been distributed. Marion County School District Special Projects Officer, Deborah Wimberly, took time to share information with classes about Francis Marion in the area during the American Revolution. Marion Chamber Director Cindy Rogers said the project has had a two-fold impact; impressing the importance of reading and giving the young people a sense of how important their county was in the history of the nation. The children look forward to our visit every year and absolutely love this book, Rogers said. Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, MUSC Health, Robert E. Lee Attorneys office and Sheriff Brian Wallace all came to help give out copies of the book. Schools receiving the book included Marion Elementary School, Creek Bridge STEM Academy, McCormick Elementary School, Pee Dee Academy and Mullins-Marion Christian School. [April 06, 2020] Voya Investment Management Announces Changes to the Shareholder Special Meetings for a Number of its Investment Funds Voya Euro STOXX 50 Index Portfolio ("Euro STOXX 50 Index Portfolio"), Voya FTSE 100 Index Portfolio ("FTSE 100 Index Portfolio"), Voya Hang Seng Index Portfolio ("Hang Seng Index Portfolio"), and Voya Japan TOPIX Index Portfolio ("Japan TOPIX Index Portfolio") announced today that the location of the Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "Special Meeting") of Euro STOXX 50 Index Portfolio, FTSE 100 Index Portfolio, Hang Seng Index Portfolio, and Japan TOPIX Index Portfolio (each, a "Portfolio" and collectively, the "Portfolios") has been changed. As previously announced, the Special Meeting will be held on Thursday, April 16, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. In light of public health concerns regarding the coronavirus pandemic, the Special Meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format, by conference call only. Shareholders will not be able to attend the Special Meeting in person and only shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 10, 2020 (the "Record Date") may attend the Special Meeting by conference call. At the Special Meeting, shareholders of each Portfolio will be asked to vote on Plans of Liquidation for the Portfolios. As described in the proxy materials for the Special Meeting previously distributed, any shareholder of record of a Portfolio as of the Record Date is entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Special Meeting, and is also entitled to vote at any adjournments or postponements thereof. Shareholders of record as of th Record Date may attend the Special Meeting by calling one of the following Dial-In numbers ((312) 626-6799, (646) 876-9923, (346) 248-7799, (669) 900-6833, (253) 215-8782 or (301) 715-8592)), and entering the Meeting ID# (679 927 362) and Password (041620), as prompted. When asked for a Participant ID#, please press # and follow the prompts. Shareholders of record as of the Record Date may vote during the Special Meeting by following the instructions provided during the conference call. If shareholders of record as of the Record Date expect to attend the Special Meeting by conference call, the Portfolios ask that they please call Shareholder Services toll-free at 1-800-992-0180. Regardless of whether shareholders of record as of the Record Date plan to attend the Special Meeting by conference call, the Portfolios urge them to vote and submit promptly their Proxy Ballot so that it is received no later than April 15, 2020, by one of the methods described in the proxy materials for the Special Meeting. The Proxy Statement is available on the Internet at www.proxyvote.com/voya. The Proxy Ballot included with the proxy materials previously distributed will not be updated to reflect the change in location and may continue to be used to vote shares in connection with the Special Meeting. About Voya Investment Management A leading, active asset management firm, Voya Investment Management manages, as of December 31, 2019, over $223 billion for affiliated and external institutions as well as individual investors. With more than 40 years of history in asset management, Voya Investment Management has the experience and resources to provide clients with investment solutions with an emphasis on equities, fixed income, and multi-asset strategies and solutions. Voya Investment Management was named in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 as a "Best Places to Work" by Pensions and Investments magazine. For more information, visit voyainvestments.com. Follow Voya Investment Management on Twitter (News - Alert) @VoyaInvestments. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005853/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Strict abortion laws were overturned following a change to the law voted in at Westminster last year (PA) Stormonts leaders have clashed over the prospect of allowing women in Northern Ireland access to home abortions during the coronavirus outbreak. Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill called for the introduction of telemedicine services during the crisis, but First Minister Arlene Foster has reiterated her opposition to abortion on demand. While a new legal framework to allow terminations in the region came into effect at the end of last month, the services have not yet been rolled out. Women seeking terminations in the interim have been advised to travel to Great Britain. However, restrictions on travel due to coronavirus have placed the arrangement into difficulty. I don't think it's any secret that I don't believe that abortion on demand should be available in Northern IrelandArlene Foster During the Covid-19 emergency, women in the early stages of pregnancy in England, Scotland and Wales are able to secure abortion medication from a doctor through telemedicine services. Pro-choice campaigners have called for this provision to be introduced in Northern Ireland as well. Health Minister Robin Swann has responsibility for the issue, but any move to introduce the measure will require the agreement of the wider powersharing executive. The issue was discussed at a meeting of the Stormont Executive on Monday. Expand Close Anti-abortion protesters stage a silent demonstration at Stormont against the liberalisation of abortion laws (Brian Lawless/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Anti-abortion protesters stage a silent demonstration at Stormont against the liberalisation of abortion laws (Brian Lawless/PA) Afterwards, Mrs Foster said she would not give a running commentary on the executives deliberations. She said a full discussion was required. The Health minister will bring papers forward and we will have discussions in relation to those papers, she said. But I dont think its any secret that I dont believe that abortion on demand should be available in Northern Ireland. I think its a very retrograde step for our society here in Northern Ireland instead of supporting people who find themselves in crisis pregnancies, were not even having any discussion around that and how we can support people in those circumstances, how we can provide perinatal care. This is about compassionate healthcare, this is about making sure that we have supports here for women who find themselves in a vulnerable situationMichelle O'Neill Ms ONeill said the service should be available to Northern Ireland women. I support telemedicine, she said. What were talking about is compassionate healthcare, modern healthcare for women. What were talking about is responding to womens need at the time of global crisis women shouldnt be left out in terms of supports that are put in place. And so the regulations that have went through Westminster, the legislation thats went through, needs to be implemented here. Obviously this is about compassionate healthcare, this is about making sure that we have supports here for women who find themselves in a vulnerable situation. So the health minister has an obligation to put in place those regulations and to put in place the mechanisms in order to make sure those supports are there for women as has been legislated for. There has been anger among the pro-choice lobby that the Stormont Executive has not yet set up termination services. Alliance for Choice expressed frustration and claimed Stormont is blocking abortion services. Naomi Connor, Alliance for Choice co-convenor in Belfast, said: The World Health Organisation notes that abortion is essential healthcare in a pandemic, and yet the Northern Ireland Office and the Department of Health in NI have found it acceptable to do absolutely nothing, except to release videos extolling travel to England for treatment, when the reality of clinic accessibility is limited to an eight-hour each-way freight ferry with no companions and only for those who are not quarantined or self-isolating. Earlier Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said travel is currently appropriate for medical needs. Travel should only be for essential travel, one of those key points is a medical need or the need to provide medical care and support to other people. So if there is a medical need for someone to travel, that is something that is appropriate within the guidelines, he told the BBC. Indias hinterland is suffering silently. Coronavirus may have spared it thus far but the sudden loss of income triggered by job losses of those who migrated to cities, is taking its toll. Those who chose to stay back in the countryside and are earning their livelihoods through agriculture, are forced to feed their produce, especially the perishables, to the cattle as the lockdown has halted their fruits and vegetables from reaching the urban markets. In Karnataka, tonnes of grapes have found their way to compost pits amounting to hundreds of crores of rupees. But that is not all. If stay-home orders are prolonged, the farmers in the villages will be staring at bigger economic losses, as early as next week. What was seen as only the problem of supply so far, could turn into a shortage of production. That should be an alarm bell for the government. Come next week, the harvest season will begin for Indias most staple wheat crop. In all probability, shortage of hands for harvesting wheat could lead to rotting of the crop in the fields. Labour and logistics problems have already led to a halt in rice exports from India, the worlds top rice exporter. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has urged wheat farmers to postpone their harvest to April 20 in the wake of the virus outbreak. But beyond that, it may not be possible to stop them without any adverse impact on their crop. Keeping in mind the harvesting and sowing seasons, the Centre late last month, had put farmers, farm workers, procurement agencies and packaging units of fertilisers, pesticides and seeds under exempt category. This will be crucial for keeping the supply chain of foodgrains alive, said an official. But many states, until Friday, had not allowed exemptions to farmers. It does come with potential health risk to labourers working in close proximity in the fields during the harvest time. The problem is not peculiar to India, governments around the globe have put their people on lockdown to flatten the virus curve but it has slowed global food supply chains. In France, acute shortage of seasonal labour to harvest crops has prompted the government call unemployed to help farmers. In the US, the virus has sent farm workers, half of whom are undocumented migrant labourers, uncovered by $2 trillion stimulus, into panic. India, the globes second most populous country, too faces a somewhat similar situation. A large number of internal migrants lend helping hand during harvest and planting seasons. Lakhs of them head home from their places of work during this time too to their remote villages of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana, the major wheat producing states. But this year is different. They have been held up where they work or have travelled halfway home but have been debarred from crossing their village boundaries. Bhola, a migrant labourer, who for some reason stayed back at Ballia in Uttar Pradesh this winter, says his hands are full this year. Wheat farm owners are ready to pay four times more wages. There is an acute shortage of farm labourers in Indias largest wheat producing state, which accounts for over 35% of total wheat produced in the country. We are eagerly waiting for the lockdown to lift. I heard on TV channels the lockdown may lift around April 15. Our families will die of hunger, if we dont return to our fields for wheat and mustard harvest. We not only earn wages but also a share of crop that takes care of our grain requirements for a large part of the year, Harvinder Singh of Punjab, who worked as a daily wage earner at construction sites in Delhi, says. The government has so far given a welfare relief of only Rs 1.7 lakh crore, which is just about 1.2% of GDP and that too largely for formal sector workers. The informal sector, which constitutes about 80% of the countrys workforce, is yet to get any relief. These are self-employed, daily wage earners, migrant labourers, rag pickers, street vendors and those working in small and micro units sprawling across the cities. Top officials have been engaged in a second stimulus package, which could be bigger than the one announced on March 26. But economists and former policymakers have been suggesting for a far bigger package of Rs 6-8 lakh crore more, which should soon be deployed to the most-needy informal workers, failing which they may soon hit the streets as their bigger problem would be that of hunger. According to Nobel laureate Esther Duflo, any delay by the government in reaching out to them with cash or food grains could force them to defy the lockdown norms that could be difficult even for the police to control. According to the Modi governments first Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian, it is an unconventional economic crisis and much larger in dimension than the past economic crises. It has hit the poor below their belt. The government should immediately help them and keep the cash taps running without giving much thought to the issues like pilferage at the moment. The government must not care too much on how to bring up the economy but how to cushion those who are the worst affected, Subramanian last week told a TV channel. The relentless rise in the cases of coronavirus each day does not suggest India will lift the lockdown fully anytime soon. If the stay-home norms continue, the government may need to keep feeding the poor for longer than expected. Does the government have the wherewithal to feed more than a quarter of its 1.3 billion people, living below the poverty line? An analysis by The Economist shows that while lockdown in emerging countries including India, has matched the first world nations, their fiscal stimulus has not. If I was told who the nominee was going to be, but I didnt get to vote, I would feel disenfranchised, said Randy Bryce, a Sanders state co-chair and former congressional candidate who wants him to keep running at least through the last primaries in June. People will feel like theyre not going to matter in one of those later states if theres not a primary. Sergeant Ilekura Samson Ajayi The identity of the army officer, who killed a young man, Joseph Pessu in Delta State while enforcing a stay-at-home order by the state government has been revealed by Sahara Reporters Joseph Pessu was shot dead by one Ilekura Samson Ajayi at around 10:30am on Thursday at Ada Val Arenyenka Street, Ugbuwangue, Warri, Delta State, while trying to withdraw money to purchase medicine for his pregnant wife. His killing caused a stir and sparked a protest in the community with his enraged friends and kinsmen blocking major roads to express their anger. A senior police officer in the state gave the name of the killer army personnel as Sergeant Ilekura Samson Ajayi of the Nigerian Army 4 Brigade Benin, Edo State, with force number 02NA/52/3134, Sahara Reporters can confirm. According to him, police preliminary investigation showed that Ajayi is attached to Operation Delta Save, 3 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Effurun Barracks, Warri. Operation Delta Save was launched by the Nigerian military to protect oil installations as well as prevent oil bunkering activities in the Niger Delta region. Ajayi was deployed to a company called B Coy where they are providing security before the ugly incident occurred at the checkpoint where he and others were deployed to on that fateful day. I can conveniently tell you that Ajayi is no longer in our facility at the area command, Warri. He has since been released from detention and if in doubt challenge the police authority to show him to the press. He has been released to the unit of the Operation Delta Save which he is attached to. But his release from our detention to the unit of the Operation Delta Save does not make him a free man or left off the hook of the murder because he will be made to face a disciplinary action. He will be court martialled by the army authority, the source said. Investigation by SR however, revealed that Ajayi hails from Imeri in Ondo State. When contacted to know if the suspect had actually been released from police detention in Warri, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, said she had no idea about that. She said, Well, for now I dont have any more information than his detention. I dont know about his being released. A tiger at the Bronx Zoo has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, becoming the first known animal in the United States to contract the virus, the zoo and federal officials said Sunday. The four-year-old Malayan tiger named Nadia was tested for covid-19 after she and several other lions and tigers came down with a dry cough starting March 27, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement. Officials believe that an asymptomatic zookeeper carrying the virus somehow transmitted the disease to the tiger while caring for the animals. The Wildlife Conservation Society, which runs the Bronx Zoo, said it wanted to test Nadia "out of an abundance of caution," hoping to ensure "any knowledge we gain about COVID-19 will contribute to the world's continuing understanding of this novel coronavirus." Her test was confirmed positive at the USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories, in what the agency described as "the first case of its kind." "Though they have experienced some decrease in appetite, the cats at the Bronx Zoo are otherwise doing well under veterinary care and are bright, alert, and interactive with their keepers," the Wildlife Conservation Society said in a statement. "It is not known how this disease will develop in big cats since different species can react differently to novel infections, but we will continue to monitor them closely and anticipate full recoveries." The tiger's positive diagnosis follows scattered reports around the world of other animals contracting the virus, raising concerns among pet owners about whether their animals could be at risk. Officials in Hong Kong have discovered covid-19 in at least one cat and two dogs quarantined with their infected owners, while a cat in Belgium showed some signs consistent with the virus after its owner returned from Italy and later tested positive. While there have been no reports of pets in the United States contracting the virus, the USDA said it still recommends that "people sick with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus." "If a sick person must care for a pet or be around animals, they should wash their hands before and after the interaction," the agency said. The USDA added that humans shouldn't worry about catching it from pets or animals, saying there is currently "no evidence" to suggest that animals who contract the virus can give it back to their keepers. The Bronx Zoo has been closed to the public since mid-March, as New York City continues to be the worst-hit area not only in the country but in the world. More than 67,000 people have tested positive for the virus in the city, of the known cases. Following Nadia's positive coronavirus test, the Wildlife Conservation Society said Sunday that employees at the Bronx Zoo put in place "appropriate preventative measures," leading some zoos elsewhere in the United States to follow suit. The Oakland Zoo, for example, said it was expanding its existing guidelines for personal protective equipment. The animals at the Bronx Zoo who developed the dry cough were housed in its Tiger Mountain exhibit, the conservation society said. They included Nadia's sister, Azul, two Amur tigers and three African lions. But while all showed similar respiratory symptoms, the USDA said Nadia was the only big cat tested because undergoing diagnostic tests requires that the animals be placed under general anesthesia. The attending veterinarian "felt it was in the best interest of the animals to limit the potential risks of general anesthesia to one tiger for diagnostics," the USDA said. The Bronx Zoo also pointed out that coronavirus tests for people and animals are different, with the latter being performed at a veterinary lab, so no human in need of a test lost one to the tiger. "You cannot send human samples to the veterinary laboratory, and you cannot send animal tests to the human laboratories, so there is no competition for testing between these very different situations," Dr. Paul Calle, the Bronx Zoo's chief veterinarian, said in a statement. Still, the USDA said that the tiger's diagnosis shouldn't lead zoos or other pet owners to worry about routinely testing animals for coronavirus. More than 50 doctors protesting the lack of safety equipment as they battle the coronavirus were arrested Monday in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, police and physicians said. The arrests occurred after more than 100 doctors and paramedics rallied near the city's main hospital and then moved to protest in front of the chief minister's residence, according to an AFP reporter. Police later used batons to disperse the group after they tried to enter the chief minister's home, resulting in scuffles between the sides. "We have taken 53 doctors into custody for violating the law," Abdul Razzaq Cheema, a senior police official told AFP after the incident. Cheema said police held the doctors for several hours before the provincial government ordered them to release the group. Liaqat Shehwani, a spokesman for the provincial Balochistan government, told AFP that the doctors were protesting over the unavailability of personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks and goggles. "We had assured them that the PPE would be provided soon but they started the protest," Shehwani said, adding that authorities were planning to distribute protective equipment after receiving supplies from the federal government earlier Monday. Medical staff across Pakistan have complained for weeks over the severe shortages of safety equipment in hospitals as they treat patients suffering from the novel coronavirus. Yasir Achakzai, president of the doctors association in Quetta, told reporters that the government was not following the World Health Organization's guidelines for protecting doctors and other health workers. "So they forced us to protest for our rights," said Achakzai. Pakistani has recorded 3,277 COVID-19 cases and 50 deaths caused by the virus, however, the true tally is thought to be many times larger as only limited testing is available in the impoverished country of 215 million. Last month, both a doctor and nurse in Pakistan died after contracting the novel coronavirus, while at least two dozen other medical workers have recently tested positive for COVID-19. Frontline medical workers across the world have been grappling with short supplies of vital safety equipment as the pandemic spreads. Police used batons to disperse doctors protesting the lack of goggles, masks and other protective equipment in Quetta, southwest Pakistan Medical staff across Pakistan have complained for weeks over the severe shortages of safety equipment as they battle the virus Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday had a telephonic conversation with his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison and the two leaders agreed on the importance of sharing experience on ways to tackle the spread of coronavirus. Modi and Morrison also discussed the domestic response strategies being adopted by their respective governments to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. "They agreed on the importance of bilateral experience-sharing in the context of this health crisis, including through collaborative research efforts," an official statement said here. Modi conveyed that his government stands ready to provide necessary facilitation and support to any Australian citizen stranded in India due to the ongoing lockdown. Morrison on his part assured that the Indian community in Australia, including Indian students, would continue to be valued as a vibrant part of the Australian society. The two leaders agreed to remain attentive to the wider significance of the India-Australia partnership, including in the Indo-Pacific region, even as they focus on solving the present health crisis, the statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines will limit the number of passengers on flights to Ho Chi Minh City from April 6-15 following a request from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam. The airline will carry a maximum of 180 passengers on Boeing 787 and Airbus 350 aircraft, and no more than 120 passengers on its Airbus 321 planes, the carrier said on April 5. The move aims to ensure all passengers at HCM City-based Tan Son Nhat International Airport are tested for the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that causes the acute respiratory disease (COVID-19). Currently, all passengers on domestic flights to the Tan Son Nhat International Airport are tested for the virus. A representative of Vietnam Airlines said if the number of visitors to HCM City via the Tan Son Nhat airport continues to rise, competent agencies may quarantine them before giving them medical tests. Also on April 5, the airline announced that it will adjust the frequency of its flights from Hanoi/HCM City to Da Nang after the central city began implementing a 14-day quarantine period for passengers arriving from the two major cities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, the carrier will conduct three round trips per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on each route from April 7-15. It will continue operating one flight per day from Hanoi to HCM City and vice versa. The carriers flight schedule will depend much on the developments of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has committed to helping passengers on domestic flights change their flights or routes as per current regulations. Crew members on all of its flights will be equipped with protective gear. The crew and passengers are required to have their body temperature checked and must make health declarations before boarding flights. All planes are being disinfected after landing in Hanoi, Da Nang and HCM City. Vietnam Airlines has suspended international flights until April 30./.VNA Dedicated to fighting the spread of Covid-19 in Cork University Hospital, Fiona Grant has taken only one day off in the last four weeks. Im exhausted but its for a good cause, says the housekeeping worker, who has been coming in on her days off. This virus is very dangerous and cleanliness is key. I personally dont let myself think about the dangers. Were frontline staff, we know the risks and were dedicated. Fiona Grant, a member of the housekeeping services team at CUH Health Minister Simon Harris recently acknowledged the vital work Fiona and her colleagues do, thanking them on Twitter: You are on the frontline and your work is crucial in our national effort against the #coronavirus. Were extremely proud of our work, says Ms Grant. Before, frontline staff were only thought of as doctors and nurses but were all frontline staff. "You couldnt keep CUH open without the cleaners, catering, the porters. More people have an understanding of the importance of cleaning now. "Patients and visitors say thank you when they see you cleaning now, which is really lovely. Its nice to be appreciated. CUH is the busiest acute hospital outside of Dublin and employs about 3,000. Ms Grant says she spends her days cleaning floors and bathrooms, wiping doorhandles, bannisters, and everywhere people touch, and fumigating rooms in which everything is disinfected if theres a suspected coronavirus case. We fumigated four rooms in two hours already today, she says. Everything is wiped down with Actichlor a Milton-based tablet with chlorine and disinfectant the floor, the ceilings, the curtains, and screens are taken down. "It takes two people a good half-hour to fumigate one small room. Were all highly trained in PPE, every staff member, and there are training sessions all day in the auditorium on PPE. Donning and doffing is very important putting on the full PPE gown, hairnet, goggles, mask, two pairs of gloves under and over the cuff. Despite her busy cleaning schedule, Ms Grant also finds time for the patients. I found it upsetting to see family or loved ones have to bring things to the door and leave. "So I bring those things up to the patients for them. Sometimes I go to Tesco for patients who cant get out or have people in. You have to. It could be your father or mother. She adds: These people dont see anyone from morning to night apart from staff, so if they want to talk Ill talk. Its a tough time but well get through it, were fighting for the cause and well win. Susan Justice, who works in housekeeping at the adjacent Cork University Maternity Hospital, says she can understand a patients frustration or sadness at coming into hospital alone because she can no longer be with her family either. We're ready for this. This is what we do every day. When we enter those rooms, they are cleaned from top to tail. We're trained to do this, and we'll keep on doing it. We've got this. #coronavirus Thanks to our cleaners working across Ireland. #covid19#FrontLineHeroes all pic.twitter.com/oIc86LpbLw SIPTU Health Division #JoinAUnion (@siptuhealth) April 5, 2020 I went home to my apartment on Friday night and didnt see another person until Monday morning at work, she says. Im from Clare and I havent been able to go back to see my family. "Theyre worried about me, they asked me to stop working and to just come home. But weve all committed to the HSE. This is what were trained for, to try to stop the virus spreading. Sometimes you want to cry, but you have to keep going. Keep cleaning. Because the safety of the mother and baby are our priority. TWITTER SIPTU HEALTH DIVISION : This is what we do every day. When we enter those rooms, they are cleaned from top to tail. Were trained to do this, and well keep on doing it." She said that the hospital responded quickly to the coronavirus outbreak, training staff and erecting tents outside CUMH where everyones temperature is taken before they can enter the hospital. Ms Justice commended John Higgins, UCC Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology who runs CUMH for his work and foresight. He put everything in motion so quickly and when he sees our girls cleaning a door handle he tells them theyre doing a good job. That makes such a difference. We used to eat in the main canteen at CUH but we cant go there since the outbreak, so Prof Higgins organised for breakfast, scones, lunch and dinner to be brought in to us. Theres no doubt in my mind that were protected. "We have no problems here with PPE. Everyone is exhausted, run into the ground, but everyones been amazing - the security, the girls on reception. Everyone. Her colleague next door in CUH, Ian Morey, explained their predicament eloquently in a video published on Monday by trade union SIPTU. Were going right into the middle of the virus, Mr Morey, who also works in housekeeping, said. Were taking massive risks, were in the environment where the bug is breeding, were taking massive chances for our lives, our families. Were a massive team in here, a massive family and were all here to support each other. The latest restrictions in operation since Friday, March 27 mandate that everyone should stay at home, only leaving to: Lucknow, April 6 : With the number of Covid-19 patients rising alarmingly in Uttar Pradesh and threatening to cross the 300 mark, the Yogi Adityanath government is now reviewing its decision of lifting the lockdown on April 15. Chief Secretary R.K. Tiwari told reporters on Monday that the surge in numbers of Corona positive cases had taken place because of the Tablighi Jamaat members in the state. "There is still time for the lockdown and we will review the situation and then decide," he said. The chief secretary said that almost all the Tablighi Jamaat members who had attended the Nizamuddin meeting in Delhi had been tracked. "We are now tracking their contacts and once this is done, we will review the situation," he said. Meanwhile, sources said that the government could continue to lockdown in cities like Gautam Buddha Nagar, Noida, Ghaziabad, Agra, Lucknow that had emerged as hotspots for Corona cases. "There are 33 districts as of now that have reported Corona cases. The lockdown may be extended in at least a dozen district that are 'Corona sensitive'. The lockdown could be lifted in other districts that have reported no cases but inter-city movement will be restricted," said a senior official. Its impossible to pinpoint the exact start of American environmentalism, but the movement grew its roots in the writings of 19th-century naturalists. Many, however, place the modern start date around 1970, with the first celebration of Earth Day. Since then, the grassroots campaign has grown to the political and often radical actions of today, such as the 2019 Global Climate Strike. Some date the modern environmental movement back to Rachel Carsons publication of Silent Spring in 1962. Others cite the Santa Barbara Oil Spill of 1969 as a major influence. Regardless, the movement has grown and transformed in the past several decades; Earth Day, for example, started in the U.S. with millions of people and has grown to a worldwide event with over 1 billion participants each year. The Amnesty International India on Monday urged the Assam government to immediately release all those declared as irregular foreigners' and detained in the overcrowded detention centers of the state. Amnesty International India (AII) executive director Avinash Kumar, in a statement, said regardless of COVID-19, the Assam government must release all those who have been detained for a prolonged period of time in the detention centers and end their legal limbo". "Migration status is and must be irrelevant to every human being's dignity and their right to live, he said. While Assam's move to release over 700 prisoners to contain COVID-19 outbreak is welcome, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal must ensure that those declared foreigners and detained across the six detention centers in the state are also released immediately, the statement said. As the pandemic spreads, the state government must recognise that around 800 "irregular foreigners" in the detention centers face a heightened risk of infection and must do everything to protect them, starting with their immediate release, it said. With an occupancy rate of 117 per cent and "inadequate healthcare services", overcrowded Indian prisons constitute a perfect hotspot for coronavirus spread, the international human rights body said. Global organisations like the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, World Health Organisation and the International Organisation for Migration have called on governments to release migrant detainees without delay, considering the lethal consequences of the COVID19 outbreak. These bodies have also urged the governments to release migrant children and their families, and those detained without sufficient legal basis, Kumar said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Charleston police issued trespassing summonses to two people at a James Island park after they refused to leave on Friday, the police chief said. They are the only two people to receive trespassing summonses stemming from the city's stay-at-home ordinance. Police Chief Luther Reynolds said the two town residents were cited after they refused to leave Melton Demetre Park when officers asked them to do so. Aside from four summonses issued to two businesses and two summonses issued to individuals on Friday, neither the city Police Department nor the citys Livability Department issued citations for violation of the citys stay-at-home ordinance or Gov. Henry McMasters nonessential business order in effect at the time. On Monday, McMaster issued a stay-at-home order, joining 41 other states and making South Carolina the last state on the East Coast to implement such a measure. Reynolds said there is a "big difference" on the waterways. On the first weekend of McMaster's order barring access to boat landings, Charleston police turned away 35 people looking to get out on the water, mostly recreational fishermen. None resisted. Commercial fishing is still permitted. "This weekend I would say there was a 90 percent drop-off from where we were two weeks ago," Reynolds said. "Ninety-nine-point-nine percent of the people we asked to leave, they cooperated and left." Reynolds reiterated that the department is not intent on putting people in jail and hopes for voluntary compliance. "Each week it gets better," Reynolds said. "But there's still a lot of people we're in contact with and a lot of people that want to be outside. There's a lot of areas that are closed and people are showing up in other areas." Charleston Livability Director Daniel Riccio said the city received two complaints about Lowe's on Friday but none throughout the weekend. He said the city had also received a few unfounded complaints about nonessential businesses being open. He said no businesses were issued citations since two a salon and a gym last week. Inspector Chris Rosier, the Mount Pleasant Police Department spokesman, said officers have not yet issued citations to nonessential businesses remaining open. Rosier said the town is in its education phase, encouraging local businesses to comply. Charleston County's Sheriffs Office deputies didn't issue citations to nonessential businesses over the weekend regarding McMaster's previous executive order. In Beaufort County, more than 30 warnings for "illegal acts under state of emergency" were issued to people at public boat landings and ramps for recreational boating and attempting to access public boat landings. Warnings were issued at Edgar C. Glenn Landing on Lemon Island, C.C. Haigh Jr. Landing between Hilton Head Island bridges and Alljoy Landing in Bluffton, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office. Lt. Rick Carson, spokesman for the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office, said residents and business owners have been "very cooperative" with the McMaster's then-order. "With that said our agency did issue one citation yesterday evening," Carson said. "However, the owner completely understood the reason for the citation and promptly closed the business with nothing further being said or discussed." The Columbia Police Department cited and closed a pair of retail businesses that were continuing to operate over the weekend despite being deemed nonessential in the citys recent stay-at-home order amid the growing coronavirus pandemic. Columbia Police Department spokeswoman Jennifer Timmons said citations were issued and two businesses closed on April 4: The Michaels Arts and Crafts Supply Store at 4400 Fort Jackson Blvd. and Kims Beauty Max, a beauty and hair supply store at 4119 W. Beltline Blvd. According to Timmons, since the passage of the citys stay-at-home order, Columbia police officers had been offering verbal warnings to businesses that were required to shutter. She said the city began taking the next step over the weekend. Reporters Chris Trainor and Jerrel Floyd contributed to this report. A top Detroit-area hospital official is calling on the state to mandate improvements in transparency from Michigan hospitals when it comes to information on the coronavirus outbreak. The state says it already has ordered hospitals to share COVID-19 data, but not all of them are complying. Beaumont Health CEO John Fox urged the state in a Sunday news release to require health care systems to share more data with each other. As of Sunday, April 5, Beaumont was caring for 1,074 confirmed COVID-19 patients across its system, according to the news release. Fox said other health systems in Southeast Michigan are seeing large numbers of patients as well. Beaumont hospital system implements two-step process to clean used N95 masks However, without an accurate daily census report that indicates how many COVID-19 confirmed patients are in each hospital and how many in each hospital are still awaiting test results, it is impossible to know how different parts of Michigan are being affected by the virus," Fox said. "About half of the patients in Beaumont hospitals that are tested for COVID-19 are confirmed as positive. Even with the limited information we have, we know southeast Michigan is the states ground zero for the pandemic. The hospital system on March 19 began sharing daily updates on COVID-19 patient statistics after receiving its first confirmed case on March 13. Beaumont planned to begin sharing even more data beginning Sunday. Fox said the state should collect real-time data from all Michigan hospitals to be shared openly. As the states largest health system, we have been advocating for this both publicly and behind the scenes," Fox said. "This is an unprecedented situation. Faster action is needed to ensure we can care for the influx of COVID-19 patients over the next few weeks and months, in addition to those we serve who need emergency or trauma care, have heart attacks, give birth or need other truly emergent medical services. A Michigan Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson on Sunday pointed to an emergency order issued March 24 that did require hospitals to provide critical information on the coronavirus outbreak, but acknowledged that not all hospitals have regularly complied. "Accurate data on hospital capacity and hospital utilization are needed for planning for potential surges in number of cases in specific geographic areas of the state in order to address gaps between availability and need, said Lynn Sutfin, spokesperson for the state health department. The order issued by MDHHS Director Robert Gordon last month requires hospitals to report: Frequency of updates to bed capacity. Personal protective equipment inventory. Laboratory testing capacity. Number of ventilated patients. Number of ventilators. Patient census. Staffing shortages. Units or areas dedicated to COVID-19 treatment. Other data, which in the hospitals judgment, may help to support response to the COVID-19 pandemic. MDHHS has received this information from many hospitals, with Beaumont health system reporting robustly into the system, Sutfin said. Information is posted by Healthcare Coalition Region to the Michigan.gov/Coronavirus website. However, not all hospitals are regularly reporting and MDHHS is working to improve response rate into the system and plans to include improved additional information in the coming days. Separately, Gordon on Saturday, April 4 issued an emergency order requiring physicians and funeral homes to report deaths related to COVID-19 more quickly. Michigan orders quicker reporting of coronavirus deaths by physicians, funeral homes Full Michigan coronavirus coverage 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. MORE: Michigan reports 1,493 new coronavirus cases on Sunday and 77 more deaths Sunday, April 5: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan 3rd coronavirus death reported in Kent County Jackson County reports 10 more confirmed coronavirus cases A Pakistani court has declared that overcrowding in jails is unconstitutional and ruled that a prisoner can sue the government and prison authorities for inhuman treatment during imprisonment, media reports said on Monday. The Islamabad High Court (IHC), after hearing the petitions filed by Adiala jail inmates, issued directives to the federal government and Islamabad's commissioner for observance of provisions in jail manual as well as in the international conventions and treaties related to the well-being of inmates, Dawn reported. IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, in the 38-page verdict, observed that the "intolerable and shockingly inhuman and degrading treatment highlighted in the proceedings in hand meets the threshold of the hypothetical illustration in the above judgement. "It is, therefore, obvious that the incarcerated prisoners, subjected to the unimaginable degrading and inhuman treatment highlighted in these proceedings, may have become entitled to seek damages against the prison authorities and the state". Most of the victims of the deteriorating criminal justice system are those who belong to economically and socially marginalized sections of the society. They do not have the means to access the courts nor has the state fulfilled its constitutional obligation in ensuring that each citizen receives inexpensive and expeditious justice mandated under the Constitution, the Chief Justice said. The inmates had claimed they could not access the courts fearing punishment by the prison authorities for attempting to draw their attention towards their plight, the report said. A commission constituted by the court to inquire into the prisoners' miseries disclosed that the overall prison population at the time of filing of the report was around 74,000 while the authorised capacity was 55,634, the report said. Out of 73,721 prisoners across the country, more than 60 per cent (i.e. 44,847) have not been convicted by any court and a large number of them are suffering from serious illnesses such as HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis and mental diseases, the commission said in the report, adding that jails lack proper medical facilities, doctors and paramedical staff. It said the toilets lacked sanitation and the prisoners may have to "wait for hours" for their turn because of overcrowding while the privileged managed to exploit the system by getting themselves admitted to a hospital even when not in need. Subsequently, the court declared that "overcrowding of prisons, failure to segregate prisoners in accordance with the provisions of the Jail Manual, inhuman and degrading treatment, denial of prompt and timely health assistance, denial of access to proper legal advice and courts, is unconstitutional". It directed the federal government "to take immediate steps to ensure that prisoners incarcerated in the prisons across Pakistan are dealt with and treated in conformity with the obligations of the State of Pakistan pursuant to ratification of the conventions", the report added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 07:46:46|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Volunteer nurses arrive at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi airport in Italy, April 4, 2020. They are destined for hospital and health facilities in Emilia-Romagna to help curb the spread of novel coronavirus. The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed over 15,000 lives in locked-down Italy, as the total number of infections, fatalities and recoveries has risen to 124,632, according to the fresh data released by the country's Civil Protection Department on Saturday. (Photo by Gianni Schicchi/Xinhua) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday put in five requests to his colleagues in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is marking its 40th foundation day, to help strengthen Indias war against the coronavirus pandemic. Modi said the BJPs president JP Nadda and the partys national team has already set the template as he made the panchagraha or the five requests through a video address. I am just repeating them in my own words and it applies to all of us including me. We all must follow these suggestions by the party which have the feeling of Antodaya as well as the firm resolve of service at their core, he said. Among his first request for the partys workers was to provide the poor with food and not just for the duration of the present crisis. The Prime Minister said it should be a continuous service to the poor. Also read: A long war against coronavirus, must not get tired or rest, says PM Modi Ever since this crisis has started, lakhs of the BJPs workers have been doing this but it needs to be expanded into a bigger campaign by taking along other organisations to ensure no one is left hungry. We have to make sure of this, he said. The Prime Ministers second request was about masks. When you are going to help someone else, you should always wear something to cover your face. It is not necessary to wear only those masks that are being used but healthcare workers. We can use any mask made at home and make it a practice to wear it, the PM said. He also urged party workers to make masks for five other people in their family and distribute them among others. Also read: With 490 new coronavirus patients, India now has 4067 cases; death toll at 109 In this difficult time, we need to express our gratitude, thank those who are involved in serving the people and boost their morale. And this is not just our responsibility and we need to mobilise the entire society, he said. His third request, Modi said, was connected with the thank you campaign. The party has given a broad template to carry out this campaign that we need to ask families to write a letter of appreciation for five different sections of workers and reach out to them in polling booths, he said. They are doctors and nurses in their areas, sanitation workers, police personnel, bank and post office workers and other government employees engaged in carrying out essential services. He also encouraged workers to inform people about and download Aarogya Setu, a mobile application that has been developed to fight the coronavirus disease, and said it can play an important role in curbing infection in the long term. The more successful we are at doing this, the better we will be able to control the spread of the infection. You must be able to persuade at least 40 people to install this Aarogya Setu app and tell them about this, he said. Theres another thing that has to be done, he said, to fight this battle against coronavirus pandemic. Financial service is a big thing. We have seen that when the country is at war, our mother and sisters give away their jewellery. The poor give away whatever that can. We have seen this during every war, he said. This is no less than a war Just as we contribute during wars and make a tradition out of it, right now lakhs of people are donating towards the PM-CARES fund, he said. The Prime Minister said his fifth request was for workers to make an effort to make sure the donations being made for the PM-CARES fund increase. Every BJP workers must help. We need to motivate 40 people to donate towards the fund as well, the PM said. As he ended his address he stressed on the usage of masks, discipline and social distancing to make sure everyone is safe in the fight against the coronavirus disease. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 19:27:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MOGADISHU, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Somali and U.S. security forces on Sunday evening killed eight al-Shabab militants in the latest onslaught on the extremist group in the southern region, officials confirmed on Monday. The Somali Ministry of Information said no civilians were killed or injured in the attack conducted by the Somali National Army (SNA) and U.S. Africa Command (Africom) in the vicinity of Mubarak. "The Federal Government of Somalia, the SNA, Danab Brigade, and its United States partners are committed to fighting al-Shabab terrorists in order to prevent the deaths of innocent civilians," the ministry said in a statement issued in Mogadishu. "The efforts we take to protect and safeguard civilians dramatically contrast to the indiscriminate attacks that the coward al-Shabab regularly conducts against the civilian populace of Somalia," it added. The drone strikes have largely targeted al-Shabab figureheads based in southern and central Somalia where the group still maintains a strong grip in some regions. The extremists have recently stepped up their attacks against African Union and Somali forces especially in Mogadishu, targeting their bases, hotels and other public places. Haryana on Monday saw a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases after nine persons tested positive for the virus in Palwal and two in Nuh district. The positive cases on Sunday stood at 76 and today it has increased to 87, according to the state health department's bulletin. At present, there are 70 active cases in the state, 15 patients have been discharged while the state has recorded two COVID-related deaths. Reports of 458 samples were awaited. According to the health department bulletin, out of total 87 cases reported, six are Sri Lankan nationals and one is from Nepal while 28 are from other states of India. Home Minister Anil Vij said majority of over 40 fresh positive cases reported during the past 3-4 days are that of Tablighi Jamaat members. Vijsaid earlier as many as 652 of the 1300 Tablighi members had been traced from Nuh district alone. Officials said majority of fresh cases were those of Tablighi members and it was a cause for concern. Over 1,300 Tablighi Jamaat members, including 107 foreigners, came to Haryana before the lockdown came into force on March 25, Director General of Police Manoj Yadava had said on Friday. All of them had been quarantined, the DGP had said, adding that five FIRs have been registered under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Foreigner's Act against the foreigners among the Tablighi Jamaat members for various violations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Norman Harsono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 6, 2020 17:38 644 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd012c4c 1 Business Sido-Muncul,pandemic,aid,COVID-19,coronavirus,donation Free Publicly listed manufacturer PT Industri Jamu Dan Farmasi Sido Muncul is set to donate Rp 15 billion (US$906,645) in aid to help Indonesia tackle the coronavirus pandemic. The company said in a statement on Saturday that the funds would be used to distribute medical equipment, food and Sido Muncul products to drivers, senior citizens, houses of worship and hospitals around the country. Sido Muncul director Irwan Hidayat said the initiative was a response to several parties that had asked the 80-year-old company for aid. Under such conditions, the greatest challenge is distributing aid. Certain parties might be left unattended. Those parties are the ones we help, he said as reported by tempo.co. The herbal drinks manufacturer will distribute the aid in cooperation with the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), social enterprise Rumah Perubahan and donation platforms KitaBisa.com and BenihBaik.com. Read also: Were all in this together: Companies join hands to mitigate COVID-19 pandemic Sido Muncul, publicly listed at the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) as SIDO, adds to a list of private enterprises that are donating millions of dollars to help Indonesia fight the escalating pandemic. The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) has raised more than Rp 300 billion (US$18.3 million) from its members for healthcare equipment and aid for healthcare professionals. Coronavirus cases in the country climbed to 2,491 persons as of April 6, including 209 deaths, which is the highest death toll in Southeast Asia. Its been a great stretch for backyard skywatchers these last few days. And while weve got some cloudy skies in the forecast the next few nights, there should be enough patchy clouds or partial clearing to let us see this April gem: The first full moon of spring will rise as the Pink Supermoon this week. While the moon officially becomes full on Tuesday night about 10:30 p.m. it should look pretty perfect tonight and Wednesday night as well. So if youve got a break in the clouds in your area, take a few minutes to head outside and look up. This April supermoon comes smack in the middle of a stretch of big full moon risings on our calendar this spring. But this one should be extra special because its considered the biggest and brightest of the bunch. According to our friends at NASA, a supermoon gets its label when a full moon coincides with perigee or near-perigee, which is the point at which the moon is at its closest orbital approach to Earth. When these full moons rise, they appear bigger and brighter to the human eye. Supermoons are about 7% bigger and about 15% brighter than a typical full moon, the Farmers Almanac said. Supermoon on the left and full moon on the right (Image courtesy of the NASA/Goddard/Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter) When the moon rises Tuesday night, it will be 221,855 miles from Earth, according to the Associated Press. And while its known as the Pink Supermoon, it wont actually look rosy. The name comes from the early-blooming pink phlox common in North America this time of year. The coronavirus pandemic means more people are stuck at home, but it also means you might have more time for some armchair - or camping chair - astronomy. This could mean you venture out into the backyard, or you watch the moon rise from a window in your house. Scientist Noah Petro of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland said the important thing is to stay safe while moon-gazing during the pandemic. If you cant get out safely ... then fine, Petro told the AP. Go out next month or whenever its safe again. Use the full moon as an excuse to get out and start looking at the moon. He added: "Use this as an opportunity to not physically distance yourself, but emotionally connect with something that is physically far from us." Recent clear nights have had stargazers across Michigan staring in wonderment at a brilliant Venus, as the planet passed in front of the Seven Sisters star cluster - also called the Pleiades - and lit up a section of the northwestern sky. The International Space Station also did an after-sunset fly by on Sunday night. "We've really been fortunate to have some good astronomy backyard astronomy or living room astronomy," Petro said. READ MORE Winters not done in Michigan, snow is possible late in week A learner driver out for a lesson with her mum and men enjoying a barbecue are among dozens of people fined in the latest disclosures from police in the crackdown on freedom of movement designed to stop the spread of the coronavirus. NSW Police said they had issued a further 17 personal infringement notices and eight court attendance notices, taking to 98 the number of people in NSW issued with PINs since their introduction on March 17. Hunter Reynolds, 17, received a $1625 fine for being 'too far from home'. Credit:Simon Schluter But in Victoria, police conducted nearly 1000 spot checks at homes, businesses and non-essential services across the state as part of Operation Sentinel in the 24 hours to 8am on Monday. They issued 108 fines, bringing the state tally to more than 300. WASHINGTON The Supreme Court refused Monday to hear the Catholic Church's challenge to a local ban on religious advertising. The case, brought by the Archdiocese of Washington against the District of Columbia region's mass transit system, would have been the latest example of religious freedom appeals heard by the conservative-leaning court. The justices already are considering four major religion cases, all brought to them by religious organizations after lower court losses: School choice: Three Montana women challenged a Montana ban on state funds being used to pay for religious education. Employment discrimination: Two Catholic schools in California claim the right to fire teachers under a "ministerial exception" to job discrimination laws. Birth control: The Trump administration wants employers and universities with religious or moral objections to be able to deny women insurance coverage for contraceptives, as required by the Affordable Care Act. Foster care: Catholic agencies providing foster care in Philadelphia want the right to turn down gay and lesbian couples based on religious convictions. The new case stemmed from the archdiocese's effort in 2017 to place ads on buses and subway trains depicting the silhouette of three shepherds and sheep with the message "Find the Perfect Gift." The ads directed viewers to Mass schedules while encouraging service projects and charitable giving. The Supreme Court is inundated with cases challenging limits on religious freedom, including one on religious school choice heard by the justices in January. The Christmas-themed ads bumped up against the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's policy of banning religious, political and issue-oriented messages, enacted after complaints about an anti-Islam ad. The Catholic Church wasn't alone in its challenge. Other groups fighting the policy ranged from the American Civil Liberties Union to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. A federal district court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit sided with the transit system. Story continues "Were the Archdiocese to prevail, WMATA (and other transit systems) would have to accept all types of advertisements to maintain viewpoint neutrality, including ads criticizing and disparaging religion and religious tenets or practices," Judge Judith Rogers wrote. Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh was on the circuit court panel that heard the case in 2018 but stood down once he was nominated to the high court. He recused himself from the case, which left only eight justices willing to participate. For that reason, even conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch agreed not to hear it. But they left no doubt about their opinions. "The First Amendment requires governments to protect religious viewpoints, not single them out for silencing," Gorsuch wrote. Former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement, representing the archdiocese, told the justices in legal papers that the circuit court's ruling conflicted with a more recent one from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, based in Philadelphia. "If Amazon or Macys had wanted to run an advertisement with the same text and graphics or with reindeer instead of shepherds, there is no question that WMATA would have readily accepted the advertisement," Clement wrote. Donald Verrilli, another former U.S. solicitor general representing the transit system, responded that the advertising restrictions followed a series of community objections to political, religious and advocacy ads that led to vandalism and "heightened risks of terrorism." Requiring WMATA to accept the archdiocese's ad, Verrilli wrote, would "wreak havoc with the sound administration of transit advertising programs, effectively forcing transit authorities either to accept all advertising or forego advertising revenue altogether." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Religious liberty: Supreme Court won't hear church challenge to ad ban Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rajendra Jadhav and Ruma Paul (Reuters) Mumbai, India/Dhaka, Bangladesh Mon, April 6, 2020 08:38 645 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206fe48b5 2 World India,Narendra-Modi,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,health,novel-coronavirus,SARS-CoV-2,infection Free Millions of Indians turned off their lights and lit up balconies and doorsteps with lamps, candles and flashlights on Sunday, in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to "challenge the darkness" spread by the coronavirus crisis. Modi, who imposed a three-week long nationwide lockdown on March 25, asked all citizens to turn out their lights for nine minutes at 9 p.m. local time on Sunday, and to display lamps and candles in a show of solidarity. Modi's call was met with a huge response, with many people lighting up their balconies. Others lit firecrackers, played musical instruments, and sang patriotic songs. Grid data showed India's national power consumption plunging more than a quarter in a matter of minutes. The show of unity came as the total number of coronavirus cases in India increased to 3,577, while the death toll rose to 83. Some officials have warned that lockdowns could continue beyond April 14 in parts of India where new cases have been detected. With the number of cases continuing to increase daily, India restricted the export of most diagnostic testing kits. The government, which in recent weeks already banned the export of certain medicines, along with ventilators, masks and other protective gear needed by both patients and medical staff, issued the latest directive late on Saturday. The move came even as US President Donald Trump urged Modi in a phone call to release supplies of anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, which is being tested as a possible treatment for patients with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. "The two leaders agreed to remain in touch on the issue of global supply chains for critical pharmaceuticals and medical supplies and to ensure they continue to function as smoothly as possible during the global health crisis," White House spokesman Judd Deere said on Saturday. In a briefing note on the conversation, India said the two leaders "agreed to deploy the full strength of the IndiaUS partnership to resolutely and effectively combat COVID-19." Bangladesh stimulus The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Asia, home to roughly 1.9 billion people, topped 7,000 on Sunday, even as the death toll from the respiratory disease rose to 149 in the region. While the figures are relatively low in comparison with the United States, China, Italy and Spain, health experts fear that the spread of the pandemic in South Asia could overwhelm already weak public health systems in the region. Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday unveiled a 727.50 billion taka ($8.56 billion) stimulus package to help the economy weather the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. "The amount is equivalent to 2.52 percent of gross domestic product," Hasina said in a televised address. Reuters reported earlier this month that Bangladesh, the world's second-largest apparel producer after China, was set to lose roughly $6 billion in export revenue this financial year amid order cancellations from some of the world's largest brands and retailers. Bangladesh has recorded 88 cases of the disease, with nine deaths. Following are government figures on the spread of the coronavirus in South Asia: * India has 3,577 cases, including 83 deaths * Pakistan has 3,059 cases, including 45 deaths * Afghanistan has 349 cases, including 7 deaths * Sri Lanka has 175 cases, including 5 deaths * Bangladesh has 88 cases, including 9 deaths * Maldives has 19 cases and no deaths * Nepal has nine cases and no deaths * Bhutan has five cases and no deaths The government's portal to help foreign tourists stranded in India saw 769 registrations in the last five days with an American, Costa Rican and an Australian with medical emergencies among those helped through the website. The portal -- www.strandedinindia.com --- was launched on March 31, with a view to identify, assist and facilitate foreign tourists stranded in various parts of India due to the lockdown situation necessitated by the COVID-19 global pandemic. Such tourists would need to log on to the portal, provide some basic contact information and narrate the nature of issues being faced by them, if any. Every State Government and Union Territory Administration has identified a Nodal Officer for assisting such foreign tourists, a statement from the ministry said. An American citizen who was stranded in Supaul district of Bihar amidst the COVID19 lockdown, while her son was undergoing a surgery at Delhi reached out to the officials through the portal which facilitated the required inter-ministerial, inter-departmental and State-Centre coordination and secured her a special transit permit to travel to Delhi. "She has safely reached her destination and expressed her gratitude for the efforts put in by all agencies concerned," confirmed an official of the ministry. Two Costa Rican citizens, who had come to Chennai for a surgery (medical tourism), were stranded at Chennai after the surgery. It was again the use of the portal and close coordination with the State Government, the Costa Rican Embassy and the hotel in which the tourists were staying helped in soothing the frayed nerves of tourists, the ministry said. They are now safe and well, they added. Similarly, an Australian tourist with his family was stranded in Ahmedabad. The tourist has epilepsy and ran out of medication prescribed by Australian doctors due to the lockdown. "The portal led to the tourist being reached through the office of the District Collector. He was provided with sufficient medication and was also offered food and local transportation. Now, they are comfortable and safe," an official said. In a statement on Monday, the ministry said that its five regional offices are constantly coordinating with nodal officers regarding the support requests logged on the portal, for facilitating ground support to foreigners, if so required. The ministry's regional offices are also coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration and FRROs regarding visa issues being faced by stranded foreigners, it said. "Requests for movement within the country/state and for transfer to home country of such tourists are also being coordinated with the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs and with the respective Embassy/ High Commission/ Consulate. "The utility and efficacy of the portal has led to stranded foreign tourists being contacted over emails, telephones and also in person depending on the nature of support required by them," the statement said. They have been connected with the relevant foreign office of their home country in India and provided various information updates on flights out of India to their home countries. Wherever required, they have been provided medical assistance, food and accommodation, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ninety-six American citizens who were stranded in Uttarakhand due to the Covid-19 pandemic, were flown out of Dehraduns Jolly Grant airport to Delhi in a special Air India flight Monday evening, airport officials said. DK Gautam, director Jolly Grant Dehradun said the special Air India aircraft had arrived in Dehradun to fly the Americans out of the state to Delhi. The flight had arrived at 6:20 pm in the evening and departed safely with all the 96 Americans at 7:07 pm from the airport, said Gautam. Follow coronavirus live updates here. The airport director said the airport staff took all the required measures including health check-up of the passengers by state health department staffers. The airport management had to operate the airport beyond the notified timings especially for this flight. According to the state police, there are around 300 to 400 foreigners still stranded in the state with maximum in Rishikesh, Nainital and Almora due to the lockdown. So far about 700 foreigners had left the state with arrangements being made by their respective embassies. All the foreigners stranded are in quarantine. We are allowing them to leave as per the arrangements made by their embassies in the country. We are fully co-operating with their authorities, said Ashok Kumar, director general (law & order), Uttarakhand police. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Main building works are underway on the construction of a new 65m Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) Laboratory at Backweston, near Celbridge. The new lab will include approximately 9,550 square metres of internal floor space with state of the art facilities including air-exchange control to enable appropriate air-flow control in DNA sensitive areas such as the DNA database. Modern facility The new facility will also include an additional building (approx. 485 square metres) to provide storage space for the broad range of exhibits and items that are routinely submitted to FSI for examination. Works are expected to take in the region of 24 months to complete. FSI is part of the Department of Justice. It provides a scientific service to the criminal justice system by analysing samples submitted from crime scenes and providing expert evidence in criminal trials. It will bring us in line with best practices for the production of DNA results, Dr Sheila Willis, director of Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) has said previously. With human beings theres always the possibility of a mistake; the risk of mistake is higher in a non-suitable environment than it is in a purpose built facility thats designed for the work thats being carried out. Were not putting out anything unless were happy to stand over it but the amount of effort [for] that in a facility thats not suitable is quite tricky. High profile cases High profile cases it has worked on include the murder of Rachel O'Reilly by her husband Joe in 2004. In this case, FSI staff analysed the blood patterns at the scene to determine what may have happened. DNA and blood patterns its staff found at the home of Celine Cawley and her husband Eamonn Lillis helped secure his conviction for manslaughter. The laboratory also played a crucial role i n the notorious Scissors Sisters case, Linda and Charlotte Mulhall were convicted in connection with the death of Farah Swaleh Noor. In this case, FSI staff helped examine the scene of the murder and found blood matching the DNA profile of Noor despite efforts to clean it away to sterilise the crime scene. Born to a King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala of the Ikshvaku dynasty, Mahavir was not content with his luxurious life. Mahavir Jayanti is one of the most important days for the Jain community as it is the birth anniversary of the 24th Tirthankara. Mahavir Jayanti 2020 falls on 6 April and marks his 2,618th birth anniversary. It is celebrated on the 13th day of the Chaitra month. This years Mahavir Jayanti is being celebrated amid the 21-day nationwide lockdown to control the transmission of coronavirus. History and significance Considered as the founder of Jainism, Lord Mahavir was born in 599 BC at Kshatriyakund in Bihar. Born to a King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala of the Ikshvaku dynasty, Mahavir was not content with his luxurious life. At the age of 30, gave up his throne and family life to seek the truth. He led an ascetic life and practised rigorous penance for attaining 'Kevala Jnana' or omniscience. Principles of Mahavir Lord Mahavir suggested some principles to live a righteous life. Non-violence Truthfulness Dont possess things that arent yours Chastity No attachment to material things How Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated On this auspicious day, Jains offer prayers to Lord Mahavir and keep a fast. They visit Mahavir temples, hold mass prayers and meditate. Jains eat simple foods, prepared with vegetables without onion and garlic. At some places, processions are carried out on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti. This year, in view of the coronavirus lockdown such events wont take place. "Figures tell the truth," said RSS Joint General Secretary Manmohan Vaidya on Monday referring to the number of COVID-19 cases linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi. However, he said Muslims are helping the government in tracing contacts of Tablighi Jamaat which should be appreciated. The health ministry had on Sunday said the rate of doubling of COVID-19 cases in India was 4.1 days, but if the cases linked to the Tablighi Jamaat event would not have happened, it would have been 7.4 days. Lauding the decision taken by the country's leadership to tackle the coronavirus outbreak, Vaidya told reporters that India handled the COVID-19 situation comparatively better than several developed nations. "To tackle the COVID-19 outbreak, India's leadership took some decisive steps which got public support as well," he said. Follow live updates of coronavirus cases in India here The RSS leader said workers of his organisation helped 25.5 lakh people during the lockdown besides feeding the poor and daily wagers and starting a helpline. He asserted that the Tablighi Jamaat could have handled the situation in a better way. "Figures tell the truth...they (Tablighi Jamaat) stand exposed as many in the Muslim community are opposing them... and a number of Muslims are also helping government officials in tracing their contacts which should also be appreciated," Vaidya told reporters here. Citing the RSS' decision to call off the annual meeting of its highest decision-making body -- Partinidhi Sabha -- in the wake of COVID-19, Vaidya said Tablighi Jamaat could have also called off their congregation. "RSS cancelled its Pratinidhi Sabha scheduled to be held from March 15 in Bengaluru. Around 1,500 sangh members were asked to get off trains or cancel flight tickets. Others who had reached the venue were immediately sent back, he said. Track state-wise tally of coronavirus cases here The RSS Joint General Secretary also announced that all RSS programmes scheduled till June, including the Sangh Shiksha Varg (annual training programmes for its workers), have been cancelled in the wake of coronavirus. On the economic impact of the 21-day lockdown, Vaidya said the first priority should be to tackle the disease and save lives. He said he is hopeful that the government will take necessary steps to minimise the impact of lockdown on the economy. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Robbie Corey-Boulet (Agence France-Presse) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Mon, April 6, 2020 13:03 645 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206ff6c3a 2 World Ethiopia,COVID-19,COVID-19-death-toll,COVID-19-rapid-test,coronavirus,infection,pandemic,health Free Ethiopia on Sunday announced the first two deaths of patients suffering from COVID-19, as officials ramped up testing to get a clearer picture of the outbreak there. The first victim was a 60-year-old Ethiopian woman who had spent six days in intensive care, a health ministry statement said, with the second a 56-year-old Ethiopian man diagnosed with COVID-19 last Thursday. "It is my deepest regret to announce the first death of a patient from #COVID19 in Ethiopia," Health Minister Lia Tadesse said in announcing the country's first fatality on Twitter. Four hours later, Lia published a second post expressing "great sadness" as another death emerged. Ethiopia, a country of more than 100 million people, confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on March 13 and has recorded just 43 in total -- mostly people with a history of recent foreign travel. But testing has been extremely limited. As of Friday, the country had conducted just 1,222 tests, according to the Ethiopian Public Health Institute. South Africa, by comparison, has performed tens of thousands of tests. Ethiopian officials said Saturday they were conducting an additional 647 tests, notably of targeted health workers, transportation sector workers who have "direct contact with passengers" and randomly selected people in Addis Ababa, the capital, and the city of Adama in the Oromia region. It was intended to help determine whether there has been undetected community transmission, said Dr Adisu Kebede, director of national laboratory capacity building. "There are also a few cases that we identified that have no travel history and things like that, and from their contacts, you can guess that there is community transmission already," Adisu said. "The WHO recommended 'test, test, test,' so we had to test more people," he added. The country has "around 23,000" testing kits available, the vast majority donated last month by Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, Adisu said. It has no rapid testing capacity and can currently process no more than 500 tests per day, Adisu said. The goal is to push that figure to over 1,000 by the end of the month. Abiy resists lockdown Ethiopia has closed land borders and schools, freed thousands of prisoners to ease overcrowding, sprayed main streets in the capital with disinfectant and discouraged large gatherings. Orthodox Christian leaders have encouraged worshippers to pray at home, and police were deployed Sunday to prevent large crowds from descending on one of the capital's main cathedrals. Orthodox Christians make up 40 percent of the country's population. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, last year's Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has refrained from imposing the kinds of lockdown seen elsewhere in the region, including in Uganda, Rwanda and Mauritius. We can't impose a lockdown like more developed nations, as there are many citizens who don't have homes," Abiy said Saturday. "Even those who have homes have to make ends meet daily." Xiaomi keeps updating its older devices to Android 10 and MIUI 11. Next in line are two phones, released in the summer of 2018 - the Xiaomi Mi Max 3 and the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite. The units in China already received the new software, but now it is time for the global package. The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 package is v.11.0.1.0 QEDMIXM and should be arriving OTA. If you dont want to wait, you can head to the Xiaomi community website, where the package is available for download. It is 1.8 GB in size and brings the updated color scheme, system-wide Dark Mode and newer security patches. Similar is the situation with the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite - the stable ROM is MIUI 11 v.11.0.1.QDTMIXM and is based on Android 10. The security patch is dated February 2020, while the whole package is 2.4GB in size. If the phone is purchased from China or is under developer mode, you should back up everything important before going ahead with the update - it will wipe out everything. Source (Mi Max 3) Source (Mi 8 Lite) The Australian share market finished session higher on Monday, 06 April 2020, amid optimism about the slowdown in the number of coronavirus-related deaths toll in New York, France and Italy, and new infections. All ASX sectors registered significant gains, with financials, energy and healthcare sectors being notable gainers. At closing bell, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index advanced 219.33 points, or 4.33%, to 5,286.81. The broader All Ordinaries rose 216.66 points, or 4.24%, to 5,323.60. Investor sentiment received a boost amid optimism that the number of coronavirus cases in New York, a U. S. hotspot for the pandemic, may be peaking, after U. S. President Donald Trump expressed hope the country was seeing a "levelling off" of the coronavirus crisis. New York State reported its first decline in the number of daily coronavirus-related deaths as well as hospitalizations on Sunday. Major European nations reported lower coronavirus-related fatality toll in France and Italy, with Italy seeing the number of patients in intensive care falling for the second consecutive day. However, a rise in cases and deaths in Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines kept gains under check. Developments on the global coronavirus virus pandemic continue to be watched, as concerns over the virus' economic impact have sent markets into a whirlwind in recent weeks. Globally, more than 1.2 million have been infected while at least 65,711 lives have been taken by the virus, according to data compiled by John Hopkins University. Investors also remained focused on oil prices. Oil prices skid on Monday after meeting between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, initially set to take place Monday, was delayed. Brent crude fell as much as $3 in early Asian trading after Saudi Arabia and Russia postponed a meeting over a potential pact to cut production to Thursday. Energy stocks climbed after crude oil prices climbed 12% on Friday. Santos (STO) rallied 8.5% while Beach Energy (BPT) lifted 10.4%. Origin Energy (ORG) rose 4%. Its Energy Markets guidance remains intact for FY20 with earnings (EBITDA) of A$1.4-A$1.5 billion. It is also closely monitoring customer's ability to pay energy bills. Caltex (CTX) is bringing forward the planned shutdown of its Lytton refinery to May 2020. It expects to keep the site shut until margin conditions have sufficiently recovered. Oil Search is in a trading halt ahead of an expected capital raising announcement. In the mining space, Fortescue Metals grew more than 1%, while Rio Tinto and BHP rose almost 1% each. Among gold miners, Evolution Mining rose more than 4% and Newcrest Mining added more than 3% as safe-haven gold prices also rose on Friday. Flight Centre Travel Group shares were in a trading halt after travel firm's is tapping investors for A$700 million and has secured an additional $200 million in loans from existing lenders due to the coronavirus pandemic. CURRENCY NEWS: The U. S. dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of its peers, was last at 100.688 after crossing the 100 level last week. The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.6017 after declining from levels above $0.609 last week. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China reports 5 new local cases all infected by imported cases Global Times Source:Global Times Published: 2020/4/5 21:48:40 The Chinese mainland reported five new local cases of COVID-19 infections on Saturday all from South China's Guangdong Province with two minors infected by local imported cases. Among the newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in Guangdong all having close contact with or been connected with imported cases are an 8-year-old girl and a 3-year-old boy living with the girl. The girl was the daughter of a woman who got infected through association with imported cases on Thursday. She owns a restaurant which is frequently visited by foreign nationals. Beijing reported one new imported COVID-19 case from the UK on Saturday. The patient has been staying in an apartment in Tuanjiehu, Chaoyang district for a short period and is now in a critically ill condition for refusing to report her health condition during the isolation period. The remaining three cases were also infected by imported cases in the province. The patient arrived in Beijing with her husband on March 20. On the evening of March 30 she developed symptoms such as a cough, nausea and lack of energy. She took the medicine herself and did not report symptoms when staff asked about her health. On Friday, she was released from isolation and picked up by her family. She developed a high fever on Friday night and tested positive for coronavirus on a nucleic acid test on Saturday morning when receiving medical treatment at Chaoyang Hospital. The patient is now critically ill and has been sent to the intensive care unit for treatment. Corresponding management measures have been taken for close contacts. Shanghai reported two new imported cases on Saturday, arriving from Russia and France respectively. 27 imported cases were cured and discharged in Shanghai on Sunday. The number of critical local COVID-19 cases in the Chinese mainland fell below 300, and the number of confirmed local cases dropped below 700 on Saturday, the National Health Commission said Sunday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 20:01:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close An old building of the Orca supermarket is under preparation to accommodate COVID-19 patients in Yaounde, Cameroon, April 6, 2020. In the capital Yaounde, two new care centers are under preparation at the military stadium and in the old building of the Orca supermarket, which should make it possible to increase the reception capacity up to 3,000 beds, according to the health ministry. Cameroon is currently the second country in sub-Saharan Africa most affected by the new coronavirus after South Africa, which has 1,655 cases, according to official statistics. (Photo by Jean Pierre Kepseu/Xinhua) YAOUNDE, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Cameroon is in stage 2 of the COVID-19 epidemic, with the main objective to curb the spread of the virus in the national territory, health minister Manaouda Malachie said Sunday evening. "I am afraid that we are to this day, already in a community transmission therefore at stage 2 of the epidemic," said on twitter the minister answering questions by netizens on the extent of local transmission in Cameroon. The Central African country announced its first COVID-19 case on March 6, and a month later, counted until Monday morning 658 confirmed cases including nine deaths and 17 cured cases, according to the latest official report. In epidemiology, stage 1 is where the priority is to stop the introduction of the virus, followed by stage 2 whose objective is to slow down the spread. The peak of the epidemic is in stage 3 characterized by an active circulation of the virus, and the strategy becomes the mitigation of the effects of the epidemic before it ends at stage 4. "Although (the number of cases are) growing, the situation remains under control because we are looking for cases and putting them in isolation," reassured Manaouda via twitter. Cameroon is currently the second country in sub-Saharan Africa most affected by the new coronavirus after South Africa, which has 1,655 cases, according to official statistics. In the capital Yaounde, two new care centers are under preparation at the military stadium and in the old building of the Orca supermarket, which should make it possible to increase the reception capacity up to 3,000 beds, according to the health ministry. Since March 18, a series of barrier measures have been put in place by the Cameroonian government. These include closing of borders, isolation of people at high risk, the restriction of mass gatherings and movement. However, these measures have not been scrupulously respected by the population. "Some of our compatriots do not make our job easier, thus endangering the lives of others," said Manaouda, calling on the populations to remain confined as long as possible, and to cover their noses and mouths when leaving their house. Recently the wearing of a protective mask has become mandatory for all those wishing to approach certain hospitals and public services, like the General Hospital of Yaounde, and government bodies in the Cameroonian region of Southwest. RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. -- As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, a new mathematical model could offer insights on how to improve future epidemic predictions based on how information mutates as it is transmitted from person to person and group to group. The U.S. Army funded this model, developed by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and Princeton University, through the Army Research Laboratory's Army Research Office, both elements of the Combat Capabilities Development Command. The model suggests that ideas and information spread and evolve between individuals with patterns similar to genes in that they self-replicate, mutate and respond to selective pressure as they interact with their host. "These evolutionary changes have a huge impact," said CyLab faculty member Osman Yagan, an associate research professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University and corresponding author of the study. "If you don't consider the potential changes over time, you will be wrong in predicting the number of people that will get sick or the number of people who are exposed to a piece of information." In their study, published March 17 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers developed a mathematical model that takes the evolutionary changes of both disease and information into consideration. The research tested the model against thousands of computer-simulated epidemics using data from two real-world networks: a contact network among students, teachers, and staff at a U.S. high school, and a contact network among staff and patients in a hospital in Lyon, France. "We showed that our theory works over real-world networks," said the study's first author, Rashad Eletreby, who was a Carnegie Mellon doctoral candidate when he wrote the paper. "Traditional models that don't consider evolutionary adaptations fail at predicting the probability of the emergence of an epidemic." The researchers said the epidemic model most widely used today is not designed to account for changes in the disease being tracked. This inability to account for changes in the disease can make it more difficult for leaders to counter a disease's spread or make effective public health decisions such as when to institute stay at home orders or dispatch additional resources to an area. "The spread of a rumor or of information through a network is very similar to the spread of a virus through a population," said Dr. H. Vincent Poor, one of the researchers on this study and Princeton's interim dean of engineering. "Different pieces of information have different transmission rates. Our model allows us to consider changes to information as it spreads through the network and how those changes affect the spread." While the study is not a silver bullet for predicting the spread of today's coronavirus or the spread of misinformation, the authors say it is a big step. In the future, the team hopes that their research can be used to improve the tracking of epidemics and pandemics by accounting for mutations in diseases and ultimately considering interventions like quarantines and then predicting how those interventions would affect an epidemic's spread when the pathogen is mutating as it spreads. "This work demonstrates the importance of basic research and the ability of scientists in various disciplines to inform each other's work," said Dr. Edward Palazzolo, program manager for the Social and Cognitive Networks Program at the Army Research Office. "Although in its early stages, these models show promise for understanding network diffusion in light of mutations." In addition to the Army, the National Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research also supported this research. Other researchers co-authored the paper include Yong Zhuang and Kathleen Carley from Carnegie Mellon University. ### CCDC Army Research Laboratory is an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. As the Army's corporate research laboratory, ARL discovers, innovates and transitions science and technology to ensure dominant strategic land power. Through collaboration across the command's core technical competencies, CCDC leads in the discovery, development and delivery of the technology-based capabilities required to make Soldiers more lethal to win our nation's wars and come home safely. CCDC is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Futures Command. ### Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday launched a scheme to provide special assistance of Rs 1,000 each to the natives of Bihar stranded in other states due to the nationwide lockdown prompted by coronavirus. Kumar inaugurated the scheme by a click of the mouse at CMs official bungalow 1, Aney Marg, tranfering money in the bank accounts of the beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), an official release said. A sum of Rs 10.35 crore was transferred on the inaugural day of the programme in the accounts of 1,03,579 people, it said. A total of 2,84,674 applications were received from the stranded people so far and the process is on, it added. Bihar became the first state to provide special assistance of Rs 1000 to its people stuck outside the state, it claimed. The chief mnister directed the officials to ensure that other beneficiaries get the benefit at the earliest after completing the verification process. Kumar had recently given a direction to provide Rs 1,000 as special assistance from Chief Minister Relief Fund to each individual stranded in other states due to a nationwide lockdown on account of spread of COVID-19. They had apprised the state government of their problems and difficulties on various helpline numbers of the Chief Ministers Secretariat, Bihar Bhawan and control room number of states Disaster Management Department. On Kumar's directive, the CMs Secretariat had sought feedback from these people. In view of the difficulties being faced by the people, the state government had decided to give monetary help to mitigate their woes. People, who had informed about their problems on the helplines numbers, were given a link http://aapda.bih.nic.in via SMS on their mobile phone numbers. Out of 2,84,674 applications received so far, the largest number of 55,264 was from Delhi, followed by 41,050 from Haryana, Maharashtra (30,576), Gujarat (25,638), Uttar Pradesh (23832), Punjab (15,596), Karnataka (15,428), Tamil Nadu (11,914), Rajasthan (11,773), West Bengal (9527), Telenagana (7245), Madhya Pradesh (5690) and Jharkhand (5359). Out of the 1,03,579 people who received special assistance , the highest number of 7281 hailed from Saran district, followed by 6821 from Muzaffarpur, Madhubani (6792), East Champaran (6569), Sitamarhi (6348), Siwan (5897), Darbhanga (5026), Samastipur (4264) and Gopalganj (4240). The government received over 3,000 phone calls from such people,he said,adding they were told to stay wherever they are. Camps are being run for helping the people living in Delhi and other cities, the CM said,adding people are being served food packets at 10 camps in Delhi. Kumar asked officials to ensure that necessary items were made available at these camps. He also asked to monitor relief camps run within the state. Prominent among those who were present on the occasion included Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, Speaker of the Assembly Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar and CMs Principal Secretary Chanchal Kumar. Disaster Management department minister Lakshmeshwar Rai and its Principal Secretary Pratyay Amrit joined the function via video-conferencing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iranian President unveils new social distancing plan to contain COVID19 pandemic IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, April 5, IRNA -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday unveiled the new smart social distancing plan, saying this activity will start on Saturday, April 18, and the same health protocols as well as monitoring in this regard must be practiced carefully. "We asked the advertising committee to prepare plans in this regard and to explain to the people on the radio and television the information that should be given to them," Rouhani was quoted by President.ir website. "Starting these activities does not mean that we have violated or forgotten the principle of staying at home, and again those who do not need to be present on the street and in society, are preferred to look after themselves and stay home," he added. "Today, we decided to use a step-by-step process to reopen the activities, and it was the suggestion of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education that the activities should begin gradually." "Regarding government offices that are currently active, from next week, April 11, their activities will continue with two thirds of their personnel at work and one third will be allowed to stay at home, which will be decided about shifts." "A third of the workforce should stay at home unless it is necessary, and here older people and people with fundamental illnesses are emphasized and prioritized." "Needless to say, I won't emphasize again that anyone who has COVID-19 is banned from going to the society, work and gatherings, and must be quarantined at home, in a sanatorium or hospital." "We have to bear this in mind, and Dr Namaki [Iranian Health Minister] must announce it clearly and decisively that every laboratory that reaches a positive conclusion about somebody's coronavirus test is obliged to inform himself, his workplace, and his family." "15 to 20 percent may have a problem that needs to be referred to a doctor, some of whom may not need to be hospitalized, and some may need to be treated." "Regarding the office working hours, we also approved that from April 11, all those who are working in offices, whether in Tehran of other provinces, will be 7 am to 2 pm." "Especially because we are approaching the month of Ramadan, this office hours are better for that month as well. Because we do not have lunch before Ramadan, we do not have congregational prayers now, so the work will continue until 2 pm, and people will go to their homes at 2 pm. As a rule, during Ramadan, if our conditions are the same, we will still not have congregational prayers. Therefore, office hours will be from 7 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon." "The next issue was the issue of transportation, which was discussed, two good pieces of news were given in this meeting; one good news was that all the goods that are necessary will be transported; whether from customs to cities, from centers to consumer centers or factories." "Here, I would like to thank everyone who works in the transportation sector, all the dear drivers, all the transportation companies, all the buses, the trains and the planes, and all those who work hard." "The second point was that in these two months, when we had the coronavirus problem, none of the workers and people working in the transportation sector were laid off. That was good news." "Thank God, all of these people are eligible for receiving loans, which are conditional on the fact that no one has been fired. This was another good news." "However, regarding private cars that are free in the province and their activities are not prohibited, and between Tehran and Alborz provinces, which are considered one province because their activities are very much related, it was decided that this between-province travel prohibition will continue until April 18." "The last discussion we had was about schools and higher education, it is currently decided that in the education sector, with the exception of complementary education, from April 18, complementary training will be available, especially in the doctoral program, and then there may be other departments, but in the bachelor's and also schools, the decision is to close educational activities in schools and use the cyberspace by April 18." "Of course, we have given the authority to the Education Ministry that the provinces that can start working and we have white provinces in the southern part of the country where there are no problems for education. The provinces are Bushehr, Hormozgan, Sistan and Baluchistan." "In addition, the way this virus works is not 100% clear to us, that is, the Ministry of Health cannot answer us what the activity of this virus will be like in a month or two and the summer when the weather gets warm and there is nothing clear and definite. So we have to wait and follow all the health principles to see how it will be in the coming months." "Of course, I said about the holy places and emphasized that these holy places are currently closed as before until April 19 and what will happen after April 18 is a decision that we will make in the next meetings and we will inform our dear friends and brothers about the meeting in advance." 9376**1430 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address There is a good chance the new coronavirus could return in seasonal cycles, Dr. Anthony Fauci, has said, underscoring the urgent need to find a vaccine and effective treatments. The scientist, who leads research into infectious diseases at the National Institutes of Health and is on the White House coronavirus task force, as has been the face of reassurance during the pandemic in the U.S. He told CBS Face The Nation that even when the virus is under control the world will need to prepared for a resurgence. 'Unless we get this globally under control there is a very good chance that it'll assume a seasonal nature. Facui admitted that at the present time, the government is not ahead of the virus. 'We are struggling to get it under control, and that's the issue that's at hand right now.' Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci speaks during a coronavirus task force briefing at the White House, Sunday, April 5 Unless the world gets control of #Coronavirus, it is likely that the Covid-19 #coronavirus may be a seasonal virus, @NIAIDNews head Anthony Fauci tells @margbrennan, emphasizing the importance of developing a vaccine quickly pic.twitter.com/WB7cHX0hHl Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) April 5, 2020 'This next week is going to look bad because we're still not at that apex,' he said speaking specifically about New York. 'Within a week, eight, nine days or so we're hopefully going to see that turning around.' Fauci said that people should continue to respect social distancing rules. 'Every time I get to that podium in the White House briefing room, I plead with people to take a look at those very simple guidelines of physical separation.' Fauci said Americans should prepare for the outbreak to 'become seasonal' Fauci also elaborated on how the virus could well make a return once winter comes noting how the virus was beginning to take root in the southern hemisphere, where winter is on its way. 'What we're starting to see now... in southern Africa and in the southern hemisphere countries, is that we're having cases that are appearing as they go into their winter season,' he said. 'And if, in fact, they have a substantial outbreak, it will be inevitable that we need to be prepared that we'll get a cycle around the second time. Dr Fauci says the coronavirus is likely to become an infection that never goes away and causes seasonal outbreaks of illness 'It totally emphasizes the need to do what we're doing in developing a vaccine, testing it quickly and trying to get it ready so that we'll have a vaccine available for that next cycle.' 'Hopefully, if in fact we do see that resurgence, we will have interventions that we did not have in the beginning of the situation that we're in right now,' he said on to CBS News. Fauci is optimistic saying he knows 'we'll be successful in putting this down now', adding: 'But we really need to be prepared for another cycle. And what we're doing, I believe, will prepare us well.' Other scientists agree. 'This is going to be with us for some time,' said Dr Amesh Adalja, a disease expert at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He told Business Insider: 'It's endemic in human populations and not going to go away without a vaccine.' There are currently two vaccines that have entered human trials - one in the US and one in China but they could be a year to a year-and-a-half away from deployment. Even if they are successful, the virus could mutate and become completely different to what the vaccine is able to protect against. This is the case for flu, which has so many strains that the vaccine must change every year to try and match the strains most likely to infect people at that time. It is never perfect or able to offer full protection. Treatments are also being investigated - some new drugs and others that have been repurposed, including the antimalarials chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. 'I know we'll be successful in putting this down now, but we really need to be prepared for another cycle,' Fauci concluded. Fauci's comments suggesting the virus does better in colder weather than it does in hot and humid conditions follows a recent Chinese research paper - still preliminary and awaiting peer-review - that reached the same conclusion. The reasons are thought to include that respiratory droplets remain airborne for longer in colder weather, and that cold weather weakens immunity. Another potential reason is that viruses degrade more quickly on hotter surfaces, possibly because a protective layer of fat that envelops them dries out quicker. But reduced infection rate does not mean the virus gets eliminated -- Australia has had almost 5,700 confirmed cases and 35 deaths, for example. 'If you look at other members of the coronavirus family, that are respiratory viruses and we've known about them for the last 50 years or more, they're seasonal,' Professor John Oxford, from Queen Mary University in London, told The Telegraph last month. 'They're just like the common cold. Whether Covid-19 will fit into that pattern or not, we will just have to wait and see but my guess is it will.' Electricity lines in Melbourne, Australia, Oct. 22, 2012. Power companies in Australia are stepping up to give individual consumers and small businesses who can't pay their bills relief amid the CCP virus pandemic. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) Australian Power Companies Pledge Aid to Consumers Affected by CCP Virus Energy companies in NSW, Victoria and South Australia announced on April 2, they will provide relief to customers who are in financial difficulties, thanks to the CCP virus. The comprehensive package is aimed specifically at small business and residential customers. It will ensure energy retailers in those states assist customers facing job loss or reduced incomes. In effect from April 1 until June 30, these measures will allow small businesses to hibernate or mothball themselves for three months. While residential consumers who are unable to pay will be granted rebates for the same period of time. The rebates are expected to be received by September 2020, after customers demonstrate their eligibility. The deadline for eligibility is Sept. 1, 2020. Electricity Poles in Ayr Queensland March 27, 2017 (Peter Parks/Getty Images) The package comes after federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor called on the energy sector to help those struggling on March 27. We expect them to do more to help small businesses who have gone into hibernation to avoid any energy costs, and we expect them to pass on the huge price drops we are seeing in the wholesale market. CEO of Energy Networks Australia Andrew Dillion said the package would ensure energy retailers were able to better assist the community. Networks and retailers realize its important the industry pulls together to support the many small businesses and households who will face growing challenges over the months ahead. Regulator Provides Information The Australian Energy Regulator has released a fact sheet to inform people of their rights if they are having trouble paying their bills at this time. Currently, there is a range of options that consumers can discuss with their providers: more time to pay, payment plans, hardship programs, concessions, centrepay, and financial counseling are some of the options on the table. Almost all of Australias largest energy retailers have thrown their support behind the package. Jemenas Managing Director Frank Tudor noted the package will support Jemenas existing measures. Weve looked critically at all parts of our business and have adapted to new ways of working so we can keep the lights on and the gas flowing while protecting the health and wellbeing of our own people and the broader community. However, getting through has been a problem with many of these companies being overwhelmed with requests for help. Two providers, ActewAGL and Diamond Energy, both had their website crash on April 3, due to a dramatic increase in traffic. Solar Panels on top of AGLs new Melbourne office, August 20, 2015. (Scott Barbour/Getty Images) Power Usage Down The impact of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, also known as the novel coronavirus, is already being felt by Australias energy sector. Figures from last month indicate demand reduced across Australias most energy-dependent regions by 7.7 percent over the past three weeks. Energy providers believe this is due to solar roof panels. The increase in solar Rooftop PV across Australia has meant that there are more periods of the day where energy usage is in the negative, as solar power takes over the grid while we are all at home. Energy Networks Australia recommends that consumers take advantage of this situation to save on their power bills. Pointing out that if you have solar you should schedule your dishwasher, washing machine and heating to occur during the day to take advantage of any non-peak tariffs. Wisconsin Moves Forward With Election Despite Virus Concerns MADISON, Wis.Voters in Wisconsin will face a choice Tuesday of participating in a presidential primary election or heeding warnings from public health officials to stay away from large crowds during the CCP virus pandemic. Hours after Democratic Gov. Tony Evers issued an order postponing the election for two months, the conservative-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court on Monday sided with Republicans who said he didnt have the authority to reschedule the race on his own. Conservative justices on the U.S. Supreme Court quickly followed with a ruling blocking Democratic efforts to extend absentee voting. The decisions leave Wisconsin as the only state with an election scheduled in April that is proceeding as planned. Evers said he had no other options after the state court ruled against him. Theres not a Plan B. Theres not a Plan C, Evers said earlier Monday. After the court rulings, Evers said voters will now have to wake up and have to choose between exercising their right to vote and staying healthy and safe. Joe Biden already has a commanding delegate lead over Bernie Sanders and the Wisconsin results arent likely to slow his march to the Democratic presidential nomination. But the tumult in one of the most critical general election battlegrounds was a reminder of how the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, has upended politics during an election year. Beyond the shifts in the primary calendar, Biden and President Donald Trump have not been able to hold in-person campaign events and have moved most of their operations online. The tension in Wisconsin over whether and how to proceed with the election has been building for weeks. Evers and Republicans initially agreed it was imperative for the election to proceed because thousands of local offices are on the ballot Tuesday for terms that begin in two weeks. There is also a state Supreme Court election. Evers himself had questioned whether he had the power to reschedule the election, but said the worsening situation, including an increase in COVID-19 deaths from 56 on Friday to 77 on Monday, made clear there was no way to safely move forward. Evers said he sought the delay because he was motivated by protecting public health, not politics. The people of Wisconsin, the majority of them, dont spend all their waking hours thinking about are Republicans or Democrats getting the upper hand here, Evers said earlier Monday. Theyre saying theyre scared. Theyre scared of going to the polls. Jim Carpenter protests Tuesdays scheduled election amid the CCP virus pandemic , in downtown Milwaukee, on April 6, 2020. (Morry Gash/AP) He was thwarted by conservatives on two courts. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled 4-2, with four conservatives in support and two liberals against, that Evers lacked the authority to move the election on his own. The U.S. Supreme Court split 5-4, with the five Republican-appointed justices siding with the national and state party to overturn a lower court ruling that had expanded absentee voting. In an unsigned opinion, the court said absentee ballots must be hand-delivered by Tuesday evening or postmarked by Tuesday, although they can arrive at clerks offices as late as April 13. The lower court order that extended absentee balloting through April 13 had stipulated that election returns not be announced until then. Wisconsin Election Commission spokesman Reid Magney said that portion of the lower courts order remained in effect. As of Monday, nearly 1.3 million absentee ballots had been requested but only about 57 percent of those had been returned. Its unclear how many of the outstanding 539,000 ballots will be in voters hands by Tuesday to meet the April 7 postmark deadline. One of the tables, fitted with protective plexiglass, at the sole polling location for city of Waukesha, Wis., residents on April 6, 2020. (Scott Trindl via AP) Ohio saw a similar eleventh-hour flurry the day before its primary last month. After the Republican governor and secretary of state failed to persuade a judge to shift the election date, the state health director stepped in and ordered voting shut down. Legislators set a new, almost all-mail primary for April 28, sparking new legal challenges from voting rights groups, but a federal judge on Friday said the election could go forward. Ahead of the Wisconsin primary, thousands of poll workers said they wouldnt work, leading Milwaukee to reduce its planned number of polling sites from 180 to just five. More than 2,500 National Guard troops were dispatched to staff the polls. They were also distributing supplies, including hand sanitizer, to polling sites across the state. In Madison, city workers were erecting Plexiglas barriers to protect poll workers, and voters were encouraged to bring their own pens to mark the ballots. By Scott Bauer and Steve and Peoples Epoch Times staff contributed to this report Sahaya Novinston Lobo By Express News Service CHENNAI: A Tamil Nadu government order on Saturday allocated funds to the police department by anticipating that police personnel may have to be enforcing the prohibitory orders until April 30. However, more clarity is awaited on the matter as the central government is yet to make any announcement on extending the ongoing nationwide lockdown beyond April 14. The order also stated that the Revenue and Disaster Management Department will allocate Rs 75.27 crore to provide food for police personnel on duty and another Rs 1 crore for their safety. The number of COVID-19 cases in the State rose to 571 with 86 new cases confirmed on Sunday. Of the 86, 85 are linked to the Tablighi Jamaat conference in Delhi. The total number of positive cases linked to the Delhi meet is now 522. The State also reported two deaths, taking the number of deaths in TN to five. Of the deaths reported on Sunday, one was of a 60-year-old man who died in Government Stanley Hospital. His funeral was conducted without his family which is under quarantine. The other death was of a 70-year-old man who had returned from Dubai. He died on Thursday but his test result was reported on Sunday, triggering outrage as his relatives alleged they hadnt been told he might be a COVID-19 patient. Following this, the Directorate of Public Health issued fresh guidelines on handling the deaths of patients. Speaking to reporters of the new cases, Health Secretary Dr Beela Rajesh said, Of the 571 cases, eight have been discharged, seven are undergoing treatment in private hospitals and the condition of seven patients is critical. Total 1,246 people who attended Delhi conference were traced so far. LISTEN | Indian student on life in coronavirus-hit Italy She added that samples were taken from 650 people with a severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and among them, four with contact history were positive. The State is still in Stage-2 of COVID-19 and has enough RT-PCR testing kits. The aim of the government is to set up testing facilities in all medical colleges in the State. An expert team constituted by the government is also studying how the virus has progressed in other countries. The team has also projected how the State would fare in a worst-case scenario. The government has also devised short-term and long-term plans, Dr Rajesh said. She said a population of 38,88,896 was covered under containment plan and 15,000 field workers were engaged in the task. Lockdown violations in city The Chennai city police have booked 7,460 people for violating the lockdown since it was announced on March 25. They have also seized 3,625 vehicles. As the lockdown enters 12th day, the sleuths are having a tough time in keeping the public indoors. Through the 150 checkpoints set up across the city, the city police are doing their best to enforce the curfew. The police have booked 17 people for jumping home quarantine while another man was held for spreading rumours about coronavirus infection through social media. Traffic violators booked In the meantime, the city traffic police have registered 16,245 cases for traffic violations, including riding triples, drunk driving and not wearing helmets. 7,774 vehicles were seized. Novel ways to keep virus at bay Some police personnel are also trying novel methods to keep the virus at bay. One of them are Madhuravoyal Inspector Radhakrishnan who has set up a disinfectant spray tunnel on Poonamallee High Road. Only two-wheelers can pass through the temporary tunnel which has an overhead sprinkler connected to a tank of disinfectant liquid provided by the corporation and health staff. While the police are struggling to implement the lockdown, many people are not taking the warnings seriously. If people are roaming outside, let them do it without spreading virus. Hence, after consulting the Corporation and health staff, we set up the tunnel. The temporary set up cost around Rs 15,000, said the inspector. In market areas where people are likely to gather, the sleuths are keeping a tight vigil. At Teynampet and Pallavaram markets, barricades have been set up to limit the crowd. The police are also insisting that people coming to markets wear masks or cover their face. People who visit markets without masks or covering faces are sent back.All we ask the people is to cover their face with masks or handkerchief, said a police inspector who was controlling the crowd in front of a supermarket at Alwarpet. Fish sellers confused In some places, fishermen are confused about whether they are allowed to open shops. We come daily to the market to see if we are allowed to sell fish. While the government says we can, the police force us to close. We are also facing difficulty in procuring fish, said R Venkatesan of Thiruvotriyur. An unidentified biker spat on a Manipuri woman in Santacruz in Mumbai on Monday while she was walking on a road, police said. The incident occurred when the 25-year-old woman was walking with her friend from Geeta Vihar Junction towards the Military Camp in Kalina where essential goods were being distributed. In her FIR, the woman stated that the biker removed his mask and spat on her before fleeing. "Such act could expose me to coronavirus infection. In the heat of the moment, I could not note down the registration number of the bike," a Vakola Police official said quoting the woman's complaint. Police are scrutinising footage of nearby CCTV cameras to trace the accused, he said. The biker has been booked under sections 270 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 352 (Punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), he added.. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The country witnessed lakhs of Indians stand in solidarity for Prime Minister Narendra Modis #9baje9min initiative on Sunday. Several celebrities joined in to show their support, including Bollywood actor-producer Arbaaz Khan. Arbaaz took to his social media handle to upload a picture of himself wherein he is seen holding a lit-up candle. His post attracted wishes from fans and friends in the comments. However, the most unmissable reply came from the actors girlfriend Giorgia Andriani, who wrote, Wheres my pic credit? Arbaaz started dating actress-model Giorgia Andriani in 2018 but did not confirm it officially until March last year. If I had to hide my affair, I would not have brought it in open. I unhesitatingly admit that Georgia is there in my life at this point in time. Somebody who I have at his time in my life is a friend who I am also dating. Where it is going to go? Only time will tell. Yes, undoubtedly, we are together, he had told Deccan Chronicle. Arbaaz was earlier married to Malaika Arora for 17 years. The couple got divorced in 2017. Talking about his work commitments, Arbaaz plunged into the digital world with ZEE5 web series Poison in 2019. He was last seen on the big screen alongside actor-brother Salman Khan in Dabangg 3. In the movie, he reprised the character of Makhanchand 'Makkhi' Pandey from the prequels. Follow @News18Movies for more Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said 130 crore Indians came in solidarity by lighting diyas and lamps on Sunday in line with Narendra Modi's '9pm9minute' campaign and asserted the Prime Minister instilled confidence that the country will win the battle against COVID-19. Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Adityanath said, "Under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, we saw how 130 crore Indians came in solidarity by lighting diyas. People across the country have supported the lockdown that has been imposed in the wake of coronavirus. This shows the unity in the country and India's power in this world." He said the way the people came in unity against the battle to combat COVID-19, it will definitely give good results. "Corona will lose and India will win. The way people lit candles, lamps and phone torch to express their support to Prime Minister Modi, I would wholeheartedly like to thank the people of Uttar Pradesh. People should maintain social distancing to win this battle," he added. People in various states of the country on Sunday turned off the lights of their houses and lighted earthen lamps, responding to the Prime Minister '9 pm9minute' appeal to defeat the coronavirus in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continue to rise in New York, the health and safety of healthcare and frontline workers amid a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) continues to be a cause of concern. The sister of a New York City nurse who died from coronavirus believes her brothers death was due to a lack of PPE, and is speaking out in hopes of warning other healthcare workers. Kious Jordan Kelly, an assistant nursing manager at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, died after contracting COVID-19. Photo: TODAY Marya Sherron said her brother Kious Jordan Kelly, who worked as an assistant nursing manager at New Yorks Mount Sinai Hospital, had an infectious energy and was always in the habit of making others feel good about themselves. On March 17, Kelly was admitted to Mount Sinai after contracting the novel coronavirus from treating infected patients. According to Sherron, Kelly suffered from severe asthma, and required a ventilator while he was in the hospitals intensive care unit. Sherron shared the last text message she received from her brother while he was in ICU, detailing the horrific side effects of the respiratory virus. Cant talk because I choke and cant breathe, Kelly wrote. I love you. Going back to sleep. Youve pulled through so much, Sherron replied. Love you and we are praying. Kelly died on March 24 at the age of 48. In an interview with NBC News, Sherron said she believes her brothers death could have been prevented had there been appropriate PPE such as masks, gowns and gloves. Marya Sherron shared the last text messages she received from her brother before he died. (Image via TODAY). I absolutely believe that he contracted this because of the lack of PPE in his unit and at his hospital but that's across our nation," Sherron said. Sherrons sentiments are on the heels of a photo circulating on Facebook in which nurses are seen wearing garbage bags as PPE. The caption of the photo alleges that the nurses pictured work at Mount Sinai, the same hospital where Kelly worked and died. No more gowns in the whole hospital, Mount Sinai West, Diana Torres wrote. No more masks and reusing the disposable ones...Nurses figuring it out during COVID-19 crisis. Story continues Lucia Lee, the senior medical director for the Mount Sinai Health System told TODAY that the nurses were wearing the proper PPE under the garbage bags. When it comes to staff wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), the facts are very clear: We always provide all our staff with the critically important PPE they need to safely do their job, she said. If an individual does not have their proper PPE, they do not go on the floor, period. Any suggestion otherwise is simply not accurate. The hospital also issued a statement addressing the death of Kelly. We are deeply saddened by the passing of a beloved member of our nursing staff. The safety of our staff and patients has never been of greater importance and we are taking every precaution possible to protect everyone. But this growing crisis is not abating and has already devastated hundreds of families in New York and turned our frontline professionals into true American heroes, it read. Today, we lost another hero a compassionate colleague, friend and selfless caregiver. Sherron said she hopes that by sharing her story, health care systems will take action to ensure their staff are properly protected. There's only going to be more," Sherron said. He's not the only one with asthma. He's not the only one with conditions who is going to work every day helping and fighting for people. Words by Elizabeth Di Filippo Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to declare a state of emergency within days, after coronavirus cases in Tokyo jumped over the weekend to top 1,000 for the first time and raised worries of a more explosive surge, media reports said. Abe will announce the plan as soon as Monday, with the formal declaration for the Tokyo area coming as early as Tuesday, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported, without attribution. Osaka is also likely to be included, while Hyogo, Saitama and Hokkaido prefectures are under consideration, according to Kyodo News and other media reports. Japan's biggest-ever stimulus package worth 60 trillion yen ($550 billion) may also be announced Tuesday. Abe is expected to call a meeting of his advisory panel on the virus before announcing the decision. The state of emergency will be issued for specific areas, and a time period will be set. Abe's government saw its approval rating slip to its lowest since October 2018 in a poll from broadcaster JNN, released Monday, with a majority of respondents faulting the way the government has managed the virus crisis. The poll conducted April 4 and 5 showed that about 80% of respondents said the declaration should be made. While Abe's government has said the country is on the brink of an explosive surge, it has resisted calls to declare an emergency. The governors of Tokyo and Osaka have been pushing for the declaration as the recent spike in cases sparked concerns that Japan is headed for a crisis on the levels seen in the U.S. and several countries in Europe. Declaring a state of emergency hands powers to local governments, including to urge residents to stay home. By contrast with some other countries, though, there is no legal power to enforce such requests due to civil liberties protections in Japanese law. While Japan was one of the first countries outside of the original epicenter in neighboring China to confirm a coronavirus infection, it has fared better than most, with about 3,150 reported cases as of Monday - a jump from less than 500 just a month ago. That's the lowest tally of any Group of Seven country, though Japan might be finding fewer mild cases because it has conducted a relatively small number of tests. Last week, the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo advised American citizens to return home, saying Japan's low testing rate makes it hard to accurately assess the prevalence of the virus. The Japan Medical Association warned last week that the jump in cases in the nation's most populous cities is putting more pressure on medical resources and that the government should declare a state of emergency. Tokyo reported 143 new coronavirus infections on Sunday, its largest single day. It marked the second straight day the city's daily infection tally exceeded 100. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike is already pressing residents to avoid unnecessary outings, and television showed many of the capital's main shopping areas almost deserted over the weekend. The Tokyo local government is set to begin leasing hotels this week to accommodate mild cases, to make room in its hospitals for the seriously ill. Abe told parliament on Friday that the situation didn't yet warrant an emergency declaration, but said he wouldn't hesitate to take the step if the time comes. Luxembourg's main opposition party CSV stressed on Monday that the ongoing health crisis should under no circumstances further deteriorate into an economic and/or social one. CSV expressed their support for the government's stabilisation plan in this context. The main opposition party nevertheless also suggested four measures to be implemented immediately. Rents for local businesses, CSV argued, should be waived until the state of emergency comes to an end. The party added that businesses should be given the possibility to pay back due rent until 30 June. Landlords who take a pass on collecting rents should be compensated with tax advantages. The process of filing for bankruptcy should also be suspended until two months after the crisis. Startups and very small businesses should receive an additional 3,000. Craft businesses, CSV argued, should also be granted tax advantages. The opposition party presented four draft bills reflecting these measures to the Chamber of Deputies earlier this Monday. For Shubham Bhardwaj, an architect, business is low during the lockdown due to coronavirus and school has sent message for fee payment of his two children. Similarly, Trisha Bhatia, has written to her daughter's school to check if the fees can be paid later as she has got a 20 per cent pay cut this month. Shubham and Trisha are among several other parents who are waiting for government to provide some respite to them by waiving fees, however, schools argue that the classes are already being conducted online and they need to pay salaries to teachers as well. Adding to the woes are several charges levied by schools including transport and miscellaneous activities including swimming and horse riding, which are not actually being conducted due to lockdown. Parents in neighbouring Gurgaon and Noida have got some respite in this regard. While Noida administration ordered on Sunday that no educational institution across Noida and Greater Noida can force parents of any student for fees during the COVID-19 lockdown or bar pupils from attending online classes, the Haryana government had last week ordered that all fee collection activities be suspended by schools till the lockdown is over. "When Gurgaon and Noida can do it, why cannot Delhi schools do the same. The demand must have been addressed by the government while announcing relief package for lockdown," Bhardwaj told PTI. A distressed parent shared, "I have to pay Rs 10,000 each for the bus fees for my two kids. It is unfair to charge this amount at a time when the buses are not being used at all by the children". The Delhi Parents Association, has also written to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, requesting for a moratorium on school fee collection. "As the income and revenue from small and medium enterprises has already been stopped and the reserve fund has already been used to be utilised to meet out daily needs, it is a very tough time. We request that a moratorium on collection of fees can be declared for at least one quarter or so as an austerity measure in such unprecedented situation of lockdown," the association said. According to officials of the Directorate of (DoE), a solution is yet to be materialised in this regard and suggestions are being sought from various stakeholders. "We have been getting messages from parents that fee during the lockdown should be waived but schools say that how will they give salaries, which is also a genuine concern. "The government has actively worked for parents as far as the matters about fees have been concerned but right now it is a tricky situation. If anybody has concrete suggestions about a balanced way out of the situation, we request to share it wit us", a senior DoE official told PTI. Private schools, however, believe that the period is not a "holiday" period and the staffers are working as much as they would have in schools. "We must understand that it is not a vacation period. The job of teachers is even tougher, the classes are going on using different digital modes, assignments and interaction with parents keeps them occupied even through non-school hours. I will be unfair to them to not be paid on time, they have families too," principal of a private school said. She did not wish to be identified. However, parents argue that big schools definitely can use the surplus amount for such sensitive times and provide relief to parents. "The government can offer relief in different slabs, there can be different criteria for different schools including high end, medium range and budget schools. We are sure something can be worked out, a parent said. The country is in a 21-day lockdown due to coronavirus situation. HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' had on Sunday said, a decision will be taken on reopening of schools and colleges on April 14 after reviewing the situation. The death toll due to novel coronavirus rose to 109 and the number of cases in the country climbed to 4,067 on Monday, according to the Union Health Ministry. While the number of active COVID-19 cases stands at 3,666, as many as 291 people were cured and discharged, and one has migrated, it stated. The total number of cases include 65 foreign nationals. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Customers at a cosmetic clinic say they are disgusted after it boasted it promoted the sale coronavirus home testing kits for 75. Persona Cosmetic Medicine in Bexley has been accused of cashing in on the Covid-19 pandemic after it text customers boasting it was 'increasing' its order of LYHER Novel Coronavirus Antibody home testing kits due to popular demand. The salon counts Botox, laser treatment and fat reduction among its usual treamtents. But a message shared with customers promoted the home testing kit, which it claims gives results in 15 minutes. Earlier today communities secretary Robert Jenrick said there still wasn't a 'reliable antibody test,' but the government had orders ready for millions once one becomes available. Mr Jenrick added: 'There really is no point purchasing and deploying a test that isn't highly reliable.' Persona Cosmetic Medicine in Bexley, Kent has been accused of profiting off of the coronavirus pandemic by selling home testing kits for 75 Dr Lisa Delamaine, of Persona, said she disagreed with the Government's decision to not start mass testing and researched what kits were available from overseas In a text to its customers, the clinic said: "COVID19 Test kits. "Demand means we've increased our order giving us a better price and have passed this on. Now only 75 per kit.' But customer Emma Yale said: "This disgusts me. First of all we don't know if the test is accurate. 'If it is accurate, then why should some people be able to buy it while we've got frontline healthcare staff not being able to get it? 'Ethics come before profit.' Persona Cosmetic Medicine's product is branded as an 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. 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. This is opposed to an 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. Some customers were unhappy with Persona Cosmetic Medicine selling coronavirus home testing kits. On Monday senior government MP Robert Jenrick said there was 'no point' in buying a test that was unreliable 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. Persona Cosmetic Medicine hit back at claims it was profiting off the product, it said: 'Please be aware that although kits are available for purchase for individuals with no means of being able to get tests and may want or need their own personal peace of mind, 'But we have also donated many kits to frontline NHS workers & carers. 'Please also note that within coming weeks testing kits will be available both from Boots and Amazon as it recognised that all of us ideally need to be tested. 'Thank you again for your feedback and sincerely wishing you safe and well.' Dr Lisa Delamaine, of Persona, said she disagreed with the Government's decision to not start mass testing and researched what kits were available from overseas. The director, who is said to have a degree in Immunology and Medicine, has claimed that she has a 'good insight into deciphering the clinical data' and ordered tests manufactured in China. The home-testing kits are not UK approved but are CE marked and used throughout Europe and China, she said. Dr Lisa Delamaine insisted: 'This is not about us profiteering during a worldwide disaster,' adding the company was 'trying to keep Persona going', on the website. 'Without an income it is likely that Persona may go bust meaning all my amazing team will be out of work. 'As much as the government has promised help to small businesses, I'm afraid this is hard to access and slow in coming.' It comes as 17.5million home testing kits have been ordered to prevent the spread of coronavirus across the UK. More than 7,000 NHS staff have been tested for Covid-19 - as part of Matt Hancock's commitment to getting 100,000 coronavirus tests each day by the end of April. Speaking on Good Morning Britain today Robert Jenrick said the government was 'working to get a reliable antibody test'. The housing, communities and local government secretary said: 'Unfortunately there isn't yet a reliable, antibody test. We're working with a number of manufacturers and we've put in orders so that if a reliable test is established we can purchase millions of those. But as the Chief Medical Officer has said, there really is no point purchasing and deploying a test that isn't highly reliable.' MailOnline tried to contact Persona Cosmetic Medicine for a comment, however an answer phone message said it was closed for the foreseeable future, due to the coronavirus. An image of what the proposed Shannon LNG terminal would look like THE High Court has turned down a request by the State to delay a legal challenge concerning the Shannon LNG (liquefied natural gas) project on account of the Covid-19 crisis. The State sought to delay the planned June hearing on the controversial gas terminal plan to October by arguing its officials were too busy to work on the case as they were focused on the implications of the pandemic for the security of gas and electricity supplies. Kevin Brady, principal officer at the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, also argued that the personnel were disadvantaged by remote working. The individuals at issue cannot work as efficiently as they would otherwise be able to do and do not all currently have access to their full paper and digital files that would be necessary to provide full instructions in these proceedings, he submitted. Judge Garrett Simons however said the dispute was centred on legal rather than factual issues and the States lawyers rather than its officials would be doing the heavy lifting. It seems unlikely that the Departmental officials would be required to expend time on the preparation of new reports or materials, he said in a written judgement. He rejected the argument that working remotely should cause difficulty. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, he said. Unless the administration of justice is to grind to a halt entirely, this cannot represent a valid excuse for adjourning legal proceedings for a period of in excess of three months. All of us will have to accommodate ourselves to the new working environment demanded by the need to respond to the pandemic. Friends of the Irish Environment are challenging the States decision to back the inclusion of the terminal plan in the European Commissions PCI (projects of common interest) list. Listed projects are expedited and can access massive grant aid. FIE say the project was included without the necessary sustainability assessment being carried out. The group will argue that development of new fossil fuel infrastructure is unsustainable and that the site chosen for this project is protected under conservation regulations. The project is also controversial as the gas is intended to be imported from fracking fields in the United States while fracking is illegal in Ireland. Judge Simons gave the State extra time to file final submissions and said he would be flexible about how the case could be heard. He suggested it might be possible to deal with it by way of a remote or virtual hearing or, with agreement on both sides, by submission of papers only. A spokesman for FIE welcomed the decision to proceed in June and said it was hoped it would be a harbinger of a Court Service ready to embrace the potential of electronic proceedings. [April 06, 2020] Zyxel Recognized in the 2020 CRN Partner Program Guide Zyxel Networks, a leader in delivering secure, AI- and cloud-powered home and business solutions, is being recognized by CRN , a brand of The Channel Company, in its 2020 Partner Program Guide. This annual guide is the definitive listing of the most rewarding partner programs from technology companies that provide products and services through the IT channel. The Channel Company's research team analyzed each vendor's partner program to compile this guide. Each was scored based on several factors, including investments in program offerings, partner profitability, partner training, education and support, marketing programs and resources, sales support, and communication. Based on that assessment, Zyxel Authorized Partner Program (ZAP (News - Alert)!) stands among the top technology suppliers in the IT channel, providing excellent value and support for solution providers. The three-tier Zyxel Authorized Partner Program (ZAP!) provides solution providers with the tools and resources necessary to create and sell enterprise-class solutions that scale to meet the needs and budgets of the mid-market. Access to the ZAP! is reserved fr value-added resellers who employ a sales and consulting model as their primary go-to-market strategy. Eligible resellers are those who sell networking and security products in North America and must have a purchasing relationship with an authorized Zyxel distributor. "With the speed and complexity of technology today, solution providers need partners that can keep pace and support their growing business," said Bob Skelley, CEO of The Channel Company. "CRN's Partner Program Guide features insight into the strengths and benefits of each company's program to identify those that truly support and drive positive change within the IT channel." "Zyxel is proud to again be included in CRN's annual Partner Program Guide because it validates our ongoing efforts to establish ourselves as a valuable technology partner for VARs and service providers," explained David Soares, Executive Vice President of Channel Sales and Marketing for Zyxel North America. "ZAP! is a robust program that rewards VARs for their value added services and gives them the tools they need to provide the right solutions to their customers. Combined with our expanding line of enterprise-class networking products and solutions, our program can help our VAR partners enhance their profits and grow their businesses." The 2020 Partner Program Guide will be featured in the April issue of CRN and online at www.CRN.com/ppg. About Zyxel: Zyxel, a pioneer in IP technology for over two decades and trusted brand for over 25 years, provides a complete portfolio of multi-service LTE (News - Alert), fiber and DSL broadband gateways, home connectivity solutions, smart home devices and enterprise-class Ethernet switches, security and Wi-Fi equipment for small to mid-size businesses. Zyxel offers integrated, interoperable network solutions based on open standards. Headquartered in Anaheim, California, Zyxel offers its partners service-rich solutions backed by a domestic team of logistic, sales, and technical support professionals. About the Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com. Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook Copyright 2020. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005689/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A radioactive forest within Chernobyls exclusion zone has caught fire, triggering a spike in local radiation levels. On Sunday around 90 firefighters were deployed to fight the blaze, which a Ukrainian official said had spread over almost 250 acres, 50 of which were within the restricted area around the disused nuclear power plant. Firefighters continue to fight the fire that originated in the Chernobyl zone. The situation is difficult, Yegor Firsov, Ukraines ecological inspection service chief wrote on Facebook Sunday morning. Ukraine's emergencies service said one of the fires, covering about 12 acres, had been localised. It said the other fire was about 50 acres. The discrepancy in sizes could not immediately be resolved. Radiation levels were above normal in the centre of the fire, Mr Firsov said, adding it was bad news. But the emergencies service said radiation levels in the capital of Kyiv, about 60 miles south, were within normal levels. The fires were within the 1,000-square-mile Chernobyl Exclusion Zone established after the 1986 disaster at the plant that sent a cloud of radioactive fallout over much of Europe. The zone is largely unpopulated, although about 200 people have remained despite orders to leave. Fires are relatively common in the forests surrounding the former nuclear plant. Mr Firsov said the latest blaze was likely caused by people setting fire to nearby grass, which then spread to trees. He called on the Ukrainian parliament to increase arson fines 100-fold, otherwise, large-scale fires will continue to happen every fall and spring. Additional reporting by AP Europes worst-hit areas showed further signs of recovery as both Italy and Spain recorded falls in the daily death toll from coronavirus. Angelo Borrelli, the head of Italys civil protection agency, said there had been 525 deaths reported over the previous 24 hours the lowest daily total since 19 March. Italy, which has been in lockdown for nearly a month, now has a total of 15,887 deaths and nearly 129,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19. The number of patients in hospital and the number of occupied intensive care unit beds also continued to decrease, including in the most affected region of northern Lombardy. However Mr Borelli warned that this good news shouldnt make us drop our guard. The government has also indicated that restrictions on movement were likely to continue for several weeks yet. Spains new virus deaths dropped for the third straight day, to 674 the first time daily deaths have fallen below 800 in the past week while the number of new infections also decreased to 6,023. We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, prime minister Pedro Sanchez said. France also reported a fall in the number of daily deaths to 357. Its total has now climbed to 8,078, although the figure includes fatalities in care homes. Many other countries only report hospital deaths. And while the UK saw a slight drop in daily deaths from 708 to 621, most experts believe the nation is still a week away from reaching the peak of the outbreak, Britains total has now reached 4,934 overall, with 47,806 cases, while Germany has seen 1,342 deaths and 91,714 cases. Restrictions on movement vary from country to country across Europe. In Germany and Britain, residents can exercise and walk their dogs, as well as go to the supermarket and do other essential tasks. In Sweden, where schools, bars and restaurants are still open, there have been 401 deaths and 6,830 confirmed cases. The total number of deaths around the world approached 70,000 on Sunday night, while confirmed cases topped 1.25 million. More than 335,000 of those are in the US, which seems set to be the next epicentre of the pandemic. Deaths across all 50 states neared 10,000 as Donald Trump gave his latest press conference on Sunday night. Over a quarter of those were concentrated in New York City. Meanwhile, Greek authorities placed a second refugee camp near Athens into lockdown after a resident tested positive for coronavirus, officials announced on Sunday. The countrys migration ministry said a 53-year-old Afghan man had been transferred from the Malakasa camp, which has a population of 1,270 people, to a hospital in the Greek capital. Greece was the main gateway into the European Union for more than a million people fleeing conflict throughout 2015 and 2016. More than 110,000 people currently live in migrant facilities across the country 40,000 of them in overcrowded camps on five islands. Additional reporting by agencies Deepak Sathish By Express News Service COIMBATORE: Ponni Selvarajans day begins much before dawn. Her work is among those considered essential services during the 21-day nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19. Essential because by delivering newspapers, she brings information from the outside world right to the doorstep of readers staying safe indoors. Equipped with protective gear, such as masks and gloves, the 54-year-old, among a handful of women newspaper delivery agents in Coimbatore, begins her job at 3am. I have been doing this for 23 years now. Initially, a few were reluctant to offer me the job as I am a woman. But, I love doing it, says Ponni, a resident of Saibaba colony. Suganthi Selvaraj (40), who took up the job after the death of her husband in 2010, is another such agent. She comes to Coimbatore Railway Station at around 3 am every morning to attach supplements to the newspapers. Then, she starts supplying dailies to the hotels and lodges near the Race Course. Despite the World Health Organization saying newspapers are safe to touch, a few readers have fallen prey to fake news, fears Ponni. Some readers are conscious that newspapers do not carry viruses. However, there are a few, who are ironing the newspaper to kill the germs, she says. Some gated communities have asked us not to enter the premises as we pass through many locations, and they think we could be carriers for the virus, Ponni adds.Another agent, Priya Selvam (42) worries that she will have to work harder once the lockdown period ends, as a number of readers have stopped the newspaper delivery services. Only one-fourth of newspaper copies are being sold these days. Although people can read the news online, they wont be able to get the touch-and-feel factor that newspapers offer, says Priya from RS Puram.She says sub-agents are given masks and gloves to protect them from the virus. Besides, the dedication towards the work gets these women to the field everyday even during the lockdown. For instance,M Priya (21), a TNPSC aspirant near Kalapatti, is helping her father by delivering newspapers door-to-door.I wanted to help my father as a few people did not turn up for work during the lockdown period mandated by the Central Government, she explains. 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 Nollywood actress, Uche Elendu has pleaded with the Lagos State police to release of her colleague and friend, Funke Akindele. The actress took to Instagram to share a photo of the popular actress, pointing out that her twin babies are in need of their mother. READ ALSO Uche Elendu Denies Saying Shes Lonely And looking for Love Recall that Funke Akindele was arrested by the police for disobeying lockdown orders by hosting a party in celebration of her husbands 43rd birthday. The police on Monday charged the actress to a Lagos Court at Ogba. If found guilty, Jenifa, as she is popularly called, risks a jail term of one month or a fine of N100,000. See Her Post Here: Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 7) Authorities apprehended and arrested over 75,000 individuals for violating curfew hours in the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine as of April 3. According to the April 6 report of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee, 75,750 curfew violators were apprehended by the Joint Task Force Coronavirus Shield. The task force is composed of 38,870 personnel from the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fire Protection. There are also 7,063 public utility vehicle drivers who have been apprehended and arrested for violating the rule of social distancing. The implementation of curfew hours is listed in the report as a measure for the protection of the welfare of citizens. President Rodrigo Duterte announced Monday night that the Philippine government is inclined to extend the Luzon lockdown until April 30. The Health Department reported 414 new cases of the novel coronavirus disease in the country Monday, raising the total number to at 3,660. The Philippines now has 163 fatalities, and 73 recoveries. Authorities call on the public to practice good hygiene to help stop the spread of the viral disease. They urge everyone to regularly wash hands, cover the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and avoid close contact with those who exhibit virus symptoms. Brazils energy minister said on Monday that it would attend the G20 meeting of oil ministers that Saudi Arabia is trying to rally together to cut oil production, Reuters reported on Monday. Saudi Arabia extended the invitation to Brazil on Sunday. The market is skeptical of any production cut deal that doesnt involve the United States, but Brazil is the oil producer that is expected to be the third-largest growth driver of non-OPEC supply this year behind the United States and Norway. According to OPECs February MOMR, Brazils production was expected to grow by 310,000 bpd in 2020. Brazils oil production topped 3 million barrels per day in November 2019, according to Brazils National Petroleum Agency, with total oil and gas production reaching 3.95 million bpd. Norway, too, is planning on attending the G20 meeting. If Brazil and Norway agree to get onboard the OPEC+ train with production cuts, it would add to the market-controlling power that the group has. Thats if the group can reach a consensus. Multiple TASS sources suggested on Monday afternoon that the group may have had trouble agreeing on individual volumes for the cuts, leading to the group pushing the meeting back to Thursday. One of the sources suggested that it was Russia and Saudi Arabiathe two largest producers of the production cut deal that ended April 1who could not reach an agreement. The group is still eager to get the United States on board any production cuts in order to give the group more weight to pull up oil prices, although President Trump has said in daily briefings that the issue of the US participation in any production cuts has not been promised. WTI had slipped 7.45% on Monday afternoon to $26.23 at 3.23 PM CT. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Separated parents are being advised to comply with court orders as much as possible when it comes to access with their children. New guidelines by family law practitioners stress that children are allowed to move between parents' homes for access. They highlight Covid-19 cannot be used as an excuse to ignore a court order. The Chair of the Family Law Committee of the Law Society of Ireland has said that the system has been inundated with calls from distressed parents since stricter restrictions on movement were issued over a week ago. Solicitor Helen Coughlan told RTE radios Morning Ireland that there are thousands of children who move between homes every week, particularly at weekends, and as a result many parents were unclear as to what was going to happen with access in the coming weeks. Ms Coughlan welcomed a statement from the Minister for Justice, Charlie Flanagan on the issue, which she said has provided some clarity. Court orders should be complied with to the greatest degree possible, she added, but it was very important that common sense prevailed. There are alternative ways like Skype or Facetime which will allow parents to have extensive contact with their children at this time. Parents are advised to make note of this temporary agreement by text or email. Where there is a domestic violence issue, Ms Coughlan said the courts are open to deal with those cases. "Anybody who is a victim of domestic violence should contact their solicitor or contact the courts and the courts will deal very swiftly with domestic violence." Womens Aid 1800 341 900; womensaid.ie; Safe Ireland safeireland.ie; Men's Aid mensaid.ie - Additional reporting by Digital Desk [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] Covid-19 is reducing the number of refuge spaces available for victims of abuse in Ireland, who may now be trapped in isolation with their attackers. There are calls for the State to remove women and children from nine refuges, which share communal living spaces. Ireland already has a shortage of refuge spaces and each year thousands of women and children are turned away. There are 21 domestic abuse refuges, but 10 counties have no refuges. There are a total of 141 refuge spaces in Ireland, according to the most recent figures available. The Istanbul Convention, a European directive for the prevention of violence against women, recommends that a country the size of Ireland should have 472 spaces. Aoibhneas, a refuge in Dublin, told the Irish Independent that so far this year it has already seen a 53pc increase in the number of abuse survivors it cannot accommodate compared with 2019. The number of calls to its helpline also increased by 50pc in March. It is one of a number of refuges that has had to reduce the number of women and children it can accommodate because of Covid-19. "As a frontline service provider, we are already seeing and responding to the impact of curtailed service provision to women and children experiencing domestic abuse. "We are doing our best to ensure we abide by all relevant guidelines and understand our role in combating Covid-19 but women and children's safety in their homes must also continue to be a priority. "We are calling on the Government to increase support to the sector as we strive to protect women and children," said Emma Reidy, the chief executive of Aoibhneas. Saoirse women's refuge in Dublin, Mayo women's support service and Esker House refuge in Westmeath are all unable to accept new admissions to their refuges, according to Safe Ireland. Sharon O'Halloran, the chief executive of Safe Ireland, said refuges that have communal spaces, such as bathrooms, were "potential sites for an outbreak" of Covid-19. "We are being asked to operate these communal refuges despite the fact that we can't meet the current protocol on social distancing," she said. "The women that are in those nine refuges need to be moved into safe accommodation as a matter of urgency. We need to be creative, and consider using Airbnbs." Ms O'Halloran said some domestic abuse helplines had been "worryingly quiet". "A woman might have a very small window of opportunity to call for help, but now that everyone is at home together most of the time she might lose that chance," she said, adding that refuges being full was a constant problem. The Government has signed up to the Istanbul Convention, which recommends states should have one refuge space for every 10,000 people in the population. Ireland has claimed it only needs to provide one refuge space for every 10,000 adult women. It is understood that Ireland is the only country using this metric. Shelter GREVIO, the independent group which monitors how well countries are combating domestic abuse, has recommended that all states base their number of refuge spaces on their entire population. "The standard of one shelter place per 10,000 people is a recommendation rather than a legal obligation. In its evaluation reports, GREVIO calls on states to meet this ratio in order to ensure a sufficient number of shelter places. "The most important thing is to make sure there are enough places available for the people who need them," said Johanna Nelles, the Council of Europe's executive secretary for the Istanbul Convention. Tusla said it was engaging directly with domestic abuse refuges during the pandemic. "All advice offered by Tusla is in line with health advice from the NPHET and the HSE and it is important that this advice is followed in all settings including communal spaces, whilst also maintaining services," a spokeswoman said. NORWALK Two people were arrested this weekend for removing barricades to gain entry into a closed park as the city ramps up enforcement efforts of social distancing amid the coronavirus crisis. Mayor Harry Rilling has closed all city parks and beaches to cars to encourage social distancing and prevent groups from congregating. Two people caught violating the mayors order were charged this weekend with trespassing and had their cars towed after they moved construction barrels and caution tape blocking the Veterans Park lot to launch their boats into the water. Closing city parks and beaches to vehicular traffic is one of several efforts Rilling has made to encourage people to stay home as Norwalk continues to report some of the highest number of coronavirus cases of any municipality in the state. Over the weekend, Norwalk reported a total of 68 new positive cases, bringing the citys total number of confirmed cases to more than 500. There was also another death, making the citys death count from the pandemic to 20. On Monday, there were 92 new coronavirus cases reported in Norwalk. There are now 595 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Norwalk and 3,719 across Fairfield County, according to data from the state. We know that spikes in cases, or relatively low numbers of new cases, does not tell the entire story, and is based on when data is submitted. Members of the public should continue adhering to physical distancing guidelines to help slow the spread of coronavirus, Rilling said. I know I sound like a broken record, but from what Ive seen at some of our stores and other areas around Norwalk, there are some who are simply not taking this matter seriously enough. We will only be able to defeat this virus if we all make some tough sacrifices now. Norwalk officials reminded residents on Monday the requirements for COVID-19 testing at a private practice or health center is different than at drive-thru collection sites. A doctors note is not required at private medical offices that are running tests because a person will be seen by a doctor or physician, whereas collection sites require prior authorization. While City Hall remains closed, the city will resume public meetings this week via video conference. City officials encourage residents to sign up at norwalkct.org/codered. erin.kayata@hearstmediact.com N ormally bustling streets in major cities around the world have been left empty as a result of stringent coronavirus lockdowns, as these aerial images show. Perhaps most strikingly of all, Pope Francis marked a surreal Palm Sunday in an empty St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. In a ceremony normally attended by thousands of devout worshippers, the Pope urged people living through the pandemic not to be so concerned with what they lack but how they can ease the suffering of others. Another picture shows the area around the sacred Kaaba in Mecca deserted. One of the five pillars of Islam asserts that every Muslim must perform the Hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca that ends with a visit to the Kaaba at the centre of the Great Mosque of Mecca. St. Peters Square and the Basilica in Rome on Palm Sunday April 5, 2020. / Satellite image A2020 Maxar Tech Other images show virtually empty central squares like Tiananmen in Beijing, and the Piazza del Duomo in Milan. All around the world, governments that have imposed lockdown restrictions are discussing how and when they will be able to ease them The normally packed Kaaba in Mecca / AFP via Getty Images Denmark, one of the first countries to impose a lockdown, has become the first country to offer a clear timeline out of the restrictions. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on March 30: If we Danes for the next two weeks, beyond Easter, continue to stand together, at a distance, and if the numbers remain stable and reasonable, then the government will begin a gradual, quiet and controlled opening of our society again." Tiananmen Square in Beijing is deserted / via Reuters In the UK, Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned that Britain will have to impose more curbs on outdoor exercise if people continued to flout lockdown rules. Scotland Chief Medical Officer Catherine Calderwood resigned on Sunday after she flouted her own advice to stay at home by travelling to her second home on two successive weekends. Listen to The Leader: Coronavirus Daily podcast Italy's health minister outlined plans for broader testing and beefed-up health services as part of a package of measures that would follow a future easing of the country's lockdown. COPENHAGEN, Denmark, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- From today, Bain & Company and QVARTZ are formally operating under one name, forming a strategic management consulting powerhouse in the Nordic region. Bain Nordics offers high-end consulting services for multinationals, local corporations and fast-growing scale-ups in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. In late 2019, the two companies signed a binding agreement to integrate their Nordic businesses. Now both operate as the Nordic region of Bain & Company. The combined, New Bain Nordics boasts over 50 partners, and a total team size of approximately 450 professionals. "Our Nordic relationships our Nordic DNA is of major importance to our clients," says Hans Henrik Beck, Managing Partner and co-founder of QVARTZ. Beck continues "Now we combine the Nordic DNA of Bain's four Nordic offices and QVARTZ' three offices with truly global reach and knowledge." Dan Kuzmic, a Bain Director who has led Bain's Nordic business since 2016 continues, "We offer our clients the best of both worlds: cultural fit and agility of a scale local Nordic consultancy, combined with the insight, processes, tools and reach of Bain's global team creating a unique and winning formula in our markets." Beck and Kuzmic will now co-lead the New Bain Nordics through its integration and will set the team's sights on leadership in the Nordic markets. Number one in the Nordics Over the past decade, both companies saw high growth built on similar values: Within 45 years, Bain has grown to become one of the three big strategy consulting firms worldwide. QVARTZ, within 15 years, grew to a consulting star in the Nordic region. Both companies' successes relied on two basic values: To deliver material results, by working with and not for clients. "Our corporate culture can be summed up like this: We are challengers, we have a sense of mission, we are culture fanatics, we strive for client impact, and we are team players," Beck notes. Adds Kuzmic: "And now that we have joined forces we have a clear aim: We want to become no.1 in the Nordics. We have a perfect starting position, with a strong Nordic organization and a highly successful history in teaming up with our clients to achieve true results." Cultural insight plus international expertise Together, Bain and QVARTZ make for a top consultancy with Nordic values and cultural integrity as well as global scope and reach. "Thinking and understanding the Nordic way was one of QVARTZ' major advantages," says Beck. "And we will carry it over to Bain Nordics where our ways of thinking and working are already in place." Bain Global, on the other hand, will add depth in terms of tools, processes, and thought leadership as well as broad consulting expertise spanning all industries. Also, clients will have access to Bain's extensive network of consultants and experts around the globe. "Bain's toolkit and intellectual property are indisputably first class. Also, Bain's global footprint means our Nordic clients can get support in whatever market they need it. Our 'best team for the purpose' approach will add the expertise of over 1,000 partners and 250 expert advisors to our Nordic offering," says Kuzmic. Continues Kuzmic: "Combining our strengths we will stay relevant to our clients. In an increasingly changing world with new and emerging challenges they want the leading edge of insight and service from their consultants. Dealing with challenges from digitalization to pandemic preparedness require both global and local insights and expertise and we offer it. The integration of QVARTZ Analytics and Vertical the advanced analytics and digital innovation arms of QVARTZ will be a strong addition to Bain's digital capability in the Nordics, enabling us to push even harder on the digital transformation agenda." Best place to work Bain Nordics will continue to build its reputation as an excellent place to work. Both predecessor organizations had a "best place to work" status, not least for mothers and fathers. This can be seen in Glassdoor's Best places to Work index: Since the index started in 2009, both companies ranked within the top five of consulting companies. And for five consecutive years, both companies ranked within the top three in Vault's ranking for Firm Culture in Europe. "Bain Nordics will stay focused on being a magnet for the best young and experienced talent in the industry. In the future, we will be able to offer unparalleled career opportunities in the Nordic countries and globally," says Kuzmic. Fast facts about the New Bain Nordics Founded April 2020 , by integrating consulting firms Bain & Company and QVARTZ, incl. the two sister companies QVARTZ Analytics (founded in 2017) and innovation company Vertical (founded in 2013, owned by QVARTZ since 2017) , by integrating consulting firms Bain & Company and QVARTZ, incl. the two sister companies QVARTZ Analytics (founded in 2017) and innovation company Vertical (founded in 2013, owned by QVARTZ since 2017) Four Nordic offices with 450 people: Copenhagen , Helsinki , Oslo and Stockholm , , and Leadership of Bain Nordics: Managing Partners Dan Kuzmic and Hans Henrik Beck Bain Nordics office heads: Guy Brusselmans & Rune Wichmann ( Copenhagen ), Anders Roed Bruhn & Lars Jacob B ( Oslo ), Christine Frostmark & Johan Lemchen ( Stockholm ), Jani Kelloniemi ( Helsinki ) ( ), Anders Roed Bruhn & Lars Jacob B ( ), Christine Frostmark & ( ), ( ) Can count on expertise and reach of a global leader: Bain has 58 offices worldwide with 10,500 people, situated in 37 countries Carries a well-established name: More than 60 percent of Global Fortune 500 companies have worked with Bain Learn more at www.bain.com. For more information or to request an interview, please contact: Katrine Petersen, Head of Marketing - katrine.petersen@qvartz.com, +45 2968 6971 About Bain Bain & Company is a global consultancy that helps the world's most ambitious change makers define the future. Across 58 offices in 37 countries, we work alongside our clients as one team with a shared ambition to achieve extraordinary results, outperform the competition and redefine industries. We complement our tailored, integrated expertise with a vibrant ecosystem of digital innovators to deliver better, faster and more enduring outcomes. Since our founding in 1973, we have measured our success by the success of our clients. We proudly maintain the highest level of client advocacy in the industry, and our clients have outperformed the stock market 4-to-1. Visit www.bain.com/about for additional content. About QVARTZ Since its founding in Copenhagen in 2002, QVARTZ extended its operations to include offices in Oslo, Norway, and Stockholm, Sweden, and grew to become the third largest strategic consultancy in the region, competing with the likes of McKinsey & Company and Boston Consulting Group. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/818197/Bain_and_Company_Logo.jpg Related Links http://www.bain.com SOURCE Bain & Company Political spotlight: UK citizens stranded abroad As the rest of us get used to staying at home, for hundreds of thousands of UK citizens left stranded abroad, the challenge has been in getting home at all Im feeling pretty tired, David MacLeod says, shrugging off his backpack and placing it down on the pavement outside a deserted Waverley train station in Edinburgh. Its been a long journey. I feel happy although I do feel a wee bit sad to be away from Cambodia, he says, looking down Princes Street on what should have been a busy Saturday afternoon. Everything over there was open like normal, he says. Thats why Im finding it so strange here. It had been 24 hours since MacLeod left Phnom Penh, but his journey home had really begun 12 days earlier. Like hundreds of thousands of UK citizens who happened to be working abroad, travelling or on holiday when coronavirus became a global pandemic, MacLeod found himself caught between countries in ever tightening states of emergency as things were changing from moment to moment. After nearly a fortnight of stress, three cancelled flights costing his employer over 5,000 and an unbelievable act of kindness from a stranger, MacLeod has made it home. But as Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told MPs recently, there could be around 300,000 people still stuck in foreign countries with ever diminishing options of getting home. We are talking about hundreds of thousands of people travelling around the world" - Dominic Raab And while France, Germany and other countries have organised hundreds of repatriation flights for citizens, the UKs approach has left people feeling stranded, angry and scared. On March 30, Raab finally announced the UK Governments plans to help repatriate stranded Brits. The government pledged 75m to charter special flights to bring home UK nationals from countries where commercial flights are unavailable, with BA, Virgin and Easyjet among the airlines working with the government. Raab said an unprecedented number of UK travellers were trying to get home, from young backpackers to retired couples on cruises. We are talking about hundreds of thousands of people travelling around the world, he said. Where commercial routes do not exist, government financial support will enable special charter flights operated by the partner airlines and others to fly to priority countries to bring back UK residents. Raab said priority would be given to the most vulnerable, including the elderly or those with pressing medical needs, and also to countries where there are large numbers of British tourists trying to return to the UK. He added: For those stranded, or for families nervously waiting news and wanting to see their loved ones return home, we are doing everything we can. Were working intensively round the clock with all of our partner countries and governments around the world to keep open the airports, the ports and the flights to bring people home. However, the governments repatriation plans stop short of helping everyone who is struggling to get back home to the UK. Under the new arrangement, airlines would be responsible for getting stranded passengers home where commercial routes remain an option. Raab said in countries where commercial flights are still in operation, the instruction is still for British citizens to buy tickets home as soon as possible. Where commercial routes remain an option, airlines will be responsible for getting passengers home, he said. That means offering alternative flights at little to no cost where routes have been cancelled. He added: So for those still in those countries where commercial options are still available: dont wait. Dont run the risk of getting stranded. The airlines are standing by to help you. Please book your tickets as soon as possible. However, for tens of thousands of people around the world who are desperate to get back home, it isnt as simple as just booking onto a new flight and getting home. A couple in their mid-60s from Dumfries told Holyrood of an ordeal getting home from Portugal, having had flights with the airline Jet2 cancelled on short notice as the airline stopped servicing the country entirely. One of the couple has multiple sclerosis. Fearing being stranded in Portugal without a supply of crucial medication, they managed to get a flight back to the UK only by turning up to Faro airport and waiting for a flight which had spare seats. They managed to book themselves on a last-minute flight with their original airline Jet2, but had to pay over the odds for the tickets. And the SNP MP Stewart McDonald highlighted the case of a constituent who faced paying just shy of 7,000 to get family home from Pakistan. McDonald said that airlines are practically extorting people and urged the government to do more to help. The SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford wrote to Raab demanding he implement a full programme of repatriation. Labours shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry has also criticised the repatriation plans as just more of the same and called for a fresh, comprehensive and fully funded strategy to bring our British nationals home. A lot of the British people are running out of options. ATMs are running out of cash And MacLeod, who went to great extremes to get himself home, worries for the people he left behind in Cambodia. People have nothing out there, he says. A lot of the British people are running out of options. ATMs are running out of cash. Food is going to go shortly. Were going to need to get them all home. MacLeod, aged 38, works for a small aquaculture company called ScotVax, based in Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye. For the most part, he works in Australia, where he acts as the business development manager for the company. His boss, George Nisbett, coordinated and paid for MacLeods journey home. George, my boss, is the saviour, MacLeod says. I cannot believe what he has done for me. I wouldnt be standing here today, in this city, without George. The other hero of MacLeods story is a man called Jerry Lewis, a teacher who was on holiday with his family in Cambodia. Lewis, who declined to speak to Holyrood, chartered a flight home for over 100 UK citizens and organised their evacuation via a Facebook page set up by stranded Brits. This was the flight that MacLeod had arrived back in the UK on, eventually, after nearly a fortnight of struggles with airlines and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. People were completely scunnered It began, for MacLeod, on the 10th March, when he boarded his flight to London. At this time there were six confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Scotland and around 50 in Australia. It wouldnt be until 17 March that the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) would advise against non-essential travel. He chose to book the flights with a layover of a few days in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In January hed been hospitalised for suspected deep vein thrombosis following a long-haul flight to Australia on New Years Day and so he thought it wise to break up the journey. After a couple of days in Cambodia things seemed to escalate. The Australian PM announced strict rules on travel to Australia. Fearing a total ban on entries (something that would happen five days later) and realising there would be no manager in Australia to help maintain business, MacLeod contacted his boss and volunteered to go back and stay in Australia. He booked the next flight back, and its here that things went wrong. I turned up at the airport and queued in, MacLeod recalls. I was booked on two different airlines, not one. I went to check in and the guy said to me at the check-in desk, Whats happening with your bag? I said, Well Ill pick it up and go through, and he said, Youll be quarantined for 14 days in Singapore. MacLeod and around 10 other passengers decided not to take that flight. Feeling it was going to be impossible to get back into Australia, which was about two weeks ahead of the UK in terms of COVID-19 response, he and Nisbett decided the priority was to get home. MacLeod went to the UK Embassy in Phnom Penh to seek advice. It was running on a skeletal staff as the UK resident staff had already gone home. Brits in Cambodia have complained that the embassy was not returning calls and emails. He got a meeting and was advised to book on to one of several remaining commercial flights. When he and Nisbett looked, they saw flights on sale in excess of 1,200. Nisbett says he saw one on-the-day option at around 6,000 one way. MacLeod had booked a flight with Emirates, which was cancelled. Then one with Cathay Pacific .Thats flight number three, MacLeod says. To top it off, only travel insurance taken out before 20 January would cover costs relating to COVID-19. Feeling like the walls were closing in on him, he became desperate for advice, which was when he discovered the Facebook group and discovered Lewiss unbelievable plan to get Brits home via a privately chartered flight. I was suspicious, MacLeod says. We needed proof, but there was no proof from the embassy. He and hundreds of others weighed up the risk. It would cost another 1000 or so. But, in the end, those who could afford it went for it. People were completely scunnered, MacLeod says. Most people are really annoyed with the British Government, with the embassy. The embassy there did nothing for us. You were basically told go away, look after yourself. The FCO confirmed the flight was real after most people had purchased tickets. Meanwhile a German evacuation flight left Phnom Penh on 29 March and was half empty. The Guardian reports that a German charter company tried to offer assistance to Brits but the FCO didnt return its call. From where he stands now, MacLeod says Lewis deserves a medal for getting so many Brits home. Hes a schoolteacher with kids, and he just wanted to bring them home and help people, he says. Despite cautions and parking-lot closures, vista-seekers trekked to the Scarborough bluffs by the hundreds this weekend, even as Torontos COVID-19 numbers kept climbing. While many Torontonians got the message to stay home, Bluffers Park was one of the citys problem locations in an enforcement blitz that saw bylaw officers and police fan out across the city to educate and enforce rules relating to COVID-19 this weekend. On Saturday, 800 vehicles were turned away from the park. Councillor Gary Crawford (Scarborough-Southwest) understands the appeal of the park the steep drive down the hill to a different world removed from the city, the peaceful lake views, the stunning bluffs. Still, he wants everyone to stay away. For nearly a month, discouraging people just hasnt worked, he said. When the city closed parking lots, people parked in fire routes, and jammed the side streets. Many people come from outside the city, and once they arrive they want to enjoy it, no matter the deterrent. Another problem spot this weekend was High Park, where 140 vehicles were turned away on Saturday. In a release on Sunday, the city noted that feedback from front line city staff was generally encouraging, with many people at the parks following the rules, keeping physical distance from others and travelling in small groups from the same household. There were 141 complaints called in to 311 about unsafe behaviour at parks on Saturday. That same day, bylaw officers and police spoke with 780 people about public-health recommendations and closures and gave 373 others verbal warnings. Police issued nine tickets as part of the blitz, and city bylaw officers issued one ticket related to use of park amenities, and another five to non-essential businesses still operating, in violation of provincial orders. The City thanks the vast majority of people who are doing the right thing by staying home as much as possible and keeping their distance from others in public, read the Sunday update. Torontos city parks are not closed, but park amenities, including playgrounds and parking lots are, and physical distancing of two metres at parks and public squares is being enforced through a new city emergency order. For weeks, as COVID-19 case numbers have climbed, Bluffers Park has been a trouble spot, Crawford said. On March 30, he posted a warning on his Facebook page: Time is up. The City has been patient, but we are done. Do not go to Bluffers Park, you will be fined $750.00. We are not kidding this time. Please stay away. His posts about the park generated more buzz than any other in his near-decade of being a city councillor. While Crawford said that the park was closed, some people noted that didnt square with the citys messaging about parks remaining open with certain restrictions in place, and others said it didnt matter either way, that people should just stay away. Speaking to the Star, Crawford noted that a provincial order closing beaches is also in effect and a big component of the park is beachfront. The City supports the Councillors message that people should not set out to the park but technically green spaces are not closed, a city spokesperson wrote in an email Sunday night. Crawford said that perhaps it was his assumption the park was closed after discussions with park staff and police, who had been posted at the entrance turning people away. Regardless, he said, he was trying to convey a strong message for the public not to go there. It was such an emergency, he said. If its an error, its for the best of intentions, he said, adding that he has no qualms if his message deters crowds. Just dont go down there. Toronto Public Health said that of the 1,232 cases of COVID-19 in the city, 1,026 cases are confirmed, 206 are probable, 69 people have recovered, 140 are in hospital, with 58 in intensive care. The United States on Monday branded a Russian far-right group as a foreign terrorist organization, the first time it has targeted white supremacists with tools regularly used against jihadist groups. The State Department said that the Russian Imperial Movement runs two paramilitary training camps in Saint Petersburg and has pulled in neo-Nazis from across the Western world. "This is the first time the United States has ever designated white supremacist terrorists, illustrating how seriously this administration takes the threat," said Nathan Sales, the State Department counterterrorism coordinator. The Russian Imperial Movement and three of its leaders were blacklisted as Specially Designated Global Terrorists, meaning that they will not be admitted to the United States and that any US assets they hold will be blocked. Sales said that the United States was alarmed by the rise in white supremacist violence around the world, including attacks on Muslims in Christchurch, New Zealand, and against Hispanics in El Paso, Texas. President Donald Trump has faced widespread criticism for his uncritical treatment of white supremacists as well as his rhetoric that demonizes non-white immigrants as criminals. Most notoriously, Trump said that neo-Nazis whose 2017 march in Charlottesville, Virginia devolved into violence included "very fine people." Sales insisted that the administration was targeting white supremacists. He said that the designation was made possible by an order by Trump that allows designation of terrorists based on their training, not necessarily participation in violence. But he said that two extremists from Sweden, known for its generosity toward refugees, traveled in August 2016 to Saint Petersburg to undergo 11 days of paramilitary training. They returned to Sweden and carried out a series of attacks including a bombing outside a migrant center in Gothenburg that gravely injured one person, the State Department said. "This group has innocent blood on its hands," Sales said. "Today's designations send an unmistakable message that the United States will not hesitate to use our sanctions authorities aggressively, and that we are prepared to target any foreign terrorist group, regardless of ideology, that threatens our citizens, our interests abroad, or our allies," he said. WASHINGTON - Americans are being advised to steel themselves for one of the most agonizing weeks in living memory as President Donald Trump and his advisers predict that parts of the country are nearing a peak of cases of covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The president at Sunday's White House coronavirus task force briefing hailed numbers from New York showing a one-day decline in deaths while warning that New York and New Jersey, have "really become a very hot zone." Still, Trump, along with Vice President Mike Pence, projected confidence not matched by the White House's medical advisers. "We're starting to see light at the end of the tunnel," Trump said Sunday, even as Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases expert, hedged earlier in the day, saying, "I will not say we have it under control. . . . We are struggling to get it under control." Fauci, when asked if dire predictions were at odds with the promise of light at the tunnel's end, said a peak suggests a possible turning point in the path of the virus but "doesn't take away from the fact that tomorrow or the next day is going to look really bad." The dead in the United States already number more than 9,500, triple the toll of the terrorist attacks that brought the nation low on Sept. 11, 2001. U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams reached back further to find an analogue for the sense of national alarm as the country surpassed 333,000 known cases. He said the coming days could bring catastrophe comparable to the attack that drew the U.S. into the Second World War, in 1941. "This is going to be the hardest and saddest week of most Americans' lives, quite frankly," the surgeon general said in a Sunday appearance on Fox News. "This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment, only it's not going to be localized. It's going to be happening all over the country." The virus was transforming life not just here but globally, sending Britain's prime minister, Boris Johnson, to the hospital Sunday, 10 days after he learned of his positive test. A spokesman for the Conservative leader said the hospitalization was a "precautionary step" because Johnson "continues to have persistent symptoms." But the news jolted the United Kingdom, which has seen more than 48,000 cases and nearly 5,000 deaths, as Queen Elizabeth II, in a rare televised address, urged resolve. She said the moment recalled her first public speech in 1940, as she addressed children evacuated from their homes because of the war. "Today, once again, many will feel a painful sense of separation from their loved ones," she said in a prerecorded video, produced at Windsor Castle. Trump chose different words but sounded a similar note, predicting "a horrific point in terms of death." As a treatment for the novel virus, he continued to tout hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug with promising but unproven effects for patients with covid-19, while acknowledging: "What do I know? I'm not a doctor." He said the federal government had purchased and stockpiled 29 million doses of the drug, and later blocked Fauci, who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, from answering a question about the treatment course. He also said that more than 1.6 million tests had been conducted, in a country of about 330 million, and that his administration was gathering equipment "from every corner of Earth" and delivering it across the country. But places hit hardest by the outbreak continued to report shortages of critical medical equipment, including ventilators, moving states to undertake ad hoc efforts to share the lifesaving breathing devices. Gov. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., said Sunday that he would return more than 400 ventilators to the national stockpile so they could be used by states facing more dire circumstances, a day after Oregon prepared to dispatch 140 ventilators to New York. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, said he expected the state to exhaust its supply of the machines as soon as Thursday, with ICU beds running out two days later. Still the epicenter of the American outbreak, New York topped 4,000 deaths on Sunday. The state's Democratic governor, Andrew Cuomo, said there were hopeful, though inconclusive, signs. There were fewer fatalities Saturday than Friday, he noted at a briefing in Albany, adding, "You could argue that you're seeing a slight plateauing in the data, which obviously would be good news." Fauci said the measure he was attuned to nationally was the increase in new cases, predicting that the death toll would continue to climb even after the country successfully slowed the spread of the outbreak. "This next week is going to look bad because we're still not yet at that apex," he said Sunday on CBS's "Face the Nation." Within about a week, Fauci said, he hoped to see the number of cases diminish, especially in New York. Other states were confronting projections that showed critical caseloads arriving as little as a week after the surge battering New York. In New Jersey, which had more than 37,000 cases as of Sunday, Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, said he had secured an additional 500 ventilators. A spokesman for the governor said the allocation from the national stockpile followed three phone calls on Saturday with Pence and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and senior adviser, as well as Admiral Brett Giroir, the assistant health secretary. The state has received just over half of the 2,500 ventilators it has requested, said the spokesman, Mahen Gunaratna. In addition to places such as New Jersey and Louisiana, which have already seen rapid surges, Deborah Birx, the coordinator for the White House's task force, said over the weekend that she was concerned about emerging hot spots in Pennsylvania and Colorado, as well as in the District of Columbia. At the same time, she said she was anticipating a "stabilization of cases across these large metro areas where the outbreak began several weeks ago." D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, on Sunday shuttered the Wharf Fish Market after customers crowded the open-air marketplace on Saturday, defying the social-distancing rules tightened under a stay-home order issued late last month. Known cases stood at more than 1,000 in D.C. Pennsylvania, meanwhile, has reported more than 11,500 cases, more than doubling in the four days since Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, issued a statewide stay-home order. "This is really scary," Wolf said in an interview Sunday. He rejected the analogy with warfare, saying an enemy in battle is "something you could actually see." The other difference, he said, is that ordinary people are on the front lines of the quest to contain the virus, noting that his own wife was sewing homemade masks. "We need to buy time," he said. States across the country are under directives such as Pennsylvania's. But eight Republican governors have yet to call for all residents to shelter in place. Asa Hutchinson, the Republican governor of Arkansas, said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" that his "targeted approach" was better. Trump on Saturday said he would not press governors to take more sweeping measures, even as members of his administration beseeched governors to clamp down. "I just don't understand why we're not doing that," Fauci said on CNN. Birx said even critical activities should be curtailed if possible. "This is the moment to not be going to the grocery store, not going to the pharmacy, but doing everything you can to keep your family and your friends safe," she said. The guidance required a painful sacrifice for many Americans, especially those preparing to celebrate religious holidays that mark the onset of spring. Passover, which commemorates struggles for freedom, begins Wednesday night. And Easter, which is Sunday, was the day Trump initially said he hoped to lift restrictions required by the pandemic, because, "That would be a beautiful thing." It would have been beautiful, said Solomon Kinloch, the senior pastor of Detroit's Triumph Church, especially in places such as Michigan, where the virus has exacted a large toll on vulnerable populations. "This process is robbing us of the ability to have authentic relationships," he said in an interview. Michigan did not specifically carve out exceptions for religious services in its stay-home order like other states did, though it did stipulate that religious worship in violation of the order would not bring a penalty. Kinloch said the congregation is doing everything it can to keep its members safe, hosting and streaming "drive-in services" that allow congregants to pull up to a large screen in the parking lot of the church. "They can even take communion, if they bring their crackers and juice from home," he said. - - - The Washington Post's Hannah Natanson and Felicia Sonmez contributed to this report. Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg has shot down suggestions the $168 billion Future Fund should be raided to stimulate the economy or to prop up super funds struggling to meet demand for early withdrawals. "The Future Fund has been one of the greatest successes, an incredible success in Australian economic policy," Senator Bragg told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. "It has effectively eliminated the very significant amount of Commonwealth liabilities and hasn't had a contribution for more than a decade. I wouldn't be tinkering with that." Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg says the coronavirus pandemic should not give cover to super funds' "imprudent practices." Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The Morrison government over the past month has introduced a suite of extraordinary policies to reduce the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis. These include a mammoth $192 billion stimulus package, policies to encourage banks to defer mortgages, and emergency rules allowing people who have lost their jobs to access up to $20,000 in superannuation savings ahead of schedule. There are concerns some super funds that have invested heavily in unlisted assets that are difficult to sell quickly will encounter liquidity issues if there is a rush of withdrawals under the early access scheme. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg this week ruled out the RBA providing support to these funds, and Senator Bragg said the Future Fund should also not be enlisted to prop them up. Rajan, a professor of finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, suggested that India should now plan for what happens after the lockdown, if the virus is not defeated. New Delhi: Former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan has suggested to the government to call people with proven expertise and capabilities, including from opposition parties, to deal with perhaps the greatest emergency being faced by the country since Independence following the coronavirus outbreak. He also cautioned that driving everything from the Prime Minister's Office, with the same overworked people, may not be of much help. "There is much to do. The government should call on people with proven expertise and capabilities, of whom there are so many in India, to help it manage its response. It may even want to reach across the political aisle to draw in members of the opposition who have had experience in previous times of great stress like the global financial crisis. "If, however, the government insists on driving everything from the Prime Minister's Office, with the same overworked people, it will do too little, too late," Rajan said in a blog titled "Perhaps India's Greatest Challenge in Recent Times". He said economically, India is probably facing its greatest emergency since Independence. "The global financial crisis in 2008-09 was a massive demand shock, but our workers could still go to work, our firms were coming off years of strong growth, our financial system was largely sound, and our government finances were healthy. "None of this is true today as we fight the coronavirus pandemic," Rajan, who completed his three-year term at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2016, noted. He, however, asserted that with the right resolve and priorities, and drawing on India's many sources of strength, it can beat this virus back, and even set the stage for a much more hopeful tomorrow. Laying out steps the country could take to recover from the economic effects of the COVID-19 outbreak, Rajan said the immediate priority is to suppress the spread of the pandemic through widespread testing, rigorous quarantines and social distancing. "The 21-day lockdown is a first step, which buys India time to improve its preparedness. The government is drawing on our courageous medical personnel and looking to all possible resources -- public, private, defence, retired -- for the fight, but it has to ramp up the pace manifold," he said, adding that the country will have to significantly increase the number of COVID-19 tests to reduce the fog of uncertainty as regards where the hotspots are. Rajan, a professor of finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, suggested that India should now plan for what happens after the lockdown, if the virus is not defeated. "It will be hard to lock down the country entirely for much longer periods, so we should also be thinking of how we can restart certain activities in certain low-infection regions with adequate precautions," he said. Healthy youngsters, lodged with appropriate distancing in hostels near the workplace, may be the ideal workers for restarting such activities, Rajan pointed out. Noting that in the meantime, India obviously needs to ensure that the poor and non-salaried lower-middle class, who are prevented from working for longer periods, can survive, he said, "Direct transfers to households may reach most but not all, as a number of commentators have pointed out, and the quantum of transfers seems inadequate to see a household through a month." The country is under a 21-day lockdown as part of larger efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Several international agencies have cut in their growth estimates for India in recent days on concerns about the fallout of the COVID-19 outbreak. According to Fitch Ratings, India may post a two-percent GDP growth in 2020-21, the slowest since the economy was liberalised 30 years ago. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) sees India's economic growth slipping to four per cent in the current fiscal (April 2020 to March 2021), while S&P Global Ratings last week further slashed its GDP growth forecast for the country to 3.5 per cent from a previous downgrade of 5.2 percent. Moody's Investors Service has also slashed its estimate of India's GDP growth during the 2020 calendar year to 2.5 per cent from an earlier estimate of 5.3 percent and said the coronavirus pandemic will cause an unprecedented shock to the global economy. Last night, India witnessed millions of people coming together to stand in solidarity in the fight against the novel pandemic coronavirus, that has claimed thousands of lives worldwide. While some people didn't get the memo and disrupted the nation's peace by bursting crackers and gathering in groups, there were plenty others who followed the guidelines and did everything right. Cities and villages across the country turned off their lights, and lit candles and diyas. A Twitter user @Karma_Paljor shared a short clip of an aerial view of the Capital of the country. The caption reads, 'Delhi shot by my friend @S4W4N'. Twitter/@Karma_Paljor In the 12-second-long clip, you can see the mesmerising view of the city as it lit up beautifully and if only there were no fireworks to disturb the night, it could have easily been the one good thing that happened in a long time. The post has now gone viral on the micro-blogging website and has over 4.5K likes and more than 70K views. The post also garnered a lot of kind comments from people who loved the video. Wow beautiful.... Delhi my jyotika @theflame (@JyotikaShah4) April 5, 2020 Wow LAKSHMAN MISHRA (@LAKSHMANMISHR10) April 5, 2020 Amazing view... Manish (@_Manish_pal) April 5, 2020 Amazing Vijay Kumar (@VijayKu58904413) April 5, 2020 this is so beautiful! vivek singh (@vivekbabaji) April 6, 2020 However, stupid is as stupid does and people did not fail to disappoint us by being totally irresponsible. Hopefully, the next time PM Modi decides to appeal to the citizens to participate in an initiative, he takes into consideration that some people in this country do not completely understand his messages. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 14:27:00|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close WASHINGTON, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The head of the U.S. intelligence watchdog who reported to Congress about a whistleblower complaint, which eventually led to President Donald Trump's impeachment, said Sunday that the president fired him just because he fulfilled his duty "faithfully." "It is hard not to think that the President's loss of confidence in me derives from my having faithfully discharged my legal obligations as an independent and impartial Inspector General, and from my commitment to continue to do so," Michael Atkinson, the Intelligence Community Inspector General (ICIG), said in a statement. Trump informed the Senate and House intelligence committees in a letter Friday that he was removing Atkinson from his duties. "This is to advise that I am exercising my power as President to remove from office the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, effective 30 days from today," he wrote. Trump said "it is vital" that he as the president has "the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as Inspector General. That is no longer the case with regard to this Inspector General." Atkinson notified Congress in September of a whistleblower complaint he had received from an anonymous intelligence official, who expressed concerns that Trump's dealings with Ukraine amounted to soliciting foreign interference in the 2020 U.S. election and undermined U.S. national security. The complaint triggered the impeachment investigation into Trump, who was subsequently impeached by the Democratic-controlled House on Dec. 19 with two articles of impeachment accusing him of "abuse of power" and "obstruction of Congress," respectively. He was acquitted on Feb. 5 as the Senate, where the Republicans hold the majority, concluded its impeachment trial. Trump defended his decision Saturday, calling Atkinson a "disgrace." "I thought he did a terrible job. Absolutely terrible. He took a whistleblower report, which turned out to be a fake report ... and he brought it to Congress with an emergency," the president said at a White House briefing. "Not a big Trump fan, that I can tell you." House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, the California Democrat who led the impeachment investigation, condemned the ICIG's removal in a tweet Friday. "Trump's dead of night decision to fire ICIG Michael Atkinson is another blatant attempt to gut the independence of the Intelligence Community and retaliate against those who dare to expose presidential wrongdoing," Schiff said. "It puts our country and national security at even greater risk. Nominated by Trump in November 2017, Atkinson has served as the ICIG since May 17, 2018. The ICIG conducts investigations and reviews of activities within the purview of the Director of National Intelligence, while handling whistleblower complaints from within the intelligence community. By Trend Trend news agency and Azerbaijani stars have joined the #Evdqal (stay home) campaign with a special video project. All efforts have been mobilized in Azerbaijan to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection and to get out of this difficult situation with minimal losses. From the first day, the situation in the country was taken under strict control by President Ilham Aliyev, the necessary preventive measures were taken, and a special quarantine regime was strengthened. President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva, explaining in their appeals to the people the need for unconditional compliance with the rules of the special quarantine regime, called on people not to leave home. The #Evdqal campaign was joined by well-known political figures, representatives of culture and art, as well as other celebrities. Having joined the #Evdqal campaign, Trend news agency prepared an interesting music video in Azerbaijani, Russian and English. The project manager is Sahil Karimli, the coordinator is Vugar Imanov, the author of the idea is Fidan Mirbabayeva. The music producer is Tunzala Aghayeva. Performers are Tunzala Aghayeva, Lala Mammadova, Zamig Huseynov, Khayyam Nisanov and Murad Arif. Words to the music belong to Zahra Badalbeyli and Fariz Zeynalov, wind instrument performer is Teymur Suleymanbeyli and project sound engineer is Emin Karim. We present the readers this video project: --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Allentown, PA (18103) Today Mostly sunny and bitterly cold. It will feel like it's in the single digits and low teens.. Tonight Partly cloudy and extremely cold. Wind chills around or below 0 degrees. Foiling Pakistan's attempt to push infiltrators in Kashmir, the Indian Army gunned down five terrorists in an encounter in the Keran area of Kashmirs Kupwara district on Sunday. The encounter occurred in Shalbatoo Jumgund area after the terrorists from Pakistan crossed over to this side of the line of control. Five soldiers of the elite 4 Parachute unit engaged the infiltrators at point-blank range amidst heavy snow, neutralising the entire batch before succumbing to injuries in the fierce combat. The elite soldiers were airdropped near the LoC as a part of the Keran operation, which began on April 1 upon receiving information that Pakistan is pushing terrorists infected with COVID-19 in India to weaken its battle against the pandemic. READ | Pakistan Pushing Coronavirus Infected Terrorists Into Kashmir Five militants have been killed in the operation that was launched four days ago, SSP Kupwara Ambarkar Shriram Dinkar said. The operation is underway. PRO Defence, Colonel Rajesh Kalia, said that troops were braving inclement weather and hostile terrain. Evacuation of the injured was hampered due to heavy snow and rough terrain, he said, adding, We are looking for other militants. Other injured soldiers are undergoing treatment, Colonel Rajesh Kalia informed. READ | 5 Soldiers Killed As Army Fights Infiltrators In North Kashmir; 5 Militants Gunned Down Indian Army thwarts Pakistan's infiltration bid As per sources, a group of terrorists crossed LoC during the night of April 1 along the Gulab Post in Keran Sector. However, they were blocked by a patrolling party of 8 JAT regiment deployed in Shalbutoo Jumgund. After the initial exchange of fire, the terrorists managed to take shelter in the dense forests. However, a massive search operation was launched with additional reinforcement of elite 4-Para soldiers. On Saturday evening during searches by 8 JAT and 4 Para, a contact was established again. A heavy exchange of fire continued throughout the night during which five militants were killed. Five soldiers of the army who sources say belonged to the special forces laid down their lives while fighting these terrorists in close combat. The bodies and the terrorists and the mortal remains of five soldiers were found at the distance of one-two meters from each other. READ | 9 Rebels, Indian Soldier Killed In Kashmir Fighting READ | Army Foils Infiltration Bid In Kupwara, 5 Terrorists, One Soldier Killed Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 10:37:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HARBIN, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province reported 20 new confirmed COVID-19 cases from overseas on Sunday, the provincial health commission said Monday. The new imported cases, including four in serious condition, were all Chinese citizens returning from Russia, bringing the total number of imported cases in Heilongjiang to 42. The province also reported an increase of 28 imported asymptomatic COVID-19 cases on Sunday, who were all Chinese. Twenty-six came from Russia, one from Canada and one from the Philippines. The province saw no new confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case infected locally on Sunday. A grieving daughter had to listen to her mother's final breaths over the phone while playing her Tina Turner's 'Simply the Best' as she died from coronavirus. Mother-of-two Kay Elmer, 51, from the Wirral in Merseyside, died alone in intensive care after she was stricken by the deadly virus which has so far claimed nearly 5,000 lives in the UK. Her distraught daughter Sophia Essel, 30, had to remain in the waiting room during her mother's final moments and they could only communicate via phone, and played her the same song which was played at Kay's mother's funeral. Sophia, a DJ, will now have to endure Kay being cremated without a memorial and has blasted selfish crowds for 'taking the p***' and flouting government lockdown rules, which she believes cost her mother her life. Mother-of-two Kay Elmer (left), 51, from the Wirral in Merseyside, died alone in intensive care while her daughter Sophia Essel (right) played her Tina Turner's Simply The Best over the phone She said: 'The more people that ignore the guidance, the longer it's going to be before I'm allowed to have a memorial for my mum. 'Unfortunately me and my family have had to pay for people's mistakes of not staying indoors and regardless of what the law is saying, people need to use their common sense. 'It's the way I've lost her and I can't help think this could have been prevented.' Kay travelled to London in the weeks before developing symptoms Kay, who was 'the life and soul of the party', went on holiday to Cape Verde once a month with her husband John, 67, but travelled to London in the weeks before she developed the deadly symptoms, where Sophia believes she became infected. She developed a debilitating cough, which left her in bed with a fever and unable to eat and she was soon rushed into hospital - when her condition had deteriorated so quickly she was on 95 per cent oxygen. Sophia, who works as a DJ, said: 'It was really sad. I'm the last person she'd spoken to. My brother is in the army and he'd just been deployed the week before. 'The next morning she called me crying because she was so scared.' Kay lay in intensive care alone as she tried to hold out for Sophia to arrive - but by the time she got there, Kay was unconscious. Sophia wasn't allowed to sit beside her and hold her hand, and instead looked through a window at her mum as her organs began to shut down. Sophia (right), a DJ, has since had to endure Kay being cremated without a memorial because of the dangers of infection Sophia said: 'They wouldn't let us in because they didn't know if it was the virus or not for a couple of days. I could only look at her through the window. 'For five days, it was a case of calling every day and going up there to see if there was any change. 'Her lungs were failing at one point then she picked up a bit a few days into treatment, but by the last day they called to say we needed to go in and switch the life support off. 'Her heart was failing and her kidneys were showing signs of failure. She was on 95 per cent oxygen then, which is just too much.' Sophia and brother Jamie, 33, rushed to the hospital and faced the heartbreaking decision to turn off her life support - knowing their stepdad John had also been admitted that day with symptoms. Sophia and brother Jamie, 33, faced the heartbreaking decision to turn off her life support - knowing their stepdad John (pictured) had also been admitted that day with symptoms Sophia couldn't bear to watch and instead sat in a waiting room and called her mobile phone. She sat listening to her Kay's final breaths as they played her favourite songs, including Tina Turner's Simply The Best - the same song Kay had chosen to say goodbye to her own mother Sylvia. Sophia said: 'They offered for us to go in the room in hazmat suits to say goodbye, but we wouldn't have been protected because they are all fitted for the staff. 'I went [to the window of her room] and I saw her. They turned her to face us and it was just too much. I fell to the floor crying. 'She went out to Tina Turners Simply the Best. It was my nan's funeral song and it always calmed Mum down. 'At the end, she was really holding on herself, breathing without the machine, so I had to have a word with her and say "come on now Mum, Nan's waiting for you".' Sophia has since paid tribute to her vivacious mum, who 'stood out' and 'lived life to the full'. But she will be forced to wait to plan Kay's memorial service and at present, the mum-of-two will have to be cremated alone. Sophia now wants to emphasise the importance of social distancing ahead of the Easter weekend. Sophia said: 'She was the life and soul. She loved to sing, she sang everywhere she went and always had a crowd with her. 'My mum was the most incredible woman I've ever come across, always positive and always smiling - telling me how gorgeous I am and that I can do anything. 'Things are even worse without a funeral. Not only could we not hold her hand to say goodbye, we now can't have a funeral because of the virus. 'We've just got to have a memorial service at a later date. 'I want to raise money to take her to Cape Verde because this is where she would want to be - somewhere she visited every month.' Kay's husband John now remains in hospital with the virus, but it is believed his condition is improving each day. Sophia has since paid tribute to her vivacious mum, who 'stood out' and 'lived life to the full' Sophia now wants to emphasise the importance of social distancing ahead of the Easter weekend. When asked about how she believes Kay contracted Covid-19, Sophia said: 'I'm assuming people, at some point, going out when they've had symptoms. 'In Spain, they're role models for this. They had everybody stay in. Everybody is taking the p*** a bit here. 'I'm trying to raise awareness and encourage common sense. 'Two days after Mum died, I went to get something to eat from the shop. 'Everyone was stood in a crowd. A woman was there with a newborn baby. People were coughing. 'I said '"look, my mum died yesterday of this. I'm not telling you this for sympathy, but it's so easy to get this. You're going to get this if someone has touched something here and you touch it - you could easily die from this." 'It's about getting people to recognise this. The shops are letting people in... but the aisles are filling up. The social distancing isn't enough. 'You don't need three people to take a dog for a walk. I'm at the anger stage of the grieving process. I want to spread awareness.' Scores of local leaders in Georgia have expressed outrage, confusion and desperation over the last several days after Governor Brian Kemp issued a statewide executive order last Thursday that re-opened the state's beaches, superseding measures taken by many communities' leaders to shut down public to their shores. While most of the criticism directed at Mr Kemp has come from Democrats, some nonpartisan officials have let loose on the governor and have taken active measures to keep people away from their beaches despite Mr Kemp's order to open them back up. On Tybee Island, a community of roughly 3,000 permanent residents and a popular beach destination outside the eastern hub of Savannah, Georgia, Mayor Shirley Sessions is keeping parking lots closed and entryways to the beach blocked. There are no lifeguards and emergency medical services are "not properly staffed" for hospital transports and other medical needs, Sessions said. "At no time has the state designated a single point of contact to orchestrate the implementation of the Governors plan," Ms Sessions wrote in a scathing letter over the weekend defying Mr Kemp's order. That defiance could lead to legal troubles for the mayor, who does not identify as either a Republican or Democrat and has no record of recent campaign contributions to federal political candidates of either party. "As the Pentagon ordered 100,000 body bags to store the corpses of Americans killed by the Coronavirus, Governor Brian Kemp dictated that Georgia beaches must reopen, and declared any decision makers who refused to follow these orders would face prison and/or fines," Sessions wrote in her weekend letter, referring to a request from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to the Defense Department last week for body bags. Ms Sessions' office is doing its best to maintain a de facto closure of the town's beaches despite not having the legal authority to enforce such a closure by appealing to the public to stay away despite Mr Kemp's order allowing them access. We are now in a position where we are pleading with the public and with our residents to adhere to the beach closing, Ms Sessions said in a video last Friday filmed on her porch. Mr Kemp defended his decision to open beaches back up in a Twitter thread Monday, saying "the health and safety of Georgians" are the "top priorities" for himself and "local leaders across the state including those along our coast." "During these difficult times, it is vitally important for Georgians to have safe options to maintain their physical and mental health while also abiding by social distancing," Mr Kemp tweeted. State troopers, local law enforcement, and the law enforcement division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources are working together to patrol beaches to ensure visitors are abiding by the shelter-in-place order that requires social distancing. Visitors cannot bring chairs, umbrellas, coolers, or any other items that "encourage group activities," Mr Kemp wrote. The governor added that patrols reported "most people" were complying with the order over the weekend and that the beaches were seeing "much lighter traffic... than normal." Still, many Democratic leaders in the state suggested the mental and physical health benefits of opening the beaches back up did not outweigh the potential concerns. It is stupid and crazy at the same time, said Democratic commissioner of Glynn County, Ga., Allen Booker, the Atlanta Constitution-Journal reported. It attracts to the beach larger groups of people, young and old and facilitates the spread of the COVID-19 virus, leading to people dying. "Zimbabwe is run by an informal economy. So many people are not formally-employed; meaning to say if they stay at home, no money will come their way. What will happen to those people under the lockdown? Surely they will starve. Mnangagwa should have known this before locking the country down, said Kasukuwere. New York Honor Blackman, the potent British actress who took James Bonds breath away as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger" and who starred as the leather-clad, judo-flipping Cathy Gale in The Avengers, has died. She was 94. Blackman's family said in a statement Monday that she died peacefully of natural causes at her home in Lewes, in southeastern England. The honey-voiced Blackman first became a household name the 1960s spy TV series The Avengers. She joined the show in the second season as Cathy Gale, the leather-wearing anthropologist with martial arts skills. But Blackman's most famous role was as Pussy Galore in 1964's Goldfinger, the third Bond movie. In it, she made an impression from the start, memorably introducing herself to Sean Connery's just awoken James Bond. Who are you? Bond asks. I'm Pussy Galore." I must be dreaming," he responds, smiling to himself. Blackman was 39 when she landed the role of Bonds love interest, and she long maintained the term of Bond girl didn't apply to her. In the film, Pussy Galore is the leader of a group of women aviators enlisted by the villain Auric Goldfinger. She uses judo (a skill carried over from The Avengers) to attack Bond, who later holds her down to kiss her. Farewell Honor Blackman. She will live forever as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger. @007 pic.twitter.com/Ae7BarFbjT David Walliams (@davidwalliams) April 6, 2020 Today we mark the passing of a film icon, Honor Blackman who shall forever be remembered as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger. She was an extraordinary talent and a beloved member of the Bond family. Our thoughts are with her family at this time. Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli pic.twitter.com/pXnidipKLJ James Bond (@007) April 6, 2020 Blackman considered Pussy Galore a kind of early feminist, and a different breed than the average Bond woman. In so many of the films, the girls just looked at James and fell flat on their backs, Blackman told the magazine TV Times in 2014. "Yet Pussy Galore was a career woman a pilot who had her own air force, which was very impressive. She was never a bimbo." The character's double-entendre name was one producers said they had to convince censors to permit. But Pussy Galore has regularly ranked as among the most popular Bond women. Blackman is survived by two children and four grandchildren. The facilities that make up Amazon's vast logistics network vary in size and headcount depending on their function. Some fulfillment centers are the size of 26 football fields and employ thousands of workers, making it challenging for Amazon to ensure social distancing rules. Amazon has ordered workers at warehouses across the country to stay 6 feet away from their colleagues, among other protective measures, in order to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The company began notifying warehouse workers in recent days that if they fail to follow social distancing rules, they could face disciplinary action, according to a document obtained by CNBC. The first violation will result in a written warning, and if employees are caught a second time, they could get fired. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed to CNBC that employees who "intentionally violate" social distancing rules will be given two warnings and on the second documented offense, "termination could occur." The spokesperson said the policy applies to all warehouse employees at its facilities. "We've had some instances of employees intentionally violating our clear guidelines on social distancing at our sites, which endangers both the individual and their colleagues," the spokesperson said. "We are taking intense measures to ensure the health and safety of employees across our sites who are performing an essential role for their communities during this crisis." It's unclear how Amazon is identifying employees who have violated the rules. In a blog post published last week, Dave Clark, who runs Amazon's retail operations, said the company would use its "top machine learning technologists" to detect areas where it can improve social distancing in its facilities by relying on internal camera systems. Three Amazon warehouse workers who asked to remain anonymous said they were told by site leadership that their facilities would identify individuals as they see them violate the rules, as well as by reviewing camera footage. The workers also expressed concerns that the policy would be unfairly applied to floor associates and not site leadership. One worker at a facility in Michigan said they noticed several managers who appeared to be flouting the rules by "huddling around the time clock." They added that they're aware of several associates at their facility who have been warned for not following social distancing rules. A worker at a facility in Illinois said they appreciated Amazon's efforts to make sure employees are following social distancing rules. They said their facility has put tape down on the floor to advise workers on where they can stand safely, as well as reconfigured the cafeterias so that workers don't sit next to each other, among other steps. "It was very hard to get into people's heads that they need to abide by this," the worker said. "People really weren't paying a lot of attention. But we don't want anybody to do anything that's unsafe." In addition to social distancing rules, Amazon said it has instituted temperature checks at its facilities. It has also supplied workers with face masks and taken steps to increase cleaning at its facilities by providing workers with sanitizer and disinfectant wipes, the company said. Still, Amazon employees who spoke to CNBC argue that these efforts aren't enough to keep them safe. Last week, workers at Amazon facilities in New York and Michigan staged protests to demand the company shut down their warehouses after they reported confirmed coronavirus cases there. A worker at a facility in Indiana said they felt it was unfair of Amazon to take disciplinary action against employees who violate social distancing rules. Instead, they said Amazon should be helping employees get tested for the virus. "We do not feel safe in our building anymore. I'm frustrated with it," the worker said. "If they're having to go to all these great lengths to keep us safe, I feel like they need to shut down the building for two weeks so they can actually get cleaned." Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has urged its customers to use digital channels to complete their transactions easily anytime, anywhere. All Dewas services are available on various digital channels, including its smart app and website. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dewa, emphasised that Dewa places the health and safety of its customers and staff at the top of its priorities. He has urged customers and society members to follow the instructions and directives of the competent authorities in the UAE and stay home to limit the spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and complete all their transactions using smart channels. He noted that Dewa has an advanced technological infrastructure that enables it to provide all its services through smart channels as well as enable employees to work remotely in an efficient manner. This ensures the continuity of Dewas services at the same level of efficiency and reliability, using the latest smart technologies. Smart Response Dewas Smart Response Service for electricity and water notifications has several features such as self-diagnosis of interruptions. This reduces the steps to deal with complaints to only one step for customers if they can self-diagnose the issue. It also finds the best solutions to deal with, follow up and resolve technical notifications. Thanks to the Smart Response Service, 56% of customers were able to self-diagnose interruptions. Smart channels for People of Determination Dewa is committed to providing seamless access to information for customers who are People of Determination through its website and smart app, according to Smart Dubai Government standards. Dewa launched several innovative and smart initiatives to support and empower people of determination and streamline their access to information. These include the Ashir service for live chat in sign language, which enables people with hearing difficulties to directly communicate with call centre staff via video chat using sign language around the clock. Dewa also provides the Hayak written and visual communication service through its website. Hayak enables written chat and video call option to directly communicate with Customer Care Centres around the clock. Paying bills In addition to its smart app and website, customers can pay their bills through Smart Dubai Governments channels, including the mobile payment (mPay) and DubaiNow apps. Payments can also be made using Etisalat Public Payment Machines, Tayseer payment platform using cheques issued from different banks via Emirates NBDs Cheque Deposit Machines all over the UAE, as well as smart and electronic channels from the banks. TradeArabia News Service 'Make sure you provide enough support (income, nutrition, healthcare, and housing) to migrants stuck (and their households), so they are not compelled to seek work or migrate back.' 'Otherwise, the risk of contagion is extreme.' IMAGE: Children of stranded migrant workers wait for food distributed by Central Reserve Police Force personnel in Chennai. Photograph: R Senthil Kumar/PTI Photo Varun Aggarwal, founder of India Migration Now -- a migration data, policy, and advocacy organisation based in Mumbai -- has studied migration in India extensively. "I would absolutely prioritise screening for these workers over other communities, given the contagion risks," Aggarwal tells Aditi Phadnis. Are we seeing the largest migration movement in recent Indian history? It is difficult to say so, given that the lockdown window is small. Not every migrant managed to cross the state/district boundary. However, the intensity of the movement on foot was striking. While millions of seasonal/short-term migrants return home every summer for the harvest season, it's only now that the movement has received national attention. People go home for harvesting, but once it ends, don't the very issues that made them migrate -- food, money, ambition -- return to haunt them? The frantic reverse migration at present is not because of harvesting needs, but because of the income shock (due to ceasing of all sectors dependent on migrant labour). Migrant households have fixed strategies of boosting village incomes, with urban/destination wages during the non-agri season. They keep a very small portion of their wages with themselves and remit 80 to 90 per cent back home. Therefore, the moment work stops or the off season ends, they return. This strategy is influenced by the fact that migrant workers are largely excluded from policy frameworks (domicile restrictions) of the destination states. If and when the urban economy restarts (subject to length of the lockdown or re-emergence of liquidity/investment in migrant-dependent sectors), I expect migration to restart. This is a crucial income boosting strategy for rural households. Now that most labourers are said to have returned home, what should the government do -- keep them there or ask them to return? It is unlikely that the majority of labourers have returned home. On the contrary, it looks like most of them are stuck in their destination states or in transit. Here is a guiding philosophy for policymakers -- make sure you provide enough support (income, nutrition, healthcare, and housing) to migrants stuck (and their households), so they are not compelled to seek work or migrate back. Otherwise, the risk of contagion is extreme; we have examples from Italy and China. Especially short-term seasonal migrants, working in informal settings, should be identified and supported. In addition to programmes/schemes, the focus should be on accurately and clearly communicating these support measures and setting up access points, such as mobile financial agents, kirana shops as cash out/in points, delivery agents for rations, and increased capacity for civil society support. I would absolutely prioritise screening for these workers over other communities, given the contagion risks. Finally, states should remove all domicile restrictions from their schemes and support policies to include migrants. IMAGE: Migrant workers carry sacks of groceries distributed at their workplace in Chennai. Photograph: PTI Photo Could this movement have been anticipated, and handled better? My organisation exists because the Centre and almost all state governments have been ignorant about the role of migration throughout the history of the Indian Republic. If anything, they consider migration a negative development that needs to be curtailed (an explicit aim of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act). They don't understand that the wealthier a household becomes, the more likely people are to migrate. The backbone of all Indian cities -- migrant workers -- has been completely 'invisibilised'. The private sector (like banks), too, is guilty of this. Spread of the virus in China (to a limited extent) and Italy (to a very large extent), due to reverse migration, should have sent alarm bells ringing for policymakers. But it did not. This is negligence of gigantic proportions, and a severe indictment about the lack of understanding as well as data we have regarding our own country. The fact that the 2011 Census migration data was only released in 2019 epitomises the level of indifference. The Interstate Migrant Workmen Act has been a complete failure for the same reason. In many ways, the government is starting with a clean slate. What should the policy on migrants now be? First, state governments should remove all domicile restrictions from their schemes and support policies, and include migrants. Second, they should universalise access to benefits of all central government schemes/programmes, along with expansion and early release of migration data. Vould returning workers be putting pressure on micro-economies of their villages? I do not think so. On the contrary, food supply will need the extra agri-workers (stuck in cities/destination regions) eventually. Therefore, if anything, there will be labour shortfall. In addition, the loss of remittance/migration income for households needs to be compensated. The Rev. Christine Coleman, a Christian human rights activist and motivational speaker, turned her personal story into a powerful new book called "SOS: Rwandas 30-Year Apocalypse." "(Rwandan) citizens are told what to wear, parents are told how many children they can have, farmers are told what to plant and when to harvest and who to sell to, and public servants are told who to follow on Twitter." It has been 26 years since the Rev. Christine Coleman experienced the bloody and horrific 1994 genocide that plagued the African nation of Rwanda. The countrys spring opened a terrifying killing season that grew into an apocalyptic nightmare that few have escaped. Since then, the blood of millions of innocent men, women and children has soaked into Rwandas soil as Paul Kagames death squads follow their leaders orders. Coleman, a Christian human rights activist and motivational speaker, turned her personal story and harrowing experiences into a powerful new book called SOS: Rwandas 30-Year Apocalypse which is available on her website: https://christinecoleman.org/. During the Rwandan genocide, members of the Hutu majority murdered as many as 800,000 peoplemainly people who belonged to the Tutsi minority. Coleman takes readers through Rwandas history sharing details that few outside the country would know. She describes a country that has paid dearly for its trusting nature, that endures the terror of religious persecution, and whose people are afraid of publicly speaking out about the governments abuses because, even in their own homes, they are spied on. Rwanda is the only country I know of where citizens are not allowed to think and choose for themselves, she noted. Citizens are told what to wear, parents are told how many children they can have, farmers are told what to plant and when to harvest and who to sell to, and public servants are told who to follow on twitter. Anyone who does not follow orders is perceived as an enemy of the country. Coleman further describes Rwandan society as a world of intimidation, harassment, lies, deception and, often, death. No one is immune and living abroad does not guarantee Rwandans safety. They wait for the rest of the world to see what is happening, what their government has so swiftly, quietly, and efficiently covered up for so long. The book contains stories from Colemans friends, acquaintances, and national icons. Many of them have been silenced forever by a power-hungry regime that turned a peaceful nation that she describes as naive, to one that weeps and has had their basic human rights stripped from them. Coleman made sure that their stories did not die in vain. I am here to sound the alarm! Im here to tell you the truth of what has happened, and is happening still, in Rwanda, Coleman says. Rwanda needs your help. Click this link to purchase a copy of Colemans book, SOS Rwandas 30-Year Apocalypse. To find out more about Coleman, visit her website, ChristineColeman.org. About The Rev. Christine Coleman The Rev. Christine Coleman is a writer, motivational speaker, televangelist, and the founding pastor of Blazing Holy Fire Church. A native of Rwanda, Christine migrated to the United States in 1997, following the genocide and wars that ravaged the Great Lakes Region. She is an activist and has been anointed by the Lord to pray and minister to heads of state and world influencers. In May 2017, she was one of the nations faith leaders who joined President Trump at the White House as he signed an executive order to protect religious liberty. Christine is married to Michael Coleman. They have one son, Christian, and make their home in the Rocky Mountains. For more information, visit http://www.ChristineColeman.org. ### An emergency room nurse dons her face protectors after taking a break in a driveway for ambulances and emergency medical services vehicles outside Brooklyn Hospital Center's emergency room in New York, during the CCP virus crisis on April 5, 2020. (Kathy Willens/AP Photo) Major Virus Model Updated, Projected US Deaths Drop A major model relied upon by White House medical experts was updated overnight and projects nearly 12,000 fewer deaths from COVID-19. The new disease is caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus. It emerged in China last year. The major model now projects that between 49,431 and 136,401 (a mean of 81,765) deaths from COVID-19 will take place in the United States by June 19, when the deaths are predicted to hit zero per day. The previous version of the model projected 93,531 Americans would die by that time. The model in question was published by the University of Washingtons Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), which receives funding from the Gates Foundation. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Dr. Deborah Birx, the response coordinator of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, are among the top state and national officials who have cited it when talking about projected figures related to the virus outbreak. The apex of daily deaths in the United States is still projected to occur on April 16. Modelers believe deaths that day will be somewhere between 1,282 to 7,703, a mean of 3,130. The previous mean was 2,644. But the daily deaths are now projected to drop off faster than in the previous model, leading to the revised figure. A ventilator is seen at the New York City Emergency Management Warehouse, where 400 ventilators arrived and before being shipped out for distribution, due to concerns over the rapid spread of the CCP virus, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on March 24, 2020. (Caitlin Ochs/Reuters) Fewer hospital beds, beds in intensive care units, and ventilators will be needed on the new projected peak hospitalization date, modelers also said. The IHME model previously expected roughly 120,000 to 430,000 hospital beds would be needed on April 16, a mean of 262,092 beds, along with a mean of 39,727 ICU beds and 31,782 ventilators. The new means are: 140,823 hospital beds, 29,210 ICU beds, and 24,828 ventilators. Total hospitalizations are also down in the new model. Many COVID-19 patients who require intensive care are placed on ventilators, machines that help people breathe, and stay on them for weeks. Approximately 20 percent of patients in New York state, which has the most patients in intensive care, recover from the disease after being placed on a ventilator. Even before the model was updated, hospitalizations in the United States were just a fraction of the projections. The updated model also appeared to be overestimating hospitalizations in some states. For instance, it said New York would require 14,947 to 37,576 hospital beds on April 5; the state had 16,479 in hospitals on Sunday. While as many as 9,277 ICU beds were in the projection, state officials reported 4,376 patients in intensive care units. New York officials have projected needing up to 40,000 ventilators but the updated model projects needing no more than 10,606. On the other hand, the IHME was accurately predicting the number of deaths on some days. For instance, it predicted 1,133 to 1,555 COVID-19 deaths for April 4. There were around 1,350 deaths reported that day. A discarded surgical mask is seen on the sidewalk outside of Wyckoff Hospital in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, New York City, in a file photo. (Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images) Model Reflects New Data Dr. Christopher Murray, the IHME director, said in a statement that the revised model reflects a massive infusion of new data. Data from some states, including New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Colorado, concerning the use of healthcare systems led modelers to revise down the estimated need of the system during the CCP virus outbreak. As we obtain more data and more precise data, the forecasts we at IHME created have become more accurate, Murray said. And these projections are vital to health planners, policymakers, and anyone else associated with caring for those affected by and infected with the coronavirus. Modelers said projections of the pandemic depend on the peak in each state and the peak being reached in seven European regions, including Madrid, Spain, and Lombardy, Italy, helped inform the revised figures. Murray credited social distancing measures, which include remaining 6 feet away from non-household members, as contributing to the updated model but claimed that the trajectory of the pandemic would change dramatically for the worse if people ease up on such measures. The model assumes that widespread social distancing measures remain in place until the end of May, he said. President Donald Trump earlier this month extended federal social distancing recommendations to April 30. The advisory prompted a number of governors to either extend social distancing mandates or recommendations and others to announce stay at home orders for the first time. Trump on Sunday told reporters that models overestimated the number of hospital beds needed in the United States. Its turning out that we need less hospital beds, Trump said at the task forces daily briefing. We may have models, but weve been sort of saying that. In New York, we were saying we think youre gonna need less. Petr Svab contributed to this report. Russian Cabinet approves support measures for businesses suffering from coronavirus crisis RAPSI 16:01 06/04/2020 MOSCOW, April 6 (RAPSI) - The Government of Russia on Monday approved support measures for companies and individual entrepreneurs involved in businesses worst-hit due to the coronavirus crisis, according to a statement published on the Cabinets website. Thus, deadlines for tax declarations and calculations which are to be submitted in March through May are to be extended for three months. Terms for submission of documents, reports and explanations are to be prolonged for 20 working days, while tax residence terms for three months. Terms for submission of requirements to pay taxes, collection of premiums are to be extended for six moths. Tax, exchange checks are to be conducted starting June 1. A procedure for granting tax and insurance indulgences is to be simplified for up to a year. Small and medium-sized entrepreneurship are to be subject to the extension of terms of tax and insurance payments for up to six months. Earlier, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a list of industries mostly suffering from the pandemic. In particular, it includes food service, air carriage, hotel and touristic business, health and fitness. The looming shortage of ventilators doesn't just impact the coronavirus patients who will need one to breathe. It also creates harrowing decisions for the health care workers who may have to decide which patients get them and which ones don't. Between the lines: Today's doctors generally have no comparable experience to draw on for making these kinds of decisions, although accredited hospitals are supposed to have some mechanism for doing so, per NPR. By the numbers: When the coronavirus is at its peak around the middle of the month, U.S. hospitals will be about 25,000 ventilators short of expected demand, according to one estimate, the Wall Street Journal reports. Yes, but: Doctors and other health care workers are doing everything they can to stretch limited resources, including attaching more than one patient to a single ventilator and converting anesthesia machines to serve as ventilators. The bottom line: If the numbers bear out, health care workers will still likely have to make horrible decisions about who receives a ventilator and who doesn't decisions that mean life or death for patients. In Italy, the situation deteriorated to the point where doctors were advised to prioritize younger, healthier patients, per Politico. Case in point: NYU Langone Health told emergency room doctors last month that they have "sole discretion" to place patients on ventilators, and that the hospital supports withholding "futile intubations," WSJ writes. What to watch: New York City could run out of ventilators by Tuesday or Wednesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said yesterday, per WSJ. Welsh historians who discovered the remains of a Cork-born veteran of the 1879 Battle of Rourkes Drift in a paupers grave have honoured him and are now looking to trace his relatives. Historian Peter Hall discovered the unmarked grave of Private John Connolly, originally from Berehaven (now Castletownbere), in a paupers graveyard in Swansea and together with others erected a headstone to his honour, with full military honours. Mr Hall said Connolly is even portrayed in the famous film 1964 film Zulu, starring Michael Caine and Stanley Baker. It tells the story of how 150 British and Colonial troops held off 4,000 Zulu warriors at a trading station near Natal, South Africa, which was owned by Irish merchant James Rourke. Connolly was in a makeshift sick bay having suffered a dislocated knee when the Zulus attacked. They set the roof on fire and Private Henry Hook, who was also in the sick bay, is seen in the film carrying Connolly out to safety. The film portrayed Hook unfairly as a malingerer, much to the anger of his relatives, as he was one of 11 soldiers at Rourkes Drift who were later awarded the highest British military honour, the Victoria Cross, for their bravery. It was the largest number of Victoria Crosses ever awarded in a single action in British military history. A lot of Irish people came over to Swansea after the potato famine and we believe Connolly was one of them, said Mr Hall. He would have settled down in an area known as Green Hill, or Little Ireland. He got married in Swansea on July 25, 1885 and we believe his wife, Catherine Crowley, was also from the Berehaven area. Little Ireland was known as an area rife with poverty. Mr Hill pointed out it could not have been easy for the couple as records show they had seven sons to feed, which is probably why John Connolly ended up being buried in a paupers grave when he died on November 6, 1906. The Welsh have erected a proper gravestone to him and the ceremony was conducted with full military honours, including a British soldiers dressed in the uniform worn by those who fought in the famous battle. We have traced some of Connollys relatives in Wales, Mr Hall said. It would be nice if we could also trace some in Ireland as well because it will be of historical interest to them. The records we have show John Connolly stated that he was born in Castletown, Berehaven in 1859, the son of a fisherman also named John Connolly. Although the men who fought at Rourkes Drift came from a Welsh regiment another Corkman also served in the battle. A medal awarded to Michael Minihan after the battle was sold at auction in Britain four years ago for 84,000. Coronavirus Effect: Salman Khans Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai To Miss Eid 2020 Date An employee at the Berks County Jail has tested positive for COVID-19, county Commissioner Christian Leinbach announced Sunday. The county did not disclose the role the employee holds at the jail. Leinbach said health officials have been notified and the proper precautions have been taken. As of Sunday, there are 276 cases in Berks County, and three people have died from coronavirus. Read more on PennLive: Singapore will suspend operations of Changi Airport's terminal 2 for 18 months from the beginning of next month following a sharp drop in passenger traffic due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. Changi Airport is Singapore's main civilian airport and is one of the largest transportation hubs in Asia. It has four terminals. "We will save on running costs for the airport operator, retail tenants, airlines and ground handlers," Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan told Parliament on Monday, after announcing plans to halt operations at the airport's terminal 2 from May 1. One terminal is enough to handle the current traffic at the airport, he said. "While full recovery this year is unlikely, partial recovery next year is probable. We must be ready to lead and to ride the recovery when it happens," said the minister. Air travel demand has plunged with the coronavirus spreading across the world, severely affecting Changi Airport. "Importantly, it also allows us to speed up the current upgrading works at T2 (terminal 2) and shorten the project time by up to one year," The Straits Times quoted Minister Khaw as saying. With the suspension of terminal 2, airlines will be reallocated in the remaining terminals. Singapore Airlines (SIA) will consolidate its operations in terminal 3, the daily reported. Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat had said last month that the number of passengers arriving at the airport fell by more than 90 per cent since the COVID-19 outbreak. Reduced demand arising from the outbreak and travel restrictions worldwide also hit SIA hard with the carrier cutting 96 per cent of its scheduled flights till end of April. Khaw acknowledged the turmoil in the aviation sector but pointed out that businesses must be prepared to capitalise on opportunities when the economy recovers. Right now, one terminal is enough to handle the current volume of demand. We can close down one or two terminals. But we must think about post-pandemic recovery," the minister said. The novel coronavirus has claimed nearly 70,000 lives and infected over 1.2 million people across the world after it first surfaced in China in December. It has triggered fears of an economic slowdown and massively hit the tourism and aviation sectors. In Singapore, there are over 1,300 virus cases and six deaths so far. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police have shot and killed a 63-year-old man after he defied coronavirus lockdown rules in the Philippines and became violent when cautioned. The man was not wearing a protective facemask and was warned by a village healthworker at a coronavirus checkpoint in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, on Thursday. He then became aggressive and threatened officials and police with a scythe. The man - who is understood to have been drunk at the time - was shot dead by a police officer who tried to calm him down. The brazen move came one day after Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte said he would order police and military to shoot those who defied the country's strict lockdown. Police have shot and killed a 63-year-old man after he defied coronavirus lockdown rules in the Philippines. Pictured: A policeman and a motorist at a different checkpoint in Cavite Coronavirus has killed over 160 people in the Philippines and the country has reported upwards of 3,600 cases. A report seen by Al Jazeera read: 'The suspect was cautioned by a village health worker [...] for not wearing a face mask. 'But the suspect got angry, uttering provoking words and eventually attacked the personnel using a scythe.' It comes just days after Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte threatened to order troops to shoot protesters after a rally in response to coronavirus restrictions in Manila. The leader was speaking after 21 people were arrested for staging a rally without permit in Quezon City. They claimed that they were demanding food aid and assistance from the government during the Covid-19 lockdown, which has caused unemployment in the area. The man was not wearing a protective facemask and was cautioned by a village healthworker at a coronavirus checkpoint in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, on Thursday. Pictured: People queue to be temperature checked and disinfected before going into a market in Manila In the video of the disturbance, soldiers and police were seen taking people in handcuffs and running after those who were fleeing from the scene The group demonstrated and occupied a portion of the Epifanio delos Santos Avenue in Queon City, which is a few meters away from the protester's neighbourhood in Sitio San Roque. Hardline president Duterte - best known for tough action on drug dealers - blamed 'leftists' for trying to destabilise the government. He said: 'I'm addressing the left. Your violations, slamming the distribution [of food], remember you in the left, you are not the government. Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte last week said he would order police and military to shoot those who defy the country's strict lockdown. Pictured: A policeman wearing a mask at a checkpoint in Cavite 'And you know that. You are not the government and you cannot be part of what we are planning for the nation. 'You know, we are ready for you. Violence, shooting, killing, I will not hesitate [to order] my soldiers to shoot you. I will not hesitate to order the police to arrest and detain you. 'Now, if you are detained you will have to look for your own food. 'I will give the food to good people who are in need, instead of giving it to foolish people like you who start trouble.' The Quezon City local government said in a statement that their relief efforts are continuous to help out those whose livelihood were affected by the lockdown. (Alliance News) - Construction services firm Mountfield Group PLC said Monday it expects net profit for 2019 to be in line with the figure achieved for 2018, despite the highest level of turnover recorded since listing in 2008. Net pretax profit for 2018 was GBP1.1 million. In terms of subsidiaries, Connaught Access Flooring Ltd's major sites are operating, albeit with revised working practices. Meanwhile, Mountfield Building Group Ltd's major sites have been closed until the current lockdown regulations are relaxed, which have also led to a delay in orders received. Looking ahead, Montfield hopes that projects delayed or currently being tendered for will be resurrected by the end of the second quarter or early in the third quarter of 2020, and will provide a good flow of work for beyond. To date, the group's secured order book to date is GBP5.6 million, lower compared to the same date in 2019. Shares in Mountfield were 12% lower at 0.79 pence on Monday in London. By Dayo Laniyan; dayolaniyan@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. While the novel coronavirus continues to turn the world upside down, Urban Sketchers Hanoi a group of urban artists is attempting to break the monotony of social distancing by challenging its followers to sketch their impressions of everyday life in Vietnam. More than 100 sketches submitted by the artists ranging from seven to 70 years old depict gratitude toward hospital staff, relatives exercising in front of the television, children participating in Internet classes, those who are in self-isolation, and images that have become symbols of the current situation, such as immune-boosting fruits. Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, head of The Urban Sketchers Hanoi, plans to display the challenges best submissions in an exhibition. She also has plans to auction off the artwork and put 50 percent of the proceeds toward COVID-19 prevention and the rest in a fund managed by the Vietnam Fatherland Front. Check out some of these submissions depicting everyday life in a country practicing physical distancing: Artist Nguyen Hien depicts Vietnamese dancer Quang Dang (right) and a friend performing their choreographed version of the hit COVID-19 themed song 'Ghen Co Vy' in this sketch. Quang Dung and his partner performed the song to draw awareness of virus-prevention guidelines. This sketch by Tran Thi Thanh Thuy features a family exercising in front of the television. Artist Dang Truong Giang chooses to submit a sketch of his quarantined neighborhood on Truc Bach Street in Hanoi. 'We stay at work for you, please stay home for us' has been the motto of many healthcare professionals since the pandemic started, as shown in this sketch by Dang Truong Giang. A grandmother plays with her grandchildren while schools remain closed in Hanoi in this sketch by Minh Ly. A boy reads a book at home in this sketch by 11-year-old Nguyen Tan. A pedestrian walks alongside Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi in this sketch by Sao Nguyen. Lilies are seen in this sketch by Thu Huong. Blackboard tree blossoms are seen in this sketch by Sao Nguyen. Violets are seen in this sketch by Kim Anh. As schools in Vietnam are closed due to COVID-19, artist Tran Thi Thanh Thuy depicts the new reality of classes taught via online platforms. As schools in Vietnam are closed due to COVID-19, artist Tran Thi Thanh Thuy depicts the new reality of classes taught via online platforms. 'When the nation needs you to stay still by Tran Thi Thanh Thuy Seven-year-old Minh Khues submission depicts a young a girl wearing a face mask, an appeal to the public to do the same. Spraying disinfectant by nine-year-old Nguyen Ha Minh Anh Children gather at grandmothers home is seen through the observation of Minh Ly. Luong Vu Lan Anhs sketch is meant to encourage people to consume more tea, peaches, oranges and lemongrass, all rich in vitamin C, in order to improve the immune system. A porridge stand in Hanoi is seen in this sketch by Nam Phong. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A 55-year-old businessman from Ahmedabad who was helping the lockdown-affected has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, health officials said on Monday. However, since the Maninagar resident was not involved in personally distributing food packets, theere was no possibility of anyone else getting infected due to him, Tejas Shah, Deputy Health Officer (South Zone), Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation said. "The financier, who tested positive on Sunday, was supplying free meals to people affected by the lockdown. He had outsourced work of preparing the meals to a professional cook. He had hired men to distribute the food as well," he said. The source of ingfection is unknown since the man was at home for long and has no travel history, officials said. "After he tested positive, 13 persons, including family members, have been quarantined," Shah said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ALBANY Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Monday said new data suggests the number of New York's coronavirus cases is beginning to flatten, and the state may not need nearly as many hospital beds as it had expected to make it past the apex of the pandemic. Last month, Cuomo had estimated there could be up to 140,000 COVID-19 patients hospitalized at the height of the crisis. Current projections are significantly lower, the state's coronavirus task force said in its daily briefing. The governor also said that hospitals and health care facilities currently have enough ventilators and personal protective equipment, and that New York which has received extra ventilators from the federal government, China and the states of Washington, California and Oregon would be distributing more than 800 ventilators to hospitals. "Theyre all going to say they are running low because they are, but nobody doesnt have what they need to do their job," Cuomo said. "Have we lost anyone who we could have saved? I dont believe so. And with that, we can go to sleep at night. ...We dont need any additional ventilators right now." The governor also apparently backed off a pledge he made last Friday to issue an executive order that would allow him, possibly using the National Guard, to take ventilators from upstate hospitals and distribute them to downstate areas. By late Monday afternoon, Cuomo had not signed that order; his office would not immediately confirm whether he would do so. The governor's encouraging news for New Yorkers came with a firm cautionary note, however, as the governor announced that schools and non-essential businesses will remain closed statewide through April 29. He said that while the latest projections are a hopeful sign, social-distancing measures must continue, and the potential fine for violations would be doubled to $1,000 as he encouraged local authorities to enforce the rules with vigilance. "We get reckless, we change or we're not compliant on social distancing, you will see those numbers go up again," Cuomo said. "We have been behind this virus since day one. ... Now is not the time to slack off on what we're doing." His remarks came as New York deaths from coronavirus again rose 599 overnight Monday to 4,758 but at a level that indicates the number of new infections is flattening. "If that curve is turning, it's turning because the rate of infection is going down. ... Social distancing is working," Cuomo said. The number of newly hospitalized COVID-19 patients dropped sharply again Monday to 358; New York has had 130,689 people test positive for coronavirus, although thousands of those have recovered. The state Department of Health has declined to release data on the number of recoveries. There were 4,504 patients in intensive care units on Monday, an increase of 128 overnight Monday. The number of people hospitalized 16,837 also rose slightly from Sunday. There have been 13,366 people discharged from hospitals since the pandemic began, a number that increased by 1,179 on Monday. James Malatras, a member of Cuomo's coronavirus task force, said that while some projections indicated New York would need a minimum of 56,000 hospital beds and possibly as many as 140,000, the latest estimates put that number significantly lower. The measures that the state and the nation have taken to stop the spread of the virus have had a positive effect on the projections, he added. "The current data suggests that that is exactly whats happening," Malatras said. "Its not settled yet because we are going day by day ... (but the projections) suggest that we are indeed potentially at the apex or beginning to be at the apex at this moment." Cuomo said the state will keep its social-distancing measures in place because other cities, including Hong Kong, made the mistake of lifting them too quickly. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. "I know that's a negative for many, many reasons," Cuomo said. "I know what it does to the economy. ... I'm not going to choose between public health and economic activity." Latest coronavirus-related cancellations, postponements The latest coronavirus numbers in NY Sign up for the Times Union coronavirus newsletter Full coronavirus coverage The governor said that many New York hospitals are still facing extremely challenging conditions due to the high number of COVID-19 patients. Indeed, the ratio of physicians and nurses to COVID-19 patients is high and hospitals in New York City and Long Island have been stretched. Deanne Criswell, New York City's Emergency Management commissioner, told Fox News on Monday that the city has about 15,000 ventilators and may still need thousands more as the health crisis stretches deeper into April. "This is a hospital system where we have our foot to the floor and the engine is at redline and you cant go any faster and by the way, you cant stay at redline for any period of time because the system would blow," Cuomo said. " And thats where we are. People cant work any harder." Cuomo on Monday said that while hospitals in New York currently have enough ventilators, many are using strategies including "splitting" ventilators for two patients to share, as well as having some patients treated with bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPap) machines to assist their breathing. Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) speaks about the Coronavirus and the response to it at the Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington, DE. Joe Biden has said that he's started discussing with his advisors who he would ask to join his administration if he goes on to defeat President Donald Trump in November. His donors, on the other hand, have been privately floating some names that they hope to see become advisors for the campaign or even join a Biden White House, particularly as the coronavirus rattles the economy, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter. The people declined to be named because discussions were in private. According to the people, the names being discussed by donors and supporters alike include Sens. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; BlackRock CEO Laurence Fink; Blackstone Executive Vice Chairman Tony James; Mark Gallogly, the co-founder of investment firm Centerbridge Partners; and Roger Altman, the founder of Evercore, among others. Gallogly and Altman have helped Biden raise campaign cash throughout the 2020 election cycle, while James backed former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg when he was in the race for president. If Biden doesn't choose Harris as his running mate, some privately said that she should be attorney general. Warren could be a key campaign economic advisor, others said. Fink would be a great pick for Treasury secretary, while Gallogly and James could be strong players in that department as well, these people noted. Robert Wolf, a longtime Democratic donor and confidant of President Barack Obama, told CNBC that although he's not aware of the discussions taking place about Fink, he believes he would be a great pick for the job. "There would be many great choices, but certainly Larry would be one of the top choices for anyone's list," he said. The deliberations about who could join forces with Biden come as the coronavirus pandemic spreads across the country and lays siege to the economy. Democrats are hoping that, if Biden can defeat Trump, his administration will have the people in place that could help get the economy back on track. Almost 10 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits in just two weeks in late March, and markets have been in flux. The former vice president is ahead in the delegate count but is still in a primary fight against Sen. Bernie Sanders. Though donors are not official members of the campaign, they often have a direct line to candidates themselves and could be key influences when Biden moves ahead with choosing who to bring on as advisors. The Biden campaign and all the business leaders mentioned in this story did not respond to requests for comment. Representatives for Harris and Warren did not respond to requests for comment. Biden told his fundraisers during his virtual event on Friday that, while he has not started to interview or vet members of a possible future administration, he's inquiring among advisors about whether some people would follow him into a government role if he were to become president. Biden's campaign has gone fully virtual in the wake of COVID-19 and has been pushing for Trump to act faster when it comes to his response to the pandemic. "There are a number of people like you, and I'm not being a wise guy, who have been helping me, they're serious people who I've had discussions with about whether or not not a cabinet position, because there's nothing quid pro quo but asking them are they willing to come into a government if I get elected," Biden told his donors last week, according to a transcript of the meeting provided by the pool reporter. "I haven't asked anybody no discussion yet but who would I ask to be secretary of State? Who would I ask to be the attorney general? Who would I ask to be White House counsel? Who would I ask to be the chief of staff?" Biden continued. Some of Biden's business allies have started pushing for Harris to be his pick for vice president. Yet if she doesn't become his running mate, they are looking to approach the campaign about her being picked for attorney general, noting her experience in the same role for California, the country's most populous state. Many of the top financiers for Biden and the Democratic Party are starting to warm up to Warren potentially becoming an economic advisor for the campaign. Most of these big-money donors saw her as their arch nemesis when she was running for president. At the time, she was pitching raising taxes on wealthy Americans and historically has been a staunch critic of the U.S. banking system. While she was rising in the primary polls, donors told CNBC that they were warning party leaders that if she became the nominee they would back Trump instead. Still, these people say that with the bipartisan effort in Congress to protect small businesses, through a $2 trillion stimulus package, Warren's economic policy proposals may now have an even broader appeal to a larger swath of the electorate. Biden has already endorsed Warren's bankruptcy plan that would allow those with student debt to get some relief through bankruptcy. Warren, in a recent interview with Vox, touted her belief that the federal government must lead the way in giving financial aid to those suffering economic hardships from the coronavirus. "Only the federal government can cushion the economic blow here in a meaningful way," Warren said. "It is only the federal government that can actually print money in a time of crisis. Only the federal government that can deficit spend," she added. Though she has not officially endorsed Biden, she came very close to backing his campaign in an interview on SiriusXM when she was asked about having any interest in a future Democratic cabinet position. "I think we've got someone like Joe Biden in there, we're going to have good, strong people. For me, and I appreciate the kind and generous words, but right now, and we are in the middle of this crisis and that's where I'm keeping my focus," she said. Fink, who reportedly told Biden "I'm here to help" before he officially announced his run for president in April 2019, is being touted among financiers and among the vice president's allies as someone who could be a solid pick to lead the Treasury Department. Fink supported Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election and many were pushing him to be her choice for that position before she fell to Trump. In 2012, as Tim Geithner was wrapping up his term as the head of Treasury under Obama and heading to the private sector, Fink kept the door open to taking the position. Fink said at the time that he would "certainly take the call, and I would be a good listener" but noted he was happy at BlackRock. ETCO2 35-45 mm Hg is the normal value for capnography. End-tidal capnography refers to the graphical measurement of the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (in mm Hg) during expiration. The American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) has endorsed end-tidal capnography as a standard of care for general anesthesia and moderate or deep procedural sedation. Latin America capnography equipment market is estimated to account for US$ 21.7 Mn in terms of value in 2019 and is expected to reach 80.1 by the end of 2027. Download Exclusive PDF Brochure of This Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-pdf/3269 This report sample includes Brief Introduction to the research report. Table of Contents (Scope covered as a part of the study). Top players in the market. Research framework (presentation). The research methodology adopted by Coherent Market Insights. Latin America Capnography Equipment Market: Drivers Increasing prevalence of lung cancer is expected to boost growth of Latin America capnography equipment market over the forecast period. For instance, according to Globocan 2018, Brazil recorded 559, 371 new cases of lung cancer in 2018. Moreover, increasing product launch is also expected to propel the market growth. For instance, in September 2018, Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA launched a new series of personal single-gas monitors that includes the Pac 6000, 6500, 8000 and 8500, to detect standard gases such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, and oxygen. Latin America Capnography Equipment Market: Opportunities Increasing R&D in capnography is expected to offer lucrative growth opportunities for players in Latin America capnography equipment market. For instance, in March 2019, researchers from Emergency Care Management and University of Balearic Islands, reported analysis of the feasibility and reliability of capnography use with face mask ventilation during CPR maneuvers in adults and children. Buy This Premium Research Report @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/3269 Latin America Capnography Equipment Market: Restraints Capnography can cause rebreathing of exhaled CO2, which is expected to hamper growth of the market. The Capnographs segment in Latin America capnography equipment market was valued at US$ 8.8 in 2018 and is expected to reach US$ 35.4 by 2027 at a CAGR of 16.6% during the forecast period. Recent advancements in technology of medical monitoring has enhanced the development of the capnography devices market. Rising demand for effective monitoring of carbon dioxide levels was limited due to involvement of pulse oximetry, which takes 4-5 minutes to reflect respiratory status of the individual while capnographs provides the ventilation status of individuals in real time, thereby improving patient care. The Procedural sedation sub-segment of application segment held dominant position in Latin America capnography equipment market in 2018, accounting for 48.5% share in terms of value, followed by others, anaesthetics, and diagnosis and monitoring of patients respectively. Increasing number of surgical procedures in Latin America region is expected to support growth of the segment over the forecast period. Moreover, increasing prevalence diseases such as cancer which require surgical intervention is also expected to support growth of the segment. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 2018, there were 559,371 estimated cases of cancer in Brazil in 2018. The Hospitals sub-segment in end user segment held dominant position in Latin America capnography equipment market in 2018, accounting for 80.6% share in terms of value, followed by others and ambulatory centres, respectively. Browse Press Release: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/press-release/latin-america-capnography-equipment-market-2638 According to the International Trade Administration (ITA), 2019, Brazil has approximately 6,400 hospitals of which 70% are private, and there are approximately 495,000 hospital beds, 96,000 healthcare supplementary services. Patients prefer going to hospitals for primary as well as intensive care owing to facilities and care provided in the hospitals. Market Trends The use of capnography equipment is rapidly increasing in intubated and non-intubated applications across hospital environments such as procedural sedation, postoperative monitoring of patients receiving opioid analgesia, the ICU, and resuscitation. The use of capnography with pulse oximetry has increased in the recent past, as the approach is effective in detecting major anaesthetic complications, thereby reducing anaesthetic morbidity and mortality. Latin America Capnography Equipment Market: Competitive Landscape Major players operating in Latin America capnography equipment market include, Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, Masimo Corporation, Medtronic, Inc., Nihon Kohden Corporation, Nonin Medical, Inc., Philips Healthcare, Smiths Medical, and Welch Allyn, Inc. Latin America Capnography Equipment Market: Key Developments Key players in the market are focused on product approval and launch to expand their product portfolio. For instance, in June 2019, Masimo Corporation received the U.S. FDA approval for its O3 Regional Oximetry for use on neonatal and infant patients. Key players in the market are also focused on adopting collaboration and partnership strategies to expand their product portfolio. For instance, in December 2019, Masimo Corporation and Drager announced partnership expansion, in which Drager will integrate additional Masimo measurement technologies into Dragers family of multi-parameter patient monitors. Latin America Capnography Equipment Market, By Product Type: Capnographs Mainstream Capnographs Side stream Capnographs Microstream Capnographs Disposables Latin America Capnography Equipment Market, By Application: Procedural Sedation Anesthetics Diagnosis and Monitoring of Patients Others Latin America Capnography Equipment Market, By End User: Hospitals Operating Room ICUs Emergency Rooms Post-anesthesia Care Unit General Care Floor Ambulatory Surgical Centers Others Latin America Capnography Equipment Market, By Country: Brazil Mexico Argentina Rest of Latin America Company Profiles Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA * Company Overview Product Portfolio Financial Performance Key Strategies Recent Developments Masimo Corporation Medtronic, Inc. Nihon Kohden Corporation Nonin Medical, Inc. Philips Healthcare Smiths Medical Welch Allyn, Inc. About Coherent Market Insights: Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity. Contact Us: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com U.S. Office: Name: Mr. Shah Coherent Market Insights 1001 4th Ave, # 3200 Seattle, WA 98154, U.S. US : +1-206-701-6702 UK : +44-020-8133-4027 JAPAN : +050-5539-1737 Australian celebrities have come together to thank nurses who are working on the front line in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic. In a heartfelt video released on Monday, the likes of Shane Jacobson, Paul Hogan, Peter Helliar and Adam Hills paid tribute to the 'heroes' working in hospitals. Today show host Karl Stefanovic kicked off the video with a message that was filmed alongside his colleagues Allison Langdon and Alex Cullen. 'You are beyond amazing': Australian celebrities have come together to thank nurses who are working on the front line in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured: Karl Stefanovic (left), Allison Langdon (centre) and Alex Cullen (right) from the Today show 'Hey guys, a big shout-out to all the nurses out there working on the front line of this crisis,' Karl said. Allison added: 'Please stay safe, guys. We need you. You're so important in all of this.' 'Fireys were the heroes of summer, and you guys are the heroes of right here and now,' said comedian Peter Helliar. Supportive: 'Fireys were the heroes of summer, and you guys are the heroes of right here and now,' said comedian Peter Helliar 'You are beyond amazing,' said Adam Hills, who also encouraged Australians to stay at home to lessen the burden on the healthcare system. Shane Jacobson went on to thank nurses on behalf of his elderly parents. 'I don't just want to thank you as an Australian, I thank you as the son of ageing parents,' he said. Tribute: Shane Jacobson went on to thank nurses on behalf of his elderly parents Gratitude: The video is part of the #ThanksAussieNurses social media campaign launched by the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA). Pictured: Paul Hogan The video is part of the #ThanksAussieNurses social media campaign launched by the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA). It comes amid reports that nurses have been abused by members of the public who are afraid they will 'spread' COVID-19. Some hospitals have taken the precaution of warning staff not to wear their uniform while travelling to and from work over fears they might be abused in the street. As of Monday afternoon, there are 5,773 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia, including 39 deaths. Louis Theroux has been sharing his views on Tiger King after its subject appeared on his documentary back in 2011. Theroux encountered eccentric tiger trader Joe Exotic for his BBC special Americas Most Dangerous Pets. Now, Theroux has watched the bonkers Netflix documentary series and is answering questions from fans who want to know his take on many of its more outlandish moments. One thing Theroux was asked about was his view on Exotic's belief that his rival, Carole Baskin, fed the body of her ex-husband Don Lewis to her tigers after murdering him. Theroux revealed that Exotic told [him] the same thing in 2011 before sharing his own thoughts on the matter. My opinion is, it seems very unlikely, he wrote on Instagram. Theroux reflected on his time visiting Joe at the GW Exotic Animal Foundation in Oklahoma, stating that Exotic pulled access after growing concerned about the angle of our documentary. I liked spending time with him, Theroux said. He wasnt always relaxing to be around though. He also revealed what he found to be the most "troubling" thing Exotic said to him while filming. Tiger King is reportedly getting a new episode next week following its success on Netflix. One more person from Kendrapara was tested positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of cases to 40 in the state on Monday. According to the state health department, "A 32-year-old man from Kendrapara who had returned from Dubai on March 24, tests positive for COVID-19; Total number of positive cases in the state now stands at 40." Earlier Commissioner-cum-Secretary, I & PE Department said that a total of 39 positive COVID-19 cases have been reported in Odisha including two cured. He said that as many as 87 people have been quarantined. "There are a total of 39 positive cases in Odisha. 2 patients have been cured and discharged from the hospital, 87 people are in quarantine," he said. Earlier there were 37 active cases in the state out of which, 31 cases have been reported from Bhubaneswar, one each from Cuttack, Jeypore, Kalahandi and three from Bhadrak. India recorded the highest number of 704 positive cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India have mounted to 4,281. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fr Martin Magill of St John the Evangelist is using Facebook live and Zoom More than 12 million devices from 43 different countries last Sunday linked into services broadcast by a Co Tyrone company via webcam from churches. The number compares to around one million normally tuned into the services provided through MCN Media, its chief executive Seamus McNicholl revealed. And the company is expecting the numbers for Palm Sunday yesterday - which have not yet been tallied - and Easter weekend to surge even higher. The company has already added servers since the lockdown started to counter crashes, and is adding another 10 this week. Webcams were already installed in hundreds of churches in Northern Ireland, the Republic and Great Britain, but Mr McNicholl said the company has taken orders for another 120 recently after coronavirus closed churches to gatherings. "It has been an experience, never seen anything like this...our fantastic staff are all working from home, but they have hardly had time to even get any lunch," said Mr McNicholl, whose company manages broadcasts of services by all denominations. He said 12.3m from 43 countries tuned in to services last Sunday. A special Palm Sunday Mass for the Disappeared was held virtually for the first time due to coronavirus social distancing rules, streamed from St Mary's Church in Londonderry. Fr Joe Gormley celebrated mass and lit candles in remembrance of those murdered and abducted by republican groups during the Troubles. The Church of Ireland, Catholic, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches, along with other denominations and Christian organisations, held a Palm Sunday National Day of Prayer in response to the emergency. In a joint statement, the leaders of Ireland's four main churches said: "Though we cannot meet as the gathered Church, we will end the hour united in prayer, asking for the Lord's healing touch on our land and all its people." They asked people to pray for sick, the fearful, the bereaved, those isolated and alone, as well as "healthcare professionals, delivery drivers, essential workers and all on the frontline". But while many churches can broadcast via webcam, for some it is not possible. Rev Gareth Simpson, of Ballywalter Presbyterian Church near Newtownards, said a webcam is installed in the church but there isn't the bandwidth to broadcast live. Rev Simpson is pre-recording his services, uploading them to YouTube then posting a link on the church's Facebook page. "It is not a great situation. I think that is definitely the downfall, not being able to connect with everyone," the minister said, although members are in contact via phone with the elderly and most vulnerable. Fr Martin Magill, parish priest of St John the Evangelist on Belfast's Falls Road, said the architecture of the church does not lend itself to the installation of a webcam. Fr Magill is using Facebook live and Zoom to broadcast services, which allows some interaction, including being able to conference in parishioners yesterday to help to read from the Gospel of Matthew. "There is interaction and you could not get that with a webcam," the parish priest said. Pope Francis yesterday started the first of several Holy Week ceremonies that will be held behind closed doors this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Francis led the ceremony inside an empty St Peter's Basilica. The Church of Ireland is providing information on the different ways that people can tune in to services, said spokesman Peter Cheney. "Many of our churches, before the crisis, would have already recorded services and provided them on CD to parishioners who are unable to attend," Mr Cheney said. "Many parishes have also been using social media for a long time. The Church is providing guidance for parishes on how to prepare and run online services, which is also available in parish resources." In Franklin County, known as the moonshine capital of the world, a local distillery is putting its skills to good use during the COVID-19 pandemic by producing hand sanitizer. Its a strange time for Twin Creeks Distillery, which has a tasting room in Rocky Mount and produces its spirits in Ferrum. A few weeks ago it was making whiskey to sell, but now its making hand sanitizer to give away, said Chris Prillaman, the owner and distiller. I could have never imagined a month ago that wed be in this position. Amidst the hard times, its really a beautiful thing, said daughter Anna Prillaman, who handles communications and marketing for the distillery. Before the number of COVID-19 cases began ballooning in Virginia, Roddy Moore, the former director of the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum at Ferrum College, called and suggested Chris Prillaman make hand sanitizer to combat the shortage. Prillaman said he didnt give it much thought at first. Then a few days later, chatter around the idea grew and he saw other distilleries making the shift. I said, If they can do it, well, daggone, we can do it, Chris Prillaman said. The Distilled Spirits Council website indicates that Twin Creeks is one of at least 17 distilleries in Virginia that have begun making hand sanitizer. Similar efforts are underway in other industries as well. Spectrum Brand Holdings, which produces Cutter brand insect repellent, announced Friday that it would make hand sanitizer at its Blacksburg manufacturing plant. It plans to donate to community partners such as Carilion Clinic, according to a news release. The sanitizer will be commercially available for purchase in the coming weeks, spokeswoman Lacey Ebert said. Twin Creeks is giving all of its sanitizer away for free. Anna Prillaman said people have been incredibly generous in donating toward the effort, offering both financial support and supplies like bottles. Were going to make it as long as theres a need for it, as long as people are calling for it and as long as we can cover our expenses doing it, she said. Chris Prillaman said he was grateful for the communitys support. People get busy in their everyday lives, but during a crisis they come together. Thats whats happening right there in our little community, he said. The hand sanitizer production team is just five people, Anna Prillaman said. She and a cousin do the bottling and labeling. The tasting room manager has become a pseudo-chemist, putting all the ingredients together. And Chris Prillaman and one other distiller handle the alcohol part. Initially the phones were ringing off the hook and email and social media inboxes were inundated with inquiries about the sanitizer. Now, a couple of weeks into the endeavor, Anna Prillaman said she feels theyve come up with a system for distribution. The Rocky Mount tasting room is still open for curbside pickup, and members of the general public can come by to collect a maximum of 4 ounces of sanitizer per person. Many are bringing their own bottles, which Anna Prillaman said is a great help. Everyone has been respectful of the 4-ounce limit, she said no hoarders here. Shes noticed that most people picking up sanitizer have been younger, under 40, and many say they plan to give it to older relatives. Larger quantities are available for businesses upon request. Anna Prillaman said hand sanitizer has already been distributed to many of the distillerys commercial neighbors in downtown Rocky Mount, to Roanoke Valley nursing homes and to the Franklin County Sheriffs Office. She said the most challenging part of making hand sanitizer has been getting supplies and ingredients, which have a slow delivery turnaround. Its just hard to get your hands on, she said. The biggest difference in the distilling process is that hand sanitizer demands a higher alcohol content than Twin Creeks craft spirits. Most of the liquor the distillery produces is about 90 proof, Chris Prillaman said, but for hand sanitizer the alcohol needs to be about 140 proof. Twin Creeks uses corn as the base for its whiskey and rye, he said, and it has a distinctive smell. As a result, so, too, does the hand sanitizer. One person told him: It smells like Franklin County. It does got the smell of whiskey, Chris Prillaman said. There aint no doubt about that. Anna Prillaman said her dads been telling people that if they get pulled over and the officer smells liquor, they should just explain theyve got clean hands. Twin Creeks wasnt set up for this, but it made the adjustments necessary to pull it off, Chris Prillaman said, just like distilleries across the state and country have. If you can get it out to people and you can do some good, we sure need to be doing all we can as a community, as a state and as a country, as far as Im concerned, he said. In addition to hand sanitizer, the distillery is still selling alcohol for consumption, in case anyone needs a little something to sip on to get through the hard times, Chris Prillaman said. Well give them something to kill the germs inside and out. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Advertisement An underwater forest 60 feet below the surface in the Gulf of Mexico may be harboring life-saving secrets. Researchers found that shipworms and other marine organisms living in tree trunks that grew nearly 60,000 years ago could be used to design new pharmaceuticals. The shipworms pulled from the depths were found to be 'stuffed full of biosynthetic pathways', which are conducive to drug development. More than 300 marine animals were removed from the wood and the team identified 100 strains of bacteria that could potentially pioneer new drug treatments. Shipworm bacteria has been used to develop at least one antibiotic, and scientists are hopeful that the tiny creatures could produce much more in the future. Scroll down for videos An underwater forest 60 feet below the surface in the Gulf of Mexico may be harboring life-saving secrets. Researchers found that shipworms and other marine organisms living in tree trunks that grew nearly 60,000 years ago could be used to design new pharmaceuticals The ancient forest is believed to have grown nearly 60,000 years ago and was unearthed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. It sits just 15 miles off the coast, some 60 feet beneath the surface but, it remained concealed beneath the mud and sand for thousands of years. With the unmistakable shape of cypress knees, intact bark, and sap still leaking from the wood, it's believed the ancient trees spent millennia buried under the thick sediment, protected from decomposition 'Everything is in place in that ecosystem,' said LSU Department of Geography & Anthropology Associate Professor Kristine DeLong in a documentary 'The Underwater Forest' by AL.com journalist Ben Raines, was discovered after fishermen noticed unusual activity in the area. 'It's just been buried and preserved through time.' More than 300 marine animals were removed from the wood and the team identified 100 strains of bacteria that could potentially pioneer new drug treatments. Shipworm bacteria has been used to develop at least one antibiotic, and scientists are hopeful that the tiny creatures could produce much more in the future NOAA released new footage of the underwater area earlier this week and the team expects to publish its first results from the trip within the next few months Now, a team from Northeastern University and the University of Utah is analyzing shipworms and other marine animals pulled from the underwater forest, which they believe contain compounds for medicine and biotechnology. The team's focus is on bacteria found in wood-eating 'shipworms,' a group of saltwater clams with long, soft, naked bodies (teredinid bivalve), according to NOAA. NOAA released new footage of the underwater area earlier this week and the team expects to publish its first results from the trip within the next few months. The logs pulled from the depths support a range of lifeforms that scientists are collecting and examining. Margo Haygood, a molecular biologist at the University of Utah, told Vice: 'We picked apart the wood more or less splinter by splinter and found all kinds of creatures in those samples, but there will certainly be more beyond what we have discovered.' Researchers found the shipworms found in a trunk (pictured) are 'stuffed full of biosynthetic pathways' that are conducive to drug development, Haygood said Drug compounds produced by symbiotic microbes are less likely to display toxicity toward animals than free-living bacteria, as these molecules have essentially been 'pre-screened' by their animal hosts More than 300 animals were removed from the wood, photographed and identified last December. Some were preserved as voucher specimens for future DNA analyses while others were used to create culture plates to sample for microbes. Within 100 to 200 prepared culture plates, the team identified approximately 100 strains of bacteria, many of which are novel and 12 of which are already undergoing DNA sequencing for further study of their identity and their biosynthetic potential to make new drugs. Drug compounds produced by symbiotic microbes are less likely to display toxicity toward animals than free-living bacteria, as these molecules have essentially been 'pre-screened' by their animal hosts. With the unmistakable shape of cypress knees, intact bark, and sap still leaking from the wood, it's believed the ancient trees spent millennia buried under the thick sediment, protected from decomposition, before they were finally unearthed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 They can be reproduced under lower temperatures and less harsh conditions than current industrial processes, meaning a potential cost savings for industrial applications. The shipworms have a unique digestive process that allows them to breakdown cellulose material found in trees and bacteria in their gills that create an enzyme that turns wood into sugars. Haygood and her team further investigated the process and found the tiny creatures are 'stuffed full of biosynthetic pathways' that are conducive to drug development, Haygood said, according to Vice. The remarkable condition of the ancient forest is due to the presence of thick mud, which prevented oxygen from reaching the dead wood. Without oxygen, decomposition cannot take place in the underwater environment, the documentary explains. Researhcers collected the first samples from the site, working with scientists from Louisiana State University and the University of Southern Mississippi for subsequent investigations. Scientists investigating the graveyard of giant trees just off the coast of Alabama estimate the forest dates back to an ice age roughly 60,000 years ago, when the climate was cold and windy, and neared full glacial conditions and sea levels were about 400 feet lower than they are today The ancient forest sits just 15 miles off the coast, some 60 feet beneath the surface but, it remained concealed beneath the mud and sand for thousands of years And, with advanced sonar machines, the researchers discovered even more trees, buried upwards of 10 feet beneath the sediment. By collecting core samples and radio-carbon dating the wood, the experts estimate the forest lived about 50,000-60,000 years ago. Samples dried and cut in the lab also revealed another astonishing relic ancient sap, tens of thousands of years old. Hidden 60 feet beneath the surface in the Gulf of Mexico, scientists have discovered an underwater forest of ancient cypress trees, still rooted in the ground in which they grew more than 50,000 years ago According to the experts, the trees show signs of 'stress events,' indicating that they experienced rapid decrease in growth, followed by rapid increase, and then a final swift growth decline. Then, it appears 'all the trees died about the same time,' DeLong notes in the documentary. The underwater forest likely lay undisturbed until 2004, the experts explain, when the powerful category 4 storm Hurricane Ivan swept through the region, bringing 140 mile per hour winds and 98-foot-tall waves. The remarkable site, revealed in a new documentary 'The Underwater Forest' by AL.com journalist Ben Raines, was discovered after fishermen noticed unusual activity in the area With advanced sonar machines, the researchers discovered even more trees, buried upwards of 10 feet beneath the sediment. By collecting core samples and radio-carbon dating the wood, the experts estimate the forest lived about 50,000-60,000 years ago Samples dried and cut in the lab also revealed another astonishing relic ancient sap, tens of thousands of years old, as seen above As the storm passed directly over the site, it removed some of the mud that had hidden the ancient trees for so long. Not only does the discovery tell the story of a world that existed eons ago, but the experts say it could provide a glimpse into the future of the Gulf coast, in the face of a changing climate. The remarkable condition of the ancient forest is due to the presence of thick mud, which prevented oxygen from reaching the dead wood. Without oxygen, decomposition cannot take place in the underwater environment, the documentary explains 'It's pretty rapid change, geologically speaking,' paleontologist Martin Becker, with William Paterson University, told AL.com. 'We're looking at 60 feet of seawater where a forest used to be. I'm looking at a lot of development, of people's shore homes and condominiums, etc. 'The forest is predicting the future, and maybe a pretty unpleasant one.' US health officials are now urging Americans to limit the amount of times they visit the grocery store or pharmacy as the country braces for a 'peak death week' amid the coronavirus pandemic. Even though supermarkets and pharmacies remain open despite the widespread lockdowns, Assistant Health Secretary Admiral Brett Giroir said on Monday that people should limit how many times they go per week. Giroir, who is a physician and member of the White House coronavirus task force, said people should be doing as much as possible to avoid exposure to the coronavirus. 'Don't go every day to the grocery store like many people do,' he told NBC's Today. Even though supermarkets and pharmacies remain open despite the widespread lockdowns, Assistant Health Secretary Admiral Brett Giroir said on Monday that people should limit how many times they go per week 'Anything you can do to protect yourself to avoid yourself from getting this virus and being in the hospital for a month or potentially facing death, I think it's advised to do that.' As of Monday, at least four supermarket employees have died from COVID-19 as grocers' begin recording their first employee pandemic-related deaths. Two Walmart employees at the same Chicago-area store, a Trader Joe's worker in New York, and a greeter at a Maryland Giant grocery store have been identified as victims. For supermarket employees, who've worked on thee frontlines during the outbreak, the fear of contracting the coronavirus is all too real. 'One of the biggest mistakes supermarkets made early on was not allowing employees to wear masks and gloves the way they wanted to,' said supermarket analyst Phil Lempert. 'Theyre starting to become proactive now, but its still going to be much tougher to hire hundreds of thousands of new workers. 'Were going to start seeing people say, "Ill just stay unemployed instead of risking my life for a temporary job."' It comes just a day after Dr Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, urged Americans to do the same. Her advice was directed specifically to those in Pennsylvania, Colorado and Washington DC, which are places that have emerged as potential hot spots given they are still only on the upside of the outbreak curve. 'This is the moment to not be going to the grocery store, not going to the pharmacy, but doing everything you can to keep your family and your friends safe and that means everybody doing the six-feet distancing, washing their hands,' Dr Birx said. Meanwhile, Giroir doubled down on his warning saying that no one is immune from the coronavirus. 'Whether you live in small town America or you live in the Big Apple, everyone is susceptible to this and everyone needs to follow the precautions we've laid out,' he said. Speaking on Good Morning America, Admiral Brett Giroir said this week would be the worst week for those three states but 'that doesn't mean we're over it' Giroir, who is a physician and member of the White House coronavirus task force, said people should be doing as much as possible to avoid exposure to the coronavirus 'Even though we say this is going to be the peak, if we let our foot off the gas and start doing things that are ill-advised, we could have another peak in another few weeks.' In a separate interview with ABC's GMA, Giroir girded the country for a 'peak death week' from the coronavirus pandemic. 'It's going to be the peak hospitalization, peak ICU week and unfortunately, peak death week,' he said. Giroir raised particular alarm for New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Detroit as he reinforced the messaging from Surgeon General Jerome Adams who warned on Sunday: 'This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment.' 'That doesn't mean we're over it. There are other parts of the country that will peak a a later date; New Orleans, Louisiana etc,' Giroir said. 'Do the social distancing, wear the masks - that's how we're going to defeat this virus.' He also said he was 'very optimistic' about blood tests that are in development that will allow tens of millions of people to be tested to find out if they have had the virus and recovered from it or not. If the test proves they have recovered from it, it will suggest they are immune and are able to go back to work. There are two types of that test that are being discussed; both center on antibodies and blood plasma that could then be used to treat those who are sick with the virus and build up their immunity to it. 'When we get to the next phase, it will be a combination of the kind of tests we do now plus serologic tests which is a drop of blood, it's very, very quick. 'They will tell you if you've been exposed to the virus. That's very important as we think about reopening the country and the economy. 'If you've had the virus, in all probability, you are safe and immune. For the serologic test we're very optimistic. 'There are several going through the FDS right now. We want to make sure these tests are highly validated and that their performance is excellent,' he said, adding: 'I'm personally very optimistic that by May, we're going to have these in very large quantities.' Nollywood actress Funke Akindele was on Monday arraigned before a magistrate court in Ogba, Lagos, for violating the coronavirus lockdown directive of the Lagos State Government. The actress was arraigned alongside her husband, Abdulrasheed Bello (JJC Skillz) before magistrate Aje Afunwa by the Nigerian Police. They were arrested on Sunday night for throwing a birthday in their Amen estate residence on Saturday. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the policemen arrived her residence at Amen Estate off Lekki-Epe Expressway in three patrol vehicles. At the magistrate court on Monday, Akindele and her husband pleaded guilty to the one-count charge read to them. They pleaded guilty to breaching the Lagos infectious diseases regulation (2020), which prescribes N100,000 fine or a month jail time for violators. The charge was filed against them by the Attorney General of Lagos State, Moyosore Onigbanjo. The proceedings are still on. They are awaiting the verdict of the magistrate. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form SOUTH ROCKWOOD, MI -- Police have recovered a boat belonging to a missing Michigan man, but issued no updates on the possible location of the man and his son who have not been seen or heard from since March 29. Justin Oaks, 29 and his 6-year-old son Jaxon Oaks were last heard from while the two were fishing on the Huron River between Lake Erie and the Interstate 75 overpass in the South Rockwood, according to the Associated Press. The two left their home together early in the day, but last contact was made around 12:35 on March 29. The 14-foot fishing boat was recovered Sunday but no information about where the duo may be was released. Early in the investigation, police said the two did not return to their vehicle which was parked at a boat launch. The empty trailer was attached to the vehicle. The Flat Rock Police Department shared photos of the boat recovery effort on Facebook. April 6 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Wall Street Journal. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. - The Saudi-led Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will convene a virtual meeting on Thursday with other oil-producing nations including Canada and Russia. https://on.wsj.com/2yxDcT7 - The inspector general for the U.S. intelligence community Michael Atkinson said that President Donald Trump fired him because of his commitment to being an independent watchdog. https://on.wsj.com/3bU0tNt - Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates said his foundation will spend billions of dollars to fund the construction of factories for the most promising efforts to develop a vaccine to combat the novel coronavirus. https://on.wsj.com/2XjbW5r (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom) Natalie Rahey and Blair Skrupski were supposed to be standing under a wedding canopy in three weeks, hand in hand on a Caribbean beach surrounded by friends and family. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/4/2020 (644 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Natalie Rahey and Blair Skrupski are shown in a handout photo. The Halifax couple in their 30s whose wedding in Mexico's Riviera Maya later this month is now on hold after Air Canada Vacations cancelled their flight, say they and their nearly three-dozen guests are now out more than $50,000. Rahey says she is "incredibly disappointed" that the voucher requires them to rebook at the same resort for the same price or more within the next two years, even if cheaper options become available. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Natalie Rahey MANDATORY CREDIT Natalie Rahey and Blair Skrupski were supposed to be standing under a wedding canopy in three weeks, hand in hand on a Caribbean beach surrounded by friends and family. Instead the Halifax couple was left holding nothing but a travel voucher and a lighter bank statement after Air Canada Vacations cancelled their flight one of thousands cut amid the near-total shutdown of the airline industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Their nuptials in Mexico's Riviera Maya are on hold as they and their nearly three dozen guests grapple with the more than $50,000 that now sits in an Air Canada account. Rahey said their travel voucher valid for the next 24 months requires them to rebook at the same resort for the same price or more within the next two years, even if cheaper options become available. "If the cost to rebook our wedding is more expensive, we have to pay more. But if its less, we dont get the difference back. Air Canada gets to keep that money. And no refund was offered," Rahey said. "To feel like were not being taken care of is just incredibly disappointing." Travellers and travel agents alike are increasingly fed up with refund policies and customer service at Canadian airlines amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with no word yet on what strings might come attached to a potential bailout for the struggling sector. A petition calling on Ottawa to refuse an aid package to any airline that does not refund customers for cancelled flights now touts roughly 3,000 signatures. Most Canadian carriers are offering customers flights rebookings or vouchers but not refunds amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars in effective interest-free loans to airlines from passengers, said Toronto resident Bob Scott, who launched the petition last week. "Its absolutely disgraceful," he said. "Ive never seen anything anything like the fury thats being unleashed at the airlines by consumers on this issue." Customers aren't the only ones getting sick of the turbulence. Travel agent Barbara Broomel says Air Canada has been "very hard" to reach, leaving her torn about whether a tour group should make their next $6,000 payment for a European trip that may yet be cancelled. "Theyre asking me, 'What do we do? Do I make the final payment?' This is all up in the air," said Broomel, who is based near Buffalo, N.Y., and works with Canadian clients. Faced with an unprecedented drop in travel demand, Air Canada has nonetheless worked with the federal government to overcome border closures and repatriate tens of thousands of Canadians stranded in places ranging from Morocco to Peru. "I know their hands are full," Broomel said, but noted that carriers such as Lufthansa and Delta Air Lines offer agents regular updates or dedicated help lines. "It doesnt have to be like this. And Im in agony over making the wrong decision for other people." Air Canada, which has cut flying by about 90 per cent for the next two months, did not respond to a request for comment Monday. Its website states that "cancellations that are caused by COVID-19 are beyond our control," but that the company will provide "a flight credit of equal value for a future ticket purchased within 24 months" of the cancellation date. While U.S. and European Union officials have ordered airlines to reimburse customers for cancelled flights, a statement on the Canadian Transportation Agency website says airlines are not obliged to refund passengers for flights suspended due to the novel coronavirus or other reasons outside a carrier's control. Advocates say the statement, which is unsigned, lacks the authority of an official ruling, each of which is signed by one or more of the members who comprise the tribunal. If a flight is cancelled because of events beyond an airline's control, the carrier must provide alternate arrangements, but not a refund, according to passenger rights rules passed last year. However, most airlines have a tariff the contract between airline and passenger that stipulates refunds in such cases. WestJet's tariff that states that "the unused portion of the passenger's ticket(s) will be refunded...should the alternate transportation proposed by the carrier not meet the passenger's satisfaction," in the event of a cancellation beyond the carrier's control. Despite that pledge, WestJet's website says that it is "not processing refunds to original form of payment at this time," and highlights future travel credit instead. The Canadian branch of the Air Line Pilots Association, which represents pilots at WestJet and 13 other domestic carriers, is calling for a stimulus package similar to relief measures announced in the U.S. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The aid bundle stipulates that airlines seeking a slice of US$25 billion in federal grants cannot impose furloughs or pay reductions until October. Stock buybacks are prohibited for more than a year and executive compensation must be reigned in. Air Canada, which netted $1.48 billion in profits last year, has seen its share price soar over the past decade, outperforming all other Toronto Stock Exchange companies to earn a 3,575 per cent return between 2010 and 2019, CEO Calin Rovinescu noted in February. Helping to boost the price was the companys share repurchase program, where it poured more than $800 million into buying back its own stock since 2015, shrinking the supply of shares on the market. Air Canada had $7.3 billion in cash as of last month, more than the most profitable U.S. carrier, Delta Air Lines. Assuming severe travel restrictions last for three months, airlines around the globe will see passenger revenues drop by $252 billion, according to the International Air Transport Association trade group. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 6, 2020. Companies in this story: (TSX:AC) India's services sector activity contracted during March as the COVID-19 pandemic dented demand, particularly in overseas markets, while public health measures aimed at stemming the outbreak curtailed discretionary spending, a monthly survey said on Monday. The IHS Markit India Services Business Activity Index was at 49.3 in March, down from February's 85-month high of 57.5, as the new coronavirus pandemic pulled the service sector into contraction. The headline figure fell by over 8 points, undoing the strong gains in growth momentum seen throughout 2019, the survey said. In PMI parlance, a print above 50 means expansion, while a score below that denotes contraction. "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on India's services economy has not been fully realised yet," Joe Hayes, Economist at IHS Markit, said adding that "the survey data collection (March 12-27) was concluding just as Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered a complete lockdown of the country". Hayes further said that "clearly the worse is yet to come as nationwide store closures and prohibition to leave the house will weigh heavily on the services economy, as has been seen elsewhere in the world". According to panel members, business activity was reduced in response to weaker demand and firms responded by reducing their workforces as intakes of new business were insufficient to maintain payroll numbers. Latest survey data pointed to the first fall in order book volumes at Indian service providers since September 2019. "Pressure now fully lies on the government to combat the economic challenges the lockdown will cause," Hayes said. The survey further noted that there were widespread reports of new business receipts struggling due to the COVID-19 outbreak, deterring discretionary spending. A number of firms also mentioned lower sales as a result of liquidity issues. Meanwhile, the Composite PMI Output Index that maps both the manufacturing and services sector fell to 50.6 in March, down 7 points from February's 57.6 to signal a sharp slowdown in private sector output growth and bringing an abrupt end to the recent strong upward-moving expansion trend. The number of deaths around the world linked to the new coronavirus has crossed over 69,000. In India, more than 4,000 coronavirus cases have been reported so far. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been praised for her leadership amid the coronavirus crisis. Suze Wilson, senior lecturer in executive development at Massey University in New Zealand says politicians around the world should take note of Ardern's leadership style. She says being a public motivator is essential for leaders but its often done poorly. Scroll down for video New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been praised for her leadership amid the coronavirus crisis Expert says Ardern (above) is skillful in the way she delivers direction, meaning and empathy to motivate followers 'As someone who researches and teaches leadership and has also worked in senior public sector roles under both National and Labour-led governments I'd argue New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is giving most Western politicians a masterclass in crisis leadership,' she wrote in The Conversation. Ms Wilson bases her view on an American metric for measuring strong leadership, known as the Mayfields' model. The research-based theory suggests there are three main components to motivating followers direction-giving, meaning-making and empathy. While direction-giving is often over-used in male-dominated world politics, the other two areas are mostly neglected, according to Ms Wilson. A view of empty Lambton Quay in Wellington, New Zealand, during the coronavirus lockdown Arderns response to COVID-19 uses all three approaches. In directing New Zealanders to 'stay home to save lives,' she simultaneously offers meaning and purpose to what we are being asked to do, she said. In freely acknowledging the challenges we face in staying home from disrupted family and work lives, to people unable to attend loved ones funerals she shows empathy about what is being asked of us. Ms Wilson said, the March 23 lockdown announcement was also a clear example of Arderns skillful approach. 'She has regulated distress by developing a transparent framework for decision-making the governments alert level framework allowing people to make sense of what is happening and why,' she said. 'Importantly, that four-level alert framework was released and explained early, two days before a full lockdown was announced, in contrast with the prevarication and sometimes confusing messages from leaders in countries such as Australia and the UK.' The mutilated body of a 51-year-old man was found in the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary on Monday morning, police said. Bareeq, a resident of Bardiya village in the district, had gone out to graze his goats near the sanctuary, Divisional Forest Officer G P Singh said. As there is less movement of humans due to a nationwide lockdown, various animals have been spotted around the forest area recently, he said. He appealed to people living around the forest area to not go out. World Wide Fund for Nature project officer Dabir Hasan said an immediate assistance of Rs 10,000 has been given to the family of the victim. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least one hundred people gathered outside the MLA's residence to receive free grain before officials and police reached the spot and dispersed them. Wardha BJP MLA Dadarao Keche on Sunday allegedly violated the lockdown norms in Maharashtra by distributing rations to the public at his residence to mark his birthday, according to several media reports. At least one hundred people gathered outside the MLA's residence to receive free grain before officials and police reached the spot and dispersed them. WATCH | Amid lockdown, 200 people gather at residence of BJP MLA Dadarao Keche in Maharashtra on his birthday pic.twitter.com/7bHK70n829 The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) April 5, 2020 However, Keche claimed that he did not call anyone to his residence to celebrate his birthday." I distribute food to the poor and needy every year on my birthday. I was planning to distribute foodgrain only to 21 families," Keche told India Today. "After doing that I left for a temple but then Opposition conspired and spread the message that I was distributing free ration to everyone. This resulted in mass gathering." But Wardha superintendent of police Basavraj Teli told Indian Express Keche was home when the crowd gathered. We have registered an offence in this regard against Keche. Wardha collector Vivek Bhimanwar further told the newspaper, "We had not given him any permission for the programme nor had he sought one from us. He had expressed a desire for a blood donation camp which we had refused permission for. Instead, we allowed blood donation by five persons on the occasion at Arvi Primary Health Centre (PHC) adhering to the social distancing norm. As soon as the police got information about the crowd at his residence, they swung into action and dispersed it. The SDO has directed the police to conduct an inquiry. I understand that we all must strictly adhere to social distancing norm to fight the coronavirus as desired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dadarao added. Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Harish Dharmik told ANI Keche will face action under the Epidemic Diseases Act. Maharashtra has reported the highest number of coronavirus positive cases and deaths among all Indian states. So far, close to 700 people have been infected and 45 killed by the deadly virus in Maharashtra. More than 100 people have died of the virus in India while it has infected over 4,000. To restrict the spread of novel coronavirus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government had imposed a 21-day nationwide lockdown that came into effect from 25 March. The government has asked people to remain indoors and practice social distancing to break the chain of the pandemic. With inputs from agencies Iran will never ask the United States for help in the fight against the new coronavirus, Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Monday. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has rejected offers from Washingtons for humanitarian assistance to Iran, the Middle Eastern country so far most affected by the coronavirus, with 3,603 deaths and 58,226 people infected. Iran has never asked and will not ask America to help Tehran in its fight against the outbreak ... But America should lift all its illegal unilateral sanctions on Iran, Mousavi said in a televised news conference. Tensions between the two countries have been running high since 2018, when U.S. President Donald Trump quit a 2015 agreement that lifted sanctions on Iran in return for curbs to its nuclear programme. Washington reimposed sanctions which have crippled the Iranian economy. Iranian authorities say U.S. sanctions have hampered their efforts to curb the outbreak, urging other countries and the United Nations to call on the United States to lift them. They (the U.S.) are trying to force Tehran to accept negotiations with America, Mousavi said. Trump says the nuclear deal was not strong enough and wants to apply maximum pressure on Iran to accept tougher curbs to its nuclear programme, halt its ballistic missile work and end its support for proxy forces in the Middle East. Iran has long said it will not negotiate unless Washington lifts sanctions. Lt Governor Kiran Bedi on Monday announced she would contribute 30 per cent of her salary every month to the COVID-19 fund for the whole of this financial year. Bedi in a release said she had sent an e-mail to President Ram Nath Kovind conveying her decision. In her message to the President on Sunday night, the former IPS officer said "Under your most able leadership our country is succeeding compared to many developed and rich countries and is containing the spread and also the extent of havoc the virus has the potential to cause. "With the Government of India having begun with several relief measures to immediately mitigate the suffering, I feel it is my duty also to make a small contribution by offering a voluntary reduction of 30 per cent in my salary for this financial year. I seek your blessings for the small offering," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic called on CoE member states to protect the rights and health of all detainees during the global COVID-19 pandemic. The statement runs as follows: Convicted prisoners and persons on remand are among those most vulnerable to viral contagion as they are held in a high-risk environment: in general, detention facilities are not adapted to face large-scale epidemics, and the basic protective measures such as social distancing and hygiene rules cannot be observed as easily as outside, exposing prisoners to greater health risks. Furthermore, in many European countries the pandemic strikes in a context of overcrowded prisons and poor detention conditions in cramped, collective cells, with unsatisfactory health services, as well as higher rates of infectious and chronic diseases among detainees, such as tuberculosis, diabetes and HIV. Across Europe, a number of contaminations and some COVID 19-related deaths in prison have already been reported; tension in prisons has increased since the beginning of the pandemic crisis, leading to acts of protest (sometimes violent) in reaction to restrictions on visits or other activities. To prevent large-scale coronavirus outbreaks in places of detention, several member states initiated the release of certain categories of prisoners. Many others are adapting their criminal justice policies in order to reduce their prison population through various means, including temporary or early releases and amnesties; home detention and commutation of sentences; and suspending investigations and the execution of sentences. I strongly urge all member states to make use of all available alternatives to detention whenever possible and without discrimination. According to the relevant human rights standards as indicated by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) in its COVID-19 Statement of Principles, the resort to alternatives to deprivation of liberty is imperative in situations of overcrowding and even more so in cases of emergency. Particular consideration should be given to those detainees with underlying health conditions; older persons who do not pose a threat to society; and those who have been charged or convicted for minor or non-violent offences. The decrease of the prison population is indispensable across Europe to ensure the effective implementation of the sanitary regulations and to ease the mounting pressure on prison personnel and the penitentiary system as a whole. Meanwhile, those released from detention who need support should be given appropriate access to emergency accommodation and basic services, including health care. Clearly, in this context, it is also all the more imperative that those persons, including human rights defenders, activists and journalists, who are - in some member states - detained in violation of human rights standards be immediately and unconditionally released. Governments should also ensure that during the COVID-19 pandemic the human rights of all those who remain in detention are upheld while taking the specific needs of the most vulnerable detainees, persons with disabilities, pregnant women and juvenile detainees into account. Any restrictions imposed on detainees should be non-discriminatory, necessary, proportionate, time-limited and transparent. For instance, where restrictions to family visits and other outside contacts appear necessary, they should imperatively be mitigated by alternative arrangements such as extended access to phone or video communications. The absolute nature of the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment should never be compromised by measures taken in prisons including in the case of isolation for health reasons. All measures should be taken to protect the right to life and to health of prisoners and prison staff in line with WHO Europes recommendations. As stressed by the IASC Interim Guidance, prisoners should continue to have access to information, legal assistance and independent complaint mechanisms. Prison monitoring mechanisms should be able to continue to oversee the situation while taking precautions to avoid exposing people to further risks (do no harm principle). To effectively meet the challenge of fighting the coronavirus outbreak in places of detention, member states should urgently adopt and implement a humane and comprehensive crisis plan supported by adequate human and financial resources, and which caters to the needs of those who leave prisons, those who remain in detention and prison staff. This should be done in consultation and co-operation with relevant human rights stakeholders, in particular National Preventive Mechanisms, other independent monitoring bodies, national human rights structures and human rights NGOs. Delhi Health Minister, Satyendar Jain said that the government has not been able to trace the contact of 70 people, out of the total number of coronavirus positive cases found in the capital. "We have not been able to trace the contact of 70 people, out of the total number of positive cases found in Delhi. Many of them were found to be positive only yesterday," said Jain. "We will find it out by this evening," he added. "Central government had said that they are giving us 27,000 PPE kits. We did not get it yesterday, maybe we will receive it in a day or two," he added. With an increase of 490 cases in the last 12 hours, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India climbed to 4067, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After a major software update, devices are bound to see some bugs and performance drops. However, even after a relatively minor operating system that was rolled out a few days ago, some Macs running macOS Catalina 10.15.4 are facing system crashes. Some users have started complaining about system crashes ever since the macOS 10.15.4 update was released a few weeks ago. The issue seems to be most noticeable when users are trying to transfer large files. Users have been talking about this issue on several forums and on social media. SoftRAID, a tool that helps users in monitoring and testing disks, said in a forum post that system crashes during large-sized file transfers is due to a bug. The forum post mentioned that the issue extends to Apple-formatted disks. The company said that it is working with Apple engineers to find a workaround and a permanent fix for the software bug. It is being reported that systems are crashing when a lot of IO threads are being used. SoftRAID volumes appear to have taken the highest hit and it is now apparently impossible to copy more than 30GB of data in one go. Users have been noticing system crashes while waking up Macs from sleep after kernel panic and subsequent reboots. Theres no solution to the problem as of now, but Apple could issue a minor software update to fix the problem. Some users are claiming that their Macs running macOS 10.15.4 are crashing when connected to external displays. Macs running Windows via Bootcamp appear to be running better than Macs running macOS 10.15.4 as of now. My MacBook Pro 16 has been experiencing random restarts due to a kernel panic since I updated macOS to 10.15.4. Is anyone else having similar issues?! @AppleSupport russanov (@russanov) April 4, 2020 My MBP upgraded to 10.15.4 and has been crashing with kernel panic every time it goes sleep since then. Insane. Hitoshi Harada (@umitanuki) April 4, 2020 My 16-inch MacBook Pro has been crashing a lot since I updated to Catalina to 10.15.4 and its always when the laptop is in sleep mode. Anyone else facing this? pic.twitter.com/hDLu755Tjc Abbas Ali (@ajaffarali) April 5, 2020 Anyone else seeing Finder hangs and crashes with 10.15.4? Stephen Hackett (@ismh) March 27, 2020 Are you facing system crashes or Finder crashes after installing the macOS Catalina 10.15.4 update on your Mac? Let us know in the comments section below. [Sources: Apple Support Community A person in Upstate New York has been jailed for refusing to quarantine while displaying coronavirus symptoms. Rochester City News reports Monroe County Sheriffs deputies placed the individual in isolation at a Brighton, N.Y., jail after a civil order was imposed by the Monroe County Department of Public Health. The unnamed person was reportedly displaying symptoms consistent with COVID-19 but refused testing and ignored an order to isolate themselves Thursday. The Monroe County Public Health Department has determined the individuals non-compliance with a health order of isolation endangers safety, health, and well-being of citizens in Monroe County, the Monroe County Sheriffs Office said in a statement. The individual was given multiple opportunities to comply with the Health Department order. According to WHAM, the person was taken by specially-trained deputies to Strong Memorial Hospital for evaluation, and then moved to a pre-planned quarantine location at the Sheriffs Office Brighton Facility on Friday. Other inmates at the Brighton jail were moved to a secure area at the Monroe County Jail, where no cases of COVID-19 have been reported. You know, Ive been a police officer for almost 35 years. Ive never even dreamed about doing something like this, Sheriff Todd Baxter told the TV station. According to Rochester City News, Monroe County approved an Isolation and Quarantine Plan in 2014 and updated it in February as coronavirus spread. The plan allows for the public health commissioner to issue an order for involuntary isolation if an individual disobeys a quarantine request and is believed to be an immediate threat to public health. WHAM reports a second individual has been taken to the Brighton jail in an unrelated case. The person, facing violent felony charges out of Rochester, was showing symptoms consistent with coronavirus during a pre-screening process, and will be kept at the facility for at least two weeks. The head of the school principals' union has called for VCE exams to be scrapped this year, arguing the disruption to study is placing an unreasonable mental burden on 2020's year 12 students. There are calls to scrap VCE exams this year, rather than extend year 12 into January. Credit:Julia Baird Julie Podbury, president of the Australian Principals Federation, said VCE students could still receive a ranking for university entry based on teachers' assessments of their assignments. The Andrews government is yet to announce if students will return to face-to-face classes in term two, which begins on April 15. But it is widely expected that most students will be taught remotely in term two and potentially into term three. Premier Daniel Andrews also said on Sunday that it was possible that end-of-year VCE exams would be pushed back six to eight weeks, potentially into early 2021, so that year 12 students could get an ATAR score. Stephen Belafonte has welcomed the current coronavirus lockdown because it means that he can enjoy an extended period of quality time with daughter Madison. The producer shares custody of the eight-year old with Spice Girl ex-wife Mel B who has now quit Los Angeles and relocated to her childhood home of Leeds. But Mel hasnt seen Madison since December when she came to visit her in the Yorkshire city, with all planes now grounded until further notice due to the pandemic. Blessings: Stephen Belafonte has welcomed the current coronavirus lockdown because it means that he can enjoy an extended period of quality time with daughter Madison Taking to Instagram, Stephen, 44, shared a snap of him cuddling his daughter, captioning the post: 'I know that this coronavirus has brought a lot of unneeded emotional, financial, and physical stress into all of our lives, but I think the thing to do with these trying times is really focus on the things that can be a blessing in disguise like me getting to be able to quarantine with the love of my life, my little Maddie! 'What blessings have come out of this horrible event for you? #quarantine #stayfocused #stayhealthy #timetorecharge #priorities.' Mel, also 44, is now living in the UK after being reunited with mum Andrea following her split from husband Stephen in 2017, ten years after they exchanged vows. Opening up: Taking to Instagram, Stephen, 44, admitted he was loving being at home with his daughter during the coronavirus crisis Old times: Mel, who is also a mother to daughters Phoenix, 21, from her first marriage to Jimmy Gulzar, and Angel, 13, from a relationship with Eddie Murphy, divorced Stephen in 2017 In December she wrote about the pain of sending her daughter back to Los Angeles after she visited her new home in Leeds for a week, and shared an image of a handwritten letter from Madison on Instagram. The message, written in red crayon, said her mum was 'loving', 'funny' and 'beautiful' and she misses her when they are apart. Alongside the image of the note, Mel reflected on the December week with her daughter and how her 'abusive ex' is keeping them apart. Heart-wrenching: In December Mel wrote about the pain of sending her daughter back to Los Angeles after she visited her new home in Leeds for a week, and shared an image of a handwritten letter from Madison on Instagram Devastated: Alongside the image of the note, Mel reflected on the December week with her daughter and how her 'abusive ex' is keeping them apart She wrote: 'This time last week I walked around winter wonderland with my 3 kids having the best Xmas fun ever, my youngest Madison with me for 7 amazing days,she wrote me this on the plane going back to LA,as I read this over and over again the pain I feel is unbearable. 'I dont no when me or her sisters are gonna see her again, my abuser STILL manages to abuse me threw the courts and on a daily basis threw a court appointedemail that allows him access to me for him to say whenever whatever he wants. 'I share this because I no other mothers are going threw exactly the same thing right now, just no your not alone I feel your pain,and I wont stop talking and fighting to get justice for us all and our kids #stopabuse #yournotalone #talktosomeonetoday @womens_aid please be kind to people like me in these situation as you have no idea what me/they are going threw.' [sic] Happy days: Mel with Madison (L) and Angel (R) during Madison's trip to the United Kingdom in November 2019 The upload came after Mel said she's been struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder her marriage broke down in 2016. Angel Mel's 13-year old daughter with Hollywood legend Eddie Murphy also shared a snap of Mel cuddling sister Madison on a train Instagram and wrote: 'No child should be separated from their mother. No child should be separated from their sisters. 'No child should be torn away from family. No child should lie about how they feel. No child should be denied communication to their family consistently.' Mel and Stephen divorced the following year and spent months battling it out in a nasty court fight before finally reaching a settlement. The all-consuming coronavirus story is burying all sorts of bad news, and bad news about the climate crisis is no exception. Research published last Monday described a recent heatwave in Antarctica as unprecedented in the observed record. Last Tuesday, the Trump administration moved to roll back automobile fuel-efficiency standardsa move that the Times described as gutting the federal governments most important climate change policy and the administration cast as its single largest deregulatory initiative. The Environmental Protection Agency is allowing prolific polluters to self-regulate for a to-be-determined period, single-use plastic use is having a moment, and several states have new laws criminalizing protests against fossil-fuel infrastructure, all under the cover of the virus. Emily Atkinwhose newsletter, HEATED, has tracked these developments and othersargued last week that right now is a great time to be evil. Climate journalists are very busy right now. As well as staying vigilant to threats like those above, their beat is intersecting with the coronavirus story in a wide range of different ways; as I wrote recently, the coronavirus is an everything story, and that means its a climate story, too. Some reportersKendra Pierre-Louis, of the Times, and Yessenia Funes, of Earther, for instancehave covered the devastating logistical impact the pandemic could have on efforts to fight the forthcoming wildfire and hurricane seasons; others have noted how the virus has curtailed the Democrats policy primary, and bolstered attacks on climate policy on the other side of the aisle. (Mitch McConnell: Democrats wont let us fund hospitals or save small businesses unless they get to dust off the Green New Deal.) A sudden, worldwide decrease in economic activityincluding air travelhas led to a sharp fall in emissions; for now, at least. In countries from China to South Korea to Italy to the UK, air pollution is way down. Venices canals are clearer (though contrary to some viral stories, no, dolphins have not returned). Related: The Cuomo brothers in prime time The climate and coronavirus stories dont just intersectthey share deep structural similarities. Both are about injustice. (Coronavirus is the great equalizer the same way that climate change is the great equalizer, which is to say: not at all, Jie Jenny Zou, an investigative reporter, tweeted yesterday. Communities of color, lower income households and vulnerable populations are bearing the brunt.) Both are about the importance of data and science, and the catastrophic consequences of ignoring, or distorting, expertise. And both involve huge, unthinkable changes to the routine ways we consume, interact, and live. The coronavirus has plunged the world headfirst into an era of unity, solidarity, and rapid societal change that looks like a compressed version of what climate scientists have been warning us about for decades, Eric Holthaus, a climate journalist with The Correspondent, writes. Its a moment of triage for the entire planet. In recent weeksbetween the rings of the grim pandemic news cyclea debate has taken shape: could our changed way of life end up having positive, long-term consequences? In early March, James Temple, an energy editor at MIT Technology Review, argued that the coronavirus is actually terrible news for the climate fight; emissions, Temple wrote, will rebound, and the economic carnage trailing in the pandemics wake could easily drain money and political will from climate efforts. The point of fighting climate change, Temple argued, is to stop mass suffering and death, which the coronavirus is causing; as Gernot Wagner, an academic at NYU, told him, This is not an analogy for how we want to decrease emissions from climate change. Others, while agreeing on the extent of the present tragedy, have taken a different view. Writing for The Intercept yesterday, Charles Komanoff and Christopher Ketcham argued that while lower emission rates might not be sustained, the current reduction still counts for something; avoided emissions, they wrote, are a permanent balm. (Some analysts in the energy sector think the oil industry may never fully recover from its corona shock.) Writing in the Times, meanwhile, Meehan Crist, of Columbia University, framed the debate differently. Perhaps the real question is not whether the virus is good or bad for climate, or whether rich people will take fewer airplane flights, she wrote, but whether we can create a functioning economy that supports people without threatening life on Earth, including our own. This is a very useful debate to be havingthe urgency of the coronavirus crisis isnt a mandate to ignore all the other crises we face, but rather an opportunity to expand outward, and show news consumers what urgency looks like. Several writers and outlets are addressing such dynamics in their work. Atkin, of HEATED, now has a podcast of the same name, in which she parses the links between the coronavirus and the climate emergency. Grist started a newsletter called Climate in the Time of Coronavirus. The climate writer and campaigner Bill McKibben also has a new climate newsletter, at the New Yorker; so far, its discussed the viruss effect on movement-building, the nature of time, and the centrality of social trust. The list goes on. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Today, CJR is launching a new issue of its print magazine, focused entirely on coverage of the climate crisis. (The Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas, an Australian nonprofit, is partnering on the issue.) We pulled the magazine together before the coronavirus crisis intensified, but were urging you to read it in the light of the pandemic. The coronavirus is a reminder of the looming threat we face from the climate crisis, which will continue even after this terrible pandemic ends. And it, like the coronavirus, will test journalismtest how we apply data and science, how we plan for global, amorphous threats, how we can prod national leaders to focus on catastrophes yet to come, Kyle Pope, CJRs editor and publisher, says. Most of the press has only recently awakened to the climate crisis, just as it was delayed grasping the seriousness of the pandemic. Much of the magazineincluding features by Atkin, E. Tammy Kim, and Eva Hollandis already online, and theres more to come. You can find it all here. In his introductory note to the issue, Pope writes that in journalism, saying what happened yesterday is no longer valuable. The task at hand is to examine events carefully and deeplyto think of a moment not in isolation, but as part of a broader context, he writes. Old forms of storytellingfast, without helping readers draw crucial connectionsare not whats needed to confront the crisis we face. He was talking about coverage of the climate crisis. But his words apply equally well to reporting on the coronavirus. Below, more on the coronavirus: Other notable stories: ICYMI: Why did Matt Drudge turn on Donald Trump? Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman with 'serious injuries' was found dead inside a flat in North London. Metropolitan Police were called to reports of a 'concern for safety' at an unknown address in Plevna Road, Edmonton, at around 6pm today. The London Ambulance Service was also summoned. Upon arrival they found a woman inside a flat with serious injuries. She was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem of the victim will take place in due course, police said. Metropolitan Police said a man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in custody. A crime scene remains in place at Plevna Road. Police said enquiries are ongoing. Authored by Earl J Wilkinson, Executive Director and CEO, International News Media Association on his blog. Reproduced with permission from the author. There has never been a documented incident whereby the COVID-19 virus has been transmitted from a print newspaper, print magazine, print letter, or print package, according to the worlds top doctors and scientists. In recent days, the International News Media Association (INMA) has received a few inquiries about this scientific possibility to which we cited World Health Organization (WHO) guidance on the matter. Yet the unprecedented global pandemic naturally breeds a paranoia about everything we touch, so let me present to you what INMA knows on this subject. This article distills research and guidance from four sources that debunk concerns: World Health Organization (WHO). The Journal of Hospital Infection. National Institute of Allergy and Infection Diseases (NIH). John Innes Centre (MP3). We will augment this research with secondary sources and our own member publisher feedback to conclude that newsprint is a safe surface in the current crisis. ABPs Telegraph in Calcutta, India, produces an advertisement showing the safety measures from production to distribution to street sales being undertaken to ensure print is safe for readers. What scientific research shows Here is what the WHO says about whether its safe to receive a package from an area where COVID-19 as been reported: The likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, travelled, and exposed to different conditions and temperate is also low. Hartford Healthcare put it more bluntly: Dont worry about deliveries to your house. Coronaviruses dont last long on objects. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says it may be possible for a person to get COVID-19 by touching a surface that has the virus on it, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. The WHO and CDC statements sound like a hedging of the unknown fair enough in these times. Yet the fact remains there have been no incidents of transmission on print materials. A study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), UCLA, and Princeton University scientists published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine showed the varying stability of the coronavirus on different surfaces. Across aerosols, plastic, stainless steel, copper, and cardboard, the lowest levels of coronavirus transmission possibilities were via copper because of its atomic makeup and cardboard presumably because of its porous nature. (The Economist has a fantastic graphic illustrating this study.) Emphasising that the virus spreads when transmitted by aerosols, researchers duplicated these droplets and measured how long they stayed infectious on surfaces. The coronavirus lasts longest on smooth, non-porous surfaces. Researchers found the virus was still viable after three days on plastic and stainless steel. Researchers say that is not as ominous as it sounds since the virus strength declines rapidly when exposed to air. Because the virus loses half its potency every 66 minutes, it is only one-eighth as infectious after three hours when it first landed on a surface. Six hours later, viability is only 2% of the original, researchers found. The virus was not viable after 24 hours on cardboard and the good news here, like plastic and stainless steel, is lower and lower potency when exposed to air. For newsprint, which is much more porous than cardboard, virus viability is presumably even shorter. In a March 13 Washington Post article, author Joel Achenbach put last weeks study in human terms: Outside, on an inanimate surface, the virus will gradually lose the ability to be an infectious agent. It may dry out, for example. It can degrade when exposed to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. A person sneezing on a surface may deposit many thousands of virus participles, and some may remain viable for days. Still, the likelihood of a person who comes into contact with the remnants of that sneeze goes down over time, because most infections are the result of a large viral load. Cornell University infectious disease expert Gary Whittaker told The Post it typically takes an army of viruses going in to break through the natural defenses of a human being meaning surface transmission is a low likelihood of transmission. Experts worldwide feel certain surface transmission of the coronavirus through newsprint is highly unlikely. News media companies should be intentional with their response to ease the concerns of readers. In a March 10 interview on BBC Radio Scotland, John Innes Centre virologist George Lomonossoff, who uses molecular biology to understand the assembly and properties of viruses in the United Kingdom, debunked the idea of transmission through newsprint: Newspapers are pretty sterile because of the way they are printed and the process theyve been through. Traditionally, people have eaten fish and chips out of them for that very reason. So all of the ink and the print makes them actually quite sterile. The chances of that are infinitesimal. How publishers are reacting and communicating News publishers are reacting in different ways to concerns expressed or unexpressed about newsprint: Home delivery: On a basic level, they are providing hand sanitizer and wipes to home delivery staff and leaving newspapers outside of buildings. Single-copy distributors: Im hearing stories of publishers providing gloves, masks, and sanitizers to newsstands, distributors, and street sellers ostensibly for the protection of its workers yet I suspect equally to reassure the public when buying print newspapers and magazines. Notices about print processes: The Wall Street Journal put a fixture in its print edition starting this week referencing its paper production process is mostly automated and the risk is low. Dont forget our replica: Out of an abundance of caution, publishers are emphasising their digital replica services for those still worried about newsprint something already being promoted to hotels. Plastic polybagging: One interesting tidbit emanating from this topic is plastic polybagging. While many publishers have been reducing plastic in recent years, plastic may be necessary for good quality home delivery in some markets. Again, there are no examples of plastic carrying the virus. In other words, in addition to the scientific research about porous surfaces and the particular sterility of newsprint, publishers are taking extra steps to ensure print newspapers are touched by no unprotected hands by the time the product reaches the customer. Whats not clear to me is whether its best to proactively communicate to customers this non-transmission via print news. There are a few incidents of publishers sending reassuring communications to readers only to see cancelled print subscriptions as a result. I can only assume that readers had never thought about transmission until the publisher brought it up. Instead, Im hearing publishers developing talking points for when readers ask about print transmission. Conclusion All scientific evidence suggests porous paper surfaces, to which we include newsprint, are safe from the coronavirus: There has never been a reported incident of COVID-19 being transmitted via newsprint. The early scientific research on virus transmission to inanimate surfaces suggests porous surfaces carry the lowest potency for the shortest period of time. Newspapers are even more sterile because of the ink and the printing process they go through. Publishers are protecting customers through health and safety precautions at printing plants, distribution centers, newsstands, and home delivery. We suggest these be talking points distributed to media company staffs as customers inquire. Be careful of elevating these points that might inadvertently create fears where none are warranted by the scientific evidence. Neuroscientists who studied the brain activity of jazz guitarists during improvisations have suggested that creativity prompted from an unfamiliar situation is a "right-brain" activity. A brain-imaging study out of Drexel University's Creativity Research Lab suggests that creativity is driven primarily by the right hemisphere in musicians who are comparatively inexperienced at improvisation. However, musicians who are highly experienced at improvisation rely primarily on their left hemispheres. Recently published in the journal NeuroImage, the study suggests that creativity is a "right-brain ability" when a person deals with an unfamiliar situation but that creativity draws on well-learned, left-hemisphere routines when a person is experienced at the task. This research may contribute to the development of new methods for training people to be creative in their field. For instance, when a person is an expert, his or her performing is produced primarily by relatively unconscious, automatic processes that are difficult for a person to consciously alter, but easy to disrupt in the attempt, as when self-consciousness causes a person to "choke" or falter. The study was led by David Rosen, Ph.D., a recent Drexel doctoral graduate and current co-founder and chief operations officer of Secret Chord Laboratories, a music-technology startup company; and John Kounios, Ph.D., professor of psychology and director of the doctoral program in applied and cognitive brain sciences in Drexel's College of Arts and Sciences. The team recorded high-density electroencephalograms (EEGs) from 32 jazz guitar players, some of whom were highly experienced and others less experienced. For the study, the researchers compared the EEGs recorded during highly rated performances with EEGs recorded during performances that were rated to be less creative. For highly rated performances compared with less-creative performances, there was greater activity in posterior left-hemisphere areas of the brain; for performances with lower ratings compared with those with higher ratings, there was greater activity in right-hemisphere, mostly frontal, areas. The results suggest that highly creative performances are associated with posterior left-hemisphere areas and that less-creative performance is associated with right-hemisphere areas. Some of these musicians who participated were highly experienced, having given many public performances over the decades. Other musicians were much less experienced, having given only a very small number of public performances. When the researchers reanalyzed the EEGs to statistically control for the level of experience of the performers, a very different pattern of results emerged. Virtually all of the brain-activity differences between highly creative and less-creative performances were found in the right hemisphere, mostly in the frontal region. This finding is in line with the team's other research that used electrical stimulation to study how the creative expression is generated in musicians' brains and its study of how experienced and inexperienced jazz musicians reacted to being exhorted to play "even more creatively." The new study reveals the brain areas that support creative musical improvisation for highly experienced musicians and their less-experienced counterparts and addresses the controversial question of the roles of the left and right hemispheres in creativity. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Trump said last week that he hadnt heard about testing in weeks. But right now lets face it tests are being rationed in many parts of the country. Of course, the seriously ill and essential front-line personnel like doctors, nurses and policemen require and deserve to go to the front of the line for testing. But there are hundreds of thousands more people who should have been tested at this point, if more tests were available. Testing them would have vastly changed their behavior, their self-care at home, and (perhaps most important) our understanding of Covid-19, so that when it flares locally we would know how to respond in a more nuanced way, rather than shutting society down. As of this writing I know nearly a dozen people who are presumed Covid. None of them were tested, because they were not sick enough to be admitted to a hospital though all were quite symptomatic. Heres a partial list: Three 20-something roommates in Brooklyn, two with mild symptoms. One sick enough to visit a hospital, short of breath. No tests. All were told, Assume you have it. A tiger at New York's Bronx Zoo has tested positive for coronavirus. It is believed the four-year-old tiger contracted the virus from a caretaker who was asymptomatic at the time. The Malayan tiger named Nadia along with her sister Azul, two Amur tigers and three African lions all developed dry coughs and are expected to fully recover, the Wildlife Conservation Society that runs the city's zoos said in a statement. "We tested the cat out of an abundance of caution and will ensure any knowledge we gain about COVID-19 will contribute to the world's continuing understanding of this novel coronavirus," the statement sent to AFP said. Live blog: Coronavirus updates and breaking news from Australia Nadia the tiger (pictured) has contracted coronavirus. Source: AFP "Though they have experienced some decrease in appetite, the cats at the Bronx Zoo are otherwise doing well under veterinary care and are bright, alert, and interactive with their keepers," the statement continued. "It is not known how this disease will develop in big cats since different species can react differently to novel infections, but we will continue to monitor them closely and anticipate full recoveries." All four of the zoos and the aquarium in New York, whose virus death toll has topped 4,000, have been closed since March 16. The zoo emphasised that there is "no evidence that animals play a role in the transmission of COVID-19 to people other than the initial event in the Wuhan market, and no evidence that any person has been infected with COVID-19 in the US by animals, including by pet dogs or cats." Chinese disease control officials had identified wild animals sold in a Wuhan market as the source of the coronavirus pandemic that has infected well over one million people worldwide. An ambulance goes inside the Bronx Zoo as the outbreak of the coronavirus disease continues in the Bronx borough. Source: Reuters According to the US Department of Agriculture website there had "not been reports of pets or other animals" in the United States falling ill with coronavirus prior to news of the tiger Nadia. Leading experts in Australia previously told Yahoo News Australia there is no risk from contracting the virus from your pets or passing it on to them. Story continues However the US Department of Agriculture says on its website that people sick with COVID-19 should limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus. In late March a pet cat was discovered infected with the novel coronavirus in Belgium, following similar cases in Hong Kong where two dogs tested positive for COVID-19. All of those animals are believed to have contracted the virus from the people they live with. The Bronx zoo said preventative measures were in place for caretakers as well as all cats in the city's zoos. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. WATERFRONT UNION: WELL FIGHT LAY-OFFS! A massive lay-off of waterfront workers is anticipated by the union movement as the employer, Patrick Stevedores, plans to replace its unionised workforce with non-union labour trained at Webb Dock in Melbourne. CFMEU and MUA proudly united against Patrick's Scabadores. A young non-union wharf trainee blew the whistle on Patricks plans. He said that trainees were informed that Patrick planned to sack its Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Fremantle workers. There have also been reports of Chubb Security recruiting staff to manage a lockout of wharfies in the Port of Brisbane. Chubb was the company used on Webb Dock when Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) members were locked out there. The ACTU co-ordinated a meeting of unions last Friday to discuss ways of providing financial assistance if the mass sackings take place. This is arguably the most concerning dispute that the union has been confronted with in its history, Robert Coombs, MUA NSW Central Branch Secretary, told The Guardian. Its the first time that there has been an organised force out there with the will and massive political support prepared to challenge the coverage rights of the Maritime Union and also install non-union labour into Australias waterfront, Robert Coombs said. The Prime Minister John Howard and Queensland Premier Rob Borbidge have both given their support to the National Farmers Federation and Patricks in their war against the MUA. Borbidge met with the employers last Sunday night to discuss how his government could assist in defeating the MUA. BRISBANE The National Farmers Federation has said it wants to expand its stevedoring operations to Brisbane and has sought assurances from the Queensland Industrial Relations Minister that he would assist in providing police protection of its non-union labour force and make dock space available. The NFF is also looking to buy tug boats, giving it its own fleet of non-union tugs to ensure it can operate. John Coombs, National Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), said the union was prepared to stage a national strike of its members, affecting all stevedore companies, if Patrick sacked its entire unionised workforce. Mass sackings would bring the dispute with Patrick and the Federal Government to a head. The outcome would depend on the strength of the MUA, the Australian trade union movement as a whole and international support. National action by the MUA in defence of sacked members could bring the union and striking members up against the full force of the Workplace Relations Act, with employers and third parties suing them for millions of dollars. The Australian Workers Union announced last week that it would recommend a national strike of oil refinery workers if Patrick sacked waterfront workers. The Federal Government and its competition watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, responded with a threat of legal action and heavy fines under the secondary boycott provisions in the Trades Practices Act. The ACTU and MUA may, however, continue to confine industrial action to the waterfront. ACTIONS CONTINUE The MUA met last Friday with Patrick in an attempt to make progress with the EBA for Patrick workers at its four major ports, Fremantle, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. Robert Coombs said those discussions werent very fruitful. The union is seeking to preserve a number of existing award conditions in EBAs when the award is stripped back to twenty allowable matters as required by the Workplace Relations Act. Patricks Brisbane workers went on a four-day strike last Friday over the companys lack of commitment to EBA negotiations but decided to return on Monday, a day early. Wharfies at Patricks Port Botany terminal in Sydney returned to work last Tuesday after a seven-day strike. They were due to commence another seven-day strike on Tuesday this week. POLICE ON WHARVES In a separate dispute at Port Botany, police took over wharfies jobs after they refused to load a shipment of nuclear waste at P&O Ports CTAL terminal because of safety concerns and a lack of consultation. Not only were the workers given little warning that they would be handling nuclear waste, but when they refused, the company sought an order from the Industrial Relations Commission for them to load it. MUA Assistant National Secretary, Vic Slater said, We were given little warning of what was happening. It was all at short notice, under the cover of darkness, presumably to avoid protests by environmental groups. Mr Slater said, Instead of sitting down and alleviating the workers fears over safety and environmental factors, management went to the Industrial Relations Commission, ordering our members to work the vessel. When the delegate on the job and the portainer crane operator refused to load the containers, the company threatened them with dismissal. At this point all labour walked off the job, said Mr Slater. The company called in the police who helped load the vessel. This article appeared in The Workers Weekly Guardian April, 1998. The Punjab cabinet has urged the Centre to provide insurance cover to government staff engaged in the fight against the coronavirus in bid to boost their morale. An official spokesperson said the cabinet in a meeting on April 4 mooted a proposal to the central government to provide insurance cover to the employees of the departments of police, revenue, local government, rural development and panchayats, food and civil supplies, and women and child development, who are working in difficult circumstances. The cabinet reiterated that the insurance cover to these employees will motivate them to support the state governments endeavour to combat the pandemic with dedication. They will increase burden on future generations As the April 15 general election draws near, candidates from the rival political parties are rushing to put forward campaign pledges to woo voters. Unfortunately, however, populist election promises are palpable more than ever in this year's election. According to an analysis by the Hankook Ilbo, a sister paper of The Korea Times, regional development projects, including the construction of roads and railways, promised by candidates from the country's two biggest parties the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition United Future Party (UFP) in their campaigns would cost 103 trillion won in total. This is about 20 percent of the country's budget (512 trillion won) for this year. The problem is that many campaign pledges lack any economic feasibility. In most cases, candidates do not present plans on how to finance these projects they are just making hollow pledges to attract attention from more voters. For instance, the UFP has pledged to build a third subway line in Incheon, which would cost up to 1.7 trillion won. However, the project has already been declared economically unfeasible the cost-to-benefits ratio was only 0.29 in the Incheon Metropolitan Government's own feasibility study. The cost-to-benefits ratio for a road or railway project in Seoul and the greater capital area should be above 1 to be eligible for state financing. In addition, both the DPK and the UFP have promised to build a highway between Jeonju and Daegu, which could cost up to 4.8 trillion won. However, the Korea Development Institute (KDI) concluded in its 2018 cost-to-benefits analysis that the ratio for a crucial section of the envisioned highway, linking Muju to Daegu, was only 0.23. The KDI also temporarily concluded that extending the Shinbundang Line from Yongsan to Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, was not economically viable, but this project was promised by both the DPK's Lee Nak-yon and the UFP's Hwang Kyo-ahn, who are contending for a seat in Jongno-gu, Seoul. It is not hard to imagine why the parties and candidates are presenting unfeasible projects as campaign pledges. But they deserve criticism for making hollow promises only to win without considering the burden on future generations. This tendency is more visible in constituencies in provincial areas. Last year, the government revised its feasibility study protocols for national projects, making it easier to start public works in provincial areas by relaxing evaluation standards on the economic viability of railway and road construction projects. For voters, it is important to review the feasibility of election pledges thoroughly instead of being swayed by these sugar-coated promises. They may look sweet but are ultimately poisonous. Certainly, the economically unviable projects, if implemented, will increase the financial burden on present and future generations. If youve eaten at Gado Gado, the modern Indonesian restaurant in Northeast Portlands Hollywood District, you might have noticed a dish or two sporting the Oma moniker. Those dishes Omas aromatic rice, Omas beef rendang typically come straight from the source: The recipe box of chef Thomas Pisha-Dufflys 93-year-old Oma, or grandmother, who was born in Indonesia and lived in Singapore, Malaysia and Holland before emigrating to the United States. Now, inspired by that same Oma, Thomas and wife, Mariah Pisha-Duffly, are going back to their pop-up roots, launching a new takeout-focused restaurant concept, Omas Takeaway, from within the old Gado Gado, which went on pause nearly two weeks ago. Instead of elaborate salads and curries better suited for a full-service restaurant, the Pisha-Dufflys will lean into their Asian stoner food reputation, serving chile mayo-drenched popcorn shrimp, dan dan noodles with blood sausage gravy and KFC-inspired famous bowls for delivery or parking lot pickup, starting at 4:20 p.m. daily (get it?). One of the things that speaks to us about Toms grandmother right now is her scrappiness and tenacity, says Mariah Pisha-Duffly. She moved to this country with nothing and had a million interesting businesses through the years -- she was a cake decorator, she had a tropical pet store in her garage. In the days immediately following Gov. Kate Browns ban on on-premises dining across the state, the Pisha-Dufflys did what many Oregon restaurant owners tried to do, trying to force Gado Gado into a to-go box. It wasnt working. Those first couple of days we were just doing more or less the same menu that we had planned for in-house dining, just doing it to-go, Thomas Pisha-Duffly said. And then a couple of days after that, we had this idea to do a Gado Gado famous bowl, with fried chicken, mashed potatoes, coconut cream corn, balinese sausage gravy, crispies and cheese. The Pisha-Dufflys, who have an infant daughter at home, have spent the past few weeks catching up on some of the new Portland restaurants they didnt have time to visit while opening a popular new restaurant of their own. They grabbed lasagna to-go from chef Karl Holl at Park Avenue Fine Wines and hit up Portlands other new Indonesian restaurant, the homestyle Wajan, for the first time (and two more times after that for good measure). They tinkered with offering something similar a full family meal kits along the lines of other Portland restaurants Bar King or Bullard, perhaps. But the famous bowl, a comforting high-low mashup that they probably wouldnt typically serve at the restaurant, just felt right for the times. The Pisha-Dufflys plan to keep the Omas Takeaway menu small, fun and tight, with everything from house-made noodles to cheeseburgers rotating in each week. To kick things off, executive sous chef Ian Schoening who also came up with the famous bowl idea suggested doing bang bang shrimp, the popcorn shrimp tossed in sweet-chile mayo from Floridas Bonefish Grill and has been picked up by big national chains including the Cheesecake Factory. It will be served in a three-part to-go container with butter crab rice and a papaya slaw relish. Those shrimp will be joined by a dan dan-style wheat noodles with blood sausage gravy and sichuan chile oil with fried green beans and preserved vegetables. The parking lot at Gado Gado, 1801 N.E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd.Courtesy of Gado Gado Alongside those two mains, Omas Takeaway will serve a handful of sides, including Gado Gados dumplings, potato fritters with a truffle mushroom dust and chivy ranch sauce, a New England/Indonesian corn fritter mashup with cream cheese and mayo reminiscent of crab rangoon and flaming hot chicharrons. Beer and wine are also available to go. Mariah Pisha-Duffly plans to set up a tent in Gado Gados parking lot with plants, tchotchkes and music for contact-less pickups. Beer and wine will also be available to go. We understand wanting delivery, because people are trying to stay home, but there is something nice about pickup, because its the closest we can get to hospitality right now, Mariah Pisha-Duffly says. You might not get to hangout with a server, but you still get a touch of our brand. Omas Takeaway will be available via Caviar or online at gadogadopdx.com for parking lot pickup at 1801 N.E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd., starting on Thursday, April 9. -- Michael Russell, mrussell@oregonian.com, @tdmrussell Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. In the thick of Coronavirus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday apprised about his telephonic discussion with his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison. This comes as Australia now has over 3,400 active COVID-19 infections and 39 deaths in addition to 95 critical cases. Meanwhile, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in India stands at 3,577 with 83 deaths. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi stated that the two leaders agreed to cooperate against Coronavirus and further stated that PM Morrison assured the well being Indian community in Australia. Spoke on phone to PM @ScottMorrisonMP of Australia. We agreed to cooperate against COVID-19, including through collaborative research. PM Morrison assured me about well-being of the vibrant Indian community, including students, in Australia. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 6, 2020 READ: Australia launches investigation into docking, disembarking of Ruby Princess cruise ship PM Modi holds separate talks with Trump, Brazilian Prez, Spanish PM Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held a detailed discussion on the coronavirus crisis on Saturday and resolved to deploy the full strength of the Indo-US partnership to fight the global pandemic. Modi also had separate telephonic conversations with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon, during which the leaders deliberated upon the situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic. "We had a good discussion and agreed to deploy the full strength of the India-US partnership to fight Covid-19," Modi wrote on Twitter on his "extensive" telephonic conversation with Trump. READ: COVID-19: Scotland's CMO resign after caught violating lockdown Coronavirus outbreak The COVID-19 has claimed more than 10,000 lives across the world and has infected nearly 2,45,000 people globally since it first broke out in December 2019. China is the most affected country in the world as experts believe that the virus originated from a seafood market in Wuhan city, the epicentre of the disease, where animals were reportedly being traded illegally. Italy, Iran and Spain are the most affected countries outside mainland China, where, as of March 17 the combined death toll stands at 5,520. Italy has now surpassed China to record the most number of deaths in the world due to the virus outbreak. READ: Australia urges Ruby Princess passengers to self isolate after 4 test positive for virus READ: Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Centre cuts MPs' salaries by 30%; India's total cases at 4067 Irish hospitals and healthcare facilities have been warned they are now being targeted by ruthless international cyber criminals seeking to exploit the Covid-19 crisis. Cork-based cyber protection firm Smarttech247 said hospitals across Ireland and Europe now face an unprecedented threat from gangs seeking to cash in on the pandemic. Interpol, in a formal warning to Ireland and other European countries, said hospitals and healthcare agencies at the forefront of the global response to the Covid-19 outbreak have become targets of ransomware attacks designed to lock them out of their critical systems in an attempt to extort payments. Global cyber gangs, having initially ignored the pandemic, are now seeking to exploit the Covid-19 crisis for profit. Interpol said the threat was very serious - and could have devastating consequences if key acute hospitals are effectively locked out of their core IT systems. Smarttech247 said it had noted an alarming increase in "brute force" attacks aimed at overpowering IT security systems. "The issuing of a so-called Purple Notice by Interpol to all 194 of its member countries shows how serious the threat has become," Smarttech247 general manager Raluca Saceanu said. "Cyber criminals had previously been reluctant to target medical institutions during the crisis. However, these are often ruthless individuals driven by profit at any cost. "Our security operations centres have noted a significant spike in so-called 'brute force' attacks, as well as ransomware attempts in the past three weeks. "Hospitals here need to be sure that their systems have been fully updated and patched against any threats that have been identified. "We are willing to join the national effort to support hospitals and ensure they are protected at no extra cost during this critical time." BT's chief executive has promised not to fire or furlough any of his staff for the next three months and is even offering them a 1.5 per cent pay rise. Philip Jansen wrote a letter to all staff today reassuring them that none would be let go or put on furlough while the country is still on lockdown. He also promised to give all of his salary, which is around 1.1million-a-year, for six months to NHS charities and small businesses, reports The Times. Mr Jansen, 53, was the first FTSE 100 boss to be diagnosed with coronavirus, testing positive on March 12. He became one of the richest CEOs in the country last year, landing a 43million windfall from the 32billion merger between his old firm WorldPay and its rival Vivantiv. BT's chief executive Philip Jansen, 53, (pictured) has promised not to fire or furlough any of his staff for the next three months and is even offering them a 1.5 per cent pay rise He said in a letter to staff today: 'For the foreseeable future - at least the next three months - no BT, Openreach, EE or Plusnet colleague will lose their job as a result of the changing trading conditions brought about by coronavirus. That's a promise.' 'Secondly, I don't want any of you to worry about whether you'll be paid. 'The commitment I made to all of you at the start of the coronavirus outbreak still holds true: we'll continue to pay all of you, for at least the next three months, whatever the circumstances.' While he promised to increase team members' pay by 1.5 per cent from July 1, managers salaries will be frozen. BT also recommitted to awarding all staff 500 in shares or equivalent, but said recruitment would be put on hold for the time being. Mr Jansen added: 'Our networks, products, services and people, right across the world, have delivered under conditions we could never have imagined. The telecoms giant said it has connected the NHS's new Nightingale hospitals and trying to ensure that isolated patients can keep in touch with friends and family. A BT Openreach worker is pictured carrying out essential maintenance in Chelmsford, Essex, during the UK lockdown on March 31 Mr Jansen added: 'This period requires sacrifices from us all and I want our people to know we are all in this together. 'BT is stepping up, standing by the country in this time of need and standing by our people who are working tirelessly to keep everyone connected, safe and working.' BT's London headquarters had to be deep cleaned after Mr Jansen fell ill early last month. He was forced to self-isolate after testing positive from the virus but was still able to lead the company remotely. He is believed to have made a full recovery. Mr Jansen's multi-million pound windfall came after he left WorldPay, a London-listed payments company, to take over from Gavin Patterson as head of BT. But with huge stakes still in his old firm, he cashed in when it was taken over by its American rival Vivantiv last March. Mr Jansen still holds more than 507,000 shares in WorldPay, meaning he was in line for around 43million based on the takeover price of $112 (85) a share. MailOnline has contacted BT for further comment. SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Governor Newsom said the state has planned for more hospitalizations and is aiming to add 50,000 beds to existing hospitals. About 30,000 of those beds would come from within the hospitals and the state will secure the rest. RELATED: Gov. Gavin Newsom announces "California Health Corps" initiative to expand health care workforce to fight COVID-19 The former Sleep Train Arena is also one of several alternate care sites that will provide care for less sick patients so hospitals can focus resources on those with the most acute needs, Newsom said. Some other sites include the following: Eight federal medical stations operating and being set up across the state, each with a maximum of 250 beds The former Sleep Train Arena, a maximum capacity of 400 beds Fairview Developmental Center (Costa Mesa), a maximum capacity of 520 beds Porterville Developmental Center (Porterville), a maximum capacity of 246 beds San Carlos Hotel (San Carlos), a maximum capacity of 120 beds CPMC - Pacific Campus (San Francisco), a maximum capacity of 291 beds RELATED: Military crews set-up temporary field hospital in Redding Two hospitals have been leased by the state, one in Daly City and another in Los Angeles, and the federal government docked the USNS Mercy in Los Angeles all as surge facilities. More than 2,800 New York Army National Guard and Air National Guard personnel, along with New York Guard volunteers, are on duty supporting a variety of COVID-19 response missions in Albany, Rotterdam, Schenectady and elsewhere throughout the state, according to Lt. Col. Richard Goldenberg, state Division of Military and Naval Affairs spokesman. Six Joint Task Forces are operating in New York City, the Hudson Valley, the Capital Region, Syracuse and Buffalo and on Long Island to support state and local governments, Goldenberg said. An additional Dual Status Command Task Force leads efforts to employ active and National Guard military resources in New York City. The Dual Status Command is also coordinating the expansion of the Jacob Javits Center-FEMA field hospital to care for COVID-19 patients. This follows the recommendation by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and approval by President Donald Trump to modify the care plan at Javits as the number of COVID-19 patients increases throughout New York City. Army medical personnel from the 9th and 531st Hospital Centers, part of the 44th Medical Brigade, staff the center for patient treatment. The Guard also continues support at drive-through testing sites at the University at Stony Brook, Jones Beach State Park, Staten Island, Glen Island State Park in Westchester County, the Anthony Wayne Service area in Rockland County, Lehman College, and the Bay Plaza Mall in the Bronx. More than 27,000 people have received testing at these sites since they first opened, Goldenberg said. National Guard personnel are also distributing food in Albany, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and New Rochelle. Twenty-five Guard soldiers are helping the Albany County food mission, based at Times Union Center in Albany. The food was donated by the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York to be distributed to quarantined families in Albany County. National Guard members have helped distribute more than 150,000 meals to New Yorkers, Goldenberg said. One hundred New York Army National Guard soldiers and airmen, including many from Capital Region communities, have been staffing call centers in Rotterdam, Schenectady and Brooklyn, according to Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Ryan Campbell. They are answering questions and addressing concerns about COVID-19. The New York state coronavirus hotline number is 1-800-364-3065. Soldiers and airmen are also conducting logistics missions in support of the state response, including warehousing and commodity distribution at sites in the Hudson Valley, the Capital Region, and Mohawk Valley. They also are helping with hand sanitizer warehousing and deliveries across the lower Hudson Valley. The New York National Guard continues to provide logistics support to the office of the chief medical examiner of New York City. National Guard personnel are working with members of the medical examiner's office to assist in the dignified removal of human remains when required. Soldiers are also on call to assist state Department of Health officials at Wadsworth Laboratory in Albany for packaging COVID-19 test kits. They assembled 22,250 kits so far. One of the original call centers at Hawthorne, Westchester County, collapsed from a high volume of calls, Campbell said. Soldiers assigned to the 53rd Troop Command, operating out of Camp Smith Training Site, were the first ones tasked with a call center mission. The state set up a call center in the Hudson Valley Transportation Center in Hawthorne beginning on March 11. When that call center collapsed from an overload of calls, the soldiers moved to the center in Rotterdam. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The call centers have seen a vast fluctuation in daily calls as new information is put out by political leaders, said Army 1st Lt. Amanda Hart, the officer in charge of the Rotterdam call center. "The fluctuation is usually somewhere between 5,000 to the highest, which was approximately 28,000," Hart said. "It is a grand total to date of approximately 260,000 calls in the past couple weeks." "COVID-19 is a unique situation that directly threatens our communities," said Army 1st Lt. Michel Flickinger, the officer in charge of the Schenectady call center. "Although staffing a call center is not what many of us foresaw when we joined the National Guard, it is a way for us to assist our fellow citizens and connect them with the information they need." Approximately 590 other people, mostly state employees, are also working in call centers or handle calls from home. Before the Guardsmen showed up, wait times on hold to speak to someone at the call centers was more than an hour, explained Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Michael Alvarez, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Rotterdam call center. With the addition of the Guard soldiers and airmen into the call centers, average wait time has dropped to around 6 minutes and lowered the stress of the work environment, Hart added. News of your soldiers and units can be sent to Duty Calls, Terry Brown, Times Union, Box 15000, Albany, NY 12212 or brownt@timesunion.com. Wuhan Flu siege of the U.S. By Robert T. Smith Biological warfare enlists virus, microbes, or other biological agents to decimate a population and spread terror as lives are taken by an unseen enemy. An obvious concern with the Wuhan flu is that terrorists or other State actors are watching the havoc that this virus has caused around the world and especially in the U.S. In a recent briefing, President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that he considered the U.S. to be on a wartime footing, and he is a wartime President. Are we at war against the Wuhan flu or its progenitor? Various forms of biological warfare have been practiced over the course of history. As discussed in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention article: In 1343 the Mongols besieged Caffa and the Italian enclave at Tana, following a brawl between Italians and Muslims in Tana. The Italian merchants in Tana fled to Caffa. The siege of Caffa lasted until February 1344, when it was lifted after an Italian relief force killed 15,000 Mongol troops and destroyed their siege machines. As recorded during this time, diseased cadavers were hurled into the city that could easily have transmitted plague, as defenders handled the cadavers during disposal. Contact with infected material was a known mechanism of transmission. The use of smallpox contaminated blankets by early settlers in America against the natives was occasionally reported to have occurred. This and other historical accounts of the use of biological weapons around the world have been recorded, although their use may have been incidental or accidental. Many countries continue to have biological weapons programs and instances of biological agent use have occurred, as examples. In 1985, Iraq began an offensive biological weapons program producing anthrax, botulinum toxin, and aflatoxin. Following the Persian Gulf War, Iraq disclosed that it had bombs, Scud missiles, 122-mm rockets, and artillery shells armed with botulinum toxin, anthrax, and aflatoxin. They also had spray tanks fitted to aircraft that could distribute agents over a specific target. In September and October of 1984, 751 people were intentionally infected with Salmonella, an agent that causes food poisoning, when followers of the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh contaminated restaurant salad bars in Oregon. In 1994, a Japanese sect of the Aum Shinrikyo cult attempted an aerosolized (sprayed into the air) release of anthrax from the tops of buildings in Tokyo. In 1995, two members of a Minnesota militia group were convicted of possession of ricin, which they had produced themselves for use in retaliation against local government officials. In 1996, an Ohio man attempted to obtain bubonic plague cultures through the mail. In 2001, anthrax was delivered by mail to U.S. media and government offices. There were five deaths as a result. The U.S. economy and military are the dominant forces around the globe and a likely target. How relatively easy and cheap this Wuhan flu has damaged the U.S. economy and currently some parts of the U.S. military (aircraft carrier US Theodore Roosevelt). Imagine a worse biological weapon or multiple waves of biological weapons and other means of attacking our country and it is not hard to see that this could be an existential crisis that nefarious actors could use as an opportunity to severely diminish the U.S. China has an overabundance of people and has demonstrated time and again their disregard for individual life, as is typical of communist regimes. Their people are not assets to the communist Chinese regime, mostly liabilities or tools to achieve their goals. It is not hard to imagine that just as the Japanese felt their economic survival was at stake by the U.S. oil embargo as the prelude to Pearl Harbor, so too has the U.S. economic and military policies reduced the Chinese economy, contained their global expansion aspirations, and consequently placed their communist ruling party in peril, or at best tenuous circumstances. Did the Wuhan flu start accidentally? Once the Wuhan flu had started, when did they know the virus was so communicable and was the global travel dispersion of infected Chinese accidental, accomplished with tacit understanding, or on purpose? Are we again at war without knowing, similarly as when al-Qaeda declared war on the U.S. in the 1990s that culminated with 9-11? Is the U.S. currently under siege through a biological attack by the Chinese / Wuhan flu? Robert T. Smith is an environmental scientist who spends his days enjoying life and the pursuit of happiness with his family. He confesses to cling to his liberty, guns and religion, with antipathy toward the arrogant ruling elites throughout the country. Home An 18-year-old boy from Iowa who never thought he would get coronavirus 'in a million years', has said he felt like he was 'hit by a truck' and has warned other young people 'it can happen to anyone'. Dimitri Mitchell started showing symptoms of COVID-19 on March 13, when he developed a high fever of 105 degrees and a cough. 'I was bedridden all day and I felt totally drained ... my eyes wouldn't stop watering, I had the worst headache I've ever experienced and my cough was just getting worse and worse,' Mitchell told Good Morning America. 'It's the most sick I've ever been and I told my mom I felt like I was hit by a truck.' Mitchell added: 'Each time you would cough, it hurts, and you have that burning sensation.' In Iowa, there were at least 869 cases of coronavirus and 22 deaths as of Monday morning. Iowa boy Dimitri Mitchell, 18, tested positive for the novel coronavirus on March 17 'I was bedridden all day and I felt totally drained ... my eyes wouldn't stop watering, I had the worst headache I've ever experienced' he told GMA it began His mother Irena Yoder took him to the emergency room where she works as a lab technician and he was tested for strep, the flu and pneumonia. All of the results returned negative. He was also given a steroid shot as treatment. Yoder explained that due to his age, the boy of Tiffin didn't qualify to have a coronavirus test, according to Iowa Department of Public Health and State Hygienic Lab criteria. 'I was really concerned that it was coronavirus,' Yoder told GMA. 'He [wasn't] meeting criteria to have this test done on him. They said, "He's under 60 years old and he will find his body is strong and he will fight this." So, they sent us home.' Yoder stayed home with her son a student at community college but that night his symptoms worsened. She said she had an inkling he was sick with coronavirus. 'He was sweating with a fever, his eyes were so swollen,' Yoder said. 'He was breathing hard. He could barely walk. He could barely speak. He was like, "Mom what do I have?"' 'I was trying to cheer him up saying, "It's going to be OK." Deep inside, I was so worried.' The mother added: 'I would go afterwards and cry in my bedroom or just listen behind his door and in our hallway, how well hes doing, but I would never show to him I was so worried. I wanted to keep myself positive.' He added he was 105 degrees and 'my cough was just getting worse and worse'. He was sent home from hospital twice before he was tested He initially wasn't tested because he was under the age of 60 but after a call to 211, an operator recommended he be tested The student is a part-time grocery store clerk and thinks he may have contracted the virus at work The mother took him back to the ER the following day on March 16. They returned to hospital a second time. 'The doctor told us because I didnt have any problems breathing, the reason they were sending us home was because they didnt want me to potentially spread the virus to other people,' Mitchell explained to KCRG. He was only tested after a recommendation from the Iowa Department of Health's 211 hotline and the results for COVID-19 were positive. Although initial advice positioned the virus as something to particularly watch out for in older people, more cases around the world have shown young people getting seriously ill and dying. About 29 percent of cases are in people aged 20 to 44, according to the CDC and Mitchell's age group, people aged 19 and under, represent five percent of cases. 'Every 10 to 15 mins I was checking on him because he was breathing so hard and I was so scared,' Yoder said. 'I never thought my son would get it. He was perfectly healthy, playing sports. So what we'll learn [is] it can hit any age of people. It doesn't ask permission.' At the time of his GMA interview, Mitchell had been without a fever for a week and was recovering. He left a warning for other people his age to take the coronavirus seriously and stick to social distancing guidelines. The part-time grocery store clerk believes he may have contracted it at work, although his mother said he was extra careful and constantly washing his hands. 'Even when I heard that it spread to my home state, I still never thought that I would get it -- never in a million years,' Mitchell said on a video call. 'Being 18 and hearing about all the headlines saying it only affects older people, it gave me even more false security I guess. I thought I could go out and be perfectly fine. 'I think no matter what your age is regardless if you have health conditions or not, make sure you follow the social distancing guidelines. Don't treat it like you're immune and you can't get affected.' Mitchell was cleared from quarantine this Saturday and went for a walk for the first time in two weeks. Yoder has started to display symptoms but is unable to get a test. Mitchell said he didn't think he was was at risk and even his mother was surprised he got ill, they said in a video chat Irena Yoder is a lab technician at the hospital where the boy was treated and says she is currently displaying coronavirus symptoms but cannot get a test Above shows the trend of coronavirus cases per day in the US from mid-March until April CDC: HOW TO SLOW THE CORONAVIRUS SPREAD Advertisement Cramped tooth and claw in vast cages, hundreds of dogs pass the day sleeping, fighting, or waiting to be fed at a controversial Thai shelter that does not believe in adoptions and blames a drop in donations on the coronavirus. Launched in 2013, "Aunt Ju's Shelter for Stray Dogs" has long relied on donors to feed more than 2,000 stray canines and 300 cats living under their care. But there has been a massive decrease in donations in recent months, and they have taken to Facebook to appeal to animal lovers with photos of dogs in their crowded facilities. "It may be... due to the COVID-19 outbreak that has made people donate less," caretaker Yutima Preechasuchart told AFP, during a recent visit to one of its sites in Pathumthani province, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) from central Bangkok. Hundreds of dogs are packed into humid rooms behind a rusted fence, where playful fights and territorial clashes occur as the shelter's employees attempt to clean the concrete floors with a hose. Some suffer from gashes and are kept in small cages, where the staff redress their wounds with gauze. The dogs go through more than 60 bags of food daily, costing between 20-30,000 baht a day ($600-$910), Yutima says, but current donations only gets them 30 bags a week. She defended her shelter's policy of refusing to adopt them out. "We cannot be certain that (the owners) will love them as much as we do," she says, and declined to elaborate on what plans her organisation has if they were to completely run out of food. A non-profit based in Phuket said the conditions at Aunt Ju's were "ridiculously overcrowded" and questioned how hygienic the site can be with so many dogs crammed into a single, indoor room. "If you don?t believe in an adoption program... then that's just hoarding," said Soi Dog Foundation's operations director Sam McElroy. The foundation -- which found homes for more than 900 animals last year -- is itself in "uncharted waters", says McElroy, due to the province-wide lockdown to curb the spread of the virus. Thailand currently has 2,220 cases of coronavirus infections, including 26 deaths. A controversial kennel known as Auntie Ju's Shelter for Stray Dogs on the outskirts of Bangkok says donations of food and money have dramatically decreased since the outbreak of coronavirus Fights frequently erupt between the animals at Auntie Ju's shelter outside Bangkok A caretaker at the dog shelter says they refuse to let them be adopted because they worry the animals won't be loved New arrivals are kept in cages until they get used to conditions at Auntie Ju's shelter A dog looks out from a cage at Auntie Ju's shelter near Bangkok Critics of Auntie Ju's shelter say the animals are kept in cramped and unhygienic conditions China on Monday reported 39 new cases of the coronavirus out of which 38 have been imported from overseas and one more death as the country continues to limp back to life since the outbreak first began in December. As of Monday China has 81, 708 cases of the novel coronavirus, 3, 331 deaths and 693 imported cases. On Saturday, the entire Chinese mainland stood in silence for three minutes on Saturday to pay tribute to those who lost their lives after getting infected by the novel coronavirus. President Xi Jinping, as well as other Chinese leaders, attended the national mourning for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) victims. People all over the country stood in silence while horns of cars, trains, and air defence alarms were turned off simultaneously. The people also had white flowers pinned to the chest and paid silent tribute in front of the national flag. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shirley Douglas, the Canadian activist and actress who was mother to actor Kiefer Sutherland, has died aged 86. Sutherland announced his mothers death on Twitter, saying she succumbed to complications surrounding pneumonia. He said it was not related Covid-19. My mother was an extraordinary woman who led an extraordinary life, said Sutherland. Sadly she had been battling for her health for quite some time and we, as a family, knew this day was coming. A native of Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Douglas worked with directors including Stanley Kubrick on Lolita and David Cronenberg on Dead Ringers, and she won a Gemini Award for her performance in the 1999 TV film Shadow Lake. She tirelessly supported a variety of causes throughout her life, including the civil rights movement, the Black Panthers and the fight to save Canadas public health care, pioneered by her politician father. In 1965, Douglas married Canadian actor Donald Sutherland, with whom she had two children before they divorced twins Rachel, a production manager, and Kiefer, who became a film and TV star in his own right. Douglas had another son, Thomas, from a previous marriage. Born on April 2, 1934, Douglas showed an early interest in the arts as well as politics as she journeyed on the campaign trail with her father, who became premier of Saskatchewan, a national leader in the New Democratic Party and a socialist icon. She attended the Banff School of Fine Arts and went on to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in England, where she acted in theatre and TV and participated in anti-nuclear marches. In the 60s and 70s, while living in California, Douglas campaigned against the Vietnam War and protested for various causes. Story continues She helped to establish a fundraising group called Friends of the Black Panthers. Her support for the group brought controversy she was refused a US work permit and charged in 1969 with conspiracy to possess unregistered explosives. The courts eventually dismissed the case and exonerated her. She also was a co-founder of the first chapter in Canada of the Performing Artists for Nuclear Disarmament. Douglas, who had lived in Toronto since 1977, was nominated for two other Canadian arts Geminis: in 1998 for her leading role in the series Wind At My Back and in 1993 for starring in the film Passage Of The Heart. She was also an Officer of the Order of Canada, one of the countrys highest honours, and an inductee into Canadas Walk of Fame. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said hospitals around the state are days away from running out of face shields and other protective gear for health care workers treating a surging number of COVID-19 patients. Whitmer indicated the state is having an easier time acquiring resources but said Michigans hospitals are running dangerously low on disposable personal protection equipment. She named three Southwest Michigan health care systems -- Beaumont Health, Henry Ford Health System and the Detroit Medical Center -- that will exhaust their supply of N95 respirator masks, face shields and surgical gowns in the next week. Whitmer said recent shipments from FEMA brought 400 ventilators, 1.1 million surgical masks, 232,000 face shields and 2 million gloves to Michigan. An additional federal shipment will deliver 1 million more N95 masks to Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties this week, she said. I think its important to note that while these timelines are very serious, they are a massive improvement from where we were just a week ago when we were living more like day-to-day," Whitmer said. "I highlight them because we must continue to do more. The state of Michigan made 54 requests to FEMA for various supplies since March 20, according to a list shared with MLive by the Department of Health and Human Services. State officials asked for 25,000 ventilators and several million gloves, masks, and other protective equipment. A request for 1,000 ventilators on April 3 was tagged urgent by MDHHS. A shipment of 300 ventilators was received on April 4, according to the state. Shortly before Whitmers press conference, the White House released an accounting of supplies distributed to Michigan as of April 2. The list included 740,000 surgical masks, 121,700 surgical gowns and 3,800 coveralls, as well as the other items Whitmer shared. The governor has pressed President Donald Trump to send Michigan more personal protection equipment as federal officials tag the state as a COVID-19 hot spot. Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, listed Detroit among the hardest hit cities in a press conference Sunday. Whitmers comments attracted the presidents ire, though Whitmer said in recent interviews that she isnt trying to bring politics into the situation. She thanked the federal government for helping to establish an emergency field hospital at TCF Center in Detroit, which should begin accepting patients by Friday. Whitmer said shes had regular communication with FEMA and Vice President Mike Pence. She spoke with Trump by phone on March 31. Im working incredibly well with all of our counterparts at the national level, and the bipartisan group of Congressional delegation that we have has been fantastic, Whitmer said. Michigan Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said availability to COVID-19 tests is improving. Michigan completed 9,000 tests by March 25, which increased to 40,000 tests completed 10 days later on April 4. There are 15 laboratories running COVID-19 tests, she said. Michigan only had one state-run lab available when an emergency was declared in March. An inventory of PPE available statewide shows Michigan hospitals have nearly 20 million gloves, as of Sunday. Half of the glove supply is concentrated in West Michigans emergency health care coalition, instead of the southeast part of the state where a vast majority of COVID-19 patients reside. The states inventory also lists 537,000 respirator masks, 2.1 million surgical masks and 112,404 gowns are available. Hospitals are required to self-report daily data under an order from the state health department but Sundays report only shows a part of the picture. Only 58% of Michigan hospitals participated in the PPE tracking report. Khaldun said the state is working closely with the Michigan Hospital Association to improve reporting. There are 15,718 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 617 deaths in Michigan, as of Sunday, though public health experts expect there are many more cases that have not yet been identified. A vast majority of cases are in Detroit, which accounts for nearly 29% of all cases in Michigan. Khaldun said 1,383 COVID-19 patients are hooked up to the respirator machines as of Monday. Michigan hospitals report there are 1,465 life-saving ventilators still available. The governor said the state secured private contracts to gather additional resources while hospitals accept donations. For example, Whitmer said Ford Motor Co. donated thousands of face shields to Michigan hospitals and sold the state 1 million face shields that will be distributed during the next three weeks. Whitmer teased an upcoming decision when asked whether she will extend her stay-at-home order by reporters Monday. We are not close to the apex yet, we havent hit that yet and until we do I think its absolutely essential that were continuing to be aggressive," Whitmer said. "So I would anticipate an additional order probably in the next week. In the meantime, Whitmer urged residents to continue following the order, which prohibits leaving the home for non-essential reasons. Whitmer and Khaldun also recommended people don homemade masks to protect themselves while in public. We do know that the most effective tool that we have right now, as our hospitals are overwhelmed and we dont have enough PPE, is to slow the spread of the virus," Whitmer said. 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: Monday, April 6: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Conoravirus upends Michigans Class of 2020: This isnt the senior year that anyone wanted' MichMash: Medical supply shortage has businesses stepping up amid coronavirus pandemic Second Michigan legislator confirmed positive for coronavirus By Jacob M. Appel What balance should be struck between treatment for COVID-19 patients and victims of accidents, heart attacks, etc.? As the COVID-19 pandemic worsens in the coming weeks, our health care system will confront increasingly grave ethical challenges. How should we allocate scarce, life-saving devices like ventilators and dialysis machines? Must complex, resource-intense procedures such as organ transplants be postponed in favor of coronavirus care even at the cost of squandered organs and the deaths of potential recipients? What balance should be struck between treatment for COVID-19 patients and victims of accidents, heart attacks, etc.? Much has already been written about the gravity of these hard choices. Far less attention has been paid to the question of who will make them. In ordinary times, patients are generally allowed to determine the course of their own treatment. When patients lose decision-making capacity, such as through dementia or delirium, family members or close friends are authorized to make decisions for them choosing, to the best of their knowledge, what the patient would have wanted. Of course, controversies arise: Patients may express wishes that strike providers as beyond the bounds of reasonable practice. Relatives with joint authority may disagree. Or family members and physicians might all be unsure of the most ethical course of action. Under those circumstances, hospital ethics committees are often called upon for guidance. These committees, consisting of experts drawn from a wide range of fields (e.g. medicine, nursing, social work, the chaplaincy), strive for consensus. A collective approach harnesses a wide range of knowledge and experience while preventing any individual from bearing the sole burden of a life-or-death verdict. On rare occasions, the decision is farmed out to a judge, far removed from the daily life of patient care, to rule based on statute and precedent. When it comes to devastating moral choices, doctors do not have to go it alone. COVID-19 calls for similar collective decision-making. Such an approach is essential for the psychological welfare of our physicians. It will also save lives. Many of the choices required by the current pandemic defy individual resolution. For instance, should a motorcycle crash victim with a paralytic spinal fracture be placed on a life-saving ventilator? Usually, the answer is a clear yes. But that quadriplegic patient will require the ventilator permanently. During a pandemic, that same machine might save the lives of multiple COVID-19 patients. The answer matters. But as important is whether the decision is made on an ad hoc basis by the treating physician or according to a policy that applies universally. In the absence of a rule, a patient might be placed on a ventilator at one hospital and refused ventilation at another under identical circumstances. Surely, that result is neither just nor desirable. Some choices might be rendered more easily on an individual basis, but ought not to be. Of course, doctors should be permitted some discretion in assessing prognosis when determining which COVID-19 patients will receive scarce life support. But if patients who might reasonably survive must be denied life-saving care so that others with better prognoses may live, no single person should bear the burden of making these calls. At present, too much decision-making is being made at the level of the individual institution. For instance, some New York hospitals have shut down their organ transplant programs; others have not. Even more authority still remains with individual physicians. Inevitably, unconscious biases about age, race, disability will shape allocation in undesirable ways, while doctors will suffer for the rest of their lives with the weight of having to played God through triage. It does not have to be this way. New Jersey recently created a bioethics commission to provide doctors with guidance, but swift action and cross-border coordination between states is essential. In addition, the chief medical officers of the major hospital systems in the Tri-State Area still have time to issue a joint policy that addresses these issues. A collective statement could clarify how to prioritize ventilator access between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients, as well as among COVID-19 patients themselves. Then teams of physicians not involved in the care of particular patients older or retired doctors, for instance could review anonymous medical charts in real-time and render decisions according to the joint policy. Such a system would ensure fair criteria for life-saving care. As important, it would remove one weighty moral burden from our front-live providers, freeing them up to spend more time doing what they do best: saving lives. Jacob M. Appel MD JD MPH is director of Ethics Education in Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. His collection of ethical conundrums, Who Says Youre Dead? was published in 2019. 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. 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... Britons stranded abroad will be charged up to 1,000 a head to get seats as a new wave of repatriation flights are announced. Hundreds of thousands of Brits are struggling to get back home due to severe travel restrictions imposed to try and stem the coronavirus pandemic. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office FCO) has revealed details of further flights to bring tourists back from India, Nepal, the Philippines and South Africa. British ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce issued a video message warning that 'there are no plans for further British Government flights'. He said: 'Everyone, please don't miss this opportunity. Something better will not come along. British ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce issued a video message warning that 'there are no plans for further British Government flights' 'We've mobilised our resources to help get you home. We now need you to mobilise yourselves. This is your last chance.' The FCO last week launched a 75 million operation to charter flights from destinations where commercial routes have been severed due to the coronavirus pandemic. However some people have criticised the steep prices to get them back into the country. Stuart Wallace, 56, is currently trapped in South Africa, after visiting his family on March 15, and has slammed the high prices to return home. The IT consultant, who lives in London, received a message today notifying him about the new flights. He told MailOnline: '855 pounds from Cape Town one way is way above what you would normally pay even at peak times, where as the German and Swiss repatriation flights were free! 'So much for the 75million where has that gone then? 'As far as i'm concerned, they can stick it up their back**** and I will chance it for when they open up the SA airways.' Two flights will operate from the Philippines to Heathrow on Tuesday, but tickets cost 1,000 per person. The flights have been chartered by the FCO and are being operated by Philippine Airlines. British Ambassador to Peru tweeted last week about the repatriation flights that have already been to Peru and brought stranded Brits home The first rescue flight from Nepal will operate on Wednesday, with a second on Friday. Tickets will cost 800 per person. Other prices for upcoming rescue flights include 855 from South Africa and 681 from India. Some of the Government's first long-haul coronavirus rescue flights, which brought people home from Peru, cost just 250 per person. The FCO has said the cost of the flights will be shared between passengers and taxpayers. Chartering flights for single journeys is often more expensive than commercial operations because the aircraft are often empty on one of the legs and the deployment of staff is not as efficient. The FCO said on Saturday that only around 1,450 British travellers had flown home on its chartered flights since the scheme was announced on March 30. In contrast, Air France has operated more than 200 flights to repatriate French nationals from 82 countries since March 14. The German government said it has 'actively carried out repatriations in 56 countries', bringing back tens of thousands of German nationals. In the Land of the Rising Sun, the measure affects large centers. Singapore quarantines 20,000 migrants. In Indonesia, there are fears that official estimates cover only 2% of actual infections. Surge in cases in India and Pakistan. Russia and Saudi Arabia postpone meeting for agreement on oil production. Hong Kong (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Japan is close to declaring a state of emergency for coronavirus in large cities such as Tokyo and Osaka. The Japanese press reports that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will announce the decision in the afternoon (local time). The adoption of full quarantine measures is not expected as in China or in some parts of Europe. In the country, confirmed cases are increasing (3600, over 1000 in the capital alone); 85 people died. Yesterday in China there were 39 new cases of infection, nine more than the previous day. All, except one, originated abroad. 78 new asymptomatic patients have been identified in the country. The total cases are 82755, with over 3300 deaths. In the first quarter of the year, 460 thousand Chinese companies closed their doors. Between January and February, the registration of new companies saw a 29% drop compared to the same period in 2019. South Korea yesterday recorded 47 cases of infection: it is the first time since mid-February that it has fallen below the threshold of 50 infected. The confirmed cases are 10284 and 186 deaths. Singapore has quarantined 20,000 foreign workers. Yesterday there were 120 new cases of infection, for a total of 1300 infected; there were 6 deaths. Indonesia, yesterday declared it mandatory to wear a protective mask in outdoor places yesterday. There are 2300 Covid-19 positive cases and an estimated 200 dead. However, there are doubts about the real extent of these numbers. For some observers, the official figures cover only 2% of real cases. India has seen a surge in the infections, which reached 4067, with 109 deaths. According to the Ministry of Health, 30% of cases are linked to an event organized in recent weeks by a Muslim congregation. The southern state of Tamil Nadu was particularly affected (571 infected). The spread of the virus is also accelerating in Pakistan. Now there are over 3 thousand cases with 45 dead. Bangladesh has announced an $ 8 billion stimulus to contain the economic damage caused by the pandemic. In the country there are only 70 reported cases with 8 fatalities. The numbers are also growing worse in Russia. 5389 are infected in the country and 45 have died. The Kremlin has postponed a meeting with Saudi Arabia to find an agreement on a possible cut in oil production. The price of crude has fallen to around $ 30 a barrel due to the drop in world demand due to the epidemic crisis. President Donald Trump and the White House coronavirus task force are holding briefings about the federal government's response seven days a week. It's a lot to follow. Here are three things that happened in Sunday's briefing. - - - 1. Trump promises imminent peak before experts are willing to Coronavirus task force officials have been warning lately that hard weeks are to come, and they're particularly grim about the coming week. Infectious-disease expert Anthony Fauci warned on Sunday on CBS: "Just buckle down, continue to mitigate, continue to do the physical separation because we've got to get through this week that's coming up because it is going to be a bad week." U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said on Fox News: "This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment." With those dire warnings, these officials offer words of comfort. Adams said in the next breath: "I want Americans to understand that as hard as this week is going to be, there is a light at the end of the tunnel." On Sunday, Trump took the podium to offer a similar warning. Only, he took his words of comfort much further than any of the experts by indicating that after this week, things will get better: "In the days ahead, America will endure the peak of this terrible pandemic," Trump said. Trump's assurance that the worst comes this week does not take into account states where the virus has not spread as rapidly. In the District of Columbia, for example, experts are predicting the highest number of cases as late as May. The Washington Post reports that the death toll in the United States is almost certainly higher than the official numbers. Trump's confidence stands in stark contrast with what Fauci said hours earlier, that "we are struggling" to get the virus under control. - - - 2. The federal government is stockpiling unproven drugs Specifically, one that Trump has been touting for weeks, saying he has a good feeling about it. "We bought massive amounts of it, 29 million doses of it," Trump said of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug. The Trump administration approved its use for clinical trials in New York, despite the fact that there is no scientific consensus that it works and health experts' concerns about fatal heart defects and vision loss. When NBC's Kelly O'Donnell asked Trump how he draws a line between being enthusiastic about a possibility and "playing doctor," Trump explained his logic this way: "If it doesn't work, great. If it doesn't work . . . it doesn't kill people." When CNN's Jeremy Diamond asked Trump why he doesn't just let the clinical trials play out and let science determine whether the drug works, Trump claimed he wasn't pushing the drug (even though he has, near daily) and criticized the reporter for asking the question. When a reporter asked Fauci to comment, Trump intervened and blocked Fauci from speaking. - - - 3. Trump criticizes governors' responses Particularly, Democratic governors. He has questioned whether New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, needs the 30,000 ventilators Cuomo says his state does. He has used gendered language to attack Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat who is pleading with the federal government for more supplies. And on Sunday, he went after Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat who said earlier in the day that he had "given up" on the federal government helping states. Trump said he asked his aides to give him a list of all the things the federal government has done for Illinois (they sent 600 ventilators and are building a hospital in Chicago), then said: "He's not able to do what is supposed to be able to do as a governor. He has not performed well." Trump's criticism comes as people inside his administration are criticizing the federal government, not the states, for not having enough ventilators to distribute. The Washington Post repored this weekend: "In late March, the administration ordered 10,000 ventilators - far short of what public health officials and governors said was needed. And many will not arrive until the summer or fall, when models expect the pandemic to be receding. " 'It's actually kind of a joke,' said one administration official involved in deliberations about the belated purchase." Biosensor Market Overview: The global biosensor market is on track to achieve a 9.7% CAGR during the forecast period of 2018 to 2023. As per the discussion of Market Research Future (MRFR), the global market would cross a valuation of USD 35,729.14 million by 2025. Rising number of diabetic patients, better technological inclusion, change in lifestyle, and others are prominent reasons that would boost the global market. In the food industry, the understanding of food toxicity level is increasingly becoming important, which might boost the market prospect. On the other hand, the agricultural sector is expected to notice the substantial inclusion of this technology. Get Latest Free Sample Copy@ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1228 Biosensor Market Segmentation: The global biosensor market has been discussed by MRFR in their study on the basis of a detailed segmentation that includes technology, end user, and application. Insights and various market inputs gathered from these segments would help in a detailed understanding of how the market would change its course of action in the coming days. This will help in tactical pursuits. By technology, the global report on the Biosensor Market can be segmented into thermal biosensors, optical biosensors, electrochemical biosensors, and piezoelectric biosensors. By end user, the global study on the biosensor market includes home diagnostics, research laboratories, food industry, point of care, and security and biodefense. The point of care testing segment had a market valuation of USD 8,428 million in 2017. By application, the global report on the market encompasses environmental, food toxicity, industrial process, medical testing, and agricultural testing. Growing eco-awareness is spurring the growth of the environment segment. The food industry would boost the demand in agricultural testing and food toxicity segments. Biosensor Market Regional Analysis: North America has a chance to lead the global biosensors market in the coming years, where it would retain its present dominance and increase it manifold. This would happen mainly due to the increasing expenditure in various research-related projects, hike in structural growth of the research facilities, high inclusion of latest technologies, easy acceptance of latest technologies in various sectors, growing interests shown by private players, government initiatives, and others. The US and Canada are two of the leading countries in the region. In Europe, the UK, France, Germany, Russia, and other countries are promoting the market by investing in launching innovations. In Asia Pacific, this growth would be marked by various countries like India, South Korea, Japan, China, Thailand, and others. These countries are either benefiting from their well-acclaimed structures (especially in countries like China and Japan), or they are developing it to accommodate better growth possibilities. Biosensor Market Competitive Landscape: The global report on biosensors market includes profiles of several companies like Abbott (US), LifeSensors (US), Siemens Healthineers AG (Germany), TiaDoc Technology Corporation (Taiwan), Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. (US), F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Switzerland), Nova Biomedical (US), Medtronic (US), Bayer AG (Germany), and i-SENS, Inc (South Korea). These companies are known for their extensive expenditure in developing better marketing strategies to stabilize their market position and eye for growth for both the company and the market. Such detailed planning relies on various tactical moves like mergers, partnerships, innovations, marketing strategies, and other profiling methods. This market is also getting benefits of constant change to inspire by new entrants. Industry News: In March 2020, Australian researchers revealed that they had discovered a new, first-of-its-kind technology that will help biosensors monitor various things inside the body. The technology will use the in vivo method to peek into the body and then would emanate signals that can be detected by regular ultrasound scanners. The process would include nanoparticles. Read Complete Report Wtih Toc @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com//reports/biosensor-market-1228 About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions. In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members. Contact: Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, India +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com NOTE: Our team of researchers are studying Covid19 and its impact on various industry verticals and wherever required we will be considering covid19 footprints for a better analysis of markets and industries. Cordially get in touch for more details. A craft maker from Lurgan is showing everyone how face shields can be made from the comfort of their living room. Allison Millar explained how a desire to ensure medical staff have some form of personal protective equipment (PPE) inspired her to make face shields. "I had some acetate in the house and I started playing about to see what I could do to help," she said. "I came up with the idea of face shields and found a simple way to make them. "I shared a video showing how it is done on my Facebook page and it has sort of snowballed from there." Such is the strength of local support for Allison's initiative that the goal of creating 10,000 face shields is now not far away. "It has become a real group effort," said Allison. "Some people are cutting stuff, while others don't feel confident enough to do the whole thing themselves but everyone is playing their part and it is great to see. "We have 5,000 sheets of laminate here, donated by local people, and a further 5,000 bought online that will be delivered soon. "I am making up packs that will allow people to make 100 face shields just by following the videos on my Facebook page." Allison continued: "To all the volunteers who have given their time, and the businesses who have donated supplies, I just wish I could give you all a hug. Trying to thank you all isn't anywhere near enough but the difference everyone is making will not be forgotten." Allison also explained how the demand for face shields amongst health care professional has seen many contact her directly. "Since sharing the video I have been contacted by community nurses and ward nurses from hospitals and others asking to get their hands on these face shields immediately," said Allison. "I am delighted we can all play our part. Our healthcare professionals are so important in this fight and knowing that we are able to help keep them safe in some small way is fantastic. "I have set up a Just Giving page in order to fund the purchase of supplies. Even a 1 donation can buy 10 metres of elastic. "We haven't been able to touch this money yet, as Just Giving won't allow a withdrawal in the first 14 days. "But if people continue to donate materials, or make PayPal or cash donations, any of the money raised will go towards helping our front line medical staff in another form." If you would like to donate, you can do so by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/allison-millar-2 BALTIMORE, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Transamerica announced today that the Aegon Transamerica Foundation made a contribution of $500,000 to Direct Relief to support ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) relief efforts. Transamerica and its employees are dedicated to helping the individuals and organizations working to make a difference as the world faces the unprecedented crisis caused by the pandemic. As part of their work in the U.S., Direct Relief is coordinating with public health authorities, nonprofit organizations and businesses across the country to provide equipment, including masks, exam gloves, isolation gowns and other protective gear, to healthcare organizations. Transamerica is proud to support such critical assistance to the caregivers on the frontlines. "Direct Relief is so deeply grateful for the leadership and commitment reflected by Transamerica's action today," said Thomas Tighe, President and CEO of Direct Relief. "Transamerica's contribution will be put to immediate use and is a perfect example of what's needed as we all face this historic threat to the health of people everywhere." Transamerica's contribution to Direct Relief is part of a wide-ranging effort to support the communities where the company's employees live and work. This effort includes emergency support for the Maryland Food Bank and a contribution to the Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation's Caregiver Emergency Relief Fund. In addition, Transamerica continues its commitment to the United Way as the nonprofit seeks to provide accurate information and vital services for those in need during the crisis. Transamerica has an annual matching contributions program for employees who wish to donate to the United Way. "Transamerica stands in awe of the essential workers and healthcare professionals who are providing comfort and care during this crisis. Our support for organizations like Direct Relief is a reflection of our values as a company and our long-standing commitment to lending a helping hand to those in need," said Jay Orlandi, Chief Operating Officer for Transamerica. "The people of Transamerica bring expertise, creativity and heart to everything we do and to the communities where we live and work. We will continue to serve our communities and provide support with dedication and compassion as we move through this crisis together." About Transamerica With a history that dates back more than 100 years, Transamerica is recognized as a leading provider of life insurance, retirement and investment solutions, serving millions of customers throughout the United States. Recognizing the necessity of health and wellness during peak working life, Transamerica's dedicated professionals work to help people take the steps necessary to live better today so they can worry less about tomorrow. Transamerica serves nearly every customer segment, providing a broad range of quality life insurance and investment products, individual and group pension plans, as well as asset management services. In 2019, Transamerica fulfilled its promises to customers, paying more than $50 billion in insurance, retirement, and annuity claims and benefits, including return of annuity premiums paid by the customer. Transamerica's corporate headquarters is located in Baltimore, Maryland, with other major operations in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Transamerica is part of the Aegon group of companies. Based in the Netherlands, Aegon is one of the world's largest providers of life insurance, pension solutions and asset management products, operating in more than 20 markets worldwide. For the full year of 2019, Aegon managed over $1 trillion in revenue generating investments. For more information, please visit www.transamerica.com. Media inquiries: [email protected] Hank Williams (319) 355-7789 Email: [email protected] Julie Quinlan (303) 383-5923 [email protected] SOURCE Transamerica Related Links http://www.transamerica.com Police departments and local authorities have been coming up with several innovative ways to spread awareness about the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Lately they have been coming up with some hilarious memes to urge people to practice social distancing. Recently the Nagpur police came up with one such meme, where they took a famous scene from the Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone starrer 'Chennai Express' and gave it quite an interesting twist. Don't underestimate the power of Social Distancing!#NagpurPolice pic.twitter.com/AmFGYcAE0C Nagpur City Police (@NagpurPolice) April 5, 2020 Remember that famous SRK dialouge from the movie? "Don't underestimate the power of a common man" the official twitter handle of Nagpur police posted a still from the film in which Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone can be seen sitting apart on a bench, "Don't underestimate the power of Social Distancing," the caption read. Netizens seemed quite impressed with the meme and it garnered much appreciation online. People were seen sharing the post as well. MIDDLETOWN The executive director of the Middletown-based Connecticut Legal Rights Project is using her position to advocate for disabled people affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The fight is a very personal one for Newington resident Kathy Flaherty, who is presumed positive for COVID-19. Her symptoms, which began with a scratchy throat and general malaise, began March 11. It was followed March 12 by a fever that went up and down, bad coughing and complete exhaustion. Flaherty was sent home, where she lives with her husband, James Valentino, and told to self-isolate. Shes now starting to feel better. Its infuriating. Im frustrated and angry, but Im not going to give up because I cant. I have too many other friends and colleagues who are fighting the same fight and at this point, knock on wood, it looks like Im going to survive my encounter with this, she said. She is appreciative of health-care professionals risking their health and lives to adequately treat patients with the worst cases. I am grateful to the policy makers who continue to beat the drum for their constituents to make sure their needs are met, Flaherty said. Like many COVID-19 patients, Flaherty experienced a short respite when she began to feel better but then her symptoms rebounded. Recovery has not been a straight line, and has been frustrating in how deceptive its been. I thought I was starting to get better, but then the fever came back for a day, the fatigue came back, and so did the cough, she said. Despite her best efforts, Flaherty wasnt able to be tested. The guidelines seemingly changed every day. I feel like I wasted hours on the phone trying to get one set up. Valentino began exhibiting symptoms early last week despite the couples practice of physically distancing themselves from one another at the house. The course of her husbands illness is different from hers. He is really tired, Flaherty said. Valentino didnt have the burning in his chest that she did, but he lost 10 pounds in three days. Now her husband is awaiting the results of his April 1 test, which he expects to receive early to mid-week. Flaherty said she did her best to work through her illness, took only a day off, and has learned much from the experience. Its those with physical and mental health issues whom shes worried about. She has heard from the disability community about the rationing of ventilators, and other emergency measures, which concern her. Are all our folks going to be lower on the charts for, Were not going to give you a ventilator if its between you and another person? Were all incredibly distressed because we know its going to be our friends who die, said Flaherty, who is particularly distressed about those in state-run facilities. Im going to survive this. I know too many high-risk people who wont, she said. I have always known that the social services safety net was frayed. This pandemic is making it clear to all that the net is not only frayed, its got huge holes in it that too many people are falling through, she said. For information on coronavirus in Connecticut, visit portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus. A man was injured after falling down a cliff on Roberts Street on April 2. Firefighters from Echo Hose Hook & Ladder and White Hills Fire Company responded about 6:20 p.m. to the rear of 90 Roberts Street, where crews found a man had fallen down a cliff. Shelton Police Deputy Chief Paul Wilson said Pine Rock Park was immediately called in to assist with providing additional rope equipment. When crews arrived, they found an adult male patient approximately 75-feet down a steep cliff, said Wilson. The patient had non-life threatening injuries but was unable to ascend the cliff. Wilson said emergency medical personnel was able to stabilize the patient as firefighters constructed a series of rope rescue systems to evacuate the patient. Once the patient was removed, Wilson said he was transported to a local trauma facility by Echo Hose Ambulance. Nineteen firefighters, under the command of Shelton Fire Chief Francis Jones III, operated on the scene. brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com New Delhi, April 6 : Delhi Jal Board Vice Chairman Raghav Chadha on Monday inspected the Yamuna from Wazirabad to Kalindi Kunj barrage here after reports claimed that there is an improvement in the water quality amid the lockdown thats in place to fight the Covid-19 outbreak in the country. During the lockdown, all non-essential industries are shut and locals have claimed that the water quality in the river has been improving. Chadda, in a statement, said the stoppage of industrial pollutants and industrial waste has had a positive effect on the water quality in the Yamuna river. Along with his team and officials from the DJB, he inspected the river between Wazirabad and Kalindi Kunj barrage. He also said that officials will test the water to ascertain the percentage of improvement in the quality. The Delhi government has acknowledged that Yamuna is being polluted by major drains like Najafgarh drain, Shahdara drain etc. The government is making efforts to clean and beautify these drains. Cleaning of Yamuna is also part of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's guarantees card. From day one of rejoining the Chief Minister's office, Kejriwal has asked the departments to work on fulfilling the guaranties. "We won't know until you see the next few days, does it go up or does it go down?" "But, we are looking at this seriously now, because by the data, we could be either very near the apex, or the apex could be a plateau and we could be on that plateau right now," New York governor Andrew Cuomo cautioned Sunday. New York is the U.S. state hardest hit by the coronavirus, where it has claimed more than 3,500 lives. Public health experts say the situation is about to get worse, not only for New York, but for the rest of the United States as well. Roughly 25 percent of the world's 1.2 million COVID-19 cases have been reported in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins figures Sunday morning. U.S. hospitals have been fighting the coronavirus battle with a woefully inadequate arsenal. Hospitals have been pleading for ventilators for their patients and the protective gear that doctors and other medical workers wear to prevent passing the disease back and forth between themselves and their patients. The global tally of confirmed cases has climbed to more than 1.2 million and has claimed over 65,000 lives. Spain, which has reported the second highest number of cases, over 130,000, plans to extend its nationwide lockdown by 15 more days, until April 26. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Saturday he would ask parliament to extend lockdown measures for the second time after first extending them to April 11. But Sanchez noted that cases and death rates of the virus have been declining for the past week. "We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel," he told the nation Saturday. Italy, which has recorded the highest death toll in the world from COVID-19, has seen more than 11,000 of its medical workers infected by the virus, according to its National Institutes of Health and an association of physicians. The groups said about 73 physicians have died from the virus. Infections among medical personnel amount to nearly 10 percent of all infections in Italy. Queen Elizabeth II was expected to deliver a rare address to Britain Sunday as the virus continues to spread. Britain's Ministry of Justice said Saturday that thousands of prisoners would be released within weeks as part of its broader campaign to contain the spread of the virus. Britain reported 708 deaths overnight, boosting the country's death toll to more than 4,300. France's military has begun moving patients to hospitals across the country in an effort to contain the coronavirus' spread in the hard-hit area in and around Paris. Military planes, helicopters and trains are transporting patients to less-affected areas in western France. More than 7,500 deaths and 90,000 infections have been reported in France. Seventeen medical workers at Egypt's main cancer hospital have tested positive for the coronavirus and are now in quarantine, according to an Associated Press report. Dr. Hatem Abu el-Kassem, the director of Cairo's National Cancer Institute, told AP all the health workers at the facility will be tested for the virus. There are 1,070 confirmed cases of the virus in Egypt. China reported 30 new cases of the virus on Sunday, noting that 25 of them came from overseas. In past weeks, China had reported no new community infections, and has severely limited foreigners entering the country and flights landing from overseas in an effort to prevent another outbreak. The coronavirus first emerged late last year in China's Hubei province, killing more than 3,300 people. Despite a constant rise in Coronavirus cases in parts of the world, Egyptian Health Minister Hala Zayed claimed that the COVID-19 spread worldwide will be contained within three weeks, international media reported. There are 1,272,737 global cases of Coronavirus as of Monday morning. In her address, she said that Egypt had been communicating with international research centers as a part of the country's efforts to curb the spread of the virus. The cases in Egypt soar to 1,173 on Monday morning and recorded 78 deaths. The World Health Organisation on April 3, asked the Middle East to act fast to limit the spread of the pandemic. "New cases have been reported in some of the most vulnerable countries with fragile health systems," WHO's the director for the Eastern Mediterranean region said. READ| Ravaged by war, Middle Eastern countries face a new scourge Egyptian Billionaire Threatens To Commit Suicide In the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak across the length and breadth of the globe, Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris threatened to commit suicide if the curfew was not rolled back within two weeks. In an interview with a local news media outlet, Al-Hadath, the second-richest man in Egypt further called for a 'revolutionary decision.' According to the translations of MEMO, the Egyptian billionaire said, "Let me tell you something, I will commit suicide if they extend the (curfew) period." "We need a revolutionary decision, regardless of the consequences; even if people get sick, they will recover," he added. In what may seem like an absolutely insensitive remark, Sawiris further said that Coronavirus only kills "one percent" of the patients, who mostly are elder people. However, Egypt has a 6% fatality rate. Urging to end the nationwide lockdown amid the health crisis, the billionaire made three possible suggestions--firstly asked to separate workers into two alternate shifts, have employees sleep in factories to limit movement and lastly asked the Middle Eastern country to import enough COVID-19 kits for home-testing. In a tweet on March 5, he said, "I took a decision, I dont want to hear or speak about the coronavirus ever again. Its unbelievable. Are we going to stop living because we are afraid of a virus?" Egypt has by far recorded 985 positive cases and 66 deaths. The cases soared after March 6 and continue to grow since. READ| Coronavirus: UNHR 'alarmed' over prison conditions in Syria; urges release of some inmates READ| War-battered Yemen imposes curfew amid Coronavirus outbreak, releases low-risk prisoners WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Woodward, Inc. (WWD) and Hexcel Corp. (HXL) have mutually agreed to terminate their merger deal. The companies concluded that given the significant uncertainty in the market caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it would not be prudent to continue to pursue the combination. Neither party will be required to pay the other a termination fee. Separately, Hexcel Corp. announced a number of actions in response to the impact from COVID-19. Hexcel will reduce costs through curtailing capital expenditures, and evaluating employment levels to align with lower customer demand. Hexcel also announced that its Board has adopted a limited duration shareholder rights plan. In connection with this, the Board declared a dividend distribution of one preferred share purchase right on each outstanding share of Hexcel common stock. Hexcel plans to hold its 2020 annual meeting of shareholders on June 1, 2020. 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. President Donald Trump offered his support for Boris Johnson after the UK prime minister was taken into intensive care in London on Monday. 'I want to send best wishes to a very good friend of mine, and a friend to our nation, Prime Minister Boris Johnson,' Trump said at his daily White House briefing. 'We are very saddened to hear that he was taken into intensive care this afternoon a little while ago. And Americans are all praying for his recovery. 'He has been a really good friend pretty something special. Very strong. Resolute, he does not quit. Does not give up.' Trump said he has asked two therapeutics companies working with the US government to 'contact London immediately' about assisting with Johnson's treatment. And earlier in the day, Mr Trump held a conference about therapeutic drugs with the bosses of four US pharmaceutical and biotech firms - Genetech, Amgen, Gilead and Regeneron. While he stopped short of specifically naming the treatment, it's believed he was referencing hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug Trump has repeatedly touted as a 'game changer' for coronavirus patients. President Donald Trump offered his support for Boris Johnson after the UK prime minister was taken into intensive care in London on Monday Johnson was transferred to the ICU at St Thomas' Hospital in London at around 7pm local time Monday - 11 days after he tested positive for COVID-19. The 55-year-old Conservative was conscious and did not require ventilation, but he was moved into intensive care in case he needs it later, his office said in a statement. Speaking at the White House hours later, Trump said that he had tapped two US drug companies to liaise with Johnson's office about the prime minister's care. 'We have made tremendous progress on therapeutics. I had a fantastic call today that I will be talking about a little bit later,' Trump said. Johnson was transferred to the ICU at St Thomas' Hospital in London at 7pm local time on Monday - 11 days after testing positive for COVID-19. He posted a video about his symptoms on Friday (pictured) 'I have asked two of the leading companies - these are brilliant companies, they have come up with solutions and just have done incredible jobs - I have asked them to contact to London immediately. 'They speak a language that most people do not even understand - but I understand something that they have really advanced there, therapeutically, and that they have arrived in London already. 'The London office has whatever they need. And we will see if we can be of help. We have contacted all of Boris' doctors, and we will see what is going to take place. But they are ready to go. Trump added: 'But when you get brought into intensive care, that gets very, very serious with this particular disease. 'So, the two companies are there. And with what they are talking about, and it is rather complex, and has had really incredible results. 'We are working with the FDA and everybody else, but we are working with London with respect to Boris Johnson.' Trump (center) and Johnson (right) are seen together with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg (left) at the NATO Summit in London on December 4, 2019. During Monday's press briefing, Trump called the British PM 'a very good friend of mine, and a friend to our nation' Trump was asked to clarify the treatment US drug companies were looking into for Johnson later in Monday's White House briefing. 'It's a very complex treatment of things they just recently developed and that they have a lot of experience with having to do with something else,' Trump said. While he stopped short of specifically naming the treatment, it's believed he was referencing hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug Trump has repeatedly touted as a 'game changer' for coronavirus patients. 'They have already had meetings with the doctors, and we will see whether or not they want to go that route,' Trump said. 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 'When you are in intensive care, it's a big deal,' he added. 'So they [the drug companies] are there and they are ready. 'They have everything with them, should it be needed. Hopefully it won't have to be needed. 'I found Boris to be a fantastic person, just like a fantastic, warm, strong, smart guy who loves his country. You'll see that. 'He fought for his country. Intensive care is big stuff.' Another reporter then asked if the developments in Johnson's case had affected the steps the Trump administration is taking to protect the president and vice president. 'I had my test a couple days ago. We are here. And here you are. So no, I don't think so,' Trump said. 'But I think we'll probably - just because of questions like that - I think we'll probably have quite a few tests. It's not the worst idea. 'You know, this system of testing now so quick and so easy.' The US currently leads the world in coronavirus cases, with more than 347,500 infections and at least 10,358 deaths as of Monday evening. Nationwide, a new case is reported roughly every three seconds. In the UK, more than 51,608 cases have been reported, including 5,373 deaths. A new case is reported roughly every 18 seconds. The US currently leads the world in coronavirus cases, more than 368,200 infections and 11,000 deaths reported as of Monday In the UK, more than 51,608 cases have been reported, including 5,373 deaths Johnson took a laid-back approach to addressing the coronavirus pandemic in his country in its early days - repeatedly downplaying the need for drastic measures such as social distancing. In early March he appeared to be on a mission to shake hands with people - despite global health guidelines - once revealing that he'd done so with hospitalized coronavirus patients. His rhetoric changed around March 16, when he publicly advised against mass gatherings. The UK finally shuttered nonessential businesses on March 20 - a week before Johnson tested positive for COVID-19. The prime minister subsequently began self-isolating at home while continuing to preside at daily meetings on the outbreak and releasing multiple video messaging urging Britons to heed social distancing guidelines. He was admitted to St Thomas' Hospital with 'persistent' coronavirus symptoms on Sunday. Hours before he was moved to the ICU, Johnson tweeted that he was in good spirits and thanked the National Health Service for taking care of him. British health experts have appeared unanimous in their view that the PM's admission to intensive care means he is 'extremely sick'. Johnson has asked foreign secretary Dominic Raab to deputize for him 'where necessary', although it is understood Raab will not formally become a temporary prime minister. Speaking after the PM was moved to intensive care, Raab insisted that 'government business will continue' and said there is a fantastic 'team spirit' among ministers. He also reassured that the premier was 'receiving excellent care' and thanked the NHS medics who were treating him and other patients across Britain. From the city of Kisumu to being an international sensation, Suraj Mandavia is a DJ-music producer who creates contemporary electronic music infused with traditional musical and cultural elements. What have you been up to? For the past few months I have been busy working on a project called Sounds of Sasaab with a company I co-own, Midi Minds Kenya. This project explores the sounds of the Samburu culture through electronic music. In a nutshell, we recorded vocals with the Samburu tribe and made world-class electronic music infused with the samples by leading DJs and producers from around the world. We then created a various artists compilation, sample pack and documentary whose revenue will go back solely to the community we collaborated with. Different perspectives of our project have already been featured by BBC Africa, Forbes Japan and many more. How has the Coronavirus affected you? Yes indeed, I was scheduled to play about nine shows in March including two international gigs (Nigeria, Abu Dhabi). Unfortunately, after the first week of March, the country and world has been on lockdown and naturally that means cancellations of pretty much all the shows. However, we ought to find the positives with the situation at hand and work towards restoring regular programming. How have your experiences playing outside Kenya shaped you? It has been a dream come true to be able to traverse the globe with my music. Performing to a crowd of people who dont exactly know you, havent heard your sound can be a little overwhelming at first, but you quickly realise the universal love and power that music brings. Almost all my travels have some sort of a highlight but off the top of my head: my debut in Rabat, Morocco in November shocked me. All the stars aligned for me. Your DJ sets are famous for introducing us to new music especially Afro and tribal stuff. Is this conscious and how do you even discover such gems? Yes it is definitely a conscious decision. I have been fortunate to connect with DJs and producers from around the world who regularly send me music they know fits in my sets as well as my record label Gondwana KE. We always receive demos and promos that also contribute to the new music I discover and play. Talk to us about Gondwana events; how do you build that consistency? So, Gondwana KE is a record label and event outfit I co-own with 2 partners and we have been showcasing African electronic music through music releases and a monthly residency for over 2 years. Our consistency stems from our love and passion for the sound. Our monthly residency has grown exponentially and the support has been out of this world, enabling us to invite some of the most prolific artistes from our sound as well as pioneer and lead day-time/sun-down events every month. Lets get into the meat of things; event corporations such as Kenya Nights seem to have a high representation of coloured performers at the expense of black ones. Is this true? Personally, I dont think it is true, however, each individual has their own perspective. I am deliberately careful and I always take into account the balance of all factors in order to provide a fair playing field for anyone despite background, race, colour, etc. How would you describe the DJs union in Kenya? Is there sociability or could there be cracks behind the scenes? The DJ union in our country is definitely supportive of each other and has a sense of camaraderie, especially lately, with the help of social media and easy access to information. There is that obvious strand of politics and envy, but that exists regardless. Who are some of your current favourite DJs? DJ Vidza (Kenya) She is creating her own sense of identity, super humble human being and passionate for the right reasons. Buruntuma (Guinea Bissau) He has got to be one of the most technical DJs I have shared a stage with and he has an original yet distinct way of performing. How will the rest of the year pan out for you? This year will be a musical year for me, my focus is to continue developing my signature sound and bring it one step closer to you. I would love to collaborate with artists such as H_Art The Band, Tetu Shani, Ayrosh (locally), and Da Capo, Sun-El-Musician & Oumou Sangare worldwide. Without giving too much away, my plans this year include will supporting a Kenyan band during their French tour in summer, A scheduled Asia tour across Singapore, Bali and Vietnam as well as my monthly residencies Afro Social and Gondwana KE, I will take up an international residency during European summer and continue showcasing my music in African countries such as Senegal, Ghana, Mayotte, Zambia, Tunisia. Source: Pulse If youre in a financial pinch, you need to know how to negotiate effectively. The aim of a good negotiation is to get more of what you, and the opposing party, want a win-win. If the negotiation is ineffective, the solutions can be one-sided, or result in a much worse situation for everyone. For example, if a lender isnt willing to budge on collecting a payment from someone who cant pay, theyll probably get nothing. The borrower loses, too, because their credit score is negatively impacted. If the parties negotiate effectively, however, the lender gets paid something versus nothing, and the borrower keeps their credit rating and relationship with the lender intact. If we remove master manipulation tactics from the equation, and nuances around who offers the first compromise, most effective negotiations follow a similar format. Fully research the problem at hand (pertinent laws, trends and relevant media). Begin the dialogue with an exploratory phone call to better understand what each party needs (email can be used afterwards to document the phone call). Establish that compromises/adjustments need to be made by each side. Brainstorm creative solutions that benefit both parties. Choose the solution that gives the greatest win-win. As a best practice, keep the lines of communication open until the solution is reached, which can span over multiple conversations. Here are some common areas you may need to negotiate right now. With your lenders The banking industry has been asked by the Canadian government to work with borrowers who have been impacted by COVID-19 to offer payment deferrals, interest relief and/or reduced payments. Currently there isnt a one-size-fits-all solution for hard-hit Canadians. Lenders have asked individuals and small businesses to contact them to negotiate case-by-case solutions. If youre unable to make payments in full because youve lost your income, create a list of your lenders and start making phone calls. Your mission is to negotiate payment relief for a set period of time, with the option to try to re-evaluate down the road. Rent owed to landlords When this crisis subsidies, it will be very important for landlords and tenants to have functioning working relationships. All provinces have prohibited evictions until the pandemic is over, but rent still must be paid. If you cant pay rent, explain your financial situation to your landlord and negotiate an agreement on rent (a delay or a reduced amount, or even an exchange of services). Paying less rent for a month or two with the intention of making up for it later in the year could help you make ends meet right now, while keeping your landlord whole. Keeping your job If you still have a job but your employer is clearly not doing well, you may need to get creative to keep your job versus experiencing a layoff. Talk to your organization about worksharing, cost-cutting opportunities, the new emergency wage-subsidy programs and more. The goal here would be to see how you can negotiate to keep your job. If you find yourself out of work you may need to access the federal benefits (Employment Insurance and the Canada Emergency Response Benefit) or benefits offered by your province. Servicing your clients so that you dont lose them Lets say you are on commission or own a small business, chances are your clients are struggling with the financial implications of the pandemic. Negotiate with them about what services they should be pausing or completely stopping. Talk to them about their needs. Perhaps they need new solutions with all that has changed. Your aim should be to keep these relationships healthy during the crisis, and get prepared to capture revenue opportunities during the pandemics recovery period. My money mentor told me early in my career that the sign of a good negotiation is when each side walks away satisfied, but a little uncomfortable because neither side got everything they wanted. As youre applying your negotiation skills in these key financial areas right now, try to get to that win-win solution, even if it means not getting everything you want. [April 06, 2020] CryptoStar Corp. Signs Letter of Intent to Secure up to 120 MW of Low-Cost Power TSXV: CSTR TORONTO, April 6, 2020 /CNW/ - CryptoStar Corp. (TSXV: CSTR) ("CryptoStar" or the "Company"), a cryptocurrency mining and data centre operator, is pleased to announce it has signed a letter of intent ("LOI") with an Alberta Based Private Energy Company (the "Alberta Partner") effective April 3, 2020 for up to 120 megawatts (MW) at among the lowest electricity rates in North America. CryptoStar and the Alberta Partner plan to execute the first power supply agreement for the first 20 MW of power within the next 14 days. Highlights of the Transaction Projected power cost will be amongst the lowest in the Province of Alberta Non-dilutive transaction to CryptoStar's minority shareholders through the generous support of the major shareholder CryptoStar's position further strengthened to become one of the lowest cost Bitcoin producers in North America "This LOI with the Alberta Partner is consistent with the Company's long term expansion plans into low cost energy regions in North America and solidifies CryptoStar's objective to become one of the lowest cost Bitcoin producers in North America." said David Jellins, Chief Executive Officer of CryptoStar. The Alberta Partner currently possesses, controls or has access to a certain three sites in Alberta and is currently permitted to generate and supply an aggregate of 30 MW. The Alberta Partner intends to, upon approval by applicable regulatory authorities, generate and supply an aggregate of 120 MW of power to CryptoStar. The Alberta Partner has agreed to grant to CryptoStar a right of first refusal for: (i) entry into Power Supply Agreements for up to 120 MW of electrical power generated by the Alberta Partner to be used for cryptocurrency or data centre usage; and (ii) the purchase of the Alberta Partner's power generation business or any portion thereof. The Power Supply Agreements will have a term of five (5) years, which shall automatically renew for additional five (5 year terms unless terminated in accordance with the terms thereof. The first 20 MW of power will allow for approximately 444 PH/s of mining Hashrate to be deployed for CryptoStar and its customers in containerized PODs within 60 90 days with further Hashrate deployed over the remainder of 2020. The Company anticipates commencing operations in Alberta in Q2, 2020 and that additional data centres (i.e. containerized PODs) will subsequently come online in Alberta throughout 2020. A.C.N. 117 402 838 Pty Ltd (formerly, Adrenaline Pty Ltd), CryptoStar's largest shareholder, has agreed to transfer an aggregate of 32,500,000 CryptoStar shares to the Alberta Partner and an arm's length advisor upon the entry into a Power Supply Agreement for at least 20 MW of power. The transfer of shares is a non-dilutive event for CryptoStar's other shareholders. The Company is currently evaluating the most optimal financing structure to best take advantage of one of the lowest cost operating environments in the crypto mining industry. About CryptoStar Corp.: CryptoStar has cryptocurrency mining operations with data centres located in the U.S.A. and Canada. CryptoStar is currently dedicated to becoming one of the lowest cost Bitcoin producers in North America. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as, "expects", "is expected", "anticipates", "intends", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements include those relating to relative power costs to CryptoStar in the Province of Alberta, the intention of the Alberta Partner to generate and supply an aggregate of 120 MW of power to CryptoStar and the applicable regulatory approval thereof, the entry into Power Supply Agreements and the terms and conditions thereof, the build out of data centres and containerized PODs in Alberta, the amounts of power allocated for use by CryptoStar in Alberta, that CryptoStar will bring data centres (i.e. containerized PODs) in Alberta in 2020, the transfer of shares by A.C.N. 117 402 838 Pty Ltd to the Alberta Partner and an arm's length advisor and the Hashrate to be deployed for CryptoStar and its customers within 60 - 90 days. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, including assumptions related to the ability of the Alberta Partner and CryptoStar to identify suitable sites (beyond the first 30 MW of power) for data centre use, obtain relevant permits and approvals relating thereto, the satisfactory results of due diligence investigations, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, including assumptions in respect of current and future market conditions, prices of electrical power, the current and future regulatory environment and future approvals and permits. Actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from that expressed in, or implied by, any forward-looking statements in this press release, and, accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements and they are not guarantees of future results. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual future results or anticipated events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, CryptoStar undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE CryptoStar Corp. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] "In Chipinge we are doing six contact cases whose names and addresses were given from our entry points. One is in Medium, one in Gaza and four in low density. Saka lets be on the alert people. Tinogona kunge tinayo Covid 19 muno muChipinge (We may serious have Covid 19 here in Chipinge). Vanhu stay at home ndapota. Dutu parinozopera vamwe vedu vanogona kushaikwa nekusateerera (Please stay at home. We may lose many people here because of this pandemic. Please take hid, dont lose your life by failing to listen to this message). From EHO Chipinge Town Council." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sausan Atika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 6, 2020 13:39 645 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206ffaba4 1 City Riza-Patria,anies-baswedan,deputy-governor,Gerindra-Party,PKS Free The Jakarta City Council declared Ahmad Riza Patria of the Gerindra Party as the Jakarta deputy governor-elect in a plenary meeting on Monday. "In accordance with the results of the vote count, Ahmad Riza Patria has been elected as the Jakarta deputy governor for the remainder of the 2017-2022 term, said City Council Speaker Prasetyo Edi Marsudi of the Indonesian Democratic Party and Struggle (PDI-P). Selection committee chairman Farazandi of the National Mandate Party (PAN) said that Riza had secured 81 votes and his opponent Nurmansyah Lubis of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) had gained a mere 17 votes, with two votes thrown out from a total 100 votes. Prasetyo said that the City Council would immediately submit the decree announcing Riza as the Jakarta deputy governor-elect to the President and the Home Ministry as the legal basis for installing him. The seat of deputy governor has been vacant since Gerindra politician Sandiaga Uno resigned from the post in August 2018 to be the running mate of Gerindra chairman Prabowo Subianto in the 2019 presidential election. Prabowo has since been appointed as Defense Minister by President Joko Widodo, his erstwhile political rival. Longtime allies Gerindra and PKS were engaged in a prolonged tug-of-war over the vacant post, with the two parties finally reaching an agreement in February 2019 to submit two nominees from the PKS to the council. However, the sluggish process caused Gerindra to change its mind and nominate Riza as its own candidate. Tighter restrictions for Cancun residents after Capella calls Sunday tianguis disaster Cancun, Q.R. Tighter restrictions are in store for residents of Cancun after the head of security shared videos Sunday of streets filled with people shopping and lining up for food vendors. Head of Public Security of Quintana Roo, Alberto Capella, posted videos on his social media from a Sunday drive through a popular tianguis area where people were out in full force shopping, while others were part of a long line waiting for a street food vendor. Even with police patrolling and issuing bull-horn warnings for people to return home, citizens failed to take notice. Capella referred to the Sunday incident as a disaster from the lack of concern citizens are showing regarding the stay-at-home and healthy distance recommendations. I understand the great need to buy food and that these businesses continue to provide service. But why leave with entire families, especially with the elderly? Is there no way to understand that this multiplies the family risk of contagion? he inquired. Jorge Aguilar Osorio, secretary of city council, acknowledged the problem saying city council is considering implementing more drastic measures for citizens to heed the recommendations to stay at home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, admitting that citizens are ignoring the exhortations of authorities in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are evaluating this already with Secretary Capella to see how we can put in place some severe measures so that the public understands that this is not a game, he warned. The municipality of Benito Juarez (Cancun) has the most positive cases of the virus and remains the fastest-growing in the state with the latest (April 5) figures reported at 58, up from 45 two days before. Chief Allan Lawson (R) and Colonel Gent Welsh, both from the Washington Air National Guard, help distribute food with volunteers at the Nourish Pierce County food bank set up at the Mountain View Lutheran Church in Edgewood, Washington, on April 4, 2020. (Karen Ducey/Getty Images) US Northern Command Deploys 1,000 Medical Personnel to New York U.S. Northern Command (USNC), which supervises the nations military operations in North America, will be deploying some 1,000 medical personnel to the New York City area to assist in fighting the CCP virus pandemic. The USNC on April 5 announced in a statement that over the next three days, it would deploy 1,000 Air Force and Navy medical personnel to the region at the epicenter of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus outbreak in the United States. Approximately 300 of these uniformed medical providers will work from the Javits Center and the rest will deploy to other area locations to expand local medical capabilities in the war against COVID-19, the release said. The Javits Convention Center in New York has been transformed into a makeshift hospital to treat non-CCP virus patients, freeing up hospitals to care for those with the virus as the city grapples with a flood of patients. President Donald Trump on April 3 announced the temporary hospital, which has a 2,500-bed capacity, and will be operated by U.S. military and federal personnel. Other personnel will work at other hospitals throughout New York City that lack medical staff, the USNC said. Vice President Mike Pence said April 5 the personnel will supplement and provide relief to healthcare workers at the epicenter of the pandemic in the New York City area. By this Tuesday, we will have another 840 military medical personnel arriving in New York City, Pence said at a White House CCP virus briefing. It comes after Trump activated the National Guard earlier this month in New York, Washington, and California state to assist with efforts to tackle the pandemic. Were taking people now out of our military. Weve been doing it, but now were doing it on a larger basis, Trump said at the White House on April 4. Theyre going into war. Theyre going into a battle that theyve never really trained for. Defense Secretary Mark Esper told CNN he discussed the effort with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. What we plan on doing now is deploying over 1,100 additional doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel to New York, Esper said April 5. The bulk of them will go to the Javits Center and then as of late yesterday, we agreed to deploy a few hundred of them to 11 New York City hospitals that are also seeing a deficiency when it comes to medical staff. New Yorkthe hardest-hit statehas become the epicenter of the U.S. epidemic with more than 3,000 virus deaths in New York City alone, according to a tracking map by Johns Hopkins University, which collates official government data. New York City alone accounted for more than a quarter of the U.S. CCP virus deaths tallied by Johns Hopkins. Hospitals and morgues in the city are struggling to treat the desperately ill and bury the dead. White House medical experts have forecast that between 100,000 to 240,000 Americans could be killed in the pandemic, even if sweeping orders to stay home are followed. Reuters contributed to this report. Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal will contribute Rs 13.2 lakh to the PM-Cares Fund that has been set up to raise money for fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. He will also donate Rs 21 lakh from his discretionary grant to the Chief Ministers Relief Fund, Raj Bhavan sources said on Monday. The governor will contribute to the PM-Cares Fund in response to Prime MInister Narendra Modis appeal to people to contribute to the fund so as to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Odisha governor will contribute 30 per cent of his salary from March 2020 to February 2021, amounting to Rs 13.2 lakh, to the PM-Cares Fund, it said. The governor also appealed to people to donate to the Prime Ministers Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-Cares) Fund and CMRF in Odisha to fight the coronavirus pandemic. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Register now: Don't miss the next National Small Business Town Hall, hosted by Inc. and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, April 10, 2020, 12 p.m. Eastern. RSVP here: https://events.inc.com/nationaltownhallevents. With $2 trillion in stimulus at stake, business owners and entrepreneurs are scrambling to figure out how to get their share of the package to support their businesses. To help people navigate the complex and still-evolving guidelines, Inc. has partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to hold a series of National Small Business Town Halls in live-streaming events. This week's webinar, held April 3, featured Neil Bradley, the Chamber's executive vice president and chief policy officer, in conversation with Inc. editor-at-large Kimberly Weisul. A panel of experts addressed the latest updates to the stimulus package, changes to unemployment insurance, and answered business owners' most pressing questions in real time. Joining the panel were Marilyn Landis, who has 30 years' experience as a commercial lender and is CEO of Basic Business Concepts, which provides CFO services to small companies; Dan Martini, vice president of congressional relations and public policy at the American Bankers' Association; Daniel Fitzgerald, associate regional director for the San Diego-Imperial Small Business Development Center Regional Network; and Manny Cosme, president and CEO of CFO Services Group. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global x-ray systems market size is expected to reach USD 10.43 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., registering at 2.9% CAGR during the forecast period. Rising investments in medical technology, increasing R&D activities, and surge in product launches are key factors driving market growth. Prominent modalities include radiography, fluoroscopy, and computed radiography. Computed radiography systems are the most preferred systems, as they provide sharp images in a shorter time. Moreover, the imaging plates can be reused. Fluoroscopy is also gaining prominence in developed countries such as US and Canada. X-ray systems can be stationary or portable. Even the stationary systems dominated the market in 2017 in terms of revenue, the portable kind are poised to witness faster growth. Stationary radiography systems have significant demand in developing countries where adaptation to new technology is slow. Portable systems are preferred over stationary variants due to their mobility, which makes them more convenient and flexible for use. Some of the key players in this market are Koninklijke Philips NV; GE Healthcare; Hitachi, Ltd .; Shimadzu Corporation, Fujifilm Medical Systems; Siemens Healthineers; Canon Medical Systems Corporation; Carestream Health; Hologic, Inc .; and Biosign. Expansion of regional and service portfolio and merger and acquisitions are some of the leading strategic undertakings adopted by these players. For instance, in December 2016, Hitachi acquired Kurt & Kurt, a medical diagnostic system provider, to expand its businesses in Turkey. Further key findings from the study suggest : The global X-ray systems market was valued at USD 8.3 billion in 2017 and is expected to at a modest pace over the forecast period Based on type, digital systems are anticipated to grow at the fastest rate as analog systems fade out By modality, the computed radiography segment was valued at USD 2.9 billion in 2017, emerging as the market leader. Fluoroscopy will register the fastest growth over the forecast period While hospitals enjoy the dominant share on the basis of end use, the diagnostic centers segment is anticipated to register a CAGR of 3.6% from 2018 to 2025 Request a Sample Copy of the Global X-ray Systems Market Research Report @ www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/x-ray-systems-market/request/rs1 Grand View Research has segmented the global x-ray systems market on the basis of modality, mobility, end use, type, and region: X-ray Systems Modality Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Radiography fluoroscopy Computed Radiography X-ray Systems Mobility Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Stationary Mobile X-ray Systems End Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Hospital Diagnostic Centers Mobile Imaging Centers X-ray Systems Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Digital Analog X-ray Systems Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) North America US Canada europe germany UK greece spain Austria denmark belgium norway Asia Pacific japan china India Australia Sri Lanka bangladesh Singapore South Korea thailand Malaysia Latin America brazil mexico Argentine Middle East and Africa (MEA) South Africa Kuwait Qatar UAE Saudi Arabia Access full research report on global x-ray systems market: www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/x-ray-systems-market Senior diplomat Anurag Srivastava on Monday took charge as the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, succeeding Raveesh Kumar. Srivastava, a 1999-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, was serving as India's Ambassador to Ethiopia. "Honoured and privileged to take over as the Official Spokesperson of @MEAIndia. I look forward to working closely with all to fulfil my responsibilities in this new role," he tweeted. Before he was appointed as Indian envoy to Ethiopia, Srivastava was helming the Finance Division of the which is tasked to administer it's annual budget of about USD 2 billion. Srivastava served at the India's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva where he dealt with work related to human rights, refugee issues and trade policy. He also served in the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran division of the ministry at its headquarters. Srivastava has degrees in engineering and business management and had a brief stint in the corporate sector before joining the Indian Foreign Service. He also has a postgraduate diploma in Diplomatic Studies from the Oxford University. None of our lenders are able to submit loans right now, said Blake Brock, the chief executive of Lendio, a marketplace for small-business loans. We have billions in applications that are completely logjammed. The system had already experienced a slowdown on Friday, the first day of the program, Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida and the chairman of the small-business committee, said in a tweet this weekend. According to one Washington bank lobbyist, one large bank reported that it took 72 minutes on Sunday night to enter one loan application and the E-Tran system crashed 13 times during the process. But the outage may not have affected every lender. Frank Sorrentino, the chief executive of ConnectOne Bank, said his bank had been processing applications all day. He said if E-Tran had gone down, he had not heard about it, but his bank had experienced some slowness on the portal that they attributed to the volume of submissions. ConnectOne has received more than 2,000 applications so far and has processed a significant portion of them, Mr. Sorrentino said. The small-business agency is being closely watched for its ability to distribute the loans, which are meant to help businesses make payroll as the nations consumers are locked down to avoid being infected with the coronavirus. An S.B.A. spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Second U.S. company announces early trial of a potential coronavirus vaccine. Inovio Pharmaceuticals announced Monday that it would begin a small safety test of a potential coronavirus vaccine in adults in Philadelphia and Kansas City, Mo. Up to 40 healthy adult volunteers will get the Inovio vaccine as part of the first trial. Each volunteer will receive two doses of the vaccine each dose four weeks apart and the company expects to have initial results from the study by late summer. TDT | Manama Bahrain will overcome the current crisis caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, no matter how heavy the challenges are. This was declared yesterday by His Royal Highness the Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier. HRH the Prime Minister received HRH the Crown Prince at his palace in Riffa. HRH the Premier lauded the national efforts exerted to contain and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Kingdom through a set of precautionary measures. These have allowed Bahrain to be among the leading countries with the capability to combat the coronavirus and significantly control its spread, which has earned it the acclaim of the World Health Organisation (WHO). HRH the Premier and HRH the Crown Prince stressed that no matter how heavy the challenges are, the determination of Bahrain is greater, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and with the solidarity of the Bahraini people. They stressed the governments resolve to spare no effort in order to attain tangible results, improve the quality of performance, and meet the citizens needs. They affirmed that the current situation Bahrain and the world are facing requires doubled and concerted efforts, through commitment to the national responsibility to overcome the current phase and its impacts in various fields. HRH the Premier and HRH the Crown Prince valued the dedicated national efforts aimed at ensuring the safety of the nation and its citizens, noting that such endeavours have showcased the strength, solidity and cooperation of all in Bahrain as well as their solidarity in facing various dangers and challenges. They expressed optimism that Bahrain is capable of overcoming the current phase thanks to the full awareness and constructive cooperation of everyone in the Kingdom in meeting the national aspirations for safety, stability and progress. Also during their meeting, HRH the Prime Minister and HRH the Crown Prince reviewed a number of local economic and social topics, as well as the progress of a number of development projects in the Kingdom. New Delhi: Like our Bollywood celebrities, stars from the Bhojpuri industry also came out in large numbers to show solidarity towards in fight against the darkness spread by the deadly coronavirus. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed to the nation to switch off lights for 9 minutes at 9 pm on Sunday and light candles and diyas to express unity in the fight against the disease and India cheerfully responded to the call. Bhojpuri actors such as Monalisa, Aamrapali Dubey, Rani Chatterjee, Dinesh Lal Yadav aka Nirahua, Pawan Singh, Akshara Singh and others took to their respective Instagram handles to reveal how they lit up their homes. Along with their posts, these stars also shared inspiring messages. Heres a sneak peek: Celebrities have been constantly spreading messages against the coronavirus pandemic that has brought the world to a standstill. In India, the number of coronavirus cases rose to 4,067 on Monday morning and the death toll reached 109. India is under complete lockdown till April 14 as a preventive measure against to contain the disease. The Visa Foundation today announced a commitment of two programs totaling $210 million to support small and micro businesses, aligning with the Foundations long-term focus on womens economic advancement and inclusive economic development, and to address an urgent need from local communities following the spread of COVID-19. The first program of $10 million is designated for immediate emergency relief to support charitable organizations on the frontlines responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as public health and food relief, in each of the five geographic regions in which Visa operates: North America; Latin America and the Caribbean; Europe; Asia Pacific; and Central Europe, Middle East and Africa. As COVID-19 continues to unfold, communities are feeling the effects and need our immediate support, said Al Kelly, CEO and chairman of Visa. As a global company that operates a very local business, we recognize this need. Were also committed to the long-term recovery and will continue to explore ways we can accelerate economic activity in line with our mission to help individuals, businesses and economies thrive. The second program is a five-year, strategic $200 million commitment to support small and micro businesses around the world, with a focus on fostering womens economic advancement. This action expands the Visa Foundations long-standing support for small and micro businesses globally. The funds from the Visa Foundation will provide capital to non-government organizations (NGOs) and investment partners supporting small and micro businesses. Small and micro businesses are the backbone of the global economy, accounting for more than 90 percent of worldwide businesses and contributing 50 to 60 percent of global employment.i There is a $300 billion annual credit deficit in funding for women-owned small and micro businesses, which is expected to grow given the recent economic turmoil unfolding due to COVID-19.ii Now more than ever, we must accelerate our support for small businesses on the frontlines driving economic growth, said Kelly. As many small and micro business owners are women, there will be a ripple effect supporting womens economic advancement, which we believe is one of the most important ways to achieve gender equality, reduce poverty and foster inclusive economic development. Through the $200 million small and micro business program, the Visa Foundation will provide $60 million in grants to NGOs dedicated to supporting small and micro business owners, many of whom are women, in every region where Visa operates. The Visa Foundation will also allocate $140 million with investment partners that generate positive social and financial returns for small and micro businesses. Two hundred million dollars in new financial resources demonstrates our continuing commitment to support small and micro businesses, with a focus on womens economic advancement globally, said Graham Macmillan, President of the Visa Foundation. When women thrive, communities thrive. We know this matters now more than ever as the global economy seeks to recover and rebuild. For more information: The Visa Foundation: https://usa.visa.com/about-visa/philanthropy/visa-foundation.html Visas recent commitment to support womens economic advancement: https://usa.visa.com/about-visa/newsroom/press-releases.releaseId.17026.html About the Visa Foundation The Visa Foundation seeks to support inclusive economies where individuals, businesses and communities can thrive. Through grantmaking and investing, the Foundation prioritizes the resilience and growth of micro and small businesses that benefit women. The Foundation also supports broader community needs and disaster response in times of crisis. The Visa Foundation is registered in the U.S. as a 501(c)3 entity. About Visa Inc. Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is the worlds leader in digital payments. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The companys relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid growth of digital commerce on any device, for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce. For more information, visit About Visa, visa.com/blog and @VisaNews. ihttps://www.un.org/en/events/smallbusinessday/ iihttps://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/news_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/news+and+events/news/bridging-gender-gap View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005067/en/ A false claim that aftershave lotions can give a high as good as alcohol claimed two lives on Friday in Tamil Nadu. The very same day, another alcoholic, frustrated with the absence of his regular fix, tried to stab his son to death. The attacker was killed by his other son. At least four deaths due to alcohol non-availability have been reported from other southern states. Further, massive burglaries have been reported in TN, targeting the local wine shops. The state government recently issued an order asking all shops in remote areas to move their booze stocks to centralised godowns or marriage halls, beefed up with police protection. Sensing these problems, including the loss of lives and state revenue, the Kerala government earlier this month declared liquor stores as an essential service, and decided to sell booze to those bringing a medical prescription. The move was stayed by the High Court there, after several doctors bodies called it an anti-people decision. What are other countries doing in this regard? The UK has announced that liquor stores would be considered an essential service. In Canada, public health authorities warned that cutting off liquor supply would have deep consequences on alcohol dependents, and thereby increase the pressure on healthcare facilities. Canada too decided to keep its liquor stores open. So have most states in the US. A person experiencing alcohol withdrawal can suffer delirium and epilepsy, leading to death, says Canadian neurobiologist Larry Grupp. The dependants could look for substitutes, and turn to dangerous products containing alcohol, he adds, just as it happened with the Tamil Nadu duo. Back in India, a government study done in 2016 says 5.7 crore Indians are addicted to alcohol. Many of these people are at the risk of harming themselves, or their family members. The longer the deprivation continues, the graver the dangers. After all in TN, three people had died of Covid-19 till Saturday and three due to alcohol deprivation. Fruits exports to China in the first quarter fell 29.4 percent year-on-year as the coronavirus pandemic halted trade activities. Exports to China, the largest buyer of Vietnamese agriculture produce, were worth $300.4 million, as containers of dragon fruit, watermelon, banana, and durian repeatedly piled up at the border due to a lack of Chinese staff to process imports, according to the Department of Farm Produce Processing and Market Development. Trade has partially resumed, but exports still suffer due to lack of demand, it said. Last year China accounted for 27.8 percent of Vietnams agriculture, forestry and seafood exports of almost $8.5 billion. Vietnams overall exports in the quarter fell 10.9 percent despite sharp increases to some markets such as a Thailand and Indonesia. Imports fell almost 30 percent to $294 million, with double-digit drops in purchases from China, Australia and Thailand. Issues with attracting migrant labour due to the Covid-19 pandemic could result in "huge challenges" for Irish fruit and vegetable growers, according to the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA). Paul Brophy, IFA chairman of horticulture and head of Brophy Produce, which grows broccoli in Naas, said farmers would face considerable challenges in growing fruit and vegetables if the pandemic hadn't cleared by June. He said he had heard of some migrants choosing not to leave their countries due to the virus, which was leading to some farmers questioning whether to plant seeds. Brophy believes issues facing the sector, which typically attracts up to 2,000 workers each year, could immediately affect soft fruit growers, who start picking berries soon. A lack of migrant labour arriving could hit stocks of some affected growers' produce. Other seasonal growers don't start until June. Flight cancellations have disrupted the routes taken by migrant labour. David Keeling, chief executive of Keelings Retail, an Irish fruit and vegetable grower, wholesaler and brand, said he is considering chartering flights to ferry workers here as a back-up plan should routes be cancelled in the future. "We are open to anything," he said. "At the moment there are still clear flights to the UK and from the UK to Ireland. That's the first choice. "In terms of chartering flights and those different things that would be a back-up plan if it became necessary. "We basically listed the options. Number one is the normal routine. If that doesn't work, then we don't think it is impossible to charter flights, because people are doing it from the UK." Keeling, who said his business had made progress in attracting overseas workers, believes the European Commission helped the industry by designating horticulture as critical. He admitted, though, that the sector was in uncertain times. "For us to predict how the next two months will go, which is when we will find out a lot in terms of staff, we are more uncertain than we have ever been," he said. "We hope there will be support in terms of ensuring critical workers are there to provide food for the nation. We are hopeful, but not certain." Over the past two weeks, Keelings has advertised for roles at its farm aimed at people in Ireland. Keeling said it was still early days but admitted interest had been reasonably limited. "It could be a good news story," he said, "if people come and help keep the nation fed." Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said the source of infection of the COVID-19 positive patient in Guwahati is yet to be found and it is a matter of concern. Addressing a press conference, Sarma said the residents of the state capital are curious to know about the people connected with the patient who lives in a high-end apartment here. "We could identify 112 persons coming in contact with him. Out of that, samples of 98 people have been collected and 14 are remaining. So far, results of 85 have come with negative and 13 are awaiting. "If all the results come negative, then there will be a big question that where he has got the infection from. He came to Guwahati from Delhi on March 1, so it cannot be from there. Then he had a short trip to Shillong," Sarma said. The businessman's family and the entire apartment complex is under quarantine with nobody allowed to enter or exit, he informed. The patient, who also suffers from asthma, is being treated at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). Talking about the protective gears, Sarma said, "We currently have 3,941 PPE (personal protective equipment) kits, 36,487 N95 masks and 7,28,022 triple-layer masks. By the end of the day, we will get 5,000 more PPE kits." The Centre has allowed Assam to make triple-layer masks locally and the work has already started, he added. "On Sunday, we released Rs 2.15 crore to different COVID-19 hospitals and Rs 50 lakh will be released soon for the quarantine centres. There is no dearth of money as of now and we are at a comfortable position. Also, Rs 19.3 crore have come to Asom Arogya Nidhi. It will be used to set up the five temporary hospitals," he said. Sarma, who also holds the finance portfolio, said the government staff will get their March salaries from April 8 onwards and requested them to help at least five poor families in their neighbourhood so that nobody is in distress in this hour of crisis. Seeking service of medical experts, the minister said, "Today morning, Mumbai's Wockhardt hospital was sealed because many of the staff tested positive. If such a case happens here, we will need additional manpower." "So we will launch a website from today. Doctors, nurses and paramedics from outside Assam or within the state willing to serve voluntarily can apply after their required quarantine."Along with Wockhardt Hospital, Jaslok Hospital in Mumbai have also been sealed after some of their medical staff, including doctors and nurses, tested positive for COVID-19. "The insurance scheme for COVID-19 frontline people has been expanded to medical staff in Assam's private hospitals, who have joined hands with the government to take all the non-coronavirus patients," Sarma announced. So far, 75,981 people have been quarantined in Assam and the first batch will finish their restrictions on April 9, he added. Asked about the lockdown, Sarma said, "We do not want the lockdown to be lifted instantly. We want a scientific and systematic withdrawal of the lockdown. The minute details will be informed to the government of India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [April 06, 2020] Izana Bioscience: Initiation of two-centre compassionate use study involving namilumab in the treatment of individual patients with rapidly worsening COVID-19 infection in Italy Initiation of two-centre compassionate use study involving namilumab in the treatment of individual patients with rapidly worsening COVID-19 infection in Italy Emergency access granted to investigational therapy Objective to treat rapidly deteriorating COVID-19 patients before ICU admission and prior to ventilation Discussions with international regulators, KOLs and clinical centres of excellence are ongoing to progress namilumab OXFORD, England, April 06, 2020 Izana Bioscience ("Izana" or "the Company"), the Oxford, UK-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of namilumab, today announces the initiation of a two-centre compassionate use study involving namilumab (IZN-101) in the treatment of patients with rapidly worsening COVID-19 in cooperation with the Humanitas research group, under the leadership of Professor Carlo Selmi, head of the Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit at Humanitas Research Hospital and Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at Humanitas University. The study will take place in Bergamo and Milan, Italy. Namilumab is the Companys wholly-owned, phase III-ready, fully human monoclonal antibody therapy targeting granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), currently in late-stage clinical development for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. GM-CSF is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a central role in a broad range of immune-mediated diseases. The cytokine has been found in higher levels of COVID-19 ICU patients, according to recent data from China1 suggesting that early intervention could be beneficial in patients with rapidly worsening COVID-19. The compassionate use programme will gather data from hospitalised, rapidly worsening COVID-19 patients, and has the overall objective of treating them before they are admitted to intensive care or equire ventilation. It also aims to support namilumabs future development for the treatment of COVID-19, and discussions with global regulatory authorities, including the UK, are in progress. Dr Someit Sidhu, Chief Executive and Co-founder of Izana Bioscience, said: We are very pleased to be supporting this programme with our anti-GM-CSF mAb, namilumab, for the potential treatment of critically-ill COVID-19 patients. The role of GM-CSF in immune-mediated diseases is backed by a strong body of evidence and our growing understanding of COVID-19. Evidence suggests that anti GM-CSF therapy has the potential to change the way patients immune systems respond to the virus, and therefore to reduce dangerous inflammation and support recovery. Professor Carlo Selmi, Coordinator of the study and Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at Humanitas University, said: Clinicians working on the frontline urgently require new treatment options for their seriously ill COVID-19 patients. Anti-GM-CSF therapies such as namilumab could play an important role in how we can prevent or reduce the deterioration in COVID-19 patients for which there are currently few treatments available. I am convinced that, even in complicated scenarios such as the current one, it is mandatory to maintain a rigorous scientific approach and in this compassionate use programme we hope to identify patients with a higher inflammatory burden, those we believe are most likely to respond to anti GM-CSF therapy. A number of patients are undergoing COVID-19 treatment at Humanitas and those that are eligible will be entered into the compassionate use programme with namilumab in accordance with local regulations. The team working with Prof. Selmi will be coordinated locally by Dr. Amidio Testa and Dr. Giacomo Guidelli. Drawing on its rapidly developing experience and expertise in the COVID-19 field, Ergomed plc, a CRO specialised in providing bespoke solutions and research services to the pharmaceutical industry, is facilitating this programme. About Izana Bioscience Izana is a translational medicine company focused on bringing innovative science to market. Izana was founded by a team of experienced pharmaceutical industry entrepreneurs and clinicians, led by Dr Someit Sidhu, Chief Executive of Izana Bioscience, and Chairman Professor Bryan Morton CBE. The Company has been initially focused on the development of namilumab in rheumatoid arthritis. Izana is backed by Innovate UK, and Takeda has a strategic equity stake in the Company. About namilumab (IZN-101) Namilumab is a human monoclonal antibody targeting granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The antibody has demonstrated efficacy and safety in a phase IIb trial2 conducted in over 100 rheumatoid arthritis patients, and a phase II proof-of-concept study in ankylosing spondylitis is ongoing. References Huang C, Wang Y, Li X, et al. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. Lancet . 2020;395(10223):497-506. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30183-5. Taylor et al. Arthritis Research and Therapy (2019) 21:101 For more information, please contact: Izana Bioscience Dr. Someit Sidhu, Chief Executive Officer [email protected] International PR Consilium Strategic Communications Mary-Jane Elliott / David Daley / Sukaina Virji / Melissa Gardiner [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)7739 788 014 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Pakistan government has cancelled Baisakhi celebrations, which were scheduled to begin from April 14, in Hassanabdal, where 3,000 Sikhs from India and 2,000 from around the were expected to converge for the festivities. A meeting of the officials with Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbadhank Committee (PSGPC) unanimously decided that as a step to curb the spread of coronavirus, there would be no Baisakhi celebrations at Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Hassanabdal this year and the scheduled visits of Sikh pilgrims have been cancelled too, Dawn reported. Baisakhi is a Sikh baptism ceremony also known as the spring harvest festival, which marks the Sikh new year. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has already been apprised about the decision. Accordingly, the Foreign Office and the Indian government have also been communicated. "We have monitored the situation closely in recent days and worked with government departments including the PSGPCand other stakeholders. We are committed to following the guidelines set by the federal government to ensure a safe environment for our Sikh pilgrim guests and we would not risk their health amid the global coronavirus outbreak," Imran Gondal, Deputy Secretary of Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) said. Pakistan, in November, announced that it would give 3,000 visas to Indians for the Baisakhi festival, as well as limitless visas for pilgrims from other parts of the The ETPB had also issued a schedule for Indian pilgrims that were shared with the Indian government. Security, boarding and lodging arrangements had been finalised at all the temples the pilgrims would visit. Sardar Ameer Singh, General Secretary of the PSGPC, said that the decision was made to prevent all risks to public health and safety. Keeping the emotions and religious fervor of the Sikh community in view, Singh added that only symbolic Baisakhi celebrations will be observed at the renowned gurdwara. In a video message, Singh further reiterated the high priests of Akal Takht - the highest religious authority in the Sikh faith - who have already announced that Baisakhi celebrations around the would be smaller in scale due to the coronavirus epidemic. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CLEVELAND, Ohio John Krasinski had an immediate hit with his debut of Some Good News on YouTube, with the first episode getting more than 12.1 million views. So how does he top it? He organizes a Zoom performance of a song from Hamilton" featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda and the original cast for Aubrey, a 9-year-old superfan of the play. Aubrey was supposed to see the play for the first time this month, but all performances have been shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. Besides the impromptu song, Krasinski and his wife, Emily Blunt, have obtained tickets to Hamilton for Aubrey for a future performance. Thats definitely some good news for the 9-year-old. Who are you The science fiction show Doctor Who is immensely popular in the United Kingdom, so in Glasgow, someone took some inspiration from the show, using a Dalek to encourage residents to self-isolate, by order of the Dalek. Apparently, the Dalek are a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants on Doctor Who. Wellington wanders The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago has been allowing one of its oldest penguins, Wellington, to explore the facility since no people are allowed inside. This time Wellington draws the curiosity of some belugas. Circle of life KEEP YOUR DISTANCE: The Guinness World Record-holder for largest hula hoop spun shows off how she and her 10-year-old son practice social distancing. https://t.co/DlszkVE7ek pic.twitter.com/PiPi0bu0nm ABC News (@ABC) April 6, 2020 From ABC News, this would definitely ensure that no one could get close in this time of social distancing ... but it looks exhausting and dizzying. Quarantine quirks How are people keeping themselves entertained as they stay at home day after day after day? It appears theyre getting a little quirky. Amid the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak around the world, several heads of states have taken some exemplary steps to help in combating the crisis. But Irelands Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has undoubtedly outdone everyone else after offering to work as a doctor during the coronavirus crisis. AFP According to Irish media reports, Varadkar has re-registered as a medical practitioner and will work one shift a week to help mitigate the situation. Varadkar who studied medicine and spent several years as a non-consultant hospital doctor, eventually qualifying as a general practitioner in 2010 and left the profession to become a politician and was removed from the medical register in 2013. He rejoined the medical register in March and offered his services to the countrys Health Service Executive (HSE) for one session a week in areas that are within his scope of practice. REUTERS According to reports, Varadkar is helping out with phone assessments of suspected COVID-19 patients. Anybody who may have been exposed to the virus is initially assessed over the phone before they are screened. Many of his family and friends are working in the health service. He wanted to help out even in a small way, his spokesman said. Varadkar comes from a medical family. He is the son of an Indian-origin doctor and an Irish nurse. His partner, Matthew Barrett is a cardiologist and two sisters and their husbands also work in the healthcare sector. He had won praises for the handling of the coronavirus crisis in the country. Ireland had adopted early restrictions which many say have helped in reducing the number of infections in the country. AFP Varadkar move comes after Irish Health Minister Simon Harris launched a recruitment drive last month for the countrys struggling health service to tackle the coronavirus outbreak with a stark message: Your country needs you. The HSE said it had spoken to thousands of healthcare professionals who may be eligible to return after it received more than 70,000 responses for its Be on call for Ireland initiative. Ireland has so far recorded 4,994 cases of COVID-19 in the country, out of which 25 have recovered. AFP The deaths of a further 21 patients who had COVID-19 were confirmed on Sunday, bringing the total death toll there to 158. In sharp contrast, the UK has around 47,806 COVID-19 cases and 4,932 people have died of it. The UK remains one of the worst COVID-19 affected countries in Europe after Spain and Italy. Hospitals here are being warned to be on their guard for cyber-attacks. Smart tech 247 is echoing advice from Interpol, as many key organisations battling Covid-19 have been targetted by ransomware attacks. Interpol has issued a global warning to 194 countries. They are designed to lock them out of their critical systems in an attempt to extort payments. Smart tech 247 general manager Raluca Saceanu says hospitals globally are falling victim to hackers. "We have seen recent cases that included hospitals, medical labs, care centres," said Ms Saceanu. "The cyber security community globally has urged hackers to stop these attacks on hospitals." She said that hospitals here need to be sure their systems have been fully updated and protected against any threats. "Our message to all hospitals and medical centres in Ireland is to do everything possible to safeguard themselves because these criminals are capable of causing enormous disruptions. "It is important to prevent, first of all, so not to click on links in suspicious or unsolicited emails." [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] But anyway, its not a new phenomenon in Zimbabwe, every other country that has taken (lockdown) measures has deployed the police and the army all security agents to make sure that this is contained. If the deployment is being done now, I think Zimbabwe was even the last because everywhere else, soldiers are deployed because it is an emergency situation. London: Keir Starmer wasted little time in laying out early battle lines as he seeks to return his British opposition Labour Party to power, criticising Boris Johnson's Conservatives over austerity and the damage done to the National Health Service. While promising to work "constructively" with the government as it tackles the coronavirus outbreak, Starmer made clear he was willing to take the fight to Johnson on spending and the NHS, an area the Prime Minister has staked out as his own through the Brexit referendum and last year's general election. Sir Keir Starmer leaves his home in London. The new Labour leader says he wants to re-imagine Britain. Credit:Getty Images "It is going to be a completely different future, but what we can't do is go back to business as usual," Starmer said in a BBC interview on Sunday, London time. "What we can't do is make the mistake we made in 2010 and go for another decade of austerity. We've seen what that has done to the country." Starmer, a former director of public prosecutions who opposed Brexit and was the party's spokesman on the issue, was elected Labour leader replacing Jeremy Corbyn on Saturday. He has now named his top team of shadow cabinet ministers. The founder of easyJet has warned that the airline will run out of cash by August if an order for more than 100 new Airbus jets is not cancelled. Stelios Haji-Ioannou, who has no executive role but whose family controls one-third of the carriers shares, is seeking to remove the chief financial officer, Andrew Findlay. An extraordinary open letter from the businessman begins: My main objective is to terminate the 4.5bn contract between easyJet and Airbus for 107 additional useless aircraft. If this 4.5bn liability to Airbus is preserved and not cancelled by the easyJet board then, I regret to report, easyJet will run out of money around August 2020, perhaps even earlier. In response to the coronavirus pandemic and the collapse in demand among passengers, the airline has grounded its entire fleet throughout April and May. While many in the aviation industry hope that flights in significant numbers will be resumed by June, Sir Stelios says restarting mass air-travel could be much longer: Almost every country in Europe has now closed its borders to foreigners. Nobody really knows when they will open again. Fear has now taken over human behaviour when it comes to any form of foreign travel. Each country will want to keep others out for much longer than the date that their own local national lockdown ends. I think that easyJet at the end of national lockdowns will feel more like a start-up trying to find a few profitable routes for a few aircraft at a time. How many Brits will want to fly to northern Italy or Spain on holiday this June and vice-versa? Not many I think. 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 Sir Stelios criticises a forecast last week from Credit Suisse for what he says is an assumption that easyJet will fly all its current 330/350 aircraft to full capacity from October 2020 and earn higher profits in 2021 than it did in 2019. He writes: Terminating the Airbus contract is the only chance current shareholders have to maintain any value in their shares. If easyJet terminates the Airbus contract, then it does not need loans from the UK taxpayer and it has the best chance to survive and thrive in the future. He is seeking support from other shareholders to oust Mr Findlay, along with a non-executive director, Andreas Bierwirth, in an extraordinary general meeting. A spokesperson for easyJet said: The board is managing the unprecedented challenges facing the airline and the aviation sector as a whole. We remain absolutely focused on short term liquidity, removing expenditure from the business alongside safeguarding jobs and ensuring the long-term future of the airline. We believe that holding a general meeting would be an unhelpful distraction from tackling the many immediate issues our business faces. In the past four weeks, the easyJet share price has approximately halved. Dr.Vorobev, a medical jewelry company based in Kostroma, Russia, has been getting a lot of attention for the sterling silver coronavirus-shaped pendants it has been selling since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Sold online for 1,000 rubles ($13), the coronavirus pendant created by Dr. Vorobev has become a very controversial piece of jewelry on Russian social media. While some people buy it and post photos of themselves wearing it on their Instagram and VK accounts, other criticize the company for trying to make money off a global health crisis that has already killed tens of thousands around the world. Pavel Vorobyov, the founder of Dr. Vorobev, insists that the pendant is a gesture of support for health professionals, not a way to exploit the current crisis. Photo: Dr. Vorobev Our purpose and mission with this project is to support our doctors, Vorobyov told Russian radio station Govorit Moskva. It can be a talisman or some kind of amulet for them, a symbol of victory over the virus. Our followers on social media are respectable people doctors and people with ties to medicine, the jeweler added, claiming that many of the patients diagnosed with Covid-19 bought the pendant as gifts for the doctors who saved their lives. Dr. Vorobev apparently saw the opportunity very early on, starting work on it as soon as microscopic images of the novel coronavirus became available, before anyone in Russia had heard about it. As a medical jewelry brand that also creates jewels shaped like DNA double helixes, and organs like hearts and lungs, Dr. Vorobev considers its decision to make a coronavirus-shaped pendant natural. Photo: Dr. Vorobev People started buying it, posting the product on their social media pages, Pavel Vorobev, the firms founder, told Reuters. No matter how sad it is, it has become a trend. It has had a viral effect. Dr. Vorobev claims to have already sold over 1,000 coronavirus pendants all around the world, and expects to start seeing bulk orders from clinics soon. The company also plans to start offering brooches shaped as caged coronaviruses to doctors working to slow the spread of Covid-19. FP Trending NASA is working on the Artemis program that aims to land humans on the moon by 2024. The space agency has put forward a plan showing what a US lunar presence may look like after the milestone. NASA submitted a 13-page report to the National Space Council on 2 April. The National Space Council is an advisory group to US President Donald Trump, presided over by Vice President Mike Pence. The report titled NASAs Plan for Sustained Lunar Exploration and Development offers a summary of how the space agency will accomplish the 2024 moon landing mission. It also gives information on what the US would achieve from a long-term presence on the moon and lunar orbit. For years to come, Artemis will serve as our North Star as we continue to work toward even greater exploration of the moon, where we will demonstrate key elements needed for the first human mission to Mars, said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine in a statement released with the report. The focus of the report is the Artemis Base Camp at the South Pole of the moon. NASA says that they plan to conduct operations on and around the moon and for that, they require Artemis Base Camp, which will be their first sustainable foothold on the lunar frontier. The initial plan is to move to one to two-month stays to learn more about the moon and the universe. NASA said in the long term, the base camp will need infrastructure for power, waste disposal and communications, besides radiation shielding and a landing pad. The base camp, as per the report, will demonstrate the USs continued leadership in space and will eventually help them prepare to undertake humanitys first mission to Mars. Florenstine Johnson had heard that a global pandemic was spreading. But the 76-year-old also had a funeral to get to. She flew back from Maryland to Texas in late March, to a state under siege. Now Johnson is praying the decision to go wont cost her a paycheck, let alone her well-being. I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ but also wisdom, she said, so Im using hand sanitizer. Johnson is one of about 70,000 home health aides across the state, men and women who earn little above minimum wage to care for the elderly and those living with disabilities, among the most vulnerable to severe or fatal reactions to the new coronavirus. They are not trained medical professionals but handle essential tasks such as cooking, cleaning, bathing and picking up groceries and prescriptions. Sometimes they are the only people a client sees all day. With the virus starting to ravage cities across Texas, including San Antonio, many aides, their employers and the people they care for are struggling with questions such as whether they should continue working, whether they can afford not to and how heir clients would get by without them. Vickie McGiboney, RN administrator at Interim Healthcare, worries about her employees when they head to appointments across San Antonio. She ensures they have the latest updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and scrambles to equip them with scarce personal protection equipment, including masks and gloves. Were naked out there, she said. Thats how we feel sometimes. She takes their temperatures before they head to their appointments, reminding them to text her if they feel overwhelmed. McGiboney encourages her staff members to report the minute theyre feeling any symptoms linked to the novel coronavirus. And that concern includes ensuring there is an accounting of other health care workers at appointed locations to minimize any chance of cross-contamination. Im trying to remind everybody, she said. We need to stay informed. This is no joke. Curtistine Adams, one of McGiboneys field supervisors, said she loves her work but worries more about who is in contact with her ailing mother other than herself. A self-described hugger, Adams calls her work a ministry because her face may be the only one her clients, many seniors, may see each week. These days a mask covers her face and gloves protect her hands when she goes over care plans with clients. Its serious, Adams said, and we have to take necessary precautions to protect ourselves and those we come in contact with. I love being with my clients. I love everyone, but the geriatric, they are my heart. As the crisis deepens, home health care workers and their clients across the state are worried. The No. 1 challenge is trying to give our staff protective gear, said Al Visram, a co-owner of Crescent Home Health in Houston. Gloves arent really a problem. Masks I cant find. Ashley Sherrard, who lives in Kaufman, just east of Dallas, had to turn her sons aide away because the aides boyfriend is a paramedic. Sherrards son, Walker, has heart and lung defects, as well as an immune deficiency. He has already been hospitalized once this year for pneumonia. I think she was a little surprised, but she totally gets it, Sherrard said of the aide, who has also had to stop her second job, as a substitute teacher. She wants to put his health first, because she knows how bad it is when he gets sick. Bernadette Fields, who runs Bernadette Fields Healthcare south of Houston, said one of her aides quit Monday because she was afraid to ride the bus. I had another worker who called me, and I said, Dont panic, Fields said. I just tell them they have to follow protocol and continue doing everything theyre doing. Thats the best thing they can do, wash their hands and sanitize. Johnson, who works for Fields, said she returned to her elderly client earlier this week, though the woman was initially concerned about being exposed to the virus. I reassured her and shes comfortable with it, Johnson said, adding that she will stop working if she develops symptoms. I cant afford it, she said, but I will do it. With many aides already struggling to make ends meet, however attendants in Texas earn on average about $10.50 an hour, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, and dont receive benefits there is a strong incentive to continue working even in the face of exposure. The hourly rates are in large part determined by Medicaid. This is the single largest issue that Im hearing about, said Dennis Borel, who heads the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities. The state last estimated in 2015 that there were about 1.2 million people receiving care from home health aides. Many of them, Borel said, stake their independence on someone who gets very low pay and doesnt have sick leave. Thats what the big concern is: Are they going to get the same level of attendant care? Are attendants going to feel they need to come to work if theyre sick? That key person, is that person going to be available? Parents and patient advocates are hoping the federal stimulus money that is expected to start flowing this month will help relieve the financial burden on aides, most of whom are women and nonwhite, and that state lawmakers can provide additional relief, such as temporary paid sick leave. Some home health companies have discussed sharing staff if shortages emerge. But that carries its own risks. In San Antonio, there are fears that a staff member working at a Southeast Side nursing home may have spread the virus at other nursing homes; two of the eight employees who tested positive for COVID-19 at Southeast Nursing & Rehabilitation Center work in other facilities. Thats what happened in Seattle. The CDC said that kind of crossover hiring contributed to the deadly outbreak in nursing homes there. That prompted Mayor Ron Nirenberg to issue an emergency order prohibiting nursing home employees from working in more than one facility. Vera Johnson, a 59-year-old aide who has her own disability, said she cant afford to stop working. Her husband died a few years ago, she has children, and her mother, who has asthma and Alzheimers, is now living with her. Her air conditioner also recently stopped working. I find Im washing my hands so much that theyre stinging, Johnson said. Theyre so dry. She said her elderly client loves to walk, and they normally make four laps around her apartment complex. That had to stop. Shes just very scared to go outside, Johnson said. Johnson couldnt talk anymore, though. Her daughter was calling. They needed to go shop for emergency supplies. jeremy.blackman @chron.com vtdavis@express-news.net The coronavirus pandemic has thrown the world off its axis, and in Albany the center of New Yorks political world that fact became clear as lawmakers deliberated, debated and passed a state budget, all in an eerily quiet state Capitol building. With the state on virtual lockdown and some legislators even battling the virus themselves, convening in the state Senate or Assembly chambers to pass the budget seemed like an obvious danger to be avoided, if at all possible. Thats why both houses adopted resolutions in late March, just before the April 1 budget deadline, allowing remote voting during a declared state or national emergency. But while remote voting has been authorized, voting on the budget bills last week was almost entirely analog. Both the Senate and Assembly largely relied on default voting practices, which allowed members to attend session via a livestream and only show up on the floor if they wanted to vote against a bill or against their party. Most of the time, it was just the Senate and Assembly leadership and clerks who had to be physically present to run the proceedings. Now, with the budget process over, some advocacy groups argue that setting up a system to allow lawmakers to actually vote remotely or electronically is crucial to ensuring that they continue to legislate throughout the pandemic. I dont think its an either or, I think the system has to be set up, Susan Lerner, executive director of the good government group Common Cause New York, told City & State when asked whether the Legislature should move to actual remote voting for the rest of session. We are paying them to be legislators, so it behooves them to utilize the technology that exists and do their jobs remotely, just as we are all doing our jobs remotely those of use who are still employed. Both the state Senate and Assembly have taken the first steps to allowing that to happen, by passing resolutions that authorize remote voting. The Senates resolution says that leadership may allow senators to attend and participate in any proceeding remotely, including but not limited to video conferencing or teleconferencing. The Assembly resolution is similar, allowing leadership to vote against a bill electronically. In some sense, voting in the Senate and the Assembly already happens mostly by default. Because of existing rules on voting in both houses, lawmakers largely do not have to show up on the Senate or Assembly floors to register their votes systems which worked to their advantage in the age of social distancing. The Assembly uses a system referred to as party voting, in which floor leaders for each party conference vote for their colleagues as a bloc, and anyone from that party who wants to vote against the party line had to show up on the floor to register their vote. In the Senate, a similar system of effective voting by default is used, in which senators votes are automatically recorded as a yea on bills on the non-controversial calendar, and they only have to take action if they want to vote against the bill. To do that, senators either show up on the floor to speak against the bill, or submit their nay vote via whats referred to as a Rule 9 form. Thats what state Sen. Julia Salazar said she did in order to vote against each of the Article VII budget bills. The Rule 9 form is not unlike an absentee ballot for regular elections, but is typically reserved for senators who cant be present for a committee meeting because of specific extenuating circumstances. This past week, however, senators who didnt want to show up to the floor to vote against a bill were able to use the form to register their vote. But even that system of voting while technically remote requires a physical piece of paper to be signed and returned to the Senate floor counsel in person or over email. While voting on the budget wasnt any more high-tech than usual, lawmakers were able to attend sessions virtually, watching live streams to monitor what was happening on the floor, some of them from their offices in Albany. In order to check in and be marked present, senators at times checked in with the Senate clerk through the video conferencing app Zoom. But Lerner said that while the capabilities for remote voting are widely available in different forms through companies like Zoom or the government software company Granicus the Legislature hasnt actually developed a system for doing it in New York. Representatives for the Assembly majority conference did not respond to a request for comment about whether any remote voting system was currently in place. And while a Senate majority spokesman referred to having the option and capacity for remote voting, they did not provide details on what technology they would use to do that. Lerner and other proponents of actual remote voting said there were a range of systems that could allow lawmakers to participate in the rest of the legislative session from their districts and attend meetings, debate bills and register votes on legislation electronically. Zoom, for example, might be used by lawmakers to debate and speak on bills. Lerner said lawmakers could vote on bills with the softwares poll function, or by just raising their hands or voicing their votes. Possible hurdles to this would be figuring out how to make video conference proceedings available to the public in order to comply with the states open meetings law, as well as ensuring that all lawmakers have access to the technology. There are also services specifically tailored to government, like the company Granicus, which offers options for live streaming public meetings and instant digital voting. Andrew Hoppin, the former chief information officer for the state Senate, has been advocating for adopting remote voting in the state Legislature, along with good government groups like Common Cause New York and Citizens Union and special interest groups like the Drug Policy Alliance and Tenants PAC. Hoppin said that the IT resources of the Legislature are more than equipped to handle a transition to remote legislating. The New York Legislature maintains more sophisticated and well-resourced technology organizations than most states, and Im confident that they could readily add affordable off-the-shelf software applications where needed to support these elected bodies in being fully operational while working remotely during this time, Hoppin said in a statement last week. As others have pointed out, one remaining hurdle for remote legislating is the requirement in the state constitution that the Legislature print out physical copies of its bills. One possible advantage of Zoom is that because of the coronavirus outbreak, most lawmakers are already familiar with it. The Assembly and Senate majority conferences used Zoom for their private conference meetings during the budget proceedings, and havent reported any technical failures. In fact, both state Sen. Brad Hoylman and Assemblyman Clyde Vanel said that Zoom calls were sometimes more productive than regular meetings with their conferences, as mute features cut down on lawmakers talking over each other. But while Zoom has become a daily constant for many people working from home, it has also attracted widespread scrutiny for questionable privacy and security practices not only from cybersecurity experts but from states attorneys general, including state Attorney General Letitia James. The company has addressed some of these flaws including fixing code that sent information about users devices directly to Facebook. One of the larger remaining issues is a practice called Zoom-bombing, in which hackers or trolls infiltrate a Zoom meeting. They might do it to disrupt a meeting or to shout racist insults or even share sexually explicit images. While Hoylman said the Senate Democratic Conferences Zoom meetings havent had any such bombings, he was a part of a recent Zoom meeting for the advocacy group New York Indivisible that was hacked. It was crashed by what seemed to be fascists or neo-Nazis or some group with an agenda, he said. It was hard to understand. While Zoom bombings may not have targeted the state Legislatures conference meetings yet, Hoylman said hes aware of that threat. Thats a concern, that somebody could hack in either for political espionage purposes or just to disrupt the meeting, he said. While these security and privacy issues remain, some caution against adopting Zoom for wider legislative use. They havent shown that they really have had an appropriate security posture, and that they really have set up a system thats secure enough to be used for the types of things like voting in the state Legislature, said Justin Cappos, a computer science professor at New York University. With a swell of security issues coming to light for Zoom in the past few weeks as its users have surged because of so many people working and going to school from home Cappos said that the companys flaws may run deep. Cappos compared it to buying a house, then finding out that the roof is leaky or the walls start to lean. Those problems, he said, can be patched up easily enough. But if the way youve architected your system is poorly done, its not just a matter of patching the holes that people have found, he said. If your architecture is flawed, its really hard to have a system that is going to be secure. Zoom, for its part, has said it is shifting its engineering resources to focus on safety and privacy. We are deeply upset to hear about the incidents involving this type of attack and we strongly condemn such behavior, a Zoom spokesperson said in an emailed statement, referring to the Zoom-bombing problem. Starting on March 20th, we have been actively educating users on how they can protect their meetings and help prevent incidents of harassment through features like waiting rooms, passwords, muting controls and limiting screen sharing. Zooms issues aside, that doesnt mean that remote legislating will inherently be insecure. Cappos said that there are other systems available, and that if the state Legislature decided to transition to fully remote voting, it would just have to prioritize security and privacy checks on whatever system it used. Describing the way attendance and voting was handled for passage of the state budget, multiple lawmakers told City & State that they were satisfied with how it all played out last week but were interested in exploring options for technology that would allow them to actually debate and vote remotely. We have to worry about a number of different things when it comes to these kinds of technologies, but we're not afraid to get 213 people to be able to use different tools to continue the people's business, Vanel said. This is a changing time and a new time, and Im excited that were using these different technologies. It remains unclear whether the Legislature will reconvene in Albany after the post-budget two-week recess. At least a few lawmakers may not be especially eager to return, even if technology-based alternatives are available. After having a taste of attending session via live stream, Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara said that lawmakers might not want to go back to the state Capitol after the budget was passed. Its like we rediscovered technology, he told City & State. Things are not going to be the same. With reporting by Zach Williams Two European commissioners have urged Germany to agree to the EU issuing joint debt to fight the coronavirus crisis, as wealthy northern nations remain reluctant to back the so-called coronabonds. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has urged the EU to issue the bonds to help the bloc's hardest hit countries fund their battle against the devastating economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, but the Netherlands, Germany and Austria remain reluctant. The proposal of coronabonds is to come up with new funding to counter the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has most people in the EU confined to their homes and has caused the global economy to grind to a virtual standstill. A bond, essentially an IOU with a serial number, is issued by governments or companies in need of money. Bonds expire after a fixed amount of time and generate a fixed interest, that is usually paid twice per year. "Like the European Central Bank in the monetary and financial sphere, the member states must now prove their joint decisive and innovative spirit," internal market commissioner Thierry Breton and economy commissioner Paolo Gentiloni wrote in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) daily. That could take the shape of "a European fund whose explicit function would make possible issuing long-term bonds" Breton and Gentiloni suggest. "Strictly limited to collective investments for industrial revitalisation in the context of the current crisis," the instrument would be proof of "unshakeable solidarity" among EU nations, they argue. Northern reluctance The northern nations prefer to stick to existing financial relief facilities, which have been criticised by a group of states including Italy, France and Spain, which says this will eventually lead to stringent austerity programmes dictated by Brussels. But conservative politicians in the north fear the coronabonds would mean a collective responsibility for all sovereign debts and while taxpayers of their countries footing the bill for supposed southern profligacy. Finance ministers from the 19-nation single currency member states will meet again on Tuesday to seek a solution to the deadlock. Post corona Marshall Plan Germany's Olaf Scholz on Friday proposed a three-pronged scheme including cheap loans from the financial crisis-era European Stability Mechanism (ESM), cash from the European Investment Bank and an EU-wide unemployment reinsurance scheme, skirting the issue of joint debt. And EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday promised a post-corona "Marshall Plan" for the bloc funded through its existing joint budget, for which the next seven-year period runs through 2027. Responding to Scholz's plans, Breton and Gentiloni argue that a "fourth pillar" of financial aid would be needed to master the crisis, "given the size of the sums involved". Also in FAZ and France's Le Figaro, the President of German Parliament Wolfgang Schaeuble and his French counterpart Richard Ferrand called for "more solidarity and fiscal integration" in Europe. Let us win this war on COVID-19: Modi sets 5 tasks for BJP workers on partys foundation day India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Apr 06: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today addressed party workers on the occasion of the BJP's 40th foundation day. In his address, he urged all the party workers to go all out and ensure that this war against the coronavirus is won. He said that India is one of those few countries which understood the problem early. The Centre has worked with all state governments to ensure that this battle is not lost. India has been proactive in this fight, the PM also said. Modi lauded the people of India in standing united in this fight. The Indian people have shown a great deal of maturity during this lockdown. No one imagined that such a big country could enforce a lockdown. I have only the people to thank for it, he also said. Modi said that this is a long battle and we cannot afford to get tired. We cannot afford to be defeated and we have to win this battle at any cost, the PM also said. He said that during these tough times, there is a huge responsibility on the BJP workers. Your responsibility has only increased now. Every BJP worker must ensure that the poor are fed. Food should reach these people and no poor should go hungry, the PM said. With Sankrit Shloka, PM Modi leads country in lighting diyas to show collective resolve He said when the workers go to help anyone, they should ensure their mouth and nose is covered. You do not need a mask. You can use a cloth at home. This is important as it is important for us to fight the virus, he also said. Let us make face covers at home and even give it to our relatives, he said. The PM also told the BJP workers to initiate a programme whereby those helping in the fight against this virus are thanked. Health workers, police, bank staff, post office employees and those supplying essential commodities need to be thanked. Prepare thank you letters for these persons and give it to them, the PM told the BJP workers. He also said that the government had come out with the ArogyaSetu application. Publicise the app and each BJP worker must ensure that the app is installed on at least 40 mobiles. He also urged them to help people set up the app. Modi further said that this is nothing short of a war. This is a war on humanity. People are contributing to the PM Cares Fund. However it has to be much more. Each party worker must contribute, he said. Each party worker must ensure that 40 persons also contribute towards this fund, the PM also said. Modi said that social distancing and enforcing the lockdown is extremely important. We have to win this war against coronavirus at any cost, he also added. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, April 6, 2020, 12:36 [IST] Nepal on Sunday extended the lockdown by a week to prevent the spread of COVID-19. A Cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister's residence decided to extend the lockdown by an additional eight days till April 7. Last week, the government had imposed nationwide lockdown, which was set to end on March 31. A high-level Government Coordination Committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishwar Pokhrel on Sunday afternoon recommended Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli led government to extend the lockdown."This war (against COVID-19) is not solely of the central government or state mechanism. It is to be fought by people in a collective way. It is a war against the protagonist of human civilization, prosperity and against the progress of human upliftment and development. To fight against it, unity among all is important. We all should go hand-in-hand. I request all the people from various backgrounds to come jointly against it," Ishwar Pokhrel, Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal, said in a video statement. The committee led by Pokhrel on Sunday afternoon had made the decision to extend the ban on international flight till mid of April. Nepal has been under complete lockdown from March 24, a day after a 19-year-old France returnee via Qatar tested positive with the COVID-19 virus. There is a total of nine cases of coronavirus in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) British medics were clear last night Boris Johnson would not be in an intensive care unit unless he definitely needed to be. The move marks a serious escalation in his treatment and will not have been taken lightly by his team of doctors at London's St Thomas' hospital. 'The NHS, particularly in this moment, doesn't give up intensive care beds just for people to be looked over,' Reading University's Dr Simon Clarke said. So what is in store for a patient battling coronavirus who requires ICU treatment? Medical teams treating the most seriously ill patients will work one-on-one in the wards and have a host of equipment to measure every aspect of people's bodies from heartbeat and temperature to their exact blood oxygen level a key indicator in coronavirus deterioration. On Friday, the PM released a selfie-style video from self-isolation in Number 11 revealing he still had the symptoms of Covid-19 Police officers stand in front of Emergency Department outside St Thomas' Hospital in London What is an intensive care unit like? Patients on an ICU will be looked after closely by medics and will be connected to equipment by a number of tubes, wires and cables. There will normally be one nurse for every one or two patients patients. Equipment used includes a ventilator (common among coronavirus patients), monitoring equipment, IV lines and pumps, feeding tubes, drains and catheters. This equipment is used to monitor their health and support their bodily functions until they recover. Patients in an intensive care ward can often be sedated because some of the equipment used makes them uncomfortable. Intensive care units throughout the country have been put under immense strain by coronavirus, such that they have stopped or restricted visits. Source: NHS Advertisement Even within ICU, some patients will be 'better' than others. Sources told The Times last night that Mr Johnson had needed four litres of oxygen, compared to 15l for some more desperately ill patients. At one end of the spectrum, those being treated will remain conscious and 'continuous positive airway pressure' or CPAP treatment is used. With this, patients are put in a hood or tightly fitting mask and oxygen is delivered at higher pressure to keep the airways open. This is especially useful for people suffering pneumonia, which sources denied was the case for Mr Johnson. But at the other end of that spectrum, mechanical ventilation will be necessary with the patient placed in a medically induced coma. Tubes will be placed into their windpipes to breath for them and their heart, lungs and other organs will be constantly monitored. Drugs and fluids, as needed, will be dispensed. Derek Hill, Professor of Medical Imaging at UCL, said tonight: 'A ventilator can be invasive, involving a tube being put down the patient's throat, or non-invasive, for example, breathing through a specialised mask. Invasive ventilation tends to be recommended for COVID-19 patients.' The ventilators - which use sophisticated software and sensors to adjust the levels of oxygen required - can be administered to a conscious or unconscious patient. The Prime Minister may be put on an ECMO machine, a highly specialised device that is more sophisticated than a ventilator. St Thomas' is one of just six UK hospitals with a centre for adult ECMO extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation. The machines, which take the blood out of the body to remove the carbon dioxide and replenish the oxygen, are used on patients whose lungs are not working properly. The treatment costs an average of 45,000 a head, but makes recovery much easier because it allows the lungs time to heal. A busy intensive care ward at UCL, with facemask-wearing medics looking after patients in the London hospital amid the coronavirus outbreak The BBC's Fergus Walsh showed NHS staff treating patients inside intensive care at University College Hospital in London An Italian patient receiving CPAP treatment, as seen in a Sky News report from northern Italy Wherever course of action his doctors are using on the Prime Minister, medics said being on an intensive care ward even being in a private room would be frightening for a patient and could last days even if he is not hooked up to machines. Intensive care units can be overwhelming places for both patients and their loved ones, although the highly transmissible nature of coronavirus means many hospitals have stopped or restricted visits. Mr Raab, also First Secretary of State, is primed to take charge of the government's coronavirus response, but it is understood he is not a temporary prime minister (pictured at today's No 10 press briefing) Ambulances outside at St Thomas' Hospital in central London as Prime Minister Boris Johnson was moved to intensive care after his coronavirus symptoms worsened Downing Street infection timeline March 10: Health minister Nadine Dorries became the first MP to test positive for coronavirus, shortly after attending a Downing Street reception. March 27: Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock both release Twitter videos saying they have coronavirus and are self-isolating. Hours later, chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty revealed he was self-isolating with symptoms. March 30: The PM's top adviser Dominic Cummings was revealed to be self-isolating with coronavirus symptoms. April 2: Matt Hancock returns to work after seven days in isolation and making a recovery. April 3: Boris Johnson releases a video from his Number 11 flat saying he is continuing to self-isolate as he is still suffering a temperature. April 4: Carrie Symonds, the PM's pregnant fiancee reveals she has been self-isolating at her Camberwell flat. April 5: The PM is taken to St Thomas' Hospital as a precaution. April 6: The PM is moved to intensive care after his condition spiralled. Prof Chris Whitty also fronted the press conference after his period in isolation. Advertisement Linda Bauld, a public health professor at the University of Edinburgh, said: 'The admission of the Prime Minister to intensive care is of huge concern and illustrates just how indiscriminate this virus is. 'Anyone anywhere, including the most privileged in our society, can be affected and can become seriously ill. It is imperative now, more than ever that the rest of us comply with government guidelines to stay at home and not put others at risk. 'All our thoughts will be with the Prime Minister and his family, and the many other families who are facing similar circumstances with critically ill relatives.' St Thomas' is a major teaching hospital that specialises in critical care. It is situated on the Thames opposite the Houses of Parliament and has two intensive care units that house 19 permanent beds. St Thomas' also specialises in heart and lung surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology and children's medicine. Once a patient no longer requires intensive care they can begin what is often a long road towards a full recovery, although sometimes there are lingering problems. Health experts say that as a general rule patients will need a week of convalescence for every week that they are in intensive care. And they agreed tonight that the PM's admission to intensive care means he is 'extremely sick'. The Prime Minister was transferred to the ICU at St Thomas' Hospital in London at 7pm this evening Armed police patrol St Thomas' hospital, where the PM is in intensive care Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday expressed grief over the death of two Army personnel from the state killed in a fierce gun battle with a terrorist group that had infiltrated from across the Line of Control in Kashmir. Paratrooper Bal Krishan of Kullu's Puyed village and Subedar Sanjeev Kumar of Bilaspur's Dehra village alongwith three other soldiers had fallen to the bullets of the militants in the higher reaches of Keran sector in north Kashmir on late Sunday night. In his message, the chief minister said that he would pray that the departed souls attain peace and expressed sympathies with the bereaved family members. Transport minister Govind Singh Thakur and state Congress president Kuldeep Singh Rathore also condoled the deaths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A screengrab of one of several ads airing in Pennsylvania this month by Democratic Political Action Committees slamming Trump's response to the coronavirus. Read more It may seem as if politics has come to a halt these days until you turn on the television. Several Democratic political action committees have bought millions of dollars of airtime in Pennsylvania to slam President Donald Trumps handling of the coronavirus crisis amid a national moment of fear and frustration. The groups are specifically targeting the battleground states Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan to call out Trumps early downplaying of the severity of the virus and actions they say have put the nation at further risk. This campaign right now is a referendum on how the president is going to handle this horrible situation and how it bleeds into the economy, and nothing else matters," said Neil Oxman, a Democratic political strategist based in Philadelphia. The criticism is real enough that you dont ignore it, youre not gonna let him slide. You try to freeze peoples minds on the fact that this guy denied it, called it a hoax. You just drill it in as hard as you can. Democratic groups have spent more than $6 million to air television and radio ads that began March 16 and reserving airtime through June 30. Priorities USA has spent $5 million in the Keystone State. One of the groups ads features sound bites of Trump calling the virus a hoax and assuring the cases will soon reach zero as a graph of the number of actual cases rises dramatically. Another juxtaposes clips of Trump with one of Democratic front-runner Joe Biden. The ads are targeted at parts of Pennsylvania with more independent voters and where Trump did well in 2016: the Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Johnstown-Altoona media markets, with a small investment in Philadelphia. Unite the Country, a PAC that supports Biden, debuted an ad showing Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama rising to meet crises, while asserting Trump has not met his. Donald Trump didnt create the coronavirus, but he is the one who called hoax, who eliminated the pandemic response team, and who let the virus spread unchecked across America, the voice-over says. Crisis comes to every president. This one failed. Unite the Country and Protect Our Care, a coalition pushing for the expansion of the Affordable Care Act, spent or committed $1 million in Pennsylvania. READ MORE: Russian trolls politicized vaccines in 2016. Could coronavirus be next? According to data from Advertising Analytics, there has been no spending for TV or radio by a Republican campaign or GOP-affiliated PAC in the last month in Pennsylvania. America First Action, a pro-Trump PAC, announced Wednesday it will defend the president with a $10 million digital, TV, and mail ad buy painting Biden as Sleepy Joe starting in mid-April and running through May. More than $5 million will go toward ads in Pennsylvania, it said. Attacking Biden may be smarter than trying to promote the presidents performance, Oxman said. They have a much higher burden of not saying something that is unbelievable about" Trumps response to the crisis, Oxman said. "They can say it to their base the 42% but to the 55% who have some skepticism or voted against him, they have to be really careful not to oversell. Trump is also on news programs daily sometimes for up to 40 minutes giving virus response updates to as many as eight million or nine million viewers. Its not always good publicity, though. Trumps news conferences have become fodder for attack ads against him. If I were Trump I would just get up there and let [Anthony] Fauci talk," Oxman said, referring to the longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who has become the face of the U.S. governments medical assessment of the virus. Hes probably the most respected guy in America right now. And because hes from New York, with a Brooklyn accent and hes an Italian, Catholic guy whos older, hes believable to everybody. Trumps campaign has also invested heavily in digital advertising on Facebook and Google. Hes benefited, some Democrats argued, from a blackout on political ads that reference the pandemic on Google. The company said last week that it would allow such ads moving forward. For Democrats, it can be tricky toeing the line between criticizing Trumps leadership and appearing to capitalize politically on a pandemic. Bidens campaign hasnt aired negative ads on Trump, and Biden has criticized the presidents response but avoided direct attacks. Asked on Meet the Press last week if he thought Trump had blood on his hands, Biden said: I think thats too far. READ MORE: Trump has a coronavirus polling bounce. How meaningful is it? Yet Democrats have defended attacks on Trumps response as critical to exposing misinformation coming out of the White House. Protect Our Care held a news conference call last week with health-care workers and legislators in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. I just dont think you can separate the politics of this from the advocacy part, said executive director Brad Woodhouse. This president responds to politics. We know hes treating Florida different than hes treating a lot of other states because he considers it a presidential battleground important to his reelection. Woodhouse accused Trump of downplaying the crisis when it was politically beneficial and changing tone when he realized the severity of the crisis and the potential fallout. Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat on the call, said being in a crisis is no excuse to stop raising questions, especially about medical workers in dire need of equipment or states waiting for help with virus testing. I dont give a damn who gets the credit, but, my God, the idea that were supposed to just be completely muted and not criticize policy? Give me a break," Casey said. "We need the policy to be as near to perfect as possible. We cant sugarcoat the challenges or the failures. Visitors and exhibitors wear masks at the Arab Health Exhibition in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Kamran Jebreili/AP) Troubled London-listed hospital company NMC Health is fighting an attempt by one of its largest lenders to force the company into administration. The BBC reported on Sunday that Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) has applied to the UKs High Court to forcibly appoint administrators to NMC Health. ADCB has lent $981m (800m) to NMC Health and said it wanted to safeguard the companys future, according to the BBC report. NMC Health said on Monday it was holding talks with ADCB and other creditors to try and have the High Court application withdrawn. NMC said it did not think the process would be in the interests of stakeholders as a whole. NMC said any resolution to creditor concerns would likely involve material changes to corporate governance of the group and the composition of the Board itself. If the company cant convince creditors to withdraw the resolution, the High Court will decide on the application on Thursday 9 April. The struggle with lenders comes after months of turmoil and scandal at the company, which operates around 200 hospitals in the Middle East and distributes medical supplies in the region. US short seller Muddy Waters raised questions about the companys true level of debt in December. NMC vigorously denied the allegations and hired a former FBI director to investigate the claims. However, the stock was suspended in February after the investigation turned up inconsistencies in its finances and the UKs Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) opened an investigation into the business. Shares had lost over 60% of their value by the time trading was halted. Last month, NMC said investigators had discovered $2.7bn of undisclosed debt, more than double what the company had previously announced. Other inconsistencies have also been discovered and the company has had trouble clarifying the ownership of shares among key investors. NMC Healths management have largely been cleared out since the start of the year as it struggles to repair the damage. Shares in the former FTSE 100 company remain suspended. Sarita Patel West Kelownas Allison Brown is living abroad in the Canary Islands in Spain and has decided to stay there amid the COVID-19 pandemic rather than returning home during the global crisis. Tenerife is a really dense island. Its population is a million people and its about half the size of Prince Edward Island so were really used to being packed in and seeing each other, but when I look out onto the streets, its like a ghost town and thats a huge adjustment. Brown says things escalated quickly in Spain. I recall on Mar. 12 I was teaching English at a local public school and I was informed that the schools would be shutting down for 15 days starting the next day. Once the news was out, people started to panic, clearing grocery store shelves, she says. We also had shortages in the grocery stores, so yes there was no toilet paper for a while, people were stocking up on meats, a lot of canned goods werent available, the frozen food section was almost emptied but now three weeks into the quarantine things have calmed down, things have stocked up. However, she says the atmosphere in the grocery stores is still high on paranoia and people are anxious. Unfortunately weve lost a lot of pleasantries that I am used to seeing day-to-day, people are more selfish and concerned for themselves - thats a bit hard to see. The country has been on lockdown for 21 days and looks to keep it that way for at least one more week. Everyone was obligated to stay in their accommodation, tourists who were here were told they were to stay in their hotel rooms and they could only visit the restaurant in their hotels and to try to find a way home as quickly as they could. If you were an essential worker, Brown says you needed a work permit with your full name, photograph and working hours to present to law enforcement during checkpoints. She believes if Canadians continue with proper social distancing techniques and healthy hygiene practises we could prevent extreme quarantine measures like Italy and Spain. While Italy was going through their quarantine, a week ahead of us - despite being a neighbour Spain was still functioning normally, not even encouraging something like social distancing, says Brown, adding people were still following the cultural norm of saying hello by kissing both cheeks. Brown says Canada is lucky to have the vast space available for people to properly social distance. We are so densely packed in here most people dont have a backyard or an outdoor space they can go into, so not many people have the benefit of getting some vitamin D and sitting outside in the sunshine. I feel really bad for families with small children who dont even have a balcony and theyre expected to entertain their kids inside for 21 days plus. She says people have definitely pushed the limits of the law. People were violating rules in every which way they could, I think. There were so many viral videos and photos circulating of people, for example, tourists swimming in hotel pools when they werent allowed to do so and being arrested by police or people jogging in the streets. After some hefty fines were given out, I think people finally learned that this is serious enough that police will fine you, they will arrest you if you are breaking the rules and you have to stay in your house. The biggest surprise to Brown was how quickly a state could be shut down. I didnt think that was possible to do in many democratic nations. Seeing pictures of China I can understand its more authoritarian, but in very democratic countries where people are used to moving around freely without question, to suddenly be shut inside our homes and having everybody following these practices is quite scary and it really speaks to the gravity of the situation. Brown is abroad living with her partner and she says his family who lives in the apartment above them has embraced her as their own. But coming home did cross her mind when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau advised Canadian citizens to return home. Travelling now feels riskier than hopefully travelling in a few months, she says. Brown is planning on returning home in August, a month before she is set to start her Masters program at either Carlton University in Ottawa or McGill University in Montreal. For Immediate Release Chicago, IL April 6, 2020 Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: TC Energy TRP, Imperial Oil IMO, Suncor Energy SU, Canadian Natural Resources CNQ and Kinder Morgan KMI. Here are highlights from Fridays Analyst Blog: Keystone XL Deal Explained: What You Need to Know Even as crude prices slumped to their lowest since 2002, the Canadian energy industry was in for some positive surprise. In a rare instance of providing funds for an oil pipeline, Alberta's United Conservative government is set to take an equity interest of $1.1 billion and authorize a $4.2-billion loan guarantee to help smooth the path forward for TC Energys much-delayed Keystone XL project. Heres what you need to know: What is the Keystone XL Pipeline & Why is it Needed? By now, it is well documented that the oil market is struggling. The price of U.S. crude fell to $19.27 a barrel at one point Monday, its lowest since 2002, while Brent crude dropped below $23 levels not seen in 17 years. The fast-spreading novel coronavirus outbreak has triggered an unprecedented selloff in the commodity. In particular, with major cities under lockdown and travel restrictions in place, the consumption for crude is set to drop substantially. Pressure in the oil markets has been exacerbated by the no-holds-barred price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia. Meanwhile, the problem has been far worse in Canada. In fact, Albertas Western Canada Select (WCS) - the benchmark for Canadian heavy crude has consistently lagged the New York-traded West Texas Intermediate ("WTI"). While oil production is surging in a country with the worlds third largest reserves, Canada's exploration and production sector has remained out of favor, primarily due to the scarcity of pipelines in part due to the political and legal hurdles. In short, pipeline construction in Canada has failed to keep pace with rising domestic crude volumes the heavier sour variety churned out of the oil sands resulting in infrastructural bottleneck. Story continues This has forced producers to give away their products in the United States Canadas major market at a discounted rate. As it is, Canadian heavy crude is inferior to the higher-quality oil extracted from shale formations in the United States and is also more expensive to transport and refine. Even a government-mandated production cut failed to prop up the depressed prices. The situation is so bad that recently WCS plunged to a record low of under $5 a barrel. This makes life harder for Canada-based crude producers. At the prevailing prices, these companies are unlikely to hit cash flow breakeven. As a response to the bearish environment, the Canadian oil fraternity has scaled back drilling activity, suspended buybacks and promised cuts to their capital budgets. The likes of Imperial Oil, Suncor Energy, Canadian Natural Resources, among others, lowered their 2020 capital expenditure target to contend with depleted oil prices. In a nutshell, the requirement for pipelines to ship Canada's surplus production is pretty obvious and this is where the Keystone XL comes in. Designed to carry 830,000 barrels of crude a day from Albertas oil sands to U.S. Gulf Coast refineries, the $8-billion, 1,900-kilometer conduit is TC Energys flagship infrastructure project. When completed, Keystone XL will considerably ease the pipeline shortage plaguing Canadas oil industry. Importantly, TC Energy has been able to secure long-term volume contracts for more than 90% of the pipelines capacity, indicating widespread commercial support for the development. How Far Along is the Project & Why is it Disputed? The long-delayed pipeline has encountered significant regulatory, legal and environmental setbacks over the year. It is strongly opposed by environmentalists and politicians, owing to the risk of emitting greenhouse gases in transporting bitumen and crude to the United States. In November 2015, president Obama rejected TC Energy's application to construct the Keystone XL pipeline on fears that it would weaken United States position in international climate change negotiations. However, in 2017, the project was cleared by President Trump as he was of the opinion that the development of such pipelines can revive the economy. After facing delays for near about a decade, the pipeline set to transport Canadian oil to refineries and distribution centers in the United States finally received regulatory approval from Nebraska commissioners last year, albeit on an alternative route to the one proposed by the company. However, the project was again hit by fresh controversy, as rerouting of the pipeline subjected it to a new legal investigation. Why is Alberta Government Investing in the Pipeline? There was just too much uncertainty associated with Keystone XL for sponsor TC Energy to commit to the projects development. The future looked bleak and the government says it had to intervene. The investment would take care of most of the construction costs till the end of this year, with the remainder being financed by the company. Once the project come online - expected in summer 2023 - TC Energy will buy out the Alberta governments portion. Following the Alberta governments newly announced financial support, TC Energy - carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) - promptly declared that it would start work on the Keystone XL pipeline immediately, pushing the long-stymied development closer to fruition. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. While questions have been raised about the use of public funds in the energy business, federal help was cited as necessary to lower the risk for this multibillion-dollar infrastructure project and push it toward completion. Supporters of the deal further point to how Canadas federal government stepped in to purchase the Trans Mountain expansion project from Kinder Morgan in 2018. At the same time, the deal was touted as important in the context of economic development and job creation at a time when the commodity price plunge and the impact of coronavirus have wreaked havoc on the industry through layoffs and oil production cuts Is the Project Finally Out of the Woods? Expectedly, the capital infusion was cheered by the industry, which believes that the pipeline would significantly improve critical market access and the price realizations for producers once we move past the current economic gloom. No doubt, Albertas Keystone investment has come as a shot in the arm for the provinces struggling energy sector. While the governments stimulus would stop the project from falling off the table, its not enough to guarantee a go-ahead. Legal hurdles in the U.S., both at the state and federal levels, still remain, which can further delay construction of the massive project. Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside? Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana. Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look. See the pot trades we're targeting>> Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) : Free Stock Analysis Report Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Kinder Morgan, Inc. (KMI) : Free Stock Analysis Report TC Energy Corporation (TRP) : Free Stock Analysis Report Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNQ) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Rob Lowe dressed up as Tiger King star Joe Exotic in a cheeky photo-shoot he posted to Instagram over the weekend. The 56-year-old movie hunk got into full character as Joe, the former zookeeper and murder-for-hire convict who is the center of the Netflix docu-series. 'Rob Exotic. UPDATE: Ryan Murphy and I will be developing our version of this insane story. Stay tuned!' he quipped in the caption. Goofing around: Rob Lowe (left) dressed up as Tiger King star Joe Exotic (right) in a cheeky photo-shoot he posted to Instagram over the weekend In lieu of an actual tiger, Rob posed up with one of his beloved Jack Russell terriers for his new Instagram album. Ryan executive producers American Crime Story, an anthology series that dramatizes real-life cases with huge public profiles. The first season followed the O.J. Simpson trial, the second was about the murder of Gianni Versace and the third will cover the Clinton scandals of the 1990s. Joe is currently in prison for his failed attempt to take a hit out on his rival Carole Baskin, as well as several animal cruelty counts. Feeling the part: The 56-year-old movie hunk got into full character as Joe, the former zookeeper and murder-for-hire convict who is the center of the Netflix docu-series 'Stay tuned!': UPDATE: Ryan Murphy and I will be developing our version of this insane story,' quipped 'Rob Exotic' in the caption The Netflix show, which became a smash hit over not only its main story about big cat owners but also subplots involving polyamory and meth, has many viewers wondering who would act in a fictionalized version. Joe's ex John Finlay, who was one of his 'husbands' on the series although they were never legally married, told People his own ideas. John revealed his first choice to play him is Magic Mike hunk Channing Tatum, who has 'always had a special place in my heart.' As John explained: 'He did a shout-out to my distant cousin; she died of stage-four brain cancer. When he did his shout-out, he did it because it was on her bucket list.' Making do: In lieu of an actual tiger, Rob posed up with one of his beloved Jack Russell terriers for his new Instagram album Apart from his personal reasons John said that Channing 'a really good actor, and a lot of people are putting names out there with him in it.' The runner-up is Shia LaBeouf who 'would probably be a good choice because with a beard he can look like me, and he can relate to me.' Last week Rob shared his reaction to his 25-year-old son John announcing on Instagram that he has been sober for two years. Rob, who has himself been sober for three decades, commented on his son's post: 'I have never been more proud. Your hard work is an inspiration. Keep Coming Back.' Backdrop: Joe is currently in prison for his failed attempt to take a hit out on his rival Carole Baskin, as well as several animal cruelty counts LONDON - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to a hospital Sunday for tests, his office said, because he is still suffering symptoms, 10 days after he was diagnosed with COVID-19. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 5/4/2020 (645 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. In this handout photo provided by 10 Downing Street, Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson claps outside 11 Downing Street to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic, in London, Thursday, April 2, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (Pippa Fowles/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.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.(Pippa Fowles/10 Downing Street via AP) LONDON - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to a hospital Sunday for tests, his office said, because he is still suffering symptoms, 10 days after he was diagnosed with COVID-19. Johnsons office said the admission to an undisclosed London hospital came on the advice of his doctor and was not an emergency. The prime minister's Downing St. office said it was a precautionary step and Johnson remains in charge of the government. Johnson, 55, has been quarantined in his Downing St. residence since being diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 26 the first known head of government to fall ill with the virus. Johnson has continued to preside at daily meetings on Britains response to the outbreak and has released several video messages during his 10 days in isolation. In a message Friday, a flushed and red-eyed Johnson said he said he was feeling better but still had a fever. FILE - In this Tuesday, March 17, 2020 file photo British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he gives a press conference about the ongoing situation with the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak inside 10 Downing Street in London. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to a hospital with the coronavirus. Johnson's office says he is being admitted for tests because he still has symptoms 10 days after testing positive for the virus.(AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File) The virus causes mild to moderate symptoms in most people, but for some, especially older adults and the infirm, it can cause pneumonia and lead to death. U.S. President Donald Trump offered encouragement to Johnson as he opened a White House briefing on the pandemic Sunday. All Americans are praying for him, Trump said. Johnson has received medical advice remotely during his illness, but going to a hospital means doctors can see him in person. Dr. Rupert Beale, a group leader of the cell biology of infection lab at the Francis Crick Institute for biomedical studies, said doctors would likely be monitoring important vital signs such as oxygen saturations, as well as performing blood tests, assessing Johnsons organ function and possibly performing a CT scan on his chest to assess his lungs. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who has been designated to take over if Johnson becomes incapacitated, is set to lead the government's coronavirus meeting Monday. Johnsons fiancee, Carrie Symonds, 32, revealed Saturday that she spent a week in bed with coronavirus symptoms, though she wasn't tested. Symonds, who is pregnant, said she was now on the mend. She has not been staying with the prime minister in Downing St. since his diagnosis. The government said Sunday that almost 48,000 people have been confirmed to have COVID-19 in the U.K., and 4,934 have died. Johnson replaced Theresa May as Conservative prime minister in July and won a resounding election victory in December on a promise to complete Britain's exit from the European Union. But Brexit, which became official Jan. 31, has been overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe. Johnson's government was slower than those in some European countries to impose restrictions on daily life in response to the pandemic, leading his critics to accuse him of complacency. He imposed an effective nationwide lockdown March 23, but his government remains under huge pressure to boost the country's number of hospital beds and ventilators and to expand testing for the virus. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. London has been the centre of the outbreak in the U.K., and politicians and civil servants have been hit hard. Several other members of Johnsons government have also tested positive for the virus, including Health Secretary Matt Hancock and junior Health Minister Nadine Dorries. Both have recovered. News of Johnsons admission to hospital came an hour after Queen Elizabeth II made a rare televised address to the nation, in which she urged Britons to remain united and resolute in the fight against the virus. We will succeed and that success will belong to every one of us, the 93-year-old monarch said, drawing parallels to the struggle of World War II. We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again," she said. ___ Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak On Tuesday (April 7) at 2:08 p.m. EDT (1808 GMT), the moon will arrive at its closest point to Earth in 2020: a distance of 221,772 miles (356,907 kilometers) away. And 8 hours and 35 minutes later, the moon will officially turn full. Although a full moon theoretically lasts just a moment, that moment is imperceptible to ordinary observation, and for a day or so before and after most will speak of seeing the nearly full moon as "full," although if you look carefully enough, you'll be able to tell that on Monday night and Wednesday night, the moon will appear ever-so-slightly out of roundness compared to Tuesday night. The narrow strip of darkness will appear on the left side of the moon on Monday and the right side of the moon on Wednesday. What was once called a "perigean full moon" is now referred to in popular parlance, as a "supermoon." Related: How to watch the 'Super Pink Moon' online tonight! More: Activities and resources for homebound kids: A coronavirus guide In addition, the near coincidence of Tuesday's full moon with perigee will result in a dramatically large range of high and low ocean tides; high tides will run higher than normal and low tides will be lower than normal. Any coastal storm at sea around this time will almost certainly aggravate coastal flooding problems. Such an extreme tide is known as a perigean spring tide, the word spring being derived from the German "springen" meaning to "spring up" and is not, as is often mistaken, a reference to the spring season. New York City-based astrophotographer Gowrishakhar Lakshminarayanan captured both these images of the supermoon in December 2017 (left), and a regular full moon in July 2017, then created this infographic to compare the difference in size side by side. (Image credit: Gowrishankar L. Tides lag behind the moon The highest tides will not, however, coincide with the perigee moon, but will actually lag by up to a few days depending on the specific coastal location. For example, at Wilmington, North Carolina, the highest tide (5.6 feet, or 1.7 meters) will be attained at 11:21 p.m. EDT on Thursday, April 9. For New York City, high water (6.1 feet 1.9 m) at The Battery comes at 9:34 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 8, while at Boston Harbor a peak tide height of 12.1 feet (3.7 m) comes at 1:20 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 10, nearly three days after perigee. But then, if you live in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, likely you're very familiar with the tidal antics of the Bay of Fundy, where the vertical tidal range can increase 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6 m) when the moon is at perigee. Quite a range indeed! In contrast, later this year, on Halloween (Oct. 31), the full moon will closely coincide with apogee, its farthest point from the earth. In fact, on that night the moon will appear 13.8 percent smaller than it will appear this weekend. Some refer to that as a "micromoon" or a "minimoon." Oops! Wrong month... In the 2020 edition of the Observer's Handbook of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada is a notation that the full moon of March 9 was the "largest in 2020." But that was a mistake. The moon was actually 71 miles (115 km) farther away last month, making the moon appear ever-so-slightly smaller compared to April's full moon. The Handbook is a highly reputable publication; the "Bible" for assiduous skywatchers. That innocent notation that the March full moon was the largest (in apparent size) in 2020 was unfortunately promulgated in many publications. What happened? Space.com asked Patrick Kelly, who compiles "The Sky Month by Month" section for the Handbook, who conceded the error and explained: "I am not sure why I picked March." Kelly added, "I find calling anything a 'supermoon' just leads to disappointment as there is no visible difference. To quote [American philosopher] William James: 'A difference which makes no difference is no difference at all.'" So, while Tuesday's full moon will be the largest one of the year, the variation of the moon's distance from Earth is not readily apparent to observers viewing the moon directly. Or is it? A "bloated" moon on the horizon When a so-called "supermoon" lies close to the horizon, it can look absolutely enormous. That is when the famous "moon illusion" combines with reality to produce a truly stunning view. For reasons not fully understood by astronomers or psychologists, a low-hanging moon looks incredibly large when hovering near to trees, buildings and other foreground objects. The fact that the moon will be much closer than usual this week might only serve to amplify this strange effect. So, a "supermoon" either rising in the east at sunset or dropping down in the west at sunrise might seem to make the moon appear so close that you could almost touch it. Try it and see for yourself. Photographer Stan Honda caught this photo of a West Jet airplane flying in front of the supermoon after taking off from LaGuardia Airport in New York on Nov. 13, 2016. (Image credit: Stan Honda Buona Pasqua! Lastly, Tuesday's full moon is the first full moon of the spring season . . . the so-called "Paschal Moon," that helps set the date of Easter. The general rule is, the first Sunday after the occurrence of the Paschal Moon is designated as Easter. And indeed, after this full moon on Tuesday, April 7, the following Sunday (April 12) will be Easter. Editor's note: If you have an amazing supermoon photo you'd like to share for a possible story or image gallery, you can send images and comments in to spacephotos@space.com. Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, the Farmers' Almanac and other publications. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook Guillaume Souvant/Getty As states around the U.S. scavenge for ventilators to treat the wave of critically ill coronavirus patients, doctors on the front lines are confronting not just the question of when they will get them, but when they should use them. The grim fact is that most people infected with COVID-19 who are sedated, intubated, and hooked up to a mechanical breathing machine will not survive. This is in part a function of just how sick they are when doctors finally resort to a ventilator, but also due in part to the damage ventilators cause to the lungs. The longer someone is on a ventilator, the lower the odds they will ever breathe again on their own. Its just a bridge to keep them going, Marco Garrone, an emergency-medicine physician in Turin, Italy, told The Daily Beast. Its just a sort of last-ditch resort to buy time for them to heal... for the whole body to overcome the illness. But unlike with some other respiratory diseases, there is no proven treatment for COVID-19. Doctors around the globe have reported survival numbers that show how difficult it is for an intubated patient to outrace the disease. Garrone and his colleagues say only 20 percent make it, while a London study found a slightly larger proportion. These patients do extremely badly on mechanical vents, Garrone said. At the same time, ventilators also represent the only hope for those whose oxygen levels continue to plungeexplaining why U.S. governors are so desperate to make sure they have enough. You need ventilators, thats for sure, Garrone emphasized. I agree 100 percent with what Gov. Cuomo said. Trump Vows to Send Ventilators to Europe as U.S. Governors Plead for Supplies The challenge then is to find something less extreme than a ventilator to act as the bridge and buy patients the time they need to recovera challenge that is all the more daunting given that doctors and researchers are still learning how the novel coronavirus behaves. It is a brand-new disease, Derek Angus, of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and a renowned authority on intensive care, told The Daily Beast. Story continues Before moving to a ventilator, Garrone often uses a mask to administer oxygen via continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP. He compared it to home CPAP machines used to keep open the airways of people with sleep apnea. Exactly the same, Garrone said. Higher pressure. He added, I have a good number of people who did really well on CPAP. Im not saying everybody fares well, [that] CPAP works with everyone. Start them on CPAP and try to keep them on CPAP as much as you can. Another non-invasive option is a high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), which delivers oxygen via a two-pronged tube fitted to the nose rather than via a mask as with CPAP. But both methods can potentially aerosolize virus particles, sending them into the air. That is not a threat to COVID-19 patients, but could constitute a considerable danger to those not infected with the disease, including health-care workers and first respondersespecially those running short of personal protective equipment. In Kirkland, Washington, county health officials postulated that paramedics may have inadvertently furthered the spread of coronavirus when they employed CPAP machines to treat residents of the Life Care Center nursing homewhere dozens eventually died. Angus said on a Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) podcast last week that the jury is still out on whether the high-flow nasal cannula could pose a similar problem. We have not worked out at this point exactly how safe that is, he said. Further complicating the question of when to intubate is the deceptive and mercurial nature of COVID-19. A bad turn can come just as quickly as a new one. Greg Neyman, an emergency physician in New Jersey, has noted that COVID-19 patients can appear to be in little distress at oxygen levels that ordinarily would have people gasping for breath and maybe tearing off their air mask. Instead, COVID-19 patients can appear to be just a little fluish. Its something were not used to in emergency medicine and critical care, Neyman told The Daily Beast. President Trump Insists New York Will Be Fine, Wont Need Extra Ventilators The coronavirus patients lungs continue to function mechanically. But even as they inhale and exhale, inflating and deflating their lungs, they can be hypoxic, or short of oxygen in the blood. The lungs may work, but the oxygen does not reach them. And there is a concern that an exhausted and overwhelmed medical staff might fail to note ongoing labored breathing. How safely can we use non-invasive ventilation? Angus asked the JAMA podcast. It would be terrible if [a patient] had acute respiratory failure without someone able to get to the bedside and intubate. Because COVID-19 can worsen so precipitously, doctors may have only a small window in which to make the decision to intubate. When the time comes, Garrone asks the patientwho is generally still conscious and cognizantfor verbal consent before inducing a coma from which they have a painfully low chance of emerging. I dont think they are aware of how the odds are against them and it would be very harsh of us, almost cruel, to tell them, Garrone told The Daily Beast. Besides, when they are proposed with intubation there is really no other reasonable course of action left. Doctors are trying to figure out new courses of action in real time, as their ICUs fill up and their ventilator supplies run low. Researchers are racing to analyze the outcomes to better inform the decision-making process. We dont know enough yet, said Angus. We want more data. He offered a comparison of the fight we face with brand new COVID-19. Trench warfare in the First World War, he said. But in truth, the life-and-death decisions on the battlefield were simple compared to those faced by ICU doctors. Even when hospitals have enough ventilators. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. The state of Ohio has understandably allowed lawn care companies to mow lawns during the pandemic. However, Gov. Mike DeWine should restrict landscapers and state property managers from using pesticides on private and public properties during the pandemic. Serious health risks are linked to lawn pesticide exposures. At-risk populations in this coronavirus pandemic -- children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with asthma, cancer, diabetes and immune deficiencies -- are similarly at-risk from pesticide exposure. Lets give them an even chance and ban cosmetic commercial pesticide use during this urgent time. Don Bryant, North Royalton L.A. County Fire Department employee Danielle McMillon surveys a stockpile of surgical and protective masks stored in a secret government warehouse. The masks are destined for local hospitals. (Los Angeles County) Emergency management officials say they are now moving mountains of protective masks, gloves, gowns and other medical supplies to California hospitals, as the highly coveted gear has started flowing in recent days out of federal, state and local stockpiles. The vast stores of material, some kept in secret government warehouses, are now getting shipped in massive quantities: 41 million N95 protective masks, 600,000 gowns, 500,000 face shields and more than 2.3 million sets of gloves, according to state emergency officials. Details about the medical supply chain, which have thus far been shrouded in secrecy, come from confidential state briefings obtained by The Times that explain emergency efforts to keep medical facilities equipped, though the material shipped so far might be just a fraction of what's needed during the pandemic. The figures and details about supplies from federal and state stockpiles have been revealed as medical officials and unions representing their workers have also sounded the alarm about shortages of gear for beleaguered caregivers and as the White House and some governors have clashed about respective preparation for the virus' impact. Despite the large quantities, anxiety remains high among doctors and nurses that they might burn through the gear they need as the medical crisis stretches over weeks or months, as many experts expect. "Now that this shipment is done, and we distributed it, were kind of in limbo on when the next one is coming, said Cathy Chidester, director of the L.A. County Emergency Medical Services Agency, one of the local government entities storing and delivering the gear to hospitals and clinics in their respective areas. Its a little tense." The state reports help explain a complicated and opaque procurement system, in which federal officials have shipped items and committed other assistance to state emergency officials, who then pass materials on to counties and other local entities. The state reports note that requests from local officials are very urgent, and they explain the process for obtaining equipment under this top-down system. Story continues Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday said that tens of millions of items had been delivered "in just the last few days". "We've got a big team that's been working on this full time, and we've had some wonderful success," he said. While state officials routinely release summary statistics about the virus' impact, detailed information about the scale of the crisis in California has otherwise been difficult to acquire. The California Department of Public Health, for example, has refused to release detailed data on hospitals. Other records about the crisis, such as county-by-county listings of healthcare workers infected with the virus, also remain secret. The Times has made numerous requests for data that state health officials from various departments have thus far ignored or chosen to decline. But the governor's office has touted its supply effort, which appears to be meeting acute needs at some healthcare facilities. Hospitals in L.A. County, which has had more than 5,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 100 deaths, have been scrambling to keep their supplies stocked, said Chidester, who is also monitoring bed capacity at 70 hospitals with emergency rooms. The county's warehouse managed by Chidester and L.A. Countys Department of Health Services, which oversees a sprawling network of public clinics, providers and hospitals, and has remained a closely guarded secret because of the demand for medical equipment. When full, the warehouse is packed with brown shipping boxes stacked together on wooden pallets wrapped in plastic, separated in rows across its sprawling floors and reaching into vaulted ceilings. Inside the facility, county firefighters, lifeguards and disaster response workers enlisted in the distribution effort keep inventory and manage the stores. Each pallet has shipping instructions for the medical facilities that county officials are trying to help. Those have included various hospitals, elder-care centers and group homes. The recipients, Chidester said, in the last two weeks have received more than 2.7 million N95 masks, and roughly 2.3 million surgical masks, in addition to gowns and other protective equipment. Some of the items had come from the county's general stockpile for medical incidents, stores that were filled long before the coronavirus began its strain on local hospitals. Other items have come from the state's own emergency inventory. Still more had been passed through the state from federal emergency officials, she said. The recipients locally have included organizations such as Westside Regional Center, a nonprofit state contractor that helps people with developmental disabilities. Thanks to a county delivery on Thursday, its Culver City parking lot got transformed into a drive-through distribution hub where its staffers and partners could pick up needed masks. The providers were very appreciative, said Mary Lou Weise-Stusser, Westside's director of community services. The masks at least give the staff a little protection. Our biggest fear is that in these congregate living facilities, if one person gets [the virus] or one staffer gets it, were looking at a half-dozen people being exposed. The masks were among some 7 million distinct items, which also include hundreds of electronic ventilators for patients with critical breathing difficulties that the county has so far received from federal and state officials, Chidester said. Workers at an L.A. County warehouse handle the coordination and distribution of medical supplies for hospitals and health facilities across the county. (Los Angeles County) Demand for supplies is high at medical facilities all across the county, where more than 1,200 patients infected with the disease have been hospitalized in recent weeks including hundreds in intensive care units. The needs vary by location. At PIH Health hospitals in Downey and Whittier, for example, supplies of hand-sanitizing solution and wipes have run out. But they maintain enough N95 masks to last more than a month, said Jaime Diaz, an emergency physician who serves as the chief medical officer at the Downey facility. To conserve masks, nurses in COVID-19 wards there are told to use a single N95 mask during the day. Those who don't work with confirmed or suspected virus patients use simple surgical masks instead. That has extended the lhospitals N95 supply from four weeks to eight weeks, he said. Chidester said many hospitals across the region have similar stories. She said she recently scrapped a system allowing the hospitals to submit orders, saying the shipments are leaving as quickly as possible upon arrival. The county had delivered most of its supplies by the end of last week. She said their delivery totals sound impressive until you remember the scores of facilities across the county and how often doctors and nurses dispose of the equipment. "Its small compared to the need because of the burn rate. The burn rate kills you. Every time you see a patient, you have a certain gown on. You can walk into the persons room for five minutes, and when you come out, youve got to take that gown off and dispose of it. And the same with the gloves: off and on, off and on," she said. In addition to supporting that operation, the county has had to decipher messages from scores of businesses offering to sell their medical products to the county amid the disaster. Some haven't been reputable, she said, while others couldn't guarantee that their products would meet federal standards. Newsom on Saturday said his office is also seeking to improve the process for prospective contractors and volunteers to offer their gear. His team launched a new website, covid19supplies.ca.gov, where businesses and others leave information about their products. Federal officials have been reluctant to discuss their inventory of emergency items, known as the Strategic National Stockpile, citing national security concerns. But they say those goods are flowing to local communities under the system. In response to questions from The Times, the Federal Emergency Management Agency this week said it had set aside nearly $500 million to help California with the cost of responding to the coronavirus part of a broader $860 million aid plan so far. The agency also confirmed that about half of its estimated 16,000 to 20,000 ventilators have been shipped across the country, including where some governors have expressed fear that their hospitals may run out of the live-saving devices if the crisis worsens. More than 100 ventilators arrived in L.A. County last month with dead batteries, The Times has learned. State officials later helped to refurbish them. Governors and public health officials have urged President Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act to force companies to more quickly build ventilators and protective gear, and supply them to states and hospitals facing the most dire situations. Trump has resisted taking such a step, saying he would prefer to use the act as leverage to persuade manufacturers and distributors to join what he has described as a war effort. Trump has used the act three times to force General Motors to build ventilators; to direct the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that ventilator makers get first access to critical parts; and to order 3M to prioritize orders for N95 masks from the federal government. Experts said such actions have been too limited to address what they have described as a nationwide shortage of essential equipment. Former federal officials have described the Trump administrations efforts as being chaotic and haphazard, as agencies and White House personnel pursue different agendas. Health experts and former federal officials have urged Trump to create a unified command and control structure to spur production and delivery of masks, gowns and ventilators. We need a command and control operation at the very top of the government, run by someone like George C. Marshall, the general who helped lead the nations World War II response, said Tara OToole, a former Department of Homeland Security official who helped lead an outside review of the national stockpile from 2016 to 2018. Someone has to be in charge with full authority. So far Newsom has sought to project that authority in California, holding regular virtual press briefings and touting his administration's efforts not just on delivering gear but also on tracking the numbers of beds available in hospitals across the state and planning to help vulnerable groups, such as the homeless. He also hasn't too vocally complained about the federal effort. Newsom told CNN last week that the state is using its own purchasing power to keep the equipment flowing as the crisis continues. "States are getting a little bit of support, but we're going to have to be resourceful," he said. Times staff writer Harriet Ryan contributed to this report. By Bahk Eun-ji More young people in their 20s and 30s are calling the "Han River SOS hotline" through telephones installed on bridges crossing the Han River in Seoul as an anti-suicide measure, while the overall number of calls has declined, a civic group said Monday. According to data from LifeLine Korea, a nonprofit organization providing a free, 24-hour telephone crisis support service, the number of calls for counseling through the hotline was 633 in 2019, down nearly 30 percent from 2017's 901. Despite the drop in the total, the number of young people visiting the bridge while contemplating suicide is increasing. An anti-suicide phone run by LifeLine Korea is installed on Mapo Bridge in Seoul. Korea Times file More than 20,000 Pakistanis are stranded in the United Arab Emirates as the Gulf country ratchets up travel restrictions in an attempt to reel in its COVID-19 outbreak. As part of efforts to contain the spread of the virus, the UAE imposed a two-week round-the-clock lockdown in Dubai and has suspended most passenger flights. Residents can only leave their homes with a special permit and only one member of the household is allowed to leave at one time. In what marked its biggest single-day jump in cases, the UAE announced Monday that 277 more people were confirmed to be infected with virus, bringing the total to 2,076 with 11 deaths. Citing a consulate spokesperson, Reuters reported that authorities from Pakistan and the UAE were in talks to arrange special flights for stranded citizens. According to the Dubai-based newspaper the Khaleej Times, nearly 20,000 Pakistanis have applied with the Pakistani consulate for a seat on the upcoming repatriation flights. Meanwhile, the consulate in Dubai is reportedly distributing food to citizens who are unemployed due to the outbreak or stuck waiting for flights to resume. There are roughly 1.6 million Pakistanis living and working in the UAE. Those with expired residencies were given a three-month extension and visa overstay fines for visitors have been waived. The UAEs ambassador to Pakistan announced on Twitter Sunday that the emirate had sent its second shipment of medical supplies to Pakistan, which is struggling to cope with more than 2,600 confirmed cases and 40 deaths from the virus. The South Asian country has quarantined some 20,000 worshippers and is searching for thousands more who attended an Islamic gathering in the city of Lahore last month. This story contains reporting from Agence France-Presse. Nurse manager Cullen Anderson, RN, screens people in a line of cars waiting to be tested for coronavirus COVID-19 at a drive-thru testing station at St. Luke's Meridian Medical Center in Idaho on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. (Darin Oswald/Idaho Statesman/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) Darin Oswald | Idaho Statesman | Tribune News Service via Getty Images Maeleigh Soper, a travel nurse based at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, sat and cried with one of her young patients last month. Soper works at the hospital's oncology unit where cancer patients are separated from visitors, including family, to protect those who have compromised immune systems from the coronavirus. "Last week, all of my patients were extremely emotional," Soper said. "I sat there and cried with one of them because she's very young and can't have her mom there, and it's so sad and terrifying." The coronavirus outbreak ravaging parts of the U.S. has upended the health-care system. Across the country, hospitals are scrambling for doctors, nurses and protective gear, and travel nurses like Soper, who's from Columbus, Kansas, are helping to fill the void as state and federal officials scramble to try to curb the up to 240,000 deaths projected over the coming weeks. Crucial help Travel nurses constitute a relatively small portion of the 3.8 million registered nurses in the U.S., but they are crucial in bridging the gap of supply when hospitals demand more personnel. Now medical staffing firms are racing to fill expected holes at hospitals bracing for an unprecedented influx of patients with COVID-19 across the country, which now has at least 337,600 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. Aya Healthcare, one of the largest temporary healthcare staffing companies in the country, said it deployed 800 clinicians in less than three weeks to hospitals across the country. While hospitals typically allot three weeks for staffing companies to fill a position, April Hansen, an executive vice president at Aya, said hospitals have started requesting temporary staff within three days. "We had a client in Florida that had to stand up for a very large testing site for coronavirus, and that client gave us about 24 hours heads up that they needed 46 clinicians," Hansen said. Dan Weberg, head of clinical innovation at health care staffing firm Trusted Health, said the company has seen hundreds of jobs posted to the company's website in one day. In the last 30 days, it has seen three to four times more job postings compared to other months, he said. Cities scramble The most job listings are in states like New York, Washington and California where the coronavirus outbreak has spread rapidly. Officials from these states have repeatedly asked medical professionals to come out of retirement and have graduated medical and nursing students early to assist hospitals against the coronavirus. Even before the pandemic, many hospitals, especially in rural areas, were already experiencing a nursing shortage due to the accelerated rate of nurses retiring in the coming years paired with an aging Baby Boomer population, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. On Monday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city will need an additional 45,000 medical personnel to fight the pandemic sweeping across the city. Last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo called on health-care workers across the country to travel to New York, which accounts for nearly a quarter of all cases in the U.S., to help the state battle the worst coronavirus outbreak in the nation. 'State of war' "We're in a state of war, but we cannot go to battle without ammunition," de Blasio said in a statement. "To those who are on the frontlines: your city is behind you, and more help is on the way." Many hospitals around the country are building teams to treat COVID-19 patients specifically and staffing firms report that temporary travel nurses are the first to be placed into them, reserving the hospital's core staff for other day-to-day functions. Staffing firms, however, are concerned that as the pandemic continues, travel restrictions could make it harder for medical professionals to travel from state to state. On top of that, they have called on states to ease licensing regulations so nurses can rapidly respond to positions in various states. As of Tuesday, 42 states and Washington DC have temporarily waived certain licensing requirements and 24 states are expediting licensing for retired or inactive physicians, according to data from the Federation of State Medical Boards. Nurses feel like 'shields' Hockenheim is lucky to have been left off F1's original 2020 calendar, its boss has suggested. The former German GP venue's boss Jorn Teske said that, unlike the contracted 2020 venues, Hockenheim at least does not have to worry about refunding tickets. "Imagine having to return the money for 30 or 40 thousand tickets without having any information about when the grand prix can be rescheduled," he told the Mannheimer Morgen newspaper. "So, financially, we haven't lost anything." But Teske said that only relates to Formula 1, insisting that the coronavirus pandemic affects Hockenheim "very much". "We are talking about losses in the millions, the size of which cannot even be accurately calculated," he said. "But we cannot do track days, we cannot arrange any events for the public, the hotel is closed, we have no income from catering services, the museum also cannot work. "At the same time, planning is impossible, because it is not known what will happen even after June, because the ban may be extended." However, Teske said he is confident the Hockenheimring will survive. "We are confident that we will be able to cope with the situation and survive this season," he said. "If we knew how long this would last, we could be more accurate." (GMM) Three days after his 62-year-old father, who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat meet recently, tested positive for coronavirus disease (Covid-19), a 30-year-old resident of Kumbra village in Sector 68, Mohali, was also diagnosed with Covid-19 on Monday, taking the count of positive cases in Mohali to 16. The father tested positive on April 3 and was admitted to the isolation ward of Gian Sagar Hospital in Banur. Mohali civil surgeon Dr Manjit Singh said, We had taken samples of all family members but only the son has tested positive. He has also been taken to Gian Sagar Hospital. The father had returned from Delhi on March 17 and did not quarantine himself. Two of the three men from the district who attended the Tablighi Jamaats congregation at Nizamuddin in Delhi last month tested positive for Covid-19 on April 3. The other patient is a 42-year-old man from Mauli Baidwan in Sector 80. They attended the event between March 1 and 15 and returned to Mohali on March 17. After receiving the reports, the Mohali district administration sealed both Mauli Baidwan and Kumbra villages. NEW YORK, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Robert L. Bard, NYC imaging specialist collaborates with an international group of medical leaders including Dr. Danilo Buonsenso (Rome, Italy) who recently published reports about "ultrasound equipment as an effective replacement of the stethoscope." Dr. Buonsenso's review presents the valid uses and benefits of Lung Ultrasound in identifying respiratory disorders that may be associated with Covid-19. Sonogram taken under rib cage shows liver (grey) with curved diaphragm-lung border (white). Arrows point to vertical B lines (white) demonstrating diseased lung tissue. The more B lines the worse the disease. Healing is measured by reduction in the number of B lines. Ultrasound probes study the lungs between the ribs to read the lung surface where most Covid pathology is situated Currently, front line physicians in Italy and Spain are reportedly triaging with portable ultrasound units that reduce logistical problems of a chaotic environment and healthcare worker exposure. Since imaging with CT or ultrasound is not diagnostic, determining who needs hospitalization is essential in a pandemic overwhelming medical providers. Dr. Buonsenso, at the viral epicenter in Rome, uses sonograms to decide who requires a CT scan. The use of CT lung imaging for COVID-19 has been recognized as the diagnostic standard during our current epidemic. Meanwhile, experts find CT to have disadvantages like radiation exposure. Respiratory distress creates motion artifacts on images that may simulate pulmonary inflammation. Also, viral pneumonia is not diagnostically distinguishable from other viral inflammations in the lung so the argument for a screening modality is useful to separate the critically ill from those needing outpatient treatment. This review was stated by Dr. Klaus Lessnau, author of "CHEST ULTRASOUND" (Springer 2003), employs both CT and ultrasound imaging in clinical practice. Dr. Bard reviews international healthcare and technology updates as part of his continued research in the radiological society. This includes Dr. Buonsenso's national reports about the Covid crisis and the expanded use of lung ultrasound as part of his investigation of children as clinically unaffected carriers. "The global pandemic demands effective answers toward a cure as well as protection of healthcare workers on duty," says Dr. Bard. "I have the highest regard for the European approach to problem solving both clinically and technologically applying Dr. Buonsenso's concept makes perfect sense to me and carries great value in our war against Covid-19." According to Dr. Bard, Lung ultrasound has been used in emergency rooms since it was introduced to the Mt Sinai Medical School in 2014 and is now used nationwide to diagnose pneumonia (viral or bacterial) in children which spares them unnecessary x-rays since it is so accurate. "It is like an electronic stethoscope since lung disease and heart failure producing pulmonary fluid buildup are diagnosed or confirmed with portable ultrasound units at the bedside. This is considered the best imaging tool to diagnose a collapsed lung in seconds which has proven lifesaving as a time saver for on the spot detection." In a recent telehealth conference, Dr. Bard explains how ultrasound probes study the lungs between the ribs to read the lung surface where most Covid pathology is situated. Portable units have the advantage of containment within a sterile sleeve, preventing accidental viral spread to imaging equipment necessitating full decontamination procedures. All clinical imaging was correlated with the patient's oxygen saturation and clinical setting. The virus has known cardiac toxicity so the same sonogram unit may image the heart for fluid buildup and weakened contraction. This may differentiate heart failure from pulmonary infection in some cases which may have similar clinical presentations. About Dr. Bard Dr. Robert Bard currently runs a private imaging center in NYC specializing in advanced 3-D sonography to detect cancer tumors and other health disorders. He lectures in medical conferences worldwide, runs a cancer awareness program for first responders and is also a publisher of countless educational books and articles about cancer imaging and other health/wellness related materials. Contact: Lennard Gettz 6319205757 [email protected] SOURCE Bard Diagnostic Imaging While the company did not specify the reason behind such steps, the Forum for IT Employees (FITE), a self-proclaimed union for IT employees, has alleged that the company has taken such steps in order to compensate for business loss owing to the nationwide lockdown. Capgemini has reset all earned leaves of the employees to 15 to compensate for business loss, the ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. 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Digital Editor The situation at the Upper Lars border checkpoint is due to the climate and the coronavirus pandemic. This is what Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said while answering citizens questions today. When told that Armenian truck drivers are in a horrible situation at the checkpoint, Pashinyan said the following: Armenia is also restricting the movement of foreign drivers through our country and the movement of cargo to a certain extent in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The same goes for Georgia and Russia. Based on commentaries, since there are tighter restrictions at harbors, and the Turkey-Iran border and Turkey-Nakhchivan border are closed, this is why some Turkish cargo have been sent in the direction of Upper Lars. The Prime Minister added that Georgia has declared a lockdown, truck drivers are accompanied through a certain column, and this causes complications. Armenia is working on this with the Georgian and Russian governments. Yes, there are problems. Armenia has agreed with the Russian authorities to open a green zone for cargo being transported to the Eurasian Economic Union, and the process is underway, Pashinyan said, adding that he discussed this issue during his telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin today. By PTI PUNE: At least 92 staff members, including several doctors, of the D Y Patil Hospital here in Maharashtra have been quarantined after an accident victim, who was being treated at the facility, tested positive for coronavirus, an official said on Monday. A senior civic official denied speculations of the COVID-19 patient having direct or indirect link to the Tablighi Jamaat which organised a religious congregation at Nizamuddin in Delhi last month that later emerged as a coronavirus hotspot in the country. ALSO READ | Mumbai's Wockhardt hospital shut as 29 health workers test positive for COVID-19 The patient, an autorickshaw driver, met with the accident on March 31, said Jitendra Bhawalkar, dean of the D Y Patil Medical College and Hospital, a private medical facility located in Pimpri Chinchwad township here. "The man, who is in his 30s, came to the emergency section of the hospital on March 31 after the accident. He was operated upon and on the second day, he developed fever. The doctors got suspicious and his samples were sent for testing which came out positive for coronavirus," he said. The patient was immediately shifted to the Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital. "We then tried to find out those who came in contact with the man and quarantined our 42 doctors and 50 paramedical staff members as a precaution. Samples of all of them have been sent for tests," Bhawalkar said. Some people claim the man has link to the Tablighi Jamaat while some say he had transported people belonging to the Islamic organisation, the official said, adding that the patient hid the information from the hospital after he was admitted following the accident. Asked if the man has any link to the Tablighi Jamaat, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner Shravan Hardikar said the patient does not have any connection to the outfit. "The patient is in ICU. People are speculating about his links, but right now we can only say he is not from the Tablighi Jamaat. He is from the different community altogether," the official said. Lack of trust and political fault-finding impede HK govt's viral fight: analyst Global Times By Wang Wenwen and Ji Yuqiao Source:Global Times Published: 2020/4/5 16:03:40 With the rising number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Hong Kong and the difficulty in tracing the majority of infection and transmission paths, the situation has become very worrying and more stringent measures will be adopted, according to Hong Kong's top officials. In an online blog on Sunday, Chief Secretary for Administration Matthew Cheung noted that the Hong Kong government sent out more than 51,000 compulsory quarantine orders from March 19 to 31, with 2,600 quarantine units across the special administrative region (SAR). Statistics on the government's website show that there have been 862 confirmed cases as of Sunday, and four people have died. Song Zhongping, a TV commentator based in Hong Kong, approved of the mandatory quarantine orders launched by the HKSAR government, saying that the orders are designed to verify suspected cases and close contacts that require thorough screening. The government has taken necessary measures in trying to keep potential risks stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong under control, Song told the Global Times Sunday. On Sunday, local media cited Executive Council convenor Bernard Chan who said the city may have to impose a wider lockdown and close all non-essential businesses for several weeks. However, the government's efforts are being impeded by various factors, according to Basa Leung, a political analyst based in Hong Kong. Leung told the Global Times on Sunday that there are three groups of confirmed cases in Hong Kong, with the first mainly coming from the mainland amid the mainland's initial outbreak, the second from passengers formerly aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, and the third from abroad since many Hongkongers returned after the virus raged on foreign soil. Despite strict and timely government measures to curb the spread of the virus, people in Hong Kong have not been as vigilant as those in the mainland have been, observed Leung, adding that people's lack of trust in the government as well as opposition forces' objection and politicization of government measures also jeopardize the viral fight. About 130 from an anti-riot squad in the West Kowloon region will be placed under quarantine for two weeks, after a 46-year-old sergeant from the Police Tactical Unit of the region was confirmed as infected on Saturday. He was the fourth police officer in Hong Kong to become infected with the coronavirus. By late Saturday, the Department of Health had not found the source of infection of the sergeant, and did not exclude the possibility of his connection with another constable from the unit who was previously diagnosed. According to local media reports, the two shared a toilet block, shower room and changing room. The newly infected officer was involved in handling a massive protest at Prince Edward MTR station on Tuesday night. Protesters gathered to mark seven months since clashes there between the police and violent anti-government protesters. Cheung wrote on his blog that the police's efforts in assisting to cut the viral transmission chain are highly commended. The number of protests has gone down since the coronavirus epidemic, but Leung believes that the occasional gatherings still pose a challenge to the government's virus-fighting efforts. Hong Kong's Financial Secretary Paul Chan also wrote a blog on Sunday. He acknowledged the ever increasing economic pressure amid the spread of the coronavirus while suggesting individuals and companies prepare for dim economic prospects in the next six months. He also noted that the financial pressure faced by all sectors mainly stems from employees' salaries, rent and capital flow. The SAR government is launching more comprehensive measures that aim to support companies and ensure employment, he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Irish consumers spent a record 2.8bn on groceries in the 12 weeks to late March, 250m more than the same period last year, while the price of goods rose by 1.4%. The average household spent an additional 122 on groceries during the four weeks to March 22, according to market research company, Kantar Worldpanel, as shoppers bought more due to the Covid-19 lockdown. Over the past month, we have faced profound changes to our daily lives, as a result of the need for social-distancing, impacting the way we work, shop, and socialise, said Kantar managing director, David Berry. Dunnes still leads the grocery market, with a 22.3% share; followed by SuperValu and Tesco, both on 21.3%. All three saw their sales increase by 10% in the 12 weeks. However, Lidl was the fastest-growing of the grocery retailers. Its sales grew 14.7% and it increased its market share to 12.3%. Aldi matched Lidls market share and grew sales by 11.9%. The products demonstrating the strongest growth show a country putting health, hygiene, and practicality first. Sales of hand soap rose by 300% and household cleaners were up by 170%...Facial tissues and loo roll were also in demand, with sales up by 140% and 86%, respectively, said Mr Berry. Looking at our food choices, items with a longer shelf life saw the biggest uplift, as sales of frozen and ambient foods meaning those that can be stored at room temperature increased by 32%. "By comparison, demand for fresh food has been more modest, growing by 16% over the last four weeks. "While wed expect sales to remain strong in the coming weeks and months, there will likely be a rebalancing of sales of fresh and non-perishable items, he said. One-in-ten households bought supplies online, which is also a high. Mumbai, April 6 : Several Bollywood celebrities took to social media to condemn the bursting of crackers by many citizens on Sunday evening. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed to the nation to switch off lights and light up torches, candles, lamps and cellphone torches as a mark of solidarity to the nation's COVID-19 warriors, many people got into Diwali mood and burst cracker, too. People are bursting crackers. Just FYI . They dogs are freaking out. Do people think its Diwali? Im so confused. Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) April 5, 2020 "People are bursting crackers. Just FYI. The dogs are freaking out. Do people think it's Diwali? I'm so confused," Sonam Kapoor tweeted. There was complete peace and quite, and now the birds ,dogs and sirens are freaking out in south Delhi because some morons decided to burst fire crackers tonight. Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) April 5, 2020 In a separate tweet, the actress expressed concern for the wildlife and shared: "There was complete peace and quite, and now the birds, dogs and sirens are freaking out in south Delhi because some morons decided to burst fire crackers tonight." Why crackers ? Why? TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) April 5, 2020 Richa Chadha also seemed irritated in her tweet: "Why crackers ? Why?" My neighbours lit diyas, candles and then chanted Go Corona Go, idhar se nikal aur kabhi waapas mat aana. Then they kicked a pot which cracked. Then they clapped in unison. Then crackers were burst elsewhere. I was writing. Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) April 5, 2020 Filmmaker Hansal Mehta expressed: "My neighbours lit diyas, candles and then chanted Go Corona Go, idhar se nikal aur kabhi waapas mat aana. Then they kicked a pot which cracked. Then they clapped in unison. Then crackers were burst elsewhere. I was writing." We are with Dia! Some people are bursting crackers in South Delhi! Adil hussain (@_AdilHussain) April 5, 2020 Actor Adil Hussain shared: "We are with Dia! Some people are bursting crackers in South Delhi!" -- Syndicated from IANS EDITOR'S NOTE: The High Court overturned Cardinal George Pell's conviction for historic child sex offences in a judgment handed down April 7, 2020. In a unanimous decision all seven High Court judges found Victoria's Court of Appeal should not have upheld Pell's conviction. It found the evidence could not support a guilty verdict. The world has changed in the 400 days since George Pell first went into jail but he could see Easter as a free man if the High Court rules in his favour on Tuesday morning. The coronavirus crisis means the High Court will pass its judgment on Pell's appeal against child-sex convictions to a near-empty courtroom. The world will learn electronically of its decision but the findings will be no less momentous for all that. Panic buying has extended to Australian pet stores, with businesses reporting an increase in demand for food and litter amid the coronavirus crisis. Frenzied shoppers have stripped supermarket shelves of toilet paper, disinfectants, rice and other essential goods in recent weeks - putting pressure on retailers to restock their stores. The stockpiling trend has since infiltrated pet companies, as pet owners rushed to get their hands on goods to sustain their animals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Two of the country's biggest pet retailers, Pet Barn and Pet Circle, have reported a significant spike in demand for products. Two women walk their dogs while wearing protective masks at Rushcutters Bay park in Sydney Australian pet owners have been stockpiling on food and litter for their animals during the COVID-19 pandemic Pet Barn CEO George Wahby told The Daily Telegraph he's seen demand double in the last four weeks, with the company selling 3,500 tonnes of poultry food. Fresh and frozen food, as well as reptile and fish food has also become more popular as customers hunker down at home with their pets. In a statement to customers online, the company said it is working closely with key suppliers to ensure stock availability at its stores and online. Pet Barn has also advised shoppers to check online for product availability before they head out to their local Pet Barn store. Like most businesses and supermarkets, the company has imposed a number of coronavirus safety measures, such as banning cash payments, to protect customers and staff. It has also changed its operating hours to allow staff to restock shelves and clean the store. Pet Barn bosses have reported a significant increase in demand on certain items in the last four weeks A man walks his French bulldog 'Garry' at Rushcutters Bay park in Sydney last week Shoppers also now have the option of opting for its 'zero contact click and collect' if they do not prefer to go to the store. Meanwhile, online retailer, Pet Circle, has been forced to place buying restrictions on bags of litter, due to an unprecedented demand. Shoppers are now limited to buying one 30kg bag per order. 'To ensure that all pet parents are able to access food for their pets when they need it, you may have noticed quantity limits on some of our high demand products,' the company said on its website. 'Pet Circle has made provisions to ensure that we have sufficient stock to cover this disruption for the foreseeable future and will continue to keep you informed of any changes. 'We hope both you and your furry, feathered, finned and scaled family members continue to remain healthy and safe during this difficult time.' Chief Marketing Officer Jon Wild told the Telegraph the company has seen a '100 per cent growth' in the sale of premium pet foods, as well as an increase in sales of toys. 'Our customers are also now buying more treats and toys to occupy their pets while at home and they are noticing their behavioural and physical traits and are looking for solutions.' Courthouses across the Philadelphia region, including the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas in Norristown, are retaining a small number of staff members to help residents file protection-from-abuse orders during the coronavirus pandemic. Read more State and federal leaders have not minced words during the coronavirus pandemic: The best, and safest, place to be is home. Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday extended his stay-at-home order statewide. But domestic-violence advocates across the Philadelphia region say that homes arent safe for hundreds of families. Court officials have seen applications for protection-from-abuse orders either stay consistent or drop slightly. They quietly fear that people in dangerous situations arent aware that otherwise shuttered county courthouses remain open for these emergency functions, and are actively working to remind people that there is always a place to turn to, even during a pandemic. Laurel House, a domestic-abuse nonprofit serving Montgomery County, has tailored its services during the shutdown to keep petitioners seeking the protection orders safe. One of the largest adjustments, made in concert with the county solicitor, has been to provide hotel rooms for applicants whose orders prevent them from living with an abuser, according to Tara Willis, the nonprofits domestic abuse response team manager. A protection-from-abuse order already isnt the best situation. Sometimes it can escalate things further, and this becomes another added risk, she said. But the court is making all the adjustments so people can get the protection they need. The usual strategies for dealing with an abusive relationship are ineffective, Willis said. People cant stay with relatives for fear of exposure to the virus, and kids cant find a needed respite from an unstable household with schools closed. Special hotlines serve as placeholders for in-person consultations, and police departments are helping residents set up FaceTime calls with judges for hearings, according to Willis. De-escalation, already a major part of dealing with abuse, has become even more crucial. We usually have those conversations, but now theyre shifting to how do you hunker down and stay safe until we can get you help, she said. And theres an extra burden of having to have those conversations without being able to leave your home. 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. Judges say that while some of the process has changed, the underlying goal the safety and protection of abuse victims has not. In Philadelphia and its suburbs, courthouses have instituted a rotation of judges on standby, ready to handle protection-from-abuse applications as other matters have been pushed ahead. If that isnt an essential function, I dont know what is, said Chester County Judge Katherine Platt, who oversees the countys family court. And if we have knowledge that people are in danger of physical violence, we need to make sure that we address it, and that has got to take priority over contractual disputes, property concerns, and anything else. Platt said the concerns being expressed during these emergency hearings, many of which are being handled remotely through phone or video calls, are largely the same as they were before the pandemic hit. People who are concerned for their personal safety are people whove been concerned for their personal safety," she said. Their concerns are less related to COVID-19. Still, amid this unprecedented shutdown order, nearly every facet of the court system has had to adjust. In Bucks County, Prothonotary Judith Reiss started preparations early, consulting protocols developed by the office in 2009 during the H1N1 influenza pandemic. Her employees were able to respond quickly, she said, and are still able to see people in the office, albeit one at a time. READ MORE: Domestic violence centers are expecting a surge as coronavirus keeps abusers home Outside the court system, advocates like those at Philadelphia Legal Assistance are still fielding calls, using the latitude provided by the Municipal Court to help applicants file protection-from-abuse orders through email. Susan Pearlstein, supervising attorney for the nonproft, said that while the system has adjusted in response to the pandemic, it has highlighted areas for improvement that can be made during the best of times. Its a little more complicated than normal process, which is already complicated for unrepresented litigants anyway, she said. So it does highlight the need for free legal service, because this process is onerous and difficult on a good day. But the bottom line, for the foreseeable future, is that help is available, even as many other parts of life seem uncertain. Were worried that people might think everything is closed, she said. Were trying to get word out that legal aid is available, courts are open, and, despite these new obstacles, access is still available. YEREVAN, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan holds the position that the elections in Artsakh reflect the existing power ration in Artsakh, ARMENPRESS reports PM Pashinyan said in a Facebook Live, answering a question of a citizen. Speaking about the remarks that the elections were not fair in Artsakh, Nikol Pashinyan said, ''No one says that there were no frauds. The question is to what extent those frauds had an impact on the results of the elections. Let's look at numbers. If we are speaking about frauds some, one of the candidates, Arayik Harutyunyan, fall short of some hundreds votes to record victory in the 1st stage. If the elections are rigged, would any fraud machine stand in front of some hundreds votes? Opposition forces took the 2nd and 3rd places in the parliamentary elections. You would never see such a thing in Armenia when the elections were rigged here. If they do that, why do they do it in a way that the opposition, by the way I have to say a tough opposition, takes the 2nd and 3rd places? They would rig it in a way that forces loyal to the authorities would take at least the 2nd place, and many issues would be solved by that. Pashinyan noted that the elections in Artsakh were not ideal, and Armenia should continue supporting Artsakh in its future democratization. Presidential and parliamentary elections took place in Artsakh on March 31. No candidate received over 50% votes and a second stage has been scheduled on April 14. The competition will be between President of Free Motherland party Arayik Harutyunyan and the current Foreign Minister Masis Mayilyan. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has said that the state government has taken special measures to protect the medical staff who are treating COVID-19 patients Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has said that the state government has taken special measures to protect the medical staff who are treating COVID-19 patients. The chief minister held a high-level review meeting on Sunday at Pragathi Bhavan on measures being taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the state. "Medical and health staff are rendering great services to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Special measures are taken for the protection of their health," a release quoted Rao as saying. According to an official statement, the Chief Minister wanted funds donated for the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF) to be utilised to procure PPEs, masks and medicines for the staff. The Chief Minister said, for those coming to offer medical help, test kits, PPEs, masks and other medicines are available in adequate numbers. Even if there was an increase in patients in the future, PPEs and masks will be procured as per the demand. Rao instructed the officials concerned to take all the protective measures for the medical and health employees. There are at least 25 cases of COVID-19 in Catawba County as of Monday after one new case was identified. There have been 370 negative test results as of Monday, according to a press release from Catawba County Public Health. No deaths have been reported in the county since the first death was listed by the county on Friday. The person with the virus died in March. The countys total case number is based on COVID-19 test results, according to the release. Not all cases of COVID-19 are tested, so this does not represent the total number of people who have or had COVID-19. Burke County reported 28 cases of the virus on Monday. They had 23 cases Sunday. The cases consist of both traveling and community spread, according to a press release from Burke County. Fifteen of the cases are associated with long-term care facilities. All positive cases are isolated. Caldwell remained at 11 reported cases as of Monday, according to a press release from the county. At least 721 tests have been conducted with 601 coming back negative. Alexander County still has two reported cases. A somber mood has engulfed Ikoli Village in Malava Constituency, Kakamega County, Kenya after a 25-year-old woman killed her 36-year-old husband before attempting suicide. Joy Indeche fatally stabbed Bryan Indimuli multiple times in the stomach before turning the kitchen knife on herself. The couple is said to have quarreled after a piece of ugali fell on the floor on Friday night, April 3. Indimulis father, John Indimuli, said his son complained after Indeche tripped over a chair and the ugali, which she was carrying, fell on the floor. My son suspected his wife had taken alcohol, hence her wobbly feet, which led to her tripping over and resulting in the fall of the ugali, said the deceaseds father. Enraged by her spouses complaints and attempt to cane her, the woman is said to have picked a kitchen knife and drove it into his abdomen repeatedly. She, thereafter, attempted to commit suicide by stabbing herself. However, she was rescued by neighbours and taken to the Kakamega County Referral Hospital, where she is fighting for her life. Her intestines were ripped out, said Ikoli Assistant Chief Walter Moses Namutali. The deceaseds father, John Indimuli, told K24 Digital that the marriage between his son and Indeche was filled with unending conflicts. One year ago, the two had gone separate ways before reuniting. My son had married Indeche when she had a daughter from a previous relationship. The two would, thereafter, get a son together, said John Indimuli. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates China stepped up border control measures on Monday as the number of imported coronavirus cases rose sharply to 951 while the asymptomatic cases also surged, raising fears of a second wave of the COVID-19 infections, mainly from Chinese returning home from abroad despite drastic containment efforts. A health official in Beijing warned that the Chinese capital, Beijing, will probably remain under long-term coronavirus epidemic control. Mi Feng, a spokesperson for the National Health Commission (NHC) told the media on Monday that 951 imported cases have been reported till Sunday as China airlifted more of its nationals from different countries currently struggling to cope up with Covid-19 spread. Mi said the pressure brought by imported cases on China continues to increase, especially those from neighbouring countries. His remarks followed reports of 20 imported infection cases in Suifenhe, a Chinese port city -- with a population of 70,000 bordering China and Russia, on Monday, the state-run Xinhua agency reported. Currently China has banned the entry of foreigners and is permitting only overseas Chinese returning home. China has reported 39 new coronavirus cases, including 38 imported ones, as the number of asymptomatic cases also surged, raising fears of a second wave of the COVID-19 infections. The NHC said one new domestic case was reported from Guangdong province, which is a major industrial belt. On Saturday, five new locally cases were reported raising concerns of the cases resurfacing though in smaller numbers as China resumed production at full steam after over two months. Also, on Sunday 78 new asymptomatic COVID-19 cases were reported on the mainland, including 40 imported ones, the NHC said, adding that 1,047 asymptomatic cases were still under medical observation. 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. Also on Sunday, one death was reported from the coronavirus virus epicentre Hubei province, taking the death toll in the country to 3,331 people. The overall confirmed cases on the mainland have reached 81,708 by Sunday, including 1,299 patients still being treated, 77,078 patients discharged after recovery, and 3,331 people died of the disease, the NHC said. By Sunday, 890 confirmed cases, including four deaths have been reported in Hong Kong, 44 confirmed cases in the Macao, and 363 in Taiwan including five deaths, it said. Meanwhile, a health official here has warned that coronavirus epidemic prevention and control in Beijing will probably become a long-term normal. The capital, a centre for international exchanges, still bears the brunt of the risks as the worldwide spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating, Xu Hejian, the spokesperson for the municipal government said, noting that there is no chance to call off the city's prevention and control work in a short time. The overall strategy of guarding against the imported cases and a rebound in indigenous cases will remain unchanged, Xu said. He also highlighted the importance of seizing the critical window to resume work and production, and bring people's lives back to normal as transmission of the epidemic has been basically interrupted in Beijing and nationwide, although there were still imported and sporadic cases, Xinhua reported. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Downing Street has refused to say if Boris Johnson required oxygen treatment after being taken to hospital, but has described his condition as comfortable. In the first update since the prime minister was admitted, his spokesman said he was in good spirits and receiving official documents in his red box to his bedside underlining his determination to stay in charge. However, No 10 dropped the description of Mr Johnsons coronavirus symptoms as mild, calling his high temperature and cough persistent revealing that Tuesdays cabinet meeting had been cancelled. And his spokesman declined to say if it was correct that Mr Johnson had received oxygen, to help with his breathing, saying only: I dont know the origins of those reports. Asked whether he might remain in Londons St Thomas Hospital for another night, or longer, he said: That would entirely be a matter for doctors. The update came as No 10 played down hopes of an early easing of the lockdown, saying: What we absolutely have to do is to continue to bear down on this infection, to stop its spread. The exit strategy would be set out at the appropriate time, but only when the peak of feared deaths was passed a point expected to be reached in the next 10 days. The spokesman revealed that more than 16,000 virus tests were carried out on Sunday, but only around 1,000 on NHS staff and their families at the new drive-through sites. And he hinted there would only be around 11,000 ventilators ready by the weekend far short of the 30,000 once thought to be needed but the spokesman insisted: There will be enough ventilators to meet demand. Mr Johnson was taken to hospital around 8pm on Sunday for what Downing Street calls precautionary tests, a full 10 days after announcing he had contracted the virus. 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 There is pressure, including from a government minister, for him to rest and hand over power temporarily to Dominic Raab if necessary but the spokesman insisted: The prime minister remains in charge of the government. Asked if his red box would be wiped down and disinfected, he said: We follow the advice of medics in terms of making sure there is no risk. No 10 also insisted, in the strongest terms yet, that Brexit would still be completed at the end of the year despite growing pressure to extend the transition period, amid the chaos. Insisting talks were carrying out remotely, with legal texts exchanged, the spokesman said: We remain absolutely committed to continuing the negotiations. On Mr Johnsons condition, he said: The prime minister had a comfortable night at St Thomas' Hospital in London and is in good spirits. He remains in hospital under observation. There would be no ongoing commentary on his treatment, he added, but the public would be informed of any change. In the 24 hours to 8am Monday, Victoria Police conducted 983 spot checks at homes, businesses and non-essential services across the state as part of Operation Sentinel. They issued 108 fines during the period. They have now issued a total of more than 300 fines. On the same day, NSW police announced a further 15 fines for lockdown violations in that state. Hunter's mother, Sheree Reynolds, said she was stunned by the fine. She said their Hampton East family of six had barely left the house and have not seen anyone else during the COVID-19 crisis. Ms Reynolds said she felt the police officer could have used more discretion and issued a warning. The infringement notice handed to the 17-year-old. Credit:Heidi Murphy/3AW "I thought [the driving lesson] was educational. I did not believe for one minute what we were doing was a problem or breaking the rules given we werent planning on stopping or getting out of the car," she said. "I guess for a minute I was waiting for common sense to prevail there and it didn't." Under stage 3 restrictions, Victorians are unable to leave home except to go shopping for food and essential supplies, to provide medical care or for compassionate needs, to exercise, or to work and study if it can't be done from home. Individuals and businesses face hefty fines if they are found to be in breach of these guidelines. Deputy Police Commissioner Shane Patton said he had spoken to the local Assistant Commissioner Bob Hill and they would review the fine. "Although we are satisfied that was a lawfully issued infringement, I've spoken with the assistant commissioner for the region and in conjunction with the member we will be looking at whether discretion should or could be applied in this circumstance," he said. Mr Patton said they would decide whether to withdraw the fine "in due course". "Are we able to send a message to the public without having to fine in this circumstance?" he said. Loading "I think the fact it's being raised has given actual clarity to the circumstance, so, it's quite possible it will be withdrawn because the public are now aware they can't do that activity unless, of course, it's mixed in with driving to the shops, you are exempt to go and buy food, those sorts of things." Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton on Monday afternoon supported the decision to issue the fine, saying driving lessons were considered "non-essential travel". "Theres lots of things wed all like to do right now, but this is not the world we live in at the moment," he said. Police Minister Lisa Neville agreed with Dr Sutton. "My view is if everyone asks themselves, 'Do I need to be doing this now?' and the answer is no you should not be doing it. That is the common sense assessment," she said. "This is not a popularity contest about what thing we should have or not have. These are health recommendations by the Chief Health Officer which Victoria Police are implementing and enforcing. Sometimes they use discretion, sometimes they think the fine is worthy." Ms Reynolds, who first spoke to 3AW's Neil Mitchell on Monday to try and get some clarification around the incident, said they planned to challenge the fine in court if it was not waived. She said said she believed the rules are mostly straightforward but there are some grey areas that needed to be clarified. I hope that they would use common sense and dismiss the fine," she said. Hunter said "heaps" of her friends had been going for driving lessons with their parents, unaware it was an issue. "After they found out what happened [to me] everyone was so shocked, they had no clue. No one knows whats happening," she said. Mr Patton also announced the commencement of Operation Shielding, which will see over 200 Protective Services Officers and transit police redeployed to do foot patrols to prevent crime such as commercial burglaries. Another caller to radio station 3AW said his son was fined $1652 on the weekend while driving from Melbourne to the family holiday house in Rye to help an elderly neighbour, who was concerned about damage from a falling tree. To date, the number of patients with coronavirus has increased to 20. Russian occupying authorities in Crimea have announced the regime of self-isolation over the coronavirus epidemic on the peninsula was extended until late April. Read alsoCrimea residents banned from entering mainland Ukraine over coronavirus Local residents are allowed to leave home only if necessary commute to work, take a walk with a pet, go to a pharmacy or grocery store, or in case of seeking emergency medical care, the Russian news agency RBC reported. As of the morning of April 5, another two cases of COVID-19 coronavirus were recorded in occupied Crimea. To date, the number of patients with coronavirus has increased to 20. As UNIAN reported earlier, the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Ukraine had risen to 1,319 by Monday morning. A view of beds at a shopping mall, one of Iran's largest, which has been turned into a centre to receive patients suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Tehran (Reuters) - The death toll in Iran from the outbreak of the new coronavirus has reached 3,603, health ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said in a statement broadcast live on state TV on Sunday. One hundred and fifty one people have died in the past twenty four hours, he said. The Islamic Republic, the Middle Eastern country worst-hit by the epidemic, now has a total of 58,226 infections, Jahanpur said. (Reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh; Editing by Mark Potter) Earlier this year, I left my home in Vancouver to start working as a visiting researcher in Stockholm, Sweden. The world has changed significantly since that time. Being away from home while the COVID-19 crisis grew from purported media-borne hype to the extraordinary pandemic it is today, has highlighted how cultural differences have led to differences in public health management. Sweden and Canada have taken two different paths. According to the World Health Organization director-general, in many wealthy countries hospitals are designed to operate in a lean and mean and efficient manner. This is true for both Sweden and Canada where hospital capacity has diminished over the last several years. This is the key reason for the need to flatten the curve (reduce infections) so as not to overwhelm an under prepared health care system and reduce mortality. During the earlier stages of the epidemic, almost every country encouraged social distancing as an effective way for COVID-19 containment, Sweden and Canada included. Since that time, behavioural modifications have become particularly important to flatten the curve. Many countries have adopted stringent lockdown approaches. In most European countries with larger outbreaks, such as Italy, Spain and France, all non-essential public places have been shut down. In many cases, special permits are required to leave home, even to walk the dog. One notable exception to this approach is Sweden. Unlike most countries that are relying on obedience to contain COVID-19, Sweden has decided to use the conformity principle. The Swedish government is banking that a culture of trust among citizens, and between citizens and the government, will be enough to contain the virus. This means that despite the pandemic, borders along Sweden are only partially closed, there are no shutdowns of restaurants or public spaces; public health officials are mostly compelling, not demanding, that work places and schools switch to online methods. This bold approach is undoubtedly risky, as Sweden is far from being unaffected by COVID-19. On March 10th, rapid spikes in the number of cases culminated in Swedens public health agency raising the risk level of community spread of the virus to very high in Stockholm, which is the highest grade on the scale. Unsurprisingly, this trust approach has raised criticism. Responding to critics, Swedens chief epidemiologist, Anders Tegnell, has suggested that there is no consensus that closing borders is going to work to reduce the spread of the virus. In fact, thats still the advice of the WHO to date. Canadian officials echoed similar tones early on. However, unlike Sweden, Canada has rapidly changed tone and moved towards more enforced measures, both federally and within specific provinces. Having personally experienced the outbreak in both Sweden and Canada, I can understand the Swedish governments confidence in a system based on trust. When the risk level was raised, despite a lack of law enforcement, fewer people could be seen in public spaces. Academic and research institutions were strongly urging working from home, and within a short time, meetings were being held online. The Swedes are betting everything on their rule-abiding citizens. Canada has also tried to use somewhat of a trust-based approach during the COVID-19 crisis. For instance, international travellers were initially merely asked whether they had symptoms, or to self-isolate upon returning home. However, the introduction of the Quarantine Act now imposes serious fines and penalties. This is a responsible measure given the abundance of people not abiding the original 14-day self-isolation rule. Canada is showing that it is willing to give trust a chance, but if that fails, it will resort to force. Which approach is better? So far, neither approach seems to be working particularly well. Since April 6, there have been over 15,900 COVID-19 cases reported in Canada (38 million population), and over 6,800 cases in Sweden (10 million population). Real numbers in the community are hard to know because testing levels in both countries have been varied and inadequate and results delayed. There are pros and cons to both approaches. A trust-based approach imposes a smaller burden on the economy and on the psychological welfare of citizens. However, the cost is dear. It may prove ineffective against virus spread and endanger more lives. An enforcement-based measure, like Canadas, is all about timing. If done too soon and for too long, it could cripple the economy and the mental health of its citizens. If done too little, too late, it may not flatten the curve as hoped. Time will be the ultimate judge. However, the numbers so far indicate that Canadas approach has been vastly more effective than Swedens in keeping down the relative number of cases and deaths. Indeed, most countries share Canadas, not Swedens, approach in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis. Delhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivastava on Monday met Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla amidst massive efforts to track down many Tablighi Jamaat members who continue to hide' in different parts of the national capital, officials said. The search for the Tablighi Jamaat members was launched after over 2,300 activists, including 250 foreigners, were found to be living at its headquarters located at Delhi's Nizamuddin last week despite the 21-day lockdown imposed to check the spread of coronavirus. About 9,000 people had participated in a congregation of the Tablighi Jamaat last month. The Delhi Police commissioner briefed the home secretary on the progress of the ongoing probe against the Tablighi Jamaat, a home ministry official said. The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police has already registered a case against the organisation while most of its top leaders, including chief Maulana Saad Kandhlawi, are hiding from police. Identification and interrogation of all those who participated in the congregation is necessary for contact tracing, the official said. Besides, the gathering of such a large number of people at a particular place is also violation of the lockdown order. The Delhi police commissioner apprised the home secretary all the relevant issues related to the investigation, another official said. On Sunday, eight Malaysians, who tried to board a Kuala Lumpur-bound special flight, were detained at the IGI airport here and handed over to the Delhi Police. The government has already blacklisted over 1,700 foreigners for violation of visa conditions. So far, more than 400 COVID-19 positive cases and about 15 deaths in the country were found to have links with the Nizamuddin Markaz. At least 9,000 people had participated in the congregation at the Nizamuddin Markaz last month after which many travelled to various parts of the country for missionary works. Among the participants include citizens of 41 nationalities. They are 379 Indonesians, 110 Bangladeshis, 77 Kyrgyzstan nationals, 75 Malaysians, 65 Thai, 63 Myanmarese and 33 Sri Lankan citizens besides others. The home ministry had also asked the Delhi Police and police chiefs of other states, where these foreigners are currently living, to take legal action against them under the Foreigners Act and the Disaster Management Act. The Home Ministry had said that about 2,100 foreigners have come to India since January 1 and indulged in Tablighi activities in different parts of the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When Spanish invaders arrived in the Americas, they were generally able to subjugate the local peoples thanks, in part, to their superior weaponry and technology. But archeological evidence indicates that, in at least one crucial respect, the Spaniards were quite dependent on an older indigenous technology in parts of Mesoamerica (today's Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras). The invaders needed copper for their artillery, as well as for coins, kettles, and pans, but they lacked the knowledge and skills to produce the metal. Even Spain at that time had not produced the metal domestically for centuries, relying on imports from central Europe. In Mesoamerica they had to depend on local smelters, furnace builders, and miners to produce the essential material. Those skilled workers, in turn, were able to bargain for exemption from the taxes levied on the other indigenous people. This dependence continued for at least a century, and perhaps as long as two centuries or more, according to new findings published in the journal Latin American Antiquity, in a paper by Dorothy Hosler, professor of archeology and ancient technology at MIT, and Johan Garcia Zaidua, a researcher at the University of Porto, in Portugal. The research, at the site of El Manchon, in Mexico, made use of information gleaned from more than four centuries worth of archeological features and artifacts excavated by Hosler and her crew over multiple years of fieldwork, as well as from lab work and historical archives in Portugal, Spain, and Mexico analyzed by Garcia. El Manchon, a large and remote settlement, initially displayed no evidence of Spanish presence. The site consisted of three steep sectors, two of which displayed long house foundations, some with interior rooms and religious sanctuaries, patios, and a configuration that was conceptually Mesoamerican but unrelated to any known ethnic groups such as the Aztec. In between the two was an area that contained mounds of slag (the nonmetallic material that separates out during smelting from the pure metal, which floats to the surface). The Spanish invaders urgently needed enormous quantities of copper and tin to make the bronze for their cannons and other armaments, Hosler says, and this is documented in the historical and archival records. But "they didn't know how to smelt," she says, whereas archaeological data suggest the indigenous people had already been smelting copper at this settlement for several hundred years, mostly to make ritual or ceremonial materials such as bells and amulets. These artisans were highly skilled, and in Guerrero and elsewhere had been producing complex alloys including copper-silver, copper-arsenic, and copper-tin for hundreds of years, working on a small scale using blowpipes and crucibles to smelt the copper and other ores. advertisement But the Spanish desperately required large quantities of copper and tin, and in consultation with indigenous smelters introduced some European technology into the process. Hosler and her colleagues excavated an enigmatic feature that consisted of two parallel courses of stones leading toward a large cake of slag in the smelting area. They identified this as the remains of a thus-far-undocumented hybrid type of closed furnace design, powered by a modified hand-held European bellows. A small regional museum in highland Guerrero illustrates just such a hybrid furnace design, including the modified European-introduced bellows system, capable of producing large volumes of copper. But no actual remains of such furnaces had previously been found. The period when this site was occupied spanned from about 1240 to 1680, Hosler says, and may have extended to both earlier and later times. The Guerrero site, which Hosler excavated over four field seasons before work had to be suspended because of local drug cartel activity, contains large heaps of copper slag, built up over centuries of intensive use. But it took a combination of the physical evidence, analysis of the ore and slags, the archaeological feature in the the smelting area, the archival work, and reconstruction drawing to enable identification of the centuries of interdependence of the two populations in this remote outpost. Earlier studies of the composition of the slag at the site, by Hosler and some of her students, revealed that it had formed at a temperature of 1150 degrees Celsius, which could not have been achieved with just the blowpipe system and would have required bellows. That helps to confirm the continued operation of the site long into the colonial period, Hosler says. Years of work went into trying to find ways to date the different deposits of slag at the site. The team also tried archaeomagnetic data but found that the method was not effective for the materials in that particular region of Mexico. But the written historical record proved key to making sense of the wide range of dates, which reflected centuries of use of the site. Documents sent back to Spain in the early colonial period described the availability of the locally produced copper, and the colonists' successful tests of using it to cast bronze artillery pieces. Documents also described the bargains made by the indigenous producers to gain economic privileges for their people, based on their specialized metallurgical knowledge. "We know from documents that the Europeans figured out that the only way they could smelt copper was to collaborate with the indigenous people who were already doing it," Hosler says. "They had to cut deals with the indigenous smelters." Hosler says that "what's so interesting to me is that we were able to use traditional archeological methods and data from materials analysis as well as ethnographic data" from the furnace in a museum in the area, "and historical and archival material from 16th century archives in Portugal, Spain, and Mexico, then to put all the data from these distinct disciplines together into an explanation that is absolutely solid." The research received support from Charles Barber, CEO of Asarco; the Wenner-Gren Foundation; FAMSI; and MIT's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. The hospital ship USNS Comfort should take aboard coronavirus-positive patients,despite Pentagon concerns that its close quarters are unsuitable for treatment of an infectious disease, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday. "We don't need the Comfort for non-COVID cases," he said at a news conference from Albany, the state capital. Cuomo said he would be calling President Donald Trump later Monday to ask his approval for the change in policy on the use of 1,000-bed Comfort, which has thus far been limited to treating non-COVID patients after arriving in New York Harbor on March 30. "I understand what the original plan was for the Comfort," Cuomo said, but added there has been little demand for the ship's facilities to treat non-COVID patients from local hospitals. Related: Hospital Ship Comfort Arrives in New York to Help with Coronavirus Patient Surge "I'm going to ask him [Trump] if he can make this adjustment for us," Cuomo said. Before the hospital ships Comfort and Mercy were deployed -- the Mercy to Los Angeles and the Comfort to New York City -- Pentagon officials cautioned that they are designed to treat trauma patients and combat casualties, and are not a suitable environment for patients with infectious diseases. "Our understanding is that the intent is that the ships will be used to take non-coronavirus patients, which is what our staff are best assigned and organized to do," Brig. Gen. Paul Friedrichs, the Pentagon's Joint Staff surgeon, said at a March 18 news conference. However, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley told Fox News last Friday that the military is "reassessing" lifting restrictions on taking COVID-positive patients aboard the Comfort. At a Pentagon news conference Friday, Jonathan Hoffman, the Pentagon's chief spokesman, said that only "a couple of dozen" patients had been treated so far on the Comfort and fewer on the Mercy. The plan for the Comfort was to treat non-COVID patients, Hoffman said, but the shelter-in-place order in New York means "we've seen the number of traumas decrease -- car accidents, any type of assault-type activities." "The number of patients [expected to be treated on the Comfort] has gone down," he said. Hoffman added that Defense Secretary Mark Esper is also looking at the possibility of using the Comfort for non-COVID patients. "I will say we are very well aware of the risks in doing that," he said. "It's not an environment built for handling infectious diseases in mass" in the cramped quarters below decks on the ship, Hoffman said. At his news conference in Albany, Cuomo said that the 1,100 additional military doctors, nurses and medical personnel promised by the Defense Department had begun arriving in the city; 300 of them will be deployed to local public hospitals to ease the strain on overburdened staff. He said the majority of the additional personnel would be assigned to the Javits Convention Center, which has been converted to a 2,500-bed hospital exclusively for COVID-positive patients. Cuomo said all of the 1,100 additional medical personnel are expected to be in the city in the coming days, and he thanked the Defense Department profusely. "God bless the U.S. military," he said. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Read more: 'Too Naive or Too Stupid:' Acting SecNav Slams Fired Captain in Speech to Crew Pushing a shopping cart with two children, Csar Alegre emerges from the large, deteriorated house near Peru's presidential palace that is shared by 45 families to search for food. Sometimes he begs in markets. Sometimes he sells candies. It is a task that was hard at the best of times, but with a month-long quarantine that has forced 32 million Peruvians to stay home and closed restaurants and food kitchens, it has become much harder. "We eat once or twice a day, said the 52-year-old, who says he has spent time in six different prisons for theft. Many among the 100 or so residents of the three-story house are ex-convicts who can't find work. The old building is opposite Lima's San Lazaro church, which was founded in 1650 as a hospital for refugees from a leprosy outbreak. Alegre and his children, accompanied by a handful of neighbors, normally start out by walking about 2 miles (3 kilometers) to a market where they ask for food. The merchants give them potatoes, meat bones and overripe fruit that nobody wants to buy. But these days the merchants are refusing to give them as much food, if any at all, because their sales have fallen amid the pandemic and strict measures that have kept people at home and shuttered the restaurants that would buy their goods. They're vagrants, said a meat vendor of the inhabitants of Alegre's building, which has earned the nickname Luriganchito, or Little Lurigancho, after Peru's most-populous prison, for the number or ex-convicts who reside there. The vendor said two weeks ago a young man from the building stole a bag of fish. Besides begging in markets, Alegre also sells candy on buses. Nowadays, passengers wear face masks and don't like strangers coming near them. The virus has highlighted the selfishness that man carries inside, he said. The pandemic has spotlighted the wide gap between rich and poor in Peru and elsewhere in Latin America, and economists say a looming recession worse than any since World War II could push the continent's long-suffering poor into even more dire circumstances. The economic impact of what is happening is unprecedented, said Peru's economy minister, Mara Alva. 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. As of Sunday night, Peru had 2,281 confirmed coronavirus cases, with 83 deaths, The government has steadily tightened bans and lock-downs to slow the spread of the virus. This past week it ordered that only men can leave the house on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while only women can go out on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The trips can only be to the market, pharmacy or bank. To try to address the humanitarian disaster, Peru has begun distributing about $400 million to feed 12 million poor people for one month. But the money doesn't seem to be reaching most of the families in Alegre's sprawling shared house. The building in Lima's Rimac district is a relic from the area's historic era and still has balconies from its better days. But inside its now-cracked walls is a warren of narrow, dark passageways that smell of damp clothing and marijuana. Children run through them barefoot as cockroaches scatter to avoid being crushed. Its residents have stories of hard luck and tough living. Santos Escobar, a 68-year-old former mug seller, ended up living in Luriganchito after his house burned down twice. In the first fire, two of his six daughters died. In the second, both his legs were burned. Nlida Rojas, 59, had a stroke two years ago that partially paralyzed her. She now uses crutches and begs for alms. Nil Asca is a 24-year-old single mother with two daughters. The youngest is 2 and has some type of hip dislocation or problem that forces her to wear a plaster cast. Eating with his children in their small room, Alegre watches the on an old television set. He believes what is preventing looting is the deployment of 140,000 uniformed officers to guard food markets and banks. But his long-term outlook is not optimistic. There are a lot of desperate people. They could rise up if they don't get help, said Alegre. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Abia State Government has expressed sadness over the death of a medical doctor from Abia State who died in the United States. Dr Caleb Anya is among three Nigerians confirmed to have died of Coronavirus in America. In a statement by Commissioner for Information in Abia on Sunday, John Kalu, the government said, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, the government and entire people of our state mourn with the family, friends and relations of the late Dr Anya as well as the people of Ohafia where he hails from. His loss reminds us of the risk health workers in our state and globally take daily to protect the rest of us and we use this opportunity to once more salute their courage and sense of sacrificial service to others. Our prayer is that the Almighty God will continue to protect all of them even as we all work harder daily to provide those at the frontline of the battle against COVID-19 and other infectious diseases with necessary personal protective equipment to keep them safe. May the soul of Dr Caleb Anya and others who have lost their lives in this pandemic rest in the bosom of the Lord. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates As oil markets tumbled to near 20-year lows amid an unprecedented energy-industry crisis made by man and nature, Russia's largest oil company issued a terse press release with big news: it would be exiting Venezuela after 10 years and billions of dollars in investments. In the surprise March 28 statement, Rosneft said it concluded the sale of assets in the tense, troubled South American nation to an unnamed firm that is wholly owned by the Russian government. Rosneft said it will receive in exchange 9.6 percent of its own shares, cutting the government's stake in the oil company -- which is headed by Igor Sechin, a close and long-standing ally of President Vladimir Putin, and has acted essentially as an arm of the state -- to less than a controlling one. The announcement plays into a geopolitical struggle involving both volatile energy markets and the fate of Venezuela, where Russia has helped a leader considered illegitimate by the United States and many other governments remain in power. The company's statement gave no reason for the sale, but energy analysts said it was clearly driven by U.S. sanctions imposed on two of its trading arms just weeks earlier for selling and transporting Venezuelan crude oil in violation of a 2019 U.S. embargo. After the United States hit Rosneft Trading SA and TNK Trading International with sanctions in February and March respectively, Chinese state oil company Sinochem said it would not buy any crude from Rosneft -- a major blow to the Russian company's strategy. Rosneft has been seeking a greater share of the large, lucrative Chinese market. Shortly after Rosneft issued the statement, its spokesman Mikhail Leontyev made it clear the company wants the sanctions lifted, saying that it had to protect the interests of its shareholders -- which include BP and Qatar -- and now expects Washington "to fulfill its publicly assumed responsibilities." However, U.S. removal of the sanctions isn't automatic. The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said the two trading companies must "take concrete, meaningful, and verifiable actions" to support democratic order in Venezuela as part of the condition for sanctions removal. Elliott Abrams, the U.S. special envoy for Venezuela, said on March 31 that the United States would study Rosneft's sale before making a decision. "We're trying to find out more about that [transaction]. What is the company? What activities will it undertake? Will it take 100 percent of what Rosneft is doing or less than that? That's not clear yet," Abrams said. Angola Connection? Russia eventually said the assets were bought by Roszarubzhneft, a newly created company whose name translates as an abbreviation of "Russia Foreign Oil." Registration documents identify the director as Nikolai Rybchuk, according to Russian media outlet RBC, which reported that no one with that name appears in any commercial corporation, raising questions about why he was chosen. However, it said that a man with that name was deployed several times to Angola, first serving as a translator at the Soviet Embassy from 1978 to 1980 amid a civil war, and later as a military attache. Most recently, he represented Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation in Angola. Sechin served as a military translator in Angola in the 1980s as the Soviet Union and United States supported opposing sides in the long civil war that was viewed as a Cold War proxy fight. Though their time in Angola may have overlapped, there is no concrete evidence that the two know each other, RBC said. Neither Rybchuk nor the Kremlin have said what Roszarubezhneft plans to do with the assets, which include several oil-production joint ventures, oil-industry service assets, and trading operations. The political-risk consultancy Eurasia Group said that the new company is likely to have a "limited capacity to quickly replace" Rosneft's outsized role in Venezuela's oil sector in the near future, though that could change down the road. Shell Game? Analysts said the OFAC may be interested in whether Rosneft actually loses control of the assets. "On paper it looks like a sham divestment. So, if I were the OFAC, I would think real hard about whether they think there is enough there to lift the sanctions," said Brian O'Toole, a fellow at the U.S.-based Atlantic Council think-tank and a former senior adviser at the Office of Foreign Assets Control. "The key is how these assets were moved. Is there a true divestment strategy here or is it essentially just a shell game?" he said. O'Toole said the sale resembles the attempt by Arkady Rotenberg, Putin's former judo instructor, to spare his drilling company Gazprom Bureniye from U.S. sanctions by selling it to his son Igor Rotenberg. The United States later imposed sanctions on Igor Rotenberg. Observers said the purchase by an abruptly created company brought to mind the 2004 auction in which an unknown firm called Baikalfinansgrup -- registered days earlier -- bought the main assets of jailed tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky's dismantled giant Yukos. The assets were then acquired by Rosneft, making the state-owned oil company headed by Sechin Russia's biggest. The United States did lift sanctions on three companies owned by sanctioned Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska after he agreed to cede control. The companies also agreed to have a majority of independent directors on the board and submit to tough new reporting requirements. O'Toole said it could be difficult for the United States to legally prove that Rosneft's trading units are benefiting from the Venezuelan assets now owned by Ruszarubezhneft or any ongoing crude sales from Venezuela. And Rosneft could seek to sue if the United States decides against the removal, he said. "The last thing [the OFAC] would want to do is lose in court," O'Toole said. Europe is also a factor: The sale of the stake in Rosneft cuts the Russian government's ownership to about 41 percent, opening the possibility for the European Union to remove its own sanctions, which are partially premised on the state owning a controlling stake. EU officials will review the bloc's Russia sanctions ahead of a late June summit at which EU leaders will decide whether to keep the punitive measures in place. An EU source told RFE/RL on condition of anonymity that the government's loss of control over Rosneft "very well might be an issue" to discuss but that there are other criteria involved, such as the role various companies have played in the annexation of Crimea. Money And Power Rosneft has invested billions of dollars in Venezuela's oil industry since 2010 -- in part, analysts say, as an element of a Kremlin strategy to gain influence in the backyard of the United States. Relations between Washington and Caracas have been badly strained since the now-deceased socialist strongman Hugo Chavez came to power in 1999. Russia has helped Nicolas Maduro -- who succeeded Chavez after his death in 2013 and is considered illegitimate by dozens of countries including the United States, in part due to human rights concerns -- to hold onto power. William Courtney, a former U.S. ambassador and now a Russia analyst at the Rand Corporation, a Washington-based think tank, said the Kremlin's interest in Venezuela is part of a larger strategy of allying with states where it can act to "throw the U.S. off balance" and potentially wrangle concessions from Washington and the West in other areas. It is also driven by a desire to have greater influence over the global oil industry: Venezuela is not among the top 10 oil producers but has the world's largest proven reserves. In January 2019, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration imposed sanctions on state oil company PDVSA in an attempt to cut off the Venezuelan government's main source of revenue and pressure Maduro to step aside in favor of Juan Guaido, whom the United States considers the legitimate leader. As other foreign oil companies cut their involvement in Venezuela following the sanctions, Rosneft stepped up, handling as much as 80 percent of the trade in Venezuelan oil by early 2020, The Washington Post reported. Rosneft bought Venezuelan oil at a significant discount, earning as much as $120 million a month as it sold it abroad in defiance of the U.S. sanctions, the paper reported. Russians worked with Venezuelan officials to design ways to avoid U.S. sanctions. The United States warned Russia and Rosneft that it would take action if it did not stop selling Venezuelan oil, though some doubted that Washington would go so far as to impose sanctions on a company that produces about 5 percent of the world's oil. The U.S. sanctions against Rosneft's trading arm came just as the demand for oil plummeted globally due to the spread of the coronavirus, driving benchmark oil prices below $20 a barrel at times. Venezuelan oil sells at a discount to benchmark prices. More Pressure On Maduro? Abrams said Rosneft's decision to sell its assets was a "clear reaction" to the collapse of oil prices and drop in demand. Venezuela's daily oil production has fallen about a third from the end of last year to around 500,000 barrels at the end of March, he said. "Rosneft is now losing money. Its joint ventures can't sell crude oil for a profit. Its trading activities around the world -- trying to sell Venezuelan oil -- are really in trouble," he said. Moises Rendon, the director of the Future of Venezuela Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said Rosneft's decision still came as a surprise to many in Washington and in Caracas. "Rosneft has been the financial arm of Russia to provide Maduro with liquidity and financial aid. While he still has Russia's geopolitical support, he must be concerned that he doesn't have its financial help anymore," Rendon said. Sergei Melik-Bagdasarov, who was appointed Russia's ambassador to Venezuela a day before the sanctions against Rosneft Trading were announced, downplayed the significance of the sale in an apparent attempt to reassure Maduro's government of Moscow's continued support. "Don't worry! This is about the transfer of Rosneft's assets in Venezuela to Russia's government directly. We will remain together going forward," he wrote on Twitter on March 28. In a tweet the same day, Maduro said that he had received a message from Putin confirming his support "in all areas" of the bilateral relationship. Putin held a "lengthy" conversation with Trump on March 30, during which they discussed the oil-market turbulence and Venezuela, among other things. Neither side provided details. The Trump administration signaled a shift in its Venezuela strategy the next day, saying it would lift sanctions on Caracas -- a move that would benefit Russia -- if Maduro's party and the opposition form a new government without him. Maduro needs to convince his government "that he still has Putin's support" if he wants to hold on to power, said Rendon. More than 100 medics have died from coronavirus in Italy as many struggle with the trauma of seeing their collegues die. Traumatised hospital staff have asked 'who will be the next' after 80 doctors and 21 nurses died from the bug. Two nurses took their own lives since the outbreak, which has killed more than 15,800 and infected 124,600 in Italy, began. A total of 300 medics were infected in one hospital in Lombardy - the area worst affected by the bug - while 12,000 hospital staff have been diagnosed nation-wide. The country recorded another 525 deaths, taking its total to 15,887 - the highest of any country in the world - however, this marked its lowest daily increase since the 427 registered on March 19 The number of new coronavirus cases in Itay was 4,316 - down from 4,805 in the previous 24 hours The high infection rate has largely been blamed on a lack of protective equipment at the start of the outbreak. Director of the Infectious Diseases Unit at Spedali Civili hospital Professor Francesco Castelli told Sky News: 'We were asking each other who will be the next and that of course is psychologically demanding because apart from colleagues, we are friends. 'All of us we have some kind of concern about bringing the contagion back to our homes. He added: 'If you put all that together... the workload, the fatigue, the tiredness... that is fairly psychologically demanding.' In Lombardy, many are dying due to symptoms going unchecked and phone-consultations not being sufficient enough. It took Silvia Bertuletti 11 days of frantic phone calls to persuade a doctor to visit her 78-year-old father Alessandro, who was gripped by fever and struggling for breath. More than 100 medics have died from coronavirus in Italy as many struggle with the trauma of seeing their collegues die. Pictured: Medics in the Cannizzaro hospital When an on-call physician did go to her house near Bergamo on the evening of March 18, it was too late. Alessandro Bertuletti was pronounced dead at 1.10 am on March 19, 10 minutes before an ambulance called hours earlier arrived. The only medication he had been prescribed over the phone was a mild painkiller and a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Mr Bertuletti, 48, said: 'My father was left to die alone, at home, without help. 'We were simply abandoned. No one deserves an end like that.' Interviews with families, doctors and nurses in Italy's stricken Lombardy region indicate that Bertuletti's experience is not uncommon. In Bergamo province alone, according to a recent study of death records, the real death toll from the outbreak could be more than double the official tally of 2,060, which only tracks hospital fatalities. As the global fight to save lives centres on boosting the supply of hospital ventilators, some doctors say a lack of primary healthcare is proving just as costly because medics cannot or will not make home visits. This is in line with a worldwide tactic of switching to remotely delivered medical advice. Traumatised hospital staff have asked 'who will be the next' after 80 doctors and 21 nurses died from the bug in Italy alone. Pictured: Medical staff care for a patient in Bergamo 'What led to this situation is that many family doctors didn't visit their patients for weeks,' said Riccardo Munda, who is doing the work of two doctors in Selvino and Nembro, two towns near Bergamo, after a colleague caught the virus. 'And I can't blame them, because that's how they saved their own skin.' He said many deaths could be avoided if people at home received prompt medical help, but doctors were swamped, lacked enough masks and suits to protect themselves from infection and were discouraged from making visits unless absolutely necessary. He added: 'Doctors give people at home a treatment. 'But if this treatment doesn't work, if there is no doctor who checks and changes or adjusts the medicines, then the patient dies.' A total of 300 medics were infected in one hospital in Lombardy - the area worst affected by the bug - while 12,000 hospital staff have been diagnosed nation-wide. Pictured: A medic assists an elderly woman at the Molinette hospital in Turin While hospital workers were given priority access to masks, some family doctors say they went without and so felt unable to visit patients safely. A spokeswoman for the state-run ATS health agency in Bergamo said authorities in the Lombardy region told family doctors to 'deal with patients by phone as much as possible', limiting home visits 'to reduce contagion and waste of protective equipment'. She said 142 doctors in the Bergamo area were either sick or in quarantine but they had all been replaced. Authorities are now moving to reinforce primary care in line with recommendations by the World Health Organization, which says that delivering primary healthcare safely should be a priority for governments right after intensive care capacity. In Bergamo province six special units of doctors started operating on March 19, each equipped to visit sick people at home. In nearby Milan, where deaths at home and in centres for the elderly more than doubled in the second half of March, similar units began operating only on March 31. Myanmar & COVID-19 Myanmars Mandalay Promises Food Supplies for the Poor Trishaws in Mandalay. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy Mandalay The Mandalay regional government says it will spend 1 billion kyats (US$770,000) feeding struggling families in the region during the COVID 19 pandemic. Mandalay Region has imposed travel restrictions and close major markets such as Zay Cho, Yadanarpon and Mingalar, leaving the city nearly deserted. The acting chief minister, U Zarni Aung, said the regional governments fund would provide rice, cooking oil, beans, pulses and other basic commodities for people who had lost earnings due to travel restrictions and the closure of the markets and businesses to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The regional government has instructed all administrative offices to collect a list of people who earn very little and are affected by the pandemic. We will support them with essential commodities such as rice and cooking oil, said the acting chief minister. Porters, taxi drivers and street hawkers working at the markets and bus stations have been made jobless. The regional government also said it was accepting donations from the private sector to help those struggling with the shutdowns. Township authorities have been told to list porters, motorcycle taxi drivers, street hawkers, flower sellers and other traders. Once we receive the list, we will distribute the commodities to those who are urgently in need, using safety measures to minimize contact. Civil societies organizations and volunteers are also invited to cooperate, U Zarni Aung added. The Mandalay government has donated rice, cooking oil, bean and pulses, onions and other essentials for over 48,000 Buddhist monks and nuns so they do not need to go out to collect offerings. Buddhist monks and nuns are vulnerable to coronavirus as they have to go out every day to collect alms. Since we are urging people to stay home, they need to stay in their monasteries, U Zarni Aung said. We are thinking of extending the support. Mandalay Region and in Monywa and Sagaing of Sagaing Region have voluntary groups helping struggling households with commodities, masks, soap, hand sanitizers and medicine. Yangon has social volunteer teams, including celebrities, donating commodities to the poor. Other regions and states have been slower to gear up a response to the crisis. You may also like these stories: Mandalay Police Officer Seriously Injured in Landmine Training Amid Chinese Flu Fears, Mandalay Goes Without Masks While Dealers Make Profits [April 06, 2020] MiMedx Announces Settlement of VA Pricing Investigation MARIETTA, Ga., April 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MiMedx Group, Inc. (OTC PINK: MDXG) (MiMedx or the Company), an industry leader in advanced wound care and an emerging therapeutic biologics company, today announced that it has finalized a settlement with the Department of Justice (the DOJ), resolving an investigation concerning the accuracy of commercial pricing disclosures to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (the VA) for one of the Companys products in connection with the Companys Federal Supply Schedule contract, and a related qui tam action filed in Minnesota. The Company self-disclosed the matter to the VA Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG) in November 2018, prior to its knowledge of the qui tam suit or any underlying government investigation and, as DOJ acknowledged in the settlement agreement, the Company cooperated with the governments investigationinto the matter. Without admitting the allegations the Company has agreed to pay $6.5 million to the DOJ to resolve the matter. The Company previously disclosed that it had accrued an amount to cover the settlement and anticipated related expenses in its recently-released results for the year ended December 31, 2018. Timothy R. Wright, Chief Executive Officer, commented, We are happy to have this investigation behind us. Transparency, cooperation and disclosure are enabling us to resolve historical issues and focus our efforts toward the future. This is another important step in that effort. About MiMedx MiMedx is an industry leader in advanced wound care and an emerging therapeutic biologics company developing and distributing human placental tissue allografts with patent-protected processes for multiple sectors of healthcare. The Company processes the human placental tissue utilizing its proprietary PURION process methodology, among other processes, to produce allografts by employing aseptic processing techniques in addition to terminal sterilization. MiMedx has supplied over 1.8 million allografts to date. For additional information, please visit www.mimedx.com . Contact: Hilary Dixon Investor Relations & Corporate Communications 770.651.9066 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The West Midlands Ambulance Service vehicle was ravaged by fire as crew treated a patient in their home (West Midlands Ambulance Service) An investigation has been launched after an ambulance was destroyed in a fire as paramedics treated a patient inside their home. The West Midlands Ambulance Service had been called to a house in Stoke-on-Trent just after midnight to assess a patient. While inside, neighbours alerted the crew that the ambulance was on fire. A call was put in to the fire service and firefighters arrived quickly to extinguish the blaze. However, the vehicle suffered serious damage and an investigation into the fire was launched. A spokesman from the West Midlands Ambulance Service told Yahoo News UK the cause of the fire had yet to be established, but confirmed that no one was injured in the incident. He said: "West Midlands Ambulance Service can confirm one of its ambulances caught fire whilst the crew were in a nearby property in Stoke-on-Trent in the early hours of this morning. Read more on Yahoo News UK: Single mum dying of cancer loses life-prolonging treatment due to coronavirus 'Im not going to answer': Matt Hancock dodges question over bailout for Virgin Atlantic Temporary morgues are being built to cope with coronavirus death toll "The ambulance crew was called to Flash Lane in Trent Vale at 12.37am to a patient who required assessment. "They were with the patient when they were alerted by neighbours that the ambulance was well alight. "The fire service were quickly on scene and extinguished the fire, but the ambulance suffered significant damage. Thankfully, no one was injured in the incident. "The vehicle has been recovered and the cause of the fire will be forensically investigated; because the Trust has no vehicle over five years old, fires are very unusual so establishing the cause is extremely important." ---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK--- Imagine generating a vaccine for the novel coronavirus from your immune system. The virus that causes COVID-19 has swept the globe with about 1.3 million infections and 70,000 deaths through Sunday evening.Development of a widely available vaccine can take a year or more while a virus continues its rampage. Key to the race to develop a vaccine for the new coronavirus is a technology that uses the virus' genetic code to essentially persuade your body to make its own vaccine. This technique is faster than egg-based manufacturing, which produces the majority of annual flu vaccines and led to delays in distributing a vaccine for H1N1 during the 2009 pandemic. And it's enabling a possible vaccine for the new coronavirus to be developed in record time. Coronavirus updates: Get the latest in USA TODAY's live blog Its quicker to get started, said Clem Lewin, who is working on vaccine candidates for the manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur. All you need is the blueprint for the protein." Testing still will take time. Scientists must determine whether any of several vaccine candidates fight the virus effectively. If so, they need to determine the proper dose. This tinkering is what could take a year or more. When the first potential vaccine from the manufacturer Moderna was injected into people on March 16, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said he believed the coronavirus vaccine was being developed at a record pace. It took 63 days to go from identifying a viruss genetic sequence to testing a vaccine in people. Panic, then neglect: Prior pandemics gave us lessons to fight the coronavirus. But funding dried up. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks at a press briefing with the coronavirus task force on March 17, 2020. Scrambling egg-based production Several manufacturers pursuing a vaccine for the latest coronavirus have been aided by a technological innovation. The method that Moderna, Sanofi and others are pursuing is different from traditional vaccinations, in which a weakened or dead version of the virus is introduced into the body, triggering it to create antibodies that would attack the live virus should the person be exposed to it. Story continues In the new approach, pieces of messenger RNA that hold the chemical template of a spike protein from the SARS-CoV-2 virus are injected into a human, said Mark Slifka, a professor of viral immunology at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon. The spikes are what the virus uses to attach to a human cell the first step in sickening someone. In response to the injection of those molecules, the cells in the body produce the spike protein encoded by that mRNA. That triggers the body to mount an immune response to that viral protein, just as in traditional vaccines. Essentially, the patient makes their own vaccine, says the narrator of a Moderna video about the vaccine. This cuts out the middleman. Fauci said volunteers would be given two injections of the potential coronavirus vaccine, the second after 28 days. The doses are 25 milligrams, 100 milligrams and 250 milligrams, he said. The individuals will be followed for one year both for safety and whether it induces the kind of response that we predict would be protective, Fauci said. Moderna, the manufacturer conducting the initial tests, projected the first commercially available vaccine in 12 to 18 months. A corporate filing March 23 said CEO Stephane Bancel told Goldman Sachs it is possible that under emergency use, a vaccine could be available to some people, possibly including healthcare professionals, in the fall of 2020. US coronavirus map: Tracking the outbreak Get daily updates in your inbox: Sign up for our newsletter now. Why change the menu from reliable eggs? Most flu vaccines are produced from fertilized chicken eggs, a decades-old process that takes four to five months. The mRNA process is much faster. Delays in producing an H1N1 vaccine spurred health officials to urge development of other technologies, according to a Government Accountability Office report. Its a state-of-the-art technology for the 1950s, Luciana Borio, then director for medical and biodefense preparedness at the National Security Council, said at a 2018 conference on the 100th anniversary of the Spanish flu pandemic. A New England Journal of Medicine review of the response to H1N1 found that 78 million doses of the vaccine were eventually produced for 70 countries worldwide, but only after two waves of the illness worldwide. The most serious operational shortcoming ... was the failure to distribute enough influenza vaccine in a timely way, the report said. The cause: distribution problems, "a shortfall in global vaccine-production capacity and technical delays due to reliance on viral egg cultures for production. Developing a vaccine is laborious, said Harvey Fineberg, a former president of the U.S. Institute of Medicine and former dean of the public-health faculty at Harvard University. One step is confirming that a possible vaccine doesn't cause bad reactions in patients. Then scientists examine how much vaccine is required for an antibody response. And they must verify the vaccine actually protects against infection, which is why it's ideal to test during an outbreak. All those steps come after scientists identify the genetic sequence to target for a vaccine. Its like saying, 'Ive got my architectural plans my house must be ready to move into,' Fineberg said. There are a lot of things you need to do between now and being ready to open the door. Manufacturers work with government The manufacturers pursuing coronavirus vaccines are working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency. Moderna is working on 13 potential vaccines. Sanofi is working on two candidates: an mRNA candidate with the company Translate Bio and another option in collaboration with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency. Other companies are pursuing other technologies. GlaxoSmithKline is working with China-based Clover Biopharmaceuticals through a different process to produce a cell-based vaccine. Johnson & Johnson, which is working on several possible vaccines, announced last week it would invest $1 billion for vaccine research, development and testing. The company said it could produce 1 billion doses of a vaccine when the time comes. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said $3.5 billion in the coronavirus spending package will help develop manufacturing technologies to ensure a robust, agile, U.S.-based supply chain of vaccines, therapeutics, and active pharmaceutical ingredients. The biggest challenge we face in the United States is not developing a vaccine, tricky as that step is, Coons said in a statement. Its that we lack the domestic manufacturing capacity to quickly produce a vaccine once its proven and deliver it to the American people. Lewin of Sanofi said the global health emergency spurred manufacturers to try different technologies. We and all the other manufacturers are working as quickly as possible to accelerate these programs while ensuring the vaccine is safe and effective, Lewin said. It isnt business as usual for anybody. Coronavirus What about changes to flu vaccines? The technology used to develop a coronavirus vaccine wont affect the annual flu vaccine because they are different viruses requiring different approaches. But even before the pandemic, steps were underway to hasten changes to the flu vaccine. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in September calling on manufacturers to move away from egg-based vaccines because of critical shortcomings, including the months they take to produce. The order anticipated a pandemic more lethal than the 1918 Spanish flu, which killed 675,000 Americans. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, said one reason to change vaccine production is that growing the vaccine in eggs allows mutations that make it less effective. People were working on this already, Schaffner said. That sort of commitment, a presidential commitment, plus the moneys that go with it, really put the pedal to the metal for future research. Egg-based vaccine manufacturing has been reliable. Developing another process would require a multimillion-dollar investment in an industry with small profit margins, Schaffner said. Moving away from egg-based production is not like flipping a switch, he said. Im sure all the manufacturers are all thinking about this, but how and how quickly they do it is another matter. Other options include cell-based and recombinant processes. A cell-based vaccine is grown in a mammal's cells, such as kidney cells from monkeys or dogs, rather than in a hen's eggs. A recombinant vaccine is created synthetically from the DNA, or genetic instructions, of a protein from the flu virus. The DNA is then combined with a baculovirus, which infects invertebrates. Other changes could address vaccine delivery, perhaps moving from injections to pills or skin patches, Schaffner said. A loftier goal is to develop what is called a universal vaccine, which could last five years at a time. Such a vaccine could be administered any time of year during a doctor's visit, rather than just in the fall. Doing that would require changing how the vaccine attacks the flu virus, which is shaped like a sphere with lollipops protruding from it. Vaccines so far have targeted the candy at the end of the lollipop, which changes every year. A vaccine that targets the stem of the lollipop could offer protection for years, Shaffner said. If you get vaccinated, youre vaccinated against a whole series of different influenza viruses, Schaffner said. The coronavirus pandemic has come during a severe flu season. This years vaccine is about as effective as usual, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study of cases through Feb. 8. The study found the severity for people up to 49 years old including hospitalizations was worse than other recent seasons, including the severe year of 2017-2018. Current influenza vaccines are providing substantial public health benefits," said the study in CDCs Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. "However more effective vaccines are needed." Contributing: Elizabeth Weise This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus vaccine development uses new, faster technology Michael Atkinson, the intelligence community watchdog who handled the whistleblower complaint that led to President Trump's impeachment, issued a two-page statement on his removal from the role Sunday night. In the statement, Atkinson said he had "faithfully discharged" his duties as inspector general and spent his nearly two-decade career serving "without regard to partisan favor or political fear." Mr. Trump announced less than 48 hours earlier that he had relieved Atkinson, whom the president had appointed to serve as Intelligence Community Inspector General in 2018, of his duties because Mr. Trump "no longer" had confidence in him. "It is hard to not to think the president's loss of confidence in me derives from my having faithfully discharged my legal obligations as an independent and impartial Inspector General, and from my commitment to do so," Atkinson wrote in the statement. Atkinson wrote that he was "legally obligated" to make sure whistleblowers had confidentiality and were protected from reprisal. He also issued an appeal to other would-be whistleblowers working for the federal government. FILE PHOTO: Intelligence Community Inspector General Atkinson arrives to testify at a House Intelligence Committee closed-door hearing on a whistleblower complaint about President Trump's dealings with Ukraine, on Capitol Hill in Washington Then-Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson is seen arriving to testify at an October 4, 2019 House Intelligence Committee closed-door hearing on the whistleblower complaint about President Trump's dealings with Ukraine. Jonathan Ernst / REUTERS "The American people deserve an honest and effective government. They are counting on you to use authorized channels to bravely speak up there is no disgrace in doing so," Atkinson wrote. "Please do not allow recent events to silence your voices." During a coronavirus task force briefing Saturday, Mr. Trump said that he knew the identity of the whistleblower and implied it was not a secret. He also insisted that, as president, he had the "absolute right" to fire Atkinson, saying "I thought he did a terrible job" and calling him "a disgrace." Story continues "He took a whistleblower report that turned out to be fake, about conversation with Ukraine, took a report and brought it to Congress with an emergency," Mr. Trump said. Mr. Trump also accused Atkinson, without evidence, of being partisan. Atkinson, who worked at the U.S. Department of Justice for over a decade, said Sunday that he has "spent my entire 17-year career as a public servant acting without regard to partisan favor or political fear." Although by statute, Mr. Atkinson was to have served an additional 30 days after Congress was notified of his removal, he was instead placed on immediate administrative leave, according to a source familiar with the matter. His removal sparked bipartisan concern from lawmakers who raised questions about the reason for his ouster. On Saturday, Republican Senator Chuck Grassley said in a statement that Congress had been "crystal clear" that written reasons must be given when IGs were removed for a lack of confidence. "More details are needed from the administration," Mr. Grassley said. Susan Collins, a Republican Senator from Maine, said Atkinson's removal "was not warranted." Atkinson was involved in the early stages of what eventually became the impeachment inquiry against Mr. Trump. On August 12, 2019, a whistleblower filed a complaint about an interaction between Mr. Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to the transcript of the call that was later released, the whistleblower said, "I have received information from multiple U.S. Government officials that the President of the United States is using the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the 2020 U.S. election. This interference includes, among other things, pressuring a foreign country to investigate one of the President's main domestic political rivals." Federal law stipulates that the inspector general must investigate any report of an "urgent concern" by an employee of the intelligence community and determine whether it "appears credible" within two weeks. If it is, the inspector general must then report it to the director of national intelligence, whose office is responsible for overseeing the nation's 17 intelligence agencies. Atkinson concluded that the complaint was credible enough to be considered an "urgent concern," and on August 26, he sent a letter to then-acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire, who left the position in February. In September, Atkinson wrote a letter to the House Intelligence Committee that revealed Maguire decided not to forward the complaint to Congress. Atkinson's removal is the latest in a series of ousters at the top of the intelligence community ranks, most of which have been concentrated within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. In February, Maguire was replaced by the current acting director, Richard Grenell, who serves concurrently as Ambassador to Germany. Maguire's then-second in command, career CIA official Andrew Hallman, was also removed. Mr. Trump then re-nominated Republican Congressman John Ratcliffe of Texas, who previously withdrew his candidacy amid scrutiny of his national security credentials, to the permanent DNI position though it is unclear when a confirmation process may begin. Earlier this month, Grenell also announced the removal of the acting director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), career intelligence official Russ Travers, as well as his deputy. Mr. Trump nominated Christopher Miller, a former Army Special Forces officer, to replace Travers. The NCTC's top two positions have since been filled on an acting basis by two other career officials, pending Miller's confirmation. ODNI said over the weekend that the new acting intelligence community inspector general will be Thomas Monheim, a career intelligence official who was most recently General Counsel of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Kathryn Watson and Grace Segers contributed to this report. Holocaust survivors will be able to share their stories after death thanks to a new project Trump says 1.67 million Americans tested for coronavirus and touts drugs to fight disease Trump praises Washington state for returning 400 ventilators to U.S. stockpile Ivermectin has shown to be effective in-vitro against a broad range of viruses including HIV, Dengue, Influenza and Zika virus. Researchers have found that an anti-parasitic drug already available around the world can kill the novel coronavirus grown in cell cultures within 48 hours, an advance that may lead to the development and trial of a new clinical therapy for COVID-19. According to the study, published in the journal Antiviral Research, the drug, Ivermectin, stopped the virus, SARS-CoV-2, from 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," said study co-author Kylie Wagstaff from Monash University in Australia. The scientists said Ivermectin is an approved antiparasitic drug that has also been shown to be effective in vitro against a broad range of viruses including HIV, Dengue, Influenza and Zika virus. However, Wagstaff cautioned that the tests conducted in the study were in vitro and that trials needed to be carried out in people. Also Read: List of all State, Union territories helplines, Whatsapp chatbots, COVID-19 tracking map "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," 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," she said. Although the mechanism by which Ivermectin works on the virus is not known, the scientists said 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. "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," said Leon Caly, study co-author from the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia. The scientists further cautioned that the use of Ivermectin to combat COVID-19 would depend on the results of future pre-clinical testing and ultimately clinical trials. Also Read: Five astronauts give us their best tips on finding joy, calm in self-isolation April 06, 2020 Insidious new attacks are targeted boot sectors of hard drives and erasing data. Learn how to protect remote computer users with cybersecurity solutions As companies grapple with the economic and public health fallout of the COVID-19 crisis, cyberthreats are emerging at an alarming rate. These attacks are threatening operations a jittery employees shift to at-home operations. The attacks frequently come disguised as emails that dupe unsuspecting readers into launching malware that can cripple websites or infiltrate computer systems. One of the more recent attacks goes even deeper, erasing data completely. These attack threats are malicious in a different way than the typical hacker activity, which frequently tries to steal data or hijack systems for financial gain. Instead, these attacks are designed to inflict damage. What Is the Latest COVID-19 Malware Threat? Researchers have identified multiple strains of malware that cause damage by either wiping files completely or altering a computer's master boot record (MBR). The MBR is an important component of a hard drive. It's the first sector and shows the computer where the operating system is located so it can be loaded correctly. Greg LaScala, who provides corporate IT support for large and emerging enterprises across the US takes a look at how the MBR-rewrite attacks work. First, the malware disables the Windows Task Manager and displays a window that cannot be closed. While users try to address that issue, the malware is working to rewrite the MBR. The malware then reboots the machine; the newly rewritten MBR kicks in, sending users to a pre-boot screen instead. To regain access to their computer, users will need to use apps designed to recover and rebuild the computer's MBR to a usable version. What Coronavirus Malware Erases Files? The more insidious malware does far worse than rewrite an MBR. The first so-called data wiper was first discovered in February 2020 and is believed to have targeted Chinese users. A second, similar strain is suspected to have originated in Italy. Both are considered "poor wipers," according to a ZDNet article. The malware is inefficient, taking more time to delete files and being riddled with errors. Why Are There So Many COVID-19 Cyberattacks? Security companies and government agencies the world over are reporting an uptick in cyberattacks, preying on the vulnerabilities people are feeling about the pandemic. The World Economic Forum has issued the following guidelines to businesses to protect themselves from these threats: Understand Threats. Businesses should use cybersecurity assessments to identify potential threat vectors, especially those that have arisen as more staff are working from home. Priority should be given to sensitive data and business-critical applications Guide and Communicate. Detail policies for working from home and communicate with employees about the rising threats of cyberattacks and what they can do to protect the business Use Security Measures. Companies can use many technology solutions to protect themselves, their users and the devices (both company-issued and employer-provided). These solutions can help extend the network security used on-premises to remote users. They include: Connecting users securely using cloud-based apps, such as videoconferencing, meeting management and shared work tools. Note: Hackers are also targeting applications like Zoom, which is used for remote meetings, for attacks Endpoint protection on laptops and smartphones VPN for encrypted connections to company networks Muli-factor authentication Automated threat intelligence monitoring, detection and reporting Automated domain filtering to prevent connections to malicious URLs Anti-phishing, anti-spam and anti-malware programs Unfortunately, the threats to corporate data and productivity are all too real. Locking down your cybersecurity solutions has never been more essential. Though the world has changed dramatically in the last few weeks, the call for Christians to be salt and light hasnt. Thats one of the difficult things about our faith. The Biblical instruction is clear enough: Heres what God is doing in the world, our call is to follow Him and, in Christ, bear witness to Jesus by sharing our faith and doing good in His name. But those Biblical instructions were given in a cultural context much different than our own. In other words, translating between Gods word and Gods world isnt easy. If wed woken up this morning and seen an army of Philistines outside, well, good news, theres like 40 chapters in the Old Testament about what to do in case of Philistines. Instead, we woke up to another day of spiking infection and death numbers, many of us with friends and family members who are vulnerable or sick, and another day on lockdown. Ive looked through the whole concordance. Coronavirus isnt in there not even in the King James version. And, of course, all of this seems overwhelming. What can I do? How can I help? I want to suggest four questions that every one of us can and should answer, so that we can, as the sons of Issachar did, understand the times and know what to do. But first, let me say something about the where before we get to the what. God determined that you and I should be in this time and this place. Lets not ask what we cant do, but what we can do. Where has God placed you? In what family? What community? What church? Near which business and in touch with which charity? This is the Great Commission, in fact. In Matthew 28, Jesus issues this command to his first followers make disciples. Believe it or not, at least in the original language, the word Go in verse 17 is not an imperative. It could, and maybe should, be translated as you go or wherever you go. T.M. Moore, a long-time friend and adviser to Chuck Colson, called this your personal mission field, and once that is identified, these four questions can help us develop an action plan. First, whats good that we can celebrate and promote during this crisis? As my friend Ed Stetzer shared on a recent Colson Center webinar, there are plenty of things to celebrate, promote, and even emulate. Obviously, the charitable works around us are worth our celebration and support. Soup kitchens, and homeless shelters, and others doing the hard work of victim care. But theres also birthdays, anniversaries, and milestones. These things are still a good part of our humanity together, and there are still ways to celebrate with others. On the inaugural SGN (or Some Good News) broadcast, former star of The Office, John Krasinski showed a video of Alabama man John Kline, visiting his bride of decades through the window of her retirement home that hes no longer allowed to visit. Though shes suffering from Alzheimers, she remembered the words of Amazing Grace, and they sang it together through the window. With all the ridiculous and accusatory stuff floating around social media, maybe share this. Maybe celebrate with this couple the beauty of their life-long married love. And, of course, we can celebrate the good being done by doctors, nurses, first responders, and other medical professionals on the frontlines of this epidemic. Heres the second question: What is missing that we can contribute? At times like these, it might be easier to ask, Whats not missing that we cant contribute? In New York City, where the medical system is under severe stress, Samaritans Purse answered this question by setting up a field hospital in Central Park. Other Christian groups and churches are operating clinics and testing people for infection. One BreakPoint listener wrote in to tell us that shes sewing surgical masks. Ive read of groups providing meals to frontline medical personnel or home-bound folks, and MIT engineers posted blueprints for building cheap ventilators, for free online. Especially now, Christians have something people desperately need and many are missing: Hope. Now of all times, we must be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks about the hope that is in us. A culture whose worship songs are Imagine by John Lennon and Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen is a culture missing a vertical reference point. Weve got that, too. Third question: What evil can we confront or stop? The obvious answer for healthcare workers is the coronavirus itself, though we all have a role to play in stopping or at least slowing the spread of the virus. Physical distancing and other precautionary measures is a way of putting love of neighbor ahead of our own desires. On a more immediate level, we can stop the cynicism and anger. We can stop from forwarding an unhelpful message or accusation on social media. We can stop pornography from coming into our homes while so many more people are online. Final question: What is broken that we can restore? Among the brokenness exposed in our culture by this virus is loneliness and social isolation. Its difficult to imagine a better and easier example of Christians running towards the plague than reaching out to people like this. Relational brokenness, in our families and beyond, is an epidemic far more reaching than COVID -19. As this pandemic continues, well see endless opportunities to help restore broken lives and broken livelihoods. Restoration is the core topic of our next Colson Center short course, which starts tomorrow night, How the Church Can Respond to Cultures Brokenness. Come to BreakPoint.org to see our excellent lineup of speakers and to register. I know some of these ideas may seem too simple to be effective. Too easy. But the problem is we often dismiss the good we can do, the missing we can contribute, the evil we can fight, and the brokenness we can restore because of what we cant do. Lets not do that. Publication date: April 6, 2020 Photo courtesy: Luis Melendez/Unsplash BreakPoint is a program of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. BreakPoint commentaries offer incisive content people can't find anywhere else; content that cuts through the fog of relativism and the news cycle with truth and compassion. Founded by Chuck Colson (1931 2012) in 1991 as a daily radio broadcast, BreakPoint provides a Christian perspective on today's news and trends. Today, you can get it in written and a variety of audio formats: on the web, the radio, or your favorite podcast app on the go. John Stonestreet is President of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, and radio host of BreakPoint, a daily national radio program providing thought-provoking commentaries on current events and life issues from a biblical worldview. John holds degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (IL) and Bryan College (TN), and is the co-author of Making Sense of Your World: A Biblical Worldview. Nearly 9,000 medical professionals, including 531 doctors, have offered to volunteer at state-run hospitals, the Punjab government said Monday as it told private hospitals that they may lose licences if they don't treat coronavirus patients. Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said as far as human resources are concerned, they have received an "overwhelming response" with 531 doctors, 4,680 nurses, 2,056 pharmacists and 1,648 lab technicians volunteering to work at government hospitals. He, however, said the state government has taken serious note of the fact that some private hospitals have shut operations, for which action will be taken against them. The chief minister has suggested the cancellation of their licences if they refuse to treat COVID-19 patients, he said, adding that instructions have been issued to all civil surgeons in this regard. The minister said the state government has already directed that chemist shops, hospitals, drug-de addiction centres, nursing homes and laboratories should stay open. Sidhu said doctors and other health staff working in state-run and private hospitals have been allowed movement without the curfew pass on the basis of their photo identity cards issued by the Medical Council of India and the Indian Medical Association. The minister also assured of adequate supply of personal protection equipment (PPE) kits and face masks, saying these are being provided to all districts and government medical colleges. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BRUSSELS - Austria and Denmark on Monday became the first European countries to announce plans to reopen their societies after coronavirus lockdowns, hoping they may have already weathered the worst of the first wave of the pandemic. Belgium, France, Spain and others are similarly examining how they will loosen some of the restrictions on public life. But European leaders are cautious because some countries that have sought to return to normal, such as Singapore and Japan, have seen waves of new infections. Both Austria and Denmark plan to lift restrictions in stages. In Austria, small shops are slated to reopen April 14, with larger stores to follow on May 1. Restaurants, hotels and schools may be able to reopen in mid-May - though that decision will be assessed at the end of April. Strict rules about masks, social distancing and the number of people allowed into a store at any one time will remain in place, but public events may resume in July. In Denmark, the plan is for nursery and primary schools to reopen April 15, while companies will resume business gradually. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz credited his country's early response - it imposed a national lockdown on March 16, earlier than some of its neighbors. "We reacted faster and more restrictively in Austria than in other countries and were therefore able to prevent the worst from happening so far," Kurz said, removing a blue surgical mask to speak at a news conference. "The quick and restrictive reaction now also gives us the opportunity to get out of this crisis faster." Austria has seen three consecutive days in which the number of coronavirus recoveries have exceeded the number of new cases. On Monday, Austrian authorities reported 241 new infections and 465 recoveries over the previous 24 hours. The slowing spread of the virus has relieved pressure on the medical system and allowed for thinking about what comes next. But Austria's announcement also seemed tailored to people who are growing frustrated and restless. Kurz asked citizens to hold firm to restrictions - an effort that has been made more challenging by a wave of beautiful weather that has settled on Europe during what normally would be a vacation period. Actions this week "will determine whether the post-Easter resurrection that we are all hoping for can take place," Kurz said, invoking the religious imagery. Denmark also imposed its lockdown relatively early, on March 11, and invested in widespread testing. Announcing the plan for lifting restrictions, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said, "It's like walking on a line. If we stand still along the way, we can fall. If we go too fast, things can go wrong. Therefore, we must take one cautious step at a time. And we do not yet know when we have firm ground under our feet." Border controls will remain in place, and gatherings of more than 10 people will remain banned, she said. If the number of infections starts climbing again, Denmark will immediately reimpose restrictions. Although other European countries are eyeing exit strategies, most have been hesitant to commit to particular dates - and they have sought to temper their citizens' expectations about a return to ordinary life. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said last week that she "would be acting absolutely irresponsibly if I simply gave you a specific date today when the measures could be abolished, or at least relaxed, but then could not keep promises because the infection numbers did not allow it." But she promised that "the federal government and I, personally, are thinking day and night about how we can both protect everyone's health and have a process that will make public life possible step by step." In France, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said last week that lifting rules would be "frighteningly complex" and that people should not expect a "general deconfinement, all at once, everywhere and for everyone." As with so much of the response to the coronavirus crisis, the rollback of restrictions may vary widely from country to country in Europe. Austria appears to be planning to allow its entire population to start moving again. Other countries, including Italy, Germany and Britain, have contemplated allowing only people with covid-19 antibodies to resume ordinary life, thus splitting the population into immune and nonimmune groups. That strategy would rely on tests that are not yet readily available. There is also the question about when to reopen borders between countries and resume the free movement that has been fundamental to the European Union. Leaders may not trust that their neighbors have beat back the virus as successfully as they have. And maintaining control while allowing one's own citizens to move more freely internally may mean a hardening for external borders for a time. Asian countries that have eased restrictions have struggled with waves of new infections, giving Europeans serious pause. Singapore on Monday became the latest to reverse course and impose a lockdown after winning initial praise for its aggressive coronavirus response. The country had avoided drastic restrictions after widespread testing and contact tracing. But on Sunday the country posted its highest-ever daily infection count, and starting Tuesday, schools and businesses will close in the same ways they have elsewhere in the world. Japan has also experienced a spike in infections after social distancing restrictions eased last month, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday that he planned to declare a state of emergency covering Tokyo, Osaka and other hard-hit regions. - - - The Washington Post's Luisa Beck in Berlin contributed to this report. Last night, in the most recent of several long and strange press conferences, President Trump announced that the United States had amassed 29 million pills of hydroxychloroquine, a yet-unproven treatment that may assist in improving outcomes with Covid-19. Shortly after Trump spoke, Dr Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was prevented from answering any questions pursuant to the drug and its uses. The reason that Fauci was not permitted to speak at that presser was because there is still much debate about whether or not this drug can even be used to treat Covid-19 and a whole other host of ethical considerations about removing from circulation a drug that is already useful in treating lupus, since now those patients will no longer have access to it. Unlike what Trump claimed, the FDA has not actually approved hydroxychloroquine as a coronavirus treatment. Fauci has already made clear his reluctance to kowtow to the president, as many other administration sycophants have done in the past, and was likely to have mentioned that if hed been allowed to speak. But Trump hates a dissident, so Fauci was forced into silence. The stockpiling of hydroxychloroquine presents a darker truth about the American methodology in the era of Covid-19, however. We shouldnt just be concerned about the way President Trump is personally conducting himself. Seen as part of a whole, what Americans have committed and are continuing to commit is, essentially, modern piracy. On April 2, it was reported that US buyers waving wads of cash managed to wrest control of a consignment of masks as it was about to be dispatched from China to one of the worst-hit coronavirus areas of France. On April 3, a second story hit the press, claiming that 200,000 N95 masks, destined for Germany from China, were diverted to the United States during a plane transfer in Thailand. The masks had been ordered for the Berlin police force. As of today, Germany has over 100,000 coronavirus cases, the fourth most in the world, behind Italy, Spain, and the United States. The hydroxychloroquine stockpiling, then, is not an act in a vacuum. Instead, its an example of ongoing behavior thats wholly indicative of what the United States has become under the ethically vacuous leadership of President Trump. It seems that Americans dont care if others suffer while they engage in piracy to the express benefit of their people (so long as they dont have lupus, in which case theyll be denied medication and thanked for their sacrifice) and the detriment of the rest of the world. Indeed, at some points it even seems to have descended into a state vs. state brawl, with Trump accused of pandering to red states and refusing ventilators to New York, which is in desperate need (over the weekend, China donated 1,000 ventilators to the state when the federal government couldnt assure governors they would be able to deliver enough medical supplies.) Trump prevents Dr Fauci from answering question But if coronavirus presents any lesson inherent, its that borders and boundaries are useless in a global economy. If one state or country or leader fails, we all do, which is why hoarding supplies, or stealing from each other, or engaging in subterfuge has no long-term use beyond tanking everything. The greed of piracy fails to see the broad picture of how a world depends on the health, safety, and welfare of all of its residents, rich and poor, American, British, French, German, and every other nationality in between. Asking American companies not to provide medical supplies to Canada or South America will have a direct impact on people inside the US. Thats a fact that President Trump has never grasped, and likely never will. Even if hydroxychloroquine proves to be a miracle drug that saves millions of lives (and, to be clear, no doctor, including Dr Fauci, has confirmed that this hopeful prognosis is anything but a hypothesis as of right now), providing the drug to only Americans serves no real purpose, just like stealing masks from the French or from the Berlin police force serves no real purpose. Infections dont check your national identity before proliferating. But, of course, telling Trump to wait his turn serves about as much purpose as telling a tantrum-throwing one-year-old to wait his turn. A leader with no vision for the future will never truly be able to lead. So what can we really, earnestly expect? Governor blasts Trump for months of delay and withholding equipment: 'He does not understand the word federal' Here we are, at the threshold. The only hope remaining is that the few mitigating forces that surround the president can rein him in and remind him that the United States is not autonomous in the world, but that this country is, rather, a cog. If we have any hope in surviving the decimation of death and destruction that we now face miracle drug or not we must hope for the improved health and welfare of every single person on this planet. Without that, there is nothing. A pedestrian walks under the marquee at the Theater of Living Arts along South Street, telling the public to stay home. Five banks are offering relief to consumers affected by the coronavirus crisis under a new initiative by the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office. Read more Need a break on your mortgage or auto loan? Five banks are offering relief to consumers affected by the coronavirus crisis under a new initiative by the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office. PNC, Citizens Bank, Dollar Bank, First Commonwealth Bank, and OceanFirst Bank are participating in the program, which gives consumers grace periods on loans, fees, and foreclosures, among other relief. We can beat this crisis, but consumers and small businesses need to know their rights and use the resources available to them, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in a statement. This commitment will help Pennsylvanians who are facing lost wages, lost jobs, and lost income focus on whats important: staying safe and healthy during this emergency. The states economy has ground to a halt after Gov. Tom Wolf ordered a statewide shutdown of non-life-sustaining businesses" in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. More than 1.1 million Pennsylvanians, or one in six workers in the state, have filed for unemployment benefits in the three weeks since the shutdown started, state data shows. The new initiative launched by the Attorney Generals Office, called the PA CARE Package, is an effort to offer some relief as job losses put an unprecedented financial stress on state residents, especially given the uncertainty over when businesses can open again. Under the program, banks and financial institutions work with the AGs Office to comply with the recently passed federal relief package and offer additional protections. Participating banks are offering the following relief: Expansion of small- and medium-business loan availability. 90-day grace period for mortgage payments (at least). 90-day grace period for other consumer loans such as auto loans. 90-day window for relief from fees and charges such as late and overdraft fees. 60-day moratorium on foreclosure, eviction, or motor vehicle repossession. No adverse credit reporting for accessing relief on consumer loans. PNC, the largest bank headquartered in the commonwealth, was the first to commit to the initiative last week. Citizens Bank signed up on Monday. The Attorney Generals Office expects other banks to join, too. Go to www.attorneygeneral.gov/COVID19 for more information on the initiative. American Idol didnt show Michigans Amelia Joyce much love all season long, despite the fact she made it all the way into the top 40. The reality singing competition, once again, cut Joyces performance out of its pre-recorded show. However, they did show a few seconds of her when the judges, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan told her their decision on whether she made it into the top 20. RELATED: Michigans Genavieve Linkowski learns her American Idol finals fate after emotional performance Joyce, 23, who just goes by Amelia, was born and raised in Jackson. She is the youngest of six kids. Idol did air part of her first audition, which sent her to Hollywood, but did not air any of her three Hollywood week performances on TV. If the show did did, the performances were cut so short, we didnt even catch them. Idol also didnt air any of her top 40 song which determined if she advanced to the finals. We dont even know what song she performed in the top 40 on the show which aired on Sunday, April 5 2020. All we saw were a couple of clips of the judges critiquing her mystery performance in a montage with two other contestants. We dont even know which person the judges were referring to in their critiques. I think youve grown so much, it is unbelievable, said Richie. I truly want you to know how talented you are as a musician, said Bryan. You are so unique. You have that cry in your voice, said Perry. But this is the part of the competition where youve got to have everything buttoned up, added Bryan. Unfortunately, this is the end of the American Idol journey for you. Some of those words were for Joyce, but we dont know which ones. Idol did air a quick clip of Joyces reaction to being cut. Im excited to keep going with my music and to keep pursing my dream and my passion." Joyce moved to Phoenix when she was 19 to pursue music. She currently sings for a living at hotels, country clubs and other gigs. I absolutely love it. American Idol was also one of those risk moments just like moving across the country was because Im not a competition kid, Joyce told MLive. "I feel like I have transitioned into adulthood here in Phoenix. I look back and I see a little girl from Michigan that was just ignorant enough to take the risk and I had no clear plan. I just knew this was the right thing for me to do. How coronavirus is affecting the show: Every Idol round has been pre-recorded so far. Once the show gets to the live shows with the finalists, it will be postponed for the time being due to the pandemic. Tonights episode is the final show featuring pre-recorded music. RELATED: Michigan rocker, Todd Michael Hall, loses The Voice battle, receives shocking save Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 20:47:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HANGZHOU, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation said Monday they will make a second donation of medical supplies to 54 countries in Africa to assist them in the fight against COVID-19. Further batches of medical supplies, including 500 ventilators, 200,000 sets of protective suits and face shields and 500,000 gloves, will be distributed to the continent with the help of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and World Food Programme after arriving in Ethiopia. This donation is among a number of aid initiatives from the Alibaba Foundation and Jack Ma Foundation to support the areas of the world most affected by the COVID-19 crisis, sourcing and delivering various types of medical supplies to Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and Latin America. In March, the foundations had announced their commitment to donating 100,000 medical masks, 20,000 test kits, 1,000 protective suits and 1,000 face shields to each of the 54 countries on the African continent. Moreover, the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation are aiming to connect African medical professionals with doctors from China and around the world to collaborate online and exchange hard-earned lessons in the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. This online platform is available on the website: https://covid-19.alibabacloud.com/. Through video conferencing and AI translation from and into 11 languages, the platform aims to build a virtual community of global medical professionals. Radiolabeled molecules, so-called radiotracers, help nuclear physicians to detect and precisely target tumors, which are often developing due to pathological changes in metabolic processes. Using positron emission tomography, a team of scientists at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) has now developed the first radiotracer labelled with the fluorine isotope 18F, which can visualize special transport proteins often found in the cell membranes of cancer cells. The researchers opted for an unusual radiochemical synthesis approach, as they describe in the journal Scientific Reports (DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55354-w). During metabolism, malignant tumors generate increased amounts of a certain type of transport protein, which, for example, transports the intermediate metabolic product, lactate, into certain tumor cells while simultaneously exporting it away from others - a strategy to prevent apoptosis, a form of programmed cell death that would kill the tumor in a healthy metabolism. "This correlation has been observed in a variety of tumor types. For this reason, so-called monocarboxylate transporters are considered as key proteins for treating a broad spectrum of different kinds of cancer. Manipulating them can lead to a successful therapy," explains Prof. Peter Brust. He is the head of the Department of Neuroradiopharmaceuticals at the HZDR research site in Leipzig and works on current radiopharmaceutical topics with a focus on brain research. "This includes the synthetic development of modern radiotracers, which play a special role in battling cancer and, in particular, aggressive brain tumors," says Peter Brust, outlining his team's mission. In molecular-biological and preclinical studies, scientists had already tried to block the activity of monocarboxylate transporters (MCT) by using certain small organic molecules with a pronounced inhibitory effect (for example, -CHC). Initial results showed that interrupting lactate flow can be a highly effective therapeutic strategy to stunt the growth of malignant tumors. Radiopharmaceuticals for non-invasive imaging In addition to its therapeutic interest, the metabolic function of MCT also opens up new diagnostic possibilities: They can be used as valuable biomarkers in many types of cancer, for example by using positron emission tomography (PET). This method uses radionuclides emitting positively charged elementary particles, called positrons. The patient is first given a radiopharmaceutical, a molecule coupled with a radioactive atom such as 18F, which emits positrons. As a positron interacts with an electron in the body, radiation is emitted in diametrically opposed directions in the form of two high-energy photons, which are recorded by detectors arranged in a ring around the patient. This image of the metabolic processes allows physicians to draw conclusions about the spatial distribution of the radiopharmaceutical inside the body, and thus, about any pathological changes. Objective: Rapid, automated radiopharmaceutical synthesis for everyday clinical use Despite their potential as therapeutic target structures in the fight against cancer, hardly any radiolabeled MCT inhibitors have recently been studied to gauge their suitability in diagnostic imaging procedures such as PET. "We have now developed a structural analog of the known MCT inhibitor -CHC and successfully coupled it with the PET radionuclide 18F in a complex procedure. Its relatively short half-life of 110 minutes ensures that the patient can tolerate the radiation exposure," says Dr. Masoud Sadeghzadeh, who coordinated the experiments, describing the approach used by the Leipzig chemists. After conducting the first promising preclinical studies of their new compound [18F]FACH, the scientists revised their synthetic pathway. "The challenge is to produce the radiotracer fast enough so we can harness the radiating properties of 18F in practical applications," radiochemist Dr. Barbara Wenzel explains. The timespan during which the radiotracer is usable is determined by the half-life of the radionuclide. While the chemists initially needed 160 minutes to manually produce the new radiotracer, they were now able to reduce the synthesis time by half by modifying their approach.. "The key feature of our synthesis is that it does not require the addition of a protective group. This now obsolete intermediate step used to be necessary to protect the reactive parts of a molecule from unintended side reactions," Barbara Wenzel adds. The scientists have thus considerably simplified the procedure and adapted it for the transfer to an automated synthesis module - an indispensable prerequisite for the tumor examinations that are now planned as well as for possible future use in nuclear medicine. ### Publications: M. Sadeghzadeh, R.-P. Moldovan, R. Teodoro, P. Brust, B. Wenzel: One-step radiosynthesis of the MCTs imaging agent [18F]FACH by aliphatic 18F-labelling of a methylsulfonate precursor containing an unprotected carboxylic acid group, Scientific Reports, 2019 (DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55354-w) M. Sadeghzadeh, R.-P. Moldovan, S. Fischer, B. Wenzel, F.-A. Ludwig, R. Teodoro, W. Deuther-Conrad, S. Jonnalagadda, S. K. Jonnalagadda, E. Gudelis, A. Sackus, Kei Higuchi, V. Ganapathy, V. R. Mereddy, L. R. Drewes, P. Brust: Development and radiosynthesis of the first 18F-labeled inhibitor of monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs), Journal of Labelled Compounds and Radiopharmaceuticals, 2019 (DOI: 10.1002/jlcr.3739) Additional information: Dr. Barbara Wenzel | Dr. Masoud Sadeghzadeh | Prof. Peter Brust Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research at HZDR, Leipzig site Phone: +49 0351 260-4637 | -4630 | -4610 Mail: b.wenzel@hzdr.de | m.sadeghzadeh@hzdr.de | p.brust@hzdr.de Media contact: Simon Schmitt | Science editor Phone: +49 351 260-3400 | Email: s.schmitt@hzdr.de Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf | Bautzner Landstr. 400 | 01328 Dresden / Germany | http://www.hzdr.de The Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) performs - as an independent German research center - research in the fields of energy, health, and matter. We focus on answering the following questions: How can energy and resources be utilized in an efficient, safe, and sustainable way? How can malignant tumors be more precisely visualized, characterized, and more effectively treated? How do matter and materials behave under the influence of strong fields and in smallest dimensions? To help answer these research questions, HZDR operates large-scale facilities, which are also used by visiting researchers: the Ion Beam Center, the High-Magnetic Field Laboratory Dresden, and the ELBE Center for High-Power Radiation Sources. HZDR is a member of the Helmholtz Association and has five sites (Dresden, Freiberg, Grenoble, Leipzig, Schenefeld near Hamburg) with almost 1,200 members of staff, of whom about 500 are scientists, including 170 Ph.D. candidates. You receive this mail as a service offer from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. If you don't want to get this service, please reply to this mail with the subject "unsubscribe". For Sanjay Jaiswal, the day begins with a rushed breakfast and a quick round of exercise before he sets out for the hospital. This is where he receives calls from those seeking medical advice or examines patients. In between, the president of the BJPs Bihar unit also fields calls from party workers and bosses in Delhi. Jaiswal says it has helped that the government permitted doctors to advise patients on the phone. Earlier, there was no permission for doctors to conduct consultations through tele-medicine, but now conditions have been relaxed by the MCI and we can at least see our patients online or speak to them on the phone, the Lok Sabha member from Bihars West Champaran constituency said. Jaiswal said he volunteered to be deployed for coronavirus patients at his hospital that has set up a 140-bed isolation ward. We have requisitioned PPEs (personal protection equipment) and cardiac monitors; since there is a shortage all across, he said. Another doctor turned MP, Anil Jain, who is also the BJP general secretary has been monitoring the situation on the ground in Haryana and Chandigarh. A consultant surgeon with the Apollo Group, Jain has not been practising medicine after taking oath as an MP. But in view of the pandemic, the Rajya Sabha MP said he does have people reaching out to him for advice. I hear their concerns and tell them what to watch out for and when to rush to the emergency, said Jain, underscoring that he hadnt restarted practising medicine. Jain says he is focussed on logistics on the ground to ensure hospitals have supplies and patients are being looked after. We are making sure that patients who need dialysis, for instance, are being looked after. While the pandemic has affected regular services, we are ensuring that treatment is not stalled, Jain said. Former minister and Gautam Buddh Nagar MP Mahesh Sharma has also been focussing on the hospital chain that he runs near Delhi. An aide of the BJP said he was examining patients as well. In Bhutan also, Prime Minister Lotay Tshering is known to practice medicine on weekends, In Ireland Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has re-registered as a medical practitioner and intends to work one shift a week to help out during the coronavirus crisis, his office said on Sunday. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON FOLSOM, Calif., April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Samuel Hale, LLC is poised to help California employers with the anticipated increasing cost of workers' compensation insurance resulting from the COVID-19 crisis. The pandemic has resulted in unprecedented layoffs as states institute shelter-in-place orders. The economic decimation may soon result in yet another fallout as workers' compensation carriers may soon start raising rates dramatically. This could end our unusually long soft market. Samuel Hale "Soft markets are great for businesses because rates go down every year regardless of loss experience. Unfortunately, this can cause employers to become lax in their efforts to reduce claims. For example, even an employer with a 200 ex-mod may see aggressive rates and unwarranted discounts in a soft market. Unfortunately, when the market hardens, employers with high ex-mods could see their premium costs triple at renewal," explains Samuel Hale CEO and founder, Michael A. DiManno. In addition, employers are worried about COVID-19 workers' compensation claims. Virus-related claims have traditionally been non-compensable; however, government pressure is forcing carriers to take another look. Even if carriers deny these claims, California attorneys will likely appeal at the WCAB where claims can be kept open for years. Fortunately, there is a solution available to employers of all sizes. Samuel Hale's "Patriot" program allows clients to benefit from Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to handle claims outside of the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) quickly without the need for attorneys. ADR combats fraud and excessive litigation allowing for claims to close quickly. ADR can only be done through a carve-out agreement approved by the California Division of Workers' Compensation. Samuel Hale has been approved since 2016. "There's a lot of fear right now and businesses are looking for some good news," says DiManno. "For companies that depend on controlling workers' compensation costs to stay in business, we provide protection and stability." Samuel Hale gets most of its business from insurance brokers who are looking for a solution when their client's ex-mod is out of control. However, in this potentially hardening market, an ADR solution has strong appeal for many employers who are concerned about rising premiums. "Submissions are pouring in and we are ready to help save California businesses from this difficult crisis," DiManno says. Samuel Hale welcomes businesses of all sizes and specifically, those with higher-than-average claims loss ratios. The Patriot PEO program is ideal for employers in the Light Industrial Temp Staffing, Warehousing, Restaurant and exploding Last Mile Delivery industries. Employers and brokers who would like to learn more should visit samuelhale.com. About Samuel Hale SAMUEL HALE, LLC helps protect California businesses from the unpredictable and high employment cost due to fraud and litigation in workers' compensation claims. Created in 2016, the company is dedicated to eliminating fraud and unnecessary litigation in workers' compensation claims and reducing clients' workers' compensation insurance premiums. Visit https://www.samuelhale.com/ for more information. Contact: Ralph Kai [email protected] (855) 726-4253 SOURCE Samuel Hale Related Links https://www.samuelhale.com A scene from "Fierce Queens." (Quibi) The second chapter in Quibis short-form nature show Fierce Queens rivals an episode of Game of Thrones for explicit sex scenes. Titled Faking It, the episode reveals a female barbary macaque whos able to boost her fertility by making loud noises during coitus. The furry macaque, who is easy to follow thanks to her set of brown freckles, mates with numerous males throughout the episode, which ensures theyll all chip in with the childcare. Its our most cheeky film in lots of ways, executive producer Jo Shinner says of the episode, which was filmed in Moroccos Atlas Mountains last fall. You have to show as much as you think you can and be tasteful, but this is the reality, this the truth this is what they do. You dont want to cut to a bush and imagine theyre behind the bush. If its a little more sex than youd expect from a nature series, which also is frank with its portrayal of hunting and seriously hyena penises, thank Quibi. We all have our boundaries in terms of taste and decency for our broadcasters, and no one would ever want to go over that, Shinner adds. But it was nice to be able to show the reality. You have to do it with a little smile on your face and an arch in your brow, so its a fun thing as well. That sense of levity marks the series first seven episodes, which include deep-dive looks at hyenas, ants and cheetahs. Produced and created by BBC Studios Natural History Unit and narrated by Reese Witherspoon, the series is composed of mostly new footage, shot with the help of scientists who have studied the specific species for years (the team tapped Liz Campbell to bring perspective on the barbary macaques in Faking It). Each eight-minute episode was pulled together from footage filmed during approximately three weeks of production based on a shooting script much like a reality show. The shooting script is the best story we think we can tell, Shinner explains. You need to know what youre going to shoot before you go. But things change. You have to adapt. They might not do what you expect them to do at that particular time. We honed the script in the edit and worked with Quibi to get the tone. We wanted to do something that was sassy and cheeky, as well as dramatic and surprising. Finding the right animals wasnt difficult, particularly since a series about female animals is an idea that BBC Studios Natural History Unit has been kicking around for a while. The studio shot 15 total episodes (eight more will come later this year) and wanted to look at species that dont always get the spotlight. Or, at species whose females are strong in unexpected ways, like the barbary macaques. A lot of the films are about very dominant characters who get their way through sheer power, Shinner notes of Faking It. And this one is about being smart. Normally, natural history characters try to mate with the strongest male to give their children the best chance in life. And in this case she looks for the guy whos best at childcare. Theyve worked out a different way of doing it. [And] shell carry on mating with multiple partners so no one knows whos the dad and they all have to help just in case they are the dad. Maeve Halpin is a counselling psychologist and author of 'How to be Happy and Healthy - the Seven Natural Elements of Mental Health' As a counsellor, I'm lucky that I can keep working remotely, seeing my clients on Whatsapp video or having sessions over the phone. One thing is for sure employees are not going back into the office five days a week when this is all over. Many people are appreciating not having to commute, as well as being able to weave their household duties into their work day. They find they are less stressed and more productive. Some, of course, miss the social aspect of their workplace. I anticipate that in the future, employers will be expected to offer more flexibility in relation to home working. This can cut company office rental costs and liberate our cities and towns from needless rush hour traffic. A decrease in air pollution and in the incidence of traffic accidents will be a further bonus. Anxious times The unknown can evoke fear, manifesting as a nameless and free-floating anxiety. I have noticed many people having unexpected arguments with people they usually get on with. We are cooped up with our families and housemates, all of us stressed by uncertainty and lack of routine. As a safety valve, we can try to ensure that we have some time to ourselves, at least once a day. We can respect others' need for personal space. I suggest to my clients to try to respond with compassion, if someone seems unreasonable and argumentative. We all need to cut each other a bit of slack during these confusing and trying times. Counselling services Counselling services are still available, albeit with the use of technology. Most companies and organisations, including the Public Service, provide a limited number of free counselling sessions (as part of their Employee Assistance Programme) to their staff. Some charitable organisations also provide this service to their volunteers. Details will usually be found on the internal company website or from the Human Resources department. Many of us are enjoying the slower pace of life and relishing time at home with our families. But for some, relationship and family tensions are heightened. Financial insecurity, job losses and loneliness may also present significant challenges. Counselling can provide a place to emotionally offload, gain perspective and acquire the skills needed to navigate the uncertain waters ahead. We are living history. The challenges posed by Covid 19 are similar the world over but everybodys experience of this emergency will be different. In this special series, Lockdown Letters' gives our readers at home and across the globe an opportunity to share their stories about how the Coronavirus and the measures to tackle its spread are impacting their lives in these unprecedented times. Please email your submission (400 words max.) to stories@independent.ie along with a photograph. We will publish as many letters as possible on Independent.ie and a selection in print every week. A survey by the Korea Development Institute of 24 industry cooperatives including furniture, realtors and hospitality shows their average monthly revenues have fallen 42.8 percent since January and their average net profit 44.8 percent. Mom-and-pop businesses are closing down left, right and center as the coronavirus epidemic keeps customers away. Seoul's biggest electronics market in Yongsan took a huge hit in February and March due to the delayed opening of schools followed by a lackluster spring wedding season. Spring is usually busy for retailers there due to the rush of students buying computers or other electronics devices as well as newly-weds buying new home appliances. Kim Young-san, the head of the market cooperative, said, "IT parts and computer products are heavily reliant on imports from China and Japan, so the situation is literally hopeless. We have no products to sell and there are no customers either." Economic slumps in the past were followed by expectations of resumed consumption of clothes and home appliances, but the protracted epidemic has dashed any hopes of a swift recovery. Mom-and-pop stores are having a tough time paying the rent. Some 93.3 percent of small store owners said the decline in customers was the main reason for the sharp drop in sales, while 50 percent blamed rising wages due to the minimum wage hike. In the KDI survey, 83.9 percent said the minimum wage should either be kept frozen or slashed next year. One owner of an indoor playground for kids in northeastern Seoul said, "I yearn for the days when all I had to worry about was the increased minimum wage. If the current situation persists, I will not only have no more staff left but my whole store will be gone." Some 64.3 percent of store owners said they will be unable to last six more months in current circumstances. March Sales of $3.9M Represent Highest Monthly Sales to Date TORONTO and LAS VEGAS, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Flower One Holdings Inc. (the "Company" or "Flower One") (CSE: FONE) (OTCQX: FLOOF) (FSE: F11), a leading cannabis cultivator, producer and innovator in Nevada, today announced that the Company continued to see strong monthly sales growth through the month of March. Monthly sales have grown 17%, on average, since the Company's first full month of production from its greenhouse in September 2019. Please note that all figures in this release are in U.S. dollars. Flower One also announced that an updated version of the Company's investor presentation is now available at flowerone.com. The investor presentation incorporates the Company's recent brand launches as well as unaudited preliminary financials through the first quarter of 2020. Preliminary First Quarter 2020 Highlights Unaudited preliminary first quarter 2020 revenues of $8.9 million , near the mid-point of the Company's guidance range of $8 million to $10 million , near the mid-point of the Company's guidance range of to March 2020 cannabis sales of $3.9 million , the Company's highest recorded monthly sales to date and a sequential increase of 47% compared to February 2020 "Since our first sales of product out of our flagship greenhouse in the third quarter of 2019, Flower One has consistently delivered month-over-month growth," said Ken Villazor, Flower One's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are pleased to see this sales momentum and are proud to be able to continue to support our brand and retail partners during these challenging times. Over the next two quarters, we expect to launch several leading cannabis brands and products into market that we anticipate will be catalysts for further revenue growth for our Company, including product launches for The Clear, Old Pal, Heavy Hitters and Cookies." COVID-19 Update Nevada dispensaries have moved swiftly to adapt to new state safety regulations which deem cannabis businesses as essential services, but require that all sales of product be conducted via delivery only. To assist with this implementation, the Nevada Department of Taxation unveiled a virtual inspection process to speedily authorize vehicles for cannabis delivery. Over 100 vehicles were approved in the first weekend of inspection. As of March 30th, 300 new vehicles and 59 dispensaries were approved for delivery, up from 38 dispensaries the week prior. Flower One is actively partnering with state dispensaries to ensure that they have sufficient, high-quality product to supply the Nevada resident population. As previously reported, Flower One continues to operate its 455,000 square-foot flagship cultivation and production facility as well as its 25,000 square-foot indoor cultivation and commercial kitchen facility in manners which are compliant with the public health guidelines issued by Nevada Health. The safety of its employees remains Flower One's top priority. For additional details on the COVID-19 hygiene, workplace safety and adjustment-to-workflow measures implemented by Flower One, please see the Company's news release issued on March 19, 2020. "We would like to acknowledge and thank our employees and all essential workers across Nevada who, along with healthcare professionals and first-responders, are today's heroes in supporting and keeping us safe in these uncertain times," Villazor added. Flower One, in coordination with the Nevada Dispensary Association, has made a donation to Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak's COVID-19 Response, Relief and Recovery Task Force in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The COVID-19 Response, Relief and Recovery Task Force is a private-public partnership leading Nevada's overall recovery efforts. About Flower One Holdings Inc. Flower One is the largest cannabis cultivator, producer, and full-service brand fulfillment partner in the state of Nevada. By combining more than 20 years of greenhouse operational excellence with best-in-class cannabis operators, Flower One offers consistent, reliable, and scalable fulfillment to a growing number of industry-leading cannabis brands. Flower One's flagship 400,000 square-foot greenhouse and 55,000 square-foot production facility is used for large scale cannabis cultivation, processing, and manufacturing. Flower One also owns and operates a second production facility in Las Vegas, with 25,000 square-feet of indoor cultivation and a commercial kitchen that will produce several of the nation's top-performing edible brands. Flower One produces a wide range of products ranging from wholesale flower, full-spectrum oils, and distillates to finished consumer packaged goods including flower, pre-rolls, concentrates, edibles, and topicals for the top-performing brands in cannabis. The Company's common shares are traded on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the Company's symbol "FONE", in the United States on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol "FLOOF" and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "F11". For more information, visit: https://flowerone.com. Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical or current fact constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of United States securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other unknown factors that could cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from historical results or from any future actual results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to statements which explicitly describe such risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements labeled with the terms "believes," "belief," "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "potential," "should," "may," "will," "plans," "continue" or other similar expressions to be uncertain and forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements relating to the Company's ability to remain open in response to the state government's public health efforts to contain COVID-19, to continue to support its brand and retail partners, to launch a number of major brands and SKUs into the market, to ensure business continuity during the COVID-19 crisis, and to maintain sales growth and revenue momentum; future demand of the Company's wholesale and finished, packaged products; the adaption of FONE and Nevada dispensaries to new safety regulations; the Company's leadership as a cannabis cultivator, producer and full-service brand fulfillment partner; the Company's ability to offer consistent, reliable and scalable fulfilment to its brand partners; and the production of the nation's top-performing edibles brands. The Company is indirectly involved in the manufacture, possession, use, sale and distribution of cannabis in the recreational and medicinal cannabis marketplaces in the United States through its subsidiary Cana Nevada Corp. Local state laws where Cana Nevada Corp. operates permit such activities; however, these activities are currently illegal under United States federal law. Additional information regarding this and other risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's business are contained under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Shelf Prospectus dated September 27, 2019 and the Prospectus Supplement dated November 8, 2019 (collectively, the "Prospectus") filed on its issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, the "Cautionary Statement regarding Forward-Looking Information" section contained in the Prospectus. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject generally to assumptions and risks and uncertainties that are described from time to time in the Company's public securities filings with the Canadian securities commissions, including the Company's Prospectus. Although Flower One has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including, but not limited to: dependence on obtaining regulatory approvals; investing in target companies or projects that are engaged in activities currently considered illegal under United States federal law; changes in laws; limited operating history; reliance on management; requirements for additional financing; competition; hindering market growth and state adoption due to inconsistent public opinion and perception of the medical-use and adult-use marijuana industry and; regulatory or political change. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. Flower One Holdings disclaims and does not undertake any intention or obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. SOURCE Flower One Holdings Inc. Berkeley | $1.8 Million A 1954 International Style house with three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms, on a 0.2-acre lot Nestled in the hills of North Berkeley, this house was designed by the Modernist architect Donald Olsen to serve as his familys primary residence, and is known today as the Donald and Helen Olsen House. Mr. Olsen, who studied under Walter Gropius at Harvard, also designed the house next door and consulted on a house across the street, creating a small network of International Style homes near John Hinkel Park, where performances are regularly held in the outdoor amphitheater surrounded by oak trees. In addition to practicing architecture in the Bay Area, Mr. Olsen was a faculty member at the University of California, Berkeley, school of architecture. Ms. Olsen was an artist and sculptor whose studio occupied the lower level of the house. In 2010, the home was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is about a 10-minute drive from downtown Berkeley and from the university campus. Size: 2,205 square feet Price per square foot: $816 Indoors: A sloping driveway leads to the carport and the main entrance. To the left of the front door is an exterior entrance to the studio used by Ms. Olsen, which is also accessible from inside the house. Long, narrow windows create a geometric pattern on two walls of the studio. A black-and-white-tiled bathroom on this level has a glass-walled shower. Directly behind the front door is a staircase leading up to the main level, decorated with a mural by the artist Claire Falkenstein. On the main floor is an open living and dining space surrounded by windows on all sides looking out on mature oak trees. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-07 01:08:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Members of security forces are seen in downtown Baghdad, Iraq, April 6, 2020. Iraqi Health Ministry on Monday said the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has climbed to 1,031, and the death toll reached 64 in the country. The Iraqi authorities have taken several measures to contain the outbreak of COVID-19, including extending a nationwide curfew until April 19. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) BAGHDAD, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Health Ministry on Monday said the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has climbed to 1,031, and the death toll reached 64 in the country. Out of the 70 cases confirmed during the past 24 hours, four are in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, 41 in Erbil, nine in Basra, seven in Dhi Qar, four in Najaf, three in Sulaimaniyah, two in Karbala, the ministry said in a statement. So far, 1,031 cases have been confirmed in the country, of whom up to 64 have died and 344 others were recovered, according to the statement. The Iraqi authorities have taken several measures to contain the outbreak of COVID-19, including extending a nationwide curfew until April 19. To help Iraq cope with the coronavirus spread, a Chinese team of seven experts has been working with their Iraqi counterparts since March 7. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram CPJ Insider: Spring 2020 Edition Thank you for your incredible support of CPJ during these unprecedented times. We are especially grateful to Twitter for its recent gift of $500,000 in support of our work to confront press freedom violations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our staff is working remotelyas a result, we may be slightly delayed in acknowledging checks that are mailed to our office. We encourage you to donate online instead. Thank you for your patience and for continuing to stand with CPJ. CPJ launches #FreeThePress campaign CPJ launched a global campaign to #FreeThePress amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus could deliver a death sentence to journalists in prison, many of whom languish in close quarters and unsanitary conditions. Just a few months ago, in our 2019 prison census, CPJ found at least 250 journalists behind bars for their work. We also wrote an open letter to world leaders, calling on them to release all jailed journalists immediately. That letter was featured in our full-page ad in The Washington Post. Committee to Protect Journalists (@pressfreedom), a @wppressfreedom partner, today published an ad in The Post calling on governments to release all journalists from their prisons in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic. #FreeThePress pic.twitter.com/OqXp68E2bb The Washington Post Press Freedom Partnership (@wppressfreedom) March 30, 2020 Now we need your help. Join our campaign, urge leaders to take action, and help save the lives of jailed journalists worldwide. Please sign our petition and consider sharing it among your friends, family, and colleagues. CPJ provides crucial support to journalists amid COVID-19 pandemic In a recent letter to our supporters, CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon described how we remain dedicated to our essential mission of defending the rights of journalists reporting the news all over the world. As Tedros Adhanom, director-general of the World Health Organization, has made clear, accurate and timely information is essential to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. We couldnt agree more. Soldiers wear masks in the Philippines, where the government has imposed criminal penalties for spreading false news about the pandemic. (AP/Aaron Favila) This is why CPJ is so concerned that governments around the world are cracking down on the media instead of protecting journalists. In South Africa, the government enacted a new law that criminalizes the publication of disinformation about the pandemic, and in Turkey, officials detained seven journalists in reprisal for their reporting. Today, amid this unprecedented global pandemic, CPJ is working hard to ensure the free flow of information. We are also committed to keeping journalists safe. We have disseminated detailed, accurate, and timely safety information in dozens of languages, and are working closely with newsrooms and journalists. We recently introduced an Ask the Expert feature, in which individual journalists can ask specific questions or newsrooms can request an online session with our safety experts. Both of these resources are available on our website, where we are publishing all of our research and safety information. We are also featuring a series of Q&As with journalists covering the pandemic all over the world. Meanwhile, we continue to post updates on our coronavirus coverage on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Beyond Coronavirus: CPJ fights for Khashoggi, urges Guatemala to improve media environment CPJ Washington Advocacy Manager Michael De Dora demands accountability in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi at a press conference in Washington, D.C., in early March. (Project on Middle East Democracy/April Brady) In early March, CPJs Washington advocacy manager, Michael De Dora, spoke at a press briefing on Capitol Hill alongside Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR); Representative Tom Malinowski (D-NJ); Hatice Cengiz, the widow of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi; and representatives from other press freedom organizations to demand that the U.S. government seek #JusticeForJamal. More than two years after The Washington Post published a report showing that the CIA concluded with high confidence that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman had ordered Khashoggis murder, Congress passed a defense funding bill, later signed into law by President Trump, which required the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to send legislative bodies an unclassified report on Khashoggis murder by the end of January 2020. The report was sent to Congress a month late, and was heavily redacted. The bulk of it was classified. The administration must release an unclassified report on Khashoggi immediately, De Dora said at the press briefing. And Congress must help ensure that both the Saudis and this administration are held accountable for their failures. Watch the full press briefing here: Besides ensuring that journalists can safely report on elections, we also work to encourage elected leaders to promote press freedom and urge them to improve the media environment in their countries. A perfect example of CPJs two-pronged approach is in Guatemala. Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei waves to the press at a news conference in August 2019. (Reuters/Jose Cabezas) In the run-up to the June 2019 election in Guatemala, journalists told CPJ they were being attacked and harassed, especially online, over their coverage of ongoing corruption investigations. CPJs Emergencies team worked closely with our Central and South America program to develop a Journalist Safety Kit for journalists reporting on the elections, and distributed it in Guatemala in both English and Spanish. The toolkit contained information for editors, reporters, and photographers on how best to prepare for the election and mitigate digital, physical, and psychological risks. Late last month, CPJ published Trust deficit, a report highlighting how the new administration of President Alejandro Giammattei has the opportunity to reverse years of declining press freedom. For instance, a series of restrictive laws, highlighted in an infographic, are still on the books. But in order to put the country on the right track, Giammattei and his administration have some work ahead of them. Alongside the report, CPJ also published a series of recommendations to the president, the attorney-general, and Congress. The recommendations highlight the need to implement and fund a journalist protection plan; to fund and provide resources for the Special Prosecutors Office for Crimes Against Journalists; to prioritize investigations into journalist murders; to allow the media unrestricted access to all regions to report on the news; and to reform laws that restrict the press. For a full list of the recommendations, click here. Stay tuned! In April, CPJ will publish a report on the Trump administration and the press written by Len Downie, Jr., former executive editor of The Washington Post, who also wrote CPJs 2013 report on Obama and the press. CPJ Mentions & Op-Eds COVID-19 is spawning a global press-freedom crackdown, Columbia Journalism Review Coronavirus Consequence: Crackdown on Press Freedom World-Wide, The Wall Street Journal Journalism hit hard by corona crisis, EUObserver All journalists jailed globally must be freed amid COVID-19 pandemic, The Nigerian Voice Simon says repeal laws curbing press freedom, Malaysiakini Turkey Seeks To Release 90,000 Inmates From Overcrowded Jails, But Not Political Prisoners, International Business Times World in Progress: Press freedom during the coronavirus pandemic, Deutsche Welle Watchdog: Guatemala Needs to Win Back Trust of Media, Voice of America Greenwald charges are existential threat to journalism in Brazil, says Edward Snowden, The Guardian Justice for Aziz Memon, Tribune CPJ demands release of 2 Kashmir journalists, Kashmir Reader Mexican Journalist Shot to Death in Eastern State of Veracruz, Voice of America The United States Cant Win Playing Chinas Media Games, Foreign Policy Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Beijing, China Mon, April 6, 2020 08:31 645 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206fe3a93 2 Business COVID-19,coronavirus,face-mask,China,exports,test-kits,protective-gears Free China has sold nearly four billion masks to foreign countries since March, officials said Sunday, as they tried to stem widespread fears over the quality of medical exports. Despite Chinese cases dwindling, Beijing has encouraged factories to increase production of medical supplies as the pandemic kills over 60,000 globally and parts of the world face a protective equipment shortage. China has exported 3.86 billion masks, 37.5 million pieces of protective clothing, 16,000 ventilators and 2.84 million COVID-19 testing kits since March 1, customs official Jin Hai said, with orders to more than 50 countries. She added the country's medical supply exports were valued at 10.2 billion yuan (US$1.4 billion). Read also: Airline employees worried about job security as COVID-19 takes its toll However numerous nations including the Netherlands, the Philippines, Croatia, Turkey and Spain have complained about substandard or faulty medical products shipped from China. Last week, the Dutch government recalled 600,000 masks out of a Chinese shipment of 1.3 million that did not meet quality standards. China said the manufacturer "stated clearly that (the masks) are non-surgical." Spain also rejected thousands of rapid test kits sent by an unauthorized Chinese company after it found that they were unreliable last week. Chinese officials hit back on Sunday at media reports over defective medical supplies, saying that they "did not reflect the full facts". "In reality there are various factors, such as China having different standards and different usage habits to other countries. Even improper use can lead to doubts over quality," said Jiang Fan, an official with the Ministry of Commerce. Read also: Investors look to China for a glimpse of life after coronavirus The comments echoed remarks from Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, who over the past week has repeatedly urged Western media not to "politicize" or "hype up" the issue. Earlier this week, Beijing tightened regulations for exported coronavirus medical equipment, requiring products to fulfil both domestic licensing standards and that of their destination countries. China has also increased its production capacity of COVID-19 testing kits to over 4 million a day, said Zhang Qi, an official with the National Medical Products Administration. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-07 03:24:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Justice of the UN-backed Libyan government said on Monday that a total of 1,347 prisoners have been released so far over the fears about the spread of COVID-19. "In order to prevent infections of the coronavirus pandemic and reduce overcrowding inside correction and rehabilitation facilities, the process to release those who are detained pending investigations and trials continues," the ministry said in a statement. By the end of March, 1,347 detainees had been released from correction and rehabilitation facilities in a number of cities in Libya, the statement added. Late in March, the ministry said it planned to release more prisoners in the future, including those who had spent more than half their sentences, the elderly, and those with special health considerations. According to the National Center for Disease Control, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Libya is 18 so far, including one death. UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj in mid-March declared a state of emergency and mobilization against the virus. His government has taken a series of measures against the pandemic, including closing airports, border crossings, mosques and educational institutions, banning mass gatherings and movements among cities, and imposing a curfew. The government also stipulated daily working hours from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time. On March 24, Libya announced its first COVID-19 case, a 73-year-old man who had returned from Saudi Arabia. The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, says the state cannot cope with the spread of coronavirus if an exponential increase is recorded in one or two weeks. He said this during a presentation on Monday on the trend of coronavirus in the state for the past two weeks, encouraging Lagosians to play their part in flattening the curve of the infection. If we see most of the cases in a very short period of time, it will quickly overwhelm the Lagos state health infrastructure. If we see 5,000 cases in four weeks or two weeks, we do not have the capacity to cope with that and most other countries do not have the capacity to cope with that, he said. He said the state has been showing a slow increase in the rate of Covid-19 cases different from the projection, but there is a need to flatten the curve to enhance the efficiency of the strategies. Vaccines are being developed, logistics are being perfected, with a flattened curve, there is a greater chance that patients with Covid-19, particularly those with complications will survive, the commissioner said. Flattening the COVID-19 curve Showing the logistics and projections for COVID-19 in the state, the commissioner said there can be a steep rise of cases if there is no intervention. There is no cure for COVID-19, if you catch it, you either eliminate the virus yourself or we give you treatment to help you fight the infection. He said in cases of individuals with comorbidity, this weakens their immunity, giving the virus a chance to overwhelm their immunity and can result in death. There are more local transmissions in the state, which suggests that Lagosians need to adhere strongly to the directive of the government, otherwise things might go out of hand. If we are able to prolong the time frame when we are seeing cases, it is helpful in flattening the curve. Flattening the curve gives health workers the time to plan, create possible treatment, come up with possible vaccines and cope with the number of cases, he said. COVID-19 Projection By projection, Lagos is meant to have at least over 40,000 cases but the state has only recorded 120 cases, Mr Abayomi said. Mr Abayomi said if there was no intervention, there could be a steep rise in the number of cases, but with contact tracing and effective strategy, a decline in the number of cases will be recorded. He stressed the role of community ownership and responsibility in flattening the curve through compliance with all the directives and policies of the state. The commissioner said other countries have recorded an exponential rise in cases, but Lagos has been able to flatten the curve through effective strategies. He urged citizens to continue to support the government through civil responsibilities and complying with all the directives given to curb the spread of the virus. Two private hospitals in Mumbai have been sealed after some of their medical staff, including doctors and nurses, tested positive for the novel coronavirus, civic officials said on Monday. Three doctors and 26 nurses tested positive for novel coronavirus in Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai Central and the facility has been sealed off to prevent the spread of infection, BMC health officials said. No one is allowed to enter or exit the private hospital, a civic official said. The hospital has several employees from Kerala, prompting Congress leader from the southern state, Ramesh Chennithala, to tweet, "Called Maharashtra health minister Shri. Rajesh Tope ji @rajeshtope11 seeking urgent intervention to ensure safety of 40 Covid19 positive Malayalee nurses working @ a pvt hospital in Mumbai." New admissions were stopped and Outpatient Department (OPD) was closed at the Jaslok Hospital in Mumbai on Wednesday after at least one of its staff tested positive for coronavirus. A nurse working at the private hospital had alleged in a video message that was circulating on social media that more than one staff member had contracted coronavirus, but the hospital said only one person had tested positive. Following the allegations by the nurse, a meeting was called at the Brihhanmumbai Municipal Corporation office, which was attended by top officials of the hospital, BMC sources said. As per the nurse who is seen speaking in the video, the hospital management did not inform the staff about admission of a COVID-19 patient. When contacted, Jaslok Hospital admitted that a nurse who came in contact with a COVID-19 patient did test positive. "The staff members handling COVID-19 patients are given protective gears like face masks, gloves, eye protection, Personal Protection Equipment for contact droplet and airborne transmission of pathogens, long-sleeved water resistant gown to ensure precaution. "All the medical staff who came in direct or indirect contact of the affected nurse and the connected patient have been identified and quarantined as per the protocol," it said. As a precautionary measure, the hospital has suspended its OPD services and no new admissions are being taken for a few days, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MARQUETTE, MI The Upper Peninsulas biggest city is closing its parks amid the outbreak of COVID-19. Marquette Mayor Jenna Smith said in a YouTube announcement on Sunday that city leadership made the difficult decision to temporarily close its popular outdoor areas after seeing increased traffic during Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmers stay-at-home order. As the stay-at-home order continues and the weather gets nicer, we have noticed a significant number of people congregating at city parks, the skate park and on the bike path, she said. Smith said park staff will be implementing changes over the next few days and more details are on the way. The citys bike path will remain open for now, but Marquette is working on temporary signage to remind people to stay at east 6 feet apart and to take alternative routes if the path is crowded. I would suggest walking on a low-traffic street in your neighborhood to avoid the crowds, especially in the afternoons when the bike path traffic seems to be the highest, Smith said. Smith also recommended that Marquette residents wear cloth masks in public where it might be difficult to keep 6 feet apart, like in the grocery store or when performing essential work. I would strongly encourage you wear a mask in public, she said, If it makes you uncomfortable, I get it, but what a great reminder to really only leave your home when absolutely necessary. Thank you for continuing to stay home during this difficult time. Were in this together, Marquette. Marquette, home to Northern Michigan University, receives plenty of tourists in the summer months. Its popular park system often features spectacular views of Lake Superior. Negaunee and Escanaba made the decision to close city parks last week to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the U.P. A woman in Maine has been delivering groceries to the vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic by heading to the supermarket on her dogsled and dropping of bags at her neighbors' doors. Hannah Lucas is a clerk at Circle K in Caribou and moved there from Virginia two years ago to pursue her love of racing Siberian huskies. She bought her house without having viewed it and is now getting to know her neighbors better by paying out of pocket to help those in need. 'I just noticed that there were a lot of people, specifically the elderly, coming in just to buy the milk or eggs, or fruit that we have here,' Lucas told Maine Public Radio. 'And I just wanted to help them minimize leaving their house during this time of a pandemic.' Hannah Lucas makes four to six deliveries a day after being called via phone with orders for her elderly neighbors Hannah Lucas moved to Maine from Virginia two years ago to pursue her love of racing Siberian huskies C. 'I just noticed that there were a lot of people, specifically the elderly, coming in just to buy the milk or eggs, or fruit that we have here,' Lucas told Maine Public Radio Lucas, 22, has been taking four to six deliveries a day after being contacted via phone with orders. The musher purchases all the groceries for several households in one go so they only have to do one trip to the store and then calls the customer once she's near the property. Lucas watches from a distance as they review the order for collection and has a brief conversation with the client. Meanwhile her handlers her fiance David and her roommate, Wyatt watch the huskies. Lucas runs the Northlane Siberian Huskies and Seppala Siberian Sled Dog Team and a kennel of Siberian Huskies. She takes the dogs out on grocery and pharmacy runs in groups of six. Now instead of carrying 300 pounds in sandbags during training, the 12 dogs are lugging purchases to help those in need at a time of strict social distancing measures. The errands take them around 75 miles a day. She will continue the initiative for as long as there's snow and she expects it to last until the end of April. The musher purchases all the groceries for several households in one go so they only have to do one trip to the Circle K store Alongside her partner and roommate, errands take them around 75 miles a day 'And the dogs are really excited and like barking and yelling and stuff because of new people,' Lucas said Lucas added: 'I think about my grandparents who are in their 70s and I wouldn't want anything to happen to anyone. So anything I can do to help, I will.' In Maine there were 470 confirmed cases as of Monday afternoon and 10 deaths. While Caribou has not been seriously affected, delivery services have been having trouble getting around in the snow. As well as having help with their errands, Lucas' clients are 'all really excited to see the dogs'. 'And the dogs are really excited and like barking and yelling and stuff because of new people,' Lucas added. She said she wants nothing more from the initiative but to see an end to the pandemic. 'I don't want this thing to get worse than it already is, so that people can actually stay home and not venture off, come into contact with more people,' she explained to WMTW. The dogs go out on at least four runs a day to fetch things from the pharmacy or other stores The St. Francois County Health Center has added zip codes to its data for confirmed COVID-19 cases, Director Amber Elliott announced on Monday. There are now 18 confirmed cases of the virus in St. Francois County residents. Nine of those cases are in the zip code of 63640; four are in 63601, four are in 63628, and one is in 63036. We all need to be cautious, regardless of what zip code, Elliott added. Our cases are not all in one zip code. We all need to be taking the measures set forth by the state, by the CDC. "We shouldnt take (it) lightly if theres not a case in our zip code ... that that means that everythings safe and sound and social distancing doesnt matter ... because it still does. Nine of the cases did have contact with another positive case. Three of the cases have no known contact, and six of the cases are still under investigation. The first COVID-19 related death in the county was announced on Friday. The Ste. Genevieve County Health Department announced on Monday that a senior resident passed away from medical conditions complicated by the virus. Ste. Genevieve County has six confirmed cases. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family," the health department stated in its post. "The family has been very cooperative in following all recommendations for quarantine." This weekend, the U.S. Surgeon General said this could be a bad week for America in its fight against the virus. As for locally, Elliott said, its hard to tell what this week will hold. Weve been expecting to see more cases, so that wouldnt be a surprise, Elliott said. But I know that other places are seeing larger surges than necessarily here in St. Francois County. But were prepared for that. The hospital is prepared for that. So were ready if that happens. When asked what she thinks about the reported projections that virus cases could peak in Missouri in mid-May, Elliott said its too early to tell. Just a couple of weeks ago, she said, the thought was it could be mid- to late-April. As far as our local data, were dealing with fairly small numbers yet, so its hard to get a good grasp on what kind of transmission were seeing here in our jurisdiction, Elliott said. Its very possible that were going to see continued transmission into May, but we are going to have to keep doing good disease surveillance and tracking. This is the first week that both the state and county stay-at-home orders are in effect. Elliott said the orders are strikingly similar. But they are seeking clarification on some guidance for non-essential businesses. The county order has an innovation clause in it, Elliott said, to allow small businesses to still operate as long as they are practicing the social distancing guidelines. The state has a similar clause, but Elliott said it could be a little stricter. We want to make sure we are implementing the order as it was intended, Elliott said. As far as enforcing the orders, Elliott said, members of the environmental health department at the health center are taking calls about residents complaints and concerns and following up with the calls. This is also the week of Easter, and Elliott said the health center is on board with churches who want to gather together for a drive-in or drive-up service, as long social distancing is maintained. People must stay in their vehicles and the vehicles must be spaced out accordingly. Certainly we understand that this is an important time to worship and to celebrate and we want people to do that, Elliott said, but to also do that safely. The health center is also reminding residents that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures may be difficult to maintain. According to the CDC, recent studies show a significant portion of persons with coronavirus do not exhibit symptoms, and that even those who develop symptoms can transmit the virus prior to the onset of symptoms. The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators, the health center said. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders. Nikki Overfelt is a reporter for the Daily Journal. She can be reached at noverfelt@dailyjournalonline.com. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-07 01:28:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JUBA, April 6 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan army on Monday confirmed that more than 100 civilians have been abducted by the opposition's National Salvation Front (NAS) group under renegade general Thomas Cirilo in Yei-River state bordering Uganda. Lul Ruai Koang, the spokesman of South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF), disclosed that the civilians were abducted by NAS in the Mukaya area last week. "The information we got about a week ago, was that NAS forces dispersed their units with the intention of recruiting young men in those areas. They are on a recruitment drive, so probably these young men who were abducted were taken by NAS so that they could become their fighters," Koang told Xinhua in Juba. According to the South Sudan media Radio Tamazuj, NAS denied involvement in the abduction. Instead, the group accused government forces of abducting civilians. On several past occasions, SSPDF has been accusing NAS of violating the peace deal by ambushing civilians along major roads in Yei River state, located southwest of the capital. It was just past 10 p.m. last Monday when Gigi, a registered nurse, returned from work exhausted to the tiny room she was renting in a Toronto home. About 45 minutes later, Toronto police were knocking on her bedroom door saying her landlord wanted her out and that she had to leave now. I called my friend. I didnt know what to do. I told (the officers), I am a nurse. I just got home from work. Its late, said Gigi, who had started her shift at 7 a.m. that day. They just said: We dont care. Your landlord wants you out, and you have to go now. Gigi is the nurses nickname. The Star isnt publishing the names of the landlady or the nurse to protect Gigis privacy as she continues to care for some of the communitys most seriously ill, non-COVID-19 patients. I feel totally humiliated by this experience, and I dont want to draw attention to myself, she explained. I need to be able to go in to work to do my job, completely focused on my patients. The landlady, a middle-aged woman, said she had no option but to evict Gigi because she was putting the health, safety and well-being of myself and others in the house at risk. She said Gigi had not told her that she was sick and self-isolating for two weeks in her room in mid-March. (Gigi has twice tested negative for COVID-19.) And she said Gigi was threatening the safety of others by keeping her nursing bag with her scrubs and shoes in a broom closet in the kitchen without telling her. During an argument over the nursing bag, Gigi admits she lashed out very unprofessionally at her landlady. I told her selfish people die first. If I get the coronavirus, I will share it with her, Gigi said. I know that was wrong and that I shouldnt have said that. But I was so frustrated and stressed out by this woman. The landlady said she appreciates the importance of front-line workers, but that was the last straw. When she threatened me, I could have evicted her right away, because my safety was in danger, she said about the incident on the evening of Saturday March 28. But I decided not to do that right away I gave her until Monday. Gigi, who wrote to Premier Doug Ford, Health Minister Christine Elliott, Toronto Mayor John Tory and NDP MPP Peter Tabuns about her experience last week, says she is telling her story so no one else can lose their home like I did. Only Tabuns responded to Gigis call for help. This story is really wrenching, said Tabuns, who spoke to Gigi several times on the phone last week and referred her to policy officials in his office. We dont think people should be getting thrown out on the street in the middle of a pandemic, he said in an interview. People who are fighting to save lives under difficult conditions should not have to worry that their homes will be gone when they finish their shift. We need to have the premier step up, bring in legislation to protect people even on a temporary basis just to make sure no one has to go through this. Were certainly willing to work with him and pass legislation quickly, if hes willing to do that and make sure people have protection. On March 18, the Ford government obtained an order from Ontarios chief justice to suspend residential evictions during the pandemic. But as the Star reported last month, the order protects only those covered by the Residential Tenancies Act, leaving out thousands of renters such as Gigi who share a bathroom and kitchen with the owner or leaseholder of the house or apartment where they live. Tenant advocates and legal aid lawyers say they have been fielding an increasing number of calls during the crisis from frightened renters not covered by the provincial order. The Toronto Police Service doesnt comment on individual cases, but a spokesperson said officers dont conduct evictions. They do, however, respond to calls from people who rent rooms in their homes and want these unwanted guests to leave, said Meaghan Gray. Our officers act with as much leniency as they can, but the only discretion they are able to exercise is whether or not to issue a trespass to property notice, she said in an email Saturday. We would agree these situations are very unfortunate, but there is a gap in the law and it is not within the power of police to fix it. Gigi, 29, came to Toronto from the Philippines in 2013 and worked as a personal support worker for minimum wage until she obtained certification in January to practise as a registered nurse in Ontario. She was hired immediately at a local hospital to work on a busy ward assessing patients, transporting them for medical procedures, giving medication, changing wound dressings, inserting IVs, turning, bathing and feeding them. She said she rented the room in January for $550 a month because it was close to work, and it was all I could afford coming out of school. She acknowledges the living situation in the two-storey brick house she shared with a young teacher, a shop clerk and her landlady had been tense for several months. Gigi carries a double-wrapped bag containing her nursing scrubs and shoes to the hospital each day and changes into street clothes at work before going home. When her bag went missing from the kitchen broom closet on March 28, she suspected her landlady had taken it out of spite. After the landlady denied any knowledge of the bag, Gigi said she felt she had no alternative but to call police. High school teacher Tamara Kunovac, 27, one of Gigis roommates, said police, who acted like they thought we were wasting their time, eventually found the bag sitting on top of a trash can outside the house. Both women believe the landlady put the bag there. It was a very unpleasant situation that made us both very upset, Kunovac said in an interview. The landlady told the Star Sunday that she didnt realize Gigis bag was in the broom closet, where she also keeps her reusable grocery bags. Since health officials are advising shoppers to use only disposable bags for groceries, the landlady said she threw out all of her bags that day. After police left, Gigi said she felt embarrassed and angry. She yelled her intemperate comment at the landlady and stormed out. Later that evening, the landlady sent Gigi a text message. You threatened me that you will give me the coronavirus. I called police, and they said I can evict you. So get ready to leave my house right away, the message read. The landlady followed up the text with a handwritten note she slipped under Gigis door ordering her out of her room by noon March 30, less than 48 hours later. But Gigi was working that day. She started the 12-hour shift at 7 a.m. with an extended daily huddle with her team where they discussed the proper use of personal protective equipment gowns, gloves, N95 masks and face shields that make it very difficult to breathe. The hospital had started to see a few COVID patients. Some were in ICU. We all need to be wearing masks and shields now to protect our very ill patients who have multiple morbidities, she said. It was a very busy shift and Gigi said she had to stay late to complete her patients charts. She had no time to think about her landladys eviction threat and said she felt protected by the provincial order suspending evictions. When police arrived later that evening, Gigi said she was shocked they showed no compassion. A friend from Oakville picked her up around midnight while police waited in a cruiser outside for her to leave. The next day she moved into a furnished suite downtown that is charging her $1,800 to stay for three weeks. She has since found a room in an Airbnb closer to work for $750 a month and is trying to get her money back on the downtown suite before she moves. The laws should be changed. The premier said no one gets evicted. Why are we not protected? My landlord makes one call to police and Im gone. Why is there no place for us to call? she asked. Mayor Tory is also troubled by Gigis story. The idea that any landlord would kick out a nurse at this time out of fear of COVID-19 is completely unacceptable, he said in a statement to the Star Saturday. I know people are scared, but this is no time for people to treat anyone this poorly, especially the nurses we are relying on to help fight COVID-19. Since the city doesnt have power over landlord-tenant matters, Tory said he will be raising this issue with the province and urging them to consider all possible actions to prevent this from happening. When asked what he would do to help vulnerable renters such as Gigi during the pandemic, Ford pleaded with landlords and tenants to work together to ensure no one is left without a roof over their head during this challenging time. But he offered no promise of legal relief. Our health-care workers are on the front line of COVID-19 every single day, making extraordinary sacrifices to keep the rest of us safe, he said in a statement Saturday. We need everyone to recognize the important work that our front-line health workers are doing right now and show them the consideration that is rightfully due to them. Tabuns said he understands why someone renting out a room in their home or apartment would want the right to get rid of an undesirable renter quickly. In normal times, I dont think there would be anyone who would really argue with that, he said. But these are not normal times. Even on a temporary basis, people need to know they will not come home and be out on the street in the middle of a pandemic. Read more about: Three months ago, most of us had never heard of the Covid-19 coronavirus, far less imagined how it would change our lives. Now, there are more than a million people infected worldwide and it is claiming the lives of hundreds of Britons a day. And we still have no idea when the outbreak will end and life will get back to normal. At the same time, our scientific understanding of the virus is advancing at a remarkable pace. So, what have we learnt about coronavirus, and how might that knowledge help us defeat it? In a new TV programme airing this Thursday on BBC2, leading doctors explore the latest information on the virus, how it is spread and when we might have a vaccine to protect us from it. Here, they talk through the findings exclusively with Good Health. Three months ago, most of us had never heard of the Covid-19 coronavirus, far less imagined how it would change our lives WHY THE TWO-METRE RULE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH Social distancing guidance is to keep two metres away from people we don't live with. This rule is thought to be based on experiments from the 1930s that suggested droplets released from coughs and sneezes can travel between one and two metres. But this understanding may be outdated. In an experiment to be shown this week, led by the Health and Safety Executive, a cough from a medical manikin called Violet provides a graphic illustration of just how easily and how far coronavirus particles can spread. In the demonstration, Violet coughs up a liquid laced with a dye that shows up under ultraviolet light. The dye is meant to reveal how droplets containing coronavirus particles are propelled through the air when we cough. 'You see thousands of droplets coming out of Violet's mouth, with some reaching the ceiling and the far wall, which is at least two metres away,' says Dr Guddi Singh, a paediatrician in London who expects to be redeployed to the adult intensive care unit at any moment. 'Some of these droplets land on my hand, even though I am not in the direct line of the cough. If these droplets contained the virus, I would be infected. It is incredibly contagious. Social distancing guidance is to keep two metres away from people we don't live with. This rule is thought to be based on experiments from the 1930s that suggested droplets released from coughs and sneezes can travel between one and two metres 'The experiment shows me why we need social distancing of at least two metres,' she says. 'But even at that, you are just on the fringe of where the spread could be happening.' Indeed, new research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that two metres may not be nearly far enough; that coronavirus particles can be propelled up to eight metres by sneezes and six metres by coughs. Some experts suggest that the larger droplets in saliva and mucus the ones believed to carry Covid-19 will fall safely to the ground within two metres. However, the U.S. researchers said their experiment calls into question our understanding of what a safe distance might be to protect ourselves from coronavirus infection. Another report even suggests we may have more than coughs and sneezes to worry about. The prestigious National Academy of Sciences in the U.S. recently warned that the virus may also be spread by the fine mist we produce when we talk and breathe. One study suggests this can spread genetic material from the coronavirus more than two metres away from patients. This raises the possibility that the virus can linger in the air and potentially infect someone who walks by later. All this research has prompted the World Health Organisation (WHO) to start a review of its advice on the use of face masks. WILL A FACE MASK HELP OR NOT? There has been much debate over the value of face masks to both protect you from coronavirus and also to stop you spreading it. Many scientists are sceptical about whether it is worth healthy people wearing masks. There are concerns about people's hands becoming contaminated when they put on and take off the masks, and that someone wearing a mask might lower their guard in other ways for example, by cutting back on their handwashing. Plus, the virus can still get in through any gaps at the sides of the masks and the person's eyes (a possible entry point for the virus) are still exposed. There has been much debate over the value of face masks to both protect you from coronavirus and also to stop you spreading it Chris van Tulleken, an infectious diseases doctor at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, isn't convinced that healthy people need to wear masks. He says having something on your face may make you want to touch it more and 'if you keep two metres away from everyone else outside, you don't need a face mask'. However, others argue that masks can provide a physical barrier to the droplets that spread the virus, particularly from people who are infected and don't have any symptoms. The World Health Organisation is currently reviewing its advice that face masks should only be worn by those who have corona-virus or by those people looking after others who may have it. DILEMMA OF THE 'SILENT SPREADERS' The spread of Covid-19 by people who aren't showing symptoms is one of the reasons the virus is so dangerous. A study published in the journal Science concluded that 86 per cent of cases have either no symptoms or only very mild ones. Countries such as Iceland and South Korea have reported a huge number of 'silent spreaders'. In South Korea, 40.2 per cent of those aged 20 to 29 fell into this bracket. It is not known why some people don't show symptoms, but it may be due to differences in their genetics. The spread of Covid-19 by people who aren't showing symptoms is one of the reasons the virus is so dangerous HOW LONG DOES THE VIRUS SURVIVE? Whether you have symptoms or not, the virus will be released from your respiratory system into the air and the droplets can 'last for many hours on different surfaces which we may then touch', says Dr Singh. 'A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed the virus can survive suspended in the air for up to three hours. It can stay on cardboard for 24 hours and plastic for 72 hours.' This, says Dr Singh, could have implications for online shopping. 'In countries that seem to have managed the outbreak pretty well, such as Singapore and Taiwan, all deliveries are treated very seriously because it is clear that this could be another mode of transmission. 'With deliveries, there is advice that plastic items should be wiped down with soap and water.' Other experts say you are unlikely to reach every nook and cranny, so would be better off keeping your hands clean. The official advice is that the two main symptoms of Covid-19 are a high temperature and a 'new and continuous cough' IT'S NOT JUST A COUGH AND FEVER The official advice is that the two main symptoms of Covid-19 are a high temperature and a 'new and continuous cough'. Indeed, data gathered by the WHO in February on more than 55,000 confirmed cases in China showed a fever to be the most common symptom, occurring in 87.9 per cent of cases, followed by a dry cough (in 67.7 per cent). Other symptoms listed included fatigue, coughing up phlegm, sore throats, headaches and diarrhoea and vomiting. In the last ten days of the pandemic, a new symptom has emerged: loss of sense of smell. Data collated by ENT UK, which represents ear, nose and throat specialists, suggests this inability to smell and, often, to taste may be the very first sign. Indeed, a new report from King's College London points to it being one of the most common symptoms. They analysed data submitted by 1.5 million users of a new symptom-tracking app. Those who had tested positive for the virus were much more likely to have lost their sense of smell and taste than have a fever. Dr van Tulleken, whose brother Xand has had Covid-19 for the past two weeks, says Xand's sense of taste and smell was so affected by the virus that he was able to eat a pot of mustard. 'It looks like this is quite a strong diagnostic predictor,' says Chris. Xand, a normally healthy 41-year-old, 'had a high fever, extreme fatigue, muscle aches, dry cough and entirely lost his senses of smell and taste, says his brother Dr Chris. Xand also developed an abnormal heart rhythm and had to go into hospital for a cardioversion a treatment that uses electric shocks to jolt the heart back into its normal rhythm. In the last ten days of the pandemic, a new symptom has emerged: loss of sense of smell. Data collated by ENT UK, which represents ear, nose and throat specialists, suggests this inability to smell and, often, to taste may be the very first sign YOUNGER PEOPLE ARE AT RISK TOO It is known that older people and those with underlying conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart and lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are more likely to become severely ill with coronavirus. A report in The Lancet last week where researchers from Imperial College London analysed data from China showed how the risks of serious illness and death rise sharply as we get older. This is thought to be because our immune systems weaken with age, making us more vulnerable to infections. Also, we are more likely to have underlying health conditions as we age that increase the risk of severe disease. Also, a phenomenon called a cytokine storm a potentially fatal overreaction of the immune system becomes more common as we get older. While a 20-year-old has about a 1 per cent chance of their illness being so severe that they are hospitalised, the risk rises to around 4 per cent for someone in their 40s; 8 per cent for someone in their 50s; and 19 per cent for the over-80s. Yet, younger people are not invincible. Data from NHS England shows that while the vast majority of the 4,897 deaths in England have been in the over-60s, 396 'younger people' under 60 have lost their lives to Covid-19. 'This is something that even young people need to take carefully,' says Dr van Tulleken. So why can a seemingly young and healthy person be struck down with the virus? It is possible some people's genetics makes them more vulnerable. Another theory revolves around the viral load the amount of virus someone is initially exposed to. With some viruses, the more you breathe in, the sicker you get, which could explain why young nurses who are in close contact with lots of sick patients are dying from coronavirus. TAKE FIGURES WITH A PINCH OF SALT We're surrounded by numbers, but just what should we believe? Very little, says mathematician Dr Hannah Fry, who presents the BBC2 show with Dr van Tulleken. Comparisons between corona-virus deaths in different countries, for example, can be misleading. 'Each country is counting things differently,' says Dr Fry. 'Some are choosing not to count the deaths that happened outside of hospitals, while others may not be counting cases where the individual was already sick.' While the daily death rate in the UK is rising at an alarming rate, the figures don't tell us how fast the virus is actually spreading, explains Dr Fry, a lecturer in the mathematics of cities at University College London. 'The people who are dying today are likely to have contracted the virus up to three weeks ago,' she says. Since then, a raft of restrictions have been introduced and the effects of the lockdown have yet to be reflected in the figures. Dr Fry expects the death rate in the UK to start declining soon. 'In a way, things have already got better we are just not going to see it until later,' she says. In 2018, Dr Fry simulated a pandemic of a deadly flu virus. Her experiment revealed how quickly the contagion could be slowed simply by handwashing THE POWER OF HANDWASHING In 2018, Dr Fry simulated a pandemic of a deadly flu virus. Her experiment revealed how quickly the contagion could be slowed simply by handwashing. Washing hands an extra 5-10 times a day would halve the number of people who 'caught' the virus in the next 100 days, slashing the number of patients from 42 million to 21 million. 'The way that pandemics spread is all exponential, which means tiny things can have a massive impact. Things like handwashing, done properly, can genuinely make a difference,' says Dr Fry. Coronavirus, a Horizon Special, BBC2, Thursday, 9pm. COULD WE HAVE A VACCINE BY WINTER? More than 35 universities, biotech and drug companies worldwide are racing to produce a vaccine to stop coronavirus in its tracks. TV doctor Dr Michael Mosley explored the research and says he is 'gobsmacked by the speed the vaccine research is going ahead'. The first experimental jab entered human trials in the U.S. last month, and scientists at the University of Oxford have started to recruit 500 volunteers to test a vaccine that they developed only in January. Another promising vaccine is being developed at Imperial College London, where Professor Robin Shattock created a prototype vaccine in, incredibly, just two weeks. Using details of the coronavirus's genetic code shared by Chinese scientists, he made small stretches of genetic material in the lab designed to trick the immune system into producing antibodies against the virus. More than 35 universities, biotech and drug companies worldwide are racing to produce a vaccine to stop coronavirus in its tracks Tests on mice produced a 'massive antibody response'. Tests on monkeys are now under way, with a small trial in humans due to follow. 'If that is successful, then you would normally move to a larger trial involving a few thousand healthy people,' says Dr Mosley. 'But Professor Shattock thinks that in these exceptional circumstances, vaccine researchers would be justified in moving to something much bigger, much faster. 'He surprised me by saying that if everything goes to plan and their vaccine is shown to be safe and effective, then it is possible that five million doses of it would be ready to give to vulnerable people and frontline medical staff this winter in time for what he fully expects to be a second outbreak of the virus.' ARE YOU UP TO SPEED WITH VIRUS JARGON? CORONAVIRUS: A family of viruses named after the halo or corona of protein spikes that stud the outside of each virus particle. Four corona-viruses are behind about 20 per cent of cases of the common cold, while three SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) and Covid-19 can cause severe illness. R0: Pronounced 'R nought', this figure represents how many people one sick person will, on average, infect. The higher the R0 value, the more challenging a disease is to control. Measles is highly infectious and has an R0 value of 12 to 18. The R0 value for Covid-19 is 2.5 to 4. SUPER-SPREADER: This is someone who infects far more people than average. This might be because their job means they are in contact with more people than usual, or their bodies release unusually high amounts of a virus. HERD IMMUNITY: When enough people become immune to an illness, either because they've already had it or they've been vaccinated against it, the disease struggles to spread. In other words, there are enough immune people in the 'herd' of a community to protect the few who aren't. ASYMPTOMATIC: Someone who has an infection but doesn't have symptoms. Such people can still spread coronavirus. SOCIAL DISTANCING: Reducing the contact you have with other people by working from home or shopping for food only when essential, to slow the spread of an infection. CLOSE CONTACTS: At the start of the pandemic, close contacts of coronavirus patients were traced and given health advice or put into isolation to stop the virus spreading. A close contact is someone who lives in the same household as the person with the virus, has had physical contact (such as shaking hands) with them or been within two metres of them for longer than 15 minutes. ANTIGEN: A substance that the immune system sees as foreign and produces cells called antibodies to fight it off. Various companies are developing antigen tests for Covid-19. A positive result means someone has the virus at the time of testing. 'Current NHS tests don't look for an antigen but for traces of the virus's genetic material,' explains Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at the University of Reading. ANTIBODY: A protein made by the body's immune system to destroy antigens such as Covid-19. An antibody test can tell you if you have had the virus. PPE: Personal protective equipment covers clothing and equipment to keep people safe at work. PPE for coronavirus includes gloves, aprons, visors, goggles and face masks. FFP3 masks provide the highest protection, filtering out at least 95 per cent of airborne particles. INCUBATION PERIOD: The time between catching an infection and symptoms starting. For coronavirus, this is usually five days but can be as long as a fortnight or as little as a day. EPIDEMIOLOGY: The science of how a disease spreads. It is carried out by epidemiologists, who investigate where an outbreak started, who is at risk, how to control it and how to stop it happening again. Myanmar & COVID-19 Myanmars Mon State Consolidates Quarantine Centers for Returning Migrants A community-based quarantine facility for returning migrant workers set up at a school in Naing Hlone Village, Mudon Township, Mon State. / Mon Saw Noal / Facebook Community-level quarantine centers in Mon State will soon be shut, with all migrant workers returning from abroad since Sunday now required to stay at newly opened quarantine facilities in towns, according to an order from township authorities in the state. There are many community-level quarantine centers scattered throughout the state, but with the number of returning migrants showing a dip on Monday, township authorities have decided to consolidate the centers to make their work more efficient and to get a better idea of the true number of returnees. Anyone who comes back to Mudon Township must come and stay at the town quarantine center, effective April 5, U Thet Zaw Oo, a township official in Mudon, told The Irrawaddy on Monday. We want to quarantine people at the center systematically. We will arrange for them to stay in separate rooms [based on date of arrival]. For example, those who return on April 5 will be put in a room [designated] for April 5. We have prepared individual rooms for each day that people arrive, he said. Township authorities in Mudon opened a quarantine center at a high school in the town, which he said was currently holding 13 people. The move was not ordered by the state government; rather, the township authorities planned the new system. Community-level quarantine centers in villages will shut down soon, and new arrivals will have to stay in the town center, according U Thet Zaw Oo. U Zaw Moe Aung, a Paung Township general administrative officer, said township authorities were now sending returning migrants directly to Mawlamyine. We are not letting them enter anymore. They all have to stay in Mawlamyine for two weeks. We told car drivers from Myawadddy to drive all of them to Mawlamyine, he said. Township authorities in Mawlamyine opened a quarantine center at the university in the town, he said. All newly arrived migrants in Paung will now have to travel there and enter quarantine. Mon State is home to 17,772 people who work abroad, according to the latest list issued by the state government; as of Sunday, 15,542 people were either in home quarantine or staying in community-based facilities opened at schools and other places. Some 2,230 people have been released from quarantine centers so far after two weeks of isolation. Those who came to stay at the camp on March 22 completed their two weeks, so we let them go home, said Nai Kyi Win, minister for natural resources and environmental conservation in the Mon State government. Migrant workers continue to return home to Mon State he said, adding that over 8,000 had arrived between April 1 and Monday. The bulk of the migrants were returning from Thailand, but others were arriving from Malaysia, China, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Cambodia and India, he said. The Mon State government began collecting data on returning migrants on March 14. Initially, it ordered people to self-isolate at home. However, since March 22, all returning migrants have been required to stay at community-based quarantine camps on the orders of the Myanmar Health Ministry. To accommodate them, authorities have set up quarantine centers at schools, universities, halls, rest houses, religious building and houses. Some village administrators told the The Irrawaddy there had been cases in which migrants refused to stay at quarantine centers in Mudon and Thanbyuzayat townships. Nai Hong Mann, the chairman of Sinepadaw Village in Mudon, said the townships quarantine center was currently housing 136 migrants recently returned from Thailand, but 27 people had refused to stay there. I have informed the township authorities. Police told me to go and try and convince them one more time to come to the center. So, I will go to and talk to them again, Nai Hong Mann said. The police are worried there will be a riot if they go to arrest them. So they told me to go one more time. In an effort to avoid being quarantined, some returnees opted to stay outdoors on a rubber plantation rather than return to their village, but others were simply staying at home and ignoring the quarantine order from the government. The Mon State government issued an order on March 28 informing all returning migrants that they would have to stay at community-based quarantine centers. The government would take action against those failing to comply, it said. We encouraged community, village and township authorities to build quarantine centers. Returning migrants have to stay in quarantine centers for 14 days. Our government will take action against those who do not present themselves to quarantine centers as required by law, as we announced in the statement, said U Myint Than Win, a spokesperson for the Mon State government. The state government will take action against migrants who fail to comply with quarantine orders under the Prevention and Control of Communicable Disease Law according to the statement. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Government Bans Staff From New Year Travel to Stop COVID-19 Spread Myanmars States Issue Heavy Restrictions on Movement Ahead of Thingyan to Curb COVID-19 Myanmars KBZ Bank Donates Nearly $1M to Coronavirus Efforts Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on April 6 said that no one should be under the impression of complete lifting of lockdown in the state after April 15. "No one should be under the impression of complete lifting of lockdown from April 15 onwards. The situation between April 10 to 15 will be closely analysed before taking a decision on the lockdown," he told reporters. Tope said the Health department will discuss the situation with the chief minister and later with the Union ministry before taking any decision regarding relaxing the lockdown. Some charitable or humanitarian organizations that have many, many employees, with a structure full of people and only about 40% of donations make it to the poor because 60% goes to pay many salaries. This is a way of taking money from the poor." Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The danger posed by the overcrowding of prisons in this time of pandemic was the intention of prayer expressed by Pope Francis in the introduction of the mass celebrated this morning at Casa Santa Marta. "Where there is overcrowding - he said - there is the danger in this pandemic that it winds up being a grave tragedy. Let us pray for those responsible, and for those who need to make decisions in this area, that they might find a correct and creative way to resolve the problem. In his homily, the Pope reflected on the days Gospel reading (Jn 12:1-11) in which Mary the sister of Lazarus and Martha anoints Jesus feet with costly perfumed oil. The event provokes an indignant response from Judas to which Jesus replies with an enigmatic statement. Pope Francis focused his homily on Jesus words: You always have the poor with you. He said Judas appears to think of the poor, but not because they really mattered to him. What he cared about was money. He held the common purse and was a thief. The Pope said there is always someone with these characteristics. This story of the unfaithful administrator is always current: they are always around, even at a high level. We think of some charitable or humanitarian organizations that have many, many employees, with a structure full of people and only about 40% of donations make it to the poor because 60% goes to pay many salaries. This is a way of taking money from the poor. Pope Francis said Jesus words about having the poor always with us are true. But, he said, the ones we see on the street are only the tip of the iceberg. The great majority of the poor are those whom we do not see: the hidden poor. And we dont see them because we enter into this culture of indifference which denies their existence. So we say, No, there arent that many. You dont see many. And we minimize the reality of the poor. But there are so very many. Even those who are not indifferent to the presence of the poor can come to see them as ornaments in a city, like statues, said the Pope, as if it were normal. Pope Francis said many poor people are victims of economic and financial systems, but are too embarrassed to ask for help. They struggle to make it to the end of the month, even if they have a job. The Pope then told a story from his time as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in Argentina. Once, someone told me about an abandoned factory in which around 15 families had lived for the previous few months. I went there. There were families with children, and each had claimed a part of the factory to live in. Looking closer, I saw that every family had good furniture, indicative of the middle class, with a television set. But they wound up there because they couldnt pay their rent. These are the new poor who are forced to leave their homes because they cant afford them. This is the injustice of the economic or financial system that has left them like that. In conclusion, Pope Francis recalled that Jesus first question on the Day of Judgment will be: How did you treat the poor? Did you feed them? Did you visit those in prison, in hospital? Did you help the widow and the orphan? Because I was there. The Pope said we will be judged according to our relationship with the poor. If I ignore the poor today, leaving them aside and acting as if they didnt exist, the Lord will ignore me on the Day of Judgment. When Jesus says, You always have the poor with you, He is saying, I will always be with you in the poor. I will be present there. And this is not acting like a communist. This is at the center of the Gospel: we will be judged on this. KYIV -- The Kyiv police have identified a man who allegedly started a mass fire in the uninhabited exclusion zone around the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear plant last week. The police said on April 6 that a 27-year-old resident of the Rahivka village told investigators that he had set some garbage and grass on fire "for fun." Police launched a probe into the destruction of forestry, an offense which can be punished with hefty fines or imprisonment for up to five years. The young man, whose identity was not disclosed, has not yet been officially charged. Earlier in the day, the State Emergency Service said firefighters and rescue teams continued to put out fires at two sites near Rahivka, adding that radiation levels in the capital, Kyiv, and the Kyiv region were within the normal range. The total area affected by the fire near Rahivka was reported as five hectares. A day earlier, Ukraine's emergency authorities said that the fire had been extinguished near the villages of Volodymyrivka and Zhovtneve, close to the exclusion zone. More than 130 firefighters, three aircraft, and 21 vehicles were deployed on April 4 to battle the fire. The territory is the long-vacated area near where an explosion at the Chernobyl Soviet nuclear plant in April 1986 sent a plume of radioactive fallout high into the air and across swaths of Europe. A number of regions of Ukraine this week have reported brushfires amid unseasonably dry conditions. Fires are a routine threat in the forested region around the exclusion zone. Actor Jay Benedict has died following complications from coronavirus, it has been confirmed. The actor, who has appeared in stage shows including The Rocky Horror Show, An Actor's Lament and the world premiere of The Trial of Jane Fonda opposite Anne Archer at the Edinburgh Fringe, passed away aged 68 after contracting the virus. On screen Benedict is best known for his portrayal of Russ Jordan in Aliens, with other credits including The Dark Knight Rises, Emmerdale and Call the Midwife. In a statement on his website, his team has said: "It is with profound sorrow that we must announce Jay's death on the 4th of April due to complications arising from a COVID-19 infection." He is survived by his wife Phoebe Scholfield, and his three children. JOHN MAHAMA DONATES PPE TO RIDGE HOSPITAL TO SUPPORT COVID-19 FIGHT? Really? Observer One is my name. You can call me O-One, and I stand for the good of all, to God and Country! COVID-19 has taken over everything today and as we say it; were not in normal times! Truly we are in such extraordinary times where, for once, we are witnessing a phenomenon where we hardly, I mean scarcely hear the opinionating creaky voices from the green-red black-white flag party folks. I always want to be fairly in tune with current affairs in our country. For that reason, my radio set is, for the most part, locked on Joy FM and few times on Citi and Peace FM. For almost four weeks now and counting, the radio airways largely dominated by these giants are now fully dedicated to the novel coronavirus aka COVID-19 pandemic. Funny, right? In my minds eye, the situation has naturally, or automatically amplified the voice of a competent government. The voice of wisdom and of maturity, a dexterous adventure thats producing pride from the display of excellent African leadership. While we are still in the fight of our lives, it is worth noting that the performance of the government of Ghana, led by His Excellency the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the NPP Party can be described as excellent! Indeed, the caution not to politicize the COVID-19 pandemic has by far been the only successful and yielded advice in our political dispensation. I make this assertion purely based on how much exposure I have to media and as much information I get from the same. This is why I indicated which of them I mostly listen to. I should also indicate that I am online 24/7 haven subscribed to numerous news channel notifications amidst all the major social media platforms. I am always getting updates on current happenings and so Im very confident that the observation I have made is largely absolute. First of all, one profound statement I have heard in recent times that has not been disputed by any opposing view is I assure you, 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 HE President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufu-Addo. Prior to this, the president stated what the economy was at the time when he took over the reins of government. The point is, a good number of such political point-scoring statements and events have been made in the last few weeks. I am not quite sure of any such times in Ghanas history when a sitting president has had to frequently speak to the nation at such short intervals. I was very young, probably a toddler around 1983 and I have not learned how the then-president Jerry John Rawlings managed himself. But without thinking aloud, the current phenomenon will naturally bring about unprecedented levels of endearment with the man at the helm of affairs - President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufu-Addo and his governing NPP party. Kojo Opong Nkrumah is heard on radio and viewed on tv almost every day and every hour. Social media is always buzzing with the same. Ministry of Health and its allied public health agencies, Ministry of Defence and national security and a couple of others are dominating public interactions like never before in a positive way! A fair judgment would be that this time round issues and matters concerning them or coming from them are somewhat heart-warming and stress-relieving. Almost all newsworthy political activities are coming from the governing party. So, to appear relevant, I must say, the leading opposition party the NDC are literally lost in the ocean. Fmr. President Mahama in a communique to his party folks stated that they should adhere to the precautionary measures advised by the World Health Organization. As though thats where he takes his leadership from. The very moment it dawned on us as a country to rise to the occasion, the government of Ghana led by Nana Addo published information on guidelines and precautions which we as a people should live by. Subsequent to that, all other communicators speaking for or from both public and private institutions make reference to the leader of this great country Nana Addo Dankwa Akufu-Addo. Isnt it curious that the leader of NDC refuses to be a citizen of Ghana as a sovereign nation with a leader? He tells his party folks to listen to foreign powers at the time when the president of this sovereign country and his men have been seen to have risen to the task. Well, as much as I know, maybe he may have the opportunity to move about somehow, but as the leader of this great country Nana Addo orders a lockdown, all those who perhaps only woke up at Mahamas advice are also locked down. And in fact, candidate Mahama is also locked down. Largely so. At this point, you should know that Im driving at mutual respect. If you behave like youre not of this country what at all should we have to do with you? You do not reserve any ethical right to lead this country anymore. Heres what I believe: Ghanaians actually realized their mistake and showed you the exit in a very grand style. A political defeat that has no precedence in this country. And one thats very scarce in democratic regimes around the world. So once again, the NPP, as the governing party with its brilliant performance so far in this crisis will occupy the media space no matter what! And as it stands now, we are going to hear very little from NDC. The only way to overcome this will be to viciously concoct issues to poke the government of corrupt practices as they go about finding and working out solutions for the pandemic. To this, I say, that the parallel COVID-19 Team formed by the NDC will make no more impact than for writers like myself to make mention of that creature without any meaningful substance. Dont they have any essence at all? Well, maybe they have. Probably to advise candidate Mahama on how to make donations. So, we hear some donations have been made to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital -. A hospital which renovation alone cost this country a whopping $306 million Dollars. An amount that is said to be able to build three (3) - possibly bigger ones. And as we know, hospital infrastructure costing always includes furnishing. CASHBACK GUARANTEED! MAY I SUBMIT TO YOU, THAT MUCH OF THE CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS SURROUNDING THAT RENOVATION PROJECT LANDED ON CANDIDATE MAHAMAS LAPS. MAKING IT LOGICAL TO CONCLUDE, THAT BY SOME DIVINE MEANS, SOME MONIES ARE FINDING THEIR WAY BACK TO WHERE THEY BELONG. I dare say, that it is very shameful that you only provided 100 PPEs. This is what politicians in Africa do: They invest in menial things to gain popularity for power. When they gain power, they recoup their investment, pay their debts, make immeasurable profits aside what they chop on the go at the expense of the taxpayer, save for subsequent election and then horde for future philanthropic needs. Thats some food for thought, right? The optics certainly dont look good for candidate Mahama and his NDC at this material time. The way to make a better impression on the realities on the ground is to strategize your donor activities. Perhaps by organizing and arranging your various arms, departments, groups, and associations to do the donations in turns in a timeous manner. I suppose this needs no further elaboration. I am advised, so I advise. I am taught, so I teach. I am informed, so I inform. I speak, because I listen and I hear. Cheers! Oh, hold it SHOCKING: just as I finished reading through what you just read to affect corrections I received a notification from this link: https://citinewsroom.com/2020/04/mahama-donates-ppes-to-hospitals-to-fight-covid-19-pandemic/ Take note: Mahama donates to hospitalS emphasis on S. "Who say man no dey"? There we go, and certainly, this will not be the end. I really expect this to happen not every week but every day. Candidate Mahama please do it every day okay. 100 PPEs, 150 PPEs ...please stop this "Makola" bargaining gimmicks. We know very well that it won't cost you anything if you should donate Ten Thousand PPEs to every single Hospital and Polyclinic in the country. THE MONIES ARE DEFINITELY COMING BACK TO WHERE THEY TRULY BELONG! China Coast Guard ship 4301, which was involved in the sinking of a Vietnamese fishing vessel near the Paracel Islands, in image captured from a video posted to SinaWeibo, April 4, 2020. The United States said Monday it was seriously concerned by the recent sinking of a Vietnamese fishing vessel by the China Coast Guard and accused Beijing of exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic to expand its unlawful claims in the South China Sea. Vietnam has accused the China Coast Guard (CCG) of sinking the fishing boat near the disputed Paracel Islands in the early hours of April 2 and lodged an official protest to Beijing. China claims that the Vietnamese boat sank itself after ramming a CCG ship. The State Department statement left little doubt about who it considered to blame. Spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus described it as the latest in a long string of PRC actions to assert unlawful maritime claims and disadvantage its Southeast Asian neighbors in the South China Sea. PRC refers to the nations formal title, the Peoples Republic of China. Since the outbreak of the global pandemic, Beijing has also announced new research stations on military bases it built on Fiery Cross Reef and Subi Reef, and landed special military aircraft on Fiery Cross Reef, Ortagus said, referring to artificial islands constructed by China. The PRC has also continued to deploy maritime militia around the Spratly Islands. She said U.S. shares the position of the 2016 Law of the Sea tribunal decision that dismissed Chinas maritime claims to the area. We call on the PRC to remain focused on supporting international efforts to combat the global pandemic, and to stop exploiting the distraction or vulnerability of other states to expand its unlawful claims in the South China Sea, Ortagus said. Among the six claimants in the South China Sea, China and Vietnams rivalry is perhaps the most intense. Both claim sovereignty over the Spratly island chain and the Paracels, which lie further north. There are periodic confrontations between their vessels. In the latest incident, Vietnamese media reported that last Thursday, at about midnight, a fishing boat named the QNg 90617 from Quang Ngai province had gone missing nearby Woody Island, a Chinese-occupied outpost in the Paracels. A search by other Vietnamese fishermen in the area allegedly revealed the presence of a China Coast Guard ship. The CCG returned the eight fishermen from the missing ship to Vietnam the next day. In a statement Friday, the CCG blamed the fishing vessel for ramming a CCG ship, the 4301, and subsequently sinking itself. In the early hours of April 2, the Vietnamese fishing vessel QNg 90617 illegally entered the waters of the Xisha Islands to engage in fishing activities, the release said, using the Chinese name for the Paracel Islands. It sank after hitting China Coast Guard 4301. All eight crew members were rescued by our coastguard, the statement said. Vietnams Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Nam Le Thi Thu Hang accused the China Coast Guard of sinking the ship instead. The Chinese vessel committed an act that violated Vietnams sovereignty over Hoang Sa, she said Friday, using the Vietnamese name for the Paracel Islands, and threatened the lives and damaged the property and legitimate interest of Vietnamese fishermen. The ministry also asked for the fishermen to be compensated by China. Vessel-tracking software used by Radio Free Asia does not show the presence of either Vietnamese fishing vessels or CCG ships in the Paracel Islands at the time of the incident, but the Vietnamese fishermen shared photos of CCG ships 4301, 3001, and 4001 with Thanh Nien, a Vietnamese newspaper, after their return. One photo clearly shows the QNg 90617 sinking into the ocean. Satellite imagery shows a CCG ship docked at Woody Island on Mar 30, right before the incident, and two CCG ships, including one of a much larger class, patrolling Woody Islands northeast on April 4. Eight Civilians Killed, 2 Others Injured in Airstrike in Central Afghanistan Sputnik News 14:32 GMT 05.04.2020 KABUL (Sputnik) - An airstrike in the central Afghan province of Uruzgan left at least eight civilians killed and two others critically injured in the early hours of Sunday, a source in the regional government said, adding that it was unclear if the attack was carried out by the government forces or the US-led international troops. "Eight civilians were killed and two others were critically injured in the attack," the source said. They said the injured civilians had been taken to the Mirwais hospital in the southern city of Kandahar. At the same time, the Uruzgan governor's spokesman, Zargai Abadi, denied there were civilian casualties in the attack. Speaking to local media, he said that the airstrike had been carried out by the Afghan government forces, adding that six militants were killed in the ambush. The Taliban*, in turn, have attributed the airstrike to the US-led international forces and condemned the attack, describing it as a breach of the recently negotiated peace deal. They also claimed a different number of casualties. "Continuing the intrusive offensive of US occupants, last night, in the Garam Ab area of the Khas Uruzgan district of the Uruzgan province [a residential house] was attacked, resulting in five women and two children killed and eight others injured," the radical group said in a statement. Meanwhile, the Afghan Ministry of Defense has reported a separate incident that took place earlier on Sunday between the Taliban and the Afghan forces at the army checkpoints in the Arghandab district of the southern Zabul province. "As a result of the mutual assault and airstrikes by the Afghan forces, 21 Taliban militants were killed and eight motorcycles destroyed," the ministry said. According to the Taliban, however, the attack was carried out by the army during a funeral and resulted in the death of two civilians. On February 29, the United States and the Taliban signed a peace agreement in the Qatari capital of Doha which, among other things, addressed the issued of reducing violence in the country. The Taliban have repeatedly accused the US and Kabul of violating the deal. *The Taliban - a terrorist group banned in Russian and a number of other countries Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A ventilator and other hospital equipment is seen in an emergency field hospital to aid in the COVID-19 pandemic in Central Park on March 30, 2020 in New York City. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) Oregon, Washington Return Ventilators to National Stockpile for Use in Harder Hit States The states of Oregon and Washington have returned hundreds of ventilators to the Strategic National Stockpile for distribution to other states that have been harder hit by the CCP virus, Vice President Mike Pence said April 5. Speaking at a White House briefing on the CCP virus pandemic, Pence expressed his profound appreciation to both Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee for returning the ventilators after examining their states individual circumstances. The state of Oregon and the state of Washington are leading by example, Pence said. Oregon sent 140 ventilators to New York Citythey looked at their circumstances and concluded that they could spare those at the point of the need. Pence said Inslee decided to return 400 ventilators to the Strategic National Stockpile because of the low and steady numbers in Washington state, and in California. Those will be deployed at the point of the need, he added. The role of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Strategic National Stockpile is to supplement state and local supplies during public health emergencies. The measures from both governors came after President Donald Trump on April 4 stated that several states had made inflated requests, fearing shortages amid the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic. Its very understandable that officials would seek to get the most they can get for their communities, Trump said of submissions his administration has received to dole out equipment from the Strategic National Stockpile. But he pushed back against criticism that the federal government hadnt done enough to get ventilators to the states, saying some governors were asking for more machines than is possible. We had one state asking for 40,000 ventilators, Trump continued. Forty thousand. Think of it: 40,000. Its not possible. They wont need that many, and now theyre admitting they dont need that many. But were getting as many as we can to them. Inslee said the state of Washington determined the 400 ventilators could be better used in states more affected by the CCP virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus. As of April 5, Washington had 7,498 reported cases of COVID-19the disease caused by the CCP viruswith 319 deaths. Every state in America is united in the fight to save the lives of our people. Though our mission is the same, our needs are different. Today, Washington is returning 400 ventilators so states like New York and others can have them.#WeGotThisWA #StayHomeStayHealthy Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) April 5, 2020 Ive said many times over the last few weeks: We are in this together, Inslee said. The ventilators from the Strategic National Stockpile may not be able to directly treat COVID-19 patients as the individuals lungs could require a higher amount of pressure support than the machines provide, the Seattle Times reported, citing Jessica Baggett, a spokeswoman for Washingtons Joint Information Center. But the ventilators will be able to help free up suitable ventilators, state officials said. Brown said that her state would also send ventilators to New York to help front-line medical response efforts to the pandemic. New York needs more ventilators, and we are answering their call for help. Well be sending 140 ventilators to help NY because Oregon is in a better position right now. We must do all that we can to help those on the front lines of this response. Governor Kate Brown (@OregonGovBrown) April 4, 2020 New York needs more ventilators, and we are answering their call for help, Brown said in a statement. Well be sending 140 ventilators to help NY because Oregon is in a better position right now. We must do all that we can to help those on the front lines of this response. Oregon had 1,068 reported cases of the CCP virus and 27 deaths of April 5. The state of New Yorkthe hardest-hit stateon April 5 reported for the first time in a week that CCP virus deaths had fallen slightly from the day before. However there were still nearly 600 new fatalities and more than 7,300 new cases. White House medical experts have forecast that between 100,000 to 240,000 Americans could die in the pandemic, even if sweeping orders to stay home are followed. Reuters contributed to this report. The Ruby Princess, which had docked in Sydney just days earlier, was already shaping up as the benchmark of what not to do with a passenger vessel during a global health emergency. Loading The Premier already knew the Magnifica and Vasco da Gama cruise ships were heading his way when the situation aboard the Artania changed and an urgent request for help was made by its captain, Morten Hansen. Despite news the ship was carrying 25 passengers with suspected COVID-19, he stood firm. He had already seen off the Magnifica not without its own drama and plans were in place for Vasco da Gama passengers to be taken to Rottnest for 14 days of quarantine. The Artania [... needs] to leave and go back to [its] port of origin and leave as soon as possible, Mr McGowan told reporters on March 25. I will not allow what happened in Sydney to happen in Western Australia. The following days during what the Premier referred to at the time as a fiasco involved ever-changing plans, pleas for Commonwealth assistance, and mercy flights home for more than 800 Artania passengers. By the time the specially chartered Condor jets took off from Perth airport last Sunday carrying what was believed to be the entire complement of passengers from the stricken ship, Mr McGowan must have thought his Artania-related woes were about ready to be farewelled, too. Then Christian Porter went on 6PRs morning show with Gareth Parker and dropped a bombshell. The 'missing 'passengers It should have come as no surprise to anyone paying attention to the ongoing cruise ships crisis, but when the Australian Attorney-General told 6PR listeners last Wednesday morning some passengers had remained on board the Artania, all hell broke loose. Phoenix Reisen had made public the very same information two days earlier in a press release published on its website. The statement couldnt have been more clear: 16 travellers also decided to stay with the crew on board [the] Artania under the care of Captain Morten Hansen and cruise director Klaus Gruschka." It was curious enough when just hours after Mr Porter made the on-air claim, Premier McGowan said he had only found out about the remaining passengers last night or this morning. Loading But even more curious was the discrepancy between the number of passengers Phoenix Reisen said had stayed on board 16 and the number Mr Porter, and later Mr McGowan, said remained 12. Later that afternoon, after a WA government spokesman confirmed to WAtoday the number of remaining passengers had indeed been 12 and after the same 12 passengers were taken to an inner-city hotel to be quarantined for 14 days the question had to be asked, werent there now four passengers for whom nobody could account? When asked to clarify how many passengers had stayed on board the Artania after more than 800 were flown home, the same spokesman said he understood the Premier was told of 12-15 passengers that remained on board yesterday. Phoenix Reisen was asked to either confirm or amend the number of passengers they said had stayed on board. No figure was provided. Instead, WAtoday was pointed to the companys website and its most recent media statement, which said only that the remaining passengers had to be taken ashore. 'The safest thing would have been to stop the trip' March 13 was a red letter day in terms of Australias pandemic timeline. While the national tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country sat at just 156, it was on this day things really started to escalate. What began with a few cautious announcements early in the morning ended with tens of thousands of events cancelled. For many it was the last day they worked from the office. It was also the day 618 guests joined those already on board the Artania in Sydney. The ship was still in harbour two days later when its operators were told South Pacific ports had been closed to cruise ships. Those aboard were given the opportunity to fly home, and 199 passengers disembarked on March 16. At 7pm on March 18, the ship departed for Fremantle with 832 passengers and 515 crew on board. The following week at sea, while Australians were adjusting to social distancing, self-isolating, and constantly sanitising their hands, Artania passengers were dining and socialising together, according to since-evacuated guests in an online chat forum. A party went ahead even after it was known unwell patients were on board and passengers had been told to stay in their cabins. Loading Last week WAtoday reported an entertainer on the Artania continued to perform and mix with guests while suffering with a sore throat. Of most concern was a claim by one passenger that a sick doctor aboard the vessel had been from cabin to cabin, absolutely unprotected. Disgruntled passengers are now blaming Phoenix Reisen, with some calling the cruise ship operators grossly negligent, and others questioning why they were allowed to board prior to arriving in Western Australia at all. The safest thing would have been to stop the trip in Sydney, one wrote. Without Phoenix we wouldnt be in this situation. Numerous requests for comment on why passengers were allowed to embark in Sydney and questions surrounding claims of negligence have been sent to Phoenix Reisen. So far, no response has been received. Docked and locked, the Artania stays Before the Artania cruise ship docked in Fremantle a little more than a fortnight ago, the Premier was on guard. We may well need Commonwealth support to ensure that they don't declare an emergency and try and get all their crew and passengers off, he said on March 25. At that time WA had 205 confirmed cases, up from just 14 on the day the Artania left Sydney. In the week it took the vessel to arrive in Fremantle, Australia recorded 2267 new cases. On March 28, when the WA government first started providing specific figures for Artania-related cases, there were nine being treated in Perth hospitals. There are now 53. As of Monday morning there were 5697 infected people in Australia, with estimates 10 per cent of these cases can be directly linked to cruise ships. The president of Brazil called for a national day of prayer and fasting this past Sunday to free Brazil from this evil coronavirus pandemic. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro asked for the national day of prayer and fasting after a group of evangelical Christians made the request, CBN News reports. 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," Bolsonaro said to radio station, Jovem Pan. According to Reuters, polls have shown that Brazilians largely disapprove of Bolsonaro for downplaying the coronavirus outbreak. Previously, Bolsonaro called the coronavirus a little flu. Reuters also reported that the presidents approval rating has fallen to its lowest level since he took office last year. But evangelicals in the country said they were pleased with Bolsonaros announcement for a day of prayer and fasting. 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. Bolsonaro is a former army captain who was raised a Roman Catholic and then re-baptized in 2016 in the River Jordan. About 39 percent of people said in a poll that Bolsonaros response to the coronavirus pandemic was bad or awful. The poll also showed that 33 percent said his response was good or great. In another poll, nearly 60 percent of respondents said they didnt want Bolsonaro to resign despite how they feel hes handled the coronavirus pandemic. Thirty-seven percent said they would approve a resignation, and 4 percent said they had no opinion. As of Sunday, Brazil had 486 deaths from coronavirus. According to Health Ministry numbers, there are 11,130 confirmed cases of the virus in the country. Related: Christians Call for Global Day of Prayer to End Coronavirus 'God Is Bigger than the Coronavirus': America, it's Time to Pray! Israel's Chief Rabbi Asks Citizens to Fast to End the Coronavirus Pandemic Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Buda Mendes/Staff Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner. Wits Forbes appointed as editor-in-chief of international journal Forbes is the first South African to take over the reins of the 100-year-old publication published by the UKs Institute of Physics. Professor Andrew Forbes from the Wits School of Physics has been announced as the new Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Optics. The Journal of Optics is the official journal of the European Optical Society and is published by the UKs Institute of Physics (IoP). The Journal of Optics has been in circulation for more than 100 years and is a highly regarded publication in the optical community. Forbes takes on the role after having spent several years as an editorial board member and topical editor. To be Editor-in-Chief of a high-quality optics journal, one that has been in circulation for over a century, is a great honour, says Forbes. I am looking forward to the challenge of setting the new strategy for the journal, leading the Editorial Board, and taking the journal forward to new heights. That the UKs Institute of Physics would select someone from South Africa to lead the journal is a sign of the quality of people we have here at Wits, says Forbes Forbes is an active member of the international optics community, serving as an associate editor for Optics Express, AVS Quantum Science and PhotoniX. Forbes is also the lead guest editor for a special issue on Optics in Africa. This is a special issue to be published by the Optical Society of America (OSA) in their journals JOSA A and JOSA B. Forbes will be assisted by Dr Rim Cherif (Tunisia), Dr Alain Dikande (Cameroon) and fellow Wits researcher Dr Angela Dudley. Australian start-ups are racing to exit agreements with co-working providers and battling global giant WeWork for fee relief as coronavirus kills the attraction of hot desking. Independent Australian co-working spaces have been forced to shutter after their memberships dwindled to zero over the past two weeks. Jodie and Erz Imam will close their coworking space Depo8 after demand dropped significantly in the wake of coronavirus. Credit:Joe Armao Advice from global health authorities including the Australian government has been for citizens to work from home unless it is not possible to do so. This has left early stage businesses around the world negotiating with co-working spaces to either exit contracts or pause membership fees. Melbourne entrepreneurs Jodie and Erz Imam made the difficult decision last week to close their co-working space Depo8 after going from 83 per cent capacity at the start of March to zero members once coronavirus conditions hit. #LockdownDay11: Top stories in the last 24 hours We are now halfway through the national lockdown. Let's take a look at what dominated the news headlines over the last 24 hours, according to Acumen Media. A bridal couple and wedding guests were arrested in KwaZulu-Natal yesterday for flouting national lockdown regulations. Tobacco manufacturers call on the government to reconsider cigarettes as essential goods as smokers are likely to buy black market cigarettes. The movie Contagion was aired on SABC 3 last night and topped the trends list on Twitter. The movie, released in 2011, is about an airborne virus that wreaks havoc around the globe and medical professionals rush against time to find a cure. Palm Sunday services were hosted on various online platforms yesterday, while many people lamented about missing their Sunday mornings at church on Twitter. Local officials in Georgia have slammed the governor as 'stupid' and 'crazy' following his decision to re-open coastal beaches, despite a statewide stay-at-home order being in place. The popular tourist destination Tybee Island closed its beaches on March 20. Town locals even put up barricades and signs to keep beachgoers away to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus. But on Thursday all those efforts unraveled when Governor Brian P. Kemp issued a statewide shelter-in-place executive order, which supersedes local county orders, and also opened up state beaches, forcing Tybee Island to re-open. Since Kemp's order, locals and visitors have flocked to the beach, in defiance of the White House's orders to stay indoors and avoid contact with others. Tybee Island, located near Savannah, is home to about 3,000 residents. Georgia State Patrol Capt. Thornell King, bottom right, watches visitors to Tybee Island beach on Saturday after Gov. Bryan Kemp signed an executive order allowing people to exercise outside, with social distancing of at least six feet because of the coronavirus outbreak Locals in Georgia have slammed the governor as 'stupid' and 'crazy' following his decision to re-open coastal beaches, despite a statewide stay-at-home order being in place. Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division Corporal Barry Britt pictured talking to two beach goers on Tybee Island on Saturday A member of the Tybee Island, Ga., Life Guards, left, patrols the beach on an ATV while visitors sunbathe on the sand on Saturday after Gov. Bryan Kemp signed an executive order opening up beaches, despite protest from locals A Tybee Island, Ga., resident uses her phone to text a friend near the pier on the south side of Tybee beach while wearing a handmade mask on Saturday On Saturday Tybee Island Mayor Shirley Session issued a statement slamming the governor's re-opening of beaches as a 'reckless' mandate that puts locals and tourists at risk. 'As the Pentagon ordered 100,000 body bags to store the corpses of Americans killed by the Coronavirus, Governor Brian Kemp dictated that Georgia beaches must reopen, and declared any decision-makers who refused to follow these orders would face prison and/or fines,' Sessions shared in a statement. 'Tybee City Council and I are devastated by the sudden directives and do not support his decisions. The health of our residents, staff and visitors are being put at risk and we will pursue legal avenues to overturn his reckless mandate,' she added. Kemp seemed to reply to the backlash on Saturday sharing a picture of locals on Tybee Island social distancing as they walked along the beach. He tweeted: 'Beachgoers are mostly locals and complying with social distancing orders. We will continue to monitor conditions.' He argued that his move to re-open beaches was an effort to allow Georgians to exercise. On Saturday Tybee Island Mayor Shirley Session issued a statement slamming the governor's re-opening of beaches as a 'reckless' mandate that puts locals and tourists at risk Allen Booker, the Democratic County commissioner in Glynn County, Georgia called Kemps order to open beaches 'stupid and crazy at the same time.' Sessions shared a video on Facebook begging visitors to stay away, despite the governors order. 'We are now in a position where we are pleading with the public and with our residents to adhere to the beach closing,' Sessions said, saying the coastal town is in a 'very precarious situation'. Tybee Island is one of the smallest beaches in the state, but one of the most visited. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has come under fire for his delayed stay at home orders last week, where he lagged far behind other states grappling with the coronavirus outbreak. Since then he's butt heads with Tybee Island Mayor Shirley Sessions On Saturday Kemp tweeted pictures of beachgoers on Tybee Island noting that people were complying with social distancing orders He shared this photo showing very few people on Tybee Island Beach on Saturday The city has a tiny police force of just 25 officers, and one has already tested positive for COVID-19 and five others are self-quarantined due to potential exposure. This means the city is incapable of properly monitoring its own beaches. 'We dont have lifeguards on our beaches yet, and if people decide to go into the ocean and theres an accident, something really tragic, Tybee is going to be in a very bad position,' Sessions said to WTOC. Kemp has come under fire for his delayed stay at home orders last week, where he lagged far behind other states grappling with the coronavirus outbreak. He justified the decision saying that he had just learned that COVID-19 can be spread through asymptomatic people, a fact that health officials had announced long beforehand. As of Monday Georgia has reported a total of 7,558 coronavirus cases and 294 deaths. As of Monday Georgia has reported a total of 7,314 coronavirus cases and 229 deaths. A coronavirus testing facility at Georgia Tech in Atlanta pictured Monday (RNS) In mid-March, Pastor Howard-Browne, head of the River at Tampa Bay Church, declared before his packed congregation: Ive got news for you: This church will never close. A little over two weeks later, he was under arrest. It was the first chapter in an ongoing drama playing out in Florida, where the Hillsborough County pastor was arrested on Monday (March 30) for continuing to hold worship services at his church despite local regulations prohibiting large gatherings amid the ongoing pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus. Experts say it may be a sign of things to come. Although most faith groups have stopped meeting and shifted to virtual services, some continue to gather, and reports abound of Americans inadvertently spreading the novel coronavirus through religious events. Lawmakers, religious leaders and health experts across the U.S. are wrestling with the question: Does religious freedom mean the freedom to risk infecting your fellow believers not to mention neighbors with a deadly virus? For Mat Staver, head of the conservative advocacy group Liberty Counsel, the question is at the heart of a federal lawsuit he threatened to file this week against officials in Hillsborough County. Staver argued that the county-level regulations restricting large gatherings that led to the arrest of Howard-Browne violated the churchs First Amendment rights because they did not exempt churches. He also argued that authorities did not use the least restrictive means to enforce them. The county restrictions give government the power to wipe churches off the map, he said. Things escalated by mid-week: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a 30-day stay-at-home order but listed religious services as essential, with the Hillsborough County Council passing a similar resolution shortly thereafter. However, the sheriffs office told RNS that both orders are not retroactive, and while no cases of COVID-19 have been linked to the River at Tampa Bay, the charges against the pastor which include violation of public health emergency rules still stand. The events added to tensions that have been simmering for weeks between authorities and a select few faith groups. In the earliest stages of the pandemic, governors in states such as Washington issued stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders that barred faith communities from gathering in person, reasoning that worship will only further spread the infection. Many faith communities were eager to comply: After an Episcopal priest in Washington, D.C., tested positive for the virus in early March, religious communities across the country began to implement restrictions on their worship services before most canceled in-person gatherings altogether and began using internet tools for spiritual assemblies instead. Where there was dissent, authorities have stepped in. In addition to charges levied against Howard-Browne, law enforcement officials in Louisiana arrested a pastor this week after he continued to worship with crowds as large as 1,000, which a local police chief described as reckless and irresponsible amid the pandemic. Police in New Jersey and Illinois also broke up funeral services at a synagogue and a church, respectively, when the crowds of mourners ballooned into the dozens. And while the Trump administration and White House were initially slow to make any sweeping declarations concerning the responsibilities of faith groups during the pandemic, Vice President Mike Pence asked Americans on Wednesday not to attend church services of more than 10 people. We really believe this is a time when people should avoid gatherings of more than 10 people, Pence said during an interview with Nightline co-anchor Byron Pitts. And so we continue to urge churches around America to heed to that. But even the words of the vice president, a stalwart religious Republican long championed by conservative Christians as a defender of religious liberty, are not enough to convince advocates such as Staver, who said he absolutely opposes the vice presidents recommendation. You cannot have a one size fits all (approach) in a nation of 300-plus million people with hundreds of thousands of churches that perform all different kinds of functions that are essential and could not operate under that restriction, he said. Staver argued that if hardware stores and establishments that sell alcohol are considered essential, as many stay-at-home and shelter-in-place orders do, then so too should churches. He also insisted that churches offer essential services to communities besides worship, such as food pantries or farmers markets, and shutting them down can have wide-ranging effects. Not classifying worship as essential," he said, gives "incredible power to the government that the Constitution doesn't give them in peace times or in times of crises." Scholars such as Frederick Gedicks, law professor at Brigham Young University Law School, have argued that legal challenges to worship bans are unlikely to succeed. But Stavers list of allies is growing: Governors in Tennessee and Delaware are now either exempting faith communities from their order or listing worship services as essential, paving the way for worship communities to continue to gather in large numbers. The declarations have incensed many others who see such actions as dangerous. Last week, leaders of the Faith and Progressive Policy Initiative at the Center for American Progress, an influential liberal think tank, called on political leaders to abandon the practice of exempting faith communities from stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders. A legally imposed assembly ban that exempts religious gatherings is not based on scientific evidence, reads the groups statement. Viruses do not discriminate, and neither should Americas public health response; there is no scientific basis to distinguish between religious gatherings and nonreligious gatherings. Their concerns were echoed by faith leaders during an online panel discussion on Thursday hosted by Duke University, where religious leaders debated the topic. I just think that puts a lot of vulnerable people at risk, Greg Jones, dean of the Duke Divinity School, said of the practice. The power of these clergy is that people are going to trust them and lead them into irresponsible behavior. Health care experts such as Michael Mina, assistant professor of epidemiology at Harvards T.H. Chan School of Public Health, have also expressed support for curtailing worship services during the pandemic. Every extra person who shows up in the hospital puts everyone else at risk, Mina said in response to a question from RNS during a conference call with reporters on Friday (April 3). I'm in support of limiting those kinds of congregation (meetings) from happening because the ramifications extend well beyond those individuals. Those who oppose letting religious groups gather amid the pandemic point to real-world examples of the risks involved. In California's Sacramento County, a third of the regions 314 coronavirus cases have been linked to houses of worship, with 71 attributed to one church community that has continued to meet despite the pandemic. Local officials said the outbreak was connected to the regions Slavic community, which Janna Haynes, the countys public information officer, described as close-knit. The unique thing with churches and with congregations is that their main expression is to gather together, said Haynes. Unfortunately because this virus spreads through close contact with people, that is one of the most dangerous situations that they can enter into. The countys struggles are but the latest in a growing list of religion-related outbreaks. Multiple coronavirus cases have been linked to a single March 22 event hosted by a Durham, North Carolina, church. In New York City, some have expressed concerns that Jewish Purim celebrations in early March jump-started the virus's spread in the city. Even using worship spaces for non-religious means has proven dangerous: Two people have died from the novel coronavirus and 45 people are sick following a March 10 community choir practice that took place at a Presbyterian church in Washington state. The same is true abroad. South Korean authorities linked early spread of the coronavirus to an infected person who attended worship services conducted by the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, and gatherings at the headquarters of a prominent Muslim missionary group in India led to a super-spreader event that has been linked to 400 confirmed cases and at least 10 deaths in that country. And while the vast majority of religious communities in the U.S. have stopped worshipping in person during the global COVID-19 outbreak, the number of those who continue to do so is significant. According to a new survey conducted this past weekend by the American Enterprise Institute with informal consulting from this RNS reporter, 12% of U.S. religious groups overall continue to offer worship services as usual as opposed to utilizing online tools or canceling services altogether. Broken down by religious tradition, major non-Christian traditions were the most likely (22%) to continue worshipping as normal despite the pandemic, followed by other Christians (20%), black Protestants (18%) and white evangelical Protestants (8%). By contrast, the communities most likely to say their community was only offering services online were white evangelicals (75%) and white mainline Protestants (68%). Faith leaders from across the spiritual spectrum have continued to discourage religious groups from gathering in person. The Rev. Al Sharpton, president of the National Action Network, held a conference call with officials of black denominations and other faith leaders to urge clergy to discontinue gatherings for Palm Sunday and the Holy Week that leads up to Easter. I have been arrested over thirty times for civil rights and civil disobedience twice for ninety days and another forty-five days for standing up for peoples civil and human rights, Sharpton said in a Wednesday (April 1) statement in the wake of clergy in Louisiana and Florida being charged after continuing to hold services. These separate incidents involving leaders of faith putting peoples lives in danger is not a matter of civil or human rights, nor is it a statement of faith, he said. It is self-aggrandizing, reckless behavior of those Shepherds who would risk their sheep rather than lead their sheep. The statement from NAN said Sharpton and the Rev. W. Franklyn Richardson, NAN board chair and chairman of the Conference of National Black Churches, planned to make a series of calls to discourage churches whose leaders had said there should be in-person gatherings on Palm Sunday and during Holy Week. Even so, Staver dismissed examples of outbreaks erupting from religious communities. He noted that the U.S. Navy did not suspend the use of vessels when sailors on an aircraft carrier contracted the virus and said his organization is preparing legal challenges for other states where governors are not freeing up religious groups to worship in person. Government doesn't have the right to just wipe churches off the map with the stroke of a pen, he said. Adelle Banks and Yonat Shimron contributed reporting to this article. Article originally published by Religion News Service. Used with permission. Photo courtesy: Religion News Service/AP Photo/Gerald Herbert Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 19:20:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RAMALLAH, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Palestine on Monday declared 18 new COVID-19 cases in the West Bank, raising the total number of cases in the country to 252. Ibrahim Milhem, Palestinian government's spokesperson, said in a press statement that the majority of the new cases are in villages near East Jerusalem, in addition to some in Hebron and Ramallah districts. Besides, three villages northwest of East Jerusalem, in addition to Beitunia city in Ramallah, have declared infected areas and are under lockdown, he said. Meanwhile, four cases are in critical conditions and were admitted to an intensive care unit, while 12 patients under quarantine are recovering, said Kamal Shakhra, director of Palestinian Health Ministry's Primary Healthcare Department. Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila warned earlier that the coming two weeks are expected to see rise in number of cases, which calls for more strict measures and movement restrictions to avoid a collapse in the healthcare system. A leading respiratory expert has warned that Wuhan could have up to 20,000 coronavirus carriers who show no symptoms as the former epicentre prepares to lift its lockdown. Professor Yang Jiong from the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University urged the city's residents to be 'more careful' following the removal of travel restrictions due to the movement of population. Statistics from a recent census showed that between 0.15 and 0.3 per cent of the population could be the so-called 'silent carriers', the medic told Chinese state media. 'Silent carriers' don't develop any symptoms but can spread the virus without realising. Statistics from a recent census showed that between 0.15 and 0.3 per cent of the population could be the so-called 'silent carriers', Professor Yang Jiong has told Chinese state media. The picture shows two women wearing face masks riding a scooter in Wuhan on April 4 Professor Yang, the leading expert of the hospital's Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, said: 'That means [Wuhan] has about 10,000 to 20,000 asymptomatic infections. 'Although right now it seems that asymptomatic cases have relatively low infectivity, they are contagious after all, and [we] should still be on guard.' Five million people had left Wuhan and nine million residents remained when the city went into lockdown on January 23, Wuhan's mayor Zhou Xianwang previous revealed. Professor Yang advised the public to wear face masks and avoid gathering or attending parties. He also suggested that COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, might be with humans for a long time. He said: '[We] do not rule out the possibility that the novel coronavirus pneumonia can exist long term like the flu, therefore we should prevent it as we do to the flu - at least [we] should be careful for the coming months.' Officials are due to life all travel restrictions on Wuhan on April 8 after the city went into lockdown on January 23. Medical workers are pictured walking near a park during a day off in Wuhan on April 5 as the city loosens up its quarantine measures after containing the outbreak Professor Yang made the comments during an interview with the Health Times, which is part of the People's Daily Group directly supervised by the Communist Party. The original article has been retracted by the publication from its social media account for unspecified reasons, but other media outlets, such as 163.com, has re-posted the interview. Professor Yang's warnings come as Wuhan, the former centre of the coronavirus outbreak, is preparing to lift its travel restrictions on Wednesday. Experts have concerned that asymptomatic infections as well as 'imported cases', which are cases detected among new arrivals from abroad, could trigger a second wave of infections. Even though the inbound and outbound transport of Wuhan has not resumed, life inside the city has started to go back to normal. Chinese officials reported 39 new coronavirus cases as of Sunday. A The picture shows a photographer wearing a protective mask and goggles while taking photos in Beijing on April 5 'In Wuhan, more people have appeared on the streets and the traffic is getting busier. The small shops along the streets have slowly opened one after another,' said Luo Ping, a team leader from the city's command centre of the control and prevention of the epidemic. Ms Luo told China's state broadcaster CCTV that 10,461 'sizable companies' in the city had resumed business as of April 3 and 875 large projects with more than 100 million yuan (11.46 million) in investment had re-started. Most of the city's shopping malls and subway system have returned to normal operation. The news comes as China vowed to further tighten its controls at land borders to curb 'imported cases'. Officials reported 39 new coronavirus cases as of Sunday, up from 30 a day earlier. Only one of the cases, from Guangdong Province, was classified as native transmission and the rest were marked as 'imported cases', the National Health Commission said in a statement on Monday. The number of asymptomatic cases also surged. The Commission said that 78 new asymptomatic cases had been identified as of the end of Sunday, compared with 47 the day before. The country has reported 3,331 deaths and 81,708 infections of the coronavirus. Worldwide, the pandemic has killed more than 69,000 people and over 1.2 million. Authorities in Pennsylvania said a boy was killed in a drive-by shooting in Chester on Sunday evening. Chester police identified the 7-year-old boy as Sinsir Parker. He was found by responding officers lying in the middle of the street. Parker was fatally shot in the drive-by shooting and was found with gunshot wounds in the face, ABC News reported. Witnesses told the outlet they heard about 15 gunshots throughout the neighborhood at the time of the shooting. The location of the shooting was on the 2600 block of Swarts Street and happened around 9:15 p.m., police said. No motive for the shooting was released and authorities havent announced any information of a possible suspect. Investigators working on the case are currently collecting evidence and information. Police said the boys death is the 14th homicide in Chester this year, The Associated Press reported. Chester is the oldest city in Pennsylvania and the largest city in Delaware County, not far from the Delaware state line and just across the Delaware River from New Jersey. Girl Shot Outside Home in North Carolina Also on Sunday, authorities in North Carolina said a one-year-old girl was shot while playing outside a home on McDougald Terrace in Durham. Investigators at the Durham Police Department told ABC 11 the gunman fled the scene and police were not able to make an arrest. A stray bullet hit the baby girl, apparently accidentally, WRAL reported. The toddler was transferred to a nearby hospital with minor injuries and is expected to survive. The child was supervised by a parent who was outside at the time of the incident. The parent did not get injured, but investigators believe the parent was the target of the shooting instead of the child, ABC 11 reported. The shooting happened just after 4:30 p.m. on Truman Street in Durham and was reported by multiple residents, police said. Many residents gathered at the scene, with some being worried about the current social distancing measures to help curve the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a CBS 17 reporter said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. There was a glimmer of hope amid all pervasive gloom as the number of active COVID 19 cases in Bihar plunged by nearly a quarter to 22 with the recovery of six patients while as no one tested positive for the deadly coronavirus in the last 48 hours, officials said on Monday. More than 800 samples were tested during the period. have been tested, an official said on Monday. State epidemiologist Ragini Mishra told PTI that all the six discharged patients were admitted to the Nalanda Medical College Hospital (NMCH), which has been dedicated by the state government to exclusively treat coronavirus cases. These include two employees, including a nurse, of a private hospital in the city where they had contracted the contagion from a deceased patient who was admitted there before being rushed to AIIMS, Patna. The deceased a 38-year-old man who had returned from Qatar a month ago and suffered from renal failure breathed his last on March 21, a day before test reports confirmed that he was also COVID 19 positive. The female nurse was discharged on Sunday and the male employee on Monday, Mishra said. In addition, four residents of Siwan district have also recovered fully, she said. Altogether 32 people have so far tested positive for the dreaded coronavirus in Bihar. Three of them, including a female Patna resident with a foreign travel history, had recovered last week. Mishra said none of the 297 samples tested during the day was positive. Earlier, Principal Secretary, Health, Sanjay Kumar had said on Sunday that the state reported zero positive case on a day when 537 samples were tested. With nine of the 32 people afflicted with the disease having recovered, the resource-strapped state, grappling with a shortage of medical equipment which Chief Minister Nitish Kumar flagged last week during a video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, can breathe a bit easy. The Principal Secretary, however, made it clear that there was no room for complacency and shot off a two-page note to the effect to all District Magistrates. Sharing a screenshot of the missive on his official twitter handle, Sanjay Kumar wrote We must screen all patients with influenza like illness and severe acute respiratory illness in public and private hospitals for COVID 19. All DMs and civil surgeons have been asked to do so. Request private hospitals to assist and support. There have been fears of a spike in COVID 19 cases in the state, so far moderately affected by the calamity yet proactive in taking preventive measures, in the wake of return of a large number of migrants from other parts of the country after the nationwide lockdown was imposed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Following the success Microsoft has had with its Azure data centres in South Africa, more global hyperscalers will start deploying data centres in not only the country, but Africa as well, to fundamentally change the cloud environment on the continent. Basha Pillay No limits Engaging differently The resultant competition between different service providers will drive product and price innovation as the need to differentiate will be critical. Given the amount of opportunities that exist in Africa, there will be ample room for each hyperscaler to carve out its niche in the various markets. And from an organisational perspective, decision-makers have already moved from a legacy mindset into thinking cloud-first when it comes to infrastructure and application optimisation.What further strengthens the potential of the cloud across the continent is the ubiquity of mobile. Many countries are mobile-only in their strategic approaches with the medium continuing to be a key business engagement channel. This mobile focus will play a pivotal role in driving cloud computing adoption.With the number of hyperscale data centres worldwide expected to grow from 386 in 2017 to more than 600 by the end of next year, the potential of the cloud and its associated business enhancements will be too good to ignore for any organisation irrespective of its size or industry sector.And by having access to local data centres, the regulatory barriers of data sovereignty will become a thing of the past. Even network latency will be eliminated as access to these data centres will be virtually instant versus the slight delay experienced in linking to those outside Africa.This will result in the democratisation of technology as entrepreneurs will now be able to access innovations previously only available to large enterprises. Things such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will start permeating every facet of business much in the same way that technology has now integrated with everything we do.Thanks to the availability of local hyperscalers, AI will embed itself across all elements of the digital workplace. This will optimise how people work and transform the end user experience. Eventually, AI will become part of normal operating procedure and merge into other background processes.This has already resulted in the increasing use of platforms like Microsoft Teams redefining the ways in which people work and collaborate. Gone are the days where collaboration is limited by the size of employees email accounts.Thanks to the growth of the cloud, teaming will become the new norm and empower people to collaborate more effectively, deliver strategic business value faster, and unlock the potential of the data at their disposal in more innovative ways.And thanks to the power of ML, the growth of chatbot interaction will see customers use these self-help systems to address most of their basic concerns while relying more on human agents for complicated queries. As connectivity improves across the continent, voice and video will become standard tools in customer (and employee) engagement. Even though it might still be early days, the combination of virtual and augmented reality will bring the digital and physical environments closer together to create a new kind of workplace.Furthermore, the pervasiveness of the cloud and hyperscalers across Africa will become vital allies in enhancing the upskilling strategies of organisations.As part of this, gamification will be a critical tool in providing employees with the skills they need for a digital environment. When combined with scenario simulators, the learning process will incorporate a more natural, experiential component than was previously possible. This will provide employees with real-world exercises to deal with different situations to ensure they are better equipped for any eventuality across the corporate landscape.All told, the hyperscale market will be one of great opportunities to drive cloud adoption, embrace collaboration, and reskill people for a digital world. Companies must be prepared to capitalise on this as quickly as possible. OutSystems announced that STEMCELL Technologies has launched its "My Status" app to help keep STEMCELL staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. The app, developed in one day and built with the OutSystems low-code development platform, helps STEMCELL maintain the production of specialized cell culture tools that are crucial for scientists to research diseases and therapies, including vaccines to combat the COVID-19 virus. STEMCELL Technologies is a global biotechnology company that develops specialized cell culture media, cell isolation tools, and scientific services that are used by life sciences researchers working in cell therapy, immunology, cancer research, and regenerative medicine. STEMCELL products such as PneumaCult play a critical role in helping research scientists in the fight against SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19. Having implemented a work-from-home policy for the majority of its Vancouver-based staff on March 6, STEMCELL needed a way to monitor the health, availability, and location of all employees on a daily basis. Only essential on-site staff directly associated with the manufacturing and shipping of research products are exempt from the work-at-home policy. The requirement was handed to STEMCELL's small application development team late in the afternoon on March 9, 2020. Eric Kao, one of STEMCELL's developers, took on the challenge and worked on it that night. I was expecting the team to help Eric with development on March 10. But in the morning, I found he had already finished. The application was ready to go live." Speed of development is critical when facing a rapidly changing situation like the coronavirus outbreak." Beatriz Clarke, STEMCELL's applications development manager Low-code visual development, the ability to reuse pre-built components and application templates, as well as the ability to support continuous delivery, were key factors in the rapid development of My Status. Since launching the My Status app to 1,500 employees on March 11, daily updates to the app have added support for alerts, equipment loans, and dashboards for managers and the safety team. Clarke says feedback from the business has been extremely positive. "Our management was completely blown away that we could develop this in one night, and users find it easy to use," she explains. "From a safety perspective, it has helped us reinforce the precautions our employees need to take, and the daily check-ins and equipment loans give staff the confidence that STEMCELL has their back." Keeping STEMCELL staff safe and keeping management informed of staff location and wellness helps ensure that the production of STEMCELL's research-critical products stays strong. That's good news for the company's scientific client base and good news for the world, as citizens will rely on therapies and vaccines designed using STEMCELL products to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The My Status app is just one of many successes that we've had with low-code. OutSystems has helped us transform the way IT delivers value to the business. We're more agile, at least three times faster, and collaboration and trust are greatly enhanced between the business and IT." John Lilleyman, CIO at STEMCELL STEMCELL has donated the application source code so that a generic version of the app can be made available to the broader developer community as a free-to-use template. Anyone using the OutSystems low-code platform will be able to adapt and customize the app to meet their specific needs. APRIL 6, 2020 Medical sociologist and demographer Jeralynn Lynne Sittig Cossman, chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at West Virginia University, has been named founding dean of UTSAs College for Health, Community and Policy and Mark G. Yudof Endowed Professor. She begins her duties May 11. Lynne Cossman is a creative, motivated and effective administrator who has a proven track record of building consensus across areas through collaboration and diplomacy, said Kimberly Andrews Espy, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. She is uniquely qualified to bring together the diverse disciplines within HCaP and lead the faculty, staff and students in crafting a common identity and implementing a strategic vision to advance the college. Further, she is a strong faculty advocate who has demonstrated the ability to recruit and retain high-quality and diverse scholars as well as to develop talent internally, and she has been successful in boosting research productivity and quality among her faculty and students. At West Virginia, an R1 research-intensive university, Cossman oversaw curriculum and program development in a department of 1,000 students in criminology, sociology and anthropology. Notably, she spearheaded the design and implementation of the universitys doctoral program in sociology, which enrolled its first cohort of 14 students in 2016 and now has grown to more than 30 Ph.D. students. There is a real call to action for us to engage in research, outreach and other activity that supports the people of San Antonio and Texas. LYNNE COSSMAN, Founding Dean of the College for Health, Community and Policy She led the expansion of the departments research infrastructure, including affiliating with multiple health science research centers, to support and provide funding opportunities for all doctoral students. Additionally, she facilitated the separation of a single sociology/anthropology major into two distinct ones, implementing changes to writing, capstone and general education requirements in tandem, and also facilitated the creation of a new online criminology major, which boasted an initial enrollment of 85 students in 20182019. Cossmans own research focuses on community health and health professionals. She has been funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services, among others. She is the author of approximately 70 peer-reviewed publications and has published in several sociology and interdisciplinary journals, including the American Journal of Public Health, Social Problems, Health and Place, Population Research and Policy Review, Sociological Inquiry and The Journal of Rural Health. Her current research focuses on spatial concentrations of mortality and morbidity, the opioid epidemic and the Mountains of Hope cancer coalition in West Virginia. Cossman says she is excited by HCaPs charge to advance human health from a transdisciplinary perspective to better facilitate student preparation and address health disparities. By being a College for Health, Community and Policy, there is a real call to action for us to engage in research, outreach and other activity that supports the people of San Antonio and Texas and that makes a difference in our community. That mission really reflects my professional and personal values of doing work that matters, said Cossman. I look forward to working with HCaP faculty and staff to build a strong, student-centered culture for the college that interweaves our distinct disciplines. Learn more about areas of study in health and policy at UTSA. Prior to joining WVU, Cossman worked from 2001 to 2014 at Mississippi State University, where she earned tenure and later promotion to full professor. She served in several administrative roles, including head of the Department of Sociology, graduate program coordinator and director of the women/gender studies program. Additionally, she was the founding director of the Mississippi Center for Health Workforce (20082012), which was established in response to the states shortage of highly trained health care professionals. She led strategic planning efforts there to seek funding to increase research in the areas of health care workforce demand, recruitment and retention. Cossman previously held academic appointments at the University of Central Arkansas, Miami University and Florida State University. She earned a B.S. in sociology and womens studies, an M.S. in sociology and a Ph.D. in sociology and demographyall from Florida State University. Mumbai The number of confirmed new coronavirus cases in South Asia neared 6,000 yesterday, even as authorities in some cities tightened restrictions on movement and warned lockdowns could be extended in a bid to rein in the pandemic. If people dont obey the rules seriously and cases continue to rise, then there may be no option but to extend the lockdown, Rajesh Tope, the health minister of Maharashtra, said. It could be extended in Mumbai and urban areas of Maharashtra by two weeks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said this week the country will pull out of the planned three-week lockdown in a phased manner. India has been hardest hit by the disease in South Asia with some 2,902 cases, of which 68 have died. Maharashtra has 516 confirmed cases of COVID-19 - the disease caused by the coronavirus - and 26 people have died. While the government does plan to review the lockdown, set to end on April 14, three senior officials said this will depend on an assessment of the situation in each state, and lockdowns and restrictions would be extended in districts where the coronavirus case spread has continued. Public transport in large metros such as Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi, may only be restored in a phased manner days after the lockdown ends, said the officials, who asked not to be named as the plans were still under discussion. Restrictions tightened The number of COVID-19 cases have more than doubled in South Asia in the last week. Health experts warn an epidemic in the region, home to a fifth of the worlds population, could overwhelm its already weak public health systems. But Muslim-majority Pakistan and Bangladesh, and India, home to the worlds largest Muslim minority, have struggled to convince conservative religious groups to maintain social distancing. On Friday, Pakistani Muslims at a Karachi mosque clashed with baton-wielding police trying to enforce new curbs on gatherings to prevent Friday prayers and contain coronavirus infections, officials said. This came after the government in the southern province of Sindh, home to the financial hub of Karachi, enforced a three-hour curfew on Friday afternoon, in a bid to persuade worshippers to pray at home. Pakistan has so far reported 2,547 coronavirus infections, fuelled by a jump in cases related to members of the Tablighi Jamaat, an orthodox Muslim proselytising group. Street art in Dublin created by the collective SUBSET showing health workers wearing face masks as the coronavirus outbreak continues in Ireland. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire Keep informed of these unprecedented times with the latest coronavirus updates on Independent.ie's live blog. 20:40 06/04/2020 UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson moved to intensive care in hospital after coronavirus symptoms worsen UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been moved to intensive care after his coronavirus symptoms worsened, Downing Street has confirmed. Downing Street said Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab would "deputise where necessary" while the Prime Minister was in intensive care with Covid-19. A Number 10 spokesman said: "Since Sunday evening, the Prime Minister has been under the care of doctors at St Thomas' Hospital, in London, after being admitted with persistent symptoms of coronavirus. "Over the course of this afternoon, the condition of the Prime Minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the intensive care unit at the hospital. Read More Special Olympics cancels its annual collection day Special Olympics Ireland have cancelled their annual collection day, due to take place on Friday April 24 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Expand Close A medic at the Elmhurst Hospital Centre in Queens, New York, reacts after stepping outside the emergency room on Saturday. Health workers worldwide have come under intense pressure through the coronavirus outbreak (Mary Altaffer/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A medic at the Elmhurst Hospital Centre in Queens, New York, reacts after stepping outside the emergency room on Saturday. Health workers worldwide have come under intense pressure through the coronavirus outbreak (Mary Altaffer/AP) The fundraiser raises a third of the organisations collected income annually and the decision to cancel the event was an easy one according to CEO Matt English. Whilst this was a tough decision for the charity from a financial aspect, it was an easy one when we thought about the health and well-being of our volunteers, he said. He thanked volunteers across the country. We want to sincerely thank the volunteers, companies, community groups and schools who had already committed to supporting this important fundraising day. Together at Home televised global star-studded concert organised by brother of Labour partys new leader A televised star-studded concert boasting the names of global superstars Lady Gaga, Elton John and Stevie Wonder will be produced by the brother of the Labour partys new leader. The Labour party's new leader Alan Kelly TDs brother Declan Kelly will serve as an executive producer of the 'One World: Together at Home' global concert, which will be broadcast worldwide on April 18. The event will be supported by communications and advisory firm Teneo, where the Tipperary man is CEO and Chairman. The concert will pay tribute to healthcare workers on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic and will air around the globe on television and online. Expand Close Farewell: Funeral director Robert Maguire at Mount Jerome, Dublin, where Covid-19 victim John Gallagher was laid to rest on Thursday. Photo: David Conachy / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Farewell: Funeral director Robert Maguire at Mount Jerome, Dublin, where Covid-19 victim John Gallagher was laid to rest on Thursday. Photo: David Conachy Curated by popstar Lady Gaga and the World Health Organisation, the worlds leading artists will take to the stage. 17:50 06/04/2020 Today's figures: The coronavirus death toll in Ireland has risen to 174, with 16 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, the National Public Health emergency team has said. This includes six women and 10 men - 11 deaths are located in the east, four in the north west, one in the west of the country. Four patients were reported as having underlying health conditions The median age of todays reported deaths is 78 and the median age of the deaths so far in Ireland is 81. There have also been 370 new cases confirmed in Ireland. Research conducted on behalf of the Department of Health, a nationally representative online survey of 1,270 adults conducted today, and which will be conducted twice weekly, revealed: The percentage of people stockpiling has reduced from a peak of 43pc in mid-March to 20pc today 86pc of people believe that current government restrictions are about right 67pc are interacting with family and friends over the phone EU leaders should agree financial package to help coronavirus-hit countries recover - Varadkar EUROPEAN leaders should agree a package of financial support to help coronavirus-hit countries recover from the economic shock, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said. He said coordination between EU Member States at the start of the crisis was "very poor" but has improved since. And he highlighted how the recession caused by the emergency will affect every country, adding: "If ever there was a time for Europe to have a coordinated common response based on solidarity, it is now in my view." He was speaking ahead of a meeting of European Union finance ministers. Mr Varakdar said he doesn't blame EU institutions for the poor coordination at the start of the crisis and said: "Member States did their own thing and very often were responding to a pandemic that was happening at a different pace in different countries." Read More 16:34 06/04/2020 Over 700,000 people are now claiming unemployment benefits A total of 714,000 people are now claiming unemployment benefits following a surge in claims for emergency support due to the coronavirus pandemic. There are now 507,000 people receiving the new Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment worth 350 a week following a government-ordered business shutdown. This is on top of 207,000 people who are on standard jobseekers benefits. In addition, 39,000 employers who have registered for a wage subsidy scheme to avoid laying off staff are receiving state support. Under the terms of the scheme, the government is 70pc of wages for employers whose income has fallen by 25pc. A further 23,800 applications for an enhanced lllness Benefit payment for those in self-isolation or diagnosed with the virus have been made. The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection said in a statement that the level of payments reflects the unprecedented demand for its income supports. An analysis of the 507,000 people receiving the emergency welfare payment shows that most 284,000 are men, while 223,000 are women. 15:36 06/04/2020 This year's Open Championship has been cancelled due to coronavirus crisis The 2020 Open Championship has been cancelled. Visit our Covid-19 vaccine dashboard for updates on the roll out of the vaccination program and the rate of Coronavirus cases Ireland The event was due to take place at Royal St George's in Kent from July 12-19 but the coronavirus pandemic has forced organisers to abandon plans to hold the major this year. A statement from the R&A said: "The Open was due to be played in Kent from 12-19 July but it has been necessary to cancel the championship based on guidance from the UK Government, the health authorities, public services and the R&A's advisers." The Claret Jug will remain in Clara for another year after Irish golfer Shane Lowry won the 148th Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Portrush, Co Antrim last year. The Clara native took to Twitter to express his "disappointment" at the news. "Obviously, like everybody else, I'm very sad and disappointed that the R&A have had to cancel this year's Open championship," he said. "At the end of the day, people's health and safety comes before any golf tournament. "You can trust me when I say the Claret Jug is going to be in safe hands for another year," he said, with the Jug sitting on a cabinet beside him. "I look forward to seeing you all at Royal St George's in 2021," he added. Obviously im disappointed that I wont get to defend the Open championship this year but I feel the RandA have made the right decisions based on peoples health and safety. See you all in Royal St Georges in 2021 pic.twitter.com/zr7uS80lgH Shane Lowry (@ShaneLowryGolf) April 6, 2020 Boris Johnson 'in good spirits' following 'comfortable night' in hospital after Covid-19 diagnosis Boris Johnson had a "comfortable night" in St Thomas' Hospital, London, and is in "good spirits", the British Prime Minister's official spokesman has said. Mr Johnson was taken to hospital last night as a "precautionary step" on the advice of his doctor. He tested positive for the coronavirus 10 days ago, and had been in self-isolation inside his Downing Street apartment since. Mr Johnson's official spokesman said he continued to lead the Government and had been working on official papers from his bed. The British Prime Minister was said to be in "good spirits" after being taken to St Thomas' Hospital in London as a "precaution". Irish shoppers set supermarket sales record in Covid-19 crisis surge Irish shoppers set a supermarket sales record last month amid Covid-19 crisis stockpiling. Sales at grocery tills surged by 27pc, reflecting an extra 250m of goods purchased versus the same period a year ago. This made March the biggest month of grocery sales ever recorded in the State, according to market analysts Kantar. Supermarkets have been on the front line as households across Ireland prepared to spend more time at home, with more mouths to feed, said Kantar Ireland managing director David Berry. Read More 13:26 06/04/2020 US braced for 9/11 moment as parts of Europe see glimmers of hope The United States is braced for one of its darkest weeks in living memory amid the coronavirus pandemic, as some hard-hit European areas were seeing glimmers of hope. Italy, Spain and France saw signs that they are flattening the Covid-19 pandemic curve, but still reported hundreds of people dying each day. Leaders cautioned, however, that any gains could easily be reversed if people did not continue to adhere to strict social distancing measures and national lockdowns. In Washington, US surgeon general Jerome Adams offered a stark warning about the expected wave of deaths. This is going to be our Pearl Harbour moment, our 9/11 moment, he said. 12:45 06/04/2020 Minister for Health to assist patients access medical cannabis during Covid-19 crisis Minister for Health Simon Harris TD has announced an initiative for of patients who avail of a Ministerial licence for medicinal cannabis products to have the products delivered, saying: Speaking today, Minister Harris said: "I am aware that the limited number of patients who avail of a Ministerial licence for medicinal cannabis products issued under section 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Acts have been encountering difficulties with access owing to travel restrictions and peoples need to self-isolate. "I am very glad we have been able to make arrangements to have an emergency supply of their products collected for them in Holland, where the products are supplied, and to have the products delivered to the patients in Ireland. Patients and their clinicians are now being contacted by the Department in order that these arrangements may be put in place." 10:40 06/04/2020 Number of clusters in private and public nursing homes rises to 71 The number of clusters of the coronavirus in private nursing homes in Ireland has risen to 57 and another 14 outbreaks have struck HSE-run homes, new figures reveal. The figures, up to midnight on Friday, also show 26 clusters in residential centres such as facilities looking after people with a disability. 10:00 06/04/2020 Domestic abuse calls up 25pc in coronavirus lockdown according to UK charity There was a 25pc surge in calls to the National Domestic Abuse helpline in a five-day period during the coronavirus lockdown, the charity Refuge said.In the week commencing March 30, from Monday to Friday, the helpline saw a significant daily rise in calls and contacts. There was an increase of around 150pc in visits to nationaldahelpline.org.uk compared with the last week in February. Refuge chief executive Sandra Horley said: 1.6 million women experienced domestic abuse last year, and self-isolation has the potential to aggravate pre-existing abusive behaviours by perpetrators." Expand Close Gardai have reassured victims of domestic abuse that measures are in place to help them amid the coronavirus lockdown (Posed by model/Dominic Lipinski/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gardai have reassured victims of domestic abuse that measures are in place to help them amid the coronavirus lockdown (Posed by model/Dominic Lipinski/PA) 08:30 06/04/2020 Scotlands chief medical officer resigns after two visits to second home Scotlands chief medical officer has resigned after being criticised for not adhering to social distancing advice by visiting her second home. Dr Catherine Calderwood apologised and was backed by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to remain in the role, despite twice recently visiting her second home in Fife. However after further conversations with Ms Sturgeon, Dr Calderwood said on Sunday night she had resigned with a heavy heart. 08:15 06/04/2020 Heat map reveals communities ignoring social distancing rules People in Middlesbrough are most likely to flout the new stay at home rules designed to curb the spread of Covid-19, survey data collected by a health app has suggested. As of April 2, around 25pc of survey respondents from Middlesbrough said they are not staying indoors, followed by 18.2pc in north Hertfordshire and 17.7pc of people in Burnley, the Evergreen Health app found. More than 26,700 Evergreen Health users responded to a survey on their behaviour during the pandemic to help the app build up a "heat map" of how well different parts of the UK are sticking to the rules. The data excludes key workers. 07:50 06/04/2020 Tiger at zoo in New York tests positive for coronavirus Expand Close A tiger cools off at its enclosure at the zoo in Ahmadabad, India (AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A tiger cools off at its enclosure at the zoo in Ahmadabad, India (AP) A tiger at the Bronx Zoo has tested positive for coronavirus, in what is believed to be the first known infection in an animal in the US or a tiger anywhere, federal officials and the zoo said. The four-year-old Malayan tiger named Nadia, and six other tigers and lions that have also fallen ill, are believed to have been infected by a zoo employee who was not yet showing symptoms, the zoo said. The first animal started showing symptoms March 27, and all are doing well and expected to recover, said the zoo, which has been closed to the public since March 16 amid the surging coronavirus outbreak in New York. We tested the cat out of an abundance of caution and aim to contribute to the worlds continuing understanding of this novel coronavirus, said Dr Paul Calle, the zoos chief veterinarian. Read More 07:35 06/04/2020 Boris Johnson still in hospital as coronavirus symptoms fail to clear British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was still in hospital on Monday after suffering persistent coronavirus symptoms 10 days after testing positive for the virus, though Downing Street said he remained in charge of the government. "The PM is still at hospital," a British government source said. "He spent the night in hospital." However, his spokesman insisted it was not an emergency admission. "On the advice of his doctor, the Prime Minister has tonight been admitted to hospital for tests," Downing Street said. Read More 07:15 06/04/2020 'Inseparable': couple married over 50 years die within 24 hours of each other In death as they were in life. William and Madge Finlay have been buried side by side, after dying from Covid-19 within 24 hours of each other. More than 50 years after they made a vow to be together 'til death do us part' the Newtownstewart couple who were "inseparable" fell victim to the coronavirus pandemic and took their last breaths at the Altnagelvin Hospital in Co Derry. William (84), who served in the Ulster Defence Regiment during the Troubles, and Madge (82), who was a carer, were buried together without a funeral. Read More 07:00 06/04/2020 Coronavirus Ireland: Race to set up 'virus hubs' to stop implosion of GP services A race is on to sign up GPs to staff new coronavirus assessment hubs amid fears that care provided by family doctors will "implode" as they and their staff fall sick. The new clinical assessment hubs are designed to divert patients suspected of having the virus away from GP surgeries where there is a risk of spreading the infection to the doctors, leading to surgeries having to close. Doctors' organisations have warned there is an "increasing chance that care is likely to implode" if GPs and their staff become sick. Concerns have also been raised that people are ignoring other illnesses because they are avoiding GPs' surgeries and hospital Emergency Departments in a bid to evade the virus. Health authorities are planning 40 hubs around the country to exclusively assess suspected cases of Covid-19 and free up GPs' clinics for other patients. The HSE intends to open up to 15 of the centres this week. 17:50 05/04/2020 Covid-19: 21 more deaths and 390 new cases in Ireland THERE have been 21 more deaths and 390 new cases of the coronavirus in Ireland. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre announced that 17 of today's deaths were located in the east, two were in the south and two were in the west of the country. The deaths included nine women and 12 men and the median age of reported deaths is 81. 12 were reported as having underlying health conditions. There have now been 158 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland and 4,994 confirmed cases. 14:40 05/04/2020 Seven further deaths and 91 more Covid-19 cases confirmed in Northern Ireland A further seven patients have died after contracting the coronavirus, it has been confirmed. It brings the total number of deaths in associated with Covid-19 in Northern Ireland to 63. The Public Health Agency said that 91 more cases of the virus have been confirmed in Northern Ireland, taking the total number of cases to 1,089. A total of 8,486 people have been tested for the virus. Expand Close Photo: Michael Cooper/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Photo: Michael Cooper/PA Wire By PTI LUDHIANA: Family members of a 69-year-old woman who died of COVID-19 in a private hospital here, refused to accept her body and cremate it, forcing the district administration to perform her last rites, said officials on Monday. Her son refused to perform the last rights despite authorities seeking to give him the requisite protective gears and assuring him that it would shield him against the infection, said Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), Iqbal Singh Sandhu. Admitted to a private hospital here on March 31, the Shimlapuri village resident died on Sunday. "It was a big shock for everybody when relatives including, son of the deceased, did not come to claim her body. The body was later claimed by the district administration," said Sandhu. He said the administrative authorities approached family members twice but they refused to claim the body. The son of deceased was also assured that he would be given protective gear for cremation but he refused to perform the last rites, he added. The last rites were performed late mid night by district administration officials while Kaur's son and other family members watched the cremation from a distance of over 100 metres. The incident comes close on the heels of Amritsar's Verka village residents refusing to allow the cremation of former 'Hazuri Raagi' Nirmal Singh Khalsa, who died of COVID-19, in his native village cremation ground. A marketing manager wrongly sacked by beauty brand Liz Earle a month before she gave birth was 'unfairly' prejudiced against as soon as it was discovered she was pregnant, a tribunal has found. The court has released its damning findings into the discrimination of Helen Larkin, who successfully sued the British make up company for 17,000. The 38-year-old served the firm for five years but was sacked from her digital marketing role a month before her legally protected period of maternity began when she was eight months pregnant in June 2018. The tribunal has released its damning findings into the discrimination of Helen Larkin (pictured with her children), who successfully sued the British make up company for 17,000 Mrs Larkin (right), 38, served Liz Earle (left) for five years but was sacked from her digital marketing role a month before her legally protected period of maternity began when she was eight months pregnant in June 2018 Liz Earle, based in Ryde on the Isle of Wight, claimed it was due to 'restructuring plans', which Mrs Larkin said 'cast a shadow over' the birth of her daughter Alice. Mrs Larkin, from Southsea, Hampshire, was also discriminated against by not being considered for different positions in the firm which she said she was suitable for. She won her case for unfair dismissal and discrimination on the grounds of pregnancy and maternity. Following the four-day tribunal in front of employment judge Catherine Rayner in Southampton, the damning findings have now been revealed. Liz Earle, based in Ryde on the Isle of Wight, claimed it was due to 'restructuring plans', which Mrs Larkin said 'cast a shadow over' the birth of her daughter Alice (pictured together) The tribunal said line manager Julie Slaymaker had a 'prejudicial attitude' towards Mrs Larkin and her application for a new position would have had a 'good prospect of being successful in a fair process'. The ruling stated: 'We conclude Julie Slaymaker had a prejudicial attitude towards the claimant from the point that she knew she was pregnant. 'It may well be this was an unconscious bias but nonetheless we find that as a result the claimant was discriminated against on the grounds of her pregnancy in respect of both [job vacancies].' It continued: 'Therefore the claimant was unfairly dismissed, it was not a fair dismissal' and the 'claimant was discriminated against on grounds of pregnancy and maternity.' It added: 'We conclude that if Julie Slaymaker's in-built prejudice towards [her preferred candidate from a previous workplace] and against the claimant were removed, the claimant had a good prospect of being successful in a fair process, with a 50 per cent chance of being appointed.' The tribunal poured scorn on the decision not to consider Mrs Larkin for one vacancy. It said: 'Given the claimant's length of service and the skills she had she would have had a good prospect of being recruited'' The tribunal said line manager Julie Slaymaker had a 'prejudicial attitude' towards Mrs Larkin (pictured on the BBC) and her application for a new position would have had a 'good prospect of being successful in a fair process' But for the discrimination, Mrs Larkin 'would have been retained in some capacity within the respondent organisation and therefore would have returned to work after her maternity leave'. Mrs Larkin said she was '100 per cent behind the findings' and revealed she still had not received an apology from the company. She said: 'At least I got justice at the end of the day. They will never admit they were wrong, or offer a proper apology - so I shouldn't hope for more. 'I don't regret refusing their settlement as I have been able to help a lot of people, especially other employees from the company who have similar struggles.' Fire still burning near nuclear power plant KYIV Emergency teams in Ukraine on Monday continued battling a forest fire in the contaminated area around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant that has raised radiation fears. Police said they tracked down a person suspected of starting the blaze by setting dry grass on fire in the area. The 27-year-old man said he burned grass for fun and then failed to extinguish the fire when the wind caused it to expand quickly. Two blazes erupted Saturday in the zone around Chernobyl that was sealed after the 1986 explosion at the plant. Firefighters said they managed Monday to put out the smaller of the two fires, which engulfed about 12 acres, but the second one continued burning, covering about 50 acres. The authorities said that radiation levels in the area engulfed by fires substantially exceeded normal levels, but the emergencies service said radiation levels in the capital, Kyiv, about 60 miles south, were within the normal range. Wire reports South Africa: SAA repatriates Brazilian nationals South African Airways (SAA) has concluded an agreement with the Brazilian government to charter a flight to return Brazilian nationals back to their home country today. SAA has concluded an agreement with the Brazilian government to charter a SAA flight to return Brazilian nationals to Sao Paulo on 6 April, said the national carrier in a tweet on Monday. The national carrier expressed pride at being of service in the repatriation. The repatriation of Brazilian nationals comes as South Africa entered day 11 of the national 21-day lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). On 22 March, the South African government took the decision to declare a national lockdown, starting at midnight on 26 March to curb the spread of COVID-19. In response to the pandemic, SAA has suspended all domestic, regional and international flights. Engaging embassies In a statement last week, SAAs Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) said subsequent to the lockdown, representatives of several governments have engaged with the joint BRPs of SAA to consider having SAA provide the safe passage of their citizens to their respective home countries. These engagements have required the consideration, approval and support of the South African government to implement. Following the engagements with various embassies and in consultation with the relevant government departments, SAA has agreed to provide repatriation charter flights to various international destinations. The first of these chartered flights was for the repatriation of German citizens to their home country last week. The BRPs have confirmed that negotiations are ongoing with other governments for the repatriation of their citizens. SAA will operate the charter services, subject to the health and safety provisions contained in the regulations and other relevant provisions during the lockdown, said SAAs BRPs last week. Meanwhile, at least 16 South Africans, who were stranded in Dubai and Doha, respectively, returned to home soil last Thursday. According to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the groups return follows the relaxation of the State of Disaster regulations to allow South Africans stranded abroad to travel back home. The group is currently under quarantine, as per the regulations. - SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-04-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 23:33:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, April 6 (Xinhua) -- A court of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Monday found a former lawmaker guilty of two counts of assaulting a police officer after a demonstration in July 2019. Au Nok-hin, then a member of the HKSAR Legislative Council, was convicted by Kowloon City Magistrates' Court of attacking a police constable and a police superintendent with a loudspeaker in the small hours on July 8, 2019 in Yau Ma Tei area of Kowloon. Prosecutors said during a stand-off between protesters and police in Yau Ma Tei, Au attacked a constable by hitting his shield with a loudspeaker, and then yelled at a superintendent through the loudspeaker, causing discomfort in the latter's ear. The judge adjourned the case until sentencing on April 24 and granted the defendant bail, pending a community service order report. The judge emphasized that a sentencing to imprisonment is still an option. Bangkok, April 6 : The Thai government on Monday dismissed rumours that a 24-hour curfew would be imposed in the country replacing the current six-hour curfew due to the coronavirus pandemic. haveesilp Wisanuyothin, spokesman of the government-run Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), dismissed the rumours widely circulated on social media, reports Xinhua news agency. A daily curfew between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. was imposed from April 2. Thaveesilp commented such unconfirmed hearsay may have stemmed from a written directive recently sent from the Ministry of Interior's Permanent Secretary Chatchai Phromlert to all provincial governors calling for "preparations to upgrade the measures and operations" against the at local levels throughout the country. Many people may have been misled or misinterpreted the message as a step to be promptly taken in advent of curfew around the clock, according to the CCSA spokesman. Thailand has reported 51 new cases on Monday, taking the total to 2,220, while the death toll stood at 26. Given the number of cases reported on daily basis by the Ministry of Public Health, no such thing as a 24-hour curfew will be declared anytime soon, according to the CCSA spokesman. Thaveesilp commented such unconfirmed rumours have merely sent panics and that those who might share untruthful, misleading content such as the 24-hour curfew could possibly be faced with severe legal penalties under current emergency rule. China has vowed to impose tighter controls at land borders to prevent a possible second wave of the coronavirus infections. Officials reported 39 new coronavirus cases as of Sunday, up from 30 a day earlier, while the number of asymptomatic cases - or patients who don't show symptoms - also surged. The National Health Commission said on Monday that 78 new asymptomatic cases had been identified as of the end of Sunday, compared with 47 the day before. Imported cases and asymptomatic patients, who show no symptoms but can still pass the virus on, have become China's chief concern for a looming second outbreak. The picture shows a couple wearing face masks while arriving at the railway station in Wuhan on April 6 Imported cases and asymptomatic patients, who show no symptoms but can still pass the virus on, have become China's chief concern after draconian containment measures succeeded in slashing the overall infection rate. Hubei province, the original epicentre, accounted for almost half the new asymptomatic cases. A total of 705 people with asymptomatic cases were under medical observation around mainland China. The surge in asymptomatic cases, which China only began reporting last week, poses a worry as Hubei's capital Wuhan prepares to allow people to leave the city on April 8 for the first time since it was locked down in late January. China has claimed to largely block the spread of the virus. Members of the medical rescue team from Fujian are pictured being welcomed by their colleagues and families on April 6 in Fuzhou, China. They have completed 14 days of quarantine after returning from Hubei Wuhan officials revoked the 'epidemic-free' status of 45 residential compounds due to the emergence of asymptomatic cases and other unspecified reasons, according to a report on Monday by the official Xinhua news agency. 'Epidemic-free' status allows people living in Wuhan compounds to leave their homes for two hours at a time. China has now reported a total of 81,708 cases, with 3,331 deaths. One new locally transmitted infection was reported in the latest data, in the southern province of Guangdong, down from five a day earlier in the same province. The surge in asymptomatic cases, which China only began reporting last week, poses a worry as Hubei's capital Wuhan prepares to allow people to leave the city on April 8 for the first time since it was locked down in late January. Tourists are pictured walking in Beijing on Monday China has closed its borders to foreigners as the virus spreads globally, though most imported cases have involved Chinese nationals returning from overseas. It began testing all international arrivals for the coronavirus from April 1, customs official Song Yueqian said. Of the new cases showing symptoms, 38 entered China from abroad, compared with 25 a day earlier. Of those, 20 arrived in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang from neighbouring Russia. All were Chinese citizens who had flown from Moscow to Vladivostok and travelled to China overland. The epicentre has moved from China to Europe, where more than 50,000 people have died China will work to prevent cases being imported through land borders, the government said after a meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Monday,which noted the number of such cases had exceeded cases recorded at airports recently. Those who try to hide their travel history or health condition face a fine of up to 30,000 yuan ($4,230) or even criminal proceedings, Song said, adding such people will be placed on a customs 'blacklist' of travellers who will be subject to tighter checks in future. Another possible source of infection are the 1.6 million Chinese who study overseas, many of whom have struggled to return home since international flights were reduced. Charter flights are being arranged to bring home Chinese students in the United States, starting with the youngest, China's embassy in Washington said. The file picture shows a Kenyan health worker screening a young passenger wearing face mask after she arrived from China at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, on January 29 Charter flights are being arranged to bring home Chinese students in the United States, starting with the youngest, China's embassy in Washington said. The ambassador, Cui Tiankai, noted in the New York Times on Monday there had been 'unpleasant talk' between the two countries about the virus. 'But this is not the time for finger-pointing. This is a time for solidarity, collaboration and mutual support,' Cui wrote. Amid criticism China was too slow to warn the international community about the outbreak, Xinhua on Monday published a 'detailed timeline' of the country's coronavirus response and information sharing, from late December 2019 to March 2020. China started reporting to the United States 'regularly' on the epidemic and containment measures from Jan. 3, according to the timeline. Skeletal remains discovered on a river bank in Co Dublin may date back to the 15th century. Local people found what is believed to be an ancient burial in Swords on Monday evening. The remains were discovered on the banks of the Ward River close to River Valley Park. Gardai were called to the scene at around 6pm. They sealed off the area and requested an anthropologist to attend. A Garda spokesman said: The skeletal remains were examined this evening by a forensic anthropologist and deemed to be ancient, dating back to roughly the 15th century. This is no longer a Garda matter and the scene has been lifted. The National Museum of Ireland will decide on their next course of action. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-07 01:56:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, April 6 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for renewed international cooperation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, said his spokesman. "We are in a time where we need to see renewed international cooperation in the fight against COVID-19," said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman. "The secretary-general has been very clear in making that point in the various press interventions he's had in the last few weeks." "If there was ever a time for a structured multilateral approach to any problem, I think the COVID-19 pandemic shows that this is it," he told a press briefing via video teleconference. The spokesman said all countries that have been impacted by the virus have a role to play. "It is very important that the multilateral system be used to share as much information and lessons learned as possible, and to coordinate the responses." Guterres on March 25 launched a 2-billion-U.S.-dollar global humanitarian response plan to fight COVID-19 in some of the world's most vulnerable countries. The UN chief has also asked the Group of 20 major economies for a "wartime plan" to fight the pandemic and show solidarity -- among themselves and with the developing world, including countries in conflict. By PTI MUMBAI: All life insurance companies will process claims due to death by COVID-19, an industry body assured on Monday. The industry's umbrella body Life Insurance Council said the 'force majeure' clause will not apply in case of COVID-19 death claims and both private and state-run players will follow this. The clause generally refers to unforeseeable circumstances that may prevent someone from fulfilling a contract. There have been over 100 deaths in India due to the COVID-19 pandemic and over 3,000 people have been infected. "The spiralling global and local impact of COVID-19 pandemic has emphasised the fundamental need for life insurance in every household. The industry is taking every measure to ensure that the disruption caused to policyholders, due to the lockdown is minimal," the council's Secretary General S N Bhattacharya said. Customers had reached out to individual life insurance companies seeking clarity on this clause in their contract, which resulted in the clarification, the council said. The statement urged customers not to get swayed by any misinformation or misrepresentation, asserting that the life insurance companies will stand by them in the difficult times. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment By now youve seen the prediction that the US death toll from COVID-19 could rise above 100,000 people. We could see 2,214 deaths a day at the nations peak in two weeks. One of the most difficult dimensions of this disease is the degree to which it can be transmitted by people who show no symptoms. The director of the CDC was asked this week if his agency has learned anything new about the virus in recent weeks. He stated that a significant number of individuals that are infected remain asymptomatic. That may be as many as 25 percent. Thats important, because now you have individuals that may not have any symptoms that can contribute to transmission, and we have learned that in fact they do contribute to transmission. He added that those who develop symptoms are shedding significant virus . . . probably up to forty-eight hours before [they] show symptoms. In other words, every person we meet could infect us with a deadly virus, whether they know it or not. And we could have the virus while being asymptomatic and infect others. I am not aware of an analogous medical condition to this. More Americans die from heart disease and cancer than any other causes. However, neither can be caught from someone who doesnt know they have the condition. To find an historical parallel, we need to go back more than a century. Fear moved ahead of the virus According to the CDC, The 1918 influenza pandemic was the most severe pandemic in recent history. It is estimated that around 500 million peopleone-third of the worlds populationbecame infected with the virus. The number of deaths is estimated to be at least 50 million worldwide, with about 675,000 in the US. In The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History, John Barry describes the 1918 outbreak as a pandemic that would kill more people than any other outbreak of disease in human history. He notes that the influenzas victims died with extraordinary ferocity and speed. According to Barry, In 1918 fear moved ahead of the virus like the bow wave before a ship. Fear drove the people, and the government and the press could not control it. He notes, Terror rises in the dark of the mind, in the unknown beast tracking us in the jungle. The fear of the dark is an almost physical manifestation of that. Horror movies build up the fear of the unknown, the uncertain threat that we cannot see and do not know and can find no safe haven from. However, as he adds, In every horror movie, once the monster appears, terror condenses into the concrete and diminishes. Fear remains. But the edge of panic created by the unknown dissipates. Religion has often been denounced as escapism Xenophobia has been defined as fear of the unknown. It is especially debilitating when it causes us to feel that weve lost control of our lives. Thats how many people feel today. These are the most anxious days of my lifetime. Even the terror attacks of 9/11, as horrific as they were, directly affected only a small percentage of Americans. The Great Recession, as frightening as it was, did not threaten us physically. Much of what we fear with COVID-19 is the unknown: How bad will it get? What will life be like when the pandemic is finally over? Will it take the life of someone I love? Will I die? The wrong answer is escapism, denying the reality of this crisis. Frederick Buechner: Religion has often been denounced as escapism, and it often is. To deny the prevalence of pain in the world and the perennial popularity of evil. To abdicate responsibility for them by assuming that God will take care of them very nicely on his own. To accept them as divine judgment upon the sins especially of other people. To dismiss them or to encourage others to dismiss them by stressing the promise of pie in the sky. To pretend . . . that theres no such thing as death. To maintain your faith by refusing to face any nasty fact that threatens it. These are all ways of escaping reality through religion and should be denounced. However, as Buechner notes, The desire to escape is not always something to be denounced, as any prisoner or slave could tell you. Jesus said, If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free (John 8:3132). Free from sin, he explained when they pressed him. Free from imprisonment within the narrow walls of your own not all that enlightened self-interest. Free from enslavement to your own shabbiest instincts, deceits, and self-deceptions. Freedom not from responsibility, but for it. Escape not from reality, but into it. Buechner closes: The best moments we any of us have as human beings are those moments when for a little while it is possible to escape the squirrel cage of being me into the landscape of being us (all italics his). Some wise advice In the biblical text Buechner quotes, Jesus first invites us to continue in my word so that we can be truly [his] disciples (John 8:31). This means to live biblically. Refuse what Scripture refuses and do what it commands. In the face of what you do not know, do what you know to do. Then your Lord will make sure you know the truth you need to know, and it will make you free to love him and others, free to trust him and help others trust him, free to know him and make him known. A wise mentor once encouraged me to stay faithful to the last word you heard from God and open to the next. What is the last word you heard from your Lord? Originally posted at denisonforum.org As remote working becomes the new normal, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are faced with the challenges of managing and sharing data with employees. In line with its unwavering commitment to SMEs, Vodafone Business has introduced an innovative product named Data Sharer that addresses this challenge. The product, developed under a model One Data, One Plan, One Company, is aimed at empowering SMEs to centrally manage their internet usage by routinely sharing monthly data allocation with employees, according to their data needs. Commenting on the product, Tawa Bolarin, Director of Enterprise Business Unit at Vodafone Ghana said: Data Sharer is in response to a specific need of our SME customers during this crucial period. We realised how tedious it was for SMEs to purchase individual bundles for every employee as they work from home. Data Sharer allows our SME customers and their employees to feed from a single bulk data bundle whilst setting consumption limits for each individual based on their need and function. The exciting feature is that our customers get to choose how much data they want to allocate to each employee. Vodafone customers can access Data Sharer by dialing the USSD *5959# from their mobile handsets. New customers can call 0302 332 4040 to find out more or subscribe to the product. Vodafones commitment to the growth and success of SMEs in the country is unquestionable. The Telco continues to introduce initiatives that build the capacity and maximise the digital potential of SMEs across the country. These initiatives include the SME Masterclass, SME Clinics and SMEGA Awards, which annually rewards and celebrates thriving SMEs. 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 Boris Johnson has been urged to hand over power temporarily if he does not recover quickly from coronavirus, as he remained in a London hospital. A deputy presumably Dominic Raab, the so-called designated survivor should take over at No 10 if necessary, because no-one is indispensable, the prime minister was told. The calls came from two former heads of the civil service, Bob Kerslake and Lord O'Donnell, and Andy Street, the Conservative West Midlands mayor, as fears grew over Mr Johnsons condition. Downing Street has sought to play down the severity of his symptoms, insisting they have not deteriorated and that he did not need an ambulance but it has been reported that he needed oxygen treatment. The prime minister is expected to undergo blood tests, to judge the response of his immune response and to assess liver and kidney function. He will also undergo heart checks, doctors say. Mr Kerslake said: If he's not well enough, it would be sensible to step back and let others take on the role. I think in the end, if he's not well, he will have to reflect on this because the job's tough at the best of times and it's doubly tough now, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. Lord ODonnell, another former cabinet secretary, said the government was not really set up to deal with this kind of absence of a prime minister. He said prime ministers want to be involved in decisions where they would have to live with the consequences. He told BBC Radio 4s World At One: If a prime minister becomes so ill that they can't be [involved in big decisions] or the medical advice is 'look you really need to rest, you need to stop looking at all of these dreaded red boxes you need to hand on' then I hope the prime minister ... is able to hand over. And Mr Street said: We all have to learn in life, don't we, that were not indispensable and the team around you will step into your shoes if he is not able to do what I know he will be so, so desperate to carry on doing himself. A Foreign Office minister, James Dudderidge, echoed the calls, tweeting: Take care boss. Get well. Come back fighting. But for now rest, look after yourself and let the others do the heavy lift. There are concerns that Mr Johnson has made it harder for himself to recover, by continuing to work around-the-clock to oversee the NHSs response to the gathering crisis. But Robert Jenrick, the communities secretary, insisted Mr Johnson remained in charge, saying: I certainly expect he will be back at Number 10 shortly. 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 Downing Street has already said that Mr Raab will be chairing this mornings daily meeting of the Covid-19 committee of senior ministers, in the prime ministers absence. However, team Johnson is thought to be extremely reluctant to formally hand over the reins, even for a few days, with Mr Raab largely unknown to the wider public. But Mr Jenrick said: He's been working extremely hard leading the government and being constantly updated. That's going to continue. Obviously today he's in hospital having the tests but he will continue to be kept informed as to what's happening and to be in charge of the government. I'm sure this is very frustrating for him, for somebody like Boris who wants to be hands on running the government from the front, but nonetheless he's still very much in charge of the government. . . , ... 82 mm mortar mine in the ground, Donbas Open source Over the last 24 hours in Donbas, Russian militants breached the ceasefire 13 times. They used weapons of banned calibers, Joint Forces Operation HQ reported. Most of the attacks occurred in Donetsk region. In Kamyanka and Avdiivka, the enemy opened fire from grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms. 120 mm mines hit Hnutove. Grenade launchers and small arms were used in attacks on Starohnativka. Near Novobohdanivka, the enemy opened fire from small arms, automatic grenade launchers and heavy machine guns. In Luhansk region, the Ukrainian military reported two cases of ceasefire violations. 82 mm mines hit Vilny farmstead; in Krymske, militants fired small arms, automatic grenade launchers and heavy machine guns. One Ukrainian servicemanwas wounded in combat. Earlier, a mortar attack took place in Novotoshkivske, Luhansk region on April 1. One of the mines hit the area next to the local school. Press office of the Ministry for the Temporarily Occupied Territories reported that on April 2. "According to specifications of Luhansk regional military and civilian administration, one 120 mm shell fell six meters away from five-story building (...)", reads the message. The Ministry added that due to the quarantine, the studying process is now being conducted remotely, which is why there were no victims in the incident. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on Monday issued an executive order suspending in-person voting for the states primary the next day and delayed the election until June 9 in a move to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Today, I signed an executive order suspending in-person voting for tomorrows election, the Democratic governor said in a statement. Frankly, theres no good answer to this problem I wish it were easy. As municipalities are consolidating polling locations, and absent legislative or court action, I cannot in good conscience stand by and do nothing. The bottom line is that I have an obligation to keep people safe, and thats why I signed this executive order today, Evers continued. In addition to the Democratic presidential primary, state and local elections, including the contest for a pivotal Wisconsin Supreme Court seat, were set to be held the same day. The directive also extends the absentee ballot period, which ended on Friday, and schedules the state legislature for a special session on Tuesday to handle the details of the election postponement. The order states that unless the Legislature passes and the Governor approves a different date for in-person voting, Evers will continue to delay the election. The virus directs us as to what our decision-making is, not human beings, and clearly I am following the science, as I always have, Evers said. Along with the majority of states, Evers issued a stay-at-home order to Wisconsin residents last month as his administration seeks to curtail the spread of the coronavirus. The move earned immediate pushback from Wisconsin Republicans, who called it a unconstitutional overreach. The governor himself has repeatedly acknowledged he cant move the election. Just last week a federal judge said he did not have the power to cancel the election and Governor Evers doesnt either, read a joint statement from Republican state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and GOP House Speaker Robin Vos. Story continues U.S. District Judge William Conley ruled Thursday that he does not have the authority to delay the states primary election. More from National Review Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-07 00:27:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BISSAU, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Guinea-Bissau reported 15 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 33, Tumane Balde, spokesman for the Interministerial Commission of COVID-19 prevention and control, announced on Monday. "The 15 cases are Bissau-Guineans and were in contact with a foreigner who has tested positive," he said. Besides a child and a 58-year-old, the rest of the patients are between 25 and 43 years old. He also denounced the attitude of certain patients who refused to be transferred to the hospital. President of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Sissoco Embalo declared on March 27 in a presidential decree "a state of emergency throughout the national territory". Under the decree, the state of emergency will last 15 days during which all meetings and the movement of people are prohibited. In its latest issue, Canadian Mortgage Professional has announced its Top 75 Brokers and Small Market Brokers of 2020. Together, these trend-setting industry players posted an average funded volume of $118.8 million in 2020, and an average of 291 deals throughout the year. A focus on core businesses, along with investing in continued broker education and improved customer experience, helped propel these winners to a new standard of excellence. Are you practicing social distancing? The Johns Hopkins Medicine website describes social distancing as deliberately increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness. For instance, staying at least 6 feet away from other people lessens your chances of catching COVID-19 (coronavirus). Johns Hopkins is rated as the No. 2 medical school for research in the United States by U.S. News. If East Coast academia isnt your thing, how about the chief medical officer at Midland Memorial Hospital? Dr. Larry Wilson offered the following on Thursday about how important social distancing can be to defeating coronavirus. But theres only a singular thing thats going to stop this disease in our community right now, and thats social distancing. Shelter at home the best that you can, recognizing that we all have limitations and the ability to do that, but if you have to move out into the community, do it thoughtfully. Stay separated from others. If you go to a store and you see people arent following that, find another store. The social distancing piece of this is going to protect us more than anything else for the foreseeable future. Think about this one point: If we were able to have 100 percent social distancing -- everybody stayed 10 feet away from anybody else; anybody with the virus was self-isolated until they were symptom-free -- we could kill this virus in a month. Think about that for a second. Coronavirus would be over in a month. What would you do for that certainty? Would you leave the family at home when its time to go to the grocery store? Would you tell your children that playing with the kids down the street isnt an option right now? How restrictive would you be to guarantee a better future for the community? A while back, I asked who are we as Midlanders? I wrote on March 22, From this point forward, how will your reaction to the pandemic and your actions define you? At the time, I was talking about a different type of sacrifice. However, since that day, 18 more Midland County residents have been confirmed cases of coronavirus. Could it be worse? Yes. There have been 89 more cases in Lubbock County. In Harris County the county with the most confirmed cases in the state there have been 847. How do we keep it from getting worse? Social distancing. Dr. Wilson and Mayor Patrick Payton have repeatedly said, pleaded with and begged Midlanders during unified command meeting to practice social distancing. It is the best way to flatten the curve and the quickest way back to a life of normalcy. If you are anything like me, normal is something that fades into your rearview mirror with every day of working at home, watching public meetings on live stream and turning on ESPN to find zero live sporting events. Normal will return eventually, but it will be quicker if we follow the advice of those smarter than us. Stay home, stay safe. Description GIS - 06 April, 2020: The Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) is launching a Special Call for proposals for fast-track innovative projects to counter the impacts of Covid-19. The deadline for submitting application is Friday 17 th April 2020. The objective is to develop, expedite the production or adaptation of technologies and services that will help assist health and relevant authorities in their work and in the deployment of general protection measures in response to the Covid-19 outbreak. The MRIC is stepping up its efforts on the national front to support the Government in containing the risks of Covid-19. The MRIC, through this Special Call, encourages the provision of dedicated and targeted funding for research and innovation based actions. To this effect, the MRIC has earmarked funds to encourage entrepreneurs, academics, researchers, enterprises and start-ups to implement short and medium term projects that can contribute to improving and accelerating Governments response to the challenges of the pandemic. The main priorities of this Special Call are to develop innovative and sustained counter-measures to mitigate the direct and indirect impacts of virus as well as to boost enterprises and businesses willing to contribute as stakeholders in the national effort against the outbreak. Projects that can be funded under this Special Call are encouraged to leverage on existing infrastructure, capabilities and networks with local partners. Support under this Special Call is being targeted on two fronts namely: Technology-based products and services; and Social and policy measures, for which the maximum amount per grant is Rs 2 million and Rs 1 million over three to nine months respectively. The Special Call for Proposals is open to citizens from Mauritius, Rodrigues and the outer islands within the Mauritian territory. Interested parties can visit the following websites for more information scp.covid19@mric.mu or www.mric.mu. Government Information Service, Prime Ministers Office, Level 6, New Government Centre, Port Louis, Mauritius. Email: gis@govmu.org Website: http://gis.govmu.org Mobile App: Search Gov Amid a raging controversy over people bursting crackers in response to the prime minister's '9 pm-9 minutes' call, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Monday said there was nothing wrong with lighting fireworks as an "expression of happiness", amid the nationwide lockdown. Several overenthusiastic people on Sunday ventured out into the streets, lit firecrackers and released paper lanterns, blowing holes into the primary intent of the lockdown order. Social media exploded, with netizens questioning the reason behind such celebrations at a time when the country, and the entire world, was struggling to contain the pandemic. In Kolkata, police had launched a crackdown and arrested 98 people for flouting the norms. The prime minister had urged people to switch off lights at their homes and light up lamps, candles or mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 pm on Sunday to display the country's "collective resolve" to defeat coronavirus. Ghosh on Monday came out in support of those that burst firecrackers and said there was nothing wrong with it. "People are living in a crisis situation due to this ongoing lockdown and the pandemic. Nobody had asked them to burst firecrackers. However, if they do, what is the harm in it? This is an expression of happiness. "I want to ask the environmentalists who said that the air quality deteriorated What about the entire year when the pollution is at its peak? I would request everybody not to make an issue out of this incident," Ghosh said here. Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee had on Sunday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's lights-out call and said India was the first-ever nation to celebrate a pandemic. "With the firecrackers, fancy diyas & sky lanterns, we have become the first-ever Nation to celebrate a pandemic #COVID19. I am also contemplating how many actually followed the norms of #lockdown to gear up for this. What was being preached: self-isolation or self-destruction? (sic)" he wrote on his Twitter handle. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man was gunned down on Dumaine Street in the 6th Ward neighborhood on Sunday afternoon, New Orleans police said. The victim of the shooting was 33-year-old Glynn McCormick, according to a law enforcement source. He was shot multiple times just before 3 p.m. in the 2600 block of Dumaine, just off the intersection with North Broad Street. He was taken to the hospital but pronounced dead not long after arriving. A police spokesman said they didn't yet have any information to release about potential suspects or a possible motive in the shooting. Known as "D-Block," the corner of the 2600 block of Dumaine has been targeted in two separate gang indictments since 2010. Sunday's killing was at least the eighth homicide in the immediate area since Hurricane Katrina. In a 2018 indictment, McCormick was accused of helping lead the the "D-Block" gang as it sold heroin, cocaine, marijuana and other drugs in the area. Prosecutors said DEA agents found an assault rifle, drugs and cash during a search of McCormick's residence and observed him conducting hand-to-hand drug transactions. After nearly two years in jail awaiting trial on a racketeering charge, McCormick was freed on Thursday after Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Judge Darryl Derbigny ordered McCormick's release on his own recognizance. McCormick was required to wear an electronic ankle monitor. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Judges throughout Louisiana have in recent days re-evaluated criminal defendants' bail as the novel coronavirus spreads in jails and prisons. Evidence markers dotted the block and onto North Broad Street, where police had stretched crime scene tape. Distraught relatives gathered across the street but declined to speak with a reporter. McCormick's death came as a shock to his family, according to his defense attorney, John Fuller. "The few people I talked to out of his neighborhood expressed total shock and disbelief. The general impression was that Glynn wasnt into any type of beef with anybody," he said. Can't see map below? Click here. China reported that COVID-19 originated from an exotic market in Wuhan, but this claim is now being questioned. Senior sources in the UK government stated that they are currently considering whether the coronavirus was released from a Chinese laboratory. Officials claimed that they have strong evidence that can determine if the virus indeed originated from a research laboratory in Wuhan City, Hubei province. Wuhan's level four pathogen laboratory According to a report in Express, experts are seriously considering the leak theory since Wuhan has the only Level Four Bio-safety laboratory in China, which is within 10 miles of the wet market where the outbreak supposedly started. "There is a credible alternative view to the zoonotic theory based on the nature of the virus, perhaps it is no coincidence that there is that laboratory in Wuhan. It is not discounted," the member of Cobra said. Wuhan is home to the Institute of Virology, the most progressive research center of its type on the Chinese mainland. As China revealed the plan to manufacture its first pathogen lab in 2017, scientists outside China expressed their worries in case deadly pathogens escape the lab. This has added a biological dimension to geopolitical pressures among China and different countries. "Our contribution to the BSL4-level pathogens will benefit the world," George Gao, the director of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology in Beijing said. As of now, there are two BSL-4, or Bio-safety Laboratory Four in Taiwan, but the National Bio-safety Laboratory, Wuhan, would is the first in the mainland. The lab was guaranteed to meet the standards and criteria of BSL-4 by the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) in January 2017. Chinese authorities inspected the lab's framework, equipment, and management, making ready for the Ministry of Health to give its approval. The 30 million foundation, based ten miles from the infamous wildlife market, should be one of the most secure virology units in the world. The state-run People's Daily newspaper said in 2018 that it was fit for leading analyses with profoundly pathogenic microorganisms, for example, the fatal Ebola infection. Read also: Coronavirus Outbreak Second Wave? Recovered Wuhan Patients Testing Positive Again Researchers at the institute were the first to propose that the virus' genome was 96 percent similar to one commonly found in bats. Yet, regardless of its standing for high security, a pre-print logical investigation composed by a group of Chinese researchers from the South China University of Technology appallingly guaranteed that the coronavirus spread from the high-security science laboratory in Wuhan and not a wet market in the city. The report issued in early February by biological scientists from the renowned university in Guangzhou, China, contradicts Beijing, who have even proposed the coronavirus began in the US. Wuhan lab conducts research on bats A pre-print entitled "The possible origins of 2019-nCoV coronavirus" by biologists Botao Xiao and Lei Xiao, wherein the report they portrayed how the killer coronavirus presumably started from a lab in Wuhan. "We noted two laboratories conducting research on bat coronavirus in Wuhan, one of which was only 280 meters from the seafood market. We briefly examined the histories of the laboratories and proposed that the coronavirus probably originated from a laboratory. Our proposal provided an alternative origin of the coronavirus in addition to natural recombination and intermediate host," added in the report. The scientists in the disturbing report contested official discoveries that the pathogen first made the jump from bats to humans in the Wuhan wet market. "The probability was very low for the bats to fly to the market. According to municipal reports and the testimonies of 31 residents and 28 visitors, the bat was never a food source in the city, and no bat was traded in the market. There was possible natural recombination or an intermediate host of the coronavirus, yet little proof has been reported," they stated. The researchers screened the area around the seafood market and recognized two laboratories conducting research on bat coronavirus. These research facilities were inside 280 meters of the market, one is known as the Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The research infers that this laboratory facilitated animals for research purposes, one of which was specialized in pathogen collection and identification. Related article: Wuhan Whistleblower Who Regrets Not Revealing Coronavirus Info Early, Disappears @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Judge Rinder has revealed he developed a crush on Noel Fielding while filming The Great Celebrity Bake Off. The barrister, 41, whose real name is Robert Rinder, developed a soft spot for the quirky Bake Off judge, 46, during filming of the Stand Up To Cancer special. Speaking to The Sun, Robert said: 'I love Noel. In fact theres a moment he came up to me and said I smelt and looked gorgeous, which I cant lie, made me very cheery. TV: Judge Rinder, 41, has revealed he developed a crush on Noel Fielding while filming Celebrity Bake Off 'But then he said I smelt like bubble bath from the 80s, so I was a bit worried I smelt like Matey.' The TV star also got on well with Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood, saying he found him to be a combination of alluring and threatening. Robert also hinted he may have got a famous handshake from Paul and quipped he was happy the special was filmed before social distancing became the norm amid the coronavirus pandemic. He said: 'Im so glad I got to make this before social distancing, that's all Im going to say.' Judge Rinder said: 'I love Noel. In fact theres a moment he came up to me and said I smelt and looked gorgeous, which I cant lie, made me very cheery' Robert was joined on the celebrity special by Carol Vorderman, Kelly Brook and Mo Gilligan. The legal professional added that he became 'very close' with TV presenter Carol during filming and said she made wonderful 'baked buns'. However, Robert didn't have too much praise for his own abilities in the kitchen as he underestimated the skill involved in baking. Bake Off: Judge Rinder also got on well with Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood, saying he found him to be a combination of alluring and threatening It comes after Robert revealed the heartbreaking news that his grandfather recently died at the age of 92 after contracting coronavirus. The broadcaster announced the sad news during Friday's This Morning, as he urged viewers to try and remain optimistic in the nationwide lockdown. Robert branded COVID-19 'a terrible disease' as he told show hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford that his elderly relative passed away on Wednesday evening after having lived through World War II. Stars: Judge Rinder was joined on the celebrity special by Carol Vorderman, Kelly Brook and Mo Gilligan Robert fought back tears as he spoke about his grandfather's death during the video link, saying: 'My grandfather was 92, and he passed away two nights ago of this terrible disease. 'He survived the Second World War, and he was a man that conspired and determined to see joy in the world. 'As much as there is terrible and appealing news out there we must as a community and neighbours see that there are thousands of people that are recovering fro this disease every single day, that we as a nation are responding positively.' 'That's absolutely the message I know he would've wanted to share, whenever I saw him which was very often he'd say ''what good news is there son?'' Judge Rinder then told Eamonn and Ruth: 'It's been a challenging time but I remember him in that positive way, that we get up in the morning depressed overwhelmed, perhaps with anxiety. Sad news: Judge Ringer recently revealed that his grandfather has died aged 92 after contracting coronavirus, as he paid an emotional tribute to him on Friday's This Morning 'We can choose to drown ourselves in the negativity in the horror and choose to galvanise ourselves to be at our very best and that's how I'm going to choose remember him.' Earlier this week Judge Rinder also revealed that he may have also had coronavirus after developing symptoms, but is refusing to pay for a test until they are available for all NHS frontline staff. Speaking on This Morning, he said: 'I'm just through the other side of it. It's [been] 20 days and I feel well now.' Presenter Phillip Schofield then asked him: 'So, you had it?' Staying strong: The criminal barrister and TV presenter urged viewers to stay positive during the pandemic, and said he vows to remember his grandfather for his optimism He said: 'I think I did, but because frontline NHS staff can't get tests I refused to pay for one. But I'm sure I'm fine.' When asked what his symptoms were, he said: 'Terrible temperature, appalling cough, and lying with my feet on the ground and my head on the bed in a coma watching the Kardashians, so I must have been really ill.' The Great Celebrity Bake Off for SUTC airs on Channel 4 on April 7 at 8pm. A woman picks up a box of canned goods from Share Food Program for her family at the Hank Gathers Memorial Recreation Center. Because of the spread of the coronavirus, 400 hundred cases of food were distributed to area residents at the center at 2501 Diamond Street last week. Food sites are supported by the city, Share, and Philabundance. The cases were gone in 30 minutes. Read more As need spikes and food supplies dwindle, the nations largest domestic hunger-relief agency said it faces a potential $1.4 billion shortfall in resources over the next six months because of the coronavirus pandemic. The alert comes from Feeding America, a network of 200 major food banks across the United States, including Philabundance in this region. School closures and rising unemployment could result in an estimated additional 17.1 million people experiencing hunger, an increase of 46%, according to Feeding America officials. They said in a statement: The situation is becoming more dire as food donations to the Feeding America network are in decline due to increased consumer demand and supply-chain challenges, including decreased food donations from manufacturers and grocery retailers. Beyond that, Feeding America said, food banks have lost 60% of the volunteers who typically package and deliver food. Many are senior citizens, who are said to be at greater risk of COVID-19. The charitable food system in the United States is being confronted by a perfect storm," the officials said, "with surges in demand, declines in food donations and volunteers, and disruptions to normal operating procedures. Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America, added, It is all of our neighbors who now more than ever need help putting food on their tables. Locally, the food supply chain has a big kink in it right now, said Sam Retamar, public relations associate at Philabundance, which normally supplies food to 350 pantries in the Philadelphia area and South Jersey. Residents are over-buying food in stores such as Acme Markets, which donates extra food to the agency, an Acme official said. The average citizen is in such a panic, Retamar said. Their habits are putting a hindrance on the safety net. The need is growing, she said, although she is not yet able to quantify it. But, she added, if the pandemic goes on for four more months, we could definitely be in trouble. To even say that out loud is scary, but we are doing our best. Various organizations including the 76ers and the Flyers, which donated $250,000 each have been sending money to help Philabundance. More financial donations are needed, agency officials said. The pandemic is causing Americans to change the kind of food they eat, and its affecting pantries for low-income people everywhere. Overnight, an entire countrys buying habits have dramatically shifted, said George Matysik, executive director of the Share Food Program, the largest charitable food agency in the region, which supplies 500 pantries. Produce is not being purchased. People are buying mostly shelf-stable, dry products in stores" to allow supplies to last longer, he said. "Youre seeing an 80% increase in people buying beans and rice. And we have to shift very quickly to accommodate that change. As a result, Matysik said, Share has to pay from 30% to 40% more to get dry goods, since supermarkets that would normally donate the products are running out. On the other hand, he said, Share is able to pick up excess produce. We are getting a ton of mushrooms from Kennett Square growers, and tons of grapes from the Port of Philadelphia, Matysik said. Its great, but it would help if people would stop hoarding in supermarkets. Our needs are huge, but we can only measure it anecdotally at this point. For now, its rapid-response time. That need is filtering down to Philadelphia neighborhoods, said Linda Gerald, who runs the Peniel Baptist Church food pantry in Brewerytown. Interestingly, she said, the pantry had been seeing fewer clients before the coronavirus hit. This area is gentrifying, and we werent needed as much, said Gerald, a former Philabundance volunteer. But since the virus spread, she added, the number of our clients doubled from 30 to 60. Asked whether she was worried that the food will run out, Gerald said simply, I know the Lord will supply. I dont have a fear. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Mardika Parama (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 6, 2020 19:08 644 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd017949 1 Business Sinar-Mas,mask,production,factory,COVID-19,coronavirus Free Paper producer Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), a subsidiary of diversified conglomerate Sinar Mas Group, is planning to locally produce masks through one of its subsidiarys factories in Banten to help combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. APP will produce 1.8 million masks per month starting from late April after it procures mask-manufacturing machines from China, the companys director Suhendra Wiriadinata said in a written statement on March 30, as quoted by Tempo. We expect that mask production will begin in the third or fourth week of April. We are also simultaneously working on the production licensing with relevant agencies and ministries he said. Sinar Mas Groups managing director Gandi Sulistiyanto previously said the company would use a factory owned by APP subsidiary PT The Univenus, which is located in Cikupa in Tangerang, Banten, to produce the masks. He added that the masks would be primarily distributed for paramedics. [RA::Indonesian manufacturers step up as G20 nations coordinate global medical supplyhttps://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/03/27/indonesian-manufacturers-step-up-as-g20-nations-coordinate-global-medical-supply.html] To help flatten the COVID-19 curve, the government is now urging people to wear face masks whenever they are out in public. The new recommendation is an update from the previous guidelines and is in line with the World Health Organizations latest recommendation. "The President has asked us to make guidelines on face masks in accordance with the World Health Organization's advice, head of Indonesias COVID-19 rapid-response task force, Doni Monardo, told an online press conference on Monday. Sinar Mas previously donated 10,000 masks alongside the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industrys (Kadin) donation of Rp 300 billion (US$18.3 million) to the government on March 24. The majority of the masks were produced by a Sinar Mas factory in China. Besides APP, textile factories in Indonesia are also switching their production lines to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical personnel, including mass-producing masks and protective coveralls as the country scrambles to fight the spread of COVID-19. The Health Ministry announced 218 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing the total number of infections nationwide to 2,491. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the ministrys disease control and prevention director general, Achmad Yurianto, added that 11 more people had died of the disease, bringing the death toll to 209. India has recorded 4,281 cases of the novel coronavirus and 111 deaths, according to the health ministry's latest update. Of these, 3,851 are active cases while 318 have been cured and discharged. As per the health ministry, the current rate of doubling of COVID-19 cases is 4.1 days, but it would have been 7.4 days if the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi had not taken place. The data was updated at 6 pm on April 6 on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's website. COVID-19 pandemic LIVE updates COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show Maharashtra, with 748 cases, has the highest number of cases, followed by Tamil Nadu (571) and Delhi (523). Below are the number of COVID-19 cases in each state and union territory (UT) of India (including cured/migrated/death): >> Andhra Pradesh- 226>> Andaman and Nicobar Islands - 10>> Arunachal Pradesh - 1>> Assam - 26>> Bihar - 32>> Chandigarh - 18>> Chhattisgarh- 10>> Delhi - 523>> Goa - 7>> Gujarat - 144>> Haryana - 84>> Himachal Pradesh - 13>> Jammu and Kashmir - 109>> Jharkhand - 4>> Karnataka - 151>> Kerala - 314>> Ladakh - 14>> Madhya Pradesh - 165>> Maharashtra - 748>> Manipur - 2>> Mizoram - 1>> Odisha - 21>> Puducherry - 5>> Punjab - 76>> Rajasthan - 274>> Tamil Nadu - 571>> Telangana - 321>> Uttarakhand - 26>> Uttar Pradesh - 305 >> West Bengal - 80 Globally, over 1.2 million confirmed cases and 69,000 deaths have been reported, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. (With PTI inputs) Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here Actor Arjun Kapoor on Monday pledged contributions to the PM-CARES Fund and Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund to help the nation combat the coronavirus outbreak. The 34-year-old actor took to Instagram to make an announcement in this regard."India is in the midst of a crisis and as responsible citizens, we need to do our bit for our fellow brothers and sisters in need. I'm trying my best to help as many people possible by humbly contributing to the PM CARES Fund and Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund," he wrote in the post. The 'Half Girlfriend' star will contribute to Give India, The Wishing Factory, and the Federation of Western India Cine Employees. Arjun further wrote, "We can only fight COVID-19 if we stand united. I urge all of you to come forward and support to the best of your abilities." Other Bollywood celebrities that have pledged to donate generously and help the government in the battle against COVID-19 are Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif, Varun Dhawan, Akshay Kumar, Anushka Sharma, Kartik Aaryan and more. With an increase of 490 cases in the last 12 hours, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India climbed to 4067, said Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday. As many as 109 deaths have been reported across the country due to the deadly disease. There are 3666 active cases in the country while 292 people have been cured/discharged/migrated. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The statue of the Virgin Mary is placed in the window on Palm Sunday, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Venice, Italy, April 5, 2020. REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri It took Silvia Bertuletti 11 days of frantic phone calls to persuade a doctor to visit her 78-year-old father Alessandro, who was gripped by fever and struggling for breath. When an on-call physician did go to her house near Bergamo, at the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy, on the evening of March 18, it was too late. Alessandro Bertuletti was pronounced dead at 1:10 a.m. on March 19, 10 minutes before an ambulance called hours earlier arrived. The only medication he had been prescribed, over the phone, was a mild painkiller and a broad-spectrum antibiotic. "My father was left to die alone, at home, without help," Bertuletti, 48, said. "We were simply abandoned. No one deserves an end like that." Expand Close Alessandro Bertuletti, who died at 78 in Parre, a village near Bergamo, is seen at his daughter's wedding in September 2018 in an unknown location. Silvia Bertuletti/Handout via REUTERS / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Alessandro Bertuletti, who died at 78 in Parre, a village near Bergamo, is seen at his daughter's wedding in September 2018 in an unknown location. Silvia Bertuletti/Handout via REUTERS Interviews with families, doctors and nurses in Italy's stricken Lombardy region indicate that Bertuletti's experience is not uncommon, that scores are dying at home as symptoms go unchecked and that phone consultations are not always enough. In Bergamo province alone, according to a recent study of death records, the real death toll from the outbreak could be more than double the official tally of 2,060, which only tracks hospital fatalities. As the global fight to save lives centres on boosting the supply of hospital ventilators, some doctors say a lack of primary healthcare is proving just as costly because medics cannot or will not make home visits, in line with a worldwide tactic of switching to remotely delivered medical advice. "What led to this situation is that many family doctors didn't visit their patients for weeks," said Riccardo Munda, who is doing the work of two doctors in Selvino and Nembro, two towns near Bergamo, after a colleague caught the virus. "And I can't blame them, because that's how they saved their own skin." He said many deaths could be avoided if people at home received prompt medical help, but doctors were swamped, lacked enough masks and suits to protect themselves from infection and were discouraged from making visits unless absolutely necessary. "Doctors give people at home a treatment. But if this treatment doesn't work, if there is no doctor who checks and changes or adjusts the medicines, then the patient dies." Read More While hospital workers were given priority access to masks, some family doctors say they went without and so felt unable to visit patients safely. A spokeswoman for the state-run ATS health agency in Bergamo said authorities in the Lombardy region, rated among the world's most efficient for health services, told family doctors to "deal with patients by phone as much as possible", limiting home visits "to reduce contagion and waste of protective equipment". She said 142 doctors in the Bergamo area were either sick or in quarantine but they had all been replaced. Authorities are now moving to reinforce primary care in line with recommendations by the World Health Organization, which says that delivering primary healthcare safely should be a priority for governments right after intensive care capacity. In Bergamo province six special units of doctors started operating on March 19, each equipped to visit sick people at home. In nearby Milan, where deaths at home and in centres for the elderly more than doubled in the second half of March, similar units began operating only on March 31. Hidden death toll Italy's official death toll reached 15,887 on Sunday, almost a third of the global total, but there is growing evidence that this vastly understates the real total because so many people are dying at home. A study by local newspaper L'Eco di Bergamo and research consultant InTwig, using data provided by local municipalities, estimates that 5,400 people died in the Bergamo province during the month of March, or six times more than a year ago. Of these, it reckons that as many as 4,500 people succumbed to the coronavirus - more than double the official tally. This took into account 600 people who died in nursing homes and evidence provided by doctors, it said. The ATS did not respond to a request for comment on the study's findings. Pietro Zucchelli, director of the Zucchelli funeral home that serves several villages in the Seriana Valley around Bergamo, said over the past two weeks more than 50 percent of his job had been collecting bodies from people's homes. Before, most of the dead were in hospitals or nursing homes. Munda, the doctor working in Selvino and Nembro, said he had been visiting patients at home since late February, administering antibiotics for bacterial pneumonia and oxygen therapy if required. He said that although antibiotics were no cure for the virus, they could treat some of the debilitating complications and help patients recover without hospitalisation. To protect himself, he bought 600 euros' worth of face masks which he sterilises at home with steam every evening. More than 11,000 health workers have contracted the virus in Italy and 80 have died, many of them family doctors. 'Be patient' The Bertuletti family's ordeal shows how primary care, a health system's first line of defence, has sometimes buckled in the face of the coronavirus outbreak. In several European countries and in the United States, doctors are encouraged to carry out phone consultations whenever possible, rather than seeing patients face to face. With her own family doctor in hospital, Bertuletti says she repeatedly phoned his replacement, who at first told her to give her father a paracetamol-based painkiller used to reduce fever. As her father got worse, Bertuletti called him back. "He said: 'I am not forced to do house visits, be patient'," she said. The doctor who dealt with Bertuletti, contacted by Reuters, declined to be identified, but said through tears that medics had to make terrible choices. He said that he had been receiving between 300 to 500 phone calls a day and was covering for a sick colleague. "I had to make a selection, I couldn't visit those who had a cough and fever, I could only go to see the most serious cases." The association of family doctors in the province of Bergamo estimates that 70,000 people in the area may be infected. "Despite our best efforts, it's not possible to take everyone to hospital and sometimes families prefer to keep the sick at home out of fear they may not have another chance to say goodbye," Bergamo's mayor, Giorgio Gori, said. Like him, mayors across Lombardy are crying out for help. "We have citizens who are sick at home and feel abandoned, I could give you hundreds of examples," Giovanna Gargioni, mayor of Borghetto Lodigiano, wrote in a March 27 letter to regional health authorities on behalf of a group of local mayors. Even in Milan, Lombardy's main city and Italy's financial capital, doctors say that pledges by regional authorities to provide protective gear like face masks and to give swabs to medical personnel had yet to materialise for some. Visit our Covid-19 vaccine dashboard for updates on the roll out of the vaccination program and the rate of Coronavirus cases Ireland "We are working without protection, and no one tested us," said Roberto Scarano, a surgeon and family doctor in the city. "Meanwhile, the virus is spreading in people's homes, entire families are getting infected and no one's taking care of them." Ambulances that used to arrive within minutes of a call to emergency services now can take hours, medics say. Oxygen bottles are so scarce that nurses rush to claim them back from bereaved families as soon as patients die. "We are used to seeing people die, but normally it feels like you are accompanying them at the end of the road," said Maura Zucchelli, a nurse at Itineris, a private company which provides medical assistance at home in the Bergamo area. "Now you go to people's homes, and within 48-72 hours the patient is dead. It's draining. It's like war." New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (April 6) addressed Bharatiya Janata Party workers on the occasion of party's 40th foundation day. The Prime Minister said that people from every section of the society and age group demonstrated unity on Sunday by responding to the PM's '9 pm-9minute' appeal and strengthened the resolve to the fight against COVID-19. The Prime Minister also stated that it will be a long battle against the epidemic and asked citizens to neither get tired or give up. "I state it with full responsibility that this is a long war against coronavirus pandemic. But we do not have to get tired or take a rest in this war. We have to emerge victoriously. Today, the country has only one goal and one resolve - to win this war," he said. PM Modi also made 5 requests to his partymen on the occasion, while asking them to ensure that no poor remains hungry at the time of the crisis. 1.I request every party worker to distribute food and ration among poor as much as possible and it should be a continuous service. 2. Make 5 cloth masks and distribute them among others. Also, wear a mask or something to cover your face when you go out to help someone. 3. To thank those engaged in the service of the country which includes doctors-nurses, cleaning workers, policemen, bank-post office workers, other government employees. We need to ask families to write a letter of appreciation for five different sections of workers and reach out to them in polling booths. 4. An 'Arogya Setu App' has been developed to help in the fight against Coronavirus. Every party worker must inform about this app to maximum people and get this app installed in the mobile phones of at least 40 people. 5. Millions of people are donating to the PM-CARES fund. I request every BJP worker to cooperate for this fund and motivate at least 40 others to also cooperate. PM Modi also advised everyone to take necessary preventive measures and stay protected by adopting the mantra of social distancing. "Always remember, whenever you go out your face should be covered, I say you should keep your face covered even at your homes. The mantra today for the whole world is social distancing and discipline," he added. Amid the flurry of new technologies used by K-12 schools to fire up remote learning in recent weeks, a piece of seemingly antiquated technology is playing a key role: the television. School districts are getting help from an old school tech solutiontelevision stationsthat includes a cross-country public broadcast initiative to deliver remote e-learning activities while the unprecedented wave of school shutdowns affecting more than 55 million students continues. On Monday, public television stations in New Jersey and the Washington D.C., metro region started featuring the at-home learning program, which is now set to air in all 50 states. In other cases, school districts are producing new original educational programming on their own local cable stations. The effort amounts to a low-cost alternative and readily accessible solution for districts that have been forced to develop and implement long-term online lesson plans on the spot, while facing a shortage of available devices and WiFi accessibility for many students. In a world of high-tech gadgets, a seemingly never-ending array of apps and online curriculum tools developed by ed-tech vendors, television can fill a void created by the digital divide for families lacking access to more advanced solutions used for online learning. With just about every public access station in the country participating in some way, the program is already having a profound impact for low-income families, said Amy Shaw, president and chief executive of Nine Network of Public Media, St. Louis, Missouri. Right now, we are the largest classroom in the St. Louis area. You could argue PBS is currently the largest classroom in the country at the moment, said Shaw. Thats a very powerful ideathat were not just a nice thing to have. Were essential and relevant to the learning outcomes of children across this country at this time of crisis. PBS Stations Alter Lineups PBS stations have altered their lineups in collaboration with local school leaders, identifying archived materials that meet educational standards and adapting shows for specific curriculum needs. The PBS Kids series Peg + Cat serves up math lessons for elementary school kids, episodes of Nova reinforce science for grades 5-8, and Ken Burns The Civil War is a teaching resource for high schoolers studying history. Some local PBS affiliates record their own short intros and prompts that are answered after the shows to reinforce learning goals. For those families with online access, local PBS affiliates have also adapted websites to provide games, activities, videos, and supplemental reading and learning materials specific to the shows and lesson plans or to the broader coronavirus situation. The idea of delivering an at-home learning experience on public television in response to the coronavirus closures first took root in California, just one week before officials shut down schools in mid-March, as the state turned into a hotspot for the virus. Thats when Andrew Russell, president and chief executive of PBS SoCal and KCET, said he received a phone call from the superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District. The 700,000-student school system is the second-largest in the country, and about one of every four students lacks internet access at home. At the meeting, Russell said the request was clear: that PBS put something together to help support a huge logistical effort to deliver distance learning during likely mass closures. Within hours, curriculum specialists from PBS and LAUSD were in brainstorming sessions, matching PBS content with lesson plans. A final strategy was hatched days later. By the end of that week we had developed a broadcast schedule and curriculum, Russell said. A collection of stations in other parts of the country thought it was an intriguing idea, but school closures were not yet imminent for them. We were just a few days ahead of the rest of the country. Blessed by Educators The effort expanded quickly, with details emerging about PBS at-home learning programs in seven states initially. By last week, the initiative had spread to public television stations in all 50 states, according to Americas Public Television Stations, a trade group representing public broadcasters. The group said in a statement that public broadcasters are helping millions of students continue their education during the national emergency. Aside from educational materials, the stations are providing resources in other ways. In California, Russell said about 15,000 teachers have signed up for a training program provided by PBS. And in Detroit, public broadcasters are using some segments between programming for parent-focused messaging about coping during these difficult times and providing tips for ways to interact with children during the crisis. Rich Homberg, president and CEO of Detroit Public Television, said his organization sees its role as not only providing learning resources but as being a calming force, too. To that extent, Detroits PBS affiliate ramped up and reinvented a newsletter it was producing. Six times a week around 5 p.m., a newsletter with games, recipes, a preview of the next days programming schedule and general guidance for parents goes out via email, on the stations website and through a text messaging system, said Homberg. Recently, the newsletter has been re-adapted to play off the coronavirus crisis and expanded its frequency and the age and grade ranges. The idea, Homberg said, has caught on with other PBS stations around the country that have started to use the format. Were hosting noon conference calls with educators daily, and a big part of those discussions are, what are parents thinking, he said. Everything we do has to be blessed by educators. At the same time, were good at creating media. Theyre the ground troops. and were an air force looking to coordinate with them. A Lot of Back And Forth When the at-home learning initiative launched in New Jersey on Monday, students in grades 3-6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., had their online classes taught by a state teacher of the year award recipient. The New Jersey Department of Education said it would be one of several on-air classes taught by different teachers from the state as part of an instructional program called NJTV Learning Live . It marks a progression, of sorts, in how the public television stations and school districts are providing online learning resources. Most are relying solely on archived PBS material, while a handful are creating their own on-air lessons to complement archived shows. Discussions about how to do something with teachers providing specialized instruction on-air are currently taking place in Michigan, said Georgeann Herbert, senior vice president of Strategy at Detroit Public Television. Theres a lot of back and forth about it right now. Russell, the president and CEO of PBS SoCal and KCET, said stations across the country are exploring how to build on the current at-home learning platform put in place for the coronavirus school closures. He said hes heard stories of stations bringing teachers into studios to record online classes and experimenting on what would make the home learning experience more effective. Leveraging Local Cable TV Stations At the Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia, a district of almost 188,000 students, officials are leveraging three cable stations they already operate to supplement distance learning strategy. Amy Hunter, the K-12 Mathematics Coordinator for the district, said a team of more than 30 educators are currently recording and producing math lessons in their homes that will air on the cable stations for elementary students. When word spread of the impending virus outbreak, Hunter said teachers scrambled to record online courses in the production studio for the cable stations. They recorded some, but the district closed schools days later, and trekking to the studio soon became impractical. So the district bought lapel microphones from Amazon for a group of teachers for at-home recording sessions. Teams of educators are working together remotely to write scripts and produce visuals. As a result, Hunter said, teachers are stepping way out of their comfort zones to be creative not just with the production valuesbut coming up with original content in a new format. Theyre not necessarily as comfortable being in front of a camera, Hunter said, noting that some teachers have had to escape to coat closets late at night to find quiet sanctuaries to shoot lesson plans or record voiceovers for videos. Were not as polished as Sesame Street. But were trying to get more savvy and include live action. In this situation, we have to provide as many avenues as possible for students to engage. Not Replacing Curriculum While the at-home learning programs delivered on television are helping to fill a gap during the current situation, they generally work best as a supplement to teacher-assigned activities and other curriculum developed by school officials, educators say. Russell, the public broadcast executive in California, said PBS at-home learning materials provide prompts and suggested learning exercises, along with a variety of other digital resources. But, he said, its still quite different from the kind of distance learning thats going to happen with traditional online instruction. The big change is students are now at home without teachers there, he said. So were trying to support that learning at home. Herbert, the senior vice president of strategy at Detroit Public Television, said the goal of the program is simple: to keep kids engaged in learning. Were not making any claim about replacing curriculum, she said, or replacing a classroom. Kim Kardashian helped gain the freedom of convicted killer Momolu Stewart during her Justice Project documentary that aired Sunday on Oxygen. Momolu just days after his release in October 2019 attended her husband Kanye West's Sunday Service and performed in front of a large crowd. He was freed on parole after Kim, 39, supported him with a letter urging his release after serving 23 years behind bars as a teen lifer. Justice project: Kim Kardashian was shown fighting the criminal justice system on Sunday during the Kim Kardashian: Justice Project documentary on Oxygen 'I've been out of prison now for four and a half days,' Momolu told the crowd at Sunday Service as he rejoiced with them. The two-hour documentary opened with Kim in a voice-over amid prison scenes stating, 'Right now, there are 2.2 million men and women behind bars in the United States and that's more than any other country.' 'We have people spending their entire lifetime in prison because the circumstances surrounding their case were ignored at trial,' Kim said in confessional style along with snippets of prisoners sharing their stories. 'Our criminal justice system is badly broken. We have people who have been rehabilitated. They've changed their lives. They've proven to no longer be a danger to society just rotting away,' Kim said as an inmate in an orange jumpsuit shared his story. Free man: The reality star helped gain the early release of convicted murderer Momolu Stewart Badly broken: 'Our criminal justice system is badly broken. We have people who have been rehabilitated. They've changed their lives. They've proven to no longer be a danger to society just rotting away,' Kim said at the start of the two-hour documentary 'The toll mass incarceration is having on our country both financially and on the humanitarian level is devastating. And it's time to make a change. Some people deserve a second chance,' Kim said. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star then recounted her successful campaign on behalf of Alice Johnson, 64, who was sentenced to life for a non-violent drug offense that was commuted in June 2018 by President Donald Trump. 'I went in at 41,' said Alice who served 21 years behind bars in a federal prison. Sentence commuted: The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star recounted her successful campaign on behalf of Alice Johnson, 64, who was sentenced to life for a non-violent drug offense that was commuted in June 2018 by President Donald Trump The documentary then introduced the #cut50 group described as 'a national bipartisan initiative to reduce the number of people in prisons, jails, and crime across the country'. Kim recalled how she first heard of Alice's story on Twitter and said she 'felt in my soul' that it was her responsibility to educate other people about what she was learning. 'I know what feels fair in my heart and what doesn't,' said Kim who reached out to her attorney as they established a legal team to present Alice's case to the White House. Oval office: 'I know what feels fair in my heart and what doesn't,' said Kim who reached out to her attorney as they established a legal team to present Alice's case to the White House Kim was shown meeting with Trump and a week later sharing the news with Alice over the phone that she was free. The mother of four shared that she was studying law and prepping for the bar in hope that she can help as many people as possible to 'fight the system'. The documentary focused on the cases of Dawn Jackson, Alexis Martin, Momolu Stewart, and David Sheppard. Good news: The reality star was shown informing Alice that she was free Dawn's heartbreaking story was first as Kim told about receiving letters from family members and inmates about their situations after successfully helping Alice. She said Dawn's letter about her childhood sexual abuse and its role in the self-defense killing of her step-grandfather made her cry and reconsider her stance against helping a situation involving violence. 'This is a mother of seven who has made great strides behind bars. Really working on herself, through therapy groups, furthering her education, working with women. Yet, despite all that after 21 years remains behind bars,' said Kim who revealed that Dawn's letter made her angry at the people who betrayed her and think of her own children and what she would do if that happened to them. Jawa Jackson, her brother, recalled growing up with his sister who he felt would have the best chance at succeeding in life. Legal aid: Kim and #cut50 lawyers Jessica Jackson and Erin Haney discussed the case of Dawn Jackson He recalled an incident in which his mother's boyfriend molested his sister at age five and Dawn moved away to live with her grandmother. She was then abused over the next 20 years by multiple family members including her step-grandfather who she ultimately killed. Kim and #cut50 lawyers Jessica Jackson and Erin Haney discussed Dawn's past suicide attempts and being hospitalized at age five after being sexually abused. 'Oh, I'd take one for the whole family and I would go kill that person,' Kim said outraged at the abuse of a child. Take one: 'Oh, I'd take one for the whole family and I would go kill that person,' Kim said outraged at the abuse of a child Kim told about Dawn becoming a drug addict to cope with her sexual abuse and how she acted in self-defense in March 199 when her step-grandfather sexually abused her while she was high on drugs. Dawn stabbed him several times and was charged at age 27 with first-degree felony murder for the crime. Kim said that she and her lawyers were committed to Dawn's case and wanted to bring her home either through appeal or clemency or both. Seeking freedom: Kim said that she and her lawyers were committed to Dawn's case and wanted to bring her home either through appeal or clemency or both The documentary next focused on Alexis who was arrested at age 15 for aggravated murder for allegedly killing her pimp also after suffering from years of sexual abuse. She had been physically and sexually assaulted since age nine and had parents had substance abuse issues, said her first lawyer Noah Munyer, who added that Alexis also was exceptionally bright. Kim arranged a meeting with Alexis in prison in hopes of figuring out what could be done to help her. Teen murder: The documentary next focused on Alexis who was arrested at age 15 for aggravated murder for allegedly killing her pimp also after suffering from years of sexual abuse Alexis told how she grew up in Akron, Ohio, and how her mother lost custody of her children several times while being jailed for drug trafficking. Kim listened as Alexis told how she did odd jobs at aged 11 to help pay the bills and then was molested by her mother's husband. Alexis told Kim that she was raped four times starting at age nine and one attacker who raped her from ages nine to eleven was found not guilty despite semen being found in her panties. Sexually abused: Alexis told Kim that she was raped four times starting at age nine and one attacker who raped her from ages nine to eleven was found not guilty despite semen being found in her panties 'That breaks my heart, people shouldn't have to go through that. You called out for help from the authorities and people who could've protected you and they didn't,' Kim told her. Alexis told Kim how she got mixed up with drug dealer Angelo Kerney at age 14 and 15 and he asked her carry his drugs and guns from state to state. She said that Angelo raped her and allegedly began sex trafficking her at age 14. Sex trafficking: She said that she got involved with drug dealer Angelo Kerney who raped her and allegedly began sex trafficking her at age 14 'I did like weird jobs that paid a lot. This guy came and he wanted me to wear a Hannah Montana nightgown with two pigtails. And he wanted to have sex with me while he had sex with me I was supposed to push him and scratch him and tell him, ''Oww daddy, you're hurting me'',' Alexis told Kim. She said that when she refused sex work that Angelo would beat her and threaten to traffick her little sister. Her mother Crystal Bowers blamed Angelo for leading her daughter to the lifestyle that ended with her in prison. Her mother: Alexis's mother Crystal Bowers blamed Angelo for leading her daughter to the lifestyle that ended with her in prison Crystal said she got a call in November 2013 from a detective saying her daughter was wanted for murder. Kim said the important lesson for Alexis was to understand her childhood sexual abuse and that she was a victim of sex trafficking. She told how Alexis planned to rob Angelo to get away from him, but two male accomplices shot and killed Angelo and wounded his brother 'His brother was on top of Alexis having sex with her when he was shot. She was being raped at the time because she was 15 years old when this crime happened,' Kim said. Important lesson: Kim said the important lesson for Alexis was to understand her childhood sexual abuse and that she was a victim of sex trafficking Prosecutors pushed to move her case to adult court and Kim caught up with her attorney Jennifer M. Kinsley to learn more about the case. 'She literally had nobody,' Jennifer said. Kim said she felt it was 'extremely important' for a judge to consider the circumstances that lead a person to commit a crime. Whole circumstances: The KUWTK star said she felt it was 'extremely important' for a judge to consider the circumstances that lead a person to commit a crime Alexis was tried as an adult following a ruling by an Ohio state court and she accepted a plea deal that included a life sentence with parole eligibility after 21 years. Kim said she was touched by Alexis making efforts to better herself behind bars including mentoring other women who were sexual trafficking survivors and obtaining her GED. She also is a certified dog trainer for basic obedience and special hearing. Attorneys were hoping to use a safe harbor law designed to help victims of sex trafficking that was in effect in Ohio as part of her appeal. Kim offered to help with an upcoming clemency hearing for Alexis and offered to write a letter to the parole board. Life sentence: Alexis was tried as an adult following a ruling by an Ohio state court and she accepted a plea deal that included a life sentence with parole eligibility after 21 years The reality star next took up the case of Momulu who was incarcerated at age 16 for life and had been behind bars for 23 years He was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder for a 1997 shooting death and admitted in a letter to Kim that he was guilty of the crime. Momulu in his letter said he had become a mentor prison and his only aspiration was to express his repentance by the lives he's helped to save. He was serving a life sentence due to mandatory sentences. Momulu during a face-to-face meeting told Kim that when he murdered the man that part of his spirit died as well. Teen lifer: The reality star next took up the case of Momolu who was incarcerated at age 16 for life and had been behind bars for 23 years He said his father would get drunk and beat his mother and that his mother and her boyfriend murdered his father when he was age six. Momolu moved in with his aunt and her husband who abused crack cocaine and would physically abuse him. He ran away at age 14 and stayed with friends and soon started selling drugs with them. Drug dealer: He ran away at age 14 and stayed with friends and soon started selling drugs with them Momolu and a friend confronted a drug dealer who threatened them and killed him during a shootout and both received life sentences at ages 16 and 17. Kim wrote a letter on Momolu's behalf in favor of his release and he was freed in October 2019. He then made an appearance a few days later at Sunday Service. The episode also showed Kim helping to gain the early release of David Sheppard who walked out after serving 27 years behind bars. Sunday service: Four days after he was freed, Momolu appeared at Kanye West's Sunday Service Unfair sentence: The episode also showed Kim helping to gain the early release of David Sheppard who walked out after serving 27 years behind bars. He received a life sentence for a shooting death despite not being the shooter and got a 5-0 vote from the clemency board allowing his release. Kim was praised by Jessica of #cut50 for her involvement in criminal just reform including passage of the First Step Act that has lead to the release of 7,000 people. The documentary ended with Kim asking viewers if we were treating prisoners fairly and noted that one in three black men will serve time in prison at some point in their lives. 'This problem is not going away until we all decide to work together to fix it,' Kim said. The schools of more than 90% of the world's enrolled students have closed because of the coronavirus pandemic - and it happened over the space of only a few weeks, a United Nations agency said. Schools in 188 countries had shuttered by March 4, affecting 91.3% of students from the earliest years through college and vocational school, the Paris-based U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization reported. The total number of students affected was 1,576,021,818 - and it is girls who will suffer the most from the closures, the agency known as UNESCO said. On Feb. 16, only 0.1% of the world's students had been affected, amounting to a little more than 1 million, with China the only country that had shut down schools nationwide. As the novel coronavirus spread from country to country, continent to continent, governments quickly began to take action, ordering nationwide shutdowns of schools and most other aspects of public life. The Washington Post reported that more than 1.2 million cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed worldwide, although the number could be significantly higher because of the lack of adequate testing in many countries. The United States has the most reported cases, with at least 333,000 people testing positive for the virus, and 9,516 have died in the country. According to UNESCO, girls will suffer the most from school closure around the world. Stefania Giannini, UNESCO's assistant director general for education, and Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen, chief executive for Plan International, a development and humanitarian organization, wrote that of the students out of school, more than 111 million of them are girls living in the world's least developed countries, "where getting an education is already a struggle " for them. Giannini and Albrectsen continued: "These are contexts of extreme poverty, economic vulnerability and crisis where gender disparities in education are highest. In Mali, Niger and South Sudan - three countries with some of the lowest enrollment and completion rates for girls - closures have forced over 4 million girls out of school. "For girls living in refugee camps or who are internally displaced, school closures will be most devastating as they are already at a disadvantage. Refugee girls at secondary level are only half as likely to enroll as their male peers. "While many girls will continue with their education once the school gates reopen, others will never return to school. Education responses must prioritize the needs of adolescent girls' at the risk of reversing 20 years of gains made for girls' education." Late in March, UNESCO convened a virtual meeting of education ministers from 11 countries - Costa Rica, Croatia, Egypt, France, Iran, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru and Senegal - to discuss efforts to keep education continuing with schools shut, and the challenges ahead. With the importance of science front and center during the pandemic, the agency hosted a March 30 online meeting of representatives of ministries in charge of science representing 122 countries. The goal: to discuss how to promote international cooperation in science and increased investment related to the science of the coronavirus. "We all depend on science to survive," Marcos Pontes, Brazil's minister of science, technology, innovation and communication, was quoted as saying by UNESCO. The number of deaths in the state has reached 4,159, Mr. Cuomo said. But, notably, there were slightly fewer fatalities on Saturday than on Friday. You could argue that youre seeing a slight plateauing in the data, which obviously would be good news, Mr. Cuomo said at his daily briefing in Albany. But he noted that it was too soon to say whether the changes in the numbers were indicative of a trend. Mr. Cuomo also said he would seek to shift patients from overloaded hospitals to other facilities with lighter workloads. Supplies like gowns and masks were being shifted among hospitals as well, he said. [Get the latest news and updates on the coronavirus in the New York region.] De Blasio says New York City has enough medical supplies until Tuesday or Wednesday New York City has enough critical medical supplies to last a few more days, Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference on Sunday. A man was shot dead by police in the Philippines for threatening local officials after refusing to follow the countrys coronavirus restrictions. The 63-year-old man is believed to have been drunk when he attacked health officials and police manning a Covid-19 checkpoint in the southern town of Nasipit in Agusan del Norte province. The suspect was cautioned by a village health worker ... for not wearing a face mask, a police report said on Sunday. But the suspect got angry, uttering provoking words and eventually attacked the personnel using a scythe. The man was subsequently shot dead as the incident escalated, in what is the first reported case of police shooting a civilian for flouting rules on curbing the spread of coronavirus. Thursdays killing follows the warning made by Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte that police and military have the right to execute lockdown violators. My orders to the police and military ... if there is trouble and theres an occasion that they fight back and your lives are in danger, shoot them dead Instead of causing trouble, I will bury you, he said last week. Defending his words over the weekend, the president said: Without these restrictions, this will not end. So if you dont want to follow, then I will finish you to protect the lives of the innocent who dont want to die. To date, the Philippines has reported 3,246 cases and 152 deaths from coronavirus. The main island of Luzon has been under lockdown since 16 March, while local authorities in a number of other provinces have imposed their own restrictions. Last week, the government ordered all citizens to wear masks when venturing outside during the month-long lockdown. Let me repeat if you need to go out of your house, you need to wear a mask, government official Karlo Nograles said. The Philippines government has come under criticism for its aggressive dealing of the coronavirus pandemic, with human rights groups warning against President Dutertes reckless and abusive regulations. More tragedies like this are bound to happen because President Duterte gave officials the explicit and very public go ahead to shoot people dead for defying Covid-19 related regulations, Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, told The Independent. Someone who is drunk with a farm implement should be disarmed and sent home, not shot down in the street. The problem is local Philippines authorities think these regulations are more about showing their power and authority through curfews and checkpoints than saving lives by keeping people safe and socially distanced. Dutertes reckless, rights-abusing pronouncements are making things worse for the people of the Philippines at this extraordinarily difficult time. Butch Olano, a director for Amnesty International in the Philippines, said: This is an unprecedented health crisis, but President Duterte is focusing on attacking freedoms of speech and assembly. Last month, concerns were raised that lockdown violators in the county were being subject to cruel and inhuman mistreatment at the hands of local authorities. In one incident, five men in a province south of Manila were arrested and placed into a dog cage. Human Rights Watch said the arresting officials sought to justify their actions by claiming the men had violated curfew and been verbally abusive. Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Show all 20 1 /20 Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Top: Nabi Younes market, Mosul Bottom: Charles Bridge, Prague Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Grand Mosque, Mecca Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Nabi Younes market, Mosul Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Basra Grand Mosque, Iraq Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Charles Bridge, Prague Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Taj Mahal hotel, India Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Dubai Mall, UAE Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Beirut March, Lebanon Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Gateway of India, Mumbai Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo University, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Beirut March, Lebanon Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo University, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Victoria Memorial, India Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Sidon, Lebanon Reuters Elsewhere, in Paranaque, a city within Metro Manila, a number of individuals who had broken curfew were reportedly forced to sit in the intense midday sun by local police. A number of arrests were also made in the capital last Wednesday after residents staged a protest demanding emergency relief goods and food amid a lockdown that has left many out of work. The government has sanctioned a 200 billion peso (3.2bn) relief package, but there have been delays in the delivery of assistance. Mr Robertson added that any interventions made by police and authorities in dealing with potential lawbreakers must be in line with international human rights standards, including the prohibition against cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of people in custody. TALLAHASSEE, FL -- The Florida Department of Health has released the following statement concerning COVID-19 testing across the state: "The Florida Department of Health (Department) highlighted the states most recent milestone in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19 - the successful testing of more than 100,000 Floridians. Florida is now the state with the second-highest number of tested individuals. Only New York has tested more individuals. Governor Ron DeSantis said, 'This is an incredible achievement by any measure, and it is all due to the hard work and great sacrifice by Floridas thousands of health care workers and first responders who are on the front lines of this fight. These professionals will have the full weight of the State of Florida behind them as they continue to devote themselves to keeping Floridas families safe." Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees said, 'Thanks in large part to the number of tests conducted by our states health care providers, Florida is now ranked second nationally for testing of this new coronavirus. Our dedicated team of public health personnel will continue their tireless work in ensuring our states symptomatic and vulnerable populations are receiving optimal care. The Department, alongside our national, state and local partners, is committed to the swift and effective resolution of COVID-19 epidemic.' FDEM Director Jared Moskowitz said, 'COVID-19 is an unprecedented virus in this country, and it requires an unprecedented response. We have been clear from the beginning that we will use every resource we have at our disposal to fight this virus and protect Floridians. Performing more than 100,000 tests in our state demonstrates our commitment.' At the direction of Governor Ron DeSantis and through the close agency partnerships fostered by the Division of Emergency Management, the Department has coordinated the establishment and continuing operations of eight state-supported COVID-19 testing sites, located in Floridas most impacted communities: The Hard Rock Stadium in Miami South Dade Government Center in Miami-Dade County Marlins Stadium in Miami The Orange County Convention Center TIAA Bank Field Lot J in Jacksonville CB Smith Park in Broward County The FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in Palm Beach County Raymond James Stadium in Tampa To date, these sites have conducted more than 24,000 tests. Top Ten States for COVID-19 Testing New York: 283,621 Florida: 102,108 California: 94,800 Washington: 82,599 New Jersey: 75,356 Pennsylvania: 70,030 Texas: 63,751 Massachusetts: 62,962 Louisiana: 58,498 Illinois: 48,048 More Information on COVID-19 To find the most up-to-date information and guidance on COVID-19, please visit the Department of Healths COVID-19 webpage. For information and advisories from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), please visit the CDC COVID-19 website. For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact the Departments dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1-(866) 779-6121 which is available 24 hours per day. Inquiries may also be emailed to [email protected]. About the Florida Department of Health The Florida Department of Health, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts. Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook . For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov ." Courtesy of the Florida Department of Health Police have been filmed pouring water over a barbecue after two people on a beach allegedly refused to leave during the coronavirus lockdown. One yellow-jacketed officer can be seen tipping a helmet full of water onto the BBQ as a colleague watches on. The incident appears to have taken place at Hove beach in Brighton, after Sussex Police tweeted on Saturday that two people had been summonsed to attend court after breaching the Coronavirus Act 2020 by having a BBQ on Hove beach. The force added: Thank you to everyone that stayed away from beauty spots and beaches today. We know it isnt easy. People were warned over the weekend not to put lives at risk by visiting beaches, parks and other beauty spots during the warm weather. Cabinet secretary Michael Gove has meanwhile said there is evidence to suggest young people are not taking social distancing measures seriously despite strict instructions to stay at home. That is why it is important that we reach them appropriately it may be that some of the messages and some of the channels we have used have not reached some segments of the population, he said last week. It may be that young people feel that they are less likely to be affected and less likely to be infected. Police chiefs have also asked the public to cut us a little bit of slack following criticism of heavy-handed tactics to enforce the Covid-19 lockdown. Derbyshire Police were previously criticised after using drones to film people walking in the Peak District, activity they said breached coronavirus regulations. Lancashire Police issued 123 fines for breaches of the rules last weekend, while officers in Cheshire summonsed six people for various offences, including multiple people from the same house going out to buy non-essential items. But West Midlands Police chief constable Dave Thompson has said that claims Britain is becoming a police state are widely off the mark. I think the public are trying to stick to this, which they are, and I think the general comments that have been made by experts and people, they just need to cut us a little bit of slack at the moment, its pretty tough, he said last month. Transport secretary Grant Shapps admitted there had been one or two instances of police being heavy-handed but said that, as a whole, forces were being sensible. Raphael remembered with child's Andra tutto bene rainbow drawing in Pantheon. Italy's culture ministry has laid flowers at the tomb of Raphael, on the 500th anniversary of the death of the High Renaissance artist, in the Pantheon. Among the bunch of wildflowers is a child's drawing of a rainbow, with the message "Andra tutto bene." The expression, meaning "Everything will be alright", is a reference to the Coronavirus emergency which has resulted in the closure of the world's greatest Raphael show on the artist's 500th anniversary. Photo MiBACT Assam Police on Monday said it will take strict legal action against people who attended the religious congregation at Delhi's Nizamuddin or visited any COVID-coronavirus- affected country or Indian state, if they do not present themselves in front of health officials by Tuesday morning for COVID-19 checkup. Issuing an 'Urgent notice', the police said steps will be initiated under the IPC and the Disaster Management Act against the individuals concerned, those who have given them shelter and those who had knowledge of such travel history of someone but did not inform the authorities. "This is the final appeal to those people, who have come to Assam after being present at the Nizamuddin Markaz or have been to a state or country affected by COVID-19 recently. All such individuals are requested to present themselves at the nearest hospital or PHC by 6 am tomorrow. They may also call on helpline 104 for informing the authorities of their presence and condition," it said. The police said if such persons deliberately fail to present themselves by the given deadline or inform the authorities, strict legal action will be taken. Earlier in the day, Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also said strict action will follow if people attending the congregation at Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin last month do not come out to check their health parameters by the end of the day. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four Qantas flight crew tested positive for coronavirus after being exempt from hotel quarantine measures when they returned from Chile. The crew travelled from Santiago to Sydney during a commercial flight on March 29, but unlike their passengers, they were not taken to hotels for mandatory 14-day quarantine. Airline crew are not required to isolate after returning from overseas and are allowed to go home to their families thanks to a grant from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee. Four Qantas flight attendants have tested positive for coronavirus after being exempt from forced hotel quarantine measures on return from Chile. Pictured: Qantas staff in front of an aircraft that landed from Santiago in March 29 Army personnel wait for travellers to take them to hotels for quarantine after returning from overseas It is feared the crew may have spread the deadly virus to their family members, other Qantas staff or the public since their return. Professor Mary-Louise McLaws from the World Health Organisation's COVID-19 expert advisory panel told The Sydney Morning Herald quarantine exemptions for airline crew didn't make sense. 'For cabin crew it makes no logical sense to give them an exemption when they are having close contact with passengers who are then required to go into isolation under supervision,' she said. 'While the cabin crew don't go on holiday while theyre there, they are exposed for many hours in small confined spaces. Anybody thats a traveller is a risk and that remains a risk for spread in Australia, be they the captain, the crew or the passengers.' More than two thirds of Australian coronavirus patients have contracted the infection from a returned traveller. Qantas Medical Director Dr Ian Hosegood said crew members are subject to self-isolation measures, with special provisions taken for crew on layovers. 'We are complying with all of the requirements issued by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee while also maintaining crucial air links to help get Australians home,' he said in a statement. Police officers in the deserted Sydney domestic airport on March 20 amid the coronavirus pandemic A passenger wearing a face mask gives a thumbs up on arrival in Sydney from Santiago on March 29 'Crew who return home must also comply with the social isolating requirements currently enforced in the state or territory in which they live just like any other member of the public. 'We have also reiterated to our crew to practice good hygiene, use personal protective equipment when appropriate and maintain social distancing when on a slip or away from their base.' Qantas crew are restricted to their rooms during layovers and are given personal protective equipment including hand sanitiser, masks, and gloves to use in transit. The airline 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. Five Jetstar staff members have also tested positive. Qantas have pledged to help bring stranded Australian travellers overseas back home during the pandemic CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement Australians stranded overseas will have an opportunity to come back home on limited Qantas and Virgin flights. Both airlines announced 13 flights this month for Australians stuck overseas during the coronavirus pandemic after the government agreed to subsidise service costs. All passengers arriving back in Australia will face mandatory 14-day quarantine under supervision. None of the flights will be landing in Sydney, as the government wants to even out the quarantine responsibility. 'As the national carrier, Qantas is proud to operate these flights on behalf of the Federal Government and help bring more Australians home,' the airline said in a statement. 'Maintaining strategic air connections from Australia to hubs in the UK, US, Hong Kong and New Zealand will enable essential travel and freight to continue during this crisis.' The on-going Covid-19 outbreak has already claimed the lives of thousands and left many more in hospitals in its wake. This has understandably created a lot panic and fear in the minds of people across the globe. However, some are dealing with these fears in the worst way possible. Case in point, some miscreants in the United Kingdom who heading to baseless conspiracy theories have begun targeting 5G networks across the country. The BBC reports that over the last few days, cellular towers in Birmingham, Liverpool and Melling in Merseyside have been set ablaze, all in an attempt to stop the spread of the novel Coronavirus. The report goes on to add that a video, allegedly of an incident in Aigburth, was also shared on YouTube and Facebook. The video claimed a link between the next-gen 5G technology and the current Covid-19 outbreak. The seemingly farcical situation is threatening to turn ugly, and has even forced the hand of the UK's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which has had to Twitter to explain that "there is absolutely no credible evidence of a link between 5G and coronavirus." The incident even elicited a response from the UK government, with Cabinet Office minister, Michael Gove, calling such rumours "dangerous nonsense". He further went on to add that conspiracy theories linking 5G with Covid-19 were "just nonsense, dangerous nonsense as well." 5G causes coronavirus because it's sucking the oxygen out of your lungs, according to a video being spread on Facebook. I want to but the fact people believe this bullshit is genuinely scary pic.twitter.com/kY3g5MJtu9 Tom Warren (@tomwarren) March 3, 2020 While there are many conspiracy theories floating on the web, with some even blaming the Russians for the spread, the most popular ones revolve around claims that Covid-19 originated in Wuhan when the country started to roll-out 5G in the city. The virus is now claimed to be spreading to other cities where infrastructure is being laid down for the next-gen telecom technology. Another theory claims that the virus suppresses the immune system, and uses the network's radio waves to communicate and pick victims. While there is no scientific explanation for the claims being made here, one critical thing that these conspiracy theories fail to explain is how Covid-19 is also spreading to countries such as India, Japan, Pakistan and Iran where the infrastructure for 5G networks doesn't exist. Kadambari Shah and Prakhar Misra On March 22, at 5 pm, following Prime Minister Narendra Modis request, millions of Indians flocked to their windows and balconies to express their gratitude towards healthcare professionals, police and other essential services providers who are working tirelessly to keep the rest of us safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their daily challenge is now their biggest strength: the need to constantly adapt to shifting ground, work in contingencies in the absence of protocols, and develop redress mechanisms along the way. However, they need support from policymakers to help them further leverage their strengths. Political scientist Michael Lipsky termed frontline workers doctors, nurses, school teachers, police officers and so on as street-level bureaucracy. Described as public service workers who interact directly with citizens in the course of their jobs, and who have substantial discretion in the execution of their work, this line of bureaucracy liaises between policymakers and the general public to implement policy objectives. The defining feature of their jobs is that they are tasked with drawing conclusions and making on-the-spot choices without complete information. In the ethos of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is no time to waste. Data, best practices, and processes are unavailable or non-existent; they are created and change in real-time as the situation evolves. This only exacerbates uncertainties and the need for quick decisions. Across the globe, street-level bureaucracy is getting creative. In Bhutan, testing has become aggressive. A suspected COVID-19 case was quarantined and tested four times over 14 days. The first three times, the test came back negative, but doctors persisted. On the 14th day the last day of quarantine the patient tested positive. In Italy, where resources are stretched thin, doctors are turning to war-time strategies triaging to help those who are most likely to survive. 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 These street-level bureaucracy initiatives are complemented by those from policymakers and other authorities. In Spain, the government has nationalised all private hospitals to ramp up delivery of health services. In the United States, states are calling on retired medical personnel and students to increase the capacity of hospitals to serve a sharply growing number of infected patients. India spends less than 2 percent of its GDP on healthcare. The WHO states that the ideal doctor to population ratio should be 1:1000. According to the National Health Profile 2019, India has a doctor-population ratio of 1:1457. For those living in rural areas, this ratio plummets to 1:10926. Further, as the Centre for Policy Researchs Yamini Aiyar pointed out on 22 March doctors in rural primary health centres see barely eight to 10 patients a day. With the number of active COVID-19 cases in India growing rapidly, the pressure that this is going to put on an already understaffed system is unprecedented. All this goes to say that innovation by street-level bureaucrats is key to fighting this pandemic. The Hyderabad Police demonstrated ways in which people should wash their hands and sneeze properly, while Chennai had its police wearing helmets that resembled the coronavirus, in an effort to raise awareness. In Kerala, the police collaborated with actors to create videos on hand-sanitizers and self-quarantine, while local health workers took it upon themselves to stop a wedding after knowing that the groom had returned from China. Policymakers have stepped in to support street-level bureaucrats in different forms. To start with, the threat of these frontline workers catching the virus is being addressed. The government has contracted three firms to produce medical equipment at a rate of 20,000 pieces per week. Second, other public facilities are used to treat patients. In Kerala, like in the US, medical colleges and hostels are turning themselves into hospitals to reach a wider number of patients and assist with more number of beds. In Mumbai too, several private hospitals have been converted into quarantine centres. Additionally, experts are pivotal in crafting solutions to issues ranging from direct medical-related effects to indirect effects on the economy and society. The PMO has set up 11 empowered group committees to discuss and inform policy to accompany on-ground functioning, such as through quarantine facilities and public grievance mechanisms. There are still a few measures that could be undertaken to help street-level bureaucrats. First, ensure and stockpile hazmat suits for delivery boys/girls to protect them. China did this in Wuhan where couriers are being relied on for food delivery and medical supplies. It is important for India to ensure that supply chains are running, with those running them safe. Second, South Korea has set-up drive-through screening clinics where people can undergo testing within 10 minutes, processing up to 15,000 diagnostic tests a day. India should do something similar and reduce contact between frontline workers and patients. This is important given the low testing rate per capita that India has at the moment. Third, quick policies need to have foresight. Several states have taken the call to cut salaries of their employees and dependents, including teachers and pensioners. Such moves, in the long-run, could hurt the street-level bureaucracy immensely. The only way to fight COVID-19 with low personnel numbers is to plan several steps ahead. The government is doing this in several domains, but it also needs to focus on assisting its street-level bureaucrats to contain this virus. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, on Monday defended U.S. Navy Capt. Brett Crozier, who was dismissed from duty last week for alerting Navy officials about the spreading COVID-19 coronavirus on his aircraft carrier docked at a harbor in Guam and calling for their quick evacuation from the ship. In a letter to his superiors, Crozier, a Santa Rosa native, called for the removal of more than 4,000 sailors from the USS Theodore Roosevelt where an estimated 150 sailors tested positive for COVID-19, according to news reports. Senior Navy officials argued Crozier should have directed his complaints and concerns up a formal chain of command instead of sending his concerns to more than two dozen people in a message that was leaked to the media, according to news reports. Thompson said Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly referred to Crozier Monday as stupid and naive to his former sailors. Captain Crozier acted with only the best interest of his crew in mind, showing an unwavering commitment to their health and safety during this uncertain time, Thompson said. As a combat veteran, his dismissal has me deeply concerned and the comments made by the Secretary of the Navy are downright unacceptable. The entire Department of Defense should be focused on the health of our men and women in uniform, not closing ranks and slandering a good man who has served his nation honorably. I will continue defending Capt. Crozier and asking the Navy to conduct a full investigation into this matter, Thompson said. Thompson said he wrote to President Donald Trump, Department of Defense Inspector General, the Acting Secretary of the Navy, Secretary of Defense and others demanding a further explanation into the Navys decision to relieve Crozier of his command. 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-07 02:37:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Monday called for friendly countries to pressure the United States to lift its "cruel and one-sided" sanctions against Iran as the country struggles to curb the coronavirus outbreak. Rouhani made the remarks in a telephone conversation with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, state TV reported. "The U.S. government has not only violated international regulations by imposing illegal sanctions on Iran, but is also breaching health regulations ratified by the World Health Organization in 2005 through its measures under the current circumstances," Rouhani said. "The removal of sanctions and fulfillment of commitments by Europe are a necessity, which has become more significant in the current specific situation," he added. Iran is the worst-hit country by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Middle East, with 60,500 confirmed cases and 3,739 deaths so far. Queen Elizabeth II addressed the nation on Sunday 5 April. (Buckingham Palace via AP) The Queen's speech to the nation on Sunday evening over the ongoing coronavirus pandemic was seen by around a staggering 24 million viewers. The figures take into account the broadcasts on BBC One, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, as well as those on the BBC News Channel and Sky News. It comes as Boris Johnson's address to the UK on Monday 23 March was watched by nearly 28 million people, putting it ahead of many famous broadcasts including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the London Olympics in 2012. Read more: Boris Johnsons coronavirus tests likely to focus on his lungs During the broadcast, the Prime Minister announced strict new measures as a tighter lockdown was set in place in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation from 10 Downing Street, London, as he placed the UK on lockdown as the Government seeks to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by PA Video/PA Images via Getty Images) Of the 23.97 million people who tuned in to watch the Queen over the 4 minute and 30 second broadcast, 14.06 million of those were watching on BBC One, while 5.1 million watched on ITV. In total, it took an 80% share of the total audience. Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world Fact-checker: The number of COVID-19 cases in your local area Explained: Symptoms, latest advice and how it compares to the flu The Queen expressed thanks for key workers in her message, noting "every hour" of work "brings us closer to a return to more normal times". Nearly 24 million people tuned in to watch the monarch deliver her speech. (Buckingham Palace via AP) The monarch shared: "While we have faced challenges before, this one is different. "This time we join with all nations across the globe in a common endeavour, using the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to heal. We will succeed - and that success will belong to every one of us. "We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again." It was the fifth time the Queen addressed the nation outside of her annual Christmas Day speech. T-Series MD Bhushan Kuman donated Rs 11 crore to the PM-CARES Fund as he said it was extremely important to do all we can to help. In addition, he donated to the Maharashtra CM Relief Fund as well. Jaan hai toh jahaan hai (The world is alive if you are), said Akshay Kumar as he committed himself to save lives. The Bollywood actor donated Rs 25 crore to the PM-CARES fund. This is that time when all that matters is the lives of our people. And we need to do anything and everything it takes, he tweeted. Kotak Mahindra Bank MD Uday Kotak on Sunday announced to donate Rs 25 crore to the PM-CARES Fund. The bank will also donate an additional Rs 25 crore to the fund. It is time to protect Lives and Livelihood, he tweeted The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) pledged to donate Rs 51 crore to PM-CARES with the primary objective of dealing with emergency or distress situations. It is committed to providing support to the state machinery in the face of adversity, it said. JSW Group Chairman Sajjan Jindal has said that the group was continuously evaluating the situation. He said it was committed to assist the government in all ways possible to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. The company donated Rs 100 crore to the PM-CARES Fund. On April 3, the company declared on LinkedIn that the Adani Foundation had contributed Rs 100 crore to the PM-CARES. Adani Foundation has contributed Rs 5 crore to the Gujarat CM-Relief Fund and Rs 1 crore to the Maharashtra CM- Relief Fund as well. On April 4, Radhakrishan Damani - the promoter of Avenue Supermarts that owns D-Mart - donated Rs 100 crore to the PM-CARES Fund. It also contributed another Rs 55 crore towards various state relief funds. Damani made the donation through group company Bright Star Investments. On April 3, Aditya Birla Group contributed Rs 400 crore to the PM-Cares Fund as a part of its overall commitment of Rs 500 crore. In partnership with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, it also activated a 100-bed facility at Seven Hills Hospitals in Mumbai. Among other measures, the company also earmarked 200 beds in cities like Ujjain, Pune, Hazaribagh and Rayagada. On March 31, the company announced on Twitter that it was making a humble contribution of Rs 500 crore. As always, we remain fully committed and united in the support to the nation, it said . Tata Group, in collaboration with Tata Trusts, has pledged Rs 1,500 crore for the cause. I sent my mom a text, N.Y.U. is drafting medical students to help fight Covid, Mark S. Cort, 26, said. She immediately called me. She knows Im pretty hardheaded. She made sure that I knew she loved me, and that she would be praying for me. If they are saying they need more foot soldiers, Dr. Horan said, Im here to help. It was a spirit echo of a moment 17 years ago, when hundreds of soldiers from the 101st Airborne of the United States Army gathered in a giant hangar at Fort Campbell, Ky., before they boarded planes for the invasion of Iraq. The national leadership had deemed it a worthy cause, a decision many saw, or came to see, as wrong. But what started true and stayed true was the impulse of those men and women to serve. Many were in their early 20s. (The chaplain posted a warning sign for anyone trying to rush a big decision: I dont marry privates and I dont marry teenagers.) The troops queued to get inoculated against anthrax and smallpox, leaned over tables to designate life insurance beneficiaries, and puzzled out standardized wills, documents few had ever encountered. With variations, the same hectic spell landed on the new doctors. Dr. Gerber, who will move to the Denver Health Medical Center in Colorado at the end of his Covid-19 service in New York, was packing boxes last week so hed be ready to throw them in a car and drive west when the time came. The early graduates have agreed to work for 30 days in one of four hospitals affiliated with N.Y.U., with optional two-week extensions. When they are done, they will have to quarantine for two weeks. Dr. Cort, born in Guyana, raised in Brooklyn, and the first in his family to go to college, was organizing paperwork for the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he will be an intern. He had not seen his mother or grandmother since he convinced them to stay home last month. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and finance ministry may ease the time period for classifying overdue loans as non-performing assets (NPAs) to 180 days from the current 90 days, Business Standard reported. The NPA delinquency relaxation to 180 days "may be heavily qualified to prevent its abuse" a source told the publication. The revision in the timeline to recognise NPAs will be staggered, having start-stop dates which will finally be brought back to the current 90 days by the end of 2020-21, the report said. In Pics | India turns off lights to switch on solidarity The finance ministry and RBI are also considering allowing rescheduling of accounts classified as overdue, stressed or NPAs as of December 2019 without being downgraded, the report 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 Fresh funding (with a minimum repayment period of 18 to 24 months) is to be considered, the report added. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story. Interest accumulated as on January 1, 2020, will be allowed to be repaid in six monthly installments from October 1 to March 31, 2021, Business Standard reported. COVID-19 pandemic LIVE updates There was a concern that the NPA delinquency period of 90 days might hurt some depositors, since the central bank had on March 27 granted a three-month moratorium on term loans. Depositors who require three months to make the payments might get downgraded from regular accounts to NPAs. These borrowers may default and get downgraded as NPAs under the current norms due to their inability to service the interest component on which there is no breather, said a source. Follow our full coverage here You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close u There is growing speculation that the government will extend its furlough scheme ntil summer, throwing millions of struggling companies and business owners a much-needed lifeline. The scheme was meant to come to a halt at the end of April but Rishi Sunak is expected to push the deadline back, according to the Financial Times. This means the government will continue paying 80 per cent of furloughed workers wages, up to 2,500 a month. The newspaper reports that the chancellor is also considering extending the 20-a-week uplift in universal credit - due to expire at the end of March - by six months. The business rate relief, introduced last March to help retailers that have been unable to open due to restrictions, is also set to be extended. Mr Sunak is reportedly considering a 2 per cent tax on online sales in autumn which could initially raise 2bn and encourage people back to the high street. Any extension of furlough is likely to be welcomed by the thousands of businesses already calling on the government to help them get back on their feet post-lockdown. PRU/AFP via Getty Images What is furlough? If a company is unable to operate or they have no work for staff to do during the pandemic, workers can be put "on furlough", which means they are kept on the payroll and not made redundant. Employers facing difficulties are able to access support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to continue paying 80 per cent of staff wages, to avoid redundancies and keep paying staff. Any workers on the company's PAYE payroll before February 28 can be put on furlough. Before and during Coronavirus lockdown - In pictures 1 /44 Before and during Coronavirus lockdown - In pictures AP Buckingham Palace AP Piccadilly Line tube AP Big Ben AP Millennium bridge AP Wembley Stadium AP St Pancras International train station AP Downing Street AP Victoria Station AP Regent Street AP The Mall leading to Buckingham Palace AP London's National Gallery in Trafalgar Square PA Edinburgh's Royal Mile PA Barry Island, South Wales PA Bath PA Bath PA London's Waterloo station PA London Bridge PA London's Canary Wharf Jubilee Line platform PA London's Canary Wharf Station PA London's Buckingham Palace PA London's Tower Bridge PA London's Leicester Square PA London's Millennium Bridge with St Paul's Cathedral PA London's Criterion Theatre PA London's Palace Theatre PA London's Phoenix Theatre PA London's Canary Wharf Station PA Bournemouth beach PA Bath PA Bath PA Barry Island, South Wales PA Bournemouth beach PA Under the Government scheme, workers will be paid 80 per cent of their wages, up to 2,500 a month, and continue to pay tax on their income. Employers can agree to pay the extra 20 per cent, but do not have to. It is important to note that both you and your employer must agree to put you on furlough and your employer must confirm in writing that you have been furloughed to be eligible to claim. How long will it last? The scheme was initially due to run until June 1, then it was moved to October 2020 before it was extended again until the end of April 2021. What happens if I am furloughed? If you are furloughed, you are not allowed to work for the company, even if you can or you want to. You can do training or volunteering, as long as youre not making money or providing services for your employer or a company linked to your place of work. Chancellor Rishi Sunak during a media briefing in Downing Street / PA Remember, your employer cannot ask you to do work for another linked or associated company. If your employer chooses to place you on furlough, you will need to be furloughed for a minimum of three weeks. But your employer can place you on furlough more than once, and one period can follow straight after an existing furlough period, while the scheme is open. You might be able to get a different job while your current employer has put you on furlough, the Government said, as this will not affect the grant they can claim to cover your wages - but check with your employer first. It is important to be aware that your employer can still make you redundant while youre on furlough or afterwards. But your rights as an employee are not affected by being on furlough, including redundancy rights. Here, David Barzilay explains workers' rights in more detail and answers some key questions. Can I get sick pay on furlough? You have the same employment rights as when you were working. So you are eligible for statutory sick pay. Is furlough pay taxed? Yes, the furlough grant is subject to income tax and national insurance in the normal way. Commission, fees and bonuses are excluded for the purposes of determining monthly earnings. Queen tells nation if we remain united we will overcome coronavirus Are zero hours contract workers still eligible to be put on furlough? Yes, as long as you have been on the PAYE payroll since the end of February. The same goes for those on part-time or agency contracts. Does it affect my pension contributions? The minimum automatic pension contributions continue to be paid. How do I claim? Businesses can claim this money from through a Government application scheme. Employees hired after February 28 cannot be furloughed. This group are particularly vulnerable as they may have been out of work before being hired. The Treasury previously said that about 5,000 HMRC staff will work on the project, and money should reach bank accounts in six working days. Phone lines and web-chat services are also available to help answer applicants' questions. Can I furlough myself if I run my own business? Yes, if you are paid through PAYE. You should be able to claim up to 2,500 a month but your dividends are not included in the scheme and you cannot do any work during this time. Can I furlough my cleaner or the childrens nanny? Yes, provided they are paid through the PAYE system and were employed on or before February 28. If your cleaner or nanny is self-employed they can use the Governments income support scheme to claim for 80 per cent of their average monthly profit. UK landmarks light up blue for NHS staff fighting coronavirus 1 /25 UK landmarks light up blue for NHS staff fighting coronavirus The Shard in London is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff fighting against coronavirus Tower Bridge in London is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to hardworking NHS staff PA Tower Bridge in London is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to hardworking NHS staff The London Eye is pictured lit blue in support of the NHS Reuters London's Piccadilly Circus saluting local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud NHS workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA Selfridges lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff fighting coronavirus on the frontline PA Fulwell Windmill in Sunderland is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff fighting coronavirus PA MediaCityUK in Manchester lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to hardworking NHS staff PA Northern Spire Bridge in Sunderland is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to hardworking NHS staff PA Belfast City Hall is lit up in support of the NHS Reuters The SSE Arena, Wembley, is seen with a lit up sign for the Clap For Our Carers campaign REUTERS Tawstock Court in Barnstaple lit up in blue PA Ashton Gate, the home of Bristol City FC is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks PA Wembley stadium is seen lit up blue REUTERS Wembley Arch in London is lit up in blue PA The Lowry lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff who are trying to battle coronavirus. PA The Tyne Bridge in Newcastle is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff PA People applaud infront of big screen in Piccadilly Circus during the Clap For Our Carers campaign Reuters The Shard in London is lit up blue How does furlough affect parental leave? If you are on maternity, adoption, paternity or shared paternity leave the normal rules apply. If your earnings have reduced because you were put on furlough before you went on leave this may affect your statutory pay. Is there a time limit to how long I could be furloughed? When it was first announced the furlough scheme was for the period from March 1 to May 31. However, the Government has now extended it until end of April 2021. What does no work mean for the purposes of furlough? No work means exactly that. You cannot answer emails or make calls, or undertake any activity at all. The only exceptions are individual study and training, and undertaking volunteer work. Neither of these exceptions will apply if they result in revenue being generated for your company. Can I work for someone else? Employees may be able to work for another employer. However, it must not breach the contractual obligations set out with their existing employer. Most contracts are strongly worded in this regard. In practice, they will only be able to work outside of the times they usually work. 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 If your employer asks you to go on furlough and you refuse, you may be at risk of redundancy or termination of employment, the Government also says. It depends on the circumstances of your employer. However, ending your employment must be in line with the usual redundancy rules and rights. POCATELLO Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company of Idaho and its statewide workforce raised nearly $52,000 in one week to help businesses and individuals struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic. Todd Argall, executive vice president and CEO of the insurance company, challenged his workers in an email sent on March 24 to donate to help their communities or have funds withheld from their paychecks. He pledged the company would evenly match their contributions of up to $5,000 for each team. The teams include the Pocatello main office, Eastern Idaho, Magic Valley, Treasure Valley and Northern Idaho. The fundraiser had reached about $52,000 by the following Tuesday. LeAnn Nelson, assistant to Argall, said the insurance company also matched contributions from some Idaho Farm Bureau Federation employees, and the federations Idaho Young Farmers and Ranchers Association made a generous contribution. Nelson said the insurance companys agents and their staffs also participated. Nelson said members of each team are voting on which causes theyll support with their contributions, and some teams may opt to support more than one cause. She said the Pocatello office, for example, is leaning toward buying gift cards from local businesses that have lost revenue due to the outbreak in order to give the cards away to local health care workers and others who are responding to the outbreak. On March 25, Gov. Brad Little issued an order for people to stay at home, except for essential trips, and for businesses deemed to be nonessential to close. Restaurants have been allowed to remain open for carry-out or deliveries only. Statewide unemployment claims have increased at record levels. Nelson said the Pocatello team well exceeded its goal, raising more than $11,000. Nelson said employees had the option of having their contributions deducted over the course of up to four pay periods. A lot did $100. Two employees donated $1,000 (each). It amazed me, Nelson said. Nelson said the Northern Idaho team has expressed interest in supporting a local food bank. Another team is looking into devising a way to help out-of-work waiters and waitresses. Iran's envoy outlines China anti-COVID19 donations IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Beijing, April 5, IRNA -- Iran's Ambassador to China Mohammad Keshavarzzadeh in a Twitter message outlined the list of China donations to Iran for fighting coronavirus. Keshavarzzadeh said on Saturday night that two flights will ship Chinese donations from Beijing to Iran. He added that Chinese people and government's contributions have so far been transferred by 28 flights from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Iranian diplomat said that the Chinese donations include over 10 million face-mask, 500,000 coronavirus test kits, 300,000 medical and isolation gowns, 2,200,000 pairs of gloves, 350 ventilators, 500 prefabricated hospital rooms, drugs and hospital equipment. Keshavarzzadeh noted that some flights will also carry donations of Chinese business magnate Jack Ma to Tehran. Chinese people in less than 24 hours, donated half a million dollar to Iran for fighting coronavirus epidemic and called for launching a channel for collecting non-cash contributions. Iranian embassy in China on March 5 released a message in 'Weibo' which is a leading social media in China and introduced a bank account for Chinese people's cash contributions to fight COVID19 and people of China helped 4b Yuan ($576,000). In response to Chinese people memorable act, Iranian embassy in a message said Chinese people's good-will "has impressed us and we now feel a heavy responsibility toward them." It added that aid provided by Chinese people will be spent for fighting coronavirus outbreak. Head of Iran's Health Ministry Public Relations Office Kianoush Jahanpour said on Saturday that 19,736 people out of a total of 55,743 infected by the coronavirus have survived while 3,452 have unfortunately succumbed to death. 9376**1430 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 01:15:17|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close 3D printers producing face shields are seen in Istanbul, Turkey, April 5, 2020. (Photo by Yasin Akgul/Xinhua) ISTANBUL, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Ender Akarsu began to work at his home in Istanbul on his 3D printer early on Sunday to make the last set of protective face shields to be distributed to health care workers in hospitals. "Since last Monday, I have printed and delivered a total of 60 shields," Akarsu told Xinhua. "I am now preparing the last couple of pieces of a package that will contain 30 shields." Akarsu, a 32-year-old geology engineer, decided to use his printer to produce protective shields after he realized that surgical face masks became scarce in the country over the fast spread of COVID-19. "Working 16 to 18 hours a day, my printer can print up to 12 items per day," he said. Each time after he finishes the copy of 30 pieces, he fills a form on an online portal named "Three Dimensional Support," and waits for a motorized volunteer to pick them up. The online portal was launched by a bunch of individuals on March 19 to support hospitals that need medical tools and equipment for personal protection during the fight against COVID-19. "We wanted to offer them the potential of 3D printers and 3D print technology and respond to their needs of personal protection," Ramazan Subasi, a representative of the platform, told Xinhua. "First, we posted a registration form online, asking those who have a 3D printer to fill it," Subasi continued. "We told people that we will contact them if the outbreak becomes so widespread." Since then, a total of 4,000 individuals and institutions across the country have filled the form and registered 4,500 3D printers. "We have also received 40,000 face shields and delivered them to hospitals in Turkey for the use of health care workers," Subasi said. Meanwhile, members of Turkey's Motorbikers Platform have been providing logistic support for the distribution of the products. "They are collecting the products and delivering them to a center where the pieces, namely the shields and skeletons, are put together," Subasi said. "And then they are ready to be distributed to hospitals." Another contributor to the platform Maher Alielah, a Palestinian living in Istanbul for three years, has been printing shields at home through his highly sophisticated 3D printer. "I found the support group on Instagram, and I contacted a team member. She explained to me how all the process works and I immediately started to produce," Alielah told Xinhua. Alielah is now planning to improve the design of the shields so he can produce them in a much faster way. "Since I don't know which design would be suitable for the health care workers, I am planning to produce several alternatives and call the support team and ask them to introduce my designs to a doctor," he said. "After I receive the approval for one of them, I will start to produce as many as I can." For the moment, he can print one piece every hour in average, and he has printed 34 copies in six days. At the end of the day, a motorbiker delivered 20 face shields to the Sultangazi Haseki Hospital in Istanbul, which was selected as a pilot hospital for COVID-19 patients. A nurse at the hospital said the shields are more comfortable than the protective glasses. "At least they do not leave traces on our faces," she told Xinhua while trying to put one on her face. The total number of diagnosed COVID-19 cases in Turkey rose to 23,934 and the death toll has reached 501 on Saturday, according to the Health Ministry. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Authorities in Kosovo's capital, Pristina, have blocked public access to all city parks and squares in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Police put yellow tape around Pristina's main square on April 6 to prevent people from gathering in larger numbers. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top official at the U.S. Federal Reserve said on Sunday the $2.3 trillion economic relief bill approved by Congress was appropriately sized and that a further relief effort may not be needed if support efforts are well executed. "I felt like this one was well-sized for the situation," St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank President James Bullard told CBS' "Face the Nation" when asked if further legislation would be needed. "I think you've got the right amount of resources," he added. "The challenge is how are you going to get that to the right people that really have been disrupted. That's the execution risk that you have here." U.S. lawmakers have said they plan to push forward with further legislation to respond to the pandemic. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell told the Associated Press on Friday he would like the next relief bill to focus on healthcare, while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi - the top congressional Democrat - has said lawmakers need to focus on further economic relief. If relief efforts are well-executed, there was no reason to think the U.S. economy could not have a sharp rebound, Bullard said. "There's nothing wrong with the economy itself," he said, noting that people have been asked to stay at home. Bullard said a move to universal testing for COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus, could help spur recovery by offering clarity on who could move about freely and fully participate in the economy. He also said an emergency small business lending program that is a key part of the last economic relief bill could be quite helpful. "I think there is a lot of potential for that program to be successful," Bullard said. That program got off to a rocky start on Friday, with some large banks saying they were not ready to start processing applications. The Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm (Sezad) has formed a dedicated team to develop a response plan for the emergency cases arising out of the coronavirus (Covid-19) spread in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZD), said a report. The team is led by Mahmoud bin Hamoud al-Rawahi, Director General of Control and Compliance at Sezad and includes other officials representing companies operating in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, a report by Oman News Agency said. The team is responsible for developing a response plan for the emergency cases arising out of the coronavirus (Covid-19) spread in any company operating in the SEZD as well as following up the execution of the plan in coordination with the concerned authorities. As per the decision issued by Dr Ismail bin Ahmed al-Balushi, CEO of the Sezad, the team has been granted authority to seek assistance and request relevant data, information and supporting documents from the different administrative departments of Sezad and the projects operating in SEZD. Directors of these departments and projects should fully support the team in handling the assigned responsibilities as per this decision. The decision has been taken in the interest of Sezad to implement the decisions and instructions issued by the Supreme Committee concerned with following up the developments of the coronavirus (Covid-19), the report said. According to the decision, all the meetings shall be conducted virtually through digital meeting video conferencing technology. In line with its ongoing support to the governments efforts to combat the spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19) in the Sultanate, Sezad has already issued a number of circulars to companies operating in the SEZD to abide by the decisions and instructions issued by the Supreme Committee.TradeArabia News Service A special ceremony was held on April 6 at the Office of Presidency (Jubilee House) for the donation. Aksa Energy West Africa Coordination Director Murat Captug and the Turkish Ambassador to Ghana Ozlem Gulsun Ergun Ulueren were hosted by Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, Chief of Staff of Ghana. At the ceremony, Murat Captug presented Akosua Frema Osei-Opare a donation cheque of GHS 2.5 million on behalf of Aksa Energy. Speaking of the donation Murat Captug, West Africa Coordination Director of Aksa Energy said: "As a global company operating in 5 countries across 2 countries, we are committed to increasing the welfare and life quality of local communities in the regions where we operate, both by meeting their urgent demand for electricity and through social support programmes. Today the whole world is struggling with COVID-19. As Aksa Energy Ghana, we are aware of our responsibilities to Ghana, and therefore we are very pleased to make a donation to the fund to support the Ghanaian government in its fight against COVID-19. We hope life returns to normal for the whole world soon. Aksa Energy will continue to work, produce and build a better future together with Ghanaians." About Aksa Energy Established in 1997, Aksa Energy is a subsidiary of Kazanci Holding A.S., a conglomerate with interests in electricity generation, gen-set production, electricity distribution, natural gas distribution, agriculture, and tourism. Headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey; Aksa Energy is a publicly-listed Independent Power Producer (IPP) operating across 5 countries on 2 continents. To date, the Company has built and operated more than 30 power plants using various energy sources such as coal, fuel oil, natural gas, biogas, wind and hydroelectricity. Aksa Energy carries out project development, design, procurement, engineering, logistics, installation, commissioning, maintenance and operation activities of all its power plants with its in-house teams. Aksa Energy builds and operates power plants in energy-strapped territories in order to meet the urgent demand for electricity. In addition to its power plants in Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; Aksa Energy boasts nearly 500 MW of installed capacity in Africa with a 370-MW power plant in Ghana, 40 MW in Mali and 66 MW in Madagascar. Aksa Energy has also rehabilitated a 24-MW power plant in Madagascar and operates it under an Operation & Maintenance contract for the country. Aksa Energy commissioned its power plant in Ghana in March 2017 after a speedy construction phase of only 9 months, and engine conversion to dual fuel (HFO/natural gas) at the Plant is underway. Media Contact: Communication Partner Cengiz Dalklc / [email protected] / +90 530 224 2729 SOURCE Aksa Energy 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) Lupus Experts Divided Over Hydroxychloroquine Use Against COVID-19 Some doctors say their patients with lupus arent getting COVID-19 while others are cautioning against linking those findings with hydroxychloroquine, a drug approved as an anti-malarial and lupus treatment thats been prescribed across the nation for the COVID-19. President Donald Trump on Saturday pointed to a study that showed people with lupus arent catching this horrible virus. COVID-19 is caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus. Theyre not affected so much by it. Now, maybe thats correct; maybe its false. Youre going to have to check it out, Trump told reporters in Washington. Trump did not name the study. But Chinese researchers published a preprint clinical study (pdf) that, they said, found patients treated with hydroxychloroquine recovered quicker than those who werent given the drug. Researchers in China previously found that 80 lupus patients in Wuhan, where the virus emerged last year, did not contract the illness. Rescue workers transport a patient from the Zaandam of the Holland America Line cruise ship, afflicted with COVID-19 at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on April 2, 2020. (Joe Skipper/Reuters) No Evidence Several groups and a number of experts have said there isnt evidence supporting hydroxychloroquines efficacy against COVID-19, asserting that more rigorous, peer reviewed studies are needed, along with clinical trials. The Lupus Foundation of America said in a statement that there is no evidence that taking hydroxychloroquine, also known as Plaquenil, is effective in preventing a person from contracting the coronavirus. The COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance said that over 25 percent of the 110 COVID-19 patients on its registries were taking Plaquenil at the time of diagnosis. One of those patients later died. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told reporters after Trump spoke that the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine is still being looked at, adding: We dont have any definitive information to be able to make any comment . Thats something that is now being looked at, but we dont have any data to be able to say anything definitively. Taking hydroxychloroquine is subject to approval by a doctor, Trump added before saying: But I hope they use it because Ill tell you what: What do you have to lose? In some cases, theyre in bad shape. What do you have to lose? No drug is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating COVID-19 but doctors can prescribe drugs approved for one use for a different use. The agency last month issued an emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine and the closely-related chloroquine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also said last month that hydroxychloroquine has been administered to hospitalized patients. Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California in a file photograph. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) Few Lupus Patients Get COVID-19 Several doctors who treat lupus patients have said theyve found suggestions the drug may be effective. None of my lupus patients have developed covid, which is quite remarkable, Dr. Daniel Wallace, a rheumatologist at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, said in a teleconference. The seven hospitals that are affiliated with Cedars-Sinai have treated some 1,000 patients, of whom one had lupus. It may be that the drugs that these patients are taking provides them with type of protection. I find this rather interesting and I cant quite explain it, Wallace said. Dr. Peggy Crow, chief of rheumatology at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, said theres anecdotal evidence from New York hospitals that many more presumably healthy people are developing infections with COVID-19 than weve seen in our lupus patients or rheumatoid arthritis patients. Lupus patients are being very careful, she added, and doing well considering the pandemic. Lupus is a chronic long-term disease that can cause inflammation and pain in any part of your body, according to the Lupus Research Foundation. Preliminary indications suggest hydroxychloroquine may be effective in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, Dr. Ken Farber, president and CEO of the Lupus Research Alliance, said during the teleconference. Why its effective is not entirely clear. It may help prevent the virus from replicating, from reproducing; it may be because Plaquenil has certain properties that allow it to, lets just say, mellow out the immune system, Dr. Ken Farber, president and CEO of the Lupus Research Alliance, said during the teleconference. If lupus patients are less susceptible for COVID-19, theres finally silver lining for patients with the disease, Farber said. Demand for the drug has caused shortages in some areas. Transmission electron micrograph of the CCP virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2, isolated from a patient. Photo published March 10, 2020. (NIAID) Previous Studies Other doctors have also said theyve found hydroxychloroquine effective. Of over 6,000 physicians across 30 countries asked about the most effective therapy in treating CCP virus patients, more than one out of three chose the lupus and malaria drug. Dr. Ramin Oskoui, CEO of Foxhall Cardiology, said during an appearance on Fox News last week that he doesnt know of anyone with lupus getting the CCP virus and referenced the study from China. Were not seeing patients with lupus who take Plaquenal, were not seeing these individuals develop COVID. Im not aware of any reported case; the Chinese have actually looked at this, Oskoui said. Before the Chinese study, two studies in France suggested hydroxychloroquine can be effective against the CCP virus. Neither study was peer reviewed or published as of yet. Hungary, the United Kingdom, and India are among the countries that have banned export of the drug as further study is done; Trump has asked Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi to carve out an exception to the ban for the United States. America recently received 30 million hydroxychloroquine doses and federal officials were distributing them to various states, officials said this week. In addition to prescribing the drug to patients with COVID-19, some doctors have been giving the drug to healthy patients as a prophylactic. A number of studies are underway in the United States, including a 1,500-person trial at the University of Minnesota. Researchers there expect initial results around the end of April. 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. JESUP An employee at a Jesup assisted living facility has tested positive for COVID-19. The worker at Winding Creek Meadows tested positive Saturday and wont return to work until completing the recommended isolation established by public health officials. All residents, families and employees were informed of the situation, and the Iowa Department of Public Health, Buchanan County Public Health Department and Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals were notified, according to Winding Creek officials. Staff are following its coronavirus response plan and working with health agencies to stop the spread of COVID-19 within the community, home to 20 residents. Resident screenings for temperature and respiratory symptoms started March 25 and have been increased from once to at least twice daily. Additional personal protective equipment was delivered to Winding Creek Meadows for employees who would need to work closely with residents if they develop symptoms. The community has not allowed visitors or volunteers since March 12, which is also when the dining room closed and meal delivery started. Group activities ended March 17. Families and loved ones can address any questions to Winding Creek Meadows at (319) 827-1052 or through the contact form on the website www.windingcreekmeadows.com. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. When I first heard Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modis address to the nation on Friday, carefully, I must confess to feeling a little disappointed. There was no condemnation of the fact that our brave Covid-19 warriors doctors and other health care workers were being assaulted; and there was no comforting statement about the efforts to overcome the lack of the personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies for the frontline workers. But, then, I heard the speech a second time, and then a third time. And I realised this was the most positive, encouraging and unifying speech by any leader to a nation. It had been nine days into lockdown when he spoke (it is 12 days now). Citizens have been battling uncertainty, fear, despair, and even depression. There is social fragmentation, the suffering of the poor, and even a growing religious blame game. In that backdrop, the PMs address was purposeful focused on uniting the nation, while maintaining social distancing and self- isolation. It was, importantly, about deploying combined utsaah (enthusiasm) as the biggest force in moving from the darkness of the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19) into the light of victory. The PMs address would have made the most accomplished psychologist proud and envious. As someone who has been deeply involved in the Indian health care system, do I see a light at the end of the tunnel? Yes, and here is why. One, we have been the most proactive nation in the world against Covid-19. Numerous measures by the government isolating the country; testing of travellers; quarantining, tracing and isolation of suspected cases; public education on hand-washing and social distancing; forced self-quarantine, and, finally, a national lockdown were instituted even when there were very few cases in the country. This is a fact that has been appreciated and admired by World Health Organization. It has been responsible, to a great extent, for limiting the spread of the virus patients to a manageable number so far, even as Europe and the United States are dealing with hundreds of thousands of patients, overwhelming even their advanced health care systems. The responsibility now lies with the public, we cannot let the strategy down. Two, while sceptics may argue that the number of Covid-19 cases is low because we are not testing enough, and, therefore, we do not have an accurate figure, the comforting fact is that we, as doctors, know that the emergency areas of our hospitals are not getting flooded with patients with upper respiratory tract infection, pneumonia and deaths. Frontline doctors are the first to sense, witness and face an epidemic, irrespective of testing. Maybe, the worst is still to come over the next two weeks but maybe not? No one can be any wiser than the other. It is also remotely possible that public exposure in India to regular and repeated infections, and other viruses, may have developed a protective cross immunity to, at least, prevent serious Covid-19 infections. The encouraging fact is that 80% patients affected in Covid-19 just have minor flu-like illness and get better anyway. Three, more than a 100 companies around the world working aggressively on finding effective drugs for treatment as well as vaccines for prevention of the Covid-19 infection. New vaccines for prevention could take 12-18 months, but effective treatment for Covid-19 could be a reality in next four weeks. A promising anti-viral drug, Remdesivir, has been put into phase III trials. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, a drug well known to India for the last 60 years for the treatment of malaria, is showing promise for the treatment and prevention of Covid-19 infections. The Indian Council of Medical Research as well as other scientific bodies globally are engaged in prospective trials on this. In the next two to four weeks, we will have the results to define the role of this inexpensive and readily-available treatment for our population. Serum containing antibodies against the coronavirus from patients who have recovered from Covid-19 infection is in trial to treat serious coronavirus infections. Breakthroughs are around the corner. Four, there are two preliminary reports, which emerged last week, providing indirect evidence that the BCG vaccine given for the prevention of tuberculosis may provide protection against Covid-19. Based on these observations, prospective trials have started in the US and Europe to define the role of the BCG vaccine for prevention of Covid-19 infection. Thankfully, India, unlike other western nations, has had a mandatory BCG vaccination policy at birth, for all its population. We hope that this may also in some way protect us from serious Covid-19 infections and death. The PM called on the 1.3 billion people in this country to focus and meditate together, as witnessed in the coming together of the nation on Sunday night. It is easy to mock this. But after 30 years of being in the frontline of the medical profession, and pioneering treatments of heart disease, every day, I pray to God to help me save my patients. I prayed to God to save my mothers life when after six weeks of treating her on a ventilator, the best doctors and best of technology failed. Thirteen years ago, I organised a scientific symposium on Do prayers heal and Cure? And every day, I witness a person demolished by an unfortunate act of fate an accident or an illness that suddenly incapacitated them. Humility helps. And it helps to combine science with spirituality, to provide us with positivity, with hope, with determination if we are to overcome the ravages of the Covid -19 disease. While there is hope, there is no role for complacency. We need to take all precautions, follow all advisories and be vigilant. We need to appreciate and respect all the efforts being put in by the frontline Covid-19 warriors who are putting their lives at risk to protect us. Though physically separated, we need to be united in spirit and mind. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Dr Ashok Seth is a noted clinical leader and chairman , Fortis Escorts Heart Institute The views expressed are personal What does a pandemic and the resulting social isolation do to human relationships? People's experiences of life with their partners, children, parents and themselves are being documented online as populations around the world self-isolate or keep their distance from others to reduce the impact of the coronavirus. And it's proving a big hit as it taps into people's curiosity about what happens in the lives of others. "I'm having to quarantine with my ex-husband," "As I read through his letters, there was the young man I fell in love with," and "I wonder if he's quarantining with the other woman," are three snippets from anonymous posts on the website The Social Distance Project, which was launched on a whim by writer Meg Zukin last month. On Saturday, one woman wrote that she had moved back in with her parents to quarantine after a break-up but felt "stressed about the intersection of mundane tragedy and vital mortality." "The coronavirus has ruined my carefully constructed life of being so busy that I don't have time to dwell on a lifetime of pain," she stated. Another post, titled "A tale in two parts," was written by a woman reminiscing about how she met her husband-to-be in the 1970s and the letters they sent to each other while he was on a Naval posting in 1972 during the Vietnam War. As he came across a box of letters in their garage, she describes how he would run into the house saying "Honey, I can't believe what I wrote you when I was young." "As I read through his letters, there was the young man I fell in love with telling me over and over again how much he loved me, missed me, complimented me, and that we would be together for the rest of our lives. This hour of togetherness, caused by the COVID-19 shutdown, was one of the best we'd had in a long time," the woman wrote. One family told of their daily morning dance parties. "My five year-old has a particular fondness for (Kenny Loggins') 'Danger Zone' and we've listened to it at least 15 times a day There's something really endearing about hearing a five year old with zero concept of the lyrics sincerely sing nonsensical words in the verse before belting out the show stopping chorus," the poster wrote. @bymeg: i'm so overwhelmed with how many people pitched in and donated to the social distance project this is corny af but it's made me feel a lot less alone and we've actually helped so many people with the donations thank you Some posts are less heart-warming, detailing the impact of being locked in with an ex. One wrote about living with her former husband in quarantine until their house sells and communicating via texting each other rather than speaking. "Yesterday he noticed I didn't have any pasta sauce and without a word, handed me a jar full. We really dislike each other but I'm hoping that this forced time together will remind us that we don't have to," the writer concluded. Another wrote about staying with her in-laws on their idyllic farm. "I am living a beautiful, quarantine dream in the alps including babysitting, loving husband and fresh mountain air," the poster stated. But her inner life told another story. "I want my apartment, smog and salads back. I'm a horrible millennial and hope this is all over soon," she added. The coronavirus pandemic continues to grip both the UK and the world at large. Heres your morning briefing of everything you may have missed overnight. Boris Johnson admitted to hospital for tests Boris Johnson has been admitted to hospital for tests as he continues to experience coronavirus symptoms 10 days after testing positive for the virus. Number 10 said the prime minister, who still has a high temperature, was taken to an NHS London hospital as a precautionary step on the advice of his doctor. Mr Johnson has been self-isolating in his Downing Street flat since 27 March when he announced he had contracted Covid-19. It is understood he remains in charge of the governments efforts to tackle the outbreak of the disease and is in contact with ministerial colleagues and officials. Queen Elizabeth says UK will succeed in fight against Covid-19 but may have more to endure The Queen gave a rare televised address to the nation, during which she said the UK will succeed in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic but acknowledged there may be more to endure before normality returns. The head of state delivered a message of hope, saying if people remain united and resolute in the face of the outbreak we will overcome it. She thanked frontline NHS staff, care workers and others for selflessly carrying out their essential roles during the crisis and echoed the words of Dame Vera Lynn when she told the British public: We will meet again. Scotland's chief medical officer resigns after apologising for breaking lockdown rules with visit to second home Scotlands chief medical officer has resigned after breaking coronavirus lockdown rules by visiting her second home. Dr Catherine Calderwood agreed to step down just hours after unreservedly apologising for the trip to Fife and withdrawing from giving public briefings. She said she took the decision following a discussion with first minister Nicola Sturgeon, who said the issue risks undermining confidence in the governments advice. It came after The Scottish Sun published photos of Dr Calderwood and her family near a coastal retreat in Earlsferry, more than an hour away from Edinburgh, late on Saturday. Tiger at New York City zoo tests positive for Covid-19 A four-year-old tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York has tested positive for coronavirus, likely the first case involving an animal in the US. Nadia and six other big cats were symptomatic with a dry cough and were believed to have been infected by an asymptomatic member of the zoo staff. The cat was tested "out of an abundance" of caution and the animals are reportedly doing well under veterinary care. Nadia and her sister Azul, along with two other tigers and three lions are experiencing Covid-19 symptoms, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society. [April 06, 2020] Barclays Announces Changes to the Quarterly Composition of The CIBC Atlas Select MLP Index Barclays Bank PLC announced today that during the next quarterly index rebalancing period, which will commence following the close of business on Monday, April 13, 2020 (the "Rebalancing Date"), the following changes will be made to the constituents in the Index. The following index constituents will be removed from the Index: Enable Midstream Partners LP (NYSE:ENBL) EQM Midstream Partners LP (NYSE: EQM) Western Midstream Partners LP (NYSE: WES) Equitrans Midstream Corp (NYSE: ETRN) EnLink Midstream LLC (NYSE: ENLC) Tallgrass Energy LP (NYSE: TGE) The following index constituents will be added to the Index: Cheniere Energy Partners LP (NYSE: CQP) Cheniere Energy Inc (NYSE: LNG) The iPath Select MLP ETNs (the "ETNs") are linked to the performance of the Volume-Weighted Average Price ("VWAP") level of the Index. The ETNs are listed on the CBOE BZX Exchange under the ticker symbol "ATMP." An investment in the ETNs involves significant risks, including possible loss of principal, and may not be suitable for all investors. The ETNs are riskier than ordinary unsecured debt securities and have no principal protection. The ETNs are speculative and may exhibit high volatility. The ETNs are also subject to certain investor fees, which will have a negative effect on the value of the ETNs. You are not guaranteed to receive coupon payments on the ETNs. You will receive a coupon payment on a coupon payment date only to the extent that the accrued dividend exceeds the accrued investor fee on the relevant coupon valuation date. In accordance with the Index's methodology (as described in the prospectus relating to the ETNs), the Index is rebalanced quarterly. The Index is designed to provide exposure to a basket of midstream US and Canadian master limited partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations that trade on major US exchanges (the "Index Constituents"). The Index Constituents are classified in the GICS Energy Sector or GICS Gas Utilities Industry according to the Global Industry Classification Standard ("GICS") and meet certain eligibility criteria. The Index currently includes 15 constituents and cash. The Index Constituents will be rebalanced on a capped, float-adjusted, capitalization-weighted basis across four Index business days starting on the Rebalancing Date. Constituent additions to and deletions from the Index do not reflect an opinion by Barclays Bank PLC on the investment merits of the respective securities. The target weights for the top Limited Partnership ("LP") and General Partnership ("GP") Index Constituents, effective after the rebalance on the Rebalancing Date, are reported in the table below. For more information regarding how an Index Constituent is classified as a LP or a GP, please see the prospectus relating to the ETNs. LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS GENERAL PARTNERSHIPS Ticker Company Target (News - Alert) Weight Ticker Company Target Weight EPD Enterprise Products Partners 8.00% ENB Enbridge Inc. 4.00% ET Energy Transfer LP 8.00% KMI Kinder Morgan Inc. 4.00% MMP Magellan (News - Alert) Midstream Partners 8.00% OKE Oneok Inc. 4.00% PAA Plains All American Pipeline LP 8.00% PAGP Plains GP Holdings 4.00% MPLX MPLX LP 8.00% TRP TC Energy Corp. 4.00% CQP Cheniere Energy Partners LP 8.00% WMB Williams Cos Inc. 4.00% PSXP Phillips 66 Partners LP 8.00% LNG Cheniere Energy Inc 4.00% TCP TC Pipelines LP 8.00% Source (News - Alert): Barclays The Index Constituents are selected for inclusion in the Index using the CIBC Select MLP Strategy (the "Strategy") developed by CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. (the "Index Selection Agent"). The Strategy dynamically selects a basket of up to 100 Index Constituents based on their long-term credit rating, the portion of their cash flow driven by mid-stream operations and their size as measured by free-float market capitalization and average daily trading value. The Index Selection Agent provides the Index Constituents that are selected by the Strategy to Barclays Bank PLC, as index sponsor. For further information, please contact the Barclays ETN desk at 1-212-528-7990. The prospectus for the ETNs to which this communication relates can be found at: www.etnplus.com/atmpprospectus About CIBC CIBC (NYSE: CM) (TSX: CM) is a leading North American financial institution with 10 million personal banking, business, public sector and institutional clients. CIBC offers a full range of advice, solutions and services in the United States, across Canada and around the world. In the U.S., CIBC Bank USA provides commercial banking, private and personal banking and small business banking solutions and CIBC Private Wealth offers investment management, wealth strategies and legacy planning. Visit us at cibc.com/US. Private banking is offered by CIBC Bank USA, Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender. CIBC Bank USA and CIBC Private Wealth Group, LLC are both indirect, wholly owned subsidiaries of CIBC. The CIBC logo is a registered trademark of CIBC, used under license. Investment Products Offered are Not FDIC-Insured, May Lose Value and are Not Bank Guaranteed. About Barclays Barclays is a British universal bank. We are diversified by business, by different types of customer and client, and geography. Our businesses include consumer banking and payments operations around the world, as well as a top-tier, full service, global corporate and investment bank, all of which are supported by our service company which provides technology, operations and functional services across the Group. Selected Risk Considerations An investment in any ETNs linked to the CIBC Atlas Select MLP Index (the "ETNs") involves risks. Selected risks are summarized here, but we urge you to read the more detailed explanation of risks described under "Risk Factors" in the applicable prospectus supplement and pricing supplement. You May Lose Some or All of Your Principal: The ETNs are exposed to any decrease in the Volume Weighted Average Price ("VWAP") level between the inception date and the applicable valuation date. Additionally, if the VWAP level is insufficient to offset the negative effect of the investor fee and other applicable costs, you will lose some or all of your investment at maturity or upon redemption, even if the VWAP value has increased. Because the ETNs are subject to an investor fee and any other applicable costs, the return on the ETNs will always be lower than the total return on a direct investment in the index components. The ETNs are riskier than ordinary unsecured debt securities and have no principal protection. Credit of Barclays Bank PLC: The ETNs are unsecured debt obligations of the issuer, Barclays Bank PLC, and are not, either directly or indirectly, an obligation of or guaranteed by any third party. Any payment to be made on the ETNs, including any payment at maturity or upon redemption, depends on the ability of Barclays Bank PLC to satisfy its obligations as they come due. As a result, the actual and perceived creditworthiness of Barclays Bank PLC will affect the market value, if any, of the ETNs prior to maturity or redemption. In addition, in the event Barclays Bank PLC were to default on its obligations, you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the terms of the ETNs. Issuer Redemption: Barclays Bank PLC will have the right to redeem or "call" the ETNs (in whole but not in part) at its sole discretion and without your consent on any trading day on or after the inception date until and including maturity. The Payment on the ETNs is Linked to the VWAP Level, Not to the Closing Level of the Index and Not to the Published Intraday Indicative Value of the ETNs: Your payment at maturity or upon early redemption is linked to the performance of the VWAP level, as compared to the initial VWAP level. Although the VWAP level is intended to track the performance of the Index, the calculation of the VWAP level is different from the calculation of the official closing level of the Index. Therefore, the payment at maturity or early redemption of your ETNs, may be different from the payment you would receive if such payment were determined by reference to the official closing level of the Index. No Guaranteed Coupon Payments: You are not guaranteed to receive coupon payments on the ETNs. You will receive a coupon payment on a coupon payment date only to the extent that the accrued dividend exceeds the accrued investor fee on the relevant coupon valuation date. The amount of the accrued dividend on any coupon valuation date depends in part on the aggregate cash value of distributions that a reference holder would have been entitled to receive in respect of the index constituents prior to the relevant coupon valuation date. Market and Volatility Risk: The return on the ETNs is linked to the performance of the VWAP level of the Index which, in turn, is linked to the performance of the master limited partnerships and other securities that are included as index constituents at any time. The prices of the index constituents may change unpredictably and, as a result, affect the level of the Index and the value of your ETNs in unforeseeable ways. Concentration Risk: The index constituents are companies in the Energy Sector or Gas Utilities Sector, as determined by the GICS classification system. In addition, many of the index constituents are smaller, non-diversified businesses that are exposed to the risks associated with such businesses, including the lack of capital funding to sustain or grow businesses and potential competition from larger, better financed and more diversified businesses. The ETNs are susceptible to general market fluctuations in the energy and gas MLP market and to volatile increases and decreases in value, as market confidence in, and perceptions regarding the index constituents change. Your investment may therefore carry risks similar to a concentrated securities investment in one industry or sector. A Trading Market for the ETNs May Not Develop: Although the ETNs are listed on NYSE Arca (News - Alert), a trading market for the ETNs may not develop and the liquidity of the ETNs may be limited, as we are not required to maintain any listing of the ETNs. Restrictions on the Minimum Number of ETNs and Date Restrictions for Redemptions: You must redeem at least 50,000 ETNs at one time in order to exercise your right to redeem your ETNs on any redemption date. You may only redeem your ETNs on a redemption date if we receive a notice of redemption from you by certain dates and times as set forth in the pricing supplement. Uncertain Tax Treatment: Significant aspects of the tax treatment of the ETNs may be less favorable than a direct investment in MLPs and are uncertain. You should consult your own tax advisor about your own tax situation. The ETNs may be sold throughout the day on the exchange through any brokerage account. Commissions may apply and there are tax consequences in the event of sale, redemption or maturity of ETNs. CIBC Atlas Select MLP Index is a trademark of Barclays Bank PLC. 2020 Barclays Bank PLC. All rights reserved. All other trademarks, servicemarks or registered trademarks are the property, and used with the permission, of their respective owners. NOT FDIC INSURED NO BANK GUARANTEE MAY LOSE VALUE View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005817/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Now more than ever, the American public needs facts. We need to know what our government is doing to contain the coronavirus pandemic. We need clear, science-based information about the risks of COVID-19 and the precautions we all need to be taking. We need the truth as honest and unvarnished as possible. Thats why it is time to stop live broadcasts of President Trumps daily coronavirus briefings. Or as they would more accurately be described, his rambling propaganda-and-grievance-filled pseudo-campaign rallies. Its time for journalists to stop being complicit in spreading deception disguised as an official briefing. There is no value in giving airtime to a president well-known for spewing falsehoods. No value in allowing him to trot out a parade of CEOs to promote their products. No value in watching Trump shuck responsibility and whine about petty resentments. No value in listening to a litany of his campaign slogans. Counterpoint: Columnist Michael Lindenberger says when the president speaks, its news None of that will do anything to halt an insidious virus that has already killed thousands in this country and is predicted to strike down thousands more. Airing the briefings in real-time without context or fact-checking only gives Trump free rein to mislead and misinform. Take, for example, the April 1 briefing. He blustered that he had taken the coronavirus more seriously than others: A lot of people have said a lot of people have thought about it. 'Ride it out. Don't do anything, just ride it out and think of it as the flu,' he said. But it's not the flu. It's vicious. He failed to mention that he had downplayed the seriousness of the coronavirus for months, despite repeated warnings from infectious disease specialists and his own federal agencies. Or that at a Feb. 26 briefing, he said: "This is a flu. This is like a flu, and claimed cases would be down to close to zero within a couple of days. At this weekends briefings, he falsely said passengers are being tested on domestic flights, undercut Dr. Anthony Faucis pleas for Americans to continue serious mitigation measures, recklessly encouraged people to take an anti-malaria drug that can cause serious complications and has not been proven effective for treating the coronavirus then blocked Fauci from answering a question about the drugs effectiveness. Some in the White House press corps attempt to push through the spin and specious statements with probing, pertinent questions (Yamiche Alcindor of the PBS NewsHour, in particular). Instead of getting the answers Americans deserve to hear, the reporters are met with sneering derision and cries of fake news designed to distract from the failings of the federal response. A number of journalists have started to pass up the briefings, saying health risks outweigh the news value of the events. A few networks have stopped carrying them live or cut away when medical experts arent speaking. Thats a start. As is fact-checking the long list of dubious statements that come out of every briefing. But its still not enough to counter the tsunami of falsehoods that pour forth when Trump is at the podium. Instead, we should all do what New York University journalism professor Jay Rosen has long advocated: If Trump makes news, report on that. Report on updates from Fauci and other experts. But stop airing the briefings live. Stop giving a platform to lies and disinformation. We must favor facts over immediacy. In fighting a pandemic, false information can get people killed, especially if it comes from the president. Rhor is an editorial writer and columnist. Email her at monica.rhor@chron.com. Armenian News - NEWS.am presents a daily digest of top news as of 06.04.2020: Only 11 COVID-19 new cases have been reported in Armenia per day, PM Nikol Pashinyan noted on his Facebook. However, the PM noted the new death: A 68-year-old compatriot died of double pneumonia, presumably the result of COVID-19; but this person also had diabetes. According to the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the total of 833 COVID-19 cases are confirmed as of Monday morning. The number of patients who have recovered has increased by five and reached 62, whereas eight others have died. As health minister Arsen Torosyan noted, most patients in Armenia are not even running a fever, but there are 146 patients with pneumonia. According to him, 35 patients are in critical condition. Karabakh army soldier Arayik Shakhpazyan, 20, has sustained a gunshot wound at a Defense Army military unit, and from a shot fired by Azerbaijan. The soldier was transferred to Yerevan. According to Armenian defense ministry spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan, the soldier's condition is assessed as stable. An investigation is underway to find out the details of the incident. Fitch Ratings has revised the Outlook on Armenia's Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) to Negative from Stable and affirmed the IDRs at BB-. The coronavirus shock negatively affects the Armenian economy, the press release noted. Fitch projects that GDP growth partially recovers in 2021, to 5.5%. "General government debt is projected to rise from 53.6% at end-2019 to 59.2% of GDP in 2020 before falling back to 56.0% in 2021, the statement said adding that Fitch assumes that Armenia will continue to experience broad social and political stability and that there will be no prolonged escalation in the conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh to a level that would affect economic and financial stability. Armenian 3rd President Serzh Sargsyan has been invited to hearings to be held by the special parliamentary committee set up for inquiry into the circumstances of the military operations that took place in April 2016, and the hearings will be held on either the 13th or 16th of April. Sargsyan can choose the date, said a representative of the Office of the 3rd President of Armenia Mary Harutyunyan. The letter was sent by the chairman of the committee Andranik Kocharyan. A young woman was injured in a landmine explosion Sunday in Paruyr Sevak village of Armenias Ararat Province, the head of the community, Eduard Stepanyan, told Armenian News-NEWS.am. She had gone to collect beets with her mother-in-law; there were 3 other women with them, he noted. "The woman was taken to Astghik hospital [in Yerevan]; most likely, her leg will be amputated." We hope this donation of washable slippers will help those workers find some comfort after a long day on their feet. Its essential that we shift our day-to-day focus and do what we know is right to thank these deserving healthcare heroes, said Tricia Bouras, Dearfoams brand president. Dearfoams, America's number one slipper company, is donating its cozy slippers to those in the medical field working on the frontlines amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning on April 7, consumers on Dearfoams.com who purchase a pair of slippers will automatically have a pair of slippers donated to a healthcare worker on their behalf. Those in the medical community can redeem one free pair of slippers, while supplies last, through the website and have a pair shipped directly to them at no cost. All of us at Dearfoams are thinking of the brave workers who are caring for those suffering from this global pandemic, said Tricia Bouras, Dearfoams brand president. We hope this donation of washable slippers will help those workers find some comfort after a long day on their feet. Its essential that we shift our day-to-day focus and do what we know is right to thank these deserving healthcare heroes. Dearfoams parent company RG Barry Corporation, in collaboration with its handbag brand baggallini, is donating 100,000 face masks to those on the medical frontlines nationwide as well. We appreciate and give thanks to essential workers who are tirelessly bringing comfort to those in need, said Bouras. Its humbling to see the need that exists to care for the community at large. Its also inspiring to see the nation coming together as one community to care for each other. To further help ease stress and provide moments of comfort during this unprecedented time, Dearfoams is also launching At Home on Dearfoams, a two-week Instagram series featuring self-care activities and wellness tips. For a full lineup of the events that begin Sunday, April 5, follow @Dearfoams on Instagram. About Dearfoams: Dearfoams, a brand of RG Barry Corporation, was established in 1947 by visionary female entrepreneur Florence Melton who invented the world's first foam-soled, washable slipper. Dearfoams is headquartered in Pickerington, Ohio. China able to ensure food security despite coronavirus impact People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:00, April 05, 2020 A series of "unconventional measures" that aimed to ensure a stable grain production has allowed China to hold firm its "rice bowl". BEIJING, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese officials said Saturday that the country can hold firm its "rice bowl" despite the novel coronavirus impact, with ample grain reserves and measures to boost production. The country has recorded a long streak of bumper years, with grain output reaching a record of 663.85 million tonnes last year. With measures to boost grain production "we have the confidence and determination to hold firm our 'rice bowl,'" Pan Wenbo, an official at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, told a press conference. The bumper harvests supported the country's efforts to boost social and economic development as well as fight the novel coronavirus outbreak, Pan said in response to questions that whether some countries' grain export ban would strain China's grain supply. Pan said China has unveiled a series of "unconventional measures" to stabilize grain production, including setting region-specific grain plantation targets, offering subsidies for farmers and raising minimum prices for state procurement of rice, which secured a good start this year and would ensure stable grain production for the whole year. The country's grain reserves have run at a high level, with those of rice and wheat being sufficient to meet the country's consumer market demand for one year, said Qin Yuyun, an official with the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration. Qin said the administration will continue efforts to ensure abundant supply and stable prices. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Michael Atkinson, the former top watchdog of the US Intelligence Community, claims he was fired by President Donald Trump because he acted impartially in his handling of the whistleblower complaint that triggered last year's impeachment probe. Trump announced his decision to remove Atkinson in letters to the House and Senate intelligence committees on Friday, saying he had lost confidence in the Intelligence Community Inspector General. The president ripped into Atkinson further on Saturday, telling reporters at the White House: 'That man is a disgrace to IGs, he's a total disgrace.' Atkinson responded to Trump's comments in a statement on Sunday. 'While I understand that the President can remove Inspectors General for cause, I am disappointed and saddened that President Trump has decided to remove me as the inspector General of the Intelligence Community because I did not have his "fullest confidence,"' he wrote. 'It is hard not to think that the President's loss of confidence in me derives from my having faithfully discharged my legal obligations as an independent and impartial Inspector General, and from my commitment to continue to do so.' Michael Atkinson, the former top watchdog of the US Intelligence Community, claims he was fired by President Donald Trump because he acted impartially in his handling of the whistleblower complaint that triggered last year's impeachment probe Atkinson was required by law to notify Congress of the complaint, which was written by an anonymous intelligence official and detailed Trump's pressure on Ukraine to investigate Democrats. The inspector general had deemed it urgent and credible, meaning that he was required to share it with the House and Senate intelligence committees. But the acting director of national intelligence at the time, Joseph Maguire, overruled him for several weeks. After a firestorm sparked by media reports of the complaint, it was turned over and made public in September, and a congressional inquiry into the matter led to Trump's impeachment by the House in December. The GOP-led Senate acquitted Trump in February. Atkinson said in the email that he was legally obligated to 'ensure that whistleblowers had an effective and authorized means to disclose urgent matters involving classified information to the congressional intelligence committees', and that such whistleblowers were protected against reprisal. Trump repeatedly called for the whistleblower's name to be revealed. In defending his decision to fire Atkinson, Trump complained that the IG didn't come and speak to him about it directly. 'I thought he did a terrible job, absolutely terrible,' the president told reporters on Saturday. 'He took a fake report and he took it to Congress with an emergency, okay? Not a big Trump fan, that I can tell you.' Trump railed against the whistleblower as well, calling him 'fake' and politically biased. 'Frankly, somebody ought to sue his ass off,' he said. Trump announced his decision to remove Atkinson in letters to the House and Senate intelligence committees on Friday, saying he had lost confidence in the Intelligence Community Inspector General. The president ripped into Atkinson further on Saturday, telling reporters at the White House: 'That man is a disgrace to IGs, he's a total disgrace' In his statement, Atkinson insisted that he has never shown political bias. 'Inspectors General are able to fulfill their critical watchdog functions because, by law, they are supposed to be independent of both the Executive agencies they oversee and of Congress. Inspectors General are not involved in policymaking, they are not partisan,' he wrote. 'Although I have proudly served as a political appointee since May 2018, I have never been a political or partisan person. 'To the contrary, I have spent my entire seventeen-year career as a public servant acting without regard to partisan favor or political fear. 'During my confirmation hearing to head the office of the Intelligence Community Inspector General I was asked repeatedly by numerous senators on both sides of the aisle about my commitment to the ICIG's Whistleblower Program. 'I testified under oath that I would "encourage, operate and enforce a program for authorized disclosures within the Intelligence Community that validates moral courage without compromising national security and without retaliation." 'I did what I said I would do.' Atkinson was a key figure in the run-up to impeachment inquiry, having found credible a complaint from a still-unnamed whistleblower within the administration that Trump abused his office in attempting to solicit Ukraine's interference in the 2020 US election for his political benefit. A House Intelligence Committee report on the complaint is shown above Atkinson is seen arriving at the Capitol in Washington for closed-door questioning about the whistleblower complaint that triggered Trump's impeachment on October 4, 2019 Atkinson went on to address the Ukrainian whistleblower issue directly, referencing a letter in which dozens of IG's expressed their public support of the ICIG's decision to disclose the complaint. 'Sixty-seven Inspectors General throughout the federal government warned of the potential harm that can result from second-guessing determinations made by independent Inspectors General responding to whistleblower disclosures, particularly if whistleblowers "think their effort to disclose information will be for naught or, worse, that they risk adverse consequences for coming forward when they see something they think is wrong. That would be a grave loss for IG oversight and, as a result, for the American taxpayer". That quote came from the letter written by the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency to the Honorable Steven A Gengel, Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel on October 22, 2019. Atkinson then wrote: 'It has been an honor to serve the American people during my tenure as the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, and to work alongside the dedicated, selfless and courageous public servants throughout the Intelligence Community, especially my colleagues at the ICIG. 'Those of us who vowed to protect a whistleblower's right to safely be heard must, to the end, do what we promised to do, no matter how difficult and no matter the personal consequences. 'I will be forever grateful to the many public officials and others who fight tirelessly and consistently, in words and deeds, in ordinary and extraordinary matters, to protect the rights of all whistleblowers and in turn the best interests of the United States. He concluded with a message for 'any government employee or contractor who believes they have learned of or observed unethical, wasteful or illegal behavior in the federal government'. 'The American people deserve and honest and effective government,' he wrote. 'They are counting on you to use authorized channels to bravely speak up - there is no disgrace in doing so. 'It is important to remember, as others have said, that the need for secrecy in the United States Intelligence Community is not a grant of power, but a grant of trust. 'Our government benefits when individuals are encouraged to report suspected fraud, waste, and abuse. 'I have faith that my colleagues in the Inspectors General Offices throughout the federal government will continue to operate effective and independent whistleblower programs, and that they will continue to do everything in their power to protect the rights of whistleblowers. 'Please do not allow recent events to silence your voices.' Atkinson's statement issued on Sunday is shown in full above The move to fire Atkinson will no doubt throw Trump's impeachment into the spotlight again, while the White House is already grappling with its response to the coronavirus pandemic Atkinson's removal is part of a larger shakeup of the intelligence community under Trump, who has long been skeptical of intelligence officials and information. He is at least the seventh intelligence official to be fired, ousted or moved aside since last summer. His ouster came under immediate fire from Democrats and a handful of Republicans. Senator Richard Burr, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, praised Atkinson, while noting Trump has the authority to fire him. 'Like any political appointee, the inspector general serves at the behest of the Executive,' Burr, a Republican from North Carolina, said in a statement on Saturday. 'However, in order to be effective, the IG must be allowed to conduct his or her work independent of internal or external pressure.' Senator Charles Grassley, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, demanded a better explanation for Atkinson's firing. 'Congress has been crystal clear that written reasons must be given when IGs are removed for a lack of confidence,' he said. 'More details are needed from the administration.' Trump is trying to scare the watchdog community, Adam Schiff, a California Democrat and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee told MSNBC Saturday morning. 'He's decapitating the leadership of the intelligence community in the middle of a national crisis,' he said. 'It's unconscionable, and of course it sends a message throughout the federal government and particular to other inspectors general.' Republican House Representative Jim Jordan, a staunch Trump supporter, mocked Schiff's concern about Atkinson's firing. 'He was Schiff's key impeachment enabler,' Jordan wrote on Twitter. Atkinson's firing comes as US inspectors general, who are charged with independent oversight of federal agencies, were recently tasked with broad surveillance of the government's response to the coronavirus, including the historic $2.3trillion fiscal package to mitigate its economic impact. Atkinson's firing comes as US inspectors general, who are charged with independent oversight of federal agencies, were recently tasked with broad surveillance of the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic Democrats have expressed concerns about how the fiscal package will be doled out through the US Treasury, headed by Steven Mnuchin. Michael Horowitz, chair of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), an independent agency in the executive branch and the inspector general at the Department of Justice, defended Atkinson and vowed on Saturday to continue to conduct 'aggressive' independent oversight of government programs. 'This includes CIGIE's Pandemic Response Accountability Committee and its efforts on behalf of American taxpayers, families, businesses, patients, and health care providers to ensure that over $2trillion dollars in emergency federal spending is being used consistently with the law's mandate,' Horowitz said in a statement. In bringing the whistleblower complaint to Congress, Atkinson expressed concerns that Trump potentially exposed himself to 'serious national security and counter-intelligence risks' when he pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during a July 25 phone call to investigate Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden and his son, according to a Justice Department legal opinion. After contentious, partisan hearings, the Democratic-led House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump but the Republican-led Senate acquitted him of the charges in early February. More Information How to get tested for the coronavirus Who can get tested? Anyone living in Bexar County who shows symptoms of infection by the virus - such as a cough, a fever or shortness of breath - is eligible for testing. A physician's referral is no longer required. Tests are reserved for those showing symptoms. How to go about it? An appointment is required to get a test. Patients who believe they have symptoms may call 311 and select option 8 or they can visit Metro Health's "self screening" tool at www.sanantonio.gov to complete a short questionnaire. The screening results will indicate if a patient should be tested for COVID-19. If the online tool determines a test is necessary, the patient can call 210-233-5970 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. seven days a week to register. When and where? The San Antonio Pre-Approved Testing Center is conducting tests seven days a week at Freeman Coliseum next to the AT&T Center. The testing center's operating hours are generally 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments are required. Some private medical providers also are offering tests. What does it cost? The COVID-19 test itself is free. Patients without health insurance will be tested at no charge, Metro Health said. How long to get results? Generally, the turnaround time is five to seven days. Who else is testing? Some hospitals offer in-house testing and some private medical providers also are offering tests. Patients showing symptoms of COVID-19 can register for an appointment with Texas MedClinic at https://www.texasmedclinic.com/coronavirus-covid-19/ or call one of Texas MedClinic's offices, according to Metro Health's self-screening tool. Patients seeking a test there will be required to undergo a medical exam. There is a charge for the exam, but not for the test itself. Most commercial health insurance plans should cover those costs. What if symptoms are severe? Patients experiencing severe symptoms should seek immediate care by calling a doctor, Metro Health said. It has been nearly two weeks since India went into lockdown, a desperate measure to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the country. However, despite the attempts by the government to 'flatten the curve' in the two weeks that the country has been under lockdown the number of that testing positive for COVID-19 has only increased in the past few days and at an exponential rate. BCCL The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has so far maintained that India is still at stage-II which means that there is no community transmission of the virus yet. However, the ICMR has warned that there are high chances of community transmission in the country, at which point the disease becomes out of control. Now, in a move to prevent the possible spread of the virus to new places, the Union Health Ministry has drawn out a cluster containment strategy to contain the disease within a defined geographic area by early detection of cases, breaking the chain of transmission. BCCL This, after clusters posing a high risk of further spread of COVID-19 cases, emerged in several states like Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Karnataka, Telangana as also Delhi and Ladakh. The ministry said with 211 districts now reporting COVID-19 cases, the risk of further spread remains very high. As per the containment plan, India would be following a strategic approach for possible scenarios - travel-related case reported in India, local transmission of COVID-19, large outbreaks amenable to containment, widespread community transmission of COVID-19 disease and India becomes endemic for COVID-19, the ministry said. "containment for large outbreaks through geographic quarantine strategy calls for near-absolute interruption of movement of people to and from a relatively large defined area where there is a single large outbreak or multiple foci of local transmission," the ministry said. BCCL "In simple terms, it is a barrier erected around the focus of infection. Geographic quarantine shall be applicable to such areas reporting large outbreak and/or multiple clusters of COVID-19 spread over multiple blocks of one or more districts that are contiguous," it said. The cluster containment strategy would "include geographic quarantine, social distancing measures, enhanced active surveillance, testing all suspected cases, isolation of cases, quarantine of contacts and risk communication to create awareness among public on preventive public health measures", the document stated. As far as the evidence for implementing geographic quarantine is concerned, the document said that the "current geographic distribution of COVID-19 mimics the distribution of H1N1 pandemic influenza". "This suggests that while the spread of COVID-19 in our population could be high, it's unlikely that it will be uniformly affecting all parts of the country," the ministry said while stressing this calls for differential approach to different regions of the country, while mounting a strong containment effort in hot spots. Large-scale measures to contain COVID-19 over large territories have been tried in China. Mathematical modelling studies have suggested that containment might be possible especially when other public health interventions are combined with an effective social distancing strategy, the document stated. REUTERS The ministry listed some of the factors affecting large outbreak cluster containment. A number of variables determine the success of the containment operations through geographic quarantine which include the number and size of the cluster or clusters and also how efficiently the virus is transmitting in Indian population, taking into account environmental factors especially temperature and humidity, it said. The factors also include public health response in terms of active case finding, testing of large number of cases, immediate isolation of suspect and confirmed cases and quarantine of contacts along with the geographical characteristics of the area. According to the document, the authorities will do extensive contact tracing and active search for cases in containment zone, test all suspect cases and high risk contacts, isolate all suspected or confirmed cases, implement social distancing measures and intensive risk communication as part of the cluster containment strategy. For large outbreaks amenable to containment, the documents stated that the strategy will remain the same but vary in extent depending upon spread and response to be mounted to contain it. Geographic quarantine and containment strategy will include defining the area of operation, active surveillance for cases and contacts in the identified geographic zone, expanding laboratory capacity for testing all suspect cases, high risk contacts and SARI cases and operationalising surge capacities created for isolation (COVID-19 hospitals/blocks) to hospitalise and manage all suspected or confirmed cases. It will also include the implementation of social distancing measures with strict perimeter control, providing chemoprophylaxis with Hydroxychloroquine to all asymptomatic healthcare workers and asymptomatic household contacts of laboratory-confirmed cases and further intensification of risk communication through audio, social and visual media. The Gujarat police on Monday said they have so far identified and traced 126 people from the state who had attended the Islamic congregation at Delhi's Nizamuddin area, believed to be a key source for the spread of coronavirus, and a dozen of them have tested positive. Among these 126 attendees, 12 persons, all from Ahmedabad, have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, said Gujarat DGP Shivanand Jha. Search is still on to trace and identify others from Gujarat who had attended the gathering held last month at the headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat, he said. The mega meet in Nizamuddin has been linked to dozens of coronavirus positive cases and also multiple fatalities across the country. A case of lockdown violation is being lodged against one of the attendees for falsely claiming that he came back to Gujarat before the shutdown was imposed (on March 25), he said. "That person told the police that he had arrived in Gujarat from Delhi on March 11. However, our investigation revealed that he actually returned on March 27. "Thus, we have started the process to lodge a case of lockdown violation under the Disaster Management Act" Jha told reporters in Gandhinagar. A 70-year-old man from Bhavnagar, who had attended the gathering, has died due to coronavirus. Gujarat has so far reported more than 140 COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor-director Jason Bateman says though he is most comfortable doing acting, he prefers direction as it is a more interesting aspect of filmmaking. Bateman, who made his directorial debut with the 2013 black comedy "Bad Words", has since directed and starred in "The Family Fang" and recently, the Netflix crime drama series "Ozark". "The acting part is less interesting for me only because that's the part that's obviously most familiar and most comfortable. "So, it is the camera work that is everything to me. I will do a lot of work on my own to create every image that we end up doing," he told Collider. The actor-filmmaker said he still takes a "long time to figure out" how he must go about setting up a scene. ''I have everything worked out in my head as far as where the actors will walk, where they sit, where they'll talk, or where the cameras are going to be - all the images. (I do this so I can) discover the best way for the visuals to amplify - or the opposite, offset - what the scene is about. Bateman was awarded the Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding directing for a drama series in 2019 for "Ozark" and has won a Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dr. Deborah Birx over the weekend cited Pennsylvania as among the states starting to go on that upside of the curve of coronavirus deaths. She also named Colorado and Washington, D.C. in that group. Birx is the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force. Her comments came as federal officials including President Donald Trump called for a bleak upcoming week of coronavirus deaths in the main hotspots so far New York, Detroit and Louisiana. They have told the nation to brace for a death toll they compared to 911 and Pearl Harbor. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, coronavirus cases and deaths continued to rise sharply over the weekend, although the rate of increase seemed to slow slightly. However, state Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine has said it will take a run of encouraging numbers before shell draw any conclusion that Pennsylvania is nearing the top of its curve. Also, state health officials have said some private testing labs dont report results on weekends, creating the possibility the most recent numbers dont reflect all cases. Below are daily breakdowns of some of the essential numbers through Sunday. The growth factor is calculated by dividing each days new cases by the new cases on the previous day. A growth factor of more than 1 points to continued exponential growth of cases, with a growth factor of less than 1 can indicate the rate of new cases is slowing. April 6 1,470 new cases 12,890 total cases 13% increase 0.99 growth factor 12 new deaths 162 total deaths April 5 1,493 new 11,510 total cases 15% increase 0.93 growth factor 14 new deaths 150 total deaths April 4 1,597 new 10,017 total 19% increase 1.14 growth factor 34 new deaths 136 total deaths April 3 1,404 new cases 8,420 total cases 20% increase 1.16 growth factor 102 deaths, all adults 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 RELATED: Read all PennLive coverage of the new coronavirus here. 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 March 29 649 new cases 3,400 total cases 24% 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 2.67 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 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. Key highlights: HLL Lifecare first PSU to get ICMR approval to make rapid test kits Branded as Makesure, HLL's Manesar unit develops and manufactures the kit RGCB's kit to get approval this week; expected to be priced at Rs 380 HLL and RGCB to make 2 lakh kits each Both kits priced at less than Rs 400 HLL to also make VTM kits and hand sanitisers Two public sector enterprises - HLL Lifecare Limited, a Central Government Enterprise under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Thiruvananthapuram based Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), a National Institute under Ministry of Science & Technology - have separately developed Rapid Diagnostic Antibody kits for oronavirus detection. HLL's 'Makesure' kit is a one-step novel coronavirus (COVID 19) IgM/IgG antibody detection from the human serum, plasma or whole blood obtained from the patient with signs and symptoms of respiratory infection. The kit, manufactured at HLL's rapid diagnostic kit manufacturing facility in Manesar in Haryana has been validated and approved by NIV Pune and ICMR for use in India. HLL is the first public sector company in India to get approval from ICMR for manufacturing and supplying the Rapid Antibody kit for COVID-19 detection. HLL is planning to manufacture two lakh kits for supplying to various ICMR-approved testing felicities and hospitals within next 10 days and it will be priced between Rs 350-400 per kit, HLL sources told Business Today. The country is facing acute shortage of diagnostic kits as COVID-19 cases are increasing over 10-12 per cent every day. Mylab, a Pune-based biotech company and Trivitron Healthcare of Chennai have already developed rapid diagnostics kits to fight the disease. RGCB's kit, expected to get approval this week, is incubated by a company called Ubio Biotechnologies, located at the RGCB campus in Kochi. Plans are to make about two lakh kits a day and about 60 lakh kits in a month. RGCB plans to price the product at Rs 380, said sources. HLL sources said the COVID-19 testing results can be delivered within 15-20 minutes. HLL is also planning to develop and manufacture Viral Transport Medium (VTM) kits which is in short supply in the country, as the molecular test volume pick-up will be required in huge quantities. HLL has also started manufacturing hand sanitiser, "Medigard" from its manufacturing facilities in Peroorkkada, Trivandrum and Belgaum, Karnataka factories. Those who tested positive in the rapid tests have to undertake the Reverse Transcription-Polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, to ascertain the novel coronavirus. While the rapid antibody kits give result within 30-45 minutes, the RT-PCR test results may take about a day. Also Read: Two coronavirus vaccine candidates enter human trials, 60 in pre-clinical stage: WHO Also Read: Coronavirus: Trivitron to produce testing kits, ventilators, PPEs, hand sanitisers The rate of doubling of Covid-19 cases in India is 4.1 days presently but if the cases linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation would not have happened, it would have been 7.4 days, the Health Ministry said on Sunday. Joint Secretary in the ministry Lav Agarwal said there had been 472 new Covid-19 cases and 11 deaths since Saturday. The total coronavirus cases stand at 3,374 and the death toll now stands at 79. He said 267 people have recovered. However, a PTI tally of figures reported by states directly showed at least 106 deaths, while the number of confirmed cases had reached 3,624. Of the total, 284 have been cured and discharged. There has been a lag in the Union Health Ministry figures, compared to the numbers announced by different states, which officials attribute to procedural delays in assigning the cases to individual states. Asserting that there was no evidence that Covid-19 was airborne, an ICMR official said, "We need to understand that in science whoever does experiments some will have a 'for opinion and some against' but we need to take a balanced, evidence-based approach." "For example, if it was an air-borne infection then in a family whoever has a contact they all should come positive because they are living in same surrounding as the patient and the family is breathing the same air. When someone is admitted in hospital, other patient would have got exposure (if it was air borne) but that is not the case," the official said. Talking about the Tablighi Jamaat congregation, Agarwal said, "If the Tablighi Jamaat incident had not taken place and we compare the rate of doubling - that is in how many days the cases have doubled, we will see that currently it is 4.1 days (including Jamaat cases) and if the incident had not taken place and additional cases had not come then the doubling rate would have been 7.4 days." Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Sunday held a meeting on COVID-19 with district magistrates, superintendent of police, chief medical officers, state and district surveillance officers, state health secretaries and district health secretaries and chief secretaries, Agarwal said. District officials shared the strategies adopted by them to combat the pandemic like how they delineated containment and buffer zone, how they carried out door-to-door survey through special teams, how through telemedicine and call centres the passengers who had come were monitored. The districts from where many cases were reported like Agra, Bhilwada, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Pathan Mitha, East Delhi also shared their experiences and strategies adopted by them. The main points that came from the experience shared by districts were proactive and ruthless containment implementation at field level and second is preparedness to the extent of being over prepared so that cases can be handled at any stage, Agarwal said. All DMs were instructed pharma units making devices and medicines must run seamlessly, he said. Also read: Coronavirus impact: CEOs fear job losses, fall in revenue, profit, reveals CII snap poll Also read: Coronavirus: Disclose identity today or face action, says Himachal govt to Tablighi Jamaat attendees A prominent Catholic priest called on the faithful to practice social distancing this week, the peak of Lent, in contrast to some other religious leaders who have called for churches to remain open as Easter approaches and the coronavirus spreads. "One of the ways of being kind, in addition to doing good things for your neighbors, is to practice social distancing and stay home and not give other people the disease," James Martin, a Jesuit priest and author, told CNBC on Monday morning. "I think that's one of the most generous things you can do, which is to take those cautions to prevent infecting other people," Martin said of Christians observing Lent, the time between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday when many followers abstain from some of the comforts of their lives. Martin has become a leading Catholic voice in the media. He wrote the book "Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity" and is an editor-at-large for America Magazine. He served as an advisor for director Martin Scorsese's "Silence" and appeared in the filmmaker's Netflix-produced film "The Irishman." Not all religious leaders are offering the same advice as Martin. While many churches have opted to perform their services virtually, some have continued to hold gatherings despite warnings from the federal government and state leaders to avoid contact with other people. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-07 05:12:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Monday said it rescued 68 illegal immigrants off the Libyan coast. "This morning, our vessel ALANKURDI rescued 68 people from a boat in distress. During the rescue, Libyan forces interrupted and fired shots in the air. Many people jumped in the water. Now everyone is safe on board our ship," the UNHCR tweeted. Thousands of illegal immigrants, mostly Africans, choose to cross the Mediterranean Sea toward Europe from Libya, which has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of its former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. According to the UNHCR, there are currently 48,621 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with the agency in Libya. The agency continues to provide protection and assistance to refugees, asylum-seekers, forcibly displaced Libyans and returnees. On April 4, 2019, the eastern-based army launched a military campaign in and around the capital Tripoli in an attempt to take over the city and topple the rival UN-backed government. The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has documented at least 356 civilian deaths and 329 injuries since the outbreak of the armed conflict. Nearly 150,000 people in and around Tripoli have been forced to flee their homes since the beginning of the conflict, and 345,000 civilians remain in frontline areas, while an estimated 749,000 others live in areas affected by the clashes, according to UNSMIL. French people have been among the best in the world at following lockdown rules, according to the country's interior minister. Christophe Castaner has praised the public for largely following orders to stay at home unless it is essential, even after schools went on holiday. "Since the start of the checks, there have been nearly 480,000 fines out of 8.2 million checks," he told radio station France Info. "From what I know and from what I can see, the French are among the best in the world at respecting quarantine measures." Speaking about the concern people would have tried to go on holiday after schools broke up this weekend, he said people "had not taken the risk". "Of course, there were some people who broke the rules," he added. French police ramped up checks at train stations and motorways on Friday to stop people breaking a national lockdown ahead of the holidays. The government reminded Parisians last week that trying to escape the city did not constitute essential travel and that controls would be reinforced "with utmost firmness". "Without a valid reason, travellers will be fined for not respecting the confinement rules and will not be allowed to continue their journey or to take their train or plane," the Paris Prefecture said in a statement on Twitter. People have been told to stay at home since 17 March in a bid to tackle the spread of coronavirus, with people only allowed outside if it is deemed necessary, for example to get groceries or go to work. The measures have been extended until 15 April. More than 82,000 people have been infected with coronavirus in France as of Monday, while the death toll stood at around 8,000. Additional reporting by Reuters Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 6) Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III is facing a complaint for violating COVID-19 quarantine protocols. Former University of Makati law dean lawyer Rico Quicho filed the complaint before the Department of Justice on Monday. Pimentel, who tested positive for the virus, drew outrage for visiting the Makati Medical Center on March 24 to accompany his wife Kathryna who was about to give birth. The lawmaker, who was exhibiting flu-like symptoms, was supposed to be under strict home quarantine after his exposure to positive cases. His test results later confirmed that he did contract the disease and potentially exposed a number of health workers at the hospital and staff at members-only supermarket S&R. Quicho said the senator violated laws related to nondisclosure of his health status and violation of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine. He added the petition on change.org seeking to charge Pimentel and remove him from the Senate has garnered 200,000 online signatures. "As a lawyer and advocate of the rule of law, I cannot in good conscience allow the reckless actions of Senator Koko Pimentel to be brushed aside so easily. He blatantly violated laws, which put the lives and health of frontliners and even ordinary citizens at grave risk," Quicho said. Legal experts said Pimentel may be fined up to 50,000 or face a jail term of one to six months for failing to disclose that he is suspected of having COVID-19. For violating the enhanced community quarantine, he can be fined between 10,000 and 50,000 or jailed for up to a year. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the department will immediately schedule the preliminary investigation at a proper time as there is still enhanced community quarantine enforced over Luzon. He vowed to be impartial. "We assure everyone that the Justice Department will apply the law fairly and uniformly, regardless of the status of the respondent, with due respect at all times to the rights of the respondent. This investigation is without prejudice to the separate probe that the national bureau of investigation has commenced," he said in a statement. Guevarra added the investigation will be separate from the probe the National Bureau of Investigation is conducting. Pimentel apologized for his actions, saying his trip to the hospital was essential. Life amid the coronavirus crisis can get difficult. Actor Kirti Kulhari says it was only when her sister a doctor in the Indian Army explained about the pandemic that she and her husband, Saahil Sehgal, understood the severity of the situation. In fact, thats when Kulhari decided to travel overnight and be with her parents. My sister and brother-in-law are doctors posted in Chandigarh. We get a lot of information from them, but my husband and I didnt take many things seriously. We were supposed to go to Chandigarh, but my sister stopped us, says the actor, explaining how the reality hit her. Kulharis sister is a pathologist and her brother-in-law is a paediatric anaesthetist. The actor shares that while both are working continuously, they are following safety protocols. But the family is still worried. My sister is shuffling between work and home, but my jiju goes to work every day. Theyve actually controlled the OPD (Out Patient Department) in the hospital to avoid crowding. They are planning out things well, Kulhari adds. As far as her quarantine time is concerned, the 34-year-old is keeping herself occupied by exploring her culinary skills, and she plans to share her dishes on social media, too. Im a home person, so Im enjoying this me-time with my family. There so much work to do in the house. Im planning to share more skincare tips as well, she says, adding, And Im not consciously honing my craft. I think that will happen as I go about following my daily routine. Its a natural process of learning. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Campus News Hannah Heights stands tall at seismic design competition The UB seismic design team's poster for the 2020 Undergraduate Seismic Design Competition sponsored by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute. The UB team named its project in honor of Hannah Bocker, a team member who was critically injured in an accident in her hometown. By PETER MURPHY Hannah was a part of the team last year, and oversaw our proposal, poster and presentation. She never failed to deliver and she was an absolute joy to be around. ... We know that if she could have been here with us, all of her strength would have gone into it as well. An entry that was dedicated to a UB student recovering from an accident finished near the top of an international engineering design competition. Hannah Heights, named after civil engineering student Hannah Bocker and designed by UBs seismic design club as an emblem of a magnificent gem, finished 13th out of the 46 entries from colleges and universities from around the world that competed in the Earthquake Engineering Research Institutes (EERI) Undergraduate Seismic Design Competition. After Bocker, who participated on the UB team at last years competition, was critically injured in an accident in her hometown, student members of UBs American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) club, including the seismic design team, started a few different initiatives to honor her. Among the efforts was a card-signing event organized by UB ASCE early in the fall semester to encourage people to support the Bocker family by donating to an online fundraiser organized by a family friend. John Foley, a civil engineering senior and co-project manager of the UB seismic design team, says this type of encouragement meant a lot to Bocker. All the cards, gifts, messages and support shes been receiving have been helping her get through this difficult time, Foley says, I messaged her directly and she responded expressing her gratitude. She was honored that we named the tower after her. For this years EERI Undergraduate Seismic Design Competition, which was held in early March in San Diego, teams had to design scale models of towers for the host city using basal wood and steel rods and plates. UBs team utilized some of the seismic technology exclusive to Ketter Hall in order to prepare for the competition. Fill out an online form, drive to the designated collection centre, display your identity proof, roll down your car window, tilt your head back to allow the collection of swab samples from your throat and nose, and leave a person suspected to have the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) can now undergo testing in these simple steps at a private labs drive-through centre in west Delhi. The central government has so far allowed about three dozen private lab chains to detect Covid-19 cases, a move experts say is important to ramp up testing to flatten the curve of the disease. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), however, allows only symptomatic people with travel history, health care workers, people with severe respiratory illnesses, and people in direct contact with confirmed cases, to be tested. Those approaching the private facilities need a doctors prescription under these guidelines to qualify for testing. Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic On Monday, the Punjabi Bagh branch of Dr Dangs Lab -- one of the eight private labs approved in the city -- organised a dummy run of its drive-through facility. Interviews and interactions with suspected cases were not possible in view of privacy and safety concerns. The process of drive-through testing begins at home, where a symptomatic person can use the labs website to fill out an online form with personal details, preferred date of sample collection, details of the doctor recommending the test, and clinical symptoms. The person also needs to submit the registration number, make and colour of the car they intend to use. Once the appointment is booked and online payment made, the lab makes a confirmation call and sends an e-mail with the details of the process. The facility is set up along a 100-foot stretch of the street outside the lab located in Punjabi Baghs West Central Market. The entry and exit points are controlled by iron chains manned by security guards. Multiple signs are fixed along this stretch to guide the suspected patients through the process. When the car arrived at the centre for the dummy run on Monday, a guard tallied the drivers identity and registration plate with the form submitted online. The cars parking lights had to be switched on these instructions are e-mailed after the booking. While the guard lowered the iron chain to let the car through, a sanitation worker in a coverall sprayed the path with disinfectant. No words were exchanged. The car drove into a 15ft 6ft rectangular painted patch, while a technician wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) approached the driver with a placard that instructed him to lower the window, tilt his head back, and allow the collection of swab samples from his throat and nose. The technician tore out a swab from a packet, collected a sample from the nose for about five seconds, and placed the swab in a cylindrical container. The process was repeated with the throat. The dummy patient rolled up the cars window, as the guard lowered the iron chain to allow him to drive away. The sample collection process took less than five minutes. Another technician then wrapped the samples with cotton gauze, placed them in a larger cylindrical plastic container, which was stored in a thermocol box padded with ice packs. This process took another five minutes. Not more than two people are allowed to occupy a car at the time of testing. If the car driver is not the patient, he or she must sit on the right side of the rear seat to facilitate the collection of swab samples. Patients receive their results through email and phone within 36 hours. The cost of the test is ~4,500. To be sure, since the collection centre ran a mock collection process, an actual test was not performed for the purpose of this news report. Arjun Dang, chief executive officer of Dr Dangs Lab, said that the drive-through facility was looking at serving 25-35 patients per day, with 20 minutes assigned to each patient. It will operate from 8.30am to 4.30pm, but we may increase the timing if the demand increases, he said, adding that about a dozen people had registered for the tests since appointments opened late Sunday afternoon. Zoya Brar, CEO and founder, CORE Diagnostics, a private lab that has ICMR approval, said: I appreciate that Dr Dangs has replicated what has been done in South Korea and other places to expand testing. On our end, we are focused on providing home collection since that is the lowest exposure for the patient to the outside world. We do this by default for all cases. While one other private lab chain said they were assessing the process to begin a similar testing procedure, another lab did not comment on the matter. A third lab said it had no immediate plans of starting a drive-through testing facility. Public health experts say that wide and aggressive testing along with social distancing is the only way to control the outbreak of the new disease. A massive testing effort, largely by drive-through centres, has been touted as a major reason why South Korea has been able to slow the spread of the highly contagious disease, which has killed at least 71,000 people worldwide. At one point in March, South Korea had the second largest outbreak after China, but the country has since managed to flatten the curve of the infections. After an initial delay, the US has also begun wide drive-through testing to control the pathogen that has infected over 330,000 people in the country. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities will launch this evening its fourth virtual Experience Egypt tour on its official website and social media platforms. The tour will explore the distinguished Mosque, Madrassa (School) and Khanqa of Sultan Barquq in Al-Muiz Street. The madrasa and khanqa of Sultan Barquq is located on Al-Muiz Street and is known as the Zahiriya school. King Zahir Abu Said Barquq ordered its construction, which began in 1384 AD. Its inauguration took place two years later, in 1386 AD. This madrasa lies in the middle of one of the worlds largest architectural heritage complexes. A charitable foundation was established here by Al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun for his madrasa. The school itself taught the four Islamic legal schools and contained a mosque and a Sufi khanqa. A domed shrine inside the structure serves as the burial place of his father and of some of his wives and children. The building, with its many exquisite architectural and decorative elements, is an architectural marvel. It is composed of an open court and four iwans, the largest of which is the one on the side of the direction for prayer. It contains a marble mihrab, a wooden pulpit, a stand for the Quran, and a prayer platform (dikka). The establishment was also equipped with several branch-schools, wings for Sufis, rooms for students, a kitchen, and a washroom. The buildings facade is surmounted by a minaret and a dome that was restored by the Assembly for the Preservation of Arab Antiquities in 1892 AD. The madrasa of Sultan Barquq is characterised by inscriptions from the Quran in the naskh script, a foundation inscription, and the marble panels and marvellously decorated ceiling of the largest iwan. Search Keywords: Short link: A Vietnamese man who visited Hanoi's Bach Mai hospital and three others quarantined upon landing in Vietnam have tested Covid-19 positive, the Health Ministry said Monday. "Patient 243" is a 47-year-old man from Me Linh District, Hanoi. On March 12, he took his wife to the Bach Mai Hospital's department of immunology and allergy for a check-up. The couple left the hospital and went for a bite at a shop opposite the hospital on Giai Phong Street the same day. Eighteen days later, he visited a communal medical facility to submit his health declaration and was told to self-quarantine at home. Hed had close contact with his family members and business partners. While he remained asymptomatic, his samples were taken on April 4 by the Hanoi Center for Disease Control. Two days later, his test results were confirmed Covid-19 positive. The man is being treated at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Dong Anh District, Hanoi. The three other new infections are people who returned from Russia on Aeroflot flight SU290, landing March 25 at the Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport. They were quarantined at the FPT University dormitory in Thach That District, Hanoi. They are also being treated at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases. "Patient 242" is a 34-year-old woman from Cam Quan Commune, Cam Xuyen District in the central province of Ha Tinh. She lives and works in Russia. She was on seat 23A on the Aeroflot flight. Her samples were tested Sunday by the Hanoi Center for Disease Control. "Patient 244", a 44-year-old Vietnamese woman from Bo Trach District in the central province of Quang Binh, worked at a fast food restaurant in Germany. She flew from Germany to Russia on flight SU2313 on seat 20F and later boarded the same flight as "Patient 243," taking 40C. Her samples were tested Monday by the Hanoi Center for Disease Control. "Patient 245", a 21-year-old woman, is a resident of Quynh Son Commune, Quynh Luu District in the central province of Nghe An. She worked as a nail technician in Spain. She flew from Spain to Russia on flight SU250 on seat 26B and later boarded the same flight as "Patient 243" on seat 30H. Her samples were also tested Monday by the Hanoi Center for Disease Control. Before the new confirmed cases Monday afternoon, Vietnam enjoyed two consecutive mornings with no new cases. The country has confirmed 245 Covid-19 cases so far. Vietnam has gone through less than a week of a social distancing campaign announced by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, which calls for people to stay home and bans gathering of more than two people in public until April 15. As of Monday, 95 out of the total 245 patients had recovered from their Covid-19 infections. Most of the active Covid-19 cases in Vietnam are people coming in from abroad, especially Europe and the U.S, and people whod come into close contact with them. Half of them have tested negative at least once. Globally, the Covid-19 pandemic has claimed more than 69,500 lives. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-07 05:49:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RABAT, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The Moroccan government on Monday lifted the country's 3-billion-US-dollar ceiling on external loans in order to borrow more over COVID-19 concerns. The decision was approved by the cabinet in its meeting, according to a statement by the government spokesman Saad Eddine El Othmani. This measure will allow the North African country to benefit from additional loans from international institutions such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank. It will also help the government offset an expected sharp drop in the international reserves, which amounted to 24.5 billion dollars by March 27. The additional funding will help better respond to the COVID-19 crisis and mitigate its impact on the most affected economic sectors, the statement said. Morocco has so far reported 1,120 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 80 deaths and 81 recoveries. Turkish Aksa Energy, generating electricity for Ghana since 2017, has donated 2.5 million Ghana Cedis to the COVID-19 National Trust Fund created by the Ghanaian government ISTANBUL, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Aksa Energy, a Turkey-based Independent Power Producer (IPP) operating in 5 countries across 2 continents, has donated 2.5 million Ghanian Cedis to the COVID-19 National Trust Fund created by the Office of the Presidency of Ghana to fight against COVID-19. The Company has been producing electricity for Ghana since 2017. A special ceremony was held on April 6 at the Office of Presidency (Jubilee House) for the donation. Aksa Energy West Africa Coordination Director Murat Captug and the Turkish Ambassador to Ghana Ozlem Gulsun Ergun Ulueren were hosted by Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, Chief of Staff of Ghana. At the ceremony, Murat Captug presented Akosua Frema Osei-Opare a donation cheque of GHS 2.5 million on behalf of Aksa Energy. Speaking of the donation Murat Captug, West Africa Coordination Director of Aksa Energy said: "As a global company operating in 5 countries across 2 countries, we are committed to increasing the welfare and life quality of local communities in the regions where we operate, both by meeting their urgent demand for electricity and through social support programmes. Today the whole world is struggling with COVID-19. As Aksa Energy Ghana, we are aware of our responsibilities to Ghana, and therefore we are very pleased to make a donation to the fund to support the Ghanaian government in its fight against COVID-19. We hope life returns to normal for the whole world soon. Aksa Energy will continue to work, produce and build a better future together with Ghanaians." About Aksa Energy Established in 1997, Aksa Energy is a subsidiary of Kazanci Holding A.S., a conglomerate with interests in electricity generation, gen-set production, electricity distribution, natural gas distribution, agriculture, and tourism. Headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey; Aksa Energy is a publicly-listed Independent Power Producer (IPP) operating across 5 countries on 2 continents. To date, the Company has built and operated more than 30 power plants using various energy sources such as coal, fuel oil, natural gas, biogas, wind and hydroelectricity. Aksa Energy carries out project development, design, procurement, engineering, logistics, installation, commissioning, maintenance and operation activities of all its power plants with its in-house teams. Aksa Energy builds and operates power plants in energy-strapped territories in order to meet the urgent demand for electricity. In addition to its power plants in Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; Aksa Energy boasts nearly 500 MW of installed capacity in Africa with a 370-MW power plant in Ghana, 40 MW in Mali and 66 MW in Madagascar. Aksa Energy has also rehabilitated a 24-MW power plant in Madagascar and operates it under an Operation & Maintenance contract for the country. Aksa Energy commissioned its power plant in Ghana in March 2017 after a speedy construction phase of only 9 months, and engine conversion to dual fuel (HFO/natural gas) at the Plant is underway. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1142000/Aksa_Energy_Ghana.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1142001/Aksa_Energy.jpg Media Contact: Communication Partner Cengiz Dalkilic / cengizdalkilic@cpartner.com.tr / +90 530 224 2729 Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 13:02:51|Editor: yhy Video Player Close A worker disinfects a train coach which is converted to an isolation ward on the outskirts of Kolkata, India, April 6, 2020. India's federal health ministry Monday morning said the death toll due to COVID-19 in India rose to 109 and the total number of confirmed cases in the country reached 4,067. (Str/Xinhua) NEW DELHI, April 6 (Xinhua) -- India's federal health ministry Monday morning said the death toll due to COVID-19 in India rose to 109 and the total number of confirmed cases in the country reached 4,067. "As on 9:00 a.m (local time) today 109 deaths related to novel coronavirus have been recorded in the country," reads the information released by the ministry. This is a jump of 26 deaths and an increase of 490 cases since Sunday evening. According to ministry officials, so far 292 people have been discharged from hospitals after showing improvement. "The number of active cases in the country right now is 3,666," reads the information. Monday marks the 13th 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. On Sunday evening millions of Indians on the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi switched off their lights at homes and lit candles, earthen lamps, torch and mobile flashlights for nine minutes to fight what he described COVID-19 darkness. A hire car driver who contracted COVID-19 after picking up an infected Ruby Princess passenger has lashed out from hospital after she 'almost died' from the virus. Julie Lamrock drove a passenger from Circular Quay to Campbelltown, in Sydney's west, on March 19, when authorities made the disastrous decision to let nearly 3,000 passengers disembark without health checks. An 84-year-old man who died in Perth on Monday is one of 12 fatalities among Ruby Princess passengers, with more than 600 infected. Ms Lamrock, who is receiving treatment at Nepean Hospital, said she struggles to breathe and is suffering hot sweats after testing positive to coronavirus. Julie Lamrock (pictured) contracted COVID-19 after picking up an infected Ruby Princess passenger Ms Lamrock drove a passenger named Helen from the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay to Campbelltown, in Sydney's western suburbs, on March 19. Pictured: The Ruby Princess cruise docked at Port Kembla on Monday 'After picking her up and taking her home. Looking after her and now I'm sick in hospital, I nearly died,' Ms Lamrock told Nine News. The driver said she did not touch her passenger during the one-hour journey, except to pack the woman's bag into the car. Ms Lamrock, who is receiving treatment at Nepean Hospital, said she can't breathe properly and is suffering hot sweats after testing positive to coronavirus 'She said to me there was no reports of anyone being sick on the ship, that everyone was fine,' Ms Lamrock said. Ms Lamrock claimed the woman had letters on her to say that everything was 'okay'. The Ruby Princess cruise ship is now docked in Port Kembla, south of Sydney, as a criminal investigation into 622 COVID-19 cases and at least 12 deaths begins. The investigation led by the NSW Police homicide squad aims to find out why passengers were allowed to disembark from the ship in Sydney on March 19 and disperse around the country despite concerns some might have contracted the illness. It will cover the actions of the port authority, ambulance, police, NSW Health and ship operator Carnival Australia. The ship is expected to spend up to 10 days in Port Kembla as its 1,040 crew members undergo medical assessments, treatment or emergency extractions. Ms Lamrock said she did not touch her passenger during the one-hour journey, except to pack the woman's bag into the car There were 5,795 coronavirus cases across Australia on Monday CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement About 200 of them have symptoms of the illness. Two of the crew members were taken off the ship yesterday for further treatment. Ms Lamrock questioned why he holidaymakers were allowed to disembark the cruise in Sydney. 'It's incredible the government let them come off that ship and let other people get sick like me, who had no reason to be sick,' she said. New South Wales has the highest amount of coronavirus infections across the country with 2,637 and 19 deaths. Forty-one people in Australia have died and the total number of cases was at 5,795 on Monday. A case was lodged against a veteran Congress leader in Tripura for using national emblem on his letterhead. Senior Congress leader Gopal Roy had filed a complaint against Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, accusing him of spreading fake information regarding the spread of coronavirus. Roy claimed that the chief minister on Tuesday told a press conference that 19 coronavirus cases were detected in Manipur and 16 in Assam. In reality, the Congress leader asserted, Manipur had only two cases and Assam one on Tuesday. Roy sought appropriate action against the chief minister for allegedly spreading fake information. However, an advocate, Arabinda Deb, on Sunday filed a complaint with the police charging Roy with forgery and criminal conspiracy to malign the image of the chief minister. We got the complaint against Gopal Roy on Saturday late night. The complaint was lodged by an advocate of West Tripura District Court who charged Roy under Section 120(b) (criminal conspiracy) and 469 (forgery) of Indian Penal Code. It is cognizable offence, said officer in-charge of New Capital Complex (NCC) police station. The advocate, in his complaint, accused Roy of using national emblem to malign the chief minister. The complaint was received at West Superintendent of Police office on Saturday. It came to us this evening (Sunday). Inquiry is going on. For such complaints, we need to get permission from the magistrate. The process has started. Case is not registered yet, the officer in-charge of the police station said. Roy later told the media that the police searched his house without warrant. It is a plot to murder me. This happened as I had filed complaint against chief minister. I will knock the door of high court, the Congress leader said. More than 25,000 local workers of an Islamic missionary group and people who came in contact with them have been quarantined as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus, the government said on Monday. Out of the 4,067 positive coronavirus cases in country, at least 1,445 are related to Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi, said officials of the health and home ministries at a press conference. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor The ice giant Uranus' unusual attributes have long puzzled scientists. All of the planets in our Solar System revolve around the Sun in the same direction and in the same plane, which astronomers believe is a vestige of how our Solar System formed from a spinning disc of gas and dust. Most of the planets in our Solar System also rotate in the same direction, with their poles orientated perpendicular to the plane the planets revolve in. However, uniquely among all the planets, Uranus' is tilted over about 98 degrees. Instead of thinking about the reality of stars spread in all directions and at various distances from the Earth, it is easier to understand by envisioning the celestial sphere. To picture what the celestial sphere is, look up at the night sky and imagine that all of the stars you see are painted on the inside of a sphere surrounding the Solar System. Stars then seem to rise and set as the Earth moves relative to this 'sphere'. As Uranus rotates and orbits the Sun, it keeps its poles aimed at fixed points with relation to this sphere, so it appears to roll around and wobble from an Earth observer's perspective. Uranus also has a ring system, like Saturn's, and a slew of 27 moons which orbit the planet around its equator, so they too are tipped over. How Uranus' unusual set of properties came to be has now been explained by a research team led by Professor Shigeru Ida from the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) at Tokyo Institute of Technology. Their study suggests that early in the history of our Solar System, Uranus was struck by a small icy planet - roughly 1-3 times the mass of the Earth - which tipped the young planet over, and left behind its idiosyncratic moon and ring system as a 'smoking gun'. The team came to this conclusion while they were constructing a novel computer simulation of moon formation around icy planets. Most of the planets in the Solar System have moons, and these display a menagerie of different sizes, orbits, compositions and other properties, which scientists believe can help explain how they formed. There is strong evidence Earth's own single moon formed when a rocky Mars-sized body hit the early Earth almost 4.5 billion years ago. This idea explains a great deal about the Earth and its Moon's composition, and the way the Moon orbits Earth. Scientists expect such massive collisions were more common in the early Solar System, indeed they are part of the story of how all planets are thought to form. But Uranus must have experienced impacts that were very different from Earth simply because Uranus formed so much farther from the Sun. Since the Earth formed closer to the Sun where the environment was hotter, it is mostly made of what scientists call 'non-volatile' elements, meaning they don't form gases at normal Earth-surface pressures and temperatures; they are made of rock. In contrast, the outermost planets are largely composed of 'volatile' elements, for example things like water and ammonia. Even though these would be gases or liquids under Earth-surface like temperatures and pressures, at the huge distances from the Sun the outer planets orbit, they are frozen into solid ice. According to professor Ida and his colleagues' study, giant impacts on distant icy planets would be completely different from those involving rocky planets, such as the impact scientists believe formed Earth's Moon. Because the temperature at which water ice forms is low, the impact debris from Uranus and its icy impactor would have mostly vapourised during the collision. This may have also been true for the rocky material involved in Earth's Moon-forming impact, but in contrast this rocky material had a very high condensation temperature, meaning it solidified quickly, and thus Earth's Moon was able to collect a significant amount of the debris created by the collision due to its own gravity. In the case of Uranus, a large icy impactor was able to tilt the planet, give it a rapid rotation period (Uranus' 'day' is presently ~ 17 hours, even faster than Earth's), and the leftover material from the collision remained gaseous longer. The largest mass body, what would become Uranus, then collected most of the leftovers, and thus Uranus' present moons are small. To be precise, the ratio of Uranus' mass to Uranus' moons' masses is greater than the ratio of Earth's mass to its moon by a factor of more than a hundred. Ida and colleagues' model beautifully reproduces the current configuration of Uranus' satellites. As Professor Ida explains, 'This model is the first to explain the configuration of Uranus' moon system, and it may help explain the configurations of other icy planets in our Solar System such as Neptune. Beyond this, astronomers have now discovered thousands of planets around other stars, so-called exoplanets, and observations suggest that many of the newly discovered planets known as super-Earths in exoplanetary systems may consist largely of water ice and this model can also be applied to these planets.' ### Reference Shigeru Ida1, Shoji Ueta2, Takanori Sasaki3, Yuya Ishizawa3, Uranian satellite formation by evolution of a water vapour disk generated by a giant impact, Nature Astronomy, DOI: 10.1038/s41550-020-1049-8 1. Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan 2. Graduate School of Advanced Integrated Studies in Human Survivability, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan 3. Department of Astronomy, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) stands at the forefront of research and higher education as the leading university for science and technology in Japan. Tokyo Tech researchers excel in fields ranging from materials science to biology, computer science, and physics. Founded in 1881, Tokyo Tech hosts over 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students per year, who develop into scientific leaders and some of the most sought-after engineers in industry. Embodying the Japanese philosophy of "monotsukuri," meaning "technical ingenuity and innovation," the Tokyo Tech community strives to contribute to society through high-impact research. The Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) is one of Japan's ambitious World Premiere International research centers, whose aim is to achieve progress in broadly inter-disciplinary scientific areas by inspiring the world's greatest minds to come to Japan and collaborate on the most challenging scientific problems. ELSI's primary aim is to address the origin and co-evolution of the Earth and life. The World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) was launched in 2007 by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to help build globally visible research centers in Japan. These institutes promote high research standards and outstanding research environments that attract frontline researchers from around the world. These centers are highly autonomous, allowing them to revolutionize conventional modes of research operation and administration in Japan. COVID-19 has, to put it mildly, altered our way of life. Most of these changes like only leaving the house for essential reasons and staying at least 6 feet away from nonfamily members will quickly dissipate. But some changes could stick around, at least in part, for the better. Hopefully well all wash our hands more regularly than we did before. Some people will probably stick with their daily walks outside, or keep checking in on elderly neighbors. And theres one other potential benefit to many workers: a shift toward more flexible work schedules and increased telework. Most businesses have been forced to close their doors and limit their operations to what can be done remotely. This is obviously easier for some businesses than others. But many businesses and individuals, as part of a services-dominant economy that has experienced rapid growth in technology, have been able to continue working remotely, at least in part, even amid citywide and statewide shutdowns. Forecasters are closely monitoring the developing weather pattern and the potential for severe thunderstorms to ignite and tornadoes that could be spawned across portions of the southern and eastern United States during the upcoming Easter weekend. A slow-moving storm will continue to crawl through the Southwest states this week, and the forward movement of that storm will be a key factor in determining whether severe weather erupts or mostly benign thunderstorms pop up instead by Saturday and Sunday. "Should the storm move steadily across the Deep South late this week and this weekend and join up with a second storm that is forecast to drop southeastward across the Midwest, then a violent outbreak of thunderstorms could result with the full spectrum of severe weather possible," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said. This more grim outlook appears to be more likely at this time as opposed to a much more suppressed thunderstorm event limited to the Deep South. Colder air will sweep through much of the Central and Eastern states prior to the end of this week, but it will not hold on long enough to limit the return flow of warmth and high humidity levels for this weekend. "Instead, the rebound following the blast of cold air could make matters worse in terms of tornado risk," according to AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno. The setup could produce everything from several tornadoes to damaging wind gusts, large hail and flash flooding. The first storms are likely to erupt in portions of central and eastern Texas to the Mississippi Delta region on Saturday afternoon and evening. The storms on Saturday are likely to be just the beginning of what may end up being one of the more significant severe weather and tornado outbreaks of 2020 in the South. The main severe weather threat day is likely to be on Easter Sunday. This day, the storm threat will be advancing slowly across the lower Mississippi Valley and perhaps the Tennessee Valley areas. Story continues The storms are likely to then continue eastward across the southern Appalachians during Sunday night and may continue to produce severe weather for a time on Monday along part of the southern Atlantic seaboard before being swept out to sea. The risk comes around the peak time of year for tornadoes in much of the Southeast states. AccuWeather meteorologists will continue to keep an eye on the evolving weather pattern and update the severe weather risks in the coming days. CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Forecasters urge people in the South, Midwest and mid-Atlantic regions to review severe weather safety procedures in the age of social distancing, especially for families who rely on public shelters. By knowing exactly what to do as violent storms approach your neighborhood, a few seconds can mean the difference between tragedy and surviving a direct hit from severe weather. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios. China Coast Guard ship 4301, which was involved in the sinking of a Vietnamese fishing vessel near the Paracel Islands, in image captured from a video posted to SinaWeibo, April 4, 2020. The United States said Monday it was seriously concerned by the recent sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat by the China Coast Guard and accused Beijing of exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic to expand its unlawful claims in the South China Sea. Vietnam has accused the China Coast Guard (CCG) of sinking the fishing boat near the disputed Paracel islands early April 2 and lodged an official protest to Beijing. China claims that the Vietnamese boat sank itself after ramming a CCG ship. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department statement left little doubt about who it considered to blame. Spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus described it as the latest in a long string of PRC actions to assert unlawful maritime claims and disadvantage its Southeast Asian neighbors in the South China Sea. PRC refers to the nations formal title, the Peoples Republic of China. Since the outbreak of the global pandemic, Beijing has also announced new research stations on military bases it built on Fiery Cross Reef and Subi Reef, and landed special military aircraft on Fiery Cross Reef, Ortagus said, referring to artificial islands constructed by China. The PRC has also continued to deploy maritime militia around the Spratly Islands. She said the United States shares the position of the 2016 Law of the Sea tribunal decision that dismissed Chinas maritime claims to the area. We call on the PRC to remain focused on supporting international efforts to combat the global pandemic, and to stop exploiting the distraction or vulnerability of other states to expand its unlawful claims in the South China Sea, Ortagus said. Among the six claimants in the South China Sea, China and Vietnams rivalry is perhaps the most intense. Both claim sovereignty over the Spratly island chain and the Paracels, which lie further north. The Philippines also claims portions of the South China Sea including around the Spratly and Paracel islands. In the latest incident, Vietnamese media reported that last Thursday, at about midnight, a fishing boat named the QNg 90617 from Quang Ngai province had gone missing near Woody island, a Chinese-occupied outpost in the Paracels. A search by other Vietnamese fishermen in the area allegedly revealed the presence of a China Coast Guard ship. The CCG returned the eight fishermen from the missing ship to Vietnam the next day. In a statement Friday, the CCG blamed the fishing vessel for ramming a coast guard ship, the 4301, and subsequently sinking itself. In the early hours of April 2, the Vietnamese fishing vessel QNg 90617 illegally entered the waters of the Xisha islands to engage in fishing activities, the release said, using the Chinese name for the Paracel islands. It sank after hitting China Coast Guard 4301. All eight crew members were rescued by our coast guard, the statement said. Vietnam Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Nam Le Thi Thu Hang accused the CCG of sinking the ship. The Chinese vessel committed an act that violated Vietnams sovereignty over Hoang Sa, she said Friday, using the Vietnamese name for the Paracel islands, and threatened the lives and damaged the property and legitimate interest of Vietnamese fishermen. The ministry also asked for the fishermen to be compensated by China. Ship-tracking software used by Radio Free Asia, a sister entity of BenarNews, does not show the presence of either Vietnamese fishing boats or CCG ships in the Paracel islands at the time of the incident, but the Vietnamese fishermen shared photos of CCG ships 4301, 3001 and 4001 with Thanh Nien, a Vietnamese newspaper, after their return. One photo clearly shows the QNg 90617 sinking into the ocean. Satellite imagery shows a CCG ship docked at Woody island on March 30, before the incident, and two CCG ships, including one of a much larger class, patrolling Woody islands northeast on April 4. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Ohio health director Dr. Amy Acton is holding to her projection that Ohio wont peak for new coronavirus cases until late April or early May. But indications are growing that the worst might not be as bad as once feared. People at home, you are moving mountains. You are saving lives, Acton said Monday. This is no small thing that we are doing together. It is so incredibly hard to shut down our lives the way we have. I am absolutely certain you will look back and know you helped saved each other. The impact is profound - more than I even hoped for was possible. Though Acton said her staff are still working with data she plans to share later this week, the graphics below based on what the health department has released offer some encouraging signs. They dont, however, offset the bad news of 142 deaths confirmed to date and the many more people hospitalized with serious problems. See update: New data and new graphics at this link through Tuesday, April 7. Daily changes in confirmed cases Though Acton has repeatedly said there are a lot of unknowns because of the lack of enough testing, the numbers that have been confirmed have not been skyrocketing like once feared could be the case without closing schools and many work places, and canceling public gatherings. In fact, on a percentage basis for increase in the total confirmed cases from one day to the next, the reports released for the last two days showed the smallest increases since the reporting of the first cases in early March. This chart below illustrates the trends. These charts show the daily increase in confirmed cases of coronavirus in Ohio, from the previous day's total.Rich Exner, cleveland.com New symptoms daily With each case the state reports, it has listed an estimated date for the onset of symptoms. Recent data on this is less reliable, because people experiencing their first symptoms more recently are less likely to have been tested yet, or may be awaiting results. But over the last half of March, the numbers didnt shoot up - instead hovering in the 130 to 245 range per day. These are the estimated onset dates for each of Ohio's 4,043 confirmed coronavirus cases. Note, however, that confirmation often is days after the first symptoms, leading to smaller numbers for recent dates for which test information is available.Rich Exner, cleveland.com Ohio vs. New York Acton back on March 24 shared her concern that the first several days of case growth in Ohio had followed a similar trend for the first days of confirmed cases in New York. Since then, Ohio has yet to skyrocket like New York. The graphic below shows total number of cases for each state since the first cases for each. New Yorks reported cases started earlier, and the case number has shot up to 130,689 in New York currently, as tracked by syracuse.com. New York reached 59,513 cases on its 29th day. Monday marked the 29th day for Ohio, which is at 4,450 confirmed cases. This chart covers the total number of coronavirus cases in Ohio and larger New York from days 15 through 29 after after confirmation of the first cases in each state.Rich Exner, cleveland.com Status of current cases The state has said it does not have data for the number of Ohioans who may still have coronavirus among the 4,450 confirmed cases. Acton said her staff is working on such data, and she hopes to share more information soon. In addition, she said work is under way for random sampling of Ohioans to get a better idea of the spread of the virus. Health officials, including Acton, have said the coronavirus often runs its course in 14 days, though severe cases can last longer. Based on state estimates of the onset of symptoms, 2,515 of the cases confirmed to date had an onset in the last two weeks, excluding the 142 people who have died, versus 1,793 earlier. Among the 4,450 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Ohio reported Monday by the Ohio Department of Health, 142 people have died. Among the remaining cases, the state estimates the onset of coronavirus for 2,515 in the last two weeks. Health officials have said recovery is often under two weeks, though longer for severe cases. Others who have been infected most recently are less likely to have been tested yet, or results could be pending.Rich Exner, cleveland.com What state officials are saying Gov. DeWine offered Monday: We are doing pretty well. Were doing the right things. Ohioans are doing the right things. Yet Acton said the peak hasnt yet been reached, and it will be a slow process after it is reached. We know that we have to slowly come out of this (the restrictions). But if we do it right and we keep doing it right, and we keep doing it right, we can get out of this a lot sooner and a lot healthier and get ourselves back to our lives," Acton said. 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 Mapping Ohios 4,450 coronavirus cases, increase slows Did Summit County really have no new coronavirus cases Sunday? Cuyahoga just 1 more on Saturday? Age, gender, counties, for Ohios coronavirus deaths: 73% age 70 and up Why does Miami County outpace most other Ohio counties in coronavirus deaths? When will coronavirus peak in Ohio? Leaders offer differing predictions Kerala High Court on Monday allowed a 14-year-old rape survivor to terminate her 24-week-long pregnancy. Terming it a "difficult and disheartening" situation, a division bench comprising Justices AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Shaji P Chaly passed the order after hearing the matter via video-conferencing. The court, in an order passed on a petition filed by the girl's father, noted that the right to make reproductive choices is a facet of personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. A medical board had also informed the court that the continuation of pregnancy posed a risk to the physical and mental health of the adolescent girl as there is an increased risk of "all obstetric complications including gestational hypertension, anemia, risk of operative delivery and obstetric hemorrhage". The board also opined that there is a possibility of emotionally unstable personality traits in the patient and that the girl did not appear to have the maturity required. According to the petition, the girl had gone missing around five months ago, and a habeas corpus petition was filed in the High Court to trace her. Later, she was found with a 28-year married man in Mangalore, who was arrested and booked for offenses under the IPC and POCSO. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a recent suspected attack by Nigerias Boko Haram jihadists, seven people were reportedly killed in northern Cameroon on April 5. According to international media reports, the local official said that two Boko Haram bombers blew themselves up at around 8pm in the night. The officials reportedly also informed that the attack took place in Amchide, on the border with Nigeria and killed a village chief and two teenagers with four others. According to international media reports, the Boko Haram Insurgency began back in 2009, when the jihadist group started an armed rebellion against the Nigerian government. The conflict between Nigerias Muslims and Christian communities is long-standing issues and the ultimate aim of the jihadist group is to establish an Islamic State in the region. After years of fighting, the insurgents became increasingly aggressive and started to seize large areas in northeastern Nigeria and the violence has since been escalating dramatically. READ: Coronavirus Outbreak: Japan Reports 378 New Cases And 3 Deaths Within 24 Hours READ: Singapore Announces Additional Budget To Support Coronavirus-hit Economy Deadliest attack ever According to an international media outlet, last month, the jihadist group also attacked the military forces and killed at least 92 soldiers from Chad. Nigerian President Idriss Deby, reportedly said that it was the first time that they lost so many men and also called it the deadliest-attack ever. The attack on soldiers on the Boma peninsula reportedly lasted seven hours and reinforcements which were sent to help out were also attacked. READ: Russia Installs Ventilators At Italian Hospital READ: Iraqi Military: 3 Rockets Target US Oil Company In South The rash of bogus conspiracy theories tying the COVID-19 pandemic to 5G has led to cell tower arson and threats against engineers, and YouTube is planning to crack down on that misinformation. The Google-owned service said it will remove videos that try to make the unsupported connection, as they violate recent policies banning videos promoting "medically unsubstantiated methods" of preventing coronavirus infections. However, it's stopping short of removing all 5G conspiracy videos. Instead, YouTube said it was suppressing "borderline content" that could mislead people in "harmful ways," such as conspiracy theories surrounding 5G and the virus by themselves. This includes both reduced recommendations for videos, pulling them from search results and stripping them of ad revenue. The moves come not long after a Guardian report that UK culture secretary Oliver Dowden would hold talks with Facebook, Twitter and YouTube in a bid to remove conspiracy material. YouTube's actions could help prevent further attacks, which might be vital at a time when remote connections are more important than ever. However, the mixed approach also highlights concerns about inconsistent enforcement that bans some videos while letting equally false clips slide. Conspiracy theories about 5G are unsupported by evidence, and remain harmful whether or not the new coronavirus plays a part. YouTube's approach may tackle the immediate situation, but doesn't completely address long-term problems with anti-5G conspiracists spurring violence. The Australian Medical Association WA has welcomed the "morale boosting" haul of personal protective equipment for health workers, which arrived in Perth on Saturday and will be dispersed across the state's health system. A health worker at a Perth COVID Clinic. Credit:Sharon Smith The PPE is worth $5.5 million and represents about two months of equipment for WA health workers at current usage levels. Premier Mark McGowan said the newly arrived PPE was bound for both private and public hospitals and was currently being assessed, but it looks like top-quality equipment. He said it represented "literal truckloads" of PPE to keep doctors, nurses and other health workers safe during the pandemic. Queen Elizabeths rare, emotional address to the U.K. and the Commonwealth on Sunday night left many Americans pining for a leader like her. The British monarch spoke of the nation and the worlds reaction to the coronavirus pandemic and praised peoples actions, big and small. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry also watched the speech and were both moved by it, Harpers Bazaar reporter Omid Scobie said. They described it as not just a demonstration of experienced leadership, but also warmth, reassurance, and comfort, an anonymous source told the publication. We will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again," Queen Elizabeth II said in a speech. (Getty Images) The Duke and Duchess of Sussexs step back from the royal family became official last week, amid their reported relocation to Los Angeles. The queen referenced family in her address over the weekend and spoke of the first broadcast she made in 1940 with her late sister, Princess Margaret. We as children spoke from here at Windsor to children who had been evacuated from their homes and sent away for their own safety, the queen said. Today, once again, many will feel a painful sense of separation from their loved ones. But now as then, we know deep down, that it is the right thing to do. Queen Elizabeth said she knew these were difficult times for everyone, but promised better days ahead for all. We should take comfort that while we have more still to endure, better days will return, she continued. We will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again. The royal family has a personal connection to the pandemic, since Prince Charles tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, after experiencing mild symptoms. He has since recovered well. The Prince of Wales, who was self-isolated from his wife Camila, Duchess of Cornwall, at their estate in Scotland, spoke about his experience once he was on the other side of the illness and projected a message of hope. None of us can... Continue reading on HuffPost Ever since its inception, online gambling or iGaming has witnessed phenomenal growth in all parts of the world, including Africa. UK has been leading the way with the countrys efficient Gambling Commission regulating the activity in the country, generating 4 billion+ revenue per year for the country. While other countries like USA and Canada are also witnessing noticeable growth, the world is looking towards Africa as the next big market for online gambling today. There is a reason behind this too. Africa is a huge continent comprising of 56 countries, each one of which has tremendous potential. With reputed gambling platforms like Betway live casino actively offering their services to various countries of the continent, its only a matter of time that Africa will overtake all major iGaming markets of the world. Some of the well-known countries which are expected to contribute greatly to iGamings growth in the continent include Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Nigeria. Well go over few of these below. Nigeria Nigeria is an African country which even had home-grown iGaming platforms at one point of time. Home to almost 60 million gambling lovers amongst its 200 million population, Nigeria is witnessing a sort of revolution in the online gambling space. It is worth noting that Nigeria also features a huge illegal betting network that offers no recourse for protection to the players. The law enforcement system also doesnt have the resources to go after any fraudulent platforms. Right now, what Nigeria requires is well-thought-out gambling regulation, with legalised online gambling, to get rid of all such issues. As per PWC 2014 report, the country was in fact one of the most important African countries to watch out for in the gambling industry. Ghana A neighbouring country to Nigeria, Ghana has already proven how the creation of a solid ruling body can be highly beneficial for the gambling industry overall. It did so by forming the Gambling Commission of Ghana in the year 2006. This commission has had a solid record of supporting the gambling industry of the country, and simultaneously rooting out unscrupulous operators. With Ghana are all set to embrace online gambling, the role of the country will inevitably become extremely important in the overall growth of gambling in the African continent. Zimbabwe Zimbabwe is an African country which used to frown upon all forms of gambling at one point of time. However, over the past couple of decades, the countrys population has gradually embraced off-line and online gambling activities as more of a pastime. This is particularly true in case of the younger generation. Like its other counterparts in Africa, Zimbabwe has never thought about online gambling in good detail and hence there are no laws covering it yet. As a result, iGaming in the country is largely an unregulated market wherein anyone can offer their services without getting taken to the task by the law. Although this might be good from some perspectives, the government is definitely losing out on hefty tax revenues from the industry. 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 (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Zoom Video Communications Inc. is under siege. While much of the criticism is understandable, the upstart isnt quite the disaster some make it out to be. The video-conferencing company has faced an avalanche of scrutiny over its security and privacy issues from instances of zoombombing, where uninvited trolls harass other meeting users, to video recordings showing up on public web servers. It culminated with Zoom CEO Eric Yuan proclaiming he really messed up on security to the Wall Street Journal on Friday, and then promising in an apology tour of several media interviews over the weekend to restore the companys reputation. But lets take a step back. While its true that Zoom has made mistakes, much of its problems stem from the unintended consequences of when demand explodes in unexpected ways than from any nefarious behavior. Originally founded in 2011 for corporate clients, Zooms software is now being used in situations it was never designed for. Last week, I wrote about how the stay-at-home restrictions required by the coronavirus pandemic were accelerating the move toward best-of-breed remote-working software vendors such as Zoom. Businesses flocked to Zoom because it offered an easy-to-use, high-quality video-conferencing service that worked reliably, versus its more cumbersome competitors. For these same reasons, consumers are using Zoom for all kinds of other uses from virtual cocktail hours to studying and fitness sessions. Consequently, Zoom usage has soared. The company said it reached more than 200 million daily active users last month, compared to just 10 million at the end of December. As consumer use skyrocketed, though, the company was slow to realize that the changing nature of its customer base required different practices. While its traditional business users are more sophisticated, the mainstream require more hand-holding. Compounding the problems, many of the new users didnt know how to use basic features that would have stopped the majority of the security complaints. Story continues Many users publicly shared their meeting links on social media, opening the door for any prankster to enter. To combat zoombombing, users could have required meeting passwords and enabled a pre-meeting waiting-room feature to control who can join the conference but these are the types of things ordinary consumers may not have known about as readily as a corporate customer. Zoom should have been quicker and more forceful in building awareness of the tools it had at hand and enabling default security settings.The company was also misleading with its end-to-end encryption marketing, when it offered a less robust form of protection. Zoom has now realized the utility of requiring different setup parameters. Starting on Sunday, the company enabled the meeting password and waiting-room features by default for its free basic and entry-level paid plan users. Meanwhile, Yuan told the Journal the full encryption feature is under development and a few months away. The company may have moved too late for some. Late Friday, New York City, the nations largest school system, said it wants teachers at its schools to cease using Zoom as soon as possible due to security and privacy concerns. As an alternative, it is asking classrooms to migrate to Microsoft Teams. Understandably, some school systems are worried about young kids classrooms getting zoombombed. Interestingly, the move sparked outrage from teachers on social media, who say any transition away from Zoom will be difficult and lower student access to remote learning. Yuan told CNN the company is still in the process of working with New York schools to make sure we do enforce security safety. While Zoom hasnt been perfect, some of the worst fears about the company may be overblown. It has clearly stated it has never sold user data and has no intention to sell it going forward. And many of the security issues could have been avoided simply through better education of its features. The fact is, Zoom is providing an enormously helpful, reliable service, allowing hundreds of millions of people to cope under the current trying circumstance in most cases entirely free. At the end of day, Zoom is not the villain here. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Tae Kim is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering technology. He previously covered technology for Barron's, following an earlier career as an equity analyst. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. WASHINGTON - One of America's largest manufacturers of medical face masks rode to Canada's rescue Monday, forging an agreement with the White House that allows it to provide millions of its precious N95 respirators to the U.S. market without sacrificing supply bound for north of the border. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/4/2020 (644 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 Monday, April 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick WASHINGTON - One of America's largest manufacturers of medical face masks rode to Canada's rescue Monday, forging an agreement with the White House that allows it to provide millions of its precious N95 respirators to the U.S. market without sacrificing supply bound for north of the border. Minnesota-based 3M, which has been at the centre of a clash with President Donald Trump and his administration over the company's reluctance to abide by orders to prioritize American demand for the masks, confirmed plans to continue to fill orders in Canada and Latin America. 3M and the U.S. government "worked together to ensure that this plan does not create further humanitarian implications for countries currently fighting the COVID-19 outbreak," the company said in a statement that emerged on the heels of Trump's latest marathon briefing at the White House. "The plan will also enable 3M to continue sending U.S.-produced respirators to Canada and Latin America, where 3M is the primary source of supply." During his briefing, Trump declared that his spat with the company was at an end and sang the praises of Mike Roman, the company's chief executive, as he announced that 3M would be producing 166.5 million masks for overtaxed and under-supplied health care professionals across the U.S. He didn't mention, however, that those N95 masks would be coming from the company's manufacturing facilities in China, which is how 3M said it will meet at least some of the ever-increasing American demand while still filling orders both north and south of the U.S. "We share the same goals of providing much-needed respirators to Americans across the country and combating criminals who seek to take advantage of the current crisis," Roman said in a statement. "These imports will supplement the 35 million N95 respirators we currently produce per month in the United States." Earlier Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called out the U.S. by name, complaining that Canada had been having problems for weeks with incomplete or non-existent deliveries of critical COVID-19 countermeasures particularly respirators, which are the subject of skyrocketing demand around the world. "We have recognized over the past weeks a number of situations in which shipments coming from different countries around the world have been delayed, (or) haven't arrived with as many products as we were hoping to see," Trudeau said. "This continues to be an ongoing problem specifically with the United States. We are working with them to ensure the orders Canada has placed get delivered. We expect those shipments to come." Ontario Premier Doug Ford complained Monday about a shipment of Ontario-bound masks being held up at the Canada-U.S. border over the weekend, a circumstance he attributed directly to Trump's decision to order American producers to prioritize the domestic market. "We're putting pressure on the U.S. from all sides. It's absolutely critical that we get an exemption from this presidential order," said Ford, who appeared stricken as he warned that the province's stockpile of supplies would run out in a matter of days. "It's certain items that the whole world is trying to get their hands on right now, and I'm doing the same thing," he said. "I'll be on this like a dog on a bone." Ford initially said that a shipment of three million masks was turned around at the border, and that after a conversation with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, he'd been able to secure 500,000. But Ontario government officials later said the premier was mistaken that the delayed shipment had only been 500,000 masks in the first place. Regardless of the numbers, Ford said he wants to lay eyes on the goods before declaring his efforts successful. "I go back to trust, but verify," he said, noting that Lighthizer gave him a "glimmer of hope" that the U.S. would be more co-operative in future. "I've heard in the past, 'It's on its way, it's on its way,' (but) it wasn't on its way." The Trump White House has invoked the Defense Production Act to compel U.S. manufacturers of the equipment, such as 3M and Honeywell, to prioritize orders being co-ordinated by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency. The White House insisted late last week those orders wouldn't interfere with exports that are in the national interests of the United States a late-day caveat that came after 3M expressly disclosed that the administration had asked that it stop exporting N95 masks. But reports from around the world suggest the U.S. is using its unmatched buying power and international clout to muscle out smaller buyers. Germany, France and Brazil have all complained about having orders resold out from under them sometimes right on the airport tarmac after a last-minute exchange of cash. 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. "We feel we are being hurt," said Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. She said Canada continues to drive home the point that given the interconnected nature of supply chains between Canada and the U.S., "a win-win outcome, where both parties continue to help each other, is the very best outcome. "We look forward to a definitive resolution to this situation." Freeland also singled out 3M and Roman for their "very, very responsible" position in standing up to the White House. As an international supplier of one of the most important pieces of personal protective equipment, 3M is in a "very special place" right now as it seeks to balance domestic demands with global humanitarian responsibilities, she noted. "It is really a Wild West when it comes to buying medical supplies right now," Freeland said. "This is a global pandemic, and every country in the world is doing its best in a truly fierce competition to get medical equipment." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 6, 2020. Follow James McCarten on Twitter @CdnPressStyle New Delhi: Testimony presented in legal proceedings in Pakistan shows key suspects in the murder of journalist Daniel Pearl met with each other at the offices of terror outfit Jaish-e-Muhammad in Karachis Falal Masjid, court documents have revealed. The testimony casts new light on the links of the terrorist group and its patrons in Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) including now-federal minister Brigadier Ijaz Shah with the journalists 2002 killing. Former Harkat-ul-Mujahideen member Salman Saqib, the documents show, told a magistrate that he met with Ahmed Saeed Omar Sheikh, who is alleged to have played a key role in Pearls killing, at the Jaish-e-Muhammads office in December 2001. The two men, Saqib said in a confessional statement, had earlier met in a procession held in January 2000. Both Saqib and Sheikh were ordered free by the Sindh High Court last week, along with two others after the two-judge bench of Justices Kareem Khan Agha and Muhammad Saleem Jessar held that confessional statements key to the prosecution may have been coerced. The men, however, have since been detained pending an appeal by the government. The January 2000 procession, a former Pakistan police officer familiar with the case has told Network18, was held to celebrate the return of Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Masood Azhar Alvi, who had been released, along with Sheikh, from jail in India in return for hostages held on an Indian Airlines jet hijacked to Kandahar in December 1999. I have come here because this is my duty to tell you that Muslims should not rest in peace until we have destroyed America and India, Azhar said at the procession, as a crowd of over 10,000 people cheered. Later, the police officer said Azhar was admitted for gall-bladder surgery at the Burq Poly-Clinic hospital in Bahawalpur. Sheikh, he said, stayed with the jihad commander for several days in the first two weeks of 2002just as the Pearl murder plot was being conceived tending to him along with family members. But, the court documents show, police chose not to record evidence on who introduced the two men and, critically, why Saqib chose to participate in a murder plot, simply on the basis of a cursory introduction. Theres no doubt Saqib knew Sheikh was someone close to Azhar, and with good connections to the ISI, the officer said. Theres no other reason why he would have agreed to participate in a high-risk terrorist operation, simply on the basis of two cursory meetings. Born in Multan in 1975, and the graduate of a physics college in Bahawalpurthe city where the headquarters of the Jaish-e-Muhammad is now located Saqib served with Harkat-ul-Mujahideen insurgents fighting alongside the Afghan Taliban until he was seriously injured in 1999. For many experts and officials familiar with the case, the answer to why the Jaish-e-Muhammads links with the Pearl murder were overlooked or ignored by police investigators centres around one man: Brigadier Ijaz Shah, from 1999 to 2002 as ISI officer directly responsible for jihadist groups in Pakistans Punjab, and now the countrys interior minister. Brigadier Shah, many familiar with the case believe, sought to suppress embarrassing revelations emerging from the case on the links between anti-India jihadists backed by the ISI, and Pakistans intelligence services. In 2003, evidence surfaced before the Central Intelligence Agency that Pearl had been physically executed by top al-Qaeda operative and 9/11 organiser Khalid Sheikh Mohammad. But Sheikh, court records show, was never questioned on how the kidnappers came into contact with the top al-Qaeda leadership, and why the decision was made to involve them in the journalists murder. Brigadier Shah is known to have used his connections to persuade Sheikh to surrender to the ISI on February 6, 2002after which he, mysteriously, spent over a week in the covert services custody, unknown to both the police and the United States embassy in Islamabad. The Sindh High Court rejected evidence ostensibly recovered from Sheikh on February 13, when he was arrested by police, noting that his illegal incarceration made it possible the material had been planted by investigators but did not comment on Brigadier Shahs role, or what transpired from February 6-12. But time spent by Sheikh in Brigadier Shahs custody, some accounts suggest, was spent instructing him not to disclose information on the kidnappers links to anti-India jihadist groups, as well as their ties to al-Qaeda and Pakistans intelligence services. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Karachi chief, Ata-ur-Rehman, who was among those police records state was responsible for holding Pearl prisoner, told authorities Pearl was still alive on February 6 raising disturbing questions about the reasons for the journalists execution in the midst of what many believed were promising negotiations for his release. For reasons that have never been made public, several jihadists known to have participated in the operation among them, Kandahar hijack plot planner Amjad Farooqi, his deputy Asim Ghafoor, murder witness Fazal Karim were never brought to trial, though some were held in custody for months. Intelligence services and experts have known that the Jaish, and its sources of patronage in the ISI, lay at the centre of a complex universe of jihadist groups among them, the Afghan Taliban, the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami, and transnational organisations like al-Qaeda. Nizamuddin Shamzai, a prominent Karachi-based cleric assassinated in 1994, served as mentor to leaders of these various groups. Following Masood Azhars arrest, in February 1994, during a mission to unite feuding jihadists in Kashmir, multiple efforts were made to secure his release. First, the Harkat-ul-Ansar kidnapped several Western tourists in Kashmir. Then, in September-October, 1994, Sheikh kidnapped three British and one American hostage in a bid to force India to release him. Nasser al-Bahri, the long-time bodyguard to Osama Bin Laden, later claimed the al-Qaeda chief ordered al Qaeda to plan the Indian airlines hijacking with Harkat. Bin Laden admired Azhar and needed his help, al-Bahri claimed. Bin Laden threw a lavish party for Azhar when he was freed in Kandahar. According to APK-Inform, wheat exports reached 18.019 million tonnes as of April 3, compared with 11.534 million tonnes at the same date in 2019 Open source Ukrainian wheat exports from sea ports almost fell by half to 138,000 tonnes in the week of March 28 - April 3 from 277,000 tonnes a week earlier. This is evidenced by preliminary data from the APK-Inform, Reuters informs. Nevertheless, the overall grain exports in that period rose to 1.021 million tonnes from 845,000 tonnes due to higher corn shipments. Ukraine's Ministry of Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture stated that it would control wheat export shipments, sell flour on the domestic market and agree with traders a maximum volume of wheat for export. According to report that was made by APK-Inform, average prices for Ukrainian 12.5% protein food wheat added around four dollars per tonne over the past week to 219-222 dollars per tonne FOB Black Sea. Active growth in wheat prices was caused by ... a tightening of quarantine measures, as well as by introduced restrictions in a number of exporting countries, the report reads. As we reported earlier, on March 3, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the decree, according to which the export of buckwheat will be forbidden until July 1, 2020. New Delhi, April 6 : Stringent instructions on social distancing and personal hygiene amidst coronavirus outbreak have extended its roots into forest-dwelling tribal communities, where people are now learning to keep themselves safe from the deadly virus. Livelihood of people belonging to Jharkhand's Baiga and Birhor tribal communities depends upon hunting and selling partridges and rabbits, but it came to a grinding halt after a three-week lockdown was imposed in the country to contain the viral disease. The communities are, nonetheless, pouring in collective efforts to fight the pandemic. "It is pertinent to make these communities aware of the deadly disease as they are not in touch with the outside world," said Sneh Raj, treasurer of Indian Red Cross Society's Jharkhand branch. Baiga and Birhors live in Sale and Goa villages of Chatra district of Jharkhand. Both the communities were initially reluctant to let the volunteers inside their village. "They became aggressive and thought that we had barged into their villages to infect them." Sneh added that the Red Cross is providing both the communities with food as their livelihood has been affected by the unprecedented lockdown. The treasurer added, "Besides providing them food, we have taught them the importance of social distancing and wearing masks. They were given soaps and instructed how to wash their hands thoroughly. It took us three-four days but they finally understood the relevance." He further said that the Baiga community became so aware that when one of their villagers came from Mumbai, they isolated him and asked him to wear a mask. "Four huts have also been made into a quarantine facility. Man who has come from Mumbai is quarantined there. He is diligently following the rules," he said. Likewise, the livelihood of West Bengal's Sabar tribal community which depended on selling handicrafts also faced the wrath of sudden shutdown. The tribal group too has a minimal contact with the mainstream. "We have taught them the relevance of social distancing and personal hygiene. They are also being provided food as their livelihood has come to a standstill," said Hirak Kumar Sao, General Secretary of Indian Red Cross Society's West Bengal branch. He, however, rued that social distancing is not possible among such a community as they live in small shanties. "How will people who do not have sufficient water to drink, will wash their hands with soaps?" he asked. The tribal communities are, nonetheless, facing the difficulties and fighting the deadly disease head-on. With this, the country seems to be completely ready to combat the viral pandemic and protect all its citizens on a war-footing. Liquor maker Bacardi on Monday said it would produce 70,000 liters of hand sanitizers, which will be distributed primarily to district government hospitals, to help mitigate the spread of coronavirus pandemic. The company has started production of hand sanitizers at its co-packing facility in Telangana, BacardiLtd said in a statement adding that the company plans toroll out in additional states where it has co-packing manufacturing facilities. Bacardi will be producing 70,000 liters of hand sanitizers, which will be distributed primarily to district government hospitals in these states. The company is working closely with local district authorities to ensure a steady supply to the hospitals," the statement said. This is part of Bacardi's globalannouncementof itscommitment tohelp produce more than 267,000 gallons (1.1 million liters)of hand sanitizers, worldwide to help fight the pandemic. Bacardi-owned manufacturing sites across the United States, Mexico, France, England, Italy, Scotland and Puerto Rico are already part of this effort,it added. The company facilities will be making use of alcohol in stock, and has also set aside designated quantities of alcohol, for production, it added. "We, at Bacardi, have always endeavored to support local communities, especially during difficult times like these. By boosting the supply of hand sanitizers, a critical need of the hour, we hope to strengthen the fight against COVID-19," Bacardi India Operations Director VMuthukumar said. Several liquor manufacturers have started manufacturing hand sanitizers to meet surge in demand. According to All India Distillers' Association (AIDA) over 150 distilleries are producing hand sanitizers in the country. Recently, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs had directed the state governments to grant licenses to distilleries and sugar companies to manufacture hand sanitisers to meet the demand. According to the Union Health Ministry, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country has topped 4,000. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amateur Radio provides world-wide Covid19 information and news When the Covid19 virus outbreak started spreading rapidly from China to the rest of the world, I started to look into ways of how amateur radio could render a useful service to Africa but also to the rest of the Globe during this pandemic. I looked at many options which included HF Radio, Echolink, AREDN etc. The aim was not to communicate with only radio amateurs but to the Government of South Africa, Department of Health, General Public and all other Roll Players. It was clear from the onset that radio communications would limited the amount of people that would have access to vital and life saving information. Amateur Radio had to play another and new roll during this pandemic and it must be a vital one. I decided to use social media, aka Twitter. It had to reflect the fact that the Twitter account and information posted was provided by Amateur Radio. I could not sit and watch and play radio while people were dying. Amateur Radio had to play its part in curbing and lower the curve to prevent the virus from spreading so rapidly and to keep the people informed about the virus. I created the account Covid-19 South Africa @CovidAfrica https://twitter.com/CovidAfrica and the rest is history. Amateur Radio once more can show that it can render a useful non radio service during Disasters and even Pandemics. We need to adapt to changing circumstances and if need be use social media to promote amateur radio but also to render a useful service. Some might not agree but a poll currently running showed that Covid-19 South Africa @CovidAfrica is providing a useful service. If you feel that this is not a worthwhile effort or not amateur radio related, then you welcome to omit it. I just thought that Amateur Radio must and can render a useful service during this pandemic. 73 Johan Terblanche ZS1I (SARL Member) Mossel Bay South Africa Global management consultancy Arthur D. Little (ADL) today released first learnings from global CEOs in the telecoms, transport and utility industries who delivered critical infrastructure services in Asia and Italy during the early spread of COVID-19. The Leading businesses through the COVID-19 crisis: First learnings from Hong Kong, Italy and Singapore Report is available free to help businesses facing the worst of COVID-19 deliver vital goods and services safely. The report urges companies to put people before short-term profits, avoid step-by-step measures, delegate authorities, intensify employee communications efforts, and work closely with governments, authorities and communities. "We can learn from one another, build resilience in our economy, and emerge from this crisis ready to innovate and restore," said Ignacio Garcia Alves, Chairman and CEO of Arthur D. Little."This report gives CEOs unique peer-to-peer insight from leaders who maintained effective operations through the worst of the pandemic and are now emerging ready to rebuild." The report identifies five areas of focus: Move fast, assume the worst, be comprehensive, and secure employee safety first and operational continuity next. Be prepared to spend most of your time on employee communications, focus on positivity and morale, and listen as well as talk. Create separate A and B teams for critical operations, support suppliers and ecosystem partners, and be innovative with cash management. Collaborate with government and authorities, engage with unions, and support local communities. Start realistically planning for recovery now, and take advantage of potential opportunities from the "new normal". The report also names key priorities for business continuity and risk management, including using digital tools to establish dynamic, sensing risk management systems across internal operations and external supply chains. Karim Taga, Managing Partner of Arthur D. Little's Global TIME Practice,said, "Today's CEOs are being called to lead through this crisis and emerge ready for new opportunities. Companies, governments, and individuals must all focus on protecting public health and defeating this pandemic together." Saverio Caldani, Managing Partner of Arthur D. Little Italy and Spain, said, "As we work to support our clients in Italy through the worst of COVID-19, their experiences will help businesses everywhere navigate this new world." Download the full report here: https://bit.ly/3aMZjU2 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005315/en/ Contacts: Cate Bonthuys Catalyst Comms +44 7746 546773 cate@catalystcomms.co.uk Actor-filmmaker-politician Kamal Haasan has written an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that the decision to impose a 21-day national lockdown, in a bid to battle the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, was a wrong one. In his letter Kamal Haasan, founder of the political party Makkal Needhi Maiam, wrote: "Respected Sir, I pen this letter as a responsible but dismayed citizen of our country. In my first letter to you dated 23rd March, I had urged the government to not lose sight of the plight of the unsung heroes of our society, the most downtrodden, the weak and the dependent. The very next day, the nation heard the announcement of a strict and immediate lockdown, almost demonetisation style. I was taken aback but I chose to trust you, my elected leader, the one we would like to believe knows best. I had chosen to trust you even when you announced demonetisation but time proved I was wrong. Time proved you too were wrong sir." Praising the mass following that PM Modi enjoys as no other world leader, he added: "My biggest fear is that the same mistake of demonetisation is being repeated albeit at a much bigger scale. While demonetisation led to loss of savings and livelihood of the poorest, this ill-planned lockdown is leading us to a fatal combination of loss of both life and livelihood. The poor have nobody to look upto except you sir. On one hand you are asking the more privileged people to put up a spectacle of lights while on the other hand the poor man's plight is itself becoming a shameful spectacle. While your world lit up oil diyas in their balconies, the poor are struggling to gather enough oil to bake their next roti." "Your last two addresses to the nation had you trying to calm the people which is necessary in these trying times but there is something more urgent as well as important than that. These psychotherapy techniques can address the first world anxiety problems of the haves' who have a balcony to cheer. But what about those who don't even have a roof on their heads? I am sure you don't want to be a balcony government only for the balcony people by completely ignoring the poor who are biggest constituent of our society, our support system and the foundation on which the middle-class, the well-to-do and the rich build their lives. The poor man never makes it to the front page news but his contribution to nation building both in spirit and in GDP cannot be ignored. He has a majority stake in the nation. History has proven that any efforts to destroy the bottom has led to the toppling of the top. Even science will agree here!" Kamal Haasan wrote. He further stated: "This is the first crisis, the first epidemic that the top of the society has inflicted upon the bottom. And the topmost, i.e, you sir seem interested in bailing out everybody but those at the bottom. As millions of daily wage labourers, house-helps, street-cart vendors, auto-rickshaw & taxi drivers and helpless migrant workers struggle to see light at the end of the tunnel, we seem to be securing only an already well-built middle-class fortress. Don't get me wrong sir, I am not suggesting we ignore the middle-class or any one segment. In fact, I am suggesting the exact opposite. I would like to see you doing more to secure everybody's fortress and ensure that nobody goes to bed hungry. COVID-19 will continue to find more victims but we are creating a fertile playground for Hunger(H), Exhaustion(E) and Deprivation(D) of the poor. HED '20 is a malady that is smaller in profile but far deadlier compared to COVID-19.It's impact will be felt long after COVID-19 has vanished. "Every time there is a feeling that we have a chance to arrest the slide, you seem to be sliding into your comfort zone of unleashing a spirited election-style campaign idea. It seems you are comfortable outsourcing responsible behaviour to the common people and transparency to the State governments. This is the perception you are creating, especially amongst those who spend enough time working toward and intellectualising for a great today and tomorrow for India. I am sorry if I have offended you with the use of the word intellectual here, for I know that you and your government does not like that word. But I am a follower of Periyar and Gandhi and I know they were intellectuals first. It's the intellect that guides one into choosing a path of righteousness, equality and prosperity for all. "The focus on merely keeping people's spirits alive through warm and fuzzy campaigning is probably leading your establishment into ignoring certain actionables that could actually save lives. Long into the epidemic, when the entire country's law and order system had been primed, your system failed to stop congregations of ignorant and foolish people in different parts of the country. These have become the biggest hubs for the spread of the epidemic in India. Who is responsible for all the lives lost due to this negligence? "As per the Chinese government's official statement to the WHO, the first confirmed case was reported on 8th December. Even if you concede the fact that the world took a lot of time to understand the gravity of the situation, by early February, the entire world knew that this is going to wreak havoc of an unprecedented kind. India's first case was reported on 30th of January. We had seen what happened to Italy. Yet, we did not learn our lessons early enough. When we eventually woke out of our slumber, you ordered an entire nation of 1.4 bn people to shut down within 4 hours. A mere 4 hour notice period for the people when you had a 4 month notice period! Visionary leaders are ones who work on solutions long before problems become big. "I am sorry to say that sir, this time your vision failed. Furthermore, your government and its appointees seem to be expending all their energies on a combative response to any feedback or constructive criticism. Sane, well-wishing voices with national interests in mind get quickly, intentionally and clinically drowned by the trolls of your army and are dubbed anti-national. "I dare anyone to call me an anti-national this time. The common populace cannot be blamed for being ill-prepared for a crisis of this magnitude but you can be and shall be blamed for this. The government is appointed and paid by the people to keep their lives normal and safe. "Events of these magnitude get etched in history for two reasons, one being the devastation (illness and death) that they cause due to their core nature. The second being the long term impact of what they teach humans to prioritise and the kind of socio-cultural changes they bring about. I am extremely saddened to see our society plagued by an outbreak that is far more dangerous and longer lasting that any virus that nature has ever hurled at us. HADLEY A contentious debate has been raging among town officials as whether to disclose COVID-19 case counts for the town. Currently they are not. Selectboard members say this information should be made available to the public. But the Board of Health which gets the daily COVID-19 data from the state Department of Public Health has the final say, and is refusing to disclose the number of confirmed cases. The Board of Health reports that they are following a request from the state and will no longer be reporting Hadley specific COVID19 cases,according to a post on the towns website. However, other Western Massachusetts communities, including Springfield, Ludlow, South Hadley and Westfield release that information at press briefings or on municipal websites. Selectboard member David Fill has criticized the Board of Health, posting on Facebook: They are basing this on a supposed request of the State DPH (note its not directed but requested). . . I am speaking only for myself not the rest of the board but believe this is irresponsible and undermines our credibility. Selectboard member Joyce Chunglo, who is also a nurse, responded to his post, saying: This is very disturbing. We should not be hiding this information from our residents. We have done a lot of work to get away from not hiding things and being open with everyone You only make people have greater fear. Please lets keep people informed. Thats our job !! Hadley Town Administrator David Nixon did not comment when asked about the matter. The town of Amherst, which had reported their first case last month, then made a decision not to provide the daily counts, but said in an email statement on Monday that they would resume doing so because of new state DPH guidelines. The Town of Amherst will post positive COVID-19 case counts daily, Monday through Friday. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has revised its guidance to cities and towns and now states that each municipality may decide if they will make public positive case counts for their community, the email statement said. There are currently 10 confirmed cases in Amherst. Similarly, Longmeadow on Friday said they would begin to share with the community daily COVID-19 case counts because of the new DPH guidelines. Longmeadow reported 25 case on Friday; as of Monday the number is 30. Officials in the cities of Northampton and Easthampton have chosen not to post how many have the disease on their municipal websites, based on information they received from the DPH. The Republican asked the mayors and health directors in those cities whether they might change their current practice and share the COVID-19 counts. In response, Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz office said in a statement: The reason this information is not being shared is because it is private health information and is protected under HIPPA law. Aggregate data is being shared by the state at the county level, but the citys Health Department has no plans to release local data that could potentially lead people to figure out who specific individuals are with the disease which would expose the city to litigation. There have also been cases of harassment in Massachusetts as a result of positive tests. Heres hoping that the local numbers never get so large that this need for caution is removed. Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle added, "Based on the Department of Public Health issued guidance about local reporting of COVID-19 cases, the city will not be reporting the number of confirmed cases in Easthampton. The number of confirmed cases,tests, hospitalizations and fatalities are best confirmed by the MA DPH. These COVID-19 numbers taken out of context severely misrepresent the scope of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please assume that everyone, including yourself is infected for your health, your families and community. Several other Western Mass. communities, including Springfield, Ludlow, South Hadley, Westfield, and the tri-town Quabbin Health District of Belchertown, Pelham and Ware post information on their municipal websites. + + + You wont see it officially listed anywhere as a symptom of COVID-19, but cabin fever that feeling of increasing tedium, irritability and restlessness that often accompanies prolonged stays indoors is definitely on the rise as we practise social distancing and self-quarantine to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/4/2020 (644 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. You wont see it officially listed anywhere as a symptom of COVID-19, but "cabin fever" that feeling of increasing tedium, irritability and restlessness that often accompanies prolonged stays indoors is definitely on the rise as we practise social distancing and self-quarantine to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Thats why I felt such a sense of encouragement this past weekend as I saw an increase in the number of people taking the opportunity to walk or run outside. The fact is that while exercise will not cure or prevent COVID-19, it will improve your overall health. Physical activity can improve your physical health, helping to manage or prevent many chronic diseases. It also releases endorphins to improve your mental resilience and improve your mood. It also offers you a much-needed break from elevated levels of screen time and the neverending COVID-19 news cycle. Physical activity will also help your children burn off some of the pent-up energy they have from being indoors. The question, then, is this: how can we safely incorporate daily activity into our daily COVID-19 prevention routine? As long as you are not self-isolating, getting outside is a great option just remember to keep your distance from those you meet along the way, head outdoors only with the members of your household and be sure to wash your hands for 20 seconds when you return home. If you normally work out with friends, or in groups, consider phoning a friend (always keeping one ear free from your headphones) while you each walk a route close to your respective homes, or track your steps on social media to compete with others. Start a photo journal of your routes and beef up your Instagram game to take your mind off of the COVID-19 news-crush. If you are still working at an essential service, consider actively commuting to fit in some exercise en route. The City of Winnipeg has expanded its annual bicycle and active transportation route schedule. Starting on April 6, Lyndale Drive, Scotia Street, Wellington Crescent and Wolseley Avenue will limit motor vehicle traffic daily to one block from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. For those looking to increase their activity indoors, this is an optimal time to take advantage of the many free online fitness classes and activities available for both adults and children. There is no shortage of options from private and public resources. These include the Wellness Institute (wellnessinstitute.ca), the Reh-fit Centre (reh-fit.com) and Participactions social media channels, as well as local gyms, YMCAs and yoga studios. Youll find that many of these classes are designed to be done without special equipment, or are tailored to the special needs of older adults or other people with lower mobility. You can also find videos, instructional posters and at-home workouts on Winnipeg in motions resource section on (winnipeginmotion.ca/resources.php). Kids and teens should also spend some time outside, unless told to self-isolate. The fresh air and change of pace will help to manage anxiety. Just remember to keep their activities family-centred, avoiding pick-up games with neighbours. Families should not access local parks or playgrounds at this time as the COVID-19 virus can live on surfaces for several days. School-aged kids and teens can head outside for a walk, bike ride or a run, as long as they practise social distancing. They could start a running club with siblings, or engage in some backyard parkour or a living room dance party. 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. For the youngest set, simply having the space and freedom to be active is essential. Use your imagination. Toddlers and preschoolers need to have opportunities for physical play and to practise fundamental movement skills like running, jumping, hopping and throwing. You can incorporate numbers, colours and letters into dance moves, silly games or obstacle courses around the living room, back yard or the front sidewalk. Learn balance by practising on sidewalk lines, or by balancing on one foot. Play catch inside with a plush toy, or take part in short movement breaks like jumping, running on the spot or dancing between indoor activities. Have kids act out the story as you read a book together. Many neighbours are placing teddy bears in their windows to encourage families to turn their walk into a "bear hunt". Teens can connect with their friends using social media and a variety of apps to compare the number of steps, measure distances or set up fitness logs with friends. This will encourage some friendly competition and provide mutual motivation and support to keep moving. Whatever you choose to do to keep active, just remember youve already done the hard part: youve started moving. Even in these days of social distancing, for the well-being of yourself and others, each of us can maintain a sense of ownership in our health and well-being. Stay active and stay safe. Note: If you are new to exercise, recently injured or recovering, start with light, gentle activity such as walking. For more information, visit csep.ca for the "Get Active Questionnaire." Kristine Hayward is a co-ordinator, WRHA Physical Activity Promotion program, Population and Public Health. Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 05, 2020 | LYON COUNTY By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 05, 2020 | 06:38 PM | LYON COUNTY Officials in Lyon County have finished testing nearly all staff at River's Bend Retirement Home. Lyon County Judge Executive Wade White says 48 tests have now been completed, comprising almost the entire staff at the facility. He said there are still a few employees that have not been tested, but they will not be allowed to return to work until they are. White thanked the University of Louisville for providing the tests the county needed. "U of L has rocked on this, and given us what we needed. I was so surprised at how well they worked with us to give us all these tests" He said, also thanking the Lyon County Health Department and the Lyon County Sheriff's Department for their assistance. A total of four people at the facility, two staff members and two residents have tested positive for the virus so far. White announced Saturday one of the residents, 97-year-old Jean Massamore had died. Results of the remaining tests should be available within two days, according to White. White said he is working with several agencies right now to obtain more tests. "I think it's important that we test everybody, find out where this bug is, and be able to stop it from spreading." White said. Unfortunately for some shareholders, the American Express (NYSE:AXP) share price has dived 32% in the last thirty days. That drop has capped off a tough year for shareholders, with the share price down 34% in that time. Assuming nothing else has changed, a lower share price makes a stock more attractive to potential buyers. While the market sentiment towards a stock is very changeable, in the long run, the share price will tend to move in the same direction as earnings per share. So, on certain occasions, long term focussed investors try to take advantage of pessimistic expectations to buy shares at a better price. One way to gauge market expectations of a stock is to look at its Price to Earnings Ratio (PE Ratio). A high P/E ratio means that investors have a high expectation about future growth, while a low P/E ratio means they have low expectations about future growth. See our latest analysis for American Express How Does American Express's P/E Ratio Compare To Its Peers? American Express's P/E of 9.19 indicates some degree of optimism towards the stock. The image below shows that American Express has a higher P/E than the average (3.8) P/E for companies in the consumer finance industry. NYSE:AXP Price Estimation Relative to Market April 5th 2020 American Express's P/E tells us that market participants think the company will perform better than its industry peers, going forward. Shareholders are clearly optimistic, but the future is always uncertain. So further research is always essential. I often monitor director buying and selling. How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios Probably the most important factor in determining what P/E a company trades on is the earnings growth. That's because companies that grow earnings per share quickly will rapidly increase the 'E' in the equation. That means even if the current P/E is high, it will reduce over time if the share price stays flat. A lower P/E should indicate the stock is cheap relative to others -- and that may attract buyers. Story continues American Express had pretty flat EPS growth in the last year. But over the longer term (5 years) earnings per share have increased by 7.5%. Don't Forget: The P/E Does Not Account For Debt or Bank Deposits The 'Price' in P/E reflects the market capitalization of the company. Thus, the metric does not reflect cash or debt held by the company. In theory, a company can lower its future P/E ratio by using cash or debt to invest in growth. While growth expenditure doesn't always pay off, the point is that it is a good option to have; but one that the P/E ratio ignores. American Express's Balance Sheet American Express's net debt is 68% of its market cap. This is enough debt that you'd have to make some adjustments before using the P/E ratio to compare it to a company with net cash. The Bottom Line On American Express's P/E Ratio American Express has a P/E of 9.2. That's below the average in the US market, which is 12.2. While the recent EPS growth is a positive, the significant amount of debt on the balance sheet may be contributing to pessimistic market expectations. Given American Express's P/E ratio has declined from 13.5 to 9.2 in the last month, we know for sure that the market is more worried about the business today, than it was back then. For those who prefer invest in growth, this stock apparently offers limited promise, but the deep value investors may find the pessimism around this stock enticing. Investors should be looking to buy stocks that the market is wrong about. As value investor Benjamin Graham famously said, 'In the short run, the market is a voting machine but in the long run, it is a weighing machine. So this free report on the analyst consensus forecasts could help you make a master move on this stock. Of course you might be able to find a better stock than American Express. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have grown earnings strongly. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. [April 06, 2020] Important Update for Snap-on Incorporated's 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders Snap-on Incorporated (NYSE: SNA) announced today that due to the public health impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and to support the health and well-being of its shareholders, associates, retirees and franchisees, as well as their families and communities, it will move in 2020 from the originally planned in-person Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Annual Meeting") at the Company's headquarters to a virtual meeting. The Annual Meeting will continue to be held on Thursday, April 23, 2020, but will now occur at 11:30 a.m. Central Time in a virtual meeting format only, via live webcast. Individuals will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. Shareholders as of the close of business on February 24, 2020, the record date for the Annual Meeting, with a control number will have the opportunity to participate in the vote during the virtual meeting. The Annual Meeting can be accessed directly at www.meetingcenter.io/216067983 or on the Company's website at www.snapon.com/EN/Investors/Investor-Events. To login to the Annual Meeting as a shareholder, a password and a control number will be required The password for the meeting is SNA2020. For registered shareholders, the control number can be found on the printed proxy card that accompanied the proxy materials previously provided. If shares of the Company's common stock are held through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker, advance registration is required if you intend to vote during the virtual meeting. To register, please submit proof of proxy power (legal proxy) related to shares of the Company's common stock, such as an email from a broker or an image of the legal proxy, along with shareholder's name and email address, to Computershare at [email protected]. Requests for registration must be labeled as "Legal Proxy" and be received no later than 4:00 p.m. Central Time, on April 21, 2020. Individuals interested in attending the virtual meeting that do not have a control number or are not a shareholder, may attend as a guest but will not have the option to participate in the vote. Shareholders are encouraged to vote in advance of the Annual Meeting either through the internet, by telephone or by returning the completed proxy card. Due to the change in format, only the formal business of the Annual Meeting will be conducted. An archive of the Annual Meeting will be available on www.snapon.com for at least 90 days following the meeting. Snap-on anticipates holding its 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders in person. About Snap-on Snap-on Incorporated is a leading global innovator, manufacturer and marketer of tools, equipment, diagnostics, repair information and systems solutions for professional users performing critical tasks. Products and services include hand and power tools, tool storage, diagnostics software, information and management systems, shop equipment and other solutions for vehicle dealerships and repair centers, as well as for customers in industries, including aviation and aerospace, agriculture, construction, government and military, mining, natural resources, power generation and technical education. Snap-on also derives income from various financing programs to facilitate the sales of its products and support its franchise business. Products and services are sold through the company's franchisee, company-direct, distributor and internet channels. Founded in 1920, Snap-on is a $3.7 billion, S&P 500 company headquartered in Kenosha, Wisconsin. For additional information, please visit www.snapon.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005868/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] London, April 6, 2020 CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE: CNHI / MI: CNHI) confirms that its Annual General Meeting of shareholders ("AGM") will be held on April 16, 2020 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, as previously announced. Due to travel bans and local restrictions on meetings issued because of the COVID-19 outbreak, it is anticipated that executive and non-executive directors will attend our AGM via remote connection. Furthermore, for health and safety reasons, the Company will take appropriate measures to minimize public health risks relating to the AGM and further measures will be introduced in the event local prescriptions will be amended. CNH Industrial therefore reserves the right to amend the physical arrangements on the day of the AGM, including refusing entry to the meeting to comply with health and safety requirements. As a result of the above described constraints, Company shareholders are expected not to attend the meeting in person. Instead, shareholders are urged to cast their votes by proxy or online in advance. For further information regarding voting by proxy please refer to the Company's website, www.cnhindustrial.com . Shareholders will, however, be able to follow the Annual General Meeting remotely. Further details in this respect will be posted on the Company's website www.cnhindustrial.com in advance of the meeting. The global fight against COVID-19 has triggered an unprecedented impact on economic activity including in the markets in which the Company operates. Considering the challenges and the uncertainties associated with this situation, as a precautionary measure the Company has decided to remove its dividend proposal from the agenda of the Annual General Meeting. The Company thanks all of its shareholders for their understanding and ongoing commitment during this challenging period. CNH IndustrialN.V. Attachment Miranda Hart arriving at the UK premiere of "Spy" at the Odeon Leicester Square in London. (Photo by Zak Hussein/Corbis via Getty Images) A disgruntled Miranda Hart has hit out at misleading reports she doubled her price for personalised videos during the coronavirus lockdown. While Hart has raised prices, she took umbrage as one tabloid that left out of the article headline and summary the fact she had done so to raise money for charity and NOT for personal gain. Responding to a tweet of the article in question, Hart wrote: You emailed my agent asking for comment and didn't wait for me to reply. Read more: Miranda cast to reunite for celebratory 10-year anniversary show I increased prices to RAISE MORE MONEY FOR THE CHARITIES I AM SUPPORTING IN THIS TIME. @Astriid_No1 @CISFAUK Supporting the chronically ill. She followed it up by saying: I usually have a thick skin when it comes to being misunderstood in the press. Today it got to me. We are all in this thing together & I'm raising money for charities to support the chronically ill (which is why i experimented raising price on Cameo) Not coz I'm a posh b***h. 2/2. Sometimes it just gets to me that even in a national and global crisis we are finding ways to bring each other down. Let's sing the community spirit that could come out of this. And the fact that most of us are doing what we can to help the many who are vulnerable. Miranda Hart (@mermhart) April 6, 2020 She added: Sometimes it just gets to me that even in a national and global crisis we are finding ways to bring each other down. Let's sing the community spirit that could come out of this. Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world Fact-checker: The number of COVID-19 cases in your local area Explained: Symptoms, latest advice and how it compares to the flu And the fact that most of us are doing what we can to help the many who are vulnerable. She finished: The positive about my last angry tweets (never tweet when cross people!!) is that hopefully it's raised more awareness of the charities I am supporting at this time. Story continues And I am fine, thank you, I am blessed not to be vulnerable in these matters. Just grumpy! Read more: Widow of Eddie Large recalls final exchange with husband Celeb video site Cameo allows people to buy personalised videos from their favourite stars, which often sees people in the public eye sending get-well-soon or birthday messages to fans for a fee. Harts price for a clip has gone up from 80 to 166 in the hope she can raise money for charities ASTRiiD and CISFA UK, both charities that helps those living with chronic illnesses. Shortly after the 47-year-olds initial tweet the article in question appeared to be amended to include the charity element more prominently. MSNBCs Joe Scarborough didnt hold back Monday morning when criticized not only President Trumps handling of the coronavirus pandemic but the coverage hes been getting from friendly media outlets, too. In fact, according to Scarborough, those outlets are stupid. If you break down what the president said a lot of people have been analyzing it over the night nothing new, nothing noteworthy, the Morning Joe host said of Trumps Sunday evening press conference where he touted an unproven drug as a cure and refusing to let his medical expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, talk about it during a press conference. This is the death of expertise; this is when the idiots have been exposed for who they are in the times of Americas greatest need, Scarborough added. What did America get out of cable news networks for running a two-hour, rambling press conference where [Trump] says the same thing? he asked his co-host and wife Mika Brzezinski. The duo particularly took issue with Trump endorsing the drug hydroxychloroquine and wasting Faucis and Dr. Deborah Birxs time, both of which may cost lives. Also Read: Millions of People Get Coronavirus Updates From Fox News - This Lawsuit Says the Network Gave Them False Information Later in the show, Scarborough turned on media hacks who support Trump at every turn in his tone: Now, a lot of the same hacks that were saying that this was overblown, a lot of those same hacks are now actually trying to turn it around and say it was the medias fault for not underlining the concerns about it. He wasnt done there. Heres the deal, he went on. Youre stupid. I know youre stupid. If youre being a hack for Donald Trump on the coronavirus, I know youre stupid, so maybe you think other people are stupid. Theyre not as dumb as you because you cant argue that the press was overblowing it for two months and then when you find out that the press wasnt overblowing it that more people are going to probably die from this than died in 9/11, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Vietnam War, the Korean War, possibly altogether, if you believe White House numbers you cant then say, after two months of saying that the media was overblowing it, you cant then turn around and say, Oh, the media, they were asleep at the switch.' Watch the former GOP representatives recap of the situation from the top of Mondays show, above. Read original story Joe Scarborough Questions Why Trump Held Nothing Coronavirus Press Conference: The Idiots Have Been Exposed At TheWrap Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 18:59:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on April 6, 2020 shows AN empty street of the Ngor Island in Dakar, Senegal. On Saturday night, Senegalese President Macky Sall extended in a presidential decree the current state of emergency, along with the dusk-to-dawn curfew for 30 days, till May 4. The country's total number of confirmed cases reached 226, among which 92 patients have been cured. (Photo by Eddy Peters/Xinhua) DAKAR, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Senegalese Ministry of Health and Social Action said on Monday ten more patients were cured of COVID-19, bringing the country's total number of patients cured to 92. Besides the ten patients tested negative, Senegalese health minister Aboudulaye Diouf Sarr confirmed that mong the 95 tests done, only four came back positive, including three close contacts of earlier confirmed patients and one community transmission case, bringing the country's total number of confirmed cases to 226. For a second consecutive day, Senegal hasn't detected any imported cases since March 13. Among the 226 confirmed cases, 85 are imported ones. Senegal celebrated Saturday its 60th anniversary of independence from France. A military ceremony was held in presidential palace instead of a traditional military and civil parade due to the severe COVID-19 situation in the country. Also on Saturday night, Senegalese President Macky Sall extended in a presidential decree the current state of emergency, along with the dusk-to-dawn curfew for 30 days, till May 4. The country has isolated itself since March 20 midnight when all its international passenger flights were suspended. An Ikeja Chief Magistrates Court in Lagos on Friday ordered the remand of a 37-year-old Veronica Vincent, who allegedly assaulted a 21-month-old baby. Vincents remand will be pending the legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Chief Magistrate, Olufunke Sule-Amzat, ordered that the defendant to be remanded in Kirikiri Prison as the court did not take the plea of the defendant. The defendant, who lives at No. 33, Ararait Street by Egbeda Bus Stop, Idimu, a Lagos suburb, is charged with unlawful indecent sexual assault. Sule-Amzat adjourned the case until April 22. Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Benson Emuerhi, had told the court that the defendant committed the offence on February 12 at 6.00 p.m. at her residence. Emuerhi alleged that the defendant sexually assaulted the victim, a one-year-nine months-old girl (name withheld), that was placed in her care. He alleged that the victim was sexually assaulted through her vagina and anus in the premises of the day care centre of the defendant. The prosecutor told the court that the case was reported to the police at Idimu Police Divisional Station by the victims mother. Emuerhi told the court that the defendant was arrested by the police and was later transferred to the Gender Section, Lagos Police Command, Ikeja, for further investigation. The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of Section 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015. Share this: Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 14:32:39|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NEW YORK, April 6 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Americans are bracing for probably the toughest week during which a lot of deaths will occur due to COVID-19. "The U.S. will reach a horrific point in terms of death," Trump said, while voicing his optimism that "it will be a point where things will start changing for the better." The president said that some 1.6 million people in the country have been tested for COVID-19 and received results. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States reached 337,620 as of midnight on Sunday local time (0400 GMT on Monday), with 9,643 deaths, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. Trump, who made the remarks during the White House Coronavirus Task Force news briefing, also said that by Tuesday, 3,000 military and public health workers will be deployed across the nation to cope with the pandemic. The federal government will be sending some 600,000 N95 respirators Monday to New York State, the national epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. Meanwhile, the country is stepping up the development of treatments for COVID-19 patients, including experimenting with anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine and blood-related therapies. At the same briefing, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said hydroxychloroquine will be used in a trial covering 3,000 patients at a hospital in Detroit, Michigan, and the results will be tracked in a formal study. Last week, Trump said hydroxychloroquine was being administered to 1,100 patients in New York along with Z-Pak, or azithromycin. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told the White House briefing on Saturday there was no "definitive information to be able to make any comment" on whether the drug can be used to treat coronavirus. In New York State, Governor Andrew Cuomo said that a decline in coronavirus-related deaths has occurred in the state, which could mean that the apex is almost here or it may be just "a blip." The hardest-hit state has reported over 123,000 cases, outnumbering the total cases in Germany. Over 4,000 deaths occurred, with over 3,000 in New York City. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday that the city's medical supplies could make it through the middle of the week, which is better than expected. "We thought as early as tonight there was the possibility of running out of crucial equipment like ventilators," said the mayor. "We have bought a few more days here. We believe now we can get to Tuesday or Wednesday with the supplies that we have." The city will need 1,000 to 1,500 more ventilators for the rest of the week, he said, adding that an additional 45,000 medical personnel of every variety are also needed to fight the pandemic. The ambassador says Ukrainian personnel have been deployed to the Marche region which has faced staff shortages due to infection spread among doctors. Ukrainian doctors recently deployed in Italy to help their local counterparts in fighting COVID-19 took up their first shifts in hospitals on April 6, 2020, Ukrainian Ambassador to Italy Yevhen Perelyhin says. "Yesterday there was a briefing, and they were distributed among the teams with whom they will cooperate," said the envoy, according to Obozrevatel. The Ukrainian group consists of 13 doctors and seven nurses specializing in intensive care. They were divided into two subgroups and deployed in two cities of the Marche region Pesaro and Urbino. The diplomat explained, this region is facing an acute shortage of medical staff due to the large number of infected doctors. "Therefore, our help there will be most tangible," he said. The ambassador noted that Ukrainian medics had received a warm welcome. In Pesaro "they were placed in the best hotel, which the owner provided free of charge." Read alsoTwenty Ukrainian doctors to be deployed in Italy's Marche media (Photos) "Each group is accompanied by a representative of the Italian Ministry of Emergency Situations, which is responsible for all contacts and assistance," Perelyhin said. "The local Ukrainian community volunteered to work as interpreters, if needed. Ukrainian doctors who had earlier undergone or are now undergoing internships at the University of Perugia also contacted us. We also got in touch with them," the diplomat said. According to preliminary agreements, Ukrainian doctors will stay in Italy for two weeks. "But everything will further depend on the situation in Ukraine and Italy," the ambassador explained. Doctors in Pakistan's Baluchistan province were arrested on Monday for protesting against the unavailability of protective gear in government hospitals while treating coronavirus patients. Later the furious medical practitioners threatened to boycott duties over the police's "high-handedness". The young doctors and paramedical staff called for the protest in provincial capital Quetta after 13 doctors, who were treating coronavirus patients, tested positive for the killer disease. The medical practioners demanded protective gear be made available in the hospitals. Chief of Quetta Police Abdul Razzaq Cheema confirmed some doctors and paramedical workers were detained after the protest took a "violent" turn but stopped short of giving an exact number of detained persons. At a press meet, president of Young Doctors Association, Baluchistan, Yasir Achakzai said the protesters marched from the Civil Hospital to the Chief Minister's Secretariat in Quetta to demand protective gear for medical workers. "We were baton charged by the police and dozens have been arrested," Achakzai said. He announced a boycott of services by the young doctors' in government hospitals. "We suspend all our services following the high-handedness of the police," Achakzai said. Baluchistan has so far reported 192 cases of coronavirus. Achakzai said the situation could get much worse very quickly if protective equipment was not made available by the government. Punjab and Sindh provinces have reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Pakistan. Sindh reported two more deaths on Monday taking the total number of casualties to 17 in the province. Sindh government Spokesman Murtaza Wahab said 9,589 virus detection tests have been carried out in the province and 932 people had tested positive, of whom 253 people had recovered. He said in last 24 hours around 130 people had recovered from the virus in Sindh. In the last week, there has been a marked increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Punjab and Sindh. On Monday, Punjab reported 191 new cases and Sindh 51. In total, there have been 3,520 coronavirus cases in Pakistan, with worst-hit Punjab province reporting 1,684 cases. The disease has claimed 52 lives in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Myanmar & COVID-19 Myanmar Govt Cracks Down on Fake COVID-19 News Health care workers and local authorities disinfect a monastery in Tamu Township, Sagaing Division, in March. / Tamu Department of Information MANDALAYThe Myanmar government has begun to take legal action against people who spread fake news and rumors related to the coronavirus as authorities arrested and charged a man from Bago Regions Yaytarshay Township on Saturday. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Bone Myint Moe was arrested for posting a message saying Ba Ring Gone is positive in the Facebook group for Yaytarshay on Saturday evening. He wrote that there was a COVID-19 positive patient in Ba Ring Gone Village who was sent to Taungoo and warned people to be careful, said a police officer from Yaytarshay police station. An official from the township administration office filed a lawsuit under the Natural Disaster Management Laws Article 27. The article says that anyone who spreads misinformation about a disaster with the aim of sparking dread among the public shall be punished with a maximum of one year in prison and a fine. Since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, the Myanmar government has told people in the country not to spread the rumors and to beware of fake news. As soon as the countrys first COVID-19 case was reported, the government issued repeated warnings that anyone who spreads rumors or fake news will be punished according to the law. The government also warned that those who refuse to follow rules and regulations imposed to combat the coronavirus could face lawsuits under the 2013 Natural Disaster Management Law A groom who held a wedding celebration in Tamu, Sagaing Division, in violation of local authorities instructions to postpone the event was sentenced to six months in prison and ordered to pay a one million kyat fine (US$700) on Friday, under the Natural Disaster Management Law. The groom, Htan Lin Shein, arrived from the United States and did not home quarantine for 14 days, instead choosing to hold his wedding reception on March 28, despite authorities instructions that he must postpone the event to avoid drawing a crowd. Another groom from the same township is facing the same lawsuit under the same law for also holding his wedding. In Sagaing Divisions Khin Oo Township, a man is facing a lawsuit under the same law for holding a Buddhist ritual ceremony to celebrate the ordination of local young monks. A man in Sagaings Ye Oo Township was arrested for running away from a government COVID-19 quarantine facility and is also facing a lawsuit under the Natural Disaster Management Law. Two men from Sagaings Ayadaw Township and Mandalays Tada-U Township were arrested and sued for attacking local authorities who were conducting patrols and education programs on coronavirus prevention. You may also like these stories: The Role of Fake News in Politics, Stability and Elections Myanmar Confronts COVID-19 Western Myanmars Remote Naga Area Braces for COVID-19 Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money. Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer calls for water reconnections statewide, establishes fund to help communities comply Gov. Gretchen Whitmer calls for water reconnections statewide, establishes fund to help communities comply FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 28, 2020 EGLE Contact: McDiarmidJrH@michigan.gov Gov Contact: BrownT56@michigan.gov Gov. Gretchen Whitmer calls for water reconnections statewide, establishes fund to help communities comply Clean water for sanitation essential to protection from COVID-19 virus LANSING, MICH Gov. Gretchen Whitmer took strong steps today to ensure at-risk households have access to clean water for hand washing and sanitation through an executive order requiring the reconnection of service to residences that have had water service shut off. A $2-million Water Restart Grant Program will help communities comply with the order. This is a critical step both for the health of families living without a reliable water source, and for slowing the spread of the Coronavirus, said Whitmer. We continue to work to provide all Michiganders regardless of their geography or income level the tools they need to keep themselves and their communities protected. The order requires public water suppliers to immediately identify residences in their service area that do not currently have water service, and to make best efforts to restore service to homes where the service has been disconnected due to non-payment or damaged infrastructure. The order also includes reporting and accountability requirements. The order is effective for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency. It does not absolve anyone from responsibility for past-due bills. To assist communities in complying with the order, a $2-million fund has been established through Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). The Water Restart Grant Program will provide funding to local communities to help reconnect homes to their water supplies. EGLE will provide limited grants to communities based on available funds. Grants will be provided to high-risk areas. Requirements for the grants will include the following: Communities must provide a preliminary spending plan, including the estimated number of homes to be reconnected and estimated average cost per home, prior to the grant being initiated. If lead lines are being replaced as part of the reconnection, the entire line must be replaced. EGLE will reimburse up to $5,000 for reconnection, line replacement, and restoration per home. Exceptions to the cap can be requested for homes needing more extensive work. Exceptions must be authorized by EGLE. The community must assure that the plumbers conduct appropriate flushing and provide communication to residents on the importance of flushing and use of filters if needed. A 25 percent local match is required. Grant funds will be provided on a reimbursement basis upon receipt of appropriate supporting documentation. Communities interested in accessing the funding should email EGLE-RestartGrants@michigan.gov Michiganders need clean water in their homes now more than ever to protect their health and slow the spread of COVID-19 by washing their hands, said Robert Gordon, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). MDHHS is pleased to work to help connect families to critical services and remove barriers to good health practices. Those reconnecting to municipal water must first thoroughly flush stagnant water pipes and clean filter screens to remove accumulations of lead and other bacteria that can accumulate in stagnant water. Step-by-step instructions on how to do so are available through this instructional video. Liesl Clark, director of the states Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, said the Restart Program it is one of numerous steps the agency is taking to ensure clean, uninterrupted water to Michiganders. We are also working with water plant operators to ensure continuation of safe, reliable water under various scenarios, she said. Keeping water flowing, and restoring service where necessary, is vital to defending our states residents against COVID-19. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that can result in serious illness or death. With COVID-19 present world-wide, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has developed guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Individuals are encouraged to wash their hands often to prevent the spread of the disease. To view Executive Order 2020-28, click the link below: The latest information on the COVID-19 situation is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. This press release will be translated and made available in Arabic and Spanish at www.michigan.gov/whitmer. ### China's top infectious disease expert Zhong Nanshan has urged Western countries to impose 'real lockdowns' to curb the coronavirus pandemic. Dr Zhong, who has been leading China's efforts to fight the disease, was speaking to state media as he expressed his disapproval of the confinement measures adopted by Europe and the United States. The 83-year-old epidemiologist said: 'As I heard from some of the foreign countries that [officials have] locked down the city, but inside the city people, in particular young people, still join together attending parties or some banquets or meetings. 'It doesn't work. It's not a lockdown.' Beijing's chief medical advisor on coronavirus Dr Zhong Nanshan (pictured on February 27) has urged the West to impose stricter lockdown measures to stop the spread of coronavirus The coronavirus has killed more than 69,000 people and infected over 1.2 million worldwide China's decision to lock down Wuhan, where the pandemic first emerged, may have prevented 700,000 new cases of coronavirus, experts have said, although sceptics have voiced doubts about the accuracy of Chinese figures. Dr Zhong, the leader of a team of Chinese experts dealing with the crisis, urged Europe and the United States to adopt stricter movement restrictions and to seal off 'communities', not just the entire city. He also stressed the importance of social distancing in stopping the spread of the coronavirus. 'Nobody can block, can stop the spreading or stop the infection of this kind of disease. But we can try to do our best to inhibit the spreading. So, that's what we are successful,' he added. He made the comments on Friday on CGTN, the English arm of the country's state broadcaster CCTV. Dr Zhong's warnings come after lockdown rebels in the UK flouted the government's plea to remain indoors and flocked to parks to take advantage of the sunny weather. Members of the public are pictured enjoying the day's warm weather on Primrose Hill on April 5 in London The epicentre of the pandemic has shifted to Europe as cases in Italy, Spain and the UK soar Dr Zhong's warnings come after lockdown rebels in the UK flouted the government's plea to remain indoors and flocked to parks over the weekend to take advantage of the sunny weather. Meanwhile, Scotland's chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood was given a police warning on Sunday for ignoring her own advice to the public and twice-visiting her family's coastal retreat in Earlsferry, Fife, more than 40 miles from her main home. Dr Calderwood announced late last night that she had resigned 'with a heavy heart' after making a grovelling apology live on TV. Wuhan, the Chinese city where the pandemic first emerged, has been under draconian lockdown for more than two months. The picture, taken on January 27, shows an empty highway in Wuhan after quarantine measures were imposed on the city on January 23 In other developments, Sweden's Prime Minister has told his country to prepare for thousands of deaths as the country faces a backlash over its light-touch response to the coronavirus crisis. Rather than ordering a lockdown, Sweden has told its citizens to 'each take responsibility' for slowing the spread. Swedish PM Stefan Lofven admitted that 'we will have more seriously ill people who need intensive care', but played down the distinctiveness of Sweden's approach. 'We will have more seriously ill people who need intensive care,' said Swedish Prime Minister (pictured on March 31). 'We are facing thousands of deaths. We need to prepare for that' Swedes have been advised to practise social distancing, but schools, bars and restaurants remain open - to the amazement of neighbouring countries which are enforcing strict lockdowns. Thousands of doctors and academics including the head of the Nobel Foundation have signed a petition urging tougher action, while one scientist accused Sweden of playing 'Russian roulette with the Swedish population'. The scepticism of Sweden comes amid promising signs that the lockdowns are working for its European neighbours such as Spain, Italy and Germany. Germany's 3,677 new cases yesterday marked the smallest jump in daily infections since March 22, while growth in new cases in Spain and Italy has fallen to its lowest since the crisis began. The novel coronavirus has killed more than 69,000 people and infected over 1.2 million worldwide. Myanmar & COVID-19 Man Killed in Sword Attack After COVID-19 Argument in Myanmars Bago Region Gyobingauk police station. / Myaylat Athan Pyay, Bago Region One man was killed and two others were injured in a brawl over a suspected COVID-19 case in Gyobingauk Township, Tharrawaddy District in western Bago Region on Sunday. On Saturday, U Barbu Lay, a 100-household administrator a community-appointed lower-ranking administrator responsible for around 100 homes in a ward of Ywama North ward in Gyobingauk led community elders to inspect a guesthouse in the ward after he received reports that a guest was sick and coughing. The administrator and the guesthouse owner argued. The following day, at around 7 pm, approximately 20 sword-wielding people raided the administrators house, a Gyobingauk police officer told The Irrawaddy. According to the police, a 26-year-old man was killed in the incident. A 40-year-old man was seriously injured in his head and neck and remains in critical condition at Yangon General Hospital and a 58-year-old woman was also injured. All three are relatives of the administrator. There are three main suspects, including guesthouse owner U Maung Aye. They have run away and the police are after them. The guesthouse has been closed, said the police officer. A ward resident told The Irrawaddy on condition of anonymity: Someone saw a sick guest coughing as he bought medicine at a betel nut shop beside the guesthouse and told the ward administrators. They did not ask the guesthouse owner to close, they just asked him to send the sick guest to a quarantine center. The owner was angry and accused the administrator of driving a wedge between him and his neighbors. U Mang Aye and U Barbu Lay had a heated argument in front of the latters house before men with swords came, he said. Then U Barbu Lay asked his family to flee. Then his nephews arrived and the men attacked them with swords. It is as if there is no rule of law at all, he added. U Barbu Lay has filed a complaint with the police against the guesthouse owner and his accomplices. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko You may also like these stories: Landmine Kills Two Shan Civilians in Northern Myanmar Myanmar Army Corporal Fatally Shot in Sittwe [The stream is slated to start at 9:45 a.m. ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.] New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is holding a press conference Monday to update the public on the coronavirus outbreak, which has infected more than 67,500 people in New York City. On Friday, de Blasio said the city will experience a surge in cases in the upcoming days and still doesn't have enough ventilators or healthcare workers to make it through. He's authorized police and fire departments and the sheriff's office to help city health officials obtain ventilators from private doctor's offices and companies, he said. The city also needs 45,000 additional medical personnel and 65,000 additional hospital beds, including 20,000 ICU beds, he said "We're in the middle of a war. A war against an invisible enemy," de Blasio said, calling on the federal government to help. NYC Health Department Commissioner Oxiris Barbot said the city is no longer conducting "contact tracing" as recommended by the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That requires health officials to track down all known contacts of an infected person and quarantine them for at least 14 days to try to contain the outbreak. The coronavirus has infected at least 337,600 people in the U.S. and killed at least 9,648. Globally, it has infected more than 1,280,000 and has killed at least 69,789. Read CNBC's live updates to see the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak. The United States on Monday warned China not to take advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to exert itself in the South China Sea after Vietnam said Beijing sank a trawler. Amid the global focus on fighting COVID-19, China has ramped up self-described research stations and landed special military aircraft in the dispute-rife sea, according to the State Department. "We call on the PRC to remain focused on supporting international efforts to combat the global pandemic, and to stop exploiting the distraction or vulnerability of other states to expand its unlawful claims in the South China Sea," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement. Vietnam said last week that it lodged a protest with Beijing after the Chinese Coast Guard "hindered, rammed and sunk" a Vietnamese boat with eight fishermen on board near the Paracel Islands. Vietnam -- which, like China and Taiwan, claims sovereignty over the Paracel Islands -- called in a foreign ministry statement for Beijing to compensate the fishermen, "strictly discipline" the officers responsible and prevent similar occurrences in the future. The United States said it was "seriously concerned" about the episode. "This incident is the latest in a long string of PRC actions to assert unlawful maritime claims and disadvantage its Southeast Asian neighbors in the South China Sea," Ortagus said. The United States, which has a growing relationship with Vietnam, has challenged China's claims in the South China Sea -- one of the world's busiest waterways and also home to bountiful energy reserves. China last month accused the United States of a "provocative" act after saying that the USS McCampbell missile destroyer sailed near the Paracel Islands without Beijing's permission. Tensions have risen sharply in recent years between China and the United States, which has also alleged that Beijing has not promptly controlled SARS-CoV-2, the virus that has now infected more than one million people around the world. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) DHAKA A leading figure in the Bangladesh textile sector has urged his compatriots not to cut corners on sustainability in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak and instead, use production downtime to consider environmental improvements within their operations. Many factories have downtime at the present, Mostafiz Uddin, managing director of Denim Expert Ltd, told Ecotextile News. Those that can afford to can use the present time to implement sustainable changes to their operations the temptation to cut corners on these issues now will be huge. But I would urge our industry not to fall into this trap. Mostafiz notes that although the current, commercial situation for the countrys apparel industry is dire, now could be an opportune moment to reset and re-think how textiles are produced in Bangladesh when the pandemic subsides. They can look at introducing water-saving and harvesting technology, new energy saving techniques and more efficient and effective ways to lay out their operations, he told us. These are things owners are usually too busy to address in their day-to-day operations; now is the time to act on them, and such changes if implemented correctly would surely serve them well with customers when industry is back up and running. A civilian employee at the New Cumberland Amry Depot has died from COVID-19, Defense Logistics Agency announced Monday. The Defense Distribution Center Susquehanna regrets to report that a Department of Defense civilian employee, who worked at DLA Installation Management Susquehanna, passed away on April 4, 2020, a statement provided by DLA spokeswoman Dawn Bonsell. Our sincerest condolences go out to the employees, family, friends and co-workers. We are working with the next of kin and immediate coworkers to provide them with support during this trying time, the statement said. Out of respect for the family, we will not release the name of the employee. The employee was one of six from the Fairview Township, York County facility that had tested positive for coronavirus as of Monday. The facility, now called DLA Defense Distribution Susquehanna, employs 2000 people. The spaces at the facility where the person worked were cleaned per CDC guidance out of an abundance of caution, according to the statement. DLA remains fully committed to protecting our service members, their families, and our civilian co-workers as we provide critical support to our nation and our fellow Americans in need, DLA said in the statement. Employees of the military base have expressed concerns over working conditions, which are concerns echoed by many warehouse workers during the coronavirus pandemic. 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. Read more on PennLive: 1 of 1 Coronavirus updates: Cases top 1.3 million people globally, death toll surpassing 69,000 The pandemic has now infected more than 1.3 million people worldwide with the death toll surpassing 69,000. Local media in the U.K. reported that Prime Minister Boris Johnson was taken to hospital after suffering from the virus for 10 days. Cases continue to rise in the United States, Spain, Italy, Germany and France, among others. Japan's health ministry announced 378 new cases and three more deaths nationwide by the end of Sunday. A US military commander in Japan declared a public health emergency for military bases today, citing the rise in cases in nearby Tokyo. The rise in Italy, the main focus of infection in Europe, represents a 25% surge in 24 hours. Germanys confirmed coronavirus infections rose by 3,677 in the past 24 hours to 95,391 on Monday, the fourth straight drop in the daily rate of new cases, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases. Switzerland reported 822 more cases of coronavirus on Sunday, bringing the national total to 21,100, according to the Swiss Federal Office for Health. At least 559 people have died from the virus. Scotlands chief medical officer resigned after being caught leaving her home without a proper excuse. Police issued her with a formal warning on Sunday for breaking Scotlands strict measures aimed at limiting the spread of coronavirus. 9 rebels, 3 Indian soldiers killed in Kashmir: Nine rebels and three Indian soldiers were killed in a pair of gun battles in disputed Kashmir, an Indian army official said. Indian soldiers killed five militants along the militarized de facto front line in the Keran sector as they infiltrated from the Pakistani-held side of Kashmir into the Indian-controlled part, the official said. He said three soldiers also were killed. The other gun battle broke out in southern Kulgam town as police and soldiers scoured the area looking for militants. The official said that as troops began conducting searches, they came under gunfire, leading to a clash that killed four militants. The fighting comes amid a lockdown in the Himalayan territory claimed in its entirety by both India and Pakistan to combat the spread of the coronavirus. President Akufo-Addo has granted a three months tax relief to health workers and frontline workers fighting the coronavirus. President Nana Akufo-Addo made this known on April 5, 2020 as he delivered his fifth address to the nation. He says for the months of April, May and June, health workers shall not pay taxes on their emoluments. Again, he said all frontlines health workers will receive an additional allowance of 50 percent on their income for the months of March April and May. He thanked health workers, describing them as the heroes and heroines of Ghana. Daily Guide A man wears a mask while walking in the normally busy shopping district of Georgetown in Washington, D.C., on March 23, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Small Businesses Urge Solution to Problems in Aid Applications Unless small-business owners receive aid within the next month or two, half of them wont survive the economic fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). And the rocky rollout of federal relief applications has some worried. The organization has been inundated by calls and emails from small-business owners who have reported difficulties with applying for federal aid since April 3, the first day of the relief application rollout, NFIB California Director John Kabateck told The Epoch Times on April 5. The banks are throwing up roadblocks, and, in many cases, not letting small businesses apply. The government agencies are once again filled with bureaucracy and not prepared to process these requests. And, both sides are pointing fingers at each other, Kabateck said. Were in a crisis right now. Enough with the finger-pointing among the banks and government agencies. Its time to act and unclog the pipeline to help small businesses get the financial support they need today, he said. There are two major components to the recently passed $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. One is the $350 billion Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the other is the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. There seems to be some confusion or reluctance among some banks to process the PPP loans without further guidance, or assurance, from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Kabateck says. The SBA and U.S. Treasury Department have urged banks to get applications up and running. But many still had concerns about the logistics of how the lending process is supposed to work as late as April 2. U.S. Bank posted on its website the night before the rollout that it had just received the final SBA guidelines and was working around the clock to finalize the application process for PPP applications. Wells Fargo reported problems accepting applications on its website, telling applicants they would follow up with them via email. Bank of America came under fire from loan applicants on Twitter. Some complained the bank had denied them a PPP loan, claiming they were ineligible to apply because they hadnt already done business with Bank of Americas small-business arm or didnt already have a Bank of America small-business credit card. A Bank of America message on Twitter contained a link that stated, To be eligible, you must have a Small Business lending and Small Business checking relationship with the Bank of America as of February 15, 2020, or a Small Business checking account opened not later than February 15, 2020, and do not have a business credit or borrowing relationship with another bank. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) blasted some of the big banks in a video on Twitter, reminding them that in 2008, the government and taxpayers provided them with a $400 billion bailout package. Twelve years later, the nation is facing a catastrophe, and were paying you [banks] to help provide moneynot your money, government moneyto small businesses. Rubio expressed his frustration with some banks placing all these crazy restrictions on potential borrowers. Please dont be a bunch of jerks, OK? When you needed the country to help you, they did. Now, the country needs you to help them, and were paying you to do it. And, its the governments moneythe taxpayers moneyso lets all do our part please, Rubio said. In an April 3 statement, NFIB President Brad Close urged lending agencies to do everything in their power to get these loans out the door to Main Street businesses now, whether or not the small business is an existing customer, or a new customer. We are hearing from far too many small businesses today [April 3] that they are being shut out of the Paycheck Protection Program forgivable loan program, Close said. Americas small businesses are facing an economic crisis that is not of their making. These small businesses did their due diligence and were ready this morning, but are hearing no. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin commented about the PPP rollout on April 3, saying on Twitter that $1.8 billion had been processed by community banks, and big banks were moving forward with processing loans. President Donald Trump announced on April 4 that he would ask Congress for more PPP money if the current amount runs out. U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin speaks while President Donald Trump listens during the daily briefing on COVID-19 in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House, on April 2, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) NFIB is running a new survey to find out who is experiencing problems with PPP loan applications, what roadblocks they are encountering, and why, Kabateck said. We put out an action alert to our members, he said. NFIB is mobilizing our 300,000 members across the country to contact their elected officials in Washington to urge that this nonsense stop. While he acknowledged the sudden onslaught of the global COVID-19 pandemic hasnt allowed much time for relief planning, Kabateck said U.S. banks and government leaders need to act swiftly. Nobody has ever been to this rodeo before, so the process problems are understandable, but not acceptable, Kabateck said. I get phone calls daily from small business owners terrified they may need to close up shop in the next few weeks, let alone the next couple of months, he said. A system glitch or logjam should not be the root of their closure and staying up at night. We need to fix it, and we need to fix it now. A lone man walks on M Street in the normally busy shopping district of Georgetown in Washington, on March 23, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Under current economic conditions, about half of small employers say they can survive for one to two months, while about one-third said they can stay in business for three to six months, according to an NFIB survey released April 2. The poll on the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on small business shows that 92 percent of small employers have been negatively affected by the pandemic, a continued escalation from 76 percent of small employers reporting negative effects 10 days earlier. Error 404 Sorry, we cant find what you were looking for. A jealous farm worker has been jailed for 22 years for fatally stabbing his 'defenceless' girlfriend 32 times in a 'vicious and prolonged' attack because she danced with another man. Keith Rizzo pounced on Neomi Smith shortly after he spotted her dancing with another man in a pub in Angus, Scotland last June. Miss Smith was throttled and suffered multiple blunt force injuries during the attack at her flat in Brechin. Rizzo, 23, lied that care worker Miss Smith, also 23, had been brutally set upon by two mystery attackers who she apparently owed money to. The farm worker was today given a life sentence at the High Court in Glasgow having been convicted of murder last month. Keith Rizzo was today given a life sentence at the High Court in Glasgow for the murder of Neomi Smith (they are pictured together above) Miss Smith (pictured above) had previously told a friend how the thug had choked her until she passed out Lady Rae branded Rizzo - who appeared via video-link from prison - a 'jealous and possessive young man'. She added: 'Only you can reveal the precise series of events. 'What is now known is that you carried out a savage, vicious and prolonged attack on a defenceless young woman in the kitchen of the flat you shared with her.' The judge said 'what a price' Miss Smith had paid for earlier trying to 'enjoy herself' at the pub on June 9 2019. Lady Rae went on to describe Rizzo's lies as a 'most fanciful account'. Rizzo was today given a life sentence at the High Court in Glasgow (pictured above) having been convicted of murder last month. She told him: 'All of this showed a callous attitude of someone who has done his utmost to avoid taking responsibility for this brutal crime.' Jurors heard the couple had got together earlier in 2019. Rizzo - who already had a domestic abuse conviction in connection with an ex - was violent to his girlfriend shortly into the relationship. Weeks before the killing, Miss Smith - originally from Aberdeen - told a friend how the thug had choked her until she passed out. He later had a blazing row with his partner at her flat, smashing a mirrored wardrobe door and then hurling his iPhone at her. A disorientated Miss Smith was eventually discovered in her stairwell with a large bump on her head. The trial heard how the pair were then at Brechin's Hudson's Bar the night before the murder. It was there Rizzo sent a table of drinks crashing. His friend Cameron Saunders recalled how Rizzo stormed out the pub after clocking Miss Smith dancing with another man. Mr Saunders added: 'They were bumping bums. They were dancing away for a while when Keith said: 'that's enough'.' Rizzo later claimed his lover had been 'provocative' and had 'embarrassed' him. Miss Smith was left in tears and was heard stating: 'This is what I have to put up with.' She confided in her friend Kayleigh Cameron how she had been suffering at the hands of Rizzo. Miss Cameron then recalled her final conversation with her. The witness: 'I asked her if she was going to be safe. She replied: 'Yes'. 'She told me that she would lock the door and would keep her key in, so he could not use his to gain access.' But, the trial instead heard how Rizzo stomped back from the pub, booted his way into the flat before carrying out the horrific killing. He choked Miss Smith, used two knives to stab her 32 times and also left her pummelled with the same amount of blunt force injuries. But, Rizzo soon spun a web of lies to cover up what happened. He first raced to Miss Smith's neighbour claiming she had been arguing with 'someone' while he was in the shower. Stephen Alexander dialled 999 and then recalled the bloodbath as Miss Smith was found stricken in her kitchen. Mr Alexander told jurors: 'I saw a scene of carnage. There was glass and debris all over the kitchen. 'It looked as though a battle had taken place. There was bottles of sauce, fruit and vegetables amongst the broken glass. He gave Miss Smith CPR before mercy crews arrived. Paramedic Angela McKenzie recalled the flat being 'like a horror movie'. She checked Miss Smith's neck for injuries. Miss McKenzie said: 'I can't even describe it - it was like Leerdammer cheese. 'It was full of holes - the back of her head and her neck. I gave up counting how many holes there were.' Rizzo's mother Frances then visited her son in Perth prison a week later while he was on remand. He gave a bizarre account of how two men took turns to stab Miss Smith after the couple returned home. Rizzo said he had pleaded with the pair to empty his bank account if they were owed money. But, he insisted the mystery pair killed Miss Smith adding: 'This is not the first time we have done this.' The trial, heard, however there was no sign on CCTV of the so-called attackers. In his speech to the jury, prosecutor Duncan McPhie branded the story 'far-fetched' and 'incredible'. Donald Findlay QC, defending, today told the court: 'He does not accept playing any part in the death of this young lady.' Gold Coast beaches have been closed to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The Spit, Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta beaches have been shut down, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate announced today. The decision was taken after large numbers of people from Brisbane flocked to the sand over the weekend despite being told to stay at home. 'Unfortunately, over the weekend, out of towners are descending on the Gold Coast in mass numbers,' Mr Tate said. Sunbathers are told to leave the Surfers Paradise beach by police on 2 April 'And I fear that this number will increase over the Easter weekend. We love you but we don't want you visiting now.' Mr Tate said he knew beachgoers were not locals because police pulled them over to ask them. He threatened stronger coronavirus restrictions if people could not obey the rules. Queenslanders have been told to stay at home unless food shopping, exercising, going to work or school, or for medical reasons. Several beaches in Sydney, including the iconic Bondi Beach, have also been closed. A nurse who self-administered opiates, and marijuana while on night duty at the hospital she had been working at has been suspended from the nursing register for 12 months. The nurse in question, who worked outside of Dublin, cannot be identified for legal reasons. She admitted allegations of professional misconduct following an investigation into allegations against her conducted by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. The complaints made against her included that when she was on duty on dates between 2015 and 2016 she self-administered various medications while on night duty at the hospital she had worked at. The substances she took including opiates, marijuana, and benzodiazepines, commonly known as 'benzos'. It was also alleged that she was not in a fit state or safe condition to provide safe nursing care. Other allegations of professional misconduct included that while at night duty at the hospital she worked at she had in her handbag, without any authority, medication that had come from the hospital or had been brought to the hospital by patients. She had not been prescribed the medication, it was further alleged. Arising out of the investigation to those complaints the nursing board's Fitness to Practice (FTP) Committee found that her conduct was dishonest, that she had put patient safety at risk, violated her duty of care to patients and brought the profession's reputation into disrepute. The FTP committee held that the nurse should be suspended from the register for a period of 12 months. The board accepted and took into account in its decision that the woman suffers from mental illness, namely depression and anxiety. In addition to her 12 month suspension the woman must comply with several conditions imposed by the board if she wants to return to work as a nurse. These include providing the board with medical reports from her treating doctors, whom she must attend on a regular basis. She must also provide the board with the results of drug tests she undergoes. She must further provide the board with a report from a consultant psychiatrist confirming that she is fit to return to work. The matter came before Mr. Justice Denis McDonald recently, who following an application by solicitor JP McDowell, for the Board, confirmed the sanctions. The application to the court was not contested by the nurse. 7th Fleet Commander Arrives in Guam during COVID-19 Recovery Navy News Service Story Number: NNS200405-01 Release Date: 4/5/2020 9:52:00 AM From Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs APRA HARBOR, Guam (NNS) -- APRA HARBOR, Guam (NNS) The Commander of U.S. 7th Fleet visited USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) leadership in port at Naval Base Guam while the aircraft carrier undergoes its COVID-19 recovery efforts April 5. Vice Adm. Bill Merz, commander, U.S. 7th Fleet arrived on Guam to support the ongoing recovery effort on the Nimitz-class carrier, and he met with the crew and area leadership. "The team in Guam has shown enormous spirit and focus getting this ship healthy again. Know that every day, regardless of what the challenge may be, my number one priority is to sustain the warfighting posture of 7th Fleet, and the most important element of this number one priority is the Sailors," said Merz. "We simply cannot execute the mission of defending our interests, our friends, and our allies without the fighting spirit of the immensely capable men and women of this team. It takes a lot of cooperation and coordination, and although we have a lot of work to do I want to make sure those involved are getting our support and gratitude. The families of our Sailors should be proud of the ongoing efforts and know that we're going to take care of our people." Vice Adm. Merz visited locations on Naval Base Guam, discussing logistics and the ship recovery process with counterparts from Joint Region Marianas, Carrier Strike Group Nine, and the Naval Base Guam commanding officer. The ship arrived in Guam Mar. 27 for a scheduled port visit. Prior to the port visit three Sailors tested positive for COVID-19 aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt. The Navy has undertaken an aggressive mitigation plan that is currently isolating, quarantining, and treating affected Sailors to keep the ship prepared to execute its mission. The Navy is working closely with the Government of Guam and Joint Region Marianas to follow U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines to move Sailors safely off ship while continuing to maintain the vessel's readiness to operate at sea. "Theodore Roosevelt Strike Group is extremely thankful for the overwhelming support from the government of Guam and Naval Base Guam in the fight against COVID-19," said Rear Adm. Stu Baker, commander, Carrier Strike Group Nine. "Even with such short notice, they were able to assist getting our Sailors moved off ship in a short period of time. Their support has been critical to our ability to remain mission ready." Sailors from Theodore Roosevelt will be using various hotels across the island, allowing them to align with the recommended 14-day quarantine period while also maintaining an all hands effort aboard to sanitize the ship. The all hands effort though does not rest solely with the Roosevelt, but with all who are helping its Sailors get well and back to sea. "The Joint Region Marianas and Naval Base Guam teams have moved mountains to help our TR shipmates get healthy and back out to sea," said Rear Adm. John Menoni, commander, Joint Region Marianas. "I can't say enough how proud I am of everyone's hard work during this very dynamic situation. Our partners in the Government and the people of Guam have helped us from day one and we are thankful for their assistance helping the TR Team be ready to fight." U.S. 7th Fleet provides security alongside allies and partners throughout a free and open Indo-Pacific. As the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed fleet, 7th Fleet operates roughly 50-70 ships and submarines and 140 aircraft with approximately 20,000 Sailors. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address [April 06, 2020] BitTitan Bolsters Americas Sales Team With Addition of New Sales Director BitTitan, the global leader in managed services automation and developer of MigrationWiz, today announced it has bolstered its sales team by hiring Kevin Serpanchy as sales director of the North and South American regions. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005107/en/ Kevin Serpanchy has joined BitTitan as sales director of the North and South American regions. (Photo: Business Wire) With extensive global experience providing content, SaaS, cloud, and IT solutions to academic, government, and corporate channels, Serpanchy will provide leadership to BitTitan's world-class Americas sales team and identify opportunities for driving sales growth. In addition to collaborating with the company's leadership team to develop and execute the Americas sales strategy, Serpanchy will also work with partners such as Microsoft and Google (News - Alert), as well as managed service providers. "Kevin is a proven and passionate leader who is well-versed in the needs of global customers looking to fully leverage cloud technologies," said Tony Rummans, BitTitan vice president of global sales. "As more companies turn to cloud solutions to enable remote work, Kevin's demonstrated history of delivering technology solutions in various industries, including the higher education vertical, will help BitTitan meet customer needs to accelerate migrations to the cloud. We're thrilled to welcome Kevin aboard." Serpanchy spent the past 15 years with educational technology company ProQuest, where he worked as senior sales director for the federal government sector across the U.S. and the academic sector in North America's southern region. Before returning to the U.S. in 207, Kevin led the ProQuest Asia Pacific south region sales team in Melbourne for 11 years and spent two years in Dubai managing the EMEA sales team. "BitTitan is an industry leader founded on technological innovation in cloud tools and services," said Serpanchy. "I'm beyond delighted to join such an innovative company with a strong, collaborative culture. I look forward to working with the BitTitan team to help IT professionals and managed service providers be more efficient, profitable and successful in the cloud." About BitTitan BitTitan empowers IT service professionals to successfully deploy and manage cloud technologies through automation. MigrationWiz is the industry-leading SaaS solution for mailbox, document, public-folder and Microsoft (News - Alert) Teams migrations between a wide range of Sources and Destinations. Voleer is a solution that centralizes and automates IT tasks, helping empower IT service professionals to streamline daily operations and eliminate redundancies. Since 2009, BitTitan has moved over 19 million users to the cloud for 43,000 customers in 187 countries and supports leading cloud ecosystems including Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Dropbox. The global company has offices in Seattle and Singapore. To learn more, visit www.BitTitan.com or the BitTitan blog. For the latest news and information on BitTitan, like and follow these social media channels: Twitter (News - Alert): @BitTitan Facebook (News - Alert): www.facebook.com/BitTitan LinkedIn (News - Alert): www.linkedin.com/company/BitTitan View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005107/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 06, 2020] Visa Foundation Commits $210 Million to Support Small and Micro Businesses and Immediate COVID-19 Emergency Relief The Visa Foundation today announced a commitment of two programs totaling $210 million to support small and micro businesses, aligning with the Foundation's long-term focus on women's economic advancement and inclusive economic development, and to address an urgent need from local communities following the spread of COVID-19. The first program of $10 million is designated for immediate emergency relief to support charitable organizations on the frontlines responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as public health and food relief, in each of the five geographic regions in which Visa operates: North America; Latin America and the Caribbean; Europe; Asia Pacific; and Central Europe, Middle East and Africa. "As COVID-19 continues to unfold, communities are feeling the effects and need our immediate support," said Al Kelly, CEO and chairman of Visa. "As a global company that operates a very local business, we recognize this need. We're also committed to the long-term recovery and will continue to explore ways we can accelerate economic activity in line with our mission to help individuals, businesses and economies thrive." The second program is a five-year, strategic $200 million commitment to support small and micro businesses around the world, with a focus on fostering women's economic advancement. This action expands the Visa Foundation's long-standing support for small and micro businesses globally. The funds from the Visa Foundation will provide capital to non-government organizations (NGOs) and investment partners supporting small and micro businesses. Small and micro businesses are the backbone of the global economy, accounting for more than 90 percent of worldwide businesses and contributing 50 to 60 percent of global employment.i There is a $300 billion annual credit deficit in funding for women-owned small and micro businesses, which is expected to grow given the recent economic turmoil unfolding due to COVID-19.ii "Now more than ever, we must accelerate our support for small businesses on the frontlines driving economic growth," said Kelly. "As many small and micro business owners are women, there will be a ripple effect supporting women's economic advancement, which we believe is one of the most important ways to achieve gender equality, reduce poverty and foster inclusive economic development." Through the $200 million small and micro business program, the Visa Foundation will provide $60 million in grants to NGOs dedicated to supporting small and micro business owners, many of whom are women, in every region where Visa operates. The Visa Fondation will also allocate $140 million with investment partners that generate positive social and financial returns for small and micro businesses. "Two hundred million dollars in new financial resources demonstrates our continuing commitment to support small and micro businesses, with a focus on women's economic advancement globally," said Graham Macmillan, President of the Visa Foundation. "When women thrive, communities thrive. We know this matters now more than ever as the global economy seeks to recover and rebuild." For more information: The Visa Foundation: https://usa.visa.com/about-visa/philanthropy/visa-foundation.html Visa's recent commitment to support women's economic advancement: https://usa.visa.com/about-visa/newsroom/press-releases.releaseId.17026.html About the Visa Foundation The Visa Foundation seeks to support inclusive economies where individuals, businesses and communities can thrive. Through grantmaking and investing, the Foundation prioritizes the resilience and growth of micro and small businesses that benefit women. The Foundation also supports broader community needs and disaster response in times of crisis. The Visa Foundation is registered in the U.S. as a 501(c)3 entity. About Visa Inc. Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is the world's leader in digital payments. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The company's relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid growth of digital commerce on any device, for everyone, everywhere.?As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce. For more information, visit About Visa, visa.com/blog and?@VisaNews. i https://www.un.org/en/events/smallbusinessday/ iihttps://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/news_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/news+and+events/news/bridging-gender-gap View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005067/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Many Australian reality TV programs suspended their productions in recent weeks due to the outbreak and spread of coronavirus across the county. But MasterChef Australia's all-star 2020 season, Back To Win, is pressing forward with filming ahead of its advertised April 13 premiere on Channel 10. Returning star Poh Ling Yeow, who was runner-up on the cooking shows debut season, confirmed the show was only 'halfway through filming' and were taking government COVID-19 regulations very seriously on set. Scroll down for video 'We're following all the government regulations': Poh Ling Yeow (pictured) confirms MasterChef Australia has adapted to coronavirus rules as they continue filming Channel Ten's 2020 season of the cooking show in Melbourne Speaking to Hit105s Stav, Abby and Matt last week, Poh said Channel 10 had no plans to shut down, or postpone, production of the ratings hit. 'Its going ahead following all the government regulations for the virus,' she said. Poh, who hosts her own SBS program: Poh & Co, said all 24 contestants were social-distancing on set by staying 1.5 metres away from each other while competing. 'It's halfway through filming': The celebrity cook said Channel 10 were 'pushing ahead' and felt they were in a privileged position due to filming the series without a live audience Remember her? Returning star Poh Ling Yeow was the runner-up on the cooking shows debut season in 2009 (pictured) She said they were 'pushing ahead' and felt they were in a privileged position due to filming the series without a live audience. Despite all systems go for the program, the coronavirus pandemic has still caused a 'dire situation' for producers according to reports in The Daily Telegraph on Sunday. International judges Nigella Lawson and Heston Blumenthal have had to cancel their scheduled appearances, while outdoor challenges with crowds have been shelved. Planned travel has also been cancelled, while shooting outside of the set has been banned, according to The Daily Telegraph. The publication understands producers have made it their priority to ensure greater hygiene procedures are followed, including contestants wearing gloves. Contestants will reportedly serve up individually-sized dishes for judges to sample, as opposed to share plates. Changes: The Sunday Telegraph reported how not only has Nigella Lawson (centre) bowed out of her scheduled appearance, planned travel and shooting outdoors has been cancelled. Nigella is pictured with former judges George Calombaris (left) and Matt Preston (right) One drawcard for the program, however, is having filmed segments in advance with Gordon Ramsay, Curtis Stone and American pop star Katy Perry. Former MasterChef contestant and new judge Andy Allen, 31, who recently closed his Three Blue Ducks chain as a result of coronavirus, told The Daily Telegraph that while the pandemic is 'a dire situation', the 'vibe on set is really positive'. 'There's a real sense that we are all in this together. Then you take a break and you look at your phone and see the news, or talk to people about what's going on, and it's really stressful,' he said. Andy added that he's been blown away by the amount of people from the industry, 'checking in' to see how he's doing. Star appeal: One drawcard for the program, however, is having filmed segments in advance with Gordon Ramsay, Curtis Stone and American pop star Katy Perry (pictured) No pressure: Meanwhile, Andy, 31, previously revealed how he and his fellow judges were told by producers to 'just be themselves' after replacing Gary Mehigan, Matt Preston and George Calombaris on the hit show Andy will make his judging debut alongside Jock Zonfrillo and Melissa Leong. He previously told KIIS FM's The Kyle and Jackie O radio show, that they were told by producers to 'just be themselves,' after replacing old judges, Gary Mehigan, Matt Preston and George Calombaris. 'They didn't want us to step into Matt, George or Gary's role, they were just [like], "we chose you because we want you to be you".' MasterChef - Back To Win will see 24 contests from past seasons of the show return to the kitchen in a bid to win a cash prize of $250,000. The contestants include Poh Ling Yeow, Reynold Poernomo, Hayden Quinn and Callum Hann. Last year, Gary, Matt and George's contracts were not renewed after 11 seasons of hosting the show. MasterChef - Back To Win premieres Monday, April 13 at 7.30pm on Channel 10 H ands up (but only if youve washed them first), who feels like a party? Smashing. Please join me next Thursday evening no make-up or underwear required because its a virtual party Im throwing to celebrate the release of my book, aptly-titled What Happens Now? Its live on Twitter, lasts an hour and Ill be swallowing as much warm white wine as I can, so Ill probably say something embarrassing towards the end and have to hold my own hair back in the bathroom afterwards. Ive been feeling glum about my novel coming out in such strange times. Bookshops are closed; Amazon is quite rightly prioritising other deliveries; supermarkets (where one in five books is sold in this country) are quite rightly putting out eggs and loo roll before restocking the shelves with new reading material. As with other industries, the book world is in disarray and publication dates are being shuffled like a deck of cards. I keep telling myself Im lucky to have such a trivial problem when others have it much worse. I write romantic comedies, not intubate patients, and this usually works as a mental kick up the arse. Still, 202,000 books were published in Britain last year, roughly 3,885 new books a week. You get one shot at this; miss your moment and there are plenty coming up behind. I spent a year working on my book, but since its released next week, it might just vanish. In a heroic effort to be cheerful, my publishers suggested the virtual party. I was horrified at first. Live-stream myself for an hour? It was the saddest party Id ever heard of, and I speak as one who spent most of her teenage parties crying in the loo. But theres little point in sulking like a five-year-old whose birthdays been cancelled. We all need to adapt and others in publishing are setting a shining example. One Day author David Nicholls has taken to throwing a virtual launch online every Thursday (the day books are published) where he tweets the releases while cracking jokes about virtual canapes and forgetting to defrost the cocktail sausages. Maggie OFarrell launched her new book Hamnet from home, defiantly wearing the dress shed bought for the launch before lockdown. Im not sure what to wear for mine and the idea of putting on mascara seems absurdly decadent. But my plan is to pour a very large glass of white, keep the bottle close and chat to whoevers watching. My publisher has suggested I kick things off by discussing my best and worst first dates and theres further talk of me reading a sex scene aloud. Since I often disgrace myself at actual parties by sweating hard and nervously blurting out personal details to strangers, I dont see that this will be any more shaming than usual. Do come along, youd be extremely welcome. Something dishy about Rishi The company temporarily halted operations at its Argentinian production sites located in the provinces of Catamarca and Salta to comply with local government lockdown measures implemented on March 20. At the same... PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-06 08:32:02 Almere, The Netherlands April 6, 2020 ASM International N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: ASM) today announces that the information regarding the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM) scheduled for May 18, 2020, is now available on the Company's website, www.asm.com. This information includes the convocation, the full agenda and annexes thereto. The U.S. market proxy materials for holders of New York Registry Shares are also posted on our website. The AGM is scheduled to commence at 2:00 p.m. CET at the offices of ASM International N.V., Versterkerstraat 8, Almere, the Netherlands. Given the COVID-19 outbreak, the related health risks and the precautionary measures invoked by the Dutch government, we strongly urge our shareholders not to attend in person but to exercise their voting rights by way of proxy, and to follow the meeting through our live webcast. We will also provide the possibility of virtually attending and voting at the meeting as can be read in more detail in the convocation and accompanying AGM documents. Given the health hazard and public health measures, not the entire Supervisory Board and Management Board will be physically present during the AGM, but rather join remotely. Also there will be no reception, drinks or other social gatherings surrounding the meeting. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and advise shareholders to regularly check our website for any further updates regarding the AGM. The agenda for the AGM includes amongst others the proposal to appoint Mr. Benjamin Loh as member of the Management Board and as successor of Chuck del Prado, to appoint Mrs. Monica de Virgiliis and Mr. Didier Lamouche as members of the Supervisory Board, to re-appoint Mr. Martin van Pernis as member of the Supervisory Board, to approve the new remuneration policy, and approve the proposal to declare a regular dividend of 1.50 (one Euro fifty cents) per common share and an extraordinary dividend of 1.50 (one Euro fifty cents) per common share. In addition, the agenda includes a proposal to withdraw 1,500,000 treasury shares. In accordance with applicable legal requirements in the Netherlands the record date for the AGM is April 20, 2020, as further set out in the convocation for the meeting. The total number of issued shares in ASM International N.V. as per today amounts to 51,297,394 common shares. Considering the number of shares held in treasury as per today, amounting to 2,441,583 shares, the number of voting shares amounts to 48,855,811. About ASM International ASM International NV, headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, its subsidiaries and participations design and manufacture equipment and materials used to produce semiconductor devices. ASM International, its subsidiaries and participations provide production solutions for wafer processing (Front-end segment) as well as for assembly & packaging and surface mount technology (Back-end segment) through facilities in the United States, Europe, Japan and Asia. ASM International's common stock trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol ASM). For more information, visit ASMI's website at www.asm.com . Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: All matters discussed in this press release, except for any historical data, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, economic conditions and trends in the semiconductor industry generally and the timing of the industry cycles specifically, currency fluctuations, corporate transactions, financing and liquidity matters, the success of restructurings, the timing of significant orders, market acceptance of new products, competitive factors, litigation involving intellectual property, shareholders or other issues, commercial and economic disruption due to natural disasters, terrorist activity, armed conflict or political instability, epidemics and other risks indicated in the Company's reports and financial statements. The Company assumes no obligation nor intends to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future developments or circumstances. CONTACT Investor contact: Victor Bareno T: +31 88 100 8500 E: victor.bareno@asm.com Media contact: Ian Bickerton T: +31 625 018 512 Attachment OTTAWA - A Russian-born woman who was barred from Canada for allegedly spying on behalf of Moscow will get another chance to argue her case. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/4/2020 (644 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA - A Russian-born woman who was barred from Canada for allegedly spying on behalf of Moscow will get another chance to argue her case. In a newly released ruling, Federal Court Justice Henry Brown says Elena Crenna is entitled to a fresh immigration hearing. David and Elena Crenna pose for a photo at their wedding in this 2012 handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - David Crenna Brown said he found no reason to believe Crenna, 58, was engaged in anything secret or covert, contrary to an immigration adjudicator's decision last year. The tale began in 1994 when Canadian David Crenna hired Elena Filatova whom he would later marry as an interpreter and public-relations representative on the wood-frame housing project in Tver, Russia. An agent from the FSB, a Russian security agency, contacted her to ask questions about the project and David gave her permission to speak with him in the interest of being transparent and forthcoming. Elena and the agent met a total of about seven times over a period of years. In August 1994, David and Elena began a romantic relationship that ended when the housing project concluded in 1996. However, they reconnected in 2008 and were married four years later. In the interim, Elena had moved to California to work as a nurse and she obtained U.S. citizenship in 2004. She came to Canada in September 2013 to live with David, applying for permanent residence under his sponsorship. Following admissibility hearings, immigration officials gave her approval to stay in 2018. But the federal government successfully appealed the decision. In its ruling last June, the appeal division of the Immigration and Refugee Board found Elena had "engaged in acts of espionage contrary to Canada's interests" and issued a deportation order against her. The government tried to refute Elena's argument that her conversations with the Russian security agent were routine, saying the nature of the information is not relevant when it comes to espionage. Her lawyer, Arghavan Gerami, argued during a March hearing in Federal Court that there was "no credible evidence" to support the federal allegation she spied against Canada. Rather, she assured the Russian security agent the housing project was a humanitarian effort aimed at helping the former Soviet Union, Gerami said. In his ruling, Brown said Elena "did what she was instructed and obliged to do." "I am unable to reasonably find any reason to believe (she) was engaged in anything secret, clandestine, surreptitious or covert in co-operating with the FSB as instructed, and telling them what they asked." Brown said the immigration appeal division must revisit and decide the case within six months, given the time it has taken already. Gerami said Monday she and the Crennas were "very pleased" with the ruling and appreciated the speed with which Brown delivered it. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 6, 2020. AVON LAKE, Ohio -- After four years of combining history-oriented efforts in Avon Lake under one banner, Heritage Avon Lake is going back to its original name. Laura Ploenzke, publicity and marketing chairperson for Heritage Avon Lake, said even people close to the organization kept getting the name wrong. We had to keep on explaining who we are. It became too challenging to explain all the time," she said. Ploenzke, who is also the adult services librarian at the Avon Lake Public Library, with a specialty in local history, said the organizations board held a meeting in February and decided to go back to the original name: Avon Lake Historical Society. Its just a re-branding, she said. We are continuing to do the same things. There are no changes except the branding and a new logo. Ploenzke also noted that the other organizations that originally merged into Heritage Avon Lake, such as the Lakeshore Womens Society, no longer exist. As for the future, the Avon Lake Historical Society is meeting with a professional consultant to develop a strategic plan going forward to expand and provide more education and visibility, said Ploenzke, as well as continuing the work of putting together a museum for Avon Lake. We envision something interactive, she said, always changing, with an educational component along with the permanent exhibits. We want a place centrally located to get a feel for and an appreciation for something in line with the Lorain County Historical Society. We want a place people can actually visit, and we want to tell the story of Avon Lake. Tom Patton, owner of Beach Park Plaza, will be providing space for the museum, she said. And if we are applying for grants or having a capital campaign, they will understand better who we are. Ploenzke said they welcome donations of items from present or past Avon Lake residents. We want items and personal narratives, she said. For more information, call 440-549-4425. Read more from the Sun Sentinel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival, Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, struck a deal today to annex parts of the West Bank as part of their bid to form a unity government. Israels ambassador to the United States, Danny Danon, noted that the agreement requires Netanyahu to consult with Gantz and Washington before moving ahead with annexation, as outlined in President Donald Trumps peace plan. Its only a consultation, said Danon in an online webcast hosted by the conservative Hudson Institute. He doesnt need the approval of Blue and White, Benny Gantzs party, but he will need to consult with them. But I think more importantly, Prime Minister Netanyahu said that he will work with the US administration, and that he will do it with the administration. Why it matters: The West Bank annexation plan was one of the major hurdles in Netanyahus negotiations to form a unity government with Gantz. But shortly after clearing that obstacle, Israeli media reports emerged indicating that a disagreement over the appointment of judges has posed a last-minute obstacle to a final agreement. Whats next: Danon hinted that an annexation could come as soon as this summer provided Israel successfully wards off the coronavirus pandemic and salvages the economy. People arent dealing with the peace plan, people are dealing with the virus, said Danon. It will take some time. And hopefully in the summer we can go back and deal with other issues. Trumps special adviser for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Jared Kushner, is also handling the White Houses coronavirus response. Know more: Check out Mazal Mualem's story detailing the impact COVID-19 has had on Israels Passover preparations. With the under the grip of COVID-19, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres indicated that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) may meet soon to discuss the pandemic, which has infected more than 1.2 million worldwide and killed close to 70,000. Responding to media questions after a briefing at the UN headquarters here Guterres said, "I've just received an invitation from the Presidency of the Security Council at the request of a number of Member States to brief the Council, which I will do, I believe, next week." Since the global outbreak of COVID-19, the 15-member Security Council has not met even once or come up with an united response or resolution to the pandemic, mostly due to a stand-off between the United States and China over the origin of the pandemic. Dominican Republic has taken over the presidency of the UNSC from April 1 from China which held the chair till March 31. Meanwhile, during the briefing, Guterres said that his appeal 10 days ago for an "immediate ceasefire in all corners of the globe" has resonated across the with so far 70 partners, including warring partners from 11 countries, expressing their acceptance to the call. He, however, warned there were "enormous difficulties to implementation as conflicts have festered for years, distrust is deep, with many spoilers and many suspicions." "And in many of the most critical situations, we have seen no let-up in fighting -- and some conflicts have even intensified," Guterres said. The Secretary-General gave examples of places like Libya and Syria. In Afghanistan, where fighting has increased, Guterres said the time has come for the government and the Taliban, who are working on a prisoner exchange, to cease hostilities "as COVID-19 looms over the country." "In Syria, where the first COVID-related deaths have now been reported, my Special Envoy appealed for a "complete and immediate" nationwide ceasefire in the country to allow for an all-out-effort against COVID-19," he said. "My objective now is to stop the war; it is not to make a judgment, it is to stop the war. Obviously, it is clear, when I arrived in Libya, that there was an attack by Marshal Haftar's forces to Tripoli, and that was the beginning of the conflict that we have witnessed since then. But my objective now is to make sure that the ceasefire, whose technical aspects were agreed by the representatives of both sides but not signed, that that ceasefire is implemented. We must stop this war." Stating that the virus has shown how swiftly it can move across borders, devastate countries and upend lives, the UN Secretary-General said "The worst is yet to come." He thus urged for" need to do everything possible to find the peace and unity our so desperately needs to battle COVID-19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It appears the Asia America Gateway (AAG) undersea cable has recently experienced another issue, meaning that Vietnamese internet users have yet again had to deal with slow internet connections. Local news media outlets have said that the AAG had a technical problem on the S1 branch connecting Vietnam to Hong Kong early on Thursday last week. 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 kilometres, connecting Southeast Asia and the US, passing through Brunei, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Inevitably this problem will be exacerbated for many Vietnamese citizens as there is now increasing demand for internet services. Millions are now studying or working, or just going online more often, from their homes as the country experiences a 15-day nationwide social distancing campaign to contain the spread of coronavirus. So far the cause of the problem is not clear and, not surprisingly, local ISPs cannot suggest a date by which the problem is expected to be resolved. Although this is the first internet disruption incident this year there was an incident on 22 December and many Vietnamese online users have complained about slow connectivity. Vietnam currently has six submarine cable systems, as well as a 120 gigabit channel that runs overland through China. GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. The temporary head of the federal Bureau of Land Management is expected to continue overseeing the agency for another month. William Perry Pendley will continue as acting director through May 5, The Daily Sentinel reported Saturday. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt issued an order delegating the responsibilities of the office to Pendley, the deputy director of policy and programs. Pendley has carried out the directors duties since last summer. The agency has not had a permanent director during the Trump administration. The Interior Department announced last year that the land management bureau would move most administrative jobs based in Washington, D.C., to locations in the western U.S., including a new headquarters in Colorado. The Grand Junction office opened in January. Pendley has drawn criticism over views he espoused about public lands management during decades as president of the conservative Mountain States Legal Foundation. Tracy Stone-Manning of the National Wildlife Federation said in a statement that Pendley is not qualified to lead the bureau. Americans deeply value our public lands, and yet the administration has appointed a man to be in charge of them who does not believe public lands should exist, Stone-Manning said. Pendley has provided a steady hand at the bureau, the Interior Department said in a statement. Mr. Pendley brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Department and is committed to carrying out the Administrations priorities for the betterment of the American people, the department said. (CNN Philippines, April 6) - Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno rejected the appeal of a number of medical groups to impose travel restrictions amid the coronavirus crisis. Moreno said declaring an enhanced community quarantine will "lead to greater disruption of the people." "While I agree to virtually all of the points and suggestions you have raised in your aforesaid letters, and am very appreciative of your desire to help, I must, however, advise you that under the IATF (Inter Agency Task Force) guidelines, local government units shall abide by the directives of the Department of Health and the Department of the Interior and Local Government in the imposition of general and enhanced community quarantine in their respective jurisdictions, Moreno said in his reply. The mayor added that there is no need for a lockdown as "the repercussions of which would bring serious irreparable damage." I am sure you are all aware of what is happening now in Metro Manila and even in many parts of Luzon and I hope we can even have a glimpse of the severe economic impact that has resulted to these areas, said Moreno. Despite this, Moreno said the city government is committed to save lives. In a letter to Moreno, the Misamis Oriental Medical Society and other medical groups said a lockdown will help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. "We believe that more could be done to stem the tide of the Covid-19 in Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental, the doctors said. The pandemic has not peaked locally and we are apprehensive that our preparations are not enough if the surge is to come down on us in two to three weeks. The medical groups also asked the city government to establish more quarantine centers for those with mild symptoms. Signatories to the appeal were officials of the Philippine Pediatric Society, Philippine Academy of Family Physicians, Philippine College of Radiology, Philippine College of Physicians, Philippine Society of Pathology, Philippine Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Philippine College of Surgeons, Philippine Society of Anesthesia. CNN Philippines stringer Alwen Saliring contributed to this report The Union Ministry of Tourism has said 769 foreign tourists stranded across the country due to the current lockdown have registered on the ministry's 'Stranded in India' portal in the first 5 days of its launch. Govt launched this portal on March 31 to identify, assist and facilitate foreign tourists stranded in various parts of India due to the lockdown. Ministry of Tourism, in a statement, said, "Every State government and Union Territory Administration has identified a Nodal Officer for assisting such foreign tourists. The five regional offices of the Ministry of Tourism are constantly coordinating with the Nodal Officers regarding the support requests logged on the portal, for facilitating ground support to the foreigners, if so required." "Requests for movement within the country/ State and for transfer to the home country of such tourists are also being coordinated with the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs and with the respective Embassy/ High Commission/ Consulate," the statement added. Stranded foreign tourists have been contacted over e-mails, telephones and also in person depending on the nature of support required by them. A lady, who is an American citizen, was stranded in Supaul district of Bihar amidst the COVID-19 lockdown, while her son was undergoing surgery at Delhi. The portal facilitated the required coordination from different ministries and secured her a special transit-permit to travel to Delhi. In another case, two Costa Rican citizens, who had come to Chennai for surgery, were stranded in the city after the surgery. The state Government, Costa Rican Embassy and the hotel in which they were staying coordinated to offer them help. India has imposed a 21-day lockdown till April 14 to combat the spread of coronavirus in the country. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), there are around 3940 confirmed coronavirus cases in the country and 95 fatalities have been reported so far. Also Read: Coronavirus update: 697 fresh COVID-19 cases, 109 deaths reported so far Also Read: Infosys Q4 revenue to take 130bps hit; FY21 outlook gloomy: Analyst report Also Read: Coronavirus in US: Tiger at NYC's Bronx Zoo tests positive for COVID-19 A view of an almost deserted road near Vaishali Metro Station at 10:00 am, a rare sight in the rush hour, during the nationwide lockdown imposed in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19, in Ghaziabad. (Image: PTI) Southeast Texas surpasses 100 cases The six counties working together under the Southeast Texas Regional Emergency Operations Center reported 18 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, pushing the total in Southeast Texas to well over 100 cases. Read more here. Local businesses search for answers Local business owners are looking for answers while revenue continues to dwindle through coronavirus-related precautions, but an increase in programs and aid from federal agencies is leading to more questions for local business leaders. Read more here. Christus amends visitor policy Southeast Texas health care providers that are a part of the Christus Physician will be shifting to secure video appointments and phone check-ups in an effort to reduce contact during the COVID-19 outbreak. Read more here. Orange County offices closed Orange County offices will be closed this week after an employee tested positive for coronavirus. Read more here. Roadside screening at Louisiana border The Texas Department of Public safety ramped up efforts to screen drivers entering Texas through the Lousiana border Sunday. Read more here. Nicaragua, an outlier in the battle against the coronavirus, has kept its schools and shops open and its streets lively. But there is one person who has not been seen in public since the outbreak began there last month: the president. Daniel Ortega, the head of the countrys socialist government, has been conspicuously absent from public view since March 12, when he attended a virtual meeting. He has failed to attend the funeral of a friend, government functions, and even the rallies promoted by his administration. His absence has led to a social media meme. Be like Ortega: Stay Home, it says, contrasting what the Nicaraguan leader appears to be doing with what his administration is recommending to the population. Mr. Ortega, 74, is widely believed to suffer chronic illnesses and is known for spending stretches of time out of the public eye without explanation from his government. Food animal veterinarians (FAVs) are vital for the health and well-being of our nations food supply, but the profession faces challenges that are not well understood, which ultimately impacts the workforces ability to recruit and retain professionals. FAVs are key to providing the world with a safe and secure food supply, says Dr. Christine Navarre, DVM, MS, DACVIM, of Louisiana State University. They work directly with producers to ensure the health and welfare of food producing animals as well as working in food safety and other public health areas. Navarre recently chaired a task force addressing the issue in a new paper published by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST). She, along with other veterinary scientists and experts, focused on two themes affecting the profession: economic and social factors. The authors describe economic challenges as changes in the agricultural industry that affect supply and demand. The latter are often informed by available databases, for example, the American Veterinary Medical Associations membership database, which represents 82 percent of U.S. veterinarians. However, it is difficult to determine how many individuals in the database work with food-producing animals due to missing or outdated self-reported information. Other inconsistencies also cause issues in workforce studies that are often used to inform the amount of FAV professionals in the workforce and how many are needed. A lack of detailed employment data, differences in methodology and an ever-changing animal agricultural landscape make predicting how many FAVs are needed difficult," Navarre says. Social factors also influence students and professional veterinarians choices for where and what they practice. Among the top social challenges include the students income-to-debt ratio, which is considerably high for FAVs. Many veterinarians also cite the lack of support in rural agricultural communities among the barriers that curb them from this type of work. For example, veterinarians with spouses tend to search for communities that are capable of providing a career for their significant other. While there are challenges to building a strong FAV workforce, the CAST papers authors outline strategies that may increase recruitment and retention for the profession. Despite the difficulties, FAVs and the producers they serve are innovative and adaptable, and will find ways to keep providing for the health and welfare of food animals and producing safe and affordable food, Navarre says. The paper, Impact of Recruitment and Retention of Food Animal Veterinarians on the U.S. Food Supply, is available to download for free on the CAST website. A free webinar will take place at noon CST on April 7. More information about the webinar can be found here: https://conta.cc/3bljbxl. Task Force Authors: Dr. Christine Navarre, Chair, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Dr. Angela Daniels, Texas Animal Health Commission Dr. Michael O. Johnston, William Penn University Dr. Clay Mathis, Texas A&M University-Kingsville Dr. Tye Perrett, Feedlot Health Management Services Dr. Dan Posey, Texas A&M Veterinary Education, Research, & Outreach, West Texas A&M University Dr. Alejandro Ramirez, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University Dr. Anjel Stough-Hunter, Department of Sociology, Ohio Dominican University Dr. Carie Telgen, Battenkill Veterinary Bovine Dr. David Welch, American Association of Bovine Practitioners Dr. Nicole Olynk Widmar, Department of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University About CAST The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology is an international consortium of scientific and professional societies, companies, and nonprofit organizations. Through its network of experts, CAST assembles, interprets, and communicates credible, balanced, science-based information to policymakers, the media, the private sector, and the public. http://www.cast-science.org On Monday, President Trump said that the number of coronavirus tests in the United States now exceeds that in other countries, seeming to suggest that the country is doing a better job of monitoring the spread of the disease than those countries. But his statement, during the daily the White House briefing, overlooked the fact that the United States has a much larger population than countries like South Korea, which has been extensively testing its residents. On a per capita basis, the United States had tested far fewer people than several other countries. South Korea has tested thousands more people for every million residents compared to the United States, according to its government website as well as the Covid Tracking Project, which tracks testing in the United States. According to the project, 1.9 million people had been tested in the United States as of Monday. Adm. Brett P. Giroir, the assistant secretary of health who is overseeing the governments testing response, said quick-response tests are being shipped around the country, and that the government is working closely with hospitals and other laboratories to ensure they have what they need. I think testing is really in a good position right now, he said. Federal inquiries have begun to determine how the nations testing capacity turned into such a debacle. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had manufacturing errors with the first test it devised for public health labs around the country, and so testing in the states stalled as the virus began to spread in Washington State, New York and California. The Food and Drug Administration, charged with approving the test, was so frustrated that the agency pushed for the C.D.C. to stop making it on site and instead send it to Integrated DNA Technologies, an outside lab. The F.D.A., for its part, was slow to recognize the danger of the pandemic, and how critical testing by commercial labs and hospitals would be as the virus spread. In early March, the nations two largest commercial labs, Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp, started testing, and they have acknowledged that their labs around the country were overwhelmed. Quests backlog is 80,000, according to the company, down from 160,000 on March 25. LabCorp says it has caught up, and now has a turnaround of four to five days from pickup. Supplies of test swabs have gotten so low that most hospitals test only their most vulnerable patients, typically those being admitted. The sample of a 55-year-old-based trader, who died on Friday, tested positive for the Sars-Cov-2 virus late Saturday night, district magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said. Four other people also tested positive for the coronavirus in the district in the past three days, the DM added. The man who died was a trader. He returned to his native Gangapur town from Kolkata on March 15, the district magistrate said. The DM said he had been suffering from diabetes for a long time and his blood pressure remained high during treatment. On March 17, he complained of cold and consulted a private doctor. After a few days, he consulted another private practitioner. The DM said he was admitted to the ICU at IMS-BHU and died on April 3. Giving a break-up of the four other patients who tested positive in the past three days, he said they included two Madanpura residents, who returned to the city a few days ago after attending the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi, a youth from Lohta town and a 40-year-old woman from Bazardiha. While the two Madanpur men and the Lohta youth are in the district hospital, the woman is receiving treatment at the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital. France has deployed more resources to address domestic violence, which has worsened under the forced cohabitation of the coronavirus lockdown. UN chief Antonio Guterres has urged governments to put women's safety first as they respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. I will not allow the lockdown to be associated with impunity, said French Interior minister, Christophe Castaner, referring to a surge of 36 percent in cases of domestic violence reported over the last three weeks. Trapped at home with an abusive partner or father, women and children are in greater danger, during the coronavirus lockdown period, as they can no longer access support services, according to women's rights groups. The lack of privacy and the restrictions on movement make it even harder for them to reach out. A toll-free text messaging service, 114, is available since last Wednesday. It puts callers in touch with the French security forces. Castaner said that a few dozen alarming text messages have already been investigated. If you dont have access to internet, you can just send a simple sms, like a cry for help, he said. The French government has put in place an array of means for vulnerable women and children to report domestic violence; they can call, text, use internet platforms but can also report abuse in pharmacies and shopping malls. Castaner added that more accommodation has been set up to provide shelter for battered women and children. We need to be able to respond with immediate solutions as soon as they are in our care, he said. Horrifying surge of domestic violence France is not the only country where domestic abuse is on the rise because of enforced lockdown to contain the spread of Covid-19. In India, the National Commission for Women reported double the usual number of domestic abuse cases in the first week of nationwide movement restrictions. In South Africa, authorities said there were nearly 2,300 reports of violence against women in the first week of lockdown. Story continues The United Nations says calls to helplines in China have tripled. Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General, called on governments around the world to put womens safety first as they respond to the pandemic. For many women and girls, the threat looms largest where they should be safest: in their own homes, Guterres declared on Sunday. An adequate response to the rise in domestic abuse is more complicated these days because all resources are concentrated on containing the pandemic. Healthcare providers and police are overwhelmed and understaffed," said Guterres. Together, we can and must prevent violence everywhere, from war zones to peoples homes, as we work to beat Covid-19. An Islamic State sleeper cell has attacked again, kidnapping and executing eight people from Deir ez-Zor writes SANA. The Islamic State (ISIS) executed eight kidnapped civilians in Deir ez-Zor Governorate over the weekend. ISIS carried out the executions in the Badiya al-Tebni region of northwestern Deir ez-Zor. Civil sources told the agency that the gunmen executed eight civilians from the Maadan region. This is not the first time that ISIS sleeper cells have attacked and executed civilians after kidnapping them along the roads in Homs, Raqqa, Hassakeh, and Deir ez-Zor. In addition to the executions, ISIS has also carried out several attacks across eastern and central Syria this past week, as they take advantage of the current coronavirus outbreak. 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 UK government on Sunday announced the first seven chartered flights next week to bring home British nationals stranded in India amidst the international travel lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic. An estimated 35,000 British nationals are currently in India, out of whom over 20,000 have contacted the British High Commission to say they wish to return to the UK as soon as possible. A set of 113 of the "most vulnerable" Britons were flown out of Goa on an Irish flight on Saturday. The special flights to London include three scheduled from Goa for next Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and two each from Mumbai and Delhi on Thursday and Saturday, with further flights planned later. The British High Commission told its citizens to check the government travel advisory and visit the booking portal for respective cities to reserve seats. "We know how worrying the past few weeks have been for British nationals in India. I hope this announcement will bring relief, especially to those in greatest need," said Jan Thompson, Acting High Commissioner to India. "Due to the large numbers of British travellers involved, the scale of this operation is huge. The UK government continues to work hard with our Indian counterparts in New Delhi and London to arrange a safe journey back for as many people as possible," she said. The High Commission in New Delhi had earlier issued authority letters for Britons to be able to produce as proof for the local authorities in India to allow them access to the rescue flights from different parts of India. "The UK is working around the clock to support the large numbers of British travellers who wish to return to the UK from India and around the world," said Lord Tariq Ahmad, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) minister. "In the absence of commercial flights, these first charter flights from India should provide relief to some of our British travellers who are desperate to return home, especially for the most vulnerable and those in greatest need," he said. The first set of chartered flights are for the UK travellers who normally reside in the UK and their direct dependents. A number of seats will be reserved for those deemed vulnerable, with individuals in this group to be contacted directly. Details regarding luggage allowance, flight costs and carriers will be available on the booking portal. The UK government has said that information on further flights from other cities locations in India will follow shortly. The FCO said that it is ramping up efforts to bring home thousands of travellers stranded overseas by coronavirus with a new package of extra flights and 10 additional airlines joining its scheme to keep commercial routes open and get British people back to the UK in line with its 75-million pounds rescue plan announced earlier. UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: "Travellers are facing an unprecedented challenge on a global scale, and I know people are understandably desperate to get back to their homes and loved ones. "We are committed to supporting Britons getting home either through commercial routes we have helped keep open or through specially chartered flights. With more airlines signing up it should mean more flights available but also a fairer deal for travellers by providing more flexibility over tickets and costs". Besides India, flights have been laid on from countries including Peru, Ghana, Tunisia and Algeria this week, with thousands more due to fly back from Ecuador, Bolivia, Ghana and the Philippines over the coming days. The number of airlines signed up to the government's scheme to get Britons home now stands at 14 after 10 new airlines, including British Airways, Norwegian, TUI and Ryanair, joined Virgin Atlantic, Titan, easyJet, and Jet2 which signed up earlier this week. The FCO is also working closely with the cruise company Holland America to ensure flights are available over the weekend to return passengers currently on the Zaandam and Rotterdam cruise ships. Earlier this week TUI, with FCO support, flew around 40 passengers from the Marella Explorer cruise ship back to the UK from Mexico. "We continue to work with airlines round the clock to reunite British citizens with their families and loved ones. With more airlines pledging support, this huge operation becomes a little easier, speeding up the process and helping ensure a greater number of people return home quickly and safely," said Grant Shapps, UK Transport Secretary. The FCO also confirmed on Sunday that its advice against all but essential travel will continue indefinitely amid the coronavirus pandemic. Where it is possible to get back to the UK on commercial routes by any carrier, the FCO says it continues to encourage all British nationals to take such opportunities. The UK Department for Transport said it is working closely with airlines to bring those with pre-booked tickets home, either with the airline they booked with or on alternative routes where available. This includes airlines allowing passengers to change tickets between carriers, where permissible, and offering them the latest information and advice as the situation changes. Also read: Coronavirus in UK: Queen delivers special address, says 'better days will return' Also read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: It's going to be a long haul, don't tire, says PM; active cases 3,666 Navneet Damani Crude prices surged by 30 percent, skyrocketing for its largest single day percentage gain in history of crude markets on a single tweet from President Trump that Saudi Arabia and Russia would cut production by 10Mb-15Mbpd. The whole market looks like a different planet now after concept of alliance of Saudi- US showed depth of crisis facing the global oil industry as well as its growing importance to the US economy but not at the stage of something that is being seriously considered. Yet, there remains confusion in market as indeed, immediately, Russia shot down the idea that there was some agreement. Source: Motilal Oswal The growing momentum for some sort of agreement among major oil producers to reduce the worlds massive oversupply hinges on cooperation from countries beyond OPEC+, notably the US, but how realistic is this? Saudi Arabia is looking toward oil producers among the G20 nations to bolster any Opec-plus actions. Of list of G20 countries, only a handful have any significant oil production, and even fewer have any sort of export capabilities. Chief among these is the US, but other major producers include Brazil, Canada and Mexico. All this has sent prices up, although the when, how, and who of the potential deal remain unclear. And the larger the universe of players, the more difficult it will be to implement an agreement. Non-OPEC: Can US President Trump order a cut in US oil production? Under US regulations, the President does not have the power to tell private companies to stop producing oil. Much of regulatory power over oil industry in the US resides with individual producing states as American oil companies are not state owned. But, the bankruptcy and lay off might push companies to agree and open to OPEC-style market management. Pioneer Natural Resources and Parsley Energy have called for some sort of global negotiated settlement, which would include Texas regulators instituting mandatory production cuts. But, there are many concerns as: Trump not planning to ask domestic oil producers for cut. Since US & Canada (for the most part) have private oil producers unlike Saudi & Russia (Nationalized or controlled) that would be impossible to do. So, while a coordinated cut might be impossible, material production cuts in the US would appear likely, whether or not there is an official deal to do so. Trump could seek to reimpose ban on oil exports that was in place in the US for decades. US crude exports averaged 3.15Mbpd in March. But such move could end up hurting US oil industry more than it helps, flooding domestic markets and pushing down physical oil prices even if it might boost WTI oil futures. If the US is not going to cut production, what then, is President Trump talking about? One thing to consider is that Saudi Arabia can earn some goodwill by agreeing to call for an emergency OPEC+ meeting. The Saudis could be nodding along with Trump, commiserating about low oil prices. OPEC's exports in month of April, May, and June (if the price war persists) will be a battle of market share for a shrinking pie. If Saudis are cutting OSP by $10 to $12/bbl on Brent, other producers can either match it or be left completely behind. For rigs, no new rigs will come back if they cut production. Even the shale players need major blame as is the US shale industry had better balance sheets, and hadnt spent billions on share buybacks, they couldve been issuing debt today to get them through this tough period, rather than going bankrupt. President Trump could offer Russia sanctions relief and there are strong indications that this is on the table. The US has become increasingly zealous in its enforcement of sanctions and most recently targeted Russian state-run giant Rosneft regarded as key facilitators of Venezuelas oil trade. US also sanctioned companies helping Russia build the Nord Stream 2 gas line into Europe. Lifting that burden could be one Trump tactic to bring Russia to the table. Saudi Arabia: The main motive behind Saudi Arabia taking U turn in its strategy to over supply the markets is the fear of US withdrawing troops from Saudi Arabia the treats from the US if it doesnt respond to the administration. Reports show that, Saudi Arabia is willing to cut output below 9 mb/d if others joined them. Again, this means Crown Prince MBS is only willing to go back to where March OPEC meets. Source: Motilal Oswal There is another problem: even if Saudis cut from 12mmb/d to 9mmb/d and Russia cuts by 5,00,000, that's 3.5mmb/d less in supply. Meanwhile,global demand is down by over 15Mbpd. In other words, the only way the oil market will rebalance is if both Saudi Arabia and Russia both stop pumping, even as shale continues to flood the world with US oil. Conclusion: Fade this rally! With much of the global economy at a standstill, the oil crisis is going to get worse in the weeks ahead. Given the size of the demand shock, the attempts to negotiate are likely too little too late for the oil market. On April 5, Aramco will publish its prices for May, which will offer a major signal regarding Riyadhs intentions. Finally, it looks like neither Riyadh nor Moscow has any incentive to cut at this moment as the only winner will be US shale. On demand front, no national leader wants to end lock-down too soon and then have people die. Instead, the incentive is to be as aggressive as possible with the lock-down, strangle the economy. 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. Overall, we expect WTI prices to touch levels of $15 if the whole saga of deal falls apart and Coronavirus gets extended further. (The author is Vice President, Commodity & Currency Research, Motilal Oswal) The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. The Times has joined forces with the University of California, Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism to provide expanded coverage on how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting California. More than 80 students and nearly 20 journalism instructors have been organized to report on the impact of the novel coronavirus in each of Californias 58 counties. They are gathering data, helping correspondents and producing stories the first of which is this dispatch about Mammoth Lakes: For most of the year, about 8,000 people live in Mammoth Lakes, a resort town 7,881 feet high in the Sierra Nevada. At peak ski season, the population triples, a fact normally welcomed by civic leaders. But not now. Not when surrounding Mono County has the highest rate of coronavirus infection in the state. Not when the countys lone hospital has just 17 beds. Not when transferring a patient to another hospital means a special medical evacuation flight at a cost of up to $50,000, and when even this option can be delayed by frequent blizzard conditions. And when the towns thin air only makes respiratory ailments worse. Im absolutely terrified, Dr. Tom Boo, Mono Countys public health officer, said in an interview the same day that Mammoth Lakes decided to set up a highway checkpoint to turn away tourists. Boo and other county officials were stunned by how swiftly the virus spread through this community. In late March there was one confirmed case in Mono County. Two weeks later, 19 people were infected, one person had died and four more had symptoms serious enough to require hospitalization. This relentless math is behind the growing fear that Mammoth Hospital, which has four ventilators and two intensive care unit beds, will soon be overwhelmed. Adding to the worry, an infected patients special medical evacuation flight last month was held up for hours by a snowstorm. In a letter to the state health department, Thomas Parker, chief executive of Mammoth Hospital, said that based on the rapidly deteriorating conditions, the hospital was bracing for a surge of up to 100 patients a day, with several dozen likely needing ventilators because of the altitude. We expect our ability to transfer to a higher level of care (Reno or Los Angeles) will soon be eliminated due to saturation of those hospital facilities, he added. Boo put it more bluntly. In that situation, he said, people will die." With no good alternatives, the town has concentrated its efforts on the twin challenges of emptying the town of skiers and snowboarders and blocking access to people fleeing the likes of Los Angeles and San Francisco to wait out the pandemic in their vacation homes. If theyre here and theyre sick, we cant help them, said Ingrid Braun, the sheriff of Mono County. On March 15, a day before San Francisco became the first major U.S. metro area to order residents to shelter in place, Boo declared a local health emergency in Mono County. Ski areas were closed, followed by hotels, motels and bars. In the days since, Boo has issued increasingly severe directives, including the threat of a $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail for going to work sick, even for jobs deemed essential. The Mono County tourism commission started a social media campaign to actually discourage tourism #MonoPause. When people kept coming, local leaders considered simply shutting down the state highway into town. They settled on a slightly less severe option: establishing the highway checkpoint. Once this step gets state approval, everyone headed into Mammoth Lakes will be stopped and questioned. Only locals and those with essential business will be allowed through. Were not xenophobes, Braun said. Were just really worried about being able to take care of the people who live here. Boo is spending restless nights brainstorming new ways to keep his friends and neighbors safe. The hospital has been split into COVID-19 positive and negative areas. An ethics plan about who will get access to lifesaving equipment is in place, a matter of urgency since the state said it could take weeks or months to supply a half-dozen more ventilators. And Boo is wondering when it will be necessary to close everything thats still open grocery stores included to buy the town a little more time. Lying here at 5:20 a.m., the story isnt really a road checkpoint, Boo wrote in a recent email. Its about a little mountain town and its little hospital on the verge of getting crushed. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Plane on runway Warren Buffett shocked the financial world when it was revealed that Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A)(NYSE:BRK.B) had been selling airline stocks, just weeks after Buffett stated he wouldnt in an interview conducted by Yahoo! Finance. Buffetts mantra is to buy and hold wonderful businesses with the intention of holding them on for the long term. His favourite holding period is forever, so it was perplexing as to why Buffett decided to ditch 13 million and 2.3 million shares of Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines, respectively. Heck, Warren Buffett added to his Delta stake just a few weeks prior amid the pandemic-driven sell-off, so indeed, many Buffett followers are probably scratching their heads at the Oracle of Omahas latest selling activities. Did the pandemic change the long-term thesis of Warren Buffetts favourite airlines? Why did Buffett say he wasnt going to sell airline stocks when asked just a few weeks prior? Is the recent share sale the start of more selling to come? And should Canadians mirror Buffetts latest divestiture by dumping shares of Air Canada (TSX:AC)(TSX:AC.B) stock? Many folks on the Street are speculating as to what Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway may be doing with the recent share sale. Given shares of the airlines have collapsed in recent weeks, the buy high, sell low actions conducted by Berkshire seem to go against everything that Buffett has taught over the decades. To make matters even more confusing for Buffettarians, the man has kept alarmingly silent of late. And investors should expect radio silence until Berkshires annual meeting on May 2. Has Warren Buffett given up on the airlines? Buffett took a huge hit to the chin, realizing paper losses with his latest publicly disclosed round of selling activity. And while debt will weigh down the U.S. airline stocks as revenues temporarily dip, potentially by 90% or more, over the coming quarter, I do not think that Buffetts long-term thesis on the airlines has changed at all over the last few weeks, even with the devastating impact of the coronavirus. Story continues Warren Buffett still owns a sizeable stake in the U.S. airlines. The latest round of selling is just a bit of trimming after an unsustainable bear market bounce and not the start of an entire liquidation of his airline holdings. He may just be looking to lock in some capital losses for the year with the intention of getting right back in. Of course, well have to wait to hear from the man himself, but if I had to guess, Id say the airline share sales was not conducted by Warren Buffett himself but someone at his firm that sees more downside ahead for the airlines and the broader markets over the intermediate term. Warren Buffett may be taking a bit of risk off the table on a bounce Before you conclude that Buffett has ditched his own investment philosophy, Id urge investors not to overreact by ditching shares of Air Canada to the curb just because Buffett did a bit of trimming on his airline stocks. Bear markets tend to be measured in months, not weeks. As such, Warren Buffett may be looking to add to his stake in his favourite airlines at a later point, as he trims unsustainable, abrupt bounces that will inevitably present themselves on the downward road. More bad news is almost guaranteed to come flooding in during the second quarter, so theres no shame in taking a bit of risk off the table after the massive rally we enjoyed just two weeks ago. Should Canadians sell Air Canada? The U.S. airlines are facing an unprecedented amount of pressure. At this rate, theyre going to need financial relief very soon. Air Canada is far less leveraged than your average U.S.-based airlines. Air Canada still has a considerable amount of debt, but it looks reasonably more liquid given the company had not wasted a tonne of cash on share repurchases over the years. Im still of the belief that the airlines, notably Air Canada, will survive these dark times and come out roaring on the other end of the curve. Over the coming months, the stock will likely continue to take a beating, though, so investors should pick their entry points carefully and consider trimming after unsustainable bull traps with the intention of buying back at much lower prices. Stay hungry. Stay Foolish. The post Warren Buffett: Whats the Deal With Berkshire Hathaways (NYSE:BRK.B) Airline Divestments? appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada. More reading Fool contributor Joey Frenette owns shares of Berkshire Hathaway (B shares). The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines and recommends the following options: long January 2021 $200 calls on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), short January 2021 $200 puts on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), and short June 2020 $205 calls on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares). The Motley Fools purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool Canadas free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Motley Fool Canada 2020 Several churches around the country held services Palm Sunday, some in defiance of state bans on gatherings aimed at stopping the deadly spread of coronavirus. "We don't get our rights to worship freely from the government we get those from God," said the Rev. Tony Spell of Life Tabernacle Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. "We'd rather obey God than man." Spell held another massive service at Life Tabernacle despite being charged multiple times last week for violating the state ban. About 1,220 people attended, some bused in and others driving more than 100 miles to attend, Spell told CNN. Spell has previously told CNN he believes the pandemic is "politically motivated." The Rev. Alvin Gwynn Sr. of Friendship Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland, said he had a steady stream of people walking through the church, processional style, careful not to have more than eight or nine. Religious organizations should be on the list of essential organizations, he told CNN. In Jupiter, Florida, some 20 people attended service at Ascend Church, CNN affiliate WPEC reported. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has exempted worship services from the state's current coronavirus orders. Some churches, like Amplified Church in San Antonio, Texas, and Calvary's Hill Church in Bluefield, Virginia, held drive-in services with loudspeakers. "Our pastor at Amplified Church, like many other pastors are trying to do their best to keep the people connected and safe; still abiding by the social distancing regulations," a church spokesperson told CNN via Facebook. Your coronavirus questions, answered "It has been a challenge, but we are thankful even in the midst of this pandemic that we can spread the gospel," the message said. Despite several clusters of Covid-19 sicknesses traced to congregations -- at least 70 cases were traced to a single church in Sacramento, California -- other states are also allowing services to continue. "Churches by and large do the right thing, they want to protect their parishioners," Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson told reporters Sunday. "There are a few that have a very small attendance and they socially distance. We don't recommend that, but if it's within the guidelines, then that's understandable." Hutchinson did mention officials "had trouble with a church putting parishioners at risk." After the health department called them, "they took the right steps and are not meeting" with a large congregation, Hutchinson said. Some local leaders have been speaking out against exempting church services from a ban on gatherings and are asking churches to hold them online. 'Not what we need right now' "I know it's a very difficult thing, as a Catholic, Easter Sunday for me next week, Palm Sunday today," said Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. "But that is not what we need right now. We need prayers right now, that's what we need." Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez thanked religious leaders who were holding services online in lieu of regular mass on Palm Sunday, he said in a video briefing on YouTube. "That's the safest way to keep us all connected," Gimenez said. "Let's help us all stay safer at home during these religious holy days." The Archdiocese of Miami suspended all Masses and events on March 16 and encouraged parishes to use livestreaming when possible, Archbishop Thomas Wenski said this week on CNN's New Day. The number of Covid-19 cases rose to at least 331,151 nationwide Sunday, and at least 9,441 people have died, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Political leaders the world over, hold a rather unique position. They have the ability to define an era or define their times in a very unique and definitive way. Naturally, keeping a track of time, therefore, is paramount to them. Reuters Rarely, will you ever see a countrys president or a prime minister not wear a watch. As much as watches serve a defined function, telling the time and in some cases, other things such as the date, for our world leaders, watches also go a long way in building up that public persona that they have. Watches are a key instrument for them in defining their style and how people see them. Reuters Whether they were part of diplomatic gift packages or whether they were bought personally, we list out some of the most iconic world leaders of our era, and their favourite watches, which people have spotted them wearing on a number of important world events. 1. Vladimir Putin Reuters As far as presidents and world leaders go, Vladimir Putin has one of the most varying and luxurious collections of watches. Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Rolex - these are just some of the luxury brands that Putin has collected over the years. But the one piece that is very commonly associated with the Russian President, is the A. Lange & Sohne 1815 Up/Down. The watch has a very clean, and rather sombre look. Dont be fooled though - this seemingly basic watch is made of platinum and costs $27,400. Would you be surprised to know that this particular one is not the most expensive watch from his collection? That title goes to a super rare, A. Lange & Sohne that is estimated to be worth $450,000. Hodinkee 2. The Dalai Lama Wiki Commons The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is a rather modest man, with very few material possessions. Having said that, the Dalai Lama has always had a fascination with mechanical objects, especially watches. Several of the biographies that have been written on him, often recount the tales from his younger days when he used to open small, mechanical watches, and put them back together, to study the way the function. An avid watch collector, the Dalai Lama apparently always carries a Patek Philippe pocket watch, the Reference 658 on his person. Former President of The United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt gave the watch as a gift, in 1943. Since then, this timeless horological masterpiece has often gone in for repairs and services, whenever, the Dalai Lama himself, was not able to get the watch working properly. Patek Philippe 3. Donald Trump - Vacheron Constantin WHCA Press Say what you will about the man, there are a few things that the current President of the United States of America does better than everyone else. Controlling the prevalent narrative, connecting with his core voters and supporters to name a few. Donald J Trump has a collection of watches with his name, which he used to sell as part of his overall brand image that has made him what he is today. He also owned a couple of Rolex Daytonas and Patek Philippes. But the watch that we see him wear whenever he is at a rally, or addressing the world, is a Vacheron Constantin Historiques Ultra-Fine from 1968. He has also been seen in a number of rose gold editions of the same watch. Just in case youre wondering, how much does this one actually cost, the watch retails for north of 39,000, easily. Vacheron Constantin 4. Narendra Modi Reuters Our very own Prime Minister has a very well defined sense of style, thanks to the manner in which he accessorises. From a rather dope looking pair of sunglasses to the manner in which has jazzed up his outfits, PM Modi can indeed give a masterclass or two on style. As far as his watches are concerned, it has been documented a number of times where he was seen wearing some or the other watch from the American watchmakers, Movado. Known for their rather simple styling cues and minimalistic appeal, the watch that we have seen PM Modi wear often, are from their Museum series. Movado 5. Barack Obama Reuters Finally, we have the former President of the United States of America, Barrack Obama. Although for a better part of the two terms of his presidency President Obama would wear the Secret Service limited edition watch that he was gifted on his birthday, but we have also seen him wear the Tag Heuer Series 1500 from time to time. Essentially, a divers watch, the Tag Heuer has a luminous dial which glows in the dark. A really cool watch, if you ask us. Tag Heuer Indeed, our world leaders know how to roll with style. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says social distancing measures will remain a fact of life amid the coronavirus pandemic until a vaccine is found as the number of new cases continues to stabilise. "That is the new normal," Ms Berejiklian said on Tuesday. "Not having physical contact, socially distancing is, at the very minimum, a way of life for us. Because we have to be honest with ourselves - until a vaccine is found, there is no simple way to deal with this issue." NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant confirmed there had been 49 new COVID-19 cases since the last update on Monday. The state's total now stands at 2686 cases. Of the 229 cases currently being treated, 37 people are in intensive care with 24 people requiring ventilators. The NSW death toll has risen to 21. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) uncovered bot farm with 5,000 accounts, which spread fakes about coronavirus on social networks and urged to unseat the constitutional order in Ukraine as the SBU reported. The equipment was located at one of the business centers in Dnipro. The organizers bought it and special software through payment systems banned in Ukraine. They also used SIM cards of the Ukrainian operators and proxy-servers of a domestic network segment. The farm spread public urges to seize the power in Ukraine, false information about the situation with coronavirus in the country. The SBU investigators started the investigation, held searches and confiscated equipment. As we reported earlier, since the beginning of lockdown in Ukraine, the law enforcers have checked 344 reports on possible illegal actions, particularly online fraud during the purchase of personal protective equipment. Totally, 228 facts are established on the publication of false or provocative information about coronavirus pandemic on information resources. Currently, the cyber police identified 116 people who spread this information, the message said. Besides, the SBU exposed 79 people who spread fake information about coronavirus Covid-19. The Spanish government has gone one step further in its fight to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and is now standing on the threshold when it comes to the protection of fundamental rights. The State Secretarys Office for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, which works under the Economy Ministry led by Nadia Calvino, has approved an initiative to authorize the development of a cellphone application that would give health authorities geolocation information about citizens, in order to provide them with more personalized health information. In practice, it would also allow authorities to check whether individuals are following the rules of the coronavirus lockdown, which has confined Spaniards to their homes and prohibited all unnecessary travel. The ministerial order, published in the Official Gazette (BOE) on March 28, gives the Health Ministry a series of powers to better control the spread of the virus. These include the urgent development of a cellphone app to support the management of the health crisis caused by Covid-19. The app aims to help users self-assess their symptoms and the likelihood of infection, and to provide them with information about the coronavirus and the next steps to follow based on their own assessment. Under no circumstances will the app be used to control compliance of the lockdown measures Sources from the State Secretary's Office for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence But the order also outlines that the app will allow [access to] users geolocation for the sole purpose of checking that they are in the region that they say they are in. The app will validate with a users permission what region a person is in, and use this information to provide personalized responses based on the health protocols in the area, since in Spain, powers over healthcare are devolved to the regions. The wording of the document means that the Health Ministry could potentially send personal WhatsApp messages to citizens if they are detected traveling to a different region. This could be done in an effort, for example, to crack down on weekend trips and travel to second residences. Neither the Health nor the Economy Ministry have indicated that the proposed cellphone app might be used to check citizens GPS information during the lockdown, a power that could violate the Data Protection Law. Sources from the State Secretarys Office for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence deny that the information will be used for this purpose. All the information collected by the application is required in order to assess each person [in health-related issues]. Under no circumstances, will it be used to control compliance of the lockdown measures. Only health professionals and the relevant authorized authorities will have access to the data, said these sources. The personal data from the app will be kept for as long as the health crisis lasts, and once it is over, will be aggregated anonymously and used for statistical purposes, research, and public planning, for a maximum period of two years. Health information According to the BOE, the app will offer users recommendations and action guidelines based on the symptoms they are experiencing. But it will not act as a service for diagnosis, emergency care or the prescription of pharmaceutical treatment, nor replace consultation with a qualified medical professional. The app will also feature an automatic message assistant to provide official information on the coronavirus via WhatsApp and other instant messaging services. The order also states that the app could include links to websites with more information on key topics. Cellphone tracking In addition to the app from the Health Ministry, the Economy Ministry announced on April 1 that more than 40 million cellphones in Spain would be tracked as part of a study called DataCovid, allowing authorities to follow the movements of the population between the countrys regions and helping inform decisions in connection with the coronavirus outbreak. The study will analyze anonymous and aggregated data of Spanish residents movements while the health emergency continues, until normality returns. The reporting will not include personal data and will not be used by the police while the confinement measures are in place. English version by Melissa Kitson. With a curfew in place to prevent unnecessary movement, crime rates in Damascus have witnessed a dramatic fall reports Al-Watan. Syrian criminal security sources said the crime rate has plummeted in Damascus, stressing that no crime was recorded in the past 10 days. The sources said they expect the rate to drop in other provinces too. In a statement to Al-Watan, the sources attributed this to the curfew and other measures the government had imposed to restrict movements, amid the coronavirus outbreak. The mission of the criminal security apparatus is to protect the markets from thefts during curfew, the sources stressed, noting that only one failed theft attempt was recorded on the first day of curfew. 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. Chief medical officer Chris Whitty has returned to work after recovering from coronavirus, it was revealed today. There had been concerns about the condition of the government's leading adviser, who started displaying symptoms just after Boris Johnson went into quarantine nearly two weeks ago. Prof Whitty, 53, has not been seen since, with only a handful of tweets being posted on his official feed. However, senior government sources confirmed today that the medic is out of isolation and has been working. 'He is out of isolation. He is fine. He kept doing conference calls,' a source told MailOnline. Chief medical officer Chris Whitty has returned to work after recovering from coronavirus Prof Whitty, 53, has not been seen since starting to display symptoms last week, with only a handful of tweets being posted on his official feed The news is a boost to the government as Mr Johnson struggles to overcome the virus, undergoing tests in hospital. It was Prof Whitty who told the premier to get tested for a cough. The PM was dramatically admitted to St Thomas's, near Downing Street, last night after doctors became concerned his symptoms have still not subsided 10 days after his positive test. Mr Johnson is thought to have been given oxygen treatment, with claims he had 'risked his health' by keeping up a frantic workrate. One MP suggested that he was too keen to emulate his hero, Winston Churchill and should rest. Downing Street has insisted the premier remains in control of the government's response, despite remaining in hospital with no clear timeframe for being discharged. However, his effective deputy Dominic Raab chaired the daily coronavirus crisis committee meeting this morning, and the PM will clearly not be playing the same role as usual. In a Twitter video posted on Friday from quarantine in No11, where he has been in self-isolation, an exhausted-looking Mr Johnson revealed he was still suffering from a high temperature. Experts say there is a risk of pneumonia when a temperature lasts more than a week. There have been claims Mr Johnson has been coughing heavily during conference calls. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said Mr Johnson had been 'working incredibly hard' and said he hoped he would be back in Downing Street soon - but did not rule out him being forced to stay in for longer. Health minister Nadine Dorries - the first MP to test positive for coronavirus, but now recovered - suggested the PM needs to 'sleep and recover'. Foreign Office minister James Duddridge said Mr Johnson must now 'let others do the heavy lifting', while Tory West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said the PM might have to recognise he is 'not indispensable' while he recovers. Cabinet minister Michael Gove's wife Sarah Vine delivered a furious rebuke to those who had been demanding Mr Johnson keep working, saying: 'I hope you are happy now. He's in hospital.' The OPEC + virtual meeting, which was supposed to be held on April 6, was postponed till April 9, MK reported. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, preparations for the event continue. He noted that the meeting has been postponed for technical reasons. He added that President Vladimir Putin has no plans to hold new separate talks with the US and Saudi Arabian leaders, but meetings can be held promptly if necessary. Viettel headquarters boast smart building technologies thanks to ABBs innovative solutions As a technology leader in the country, Viettel aimed to develop our headquarters into a symbol of innovation so the technologies we use must help us to achieve this objective, ensure operational reliability, and bring the most comfort to the people working in the building in the digital age. For this reason, we chose ABB, said Ha Quang Huy, director of Real Estate Management at Viettel Group. Located on a golden land plot in Hanoi, the Viettel base overlooks a 32-hectare park including 19ha water surface of a lake. Becoming functional in late 2019, the building accommodates Viettels key business functions with around 1,000 employees. Viettel Groups ambition in this move is to ensure its headquarters in Vietnam become a standard for other Viettel buildings across the world. ABB is proud to be a partner of Viettel Group on this innovative building project and to contribute to the greener, safer, and smarter operation of their new headquarters. With ABBs solid track record for smart buildings in Vietnam, we will continue to help investors achieve a green footprint, said Doan Van Hien, sales director of the electrification business of ABB in Vietnam. ABBs supplied technologies include medium-voltage switchgear Unisec, type-tested low voltage switchgear, System Pro E Power, and dry transformers. The dry transformer is a high-efficiency solution that supports Viettel to minimise environmental contamination and fire hazards for the structures. Manufactured in accordance with international standards, it is virtually maintenance-free. Containing no oil, the transformer is ecological and many of the integral parts are fully recyclable, which fits with the using clean and renewable materials motto of Viettels office project. Meanwhile, ABB System Pro E Power, an innovative main distribution switchboard solution, fulfils all electrical installation requirements in terms of protection degree, segregation form, and electrical characteristics. In addition, the system brings perfect synergy with all of ABBs low voltage equipment to meet the reliability and efficiency that building operators expect. In order to meet the high demand of safe, smart, and connected workplaces for a dynamic and creative working environment, Viettels headquarters are equipped with the most innovative solutions for smart building control including the well-established ABB i-bus KNX system and HVAC ACH580 drives. In the innovative ABB i-bus KNX system, all devices of the building ranging from lighting and shutter control to heating, ventilation, security, and energy management communicate with one another via a single bus interface which is installed alongside the normal power lines. Thanks to this system, the Viettel office becomes easier to manage and control by delivering increased flexibility, security, economic efficiency, and convenience. The operational flexibility of the installation allows working routines at Viettels office to be adapted easily and comfortably to the needs of the building occupants. ABBs ACH580 drives are the next evolution in the speed control of electric motors used for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning applications. With precise control, the motors only use the energy required to produce the air or liquid flow, so no electricity is wasted. Thanks to the drives ultra-low harmonic version, excessive electrical disturbances in the grid are avoided to ensure continuous operation. The drives HVAC-specific functionality, such as built-in override mode, helps the customer overcome fire emergencies in the building, increasing safety of the occupants and property. Meanwhile, integrated BACnet connectivity allowed the drives to easily and cost-efficiently become part of the building automation systems. Throughout its 25-year growth journey in Vietnam, ABB has become well-presented in the smart building sector with many other iconic projects such as Vincom Landmark 81 the tallest building in Southeast Asia, Keangnam Hanoi Landmark 72, Times Square, VietcomBank Tower, and Thao Dien Pearl. ABBs KNX system is used widely in important buildings such as the National Assembly Office, the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Army Television Tower, the Presidential Office, and more. Russian telco operator Rostelecom was involved in BGP hijacking incident that impacted hundreds of CDNs and cloud providers last week. Last week, Russias state-owned telco Rostelecom was involved in an apparent incident that hijacked the traffic for more than 200 content delivery networks (CDNs) and cloud hosting providers, including giants like Google, Amazon, Facebook, Akamai, Cloudflare, GoDaddy, and Digital Ocean. Over 8,800 internet traffic routes from more than 200 networks were impacted for about an hour. The large scale BGP hijack incident involved AS12389 (Rostelecom) affecting over 8,000 prefixes. According to the BGPmon.net, starting from 2020-04-01 19:27:28 its service detected a possible BGP hijack, the prefix involved is 31.13.64.0 /19, which was normally announced by AS32934 FACEBOOK, US. The prefix 31.13.69.0/24 was instead announced by ASN 12389. Earlier this week there was a large scale BGP hijack incident involving AS12389 (Rostelecom) affecting over 8,000 prefixes. Many examples were just posted on @bgpstream , see for example this example for @Facebook https://t.co/Bvzn5PNyFp pic.twitter.com/6aEzFyIfCv BGPmon.net (@bgpmon) April 5, 2020 Wow..Russia BGP hijacked a few @google routes and others pic.twitter.com/fAtQYzkmh2 James (@James_inthe_box) April 5, 2020 The phenomena were also monitored by security firm Qrator Labs, below and excerpt from its analysis. Heres the beginning: for approximately an hour, starting at 19:28 UTC on April 1, 2020, the largest Russian ISP Rostelecom (AS12389) was announcing prefixes belonging to prominent internet players: Akamai, Cloudflare, Hetzner, Digital Ocean, Amazon AWS, and other famous names. reads the analysis. Before the issue was resolved, paths between the largest cloud networks were somewhat disrupted the Internet blinked. The route leak was distributed quite well through Rascom (AS20764) , then Cogent (AS174) and in a couple of minutes through Level3 (AS3356) to the world. The issue suddenly became bad enough that it saturated the route decision-making process for a few Tier-1 ISPs. BGP hijacking incidents are dangerous events, a large portion of traffic could be redirected allowing threat actors to analyze and decrypt it. However, what makes the case very different is that Rostelecom got a warning from the Qrator.Radars real-time feed and reached out for help with the incident troubleshooting. Given the simplicity of the BGP mistakes, during the coronavirus crisis, its so easy to allow for an error. However, with the monitoring data provided, the incident came to an end rather quickly, and the proper routing was restored. concludes Qrator.Radar. We strongly encourage other ISPs who are not Rostelecom to start monitoring their BGP announcements to prevent incidents of scale. And, of course, RPKI Origin Validation is something everyone shouldnt just think about, but implement. A similar incident took place in December 2018, when a suspicious event routed traffic for major tech companies (i.e. Google, Facebook, Apple, and Microsoft) through a previously unknown Russian Internet provider. Researchers who investigated the incident believe it was the result of a BGP hijacking attack. In May 2017, Rostelecom was involved in another suspicious incident that impacted financial giants Visa, Mastercard, HSBC, and more. In November 2018, security researchers Chris C. Demchak and Yuval Shavitt published a paper that details BGP hijacking attacks carried out by China Telecom over the past years. China Telecom was a brand of the state-owned China Telecommunications Corporation, but after marketization of the enterprise spin off the brand and operating companies as a separate group. China Telecom is currently present in North American networks with 10 points-of-presence (PoPs) (eight in the United States and two in Canada), spanning major exchange points. The two researchers pointed out that the telco company leverages the PoPs to hijack traffic through China, it has happened several times over the past years, Pierluigi Paganini ( SecurityAffairs BGP Hijacking, Russia) [ adrotate banner=13] Share this... Linkedin Share this: Twitter Print LinkedIn Facebook More Tumblr Pocket Share On Venture-backed startups and their advocates are urgently asking the Trump administration to ensure they have access to $349 billion in small business loans to assist companies hurt by the coronavirus pandemic. The Paycheck Protection Programs forgivable loans, part of the $2 trillion CARES Act stimulus package, are earmarked to help companies with fewer than 500 employees stay afloat. But the fine print of an affiliation rule implies that all the employees of a companys financial backers would count toward that cap. That would leave many Silicon Valley companies and other startups that have raised venture capital out in the cold, said Peter Leroe-Munoz, general counsel at Silicon Valley Leadership Group. The advocacy group, as well as TechNet, the National Venture Capital Association, dozens of other organizations and Bay Area congressional representatives, have asked the Treasury Department and Small Business Administration to clarify the language swiftly. It is imperative that equity-backed startups have the clarity to know that they can apply for these funds, Leroe-Munoz said in an interview. Its also extremely time sensitive. The programs $349 billion is being parceled out on a first-come, first-served basis. If (startups) are forced to wait for delayed rule-making, they could be at the end of a very long line of other organizations and companies looking for funds, he said. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Fremont, wrote a letter last week urging the Treasury Department to write new guidelines for startups as expeditiously as possible. From clean technology to sustainable agriculture to biotechnology, startups create high-paying jobs and make important contributions to Americas economy, they wrote. House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, echoed those calls. He said Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin had assured him during a phone call that a waiver to the affiliation rule would be written. But Mnuchin has yet to squelch those fears. On Friday, the Treasury Department issued a clarification that says startups are eligible for loans if big investors own less than 50% of the company. But the startup must certify that investors cant control the company in other ways, such as by overruling the board of directors. Some startups take money with conditions that let certain groups of investors block sales or other moves, even if the board approves them. Khanna, whose district includes Silicon Valley, said that test is too subjective and could make banks reluctant to lend given that startups are making legal judgments about whether they qualify. This is about preserving thousands of jobs at these startups, he said. Khanna said opponents of the loans often argue that bailouts will help wealthy venture capitalists who could dig into their pockets to keep startups afloat. He said that argument ignores that the money will cover payroll costs for average workers like office assistants, engineers and recent college graduates. I have yet to meet a venture capitalist or private equity firm thats in the charity business, Khanna said. Its not the venture capitalist or private equity thats going to lose. Its the startup that is going to have to lay off employees. People mistakenly think all startups are on the mega-scale of Uber, said Jonathan Nelson, managing director of San Joses Hackers/Founders, which is both a community for startup founders and a nontraditional funder. Startups can range from a couple of people in a garage to people who have raised less than a million dollars to the rare handful who have raised hundreds of millions or billions. Many have just four to 12 weeks worth of operating cash on hand. A lot of my friends venture capitalists are not writing checks right now, Nelson said. Theyre waiting a couple of months to see how things pan out. Meanwhile, a lot of startups will die. Thousands of venture-backed startups employ more than 2 million Americans, whose jobs could be threatened without the loans, Leroe-Munoz said. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Many of these startups are working on health technology and advanced medicine, the advancements that might very well help us address the current medical crisis, he said. Doug Rand, who was assistant director for entrepreneurship in the Obama administration, said the issue could also hurt Main Street businesses, noting that many received capital from friends and family. If those people also own businesses that employ many, that could lift their investees above the 500-person threshold. The fact that there is ambiguity about who is eligible for these Paycheck Protection loans is disastrous, he said. Rand, now the co-founder of Boundless Immigration, a Seattle technology startup that helps immigrants obtain green cards and citizenship, said that the vast majority of startups need a lifeline. Any startup that isnt in the business of videoconferencing is seeing a cratering of demand more or less overnight, and is looking at how to staunch the bleeding to keep the team together and avoid layoffs and furloughs, he said. The rollout of the Paycheck Protection Program has been beset by various issues. Friday was the first day businesses could apply, but banks didnt get guidelines on the program until the day before, leaving them scrambling to set up application portals. Under the program, small businesses can apply for a loan of up to $10 million or 2.5 times their monthly expenses, whichever is less. Loans will be fully or partially forgiven if businesses show they used the funds to keep or rehire employees and pay overhead. The program lasts until June 30. The SBA and Treasury Department did not immediately reply to requests for comment. Carolyn Said and Dustin Gardiner are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com, dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid, @dustingardiner By Tong Kim On April 3, North Korea's "state emergency anti-epidemic headquarters" claimed that there were no confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and only around 500 people remained in quarantine across the country. Not too long ago, Pyongyang had reported thousands were being "medically monitored" against the viral pandemic in several provinces. North Korean propaganda credits the regime's effective anti-virus measures for lifting the quarantine on those who showed no symptoms of infection. The North closed its borders early on, putting arrivals in the country and those who may have contacted them into a strict 40-day quarantine, and sanitizing all imported goods. However, Pyongyang's claim has raised skepticism among many experts who know that North Korea's health care service is poor. Interestingly, Gen. Robert Abrams, the commander of the U.S. Forces Korea, also questioned it last week. "That is an impossible claim based on all of the intel we have seen....That is untrue." Abrams said. Washington has offered to help North Korea fight against the coronavirus, but Pyongyang has not been responsive. For example, President Trump recently sent a letter to Chairman Kim Jong-un, and "expressed his intent to render cooperation in the anti-epidemic work." According to a March 22 statement by Kim Yo-jong, sister of the North Korean leader, the U.S. president said also in the letter, "He was impressed by the efforts made by the chairman to defend his people from the serious threat of the epidemic." Kim Yo-jong's statement also showed that the regime was heading toward becoming an isolated, self-reliant nuclear state. The North keeps developing and testing new types of tactical short-range missiles and large multiple rocket launchers to complement its strategic nuclear arsenal, while struggling to build a self-reliant economy. Pyongyang has made it clear that it will not return to the nuclear talks until Washington drops its hostile policy and stops making "unilateral and greedy demands." To engage the U.S., the North demands a "fair and balanced" level playing field. The North is observing if there is any difference in view between Trump and his advisors regarding North Korea to exploit this to its advantage. Commenting on Trump's letter, Kim Yo-jong, first vice departmental chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Workers Party, welcomed "the good personal relationship" between Trump and her brother. But, she said, "Nobody knows how much the personal relations would change and lead the prospective relations between the two countries." She added, "I think that the bilateral relations and dialoguewould be thinkable only when a dynamic and moral equilibrium is maintained and fairness is assured between the two countries." Pyongyang's foreign ministry has set up a new "bureau of negotiations with the U.S.," suggesting that the business of "negotiations with the U.S." is unfinished. It may have organized the new bureau to study and plan better for future talks with the U.S., if its leadership opts for dialogue. On March 30, the director-general of the new bureau issued a statement to criticize top U.S. diplomat Mike Pompeo's call for "continuing diplomatic and economic pressure against North Korea" at a G7 conference, March 25. The director-general said, "Relationship between the top leaders cannot reverse the U.S. hostile policy towards the DPRK, and the resumption of dialogue much touted by the U.S. is nothing but a decoy to keep us from going our own way." He also said, "We dropped the interest in dialogue, but have become more zealous for our projects aimed to repay the U.S. for the sufferings it has inflicted upon our people. We will go our own way." The same day Yonhap News reported that Pompeo responded to Pyongyang's criticism, reconfirming, "The United States looks forward to sitting down with North Korea's leadership for nuclear talks. The president's position on North Korea and mine has been in lockstep since the very first day I became secretary of state. President Trump has also been clear that international sanctions must continue, until we get to the point where we have made sufficient progress towards denuclearization." Now that COVID-19 has swept all over the world, with more than one million cases and over 64,000 deaths, all countries, including North Korea and the U.S., should concentrate their efforts on human security, to protect the lives of their people, which is the highest priority of any government. More sharing of pandemic experiences are encouraged among the nations. When the world gets through this pandemic crisis, all national governments should use their resources, not on arms build-up or war plans, but for rebuilding the global economy and promoting peaceful cooperation that will benefit the welfare of all nations. Tong Kim ( ) is a visiting professor with the University of North Korean Studies, a visiting scholar with Korea University, a fellow at the Institute of Corean-American Studies, and a columnist for The Korea Times. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to a hospital for tests after showing persistent symptoms of coronavirus, over a week after he tested positive for the virus. British Prime Minister's office and residence confirmed that the Prime Minister has been admitted to a hospital as a "precautionary measure". "On the advice of his doctor, the Prime Minister has tonight been admitted to hospital for tests," Downing Street said as quoted by Al Jazeera. This is a precautionary step, as the Prime Minister continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus 10 days after testing positive for the virus, No 10 said. Johnson, 55, has since then been working from home. The news of Johnson's hospitalisation came on the same day as Queen Elizabeth II's rare televised message to the UK during coronavirus pandemic urging Keir Starmer, the newly elected Labour Party leader, was among those who conveyed their best wishes to Johnson. "Wishing the prime minister well and a speedy recovery," Startmer tweeted. As of Sunday, UK has reported 4, 943 deaths and 47,806 people had tested positive for the virus. On Sunday there had been 621 more coronavirus-related deaths in the past day as per the Johns Hopkins University data. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Even as the national lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus entered the thirteenth day on Monday, as many as 120 fresh COVID-19 cases were reported from Maharashtra, mainly from Mumbai and Pune, taking the total number of the affected people to 868, a Health official said. With seven more deaths reported from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Vasai, including that of a woman who is nine-month pregnant, the overall toll mounted to 52 in the state. The worst-affected Mumbai reported 68 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the tally of affected people to 526 while the death toll from the financial capital went up to 34, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said in a release. Notably, most of the seven deceased had no history of any foreign travel though they were suffering from co-morbities like diabetes or hypertension, the official said. "Out of the total seven deaths in Maharashtra, four are from Mumbai while one each is from Navi Mumbai, Thane and Vasai," he said. Giving the break-up of the 120 fresh COVID-19 cases, the official said that 68 of them are from Mumbai while 41 are from Pune," he said. "The remaining cases included two each from Vasai- Virar area near Mumbai, and Satara and Ahmednagar, while three are from Aurangabad and one each from Jalna and Nashik," he added. The deceased woman (30), who had completed nine months of pregnancy, is probably the youngest fatality of COVID-19 in the state. Out of the 52 deaths in the state so far, 34 are from Mumbai, 9 from Thane region, 5 from Pune and one each from Aurangabad, Buldana, Jalgaon and Amravati, the official said. Out of the total 868 cses in Maharashtra so far, the highest 526 are from Mumbai, 141 from Pune, Sangli (25), Thane region (85), Ahmednagar (23), Nagpur (17), Aurangabad (10), Latur (8), five each from Buldana and Satara, Yavatmal (4), Osmanabad (3). Kolhapur, Ratnagiri, Jalgaon and Nashik have reported two cases each while Sindhudurg, Gondia, Washim, Amravati, Hingoli and Jalna have reported one case each. He said of the 17,563 samples sent for testing so far, 15,808 have been negative while 868 returned positive. A total of 70 people have been discharged so far in the state after recovering from the viral infection, the official added. While a total of 32,521 people are put under home quarantine across the state, 3498 others are put under the institutional quarantine. Talking about the Nizamuddin link, the official said a total of eight people who had returned from the Delhi congregation held last month have tested positive for coronavirus so far. "Out of the eight, two each are from Pune, Pimpri- Chinchwad and Ahmednagar while one each hailed from Hingoli and Washim, he added. According to the official, a total of 175 surveillance teams are pressed into service in the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) area near Mumbai to identify clusters for containment. The number of such teams in Thane and Navi Mumbai is 214 and 178, respectively. "The number of the surveillance teams in Ahmednagar district is 71 and 147 in Buldana," he added. A total of 2,855 survey teams have so far completed surveillance of ten lakh population, he added. Meanwhile, amidst speculations over lifting of the lockdown after April 15, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope has said that no one should be under the impression of its complete withdrawal.. "No one should be under the impression of complete lifting of lockdown from April 15 onwards. The situation between April 10 to 15 will be closely analysed before taking a decision on the lockdown," he told reporters. Meanwhile, two private hospitals in Mumbai were sealed after some of their medical staff, including doctors and nurses, tested positive for the novel coronavirus, civic officials said on Monday. Three doctors and 26 nurses tested positive for novel coronavirus in Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai Central and the facility has been sealed off to prevent the spread of infection, BMC health officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bank of America said Monday that it's seen fierce demand for emergency rescue loans with current applications already accounting for nearly 10% of the entire amount allocated by Congress. The bank confirmed that it has received applications from 177,000 small businesses for a total of $32.6 billion in financing. The current Bank of America numbers are its applications and do not represent the sums the Small Business Administration has approved. The bank was the first major lender to set up and launch its portal for the Paycheck Protection Program though it was quickly inundated with requests. The chaotic and widespread demand stems from the nation's small business owners, who have scrambled to apply for the rescue funds out of fear they could miss out on the historic, $350 billion program. Steven Mnuchin, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, has assured business leaders that he would request more money if that happened, though any additional funding would require congressional approval and face potential hurdles from fiscal conservatives. Federal lawmakers asked banks to help it dole out the $350 billion in loans to small businesses as part of its massive $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill signed last month. Legislators hope that small businesses will use the $350 billion to help keep staff on payroll and mitigate the economic shockwaves caused by state government mandates to self-quarantine and shutter commerce. House Democrats obviously cant prevent the Senate from starting work on its own bill. But they dont need to defer to the Senate, as they did last time. If one of the two parties doesnt have its own plan, it is left in the vulnerable political position of seeming to block a response to a national emergency. There are also substantive reasons for Democrats not to be passive next time: They can insist on a stronger bill than the last one. Republicans, for example, have been resistant to providing generous unemployment benefits which are one of the most effective forms of stimulus, because jobless workers typically spend the benefits they receive. By comparison, when the government sends checks to everyone, regardless of employment status, people who still have jobs often put the money into a savings account. The next bill should also include much more money to help states make the transition to widespread early voting and voting by mail before November. The last bill contained about $400 million, far short of the $2 billion that the Brennan Center for Justice estimates is needed to pay for the transition to different voting systems. Its entirely possible that the virus will still be a serious enough problem in November that some states wont be able to hold normal elections safely. As Richard Hasen of the University of California, Irvine, writes in The Los Angeles Times: With most of the country under a stay-at-home order, in-person voting right now is perilous. We dont know what the situation will be like in November, but vote-by-mail is one way to help ensure that millions of Americans will be able to vote safely. Yet, across the country, some Republican legislators and leaders are opposing efforts to make voting safe and widespread. The Times editorial board explains that tomorrows primary in Wisconsin likely to be a chaotic election, with low turnout may be a preview of whats to come. For more Ella Nilsen, Vox: Despite an initial Democratic push for a bold infrastructure bill to infuse the economy with cash and jobs, the next coronavirus bill Congress may take up later this month could look very similar to the last one it passed. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is already calling it CARES 2. A fourth package could include more direct payments, extended unemployment insurance, health insurance for laid-off workers who lose theirs, and hazard pay for front-line health care workers and other essential employees like grocery store workers, truck drivers, and postal workers Pelosi spent much of this week pushing the idea of a recovery infrastructure package to help get Americans back to work and give struggling state and local governments a boost. But on Friday, she shifted her message, saying infrastructure might be moved to a later bill. If you are not a subscriber to this newsletter, you can subscribe here. You can also join me on Twitter (@DLeonhardt) and Facebook. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. The minutes of meeting is declarative in its nature, foreseeing no legal consequences, including legalizing the occupied Donbas representatives as recognized actors, according to the president's response. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky does not intend to withdraw signatures of his Office Head Andriy Yermak and Ukraine's envoy to the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk Leonid Kuchma from the minutes of meeting laying down the creation of the so-called "advisory council" with the participation of unrecognized representatives of the occupied Donbas. That's according to the president's response to an electronic petition published on his website, urging the state leader to immediately recall said signatures. The minutes of meeting signed in Minsk on March 11 is declarative in its nature, foreseeing no legal consequences, including legalizing the occupied Donbas representatives as recognized actors, according to the president's response. "The Minutes of Meeting is not an international treaty as defined in Article 2 of Law of Ukraine 'On International Treaties of Ukraine', therefore the law does not regulate the President's authorization of signing or decision to withdraw signatures from Minsk TCG's working document of March 11, 2020," the statement says. He recalled that representatives of the occupied territories are involved in talks of TCG's working subgroups with the consent of the three parties Ukraine, Russia, and the OSCE. Read alsoAdvisory Council with Donbas militants could only be created if Germany, France approve idea Vice PM "The signing of the TCG Minutes of Meeting of March 11, 2020, is part of the ongoing work to implement the Package of Measures to Implement the Minsk Agreements of February 12, 2015, as well as other documents that make up the 'package' of arrangements reached in Minsk," the response to the petition reads. Zelensky specified that the minutes of March 11, 2020, stated the intention to create a mechanism for the practical organization of consultations the advisory council. "It is suggested that the advisory council should become a technical tool with advisory functions within the TCG's political subgroup to discuss the aforementioned issues with the participation of Ukrainian citizens both internally displaced persons and Ukrainians residing in the temporarily occupied territories. The issue of setting up the advisory council is subject to substantive deliberation with our international partners members of the Normandy format," said the president. As UNIAN reported earlier, 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 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 cast votes, while one representative each from Russia, Germany, France, and the OSCE were supposed to act in an advisory capacity. Read alsoAdvisory Council with Donbas warlords: canceled or delayed? 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. (Newser) Lisa Neuburger, a 37-year-old nurse in Minnesota, recently had a hospital scare that led her to believe she may have been exposed to the coronavirus. And so, to protect her family, Neuburger moved from her parents' home, where she'd been living with her 11-year-old son, and into a camper. Even though she doesn't know when she'll be able to hug her son again, she's glad she chose to self-isolateespecially since she began feeling sick five days after that hospital scare. Holed up in that camper as she awaits the results of a COVID-19 test, Neuburger is among countless doctors and nurses around the world choosing to move to hotels, tents, garages, and other temporary housing to protect their loved ones, even as they risk exposing themselves to a virus that has claimed tens of thousands of lives, including a number of medical workers, per the AP. story continues below Hotels, business owners, and people who run Airbnb rentals are among those offering lodging, sometimes for free, to doctors and nurses needing to self-isolate. Social media is full of efforts to match medical professionals with temporary housing. One Facebook group connects RV owners with medical workers; in Ireland, a real estate company has used Instagram to offer empty apartments. The extra layer of isolation means those who are risking their own health to save the lives of others are now sacrificing even more as they resign themselves to virtual contact with their kids, parents, and spouses. "It's upsetting, even though you know it's the right decision," says Mica Sosa, a Phoenix nurse who moved into a friends empty condo a few weeks ago. As for Neuburger, "sometimes I just sit here and cry," she says. "But ... I feel like I sleep better knowing I'm not possibly infecting my family." More here, including details on the scare that spurred Neuburger to move. (Read more coronavirus stories.) ALBANY The state Senate adjourned at 3 p.m. on Thursday. The Assembly, roughly 12 hours later. When they return to Albany if at all remains to be seen. The state Legislature had planned for a front-loaded session schedule this year, but only to allow legislators more time to campaign ahead of the June primary. Instead, the novel coronavirus upended all notions of what session would look like, canceling about half of the 15 session days that had been planned in March and leaving legislators unsure when they will resume business this year. The state budget included several policy wins for Democrats including the legalization of gestational surrogacy, a ban on flavored e-cigarettes and the end of the so-called "pink tax" that upcharges women's products. It also included some tweaks to the state's sweeping criminal justice reforms, expanding the number of bail-eligible crimes and allocating additional funding for discovery requirements mitigating, for now, some of the widespread criticism of the reform on both sides of the aisle. But there are also many issues that have gone untouched. Marijuana legalization, for example, fell out of the budget ("too much" to negotiate in "too little time," Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said), as did protections for gig workers (independent contractors, freelance workers), an expansion of the state's free-college initiative, the closure of the "rape intoxication loophole" and other priorities. There are also non-budget issues that legislators had hoped to get across the finish line, as legislative packages supporting the agriculture industry, expanding voting access and bolstering resources for people with disabilities among other issues have passed only one chamber and await consideration in the other. Just one legislative package a series of limousine safety reforms had passed both houses. The Senate intends to continue legislating this year, Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins told reporters at the Capitol last week, though the timeline is uncertain. "If we've understood nothing, we should have understood that nothing is promised for us," she said. "So if you can get something done if you can figure out things do it while you can. We'll be meeting again, and we'll be accomplishing so much more." The Senate majority in January identified nine main priorities for the 2020 legislative session, including "improving college affordability," "combating opioid misuse," increasing "gun safety" and "protecting children by advancing day care safety." On Saturday, Cuomo highlighted marijuana legalization and gig worker protections as two issues he would still like to address. But he speculated that, while the Legislature has the final word, "I think it's fair to say [session is] effectively over." That comment sparked immediate backlash from multiple members of the state Legislature, who asserted on social media that work would continue, even if through teleconferencing or other technology. (Cuomo's senior adviser Rich Azzopardi later clarified: "This is why Twitter is dumb. The governor was asked for his opinion but clearly said it was up to the Legislature. They did great work under trying circumstances this budget season, and if they want to return, I'm sure that work will continue.") "As always, the Assembly stands ready to protect and provide for the well-being of all New Yorkers," Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie said in a Saturday statement. "Last week, we established a system for remote voting and we are on call to perform our constitutional duties as a co-equal branch of government. The Assembly is in recess (session is not over) at the call of the speaker." In January, Heastie had said cutting the cost of higher education and addressing opioid misuse were priorities for his conference, as well as investing in affordable housing and expanding access to affordable health care. At the same time, Republicans in both chambers had said repealing bail reform was their top concern heading into session. The reform, tucked into last year's budget and enacted in January, eliminated the use of pre-trial detention and cash bail for most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies but GOP legislators said the law was too lax and allowed dangerous criminals back on the streets. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Their hopes were answered in part as legislators agreed late last week to increase the number of bail-eligible crimes, adding offenses like sex trafficking, aggravated assault and any crime involving the death of another person. But both minority conferences have maintained that the law should be rolled back entirely and reworked. "Last year, they got this ill-conceived bail reform law on the books in the budget, and it seems crazy to me that were trying to amend the bail reform bill in this budget," Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay said in an interview Thursday afternoon. Both Republican conferences had been pushing for lowered taxes this session, linking financial stress to growing population loss across the state. The Assembly minority had also hoped to address the opioid crisis and ramp up charges for drug dealers. But even if lawmakers do not have time this session to tackle those priorities, legislators in both chambers anticipate taking up additional measures over the next several weeks to respond directly to the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on New Yorkers. As fallout from the virus' COVID-19 illness shuttered businesses statewide, both Republican conferences had introduced a small business relief package that was blocked in the final budget. "The No. 1 priority now is to take care of the dual health and economic crisis facing New York," said Senate GOP spokeswoman Candice Giove. "Republican senators are ready to respond to this emergency in the coming days, weeks and months ahead." The original session calendar gives lawmakers a two-week break after the passage of the budget, scheduling them to reconvene on April 20. There are six additional session days scheduled for this month, 11 in May and two in June. But for now, both houses are adjourned, awaiting the call of the Senate majority leader or the Assembly speaker. Mumbai: The net worth of India's richest man Mukesh Ambani dropped 28 per cent or USD 300 million a day for two months to USD 48 billion as on March 31 due to the massive correction in stock markets, a report said on Monday. The chairman and managing director of the diversified Reliance Industries saw his wealth decline to USD 19 billion, taking his global ranking down eight places to 17th, the Hurun Global Rich List said. Other Indian businessmen who have seen a major drop in wealth include Gautam Adani whose wealth eroded by USD 6 billion or 37 per cent, HCL Technologies' Shiv Nadar (USD 5 billion or 26 per cent) and banker Uday Kotak (USD 4 billion or 28 per cent), it said. All the three have dropped off the top 100 list, leaving Ambani as the only Indian in the league. The Indian market has corrected by 25 per cent in the last two months as the economic costs and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on companies led to a sell off across the world. India's top entrepreneurs have been hit by a 26 per cent drop in the stock markets and a 5.2 per cent drop in the value of the rupee compared with the US Dollar. For Mukesh Ambani, it has been a perfect storm, with his wealth down 28 per cent, Hurun Report India Managing Director Anas Rahman said. With hospitality coming under intense pressure due to the pandemic, shared economy platform Oyo Rooms' Ritesh Agarwal is no more a billionaire, the rich list said. Others in the top-10 list of wealth losers also include Carlos Slim and family, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page, Sergey Brin and Michael Bloomberg, it said. Amazon's Jeff Bezos continues to be the richest man in the world with a networth of USD 131 billion, which has slid only by 9 per cent during the last two months and is followed by Bill Gates with a fortune of USD 91 billion (down 14 per cent), Buffet and Arnault. Chinese billionaires were among the few gainers in the last two months, and included promoters of video conferencing and pork meat producing companies, it said. While India lost three rankings in the top-100 rankings, China added six billionaires in the league, it said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 6) The 21 residents of Sitio San Roque who were arrested last Wednesday after holding a protest demanding for food aid have been freed after posting bail. The Save San Roque alliance reported Monday that the 21 protesters have each posted a 15,000 bail bond, which was partly funded by the family of Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan and actors Ria Atayde and Enchong Dee. The group also said the 21 were also required to pay a processing fee of 2,500. They were also asked to give an affidavit of undertaking, a waiver, a house sketch, barangay certification of residency and clearance, nine copies of 2x2 photos. The whole process just shows how anti-poor the current justice system is, said Nanoy Rafael from the Save San Roque Alliance. From the bail bond- which is equivalent to more than a months wage, to the mountain of requirements these already put the marginalized families at a disadvantage. The 21 had staged a protest clamoring for food aid, which they said they have not yet received. Authorities said this was in violation of the rules against mass gatherings in place while Luzon is under an enhanced community quarantine. The local government of Quezon City denied these claims, saying there has been "continuous distribution of food packs throughout the city, both from the local government and the barangays to ensure that affected families are looked after during this crisis period." "Nevertheless, the mayor has instructed city personnel to review the list to make sure nobody has been inadvertently left out," it added. The city government said the group Kadamay instigated individuals to hold the rally and claim they were not given aid. The protesters are facing charges for violation of the Public Assembly Act of 1985, Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act and Resistance and Disobedience to a Person in Authority. Malaika Arora is one of the most influential personalities in Bollywood. The actor is always seen giving fans major fashion and fitness goals. Malaika Arora is often lauded by her fans for her fit body and her fashion choices. As per reports, the actor is also very conscious about her health and is also seen promoting health-related products. Apart from that, Maliaka Arora is spotted outside her gym giving fans a glimpse of her gym avatar. But seems like the gym is not the only place that Malaika works out. Malaika Arora does not take a break from working out even while shes on a holiday and the picture below stands proof. Malaika Arora is quite active on social media is often seen posting several pictures and videos. Earlier last year, Malaika Arora went on a holiday to the Maldives on a sabbatical. And while the actor was indulging in some lovely time during the holiday Malaika Arora managed to keep some time out for her workout session. And this picture, Malaika Arora can be seen practising yoga by the poolside on a bright sunny day. Along with the beautiful poolside picture that was shared by the actor, Malaika Arora went on to share tips with her fans recommending them to do yoga. She also told fans to workout every day and see the change. Check out Malaika Aroras stunning workout picture by the poolside. Also read | Malaika Arora Seems To Enjoy All Perks Of Staying Home As She Shares Her Lockdown Routine Seeing the picture uploaded by Malaika Arora, fans went on to compliment the actor for her dedication. One of her fans went on to call her fab to while the other said that she has The hottest body in Bollywood. Check out a few comments from fans who went on to compliment Malaika Arora. Also read | Malaika Arora On Her Separation From Arbaaz: Everyone Was Against It Initially Also read | Malaika Arora To Shruti Haasan: Celeb-inspired Recipes To Try During Lockdown Also read | Malaika Arora's Love For Her Pet Dog 'Casper' Is Evident From These Pics 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. By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said he may get involved in a deepening crisis in the Navy after its top civilian on Monday ridiculed a revered former commander whose letter pleading for help for his coronavirus-stricken aircraft carrier was leaked to the public. In a surprise speech to crew members of the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt that was meant to be a private address, Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly defended his decision to relieve Captain Brett Crozier of his command due to the leak. "If he didn't think that information was going to get out into the public in this information age that we live in, then he was A, too naive or too stupid to be a commanding officer of a ship like this," Modly said on the carrier while it was docked in Guam on Monday. "The alternative is that he did it on purpose." Crozier, who took command of the Theodore Roosevelt in November, had written a four-page letter describing a bleak situation aboard the carrier as more of his crew began falling ill. Modly said the letter, and the leak, amounted to a betrayal by the captain, who was responsible one way or another. U.S. officials verified the recording of Modly's speech heard by Reuters. After an initial statement saying he stood by every word of his speech, Modly later apologized, saying: "I do not think Captain Brett Crozier is naive nor stupid." President Donald Trump, in a White House briefing, suggested he might be able to resolve the situation. "You have two good people and they're arguing... I'm good at settling these arguments. So I may look into it in great detail, in detail and I'll be able to figure it out very fast," he said. Crozier should not have sent his letter, but he did not "want to destroy somebody for having a bad day," Trump said. A sailor on board the ship told Reuters that Modly's speech only angered the crew. Story continues "Nobody likes what he had to say... He made everyone more irritated," said the sailor, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Crozier's crew members showed their disapproval of Modly's decision by posting videos online last week of their captain's emotional sendoff. Sailors hailed Crozier as a hero, out to defend his crew at great cost to his career. Some 173 crew have tested positive so far, possibly including Crozier himself. Modly and Trump have both been criticized for the decision to relieve Crozier of command. Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Adam Smith, a Democrat, called on Monday for Modly's removal. "Acting Secretary Modly's decision to address the sailors on the Roosevelt and personally attack Captain Crozier shows a tone-deaf approach more focused on personal ego than one of the calm, steady leadership we so desperately need in this crisis," Smith said in a statement. Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden said Modly "shot the messenger." In his letter, Crozier 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 families of those on the vessel. One U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said military officials had recommended against firing Crozier, arguing that it was better for an investigation to be complete. The official said Modly was made aware that the White House wanted Crozier out, though it does not appear that Trump directed him to do so. (Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart. Additional repoting by Jeff Mason.; Editing by Paul Simao, David Gregorio, Howard Goller and Sonya Hepinstall) ATLANTA, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), a leading omnichannel provider of lease-purchase solutions, announced its Woodhaven Furniture manufacturing facility in Coolidge, Georgia, has converted manufacturing capacity to produce much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, sheets and gowns, to donate to local medical centers. Aaron's has partnered with PruittHealth, a healthcare organization that offers skilled nursing care, home health care and other medical services across the Southeast, to donate thousands of protective cloth masks over the next few weeks. Aaron's is also exploring its capabilities to provide hospital gowns, hospital bedding and mattresses, both for medical and other humanitarian needs during this time of crisis. "No one is being spared from this crisis. Yet, it's in times like these when we must ask ourselves how we can help others," said John Robinson, Chief Executive Officer of Aaron's, Inc. "Aaron's has a long history of giving back to the communities we serve, especially in a time of crisis. We hope that by providing PPE to the heroes on the frontlines of this pandemic that we make a positive difference during this difficult time." "Under the leadership of Tommy Harper, Vice President of Manufacturing, Woodhaven Furniture initiated its 'Sew Happy to Help' project and has converted cut-and-sewing functions of its furniture manufacturing capacity to produce much-needed PPE supplies to support local communities throughout Georgia and elsewhere," Robinson added. "We deeply appreciate Aaron's for providing this essential PPE to PruittHealth in this time of crisis," said Neil Pruitt, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, PruittHealth. "Our caregivers rely on PPE to keep themselves safe while caring for patients. Aaron's is demonstrating the important impact businesses can have fighting this pandemic, protecting both healthcare providers and patients." Georgia Governor Brian Kemp also thanked Aaron's for "using their unique capabilities to make a difference in the community. This display of strong leadership from a corporate citizen is an example to all in our fight against COVID-19." About Aaron's, Inc. Headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), is a leading omnichannel provider of lease-purchase solutions. Progressive Leasing provides lease-purchase solutions through approximately 22,000 retail partner locations in 46 states and the District of Columbia, including e-commerce merchants. The Aaron's Business engages in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of furniture, home appliances, consumer electronics and accessories through its approximately 1,500 Company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states, Puerto Rico and Canada, as well as its e-commerce platform, Aarons.com. Vive Financial ("Vive", formerly Dent- A-Med, Inc.), provides a variety of second-look credit products that are originated through federally-insured banks. For more information, visit investor.aarons.com, Aarons.com, ProgLeasing.com, and ViveCard.com. About PruittHealth A family-owned organization for 50 years, PruittHealth provides a seamless network of post-acute care services and resources, offering skilled nursing care, home health care, end-of-life hospice care, therapy services, as well as pharmacy and infusion services across the Southeast. Our 16,000 employed partners serve approximately 24,000 patients daily in more than 180 locations in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. For more information about our commitment to caring, visit pruitthealth.com SOURCE Aaron's, Inc. Related Links http://Aarons.com [April 06, 2020] Nokia publishes People & Planet Report 2019 as it looks to keep people connected through the pandemic Press Release Nokia publishes People & Planet Report 2019 as it looks to keep people connected through the pandemic 6 April 2020 Espoo, Finland Nokia has today published its annual sustainability report, covering the companys sustainability performance in 2019 and focusing on four priority areas: improving people's lives with technology, climate, conducting business with integrity, and people. The publication of Nokias People & Planet Report 2019 coincides with the COVID-19 pandemic. With entire countries in lockdown, and people asked to stop or minimize their physical interactions, network traffic has been spiking around the world, demonstrating the critical roles of networks and connectivity. Nokias People & Planet Report 2019 looks at how we can improve the lives of people our employees, customers, and wider society and better care for our environment at the same time. The context our report is being published in has changed because of the coronavirus pandemic, but the fundamental issues remain the same, and, if anything, now have greater urgency because of the challenge the world faces, said Rajeev Suri, President and CEO of Nokia, in a blog post . Trends and technologies that were already happening will speed up. So more remote working and video conferencing will increase the need for better connectivity. The power of 5G and lower latency times wont be abstract terms for the majority of people, but suddenly critical for everything from digital health to financial trading, to virtual classrooms, to government and international diplomacy, he continued. We are playing our part to keep the world connected through the pandemic. And we want to play our part in building a better world for everyone when this crisis is over, Suri said. Nokias sustainability achievements in 2019 included: In 2019, the networks Nokia supplied to its customers supported 6.4 billion subscriptions worldwide In October 2019, Nokia completed its first external human rights assessment for the Global Network Initiative (GNI). The GNI board found Nokia had made good faith efforts over time to implement the GNI Principles on freedom of expression and privacy. As part of Nokias inclusion and diversity work in 2019, Nokia closed the unexplained pay gap based on pay equity analysis we conducted with Mercer. In May 2019, Nokia launched its Helping Hands volunteering and engagement program for employees. Through Nokias community investment programs, the company has cumulatively improved the lives of 1,633,500 people globally since 2016 a strong performance against its 2025 target of 2,000,000 people. At the United Nations 2019 climate summit, Nokia joined a group of 87 companies in committing to recalibrate its existing science-based climate targets in line with the 1.5C warming scenario. Nokia delivered zero-emission products to over 150 customers globally. 46% less energy was used on average in the customer base-station sites Nokia modernized in 2019 compared to those where its customers did not modernize. The People and Planet Report 2019 is prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative GRI Standards and is compliant with the UN Global Compact. The selected key sustainability indicators have been assured by the independent auditor of Nokia, PricewaterhouseCoopers Oy. About Nokia We create the technology to connect the world. Only Nokia offers a comprehensive portfolio of network equipment, software, services and licensing opportunities across the globe. With our commitment to innovation, driven by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, we are a leader in the development and deployment of 5G networks. Our communications service provider customers support more than 6.4 billion subscriptions with our radio networks, and our enterprise customers have deployed over 1,300 industrial networks worldwide. Adhering to the highest ethical standards, we transform how people live, work and communicate. For our latest updates, please visit us online www.nokia.com and follow us on Twitter @nokia. Media Inquiries: Nokia Communications Phone: +358 10 448 4900 Email: [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Story Highlights Trust in business leadership has fallen from 41% in 2019 to 27% today Employees worried about personal safety are at risk of disengagement Creating and communicating a clear plan will help win back trust A recent Gallup survey in Germany shows a disturbing discovery among German employees: a growing sense during the COVID-19 pandemic that corporate leadership can't be trusted to manage emerging challenges and that leaders don't care about employees' wellbeing. In fact, one-third of German employees (32%) strongly agree that their organization cares about their wellbeing, and a quarter of workers (27%) strongly agree that they have confidence "in the leadership of the company to successfully manage emerging challenges." And no question elicited a majority strong-positive response -- not even close. 33% strongly agree that their employer has communicated a clear plan of action in response to the coronavirus 26% are confident that their company's health policies will keep them safe 33% feel well prepared to do their job 39% say their immediate supervisor keeps them informed about what is going on in their organization Either leaders' COVID-19 plans are lacking or they're failing to communicate them effectively. As a result, trust in business leadership to successfully manage emerging challenges has fallen significantly, from 41% in 2019 to 27% today. The COVID-19 situation is shaking employees' confidence in company leadership. Gallup found that just 8% of those who believe their leaders have no clear plan to deal with COVID-19 strongly agree that those leaders are prepared to manage emerging challenges -- and among those who disagree with the statement "I have confidence in the leadership of the company to successfully manage emerging challenges," zero employees are engaged. This should be of serious concern to businesses because only 15% of adults working for an employer in Germany are engaged, and employees' beliefs affect business performance: Employees who are worried about their personal safety and job security are at risk of disengagement, and disengaged workers tend to be unfocused and unmotivated. Actively disengaged employees, who comprise 16% of the workforce in Germany, are inclined to commit deliberate or passive sabotage. That's disastrous in any organization, and a threat to those bracing for an economic downturn. Leaders Must Act Fast to Win Back Trust German business leaders need to turn this around quickly. Even slight doubts about leaders' ability to deal with COVID-19 reduces employees' confidence in management to master challenges ahead. For example, when asked to rate their level of agreement (on a 1-to-5 scale, where 1 means strongly disagree and 5 means strongly agree) with the statement "My employer has communicated a clear plan of action in response to the coronavirus or COVID-19," 60% of those who rate it a 5 also strongly agree that they "have confidence in the leadership of the company to successfully manage emerging challenges." Among those who rate the "clear plan of action" item as a 4 instead of a 5, only 24% strongly agree that they have confidence in leadership to manage emerging challenges. The data suggest that workers see having a clear COVID-19 plan as synonymous with having the ability to handle problems. So obviously, a clear, data-based crisis management response is necessary. Gallup recommends including an audit of employee opinions in that plan. That audit will show leaders where employees most need their support. Then, leaders must communicate that plan frequently, honestly and companywide. The data suggest that workers see having a clear COVID-19 plan as synonymous with having the ability to handle problems. So obviously, a clear, data-based crisis management response is necessary. Employee wellbeing is fundamental to that plan, so leaders should clarify how their decisions can help keep people safe from the novel coronavirus contagion. However, physical health is not the only criterion of wellbeing -- Gallup research finds five discrete elements. Employers must show a compassionate, personal interest in employees' concerns about emotional isolation, job insecurity and health to sustain their wellbeing. Long-term research in Germany shows that this is an atypical management approach for most leaders -- who tend to value professional and technical expertise with a focus on efficient processes more than the management of human emotions -- but a necessary change. Companies that appear to dismiss employee wellbeing will not be trusted by their employees or their customers, not now and not when the pandemic has ended. That ending may arrive in Germany sooner than elsewhere. Health experts say the COVID-19 curve is already flattening, largely because of Germans' disciplined approach to social distancing. Gallup finds steady increases in the practice, which implies that German businesses may be among the first to return to normal operations. Will they return with the trust of their employees? No, not if current trends continue. But it's not too late to win back their employees' trust and engagement -- and along with those, their business' ability to produce and compete at peak performance when the pandemic ends. Learn more about leading through disruption and stay up to date on Gallup's COVID-19 research: Register for this weekly webcast for Gallup's latest COVID-19 data and insights. Read more articles like this one. Check out our resource page, COVID-19: Leading Through Disruption. One of Mount Lawleys most iconic pubs, The Flying Scotsman, looks set to close after 20 years. On Monday morning the pub's owners announced via social media its lease would not be renewed. The Flying Scotsman looks set to close. Credit:Facebook During these tough times it seems the landlord does not want us to renew the lease, the pub's Facebook post read. We will hold on to our memories of the Scotto forever and what an amazing ride it has been over the last twenty years. Uday Kotak-led Kotak Mahindra Bank has reported rise in their deposit portfolios during January-March period, and also announced a cut in savings account rates for high value customers. The private lender reported a 19.6 per cent growth in total deposits, excluding Certificate of Deposits (CPs), at Rs 2.58 lakh crore during the March quarter of this fiscal, compared to Rs 2.16 lakh crore in the same quarter last year. On the quarter-on-quarter basis, the aggregate deposits increased by 11.7 per cent from Rs 2.31 lakh crore as of 31 December 2019, Kotak Mahindra Bank said in a filing to Bombay Stock Exchange on Monday. While the current deposits rose by 10.5 per cent to Rs 43,000 crore in Q4FY20 verus Rs 38,901 crore in Q4FY19, savings accounts grew sharply by 31.3 per cent to Rs 1.04 lakh crore from Rs 79,685 crore in the year-ago period. The Certificate of Deposits declined to Rs 4,400 crore as compared to Rs 9,731 crore in the corresponding period last year and Rs 8,103 crore in December quarter of this fiscal. Kotak Mahindra Bank's CASA ratio, the ratio of deposits in current and saving accounts to total deposits, climbed to 56.2 per cent in Q4FY20, as against 52.5 per cent as of Q4FY19 and 53.7 per cent as of Q3FY20. A higher CASA ratio means major portion of the deposits of the bank has come from current and savings deposit, which indicates a lower cost of funds. Also Read: Deposits in HDFC Bank rise 24% in March quarter, advances up 21% During the January-March period of this fiscal, net advances have grown by 6.7 per cent on yearly basis to Rs 2.19 lakh crore. On quarterly basis, the net advances rose merely by 1.3 per cent to Rs 2.16 lakh crore. The bank has also slashed the rate offered for deposits of over Rs 1 lakh in the savings account to 5 per cent from the 6 per cent earlier, while those under Rs 1 lakh will continue to earn 4 per cent. Earlier today, HDFC Bank saw its deposits growing by 24.2 per cent to Rs 11.46 lakh crore in March 2020, from Rs 9.23 lakh crore on March 31. On the quarter-on-quarter basis, the aggregate deposits rose by 7.41 per cent from Rs 10.67 lakh crore as of 31 December 2019, HDFC said in a filing to Bombay Stock Exchange. Many of banks, especially private sector lenders, have filed limited set of results over the past week, to decimate investor concerns in the aftermath of the Covid-19 crisis and also clear doubts on their health in the wake of the YES BANK crisis. It can be noted that rival including YES Bank, RBL Bank and Indusind Bank have saw a fall in their deposit base in recent time. While RBL Bank lost about 8 per cent of its deposits in the March quarter, YES Bank saw a 34 per cent or Rs 71,991 crore decline in its deposit base between September 2019 to March 5, indicating a complete break of trust in the bank. YES Bank's deposit base had fallen considerably from Rs 2.09 lakh crore in September 2019 to Rs 1.37 lakh crore as on March 5, 2020, amid concerns over long-term viability of the bank and its ability to raise fund. Crisis-hit YES Bank has been bailed out by the government and the RBI along with a slew of lenders. Also Read: Coronavirus update: 697 fresh COVID-19 cases, 109 deaths reported so far Also Read: Infosys Q4 revenue to take 130bps hit; FY21 outlook gloomy: Analyst report Purchasers of travel insurance are finding their policies all but worthless as the global pandemic forces them to change their plans, or worse, leaves them sick at sea. Most travel insurance companies wont provide reimbursements for canceled trips due to the coronavirus, according to New Yorks Department of Financial Services. In addition, some insurers flagged Covid-19 as a known event in January, meaning policies bought after that wont pay out due to virus-related interruptions. Just found out that not going to Europe after a travel ban to Europe was put in place isnt covered by travel insurance. So I guess Im already doing my part to bail out the airlines. Jane McManus (@janesports) March 25, 2020 Allianz SE, the German insurance giant that is one of the largest sellers of policies, said it is accommodating claims from customers who become ill with Covid-19 either before or during their trip. That could include providing compensation for a canceled trip or emergency medical care on one. But many consumers say their claims have been denied, and theyve taken to social media to complain. NEVER EVER use @Allianz flight insurance theyre not accepting the coronavirus PANDEMIC as a valid reason to cancel a flight! The 15 step process includes testing positive for coronavirus. Faxing the results. Canceling your own flight, etc FU, Allianz BLOOP! (@susiemcdonnell) March 26, 2020 The parents of Jih-Hao Cheng, a lawyer from Southern California, had planned for a year to go on Holland America Lines cruise to explore South America. When coronavirus struck, he asked his parents if they should reconsider. His dad, Min-Lee Cheng, a public health administrator, said he trusted the cruise line to cancel the trip on the Zaandam if passengers safety was at stake. Still, the couple purchased travel insurance from Allianz that includes emergency medical evacuation and repatriation just to be safe. Little did they realize they would be in need of it. A day after they boarded the vessel on March 7, the U.S. State department advised Americans not get on a cruise. Then Chile refused to allow the ship to dock, while Peru, Ecuador and other destinations on their route closed their ports. About two weeks into their voyage, Cheng and his wife, Shou-Yinn Cheng, both came down with fever. By then, the entire ship was under quarantine, and the couple and all of the passengers were forced to stay in their cabins. Four passengers died, while nine would become infected with Covid-19 by the end of the trip. Back in Southern California, their sons worried. The couple recovered from their fever, but their father became more lethargic and didnt eat. We were concerned his immune system and health were compromised, said one son. He wasnt getting better, and the medical staff on board were too overwhelmed to give him attention. They were low on medicine. Cheng called up Allianz to try to get a medical evacuation for his parents. The agent brought up clauses they werent aware of. The coverage would be waived in the case of a pandemic or if the event was foreseen, he was told. The agent pointed out that coronavirus had plagued other cruise ships, which attracted global media attention, before the couple began their cruise. They were essentially denying the claim, Cheng said. These ship insurance policies are a total scam. Theyre shirking responsibility. A spokesman for Allianz said the company would look into the matter. On Thursday, the Zaandam finally docked in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, proving what may be an exit for the Chengs. Bloomberg Photo: Passengers are transported in an ambulance from the Zaandam cruise ship at the Port of Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on April 2. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics COVID-19 Aviation Allianz Campus News A seniors perspective: Coping with change By GINA CARBONE Change now became inevitable. It threatened my education, relationships and family. This was more than I had signed up for. Then I realized what I could do with this change. I have always thought of change as a good thing, something to embrace with open arms and courage. But this change Id always been so willing to accept has become far more than I bargained for, especially when it abruptly entered the final semester of my senior year at UB. First, I received news of my father. A phone call from my mother a few weeks before spring break revealed that the man who always served as my rock, my role model, my hero, was diagnosed with cancer. Luckily, early detection saved his life, yet this news still came as a shock. But I knew what had to be done. Embrace this change, I told myself. I knew as a family we would get through this, even though this change not only worried me, it terrified me. The mere idea of seeing somebody I loved so much going through treatment was not something I felt ready to endure. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic. It was as if everything around me began to change so rapidly I couldnt keep up. Ready to head off to my first spring break away from home, I no longer could travel. COVID-19 was spreading and back home, my father was immunocompromised from cancer treatment. I couldnt take any chances. Change, I braced myself, here it comes again. I cancelled my trip and headed home. They say change comes in waves. When I arrived home for spring break, my classes transitioned online. Distance-learning, they called it, would begin. Normal day-to-day life would end. Little did I know that I wouldnt return to UB for the remainder of the semester. My online classes still promoted connection and open communication. My professors encouraged video conferencing and email correspondence to hold onto some semblance of usual coursework. It seemed ironic. My major, communications, now relied on virtual connectivity to keep on track. I didnt mind the change. I remained optimistic, as I always told myself I would, when confronted with it. As a means of communication, professors encouraged students to use the discussion board via UBLearns to converse and share feedback on assignments and postings. I received email upon email assuring me the transition would be smooth. Luckily, my courses relied on technology for the submittal of weekly assignments. The professors seemed to adapt smoothly. This would be OK, I thought after the first week. But online learning was just one element. As a backdrop to students new normal, New York entered a state of emergency. News outlets call it New York State on pause. As of this writing my hometown, Rockland County, had suffered with 623 confirmed cases of the virus and five deaths. We entered quarantine. I was unable to leave the house for anything other than groceries and medical supplies. I was strongly encouraged to social-distance and avoid interacting with anyone outside my immediate family. Change, I thought, its here to stay. I continued distance learning while my mother, who works in the medical field, continued to work as an essential employee. I worried. Change now became inevitable. It threatened my education, relationships and family. This was more than I had signed up for. Then I realized what I could do with this change. I wake up early every morning. I make my bed. I go for a run. I cook breakfast for myself and my siblings. I help run errands for my grandmother. I continue taking advantage of my education. I spend quality time with my father. This change that terrified me, that halted my ability to accept the reality of my new day-to-day life, was drastic, scary and certainly unexpected. But its given me power to control how it affects me. Although Im unable to connect with friends and relatives face to face, I have found the beauty in reaching out via phone call and text message. Simply reminding the important people in my life that I am still here and how much they mean to me has become a powerful social conjunction. Ive rediscovered my love of reading, cooking and drawing. Writing has always soothed me, a great way to process feelings and emotions. Writing about adjusting and coping with change has been a healthy outlet of expression. The love for these hobbies once buried under technological dependence, college stressors and daily distraction is still there. Self-care has become my priority. Taking time throughout my day to relax, meditate, pray is invaluable. I typically neglect prioritizing my mental and physical health due to the demands of daily life responsibilities. Quarantine has forced me to reflect on my well-being and become comfortable with being alone. In a society driven by social interaction, approval and judgment, this distancing has the ability to heal my dependence on these variables. The transition to distance learning, the abrupt ending to my senior year of college, moving back in with my family and rediscovering comfort within myself have been difficult to accept, yet part of the change I feared. Coping with these unexpected changes has revealed to me my character, strength and resilience. During a time of increased isolation and decreased social interaction, I have found acknowledging and allowing time to process my feelings and emotions is restorative. One of my favorite quotes from Debasish Mridha, an American author and physician, proves this change to be beneficial: When there are no changes, there is no life. A plant has to change to bloom. The search for two campers who went missing in Victoria's high country more than two weeks ago has been called off. Russell Hill, 74, left his Drouin home in the state's east on March 19 to go on a camping trip across several sites along the Dargo River in Victoria's north-east. Russell Hill and Carol Clay have been missing for more than two weeks. Carol Clay, 73, told friends she was heading away for a few days and expected to be home by March 29. But they have not been heard from since March 20, when Mr Hill made radio contact from a remote station in the Alps. B oris Johnson is said to be "doing well" in hospital as he undergoes tests due to his ongoing coronavirus symptoms. The Prime Minister is being subjected to "routine tests" after being admitted to hospital on Sunday , where he spent the night in care. Housing and communities secretary Robert Jenrick said Mr Johnson would return to Downing Street "as soon as possible" and insisted he is still in charge of the Government. He spent the night in hospital and of course we all wish him well and we hope that as a result of these tests he will be able to come back to Downing Street as soon as possible," Mr Jenrick told BBC Radio 4's Today. What does Boris Johnsons hospital admission mean? Hes been working extremely hard leading the Government and being constantly updated. Thats going to continue. "Obviously today hes in hospital having the tests, but he will continue to be kept informed as to whats happening and to be in charge of the Government." He added: Im sure this is very frustrating for him, for somebody like Boris who wants to be hands running the Government from the front, but nonetheless hes still very much in charge of the Government. Mr Jenrick expressed his hope the PM will return to Downing Street "shortly". 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 Asked about the possibility of him spending further time in hospital, Mr Jenrick said: He will obviously take the advice of doctors and nurses who are doing those tests and act accordingly. Its worth underlining that going to hospital was a precautionary step, hes undergoing some routine tests on the advice of his doctors, this isnt an emergency admission, and so I certainly expect that he will be back at Number 10 shortly. The Prime Minister has been in self-isolation for more than a week having been diagnosed with coronavirus . Coronavirus in numbers: UK hospital deaths at 4,934 Ms Symonds, who is pregnant, said she spent the last week in bed afflicted with illness. People across the political spectrum have expressed sympathies for the pair. Listen to The Leader: Coronavirus Daily podcast Former Prime Minister Tony Blair this morning said Mr Johnson's situation is "hellish". He told Today: I have every sympathy and solidarity with him. I know it must be a hellish situation to be in. The death toll of coronavirus patients in UK hospitals is 4,934. Unwise Decisions Can Result From Survival Extinct When a Quebec couple recently travelled to the far reaches of Yukon in a bid to escape the novel CCP virus, only to be turned away, it seemed a textbook case of pandemic-generated panic. But while it was an extreme example, experts say the daily assault of information about COVID-19 can distort peoples estimation of the risk the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus poses to them, which leads to both good and bad behaviour. Dana Tizya-Tramm chief of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation in Old Crow, Yukon, told The Canadian Press that when the Quebec couple got off the plane March 27, they displayed a palpable fear of the pandemic. He said he told the couple, whom he didnt identify, that Old Crow couldnt shelter newcomers who might spread the CCP virus among its 250 residents-and then he sent them packing. Unused Air Canada check-in kiosks are seen at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Canada, on April 1, 2020. (Cole Burston/Getty Images) McGill University psychology professor Ross Otto says there is a well-established psychological principle that may explain the couples decision to flee to the North. In the early 1970s, psychologists Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman posited that humans have trouble estimating the likelihood of something happening to them because they are influenced by examples that come readily to mind. People may overestimate their chances of dying of terrorism, for example, because of how often that kind of violence is reported on the news. And, Otto said, they may underestimate their chances of dying of more commonbut less talked about causes, such as bowel cancer. Today, there is such a deluge of information about COVID-19 infections and deaths that people are going to overstate or overestimate their own chances of dying of coronavirus-related causes, Otto suggests. In some cases, that will spur people to flee to remote areas and put others at risk, to hoard toilet paper or behave in other ethically questionable ways. But, Otto said, that distorted judgment can actually help society by facilitating self-isolating behaviour. The fear of death prompted by photos of coffins in Italy and stories of doctors having to ration ventilators can make even the most selfish person act in a way that benefits the greater good. The more afraid you are of death, the more it behooves you to self-isolate, he said. And the more people isolate, the less the CCP virus spreads. Father Peter Turrone pauses as he leads a Palm Sunday mass to an empty church at the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Toronto, Canada, on April 5, 2020. (Cole Burston/Getty Images) In Quebecs more remote corners, authorities last month began to worry about an influx of city-dwellers fleeing CCP virus hotspots. We started to hear more and more about owners from Montreal, of chalets in this area and in Gaspe, who had already come to the regions to isolate themselves from COVID, Marc Parent, mayor of Rimouski, Que., said in a recent interview. And we heard of hotels that started receiving travellers from the Montreal area . It began worrying people. So public health officials in the region of eastern Quebec asked the province to block access to their towns and villages, according to Parent. On March 28, the Quebec government ordered police to set up checkpoints, severely curtailing access to eight remote regions, including the Bas-Saint-Laurent, where Rimouski is located. Last week the province extended the restrictions, banning all non-essential travel to much of cottage country north of Montreal, and to Charlevoix, northeast of Quebec City. Dr. Natasha Crowcroft, a public health expert at the University of Toronto, said the pandemic might be triggering peoples survival instinct, causing them to want to flee from the CCP virus. But, she added, its up to authorities to reinforce the message that home is the safest place. Furthermore, she said, unless someone is already living off the land and is self-sufficient, leaving a city to escape a fastspreading CCP virus may not be the smartest thing to do. People who flee urban centres may still be at risk of becoming infected, but with fewer health-care resources to help them, she said: The idea that fear distorts peoples assessment of risk is a really important one. A sign at the Princess of Wales theatre in Toronto, Ontario urges residents to wash their hands frequently during the Covid-19 outbreak, in Ontario, Canada, on March 24, 2020. (Geoff Robins / AFP via Getty Images) Most of the public health messaging so far has been to urge Canadians to stay home out of civic duty, she noted. A more effective approach, Crowcroft said, would be to appeal to the idea that people are scared of things they dont understand, and that home is a familiar place its a safe place to be. Back in Old Crow, Tizya-Tramm said the couple, who he estimated were in their late 20s or early 30s, had arrived with neither a place to stay nor proper attire for the weather. He didnt have even mitts on, the chief said last week. Its minus 30 here today. Otto and colleagues at McGill are conducting research on whether peoples cognitive functions are being negatively affected by the CCP virus. He said he wonders whether the panic caused by COVID-19 can cause excessive rumination, or a stress response, which he said is known to throw off higher order cognitive function. So the simple question you can ask is: are people just getting dumber right now because they dont have any bandwidth or capacity to actually do what they need to be doing? he said. Mathieu Montaroux, the founder of Quebec Preppers, a website dedicated to helping people prepare for unforeseen events such as flooding and fires, said the right reflex in a time of pandemic is to stay in place rather than running around left and right. His website has seen traffic go from an average of 15,000 hits a month to 41,000 in March. He and his fellow preppers didnt wait for the government to order people to isolate. Myself and others who had properly planned were already limiting our movements and we already had our homes stocked with everything we needed, he said in a recent interview. If people were preparedand had the right reflexesthey would have done that too. Epoch Times staff contributed to this report. PNB Housing Finance on Monday said it has signed an agreement with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Citibank to raise USD 100 million (about Rs 762 crore) for providing loans in the affordable housing segment. The company has signed an agreement with JICA to raise USD 75 million and with Citibank for USD 25 million, a release said. We express our gratitude to JICA and Citi for partnering with us in their journey towards improving the lives of low-income households and promoting sustainableeconomic growth in India.This would be JICA's first debt funding in the housing finance sector in the country,company's managing director Sanjaya Gupta said. Its CFO Kapish Jain said these are long-term loans of five years that would further help in balancing the company's asset liability management (ALM) position. As on March 31, 2020, it maintained sufficient liquidity of around Rs 7,588 crore (not considering the SLR investments) and has additional sanctioned but undrawn funding lines of Rs 3,994 crore. On the business front, it closed 2019-20 with assets under management of around Rs 84,000 crore with deposit mobilization of around Rs 9,200 crore. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Serving food on flights of less than 2-hour duration can be resumed: Govt When will international flight operations to India be fully normal? Heres what govt says Post April 14, flights likely to be allowed in a phased manner India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Apr 06: The government is likely to allow domestic and international flight operations in India in a staggered manner post the 21-day lockdown period which is expected to end on April 14, officials said on Sunday. The aviation sector has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. On Sunday, Air Deccan became the latest casualty of the crisis as it announced indefinite suspension of flight operations and asked all employees to go on sabbatical without pay. "As the virus is still spreading in India, we are thinking to permit domestic and international flight operations post April 14 in a staggered manner. Airlines are free to take bookings for any date post April 14," a senior Civil Aviation Ministry official said. "However, if the lockdown is extended post April 14, airlines will have to cancel the tickets booked for that time period," the official noted. Domestic flight bookings can start after April 14 says Hardeep Singh Puri All major airlines except Air India are taking domestic bookings for dates post April 14. Air India is taking bookings for dates post April 30 only. As it has sent all employees on sabbatical without pay, Air Deccan is not taking any bookings and it is not clear when it would restart operations. As revenues have fallen significantly, IndiGo has announced a pay cut of up to 25 per cent for its senior employees and Vistara has announced a compulsory leave without pay of up to three days for its senior employees in March. SpiceJet has stated that its employees' salaries would be reduced between 10 to 30 per cent and Air India has announced a 10 per cent cut in allowances for every employee, except cabin crew, for the coming three months. GoAir has cut salaries of its employees, laid off its expat pilots and introduced leave without pay for employees on a rotational basis. Air India stops bookings for domestic, international flights till April 30 India has imposed a 21-day lockdown from March 25 to curb spread of the coronavirus pandemic. 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 Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are permitted to operate during this lockdown. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, April 6, 2020, 8:45 [IST] A civil rights group and hundreds of doctors are calling on the federal government to release race and ethnicity data on infections and deaths from covid-19, citing reports that the pandemic is affecting African Americans at a disproportionate rate. The information is necessary to "better inform a robust public health response in the Black community" and to "ensure COVID-19 tests are not being administered or withheld in a racially discriminatory manner," says a letter sent to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar from the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. The letter also points to provisions in federal civil rights laws and the Affordable Care Act that prohibit health care providers "from using federal funds to administer health care services that discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin." The Lawyers' Committee asks Salazar for "a written response no later than April 20, 2020." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and most state health departments have not released information about the race and ethnicity of those who have tested positive or died of covid-19. The CDC's public reports have broken down cases by age and gender, and most states have only provided information by county. "We know they are collecting the data," Dariely Rodriguez, director of the economic justice project for the Lawyers' Committee, said in an interview Monday. She said the CDC's covid-19 case report form includes sections for ethnicity, sex, race and age. It also asks about testing, hospitalization, ICU admissions and mortality. "It's a very detailed form," she said. The states of Illinois and North Carolina report covid-19 cases and death by race and ethnicity. In Illinois, black people are 14% of the population but account for 30% of the confirmed cases and 41% of the deaths. In North Carolina, African Americans are 22% of the population and make up 37% of cases and 22% of deaths. Health care and government officials in Michigan and Wisconsin also have acknowledged that African Americans have died at disproportionate rates from the disease. In Albany, Georgia, which has the highest number of deaths from covid-19 in the state, more than 90% of the fatalities are African Americans. Rodriguez said that "African Americans, across socio-economic groups" and other people of color have experienced bias in the health care system, as well as less access to health care. As a result, people of color have higher rates of chronic diseases such as asthma, heart disease and hypertension. "These co-morbidities render Black Americans more susceptible to severe respiratory complications and death resulting from COVID-19," the letter reads. The letter also notes that people of color are "highly vulnerable" to exposure to the coronavirus because they have jobs in which they are not able to work from home. "Many of us have the good fortune to be able to stay at home and work from home, but that's not the case for black people and other people of color who do not have that privilege," she said. Only 20% of black workers, compared to a third of white workers, can work from home. Women of color also are overrepresented and continuing to work in jobs that have been deemed essential, including health care and child care. People of color also are overrepresented in food services, public works and public transportation jobs, which require them to continue to interact with the public. The letter says it is important that people in communities already facing limited access to health care and who are more vulnerable because they work in "public-facing" jobs be able to get testing and treatment. "Accurate and transparent reporting of national race and ethnic demographic COVID-19 data will help public health officials and advocates determine whether marginalized communities of color are experiencing higher barriers in accessing testing, and higher rates of infection and mortality," the letter reads. "This data is also needed to help fully understand COVID-19, and help stem ongoing community spread of this novel and dangerous virus." GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. Volunteer firefighters have to do more than ever before more training, expanded responsibilities and an increasing number of calls, and without a salary to live on. Adding to that, not many who start as a volunteer firefighter are expected to stick around for very long. The days of employers letting their employees leave their job to respond on a fire call, on a rescue call, to go battle a wildfire that doesnt happen anymore, Clifton Fire Protection District Chief Charles Balke said. Employers cant afford to have their employees be gone for several hours to go intervene in a medical emergency. Balke first put on his volunteer firefighter hat as a teenager in Arizona, while paying the bills by working as a mechanic and doing landscaping work. He said volunteers and part-time employees spend an average of 3.2 years at the department before moving on. And that number keeps getting smaller and smaller, he said. Volunteers used to stick around for a number of years. Four or five years out of a volunteer or part-timer these days, we come out ahead. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 77% of Colorado fire departments are either volunteer-based or mostly volunteer (46% volunteer, 31% mostly volunteer), compared to 23% career-based or mostly career (14% career, 9% mostly career). Clifton Fire is a combination fire department with both part-time and full-time employees. With six volunteers currently, they are hardly the only local volunteer fire organization seeing the trend of a shrinking volunteer base. Palisade Fire Chief Richard Rupp started as a volunteer 38 years ago and has seen just how much the volunteer firefighter industry has changed over the years. Set to retire in September, he knows firsthand the challenges being a volunteer firefighter in 2020 bring with it. When (volunteers or part-timers) get a chance, they are going to jump ship and go for a full-time position and, personally, I dont blame them, he explained. He said working as a volunteer for a few years can provide young firefighters with an ideal background to springboard their career. He said larger fire departments on the Western Slope have become funnels for most of his new volunteers. Increased training Today, Palisade firefighters respond to 80% emergency medical service (EMS) calls. It has advanced tremendously, Rupp said. Volunteer firefighters respond to a wide range of emergencies in Mesa County including fires, emergency medical incidents and other general service calls. As such, volunteers must spend a significant time training to prepare for the variety of emergencies, and that training is usually done at no pay or just a small stipend. According to the National Fire Protection Association, the number of volunteer firefighters has significantly declined in recent years. The volunteer firefighter numbers for 2016 and 2017 were the lowest recorded levels since the NFPA began a national survey of fire departments in 1983. Yet, volunteers account for 65% of firefighters in the U.S. The time donated by volunteer firefighters saves localities across the country an estimated $46.9 billion per year, according to the NFPA. RECRUITING CHALLENGES Firefighters are not only asked to do more in 2020, but call volume for fire departments across the U.S. continues to go up, while the number of firefighters has remained the same. According to the NFPA, the total number of calls for U.S. fire departments has gone from just under 12 million in 1986 to over 35 million in 2016. Meanwhile, the number of firefighters in the NFPA survey was 1,025,650 in 1986 and 1,056,200 in 2017. Recruiting challenges for many fire departments across the U.S. include time demands, training requirements, increasing call volume, and wide response roles. Lands End Fire Protection Chief Brian Lurvey said his staff is mostly made up of volunteers ages 25 to 45, though he said it was getting younger and younger. He said the department will fluctuate in terms of its volunteer base, losing three to four people a year. At nearly seven years with the department, hes one of the longest that has been there among his staff. THE FUTURE While still in the early stages, Mesa County fire departments have discussed what the future structure of regional firefighting may look like. Palisade Chief Rupp said theyve met with neighboring departments and discussed the possibility of a merger. Were not the only department having difficulties, a lot of them are, he said. Its getting really tough. Clifton Chief Balke said theyve had preliminary conversations about what consolidating and merging may look like. He said theyve discussed how to reduce duplication efforts and costs, such as forming an intergovernmental agreement and pooling resources and collaborating on things like independent fire academies, supply ordering and legal resources. Consolidations and mergers have been talked about for years, according to both chiefs, but without a timeline in place it remains business as usual at each agency as the future is discussed. Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ashaiman Constituency, Ernest Henry Norgbey says a communique by the Ghana Armed Forces on the killing of a resident in the area on Sunday is 'untrue'. He also claimed the people of Ashaiman are disappointed in President Akufo-Addo who is Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces for his unacceptable silence on this major development when he addressed the nation on Sunday night, particularly as he sought to downplay the many incidents of human right violations and unwarranted excesses by security personnel enforcing his lockdown directives. He said in a statement that the deceased identified as Mr. Eric Ofotsu alias 'No Yawa' was ill-treated by the military who ensured peace during the lockdown period. Information gathered from the scene which I have no basis to doubt and contrary to the claims contained in the Militarys statement suggests that the deceased did not warrant this inhumane and disproportionate use of force from a professional military officer whose training demands a far worthy example, he said. Mr. Norgbey insists that Mr Ofotsu died from the action of a 'trigger-happy' soldier. His assertion is in sharp contrasts to the position of the Ghana Armed Forces that Mr Ofotsu died while he was attempting to disarm a soldier who had attempted to arrest him, leading to the soldiers gun accidentally going off. Mr. Norgbey is, therefore, calling for an independent investigations into the killing and appropriate punishment for the erring officers. Read full statement below KILLING OF MR. ERIC OFOTSU ASHAIMAN MP DEMANDS JUSTICE I have received with shock and outrage news of the cold-blooded killing of Mr. Eric Ofotsu (A.K.A. No Yawa), a constituent of mine in his mid-thirties who was allegedly shot by a military officer working to ensure compliance of the Presidents COVID-19 lockdown directives. As Member of Parliament for the Ashaiman Constituency, I condemn in the strongest possible terms this barbaric and wicked act of a trigger-happy military officer. Information gathered from the scene which I have no basis to doubt and contrary to the claims contained in the Militarys statement suggests that the deceased did not warrant this inhumane and disproportionate use of force from a professional military officer whose training demands a far worthy example. As much as the life of this young innocent gentleman cannot be brought back, I demand with immediate effect thorough and independent investigations into circumstances leading to the death of this young man. We are also calling for the withdrawal of the trigger-happy soldier and all his colleagues on duty as at the time of the incident with immediate effect. This would be useful in managing tensions and preventing any further escalation. I wish to commend the good people of Ashaiman for exercising great restraint in the face of needless provocation. We in Ashaiman are disappointed in President Akufo-Addo who is Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces for his unacceptable silence on this major development when he addressed the nation on Sunday night, particularly as he sought to downplay the many incidents of human right violations and unwarranted excesses by security personnel enforcing his lockdown directives. A situation which the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice has had cause to publicly condemn. May I add that as much as many military officers have been quite professional in enforcing the lockdown, I would want to decry the manner in which some unscrupulous few are bringing the much-respected image of the Ghana Armed Forces into utter disrepute. I reiterate our demand for an independent investigation and swift sanctions for those who would be found culpable. In the meantime, I urge calm and plead with the youth who are currently agitating to exercise patience and wait for the outcome of investigations. We shall not rest or be silent until justice is secured for the family of Mr. Ofotsu and for my constituents. May the Good Lord accept the soul of Mr. Eric Ofotsu especially on this holy Palm Sunday. Signed, Hon. Ernest Henry Norgbey [MP, Ashaiman Constituency] 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. Featured Video Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 13:54:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese medical experts share coronavirus prevention and control measures with their counterparts in Pakistan's Pak Emirates Military Hospital (PEMH). Follow Xinhua correspondents there. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-07 01:13:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close VILNIUS, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis said Monday that his government will impose travel ban between cities and towns during the upcoming festive Easter weekend. According to the prime minister, Lithuania's committee responsible for COVID-19 management has decided to adopt the measure. "We can't take this risk as it is still too dangerous. Therefore, refrain from traveling and greeting your family members and relatives, give your greetings remotely," Skvernelis wrote on Facebook. "The upcoming weekend is critical. I call on everyone to act responsibly," he added. The police and military, if needed, will be asked to contribute to control all unnecessary traveling, Skvernelis wrote. Exceptions will apply in cases of death, serious illness, or accidents with family members or relatives involved, as well as in the case of necessary work or the provision of necessary medical care. According to the data from the National Public Health Surveillance Laboratory, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Lithuania climbed to 843 as of Monday morning. Since the beginning of the outbreak in Lithuania, 14 people have died, while seven have recovered. Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. Update, April 6, 2020, at 6:10 pm: By a 42 vote, the Wisconsin Supreme Courts conservative majority blocked Evers order, allowing the election to take place. Justice Daniel Kelly, who is on the ballot, recused; both liberal justices dissented. In-person voting will take place on Tuesday. Original story: On Monday, Gov. Tony Evers canceled Wisconsins election just one day before it was set to occur. He also called the Legislature into a special session to reschedule the election in June and extend elected officials authority until then. Evers eleventh-hour postponement throws voting in Wisconsin into further chaos, sparks yet another legal battle between the governor and the Legislature, and leaves Wisconsinites wondering if their votes will count. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Wisconsin Legislature has appealed Evers order, ensuring that the right-wing state Supreme Court will have final say over the date of the election. No matter when it occurs, it will be critically important. In addition to the presidential primary, there are more than 3,800 seats on the ballot, including county supervisors, school district board members, and state judges. By far the most important race is a contest for the state Supreme Court between the ultraconservative incumbent, Daniel Kelly, and his liberal challenger, Jill Karofsky. Democratic legislators have demanded that Wisconsin, like many other states, delay the election until June. Republican leaders of the GOP-controlled Legislature refused. Evers, a Democrat, sought a compromise: He called the Legislature into a special session on April 3, urging it to relax absentee voting restrictions so everyone could vote by mail. Republican leaders refused, adjourning the Legislature seconds after it convened. They appear convinced that more Democratic votes will be suppressed by coronavirus-related issues than Republican votes. Advertisement Advertisement Previously, Evers indicated that he preferred to have the Legislature move the election to avoid a legal dispute over the scope of his powers. Now that it has declined, Evers has issued an executive order that eliminates in-person voting on April 7, citing his authority to safeguard the security of persons and property. His decision effectively defers the election until June. Evers cited the health risk, noting that COVID-19 infections are surging in the state. He also pointed out that a huge number of poll workers refused to do their jobs for fear of contagion, which has already forced widespread poll closures. Milwaukee, for instance, consolidated its polling locations from 182 to five; Green Bay consolidated its polling locations from 31 to two. Ann Jacobs, a member of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, told Slate that 111 municipalities did not have enough workers to staff a single polling location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We did not believe we had the ability to fairly and safely administer the election, Jacobs said. In preparation for Tuesday, her commission had obtained 2 liters of hand sanitizer from a distilleryvodka in a bottlefor each polling location from a distillery. The state was down about 7,000 poll workers and planned to dispatch 2,000 members of the National Guard to staff the polls instead. It still wasnt enough. Mondays order arrived against the backdrop of one court battle, and it has already spurred another one. Because of the coronavirus, Wisconsin has experienced a massive, unprecedented spike in requests for mail-in ballots. Election officials have testified that they lack sufficient personnel to process all these ballots in time. As a result, a federal court extended the deadline by which the state must receive mail-in ballots by one week. It also allowed voters to forgo the requirement that a witness sign the ballot to verify its authenticity. An appeals court reinstated the witness signature requirement but upheld the extended deadline. The U.S. Supreme Court was poised to issue a final decision on this matter when Evers issued his order. Advertisement Advertisement If Evers successfully delays the election, then the previous deadline will become irrelevant, because voters will have plenty of time to return mail-in ballots. But Republican legislators already announced that they will challenge the governors order at the state Supreme Court. While Ohios governor canceled his states election using a similar power, the Wisconsin Supreme Court is extremely hostile to Democrats. (Hence their zeal to win this state Supreme Court race.) There is a strong chance that the court will reinstate the electioneven with a fraction of polling places operating under the threat of a pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after Evers order came down, Jacobs, the elections commissioner, told me she was hopeful the court would uphold it. She and a fellow commissioner sent two letters to legislators, one on March 19 and another on April 5, pleading with them to postpone the election. People shouldnt have to choose between their safety and their right to vote, Jacobs told me. John Lewis is a hero because he risked his life to vote. That is not the standard to which the ordinary citizen should be held to exercise the franchise. I dont know how this is going to end, Jacobs continued, but I am thankful the governor took this step and disappointed it had to be unilateral. Hopefully itll settle down, and well have a conversation about how to have a safe and genuine election in the face of a pandemic. President Paula-Mae Weekes may be Commandeer-in-Chief of the Defence Force but she does not have the power to instruct the army to go to Venezuela and rescue stranded Trinidad and Tobago nationals there. Supermac's, the Irish fast food chain founded by Pat McDonagh in Galway, has largely succeeded in blocking a London bar called Supermax from registering its name in the UK. The UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) ruled that 'Supermax' appears similar and sounds identical to the existing Supermac's mark and could confuse consumers. The office made the ruling as both would involve the service of food and drink, and custom is likely to depend on promotional materials and street signage. Its decision was made on March 19 but was only made public last week. However, the UKIPO decision on Supermax won't be final until the trademark dispute between McDonald's and Supermac's has concluded. The long-running conflict between the two firms is partially related to the 'Mc' prefix on products. Last year, Supermac's convinced the European Union Intellectual Property Office to cancel McDonald's Big Mac trademark. It followed the US fast food giant trying to block the European Union trademark of Supermac's as it plotted expansion in the UK. McDonald's has appealed to EU courts and Supermac's EU registration remains pending. According to Bloomberg Law, in the Supermax dispute, both Supermax and Supermac's claim their marks for a class that covers services for providing food and drinks. The Supermax services list included additional descriptions for services such as "bar services" and "booking of restaurant seats". The UKIPO decided that the majority of its functions were close enough for conflict. It also deemed the argument of R7 Restaurants - which operates Supermax - that it operated the bar in a different location to the burger chain, to be irrelevant. Mr McDonagh told the Sunday Independent that he was happy with the result. He added that the company had "bigger fish to fry" at the moment due to the Covid-19 pandemic. More than 9,000 Ukrainians have returned to Ukraine from abroad over the past 24 hours, the State Border Guard Service has reported. "Border guards have carried out more than 15,500 passage operations over the past 24 hours. More than 9,000 Ukrainian citizens have been registered for entry to Ukraine," the report reads. According to border guards, almost 5,100 people arrived in Ukraine without their own vehicles. Vehicles provided by local authorities and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine were provided for their transportation. In addition, 4,600 people, including 1,400 foreigners, have left Ukraine over the past 24 hours. On April 5, border guards, in cooperation with representatives of the sanitary and quarantine units, conducted the temperature screening and health surveys of nearly 11,000 people who were traveling to Ukraine. An additional examination by doctors showed no signs of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Informative letters of consent for self-isolation were also registered in accordance with the established procedure. In addition, three violators of quarantine rules were identified at checkpoints, and the violations were reported to police officers. op At least eight people from Northern Ireland trapped on a cruise ship for nearly a month while it was blocked from docking in several South American ports were due to fly out of the United States last night. The group, including Limavady couple Heather and David Lynch, were among more than 1,000 passengers disembarking from the Coral Princess after it was allowed to dock in the Port of Miami in Florida on Saturday. Two people died and a further 10, including five crew, tested positive for Covid-19 before docking. Sick passengers and those showing symptoms of the virus were taken off the ship first and to area hospitals. Other passengers, including approximately 400 UK citizens, were disembarked in stages. Mr Lynch said yesterday that at that point they had not been given a definite time for the flight but were told it would take off from Miami International Airport last night and would arrive early today in London. Those needing flights or other onward travel, including passengers from Northern Ireland and the Republic, were having them arranged by Holland America Line, a sister company of Princess Cruises, which operates Coral Princess. Both companies are owned by Carnival Corporation. In a note to passengers, Nicolette Brent, HM Consul General for Florida, said: "We expect flights to land at London Heathrow early morning on Monday 6 April with the terminal still to be confirmed. "Please note that in this fast moving situation plans and timings remain subject to change, so please continue to follow the cruise company instructions. There may be extended periods of waiting, and delays, so please be prepared - your patience is appreciated." The Coral Princess, with 1,020 passengers and 878 crew, began its odyssey on March 5 and was due to dock in Buenos Aires two weeks later. The Argentinians allowed it to dock, let some passengers off to catch flights, but they returned to the ship after missing them. Over the next more than two weeks, the ship was barred from ports in Uruguay and Brazil before it headed towards Fort Lauderdale, which also stopped the vessel from docking on Saturday morning, on the orders of the US Coast Guard. However, in an abrupt move the ship was allowed to head towards the Port of Miami, where it docked on Saturday morning. David described it as "terrible news" when the captain announced the two passengers had died. Both were Americans, female and in the same travelling party. "Heather and I are in good health so far. Princess Cruises have been terrific dealing with this nightmare, they are doing all they can for us," said David. "I feel so sorry for the medical team onboard because they are overwhelmed." [April 06, 2020] Bain & Company And QVARTZ Have Joined Forces To Provide Unparalleled Consulting Services In The Nordics COPENHAGEN, Denmark, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- From today, Bain & Company and QVARTZ are formally operating under one name, forming a strategic management consulting powerhouse in the Nordic region. Bain Nordics offers high-end consulting services for multinationals, local corporations and fast-growing scale-ups in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. In late 2019, the two companies signed a binding agreement to integrate their Nordic businesses. Now both operate as the Nordic region of Bain & Company. The combined, New Bain Nordics boasts over 50 partners, and a total team size of approximately 450 professionals. "Our Nordic relationships our Nordic DNA is of major importance to our clients," says Hans Henrik Beck, Managing Partner and co-founder of QVARTZ. Beck continues "Now we combine the Nordic DNA of Bain's four Nordic offices and QVARTZ' three offices with truly global reach and knowledge." Dan Kuzmic, a Bain Director who has led Bain's Nordic business since 2016 continues, "We offer our clients the best of both worlds: cultural fit and agility of a scale local Nordic consultancy, combined with the insight, processes, tools and reach of Bain's global team creating a unique and winning formula in our markets." Beck and Kuzmic will now co-lead the New Bain Nordics through its integration and will set the team's sights on leadership in the Nordic markets. Number one in the Nordics Over the past decade, both companies saw high growth built on similar values: Within 45 years, Bain has grown to become one of the three big strategy consulting firms worldwide. QVARTZ, within 15 years, grew to a consulting star in the Nordic region. Both companies' successes relied on two basic values: To deliver material results, by working with and not for clients. "Our corporate culture can be summed up like this: We are challengers, we have a sense of mission, we are culture fanatics, we strive for client impact, and we are team players," Beck notes. Adds Kuzmic: "And now that we have joined forces we have a clear aim: We want to become no.1 in the Nordics. We have a perfect starting position, with a strong Nordic organization and a highly successful history in teaming up with our clients to achieve true results." Cultural insight plus international expertise Together, Bain and QVARTZ make for a top consultancy with Nordic values and cultural integrity as well as global scope andreach. "Thinking and understanding the Nordic way was one of QVARTZ' major advantages," says Beck. "And we will carry it over to Bain Nordics where our ways of thinking and working are already in place." Bain Global, on the other hand, will add depth in terms of tools, processes, and thought leadership as well as broad consulting expertise spanning all industries. Also, clients will have access to Bain's extensive network of consultants and experts around the globe. "Bain's toolkit and intellectual property are indisputably first class. Also, Bain's global footprint means our Nordic clients can get support in whatever market they need it. Our 'best team for the purpose' approach will add the expertise of over 1,000 partners and 250 expert advisors to our Nordic offering," says Kuzmic. Continues Kuzmic: "Combining our strengths we will stay relevant to our clients. In an increasingly changing world with new and emerging challenges they want the leading edge of insight and service from their consultants. Dealing with challenges from digitalization to pandemic preparedness require both global and local insights and expertise and we offer it. The integration of QVARTZ Analytics and Vertical the advanced analytics and digital innovation arms of QVARTZ will be a strong addition to Bain's digital capability in the Nordics, enabling us to push even harder on the digital transformation agenda." Best place to work Bain Nordics will continue to build its reputation as an excellent place to work. Both predecessor organizations had a "best place to work" status, not least for mothers and fathers. This can be seen in Glassdoor's Best places to Work index: Since the index started in 2009, both companies ranked within the top five of consulting companies. And for five consecutive years, both companies ranked within the top three in Vault's ranking for Firm Culture in Europe. "Bain Nordics will stay focused on being a magnet for the best young and experienced talent in the industry. In the future, we will be able to offer unparalleled career opportunities in the Nordic countries and globally," says Kuzmic. Fast facts about the New Bain Nordics Founded April 2020 , by integrating consulting firms Bain & Company and QVARTZ, incl. the two sister companies QVARTZ Analytics (founded in 2017) and innovation company Vertical (founded in 2013, owned by QVARTZ since 2017) , by integrating consulting firms Bain & Company and QVARTZ, incl. the two sister companies QVARTZ Analytics (founded in 2017) and innovation company Vertical (founded in 2013, owned by QVARTZ since 2017) Four Nordic offices with 450 people: Copenhagen , Helsinki , Oslo and Stockholm , , and Leadership of Bain Nordics: Managing Partners Dan Kuzmic and Hans Henrik Beck Bain Nordics office heads: Guy Brusselmans & Rune Wichmann ( Copenhagen ), Anders Roed Bruhn & Lars Jacob B ( Oslo ), Christine Frostmark & Johan Lemchen ( Stockholm ), Jani Kelloniemi ( Helsinki ) ( ), Anders Roed Bruhn & Lars Jacob B ( ), Christine Frostmark & ( ), ( ) Can count on expertise and reach of a global leader: Bain has 58 offices worldwide with 10,500 people, situated in 37 countries Carries a well-established name: More than 60 percent of Global Fortune 500 companies have worked with Bain Learn more at www.bain.com. For more information or to request an interview, please contact: Katrine Petersen, Head of Marketing - [email protected], +45 2968 6971 About Bain Bain & Company is a global consultancy that helps the world's most ambitious change makers define the future. Across 58 offices in 37 countries, we work alongside our clients as one team with a shared ambition to achieve extraordinary results, outperform the competition and redefine industries. We complement our tailored, integrated expertise with a vibrant ecosystem of digital innovators to deliver better, faster and more enduring outcomes. Since our founding in 1973, we have measured our success by the success of our clients. We proudly maintain the highest level of client advocacy in the industry, and our clients have outperformed the stock market 4-to-1. Visit www.bain.com/about for additional content. About QVARTZ Since its founding in Copenhagen in 2002, QVARTZ extended its operations to include offices in Oslo, Norway, and Stockholm, Sweden, and grew to become the third largest strategic consultancy in the region, competing with the likes of McKinsey & Company and Boston Consulting Group. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/818197/Bain_and_Company_Logo.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Even Swedes in higher-risk groups did not seem that concerned. Margareta Korner, 80, and Margareta Eriksson, 67, fall into one of those groups older adults but the two retired women sat in the public square, sharing a thermos of coffee. Korner, who lives in a middle-class borough of central Stockholm, knows she is not supposed to be outside, but she said she maintains her distance from others. And Eriksson, who lives in the same borough, said fighting the coronavirus comes down to common sense. Advertisement Boris Johnson is facing another night in hospital after ministers said he would 'follow doctors' orders' amid mounting fears over his 'persistent' coronavirus symptoms. A tweet from the PM thanked 'brilliant' NHS staff this afternoon after he was dramatically admitted to St Thomas', near Downing Street, overnight, with doctors alarmed that his temperature has still not dropped 10 days after his positive diagnosis. The 55-year-old's effective deputy Dominic Raab, who chaired the government's daily coronavirus crisis committee meeting this morning in the absence of the premier, dodged giving any timetable for him being back in action this evening. Mr Raab also revealed that he had not spoken to Mr Johnson personally since Saturday. 'He is in charge,' the Foreign Secretary told the daily press briefing. 'The PM will take the medical advice he gets from his doctor.' In spite of claims Mr Johnson is only having 'routine tests', there are warnings from ministers that he has 'risked his health' by keeping up a frantic workrate, while the Tory mayor of the West Midlands said he must learn he is 'not indispensable' and has to rest. One MP suggested that he was too keen to emulate his hero, Winston Churchill by defying illness. Others said they believe Mr Raab has already effectively taken over while the premier recuperates. Chief medical officer Chris Whitty, making his first appearance before cameras after a week in coronavirus self-isolation, said he was not the doctor who urged the premier to seek hospital treatment, but he had told him to follow the advice. Downing Street has stressed Mr Johnson was not admitted as an emergency case. But the PM's spokesman fuelled rumours by refusing to say whether there has been a diagnosis of pneumonia - while dismissing claims emanating from Russia that he is on a ventilator as 'disinformation'. Asked if symptoms are 'mild' - the word previously used to describe them - the spokesman instead said they were 'persistent' and included a 'a temperature and a cough'. Mr Johnson tweeted this afternoon: 'Last night, on the advice of my doctor, I went into hospital for some routine tests as I'm still experiencing coronavirus symptoms. I'm in good spirits and keeping in touch with my team, as we work together to fight this virus and keep everyone safe. 'I'd like to say thank you to all the brilliant NHS staff taking care of me and others in this difficult time. You are the best of Britain. Stay safe everyone, and please remember to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.' It emerged at the weekend that Mr Johnson's pregnant partner Carrie Symonds has also been suffering coronavirus, although she is now 'on the mend'. On another turbulent day in the coronavirus crisis: The UK has declared 439 more deaths, taking the total to 5,373, and 3,802 new positive tests have pushed the number of patients up to 51,608; But in a glimmer of hope that means the number of people dying of COVID-19 has now fallen for two days in a row; Humiliated Nicola Sturgeon has admitted the effort to combat coronavirus has been damaged after she was forced to accept the resignation of Scotland's chief medical officer for flouting her own lockdown rules; Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty is out of self-isolation and has been working after recovering from coronavirus; The Queen has hailed the sacrifice of frontline NHS workers battling the virus in a rare televised address that moved the nation as she praised the resolve of the British people to stay at home telling them: 'We'll meet again'; Worrying figures showed the UK's coronavirus epidemic was set to overtake that suffered by France and Italy; Health Secretary Matt Hancock threatened to revoke the right to exercise outdoors if people continued to flout social distancing measures; A 54-year-old from Essex became the first midwife to die with coronavirus in England. Mr Johnson tweeted to say he was 'in good spirits and keeping in touch with my team' today amid fears over his health Boris Johnson (pictured on Downing Street clapping NHS staff on April 2) has been admitted to hospital after testing positive for coronavirus Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who chaired the daily coronavirus crisis committee meeting this morning in the absence of the PM, dodged giving any timetable for him being back in action this evening Mr Johnson's effective deputy Dominic Raab (left) chaired the daily coronavirus crisis committee meeting this morning. Health Secretary Matt Hancock (right) has recovered from coronavirus and was back at work in Downing Street Downing Street infection timeline March 10: Health minister Nadine Dorries became the first MP to test positive for coronavirus, shortly after attending a Downing Street reception. March 27: Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock both release Twitter videos saying they have coronavirus and are self-isolating. Hours later, chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty revealed he was self-isolating with symptoms. March 30: The PM's top adviser Dominic Cummings was revealed to be self-isolating with coronavirus symptoms. April 2: Matt Hancock returns to work after seven dies in isolation and making a recovery. April 3: Boris Johnson releases a video from his Number 11 flat saying he is continuing to self-isolate as he is still suffering a temperature. April 4: Carrie Symonds, the PM's pregnant fiancee reveals she has been self-isolating at her Camberwell flat. April 5: The PM is taken to hospital 'as a precaution'. April 6: Downing Street declines to give a timeframe for Mr Johnson being discharged. The PM's spokesman says he still has a 'persistent' cough and temperature. Advertisement Experts say there is a risk of pneumonia when a temperature lasts more than a week. There have been claims Mr Johnson has been coughing heavily during conference calls. Mr Johnson's spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister was admitted to hospital for tests last night, his symptoms have remained persistent,' the spokesman said. 'He had a comfortable night in St Thomas's Hospital in London and is in good spirits. He remains in hospital under observation.' Asked if the PM was taking a risk by continuing to work, Mr Raab said: 'Just to be clear, the PM - both in terms of going into St Thomas' yesterday - was taking the advice of doctors, so he's followed the doctors' advice there and, in terms of his recovery in the days ahead, will continue to do so.' Mr Raab said he would not comment on security matters when asked if he had taken over any of the Prime Minister's security responsibilities. He said Mr Johnson was being 'kept abreast' of developments. Pressed again on why Mr Johnson is sick enough to be in hospital but well enough to be running the country, Mr Raab said: 'That's something he will decide on the medical advice he's received from his doctor.' Professor Whitty said he was not responsible for recommending Mr Johnson went to hospital, and praised the PM's medical advisers as 'outstanding'. Asked about the pneumonia risk to Mr Johnson, Prof Whitty said: 'I'm absolutely not going to discuss any individual patient nor, to be clear, do I have all the details; nor should I as this is an issue between him and his medical advisers. 'I can give a general answer which is the clear majority of people who do end up going to hospital, they end up going into a general bed, they may or may not need oxygen and other things, and they don't need to go further than that.' Health minister Nadine Dorries - the first MP to test positive for coronavirus, but now recovered - suggested the PM needs to 'sleep and recover'. Foreign Office minister James Duddridge said Mr Johnson must now 'let others do the heavy lifting', while Tory West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said the PM might have to recognise he is 'not indispensable' while he recovers. Cabinet minister Michael Gove's wife Sarah Vine delivered a furious rebuke to those who had been demanding Mr Johnson keep working, saying: 'I hope you are happy now. He's in hospital.' One senior politician said they expected a 'smooth' process even if Mr Johnson was not 'in the room chairing things'. 'Ultimate decisions are made by the PM,' the MP said. 'But there are people like Matt Hancock who has clearly got a complete grip on everything and has been impressing a huge number of his colleagues - there's no reason why things should not keep on running as they have been running. 'It is just the person in the room chairing things. The PM will obviously get a briefing on what has happened. 'We are at a stage where the biggest efforts in government will be based around trying to sort out this antibody test. That is the way out of this.' A Government source said the PM was not in a position where he was 'physically unable to breathe'. 'In a conference call over the weekend he sounded okay-ish. He didn't sound like he was struggling for breath,' they said. One Tory MP ally of Dominic Raab told MailOnline they believed the Foreign Secretary was 'running the show'. The MP added: 'For the public it is still very much Boris in charge, notwithstanding he is in hospital. But in reality it is Dom who is running the show. 'That way Boris has had the opportunity to rest, sleep... and in 10 days he is up and running. 'That is probably what is really happening at the moment. Others are running the show, because he has got a temperature, he's got a cough, he damn well needs rest.' The MP said they hoped the PM would be back in charge soon as he was the right person to be in charge of the crisis. A Tory MP told the Telegraph Mr Johnson should stop trying to be copy Churchill's example during the Second World War and instead let another Cabinet minister take charge of the national efforts to fight the virus. The MP said: 'I hear that the number of hours that he is able to work, he is finding frustrating. You don't hold the camera up and look grim - it is not going to inspire the nation. 'Unfortunately he has written too many books on Churchill and wants to be the guy - he needs to be Boris Johnson and not try to be someone else.' A backbencher told MailOnline the reaction of Mr Gove and Health Secretary Matt Hancock to Mr Raab being in control could be 'interesting'. In a Twitter video posted on Friday from quarantine in No11, where he has been in self-isolation, an exhausted-looking Mr Johnson revealed he was still suffering from a high temperature. Donald Trump wished Mr Johnson well in his 'personal fight' with coronavirus last night and said 'all Americans are praying for him' as the Prime Minister spent his first night in hospital. Tony Blair refused to say whether he thought the PM should stand aside, telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I have every sympathy and solidarity with him. I know it must be a hellish situation to be in.' Foreign Secretary Mr Raab stepped in this morning to chair the daily 'war cabinet' dealing with the pandemic. But Downing Street insisted Mr Johnson was still in charge despite his illness. Officials confirmed he was in an NHS hospital but would not say what tests he was undergoing and how long he would be in hospital. He is thought to have been treated with oxygen, and is likely to have tests on white blood cell count, and liver and kidney function, according to doctors. He is also likely to undergo an electrocardiogram to check his heart as well as his chest X-rayed and lungs scanned, particularly if he was found to be struggling for breath. Even ministers were openly calling for Mr Johnson to take time out today. Ms Dorries said: 'Many with #COVID19 are felled by fatigue/temperature and use isolation to sleep+recover. Boris has risked his health & worked every day on our behalf to lead the battle against this vile virus. Lets do our bit for him and @carriesymonds now. Send them our love.' Military personnel were helping to conduct tests on NHS staff at a new facility in Edgbaston today Troops were out and about around St Thomas' Hospital in central London this morning as the PM undergoes tests Health minister Nadine Dorries - the first MP to test positive for coronavirus, but now recovered - suggested the PM needs to 'sleep and recover' On Friday, the PM released a selfie-style video from self-isolation in Number 11 revealing he still had the symptoms of Covid-19 IS BORIS JOHNSON SUFFERING FROM ANY UNDERLYING CONDITIONS, AND WHAT DRUGS WILL DOCTORS TREAT HIM WITH? HOW HEALTHY IS THE PM? The Prime Minister has no known health problems and is thought to be fairly fit and well. The last time he was admitted to hospital was in August 2019 after he stepped on a broken coffee pot in his garden and got glass stuck in his foot. He said the 'spindly little triangle' of glass 'hurt like h***' for days. As mayor of London he was known for cycling to work every day. But he was forced to give it up when he became foreign secretary and then prime minister because of security precautions. He admitted struggling with his weight as foreign secretary under Theresa May's Government. Mr Johnson said it was hard to stick to a healthy diet while constantly flying between countries. At his biggest in December 2018 he weighed 16-and-a-half stone - which would have made the 5ft 9in politician categorically obese. People with a BMI over 30 are thought to be at high-risk of suffering serious complications from coronavirus because of their weakened immune systems and high blood pressure. But Mr Johnson has slimmed down since meeting his new partner Carrie Symonds. Inside No10, he is said to squeeze a daily workout regime into his busy routine which includes yoga, pilates and aerobic exercises. Mr Johnson is also an avid tennis player and can regularly be seen playing on the courts at Chequers, the prime minister's country residence. WHAT TREATMENTS WILL HE BE GIVEN? Doctors will carry out a series of tests to check the prime minister's organs are functioning and that he is breathing properly. Coronavirus can cause pneumonia - a severe lung infection - in the most serious cases, which can eventually lead to both organs failing. He is expected to be kept in and monitored for several days because pneumonia can strike suddenly and unexpectedly. If the infection does start to penetrate deep into the lungs, Mr Johnson could be put on a ventilator and treated with painkillers and antibiotics. There are a number of promising experimental drugs which have shown promise in studies in China. But none are currently approved in the UK so doctors cannot treat British patients with them until human trials are complete. A major trial is underway at the University of Oxford and health chiefs have urged more patients to sign up to speed up results. WHAT ARE THE MOST PROMISING DRUGS BEING TRIALLED? Hydroxychloroquine - sold as Plaquenil - is a well-established antimalarial available on the NHS which has been used since the 1940s. It works by dampening the body's immune response when it overreacts to viruses. Doctors in Europe, the US and China have been given licence to prescribe the promising drug to COVID-19 patients because it is generally regarded as safe. Early trials in China have shown the tablets can reduce the severe effects of the infection. The UK has prevented clinicians from giving it to sufferers until human trials are complete. Several major trials are testing its effect on COVID-19 sufferers, including one at the University of Oxford. The HIV drug lopinavir/ritonavir - marketed as Kaletra and Aluvia - is another promising drug being studied by Oxford researchers. The medicine is given to people living with HIV to prevent it developing into AIDS. It is a class of drug called a protease inhibitor, which essentially stick to an enzyme on a virus which is vital to the virus reproducing. By doing this it blocks the process the virus would normally use to clone itself and spread the infection further. The drug was reported to have successfully cured coronavirus patients in China, but it has not been scientifically proven. Sold as Ozurdex and Baycadron, it is used to treat allergies and asthma, as well as some types of cancer. No studies have yet to prove dexamethasone can treat COVID-19- but it has been proven effective on patients with MERS and SARS, two different coronaviruses. Steroids are often used by doctors to reduce inflammation, which is present in the lungs of patients with the coronavirus. However, steroids also impair the immune system's ability to fight viruses and other infections that often develop in patients with life-threatening illness. Advertisement Mr Duddridge tweeted: 'Take care boss. Get well. Come back fighting. But for now rest, look after yourself and let the others do the heavy lift.' Mr Street said the PM might have to hand control to his team for the time being. 'We would hope that he would be able to continue to lead the Government, that's what he's said, but we all have to learn in life don't we that we're not indispensable and the team around you will step into your shoes if he is not able to do what I know he will be so, so desperate to carry on doing himself,' he told Today. Ms Vine, a Mail columnist, said: 'So to all those who have been hysterically shouting 'where's Boris, where's boris?' I hope you're happy now. 'He's in hospital. Next thing you know you'll be complaining that he's putting extra strain on the nhs by taking up a bed.' Concerns over chief medical officer Chris Whitty have also been played down. He started displaying symptoms and went into self-isolation just after Mr Johnson. 'He is out of isolation. He is fine. He kept doing conference calls,' a source said. The PM's admission to hospital emerged minutes after the Queen's historic TV address to the nation where she urged the country to pull together to fight coronavirus, saying: 'If we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it.' And she echoed Second World War heroine Dame Vera Lynn, promising anguished families separated by the crisis: 'We will meet again.' A Downing Street spokeswoman last night said: 'On the advice of his doctor, the Prime Minister has tonight been admitted to hospital for tests. 'This is a precautionary step, as the Prime Minister continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus ten days after testing positive for the virus. 'The Prime Minister thanks NHS staff for all their incredible hard work and urges the public to continue to follow the government's advice to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.' Doctors will monitor Mr Johnson's vital signs as well as conduct blood tests to assess how his immune system is fighting the virus, as well as assessing liver and kidney function, according to a leading scientist. Dr Rupert Beale, Group Leader, Cell Biology of Infection Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, said: 'They will perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check the heart. 'More sophisticated tests may include a CT scan of the chest to get an accurate picture of the lungs. They will consider the best way to deliver oxygen, and will also consider other treatments depending on test results.' Despite continuing to suffer the symptoms of the virus - namely a high temperature - Mr Johnson, 55, has resolved to remain at the helm of the government's crisis management. Mr Hancock has recovered from the virus after revealing he had tested positive for coronavirus on March 27, the same day Mr Johnson also made public his own infection via Twitter. Alarm bells started ringing that the nerve centre of the government's crisis response had been compromised when chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and top Downing Street adviser Dominic Cummings also began showing symptoms. Meetings have since been held via videolink, and rather than fronting the daily Number 10 press briefings, the PM has taken to releasing selfie-style videos from isolation. In his most recent clip two days ago, Mr Johnson said he 'still had minor symptoms, I have a temperature, and so in accordance with the government I must continue my self-isolation until that symptom goes'. He was last seen outside on Thursday, when he stepped on to Downing Street to applaud NHS workers. In the event the PM is too sick to continue in his role, Mr Raab, as First Secretary of State, would step in as acting leader. Mr Johnson's pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds, who is due in the early summer, is also self-isolating in her own Camberwell apartment with the couple's dog Dilyn after symptoms surfaced. The 32-year-old said on Saturday: 'I've spent the past week in bed with the main symptoms of Coronavirus. I haven't needed to be tested and, after seven days of rest, I feel stronger and I'm on the mend.' Politicians of all parties offered their best wishes to the PM this evening and prayed for a quick recovery. No10 blasts Russian 'disinformation' over claim PM is on ventilator Downing Street blasted Russian 'disinformation' today after a Moscow state media outlet claimed Boris Johnson had been placed on a ventilator to create his coronavirus. A furious No 10 lashed out after the RIA Novosti news agency published claims by an anonymous source 'close to the top of England's national healthcare system' claiming Mr Johnson was 'rushed' to hospital and required treatment with an artificial lung due to coronavirus. That claim was flatly denied by Downing Street which said the Prime Minister had gone to hospital on the advice of his doctor for 'tests' because he continued to present symptoms of the virus 10 days after catching it. Mr Johnson was today said to be in 'good spirits' in St Thomas's Hospital in London, but Downing Street said he was well enough to receive his ministerial red box with official documents, and had been in contact with aides. This afternoon his official spokesman, responding to the RIA claims, said: 'This is disinformation.' Advertisement Sir Keir Starmer, who was this weekend elected as Labour leader, was among the first to wish him a 'speedy recovery'. Ministers have been begging the public to observe strict social distancing measures to stem the tide of infection from spreading and overwhelming the NHS. But scenes from the warm weekend showed people flouting government rules and flocking to the nation's parks to sunbathe. Mr Hancock warned Britons that he was prepared to revoke the right to exercise outdoors if people continued to disobey his instructions. The call on the public to stay indoors was echoed in Her Majesty's address to the nation which was aired last night after being pre-recorded from Windsor Castle, where she is isolating with her husband Philip. The monarch said: 'I also want to thank those of you who are staying at home, thereby helping to protect the vulnerable and sparing many families the pain already felt by those who have lost loved ones. 'Together we are tackling this disease, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it.' The Queen signed off the rare broadcast - only the fifth in her reign outside of Christmas - with a nod to a Second World War song by Dame Vera Lynn. She said: 'We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, betterdays will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.' The monarch reserved special praise for the NHS, thanking medical workers for their work and sacrifice in the battle against the virus. PM's chief aide is 'working from home' The PM's chief aide Dominic Cummings is working but not from Downing Street, it emerged today. Mr Cummings went into isolation after Boris Johnson tested positive for coronavirus around a fortnight ago. The premier's spokesman confirmed that Mr Cummings was still not back in No10. 'He is not back in No 10 today. He is in contact with No 10,' the spokesman said. Advertisement She said: 'I want to thank everyone on the NHS front line, as well as care workers and those carrying out essential roles, who selflessly continue their day-to-day duties outside the home in support of us all. 'I am sure the nation will join me in assuring you that what you do is appreciated and every hour of your hard work brings us closer to a return to more normal times.' Brits stuck at home amid the lockdown tuned in to the speech, sharing photos of their entire families huddled in front of the TV to watch Her Majesty. Shortly after her speech, Scotland's chief medical officer, Dr Catherine Calderwood, resigned following criticism for visiting her second home and not adhering to social distancing advice. Dr Calderwood had earlier apologised live on TV after being given a police warning for twice visiting her family's coastal retreat in Earlsferry, Fife, more than 40 miles from her main home. In a press conference beside Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Dr Calderwood said her actions were 'a mistake and human error' and that were 'no excuses'. Dr Calderwood issued an apology and was initially backed by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to remain in the role. However after further conversations with Ms Sturgeon, Dr Calderwood said on Sunday night that she had resigned 'with a heavy heart', agreeing the 'justifiable focus on my behaviour risks becoming a distraction from the hugely important job. What Boris has said and who he has met over the past month March 3: Says he is still shaking hands and insists 'crucial thing' is to keep washing your hands March 5: Hosts reception for International Women's Day in Downing Street with MP Nadine Dorries who later tests positive March 6: Meets scientists as he visits testing laboratory at Bedford Technology Park March 8: Surveys flood defences in the Worcestershire town of Bewdley March 9: Attempts to shake hands with a bishop at Westminster Abbey before stopping himself while at Commonwealth Service March 10: Says people should avoid shaking hands, to shame other people into washing their hands March 12: Says preventing mass gatherings is not an effective way to tackle coronavirus March 16: Advises against mass gatherings in policy U-turn - effectively cancelling all sport and other events March 17: Talks about importance of social distancing at briefing with Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Chief Scientific Officer Patrick Vallance March 18: Speaks at Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons and says all schools will be closed March 19: Says UK can 'turn the tide' in fight against coronavirus within 12 weeks at briefing with Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance March 20: Closes pubs, restaurants and theatres at press conference with Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries March 21: Daily coronavirus update in the Cabinet Room March 22: Media briefing with Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick and Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries March 23: Orders a UK-wide lockdown with people told to stay at home March 24: Hosts weekly Cabinet Room meeting remotely March 25: Speaks at Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons March 25: Speaks to Queen Elizabeth II by telephone March 26: Holds a video call to other G20 leaders March 27: Takes part in NHS clap for carers outside Downing Street with Chancellor Rishi Sunak March 27: Announces in a video that he has tested positive for coronavirus March 29: Issues video on social media thanking NHS, pharmacy and supermarket workers March 31: Chairs digital Cabinet meeting April 1: Says in social media video that testing will be 'massively ramped up' April 2: Takes part in NHS clap for carers from Downing Street doorstep April 3: Issues video on social media urging people to stay at home during sunny weather April 5: Admitted to an NHS hospital in London for tests UK's coronavirus outbreak is set to overtake Italy and France: Worrying graphic suggests that three weeks since Britain hit 50 deaths it is in danger of being in a worse state than 'Europe's epicentre' was at the same point By Danyal Hussain and Joe Middleton and Jack Maidment, deputy political editor for MailOnline Britain's death toll from the coronavirus could overtake both Italy and France, a worrying new graphic has revealed. The number of deaths in the UK rose by 621 to 4,934 yesterday, including 29 patients who did not have any underlying health conditions. Now, the UK is just behind where Italy and France were 20 days after registering 50 deaths from the outbreak. However, both those countries' started to see their death rates decrease after this point, while the UK is expected to not peak for another week to 10 days. This means Britain's deaths could dwarf both countries, though this isn't guaranteed. The people who died of the illness were aged between 33 and 103, with 29 of them, aged between 35 and 95, having no known underlying health conditions. The level of infections has risen sharply by almost 60 per cent, from 5,903 to 47,806, dashing hopes the rate of people getting the disease was starting to level out. New graphs released by the Government today showed that the UK is just behind France and Italy's death rate at this point. However both countries saw deaths start to decrease, while the UK is still expected not to peak for 7 to 10 days, suggesting Britain could have more deaths Just days ago, Stephen Powis, the medical director of England, said there had been a 'bit of a plateau' in the number of people testing positive. The Department of Health also said that, as of 9am on Sunday, a total of 195,524 people have been tested, up from 183,190 the previous day - pushing the amount of tests done daily to more than 12,000. It comes amid concerns a huge backlog of potential patients awaiting their results could mean infections are far higher than is being reported. If the backlog for processing the tests is too great, the rate of infections will remain at roughly the same level, with the services already pushed to the brink and only able to carry out a certain number of tests per day. Matthew Lesh, head of research at the Adam Smith Institute, told MailOnline: 'The UK numbers are masked by the inability of the laboratories.' NHS England gave the breakdown by region of the 555 deaths of patients in England: - East of England 40 - London 174 - Midlands 74 - North East & Yorkshire 103 - North West 47 - South East 81 - South West 36. Public Health England reported an extra 555 deaths in England, Public Health Wales recorded 12, and there have been 7 in Northern Ireland. In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said authorities there had recorded an additional two extra deaths in Scotland, up to 220, but said the number was based on a new way of counting deaths and is 'likely to be artificially low'. It came as Matt Hancock this afternoon backtracked on a threat to ban outdoor exercise if people do not comply with the coronavirus lockdown. The Health Secretary this morning blasted sunbathers for flouting the rules and warned the government would ban 'all forms' of public exercise if a 'small minority' refuse to stay at home. However he later updated his comments while speaking at the daily Downing Street coronavirus press conference and said he did not want anyone to believe that a further crackdown was in the works. Mr Hancock said the end of lockdown will be determined by 'how much people follow the rules on social distancing' and 'the more people follow the rules then the faster we will all be through it'. He then issued a direct plea to people who are 'breaking the rules or are pushing the boundaries', telling them: 'You are risking your own life and the lives of others and you are making it harder for us all.' He concluded: 'We have included exercise as one of the things that you can leave your house to do because exercise is good for our physical and our mental health but please do not bend or break this rule. 'We can't rule out further steps but I don't want anyone to think that any changes to the social distancing rules are imminent because the vast majority are following the rules.' Meanwhile, Boris Johnson repeated the importance of staying at home this morning as he tweeted he knows it is 'tough' but it will mean 'saving lives'. Mr Hancock and Mr Johnson's comments came after a south London park was shut indefinitely after 3,000 people visited 'despite clear advice' not to as green spaces and beaches across the UK filled up. Mr Hancock previously told Sky News: 'It is quite unbelievable frankly to see that there are some people who are not following the advice.' He added: 'Of course I understand how difficult this is but the problem is that when you go out it is not only that you might directly interact with somebody closer than two metres, it is also that you can spread the virus through touching something which somebody else then touches. You could pick it up that way. 'We are crystal clear in the guidance on what people should and shouldn't do. That guidance is backed up in law. It is not a request, it is a requirement in law and people need to follow it.' Mr Hancock admitted this morning that hitting his promise of 100,000 coronavirus tests by the end of April will be 'hard' and that people involved in the efforts will have to 'put their shoulders to the wheel' to hit the target. Work has been halted on what could be the world's-tallest skyscraper in Dubai's famous Creek Harbour, as the coronavirus pandemic intensifies the property slowdown. Emaar Properties, the largest listed developer in the United Arab Emirates, has suspended work on all major projects in Dubai including The Tower - billed to higher than the Burj Khalifa. While the company has not yet divulged the exact height The Tower will reach, a statement issued at its groundbreaking ceremony in 2016 said it would be the 'world's tallest tower when completed in 2020'. Renderings of the tower show it standing taller than every other building at Dubai Creek Harbour The Dubai Creek Harbour is a development touted as offering homes for up to 200,000 people The footprint of the skyscraper can be seen above in construction photos from Emaar Properties That would make it taller than 2,700ft Burj Khaliga which has held the title of world's tallest building since 2010, but now Emaar has suspended projects at Dubai Creek Harbour, a development touted as offering homes to 200,000 people. The news comes at the same time as Dubai enters a two-week enforced lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus, according to state news agency WAM. It had been under an overnight curfew since March 26 but authorities have since tightened restrictions. The government said legal action would be taken against those who do not comply with restricted mobility. It was hotly-tipped to be finished before the Expo 2020 trade fair, which Dubai was preparing to host from October. But the coronavirus outbreak prompted Dubai to propose a one-year delay to Expo. There are currently more nearly 1,800 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UAE and 10 recorded deaths. Emaar, which built Burj Khalifa, did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. The building was anticipated to have been finished by the 2020 Expo trade fair, which is now delayed amid the coronavirus outbreak Emaar had said last month said it had suspended work on a luxury residential tower in a prime Dubai district and had temporarily closed several hotels due to the impact of the virus on tourism. In a letter seen by Reuters and confirmed by a source, Emaar said Chairman Mohamed Alabbar had forfeited his salary and other staff would have had their salaries cut by as much as 50%. Dubai's property market has struggled in the past decade due to fallout from the global financial crisis and weak oil prices that left the emirate oversupplied with homes and offices. Sector turmoil prompted Dubai authorities to form a committee to balance supply and demand and the Palm, once one of the most prestigious addresses in Dubai, is seeing buildings sell at a discount to the cost of construction, The FT reported. Building work was due to be completed this year but has now been halted for the foreseeable future Designer Santiago Calatrava Valls's style has been heralded as bridging the division between structural engineering and architecture Pre-construction designs from Spanish-Swiss architect Santiago Calatrava Valls depict the finished tower as a minaret anchored to the ground with sturdy cables. At the time construction began it was estimated The Tower would cost a whopping $1 billion to build. When finished, The Tower will have observation decks providing 360-degree views of the coastal city. It is located near Ras Al Khor National Wildlife Sanctuary according to Emirates 247. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 10:18:34|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BEIJING, April 6 (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 is planning to declare a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak in Japan, due to the recent surging COVID-19 cases in Tokyo and other large cities, government sources said Monday. Pressure had been mounting on Abe to make the declaration amid a surge in COVID-19 cases recently, with calls for the move from Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and the Japan Medical Association intensifying. - - - - WASHINGTON -- The United States has recorded more than 1,200 deaths from COVID-19 in the past day, bringing the total number of fatalities in the country to more than 9,600, Johns Hopkins University said Sunday evening. There are more than 337,000 confirmed infections in the United States, said the Baltimore-based university. - - - - RIO DE JANEIRO -- Brazil's Health Ministry said on Sunday the country's death toll from COVID-19 has climbed to 486 as 11,130 people tested positive to the coronavirus disease. In the past 24 hours, 54 patients died, up 12.5 percent compared with the day before, and 852 new infections were detected, placing the mortality rate at 4.4 percent, said the authorities - - - - NEW YORK -- A tiger at New York City's Bronx Zoo has tested positive for COVID-19, the zoo said on Sunday. Nadia, a four-year-old female Malayan tiger, had developed a dry cough before getting tested. Nadia's sister Azul, two Amur tigers and three African lions are also being monitored for similar symptoms, said the zoo in a news release. - - - - CAPE TOWN -- The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa has risen to 1,655, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Sunday. Meanwhile, the country reported two more deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 11. - - - - ISLAMABAD -- The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 has risen to 3,059 including 45 deaths in Pakistan, according to the data updated by the country's health ministry on Sunday evening. The statistics presented by the ministry showed that at least 512 people were tested positive while eight deaths were registered from Friday to Sunday. - - - - LONDON -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to hospital for tests on Sunday night, 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19, Downing Street said. Johnson has tested positive for the coronavirus on March 27 and is self-isolating in Downing Street, but his symptoms "continue to persist." - - - - FRANKFURT -- The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Germany climbed to 91,714 as of 0:00 local time on Sunday, with a death toll of 1,342, according to data from Robert Koch Institute, the country's disease control authority. The confirmed cases were 5,936 more than the previous day. Funke Akindele and her husband, JJCSkillz Actress Funke Akindele has pledged to practice what she preaches. This comes after her arrest for hosting a house party that contravened the lockdown order of the government by the police yesterday at her residence though her husband went on the run. The actress said Naira Marley had been at her residence before the lockdown was announced. She also pledged to support the Nigerian government in creating more awareness in eradicating the coronavirus pandemic. Akindele, also known as Jenifa, stated this in a video released on her Social Media platforms a few hours before her arrest on Sunday. She was taken from her residence in Amen Estate off the Lekki-Epe Expressway to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba. In the video, Akindele apologised to her fans for not leading by example amid the COVID-19 stay-at-home order of the government. She said, I have seen all the messages on Social Media. I will not intentionally mislead people. It was my husbands birthday (on Saturday). Both of us run a studio which is located in Amen Estate where we live. When the pandemic started, we stopped all productions including our new projects. But before the lockdown was announced by our President, some youths have been in the boot camp here in Amen Estate majority of the youths were those you saw in the video. Naira Marley came in here before the lockdown. And when the lockdown was announced, he said he would love to stay back, saying he loves this environment. I said okay fine. Then my husbands birthday came up. And we all came together as a family. Everybody in that video had been in Amen Estate some months before, weeks before and days before the lockdown. Nobody came from their houses to party with us. I am sorry if I have misled you. I appreciate your concerns and I promise to always practice what I preach. I promise to always support the government in creating more awareness to eradicate this pandemic. Nadia, a four-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo, has become the first tiger in the world to test positive for the coronavirus. It is the first known case of an animal contracting the coronavirus in the United States. Nadias sister Azul, two Amur tigers, and three African lions have also developed a dry cough, a symptom that is typical of COVID-19 patients. Because of the difficulty of obtaining samples from big cats, only one was tested. Besides a bit of loss of appetite all the Bronx Zoo animals are doing well, the Wildlife Conservation Societys Bronx Zoo said in a statement. The zoo has been closed since March 16. Advertisement The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the finding and said it marked the first case of a tiger testing positive for COVID-19. The big cats were likely infected by an asymptomatic staff member. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even though all the big cats infected with COVID-19 are expected to make a full recovery the positive test raises fresh questions about how the virus is transmitted to animals. No pets in the United States have tested positive for the virus and there is no evidence to suggest that animals can transmit COVID-19 to people. A dog in Hong Kong tested positive, which led officials to conclude animals could test positive if they had been exposed by humans but could not transmit the virus to humans. The USDA says anyone who is sick with the coronavirus should restrict contact with animals as much as possible. If someone who is sick with the coronavirus must take care of a pet or be around animals, they should wash their hands before and after the interaction, notes the USDA. Experts also recommend that pets of owners who are infected with COVID-19 should be kept inside as much as possible. President Trump at the White House coronavirus briefing on Sunday. What do you have to lose? he asked as, for the second day in a row, he recommended the use of hydroxychloroquine on coronavirus patients despite the guidance of doctors and health experts. Greg Abbott is trying not to rock the boat in Texas. Is that sustainable? In his first campaign for governor of Texas, in 2014, Greg Abbott pledged to be a bridge between the far-right and pro-business wings of the Republican Party, someone who would lead as the opposite of a flamethrower and in such a way that even moderate Democrats could get behind. Now he is in his second term, and that tactic has worked to a large extent. But in the midst of a pandemic, many Texans patience for a middle-of-the-road approach has run low. Nigeria is requesting $6.9bn from multilateral lenders to combat the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Africas biggest economy, the finance minister said on Monday. Nigeria, whose revenues have tumbled with the fall in oil prices, has asked for $3.4bn from the International Monetary Fund, $2.5bn from the World Bank and $1bn from the African Development Bank, said Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning Zainab Ahmed. Nigeria is the African continents biggest oil producer and is still recovering from a recession caused by the last period of weak oil prices. As of Sunday, it had 232 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus and five deaths. A two-week lockdown was imposed last week on Lagos State, home to the nations sprawling commercial hub, as well as neighbouring Ogun State and the capital territory of Abuja, to prevent the virus spreading across the country. The minister told a news conference in Abuja that Nigeria was one of several African states seeking the suspension of debt-servicing obligations for 2020 and 2021 from multilateral lenders. The requests are part of a broader debate over debt relief. But analysts say securing such relief will be a challenge as it requires winning approval from a disparate array of creditors. The IMF, which has received requests for help from about 80 nations, including 20 African countries, is making about $50bn available from its emergency financing facilities to help countries cope with the crisis. The World Bank has approved a $14bn response package. Nigerias finance minister said IMF support would not be tied to a formal programme and the funds would not have conditions attached. Cutting spending It is important to clarify that Nigeria does not intend to negotiate or enter into a formal programme with the International Monetary Fund, at this time, or in the foreseeable future, Ahmed added. The government said last month that spending in the $34.6bn budget for 2020 would have to be cut by around $4.9bn due to low oil prices and the impact of the pandemic, which has driven down global demand for fuel. The minister said the budget would assume an oil price of $30 a barrel, down from $57, and production of 1.7 million barrels per day (bpd) rather than 2.1 million bpd. The emerging health and economic risks resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and decline in international oil prices pose existential threats to Nigerias economy, healthcare system, national security, as well as the lives of our citizens, said Ahmed. Nigeria, where economic growth had been about two percent, is still struggling to shake off a 2016 recession caused by a previous slide in oil prices to below $30 a barrel. In the latest crisis, oil prices plunged to a nearly two-decade low of close to $20 per barrel. Fitch Ratings on Monday pushed Nigerias debt rating deeper into junk territory, rating it a B and saying it expected the virus pandemic to drive the economy back into recession. It forecast the economy would contract one percent in 2020. Ahmed said the government had provided 102.5 billion naira ($270m) to support the healthcare sector, of which 6.5 billion naira ($16m) had already been made available as critical expenditure for the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. Lagos State, where most confirmed cases of the virus in the country have been identified, had received 10 billion naira ($26m) in emergency funding, the minister said. On Saturday, the government said it planned to create a coronavirus fund to strengthen its healthcare infrastructure. On Monday, Ahmed said the president approved the fund and said backing from lawmakers was being sought to borrow the money from special accounts. By AFP WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he was "hopeful and sure" Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was hospitalized for further coronavirus tests after testing positive, would recover from COVID-19. "He is a friend of mine, he is a great gentleman, a great leader. He was brought to the hospital today but I am hopeful and sure that he is going to be fine," Trump said at his White House briefing. ALSO READ | British PM Boris Johnson admitted to hospital with coronavirus symptoms "He is a strong man, a strong person." ENERGY Minister, Dr Medard Kalemani, has directed the installation of a circuit breaker at Msamvu Power Station to be completed immediately to stop frequent power cuts in Morogoro Region. According to a statement issued by the Energy Ministry's Communications Unit yesterday, several parts of the region especially Mtibwa and Kilosa have recently been experiencing frequent power cuts due to the breakdown of a device at Msamvu Power Station. "This is the last warning to all power station managers across the country that every power station should have spare parts to fix immediately once there is a breakdown," said the minister during his impromptu visit to the area. He was accompanied by Tanesco Executive Director, Dr Tito Mwinuka, Tanesco Regional Manager Fred Shuma, a representative of the Renewable Energy Commissioner, Mr Ahmed Chinemba. Dr Kalemani issued the directive after being informed that the frequent power cuts in several areas in the region were due to the breakdown of the circuit breaker at Msamvu Power Station. Likewise, the minister issued a seven-day ultimatum to two Tanesco staff members working at Msamvu Power Station to relocate near the power station to address any challenge timely. He stressed that it was the last warning to all Tanesco staff members working at power stations across the country to relocate near their working stations to solve any power problem timely. Dr Kalemani further issued a three-day ultimatum to Tanesco in Morogoro Region to fix a power supply problem at Mtibwa for the members of the public to access electricity. He explained that frequent power cuts experienced in some parts of the country had resulted from the supervision challenge and not the power shortage. "Here in Morogoro, for instance, the power station receives sufficient electricity. The station receives 88MW while demand in the region stands at 48MW only," he noted. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread across the country, a California family told Dateline they are worried about Jose Vicente Ortiz, who disappeared from Queens, New York two weeks ago. Jose, who will be 38 on April 26, was last in contact with his family in mid-March when he emailed his aunt and uncle to check on them. He was worried about my parents because of this virus, Joses cousin, Saida Garcia, told Dateline. He sent them an email and wanted to make sure they were healthy, and wanted to make sure that everyone was OK. Jose Ortiz (Contributed by family.) Jose had moved from the Bay Area in California to Queens, New York eight years ago where he worked in the restaurant industry. Hes always very vague with the details about his life, Saida said. But we always knew he was OK. Saida told Dateline the last time the entire family saw Jose was two years ago at their grandmother's funeral in California. He also came back home in December 2019, but Saida said he was in contact with only a few people. Since then, the familys main connection to Jose is through social media. He was always posting on Facebook. Every day, Saida said. So when those posts stopped, we knew something was wrong. Saida said Joses last post was on March 24. She said in the days that followed, family members tried to contact him. But their Facebooks messages went unread. They became even more concerned as the spread of the virus continued to get worse. This virus...its what prompted us to try to get in touch with him more urgently, Saida said. Were all very concerned because hes in the center of it all. We just want to know if hes OK. A wellness check was conducted at Joses last known address on 53rd Street in Woodside, Queens, but the family was told Jose no longer lived there. It wouldnt be surprising if he was living with friends, but for him not to respond to any of us, to any of his friends, or to not post on social media is just unlike him, Saida said. Were all just really worried. Story continues Saida said the family has reached out to hospitals and even homeless shelters in New York City, but havent been able to locate him. NYPD Detective Annette Shelton told Dateline that officers are working with the family to file a report and continue the search for Jose. Jose is described as being 58 tall and weighing between 150 and 160 pounds. He has dark hair and a full beard. Anyone with information about Joses disappearance is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls are strictly confidential. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people on Sunday to switch off lights at their homes and light lamps, candles or even mobile phone torches to showcase unity and solidarity in the battle against COVID-19. While lakhs of families did turn off the lights and came out to their balconies to light diyas at 9 PM for 9 minutes, some burned firecrackers too and even took out a torched procession on roads. Slamming these individuals for the same, Bollywood actresses Sonam Kapoor and Taapsee Pannu took to social media to speak their mind. Sonam, who is in Delhi with her husband Anand Ahuja and in-laws after returning from London, tweeted, People are bursting crackers. Just FYI. They dogs are freaking out. Do people think its Diwali? Im so confused (sic). There was complete peace and quite, and now the birds, dogs and sirens are freaking out in south Delhi because some morons decided to burst fire crackers tonight (sic), she wrote in another tweet. People are bursting crackers. Just FYI . They dogs are freaking out. Do people think its Diwali? Im so confused. Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) April 5, 2020 There was complete peace and quite, and now the birds ,dogs and sirens are freaking out in south Delhi because some morons decided to burst fire crackers tonight. Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) April 5, 2020 Taapsee, on the other hand, shared videos on her Instagram stories from her neighbourhood and captioned it, Wrong memo, and, "They thought it's a rave party." Whereas, Richa Chaddha re-tweeted a video showing a torched procession on roads. She also wrote, Why crackers? Why (sic)? Actor Adil Hussain also wondered why some people in South Delhi burst crackers. Am sure the virus is on its way back now...#SocialDistancingkakyahua ? https://t.co/tM5sD2Usl3 TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) April 5, 2020 Meanwhile, prominent personalities from the Indian film industry including Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Anushka Sharma and Ranveer Singh on Sunday lit candles and lamps responding to Prime Minister Modi's appeal. Read: In Pics: Big B, Rajinikanth, Akshay, Deepika, Anushka Take Part in Modi's #9pm9minutes Initiative Follow @News18Movies for more Six Georgian textile companies have produced one million face masks in the last two weeks in an effort to help stem the spread of coronavirus, Trend reports via Georgian media. As reported, two more companies will also start the production from April 6. The locally produced face masks will be gifted to people above 70 who suffer from chronic diseases, as well as healthcare workers, patrol police officers, border guards and cashiers. Later they will also be available on sale at pharmacies. Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia and Health MInister Ekaterine Tikaradze visited one of the companies in the region of Adjara. Gakharia highlighted the importance of local production amid the global face mask deficit. He also welcomed the fact that these companies employ around 3,200 people. Georgia has reported the second case of death from COVID-19 infection on April 5. The first case of death from coronavirus in Georgia was reported on April 4. A total of 36 individuals have recovered out of the 170 confirmed cases since February 26. A of now, 5,067 people are under quarantine to avoid the further spread of coronavirus in Georgia. ALBANY Dozens of nurses in regions hit hardest by coronavirus have been staying in hotel rooms paid for by their union, but leaders of the Public Employees Federation (PEF) said they are seeking help from the state and the private sector to help continue the effort. Many of the nurses in Long Island and Brooklyn are staying in hotels because they fear returning home after their shifts and infecting family members. The nurses are not tested for COVID-19 unless they show symptoms, but state and federal authorities have said roughly 25 percent of those infected with coronavirus have no symptoms. Wayne Spence, PEF's president, said the union has asked whether vacant state university dorm rooms at Stony Brook Hospital on Long Island and SUNY's Downstate Medical University in Brooklyn could be offered as temporary housing for the nurses and other health care workers. Spence said he is also calling on recreational vehicle dealers or private owners to consider offering their RVs as temporary residences for nurses on the front lines. The union as of Monday had spent about $70,000 to put nurses in hotels, including nearly 50 on Long Island and 18 in Brooklyn. State leaders have said they are concerned that the apex of COVID-19 cases could hit New York this week. At some hospitals, there are concerns about shortfalls in personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff, including masks and gowns. "There are certain locations where the state can step up and provide some free housing," Spence said. "It would help take away some of the anxiety of these workers. ... It takes away a lot of stress. Some nurses probably would work without PPE if they know they're not bringing (the virus) home to their family." On March 27, PEF announced it had secured a block of hotel rooms near Stony Brook University Hospital on Long Island for its members who work at that facility and may fear spreading the coronavirus to their families or are too exhausted to return home after their shifts. Our number-one priority is the safety of (PEF) members and their families as they fight the coronavirus from the front line every day, many without the proper personal protective equipment Spence said. Anyone interested in donating housing or funds to help nurses during the crisis should contact Jane Briggs, jbriggs@pef.org. Hear from a frontline nurse in Long Island on a recent episode of the Cap Con podcast. Gov. Charlie Baker and First Lady Lauren Baker announced on Monday the launch of a statewide relief fund for residents negatively affected by the coronavirus pandemic. I think the sky is the limit for how much we would like to raise. The more money we can raise, the more money we can push out into communities where there is significant need, Lauren Baker, who is spearheading the project, said at Eastern Bank in Bostons Financial District. The Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund started with $13 million from donations from private donors, the first lady said. The One8 Foundation in Boston donated $1.8 million. There are a lot of communities across Massachusetts where even in the best of times, people struggle, and these are communities where families live paycheck to paycheck, and theyve been particularly hard hit by this COVID-19 crisis, the first lady said. This fund is going to support essential front line workers and other vulnerable communities, who face issues like food and housing insecurity and the loss of critical services. Eastern Bank is administering the fund at no cost, Lauren Baker said. The fund will issue funds to local nonprofits that will offer assistance to communities across Massachusetts, she said. The fund will partner with a network of local foundations and nonprofits who can issue funds quickly. The ultimate recipients, Lauren Baker said, are supposed to be health care workers, first responders, other essential workers and households otherwise negatively affected by COVID-19. The fund also supports homeless people, people with disabilities and immigrants, regardless of legal status, who are negatively affected by the pandemic. The fund comes at a time when Massachusetts is seeing its highest unemployment claims in years due to COVID-19. For the week ending on March 28, initial unemployment claims rose to 181,062. Thats higher than the 148,452 new claims reported for the week of March 21, which was higher than initial claims for the entire month of February. The goal here is simple, which is to create a statewide fund that can support many of the local foundations and community assets that have been serving communities and people here in Massachusetts for years and years and years," Charlie Baker said. Businesses across the state had to shorten hours or lay off staffs altogether as people shifted to life at home. Massachusetts is one of several states across the U.S. that ordered non-essential businesses to close to the public and advised people to stay home and keep 6 feet apart in hopes of stemming the rise of coronavirus cases. In Massachusetts, 13,837 people have tested positive for the coronavirus, and 260 people have died, according to the state Department of Public Health statistics released Monday. The Foundation for Business Equity and The Boston Foundation were listed as fiscal sponsors, as well as early donors. The fund encouraged people with questions to contact info@macovid19relieffund.org. Sign up for free text messages about important updates on coronavirus in Massachusetts Related Content: Scientists the world over are working round the clock to find a cure for the deadly coronavirus. With little time to develop new medicines from scratch and a vaccine to prevent the infection thought to be at least a year away much of their effort involves 'repurposing' existing treatments. This means testing drugs currently used to treat other conditions to see if they can halt, or even slow, the spread of Covid-19. As soon as a drug is linked with helping corona patients, it sells out as countries scramble to get their hands on it. 'I am more optimistic about these existing drugs being put into use in the near future than I am about a vaccine,' says Professor John Oxford, a virologist at Queen Mary University of London. 'We have extensive experience with many of them already and some could be easily repurposed.' So what are these treatment candidates and could they really help? Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine tablets cost less than 1 a day and have been used against malaria for about 70 years. Recent studies have also found they can act against some viruses 1 ANTI-MALARIAL Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine tablets cost less than 1 a day and have been used against malaria for about 70 years. Recent studies have also found they can act against some viruses. Scientists think the drugs may work by changing the chemical structure of cells in the lungs just enough to stop the Covid-19 virus binding to them and causing widespread infection. But chloroquine can cause cardiomyopathy, a type of heart failure. Trials are under way in the U.S. and China to see if they can speed recovery in those with Covid-19. Professor Robin May, a specialist in infectious diseases at Birmingham University, says: 'The drugs are cheap and could be fairly easy to accelerate into trials and, if successful, to treatment.' Initial results from trials in China suggest they may help to slow down the rate at which the Covid-19 virus replicates. EBOLA DRUG Remdesivir is an antiviral drug that is injected into the bloodstream and was originally developed to tackle Ebola. It interferes with the virus's genetic make-up so it can't reproduce rapidly and infiltrate the lungs, causing pneumonia. But remdesivir can trigger nausea, vomiting and, in severe cases, liver damage. Trials are under way in China and the UK after some Covid-19 patients responded well to treatment. British patients are being given the drug to see if it stops the virus rampaging through the body. Initial results are expected in the next month or so. Remdesivir is an antiviral drug that is injected into the bloodstream and was originally developed to tackle Ebola ARTHRITIS JAB Kevzara (also called sarilumab) is given as an injection into the bloodstream to treat painful, swollen joints in rheumatoid arthritis. It works by slowing the release of IL-6, a chemical messenger produced by the immune system which is linked to inflammation. Trials in the U.S. and Europe will now see if injections of sarilumab can reduce inflammatory processes in the body set off by Covid-19 that lead to pneumonia. In tests of a similar drug in China, 19 out of 20 seriously ill patients with Covid-19 were discharged from hospital within two weeks. Kevzara (also called sarilumab) is given as an injection into the bloodstream to treat painful, swollen joints in rheumatoid arthritis ASTHMA INHALER A drug that was being developed in the UK for asthma is being fast-tracked into trials for Covid-19. Called SNG001, it was given rapid approval in March by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) after the World Health Organisation said it might be useful in fighting the virus. A trial of 100 Covid-19 patients is getting under way at University Hospital Southampton. Delivered by inhaler, the drug raises levels of interferon beta-1, a protein that dictates the immune system's response to viruses that affect the lungs. Covid-19 suppresses production of this protein, which allows the virus to evade detection by the immune system. A drug that was being developed in the UK for asthma is being fast-tracked into trials for Covid-19 'DRACULA' CURE Scientists are exploring whether injecting sick patients with a treatment made using the blood of people who have survived Covid-19 could stop the virus in its tracks. The treatment, which has so far been used on about a dozen Covid patients in the U.S., uses plasma a liquid component of blood taken from survivors, which contains antibodies (proteins released to combat an infection) against Covid-19. It is then slowly fed into another patient's bloodstream. The theory is that extracting antibodies from survivors' blood and injecting them into patients could halt Covid-19. But the numbers involved are currently too small to show if it works well. MS tablet A pill taken by thousands of patients in the UK with multiple sclerosis (MS) is also being investigated as a potential weapon against Covid-19. Scientists are exploring whether injecting sick patients with a treatment made using the blood of people who have survived Covid-19 could stop the virus in its tracks Fingolimod works against MS by helping to dampen down inflammation in the central nervous system that causes severe mobility problems. There is some evidence to suggest it may help prevent acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a common complication of Covid-19 infection that leaves patients gasping for breath and in need of a ventilator. In a trial that began in China in February, sick patients are being given a 0.5mg fingolimod tablet every day for three days to see if it speeds recovery. The results are expected in July. UNLIKELY CHOICE? No drug is more synonymous with devastating side-effects than thalidomide, the pill given to thousands of pregnant women in the UK in the Fifties and Sixties to combat morning sickness. It left a generation of children with deformities but it could now help to combat Covid-19. Two trials, involving 140 patients, are under way in China after doctors there reported the case of a 45- year-old woman who recovered after being given 100mg of the drug daily, alongside a range of other treatments, for five days. Thalidomide is thought to have anti-inflammatory effects that may control the 'storm' inside the lungs that some Covid-19 patients endure. Scientists hope it will reduce lung damage and shorten the duration of illness. No drug is more synonymous with devastating side-effects than thalidomide, the pill given to thousands of pregnant women in the UK in the Fifties and Sixties to combat morning sickness 'SUNSHINE' PILL This week, scientists from the University of Granada in Spain are set to begin a ten-week trial to see if vitamin D can help to fight the virus. They will be testing the vitamin on 200 Covid-19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms. Each will be given a pill every morning to take with a slice of toast and olive oil to improve absorption through the gut. Vitamin D, which we mostly get from exposure to the sun's rays, plays a crucial part in maintaining a healthy immune system, so this may improve people's chances of withstanding the onslaught of a severe infection such as Covid-19. This week, scientists from the University of Granada in Spain are set to begin a ten-week trial to see if vitamin D can help to fight the virus HEAD LICE REMEDY Researchers in Australia revealed last week that ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug used to treat head lice and scabies, could stop Covid-19. Tests at the University of Melbourne showed it reduced levels of the virus in infected cells by almost 100 per cent within 48 hours by 'paralysing' it, attacking its nervous system and interrupting its reproduction process. But the head lice remedy has yet to be tested in clinical trials on humans. Researchers in Australia revealed last week that ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug used to treat head lice and scabies, could stop Covid-19 SOCIAL MEDIA MYTH BUSTER We debunk the Covid-19 hoaxes circulating online. This week: A hot bath will help prevent the virus 'I hear this frequently from patients, but there is no evidence to support it,' says Professor Steve Cox, a GP in St Helens, and a professor of general practice at the University of Chester. The idea has spread that soaking in a hot bath will somehow kill any virus or germs that may have got onto your body. 'You could never get into a bath hot enough to kill the virus it would need a minimum 60c to do this. The best way to combat the spread of infection is regular handwashing with soap,' he says. Shower at your regular temperature and lather well so that the detergent in soap or shower gel breaks down the outside coating of the virus and kills it. You will also wash it off better, rather than leaving any germs clinging to the rim of the bath. CORONA EXPLAINER: A guide to why the virus causes certain symptoms This week: Fatigue Up to 40 per cent of those with Covid-19 complain of exhaustion and fatigue. But it's not the virus itself that causes the drastic slump in energy. Instead, the severe tiredness is triggered by the immune system's reaction to the invasion, says Dr Simon Clarke, an associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading. He says: 'We think the tiredness develops partly because your body consumes a great deal of energy mounting a response to the virus.' This kind of fatigue is common during viral infections, such as a cold, flu or glandular fever. Professor Andrew Easton, a virologist at Warwick University adds: 'Over-stimulation of the immune response can lead to feelings of being generally unwell and tired.' Sushmitha Ramakrishnan By Express News Service CHENNAI: Hydroxychloroquine, a crucial drug used in the treatment of arthritis, has been unavailable to patients at pharmacies for the last two weeks despite having a genuine prescription. This has created fear among arthritic senior citizens who depend on the drug on a daily basis.Patients have urged the government to boost manufacturing and restocking of the drug, so that patients in need of it may be able to have easy access to it. Hydroxychloroquine, a medication used to prevent and treat malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and porphyria cutanea tarda, was declared as a game changer in treatment of COVID-19 by American President Donald Trump on March 21, even as there were no large-scale studies to prove it. Panic purchase of the drug in India ensued soon after, leaving pharmacies out of stock. The drug is commonly sold under the brand name HCQS in India. A pharmacist from Valluvar Kottam told Express that there was a sudden surge of people wanting to purchase HCQS over the counter. I learned that people were buying the drug preemptively after reading the news. So I stopped selling it to those without a prescription, he said, adding that many of his regular customers who were prescribed hydroxychloroquine stocked up on the drug predicting the lockdown. This left the pharmacy out of stock within three days of Trumps announcement, he said. A Vijayalakshmi*, a lupus patient, said her family members went to several pharmacies in West Mambalam in vain. They took my prescription to at least seven pharmacies that said they were out of stock. Finally, a friend got the tablet at a multi-specialty hospital in Velachery, she said. V Krishnamurthy, a rheumatologist and CEO of Chennai Meenakshi Multispeciality Hospital, said many patients said that they were unable to find the drug at pharmacies.He added that there is no proper research to prove that the tablet can cure COVID-19. Anecdotal cases and limited research have shown that the drug reduces severity of the disease. The drug can reduce the binding ability of the virus with lungs. However, results have only been published in small publications, he said. Krishnamurthy said that long-term usage of the tablet will cause pigmentation and darkening of skin. Further, the government on March 27, categorised the drug as a schedule H1 drug, which means prescription is mandatory. On Sunday, the Indian government also banned all export of the drug. Many people have been using the drug as a prophylactic (medicine intended to prevent disease), said TN Chemists and Druggists Association leader T Nataraj. Health care workers on the front lines of the pandemic across the world have been taking the drug as a prophylactic. Many people, especially those with relatives staying in the USA, ended up unnecessarily stocking up on the drug, said Nataraj. There are only 250 or so rheumatologists in Tamil Nadu, and 50 of whom are in Chennai. So manufacturers also produce the drug according to the demand that comes from these doctors patients, he said. Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, and Dettol Nigeria have disowned Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele as their brand ambassador for hosting a birthday party despite lockdown in Lagos aimed at controlling the spread of Coronavirus. Akindele was arrested by the police for violating restriction orders in Lagos on Sunday. The actress hosted an in-house party in her Amen Estate on Saturday to mark the birthday of her husband, Abdul Rasheed Bello, better known as JJC Skillz. Some celebrities, such as Naira Marley were in attendance. Many social media users said her action is more condemnable as she is an ambassador of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Federal Government agency coordinating the nations response to the coronavirus. Akindele had appeared in an advert for NCDC and Dettol, calling on Nigerians to observe social distancing and hygiene. However, NCDC, in a tweet on Sunday said as an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, it had not engaged brand ambassadors as part of its response to COVID-19. We continue to emphasise that all Nigerians maintain social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it said. Also, Dettol Nigeria on its twitter page said The NCDC partnered with Dettol on a public service message to educate our communities about preventive measures against COVID-19. Funke is not a brand ambassador of the NCDC. Children with COVID-19 are less likely to have severe symptoms and require hospitalization than adults, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that is among the first to look at how the coronavirus affects the very young in the U.S. The report, released Monday, looks at 149,760 cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Fewer than 2% of those cases 2,572 involved children. To date, three children have died from COVID-19 in the country. The CDC analyzed cases from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and four U.S. territories between Feb. 12 and April 2. This is definitely the first step in understanding what the COVID-19 illness looks like in children, said Dr. Tamara Pilishvili, a CDC epidemiologist and one of the reports authors. In terms of our findings, the illness in children tends to be milder than one seen in adults. This is consistent with earlier reports in China and Italy summarizing COVID illnesses. Studies done in China since the coronavirus emerged there in December show that the virus has been less severe in children. But serious illnesses can still occur that result in hospitalization and intensive care which was also found to be the case in the U.S., Pilishvili said. In the United States, more than two-thirds of the adults studied reported fever, cough or shortness of breath as symptoms of COVID-19, compared to just over half of children. The data show that 213 children reported fever, cough or shortness of breath, compared with 10,167 adults. Among overall cases involving children where symptoms were known, 56% reported a fever, 54% had a cough and 13% reported shortness of breath. By contrast, among the adults, 71% reported fevers, 80% had a cough and 43% had shortness of breath. The adults in the study ranged from 18 to 64 years old. These data support previous findings that children with COVID-19 might not have reported fever or cough as often as do adults, the report says. Whereas most COVID-19 cases in children are not severe, serious COVID-19 illness resulting in hospitalization still occurs in this age group. Some local experts criticized the CDC study as too small to show how widespread the virus is among children, particularly those who show no symptoms but may be infected. It confirms a lot of what many of us are thinking and follows patterns that we are already seeing at the local levels, said Yvonne Maldonado, a pediatric infectious diseases expert at Stanford University. We dont really know, still, whether there are a number of children out there who dont have symptoms, who might be infected. CDC officials acknowledged their study was limited. For example, symptom information was available for only 9.4% of patients, and information on how many had underlying conditions was available for just 13% of patients. Pilishvili said as more cases are reported to the CDC, more thorough analysis will become available. Rachel Wattier, an infectious disease expert, said testing plays a role in the data. In early phases of the pandemic, children were more likely to be tested if they were symptomatic or if they came into contact with an adult who tested positive as was the case in early reports from China. 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. I think down the line, when we are able to test more widely and follow more children, we will likely learn a lot more about what is the real spectrum of disease, Wattier said. Information on the number of children hospitalized was available for only 29% of the juvenile cases studied by the CDC. But within that group, about one in five children required hospitalization, or 145 of 745 cases. Of the hospitalized children, 15 were admitted to the ICU. Children under a year old accounted for 40% of hospitalizations among COVID-19 pediatric patients, or 59 cases. Of those, five were admitted to an ICU. By comparison, between 10% and 33% of adults ages 18 to 64 ended up in the hospital and 1.4% to 4.5% were admitted to intensive care. The CDC report noted that social distancing is important to prevent the spread of the virus in all age groups. While we are seeing milder disease in children and children with COVID illness appear to be less likely to have fever (and) cough than adults they can still spread the infection, Pilishvili said. Therefore, social distancing and other preventing behaviors are recommended for all age groups. Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani Naira Marley The Lagos State Police Command has said it is still looking for musician, Naira Marley as he is yet to honour its invitation over a house party he attended in contravention of the lockdown order in Lagos State. Recall that Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele, had on Saturday hosted a party in honour of her husband, Abdulrasheed Bello, popularly called JJC. When the video of the party leaked, the police arrested the actress on Sunday evening and ordered her husband and Naira Marley to report at the station or declared wanted. JJC Skillz and Naira Marley attended the party but were absent during the time of the arrest. The Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, confirmed to The PUNCH that JJC Skillz arrived at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba while Naira Marley hasnt. He also said the actress, popularly called Jenifa, and her husband were taken to a Chief Magistrates Court in Ogba, Lagos. The police spokesman said, The husband arrived at the SCID around 2am and they will be arraigned together. We are, however, yet to see Naira Marley. The PUNCH reports that they will be arraigned for breaching the Lagos Infection Diseases Regulations 2020 (the Regulations) which prescribes a jail term of one month or N100,000 fine or both for persons found guilty of hosting gatherings or flouting the lockdown order. It reads in part, Where there is a violation of a close down or stay at home order, security Agencies shall have the power to arrest without warrant and may detain any person who violates the close down or stay at home order for at least 48 hours. Where the arrested person is found guilty, the person is liable to a fine of N100,000.00 or one-month imprisonment or three months Community service. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said here on Sunday that the state must prevent people from spilling out on the streets when the lock-down started getting lifted from April 15. All the hard work the state did would come to a nought if people crowd at the end of the lock-down. So we have to strategise accordingly. Please come up with suggestions to help the government, said Yogi. The CM interacted with UP parliamentarians and ministers via video-conference from his residence in the morning. We have to keep the situation under control even after the lock-down ends, he said. Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic Nearly, 80 MPs (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) of UP and central ministers attended the video conferencing with parliamentarians and ministers on Sunday. They were connected to Yogis home video conferencing system from all over the state and New Delhi. Some opposition MPs too participated. The Samajwadi Party had nominated Reoti Raman Singh (RS member) while Bahujan Samaj Party was represented by two Lok Sabha members Ritesh Pandey and Ram Shiromani Verma. The prominent ministers who attended were union women and child welfare minister Smriti Irani, union skill development minister Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey, union urban development minister Hardeep Puri, union labour minister Santosh Gangwar, union surface transport minister General (retd) VK Singh and BJP MPs Dr Mahesh Sharma and Bahuguna Joshi. The Congress lone Lok Sabha member in UP Sonia Gandhi spoke to PM Modi in Delhi when he called her. The chief minister interacted with the MPs and ministers to seek their cooperation and also to inform them about what the state government did to control the disease. Yogi said that the Tablighi Jamaat congregation (in Delhi) had dented the states hard work in checking spread of Sars-Cov-2 but the government was tackling even that. The MPs and ministers must keep their ears to the ground and inform the state government if they got any clues about those who participated in the congregation (other than those already quarantined). The state government had almost succeeded in controlling Sars-Cov-2 in the state, but the Tablighi Jamaat congregation factor damaged the process, he said. The 21-day lock-down period announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to check spread of Sars-Cov-2 is scheduled to end on April 15. The state government will do a lot of preparation for the strategic ending of the lock-down. Social distancing, a key idea to check spread of the disease, has to be practised even after April 15. We need your cooperation for this as you are in direct touch with people in your areas, said Yogi. Updating the participants, Yogi said: The state saw a total of 275 (positive) cases. Of these 132 cases are related to Tablighi Jamaat. The upswing happened in the past three days. Due to outsiders, the situation turned sensitive. It was a kind of anarchy on their part and we are taking legal action against many of them. Yogi informed how the government swung into action after the state reported its first Covid-19 case on March 3. Then, we did not have even one testing lab. Now we have eight and more would come up in days to come. At the same time, in phases the state created level-1, level-2, and level-3 medical facilities to tackle the positive cases. We have 51 level-2 and 6 (six) level-3 facilities so far across the state. More would come up, he said. The chief minister also informed the parliamentarians and ministers about the 11 Sars-Cov-2 tackle committees to deal with different issues--such as medical health, law and order, social security, agriculture, etc. Seeking help from the MPs and ministers, Yogi said: Apart from the direct bank transfers for construction labourers, MNREGS (rural employment scheme) beneficiaries and pension beneficiaries, the state intends to send Rs 1,000 each into accounts of daily wagers--such as rickshaw- pullers, vendors and e-rickshaw drivers but we are facing a problem as we do not have information about the bank accounts of all of them. Help us with their bank accounts in your respective areas. Yogi also praised legislators overwhelming response in contributing their local area funds with generosity to the state to fight Sars-Cov-2. Utahs new law requiring porn to come with a warning label went on the books in that state last week, as AVN.com reported. While the bill that passed the state legislature was considerably watered down from its original version, now requiring the label only on obscene material rather than on any content containing nudity, the adult industry advocacy group Free Speech Coalition warned that the law was still likely to open the door to an avalanche of lawsuits against porn producers and sites. Apparently, the law's backers agree. Quoted on One News Nowa site that describes itself as offering your latest news from a Christian perspectiveLiberty Counsel founder Mat Staver praised the new law. "Certainly anybody can bring a lawsuitincluding private citizensif the label is not there," Staver, who has headed the nonprofit, evangelical Christian law firm for 30 years, told the site. "The consumer needs to know [of the potential for harm]and I think this is a consumer protection law in Utah. The version of the warning label bill that automatically became law when Utah Governor Gary Herbert simply let the signing deadline lapse targets only obscene material, which in theory would exempt the majority of online, mainstream porn. But because, as the FSC statement noted, there is no established legal definition for obscenity, though the Supreme Court's decision in Miller v. California still governs the material that would come before courts, while any citizen could in fact sue a porn site or producer for such, each case would have to be worked out through a lengthy and expensive legal process." According to an analysis by The Salt Lake Tribune, a porn producer could successfully defend against the accusation of obscenity by showing that it has included the required warning label on the bulk of its content. In other words, even though the watered-down version of the law requires only obscene material to include the warning, the fact that anyone can charge obscenity and file a lawsuit means that, to avoid costly litigation, porn producers would need to include the warning label. The chilling effect on legal speech would be substantial, the FSC statement read. Photo By onaeg news agency / Wikimedia Commons Blue tuna is a hot commodity. It is often used in sushi and sashimi- a Japanese bite-sized raw fish dish. The sought-after fish is tasty, but it is also expensive. It often sells for about $40 per pound in Japan, but depending on the time of year and the demand, that price can soar even higher, once going up to $3 million for a 612-pound fish. Why is blue tuna so expensive? In part, because it is in danger of going commercially extinct. As the birthplace of sushi, and lovers of tuna, Japan is trying hard to protect the stocks of blue tuna now available in the sea. Sometimes, however, that proves to be difficult, and the battle is an uphill one between humans, governments, money-hungry hands and nature. Quotas There are quotas in place to stop the decline of the tuna population, but targets aren't being reached. Photo by Mojo Jojo on Unsplash Back in 2017, the blue-tuna fishing nations of the world came up with a plan to help the extremely depleted stocks of the fish replenish themselves. The US, Canada, Japan, and South Korea, as well as other countries, all participated in the meeting on how to rebuild tuna stocks in the Pacific ocean. It was agreed that the countries involved would rebuild the tuna stocks to at least 20% of their historic levels by the year 2034. They would do this by implementing catch quotas that would have to be adhered to by each nation. All those involved agreed that if the chances of meeting this target were to fall below 60%, then the countries in agreement would lower their catch levels. It sounded like a solid plan. The trouble was, countries kept breaking their promise and exceeding their allotted amount of tuna to catch. In response to this, Japan agreed in 2016 to halve the amount of juvenile bluefin tuna it catches, therefore leaving more fish in the sea to procreate in the future. This tactic has not been proven to be fail-safe either, however, as Japan is not sticking to its target. Prison Sentences for Fishermen Overfishing can lead to prison sentences. Photo by Peter Lam CH on Unsplash Part of the problem of overfishing the blue tuna lies in the fact that Japanese fishermen have been fishing this creature for centuries, and they still need a livelihood. Not fish means no money, which also means no food on their kitchen tables. According to IMSCnet.org, in 2018 Japans Fisheries Agency began authorizing the suspension of fishermens operations if fishermen fished more than their quotas. Fishermen are required to submit haul reports to the authorities, and those whose numbers are too high could face up to three years in prison or a fine of 2 million. The race is on for the blue tuna. It has been a Japanese staple since historic times, and hopefully still has a future the world over, but change is needed to ensure it does. By Online Desk One COVID-19 patient is likely to infect 406 people in 30 days if he or she refuses to follow lockdown restrictions or social distancing, the Health Ministry said on Monday, while quoting from a recent ICMR study. Addressing the routine press briefing, the ministry informed that the total number of coronavirus cases in India have increased to 4789 including 124 deaths. Luv Aggarwal, joint secretary in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare also said that the government is looking at designing a strategy for cluster containment. Furthermore, the ICMR has tested over one lakh people and roped in 59 more private labs. Earlier in the day, there were reports that the Centre, after following requests from several state governments and experts, is considering extending the three-week-long COVID-19 lockdown after April 14, government sources said. However, the health ministry in its briefing urged the media to not speculate on it. Blood tests that determine whos had the coronavirus and may have developed immunity to it could help decide whos ready to return to work. One being developed at Stanford University may be released as soon as this week, Gov. Gavin Newsom said. The tests use a blood sample, typically with a finger poke, to search for antibodies, which develop in blood as the immune system fights the virus. Experts believe many COVID-19 patients will develop immunity, but theyre not certain. In addition to identifying who may be immune to the virus, the antibody test could be used to help treat newly infected patients by using the blood of those who had the virus to fight the new infection. The test at Stanford is among a number of tests nationwide that are being developed by labs and research academics as the country scurries to understand and control the COVID-19 outbreak. UCSF researchers are also close to releasing an antibody test. The Food and Drug Administration approved the first antibody test, by Cellex, a company with offices in North Carolina and China, on Thursday. The tests differ from current tests for the coronavirus, which generally require a swab to be stuck up a persons nose and deep into the back of a persons throat to collect genetic material. Kara Lynch, an associate professor of laboratory medicine at UCSF, whos also working on antibody testing, said much remains unknown about coronavirus antibodies, including whether someone can be reinfected with the virus, or when the antibodies form. But she said shes confident that antibody tests will be ready quickly. Theyre ready, theyre available, some have even been submitted to FDA, she said. A lot of people are working on them. All the big players, the big labs are working on them as well. Newsom announced Saturday that one of the tests made in California is hours from FDA approval and could be rolled out this week. Dr. Charity Dean, the California Department of Public Healths assistant director, lauded the test during the governors news conference. Were very excited that this is a California homegrown test, she said. Lisa Kim, a Stanford Medicine spokeswoman, confirmed that two serological tests are in development, one as part of a study and another expected to be in laboratory development soon. She declined to offer details, saying only, We will have more information in the coming days. State Department of Public Health officials declined to comment, and the governors press office did not immediately return calls or emails. Even as the governor spoke, Stanford researchers were taking blood samples from Santa Clara County residents to see if they have had the coronavirus. About 3,200 volunteers were tested Friday and Saturday at three locations, according to the Stanford Daily, with a quick needle prick to a finger. Results are expected to be known in about a week. 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. Eran Bendavid, associate professor of medicine, whos helping lead the study, said the test will help show how many people in the county have had the illness. People infected by the virus often exhibit mild or no symptoms. Its hard to stand up in this epidemic and say, Look, we really dont know if this epidemic is impending Armageddon, Bendavid told the Stanford Daily. In order to know and reduce that uncertainty, you need numbers. Antibody tests could yield results that are useful in a number of ways. Theyre expected to play a critical role in the reopening of institutions. People with immunity, for example, may be able to leave their homes without the risk of infecting themselves or others, and start returning to the workforce. And they could be used to treat newly infected patients, Lynch said. Someone who tests positive for antibodies can have blood drawn and the plasma given to someone newly infected, helping them fight off the virus more quickly. Antibody tests could also help inform the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan [April 06, 2020] Kraig Biocraft Laboratories CEO to Present at SynBio Markets 2020 ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB), the leading developer of spider silk based fibers, announces that Kim Thompson, the Companys CEO and Founder, has accepted an invitation to speak at this years SynBio Markets conference to be held in Amsterdam, Netherlands beginning November 3rd. SynBio Markets focus is synthetic biology solutions to commercial and sustainability challenges. The international conference is designed to showcase the most innovative synthetic biology companies. We are delighted to be welcoming Mr. Thompson to the conference and have such a leader in innovation as Kraig Biocraft Laboratories joining the speaker lineup in Amsterdam. Building on the successful launch event in 2019 we will once again be connecting synbio investors, academics and innovators to commercial end market customers across a variety of verticals. Across three days it will link science and technology to business and is committed to turning potential into reality and building a better, green world, said Luke Upton, Editor and Co-Founder of SynBio Markets. This event brings together stakeholders from across all facets of commercial biotechnology, blending innovators and academia with investors and commercial end market customers. Thompson will be joining an impressive lineup of industry leaders to discuss the commercial opportunities and potential of synthetic biology to reshape and strengthen economies and commercial relationships. I am honored to have been selected by SynBio Markets, said Thompson. I look forward to the opportunity to share Kraig Labs vision and insight on how our echnology, and the technological innovations of others in this field, will change the commercial landscape with powerful products and environmentally friendly production methods. We are one of the early innovators in this field and we are proud to have plowed a road which other companies are now following. I want to thank the entire SynBio Markets team for their leadership in organizing this important event. To learn more about this important event in the commercialization of leading edge biotechnology, please visit www.synbiomarkets.com On April 16 at 4:30pm ET, the Company will be revealing a significant scientific breakthrough in spider silk technology during an online press conference. All interested parties can view this live event by going to www.kblbinvestors.com To view the most recent news from Kraig Labs and/or to sign up for Company alerts, please go to www.KraigLabs.com/news . About Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. ( www.KraigLabs.com ), a reporting biotechnology company is the leading developer of genetically engineered spider silk based fiber technologies. The Company has achieved a series of scientific breakthroughs in the area of spider silk technology with implications for the global textile industry. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information Statements in this press release about the Companys future and expectations other than historical facts are forward-looking statements. These statements are made on the basis of managements current views and assumptions. As a result, there can be no assurance that managements expectations will necessarily come to pass. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as believes, plans, expects, anticipates, foresees, estimated, hopes, if, develops, researching, research, pilot, potential, could or other words or phrases of similar import. Forward looking statements include descriptions of the Companys business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions and goals. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Ben Hansel, Hansel Capital, LLC (720) 288-8495 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Lawyers for more than half the wildfire victims who negotiated a $13.5 billion settlement with PG&E Corp. say their clients plan to vote overwhelmingly in favor of the bankrupt utilitys reorganization plan. The attorneys represent about 40,300 of the estimated 70,000 who lost homes, businesses and other property in blazes blamed on PG&E equipment. Members of the largest group, represented by the firm Watts Guerra LLP, have voted nearly unanimously in favor of the deal, with more than half of 18,000 total votes already cast, according to people familiar with the matter. The vast majority of the second largest group, represented by the Singleton Law Firm, also solidly back the plan, although most havent voted yet, a senior partner said. So far, the response has been overwhelming, said the partner, Gerald Singleton, whose firm represents roughly 7,000 victims. The preliminary tallies come as attorneys for a committee representing fire victims in the bankruptcy have asked a federal judge to modify the settlement because half of the payout will be funded with stock thats been battered by the coronavirus fallout. PG&Es Chapter 11 plan must win support from two thirds of wildfire victims who cast a ballot. Voting began this week and concludes May 15. PG&E said it remains on track to have its plan approved by the bankruptcy court by June 30. Since PG&E entered Chapter 11, the company has had one goal, and that is to get victims paid fairly and timely, the company said in a statement. PG&E shares fell 4.2% Friday. Despite optimism among some lawyers, there are signs of dissension. At least three fire victims have resigned in protest from the 11-member committee appointed to represent those who lost homes and loved ones. One of them, Kirk Trostle, whose home burned in the 2018 Camp Fire, said he was stepping down so he could speak out against the settlement, calling it flawed. As voting continues, lawyers who still back the deal are clashing with those who dont, hosting competing conference calls and virtual town-hall meetings to win victims to their side. Earlier this week, the activist Erin Brockovich, who has worked with one of the firms Watts Guerra partnered with, wrote an op-ed for the San Francisco Chronicle urging victims to accept the deal, saying its one of the largest settlements in history and that theres no other deal on the table. Richard Bridgford, founding partner of Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian, represents 4,300 of the victims and said he believes his clients will vote overwhelmingly for the plan. Jim Frantz, an attorney with the Frantz Law Group, represents 5,000 victims and said almost all his clients support the deal. Many have been living in trailers since their homes were burned and want to get on with their lives, he said. Its not a perfect solution, Frantz said. But this is as perfect as it will get at this time. Mike Danko, an attorney with Corey Danko Gibbs, said most of the 6,000 victims he represents support the plan too. There are no other alternatives on the table, which is why he is recommending they back it. A representative for the Watts group declined to comment. Singleton said hes recommending his clients support the plan because he believes it will allow them to be paid out in six to 12 months. If its rejected, it could take three to five years, he said. He said a small but vocal minority of victims oppose the plan in hopes of a better deal. None of the alternatives are close to what this is offering, Singleton said. There is no reason to believe that they would get more money if they rejected the deal. With assistance from Mark Chediak, Steven Church and David R. Baker. About the photo: A statue stands outside a burn-out building during the Camp Fire in Paradise, California on Nov. 13, 2018. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. After bigbasket and Spencer's Retail, ride-hailing Uber has now partnered with Walmart-owned Flipkart to provide people in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi access to everyday essentials amid the nationwide lockdown. Last week, Uber had said two-wheelers (UberMoto) and four-wheelers (UberGo and UberXL) and network of driver-partners on its platform will help support delivery of essential supplies safely to consumers' doorsteps. "We are pleased to announce our partnership with Flipkart today to further consolidate our new last-mile delivery service. The partnership helps keep the economy running and enables Indians to stay at home in line with government guidelines for containing Covid-19, as well as creates earning opportunities for drivers," Uber India and South Asia Director-Operations and Head of Cities Prabhjeet Singh told PTI. Uber will not charge any commission, enabling drivers to keep 100 per cent of his billed amount, he added. Through its partnership with bigbasket, Uber is delivering to customers in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chandigarh and Noida. Singh explained that the partnership with Flipkart will keep vital supply chains running and address the needs of customers to receive essential goods at their doorsteps every day. "It will also support the government's objective of keeping hundreds of millions of Indians at home to contain the spread of COVID-19," he added. Singh, however, did not comment on the number of driver-partners who are helping in carrying out these e-commerce deliveries. In line with the government guidelines and to maintain safety and hygiene for containing the spread of Covid-19, all drivers associated with this service are being provided masks, gloves, sanitisers and safety training, Singh said. "This partnership is to help move essential supplies from our sellers/ vendors to customers in the shortest possible span of time. Flipkart remains committed to supporting our customers and we are mobilizing all possible options to ensure that in this national fight against Corona, we can support the governments, by delivering essential supplies to people who are staying indoors," Flipkart Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Rajneesh Kumar said. E-commerce companies have been struggling to deliver orders since the government ordered 21-day lockdown on March 24 to contain the spread of coronavirus. Even though the government allowed delivery of essential goods, including food, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment through e-commerce, players had complained about their delivery staff being hassled by police. With local authorities shutting down warehouses and stopping trucks from crossing state borders, e-commerce players have seen their operations getting disrupted. The companies have resumed operations and working to complete pending orders. Flipkart had temporarily suspended operations last week and later resumed services the same day after assurance of safe passage of its supply chain and delivery executives by local law enforcement authorities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chadian President Idriss Deby on Sunday visited dozens of injured troops during the major onslaught launched against Boko Haram terrorists last week. In the onslaught called Operation Anger of Bohama, many members of the terror group were killed. Even more devastating for the terrorists, their bunkers where they kept weapons were captured by the Chadians. President Deby led the troops into the battlefront, after several attacks against the countrys soldiers by the terrorists. Deby said the enemy was chased from the Lac islands after six days of operation, while two Boko Haram command posts in Chadian territory were recovered and destroyed. Scores of Boko Haram fighters captured are being held by the Chadian military. The lightly injured Chadian soldiers are being treated in Baga Sala in the Lac Province by a team of doctors sent from the NDjamena military hospital. There are also doctors sent from the Presidency and a volunteer. Military doctor, Dr Abderamane Ahmat Ali said most of the soldiers under treatment are now out of danger, the local newspaper alwihdainfo.com reported. On Sunday, Deby visited the injured to inquire about their state of health. They are proud to have accomplished a sacred mission in the service of their beloved homeland, Deby said. Till date, the Chadian military authorities have not given a full account of how the battle went. However, many Boko Haram insurgents were eliminated during the operation, with many fleeing into Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon. A military operation by the Multi National Joint Task Force followed last Friday. In the attack were Nigerian, Chadian and Nigerien soldiers, under the Multi-National Joint Task Force. They reportedly bombed via air strikes a camp of the Boko Haram and Islamic State West African Province terrorists in the Tumbun Fulani area in Borno State. Scores of the terrorists died. The Defence Media Operations said in a release that the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole and the Artillery Battalion of Sector 3 of the MNJTF were involved in the operation at Tumbun Fulani. The Director of the DMO, Brig Gen Bernard Onyeuko, said, The Armed Forces of Nigeria, through the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole, has destroyed an ISWAP camp at Tumbun Fulani on the fringes of Lake Chad in northern Borno State. This was achieved in a combined air and artillery bombardments as part of the coordinated joint offensive by the MNJTF to dislodge and completely rid the islands of Lake Chad of terrorists presence and activities. The operation was executed on intelligence reports indicating that the ISWAP elements used the settlement as a base from where they plan and launch attacks. BRIDGEPORT As the citys police force works to further address issues about quality of life, officers cracked down on illegal dumping in three incidents last month. The city launched an initiative to focus on illegal dumping, and offering rewards for residents who report and document illegal dumping instances, in early March. The campaign is an effort to promote better quality of life throughout the city and prevent bulk trash from being dumped in neighborhoods. Mayor Joe Ganim mentioned some arrests in a recent Facebook live video to residents for COVID-19 updates. City officials provided incident reports from two separate illegal dumping complaints. On March 26, a resident called police to report seeing a white U-Haul pickup truck with Arizona plates parked on Asylum Street near the old dog pound, a police incident report said. The caller told police he saw three men take construction debris off the truck and throw it into the street. The complainant said he filmed it on his cellphone and the three men told him to stop recording or they would hurt him, the report said. The suspects left toward Boston Avenue. The officer found the U-Haul in the parking lot of the Boston Avenue U-Haul facility. The officer checked the bed of the truck and found tile fragments and a white wire wrap. When police had the U-Haul facility find the contract for the suspect vehicle, it was found to have been rented that same afternoon and returned shortly after the illegal dumping complaint came in. The vehicle was rented by Francisco Paulino, who has a Bronx, N.Y., address but told police he lives on East Main St. in Bridgeport. The officer spoke with Paulino over the phone and then went to his East Main Street residence, where the officer issued Paulino a misdemeanor summons, charging him with illegal dumping. The report said it is estimated that it will cost the city $2,500 to clean up and properly dispose of the construction debris. Earlier in the month, on March 18, an officer was dispatched to the 100 block of Central Avenue to investigate a dumping complaint. The complainant told police they saw two individuals throwing garbage out of the back of a black Nissan Pathfinder with a Connecticut plate. As the driver tried to leave the scene, other officers pulled the driver over Julio Torres, of Barnum Avenue. Torres stated he had taken apart three air conditioners and put the metal parts back into the vehicle so he could sell the parts at the scrap yard, the incident report said. Torres told police he was going to return and pickup the garbage after he sold the scrap metal, the report said. Officers issued a misdemeanor summons charging Torres with illegal dumping. Less than a week prior, on March 12, an officer was sent to the 50 block of Crescent Street on an illegal dumping complaint. The witness told police he was driving on Crescent Street when he saw a person standing in the bed of a Ford F250 pickup, throwing garbage onto the sidewalk, an incident report said. The witness allegedly yelled at the suspect identified by police as Athos Laorindo and he stopped throwing items off the truck. Laorindo was there with another suspect, who was not seen throwing any items and was not charged. The other man told the officer he was putting the garbage on the trucks bed. Laorindo told police the other man picked him up in the truck earlier in the day. The report said Laorindo told the officer that the other man told him to throw the garbage out of the truck when they were on Crescent Street. Laorindo was issued a misdemeanor summons, charging him with illegal dumping. The truck used in the crime was unregistered and uninsured, the report said. It was towed and a hold was placed on the vehicle for its use in the crime. There is an estimated cost of $1,500 ... for the city public works to remove and properly dispose of the garbage, the report said. Evidence of illegal dumping can be emailed to pickinitup@bridgeportct.gov. Residents can also call 203-330-4203. By Ofeliya Afandiyeva Azerbaijans Cabinet of Ministers will pay cash bonuses to volunteers involved in measures to combat the coronavirus infection COVID-19 in the country. Under the governments decision, each volunteer will receive a monthly cash bonus of $147 as of April 1, 2020. The country has registered 584 coronavirus cases so far. Some 32 of them recovered, seven people died. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Australian researchers found that an anti-parasitic drug which is initially used for the removal of headlice, can kill SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19 in just 48 hours. The researchers, who were from the Monash University on Melbourne suggested that their study showed that a single dose of anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin can stop the growth of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in cell culture. During the study, the researchers took healthy cells and injected them with the novel coronavirus. They waited for two hours before injecting the test drug into the cells. The test results showed a significant reduction in the viral RNA in the first 28 hours after adding just a single dose of Ivermectin. After 48 hours almost 99.8% of the viral RN was already wiped out. By the third day, SARS-CoV-2 has already been completely eliminated from the cells. Read also: Making Face Masks? Here's the Best Kind of Fabric to Ward Off Coronavirus Ivermectin's mechanism against COVID-19 is still unknown The researchers are still unable to tell for sure on how the anti-parasitic drug kills coronavirus. Whilst, its mechanism is still unknown, the researchers believe that the Ivermectin paralyzes the virus and overwhelms its powerhouse thus impeding the replication process. According to the leader of the team, Dr. Kylie Wagstaff, Ivermectin is widely used and is a very safe drug. He added that what is needed to study and figure out, at what dosage it would be effective and safe for human use. The team of researchers believe that they can create an antiviral made from ivermectin with the help of the findings in their last test. The test can possibly help make drugs for COVID-19 patients in order to prevent the disease from progressing further. And it can also help in the containment of the virus by limiting person-to-person transmission. With this, the scientists are planning to do further research focusing on Ivermectin and carry out human trials. They also wish to further study the effectiveness of the anti-parasitic drug on killing coronavirus. This aims to know more about the characteristics of the drug and its possible interaction when injected in a human cell since the cells used in the initial tests were only made in laboratories for it was an invitro trial. Experts warn against misuse of Ivermectin Regardless, the researchers noted that the drug is already approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as an anti-parasitic drug. However, despite its promise and possibility to help in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, public health experts have warned the public against self-medicating and using the drug in preventing COVID-19 before trials have officially been done. According to ABC News, Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos has already stressed and warned the public against misusing the drug and rushing to pharmacies to buy lice treatments and use them in ways that could be fatal. As of the moment, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have strongly advised that people should maintain and abide by social distancing guidelines in order to prevent the spread of the virus and avoid contracting it. Related article: 'Favilavir' First Drug Approved as Possible Treatment for COVID-19 @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. SPRINGFIELD The Illinois comptrollers office borrowed $105 million from various funds in March, in large part so it could make bigger-than-normal payments to hospitals as they brace for the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak later this month. But Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza is advising all state vendors that there will likely be payment delays in April, in part because the tax filing deadline for both state and federal taxes has been pushed back to July 15. The inter-fund borrowing was noted last week in the states monthly revenue report from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. The comptrollers office has authority to engage in such borrowing to meet short-term cash flow needs of the general revenue fund. That report noted that total tax receipts in March, at $3.4 billion, was about what was expected, and 3.3 percent above the same month last year. But it also noted that the impact of the economic slowdown brought on by Gov. J.B. Pritzkers stay-at-home order and closure of nonessential businesses had not yet shown up in the revenue numbers. Mendozas spokesman, Abdon Pallasch, said in an interview Monday that some of the borrowing in March had been planned earlier but that a large part of the borrowing in March was to help provide hospitals with cash as they treat a growing number of COVID-19 patients. The state has a backlog of past-due bills totaling $7.8 billion, down significantly from the peak of $16.7 billion reported in November 2017. But Mendoza advised all state vendors last week to expect further payment delays in April because of the expected delay in tax filings. The state would normally bring in about $1 billion in revenue during April, Mendozas office said. In addition to the deferred revenues from the filing extension, it has not yet been determined what additional negative fiscal impact reduced economic activity related to this pandemic will have on our state revenues going forward, Mendozas office said in a statement. According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, the COVID-19 outbreak is expected to peak in Illinois around April 15. The institute projects the state will have enough hospital beds to handle the surge, but it will like face a shortage of 722 intensive care unit beds at the peak. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Why do I see myself differently in photographs compared with when I look in the mirror? SAND LAKE For Bruce Sowalski, the end began with what felt like a normal cold but rapidly became something much more serious. Sowalski developed a cough, then a fever and eventually struggled to breathe. On Thursday, two weeks after his initial symptoms, he became the first Rensselaer County resident to die from the COVID-19 illness. He was 68. It didnt take long for him to succumb, said his wife, Lorraine Ferguson. On Monday afternoon, Lorraine told me about the man she loved, her husband of 34 years. She described his passion for bird watching and his love for animals and nature. She told me about how tenderly he cared for his mother before she died in January. Lorraine talked about Bruces extensive volunteer work with local food pantries his calling, she said. She talked about his selflessness and generosity, his compassion and his dedication. He was someone you could talk to," Lorraine said, "no matter what you did in life or what your perspective on life. In a way, Lorraine was talking about more than her husband. She was also telling us whats at stake during this pandemic, how big and important this fight is. She was telling us what social distancing and staying home is about. Its about protecting people, like Bruce, with so much more to give. If we dont do what it takes to slow the spread of the coronavirus, if we lack the discipline to just stay distant as much as possible, more people like him will be lost. And well all be poorer for it. Think twice about everything that you do, Lorraine said. "If you don't have to go out, then just don't." Bruce Sowalski, an Albany native, graduated from Guilderland High School in 1969 and was a lifelong resident of the Capital Region. Big Bowman Pond, in particular, was his special place. From the waterside house in Sand Lake that he shared with Lorraine, he would take long walks along the pond, stopping to chat with neighbors. Retired in recent years after a career in marketing, he was happiest, his obituary says, puttering around his yard or sitting on the dock with a book and a glass of wine. Bruce had a lung condition, but it didn't keep him from living fully. It didnt keep him from traveling to Ecuador, Portugal, Cuba, Tanzania and so many other places where he would hire a local guide to take him and Lorraine bird watching. It didnt keep him from lifting boxes and stocking shelves at the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry in Albany. The lung condition and his age did, however, make Bruce particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus, so he and Lorraine tried to be careful. Maybe they should have been even more cautious, she thinks now. Maybe they should have gone less frequently to the grocery store. But Lorraine isnt sure where or how Bruce contracted the virus, so it's impossible to know what might have made a difference. She has never experienced symptoms. Thats one of the strange things about COVID-19, she says. People who don't feel at all sick can still have the disease and can pass it to others for whom the consequences will be severe. To people like Bruce Sowalski. Bruce was admitted to the intensive care unit at Albany Medical Center on March 27, a week after his first symptoms. That was the last day Lorraine had a face-t0-face conversation with her husband, the last day she could sit by his side or look him in the eyes. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. In the days after, they talked by phone and texted. But even that stopped two days later when Bruce was put on a ventilator. He died, without friends and family, without Lorraine, three days hence. Those lonely deaths are one of the cruelties of a virus that forces us into isolation and depriving us of the solace of gathering and even grieving together. The coronavirus denies us the reassurance of community and the warm touch of human love. For the good of others, we lose something of ourselves. Everything you think of as normal, in terms of how you will grieve for someone and how you will communicate with someone when they are dying, doesnt exist with this disease, Lorraine said. You have to find other ways to say your goodbyes. On Friday, Bruces family and neighbors did just that. They gathered virtually, on Zoom, for an online memorial service. They listened to music and shared memories of a man whose light had shone like a beacon over Big Bowman Pond. Id like to think he is able to see the outpouring of love and how much the community feels that he gave back, Lorraine said. Im hoping he has a smile on his face. cchurchill@timesunion.com 518-454-5442 @chris_churchill. Want more from Chris Churchill? Sign up for his weekly newsletter. Latest coronavirus-related cancellations, postponements The latest coronavirus numbers in NY Sign up for the Times Union coronavirus newsletter Full coronavirus coverage Acknowledging on being scared and talking of not seeing his family for three weeks, actor Salman Khan along with nephew Nirvaan on Sunday shared their lockdown experience in a video message. The 54-year-old star, without disclosing where the actor actually is, shared a video message on Twitter along with his brother Sohail Khan's son, Nirvaan. Salman began the one-minute and 26-seconds long video, by saying: "We came here for a few days and now we're stuck and scared" The 'Bharat' actor then introduced Nirvaan and asked him "How long has it been since you saw your father?", to which Nirvaan replied, "It must have been three weeks." "I have not seen my father for three weeks. We are here and he is alone at home," Salman added. The 'Sultan' actor then asks the boy: "You remember the film dialogue, 'the one who got scared, died.' It does not apply here in this situation. We are scared and bravely we admit that we are scared. Please don't be brave in this situation." Nirvaan also further requested everybody to stay safe and maintain social-distance. "I think it's better for everyone to stay home, avoid contact and I think the longer we stay indoors the faster this ends," he added. The 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' star concluded the video by saying: "The one who got afraid saved himself and lives of others around him. Moral of the story, 'We're all scared'." Urging people to take the government's advisory of self-isolation seriously amid the rising cases of coronavirus in the country, the megastar had earlier shared a video message for fans. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After US President Donald Trump fired the top US intelligence community watchdog Michael Atkinson, Adam Schiff, the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, criticised his decision. Schiff, in a tweet, wrote that his decision of firing Atkinson puts the country and the national security at 'greater risk'. According to reports, Michael Atkinson on April 3 was served a notice by the Trump administration who asked him to vacate his office within 30 days. Trumps dead of night decision to fire ICIG Michael Atkinson is another blatant attempt to gut the independence of the Intelligence Community and retaliate against those who dare to expose presidential wrongdoing. It puts our country and national security at even greater risk. pic.twitter.com/Pnm7chdIkl Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) April 4, 2020 As per international media reports, Atkinson, also in a statement, said that Trump fired him for acting impartially in the handling of the whistleblower complaint that triggered an impeachment probe of the president last year. Atkinson reportedly said that it is not hard to think that the Presidents loss of confidence in him derives from him having faithfully discharged from his legal obligations as an independent and impartial Inspector General. According to reports, Atkinson was a key figure in the run-up to impeachment as he found a credible complaint from the whistleblower within the administration that who states that Trump abused his office in attempting to solicit Ukraines interference in the US election for his political benefit. READ: Donald Trump Calls Queen Elizabeth 'wonderful Woman' After Her Televised Address READ: 2020 Watch: Can Trump Avoid Blame Amid Deaths, Weak Economy? Total disgrace During a briefing on the novel coronavirus pandemic, Trump, however, called Atkinson a total disgrace. Atkinson, on the other hand, is not the first to be fired after the impeachment trials, as in February, Trump dismissed army officer, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman as he testified at the hearings in the House of Representative. Vindman had served as director of European affairs on the National Security Council and he was also on the July 25 phone call during which Trump allegedly asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to open an investigation into his political rival Joe Biden. Vindman was subpoenaed by Congress to testify at the impeachment hearings and he reportedly said that Trump's action was 'improper'. Trump has also dismissed ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland, as he had testified in his impeachment probe. According to international media reports, Sondland was a key witness during the impeachment hearing by Democrats-controlled House of Representatives. He had testified that Trump sought a quid pro quo from Ukraine, the intended recipient of nearly $400 million in military assistance that the White House has put on hold. (Image source: AP) READ: FACT CHECK: Trump Pitches Drug Not Approved For Coronavirus READ: Trump Tempers Officials Grave Assessments With Optimism An anxious ER nurse in Los Angeles took to Facebook recently to ask whether any of her colleagues nationwide were experiencing layoffs because hospital emergency rooms are virtually empty one of the most surprising unintended consequences of the coronavirus crisis. This doesnt seem to be talked about at all People are losing their shifts and paychecks and jobs, the L.A. nurse wrote. We only had 5 people in the whole ER when they sent me home. My agency sent out an email blast basically saying that there are a lot of people struggling to find shifts. So, Im curious if any other nurses are experiencing this? The response to her post was overwhelming. More than 140 responses from across the country were posted on the Facebook private group page All-ER nurses. Most were concerned about diminished hours or having no work at all and the economic distress that would follow. I work in a free-standing ER and a surgery hospital ER. Both places are sending people home, wrote a Texas nurse. It is really stressful and I am tempted to search for another job. News of nearly-empty emergency rooms may come as a surprise to most Americans amid media reports of a national healthcare system pushed to the brink. The reason, as counterintuitive as it may seem, is the coronavirus itself. First, COVID-19 cases are immediately secured elsewhere in the hospital without entering the ER, segregating the infected patients from the hospital population. At the same time, fears of the virus are discouraging some people who might otherwise go to the ER for a relatively minor medical issue to stay home. Studies show that many Americans, including more than half of Millennials, use ERs or emergency care facilities for non-emergency care. The majority of comments acknowledged their ERs were empty and they were concerned about their futures. The only nurses that seemed to feel safe were those who work in high-impact COVID-19 areas such as New York, New Jersey and California but the majority of those also said they were worried about the future. And apparently those hardest hit are ERs in rural and smaller hospitals, according to the L.A. nurse who said that though her hospital could hardly be considered in a small area, she was aware that many smaller facilities are struggling to stay afloat. Yes, nurses in central N.H. small hospitals being called off. They can call in each morning and see if they are needed, wrote a New Hampshire nurse. They have to use PTO [paid time off]. Its very unfair. A recent New Hampshire Union Leader article cited empty ERs in two hospitals in Manchester the Granite States largest city the Catholic Medical Center (CMC) and the Elliot Hospital. There was no wait at the CMC emergency department on Tuesday, March 31, said hospital spokesman Lauren Collins-Cline. There are fewer people admitted to the hospital right now, so were able to move people out of the emergency department and into a bed very quickly if needed, Collins-Cline wrote in an email. And its not just ER nurses suffering the consequences of empty emergency rooms. A doctor, who described himself as a physician in a western state on lockdown, posted the following on Reddit: Make of this what you will, but I think this crisis is making people think twice about whether an ED visit is really necessary. In Boston, emergency room doctors at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have been told some of their accrued pay is being held back, according to the Boston Globe. More than 1,100 Atrius Health physicians and staffers who operate in conjunction with hospitals in eastern Massachusetts are facing reduced paychecks or unpaid furloughs. These financial cutbacks have generated an uproar from doctors and nurses who are already working exhausting shifts in demanding working conditions because of COVID-19. An ER nurse who works in Northern Virginia and asked not to be identified, told InsideSources that his emergency room has been like a ghost town for weeks. He called his shifts the easiest of his career. The only thing there is more of in the ERs right now is free food, he said, referring to the food and other gifts community members are dropping off in support of hospital staff. Yes, we are dealing with some COVID-19 patients, he said. Its just not nearly the war zone the media is making it out to be. As far as the amount of actual people in the ER, I dont know if Ive ever had a census this low three weeks in a row. Every shift is half empty. Hiram Reisner is policy editor for InsideSources.com. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to hospital for tests after he showed "persistent symptoms of coronavirus" even 10 days after testing positive for the disease. His hospitalisation was described as a "precautionary step" taken on the advice of his doctor, a Downing Street spokesperson said on Sunday. Johnson, 55, was taken to a London hospital on Sunday evening with "persistent symptoms" - including a temperature. On the advice of his doctor, the Prime Minister has tonight been admitted to hospital for tests. This is a precautionary step, as the Prime Minister continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus ten days after testing positive for the virus," the spokesperson said. The Prime Minister thanks NHS staff for all of their incredible hard work and urges the public to continue to follow the Government's advice to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives, the spokesperson added. The prime minister remains in charge of the government, but the foreign secretary is expected to chair a coronavirus meeting on Monday, the BBC reported. Johnson had 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. He 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, Johnson said in a new video message. "I still have a temperature and so, in accordance with government advice, I must continue my self-isolation until that symptom itself goes," he said. The UK has reported over 48,000 cases of COVID-19 and above 4,900 deaths. 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. US President Donald Trump began a White House press briefing by sending "our nation's well wishes" for Mr Johnson's "own personal fight with the virus". "All Americans are praying for him. He's a great friend of mine, a great gentleman and a great leader," Trump said, adding that he was sure the prime minister would be fine because he is "a strong person". Newly-elected Labour Party leader Keir Starmer also wished Johnson well, saying he hoped for a "speedy recovery". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maharashtra said on Monday morning 33 more people have tested positive in the state, taking the number of Covid-19 case to 781, with Pune reporting the most. The states health department officials said of the new Covid-19 case, 19 are in Pune, 11 in Mumbai, one each in Satara, Ahmednagar and Vasai. As the number of cases in the worst-affected state is nearing the 800 mark, the Uddhav Thackeray-led government has said it will focus on Mumbai and other cities in Maharashtra like Pune and Nagpur to contain the spread of the virus. The municipal corporations in these cities have been directed to implement the cluster containment action plan minutely to restrict the spread. Also read: Maharashtra bans entry of people without masks to Mantralaya Mumbai and other cities in Maharashtra like Pune and Nagpur have recorded a substantial rise in the number of Covid-19 patients in last few daysof these nearly 85% are in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Pune district, the most urbanised areas of the state. Reports said on Sunday that the Maharashtra government has issued a helpline number for those who attended the Tablighi Jamaats congregation in Delhis Nizamuddin Markaz. The Jamaat attendees can call on 1916 for help, according to reports. According to a report released by the states medical education and drugs department (MEDD), 71 confirmed Covid-19 patients in the state between March 29 and April 5 have not shown any symptom associated with the coronavirus infection. The report released on Sunday has revealed that this is a surge from the 66% asymptomatic cases recorded till the last week of March from the time the first set of cases emerged. Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, MEDDs secretary, said that the asymptomatic cases have surged as the government has begun to trace and test all the contacts also of those who have been tested positive. The data has also revealed that there is a spike in the number of cases in Maharashtra from March 23. The fatality rate in Maharashtra is at par with the world at 5%, compared to the fatality rate in the rest of the country, which stands at 2% as on April 5, the data also shows. The Union health ministry said on Sunday morning the number of coronavirus disease cases in India rose to 4067, with an increase of 490 in the last 12 hours, and that 109 people have died because of the respiratory illness. According to the figures released by the Union health ministry at 9am, there are 3666 active cases of Covid-19 and 291 people have been cured or discharged till date. In its efforts to curb the growing number of COVID-19 cases, Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. BBBY extends store closures across the United States and Canada at least until May 2. The companys all retail banners, except for buybuy BABY and Harmon Face Values ("Harmon") stores, in the United States and Canada has been closed since Mar 23. In connection with extended store closures, the company plans to follow the suit of most retailers to cut on costs, including furloughing the majority of employees in stores and some corporate associates until up to May 2. However, it will pay 100% of healthcare premiums for all furloughed employees during the period. Also, eligible employees can apply for unemployment benefits. Further, the company is temporarily reducing salaries for its executive team by 30%. Meanwhile, the chairman of the board and independent directors will also give up 30% of their quarterly cash compensations. Among other actions, it has drawn down the remaining $236 million in its revolving credit facility. It is also reducing expenses, including lowering inventory levels and extending payment terms for goods and services. Further, the company is deferring $150 million of planned non-essential capital expenditure and prioritizing $250 million of capital expenditure for investments in digital and Buy Online Pick Up In Store. It is also postponing its share repurchases, dividends and debt reduction until further notice. Other retailers, including Macys M and Gap GPS, have adopted similar measures to retain financial flexibility to tide over the uncertainties arising from the COVID-19 outbreak. Apart from disrupting retailers business everywhere, the coronavirus pandemic has also put Bed Bath & Beyonds previously agreed deal with 1-800-Flowers.Com Inc. FLWS to sell PersonalizationMall.com (PMall) in question. Per media reports, Bed Bath & Beyond has filed a complaint with Delaware's Court of Chancery to restore its $252 million worth deal with the 1-800-Flowers.Com. 1-800-Flowers.Com intimated on Mar 24 that it did not have the resources to close the deal and integrate the business due to the COVID-19 outbreak. It requested to postpone the closing of the deal to Apr 30, which was earlier scheduled to close on Mar 30. Following this, Bed Bath & Beyond filed a lawsuit on Apr 1, stating that any party is not allowed to withdraw its obligations due to a calamity such as COVID-19. On Feb 18, Bed Bath & Beyond announced an agreement to sell its online gifting business PersonalizationMall.com to 1-800-Flowers.com. The sale will include the PersonalizationMall.com website along with its modern 360,000 square feet production and distribution facility in Bollingbrook, IL. The sale of the online gifting business is part of Bed Bath & Beyonds ongoing business transformation strategy, which is aimed at the simplification of its business portfolio to improve the focus on the core Home, Baby and Beauty businesses. With the sale, the company expects to free up capital and invest in ways to re-establish its position in the home-furnishings category. Following the closure, PersonalizationMall.com will continue to provide personalization and product services to Bed Bath & Beyond and buybuy BABY. Story continues We note that shares of Bed Bath & Beyond have plunged 77.2% year to date compared with the industrys decline of 42.6%. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Breakout Biotech Stocks with Triple-Digit Profit Potential The biotech sector is projected to surge beyond $775 billion by 2024 as scientists develop treatments for thousands of diseases. Theyre also finding ways to edit the human genome to literally erase our vulnerability to these diseases. Zacks has just released Century of Biology: 7 Biotech Stocks to Buy Right Now to help investors profit from 7 stocks poised for outperformance. Our recent biotech recommendations have produced gains of +50%, +83% and +164% in as little as 2 months. The stocks in this report could perform even better. See these 7 breakthrough stocks now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Gap, Inc. (GPS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (BBBY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Macy's, Inc. (M) : Free Stock Analysis Report 1-800 FLOWERS.COM, Inc. (FLWS) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Regulations for gardai to enforce emergency powers during the pandemic could be finalised this week. It will allow them to force people to go home if they are not abiding by the public health advice. The Oireachtas has approved the emergency powers but as of yet gardai have not receieved any regulations as to how to enforce them. It is something the Justice Minister has addressed, saying he is hopeful of some clarity this week. "These are complex regulations, these are regulations that are obviously interfering with rights that have long been enjoyed so they are not put together lightly," said Minister Flanagan. "My department has been working closely with the Department of Health in ensuring the completion of the regulations which I expect to take place over the coming days." The powers will allow gardai to force people to return to their homes if they are not abiding by the rules of the lockdown. At the moment, the force is policing the streets by advising people to return home but the public is not compelled to do so. Minister Flanagan doesn't believe the regulations will be needed too often. "The key point here is that the gardai will continue to approach these policing issues from a public health perspective. "This is on the advice of public health officials." In recent days, gardai have said they've encountered 'widespread compliance' with the public health advice. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] Over the past weeks, the Trump Administration has tightened the noose around Nicolas Maduros regime, increasing pressure on the country sitting on top of the worlds largest oil reserves. Venezuela is already reeling from a years-long economic disaster that has slashed its crude oil production in recent years. This year, the country found itself with two other major global crises to managethe coronavirus pandemic and the tumbling and highly volatile oil market with oil prices so low that they cant cover the costs of pumping Venezuelas heavy crude out of the ground. Maduros regime, which has managed to cling to power more than a year after the U.S. stepped up sanctions to ban Venezuelan oil exports to the United States, now has to cope not only with the three crises but also with additional pressure from the Trump Administration. Disaster for the ordinary people in Venezuela is only set to increase. Still, some analysts argue that further pressure on Maduro could only serve to unite the ranks of the regime, which controls the military and the arms during a global pandemic. This is government that holds itself up because it control all arms, and especially during a pandemic, having a monopoly on violence is indispensable, Phil Gunson, a Caracas-based analyst at the International Crisis Group, told Bloomberg. The U.S. is not backing down from the harsh sanctions on Venezuela, resisting calls from around the world, and from U.S. Democratic lawmakers for sanctions relief in times of pandemic. The U.S. Administration says that sanctions do not apply to humanitarian aid and medicines and has stepped up pressure on Venezuelas Maduro in recent weeks. Two weeks ago, Maduro was charged in a Southern District of New York federal indictment for narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices. The U.S. Department of State is also offering a reward of up to US$15 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Maduro. A week ago, the U.S. Department of State proposed a so-called Democratic Transition Framework for Venezuela, offering to ease sanctions in exchange for Maduros regime and supporters of opposition leader Juan Guaidorecognized as Venezuelas legitimate president by the U.S. and 50 other countriesforming a power-sharing government until fair elections are held. Economic pressure will continue until Maduro accepts a genuine democratic transition, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said upon announcing the proposal. Related: Russia To Cut 1 Million Barrels Per Day, But Under One Condition Venezuelas Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza rejected the U.S. proposal, saying that the government reiterates it does not accept and will not accept any tutelage from any foreign government. The U.S. also pressured Venezuelas oil exports over the past two months, slapping sanctions on two subsidiaries of Russias oil giant Rosneft for trading Venezuelan oil. Last week, Rosneft ditched all its oil operations and assets in Venezuela, transferring them to a wholly state-owned oil company named Roszarubezhneft. The loss of trading partners due to additional U.S. sanctions, the colossal global demand destruction, and the coronavirus pandemic for which an economy in collapse such as Venezuelas is unprepared, add to the endemic lack of funds to support the countrys oil production. Oil production in the Latin American country has slumped over the past three years due to the dire economic situation and the increasing U.S. sanctions on its exports and companies selling Venezuelas oil. Earlier this year, Venezuela managed to achieve a slight increase in its crude oil output, only for the coronavirus pandemic to spread and cause significant demand destruction worldwide, putting more pressure on Maduros regime. In March, Venezuelas total exports of crude oil and fuel plunged by 26 percent month on month to just below 800,000 bpdthe second-lowest crude and fuel export volumes since the U.S. launched its pressure campaign on Maduro in January last year, according to data from Refinitiv Eikon and state oil firm PDVSA cited by Reuters. The U.S. is banking on putting additional pressure on Venezuela while its economy and society are battered from all sides, hoping to oust Maduro this time. Yet, analysts warn that this could only serve to close ranks within the regime. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: [April 06, 2020] HilltopSecurities Welcomes Michael Bartolotta to Lead Public Finance South Texas Region and Debt Capital Markets Banking Hilltop Securities Inc. (HilltopSecurities) announced today that Michael Bartolotta will be re-joining the firm's Houston office as senior managing director, where he will lead the South Texas region for HilltopSecurities' Public Finance division and oversee Debt Capital Markets Banking firm wide. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005126/en/ Michael Bartolotta (Photo: Business Wire) Bartolotta is an industry veteran with deep experience in municipal advisory and municipal structured finance. He was vice chairman of public finance at HilltopSecurities' legacy firm, First Southwest Company, where he served for nearly 20 years before joining Citigroup in 2015. At Citigroup, Bartolotta served in several capacities as managing director, including head of municipal banking solutions and head of the company's public finance regions. "Now more than ever, Public Finance clients need advice from experienced professionals and Mike has been a leader in the municipal and project finance sectors for 34 years," said Brad Winges, HilltopSecurities president and CEO. "As we continue to grow our leadership role in Texas and expand our high-yield banking and advisory business, Mike is uniquely qualifed to lead this effort." In addition to his previous role as vice chairman at First Southwest Company, Bartolotta is a former member of the PlainsCapital Bank board of directors. He is also a past chairman of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association's municipal division. "I'm grateful for the opportunities, experiences and relationships that I developed while at Citigroup and I have the deepest respect for their professionals and abilities. My move to HilltopSecurities allows me to be closer to my family and re-join an industry leader with which I have a long history," Bartolotta said. "I look forward to helping build on HilltopSecurities' long history of success and I am excited to be back." "We're very excited to be working together again," said HilltopSecurities Vice Chairman and Head of Public Finance David Medanich. "I have known Mike for many years-both as a business partner and a competitor-and his energy, knowledge, and expertise will be an asset to our firm. His leadership will help continue to strengthen our presence as an industry leader in large-issuer municipal banking." "I've known Mike for over 20 years and I look forward to working with him to grow our High Yield Municipal Finance franchise," said HilltopSecurities Vice Chairman and Head of Structured Finance Michael Marz. "Our structured finance and debt capital markets efforts are highly interrelated and I am pleased to be working with Mike to help our issuing clients find solutions to their financial needs." Bartolotta has held various community involvement-related positions in Houston, volunteering his time and expertise to MD Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Hermann Health Systems, and Save Our ER's board of directors. He earned a bachelor's degree in Actuarial Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. About HilltopSecurities Hilltop Securities Inc. delivers forthright advice and tailored solutions for municipal issuers, institutions, broker-dealers, and individuals. The full-service municipal investment bank and registered investment adviser is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with offices across the United States. Areas of focus include public finance; municipal and taxable fixed income underwriting, sales, and trading; retail brokerage services; securities clearing; structured finance; and securities lending. A wholly owned subsidiary of Hilltop Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HTH), HilltopSecurities' affiliates include Hilltop Securities Independent Network Inc., PlainsCapital Bank, PrimeLending, and National Lloyds Corporation. Learn more at www.HilltopSecurities.com. Member: NYSE/FINRA/SIPC. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005126/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The new measures will increase support for Singapores virus-hit economy to 12 percent of GDP. Singapore has announced 5.1 billion Singaporean dollars ($3.55bn) in additional economic spending, such as wage support, waiver of levies and one-off payments, to combat the coronavirus pandemic. This is an unprecedented budget for extraordinary times, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat told parliament on Monday, just over a week after the city-state unveiled more than $30bn in new support measures as it braces for its worst recession. On Friday, Singapore said it would close schools and most workplaces for a month as part of stricter measures to curb a recent jump in coronavirus infections. Singapore has reported a total of 1,309 infections and six deaths from the coronavirus. Heng said the new measures unveiled in the third budget will increase the total spending on coronavirus relief to 59.9 billion Singaporean dollars ($41.8bn) or 12 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). He said Singapore will draw an additional 4 billion Singaporean dollars ($2.8bn) from its past reserves to fund the new measures. Some of the new measures announced include an additional 300 Singaporean dollars ($209) in cash handouts for all adult Singaporeans, bringing total per individual to 600 Singaporean dollars ($418). The Singapore government also increased wage subsidies for firms and waived its foreign worker levy for April. The situation remains highly fluid and uncertain. The government stands ready to provide further support should it become necessary, Heng said. Heng said Singapores overall budget deficit for the financial year 2020 is expected to increase to 44.3 billion Singaporean dollars ($30.9bn), or 8.9 percent of GDP. As the coronavirus outbreak continues hurting economies globally, Japan is expected to announce its own stimulus package worth 60 trillion yen ($550bn) on Tuesday along with a six-month state of emergency, according to Japanese media. A senior governing party official told reporters on Friday he has agreed with Abe to offer 300,000 yen ($2,800) in cash payments per household that suffers a certain degree of income falls from the pandemic. By Kimberly Cubero-Salazar Like many of us, I was skeptical about the virus. Even when places started closing down, I remained positive. I think I was just in denial. The last two weeks before my college shut down I did start eating out less, spending less, as if deep down I did knew what was coming. Being that I work in one of the largest night clubs in New Jersey, I still worked in early March. When Gov. Phil Murphy announced the mandatory closing of bars, clubs, and restaurants, it still didnt hit me. It wasnt until I received that long message from my manager: We will be closing indefinitely. Then, the tears came. This is all hard to believe because this year started off great. I moved into my first apartment in January, before that I rented out a room in a house for years. I love my beautiful apartment, but right now it feels like a blessing with a burden. I have always felt so lucky and blessed to work a job that has allowed me to pay my tuition in cash and live comfortably. I was two tuition payments away from being able to officially say I graduated debt-free. Of course, it is not easy, I think about the thousands of dollars I pay to Kean and imagine all of the things I could do with the money. I think to myself, maybe I should just take out a loan and pay it later. When I started college, I didnt have that option, because I am a DACA student, now times have slightly changed. This week, my rent is due, and that same day my tuition payment is due. Two weeks ago, it was my car note and insurance, last week was my utilities. I cannot help but feel resentful. How dare my professor want me on a video conference for three hours when I have bigger things to worry about. I realize how bitter that sounds, and I dont want to be bitter or resentful, especially when I know Im not alone in this. But I think about all my salaried friends who are celebrating working from home, making happy jokes about getting to lay in bed all day and still get paid, and that makes me feel resentful, too. People are filing for unemployment, I do not qualify for unemployment because I am on DACA, even though I pay taxes like everyone else. I dont have it in me to explain that to people, so when they suggest collecting unemployment, I just agree. Most of all I feel worry and uncertainty. What if this lasts more than a few weeks? I had planned to apply to full-time jobs for post-graduation during Spring Break, but are companies going to be able to afford new hires? Are they even going to glance at my application? How will I go into the city for an interview? Will I even have a degree if I am unable to make that final tuition payment in May? Kimberly Cubero-Salazar is a first-generation college student at Kean University. She is a senior majoring in public relations. 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. Nine people were detained by police on Monday night for gathering in a group that exceeded five. The nine, who range from ages 18-44, were detained at the funeral service for murder victim David Fernandez. Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. Across the globe, national governments have taken drastic measures in light of the coronavirus pandemic, from tracking peoples cellphones to postponing elections to criminalizing the dissemination of false information. The Hungarian Parliament has authorized the prime minister to effectively override any law that stands in the way of his COVID-19 response. While some of these measures may benefit public health in the short term, they also risk expanding executive power to a dangerous degreeleading commentators to wonder whether democracy can survive this pandemic. Advertisement The situation in the United States looks different. Unlike many of his counterparts abroad, President Donald Trump cannot be accused of acting too aggressively to head off the virus. On the contrary, there is a virtual consensus that his efforts have been woefully insufficient. The Trump administration underplayed the threat for weeks, ignored a National Security Council playbook on fighting infectious diseases, and failed to ensure adequate production and distribution of test kits, ventilators, and protective medical gear. The results have been tragic, as the United States has become the new global epicenter of the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This makes for a very odd crisis of governance. Civil libertarians have long worried about political leaders fabricating emergencies to enlarge their own powers. We have been warned for decades about the rise of the imperial presidency. And our history is filled with Supreme Court cases over whether the president exceeded constitutional limits in the name of national securityfrom the suspension of habeas corpus during the Civil War to the use of internment camps during World War II to the indefinite detention of enemy combatants after 9/11. Often, the courts defer to the president, but our constitutional tradition gives us plenty of resources for challenging executive overreach. Advertisement Advertisement Our constitutional tradition gives us hardly any tools to address what is happening now: a president who has proved unwilling or unable to meet a genuine disaster with decisive action. The Constitutions preamble speaks of promoting the general welfare and providing for the common defense, but courts have never read this language to create enforceable duties. Nearly all U.S. constitutional rights are so-called negative rights against government interference, not positive rights that force public officials into action. And unlike many other democracies, our Constitution lacks a no-confidence mechanism that could allow a poorly performing president to be replaced immediately with a more effective one. Advertisement The upshot, in this case, is a kind of invisible breakdown in our constitutional system. If Trump had taken strong steps over the past two months to limit the spread of COVID-19, those steps could have been tested for conformity with individual liberties, federalism principles, and the separation of powers, as well as relevant statutes. Yet by jeopardizing our national security through inaction, Trump has insulated himself from legal scrutiny or accountability. Advertisement Only one institution can remedy this breakdown. In area after area where government intervention might be useful, Congress has the power, under Article I of the Constitution, to compel the executive branch to act. Advertisement Advertisement Recognizing as much, congressional Democrats have introduced bills that would require the executive branch to oversee the production of specific quotas of N95 face masks, face shields, and ventilators. The Defense Production Act of 1950 already empowers the president to do what is necessary to create, maintain, expedite, expand, protect, or restore production and deliveries or services essential to the national defense, but Trump did not utilize this power at all until March 27 (he invoked it again last Friday), and even then in a limited manner that falls far short of what many experts recommend. The new bills would give him no choice but to press harder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These proposed measures also provide a model, more generally, for how Congress can fight a pandemic when the president would largely prefer to pass the buck to the states and the private sector: Congress can compel executive action by replacing open-ended grants of discretionary authority with relatively clear commands. Congress could, for instance, mandate that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collect and disclose more information about the viruss spread. Congress could establish a comprehensive testing and tracing plan, with control assigned to an office such as the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Congress could direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers to build temporary hospitals. Congress could bar Immigration and Customs Enforcement from taking new people into detention and insist that detention facilities release vulnerable individuals. When it enacts the next economic relief package, Congress could require that medical aid go to the areas with greatest need, preventing disbursement based on political considerations. And Congress could instruct agencies to withhold significant federal funds from any state, city, or private party that refuses to comply with CDC guidance or other public health best practices. Advertisement Trump might resist some of these efforts, and any legislation would have to pass the Republican-controlled Senate. But Democrats will gain political leverage as it becomes increasingly clear that additional federal support is needed to keep the economy afloat. The dire facts on the ground make it possible to induce the White House to accept provisions it might not otherwise accept by tying them to new spending. Advertisement Advertisement Apart from new legislation, a majority in the House of Representatives can achieve some of the same ends simply by threatening tough hearings or investigations. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has formed a select committee to oversee the distribution of relief funds, with a focus on price gouging, profiteering, and political favoritism. This is a valuable start, but there is no reason to stop there. The House should examine all aspects of the administrations coronavirus (non)response, while proactively pushing it to secure lifesaving medical equipment and infrastructure at greater speed and scale. Advertisement Congress generally delegates broad discretion because of the executive branchs superior technical expertise and ability to adapt policy to changing circumstances. As Alexander Hamilton explained in Federalist No. 70, the executive can act with greater energy and despatch than the other branches. But when the president refuses to heed expert warnings and to show sufficient initiative on a matter of grave importance, Congress should take back the reins. If this seems too much to ask of our least popular branch, note that even with divided control of the chambers, Congress has passed three major bills in less than a monthan energetic showing by any reasonable standard. Without purporting to micromanage Trumps response to the coronavirus, new legislation could oblige his administration to do far more than it seems inclined to do on its own. Our constitutional tradition has a lot to say about preventing executive tyranny. But it has almost nothing to say about a crisis of executive underreach such as the one we are living through. The courts cannot spur presidential action to fight the pandemic. Nor can the governors, mayors, and private sector leaders who have shown creative leadership in recent weeks. Only Congress can force the bold federal response that we so badly need. Primeste notificari pe email Contractare si Achizitie Bunuri Anunturi de Angajare (Premium) Granturi - Finantari (Premium) Burse de studiu Stagii Profesionale Oportunitati de voluntariat Toate Articolele With a steep decline in business due to the coronavirus pandemic, Airbnb is asking the federal government to provide financial support and tax breaks for its hosts. First reported by ThinkPol.ca, Airbnbs letter addressed to deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland dated March 17 stated the cost of the COVID-19 pandemic to the travel industry is akin to the Sept. 11 attacks, and among the most vulnerable are non-traditional workers, such as their hosts who hold more than 170,000 properties across the country. The company wants to see the federal government implement Employment Insurance-type benefits for Airbnb hosts, since EI doesnt cover self-employment income, and allow hosts to defer taxable income. Currently, self-employed individuals such as Airbnb hosts are required to collect and remit GST and HST if their self-employment income exceeds $30,000. Airbnb is asking the federal government to temporarily waive this requirement, while allowing them to claim GST/HST tax credits for business expenses. The company is also asking the government to provide an income tax rate reduction and to allow hosts to defer their taxable income. Thorben Wieditz of Fairbnb Canada, an advocacy group that has long called on stricter regulations on short-term rentals, says ghost hotel operators that use the Airbnb platform arent paying their fair share in taxes and dont deserve a bailout. He notes Airbnb itself doesnt pay Canadian corporate taxes and that Airbnb hosts arent subject to the higher commercial property tax rates that hotels are subject to. There is very little that comes back from this company, Wieditz said. In an email statement, Airbnb director of public policy Alex Dagg says the company is expressing concern for everyday people who depend on travel and tourism for their livelihood. We identified measures to support these entrepreneurs and welcomed conversation on these or other measures to financially support Canadian short-term rental operators, travel industry solo-entrepreneurs and small businesses during this time of crisis and recovery, Dagg said. Airbnb for its part has pledged $250 million U.S. to cover COVID-19-related cancellation costs for hosts worldwide. Last week, Liberal MP Adam Vaughan expressed his opposition to Airbnbs request and simply tweeted, No. In a statement Monday morning, Department of Finance spokesperson Anna Arneson wrote: The government recognizes that some sectors have been disproportionally impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to carefully monitor all developments, and take further action in the near term. With files from David Venn Hospital in Mumbai declared a containment zone after 26 nurses and three doctors test positive for coronavirus. A major private hospital in Mumbai has been closed to new patients and declared a coronavirus containment zone after 26 nurses and three doctors tested positive, an official has said. Since the virus hit India which has been under lockdown since March 25 with 109 deaths related to COVID-19 so far medical workers have complained about not being given adequate protective gear. Mumbai city authority spokesman Vijay Khabale-Patil told AFP news agency on Monday that the Wockhardt Hospital has been declared a containment zone after the cases were confirmed. Three hundred staffers have been quarantined and the hospital is shut, he told AFP. Reporting from New Delhi, Al Jazeeras Elizabeth Puranam said no one is allowed to enter or exit the facility in Mumbai until all of the patients in there test negative for the coronavirus twice. There are nearly 300 patients and nurses who will be tested and that is one less facility, in the state with the highest number of cases and deaths, which is fully functioning, Puranam said. The United Nurses Association (UNA) in Mumbai accused hospital management of failing to protect staff by refusing to let them wear appropriate safety gear. 200406104405477 They told the medical staffers to wear simple [surgical] masks and attend to the patient, said Akash S. Pillai, UNA general secretary for Maharashtra state, of which Mumbai is the capital. They were thinking that if the staff wore protective gear, family members of COVID-19 patients would get scared, he told AFP. Many well-known hospitals in Mumbai and Pune are putting their staffers through the same risks, he said. He added that Wockhardt waited too long to carry out tests on its staff, thereby increasing the possibility for infections to spread. India has so far reported more than 4,000 coronavirus cases. But experts caution the real numbers are likely to be far higher, with the country carrying out little testing of its 1.3 billion population compared to many other countries. Mumbai, home to 12.5 million people according to the 2011 census, has so far confirmed 458 cases, including five in the Dharavi area, home to one of Asias biggest slums, and 30 deaths. Puranam said the infections in the Dharavi slum were a huge concern as more than a million people were living there in close proximity, many without full access to basic sanitation. She added that another concern was the lack of personal protection equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers. A number of doctors resigned in Delhi citing the lack of personal protection equipment. Weve seen reports of doctors in West Bengal, and other places in fact, being given raincoats and sunglasses to wear while theyre treating patients with the virus, Puranam reported. Liz Canavan said the scheme is continuing to have a strong uptake (Brian Lawless/PA) More than 39,000 employers have registered for the temporary wage subsidy scheme, it has been confirmed. A total of 87 million euro in wage refunds has been paid out by the Government to help workers left unemployed because of the coronavirus crisis. Liz Canavan, assistant secretary general at the Department of the Taoiseach, said the scheme is continuing to have a strong uptake. The scheme is designed to help employers keep their staff by the Government paying a portion of their salary. Today, @RevenueIE has generated further refunds under the scheme worth 14m. These payments will be in the bank accounts of the majority of the respective employers tomorrow (7 April). The cumulative value of payments made under the scheme is almost 87 million. #covid19ireland MerrionStreet.ie (@merrionstreet) April 6, 2020 Speaking during Mondays Government briefing, Ms Canavan said: Today, Revenue has generated further refunds under the scheme worth 14 million euro, these payments will be in the bank accounts of the majority of the respective employers tomorrow. The cumulative value of payments made under the scheme is almost 87 million euro. A business support call centre has received 1,500 queries since it opened on March 13. The support centre receives, on average, 55 calls a day, with the majority of queries relating to essential services including retail and online trading, as well as income supports and business and financial supports. Ms Canavan also paid tribute to people working in essential services including those working in the food sector, pharmacies and people ensuring critical infrastructure is safe including electricity, gas, water, waste, transport, information and communications technology, and repair and maintenance. She also said that further work is under way in direct provision centres to protect the health and welfare of asylum seekers and refugees. Ms Canavan added: Centres have been requested to generate onsite self-isolation capacity and as a further protection for all residents, some centres have been temporarily closed to visitors. Last week, we announced 650 new temporary hotel beds which have been procured following intensive negotiations by the Department of Justice within a very short space of time. These new beds are being used in a number of ways including to support the measures required for vulnerable residents, to provide offsite accommodation for self-isolation, and to help with social distancing measures by reducing the overall number in some existing centres. This increased capacity is a critical part of the overall strategy to protect residents. Further offsite self-isolation facilities are being examined on a regular basis as well. The Government said it has also helped 2,700 Irish citizens return home since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Government is currently trying to help a further 2,000 citizens to return home. Many are in small groups, but the majority are in Australia with a couple of hundred in New Zealand. High school students aiming for university could sit shorter exams this year, at a later date with less content to remember, as the state government considers options to accommodate Year 12s during this "extraordinary" time. Education Minister Sue Ellery in Parliament last week detailed several options the government was looking at to ensure no student would be disadvantaged. WA students could sit shorter university entrance exams due to these unprecedented times. Credit:Wolter Peeters In response to questions put forward by the opposition on Tuesday, Ms Ellery said Year 12s were the group of students the government was under the most pressure to provide an immediate sense of certainty for. Options include changes to the way that the ATAR may be calculated and presented and how student assessments may be undertaken, she said. With their lights flashing and sirens blaring, fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars made their way through the streets of Osseo, Wisconsin, on Saturday, putting on a parade for kids celebrating their birthdays inside while in quarantine. First responders with the Osseo Rural Fire Department, Trempealeau County Sheriff's Department, Osseo Police Department, and Mayo Clinic all participated. Firefighter Chris Cuddy told WQOW that being in quarantine is "very hard on the children. They can't go to school to see their friends. They're having these birthday parties with just what they have at home and their friends aren't able to come. Maybe what we're doing today will bring some joy to them, make them a little bit happy on their birthday." This wasn't a one-time only event parents can request birthday parades for their children through the Osseo Rural Fire Department. More stories from theweek.com Trump has a 'small personal financial interest' in hydroxycholorquine drugmaker. Allies have bigger stakes. Obama suggests lawmakers follow Elizabeth Warren's coronavirus recovery plans Acting Navy secretary apologizes for calling ousted carrier commander 'stupid' Like any great adventurer with their eyes on the prize, you're going to track down a map to follow. Laying out a simple outline will make it easier to see the full trajectory of your story. It will also help you identify holes that need to be filled and story points that need further developing. Crafting an outline at the preparatory stage of your essay writing will also go a long way in verifying that you've chosen a topic that's strong enough to support an entire essay. Not to mention that the outline will help you organize the logical flow to ensure that your instructor remembers your most important points. From our today's article you're going to learn the secrets to crafting a solid outline that will pave the way for an effective essay. Make it Simple Don't aspire to create an elaborate, super detailed Roman numeral catalogue to chart your path forward. You may get by a simple plan reflecting the points you're going to cover in your paper. All that need to go into your outline are big picture headers and supporting subtopics for each paragraph. You should already have a pretty good idea of what these themes and supports will be by now, as they've been rolling around in your brain during brainstorming and rewriting. And if you put enough time into your preliminary writing your illuminating details should be pretty easy to fill in. List Main Arguments It's critical that you think of the arguments you'll be developing in your essay and reflect them in your outline. You may write down three or four main arguments, phrases, or sentences that lead up to the logical conclusion and confirm your thesis statement. Use Roman numerals to label each argument. Mention Evidence Under each argument, put another three or four statements to support it, labeled with uppercase letters. To help you with this, do some research and use the information, results from other studies, quotes, and other relevant data wherewith you can support your position. Take care to note citations and give proper credit to the authors whose ideas and finding you're using to backup your arguments. This will not only keep your safe from committing plagiarism but also bolster your essay. If you want to get down further statements supporting these sentences, label them with numbers and after that with lowercase Roman numbers. Work Out Transitions Think of the transition sentences that you'll use in your essay to introduce each new idea. Thus you'll ensure that there's a smooth flow of ideas and your paragraph topics don't jump from one to the next in a disjointed jumble. Recap Write a sentence that would sum up everything you intend to tell in your essay. This is a conclusion, so this final sentence should wrap up your ideas and neatly conclude the essay. Make it convincing so that your reader understands and appreciates your argument or, in the best case scenario, is convinced of your thesis. Remember, most readers retain only the first and last points you make in your essay. Therefore, while the intervening arguments must be sound and strong, the beginning and end must be attention grabbing. Make sure to take this into consideration when creating your outline. Final Thoughts Just because you make an outline doesn't mean your plan won't change. In fact, be ready that a bit of tweaking will occur as you explore potential structures and framing devices for your story. Still, following the trail that you can adjust along the way is much easier than just plucking from an amorphous cloud of ideas, even the best ones. Remember, good storytelling is a function of a great idea, excellent planning, and thoughtful story flow. It's always easier to navigate your way to a story with a roadmap in front of you. The article provided courtesy of PapersOwl, the essay writing company that offers different forms of academic assistance to students. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-07 02:11:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ROME, April 6 (Xinhua) -- In Bergamo, a city in coronavirus-ravaged northern Italy, Chinese student Liu Lihang recently received a health pack from China, which contains medical kits. It warmed his heart. "No matter where we are, we receive timely care from our homeland. As a Chinese, I feel very proud," said Liu. Such health packs provided by the Chinese Embassy in Italy have been distributed by Chinese students' unions to many Chinese students studying in the European nation. For more than a month, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has been steadily rising in Italy. The Chinese embassy has been doing its best to safeguard the health and security of more than 20,000 Chinese students studying in Italy and conveying the messages of care from their homeland. According to Yu Xingguo, education counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Italy, after the coronavirus outbreak was confirmed in northern Italy, Chinese Ambassador Li Junhua immediately urged the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research, as well as presidents of relevant universities to take care of Chinese students studying there. The embassy wasted no time setting up a special working group and opening a hotline for students and their parents for consultation. It also supported the establishment of a volunteer team of Chinese doctors, introduced the online health consultation platform for overseas Chinese and cooperated with Beijing Normal University in setting up a phycological support hotline, providing the students the knowledge about epidemic prevention, initial diagnosis and psychological guidance. In addition, the embassy has been collecting information about suspected or confirmed coronavirus cases among Chinese students, communicating with them one-to-one and offering continuous help for the students, especially those residing in the heavily affected northern areas of the country. The embassy staff have been in touch with more than 50 Chinese students who needed help. Over the past few days, the embassy has been collecting medical supplies including 20,000 facial masks, and mailed them to over 40 Chinese students' unions across Italy. The first shipment of health packs have already been distributed. The other two are under distribution as well. Some health packs include a note with a short poem written in Chinese calligraphy. Its author is Hou Yuenan, a Chinese student in Italy. He told Xinhua that he wanted to bring comfort to his peers with his poem, and make them understand that there is no need to panic because China, their homeland, is always there for them. Surprised by the poem, several recipients posted pictures of the notes on social media. Hou is a member of the Chinese students' union in the Polytechnic University of Milan. The union has been assisting the Chinese embassy in distributing health packs to Chinese students in the northern Italian city. On March 26, Ambassador Li held a video conference with representatives from all Chinese student institutions in Italy. He listened to the students' accounts of their life and study, and answered questions. Li said that the embassy and the consulates will continue to distribute health packs to Chinese students and do their best to meet their basic protection needs. "None of the Chinese students in Italy will ever feel alone, the embassy and the consulates will always be there with you, our homeland and kin will always be with you, " said Li. Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson on Monday pushed back against members of Congress who suggested he may avoid testing immigrants detained in his jail to keep them from getting released during the coronavirus pandemic. The 11-member congressional delegation from Massachusetts, citing health experts in a letter on Thursday, noted that the jail had not tested inmates for COVID-19 when the sheriff said that none of the detainees had the virus. They argued theres no way to verify that apparently healthy inmates were not actually infected but asymptomatic. The letter was addressed to Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deputy Director Matthew Albence and the three sheriffs who have agreements with the federal agency to hold people accused of civil immigration violations: Hodgson, Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph McDonald and Franklin County Sheriff Christopher Donelan. Their letter went out the same day Lawyers for Civil Rights, a nonprofit suing Hodgson, said that a health care staffer working at the facility in Bristol County tested positive for the coronavirus. On Monday, Hodgson shared his own letter, directing his complaints to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat. I find it outrageous that you would be writing a lengthy letter suggesting I encourage Immigration and Customs Enforcement to release detainees, Hodgson wrote. The people you are suggesting be released are the same lawbreakers you have repeatedly described as victims and defended as a special group of people who should not be accountable for violating the immigration laws of the United States. The most troubling part of your unsubstantiated argument is the insulting and outrageous suggestion that officials at the Bristol County Sheriffs Office and ICE would intentionally not test for COVID-19 to avoid turning up positive results, he added. Hodgson has seen his jail come under the spotlight as attorneys and advocates call for the release of immigrant detainees during the pandemic, which has killed 231 people in Massachusetts. More than 50 detainees went on a work strike after they complained of poor conditions that could put them at risk of contracting the coronavirus, according to WBUR. Hodgson said the assertions about alarming conditions are not true, following a letter signed by dozens of detainees who said they were crowded and didnt see the facility being disinfected. Hodgson said the staff disinfects the facilities several times a day. He also said the work strike mentioned in the congressional members letter did involve 52 people, but that it only lasted 24 hours and that those participating were led by two instigators we have identified. If detainees were infected, he said, it wouldnt make sense to release them to the community where they could spread the virus to others. He said that was one of several reasons why he doesnt plan to encourage ICE to release detainees. I will continue to work with the health professionals, Centers for Disease Control, and our federal, state, and local governments to manage through this unprecedented time in our nations history, Hodgson wrote, asking Warren to call him or visit the facility the next time she hears complaints. The seriousness of this pandemic has no place for private agendas attempting to influence public policy. Particularly, when such uninformed interference raises the risks of harm to those we are dedicated to protect. Lawyers for Civil Rights filed a class-action lawsuit against the Bristol County sheriff pushing for the release of detainees, arguing that many of them have minor or no criminal records and are solely being held for civil immigration infractions. 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 also said that ICE had released six more detainees, bringing the total of immigrant detainees being let out to nine. Young said that he would continue to consider the release more immigrant detainees, possibly up to 10 detainees a day. 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 an earlier hearing on Thursday. Sign up for free text messages about important updates on coronavirus in Massachusetts Related Content: Waiting for Death: Cancer Patient Seeks Treatment in Wuhan, Then Contracts Virus If they could rewind the clock, Jins family would never have come to Wuhan for that surgery. For almost two months, 39-year-old Jin and his family were isolated at home in Xiaogan city, located in the virus-hit central province of Hubei, since officials imposed a lockdown on Jan. 24. Tall and sturdy, he was a filial son and proud father of a 12-year-old boythe pillar of the family. He dutifully followed quarantine measures, hopeful that he could restart his business once the virus crisis was over. Until a brain tumor put everything on hold. On March 12, he suddenly felt sluggishness in his legs. He mentioned it briefly to his family, thinking his body had become a bit stiff under an enforced sedentary lifestyle. In a few days, his left leg became numb. Local doctors told him a surgery was necessary and urgent, but it would be too complicated for local hospitals to handle. The cancerous cells made rapid progression in his brain, pressing on the part of the nervous system that coordinates muscle movement. On March 21, he could move neither his left arm nor left leg. Two days later, when an ambulance came and took him to the Hubei General Hospital in the neighboring city of Wuhan, the numbness had spread to half of his body. He couldnt move his fingers. The government of Wuhan, the provincial capital and the countrys outbreak epicenter, had declared victory over the virus after days of reporting few to no new cases. State media have been reporting a sharp drop in the infection tally since March, with makeshift hospitals closing down and droves of patients discharged. Li Lanjuan, a member of Beijings expert team in Wuhan who had been working at the General Hospital until March 31, said the number of such patients citywide had decreased to less than 1,500. Jins experience at the emergency ward just days earlier painted a starkly different picture. Jiang, wife of Jin, said the hospital was overflowing with patients, so many that they filled the hallway and emergency room. Row after row of hospital beds were placed closely together, with nothing in between to separate the sick. There was no space left unutilized, save a tiny passageway around the receptionists desk. Seeing the sheer number of patients, Jiang felt a sudden chill. We never imagined Wuhan would be like this, she told The Epoch Times on April 1. Wuhans Numbers On March 31, Chinese expert Li declared that the glorious fight against the virus had borne fruit, and left Wuhan amid a ceremony of flowers and banner waving. She told the official Changjiang Daily that the city and the country overall had become safe and ready to go back to normal life. But internal reports and local government notices betrayed the true situation on the ground. On April 3, five days before Wuhan was set to reopen the city from a two-month lockdown, the citys agency in charge of the outbreak response issued an announcement asking district officials to reinforce their lockdown management. A man stands at a window at a residential community in Jingzhou, after the lockdown was eased in Hubei province, the epicenter of Chinas coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, March 26, 2020. (Aly Song/Reuters) For each person going in and out of the neighborhood compounds, make sure to ask for their identity, take down their information, check their temperature, and make them wear masks, the notice stated. Underscoring that fighting the virus was a long-term effort, the agency warned against a slackening in prevention awareness and asked that residents avoid going out unless for essential travel. Internal reports obtained by The Epoch Times showed that Wuhan had tested over 16,000 patient samples on March 14, and 373 tested positive. But authorities only publicly recorded four infections for that day. Overnight in Emergency Room Before Jin was transferred to the General Hospital, he received a virus diagnostic test and tested negative. Jin and his wife arrived at the facility somewhere past 1 p.m. on March 23. Only after 4 p.m. the next daymore than 27 hours in a crowded room filled with other patientsdid they get transferred to a buffer room. One step closer to securing a surgery, they thought. Jiang recalled that as Jin was put on an intravenous drip, she felt anxious seeing that an elderly patient on the adjacent bed was one of the few in the room without a mask. Not long after, she learned that a doctor who worked at the buffer room tested positive the day before she and her husband arrived. In the evening, the hospital took Jins nasal swab samples as a routine measure to test all patients. It came back positive. Jiang isnt sure how Jin contracted the virus, but said it likely happened while he was waiting in the emergency room, as he tested negative before arriving in Wuhan. She later checked Wuhans tally for that day: zero. Waiting for Death Almost immediately, the couple was put in isolationhe in a designated room in the hospital, she and her cousin in a quarantine hotel. Jin would undergo 14 days of quarantine, and likely another week of medical observation, before he could be scheduled for surgeryif a hospital could take Jin. Every hospital is full, the nurses are maxed out and no one wanted to see more patients, relatives working in the Wuhan medical field told Jiang. Jins case also requires sophisticated surgery that carries serious complication risks. So far, only one hospital, Wuhan Central, agreed to assess him, though the facility has postponed the date time and time again. Jiang felt a growing sense of dread. My husband just called me. He said that if hospitals continue like this, hes not sure if he could pull through for much longer, Jiang said. Even though Im healthy, being in this hotel feels no different than waiting for death. The tumor has since spread. On March 31, the doctor found a minor tumor rupture and bleeding in Jins latest brain scans. I really wouldnt have thought that a nights stay here would turn out like this, Jiang said. She got a headache from crying so much. Her nose hurt. She said shes pretty much run out of tears. She is awaiting her own diagnostic results. She never breathed a word about their plight to her parents; both had strokes before and were already near a mental breakdown after learning of Jins cancer. Jin had a tough upbringing, she said. His father died early. His mother raised him and his sister singlehandedly, toiling daily in the wheat fields. We told them we are still waiting [for the surgery], she said. The Ministry of Health confirmed four more people positive for SARS-CoV-2 on late April 6, adding up to 245 cases of COVID-19 in Vietnam so far. A health worker tests samples at the Cancer Hospital of Nghe An province Among the new cases who are all Vietnamese, one is linked with the Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital while the three others returned from other countries and have been quarantined upon their arrival. Case 242 is a 47-year-old man living in Me Linh commune of Hanois Me Linh district. He accompanied his wife to Bach Mai Hospital for check-up on March 12. Case 243, a 34-year-old woman, lived and worked in Russia. On March 25, she returned to Vietnam on Flight SU290 and entered the country via Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. Case 244, a 44-year-old woman, is an employee of a fast food restaurant in Germany. She went from Germany to Russia on Flight SU2313 and then continued her trip from Russia to Vietnam on Flight SU290 to arrive at Noi Bai airport on March 25. The 245th patient, a 21-year-old woman, is a nail salon worker in Spain. She landed at Noi Bai airport on March 25 after moving from Spain to Russia on Flight SU250 and from Russia to Vietnam on Flight SU290. All the four are receiving treatment at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi. Four more COVID-19 patients fully recover The 154th COVID-19 patient (second from right) poses for a photo with doctors of the Can Tho-based hospital Four more COVID-19 patients in Vietnam were declared on April 6 to have fully recovered, bringing the total number of such cases to 95. They were the 117th, 118th, 122nd, and 154th cases detected and all are Vietnamese nationals, with three being women aged 23 or 24 together with a 30-year-old man. They tested negative for COVID-19 at least twice and will be given follow-up health checks two weeks from now. As at the morning of April 6, Vietnam had 241 COVID-19 cases, with 150 returning from abroad, accounting for 62 percent. Of these, 109 were sent to quarantine facilities nationwide upon arrival. VN must keep close watch on COVID-19 despite few new cases: health experts Healthcare experts on Monday warned against complacence and negligence as the number of new COVID-19 infections dropped. At a meeting of the steering committee on COVID-19 control and prevention, Ministry of Health leaders said the drastic measures Viet Nam had taken had started to show progress, reflected by the number of new cases. However, as the disease was unpredictable and risks of infection remained, complete focus was needed to control the situation, experts stressed. Deputy Health Minister o Xuan Tuyen requested all localities to continue following the Governments directions, especially Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucs order to implement a 14-day national scale social distancing as well as enhance screening, identifying and monitoring of suspected infections to contain outbreaks. Sharing the opinion, Lieutenant-General Nguyen Van Son, deputy minister of public security, urged law enforcement forces, local authorities and people to continue taking preventive measures. The number of Vietnamese people returning from Laos and Cambodia fell by half in the last week, according to Lieutenant-General Tran Duy Giang, head of General Department of Logistics under the Ministry of Defence (MoD). However, as the disease worsens with new cases reported daily in countries in the Southeast Asian region, more Vietnamese overseas citizens may choose to return home in the near future, Giang said. Preparing for the situation, the MoD directed the Border Defence Force to tighten its management over the border and tasked southern military districts to arrange quarantine camps for the returning Vietnamese. Viet Nam is now able to produce medical face masks and protective suits using domestically sourced materials, and is undertaking research into invasive and non-invasive ventilators to ease the dependence on imported ones. Medical supplies, ventilators and hazmat suits are sufficient to treat 10,000 COVID-19 patients at the same time. Our department of logistics is planning on preparing medical supplies and facilities for contingency plans should the situation worsen, said Deputy Health Minister Truong Quoc Cuong. All patients with symptoms related to COVID-19 or an unclear history of epidemiology would be tested or quarantined after being admitted to hospital, Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Truong Son said. The measure aims to protect patients and medical workers during examination and treatment. The ministry encouraged medical facilities to house health check-up units separate from their main buildings to prevent cross-infection. Tertiary referral hospitals will prioritise patients with severe medical conditions and emergencies. Health consultations will also be provided online or via phone to limit people from visiting hospitals and surgeries. Except for emergencies, people should contact medical facilities for instructions and appointments to ensure social distancing, said Son. Deputy Prime Minister Vu uc am at the meeting has thanked Vietnamese all around the country for their support and efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and lauded the many good deeds of organisations, businesses, and individuals during this challenging time. Deputy PM am reiterated that Viet Nam is one of only three countries worldwide where cases surpass 200 but no fatalities have been recorded. On Monday, Viet Nam entered its sixth day of social distancing. As of the moment, 245 infection cases have been reported nationwide, 95 recovered. More than 67,000 are being quarantined at different levels.VNA/VNS/VNN Prioritise spending on poor, Raghuram Rajan urges PM Modi India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Apr 06: Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Raghuram Rajan, while calling the coronavirus pandemic the greatest emergency perhaps since Independence, urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prioritise spending on the poor. In a blog post, Rajan suggested some measure that could help country contain the economic damage from lockdown imposed across the country. Rajan, a professor of finance at Chicago Booth, US, says India needs to ensure that the poor and non-salaried lower middle class who are prevented from working for longer periods can survive. Not right: Amit Shah has not been infected with coronavirus "The state and Center have to come together to figure out quickly some combination of public and NGO provision (of food, healthcare, and sometimes shelter), private participation (voluntary moratoria on debt payments and a community-enforced ban on evictions during the next few months), and direct benefit transfers that will allow needy households to see through the next few months," he says. "It is said that India reforms only in crisis. Hopefully, this otherwise unmitigated tragedy will help us see how weakened we have become as a society, and will focus our politics on the critical economic and healthcare reforms we sorely need." "We have already seen one consequence of not doing so - the movement of migrant labour. Another will be people defying the lockdown to get back to work if they cannot survive otherwise." "Our limited fiscal resources are certainly a worry. However, spending on the needy at this time is a high priority use of resources, the right thing to do as a humane nation, as well as a contributor to the fight against the virus. This does not mean that we can ignore our budgetary constraints, especially given that our revenues will also be severely affected this year. Unlike the United States or Europe, which can spend 10% more of GDP without fear of a ratings downgrade, we already entered this crisis with a huge fiscal deficit, and will have to spend yet more," he writes. The global financial crisis in 2008-'09 was a massive demand shock, the country's workers could still go to work, firms were coming off years of strong growth, the financial system was largely sound, and government finances were healthy. "None of this is true today as we fight the coronavirus pandemic. Yet there is also no reason to despair," says Rajan. It is politics: Ex-RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan on India's falling GDP The immediate priority was to suppress the spread of the pandemic through widespread testing, rigorous quarantines, and social distancing, he says. But it will be hard to lock down the country entirely for much longer periods, he says. "...so we should also be thinking of how we can restart certain activities in certain low-infection regions with adequate precautions," he suggests. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, April 6, 2020, 10:50 [IST] Checkout No resources available in your cart There were 637 coronavirus deaths in the last day in Spain, according to figures released on Monday by the Spanish Health Ministry. Thats the lowest daily death toll the country has seen since March 24, when there were 514, and marks the fifth day of falls after the total number of fatalities peaked on April 2, when there were 950 deaths in a 24-hour period. There were 674 Covid-19-related deaths reported on Sunday, and 809 on Saturday. The steady decrease after eight straight days of more than 800 daily fatalities last week suggests that the confinement measures introduced more than three weeks ago by the government are finally having an effect on the number of victims. We are observing that the growth rate of the pandemic is falling in nearly all regions Dr Maria Jose Sierra from the Health Ministrys Coordination Center for Health Alerts The total number of deaths in Spain since the coronavirus outbreak began is now 13,055, according to the Health Ministry. There have been more than 135,000 registered infections, with 60,000 people hospitalized. Nearly 7,000 people have been admitted to intensive care units so far. A total of 40,000 people have recovered from Covid-19 and have been discharged from hospital. While the figures for Sunday and Monday offer a glimmer of hope for Spain, which is one of the countries that has been hardest hit by the pandemic, they should be treated with caution given that there has been a slight delay in reporting from Spains regions over weekends since the crisis took hold. An uptick may be seen in Tuesdays figures as a result. Speaking at the daily government press conference on the coronavirus epidemic in Spain, Dr Maria Jose Sierra from the Health Ministrys Coordination Center for Health Alerts said that the data confirmed a falling trend for another day. We are observing that the growth rate of the pandemic is falling in nearly all regions. More than 40,000 people have been discharged. A total of 6,931 patients have passed through one of Spains intensive care units (UCIs) since the crisis began, but the day-on-day rise for this figure was just 70 Sierra reported that the number of hospital and intensive care admissions was following a downward trend, but said that 19,400 health workers had contracted the coronavirus since the beginning of the outbreak, accounting for 14.3% of total infections. Of these, 10% have been hospitalized and 20% have recovered and have been discharged from treatment. The majority of health professionals are having the progress of their disease monitored from their homes, she explained. According to the health expert, the next step is to roll out more testing. We want to know how the virus is spreading throughout the population, she explained. According to the data supplied by the ministry, the growth in the number of deaths with respect to the total is now 5.1%. This figure has been falling in recent days, coming in at 5.7% on Sunday and 7.3% on Saturday. At the beginning of last week, the increases were in excess of 12%. A total of 6,931 patients have passed through one of Spains intensive care units (UCIs) since the crisis began, but the day-on-day rise for this figure was just 70, which is a 1% increase on the total. Protective masks Arancha Gonzalez Laya, Spains minister for foreign affairs, said on Monday that a number of Spanish companies are working on the manufacture of protective masks. The government has said in recent days that it is likely that members of the public in Spain will have to wear such masks when they are out of their homes once confinement measures are relaxed. For now, however, most residents of Spain have been unable to purchase such items given the high demand. According to the minister, given that citizens are in their homes, priority is being given to health workers in terms of the supply of masks. When citizens begin to leave confinement, these masks will be available from the public and private sectors, she said, adding that national production would be complemented with imports. Foreign Affairs Minister Gonzalez Laya at a press conference on the coronavirus crisis on Friday. Borja Puig de la Bellacasa (EFE) Gonzalez Laya also said on Monday that there are still around 3,000 Spanish tourists who are trying to return to Spain given the air-travel restrictions that have been put into place since the coronavirus outbreak. Speaking on TV channel Antena 3, she said that nearly 21,000 Spaniards have already been repatriated, adding that this week would see new flights from Italy and Dublin, from where Spanish minors studying abroad are being sent home. According to figures from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, more than 500 Spanish tourists returned home this weekend, including 191 Spaniards who landed in Madrid on Sunday morning after being collected from India. The field hospital that has been installed in Madrids Ifema convention center, to ease the pressure on the regions hospitals, has seen 58% of its patients discharged, according to figures released on Monday. Since the treatment center was opened, it has taken in 2,367 patients, with 1,386 of those released after having recovered from the Covid-19 disease. The medical director of the hospital, Antonio Zapatero, communicated the information via a tweet, calling the figures good news. The Ifema hospital has been operational for two weeks now, and has 1,300 beds, with the capacity for 5,500 if necessary. It is currently the biggest hospital in Spain. English version by Simon Hunter. Three large blue and white tunnel-shaped tents sit ready in a distant corner of North Shore Medical Center in Manhasset, Long Island. Set up in the past few days, the makeshift hospital in suburban New York has about 60 beds for COVID-19 patients. Staff members hope they never need to use them. "We're well beyond capacity," said Dr. Michael Gitman, medical director at North Shore, where an auditorium, a conference room and every other available space have been turned into hospital rooms. Image: Emergency tents are assembled in the parking lot of the North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y., April 1, 2020. (Johnny Milano/The New York Times) (Johnny Milano / The New York Times via Redux) "If we look at our numbers, we have either grown or repurposed somewhere between 500 beds to try and deal with this issue," Gitman said. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday warned again that COVID-19 cases on Long Island were continuing to spike. From the suburbs bordering New York City to the exclusive summer enclave of the Hamptons, Long Island has become the latest "hot spot" in a state ablaze with the coronavirus. The island's two counties, Nassau and Suffolk, have about 3 million residents combined, but they now have more than 30,000 cases, according to Cuomo. That's more than 45 states. Cuomo announced on Monday that cases on Long Island have grown at a fast clip, with 1,218 new cases in Nassau for a total of 15,616. Farther east in Suffolk County, there were 1,082 new cases for a total of 14,487. "I believe this week, things will get worse. We have to be clear-eyed about that," said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran. "It's the ripple effect," she said. "A lot of people who live in Nassau work in the city and vice versa we're suburban, but we're dense." Even though Long Island saw it coming, like so many other communities, the march of the virus threatens to overwhelm the health system and push first responders to the limit. "As of now, we are out of PPE," Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone said over the weekend, referring to personal protection equipment for medical staff. Story continues "It's a sick feeling to realize you don't have anything else to distribute out because you know there are workers risking their own safety, and first responders as well," Bellone said. Bellone noted that three weeks ago, no one in Suffolk had died from the coronavirus. But now more than 200 people have. "We are pleading with the country to send supplies," he said. By Sunday, Bellone says, the White House had heard his cry and promised to send 200,000 masks and a 30-day supply of additional protective gear. At North Shore Hospital, the medical director says they have enough equipment, for now. The facility is part of the Northwell Health Care system, the state's largest. Still on the front lines, doctors, nurses and other medical staff members there are taking it one extremely stressful day at a time, trying to be as innovative and flexible as possible while treating patients in unrivaled conditions. "I think the way we're going to be successful is keep our staff healthy, keeping our staff safe and keeping them focused on our patients," Gitman said. "We are trying to save our community." 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. Francesca McDonagh, Group CEO, commented: This is a time of crisis, and some of those most affected by it are also the most vulnerable in our society. They need help now, so weve structured this support in a way that it can get to them as quickly as possible. 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. 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. 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. Of the 4,612 people who were tested for the contagion, 571 turned positive, Palaniswami said Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami on Monday said order has been placed for buying one lakh Rapid Test Kits from China and it will arrive on 9 April aiding quick screening for coronavirus in the state. Of the 4,612 people who were tested for the contagion, 571 turned positive, Palaniswami said adding the RTKs will be sent to all districts and testing could be done quickly for whomever needed. "One lakh test kits have been ordered and we are getting it from China," he told reporters adding the kits have a 30-minute window for providing results which will aid quick and more screening of people to ascertain the presence of virus. The kits will arrive on Thursday and the following day districts could have them, he said. Also, orders have been placed for 2,500 ventilators and more masks and Personal Protective Equipment was being procured to meet requirements, he said. The State has optimal inventory of drugs including antibiotics and intravenous fluids needed to treat coronavirus patients, he said. Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak While Tamil Nadu already has 17 testing facilities including 11 in government and six in private sectors, permission of the Central government was being awaited for 21 more testing centres. "Medical equipment has already come and as soon we get the Central government's permission, a total of 38 testing centres will be functional and the number of those being tested for the virus will be increased," he said. Health Secretary Beela Rajesh had indicated on Sunday that the government intended to put up testing amenities for coronavirus in medical college hospitals run by it across the state. Russia and the United States need to resume top-level business dialogue, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev said. "Our fund is working to continue cooperation between Russian and U.S. companies supported by many in both countries. We believe that we need to resume top-level business dialogue proposed by our President soon," CNBC cited Dmitriev as saying. He also noted that the world needs strong platforms for cooperation between the governments, businesses and people. The number of people infected with COVID-19 globally has climbed above 1.3 million. The United States has claimed the lions share of cases in this pandemic, with over 325,000 people infected and over 9,000 having succumbed as of this writing. New York City continues to face a health catastrophe that is reflected in the morning headlines, as the number of new cases and fatalities due to the infection seem to grow unabated despite the heroic efforts of frontline health care workers thrown into the maelstrom created by the negligence of the Trump administration and all the lackeys who were supposed to safeguard communities across the nation. At his weekend press conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo said that 85,000 people had volunteered to help New York battle the outbreak, 22,000 of these coming from out of state. He also announced that the Chinese government, through the intervention of the billionaire Alibaba cofounders Jack Ma and Joe Tsai, along with Ambassador Huang, the Chinese consul general, had sent 1,000 ventilators to New York. Oregon had also contacted New York and loaned 140 ventilators to the city ahead of a projected peak in the next week or two. Cuomo admitted he was worried that the strain of shortages could topple the already overstressed health care infrastructure. By Saturday, 113,704 patients had tested positive for the virus in the state of New York. Almost 16,000 patients were currently in hospitals, an increase of over 1,000 from the day before. Cuomo mentioned that about two-thirds of the patients had been discharged, leaving about one-third who remained in severe or critical condition, requiring prolonged stay and treatment. There were 4,126 patients in intensive care units and 1,592 patients intubated. As of Saturday, 3,565 people had lost their lives. *** Yes, its very serious, says Miguel, a third-year resident in internal medicine at a community hospital in the Bronx, speaking on his cell phone. Its a very serious situation. I think other states are going to experience what New York is experiencing right now. Take care of yourself. Take care of your family. Dont go out if you dont need to. Im OK. I have no symptoms, but probably Ive had the virus because Ive been in contact with it for a month already, because of all the patients. Thanks for checking up. Miguel turns his phone off and places it in his jacket. A friend of his from DC had called asking how he was doing. Its a crisp, overcast April morning. The trees lining the street are showing their young shoots. My family worries about me, too, he says. They are fine, but they call all the time asking how Im doing. My sister is a surgeon in Barcelona. She says its really bad over there, but shes been watching the news and worries Im going to get sick. Miguel works at a large hospital in the Bronx. He is soft-spoken and quiet. His demeanor is subdued; exhaustion registers over his long-drawn face. Its early Saturday morning and his shift has just ended after a long sign-out, going over the patients with the incoming morning team. He explains that the whole hospital is filled with COVID-19 patients. There are 450 rooms in the hospital, but they have managed to add 200 more and create 70 extra intensive care unit (ICU) beds. The hospital opened out into two ICU services, he says. The ambulatory surgery suite was converted to an ICU. The immediate post-op recovery was also reconfigured into an ICU. Theyve closed pediatric wards and changed them into adult patient rooms. The GI (gastrointestinal) suite was also made into a functioning ICU. His matter-of-fact tone seems more compelling than the heroic efforts he is describing to reconfigure the hospital to accommodate the rush of patients. Harrowing as it sounds, he has already acclimated to this new reality. Two or three weeks ago, when we started seeing patients arrive, we started by putting everyone on one floor. But we quickly filled up all the rooms and we reconfigured the post-op floors into another COVID-19 floor because they had canceled all the elective surgeries. But our census kept growing, and we had to do something. Early in the surge, the hospital stopped allowing families to visit as part of its infection control measures. Miguel explains that before the pandemic, the hospital usually ran a 10-to-15-bed medical intensive care unit, abbreviated as the MICU. It also had 15 to 20 intermediate care units that could be converted into rooms for patients on ventilators. There were seven surgical ICU rooms, which were commandeered for COVID-19 patients, since elective surgical cases were discontinued. The hospital and its staff also doubled up patients in ICU rooms to get to the present count. Whats really crazy is that we have 22 patients waiting to get into the ICUs, he says. Because of the shortage in nurses and staff, the psychiatric residents and podiatry residents were brought in to assist in watching the patients and helping with doing the more routine worksometimes drawing labs, starting IVs, or recording their vitals in case anyone began to decompensate. Miguel explains that of the 22 patients waiting for an ICU bed, 19 are on portable ventilators that would routinely be used during patient transfers, such as from the emergency room to another floor or for diagnostic CT scans. The other three are on the nasal cannula or BiPAP machines and have to be monitored closely. The emergency room has become an extension of the MICU. Fifteen patients are kept there on the portable ventilators. When Miguel and his service make their rounds, they walk every inch of the hospital. There are no ventilators left, he says. In other words, palliative extubations, the removal of the ventilator tubes to allow the patient to die, have become commonplace. Most of the patients on ventilators are elderly. The mean age is around 73, though we get some young people. We admitted 22 yesterday, and only four patients were less than 50. This morning I admitted an 18-year-old that had a history of mild asthma. No real medical history of comorbidities, but shes having difficulty keeping her O2 (oxygen) saturation up. Im pretty sure shes going to need to be intubated. The palliative care team, which specializes in treating end-of-life issues, has now become a regular part of the services offered by the ICU. Criteria for taking patients off the ventilator include their age, comorbidities, and the development of multiorgan failure. Many also have do not resuscitate orders they or their families have signed. The residents and the attending physicians who oversee the residents work as teams to stay in touch with the families, updating them by phone when possible. Miguel explains that many families are aware of the pandemic and the critical nature of the disease, which makes it easier to explain when they call to tell them their family member is dying or has already passed. Some families, however, want everything to be done, which makes it difficult when the prognosis is grave. Most who get intubated are never going to come off the ventilator, he says. We had only one person extubate yesterday who met the criteria for weaning. We sent him to the floor. But when they are dying, they are all in renal failure. It could be related to sepsis. Its hard to explain what we are seeing. Everyone gets pneumonia prophylaxis with antibiotics to prevent secondary bacterial infections. But nothing seems to help. The moderate and severe patients are all started on Plaquenil and Azithromycin. Miguel doesnt think these medications work, but they still prescribe them. I just dont know. We started a trial here. Ive seen patients on it, and some go home, some dont. Does it work? It certainly doesnt on the patients who get ventilated. Most of the patients are elderly who dont do well. But I had two patients, and they both had COPD (chronic pulmonary disease). One patient stayed for two days and never needed oxygen. They did great and got discharged home. The other one was stable for a day but then suddenly decompensated, and we had to intubate him. Its difficult to predict who will turn the corner and improve or who will go over the cliff. But most of the patients Ive seen who do poorly have also been very obese. The 18-year-old female I mentioned was very obesea BMI of more than 35. [Body Mass Index is a value derived from a persons weight and height. Individuals with an average weight have a BMI ranging from 19 to 25.] I have heard reports suggest that men are more likely to get sick or die, but that hasnt been my experience here. Because of his training as an internal medicine resident, Miguel works directly for the ICU team. The hospital shifted the residents to a five-days-on and five-days-off rotation to account for possible illnesses that can develop among the staff and physician trainees. This way, it maintained a redundant cadre for backup. At Miguels hospital, there are 30 residents assigned per year and a total of 120 residents that support the hospital, now all working to treat the COVID-19 patients. Recently, 10 residents were in isolation after getting infected. Miguel said that no staff had died at his hospital. He also said that they recently acquired a rapid COVID-19 test kit, or at least it would be available soon. There is a severe shortage of ICU attendings, nurses as well as respiratory therapists, which places more of a burden on us to look after the patients, he explains. While the psychiatric and podiatry residents tend to the less critical patients, Miguel and the internal medicine residents, along with the surgical residents, are responsible for the ventilated patients. We manage the ventilators, the settings, everything. With 60 to 70 patients on ventilators and two respiratory therapists, it would be impossible for them to manage it all. We get our own blood gases [the blood chemistry helps determine the patients blood acid and oxygen levels, and how to change the ventilator settings], start central lines, everything. But if we have a technical problem, the respiratory therapists usually help us out. Miguel seems more comfortable explaining adjustments to the ventilator settings, becoming animated in describing the details of the process. We try to keep them on low tidal volumes, High PEEP, and low FIO2. He then recalls his shift from the previous night. We had to intubate five patients. The patients on the regular floors can suddenly decompensate. The nurses page us, and we have to drop everything to run over there and set up for intubation. Honestly, I havent seen elderly patients coming off the ventilator. They develop such severe RDS. Their chest x-rays show such severe disease. His words trail off. Mild to moderate disease, Miguel explains, usually involve just fevers, chills, aches and maybe minimal oxygen needs. Severe disease usually means difficulty breathing, pneumonia, and needing more than 6 liters of oxygen per minute. He admits that they still have PPEs and N95 respirators, but they have to save them so they will last for three to four days. They have now to sign for them when they arrive or leave the hospital. They are given eyeglasses and are provided yellow gownsthe thin onesthat they wear as one-time use when they enter a patients room. You can tell that everyone wants to work together, but there is a lot of frustration. Everyone is doing 12-hour shifts, so we are all exhausted. There is one nurse who is the nicest nurse, who has been working here forever. Now, she looks so stressed. Tempers are flaring, and there are constant arguments. There arent enough nurses. Two nurses have to see 20 patients. There are three third-year residents with two ICU attendings, and we have to follow 22 patients. We have to stay on top of their medications, vent settingssuddenly we are running because someone is crashing. We never catch up on our work because there is always something emergent to do. Sometimes there are patients we just cant get to in the course of the shift. Even the pharmacy department is under stress. They have to prepare all our IV drip medications. Not infrequently, a patients propofol (medication used to place ventilator patients in a decreased level of consciousness) runs out, and they wake up trying to extubate themselves. I know its going to get worse. Its getting worse every day. The hospital cant close. Where would we send the patients? The ED is full of patients. Sometimes we cant get to them, and they die there. I dont know how many have died. Miguel pauses and changes the subject. I was talking to my sister about the pandemic in Europe. She said that Spain and Italy were two weeks ahead of New York City. She told me she thought it would get bad here. I remember saying to her, This is New York City, it wont get bad here. How could it? And now, New York City is the epicenter of the world for this pandemic. We are doing very poorlythis is going to get worse and totally out of hand. I think this should have all been stopped earlier; they should have started testing more upfront. International flights should have been canceled earlier. People were flying and going through the airports without any controls. In closing, Miguel adds, We have to protect health care workers. Not only from the infection. We have to protect their stamina The streets are quiet. Miguel says he is looking forward to going home, showering, eating and sleeping. Sleep is not a problem for him, but on his days off he grows irritated. The urge to return to the hospital is tugging at him. Waiting is difficult. They are not just numbers. This is the first article in Privacy in the Pandemic, a new Future Tense series. I am a privacy lawyer and law professor. I have gone on record warning the public about companies like Google, Facebook, or Amazon taking too much of our data, especially our sensitive health data. Now, in this time of pandemic, I have only one message for tech companies like Google and government agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Take all my data. If it can help solve or mitigate the harms of this historic crisis for humanity, please take my data and use it for that purposeand that purpose alone. Advertisement We are going to need more data to fight the coronavirus and associated social ills (including loneliness from isolation). We will use more technology and do more research, and all of that will mean more collection of dataand more potential abuses of data. We can influence this rise in data collection in a privacy-protective way, but there will be privacy harms, and there will be bad actors who seek to exploit this crisis, no matter how hard we fight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is why its important that we approach privacy in the time of pandemic in three ways: First, we must recognize that there are positive uses for data, and indeed, there may be ethical obligations to donate your data (e.g., for medical research). Second, we must continue to push back against companies and government actors who use this crisis as an excuse for unprecedented power. Finally, we need to shift our societal understanding of privacy to keep pace with the modern world, so that we can continue to protect privacy in a way that is practicable and beneficial to society. Advertisement Advertisement We can protect privacy in the time of pandemic and still use technology and data for public health and public good. Telecom companies around the world have been weighing whether to give consumer location data to governments, to track movements and virus spreada move that comes with huge risks to individual privacy and of government overreach. Companies and grassroots groups are creating COVID-19 symptom trackers, like the crowdsourced ones popping up now, as well as diagnostic triage tools, like the ones being developed by Google and Amazon. Soon, home testing kits could allow people to test themselves for the novel coronavirus from home, freeing up key health care resources. All of these technological solutions come with privacy risks, which we must protect against, while still allowing for these innovations to flourish. Advertisement Advertisement In addition to data-driven technologies that can help us mitigate the spread of this virus, there are also technologies that can keep society running in the meantime. Consumer products like tablets and laptops are crucial for remote work and education. Also important right now are video products like Facebook Portal, Houseparty, and Zoom that allow us to connect, even if we cannot travel or gather with family and friends. We should support the public and private sectors in using technology for good, even if it means using our datawith the caveat that data use must be restricted and protected. Advertisement Advertisement We must implement these and other technological solutions carefully, preserving as much privacy as possible. It is possibletechnically, medically, legally, and ethicallyto collect and use data to help the fight against COVID-19 while still preserving privacy protections. It may be tempting to trade privacy for the sake of controlling the spread of the virus or helping to minimize its harm to society. But we cannot turn back the clock after all of this is over and regain what privacy rights we lose. The data that is out there will be out there, potentially identifiable forever, even if we delete it from machine learning systems. The powers that companies and governments gain during this time of emergency likely will be retained after the emergency has passed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To preserve privacy through this pandemic, we need to rethink privacy itself. We can no longer rely on the outdated understanding of privacy as guarding your data from the eyes of the public. Data can and should be used for good, for this pandemic and in the future. We must move past the notice-and-consent model of privacy protection. Making individual notification and consent the standard for allowing collection and use of data is not feasible in a world where data is being collected on all of us, all the time, often without our own knowledge. Our location data is already being tracked by our devices, our apps, our cellphone providers. Our face photos have been collected by companies like Clearview AI for use in facial recognition algorithms. Our addresses and phone numbers and property records are already out there, much of it being collected by shadowy data brokers. We need to shift our focus from preventing data from leaking to the public, to preserving privacy values when data is already out in the public view. Advertisement We need to change our existing laws and create new laws that will reflect new definitions of privacy. Instead of calling for simple minimization of data collection, we can change our focus to promoting other factors that will protect privacy: security of data, limitations on usage and transfer of data, individual rights over how data is used, and recourse when data is used against us. We should emphasize the use of technical privacy solutions (like differential privacy, encryption, and on-device processing) and limitations on nonessential uses of data and downstream uses, sales, and transfers of data. These technical protections can prevent data from being used against us while still allowing good faith actors to use our data for public health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We also need protections against systemic harms related to use of data, such as unchecked law enforcement use of facial recognition, and we need algorithmic accountability protections for when algorithmic systems are used to make decisions that touch on key rights (as we have to an extent with financial credit scoring). Additionally, instead of focusing regulations on first-party collection and use of data, we can implement greater regulations for the downstream use of data and data aggregators that compound existing privacy harms. These solutions can help protect us against third parties who seek to use our data against us. It is important that we continue to stay vigilant about threats to privacy, but it is also important to allow for necessary, potentially life-saving innovation in technology and science. We must reimagine what privacy is, and when the dust settles, we must rebuild with privacy laws that adapt to the realities of our modern, data-driven world. We do not have to choose between privacy and public health. We should fight for our right to have both. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. The World Bank has granted the Palestinian Authority (PA) $6 million to help it meet medical challenges amid the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Palestinian Press Agency (SAFA) reported. The Washington-based institution announced the grant Friday indicating that money will be used to enable the PA to meet the urgent health requirements for the fight against the pandemic. It is the second fund by the World Bank about a week after a first $800,000 grant, for the same purpose. The PA which controls the West Bank reported 6 new case as of Saturday, bringing the overall infection toll to 216. The disease was first reported on Palestinians working in Israeli settlements. Israel has confirmed 8,611 cases. While the infection overall figure hit 216 in the West Bank, Hamas which controls the Gaza strip announced Saturday a reduction of the number of cases after five of the 12 cases confirmed in the enclave recovered, Times of Israel reports. Hamas announced the first cases after two men who attended a religious conference in Pakistan tested positive upon their return. The first two cases in Gaza City, Gaza were diagnosed on March 21. The Palestinian health ministry said the cases had first been detected at a hotel in the Bethlehem area. A group of Greek tourists had visited the hotel in late February. Two of them were later diagnosed with the virus. Struggling High Street stalwarts are facing a crucial week, with retailers Debenhams and Cath Kidston both teetering on the brink. Department store chain Debenhams which has furloughed most of its 22,000 staff has brought in accountants from KPMG to prepare for possible collapse within days, it is understood. Sign of the times: Cath Kidston could reportedly go bust this week putting at risk 800 jobs At the same time, homeware retailer Cath Kidston could reportedly go bust this week putting at risk another 800 jobs. It comes as Sir Philip Green's Arcadia retail empire is also under pressure, with the business which includes fashion chains Topshop and Dorothy Perkins said to be preparing to offload hundreds of stores. The already-struggling retail sector has been hammered by the coronavirus pandemic, with the lockdown keeping customers at home and wiping out revenues. Debenhams said it was also in talks with the Pensions Regulator about 'protecting members interests'. Emergency services are searching for two fishermen who are missing after heading out to sea on a three-metre tinny. Jason De Silva, 20, and Geoffrey Hibberd, 33, set out in their vessel sometime before 6am in Victoria's Western Port Bay, 85 kilometres south of Melbourne, on Sunday. A friend called police about 9pm after being unable to reach them. Geoffrey Hibberd (left), 33, and Jason De Silva (right) went missing on Sunday Two fishermen went missing after they left a Westernport Bay (pictured) boat ramp in a tinny on Sunday morning The fishermen were not in a powerful boat and had a three-metre aluminium tinny with an outboard motor as their vessel. Victoria Police were told that the men often went fishing to the west of Phillip Island. A massive search including the Water Police, Coast Guard and Volunteer Marine Rescue agencies was launched on Sunday night. The Victoria Police Airwing and AusSAR Challenger Search Aircraft are also involved in finding the missing fishermen. A Victoria Police spokesperson said that the search had located their missing boat washed up on rocks at Pyramid Rock about 11am on Monday. The two men have not been accounted for and the search continues. The pair undertook their fishing adventure on the first weekend since the state's harsher coronavirus social distancing laws were put in place. Under these restrictions no recreational fishing is allowed in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19. CHESTER, Pa. - A 7-year-old boy who was shot in the face died from his injuries, police in Pennsylvania said. Chester police officers responding to a report of a shooting found Sinsir Parker lying in the middle of the street Sunday night, a statement from the department said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police asked anyone with information to contact the department. The release did not indicate any arrests and the circumstances of the shooting were still unclear. The location provided by police corresponds to a residential neighbourhood in Chester, Delaware Countys largest city thats not far from the Delaware state line and is just across the Delaware River from New Jersey. The childs death is the 14th homicide in Chester in 2020, police said. Further details werent immediately released. New Delhi: Pakistan's premier intelligence agency ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) hatched a conspiracy through social media to thwart Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal of lightning Diya to express solidarity against coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic by spreading false news of power grid failure and of fire accidents have been exposed. Notably, PM Modi had urged all countrymen to switch off their lights for 9 minutes at 9 pm on Sunday as a sign of solidarity in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Indian security agencies have ascertained the roots of false reports of power grid failure on social media in Pakistan. "Increased activity noticed at social media platforms. ISI tried to spread misinformation by selectively pushing misleading news like power grid collapse due to Diya and also that there would be many fire accidents following its observation," said an Official tracking social media. ISI also shared several fake videos on social media of fire incident due to lighting of Diya in various part of the country after its failed attempt to spread false rumours of grid failure. Many of these fake videos were uploaded on Facebook and Twitter accounts from different cities of Pakistan, the official said, adding that the same modous operandai were used by the ISI during Delhi riots. Pakistan also spread rumours among Indian students residing abroad, causing panic among them. A deliberate misinformation campaign was also seen among the Indian students of available flights to India. This led to Indian missions flooded with calls from such students wanting to be accommodated in these flights, the official said, adding that it took hours to clarify the students. "Flooded with calls from Indian students to our mission led to chaos and it took hours to handle the situations. The students were asking for information about flights to India. Due to coronavirus, India has banned all international flights but the message was spread among the students that India flights have resumed," said another official. When the world's attention is focused on dealing with the coronavirus, Pakistan's ISI is trying to take advantage of this situation. The ISI asked terrorist organizations in Afghanistan and in Kashmir to launch a major terror attack against India. The Pak agency is actively planning attacks in Afghanistan and Kashmir amid COVID-19 outbreak. In the last two days, Indian security forces have killed 9 terrorists in different encounters in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir. Four terrorists who were involved in killing of innocent civilians were eliminated at Batpura area of South Kashmir. In another anti-infiltration operation in Keran Sector of North Kashmir, the security forces eliminated five terrorists attempting to infiltrate into the Line of Control taking advantage of bad weather. - Luis Manzano received negative comments after airing his opinion about the government - He was even called a bayot by some social media users because of what he did - The prominent actor did not hesitate to respond to those who commented against him - He also posted the picture of one of the netizens who accused him of being a gay PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed Luis Manzano did not hesitate to respond to some social media users who called him bayot out of the blue. KAMI learned that the prominent television host received negative comments after he aired his frustration on how the government is handling the COVID-19 crisis. A brave netizen told the handsome celebrity through Twitter that he must just keep quiet and he was even called a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Hoy bayot pag hilom [Hoy bakla, manahimik ka], the basher quipped. Luis then responded by posting a picture of the said netizen and tagging him as someone who looks like a thief. He also defended the LGBTQ+ community for being discriminated again and he claimed that they can excel in whatever they do. Kung maka-bayot ka naman as if masama maging bayot, itsura mo nga 'yung nagnanakaw ng bag sa fastfood, he wrote. Tandaan mo ang LGBT+, breakfast lunch dinner ay discrimination ng ibang tao, at hinahassle pa but yet, they always excel sa kahit anong gawin nila. Bayot ba ako? Nope. Lupit ba nila? Yes! he added. PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! Another social media user insisted that the Home Sweetie Home star is gay because of the kind of words that he uses whenever he replies to his bashers. He even wished for the actor to find his real identity since he can smell that he is not a real gentleman. Luis bakla din po ako no need na pangaralan ako. Hindi kita dini discriminate, dini describe po kita. Alam ko at amoy na amoy ko. I hope mahanap mo sa sarili mo yung totoong identity mo po, the netizen commented. Binura mo nga tweet mo dahil nagmukha kang tanga... so as a gay man, you believe na ikaw dapat mag out sa isang tao at hindi sa terms niya? the celebrity replied. In a previous article by , Luis and other showbiz personalities reacted after seeing the face of Anne Curtis baby for the first time. Luis Manzano is one of the most sought-after hosts in the Philippines. He is currently in a romantic relationship with actress Jessy Mendiola. POPULAR: Read more news about Luis Manzano! Please like and share our Facebook posts to support KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinion about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts! TikTok dance challenges are taking over social media. We are always on point in asking passers-by to dance to famous songs together with our host Andre! Dont forget to subscribe to HumanMeter! Source: KAMI.com.gh Bernard Gonzalez The club doctor of Stade de Reims FC, Bernard Gonzalez, has committed suicide. French outlet Le Parisien reports that Gonzalez took his own life on Sunday afternoon shortly after being told he had contracted Coronavirus (COVID-19). Gonzalez, 60, is said to have been in quarantine with his wife, who also had the disease. Reacting to the development, Stade de Reims President, Jean-Pierre Caillot, in a statement, described Gonzalez as a great professional of the sport. Caillot said: Words fail me. I am stunned by this news. This pandemic affects the Stade de Reims in its heart. He was a personality of Reims and a great professional in the sport. He was with the club for more than 20 years and carried out his job with the utmost professionalism, in a passionate and even selfless manner. Doctor Gonzalez, in the harshest periods of the club, worked on a voluntary basis. He is a precise doctor in his missions and an artist by his passions. Today all my thoughts, those of the club, of which he will remain a strong figure, go to his wife and parents. Today, its a drama that strikes us. AUTHORITIES arrested 32 persons allegedly involved in the proliferation of false information about the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group said the 32 arrested suspects were charged for violating Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code as Amended in relation to Sec 4c4 (Online Libel) and Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10175, or the Anti-Cybercrime Law. The suspects were from Quezon City, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and Caraga. The PNP-ACG under PBGen Dennis Agustin will be relentless in taking countermeasures on misinformation and spread of fake reports by conducting cyber patrol operations on social media and other online platforms, PNP spokesperson Brigadier General Bernard Banac said. The public is urged to cooperate in taking greater steps to topple the COVID-19 pandemic, including to refrain from sharing and posting false reports that may cause panic and confusion, he added. The entire Luzon has been under an enhanced community quarantine, a measure aimed at containing the Covid-19. Under enhanced community quarantine, public transport systems are suspended, food and health services are regulated, checkpoints are set up to limit the movement of people from one place to another. People are ordered to stay home to stop or prevent the spread of the virus. Other localities outside Luzon have also imposed lockdown in their areas to stop the virus. As of Monday afternoon, the Department of Health said there were 3,660 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the country with 163 deaths and 73 recoveries. Within the PNP, 19 personnel have been confirmed to have been infected by the virus. Two had died. The PNP Health Service recorded a total of 280 PNP personnel who are categorized as patients under investigation (PUI) while a total of 1,332 PNP personnel are now listed as persons under monitoring (PUM). (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/SunStar Philippines) Lovicott said that the couple had been shot at the arboretum sometime overnight before their bodies were found, but that police were not ready to discuss a motive. Police have said the couple was targeted and that Sanford was known to the victims family. Storyful Supporters of world No.1 Novak Djokovic gathered outside a courthouse in Melbourne on January 10 as the player appealed against his deportation from Australia.A bid by the Australian government to delay a court hearing to January 12 was rejected by a federal circuit judge.According to court filings, Djokovics lawyers say he was granted a visa on November 18. An exemption certificate was issued by Tennis Australias chief medical officer on December 30, they said.The hearing was due to start at 10am local time but was delayed due to technical issues. Footage by Marion Theissen shows fans outside the Federal Circuit and Family Court in Melbourne. Credit: Marion Theissen via Storyful A 28-year-old man gunned down his ex-girlfriends new partner Monday outside her north Houston apartment, police allege. The suspected shooter, later identified as Shawn Baldwin, confronted 27-year-old Demi Foster around 10:30 a.m. at Baldwin's ex-girlfriends home off West Little York near the North Freeway. Foster man heard yelling outside the door and stepped outside to talk, according to Houston Police Department Homicide Detective Brian Evans. MORE FROM JAY R. JORDAN: Man killed after argument with woman inside southwest Harris County home The two met atop the third-floor stairwell landing and exchanged words before the 28-year-old pulled a gun and opened fire, Evans said. Mortally wounded, Foster managed to climb down four flights of stairs and make his way to a grassy area along the street, where he collapsed. Paramedics rushed him to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. Meanwhile, Baldwin ran through the apartments, ditching a jacket in a shopping center dumpster before running into officers behind a forklift dealership along the nearby freeway, police said. He was placed in handcuffs and brought back to the apartments, where Evans and his partner charged him with murder. Evans commended the officers who helped capture the suspect. It was an outstanding job by patrol, Evans said. Baldwin's loved ones gathered at a shopping center across the street as police combed through evidence at the apartment. He shrugged in their direction as an officer guided his head into the back of a patrol car. Editor's note: Detectives initially said the suspect's age was 25, but police later confirmed his age is 28. 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 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 6, 2020) - Norvista Capital Corporation (TSXV: NVV) ("Norvista" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the operational and liquidity status of its three core investee companies. The principals of Norvista act as directors and or officers of these investee companies and as such have been working with management and the boards of these portfolio companies to develop strategic alternatives designed to cope with the disruption in both the capital and commodity markets resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Norvista continues to upload relevant press releases from its investee companies to the Company's website in order to provide ongoing detailed information on all material developments affecting our portfolio companies. Minera Alamos Inc. continues construction work on its fully funded, 100% owned Santana open-pit, heap leach, gold project in Sonora Mexico in compliance with current governmental requirements. The site area is relatively remote from large population centres and to-date project work has been allowed to continue with appropriate measures implemented to protect the health of the workforce. Minera continues to project that it will join the ranks of North America's gold producers in Q4 of 2020. In addition, the company's 100% owned La Fortuna open-pit gold project, also located in Mexico, is nearing the end of the permitting process and Minera could make a construction decision on La Fortuna this year or early in 2021. As with the Santana project, La Fortuna exhibits extremely attractive economics. Minera has sufficient liquidity to fund its operations over the course of 2020 with the prospect of generating free cash flow from operations in late 2020 to fund ongoing operating costs and future project developments. Rockcliff Metals Corporation continues to move its Manitoba copper projects forward on both permitting and development fronts with the objective of making a construction decision on one or two of its projects by year-end or in the first quarter of 2021. Rockcliff currently has combined cash and cash equivalents of approximately $13,000,000. Rockcliff is in the process of demobilizing its drilling programs as they prepare for the spring thaw that will continue through to mid-May. The decision to resume drill programs in May will be made in the context of the market at the time. In the interim the company will continue the permitting process and has commenced the preparation of a Preliminary Econmic Assessment which will combine the sequential development of Rockliff's 100% owned Tower project and its 100% owned Rail project. The PEA, which is projected to be released in late May or June, will incorporate usage of the company's leased 1,000+ tonnes per day mill and tailings facility in Wabowden, Manitoba. Both projects are well within trucking distance to the mill. The Board of Rockcliff will determine whether to commence preparation of a Pre-Feasibility Study upon completion of the PEA in the context of the market at that time. Any delays in the resumption of drilling and the commencement of the PFS will be done to conserve cash until capital markets normalize and the availability of development debt and equity funding returns. Nevada Zinc Corporation continues to pursue the idea of producing zinc chemicals for the US agricultural industry as an alternative to producing and selling zinc concentrate. Mineralization from the company's strategically located Lone Mountain zinc oxide project in Nevada lacks significant amounts of deleterious elements, making it very suitable as a potential feedstock for the production of zinc chemicals which are value add products relative to the production and sale of a zinc concentrate to be used for the production of zinc metal. The issue of supply chain security in many sectors of the US economy, including food supply, has taken on renewed importance in light of the recent disruptive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately 60% of the zinc sulfate consumed by US growers and farmers is currently imported, mostly from China. Nevada Zinc's recent discussions with market participants validates the company's believe that "made in America" zinc chemicals will be well received by the agricultural industry. The Lone Mountain deposit is strategically located proximal to the $46 billion California agricultural market whose specialty crop growers use significant amounts of zinc sulfate in their operations to combat disease and improve crop yields. When the current COVID-19 restrictions are lifted the company's activities for the duration of 2020 will consist of the continuing evaluation of concentrating and extraction processes, the shipment of ore samples to consultants to confirm the zinc sulfate production process, producing zinc sulfate samples and improving the confidence level of resources at the Lone Mountain deposit. The company is currently reviewing financing options either through the market and or with strategic partners to fund its 2020 work program. About Norvista Norvista is a resource-based merchant bank with an investment portfolio of public securities issued by companies engaged in precious and base metal exploration and development. The portfolio is comprised primarily of three core investee companies with operations located in Mexico, Canada and the United States. Norvista's core investee companies are Minera Alamos Inc., Rockcliff Metals Corporation and Nevada Zinc Corporation. The Company seeks to monetize its investments through a combination of direct market sales, share disposition transactions with strategic purchasers or investee company share distributions to Norvista shareholders. All or a portion of the proceeds from the sale of investee company shares will be distributed to Norvista shareholders at the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors. Bruce Durham, P.Geo., Managing Director of Norvista, is a Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Durham is responsible for the scientific and technical data presented herein and has reviewed and approved this news release. For further information, please contact: Norvista Capital Corporation Don Christie, President & CEO Off: (416) 504-4171 dchristie@norvistacapital.com The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the actual results of Norvista and its invstee companies to be materially different from the historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements contained in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward-looking. Although Norvista believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Norvista does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/54174 Serge Rivera, CEO of SeaWorld, has resigned after just five months in the position, reports say. Mr Rivera resigned over a disagreement with the boards decision-making, according to The Orlando Sentinel. He is the fourth CEO in five years, and his predecessor left after only seven months, for the same reason. The departure of Mr Rivera comes as over 90 per cent of the company's employees are furloughed and the theme parks are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Executives have also taken a 20 per cent pay cut. Mr Rivera, whose career has mainly focussed on the hotel sector, was paid $600,000 plus stock options. He is not eligible for severance benefits, according to an SEC filing the company made on Monday. Stepping into the role as interim CEO is SeaWorld's chief financial officer, Marc Swanson. The Orlando, Florida-based company operates 12 theme parks, with three branded as SeaWorld in Orlando, San Antonio and San Diego. It has plans to open SeaWorld Abu Dhabi in 2022. As with the rest of the of the travel and tourism industry, the company has been hit hard by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Its stock is down approximately 70 per cent this year. The company began the year by replacing its centrepiece One Ocean show with a program called Orca Encounter, about killer whales role in the ocean ecosystem, their behaviour in the wild, the importance of conservation, and animal welfare practices at SeaWorld. 'One Ocean' had a similar theme and was SeaWorld's first show that did not include trainers in the water with the killer whales a change that was made after the 2010 death of trainer Dawn Brancheau, who was drowned by a killer whale. The company also suffered after the 2013 documentary Blackfish was highly critical of SeaWorld policies leading animal rights group PETA to the company to call for the relocation of the orca to ocean sanctuaries. (Natural News) As the nation grapples with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, some people are taking advantage of the situation to conduct unsavory activities. Police in several states have reported looters attacking businesses during the crisis amid extended social distancing measures. In Santa Cruz, California, police arrested five individuals who allegedly attempted to carry out robberies on businesses in the city. Meanwhile, in South Carolina, two men were detained by police after they were found outside a storage warehouse unit alongside a stolen vehicle, while over at the East Coast, New York City police arrested a masked suspect who robbed a deli in Brooklyn. Looters are taking advantage of the coronavirus The City of Santa Clara in California is currently under a stay-at-home order due to the coronavirus outbreak. This didnt stop the five suspected looters however from trying to make a quick buck. Pictures from the scene of their arrest show shops with their windows broken from the looters attempts at entry. Authorities initially charged the suspects with burglary. However, the charges were later increased to looting. Meanwhile, in York County in South Carolina, Ronald Nicholas Miller, 26 and Justin Andrew Osczepinski, 30, were detained when police found them outside a storage warehouse unit. They were later charged with looting after deputies recovered items and a stolen truck from the scene. While South Carolina has declared a state of emergency and implemented a number of measures to combat the outbreak, Gov. Henry McMaster has yet to issue a statewide stay-at-home order. Both suspects, however, hail from North Carolina, Miller from Matthews and Osczepinski from Charlotte, a state which has issued stay-at-home orders. In New York City, a masked suspect was taken into custody by the New York Police Department (NYPD) for looting Tylenol and cash from a deli in Brooklyn. The suspect looted the Avenue H Deli at the corner of Avenue H and Utica Avenue at around 4:30 in the morning. Officers from the NYPDs 63rd Precinct as well as emergency service units surrounded the building shortly after. The suspect was eventually found on the roof of an adjacent building a few hours later. In 20 years, something like this has never happened to me, said deli owner Abdulla Musaid. I want to thank the police for catching the suspect. Authorities are taking looting seriously With the threat of looting looming over cities in the wake of social distancing measures, cities are looking to throw the book on any suspects caught attempting to take advantage of the situation. In Santa Clara, a spokesman for the Santa Clara Police Department said that the city was now looking to present as many charges as possible to people who take advantage of the lockdown to commit crimes. Meanwhile, South Carolina had already made looting a felony two weeks ago when its governor declared a state of emergency. There is a state of emergency law in effect and this looting incident was charged under that emergency law, said Trent Faris, a spokesman for the York County Sheriffs Office. In addition to the looting charges, both suspects in the recent incident are facing further charges. Miller was also charged with 23 further offenses including burglary, larceny, conspiracy and possession of burglary tools. Hes currently in jail on a $1153,500 bond. Osczepinksi, on the other hand, has been charged with 25 crimes including burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle, larceny, possession of burglary tools and conspiracy. Businesses arent taking chances While police are doing their best to discourage looting, many businesses arent taking chances. Throughout several cities in America, businesses have started boarding up their storefronts in preparation for possible looting and rioting. Part of the worry comes from possible police manpower shortages. In New York City alone, over 6,100 officers are out sick while 1,400 officers have tested positive for the coronavirus as of reporting time. Meanwhile, major crimes in NYC are up by 10 percent despite social distancing measures. In the 63rd Precinct, robberies are up by 200 percent year to date with 26 recorded so far compared to the eight this time last year. In response to this New York City Police Commissioner, Dermot Shea said that his department will stand strong during the outbreak. We stand strong, on the front lines, to ensure a common good for all and to continue to relentlessly drive down crime, deliver justice for every crime victim and maintain a sense of safety we believe all New Yorkers deserve, Shea added. Sources include: The-Sun.com WISTV.com BrooklynPaper.com BusinessInsider.com NYPost.com 337.7k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard An Ohio lawmaker wants to prosecute President Donald Trump for crimes against humanity. The Democrat has called on The Hague to take action over Trumps hydroxychloroquine claims. I cant take it anymore, Ohio state Rep. Tavia Galonski said on Twitter. Ive been to The Hague. Im making a referral for crimes against humanity tomorrow. Galonski cited the Presidents Sunday press conference where he once again touted the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in fighting Covid-19. I cant take it anymore. Ive been to The Hague. Im making a referral for crimes against humanity tomorrow. Todays press conference was the last straw. I know the need for a prosecution referral when I see one. https://t.co/XQin24gqY4 Rep. Tavia Galonski (@RepGalonski) April 6, 2020 Todays press conference was the last straw, Galonski said. I know the need for a prosecution referral when I see one. Galonskis suggestion would see Trump charged by the International Criminal Court (ICC). It is not clear whether the court would consider the referral. Trump has repeatedly argued that hydroxychloroquine can treat Coronavirus but the drug has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for the disease He mentioned the drug again on Sunday, prompting Galonskis tweet. What do you have to lose? Trump asked. Im not looking at it one way or another. But we want to get out of this. If it does work, it would be a shame if we didnt do it early. Dr. Anthony Fauci has advised against using the drug. He has repeatedly explained that the evidence is anecdotal. The data are really just at best suggestive, Fauci told CBS. There have been cases that show there may be an effect, and there are others to show theres no effect. Fauci reportedly clashed with Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro about hydroxychloroquine in the White House Situation Room. Navarro defended himself on Monday. My qualifications in terms of looking at the science is that Im a social scientist. I have a Ph. D, I understand how to read studies, Navarro told CNN. Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 07:10:19|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, April 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S. state of Washington Governor Jay Inslee on Sunday announced that the state will return more than 400 ventilators received from the Strategic National Stockpile to help states having higher numbers of COVID-19 cases. "These ventilators are going to New York and others states hardest hit by this virus," Inslee said. "We are in this together. This should guide all of our actions at an individual and state level in the coming days and weeks." As it continues to prepare for increased hospitalizations and the necessary treatment of serious cases of COVID-19, the state recently purchased more than 750 ventilators, which are expected to arrive over the next several weeks. Raquel Bono, director of Washington State COVID-19 Health System Response Management, said, "we have seen fewer infections in our communities than anticipated. Our current status allows us to help others who have a more immediate need." The state Department of Health on Saturday confirmed a total of 7,591 cases and 310 fatalities in the state. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Saturday that China has donated 1,000 ventilators to the state, which arrived at JFK Airport later in the day. Oregon Governor Kate Brown was also sending a shipment of 140 ventilators to the epicenter state. The American Medical Associations (AMA) top doctor has said that Donald Trumps promotion of an anti-malarial drug to treat the coronavirus could cause deaths. According to the head of the AMA, Dr. Patrice Harris, there could be many negative side effects, for Americans using hydroxychloroquine. The president has previously recommended the use of the anti-malarial drug as a possible treatment for the Covid-19 virus, despite White House medical experts cautioning that there is little evidence to support widespread use. On Sunday, Mr Trump pushed harder in support of hydroxychloroquine, saying it could be a way out for the US as the number of cases in the country surpassed 300,000 at the weekend. I want them to try it, and it may work and it may not work. But if it doesnt work, there is nothing lost by doing it, said President Trump on Sunday. What do you have to lose? In an interview with CNNs Wolf Blitzer, AMA president Dr Harris commented that Americans had everything to lose. There could be deaths. This is a new virus, and so we should not be promoting any medication or drug for any disease that has not been proven and approved by the FDA. Hydroxychloroquine has only been made available by the FDA for emergency treatments on a case-by-case basis. Dr Anthony Fauci, The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) director, has previously cautioned that any evidence of the drugs potential benefits against coronavirus was just at best suggestive. The AMA president, Dr Harris, warned that no drug should be introduced without medical approval. He added: Its unproven. And so certainly there are some limited studies, as Dr. Fauci said. But at this point, we just dont have the data to suggest that we should be using this medication for Covid-19. The comments came as health officials in New York, the state hit hardest by the pandemic, announced that 4,000 coronavirus patients were being treated with hydroxychloroquine in a last ditch attempt to save lives as doctors analyse the drugs effectiveness. At the same time, clinical trials are testing whether or not the anti-malarial drug can block transmission of the virus. Results from these tests are expected in around a months time. An ER physician and researcher at Brown University, Dr. Megan Ranney, later told CNN that the presidents advice to Americans made her nervous. According to the physician, the drugs side effects included paranoia, hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, and that they are common enough that this should not be taken willy-nilly. It is not like water, it is not harmless, and it may have major side effects. Last month, New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced that some health care providers in his state would combine hydroxychloroquine with an antibiotic drug in emergency cases. More than 8,000 Americans have now been killed by the coronavirus. Ignoring expert opinion, Trump again promotes use of hydroxychloroquine President Donald Trump doubled down Sunday on his push for the use of an anti-malarial drug against the coronavirus, issuing medical advice that goes well beyond scant evidence of the drugs effectiveness as well as the advice of doctors and public health experts.Trumps recommendation of hydroxychloroquine, for the second day in a row at a White House briefing, was a striking example of his brazen willingness to distort and outright defy expert opinion and scientific evidence when it does not suit his agenda.Standing alongside two top public health officials who have declined to endorse his call for widely administering the drug, Trump suggested that he was speaking on gut instinct and acknowledged that he had no expertise on the subject.Saying that the drug is being tested now, Trump said that there are some very strong, powerful signs of its potential, although health experts say that the data is extremely limited and that more study of the drugs effectiveness against the coronavirus is needed.But what do I know? Im not a doctor, Trump addedIf it does work, it would be a shame we did not do it early, Trump said, noting again that the federal government had purchased and stockpiled 29 million pills of the drug. We are sending them to various labs, our military, were sending them to the hospitals. Trump, who once predicted that the virus might miraculously disappear by April because of warm weather, and who has rejected scientific consensus on issues like climate change, was undaunted by sceptical questioning. What do you have to lose? Trump asked, for the second day in a row, saying that terminally ill patients should be willing to try any treatment that has shown some promise. When a reporter at Sundays briefing asked Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, to weigh in on the subject, Trump stopped him from answering. As the reporter noted that Fauci, who has been far more sceptical about the drugs potential, was the presidents medical expert, Trump made it clear he did not want tYou know how many times hes answered that question? Maybe 15 times, the president said, stepping toward the lectern where Fauci was standing.Even as Trump has promoted the drug, which is also often prescribed for patients with lupus, it has created rifts within his own coronavirus task force. And while many hospitals have chosen to use hydroxychloroquine in a desperate attempt to treat dying patients who have few other options, others have noted that it carries serious risks. In particular, the drug can cause a heart arrhythmia that can lead to cardiac arrest. Dr Megan L Ranney, an emergency physician at Brown University in Rhode Island, said in an interview Sunday night that she had never seen an elected official advertise a miracle cure the way Trump has. There are side effects to hydroxychloroquine, Ranney said. It causes psychiatric symptoms, cardiac problems and a host of other bad side effects. Ranney said that the drug could be effective for some patients, but that there was not nearly enough scientific evidence to support Trumps claims. There may be a role for it for some people, she said, but to tell Americans you dont have anything to lose, thats not true. People certainly have something to lose by taking it indiscriminately. Hydroxychloroquine has not been proved to work against COVID-19 in any significant clinical trials. A small trial by Chinese researchers made public last week found that it helped speed the recovery in moderately ill patients, but the study was not peer-reviewed and had significant limitations. Earlier reports from France and China have drawn criticism because they did not include control groups to compare treated patients with untreated ones, and researchers have called the reports anecdotal. Without controls, they said, it is impossible to determine whether the drugs worked.But Trump on Sunday dismissed the notion that doctors should wait for further study.We dont have time to go and say, Gee, lets take a couple of years and test it out, and lets go out and test with the test tubes and the laboratories, Trump said. Id love to do that, but we have people dying today.Trump is typically joined at his briefings by top medical advisers, including Fauci and Dr Deborah L Birx, his coronavirus coordinator. But the president does most of the talking, and has told several advisers that the briefings give him free airtime and good ratings. Text by Arshia Dhar | Photos by Satwik Paul From afar, it looks like a regular pile of books, one stacked on top of another. But, on inching closer, you notice something different about the way they have been moulded out of Nepali paper and cardboard, colours and memories, dreams and poetry. Placed right next to them are newspapers, all broadsheets, but unlike the ones you start your day with. The folds hide paper soldiers, whose arms twist and turn against backdrops of raging fires and spattered blood, with a dead man spread-eagled in the shape of the Nazi Swastika. Words from an iconic Joan Baez song, penned by Bob Dylan, are etched in ink right next to the corpse: And the neighbours they clap and they cheer with each blast / But farewell, Angelina, the sky's changing colour and I must leave fast. The tiny letters snuggle uncomfortably, as the limp body lying next to them is stuck halfway through a motion that was perhaps made a moment too late. He now rests biting the dust, trapped within the walls hed hoped to scale. I tried to create a tombstone, but that didnt really happen, Kolkata-based artist Amritah Sen tells me about the provocative image thats one among the many lining her room. An alumna of Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan, Sen is a several-years-old-art teacher at the citys Lakshmipat Singhania Academy school. She meets us over cups of tea and a spread of cookies and biscuits; in the backdrop is her evocative artwork that has now been colloquially termed as newspaper sculptures, which evolved in extension to her preceding book sculptures. Her newspapers started taking shape near the end of 2018. I almost always felt disturbed by this distance between an artists artwork and the audience, which urged me to climb down from the metaphorical wall and create something that bridges that distance, she says, unwrapping the first in her 12-part Fear Books and more series. At first, what I held in my hands confused me with its appearance of a book, and yet not feeling like one. It was heavier than a regular paperback, with dimensions considerably superseding those of one too. 'A kind of fear is of losing heights. Another kind of fear is to fall. All fall down. And a few get up' read the lines in block letters on the cover, populating a stained, smoky yellow background embellished with crisscrossing black lines. Theres desolation strewn across the canvas, as two silhouetted figures run for their lives past signboards of ugly grinning mouths, looking for an exit, perhaps somewhere beyond the margins of Sens creation. The images are positively phantasmagoric, triggered by deep-seated fears of individuals the artist reached out to. She calls it Project Fear. It started sometime in 2013-2014, with incidents and accounts of fear being retold by people from within known circles. I wanted to venture out, so I travelled through India, to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Pakistan was on my cards too, but the logistics were complicated so it fell through. However, I did end up connecting with people from Pakistan over the internet, and have included some of their stories in the series, she says. Why fear? I ask. Because I wanted to see if fear has only negative connotations. Fears take you back to your roots as well, Sen tells me. And so they do, as is evidenced in her Book of Fear - 10, From Karachi. Whether one studies the story in an assigned sequence or disjointedly, a motley of words and truncated body parts emerge an eye here, a pair of hands there, a real tooth on the third. The visual and linguistic cues are placed on literal layers of ink and paper, like a pop-up book, imitating the workings of our stratified minds. Its the story of a woman, who told me she has nightmares of losing all her teeth. And apparently, its a dream her entire family has had for generations a family that migrated from India to modern-day Pakistan during Partition, and continues to feel rootless, perhaps, she says, implying how their deeply-embedded fears of fading origins are manifested through grotesque dental imagery. However, unlike the other 11, this tenth instalment in the series is a collation of seven small wooden boxes, in dimensions mimicking a pocket-book, with glass tops that open up like pages of an actual book. I always felt comfortable with the book as an object, Sen says, as she arranges the wooden squares in a specific sequence for our viewing. She first tried her hand at book-making in the year 2009-2010, nearly a decade after passing out of art college. I attended a book-binding workshop that was conducted in the city by an artist, and absolutely loved it. Later, in 2012, I enrolled in a book-designing course conducted by The Seagull School of Publishing. It was the first batch, she informs me. With narrative art being her forte, the artist was often met with allegations of her work being too illustrative. Her intent was to transform the public viewing of her art into a private affair through the innocuous act of holding a book, a veritable sculpture; an object thereby turning the experience into an intimate one for the individual. I wished to break that barrier through various means. My art has always been multi-layered, with secrets tucked in here and there. If you view my artwork from a distance, you will perceive it in a certain way. But on moving closer, youll see the more minute details and the different hidden layers. I wanted to create that immersive, tactile experience for my audience, with respect to my art. Theres a steady refrain of imagery and words in her repertoire, which Amritah claims to have been oblivious to until I pointed out. Lopped off body parts, winding roads, a sense of running-in-circles as bodies toil to find their way through smoky terrain all topped off with a generous helping of Bob Dylans poetry. By the end of our interaction, Id lost count of the number of times Id encountered verses from Blowin in the Wind in her art. I realised much later that Ive been repeating those verses. Even when I tried looking for newer words, they seemed to fit what Ive been meaning to express the best. They really resonate with me, she says. The delicious dreariness of her world, almost ironically incendiary to look at, is reminiscent of TS Eliots poetry. The opening lines of The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock, which invite you into an evening spread out against the sky/ Like a patient etherised upon a table, and introduces you to the [T]he yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes, find an unwitting expression on Amritah Sens canvas. Her seven-part-series (for seven days of the week) titled News that matters of which five have taken shape are all undated, because the issues they touch upon are timeless in nature, Sen says. Arson, guns, mouths stuck in a scream, graveyards, soldiers, chaos and murder, all meld and spider out in webs spun from the artists vivid stream of consciousness. The images flow seamlessly, changing shape and colour at will. I just go with my gut, she says about her method. I may or may not add a few more details once I am done with all seven in this series. I dont know, it depends on what I feel at the moment I revisit them. An instalment in the series recreates Edvard Munchs The Scream on its front-page, sardonically mimicking the horrors of perpetual urgency in our times. Amritah justifies its usage by citing the countless fake renditions of The Scream that float around, alluding to the epidemic of fake news in the wake of fast-evolving technology. On turning the page, one encounters a patchy illustration, resembling a musty wall with peeling, scraped graffiti, to whose right is a knot of snaking limbs, perhaps in a nod to Picassos Guernica. You know, I am not a very vocal person, and I was never the very political kind. In fact, I did not like politicising everything, including my art. However, I suddenly felt this urgent need over the last couple of years to respond to whats happening around us, she says. Timeless as the subjects are, Sens art, over the past decade, seems to have sunk its teeth into the turbulent socio-political milieu of the period it mirrors. The images are disconcerting, violent, and assertively so. I think the times are such that they demand people, especially the ones whove never spoken up before, to do so now. In my case, more than following the news intently, I am reading a lot of history and sociology, which I have never done before, she says, adding that humanity has reached a point where people are left with no choice but to react, and hold a definite opinion on subjects. I feel being silent now can also be interpreted as being tacitly supportive of all thats going wrong around us, she says. A particular image in one of her newspapers completed around a month ago, echoes a sordid reality recently witnessed in the episodes of violence against Muslims in Delhi. A man blindfolded with a sterile gauze patch waltzing out of a burning hole, with a placard around his neck that reads I will forever pretend as if I just didnt see, harks back to all-too-familiar headlines from February. On enquiring about the precise thoughts that triggered this piece, Sen refuses to answer objectively. Actually, this was about taking to the streets on stepping out of your house. But eventually, incidents, images, and everything else overlapped, she says, insisting on letting the audience decide and interpret for themselves, like an inadvertent Rorschach Test. Honestly, I mostly dont remember my methods and processes after I am through with something, she says, with a shrug. Amritah rejects the idea of being boxed into specific political ideologies, as much as she refuses to assign a start and an end point to her narrative art. On stumbling upon Follow the wind, a 2012 piece that follows the story of a notorious cat, arranged in the shape of a card-castle, one indeed notices her expertise in telling bigger stories through smaller, independent shorts. The experience is interactive, almost immersive in nature. I dont really like cats, and maybe thats why I wanted to observe them, and see what goes on in their minds, she says, while placing the wind vane through the topmost tile, like the cherry on top. It ends up piercing the cats belly right below, killing it. This prompts me to recall TS Eliot yet again, specifically his felines from the Old Possums Book of Practical Cats. Clearly, patterns emerge, tying her oeuvre together with motifs she claims to be mostly unconscious of. *** By our next interaction, the world as we knew it, had transmogrified into a veritable glasshouse in the wake of an unprecedented pandemic. As nations buckled under the tyranny of the coronavirus, Amritah and I pondered the uncertainty of our beings over the phone. "I'm still not sure how to feel about this, you know. It's playing out as we speak, so we aren't exactly being able to gauge the magnitude of this phenomenon," she tells me. Now that her school is shut indefinitely, the artist is taking time to absorb what her surroundings have on offer. There will certainly be a reaction to this event, she tells me, although she can't quite predict what form it will take. "I may just do a newspaper on it," she says, half-jokingly. Sens first stint as an art teacher at Lakshmipat Singhania Academy lasted seven years from 2000 to 2007 followed by her second innings at the institute starting in 2014. Initially, I didnt enjoy going back to a classroom at all. It meant sinking into the same old routine of doing classes and returning home. But a few years later, I realised how teaching comes to me much more naturally than a lot of other things do." She fills me in on an incident that left her startled with an unexpected realisation, drawing an example of how despite being a teacher, she often finds herself in the shoes of her students. This one time, I was conducting an art appreciation class with a couple of undergraduate students on Contemporary Indian art. I wanted to see how they reacted to it, and was very sure that this particular age-group would gravitate towards brighter colours, and end up liking a Farhad Hussain or a Sumitro Basak. But I was shocked to see that I was wrong, she says, as she learned that the group unanimously liked the more subtle works by Subodh Gupta and Mithu Sen. However, they couldnt explain why a state of uncertainty that Sen revels in. The artist seems to seek comfort in the volatility of the future, no matter how prosaic or outlandish. She's almost shockingly at ease with the queasiness that shrouds humanity right now. "My father was telling me the other day that he's seen nothing of this sort before. Epidemics like small pox and cholera were mostly localised in his times, but this is just bizarre," she trails off. Her mind keeps going back to a project undertaken in 2014, in collaboration with American curators Alan Teller and Jerri Zbiral named 'Following the box'. Nearly two decades ago, the duo had unearthed a carton of intriguing photographs taken during World War II in India, at an estate auction in Chicago. On probing further, the images traced back to erstwhile Bengal, circa the Great Famine of 1943. "They were shocked to realise that the episode had been completely wiped out from people's memories and histories one that had brought about close to 2.5 million deaths in just the province of Bengal," she says. While the death toll for COVID-19 currently stands at a staggering 66,000 globally (and climbing by the second), Amritah can't help reeling back at the thought of the ghastly devastation that had befallen poor labourers under the British rule. "There's no immediate or obvious connect between the two events, but the Bengal Famine is the closest point in history in terms of the catastrophic impact it had had on its population that I can think of in the prevailing scenario," she says, before hanging up. At that moment, I find myself revisiting the final few minutes of our first meeting only days ago, when I watched the artist neatly stow away her paintings into different corners of the room. I caught myself puzzling over the contradiction in Sen's life, where she experiences a poignant role-reversal within the span of mere hours every day. While she encounters more questions than answers as a teacher by day, the tables tend to turn at night, when answers arent always necessary. I really dont know what I am going to be creating tomorrow, Amritah says, underlining her need to tap into this all-pervading uncertainty of her beliefs and circumstances, both of which might change overnight. It is highly probable that Syrian government forces and their allies are responsible for a string of deadly attacks on health facilities in northwestern Syria, according to a summary of an internal United Nations inquiry. The summary, a copy of which Al Jazeera has seen, said it was highly probable that the government of President Bashar al-Assad or its allies were behind three of seven attacks investigated by the board. The world governing body said it was plausible that the Syrian government or its allies carried out one attack while pointing to the existence of one case where it was highly probable that government forces acted alone. When they say its allies, which is what it mentioned in the report, we know that there is only one that the Syrian government with air power and that is Russia, said Al Jazeeras James Bays, reporting from the UN headquarters in New York. The inquiry also found it probable that a deadly attack on a Palestinian refugee camp in Syrias Aleppo was carried out either by armed opposition groups or by the Hayet Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) alliance, formerly known as al-Nusra Front. It said the belligerents were provided with the coordinates of the facilities. The summary, prepared by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the basis of a 185-page confidential internal report, was submitted to the UN Security Councils 15 members. The UN investigation focused on seven air raids, including one that was dropped from the reports conclusions because the UN had not relayed the coordinates of that site to the belligerents, Guterres said in a letter accompanying the summary. The impact of the hostilities on civilian and humanitarian sites in northwest Syria is a clear reminder of the importance for all parties to the conflict to observe and ensure respect for international humanitarian law, Guterres said. According to numerous reports, the parties have failed to do this. The UN chief attributed the small number of incidents examined to the absence of UN personnel on the ground, which made it difficult to determine what had happened. At the end of July 2019, 10 Security Council members issued a rare demarche a formal diplomatic petition demanding that Guterres open an investigation into air attacks on medical installations, infuriating Russia. The 10 were: Germany, France, Belgium, the UK, the United States, Indonesia, Kuwait, Peru, Poland and the Dominican Republic. The board of inquiry was established in September and began working September 30. Its report was supposed to have been submitted by the end of 2019, but was delayed until March 9. Western countries for months have demanded that a summary of the report be published, but that, too, was delayed until now. Though the report is inconclusive, it remains pretty damning for the Syrian government, said Bays. They reveal that they werent given visas, they werent given any help at all, it didnt respond to the inquiries that the board made during its several months of work. In his letter, Guterres stressed that the board of inquiry was not a criminal investigation and that its aim was to improve UN procedures and prevent attacks of this kind in the future. Fighting has calmed in the northwestern region after Turkey, which backs rebels opposed to al-Assad and ramped up its deployment earlier this year, agreed on a ceasefire with Russia a month ago. The fighting has displaced nearly 1 million people in Idlib since December. The best kind of financial help is the kind that you dont have to ask for. On Monday, Allstate and American Family Insurance said they would give their personal auto insurance customers a break, since most of them arent driving as much as they did a month or two ago. The savings dont amount to a lot. Allstate will give most customers 15 percent of their monthly premium back in April and May, via a credit to their bank account, credit card or Allstate account. American Family will send auto insurance customers $50 for each vehicle on their policies. But the nature of the action is exemplary and rare given the context of a pandemic. People are sick, and many more are struggling. Nobody wants to have to think to call their auto insurer, let alone wait out the call-center deluge afflicting most financial services companies. Auto insurance companies are in an advantageous position in the quest to eke out a public relations win in these grim times. If people drive less, they crash less. Fewer crashes mean fewer claims. And fewer claims means more premium money sitting around on an insurers books. (Regulators in all the states where Allstate and American Family do business generally have to approve their plans to return customers cash, but they expect to start sending their refunds soon.) Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip on tour in Australia in 2006. (Getty Images) The Queen has shared special messages with some Commonwealth nations as they battle the coronavirus pandemic. The monarch gave a rare address on Sunday evening, which was to the UK and to the Commonwealth, but she followed it up with additional messages to the Commonwealth nations. The Queen is particularly passionate about the 54 Commonwealth nations and keeps abreast of developments in all of them on a regular basis. Here are some of her messages to her Commonwealth. Canada The Queens message said: As the people of Canada experience profound and rapid changes to their lives, we are all concerned about the future. It may be difficult to remain hopeful when faced with loss and uncertainty, but Canadians have many reasons for optimism, even in the most trying times. OQueen Elizabeth II is greeted by members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police musical ride in Ottawa in 2002. (Getty Images) Across Canada, countless people continue to care for the most vulnerable and to provide essential services for their fellow citizens. I am thankful for their dedication and for the hope it offers. In the coming weeks and months, the people of Canada will need to continue to work together to ensure the health and vitality of our communities. I know that Canadians will remain optimistic and will rise to the challenges ahead. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Canada at this time. Read more: Queen's historic coronavirus speech prompts outpouring of praise for monarch Julie Payette, the governor general of Canada, responded by saying: One cannot choose when hardship comes, but one can choose how to respond to it in times of crisis. Canadians are grateful for the incredible dedication and care Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II continues to show to all. Like many around the world, we listened to her inspiring words as she addressed the nation about the coronavirus outbreak. Australia The Queens message said: At a time when people across the Commonwealth are experiencing a profound and rapid change to their lives, the pain of lost loved ones, and an understandable concern about the future, my thoughts are with all Australians. Story continues While it can be difficult to remain hopeful in such challenging times, especially following the summer's devastating bushfires and recent flooding, I am confident that the stoic and resilient nature of the Australian people will rise to the challenge. I extend my sincere admiration to the many Australians who work tirelessly to help those affected, provide essential services for their fellow citizens and continue to care for the most vulnerable. Read more: Queen's message: Four other times the Queen gave a special address Queen Elizabeth II tours the grounds of Admiralty House in 2006 in Sydney, Australia. (Getty Images) You will remain in my prayers in the coming months, with the resolute knowledge that with hard work, faith and unity, we will rise to the challenges ahead and ensure the health and vitality of all Australia's communities. The message was sent to the people of Australia via the governor-general David Hurley. The messages came after her televised address to the UK and the Commonwealth, which was broadcast across several networks on Sunday evening. Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world Fact-checker: The number of COVID-19 cases in your local area 6 charts and maps that explain how COVID-19 is spreading In it, she said: The moments when the United Kingdom has come together to applaud its care and essential workers will be remembered as an expression of our national spirit; and its symbol will be the rainbows drawn by children. Across the Commonwealth and around the world, we have seen heart-warming stories of people coming together to help others, be it through delivering food parcels and medicines, checking on neighbours, or converting businesses to help the relief effort. And though self-isolating may at times be hard, many people of all faiths, and of none, are discovering that it presents an opportunity to slow down, pause and reflect, in prayer or meditation. In Tamil Nadu three men died after they were unable to find alcohol due to the lockdown which ended up making them drink paint and varnish, this incident was reported in Chengalpattu district. Representative image- AFP Three men who died were identified as Shivasankar, Pradeep and Sivaraman were rushed to Chengalpattu government hospital on Sunday, after they were found vomiting around and in critical condition. All three of them were seen collapsing one after the other. No one of the three survived after consuming paint mixed with varnish. Preliminary investigation has revealed that the three men were in habit of drinking alcohol and were unable to procure it from anywhere amid lockdown. After trying hard, In Frustration they ended up mixing paint with Varnish and consumed the concoction. Representative Image - AFP The country was put on complete lockdown after the coronavirus outbreak on March 25 for a period of 21 days. All services apart from the essential ones like health and food all have been stopped to avoid the gathering of people. The Tamil Nadu government last week decided to shut down the state-operated TASMAC stores, this led to the stopping of all liquor sales in the state till April 14. Earlier there were reports about a rickshaw driver in Nagpur in Maharashtra who set himself on fire after being depressed over not getting liquor amid lockdown. While looking at the liquor crisis happening in the state, the Kerala government has offered to deliver alcohol at doorsteps for people who have withdrawal symptoms and can show the prescription of it. However, later the Kerala High Court put a stay on the government order. [April 06, 2020] Financing Update from Leonovus OTTAWA, April 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leonovus Inc. ("Leonovus or the Company") (TSXV: LTV) today provides a business update regarding its March 5, 2020 announcement that it had entered into a non-binding agreement to purchase PureColo Inc. Over the past month the Company has performed a significant amount of due diligence on the colocation market and PureColo. Leonovus has focused its financing efforts on several potential strategic investors as well as retail brokers. The COVID-19 crisis is limiting the availability of investors for discussion as well as slowing down the overall financing process. As of this date we do not have a proposal from an investor but will continue our due diligence and search for financing. We continue to reduce and monitor expenses. Trading in the shares of the Company will remain halted until such time as the required documentation regarding the Fundamental Acquisition, pursuant to Section 5.6(d) of TSXV Exchange Policy 5.3 is submitted by the Company to the TSXV for their review and such review is completed. About Leonovus Leonovus is a software provider that offers storage solutions that allow organizations to embrace cloud storage securely, simply and cost-effectively while giving them the flexibility to deal with the ever-evolving cloud storage landscape. Designed with the IT manager in mind, Leonovus Vault uses patented algorithms to analyze, classify, encrypt, shred and spread data across a network of on-premises, hybrid or multi-cloud storage nodes allowing for the most secure yet internally accesible form of object-based data storage across the entire solution. The advanced geo-distributed architecture minimizes latency, optimizes geo-availability, reduces remote backup costs and meets data sovereignty requirements. With its software and hardware agnostic design, Vault provides petabyte scalability. It allows the enterprise to use its existing idle storage resources, extend the useable lifespan of depreciated resources and improve the enterprise's overall ROI. Leonovus Smart Filer is an information lifecycle management (ILM) solution that analyzes existing file storage and extends its capacity automatically and transparently. According to customer-defined policies, infrequently accessed files are automatically removed from high-cost, high-performance primary storage, and placed in secondary or cloud storage, without any changes to how users and applications access them. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "goal," "seek," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "will" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding the anticipated closing of the acquisition of PureColo or concurrent financing, potential benefits to adding colocation business, potential growth for the market for colocation. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. There can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this news release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement publicly, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. For more information, please contact: George Pretli, Chief Financial Officer +1.613.319.3540 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] coonerty-extremes-cover.jpg The best and worst moments in public life center around the same reality that each of our communities is like a tree clinging to a cliff in a storm. Some days, the good days, we can inch our tree's roots deeper or provide shelter to a small animal or insect that would otherwise be swept away. We survive and make things a little better against difficult odds.The bad days are when the storms, driven by the forces of culture, global economics, conflict and unexpected disruptions such as pandemics, relentlessly strip our tree our community of its protective bark and leaves, no matter how hard we struggle to protect ourselves. We finish the day battered by forces too big and too harsh to fight.These days, even when not facing an emergency like the coronavirus outbreak, it feels as though the storms are getting stronger and more relentless, and that there are more bad days than good. It was against this backdrop that I read Richard Davies' remarkable new book, Extreme Economies: What Life at the World's Margins Can Teach Us About Our Own Future . This is a book about what happens when the tree is finally ripped from the cliffside and crashes into the turbulent sea. It's about how life ends or is renewed after the extreme a reality that we all are now facing with the coronavirus pandemic.Davies, an economist by training with the soul of a travel writer and the knowledge of a university professor, explores societies around the globe that operate in the extreme an Indonesian village destroyed by a tsunami, Syrian refugee camps, Louisiana's Angola prison, Kinshasa's kleptocracy and Estonia's all-in commitment to digital government, just to name a few.What can a first-world suburb learn from Angola's prison economy? A lot, Davies argues. In section one of the book, he demonstrates that economies, especially informal ones, are more resilient and creative than we realize. Prisoners, refugees and destroyed communities have developed markets, trading systems and currency despite having no access to most goods, services or money. It's vital that we, as policymakers, understand and respect the role of these informal economies as an essential component of a community's resilience.Section two of the book looks at extreme failures in Congo, Panama and Scotland. The stories are bleak and made more dispiriting by Davies' demonstration of how close these places were once to success. Rich with resources, economic opportunity and strategies to win in the global marketplace, they made big bets that were ill-advised or badly timed, and they have paid a high economic and psychological price for generations. The details of how Congo, supremely blessed by natural resources, let itself be ravaged economically by grifters, both homegrown and from around the world, is heartbreaking. Panama and Glasgow provide a lesson in caution for policymakers who mandate a single approach tree planting and antiquated shipbuilding, respectively instead of allowing room for people, companies and global economics to respond nimbly to opportunities and threats.In the final section, Davies explores how communities have attempted to navigate the three macro drivers of the future: aging societies, disruptive technology and rampant inequality. He looks at places in Chile, Estonia and Japan that have been impacted early by the trends that we are all destined to negotiate. The successes and failures in responding to these macro-trends for these communities (nor for the rest of us) are not clear. Luck and foresight played a role in the successes, such as Estonia's with e-government, but those aren't easily replicated. An ill-timed downturn, a bad leader, a natural disaster and all of these places could just as easily be in the section of failed communities.might be one of the most entertaining efforts to enliven the dismal science of economics. We are invited into places most of us will never see dangerous places where people, despite their suffering, find ways to adapt and survive. The places that do it best, Davies argues, are where social capital and smart policies give people freedom to make their own choices, while constraining the worst impulses of greed and exploitation.Davies risked his life and traveled more than 100,000 miles to write this book. We would all do well to find the people living in desperation, at risk or unusually well in our local communities and see what we can learn from our own extremes.GoverningGoverning As we approach what Irish health officials are calling a very crucial week in the Covid-19 crisis, we are reminded that its now more important than ever to wash our hands and adhere to government restrictions. One Cork company has gone that extra mile in helping us be more careful by inventing a tool that will allow us to open doors without having to come into contact with the handle, typically somewhere touched by serval people a day. A Canadian choir has released a coronavirus-themed version of the Queen song Bohemian Rhapsody. Seven members of the Phoenix Chamber Choir, based in Vancouver, adapted lyrics written by comedian Dana Jay Bein and recorded the song remotely. Lyrics include: "Is this a sore throat? Is this just allergies? Caught in a lockdown, no escape from reality." The accompanying video makes it seem as if the choir are singing together on a video call - but this would have been too difficult and lowered sound quality. To get around this, each choir member recorded their part separately and the resulting tracks were painstakingly edited together by other members over the course of a week. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau / REUTERS Choir administrator Emily Zuidema told the Standard that the project was initially just meant to be for fun, but when members saw the project had turned out so well, they decided to post it online. She added: "This was something outside our comfort zone, as this is not the kind of music that Phoenix usually performs, but because we had to cancel the rest of our season due to COVID, we won't get to see each other or perform together again until October. "The video gave us a way to connect with each other and our community, and also share an important message about staying home and doing your part to slow the spread of the virus Canada has encouraged social distancing and working from home in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus. Cousins Richard Joyce (L) and Ray Bodine (R) with their aunts Lauretta (2nd L) and Lenora Joyce, who both tested positive for COVID-19 in March. (Courtesy of Ray Bodine) Americans Sue Chinese Regime, Seeking Truth About the Virus John Vecchiarello was going to the hospital for appendicitis when he heard his son, 15, came down with a sudden fever. His ex-wife, who was supposed to drive him to the hospital, called to say she had to take their son to his pediatrician urgently. Then Vecchiarello got the news that his son was sick with COVID-19. Until then, aside from following the social distancing rules, Vecchiarello hadnt given special thought to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus that had become a pandemic. But this hit so close to home Vecchiarello was spurred into action. He started doing all the research he could; he wanted to know what was being done about the virus, and what he personally could do for his son. The more he read the more he realized this started in China and might have been contained if the authorities had reacted properly. He remembered reading news that the Berman Law Group was suing China over mishandling the virus, often called the novel coronavirus, in a class action lawsuit, and Vecchiarello thought about joining. I reached out, they answered all my questions, and I felt very confident thats what I wanted to do, said Vecchiarello, who lives in the New York area. When I started to find out more about China where the outbreak had started, I wanted to have them held accountable, he said. Vecchiarello was upset to discover just how early the virus had started, and that the CCP had silenced doctors instead of containing the outbreak. Theres not really much else I can do as a parent. Im pretty powerless, and Im not a doctor. I really want China to be held accountable for this. I want this to be something thats not going to happen again. If it was preventable, then I want the future problem to be prevented, he said. Vecchiarellos son is now recovering with fading symptoms, but hes changed Vecchiarellos perspective on the CCP virus. He said before his son came down with COVID-19, he would go out with a mask. Now he dons a full Tyvek suit. Vecchiarello says its obvious why the dense urban areas are getting hit harder, but he hopes people in smaller towns, even rural areas, take serious precautions as well. Fifty cases can become a thousand cases in only a short matter of time, he said. CCP Must be Held Accountable The Berman Law Group filed a class action suit on March 12, seeking damages from the CCP over the mishandling over the outbreak. Its a trans-continental effort wherein the Florida-based Berman Law Group is partnering with Washingtons Lucas Compton in the suit. Within two weeks, the group was fielding close to 10,000 inquiries across the country from those who wanted to participate, as well as lawyers and citizens from other countries who wanted to bring their own class action lawsuit against China. Theyve set up a website, DemandChinaPay.org. Because the CCP withheld information, it has broken the International Health Regulations agreement that requires it to notify the World Health Organization of public health emergencies of international concern in a timely manner. They decided to silence doctors who were going to talk about it, and as a result, in an effort to protect their own economic interests, and with their commercial and bioterrorism breaches, they have unleashed this on the world and must be held accountable, they must be made to pay, said Jeremy Alters, the chief strategist and non-attorney spokesperson of the lawsuit from Berman Law Group. The American people and the people around the world are suffering greatly. Our economy is devastated, economies around the world are devastated, and we are not in a position to just say You know what? Its China, theyre a world superpower, lets let them go. We are in a position to hold that superpower accountable for what theyve done. And we intend on doing that in any way we can through this lawsuit, Alters said. Were sitting here watching on TV whats happening in New York, he said. Where doctors and nurses are using garbage bagsgarbage bags!to try to protect themselves from this virus, because we dont have masks, and we dont have gowns, and we dont have face shields. But why dont we have them? He points to the fact that China nationalized corporations that manufacture such products weeks ago, and yet is not helping solve the problem it created. These are the types of questions that discovery during the lawsuit would help answer. George Sorial, a partner of Lucas Compton, says support from Congress and their staff has been building. He hopes this case becomes something that unifies the United States. Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Texas) is introducing a bill that would open China up to litigation in American courts. I have never seen suffering and strife at this level, in my life, he said. Look at what is going on right now, there is a level of anxiety and sufferingemotional suffering, economic sufferingthat is unparalleled simply because the government of China failed. A Life of Service Raymond Bodine, in Texas, lost his elderly aunt Lenora just recently after she tested positive for COVID-19. Lenora lived in a nursing home with her twin sister Lauretta, who has dementia, but is aware her sister is gone. The twins had moved into a nursing facility in Washington state late 2018. On March 5, 2020, the facility called Bodine to ask for permission to tests his aunts for COVID-19. Lenora had a fever and refused the test, and Lauretta has been asymptomatic but the test came back positive on March 10. Lenora stopped talking, and then in her last few days stopped eating. After she died on March 23, the countys medical examiner tested and confirmed she was COVID-19 positive. Bodine spoke to his Aunt Lauretta recently, who told him I feel fine, honey. Talking to her the evening that Lenora passed, she had fabulous clarity, said Bodine, who adds that his aunts are 87. Because even speaking to them a year ago, they were ready to go to the Lord whenever it was time, because they have their faith, theyre very strong in that. Bodine is most interested in the discovery the lawsuit would bringreams of documents and information if China does complythat can shed light on a crisis that is leaving many in the dark. His aunts were both formerly Catholic nuns and teachers and lived a life of service, and he wants to honor the memory of his aunt by helping play a part to bring truth to the world. China didnt disclose everything that they probably could have disclosed back in December, January, when they started fighting it, Bodine said. My heart moved me forward to get to the truth. I just hope for the truth. Janita Kan contributed to this report. The Tennessee Supreme Court on Monday upheld a local rule of court requiring bail bonding companies to have an agent present at court appearances of defendants for whom the bail bonding company serves as surety. The case arose in Van Buren County, Tn., part of the 31st Judicial District of Tennessee. Cumberland Bail Bonding (Cumberland) served as surety for two defendants who were scheduled to appear in the circuit court in the county. Cumberland was subject to 31st Judicial District Local Rule 26.05(B), which states: A bonding company shall notify the defendant/principal of each court appearance. An agent of the bonding company shall be present for the defendants court appearance. When Cumberlands two defendants failed to appear on Sept. 25, 2017, and Cumberland also failed to have an agent present at their court appearance, the circuit court concluded that Cumberland had violated Local Rule 26.05(B) and suspended Cumberland from writing any additional bonds pending a hearing. Cumberland filed a motion for reinstatement, but after a hearing, the circuit court denied the motion and ruled that Cumberland shall remain suspended in Van Buren County. Cumberland appealed. In the Court of Criminal Appeals, Cumberland conceded that it violated Local Rule 26.05(B) but asserted that the local rule is inconsistent with Tennessee statutes and is arbitrary and capricious. The Court of Criminal Appeals upheld the first part of Local Rule 26.05(B) requiring a bonding company to give notice to a defendant of an upcoming court appearance, describing it as sound, but the intermediate appellate court ruled that the part of the local rule requiring an agent of the bonding company to attend all court appearances is arbitrary, capricious, and illegal. The Tennessee Supreme Court granted the State permission to appeal, reversed the judgment of the Court of Criminal Appeals, and reinstated the trial courts judgment. The Supreme Court emphasized that trial courts have authority to adopt local rules addressing any topic so long as local rules do not conflict with statutes or Supreme Court rules. The Supreme Court determined that Local Rule 26.05(B) does not conflict because no statute or rule addresses whether an agent of a bonding company must attend court appearances. The Supreme Court also ruled that statutes enumerating grounds for suspending bonding companies are expressly supplemental to other law, including Tennessee decisions recognizing the inherent authority of trial courts to regulate bonding companies. Under these decisions, the Supreme Court pointed out, a local rule regulating bonding companies should be upheld unless it is arbitrary, capricious, or unreasonable. The Supreme Court concluded that Local Rule 26.05(B) is not arbitrary, capricious, or unreasonable and that the trial court did not err by suspending the bond company for violating it. To read the unanimous opinion of In re Cumberland Bail Bonding, authored by Justice Cornelia A. Clark, go to the opinions section of TNCourts.gov It was so amazing, Virgin said about the experience. She said she particularly liked the team-building exercises, the aviation challenge and touring the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. The aviation challenge was a mock challenge of flying airplanes. Campers sat in a replica of an airplane cockpit and first practiced what it would be like to fly a plane, Virgin said. Then they competed against each other by trying to take down another persons base or do the most tricks, such as a barrel roll with an airplane. Her mom, a Honeywell employee, suggested the camp because she knows Virgin is really interested in space and aeronautical engineering. But before she went, Virgin didnt know exactly what career path she wanted to take. Now she knows she wants to be an aeronautical engineer or a pilot, and is more confident about taking that path, Virgin said. In this Athens police blotter, a man threatens to beat up everybody in American Deli on West Broad Street after his order was "messed up" five times. A class action lawsuit has been filed against Canadas top indemnity insurers for breach of contract in their refusal to pay business interruption claims from the COVID-19 crisis. Indemnity insurers are wrongfully refusing to honor their contracts, said E.F. Anthony Merchant, a solicitor who works for Merchant Law, a Victoria, British Columbia-based law firm. Business owners intended their insurance to cover against this. Insurance companies should pay. Insurance companies are claiming force majeure and refusing to pay, said Merchant, noting, however, that the insurance recovery for BI claims will be trillions worldwide. (Force majeure is invoked when unexpected external events prevent a party to a contract from meeting its obligations and therefore protect it against liability for nonperformance). Merchant cited the example of the Canadian restaurant industry, which has sales of C$60 billion each year. Estimating that the industry could be shut down for two months, or one-sixth of the year, he said, insurers could be liable for BI claims reaching $10 billion, just for that one industry. The COVID-19 crisis was a foreseeable event and its not force majeure, said Merchant in a statement, citing the examples of SARS, MERS and Avian flu, which all caused business interruptions. The business interruption may be worse than the insurance industry expected, but it is not an excuse justifying a refusal to pay. Business is interrupted! Pay! Named defendants in the suit are: Aviva Canada, Co-Operators General Insurance Co., Desjardins Financial Security Life Assurance Co., Economical Insurance, Intact Financial Corp., Lloyds Canada, Lloyds Underwriters, Northbridge General Insurance Corp., Royal & Sun Alliance, TD General Insurance Co., Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Co., Wynward Holdings and Wynward Insurance Group. In an interview, Merchant said, the top 10-plus insurers were selected. When you go to war, you want to pick a manageable number of enemies. The class action suit describes business interruption insurance as permitting a business owner to collect from the insurer income that the business would have generated were it not for the unexpected event. The claim said relevant business interruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic include: Loss of revenue caused by a decrease or elimination of customers after social distancing advisories Loss of revenue caused by federal, provincial and municipal orders that restrict operation or entirely close businesses Loss of revenue caused by the costs of addressing physical damage to business premises due to the presence, release, discharge or contamination of COVID-19 at the business premises Merchant explained that many business interruption policies use language that excludes airborne viruses. However, the COVID-19 virus can be transferred via handrails and keyboards, for example, so the virus should be part of BI property damage coverage. This is really the key to the claims, he emphasized. They are property restricted claims. In addition, he said, many BI policies he has examined dont actually exclude pandemic viruses and therefore should pay the claims as policyholders expect, rather than trying to escape the claims by declaring force majeure. Insurers are beginning to express concern that the industry could be destabilized if forced to pay losses from the COVID-19 crisis, which were meant to be excluded and, as a result, were not priced into the premiums charged. Merchant said the insurance industry will be able to borrow and make up the losses with higher premiums. Governments and courts are less than sympathetic to the complaints of a multi-billion dollar industry, such as insurance, which is meant to provide a social backstop, said Merchant. The class action was filed in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Saskatchewan, with filing numbers of 500-06001056-205 in Quebec and QBG797 of 2020 in Saskatchewan. Merchant expects a lot of litigation in the U.S., Europe and Australia as policyholders seek massive, legitimate insurance claims. Lots of companies in the United States will launch proceedings within the next year and others will follow along in their wake. Photograph: A runner makes his way through the empty streets of Old Montreal, as residents shelter in place due to the coronavirus Wednesday, April 1, 2020. Photo credit: Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP. Related: Topics Lawsuits Carriers COVID-19 Claims Profit Loss Canada VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SouthGobi Resources Ltd. (TSX: SGQ, HK: 1878) (SouthGobi or the Company) announces that Mr. Shougao Wang (Mr. Wang) has tendered his resignation as the Companys Chief Executive Director (CEO), executive director, and the chairperson of the Health, Environment, Safety and Social Responsibility Committee, and ceased to be an authorised representative of the Company pursuant to Rule 3.05 of the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (the Authorised Representative) with effect from March 31, 2020; and Mr. Dalanguerban (Mr. Dalanguerban) has been appointed as the Companys CEO, executive director, Authorised Representative, and Chairperson of the Health, Environment, Safety and Social Responsibility Committee with effect from March 31, 2020. Mr. Wang has resigned as the CEO, executive director and Authorised Representative of the Company due to career advancement. Mr. Wang has confirmed that he has no disagreement with the Board of Directors of SouthGobi (the Board) and that there are no matters relating to his resignation that need to be brought to the attention of the shareholders of the Company and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The Board expressed its great gratitude to Mr. Wang for his leadership and commitment to the Company since his appointment in 2018. Mr. Dalanguerban, age 62, is a seasoned mining professional, having accumulated over 35 years of international mining and operational experience including a number of mining projects in Mongolia. Mr. Dalanguerban joined China Nonferrous Metal Industry's Foreign Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd (NFC) in 1985 and served in a variety of roles in various countries until his departure in 2017 when he was the Chief Representative of NFC in Mongolia. During this time in Mongolia, Mr. Dalanguerban accomplished numerous achievements including the development and commissioning of the Tumultin Ovoo zinc mine, which is recognized as an Exemplary Project of China-Mongolia Cooperation and for which he was awarded the Mining Contribution prize by the Mongolias Ministry of Mines. Mr. Dalanguerban had served as a director, executive deputy general manager, and general manager successively in Tsairt Minerals LLC (the holding company of the Tumurtiin-Ovoo zinc mine) from its establishment in 1997 until 2005, when the Tumultin Ovoo zinc mine was put into production. Mr. Dalanguerban cofounded the Mongolian Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Mongolia in 2002 and now serves as its Executive Vice President and Secretary-General. Mr. Dalanguerban studied Arabic at the Shanghai International Studies University and graduated in 1980. The appointment of Mr. Dalanguerban as the CEO and executive director of the Company has been approved by the Board upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, which is comprised of all independent non-executive directors. Consistent with the Companys executive compensation program, Mr. Dalanguerbans remuneration will be determined by the Board based on the recommendation of the Compensation and Benefits Committee of the Board, which is comprised of independent non-executive directors of the Company. Mr. Mao Sun, the Lead Director of the Board, said, We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Dalanguerban as CEO to lead the Companys senior management team. Mr. Dalanguerbans appointment has the support of China Investment Corporation and China Cinda Asset Management Co., Ltd., the two largest shareholders of the Company. Mr. Dalanguerban brings extensive mining industry experience to the Company and we look forward to his leadership in guiding and shaping the future of the Company. About SouthGobi SouthGobi, listed on the Toronto and Hong Kong stock exchanges, owns and operates its flagship Ovoot Tolgoi coal mine in Mongolia. SouthGobi produces and sells coal to customers in China. WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump said he would absolutely impose tariffs on oil imports if Russia and Saudi Arabia cannot reach an agreement to cut crude oil production. If they dont get along, I would do that. Very substantial tariffs. I would absolutely do that, Trump said on April 5 during a press conference, adding that he wanted to protect the U.S. oil industry, the worlds largest by production. Tariffs would hurt Saudi Arabia and Russia, who are among the largest exporters of oil to the United States. Global oil demand has fallen by about 20 million barrels a day, or one-fifth, due to the coronavirus pandemic, sending oil prices to their lowest in nearly 20 years. The sharp price decline threatens to bankrupt higher-cost U.S. oil producers and wipe away thousands of American jobs tied to the industry, officials and analysts have said. Trump has been seeking to broker a production cut agreement between Saudi Arabia and Russia, the second- and third-largest oil producers, following their fallout last month. Riyadh announced on March 7 that it would ramp up oil production by about a fifth to slightly more than 12 million barrels a day after Moscow rejected its offer to have OPEC+ cut output by 1.5 million barrels a day. OPEC+, an alliance of 23 oil production nations, is led by Saudi Arabia and Moscow. The price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia added to pressure on the oil market caused by the unprecedented destruction in global demand resulting from nations around the world imposing quarantines. Trump tweeted on April 2 following calls with the leaders of Russia and Saudi Arabia that the two nations would cut production by at least 10 million barrels a day. Trump was likely referring to cuts by OPEC+, not just the two nations, analysts have said. Shortly after Trump's tweet, Saudi Arabia called for an extraordinary meeting of OPEC+ members for April 6. However, after Riyadh and Moscow exchanged barbs over who caused the price war, the meeting was pushed back to April 9. Russia has said it is willing to cut 1 million barrels a day as part of a global production-cut agreement that includes the United States. Unlike Russia and Saudi Arabia, whose oil industries are largely state-owned, the U.S. industry is comprised of private companies and Washington has little power over output. However, the glut is threatening infrastructure as storage capacity in the United States quickly fills up. Texas, which accounts for 40 percent of U.S. production, will hold a hearing about possible output cuts on April 14 to deal with the crisis in the state. With reporting by Bloomberg News Eighteen months ago, Constable Peter McAulay was clinging to life in the gutter of a road in Ipswich, south-west of Brisbane, after being hit by a stolen car. The officer was carried on the bonnet, before falling and slamming his head on the kerb. He suffered fractures to his spine, jaw, eye socket, right arm and leg. An artery in his left arm was also severed. Constable Peter McAulay upon his return to work on Monday. Credit:Queensland Police Service After 10 operations and months of rehabilitation, the young Queensland police officer returned to work at Goodna Police Station on Monday, with his colleagues declaring: "We got our mate back". The driver, who was 16 at the time, had his sentence increased to five years in detention for grievous bodily harm last month, after an appeal by Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath. In view of the rising number of coronavirus cases among health professionals, the Indian Medical Association's (IMA) Maharashtra Chapter has expressed concerned over the reported scarcity of PPE kits for medical staff attending to COVID-19 patients. "The IMA has issued an appeal to the government to make available PPE kits for private hospitals, nursing homes and government hospitals so that medical staff don't get infected by the virus themselves, and they can treat the patients in a more efficient way," said Dr Parthiv Sanghvi, former general secretary, IMA's Maharashtra Chapter, on Monday. Talking about availability of PPE kits in Mumbai, Dr Gautam Bhansali of the Bombay Hospital told ANI: "Actually we were not prepared of this disease. So, we didn't have enough PPE kits here. We used to import this kit from China and South Korea but as the virus spread, we started manufacturing here in the state too." With an increase of 704 cases in the last 24 hours, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India climbed to 4281, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday. As many as 111 deaths have been reported across the country due to the deadly illness. There are 3851 active cases in the country while 318 people have been cured/discharged/migrated. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Evan Funke in "Shape of Pasta." (Quibi) In southern Italy, in the town of Civita, in the province of Cosenza, Nonna Cristina uses two fingers to drag a little inch-long tube of dough across a mandoline-size instrument. It looks like a tiny ladder made of reeds, but with no space between the rungs, and creates striations on the exterior of the dough as it curls into little kayaks. Cristina, clad in a white apron, white shirt and white hat holding back most of her white hair, can create two in less than a second, pulling the dough and then flicking the pasta aside again and again. It belonged to my grandmother, and her grandmother," she says of the instrument, called a pettine. "Who knows how old it is. 150, 200 years? Pettines are not for sale at Sur La Table or Williams-Sonoma. But without it, and without people like Cristina, the traditional process of hand-making this type of pasta, strangulet, risks being lost. Cristina learned when she was 5 or 6, and now there is no one to teach. After hundreds of years, it has come to an end. More correctly, it has come to a bald Hagrid of a man, chef Evan Funke. He is in Italy with Nonna Cristina to listen and learn, and to make Shape of Pasta, an unscripted Quibi show that focuses each episode, you probably will not be surprised to learn, on a shape of pasta. Funke seeks out these last masters of dying shapes to learn from them and replicate what theyre doing in his own kitchen so he can preserve the shape for generations to come, according to executive producer and co-director Tim Duffy. The younger generation are not interested in learning how to make handmade pasta. So these shapes unless someone catalogs and learns them, these shapes are going to die with the last masters. Funke first journeyed to Italy to learn from a master more than 10 years ago. He did not have a camera crew with him nor did he want one when he first met Tim Duffy and Mike Duffy of Ugly Brother Studios. I dont want to do TV, he told them. But Funke says that he signed on to continue his lifes work: to document some stories that could quite possibly especially right now become extinct. Story continues Funke is described on the website of his Venice restaurant Felix Trattoria as a culinary storyteller, a custodian of Italian tradition and a master of the old world techniques of handmade pasta. This may seem like colorful flair until you see him in action on Shape of Pasta, listening and translating for the cameras. When it is his turn to try, the flour he waves across the board and dough in front of him dances in the air. Bravo, bravo, bravo," Nonna Cristina says. Funke is slower, more deliberate, but is indeed producing those little lined kayaks, ready to cradle olive oil mixed with tomatoes. While there is teaching and learning on Shape of Pasta, it is not an instructional show. It does not provide a list of ingredients or a website to print a recipe card. What it does, in under 10 minutes, is attempt, as executive producer Mike Duffy says, to be a celebration of craft, making something by hand, the old-fashioned way. Theres no artificial intelligence here, no machines. Theyre just made by real people. Funke is concerned with the speed at which these traditions are being eclipsed, and for him, whats important is the passage of knowledge of these traditions. I dont see it as appropriating and making it my own. I dont make it my own. I try to honor, as reverently as possible, the traditions, the techniques and the story. And if hes accused of acting improperly, all the better: If there were people to pass it on to, I wouldn't have a job to do, he says. Honestly, I would love to piss the Italians off so much that they actually say, Why is this American guy doing what we should be doing? They should be paying attention to what is literally going extinct in front of their eyes. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 08:03:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest developments on the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in China: -- China has actively joined hands with the rest of the world to stem COVID-19, with the exports of medical supplies registering 10.2 billion yuan (about 1.43 billion U.S. dollars) as of Saturday from March 1. The items of medical supplies include 3.86 billion face masks, 37.52 million protective suits, 2.41 million infrared thermometers, as well as ventilators, testing kits and goggles. -- Medical treatment on patients infected with the coronavirus has produced notable results, with severe domestic cases falling below 300 on Saturday, a Chinese health official said. -- Nearly 13.4 million people in China used online platforms to mourn the deceased on Saturday, the Tomb-sweeping Day. People set up commemorative space and wrote messages online instead of visiting tombs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. -- China's auto sector has steadily advanced production resumption weighed down by the outbreak. Among the surveyed 8,721 4S shops nationwide, 98.8 percent of them have resumed operations as of 4:00 p.m. Friday, the China Automobile Dealers Association said. -- China's Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, went live online Sunday after being closed for over 70 days amid the pandemic. Through popular apps including People's Daily, Douyin and Tencent News, museum staff took viewers on a tour of the ancient imperial mansions, cultural relics and the springtime flora and fauna in the compound. -- Epidemic prevention and control in Beijing will probably become a long-term normal. The capital, a center for international exchanges, still bears the brunt of the risks as the worldwide spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating, said Xu Hejian, spokesperson for the municipal government and director of its information office, noting that there is no chance to call off the city's prevention and control work in a short time. -- Around 5.57 million people in central China's Hubei Province, hit hard by the novel coronavirus outbreak, had returned to work by Friday. Among them, a total of 3.46 million people had been back to their workplaces outside Hubei, with Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces as the top three destinations. -- Chinese health authority received reports of 30 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Saturday, of which 25 were imported. -- Also on Saturday, three deaths, all in Hubei Province, and 11 new suspected cases, all imported ones, were reported on the mainland. -- A total of 213 patients of COVID-19 were discharged from hospitals Saturday on the Chinese mainland. Altogether 76,964 patients had been discharged from hospitals after recovery by the end of Saturday. -- As of Saturday, a total of 81,669 confirmed cases of COVID-19 had been reported on the mainland, and 3,329 people had died of the disease. -- As of Saturday, the mainland had reported a total of 913 imported cases. Of the cases, 216 had been discharged from hospitals after recovery, and 697 were being treated with 18 in severe condition. -- A total of 47 new asymptomatic COVID-19 cases were reported on the mainland on Saturday, including 16 imported ones. Three asymptomatic cases, all of which were imported ones, were re-categorized as confirmed infections, and 50 were discharged from medical observation including eight imported cases. -- By Saturday, 862 confirmed cases including four deaths had been reported in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), 44 confirmed cases in the Macao SAR, and 355 in Taiwan including five deaths. A total of 186 patients in Hong Kong, 10 in Macao and 50 in Taiwan had been discharged from hospitals after recovery. -- No new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported Saturday in Hubei Province. -- One more district in Wuhan has been classified as a low-risk area of the virus outbreak. This brought the number of low-risk districts in Wuhan to nine, out of its total 13 districts, as of Friday. Four other districts are classified as medium-risk areas. Rajesh Kumar Thakur By Express News Service PATNA: The nationwide lockdown to contain Covid 19 outbreak has given a boost the number of online classes in Bihar. A majority of educational institutions included colleges and private schools in Patna and other parts of state have opted for online classes, for the first time. As per a senior official of education department, approximately 10,000 educational institutions of both governemnt colleges and private colleges, are conducting online classes from March 24-the day lockdown was imposed for 21 days. A professor of Darbhanga based college Prem Mohan Mishra started the online classes through his facebook livestreaming to the students of his chemistry department. Mishra's initiative got a wide publicity in national and regional media and encouraged others of teaching fraternity to follow. On Saturday, Patna divisional commissioner Sanjay Kumar Aggarwal also came out officially and asked the private schools for opting this kind of practice of taking online classes. "As a result of this, dozens private schools in Patna within 22 hours of appeal have started the virtual classes for 3 to 5 hours with its students",said Chandan Kumar,a teacher of private school. The Bihar education project council (BEPC) launched a mobile app named as "Unnayan-Mera Mobile Mera Vidyalaya" for classes to the students of VI to XII in the government run schools. Ratna Singh, a renowned woman educanist cum senior teacher of Patna's premier Carmel School ,said that online classes are helping a lot to the students during the Covid 19 lockdown both covering the curriculum as well as helping them to recovering from a kind of fear psychosis gripped due to Covid 19 outbreak. Singh, wife of a senior IPS officer Dr KK Singh, has also launched her own YouTube channel called- 'Study With Ratna' (SWR). She is taking online classes and have encounraged many others for opting it. Recently honoured as the most dedicated teacher by students for last three years by the students of her school because of being always guiding through such digital platform,she said that time slots have been fixed for it in which tutoring as well as material sharing are completed. Dr Ravi K Sinha ,head of department of PG department of English in RN College at Hajipur, said that online classes are being conducted by him and other teachers to the senior students of English literature almost everyday to complete the syllabus before the examination. Besides them, classes are also being taken for the students of govt run schools through radio broadcasting now. The Bihar Education Project Council has booked a slot on AIR as well the Doordarshan to such classes. Shivam Thakur, a student of engineering ,said that online classes are helping a lot for completing the course remaining at home under the lockdown period. The better power position and availablity of fast 4G internet networks even in the remotes parts of state have proved conducive to taking online classes. Linda and Charlotte Mulhall became known as the Scissor Sisters after the killing of Farah Noor A top forensic scientist has detailed how she discovered the blood DNA evidence which helped to solve the infamous Scissor Sisters murder. A new RTE Scannal documentary is set to cast the spotlight on one of the most gruesome cases in Irish criminal history. In 2006, Dublin mother-of-four Linda Mulhall received a 15-year sentence for manslaughter, while her sister Charlotte was given a life sentence for the murder of 39-year-old Kenyan immigrant Farah Swaleh Noor. The case caused deep revulsion when it was revealed his body had been dismembered in the aftermath of the killing at their mother's home in Richmond Cottages off Dublin's North Strand. Mannequin Dr Martina McBride, from Forensic Science Ireland, recalled being called out to Dublin's Royal Canal by gardai in March 2005 after a passer-by spotted Noor's dismembered leg floating in the water. Expand Close Farah Swaleh Noor / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Farah Swaleh Noor "At first, I saw a hand and foot in the water. There was a sock on the foot. Gardai said a lot people had seen the body parts," she told RTE's Scannal. "They thought it was a mannequin. "Once it had been confirmed it was Farah Noor, the gardai were able to go to his home. He was living with Kathleen Mulhall." The forensic scientist described how she found his blood all over their home. Expand Close Kathleen Mulhall had been dating Noor for three years / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Kathleen Mulhall had been dating Noor for three years "I forensically examined the bedroom with the gardai and after only a short while we noticed blood drops all over the room," she said. "There are traces of blood on the wall and on the carpet and on the furniture. "At the end of the examination we use luminol. Luminol reacts with blood, it works very well on old blood or blood that has been cleaned up. "It casts a fluorescent whenever blood is present. When we carried out a DNA profile on the blood in the bedroom we were able to confirm it was Farah Swaleh Noor's DNA." The documentary details how Kathleen Mulhall, who was 52 at the time, was in a relationship with her much younger boyfriend for three years after meeting him in a nightclub in Tallaght in 2001. It was described as a relationship fraught with violence, leading to her being hospitalised on numerous occasions due to beatings she had received at Noor's hands. Her previous relationship, her 29-year-old marriage to husband John Mulhall, was also described as abusive. The documentary detailed how Linda Mulhall told gardai that they had killed Noor because he made sexual advances toward her. Forensic psychologist Dr Ciara Stanton told the RTE documentary that the dismemberment of his body was telling. "The decapitation and the removal of the penis signify something very symbolic, something which could be deeply subconscious," said the UCC lecturer on the psychology of criminal behaviour. "The removal of the head is almost like the removal of the torment, the constant verbal abuse." Scannal will be shown on RTE One tomorrow at 8pm Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday said the state required more protective equipment for the "warriors" engaged in the fight against COVID-19. Emerging from a high-level meeting conducted by Governor Droupadi Murmu on coronavirus situation at the Raj Bhavan, Soren said there was a need for more medical equipment to effectively deal with any situation. Besides the chief minister, Chief Secretary Sukhdev Singh, DGP M V Rao, Principal Secretary (Health) Nitin Madan Kulkarni and other senior officials attended the meeting. "I apprised the Governor of the situation prevailing in the state. Despite being poor and backward, the state is firmly prepared against the pandemic," Soren told reporters here. "The only shortfall is in the medical equipment. Our warriors like health workers and the police are struggling against the infection. We need to provide them more security. "But we got less assistance. I urged her to call upon the centre for more support," Soren said. The Governor, he added, assured that she would request the centre to provide more medical equipment. With a woman testing positive to COVID-19 in Ranchi, the count of coronavirus confirmed cases has risen to four in Jharkhand. The 54-year-old woman was from the same Hindpiri area of Ranchi city from where a 22-year-old Malaysian woman was tested positive on March 31, officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NEW HAVEN Hope towered over York Street Monday. An American flag, hanging from a 38-ton crane, blew in the wind outside Yale New Haven Hospital in the early afternoon. Kyle DeLucia, founder and CEO of K&J Tree Service in Hamden and Norwalk, said he was inspired to carry out the gesture as he has been thinking of his younger sister working in the intensive care unit at the hospital during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Theyre working so hard and exposing themselves, he said. We thought, What can we do, not just for nurses and doctors, but also for sanitation and management? With his 8-year-old niece, DeLucia said he also spent the weekend painting and stenciling a 12-foot piece of plywood bearing the message, Thank You, with a red cross, which sat in the rack of his truck. The New Haven Police Department closed off part of the road with four squad cars. They gave us their full support, he said. DeLucia said he was relieved to see how well-received the flag and sign were. Everybody came out to the windows. I think every single window was filled with nurses waving and about 30 came outside. Fire engines were going by blowing their horns, he said. It was very rewarding. But Tom Saxa, patient service manager of the adult department of emergency medicine at, Yale New Haven, said The overwhelming feeling of thanks is really ours. The generosity by the entire New Haven community and throughout our state has been incredibly humbling, Saxa said in an email. From the meals, the offers of free supplies, encouraging words of support, the way people have rallied so we can take care of these patients has been nothing short of remarkable. And then to come out here and see this sign, to have others thanking us is just amazing. The entire staff was very moved to see this today. Two simple words thank-you I can assure you, goes a very long way, Saxa said. DeLucia said he has implemented social distancing standards at his company, staggering arrival times of his 72 employees and transitioning sales functions to phone and email when possible. Fortunately, were mostly outside, he said. As long as our employees stay distant from one another, we dont have to interact very often with the community. brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com Canada's top doctor says non-medical masks can help stop the spread of COVID-19 Canada's chief public health officer now says that wearing a non-medical mask can help stop the spread of COVID-19. Dr. Theresa Tam, the top doctor at the Public Health Agency of Canada, said today that Canadians can use non-medical masks in tandem with social distancing measures to limit the transmission of the deadly virus when out grocery shopping or at a pharmacy. The recommendation represents an about-face for the public health officer who until now has resisted the idea of non-health care professionals wearing masks. "Wearing a non-medical mask is an additional measure that you can take to protect others around you," Tam said while warning that a non-medical mask doesn't necessarily protect the person wearing it. "A non-medical mask can reduce the chance of your respiratory droplets coming into contact with others or landing on surfaces," Tam said. "The science is not certain but we we need to do everything that we can and it seems a sensible thing to do." Watch: Dr. Theresa Tam discusses non-medical mask use Tam has long maintained that masks should be reserved for the sick among us, and for doctors and nurses working in hospitals, in order to preserve diminishing stockpiles of personal protective equipment. 'Emerging information' Beyond supply concerns, Tam also has questioned the usefulness of masks for the general population in the past. "It can sometimes make it worse, if the person puts their finger in their eye or touches their face under their mask," Tam said in January during a teleconference with reporters. She has also said wearing a mask could give people a "false sense of security" that could encourage wearers to relax physical distancing. On March 28, Tam said "most people haven't learned how to use masks" and "there is no need to use a mask for well people." Speaking to reporters on March 30, Tam said that "putting a mask on an asymptomatic person is not beneficial." Story continues She reiterated her concerns about the "potential negative aspects of wearing masks" namely that they don't protect the wearer's eyes and could encourage people to touch their faces more as they fidget with the mask. On Monday, however, Tam said wearing a mask is an added layer of protection that can help prevent pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic people from inadvertently infecting others with COVID-19. She said the policy change comes in response to "emerging information" from the science and medical community. Watch: What you need to know about wearing a mask Tam said new research on patients aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship as many as 712 people who were aboard the vessel contracted the virus and a recently published report out of Singapore were behind the policy change. "We are very rapidly trying to integrate that later science," she said of the new studies that suggest people who have yet to develop symptoms can still have high viral loads that can be transmitted. She said Canadians shouldn't wear medical-grade masks like the N95, as those supplies have to be reserved for medical professionals. She said Canadians could use t-shirts or cotton sheets and elastic bands to create makeshift masks at home. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) announced a similar policy shift over the weekend, saying that "new evidence" had led it to recommend that people wear cloth face coverings in public areas. Watch: Dr Tam on making non-medical masks and who should wear them: "We now know from recent studies that a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms ("asymptomatic") and that even those who eventually develop symptoms ("pre-symptomatic") can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms," the agency said in a statement on its website. "This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms." The CDC is recommending masks in settings where "other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain," such as grocery stores and pharmacies. Both the Canada and U.S. health agencies have recommended people avoid crowded places and keep a distance of at least two arms' lengths approximately two metres from others as much as possible. WATCH | Can cloth masks protect you from COVID-19? Two doctors weigh in: The Public Health Agency of Canada warned in a note on its website Monday that wearing a mask alone will not stop COVID-19. "It is important to understand that non-medical masks have limitations and need to be used safely. You must consistently and strictly adhere to good hygiene and public health measures, including frequent hand washing and physical (social) distancing," the agency said. If you choose to use a non-medical face mask, the agency recommends you wash your hands before putting it on and after taking it off. Face masks can become contaminated on the outside or when they're touched by hands. The agency recommends that people avoid touching their face masks while wearing them and change their cloth masks as soon as they get damp or soiled. Maynooth University in partnership with the Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) and several other education representative bodies has undertaken extensive research of over 2,800 primary school leaders to assess their response to the closure of primary schools due to COVID-19. The objective of the research, which was issued w/c 23rd March, was twofold. Firstly, it aimed to identify good practices that can be shared and replicated around the country, in order to help schools that found it particularly challenging to adapt to the change prompted by school closures. Secondly, it aimed to establish what scaffolding is required for schools to continue to work effectively during the temporary school closure. A selection of noteworthy findings included: - The majority of schools interact with their students at least once a week over 70%. - For 80% of schools, the reason for putting distance learning provisions in place was to support pupils, but in 40% of Special schools many leaders did it mainly to support parents. - 64% of leaders reported that the areas of the curriculum that are easier to adapt for distance learning are English, Social, Environmental and Scientific Education (SESE), Physical Education and Mathematics. - 80% of school leaders reported that Irish is the most difficult subject to adapt for distance learning. Overall, the research yielded the following observations: It was impressive how much schools have adapted in such as short space of time, with 80% of school making arrangements to interact with students on a regular basis. There is a digital divide that prevents some schools from fully engaging with their pupils with educators and parents using their personal resources to try and make contact through text, phonecalls and by posting out materials to pupils without internet access. Many of the primary school leader respondents were seeking official guidance and clarity on several issues, however it was noted that many of their concerns have been since addressed by the Department of Education e.g. concerns regarding school meals. The Covid-19 crisis has the potential to compound the inequalities that already exist in the Education system. The research highlighted the vital role played by supports available within the education system, such as IPPN, PDST, NCSE and many more showing the collaborative spirit of people in the face of crisis. Many teachers and pupils have embraced distance learning and all are on a steep learning curve that may, going forward, change the way we educate primary school pupils in the future. The research has highlighted the many resources that are already available to pupils out there, as well some areas where more work needs to be done, such as the provision of official guidance on what online resources are available to teachers for example. Special Education Needs (SEN), English as an Additional Language (EAL) and students who attend ASD units appear to have least resources available for them. Dr Jolanta Burke, CPsychol Assistant Professor at the Maynooth University, Department of Education stated; We are living in unprecedented times that call for unprecedented actions. The research was commissioned a week after the temporary school closures, with none of the stakeholders knowing how long this situation may last. Yet, while people in Ireland were still in the process of coming to terms with all changes, IPPN, PDST, INTO and primary management bodies acted promptly and commissioned Maynooth University, to assess the situation, so that they can make evidence-informed decisions about what structures they can put in place to best support school communities in this crisis. Now they are working hard in the background acting on the findings from what primary school leaders shared with them in the research and supporting school communities the best they can. This research gives a voice to the many dedicated primary school leaders. Through the stories they have shared with us and the questions they have answered, we were astounded with how swiftly many of them have adapted to the changing learning environment and how committed our educators are to providing our children with the best education under extremely challenging circumstances. Dr Majella Dempsey, Assistant Professor and EdD Strand Leader for Curriculum Studies at Maynooth University commented; We hope this report will help individuals, schools and policymakers to develop plans for dealing with school closure and it would be great to follow up and hear from teachers, parents/guardians and pupils on their experiences at this time. Pairic Clerkin, IPPN CEO stated; This report by Maynooth University, jointly commissioned by IPPN, INTO, primary education management bodies and PDST, collates and analyses the responses from over 2,800 primary school leaders to a survey researching how schools have managed since they were abruptly closed on Thursday 12th March. The report describes the incredible work primary schools have done to put systems, processes and communications in place in a matter of days in schools of all types and sizes across the country. There is strong evidence in the research of distributed leadership, collaboration, collegiality, innovation and creativity. There is also significant concern about pupils with special educational needs and those in disadvantaged areas and ensuring they have the support they need. This report will help the stakeholders to refine the supports available to schools, and to clarify what is expected of schools at this very challenging time. We sincerely thank Dr Jolanta Burke and Dr Majella Dempsey for their work on this research and for pulling it together so quickly. In recent weeks, there has been a massive deployment of 20,000 army soldiers to the southern Italian regions of Campania, Puglia and Sicily to guard commercial centres and streets, as the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown enters its second full month and citizens run out of money to buy food and other basic necessities. After an incident in Palermo, Sicily, where a group of residents ran out of a grocer shouting that they could not pay, the media and the state sought to paint a picture of disorderly citizens looting stores and threatening the public good. Media headlines blared that without military intervention, the Mafia would take control. But there is no evidence the Mafia is taking over. The Mafia, just like the state, has left southern Italians in distress. Workers blame state corruption and political apathy for their plight. There are no riots, a grocer near Bari told the WSWS. She continued, Clients at my store are orderly and everyone wears masks and gloves when they come to the store. There have been robberies of closed restaurants, people stealing anything they can sell to get money. Many people work in the black [economy], and they cant find normal, regular work. Coffins with the bodies of victims of coronavirus are stored waiting for burial or cremation at the Collserola morgue in Barcelona, Spain (Image Credit: AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Rather than providing financial support and provisions for food, however, Italys regional councils are calling for increased military and police presence. The Council of Sicily recently invoked Article 31 of the Sicilian Statute that provides the region with the power to take over the direction of the public security services (including military and police) to deal effectively and promptly with any state emergency situations that affect public order, health, and safety in the territory of the Sicilian Region or any part of it. Article 31, which has never been applied until now, puts the police and army at the regional presidents disposal for use in suppressing any form of protest or class struggle that emerges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. In describing the developments in Sicily, Giornale di Sicilia writer Giacinto Pipitone said, [Sicilian President Nello] Musumeci has, for weeks, been moving as if we were at war. The constant drumbeat of criminal accusations of the Italian population is overbearing and reactionary. Both the media and the ruling class are seeking to divert public attention away from the governments inability to deal with the pandemic, in order to shift the blame for the states unpreparedness from top officials to the people who are living in quarantine and no longer have the financial means to buy food and other necessities. The same grocery worker told the WSWS that 10 to 20 percent of her customers are receiving government support to buy their groceries, and that many small business owners now find themselves without any income because of the pandemic. One of her friends owns a travel agency, and all of her bookings are cancelled this year, leaving her with no income virtually overnight. She passes through police and army checkpoints, however, carrying with her a self-declaration that she is going to work. The diversion aims at concealing the criminal responsibilities of the ruling class, from a delayed response to a completely inadequate plan for fighting the virus. At the same time, after mass wildcat strikes broke out across Italy and internationally to protest the official COVID-19 policy and demand the right to shelter at home, the government is clearly attempting to strengthen its position against the working class. Governments, in Italy as elsewhere, have sought for decades to divert social resources to the financial oligarchy instead of utilizing them for a rational, scientific plan to strengthen health care, halt infectious diseases and ensure the survival of society. This has led to a situation where governments instead bring the army out onto the streets. In early March, when the government could no longer ignore mounting deaths and spreading contagion, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte called in the armythe only force in Italian society with enough funding and instrumentsto construct coronavirus field hospitals, distribute medical materials to local hospitals on the frontlines of the battle against the deadly pathogen, and to cart off the dead for mass burials. By mid-March, the government imposed a nationwide lockdown, asking residents to shelter in place for an unspecified time. However, the government leaked news of the lockdown the night before the official announcement, causing panic and sending thousands of Italians scrambling to get home for fear of being trapped away from their families, especially southern Italians who work in the industrial north. This reckless breach of public trust sent the media into overdrive to blame southern Italians for the spread of the contagion and give authorities cover to deploy thousands of soldiers to control the population, under the armys Secure Streets (Strade Sicure) program. This policy is now receiving support from capitalist politicians of all political colorations. Lombardys governor, Atillo Fontana, sought to dismiss worries that the use of army patrols is a breach of citizens democratic rights, saying that his call for the army was supported by Italys President Sergio Mattarella. I reiterated in a phone conversation with the president the need to use the army to support police forces and reinforce the network of controls aimed at applying the rules, Fontana said, then added: I can say that Mattarella has shared my request, which is aimed at guaranteeing the collective good. Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese boasted, At the moment the contingent of 7,300 soldiers already in the streets will be used, but if they are not enough there are at least another 13,000 soldiers available. They have already arrived in Campania and Sicily they will respond to [the request by] Governor Fontana and in the next days to the Mayor of Rome. For his part, Minister of Defence Lorenzo Guerini threatened, The army is ready to do more checks. We will guarantee security on the ground, adding, The armed forces are ready to do their part, as they are already doing both on the health front and in the control of the territory. Lets help the Civil Protection and watch over the misery in the South. Luigi Di Maio, leader of the Five Star Movement, suggested the government include a provision in the next national government emergency decree that explicitly provides for domestic military intervention, thus giving the government the immediate and unequivocal power to deploy the army against the civilian population as and when they want during, and especially after, the pandemic. As Houston residents are busy adapting their Easter plans to meet the constraints of the coronavirus pandemic, some will feast at home in quarantine while others will celebrate with a virtual meal. HOME COOKING: These recipes are making Houstonians feel normal right now Ontario's highest court has upheld a Toronto man's murder conviction in the death of his teenage daughter, whose emaciated remains were found in a burning suitcase more than two decades ago. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/4/2020 (644 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Ontario's highest court has upheld a Toronto man's murder conviction in the death of his teenage daughter, whose emaciated remains were found in a burning suitcase more than two decades ago. Everton Biddersingh was found guilty in 2016 of first-degree murder the death of his 17-year-old daughter Melonie. He was later sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years, which is the automatic sentence for first-degree murder. Biddersingh challenged the conviction on several grounds, all related to evidence regarding what caused Melonie's death. He argued, among other things, that the judge who presided over his trial erred in allowing jurors to consider a suggestion that he starved his daughter to death. But in a unanimous ruling released last week, the Court of Appeal for Ontario dismissed Biddersingh's appeal, saying the judge was not mistaken in leaving that option with the jury. "In this case, there was both lay and medical evidence which could have supported an inference that Melonies death was caused by her extreme state of starvation, whether following a near-drowning event or independent of any drowning," the appeal court said. The three-judge panel also rejected Biddersingh's suggestion that the judge erred in allowing one of the experts who examined Melonie's body to provide an alternate cause of death should jurors disregard his evidence on her probable drowning. It further dismissed his argument that the judge should not have allowed jurors to consider the expert's explanation on how microscopic plants that were found in Melonie's sinus and bones which indicated a potential drowning could have been transferred inside the family's apartment. Prosecutors alleged Biddersingh drowned or starved Melonie, who weighed 50 pounds and had 21 broken bones at various stages of healing when she died in 1994. A vegetable was also found in her vagina. They alleged the teen could also have died while her father unlawfully confined her in the small Toronto apartment they shared with her stepmother, Elaine Biddersingh. The Crown alleged Biddersingh then crammed his daughter's body into a suitcase, took it to a remote area north of Toronto and set it on fire. Court heard he then told friends and relatives, including Melonie's mother in Jamaica, that the teen had run away from home. He never reported her missing. Police weren't able to identify Melonie's remains until they received a tip that eventually led to Biddersingh's arrest in 2012. The trial heard Melonie, who came to Canada from Jamaica with her brothers in 1991 to live with their father, was never allowed to leave the apartment. Jurors heard the girl was treated like a slave, chained to furniture for hours and stuffed in a small closet, or locked out on the balcony. One witness said Biddersingh would kick Melonie and hold her head in the toilet while flushing. Defence lawyers argued at trial there was no evidence Biddersingh had killed Melonie, and pointed the finger at his wife instead. Elaine Biddersingh told her pastor about Melonie's death in 2011, which allowed police to identify her remains and lay charges in the case. She was also charged with first-degree murder, but after being tried separately from her husband, was found guilty of second-degree murder. She was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 16 years. Elaine Biddersingh also challenged her conviction. That case is ongoing. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on April 6, 2020. A company best known for its cocoa butter and coconut oil skin and hair products is revamping to produce medical-grade hand sanitizer for medical responders and the U.S. Military. E.T. Browne Drug Co. announced Monday that its manufacturing facility, Hayward Laboratories, has started producing medical-grade hand sanitizer for immediate distribution. The family-owned companys corporate headquarters is in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and its manufacturing plant is in East Stroudsburg, Monroe County. The company said its goal in producing the sanitizer is to help address widespread supply shortages in the wake of COVID-19. Initial production of the disinfectant sanitizer will supply local medical first responders and U.S. Military personnel, the company said. Nearly 300 Hayward employees are leading the effort, which required the East Stroudsburg site to the mobilize its supply chain within weeks. The company plans to donate sanitizers to emergency medical responders in the Monroe County, Pennsylvania and Bergen County, New Jersey areas, as well as provide priority supply to U.S. Military personnel through commissaries and exchanges. Antone McIntyre, director of manufacturing at Hayward, said the company wanted to give back on both a national and local level. Not only will our sanitizer benefit workers on the frontlines, but it will also support our local neighborhood and secure jobs for our 300 employees who need to take care of their families during this pandemic," McIntyre said. E.T. Browne was able to secure the highly needed Isopropyl Alcohol supply for the sanitizer from ExxonMobil, whose leaders worked with the company to prioritize the project. ExxonMobil is the largest producer of Isopropyl Alcohol in the United States, and its cooperation in the effort allowed E.T. Browne and Hayward to begin producing sanitizer for distribution within weeks, the company said. E.T. Browne Drug Co. is one of the nations oldest skincare companies, manufacturing its products since 1840. The U.S. federal government last month said it would allow firms to begin manufacturing their own hand sanitizer with limited guidance as the spread of the coronavirus pandemic dwindles supply nationally. The FDA said it issued its new guidance after receiving reports of consumers and health care professions unable to access sanitizer after demand soared due to the spreading coronavirus, which has been confirmed in all 50 states and has infected more than 347,000 people in the U.S., according to the most recent Johns Hopkins University data. 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. A 60-year-old man is dead and a 25-year-old woman is in custody after a shooting early Monday inside a southwest Harris County Home. The two were arguing inside the home along West Riley Road, just east of Almeda Road, when the woman allegedly shot the man around 3:30 a.m., according to Harris County Sheriffs Office Senior Deputy Thomas Gilliland. What led to the gunfire is unclear, but Gilliland said the woman admitted to shooting the man multiple times and was cooperating with detectives. MORE FROM JAY R. JORDAN: Houston police officer shoots man who 'popped' out from behind attic insulation Two small children were inside the home when the gunfire erupted. Both children, who are under 10 years old, have since been reunited with family members. Gilliland said the man and woman live together but were not in a relationship. 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 Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-07 04:05:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close File photo taken on April 2, 2020 shows British Prime Minister Boris Johnson clapping for National Health Service staff outside 11 Downing Street in London, Britain. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was taken to intensive care on Monday night after his coronavirus symptoms worsened, Downing Street said. Johnson has asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to deputize for him, a Downing Street spokesman said. (Pippa Fowles/No 10 Downing Street/Handout via Xinhua) LONDON, April 6 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was taken to intensive care on Monday night after his coronavirus symptoms worsened, Downing Street said. Johnson has asked British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to deputize for him, a Downing Street spokesman said. The prime minister, 55, was admitted to St Thomas' Hospital in London with "persistent symptoms" on Sunday night, 10 days after testing positive for coronavirus. The spokesman said the prime minister was moved on the advice of his medical team and is receiving "excellent care." "Since Sunday evening, the prime minister has been under the care of doctors at St Thomas' Hospital, in London, after being admitted with persistent symptoms of coronavirus," said a statement. "Over the course of this afternoon, the condition of the prime minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the intensive care unit at the hospital," the statement said. "The PM is receiving excellent care, and thanks all NHS (National Health Service) staff for their hard work and dedication," it added. Two uniformed police officers were stationed at the entrance to St Thomas' Hospital on Monday evening. Throughout the day officers and police vehicles could be seen entering and exiting the central London hospital. The death toll of those hospitalized in Britain who tested positive for the coronavirus reached 5,373 as of Sunday afternoon, a daily increase of 439, according to the Department of Health and Social Care. As of Monday morning, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Britain hit 51,608, up 3,802 in the past 24 hours, said the department. Washington A coroner in Indiana wanted to know if the coronavirus had killed a man in early March but said that her health department denied a test. Paramedics in New York City say that many patients who died at home were never tested for the coronavirus, even if they showed telltale signs of infection. In Virginia, a funeral director prepared the remains of three people after health workers cautioned her that they each had tested positive for the coronavirus. But only one of the three had the virus noted on the death certificate. Across the United States, even as coronavirus deaths are being recorded in terrifying numbers many hundreds each day the true death toll is likely much higher. More than 9,400 people with the coronavirus have been reported to have died in this country as of this weekend, but hospital officials, doctors, public health experts and medical examiners say that official counts have failed to capture the true number of Americans dying in this pandemic. The undercount is a result of inconsistent protocols, limited resources and a patchwork of decision-making from one state or county to the next. In many rural areas, coroners say they don't have the tests they need to detect the disease. Doctors now believe that some deaths in February and early March, before the coronavirus reached epidemic levels in the United States, were likely misidentified as influenza or only described as pneumonia. With no uniform system for reporting coronavirus-related deaths in the United States and a continued shortage of tests, some states and counties have improvised, obfuscated and at times backtracked in counting the dead. "We definitely think there are deaths that we have not accounted for," said Jennifer Nuzzo, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, which studies global health threats and is closely tracking the coronavirus pandemic. Late last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance for how to certify coronavirus deaths, underscoring the need for uniformity and reinforcing the sense by health care workers and others that deaths have not been consistently tracked. In its guidance, the CDC instructed officials to report deaths where the patient has tested positive or, in an absence of testing, "if the circumstances are compelling within a reasonable degree of certainty." In infectious outbreaks, public health experts say that under typical circumstances it takes months or years to compile data that is as accurate as possible on deaths. The reporting system during an epidemic of this scale is particularly strained. And while experts say they believe that virus-related deaths have been missed, the extent of the problem is not clear. But as mayors and governors hold daily news conferences reporting the latest figures of infections and deaths related to COVID-19, Americans have paid close attention to the locations and numbers of the sick and dead one of the few metrics available for understanding the new and mysterious disease threatening their communities. Public health experts say that an accurate count of deaths is an essential tool to understand a disease outbreak as it unfolds: The more deadly a disease, the more aggressively authorities are willing to disrupt normal life. Precise death counts can also inform the federal government on how to target resources, like ventilators from the national stockpile, to the areas of the country with the most desperate need. For families who have lost a loved one in the midst of this epidemic, there is an urge simply to know: Was it the coronavirus? Lingering questions As the coronavirus outbreak began sweeping across the country last month, Julio Ramirez, a 43-year-old salesman in San Gabriel, California, came home from a business trip and began feeling unwell, suffering from a fever, cough and body aches. By the next day, he had lost his sense of taste and smell. His wife, Julie Murillo, took him to an urgent care clinic several days later, where he was so weak he had to be pushed in a wheelchair. Doctors prescribed antibiotics and cough syrup and gave him a chest X-ray, but they did not test for the coronavirus, she said. Just over a week after he returned from his trip, Murillo found him dead in his bed. "I kept trying to get him tested from the beginning," Murillo said. "They told me no." Frustrated, Murillo enlisted friends to call the CDC on her behalf, urging a post-mortem test. Then she hired a private company to conduct an autopsy; the owner pleaded for a coronavirus test from local and federal authorities. On Saturday afternoon, 19 days after the death, Murillo received a call from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, she said. The Health Department had gone to the funeral home where her husband's body was resting and taken a sample for a coronavirus test. He tested positive. A spokesman for the Health Department did not respond to questions about Ramirez, and it was not clear whether any systematic post-mortem testing was being conducted beyond his case. The work of counting deaths related to the virus falls to an assortment of health care providers, medical examiners, coroners, funeral homes and local health departments that fill out America's death certificates. The documents typically include information on the immediate cause of death, such as a heart attack or pneumonia, as well as on any underlying disease. In coronavirus cases, that would be COVID-19. The federal government does not expect to produce a final tally of coronavirus deaths until 2021, when it publishes an annual compilation of the country's leading causes of death. A New York Times tally of known COVID-related deaths, based on reports from state and local officials, showed 9,470 deaths as of Sunday. On Friday, the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the CDC, began publishing preliminary estimates of coronavirus deaths, although a spokesman said that information would have a "lag of 1-2 weeks." Its first estimate noted 1,150 deaths, based on the number of death certificates that included COVID-19 as an underlying disease. "It is not a 'real time' count of COVID deaths, like what the states are currently reporting," Jeff Lancashire, a spokesman for the National Center for Health Statistics, said. But those who work with death certificates say they worry that relying only on those documents may leave out a significant number of cases in which the coronavirus was confirmed by testing but not written down in the section where doctors and coroners are asked to note relevant underlying diseases. Generally, certificates require an immediate cause and encourage but do not require officials to take note of an underlying disease. Then there are the many suspected cases. Susan Perry, the funeral director from Virginia, said that she was informed by health workers and families that three recently deceased people had tested positive for the virus so that she and her staff could take necessary precautions with the bodies. Only one death certificate mentioned the virus. "This probably happens all the time with different diseases, but this is the first time I'm paying attention to it," Perry said. "If we don't know the numbers, how are we going to be able to prepare ourselves and protect ourselves?" "The 'Aha!' moment" Early in the U.S. outbreak, virus-linked deaths may have been overlooked, hospital officials said. A late start to coronavirus testing hampered hospitals' ability to detect the infection among patients with flulike symptoms in February and early March. Doctors at several hospitals reported treating pneumonia patients who eventually died before testing was available. "When I was working before we had testing, we had a ton of patients with pneumonia," said Geraldine Menard, chief of general internal medicine at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans. "I remember thinking it was weird. I'm sure some of those patients did have it. But no one knew back then." An emergency department physician in San Francisco recalled two deaths that were probably caused by the coronavirus but not identified as such. One patient died at home; a relative in the same home later tested positive for the virus. Another patient was an older man who came to the hospital with typical coronavirus symptoms and who had been in contact with someone recently traveling to China but arrived at the hospital before testing was available. In New York City, emergency medical workers say that infection and death rates are probably far higher than reported. Given a record number of calls, many ambulance crews have encouraged anyone not critically ill to stay home. The result, medics say, is that many presumed coronavirus patients may never know for sure if they had the virus, so any who later die at home may never be categorized as having had it. Across the country, coroners are going through a process of reevaluation, reconsidering deaths that occurred before testing was widely available. Coroners and medical examiners generally investigate deaths that are considered unusual, result from accidents or suicides, or occur at home. Joani Shields, the coroner in Monroe County, Indiana, said she wondered about a man diagnosed with pneumonia who died in early March. A coronavirus test was requested at the time, but the local health department denied it, Shields said, on the grounds that the supply of tests was too limited. "I wish we could have tested him," she said. In Shelby County, Alabama, Lina Evans, the coroner, said she was now suspicious of a surge in deaths in her county earlier this year, many of which involved severe pneumonia. "We had a lot of hospice deaths this year, and now it makes me go back and think, wow, did they have COVID? Did that accelerate their death?" she said. Evans, who is also a nurse, is frustrated that she will never know. "When we go back to those deaths that occurred earlier this year people who were negative for flu now we're having the 'Aha!' moment," she said. "They should have been tested for the coronavirus. As far as under reporting, I would say definitely." Disparate reporting Even now, as testing is more widely available, there is a patchwork of standards about information being reported by state and local health officials on deaths in the United States. Around the world, keeping an accurate death toll has been a challenge for governments. Availability of testing and other resources has affected the official counts in some places, and significant questions have emerged about official government tallies in places such as China and Iran. In the U.S., uncertainties and inconsistencies have emerged, and health departments have had to backtrack on cases of previously reported deaths. Florida officials rescinded an announcement of a COVID death in Pasco County. In Hawaii, the state's first announced coronavirus death was later recategorized as unrelated after officials admitted misreading test results. L.A. County officials announced that a child had died from the virus, then said they were unsure whether the virus caused the death, then declined to explain the confusion. Adding to the complications, different jurisdictions are using distinct standards for attributing a death to the coronavirus and, in some cases, relying on techniques that would lower the overall count of fatalities. In Blaine County, Idaho, the local health authority requires a positive test to certify a death the result of the coronavirus. But in Alabama, the state Health Department requires a physician to review a person's medical records to determine whether the virus was actually the root cause of death. Evilin Cano was dismantling a rooftop skating rink in Manhattan's Seaport district when her construction crew was notified that the venue would be closing, along with much of New York - and that she would be out of a job. The next night, the 33-year-old undocumented day laborer from Guatemala fell ill with a fever. Her head pounded. Her throat hurt. She could not stop coughing or vomiting. And she was short of breath. She does not know whether she has covid-19 because three hospitals told her not to bother coming in for testing unless she's gasping for air. "They told me to stay at home, don't go out, and when I can no longer breathe, call 9-1-1 for them to pick me up," Cano said. The collapse of the U.S. economy brought about by the coronavirus pandemic has exposed the extreme vulnerabilities of millions of undocumented workers like Cano, who are disproportionately employed in industries undergoing mass layoffs as well as high-risk jobs that keep society running while many Americans self-isolate at home. Many of the undocumented, working in construction, restaurants and other service sectors, have already lost their jobs. Others, in industries like agriculture and health care that have been declared essential, work in jobs that typically require close quarters or interacting with the public, putting them at higher risk of getting sick. Unlike many American workers, undocumented immigrants cannot count on the social safety net if they lose their jobs or get sick. Most do not have health insurance or access to paid sick leave - putting them and the people they encounter at risk. Nor are most eligible for unemployment insurance or the cash payments included in the $2 trillion relief package Congress passed last month - even if they pay taxes, even if their children are U.S. citizens. "The government has announced it was going to support people affected by the coronavirus but that's for Americans - not for people like us who are undocumented," said Cano, who applied for asylum in November. "My fear is if I seek help, this country will see me as just trying to take advantage of the system." Cano said she had been a police officer living a middle class life in Guatemala, when a gang tried to kidnap her teenage daughter, and she fled with her two eldest to New York. She was just five days into a three-month job at the Seaport transforming what had been a temporary winterscape into a summer oasis when the contractor pulled her crew aside on March 20 and told them not to return. Soon after Cano got sick, her daughter developed a fever, too. So did her boyfriend. Unable to seek care, Cano spent five days in bed and remains quarantined in her Brooklyn home. Construction had been a step up for Cano. When she first came to the U.S. more than a year ago, she patched together a living at a Salvadoran restaurant, earning $50 for 13 hours of overnight work cleaning and preparing pupusas for delivery. When the till came up short, she said, the cashier would dock the difference from Cano's earnings. One night, she made so little that she had to borrow the $2.75 bus fare home. Last June, she became a day laborer in construction - doing demolition work, painting, the finishing touches. She made $150 per nine-hour shift - enough to support her 17- and 16-year-old and still send money back to the 11- and 7-year-old she left behind with her mother. Now, she is broke - with no savings and no income. She felt heartsick during a recent phone call home, telling her mother that no money would be coming this month. The Brooklyn community job center where Cano and other day laborers used to gather each morning is deserted, like similar centers around the country. New contracts, now fielded over the phone, have dropped from about 20 a week before the coronavirus crisis to around five, said Ligia Guallpa, executive director of the Worker's Justice Project, which runs the center. "I'm trying to figure out how to find another job, but I'm not healthy - and there are no jobs," Cano said. "At this point I'm looking for anything just to support my kids." Once she recovers, Cano plans to sell homemade tamales for $3 each - the way she supported her family over the winter when construction work was slow. She hopes it will be enough to cover their groceries. "I cannot go back to Guatemala," Cano said. "I'd be sentencing my kids to death." The 7 million immigrants without authorization to work in the United States make up just over 4 percent of the country's labor force, but account for at least 12 percent of workers in construction, 10 percent in hotels, and 8 percent in restaurant and food service -- among the hardest hit sectors in the pandemic, according to an analysis of 2018 census data by New American Economy. The analysis shows that undocumented immigrants also make up 14 percent of agricultural workers and 7 percent of home health aides, two industries considered critical to the health of the U.S. economy and its citizens during the coronavirus crisis. Researchers and industry groups say undocumented laborers are significantly undercounted and comprise more than half of the workforce in some occupations, such as farmworkers. "A lot of undocumented immigrants will be hit first - and worst - by this recession," said Orson Aguilar, director of economic policy at UnidosUS. In the absence of a federal safety net, advocates from California to New York are pushing cities and states to provide economic relief to workers regardless of immigration status. Some have begun cobbling together funds to help undocumented workers pay rent and buy food. Even workers who thought they had stability are discovering that no job is secure in the coronavirus-induced recession. Juan, a 36-year-old head cook at a diner in Berkeley, California, saw his hours cut in half - to just five hours a day, for takeout and delivery only - once the governor ordered the state to shelter in place. He donned a mask and gloves when he left for work and sanitized all equipment at the restaurant before touching it, fearful that he'd carry the virus home to his 9-year-old daughter, who has asthma. Then last Friday, he learned that the restaurant was shutting its doors, even for takeout. "I'm in shock," said Juan, who asked that only his first name be used because of his immigration status. "I was kind of afraid to go to work, but now I don't know what to do." Others say their undocumented status prevents them from demanding protective equipment as they continue to go about their jobs. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. An undocumented farmworker in northern Ohio who does not want to be named for fear of losing her $10 an hour job said she has been planting tomatoes, onions and other produce -- without the protection of gloves and masks and without access to soap and running water. The 36-year-old farmworker, who came to the U.S. from Monterrey, Mexico when she was 15, brings her own liquid soap from home and uses bottled drinking water to wash her hands during breaks. She works alongside migrant workers who live in crowded quarters at a labor camp. Some wear the same dirty clothes all week because they don't have laundry facilities on site. The county health department has instructed the farmworkers to work six feet apart - an edict she says is impossible to follow when they unload plants from the trailers to bring into the nurseries. For one week, her employer took workers' temperatures. But no longer. The mother-of-four follows a strict routine when she returns from work -removing her shoes outside, washing her clothes daily, and not allowing her children to hug her until she's taken a shower "because I'm not sure if I have the virus or not." The backdrop for many of the undocumented is the fear of deportation - despite a recent commitment from Immigration and Customs Enforcement to halt most enforcement during the coronavirus outbreak, especially near health care facilities. "That provides little comfort," said Anu Joshi, vice president of policy at the New York Immigration Coalition. "ICE field offices have a lot of leeway in moments of crisis to implement their own prioritization rules." Others worry about jeopardizing their chances to gain permanent status in the U.S. The administration implemented a rule in February that would make it more difficult for low-income immigrants, including those who entered the country legally, to become permanent residents if they have received public benefits, including health coverage for the poor such as Medicaid. But it recently made an exception for those seeking medical attention for the coronavirus. The most terrifying part of Lydia Nakiberu's day has become her two-hour commute - on two trains and a bus - to her job as a home health aide outside Boston. She shoves her hands in her pockets so as not to touch anything, wears a mask, scrubs her hands every chance she gets -- but worries about spreading the virus to the 86-year-old man she cares for. Or to her family. "They tell us, 'When you get sick, you have to go to the hospital,' but all the undocumented domestic workers I know are so scared that ICE might get their information and come for them," said Lydia, 41, who does not have health insurance. Both Lydia and her husband, Jerry, are undocumented immigrants from Uganda who have raised their children - ages 13, 12 and 8 - in the United States. Jerry spent three months in an immigration detention center in 2012 after losing an asylum case and missed the birth of his youngest son. At the nursing home where Jerry works as a nurse, masks are rationed, with caregivers allotted just one for the entire day. They have gloves, but no protective gowns. He thinks the government should be doing more to help workers on healthcare's front line -- even if they are not authorized to work. "They need us more than ever before," said Jerry, 54. Perhaps when this is all over, he said, the American public will recognize how undocumented immigrants risked their lives to help during a time of crisis. In another burst of optimism, he said he hopes that the government would grant legal status to parents of U.S. citizens and other immigrants who have long paid taxes. But until then, Lydia said: "We are scared about the virus. We are scared about ICE. We are scared about almost everything right now." Dani Dyer has got back together with her ex-boyfriend Sammy Kimmence, just weeks after MailOnline exclusively revealed they had split. The Love Island winner, 24, and the stockbroker are said to be giving their relationship another shot after deciding to self isolate together amid the COVID-19 lockdown. The TV personality and her on-off beau called time on their romance in early March after Sammy appeared in court accused of scamming two elderly men out of 34,000 by posing as a financial investor. Back on: Dani Dyer is giving her relationship with Sammy Kimmecne another shot after the pair decided to self isolate together amid the COVID-19 lockdown A source told The Sun Sammy 'begged' the reality star to spend time with him leading up to the government enforced lockdown last month. The insider revealed: 'Dani and Sammy's split was a shock but she felt the trust had gone and that he was bringing her down. 'Sammy wasn't going to let her walk out of his life without a fight and begged her to spend some time with him. 'Since going into lockdown, Sammy has been pulling out all the stops to make Dani give their relationship a second chance.' Scandal: The former Love Island winner, 24, is reportedly back with the stockbroker who recently appeared in court accused of scamming two elderly men out of 34,000 by posing as a financial investor Apparently the couple have now moved on from their blazing rows and are enjoying a more pleasant relationship. MailOnline has reached out to Dani's representatives for comment. Dani dated Sammy for a year before she joined Love Island, which she won with Jack Fincham in 2018. After Sammy appeared in court last month the Essex beauty unfollowed him social media and untagged him from photos on her Instagram account. Speculation: According to a source 'Dani and Sammy's split was a shock but she felt the trust had gone and that he was bringing her down.' A source told MailOnline at the time: 'Dani has called time on things. Sam's impending court case put a lot of strain on their relationship.' The pint-sized beauty shared a number of inspirational quotes online as she reportedly tried to move on from Sammy. Alongside a smiling selfie, she shared last month: 'Love yourself first and everything else falls into place.' However recently she hinted change was ahead as she shared a picture of a bend in the road, captioned, '2020. When life takes a turn'. Since the beginning of March, unattended folding tables have begun popping up at intersections and the end of peoples driveways, offering everyday goods like rice, a jar of jam or bread. Take what you need and leave what you can, the signs say. Barter, the trade system prevalent in the Middle Ages, is back in the time of coronavirus pandemic, with a modern twist. Social networks Facebook and Nextdoor are flooded with posts from neighbours and friends seeking to swap eggs for toilet paper. Small and midsized businesses, whose cash trade has dried up from the economic fallout of shelter-in-place orders, are turning to online barter exchanges. When cash is extra tight, it behooves us to buy as much as possible on trade, said David Yusen, director of business development for Seattle-based Heavy Restaurant Group, which recently bought 56 cases of Malbec wine for $15,000 US worth of barter credits. The companys 10 restaurants have closed, but some locations will start offering pickup and delivery this week. It saves us money, it helps cash flow. In normal times, the roughly 200 barter exchanges in the U.S. let roofers fix leaks and get paid in restaurant takeouts or accounting services. With tens of millions of Americans under lockdowns, those cash-free trade systems are seeing an influx in participants. The International Reciprocal Trade Association represents 100 barter exchanges, each catering to thousands of businesses. Some exchanges reported a 20 per cent to 35 per cent increase in member signups in March, said Ron Whitney, president and chief executive officer of the group, known as IRTA. These are challenging times for us, but it also represents an opportunity for us, Whitney said. An estimated $12 billion to $14 billion in barter trades take place a year, according to IRTA. Roger Becker owns home building and remodelling companies in Puyallup, Wash., the state that saw the first outbreak of the epidemic in the U.S. He expects business to drop by at least 30 per cent this year, and signed up to the barter exchange BizX in February. A couple of months ago, I never would have thought of it, Becker said. Its going be a game changer, because we are all starting to get pretty fearful about people tightening up their pocketbooks. Heres how it works: Becker recently poured in $260,000 to remodel a 4,000-square-foot home in Leavenworth that was listed for $1.2 million. He is willing to accept a portion of the homes price in so-called BizX dollars from the barter exchange, and will use these credits to buy services of other exchange members plumbers, electricians or nurseries so he can build and remodel other homes. BizX, based in Bellevue, Wash., said its website traffic is up 30 per cent just in the last few days. At International Monetary Systems in the Milwaukee area, traffic has doubled in the last two weeks compared with a typical full month. In Pittsburgh, exchange Green Apple Barter has seen a 20 per cent rise in its membership in March, said President Justin Krane. A supply yard who has inventory sitting on the lot, Krane said, retelling a recent contact. They asked, Could you move inventory? A hotel property just got involved their occupancy rate is really getting hurt right now. Joining a network is going to give them another way to fill hotel rooms. Bartering between consumers is ramping up as well after people cleared grocery-store shelves and hoarded supplies at home. For now, its still being treated as a joke. A Twitter poll asked how many cans of beer a single roll of paper is worth (two or three cans was the most popular answer). Laughter aside, barter of household items and food could more than double this year in the U.S., from $4 million to over $10 million, according to Richard Crone, CEO of payments expert Crone Consulting LLC. Bartering has become especially popular with people who are most at risk to have severe forms of the highly contagious COVID-19 and want to avoid stores. Chell Garvin of Springfield, Miss., 50, saw a post from a friend on Facebook who said she scored an 18-roll pack of toilet paper. Garvin contacted her, and exchanged an 18-egg carton for two double rolls. She cooks a lot, and she said she cant find eggs anywhere, Garvin said. Allie Walker-Lavette, a 55-year-old living in Jacksonville, Fla., recently got a delivery of eggs an item her daughter had been looking for in vain. Walker-Lavette swapped a carton for an order of margaritas-to-go from a local restaurant. If supply-chain shortages continue, I do have a couple neighbours close by, I know I can come to them and say, What do you have in your fridge? she said. Grocery stores have said that shortages of supplies like toilet paper are only temporary. Still, Crone expects that the shortages could potentially give rise to new swapping consumer apps and marketplaces. Theres demand for products that arent on store shelves but are in peoples pantry or garage or second freezer, Crone said. What Uber did to enable a bunch of idle capacity with cars, this does this for the packaged goods supply chain. Its a whole new supply chain. Christians across the nation gathered together to support the medical professionals and staffs who are serving the sick everyday battling coronavirus. People came at Terrebonne General Medical Center in Louisiana on Wednesday evening and asked local residents for invitation to join the prayers for Men and Woman who are working for patients fighting the notorious virus pandemic risking their lives inside the building. They lifted their hands toward the hospital and played the popular Christian song "Awesome God" to offer encouragement for the medical staff inside and bless them with their prayers. "The concept is that sometimes we feel helpless in the community. We know what's going on and want to help, but there's only so much you can do. This is an opportunity for us. We can all do this," Jaime Gaudet, who is one of the event's organizers told Christian post. "The people that are patients or providers in the hospital, they get tired and they're missing their family." On Thursday, the Louisiana Department of Health reported 2,726 additional COVID-19 cases, bringing the state's total to 9,150 cases and the death toll to 310. More than 100 cars visited the parking lot outside Poinciana Medical Center in Kissimmee, Florida where people honk horns and flash headlight to support and cheer the medical workers in the hospital according to Fox 51. To respect social distancing, the visitors stayed in their cars while flashing their lights and honking their horns in unison. Multiple videos and pictures on social media show these touching moments and even medical workers join together to pray while in their scrubs and masks. In a hospital hallway and rooftop, pictures posted on Facebook pages showing medical staff gathered and tearfully prayed together for God's help during the COVID-19 pandemic. Annie Penn Hospital in Reidville, North Carolina posted one picture on its official Facebook showing area pastors and medical staffs gathered in the parking lot outside the hospital for a "Gathering of the Hands" service. Chaplain Patricia Wright led the service, declaring that the community, hospital staff and patients will overcome these challenging times. " And although each participant stood far apart physically, everyone was united in purpose, which was a powerful demonstration of how we'll get through this pandemic: together." the hospital wrote. People testify of the power of united prayers and show their gratitude for the support and love. "Thank you Poinciana for this amazing encouragement tonight. Even though you weren't physically inside our facility, your spirit and positive energy were, "We are on this journey together. We love this community and above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life." Poinciana Medical Center told Fox 51. Please continue to pray for those at the front lines who are battling the Coronavirus outbreak. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 13:50:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Zhang Jianhua, He Wei VIENTIANE, April 6 (Xinhua) -- As the Laos are beefing up efforts to battle the COVID-19, the help of a Chinese medical team which arrived to the country last week are proved to be a reassuring booster. "The Chinese experts came to Laos after they had just treated their patients in China. My colleagues and I, watching them busy all day either in the Ministry of Health or the designated hospitals for treating COVID-19, felt quite warm and touched," Chandaly Sitpraxay, a Lao doctor with health ministry told Xinhua on Sunday. "These Chinese experts are really with us!" she added. Laos detected its first two confirmed COVID-19 cases on March 24, and only five days later, the Chinese medical team arrived in capital Vientiane. Deputy head of the team Shi Tongchuan told Xinhua on Sunday that his friends in Laos sent lots of messages to express their gratitude to the Chinese experts for the timely support to Laos. "My friends say that the arrival of the Chinese expert team has added calm and confidence to the Lao people in the fight against the pandemic," said Shi. For Jiang Zaidong, Chinese ambassador to Laos, China and Laos are a mutual support team in fighting against the COVID-19. He said on Sunday that Laos, a developing country with comparatively small economy, donated 700,000 U.S. dollars and many batches of materials to China when China's anti-epidemic fight was most strenuous. The country also made full preparations for the successful convention of the China-ASEAN Special Foreign Ministers' Meeting on COVID-19 and the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Meeting, sending out the region's strong voice to join hands in the fight against the epidemic. "Our medical team is sharing China's experience with our Lao counterparts unreservedly, and is committed to assisting the Lao side to form a professional solution in line with Laos' situation, thus contributing to the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future," said Jiang. The Chinese experts have also showed strong sense of responsibility, spending most of their time at the Lao Ministry of Health and designated hospitals. Several days later, the team leader, Huang Xingli, has got a relatively clear picture of the epidemic prevention and control situation in Laos. He told Xinhua that members of the expert team have been communicating with relevant Lao authorities, and going to hospitals, quarantined points, and isolated families to check the implementation of the suggested measures, in a bid to help improve Laos' prevention and control policies as well as diagnosis and treatment plans. "We are fully aware of the great responsibility and will continue to go deep into the front line of prevention and control in Laos, to consider comprehensively docking Laos' actual conditions and China's experiences, thus contributing to Laos' fight against the epidemic and building the China-Laos community with a shared future," Liu Xiaoqiang, a Chinese expert from the team told Xinhua. The Lao doctor Chandaly was deeply impressed by the professionalism of his Chinese peers. "We all know that wards are at risk, but the Chinese experts left their families and came into the wards in Laos regardless of personal safety. They are treating us as their own family," Chandaly said. She said her colleagues at the Mittaphab Hospital highly praised the expertise and devotion of the Chinese experts. "When Laos encounters difficulties, the Chinese people and government come to us, no matter what difficulties exist. We Lao people are very grateful, and I love China!" Soukkhaphone Sisamoud, a 25-year-old official with Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs said to Xinhua, Chinese experts will encourage Lao youths to study in medical field to become specialists, and heroes of the public. Chanphouphet Sengthavong, a 32-year-old Vientiane citizen working in Mahosot Hospital, a designated hospital for COVID-19 treatment, told Xinhua that China is assisting Laos in many ways, especially sending the medical specialists. "This is very helpful. I am grateful to have experienced staff in our country, we can learn directly with them to control the spread of virus. This makes me feel hopeful," said the doctor. Sithixay Xayavong, Director of Chinese Studies Center of the National University of Laos, told Xinhua that the arrival of the Chinese expert team and materials will strongly promote the bilateral cooperation to jointly overcome the pandemic. The Laos has detected 11 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Monday morning. Offshore sovereign wealth funds are behind a deal that will see a half share in one of Melbournes best known Collins Street skyscrapers, Rialto Tower, change hands for $644 million. The countrys largest office landlord, Dexus, has teamed up with Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC to buy the 50 per cent stake in the 52-level tower owned by the government of Kuwait. Dexus and GIC exchanged contracts for Rialto Tower with Kuwaiti-owned St Martins Property. Credit:Jason South The glass and concrete structure on the corner of King Street was developed in 1986 by Melbournes Grollo Group. Another half share of the building is still owned by Rino and Diana Grollo after the extended family split their assets in 2000. 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," says Christian Franck, the UW-Madison associate professor of mechanical engineering who led the study. "We're very excited about our findings because they could potentially pave the way for treatments we can offer patients." 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. advertisement "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. advertisement 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." APRIL 6, 2020 UTSA students Naomi Alyafei and Christian Strong have been awarded the 2020 Barry Goldwater Scholarship, one of the oldest and most prestigious scholarships for natural sciences, engineering and mathematics students in the United States. The Goldwater Scholarship Foundation awarded 396 scholarships to college sophomores and juniors around the nation who were identified as showing exceptional promise in becoming research leaders in STEM fields. This is the second consecutive year in which two UTSA students were named Goldwater Scholars as Alyafei and Strong become the fifth and sixth students in UTSAs history to earn the recognition. Both are juniors in the Honors College and serve on the Presidents Student Advisory Council. They will each receive a $7,500 stipend. Alyafei is a biomedical engineering major with a concentration in biomechanics. Her journey to this honor and to UTSA itself is a remarkable one. Born in Somalia, she and her family were forced to immigrate to Yemen at an early age and resettled in Indonesia during the Arab Spring. As they awaited refugee status to move to the U.S., Alyafei was not allowed to attend formal schooling for a period of three years, a time in which she came to greatly value education. Education is my hope to better my life and to contribute to the development of stronger well-educated future generations. As a student coming from a low-income, first-generation refugee, single-mother household, education is my hope to better my life and to contribute to the development of stronger well-educated future generations, Alyafei said. She arrived in the Alamo City with her family at the age of 17. Although she initially hoped to attend medical school with aspirations of becoming a doctor, Alyafeis love for mathematics inspired her to pursue a major that incorporated both biology and math. Biomechanical engineering, she said, was the best choice. At UTSA she has established herself as a talented researcher and student leader within the National Institutes of Healthsponsored MARC U*STAR pre-Ph.D. research training program for minority students. Alyafei works under the tutelage of renowned UTSA faculty Rena Bizios and Teja Guda researching the musculoskeletal system, movements of the human body and diseases that affect mobility. MARC U*STAR provides support as she attends meetings and seminars, designs experiments and validates findings. I was astonished by the opportunities provided for undergraduates at UTSA, especially access to hands-on research, she said. Research provides undergraduate students like me the opportunity to tackle masses of complex problems and solve it with simplicity and clarity as well as the potential to transform ideas into reality. Alyafei further honed her skillset at summer research programsafter her freshman year at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis and, most recently, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. In addition to being an undergraduate research leader she has proved time and time again to be a student and community leader as well. Alyafei has recruited many prospective students to the MARC U*STAR program and tutored students in Greater San Antonio in STEM subjects through the Muslim Children Education and Civic Center. These qualities and endeavors undoubtedly contributed to her receiving the Goldwater Scholarship, which she described as an incredible privilege. Winning a prestigious scholarship like Goldwater says a lot about the support system I have at UTSA, she explained. This is the product of guidance, mentorship and help I received from many different professors and faculty members who invested their time in making sure my professional development was moving forward. Strong has also been a student luminary at UTSA and a participant in prestigious summer research programs at top universities. A chemical engineering major from McAllen, Strong is part of the UTSA Top Scholars program, which recruits students from across Texas who excel in academics, leadership and service. Last summer Strong worked as an organic chemistry research intern at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, helping to improve the synthesis of an antiretroviral used to bolster the quality of life of individuals living with HIV. Working under MIT chemistry professor Timothy Jamison and alongside an MIT doctoral student, he had a broad aim of his research to make the drug more accessible to vulnerable populations. This kind of research doesnt stray too far from what Strong has been doing in the organic chemistry lab of UTSA professor Doug Frantz for the past two years. The bulk of that work has gone toward the development of new catalysts that can ultimately be used to create natural products, pharmaceuticals and commodity chemicals in a way thats more cost-effective and environmentally responsible. Although hes a chemical engineering major, Strong plans to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry with a focus in organic chemistry after he wraps up his undergraduate education at UTSA. Strong says his longtime goal is to apply scientific discoveries to solve global problems, and working as a medicinal chemist in the field of pharmaceutical research will give him the opportunity to do so. Dr. Frantz has opened my eyes to the interdisciplinary requirements of the modern chemistry laboratory, which has made me feel more comfortable in my plan to pursue graduate studies in chemistry, he said. Beyond this, the open-mindedness and support offered by many of UTSAs faculty and staff members has helped me develop this mindset. Like many students, Strong has research pursuits that have encountered recent roadblocks due to COVID-19 restrictions. He was scheduled to present his research at the American Chemical Society national conference in Philadelphia in March, but it was canceled. Strong was also awarded the Think Swiss Scholarship to conduct research at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich this summer but now hopes to use the award in the winter. Neither these changes nor the recent shift to online learning have brought him down. As a participant of four UTSA Alternative Spring Break programs, in which students connect with communities across America and volunteer alongside their peers, Strong is well-known for his positive attitude and spirit of engagement. I have really seen a lot of resilience in the UTSA community and, despite the hardship, I am prouder now more than ever to be a Roadrunner, he said. Three other students from UTSA competed for the award: Cole Moczygemba (physics), Taylor Spiller (chemistry) and Shayma Toujani Mersani (chemical engineering). UTSA picked these five nominees to compete nationally according to their academic excellence, research experience and intellect demonstrated through a research essay. Their projects ranged from designing tools to predict the oxidation of metals in nuclear reactors to synthesizing new compounds that will be used in preclinical trials to treat aggressive forms of breast cancer. Students worked in UTSA labs in collaboration with organizations such as Westinghouse Electric, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. The Office of Nationally Competitive Awards at UTSA coordinated the application and review process, putting together a selection committee of faculty and staff who reviewed all nominations and provided top nominees with advice on strengthening their applications. Selection committee members were: Hector Aguilar, senior lecturer in chemistry senior lecturer in chemistry Mark Appleford, College of Engineering associate dean and associate professor of biomedical engineering College of Engineering associate dean and associate professor of biomedical engineering Craig Jordan, College of Sciences associate dean and professor of biology College of Sciences associate dean and professor of biology Gail Taylor, associate program director of RISE/MARC Programs associate program director of RISE/MARC Programs Zachary Tonzetich, associate professor of chemistry UTSAs previous Goldwater Scholars include America Ruiz (2016), Sara Dibrell (2017), Favour Obuseh (2019) and Aldo Sepulveda (2019). Housed in the Honors College, the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards helps UTSA students prepare for and apply to prestigious national scholarships that allow them to pursue amazing academic and career opportunities worldwide. PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-06 08:33:03 LONDON, April 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Harbert European Growth Capital Fund II, SCSp (HEGC) has funded Cubyn SA (Cubyn) with venture debt capital. Cubyn is a Paris-based third party, technology driven logistics and warehouse fulfilment provider for merchants, serving principally e-commerce marketplaces across Europe. The debt will be used to help Cubyn continue its expansion across France and help provide global merchants a means to selling into Europe. It will further help Cubyn accelerate its automation projects within their warehouses in France. Cubyn commits to being able to reduce logistics costs for merchants and marketplaces by up to 30% while improving the quality of shipments. They are able to integrate a merchant seamlessly into a marketplace using their proprietary technology, which also enables a merchant to monitor their stock levels and processes instantly. The technology Cubyn has and their know-how about logistics and fulfilment is truly disrupting this sector. Adrien Fernandez Baca, Cubyn CEO notes, We are very happy to welcome on board HEGC. Our fulfillment revenues have been multiplied 18 fold in the last six months. This new investment will help us continue our strong acceleration while staying focused on building our technology and products. Hemal Rawal, HEGC Vice President notes, The logistics, warehousing and fulfilment sector has long been shielded from technological disruption, however it is one of the most important aspects in the operations of e-commerce companies many of whom outsource it due to its complexity. We are delighted to have provided growth finance to Cubyn to help fuel their organic growth and drive towards further automation of the warehouse and fulfilment operations. About Cubyn The Cubyn platform helps e-merchants spend less time taking care of their logistics while maintaining maximum control. Cubyn allows clients to focus on developing sales while keeping expenses under control in order to deliver to customers on time. About Harbert European Growth Capital Fund II, SCSp HEGC is one of Europe's leading investor in high growth technology-based companies looking to scale with less dilutive forms of investment capital. HEGC partners with ambitious management teams and shareholders of private and publicly listed companies to help build leading companies of the future. HEGC provides flexible capital to support business plans ranging from organic growth, M&A and pre-IPO financing to various types of recapitalizations. HEGC is sponsored by Harbert Management Corporation, an alternative investment firm with approximately $7.3 billion in Regulatory Assets Under Management as of February 29, 2020, along with a number of well-known institutional sponsors. See more about Cubyn at https://www.cubyn.com/ See more about HMC at https://www.harbert.net/investment-strategies/private-capital/european-growth-capital/ Contact: HMC Investor Relations Telephone: 205.987.5500 E-mail: irelations@harbert.net DarkHotel nation-state actor is exploiting a VPN zero -day to breach Chinese government agencies in Beijing and Shanghai Chinese security-firm Qihoo 360 has uncovered a hacking campaign conducted by a DarkHotel APT group (APT-C-06) aimed at Chinese government agencies in Beijing and Shanghai . State-sponsored hackers used a zero-day vulnerability in Sangfor SSL VPN servers to gain access to victims networks. The first Darkhotel espionage campaign was spotted by experts at Kaspersky Lab in late 2014, according to the researchers the APT group has been around for nearly a decade while targeting selected corporate executives traveling abroad. Threat actors behind the Darkhotel campaign aimed to steal sensitive data from executives while they are staying in luxury hotels, they appeared high skilled professionals that exfiltrated data of interest with surgical precision and deleting any trace of their activity. Since March, more than 200 VPN servers have been compromised by hackers, including 174 systems belonging to Chinese institutions abroad. Experts observed Coronavirus-themed attacks launched by the group since March. The coronavirus outbreak forced many individuals worldwide to work from home, including employees at state enterprises and institutions. In this scenario, VPN are widely adopted, and it is not surprising that threat actors attempted to exploit vulnerabilities in VPN servers. Recently, Qihoo 360 captured malicious samples issued through hijacked security services of a domestic VPN vendor SangFor . The targeted attack was initiated by Darkhotel (APT-C-06), a Peninsula APT Group, targeting Chinese institutions abroad and relevant government units. Up to now, a large number of VPN users have been attacked. reads the analysis published by Qihoo 360. When users of the victim agency used VPN clients, the update process triggered by default was hijacked by the hackers. The update program was replaced and embedded with a backdoor. Once the attackers have breached the target Sangfor VPN server exploiting a zero-day vulnerability, they replaced the SangforUD.exe program with a backdoored version that is hard to distinguish. The SangforUD.exe executable is an update for the Sangfor VPN desktop app. The vulnerability exists in an update that is triggered automatically when the VPN client starts to connect to the server. The client will obtain update from the configuration file at a fixed location on the connected VPN server, and download a program called SangforUD.exe. Due to the lack of security awareness of the developers, there are security risks in the entire update process. The client compares the version of the update program without doing any other security checks. This leaves a security flaw that the hackers can tamper the update configuration file and replace the update program after hacking the VPN server. continues the researchers. According to Qihoo360 the attacks are very sophisticated and concealed. The security firm reported the zero-day vulnerability to Sangfor on April 3, the vendor confirmed that Sangfor VPN servers running firmware versions M6.3R1 and M6.1 are vulnerable. Sangfor plans to release a security patched within tomorrow. DarkHotel appears to very active in this period, experts reported that the group used other zero-day exploits in recently disclosed attacks. The group exploited two vulnerabilities patched earlier this year in Firefox and Internet Explorer in attacks aimed at China and Japan. Japans Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Center (JPCERT/CC) published a report containing technical details on attacks exploiting both flaws and aimed at Japanese entities Two weeks ago, Reuters reported an attack against the World Health Organization and attributed it to the DarkHotel APT group. Pierluigi Paganini ( SecurityAffairs DarkHotel, Coronavirus) [ adrotate banner=13] Share this... Linkedin Share this: Twitter Print LinkedIn Facebook More Tumblr Pocket Share On Chandigarh, April 6 : As a goodwill gesture, former ITBP Commandant and Everest climber Mohinder Singh, 76, has contributed Rs 5 lakh from his pension to Punjab Chief Ministers Coronavirus Relief Fund. He said it is the duty of every responsible citizen to contribute to the fund to fight the deadly virus. "We can save each and every life and get our country back to normal," he said in a statement. Singh, who led the expedition to scale the Everest through the toughest North-Col route in 1996, thanked all the frontline soldiers, doctors, police personnel, administration and workers who are working tirelessly to control the situation by risking their lives. Native of Ludhiana city, he has done extensive trekking in Indian Himalayas and also scaled Alps. An interesting fact about his Mt Everest expedition was that it was completed under the stint of three Prime Ministers. It was flagged off by Narasimha Rao on March 22, 1996. When the team captured it, they talked to Atal Bihari Vajpayee. And when they came back, then Deve Gowda was the Prime Minister. 'What made him different was that he was not a banker at all by temperament.' 'He was a businessman, a typical lalaji at that.' 'He had to win at any cost.' Raghu Mohan glances at Rana Kapoor's fall from grace. IMAGE: Banker Rana Kapoor. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters When 32-year-old Rana Kapoor swung the United States's consular business account in India for Bank of America in 1990, folks in our country's elite foreign banking circuit sat up. The relationship had been with Citigroup for decades; its shift meant Rs 400 crore a year in float-money, substantial for a foreign bank back in the day. It also held the promise of huge spinoffs arising from the handling of increased US government business and a reset of strategic relations following the end of the Cold War. The deal saw Kapoor's lapel being adorned with the prestigious 'Eagle Pin' handed out by the bank's global chairman. It was an honour that would have been coveted by the highly regarded Vikram Talwar -- BankAm's longest-serving India country manager to date (1970-1996) -- who had hired Kapoor. "Kapoor's greatest talent was that he could sell coals to Newcastle. An equal failing was the love affair with the man in his mirror," says a rival-cum-peer who does not wish to be named (similar requests were made by other senior bankers as well). The manner in which Kapoor's stint at BankAm ended bore this out. In 1996, Kapoor was forced to resign by Ambi Venkateswaran who had taken over from Talwar two years earlier as BankAm's India boss. The reason: Protocol had not been followed when sanctioning a huge credit-line to one of the country's largest corporate houses. Was it a slipup big enough to cost Kapoor his job? He might well have perceived his action as befitting a proactive banker, with no real risk arising to the bank. "You can't sign off on limits on a whim. But then in his head, Kapoor (who was responsible for important corporate and institutional clients Nearly a quarter century later, the spectacular meltdown at YES Bank reveals the mental makeup of someone only too eager to walk on life's wild side. It is the first case -- anywhere in the world -- of a bank's promoter being allegedly caught with his hands in the till. He was arrested on charges of money laundering. It would not have ended this way for Kapoor had two other events not taken place. One, the death of Ashok Kapur -- his brother-in-law and partner at the bank -- in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. And two, the residual effects of the 2008 financial crisis, which finally torpedoed YES Bank's business model. These put Kapoor -- a man with a hugely inflated sense of self-worth with a buccaneer's attitude to banking -- at centre stage with no strategy to take care of ground realities. It only fed his considerable ego and, as was his wont, saw him resort to managing affairs creatively on the run. The many questionable transactions that have come to light involving Kapoor, his wife Bindu, and their three daughters -- Radha, Roshni and Rakhee -- show up a desperate individual who tried to game the system, only to get gamed by wilder beings. The 'I' specialist IMAGE: Account holders queue up outside a YES Bank branch in Mumbai, March 7, 2020. Photograph: PTI Photo Much has been made of Kapoor burning gallons of midnight oil; of his being a great networker, and a cut above the rest in whatever he did. Its currency had a lot to do with his natural inclination towards public relations, and he was to become a giant in his own right in this area. He started small: The first banker to hire a PR agent to build up his profile while still at his BankAm desk. It's not that BankAmers of Kapoor's vintage were any less competent. There was Jaspal Singh Bindra, the executive chairman of the Centrum Group (he was also the former group executive director and CEO for Asia at Standard Chartered Bank, or StanChart); V Shankar, now CEO of the private equity firm, Gateway Partners, and former CEO of StanChart's Middle East, Africa and Americas business; and Vishwavir Ahuja, the reticent managing director and CEO of RBL Bank (he was also boss at BankAm for a decade, a post Kapoor aspired to). Three others from BankAm would walk alongside Kapoor: Srikrishnan H, YES Bank's first executive director and now managing director and CEO of Jio Payments Bank; Sunil Gulati, who sits on the board of many financial companies, including fintechs; and the relatively younger Ajay Mahajan, who recently resigned as the wholesale banking head of IDFC First Bank. Kapoor thought he was streets ahead of them. "You please set aside this bit of Kapoor being more hardworking and networked compared to the rest of us. What made him different was that he was not a banker at all by temperament. He was a businessman, a typical lalaji at that. He had to win at any cost," notes a banker. What further helped bolster the Kapoor mythology was that the 1990s were a time when only a handful of journalists covered foreign banks. As a result, they knew senior officials personally. As the media exploded in the decade to follow and access became rare, any narrative would be lapped up. That is why references to Kapoor's family connections never caught fire during the 1990s. That his father, an Indian Airlines pilot for 37 years, had been a mentor pilot to a young Rajiv Gandhi and a close associate of Congress leader Satish Sharma. At BankAm, where many of his colleagues were drawn from the IIMs and IITs or were the cream among chartered accountants, Kapoor, with an MBA from Rutgers University, New Jersey, was an upstart. His hankering for exclusivity would see him create a prime minister's office-like setup within YES Bank on the 9th floor of the Nehru Centre in Worli, south central Mumbai. Even the senior-most colleagues did not have easy access to him. A control freak, Kapoor would involve himself in the minutiae of every small credit decision. Kapoor sahib hated to be kept waiting, even at the lift -- it would be held up and kept open for him. The power play was par for the course -- page 3 parties and hobnobbing with the rich, powerful and famous. "Books, art, literature, culture -- he had little to do with any of these. But, he had his YES Foundation's 'YES! I Am The CHANGE' social film movement. (It made short films with social messages.) Had fate not caught up with him, he would have cameoed in a Bollywood movie," notes a corporate borrower. An entire movie may well be made on him now. He never let go of a chance to be in the news cycle. During the United Progressive Alliance years, Kapoor would insert himself into the frame whenever the finance minister of the time -- Pranab Mukherjee or P Chidambaram -- interacted with industry. "I truly admired him for pulling off these feats when there were much bigger names around," says a rival. This obsession with the media sometimes reached ridiculous levels. Like when he issued this press release on Republic Day in 2016: 'I would like to extend a warm welcome to French President Francois Hollande. I am greatly encouraged by the agreements signed by our two leaders... the landmark deal for procuring 36 Rafale Jets will greatly benefit India's armed forces.' He was sensitive enough to add: 'It is with great pride that I wish all fellow Indians a happy and prosperous Republic Day.' It reminds one of the character Private Zero from Mort Walker's Beetle Bailey comic strips. Photograph: PTI Photo Lady luck and Rana Kapoor It remains a mystery why Harkirat Singh, who helmed Deutsche Bank in India for nearly two decades till late 1997, agreed to have Kapoor onboard as a partner in YES Bank. A much-respected banker, Singh was the brain behind 'project YES Bank' and had initiated talks with Mint Road and North Block to make a case for a private bank to be set up by professionals. In the original business plan, YES Bank was to mirror Rabobank in its profile -- with interests in agri-tech, pharma, telecom, education, green-power and by offering financing technology solutions for the future. The partnership with The Netherland-based triple-A rated cooperative bank -- the only one in the world as on date -- by YES Bank's three original promoters (Singh, Kapur and Kapoor, who came on board a little later) was a well-planned dry run. Through Rabo India Finance. There is a backstory worth telling here. Post-BankAm, Kapoor had taken on the country head's role at ANZ Investment Bank. <>It is said this job came his way because Kapur, an old ANZ Grindlays Bank hand, knew its then CEO in India, Mehli Mistry, well. Now ANZ Investment Bank was largely into cross-border syndicated loans and power projects. The Pokhran-II nuclear tests in May 1998 saw the cross-border syndicated loan market collapse because of sanctions being imposed; many power projects in the works over which there was a question mark were now simply unviable. Kapoor was for all practical purposes in the job market once again. It's unlikely that Singh was coerced into taking on Kapoor in the YES Bank arrangement. The grapevine has it that Kapur, being generous, "felt obliged to settle his brother-in-law professionally". It's another matter that by the time YES Bank rolled out in 2004, Singh was out of the tent like the Arab in the fable, 'The Camel and the Arab', and the Rabobank-like model was junked. Kapoor later pulled off a similar stunt with Kapur's family as well -- with regard to a YES Bank board seat to his niece, Shagun Kapur Gogia (she finally joined the board in 2019 after years of infighting and litigation). Madness in the method "Let me tell you this. Until Kapur's unfortunate and untimely death in 2008, the quality of internal controls and board debates at YES was top class," says a former board member. Kapoor, too, had mellowed down a lot, though he retained his arrogance. "He worked like a maniac, and drank only on weekends. He did not push his luck with senior colleagues." By John O'Donnell and Tom Sims FRANKFURT (Reuters) - As Germany rolls out a 750 billion-euro economic stimulus package, officials and experts are discussing whether German lenders, including Deutsche Bank AG and Commerzbank AG, will be able to weather the economic fallout of coronavirus without state help. Interviews with more than a dozen people, including government officials and senior bankers, show some officials fear that if the crisis persists, weakened lenders would choke off credit to the economy and worsen the situation. For now though, several sources said Chancellor Angela Merkel's government is focusing on propping up non-financial companies under the stimulus package and no action is expected on banks in the near term. Their hope is that the support to non-financial companies through the aid package will prevent the loans from going bad, avoiding a hit to the banking sector, the sources said. Deutsche Bank said it is financially strong, and its discussions with the government were focused on how the banking industry could support the real economy. Commerzbank pointed to its low proportion of non-performing loans of 0.9% to underscore its strength. In a statement to Reuters, the finance ministry said: "All Corona-based programmes of the German government are explicitly focusing on the non-banking sectors. There are no plans to extend such programmes to other sectors." The government believes the aid package has bought Germany three months of breathing space, three of the sources said. Nevertheless, a debate has begun over what could be done to reinforce the banks should the need arise. Officials have discussed various options in recent weeks to reinforce the banking sector, should it become necessary, several sources said. These include a state agency taking stakes in banks to inject capital, said four of the sources. State guarantees could be given to vouch for the creditworthiness of listed banks as well as state-backed commercial lenders, bolstering their standing, one person said. Story continues A spokesman for the finance ministry denied these options were currently under consideration. "None of this is happening," he said. (GRAPHIC: Deutsche Banks lost decade - https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/editorcharts/jznpnzrwplm/index.html) (GRAPHIC: Difficult times for Commerzbank - https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/editorcharts/jznvnzawvlm/index.html) RISK BUILD-UP Lars Feld, the chairman of the German government's council of economic experts, played down current risks to lenders such as Deutsche. "If you can avoid insolvencies of companies, the banks are safe, he told Reuters in an interview. "But if additional support is required for the banking sector, the government will do it. All of this assumes, however, that the current measures have failed," Feld said. The council, which advises the chancellery, finance ministry and economy ministry on policy, warned the government in an 101-page report in late March that an economic slump could spill over to banks. "If tackling the coronavirus takes longer, the number of insolvencies will rise, which could, in turn, put banks in distress," the council wrote. Jan Pieter Krahnen, a finance expert at Goethe University and advisor to the finance ministry, said it was "very likely" that banks would need state aid as their corporate customers run down credit lines and fail to pay back loans. "It is very apparent that there is a risk build-up," Krahnen said. "In the end, the accumulation of the problems will happen in the financial sector." Some officials have considered the idea of a forced recapitalization, which is reminiscent of the U.S. government's Troubled Asset Relief Program during the financial crisis of 2008, four of the sources said. Under TARP, the American government injected nearly $250 billion into the countrys banks in return for preferred shares and warrants. Many analysts believe the move helped stabilize the financial system. "It avoided the stigmatization of individual banks," said Florian Toncar, a member of the German parliament's influential financial committee, declining to discuss any specifics. IN GOOD SHAPE Other experts played down the concerns about the financial fallout from the coronavirus. Volker Wieland, another member of the council of economic experts, said some steps had already been taken to help banks, including regulatory relief on banking rules and the governments support to companies. "For now the banks are not the hardest hit, Wieland said. I don't think we should now say the next step would be to have the same programme for the banks." Much is at stake for Germany. It needs a strong banking sector to support the economy, and its two largest banks have struggled in recent years. The shares of Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank have roughly halved in recent weeks. For a graphic, click https://reut.rs/3bIbYrk and https://reut.rs/2R2Fjoq In an interview, Commerzbank board member Roland Boekhout said, "The corona crisis is not a financial crisis. The banks are in good shape." A Deutsche Bank spokesman said the bank was not aware of any consideration being given to assistance to domestic banks." "Our liquidity and capital strength enable us to play a crucial role in helping clients navigate through this environment," the spokesman added. Indeed, the banks tier 1 common equity ratio, a measure of capital strength, is 13.6%, comfortably above the regulatory requirements. One senior person at Deutsche Bank said the bank was not discussing state aid. But the person added that the question could arise if the economy deteriorated. (Additional reporting to Patricia Uhlig in FRANKFURT and Matt Scuffham in New York; Editing by Rachel Armstrong, Paritosh Bansal and Edward Tobin) The Wisconsin Supreme Court blocked Gov. Tony Evers' executive order suspending in-person voting in Tuesday's elections, launching a final scramble for election officials to prepare polling places and protect voters and workers hours before balloting was scheduled to begin. The decision came the same day Evers, a Democrat, issued the order, which had prompted an immediate legal challenge from Republican lawmakers who argued that postponing the election would sow confusion. In a 4-2 decision, the state court offered no explanation for the ruling. The rapid developments unleashed a torrent of confusion across Wisconsin. After Evers issued the order, some local governments announced that voting was canceled, while state officials urged election clerks to proceed as if the polls would open. Legal experts, meanwhile, questioned whether Evers' actions were constitutional. "Unfortunately, they turned the health of our state into a political issue," said Lois Frank, the village clerk in tiny Cambria, in eastern Wisconsin. The bitter showdown presented a grueling test case for other states planning primaries during the coronavirus pandemic, not to mention the November elections. It also foreshadowed the likelihood that Wisconsin, by some measures the most important presidential battleground state, could become the epicenter of partisan rancor as the health crisis continues to upend the 2020 race. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday stopped a plan for extended absentee voting in Tuesday's Wisconsin primary, turning aside pleas from Democrats that thousands of the state's voters will be disenfranchised because of disruptions caused by the pandemic. The ruling was 5 to 4, with the court's conservatives in the majority. Citing the intensifying threat of the virus, Evers ordered the postponement of in-person voting and the receipt deadline for mail-in ballots to June 9. He said he made the decision to act unilaterally because of dire warnings by the White House over the weekend, when several Trump administration officials predicted that infections would worsen dramatically during the coming week. Mass cancellations by poll workers, and subsequent consolidation of voting sites, also diminished the prospect for safe elections, he said. "At the end of the day, this is about the people of Wisconsin," Evers said in an interview Monday. "They frankly don't care much about Republicans and Democrats fighting. They're scared. We have the surgeon general saying this is Pearl Harbor. It's time to act." The abrupt move came after the GOP-controlled state legislature had refused to postpone the vote during a special session Evers called Saturday. Shortly after Evers issued the order, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, a Republican, tweeted: "We don't live in a banana republic where the executive can just cancel elections because he doesn't want to hold them." The day's events left voters and local election officials reeling - and left open the questions of how many poll workers would show up Tuesday, how many polling sites would be able to open, and whether sufficient precautions would be possible to prevent the spread of the pandemic. Members of the Wisconsin Election Commission huddled in a tense emergency meeting Monday evening, expressing uncertainty about how to enforce the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling ordering that all ballots be postmarked by Tuesday instead of April 13, the date set by a lower-court judge. "We failed them," Democratic appointee Ann Jacobs said of voters, "and the glee with which this is being extolled as a victory is astonishing." As of Monday, Wisconsin had reported 2,440 confirmed coronavirus cases and 77 fatalities. State officials said that the real numbers may be much higher and that moving ahead with the election would accelerate the spread. "I just hope people keep us in their thoughts and prayers because, on that day, we're going to be on the front lines just like the health-care workers," said Frank, the Cambria clerk, who has health problems and has been forced to defy her doctor's orders to stay home to avoid infection. "I just personally know a lot of clerks that do have health risks, myself included." Ted Faust, who resigned in protest as clerk of Waterloo Township last week and urged his county's other clerks to do the same en masse, said holding the election "doesn't seem sensible whatsoever." "It seemed to me that things had developed into a contest for political advantage between the governor and the legislature, with we clerks being the pawns in between," Faust said. "It just feels like you're being used." Jay Heck, the executive director of Common Cause of Wisconsin, said he was "terrified" by the idea of the state holding the election Tuesday, given the mounting health risks. For the first time in nearly 25 years in his role, he is not encouraging people to vote in person, which "flies in the face of everything I believe in." "It's insanity. It's just insanity," an emotional Heck said midday Monday, before the governor's order, describing the ways people could contract coronavirus at a polling place. "It makes me cry thinking about what is going to happen tomorrow. It really does." It appeared that the results of Tuesday's vote would not be immediately available. Meagan Wolfe, the state election administrator, said late Monday that she is instructing clerks not to report election results until 4 p.m. on April 13 and that releasing any totals before then would violate a federal court order issued last week. Tuesday's contests include the Democratic presidential primary between former vice president Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., as well as local elections and a high-stakes contest for the state Supreme Court, which features a conservative incumbent facing a liberal challenger. Whether Evers had the authority to postpone the elections had became the subject of heated debate in Wisconsin. As recently as Friday, amid widespread calls that he act, the governor told reporters: "I can't move this election or change it on my own. My hands are tied." And he acknowledged Monday that a Republican court challenge is "likely." "I just absolutely believe the people of Wisconsin are ready for this and will embrace it, and I'm counting on the judicial system to feel the same," Evers said. "Regardless of the legal issues, I absolutely have the belief that the governor has to step up and stand up for those people. No one else is." Evers also argued in a court filing Monday that he does have the authority to act in an emergency such as the pandemic. Legal experts were divided on the subject. Michael Morley, a law professor at Florida State University, tweeted that Evers' action "appears to exceed his power under Wisconsin law" because the state lacks an emergency statute specifically governing the electoral process. Republicans had opposed moving the election date with legislation, arguing that doing 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. Evers' order on Monday both postponed Tuesday's voting and extended the terms of thousands of municipal officials whose terms expire in April and are on the spring ballot. In his order, Evers said he was calling yet another special session on Tuesday, when he hopes lawmakers will pass legislation conforming state law with the new ballot deadline. But Vos and Senate Republican Leader Scott Fizgerald had argued in their legal filing that the governor does not have authority to alter statutes or set elections. The two praised the court's ruling late Monday, and they thanked the state's clerks for the work lying ahead. "The safety and health of our citizens have always been our highest concern; that's why we advocated for everyone to vote absentee," they wrote. "Wisconsin has responded in droves. Over a million ballots have been requested for tomorrow's election. We continue to believe that citizens should be able to exercise their right to vote at the polls on Election Day, should they choose to do so." "This election will proceed as planned," they said. Separately, the U.S. Supreme Court in its decision said lower courts had ordered an extension "which would allow voters to mail their ballots after election day, which is extraordinary relief and would fundamentally alter the nature of the election by allowing voting for six additional days after the election." The court's liberals - Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan - objected. "This Court now intervenes at the eleventh hour to prevent voters who have timely requested absentee ballots from casting their votes," Ginsburg wrote. She said it "boggles the mind" that the court majority was trying to apply the court's usual rules in an unprecedented time of national turmoil. "The question here is whether tens of thousands of Wisconsin citizens can vote safely in the midst of a pandemic," Ginsburg wrote, adding: "Either they will have to brave the polls, endangering their own and others' safety. Or they will lose their right to vote, through no fault of their own." Democrats and voting activists accused Republicans 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, Republican 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 moving the Democratic contest to March would give the justice a "better chance" of winning. Kelly offered his own opinion on Twitter Monday - even though he has been recusing himself from election-related cases. He did not participate in the decision, the court said later. "From the very beginning of this campaign, all we have wanted is an election conducted according to the law," Kelly wrote. "While the Governor's order is being challenged in court, we urge clerks, poll workers, and voters to stand ready to conduct the election tomorrow." He added in another tweet: "We can do two things at the same time: maintain the foundations of our democracy while taking reasonable precautions to keep people safe." President Donald Trump offered his own boost to Kelly's campaign Monday night, tweeting: "The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that tomorrow's election will proceed as scheduled. VOTE for Justice Daniel Kelly tomorrow, and be safe!" Local officials and civil rights advocates had commended Evers' decision Monday - but with the caveat that the court could intervene. "Governor Evers' action today firmly places him on the right side of public health and the right side of history," Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said in a statement. "Wisconsin citizens can be proud that he is saving lives and bolstering our democracy." "We encourage those voting absentee to make every effort to return their absentee ballots by tomorrow to guarantee their vote is counted," said Chris Ott, who heads the ACLU of Wisconsin. "We also ask those planning to vote in-person to check media reports on Tuesday, to confirm whether or not the Governor's order to postpone still stands." Ott added that the "chaos and confusion" surrounding Tuesday's election is "unacceptable" and underscores the need for coordinated preparations for the November elections. Despite mounting concerns in recent weeks among voters and poll workers about the risk of Tuesday's in-person voting, Evers waited until Friday to first call for the presidential primaries and local elections to be postponed. He said he did not act earlier because he believed in-person voting could be safe because so many Wisconsinites voted by mail, and because those planning to vote on Election Day would be widely dispersed among thousands of polling places across the state. That is no longer true, with mass cancellations among poll workers forcing local election administrators to shutter hundreds of voting sites, the governor said. Milwaukee, for instance, announced late last week that it planned to open five voting sites compared with the usual 180. "Frankly, I don't know how five polling places in the city of Milwaukee can be safe, and that's why I'm doing what I'm doing," Evers said at a news conference Monday. After Evers's order, Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich issued an order postponing voting until June 9. But around the same time, the Wisconsin Election Commission issued guidance to local clerks, urging them to continue preparing for Tuesday. "I know too much has already been asked of you, but we ask you to proceed with your Election Day preparations as we do not know the outcome of any possible litigation, and we need to be prepared if the election is held tomorrow," wrote Meagan Wolfe, the state election administrator. On Sunday, two Democratic appointees on the Wisconsin Elections Commission denounced the legislature for moving forward with in-person voting, warning that the move would put the lives of Wisconsin voters at risk. "Your failure to address these profound issues and the safety of all of Wisconsin's residents during yesterday's special session is unconscionable and is an abdication of your constitutional responsibilities as our leaders," said Ann Jacobs and Mark Thomsen in a letter to Fitzgerald and Vos. In addition, the mayors of 11 Wisconsin cities - including Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay - urged state Health Services Secretary Andrea Palm in a letter to use her emergency powers to postpone voting on Tuesday. - - - Simmons reported from Milwaukee. The Washington Post's Robert Barnes in Washington contributed to this report. What Is Climate Change? Is It Different From Global Warming? Climate change is actually not a new phenomenon. Scientists have been studying the connection between human activity and the effect on the climate since the 1800s, although it took until the 1950s to find evidence suggesting a link. Since then, the amount of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases) in the atmosphere have steadily increased, taking a sharp jump in the late 1980s when the summer of 1988 became the warmest on record. (There have been many records broken since then.) But climate change is not a synonym for global warming. The term global warming entered the lexicon in the 1950s, but didnt become a common buzzword until a few decades later when more people started taking notice of a warming climate. Except climate change encompasses a greater realm than just rising temperatures. Trapped gases also affect sea-level rise, animal habitats, biodiversity and weather patterns. For example, Texas severe winter storms in February 2021 demonstrate how the climate isnt merely warming. Why Is Climate Change Important? Why Does It Matter? Marc Guitard / Moment / Getty Images Despite efforts from forward thinkers such as SpaceX Founder Elon Musk to colonize Mars, Earth remains our home for the foreseeable future, and the more human activity negatively impacts the climate, the less habitable it will become. Its estimated that Earth has already warmed about one degree Celsius, or two degrees Fahrenheit, since the start of the Industrial Revolution around the 1750s, although climate change tracking didnt start until the late 1800s. That warming number may not sound like much, but this increase has already resulted in more frequent and severe wildfires, hurricanes, floods, droughts and winter storms, to name some examples. Environmental Impacts Then theres biodiversity loss, another fallout of climate change thats threatening rainforests and coral reefs and accelerating species extinction. Take rainforests, which act as natural carbon sinks by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. But as rampant deforestation is occurring everywhere from Brazils Amazon to Borneo, fewer trees mean that rainforests are becoming carbon sources, emitting more carbon than theyre absorbing. Meanwhile, coral reefs are dying as warming ocean temperatures trigger bleaching events, which cause corals to reject algae, their main food and life source. Fewer trees, coral reefs and other habitats also equate to fewer species. Known as the sixth mass extinction, a 2019 UN report revealed that up to a million plant and animal species could become extinct within decades. Human Impact It can be easy to overlook climate change in day-to-day life, or even realize that climate change is behind it. Notice theres yet another romaine lettuce recall due to E. Coli? Research suggests that E. Coli bacteria are becoming more common in our food sources as it adapts to climate change. Cant find your favorite brand of coffee beans anymore? Or that the price has doubled? Climate change is affecting that too. Climate change is also worsening air quality and seasonal allergies, along with polluting tap water. Not least, many preliminary studies have also drawn a line between climate change and the deadly COVID-19 pandemic that is still gripping much of the world. Future pandemics are likely to happen more frequently until the root causes, such as deforestation, are addressed. Speaking of larger-scale issues, global water scarcity is already happening more frequently. The Caribbean is facing water shortages due to rising temperatures and decreased rainfall; Australias dams may run dry by 2022 as severe wildfires increase and Cape Town, South Africa has already faced running out of water. As touched upon earlier, its one thing to be inconvenienced by a lack of romaine lettuce for a couple of weeks or higher coffee bean prices, but reports warn how climate change will continue to threaten global food security, to the point of triggering a worldwide food crisis if temperatures surpass two degrees Celsius. Many of these factors are already contributing to climate migration, forcing large numbers of people to relocate to other parts of the world in search of better living conditions. Unless more immediate, drastic action is taken to combat climate change, future generations will have to contend with worst-case scenario projections by the end of the 21st century, not limited to coastal cities going underwater, including Miami; lethal heat levels from South Asia to Central Africa; and more frequent extreme weather events involving hurricanes, wildfires, tsunamis, droughts, floods, blizzards and more. Whats Happening and Why? Fiddlers Ferry power station in Warrington, UK. Chris Conway / Moment / Getty Images The Earths temperature has largely remained stable until industrial times and the introduction of greenhouse gases. These gases have forced the atmosphere to retain heat, as evidenced by rising global temperatures. As the planet grows warmer, glaciers melt faster, sea levels rise, severe flooding increases and droughts and extreme weather events become more deadly. The Greenhouse Effect In the late 1800s, Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius studied the connection between the amount of atmospheric carbon and its ability to warm and cool the Earth, and while his initial calculations suggested extreme warming as carbon increased, researchers didnt start to take human-induced climate change seriously until the late 20th century. But proof of human-led climate change can be traced to the 1850s, and satellites are among the ways that scientists have been tracking increased greenhouse gases and their climate impact in more recent years. Climate researchers have also documented warmer oceans, ocean acidification, shrinking ice sheets, decreased snow amounts and extreme weather as among the events resulting from greenhouse gases heating the planet. Numerous factors contribute to the production of greenhouse gases, known as the greenhouse effect. One of the biggest causes involve burning fossil fuels, including coal, oil and natural gas, to power everything from cars to daily energy needs (electricity, heat). From 1970-2011, fossil fuels have comprised 78 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. Big Ag is another greenhouse contributor, particularly beef production, with the industry adding 10 percent in 2019. This is attributed to clearing land for crops and grazing and growing feed, along with methane produced by cows themselves. In the U.S. alone, Americans consumed 27.3 billion pounds of beef in 2019. Then theres rampant deforestation occurring everywhere from the Amazon to Borneo. A 2021 study from Rainforest Foundation Norway found that two-thirds of the worlds rainforests have already been destroyed or degraded. In Brazil, deforestation reached a 12-year-high in 2020 under right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro. As it stands, reports predict that the Amazon rainforest will collapse by 2064. Rainforests are important carbon sinks, meaning the trees capture and remove carbon from the atmosphere. As rainforests collapse, the remaining trees will begin emitting more greenhouse gases than theyre absorbing. Meanwhile, a recent study revealed that abandoned oil and gas wells are leaking more methane than previously believed, with U.S. wells contributing up to 20 percent of annual methane emissions. Not least is the cement industry. Cement is heavily used throughout the global construction industry, and accounts for around eight percent of carbon dioxide emissions. Natural Climate Change Granted, natural climate change exists as well, and can be traced throughout history, from solar radiation triggering the Ice Ages to the asteroid strike that rapidly raised global temperatures and eliminated dinosaurs and many other species in the process. Other sources of natural climate change impacts include volcano eruptions, ocean currents and orbital changes, but these sources generally have smaller and shorter-term environmental impacts. How We Can Combat Climate Change Participant holding a sign at the climate march on Sept. 20, 2020, in Manhattan. A coalition of climate, Indigenous and racial justice groups gathered at Columbus Circle to kick off Climate Week with the Climate Justice Through Racial Justice march. Erik McGregor / LightRocket / Getty Images While the latest studies and numbers can often feel discouraging about societys ability to prevent the worst-case climate scenarios from happening, theres still time to take action. As a Society In 2015 at COP 21 in Paris, 197 countries came together to sign the Paris Agreement, an international climate change treaty agreeing to limit global warming in this century to two degrees Celsius, and ideally 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels; its believed that the planet has warmed one degree Celsius since 1750. Studies show that staying within the two-degree range will prevent the worst-case climate scenarios from happening. Achieving this goal requires participating parties to drastically slash greenhouse gas emissions sooner rather than later. However, there have already been numerous setbacks since then, from former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrawing from the Paris Agreement in 2020 to world leaders, such as China, the worlds biggest polluter, failing to enact aggressive climate action plans. Yet many of the treaty participants have been slow to implement changes, putting the world on track to hit 3.2 degrees Celsius by the end of the 21st century even if the initial goals are met. However, its worth noting that U.S. President Joe Biden rejoined the Paris Agreement in 2021, and pledged to cut greenhouse gases in half by 2030. Then theres the Montreal Protocol, a 1987 global agreement to phase out ozone-depleting substances such as chlorofluorocarbons, chemicals that were commonly used in air-conditioning, refrigeration and aerosols. Recent studies show that parts of the ozone are recovering, proving that a unified commitment to combatting climate change issues does make a difference. On a smaller scale, carbon offset initiatives allow companies and individuals to invest in environmental programs that offset the amount of carbon thats produced through work or lifestyle. For example, major companies (and carbon emitters) such as United Airlines and Shell have pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in part by participating in carbon offset programs that remove carbon from the atmosphere. The problem is that these companies are still producing high levels of fossil fuel emissions. While individuals can make a small impact through carbon offsets, the greater responsibility lies with carbon-emitting corporations to find and implement greener energy alternatives. This translates to car companies producing electric instead of gas vehicles or airlines exploring alternative fuel sources. It also requires major companies to rely more on solar and wind energy for their energy needs. In Our Own Lives While its up to corporations to do the heavy lifting of carbon reduction, that doesnt mean individuals cant make a difference. Adopting a vegan lifestyle, using public transportation, switching to an electric car and becoming a more conscious consumer are all ways to help combat climate change. Veganism Consuming meat relies on clearing land for crops and animals, while raising and killing livestock contributes to about 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the UNs Food and Agricultural Organization. By comparison, choosing a plant-based diet could reduce greenhouse gas footprints by as much as 70 percent, especially when choosing local produce and products. Public Transportation Riding public trains, subways, buses, trams, ferries and other types of public transportation is another easy way to lower your carbon footprint, considering that gas-powered vehicles contribute 95 percent of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. Electric Vehicles Electric cars and trucks have come down in price as more manufacturers enter the field, and these produce far lower emissions than their gas counterparts. Hybrid vehicles are another good alternative for lowering individual emission contributions. Conscious Consumption Buying locally produced food and items is another way to maintain a lower carbon footprint, as the products arent shipped or driven long distances. Supporting small companies that are committed to sustainability is another option, especially when it comes to clothes. Fast fashion has become a popular option thanks to its price point, but often comes at the expense of the environment and can involve unethical overseas labor practices. Not least, plastic saturates every corner of the consumer market, but its possible to find non-plastic alternatives with a little research, from reusable produce bags to baby bottles. Climate Activism Those interested in becoming even more involved can join local climate action organizations. Popular groups include the Sunrise Movement, Fridays for Future, Greenpeace and the Sierra Club, to name a few. Voting, volunteering, calling local representatives and participating in climate marches are additional ways to raise your voice. Takeaway Its taken centuries to reach a climate tipping point, with just a matter of decades left to prevent the worst-case climate scenarios from happening. But theres still hope of controlling a warming climate as long as individuals, companies and nations make an immediate concerted effort to lower greenhouse gas emissions. As the world already experienced with the COVID-19 pandemic, a rapid unified response can make all the difference. Meredith Rosenberg is a senior editor at EcoWatch. She holds a Masters from the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism in NYC and a B.A. from Temple University in Philadelphia. Irrfan Khan's "Angrezi Medium" released at a time when the coronavirus pandemic was starting to hit India, resulting in closure of theatres around the country. Now with the film finding its way onto the digital medium, the movie's team got a chance to reunite, virtually, and watch it together. The film had its world digital premiere on Disney+ Hotstar VIP on April 6. The "Angrezi Medium" cast got emotional with the digital medium bringing them together, despite the distance and lockdown. Irrfan and Radhika Madan were joined by Kiku Sharda, Pankaj Tripathi, Deepak Dobriyal, Ranvir Shorey as well as Dinesh Vijan and Homi Adajania during the video chat. Irrfan, however, didn't come in front of the camera during the video chat. Directed by Homi Adajania, "Angrezi Medium" revolves around a father-daughter relationship, played out by Irrfan and Radhika. It also features Dimple Kapadia and Kareena Kapoor Khan. The film is presented by Jio Studios and Prem Vijan, and is a Maddock Films production. Talking about the film coming on a streaming service, Kareena said: "Naina is always going to be a special character for me. But more importantly, as an artist, it is fascinating to explore new mediums to reach audiences. I can't wait to catch Angrezi Medium' on Disney+Hostar VIP -- the film is a sure shot cure for these isolation blues." To this, Deepak added: "At a time like this, it's very important for all of us to stay home and stay safe. But we hope to keep you entertained during this process and I am extremely excited that Angrezi Medium' is now out on a digital platform. This movie is very close to my heart and having worked with Irrfan bhai yet again is a joyous feeling." Deborah Birx, coronavirus response coordinator, speaks during a Coronavirus Task Force news conference at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Sunday, April 5, 2020. A significant number of states lack enough intensive care unit beds in their hospitals to deal with a wave of projected coronavirus cases in coming days and weeks. The nationwide projected shortfall of 16,232 ICU beds starkly illustrated on a state-by-state basis in charts below raises chances of a cascade of coronavirus patients overwhelming ICU units and spilling over into other beds in individual hospitals. As of Monday, 20 states did not have enough ICU beds to handle the peak number of coronavirus cases they are projected to receive, according to a model cited by the White House last week. And at least seven states lack enough total hospital beds, ICU or otherwise, to handle the projected number of COVID-19 patients coming in the next several weeks, according to that model. The projection model was created by The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, a research center at UW Medicine, part of the University of Washington. Dr. Deborah Birx, the coronavirus response coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force, last week mentioned the projections by IHME, developed under its director, Christopher Murray. Birx said that the group's model had generated the "same numbers" about hospital bed capacity as federal officials had found when they did projections "utilizing actual reporting of cases." "If you go on his website, you can see the concern that we had with the growing number of potential fatalities," Birx added. IHME's model, which is updated daily, on Monday projected that 29,210 ICU beds nationally will be needed to deal with the anticipated surge of COVID-19 patients. That is more than double the amount of the expected shortfall of such beds. For all types of hospital beds, the projection says 140,823 beds will be needed nationwide. That is 36,654 more hospital beds of all kinds than are currently available. The projected shortfall in hospital beds comes as the White House has estimated that between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans will die from the coronavirus. As of Monday there were more than 352,500 reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S., and close to 10,400 reported deaths. The actual numbers of both virus cases and deaths likely are much higher. Also Monday, the internal watchdog of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department issued a report saying that "hospitals reported that their most significant challenges centered on testing and caring for patients with known or suspected COVID-19 and keeping staff safe." "Hospitals also reported substantial challenges maintaining or expanding their facilities' capacity to treat patients with COVID-19," according to the report by HHS' Office of the Inspector General. The same report found that 3 out of every 4 hospitals in the United States are currently treating actual or suspected COVID-19 cases. The hospital shortfall projected by IHME's model is particularly dire in New York, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States. That state has the biggest disparity between the current number of ICU beds and projected cases of COVID-19 patients. New York is on track to hit its peak of projected coronavirus cases requiring ICU care by Wednesday, a week before its neighbor New Jersey is expected to hit its own peak with significantly fewer ICU beds than it might need. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo late last week said the 2,500-bed temporary hospital set up at the Javits Center in Manhattan which normally hosts huge trade shows would accept coronavirus patients to relieve pressure on permanent hospitals in New York City and areas of the state close to the Big Apple. Previously, the Javits Center was designated to only accept non-coronavirus cases. On Monday, Cuomo said he will ask President Donald Trump to authorize the 1,000-bed Navy hospital ship Comfort, which is currently docked in Manhattan, to accept COVID-19 patients. The ship currently does not accept patients with the virus. "We don't need the Comfort for non-COVID cases, we need it for COVID," Cuomo said. The latest novel coronavirus news from Canada and around the world Monday (this file will be updated throughout the day) with web links to longer stories if available: 10:37 p.m.: Strict social distancing measures remain in place around the globe as leaders struggle to contain the coronavirus outbreak. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte extended his countrys lockdown by half a month to April 30. And in South Korea, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun repeated his public pleas for social distancing and lamented that young people were lining up at clubs and other leisure facilities at risk of becoming quiet spreaders of the virus. 8:04 p.m.: Yukon says it has placed enforcement officers at its borders and at the Whitehorse airport to get details of travellers self-isolation plans, their contact information and to look for any symptoms of COVID-19. The government says officers were stationed on Monday at five checkpoints from British Columbia and one from the Northwest Territories. 7:45 p.m.: 3M says it will continue to send its coveted N95 respirators to Canada after reaching an agreement with the White House to import millions of the increasingly scarce medical face masks from China for use in the United States. The Minnesota-based company issued a release late Monday after President Donald Trump announced the company would be producing 166.5 million masks over the next few months for the U.S. market. 3M says it worked with the Trump administration to make sure it could meet soaring American demand for the N95 masks without sacrificing its ability to provide the life-saving equipment to customers in Canada and Latin America. Trump picked a fight with 3M last week after hearing reports that the company was selling its masks outside the U.S. despite the fact there wasnt enough supply in the country to meet the needs of health-care workers battling COVID-19. The president invoked the Defense Production Act to compel companies like 3M to prioritize domestic orders. But the company pushed back, insisting that denying masks to Canada and Latin America would have serious humanitarian ramifications. 7:20 p.m.: New York City officials are starting to lay contingency plans if deaths from the coronavirus outbreak begin to overwhelm the capacity of morgues: temporarily burying the dead on public land. Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday that the city would consider temporary burials if the deaths from the coronavirus outbreak exceed the space available in city and hospital morgues, but it had not reached that point. Earlier Monday, the chairman of the city council health committee, Mark Levine, had sparked an uproar among city residents when he said on Twitter that the office of the chief medical examiner was looking into creating temporary mass graves in a public park. The mayor firmly denied there were plans to use a park as a temporary grave site. His press secretary, Freddi Goldstein, said that if such a step became necessary, the city would bury people on Hart Island in the Bronx. 6 p.m.: A 25-year-old Quebec man appeared in court Monday in connection with a brutal assault against a Walmart security guard who was enforcing the stores COVID-19 public health directives. Nacime Kouddar was formally charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon, aggravated assault and failure to stop after an accident. The guard, Phillipe Jean, 35, remains in critical condition in hospital. He was struck by a car allegedly driven by Kouddar and dragged on the hood of the vehicle for several metres, according to police. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. Saturday after a suspect tried to enter the Walmart with his partner, only to be told just one person per vehicle was permitted inside at once. An online fundraiser for Jeans family has reportedly already raised about $14,000. 5:25 p.m.: Another 20 deaths from COVID-19 have been reported in Ontario so far Monday, according to the Stars latest count of the public tallies and press releases issued by the provinces 34 regional health units. As of 5 p.m., with several yet to post a daily update, the health units were reporting a total of 5,102 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, including a total of 165 deaths a total thats nearly four times higher than at this time last week. Monday saw new deaths reported in several regions that have seen deadly outbreaks at long-term care or retirement homes, including Toronto, Durham region, Hamilton, Niagara region and the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. Haliburton is the site of Ontarios worst outbreak since the beginning of the pandemic; three more residents of the Pinecrest Nursing Home were reported dead Monday. In Toronto, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa on Monday said that 15 of the citys 32 COVID-19 deaths have come in long-term care or retirement homes. As of Sunday morning, the province reports that a total of 1,449 patients have recovered after being infected by COVID-19. The province says its data is accurate to 4 p.m. the previous day. The province also cautions its latest count of deaths 119 may be incomplete or out of date due to delays in its reporting system. The local health units post new information to their websites throughout the day. The Stars count includes some patients reported as probable COVID-19 cases, meaning they have symptoms and contacts or travel history that indicate they very likely have the disease, but have not yet received a positive lab test. 4:43 p.m. A day after Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said on Twitter that Canadians on the Coral Princess would be coming home, their long journey with two pit stops in the U.S. was underway. There were 97 Canadian passengers aboard the ship, which left Santiago, Chile, on March 5 and docked in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Friday. The Canadian Press communicated with two couples travelling on the ship, who said that passengers had been allowed to leave and were on a bus headed for the Miami airport. Gary and Sue Lyon said in an email they were on a bus waiting to board a charter flight to Toronto via Columbus and Newark. We are all feeling relieved, happy and excited to go home. We will go home and self-isolate for 14 days, the Lyons said. We appreciate all the crew and staff of the Coral Princess have done for us during this very challenging time. We wish them all the best. North Vancouver resident Sanford Osler, who was travelling with his wife, Betty Ann, said all passengers were wearing masks and gloves. Two people aboard the ship have died, and 12 have tested positive for COVID-19, Princess Cruises has said. Still more are experiencing flu-like symptoms. 4:15 p.m.: Fire Chief Matthew Pegg reports that since March 24, Toronto Public Health has attended 509 bars and restaurants, 173 have been closed, and 21 warnings have been issued for non-compliance. Additionally, 124 personal service settings have been visited, 120 have closed and four warning letters have been issued. 4:14 p.m.: Quebecs premier and its chief medical officer sounded cautiously optimistic on Monday about the provinces battle against COVID-19. Premier Francois Legault said only eight people were hospitalized in the province with the disease over the day prior, a number he called extraordinary. The province reported another 27 deaths on Monday, for a total of 121. Quebec also saw 636 new cases, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 8,580. 4:12 p.m. Six Nations has reported four new confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of cases on the Ontario reserve to seven. The affected residents are in self-isolation. 4:02 p.m. Toronto Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa says there have been 32 deaths in Toronto from COVID-19. There are 1,301 cases in Toronto and 145 people are in hospital, 60 of those are in intensive care. Fifteen of 32 deaths are from long-term care settings, de Villa said. (Updated) 3:55 p.m.: Mayor John Tory says community organizations have partnered with the city to fill gap in access to food halted by COVID-19. Tory says anyone with questions about getting access to food to call 211 or go to http://211toronto.ca. Seniors not receiving food but who qualify for help can register with Red Cross to get food hamper delivery starting tomorrow 1-833-204-9952. 3:55 p.m.: Saskatchewan is reporting four new cases of COVID-19. The province now has a total of 253 cases. It says four people are in hospital, with two of those patients in intensive care. To date, 81 people have recovered from the illness. 3:20 p.m.: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been moved to the intensive care unit of a London hospital after his coronavirus symptoms worsened. Johnsons office says Johnson is conscious and does not require ventilation at the moment. Johnson was admitted to St. Thomas Hospital late Sunday, 10 days after he was diagnosed with COVID-19. Johnson has asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to deputize for him. 3 p.m.: A 61-year-old woman is second COVID-19 death in Newfoundland and Labrador. A 78-year-old retired police officer became the first person to die from COVID-19 in the province just over a week ago. There were nine new cases of COVID-19 in Newfoundland and Labrador on Monday, increasing the provincial total to 226. Chief medical officer of health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says there is a person in a St. Lawrence long-term care facility who has tested positive. 2:45 p.m.: The COVID-19 pandemic has reached Ontarios remote First Nations. A statement from the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority says a positive case has surfaced in Eabametoong First Nation. The community is about 300 kilometres north of Thunder Bay. The health authority says the arrival of the virus will put a strain on a social and health-care system poorly equipped to handle the added stress. 2:33 p.m.: An emergency order now allows Ontario first responders (cops, fire, paramedics) to ask peoples COVID-19 status when responding to a call. Comes after a Peel paramedic got infected at a car collision scene. 2:15 p.m.: Manitoba health officials are reporting one new case of COVID-19, bringing the provinces total to 190 confirmed and 14 presumptive cases. The death toll remains unchanged at two. Eleven people are in hospital, seven of whom are in intensive care. Seventeen people have recovered. 2:15 p.m.: The COVID-19 pandemic has reached Ontarios remote First Nations, a local health authority said Monday as it cautioned the virus would soon place additional strain on a social and health-care system poorly equipped to handle the stress. 2:10 p.m.: New Brunswick is reporting two new cases of COVID-19, raising the provinces total to 103. Chief medical officer Dr. Jennifer Russell says both new cases are in the Moncton area and are close contacts of previous cases. Meanwhile, the New Brunswick government says it has implemented a pandemic task force. Health Minister Hugh Flemming says the task force has a military-like command structure that will allow for a faster response to the pandemic. 2 p.m.: An advocacy group is urging governments to help it add housing to let non-violent female inmates leave jails before the COVID-19 pandemic moves into Atlantic institutions. The executive director of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia is asking Correctional Service Canada for funding to help rapidly set up housing. The organization says its crucial for non-violent offenders to be shifted to the community during the pandemic. 1:38 p.m.: Canadians are leaving the Coral Princess cruise ship, which reached Florida late last week. There were 97 Canadian passengers aboard the ship, which left Santiago, Chile, on March 5 and docked in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Friday. Passengers say some travellers have been allowed to leave and were on a bus headed for the airport. The federal government says Canadians on the Coral Princess who dont have COVID-19 symptoms will be able to return home on a charter aircraft. 1:35 p.m.: Prince Edward Island is reporting no new cases of COVID-19. The provincial total remains at 22. Chief medical officer Dr. Heather Morrison says eight of the provinces cases are considered recovered. 1:30 p.m.: Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister says he has received unanimous support from other premiers for a federal credit agency to help provinces deal with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Pallister says the premiers have written to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asking for financial help. The premier says he wants Ottawa to borrow on behalf of the provinces because the federal government gets a lower interest rate. 1:30 p.m.: Premier Doug Ford confirms that 500,000 3M masks are coming to Ontario. Says hes feeling more confident. There were mixed signals this morning. I have a little bit of optimism now that were going to get this resolved. Ford says close to four million N95 masks ordered and 500,000 of them released. 1:20 p.m.: Ford notes that the previously announced $200 per child under 12 and $250 per special needs child subsidy kicks in today. Apply online. 1:15 p.m.: Ford warns of extremely serious consequences if Ontario residents dont stay home. Our (medical) supplies are strained at this point. He again urges residents to stay home. 1:10 p.m. (this corrects an old item previously published): Quebec Premier Francois Legault says an additional 27 people have died from COVID-19 in the province, bringing the death toll to 121. The total number of cases in Quebec is 8,580, an increase of 636 from the previous day. Of those cases, 533 require hospitalization, and 164 are in intensive care. Legault says the small increase in the number of patients hospitalized, just eight more than Sunday, is encouraging news that could suggest there is light at the end of the tunnel. 12:45 p.m.: Ford to speak at his daily briefing at 1 p.m. Live video of the news conference will be livestreamed at thestar.com 12:40 p.m.: Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says she just spoke with Premier Doug Ford to ensure that all the masks Canada purchased will be exported from the U.S. Ford has been telling reporters today that three million masks were stopped at the border this weekend coming up to Canada. Freeland and Ford have been working closely and talk several times a day. 12:35 p.m.: There has been a second death in Newfoundland and Labrador as a result of COVID-19. Chief medical officer of health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says the latest death is a 61-year-old woman who was admitted to hospital from home. Fitzgerald reports nine new cases of COVID-19 in the province, increasing the provincial total to 226, and says there are eight people in hospital, including two in intensive care. 12:15 p.m.: Three more residents of a nursing home in central Ontario have died of COVID-19, bringing the total number of deaths at the facility up to 26. The wife of a resident at Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon, Ont., has also died from the novel coronavirus. The outbreak at the seniors residence in Ontarios cottage country is considered one of the worst in the country. At least 24 staff members at the facility have also tested positive for COVID-19. 12:13 p.m. (updated): Canadas top public-health doctor says wearing masks is a way for people who might have COVID-19 without realizing it to keep from spreading the illness to others. Thats a change from previous advice. Dr. Theresa Tam says the change is due to increasing evidence that people with the virus can spread it without knowing theyre sick. Cloth masks are advised if Canadians are in a position where they cant be at least two metres away from somebody. She says masks worn this way protect others more than they protect the people wearing them, and dont exempt wearers from all the other measures they should take against COVID-19, including physical distancing and regular handwashing. And Tam says medical masks still need to be preserved for front-line health workers, so cloth masks and other alternatives are the way to go. 12:11 p.m.: Tam says people as young as in their mid-20s are dying of COVID-19. 11:45 a.m.: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Tam will give updated information on the use of masks in public at her daily noon briefing. 11:25 a.m.: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is asked by the Stars Alex Ballingall about Premier Doug Fords comments to CityNews about how Ontario will run out of personal protective equipment for health-care workers in one week after claiming the U.S. stopped a shipment of PPE into Canada. Trudeau says the two countries continue to have productive conversations, and that its a two-way street. 11:24 a.m.: Nova Scotia is reporting 31 new cases of COVID-19. The provinces total has now grown to 293 confirmed cases 64 of which have been resolved. While most cases in Nova Scotia have been connected to travel or a known case, the province has confirmed cases are now being linked to community spread. 11:15 a.m. (updated): Trudeau says 240,000 people successfully applied for emergency relief in the first few hours after Ottawa opened the process. Only people with birthdays in the first three months of the year can apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit today. The benefit offers $500-a-week payments for workers who have lost all of their income. Trudeau says changes to the program will come soon to offer help for people whose hours have been slashed but who are still working a little. 11:08 a.m.: As of 11 a.m., Ontarios local public health units are reporting 4,859 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19, including 149 deaths, according to the Stars latest count of the public tallies and press releases issued by the provinces 34 regional health units. The total number of cases is up nearly 450 cases, or 10.0 per cent, since the same time Sunday morning. The health units have reported 11 new deaths in 24 hours, including four more reported in Peel Region Monday morning. Peel has not yet released any information on these deaths, which bring the regions total to eight since the pandemic began. Meanwhile, the number of people hospitalized and in intensive care continues to grow in Ontario. According to the province, 589 patients are now hospitalized with COVID-19, including 216 in an intensive care unit. The province says its data is accurate to 4 p.m. the previous day. The province also cautions its latest count of deaths 132 may be incomplete or out of date due to delays in its reporting system. The local health units post new information to their websites throughout the day. The Stars count includes some patients reported as probable COVID-19 cases, meaning they have symptoms and contacts or travel history that indicate they very likely have the disease, but have not yet received a positive lab test. 10:50 a.m.: Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is calling on the government to increase the charitable donation tax credit. He says this would help increase charitable contributions to hospitals, churches, food banks, womens shelters and other worthy organizations. Scheer also wants the government to immediately remove the capital gains tax on charitable donations of private company shares and real estate. He says although many businesses are struggling, some are still thriving and should be encouraged to support the charitable sector. 10:40 a.m.: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will hold his daily media briefing about the COVID-19 situation at 11:15 a.m. from Rideau Cottage in Ottawa. Live video of his briefing will be posted here. On Sunday, Trudeau announced details for a cash payment for Canadians out of work because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit will be accepted starting Monday, offering Canadians who have lost their jobs because of the crisis $2,000 a month. 10:24 a.m.: The Open Championship, also known as the British Open, has been cancelled, organizers announced Monday. Its the first time since 1945 that this major golf championship has been cancelled. 10:05 a.m.: VIA Rail has suspended service of the Canadian its service connecting passengers between Toronto and Vancouver until June 1, due to the spread of the coronavirus, the national rail passenger service said in a news release. The measure is needed in light of the continued expansion of travel limitations as well as the widening of physical distancing and isolation measures, the company said. Passengers who booked a trip during this period will be contacted and reimbursed automatically. 10 a.m.: Toronto Mayor John Tory says hes in favour of shutting down High Park, which usually attracts huge crowds for the cherry blossoms later this month. I just dont think that crowd scene is going to work in terms of the kind of physical distance were trying to encourage, Tory told CP24, adding that he hopes to have some announcement this week of some sort of livestream so that people can still see it. Hundreds were turned away from Toronto parks over the weekend as residents defy COVID-19 warnings, the Stars Katie Daubs reports. 9:58 a.m.: Spain reported the lowest number of new coronavirus cases in more than two weeks, a sign that Europes biggest outbreak is slowing. New infections were 4,273, taking the total to 135,032, according to Health Ministry data on Monday. The death toll rose by 637 to 13,055 in the past 24 hours, a smaller gain than Sundays 674 and the lowest number of daily fatalities since March 24. 9:44 a.m.: Stocks jumped in markets around the world Monday after some of the hardest-hit areas offered sparks of hope that the worst of the coronavirus outbreak may be on the horizon. U.S. stocks climbed more than three per cent in the first few minutes of trading, following similar gains in Europe and Asia. Bay Street was up 3.6 per cent at the opening of the market. 9:40 a.m.: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is scheduled to hold his daily media briefing about the COVID-19 situation at 11:15 a.m. Monday from Rideau Cottage in Ottawa. Check back here for the live video from the news conference. 9:15 a.m.: The latest numbers on the Johns Hopkins website report the number of COVID-19 cases worldwide at 1,288,372 with 70,482 deaths. Among those, 270,249 have recovered from the illness. The United States (337,933), Spain (135,032), Italy (128,948) and Germany (100,132) have the highest number of cases. 8:44 a.m.: South Africa, one of the worlds most unequal countries with a large population vulnerable to the new coronavirus, may have an advantage in the outbreak, honed during years battling HIV and tuberculosis: the know-how and infrastructure to conduct mass testing. 8:31 a.m.: The United States and Britain braced for one of their bleakest weeks in living memory on Monday as the social and financial toll of the coronavirus pandemic deepened. New infections in Italy and especially Spain showed signs of slowing, with emergency rooms in the hard-hit Madrid region returning almost to normal a week after scenes of patients sleeping on floors and in chairs. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was infected last month, was hospitalized overnight in what his office described as a precautionary step after persistent symptoms. The 55-year-old Conservative leader, who had a fever for days, is the first known head of government to fall ill with the disease. 8:26 a.m.: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says that he will declare a state of emergency for Tokyo and six other prefectures as early as Tuesday to bolster measures to fight the coronavirus outbreak, but that there will be no hard lockdowns. 7 a.m. Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says Canadian passengers on the Coral Princess cruise ship will be headed home Monday, after undergoing a health screening. Champagne says in a tweet that Canadians who dont show any symptoms of COVID-19 will be allowed to disembark the ship in Florida and get on a flight chartered by Holland America. The minister says theyll be screened again upon arrival and subject to a mandatory 14-day self-isolation period. Some passengers were allowed off the ship yesterday but Canadians werent among them, due to new guidelines by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control guidelines. Those guidelines said cruise passengers shouldnt board commercial flights, meaning only those with chartered flights were able to disembark. 6 a.m.: Three out of four U.S. hospitals surveyed are already treating patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, according to a federal report that finds hospitals expect to be overwhelmed as cases rocket toward their projected peak. 4:15 a.m.: Applications open today for the new federal emergency aid benefit for Canadians who lost their income because of COVID-19. The Canada Revenue Agency will open its application portals this morning to those born in the first three months of the year, with those born in other months able to apply later in the week. People born in April, May and June can apply Tuesday, those born in July, August or September can apply Wednesday and applications are accepted Thursday from people born in October, November and December. Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be open to anyone. More than two million Canadians lost their jobs in the last half of March as businesses across the country were forced to close or reduce their operations to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. Others are unable to work because they are required to self-isolate at home, or need to look after children whose schools and daycares are closed. To be eligible for the emergency benefit, workers must have earned at least $5,000 in 2019, or in the 12 months before applying. The benefit is the same for everyone regardless of previous income, and is a less complicated application process than for employment insurance. Canadians who sign up for direct deposit could get their first payment before the end of the week, while those who opt for printed cheques will get money in 10 days. 4:05 a.m.: Students across Ontario begin online learning today, more than three weeks after COVID-19 shuttered schools in the name of physical distancing. Teachers will lead the effort with both live and pre-recorded lessons, but the move poses challenges nonetheless. The Ministry of Education has said that e-learning cannot fully replace the in-class experience, so the goal is to help students continue their education as much as possible during the pandemic. 4 a.m.: The U.S. Surgeon General says Americans should brace for levels of tragedy reminiscent of the Sept. 11 attacks and the bombing of Pearl Harbor, while the nations infectious disease chief warned Sunday that the new coronavirus may never be completely eradicated from the globe. Those were some of the most grim assessments yet for the immediate future and beyond. But hours later, President Donald Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence tried to strike more optimistic tones, suggesting that hard weeks ahead could mean beginning to turn a corner. Were starting to see light at the end of the tunnel, Trump said at a Sunday evening White House briefing. Pence added, We are beginning to see glimmers of progress. The president, however, added that he thought the next two weeks are going to be very difficult. Earlier Sunday, Surgeon General Jerome Adams told CNN, This is going to be the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans lives, quite frankly. The number of people infected in the U.S. has exceeded 337,000, with the death toll climbing past 9,600. More than 4,100 of those deaths are in the state of New York, but a glimmer of hope there came on Sunday when Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo said his state registered a small dip in new fatalities over a 24-hour period. (Updated) 4 a.m.: There are 16,666 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada, according to The Canadian Press as of 7 p.m. ET on April 6, 2020. Quebec: 8,580 confirmed (including 121 deaths, 611 resolved) Ontario: 4,347 confirmed (including 132 deaths, 1,624 resolved) Alberta: 1,348 confirmed (including 24 deaths, 361 resolved) British Columbia: 1,266 confirmed (including 39 deaths, 783 resolved) Nova Scotia: 293 confirmed (including 64 resolved) Saskatchewan: 253 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 81 resolved) Newfoundland and Labrador: 226 confirmed (including 2 deaths, 32 resolved) Manitoba: 190 confirmed (including 2 deaths, 17 resolved), 14 presumptive New Brunswick: 103 confirmed (including 30 resolved) Prince Edward Island: 22 confirmed (including 8 resolved) Repatriated Canadians: 13 confirmed Yukon: 7 confirmed (including 4 resolved) Northwest Territories: 4 confirmed (including 1 resolved) Nunavut: No confirmed cases Total: 16,666 (14 presumptive, 16,652 confirmed including 323 deaths, 3,616 resolved) 7:20 p.m.: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to a hospital with the new coronavirus. Johnsons office says he is being admitted for tests because he still has symptoms, 10 days after testing positive for the virus. Downing St. says the hospitalization is a precautionary step and he remains in charge of the government. Johnson, 55, has been quarantined in his Downing St. residence since being diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 26. Read more about: A professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K), with the help of his colleagues and students, is working overtime in feeding 800 children of migrant workers who lost their jobs when the 21-day lockdown was imposed on March 25 to fight the Sars-Cov pandemic. Professor Laxmidhar Behera (54) of electrical engineering department is running a kitchen in IIT-K community centre that cooks and distributes food to the poor children living around the campus. Instead of working in labs, he and his team are toiling with large sized cooking utensils We cook rajma-. Puri-sabzi, khichdi or rawa halwa at our community centre. Several colleagues, their spouses and students are also assisting me, said Prof Behra who is also connected with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Vrindavan. Charity work being carried out by ISKCON has always been an inspiration. Principal of a school which these kids attend approached me to help in providing them meals. Then I thought of running a kitchen for poor daily wagers and their children. Colleagues also pitched in and now their spouses help in preparing chapatis, he said. IIT-K fraternity and even others are contributing money to help run this kitchen. Colleague Rajiv Gupta, physicis department and Virendra Tewari, a local leader has been a great help in running it, professor Behra said. A group of IIT-Kanpur fraternity, consisting of faculty, staff and students, has volunteered group to prepare cooked meal packets for distribution among the distressed sections of the society located in the neighbourhood, said Prof S Ganesh, deputy director at IIT-K. This volunteer group has been distributing food packets in the nearby areas for the past six days. For the initial three days 250 packets were distributed by the group headed by Prof LD Behera. After the broader involvement of the campus community, there has been a substantial increase in the number of food packets distributed. Now an NGO has partnered in running the community kitchen, the deputy director said. On March 31, 2020, 500 packets were prepared and distributed. On April 1, nearly 600 packets were prepared. Nearly 500 packets were distributed to the children at different brick kilns in Choubeypur area. The remaining were distributed to rickshaw-pullers and others in Nankari area. On April 2, nearly 700 cooked meal packets were distributed to the children at different brick kilns and others in need and now the number had increased to 800, Prof Behra said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Presidente @MartinVizcarraC: Estamos realizando una revision del padron general para incluir a las personas que no habian sido consideradas vulnerables, pero que se han visto afectadas debido la extension del periodo del estado de emergencia. pic.twitter.com/dZTkxJnQpW British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to the hospital for tests today, ten days after testing positive for the Wuhan coronavirus. The word from Downing Street is that Johnson was hospitalized because he hasnt shaken the fever that typically comes with the virus. Johnsons case seems similar to that of a friend of mine who has this virus. For about a week, my friend experienced coughing and a persistent temperature in the 100-102 range that couldnt be brought lower by Tylenol. Although my friend had no problem breathing, his doctor told him to go to the hospital for tests. The staff tested him for respiratory problems. Finding none, it sent him home. Two days later, hes feeling a little bit better but still cant shake the fever. Assuming that Downing Street is telling the truth, I assume Johnson is in the hospital to make sure he has no respiratory problem that threatens his life. If its determined that he doesnt, he might return to Downing Street shortly. Johnson is 57 years old (my friend is 70). Johnson is somewhat overweight (my friend isnt). Im optimistic in both cases, but I think it was wise to have both checked at the hospital when their fever persisted for the better part of a week. Johnson has continued to handle his duties as PM during the ten days hes been self-isolating. For example, he chairs meetings via video conferencing. Johnson received criticism for initially authorizing a less draconian response to the Wuhan coronavirus than other major Western European leaders did. As of now, though, the UK has less than half the number of reported cases of France and Germany and about one-third the number of Italy and Spain. (The UKs population is comparable in size to Italys and larger than Spains. Its smaller than Germanys by about 20 million.) However, the fact that the UK hasnt been hit as hard as these countries might be due to the virus taking hold in the UK later than on the continent. UPDATE: Johnsons condition has worsened, and hes been moved to the intensive care unit in case he needs to be placed on a ventilator. Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo of Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC), has slammed Pastor Chris Oyakhilome for misleading people on the coronavirus pandemic by saying 5G network is an initiative to facilitate the antichrist agenda across the world. Pastor Chris of Christ Embassy had stated that the pandemic was created in order to popularize the 5G network which is gradually gaining attention across the world. According to the Pastor, the vaccine purportedly being developed to tackle coronavirus is actually a chip, requiring 5G to function, which will have access to humans information. He added that these are part of the Antichrists plan for a new world order which includes; one world government, one world religion and one world economy. Pastor Chris backed his claim with Revelation Chapter 13. However, during his online sermon, Pastor Ashimolowo, who did not mention Pastor Chris, said he is ashamed that some men of God are misleading people by linking the 5G network to the coronavirus pandemic. Ashimolowo said people in his village, where there is no 5G, had died of the virus. He pointed out that it was unfortunate that many people including pastors have joined in the fray of spreading falsehood without any scientific proof just to bring fear to the church. Too many theories, too many videos and fake news out there. There are too many theories out there, 5G and all that. Please, stay out of all those theories, keep your eyes on the lord. Do not be afraid, dont think oh my God, this is the Antichrist, he said. He also urged Christians to avoid being deceived by some of their leaders who often associate any major technology breakthrough or shock in the world to the antichrist. Yeah, there may be things that are pointers to the last days. But not everything that happens around us should make us think that the Antichrist wants to take over out lives. Every time, there has been a major shock to the world, the church have often thought this must be the Antichrist, he said. Im not a scientist, Im a pastor. But all these 5G theory, its not biblical, its not practical. There is a virus out there killing people, stay locked down. Dont think it is some 5G that is killing. How come it got to my village where there is no 5G? A sickness is out there killing people and Im very disappointed at pastors who have hastily shown graphs to show that there is a conspiracy theory to take over the world and put some chip in peoples bodies. We know the antichrist is going to play all those pranks and do all those things. This is not it! This is s pandemic! Jesus spoke about this in Mathew 24:8. This is a disease and doesnt make any sensecarry the Dettol in your bathroom and youll find coronavirus written on it. There has been coronavirus before now it is just that this particular strand or strain, whatever they say in science, is mutated to become what we have today that we have no cure for and that is what we are looking for cure for. America will not destroy its economy to the tune of almost $20 trillion in order to put a chip in your body. And Britain will not destroy its economy to the tune of 2-3 trillion just to put a chip in your body. Im ashamed and embarrassed by the pastors who are ill-informed, partly-informed, take videos patch it together and mislead the body of Christ. It has to stop. God will expose the antichrist when that time comes. But lets not put people in fear. This thing is a disease killing people and we as believers will come out and testify, he said. Ashimolowo added that lockdown is biblical, urging his listeners to abide by it. He urged them to shun listening to foolish theory but rather use the period to evangelise to people and populate the kingdom of God. Montreal, Canada Coronavirus cases are rising steadily in Canada and the United States, and many communities have shut down non-essential businesses and services to try to stop its spread. What makes something essential, however, is a point of contention and critics have questioned why companies are still working on major resource extraction projects, such as oil and gas pipelines and hydroelectric dams, during the crisis. In the western Canadian province of British Columbia, Indigenous leaders say a potential outbreak of the coronavirus among hundreds of workers deployed to build various projects could risk overwhelming local healthcare systems and put communities at heightened risk. We think its totally irresponsible and dangerous for them to be moving crews back and forth the way they are, said Chief Roland Willson of West Moberly First Nations, a Dunne-za Cree community, about continuing construction work at the nearby Site C dam, which is run by BC Hydro and Power Authority, a private electric utility known as BC Hydro. West Moberly, which counts 340 members, one-third of which live on the reserve, has been opposed to the 1,100-megawatt hydroelectric dam project for years, citing concerns that Site C would do irreparable damage to their ancestral territory and way of life. Willson said community members now also fear that the hundreds of workers who continue to be sent up to the construction site could contribute to an outbreak of the coronavirus and the potential spread of COVID-19. Thats how this thing spreads: people travelling around back and forth. And you dont know who has come into contact with anybody that is carrying the coronavirus, he said. Its very hard to understand why BC Hydro hasnt shut down [Site C]. Scaling down operations The Site C construction site sits 7 kilometres (4 miles) southwest of Fort St John, a town of 21,000 that on March 24 declared a local state of emergency. These are unprecedented times and we find ourselves with limited tools at our disposal, Mayor Lori Ackerman said at the time. While non-essential businesses were ordered close across the province as of March 18, work was allowed to continue at Site C, as well as at other major resource extraction projects across BC, because the provincial government designated critical infrastructure service providers as essential services that could remain open during the coronavirus crisis. Electricity, drilling and production, and oil and natural gas projects were included on the list. BC Hydro said on March 24 it would not move any workers who are in self-isolation at the camp with coronavirus symptoms into the city for treatment to avoid putting an added strain on the local healthcare system. Supporters of the Indigenous Wetsuweten Nations hereditary leaders attend a rally outside the Ontario legislature as part of a protest against British Columbias Coastal GasLink pipeline [File: Chris Helgren/Reuters] A BC Hydro spokeswoman said as of March 26, the camp counted 864 workers. This is close to half of the workforce of 1,700 we typically have staying in camp at this time of year, Tanya Fish said in an email to Al Jazeera, adding that there were no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Site C. Of the 1,203 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across BC as of Saturday, 21 were in the north of the province. About 300,000 people are served by Northern Health, the local provincial health agency, in that specific area. Fish said measures have been taken to lower the risk of the coronavirus at the workers camp, such as the closure of common areas, frequent cleaning, and setting up tables to allow the workers to maintain physical distancing. A 30-room dormitory is designated for worker self-isolation, and four others can also be used as needed, she said. As of Sunday, 10 workers were in self-isolation. BC Hydros top priority on the Site C project will always be the safety of our employees, workers and people living in the community, Fish said. Coronavirus incubators The state of emergencies and actions taken by BC Hydro and other utilities has not assuaged the concerns of some Indigenous community members and advocacy groups, who continue to raise concerns about COVID-19s spread at industrial work camps. The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) on March 30 called for work to be suspended on Coastal GasLink, a pipeline project that faces staunch opposition from members of the Wetsuweten Nation in northern BC and sparked nationwide protests earlier this year, over the issue. The camps represent a concentration of a transient workforce that are living in close proximity, said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, the UBCIC president. Its a ripe breeding ground for [the] spread of the COVID-19 virus, which in turn could spread into our communities. Last week, Canadian media outlets reported that an employee working on LNG Canadas liquefied natural gas export facility in Kitimat, in northwest BC, tested positive for COVID-19. The worker went home to self-isolate. Currently, no one staying at the lodges has tested positive for COVID-19, an LNG spokeswoman told Global News. [The Grand represent a very real threat to the health, safety and wellbeing of not only Indigenous communities, but the adjacent communities to these camps Its an unacceptable contradiction and it needs to be addressed immediately.] Phillip said allowing the labour camps to continue to operate flies in the face of the advice public health officials have been giving the public around social distancing and other measures meant to curb the spread of COVID-19. The camps represent a very real threat to the health, safety and wellbeing of not only Indigenous communities, but the adjacent communities to these camps, Phillip told Al Jazeera. Its an unacceptable contradiction and it needs to be addressed immediately. Dr David Bowering, the former chief medical health officer at Northern Health, echoed that call, saying in an open letter on March 28 that all industrial work camps across the province which he described as essentially landlocked cruise ships should be shut down. The camps are and will be COVID-19 incubators placing the workers, the host communities, and the home communities of the workers at unacceptable risk, Bowering wrote. Earlier last month, labour advocates also urged the companies behind these megaprojects to scale back their operations to keep workers safe. We realise that there will be a financial consequence to our members, but the health and safety of our workers is paramount, said Andrew Mercier, executive director of the BC Building Trades Council, which represents 35,000 unionised construction workers. Sacrificing us South of the border, Indigenous community leaders have also slammed ongoing construction on major projects, including the contentious Keystone XL oil pipeline, which will run 1,947km (1,210 miles) from the Canadian province of Alberta to the US state of Nebraska. A petition was recently launched to demand that the company behind the project, TC Energy (formerly Trans Canada Corp) immediately stop preconstruction activities on the pipeline, and withdraw workers already dispatched along the route. In late March, TC Energy said it was moving ahead with pipeline construction after it said the provincial government of Alberta agreed to invest $1.1bn (about 1.4 billion Canadian dollars) in the $8bn project. Faith Spotted Eagle, an Indigenous activist in South Dakota and executive director of the Brave Heart Society, a group of grandmothers that protects Lakota, Nakota and Dakota culture, said Keystone XL construction equipment is being moved into man camp areas. She said this is happening while people are otherwise preoccupied with the coronavirus crisis. Its kind of like their strategy is that well just keep on working and maybe the governor wont pay attention. Well just keep on going. The tribes are going to be incapacitated, she told Al Jazeera. A protester plays a drum and sings while joined by other Native American protesters opposing the Keystone XL Pipeline at the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre [File: Stephen Groves/AP Photo] A coronavirus outbreak among pipeline workers in South Dakota would be extremely harmful for Indigenous peoples, she said, because Indigenous families are often large, with several people living in close proximity, and many people living on reservations do not have easy access to healthcare services. It can take up to two hours for some people to get medical care in a nearby city, she added. If they do not stop the construction and the man camps, they are arbitrarily and deliberately sacrificing the Indigenous population of South Dakota, Montana, Nebraska. They are sacrificing us just like theyve done over and over, and over again, she said. Threat to elders Back in northeast BC, Willson in West Moberly First Nations said the community has set up a checkpoint to restrict movement in and out, and asked people not to visit in order to stem any potential spread of the coronavirus. COVID-19 poses a particularly high risk to First Nations elders, he said, who are the keepers of traditional knowledge and ceremonies, much of which has been lost as a result of colonialism and state policies designed to cut Indigenous peoples off from their traditions, languages and cultures. Elders in First Nations communities are held in high regard. If something like this happens, it would be devastating to us. It would be like [the] Spanish Flu epidemic that came through here and wiped people out, Willson said. In those circumstances, it is irresponsible to keep work at the Site C dam going but Willson said he did not feel as though his communitys concerns are being heard. If were trying to stop this thing, then we need to be serious and stop this thing. Some construction is essential, but Site C is not. Theres nothing essential about whats going on at Site C. Vatican City, April 6 : Pope Francis held the Palm Sunday mass alone in the St Peters Basilica here for the first time in history due to the coronavirus pandemic. On Sunday, the rites to mark the beginning of Holy Week, an important religious festival in the Catholic calendar, were not held in the Vatican Square as usual and there was no congregation present at the ceremony, reports Efe news. Instead millions of people followed the liturgy on the internet, radio and television amid widespread isolation measures imposed around the world due to the deadly outbreak. The Pope said during his homily: "The tragedy we are experiencing summons us to take seriously the things that are serious, and not to be caught up in those that matter less; to rediscover that life is of no use if not used to serve others. For life is measured by love." Only a small group of people were present with the pontiff for the service, respecting social distancing measures by maintaining a safe distance at all times. The Vatican has been forced to adopt preventive measures since the emergence of the outbreak which has seen more than 1.2 million global infections and 66,500 deaths. Italy has been one of the worst affected countries in the world with 128,948 confirmed cases and the highest number of deaths in the world at 15,887. St Peter's Square and Basilica in the Vatican City were closed to the public in March. The Pope told people feeling lonely to cling to their faith in these difficult times. "When we have our back to the wall, when we find ourselves at a dead end, with no light and no way of escape, when it seems that God himself is not responding, we should remember that we are not alone," he said. "Today, in the tragedy of a pandemic, in the face of the many false securities that have now crumbled, in the face of so many hopes betrayed, in the sense of abandonment that weighs upon our hearts, Jesus says to each one of us: 'Courage, open your heart to my love. You will feel the consolation of God who sustains you'." The Pope will officiate at a mass on Maundy Thursday but without the traditional foot washing that he used to carry out at migrant shelters or in prisons. Good Friday mass will be held inside the Basilica and there will be no faithful at the Easter Vigil on Saturday or at mass on Easter Sunday. The Federal Government has declared Friday, April 10 and Monday, April 13 as public holidays to mark the 2020 Easter Celebration. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Georgina Ehuriah who disclosed this in a statement Monday in Abuja said the Interior minister, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, urged Christians in the country to emulate the outstanding characteristics of Jesus Christ amongst which are tolerance, love, peace and compassion. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola further called on them to use the occasion of this years Easter Celebration to pray for Nigeria and the entire world at this time of global emergency of COVID-19 Pandemic. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates By Agencies SAN FRANCISCO: Apple has sourced 20 million face masks which it will donate to the governments at all levels starting this week, CEO Tim Cook said on Monday, adding that the company is also working on designing and producing face shields for use by front-line medical workers. In a video posted on Twitter, Cook said this is a truly global effort and Apple is working continuously and closely with governments at all levels, to ensure these are donated to places of the greatest need. "Apple is dedicated to supporting the worldwide response to COVID-19. We've now sourced over 20M masks through our supply chain," Cook said. CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES "Our design, engineering, operations and packaging teams are also working with suppliers to design, produce and ship face shields for medical workers," he added. Apple has said it will soon be producing one million face shields a week for medical workers battling the coronavirus pandemic and has already delivered its first shipment to Kaiser hospital facilities in the Santa Clara Valley. The Cupertino-based iPhone maker has already received "positive" feedback from doctors. "These pack flat. 100 per box. Each shield is assembled in less than two minutes and is fully adjustable. We're sourcing materials and manufacturing in the US and China," informed Cook. "For Apple, this is a labour of love and gratitude, and we'll share more of our efforts over time. In the meantime, each of us can stop the spread of the virus by following expert advice to stay home, and practice social distancing," Cook emphasised. Apple has also launched a COVID-19 website and app with a screening tool and other information about the new coronavirus pandemic. Apple joins several global firms that have modified their production lines to meet demand for protective gear, including Italian luxury brand Prada. US President Donald Trump last month issued a federal order forcing auto giant General Motors to manufacture ventilators after a shortage of the hospital equipment, which is crucial for treating critical COVID-19 cases. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Panama City, Panama Mon, April 6, 2020 07:10 645 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206fe05c1 2 World Panama,Palm-Sunday,blessing,helicopter,COVID-19-quarantine,church,closure,physical-distancing Free Panama's Archbishop Jose Domingo Ulloa took to the skies to deliver the traditional Catholic Palm Sunday blessing from a helicopter after the coronavirus pandemic forced the closure of churches across the country. The Church is abandoning centuries of tradition and refraining from public celebrations of the official start of Holy Week among Christian faithful. Ulloa celebrated mass at Panama's Howard Air Force base before overflying the city's deserted streets and surrounding countryside. Along with the two priests accompanying him, the archbishop wore a white mask that covered his mouth and nose. "We are living through an unprecedented event in the history of Christianity, celebrating Holy Week without a congregation in our churches," the archbishop said. Ulloa carried with him a statue of Santa Maria La Antigua, Panama's patron saint "to protect the country from disease," as many residents placed palm fronds on balconies and at front doors to receive the blessing from the air. Ulloa dedicated Holy Week to health workers "and so many people who are determined to advance our country at the cost of risking their own lives." The ceremony is normally performed in churches where priests sprinkle holy water on palm fronds brought by the congregation. Palm Sunday marks the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. Easter Sunday on April 12 celebrates his resurrection from the dead. After shutting its borders and closing schools Panama decreed a total lockdown. Since last week, men and women are being allowed to leave their homes on alternate days to shop for food and essential medicines. Nobody is allowed out on Sunday. The Central American country has registered 1,801 infections with 46 deaths from the pandemic, according to the latest figures. On Friday, President Donald Trump announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends people in the United States wear face coverings in public to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. The additional public health measure is not a substitute for social distancing but is mainly to prevent those who have the virus -- and might not know it -- from spreading it to others. The Washington Post talked to Grace Jun, assistant professor of fashion at the Parsons School of Design and chief executive of Open Style Lab, who designed this face mask sewing pattern after consulting with the New York City Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities and the NYU Langone Medical Center. This pattern is designed to be sewn with a machine, but it can be hand-sewn. - - - Tools --Fabric scissors or a rotary cutter --Ruler or ruler tape --Pins or clips --Sewing machine --Thread (polyester works well for extra strength) --Iron or heavy books --Optional: safety pin - - - Courtesy of Open Style Lab Materials --Two pieces of 12-inch-long and 7.25-inch-wide 100% cotton fabric (tight-weave cotton or quilted cotton). If possible, use two colors to indicate the mask's inside and outside. --One piece of 12-inch-long and 7.25-inch-wide interfacing or lightweight, breathable, stiff fabric. --Fourteen inches of 1/8-inch flat elastic, stretch yarn or additional fabric for ties. - - - Step One Cut your pieces and mark stitch lines Cut three fabric rectangles 12 inches long and 7.5 inches wide: --Two cotton fabric pieces -- One interface piece Stack the fabric: The top layer should be a thicker/quilted cotton, the middle layer should be the interface piece, and the last layer underneath should be a softer cotton. Trace all of the pattern lines on the top layer of fabric. Cut along the solid line through all three layers so you have three pieces of equal size. Cut two pieces of elastic, each at least seven inches or longer to allow for an adjustable fit. Step Two Stitch the darts Fold your fabric stack in half with the thicker top layer on the inside so you are stitching your triangular darts on the inside layer. Clip or pin together. Stitch one 1/2-inch dart on what will become the top of your mask - for your nose. Stitch another 3/4-inch dart on the other side for the chin. Note that these can be adjusted to be smaller or larger to fit the wearer. You can cut the darts open or press them flat. Step Three Stitch the zigzag curved lines Sew along the curved dotted stitch lines with a zigzag stitch. Step Four Stitch the top and bottom outside edges Fold the top and bottom edges (long sides) of the mask toward the inside along the marked seam allowance and press and pin or clip. Stitch on top of the fold to close. (This will leave a raw edge. You can finish your edges before sewing to finish if desired.) Step Five Stitch the zigzag horizontal lines Sew along the horizontal dotted stitch lines with a zigzag stitch. Step Six Attach elastic straps to mask Fold the edges of your fabric tabs over half an inch or more; stitch a quarter-inch from the edge to create a tunnel for the elastic. Feed the elastic through the tunnel. (A safety pin attached to one end will help with threading.) Try on, and adjust the length as needed. Stitch or tie the ends of the elastic together. - - - Notes In making this pattern, Jun used a tightly woven quilting cotton fabric, or a cotton fabric with a high thread count (usually more expensive, such as Egyptian cotton). A 2013 study published in the journal Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness found that well-fitting, homemade masks made of cotton T-shirts provide some protection from droplet transmission, the method by which the coronavirus is spread. Jun has also designed a companion mask made of vinyl, which would make it easy to wipe down and disinfect. The see-through vinyl would also leave one's mouth visible when communicating with someone who's hearing impaired. - - - Step by step videos. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/04/05/how-sew-your-own-fabric-mask/?arc404=true The book of Hebrews plunges the depths of Christianity by addressing many false beliefs, missteps and hardships that believers face. In this get-back-to-basics book, the author was writing with the purpose of clarifying that only Christ, not sacred traditions or new ideas, was to be the center of a life of faith. Its natural to read this book in view of our daily life, but its better to read it in light of who it was written to: men and women who were wrestling with faith in a life and death way that we may never experience. Hebrews wasnt written merely for the purpose of correction or encouragement but also to fortify their souls because they were in desperate need. It is mentioned several times throughout this book that the audience was a specific group of believers who were facing persecution for their faith. With this solemn purpose in mind, we can look to Hebrews when life feels complicated, we feel our faith wavering and we need our souls realigned to truth. Among the many topics the book covers, one topic it speaks to most extensively is faith. The author wanted the readers to hold fast to their commitment to God no matter what came their way. Faith in Christ was the foundation for this level of commitment. According to Hebrews 11, faith is believing that God exists, that he rewards those who seek him and that we can hope in him because his promises will always be true. After the author defines faith, they put flesh on it in ways that both the intended readers and Christians today can look to to understand how to live an authentic life of faith. What Is Faith? Faith is defined by the Dictionary of Bible Themes as a constant outlook of trust towards God, whereby human beings abandon all reliance on their own efforts and put their full confidence in him, his word and his promises. As Christians, we know that faith is foundational to our relationship with God and we can trace that theme throughout Scripture. Faith is the only means of salvation (Ephesians 2:8). Jesus is the object of saving faith (Romans 3:22). Faith shows itself through works (James 2:14). Faith produces peace (Psalms 42:11). Lack of faith leads to falling away from God (Hebrews 3:12). Faith activates Gods power (Matthew 17:20). What Is Faith According to Hebrews 11? While the whole Bible resonates with faith, sometimes Hebrews 11 is referred to as the faith hall of fame. But unlike modern day halls of fame, entrance into this distinguished group wasnt reliant on outward achievements but an inner resolution to believe Gods promises in the face of trial and adversity. Hebrews 11:1 and 6 give us the simplest definitions of faith we can find anywhere in Gods word. Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." These definitions are backed up by examples of faith throughout centuries of Bible history. Each person in the list acted with true faith, and as a result God approved them. He accepted them as his own and saved a place for them in eternity with him. The faith-filled actions of these people range from simple words they spoke to the giving of their very life. This shows us that faith permeates every area of our life and every act of faith holds weight with God. By Faith By faith Abel brought a sacrifice to God that was the best of the best while his brother Cain brought a lackluster sacrifice. One had faith and believed God to be worthy and the other didnt. By faith Enoch walked with God despite the wickedness of the world around him. By faith Noah believed what God said about the impending flood and build a boat 120 years before he saw a drop of rain. By faith Abraham obeyed when God said to leave home even when he didnt yet know where he was going. By faith Sarah considered him faithful who had promised even though she was barren and too old to conceive. And he was faithful and she did give birth to a son. By faith Abraham when he was tested offered up Isaac as a sacrifice. He didnt cling to the promise he received but considered God faithful enough to raise him from the dead. By faith Isaac spoke future blessings on his sons Jacob and Esau. He had hope for the future because of Gods faithfulness. By faith Jacob also had future hope in Gods promises. Just because he didnt see the promised land in his life didnt mean he concluded it didnt exist. He believed his children would inherit it one day and he blessed them to do so upon his death bed. By faith Joseph, who also lived his whole life without seeing the promised land, was confident still in Gods promise and he gave orders for his bones to be moved there one day after his death. By faith Moses parents hid him to protect his life against the orders of the Pharaoh. By faith Moses chose to be with Gods outcast people rather than enjoying the fleeting pleasures of the palace. By faith he left Egypt, trusted God over Pharaoh and led his people out. By faith the Israelite people fled Egypt and against all laws of physics, crossed the Red Sea on dry land. By faith the walls of Jericho finally fell as the Israelites saw with their own eyes the promised land and the kept promises of God. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish because she hid the spies and therefore defied her king and trusted God for safety above all others. By faith others were given victory in battles, saw loved ones raised back to life, were tortured because their release was dependent on renouncing their faith, they were stoned, died by the sword, were mistreated and afflicted. They all understood that God was bigger than circumstance and worthy of their hope no matter what they received, whether blessing or curse. What Does It Look Like to Live by Faith? Living by faith is a simple concept that requires massive commitment in our lives. A life of faith isnt lived intermittently, but constantly. However, constantly isnt the same as perfectly. The faith hall of famers had plenty of mess-ups in their stories but their faith remained constant still. Faith requires living life as if every promise of God is true, whether we see the evidence of that or not. Faith doesnt need to see to believe. A life of faith starts in the heart, but always shows itself through works. In the same way, a lack of faith shows in our actions as well. Faith sees life though the lens of eternity. It always looks towards the day when physical life ends and only spiritual life remains. Therefore, faith can tolerate pain, shame and disgrace if they are done for the glory of God. Living a life of faith is a tall order. It requires the power and presence of God in your life. No matter how faith filled or faithless youre currently feeling, be assured that faith comes not from those who try hard but those who lean into God hard. The disciples ask Jesus in Luke 17:5 to increase their faith and this is a prayer we also can pray. Take a moment, even now, to pray that God would grow faith within you! Photo credit: Getty Images/beerphotographer Declaring that an Easter Egg Hunt is not worth your life, Mayor John Tory urged Torontonians to huddle only with immediate family at upcoming religious celebrations. Tory told people Monday to stay away from extended family and any long-weekend gatherings as Torontos #COVID-19 death toll rose by seven in one day, to 32, with almost half of them residents of local seniors homes. The number of confirmed and probable cases of the deadly virus jumped 69 to 1,301 in Torontos official tally. Some 145 people were in hospital, 60 of them in intensive care. Tory and Dr. Eileen de Villa, Torontos public health chief, continued urging residents to stay at home as much as possible to slow the spread of COVID-19, thought to occur primarily via droplets from mouths and noses of infected people. In a news release, the city said people about to celebrate Easter, Passover and the start of Ramadan should stay home and connect with loved ones, friends, and vulnerable members of the community online or by phone. Toronto has imposed increasingly strict rules to prevent people gathering, including closure of playground amenities and an unprecedented rule to stay more than two metres from nonhousehold members in parks and public squares. Last weekend Tory suggested hell likely close all of High Park when photogenic cherry blossoms bloom, to prevent the annual gathering of huge crowds over about a week starting in late April or early May. Im in favour of just shutting the park down for a period of time because if you try to manage it somehow youre just going to get a crowd scene, Tory told CP24. Its a wonderful, wonderful thing were just going to have to miss this year, I think, but stay tuned, he said of the blossom viewing, adding city officials hope to make an announcement on it one way or another this week. Enforcement officers, who were busy last weekend educating people about social distancing and handing out tickets at hot spots including High Park and Bluffers Park in Scarborough, could have their hands full if the park remains open. Tory suggested Torontonians who normally crowd the hills and picnic under the blizzard of blooms might have to make do with a video livestream instead. City officials urged that people who need to shop for groceries for the coming long weekend avoid Thursday and Saturday, if possible, to prevent long lineups outside stores, which are limiting the number of shoppers to minimize chances of infection. Many Torontonians who cant afford holiday feasts usually rely on food banks that have shuttered as local pandemic hospitalizations and deaths rose. Toronto on Monday announced a multi-pronged effort to ensure low-income and otherwise vulnerable Toronto families dont lose access to nutritious food. Efforts include helping the Red Cross deliver food hampers to seniors unable to leave home to get groceries with information available by calling 1-833-204-9952 and food banks now starting to operate out of closed Toronto library branches. The city is also working with partners to get grocery gift cards to families of children who would normally be getting free snacks or meals via the school nutrition program. Residents who need information on the food programs can call 211, go to the website https://www.211toronto.ca/ or look at a city online map of food resources. David Rider is the Stars City Hall bureau chief and a reporter covering city hall and municipal politics. Follow him on Twitter: @dmrider The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, has instructed his Department to finalise proposals that will help to alleviate the financial pressures that are now impacting on the travel sector in Ireland, affecting Irish licenced travel agents and tour operators. In these exceptional times, the Minister is focused on getting help to the travel and tourism sector to protect jobs and good businesses. The Minister fully appreciates the particular financial difficulties being experienced by travel agents and tour operators from the unprecedented level of cancellations and the challenge for those companies in securing cash refunds from suppliers to pass onto their customers. The Minister and his colleague the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys, T.D., have already written to the EU Commission on this matter, and they are confident that the matter is being actively worked on at that level. Some Member State have already taken their own steps, but a much better solution lies in a co-ordinated approach across all Member States. Options under consideration include, as a temporary measure, the use of vouchers or some form of credit note for customer refunds in a way that does not materially erode consumer rights. The challenge is in finding a fair and commensurate response to what is a unique set of circumstances. This is an urgent matter that requires a speedy response, and the Minister will work closely with his Cabinet colleagues to find workable solutions as quickly as possible. BEIJING - A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbours in multiple territorial disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons. The waters are a major shipping route for global commerce and are rich in fish and possible oil and gas reserves. ___ 7th FLEET COMMANDER VISITS CREW OF VIRUS-STRICKEN CARRIER WHOSE CAPTAIN WAS FIRED The commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet visited the leadership of the USS Theodore Roosevelt in Guam, where the aircraft carrier is being cleaned after an outbreak of COVID-19 among its crew. Vice Adm. Bill Merz arrived Sunday to meet with the crew of the Nimitz-class carrier and area leadership as part of efforts to provide support for work to make ship ready to return to service, the 7th Fleet said in a press statement. Defence Secretary Mark Esper said Sunday that about half the carriers nearly 5,000 sailors had been tested for the coronavirus so far. He said all of the 155 who are infected have mild or moderate symptoms and none was hospitalized. Sailors from the ship are being isolated at Guam hotels while the ship is cleaned. The ships commander, Capt. Brett Crozier, was fired for going outside of the chain of command in asking for help for the outbreak, in a decision now under review. In Asia, a carrier presence is central to what the Pentagon has identified as a bigger focus on China, including its militarization of disputed areas of the South China Sea. ___ VIETNAM ACCUSES CHINA OF RAMMING, SINKING FISHING BOAT Vietnam has protested what is says was the ramming and sinking of one of its fishing boats by a Chinese coast guard vessel. Vietnams foreign ministry on Friday said the fishing boat No. QNg 90617 TS with eight Vietnamese fishermen on board was carrying out normal fishing activities the previous day in waters near the Paracel islands that Vietnam claims but which are controlled by China. It was then hindered, rammed and sunk by a Chinese coast guard vessel, the ministry said. Chinas action violates understandings between the sides and the spirit of a regional agreement on avoiding conflict, it said. Vietnam has lodged a protest with the Chinese embassy and demanded China investigate, discipline the responsible officers and compensate the fishermen, it said. China responded with its own statement accusing the Vietnamese boat of illegally entering Chinese waters and said collided with the Chinese ship Haijing 4301 after conducting dangerous actions. All eight Vietnamese sailors were rescued by the Chinese ship and admitted to wrongdoing, China Maritime Police spokesman Zhang Jun was quoted as saying in a statement from the bureau. China seized the islands from Vietnam late in the last century and frequent confrontations have occurred there. ___ CHINA KEEPS UP EXERCISES AROUND TAIWAN DESPITE VIRUS OUTBREAK Despite the coronavirus outbreak, China is keeping up with military exercises around Taiwan at the northern edge of the South China Sea. The Peoples Liberation Army Daily and other state media reported last week that the Eastern Theater Command responsible for patrols around Taiwan held endurance training with early-warning aircraft last month. The drill included practicing tactics to evade enemy aircraft as well as carrying out early-warning, reconnaissance and surveillance missions, the report said. It also included simulated combat between two groups of fighter jets, according to the report. China has increasingly staged aerial drills around Taiwan, including circumnavigating the island it claims as its own territory, to be conquered by military force if necessary. The Peoples Liberation Army has the firm will, full confidence, and sufficient capabilities to thwart all secessionist activities and safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Chinese defence ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said at Marchs monthly briefing. Taiwan and China have overlapping claims in the South China Sea, although Taiwan has limited its activities to its island base in the Spratly group and the Pratas islands southeast of Hong Kong. The Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post quoted experts as saying was exercise was intended to enhance Chinas intelligence-gathering capabilities to better monitor activities at sea and in the air. Businesses which have started producing and selling hand sanitiser, wipes and other items in response to the coronavirus pandemic have been accused by some customers of profiteering from the crisis. Nikki Yeaman, owner of fancy dress business Costume Box, started selling antibacterial wipes through her online store in a bid to keep the business afloat after sales dropped by more than 90 per cent as the coronavirus pandemic hit. Nikki Yeaman is the founder of Costume Box, which now imports and sells antibacterial wipes. Credit:Janie Barrett "Our thought was for our staff, how long could we weather this and how long would it last," Ms Yeoman said. "What could we do to get through this together?" Costume Box has 17 employees and turned over $20 million last year, so, Ms Yeaman said, when the opportunity came up to sell antibacterial wipes she grasped it. Namyalo said she is down to her last $100. She used her final paycheck for groceries and her phone bill. Before the layoff, she had used $3,500 in savings to pay off other bills to improve her credit score so she could buy a house at the end of the year. As the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, continues to see rises in cases and deaths around the country, the Centers for Disease Control has implemented a new recommendation for people to wear face masks during any time in public. And Lucy Hale seems to be following the new suggestion as she was spotted in a face mask while running errands in Los Angeles on Sunday. The 30-year-old star looked casual for her outing in green metallic workout leggings paired with a black bomber jacket. Following rules: Lucy Hale seems to be following the new CDC face mask suggestion as she was spotted in a face mask while running errands in Los Angeles on Sunday Her black jacket had a large rose embroidered on the back and she paired the look with a dark grey plain tee and black and grey lace-up sneakers. Keeping her hands free she had a crossbody bag, with a light brown leather strap, across her chest. The former Pretty Little Liars star covered the rest of her face with dark metal frame Ray-Ban sunglasses. Her look: Her black bomber jacket had a large rose embroidered on the back and she paired the look with a green metallic leggings, a dark grey plain tee and black and grey lace-up sneakers Her signature brunette locks were pulled back, and out of her face, into a low ponytail as she was spotted getting into her white Mercedes SUV. The animal lover took to Twitter on Thursday in support of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 'An organization I absolutely adore - @ASPCA - is urgently seeking donations for their COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Initiative to help pets, pet owners, and animal welfare organizations!! Please consider supporting their lifesaving efforts,' she tweeted for her roughly 7.1 million followers along with a link to the organization's emergency relief fund. Pulled back: Her signature brunette locks were pulled back, and out of her face, into a low ponytail as she was spotted getting into her white Mercedes SUV Lucy has been portraying title character Katy Keene in The CW spin-off of Riverdale since its premiere in February. The Tennessee native rose to fame portraying Aria Montgomery in the Freeform series Pretty Little Liars from 2010 to 2017. Lucy had a starring role in the Fantasy Island supernatural horror film that was released on February 14 in theaters. Busy star: Lucy, shown last month in France at Paris Fashion Week, has been portraying title character Katy Keene in The CW spin-off of Riverdale since its premiere in February The prequel to the 1977 ABC television series earned $48 million worldwide against a production budget of $7 million. Lucy currently has three films in post-production: A Nice Girl Like You, Son Of The South and Big Gold Brick. She also is a co-producer of A Nice Girl Like You, which is based on the 2007 popular memoir Pornology by Ayn Carrillo-Gailey. Soldiers in camouflage and civilians in polo shirts lined up for a life-or-death battle: Keeping a potentially deadly microbe from overrunning this makeshift hospital inside a 2.1 million-sq ft convention centre within the densest, most populous city in America. Coloured tape on the floor marked where to stand. Six feet. Six feet. Six feet. Proceed to the neon yellow box. Answer the soldiers questions. Do you have the covid virus? Have you touched someone who is covid positive without PPE? Do you have a fever or cough? Are you feeling ill today? No, maam. No, maam. A drone with an infrared sensor perched on the entry desk like a robotic raven taking peoples temperatures. In Nanjing, China, the government sent a similar drone flying apartment to apartment to ferret out the sick. Here, if someone pops hot, as one soldier said, theyll be descended upon by medics and rushed to an isolation tent. Every visitor cleared to enter is also issued protective gear, including a face mask. Read more This is the procedure for entering the Jacob K. Javits Convention Centre, steps from the Hudson River on Manhattans west side. The massive, glass-walled event hall, usually home to cocktail-swilling conference-goers or Comic-Con superfans, has been abuzz with urgent activity in a race to assist a city being overwhelmed by the coronavirus pandemic. More than 15 city, state and federal agencies ranging from military engineers to Javits Centre carpenters built the initial 1,000-bed hospital from scratch inside of a week. On Thursday night they finished with a second wing holding 2,000 additional beds. By Tuesday, they project to have finished the third and final phase, adding 1,000 more. Other convention centres in Detroit and Miami have been calling for advice how do you build a hospital in a place that wasnt designed for it? as this brutal disease spreads. The plan until Wednesday had been to keep the Javits New York Medical Station, or JNYMS as theyre calling it, free of Covid-19. The station was to take on low acuity patients, those recovering from surgery or with diabetes flare-ups who could be released in a few days, to relieve hospitals citywide, where the crush of thousands of Covid-19 patients has left no capacity for treating other ailments. US Army National Guard members walk past a police officer wearing a mask outside of the Jacob K Javits Centre (Getty) By Thursday, however, amid an outcry from hospital administrators incredulous that the Javits Center was sitting near-empty while their doctors and nurses were being overwhelmed, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, announced that hed requested and that President Trump had granted, permission for the convention hall to assume a new mission. The makeshift medical station that was supposed to be covid-free is now covid-only. Its 11 patients were transferred to the USNS Comfort, the military medical ship deployed from Norfolk, and docked around 20 blocks north of the Javits at Pier 90. On Saturday, Fox News reported that a few of those transferred to the Comfort, which was supposed to remain free of covid patients, tested positive for the disease and were sent back to the Javits Centre. (As seen with cruise ships and the covid-embattled aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, the virus can ravage close quarters at sea.) Officials who confirmed the development characterised it as a mistake. Navy officials called it part of the process and that medical professionals assessed risk to the crew was low. As of Saturday evening, the JNYMS had 40 patients. Folding table upon folding table, each with its own set of workers, divided by stanchions, filled the Multi-Agency Command Centre on Level 4. Sunlight poured in from 135-foot-high glass walls. Uniformed personnel from the Army and Air Force National Guard, the Navy, the U.S. Public Health Service, and the New York City Department of Health practised social distancing. The array of jumpsuits and military jargon could be confusing to the civilians present. What Ive learned is that if youre in the military, you only talk in acronyms, and I dont follow acronyms very well, said Javits CEO Alan Steel, who said he was nonetheless impressed at how his military colleagues practice of having a meeting every hour kept communication flowing. Army and medical personnel listen to NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio welcoming volunteers from across the country joining the USA Armys 44th Medical Brigade at the Jacob K Javits Center (Getty) Attention all personnel, remember to maintain six feet of separation to prevent the spread of the virus. Thank you, blared an announcement scheduled to go off every hour. Almost no one wore a mask, though that changed just as soon as the first covid patients arrived. The Javits Centre is owned by New York state, but the 4,000-bed medical centre inside it is a federal operation. In mid-March, when Cuomo ordered an end to gatherings larger than 500 people, Steel put his staff in maintenance mode mainly restoring the building and planning for the shows they hope to start hosting again in July. He sent most to work from home. The 3,000 skilled, hourly-rate tradesmen carpenters, electricians, plumbers, forklift operators reverted to their normal work condition, which is if there is not an event, then theyre not working here, he said. But within days, the Army Corps of Engineers inquired about turning the conventional hall into a possible hospital. The first supplies arrived on 20 March, and people went back to work. One hundred and sixty miles to the north, in Rotterdam, New York, Col. Dennis Deeleys phone rang. The Guard had an assignment for him. I called my fiance of 20-some-odd years and said, Hey, I gotta go, can you start packing? And she said, Weve been through this before. Im packing, said Deeley, who is now the JNYSM incident commander. Im really just the coordinator, he says. Im getting everybody together to meet from all the different coloured jumpsuits you saw out there. From an initial team of 10, Deeleys core staff grew to 50, while the total National Guard presence is around 400. Overall, the total number of people on site fluctuates between 1,000 and 1,500. A row of hospital bed booths are seen at the Jacob K Javits Convention Center (Getty) I dont know how to manage a hospital, Deeley said, noting that the health care portion of the operation comprises medical experts from the Army and the U.S. Public Health Service. I can build one, but I dont know how to manage it. This is the biggest job Deeley has ever done, he said a big step up from serving as a task force commander with 600 soldiers reporting to him in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, which throttled the Northeast in 2012 requiring the Pentagon to assemble a massive humanitarian response. Having only military folks to command back then, he said, Id just tell them what I needed them to do and theyd do it. So right now, because Im tired, it feels like 10 times more than what Ive handled before. If he could do anything over again, he said hed bring somebody else so I could get some sleep. Meanwhile, Ken Dixon, the Javits Centers head of security, was dealing with a nightmare of protecting the building from both unauthorized visitors and an invisible enemy in Covid-19. His team is using only two of the buildings 225 perimeter doors with the help of the New York City police, the New York State police and the National Guard. Already, theyve had patients whove tried to walk in through the front door seeking a coronavirus test or trying to get admitted rather than first seeking transfer from a hospital. Donald Trump has been forced to deny the US had prior knowledge of a virus outbreak (Reuters) They called an ambulance for the woman who showed up with Covid-19 symptoms, but a Javits security guard is now one of two people on staff who have the disease and 25 per cent of Dixons security team is self-quarantining. Its not even a comparison, said Dixon, when asked whether this is bigger and more stressful than a normal Javits show. Its a major undertaking. Its a 24-hour operation, really, without an end date. On Level 3, in the big expo halls that around now would be hosting the New York Auto Show, carpenters arrived that first week and built out the bones of the medical station within four hours. Union electrician Robert Porazzo, was pulling up cables hed just put down for the third time in a corner of Phase 2 that had started off as hospital beds, turned into a spot for X-ray unit, and was now going to be a place for doing lab tests. We consider this to be a show. We do this all the time, he said. We get one plan, okay, we put everything out, no wait, hang on, they want something else. After this job, Porazzo said, he expects to seek unemployment benefits. Typically, events such as the auto show employ up 2,000 people. The hospital build has required fewer than 100. Mariam Karim, the head of in-house catering, had to transition from designing menus of luxury hors doeuvres to mimicking buffet meals at a military mess hall. We got everyone to agree on the same menu, Karim said. Do I want to have contracts with 17 different agencies? No. The JNYSM includes a pharmacy in a concession stand and nursing stations built from scratch. Kenneth Sanchez, head of facilities for the Javits Center, said that one of the hardest things to find were the 50 mobile showers his team amassed from as far away as Georgia. The vendors had to unlock their businesses to fill the orders, he said. Already, supplies like the modular walls Javits used are growing scarce, as convention centres around the country have started to build their own emergency hospitals. Whereas three weeks ago, you could have called someone and said, Give me a thousand walls tomorrow, Steel said, now theyll say, Im sorry. Theyre in Chicago. Theyre in Las Vegas. Theyre in Houston. The expectation is that FEMA will reimburse the Javits Center for their costs. As a public benefit corporation that provides a service to the state by bringing in people who spend money on restaurants and hotels, the facility doesnt rely on taxpayer dollars. It simply looks to break even each year. Down another corridor strange commands floated into the hallway: Forward, back, down, up, a medic told a National Guardsman who was wearing an N95 mask under what looked like the hood for a hazmat suit. Soldiers were lined up six feet apart for the chance to bow and shake like they were at a concert thrashing in a moshpit. It was a simulation to test the fit of their masks and mimic a confined environment. A day later, Covid-19 entered the building. The Washington Post Dr Sandy Knapp is one of the world's experts on food crops and leads the plants division at the Museum. She's studied them for decades - how they grow, where they thrive, how they support us. Sandy has spent a career championing nature on an international stage, speaking up for the preservation of species all over the world. When a cancer diagnosis came in 2018, it was nature's time to repay her. As she was treated with drugs originally derived from trees and soils, the great diversity of life on planet Earth became her literal support system. In October 2018 Sandy was on a complicated overseas work trip for a museum review in Boston, a herbarium visit in Missouri and a conference speech in Ecuador. About halfway through she discovered a lump in her breast. She says, 'I thought it was nothing and carried on, but just to be safe I called my GP and made an appointment for when I got back. I returned and was referred straight away. Fast forward to the hospital and me feeling shocked to discover that the 'nothing to worry about' lump was quite probably malignant. Gulp. 'The NHS is amazing. Like a juggernaut, it just went into action.' Sandy returned to her consultant the following week accompanied by her friend Vanessa. The diagnosis was triple-negative breast cancer which would need a treatment programme of chemotherapy followed by surgery and radiotherapy. Incredibly, in the face of such a life-changing diagnosis, Sandy flew to Kenya the very next day to strategise for a non-profit organisation in the conservation conservancy of Ol Pejeta. She was urged to do so by her consultant. The family of a palliative care doctor has appealed for iPads and computer tablets to help the dying stay connected to loved ones while in hospital under Covid-19 visitor restrictions. No one should die without being able to reach out to the ones they love, said Sandra Tiernan, whose husband, Dr Eoin Tiernan, is a consultant in palliative medicine at St Vincents and The Beacon hospitals in Dublin. Mrs Tiernan had been distressed to see her husband, who trained as a GP in Cork before moving into palliative medicine, return from work concerned that patients were not getting to see loved ones due to Covid-19 visitor restrictions. So many patients have families overseas who cannot return now to say goodbye. Its tough, Ms Tiernan said. Last night, my husband told me about a young mother-of-four who couldnt see her children. I could really relate to that. I have five children of my own. "If I couldnt see them every day at bedtime I dont know what Id do. I thought 'we have to do something'. If that mum could at least see her children every day over an iPad, she'd know that they were OK and they could see that she was OK. She should be able to do that. "So I found an iPad in a drawer to give to that young mother and I wondered how many other people have iPads lying around, half-forgotten, in drawers. Ms Tiernan appealed for iPads for sick patients on a WhatsApp group with other parents at her children's' school and the message went viral. Dr Tiernan and his wife Sandra, who spearheaded the campaign Ive had people drop iPads over the hedge in Supervalue bags, Ive had offers from the UK and all over the country, but I asked them to contact their local palliative care teams - like Marymount Hospice in Cork, or their local nursing homes. There are so many lovely people in nursing homes who cant have visitors. Many elderly people dont have smartphones and phone screens are small. But an iPad screen is big enough to reach out and touch, its a presence in the room, you can have three or four-way calls and the family can chat together on it. Or you can check if your child has washed their teeth or see their artwork or their homework. This pandemic has shown us that you dont have to be physically with someone to stay in touch, my children do school lessons and meet friends online so why not have that for palliative patients? Ms Tiernan said that visitor restrictions are also weighing heavily on those caring for the dying, and she hopes that the technology will help them too. My husbands palliative team is working non-stop, people in his profession give until theyre empty," she said. Its really tough for them to see their patients distressed without family and to not be able to hug them, or open the door and say, heres your best friend or your sister. "But if they have an iPad, in a way they can still bring their loved ones into that room." Ms Tiernan said that in Ireland, death is an opportunity to collectively celebrate a persons life, but during the Covid-19 outbreak, getting people together physically is no longer possible. We do death and dying in a particular way in Ireland. You make room for it. Death, as sad as it is, is really an opportunity to go through every emotion - not just sadness. "When you stand around a death bed youre crying, but youre also laughing a lot, sharing funny anecdotes and stories, it allows the person who is dying to grasp those last few wonderful memories. But now, with the coronavirus, people are not alone but its lonely. A lot of people want to get loved ones home to die, but thats very hard now. And for people who are Covid positive, they may want to see people but cant. Children donated their own tablets to help the sick and drew pictures to cheer up staff and patients So if we cant do it the traditional way, well have to find another. No one should die without being able to reach out to the ones they love. Sandra is encouraging people to contact their local palliative care teams and nursing homes to offer IT to help the isolated and vulnerable stay connected. The latest restrictions in operation since Friday, March 27 mandate that everyone should stay at home, only leaving to: All children cant be provided with social support because there are many children of socially secured families in Armenia. This is what Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said today in response to a citizen who had asked why the government only provides support to children whose parents are unemployed. The government currently has a problem with identifying children who need social support is trying to find out information about the parents of the particular children when it allocates funds. Unfortunately, not everything is digitized in Armenia. Well consider the expansion of the program, and if there are justifications, I dont rule out the expansion of the program, Pashinyan said. The COVID-19 monitoring Team in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality has debunked allegations that the 33-year-old pregnant woman who was recently confirmed positive with COVID 19 infection travelled to Tarkwa in the Western Region from Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. In a press release signed by Mr Frederick Kaayeng, Municipal Information Services Department (ISD) Officer and member of the COVID-19 Team, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, in Tarkwa, stated that the information is inaccurate and misleading because investigations conducted as part of contacts tracing by our Rapid Response Team has revealed that the patient does not have any relation in Tarkwa, and had no such travel record from this Municipality to the Upper East Region. He said the patient rather mentioned Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region, where she traveled to, but the clinician who attended to her mistook Nkawkaw for Tarkwa. According to Mr Kaayeng, out of the 13 suspected COVID-19 cases recorded in the Municipality, nine of the test results turned out to be negative, while the remaining four suspected cases results were still pending. The ISD officer again said hence, we put on record that the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality has not recorded any COVID-19 case. Even though the Team admits the need for contact tracing as a measure for proper management of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were of the view that accurate and effective communication from all stakeholders was relevant to keep Ghanaians calm as they worked together to fight the disease. He applauded the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Gilbert Kennedy Asmah for being proactive and supportive to the team. Mr Kaayeng expressed appreciation to the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Health Directorate and other stakeholders for their enormous contributions and commitment in helping the Municipality to stem the current COVID-19 pandemic situation. The ISD officer entreated residents of Tarkwa-Nsuaem and Western Region to remain calm and adhere to the basic precautionary measures and those protocols proposed by the President to curtail the COVID-19 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. Featured Video An English countess tells how she 'lost herself' in a 'vulgar' life of excess during her relationship with a Russian oligarch in a new BBC documentary. Aristocratic beauty Alexandra Tolstoy, 45, daughter of Count Nikolai Tolstoy and a distant relation of author Leo Tolstoy, fell in love with billionaire Sergei Pugachev, 57, while working as his English tutor in Russia. The couple went on to have three children together and Alexandra enjoyed all of the trappings of a billionaire's girlfriend - the pair never married - including no-limit credit card shopping sprees and jaunts on private jets between their homes in Moscow, Paris, London and St Barts. Speaking in TV documentary The Countess and the Russian Billionaire, which airs on BBC2 on Wednesday, Alexandra tells how her world came crumbling down around her when Pugachev fled to France in fear of his life after the Kremlin issued an arrest warrant, claiming he owes the state $1billion. Alexandra Tolstoy, 45, and Sergei Pugachev, 57, were followed by cameras for five years for the documentary The Countess and the Russian Billionaire, which airs on BBC2 on Wednesday at 9pm She brands her old life 'vulgar and not me', saying: 'As an adult you can lose yourself. I really never thought I could lose myself. But I'm 45, I'm not old, and really I have my whole life ahead of me and this is who I am.' The former couple, who allowed cameras into their lives for five years for the documentary, are now completely estranged. Pugachev has cut off Alexandra and their children financially, she claims, and she now faces being left with 'nothing' after the Kremlin threatened to evict them from their 12million London townhouse. 'My worst fear is that we have nowhere to live and no money,' she says on camera. 'It's really stressful, it's a nightmare.' As filming began in 2015, Alexandra offered cameras a tour of her lavish home in Battersea, south London, where her neighbours included Brian Ferry. 'We have a PA, two housekeepers, two drivers, an English nanny, a Russian nanny and a French tutor,' she says. Sergei once owned two major shipyards, the world's biggest mine and large chunks of real estate in Moscow and St Petersburg, as well as the Mezhprombank, which he co-founded in the 1990s. The couple met in 2008 after Sergei hired Alexandra to help improve his English while they were both living in Russia, where Sergei was once-close friends with Putin. Sergei said he enjoyed a 'very close' friendship with Russian president Vladimir Putin before falling out with the state Speaking of her relationship with her husband, she reveals on camera: 'When I met Sergei it was electric. It was amazing. I fell so in love with him. I've never felt such a connection to someone ever.' But when Sergei revealed to 'very close friend' Putin that he was dating an English woman, the Russian leader was 'very surprised'. WHO IS ALEXANDRA TOLSTOY? Before she met Sergei, Alexandra was married to a penniless Cossack named Shamil Galimzyanov. The pair met whilst travelling along the Silk Road on horse in 1999. He was an Uzbek showjumper employed as a guide on the trip. They married in 2003 in London. Tolstoy first met Sergei, then a Russian senator and trusted friend of Putin who had separated from his wife, when asked to give him English lessons while she was living in Moscow with Galimzyanov. A year later, they met again at an awards ceremony attended by the Russian president. Within months, Tolstoy and was pregnant with Sergei's child. They had three children together - Alexei, known as Aliosha, Ivan and Maria. Alexandra is the eldest of Anglo-Russian historian and writer Nikolai Tolstoy's four children. She grew up in Oxfordshire before going to Edinburgh University to study philosophy. She spent her gap year in Russia. She has also taken extensive riding trips through Mongolia and Siberia and organises riding holidays in central Asia as well as being a writer. Advertisement Alexandra said: 'Many of these problems are because he is with me. Putin has said to him at some point, "You're a traitor".' Putin's frustration over the relationship didn't stop it from progressing and, within a year of meeting, they had a baby and another on the way, and were living a life of luxury in London, Moscow and Paris. Alexandra said: 'It was incredible, he would give me his credit card and I would go shopping, I had a private jet. I just had to pack my suitcase and I could go.' The family moved between an array of properties including a 12million family home in Battersea, a 200-acre country estate in Hertfordshire, and a 40million beachfront villa in St Barts. Alexandra revealed: 'All that money meant I didn't have to work, clean, I could spend as much time as possible with my children.' But in 2008, Sergei's bank hit problems and the Russian bank bailed it out with $1 billion loan. Sergei, who left Russia in 2011, claims that after relations between him and Putin cooled, the Kremlin tried to seize or destroy his business empire. The Russians then accused him of profiting from vast sums of taxpayers' money given to Mezhprombank by the Russian central bank at the height of the 2008 economic crisis. The Russian authorities froze his assets, put him on Interpol's wanted list and obtained a court order in Britain forcing him to hand over his passports. By 2015, he was dividing his time between France and the family home in London and reputed to be number 3 on Kremlin's hitlist. The billionaire revealed: 'It's clear this is a war. I need bodyguards to feel safe. It's not some kind of whim, it's a necessity for life.' Alexandra breaks down in the documentary as she admits she is terrified of being left homeless after her relationship with Sergei fell apart In Nice, he was visited by the DIA who demanded repayment of the billion dollar loan and threatened his family, saying they could 'cut off his son's finger and send it back to him.' Meanwhile in London, the family become aware that they were being followed. Later, police discovered GPS trackers on their cars. Sergei was summoned back to the high court in London but remained in France, deciding to go head-to-head with the Russian state and suing them for his business assets of $12 billion. Alexandra reveals: 'I do feel very frightened for Sergei and for me and the children. especially in London....but I chose him and I chose this life and I love him. It's my choice.' Sergei was accused by the Russian state of stealing $1 billion, and became an enemy of the country (pictured, with Putin during their friendship) Alexandra said her partner fell out with Putin after they started dating, with the politician calling Sergei 'a traitor' In December 2015, three police officers arrived late at night looking for Sergei, with a search and arrest warrant, leaving Alexandra terrified to stay in the country. She said: 'I feel so out of control. I don't regret it [my relationship with Sergei] because I love my children so much, I do really love Sergei. WHO IS SERGEI PUGACHEV? The Russian state has been pursuing Sergei Pugachev through the High Court claiming he illegally siphoned hundreds of millions of pounds from a government bailout of the Mezhprombank he co-founded. Mr Pugachev denies the allegations and claims Moscow is trying to steal 11billion of his assets, including two shipyards and the world's largest mine. Mr Pugachev has previously been declared to be in contempt of court, with a two-year prison sentence left hanging over his head should he return to this country. He had been living in France for the past five years after being ordered to give up his passports in 2014 and having his assets frozen. He also claims 'credible attempts' had been made on his life in the UK. The tycoon is in another legal battle with Russia in The Hague where he is suing the Federation for 11billion. He claims he is being targeted because of his knowledge of state secrets. Advertisement 'We have had a very turbulent relationship and I feel regret for my children that it hasn't been more peaceful and calm.' Bursting into tears, she added: 'Some people look at me and think, "Your life is so easy. Your children are so privileged." 'But the most privileged upbringing is to be in a safe family unit where you're all together.' Later that month, Sergei was sentenced to two years in prison for leaving the country without permission. If he sets foot in the UK, he'll go straight to prison. But while Sergei remains living in Nice, Alexandra admits the chateau makes her feel 'too isolated' and she resists moving the family to France. She said: 'I guess I just feel concerned about how our future as a family work. 'Sergei wants us to live in France and I don't know if I can do that really. Everything in life you're able to cope with, if you have any idea of what will happen. 'But I just have no idea of what will happen and I just found that very stressful. That I can't plan, or envisage what will happen.' Alexandra leaves the chateau in the Spring of 2016 abruptly, claiming Sergei 'physically attacked' her, before locking the children in one room and hiding her passport. She said: 'Something in me snapped, and I said, "I cannot ever do this ever again". At that point I was wavering, should I go and live there, but that was just the end.' Meanwhile Sergei revealed: 'She had security, I organised everything for her. Even a private plane but she said no i'll take a BA flight, we'll be back in two weeks. And she never came back. The mother of my children stole them.' Alexandra toyed with moving to France to be with Sergei in exile in the country, but ended up deciding to stay in the UK (pictured) The countess was left devastated after Sergei cut her family off financially completely and was left terrified she and her children would have nowhere to live In London, Alexandra lives in fear of both the Russian state and of Sergei, having seen someone standing outside her home 24 hours a day for six months. She said: 'He talks really loudly in Russian. I do find it really really odd. It's the style of person who Sergei would get to spy on us.' Now permanently separated, Sergei is consumed by his multi-billion dollar lawsuit against the Russian lawyers. Sergei once owned two major shipyards, the world's biggest mine and large chunks of real estate in Moscow and St Petersburg, as well as the Mezhprombank, which he co-founded in the 1990s The children haven't seen their father since they left France in 2016, with Alexandra saying Sergei has cut her off financially completely. She said: 'Our relationship is non-existent really, except he occasionally writes me abusive emails. 'He accuses me of working with the Russian government, He says I'm a KGB spy. He thinks that because I went to the family court and sued for maintenance. Obviously he never ever paid for a penny of that maintenance. He completely cut us off.' On the order of the high court, the family home is put on the market, Alexandra makes a deal with the Russian government to drop her claim to his fortune. Sergei amassed enormous wealth from his companies, and lived a lavish lifestyle before becoming an enemy of the Russian state After Sergei cut her off, Alexandra returned to organising travel holidays and working as a writer, calling her old lifestyle 'vulgar' She revealed: 'The Russian government said to me, "If you agree to waive your maintenance, we will let you stay in the house for one year". What was i meant to do? I either signed the agreement or I left the house the next day.' Alexandra tries to support herself and the children by writing and reviving her old travel business but, after a year, her deal with the Russian government comes to an end. 49.53 Alexandra said she felt she had 'lost' herself during her relationship with Sergei after regaining her independence She says: ''Each month, I sign a document saying I promise to get out by the 31st. My worst fear is that we have nowhere to live and no money. I've tried to shield the children... they know that I don't know where we'll live.' These days Alexandra and the children spend whatever time they can at her cottage in Oxfordshire, with lawyers telling her not to take the children to France. Meanwhile Sergei remains living in isolation in France, with Alexandra refusing to let her children travel to see him She revealed: 'Of course the children have asked me, "Why does he never come here?" so I told them that he has a prison sentence here. And they say, "Why can't we go there? and I say "It's dangerous. his life is under threat".' She said she does plan to tell her children about their father in the future, revealing: 'I'm going to say that he needs to sort out the situation that he's in, and maybe when you're older you can go find him yourself. And it's not your fault.' Salman Khan has given an age-old proverb jo darr gaya woh marr gaya a new twist in the times of coronavirus. The actor on Saturday shared a new video with nephew Nirvaan, actor-director Sohail Khans son, where the two are seen addressing the lockdown due to Covid-19. Ham to bhai darr gaye hai (we are scared), Salman says straight up as his nephew nods in approval. The actor says that they had come to this place for a few days and now they are here while father Salim Khan is at home in Mumbai. I havent seen my father for three weeks, Nirvaan hasnt seen his father for three weeks. We are scared and we are saying it with full bravery, Salman says, talking about coronavirus pandemic and social distancing that is the only way to flatten the curve. He also goes on to ask people not to show unnecessary bravery in these challenging times and stay where they are. The superstar then says the proverb Jo Dar Gaya Woh Mar Gaya does not apply anymore as those who are scared are actually safe. He asks his fans to stay safe and be at home. In an earlier video, Salman had asked his fans to stay home in a style all his own. Asking what is peoples problem and why cant they stay at home, he had added, Appeal ye hai ki govt aapke liye aur hum sab ke liye bol rahi hai, Isko seriously lo aur afwahein mat phailao (My appeal is that you follow what the government is saying and dont spread rumours). He has also pledged to financially support 25,000 daily wage workers from the film industry in the wake of the national lockdown, office bearers of the Federation of Western Indian Cine Employees (FWICE) had confirmed earlier. The global oil market has more plotlines than an episode of TV's Dallas. Unfortunately it's not a show, and has very real world consequences. Keeping up with all the twists is tough. So here's a rundown of roughly where things stand right now. If there's something missing and I'm sure there is you'll forgive the lapse. Storylines are changing by the day, if not the hour. Recap: How Did We Get Here? In brief, Russia and Saudi Arabia had a disagreement over production cuts and sparked an all-out price and market share war at the same time coronavirus began, decimating global economies and oil demand. This collapsed oil prices and obliterated many debt-heavy U.S. oil and gas company stocks. Read about it in my March 8 piece. A world with too much oil is sending prices everywhere crashing, and spurring calls for some kind of global, coordinated effort to stem production. President Donald Trump met with seven U.S. oil companies Friday at the White House to discuss this dire situation. OPEC+ or OPEC or No-OPEC? There was an 'OPEC++' virtual meeting discussed that was supposed to happen Monday to discuss the current situation. But then there wasn't. Sources told us over the weekend that a meeting, should it occur, is now "likely" to be held on Thursday. Few firm details have emerged so anything can happen at this point. By the way, what's OPEC++? OPEC is the 13-member oil organization based in Vienna, Austria. OPEC+ is the loose name given to the meeting the day after OPEC, which includes Russia and a bunch of smaller producer countries. Russia is the real show, and they help "bless" the OPEC deal made the day before. It's become an almost more important day than OPEC itself. OPEC++ is meant to be OPEC+ on oil steroids. It's Russia, other OPEC+ members and, essentially, any other major oil producer who wants to participate. That could include Norway, Canada or even American interests. If that sounds odd and unclear, it's because it is odd and unclear. Essentially, an OPEC++ virtual meeting is meant to bring anyone in the world who produces oil together to tackle a problem impacting everyone. From Russia without love? As U.S. production grew, the last three years has brought OPEC and Russia closer. That relationship is now, shall we say, strained. Vladimir Putin has said that the original OPEC+ deal was busted because the Saudis want to drive prices lower to blow out struggling U.S. shale oil producers, crushing American oil. The Saudis made a rare public response, issuing a statement that the Russian claims are "fully devoid of truth." Bottom line is this: the Saudis won't act on a production cut unless Russia does, but Russia may not be willing or able to cut very much in part because of their need for oil dollars and other less sexy reasons such as super cold Siberian weather and the type of oil reservoirs they use. Still, any sign by Putin & Co of a willingness to cut something may help mend fences. Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud and Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak at the start of an OPEC and NON-OPEC meeting in Vienna, Austria, December 6, 2019. Leonhard Foeger | Reuters The ultimate question is whether this is a very public permanent breakup of former global oil BFFs or just a little love spat? Trillions of dollars are on the line. G-20 Trumps OPEC? Perhaps ironically, this year Saudi Arabia is the rotating president of the Group of 20 nations. That gives the Kingdom an additional edge in oil diplomacy outside of OPEC and OPEC+. Additionally, the International Energy Agency is actively working to ensure all producing nations, including the U.S., are fully aware of the dire situation. The agency's head, Fatih Birol, has been working the phones over the last few days, and there are reports of a special G-20 meeting taking place on Friday. The message being sent is that as powerful as OPEC may be, this problem is bigger. Tweet Trump's "10 million barrel" cut claim President Trump said April 2 that he spoke with both Saudi and Russia leadership and that "they will be cutting back approximately 10 million barrels, and maybe substantially more." Tweet Even in a world of famous Trump tweets, this one stuck out, because most in the oil market will gently remind you that Russian and Saudi Arabia alone cannot slice 10 million combined barrels from their production without extreme hardship. The Saudis have made it clear that any deal to cut must include a "fair" agreement, which is Saudi-speak for every nation needs to participate. Any deal the Saudis would likely agree to would have to include OPEC, Russia, Canada, Norway, and, yes, the U.S. That's non-negotiable, according to Saudi sources. 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 So can the world get to a 10 million barrel per day cut? Yes, if everyone participates. Let's do some math. Oil Math Let's count to 10, using commentary and research from Tudor Pickering Holt, RBC Capital Markets and others. Saudis = 4 As of April 1, the Saudis boosted their output to probably 12.5 million barrels per day, up from under 10 million barrels. So they could easily trim back to pre-April levels, throw in another million barrel cut and come out to a total cut of about 4 million barrels per day. Other OPEC = 2 OPEC ex-Saudi is about 15m bpd, so assuming each member country cuts output by about 12% (probably a stretch, but hey) that's another 2 million down. Russia = 1.5 Russia produces about 11 million barrels per day, and 1 to 1.5 million barrels per day is probably the most they could cut, for a variety of political and technical reasons (think: high water cuts in their reservoirs) far too boring to go into here. Norway + Canada (No-Can?) = 1 Quiet oil giant Norway hasn't collaborated on coordinated oil cuts in nearly 20 years, but now they are apparently ready to talk. They can probably take 500,000 barrels from their 1.75m b/d output. Canadian producers are already cutting back as storage tanks are nearly full, so consider that another 500,000 from our friends to the north. That brings us to 8.5 million barrels down. U.S. = 1.5? It's an open question how much U.S. producers will participate in any coordinated cut. We have no OPEC. We have no national producer. Rystad Energy estimates there are more than 9,000 companies producing oil or gas. The 10 largest American producers control about 30% of U.S. production. It's why Trump called them to the White House. A "mini-OPEC" if you will. (The irony shouldn't be lost on anyone, given Trump's famous distaste for OPEC and a current "No-PEC" anti-cartel bill still floating around Congress). U.S. production is already starting to decline organically, via a massive slowdown in new drilling and well-depletion rates, as well as turning off the tap on other production. Through this, if the U.S. manages to remove 15% of our 13 million barrel production, it takes another 1.5 million barrels off the market. 10 million, the hard way. Enter The Texas Railroad Commission Though the U.S. has no OPEC and price fixing is verboten, there is an interesting alternative path to enforcing cuts: the Texas Railroad Commission. Despite the name, this obscure agency can control Texas' oil production. Two Texas oil companies Pioneer Natural Resources and Parsley Energy have asked the TRC to enforce production cuts, something it has the power to do, but hasn't used since the 1970s. A decision to do so requires the approval of two of the three commissioners and chairman. A public hearing is scheduled for April 14. Tune in. Talk of tariffs If all of this isn't enough, here's another late show plot-twist: tariffs on foreign oil may be on the way. Trump says he could impose "very substantial" taxes on imported crude, though he "doesn't think [he'll] have to." As U.S. companies and jobs suffer, there's been a growing howl for tariffs on the 6 million or so barrels we still bring in from other countries each day. It sounds like a simple fix, but like everything, it's not so simple. First, many U.S. refineries need the type of oil we import. Also, about half of all U.S. oil imports are from Canada, maybe not a country we wish to punish. Mexico is next. Saudi Arabia is just 6% of our oil imports. Oh, and if we tariff Saudi oil, maybe they'll just pull back on buying U.S. made defense equipment. Nothing is easy. Will all this save many U.S. producers? Short answer: no. Longer answer: Cuts could delay the worst of the pain for a few months as we all hope and pray for rapid economic rebirth. Global oil demand is now down somewhere between 20 to 30 million barrels per day. So even a 10 million barrel per day cut - which once would've been unthinkable - isn't a panacea. However, it does slow the pain. More importantly, it slows the fill. Global oil storage is near capacity everywhere. Aggregating most research I've seen, at the current pace of oversupply every oil tank, pipeline, supertanker and bathtub will be full by mid to late May. If that happens, oil prices could go negative in parts of the country. Yes, oil producers would pay you to take their oil, since they have no place to put it. Airbnb is raising $1 billion, even as the coronavirus crisis hits the travel and hospitality industries especially hard. In a press release, Airbnb says that private equity firms Silver Lake and Sixth Street Partners will invest $1 billion in a combination of debt and equity that will support Airbnb's ongoing work to invest over the long term. The company did not disclose the latest valuation. But in early March, it lowered its internal valuation to $26 billion, from the $31 billion figure it raised money at in 2017, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Over the last month, travel stocks Expedia and Booking Holdings have declined about 40% and 17%, respectively. The terms of the round were not disclosed, but a source familiar with matter said, "there is no rachet or any other coercive terms. It's attractive for Airbnb." The source added the funding doesn't depend on Airbnb's performance or reaching a target date to go public. The fundraising comes as travelers cancel trips amid the global coronavirus pandemic and the start-up grapples with a slowdown in bookings. It also bucks the trend of venture capital deals simmering down as the markets plunge on coronavirus fears. Investors told CNBC they predict fundraising rounds generally stalling and reaching less eye-popping valuations. As CNBC reported last month, Airbnb has fielded "significant interest" from investors over the last few weeks. Silver Lake and Sixth Street are new investors and, according to a source, the company chose them because they are "focused on the mission" and "believe travel is enduring." Private equity deals in the U.S. involving tech companies have grown in recent years as some of the sector's best-known names boost their capital for such deals. In early March, Twitter announced a $1 billion investment from Silver Lake. Sixth Street Partners, launched in 2009 with seed money from TPG, has over $34 billion in assets under management. In a press release, Silver Lake Co-CEO and Managing Partner Egon Durban said, "while the current environment is clearly a difficult one for the hospitality industry, the desire to travel and have authentic experiences is fundamental and enduring." He added that Airbnb's business model is "particularly well suited to prosper as the world inevitably recovers and we all get back out to experience it." Morgan Stanley served as financial advisor to Airbnb and Simpson Thacher served as legal advisor to Airbnb. Kirkland & Ellis served as legal advisor to Silver Lake and Sixth Street Partners. Goldman Sachs also advised Airbnb. It's still unclear how a fundraising round could impact the company's plans to go public. Airbnb had said it planned to debut this year, but the economic shift resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown that possibility in question again. An NHS ambulance service worker who was stranded in Peru for two weeks has admitted she felt like a 'hostage' as she was unable to leave her airport hotel and had to surrender her passport to board a repatriation flight back to the UK. Sheena Watson, 44, from Bolton, finally arrived home in the UK on April 2, having initially landed in the South American country on March 11 - days before its president Martin Vizcarra announced a state of emergency on March 15. Having been travelling in Cusco, Sheena made a mad dash to the capital, Lima, where she had a flight booked to Sao Paulo - but it was cancelled as the borders closed at midnight and her plane was due to leave at 1am. Her travel company found her a 'stop gap' hotel close to the airport, which cost 126 a night, but she claims she was forced to check-in for the full 15 nights of the quarantine period or be denied a room - and refused re-entry if she left the complex. Sheena Watson, 44, from Bolton, finally arrived home in the UK on Thursday 2 April, having initially landed in the South American country on March 11 - days before its president Martin Vizcarra announced a state of emergency on March 15 Last week Sheena boarded the third repatriation flight laid on by the government at a cost of 250 per passenger, which is an emergency loan from public funds. To secure the emergency loan, you are required to give up your passport to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which issues you an emergency travel document valid for a single journey to your country of residence. Prior to getting on the flight, Sheena and the other passengers were required to sign an 'undertaking to repay' agreement promising to settle the loan within six months - or face the matter being taken up by a debt collection agency and their impounded passports being cancelled. Having already racked up additional expenses of around 2,000, she said it felt 'a bit unfeeling given everything' - though she is thankful she didn't have to stump up 3,000 which was what she'd been quoted by airlines before commercial flights were stopped. Back home, Sheena's colleague Josh set up a GoFundMe page to help cover her expenses, which they are still collecting for to help her pay off her debts. Having been travelling in Cusco, Sheena made a mad dash to the capital, Lima, where she had a flight booked to Sao Paulo - but it was cancelled as the borders closed at midnight and her plane was due to leave at 1am Sheena added that the repatriation process was an 'emotional rollercoaster', claiming she and other stranded Brits in the country felt deprived of support and information. She told FEMAIL: 'The embassy out there was closed due to lockdown, and if you emailed them you got an automated response and if you phoned them, the line went dead. 'Nobody really had any great communication from them. Communication started within the second week when they were looking at organising the first repatriation flight, which was on the Wednesday, and an email went out to people that had been allocated a seat on that flight. 'I think the first email went out about 3pm, and it said they had until 4:30pm to respond or their seat would be reallocated. Last week Sheena boarded the third repatriation flight laid on by the government at a cost of 250 per passenger, which is an emergency loan from public funds 'I wasn't allocated a seat on that first flight obviously, and then when the second flight was arranged, the same process happened again, so you were setting an alarm through the night, every hour, to check your emails. 'It's a bit like an emotional rollercoaster because you just didn't know you'd got that constant hope. At one point I was checking my emails that much that I sent myself an email just to check they were working.' Sheena worked as a flight attendant for British Midland Airways for 10 years before joining the ambulance service and was on the job when 9/11 happened. She said the response to that incident felt 'more organised', adding: 'Even if embassy had said, "There's no possibility of a flight out for two weeks" you could have dealt with that. Sheena said it was frustrating being stuck in her hotel 'twiddling her thumbs' while racking up a costly bill as she waited on news of a flight home 'You'd know where you stood. But there was no information, people were spending hours every day on the internet. Your phone gives you your screen time at the end if the day, and mine was saying 10 hours plus of internet time, and I'm never on the internet that much.' Sheena said it was frustrating being stuck in her hotel 'twiddling her thumbs' while racking up a costly bill as she waited on news of a flight home. She added that she did look online for a cheaper hotel, but was told by her hotel that there was no guarantee taxis were running in the city to take her. 'The hotel said if I left the complex I wouldnt be allowed back in,' she added. 'And even if I got to another hotel there was no guarantee that they would accept new guests. It felt a bit like you were held hostage.' Sheena suspects making a travel insurance claim will be a lengthy process On returning to the UK, at which point she had to shell out another 102 to get from Gatwick back to Bolton, Sheena contacted her holiday insurance company - but suspects making a claim will be a lengthy process. 'They said, "Well, why didn't you leave early?",' she said. 'I explained that I would have loved to have left early, but that wasn't possible, and when I tried to explain to them that all commercial flights were cancelled and it was repatriation flights only, they said, "So you couldn't get an earlier flight then?" No, because the government weren't running them. So that might be lengthy process to go through travel insurance.' Sheena has now returned to work as she wasn't required to self-isolate due to her long hotel stint. 'I was in a locked compound for two weeks, so I was more or less classed as being in quarantine,' she said. There are thousands of Britons currently stranded abroad amid the global coronavirus crisis. Speaking at the government's daily coronavirus press conference at 10 Downing Street last week, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab unveiled a massive 75million repatriation plan to bring home 'tens of thousands' of Britons stranded abroad. He said: 'Under the arrangements that we are putting in place we will target flights from a range of priority countries, starting this week.' But Mr Raab said in countries where commercial flights are still in operation, the instruction is still for Britons to buy tickets home 'as soon as possible'. 'Where commercial routes remain an option, airlines will be responsible for getting passengers home,' he said. 'That means offering alternative flights at little to no cost where routes have been cancelled.' A spokesperson for the FCO said: '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.' (CNN) The founder and CEO of Zoom has apologized to the video conferencing app's millions of users after coming under fire for a host of privacy issues at a time when it has emerged as a vital social and professional lifeline for many. "We recognize that we have fallen short of the community's -- and our own -- privacy and security expectations," Eric Yuan said in a blog post on Wednesday. "For that, I am deeply sorry." Zoom will stop adding new features for the next 90 days and instead focus solely on addressing privacy issues, Yuan said. The company will also release a transparency report, similar to the ones periodically shared by tech giants such as Facebook, Google and Twitter, which details requests for data or content from government authorities. The coronavirus outbreak has seen millions of people ordered to stay in their homes flock to Zoom, which has garnered praise for its features and usability. Yuan said Zoom crossed 200 million daily meeting participants in the month of March. People have used the video conference app for everything from brunches and birthday parties to religious events and even a UK cabinet meeting. But the spike in popularity has led the company to quickly find itself dealing with many of the issues that have plagued larger online platforms, particularly around privacy. This week alone, Zoom has come under scrutiny from the New York Attorney General and the FBI, faced questions from security experts about the level of encryption on its platform, and been hit with two class action lawsuits over a feature (which it has since deactivated) that shared some user data with Facebook. The controversy has hit Zoom's previously meteoric stock price, which had nearly doubled since the end of January but closed 11% lower on Thursday and has fallen around 24% this week. Yuan said Zoom was created mainly for "large institutions with full IT support" such as universities, government agencies and financial services companies. "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," he added. "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." Zoom also apologized for its misleading claim that it offers "end-to-end encryption for all meetings," which would mean that all content on its platform is visible only to participants. Some security experts expressed doubt about Zoom's ability to provide that level of encryption, saying the type of encryption it provides would allow the company to access some information through its servers. Oded Gal, Zoom's chief product officer, said in a blog post on Wednesday that Zoom does not decrypt any information if all participants of a meeting are on its app and if the meeting is not being recorded. Full encryption is not possible if any of the participants are dialed in from a phone or another external device. "While we never intended to deceive any of our customers, we recognize that there is a discrepancy between the commonly accepted definition of end-to-end encryption and how we were using it," Gal said. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Zoom CEO apologizes for having 'fallen short' on privacy and security." All the Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in Gujarat and ministers in the BJP government in the state wouldtake a 30 per cent salary cut for a year to fund the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was taken by the Gujarat government hours after the Union cabinet decided to cut 30 per cent salary of all MPs for one year, and divert MPLAD funds for two years to add financial muscle to the anti-coronavirus fight. The decision of 30 per cent pay cut for MLAs and ministers for a year was taken by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani during a core committee meeting convened in the evening, said a government release. The committee, consisting of ministers, has been set up to tackle the coronavirus crisis. The money saved through this measure will be used in the fight against coronavirus, said the release. The state has a 182-member assmbly. Similarly, MLA Local Area Development grant of Rs 1.50 crore allotted to each legislator will be exclusively utilised to fight coronavirus for a period of one year (ending March 31, 2021), it added. So far, Gujarat has registered 146 COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths related to the viral disease. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Moscow is at Greater Risk of Coronavirus, Hence Tough Measures Taken to Curb the Spread - Mayor Sputnik News 05:18 GMT 05.04.2020(updated 06:01 GMT 05.04.2020) At the moment, Russia has reported at least 4,731 coronavirus cases, with the majority of them (over 3,300) registered in Moscow. In order to curb the infection, President Vladimir Putin earlier announced a paid week off from March 28 to April 5, urging people to stay at home. The situation surrounding the coronavirus outbreak in the Russian capital remains tense, so tough measures are needed, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced on Sunday. "Moscow is in the highest risk group, as a vast number of people have travelled through the city, or were abroad", he explained. The mayor told the broadcaster Rossiya-1 that the authorities have mobilised medical facilities to fight the infection, reserving at least 20,000 hospital beds. The Russian authorities previously announced a self-isolation regime in Moscow and other regions to curb the spread of the coronavirus and ease pressure on the healthcare system. There are currently at least 4,731 infected in the country, while the death toll from the virus is at 43. In order to fight the pandemic, the country has struck a deal with China, stipulating that Beijing will send over one million protective suits and 80 million medical masks to Russia. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Overnight Delta became the first US airline to extend elite status to customers whose travel plans have been curtailed by the lung-busting pandemic. Barely hours later, United followed Deltas lead. But why has it taken them so long? In Australia, where we have just 5,750 confirmed cases of the virus, and are still in a state of somewhat relaxed lockdown, with punters still hitting the beach and jogging like theres no tomorrow, our two major airlines offered frequent flyers a 12-month status extension almost three weeks ago. The US, on the other hand, has 336,958 confirmed cases of the virus, is in a much stricter lockdown, and has been that way for weeks. People are scared to brush each other in the supermarket, activities like surfing have been outlawed and no-one is travelling anywhere except for urgent medical reasons (as we reported last week). So why have Americas airlines taken so much longer to react than Australias, despite having a greater (and earlier) reason to offer their frequent flyers peace of mind? A recent New York Times Op-Ed provides a clue at why, writing that American carriers like American Airlines exist in a cut-throat market where the only race, especially domestically, is one to the bottom (think ever reducing seat pitches, baggage allowances, etc). American Airlines also went on a stock buyback spree, which The New York Times opinion piece took them to task for: There are plenty of things American could have done with all that money. It could have stored up its cash reserves for a future crisis, knowing that airlines regularly cycle through booms and busts. It might have tried to decisively settle its continuing contract disputes with pilots, flight attendants and mechanics. It might have invested heavily in better service quality to try to repair its longstanding reputation as the worst of the major carriers. Instead, American blew most of its cash on a stock buyback spree. From 2014 to 2020, in an attempt to increase its earnings per share, American spent more than $15 billion buying back its own stock. It managed, despite the risk of the proverbial rainy day, to shrink its cash reserves. Why do we mention this, when this article is centred around Delta and United Airlines lethargy in extending frequent flyers status? Well because so far they are the only airlines to do it, and also to illustrate what a competitive market they operate in. While Australias airspace is also competitive, Qantas used to be government-owned, and even now there are a lot more regulations in place. Much like Medicare (think of it as a sort of heavy-duty Obamacare), Australia is still a free-market capitalist economy, but not quite so much so as the US. For this reason, Australians (especially those that fly Qantas and Virgin Australia) are used to paying slightly more for their flights than their cousins across the pond, but also have higher expectations of their airlines. This was driven home to DMARGE recently via reader feedback to our article Should We Feel Sorry For Qantas & Virgin Australia?. Unlike The New York Times piece (Dont Feel Sorry For [American] Airlines which garnered support for bailouts to be contingent on American Airlines becoming less privatised, many of our readers were outraged at that same suggestion being levelled at Virgin Australia and Qantas. Until America elects a Bernie Sanders type figure (which doesnt look likely any time soon) wed say this trend is set to continue, and in loyalty, at least American carriers will continue to languish behind Australias. Read Next The government has only started the rapid, at times rocky implementation of the largest emergency spending package in U.S. history. Designed to bolster resources for an overburdened health-care system and blunt economic destruction as COVID-19 spreads, the law includes strengthened unemployment benefits, $350 billion in small business loans and $500 billion in loans and grants for companies, states and municipalities, among other measures. "The appetite is there," he said in a CNBC "Squawk Box" interview. "I think everyone I've talked to recognizes we're going to have to go back and do more, and probably more than once." The Florida Republican, chairman of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, said Congress will likely have to expand pieces of the $2 trillion stimulus package passed last month. Rubio expects an additional recovery bill after lawmakers assess the wreckage the outbreak leaves in its wake. Senators acknowledge they will have to pass another emergency bill to limit the damage from the coronavirus pandemic, Sen. Marco Rubio said Monday. The pandemic's effects have only started to emerge. The U.S. has at least 337,600 cases of COVID-19, and at least 9,648 deaths have been linked to the disease, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Already, roughly 10 million people have filed new unemployment claims as businesses shut down to prevent more infections. As coronavirus tears across the country, Rubio expects more action from Congress including to reload the small business program he helped to craft. "I believe Congress is going to have to go back in some way, shape or form and address additional things that have emerged since [the first bill passed]," he said. "That includes, by the way, replenishing the funds on the small business loan program. Because I believe that those funds, given the demand, will not reach June 30." Lenders started to accept applications for small business loans on Friday, only a week after the emergency relief bill became law. Both loan seekers trying to cover rent and keep employees on the payroll, and the banks doling out the money, expressed frustration about the program's rollout. Rubio acknowledged issues but said, "It will get better. It has to get better." In recent days, congressional leaders have outlined what they want to see in an additional relief bill. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pushing for another bipartisan bill that builds on the $2 trillion package, with more direct payments to individuals, additional small business funding, an extension of the enhanced unemployment insurance and more state health-care grants. She hopes to move legislation forward after the House returns on April 20, she told members in a letter Saturday. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday that the next bill should address the shortcomings of the last legislation, starting with the health-care response. But the Kentucky Republican told The Associated Press he is "not in favor of rushing" to the next phase before he sees how effective the previous bill is. Rubio said Monday that the "bigger challenge" in passing a bill is "logistical." Members of Congress are currently working from their states and districts, fearing a return to Washington as the number of lawmakers presumed to have COVID-19 grows. Congress can pass bills unanimously with a few people in the Capitol. But opposition from only one member can blow up those efforts as seen when Rep. Thomas Massie's objection to a unanimous vote forced House members to rush to Washington to pass the $2 trillion relief package last month. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. Oil price recovered strongly last week as traders bet on an OPEC+ deal to cut production. However, the meeting has been delayed and is tentatively now scheduled for Thursday. Oil remains volatile and while it should remain range-bound into the meeting, moves of 20-30% in either direction are possible on a deal/no-deal. Markets are starting the week on a positive footing with major stock indices gaining 3-4%. The FTSE is notably weaker, making a smaller rally of 1.9%, partly due to concerns in oil and partly due to Boris Johnsons hospital admission with COVID-19. Currencies meanwhile are mixed, with EURGBP unchanged, most USD pairs flattish, but AUDUSD up by around 0.9% at 0.605. Volatility continues in oil after last weeks huge recovery rally. Barely one hour into the European session and the price of WTI oil has made a round trip of over 20%, initially falling 12% from Fridays close and then rallying back over 10% to currently trade at $27.5 a barrel. The wild moves could well continue as the keenly anticipated OPEC+ meeting approaches later this week. The Tweet That Started it All Last weeks price action in oil was one of the strangest in a long history of strange and volatile moves. The Sunday open took prices below $20 to multi-decade lows and there they stayed for most of the week. Demand has been severely impacted by the coronavirus lockdowns but to make things worse, divisions between OPEC+ members notably Saudi Arabia and Russia threatens to increase supply at the worst possible time. The situation looked dire until out of the blue on Thursday, President Trumps tweet sparked a rally of 25%, the largest one day percentage gain ever. 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! he tweeted. Prices briefly broke above $27 before fading back again. Russia quickly denied agreeing a deal with Saudi Arabia but the dip recovered to close out the week at the highs just above $29 a bbl as speculation rose that OPEC+ would hold an emergency meeting on Monday (this wont happen). Prices were also boosted by news that China is a significant buyer at these prices to boost its emergency supplies. The Week Ahead Saudi Arabia has requested an urgent meeting for OPEC+ group and other countries, with aim of reaching a fair agreement to restore the desired balance of oil markets. The markets initially thought this could happen as early as Monday but the date has been pushed back and is provisionally set for Thursday. Even if it goes ahead on Thursday, there is a huge amount of disagreement to be overcome before a deal can be made. Firstly, there is the question of cuts can be agreed. OPEC countries led by Saudi Arabia proposed last month a production cut of 1.5 million barrels per day as demand waned. However, OPEC ally Russia rejected the cut, sparking a price war between the two powerhouse producers report CNBC. If a cut of 1.5m barrels cant be agreed, Trumps claim of 10 million seems way too optimistic. The production cuts that were previously in place expired on March 31st and last week Saudi Arabia ramped up its production to a record high of more than 12 million barrels per day. It is thought that Russia will only agree if the US also agrees to make cuts, but according to a Reuters report, the administration would not ask domestic producers to cut production. Clearly all sides want higher oil prices, but concessions must be made and so far it seems as though Russia and the US could dig their heels in. Oil likely trades $25-$30 until the meeting and then could re-test the $19 low or rally another 20-30% depending on whether a deal can be made. Maharashtra minister and Latur City MLA Amit Deshmukh on Monday demanded an inquiry into how a group of people managed to reach his district from Haryana despite the borders being sealed in view of the lockdown for the coronavirus outbreak. Eight of 12 Andhra Pradesh residents, who took shelter in a mosque in Nilanga in Latur, over 290 kilometres from here, after coming from from Ferozepur Jhirka in Haryana, tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday. "These 12 people crossed several states and some districts in Maharashtra," Deshmukh said, and demanded that the state home department institute a probe. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Other residents of the building were to return after it was ventilated, according to the fire department. The carbon monoxide was confined to one apartment, officials said. NEW YORK To a casting director, he might have seemed the perfect impatient New Yorker broad, bald and with a booming voice, tattoos on his neck and hands visible under his construction jacket. Justin Hunter stood in line outside the Park Slope Food Coop, one of several dozen shoppers spaced 6 feet apart in a queue that stretched around the corner. Hunters attitude, though, was all wrong for the part. No griping about store management, no shoving ahead toward entrance not even a hint of annoyance. Thats your normal, is people being on top of you, Hunter said about New York. Now that people are not on top of you, its become, Well this is what were doing now.' Forget the old New Yorkers refrain of Im walking here! Big Apple citizens are taking a more tentative tack since the city became a hot zone for the novel coronavirus pandemic that has sickened at least 1.1 million people and killed more than 60,000 worldwide. No pushing forward in lines. No irritably dodging slow-walking pedestrians. No swearing at yellow cabs for cutting into crosswalks. Moms with strollers are leaving wide berths for texting teens and slow-moving seniors. Supermarket shoppers are anxiously and awkwardly sidestepping each other, trying their best to keep six feet away. Under threat amid a global outbreak, New Yorkers have become downright polite. Invading someone elses personal space? Fuggedaboutit. Our closeness makes us vulnerable, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday. But its true that your greatest weakness is also your greatest strength. And our closeness is what makes us who we are. That is what New York is. New York Citys 8.6 million inhabitants have largely been ordered to stay home, with most of the states more than 113,000 cases and 3,500 deaths coming from NYC. A makeshift morgue has been set up outside Bellevue Hospital, and authorities are hunting down beds, medical equipment, doctors and nurses for fear the number of sick people will explode in the coming weeks, overwhelming hospitals the way the virus did in Italy and Spain. While public health officials grapple with the growing emergency, most New Yorkers have been left in an uncertain limbo unable to help in any way but to stay at home. Exceptions have been made for essential employees health care workers, grocery clerks, restaurant chefs preparing gourmet meals for GrubHub. But most are working from home and going out only for essentials, giving the city that never sleeps a most glum feel. In Times Square, a custodian idled Wednesday morning with a broom and dustpan, waiting for messes unlikely to appear with no tourists wandering under the bright billboards. Playgrounds and ball fields in Central Park were left empty, as were the stairs in front of the shuttered Metropolitan Museum of Art. Shops along Fifth Avenue from Bergdorf Goodman down to Saks and Louis Vuitton remained locked and unvisited, and sidewalks around Manhattan were mostly uninhabited except for a few construction workers and deliverymen from local grocers. Rush-hour subways are running with two or three riders per car, and bus riders are being kept socially distant from the driver by yellow chains draped across the front seats. Many grocers have placed tape marking six feet of space for checkout lines, and clerks are wearing gloves, masks and riot gear-like helmets to quell the spread. Lines at the Park Slope Coop, Hunters regular market, have routinely swept around the block. When first faced with the prospect of an hour-long grocery ordeal, Hunter decided to drive to New Jersey. He found the lines there shorter but the crowds unnerving. There was less social distancing and less safety with knowledge of like, people use gloves but then they also touch everything and touch their face, he said. Theres less awareness. New Yorkers generally have a good understanding of whats happening in this world, rather than people who are outside. The coronavirus pandemic has 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. For most people, COVID-19 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 Prospect Park a few days ago, Jayse Lee and Makiko Goldstein sat six feet apart on separate blankets with hand sanitizer at the ready. Stuck at home for the past week Lee celebrated her 39th birthday solo last weekend in her studio apartment they jumped at the chance to spend an hour in the sun. I miss hanging out, Lee said. Living in New York, you just dont realize how much you go out and socialize and do things. Its hard. Might even make someone miss all those crowded subways, gawking tourists and self-important businessmen. Yes and no, Lee said with a laugh. Goldstein interjected. I miss that a lot, she said sadly. I really miss human contact. ___ Follow Jake Seiner on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Jake_Seiner It has also requested leaders of agencies under municipal and provincial Departments of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to step up urgent measures against the COVID-19 pandemic. Overseas Vietnamese labour management boards should encourage Vietnamese labourers to stay calm, observe host countries regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control, and avoid trips to disease-hit areas, while ensuring rights and interests of the labourers who are affected by the epidemic. In its document sent to relevant agencies, the ministry said that scheduled inspections will be also halted at this time, adding that online inspections in the sphere of labour are encouraged. The ministry urged medical declaration at the request of the Ministry of Health, especially among the elderly and sick people, and ensuring safety during social welfare payment. Donald Trump has said that Americans "are praying" for Boris Johnson after the British prime minister was moved to an intensive care ward after his Covid-19 symptoms worsened. Appearing at his daily White House briefing on the coronavirus, the president said: "I also want to send my best wishes to a very good friend of mine and a friend to our nation, Prime Minister Boris Johnson. "We're very saddened to hear that he was taken into intensive care this afternoon, a little while ago. "And Americans are all praying for his recovery. He's been a really good friend, he's been really something very special: strong, resolute, doesn't quit, doesn't give up." He called Mr Johnson a "warm guy" who "really loves his country". "Intensive care is big stuff," he said. Asked if he or vice president Mike Pence would reconsider their own behaviour in light of the prime minister's worsening illness, he said they might get more coronavirus tests. Both have tested negative in previous tests. The president said he had told two "genius" companies to get in touch with the prime minister's doctors although it was not immediately clear what they would be offering. Mr Trump said: "We've contacted all of Boris's doctors, and we'll see what is going to take place. But they are ready to go. But when you get brought into intensive care, it gets very serious with this particular disease." He added: "It's a very complex treatment of things that they've just recently developed. They've already had meetings with the doctors, and we'll see whether or not they want to go that route." Asked about Mr Johnson's relatively late decision to create an effective lockdown in the UK, the president said "many people were thinking about riding it out, meaning, whatever it is, it is" and said countries acted once the numbers of cases and deaths became "monumental". He said the US "actually moved early" with its travel bans from China and Europe. Mr Trump added that the prime minister "made a decision very quickly thereafter to do what they did" but the UK is "suffering greatly as a nation right now". Of the United Kingdom, he said: "They're suffering a lot, they're a nation that's having a difficult time." Joseph Alsousou is a doctor who lives near Liverpool in Great Britain but works at a hospital near Oxford, three hours away. Rather than commute, he rented a room in a private house near his hospital. But when he arrived off shift one recent evening, according to a report in the Oxford Mail, his landlady told him she wanted him to leave as soon as he possibly could. She was frightened he would bring the coronavirus into her house. Miles away, in the southwestern corner of England, a paramedic named Joseph Hoar was evicted at a safe social distance by his landlady. Its only a matter of time before you are in contact with the virus, she texted, asking him to collect your stuff tomorrow. Fear of the coronavirus is rational. But acting on the fear in the way those British landladies did would raise serious legal concerns in New Mexico. In the first place, under the states Owner-Resident Relations Act, a month-to-month lease requires a months notice, not 24 hours. (As of the time of writing, the New Mexico Supreme Court has suspended evictions for nonpayment of rent, predicated on proof of inability to pay, but the order does not limit evictions for other reasons.) Other statues might be implicated, too. So far as Ive heard, there are no reported cases of landlords being sued for evicting patients who actually have COVID-19. But I think its likely the courts would find any landlord who ousted a tenant for being sick would be in violation of the states Human Rights Act and federal housing laws, which outlaw discrimination based on physical handicap or disability, categories long understood to include serious illness. The website of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development specifies that the law extends its protections to any individual who is regarded as having such an impairment, even if they actually dont. In other words, its not a defense to say, It turns out he wasnt as sick as I thought he was when I booted him out for being sick. But whether the law also protects those who are perceived as being at risk of becoming sick is a legal question that just might get answered in coming months. As ever, the only 100% safe course for landlords is nondiscrimination. Support for front-line medical heroes never goes amiss, either. Serological testing for antibodies to the coronavirus may soon be available. If a simple blood test can reliably detect antibodies, and if the presence of antibodies is a guarantee of immunity two very big ifs the legal question will instantly arise whether job discrimination based on immunity status should be permitted. If a positive blood test for antibodies guarantees immunity, the argument in favor of allowing only immune people to work in nursing homes would seem pretty compelling. Maybe the same should go for hospitals. Schools, too? You can see where this might lead. And if we start down that path, whos going to maintain the database of everybodys blood test results? Who will have access to it? What other information will it contain? Writing in New Statesman, Jeremy Cliffe warns of the rise of the bio-surveillance state. He argues that in dealing with the pandemic, countries can pick two of three things but cannot have them all: limit deaths, gradually lift lockdowns, or uphold cherished civil liberties. Its a chilling argument, and I hope hes wrong, but as biological surveillance becomes technically feasible, now might be the time to start thinking about how we might want to limit it. Already in China, Cliffe reports, citizens must frequently scan personal QR codes as they move around to show they are not defying their personalized, color-coded restrictions. Singapore uses a similar system of individualized QR codes. In South Korea and Israel, cellphone tracking data is reportedly being used to trace chains of exposure. The experience of these countries seems to confirm that deaths can indeed be limited by such surveillance, allowing lockdowns to be eased. But its not paranoid to worry about other uses to which tracking could be put. Meanwhile, serious lawyers are already debating the feasibility of bringing suit against media actors who understood the immense risk posed by the novel coronavirus but nonetheless advised their listeners to disregard it. Shouting Fire! in a crowded theater is the classic example of the limits of free speech. But what about shouting Stay in your seat! as the theater ignites? Whenever theres conflict between people, there are potential legal issues. The coronavirus pandemic will change our society in many ways, and its a good bet that many of those changes will be litigated. Joel Jacobsen is an author and retired in 2015 from a 29-year legal career. If there are topics you would like to see covered in future columns, please write him at legal.column.tips@gmail.com - Boris Johnson tested positive for coronavirus on March 27 and he went into self-isolation -The UK premier has been receiving treatment from his personal doctors and on Friday, April 3, he said he was still exhibiting a slight temperature increase - While addressing the nation, Queen Elizabeth said Boris was admitted at a London hospital where he was currently put on oxygen United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted in hospital and put on oxygen barely days after he tested positive for the dreaded coronavirus. The politician had been in self-isolation where he was leading the coronavirus crisis response. READ ALSO: Sitakubali MCAs wa Jubilee kutishwa na chama, Moses Kuria asema UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was hospitalised after he tested positive for coronavirus. Photo: Daily Mail Source: UGC READ ALSO: 68% of Kenyans support a complete lockdown to control coronavirus He was admitted at a London NHS hospital, believed to be St Thomas' in Westminster, in what his handlers said he was to undergo tests merely as a precaution, Daily Mail reported. However, when he arrived at the facility, the PM was put on oxygen after the medics noted the symptoms had not subsided. In a Twitter video on Friday, April 3, an exhausted-looking Johnson revealed he was still suffering from a high temperature. "First of all in my own case, although I'm feeling better and I've done my seven days of isolation, I still have one of the symptoms, a slight temperature and in accordance to government advice, I must continue my self-isolation until that symptom goes," he said. READ ALSO: Kakamega man dies following deadly fight with wife over ugali Johnson's hospitalisation was announced shortly after the Queen's address to the nation in which she told Britons to steel themselves for challenging weeks ahead under lockdown. United States President Donald Trump led many world leaders in sending their messages to Johnson wishing him quick recovery as he battled with COVID-19. President Donald Trump sent his well wishes to Boris Johnson as he battles with coronavirus. Photo: CNN Source: Getty Images READ ALSO: Coronavirus update: Kenya confirms 16 new COVID-19 cases, national tally rises to 142 "I want to express our nation's well wishes to Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he wages his own personal fight with the virus, "All Americans are praying for him, he's a friend of mine and a great gentleman and a great leader. He was brought to hospital today but I'm hopeful and sure that he'll be fine, he's a strong person," said Trump at White House during a coronavirus press briefing. The United Kingdom has 47,806 confirmed cases of the coronavirus with 4,934 deaths and 135 recoveries. Another UK government official who has been affected by the disease include Health Minister Nadine Dorries who tested positive for COVID-19. Do you have an inspirational story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Follow us on Telegram: Tuko news Source: TUKO.co.ke BERRY CREEK, Calif. An early morning fire destroyed a house in Berry Creek on Monday. Flames broke out just around 4:40 a.m. Monday on the 3100 block of Bald Rock Road, according to Cal Fire Butte County, Captain Konoli Martin. It took firefighters about 20 minutes to get on scene and about three hours to knock down the fire. Some of the fire from the home did burn nearby vegetation. The homeowner was not home during the fire, but is now without a place to stay during the coronavirus pandemic. I feel horrible, there are approximately 800,000 people that are homeless right now and nowhere to go, Captain Martin said. They need help as well. That help is coming from the Red Cross. The fire also destroyed a car and burned some farm equipment. There are no reports of injuries and the cause is still being investigated. US Mint begins shipping quarters honoring Maya Angelou AP - Mon Jan 10, 6:14PM CST WASHINGTON (AP) The United States Mint said Monday it has begun shipping quarters featuring the image of poet Maya Angelou, the first coins in its American Women Quarters Program. $SPX : 4,670.29 (-0.14%) $DOWI : 36,068.87 (-0.45%) $IUXX : 15,614.43 (+0.14%) Cotton Closes Black on Monday Barchart - Mon Jan 10, 4:48PM CST Cotton futures were off their high at the closing bell on Monday, but were still 10 to 40 points in the black. New crop cotton also bounced on Monday, ending the session 40 to 76 points firmer. The Seam... CTH22 : 115.47 (+0.22%) CTK22 : 113.29 (+0.19%) CTZ21 : 111.55s (+0.25%) Wheat Markets Close Mixed Barchart - Mon Jan 10, 4:48PM CST Mondays wheat market ended with winter wheat gains to HRS weakness. Spring wheat futures ended the session a nickel to 9 cents in the red. March MPLS wheat has posted losses in 9 in the last 11 sessions... 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KLAC : 418.73 (+0.44%) TDT | Manama His Royal Highness the Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa yesterday hailed the success of the Kingdom of Bahrain in tackling the repercussions of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. HRH the Premier stressed that this is thanks to the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier. HRH the Prime Minister was speaking at his palace in Riffa during a work meeting with the Education Minister, the Labour and Social Development Minister, the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, the Minister of Health, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. HRH the Premier commended the efforts of all ministries in dealing with the current situation by taking the necessary precautionary measures that were highly appreciated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and relevant international parties. He thanked medical and nursing professionals for their distinguished national role on the frontline in combating COVID-19. He stressed that they deserve every support and praise for their noble efforts, which have earned Bahrain an elevated status in handling the pandemic. HRH the Premier affirmed that the Kingdoms success is owed to the solid and sound basis laid in the medical, educational and labour sectors, which helped contain the impact of the crisis. HRH the Prime Minister listened to a briefing by Foreign Minister Abdellatif bin Rashid Al Zayani on what has been accomplished in carrying out his directives concerning the return of Bahraini nationals abroad and the efforts made in this respect, in accordance with the governments keenness on citizens safety wherever they are. He was also informed by Education Minister Dr Majid bin Ali Al Nuaimi about the educational situation and the ministrys plan to facilitate the students academic acquisition and provide them with the best services. HRH the Premier listened to a briefing on the Education Ministrys efforts, in coordination with the Foreign Ministry, to implement his directives regarding the evacuation of Bahraini students stranded abroad and ensure their return home. He was also informed about the Education Ministrys plan concerning the educational process in public and private schools, stressing the need to ensure that students educational march is not affected. Regarding his directives to intensify inspection and monitoring campaigns to control prices and fight monopoly, HRH the Prime Minister listened to a briefing by Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Zayed R. Al Zayani on what has been done in this respect. He was also informed about plans put in place to monitor prices of mainly basic commodities and ensure availability of those commodities on the market. As for provision of social assistance, HRH the Premier listened to a briefing by Minister of Labour and Social Development Jamil bin Mohammed Humaidan on the services provided by the ministry to help people who have been affected by the outbreak of the coronavirus. He was also informed about the steps taken to follow on the situation of expatriate workers, in coordination with the Ministry of Health and ensure their commitment to preemptive measures. HRH the Prime Minister was also informed about the Health Ministrys plan to combat COVID-19 and follow up on the implementation of health regulations adopted according to the WHOs standards. The ministers expressed their sincerest congratulations to HRH the Premier on his safe return to the Kingdom of Bahrain after his full recovery, lauding his efforts to boost development in Bahrain and serve the Bahraini people. Africa has now more than over 59,390 confirmed cases of coronavirus across the continent, according to the latest data by the John Hopkins University and Africa Center for Disease Control. The continent has rising cases with only three countries holding out as of April 6. Nigeria, Africas biggest nation, has 209 confirmed cases of coronavirus and four deaths. Lagos state, neighboring Ogun state and the capital territory of Abuja entered a two-week lockdown on Monday aimed at stemming the spread of the virus. The country plans to create a 500 billion naira ($1.39 billion) coronavirus fund to strengthen its healthcare infrastructure to tackle the virus, the government said on Saturday. Last week, Nigerias Central Bank also launched a drive to raise 120 billion naira from the private sector to source equipment and infrastructure to fight the pandemic. The IMF is making $50 billion available from its emergency financing facilities and some 80 countries have already asked for help, including about 20 from Africa. The World Bank has also approved a $14 billion COVID-19 response package. Algeria, Senegal, Togo, Ghana and Burkina Faso have extended curfews put in place to limit the spread of the coronavirus. LONDON British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been moved to the intensive care unit of a London hospital after his coronavirus symptoms worsened. Johnson's office says Johnson is conscious and does not require ventilation at the moment. Johnson was admitted to St. Thomas' Hospital late Sunday, 10 days after he was diagnosed with COVID-19. "Over the course of this afternoon, the condition of the Prime Minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital," his office said in a statement. It said Johnson has asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to deputize for him. Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was in good spirits Monday after spending the night in a London hospital where he was admitted with the new coronavirus. There was no indication of how long Johnson might remain hospitalized. The prime minister's spokesman said Johnson had spent a comfortable night and remained in charge of government despite being admitted to St Thomas' Hospital after COVID-19 symptoms of a cough and fever persisted, 10 days after he was diagnosed. Johnson sent out a tweet thanking the National Health Service for taking care of him and others in this difficult time. "On the advice of my doctor, I went into hospital for some routine tests as I'm still experiencing coronavirus symptoms,'' Johnson said in the tweet. "I'm in good spirits and keeping in touch with my team, as we work together to fight this virus and keep everyone safe.''. Johnson's spokesman, James Slack, refused to say what kind of tests Johnson was undergoing. He insisted that "the PM remains in charge of the government." "He is receiving updates in hospital and is continuing to receive a (ministerial red) box" of files and briefing papers, Slack said, The 55-year-old leader had been quarantined in his Downing Street residence since being diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 26 the first known head of government to fall ill with the virus. He continued to preside at daily meetings on the outbreak until Sunday and has released several video messages during his 10 days in isolation. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab chaired the meeting Monday. Britain has no official post of deputy prime minister, but Raab has been designated to take over should Johnson become incapacitated. Speaking at the government's daily coronavirus press briefing, Raab said Johnson was being "regularly updated," but admitted he had not spoken to him since Saturday. "He's in charge, but he'll continue to take doctors' advice on what to do next," Raab said. Johnson was admitted to the hospital as a message to the nation from Queen Elizabeth II was being broadcast Sunday evening. The 93-year-old monarch urged the public to show resolve and follow advice to stay inside. Concerns had been growing about Johnson's welfare ever since he posted a message Friday saying that he was feeling better, though was still feverish. The virus causes mild to moderate symptoms in most people, but for some, especially older adults and the infirm, it can cause pneumonia and lead to death. The government said Monday that 51,608 people had been confirmed to have the coronavirus in Britain, 5,373 of whom have died. One of the advantages of being in the hospital is that it will allow doctors to directly monitor Johnson's condition. Derek Hill, a professor of medical imaging science at University College London said that since COVID-19 causes difficulty breathing, one test performed on people with the disease is lung imaging with ultrasound or CT scans to see how badly they might be affected. "Some people are rapidly discharged,'' he said. "Some others can quickly deteriorate and need help breathing. We have no reason to believe the PM needs such help.'' Hill said there are various types of breathing help, depending on the person and the difficulties. "The reasons some people get seriously ill with COVID-19 while others have minor symptoms is not yet fully understood," Hill said. "But doctors managing these patients report that more men than women have serious problems, and patients who are overweight or have previous health problems are at higher risk." The Daniels Fund has announced the names of 24 high school seniors from New Mexico who have earned a place in the Daniels Scholarship Program. These scholars are chosen for exceptional character, leadership, community commitment, academics, promise, well-roundedness, and emotional maturity as defined by program founder Bill Daniels, officials said in a news release. Overall, the program picked 212 students from New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming from a pool of more than 2,000 applicants. Were thrilled to welcome these impressive young people and cant wait to see what they will do with this opportunity, said Linda Childears, president and CEO of the Daniels Fund, in a statement. Our goal is to help each of these scholars succeed in college and ultimately become independent, successful in a rewarding career, and actively engaged in their community. The New Mexico student winners are: Mike Lopez, Arrowhead Park Early College High School A senior from Artesia High School Christian Martinez from Capital High School Osman Pacheco from Capital High School German Rojo from Capital High School Ryan Bailey Smith from Cimarron High School Logan Christopher Finch from Cloudcroft High School Taya Michelle Wilson from Cloudcroft High School Laira Joy Lujan from College and Career High School Joshua Michael Burns from Eldorado High School Elijah Ignacio Ruiz from Eldorado High School Lexy Amber Lujan from Espanola Valley High School Paige Marie Nakai from Farmington High School Marina Emeel Seheon from Highland High School Nathaniel Dean Bryce from La Cueva High School Jaxson Diego Mirabal from Magdalena High School Caleb Bryce Jorgensen from Onate High School Sarah Vanden-Heuvel from Rio Rancho High School Shailyn Aubrey Beaty from Ruidoso High School Marion Denise Balsamo from Taos Academy Charter School Nialo Theodore Kinney from Taos High School Macki Janae Bilbrey from Texico High School Abigail Kiefer Wilcox from The Masters Program Valeria Isabel Bocanegra from V. Sue Cleveland High School Scholarship winners can attend any accredited nonprofit college or university in the country with the money covering any educational expenses that remain after any other scholarships, financial aid, and an expected family contribution, officials said. If the scholar picks one of the Daniels Funds 25 partner schools, the family contribution is also covered. In addition to 24 winners from New Mexico, there were 128 from Colorado, 28 from Utah, and 32 from Wyoming. Program officials are encouraging motivated high school seniors graduating in 2021 from those same four states should visit www.DanielsFund.org this fall to apply online for the program. Financial support comes from the private, charitable Daniels Fund, established by cable TV pioneer Bill Daniels, dedicated to making life better for individuals through its grants and scholarship program, and ethics initiative. Visit www.DanielsFund.org for more information. PM Modi had called for a nine-minute candlelight vigil on Sunday as a means to dispel the darkness spread by the coronavirus pandemic. Millions of Indians switched off lights in their homes and lit diyas and candles to spread the message. As soon as the clock struck 9, the skies across the country lit up with crackers for no reason at all! AP 'Covidots' once again crossed the line and took a completely different approach to the Prime Minister's plea. People started off by lighting diyas and candles in balconies and soon escalated to crackers, blowing of conches and chanting Go Corona Go. While the conches and the slogan did not harm anyone, the crackers certainly did. What was supposed to be a show of collective solidarity in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic turned into a display of needless and relentless cracker-bursting. The worst part is that the 'mini Diwali' people celebrated, turned into a fire hazard in many places. Huge fire when a flying lantern landed on a hut that caught fire along with a house in Vaishali Nagar area of Jaipur. Fire brigades rushed to contain it. Fire has been doused. No casualty reported.#9baje9minute #9baje #COVID19outbreak @fpjindia pic.twitter.com/kAs0e4mxLi Sangeeta Pranvendra (@sangpran) April 5, 2020 In one incident, a thatched house on a vacant plot of land caught fire in the Vaishali Nagar area in Jaipur. Chief Fire Officer, Jagdish Phulwari, said that two firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control, adding that no one was present in the house at the time of the incident. Sources claim that it could have been a flying lantern which fell on a hut and the latter caught fire. A house near the hut also burnt, but the firefighters were on the spot to contain it. , #9pm9minutes event. Thanks to fire brigade, came on time and doused the fire. pic.twitter.com/d2z3vskLf3 Dharmesh Dixit (@theDDixit) April 5, 2020 Another fire broke out on a stretch of grass near the runway of the Solapur airport in Maharashtra on Sunday night. "The fire broke out at 9:30 pm. We sent four fire tenders to the spot and the fire was extinguished within 15 to 20 minutes," a fire brigade official said. Fire broke down in #Patna near #RamkrishnaNagar while people were lighting diyas & bursting crackers. Go corona... Corona go pic.twitter.com/5viDq3P7W2 The Protagonist (@kvivekbr) April 5, 2020 Fire also broke out in Patna's Ramkrishnavl Nagar, while people were lighting diyas and bursting crackers. The Prime Minister had earlier asked people to clap or beat utensils on March 22 for five minutes at 5:00 pm while observing 'janta curfew' from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm, to thank those working in essentials services. At the time, there were a lot of people who took to roads and gathered in groups to do the same, completely disregarding the social distancing guidelines, and thus turning a deaf ear to what the PM Modi had actually said. The total number of coronavirus cases in India today jumped to 4,067 after nearly 700 new infections were reported in past 24 hours, according to the latest data from Health Ministry. The death toll has gone up to 109 while 291 have recovered, as per the latest data. Maharashtra (690) was the worst affected state, followed by Tamil Nadu (571) and Delhi (503). On Sunday, the Health Ministry had reported 472 fresh cases. The roaring hit of the coronavirus quarantine, Netflix's "Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness" is as polarizing as cat-print clothing. The docuseries features a mix of larger-than-life-characters, larger-than-natural hybrid big cats, bizarre music videos and a few alleged murder plots. At the center is self-described tiger king Joseph Maldonado-Passage, his kingdom an Oklahoma zoo that houses upward of 200 tigers. Better known as Joe Exotic, he is now serving a 22-year sentence for trying to hire hit men to take out his rival - sanctuary owner and animal rights activist Carole Baskin - and for wildlife violations including the killing of five tigers. The series addresses but doesn't dwell on the troubling aspects of Maldonado-Passage's menagerie, including the constant breeding of baby big cats, and animal protection advocates have criticized it for glossing over them. The story is driven instead by Joe Exotic's battle with Baskin. From a narrative perspective, that's unsurprising. Maldonado-Passage is a compelling protagonist, and anyone who sets out to learn about tigers in the United States quickly hears about him. That includes me: I spent months reporting on the tiger trade and Maldonado-Passage's role in it for an article that published in 2019. At his trial, I met "Tiger King's" directors, documentary filmmaker Rebecca Chaiklin, and Eric Goode, a Manhattan hotelier and restaurateur and founder of a turtle conservation organization. I spoke recently with Goode and Chaiklin about the series and what they wanted it to convey. They said they'd interviewed a vast array of people, including conservation biologists and animal rights activists, but decided a show-don't-tell approach would keep viewers interested while also revealing animal mistreatment. Goode said he believes the series has done that: He said he'd just gotten off the phone with a member of Congress who told him the show was helping get the votes needed to pass the Big Cat Public Safety Act, a bill that would ban most private big cat ownership and public contact with big cats. "We wanted to tell the story, but at the end have the takeaway be that there was horrible suffering and exploitation of these cats," Goode said. "I think you're going to see as time goes by that it is going to be very positive that so many people saw the series, and it will hopefully make real change." - - - This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Q: Eric, we learn in the first episode that you weren't working on a film about big cats until you met someone who had a snow leopard in his van. What seized you about this topic? Goode: I was filming before that in an ad hoc way when I traveled around the world doing conservation work. Then I began filming a world that I knew quite a bit about. I was peripherally involved in that world much of my life - the exotic reptile world, the collectors, the dealers, the smugglers. The reason I wanted to start filming more formally and a bit more professionally was that I wanted to expose the world. I was fascinated with it, both from the standpoint of what was going on with exotic animals and the pathology of the people involved. We cast a wide net initially and we were filming all the different subcultures - the monkey moms and the reptile people and bird people. But I was just really blown away that you could just buy a snow leopard. For me, it was like buying a panda bear or a Komodo dragon. Q: This series showcases some awful behavior. What do you think makes it so captivating? Goode: If you would pitch this story to anyone in Hollywood as a scripted series, they would have thrown it back in your face and said this is just not believable. How could you possibly have these characters and all of these things happening in one story? But reality sometimes is stranger than fiction. Chaiklin: This world is not a world that's widely known, and it has been pretty secretive until the advent of social media. And these characters are just exceptionally colorful and they are who they are and they're uninhibited in their eccentricities. The lead characters all are sort of the kingpins or the cult leaders or the Tiger Kings or Queens of their world. And I think that's interesting to people. Q: You filmed for five years. At what point did you know it would be a series about Joe Exotic? Goode: We went to Carol, and she explained to us who the bad guys were in respect to cat exploitation in America. And then we went a bit later to see Joe in Oklahoma. And of course, like everybody, were kind of amazed at just all the aspects of Joe - the ego, the narcissism, the openly gay, flamboyant, country-singing, mullet-wearing, gun-toting guy. He and Carole both were easy to access, and they're open books, and they wanted the attention. Frankly, I felt that [Myrtle Beach Safari owner] Doc Antle was as interesting, and certainly more frightening. But it didn't become a central story about Joe until the war was mostly between Carol and Joe. Chaiklin: We wanted to tell the story of what was happening behind the curtain in these roadside zoos. And it became very evident pretty quickly that it was much more captivating and would reach a wider audience to tell it from the people who were involved with it as opposed to the activists, the sanctuary people, who would go on a diatribe about the horrors of it, which was actually quite uninteresting and really not very good on screen. So it was a decision to let them just speak for themselves and let audiences see firsthand what was going on inside these places. Q: In what sense was Doc Antle more frightening? Goode: These people were very guarded, and rightfully so, because their entire livelihood is at stake from the government, from animal rights groups, animal welfare groups. Doc was one of those people. That courtship and my entry into his place was not easy. As I said earlier, I personally have been involved in this world, so I knew people that knew him that helped me make an introduction to Doc. Q: The series is much more about people than tigers. What impression about animal captivity, breeding and cub-petting did you want to leave with viewers? Goode: You don't want to just completely bum people out. But at the same time, at the end, making it hopefully clear that this was a horrible practice. We may do a follow-up that would explain this, but it's quite dense when you start explaining the genetics and the bottlenecks and the inbreeding and the congenital issues that happen between tigers, and the distinction between the six remaining subspecies of tigers left on earth. We tried, with sit-down interviews with conservation biologists that really understand all of that, and it's just really hard to weave it into the story. Chaiklin: I do think we wanted people to come away from this series understanding that patronizing roadside zoos is not something that helps any animals whatsoever. Wild animals do not belong in captivity. And that the cub-petting that people engage in at malls and fairs across America is actually a cruel practice. If we want these animals to be here, these other species for a future generation, it's really important that we protect wild lands, their natural habitat. that's where they belong. Goode: The caveat is one of the remaining tiger subspecies is only in captivity in species survival programs in zoos and does not exist in the wild. The reality of our world today is not every species can be left in the wild. Q: Do you think Joe loved his animals? What do you think he - Goode: Of course not. I mean, it was the most extreme animal hoarding. He would shoot animals randomly in front of me. He shot a chicken just because it crowed too much. There's a lot of crocodile tears - Joe tells people what they want to hear. But he was monetizing these animals. He didn't care who he sold them to. He was exploiting them. And you cannot love 230 tigers. It's absurd to think that he loved each and every one of his animals. He was making money off of them. Chaiklin: I think he loved having the animals and the attention that it brought him and the notoriety it brought him. But certainly it was full-on exploitation of animals. Q: Joe told me that being in a jail cell had shown him that animal captivity is wrong. Do you buy his flip? Goode: It's absurd. It's absurd. It's absurd. It's absurd. Now that he's in jail, to say that he would never keep an animal in a cage again just because he's in a cage, it's absolutely absurd. Chaiklin: I don't agree with that completely. I've been in pretty close touch with Joe. I think it has raised his awareness. But I think he's also a 60-year-old man, practically, who doesn't really know another way of life. And so if he ever does get out of prison, I think it would be very tricky for him to figure out a new path. But I personally feel as though it's sunk in pretty deeply with him, the horror of captivity. Goode: I don't know. He was trying to sell lions while he was in jail, cubs. I think Joe is Joe. I've been in this world my entire life and watched people just like Joe anthropomorphize, try to figure out ways to justify keeping animals. It's a very common pattern. Q: Carole Baskin has accused you of sensationalism, including about allegations that she was involved in the 1997 disappearance of her first husband. She was never charged with a crime. Why devote so much time to this topic? Chaiklin: It was not something that we were even thinking was even on the table when we began this. And it kept coming up over and over and over again, and such big questions. And so then we began to poke a little bit and say, well, as storytellers and as filmmakers, it would be wrong not to just follow up on some of these things. It's such an important part of her history, unfortunately. Goode: There are other real questions that arose about Carol and her past with cats and her evolution. I would oftentimes ask her why, if you want to be out of business in 10 years, build a gift shop that's 10 times bigger? I think one of the more important questions was, "If your mission is to tell people not to keep tigers and lions and leopards and jaguars in cages and bobcats and so forth, why do it? Why not really ask yourself a hard question and say, is it more humane to keep a tiger in a cage pacing neurotically for the rest of its life, or is it more humane to humanely euthanize that animal put it out of its misery?" This series hopefully will really help pass the Big Cat [Public] Safety Act. It is creating awareness and consciousness about this issue and the suffering and exploitation of roadside zoos. And I wish she could see that because it's doing precisely what her mission advocates for. Q: When I was reporting on this subject, it became clear to me that this universe isn't black and white - there's a lot of gray between a "good" sanctuary and a "bad" zoo. Goode: It's a lot of semantics. The word sanctuary and the word rescue, the words roadside zoo, the word reserve, the word zoo in general. At the end of the day, the best sanctuaries are places like the Performing Animal Welfare Society in Northern California, where he really provides his tigers large spaces. And there are people in the private sector that do a really good job with animals. It's not just the Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited zoos, because the AZA-accredited zoos also have better zoos and worse zoos, and some really do conservation work that's significant, and some of them don't. Chaiklin: The one thing I will say about Carole and others, at least members of the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, is that they're not breeding. These other places that we were spending time were puppy mills of tigers. And that's an incredibly important distinction, in that they're creating more and more of these animals to languish in captivity. The sanctuaries aren't doing that. Q: Did you find anything hopeful in this world? Any heroes? Chaiklin: Our story was about a lot of people who are very poor. And I think there needs to be a certain sensitivity to that. Although there was not a tremendous amount of awareness and education around these issues, there were people there trying their best under very difficult circumstances to take care of the animals even under horrific, cruel circumstances. Q: In my few interactions with Joe, I got the impression he'd be delighted by the attention he's getting. What do you hear from him? Goode: He was elated last time I spoke to him, which was probably a week ago, and basking in his newfound fame, and probably feels that there's some optimism in his mind that he may have a chance of an appeal. But he was transferred to Texas to a federal penitentiary, and he's been quarantined. Chaiklin: And so he hasn't been able to speak. But I was hearing from him multiple times a day, and he was over the moon. He was getting press requests. And apparently - I never know if it's true or not - getting so many donations through the commissary that it shut the commissary down. And it's what Joe always wanted. He's always wanted to be a star. And suddenly the irony of ironies is that he's incarcerated. And that's part of the reason that he became a star. Goode: But we struggle with that. As much as I do have empathy for Joe on a certain level, he did horrible things. And so for him to come out as some kind of antihero in this story is unfortunate, because he was someone who abused both animals and people. Other than being a legendary late night talk show host, Jay Leno is also known for being a massive vintage car enthusiast. Apparently he also has a big heart, especially when it comes people who break down on the side of the road driving a classic 1953 Mercedes-Benz. And on Sunday, while driving near the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles on Sunday, Leno and his wife played the hero role and pulled over to help a man who was stranded and waiting on a tow truck, according to TMZ. Jay Leno and his wife pulled over in his Tesla to help a man who had broke down near the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles on Sunday; pictured March 4, 2020 in Washington DC at The Library Of Congress Gershwin Prize tribute concert at DAR Constitution Hall A man named Dwayne Henry headed out for a drive to help stave off a case of cabin fever due to the ongoing home-quarantines amid the coronavirus pandemic, reports the outlet. He said it took little time until he realized something just wasn't right mechanically with his car. While waiting for the tow truck, Leno and his wife pulled up in a Tesla and asked if he could take a look under the hood to see if he could solve the problem. Motor head: Leno, 69, is known for being a legendary late night talk show host and a massive vintage car enthusiast; pictured July 24, 2004 in Burbank, CA Eventually the tow truck driver showed up and lent Jay a wrench or two so he could tinker with the vehicle. Turns out the former Tonight Show star, 69, was able to diagnose the problem, which was a brake issue that was also wreaking havoc with his fluid. But in the end, Henry still had to have the his car towed to get the proper repair work done. It probably didn't hurt that the luxury real estate agent broke down in a 1953 Mercedes-Benz, which is right up Leno's wheel house. Leno reportedly owns about 286 vehicles, that includes 169 cars and 117 motorbikes. He also has a website and a reality TV series called Jay Leno's Garage, as well as a regular column in Popular Mechanics where he gives advice about various automotive topics and showcases his car collection. Our organization is honored to exclusively partner with U.S. Army Human Resources Command and the Soldier for Life Army Transition Assistance Program to serve as the primary employment transition resource for Army soldiers, veterans and families, said Bradley-Morris/RecruitMilitary CEO Tim Best. Bradley-Morris/RecruitMilitary, the countrys leading company connecting organizations with military trained talent, announced today its appointment by the United States Army Human Resources Command to provide employment services and resources through the Army Transition Assistance Program (TAP) to support Americas transitioning soldiers, members of the Army National Guard and Army Reserve, Army alumni (Veterans) and all Army spouses. Through this newly formed coalition, Bradley-Morris/RecruitMilitary and the United States Army Human Resources Command will provide a more robust approach to supporting the career transition needs of Americas soldiers, veterans and their families. The mission of this program is to connect the U.S. Army community with employers to find meaningful career options through a variety of channels that include: the world's largest veteran only job board, hiring events (both physical and virtual), digital information resources and interactive exchanges with recruiting professionals. Transitioning soldiers will benefit most from the companys services that deliver live and direct digital engagement with employers, as well as practical advice from recruiting professionals who are veterans and have already experienced the military to civilian career transition. The 29-year-old company supports U.S. businesses with the tools and resources needed to build military hiring initiatives by educating employers and providing them with the means to hire highly qualified soldiers. The organization simultaneously supports military trained talent by providing the resources to successfully research, identify and prepare for career opportunities, as well as facilitating meaningful connections to employers seeking the military trained skill set. Bradley-Morris/RecruitMilitary operates on a foundation of experience; more than 60 percent of its workforce are military veterans with 35 percent of the companys staff specifically identified as Army veterans or current members of the Army Guard/Reserve. No other organization is better suited to answer the call to action for Americas Army service members and veterans. Our organization is honored to exclusively partner with U.S. Army Human Resources Command and the Soldier for Life Army Transition Assistance Program to serve as the primary employment transition resource for Army soldiers, veterans and families, said Bradley-Morris/RecruitMilitary CEO Tim Best, a former U.S. Army Special Forces attack helicopter pilot. The skill sets of military trained talent never waiver in demand. Employers are seeking these individuals and its our mission to connect those who are ready to transition to civilian employment in the most effective, meaningful and successful way. We are grateful for the confidence that the Army Human Resources Command has placed in our brand, and for the support we received from our proposal writing partners at GEN4 Services, LLC. To learn more about resources available through U.S. Army Human Resources Command and Soldier for Life, visit http://www.sfl-tap.army.mil. To learn more about Bradley-Morris/RecruitMilitarys employment resources visit http://www.recruitmilitary.com/army. ### About Bradley-Morris and Subsidiaries Bradley-Morris (http://www.bradley-morris.com), the largest military-focused recruiting company in the U.S., offers employers access to more than 1.2 million military job seekers via services that include contingency recruiting as well as a job board, virtual and in-person military job fairs and employer branding via its RecruitMilitary (http://www.recruitmilitary.com) subsidiary. Bradley-Morris' MBA Veterans Network (http://www.mbaveterans.com) is the nations leading military and MBA diversity conference, connecting military veteran students from top MBA programs with employers. Their ExecuVets subsidiary program (http://www.execuvets.com) connects employers with executive track veteran talent. About the Army Transition Assistance Program The Army Transition Assistance Program (TAP) is a commanders program that provides transition assistance services to eligible Soldiers, Department of the Army Civilians, Family members and caregivers of wounded, injured, and ill Soldiers. TAP is mandated by Congress and embedded in Army and DoD policy. Media Contact press@bradley-morris.com Health official: 'Regardless of variant, the protective measures are the same' local Domino's is partnering with its franchisees as part of this national effort, so that hospitals and medical centers, schoolkids and their families, health departments, grocery store workers, and others in need can enjoy a hot, delicious pizza. Domino's franchisees, corporate managers and their local store employees know their neighborhoods best and will begin feeding the need they see around them this week by providing pizza to the people and organizations that are meaningful to their communities. All 6,126 stores nationwide are expected to be a part of this effort. "We have a long history of feeding people during times of crisis and uncertainty. When we were looking at how we could help, we knew we could use the reach of our national brand to make a difference in thousands of local neighborhoods," said Russell Weiner, Domino's chief operating officer and president of the Americas. "We have franchisees and company-owned stores all over the country already doing amazing work in their communities and we know that by amplifying those efforts together we will be able to help even more people who are struggling right now." Domino's franchisees are already out helping their local communities. "We empowered our managers to look for opportunities in their local neighborhoods to donate pizzas to those in need," said Domino's franchisee Pat Farmer, who owns stores in the Seattle-Tacoma area. "It could be for families, frontline workers or even those showing up to work at our grocery stores. Stores are now actively looking for who they can help next. They have pride in how they're making a difference during difficult times." "We take our responsibility seriously and we are honored that we can provide meals to those in need, as well as those who are working to save lives during this difficult time," said Memphis-area Domino's franchisee Jason Shifflett. Shifflett has committed to donating an additional 1,000 pizzas to those in need in his community. San Diego franchisee Shane Casey is matching the 1,000-pizza commitment in his Southern California neighborhoods. Franchisee Jim Gronemann has already personally handed out pizzas to families in LaPorte, Indiana and has pledged to do so weekly. Domino's will continue to share stories of franchisees and corporate store teams who are making a difference in their communities at biz.dominos.com/web/media/stories . About Domino's Pizza Founded in 1960, Domino's Pizza is the largest pizza company in the world based on retail sales, with a significant business in both delivery and carryout pizza. It ranks among the world's top public restaurant brands with a global enterprise of more than 17,000 stores in over 90 markets. Domino's had global retail sales of over $14.3 billion in 2019, with over $7.0 billion in the U.S. and nearly $7.3 billion internationally. In the fourth quarter of 2019, Domino's had global retail sales of over $4.5 billion, with over $2.2 billion in the U.S. and over $2.3 billion internationally. Its system is comprised of independent franchise owners who accounted for 98% of Domino's stores as of the fourth quarter of 2019. Emphasis on technology innovation helped Domino's achieve more than half of all global retail sales in 2019 from digital channels, primarily online ordering and mobile applications. In the U.S., Domino's generates over 65% of sales via digital channels and has developed several innovative ordering platforms, including those developed for Google Home, Facebook Messenger, Apple Watch, Amazon Echo and Twitter as well as Domino's Hotspots, an ordering platform featuring over 200,000 unique, non-traditional delivery locations. In June 2019, through an announced partnership with Nuro, Domino's furthered its exploration and testing of autonomous pizza delivery. In late 2019, Domino's opened the Domino's Innovation Garage adjacent to its headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to fuel continued technology and operational innovation while also launching its GPS technology, allowing customers to follow the progress of the delivery driver from store to doorstep. Order dominos.com AnyWare Ordering anyware.dominos.com Company Info biz.dominos.com Twitter twitter.com/dominos Facebook facebook.com/dominos Instagram instagram.com/dominos YouTube youtube.com/dominos Please visit our Investor Relations website at biz.dominos.com to view news, announcements, investor presentations, earnings releases and conference webcasts. SOURCE Domino's Pizza Related Links http://www.dominos.com Muskurayega India: Akshay, Kartik, Ananya Urge Fans To Come Together In The Fight Against COVID-19 With This Melody Of Hope Colleges and universities across Connecticut reacted swiftly to the COVID-19 pandemic by closing campuses and moving to remote instruction. In seeking to protect students, however, some schools overlooked a crucial health care necessity insurance coverage for off-campus students. Because Connecticut has not passed legislation regulating coverage under student health insurance plans, students at two of the largest institutions in the state, Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) and Yale University, face potentially serious gaps in critical insurance coverage. Immediate state action is needed to ensure that Connecticuts students have access to the health care they need or will need in this critical time. Although the minimum essential coverage required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) covers some student health insurance programs (SHIPs), it does not require that schools provide university-sponsored insurance to their students. It also leaves so-called self-funded plans like Yales completely unregulated. To address this regulatory gap, states such as Massachusetts have passed laws requiring all students to be enrolled in qualifying student health insurance programs that meet or exceed the coverage standards of the ACA. Because Connecticut has no such law, students in the state are insured via a patchwork of insurance policies, a number of which plainly provide inadequate coverage for students who now suddenly live outside of the state. And while some students under 26 years old are privileged enough to remain on their parents health insurance and thus have better access than Connecticut law requires, many are not so lucky. SCSUs policy is clearly inadequate because it does not require students to be insured as a condition of attendance. SCSU has offered to provide some telehealth services for its students, but medical licensure and telehealth restrictions in many states restrict use of these services. Although its website lists a number of resources for obtaining other coverage, this policy disregards the staggering number of young adults who remain uninsured despite available options. This number is likely to have increased since the elimination of the ACAs tax penalty for those who do not obtain health coverage. Other institutions, like Yale, offer insurance to their students that provides inadequate coverage for the large number of students who are now off-campus many suddenly and through no choice of their own. Thats because Yales plan generally requires students see a very limited network of providers: Yales own doctors. Although Yale Health stated that it will expand its coverage outside of Connecticut for medically necessary treatment for chronic conditions and obstetric care, the policy requires students to wait for approval before booking an appointment, and coverage is not guaranteed. Final decisions about coverage will only be made after the visit, and once documentation from a provider is submitted. This requirement makes it impossible for students to know in advance what care will be covered and to know whether they will be treated equitably to other students. It also will cause significant uncertainty and stress particularly for lower income students. Yale Health also informed students that the expanded provider network does not apply to preventive care, which includes things like routine physicals, vaccinations, and STD testing. These services will become increasingly critical the longer students remain off campus. Recognizing this, institutions in states that regulate self-funded SHIPs such as Harvard University in Massachusetts have offered to provide coverage for preventive care such as vaccinations and routine physicals. Coverage for mental health conditions, which could be classified as preventive care in some instances, is unclear under the current policy, which requests that students with mental health concerns call Yale Health for advice and options. And unfortunately, legal restrictions on cross-border telehealth in some states will severely limit students access to Yale-based mental health providers. Finally, although Yale Health Pharmacy will authorize early refills for some medications, students may be subjected to high out-of-pocket costs. Even with expanded coverage, if a student picks up a prescription from a local, non-Connecticut pharmacy, they must pay the full cost of the medication up front. A claim form for reimbursement may be filed at a later time. If left unclear and unchanged, Yales policies will further burden students from low-income families, and will likely worsen access to care. In comparison to Yale and SCSU, students at some other Connecticut institutions, such as the University of Connecticut and Central Connecticut State University, are covered by major, nationwide insurers (Wellfleet-Cigna and Aetna, respectively). These insurers have online portals for finding doctors and transparent reimbursement policies. This increased access for all students comes despite the fact that most students at UConn (almost 75 percent in 2016) and CCSU live in Connecticut. But without state regulation, these schools do not need to provide this level of coverage. Students in states that require and regulate coverage under SHIPs do not face the same gaps in coverage and barriers to care that thousands of Connecticut students face today. Although SCSU and Yale are identified here because of their size, any college or university in Connecticut has the option of similarly restricting coverage. Burdens imposed by the state legislatures silence fall predominantly on students with chronic conditions, mental illness, and low income status. Connecticut should take immediate legislative action to ensure that all students have adequate insurance coverage. To allow piecemeal insurance practices to continue would fail to protect those most vulnerable during this time of need. Blake N. Shultz and Evan Walker-Wells are residents of New Haven. Shultz is an MD/JD candidate at Yale School of Medicine and Yale Law School, and a fellow at the Solomon Center for Health Law and Policy. Walker-Wells is a JD candidate at Yale Law School. The New York City Department of Education is banning students and teachers from using Zoom, as the platform has been plagued by privacy and security issues. Schools are now advised to switch to Microsoft Teams 'as soon as possible' and teachers are currently training to use the new system. The move comes after internet trolls are 'zoombombing' calls with pornographic and racist content. Students and teachers began using Zoom just a few weeks ago to transition to remote learning, as New York is under lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. Scroll down for video The New York City Department of Education is banning students and teachers from using Zoom, as the platform has been plagued by privacy and security issues. Schools are now advice to switch to Microsoft Teams 'as soon as possible' and teachers are currently training to use the new system New York City has been deemed the 'epicenter' of the coronavirus with over 122,000 cases and more than 4,000 deaths reported. And schools are now using online tools to teach students while they self-isolate at home. Officials from New York City's Department of Education note that there has been numerous reports of security breaches while using Zoom, which includes outsiders joining chats without permission. 'Providing a safe and secure remote learning experience for our students is essential, and upon further review of security concerns, schools should move away from using Zoom as soon as possible, a spokesperson for the department said, according to memo obtained by Chalkbeat. New York City schools just started using Zoom on March 16 and moved over a million students to remote learning a week later, but with the security issues plaguing the platform officials now think the best move is to seek a different service 'There are many new components to remote learning, and we are making real-time decisions in the best interest of our staff and student,' A specific timeline for when schools will stop using Zoom has not been revealed, but Chancellor Richard Carranza said: 'We want people to gradually transition to another format,' he said at a Sunday press conference. 'We're going to do this in a thoughtful manner.' New York City schools just started using Zoom on March 16 and moved over a million students to remote learning a week later, but with the security issues plaguing the platform officials now think the best move is to seek a different service. SpaceX has already banned staff from using the platform in an email dated March 28. 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.' The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Boston office issued a warning about Zoom last week, 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.' Internet trolls are Zoombombing calls by displaying pornographic and racists content while users hold work conferences, online teaching sessions and even alcohol anonymous meetings leaving many to wonder just how secure the service is. However, Zoom CEO Eric Yuan spoke with Good Morning America last week to assure the public that privacy is of upmost importance to the firm and revealed features that will keep internet trolls at bay. Yuan explained that users can create passwords for meetings, waiting rooms and lockdown each session in order to keep their calls safe. Digital break-ins on Zoom meetings are taking place across the US as much of country is placed on lockdown and forced to resort to online video conferences to communicate to limit the spread of the coronavirus - more than 245 million Americans are either self-isolating or mandated to stay home. However, all these internet trolls have to do is search the internet for links to video conferences and enter the calls to launch their sneering harassment. Zoom CEO Eric Yuan (pictured) assured the public that privacy is of upmost importance to the firm and revealed features that will keep internet trolls at bay. Yuan explained that users can create passwords for meetings, waiting rooms and lockdown each session 'There are things we can do every day to protect ourselves while using the platform,' he said. You need to understand the secure feature of about how to use Zoom.' Those features include creating a password for each meeting, so only those attending can enter. Users can also establish a waiting room for the group, allowing them to welcome in specific people and keep track of who is attending. And for added safety, meetings can be lockdown once everyone is inside. Samsung has started rolling out the Android 10 update to Galaxy Tab S6, its flagship tablet from last year. The update is rolling out to the LTE variant (SM-T865) of the device in Germany and South Korea. It should hit the Wi-Fi-only Tab S6 (SM-T860) in the coming days. The Android 10 update for the Galaxy Tab S6 packs the March 2020 Android security patch. In a surprising move, Samsung has also included One UI 2.1 in this update for the Tab S6. One UI 2.1 is the latest iteration of Samsungs custom Android skin. It first shipped with the Galaxy S20 flagships and the Galaxy Z Flip last month. The newest Samsung software has since been released for the Galaxy S10, Note 10, and the Galaxy Fold as well. Advertisement Galaxy Tab S6 is possibly the last Samsung device to get One UI 2.1. The Galaxy S9 and Note 9 were also initially expected to get the new software but a recent report suggests they may not. Android 10 update brings One UI 2.1 to the Galaxy Tab S6 The Galaxy Tab S6 is currently receiving a big software update in Germany and South Korea. The update comes with build number T865XXU2BTC7 and T865NKOU2BTC7 in the two countries, respectively. Android 10 brings a host of new features and enhancements to Samsung devices, including the Galaxy Tab S6. You get a redesigned camera UI, Trash feature for Contacts and My files, full-screen navigation gestures, speed and time units converter in the calculator, and much more. Advertisement Samsung Daily replaces Bixby Home on Android 10. Samsung has also added a multilingual translation feature, a text undo/redo feature, and an ability to search for music in Spotify on Samsung Keyboard. From enhanced dark mode to improved icons and colors, and smoother animations, the latest Android version packs several UI changes as well. The new software also promises better text over wallpapers. Further, a couple of One UI 2.1-exclusive features also make it into the Galaxy Tab S6 with the new update. Quick Share, Samsungs alternative to Apples AirDrop, is part of the new software. This feature allows you to share photos, videos, music, and other files with other Galaxy devices running One UI 2.1 with a single tap. Advertisement You also get Music Share, which lets you share your devices Bluetooth connection to media devices with other users. You can find the complete set of new features and enhancements in the update changelog here. The Android 10 update for the Galaxy Tabe S6 should be available in more countries in the coming days. You should get a notification to download the update once it becomes available for your Tab S6. You can also manually check for the update from the Settings app on your Samsung tablet. Fiat Chrysler and the other Detroit-based auto companies are continuing operations at their vast warehouse system, despite the temporary shutdown of assembly plants. The enterprise-wide shutdowns that closed auto production plants in Michigan and across the US were only ordered after a series of walkouts by autoworkers in March. In the face of a rebellion by rank-and-file autoworkers against attempts to maintain production in the midst of the pandemic, the UAW reached an agreement with the companies to keep their parts distribution warehouses running with so-called volunteer labor. To this end they accepted claims that the parts depots were essential services because they supplied parts to service emergency medical response, police and fire vehicles. In fact, the parts distribution operations make up a sizable chunk of the business that goes on in car dealerships and is a substantial source of profit for automakers. The union has given little information to warehouse workers being urged to volunteer at the distribution facilities in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. The drive by the UAW and management to force an early return to work in the midst of the pandemic raises urgently the need for workers to establish rank-and-file committees to enforce the paramount priority of health and safety over corporate profits. Like logistics workers at Amazon, auto parts distribution workers are being forced to work without protective gear and other minimal safety measures. These conditions have sparked walkouts by Amazon workers in the US and internationally. Fiat Chrysler MOPAR parts distribution workers in discussion with the World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter explained that at the smaller Center Line facility there were three cases of known COVID-19 infection and of those, two were fatal. Ford and Chrysler have reported six and 11 deaths respectively related to COVID-19 of workers employed at their US facilities. A MOPAR worker told the Autoworker Newsletter, They have hired temporary workers to replace us. She estimated 30 people were on the floor in the smaller Center Line packaging plant. Now they are working 12 hours a day seven days a week, she said. That virus is really prevalent. I dont think anyone should be in the plants. They should set a protocol for who works. I dont think it is an essential workplace at all. Is money more important than lives? We all know its about profits. The executives are at home and getting paid. We are struggling. We have to collect unemployment, which is a big problem. I am not going back until all of this stuff is cleared up. She explained that she followed the wildcat strikes that led to the shutdown of auto plants across the US and Canada: I was very pleased to hear about the protests at [FCA] Sterling Heights and Jefferson that forced their hands. The UAW always feels as though their hands are tied. It did not affect MOPAR. We continued work. By the time we came in Thursday they said we could go home if we wanted to; there was going to be a short work week. Then the UAW met with management and pushed the voluntary layoff. We had to file for unemployment benefits. [UAW] Local 1248 picked up 45 temps. We have 800 regular members and 45 or 50 supplemental [at MOPAR]. We have five buildings. It saddens me to know that all lives dont matter. I hope we can get hold of this thing before we lose more people than necessary. I hope 100,000200,000 [deaths] is not a real number. This is very overwhelming. Another veteran MOPAR worker told the Autoworker Newsletter that FCA was attempting to ramp up production at MOPAR and he had been given until this past weekend to decide whether he would return to work or take an indefinite layoff. He said he felt enormous pressure to go back to work, despite the dangers, due to the fear of not having a job to come back to. The giant auto companies claim the in-house parts distribution work is essential and allowable under Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmers stay-at-home order. General Motors is currently running a large television ad campaign to drum up more business to its vehicle servicing operations. GM and its Customer Care and Aftersales (CCA) division opened a new 1.1 million-square-foot, $65 million processing center in Burton, Michigan, near Flint, just last summer. The new AC Delco and GM Genuine Parts processing center near Flint employs over 800 hourly and salaried workers when fully staffed. It is almost three times the size of the former Davison Road parts processing in nearby Flint. The Autoworker Newsletter spoke to a worker in one of GMs parts facilities. GM is using its Automated Notification System (ANS) to push more workers to volunteer over the next two weeks. They are banking on workers returning to take advantage of the two holidays that will fall in this period and will bring triple-time pay for some workers on those days. The place where I work isnt shut down, but is operating with volunteers. They are using their automated notification system, called ANS, and asking people to make a decision immediately and notify their supervisors and commit to working two weeks at a time. I speak to co-workers and it seems like everybody is asking who is going back to work? Do you think its safe to go back to work? Instead of answering the questions people have about whether things have improved in safety conditions in the plant, their motto now is enter at your own risk. Some people probably need to get into work and will commit because they dont have funds to wait for an unemployment check or that stimulus check. Last Friday was my last paycheck. Now it is a week later and I have no money and nothing coming in. I finally got to Costco to buy toilet paper and now there is no money left. They sent out a new chart estimating sub [supplemental unemployment] pay that starts at a $26 hourly rate. I laughed. I only make $18 an hour so I am not even on there! In the earlier chart two weeks ago my sub pay would have been next to nothing anyway, $11.45 every two weeks in addition to whatever I get for unemployment. I cant live on unemployment, which is much less than weekly pay. If they hadnt been working us so much overtime, mandatory overtime pretty much every weekend since the strike, I dont know how I would have made it up to this point. Now they are telling everyone the $600 unemployment increase from the federal government will be deducted from sub pay. I know my situation is dire, but I think the company has failed to prove to me that what I do is essential. When I last was in there, before the walkout and the shutdowns happened, we were already worried. At that time they were not issuing gloves except the kind we usually use, not the protective ones that would prevent the virus from getting to us. Heres how they think. Before the plants were shut down people started to come in wearing their own masks. They were scared. I think they told them they could not wear them and it got around that the company was threatening people with being fired if they wore a mask and saying they didnt want people seeing the masks and having it cause a panic. Everyone was very uneasy at work and couldnt understand why they were still working. We had several people quarantined, but I have not been able to find out if they actually got sick. I remember thinking at the time that its hard to believe we are put in the position of coming to work and contributing to the spread of the deadly virus or face discipline. The next thing you know we are forced to choose by the company calling the work voluntary. I have been helping a lot of people with filing for unemployment, getting their taxes filed so they can get the stimulus check, doing everything I can to get people help who arent used to doing this paperwork stuff. Italy is reporting some progress in its fight against the Wuhan coronrvirus, and yesterday (April 5), Spain had its best day in a while. However, in Germany, the UK, and France, the daily numbers are getting worse. Yesterday, Italy reported 525 deaths from the virus. A week ago, the daily death rate was around 800. As I have previously reported, the number of new reported cases seems to have leveled off at a little more than 4,000 per day, down from around 6,000. But Italy has been on lock down for nearly a month, yet is still reporting thousands of new cases every day. Who knows when Italy will reopen? Spain has surpassed Italy as the European nation most infected by the virus, despite having a smaller population. Yesterday, however, its reported new cases dropped to around 5,500 from an average of more than 7,000 the previous week. Its death count also dropped to 594 from an average of around 800. Was this an anomaly? The next few days should tell us. The news from Germany, the UK, and France isnt good. Yesterday, the UK reported more new cases (nearly 6,000 of them) than did Italy and Spain. Germany reported nearly as many as Italy. The UK also reported more deaths (621) than Italy and Spain did. France reported almost the same number of deaths as Italy. Here in the U.S., Monday saw a sharp, one-day drop in reported new cases. There were 25,316. The previous three days, we averaged around 32,000 reported new cases. Our reported daily death toll for the first five days of April is as follows: April 1 1,048 April 2 958 April 3 1,328 April 4 1,331 April 5 1,165 In late March, the numbers were: March 27 401 March 28 525 March 29 362 March 30 558 March 31 912 The U.S. Surgeon General predicts that this week will be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment, only its not going to be localized; its going to be happening all over the country. 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. YEREVAN, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS. The Republic of Artsakh is ready to take all necessary measures of self-defense in accordance with international law and, in particular, the provisions of the UN Charter, reads the statement of the Foreign Ministry of Artsakh over the ceasefire violation incident by Azerbaijan on April 5. The foreign ministry expressed concerns that the incident occurred amid the temporary suspension of monitoring of the ceasefire by the office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and in a situation when the whole world is struggling with a new type of coronavirus pandemic (COVID19). ''The Azerbaijani side once again grossly violated the ceasefire regime on the Line of Contact between the armed forces of Artsakh and Azerbaijan, as a result of which a serviceman of the Defense Army of the Republic of Artsakh was wounded. It is worrying that this incident occurred amid the temporary suspension of monitoring of the ceasefire by the office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and in a situation when the whole world is struggling with a new type of coronavirus pandemic (COVID19). Such provocations are an open disregard on the part of the Azerbaijani authorities of the call of the UN Secretary General Anthony Guterres for a ceasefire around the world to direct the efforts of all mankind to overcome the global challenge - the coronavirus, as well as ignoring the appeal of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to the parties to the conflict to strictly observe the ceasefire and refrain from any provocative actions that may increase the level of tension in a given period. The non-constructive behavior of Baku has become another manifestation of the irresponsible and aggressive policies of the Azerbaijani authorities and deserves the most rigorous assessment and condemnation from the international community. Reaffirming its obligations to comply with the agreements on maintaining and strengthening the ceasefire, as well as the Secretary-Generals appeal for global armistice, the Republic of Artsakh urges Azerbaijan to fulfill its obligations and abandon provocative actions. At the same time, the Republic of Artsakh is ready to take all necessary measures of self-defense in accordance with international law and, in particular, the provisions of the UN Charter'', reads the statement. New Delhi, April 6 : Ride-hailing company Uber on Monday announced a partnership with etailer Flipkart to help provide essentials items to people in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi. The aim is to keep vital supply chains running and address the growing needs of Flipkart customers to receive essential goods at their doorsteps every day, both the companies said in a statement. Millions of people are facing trouble in getting groceries, fruits, milk and vegetables delivered at home, amid acute manpower shortage and supply chain issues being faced by both the retail outlets and online delivery platforms. "Uber will not charge any commission, enabling drivers to keep 100 per cent of billed amounts," said Prabhjeet Singh, Director-Operations and Head of Cities, Uber India and South Asia, In line with the government guidelines and to maintain safety and hygiene for containing the spread of COVID-19, all drivers associated with this service are being provided masks, gloves, sanitisers and safety training. "Flipkart remains committed to supporting our customers and we are mobilising all possible options to deliver essential supplies to people who are staying indoors," added Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Flipkart. On March 31, at 6:30 a.m., a car approached a temporary Palestinian checkpoint. The checkpoint was manned by members of the Palestinian Ministry of Transportation and located on the Palestinian side of the Israeli-built wall around the West Bank. Its aim was to regulate the movement of people into the Qalandia and Kufr Aqab areas during the COVID-19 outbreak. According to Qalandia Media Center, authorities asked the Palestinian driver if he had a permit to be driving during a state of emergency in areas under Palestinian control. Exceptions have been made for medical staff and other essential service providers, but the driver had no such permit. He was not allowed into the town of Kufr Aqab. The angry driver gathered relatives and friends and returned to the checkpoint. For three hours, the group fired shots into the air in protest. Palestinian government spokesman Ibrahim Milhem told Al-Monitor that under the state of emergency (which was renewed April 1) the Palestinians are under lockdown, and travel is permitted only with permits. While the [World Health Organization] has called for cooperation on all fronts in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the Israelis pick and choose where and how to cooperate, he said. Milhem was referring to the fact that Israel allows Palestinian workers to return to Palestinian areas without coordinating with the Palestinian Ministry of Health. A number of confirmed coronavirus cases were discovered among those returning to the Palestinian areas. While the Palestinian police control regions in Area A, as designated by the Oslo Accord, in larger cities, the Qalandia and Kufr Aqab area is outside the sovereign control of the Palestinian police. Attempts to have the Palestinian police move into those areas have failed. As a result of the incident at the temporary checkpoint, Brig. Gen. Nedal Abu Dukhan, head of the Palestinian National Security Forces, ordered a unit to move into the area. The security forces arrested the outlaws who had caused the violent confrontation, read a statement from Abu Dukhan. Fadi Hidmi, the Palestinian minister for Jerusalem affairs, told Al-Monitor, We have a number of confirmed coronavirus cases in that area and we have an obligation not to allow the spread of the virus. Hidmi talked to Al-Monitor shortly after being released after a pre-dawn arrest by the Israelis. He said he was punched by Israeli security forces when he refused to wear a mask that had blood on it. CCTV video footage shows that Hidmis house, in Jerusalem's Mount of Olives area, was searched by security forces early Friday morning as Hidmi was physically manhandled by Israeli officers for the fourth time since becoming a minister. He told Al-Monitor that he was released on bail and ordered not to move around the city and not to be involved in any activities in Jerusalem dealing with the coronavirus. He had earlier launched the madad.ps website, which allowed Jerusalemites to seek help and to connect them with volunteers and supporters. Unarmed Palestinian security has been working in Qalandia and Kufr Aqab, known as Area B and just outside the Israeli wall built deep into Palestinian areas of Jerusalem. This is one of the first times that Palestinian armed security with their official suits have been deployed unofficially in the Kufr Aqab and Qalandia areas. Mohammad Hadieh, a lawyer and the executive director of ACT, a conflict resolution Palestinian NGO, told Al-Monitor that the vacuum left by Israel has led to lawlessness. In Kufr Aqab, we have armed thugs that deal with drugs. We have unregulated buildings coming up everywhere, as well as people wanted for crimes in the Palestinian areas," he said. Further complicating the matter, Hadieh said, is that the people who live in these areas have Israeli residence IDs and think they are above the law. Israeli security only shows up to arrest Palestinians while the Palestinian police have to wait hours before being allowed by the Israelis to move into the area to quell local conflicts, which sometimes include the use by some of firearms, he said. Hadieh would like the Palestinian police to move into Kufr Aqab and other areas but said there is no political appetite for such an endeavor. The Palestinian political establishment doesnt have the courage to take such steps because of fear of Israeli retaliation, he said. Hadieh called for the creation of a community police force to deal with the problems stemming from this securiy vacuum in areas like al-Ram, where the Palestinian police presence is negligible. In some areas, we have too many high-level officers and not enough policemen on the streets, he said. The incident at the temporary checkpoint is a glimpse into a future where outlaws exist without a police force to deter them. Palestinians cant allow this lawlessness to continue while the coronavirus is a threat to people's lives. The calls by the World Health Organization to cooperate in fighting coronavirus need to be consistent on all levels, including ways to deal with the lawlessness in a vital area home to thousands of Palestinians. Merrick Watts still holds a grudge against his former radio partner Tim Ross. The comedian, 46, said on Monday's episode of Hughesy, We Have a Problem that a 'communication issue' relating to money had caused their rift. He claimed the pair had been offered 'an enormous amount of money' to reform Merrick and Rosso in November 2018, but Tim brushed off the opportunity. 'I've been holding a grudge': Merrick Watts (left) hasn't spoken to Tim Ross (right) for almost two years after his old radio partner turned down 'an enormous amount of money' to reform. Pictured on April 29, 2007 in Sydney 'To be completely honest, there is a grudge. I've been holding a grudge for a period of time now,' he admitted. Merrick and Rosso were one of Australia's most popular radio partnerships for years. They joined forces on Triple J in 1998 and last worked together on Triple M in 2009. Despite their phenomenal success, there have been long-standing rumours of a feud between the pair. When they parted ways in 2009, Merrick said: 'This has nothing to do with Rosso and I not liking each other. No fights, there's no carry-on, there's nothing like that.' However, other sources in the radio industry said at the time that Tim was jealous of Merrick's success as a solo performer. In happier times: Merrick and Rosso were one of Australia's most popular radio partnerships for years. They joined forces on Triple J in 1998 and last worked together on Triple M in 2009 Feud? Despite their phenomenal success, there have been long-standing rumours of a feud between the pair. Pictured: Tim Ross on The Project in 2017 Merrick said on Monday that he and Tim hadn't spoken for almost two years after he asked his former co-host if they wanted to meet up to discuss an 'extraordinary offer' to get back together. He said a radio station had offered them 'more money than [they'd] ever seen' before in their 20 years in the business. Merrick claimed that Tim had said he would call him back after getting a haircut but 'he never called me back - and that was in November 2018!' In response to these claims, Tim told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday: 'From what I can gather from my mate Johnnie, who is the EP of [Hughesy, We Have a Problem], Mez told a funny story on TV. 'He is, and has always been, an exceptional comedian and I'm sure the story was hilarious. If he called me a f**khead on Q&A on the other hand, I'd be on the phone to David Anderson at the ABC and demanding an apology.' 'He never called me back': Merrick, 46, said on Monday's episode of Hughesy, We Have a Problem that a 'communication issue' relating to money had caused their rift. Pictured in 2017 It's unclear which radio station had offered Merrick and Rosso a contract in late 2018. But around this time, Em Rusciano quit 2Day FM's struggling Sydney breakfast show, so it's possible the offer came from Southern Cross Austereo. Interestingly, Em was sitting next to Merrick when he shared the story on Hughesy, We Have a Problem, but her face did not betray any inside knowledge. Marco Rubios political fortunes have gyrated frequently during his 10 years in national politics. But the coronavirus outbreak may have brought the Florida GOP senator to his most critical moment yet. As chairman of the usually sleepy Small Business Committee, Rubio has a key position in the countrys response and recovery from the pandemic. His panels $377 billion lifeline for small businesses is a linchpin of Congress $2 trillion economic rescue package, and Rubios efforts are winning praise from Republicans and Democrats alike even as implementation of the program remains deeply uncertain. And his work may just be beginning: Rubio and his panel are likely to be called upon again soon as the economy craters to provide more aid and potentially improve the rescue law's signature Paycheck Protection Program. Were like Columbus sailing in the New World. We think we found India, but its something else, Rubio said in a 25-minute phone interview about how he and the rest of Congress will respond to cascading job losses and mounting infections. We dont know what it is that happens next. The same perhaps can be said for the 48-year-old Rubio, who is approaching his own crossroads as President Donald Trump runs for reelection this fall. In the span of a decade, hes gone from tea party rising star to immigration deal-cutter and top-tier presidential contender to foot soldier in Trumps Republican Party. Now, Rubios emergence as a leading responder to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus is fueling talk among his colleagues that he, like a handful of prominent Senate Republicans, is keeping an eye on where his party goes in 2024, when Trump is no longer the GOPs standard-bearer. Sen. Rubio certainly has his ambition. Theres no question about that, said Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the Small Business Committee. But I think his motivation on the small business was genuine to the problems of businesses in his community, around the country. Story continues I hope he decides to stay in the Senate for the rest of his political career, added Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). But who knows? He may decide to make another run for president. Its a question Rubio addresses openly. Yet the conservative Cuban-American who once vowed to quit the Senate after one term seems to finally be enjoying his time on Capitol Hill. He said his second term has been much more fruitful and fulfilling than my first, particularly as his influence increases as a committee chairman in the Senate majority. Am I interested in potentially running for president one day? Sure, absolutely, because I ran once before. I dont know if I will, he said in the interview. I dont know what the world is going to look like in four, five, six years or what my life is going to look like. The coronavirus crisis has drawn out hints of what may be a crowded Senate Republican field aspiring to follow Trump. In addition to 2016 contenders like Rubio and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who has said he would consider another run, theres Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, who has been praised by conservatives for warning about the virus as early as January. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri embraced Trumps conservative populism and was a leading advocate for direct payments to Americans in the rescue package. And Sen. Rick Scott of Florida has been vocal in his attacks on China and the World Health Organization amid the spread of Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 24, 2020, as the Senate works to pass a coronavirus relief bill. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) Rubio has become less overt in his pursuit of the White House. He once charted out his political future step by step: from state legislator to insurgent senator to president. But after losing to Trump and running for reelection to the Senate in 2016, he said hes better than he "used to be at sort of living in the moment and sort of dealing with whats before" him. What was in front of him in mid-March was what he saw as a flawed Phase Two coronavirus-response bill from the House that put too much of the onus on small businesses to provide paid leave to workers, despite Democrats wanting something even more ambitious. As he and Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) pored over the legislation during a mid-March weekend, Rubio and his colleagues decided the Senate would need to stay in session and produce its own sweeping response to the virus. Rubio said his committee began drafting small business language in February, though it had no concept then of the scale of its mission. Still, he credits that groundwork with allowing the Senate to get its bill together quickly enough to pass it in the teeth of the crisis the following month. The small business initiative got off to an uneven start, however, as some banks struggled to offer loans under guidelines that were rushed out by the Treasury Department. But Congress is already beginning to plan its next coronavirus legislation, and Rubio will once again play a leading role. Trump tweeted Saturday that he will "immediately ask Congress for more money to support small businesses" if funding runs out. A former state house speaker, Rubio cultivated the reputation of a policy wonk by spending years developing a legislative portfolio before running for president only to see Trumps slash-and-burn style sideline him in 2016. Still, there are some similarities: Each man runs his own Twitter account and dishes out media criticism readily though Rubios come with a side of Bible verses. Rubio has largely shied away from conflict with Trump over the past four years after trading school-yard insults with him on the campaign trail. Rubio has mostly backed the presidents agenda, though he opposed Trumps national emergency to fund a southern border wall and voted for sanctions against Russia that Trump had resisted. At the same time, hes not among the senators on Trumps speed dial or those constantly jockeying to be in the presidents good graces. Whether a Republican can rise in the coming years without enthusiastically embracing Trump or Trumpism may determine Rubios future in the party. For now, amid the coronavirus crisis, Rubio finds himself in a potent spot in part because of his deferential attitude to more senior senators. When former Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) announced his plans to retire in 2018, Rubio quickly endorsed Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) to lead the influential panel rather than launch a potentially bitter intraparty challenge. Instead, he took the Small Business Committee, a relative backwater in the Senate. And though thats a panel generally free of the rancor that defines the polarized Senate, even there Rubio has flashed his brand of sharp-elbowed politics. He postponed what should have been a popular bipartisan small business bill in 2019 after Democrats resisted deregulation efforts. There was a real impasse between Chairman Rubio and ranking member Cardin, said Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), a committee member who also has worked with Rubio on the Foreign Relations Committee. That ground us to a halt. Moreover, Rubio is not exactly a Senate deal-maker by default. Hes stayed away from any sort of comprehensive immigration reform push since the 2013 bill he co-wrote passed the Senate only to die in the House. It simply doesnt work, hes warned his colleagues. Gang of Eight was pre-Trump. I dont think that hes going to be in the lead on proposing comprehensive immigration reform, said Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), who has teamed up with Rubio on issues like saving coral reefs. Rubio also occasionally deployed more hard-line tactics in the Senate, like when he and Cotton used procedural tools in 2015 to push for tough amendment votes on a high-profile bill allowing Congress to weigh in on a nuclear deal with Iran. But the novel coronavirus has brought out a more sober side of the onetime tea party upstart. Rubio was one of the first senators to publicly acknowledge the chamber needed to stay in Washington until it passed a rescue package because coming back might not be an option any time soon. We really don't have time to argue about this, we gotta act because we dont know how much longer we can meet, Rubio recalled thinking. We all realized that we were one outbreak from the Senate closing down and not being able to pass this bill. - Jinkee Pacquiao shared good vibes on Instagram amid the COVID-19 crisis in the Philippines - She did that by uploading photos of the interior of the Pacquiao familys mansion in Makati - This Makati mansion is where Senator Manny Pacquiaos wife and children are staying amid the enhanced community quarantine in the country - The awesome IG photos do not only show the elegance, extravagance, and luxurious lifestyle of the Pacquiao family members but also their happiness and joy in bonding with each other at home PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed Jinkee Pacquiao took to social media to share good vibes amid the COVID-19 crisis in the Philippines. KAMI learned that she uploaded photos of the interior of the Pacquiao familys mansion in Makati. This Makati mansion is where Senator Manny Pacquiaos wife and children are staying amid the enhanced community quarantine in the country. The viral pictures do not only show the elegance, extravagance, and luxurious lifestyle of the Pacquiao family members but also their happiness and joy in spending time with each other at home. PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! In a previous report by KAMI, Jinkees TikTok dance video with her family also went viral online. Jinkee Pacquiao worked as a sales attendant for a cosmetics brand before she met Manny Pacquiao. Her uncle introduced her to Manny, who happened to be the latter's trainer at that time. They got married in 2000 and they have five children Emmanuel Jr., Michael Stephen, Mary Divine Grace, Queen Elizabeth, and Israel. 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! Kapuso star Kris Bernal participated in the new episode of our Tricky Questions feature! Check out all of the exciting videos and celebrity interviews on our KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: KAMI.com.gh Stocks in Asia Pacific rose on Monday as a scheduled meeting between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies was delayed. Stocks in Japan were among the biggest gainers of the day, with the Nikkei 225 rising 4.24% to close at 18,576.30 as shares of index heavyweight Softbank Group soared 7.61%. The Topix index added 3.86% to end its trading day at 1,376.30. Shares in Australia also saw substantial gains, with the S&P/ASX 200 closing 4.33% higher at 5,286.80 as shares of the country's major banks such as Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Westpac saw gains of more than 3.5% each. South Korea's Kospi also advanced 3.85% to close at 1,791.88. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index edged 2.15% higher, as of its final hour of trading. Overall, the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index was 1.99% higher. Markets in China were closed on Monday for a holiday. Investors continue to monitor developments on the global coronavirus virus pandemic, as concerns over the virus' economic impact have sent markets into a whirlwind in recent weeks. Globally, more than 1.2 million have been infected while at least 65,711 lives have been taken by the virus, according to data compiled by John Hopkins University. While there's "a lot of uncertainty still," TD Securities' Mitul Kotecha told CNBC's "Street Signs" on Monday that there appears to be signs that the virus may be slowing down in some places. That may fuel "optimism that the lockdowns may not need to persist for a prolonged period of time," said Kotecha, senior emerging markets strategist at TD Securities. Still, he warned that it's "very, very early days" and "the economic news is still getting worse." "It's gonna be a real battle in the days ahead between poor economic data and hopes of some sort of flattening of the curve in countries in Europe and in the U.S., for instance," he said. Starting today, Uber drivers can find job listings for other companies in a new section of their app. The company announced in a blog post that its new Work Hub will help drivers connect to various job opportunities that includes its own Uber Eats service, which the company says has seen a significant boost since mid-March, along with competing services in the delivery, food production and grocery industries. Uber will also reach out to the more than 240,000 of its registered drivers holding commercial licenses in an effort to connect them to logistics companies for employment and contract opportunities. Uber Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement that the company will continue to expand economic opportunities in the coming months by using technology to create fast and flexible access to work. So far, the new offer is limited to the United States, but Uber says it is part of a global effort. In the U.K., Uber is partnering with online retailer Ocado to connect drivers to food delivery opportunities. More than a dozen companies are included in Work Hub at launch, including McDonald's, FedEx, United Parcel Service, Pepsi, Hertz, Walgreens and a number of grocery stores. The company said it has also partnered with Domino's Pizza, Target's delivery service Shipt and online care matching site CareGuide to hire Uber drivers. An Uber spokesman did not say whether the company was receiving any monetary benefits from connecting drivers to those companies. Drivers in Chicago, Dallas and Miami will also be connected to work in food production, warehouse and customer services through the company's Uber Works program, a platform launched in October to help companies fill staffing gaps during peak demand with temporary workers. Ride-hailing has suffered a near-total collapse as large parts of the United States shut down to combat the spread of the highly infectious virus. Some drivers who spoke to Reuters said their income has dropped by as much as 80% and many said they had stopped driving altogether over fears of getting infected. Story continues The crisis has exposed the vulnerability of gig workers hired as independent contractors. While on-demand workers were included in a recent U.S. stimulus bill to receive unemployment pay they are normally not entitled to, they may run into difficulty claiming those benefits. Material from Reuters was used in this report. Related Video: Click here to See Video >> You Might Also Like Wellington: Relief agencies are warning of incredible destruction in Vanuatu as tropical cyclone Harold bears down on the Pacific country as a category-five system. Five years after Cyclone Pam brought 250km/h winds to the country, killing dozens and displacing thousands, Vanuatuans are bunkering down once more. The system made landfall on the biggest island of Vanuatu, Espiritu Santo, on Monday afternoon according to Radio NZ, and is on course to track through the archipelago nation. "We are very concerned," Save The Children's Jacqui Southey told AAP. Customers that ordered a brand new Nissan Navara or Terra may have to wait a little while longer for the arrival of their units. With more and more factories temporarily halting operations due to the coronavirus, along with global demand plummeting, Nissan has announced that it has suspended operations at the Samut Prakan factory in Thailand. Following the advice and guidance of the Thai government and the Ministry of Public Health, Nissan expanded its measures to further safeguard the well-being of its employees, customers, and community. Starting today April 6, production at Plant 2 in Samut Prakan will be suspended until May 3, 2020. Meanwhile, production at Plant 1 will be adjusted in order to meet current demand levels. After weeks of high-stakes wrangling about reducing the jail population to battle the coronavirus pandemic, just a dozen of about 7,600 inmates have walked out the door of Harris Countys downtown lockup. The keeper of the jail, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, is now asking a federal judge to help cut the Gordian knot impeding him from addressing a mounting health crisis as infections take root among inmates and staff inside the massive facility. The problem: in the past week Gonzalez has been trying to act while juggling conflicting orders from three government officials the governor, the county executive and the chief felony judge. The already slow machinery of jail release ground to a halt, says a Monday court filing by the sheriffs laywer, Murray Fogler, seeking help from Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal. But the health crisis respects no orders. The virus cares not for the turf wars of government. PLEA FROM JAIL: Harris County inmates pen emotional letter: Nobody wants to die of COVID-19 The governor issued an edict last week banning the release of anyone accused or convicted of violent crime despite the fact that many peers with identical criminal records paid bail and are awaiting trial at home. Last week County Judge Lina Hidalgo estimated that 1,000 people accused of nonviolent crime would be released on special bonds under her executive order. The sheriff identified more than 1,300 contenders. District Attorney Kim Ogg, who was elected on a platform of criminal justice reform, whittled that list down to 135 people. The final number of qualified releases could be larger once challenges are reviewed. But before those releases could be processed, state District Judge Herb Ritchie issued an order, barring the sheriff from releasing felony defendants under Hidalgos order. He issued a separate order issue broadening the prior list of nonviolent offenses that qualified for release. Further complicating matters, Judge Susan Brown of the Eleventh Administrative Region says the governors order denies judges the authority to order bail reductions for people with prior violent convictions, according to plaintiffs in a federal civil rights lawsuit. Those who cannot afford cash bail will be stuck in limbo under the governors order if they have prior convictions. And those given a new hearing would typically wait two to four weeks when the courts were running at full speed. Hidalgo said the county could theoretically resort to legal action against the felony judges but she wont approve that because we dont have time for a protracted legal battle. She said she hopes to see action on Monday. It is time to either act or let others act....this is about health and safety. Others are pressing for a quick resolution, including a group of lawyers for indigent inmates, who said in a Monday pleading that it was urgent for Rosenthal step in and to protect thousands of peoples constitutional rights and avert a disaster. The jail is still overcrowded, several days behind the exponential explosion in infections that large jails in Chicago and New York are now experiencing, the lawyers wrote. On Rikers, prisoners are now being paid $6 per hour to dig their own graves. In the meantime, the number of pretrial detainees who had left the jail by Friday was 12, said Jason Spencer, spokesman for the sheriff. Twenty-one staffers at the sheriffs office have contracted the virus, including 12 assigned to jobs inside the jail. Another 187 deputies, detention officers and support staff are on quarantine for exposure, including one person who has been hospitalized. In addition, three male inmates have tested positive and more than three dozen are awaiting test results. Public health officials have said jails are a breeding ground for infectious diseases because inmates tend to have more medical issues and the rules about social distancing are so hard to accomplish in tight quarters. Michele Deitch, a University of Texas corrections expert who has been tracking how jails around the country are responding to the coronavirus, said Harris County is woefully behind the curve on preventing a public health fiasco that will impact staff, inmates and the greater community. We are watching a life-or-death game of rock, paper, scissors as each unit of government tries to establish its authority to control what is happening in Harris County and there are going to be deadly consequences as a result, Deitch said. They need to recognize that Harris County needs to operate as a system not as individual players. Deitch said several states have made great strides in recent weeks to reduce their incarcerated populations, including in Texas. She noted that Travis County managed to reduce its jail population by 600. In New Jersey, Montana and California, the highest state courts have ordered the lower courts to release pretrial inmates. Hawaii courts appointed a special master to facilitate a speedy exit for inmates to await trial at home. From inside the jail, a 32-year-old Galveston man awaiting trial on drug possession stated what he sees as the bigger questions before stakeholders in a letter to a Houston Chronicle reporter. What is the value of a human life? At what point does human decency outweigh our compulsion to lock away those they deem undesirable? wrote Brian Terry Polk, who is being held on $50,000 bond and says he sleeps in close proximity to five inmates. Is the possession of a drug a heinous offense? Does it make me such an evil person that my life no longer matters? gabrielle.banks@chron.com A fearless World War One pilot's exploits have been revealed after a stunning collection of medals emerged on sale for 25,000 Air Vice Marshal Sir Matthew 'Bunty' Frew officially claimed 23 kills during the conflict but reports from his fellow pilots claimed the tally probably doubled that as he would give credit to his victories to junior pilots to boost their confidence. He would also protect his junior colleagues by flying in harm's way during dogfights. His most remarkable victory occurred over Italy in January 1918, where despite only having one working gun he claimed three victories. On return his plane was holed by an anti-aircraft shell, so he glided for five miles through a barrage and over the River Piave to reach the British lines. The amazing exploits of Air Vice Marshal Sir Matthew 'Bunty' Frew have been revealed The pilot's collection of military medals will go on sale for 25,000 at a London auction Standing by his plane, 'Bunty' (left) would often protect junior pilots during dogfights His medals, including a prestigious Distinguished Service Order awarded for this actions, are being sold with his logbooks and other personal effects at London auctioneers Spink & Son. The sale takes place on April 22. Marcus Budgen, head of the medal department at Spink & Son, said: 'The awards of Air Vice Marshal Sir 'Bunty' Frew are simply iconic. 'During a remarkable career, which encompassed being decorated on no less than seven occasions across a 34 year career in the air. 'Having ended the Great War with a confirmed 23 victories, the highest in his squadron - 'Bunty' was selfless and wanted to give younger less experienced pilots around him confidence. With 23 'official' kills Flew's bravery won him much admiration among his fellow pilots 'Bunty' Frew is seen standing second left during the 1930s during a remarkable career FREW'S MEDAL GROUP The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division, Knight Commander; Distinguished Service Order with Second Award Bar; Military Cross with Second Award Bar; Air Force Cross; 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals; General Service 1918-62, Kurdistan; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937. Advertisement 'He often gave his own victories to those comrades which means his true total may be a fraction of the real number of enemy planes he downed. 'We are looking forward to his awards taking off and expect strong competition.' Frew was born in Glasgow in 1895. He worked at an insurance company before answering the call of duty at the outset of the Great War, enlisting with the Highland Light Infantry. He landed in France in January 1915 and fought on the Western Front for 19 months before returning to Britain in August 1916. His medals also included the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (right) and Companion of the Order of the Bath Also on display is Flew's cap that he wore during his time serving in the Royal Air Force He then volunteered for Royal Flying Corps in operations over France and continued until the end of October 1917, when he was redeployed to Italy. By that time, he had already claimed a staggering 19 kills, earning him a Military Cross. He was appointed chief fighter instructor at the Central Flying School, Upavon, Wilts, earning the Air Force Cross for his efforts in the conflicts final months. Frew remained in the air force after the war where promotions followed and he was briefly in command of the RAF North Weald, Essex, in World War Two. In September 1940, he was sent to South Africa to be head of the countrys pilot training programme, retiring with the rank of air vice marshal eight years later. He settled in Pretoria and died aged 79 in 1974. The prime minister has been admitted to hospital for tests after COVID-19 symptoms persisted. (AP) Boris Johnson has been urged to step back from running the government if he is too ill to stay in charge. The claims come from a former head of the civil service after the prime minister was admitted to hospital as a precautionary step on Sunday evening. Downing Street said the move was made on the advice of Johnsons doctor. The PM was diagnosed with coronavirus 11 days ago and a spokeswoman has said he will remain in hospital as long as needed. On Friday he posted a video on Twitter and said he was feeling better, but that he would remain in self-isolation until his temperature dropped. Another quick update from me on our campaign against #coronavirus. You are saving lives by staying at home, so I urge you to stick with it this weekend, even if we do have some fine weather.#StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/4GHmJhxXQ0 Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) April 3, 2020 Housing secretary Robert Jenrick told BBC Breakfast on Monday morning that Johnson was still very much in charge of the government. He added: He spent the night in hospital and of course we all wish him well and we hope that as a result of these tests he will be able to come back to Downing Street as soon as possible. Dr Sarah Jarvis, a GP and fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners, told the BBC it was likely the PM had moderate symptoms of coronavirus. Dr Jarvis, who is not Johnsons doctor, said: Given he is staying in charge of the government, that suggests to me that he probably has moderate disease but that, as a precaution, he is being taken in to check the oxygen levels in his blood, to do X-rays and probably scans of his chest. Story continues And to do blood tests to see, for instance, what his white cell counts look like and what his liver functions look like. Johnson's admission comes amid concern he has been pushing himself too hard and insisting on running the government's COVID-19 response. The former head of the civil service Lord Robert Kerslake said it would be sensible for him to step back if he is not well enough to carry out his role for now. Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world Fact-checker: The number of COVID-19 cases in your local area 6 charts and maps that explain how coronavirus is spreading Lord Kerslake told the Today programme: If hes not well enough it would be sensible to step back and let others take on the role. He added: I think in the end if hes not well, he will have to reflect on this because the jobs tough at the best of times and its doubly tough now. UK coronavirus patient deaths are set to top 5,000 by the end of Monday, with the current confirmed toll at 4,934 as of 5pm on Saturday, up 621 on the day before, according to official figures. Nearly 48,000 people have tested positive across the country, although the number of people actually suffering the disease is thought to be much higher as only those in hospital and some NHS staff are currently being tested. Coronavirus: what happened today NEW YORK (AP) In Montana, a father and son running a small oil business are cutting their salaries in half. In New Mexico, an oil truck driver who supports his family just went a week without pay. And in Alaska, lawmakers have had to dip into the state's savings as oil revenue dries up. The global economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic has devastated the oil industry in the U.S., which pumps more crude than any other country. In the first quarter, the price of U.S. crude fell harder than at any point in history, plunging 66% to around $20 a barrel. A generation ago, a drop in oil prices would have largely been celebrated in the U.S., translating into cheaper gas for consumers. But today, those depressed prices carry negative economic implications, particularly in states that have become dependent on oil to keep their budgets balanced and residents employed. It's just a nightmare down here, said Lee Levinson, owner of LPD Energy, an oil and gas producer in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Should these low oil prices last for any substantial period of time, it's going to be hard for anyone to survive." Crude prices recovered some ground, trading at around $28 a barrel Friday, after a week in which President Donald Trump tweeted that he expects Saudi Arabia and Russia will end an oil war and dramatically cut production. On Friday, he met with oil executives but there were no announcements, and prices remain well below what most U.S. producers need to stay afloat. Among the latest casualties is Whiting Petroleum, an oil producer in the Bakken shale formation with about 500 employees that filed for bankruptcy protection Wednesday. Schlumberger, one of the largest oilfield services companies, slashed its capital spending by 30% and is expecting to cut staff and pay in North America. And Halliburton, another major oilfield services provider, furloughed 3,500 of its Houston employees, ordering workers into a one-week-on, one-week-off schedule. You will see a tremendous loss of jobs in this industry, said Patrick Montalban, owner of Montalban Oil and Gas, based in Montana, who along with his son is slashing his salary in half and plans to cut the his remaining employees salaries by 25% and end their health insurance benefits. The impact is far-reaching. In Alaska, lawmakers recently passed a budget that sharply draws down a savings account that had been built up over the years when oil prices were higher. In New Mexico, where a third of the state's revenue comes from petroleum, the governor slashed infrastructure spending and will likely cut more in a special legislative session. In Texas, which produces about 40% of the country's oil and employs more than 361,000 people, the picture is especially bleak. Three weeks ago, Bobby Whitacre, vice president of Impala Transport in Plano, Texas, was looking to hire a well site supervisor for $200 a day with paid time off. Now hes had to lay off many of his workers. Its dead. Its dead as can be, he said. While many industries paralyzed by the coronavirus pandemic received help from a recent $2 trillion congressional relief package, the energy sector was largely left out. The American Petroleum Institute, the oil industry's main lobbying group, has maintained its free market philosophy, saying it does not want direct financial assistance from government. But the group did ask the federal government to relax environmental rules. Some smaller producers would welcome financial relief. If the federal government is going to do something to help small businesses nationwide because of the problem with the coronavirus, we certainly dont want to be excluded from that, said Dewey Bartlett, Jr., president of Keener Oil & Gas and former Republican mayor of Tulsa. Many oil producers big and small stopped the costly process of drilling new wells when prices plummeted, leaving all kinds of workers vulnerable to layoffs: drillers, attorneys, truckers who deliver sand or water for fracking and skilled tradesmen who make equipment for rigs, to name a few. It was only two weeks ago when Sergio Chavira, a 33-year-old truck driver in New Mexico, was advertising on Craigslist for other drivers to help him haul crude oil, writing that there was plenty of work. Not anymore. The husband and father of an 8 year old and a 5 year old hasnt driven his truck for a week and is bracing for a drop in pay for what work is left. Now everything is slowing down, Chavira said. They give us less loads to haul every day. Checkers Inc., which administers drug and alcohol tests for oil industry employees in the heart of North Dakotas oil patch, has seen its monthly screenings fall by more than half, said owner Janette McCollum, who reduced her full-time employees' hours to part-time in response. Along with the slowdown in clients, companies are not wanting to pay their bills, she said. The oil industry was already logging hundreds of bankruptcies before the coronavirus hit, as producers struggled with weak global oil demand and high debt loads. Then the pandemic shut down travel as country after country started restricting flights in an attempt to bring the contagion under control. World oil demand fell 7% in the first quarter, and is expected to fall 14% in the second quarter, according to IHS Markit. If that wasn't enough, OPEC and Russia couldn't agree on production cuts to prop up prices, so Saudi Arabia flooded the market with cheap oil. The kingdom slashed oil prices last month and vowed to ramp up production to more than 12 million barrels a day. Many American shale producers feel targeted by Saudi Arabia, which they suspect of trying to put them out of business. And it could be working. Were just burning through money down here," said Levinson, LPD Energys owner. "And how long we can last is anyones guess. __ AP Writers Cedar Attanasio in El Paso, Texas; James MacPherson in Bismark, North Dakota; Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City and Becky Bohrer in Juneau, Alaska contributed to this report. Photo: The Canadian Press The cruise ship Rotterdam, left, passes the Zaandam, right as it prepares to dock at Port Everglades, Thursday, April 2, 2020, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The Zaandam and Rotterdam cruise ships carrying guests and crew with flu-like symptoms will be allowed to dock in Florida's Port of Everglades Thursday, ending a nightmarish voyage disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) Canadians remained aboard the COVID-19-stricken Coral Princess cruise ship on Sunday, a full day after some passengers were allowed on dry land. New guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control saying cruise passengers shouldn't board commercial planes have limited who is allowed off the ship, Princess Cruises said in a statement, adding that only those with imminent chartered flights can disembark. "This will unfortunately result in further delays in disembarkation and onward travel for many guests as we work through this complex, challenging and unfortunate situation," the statement said. Only those bound for Australia, the U.K. and California have been allowed to leave the ship. North Vancouver resident Sanford Osler said he and his wife are more than ready to head home, and they hope the federal government will help speed up the process. "Princess says they will try to a arrange a chartered flight for us, but we are calling on Canada to send a plane down for us," Osler said in an email. The couple is among 97 Canadian passengers aboard the ship, which left Santiago, Chile, on March 5 and docked in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Friday. Osler said the last time he was on dry land was March 13, and passengers have been confined to their rooms for nearly a week. "We're still healthy but do want to get off this ship and get home," said Osler, 70. Two people aboard the ship have died, and 12 have tested positive for COVID-19, Princess Cruises has said. Still more are experiencing flu-like symptoms. Cruise ships have been a hotbed for the novel coronavirus beginning in February, when the largest outbreak outside mainland China was aboard the Diamond Princess ship, also operated by Princess Cruises. The Diamond Princess was quarantined for two weeks in Yokohama, Japan, because of the virus. Ultimately, about 700 of the 3,700 people aboard became infected in what experts pronounced a public-health failure. They cite the close quarters and frequent socialization as contributing to the spread. The federal government eventually evacuated 129 Canadians from the ill-fated ship and brought them to eastern Ontario for quarantine on Feb. 21, but 47 Canadians infected by the virus had to stay behind in Japan for treatment. More recently, Canadians on the MS Zaandam and MS Rotterdam, arrived in Canada on a plane chartered by operator Holland America. HOUSTON, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mattress Firm, the nation's largest specialty bedding retailer, has partnered with Protect-A-Bed, a SureFit Company to donate 10,000 pillows to healthcare professionals who are fighting on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. The company will donate 1,000 pillows per day beginning today, April 6 through April 15. While the world is collectively dealing with higher levels of stress and anxiety during this time, healthcare professionals are facing unprecedented challenges each day as they care for those who are hospitalized with COVID-19. For them, adequate rest is more important than ever before. "World Health Workers Week began on April 5 and we recognize that now, more than ever, quality rest is essential to the well-being of our healthcare heroes. We want to show our gratitude and appreciation for their service by giving away 10,000 pillows to the healthcare community," said John Eck, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mattress Firm. Beginning at 10 AM CDT today, April 6, healthcare workers can visit http://www.mattressfirm.com/blog/healthcare and sign up using their professional email address to receive their free Sleepy's Comfy pillow. The free pillow offer will allow up to 1,000 entries per day through April 15. The donation, valued at approximately $650,000, is made possible through a partnership with Protect-A-Bed, a SureFit Company. "Protect-A-Bed is proud to partner with Mattress Firm to provide free pillows to healthcare workers across the country during this challenging time," said Bob Burbank, Chief Executive Officer of SureFit. "The pillows are our way of saying 'thank you' for their commitment and we hope they are able to get the quality rest they deserve," Burbank said. At Mattress Firm, helping people get a great night's sleep has always been our passion and we know it's even more important during times of stress and uncertainty. In fact, many organizations, including the Center for Disease Control, highlights sleep as one way you can support yourself to stay healthy as we all do our best to navigate this time. To learn more about how sleep can help reduce stress and boost your immune system, visit our blog, The Daily Doze at https://www.mattressfirm.com/blog/. To learn more about the pillow donation or to sign up, visit http://www.mattressfirm.com/blog/healthcare. About Mattress Firm Since 1986, Mattress Firm has made it easy to get a great night's sleep by providing our customers an expertly curated collection of quality mattresses from the best brands. Today, with more than 2,500 neighborhood stores, we strive to be America's most trusted authority on sleep by placing our customer at the center of everything we do. Our experts help more than three million people a year find the right solution for their sleep needs. Our selection of mattresses and bedding accessories include leading brands such as Serta, Simmons, Tempur-Pedic, tulo, Sleepy's and Purple. Committed to serving our communities, the Mattress Firm Foster Kids program, in partnership with the Ticket to Dream Foundation, hosts three collection drives a year in communities nationwide to help foster children get better sleep so they can shape a better future. For more information, visit www.mattressfirm.com. SOURCE Mattress Firm Related Links http://www.mattressfirm.com Advertisement The Duchess of Cornwall this morning came out of a two-week self-isolation after Prince Charles tested positive for coronavirus. The royal couple have spent the last fortnight at their Birkhall residence in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, living in separate parts of the three-century-old property. The couple were reunited today just three days before their 15th wedding anniversary, this coming Thursday. The pair were separated as a precaution when Clarence House confirmed the Prince of Wales had tested positive for coronavirus on 26 March. Camilla working her home office surrounded by: Her dog ball thrower (1), a 3 greeting card (2), a jumble of boxes (3), crime novels by Peter James (4), Harry Potter books (5), family photographs (7), and snaps of her beloved pets (7) Dog lover Camilla was spotted with a red plastic ball thrower propped up against the wall of her office (left). Who's the Queen Bee? The Duchess was sent a greeting card that still had the 3 price sticker on the back (right) A spot of online shopping? The Duchess had a bundle of packaging behind her desk, ready for the recycling (left). Camilla, who is an avid reader, is clearly a fan of the crime writer Peter James, with several of his books on her well-stocked shelves (right) Wizarding taste! Several Harry Potter Books were also spotted on the Duchess' bookshelf (left). Camilla also likes to be surrounded by photos of her family and favourite horses while she works (right) Pawsome! As well as photos of family, the Duchess has framed photos of her beloved Jack Russell and even a miniature painting perched in her workspace He has since then spent seven days self-isolating in Scotland with 'mild symptoms'. Charles, who finished his isolation a week ago, described being without family contact as 'strange, frustrating and often distressing'. The Duchess of Cornwall tested negative for the virus and is said to have displayed no signs of the infection. Camilla has been keeping herself busy during the past 14 days by working from home, like so many, and catching up with family via video. The Daily Mail's Royal Editor Rebecca English warmly welcomes the Duchess of Cornwall back into society with the following words. Camilla and Charles have been apart for 14 days while they self-isolated after the Prince of Wales tested positive for coronavirus It is a delightfully chaotic room, crammed with letters, books, photographs and nick-nacks. Look closely at the left-hand side and you can even see one of those plastic contraptions that dog owners use to throw balls propped up against the wall (Camilla has two rescue Jack Russells, Beth and Bluebell). It all leaves the viewer feeling comforted by the fact that the Duchess of Cornwall's working from home set-up at Birkhall in Aberdeenshire isn't so very different from our disorganised own. On her slightly battered desk is a jumble of papers, letters, biros and fountain pens. There's even a card with the price tag attached just 3! made by a company amusingly called 'Queen Bee'. There are also a few more formal items, such as an inkwell, a blotter and a tartan stamp, along with a vase of spring flowers. But the overall effect is a charming form of organised chaos. That's emphasised by the jumble of boxes, bubble wrap, shopping bags and baskets, some still with price tags on them, that litter the floor behind her. On the bookshelf is a smorgasbord of reading material. There are books by crime and thriller writer Peter James and H is for Hawk, an award-winning memoir by Helen Macdonald about the year she spent training a northern goshawk. JK Rowling is known to be a favourite of the duchess: there are several Harry Potters. Camilla previously told the Daily Mail how her grandchildren love Charles to read from them at night and revealed how he even does 'all the funny voices'. She also has Rowling's adult novel, The Casual Vacancy. There's also a copy of The Riviera Set by Mary S Lovell, which follows the lives and loves of American actor Maxine Elliott who infiltrated the British upper classes and hung out with the likes of Noel Coward and Winston Churchill. It is also possible to spot J by Howard Jacobson, a Booker-listed dystopian novel. Daily Mail writer Robert Hardman's celebrated biography of the monarch, Our Queen, also makes an appearance. Before all this - Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, together at Sandringham The bookshelves are also covered with family pictures. A photograph of her daughter Laura Lopes and son-in-law Harry, along with her grand-daughter Eliza when she was a bridesmaid for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge can be seen as well as one of the duchess with her arms around all of her five grandchildren. There's also a picture of her son Tom, cuddling grandson Freddy, and another showing three of her grandchildren dressed as guardsmen. Horses and dogs feature frequently: There are several pictures of her Jack Russells she has owned at least five. One blurry picture appears to be of the Queen surrounded by her closest family members, including Prince George and Princess Charlotte. There are also several showing what are believed to be her parents Bruce and Rosalind, including shots taken at what appear to be country shoots. Duchess salutes 'wonderful' volunteers By Rebecca English, Royal Editor The Duchess of Cornwall has hailed Britain's 'wonderful' army of volunteers as they march into action from today. Camilla, 72, praised the 750,000 members of the public who have already reported for duty to help the NHS through the crisis, saying: 'I salute each one of you and thank you with all my heart.' She added that Health Service staff would be encouraged and supported by 'the presence of so many wonderful volunteers'. The duchess was speaking as she returned to work after two weeks of self-isolation following her husband Prince Charles's positive test for Covid-19. The duchess is patron of the Royal Voluntary Service, which is managing the nation's call to arms. She also surprised a pensioner in self-isolation, phoning Doris Winfield, 85, of Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, to ask how she was coping without her family and friends. The 85-year-old said she regularly speaks to her three daughters but lives alone and misses her friends and social life. Mrs Winfield said: 'Having a chat with the duchess meant the world to me. It's really cheered me up.' In the 20-minute call made from her Scottish retreat at Birkhall, Camilla admitted the most difficult thing was not being able to hug her five grandchildren. The duchess has spent the last two weeks on her own after Charles, 71, was diagnosed with the virus. She tested negative but followed official advice about isolating. Yesterday she was reunited with him at Birkhall where they will remain until the crisis is over. The army of NHS Volunteer Responders will help with tasks such as collecting medicines from chemists, driving patients to appointments and calling to check on those isolating at home. Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Monday pledged 30 per cent of his annual salary to the Prime Minister's PM-CARES Fund for combating, containment and relief efforts against COVID-19. The Governor has already announced donating his salary for March to Prime Minister's Relief Fund. Maharashtra Governor took to Twitter and made the announcement. The Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM-CARES Fund) was created on March 28 following the outbreak of COVID-19 in India. The dedicated fund has been set up with the primary objective of dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation as posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to provide relief to the affected people. With an increase of 490 cases in the last 12 hours, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India climbed to 4067, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Trump Calls Fired Intelligence Watchdog 'A Disgrace' By Fern Robinson April 05, 2020 U.S. President Donald Trump says the intelligence community watchdog that he fired late Friday was "a disgrace." Trump said Saturday that Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson should not have told Congress about the whistleblower complaint that led to Trump's impeachment earlier this year. "He took a fake report and he took it to Congress," Trump said. Congressman Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, told the U.S. news network MSNBC Saturday that Trump is "decapitating the leadership of the intelligence community in the middle of a national crisis." Schiff, a Democrat, said the president's action is "unconscionable." Republican Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Atkinson's firing "was not warranted." Trump officially notified the congressional intelligence committees Friday that Atkinson's firing would go into effect in 30 days. He said in a letter that he "no longer" had "the fullest confidence" in Atkinson. Trump said he would name a replacement for Atkinson "at a later date." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The homicide rate in Mexico reaches its highest peak in March amid COVID-19 since the country began tracking in 1997, according to a recently published article. MEXICAN CARTEL It's business as usual for Mexican cartels despite the presence of the global health and economic crisis brought by COVID-19. Last week, at least six people were assassinated by the Elite Group of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The Jalisco New Generation is considered as the country's most powerful Mexican cartel, and their most rival cartel is the Santa Rosa de Lima that is backed up by other cartels in the country. The two cartels are both fighting for territory, fuel theft, and drug trafficking. In the recently published report, there were six people who were assassinated by the Jalisco New Generation because they supported their rival cartel, the Santa Rosa de Lima. Following this, they hijacked cars and burned it in an attempt to evade capture. The recent killings only add up to the present spiking number of homicide and killings in the country. Murder has been one of the major problems that the current administration is trying to solve. HOMICIDE RATE IN THE COUNTRY The homicide rate in the country continues to swell even amid COVID-19. The country has reached its highest homicide record in March since the country has begun tracking in 1997. In a recently published article, there were nearly 35,000 people killed in March. According to the report of the Secretariat of Public Security, they have seen an increase of 2.5 percent of killings this year. This simply means that an average of 95 homicides are committed every day. Meanwhile, it is not clear as to how many of the homicides and murders are related to the cartels. The spike of murder in the country comes after the federal and state officials put resources and fundings to contain COVID-19 and confront the dying economy of the country. Falko Ernst, the senior analyst at the International Crisis Group in Mexico, said: "It's 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." Violence has been experienced across the country, and this is also one of the reasons why many Mexicans are seeking American asylum. Usually, either one member of their family is pressured to join a cartel or is suspected of supporting a rival cartel. Meanwhile, it can be recounted that President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that he expects a drop of violence at the end of March due to the COVID-19 cases. However, it did not turn out to be like that. Instead of experiencing a decrease, a significant influx was reported. Moreover, this is one of the biggest problems that President Obrador faced during his first year of office as President in the country. Before he took his office, he said that there are two root causes of these crimes, and these are poverty and corruption. Read related articles: As many as 2,151 people have been arrested in Haryana so far for violating the lockdown in the state, Home Minister Anil Vij said on Monday. As many as 1,509 FIRs have been registered and 2,151 people have been arrested for violating government orders on lockdown in the state. Besides, 6,251 vehicles have been impounded, Vij said. Vij also said that 53 FIRs have been registered against those who were allegedly found spreading rumours and misleading information about COVID-19 on social media. Additional Director General of Police Navdeep Singh Virk advised the general public on Monday again neither to post unverified information on their social media accounts nor forward it to others on messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger etc as they would could land into trouble. Don't spread fake We don't want u to be our guest. Haryana police has registered 53 FIRs and arrested 30 people for posting rumours, fake & hate messages during the #21daylockdown, Virk tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 4-year-old Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo has tested positive for the COVID-19 bug after developing a dry cough, the New York Post quoted the Wildlife Conservation Society as saying in a statement Sunday. According to the statement: Nadia, a 4-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo, has tested positive for COVID-19. She, her sister Azul, two Amur tigers, and three African lions had developed a dry cough and all are expected to recover. The diagnosis was confirmed by USDAs National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Iowa out of an abundance of caution, the society said. The WSC said the big cats are on the mend. The statement read: Though they have experienced some decrease in appetite, the cats at the Bronx Zoo are otherwise doing well under veterinary care and are bright, alert, and interactive with their keepers. It is not known how this disease will develop in big cats since different species can react differently to novel infections, but we will continue to monitor them closely and anticipate full recoveries. The four affected big cats are housed in the zoos Tiger Mountain exhibit. None of the other cats at the zoo, which includes leopards, cheetahs, and pumas, have shown symptoms, the society said. Zoo officials said they hope Nadias diagnosis will ensure any knowledge we gain about COVID-19 will contribute to the worlds continuing understanding of this novel coronavirus. The zoo has been closed since March 16 due to the spread of the virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, animals can become infected by the coronavirus, but scientists dont believe they can spread the bug to humans. In the United States, there is no evidence to suggest that any animals, including pets, livestock, or wildlife, might be a source of COVID019 infection at this time, according to the CDC. However, because all animals can carry germs that can make people sick, its always a good idea to practice healthy habits around pets and other animals, the agency notes. California Gov. Gavin Newsom tours Bloom Energy in Sunnyvale, Calif., on March 28. (Beth LaBerge / Associated Press) To the editor: Gov. Gavin Newsom's delay on evictions is a measured response to a critical problem. The governor has given short-term relief to tenants because of the COVID-19 crisis without providing carte blanche for widespread abuse. Most of my landlord friends and I are working with our struggling tenants to create mutually agreeable arrangements. Keep in mind that property owners still have to pay for water, repairs, insurance, real estate taxes and mortgage payments, all of which can be very expensive. Can you imagine another industry that has to provide free services? Consider if supermarkets were required to provide food without payment for an indeterminable number of months. Many rental property owners have saved and invested their money, played by the rules, and depend upon these rentals for their own immediate survival or retirement. They do not want vacancies or evictions, but they cannot survive by providing free or heavily discounted housing indefinitely, and unfortunately, the threat of eviction is a necessary tool. Given the dire circumstances faced by all parties, Newsom's policy is fair to all. Daniel Post, Culver City .. To the editor: I understand the concerns of the L.A. Times Editorial Board for people who live paycheck to paycheck and may be evicted from their homes for lack of rent payment. But what about the landlord who relies on rental income to live? The majority of my income comes from an eight-unit rental property in Boyle Heights. I still need to pay for water, property taxes, insurance, upkeep and maintenance, among other expenses to keep the apartments functioning. The editorial board needs to be responsible in its recommendations to include downstream implications and solutions for all involved. Gail Feuerstein, Irvine MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 06th April, 2020) Portugal has registered 452 new cases of COVID-19, the Health Ministry said on Monday, adding that the total number of people who have tested positive for the virus had reached 11,730 in the country. According to the health authorities, the COVID-19 death toll has increased from 295 to 311. The number of recoveries has nearly doubled over the past day and now stands at 140. The majority of verified cases 6,706 have been reported in the country's north, where 168 people have died of the disease, the ministry added. The Portuguese government declared a state of emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic on March 19, suspending all public life and banning travel across the country. One of the classic British posters from World War II is severe, almost brutal. It shows an unsmiling Winston Churchill raising his right hand to jab a finger at the viewer, with the words "DESERVE VICTORY!" in bold. No promises, only a demand. In ordinary times, that poster might be the antithesis of good politics. But Churchill understood that he was not leading in ordinary times. So does New York's Andrew Cuomo. As the third-term governor of a state now hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic, and who was once widely perceived to be wearing out his welcome, Cuomo's political star could easily be plunging. But the opposite is happening, thanks to his textbook demonstration of how leaders should speak in a time of crisis. Contrary to popular belief (and many Hollywood movies) both research and history show that disasters almost never cause panic and communities do not fall apart. Instead, people become more caring and generous. They feel part of something bigger than themselves. They want to help. Leaders can and should put that spirit to work. But doing so requires more than speeches stuffed with "we shall not surrender" rhetoric. In fact, as Cuomo has demonstrated, it doesn't require florid language at all. At his daily press conferences, Cuomo mostly delivers plain, unvarnished facts (lots of them). Using simple and accessible language, he makes clear what is known, what is not known, and what is uncertain about the pandemic. He is consistent. Sometimes information changes; when it does, he says so and explains why. Cuomo's communication style shows people that their ship has a captain in command. That's reassuring. More importantly, his forthrightness with facts shows he is being transparent, which earns him public trust. In a crisis, leaders sometimes withhold information in the mistaken belief that people will react badly, even panic, if they're given bad news. But leaders who aren't forthcoming implicitly say to people, "I don't trust you with this information." And when leaders don't trust people, people don't trust leaders. Churchill earned Britain's trust with his frank acknowledgement, after the fall of France, that the situation had gone from bad to catastrophic. "We have before us many, many long months of struggle and suffering," he said, adding that what lay ahead would be "blood, toil, tears, and sweat." Cuomo is never going to rival Churchill's rhetorical skills. But when he discussed New York's "on pause" order, at a time when many were still seeing it more as a brief staycation than a hardship, he said it was going to be tough and long: "This is not a short-term situation. This is not a long weekend. This is not a week." And he communicated something else significant: "These actions will cause disruption. They will cause businesses to close. They will cause employees to stay at home. I understand that," he said. "I take full responsibility. If someone is unhappy, blame me." Shouldering responsibility isn't merely honorable. It demonstrates you're in charge and confident of your decisions. What Cuomo does not discuss is just as important as what he does. Political parties, calculations and approval ratings are out. Cuomo doesn't talk about his own self-interest or himself with the important exception of stories about his family and life in New York. Kenyas Minister of Health Mutahi Kagwe is one of only five leaders who have emerged as heroes in the war against COVID-19 pandemic. This is according to leading American newspaper, The Wall Street Journal, which listed Kagwe alongside Dr. Jung Eun-kyeong (the director of South Koreas Centers for Disease Control and Preventions), Dr. Jenny Harries (UKs Deputy Chief Medical Officer), Taiwan vice-president Chen Chien-Jen, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the longtime director of the national institute of allergy and infectious diseases in the US. In the article, writer Sam Walker describes the leaders as career deputies who have emerged on the frontline in managing the pandemic and maintaining calm among citizens in their countries in place of the elected usually impulsive, self-regarding political leaders. As the novel coronavirus continues to spread around the world, a funny thing is happening. The leaders who have distinguished themselves under pressure are rarely the bold, charismatic, impulsive, self-regarding, politically calculating alphas weve elected, Walker writes. The real heroes have been, for lack of a better term, career deputies. Mr. Walker notes: Kenyas unlikely Coronavirus hero is Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe, a businessman with an MBA who had been washed out of elective office. In politics, Mr. Kagwe was seen as a technocrat, too ordinary, and emotionally distant. In his coronavirus briefings, these traits became assets. The publication also cites a recent poll where Kagwes crisis leadership was rated 8 out of 10. Mr. Kagwe projects calm, emphasizes evidence and urges Kenyans to face facts, a style one senator described as a breath of fresh air, an excerpt from the publication reads. President Uhuru appointed Kagwe as Health CS in January this year to replace Sicily Kariuki. In just three short months and amid the coronavirus pandemic, he has earned acclaim internationally and locally, including the highly critical Kenyans on Twitter. Kagwe served as the first Nyeri Senator from 2013 to 2017 and unsuccessfully vied for the countys gubernatorial seat in the last elections. He also served as the Minister for ICT during retired President Mwai Kibakis administration. Photo: The Canadian Press Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that he will declare a state of emergency for Tokyo and six other prefectures as early as Tuesday to bolster measures to fight the coronavirus, but that there will be no hard lockdowns. Abe also told reporters Monday that his government will launch a 108 trillion yen ($1 trillion) stimulus package Japan's largest ever and nearly twice as much as expected to help counter the economic impact of the pandemic, including cash payouts to households in need and financial support to protect businesses and jobs. Abe said experts on a government-commissioned task force urged him to prepare to declare a state of emergency, with the COVID-19 outbreak rapidly expanding in major cities including Tokyo, and hospitals and medical staff overburdened with patients. He said the state of emergency will cover Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and four other hard-hit prefectures, and will be in effect for about a month. Measures are expected to include a stay-at-home request for residents, but there will be no penalties for objectors. Public transportation, banks, groceries and other essential services will continue operating. Abe said the state of emergency is intended to further reinforce social distancing between people to slow the spread of the outbreak, and to maintain as much social and economic activities as possible. But we need to ask everyone to step up co-operation," he said. The government enacted a special law in March that paved the way for Abe to declare a state of emergency. The law, however, is a divisive one because it could limit civil rights. Abe said he will hold a news conference on Tuesday to further explain the state of emergency. The economic package which amounts to about 20% of the GDP of Japan, the world's third-largest economy will pay out 300,000 yen ($2,750) to each household with severe income loss due to the outbreak, and will include 26 trillion yen ($238 billion) to address delays in taxes and social welfare payments, Abe said. It's to protect the people's health and their lives, he said. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said the city will start transferring patients with no or slight symptoms from hospitals to hotels and other accommodations to make room for an influx of patients with severe symptoms. Koike has raised alarms over the acceleration of the outbreak in the Japanese capital since late March, warning of an infection explosion and saying that the only way to avoid a complete lockdown of the city is to follow guidelines such as social distancing. Haruo Ozaki, head of the Tokyo Medical Association, said that the situation in Tokyo is already critical." He said Tokyos infections are on the brink of being out of control due to a lack of restraint by residents. Japan had kept its number of coronavirus cases relatively low by closely watching clusters and keeping them under control rather than conducting massive tests, but that strategy has become increasingly difficult because of a sharp rise of unlinkable cases. Japan's health ministry has confirmed 3,654 cases, including 84 deaths, as well as another 712 infections and 11 fatalities on a cruise ship that was quarantined in the port of Yokohama near Tokyo earlier this year. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 20:29:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MANILA, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Amid reports of shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) in Philippine hospitals, a young fashion designer has spent the past three weeks of a month-long nationwide lockdown to design much-needed personal protective suits and face masks for doctors and nurses battling the COVID-19 pandemic. "I want to boost the morale of the frontline health care workers amid the chaos," 30-year-old designer Ram Silva told Xinhua in a telephone interview on Monday, saying it is his little contribution to uplift the spirits of the frontliners he called as the "COVID Armies." Medical and healthcare groups have repeatedly called for donations of PPEs for the country's frontlinersas the supplies are dwindling amid the rapid spike of the COVID-19 cases in the country. The Philippine Medical Association has previously said deaths could have been prevented if there was enough supply of PPEs. The association has recorded 17 doctors who have died while in the frontline battling the COVID-19. Silva has so far distributed more than 100 water-proof red hazmat suits, inspired by the revolutionary-red overalls worn by a gang of criminals in the Spanish global blockbuster Money Heist, to 10 hospitals in the central Philippine city of Iloilo. A further 500 suits will be delivered to other hospitals in coming days, Silva said. Silva previously made 500 masks for frontline health workers and policemen, and the Iloilo City Hall community kitchen workers and street sweepers, using fabrics from his studio. The donations have been warmly received by doctors and nurses, as well as by city government officials and members of the public. Silva won praises from netizens after he posted pictures of health workers of Western Visayas Medical Centre in "RamCouture PPE hazmat suit." The Philippines continues to grapple with rising cases of the disease. The Department of Health (DOH) reported 414 new cases on Monday, bringing the total number of the cases in the country to 3,660. The DOH also reported that the number of deaths has increased to 163, and 73 have recovered. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the number of the COVID-19 cases tallied so far does not indicate a trend yet. "We cannot interpret yet if the cases have gone down or up," she added. Vergeire further said the Philippines will start the daily production of 10,000 medical-grade PPE coveralls for healthcare workers next week. Kalyan Jewellers on Monday said it will support daily wage workers of gems and jewellery sector, and also those of film industry, in association with Amitabh Bachchan. Kalyan Jewellers will provide monetary relief to 50,000 households of kaarigars or artisans who work as daily wage workers in the gems and jewellery industry through its 'Goldsmith Relief Fund', which will be working closely with manufacturers association (Kerala), Coimbatore Jewellers Association and Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (Mumbai), a release said here. The funds will be used to provide relief material and monetary assistance to daily wage workers, it added. "We are witnessing an unprecedented global pandemic. During these testing times, it is important to support the daily wage worker community which has been most affected due to the shutdown," Kalyan Jewellers CMD T S Kalyanaraman said. "The Goldsmith Relief Fund is an initiative that we have put together to try and bring some semblance of financial relief to the artisans working in our industry," he added. The company will also work closely with All India Film Employees Confederation (Mumbai) and Film Employees Federation of Kerala (Kochi) to support workers from across the country with effective distribution of monetary funds and/or rations. Kalyan Jewellers will work in association with Bachchan's 'We Are One' initiative that aims to support 1,00,000 families. The company will also partner with the 'We Are One' public service announcement (PSA) film led by Bachchan, where stalwarts from the film industry will come together to make PSA that will clarify the importance of staying home and social distancing to break the chain during COVID-19. "The film being made is very special as it brings together all the best creative minds of our industry. This will further strengthen the unity among the citizens of our country to fight COVID-19 and enable India to lead the world out of this pandemic," Kalyanaraman said. Led by Bachchan, the film will feature celebrities like Rajinikanth, Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Alia Bhatt, Chiranjeevi, Mohanlal, Mammootty, Sonali Kulkarni, Shiv Raj Kumar, Prosenjit Chatterjee, and Diljit Dosanjh. The initiative is further supported by Sony Pictures Networks, and will be telecast on April 6, the release added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (TNS) After three weeks away from a classroom, Nate Johnson, 16, is ready to get back to learning in the Mechanicsburg Area School District in Pennsylvania.On Monday, thats what he and thousands of other students across Central Pa. will do, but from the isolation and comfort of their homes. School buildings have been closed since March 16 because of the threat of the novel coronavirus. The governor last week extended the shutdown indefinitely, which spurred many districts to make the commitment to plunge back into specific coursework online instead of just treading water with enrichment activities.Many districts started those lessons online Monday, with the expectation that all students would participate. Previously, most districts offered optional enrichment activities.As part of Nates enrichment activities in recent weeks, he read an article about the origin of the math number, Pi, for his trigonometry class. But he said he is looking forward to more challenging material going forward, including learning new trigonometry functions so he will be prepared for AP Calculus, which hed like to take in the fall.We have a lot of great teachers and unfortunately we wont be able to get their full potential at home, he said. But Im ready for more to do to occupy my time. I havent been doing too much lately.In Mechanicsburg, they are starting assignments for older students this week and elementary students next week.Of the districts ready to dive back into their curriculums and try to finish the fourth marking period remotely, many of them are doing it with batches of weekly assignments posted online instead of live lessons where students tune into their teachers at a particular time. Students in Derry Township are among the few districts where students are logging in from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day to view live lessons from their teachers because the district is relatively small and all students have a device and internet access. The district started those classes last week.By and large things are going pretty well, said Dan Tredinnick, district spokesman. We've had a few technical glitches like an online conference or two disconnecting, but everybody has been patient and resilient.Tredinnick said the role of parents and guardians helping facilitate instruction cannot be overstated, especially at the elementary level.Classroom management and keeping everybody on task is a skill that can be challenging enough with 20 students together in a room, he said, but it can be even more so when you have those same students scattered across 20 different locations! We've always viewed the educational process as a partnership with our families and that's never been more so than now when parents are essentially acting as teacher's aides.Across the state, more districts are going with recorded lessons versus live lessons because of logistical reasons, said Mark DiRocco, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators. Some video conferences dont work consistently well with more than 20 people, he said, and teachers are logging in from their homes, which will have varying degrees of internet strength.Having each student work from their own schedule creates less pressure and works better for families with multiple children who may be sharing a device. Students can email their teachers at any time with questions or reach teachers for a video conference during set office hours.Districts who havent created their own online curriculums can use two free platforms offered last week by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to upload lessons, DiRocco said.Districts that have low technology access among students also can compete for $5 million in equity grants that will be given out by the state in the coming weeks. The Harrisburg School District, where about 67 percent of students have devices and internet access, will be applying, said Acting Superintendent Chris Celmer.Because of low connectivity, Harrisburg students so far have primarily been getting enrichment education from a partnership with the local public broadcasting television station. But the district is preparing to move into the next phase of enrichment, with more details to be released this week, Celmer said.While some districts are still assessing student access and preparing for remote learning, the Cumberland Valley School District is among the districts launching into new academic territory this week through weekly batches of assignments posted online.Cumberland Valley Superintendent David Christopher said assignments for younger students will focus on central skills and assignments for older students will focus on essential pieces of content to get them ready for the next level of particular courses.While district leaders are providing lessons in English, Math, Social Studies and Science, they cant ignore other courses like world languages, Christopher said, where students in German 2 for example would need to be prepared for German 3 in the next school year.Many districts starting this week are starting slowly, with a mix of review and new material, with plans to ramp it up next week once they can be more certain that all students are engaged.If teachers notice students arent completing assignments and checking in, then teachers and administrators will try to find out why and get those students connected, Christopher said.If two weeks from now we find hundreds of kids dont have access, we may shift and have correspondence activity (packets of handouts,) he said. Were going to continue to modify our model as the kids dictate.Cumberland Valley tapped 30 of its curriculum specialists to create standardized lessons that will be used, Christopher said, to ensure consistency for each grade level. Students with Individualized Education Plans or English Learners will get additional support, he said.There are essential things we want students to complete, Christopher said. We have about eight weeks of school left, so well probably hold to that. Extending the school year isnt an option because of negotiated contracts with the teachers union. The teachers have been working during the entire shutdown, Christopher said, so the district cant tack on additional weeks at the end of the school year. But negotiating for an earlier start or adding student days next school year is a possibility, he said.A couple of elements worked in school districts favor this year, Christopher said, including not having to use any snow days and not having to worry about standardized tests. The state was granted a waiver from the mandated tests because of the Covid-19 crisis. That means districts arent that far behind despite losing three weeks of classroom time, Christopher said. Districts still could get through the same amount of content, he said.Preparing for testing eats up a lot of time in the last 9 weeks of the school year, he said. April is lost to testing normally.One of the challenges to pivoting to online teaching amid a pandemic is that teachers cant be pulled together for professional development to prepare them for the new delivery method. Some teachers will be posting videos of lectures and available for video conferencing while those skills may not be in other teachers wheelhouses.This is not a normal situation for anybody, Christopher said. Teachers are doing this from their dining rooms in some cases watching their own children. Parents are in the same boat. Theres so much stress involved.While districts are moving into new academic material, most districts arent assigning letter grades for the fourth marking period. Cumberland Valley students who were previously failing classes can pass if they complete the fourth marking period activities, Christopher said.Students with passing grades at the end of the third marking period will get those grades if they complete the fourth marking period activities.Other school districts, including Derry Township, are still determining how to approach grades in the fourth marking period.As far as graduating seniors, the Pennsylvania Department of Education on Friday put out new guidance that said yes, current seniors can graduate at the end of this school year. Each school district is responsible for ensuring that those seniors graduate on time, according to the departments website.No student should be restricted from completing their high school graduation requirements or pursuit of a post-secondary pathway due to the pandemic of 2020, the website said.Establishing and calculating course credits is the responsibility of each school district, according to the state. If graduating seniors have not completed their classes due to any COVID-19 issues, the department suggested districts use discretion and provide all reasonable latitude for students to graduate on time.Same for students enrolled in career and technical education programs, who normally would need to pass an industry-based competency assessment to graduate. Students enrolled in such programs may graduate without taking the test if they have demonstrated a high likelihood of success, the education department said.Districts still must grapple with whether they should modify grade-point averages or class ranks this year. The state said those decisions would be up to each school district.State officials said districts may hold virtual high school graduation and other traditional end of school year ceremonies during the closure.Currently, restrictions on gatherings larger than ten people and aggressive social distancing recommendations are in place, the state website said. When closure restrictions are lifted by the Governor, (school districts) may consider the appropriateness of holding such gatherings.Christopher, of the Cumberland Valley School District, said his heart goes out to seniors whose final year has been derailed and whose dreams of a graduation ceremony attended by family members may be delayed, if not dashed.When you see the models, it seems unlikely that the state would feel confident in sending kids back to school this year, he said. Depending on how long this is out there, I just dont see when groups of 500 are going to be able to get together. The coronavirus disease is spreading rapidly in Pakistan, but the country is unprepared to fight it. News agency ANI reported that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) had to allocate five graveyards in the city at the 11th hour for the burial of those who died from Covid-19. Pakistan media quoted KMC Graveyard Department Director Iqbal Pervez as saying that four coronavirus affected bodies have been buried in different graveyards so far, ANI reported. The news agency further quoted media reports to say that the undertakers are not ready to perform their duties in Pakistan without precautionary measures. Some are offered hefty money, but they still are refusing to perform their duties. Also Watch | Amid Covid-19 pandemic, Pak Occupied Kashmir residents allege shortage of food The number of people infected with the Sars-CoV-2 virus in Pakistan surpassed 3,100 on Sunday; the death toll reached 45. According to Dawn, the number of coronavirus positive cases in Pakistan is 3118. Punjab province has the highest number of cases in the country. It also witnessed the highest single-day surge in the number of patients with 184 new cases, taking the provinces total to 1380. Meanwhile, Sindh has confirmed 51 new cases of coronavirus in the province, taking the tally to 881. The total number of cases in Balochistan has increased to 189, said provincial government spokesperson Liaqat Shahwani. The Imran Khan-led government has, however, refused to impose a lockdown in the country so far. What Khan has instead done is to focus on other sectors to gauge whether they can be provided relief so that a balance could be struck between the lockdown and regulation of economic activities. YEREVAN, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to declare a state of emergency on April 8 due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), RIA Novosti reported. The state of emergency will enable authorities to urge citizens to stay at home, avoid mass gatherings and follow hygiene rules. But no fine is expected in case of violating the rules. Number of people infected with coronavirus in Japan has surpassed 4,000. Over 100 patients have died. In late December 2019, Chinese authorities notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, central China. WHO declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus a global pandemic and named the virus COVID-19. Cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in more than 200 countries. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan Twinkling flames from candles and traditional lamps light up night sky to mark fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Millions of Indians turned off their lights and lit up balconies and doorsteps with lamps, candles and flashlights on Sunday, in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modis appeal to challenge the darkness spread by the coronavirus crisis. Modi, who imposed a three-week nationwide lockdown from March 25, asked all citizens to turn out their lights for nine minutes at 9pm local time (15:30 GMT) on Sunday, and to display lamps and candles in a show of solidarity. Modis call was met with a huge response, with many people lighting up their balconies. Others lit firecrackers, played musical instruments, and sang patriotic songs. Some residents turned on the torch on their mobile phones. Residents shouted Hail mother India and Go corona go. They cheered, clapped, and set off firecrackers and fireworks that shattered the quiet evening, in scenes reminiscent of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. Salute to the light of the lamp which brings auspiciousness, health and prosperity, which destroys negative feelings, Modi tweeted in Sanskrit. He shared photos of himself lighting a diya (clay lamp). A family in Ahmedabad holds lamps to mark the countrys fight against the pandemic [Ajit Solanki/The Associated Press] Modi had on Friday called on Indians to take part in the event to defeat the deep darkness of the crisis by spreading the glory of light in all four directions. Grid data showed Indias national power consumption plunging more than a quarter in a matter of minutes. Lockdown measures The show of unity came as the total number of coronavirus cases in India crossed 4,000 on Sunday, while the death toll rose to 109, according to Indian media reports. Experts say wider testing for coronavirus disease is needed. India has been under a strict lockdown since March 25, halting public transport and closing offices and shops apart from essential services. But the shutdown has badly hit rural migrant workers, leaving them jobless with hundreds of thousands trying to return to their villages, many on foot. Many others have been blocked from returning home. The government has set up tens of thousands of makeshift camps and feeding centres for them. Some officials have warned the lockdown could continue beyond April 14 in parts of India where new cases have been detected. The health ministry has blamed a recent jump in cases on a large religious gathering in the capital New Delhi in March that has been linked to more than 1,000 infections. If the Nizamuddin incident [in Delhi] had not happened, then our case doubling rate which is currently 4.1 would have been 7.4 days, health ministry official Lav Agarwal told reporters on Sunday. The ministry on Saturday issued an advisory for Indians to use homemade reusable face covers to help in protecting the community at large. The government imposed a ban on the export of malaria treatment drug hydroxychloroquine, removing exemptions such as for fulfilling export obligations that it put in place several days ago. Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine used to treat malaria have shown early promise against the COVID-19 illness in early studies in France and China. There's a new disease-detecting technology in the lab of Sanjiv "Sam" Gambhir, MD PhD, and its No. 1 source of data is number one. And number two. It's a smart toilet. But not the kind that lifts its own lid in preparation for use; this toilet is fitted with technology that can detect a range of disease markers in stool and urine, including those of some cancers, such as colorectal or urologic cancers. The device could be particularly appealing to individuals who are genetically predisposed to certain conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, prostate cancer or kidney failure, and want to keep on top of their health. "Our concept dates back well over 15 years," said Gambhir, professor and chair of radiology. "When I'd bring it up, people would sort of laugh because it seemed like an interesting idea, but also a bit odd." With a pilot study of 21 participants now completed, Gambhir and his team have made their vision of a precision health-focused smart toilet a reality. Gambhir's toilet is an ordinary toilet outfitted with gadgets inside the bowl. These tools, a suite of different technologies, use motion sensing to deploy a mixture of tests that assess the health of any deposits. Urine samples undergo physical and molecular analysis; stool assessment is based on physical characteristics. The toilet automatically sends data extracted from any sample to a secure, cloud-based system for safekeeping. In the future, Gambhir said, the system could be integrated into any health care provider's record-keeping system for quick and easy access. A paper describing the research will be published April 6 in Nature Biomedical Engineering. Gambhir is the senior author. Seung-min Park, PhD, senior research scientist; David Won, MD, PhD, former visiting scholar in the Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford; and postdoctoral scholar Brian Lee, PhD, share lead authorship. Pulling double duty The toilet falls into a category of technology known as continuous health monitoring, which encompasses wearables like smart watches. "The thing about a smart toilet, though, is that unlike wearables, you can't take it off," Gambhir said. "Everyone uses the bathroom -- there's really no avoiding it -- and that enhances its value as a disease-detecting device." Although the idea may take some getting used to, Gambhir, who holds the Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Professorship for Clinical Investigation in Cancer Research, envisions the smart toilet as part of the average home bathroom. In facilitating that broad adaption, Gambhir designed the "smart" aspect as an add-on -- a piece of technology that's readily integrated into any old porcelain bowl. "It's sort of like buying a bidet add-on that can be mounted right into your existing toilet," he said. "And like a bidet, it has little extensions that carry out different purposes." These extensions sport an array of health-monitoring technologies that look for signs of disease. Both urine and stool samples are captured on video and are then processed by a set of algorithms that can distinguish normal "urodynamics" (flow rate, stream time and total volume, among other parameters) and stool consistencies from those that are unhealthy. Alongside physical stream analysis, the toilet also deploys uranalysis strips, or "dipstick tests," to measure certain molecular features. White blood cell count, consistent blood contamination, certain levels of proteins and more can point to a spectrum of diseases, from infection to bladder cancer to kidney failure. In its current stage of development, Gambhir said, the toilet can measure 10 different biomarkers. It's still early days, though, with a total of 21 participants having tested the toilet over the course of several months. To get a better feel for "user acceptance" more broadly, the team surveyed 300 prospective smart-toilet users. About 37% said they were "somewhat comfortable" with the idea, and 15% said they were "very comfortable" with the idea of baring it all in the name of precision health. ID please One of the most important aspects of the smart toilet may well be one of the most surprising -- and perhaps unnerving: It has a built-in identification system. "The whole point is to provide precise, individualized health feedback, so we needed to make sure the toilet could discern between users," Gambhir said. "To do so, we made a flush lever that reads fingerprints." The team realized, however, that fingerprints aren't quite foolproof. What if one person uses the toilet, but someone else flushes it? Or what if the toilet is of the auto-flush variety? They added a small scanner that images a rather camera-shy part of the body. You might call it the polar opposite of facial recognition. In other words, to fully reap the benefits of the smart toilet, users must make their peace with a camera that scans their anus. "We know it seems weird, but as it turns out, your anal print is unique," Gambhir said. The scans -- both finger and nonfinger -- are used purely as a recognition system to match users to their specific data. No one, not you or your doctor, will see the scans. By no means is this toilet a replacement for a doctor, or even a diagnosis, Gambhir said. In fact, in many cases, the toilet won't ever report data to the individual user. In an ideal scenario, should something questionable arise -- like blood in the urine -- an app fitted with privacy protection would send an alert to the user's health care team, allowing professionals to determine the next steps for a proper diagnosis. The data would be stored in a secure, cloud-based system. Data protection, both in terms of identification and sample analyses, is a crucial piece of this research, Gambhir said. "We have taken rigorous steps to ensure that all the information is de-identified when it's sent to the cloud and that the information -- when sent to health care providers -- is protected under HIPAA," he said, referring to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which restricts the disclosure of health care records. Smart toilet 2.0 As Gambhir and his team continue to develop the smart toilet, they're focusing on a few things: increasing the number of participants, integrating molecular features into stool analysis and refining the technologies that are already working. They're even individualizing the tests deployed by the toilet. For example, someone with diabetes may need his or her urine monitored for glucose, whereas someone else who is predisposed to bladder or kidney cancer might want the toilet to monitor for blood. Gambhir's other goal is to further develop molecular analysis for stool samples. "That's a bit trickier, but we're working toward it," Gambhir said. "The smart toilet is the perfect way to harness a source of data that's typically ignored -- and the user doesn't have to do anything differently." ### Other Stanford co-authors of the paper are Diego Escobedo, an intern in the Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford; former postdoctoral scholar Andre Esteva, PhD; graduate students Alexander Lozano and Amin Aalipour, PhD; urology resident T. Jessie Ge, MD; graduate student Chengyang Yao; former Stanford graduate student Sunil Bodapati; Friso Achterberg, MD, and Jeesu Kim, PhD, visiting scholars of the Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford; research scientist Jung Ho Yu, PhD; undergraduate student Alexander Bhatt; Ryan Spitler, PhD, deputy director of the Precision Health and Integrated Diagnostics Center; and Shan Wang, PhD, professor of materials science engineering and electrical engineering. Gambhir is a member of Stanford Bio-X, the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, the Stanford Cancer Institute and the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute at Stanford. Researchers from Seoul Song Do Hospital in South Korea, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, the University of Toronto, Leiden University in the Netherlands, Pohang University of Science and Technology in South Korea, and the Catholic University of Korea also contributed to this work. This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (grants UL1 TR001085 and T32 CA118681). The Stanford University School of Medicine consistently ranks among the nation's top medical schools, integrating research, medical education, patient care and community service. For more news about the school, please visit http://med.stanford.edu/school.html. The medical school is part of Stanford Medicine, which includes Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children's Health. For information about all three, please visit http://med.stanford.edu. Print media contact: Hanae Armitage at (650) 725-5376 (harmitag@stanford.edu) Broadcast media contact: Margarita Gallardo at (650) 723-7897 (mjgallardo@stanford.edu) ALBANY Even during a pandemic, life must go on. So must death. And Capital Region funeral homes, like other essential businesses, are learning how to cope and adapt in the era of coronavirus. "Our position, quite honestly, is that any professional, properly trained funeral home can do this as safe as any place," said David Parente, the director at Albany's McVeigh Funeral Home. "Nothing's perfect, but we still feel we can give people options for closure in a time when it's very difficult." Under the new rules set in place by Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office, funeral homes are considered essential businesses and can still hold in-person services. But the services must be limited to immediate family members. It's up to the family to decide who belongs in that group. "They ask that we use good judgment and use all the safety protocols that we're all uber familiar with right now," Parente said. The grief of burying a loved one, Parente said, is exacerbated by the fact that some people are making funeral arrangements for loved ones who they haven't seen in weeks, due to strict visitation rules set in place in hospitals and nursing homes to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. "Grief becomes compounded," he said. "Losing someone is hard enough without these conditions, to be told you can't have all your family and friends support you. But every little thing we can do to try to help and make this as meaningful as possible that's what we're committed to." Some of Parente's clients have been thinking outside the box for their loved ones' remembrance. One family in Amsterdam had the funeral procession stop in front of the two homes that the family grew up in, and the church they attended for years. Another family of a Frank Sinatra fan had a service chock-full of songs from Ol' Blue Eyes. One family opted for a low-key but peaceful service, involving a priest and soloist who sang a few hymns. Latest coronavirus-related cancellations, postponements The latest coronavirus numbers in NY Sign up for the Times Union coronavirus newsletter Full coronavirus coverage For positive stories during the pandemic, sign up for our Facebook group. "It gave them more of a sense of ceremony and closure," Parente said. "It made all the words that priest said just far more meaningful." The situation is also painful for families who have not been able to properly hold a remembrance service for their loved ones, like the family of General Electric executive Walter Robb, who died March 23 from COVID-19. "Theres certainly a desire to have a memorial and I havent been able to set that up yet," said his son, Richard Robb. John Martin, the funeral director at Daniel Kennan Funeral Home on Delaware Avenue, said the call volume and number of services have both gone down at his funeral home since COVID-19 became widespread in the United States. The funeral home has held three services since then, Martin said. Two of them were for people diagnosed with the virus. The families understood the need for a more subdued service than would have normally been permitted, Martin said. But one was especially difficult a man in his late 50s who succumbed to COVID-19. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. "He knew a lot of people and had a lot of friends, who unfortunately couldn't celebrate his life," Martin said. Many clients at Hans Funeral Home on Western Avenue have opted to host small private services immediately, with the hopes of hosting a larger memorial once the effects of the virus subside in the United States, said funeral director Stephen Hans. Aside from the changes that have to be made to memorial services, funeral homes must contend with another issue: a shortage of masks, gowns and gloves that are necessary for embalming procedures. "As the last responders, we also need that equipment to protect ourselves," said Shannon McLaughlin, owner of SL McLaughlin Funeral Home on Broadway. Services are now held via Zoom or Facebook Live, while arrangements at SL McLaughlin are made in the chapel instead of a conference room and now involve masks. McLaughlin said she's not able to provide the same level of comfort she's used to giving grieving families. "A lot of the hugging has stopped," McLaughlin said. "You comfort them in other ways. You call to check in on them and try to make it a little bit easier." McLaughlin declined to say whether she's provided a service for a COVID-19 patient, but said the idea of catching the virus herself through her line of work is always on her mind. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared," she said. "I have older parents and I don't want to bring anything home to them." But still, McLaughlin said she knew what she signed up for when she became a funeral director. Michael.Williams@timesunion.com A return to austerity after the Covid-19 crisis has passed would be economic suicide, experts have warned. The countrys leading economists also said that tax cuts floated by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as a way to jump-start the economy are not advisable. Jim Power, former treasury economist at AIB Group and former chief economist at Bank of Ireland, said any cuts in public services or higher taxes after the pandemic would drive the country into depression. If you start increasing tax to get finances back in balance, you will destroy any possibility of recovery, Mr Power said. Whenever the lockdown ends, households and businesses are going to be in a serious state of poor health. Imposing austerity in those circumstances would be tantamount to economic suicide. We will need to make sure that all of those businesses are still around to pick up the pieces. Part of that is supporting households to make sure that they remain financially viable. Mr Power, who lectures on economics at UCD, said he is more concerned by what the country is facing post-coronavirus than he was during the last recession. We have no idea when this will end. That was an economic and financial crisis. This is a health crisis. Applying an economic prognosis to a health crisis is a waste of time. Mr Varadkar hinted that tax cuts could be a future government response to recession. Mr Power said the focus should be elsewhere. Tax cuts would not be top of my agenda at this point, he said. To me, whats essential in the short term is that businesses are given every support possible to keep them alive. Thats kind of the approach that has been adopted at the moment, but the risk would be if we come out of a lockdown that, suddenly, all of those supports for households and businesses are ended. That cannot be the case. There would have to be strong remedial support given to households and business for at least the next 12 months. Andrew Webb, chief economist for Grant Thornton, said society would not stomach austerity again. Weve seen how the taps can be turned on when they need to be, and to then come off the back of this and say were all in this together, we need to tighten our belts, it just feels like it wouldnt fly with society, said Mr Webb. Its hard to see the economy bounce back just as quickly as it turned off, without some sort of stimulus. (Photo : mohamed Hassan from Pixabay) A baseless claim saying 5G causes coronavirus led people to burn down cell towers. People have been attacking several 5G towers in the United Kingdom and burning them to the ground after baseless conspiracy theories suggesting 5G causes coronavirus has surfaced online. Now, the top U.K. mobile carriers have shared a joint statement politely asking people to stop. U.K. Mobile Carriers Release Joint Statement In a report by The Verge, Vodafone, E.E., Three, and o2 published a joint statement asking the help of the people to stop the spread of disinformation online and to report any abuse to the frontline workers who are working to maintain networks. "Please help us to make this stop. If you witness abuse of our key workers please report it. If you see misinformation, please call it out," the statement read. Additionally, the mobile network companies also emphasized on the importance of the networks, saying that it is essential for both the NHS and emergency services, as well as to the public as it allows them to check on their loved ones who may be in isolation or are most vulnerable during this coronavirus pandemic. They have also emphasized that the conspiracy theories are baseless, and no evidence backs up the claims. Baseless Claim Led to Abuse Aside from causing panic and fear, the theory is also causing harm to the people who are working to ensure connectivity stays up, and everyone can check on their family and friends amid social distancing. There were reports of network workers receiving both physical and verbal threats from ordinary citizens who believed the theories. The full statement is available at The Verge. Vodafone has already confirmed that four towers were targeted in a span of 24 hours last Friday, April 3, while E.E. said that one of their towers was burned down, although it did not provide 5G services. According to a previous report by TechTimes, $57,000 worth of 5G stations have been burned down by the citizens in several areas in the country. Oliver Dowden, the U.K.'s culture secretary, is planning to have a virtual meeting with representatives of tech companies to discuss the problem. Read Also: Coronavirus vs. 5G: In U.K., Citizens Burned Down $57,000 Worth 5G Stations Because it Allegedly Causing Virus Social Networks Try to Stop the Spread Meanwhile, YouTube is also reducing the numbers of videos that they recommend stopping the spread of false claims that suggest 5G causes coronavirus as a response to the U.K.'s Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) plea to social networks to do more to stop the "crackpot" theory. Facebook has also taken down one of the anti-5G groups that exist on the platform. Unfortunately, there are a couple of big names who fell for the theory: Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden, and Now You See Me star Woody Harrelson. Both have a big following on their social media accounts and could potentially reach out to more people and incite fear. According to Business Insider, while it's hard to pinpoint the origin of the theory, it may have started way back in January from a Facebook post claiming that 5G rolled out from Wuhan, China, which is where the virus allegedly originated. Regardless of where the rumors first came from, experts have already debunked the myth. Everyone is encouraged to stop believing and spreading baseless claims. Read Also: Amanda Holden Receives Backlash After Sharing 'No to 5G' Petition as 5G Coronavirus Conspiracy Theory Continues, Causing Fear to Some Essential Workers 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Press Release April 6, 2020 Bong Go appeals to cooperatives to help their communities; utilize community development fund to help respond to COVID-19 emergency To help communities in responding to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) emergency, Senate Committee on Health and Demography Chair, Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, appealed to the country's cooperatives to utilize their Community Development Fund (CDF), in order to contribute to the government's efforts to fight the disease and help their respective community members mitigate the socio-economic impact of the crisis. "Hinihikayat po natin ang ating mga kooperatiba na gamitin ang kanikanilang community development fund upang mas lalo pang mapalakas at mapalawig ang paglaban natin sa mga banta ng COVID-19," Go said. Go suggested that the said fund may be used for projects that will benefit the community during the enhanced community quarantine. These may include the provision of food packs, vitamins, alcohol, soap, personal protective equipment for medical frontliners, and other basic necessities to be distributed to those community members who are in dire need of help. "Malaki po ang maitutulong ng pondo na ito upang mapunan natin ang pangangailangan ng ating mga komunidad habang sumasailalim tayo sa enhanced community quarantine," he added. Go, who also sits as a member of the Joint Oversight Committee overseeing the implementation of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, cited the unpredictability and uncertainty of the COVID-19 situation in the country as the reason for his appeal. The Senator has continuously reiterated that a "whole-of-society" approach is needed in combatting the public health emergency. "Lahat po tayo kailangang tumulong sa ating komunidad. Lahat tayo naghihirap at lahat naman tayo gustong malampasan ang krisis na ito. Gawin natin ang lahat ng ating makakaya para pagserbisyohan ang kapwa nating Pilipino. Magbayanihan tayo," Go explained. Under Article 86 (3) of Republic Act No. 9520 or the "Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008", cooperatives are mandated "to allocate not less than three per centum (3%) Cooperative Development Fund from its annual net surplus." Go's request is also in line with Memorandum Circular No. 2020-30 issued by the Cooperative Development Authority which encourages cooperatives "to utilize their Community Development Fund (CDF), which under Article 86 (3) of R.A. No. 9520, shall not be less than three per centum (3%) of their net surplus, for projects or activities that will benefit the community where the cooperative operates." These projects or activities are those identified and included in the approved Social Development Plan of the cooperatives. The memo further states that "food packs, vitamins, alcohol, soap and other basic necessities may be distributed to those community members who are in dire need of help but with adherence to safety protocols, and ensuring that the procurement of these goods will not shortchange the members." It also suggests the use of the cooperatives' Optional Fund for the benefit of their members and employees. This, however, must later on be confirmed by the General Assembly. Under Article 86 (4) of R.A. No. 9520, the Optional Fund shall not exceed seven per centum (7%) of the cooperatives' net surplus. The usage of this fund, however, must later on be confirmed by the General Assembly. In the event that the cooperative chooses not to use its Optional Fund or if the same is not sufficient for the intended aid purpose, "additional fund assistance may be charged to direct expenses." Cooperatives are also encouraged to extend emergency or calamity loans at interest-free or minimal rates of interest to their members, enabling them to meet their needs. These loans are subject to the lending policies of the cooperative. Cooperative-owned vehicles and properties may also be made available for use by members of the cooperative or community, especially during emergency situations in coordination with local government units. Meanwhile, the Senator then thanked the cooperatives and their members for their willingness to heed his call, saying that their positive response to the request will be helpful and well-appreciated. "Ngayon pa lamang po ay nagpapasalamat na ako at ang sambayanang Pilipino sa inyong kontribusyon sa laban nating ito," Go said. "Magkaisa po tayo at sama-sama nating talunin ang virus bilang isang nagkakaisang bansa. Ipakita natin na walang imposible kung ang diwa ng bayanihan at pagtutulungan ang mangunguna sa ating mga isip at puso sa paglaban ng COVID-19 sa Pilipinas," he added. Go called for unity among all Filipinos to overcome the crisis. He emphasized that this is not a time for political bickering since this is a fight for survival where each Filipino must play a part to defeat an invisible and deadly enemy which is COVID-19. "Kaya ko pong salagin kung ano mang mga masasamang salita na ibinabato sa akin, pero ang makita kong nagugutom at nahihirapan ang kapwa nating Pilipino ay isang dagok sa aking dibdib. Sa aking kapwa Pilipino, sana magkaisa tayo at unawain ninyo na may responsibilidad tayong lahat para sa ikabubuti ng ating komunidad," Go said. To increase the number of COVID-19 sample tests conducted daily, the Ernakulam Government Medical College in Kerala developed the countrys first walk-in sample kiosks (WISK) on April 6. The kiosks, which mimic tiny cabins, will be able to collect blood samples of symptomatic patients in less than two minutes, reported the Deccan Chronicle. For live updates on coronavirus, click here Apart from expediting the process of sample collection, it would be safe and easy. For swab sample collection in hospitals, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) is a must. These gears cannot be reused and cost about Rs 1,000 per kit, which is why there is a dearth in the country at present. However, WISKs are almost fully sealed and have only two openings in the front. The staff would be able to collect the throat swabs using the gloves attached to the kiosk, without exposing themselves to the suspected patients. After the process, only the exposed part of the gloves would require to be sanitised. A chair will be kept outside the chamber for patients who visit the kiosk. The facilities will also be disinfected to guarantee the safety of the persons approaching it and will have magnetic doors and exhaust fans too. 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 Here's a list of apps launched by Centre and state governments to tackle COVID-19 crisis The WISKs are fashioned after similar facilities built in South Korea to fight the coronavirus pandemic outbreak proved successful in rapid testing of COVID-19 patients. These kiosks can be set up with ease anywhere even at hotspots where community transmission is suspected and will be especially helpful at a time when novel coronavirus infections in India are spreading rapidly. There are more than 4,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in India at the moment and above 100 persons have already died of the highly contagious disease. The novel coronavirus has killed more than 65,000 people across the globe in the past few months. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- Northwell Health, the parent company of Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH), instructed medical professionals Friday on how to ration a limited supply of life-saving ventilators, as the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in New York continues to rise. A memo distributed by Northwell, and obtained by Politico, was titled Public Health Emergency: Life Sustaining Treatment Decisions for all Patients," according to the news website. The plan called for moving the ventilators to patients who could most benefit, Politico reported. However, on Saturday, Northwell said in a statement that those guidelines are still in development. On Friday Northwell Health developed life-sustaining treatment guidelines to help front-line caregivers prepare for all scenarios during this pandemic, said Barbara Osborn, Northwells Vice President for Public Relations. Since then we have decided to make modifications to the guidelines and those modifications are still being worked on." The memo distributed Friday recommends medical teams reevaluate patients with advanced illnesses who are breathing through a ventilator for three days if they show no clinical improvement, at which point a palliative care specialist would help determine whether to unplug the breathing device, according to the Politico report. The guidelines also apply to patients with prior advanced health problems chronic illness or some combination of malnutrition, organ dysfunction, cancer and declining functional status who do not improve within seven days. Also granted advanced illness status are patients readmitted to a hospital more than three times in the prior six months. After patients are removed from ventilators, they should be provided medicine to prevent and treat distressful symptoms in their final hours, according to the guidance reported by Politico. Patients without underlying medical conditions would be evaluated by a critical care team after seven days of being intubated, and any patient likely to die regardless of medical assistance should not be offered interventions such as CPR and intubation,' Politico reported. While the volume of patients infected with COVID-19 continues to surge in all of our hospitals, it is our obligation to be prepared for all crises and have a policy in place that promotes transparent, fair and ethical clinical decision-making regarding the allocation of life-sustaining resources, Osborn said. She added that changes to the guidelines may also be influenced by standards of care currently being developed by the state Department of Health. VENTILATORS CRITICAL FOR CORONAVIRUS TREATMENT Northwell emailed the guidelines to staff members a day after Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned the state was expected to run out of ventilators in days. But on Saturday, Cuomo announced that Oregon is sending 140 of the machines to New York unsolicited, in hopes the state will send supplies back as the apex of the virus in that state is still a few weeks away. Additionally, China will donate 1,000 ventilators, after an order for 17,000 placed with a Chinese company only produced about 2,500. We want to underscore that Northwell currently has an adequate supply of ventilators and we are feverishly working our supply channels to purchase more," Osborn said. In addition, we are 3D-printing parts that are enabling us to convert sleep apnea BiPap machines (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure) into vents and also converting anesthesia machines into vents, significantly augmenting the supply of equipment used to provide ventilator support for COVID-19 patients experiencing severe lung distress. We believe we are as well prepared as we can possibly be to meet the needs of our patients and protect our team members from this insidious virus, Osborn continued. The good news is we are beginning to see some encouraging signs of recovery among the more than 300 COVID-positive patients who are returning home from our hospitals every day. Yet, we also recognize that we have yet to flatten the curve as our ICU occupancy continues to climb, raising uncertainties about the future magnitude of the surge and how long it will last. Syracuse, N.Y. The coronavirus pandemic is keeping everybody indoors, limiting daily contact to only our immediate households. But what about separated families: Two parents who each want to spend this scary time with their children? Who gets the time to nurture and protect their offspring? Who gets cut out of the picture? Syracuse.com readers have reported these emotional dilemmas: a heartbroken dad, crying on the phone, who voluntarily gave up visitation rights to reduce the chance of his children being infected. A man who worried that his girlfriends young children were at family gatherings, putting their whole household at risk. Its devastating, said Tara Trammell, a supervising Family Court attorney for Hiscock Legal Aid Society in Syracuse. The courts have stayed silent on all of this, which makes it harder. Child custody disputes may be the No. 1 problem facing New Yorks Family Courts during the coronavirus shutdown. And judges arent hearing anything except the most severe cases: when a childs safety is at risk. That leaves hundreds of separated families in the county, and thousands statewide, without a referee to work out arrangements in dispute. Family Court lawyers across the state held an online meeting earlier this week to share ideas, Trammell said. There were no perfect solutions: only the reassurance that parents everywhere were facing the same dilemma. Pretty much everyones in same boat," she said, adding: The most upsetting thing is that we dont have an end in sight this is the new normal." With the daily handoffs between separated parents, in many cases, either unworkable or unsafe, public defenders have worked out some informal arrangements: Can a parent who doesnt have the children settle for Skype instead of a visit? Or maybe old-fashioned snail mail? Is there a large, outdoor space that both sides could meet while staying socially distant? Or a promise for make-up visits later on? Sometimes, even then, its not that simple. How do you get a 2-year-old to focus on video chatting with a parent who isnt present? What if the other parent wont cooperate outside court? Even worse, what happens if one parent suspects that the other parent isnt properly socially distancing, putting their children at risk? There are children the extremely young or the chronically sick who have legitimate health concerns that require they stay put. Trammell is asking parents of those children to prove it with doctors notes. On the other hand, there are cases in which the parent who has possession of the child at the moment seems to be taking advantage of coronavirus to refuse handoffs. A judge wont hear those cases right now. The dozen lawyers on Trammells team are getting slammed with custody questions both from parents who dont want to give up children and those who feel unfairly cut out. She guessed 80 percent of questions during the pandemic have to do with child custody. That amounts to dozens of child visitation conflicts so far in Syracuse, split between Family Court and divorce court cases. So far, Trammell said shes prepared about 10 court petitions involving concerns over custody, but said none of them rise to the level of an emergency court hearing. Shes hoping those conflicts can be worked out among the parents. After all, no one knows when judges will begin hearing these cases again. Trammell is urging parents not to take matters into their own hands or ignore a judges prior custody orders. A judge will only get involved now if a parent can prove some risk to their childs safety. In some ways, the coronavirus presents a surprise audition for parents desperately trying to show a judge theyre ready for permanent custody, or more time with their children. How parents conduct themselves during a time of crisis could impact a judges view, Trammell said. Linda Gehron, Hiscocks executive director, said her entire office is turning its attention to these cases now. Its not just the children caught in limbo. Some parents are, too. Struggling parents who are working hard to clean up their lives find themselves suddenly cut off from the very services like addiction or mental health treatment that they need, she said. Some of those parents are now not able to visit their children, who remain in foster care. Others are now shouldering a bigger load at home, struggling to rise to a challenge of parenting that they werent yet prepared to handle alone. Its very sad, heartbreaking, Gehron said. A lot of those parents are in shock ... knowing that the time they were expecting with their child is not going to happen. ----- Do you have a pressing legal problem during the shutdown? Call the free lawyer hotline at 1-877-777-6152. You can reach Syracuses Hiscock Legal Aid Society at 315-218-0141, Central New York Legal Services at 315-703-6500 or the Onondaga County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyer Project at (315) 471-3409. ----- MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Onondaga County calls for voluntary shelter in place, shuts golf courses to fight coronavirus Onondaga County warns of potential coronavirus exposure at 3 pharmacies, liquor store Coronavirus in NY: State releases deaths by ages, counties Coronavirus deaths turn more common in CNY: Where we stand after 20 days Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or 315-470-6070. A compilation of local news connected to the coronavirus pandemic: Walmart limits customer access Walmart is limiting people to using just one entrance and restricting the number of customers that can be in the store at one time. Yellow tape could be seen at the Walmart on Route 9 in Queensbury preventing people from coming in the Home and Pharmacy entrance. People were directed to enter the store from the Grocery entrance. In addition, the retailer is limiting the number of customers to no more than five people for each 1,000 square feet of space, which is about 20% of the stores capacity, according to an announcement on the Walmart website. In addition, customers are being required to queue up at single door to be counted. Once the store reaches capacity, people will be admitted on a one-out, one-in basis. Starting next week, there will be one-way movement in its aisles using floor markers and directions from staffers. There will also be signs installed reminding people of the importance of social distancing and keeping at least 6 feet apart from each other. Michael Goot Irving Tissue donates to Tri-County United Way Irving Tissue on Friday donated more than 5,000 rolls of toilet paper, about 16,500 diapers and 5,300 training pants to the Tri-County United Way. These items will be distributed to about 40 food pantries in Warren, Washington and northern Saratoga counties in the coming week, according to Duane Vaughn, executive director of the Tri-County United Way. It may not last that long, but hopefully its something to get things started, he said. Vaughn worried that local food pantries will see huge increases in use with employees laid off or furloughed. We expect that its going to get much worse for them, he said. The United Way is deeply concerned about all the nonprofits. Were trying to do whatever we can to try and support them. Irving Tissue said in a statement that it is fortunate to be able to donate these products at a time when food banks are experiencing high demand. The Glens Falls YMCA assisted in the effort to transport the donation. Vaughn added that the federal stimulus package has provided a charitable giving incentive. It created a deduction for all filers that contribute up to $300 even if the taxpayer does not itemize deductions. In addition, Vaughn said the agency plans to distribute U.S. Census Bureau fliers when it drops off the items to the food pantries. He wants to make sure the region is accurately counted in the census. Michael Goot North Warren sends video to students The North Warren Central School District has recorded a video to help cheer up and connect with students during the COVID-19 crisis. The video contains encouraging messages including this one from third-grade teacher Stephanie Irish. We miss all of you and all of your beautiful smiles. Keep working hard and we will see you all soon. There are some musical performances by staff members including an educational song called The Preposition Song, which is set to the tune of Yankee Doodle Dandy. And some humor as well. One instructor shows a slide saying Day One: Teaching from Home and lists the three major battles of World War before abruptly cutting off. The next slide Day Two: Teaching from Home shows the teacher singing a song from Frozen next to a life-size cut-outs of Elsa and Anna. School nurse Sue Griffen put together the nearly 12-minute video, which can be found on YouTube. Michael Goot Dunkin Donuts donates to food bank Dunkin Donuts has donated $20,000 to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. The funding will be used to hire additional staff to help meet growing needs in their efforts to collect and distribute food to nearly 1,000 charitable agencies across 23 counties in New York. The donation from the Dunkin Joy in Childhood Foundation was part of $85,000 in grants awarded across upstate New York. One of our most important missions during this health crisis has been to provide assistance to the communities we serve. During these unprecedented times, we want our community partners to know that well always be there for them, said Eric Stensland, Dunkins field marketing manager for the New York Region. Staff report County to meet on ventilators issue The Washington County Board of Supervisors will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to vote on a resolution in opposition to Gov. Andrew Cuomos plan to divert ventilators and personal protective equipment from upstate to the downstate area. The governor signed an executive order on Friday giving him the authority to shift the medical equipment from one part of the state to the other. The equipment will be returned once the COVID-19 pandemic is over or the hospitals will be compensated. The meeting will take place at 10 a.m. and be held via teleconference. People interested in joining the meeting online, can visit the following link: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/327261269. They can also dial 1-786-535-3211 and type in access code: 327-261-269. Staff report State expands learning resources State education officials announced Friday that they have added online learning resources for educators and parents during this extended school closure. The New York State Museum is offering behind-the scenes tours of exhibits through its Facebook Live Field Trips. Museum scientists, historians and educators are highlighting interesting facts about state history, science and culture. In addition, the state has added more resources on its Continuity of Learning website at www.nysed.gov/edtech/continuity-learning. Educators can turn to our growing list of tools to help prevent learning loss in the weeks ahead, and parents, students and families can enjoy these virtual field trips to the New York State Museum to learn about our states fascinating history and culture from the safety of their homes, said Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa in a news release. Staff report Queensbury board to be on YouTube Queensburys Town Board will be live on YouTube on Monday. The regularly scheduled meeting will be aired live at Town of Queensbury on youtube.com. During privilege of the floor, residents can call 518-761-8225. Only numbers that show a callers identification will be answered. Calls that show the phone number as blocked or hidden will not be answered. Supervisor John Strough said he understands the public health needs for postponing as many public meetings as possible, but the Town Board must conduct essential business. Planning and zoning board meetings have been postponed. Kathleen Moore Fort Edward board to meet The Fort Edward Village Board will meet Monday at 7 p.m. The meeting will take place through the Zoom online meeting platform. If residents wish to attend, they are asked to contact Village Hall at 518-747-4023 for information about how to access the meeting. Staff report Argyle board will not meet The Argyle Village Board will not hold its usual public meeting on Monday to comply with the governors instruction on self-isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic, village officials said Friday. If needed, residents can contact the village office at 518-955-2766. Gretta Hochsprung Raising funds for hungry veterans The Veterans and Community Housing Coalition has started a crowd funding campaign to help feed veterans who may be struggling during the coronavirus pandemic. The organization, which provides housing and support services to homeless veterans and their families, is looking to raise $20,000 and has raised $2,150 as of Saturday evening. Men and women who have served our country are homeless for many reasons. They are dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, mental illness, addiction, anxiety disorders, sleep disorders, all stemming from their service to our country, said Cheryl Hage-Perez, executive director of the Veterans and Community Housing Coalition. Our veterans are losing their jobs and experiencing more health issues.We have been able to provide these basic needs to our veterans through the generosity of donations. Our supplies are very low and understandably donations are not coming in. The fundraiser can be found at https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/food-for-our-veterans and 100% of the donation goes directly to food, paper products and supplies for veterans in need. Reach Michael Goot at 518-742-3320 or mgoot@poststar.com and follow his blog poststar.com/blogs/michael_goot/. Clarity has been secured in relation to the cutting of domestic turf during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice. Liaising with the Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) and the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association (TCCA), the Roscommon-Galway TD was involved in the submission of a proposal in relation to the cutting of domestic turf in the coming weeks. Speaking on the matter, Fitzmaurice said: Over the last number of days a detailed submission regarding the turf cutting situation was put together, addressing the many challenges presented by the Covid-19 outbreak. First of all, we would like to thank the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) who took responsibility for liaising with us on this matter and resolving an issue where there was some ambiguity of late. The detailed submission outlined how the cutting of domestic turf could proceed in a safe and effective manner, without any risk to public health. Moving forward, we would ask that all contractors adhere to the criteria that has been agreed upon. Everyone in the country needs to put their shoulder to the wheel to make sure that the crisis we are in at present is brought to an end as soon as possible. Raised in Ackerly a small town south of Big Spring 46-year-old Eric Herm was born into a family of cotton farmers who had been in the industry since 1918. As a fourth-generation West Texas agriculturalist, Herm said he wanted to do more with the product that he grows and puts hours of effort into than just selling the cotton to others. Combining his knowledge of the crop with his wife Jennies knowledge of design, the two started a brand-new denim business Allred Farms named after the family farm where their products begin life. The Herms found a company in North Carolina that would turn their cotton into denim material, and in January 2015 took four bales. It was nearly five years later before the business got to a point that the couple felt comfortable enough to spread the word about their new products and start a company website. Now, the company is seeking to expand into heavy arts and cultural cities in the Southwest. Most people dont realize how difficult it is to start a business like this, Herm said. Dedicated to sustainability, quality and creativity, the Herms have come up with their own ideology blue-collar consciousness to represent the model for the new start-up business. The couple describes it as the process of transforming the energy of manual labor beyond the farms and into the universe. More Information For more information about Allred Farms, or to check out the company's denim products, visit allredfarms.com. See More Collapse Additionally, they have set multiple standards for their business to abide by. The most important one is that every single product sold at Allred Farms would be made in the U.S. We wanted to be able to create something from the crops that we grow, but we also wanted it to be something completely done in the U.S.A., Herm said. Weve lost a lot of the ingenuity that we used to have in the country. Everyone goes out and buys the cheapest thing possible food, clothing and such. Weve lost a sense of quality . A lot of times now we have 10 times as much stuff as we need. Thats something were trying to get back to. Its more about the quality, not the quantity, Herm said. Staying locally based to make high-quality products is one of the most difficult parts of the process, because a lot of U.S. businesses would rather work with large companies, he said. But despite the difficulties they have experienced, the Herms said they eventually want to become more locally based by completing the entire process in the state of Texas. Right now, were really just trying to tell the story of the seed in the ground becoming a harvested crop to a finished product, Herm said. Education is a big part of these issues that are happening globally. Fifty years ago, most people grew up on a form, or at least their parents did. Now, most people are at least two generations removed from the farm, and theres a lot of disconnect from land in general. Weve lost a lot of connection with agriculture, plants and seeds. And I think education is one of the most important things (our company) needs to focus on. The Herms have chosen to tell this story through a wide variety of handmade, high-quality denim products. From hand-crafted decorative pillows and quilts to soft baby blankets and afghans, each of the products can be passed from generation to generation, and the story wont get lost, Herm said. He said he believes clothing and fashion is a major industry that could realign with the quality-over-quantity movement the couple is trying to ignite. Its not just agriculture were trying to change and bring a level of consciousness to, Herm said. Its also fashion and consumer habits. The company also sells vintage jewelry and accessories, their brands clothing line and books written by Herm Son of a Farmer, Child of the Earth, I am the Tumbler and Surviving Ourselves. With his wife working as a seamstress, the couple has talked about adding custom-made clothes to their roster of products but, for right now, they will continue to focus on creating desirable home goods and decor. Allred Farms currently has only its online shop, but the Herms soon will have a store in Marfa and are in negotiations with for a location in Houston and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Until then, the company will focus on its online retail and pop-up markets. We feel its a really unique company; we dont know of anybody else doing something like this, Herm said. Denim we just feel like is one of those things that has American history to it. Its always been around. Everybody was wearing denim at one time and it was because it lasts. Thats part of our story, too. West Texas cotton is perfect to last. We think its a great representation of West Texas people. Its able to weather the storms -- literally and figuratively. Express News Service NEW DELHI: Staying at home all day can be tiring, boring and stressful. As the nation enters the 12th day of the three-week-long lockdown imposed to stymie the coronavirus spread, elderly citizens and even youngsters have started facing the challenge to keep themselves mentally fit. I am constantly thinking about the outbreak. I have been washing my hands continuously. I cannot concentrate on my studies, there is mental pressure, said Rubina Rashid, who is pursuing B.Ed (special education) from Jamia Millia Islamia. Notably, the complaints are spiking despite the launch of helpline numbers by the Centre and the Delhi government. Students are also complaining that a lack of physical activities and the volley of news on the COVID-19 is causing fatigue and mental stress. Now, I have started getting nightmares about the disease I am feeling like locked up in a cage in my own house, Rashid said. Health experts said the lockdown has thrown many challenges as people have stopped interacting with others due to the social-distancing advisory. The loss of social contact is leading to anxiety, loneliness and fearfulness. Many have started wondering how will they get back to their normal life, while some are worried about their children and old parents, Dr Rajesh Sagar, a professor at the department of psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), said. The most vulnerable are elderly people and those living alone. Loneliness is a mental state. It depends on the coping mechanism, and thats what we have to build by taking care of each other while maintaining the social distance, he added. Consultant psychiatrist at Fortis Healthcare Dr Samir Parikh emphasised on the emotional connectivity among family and friends.Its normal to feel anxious or worried given the magnitude of the situation we are in right now. People may tend to feel emotionally isolated and also face disturbance in their day-to-day life. People need to stay emotionally connected with loved ones, stick to a productive routine, be socially responsible and take a positive outlook to a life where they focus only on things that are within their control. And most importantly, dont hesitate to reach out to your close ones for help if you are facing any problem, Parikh said. The Queen has given a special televised address for only the fifth time in her reign, as the world tackles the deadly coronavirus outbreak. Her Majesty gave a televised broadcast on Sunday evening, addressing the UK and the Commonwealth as she sought to give comfort to those grieving and praise those working for the NHS and other essential services. It is rare for the Queen to deliver a televised broadcast outside of her annual Christmas messages. She has done so on only four other occasions and only one of those was a time of celebration. Read more: Queen says 'better days will return' as she addresses nation and Commonwealth 1991 The Gulf War In February 1991, the Queen recorded a message as the allied land offensive began against Iraqi forces occupying Kuwait. She urged people to unite and to pray the offensive would be 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. She also said British people should be rightly proud of their armed forces, including their conduct in the war up to that point. The war ended a few days after her broadcast was made. 1997 Princess Dianas death The Queen faced a surprising backlash in the days after Princess Dianas death, as Britons felt she lacked sympathy. Diana and Charles had been separated for some time by the time of the princesss death, which perhaps led to a difficult balance in Buckingham Palaces reaction. The flag at the palace was not raised, because Her Majesty was not there she stayed at Balmoral to comfort her grandsons William and Harry. Read more: Harry and Meghan follow in Diana's footsteps on LA house hunt But the newspaper headlines read Show us you care, Where is our Queen? and Where is her flag?. Flowers were left at Kensington Palace, Dianas London home, and in another rare move, a statement was released indicating the hurt felt by the Royal Family at the suggestion they were untouched by the tragedy. Story continues The Queen was due to pre-record the speech, but she ended up giving it live. She said Diana was 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. Her backdrop was the crowds outside Buckingham Palace, and she said she spoke as your Queen and as a grandmother. 2002 The Queen Mothers death One of her addresses came the night before her mothers funeral in 2002. The Queen dressed in black for the broadcast, as she thanked the nation for their support during their grief. She said: 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. Read more: Coronavirus: Queen's speech to the nation watched by 24 million Elizabeth Bowes-Lyons life wasturned upside down when her brother-in-law abdicated, leaving her husband as King. Despite ending up with a different role to the one she expected at marriage, the Queen Mother carried out royal duties throughout her life and was loved by the British public. 2012 Diamond Jubilee celebrations Eight years ago, the Queen gave an address in happier circumstances. During the celebrations for her Diamond Jubilee, marking 60 years on the throne, she thanked those who organised the events. Read more: Queen's historic coronavirus speech prompts outpouring of praise for monarch She said they had been a humbling experience and hoped they would brighten our lives for many years to come. She said: It has touched me deeply to see so many thousands of families, neighbours and friends celebrating together in such a happy atmosphere. Events to mark her diamond jubilee included the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, with 1,000 boats from across the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world. She travelled with her husband on the Royal Barge, which was the centrepiece of the occasion. And the time she didnt... A speech was written for the Queen in 1983 during the Cold War. She would have recorded it if Britain faced annihilation at the hands of a nuclear-armed Soviet Union. Records released under the 30-year-old rule showed that the monarch, in the event of World War Three, would have urged her brave country to stand firm as it faced up to the madness of war, but the speech was never recorded. Coronavirus: what happened today Our Divisions Copyright 2021-22 DB Corp ltd., All Rights Reserved This website follows the DNPA Code of Ethics. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and MoS Finance and Corporate Affairs Anurag Thakur. (Image Reuters) On February 1, when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her second budget, she was broadly confronted with the following constraints. Households werent spending, companies were sitting on a piling mount of unsold stocks, farmers remained in distress, the world economy was shaky, the tax revenue flows were wobbly and the queue of job hopefuls was getting longer with opportunities coming down to a trickle. On April 1, she may well be looking back at these constraints with a degree of longing. COVID-19 and its spread are threatening to leave a devastating trail of destruction across the economic landscape, blowing into smithereens the very framework of orthodox fiscal policy planning. Every element in the worlds, and Indias, fiscal policy planning, almost every component in the annual accounting exercise, and every element of assumption and projection now requires a second look. Sample this. Sitharaman had assumed nominal GDP growth of 10 percent in 2020-21, a goal that looks almost unthinkable to achieve given the rapid turn of events. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show The finance minister had posited Indias tax revenues will grow by 12 percent in 2020-21 compared to the previous year. She had pencilled in a non-tax revenue growth at 11.4 percent to Rs 3,85,017 crore. The math had also set some very tall targets from receipts such as divestment (Rs 2.1 lakh crore), spectrum and other proceeds from telcos (Rs 1.33 lakh crore) and dividends from the Reserve Bank of India and banks (Rs 89,648 crore). All these, and many more, would need a serious re-examination. The extent of the ruin will critically depend on how long the lockdown persists, and the pace at which restrictions will be phased out. The restraints on economic activity have been necessitated by a public health emergency. Governments across the world have made the hard choice to adopt a strategy to save lives, even if it comes at the cost of killing livelihoods. There is an ethical aspect to this question that the world will debate for years to come. However, it is the fiscal choice that policy managers will now be called upon to make in the immediate term with a fresh set of postulations in an uncertain environment. The economic disruptions will reduce revenue and tax compliance. The lockdowns and the prolonged restrictions may force many a company to shut or curtail operations, lowering the governments tax collections. Healthcare costs will see a sharp spike and the government may be forced to offer a series of relief measures to help businesses and individuals stay solvent. These may come in the form of tax reliefs, benefits, salary support, and loans, resulting in ballooning budget deficits. Heres an indicator. During the Ebola outbreak that spread rapidly across Africa, many countries in West Africa saw their deficits jump by up to 9 percent of their GDP. This occurred even when most of these economies have relatively smaller public sectors, and lower welfare spending compared to India. World leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have not hesitated to compare the coronavirus challenges to that of a war. There may not be heavy artillery bombarding, but the mutilation to the economy may turn out to be far deeper, and wider. The fiscal policy response, therefore, will need a wartime comeback. In the last 74 years of budget-making, there have been three occasions 1956-57, 1965-66 and 1971-72 where the finance minister has presented a fresh set of proposals mid-way through the financial years. In two of these three cases 1965-66 and 1971-72 India was in a war, both with Pakistan, which required immediate funds to finance it. In 1965, then finance minister TT Krishnamachari presented a fresh set to taxation proposals on August 9, 1965, even when India was in war with Pakistan between April to September 1965. In 1971, then finance minister YB Chavan, proposed additional measures for maximum mobilisation of resources for defence effort on December 13, 1971, three days before the war with Pakistan ended, liberating Bangladesh. In 1956, Krishnachamari presented a second budget on November 30, 1956, compelled by an impending foreign exchange crisis that the Arab-Israel war on the Suez Canal (also called the Suez Crisis) caused by halting merchandise exports from across the world, including India. The challenges that the current finance minister faces are far daunting than what Krishnamachari and Chavan faced. Sitharaman faces a fiscal war that will require her to deploy all the policy arsenal unorthodox and conventional to win this fight. When the storm passes away in a few months, the finance minister should look at pressing the reset button and present a fresh budget with a new set of targets and assumptions. Sitharaman may well be reminded of one famous line, often attributed to John Maynard Keynes: When facts change, I change my mind. What do you, sir? Facts have indeed changed, comprehensively. Fox News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace denounced U.S. Surgeon General Vice Admiral Jerome Adams Sunday when the Trump appointee compared the coronavirus crisis to smoking and opioid usage. While governors of 42 U.S. states have issued stay-at-home orders for their residents to prevent the spread of the virus, Utah, Arkansas, North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Iowa, Nebraska and South Carolina all with Republican governors have held out, even as some have ordered non-essential businesses to close. Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the heads of the Trump Administrations coronavirus task force, has spoken in favor of a national stay-at-home order, yet Trump has refused to issue one. Also Read: Coronavirus Diary: Squeezed Slowly to Stop the Pandemic The coronavirus is not a state issue; it doesnt follow or respect state borders. Dr. Fauci says he believes there should be a national stay-at-home order. Is he wrong? Wallace asked Adams. TODAY: Dr. Jerome Adams on how the U.S. can most effectively combat the coronavirus. #FNS #FoxNews pic.twitter.com/Iv6nS9ZaVb FoxNewsSunday (@FoxNewsSunday) April 5, 2020 After saying that even residents of states without a stay-at-home order are still following guidelines from the Center of Disease Control, Adams then compared the coronavirus crisis to smoking and opioid usage, saying that states have different laws on cigarettes and drugs and that more people will die even in the worst projections from cigarette smoking in this country than are going to die from coronavirus this year. Wallace challenged that comparison. Theres a big difference between opioids and cigarettes, which are something that people decide to use or not to use, and the coronavirus, which people catch. Its not an individual choice, he responded. And you know, when President Trump says that he is a wartime president, during World War II, FDR didnt say, Well, its up to each state to decide what to do. He mobilized the nation. Again, why not a national stay-at-home order? The coronavirus doesnt recognize states rights, so does the federal analogy really work here? Wallace pressed. Story continues Adams replied by saying that governors are intensely protective of their right to be able to decide whats best for their states, but that he and federal public health officials would do everything we can to advise them. Watch the exchange between Wallace and Adams in the clip above. Read original story Fox News Chris Wallace Challenges Surgeon General for Downplaying Coronavirus Compared to Smoking, Opioid Deaths At TheWrap Three British lawyers working for the United Arab Emirates's rulers threatened a 'political prisoner' with torture, the High Court has heard. Neil Gerrard, Caroline Black and David Hughes allegedly terrorised Karam al-Sadeq when he was in solitary confinement in a prison in Ras al-Khaimah. One of them was said to have told Mr al-Sadeq his leg was in a plaster because he shoved it up 'many ar***'. Neil Gerrard (left), Caroline Black and David Hughes (right) allegedly terrorised Karam al-Sadeq when he was in solitary confinement in a prison in Ras al-Khaimah The solicitors and law firm Dechert are being sued by a former executive at the Ras al-Khaimah Investment Authority over the supposed human rights abuses but deny any wrongdoing. They are also being probed by regulators. Mr al-Sadeq, from Jordan, who was also a lawyer for the authority, had been caged for 560 days for fraud, which he rejected as politically motivated. Gerrard led the interrogation of the 'political prisoner' for the UAE rulers, High Court documents seen by the Times say. The solicitors (pictured, Black) and law firm Dechert are being sued by a former executive at the Ras al-Khaimah Investment Authority over the supposed human rights abuses but deny any wrongdoing. They are also being probed by regulators The co-head of Dechert's global white-collar crime department 'liked to project the image of being a hard, uncompromising interrogator', the papers claim. Gerrard and Hughes were said to have told Mr al-Sadeq his family would be targeted if he did not help them. It is also claimed they said he would never see his children again and his wife would be caged. Mr al-Sadeq, who is being represented by Julian Assange's former lawyer Edward Fitzgerald QC, has made a number of allegations. Gerrard, Hughes and Black are said to have been 'prepared to, and did, violate Mr Sadeq's rights'. This included 'using threats and/or mistreatment and/or unlawful methods to force Mr Sadeq to give evidence and/or false evidence'. Mr al-Sadeq (pictured), from Jordan, who was also a lawyer for the authority, had been caged for 560 days for fraud, which he rejected as a political power play They are further claimed to have caused Mr Sadeq 'physical, emotional, psychological, moral and financial harm, loss and damage for which compensation is sought' due to the 'ill treatment and/or torture'. A spokesman for Dechert, which has represented the UAE's sheikhs for a number of years, said: 'The allegations against the firm and its personnel are completely without foundation and we shall be vigorously defending ourselves against them.' A spokesman for Stewarts Law, which Hughes has moved to, added: 'David Hughes emphatically denies the allegations made against him but will refrain from making any further comment at this stage in view of the legal proceedings issued.' The civil claim continues. District magistrate of Varansi, Kaushal Raj Sharma said, "Curfew has been clamped in Madanpura under the limits of Dashashwamedh police station, Bajardiha under Bhelupur, Gangapur and Lohta, both under Mirza Murad police station area. This has been done for proper screening of people of these localities, sanitization and other necessary exercises." Lucknow: A 55-year-old resident of Varanasi died on April 3 at the Sir Sundar Lal hospital in BHU of lung infection. His report on Sunday night revealed that he was coronavirus positive. corona-positive patients have been found in these localities. All 10 members in the deceased's family have been quarantined and their samples have been sent for testing. The deceased was a resident of Gangapur locality. Principal secretary health and family welfare Amit Mohan Prasad said, "This is now the third coronavirus related death in the state." He further said, "The person was unwell since March 22 and took his symptoms lightly. He went to several private doctors before reaching the BHU hospital. The coronavirus infection turned fatal because of the presence of co-morbid conditions including hypertension and diabetes." The district magistrate said, "The person was a shopkeeper in Gangapur locality in Rohaniya area. He received treatment at two private hospitals before reaching BHU. He had returned from Kolkata on March 15 and complained of cold and flu on March 27." Sharma stated that the patient's sample for coronavirus testing was taken twice. "The first report remained inconclusive. The infection was confirmed in the second report. Before the result of the second test could arrive, he passed away." Talking about the source of Covid-19 infection in the patient, the district magistrate said, "All we know till now is that he had travelled to Kolkata and returned from there on March 15. Further investigations are underway." The first two deaths related to coronavirus had been reported from Meerut and Basti districts. Meanwhile, four localities of old Lucknow city have been sealed after seven Tablighi Jamaat members staying in these areas for the lasttwo weeks, tested positive for coronavirus. Additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP), Vikas Chandra Tripathi said that the sealed localities in Lucknow include Peer Baksh Masjid in Talkatora area, Rahmaniya Masjid in Qaiserbagh's Phool Bagh, Mohammadi Masjid in Wazirganj's Astbal Charbagh and a house in Saadatganj's Yaseenganj. He said three of these seven Jamaatis had come from Assam, and two each from UP's Saharanpur district and Jaipur (Rajasthan) to attend religious gatherings at mosques in Lucknow. He said their travel history was being tracked. The Kasaibada locality in Sadar was sealed earlier on Friday after it emerged as a Covid-19 hotspot with 12 Tablighi Jamaat members, who had been staying in a mosque there, testing positive. Tripathi said the four new localities were sealed to ensure proper sanitization and medical examination of people living there. He said the police personnel were assisting medical teams to collect samples of suspected patients. In Lakhimpur district, three more men tested positive for coronavirus, taking the number of infected people in the district to four. Following the development, an alert has been sounded in the district. According to official sources, three men from Madhepura in Bihar, who returned from Delhi a few days back, were staying in various mosques in Dhaurahra area. Lakhimpur district magistrate Shailendra Kumar Singh said that, "These men, along with some fellow villagers, were quarantined a few days back and their samples were sent to Lucknow. Of the 12 samples that were sent, three tested positive." Earlier, a Lakhimpur trader, who visited Istanbul, had tested positive on March 19. Siemens Healthineers announced today the availability of its molecular Fast Track Diagnostics (FTD) SARS-CoV-2 Assay test kit used to aid in the diagnosis of infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the COVID-19 disease. Test kits are already being shipped within the European Union for research use only (RUO) to expedite availability while the company continues to pursue Emergency Use Assessment and Listing (EUAL) from the World Health Organization (WHO) for clinical use. In addition, Siemens Healthineers has begun discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for release of the test under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Both applications are in progress. While the controlled roll-out of the assay for research use is continuing, Siemens Healthineers is simultaneously expanding its production capacity. The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is the cause of COVID-19 outbreak. With this molecular diagnostic assay, we want to make a contribution to fight the current COVID-19 global pandemic by delivering fast and accurate SARS-CoV-2 testing. The Siemens Healthineers assay is designed to help researchers positively identify the virus in less than three hours so that healthcare professionals can proceed as quickly as possible with the necessary next steps on their patients triage paths. Sebastian Kronmueller, Head of Molecular Diagnostics at Siemens Healthineers Many molecular assays detect the presence of viral ribonucleic acid (RNA), determining the presence of the targeted virus directly in the patient sample. In this way, molecular testing is effective early in the lifecycle of the virus and is thus efficient in urgent testing situations, such as global pandemics. After regulatory approval, the commercial roll-out of the assay is intended in the U.S. and Europe. The FTD SARS-CoV-2 Assay has been optimized on the Biomerieux EasyMag Extraction System and the Applied Biosystems 7500 Real-time PCR Thermocycler and utilizes the same workflow, including PCR profile, as other FTD Respiratory Disease kits from Siemens Healthineers. It can be run in laboratories simultaneously with FTD Respiratory Pathogens 21, a molecular syndromic testing panel from Siemens Healthineers that identifies 21 different upper respiratory pathogens that can cause acute respiratory infections. The FTD SARS-CoV-2 Assay was developed by Fast Track Diagnostics, a Siemens Healthineers Company, in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg. Fast Track Diagnostics was acquired by Siemens Healthineers at the end of 2017. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 12:06:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A member of the Chinese medical expert team walks in front of cargos of Chinese medical supplies at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Paranaque City, the Philippines, April 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) The causes of China-bashing syndrome? Diverting attention and scrapegoating someone else for their own failures. by Xinhua writer Jiang Li BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- In a global race to save lives and control the coronavirus pandemic, some politicians and media outlets in the West seem to be headstrongly engaged in a China-bashing competition, peddling one wicked theory after another since the outbreak. When China was just into the COVID-19 battle, they questioned transparency. Later they accused Beijing of violating human rights for taking necessary quarantine measures, and beefed up racist talks. Now they appear to be concentrating their firepower on China's overseas assistance. They try to label China's aid actions as "mask diplomacy," and distort Beijing's help either as an image-improving campaign, a geopolitical tug of war, or a show-off of an ideological victory. It seems that they choose to believe in anything but China's goodwill. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (front) speaks at the ceremony welcoming the Chinese medical team in Belgrade, Serbia, March 21, 2020. (Xinhua/Shi Zhongyu) For the record, China has so far offered assistance to over 120 countries and international organizations over the raging pandemic, many of which helped China in the thick of its epidemic fight. Also, those aid packages have been sent without political preconditions. More importantly, Beijing's assistance is in line with its vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind. China fully understands that if it wants to truly beat off the deadly disease in this highly connected world, it needs to help those in need to overcome their difficulties too. Otherwise, any progress could be fragile and temporary. The so-called mask quality issue is even more preposterous. Local purchasers in countries like the Netherlands and Belgium have already come forward and made clear that those China-made masks, which are clearly noted for non-medical use, were commercial purchases, not official aid. So what are the causes of their China-bashing syndrome? Perhaps the most immediate motive is to try to divert public attention away from the dire epidemic situation in their own countries, and to find someone to blame for their sloppy domestic responses. Their you-win-I-lose zero-sum way of thinking is another deepgoing reason. Because of that, their minds have been locked in an ideological cage and they would interpret anything China does as a Red-China plot. Photo taken in Los Angeles County, on March 26, 2020 shows donations from the Chinese-American community in Palos Verdes in Southern California, the United States. (Photo by Maggie Wang/Xinhua) Most fundamentally, it is the ego of those Western skeptics at work. Deep down in their hearts and minds, China's development is a fact they find difficult to accept. They fear that the pandemic is the beginning of the end of the West-led world order. Still, there are some sober voices in the international community. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her country is "very pleased" about China's help. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic also expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Chinese people for their assistance. As of Sunday, the confirmed coronavirus infections have topped 1.2 million and the death toll is approaching 70,000, according to the latest tally compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The fast spreading pandemic demands the international community move more swiftly and decisively with stronger solidarity. If those in the West still waste their precious time on smearing China and disinforming the general public, they could be giving the devil a leg up to claim more human lives. John Carl D'Annibale ROTTERDAM Spectrum is raising the minimum wage it pays its field and customer operations workers that have had to be on the frontline of the COVID-19 outbreak through visits to hospitals and customer locations. The $1.50 increase minimum wage at the cable TV and internet company is $15 would be applied retroactively to March when employees were awarded annual merit increases in hourly pay. All frontline employees will get the $1.50 increase regardless of their potential merit increase. A data scientist has claimed that Google search results from around the world could be key to determining undiscovered coronavirus symptoms as well as locating emerging outbreaks. Seth Stephens-Davidowitz explained how Google searches for the phrase 'loss of smell' align with the number of positive cases of coronavirus, and why he believes eye pain could be another unofficial signal of the illness. Most researchers now agree that loss of smell and taste is a symptom of Covid-19, affecting up to 60% of those who contract the illness. Seth Stephens-Davidowitz (pictured) explained how Google searches for the phrase 'loss of smell' align with the number of positive cases of coronavirus, and why he believes eye pain could be another unofficial signal of the illness Searches for the phrase 'loss of smell' in the US were highest in New York, New Jersey, Louisiana, and Michigan, which are four cities worst hit by the outbreak. Mr Stephens-Davidowitz went on to predict that Ecuador could become a new epicentre for the virus based on people's Google searches. Writing in the New York Times, Mr Stephens-Davidowitz said: 'Searches for "no puedo oler" ("I can't smell") are some 10 times higher per Google search in Ecuador than they are in Spain, even though Ecuador officially reports more than ten times fewer Covid-19 cases per capita than Spain does. Mr Stephens-Davidowitz argued that based on Google's search history, there is evidence to suggest eye pain could also be considered a symptom of the virus. He explained how the amount of times 'eye pain' was searched for in Spain and Iran correlated with the rapid spread of the virus (Stock image) 'Ecuadoreans are also right near the top in searches for fever, chills and diarrhea.' Mr Stephens-Davidowitz argued that based on Google's search history, there is evidence to suggest eye pain could also be considered a symptom of the virus. He explained how the amount of times 'eye pain' was searched for in Spain and Iran correlated with the rapid spread of the virus. Mr Stephens-Davidowitz argued that based on Google's search history, there is evidence to suggest eye pain could also be considered a symptom of the virus (Stock image) 'Notably, searches for eye pain rose above fourfold in Spain between the middle of February and the middle of March and rose about 50 percent in Iran in March. 'In Italy, searches for 'bruciore occhi' ("burning eyes") were five times their usual levels in March.' He continued: 'I think search data offers suggestive evidence that eye pain can be a symptom of the disease. However, it might only affect a small fraction of Covid-19 patients. Overall search volume for eye pain, despite rising substantially in Covid-19 hot spots, remains well below search volume for other symptoms. 'In New York there are now about one-sixth as many searches related to eye pain as there are searches related to loss of smell. 'Nonetheless, doctors and public health officials should probably look closely at the relationship between Covid-19 and eye pain.' Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, formally resumed work today and immediately conducted an inspection tour of the states largest COVID-19 isolation centre- Infectious Disease Centre, Olodo, Ibadan. The Governor, who appeared calm and relaxed, said that he was thankful to the people of the state for their fervent prayers during his isolation period. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr Taiwo Adisa, further quoted the governor as saying that his government plans to conduct COVID-19 tests on 10,000 persons in the state. According to the statement, the governor added that the state was determined to win the battle against coronavirus, noting that if the state was able to test 10,000 persons within a short period, it would be able to stay ahead in the fight against COVID-19. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates House Armed Services Committee Republican leaders want the Defense Department to standardize military family programs across the services and develop a communications plan for spouses that doesn't rely on active-duty service members passing along important gouge. Rep. Mac Thornberry of Texas, the committee's ranking Republican, and Rep. Trent Kelly, R-Miss.i, ranking member of the personnel subcommittee, unveiled proposals last week to reform military family readiness -- provisions they'd like to see in the fiscal 2021 defense policy bill. The initiatives range from standardizing the Exceptional Family Member Program across the military services and improving child care availability for active-duty families to improving mental health services and studying the effectiveness of autism treatments. At the top of the list, however, is for the Pentagon to define the term "family readiness," which the lawmakers said is "currently open to interpretation across the department." "The Thornberry/Kelly proposal would require DoD to establish a common definition of 'family readiness' to ensure standardization of services and assistance," they wrote in a summary of the proposal. Related: It's Official: Troops Get Another Big Pay Raise in the Fiscal 2021 Budget Request The two also want the Pentagon to develop a plan to communicate important information directly to military families. While web pages, including Military OneSource; Facebook groups; and family readiness officers help fill the communications gaps between each armed service and military spouses, important information -- such as unit-specific and benefits news -- often is communicated to families through service members, an imperfect system that can leave spouses in the dark. The legislation would direct the DoD to develop a strategy to use a "variety of modes of communication to ensure the broadest means of communicating with military families." Thornberry has served on the House Armed Services Committee for 25 years and chaired the committee from 2015 to 2019. In addition to the family readiness proposals he plans for this year, he has floated several acquisition and industry reforms for the fiscal 2021 bill, which will be the last he will help draft before retiring from Congress at the end of the year. "This effort is an extension of the bipartisan family readiness reforms the House Armed Services Committee has championed in the past, including a new blended retirement system, reforms to the military health care system and repeated reforms of the widow's tax," Thornberry said about his family readiness proposals. Also included in the family readiness reform initiatives are: A provision that the DoD provide 24-hour child care at locations where shift-work is concentrated, as well as an assessment of how the DoD's priority system is serving active-duty families; A requirement that the DoD evaluate the transferability of Advanced Placement credits and a report on health and nutrition instruction at Department of Defense Education Activity Schools; A proposal that the DoD develop standardized measures for caring and treating dependents with autism; A requirement that the DoD provide Congress a plan and budget for hiring and retaining enough mental health professionals to support the military community, including active-duty personnel; Language that would force the DoD to develop a tracking mechanism for opioid prescriptions and a waiver process for those patients who need treatment beyond the CDC guidelines; A proposed pilot program that would create an internship for military spouses at the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, "where there are several critical shortages," according to the proposed legislation. Thornberry and Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Smith, D-Washington, introduced an initial version of the proposed fiscal 2021 defense bill March 27 to jumpstart the legislative process. With members of Congress now in their districts during the COVID-19 pandemic, Smith said March 30 the committee will craft its version of the bill on a date "announced at a later time." Kelly said he intends to support the military family readiness provisions. "I am proud to co-sponsor a proposal that will address many areas that have been highlighted in recent months, including the Exceptional Family Member Program, behavioral health, opioid abuse and child care," he said. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at patriciankime@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. Read more: 'Too Naive or Too Stupid:' Acting SecNav Slams Fired Captain in Speech to Crew Iran will not seek assistance from the United States to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, said a foreign ministry spokesman on state TV on Monday. During a briefing with journalists through teleconferencing, Abbas Mousavi rejected the possibility of such a request accusing the US of trying abuse Iran's current situation to force it into negotiations. In the Middle East, Iran is the worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic and is in urgent need of medical equipment. Later on Monday, the country's health ministry told state TV that 136 more deaths have been reported across the country over the last 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 3,739. Kianoush Jahanpour, health ministry spokesman, who updates the death toll daily, added that 2,274 new patients have tested positive for the COVID-19 putting the total number of infected patients at 60,500 since the beginning of outbreak. 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 could lead to death. Karnataka: Migrant fish workers stranded during COVID-19 lockdown, need more Karnataka government support by SUPRIYA VOHRA April 06,2020 | Source: Caravan Magazine Badi Narayan is a 28-year-old crew member of NR2, a multi-day fishing trawler, that operates off the coast of Mangaluru. We came back from our last fishing trip around ten days ago, I cant recall the exact date, he said on 2 April. Since then, the boat has been docked at the Mangaluru harbour and Narayan has been staying in it due to the 21-day lockdown imposed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Narayan, who hails from the Ganjam district in Odisha, told me that he wanted to go back home immediately, but I was told all the trains and bus services were shut. So, I couldnt go. He was hired on a contract basis and is currently out of work. Like Narayan, tens of thousands of migrant fish-workers are stuck in different parts of the country due to the lockdown. According to a report in the Gaon Connection, a media platform, many fish workers are also stranded at sea. COVID-19 perfectly allows for precarious labour to just be dismissed, Siddharth Chakravarty, who works at The Research Collective and analyses fisheries policies through the lens of labour, gender and class, said. As Indias migrant workers, who predominantly work on mechanised fleets, are generally not a part of unions, Chakravarty said, the responsibility falls more so on the state to handle emergencies. Boat owners keep precarious, contract-less workers because it becomes easy for them to cut costs when the time arises, he said. The entire marine fisheries industry has been hit by the lockdown. According to a news report in the Hindustan Times, people are throwing away fish stocks as traders, exporters, and allied businesses, such as ice plants used for storage, have shut shop. Small-scale fishers are finding it hard to sell fish in an organised manner. Nithin Kumar, who owns a mechanised trawler which operates in Mangaluru, told me he is hoping to resume fishing after the lockdown ends but if the crew is not there then we cant function. People in the mechanised fisheries sector told me that most of their crew members are migrants who have been severely impacted. Kumar said they depend on the crew for all the work. Migrant fish-workers form an integral part of the mechanised fisheries sector. But they are invisible and often ostracised. They work in boat yards, net-repair shops and ice-plant factories that supply ice to preserve fish. They are also employed as crew members of large boats, such as trawlers and purse seinersa boat equipped with a purse seine, a type of fishing net. Their jobs include labour-intensive work at or outside the harbour, such as loading and unloading the fish, hauling nets, ferrying fish stocks from trucks to the auction site, crushing ice, making ice and transporting stocks. As crew members of big boats, their earnings depend on the catch of each day and their location. For instance, on many boats in Mangaluru, 65 percent of the earnings go to the boat owner and the remaining is distributed among the crew. On an average, a catch worth one lakh rupees would give a crew member Rs 1,000. As workers in the mechanised sector are mostly not unionised, they can be rendered jobless at any time by their employers. Often, migrant workers bear the brunt of unplanned measures, such as the current lockdown, as they are dispensable. In a notice dated 29 March, the department of fisheries of Goa stated that all the vessel owners are hereby informed that the fishing vessels after unloading their catch shall leave jetty with crew members to safe zones offshore and remain anchored. Effectively, this meant that the crew will not be allowed to get out of the fishing vessels as long as the lockdown is in place. According to a report published in the Times of India on 2 April, around twenty-five thousand fishermen were stranded in boats anchored at the Porbandar, Veraval and Mangrol port areas of Gujarat. Over four thousand were stuck in Karnatakas Mangaluru city itself at the time of the lockdown, according to Kumar, who is also the president of the Dakshin Kannada Trawl Boat Association. Many managed to leave in time, he said. The association is providing food and shelter to about four hundred fish workers who have been stuck at the harbour. Several non-profit organisations and fish-worker unions are tracking those who are stranded and coordinating relief efforts. Dakshin Foundation, a marine conservation non-profit based in Bengaluru, is one of them. Our protocol is to first contact the district magistrate or district collector of the place where they are from, Marianne Manuel, the assistant director of the foundation, said. In cases where government action is limited, we reach out to civil society. Usually, it works with a coordination between the two. Manuel said that the organisation has information of fish workers stranded in different parts of Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. Most of them are from Odisha, and some from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The non-profit is trying to help two groups in Goa. Asha Cherian, who also works at Dakshin Foundation, told me about one of the groups, of 150 to 200 fish workers from north Karnataka. The workers are living in boats just off the coast at Betul, in South Goa. There are thirtyforty workers on each boat, which are not docked at the jetty. The owners of the boats have given the crew instructions to stay at sea and supplied them with barely enough dry rations, Cherian said. As per the information gathered by the Dakshin Foundation, the fish workers have not been offered any extra health and safety precautions to combat COVID-19. The workers have been told that they can return to the dock after the lockdown period is over. The 29 March notice from the fisheries department of Goa placed the onus of providing the crew with ration on the boat owners. Manuel said, There are many cases where the boat owners have stepped in to take responsibility, and many cases that they havent. According to her, another group of about two hundred and sixty fish workersfrom Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhandare stranded in Old Goa. The owners of their boats have provided them with accommodation and basic essentials like food, water and sanitation kits. Manuel said that the foundation has just scratched the surface and is trying to get more information from the ground. On the other hand, two hundred and fifty daily-wagersfrom Kallakurichi, a town in Tamil Naduwho worked in ice plants for the Mandovi Fisherman Marketing Cooperative Society in Goa were fired post the lockdown, according to Jesu Rathinam, the convener of Coastal Action Network, a forum that works to protect the rights of coastal communities. They were stuck without sufficient ration, she said. The National Fishworkers Forum, a federation of trade unions of independent and small scale fish-workers, had found out about this and alerted Rathinam, who is also the director of a Tamil Nadu-based non-profit SNEHA. According to her, she contacted the Kallakurichi district administration, which got in touch with the government in Goa, and started the process of supplying basic essentials to the stranded group. Chakravarty said that the contract-less seasonal employment model ensures that owners can bypass legal responsibility to maintain non-contracted workers, though it would be morally upon them to maintain and retain employment. He added, The state has to step in, which it has. But it needs to put in more effort since the lockdown isnt planned keeping migrant fish-workers in mind. On 28 March, the fourth day of the lockdown, the union ministry of fisheries sent an advisory asking all state governments and administrations of union territories to ensure that adequate food, water shelter, essential sanitary supplies in light of Covid 19 and wages are continued to be made available as per the directives issued by various central Ministries and State Governments. The letter also asked boat owners not to terminate the fish workers contracts, and to ensure that their families received supplies of ration. However, as fisheries is a state subject, the mantle to implement such requests lies upon the state governments. To soften the economic blow to the sector, the union ministry sent letters to the state departments on 26 and 30 March, requesting details of fish workers in their states, so that relief measures could be worked out. In the letter dated 30 March, it mentioned one of the pre-requisites would be the availability of aadhaar linked bank account for direct transfer of benefit. The National Fishworkers Forum asked the government to scrap this prerequisite. Not everyone has Aadhaar cards and bank accounts, especially the migrant fish-workers who are daily wagers, T Peter, the general secretary of the forum, said. This is a time of crisis, and we would like them to ensure that everyone gets relief. Meanwhile, Narayan told me that he is getting depressed. He spends his time eating, sleeping and playing PUB-G, a popular game, on his phone. On 1 April, he took two of his mates to a government hospital because they showed signs of a fever. They were discharged by the doctors who said they were fine. Now, everybody is scared that they have coronavirus, he said. I am tired and just want to go home to my family. Photo from Getty Images SINGAPORE The Primary 5 students accused of bullying a female student in Mee Toh School have been counselled, disciplined and have reconciled with the victim, said second minister for education Indranee Rajah on Monday (6 April). In this case, the principal made them revisit the incident with them standing in the shoes of the victim. This made the wrongdoers truly regret their actions. They had to apologise in person to the victim, said the minister, who was responding to a question in Parliament about the incident. Mee Toh had also engaged the parents of the students involved, who were supportive of the schools action. The school has observed that the students have interacted well, after the school facilitated reconciliation sessions, she added. The minister declined to disclose other details of the disciplinary action. Mee Toh has standard operating procedures to deal with bullying incidents, and MOE has assessed that its follow-up actions were appropriate, the minister said. MOE will further strengthen our efforts to educate our students against bullying in our schools. The 2021 revised CCE (Character and Citizenship Education) curriculum will teach pro-social behaviours, respect, care, and empathy. It will encourage those adversely affected by bullying to seek out help without fear of stigma, said Indranee. MOE will also support all schools in establishing a peer support culture, so that every student understands that bullying is wrong and learns how to extend help and support to those who have been bullied. Member of Parliament for Jurong GRC Rahayu Mahzam asked Indranee how long the victim had been bullied and about official channels available to family members to raise such concerns. Indranee replied that while she did not have a specific timeline for the case, parents were encouraged to highlight such cases to teachers and schools. I think at the end of the day, the key thing is this, to bring it to the attention of the teachers in the schools as soon as possible. From the MOE side of the house, we want to make sure that the schools respond appropriately and quickly, and in time, and also to make sure that we have the appropriate peer support culture. On 6 March, Twitter user @47SLZ posted pictures of notes containing insulting messages that had been thrown at her younger sisters face by a classmate. Story continues My heart broke today, it was my sisters birthday yesterday and one of her classmates threw this to her face as birthday present, she said in the post referring to the notes. In other tweets, she claimed that such bullying keeps happening to her sibling, who is one of only a handful of Malay pupils in the school. In a reply to Yahoo News Singapores queries, Mee Tohs principal Wang-Tan Sun Sun said that the pupils who were involved in the bullying incident regretted their actions. All the pupils, except one on sick leave, had been counselled and disciplined. We have spoken to the parents of the students involved in the incident and they understood the seriousness of their childrens actions, she said, noting that a long discussion was also held with the victims parents to assure her that the school took the matter very seriously. Wang-Tan said that investigations began immediately after the school was informed of the incident. It completed investigations within three working days and decided on the disciplinary actions to be taken. The high profile incident came to the attention of Education Minister Ong Ye Kung, who said in a Facebook post on 10 March that bullying was wrong and could not be tolerated anywhere, especially in schools. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Related story Students involved in Mee Toh School bullying case 'counselled and disciplined': principal On March 19 my boyfriend got a fever. In normal circumstances, neither of us would bat an eyelash. After all, a mild fever is normally not a big deal. But the World Health Organization had declared the coronavirus a worldwide pandemic the week before. We resolved to keep an eye on it, to see if any other symptoms developed. On March 20 we both began to cough. We both developed a sudden tightness in our chest, and I found that I was having trouble taking a deep breath. We both decided that we needed to reach out to our local hospital to ask for guidance on obtaining a test. It was then that began a 48-hour nightmare into understanding just how ill-prepared the United States is in dealing with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. By March 21 we both had doctors orders for a test for COVID-19. Why? Because in Connecticut, you require a doctors order for a lab test for it. Getting those orders were no easy feat. At first, Hartford Healthcares command center hotline told us that because we were below the age of 60, we do not qualify for a test. We both decided to pursue orders regardless. I went through my health insurance company for a Teladoc visit to ask for one. My boyfriend went through Hartford Healthcares urgent care for a virtual visit. After a few hours, we both had what we needed for a test: a doctor telling us that we likely had COVID-19. However, Hartford Healthcare did not accept my test because it wasnt from a Hartford Healthcare provider or directly called in by a physician. I asked what we were supposed to do. Hartford Healthcare then told us that we should go to another testing site. When I pointed out that that could spread the disease, I was told to remain in the car, do not touch anybody, and speak to people through the car window. We then went to St. Marys Hospital in Waterbury, per the direction of Waterbury Hospital (which was closed for testing that day). When we arrived, a nurse told us that they had no more swabs for testing. Hospital staff suggested Bristol, which was on our way home anyway. So we went to a third site, only to be told by the staff at Bristol that our respective orders did not meet their criteria for testing, due to a lack of signature on the (watermarked, tele-health provided) orders. Frustrated and afraid, we then went home. After multiple tearful phone calls with my local hospital and Hartford Healthcare, I was ultimately told two things: (1) assume you have it and quarantine and (2) there arent enough tests. The shortage of COVID-19 tests may not seem like a big deal. After all, knowing I have COVID-19 will not cure it. I would still have to let the virus run its course. Testing will not make a difference if I live or die. But testing will save other lives. Tracing the source of contamination will help stop the spread. I may have gotten COVID-19 from work, or from the grocery store, or from the DoorDash delivery person who dropped off my food. If that person knows they have the virus, they can quarantine to prevent the spread. This is particularly important because COVID-19 can be carried by asymptomatic people. You may have COVID-19 and not even realize it. Its for this reason why everyone (yes, everyone) should be tested. To not do so will get people killed. This fact seems to be lost by our President, who continues to state that testing is going perfectly. It could not be further from the truth. Connecticut healthcare workers are doing their best with what they have, but you cant fight a forest fire with a squirt gun. The federal government must step up efforts to support the on-the-ground fight against COVID-19. And, yes that includes testing, but also includes providing our doctors and nurses with protective equipment and ventilators. My experience is indicative of a problem. Not with our local healthcare system or with the fearless warriors on the front lines, but with a lack of support from Washington. There is no reason why President Trump was slow to invoke the Defense Production Act to force companies to produce ventilators. There is no reason why there is a shortage of testing when other countries, such as South Korea, have proven it is possible to test scores of people. President Trump should take responsibility for the abject failing of his response to this crisis. More than 6,500 Americans have now died due to COVID-19. Experts indicate that number could reach as high as 200,000. More people will get sick. More people will die. It is well-past time for President Trump to begin doing his job protecting the people he is supposed to serve. Without the federal governments help, we will not win this fight. Chelsea M. Donaldson is an attorney and a resident of Torrington. Irish Agri Software development company Livestock Live has welcomed the decision by the Department of Agriculture which will allow mart infrastructure to be maximised. Livestock marts provide a crucial outlet to Irish farmers and account for some 1.5 million cattle and over 2 million sheep each year. Livestock Marts uniquely provide an open and transparent pricing system for farmers. Brendan Hannigan CEO Livestock Live stated We have been working with a number of leading marts in recent years providing them with leading edge software, and a farm management App. We have also been testing our novel technology, with cameras in sales rings, and an online bidding system (with the advent of Covid 19) and last week tested Irelands first virtual mart at Carnaross Mart in Meath. "This trial worked well and live tested our virtual mart technology. It is now possible to have virtual auctions that are physically closed to the public but are open online to buyers and provide realtime bidding information to farmers. We have been inundated in recent weeks with requests from major mart groups seeking to put our novel virtual mart system in place. We have also been liaising with the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine to develop acceptable protocols. We will now be offering a range of options to marts to put in place these protocols for the Department. We believe that our existing mart partners have the technology in place and most major marts could be in a position to offer on line virtual auctions with the coming weeks. Livestock Live (LSL) provide in-house software to livestock marts around Ireland for the last two years. They have developed a platform which, not only provides mart software but also allows remote online bidding, video streaming and an online document solution. In other words, a Farmer Free online livestock mart. LSL have been in communication with the Department of Agriculture and are working with a number of marts around the country, with a view to put in place virtual auction protocols, under the guidance of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine They have proposed three separate options to find a way to keep the marts trading those options are - to operate a video streaming virtual live auction where animals are dropped off and collected. No public would be on the mart premises. to import the animal data from AIM, ICBF and Bord Bia to the auction. Videos are recorded at the farm and uploaded onto the platform. Estimated weights are entered (unless the seller has a weighing scales) After the auction, animals are organised to be delivered to the mart, weighed and price per kilo amended based on actual weight. Buyers collect animals at the mart. The mart use their internal software to report the movement to AIM. The mart facilitates the payment and collection of payments online to ensure sellers benefit from the mart guarantee payment scheme. Similar to Option 2, LSL reports the farm to farm movement via the LSL Farm Management App/software. The seller requests a certificate from AIM via the LSL App after the virtual online sale has completed. The bidding will mostly be based on estimated weights. The buyer must accept that the bids are placed based on the pre-recorded video and the estimated weight by the seller. The animals do not go to the mart to be weighed and each lot is sold as seen (pre-recorded video) and estimated weight. The buyer and seller arrange the transport of the lots directly. Any marts held under these new protocols would be in full compliance with the advice, and guidance of the National Public Health Emergency Team, with Public Health protocols fully adhered to. There is a full audit functionality for online bids to ensure transparency and accuracy. LSL currently supplies thee major livestock marts in Ireland namely Gortatlea in Kerry, Carnaross in Meath and Manorhamilton in Leitrim, which are amongst the most important marts in the country Over the past number of weeks with the pending pandemic of COVID-19, LSL set out to combine years of developed technology to prepare for a situation where marts could be closed to the public, but that normal public auctions could be replaced by online trading. Due to Covid-19 public safety restrictions, LSL software can run solely online auctions at the marts to facilitate farm-to-farm sales with no public present at the mart. No public or farmers will enter the mart facilities. All bidding and viewing will be carried out entirely online. LSL online bidding solution is an entirely contactless system of selling live animals. All engagement with the farmer takes place online. It also ensures complete instant electronic compliance and checks to DAFM (Dept of Agriculture, Food and the Marine), and AIM (Animal Identification and Movement)regulations and movement compliance. Last Tuesday (March 24) LSL tested the final version of this concept, with a live mart at Carnaross, Co Meath, before the Government shut-down. Webcams were installed into the ring and online bidding via mobile phone and PC were tested. This was a pilot test with some farmers bidding and buying animals online via mobile App and PCs remotely from the mart. This trial was very well received and exceeded expectations The LSL App is easily and readily available, at no charge to the farmer, via Android and Apple platforms. India's battle against the pandemic will be a long one, Prime Minister said on Monday while asking people to feel neither tired nor defeated, expressing confidence the country will emerge victorious in its fight. Addressing BJP workers on the party's 40th foundation day, Modi also responded to the Opposition's criticism about his government's measures against COVID-19, asserting that India's efforts have set an example for the world and drawn praise from the World Health Organisation and leaders abroad. India is among the countries which understood the seriousness of COVID-19 and launched a comprehensive and timely exercise to combat it, he said, adding that the country took one decision after another and worked to implement them on the ground. Opposition leaders, including Congress' Rahul Gandhi, have claimed the central government did not respond in time to the virus. Modi, who stressed on the need for wearing face covers outside the house, listed measures like the thermal screening of international passengers, evacuation of Indian nationals abroad and barring flights from certain countries and ramping up of medical infrastructure taken by his government. The government, he said, took "proactive" decisions with help from experts and executed them in cooperation with states. "The speedy and holistic manner with which India acted has drawn praise not from within the country but also from the WHO," the prime minister said and added that India played a "key role" in the holding of SAARC and G-20 meetings. Heads of different countries have appreciated India, he said, noting that it has been coordinating with different nations and he himself hasbeen in touch with some of them. However, the prime minister also made it clear that India is in for the long haul in the battle against the pandemic which has wreaked havoc in many countries, includingdeaths in thousands in developed nations like the US, Italy and France. He described the seriousness and maturity shown by people during the as "unprecedented". Nobody could have imagined that people will show such discipline and sense of service in a huge country like India, he said, adding that the nation's collective strength was on display on Sunday evening. Referring to Sunday's exercise in which millions of households across the countryswitched off their lights and lit diyas, candles or turned on mobile torches, he said it prepared Indians for the long fight ahead. "All sections of society; the rich and poor, the literate and illiterate, and people of various age groups, all joined hands to show this collective strength of 130 crore Indians. It further strengthenedour resolve in this fight against the coronavirus," Modi said. "This is going to be a long fight. We don't have to tire or feel defeated. We have to win in this long battle. We have to emerge victorious. Today, the nation's goal, mission and resolve are one, and this is to be victorious in this battle against the pandemic," he added. The 21-day nation-wide announced by Modi last month is set to end on April 14. He urged BJP workers to follow his five-point suggestions, similar to what party president J P Nadda had said earlier. They should ensure that no poor person goes hungry, the prime minister said. He asked them to urge people to download the Aarogya Setu app, which informs and advises users about the coronavirus, distribute face covers and asked others to sign on thank you messages to emergency staff. Asserting that the battle against the pandemic is no less than a war, he urged party workers to donate to the PM-CARES Fund and also encourage others to contribute to it to help his government's measures against the pandemic. Intel has announced a 500,000 donation towards charities to support coronavirus relief and recovery efforts. The Intel Foundation is making contributions where the company has a significant presence. The company also announced a donation matching campaign with their employees. The American tech company will match contributions made by their employees to named charities: CMRF Crumlin, ALONE and Jigsaw. The company will release the identities of charities benefitting from these donations in the coming days. Intel has also donated 100,000 items of personal protective equipment (PPE) to Ireland's efforts to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. The masks, gloves and other gear will go to the HSE for frontline healthcare workers. The company also made a donation to Leixlip's Meals on Wheels organisation. In a statement, a spokesperson for Intel said: "We continue to work closely with organisations in our local community to support them through this challenging time and help them to deliver vital services. "One example of local support is to the Leixlip Meals on Wheels organisation. One of the specific challenges that the group has at this time is how to continue to provide the service for elderly and vulnerable members of the community who are reliant on the meals. "We made a donation to help ensure that they could continue their vital work over the coming weeks we hope that small gestures such as this will be of practical support to our local community at this challenging time." TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that he will declare a state of emergency for Tokyo and six other prefectures as early as Tuesday to bolster measures to fight the coronavirus, but that there will be no hard lockdowns. Abe also told reporters Monday that his government will launch a 108 trillion yen ($1 trillion) stimulus package Japans largest ever and nearly twice as much as expected to help counter the economic impact of the pandemic, including cash payouts to households in need and financial support to protect businesses and jobs. Abe said experts on a government-commissioned task force urged him to prepare to declare a state of emergency, with the COVID-19 outbreak rapidly expanding in major cities including Tokyo, and hospitals and medical staff overburdened with patients. He said the state of emergency will cover Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and four other hard-hit prefectures, and will be in effect for about a month. Measures are expected to include a stay-at-home request for residents, but there will be no penalties for objectors. Public transportation, banks, groceries and other essential services will continue operating. Abe said the state of emergency is intended to further reinforce social distancing between people to slow the spread of the virus, while maintaining as much social and economic activity as possible. But we need to ask everyone to step up co-operation, he said. The government had enacted a special law in March that paved the way for Abe to declare a state of emergency. The law, however, is a divisive one because it could limit civil rights. Abe said he will hold a news conference on Tuesday to further explain the state of emergency. The economic package which amounts to about 20% of the GDP of Japan, the worlds third-largest economy will pay out 300,000 yen ($2,750) to each household with severe income loss due to the outbreak, and will include 26 trillion yen ($238 billion) to address delays in taxes and social welfare payments, Abe said. Its to protect the peoples health and their lives, he said. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said the city will start transferring patients with no symptoms or mild ones from hospitals to hotels and other accommodations to make room for an influx of patients with severe symptoms. Koike has raised alarms over the acceleration of the outbreak in the Japanese capital since late March, warning of an infection explosion and saying that the only way to avoid a complete lockdown of the city is to follow guidelines such as social distancing. Please do not go out. Nothing is more important than that, Koike told a news conference late Monday, mapping out measures she plans to take under Abes emergency declaration. Its to protect your own health, your family, your loved ones and to save our society. Koike said Tokyos metropolitan government is set to approve a 22 billion yen ($202 million) budget of its own to supplement the national governments package. Tokyos budget will cover costs for more extensive virus testing, hotels for asymptomatic and slightly sick COVID-19 patients, expenses to increase hospital capacity and medical equipment including ventilators, as well as for child care for medical workers and to support those hit by job loss and other hardships. Haruo Ozaki, head of the Tokyo Medical Association, said that the situation in Tokyo is already critical. He said Tokyos infections are on the brink of being out of control due to a lack of restraint by residents. Japan had kept its number of coronavirus cases relatively low by closely watching clusters and keeping them under control rather than conducting massive tests, but that strategy has become increasingly difficult because of a sharp rise of unlinkable cases. Japans health ministry has confirmed 3,654 cases, including 84 deaths, as well as another 712 infections and 11 fatalities on a cruise ship that was quarantined in the port of Yokohama near Tokyo earlier this year. Tokyo reported 83 new cases Monday for a prefectural total of 1,116. ___ Follow Mari Yamaguchi on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/mariyamaguchi Twelve doctors at her hospital and the chief executive were sickened with the coronavirus. A colleague had died. Patients as young as 19 were being placed on ventilators. But Michele Acito, director of nursing at Holy Name Medical Center, in the hardest-hit town in New Jerseys hardest-hit county, felt like she was holding up. Then her mother-in-law, sister-in-law and brother-in-law arrived. The disease that has crippled New York City is now enveloping New Jerseys densely packed cities and suburbs. The states governor said on Friday that New Jersey was about a week behind New York, where scenes of panicked doctors have gripped the nation. Hospitals in the state are scrambling to convert cafeterias and pediatric wings into intensive care units. Ventilators are running low. One in three nursing homes has at least one resident with the virus. At Holy Name in Teaneck, just across the Hudson River from Manhattan, two doctors are among the 150 patients being treated for the virus. The ages of the 41 people on ventilators one day last week ranged from 19 to 90. Twenty patients died in 72 hours. One of them was Edna Acito, Michele Acitos mother-in-law. She had turned 89 on Thursday. It was a bittersweet day with a team of medical workers singing Happy Birthday from the hallway, just outside a modified door made from plastic sheathing and a zipper. No visitors were allowed in. But the older womans nine children expressed their love through an iPad as Michele Acito held her hand. She died early Saturday. You compartmentalize, Acito, 57, said. You go home. You shower it off. But when you have a family member here, you cant scrub that off. As of Sunday, at least 917 people in New Jersey had died of the virus, and 37,505 had been infected. New Jersey has the nations second-highest number of cases after New York. Were eyeball deep inside the surge, said Dr. Dan Varga, the chief physician executive at Hackensack Meridian Health, which runs Hackensack University Medical Center and 16 other hospitals in New Jersey. On Friday, Gov. Philip Murphy ordered that all flags be flown at half-staff. Behave as though youve got it, he said, adding, Its going to get worse before it gets better. Two hospitals notified state officials last week that they had run out of ventilators, the lifesaving devices that do the lungs work. One reported that it was nearly out of a medicine used to sedate patients on ventilators. That same day, Murphy and New Jerseys health commissioner explained the states provisional plans to move refrigerated trucks to some hospitals where the morgues were quickly filling with bodies. The fact that were having this conversation, folks this is real, said Murphy, who enacted a statewide stay-at-home order just over two weeks ago. New Jerseys fatality and infection rates are still dwarfed by New Yorks, where, as of Sunday, more than 122,000 people had been infected and more than 4,100 had died. The virus appeared to be spreading fastest in Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island, where there were more than 27,000 cases, only about 10,000 fewer than in all of New Jersey. The outbreak in New Jersey is most serious in Bergen County, the states most populous county. It has recorded 6,187 confirmed virus cases and at least 189 deaths. Teaneck, one of the countys biggest townships, has reported 421 cases. Acito said she expected her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, who were not on ventilators, to fully recover. She said that she considered it a blessing to be able to visit with her relatives in person. We know how fortunate we, as a family, are to have me on the inside, she said on Thursday. With hospitals closed to most visitors, nurses are the lifelines connecting patients and their families. At Holy Name, iPads wrapped in clear plastic to shield germs offer some patients the ability to communicate face-to-face with loved ones. Our role is not only to provide all this care, under these circumstances, Acito said. Its to be their advocate, their family member, their provider. She added, Theres so much to do, but we dont ever want to lose sight that its a person in that bed and, yes, they happen to be sick. Murphy, a Democrat who has spoken frequently of his willingness to work with President Donald Trump to get supplies and funding needed to save lives during the outbreak, has stressed the states pressing need for more ventilators and personal protective equipment. About 650 ventilators have been sent to New Jersey from the national stockpile, but many more are needed if hospitalization rates in the state continue to climb. Fourteen of the devices had either missing or nonfunctioning parts, state officials said on Friday. Murphy has authorized the superintendent of the State Police to commandeer all available protective supplies masks, ventilators, gowns and face shields from private companies that may have stockpiles. Still, both Hackensack and Holy Name vitally need medical professionals who are trained in critical care. We have beds, Varga said, but you have to be able to manage critically ill patients in those beds. Dr. Adam D. Jarrett, Holy Names chief medical officer, said he had been calling medical personnel he knows around the country to come help. The hospital has begun preparing to treat as many as 100 critically ill patients at once in one of four new intensive-care areas it created in the past few weeks. New Jersey officials have also issued a plea for volunteers with medical training; as of Friday, 7,539 people had offered to help. Whenever you go to a busy hospital, the emergency department can go from busy to OK to frenetic, said Jarrett. Were frenetic all the time now. Before last month, Holy Name had 14 negative-pressure rooms areas designed so that air is not released into common areas, protecting patients and caregivers. It quickly built 136 more with material bought at home-supply stores. Nursing homes throughout New Jersey are under their own particular strain. More than a third of the states long-term health facilities have had at least one patient infected with the virus, and 83 deaths have been linked to the homes. So many staff members and patients at St. Josephs Senior Home in Woodbridge got sick that the state temporarily closed it and moved nearly 100 patients to another long-term care center about a half-hour away. Judith Persichilli, the states health commissioner, has announced new rules that require nursing home staff members to wear surgical masks at all times. Patients with fevers or coughs must be outfitted with masks during direct care and kept isolated on separate wings or floors. Lisa Crowley, whose mother and stepfather live at the Paramus Veterans Memorial Home, said staff members had previously been told not to wear masks, to minimize fear among patients. Almost all of her parents regular caregivers, she said, were home sick. Everyone we know isnt here, her mother, who is 82 and has Alzheimers, tells her each day, Crowley said. At Holy Name, Ashley Fitzpatrick, 32, was transferred from her regular nursing assignment, in the cardiac-catheterization unit, to assist with ICU patients. She has two small children, and she is self-distancing when she is not at work. My 2-year-old, he doesnt understand why Mommy cant pick him up, she said. Death surrounds the Holy Name nursing staff as of Saturday morning, 48 patients had died since the hospital had its first confirmed case but the crisis has also deepened the sense of camaraderie. Were leaning on each other hard, Fitzpatrick said. Local restaurants and Girl Scout troops have continued to send meals and snacks. On Friday, three patients had been deemed healthy enough to be removed from ventilators, Jarrett said. When theres a victory, its incredible, he said. But it also means when someone doesnt make it, its just devastating. Tracey Tully c.2020 The New York Times Company New Delhi, April 6 : PNB Housing Finance Ltd will raise $75 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), with co-financing of $25 million by Citibank (Citi) for the purpose of providing affordable housing to low income households in India based on the Facility for Accelerating Financial Inclusion in Asia. "This would be JICA's first debt funding in the Housing Finance Sector in India. We look forward to having a long term relationship with them. In spite of the current lockdown, with our operational robustness and resilient human capital, the team worked relentlessly to have the agreement execut ed," Sanjaya Gupta, MD, PNBHF said. As on March 31, PNBHF has maintained sufficient liquidity of around Rs 7,588 crore (not considering its SLR investments) and has additional sanctioned but undrawn lines of Rs 3,994 crore and has serviced all its committed liabilities till date without exercising the moratorium option. On the business front, it closed the year at a healthy AUM of around Rs 84,000 crore with deposit mobilization of around Rs 9,200 crore in FY20. During nine months of FY20, its credit cost was 85bps. "Though, the impact of the changed scenario arising due to COVID-19 is getting worked out, as an organisation, we continue to be extremely vigilant and focused towards recovery initiatives. The loan spread is expected to be within the guided range of 200 to 215 bps for the current financial year," Gupta said. PNBHF will soon avail disbursement of this ECB facility. This is a long term facility of five years that would further help in balancing NBFC's ALM position. CLEVELAND, Ohio Masks ... and whether people should wear them whenever they venture outside ... again highlights differences in how Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and President Donald Trump are confronting the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis. Its one of the topics discussed by cleveland.com editor Chris Quinn in todays The Wake Up podcast. You can listen online here. How many people in Ohio are infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus? The Ohio Department of Health acknowledges it doesnt have an accurate number, but its hoping to change this. Meanwhile, the state says it is having difficulty tracking how many people in Ohio have recovered from the virus. And in Michigan, the number of infections is significantly higher than in Ohio. Quinn highlights some of the possible explanations. These stories and more are included in todays podcast. The podcast is a summary of cleveland.coms morning newsletter The Wake Up. You can receive The Wake Up through email at 5:30 a.m. each weekday by subscribing here. You can get our podcasts delivered directly to your phone, and we have an Apple podcasts channel exclusively for this podcast. Subscribe here. Do you get your podcasts on Spotify. Find us here. If you use Stitcher, we are here. RadioPublic is another popular podcast vehicle, and we are here. On Google Podcasts, we are here. On PodParadise, find us here. A 3,000-bed temporary hospital for non-coronavirus patients is set up by the Army Corps of Engineers inside the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. (Noam Galai/Getty Images) A deadly virus was spreading in China, killing 40% of its victims and threatening to burst into a major outbreak. In the U.S., the pandemic preparedness team at the White House's National Security Council (NSC) was tracking it daily, even as President Trump took office in those early days of 2017. The NSC team, called the Directorate for Global Health Security and Biodefense, had helmed the countrys preparations for months, coordinating health agencies, the State Department, and even the Pentagon to prepare for its spread to the U.S. That virus, H7N9, never did. Less than three years later, its successor the novel coronavirus broke out. But by then the directorate had been dismantled by the Trump administration. As a consequence, the pandemic response is now being steered by non-scientists: Vice President Mike Pence, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, and even the presidents son-in-law are jostling for control of a response marred by confusion and delays. It is unclear how the outbreak would have played out if the group had still been intact. But without a team that was trained to handle just such a pandemic drawing on itstheir experiences from SARS in 2002; H1N1 in 2009; Ebola in 2014; Zika in 2016 the United States was left without a vital rudder, experts and former NSC officials said. A war-room-like command center would have compelled action across disparate agencies to form a coherent and swift response, they say. Its pretty clear that, by not having an authoritative personality in the White House who understood what was at stake, the United States will pay a huge price," said J. Stephen Morrison, the director of the Global Health Policy Center at the bipartisan Center for Strategic and International Studies, who last year warned of the need to reinstate the directorate . "No one on high had the strategic urgency to see the bigger picture and say, We damn well better move rapidly, because if we dont, the consequences are going to be disastrous, Morrison said. Story continues The elite group was trained to distinguish the magnitude of a microscopic threat. It was meant to cut through red tape among agencies, pushing officials to detect and isolate the first U.S. cases to prevent spread. Backers say the team could have foreseen key problems, including testing roadblocks and gear shortages, that have worsened the crisis. The decision to disband the unit was made by then-national security advisor John Bolton. At the time, an NSC spokesman said the change was intended to reduce bureaucracy and streamline offices with similar missions. The administration was still strongly committed to pandemic preparedness, the spokesman said. The National Security Council did not respond to multiple inquiries from The Times. A report by CSIS in November 2019 urged that the Trump administration restore the National Security Council's health security directorate, saying the authorities currently in place were "insufficient" to address a global health threat. It remains unclear who would be in charge at the White House in the case of a grave pandemic threat or cross-border biological crisis," warned the report. The coronavirus may have already been spreading. Last month, when Trump was asked about the directorate's elimination, he called the inquiries "nasty" and said he knew nothing about it. But he also justified the layoffs of scientific experts across the agencies as efficient: Im a business person I dont like having thousands of people around when you dont need them. When we need them, we can get them back very quickly, he said. Critics say that was a fatal mistake, and contributed to the rapid spread of the virus. More than 300,000 Americans in 50 states have now tested positive for coronavirus, and more than 8,000 have died. Its like watching in slow-motion. It all could have been different, Morrison said. *** The NSC has included health security experts as part of its mission since at least the Clinton presidency, though their influence has varied with each administration. The pandemic response team was formalized into a directorate in 2016 under President Obama. With headquarters in the executive building directly east of the White House, the NSC had both the experience and authority to track biological threats and help extinguish them before they spread. The team included several of the world's leading biosecurity experts: Beth Cameron, a PhD biologist who had spent years leading a weapons of mass destruction program at the Pentagon; Dr. Luciana Borio, an infectious disease physician who headed the FDA's work on emerging threats; and Rear Adm. R. Timothy Ziemer, a U.S. Navy helicopter pilot whose tenure leading the U.S. malaria initiative drove down the world's malaria deaths by 40%. The unit had three main duties: to provide constant surveillance for a quick pandemic response; unify government agencies under one command; and to ensure that the White House conveyed scientifically sound information to the public. One of its main sources for disease intelligence was provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where a 24,000-square-foot emergency operation center is staffed around the clock to monitor real-time reports of potential outbreaks around the world. Digital screens cover the walls, using maps and intelligence feeds to evaluate early signals that a pathogen is taking hold in humans. But the CDC lacks authority to compel action, so it needs a megaphone: scientists right in the executive office of the president, who "already have the president's ear," said Andrew Weber, who served as Obama's assistant defense secretary for biological threats. In 2009, at the urging of national security experts, the Obama administration declared a public health emergency 11 days after the first U.S. case of H1N1 was detected. By contrast, during the coronavirus outbreak, it took Trump more than seven weeks after the first U.S. case to declare a national emergency. Also during H1N1, Obama and members of the Public Health Service took to the podium at least twice a week for months. The CDC worked in tandem, inviting reporters to informational seminars in Atlanta, urging them to help combat false news. During the coronavirus outbreak, Trump and Azar have continually contradicted experts. When Nancy Messonnier, the head of the CDC's respiratory disease program, announced that community spread was not a question of if but when, Trump rebutted, saying the country could soon be down to just one or two people left with the virus. Messonnier has not conducted a public briefing since March 9. "The White House should be clearing its messaging with scientists, not the reverse, said Lawrence Gostin, director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center on National and Global Health Law. Its a tone-deaf move that makes the public worry that this is political and that they arent getting unvarnished, evidence-based advice. The National Security Council's team was designed to spring into action in crises. During the Ebola outbreak, NSC staff oversaw an intense operation to transport infected Americans in isolation units back to care facilities in the U.S. The coronavirus response, by contrast, has been plagued with coordination problems from the start. Pentagon and Health and Human Services officials sparred over where a flight carrying Americans fleeing Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak in China, should land, even as they were airborne. Later that month, HHS staff were haphazardly sent to military bases without proper protective gear to greet Americans from China, a whistleblower said in a complaint. The National Security Council played a proactive role in 2013 as well. After a novel coronavirus called Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS, began circulating in Saudi Arabia, agency scientists held a closed-door meeting with top U.S. hospital officials to gauge gaps in the countrys preparedness. They returned to Washington with a plan to expand specialized treatment chambers and train infectious disease nurses. Similarly, when H7N9 ramped up in late 2016 the lethal strain of avian influenza that had begun resisting drugs in China the National Security Council unrolled plans years in the making. They coordinated preparations with the Pentagon; brought in State Department officials to discuss diplomacy; and enlisted the CDC to seek out early genetic information about the strain to design new vaccines and treatments. The NSCs job tends to be thinking from the 30,000-foot level: Where are the seams? What could happen in the weeks and months ahead that nobody else is thinking about? said Cameron, who served on Obamas Ebola task force and then led the directorate. A 69-page pandemic "playbook" written by the directorate in 2016 attempted just that, detailing how to procure vital supplies during an outbreak. But that guidance has gone disregarded as the coronavirus response runs short of masks and ventilators. "You know, we're not a shipping clerk," Trump said. Diagnostic testing has also revealed a stark contrast in approaches toward pandemic response. During H1N1, the Food and Drug Administration coordinated with the CDC to approve a diagnostic test less than two weeks after the first case was detected in California. But during the coronavirus outbreak, delays in testing supplies and approvals have left the United States exponentially behind other nations. Trump said the challenges they faced were due to "uncharted territory." "Nobody knew there would be a pandemic or an epidemic of this proportion," Trump said last month. "I would view it as something that just surprised the whole world. And if people would have known about it, it could have stopped." Health experts, though unsurprised, agree with his final point: It could have been. In a national security crisis, the president needs experienced generals by his side. He needs the brightest minds in biological threats to advise him, Gostin said. And now, we are faced with one of the seminal biological events of the century, and they cant decide whos in charge. A four-year-old tiger at the Bronx Zoo has tested positive for coronavirus, likely the first case involving an animal in the US. Nadia and six other big cats were symptomatic with a dry cough and were believed to have been infected by an asymptomatic member of the zoo staff. The cat was tested "out of an abundance" of caution and the animals are reportedly doing well under veterinary care. Nadia and her sister Azul, along with two other tigers and three lions are experiencing Covid-19 symptoms, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society. The organisation says the test was confirmed by the USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratory. Other than experiencing a decrease in appetite, the animals are "bright, alert and interactive with their keepers," the organisation said in a statement. "It is not known how this disease will develop in big cat since different species can react differently to novel infections, but we will continue to monitor them closely and anticipate full recoveries." The tiger began experiencing symptoms on 27 March, according to the USDA. USDA officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "are monitoring the situation and working to support the state and local health departments and state animal health officials," the agency said in a statement. "State animal and public health officials will take the lead in making determinations about whether animals, either at this zoo or in other areas, should be tested for [coronavirus]." The agency has recommended that anyone experiencing Covid-19 symptoms should "restrict contact with animals, out of an abundance of caution, including pets, during their illness, just as they would with other people." Though there have not been any reports of pets becoming sick with the virus in the US, the agency is recommending people "limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus." The New York City zoo is closed during the pandemic but its essential staff is caring for the 6,000 animals inside. Four other zoos and aquariums in the city including the Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, Queens Zoo and New York Aquarium also closed on 16 March. The American Veterinary Medical Association has reported several cases of domestic animals and pets testing positive for the virus, mostly in China, where the virus is believed to have originated, but no confirmed cases of infections in house cats. "There is no evidence that animals play a role in the transmission of Covid-19 to people other than the initial event in the Wuhan market, and no evidence that any person has been infected with Covid-19 in the US by animals, including by pet dogs or cats," according to the Wildlife Conservation Society. LANSING A Democratic state representative from Detroit is crediting hydroxychloroquine and Republican President Donald Trump who touted the drug for saving her in her battle with the coronavirus. State Rep. Karen Whitsett, who learned Monday she has tested positive for COVID-19, said she started taking hydroxychloroquine on March 31, prescribed by her doctor, after both she and her husband sought treatment for a range of symptoms on March 18. "It was less than two hours" before she started to feel relief, said Whitsett, who had experienced shortness of breath, swollen lymph nodes, and what felt like a sinus infection. She is still experiencing headaches, she said. Rep. Karen Whitsett Whitsett said she was familiar with "the wonders" of hydroxychloroquine from an earlier bout with Lyme disease, but does not believe she would have thought to ask for it, or her doctor would have prescribed it, had Trump not been touting it as a possible treatment for COVID-19. Trump, at his daily coronavirus briefings, has repeatedly touted the drug in combination with the antibiotic azithromycin, despite criticism from health professionals that it is unproven and potentially dangerous. There have also been complaints that Trump's remarks have resulted in a shortage of the drug for those people who normally use it for its recommended purposes. But Whitsett said Trump's comments helped in her case. "It has a lot to do with the president ... bringing it up," Whitsett said. "He is the only person who has the power to make it a priority." More: Second Michigan lawmaker diagnosed with COVID-19 as Legislature prepares to vote Tuesday More: Legislative leaders at odds over extending Gov. Whitmer's emergency declaration Asked if she thinks Trump may have saved her life, Whitsett said: "Yes, I do," and "I do thank him for that." Hydroxychloroquine is used to prevent and treat malaria and also used to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, among other ailments. Story continues Whitsett said she has been taking it in combination with antibiotics. Whitsett said her husband works as an engineer at Detroit Metropolitan Airport and the couple believes he was exposed at work. He is still awaiting the results of his COVID-19 test, she said. She's also lost people close to her through COVID-19 a fellow Detroit lawmaker and a member of the clergy, among others and said the entire experience has been scary. "This is a very uncertain time," she said. "As a lawmaker, I want to be sure, but I'm not always sure." Among her symptoms was an inability to comfortably bend her head down to look at her phone, she said. "There have been pandemics before, so we do know that there will be an end to it." According to the Centers for Disease Control, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19. Those with mild symptoms are advised to stay home, self-isolate, get lots of rest, and stay hydrated. Those with severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, should seek medical treatment, the CDC says. Whitsett, a freshman lawmaker, was a community activist in Detroit before her election. She said too many people in Detroit are still not taking the virus seriously, and that needs to change. "I see it in my own community not being quarantined and still having house parties," she said. Asked what she thinks of Trump's handling of the pandemic more generally, Whitsett said she credits Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan's relationship with Trump for helping to get the city what it needs to fight the virus. Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4. Read more on Michigan politics and sign up for our elections newsletter. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Karen Whitsett credits hydroxychloroquine, Trump in coronavirus fight [April 06, 2020] K Health and LSU Partner for Louisiana Statewide COVID-19 Relief LSU, the state's flagship university, and K Health, a virtual primary care service, today announced a partnership that will provide free access to doctors via telemedicine for all Louisiana residents throughout the month of April. This partnership is the first of its kind to provide free care on a state level for millions of residents to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information about public health in Louisiana and up-to-date resources, click here. Residents with smartphones can text with board-certified doctors to discuss their symptoms and receive care from home. As many state residents struggle to find access to doctors, this partnership will enable people worried about COVID-19 symptoms to connect with doctors who can recommend testing, treatments, and the most appropriate course of action. Dr. Rebekah Gee, CEO of LSU Health Care Services Division says, "In this time of uncertainty, LSU is here for you. Many symptoms of COVID can be treated at home-and that is the best place to stay if possible. LSU and K Health are proud to offer free services to the public and access to a physician during this critical time." Given the recent spike in COVID-19 cases across Louisiana and the urgent need to reduce pressure on health systems, this partnership will let more doctors reach more patients through virtual text chats, and when the doctor recommends it, video and phone chats. Most COVID-19 cases can be treated remotely, and the effort is designed to decrease 911 calls and traffic to local emergency rooms. LSU deeply understands the healthcare needsof its citizens, and as part of the community, is focused on supporting people right now. Partnering with K Health brings some relief to the community via telemedicine to help the growing numbers of people deeply affected by COVID-19. "We stand with Louisiana during this pandemic, and we have tremendous respect for LSU, their doctors, and the local medical community that's tirelessly working to keep people safe and healthy," said Allon Bloch, co-founder and CEO of K Health. "At a time where Louisianans are being hit particularly hard, we want to do our part by giving free access to our technology that connects people to doctors, throughout the month of April and hopefully beyond. In partnership with LSU, our goal is to see people getting treatment while also preserving the emergency rooms for the most critical patients." The initiative encourages Louisiana residents with all non-critical medical concerns to first speak to their primary care physician. If the patient doesn't have a primary care physician or can't reach them, download the K Health app for free in the App Store and Google Play to speak to a doctor before calling 911 or going to a local emergency room. First-time users will be asked to complete a profile with their medical history. After the request is received by a physician, the user will receive a text notification that a doctor will be available to chat within minutes. More information about the partnership is available at: https://lsu.khealth.ai/ To follow announcements concerning LSUHN facilities and Healthcare Network news, visit https://www.lsuhn.com/covid-19-updates/ . About K Health K Health is a digital health company that offers free personalized healthcare. K is trained to ask smart questions about symptoms and to account for medical history, age, gender, and other biomarkers as it investigates each user's health. Users can then chat with a doctor for fast, personalized care. K has millions of users and is frequently the #1 downloaded app in the App Store's medical category. The company is headquartered in New York City. About LSU As the flagship institution of the state, the vision of Louisiana State University is to be a leading research-extensive university, challenging undergraduate and graduate students to achieve the highest levels of intellectual and personal development. Designated as a Land, Sea, and Space Grant institution, the mission of Louisiana State University is the generation, preservation, dissemination, and application of knowledge and cultivation of the arts. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005676/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Frankfurt, April 6 : The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Germany climbed to 91,714 as of 0:00 local time on Sunday, with a death toll of 1,342, according to data from Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the country's disease control authority. The confirmed cases were 5,936 more than the previous day, reported Xinhua news agency. Meanwhile, the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) on Sunday called on the federal government to introduce a second aid package to support the economy, according to the German Press Agency (DPA). On March 25, German parliament approved a historic 750-billion-euro (US $810 billion) aid package to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy. DPA quoted DIHK President Eric Schweitzer as saying that the economy is suffering more from the pandemic than it was in mid-March and that "the chain reactions are increasing across the economy." According to Schweitzer, a DIHK survey showed that almost one in five businesses were threatened with bankruptcy, including previously healthy medium-sized businesses. In several German cities, police have moved to enforce the social distancing rules as people went to enjoy the spring outdoors over the weekend. German media Focus Online reported that security officers and police in Dusseldorf dissolved a crowd of around 200 people on the Rhine on Sunday in order to maintain the prescribed distance between people. Also on Sunday, the online version of Frankfurter Allgemeine quoted Holger Hackstein, head of the department for transfusion medicine at University Hospital Erlangen, as saying that the hospital has received regulatory approval for the production of therapeutic plasma to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients. The university clinic had already called on former COVID-19 patients to donate blood plasma over the past few days, according to the report. A care worker who has died from suspected coronavirus has been named by her family as Carol Jamabo. The 56-year-old mother-of-two is believed to be the first UK care worker to die after contracting Covid-19. She worked as a carer in the community for Cherish Elderly Care in Bury, Greater Manchester, before falling ill two weeks ago and eventually passing away last Wednesday, her family said. Ms Jamabo became suddenly unwell while at home with her youngest son and was then rushed to hospital. Over the following days her condition rapidly deteriorated, according to her nephew, Dakuro Fiberesima, from Purfleet, Essex. 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 She was transferred to an intensive care unit and put on a ventilator at Salford Royal Hospital but could not be saved. She did suffer from asthma, but is not thought to have had any major underlying health conditions. Her youngest son has also now tested positive for the virus, according to the family. Mr Fiberesima said: It happened so rapidly. No one was by her side. With the ventilator decision, you just get a call they are planning to turn the ventilator off. You wonder if you were there, whether that would make a difference? She was such a popular person, there would have been people there to fight her corner so to speak. The youngest son is in a terrible position. He was extremely close to her. He was living with her. She was just an amazing aunt. Growing up in an African background, the aunts are very strict, but she was fun and had such a positive character. She would have been well deserving of a round of applause for her hard work and commitment over the years. Boris Johnson spends night in hospital over Covid-19 symptoms A devout Christian, Ms Jamabo served the public as a key worker for over 25 years, after moving to the UK from Nigeria in the early 1990s. She previously worked in both the prison service and as an NHS administrator at Guys and St Thomas Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London. Most recently, she worked as a carer in the community after moving from the south east to Bury to be closer to her two children, Tonye Selema, 25, and Abiye Selema, 22, a student at Leeds University. Mr Fiberesima, writing a tribute on a Go Fund Me website page appealing for donations to help the family pay for her funeral costs, said: She was a fun loving person with many friends and will be remembered for her uplifting, joyful and enthusing personality. Words cannot describe the damaging and destructive impact her passing will have to her work colleagues, friends, family and most painfully, her two children. With the goodness of your heart, please kindly donate what you can to support her family and two children to raise the necessary funds for the funeral costs in this painfully sad and upsetting time. May God bless you and help us all through this challenging period. More than 5,400 has been raised to date for the family via the Go Fund Me page, surpassing the target of 4,500 to pay for the funeral. Donations can be made here.. The bomb disposal squad of the army on Monday destroyed two live mortar shells fired by Pakistani troops to target forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. The 81 mm shells had remained unexploded during the recent cross-border shelling by Pakistan and were noticed in the Balakote sector, they said. The officials said the army experts rushed to the spot and later safely destroyed the mortar shells. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Ruby Princess is biggest single source of coronavirus cases in Australia and is now under criminal investigation. The Ruby Princess, a cruise ship that has become the biggest single source of coronavirus cases in Australia, docked at a port in southern New South Wales (NSW) on Monday so crew in need of urgent medical treatment could be brought ashore. The New South Wales police earlier announced a criminal investigation into the Ruby Princess, which is owned by Carnival Corp, after its 2,700 passengers were allowed to disembark in Sydney on March 19. A Carnival Australia spokesman said on Monday the company would cooperate with the probe. In addition to willingly participating in the investigation, Carnival Australia will vigorously respond to any allegations of which there must now be full disclosure and the basis for them, the spokesman said in emailed comments. The investigation will focus on communications and actions that led to the docking and disembarking of the ships passengers to see whether national biosecurity laws or state laws were broken, NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said on Sunday. There have been at least 360 COVID-19 cases, including crew members, associated with the Ruby Princess. At least six of them are reported to have died, making up at least one-sixth of Australias total death toll of 36 as of Monday, the Australian government said. Australia has 5,687 confirmed cases of the disease. Ban on cruise ships State health authorities had classified the ship as low risk because it had sailed from Sydney to New Zealand and the Australian Border Force issued a notice allowing the passengers to travel home freely. They were required to self-isolate for 14 days. The ship, with the remaining 1,040 crew from 50 different countries on board, docked at Port Kembla, south of Sydney, on Monday. Two crew members were taken ashore for medical help, and more would be taken off if necessary for health reasons, Fuller said. They all have to remain in isolation for 10 days. Cruise ships have accounted for approximately a fifth of Australias confirmed COVID-19 cases. The government banned cruise ships from docking except for emergencies as of mid-March. The country has seen a sharp drop off in new cases over the past week, after the country imposed tight new measures limiting public gatherings to two people, shutting pubs, restaurants and gyms, closing state borders and sending all international arrivals into hotel quarantine for 14 days. We are seeing some early positive signs as a result of the restrictions were putting in place, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters on Monday. State Rep. Karen Whitsett, D-Detroit, is the second Michigan legislator confirmed to have tested positive for the coronavirus. House Democratic Leader Cristine Greig, D-Farmington Hills, said Whitsett is doing well and appears to be on the other side of the illness in a Monday statement. Whitsett did not attend a March 17 session of the Legislature and has remained self-quarantined since becoming ill, according to the release. I also am praying for her speedy recovery, and for the safety of his friends and family, Grief said in a statement. Rep. Whitsetts positive result in another reminder that everyone must follow the recommended guidelines and practice social distancing to stop the spread of this virus. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms should contact their medical provider. Whitsett is the second House Democrat to test positive for COVID-19. State Rep. Tyrone Carter, D-Detroit, was also confirmed to carry the coronavirus. State Rep. Isaac Robinson, D-Detroit, died on March 29. He was not tested for COVID-19 before his death, but multiple reports have linked his health issues to the coronavirus. Grieg previously said Carter is recovering from the infectious respiratory disease. There are 15,718 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 617 deaths in Michigan, as of Sunday, though public health experts expect there are many more cases that have not yet been identified. A vast majority of cases are in Detroit, which accounts for nearly 29% of all cases in Michigan. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expressed concerns that the Legislature plans to convene Tuesday under special precautions. Any grouping of people that are coming from different parts of the state and then returning to different parts of the state is concerning, Whitmer said. I dont run the Legislature. The speaker of the House runs the House and the Senate majority leader runs the Senate. I made sure that they understand how serious the situation is and what my thoughts were but ultimately, thats their determination. PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores. Complete coverage of coronavirus in Michigan. Read more on MLive: Conoravirus upends Michigans Class of 2020: This isnt the senior year that anyone wanted' Monday, April 6: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan $7M economic impact predicted after coronavirus cancels dozens of sports events in Kalamazoo WDIV-TV anchor, Evrod Cassimy, recovered from coronavirus, describes most excruciating pain Ive ever felt Whitmer says patchwork response to coronavirus with no national strategy could prolong fight Beaumont urges state to make more hospitals release data on coronavirus Grammy-winning Artist Lecrae and Non-Profit Install Sinks for Homeless Amid Pandemic The content is not available due to expiration. Few things irritate more than signing up to a SaaS product only to find that most of its features arent available in trial version or that it isnt what you expected it to be. And this happening during the lockdown can be further frustrating. Nimesh Shah, a serial entrepreneur and CEO, Xebra BizTech, puts together this list of 4 SaaS applications that have a free version and will help the company work seamlessly and also not add to their expenses. Zoom allows users to carry out to collaborate and work with each. Right from organizing meeting to video conferencing, you can do it all with its free version plan. Be in touch with your customers and value add by carrying out webinars. Or use it to conduct training sessions for your teams. It has scaled up significantly during this lockdown period. Microsoft is offering a 6-month free trial of special Office 365 E1 Trial license available in response to the increased need for employees to work from home. This E1 pack allows users to get these features: Email, file storage, meetings, file sharing and instant messaging. You can also use Microsoft Stream to easily create, manage, and share videos securely across your organisation. It is a business financial suite for Start-ups & SMEs operating in the B2B space. It merges all modules on business intelligence, invoicing, expense recording, asset monitoring, Employee payroll, tax calculation, banking and accounting. The highlight is the detailed financial analysis in graphs that are easy to understand even for a non-accounting background entrepreneur. Right from knowing your profitable clients to the services/ products that are generating maximum profits. From studying the credit history of each client to calculating companys risk score, its all in here. Zendesk software is used for user support, sales and customer engagement. All the conversations flow in seamlessly and available to the agent to handle centrally. Also, Zendesk can be integrated with other apps like Slack and TymeShift for better co-ordination. It offers a 6-month complimentary remote support bundle. Nurses sang a dying coronavirus patient's favourite song while she said her final goodbyes and took her last breath. Brenda Evans, 69, died at Salford Royal Hospital on Thursday after testing positive for the deadly infection. As the nurses on her ward tried to prepare her for the end, they asked her what her favourite song was. Mrs Evans, who suffered from underlying health conditions, told them she loved The Sound of Music from the 1965 hit musical, so they played it for her and began to sing along. Her sister Linda, who was allowed a short goodbye under exceptional circumstances, sung along too and she peacefully passed away. Brenda Evan's daughter Lisa Matthews (pictured) revealed how nurses sang to her as she took her final breaths NHS hospitals across the country have banned visitors to help stem the spread of the virus. Salford Royal are letting one visitor see coronavirus patients in some special circumstances. Mrs Evan's niece Lisa Matthews, from Manchester, paid tribute to the nurses on Facebook. She wrote: 'As the nurses were helping calm down Brenda's breathing they asked my mum what was Brenda's favourite song. Mum told them it was The Sound of Music'. Brenda Evans, 69, died at Salford Royal Hospital (pictured) on Thursday after testing positive for coronavirus Nurses at Salford Royal put on The Sound of Music from the 1965 musical (Julie Andrews pictured in the film) 'Then when mum began comforting her sister, the nurses began to play The Sound of Music for Brenda to help her in her final breaths. 'As mum looked on, each of the nurses began to join in with the words and sang along to the song around Brenda's bed, so mum joined in and sang along too. 'She said it was so lovely of them and as the song played Brenda then settled and passed away peacefully.' Mrs Evans' family said she 'was not strong enough' to fight the virus after suffering a number of underlying health issues. Mrs Matthews said she wrote the social media post 'to share our story about the special NHS nurses from Salford Royal Hospital'. Her niece Lisa Matthews paid tribute to the nurses at Salford Royal on Facebook She added: 'It's the sadness and heartache that we couldn't be there to be with our auntie in her last hours but not being able to hug and comfort our mum too is breaking our hearts. 'But knowing she had the support from the nurses being there with her and knowing her sister was in the best care made it so special. 'We thank all the NHS staff throughout the country but we say a very special thank you to the nurses on ward L6 at Salford Royal Hospital 'You will be always remembered in our hearts for the special care you gave our auntie.' Dr Pete Turkington, Chief Officer and Medical Director at Salford Royal, said the tales of care and compassion - even during these uncertain times - were outstanding. He told Mail Online: 'First I would like to offer my condolences to the patient's family during what is an incredibly difficult time. I would also like to thank them for taking the time to share this wonderful feedback on social media to highlight the wonderful teams we have here at Salford Royal. 'Even during such pressured and uncertain times, the compassion and professionalism shown by our staff makes me immensely proud. 'We are experiencing unprecedented challenges in the NHS and our colleagues both in the hospital and working out in the community are working incredibly hard to keep our patients, service users and each other as safe as possible. 'When supporting a patient and their loved ones during end of life care we only get one chance to get it right. Well done to the team on ward L6 for ensuring this patient and her family were given caring and compassionate support during what is such an upsetting time.' Today Britain's coronavirus death toll increased by 403 victims to 5,368, with 47,806 confirmed cases nationwide. Medical professionals administer COVID-19 tests at the Bondi Beach drive-through COVID-19 testing center on April 6, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images) Mystery QLD Cases Spark Extra Virus Tests Extra testing for COVID-19 will be rolled out in parts of Queensland due to 32 cases whose sources remain unaccounted for. Officials dont know how or where a handful of people became infected, sparking an order for increased testing from Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. It wasnt from someone who had been overseas, it wasnt from a confirmed case, Palaszczuk said on April 6. Im going to be asking healthcare workers to increase the people they are testing, even if they dont have any travel history. And Ive asked for that to be done in the Gold Coast, in Brisbane and in Cairns, because thats where weve seen those cases. Fourteen new cases of the virus were confirmed on Monday, bringing the states infection total to 921, with 173 people now fully recovered. Twelve of the 43 Queenslanders in hospital are in intensive care, with 10 on ventilators. The states death toll stands at five. The latest figures come as The Royal Queensland Show has been cancelled and Gold Coast beaches at The Spit, Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta have been closed due to the CCP virus (Chinese Communist Party), commonly known as novel coronavirus. Organisers announced on Monday the agriculture show known as The Ekka would not go ahead in August amid a state-wide shutdown to stem the spread of the infection. It is the third time the event has been called off in its 143 years. It was previously cancelled in 1919 due to the Spanish Flu epidemic and in 1942 when the Brisbane Showgrounds were used as a World War II staging depot. The showgrounds have been earmarked as a location for a temporary COVID-19 treatment centre for patient overflows from hospitals. New diagnoses of the virus have slowed in Queensland in recent days, but Health Minister Steven Miles says the crisis is far from over. The state government will pay for accommodation to house health staff who cannot go home after their shift for various reasons. For whatever reason, their household circumstances means that they dont feel safe to be going home or quarantining at home, Miles said. They might have a child with an immune disorder. They might have an elderly parent living with them, and all of those things can be taken into account. He heaped praise on people whove been following orders to stay at home to prevent the kind of mass deaths seen in Europe. But the states overall tally continues to rise, and some chief health officers have warned about reading too much into the weekend figures, when fewer tests are carried out. Miles says hes disgusted with those who blatantly flout social distancing rules. Fifty-eight people were slapped with coronavirus infringement fines worth a total of $77,000 on Saturday night after police broke up a gathering at an industrial car park in Rochedale. Gold Coast beaches will be closed from Tuesday night after massive crowds flocked to the seaside over the weekend. People living outside the area have been told to stay away. Meanwhile, the Queensland Nurses Union has received complaints about some of its members being abused in public while wearing their uniforms. Secretary Beth Mohle says shes gobsmacked and people should remember that nurses are going to work to treat everyone, not just coronavirus patients. By Sonia Kohlbacher and Tracey Ferrier Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 6) Multi-awarded actress Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo has joined the growing list of celebrities and influential figures who have pledged to support the country's frontliners confronting the uncertainties of COVID-19 pandemic. The queen of drama series told CNN Philippines that she will be donating parts of her earnings from her YouTube cooking channel Judy Ann's Kitchen for the procurement of medical supplies and essential needs of frontliners. "For me to be able to help more, I realized with Judy Ann Kitchen's YouTube channel, every episode na panoorin nila (that they watch), and they do not skip the ads, parts of the proceeds ng Judy Ann's kitchen will be contributed to the medical supplies and the food for our frontliners," Santos-Agoncillo said in an interview with The Source. In her previous posts on social media, the "Starla" actress also shared how she personally cooked and prepared meals for the COVID-19 fighters. "Sa aming mga frontliners, maraming salamat po sa serbisyo (to our frontliners, thank you for the service)," read a note pasted on the foods packs she prepared. Santos-Agoncillo admitted the food donation will be challenging to sustain in the long run, given the limited supply available in the markets. But the actress said she would continue to help "as much as possible" and make do with what she has now. "As much as you really want to help people, ang hirap kumilos (it's hard to move around, get what you need),"Santos-Agoncillo said. "But we get by with whatever we have here at home." "As a public figure, and at the same time as a tax payer, gusto mong i-extend 'yung tulong na 'yun (you want to extend that help)," she added. Several other celebrities including Angel Locsin and Bela Padilla have started fund raisers to help those in need due to COVID-19 crisis. READ: Actress campaign for quarantine-affected street vendors exceeds donation goal As of Sunday, the Philippines has recorded 3,246 COVID-19 cases, including 152 deaths and 64 recoveries. The rapid spread of the disease prompted the national government to impose an enhanced community quarantine, leaving many Filipinos jobless. Monthly allocations to the three tiers of government from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) would henceforth be augmented from the Stabilisation Fund until the end of the current economic crisis caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. To address the emerging revenue shortfalls, the finance minister, Zainab Ahmed, said President Buhari approved the withdrawal of $150 million from the Stabilization Fund managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) to support the June 2020 FAAC disbursement. The Stabilization Fund is a special fund established by the Federal Government to conserve funds the government can draw from to cushion the impact of a serious economic crisis and national emergencies. The government is exploring other options to augment FAAC disbursements over the course of the 2020 fiscal year and the crisis, the minister said. Also, states have been granted moratorium on interest and capital payments on debts owed to the Federation until the monthly FAAC receipts improve. These were part of palliatives unveiled by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, at the formal launch in Abuja on Monday of the N500 billion fiscal stimulus measures introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The minister said President Muhammadu Buhari has already given her ministry approval to engage with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on moratorium for states on Federal Government and CBN-funded loans. She said this arrangement would help to create fiscal space for the states, given the projected shortfalls in FAAC allocations in recent times. Consequently, once monthly average FAAC revenue receipts fall below a specific threshold, interest and capital payments by states are to be suspended till monthly average FAAC receipts exceed the threshold. The details of this Moratorium will be expeditiously worked out with a view to submitting the final proposals for Mr. Presidents guidance and final approvals, the Minister announced. This intervention is vital to create fiscal space for the States, as they deal with the health and economic impact of the Coronavirus crisis. States will also be encouraged to explore similar arrangements for their outstanding debts to Commercial Banks, she added. Recent FAAC Stalemate The FAAC meeting for February held a fortnight ago ended in a stalemate following the rejection of the amount presented for sharing by the revenue-generating agencies. Members of the Committee, mainly Finance commissioners and Accountants-General of the 36 states, their Federal Government counterparts and the Federal Capital Territory, rejected the amount because it fell far below the agreed threshold. In December 2018, a special FAAC Committee constituted to draw the guidelines on revenue transfer into and withdrawals from the accounts had recommended a minimum amount to be shared every month and the transfer to the excess crude oil account. The committees recommended that whenever the net distributable revenues available for sharing falls below N680 billion, funds should be withdrawn from the excess crude oil account (ECA) to raise the revenue to at least N680 billion. READ ALSO: On the other hand, where the net distributable revenue is between N680 billion and N730 billion, up to about N50 billion should be transferred into the ECA as saving. If the net distributable revenue for the month is between N730 billion and N830 billion, up to about N100 billion should be transferred to the ECA, or a minimum of N150 billion, if the figure is above N830 billion. However, with the impact of the coronavirus on oil exports, the amount presented for sharing by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other revenue agencies for sharing was far below the benchmark amount, hence the stalemate. Impact of COVID-19 Based on the fiscal assumptions in the 2020 Appropriation Act, the Finance Minister said monthly FAAC disbursements to the three tiers of government were projected at about N888.5 billion. Due to the significant drop in international crude oil prices, she said FAAC monthly disbursement in January declined to about N716.3 billion and N647.4 billion in February 2020. For the Federal and State governments to meet their current obligations, the Minister said monthly average FAAC receipts should average about N650 billion. However, Mrs Ahmed said projections based on current global economic reality was that monthly receipts may decline to below N400 billion over the next three to six months. (Bloomberg) -- More signs emerged that the crisis may be easing in some areas, sending stocks soaring. Italy, France, Germany and Spain reported lower numbers of new cases. In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo said deaths were showing indications of hitting a plateau. U.K. deaths slowed for a second day, even as they passed the grim milestone of 5,000. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was hospitalized Sunday after 10 days in isolation, was moved to an intensive-care unit. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon said he expects a major economic downturn and stress similar to the crisis that almost brought down the U.S. financial system in 2008. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said hell propose a state of emergency in some prefectures. Key Developments: Global cases top 1.3 million; deaths exceed 73,000: Johns HopkinsU.S. deaths surpass 10,000: Johns HopkinsTrump, Biden spoke by phone about the outbreakMilken Conference postponed a second time to OctoberDenmark, Austria began to relax measuresNew York state lockdown extended to April 29 Denmark Joins Austria in Easing Curbs (4:38 p.m. NY) Denmark joined Austria in announcing a gradual relaxation of measures imposed to slow the coronaviruss spread. The country will press ahead with a cautious reopening starting with kindergartens and primary schools on April 15 if the virus numbers remain stable, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said. The government will also start talks with business leaders on gradually moving employees back into offices. Austria said earlier that it would take its first steps toward restarting its economy. The two countries were among the first in Europe to shut down public life in response to the outbreak. Wisconsin Governor Delays Tuesday Primary (3:15 p.m. NY) Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers suspended in-person voting just hours before the states primary was scheduled to begin, though the order could be subject to a court challenge. Story continues Although 15 states and Puerto Rico have already postponed their primaries amid the coronavirus pandemic, Wisconsins Republican-controlled legislature has rejected requests by Evers, a Democrat, to delay the states in-person voting on Tuesday. Everss executive order delays in-person voting until June 9 unless the legislature acts to change it. French Cases Leveling Off (1:50 p.m. NY) France reported a continued leveling-off of cases, signaling that confinement measures are starting to contain the crisis. The country had 3,912 new confirmed cases on Monday, fewer than it reported in five out of the past seven days, according to figures presented by Health Minister Olivier Veran. Deaths from the virus rose by 833 to 8,911, Veran said. The pressure is still very great on hospitals, enormous -- the confinement has to continue, Veran said. Still, he said there was some reason for optimism. We can see that the confinement has a palpable effect in France, were starting to feel it. Read more here WHO May Announce Move This Week to Accelerate Vaccine (1:30 p.m. NY) A new program to accelerate vaccine development and production may be announced this week, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press briefing in Geneva. The difficulty for governments right now is that lockdowns are proving effective in dampening the flames of the epidemic in those countries, but those lockdowns are also causing great economic hardship, said Mike Ryan, head of the WHOs health emergencies program. Still, he said it would probably be very inadvisable to lift a lockdown completely all at once. Once you raise the lockdown, you have to have an alternative method to suppress the virus -- active case finding, testing, isolation, tracking of contacts and strong community education, Ryan said. N.Y. Deaths May Signal Possible Plateau (1:10 p.m. NY) New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said deaths from the coronavirus pandemic were showing signs of hitting a plateau in the state that has become the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak. The challenge, he cautioned Monday, is to maintain the social distancing that has finally pointed New York toward a possible peak in fatalities. For a second day in a row, the percentage increase in the death toll was less than 10%, a turnabout from numbers about twice as large barely a week ago. The peak of the outbreak could fall on the earlier side of the states models showing that it could take anywhere from a week to 30 days for the situation to hit its worse. I get that people are cooped up, Cuomo said in his daily press briefing. But, we get reckless, we change and were not compliant on social distancing, youll see those numbers go up again. He doubled the fine for social-distancing violations to $1,000. Italys New Virus Infections Lowest in Almost Three Weeks (12:20 p.m. NY) Italy reported the lowest number of new coronavirus infections in nearly three weeks, prompting debate over how and when the country should start emerging from a nationwide lockdown. Civil protection authorities reported 3,599 new cases of the disease on Monday, compared with 4,316 a day earlier. Italy registered 636 new deaths linked to the virus, compared with 525 the day before. That brings the total number of fatalities to 16,523. Italy, once the epicenter for Europe, now has fewer cases than Spain and the U.S. California to Send Ventilators to National Stockpile (12:16 p.m. NY) California, which has yet to see its hospitals overrun by patients, plans to loan 500 state-owned ventilators to the national stockpile. Were aggressively preparing for a surge -- but we cant turn our backs on Americans whose lives depend on having a ventilator now, Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement. With the New York area experiencing a supply shortage, other states are stepping in to assist. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said this weekend that Oregon offered to send 140 ventilators to his state. Merkel Says Too Soon to Ease Lockdown (11:43 a.m. NY) Its too early for Germany to set a date for easing its lockdown, Chancellor Angela Merkel said, holding her first press conference since returning from 12 days of self-confinement after being exposed to Covid-19. She reiterated her support for the use of the European Stability Mechanism and the European Commissions proposal for job protection, and said the continent will need a plan for reconstruction after the pandemic subsides. At least three tests showed she was free of the virus. Philippines Likely to Extend Lockdown (11:43 a.m. NY) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said hes inclined to extend a lockdown of more than half the countrys population on its main island until April 30 to further stem the coronavirus outbreak. Duterte, in an address late Monday, also said hes considering tweaking this years 4.1 trillion-peso ($80.8 billion) budget to allocate more funds to virus response, as some 200 billion pesos set aside for cash grants to poor families wont be enough. Israel Cuts Rates for First Time Since 2015 (9:33 a.m. NY) The Bank of Israel shifted course by cutting interest rates and adding new market-based tools. After playing down the potential for cheaper borrowing costs, the monetary committee on Monday reduced the key rate back down to the all-time low of 0.1% from 0.25%. Hong Kong Extends Ban on Nonresident Entry (9:22 a.m. NY) The citys airport will also continue to halt all transit services until further notice, according to a government statement. The original rules were set to expire by April 7. Germany Plans Limitless Aid Program for Small Companies (8:44 a.m. NY) German Chancellor Angela Merkels government announced a new limitless aid program for small- and medium-sized companies. The program for loan guarantees is the latest measure introduced by the government, which says Europes largest economy might contract even more this year than the 5% drop caused by the global financial crisis in 2008 and 2009. Inovio Begins Phase 1 Human Trial of Vaccine (8:41 a.m. NY) Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc. began a phase 1 human trial of its Covid-19 vaccine, INO-4800. Animal studies show promising immune responses, the company said. Glaxo to Develop Covid-19 Drugs in $250 Million Partnership (8:14 a.m.) U.K. pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline Plc is joining dozens of companies in the hunt for therapies to treat the illness caused by the coronavirus, signing a partnership with Vir Biotechnology Inc. and agreeing to invest $250 million in the U.S. company. South Africas Economy May Shrink as Much as 4%, Central Bank Says (8:09 a.m. NY) South Africas economy could contract by 2% to 4% this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and measures to curb its spread, according to the Reserve Bank. The monetary policy committee projected in March that the economy will contract by 0.2%. U.K. PM Johnson Had Comfortable Night and Is in Good Spirits (8:07 a.m. NY) Prime Minister Johnson is in good spirits after spending a comfortable night in St. Thomass hospital in central London, his spokesman, James Slack, said on Monday. Johnson went to the hospital on Sunday as a precaution, he said. Mass Layoffs Push Canadas Consumer Confidence to All-Time Low (8:00 a.m. NY) The Bloomberg Nanos Canadian Confidence Index, a composite gauge based on a telephone survey of households, declined sharply for a third week as extensive lock downs triggered mass layoffs. The aggregate index dropped to 42.7 last week, the lowest reading since polling began in 2008. Romania to Extend State of Emergency Until Mid-May (7:53 a.m. NY) Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said that he plans to extend the state of emergency over the crisis by another month because we havent reached the peak of the epidemic, so its not time to relax. Netherlands Has Slowest Death Growth in Week (7:40 a.m. NY) The Netherlands reported 101 new fatalities, the smallest increase since March 30. Total reported cases rose 5% to 18,803. An additional 260 patients were admitted to hospitals, according to the RIVM National Institute for Public Health and the Environment. China to Strengthen Transport Control Measures Along Borders (7:15 a.m. NY) China will tighten quarantines in border areas, following a meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases found in people who arrived through a land border has surpassed those that came by air. Dimon Sees Bad Recession and Echoes of 2008 Crisis Ahead (7:11 a.m. NY) At a minimum, we assume that it will include a bad recession combined with some kind of financial stress similar to the global financial crisis of 2008, the CEO said Monday in his annual letter to shareholders. Our bank cannot be immune to the effects of this kind of stress. Nigeria to Borrow $6.9 Billion to Offset Virus Impact on Economy (7:03 a.m. NY) The government plans to raise as much as $6.9 billion from multilateral lenders to offset the impact of the pandemic. The state will seek $3.4 billion from the International Monetary Fund, $2.5 billion from the World Bank and a further $1 billion from the African Development Bank, Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed told reporters Monday. French Firms Have Requested Guarantees for EU20 Billion of Loans (6:58 p.m. NY) French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said 100,000 companies requested government loan guarantees for a total of 20 billion euros ($21.6 billion). In addition, more than 500,000 small companies have requested aid from Frances solidarity fund. Redhill Announces First Covid-19 Patient Treated With Opaganib (6:19 a.m. NY) RedHill Biopharma said the first patient with a confirmed coronavirus diagnosis was dosed with opaganib in Israel, and additional patients are expected to be treated in the coming days. Pre-clinical data demonstrated anti-viral effects in other viruses, anti-inflammatory activities and the potential to reduce lung inflammation, the company said. Hungary Announces Virus Stimulus Plan of Up to 20% of GDP (6:17 a.m. NY) Hungarys government will pay some-private sector wages, offer loan guarantees and boost spending on infrastructure and pensions as part of a major fiscal stimulus plan aimed at averting a recession and mass unemployment as the coronavirus pummels the economy. The package, valued at 18% to 20% of gross domestic product including planned stimulus from the central bank, will also see the 2020 budget deficit rise to 2.7% of GDP from 1%, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Monday. 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. The streets outside are empty and desolate, the quarters above crowded and claustrophobic as women sex workers wait out the 21-day lockdown with no money, no milk for their children and no medicines for ailing elders. The one-kilometre stretch from north Delhi's Ajmeri Gate to Lahori Gate -- once known as Garstin Bastion Road, or more famously G B Road, and now renamed Swami Shradhanand Marg -- is home to 1,500 women packed into about 100 brothels located above street level shops. The situation is getting desperate, said the women of one of India's largest red light districts. The threat of COVID-19 had already led to clients dwindling and the lockdown, which began on March 24, has rung the bell of doom, pushing them further into the easily forgotten fringes of mainstream society. We were already living in hell and the coronavirus has made our lives even more miserable. No rations, no income and now our health is at stake due to this pandemic, said one of the women on the condition of anonymity. A flight of stairs, dank with corners stained a faded red from years of people spitting out paan', leads to her cramped, cabinet sized room in which she lives out the long days. In some some of the brothels, about eight to 10 women share a 20 ft by 40 ft room, making social distancing, an imperative to ward off COVID-19, a joke in such a confined space, said many of the women, conscious that they are vulnerable to contracting the infection. They have no food, no milk for infants and no medicines for their elders ones, they said. Besides, there has been no sanitisation. Nobody has come either to make them aware of the dangers of the infection, some of the women added. Shalu, who came from Darjeeling after the death of her husband, said she has run through all the money she saved in the last one year in the first week of the lockdown itself and is worried about how she will manage in the days to come. Nobody came to help us in the first week. I had a few savings but it is all spent now. Police or some NGOs sometimes come to distribute food at the road but it's not always edible, Shalu, who wanted to be named, told PTI. People had stopped visiting here when they heard about the corona outbreak. Women here have had no income for almost a month now. The most worrying thing is authorities are least concerned about their health also, added Nasreen Begum, who is from Bengaluru and has been living in G B Road for about two decades. A medical mobile van that would come to the area twice a week with medicines has stopped. Many elderly sex workers who are suffering from problems such as blood pressure, diabetes or heart ailments don't have money to buy even the most basic medicines, she said. The Delhi Commission for Women last week sought a response from Delhi Police on the inhuman conditions prevailing in the brothels of G B Road. Iqbal Ahmed , secretary of the Delhi unit of the Bhartiya Patita Udhar Sabha, said the women are unable to avail the benefits of any government scheme as most don't have ration cards, Aadhaar cards or bank accounts. Nobody came to give them any guidelines to them on how to deal with the coronavirus. The area is not sanitised. They are following whatever they got to know from TVs and mobiles. Some of them managed to buy masks and sanitisers but not all have money. he said. Taking a potshot at NGOs, he said many had come to the area but only for photo ops. Many NGOs come here with full of promises but they take photos, distribute things to a few of them and do not come again. Some are genuine also but they are unable to reach each of them. Now we are getting raw rations from few organizations but the problem is how to cook. They do not have gas or kerosene, he added. According to the Sabha's estimates, women below the age of 30 earn Rs 10,000 to Rs 30,000 per month. Of this, they get about 40 per cent. The rest of the money goes to brothel owners who provide them with accommodation, security, water and electricity. Women over 35 years manage to barely Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000 a month. Most of the women in G B Road right now are in the 35-plus age bracket. Many of them have children. The problem is not of sex workers in Delhi alone. The situation is the same in other cities in the country, said Khairati Lal Bhola, president of the Bhartiya Patita Udhar Sabha, who has been receiving calls from over a dozen centres across the country. I have been receiving calls from Mumbai, Surat, Chennai, Hyderabad, Varanasi etc. There are more than 1,100 red light areas in India and around 30 lakh sex workers live there. Their problems have increased manifold due to the coronavirus and the lockdown, he said. He said he had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan in February itself, anticipating the situation. The health concerns of these sex workers should be addressed properly. They should get health cards so they don't face problems in hospitals due to their infamous addresses, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over on Facebook, I recently observed that when things get back to some semblance of normalcy, Im likely going to emerge with some new tendencies: germophobia, agoraphobia and a suite of new habits that feel a little obsessive-compulsive. That struck a chord, judging by the comments. My friends wondered if there was such a thing as too much hand-washing? Also, while were all decluttering these days, is now really the best time to throw away old clothes? Maybe that fabric will come in handy when we have to start sewing our own masks, right? And, of course, the most common question of all: Just how many packages of Lysol wipes are too many? Given that the run on toilet paper isnt over yet, we decided to ask some experts about the psychology of hoarding and other possibly obsessive-compulsive habitsand whether these new behaviours were anything to worry about. The answers were pretty reassuring. These are very much two separate things, says Dr. Peggy Richter, psychiatrist and head of the Frederick W. Thompson Anxiety Disorders Centre at Sunnybrook Hospital, A hoarding disorder is a distinct psychiatric condition thats been formally recognized since 2013. Although people with hoarding disorders may accumulate excessive stuff, they tend to have more difficulty around discarding it, so its a very different kind of problem. Richter explained to me that hoarding, in a clinical sense, is considered related to obsessive-compulsive disorder. In a more colloquial sense, thoughused to describe the panic-buying thats seen grocery store shelves emptied of cans, frozen foods and cleaning supplieshoarding is probably more closely related to every-day anxiety. And it would be unusual not to have that at the moment. I would start off by saying that its entirely normal, since people are being bombarded at all times by alarming news stories, Richter says. And for some of us its constant, unless we limit our access to online news feeds. That (constancy) pushes our panic button, appropriately, one could argue, in that this is a threatening time. This isnt to suggest that over-the-top stockpiling is an appropriate reaction. On the other hand, though, the fact that people are getting a lot better at hand-washing and general sanitation, is a useful behaviour thats healthy to pick upwithin reason, of course. Even having some extra canned, frozen and dried goods on hand now is actually the responsible thing to do, since were only supposed to go for groceries once a weekor every other week, if possible. But theres a line between that and having a garage full of toilet paper and Clorox. Dr. Karen Rowa, psychologist at the anxiety treatment and research clinic at St. Josephs Healthcare in Hamilton, says that, even in normal times, people without disorders are susceptible to over-buying when theyre influenced by marketing and really good sales designed to get them to overbuy. At the best of times, we can resist if we pause and take a moment to think about money and spaceDo I even have the room for all this at home? In these tense times, anxiety and uncertainty could over-ride logic. The other piece thats interesting about all of this thats making me think this is very much fuelled by fear, is that were missing a lot of rational thought that, if you buy up all the toilet paper, that means your neighbours and your family members and your friends might not have toilet paper, says Rowa. And if the average person stopped and thought about that, they would never want to be the person who took all the toilet paper and left everybody else without. That suggests that it really is based on a fear and uncertainty, where logical thought kind of goes out the window for the moment, she says. There are other factors as well. Surely optimism versus cynicism plays a role. If you have faith in the people around you to only take what they need and faith in the messages that there are no supply chain issues, youd be less likely to take too much. If you dont trust in either, though, you might start to engage in the very behaviour that makes it worse for everyone. Its a race to the bottom. So what can we do to stop that? Start by thinking about why the grocery shelves were emptied in the first days. Mostly, that was because many people eat out all the time and had to stock empty pantries with staples for the first time inwell, ever. Most of us no longer know what a shopping list for two weeks looks like, says Richter. I think most of us are accustomed to picking up take-out or easy prep food and saying I feel like making this tonight, so Im just going to go pick up whatever. Now that you cant do that as easily, theres some excessive purchasing. So some of the many pictures of empty shelves were partly the result of the big adjustment a lot of people had to be making. Thats one thing to keep in mind if we start to feel the panic rising up. I would really encourage people to stop and pause and give that part of the brain that can inhibit instinctual fear-based reaction a chance to kick in, says Rowa. I think that as a population, as a community and as a society, were doing a much better job of that now than we were two weeks ago. So, Im going to try to worry less about my new tendencies, since theyre probably a normal response to these anxious times. Just remember, we dont have to act on them allonly the good ones. Reuters A conspiracy theory that links 5G mobile telecommunications masts to the spread of the novel coronavirus is dangerous fake news and completely false, Britain said on Saturday after masts in several parts of the country were torched. When asked by a reporter about the so-called "theory" that 5G telecommunications masts could play a role in the spread of the disease, British Cabinet Officer Minister Michael Gove said: "That is just nonsense, dangerous nonsense as well." NHS England's national medical director, Stephen Powis, said the 5G conspiracy idea was fake news with no scientific backing that risked damaging the emergency response to the outbreak. "The 5G story is complete and utter rubbish, it's nonsense, it's the worst kind of fake news," Powis said. "The reality is that the mobile phone networks are absolutely critical to all of us." "Those are also the phone networks that are used by our emergency services and our health workers and I'm absolutely outraged, absolutely disgusted that people would be taking action against the very infrastructure that we need to respond to this health emergency," Powis said. (Also read: Parenting in the time of Coronavirus: Children have questions but how do you explain the pandemic) Mobile phone masts have been vandalised in Birmingham in central England and Merseyside in northern England in recent days. A lobby group for the United Kingdom's mobile operators - including EE, O2, Vodafone and Three - said it was aware of the false rumours linking 5G to the outbreak, and threats to infrastructure and staff. "The theories that are being spread about 5G on social media are baseless and are not grounded in accepted scientific theory," UK Mobile said. "Some people are also abusing our key workers and making threats to damage infrastructure under the pretence of claims about 5G." Not all apparently well-intentioned moves are free of prejudices, preconceived notions and oversights, as the joint statement of some US scholars and former government officials released on Friday revealed. The statement issued jointly by two China-focused think tanks at the University of California, San Diego, calls upon China and the United States to join hands to fight the novel coronavirus pandemic, yet it echoes neither the spirit nor the sincerity of the open letter 100 Chinese scholars wrote to the US people a day earlier giving the same call. This shows the two sides still have some distance to cover before accepting each other as a reliable partner in the fight against the virus, let alone jointly meeting the other global challenges in the fast changing world. Despite China's readiness to help the US contain the virus, which President Xi Jinping reiterated during a conversation with his US counterpart on the phone on March 27, some US officials seem determined to badmouth China. A similar trait can be seen in the joint statement of the so-called China-friendly US scholars and former officials, as they have urged the US administration to ignore China's "initial cover-up", "lack of transparency" and "failure to cooperate" in order to launch joint research on a vaccine, and get personal protective gear, medicines and clinical experience from China to save lives in the US and beyond. Worse, the statement compares the scenario to the US' cooperation with the Soviet Union to develop a vaccine for smallpox. By doing so, the signatories of the statement too are trying to cover up the US administration's belated and ineffective response to the outbreak in the country, which many say is worse than the Pearl Harbor and Sept 11, 2001, attacks at least in terms of deaths. The truth, no matter how bitter the US may find it, is that after largely containing the virus at home, China diverted its attention to reviving the economy by increasing the outputs of medical products and dispatching them to other countries, and thus helping the world fight the outbreak. As of last weekend, China had donated medical supplies to more than 80 countries, and exported more than 4 billion surgical masks and 16,000 ventilators, and shared its experience of fighting the outbreak with the world. By contrast, the US is recalling its supplies and hijacking those meant for its allies, while continuously trying to occupy the high moral ground. As Chinese ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai said, "this is a time for solidarity, collaboration and mutual support", especially as more American cities reach the community transmission stage, the next two weeks will be critical for the US, when it has to make real efforts, not play blame games, to combat the situation. But whether the US administration will put people's lives above politics remains to be seen. A traveller is facing a $50,000 fine after allegedly sneaking out of his quarantine hotel to see his girlfriend. Johnathon David arrived in Perth from Victoria on March 28 and was sent into quarantine at the Travelodge Hotel for 14 days. The 35-year-old was charged with two counts of failing to comply with a direction on Monday after allegedly repeatedly sneaking out of the hotel. Police allege Mr David wedged open a fire exit door with a napkin so he could leave and re-enter without hotel staff seeing and used public transport to visit his partner in Armadale. Hotel staff alleged they saw him outside of his room on five occasions in four days. Johnathon David was charged with two counts of failing to comply with a direction on Monday after allegedly repeatedly sneaking out of a Perth quarantine hotel He faced Perth Magistrates Court on Monday via phone link and was refused bail by magistrate Richard Bayly. The police prosecutor described Mr David's alleged actions as 'gross stupidity'. West Australia Premier Mark McGowan at a press conference said the man would cop a severe penalty if found guilty. 'Custody is far worse than staying in a hotel,' he said. 'He has already suffered a consequence. He can now suffer a penalty of up to $50,000 and further incarceration. 'He has [allegedly] done the wrong thing... I expect the law will deal with him fairly harshly.' WA Premier Mark McGowan said he expected Mr David to be dealt with harshly, if he was found guilty Hotel staff from the Travelodge (pictured) claimed they saw him outside of his room on five occasions in four days Mr David will return to court at a later date. WA has closed its border to non-residents and introduced fines for people who cross out of their region. Premier Mark McGowan said the state will completely isolate itself from midnight on Sunday, and urged locals currently inter-state to return home immediately. 'In effect, we will be turning Western Australia into an island within an island. Our own country,' Mr McGowan said at a press conference on Thursday. 'These are drastic steps, but also sensible and workable. It will give us the best chance of combatting the virus and minimising the spread throughout our community. 'That's why we've taken the unprecedented step of introducing regional boundaries and brought in tough measures to restrict movement and social interaction.' Bengaluru: The Muslim political organisation Popular Front of India has decided to file a criminal lawsuit against BJP parliamentarian Shobha Karandlaje for her provocative statements against the Tablighi Jamaat. PFI, at its meeting on Sunday, resolved to file a case against Karandlaje for her statement that the participants of Tablighi Jamat in Nizamuddin, Delhi, have "committed the evil deed of spreading corona and the smell of Corona Jihad is being felt behind this. Saying that the use of the word jihad was a conspiracy to stoke religious tension, PFI state secretary AK Ashraf said, "Our State Committee has decided to file the case. We have to discuss with our legal team how to go about this, under what sections, etc." The PFI also issued a statement saying using the word jihad makes the entire community stand as accused, and not just those who attended the gathering in Delhi. "Shobha Karandlaje has tried to disturb the communal sensitivity of the society even earlier with her provocative words. And a legal action was also taken against her for which she had obtained judicial bail. Once again, a criminal case will be filed against her," he said. Karandlaje, the sitting MP from Udupi-Chikmagalur, has not reacted to the PFIs decision so far. The BJP MP had also said that the people who had failed to furnish details after attending the Nizamuddin event should be given life sentences. When they fail to adhere to the law of the land, I feel there is a hidden agenda behind it, she said. Several social media posts with inflammatory accusations, verbal and visual, under the hashtag, #CoronaJihad, in the wake of cases of COVID-19 being linked to Tablighi Jamaat have also gone viral in the last few days. (Bloomberg) -- When Donald Trump toured an Austin, Texas, factory in November alongside Apple Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook, the president promoted the event as a celebration of U.S. manufacturing and the return of good-paying jobs to the country. The Apple CEO had successfully made his case to the administration that some components for his companys products should be excluded from Trumps China tariffs in exchange for keeping production in the U.S. Today, I opened a major Apple Manufacturing plant in Texas that will bring high-paying jobs back to America, Trump tweeted on Nov. 20.But the facility Trump visited is owned and operated by contract manufacturer Flex Ltd. and has been open for 30 years. For decades, it has been producing various devices for many companies including Cisco Systems Inc. Apple has been at the Flex plant since 2013. Computer Parts He doesnt have to worry about tariffs, Trump said of Cook during the Nov. 20 factory tour. Because when you build in the United States, you dont have to worry about tariffs. Two months earlier, the iPhone maker was exempted from tariffs levied on components it imports from China that are used in the Mac Pro desktop put together at the Flex plant. The removal of a 25% surcharge on items like power supplies and printed circuit boards that house the main components of the computer lowered Apples costs and, according to Cook, was the reason why the Cupertino, California-based company continued its manufacturing at the Austin factory. But other companies, like San Jose, California-based Cisco, didnt receive the same treatment. Now jobs related to the manufacture of its products are at risk. In July 2019, Cisco asked the government to exempt the companys power supplies for U.S.-made servers and switches from the same 25% tariff. Cisco said neither this China-made product nor a comparable one is available in the U.S. or from sources in third countries. Tariff Exemptions Story continues Cisco, like many other U.S. companies, was making the same plea to the Trump administration as Apple had: The exemptions were necessary to save good-paying American jobs. After months of being stuck in the process, Cisco was told March 5 that its application for the tariff exemption was denied. After careful consideration, your request was denied because the request concerns a product strategically important or related to Made in China 2025 or other Chinese industrial programs, Joseph Barloon, general counsel for the Office of U.S. Trade Representative, wrote in the denial notice. The applications for an exemption from Apple and Cisco were strikingly similar, particularly when it came to the question of whether their products helped China expand its industrial might. Power Supply The subject power supplies are not strategically important or related to Made in China 2025 or any other Chinese industrial policy, Cisco wrote. The manufacture of these products in China is unrelated to Chinas efforts to develop indigenous, advanced Information and Communications Technology products. Apple used nearly identical language, saying: This product is a component of a consumer electronic device. It is not strategically important or related to Made in China 2025 or other Chinese industrial programs. Indeed, the power-supply boxes imported from China dont require cutting-edge technological know-how. They are mostly made up of large spools of copper wire, capacitors and other basic wiring. They havent been made in the U.S. for years and dont require highly paid skilled labor. Apples application to get a tariff exclusion was approved in September 2019. Tariff Relief A USTR spokesman didnt respond to a request for comment when asked why Apples power supply unit doesnt constitute a product thats strategically important to Chinas industrial programs if an almost identical one from Cisco does. Cisco representatives specifically told USTR and others in the administration while the applications were pending that jobs were at risk, according to sources familiar with the process who asked not to be identified discussing private talks. In a statement after the decision, Cisco said the exemptions it sought would support the competitiveness of this domestic manufacturing. The company said it would continue to work with the trade representatives office for tariff relief on other items, including for communications equipment that we believe are vital to support the medical response to the coronavirus. USTR doesnt make public the reasons why it approves a companys exemption requests. The business community writ large has complained about the lack of visibility into why certain companies get what appears to be preferential treatment over others. San Jose, California-based Flex, which works for both companies, said in a statement that securing waivers for tax exemptions is an individualized process based on each customer situation and declined to identify other customers that use the Austin plant. Flexs global footprint provides our customers with options for manufacturing locations, however, we also work closely to help our customers secure tariff exemptions based on their needs. A group of Texas lawmakers in a letter to trade chief Robert Lighthizer last year underscored that jobs are on the line in Ciscos case. Ciscos operations in Texas directly support more than 1,150 jobs in our state and indirectly support thousands of related jobs in logistics, warehousing, distribution and transportation, the lawmakers said in their Sept. 13 letter. The decision by the trade office means its now a lot cheaper for Cisco to put together its servers, switches and routers in Flex plants in Mexico and export the finished device tariff-free to the U.S. The company declined to say what actions it would take regarding jobs or manufacturing in light of the denial of tariff exemption. 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. (Reuters) - The United States on Sunday entered one of the most critical weeks so far in the coronavirus crisis, with government officials warning that the death toll in places such as New York, Michigan and Louisiana was a sign of trouble to come in other states. Still, governors of eight states resisted issuing stay-at-home orders aimed at slowing the spread of the respiratory disease, and some churches held large Palm Sunday services in defiance of such orders in their states. New York, the hardest-hit state, reported on Sunday that for the first time in a week, deaths had fallen slightly from the day before, but there were still nearly 600 new fatalities and more than 7,300 new cases. Places such as Pennsylvania, Colorado and Washington, D.C., are starting to see rising deaths. "This is going to be the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans' lives, quite frankly. This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment, only it's not going to be localized," U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams warned on Fox News on Sunday. "It's going to be happening all over the country. And I want America to understand that." New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Sunday that new hospitalizations had fallen by 50% over the previous 24 hours. He cautioned that it was not yet clear whether the crisis was reaching a plateau in the state, which has a total of 4,159 deaths and more than 122,000 cases. Once the peak of the epidemic passes, Cuomo said a mass rollout of rapid testing would be critical to help the nation "return to normalcy." Most states have ordered residents to stay home except for essential trips to slow the spread of the virus in the United States, where more than 335,000 people have tested positive and over 9,500 have died, according to a Reuters tally. But eight states, all of them with Republican governors, have yet to order residents to stay home: Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. Georgia, which has recorded 6,600 cases and more than 200 deaths, ordered residents to stay home but then allowed some beaches to reopen. Republican Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson defended his refusal to order statewide restrictions, saying the situation was being watched closely and that his more "targeted approach" was still slowing the spread of the virus. Adams, the surgeon general, said governors who had not issued month-long stay-at-home orders should at least consider one for the upcoming week. President Donald Trump on Sunday expressed hope the United States was seeing a "leveling-off" of the coronavirus crisis in some hot spots, citing the drop in deaths in New York. "We see light at the end of the tunnel. Things are happening," Trump told reporters. CHURCH BUSES IN PARISHIONERS A few churches were holding large gatherings on Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week in Christian churches. Pastor Tony Spell, who was arrested last week for holding services, summoned his faithful again, three weeks after Louisiana banned gatherings of 10 people or more. Hundreds of worshippers converged on Spell's Life Tabernacle megachurch in a suburb of Baton Rouge, many arriving in 26 buses sent to pick them up. Everyone but immediate family members kept at least 6 feet (1.8 m) apart, a lawyer for the pastor said. "They would rather come to church and worship like free people than live like prisoners in their homes," Spell told reporters. Louisiana has become a hot spot for the virus, reporting a jump in deaths to nearly 500 and more than 13,000 cases. The governor predicted the state would run out of ventilators by Thursday. Michigan reported 1,493 new cases on Sunday and a further 77 fatalities, taking the state's death toll to 617. New York Mayor Bill De Blasio said the city had enough ventilators to get through Tuesday or Wednesday, and he was seeking between 1,000 and 1,500 more from federal and state stockpiles, which he estimated had 10,000 and 2,800, respectively. Oregon, which has reported around 1,000 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, said it was sending New York 140 ventilators, machines that help people breathe after the virus attacks their lungs. Washington is returning over 400 of the machines to the Strategic National Stockpile for hard-hit states like New York. White House medical experts have forecast that between 100,000 to 240,000 Americans could be killed in the pandemic, even if sweeping orders to stay home are followed. President Donald Trump said in a Tweet on Sunday that "a rough two weeks are coming up." Washington state Governor Jay Inslee, a Democrat, whose state has seen cases flatten after early action, said if other states did not also impose strict measures, the virus would simply circulate. Kate Lynn Blatt, 38, a property manager from rural Pottsville, Pennsylvania, said she was astounded that her state's governor, Tom Wolf, waited until last Wednesday to issue a statewide stay-at-home order. "We were shocked. I can't believe Trump hasn't issued a nationwide order and I still can't believe there are states that are still open," Blatt said. With 41 fresh cases reported in Madhya Pradesh, half of them from Bhopal, during the last 24 hours, the COVID-19 tally went up to 256 on Monday, while the death count has increased to 15, health officials said. Among the new cases, Bhopal recorded the highest number - at 21 - since Sunday evening, taking the count of COVID-19 patients in the state capital to 61, a health department bulletin said here. The new cases from Bhopal include health officials and police personnel engaged in fighting the viral disease, officials said. Of the 256 cases, 151 are from Indore, the commercial capital of the state. In the past 24 hours, 16 fresh cases of coronavirus were reported from Indore, the officials said. The death toll now stood at 15 with the addition of two fatalities. A 52-year-old man died of coronavirus in Bhopal on Sunday night - the first fatality in the state capital - while a 54-year-old man, who succumbed three days ago at a private hospital in Indore, tested positive for the infection on Monday, they said. With COVID-19-infected persons found in two more districts on Monday, the pandemic has now spread to 12 districts of the state. On Monday, one each coronavirus positive person was found in Sironj town of Vidisha district and Bhainsdehi in Betul district, the officials said. In both the cases, the infected persons have connection with the Tablighi Jamaat, whose religious gathering last month in Nizamuddin in Delhi emerged as a hotspot for COVID-19 spread in the country, they said. The COVID-19 patient found in Betul was part of a 'jamaat' (religious preaching group) in Nagpur and returned to the district on March 31, the officials said. Similarly, the infected person in Vidisha district was part of a 'jamaat' and returned from Assam last month, the officials said. Meanwhile, certain areas in Bhainsdehi and Sironj have been declared as containment zones by the respective district authorities as part of efforts to halt the spread of the deadly disease. The 54-year-old man who died in Indore was admitted to a private hospital on April 1 with complaints of breathlessness, cough and fever, the officials said. His samples were taken for testing, but he died on April 3 during treatment, they said, adding the man suffered from pre-existing illnesses asthma and hypertension. "His test report was not received at the time of his death. In the report received now, he has tested positive for COVID-19," the officials said. Among the 15 COVID-19 fatalities reported so far, Indore accounts for 10, Ujjain (2) and Khargone, Chhindwara and Bhopal (one each). As per the health bulletin, the maximum number of COVID-19 cases - 151 - have been reported from Indore, followed by Bhopal (61), Morena (12), Jabalpur (8), Ujjain (8), Khargone (4), Barwani (3), two each in Chhindwara, Shivpuri and Gwalior, one each in Betul and Vidisha districts. One coronavirus positive patient hails from outside Madhya Pradesh, it said, adding the total number of affected persons in the state currently stood at 256. Meanwhile, 11 more persons were discharged from hospitals in Indore following their recovery from the deadly virus, taking the number of such people to 18, the officials said. The health bulletin said among the active cases, 208 patients are stable, while 23 are in serious condition. During the past one week, two IAS officers posted in the health department have tested positive for coronavirus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By PTI GUWAHATI: The Assam government, which has been screening all people coming in, said on Monday it is actively considering to start a permit system for people wanting to enter the state after the 21-day lockdown to combat the coronavirus outbreak ends on April 14. Addressing a press conference, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state government wants to regulate the inflow of the people, including permanent residents, who are planning to come to Assam after the nationwide lockdown is over. "We will allow phase-wise entry into Assam because if, for example, 50,000 people arrive on a single day then we will not be able to handle that load as we do not have such a big quarantine facility. So we will have to sequence them," he added. The government will take a final call on this by Wednesday and will launch a website through which people can apply if they want to come to Assam, Sarma said. "The Assam government is mulling to introduce an entry permit to regulate the (number of) people coming to Assam from a health point of view. It is not a restriction to come to Assam, but to rationalise the load depending on our quarantine facility," he said. For the people residing in other northeastern states and passing through Assam, the state may issue transit pass and every such detail will be considered once the plan is finalised within the next two days, he said. Assam has been screening all people for COVID-19 symptoms and advising them to remain under 14-day home quarantine. Migrant labourers, who entered the state through Sri Rampur gate along the Assam-West Bengal border after the lockdown began, have been sent to quarantine facilities at different places. "The Government of India may have some rules, but the Government of Assam will have its own regulations. For temporary purposes, we may require an ILP-type system even for permanent residents," Sarma said. He said if people register online before coming in, it will help the government. "This system will also tell us where we need to create more quarantine facilities. Suppose, if people from lower Assam come more, then we might need to create a facility in Goalparaor Bongaigaon. Similar will be the case for upper Assam too," he added. The minister warned of strict action if the attendees of a congregation at Tablighi Jamaat Markaz in Delhi's Nizamuddin West last month fail to report for testing for COVID-19 by the end of the day. "The government will register a case of willful negligence against them if they do not report by today. There is a provision for that under the Disaster Management Act," he said. Sarma informed that though the government got information that 831 people were around the Nizamuddin area, all of them did not take part in the congregation. "The Health Department has estimated 617 people from the state attended the event, of which samples of 128 are yet to be taken. We have spoken to the local Markaz people and they have appealed to the attendees to report. Despite our repeated efforts, if they do not come out, then we will take action," he stressed. Sarma said there are no new positive cases of COVID-19 in Assam and the total number stands at26. "We have crossed the 2,000-mark in tests across our five laboratories. Out of this, 1,809 samples came negative and 165are awaited, besides the positive ones," he said. Medicinal cannabis campaigner, Vera Twomey, who fought a lengthy campaign to secure medicinal cannabis for her sick daughter has said she is "beyond relieved" that the Department of Health is facilitating the delivery of the medicine from abroad for persons with a license. Ms Twomey and several other patients throughout the country frequently travel to the Netherlands to fill their medicinal cannabis prescription. However, the outbreak of Covid-19 has created havoc with travel plans causing much uncertainty for patients. Minister for Health, Simon Harris, today announced an initiative for patients who avail of a Ministerial licence for medicinal cannabis products to have the products delivered from Holland to Ireland. He said: "I am aware that the limited number of patients who avail of a Ministerial licence for medicinal cannabis products issued under section 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Acts have been encountering difficulties with access owing to travel restrictions and peoples need to self-isolate. "I am very glad we have been able to make arrangements to have an emergency supply of their products collected for them in Holland, where the products are supplied, and to have the products delivered to the patients in Ireland." Ms Twomey, who lives in Aghabullogue, Co Cork said she was "delighted" with the development. However, she hopes the arrangement continues beyond the emergency period. She said: "During this time of crisis we see that it really is possible for Bedrocan medical cannabis to be brought to Ireland our hope will be this situation will continue into the future. "My daughter Ava was the first patient to be assisted and we are as a family beyond relieved that these measures are being put in place for everyone. "For our family who are getting Avas medication reimbursed we are grateful for the delivery which provides security for our family and our daughter's health. I certainly do not want to appear ungrateful in these difficult times but do think its necessary to point out that this delivery of medication needs to be made a permanent arrangement into the future for patients. Also, it needs to become normal that prescribed medical cannabis is reimbursed as any other prescribed pharma medication would be under the long term illness scheme." Meanwhile, Ms Twomey has asked that members of the public consider vulnerable children like her nine-year-old daughter, Ava, during the Covid-19 crisis. She said: "Do you need to be reminded as you fight off the virus you could be in contact with a little child who cant fight it off the same way you can? "Or perhaps you met her family in the supermarket without even knowing when they were shopping for essentials unaware that you were out on the rip without a care in the world during the week and they picked the virus off of you. "Please if you have a choice make a positive one and stay at home." Ms Twomey recently published a book detailing her experiences. She said that they ran out of options to treat Dravet Syndrome the rare form of epilepsy which her daughter suffers from. She said: "There was nothing there for Ava other than Google and things like that. We did find some information. "Now because of medical cannabis she is not on any pharmaceutical medication. She is moving forward." Ms Twomey said that prior to her usage of medicinal cannabis Ava was having up to 23 seizures in 26 hours. She said seizures were terrifying experiences as she never knew if her daughter would come out of one intact. "The fear was that Ava would end up brain damaged or even dead. "The ambulance service call outs were so regular for Ava that they didn't need to ask her address." She said that her life prior to obtaining medicinal cannabis for Ava was one of constant stress, pain and anxiety. "Every waking moment was consumed by it. I operated under constant fear and tension waiting for the next seizure. It was coming though you never knew when -- but as sure as day it was coming." Ms Twomey spoke in the House of Commons in London last year where she explained the benefits of the alternative medicine in treating conditions such as severe epilepsy. The mother of three rose to national prominence during a three-year campaign to secure access to medicinal cannabis to treat Avas condition. The 2020 edition of the Conservative Political Action Conference in Oxon Hill, Maryland, in February offered a theme-park version of what was to be President Donald Trumps reelection message: Under the banner of America vs. Socialism, the convention featured anti-Marx branded popcorn, an RV emblazed with the words Socialism Takes Capitalism Creates and a childrens book promoting personal freedom and private-property rights. Speeches included tirades against big government and Medicare for All. The virus is not going to sink the American economy, the presidents chief economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, told a packed auditorium. What is or could sink the American economy is the socialism coming from our friends on the other side of the aisle. Trump, the keynote speaker, proclaimed, We are defeating the radical, socialist Democrats who want total control. Four weeks later, with the coronavirus sinking the economy, the federal government was preparing to cut $1,200 (U.S.) checks to tens of millions of citizens, part of a $2 trillion economic stabilization package that was also providing businesses with no-interest loans likely to be partly forgiven to pay their employees while they are shuttered. The Trump administration was issuing guidance for Americans to stay inside their homes while weighing a New Deal-style infrastructure program to create jobs. And the CPAC message seemed a relic from a distant time. Such is life for the political warriors of the COVID-19 campaign, where, in this prepeak stage of the crisis, the national political debate is inside out and upside down, sending both sides of the national divide scurrying to figure out where the new political and ideological lines will settle come fall. As Republicans prepare for a reelection battle almost certain to hinge on perceptions of the Trumps administrations readiness and efficiency in performing its most solemn duty to protect American lives the decades-old debate over governments role in American life has entered an unfamiliar phase of discombobulation. A president who leads a movement that was galvanized by Ronald Reagans motto that the four most terrifying words from the government were Im here to help is now responsible for the largest federal disaster response since the Great Depression. The era of limited-government, country-club Republicanism is over, said Stephen Bannon, an ideological architect of Trumps 2016 victory. At the same time, lingering conservative distrust of government and experts, combined with a red-and-blue fissure over the severity of the crisis, have surfaced dystopian national divisions: between those taking social distancing measures seriously and those who view them as resulting from government overreach, between those who would support a prolonged economic shutdown and those who would be willing to trade additional casualties for a faster return to normalcy. That, said Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, is one of the questions our politics will solve in November. In the middle of it all is the president, whose operatic inconsistency about his administrations role was apparent Saturday when he predicted a lot of death but raised the possibility of relaxed social distancing guidelines for Easter services. It is so early in the crisis that both sides are navigating public opinion day to day, uncertain whether the fault lines have been truly scrambled or will re-emerge, only hardened, once the crisis abates, whenever that is. We dont know what its going to look like on the other side of this in terms of peoples attitudes whether its going to have short-term effects or long-term effects, said Anita Dunn, a senior adviser to former Vice President Joe Biden, the likely Democratic presidential nominee. The sudden, unprecedented nature of the election cycle has made it impossible to strategize too far ahead: The party conventions, where nominees make their strongest cases, are in doubt; traditional retail politicking, necessary for exciting base voters and winning over converts, is impossible; and voting is facing a potential shift toward more mail-only balloting than ever before in a presidential election. With the death count mounting last week, the two sides were sparring over whether Trumps early declarations that the virus was contained had cost lives. He has some great vulnerabilities no matter how many proposals he puts out, and the single greatest one of them is the month of February, said Dunn. The number of people who are sick is significantly greater than it needed to be because this administration didnt act when it could have and that is not an issue that is going to go away. For their part, Trump campaign aides were trying to go on offence, painting Biden and the Democrats as working to undermine Trump as he seeks to lead the country through the crisis as a wartime president. In January, while the Democrats were entirely focused on impeachment, President Trump took the critical step of restricting travel from China in response to the coronavirus, the campaign said in a statement. It criticized Biden for calling Trumps response xenophobic and pointed to polls showing approval of Trumps handling of the pandemic. (An ABC News/Ipsos poll Friday showed his support dipping from an earlier uptick.) Beyond the back and forth is the question that has rested at the heart of U.S. politics since the New Deal: What is the federal governments appropriate place in managing public welfare and private behaviour? Democrats view the crisis as vindicating their long-held belief in the importance of government and the functions that only a government can do, as Dunn put it. Conservatives ascended over the last decade with the anti-government, institutions-skeptical sentiment of the Tea Party, which was itself partly fuelled by anger over the bank bailouts and the stimulus measures that followed the 2008 financial crisis. Trump took the White House embracing the movements resentment of elites and experts, and his administration moved quickly to cut back agencies including a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention program built to detect and manage potential viral outbreaks as it vowed to end the Affordable Care Act. Now were in a crisis where big government is the only thing that can save us and elites a combination of these two things that Republicans say they hate, said Stuart Stevens, a Republican strategist for the George W. Bush and Mitt Romney campaigns who has soured on his party in the Trump era. So far, Trump, politically limber to begin with, has sought to have his $2 trillion federal response and eat it, too. He has shared billing on the front of the mailing for The Presidents Coronavirus Guidelines for America with the CDC, an agency some of his supporters view as part of the so-called deep state. And he approved the CDC recommendation that all Americans wear masks. Yet he said he would not wear a mask himself. He has praised the governments lead infectious disease official, Dr. Anthony Fauci, but dismissed Faucis call for a national stay-at-home order, while some Republican governors resist going along with the CDC guidance. In a sign of the ideological fogginess of the moment, the Trump campaign Friday argued in an email that Bidens plan to add a government-run option to the Affordable Care Act would end Obamacare as we know it as Trump continues to back a lawsuit seeking to do just that. Guy Cecil, chairman of the major Democratic super political action committee Priorities USA, said the administrations anti-Obamacare position would prove politically punishing as the pandemic wore on. The fact that the administration is still seeking to overturn the Affordable Care Act at a time when more people are being thrown off their health care is only going to become more important, he said. It was only a few weeks ago that centrist Democrats were openly fretting that Sen. Bernie Sanders Medicare for All plan and Andrew Yangs call for a universal basic income would hurt the entire party with swing voters by feeding the Republicans socialism theme. Now, with the swift bipartisan passage of the $2 trillion stimulus, perhaps only the first of its kind, those fears are subsiding. It makes it harder to label your opponent a socialist, said Howard Wolfson, a top strategist for former Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York, who ended his presidential bid last month. The moment is not without irony for Sanders, whose chances to win the nomination have faded as his signature proposals have appeared to gain greater acceptance. A Morning Consult/Politico poll released last week found that Medicare for All had support from 55 per cent of registered voters, up 9 percentage points from mid-February. Id love to see you tell me that you cant campaign on free treatment now, said Sanders campaign manager, Faiz Shakir. Because all of our fates depend on everyone being tested and treated. With a Yangwasright hashtag trending on Twitter, a Marquette University Law School poll of Wisconsin voters found nearly 80 per cent generally approved of the governments direct payments to individuals. Bannon, who left the Trump administration in 2017, saw evidence of a national coming together for measures, like a $15 federal minimum wage, to help the heroes of this catastrophe whom he identified as the truck drivers, the kids at the Amazon plants, police, doctors and nurses. He predicted a pandemic-born political realignment in step with his own brand of economic nationalism, in which shared resentment over income inequality, corporate greed and global trade policies that gave China so much economic influence in the United States would create a new political coalition drawn from Sanders supporters, working-class Democrats and Republicans. What we want is a better deal for the little guy trade barrier protections, high wages and also entrepreneurialism, not corporate capitalism, he said. Republicans close to the White House argued that the partys primary tenets were unshakable, even in this crisis. For instance, where Trump has been hesitant in using the Defense Production Act to compel U.S. factories to produce medical supplies, Joe Biden and Democrats call for compulsion, which is markedly different, said Tim Murtaugh, the Trump campaign communications director. Trump has likened government mandates to manufacturers to the nationalization of industry, a line his supporters presumably would not want him to cross. Parts of his political base are chafing at government moves to control social interactions and shutter businesses to fight the virus. With that in mind, Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, which runs CPAC, described the huge aid package as restitution, not socialism. The conservative principle is, when government takes your property and economic rights, they are obligated to come up with a financial settlement, said Schlapp, whose wife, Mercedes Schlapp, is a Trump campaign adviser. Conservatives, he said, are less deferential to government than their liberal counterparts and are not likely to put up with it for long, presaging a potentially intense election year conflict between left and right over when to end social distancing measures. Eventually, we have to ask ourselves, whats the appropriate level of risk to open it back up? he said. It will be a showdown, and I think that will tell us a lot about our country. Read more about: Bollywood veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan, according to recent reports, has pledged monthly ration to support 1,00,000 households of daily wage workers belonging to the All India Film Employees Confederation amid the Coronavirus pandemic. A statement revealed the initiative will also be supported by companies which Amitabh Bachchan is associated with, like Sony Pictures Networks India and Kalyan Jewellers. Amitabha Bachchan will also be featuring in a short film titled, Family. The short film, which is also set to star Rajinikanth, Priyanka Chopra and others, has been conceptualised and virtually directed by Prasoon Pandey. Family, reportedly talks about the importance of staying at home, maintaining hygiene and social distancing. T 3492 - We are ONE FAMILY .. but this is our effort for a bigger FAMILY https://t.co/9YYIzJSYGN Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) April 5, 2020 "Given the unprecedented nature of the situation we are in, an initiative undertaken by Mr Bachchan, WE ARE ONE' has been supported by Sony Pictures Networks India and Kalyan Jewellers, through which the monthly ration of 1,00,000 households across the country will be funded," said a spokesperson from Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) on Sunday. The donations will take place through a tie-up with a leading chain of hypermarkets and grocery stores in India. Though there is no information till when the daily wage workers will receive the monthly ration from the indicative, digitally barcoded coupons have already been distributed to a verified list of workers from the All India Film Employees Confederation, who can avail the support. "Furthermore, monetary help has also been extended to those in need," the statement added. SPN also took the initiative of working alongside Bachchan to support the households of daily wage earners of the Indian film and television industry. "SPN's support will ensure that at least 50,000 workers and their families have their home supplies for a month," the statement added. The short film, Family will telecast across Sony Network on April 6, 2020. Family also stars, Rajinikanth, Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Alia Bhatt, Chiranjeevi, Mohanlal, Mammootty, Sonali Kulkarni, Shiva Rajkumar, Prosenjit Chatterjee, and Diljit Dosanjh. Shah Rukh Khan Trends: Fans Hail SRK For Offering His Office To BMC To Expand Quarantine Capacity Yash And Roohi Saying 'Go Corona' In Karan Johar's Closet Is The Cutest Video On The Internet NEW YORK, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Conference Board Employment Trends Index (ETI) plummeted in March, following a decline in February. The index now stands at 60.39, down from 109.27 (an upward revision) in February. The index is down 45.0 percent from a year ago. "The Employment Trends Index plummeted in March, almost entirely due to the historically large increase in initial claims for unemployment," said Gad Levanon, Head of The Conference Board Labor Markets Institute. "This period of declining employment is historically severe but could also be historically short. The most likely scenario is that within a couple of months, most of the orders to shut down non-essential businesses and stay at home will be lifted. While many employers will continue to shed workers after that time, these job losses will be more than offset by the millions who will return to work in the reopened businesses. Nevertheless, the total number of workers is likely to remain well below pre-COVID-19 levels for the remainder of the year, and the unemployment rate will remain in double digits after peaking at 15 percent in May." March's decrease was fueled by negative contributions from seven of the eight components. From the largest negative contributor to the smallest, these were: Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance, the Ratio of Involuntarily Part-time to All Part-time Workers, the Number of Employees Hired by the Temporary-Help Industry, the Percentage of Firms With Positions Not Able to Fill Right Now, Job Openings, Real Manufacturing and Trade Sales, and Industrial Production. The Employment Trends Index aggregates eight labor-market indicators, each of which has proven accurate in its own area. Aggregating individual indicators into a composite index filters out "noise" to show underlying trends more clearly. The eight labor-market indicators aggregated into the Employment Trends Index include: Percentage of Respondents Who Say They Find "Jobs Hard to Get" (The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Survey ) ) Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance (U.S. Department of Labor) Percentage of Firms With Positions Not Able to Fill Right Now ( National Federation of Independent Business Research Foundation) Number of Employees Hired by the Temporary-Help Industry (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) Ratio of Involuntarily Part-time to All Part-time Workers (BLS) Job Openings (BLS)** Industrial Production (Federal Reserve Board)* Real Manufacturing and Trade Sales (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis)** *Statistical imputation for the recent month **Statistical imputation for two most recent months The Conference Board publishes the Employment Trends Index monthly, at 10 a.m. ET on the Monday that follows each Friday release of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Situation report. The technical notes to this series are available on The Conference Board website: http://www.conference-board.org/data/eti.cfm. About The Conference Board The Conference Board is the member-driven think tank that delivers trusted insights for what's ahead. Founded in 1916, we are a non-partisan, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States. www.conference-board.org. SOURCE The Conference Board Related Links http://www.conference-board.org Mr Porter agreed to some of the suggestions from Ms McManus to modify the draft bill, knowing the ACTU would retain concerns but could accept the package. A tight Senate vote appears certain to test the Morrison government's stance on the treatment of casual workers after Mr Porter shut the door on calls to extend the payments to more casual workers. The government is staring down demands to include up to 1.1 million extra casuals in the JobKeeper scheme after earlier indicating it would be as "inclusive and reasonable" as possible in negotiations on the policy. But the tactics will not go so far as blocking the bill, ensuring it goes through a cut-down Parliament on Wednesday, subject to wrangling over amendments. In one sign of flexibility on the massive program, the government revealed on Monday there would be some "tolerance" in the rules to include employers that did not meet some of the technical benchmarks of revenue decline. To be eligible for JobKeeper, employers will only have to estimate their turnover will shrink by the 30 or 50 per cent thresholds, according to their company size, with the Australian Tax Office to exercise "tolerance" where it ultimately falls by slightly less. The ATO will also be able to set alternative tests when an employer has drastically different revenue from year to year as a result of an acquisition or because the business is in a variable industry. The new guidance, issued by Treasury, also made it clear employees younger than 16 on March 1 would not qualify. The JobKeeper rules require casual workers to be employed on a "regular and systematic basis" for one employer for longer than 12 months as at March 1, 2020, although this can include shifting between companies within the same corporate group. Mr Porter on Sunday said he was working on the question of casuals who moved from employer to employer but on Monday hosed down the idea of a change to the draft bill. Loading "We will require regular and [systematic] attachment to an employer for 12 months," Mr Porter said on ABC Radio National. Asked if this had to be for the one employer, Mr Porter said: "That's correct. That's the standard definition that exists in the Fair Work Act. Now, exactly the wording of that definition [and] how it's refined is something we're working through at the moment." Prime Minister Scott Morrison has privately argued for Labor and the ACTU to back the scheme in its original form in the national interest. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has also pushed back against demands for changes given the added cost to the scheme. But Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick said there was a case for broadening the scheme to more casual workers, although he needed "in-depth consideration" to decide where to draw the line. Tasmanian independent Jacqui Lambie said there were "all sorts of holes" in the government plan but she would not stand in the way of passing it on Wednesday. "I'm not going to let the perfect be the enemy of the good by blocking help to those who need it," she said, adding that she would back a Senate inquiry into the government response to the coronavirus crisis. Greens leader Adam Bandt is also pushing for an oversight committee and for changes to include more casual workers. Labor industrial relations spokesman Tony Burke said there was "absolutely nothing that I can imagine" that would stop Labor voting for the JobKeeper package given the party had called for a wage subsidy for weeks. However, Mr Burke said Labor would call for more casual workers to be included in the scheme. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson praised Mr Morrison on Monday for his response to the crisis and did not nominate any change she would seek in the Senate. More than 120 community, union, faith and migrant organisations on Tuesday released a letter calling for JobKeeper to be extended to migrant workers and all casuals. The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney and Islamic Council of Victoria are among the signatories along with the ACTU and Australian Council of Social Service. The insurance industry has been working to educate policyholders about the cyber risks their businesses face for many years, but the increasing frequency of ransomware attacks on businesses and municipalities is elevating this ever-changing risk to a new level that experts, including insurers, are unsure how to handle. Cybercrime is nothing new to cyber experts, but the sophistication of cyber attacks and the breadth of targets has evolved over the last 10 years, said Robert Anderson Jr., a former national security executive who served more than 20 years with the FBI and now works in the private sector as the CEO of cyber information security service provider, Cyber Defense Labs. Anderson spoke at Advisens Cyber Risk Insights Conference in San Francisco in February, telling attendees that just 10 years ago, ransomware attacks were handled by the government, who could usually get the data back. But the last three years have brought a new reality for both public and private entities as cyber criminals attack methods have advanced significantly. The hackers that are employing this [ransomware] doesnt just attack the client, doesnt just attack the partner, it attacks the managed service providers network to make sure that they dont alert the client that theyre being attacked or a ransomware attack is going to happen, Anderson said. And by the way, it shuts off anything that they have to minimize that attack. Anderson said insurers and their policyholders have to be thinking ahead to how these threats are carried out, either through different organizations, criminal, hacktivists, or nation states. And unfortunately, what I see thats not where were at, he said. Were focusing on today and now, and how these threats are affecting us. Anderson said these incidents will continue to increase as criminal organizations globally learn from other attacks and figure out how theyre going to infiltrate a company to make money. He said cyber hackers who launch these attacks are part of a multi-trillion dollar industry. People that say crime doesnt pay thats not true. It doesnt pay if you get caught, but if you dont get caught, it pays a lot of money, he said. Anderson noted when he was in the FBI, he would never advocate to pay a ransom to a cyber criminal, but his tune as changed as our dependence on technology infrastructures has become critically important. Since starting his consultancy 4.5 years ago, he said he has been involved in paying 600 ransoms. Why? The sophistication of the attack cripples the company, he said. We all know we need to segment data, we all need to have redundancy data, we all need to have a plan for when an attack happens, he said. [But] I have worked thousands of breaches since Ive retired. Ive been involved in all kinds of proactive risk assessments. I speak all over the world. We still arent doing it. Clients and the insurance industry, which Anderson says could also be crippled by these attacks, need to put preparatory response plans in place to handle the types of ransomware attacks happening to businesses and municipalities today. If youre looking at two years ago, youre missing it. Youre missing the threat. Youre not going to catch it, he said. Nowadays, these attacks are much more strategical. They look at infrastructure that they know companies cant shut down; county governments cant stop functioning. He said all entities that could be impacted by ransomware attacks, as well as their insurers, should be evaluating the vulnerability of the entire infrastructure and how broad an attack could be in terms of affecting or interrupting other services the entity provides. You cant just look at whats the threat today, but what part of that eco-structure are they in, he said. The sophistication of the bad guys and girls nowadays is off the charts. Anderson noted thousands of advanced hackers in places like China, Iran, Russia and North Korea are being hired to attack entities in other countries so they can steal data from the U.S. to be sold later. All entities, particularly government and private corporations, need to be ready to respond quickly if attacked because these incidents will only get more sophisticated and costly. Hear what Im saying to you on this its not as simple anymore as just going, Breaches happen. This is what were going to do,' he said. No, you have to have your head up, and you have to be thinking about why does this fit together. Anderson said virtual currency is the payment method of choice for ransomware attacks, but the U.S. government is getting better at figuring out where that currency is being sent. As a result, ransomware attacks usually include a countdown clock or set amount of time for the victim to respond because the quicker the hacker gets their funds, the less likely they are to be caught, and they are likely attacking multiple entities at one time. The use of virtual currency by criminal organizations should be significant to everybody because its eventually going to come to the group that were working with and the clients that were trying to protect, Anderson said. Advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning are also making it less cost prohibitive for cyber hackers to execute attacks, which could increase their frequency. When we look out in front of where this threats going, we cant just look at the totality. We have to look at whos going to be the victim, whos going to be attacking that client or that corporation or that government agency, he said. Its a lot more complex nowadays. Five, 10 years ago it wasnt like this. Nowadays, its absolutely like this. He urged the industry to work with its clients on being more proactive at stopping attacks in the first place, and that involves doing more than just buying and selling a cyber policy that fits the budget and thinking that addresses the risk. Most companies, he said, are not leaning forward enough to avoid the devastation of what a ransomware attack could bring, such as costly lawsuits or the end of a business. Ive been retained for a lot of outside expert witness cases, and I can tell you the first thing in these $500 million class action lawsuits that comes out of all the depositions is when did the head of the organizations know there was an issue? When did they know something needs to be fixed? In most of these lawsuits, companies knew they were vulnerable and deferred doing anything about it, and that puts the company in a worse position when defending itself, Anderson said. Theyre going to say, well, wait a minute, you were the head of the company, he said. I dont care if you had cyber people sitting on your board. What are you doing to try to fix it? What are you doing to try to push it forward? What are you doing to try to be proactive in your company? He said insurers can help their clients by learning about the current risks they face and how those will evolve. An ounce of prevention goes a long way, and I think if we can get clients, partners, people inside the country whether its private or government to be thinking about whats the next thing coming at them, it benefits everybody, he said. Topics Cyber Thank You, God: a valuable discussion that helps in achieving a purpose-driven Christian life. Thank You, God is the creation of published author Milly Palmeri, a writer who is very optimistic in life and has a lot of love for others within her. She is married and she values the support her husband gives her all her life. Palmeri shares, Thank You, God is not a fact book; it is a true version that I am sharing so that this generation improves and the future generation grows secure, happy, and productive. We usually ask ourselves If God is alive or just a fictitious character. Let me tell you, I am living witness that God, Jesus, and Mary are real; I saw them in The Good Shepherd Church in Holbrook, New York, and also when I was sleeping, I had my own journey to visiting them. Many other authors of books write stimulating phrases and quotations, but they do not explain the exact source of different changes that have occurred in the life and body of a human being. All questions that do not have correct answers lead people to a state of nervousness, anxiety, fear, and fall easy into panic. When they enter into a panic state, their life will begin to fall apart, and unfortunately, many lose their lives. All this happens to them because of lack of correct information of how the mind and body function. Remember, we are pieces of God, so we are connecting directly His power by the right size of our brain. Only human beings have eternal life; nobody in the entire universe has it. Jesus taught us to forgive, love, and help. Living on Earth is just an apprenticeship of this. Well, heaven exists, and there will be only those who learned and practice what Jesus taught us. I knew hell, and I did not feel fear. The limbo shocked me, and when I got in heaven, I felt so good, and I wanted to stay there. God: My children has been destroyed because is not knowledge! It is the reason why the book Thank You, God was written; so that everyone can reach a flourishing life. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Milly Palmeris new book uncovers a beautiful reminder of Gods unending presence and promises of hope, faith, and solutions. View a synopsis of Thank You, God on YouTube. Consumers can purchaseThank You, God at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about Thank You, God, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. by Joseph Masilamany Every year, time-honoured Lenten processions, poignant ceremonies and colourful rituals have taken place during Holy Week, standing the test of time. Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews) This year, traditional Holy Week rituals will not take place in Melaka (Malacca) as the COVID-9 pandemic tightens its grip on everyones life. Melaka is a city in the Malay Archipelago, where the first seeds of Catholicism were sown by Portuguese missionaries in the 15th century. Portuguese Square, a settlement that is home to about a thousand descendants of the first Portuguese, is one of several vestiges that testify to the successful Portuguese mission to the Malay lands. Every year during Holy Week, time-honoured Lenten processions, poignant ceremonies and colourful rituals, are showcased in honour of the "holiest week" in the Catholic calendar, says Gerard Pereira, 65, a Portuguese Eurasian who lives in the square. Speaking to AsiaNews, Pereira notes that all these celebrations have stood the test of time. They remind us of the glorious past when our Portuguese forefathers occupied the city from 1511 to 1641. According to him, these unique Portuguese-styled Lenten activities attract thousands of Catholics, other Christians and even non-Christians, as busloads of foreign tourists come from as far north as Thailand and from Singapore in the south. Pereira, who heads his own cultural music company called "1511 O Maliao, aimed at preserving the traditional dances and songs of the old Portuguese Malacca, said that some people perceive it as "Little Portugal of the East" and others think that Malacca is a silent "re-evangelisation hub for every Christian who returns to visit the city. On Palm Sunday the procession commences in the evening, led by two members of the Irmaos de Igreja (Brothers of the Church) with the banners of the Holy Eucharist and the Mater Dolorosa (Mary, Mother of Sorrows). A wooden statue reminiscent of Jesus carrying the cross and another wooden figurine representing the sorrowful mother of Jesus are carried around St Peters Church, accompanied by the faithful holding lighted candles and green palms. A moving scene ensues along the way as a girl, representing Veronica, unfolds a veil with the imprint of Christ's battered face. On Good Friday, another extraordinary representation of Christs Passion and death is enacted with the life-size statue of the lifeless Lord carried in procession on a wooden bier. Three people acting as the Tres Marias (The Three Marys) follow alongside while a mournful dirge in Latin rises to a crescendo. In his book, Survival Through Human Values, the late Fr Manual Pintado, who was St Peters parish priest, wrote that that the Augustinian missionaries introduced Holy Week cultural practices and ceremonies that are still alive today. Fr Pintado also attributes the formation of the Irmaos de Igreja, who have been the custodians of the special Holy Week celebrations since the 15th century, to the Augustinian missionaries. They are said to be the oldest Catholic society in Southeast Asia. Portuguese Square is a stronghold for Portuguese descendants like Pereira and his wife Mary who strive to maintain their religion, language, culture and traditions. Although Pereira and his family will miss the age-old charm of their quaint Holy Week rituals this year, he takes comfort that the local Church is providing livestream broadcast of all Lenten masses. B oris Johnson has said he is in "good spirits" after spending the night in hospital but is still suffering with symptoms of coronavirus, more than a week after he tested positive. The Prime Minister, who was taken to hospital on Sunday, praised the "brilliant" NHS staff as he vowed to "work with his team to fight this virus". He tweeted: Last night, on the advice of my doctor, I went into hospital for some routine tests as Im still experiencing coronavirus symptoms. "Im in good spirits and keeping in touch with my team, as we work together to fight this virus and keep everyone safe. Id like to say thank you to all the brilliant NHS staff taking care of me and others in this difficult time. You are the best of Britain. "Stay safe everyone, and please remember to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. His update came as Downing Street dramatically accused foreign agents of spreading falsehood and rumours about the Prime Ministers health. Mr Johnson's official spokesman hit out after a state-backed Russian news agency reported inaccurately that Mr Johnson had been put on a ventilator. That is disinformation, said the Prime Ministers official spokesman, making clear the allegation was untrue. He went on: Our specialist government units have seen a rise in false and misleading narratives since the coronavirus pandemic started. It is vital that any disinformation is knocked down quickly. DCMS and the Cabinet Office continue to work closely with social media companies to press for action to stem the spread of falsehoods and rumours. Boris Johnson coronavirus: What tests will the Prime Minister have in hospital as Covid-19 symptoms persist? No 10 said Mr Johnson was in good spirits and had had a comfortable night at St Thomass hospital where is undergoing tests. He has been in contact with No 10 colleagues and had been sent red boxes of official papers, they added, making clear he could not be on a ventilator. The spokesman made no comment on a Times report that the PM had been given oxygen. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden is also asking social media firms to crack down on the circulation of a crazed conspiracy theory linking 5G phone masts to the spread of coronavirus. The Secretary of State is due to speak with some of the big social media firms later on this week to be very clear about the need to stop the spread of what is a crazed conspiracy theory. You have seen reports of criminal vandalism against 5G masts. People need to understand that by destroying these masts, theyre actually putting lives at risk because these are masts which emergency responders rely upon. Boris Johnson spends night in hospital over Covid-19 symptoms Separately, the Culture Select Committee is asking new Ofcom boss to probe concerns that state-backed news agencies are disseminating false narratives about Covid-19 through social media in order to circumvent broadcasting regulations. Committee chair Julian Knight said: To hear that crackpot theories are leading to people attacking phone masts or threatening telecom workers is sickening and its clearly time to act. Weve called on the Government to work with social media companies to stamp out deliberate attempts to spread fear about COVID-19 and it is right that they are being called to account for allowing disinformation on their platforms. Were also calling on Ofcom to investigate whether international news organisations are using social media to disseminate state-backed disinformation on COVID-19 in order to get around UK broadcasting regulation. Downing Street also insisted Mr Johnson will follow doctors advice when pressed on whether it was safe for the Prime Minister to continue working while in hospital. The PM, as I said, will of course be guided by the advice of doctors, his official spokesman said. The position is that the PM remains in charge of the Government. Listen to The Leader: Coronavirus Daily podcast Meanwhile, No 10 adviser Dominic Cummings is yet to return to work after going into self-isolation with symptoms in line with coronavirus. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 19:51:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BRUSSELS, April 6 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese plane carrying direct aid from China to the European Union (EU) has arrived in Italy, the bloc's executive arm said on Monday. The European Commission said in a press release that the Chinese plane delivered 2 million surgical masks, 200,000 N95 masks and 50,000 testing kits to Italy. Following the direct donation from China to the EU, the bloc's Emergency Response Coordination Centre coordinated the distribution to Italy. "We are grateful for China's support and, as (European Commission) President (Ursula) von der Leyen stated, we need each other's support in times of need. The EU and China have been working together since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak. In February, the EU already delivered 56 tonnes of equipment to China," said Janez Lenarcic, Commissioner for Crisis Management, in the press release. Kochi: Even as the number of Covid-19 cases is on the rise in other parts of the country, Kerala is witnessing a considerable drop in the number of new cases in the last couple of days. The progression rate of the virus infection registered decline since April 2. Though April 1 had 21 fresh cases, the number has gone downward from April 3 when new cases declined to nine. On April 4, there were 11 new cases while on April 5 the number dipped to eight. As of now, the total number of confirmed cases in Kerala is 314 with 256 patients undergoing treatment currently. Two deaths were reported, from Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram, while 56 patients have been recovered. Kasargod remains the major hotspot with 143 positive cases followed by Kannur (50 cases) and Ernakulam (25 cases). Wayanad, Kottayam and Alappuzha are the least affected districts with only three cases each. Though the state witnessed an increase in the number of new cases since March 10, a sudden surge was visible from March 20. The biggest one day surge in the number of cases was reported on March 27 when 39 persons tested positive for the killer virus of whom 34 were from Kasargod district. Though the number suddenly dipped to six on the next day (March 28) it again surged to 20 on March 29. On March 30, the graph once again went northward with 32 fresh cases on a single day. The number of new cases on March 31 dipped to a single digit of 7. Overall, 1,58,617 people are under observation in the state with 1,57,841 persons at home quarantined and the rest 776 in hospitals. Meanwhile, this week is crucial for the state as the quarantine period of hundreds of people arrived from foreign countries till March 22 will end by April 7. But, as the state government has recently revised the quarantine period from 14 days to 28 days, the foreign returnees and those who came from other states have to remain in quarantine for the next 14 days. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 6) The Department of Health still needs more time for operations of new COVID-19 testing laboratories to stabilize before it can assess if the number of cases in the country has peaked. DOH Spokesperson and Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Monday that the agency still needs to wait for additional data from testing centers to establish the trend of local coronavirus infections. "'Yung increase ng numbers is because of the extension of the capacity, pero inaantay pa natin kung mag-stabilize po at maging appropriate na talaga ang numero ng testing centers at testing kits [The increasing numbers is because of the extended capacity for tersing, but we need to wait for the operations to stabilize and for the appropriate number of testing centers and kits]," Vergeire said during the government's Laging Handa briefing. Apart from the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine, seven other hospitals and laboratories have been accredited to process swab samples for COVID-19 testing. READ: 30 more laboratories want to give COVID-19 tests, DOH says "Hindi pa po natin pwedeng i-interpret na bumababa na o tumataas (ang mga kaso). Kailangan lang nating maghintay ng kaunti pang panahon upang makita natin... Kapag stable na ang ating laboratory capacity, we can already see the true picture of the rise in cases or decrease in the number of cases," the DOH official added. [Translation: We can't interpret yet if the numbers are declining or rising. We need to a wait a little more to see that... Once the laboratory capacity is stable, we can already see the true picture of the rise in cases or decrease in the number of cases.] Vergeire added that 22,958 tests have been conducted as of Sunday night, with nearly 17 percent or 3,414 samples testing positive for the disease. The DOH later clarified that the figure may contain repeat tests for patients. There are 3,246 reported COVID-19 cases in the Philippines as of Sunday afternoon, with 144 deaths and 57 recoveries. Vergeire said latest figures are insufficient to confirm if the number of cases in the country are already on a decline come the fourth week of enhanced community quarantine in Luzon where the most number of cases have been recorded. Other provinces and cities outside Luzon have since also imposed quarantine measures. Meanwhile, Vergeire said the team of Chinese doctors who arrived to share technical knowledge in battling COVID-19 would be visiting several government facilities this week. She said the group will be checking the Lung Center of the Philippines, the Philippine General Hospital, the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila, and RITM. In the same briefing, Senator Richard Gordon proposed to set up remote testing centers and dialysis centers through the Philippine Red Cross to cater to more patients, especially those located far from the accredited laboratories. A letter has been sent to the chief commissioner in Haryana to probe how a group of 12 people travelled from the northern state all the way to Maharashtra's Latur using emergency passes in violation of the lockdown in place for the coronavirus outbreak, Collector G Sreekanth said on Monday. The 12, all Andhra Pradesh residents who had attended a religious gathering in Ferozepur Jhirka in Haryana, were apprehended from a mosque in Nilanga in Latur on Friday, and eight of them tested positive for coronavirus the next day, officials said. "People are given such passes on humanitarian grounds. However, there is no rule to issue them during a national disaster. I have written to the Haryana chief commissioner to probe this oversight and act against the guilty officials," Sreekanth said. "This group travelled through several states on the basis of the emergency pass," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ordinarily, this weeks San Francisco Planning Commission meeting would feature all the passion and polemics that make land use politics in the city such a blood sport. Housing advocates would line up to extol the virtues of building 1,100 housing units on the 17-acre Balboa Reservoir parking lot next to City College, a project that will be up for the first of several necessary approvals on Thursday. Some residents from the Westwood Park and Sunnyside neighborhoods would testify that the development would overwhelm their low-density residential areas. City College professors and students would blast it as a giveaway of public land to profit-seeking builders. The developer would note that 50% of the project is affordable and that apartments will be set aside for faculty and staff from city college. But with public meetings moved online because of the new coronavirus pandemic, the citys normally noisy community planning process, which can be exasperating and a model of a healthy democracy, has entered uncertain territory. People are confused about out how to participate, said Sue Hester, a land use attorney who has been attending Planning Commission meetings for 40 years. What if you dont have a computer? You cant watch the commission. Can we have informed public comment? These are some big cases and deserve a full hearing with public participation. On Thursday, the commission will hold its first remote meeting through video conferencing. Members of the public can submit their comments in writing to commissions.secretary@sfgov.org. The meetings will be streamed live on the city government website, www.sf.gov, where there will also be instructions on how to call in to comment. The hearing is also significant because it is also the first hearing for the citys new planning director, Rich Hillis, who started March 12, right before the health emergency brought most of the city to a standstill. Instead of sitting up next to the dais where the citys planning commission deliberates, Hillis will be at home monitoring the meeting as family life with three kids swirls around him. The commission meeting, which starts just after the lunch hour and often stretches until well after dinner, competes with the increased household duties that come with sheltering in place. Like most city staff, Im working at the kitchen or dining room table, Hillis said. My wife is a disaster service worker, so she is at Moscone (convention center). We have family breakfast, lunch and dinner. Its busy. Still, Hillis said he expects substantive discussion and comments from the public at Thursdays meeting. He said planning agendas during the health emergency will focus on keeping large housing and public infrastructure projects moving. 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 trying to ease into this and be thoughtful about what we put on the agenda, really limiting it to critical infrastructure, Hillis said. Especially housing and affordable housing. Amy OHair, the Sunnyside representative on the Balboa Reservoir Community Advisory Committee, said she is scrambling to make sure neighbors can participate in the hearing. She said she is concerned that many residents dont have adequate internet access or technology skills. Some local residents have a sense that the constraints of the current crisis may give short shrift to public input, she said. Corey Smith of the Housing Action Coalition said that he is optimistic that pro-density groups who tend to be younger than slow-growth homeowners who often oppose tall buildings will show up virtually to back the Balboa development. I think the pro-housing constituencies will be able to participate more than they would if they had to show up in person because you can advocate while sitting at your desk at home, Smith said. J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfjkdineen Until the coronavirus hit, Shlomi Philip worked as a bartender at a popular Jerusalem night spot. With the bar shuttered, he now devotes his time to volunteering with Israels emergency medical teams testing for COVID-19. Philip, the eldest of 15 children, is the only member of the family living outside the ultra-Orthodox Midiin Ilit town. As such, he is the one who provides his parents and siblings with information about the coronavirus spread and the required precautions. Like many ultra-Orthodox families, Philips family does not have a television or internet and is completely cut off from the secular world. In recent days, cars fitted with loudspeakers have been making the rounds of ultra-Orthodox towns and neighborhoods, exhorting residents, in Yiddish and Hebrew, to stay home, and citing rabbis edicts that defying authorities orders to self-isolate and avoid congregation endangers others and is therefore a sin. Israels ultra-Orthodox community of some 1.1 million, about 12% of the population, has been hardest hit by the epidemic. According to Health Ministry data, the rate of infection in ultra-Orthodox towns and neighborhoods doubles every three days, compared with a national average rate of every six days. The number of those diagnosed with COVID-19 in the suburban ultra-Orthodox Tel Aviv town of Bnei Brak was projected to be as high as 50%, said professor Joshua Shemer, chairman of the board of Assuta Medical Centers. Bnei Brak is a disaster zone, Shemer said on Channel 13 News, as a campaign was launched to remove all residents 80 and older from their homes to confinement centers. This growing public health threat led to a virtual blockade of Bnei Brak in recent days, with police at roadblocks and on the streets trying to enforce quarantine orders. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced April 1 that access to and from the town would be restricted. There is almost a complete closure. Large families, overcrowded housing, densely populated neighborhoods, a way of life that revolves around communal and religious activity and seclusion from the secular world go a long way toward explaining the problem. Philips family is a case in point, with 19 people (parents and 14 children, including a married daughter, her husband and newborn baby) living in one apartment, albeit a large one of five bedrooms. Life went on as normal for them, before I called to explain what was going on, Philip told Al-Monitor. In the beginning, the rabbis were saying this was no big deal, and they are the ultimate authority, not doctors or politicians. It was only when the rabbis told people not to go to synagogue and yeshivas and to stay home that they started listening. For his father, a yeshiva student and part-time entrepreneur, the rabbis edicts were nothing short of disaster. He told me this had never happened since World War II. Their whole life revolves around the synagogue, the yeshiva, Philip said. You have to understand how extraordinary this is, Nathaniel Zelikovitz, an ultra-Orthodox social activist, told Al-Monitor. People prayed together in Auschwitz. People prayed in Siberia. Three times a day. Now, in the Jewish state, they are being told to pray alone? The rabbis are scrambling to find solutions to the new restrictions, consistent with Jewish law. For example, suggesting each person pray on his balcony and thus form the required minyan of 10 worshipers. But it is unclear whether it counts if there are 10 people but not everyone can see everyone else, Zelikovitz added. It took time for rabbis to realize the gravity of the situation and even when they did, their reluctance to violate age-old customs and Jewish law held many back. Initially, one of the supreme ultra-Orthodox authorities, Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, instructed that yeshivas and synagogues be kept open in defiance of government instructions, although he subsequently tempered his order to advise study and prayer in smaller groups. It was only on March 29, after much of the (health and image) damage had been done, that he joined with other leading rabbinical authorities in ordering a halt to group prayers and study and instructing that the Passover Seder on April 8 be celebrated only by members of the same household, without guests. The upcoming weeklong holiday is indeed a source of great concern and a challenge for community leaders. Rabbis have already given adherents leeway in terms of the strict cleaning regimen that precedes the holiday in order to rid the house of all remnants of leavened bread banned by Jewish law. The general message is that cleaning kitchen cabinets, the refrigerator and freezer will suffice; no need to turn the whole house upside down. This corona crisis has caught us between two of the most important Jewish holidays, both of which are celebrated with mass meals and gatherings, said Zelikovitz. Many of the current infections are attributed to celebration of the Purim holiday March 9-10, which customarily includes handing out baskets of food and banquet-like meals. Zelikovitz said he had 30 people over in his small living room for Purim. Passover, likewise, is a highly communal holiday, and inviting as many guests as possible is a mitzvah [commandment]. It also entails shopping in large quantities, going to boil dishes at special centers to remove all traces of bread and more. Scenes of police patrols and empty streets in the normally teeming ultra-Orthodox towns and neighborhoods, especially prior to Passover, are now the new normal. Recent days have also generated a few rare scenes (mostly amid more extreme ultra-Orthodox sects) of police welding shut a synagogue, of a special unit raiding a yeshiva and pulling students out, and of little children cursing police, calling them Nazis and sneezing on them. While those who continue to defy quarantine instructions are a minority, even the many sincerely trying to obey the new rules have to face reality. Tom from Tel Aviv goes to the supermarket and Moishe from Bnei Brak does too. Someone sneezes next to them and both are infected. Tom goes home and at most infects his wife and child. Moishe goes home and infects his wife and 10 children, Zelikovitz said. He said the rising COVID-19 toll in Bnei Brak and elsewhere has given rise to much soul searching within the ultra-Orthodox community a crisis of faith in the leadership, anger at those among them who disregarded their fellows health and general questions about the communitys segregation and isolation from the media. A few have been blaming the contagion on Israels secular society and its wanton ways, immodest dress, and homosexuality. On the flip side, the rising ultra-Orthodox casualties are also stoking hostility toward the community, many of whose members dodge mandatory military service and study rather than work and pay taxes, and toward cynical politicians who have let these communities get away with such conduct for decades. The public that serves in the military, maintains the economy, and funds those who study, is the one required now to pay with its physical and economic health and the line for respirators, legal analyst and columnist Moshe Gorali wrote in the Calcalist financial daily. Social, economic and cultural responses to climate change by ancient peoples highlight vulnerabilities of modern societies and the need for sustainable new solutions Today, the Arabian Peninsula is one of the most arid regions in the world. But its climate has not always been the same, and the past has seen both greater aridity and more humidity at different points in time. As a region at risk of water stress in a heating world, Arabia is of significant interest to scientists studying climate change. In the current study, archaeologists from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena, Germany, conduct the first detailed comparison of human-environment interactions across Arabia, examining southeastern Arabia and the emerging record from northern Arabia. They find that ancient peoples responded to climate changes in a variety of ways, based on the region in which they lived and the environmental, social and technological resources available to them. High mobility, water management, and economic transformation in northern Arabia Approximately 10,000 years ago, Arabia saw a significant increase in rainfall and an expansion of lakes and vegetation which supported human settlements across the peninsula. In the millennia that followed, however, a series of extreme droughts led to drastic ecosystem changes. In northern Arabia, the presence of large, shallow aquifers and seasonal playas facilitated survival through highly variable climatic conditions, including several centuries-long droughts. In particular, desert oases - including one in what is now the city of Jubbah - sustained human occupation, and the archaeological record indicates human presence in the surrounding Nefud Desert at multiple times during a 9000-year period. The discovery of the Jebel Oraf rockshelter on the fringes of the Jubbah oasis and a lakeside site with more than 170 hearths and remains of cattle show long-term habitation of the region. As Dr. Maria Guagnin explains, "pastoralist populations occupied the region repeatedly across millennia, relying on mobility and an extensive knowledge of the landscape and its resources to survive climatic changes and droughts." During the 'Dark Millennium,' an arid period lasting from approximately 5,900 to 5,300 years ago during which much of Arabia is thought to have been uninhabitable, the researchers again find evidence of occupation at the Jubbah oasis. In other areas of northern Arabia, people constructed walls around oases, built landscape features to capture water runoff and began excavating wells. "Taken together," Dr. Huw Groucutt notes, "these finds indicate that the presence of extensive shallow aquifers, in combination with high population mobility, water management strategies and economic transformation, provided opportunities for the long-term survival of north Arabian populations." Southeastern populations sought out the resource-rich coast in the face of droughts Southeastern Arabia, in contrast with the north, seemingly enjoyed fewer sources of groundwater and saw a more direct correlation between the succession of ancient droughts and dramatic social change. After the Holocene Humid Phase, a subsequent climatic downturn lasting from 8,200 to 8,000 years ago brought effects so extreme that it is thought to have been linked to a shift from hunting and gathering to domesticated animal herding, according to previous research. Subsequent droughts (7,500 to 7,200 years ago and 6,500 to 6,300 years ago) correspond with declines in interior desert occupation, the development of herder and fisher communities on the coast, and the establishment of a maritime trade network between Arabian pastoralists and agricultural communities in Mesopotamia. The extreme aridity of the 'Dark Millennium' brought about the abandonment of the southeast Arabian desert interior and the migration of populations to the Gulf coast. Previous research findings suggest, however, that even coastal populations felt the effects of strained resources. Earlier excavations at the seaside site of Ras al-Hamra reveal that Omani coastal populations from this period were in poor overall health. Specially arranged dugong (marine mammal) bone mounds excavated on the island of Akab in the United Arab Emirates suggest ritualized acts of consumption, perhaps a response to food scarcity. Past responses highlight the need for sustainable solutions to confront climate change Understanding the relationship between regional manifestations of climate change and adaptations that allow for societal resilience can provide valuable lessons for modern societies the world over. "For millennia, moving away from hard-hit regions was the main human response to severe climate downturns," says lead author Professor Michael Petraglia, "but with growing population sizes and an increasing investment in place, options for human mobility have decreased over time. In the same way, the rapid depletion of aquifers in recent years highlights the need for sustainable solutions to meet environmental challenges." The researchers stress that taking action now to address the climate emergency is in the world's best interest. "Sometimes people dismiss climate change as something we don't need to worry too much about, because we've faced it before," notes Professor Nicole Boivin, director of the Institute's Department of Archaeology and a coauthor of the study. "But the scenarios we face now are unprecedented. Not only is human-caused climate change more unpredictable, but the options available to societies today are much more limited than those that allowed our ancestors to weather past changes." ### We acknowledge the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage for supporting our research in Arabia. Publication information: Title: Human responses to climate and ecosystem change in ancient Arabia Authors: Michael D. Petraglia, Huw S. Groucutt, Maria Guagnin, Paul S. Breeze, and Nicole Boivin Publication: PNAS DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1920211117 Media Contacts: Prof. Michael Petraglia Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History Kahlaische Strasse 10 07745 Jena GERMANY Email: petraglia@shh.mpg.de Phone: +49 (0) 15127572523 AJ Zeilstra / Petra Mader Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History Public Relations & Press Office Kahlaische Str. 10 07745 Jena GERMANY Phone: +49 (0) 3641 686-950 / 960 Email: presse@shh.mpg.de The Medical University of South Carolina is making deep cuts to its staff and slicing pay across the board by as much as 20 percent as the state-supported hospital confronted "unprecedented" financial pressure due to the coronavirus pandemic. Cuts will affect all of MUSC Health's staff. Across its hospitals, university and clinics, MUSC employs more than 17,000. It is laying off a total of about 900 people, the hospital system announced late Monday afternoon. Leadership will take a 20 percent pay cut. That includes administration and directors. Full-time salaried employees will see a 15 percent pay cut. Meanwhile, some areas of the hospital may close altogether, and staff in those areas will be laid off as a result. Layoffs will be effective Tuesday at 5 p.m. Salary adjustments take effect one week later. It is describing those layoffs as "temporary." During a press conference with Gov. Henry McMaster on Monday afternoon, Dr. Pat Cawley, MUSC Health CEO, said layoffs would affect only those who aren't needed during a surge. "We are not laying off front-line workers," Cawley said. Some of those front-line health workers have already seen hours reduced due to the coronavirus pandemic. But those workers "will not see any additional pay cuts so that MUSC Health can continue to be prepared to face the public health crisis as it unfolds," the hospital system said in a statement. Laid-off staff, or those with reduced hours, will be able to file for unemployment, joining the nearly 96,000 residents of the state who have already done so just in the last two weeks. The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce's system is overwhelmed with calls and applications. MUSC began the year in a healthy financial position. But as coronavirus cases grew in March, the system, like many hospitals across the country, began to face trouble. Charles Schulze, chairman of the MUSC board of trustees, said during a Thursday meeting "the worst of this crisis is yet to come." "We need to keep the enterprise financially viable so we can administer care to those who need it," Schulze said. "Its not going to be easy. Its not going to be without making some tough, immediate decisions." A few days later, staff were hearing of layoffs and pay cuts. MUSC joins Prisma Health in staff cutbacks. The Midlands and Upstate health system has furloughed employees. Prisma Health also says no front-line staff have been affected. Many MUSC staff were already working under reduced hours, and had to use up their paid time off. Trident Health and Roper St. Francis are each paying staff for cut hours. But Roper St. Francis is supported by partial owner the Medical Society of South Carolina, and Trident Health is owned by a large, investor-owned company out of state. "We are encountering unprecedented and serious financial deficits generated by the rapidly evolving COVID-19 crisis," an MUSC spokeswoman said in a statement. Federal-level support could be coming to MUSC and other hospitals with the passage of the CARES Act on March 27, but how that money will be divided isn't yet clear. The law included $100 billion set aside for nonprofit hospitals, but "it is unlikely to fully cover" lost revenue from the pandemic, according to a Friday report from Moody's Investor Service. MUSC is a publicly supported nonprofit. The two main stressors: Hospitals have had to cancel many non-urgent surgeries and other procedures that are moneymakers in normal times, and expenses are rising as hospitals shore up key supplies. MUSC's surgical cases are down 75 percent since it began cutting back, for instance. MUSC also has a standout amount of long-term debt: $701 million, as of the end of February. That amount has more than doubled since 2016 as the hospital system invested in a new children's hospital, capital projects and renovations. Much of its spending on expansion is financed through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In 2019 alone, MUSC leaders finalized $137 million to buy four hospitals around the state, opened a $16 million outpatient center inside the Citadel Mall in West Ashley and finished work on the $389 million Shawn Jenkins MUSC Children's Hospital. The four new hospitals were underperforming by February, however, and the West Ashley site has been closed for weeks due to coronavirus. MUSC is delaying spending on capital projects for the time being. In February, before the first coronavirus cases were reported in South Carolina, MUSC reported a loss. Already, the number of surgeries was down. The system's financial performance in March has not yet been reported. Doctors in Germany will soon have to decide which COVID-19 patients will receive intensive care and which will be at the mercy of death, as is already the case in Italy, France, the United States and other countries. On Wednesday, seven professional medical societies adopted a paper with treatment recommendations, which states, According to the current state of knowledge on the COVID-19 pandemic, it is likely that in Germany, too, in a short time, and despite the capacity increases that have already been made, there will no longer be sufficient intensive care medical resources available for all patients who need them. If this happens, the paper states, it is inevitable that decisions will have to be made about which patients requiring intensive care should be treated acutely/intensively and which should not (or no longer) be treated acutely/intensively. Over a total of eleven pages, the criteria are then developed for doctors who have to make this decision. Above all, the elderly, sick and infirm with lower chances of recovery would be rejected for intensive care. The prioritisation of patients is based on the criterion of the clinical prospect of success, which means that those for whom there is no or very little chance of success should be refused treatment. This is the case, for example, with serious illnessesincluding neurological and cancera severe immune deficiency, multimorbidity and increased frailty. The paper states that priority should be given to patients who thus have a higher probability of survival or a better overall prognosis. Not only a clinically relevant change in the condition of the patients is decisive for the decision, but also the changed relationship between need and available resources. In other words, the fewer ventilators, intensive care beds and specialist staff are available, the lower the threshold above which patients are no longer treated. The paper, which has also been signed by medical ethicists, does not say a word about how the current catastrophic situation came about. Nor does it contain any recommendations on how to prevent doctors from being put in the terrible position of having to decide on life and death. Instead, it uses an expression from war and disaster medicine to describe such a development as inevitable. It says that analogous to triage in disaster medicine, decisions must be made on the distribution of the limited resources available. The term triage (from the French trier: to sort, select, pick out) goes back to Napoleons personal physician Dominique-Jean Larrey, who developed a catalogue of criteria under which soldiers are saved on the battlefield and which are not. It was established for situations in which a sudden and unpredictable catastrophe overwhelms the available medical resources. However, the coronavirus crisis is not such an unforeseeable disaster. Experts have been warning of such a pandemic for years. A study by the public health body the Robert Koch Institute in 2012, for example, urged the German government and the Bundestag (federal parliament) that in the event of a virus pandemic, the necessary medical care for the population exceeds existing capacities many times over. But the government did nothing to prevent it. Instead, it continued the closure and privatisation of hospitals unchecked. Even after the outbreak of the current pandemic, the German government continues to pursue a policy of criminal irresponsibility. While it has put together a 750-billion-euro package in no time at all, primarily to safeguard profits, large corporations and banks, nursing staff continue to work mostly unprotected. No vigorous initiatives are being taken to expand the necessary capacities for intensive care patients either. In the meantime, thousands of doctors and nurses throughout Germany are infected with the coronavirus due to a lack of protective clothing, according to a survey by the Suddeutsche Zeitung, and broadcasters NDR and WDR. But the federal and state governments do not even consider it necessary to collect figures on the numbers of infected medical staff, who are essential for the survival of thousands, let alone for their protection. When asked, the Robert Koch Institute told the research team that 2,300 members of medical staff in hospitals are currently infected. Doctors surgeries, laboratories, retirement and nursing homes and outpatient care services are not included in this figure. Based on written inquiries to 400 health authorities, medical associations, state governments and other institutions, the research team concluded that thousands are already affected throughout Germany. However, it was not able to obtain complete figures. The Bavarian Ministry of Health even forbade the states health authorities from answering the journalists questions. Meanwhile, the total number of confirmed infections in Germany continues to rise unabated. In the last two weeks, between 4,000 and 7,000 people in the country have become newly infected every day. With more than 100,000 infected people, Germany is now fourth ahead of China and Franceand just behind the US, Spain and Italy. The number of fatalities has also risen to over 1,500. The federal governments attitude towards doctors and nurses is in line with its attitude towards the working class as a whole. Thousands of workers are being forced to work in non-critical companies without adequate protection. And even in indispensable sectorssuch as the food trade, public transport, etc.workers are often denied the most basic protection. For millions of poor, those precariously employed, single parents, workers, artists and small businesses, the crisis means the loss of their livelihoods without receiving the necessary aid. In the meantime, numerous highly qualified ethics experts who have appeared on talk shows and in newspaper columns are informing the population that the most vulnerable to the coronavirus will be denied intensive treatment. On Markus Lanzs evening chat show, criminal lawyer Reinhard Merkel, who is a member of the German Ethics Council and advises Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (Christian Democratic Union, CDU), defended the triage of intensive care patients. He talked about tragic conflicts for which there is no morally blameless solution and described different scenarios for refusing or discontinuing the treatment of elderly patients. The most likely scenario was: The doctors say to themselves, before I make the decision, I wont put an 80-year-old on the ventilator because a 30-year-old is coming along soon. The obvious and only ethically justifiable solutionproviding enough ventilators and intensive care beds and training personnel to treat everyoneis not even considered by such ethics experts. Yet this would easily be possible. The German mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and automotive industries together comprise more than 12,000 companies, employ almost 3 million workers and achieve an annual turnover of 725 billion euros, more than half of which is exported. They manufacture complex, technically advanced products and could also build ventilators and intensive care bedsenough to supply the whole of Europe. However, this would require an intervention into capitalist private property and the use of substantial sums of money. If the government were preparing for war, this would not be a problem. Production would be switched over in a very short time. Instead of engine blocks, shell casings would be cast, instead of trucks, tanks would be assembled and instead of machine controls, missile systems would be built. But what applies to the instruments of death does not apply to those that can save lives. The old, sick and infirm are simply not worth the effort of the ruling class. Within a very short time, they have provided 600 billion euros to secure the profits of the banks and large corporations. For the weakest victims of the COVID-19 epidemic, the ruling class has only cynical ethical justifications for why they have to die. It took Viktery Zimmerman only two days to find ways to connect with friends and family. She and her husband are stuck inside their home in Chicago, Illinois, as ordered by the states stay-at-home measure. There are the FaceTime video calls. There is the movie night with friends who are also stuck at home. There are plans for a game night. Viktery will do whatever is necessary to keep her from, as she puts it, spinning in circles. She describes herself as an extrovert -- someone who likes being with and talking to other people. Her husband, Justin Zimmerman, is an introvert. In other words, he is quieter and needs more alone time than his wife. He laughs at their differences in personalities. Now its become a thing where people are FaceTiming us all day, every day to say Hi, he said. Im like, You really dont have to. Most Americans and many other people around the world are following stay-at-home orders designed to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. The crisis has led to many changes including how and when people have social exchanges. The changes to daily life have affected extroverts and introverts in different ways. They may come as a release of pressure for some introverts who no longer must explain why they do not want to take part in social activities. Extroverts, however, are left seeking out social connection in a world where that is suddenly limited. Eric Bellmore considers himself an extrovert. He found himself shouting a hello to someone he did not know when he went for a run near his home in the state of Michigan. He just wanted a chance to speak with someone. Bellmore said, Its mind-boggling to grasp how much I need to be around other folk. But, social distancing has been a more pleasant change for David Choi, a Los Angeles musician who describes himself as introverted. His profession often requires him to be networking attending social events and meeting new people in the hopes of getting professional help. The order restricting movement, he says, gives you an excuse to stay home, which is what you want to do in the first place. The world generally has been a place where extroverts are rewarded and introverts are judged, says Lisa Kaenzig. She is a top administrator at William Smith College in New York and very much an extrovert. But she has studied introverted learners for years. Kaenzig says everyone might share in the fear and worry over the virus. But she says most of the introverts she has spoken to report that the limited social activity has been good for them. All of the things that make the world harder for them as introverts, the world is better for them right now. Theyre adapting much more quickly, she says. Some introverts, however, may struggle with the idea that staying home is an issue of government demand. It is no longer possible to visit a restaurant or coffee place when they do want to connect with people. Jackie Aina of Buffalo, New York, would often do just that when she was working from home. Now that control is being taken away, she says. Thats very different than choosing when and how you get to stay at home. I'm Ashley Thompson. The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story spin - v. to turn or cause someone or something to turn around repeatedly personality - n. the set of emotional qualities, ways of behaving, etc., that makes a person different from other people mind-boggling - adj. having a very powerful or overwhelming effect on the mind grasp - v. to understand (something that is complicated or difficult) folk - n. people in general reward - v. to give money or another kind of payment to (someone or something) for something good that has been done Over the weekend, the New York Times published an article titled Theres a Pandemic. Is This a Time for Tommy John Surgery? offering a glimpse into the difficult issues facing healthcare workers within todays coronavirus environment. At the Vincera Institute, our work caters to sports, workmans compensation and everyday injuries that occur here in Philadelphia and elsewhere. In the wake of this pandemic, we have shifted our present-day policies and adopted a new mind-set and we urge other centers to follow suit. Our team at the Institute and its Surgical Center now have an additional purpose: To implement our emergency preparedness plan accepted by Pennsylvanias Secretary of Health Rachel Levine and DOH Ambulatory Director Garrison Gladfelter. We are now at war. Therefore, we in the profession must provide front-line and backfield support against this viral enemy. Now soldiers, we are applying wartime priorities as a military hospital remote from the wars front. Our goal is to fulfill a dual mission: 1) Continue to function as a hospital with its original mission for the people whom we have been treating and now defending; and 2) Function now as a support hospital to help win this war. Our new emergency mission includes acting in preparedness to become a general surgical hospital, in order to help decompress the ERs and hospitals taking care of the primary victims. Therefore, we have developed a priority list for surgical cases to work in conjunction with Thomas Jefferson, Temple University and local other hospitals. This list parallels military situations. Here is our surgical care priority list for the surgical staff: Keep our staff healthy and functional and maintenance of functional OR activity. Get active duty healthcare workers, such as doctors and nurses, back to the front lines, no matter the ailment fractures, joint issues, appendicitis, gallbladder disease, etc. Get life-sustaining staff, such as transporters, police, firemen, grocery store employees, back to work. Care for urgent, non-viral surgical patients to preserve occupancy at ERs and traditional hospitals caring for coronavirus patients. Care for other urgent conditions that might reasonably be made worse by waiting four to six weeks to reschedule or pain that might lead to an ER visit. Put on hold during the surge the more purely elective cases. This emergency preparedness plan adds a second purpose to our daily healthcare mission. To accomplish this purpose, we need to be flexible, yet definitive in our decision-making. This process reflects two maxims attributed to United States Marine training: 1) Prior to battle, plans remain important; once entering the battle, best-laid plans always change; and 2) In war, discussion is good. To win, we must be together. William C. Meyers is president of the Vincera Institute in the Philadelphia Navy Yard. DARGANATA, Turkmenistan -- Authorities in Turkmenistan's eastern Darganata district have further limited daily ATM cash withdrawals for individuals, another sign the Central Asian energy-rich nation may be cash-strapped. An RFE/RL correspondent reported on April 6 from the district capital, Darganata, that over the weekend local automated tellers started giving clients a maximum of 100 manats per day, which is less than $30 by the official rate, and less than $5 on the black market, the main place where citizens can buy foreign currency That is the lowest amount allowed to be withdrawn from ATMs in Turkmenistan per day since the authorities started introducing such limits since early 2018. In February 2018, the daily limit for cash withdrawals per person was set as 1,000 manats. In November 2019, the amount was decreased to 800 manats. Last month, some ATMs started allowing people to withdraw 200 manats per day. An RFE/RL correspondent also reported from Darganata that the daily limit for noncash transactions through bank cards in the district was set at 80 manats. 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 week, the central bank ordered banks to pay salaries of employees of foreign companies, organizations, and entities operating in the country, only in Turkmenistan's national currency. In March, 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. 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. With reporting by Reuters Bexar County Sheriff's Office A 26-year-old woman is facing child endangerment charges after her toddler tested positive for methamphetamine, according to an arrest affidavit.. On March 30, Alyssa Joann Garcia brought her 1-year-old to the San Antonio Children's Hospital because he wasn't sleeping. Results from blood tests indicated the child tested positive for having the drugs in his system, the affidavit said. She charmed her Deep Water co-star Ben Affleck, with the two currently opting to quarantine and chill together. Now Cuban actress Ana De Armas has gushed over the 'handsome' leading men she has been cast alongside. The 31-year-old, heaped praise on colleagues like Ryan Gosling, Daniel Craig and of course Affleck himself, telling American Airlines magazine Nexos: 'I've had the best partners.' Full of praise: Ana De Armas gushed over her 'handsome' leading men for 'who they are as people' in a brand new interview She told the magazine she was 'shaking so badly' when she met Gosling during her third audition for Blade Runner 2049. 'They put you in a room together and make you read things, to see how your chemistry is. I wish I had the tape of that meeting,' she explained. 'I've been very lucky - because these men are all very handsome - but the best part of it is who they are as people. I've had the best partners.' Glamour goddess: Alongside a dazzling photo-shoot the Cuban thespian heaped praise on colleagues like Ryan Gosling and Daniel Craig: 'I've had the best partners' Ana's fame increased with last year's thriller Knives Out, where she so impressed Daniel that he got her a part in his upcoming James Bond film No Time To Die. She was 'shocked' when director Cary Fukunaga offered her the part as she felt she 'didn't match' the heightened 'beauty standards' expected of Bond girls. The bombshell argued that Bond girls generally 'need to be rescued. Or they die. Or are evil. I needed to read that script.' She shared that 'it took a little, but they sent me the scenes. It's important, because I want to bring something else to the story,' and 'the character convinced me.' Sizzling sensation: Ben and Ana began filming last November on Deep Water, an erotic thriller directed by Adrian Lyne of Unfaithful fame Gratitude: She shared that 'I've been very lucky - because these men are all very handsome - but the best part of it is who they are as people' No Time To Die was originally scheduled to come out this month but because of the coronavirus pandemic it has been bumped to the day before Thanksgiving. Ana also spoke about having to simultaneously learn English and try to break into Hollywood when she first moved to America. The leggy film star, who already had a career in Spain after attending Cuba's only theater school, 'had bilingual friends who helped me a lot.' Ana dished: 'My background and my experiences growing up in Cuba and moving and being like a citizen of the world and adapting and being flexible. It gives me a lot of tools and a different vision and approach towards a character.' Modest: She was 'shocked' when No Time To Die director Cary Fukunaga offered her the part as she felt she 'didn't match' the heightened 'beauty standards' expected of Bond girls Learning curve: Ana also spoke about having to simultaneously learn English and try to break into Hollywood when she first moved to America She eventually began scoring roles 'written for Americans' in such movies as War Dogs, Knock Knock and Blade Runner 2049. 'When I auditioned, they changed their minds and made the script work for me,' said Ana, drawing a distinction between these roles and her Knives Out performance. In Knives Out she played a central character called Marta who was written as a Latina, 'an amazing gift' of a role. 'When I was finally able to read the full script for Knives Out, I was blown away, and I fell in love with the character. Marta is something like I've never seen,' she said. Support system: The leggy film star, who already had a career in Spain after attending Cuba's only theater school, 'had bilingual friends who helped me a lot' 'Something like I've never seen': In Knives Out she played a central character called Marta who was written as a Latina, 'an amazing gift' of a role Ana and Ben hit the headlines shortly before the coronavirus lockdowns when they were seen getting close on the beach during a holiday to Costa Rica. Since then they have frequently been seen out and about together, cozying up to one another during sunlit strolls. Ben and Ana are thought to have met in November when they began filming Deep Water, an erotic thriller directed by Adrian Lyne of Unfaithful fame. Ben shares three children with his amicable ex-wife Jennifer Garner, who according to an Us Weekly source 'has completely moved on from Ben in a romantic sense.' Looking fab: The 31-year-old actress, who has been hitting the headlines for her new romance with her Deep Water co-star Ben Affleck, is the new cover girl for Nexos Staying close: Recently Ben and Ana have frequently been seen out and about together, cozying up to one another during sunlit strolls The insider dished: '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 supportive of him and happy for him and his relationship.' However Jennifer apparently thinks it is too early in their romance for Ben to introduce Ana to the children, an Us Weekly source gossiped. The insider added that 'Ben is understanding' and 'said he would work with Jennifer to prepare the kids for meeting' his new girlfriend. Rising up: Ana's fame increased with last year's thriller Knives Out (pictured), where she so impressed Daniel that he got her a part in his upcoming James Bond film No Time To Die Adding to their brand awareness, Hancom in the field of AI is recognized as a leader in the Fourth Industrial Revolution South Korea Hancom has placed 87th in the BrandStock Top 100 Korean Brands, for Q1 2020. The Top 100 Korean Brands are selected by Brand Stock, a Korean brand valuation company. The ranking is based on the BrandStock Top Index (BSTI). The brand value certification model combines a consumer survey index with the BrandStock stock indexa simulation that looks at 1,000 traded brands. Hancoms top 100 ranking comes in part due to Hancom Office, the brands office software suite which has competed in the local market with Microsoft Office for about three decades. Hancom has maintained a market share of about 30 percent in the Korean domestic office software market. More recently, and through several business partnerships in overseas markets Hancom Office has gained a strong presence as an alternative to MS Office. This includes strategic partnerships with Amazon Web Services, one of the worlds largest cloud computing platforms and with Mail.Ru, a Russian cloud service that has about 100 million e-mail accounts. Adding to their brand awareness, Hancom in the field of artificial intelligence has begun to gain recognition as a leader in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This includes Hancom successfully, launching Genie Talk Go! an AI-powered automatic speech translator. More recently and to curb COVID-19, Hancom has begun to supply, free of charge, an Al-based call center systemHancom AI Check 25to Seoul, Daegu, and Gyeonggi province. On the BrandStock survey, Samsung Galaxy, the smartphone brand of Samsung Electronics, retained their No.1 spot in the ranking. Mobile instant messaging KakaoTalk overtook retailer Emart to place second. Online platform Naver climbed four notches to the No. 5 slot. Overall, information & communication technology brands were the most highly ranked. About The Hancom Group Founded in 1990, today Hancom Group is a leader in creating innovative ecosystems that will lead the world through the convergence of technology. With its reach of 14 affiliate companies covering Hardware, Software, and the Finance industry, the Groups mission is to create a Convenient World, Connected World, and Safe & Secure World. An Oregon man faces criminal charges after police say he ignited and tossed a large firework during a parking lot spat and accidentally set four moving trucks on fire as well as someone secretly siphoning gas from one of them. The wild blaze erupted early Sunday morning in Eugene when Dylan Thomas Hannah, 28, got into a verbal altercation with a woman in her 30s outside a U-Haul storage center on Oroyan Avenue about 5:45 a.m., police said. During the exchange of words, Hannah lit a mortar-style firework from inside his car and threw it at the woman, who ran for cover, said Melinda McLaughin, a Eugene Police Department spokeswoman. Dylan Thomas Hannah (Lane County Sheriff's Office) The subsequent blast sent sparks flying through the U-Haul parking lot, police said. Some of the burning embers landed near a bank of moving trucks where, unbeknownst to the quarrelers, a man had been siphoning gas. Four moving trucks burst into flames, McLaughlin said. So did the unsuspecting gas thief, who was spotted fleeing the scene with his pants and sleeves on fire. Police later tracked down Hannah and booked him into the Lane County Jail on suspicion of second-degree criminal mischief, reckless burning and reckless endangerment, records show. The suspected gas siphoner remains at large, McLaughlin said. -- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632 Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories A resident of the Armenian city of Hrazdan was killed by a person who was born in the Republic of Azerbaijan and of Azeri nationality, but has been actually residing in the Republic of Armenia for the past 25 years, is a 41-year-old citizen of the Republic of Armenia and a long-time acquaintance and neighbor of the victim. This was reported by the Investigative Committee of Armenia, which established several circumstances and the motive of the murder and the person having committed the alleged crime through large-scale investigative and other procedural actions. Through the preliminary investigation, factual data were obtained, according to which on December 18, 2019 at around 10:30 p.m., a 41-year-old man had dined with his neighbor and drunk with him, after which the two got into a dispute over domestic issues and beat each other. Afterwards, the citizen of Azerbaijan hit the neighbors face with his fist and threw him to the ground, after which, with the direct intention to take his life, continued to hit his head and other body parts with his fist, after which the neighbor died from injuries. By combination of sufficient evidence obtained, the person having committed an alleged crime has been charged with murder. The preliminary investigation is over, and the criminal case has been forwarded to the court along with the indictment. A Chinese woman wears a full face protective mask as she shops at an outdoor food market on April 3, 2020 in Beijing, China. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images China has been trying to gradually roll back its severe coronavirus lockdown in recent weeks. Shops, bars, cinemas, and tourists sites were reopened after no new cases were reported in many provinces. But authorities have repeatedly reversed their decisions and re-closed businesses, tourist attractions, and entire regions. China is further into its coronavirus response than any other nation and seems to be demonstrating that getting out of lockdown is a difficult and uneven process. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Related Video: How Long Will Social Distancing Last? It's Complicated In the last two weeks, authorities in China have tentatively rolled back parts of a lockdown that curtailed the movements and activities of close to a billion people from as early as January 23. At the peak of China's coronavirus outbreak in mid-February, some 780 million people almost half of China were under a form of travel restriction. These measures are now easing watched by the rest of the world but the progress of a return to normality has been uneven, fraught with anxiety and sudden reversals. Tourist attractions, public transport links, cinemas, restaurants, and shops across the country were cautiously reopened. But shortly after, many jurisdictions rushed to reimpose the lockdowns, fearing a second wave of infections. In Jinzhou, Liaoning province, some businesses recently reopened their doors, according to the Guardian, but the city on Monday ordered clubs, karaoke bars and cafes to close. People in Beijing pay tribute to China's coronavirus victims during a national moment of silence on April 4, 2020. Thomas Peter/Reuters On Wednesday, the 640,000 residents of Jia county, which neighbor the former epicenter of Hubei province, were placed back under a lockdown after a second wave of coronavirus cases was discovered. Housing estates were sealed off, traffic was regulated, and mandatory temperature checks were brought back, according to Reuters. On March 25, all residents of Hubei province, excepting those in Wuhan, were told they were free to leave after travel restrictions ended. But police from Jiangxi province, which has a 150-mile border with Hubei, tried to stop people from crossing over, and brawled with Hubei police over the restrictions. Story continues After a 60-day lockdown of Xianning city ended on March 26, those leaving were told they needed to be tested for the virus and approved for travel. However, they were unable to, Reuters reported, as the test wasn't available in the city's largest hospital. A recently reopened noodle shop in Wuhan seen on March 31, 2020. Associated Press In the week leading up to March 23, as many as 600 cinemas reopened all across China, but on March 27 a decree from China's Film Bureau forced them all to close again. Sichuan province, in southwest China, also told entertainment businesses to shutter again, including karaoke bars. After more than 60 days in lockdown, March 28, residents of Wuhan were allowed to leave the house freely so long as they didn't leave the city. But five days later, on April 2, they were told by a Communist Party official that they in fact should not leave home without reason, according to the Guardian. Restrictions on travel into and out of the Wuhan are set to lift on April 8. A passenger shows a green QR code on his phone proving his health status to security upon arrival at Wenzhou railway station in Wenzhou on February 28, 2020. Noel Celis/AFP/Getty Images The wave of closures suggests that China is well aware that a new outbreak of the coronavirus could emerge as a result of easing their lockdowns too soon. China, South Korea, and Taiwan have all observed cases of the coronavirus brought back by people coming from abroad. China identified 41 new cases on March 21 as students returned from the US and Europe. That day was the third in a row that had seen no locally transmitted cases, according to official data. China banned foreigners from travelling to the country from March 28. Some epidemiologists believe that lockdowns merely delay the outbreak's peak by a few months. "What happened in Wuhan and now what's happened in north Italy is not the peak of an epidemic. That's about a month away from the peak," Dr. Ben Cowling, an epidemiologist at the University of Hong Kong who researches influenza transmission and control measures, told Business Insider. "They are still facing now, most likely, a second wave in one to two months' time. So are they going to shut down again?" Read the original article on Business Insider Top CEOs, in private conversations and pleas to President Trump, are warning of economic catastrophe if America doesn't begin planning for a phased return to work as soon as May, corporate leaders tell Axios. Why it matters: The CEOs say massive numbers of companies, big and small, could go under if business and government don't start urgent talks about ways groups of workers can return. Several of these leaders told us they want to have a hard national conversation about tradeoffs involved in any widespread lockdowns beyond the middle of next month. They know most wouldn't return until June or later, but fear a lack of urgency on many going back sooner. They realize it sounds callous to talk about work when people are scared of death, but believe it's an urgent debate the nation needs. Several are debating going public with this concern, but fear the optics and timing look discordant. A return to work might start by geography, demography or type of work. The plan likely would include guidelines about use of gloves and masks. It would also err on the side of people who had the virus and healed, as well as those who pass instant antibody tests. Reality check: Large parts of the South and central U.S. may not hit their peak until May. Anthony Fauci said last week: "I think if we get to the part of the curve ... when it goes down to essentially no new cases, no deaths at a period of time, I think it makes sense that youre going to have to relax social distancing." Gary Cohn, the first White House economic adviser under Trump, told us that startup founders and CEOs are pleading privately: "We just need a realistic timeframe, and we need to talk honestly about it so we can tell our employees." "There are a lot of conversations going on: At what point does a business become unrecoverable?" Cohn said. "Business owners are asking: 'At what point do I just lay my people off and shut down and give the landlord the key?'" "Businesses worry that their employees will be forced to jump at the first job offer, so they can't count on them to come back." Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, agreed it's a hot topic of private chats: "A lot of people are concerned," he said Friday at an Axios virtual event. But he said he'll "err on the side of safety, every single time." Cohn, former president and COO of Goldman Sachs, said entrepreneurs and business titans also worry about the depression and addiction issues that have accompanied past economic downturns: "No one wants to talk about this, but can you even get workers back who aren't so addicted or depressed they can actually function?" What's next: Look for business groups to begin to broach these topics publicly in the next few weeks. "If this goes on too long, the fear builds more and more," a top executive of a global company told us. "We need to lay the groundwork for the fear to ebb." As Bloomberg put it, some investors are "willing to risk some horrors to avoid others." Subscribe to Mike Allen's Axios AM to follow our coronavirus coverage each morning from your inbox. By PTI NEW DELHI: Congress leader Jaiveer Shergill lit two lamps on Sunday for motivation and in the memory of those who died of coronavirus and said he will light seven more if the government lives up to people's expectations. Shergill said while he lit two lamps -- one for motivation and another in the memory of those who died of coronavirus -- he will light seven more when adequate testing kits are made available by the government, free COVID-19 tests are done, doctors are provided with PPE kits and relief is given to labourers and those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic. "9 diyas-Lit up 1 Diya for "Motivation", 1 in memory of lives claimed by Covid19 - 7 when Government focuses on "Preparation": 1. Testing Kits+ 2. PPE+ 3. Free Testing 4. Quarantine Beds+ 5. Relief for Labourers 6. Loan Waiver on EMI for salaried class 7. Employment generation," he said in a tweet. The Congress leader was referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for lighting lamps for nine minutes at 9 pm on Sunday to show solidarity with the war against the coronavirus outbreak. JACKSON, MI A fourth person has died from the novel coronavirus in Jackson County. The Jackson County Health Department reported the fourth death on Monday, April 6. 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. There are now 103 positive cases of COVID-19 in Jackson County, according to the health department. There are 51 men and 52 women infected, with the 25 percent of the cases affecting people between ages 50 and 59, per health department statistics. There are 36 people hospitalized at Henry Ford Allegiance Health with COVID-19, according to a news release. Sixteen additional people are hospitalized pending test results. Ten people have recovered from COVID-19 and been discharged. 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. A third persons death was announced April 3, but no information about age or gender was released by the health department. Positive COVID-19 results from the prisons in Jackson County are not included in the health departments data. Jackson prisons have 105 inmates whove tested positive, as Sunday, April 5, per the Michigan Department of Corrections. Seven inmates are in the Duane Waters Health Center. A 55-year-old man at Parnell Correctional Facility died from COVID-19 on April 1. Michigan has more than 17,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 727 deaths caused by the disease as of 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 6. Michigan has deadliest day from coronavirus with 110 new deaths Read all of MLives coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus. Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. READ MORE JACKSON NEWS: Jackson business delivers groceries for free amid coronavirus pandemic Jackson County reports 10 more confirmed coronavirus cases Brooklyn Post Office employee tests positive for coronavirus Desperation is pretty intense, company president says of creating N95 mask sanitizer MercyMe announced for 2020 Jackson County Fair Jackson-area theater brings monologues, hope to living rooms amid coronavirus crisis SHELTON Shelton has yet another coronavirus-related death, and the number of positive cases jumped to 98, by far the most in the Valley, according to health district data released Saturday. The latest death brings the citys total to 10 in the past week, stated Naugatuck Valley Health District (NVHD) officials. So far, the deaths have been six people four women and two men in their 90s; three men in their 80s, and one man in his 70s; with eight being residents of nursing homes or assisted living facilities. The COVID-19-related deaths reported by NVHD have been confirmed through laboratory testing. It is with great sadness that the district is announcing the death of three more individuals who have passed away due to complications with COVID-19, said NVHD Director Jessica Stelmaszek. These announcements do not get any easier, and my heart aches for the families who are losing their loved ones. Three Shelton assisted living facilities Apple Rehab Shelton Lakes, Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation, and Gardner Heights Health Care Center all were listed as having a worker or individual test positive for the coronavirus, according to state health officials. More than 50 such facilities across the state have at least one worker or resident who has tested positive for the virus. Public Safety Director Mike Maglione said earlier this week that several positive cases are in the citys nursing home community, but the virus is also among the general population. There are five nursing home facilities in Shelton, according to Maglione, housing some 450 residents altogether. Positive cases are scattered throughout the city, said Maglione. That is why we constantly reinforce social distancing. Stay away from crowds and wash your hands. In all, there are 223 residents in the Naugatuck Valley that, as of 4 p.m. Saturday, had tested positive for the coronavirus. There are 35 in Ansonia, 34 in Naugatuck, 24 in Seymour, 20 in Derby and 12 in Beacon Falls. The health district, in a release last week, said, community spread/transmission is now occurring in the Valley. People have been infected with the virus, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected. Please practice social distancing and stay home as much as possible. Statewide, as of Saturday, there were more than 5,200 confirmed cases and 165 reported deaths, including the 10 from Shelton. There are 1,033 coronavirus patients hospitalized, up 124 from Friday, Gov. Ned Lamont said. Lamonts executive orders have shuttered all schools until at least April 20, and closed all nonessential businesses until further notice. Gatherings of more than five people are prohibited. The governor said last week that schools may remain closed until the fall. Residents should continue to heed the advice of their chief elected officials, added Stelmaszek, and stay home as much as possible and continue to practice social distancing to avoid exposure and further spread of the virus. The NVHD defines a person under investigation as anyone who has been identified as someone who may have the virus that causes COVID-19 or who was under investigation but tested negative. The health district has received many requests to report recovery statistics, said Stelmaszek. Currently, there is no reliable recovery data available. Health district staff will continue to work with patients to determine when an individual meets the CDCs criteria to come out of self-isolation. The state Department of Public Health now publishes a report at www.ct.gov/coronavirus that breaks down positive COVID-19 cases by town. The NVHD release states that the physician who ordered the coronavirus test for the patient and health district staff will contact individuals who test positive for COVID-19. Those individuals will remain in quarantine at their homes, stated the NVHD release. Individuals who reside in the same household as a laboratory confirmed positive case will also be required to self-quarantine at their home. Health department staff will work with the patients to investigate and determine if additional individuals need to be notified or require 14-day self-monitoring periods at home. If an individual is inpatient or in a healthcare facility, that facility will lead the investigation. Stelmaszek said health district officials are hopeful that some of our residents will start meeting criteria to come out of self-isolation. Most individuals in Connecticut will not have a test to determine if they are still contagious. brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com French hotel group Accor has announced the launch of an ALL Heartist Fund to assist its employees and offer support to partners. After consulting with the groups main shareholders, JinJiang International, Qatar Investment Authority, Kingdom Holding Company and Harris Associates, Accor has decided to allocate 25 per cent of the planned dividend (70 million/$75.6 million) to the launch of the ALL Heartist Fund, a Covid-19 special purpose vehicle. This fund will typically assist: 1. The groups 300,000 employees, pledging to pay for their Covid-19-related hospital expenses, for those who do not have social security or medical insurance, 2. On a case by case basis, furloughed employees suffering great financial distress 3. On a case by case basis, individual partners facing financial difficulty "This fund reflects the ambition of the Group and its shareholders to provide a meaningful and significant contribution to global solidarity initiatives to address the current health crisis while planning for future needs. This decision has received unanimous support from the Board members, who collectively decided to reduce their attendance fees by 20 per cent to the benefit of the ALL Heartist Fund. Additionally, Sebastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Accor, will forego 25 per cent of his compensation during the crisis. The cash equivalent will also be contributed to the Fund," a statement from the group read. Sebastien Bazin, chairman and CEO of Accor, commented: In light of the urgency and the scale of the situation, we have decided to act in an immediate and meaningful way, in the spirit of our values and commitments. Through this impactful gesture, we wish to express our solidarity and gratitude to all those demonstrating courage and selflessness during this crisis. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank the Groups main shareholders. Without them, the ALL Heartist Fund would not have been possible." "I also want to pay a special tribute to the Accor teams around the world. They are facing the current crisis with admirable courage, dedication and professionalism. As our industry is going through tough times, we have to make tough decisions, but Accor has a strong balance sheet which will enable it to withstand this crisis and emerge with strength during the recovery period. I am confident that Accor will soon rediscover the road to growth, he said. The companys mitigation measures, in the light of the Covid-19 outbreak, began as early as February, and included: - Travel ban, hiring freeze, reduced schedules and/or furloughing for 75 per cent of global head office teams for Q2, resulting in a minimum 60 million ($64.8 million) reduction in G&A for 2020 - Reviewed recurring investment plan for 2020 resulting in a 60 million reduction in capital expenditures. The Group is further streamlining all other costs (e.g. sales, marketing, IT), in line with lower system wide revenues. "Thanks to its recent asset-light transformation and cash preservation strategy, Accor can today rely on a strong balance sheet, with more than 2.5 billion ($2.7 billion) in cash on hand and an undrawn revolving credit facility of 1.2 billion ($1.29 billion). While much uncertainty remains on the duration of this crisis, the Group expects a severe impact on its 2020 performance but remains bullish on the long-term perspective of the hospitality industry, for Accor, its employees, its owners and shareholders," the statement said. - TradeArabia News Service Like other members of the service and gig economies, sex workers have been hit hard by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Strip clubs across San Francisco have closed. Escorts and BDSM professionals clients have dried up. And those who continue operating face a smaller and more dangerous clientele, but often have no other options but to continue working. Live online webcam modeling seems like a natural pivot for sex workers who are no longer able to see clients. VICE noted that popular cam site OnlyFans saw 60,000 new sign-ups in March, and The Chronicle recently reported on several underemployed Bay Area sex industry professionals and members of the gig economy succeeding on the site, but it isnt always a natural transition. A stripper from topless San Francisco institution the Condor, who well call Jessica, requested anonymity to weigh in with a perspective of an erotic dancer. Jessica has explored online cam modeling, but found it just as physically taxing as dancing, for significantly less money. The $2 per minute wage advertised sounded appealing at first, but with most sessions lasting only 10 minutes, it didnt add up to much. Claire Alwyne, a professional dominatrix (or domme), echoes Jessicas sentiments on it being difficult to pivot to cam work. What I hear from my colleagues is that everybody is trying to go online, and theres already a well-established population of workers online, says Alwyne. And theres probably far fewer online clients now, because people are home with their families. Its kind of difficult to have a sexy chat. Kristen DiAngelo, executive director of the Sacramento Sex Worker Outreach Project, reiterates that going online isnt an easy option. Camwork isnt always a possibility. Youre taking a ton of industries and streaming them into one, which is geared toward a certain type of clientele. There are people who dont photograph well, or dont even have that technology. Cesar Espinoza-Perez, an SF-based escort, also found it difficult to adapt. A couple years ago, I was starting to do some online stuff, but I stopped, because its really something you have to build up to to have an audience. And it wasnt monetizing as fast as I was used to with meeting people in person, he says. RELATED: The remarkable life of 'Alice Smith,' once San Francisco's most famous sex worker --- Seeking: government support Like other industries affected by the coronavirus, sex professionals could use a bailout. Bay Area Workers Support is offering $50 to 200 grants for sex workers, and according to the SF office of economic and workforce development, the forthcoming $1,200 stimulus does apply to sex workers who file taxes, but the black market nature disqualifies many from unemployment benefits. Those who do run licensed businesses may be out of luck from additional assistance though, as the Small Business Administrations Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program excludes businesses of a prurient sexual nature. Maxine Doogan, who has done full-service sex work and served as a dominatrix in San Francisco for 30 years, takes issue with that exclusion. She founded the Erotic Service Providers Union in 2007 to advocate for this type of discrimination against sex workers. For a long time, weve advocated for a policy agenda. We think that there needs to be some specific anti-discrimination legislation for our community, she says, stressing that prostitution is legal on the federal level. California made a big step last year with SB233, which allows sex workers to carry condoms without fear that theyd be used as evidence against them in a stop, but the act itself is still a crime. The criminalization of prostitution leaves a bunch of people left out, without access to equal protection under the law, she says. Espinoza-Perez had been working on a campaign with a group of 10 other sex workers at the city level to decriminalize sex work, but in the wake of COVID-19, the project has shifted to advocating for emergency funding. Were in a crisis, but this is also an opportunity to learn online organizing. A lot of people are feeling like the government isnt really defending sex workers, he says, and stresses that the criminalized status makes it hard for the department of public health to keep statistics and monitor the well-being of sex workers. Another sex worker named Angel (who requested to be identified by her first name) has been doing full body massages and escorting for 15 years. Like Doogan, shes still seeing at least one regular, whos been a weekly client for five years and takes serious sanitary precautions. She pays taxes as an entertainer, so is eligible for the stimulus package. Im one of those that can be helped, but other sex workers are the ones Im concerned about, she says. Were just like any other business, and just as important as any other business. There should be some help for sex workers. Like all dancers at legal strip clubs in California, Jessica from the Condor is considered an employee and not an independent contractor, a legal change mandated in 2018. The status led to a 50% decrease in earnings for Jessica to compensate for being on payroll, but now has had an unexpected benefit. Its really not a very lucrative job anymore. But now, its a blessing in disguise, because I can apply for unemployment, says Jessica. Jessicas considering returning to her previous career as a social worker, but could barely make ends meet on her former salary. Some dancers she knows immediately moved back in with their parents. Were pretty much social outcasts, so people arent running to our rescue. People dont really care; thats what sets us apart from bartenders and waitresses. RELATED: Pup play, latex and bondage: Heres what we saw at the 2019 Folsom Street Fair --- Weighing the risks Doogan has a small amount of savings to weather the storm, but is still seeing her regular clients a defiance of the shelter-in-place order that she justifies as a means of survival. I think its not reasonable to expect that people who have been cut out of the social compact to comply with all of the restrictions. Weve been left to fend for ourselves, says Doogan. I dont think its really reasonable to think that were going to have to suffer without their help. Doogan works indoors in private environments, but she thinks even street-based workers will be forced to continue during the coronavirus crisis. If I had to walk the streets tonight to get some money for food, I would definitely be doing that, she says. Angel agrees that some women simply cant stop working. A lot of women still have to work through these times. They dont have a choice. Theres going to be a lot of women who are going to take the risk. That might spread it. Jessica from the Condor noted that as the public became more aware of the coronavirus risks and started staying home, the clientele turned seedier. Strip clubs are about as high risk as it gets. The last day I was there, it was clear we shouldnt be open. At that point, the people showing up just clearly didnt care at all. They didnt bother taking precautions. According to Jessica, the closing of strip clubs has led to many dancers to turn to prostitution. I know some girls are resorting to doing full service. I happen not to be one of those people. Anyone whos doing full-service sex work, its a higher risk. The customers who are still seeking out sex workers, anyone whos not social distancing, is pretty high risk, she says. Alwyne echoes Jessicas sentiments on the remaining clientele being riskier. The few people who are seeking to purchase services at the moment are pushing the boundaries and seeking to negotiate a special rate. They think were desperate, and we are desperate, its true. In this situation, the good clients disappear, and the downright bad clients come out of the woodwork, says Alwyne. All of the people who spoke to SFGATE stressed that like other out-of-work service-industry professionals, theyre relying on the support and generosity of their regulars to get through the pandemic. If theres one thing people can do to help, its reach out, as many dont feel comfortable initiating contact with customers while theyre sheltered with their families. Without that support, the outlook for many sex workers is dire. The streets are like a ghost town out there. Which means theyll do one of two things, says DiAngelo. Theyll negotiate down all their safety protocols in order to survive. Youll try to outbid the person next to you. Then a lot of girls will begin to join up, theyll seek out pimps and other people who can help them. For me this is one of the biggest arguments for decriminalization there can be the safety of the workers and the community, says DiAngelo. It doesnt only endanger the workers, it also endangers the community. But you cant ask somebody to starve to death so other people can be safe. You might survive the virus, you wont survive not eating for two months. If you ask any rational person if theyd rather take the virus, or not eat, thats not even a thought. Dan Gentile is a digital editor at SFGATE. Email: Dan.Gentile@sfgate.com | Twitter: @Dannosphere Natural gas futures closed lower last week after hitting another multi-year low earlier in the week. The weakness was primarily driven by worries over demand destruction due to the impact of the coronavirus on the economy and forecasts calling for milder temperatures. Last weeks U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) report was bearish, but traders ignored this news. Instead, shorts covered late in the week after the announcement of a possible meeting between Russia and Saudi Arabia to discuss production cuts. Last week, May natural gas settled at $1.621, down $0.050 or -2.99%. U.S. Energy Information Administration Weekly Storage Report The EIA reported Thursday that domestic supplies of natural gas fell by 19 billion cubic feet (bcf) for the week-ended March 27. Estimates ahead of the EIA report ranged widely from a withdrawal as small as 16 Bcf to as large as 31 Bcf. Bloomberg analysts were looking for a 31 Bcf withdrawal. A Wall Street Journal survey called for a 26 Bcf pull and the Natural Gas Intelligence (NGI) model estimated a 10 Bcf draw. Last year, the EIA recorded a 6 Bcf injection for the similar week, while the five-year average stands at a withdrawal of 19 Bcf. Total stocks now stand at 1.986 trillion cubic feet (TCF), up 863 Bcf from a year ago, and 292 Bcf above the five-year average, the government said. Short-Term Weather Outlook According to NatGasWeather for April 6-12, Mild to warm conditions will rule the Midwest and East the next several days with very comfortable highs of 60s and 70s from Chicago to NYC. Warm conditions continue across the southern U.S. with highs of 70s and 80s, aiding very light national demand. Weather systems will track into the West with areas of rain and snow of 40s to 70s. A fresh cool shot with lows of 20s and 30s will sweep across the northern U.S. Thursday Saturday for a swing to strong national demand. Weekly Forecast A chillier forecast across the Lower 48 could underpin prices early in the week, briefly softening concerns over demand destruction caused by coronavirus. However, given that the cash market did not show a similar move, we suspect there may be more to Fridays late session rally than just the weather. We feel that shorts are covering because they fear that Russia and Saudi Arabia will eventually reach a deal to curb production. Story continues It is not entirely clear what prompted that late move higher, Bespoke Weather Services chief meteorologist Brian Lovern said. We do have higher weather demand on the way, but weve been seeing that colder move for three to four days now, so it is difficult to pin the move solely on that, although it helps, to be sure. Natural Gas Intelligence (NGI) reported that Lovern said gas may be simply following the move of oil, with just general buying in energy as a whole. Fridays market behavior certainly leads one to wonder if we can say that the final bottom is in. We do feel like prices down in the low $1.50s are not sustainable longer-term, but we hesitate to say that the final low is in, as it has felt that way before, only to see a renewed downturn. The market still has no good idea how long demand destruction will carry on, which really is the big issue going forward, according to Lovern. Our work suggests that shorts are covering on the dips, but we really havent seen new buyers come in to continue the initial rallies. It is possible that cheap prices, cooler weather and a possible bottom in crude oil are providing support, but until the new case coronavirus curve begins to flatten, demand destruction will continue to keep a lid on prices. This article was originally posted on FX Empire More From FXEMPIRE: French English MONTREAL, April 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd (the Company or Osisko) (OR: TSX & NYSE) today announced that The Hon. John Baird has been appointed to its Board of Directors. Mr. Sean Roosen, Chair of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer stated, "We are pleased that Mr. Baird has agreed to join the Board of Osisko. In our discussions with John, we have been excited to have his insights on global affairs and interactions with government, an ideal complement to the top tier expertise that our Board brings to the benefit of Osiskos stakeholders." Mr. Baird was a Member of Parliament for three terms, serving with distinction in a number of senior cabinet portfolios. He served as Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister for four years. Prior to his service in Ottawa, he was Member of Provincial Parliament in Ontario for ten years, where he served in senior cabinet portfolios including as Minister of Energy and Minister of Community and Social Services. He is a director of Canadian Pacific, Canadian Forest Products, FWD Group, PineBridge Investments and is an advisor to Hatch, Barrick Gold, Bennett Jones LLP and the Eurasia Group. About Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd is an intermediate precious metal royalty company focused on the Americas that commenced activities in June 2014. Osisko holds a North American focused portfolio of over 135 royalties, streams and precious metal offtakes. Osiskos portfolio is anchored by its cornerstone asset, a 5% net smelter return royalty on the Canadian Malartic mine, which is the largest gold mine in Canada. Osisko also owns the Cariboo gold project in Canada as well as a portfolio of publicly held resource companies, including a 15.9% interest in Osisko Mining Inc., 17.9% interest in Osisko Metals Incorporated and a 18.3% interest in Falco Resources Ltd. Osiskos head office is located at 1100 Avenue des Canadiens-de Montreal, Suite 300, Montreal, Quebec, H3B 2S2. President Moon Jae-in speaks by phone with World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap The head of the United Nations health agency on Monday asked South Korean President Moon Jae-in to come to the fore in the global war against the coronavirus so that other countries can follow in his country's footsteps, Cheong Wa Dae said. Speaking on the phone with Moon, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), said South Korea's "comprehensive strategy," involving aggressive testing, diagnosis and tracing, is working effectively. He requested that Moon endeavor to encourage global leaders to learn from South Korea's method, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok. The WHO leader made a "special suggestion" that Moon pay keen attention to the issue of providing sub-Saharan African nations with test kits and other medical devices. He also invited Moon to deliver a keynote speech at the World Health Assembly to be held via videoconferencing in May. "It would serve as a good opportunity to share South Korea's experience in connection with COVID-19," he was quoted as saying. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa are among those who plan to address the session. Moon proposed having consultations on details, through the diplomatic channel, including Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha. He then reminded the WHO official of South Korea's measures based on the organization's relevant guidelines. "Our government is coping with COVID-19 constantly in accordance with the three major principles of openness, transparency and democracy," the president said, adding his nation has minimized "unnecessary" restrictions on the movement of people and goods, as the WHO has advised. Moon also said his administration plans to make contributions to coronavirus response programs led not just by the WHO alone but also the United Nations. The WHO raised a total of US$677 million in related funds as of April 1. Moon said he has already had phone conversations with around 20 foreign heads of state on the pandemic. He reaffirmed a commitment to providing all available support for their countries. The president pointed out the WHO's role has become more important amid the "unprecedented global health care crisis" and held out expectations that it will play a leading role in defeating the virus. Their 25-minute-long phone talks were made at the WHO leader's request, Kang said. (Yonhap) Prime Minister Boris Johnson was moved to intensive care on Monday evening after his Covid-19 symptoms worsened. Mr Johnson is understood to be conscious and was moved to intensive care at about 7pm as a precaution should he require ventilation to aid his recovery. Downing Street said Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab would "deputise where necessary" while the Prime Minister was in intensive care. A Number 10 spokesman said: "Since Sunday evening, the Prime Minister has been under the care of doctors at St Thomas' Hospital, in London, after being admitted with persistent symptoms of coronavirus. "Over the course of this afternoon, the condition of the Prime Minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the intensive care unit at the hospital. "The PM has asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is the First Secretary of State, to deputise for him where necessary. "The PM is receiving excellent care, and thanks all NHS staff for their hard work and dedication." It comes after seven further deaths in Northern Ireland as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. It brings to 70 the total number of deaths in the region. There have also been 69 new Covid-19 cases confirmed after 254 tests were completed in the past 24 hours. Read More Here's how Monday unfolded: In the final minutes of Thursday April 2, 2020 Deji Adeyanju (forget the comrade title he bestowed on himself) tweeted The problems we had in 2015 are worse now. Our economy is worse. Our currency is more hopeless. Insecurity is worse. Corruption is worse. So why was changing PDP necessary? Adeyanju described himself in his Twitter profile as Activist. Prisoner of Conscience. Anti-Government, Pro-people. Convener, @ConcernedNIG which largely ignored what many critical Nigerians think is his most important role, designation and conviction: anarchist. Prior to his arrest and being held in custody while on trial for murder, Adeyanju, in the eyes of many critics, had shown the opportunistic streak associated with several so-called activists. What is the value and benefits of those they lead in different protests some of who often suffer all sorts of harm each time there is problem with the law enforcement agencies? His case is not the chicken and egg conundrum but rather he went into custody on several times for different criminal allegations against him. The beating he reportedly received at the hands of the protesters at the free Omoyele Sowore riots was not responsible for his porting to this questionable side. He mislead the public into believing that he was almost lynched by a random gang of hoodlums. But the other side of the narrative in some quarters is that, his beating was, probably, linked to an allegation that some fellows protested failure to pay hired anti-government protesters and so went violent against those that hired them. You can chose which side of the story to believe. In all probability, Adeyanju might not be a total stranger to this controversial brand of activism in Nigeria. He is a sympathiser to the dreaded group, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), whose protests were marked by violence, arson and deaths. Is it not interesting how the sect deployed violent tactics against the state? They have since learnt that it is a slippery slope from which there is no climbing back. The taste for violence and killing that this kind of activism taught the sect is not one that can be given up easily. Rather than speed up the release of their leader, Ibraheem el-Zakzaky, who is standing trial for allegations of sundry crimes, the strategy introduced to IMN has led to the earning of the label of a terrorist organization while further diminishing whatever sympathies Nigerians hitherto felt for the sect. It is therefore no surprise that at a time that the world is focused on slowing the spread of the COVID-19 virus, IMN is not trending; the potential revenue from that group has dwindled as it became evident that its leader has a case to answer before the court. The virus is also not trending for pseudo-activism and their practitioners. For Adeyanju, for instance, what is trending now is to furiously retweet the attacks emanating from PDP, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the government in power. Adeyanjus Twitter timeline is an aggregator that has produced one collage of hate as expressed by his followers and associates in the bash-the-government competition. Going by widely acclaimed antecedents of Adeyanju as an activist who gravitates towards opportunism where personal interest is higher, the emergency love for promoting PDP has little to do with being partisan, which he should not be if he were truly an activist that is interested in the improvement of Nigeria. Is his support for PDP for public good or pecuniary interest? Is it a surprise that Adeyanju is a great sympathiser of a disorganised opposition party, PDP, that is reportedly committed to destabilizing the government of the day after its bitter loss at the 2019 General Elections, which the likes of Adeyanju failed to swing for it in spite of a long running campaign of calumny against President Muhammadu Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC)? It is noteworthy that at the height of the electioneering in 2019, the PDP was said to have plans A, B and C. Plan A was said to fraudulently win the vote through a combination of propaganda, fake news and compromising the process through rigging and violence that included hiring terrorists and foreign mercenaries to create the impression that the country was not safe enough to have the elections. Plan B was to precipitate anarchy when PDP loses the election such that the military could be forced to step in and at some points return power to the opposition party. Plan A and B failed spectacularly of course and now the implementation of Plan C is ongoing with hired strategic executors and you can easily guess these paid strategic executioners. This time, Plan C is to repeatedly discredit the government with anything the opposition and controversial activists like Adeyanju can lay their hands upon. The intention is to blame the government for everything from the economy to the spread of Corona Virus such that citizens will get angry to the point where they will take to the streets and sack the government. This is why they are making comparison between now and the period when PDP was in power. They are also making efforts to whip up ethno-sectarian sentiments in the military and security sector with the intention of creating factions in the military that they can use to hack their attempt of Masses Uprising overthrowing the government. This was why they cast the recent redeployments in the army in ethnic light in the hope that they can create and deepen disaffection within the ranks. The military will have to be at alert as this syndicate will execute even more sinister plots aimed at undermining the system for them to have their way. These plans are bound to fail. The basis of their argument is flawed, and the average right-thinking person can easily see through the disinformation they are attempting. The world over, economies are taking severe beating from COVID-19 to the extent that the global economic concept and practice will be redrawn when the virus is done. So what point are the PDP and Adeyanju trying to make about the Nigerian economy and currency being worse off when everything has melted down globally? As for insecurity, the logical thing is for Adeyanju and the PDP to start by assisting the country by asking their mercenaries to stand down so that the military and security agencies can deal with whatever is left Only the cessation of these distractions as well as sponsored violence will allow Nigeria to be peaceful to the point where it can become prosperous and the citizens at peace. But again, how will those who hate stable democracy and prosperous Nigeria feed if Nigeria is at peace and everything resets to normal? Duniya writes this piece from Kaduna. A 'boozy' dalgona coffee recipe has taken the internet by storm after the creamy drink made with just instant coffee, sugar, hot water and milk was dubbed the perfect caffeine fix during coronavirus isolation. Erica Kelly is one of tens of thousands of people around the world to jump onto the latest food trend - but she decided to take the viral four-ingredient recipe to the next level by adding Baileys and Kahlua. 'I've been seeing a lot of dalgona coffee videos and I was trying to think of creative ways to put a twist to it,' Erica told Daily Mail Australia. To make the frothy mixture, she used two tablespoons of instant coffee, one-and-a-half teaspoons of sugar, one tablespoon of hot water and one tablespoon of Kahlua, which are combined and whisked together with an electric mixer. How to make a 'boozy' dalgona coffee To make the froth, whip the following ingredients together with an electric mixer: 2 tbsp of instant coffee 1.5 tsp of sugar 1 tbspof Hot Water 1 tbsp of Kahlua Next, pour cold milk into a glass with ice, add half a shot of Baileys and half a short of Kahlua. Spoon the frothed coffee mixture on top - enjoy! Advertisement 'Just whisk everything until it is whipped,' she explained. Next, she prepares a glass of cold milk with ice and a dash of Baileys and Kahlua before topping it off with the whipped 'boozy' coffee. 'I put Baileys in the milk and a little bit more Kahlua. I think the amount of alcohol you put in comes down to preference on how strong you want it. I added maybe half a shot of Baileys and half a shot of Kahlua to the milk,' she said. She noted that while the original recipe suggests two tablespoons of sugar, she only added half a tablespoon because Kahlua is already sweet. Erika said she was quite pleased with her own take on dalgona coffee, which originated in South Korea. 'It's very creamy and fluffy, and I actually really liked the Baileys and Kahlua added into it because you can still taste both liquors. The sweet alcohol balances out the strong whipped coffee,' she said. Erica Kelly decided to take the viral four-ingredient dalgona coffee recipe to the next level by adding Baileys and Kahlua She prepares a glass of cold milk with ice and a dash of Baileys and Kahlua before topping it off with the whipped 'boozy' coffee To make the frothy mixture, she used two tablespoons of instant coffee, one-and-a-half teaspoons of sugar, one tablespoon of hot water and one tablespoon of Kahlua, which are combined and whisked together with an electric mixer (file images) Erika shared her recipe on Instagram and in an Australian Facebook group with more than 1.7 million followers on Monday - and her post has since gone viral. Many described her creation as a 'game changer' while others said it's the ultimate drink to enjoy after a long day of working from home. Some even tagged their friends, suggesting they could enjoy a virtual boozy dalgona coffee together over the weekend. The non-alcoholic version has been sweeping the globe in recent weeks after videos of people making the creamy drink were widely shared and watched on TikTok. The hashtag #dalgonacoffee has been used more than 150,000 times on Instagram, with tens of thousands of people sharing photos of their perfected creations. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The global aviation sector is going through its biggest slump ever, and that has a direct impact on Indian IT companies. According to experts, this impact could lead to 1-7 percent drop in revenues in the coming quarters. This is especially hard on companies that have high dependence on the travel industry such as NIIT Technologies, Hexaware and Mindtree. Though it is unclear how long the impact will last, CEO of Hexaware R Srikrishna said in a recent investor call that the company expects two quarters' delay in demand recovery owing to the financial impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the travel and transport (10 percent) sectors, and also on education and retail, where the exposure is low. Airlines are cutting down on discretionary spending Globally, aviation industry is one of the worst hit by the novel coronavirus. Airlines are working at a fraction of their capacity, laying off employees and cutting down on discretionary spending to a large extent. 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 where IT firms will take a hit. Most of the discretionary spending goes into IT, and recently into ambitious digital projects. In the coming quarters, these clients are unlikely to spend on IT and if they do, it will mostly be need based. Sanchit Vir Gogia, founder, Greyhound Research, an analyst firm, explained that clients will rather invest in the smaller and outcome-based projects. These projects will be short term and will cost less than long-term deal wins. (Outcome-based model is a business model where clients pay for results using a product or service rather than the product itself.) According to Pareekh Jain, founder, Pareekh Consulting, a tech consultancy firm, this might push some of them to go for local outsourcing. They might also build their own in-house IT, which will reduce outsourcing in general, he added. If this happens, it will be a double whammy for the Indian IT service providers. Most Indian IT services providers such as TCS, Infosys and mid-tier firms such as Mindtree, NIIT Technologies and Hexaware cater to airline and hospitality majors. Unlike the large players, where travel and transportation are not standalone verticals, for Mindtree, NIIT Technologies and Hexaware they account for anywhere between 10 and 30 percent. That is why it makes them more vulnerable compared to larger IT companies and probably will take longer to weather the impact. Silver-lining However it is not all dull and gloomy. A Kotak Institutional Securities' report pointed out that decline in revenue will to some extend be offset by rupee depreciation, lower travel costs and lower variable pay compensation in the March quarter. Digital services will continue to grow, albeit slowly. Digital services, which account for about 30 percent of overall revenue, were growing at 25-30 percent year-on-year for IT firms earlier. An HDFC Securities note suggests that digital might see 5-20 percent increase in deals. Apart from travel and transport, healthcare and telecom continue to see growth on the back of the coronavirus outbreak. But as brokerages pointed out, March performance will be critical to gauge the impact COVID-19 will have on the IT ecosystem in general. The actress hosted the in-house party at her residence in Amen Estate in Lagos on Saturday, April 4, to mark the birthday of her husband, Abdul Rasheed Bello, known as JJC Skillz. Angrezi Medium also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Dimple Kapadia and Deepak Dobriyal. Irrfan Khan's new film Angrezi Medium was recently made available to stream online on Disney+ Hotstar after it had to be pulled out of cinemas because of three-week long nationwide lockdown to tackle the spread of COVID-19. The actor also took to Twitter to remind his fans and followers about the dramedy's world digital premiere on 6 April. Here is his tweet Angrezi Medium had opened to Rs 4.03 crore and could only make Rs 9.50 crore over the opening weekend before cinemas were announced shut across the country. In March, producer Dinesh Vijayan had spoken about the film's release on 13 March amid the lockdown. We had no option as the film had already opened in the UAE-GCC market on Thursday, when the chief minister of Delhi (Arvind Kejriwal) announced shutdown of theatres later in the day. Had we known three-four days ago that this would happen, we might have had time to rethink the release, but on Thursday, it was too late to pull back, he said. Director Homi Adajania had previously taken to Instagram and said that Angrezi Medium would be re-released in theatres whenever it was safe to do so. The comedy follows a father's struggle to give his daughter education abroad, despite the many hurdles he faces. Kareena Kapoor Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Deepak Dobriyal, and Pankaj Tripathi are also part of the cast. A former Los Angeles School Police Department officer who died from coronavirus has been given a hero's sendoff from his old department, as officers escorted his body from the hospital in an emotional procession, video obtained by DailyMail.com shows. Charles 'Chuck' Jackson, 64, died on March 31 following complications from COVID-19, despite a test confirming he had beat the virus in the days before. The former LASPD officer, who retired in 2013, contracted coronavirus while attending an annual ski trip for the National Brotherhood of Skiers in Sun Valley, Idaho, over the March 6 weekend - where more than 120 others became sick, eight were hospitalized and one other man died. Jackson's son Nick shared sob-filled videos of nurses consoling and holding tight to his sister Chanell, who worked at the hospital, while officers stood nearby to escort the van to the morgue. Another clip shows uniformed officers standing in formation outside the morgue while his father's body was being brought inside in a show of respect. Nick, 30, wrote on Facebook: 'My dad has that big of an impact. We are a strong family. I really feel like this is a dream. I will continue to look out after my family and still will carry on the legacy my dad started. So were going to be doing fishing, camping ski/snow trips. We are going to continue to do it all.' Charles 'Chuck' Jackson, 64, died on March 31 following complications from Covid-19, despite a test confirming he had beat the virus in the days before Jackson's son Nick shared sob-filled videos of nurses consoling and holding tight to Jackson's daughter Chanell, who worked at the hospital (pictured) Another clip shows uniformed officers standing in formation outside the morgue while his father's body was being brought inside in a show of respect Nick said: 'My dad has that big of an impact. We are a strong family. I really feel like this is a dream. I will continue to look out after my family and still will carry on the legacy my dad started. So were going to be doing fishing, camping ski/snow trips. We are going to continue to do it all' . Pictured: Jackson with his daughter Chanell and son Nick The Los Angeles School Police Department said in a statement: 'Charles "Chuck" Jackson joined the Los Angeles School Police Department in September 1981 and after 32 years of service, he honorably retired in December 2013. 'During his career he held several assignments that included, Drew Middle School, Jordan High School, C Watch Patrol, Crenshaw High School, and Los Angeles High School. 'In the course of his career, Officer Chuck Jackson received a number of Commendations. In 2003, Chuck received a commendation for arresting violent gang members in possession of handguns across from LA High School. March 2005, when he assisted officers to save a mentally unstable woman from harming herself on the freeway. 'Thank you for over 32 years of law-enforcement service.' Jackson caught the virus over the March 6 weekend in Blaine County, Idaho while attending the NBS' 47th annual ski trip. The outbreak in the upscale ski destination has transformed the idyllic area into a danger zone, reporting the highest coronavirus infection rate in the country, including epicenter New York City. The former LASPD officer, who retired in 2013, contracted coronavirus while attending an annual ski trip for the National Brotherhood of Skiers in Sun Valley, Idaho, over the March 6 weekend - where more than 120 others became sick, eight were hospitalized and one other man died. Pictured: NBS members on the ski trip The outbreak in the upscale ski destination of Blaine County has transformed the idyllic area into a danger zone, having the highest infection rate in the country, including epicenter New York City In the days after the event, several members began posting about feeling sick, as it later emerged that 20 people tested positive for coronavirus, including eight who needed hospitalization and three who were put in intensive care. Family members of Jackson began posting on Facebook about his condition, saying that on March 15 he had been admitted to the hospital with pneumonia - less than a week after returning from the trip. By March 19, he was tested for coronavirus but his results hadn't come in yet. His son Nick later confirmed his dad got sick from the trip, writing on Facebook: 'He doesnt even ski anymore cause of his back. 'He just loved to travel, be with his friends and was always helping others. From picking up and dropping off the skiers/snowboarders up and down the mountain. 'He is that kind of person. Making others happy first then worrying about himself later. Here he is coming back from a fun time in Idaho on vacation, he told me all about it. Then got sick all of a sudden and now look.' On March 21, Jackson tested positive for the virus and was in stable but critical condition, breathing with assistance from a ventilator. The Los Angeles School Police Department said in a statement: 'Charles "Chuck" Jackson joined the Los Angeles School Police Department in September 1981 and after 32 years of service, he honorably retired in December 2013. Thank you for over 32 years of law-enforcement service' Sharing video of nurses coming out of the hospital to hug his sister Chanell, Nick said: 'Her coworkers came out and gave her much needed love. Much respect to these nurses and these officers showing much support and honor to my dad. Chanell and I spoke with the Chief of Police this morning for a good while. My dad has that big of an impact. We are a strong family' On March 27, Jackson's 10th day in intensive care, his liver and kidneys started to fail and two days later doctors began considering options to put him on dialysis. Doctors also administered a second coronavirus test, which came back negative, Nick said on March 30. But the next day, Jackson passed away due to kidney failure The next day Jackson was approved to be treated with the experimental medication remdesivir, which has been fast-tracked into trials so doctors can administer it for critically ill covid-19 patients. It was previously used as an experimental Ebola treatment drug. On March 27, on Jackson's 10th day in intensive care, his liver and kidneys started to fail and two days later doctors began considering options to put him on dialysis. Doctors also administered a second coronavirus test, which came back negative, Nick said on March 30. The next day, Jackson passed away. Sharing video of nurses coming out of the hospital to hug his sister Chanell, Nick said: 'Her coworkers came out and gave her much needed love. 'Much respect to these nurses and these officers showing much support and honor to my dad. 'Chanell and I spoke with the Chief of Police this morning for a good while. My dad has that big of an impact. We are a strong family. 'Please continue to keep us in your prayers cause Im telling you we need it I need it. 'My dad was my best friend, he touched so many lives, he helped so many people and Im just lost right now.' Family members of Charles Jackson (pictured) began posting on Facebook about his condition, with his son Nick revealing his father tested positive for the virus on March 21 On Monday, new research shows the peak of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States could come sooner than first predicted given the lockdown and social distancing measures currently in place across much of the country. Forecasters at the University of Washington's School of Medicine released updated coronavirus estimates on Sunday that show the pandemic could be over quicker than initially thought and level out as early as June. The estimated peak day of the US outbreak is expected to occur in 10 days on April 16 with a projected 3,130 deaths that day, the data shows. Peak resource use for hospitals is predicted to occur on April 15 - the day before the peak death toll - where an estimated 25,000 ventilators, 140,000 beds and 29,000 ICU beds will be needed. Data shows there will be a shortage of 36,000 hospital beds and 16,000 ICU beds by that day. As of Monday, there has been nearly 10,000 deaths in the US and more than 337,000 confirmed cases. HEALDSBURG, Calif., April, 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Good News! Gracianna Winery, a family owned and operated winery in the heart of Sonoma County's Russian River Valley, announces a new way to honor America's Healthcare professionals. "We cannot stand by and watch without pitching in for American Healthcare Heroes! Inspired by the heroics of committed healthcare workers we are compelled to act to show them we are grateful for their devotion," said Lisa Amador, Partner at Gracianna Winery. Giving Health Workers Some Love Know A Health Care Hero? Gracianna Winery will match the purchases of specially selected Gracianna wines and ship to a healthcare professional in hard hit areas of the United States, sending along a message of gratitude from the donor, Gracianna Winery and its members. Gracianna customers and Medallion Wine Club members are already sending wine to randomly chosen Healthcare Heroes as well as people they know in the healthcare profession. Amador further states, "We wake up every day trying to deliver on our promise of gratitude. How else should we respond when healthcare heroes are giving so much? Our matching gift is a small appreciation for the superhuman work these folks are undertaking, so we built a platform for Gracianna wine fans worldwide to share their gift of gratitude as well." To share this gift of gratitude with our nation's Healthcare Hero's please click here . About Gracianna Winery - Gracianna wines are for those with something to be grateful for. Gracianna symbolizes everyday gratitudes and graciousness in entertaining because of their belief that successfully hosting a special meal with friends and family is an everlasting circle that fills all our lives.The Amador Family of Sonoma County are the owners of the award winning Gracianna Winery, a "fruit-first" craftsman's winery. They are committed to the care and devotion that goes into crafting and detailing each bottle of wine. Their approach combines science and craftsmanship mixed with gratitude for the brilliant hand-picked fruit they choose to make the wine. Gracianna creates wine jewels that reflect your grace, graciousness and gratitudes. Contact: Lisa Amador [email protected] 707-292-6522 SOURCE Gracianna Winery RICHMOND, Va. - A northern Virginia technology entrepreneur and potential contender for governor has created a fund to help small businesses weather the novel coronavirus crisis until federal funds arrive. Pete Snyder and his wife, Burson, have donated $100,000 in "seed money" to create the nonprofit Virginia 30 Day Fund, which is intended to help businesses meet payroll, preserve health-care coverage for workers and avoid layoffs while awaiting the federal aid expected to arrive in about a month. The fund will provide up to $3,000 to each approved small business. Recipients do not have to repay the money, but if they eventually are in a position to do so, it will be directed to another qualified business. Snyder said business and philanthropic leaders also plan donations to the fund, which will "greatly expand" its reach. "While the small-business assistance on its way from the Trump administration is crucial, it is clear that many need help to survive and retain their employees while they await that relief," Snyder said. Snyder, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in 2013, has been publicly considering a run for governor in 2021. He said the fund has no connection to any political plans. "This is a time for us to be helping each other," he said. "There are other days for politics, but today is not one." The coronavirus had killed 52 Virginians as of Sunday, and it has wreaked havoc on an economy that last month boasted a 2.6 percent unemployment rate. Record numbers of people have filed jobless claims as Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam declared a public health emergency and ordered residents to shelter at home, leading many businesses to shut down. To apply to Snyder's fund, a business must fill out a one-page form at va30dayfund.com and submit a video no more than three minutes long about the enterprise and its employees. Applications will be evaluated by volunteers with MBAs from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, as well as "some of the top business minds from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce," Snyder said. Businesses will get an answer in three days, he said, and those approved "can expect an immediate transfer of funds." Qualifying businesses must be based in Virginia, have operated for at least a year, employ three to 30 people and be owned and operated by a Virginia resident. Under the state constitution, Northam cannot seek back-to-back terms as governor. Typically the race for his replacement would be well underway, with the November 2021 election 19 months away. But likely contenders have generally kept low profiles as Northam has grappled with the public health and economic crises caused by the pandemic. Only one Republican has formally entered the race: state Sen. Amanda Chase of Chesterfield, who announced in February. Likely Democratic contenders include former governor Terry McAuliffe, Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, Attorney General Mark Herring, state Sen. Jennifer McClellan of Richmond, Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy of Prince William and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney. The data is correct as of late April 5 Open source The overall number of Ukrainians who are getting treated from coronavirus abroad makes 167. Four people recovered. The Foreign Ministry reported that on its Telegram channel. As of late April 5, four Ukrainian citizens recovered in the Dominican Republic, two in Italy, one in Nigeria, one in the UAE, two in Poland, one in Germany and another four in Japan. 14,205 people turned to Ukrainian consulate institutions within the Protection system presented by the Foreign Ministry. The number of Ukrainians who perished from Covid-19 abroad remains as it was, five people. On April 4, Foreign Ministry claimed that the overal number of sick Ukrainians abroad reached 170. As of April 5, the number of people infected with coronavirus in Ukraine increased to 1,308 cases. This was reported by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. In total, 37 deaths from Covid-19 were recorded. Only 28 people have already recovered - repeated laboratory tests did not reveal the virus in their bodies. Earlier, Kyiv authorities forbade citizens to stay outside without resporatory masks on. Chris Rowley / Courtesy of Chris Rowley By Chris Rowley We are all watching the unfolding nightmare of the COVID-19 medical and economic crisis washing around the world as individual countries take a variety of different unilateral responses in terms of both internal and external actions, from lockdowns to sealing borders. Perhaps a few people may be wondering how this virus emerged? But more may also be wondering why, despite the warning of many months watching China's dire situation, so many other countries seemed to be so blase? Some even gloated that it would be a business opportunity, such as forcing the decoupling of global supply chains from China's grasp and even "re-shoring" jobs. In terms of the first question, the "blame game" is underway, with many "conspiracy theories" about who is to blame for it, which I will skirt around. I will simply note that reliable research pinpoints the origin of COVID-19 to a "wet market" or live animal market (as was severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS in 2003) in Wuhan, China. It suggests it originated in bats and was transferred to humans through an intermediary species, possibly the pangolin. Not only was this virus highly contagious, but unfortunately the outbreak coincided with China's great mass getaway of "Chunyun," the Lunar New Year Spring Festival celebrations resulting in 3 billion trips. Its spread within China was finally met by the enforcement of a draconian, authoritarian response. Of course, that does not explain the creeping, spreading but increasingly powerful and tall global waves of the virus nor the variable international responses. This coronavirus seems a little like the infamous Spanish flu epidemic (which actually did not originate in Spain) after the First World War, which was traced back to mass people movements in that case the military build-up and then demobilization. Rather, it is the tentacles of globalization, not only economic but also social in terms of people increasingly traversing around the world on cheap flights not because they must but too often simply because, in the opinion of some, selfishly they can. In terms of an international response to this medical crisis, of course we would all like global cooperation. However, this raises a set of critical questions to be answered first. What are its aims? What would it be envisaged as exactly in term of policies and practices? Then, how would it work? Be policed and enforced? What would be the penalties and punishments for breaking it? Also, while cooperation is worthy, it has faced the pressures of "it is not our problem," "wait and see" and unilateral actions. This is where well known theories can come to help us in practice. United global cooperation faces twin classic issues. First, of actions being seen as "zero sum" or "I win-you lose." Second, of "the prisoner's dilemma," a paradox in which acting in your own self-interest does not produce the optimal outcome as both parties choose to protect themselves at the expense of the other and as a result, both find themselves in a worse state than if they had cooperated. Both of these can be seen in play in the varied and different unilateral actions by not only countries around the world but even within so-called blocs, such as the European Union. This has resulted in a confused, uncoordinated and bewildering variation of responses in both breadth and depth: first, the timing of actions; second, controls over citizens and borders; third, economic and financial support for businesses and people. Also, the lexicon should not be used to "weaponize" COVID-19 as "the China virus" in an ethnocentric, pointless and banal childish "blame game." There is simply no need to use such rhetoric to agitate US-China relations at this time. Rather, maximum and unequivocal international cooperation based on the core characteristics of openness, intellectual freedom and conceptual skills, are required from all. I am determined to end my piece and analysis on a more positive note. As the classic British writer Kipling so poignantly and pithily put it in his famous poem If: "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs" especially in the context of the UK's peculiar pointless panic buying. Interestingly it is reported that this particular "madness" is not happening in other countries that are worse hit, so far, such as Italy, Spain and France. When we all get through this medical and economic calamity, as we will, it would serve us well for people and society to actually reflect about their own behaviour and actions and futures. Or will it simply be the naive and selfish: "carry on regardless"? Professor Chris Rowley, Kellogg College, University of Oxford and Cass Business School, City, University of London is a former Fellow of the Korea Foundation. He has over 30 years' experience of university systems in the UK, Europe and Asia following work and industry experience. He has published over 700 articles, books, and practitioner reports. He has also given interviews and has provided expert comments for practitioners and many international news media outlets globally. Three MEPs have earlier expressed concern over the ideas to lift Russia sanctions under the pretext of the coronavirus pandemic. The European Union believes sanctions imposed on Russia over its aggression against Ukraine does not prevent it from fighting the coronavirus and delivering aid to help curb the spread of the disease. "Concretely and most specifically about Russia, the sanctions targeting Russian companies and individuals are linked to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol so these sanctions are in place because of the actions that undermine the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Ukraine. This means that these sanctions do not prevent Russia from tackling the coronavirus outbreak," said Peter Stano, EU External Action speaker, who commented on the letter by three MEPs recently sent to the European Commission leadership, calling on them not to lift Russia sanctions under the pretext of the coronavirus pandemic. "Indeed, we have received this letter and the reply will be sent through the usual channels. Just to recall, the High Representative Josep Borrel issued a declaration last Friday on behalf of the EU where it is stressed that sanctions should not impede the delivery of essential equipment and supplies which are necessary to fight the coronavirus and limit its spread worldwide. Now this was also echoed by the High Representative at his press conference last Friday after the informal video conference of the Foreign Affairs Council. And in general, the UN and EU sanction regimes provide for humanitarian exceptions. Read alsoPsy-ops and disinformation campaign in Italy amid crisis As reported earlier, on April 3, three MEPs Petras Austrevicius, Witold Waszczykowski, and Andrius Kubilius sent a letter to the leadership of the European Commission, expressing concern over the recent ideas to consider lifting Russia sanctions under the pretext of the coronavirus pandemic. They focused on the statement by the chairman of the Federation Council committee on international affairs, Konstantin Kosachev, who called for the lifting of international sanctions in connection with the coronavirus and plunging oil prices. At the same time, MEPs called on the EU leadership to increase pressure on Russia to make it halt hostilities against the backdrop of the coronavirus. On April 3, the Vice President of the European Commission, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrel, called on all state actors, armed groups, and terrorist organizations to stop all armed conflicts and not to impede the supply of humanitarian aid to counter the spread of coronavirus. Using a modified natural substance along with current approaches could improve colon cancer treatment, according to findings by University of California, Irvine biologists. The discovery comes from their research into the role of an amino acid in tumor development and a potential method for reversing the process. Their paper appears in Nature Cancer. The disease is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Eighty-percent of colon cancers stem from a genetic mutation of the protein adenomatous polyposis coli, or APC. While the majority of people with that mutation will develop polyps, only some of the polyps will become cancerous, a phenomenon that is not fully understood. The research team decided to investigate non-genetic factors that could propel the disease, focusing their inquiry on the role of the amino acid glutamine. "Cancer cells consume a great amount of glutamine to proliferate," said Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Associate Professor Mei Kong. "But we found that depriving them of glutamine doesn't kill all the tumor cells. Some tumor cells are able to adapt and in fact, when their glutamine supply runs low, they turn into a more invasive form of cancer." The researchers found that a drop in cellular levels of the metabolite alpha-ketoglutarate after glutamine starvation accompanied the transition from benign to cancerous cells. This finding led them to conduct further investigation into the metabolite's role. When they provided a modified version of alpha-ketoglutarate to animal models with APC mutations, the results were significant. Just 23% of those given the modified metabolite developed rectal bleeding, an indication of intestinal tumors, compared to 90% of the animal models who did not receive it. It also curbed tumor growth and protected against disease-associated conditions such as weight loss. "Supplementation of the modified alpha-ketoglutarate inhibits a key cancer-development signaling pathway in colon cancer cells, turning them into more normal cells," said researcher Thai Q. Tran, the paper's first author. "What's also notable is that we administered it by mixing it into drinking water, so it was easy to take and it did not affect overall health." The research team would like to investigate further modification of the metabolite to specifically target colon cancer cells. "We believe this new knowledge shows great potential for using less-toxic and natural approaches in combination with current therapies to more successfully treat colon cancer while better protecting patients' overall wellbeing," said Professor Kong. ### The research was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Marian Waterman's group at UCI Medical School. Support for the research was provided by the National Institutes of Health and the American Cancer Society. About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 36,000 students and offers 222 degree programs. It's located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $5 billion annually to the local economy. For more on UCI, visit http://www.uci.edu. REHOVOT, Israel, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- China-based genome sequencing company BGI and Israeli medical technology company AID Genomics today announced a partnership to build an emergency testing laboratory in Gaza. The two companies have received approval for the lab from Israeli and Palestinian authorities to perform 3,000 COVID-19 tests daily for Gaza residents. In a rare turn of events, Palestinian and Israeli authorities have mutually agreed on a common goal to fight the global threat of the novel coronavirus. With approvals from both sides of the Gaza border, the people of Gaza will see hope in defeating COVID-19, as well as a light of peace in the future. BGI, one of the world's most prominent suppliers of COVID-19 PCR tests, will provide the testing via its HuoYan Labs solution. BGI was one of the first institutes to examine the virus that erupted in Wuhan. In light of the lack of test throughput, BGI built the first HuoYan Laboratory in Wuhan within five days in February, followed by four additional labs in other large cities. To date, BGI has performed more than 500,000 coronavirus tests in China. "The worst of times reveals the best in people; saving lives is of paramount importance," said Dr. Ye Yin, the CEO of BGI. "We must work together to surmount whatever difficulties lie ahead." AID Genomics will lead localized fundraising efforts and provide necessary equipment and personnel for the lab, which is expected to cost millions of dollars. AID Genomics' parent company AID Group will lead the donation alongside Mammoth Foundation, a non-profit organization in Shenzhen, China to donate and organize fundraising in China for the Gaza lab operation. Prospective donors may contact AID Genomics in Israel. The AID Group has already supplied hundreds of thousands of BGI-developed test kits to the State of Israel. AID is now launching an extraordinary initiative for the people of Gaza and the Palestinian Authority with the support of the authorities' special approvals and the technology transfer from BGI. According to Snir Zano, the CEO of AID Genomics, "In the past months, we have been working with BGI at full speed to assist as much as we can. To my delight as an Israeli, our proposal was approved by the Palestinian Authorities and other relevant departments. We have then received calls from various parties around the world to show their support. We are fortunate that Mammoth Foundation and our Chairman's, Kelvin Wu's philanthropic family arm, i-Future Foundation, are the first to lead the donation. The lab will be a HuoYan Lab Solution and be ready to perform up to 3,000 tests per day." "We are humbled to receive the support from BGI that derived from our two years of continuous R&D collaboration in cancer genomics," said Kelvin Wu, the Founder and Chairman of AID Group. "When it comes to illness, it is a common challenge to humanity. We are wholeheartedly committed to winning the fight against diseases." BGI's vast testing capability has enabled a fast reaction time and rapid treatment for those found infected with the virus, even in incubation. Today, dozens of countries are requesting aid from BGI's HuoYan Labs, and AID Group is in the process of bringing the labs to Gaza and Israel first. About BGI BGI is the world's leading genomics solutions group, with the mission to empower the world to benefit from genomics. Founded in 1999, BGI has continually focused on transformative genomics research and applications. From a small group of scientists participating in the Human Genome Project to becoming consistently ranked among the top scientific institutions globally, BGI Group continues to pioneer its omics-driven approach to solving the world's biggest challenges in human health & wellness and in life sciences. Beyond its research leadership, BGI Group also develops and manufactures breakthrough enabling technologies for omics both tools and infrastructure through its MGI subsidiary. BGI's services and solutions are available in more than 100 countries and regions around the world. With a fully integrated omics platform from science to tools to solutions, BGI partners with governments and institutions in unwavering pursuit of the common goal: Omics for All. For more information visit https://en.genomics.cn . About AID Genomics AID Genomics is an international group of medical technology companies specializing in the diagnosis and therapy of cancer. In 2017, the company acquired GeneSort, a diagnostics company that develops and performs genomic and genetic testing for accurate and personalized cancer care. AID Genomics advanced testing platforms are developed by a leading team of experts in the fields of oncology, molecular biology, molecular pathology, genomics and bioinformatics. AID Genomics uses cutting edge technology to substantially improve cancer patients' survival rate and quality of life by offering an early detection process integrated with personalized preventive medicine. For more information, please visit www.aidgenomics.com . SOURCE AID Genomics Related Links http://www.aidgenomics.com PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-06 12:31:02 Please be informed that the Board of AB Klaipedos nafta (hereinafter the Company) approved new alternative draft decisions on 10 April 2020 Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders agenda item No 1, by which shareholders are given right to sign share subscription agreements with an electronic signature. In light of the fact that a lockdown has been extended in the Republic of Lithuania in accordance with Resolution No 264 of 25 March 2020 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, it is recommended that all shareholders participate in the meeting by completing the general ballot paper and submitting it in advance to the Company (Annex No 2). Please inform us about the need to physically attend the General Meeting of Shareholders no later than 3 business days before General Meeting of Shareholders via emails: i.berzauskas@kn.lt or info@kn.lt . In all cases, Shareholders of the Company without personal protective equipment will not be allowed to participate in to the General Meeting of Shareholders. The Company reserves the right not to allow participation in to the General Meeting of Shareholders for those shareholders whose health condition are reasonably doubtful. The information, foreseen in the applicable legal acts, which has to be provided while informing on convocation of the meeting, was announced by the Company on 19 March 2020, announcing the notification on material event: https://cns.omxgroup.com/cdsPublic/viewDisclosure.action?disclosureId=929098&messageId=1170557 ENCLOSED: 1. All draft decisions; 2. Ballot paper on all agenda items. Jonas Lenksas, Chief Financial Officer, +370 694 80594. Attachments Bennington Hospital Adds Beds, Infrastructure to Prepare for Surge BENNINGTON, Vt. Southwestern Vermont Medical Center had Vermont's first patient to test positive for COVID-19. But hospital officials knew it would be far from the last. Since then, the facility has been gearing up for the surge that public health officials nationwide are predicting. "We actually had plans in place, like most hospitals, prior to the pandemic as to how we would tackle a surge need, whether from a disaster or an infectious outbreak," said Dr. Trey Dobson, an emergency department physician and SVMC's chief medical officer. "We secured additional actual beds some we shifted from other locations and some we rented. Then we got staffing levels up to accommodate a number of patients two to three times our normal census. That census normally is between 35 and 40 patients, Dobson said. Right now, SVMC has plans in place to treat about 100 patients inside the hospital. After that, it would look to transfer patients to other facilities. And if the surge hit hospitals throughout the region simultaneously and transfers are not an option? "If it came to it that we were full and had nowhere to transfer, we would have to start putting patients in the hallway as you would in a disaster," Dobson said. "Right now, lower acuity patients would be treated outside the hospital." Southwestern Vermont already has set up a Respiratory Evaluation Center adjacent to its emergency room for patients who have respiratory symptoms but stable vital signs. "They are evaluated, treated and most likely discharged home," Dobson said. Not all will receive a blood test to detect the novel coronavirus. Although the early shortage of testing resources has improved over time, Dobson said the facility still has to be selective about who does and does not receive tests. Generally speaking, tests are reserved for patients who are symptomatic and meet certain criteria: over age 65; have risk factors like diabetes, heart disease or lung disease; on immuno-suppression therapy; and health-care workers. For now, testing of asymptomatic people is not advisable, Dobson said. "We recognize that the sensitivity of testing in asymptomatic patients is not as high," he said. "There are many more false negatives, and that gives false reassurance. Second, there are still not likely to be the resources to test all the asymptomatic patients who want it. And third, when you test, you have to wear specific [personal protective equipment]. We want to save that for treatment, first of all, and second for testing of symptomatic patients." "So for a young, healthy, minimally symptomatic patient right now, we don't have the resources to test and feel comfortable that those patients can be safely returned home for home isolation." In the near future, Dobson said there likely will be more sensitive tests and the ability to test more of the population, "not for a medical reason but for epidemiological and societal reasons to determine who has been exposed and who has not." Besides ordering beds, SVMC is making improvements to its infrastructure to handle a likely wave of patients who need treatment for COVID-19. "We had to do some actual facility improvements to make sure those locations are capable of handling patients overnight, making sure enough oxygen is available, making sure there's enough storage," Dobson said. "We expanded our negative pressure rooms up to 44 rooms, which is a lot more than we normally have. We normally have around 10." Negative pressure rooms use ventilation systems to allow clean air to flow into an isolation room but not out, thereby reducing cross contamination between patients. Another change to SVMC's operations because of the pandemic: Like most hospitals, it has eliminated all non-urgent and elective procedures in order to free up space for COVID-19 patients. But, at the same time, the hospital is reaching out to patients to make sure that their critical, non-coronavirus needs are being met and that people are not avoiding treatment out of fear of coming into contact with the virus. "I am concerned about that, and I would not be transparent if I said I wasn't," Dobson said. "We try continually to find ways to communicate with individuals. We're doing a lot of telemedicine and telephone medicine. "When I said we're not doing urgent procedures we try to convert many patients to telemedicine and then reassess. What may not be urgent today may become urgent in two weeks when we don't talk to them now. "We know that patients who forego treatment because they're scared or have misconceptions about our desire to see patients get very sick and end up in the Emergency Department. It's a balancing act, a lot of it is." A woman has revealed how her husband's 'cheeky fondle' as they drifted off to sleep saved her life - as he discovered a hidden cancerous lump that was undetectable while stood up. Abi Otway, from Bradford, was diagnosed with an invasive breast cancer after her husband Marc Otway felt a hard, pea-sized lump in her underboob early last month. The 34-year-old claims she 'would never have found it' if it wasn't for Marc, 29, as it could only be felt when she was lying on her side. After diagnosed by medics on February 27, the fitness instructor and performing artist had a lumpectomy to remove the 6mm lump from her right breast. She will now need a course of radiotherapy and five to 10 years of hormone blockers - but luckily does not need chemotherapy too because it had not spread to her lymph nodes. Abi Otway, from Bradford, was diagnosed with an invasive breast cancer after her husband Marc Otway (pictured together) felt a hard, pea-sized lump in her underboob early last month Abi claims she had to find the lump herself when attending appointments with doctors to prove it was there - with the cancer evading ultrasounds even after she had been diagnosed. Now feeling positive after hearing she will not need chemotherapy, Abi is speaking out to warn others to thoroughly check their breasts from all positions. Abi said: 'I never ever checked for lumps. My boobs are 34C - they're not big boobs. For some reason I had it in my mind that it's larger boobs who usually have the bigger problem. 'There was also an element of not wanting to check and putting it off because I was scared of what I might find. 'I don't think I've checked my breasts in eight or 10 years. When he found that lump, I could only find it in that position. When I stood up, I really struggled to find it. Abi (pictured on holiday) claims she 'would never have found it' if it wasn't for Marc, 29, as it could only be felt when she was lying on her side 'I dread to think that if I had been single and Marc hadn't found it, it could have been years until I found it. Just check your boobs, girls.' Recalling the moment her husband discovered the lump, Abi said: 'I was in bed one night around February 1 when Marc, my husband, was behind me. What is invasive breast cancer? Invasive breast cancer means that the cancer cells have grown through the lining of the ducts into the surrounding breast tissue. The symptoms of breast cancer include: a new lump or thickening in your breast or armpit a change in size, shape or feel of your breast skin changes in the breast such as puckering, dimpling, a rash or redness of the skin fluid leaking from the nipple in a woman who isnt pregnant or breast feeding changes in the position of nipple In many people the cancer is found during breast screening. Its important that you see your GP if you have any symptoms. They may refer you to a specialist breast clinic. Source: Cancer Research UK Advertisement 'He was moving his hand up and down just tickling me while we were going off to sleep. He often tickles my back because I love him tickling me. 'He was tickling my side when his fingers brushed under my boob and he felt something. I asked him if he'd found something, and he said he had and I was like, "Oh gosh, I'm not going to sleep tonight". 'I was lying on the right hand side of the bed facing away from him, and he was behind me with his left hand on my ribs. 'He just moved his hand up to feel my underboob and he was lingering there for a while. I couldn't feel anything, but he was pressing in and he was like, "What's that?". I felt it. 'Not pressing, but really gently moving my finger over my skin, I could feel a hard lump. When I pressed a little bit harder, it felt like a really rock hard pea. 'Worst-case scenarios were running through my head all night and I couldn't sleep just picturing how this was going to affect my future. I knew it was definitely cancer and it was bad.' Doctors first dismissed the lump as gristle but, after she was urged to go for a second opinion, Abi was then referred to her breast clinic 'for her peace of mind'. After an ultrasound, mammogram and biopsy, a surgeon confirmed she had stage two to three breast cancer less than a month after Marc had initially found the lump. Abi, who was performing with her band Issimo the day after her diagnosis, claimed she gave the 'performance of a lifetime' knowing that she wouldn't be able to play again for a while. After diagnosed by medics on February 27, the fitness instructor and performing artist (pictured) had a lumpectomy to remove the 6mm lump from her right breast She will now need a course of radiotherapy and five to 10 years of hormone blockers - but luckily does not need chemotherapy too as it had not yet spread to her lymph nodes. The couple had planned to start a family but were told that she cannot be pregnant while taking hormone blockers. But despite the news, the couple are determined to stay optimistic about the future. Abi, who is self-employed, said: 'This is the year we were planning to have a family and now we can't. 'Maybe we wouldn't have been able to because of coronavirus, but there's also the possibility that chemo can affect your fertility and you can't be pregnant on those hormone blockers either. 'It's another thing to think about. We're alright about it. We'll just see what happens. They've offered to freeze my eggs. The couple (pictured) had planned to start a family but were told that she cannot be pregnant while taking her treatment hormone blockers 'I would like to say that I'm absolutely fine. We are doing alright. We're staying positive and trying to be stoic about it. 'Any time I start indulging in thought processes that start with "why me", I try and instantly stop it and try and think of something else. Also, thinking where I am in my life, I'm quite happy. 'My husband is really amazing. We're a really good team and I'm happy. I wouldn't change my life now. I feel really lucky and happy. 'We've had a great life together so far and got married last May. We manage to laugh every day a lot. I think as long as you can still laugh and enjoy yourselves [you're okay]. But Abi admitted: 'One thing I do worry about it what treatment will be like or the fact that my quality of life is going to be different. 'I'm a fitness instructor and performer and some of the drugs can affect your bones, so there are risks of getting osteoporosis. 'Marc just says, "let's take it one day at a time because you never know what's going to happen". We just enjoy each moment and try and find joy in that.' The N95 respirator masks should be preserved for health-care workers involved in inserting breathing tubes for patients with COVID-19. More common medical masks are fine for all other COVID-19 treatment, says preliminary research from McMaster University. A systematic review of four randomized controlled trials on masks done between 1990 and last month shows the use of medical masks did not increase viral respiratory infection or clinical respiratory illness. However, there is a consensus that the N95 respirators, designed to fit tight and prevent inhalation of small airborne particles, are best for procedures such as intubation or bronchoscopy when health-care professionals must insert a tube through a patient's throat. "There is not convincing evidence that the loose-fitting medical masks are inferior to N95 respirators in protecting healthcare workers against viral respiratory infections during routine care during the pandemic," said Mark Loeb, a professor of pathology and molecular medicine at McMaster and an infectious disease physician in Hamilton. "But the N95 respirators are unanimously recommended by national and international guidelines for aerosol generating procedures. "This is an important distinction at a time when there is a serous concern about a shortage of N95 respirators because of COVID-19." He pointed out that there have been conflicting recommendations on the use of the N95 masks. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the European Centre for Disease and Prevention preferentially recommend the N95 respirator for routine care of patients with COVID-19, while the World Health Organization and Canadian Public Health Agency recommend medical masks. advertisement "Although COVID-19 transmission is not fully understood, it's believed to be mainly through respiratory droplets, and the medical masks provide barrier protection for that, and prevent hand to face contact." Jessica Bartoszko, first author of the paper, said: "This evidence to support the relative effectiveness of medical masks compared to N95 respirators in routine care, might help preserve stockpiles of N95 respirators for high-risk, aerosol generating procedures." She is a PhD student with the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact. However, the question needs further research and this month Loeb and his research team are beginning a new study on whether the N95 respirators or medical masks are the best option for health-care providers caring for COVID-19 patients. In a multi-site randomized controlled trial, nurses will use either a medical mask or N95 respirator when providing care for patients with fever and respiratory illness. "This study is critical to ensure we're using personal protective equipment correctly during this, and any future infectious disease outbreak," said Loeb. The Intel Foundation is making a financial commitment of 500,000 to support coronavirus relief efforts in communities where the company has a significant presence, including here in Ireland. The Intel Foundation will be directly donating a total of 500,000 to Irish charities to support coronavirus relief and recovery efforts. The exact details of the recipients of the charitable donation will be shared in the coming days. Additionally, for the company's employees in Ireland, the Intel Foundation is establishing a special donation matching campaign to amplify their contributions. Intel employees who donate to CMRF Crumlin, ALONE or Jigsaw will have their donation matched. Donations from employees and US retirees will be matched from March 26 to April 10, or until a total of $2 million is reached. CMRF Crumlin provides vital funding for CHI Crumlin (previously known as Our Ladys Childrens Hospital, Crumlin) and The National Childrens Research Centre to enable little patients to have the best possible outcomes. CMRF Crumlin together with donors and partners fund initiatives, research, equipment and projects. CMRF Crumlin are Intel Irelands 2020 signature charity. ALONE provides Housing with Support, Support Coordination, Befriending, BConnect training and technology, and Campaigns for Change to hundreds of older people every week, who are homeless, socially isolated, living in deprivation or in crisis. Their role supporting older people in communities is particularly vital during this challenging time. Jigsaw are the National Centre for Youth Mental Health. Their mission is to advance the mental health of young people in Ireland (aged 12-25) by influencing change, strengthening communities, and delivering services through our evidence informed and early intervention approach. Jigsaw are helping young people across the country cope with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to these financial contributions Intel are also happy to share that in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Intel Ireland have donated 100,000 items of personal protective equipment masks, gloves and other gear to the HSE for health workers on the front lines to support our communities during this critical time. Intel's employees are their biggest asset and they are encouraging them to share their experience, talents, and passions with schools and nonprofits in the communities where they live and work. Intel said: "As we adjust to this situation, we are also providing and encouraging virtual volunteer opportunities to help local communities. "We continue to work closely with organisations in our local community to support them through this challenging time and help them to deliver vital services. "One example of local support is to the Leixlip Meals on Wheels organisation. "One of the specific challenges that the group has at this time is how to continue to provide the service for elderly and vulnerable members of the community who are reliant on the meals. "We made a donation to help ensure that they could continue their vital work over the coming weeks we hope that small gestures such as this will be of practical support to our local community at this challenging time. "We know how important it is for companies to support organisations who are working diligently, in a variety of different ways, to respond to the coronavirus pandemic here in Ireland. "Our contributions are made to them with sincere gratitude for their incredible spirit, care, and fortitude in this time of need." These efforts are part of a wider global response by Intel which includes a donation of 1 million gloves, masks and other equipment to healthcare workers and a $1 million International Red Cross donation Intel committed to in January. The Intel Foundation will provide a total of $4 million to support coronavirus relief efforts in communities where the company has significant presence. The Foundation will also offer a further $2 million to match employee donations to support relief efforts around major Intel sites. Additionally, Intel is applying technology and expertise to help better understand and combat the virus. For example, Intel NUCs are helping in the coronavirus fight, and Intel and Lenovo have teamed up with Beijing-based BGI Genomics to accelerate the analysis of genomic characteristics of COVID-19. Read more about Intels response: Intel Coronavirus News Since 1988, the Intel Foundation has been committed to improving lives in communities around the world. The Foundation acts as a catalyst for change by providing disaster relief and support, investing in innovative STEM programs, and amplifying the investments of Intel employees across a broad spectrum of personal philanthropy and volunteering. Their vision is inspired by one of Intel's co-founders, Robert Noyce, and his oft-repeated declaration, "don't be encumbered by history, go off and do something wonderful". Welcome to Chapter Four of the Irish Examiner's #CoronavirusSolidarity diary. Every week we will be highlighting for posterity those stories which capture the unique community spirit of Ireland's response to the ongoing crisis. Please let us know about community initiatives which have been set up to offer support to those most impacted by the crisis or examples of people who are going above and beyond the call of duty. Tag us at @irishexaminer and use #CoronavirusSolidarity. Read Chapter One here. Read Chapter Two here. Read Chapter Three here. Sunday April 12 Marvel Comics artist Will Sliney to teach kids how to draw Cork artist Will Sliney will be teaching kids how to draw this week. The Marvel artist, famed for drawing Spider-Man, will join RTEs Home School Hub with a new feature - learn how to draw. Will Sliney joins the Muinteoiri First episode! Tomorrow at 11 on @RTE2 https://t.co/D6SWz304im Will Sliney (@WillSliney) April 12, 2020 When schools were originally shut last month due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Will started a #WeWillDraw innovative on social media, encouraging kids to draw. Read the full story here Anonymous donation ensures every child and elderly person in West Kerry parish receives Easter egg A kind person in the small parish of Baile an Fheirtearaigh, West Kerry has left 500 euro in the local shop to buy every child an elderly person in the area an Easter egg. The anonymous donation will see roughly 250 eggs are being delivered to locals. What a wonderful gesture this is!!! Somebody has left 500 euro in the local shop to buy an Easter egg for every single child and elderly person cocooning in the little parish of Baile an Fheirtearaigh. 250 eggs being delivered. #WestKerry #Anonymous #Covid_19ireland pic.twitter.com/e9dmENQ4r8 Sean Mac an tSithigh (@Buailtin) April 12, 2020 #ShineYourLight: Irish at home and abroad honour frontline workers Last night, people across the country have joined together to "Shine Your Light" to honour frontline staff and healthcare workers tackling the Covid-19 pandemic. Everyone took part in the gesture at 9pm tonight by lighting candles, grabbing lamps, shining torches or even putting up Christmas lights to express hope and remember those who have died from the virus and their loved ones. President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina took part in the event from Aras an Uachtarain. President and Sabina Higgins joined the 'Shine Your Light' / 'Lanraigh Do Sholas' campaign, lighting lanterns as a symbol of hope and solidarity.https://t.co/PeqaS8DbqI #ShineYourLight pic.twitter.com/jdKChYe5CD President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) April 11, 2020 Many people around the country and abroad got involved. The Air Traffic Control Tower at Dublin Airport blasted its powerful beam into the sky in honour of everyone affected by the pandemic. Pic: Gary Ashe Very proud of all the residents of Kings Court and Kings Channel tonight #ShineYourLight pic.twitter.com/11kGc8AayF Brian Walsh (@hilitetv) April 11, 2020 Pic: Fingal County Council A lot of neighbours out at 9 for #ShineYourLight One women wanted to show her respect to frontline workers, victims and families in a different way. Lovely moment of community in these isolating times #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/kTi5FsZOho Brian McDonald (@brianmcd87) April 11, 2020 The Aviva Stadium shining its lights for frontline staff tonight. Saturday April 11 #ShineYourLight: Glen Hansard joins chorus of people encouraging Ireland to honour frontline workers People across the country are being urged to "Shine Your Light" at 9pm tonight to honour frontline staff and healthcare workers tackling the Covid-19 pandemic. Everyone is invited to take part in a gesture intended to express hope as well as remember those who have died and their loved ones. "For the 288 Irish men and women who are no longer with us, and may they rest in peace".@GlenHansard & Colm Mac Con Iomaire Falling Slowly.#ShineYourLight #LateLate pic.twitter.com/uRdkhEHN8e The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) April 10, 2020 President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina will take part from Aras an Uachtarain while Irish embassies and missions around the world are participating as well. Many people will be lighting a candle at home but some buildings are getting involved too. Read the full storyhere. Friday, April 10 Drogheda hospital staff applaud first Covid-19 patient discharged from ICU Nursing staff at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda ave shared a video of their first Covid-19 patient to be discharged from intensive care. The patient is seen being wheeled along a corridor as staff wearing personal protective equipment applaud his recovery. Some well needed good news!! Our first ICU discharge during Covid 19 today!! Only possible due to the phenomenal work ethic of all the team. **Patient gave consent for the video** pic.twitter.com/76rfQxQipm OLOLNursing (@NursingOlol) April 10, 2020 Free online activity programme for kids mad about science A PhD student at University College Cork (UCC) is providing a free online weekly activity programme for children interested in science and technology. Marinara Marcato, a PhD student at the Tyndall National Institute in UCC, established SMART Edu Club, to create high quality, educational content for children in a fun and engaging way. Marinara Marcato Now as our world is confined to our homes and parents have to "home school" their kids, she is running a free weekly programme online for children aged 7 upwards. The topics for the activities include binary number and text encoding, data encryption, GPS coordinates and systems, and finally drones. Parents do not need any prior knowledge, as lessons contain very accessible language and clear instructions. With SMART Edu Club we want to create online content and activities that children can do from home with easily accessible household materials. The activities can be done individually or with the guidance from parents commented Marinara, who is also a part-time STEAM teacher. The challenge is running now until April 25. Parents and kids are sent all activities and can sign up here for free - https://smarteduclub.com/challenge/ Hundreds of children send Easter cards to cocooning elderly after Garda appeal Hundreds of children from all over the country have answered a Garda appeal to make cards for the elderly in isolation this Easter. The appeal for an initial 100 cards by Meath gardai was met five fold as little artists took the time to sent greeting cards to surrogate grandparents all over the county. Navan community garda Stacey Looby began delivering the cards to nursing homes and older people living on their own this weekend after the huge nationwide response. "I had hoped for 100 cards for 68 residents in a nursing home and another 30 who I shop for and visit while they are in isolation. "So I put out an appeal and within a week, I had nearly 500 cards from children from Tipperary, Limerick, Offaly - every county in the country almost. "The cards are handmade and have lovely messages and poems asking the elderly to stay positive and safe during the Covid-19 crisis. "They are from girls and boys from all ages just wanting to help put a smile on someone who may feel a little lonely this Easter. It's lovely that they'll know someone is thinking of them." Thursday, April 9 Cocooning library users 'over the moon' about home delivery service By Liz Dunphy Eugene Bradley delivering a box of books to husband and wife, Mary Anne and Pat O'Brien from Knockardbane, Lilscarroll. Photos: Brian Lougheed Santa Claus just arrived, one delighted housebound library user proclaimed as Cork County Council dropped books to their door. The council is delivering books and audiobooks to the doorsteps of Corks cocooning and vulnerable to keep them entertained and connected throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. And library member J.W. said that the councils delivery out-did my highest, most optimistic hopes. The choices are fantastic, they said. I am over the moon after 14 days of isolation. "Things are getting a little stressful but this is so amazing. I cannot thank you enough. Collette Collins from Main Street, Liscarroll is thrilled to have received her books from Eugene. Cork County Council staff delivered over 200 boxes of books directly to library borrowers homes within its first week of operation, allowing the housebound to stay entertained as the global pandemic keeps them inside. Five library drivers now work daily on the service, collecting boxes from the local library, before delivering them directly to homes across Cork County, from Kilworth to Kilcrohane. And the Housebound book delivery service is also being run for city dwellers by Cork City Council. Liam Ronayne of Cork City Library said that one of their clients is 107 years old, and that having books delivered through the Covid-19 Crisis has been a lifeline for many. Having the books is more important than ever now, he said. Eugene dropping a box of books to Robbie Howard of Howards Foodstore, Lakevale, Ballydesmond. The books are then picked up from the store by local residents. One lady whos 96 has had her home help withdrawn, she said, thank God youre here. If I didnt have books Id have no one. Its very important to people. The oldest person we have is 107. She was born on Bere island, shes had an incredible life. And we have a few other people over 100. For some, that small book consignment is the only outside contact theyll have. Mr Ronayne said that the service has seen a 10% increase since the coronavirus outbreak. He said that the librarians generally know the likes of the individual and they know from the database if their client has already read a certain book. Kathleen Brady from Knockangree, Co. Cork is happy to see Eugene arriving with her books. Its a very personal service. We used to stop and chat but now we drop the books at their door, Mr Ronayne said. We deliver 500 - 600 books every week. Some of these people have been readers all their lives. They devour them. You can take out up to 12 books and a lot of people do take out the full 12. Popular novels are what people go for most, he said, but people come in all shapes and sizes and their reading lists reflect that too. Cork City Library has also donated two 3-D printers from Grand Parade and Bishopstown libraries for use in Benchspace co-workspace in Cork which is making free visors for frontline health workers to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. Eugene is greeted by Joan O'Rahilly from Shanbally, Knocknagree. To avail of the Housebound Library services: For those in Cork County, contact your local library or Cork County Library Headquarters on 021-4546499. For those in Cork City, call Yvonne Moloney on 089 2563847. #MyHeroes A nationwide campaign was launched today to pay tribute to workers on the frontline during the Covid-19 pandemic and to highlight their continued hard work and dedication. The #MyHeroes campaign encourages members of the public to show their appreciation to all the essential workers who are keeping the country running during this difficult time, and to share a story or message about them online using the campaign hashtag. Members of the public can put forward a message about any frontline worker in their life, from Healthcare workers, Armed Forces, Fire Brigade, Community Workers and Carers, to Supermarket Workers and Journalists. The campaign also underlines the governments Stay at Home message, by encouraging people to reach out to loved ones online. When a tweet has been selected to feature in the campaign, an illustration of the digital screen, and how the message has appeared, will then be replied to the person so they can share their support further through social media, and - most importantly - show their hero their appreciation. Ireland's biggest online quiz Charities benefit from thousands joining Ireland's biggest online quiz. A new online quiz has raised thousands of euro for charity while keeping quizzers entertained in the comfort of their own homes during the countrys current lockdown period. Set up and presented live by two Cork natives, Patrick Ahern and Colm Lougheed, the quiz runs twice weekly and among the charities already set to benefit from proceeds are Marymount Hospice and Cope Foundation. The online quiz invites participants to join as teams, pairs or individuals every Tuesday and Friday night through Facebook or YouTube with the two hosts delivering the questions and answers live alongside a running commentary of banter and chat. Quizzers can also interact with the quiz and each other live via a chat room displayed beside the questions. So far, thousands of people have played the quiz which saw almost 5000 raised last week for Marymount Hospice. This Friday's quiz has a movie theme and will kick off at at 8.15pm before round one at 9pm. Tickets are 6 and include all the fees. Only one ticket is allowed per device. Tickets available at here 45 min before the Quiz starts people will be emailed the code and instructions. Youtube and Facebook Wednesday, April 8 Penneys donating products during Covid-19 crisis Irish retailer Penneys is donating its products to frontline workers, local charities and hospitals who are dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. Penneys, which trades as Primark outside of Ireland, will be providing the products around the world. "We will be donating Primark products to those in need, in partnership with healthcare and charitable organisations in a number of countries. This is our team helping your team," the company said. Louth man to run around his house 550 times in ultra marathon fundraiser for front line staff :"Ollie McHugh:"Frontline staff are still doing their full work, trying to go home to their own families as well and all the risks they are taking.I said why sit and do nothing, try and do something. An ultra-marathon runner will literally be going around in circles hundreds of times this Easter to help support frontline staff. Ollie McHugh, who has run 30 marathons as well as a number of ultra-marathons, said, I will do 63 km, which is a marathon and a half. He said it is easy to complain about not being able to leave your home but then he saw a news report, about frontline staff trying to get their kids minded and I thought look at the hardship they are going through. We have nothing to worry about; we are here in the sunshine and can go out into the garden, and all the time they are still doing their full work, trying to go home to their own families as well and all the risks they are taking.I said why sit and do nothing, try and do something. With prompting from his youngest daughter Sarah (13) it was decided he would run an ultra-marathon. He would normally complete a marathon (42 km) in three and a half hours and says he will not feel under pressure to do the 63 km. I will take my time. It will be a nice jog about 550 times around the house and garden. Ollie, who lives in Tenure, Co Louth with his wife Helen and three daughters said, I know quite a number of people who work in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital. Ollie and Helen have lost people to cancer in recent years and they would like some of the monies he raises to go to the Oncology unit in the hospital. He has set a target of E5,000 and while he has had offers of support from people who would stand outside his fence or would drive by and beep their horn, he does not want that. Any support should be through the GoFundMe page. I want everybody at home, I do not want to encourage anybody to go out. Everybody should stay at home especially the weekend that is in it. Ollie starts his ultra-marathon this Saturday morning at 8am. Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ollies-ultra-marath-63k-for-frontline-heros 6,000 Easter eggs to be delivered to children in emergency accommodation Six thousand Easter eggs have been donated to help put smiles on the faces of homeless children. Following Health Minister Simon Harris announcement that the Easter Bunny has been given the go ahead to work this weekend, Mars Ireland has donated trucks full of chocolate goodies to Inner City Helping Homeless. This means everyones favourite furry friend will be able to deliver Easter eggs to children in emergency accommodation, such as B&Bs, hostels and hotels. The donation was received via the charity partners, Food Could who have been working closely with them during the Covid-19 pandemic. Cork barbers offer free haircuts to frontline staff Cork barbers JFM Manscaping Lounge are offering frontline staff haircuts, beard trims and other services free of charge, In a post on their Facebook page, the businesses said: "JFM appreciates everything our frontline workers are doing for us during this pandemic." Aldi introduces prioritised shopping for frontline staff Aldi Ireland has announced new measures to ensure frontline staff have prioritised access to its 142 stores nationwide. Beginning Thursday, April 9, all frontline staff providing essential services will be allowed priority access to stores. Priority access for frontline staff applies seven days a week, from 9am to 8pm. Where store colleagues are limiting the number of customers in-store, any frontline staff with a relevant form of ID will be allowed to enter the store as soon as social distancing guidelines permit. Tuesday, April 7 Nursing home residents encourage social distancing through video message Residents of Maryfield Nursing Home in Dublin have shared their #stayathome message, encouraging the public to observe social distancing. "Every new day is a gift and every moment of that day should be a blessing for ourselves and for those we live with," one resident says. Another adds: "I do my best to try and apply to the rules because I realise how serious this virus is and I hope everybody else does the same. Please God, it won't be long until we're back to our old ways again." Neighbours enjoy outdoor movie screenings during Covid crisis By Eoin English Scott Duggan of Windmill Rd, Cork, with his projector showing classic movies for his neighbours, lessening the sense of isolation while all keep their physical distance. Last Friday, he showed Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, starring Marilyn Monroe. Picture: Clare Keogh From indoor streaming to outdoor screening neighbours on a city terrace have found a novel way to combat social isolation. They enjoyed an outdoor screening of a Hollywood classic from the comfort of their front gardens all while observing physical distancing and social isolation guidelines. The residents of Frankfield Villas, a terrace of 14 houses on Windmill Rd near Cork city centre, set up couches, patio heaters and outdoors lights in their front gardens to watch the 1953 Marilyn Monroe classic comedy, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, last weekend. The movie was projected onto the gable-end of a house on the terrace while the soundtrack was broadcast to their radios. And they all made a contribution to Age Action. Old sewing machines put to use in community effort to make medical masks Pic of Debbie Curran, one of the founders of Masks 4 All Ireland - a community effort which has seen locals pull sewing machines out of attics and reuse forgotten skills. - Louise Walsh Old sewing machines have been pulled out of the attic as a community gets stitched up to make masks in order to take the pressure off frontline supplies. Over 400 face masks have been made in a week as more and more people seamlessly get on board the Masks 4 All Ireland campaign across Meath. The initiative was started by three women who came across each other online last week, each wanting to do something to help from home where they are in lockdown. One of the founders, Debbie Curran from Kildalkey said the group has been inundated with requests for masks from community groups and nursing homes outside the county looking for facial protection. Read the full story here AA providing free breakdown service to healthcare staff and elderly AA Ireland has introduced a free breakdown service for healthcare workers and older motorists in the event that their car breaks down. AA Rescue will attend to calls from healthcare staff whether they are AA Members on not for the duration of the crisis. Healthcare staff and elderly members of the public can contact a priority line on 01 617 9059. We will continue to offer support to our existing AA Members, but we want to ensure that those on the front lines of fighting this virus and those most at risk are being looked after, Cono Faughnan, AA Director of Consumer Affairs stated. This is very much a national effort and one which all businesses need to play a part in. Monday, April 6 11-year-old donates her confirmation money to Cork community hospital An 11-year-old, who was to make her Confirmation over the weekend, has donated the money she received to help fight the Covid-19 crisis. Libby Fallon received money from her relatives to celebrate the big day although the ceremonies have been one of the many events cancelled throughout the country. The Cork schoolgirl handed over the money to Bandon Community Hospital to help in any way it could, from PPE equipment to meals for healthcare workers. Food donated to Penny Dinners Non-perishable foods have been donated to Cork Penny Dinners. Volunteer members from various clubs in Douglas gathered the items at Frankfield church. Video by Eddie O'Hare. Residents' delight as Easter treats and PPE delivered to Cork nursing home Garda Peter Moran with Cramers Court Nursing Home resident Betty Gaffney. Residents at a nursing home in Co Cork received some much-appreciated Easter treats from a local pharmaceutical company. A special delivery of essential personal protective equipment (PPE) and an assortment of Easter Eggs were delivered to Cramers Court Nursing Home in Belgooly, Kinsale from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Community gardai helped staff from Thermo Fisher Scientific, which is located in Currabinny, Carrigaline, bring the personal protective equipment and the chocolate treats to the staff and residents at the nursing home. "We are delighted with this incredibly kind gesture. Thermo Fisher Scientific rallying behind Cramers Court by providing essential PPE and Easter Eggs was a tremendous show of community spirit and we thank them for it," said Teresa O'Donovan, activities coordinator. An Post launch Request a Check-In and a newspaper delivery service - Steve Neville An Post has announced the launch of two new services to support communities during the coronavirus crisis. The postal service has launched Request a Check-In and a newspaper delivery service. An Post said the Request a Check-In service is a facility for family members to request a specific An Post Check-In by the local postman or postwoman for an older or vulnerable person during the current cocooning period. A statement said that family members can register for the service for free by completing the postal address and Eircode of the customer on their website. Food banks delivering for those most in need - Jess Casey Colin Daly, deputy principal of the North Monastery Primary School in Cork, praised its teachers for helping to Read More: They put themselves in harms way I suppose with this virus but you can really see it doesnt bother them, its what needs to be done, said Mr Daly. Youd kind of get a feel for some of the families who could struggle from this but Ive never seen it as evident as this in the last couple of weeks. I feel as a school, its the least we can do, if they [healthcare workers] are putting themselves at risk. Its the least we can do. - Companies mainly deploy environmental health & safety systems in order to ensure the safety and well-beings of their employees and as well as monitor their environmental balance - Increasing awareness about employee as well as workplace safety with growing environmental conservation efforts have been at the forefront of the development of the global market ALBANY, New York, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In its recent research report, TMR provide in depth information about the overall working dynamics of the global environmental health & safety system market. The research report tries to shed light on the current vendor landscape, geographical outlook, prominent growth drivers as well as inhibitors, and the key segments of the global market. According to the research report, the global environmental health & safety system market was initially valued at US$4,729.3 Mn in 2019. The market is expected to clock up a hefty CAGR of 11.7% over the course of the given period of forecast ranging from 2019 to 2027. With this rate of growth, the global market for environmental health & safety system is expected to reach a valuation worth US$11,500.5 Mn by the end of 2027. Download PDF Brochure - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=2292 Global Environmental Health & Safety System Market - Key Takeaways The global environmental health & safety system market is segmented in terms of component, end-use sector, and region. The components segment is classified on the basis of services provided and software solutions. The segment of environmental health & safety system services has been the dominant one in the global market and is expected to continue lead in the coming years of the forecast period. The EHS services have witnessed considerable deployment across a broad range of industry verticals across the globe. In terms of end use sector, the segment of chemical & petrochemical industries has been dominating the global market in recent past. Increasing adoption from developed and leading economies such as China , Japan , Russia , Brazil , and the US have helped in driving the growth of the segment. Explore a report with detailed research, incisive insights, and in-depth country levels estimations. Gain business intelligence on global Environment Health & Safety System Software Type: Quality and Risk Assessment Software, Data Analytics Software, Cost Management Software, Environmental Compliance Software, Energy and Carbon Management Software, and Others; Services Type: Consulting, Project Management, Analytics, Training, Implementation, Auditing, Certification at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/environmental-health-safety-market.html Global Environment Health & Safety System Market - Key Driving Factors One of the key driving factors for the growth of the global environmental health & safety system market has been its growing awareness in the emerging economies. In recent years, there have been strict regulations and mandates issued for ensuring the workplace balance and employee safety. In addition to this, increasing concerns about the environment sustainability is also helping to drive the adoption of environmental health & safety systems across the globe. Several federal agencies have launched cost efficient solutions in order to comply with the EHS standards mainly for cost-sensitive economies and SMBs has also had a great effect on the development of the global market. A large number of emerging economies are now setting up regulatory regimes and environmental institutions after being profoundly inspired by their counterparts in the US and Europe . View Detailed Table of Contents at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/2292 Global Environmental Health & Safety System Market - Geographical Outlook North America , Latin America , Middle East and Africa , Europe , and Asia Pacific are the major regional segments of the global environmental health & safety system market , , and , , and are the major regional segments of the global environmental health & safety system market The market has been traditionally dominated by the regional segment of North America and is expected to continue leading over the forest period. Analyze Environmental Health & Safety System Market growth in 30+ countries including US, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Russia, Poland, Benelux, Nordic, China, Japan, India, and South Korea. Request a sample of the study Global Environmental Health & Safety System Market - Key Players Some of the key companies in the global environmental health & safety system are IHS Inc., 3E Company, International Finance Corporation, Enablon North America Corporation, SAP SE, UL LLC, and Medgate Inc. Market Segmentation Software Type Quality and Risk Assessment Software Data Analytics Software Cost Management Software Environmental Compliance Software Energy and Carbon Management Software Others Services Type Consulting Project Management Analytics Training Implementation Auditing Certification Region North America Latin America Europe Middle East and Africa and Asia Pacific Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the Global IT & Telecom Industry: Artificial Intelligence Market - The rising demand for artificial intelligence technologies can be attributed to the stellar pace of digital transformation. A range of devices and equipment function on the principle of artificial intelligence, and this is an important consideration from the perspective of market growth. Furthermore, the growing value of the artificial intelligence market is a positive sign for the digital economy. Smart Airport Market - The smart airport market has risen in prominence with new innovative technologies that have helped personalize customer experiences. Rising IT spending on airports is anticipated to propel the market's expansion as these solutions ease the burden on airport infrastructure and workforce. Emerging countries are showing dramatic traffic growth, diversity, and choice of airlines. Data Center Networking Market - The data center networking market is expected to register a CAGR of 15.4% between 2019 and 2027. The market is projected to be driven by increase in Adoption of data center virtualization and cloud computing. Patent Analytics Services Market - The four-fold global increase in patent filings is one of the key drivers contributing to the growth of the patent analytics services market. Apart from large enterprises, patent analytics services are acquiring prominence in universities and SMEs. 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About Transparency Market Research Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact Mr Rohit Bhisey Transparency Market Research State Tower, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany NY - 12207 United States USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Blog: https://tmrblog.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1085206/Transparency_Market_Research_Logo.jpg Sofia, April 6 : Authorities in Germany, Austria, Serbia and Bulgaria have dissolved an international organized crime group responsible for fraudulent trading in financial instruments and money laundering, the Bulgarian Prosecutor's Office here said in a statement on Monday. During the operation on April 2, Bulgarian authorities arrested three Bulgarians and one German citizen, two of whom were among the alleged leaders of the gang, Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying. Meanwhile, five suspects were detained in Serbia, and a German bank account containing over 2.5 million euros ($2.7 million) was frozen in Germany, the statement said. The investigation was launched almost a year ago by the Prosecutor General's Office in Bamberg, Germany, alongside the Austrian Prosecutor's Office, according to the statement. "Thousands of citizens from dozens of European and other countries were affected by the activities of this criminal network," it said. Investigators have estimated that the damage amounted to nearly 80 million euros. Europol and the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation helped in the exchange of information and coordination of the investigation, the statement added. So, the stress of working at home in the Lehigh Valley builds and come lunch, instead of taking a walk and risking getting the coronavirus from a passerby, you jump in your car and take a relaxing drive. Turns out youre violating Gov. Tom Wolfs stay-at-home order, which makes exceptions for exercise but not mobile mental health excursions or any other nonessential jaunt behind the wheel. On March 29, a 19-year-old woman from York who had been out for a ride was pulled over by Pennsylvania State Police troopers due to what they said was a faulty taillight and windows that were tinted too dark, according to a media report. But what she was cited with in the end was violating the Disease Prevention and Control Law of 1955, one of two state statutes that provides enforcement power to the stay-at-home order, the report said. If found guilty -- and she entered a not-guilty plea -- she faces a fine and fees and costs north of $200. And, the law states, if found guilty and she doesnt pay up, she could go to jail for 30 days. While the ban on nonessential businesses has gotten a lot of publicity and numerous warnings for business owners across the state, the driving restrictions havent gotten nearly the public push. Sunday drives are not essential travel, Pennsylvania State Police Troop M Public Information Trooper Nathan Branosky said in a Monday morning email. Does that mean that everyone who goes for a drive will get cited/warning? he asked. There are no roadblocks, no check points, etc. Decisions to warn/cite are made based on the totality of unique circumstances of each encounter. But to reiterate, stay at home means stay at home. The Lehigh Valley became part of Wolfs order on March 25; the entire state now falls under the restrictions. New Jerseys stay-at-home order went in place on March 24. There have been 11,510 positive tests in Pennsylvania for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and 150 deaths, while in New Jersey there have been more than 37,500 cases and 917 deaths. In an emergency situation, Pennsylvanias governor can determine who enters and leaves, in this case, the state and the movement of people within it," the order states. Police reached on Monday morning across the Lehigh Valley said they see their role in the stay-at-home order as educational for the most part, but officers would take action if needed. Allentown has warned several people about nonessential driving, Assistant Chief Steve Vangelo said. A traffic stop cant be done under state law without a primary offense, he said -- usually a violation of the traffic code but it could be criminal behavior that creates probable cause to pull over a driver. The stay-at-home violation would be a secondary offense, enforceable only if the driver did something else wrong to draw an officers attention. Were just trying to keep people safe at this point, he said. Bethlehem police Chief Mark DiLuzio said people should follow the stay-at-home rules set up by the governor and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. By following (them) you are protecting yourself and your family. My advice: Use your common sense and help each other out, he said. The city department, which is working with citizens and businesses during this emergency," has not cited anyone and we do not intend to be citing anyone, DiLuzio said. Whitehall Township police Chief Michael Marks echoed DiLuzios plea for common sense, stretching it not only to driving but to the destinations of those trips. People need to consider the potential ramifications of escaping the mundane new norm of staying in their homes, Marks said in an email. He pointed out there have been issues along the townships major retail strip, where business owners are doing an amazing job keeping stores clean and safe, but there are limits to what they can accomplish. ... These stores are not a safe haven for people to escape the stay-at-home order ... especially with your entire family. People need to realize that their decisions can have substantial ramifications for others, he said. People need to understand that we are all in this together and society is depending on every citizen to do the right thing" in order to stem the tide of this virus. Branosky said while the order is mandatory, voluntary compliance is preferred. At this time, troopers are focused on ensuing the residents are aware of the order and informing the public of social distancing practices, he said. Wilson Borough Chief Chris Meehan added, Were not looking to penalize people in what are tough times and a tough situation, but his department stays up to date with enforcement information from the governors office. Overall, people are complying with Wolfs order, with the biggest headache being young people gathering, he said. While his department has issued warnings to drivers, the larger issue would be if those people ignore such guidance and put the public at risk, he said. Slate Belt Regional Chief Jonathon Hoadley agreed that young people rather than drivers are requiring a greater part of his departments attention. Weona Park in Pen Argyl was eventually shut down when visitors failed to adhere to social distancing standards. The roads in the northern part of Northampton County are nearly the sole purview of truckers after 8 p.m. these days. Most cars are off the streets by then, he said. While the department charged five drivers with DUI in March, theres been little trouble with drivers out when they shouldnt be, he said. If there is a separate basis for a traffic stop, Bangor officers have been instructed to politely notify the driver/occupants of the governors stay-at-home order," Chief Scott Felchock said in an email. Officers have discretion in whether a citation or a written warning will be issued for the motor vehicle violation. We are not stopping vehicles based solely on suspicion that someone is out for a joy ride. Bangor police have yet to cite anyone for operating a nonessential business or for nonessential driving, he said. Colonial Regional Chief Roy Seiple said the starting point is keeping the roads save, and that means, We are stopping serious traffic infractions where violators may endanger other persons. We are not arbitrarily stopping persons who are driving, as there is no way to tell if they are commuting to their life-sustaining jobs, nor do we have any plans to unless directed by the governor. And people are allowed to drive to outdoor activities, he added in an email. So how do you tell? he said. We are all navigating uncharted waters. Officers are empowered to use their discretion when making arrests, Seiple said. Violations of the stay-at-home order -- be they be for businesses or drivers -- are reviewed by a detective sergeant for possible prosecution, Seiple said. Although we are relaxing public contacts, however, we will not shirk our law enforcement responsibilities, he said. Whitehall Chief Marks was equally clear that while we are not actively pursuing people that are ignoring the mandates put in place, but we will also not shy away from doing our duty to protect others. The brave men and women who have chosen this career know the inherent dangers that the job entails. We are not just hoping for compliance for the sake of everyone in America, but we also have families and loved ones that we are trying to keep out of harms way as well. Almost every person that I know has a loved one in the at-risk population. The last thing that they want is to bring the virus home, as a result of someone who felt like taking a stroll around the essential store because they were bored. And so educating the public about the requirements becomes key. What it comes down to, Trooper Branosky said, is that Troopers have been encouraged to use contacts with the public as opportunities to reenforce the necessity to abide stay-at-home orders. Travel in the Keystone State, according to the order, is limited to: Tasks essential to maintain health and safety, or the health and safety of their family or household members (including pets), such as obtaining medicine or medical supplies, visiting a health care professional, or obtaining supplies they need to work from home Getting necessary services or supplies for themselves, for their family or household members, or as part of volunteer efforts, or to deliver those services or supplies to others to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences Engaging in outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking or running if they maintain social distancing To perform work providing essential products and services at a life-sustaining business To care for a family member or pet in another household Any travel related to the provision of or access to the above-mentioned individual activities or life-sustaining business activities Travel to care for elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons Travel to or from educational institutions for purposes of receiving materials for distance learning, for receiving meals, and any other related services Travel to return to a place of residence from an outside jurisdiction Travel required by law enforcement or court order Travel required for non-residents to return to their place of residence outside the commonwealth Anyone performing life-sustaining travel does not need paperwork to prove the reason for travel. The following operations are exempt: Life-sustaining business activities Health care or medical services providers Access to life-sustaining services for low-income residents, including food banks Access to child care services for employees of life-sustaining businesses that remain open as follows: child care facilities operating under the Department of Human Services, Office of Child Development and Early Learning waiver process; group and family child care operating in a residence; and part-day school age programs operating under an exemption from the March 19, 2020 business closure Orders News media Law enforcement, emergency medical services personnel, firefighters The federal government Religious institutions 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. New Delhi, April 6 : The Union Cabinet on Monday approved an ordinance amending the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954 to reduce allowances and pension by 30 per cent with effect from April 1, for a year. The President, Vice President, and Governors have also voluntarily decided to take a pay cut as a social responsibility. The money will go to the Consolidated Fund of India. This is being done in light of the coronavirus pandemic which India, along with countries around the globe is battling. Addressing a press briefing, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has also approved a move to suspend the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) for two years (2020-21 and 2021-22) and this amount will also go to the Consolidated Fund of India. These funds will be used to strengthen the government's efforts in managing the challenges and adverse impact of Covid-19 in the country, he said. The purse strings of the government are being tightened in view of the coronavirus emergency and a fund -- PM CARES -- has been set up for relief efforts. Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauded the Prime Minister for the decisions. "I congratulate PM Narendra Modi ji, as the cabinet approves the Ordinance for reducing allowances and pension of all MPs by 30% for a year. The Parliament of the world's largest democracy stands together in these challenging times. I thank all the parties and MPs for their support," Shah tweeted. "I also thank the President of India, Vice President and Governors who have decided to contribute voluntarily to this noble cause.". The opposition Congress supported the pay cut of MPs but criticised the suspension of MPLADS, saying it will "undermine" the role and functions of MPs. "Please note that MPLAD is meant to execute developmental works in the constituency. Suspending MPLADS is a disservice step to the constituents and it will undermine their role and functions," said party's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala. Senior Congress Ahmed Patel "welcomed" the Cabinet decision, saying that "in difficult times it is necessary that we help citizens". "As a Member of Parliament, I welcome the government's decision to cut the salaries of MPs. In this difficult time, this is the least we can do to help fellow citizens," he tweeted. CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, however, accused the government of "fudging data", and said that it had pushed the economy "steeply downhill" even before Covid-19. "Transfer of money to the Consolidated Fund of India, instead of being directed towards fighting COVID-19,shows that it is a measure to deal with the economic destruction caused in the past six years," Yechury said. "The Cabinet also decided to suspend the MP local area development scheme for two years and transfer the money into the government's Consolidated Fund. The money under MPLADS is around Rs 7,900 crore for two years: 2020-21 and 2021-22." Karnataka State Board for Auqaf on Monday issued orders suspending congregational prayers and visit to the Qabrasthans (Muslim Graveyards), Dargahs on the occasion of Shab-e-Barat on April 9, due to the coronavirus pandemic. "It is hereby directed to all the managements not to allow any congregational prayers in the masjid and the managements of the Qabrasthans/Dargahs throughout the State to suspend the visit of public on the occasion ofShab-e-Barat on Thursday, April 9," the order read. It said, no public shall be allowed to perform religious rituals in the Qabrasthans/Dargahs and all their gates shall be kept closed. Asking the managements of the Qabrasthans and dargahs to take necessary steps for implementation of the order in the interest of public health in letter and spirit, itinstructed all Waqf officers, Districts Waqf Advisory Committees in the state to adhere to the order and to circulate the same to all the Waqf managements, and ensure that the said Order is followed scrupulously. "Any dereliction in this regard will be viewed seriously," it added. Shab-e-Barat is considered as one of the auspicious nights in the Islamic calendar, which is celebrated with pomp and enthusiasm by Muslims all over the world, during which they gather in masjids for overnight prayers. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the government of Karnataka has issued directions and orders to suspend the congregational prayers, the order in its preamble said. The Imarat-e-Sharia of Karnataka have also issued a list of preventive measures which have to be duly followed by all Muslims on the occasion of Shab-e-Barat, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two men are behind bars on multiple sex charges in unrelated cases. The Etowah County Sheriffs Office on Sunday announced the arrests of Shown Ray Sims and Wyatt Alan Sharp. Both were captured by the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force - one in Texas and the other in Etowah County. Sims is charged with two counts of first-degree rape, two counts of first-degree sodomy and one count of sex abuse of a child under the age of 12. All of the charges involve a minor victim. Special Deputy Marshal Bobby Ridgeway II, who is employed by the sheriffs office but assigned full time to the Marshals task force, was lead investigator on the case. During the course of the probe, authorities developed information that Sims had fled to Texas to avoid apprehension. On March 27, 2020, Ridgeway requested a collateral fugitive investigation be initiated by the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Violent Offenders & Fugitive Task Force in Galveston. Sims was arrested without incident in Galveston spotted after he was observed walking down the road. Sims was transported and booked into the Galveston County Jail and is awaiting extradition to Alabama. Wyatt Alan Sharp (Etowah County Sheriff's Office) In a separate case, the 20-year-old Sharp was arrested Friday in Etowah County on charges out of north Alabama. Authorities said Sharp was wanted by Huntsville police on charges of first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy in which he reportedly struck the victim multiple times with a heavy leather belt in the back and buttocks areas. The victim required medical treatment. Investigators determined Sharp had fled to Southside to avoid capture. In a joint operation with U.S. Marshals, Etowah County sheriffs deputies and Southside police, Sharp was taken into custody on Mountain Pass Road and taken to jail in Madison County. At the time of his arrest, he was also wanted in Morgan and Winston counties on similar charges. If someone in your household shows symptoms of COVID-19, which most commonly include fever, a dry cough and shortness of breath, calling your doctor is the the first thing to do. A health care professional will offer tips on how to care for the patient and help you decide whether they need to be seen in person. You will also be given instructions on how to protect others in the household and told to separate the patient as much as possible. 'GASPING FOR AIR': 11 things that helped this Houston woman battle the symptoms of COVID-19 Creating a safe situation in a household with one or multiple infected patients is tricky, so it's helpful to plan ahead and prepare for sickness. Here's what health care professionals advise. Choose a room in your house that can be used to separate sick household members from others "Somebody that has coronavirus needs to be isolated," said Dr. George Rutherford, an epidemiologist and director of UCSF's Prevention and Public Health Group. "Put them in a room and shut the door. They shouldnt come to meals. They need their own bathroom. There are real consequences to this disease." Rutherford added that if someone is infected in a household with limited space and bathrooms, some members could separate in a hotel room. Trent Rhorer, executive director of S.F.'s Human Service Agency, said the city is working with hotels. "We have hotel rooms for individuals who need to quarantine or isolate due to COVID and who do not have housing suitable for self-quarantine," Rhorer wrote in an email. "We are taking referrals from the health care system." Dr. John Swartzberg, a professor of infectious disease at UC Berkeley, recognized that not everyone living in small homes will be able to afford to separate household members by paying for a hotel room, but if any uninfected individuals are elderly or have underlying health conditions, "they should move out" if at all possible to protect themselves from contracting the virus. BEHIND THE CURVE: Here's why Texas lags behind on releasing timely information on the coronavirus Dr. Anne Liu, a clinical associated professor of infectious diseases at Stanford, said she has some patients who have been able to use friends' empty homes for quarantine. The reality, though, is that many households with infected patients will need to remain in their homes with only one bathroom. In this case, "cleaning is going to be super important," said Liu. After a patient uses the shared bathroom, they need to clean the premises thoroughly; a window can also be opened for ventilation. "Obviously there are some elderly people who have limited availability to do that," Liu said. "You can see that the bulk of families in our society will not adequately be able to protect themselves if someone in the family has COVID-19," Swartzberg concluded, when considering the difficulty in households moving out family members or creating a situation with separate bathrooms or where a shared bathroom is adequately cleaned. Make the infected person eat meals in his or her room Liu advised against the infected patient doing any food preparation or using the kitchen, if possible. Ideally, other members of the household cook meals or order takeout. "They can drop food outside the door of where the other person is spending their time and then leave the food there and walk away before the person comes out and takes it, so there's no contact," Liu said. Liu said some of her patients living in a home with COVID-19 are serving food to the infected person with disposable utensils and plates. "Keep meals simple," she said. "You dont need a tray with a half dozen plates on it." Stock up on the right cleaning products "Bleach is good for cleaning," Liu said. "Anything with over 70 percent alcohol." She added that the Centers for Disease Control has instructions for cleaning; recommended products on its website can be consulted. Create a hand-washing schedule In light of coronavirus, many individuals have quickly picked up on the need to wash hands any time you leave and reenter your household. But if you have an infected person living in your home even in an entirely separate room you need to be constantly washing your hands at home, ideally at least once an hour, or even more. "Have a schedule and have everyone wash their hands at the top of the hour," she said. "Or make it a game." Members of the household should also be trained to not touch their faces. Use masks and gloves in the home "Ideally in a world where we had unlimited PPE [personal protective equipment], everyone should wear a mask," said Liu. "But if the household members are all staying far apart and not coming into one anothers spaces, masks arent as important. If people are sharing space together and sharing some air, its more important that they wear a mask. A surgical mask is probably a good step to reducing transmission and the difference between a surgical mask and N95 mask is a narrow one, we think." Gloves should be used when handling the laundry of someone who is infected. "Wash your hands after removing the gloves," Liu advised. Check in with your doctor about how long to keep household members and these extreme measures in place. Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com. Two dozen former diplomats and national security leaders from the United States and Europe called on the Trump administration Monday to ease sanctions against Iran as part of the battle against the coronavirus pandemic. The statement, signed by some of the most storied diplomats in recent U.S. history, said that providing some sanctions relief to Iran could help stem the spread of the disease and potentially save the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Iran is one of the world's coronavirus epicenters, with almost 60,000 confirmed cases and at least 3,600 deaths, though some researchers believe the death toll is far higher. "Just as the COVID-19 pandemic has upended every aspect of the global economy and of human lives and health, it has drastically changed the impact of a U.S. policy designed for a different purpose and conditions," the statement said. "Just because Iran has managed the crisis badly, that does not make its humanitarian needs and our security ones any the less. Targeted sanctions relief would be both morally right and serve the health and security interests of the United States, Europe, and the rest of the world." The signatories represented decades of diplomatic and national security expertise. Among them is former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, two former defense secretaries and a U.S. and a European official who negotiated the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran that President Donald Trump withdrew from in 2018 before reimposing old sanctions and adding new ones. The European signatories include former prime ministers, foreign ministers, ambassadors and secretary generals of NATO. The mounting coronavirus-related deaths have fueled a growing number of pleas to at least temporarily ease sanctions against countries whose economies and health care systems have been devastated under the dual hammer of heavy U.S. and international measures and collapsing oil prices. U.S. officials have resisted relenting on its "maximum pressure campaign" of sanctions, and added more against Iran and Venezuela in recent weeks. State Department officials have defended the measures by noting humanitarian and medical aid is exempt. The statement released Monday argues that the coronavirus sweeping the world, infecting more than a million people so far in almost every country on earth, upends the utility of such punishing sanctions. "Though never intended to kill," the statement says, U.S. sanctions have compromised Iran's health care system and its ability to treat patients. Despite the humanitarian exceptions, it continues, importing medicine and medical equipment is a slow, cumbersome and expensive process that discourages companies worried about overstepping boundaries and being sanctioned themselves. "We must remember that an outbreak anywhere impacts people everywhere," the statement says. "In turn, reaching across borders to save lives is imperative for our own security and must override political differences among governments." State Department officials have said Iran has repeatedly rejected offers of U.S. assistance during the pandemic, though they have provided no details of what was offered and under what conditions. The statement dismisses the U.S. offers, calling it "unrealistic" to expect Tehran to ask Washington for help when tensions and mutual distrust are so high. "Offering aid with one hand while taking away much more through the pressure of crippling economic sanctions with the other is not a coherent posture," the statement said. The statement was drawn up by two groups - The Iran Project, a U.S. organization working to foster dialogue between the United States and Iran and take a bipartisan approach to keep Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons; and the European Leadership Network, a London-based group of leaders seeking practical solutions to political and security challenges. The signatories include Wendy Sherman, a former senior State Department official, and Federica Mogherini, the former foreign policy chief for the European Union. Both were involved in negotiations with Iran for the 2015 nuclear deal, which gave Iran sanctions relief in exchange for limits on its nuclear program. The statement also was signed by Gro Harlem Brundtland, a former Norwegian prime minister and director of the World Health Organization; Thomas Pickering, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations; and Thomas Shannon, who was the acting secretary of state before the Senate confirmed Rex Tillerson. By PTI AHMEDABAD: All the Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in Gujarat and ministers in the BJP government in the state wouldtake a 30 per cent salary cut for a year to fund the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was taken by the Gujarat government hours after the Union cabinet decided to cut 30 per cent salary of all MPs for one year, and divert MPLAD funds for two years to add financial muscle to the anti-coronavirus fight. The decision of 30 per cent pay cut for MLAs and ministers for a year was taken by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani during a core committee meeting convened in the evening, said a government release. The committee, consisting of ministers, has been set up to tackle the coronavirus crisis. ALSO READ: COVID-19 LIVE The money saved through this measure will be used in the fight against coronavirus, said the release. The state has a 182-member Assembly. Similarly, MLA Local Area Development grant of Rs 1.50 crore allotted to each legislator will be exclusively utilised to fight coronavirus for a period of one year (ending March 31, 2021), it added. So far, Gujarat has registered 146 COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths related to the viral disease. When it became clear last month that former vice-president Joe Biden would almost certainly win the Democratic nomination, many of the progressive Democrats who supported other presidential candidates were disappointed but not deterred. They quickly shifted their electoral focus to candidates lower on the ballot. The plan was straightforward: they would donate to a slew of insurgent congressional candidates, and a stable of grassroots groups would be ready and waiting to organize for the general election and beyond. But that was in a pre-pandemic America, before the spread of the coronavirus caused thousands of deaths, about 10 million new unemployment claims in two weeks, and the halting of public events in the presidential race. Now many progressive candidates and the organizations that support them are struggling to adapt to a bleak reality dried up fundraising, unclear election dates, and a moratorium on tried-and-true political tactics like in-person phone banks and door-to-door canvassing. Its an immediate effect on how we can plan, how we can grow, and even our month-to-month cash flow, said Amanda Litman, executive director of Run for Something, one of the many Democratic organizations founded after U.S. President Donald Trumps 2016 victory. Its really scary, because the candidates need more support than ever. And political fundraising right now is plummeting, as is the rest of the economy. Litman said her group had already been forced to cancel fundraising that was expected to bring in nearly $500,000 (U.S.). The coronavirus, she said, has made basic operational questions including Run for Somethings survival through the November general election a more open question. There are also political challenges, said Waleed Shahid, a spokesman for Justice Democrats. Insurgent candidates are more likely to rely on door-to-door canvassing and rallies to show enthusiasm, activities that are functionally discontinued until further notice. Progressive candidates also tend to rely exclusively on small-dollar donations, which have experienced a downturn as people tighten their budgets. Incumbents have certain advantages in a crisis, namely access to the media as a voice of authority, Shahid said. The grim picture may have a profound political effect on the general election and beyond. Democrats were poised to have an organizing juggernaut ready for the 2020 election, with the goal of both reaching new voters and helping reverse the state and local losses they experienced during President Barack Obamas years in power. Even more, liberal groups hoped this election cycle would formalize their political infrastructure, so the activism that erupted in response to Trumps election could be harnessed going forward. That may still happen, but it will require creative financial and digital solutions, according to interviews with several leaders of progressive political organizations and left-wing candidates running for office in states like New York and Ohio. Optimists have called it a time for political innovation, while others worry the structural barriers could stymie the progressive movement at a critical crossroads. The outcome is of particular importance because the two most liberal presidential candidates, Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, were surpassed in the primary race by the more moderate Biden. Warren ended her presidential bid last month, and Sanders still says his campaign has a narrow path but is facing increased calls from allies to cede the nomination to Biden. The left-wing Working Families Party had to recall waves of canvassers who were collecting signatures for congressional, state and local candidates endorsed by the group. It has also scrapped multiple in-person initiatives: a volunteer training program that was to begin imminently and a two-day organizationwide convention in Milwaukee that was scheduled for May. On the campaign side, Ohio cancelled its primary just one day before voters in the states 3rd Congressional District were set to vote in a Democratic primary between Morgan Harper, a community activist who had previous jobs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and as a corporate lawyer, and Rep. Joyce Beatty, an incumbent with a long history in state politics. The state has rescheduled its primary to April 28, but has also mandated that nearly all voters submit ballots by mail, a move Harper said might depress turnout and give an advantage to candidates with higher name recognition. People are very stressed about contracting an infectious disease that has the potential to kill you while also dealing with the disruption to financial life right now, Harper said. And in the midst of that, while experiencing extreme financial stress, were going to ask them to have the wherewithal to go to a website, request an application, print it out and mail it back in just to get a ballot. Suraj Patel, one of several challengers running in New Yorks 12th Congressional District against the incumbent Democrat, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, contracted the coronavirus in March, forcing him into quarantine. The situation disrupted his campaign schedule, though he has been trying to work from home. Patel said his small dollar fundraising had dropped off by 80 per cent by the end of March. No doubt fundraising is way, way, way down, Patel said. And its difficult to even ask people to give when most of them are either furloughed or at home or uncertain of whats going to happen. There have been some silver linings for progressive candidates. Harper and Patel have ramped up digital contact with voters and repurposed campaign tools to provide information about coronavirus safety. Jamaal Bowman, a progressive who is mounting a campaign against the stalwart incumbent Rep. Eliot L. Engel in New Yorks 16th Congressional District, pivoted to an online-only operation in a matter of days, said his campaign manager, Luke Hayes. One of the things about having such a broad base of small donors is that while asking them for that recurring donation of 10 dollars a month, you cultivate a relationship with them, Hayes said. I think some incumbents, you know, they just expect kind of checks brought in just based on their stature. Just as in the business world, where new digital tools have exploded in use, fresh political technology is also helping to fill gaps. Outvote, a political startup in Boston that allows users to send voting and other political information to people in their social networks, has seen a rise in interest from progressive campaigns and causes as the pandemic spreads. Some have begun using Outvote to disseminate information about how to guard against the virus, said Naseem Makiya, the companys founder. On Thursday, the Progressive Turnout Project, a political action committee that supports liberal candidates, announced a nearly $3 million investment in phone banking that aims to leverage up to 12 million calls from volunteers to lower-propensity Democratic voters before Election Day in November. The more impersonal the mode, the less effective youre going to get, said Alex Morgan, the groups executive director. So while it is great that a bunch of groups are hopping onto text messages and digital, thats more distant than you and I having a conversation right now. But progressives are also hoping that their message of big ideas has a new resonance in this moment of crisis. In interviews, group leaders said they were confident the pandemic had strengthened their calls for systemic change by exposing cracks in the countrys economy and health care system. Litman said Run for Something, even with looming financial questions, had seen interest from prospective local candidates hold steady throughout March. Rahna Epting, executive director of the progressive group MoveOn, said its membership had grown by more than 1 million in March. What were seeing is that the energy that normally we would funnel into physical protests and physical action, the energy is there and its growing exponentially, she said. On Sunday, the Working Families Party held its first digital rally, with appearances from the Rev. William J. Barber II and Stacey Abrams, who ran unsuccessfully for governor of Georgia in 2018 and now leads the voting rights group Fair Fight Action. Working Families plans to hold its May convention remotely. You know, it took me some time to get my parents FaceTiming with me in a way that made sense, said Maurice Mitchell, the national director of Working Families. And I think thats happening on a broader level where people have different fluency with different types of technology. Were all kind of learning together. Read more about: COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 2,000 educators virtually connected to attend free Zoom and INFOhio trainings offered by the Management Council and Ohio's 18 Information Technology Centers (ITCs). The trainings were created to assist educators who were suddenly thrust into the remote learning environment with little advance warning. The Management Council has negotiated heavily discounted pricing for the Zoom video collaboration platform for use by all of Ohio's PreK-12 education community, including educators, administrators, students, school boards, educational organizations and associations, and more available exclusively through Ohio's ITCs. ITCs are helping school districts quickly transition to remote learning platforms, including Zoom, a video collaboration platform that enables teachers and students to engage in high-quality, live, online teaching and learning. Zoom requires no special technology and can be used on any platform. Remote students without a computer or smart device can still participate via audio using a telephone. Teachers can meet students on their regular bell schedule and employ many of the same instructional strategies used in a typical classroom, including widespread use of INFOhio resources, which are provided with state and federal funds to all Ohio schools at no cost to the district. Delivered to districts through ITCs, INFOhio's high-quality digital resources are entirely free of charge. INFOhio's commitment to equitable access for students means that students access resources with or without Internet, enjoying remote interaction with content that covers Ohio benchmarks and indicators articulated in the state standards and model curriculum. INFOhio transforms student learning by providing quality resources and cost-effective instructional and technical support for each student, educator, and parent in Ohio. "This is an 'Apollo 13 moment' for teaching and learning in Ohio," said Geoffrey Andrews, Chief Executive Officer of the Management Council. "Zoom's real-time video collaboration coupled with quality digital resources from INFOhio enables educators to effectively teach, and students to successfully learn in a remote environment. Both resources are delivered to Ohio's school districts through Ohio's Information Technology Centers." To support school districts with these resources, the Management Council and ITCs continue to offer free training to all Ohio educators. These sessions cover Zoom features, including logging on, managing classes, tracking student engagement, and more. Sessions also cover how to leverage all of INFOhio's high-quality content, focusing on teaching and learning with digital resources and with INFOhio's Educator Tools, which includes nearly 80,000 teacher-approved lesson plans, assessments, and other instructional resources. Educators who missed the trainings can find the recordings on the Management Council Community site to support remote learning where numerous resources have been collected to assist educators with the transition to a remote learning environment. Educators across Ohio have embraced Zoom video collaboration platform and INFOhio's digital resources for remote learning. Full professional Zoom licenses (that typically sell for $150 annually) are available through a district's local ITC for $5 per educator for the remainder of this school year. INFOhio's digital content is, as always, free for all of Ohio's schools. Together with the Management Council, Ohio's Information Technology Centers continue to make a difference in the lives of Ohio's learners, teachers, and leaders. About the Management Council Ohio's Information Technology Centers (ITCs) work together through a statewide network known as the Ohio Education Computer Network (OECN). The Management Council coordinates and supports the collaborative efforts of the OECN, which implements a broad spectrum of academic and administrative technologies across Ohio's PreK-12 education system. www.managementcouncil.org Contact: Jessica Madison, The Management Council Phone: 614.840.9810 Email: [email protected] SOURCE The Management Council Related Links http://www.managementcouncil.org Scotland's chief medical officer has resigned for breaking her own set of warnings against all unjustified travel during coronavirus lockdown in the country after making two trips to her second home, according to media reports. Catherine Calderwood released a statement on Sunday saying she had quit, the BBC reported. Calderwood, 51, was earlier been given a police warning for breaking the lockdown rules after disobeying the guidelines she herself had set out by heading to Earlsferry for the weekend more than hour's drive away from her main home in Edinburgh, the report said. At first she stated that she would be remaining in her role a move backed by Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon but on Sunday she announced her resignation "with a heavy heart", the Metro UK reported. In a statement, she said she agreed that the "justifiable focus on my behaviour risks becoming a distraction from the hugely important job," the report added. Calderwood's resignation follows mounting criticism from opposition leaders, members of the public and villagers in Earlsferry, Fife, where she and her husband have a second home, the Guardian reported. Calderwood has been the voice of the Scottish government's public information campaign and urged people to avoid all non-essential travel. "This is a vital update about coronavirus. To help save lives, stay at home. Anyone can spread coronavirus, she said in a government advertisement. Richard Leonard, the Scottish Labour leader, said the Scottish government has not been candid about the Calderwoods' behaviour or her culpability, the report said. It is clear that the chief medical officer's disregard of the government's own guidelines which she is the principal adviser on, was not a one-off, a simple mistake, or human error as was suggested overnight, Leonard said. Many leaders said that Calderwood's actions would weaken public confidence in the lockdown. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has been admitted to a hospital for tests after he showed "persistent symptoms of coronavirus" even 10 days after testing COVID-19 positive, has placed the UK on a police-enforced lockdown with drastic new measures in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak. The Prime Minister ordered people only to leave their homes under a list of "very limited purposes", banned public gatherings of more than two people and ordered the closure of non-essential shops. The UK has reported over 48,000 cases of COVID-19. On Sunday, the Department of Health said 621 more people died in hospitals in the UK over 24 hours after testing positive for coronavirus, taking the total death toll to 4,934 in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Apache Corporation APA and its joint venture partner TOTAL S.A. TOT have made a second oil discovery at the Sapakara West-1 well in Block 58, offshore Suriname. Apache, the operator of the well, discovered 259 feet (79 meters) net pay of high-quality light oil and gas condensate in multiple stacked and good quality reservoirs. In January 2020, the joint venture discovered oil reservoirs at a depth of 240 feet (73 metres) and a 164-feet (50 metres) deep hydrocarbon-bearing light oil and gas condensate pay. The next exploration well will be drilled on the Kwaskwasi prospect with a fourth exploration well to be planned back to back on the Keskesi prospect. TOTAL will become the operator of Block 58 after the drilling of the fourth exploration well. New Discovery Elevates Stock Apaches shares gained 14.71% in intraday trading on Apr 3. The drilling results pleased investors of both companies as the well confirmed ample traces of hydrocarbon within its bounds, mirroring high potential for productive oil wells. This, in turn, boosts Apache and TOTALs confidence in discovering significant amount of resources across the sprawling area of 1.4 million acres in the region that they control. Apart from the obvious addition to its recoverable resources, this new discovery in offshore Suriname happens at a time when global crude oil is struggling with the sudden global economic downturn as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak and therefore comes as an encouraging news for the players in the same space. Notably, Apaches stock price appreciation perked up the energy space on Friday when crude rose past $30 per barrel. This upsurge followed the announcement of a meeting between OPEC and 11 non-OPEC countries, which will be held to discuss the ways to bring stability in oil prices by limiting oil productions. Apache Corporation Price Apache Corporation Price Apache Corporation price | Apache Corporation Quote Redesigns Strong Cost Savings In an earlier release, Apache issued the latest data on cost reduction related to its prior-declared operational restructuring. This Houston, TX-based company is now looking forward to achieve an annualized G&A and LOE cost saving of more than $300 million, up from the actual target of $150 million. Nearly worth $225 million of the recognized savings is expected to be earned in 2020. Story continues With its strategic capex cut, the Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) Apache joins the club of other exploration and production players including QEP Resources QEP, Devon Energy Corporation and Murphy Oil Corporation MUR. These industry participants intend to overcome the tough times while maintaining financial flexibility and operational excellence. Notably, solidifying the companies cash position at a time when oil prices look to yield zero profits to most producers is indeed a wise move. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Breakout Biotech Stocks with Triple-Digit Profit Potential The biotech sector is projected to surge beyond $775 billion by 2024 as scientists develop treatments for thousands of diseases. Theyre also finding ways to edit the human genome to literally erase our vulnerability to these diseases. Zacks has just released Century of Biology: 7 Biotech Stocks to Buy Right Now to help investors profit from 7 stocks poised for outperformance. Our recent biotech recommendations have produced gains of +50%, +83% and +164% in as little as 2 months. The stocks in this report could perform even better. See these 7 breakthrough stocks now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report TOTAL S.A. (TOT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Apache Corporation (APA) : Free Stock Analysis Report QEP Resources, Inc. (QEP) : Free Stock Analysis Report Murphy Oil Corporation (MUR) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research (Natural News) Former President Barack Obama had a mission for America: Destroy it! And he pursued that sleeper cell mission for eight years, whipping up racial tensions, turning America against law enforcement, socializing the medical system and even allowing people like Joe Biden to transfer classified military secrets to China in exchange for financial kickbacks that were laundered through Ukraine. As weve previously warned, Obama also allowed China to steal the Pentagons US military personnel records. He even allowed Iran to capture a US military drone and a Navy boat, all as part of a grand scheme to make sure Iran acquired US communications encryption hardware. If that werent enough, Obama then laundered billions of dollars through international banks to fund Irans nuclear weapons program, all while lying to America and claiming the Iran nuclear deal would block Irans nuclear ambitions (it did precisely the opposite, enabling the program and funding it). See the full details of Obamas treason in this broadcast video: Barack Obama is a treasonous traitor who used his eight years in the White House to try to destroy America and enrich its enemies. Now, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who worked as one of the top-level operatives inside the NIH during the Obama years, is attempting to complete the work that Obama started. The Dr. Fauci suicide pact for America In the last few days, Dr. Fauci has demanded that the entire nation remain locked down until every last infection is snuffed out. He wants the entire population to remain in quarantine lockdowns, in other words, until no more new infections are detected across the entire country. This is an impossible standard to achieve and would likely result in the whole country being locked down for a year or more, utterly destroying whats left of the US economy. It should be no surprise this was always part of the plan to destroy personal health freedom and roll out a medical police state run by vaccine zealots. Dr. Fauci is a puppetmaster for the vaccine industry and claims nothing can stop the virus except a non-existent vaccine. As part of the NIH, Dr. Fauci helped funnel hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer money into the biological weapons / vaccine industry (its the same industry, just two different faces). Hes currently downplaying hydroxychloroquine + zinc, a combination that has so far achieved an astonishing cure rate among coronavirus patients, because hes trying to position his buddies in the vaccine industry to reap windfall profits from whatever vaccine they come up with, which will of course be heralded as the savior of humankind. Until the vaccine is ready, Dr. Fauci wants to keep everybody locked in their homes, perhaps for an entire year to come. As Tucker Carlson correctly observers, this is tantamount to national suicide. Tucker Carlson launches attack on Tony Fauci, but also says "to be clear we are not attacking Tony Fauci" pic.twitter.com/ebmORdxVgE Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) April 4, 2020 Dr. Anthony Fauci is a dishonest vaccine propagandist who has previously claimed that MMR vaccines dont cause encephalitis. This is, of course, a flat-out lie that Dr. Fauci continues to push in order to bury the truth about the dangers of vaccines. See this video clip: Now, Dr. Fauci is spearheading the push for nationwide vaccines, infection tracking and surveillance, and seemingly endless house arrest, a form of nationwide imprisonment that will only be lifted when you are vaccinated (at gunpoint) by an authoritarian government run by the medical police state. This is the end game for the vaccine industry: Turn you into a prisoner until you submit to be jabbed with their dangerous toxins that could contain anything from heavy metals to aborted human fetal tissue. Imprisoning Americans in their own homes is just another way to destroy America from within. While the nation might be able to recover from a 1-2 month lockdown that halts the exponential replication of the virus, it cannot survive the seemingly never-ending lockdowns that Dr. Fauci is recklessly demanding. Dr. Faucis vaccine greed will be the destruction of America, if we are foolish enough to follow his catastrophic demands. Dr. Fauci wont dare mention zinc, vitamin D or anything that works, for fear the coronavirus might be stopped before the vaccine is available Ultimately, Dr. Fauci is actively working to suppress information about lifesaving treatments and cures such as hydroxychloroquine and zinc, along with other immune-boosting nutritional solutions like vitamins C and D. Dr. Fauci doesnt want the coronavirus to be defeated until the vaccine comes along, so low-cost treatments are being ignored or trashed. Its all part of his narrative to shape the story line so that vaccines will be the hero and vaccine mandates will be forever enshrined in US law. Thats the goal: Turn the United States into a Big Pharma-run medical police state, where anyone who opposes vaccines is criminalized, arrested and silenced, communist China style. Dr. Fauci has a communist mindset. Hes a liar and a tyrant, and his ultimate goal here is to see the coronavirus inflict maximum pain, suffering and death across America so that he can engineer a vaccine coup and portray himself as the savior of the nation. Sadly, President Trump played right into Faucis hands by denying the severity of the virus for far too long, allowing it to replicate to the point where over a hundred thousand Americans might die this year alone. That plays into the contrived narrative of the vaccine zealots who see mass death as their greatest opportunity to push vaccine mandates and steamroll anti-vaxxers who question vaccine safety. If we let the vaccine tyrants win, America will be lost and the people will be left to suffer and die in order to protect an industry of death and destruction (the vaccine industry). Whats the solution? End the lockdowns with these four powerful tools: I believe we could end the lockdowns by putting four simple things in place: 1) Everybody needs to wear a mask. 2) Everybody takes zinc + vitamin D. 3) Hydroxychloroquine must be made widely available to treat serious patients. (And possibly Ivermectin.) 4) The government must start testing asymptomatic people to identify stealth carriers. With those four things, we could simultaneously defeat the coronavirus while ending the lockdowns, all without waiting around for a vaccine that might prove more dangerous than the epidemic itself. Yet because of Trumps lack of understanding, we now have pro-Trump people claiming they refuse to wear masks, because they wont be enslaved like China. Thats foolish. Wearing a mask is the quickest way to help defeat the globalists by halting the coronavirus. Wearing a mask is an act of rebellion against the slavers who hope to keep the coronavirus spreading. The globalists want America to be destroyed. They want the pandemic to spread, and they want maximum infections and deaths in the USA. To stop their agenda, we need everyone to take zinc and vitamin D while wearing masks (in public) and practicing safe social distancing. Thats how we end this as soon as possible and get America back to work and back on track. Watch and share this important mini-documentary so that we can defeat the Obama-Fauci death agenda to destroy America and get this nation back on track. #FireFauci Want to live? Read Pandemic.news. Advertisement The Queen offered a message of hope and unity in a televised speech broadcast to the nation last night. The speech was pre-recorded in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle, where the Queen, 93, and the Duke of Edinburgh, 98, are currently in joint isolation during the coronavirus lockdown. The White Drawing Room is one of three semi-state rooms that were created as private apartments for George IV. They feature interiors decorated by Morel & Seddon, with a selection of furnishings and fittings taken from Carlton House, George IV's former London residence. The rooms, which also include the Crimson and Green drawing rooms, are now used by the Queen for formal entertaining. The White Drawing Room also served as the backdrop for the wedding photos of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, and Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank. A closer look at the room reveals how the Queen chose to surround herself with royal history for her address, from an ornate 18th century cabinet to a carpet that survived the devastating Windsor Castle fire in 1992. The Queen delivered her pre-recorded speech from the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle. Pictured: 1. Wood writing desk used in the Queen's Christmas speech; 2. Silver pen box; 3. Plant pot with small red flowers; 4. Ceramic lamp base; 5. Four-panel folding screen; 6. White striped armchair 7. 18th century cabinet; 8. Candelabra on gold base; 9. (Out of shot) portrait of a young boy with sword; 10. Axminster carpet which survived the Windsor Castle fire of 1992 1. Wood writing desk As is typical for a televised speech, the Queen was filmed sitting at a writing desk. It is the same desk in varnished wood that was featured in Her Majesty's 2019 Christmas speech. 2. Silver pen box For her annual Christmas speech, the Queen is surrounded by a selection of family photos that are carefully chosen and displayed on the desk for the audience to see. However the royal family chose not to decorate the desk in such a way for this speech, hinting at the more formal tone. Instead there is a black leather desk mat with a blank pad of paper and an understated silver pen box. The box also appeared in her Christmas speech last year. 3. Plant pot with red roses At the corner of the desk is a simple white and blue ceramic plant pot filled with flowers. The blooms are thought to be a variety of miniature rose. 4. Table lamp To create a sense of intimacy in the vast space, a round side table has been placed behind Her Majesty. The table is clear except for a single white ceramic table lamp that is thought to have been moved from elsewhere in the room. It has been housed in the White Drawing Room for more than 30 years and appeared in a 1987 photograph taken of the Queen and Prince Philip to mark their ruby wedding anniversary. 5. Four-panel folding screen In the background of the photograph there is part of a four-panel folding screen that is used to partition the vast drawing room. The folding screen is seen in a different position in the White Drawing Room in 1992 In the background of the photograph there is part of a four-panel folding screen that is used to partition the vast drawing room. Although not distinguishable in this photograph, displayed on each of the screens is a series of scenes. 6. White striped armchair Behind Her Majesty is a single white armchair, part of a pair that are housed in the White Drawing Room. The chairs are moved around the space as needed to accommodate varying number of guests. The armchair is upholstered in a fabric with a glossy finish, similar to satin. They match a blue three-seater settee in a similar fabric. 7. Oak cabinet, circa. 1783 Details of the cabinet seen in the background of the Queen's video (left) are not known but it looks strikingly similar to one designed by Martin Carlin (1730-85), right, which was designed circa. 1783. The cabinets are seen above in a 1997 image This cabinet is part of a pair, which are often positioned at either side of the large double doors that lead from the White Drawing Room to the Crimson Drawing Room and onto the Green Drawing Room. The other cabinet in the set is an oak cabinet veneered with tulipwood, purplewood, mahogany and boxwood; fitted with brocatello marble, elaborately chased gilt bronze mounts and inset with ten soft-paste porcelain plaques. The cabinet was designed by Martin Carlin (1730-85). The similarities between the two suggest they could have been made by the same craftsman around the same time, although this is not confirmed. 8. Pair of candelabra At the top right of the image is the gold base of a candelabra. The lighting fixture takes the shape of a man, although only the feet can be seen. Pictured, the candelabra seen in the Queen's photo (left in a 1997 image) and the matching pair (right) Just seen at the top right of the image is the gold base of a candelabra. The lighting fixture takes the shape of a man, although only the feet can be seen. It is part of a set that is moved around the White Drawing Room as needed. 9. Portrait of a child with sword Out of frame at the top of the image is the portrait of a young child holding a sword, although it is not known who it depicts Out of frame at the top of the image is the portrait of a young child holding a sword, although it is not known who it depicts. The same painting features in the background of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank wedding photos. 10. Carpet survived the great fire The floor of the White Drawing Room is covered with a carpet by famed Devon-based manufacturer Axminster Carpets that dates back to at least 1890. The carpet was damaged by smoke in the Windsor Castle fire of 1992 but has since been restored. Boeing has said it will indefinitely extend a shutdown at its factories in Washington State because of the coronavirus pandemic. The aerospace giant had already halted production at its Puget Sound facility near Seattle, where the company builds the long-range 777 jet and other models, after announcing a two-week stoppage last month. Boeing announced Sunday that the shutdown would continue indefinitely in an effort to protect staff from COVID-19, which has already claimed the life of one employee at the company's Everett facility. Boeing has said it will indefinitely extend a shutdown at its factories (file image) in Washington state because of the coronavirus pandemic 'The health and safety of our employees, their families and our communities is our shared priority,' Boeing's commercial airplanes division president Stan Deal said in a statement. It had also shut its other major state factory at Moses Lake because of the 737 MAX grounding. The company was already facing significant headwinds prior to the coronavirus pandemic because of the crisis surrounding the 737 MAX, which has been grounded for more than a year following two fatal crashes. But the pandemic has further hit the company's outlook with most commercial airline travel suspended and major carriers thrust into a life-or-death fight. The company is seeking more than $60billion in federal support for the US aerospace industry in the wake of the two crises. It announced a voluntary worker layoff plan on Thursday and said it expected 'several thousand employees' to take a severance package or retire. The aerospace giant had already halted production at its Puget Sound facility near Seattle, where the company builds the long-range 777 jet and other models, after announcing a two-week stoppage last month Boeing currently employs around 70,000 people in Washington state. Washington state has 7,666 confirmed cases of the virus and 322 deaths, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally. Last week, Boeing also announced that it will temporarily suspend production at facilities in Ridley Township, Pennsylvania. 'The site includes manufacturing and production facilities for military rotorcraft, including the H-47 Chinook, V-22 Osprey and MH-139A Grey Wolf. Defense and commercial services work and engineering design activities are also performed at the site', Boeing said. Operations were suspended at the end of day on Friday and work is expected to resume on April 20. The Chicago-based planemaker said that those Philadelphia area employees who can work from home will continue doing so, while those who cannot work remotely will receive paid leave for the ten working days. The director-general of the World Health Organization is facing calls to resign over criticisms of the way China's response to the coronavirus crisis was managed. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is facing growing calls to step down from US politicians for trusting the communist regime's official reporting about the extent of the spread of the disease. Republican Senator Martha McSally said Dr Tedros should resign over the 'Chinese cover-up'. She told Fox News that part of the blame for China's lack of transparency lay with the WHO director-general. McSally claimed that the Ethiopian, 55, 'deceived the world' and even praised China's 'transparency' during its coronavirus response. She added that she 'never trusted a communist' and that the Chinese government's 'cover-up of this virus that originated with them has caused unnecessary deaths around America and around the world...I think Dr Tedros needs to step down'. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director -general of the World Health Organization speaking during a news conference last month. He has faced growing calls to step down China's official coronavirus deaths is more than 3,300, while the US has recorded over 9,600 The senator said: 'Dr Tedros deceived the world. At one point, he even praised China's 'transparency during its coronavirus response efforts'' despite a mountain of evidence showing the regime concealed the severity of the outbreak. This deception cost lives.' In February, when China reported 17,238 infections and 361 deaths, Tedros said there was no need impose travel restrictions. He said measures that 'unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade' were not needed in trying to halt the spread of the virus. On March 20, he praised the Chinese regime, saying: 'For the first time, #China has reported no domestic #COVID19 cases yesterday. This is an amazing achievement, which gives us all reassurance that the #coronavirus can be beaten.' China has been accused of significantly downplaying its official virus cases, with some estimates suggesting their death toll could be as high as 40,000. So far China has officially recorded more than 81,000 cases with over 3,300 deaths. But activists in Wuhan, where the outbreak began, claimed funeral homes are handing out 500 urns a day each, more than necessary for the 2,548 people who have officially died of the virus there. Sen. Martha McSally at a rally for President Donald Trump in Phoenix in February. She has joined other Republicans in calling for Dr Tedros to resign Long queues at the funeral homes have fuelled scepticism about China's numbers, prompting claims that 42,000 people or more could have died in Wuhan alone. The country has recorded 3,331 deaths from coronavirus and 81,708 cases but many have speculated that this number is much higher and that China is trying to cover up the true reality of the spread. 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. Scepticism about China's numbers has swirled throughout the crisis, fuelled by official efforts to quash bad news in the early days and a general distrust of the government. A whistleblowing doctor, who first alerted the rest of the world to the escalating crisis within Hubei province, was sanctioned by medical authorities and police. Dr Li Wenliang, who later died of the virus, was called in by both medical officials and the police and forced to sign a statement denouncing his warning as an unfounded and illegal rumour in early January. People wearing protective face masks walking at a shopping area in Wuhan, China, today, where the coronavirus outbreak began The health system in Wuhan, the city where three-fourths of China's victims died, was overwhelmed at the peak of the outbreak. Hospitals overflowed, patients with symptoms were sent home and there weren't enough kits to test everyone. An unidentified doctor told Caixin, a Chinese magazine, that the death toll for suspected cases at the doctor's hospital was almost as high as for confirmed ones over a 20-day period. Dr Li Wenliang at The Central Hospital of Wuhan in central China's Hubei province. He later died of coronavirus after raising the alarm about the disease Others died at home before they were tested, since hospitals didn't have enough beds to admit them. At the time, some people in China asked on social media whether the reported death toll was inaccurate for those reasons. The posts have been deleted, probably victims of censorship. Hsu Li Yang, who heads the infectious diseases program at the National University of Singapore, said: 'The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 by country appears like a grim league table and draws the attention of many. 'However, it is important to understand that these numbers - be it from China, Italy, Singapore or the USA - are all inaccurate, and they are all underestimates to varying degrees of the actual number of infections.' The US has recorded more than 337,000 infections and a total of over 9,600 fatalities from the disease. Texan Republican Senator, Ted Cruz, also joined calls for the WHO to consider removing Tedros. His spokesman told The Washington Free Beacon: 'The World Health Organization has consistently bent to the will of the Chinese Communist Party at the expense of global health and of containing the spread of the coronavirus, from downplaying the extent of the virus to systematically excluding Taiwan. 'Sen. Cruz believes that the WHO has lost the credibility necessary for it to be effective, and a reevaluation of its leadership is urgently called for.' Florida's Marco Rubio also called for Tedros to be held accountable for the NGO's handling of the pandemic. The senator said: 'Once this pandemic is under control, WHO leadership should be held to account. That includes Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who has allowed Beijing to use the WHO to mislead the global community. A police officer saluting to the Chinese medical workers from Shandong province as they got onto a bus to leave Wuhan today as lockdown restrictions have begun to be relaxed 'At this moment, [Tedros] is either complicit or dangerously incompetent. Neither possibility bodes well for his future at the helm of this critical organization.' Former US Ambassador to the UN, the WHO's parent organisation, Nikki Haley, also criticised the WHO over its previous statements about the virus. She tweeted: 'This was posted by the WHO on January 14th', and that the WHO 'found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission' of the coronavirus. 'The WHO owes an explanation to the world of why they took China's word for it. So much suffering has been caused by the mishandling of information and lack of accountability by the Chinese.' The coronavirus outbreak originated in China late last year, reportedly in the wet livestock markets in the city of Wuhan. Over the weekend it emerged China has been been given a place on the UN Human Rights Council despite a long-record of human rights abuses. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II records her address to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the coronavirus epidemic at Windsor Castle, west of London Fashion analysis through colour is usually reserved for the American political arena. Ever since former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wore all white to president Donald Trump's inauguration in 2016 - after winning the popular vote, but losing the overall election to him - it was seen as a sign of her silent support for women's rights. In Congress, female Democrats have worn all white on two occasions as a nod to the suffragette movement and white has been adopted as the most feminist colour of clothing. But that same analysis applies across all the upper echelons of power when particularly thoughtful dressing is applied and no more so than in the case of Britain's Queen Elizabeth. During the monarch's address to British citizens on Sunday (her fourth only during her 68-year reign) to rally the proverbial troops as the coronavirus pandemic tightens its grip, she was as pared back as a wartime call. Her emerald green crepe dress is a muted shade intended to both lift spirits while reflecting the serious nature of which she was speaking; accessorising with only a turquoise brooch and two-strand pearl necklace. The brooch is believed to be a subtle nod to the turquoise scrubs worn by NHS workers. She was gifted the piece by her grandmother Queen Mary on her death in 1953, but in a show of extraordinary restraint, she only debuted it publicly in 2014. Her triple strand pearl necklace is another piece from her vault and one of her most worn items of jewellery, dating back to when she ascended the throne in 1952. Both heirlooms represent stability and endurance, acting as subtle reminders of her lengthy reign and all she has seen during that time. Green traditionally symbolises re-birth, reflecting the world's eventual collective re-awakening when quarantines are slowly lifted. It is a symbol of energy and means safety and harmony - in short, it is an subliminal shade to represent peace during a time of uncertainty. It's considered a relaxing colour to view. Whereas black reflects mourning and red asserts attention-seeking authority, green is naturally soothing to the eye, and one of her most worn shades. Solid, block colours are also the most impactful to wear when appearing on television. The set-up was just as deliberate for a historic address. The surrounding area has been cleared of any familial remnants - there are no picture frames of grandchildren for royal watchers to declare her favourites in the comment sections and instead allow focus on her message. Video of the Day She and husband Prince Philip are self-isolating in Windsor, while her son Prince Charles is recovering from coronavirus at his home in Birkhall, Scotland. "CBS This Morning" co-host Anthony Mason is set up to work from home. (CBS News) Every weekday morning since March 25, Boston University sophomore Nick Mason, gets up at 5:45 a.m. to frame a TV camera shot in the dining room of his familys apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. By 7 a.m., his father, CBS This Morning co-host Anthony Mason, will be connected on-screen with his colleagues Gayle King and Tony Dokoupil also broadcasting from their New York area homes a new ritual for network news under the shelter-at-home orders aimed at containing the coronavirus pandemic. There is just the two of us, said Mason. So when something goes wrong, especially when youre on the air, its a little scary, but thats what life is like right now." Maintaining the flow of information about the crisis is a critical task for network and cable news, which have seen their audience levels surge. But it has also forced journalists to confront the danger posed by the outbreak of the highly contagious virus, especially in New York, which has become the epicenter of the crisis (the number of coronavirus cases in New York state hit 130,689 on Monday). Two people in the network TV news ranks have died after contracting the virus, while a growing number of personnel including CNN anchors Chris Cuomo and Brooke Baldwin have tested positive. The response has been to have anchors broadcast remotely, which is testing the technological adaptability of network, cable and local outlets. Cuomo has continued to do his nightly CNN program from the basement of his Long Island, N.Y., home while suffering from symptoms of the virus. Fox News has a total of 42 home setups for its on-air talent. Stepped up my shoe game for tonights show pic.twitter.com/kpctrjyJIJ Shannon Bream (@ShannonBream) April 2, 2020 On-air talent is used to being surrounded by a major support system that includes teams of people technicians, producers, make-up artists and hairdressers. Even Mason only has the help of his son until 9 a.m., when Nick heads to his bedroom to take his college classes online. Story continues It doesnt always go smoothly. Last week, Mason read the scripted portions of the program off his laptop computer as the prompter he had set up at his home had failed. "I always had appreciation for the crew that puts on the show," Mason said. "I have five times more appreciation now." Like many of his peers, Mason has been forced to improvise without a playbook. His apartment is the third outside location where he has done CBS This Morning in the last two weeks. He and his co-hosts moved out of the networks broadcast center on West 57th Street to its Washington, D.C., studios after it was first learned that employees tested positive for the virus. The program later moved to the Ed Sullivan Theater, the home of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, before all three hosts were instructed to work from their homes in order to comply with stay-at-home orders. Broadcasting remotely became an early option for NBC News, even though it was not in the networks disaster recovery plan. The network was among the first to keep members of its on-air talent roster at home after a staff member on "Today" tested positive for the virus on March 16. Three days later, Larry Edgeworth, a longtime NBC News audio technician with existing health issues, died after testing positive for the coronavirus. Stacy Brady, executive vice president and general manager of news field and production for NBC News, said when the divisions executives first sat down around March 16 to come up with a long-range coronavirus strategy, she saw how the network already had in-home setups for several of its regular on-air contributors who regularly appear on cable news channel MSNBC. We move them from home to home depending on the contributor, Brady said. In my brain I said thats what we thought we should be doing, and I actually thought Id order some equipment at that time. I wanted to be prepared for it. Upstairs Downstairs sheltering at home! pic.twitter.com/M3HDhdJyyY Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) April 1, 2020 To broadcast from home, an anchor needs a prompter for the script copy they read, a TV monitor in order to watch what is going out on the air, and often a large screen where a background can be shown behind them. Some are also equipped with a LiveU, a portable cellular device about the size of a small laptop that transmits video over the internet and mobile networks back to the master control, where the broadcast signal is sent out. Anchors have used social media to give viewers a sense of their new reality. NBC News veteran Andrea Mitchell's Twitter account showed husband and former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan watching her in action from their Washington, D.C., home. Guests and contributors who are not carrying an entire program themselves can get by using Skype of FaceTime, but even they need some help. Weve sent them a style guide with tips and tricks of whats the best way to make your Skype look as good as you can, said Marc Greenstein, vice president, creative production design for MSNBC. Weve also sent out consumer grade mics and lighting kits which is something you get at Best Buy, just to up their game. Weve sent them signs and props for book shelves just to get branding in." For Brady, the biggest obstacle has been navigating the varying internet speeds and reliability in different households. We are trying to run all of this broadcast on their internet while their whole families also are trying to work from home, she said. Precautions are taken with the installation of equipment amid the stay-at-home orders. Mason and his son assembled the studio themselves as they had been exposed to a family member who had coronavirus symptoms. Masons CBS This Morning co-host Dokoupil has two broadcast setups in his home as his wife, Katy Tur, is a daytime anchor for MSNBC. Brady said having the couple use the same equipment would have increased the risk of requiring a technician to enter their home to make adjustments. The minute you start playing around with the lights or start messing around with the mixer or whatever youre doing, we have to go back to the house, Brady said. For their safety and health and for our safety, were trying to make one trip and just kind of leave it. Dokoupil had CBS install a 60-inch monitor to cover a cracked wall in the basement of his New York City townhouse where his studio is set up. The parents of an infant son, Dokoupil and Tur have made other adjustments as well. We let the babys bedtime slide a little, hoping hell sleep a little later into the morning show, he said. That helps. "CBS This Morning" co-hosts Anthony Mason, Gayle King and Tony Dokoupil. (CBS News) Mason is content to let viewers get an intimate glimpse of his domicile. A painting of Piazza San Marco in Venice that he bought at an auction in the old Soviet Union in the early 1990s is often seen over his shoulder. It has gotten attention from fans on social media. I didnt want to turn my home into a slick-looking TV studio its a New York apartment, Mason said. Mason has gotten used to the new routine, but there are other obstacles ahead as the crisis is likely to go on for weeks if not months. My hair is getting really long and Im going to be doing the show with a ponytail if this goes on another month, Mason said. I dont think CBS News President Susan Zirinsky would appreciate it. The last time I gave myself a haircut I was five years old and it did not go well. The United States has registered over 325,000 cases of COVID-19 infections with the number of people who have died approaching 10,000. New York state, and specifically New York City, remains the epicenter of the pandemic, with cases continuing to rise rapidly, further straining an inundated healthcare infrastructure. Michigan, New Jersey, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Florida are expected to see surges as the contagion spreads from community to community, hitting the hardest poor communities in large urban centers where access to healthcare was extremely limited before the outbreak. New York City has over 16,000 people hospitalized, over 4,000 in the ICUs, and approximately 1,600 patients intubated. It has now been established by several reports that the Trump administration had squandered more than two months time in inventorying and updating the national stockpile of medical equipment. Federal agencies waited until the middle of March to begin placing bulk orders for N95 respirators (masks), ventilators, and other necessary personal protective equipment that medical workers have been struggling to obtain. Nurses protesting outside the Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx Despite daily White House briefings and promises of help on the way, the majority of hospitals across the country are facing a severe shortage of the essential equipment to protect healthcare workers against the extremely contagious and deadly virus. Many ventilators from the National Strategic Stockpile are broken and unusable, while face masks are decades old and dry-rotted. According to the National Nurses Union (NNU), only 19 percent of nurses nationwide have enough PPE to protect staff and patients from COVID-19. Only 52 percent have access to N95 respirators nationwide. Our bodies are on the line, said a sign carried by a protesting New York City nurse demanding their hospitals provide them with protective gear to keep them safe while caring for their patients. Nurses in California, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, and Texas have begun protesting their hospitals' lack of preparedness, calling on HCA Healthcare to provide them with appropriate PPEs. The National Nurses Union (NNU), which has 10,000 members, is attempting to get ahead and contain the movement of healthcare workers which is exposing the irrationality of a healthcare system based on profit and the criminal indifference of the Trump administration, as well as the union-backed Obama administration. Nurses are growing more militant and finding their voice. In the Bronx, New York, last Thursday Montefiore Hospital nurse Victoria Lanquah said, Management has put it in writing that we are to reuse our masks, gowns and face shields. Reusing contaminated items put me at risk. It puts you at risk. It puts everyone at the healthcare building at risk. We are demanding to invoke the Defense Production Act so that all of our factories can be spinning out PPE for us, said Lanquah. I feel like were all just being sent to slaughter, said Thomas Riley, a nurse at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, who has become infected with COVID-19 and transmitted it to his family. One New York nurse spoke on condition of anonymity that she was told to continue working despite having symptoms of the infection but could not get her facility to test her. Angela Davis, an RN in the Medical Intensive Unit at the Research Medical Center, a dedicated COVID-19 unit in Kansas City, Missouri, said, Protecting our patients is our highest priority, but it becomes much harder when we dont have the safety protections which puts us in danger of becoming infected. If we are no longer able to be at the bedside, who will be there to care for our patients? On Friday, 35 nurses protested outside of UCI Medical Center in Orange County, California, charging that the medical center is preventing them from using surgical masks during their shifts and will not give them access to N95 respirators. Maria Louviaux, a spokeswoman for the California Nurses Association, told PBS SoCal/KCET, We are not the only facility going through this. The nurses are extremely concerned. They are telling us they have masks available, but they want to conserve them. At UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, nurses and their supporters held a protest vigil last week. Although Nashville-based HCA Healthcare made $23 billion in profits over the last decade, nurses at the medical center have fewer N95 respirators and equipment than other hospitals. According to the NNU, only seven percent of nurses at HCA Healthcare facilities have enough PPE, and 35 percent have access to N95 respirators. An article on the medical news web site, Medscape, titled In Memoriam: Healthcare workers who have died of COVID-19, lists the names of 132 healthcare workers throughout the world who have lost their lives. Twenty-two were in the US, including nine physician assistants or nurses. The number of infected healthcare workers across the US has not been uniformly tracked. US News & World Report sent requests for information about the number of infected healthcare workers to all 50 US states but got responses from only 10. In those states, at least 1,119 workers have contracted COVID-19. Nine states are not tracking the infection of healthcare workers at all, despite how widespread it is. According to the article, posted last week, In Pennsylvania, 4.4% of the health care workforce had COVID-19 as of Monday. In Oklahoma, 10.6% of confirmed coronavirus patients worked in health care; in Ohio, that share is roughly 20%. Rhode Island, roughly 70% of COVID-19 tests are going to medical personnel, and they make up a quarter of all confirmed cases in the state. The lack of preparedness on the part of the Trump administration and state and local officials is not due to a failure of oversight, let alone a lack of resources. On the contrary, public health, like every other social need, is subordinated to the profit interests of the corporate and financial oligarchy that rules America and the world. The powerful protests by healthcare workers, like the wave of wildcat strikes by Amazon, Whole Foods, Instacart and autoworkers, is the initial response of the working class to the pandemic and the reactionary policies of both corporate-controlled political parties, which have endless resources to bail out Wall Street and the giant corporations while condemning tens of thousands to preventable deaths. To take forward this fight, healthcare workers should unite their efforts with workers in all sectors of industry who are also engaged in a life-and-death struggle against being forced to work in infected workplaces to produce corporate profit. In every hospital and medical center, nurses and other healthcare workers should form rank-and-file committees, independent of the NNU and the other unions, to mobilize the entire working class to demand full protective gear and the equipment necessary to save as many lives as possible. Instead of bailing out the superrich, trillions must be provided for immediate, universal and free testing, the production and distribution of hundreds of thousands of ventilators and the PPE needed by frontline healthcare workers. Nurses should place no confidence in Bernie Sanders, Joseph Biden, Governor Andrew Cuomo or the Democratic Party as a whole, which are all beholden to the capitalist profit system. Instead, the growing movement of healthcare workers and the entire working class must be guided by a politically independent and socialist program, including the nationalization of the giant healthcare, medical equipment, pharmaceutical and insurance industries, and the establishment of a system of socialized medicine. China's expanding military presence in the region has worried several of its neighbours (AFP Photo/-) Washington (AFP) - The United States on Monday warned China not to take advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to exert itself in the South China Sea after Vietnam said Beijing sank a trawler. Amid the global focus on fighting COVID-19, China has ramped up self-described research stations and landed special military aircraft in the dispute-rife sea, according to the State Department. "We call on the PRC to remain focused on supporting international efforts to combat the global pandemic, and to stop exploiting the distraction or vulnerability of other states to expand its unlawful claims in the South China Sea," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement. Vietnam said last week that it lodged a protest with Beijing after the Chinese Coast Guard "hindered, rammed and sunk" a Vietnamese boat with eight fishermen on board near the Paracel Islands. Vietnam -- which, like China and Taiwan, claims sovereignty over the Paracel Islands -- called in a foreign ministry statement for Beijing to compensate the fishermen, "strictly discipline" the officers responsible and prevent similar occurrences in the future. The United States said it was "seriously concerned" about the episode. "This incident is the latest in a long string of PRC actions to assert unlawful maritime claims and disadvantage its Southeast Asian neighbors in the South China Sea," Ortagus said. The United States, which has a growing relationship with Vietnam, has challenged China's claims in the South China Sea -- one of the world's busiest waterways and also home to bountiful energy reserves. China last month accused the United States of a "provocative" act after saying that the USS McCampbell missile destroyer sailed near the Paracel Islands without Beijing's permission. Tensions have risen sharply in recent years between China and the United States, which has also alleged that Beijing has not promptly controlled SARS-CoV-2, the virus that has now infected more than one million people around the world. Average gas prices in Lincoln have finally fallen below $2 a gallon, but an industry analyst believes they should be much lower. The average price in Lincoln fell below $2 on Friday and stood at $1.98 as of Monday morning, according to AAA. That's down 42 cents from a month ago and 73 cents from a year ago. It's also the first time in more than four years the average price of gas in Lincoln has fallen below $2. But it's considerably higher than many other Nebraska cities. Norfolk's average price Monday was $1.73. It was $1.75 in Omaha and Grand Island and $1.79 in Columbus. Even Kearney, which has had higher prices than Lincoln for the past few weeks, dropped to $1.95. Patrick DeHaan, oil and refined products analyst for GasBuddy.com, said he believes prices in Lincoln should be more like $1.60 a gallon or even less. DeHaan said he based that number "on my experience seeing areas with retail prices that have similar wholesale prices to (Lincoln)." Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace has revealed she faced a cancer scare over the Christmas period after suffering with bad stomach pains. The Celebrity Big Brother star admitted she 'thought [she] was going to die' and was kept awake at night thinking about her funeral. In a chat with The Sun, the 41- year-old said: 'I'd be awake in the middle of the night planning what would happen to my body. I wanted my ashes to be made into a diamond.' Scary: Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace has revealed she faced a cancer scare over the Christmas period after suffering with bad stomach pains Her scare was made extra frightening due to the loss of her mother and brother who both sadly lost their lives to cancer. When the doctor mentioned the word to her, she said it 'made my blood run cold,' adding of her tragic family history with cancer: 'I thought that was going to be my fate too. I thought I was going to die." Aisleyne was rushed into hospital for surgery to remove five pieces of her stomach to examine for cancer cells. In the three week wait she endured for test results, Aisleyne was left fearing for her life and kept awake at night tormenting herself by googling how to plan her funeral. Frightening: The Celebrity Big Brother star admitted she 'thought [she] was going to die' and was kept awake at night thinking about her funeral She said: 'I'd start thinking what if technology advances and they can bring you back from the dead - how would they get my DNA? So then I decided I should just have a normal burial so if there's any chance, then they can bring me back. That was where my thoughts went at 4am on a sleepless night.' Ultimately, the star felt heartbroken that she was not leaving children on the earth and moving forward she has a new perspective on what was important. Thankfully Aisleyne was given the all clear for cancer by her doctor and test results revealed she had suffered stomach erosion, the cause of which is still unknown. Heartbreaking: Her scare was made extra frightening due to the loss of her mother and brother who both sadly lost their lives to cancer She candidly revealed that she broke down in tears upon hearing the news and described hearing 'angels singing.' Now the star, who found fame on Big Brother in 2006, has given up binge drinking and plans to lead a healthier lifestyle. And she is already doing her bit to give back. Emotional: Thankfully Aisleyne was given the all clear for cancer by her doctor and test results revealed she had suffered stomach erosion On Wednesday she delivered free food to NHS staff at Guys and Thomas Hospital in London. The CBB star was pictured unloading dozens of boxes from her Range Rover and dropping them off at the hospital. Aisleyne has even offered to go one step further by inviting NHS staff to come and live with her at home amid the current COVID-19 crisis. The reality star said nurses who are isolating from their families while they work on the front line at nearby hospitals are welcome to live at her King's Cross apartment. And nurses from University College Hospital in Euston have taken her up on her offer. CONOVER, N.C. April 5, 2020 Jordan Schindler MIT Jordan Schindler MIT USA /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In the midst of crisis, the entire NC textile industry is banding together to help our healthcare industry. Nufabrx, a proprietary biomaterial company that seamlessly embeds active ingredients including vitamins, supplements and medications into fabrics, in partnership with Bossong Medical and Manufacturing Solutions Center, has shifted production for a new line of reusable copper medical masks called TheraMasks. These masks are powered by CuTEC copper, a material that is known to be naturally antibacterial.Founder and CEOdecided to quickly retool a textile product to create a reusable face mask. "Tired of feeling helpless on the sidelines, we wanted to do something that would make a difference. With our Nufabrx technology, Bossong Medical and Manufacturing Solutions Center, everyone has linked arms and committed to help in this crisis. TheraMasks is the first-of-its-kind, reusable, CuTEC copper powered mask that lasts up to 30 washes. Already overwhelmed by inquiries, we will be prioritizing distribution to healthcare workers and first responders," states Schindler. The products are not only beneficial to medical facilities but also to nursing homes, home care attendants, senior communities and more. They are currently being used by hospitals, NY police and fire departments, Catawba County EMS, police, fire and county officials. We are sending them out overnight delivery as quickly as we can make them.Copper has been shown to be a natural deterrent on bacterial growth. These medical masks are designed to help reduce the spread of germs through the natural benefits of copper; the fabric also creates a healthier environment for the wearer by reducing facial contamination. The products are durable enough to be machine washed and dried, or by hand with hot water. TheraMasks are environmentally friendly, and are not intended to be thrown away daily like disposable masks. Products have been tested for antibacterial (AATCC 100) and air permeability, and all data is available online. Additional testing is underway and all data will be shared with the public as soon as it is available. Products can be purchased online at http://www.TheraMasks.com or in bulk by emailing sales@theramasks.com (while supplies last).Achieving overall health and wellness is simplified by using any Nufabrx product, as a result of replacing the hassle and cost of using medications, patches or creams. The materials are specifically designed for comfort and breathability, providing a close fit and ease-of-wear, while simultaneously delivering a controlled dose of medicine to the problem area. Developed in tandem with Department of Defense andgrant funding, this patented technology allows ingredients like capsaicin, a natural pain reducing ingredient, to be delivered directly through fabric. This technology is rolling out to Walmart nationwide in early April.About Nufabrx and TheraMasks Founded in 2011, Nufabrx was created by Founderafter discovering his pillowcase was contributing to his acne. Teaming up withscientists, Jordan spent seven years developing proprietary technology to embed active ingredients into clothing to make medicinal application easier and more efficient. As a way to help our healthcare workers, reusable copper medical masks were a natural transition; TheraMasks was founded as a division of nufabrx. For more information visit http://www.Nufabrx.com and http://www.Theramasks.com.About Bossong Medical Bossong Medical is committed to being a world class designer and manufacturer of innovative medical textile products made in thefor the global market. Bossong Medical was founded to design, manufacture and distribute innovative medical textile products. Bossong Medical's competitive advantage is providing compression therapy products that are of world class quality utilizing the guidelines of ISO 13485 certification and FDA registration for Class I and Class II medical devices. http://www.bossongmedical.comAbout the Manufacturing Solutions CenterThe Manufacturing Solutions Center was established 27 years ago to transition hosiery workers from mechanical to electronic machines. Today, companies are hiring computer designers, software engineers, and people trained to program and operate the increasingly complex knitting machines. The Manufacturing Solutions Center specializes in applied research and development, prototyping, testing, domestic sourcing, and training for 21st-century textile jobs. https://www.manufacturingsolutionscenter.org/SOURCE Nufabrx 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 Over 13,000 amendments submitted to banking regulation bill required by IMF 21:10, 06.04.20 1192 More amendments are yet to come, the deputy suggests. TEHRAN, Iran, April. 6 Trend: The head of Iran's Masih Daneshvari Hospital Ali Akbar Velayati said that for the first time in Iran, the Favipiravir drug is being manufactured at the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical science, Trend reports via Fars News Agency. Velayati said that the examples of the drug are being supplied to the Masih Daneshvari Hospital, to treat the coronavirus-affected patients. "Masih Daneshvari Hospital, along with all its medical staff and personnel, stood by the people from the earliest hours, Velaiati said, who himself recovered after being infected with coronavirus. He expressed hope that the coronavirus will be defeated soon. Velayati emphasized that the Masih Daneshvari Hospital does not receive any money for the treatment of coronavirus patients and serves the honorable people with all its facilities. "From the beginning and in full coordination with the Ministry of Health, appropriate measures were taken, he added. Favipiravir was developed by Japan's Toyama Chemical, a subsidiary of Fujifilm, and was approved for use in Japan in 2014, against viral strains which are unresponsive to current anti-viral treatments. In mid-March, the National Medical Products Administration of China approved the first-ever use of Favipiravir on coronavirus patients. On March 18, Zhang Xinmin, an official at Chinas science and technology ministry, said Favipiravir had produced encouraging outcomes in clinical trials in Wuhan and Shenzhen involving 340 patients. 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. Iran continues to apply strict measures to contain the further infection 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. Advertisement The land that time forgot? The Azores, actually. These amazing images show the Algar do Carvao, an incredible 330ft-long volcanic vent in the Portuguese Atlantic archipelago that's smothered in lush vegetation and that harbours an underground lake. The intriguing cavern is located on Terceira, one of the largest islands in the Azores, and it can be explored on foot (lockdowns permitting) thanks to a handy staircase. The entrance of the Algar do Carvao, a volcanic cavern on Terceira, one of the largest islands in the Azores The cave has had rave reviews on TripAdvisor. One traveller, Daniela, wrote: 'Visiting was extraordinary' For the crater good: The Algar do Carvao is one of just a handful of volcanoes that tourists can descend into The ancient lava tube is part of the immense Guilherme Moniz volcano, one of four that form Terceira. The Algar do Carvao was blasted into existence during an eruption about 2,000 years ago and remained unexplored until 1893. Now, however, it's a popular tourist attraction, with visitors able to step into the extraordinary cave and marvel at its rich tapestry of moss, plants and unique stalactites. If they look closely they might also spot some of the amazing little creatures that call the cave home, including spiders, centipedes and beetles. The Algar do Carvao was blasted into existence during an eruption about 2,000 years ago and remained unexplored until 1893 Visitors are able to step into the extraordinary cave and marvel at its rich tapestry of moss, plants and unique stalactites (lockdowns permitting) Visitors descend deeper into the volcanic vent, on a journey seemingly to the centre of the earth At the very bottom 300ft down - they'll find a rainwater-fed lake, which swells to a depth of 15 metres (50ft) when it's particularly wet. The Algar do Carvao is one of the most popular tourist attractions on Terceira and guided tours - conducted by the conservation organisation Os Montanheiros - are available. Tourists who have visited have generally left rave reviews on TripAdvisor. At the very bottom of the Algar do Carvao 300ft down - there's a rainwater-fed lake, which swells to a depth of 15 metres (50ft) when it's particularly wet One traveller, Daniela, wrote: 'Visiting this cave was extraordinary, we felt like we were coming into the middle of the Earth. 'There was sheer beauty and fantasy. It was full of colours and unexpected experience.' Another, Pernille, said: 'To me, it was a unique experience to be inside a volcano looking up to the sky through the crater. 'It was fascinating to see how the lava formed the cave on its way out. A small glimpse of how the Earth is made.' While Ivan wrote: 'Wow, what an impressive place! Until you actually see it yourself it is very hard to imagine. 'There are a lot of stairs, so you must be in reasonable shape. Pictures do not do it justice. Do not miss.' Visit www.visitazores.com/en for more on the Azores and click here for more on Visit Portugal's Can't Skip Hope campaign - 'a message of hope for all during these scary times'. Cavan Monaghan Sinn Fein TD, Matt Carthy, has called for government intervention to ensure that students who have left rented accommodation due to the Covid-19 emergency receive refunds from the landlords in respect of time not spent in that accommodation. Deputy Carthy was echoing the call of his partys Housing spokesperson, Eoin O Broin, that all landlords, private and university, refund students who have had to end their licences early. Deputy Carthy said: I received a copy of a letter received by a constituent of mine from her landlord. This student has an underlying medical condition which means that she has been self-isolating at her home in Monaghan since February. Her family are in financial distress and they desperately need a return of the 860 per month rent (for a box room in shared house) that they have paid in advance and the 1,100 deposit that was laid down. The landlords response was that no leeway would be provided because they had obligations to Revenue and the banks. Clearly, there is no liability to revenue on rents not paid and the banks are on the record as stating that they will provide flexibility and supports. If this is not happening, then the landlord should take this up with the government not penalise hard-pressed students and their families. This is one of dozens of similar cases that has been brought to my attention where students have been refused rent refunds by private landlords and university accommodation. At this time almost every family in the country has taking a financial hit as a result of the Coronavirus emergency. Parents of students cannot afford to pay for accommodation that is not being used. I have written to the Minister for Housing, Eoghan Murphy, asking him to clarify what measures he is proposing to support these students. In the first instance all landlords, private and university, should heed the call of Eoin OBroin and refund rents and deposits to students who have vacated their properties. A woman who was a child during World War Two has said that the coronavirus lockdown is harder than the Blitz. A caller on Nick Ferrari's LBC radio show named Valerie said she was aged 10 during the Blitz, and it "didn't bother" her because her mother was so calm. The Blitz lasted for eight months between 1940-41 and cost the lives of between 40,000-43,000 Londoners. However, Valerie surprised LBC listeners by insisting the lockdown is tougher. The Blitz in Colour 1 /20 The Blitz in Colour Londoners huddle in Aldwych Tube underground station Royston Leonard/mediadrumworld.com Pilots who participated in the Battle of Britain enjoy a rare moment of laughter Royston Leonard/mediadrumworld.com A young girl sits with her doll surrounded by the destruction caused by a German bomb raid Royston Leonard/mediadrumworld.com Three children sit in front of their remains of their home in east London Royston Leonard/mediadrumworld.com Men survey the damage to Holland House library in Kensington Royston Leonard/mediadrumworld.com A young girl sleeps with her doll in a typical Anderson shelter Royston Leonard/mediadrumworld.com Police officers survey the damage caused by a German bomb raid Royston Leonard/mediadrumworld.com Fire engines damaged in a bomb raid on Whitecross Street in Islington Royston Leonard/mediadrumworld.com RAF pilots pictured at Duxford in 1940 Royston Leonard/mediadrumworld.com More than 2 million buildings were destroyed during the Blitz Royston Leonard/mediadrumworld.com German planes pictured before the Battle of Britain Royston Leonard/mediadrumworld.com German planes carried out a deadly bomb offensive on Britain Royston Leonard/mediadrumworld.com Royston Leonard/mediadrumworld.com Firefighters hand a Union Jack on a lamppost after an attack on Plymouth Royston Leonard/mediadrumworld.com Rescue workers scour through rubble following a bombing in Belfast Royston Leonard/mediadrumworld.com Mr Ferrari asked her: "What do you think was tougher, living through the Blitz or living through this virus?" She answered: "Living through this virus. Because the Blitz didn't bother me." The woman told a stunned Nick Ferrari that the lockdown was 'tougher than the Blitz' / LBC Valerie then told the startling story of when her house was narrowly missed by a bomb. "We were racing snails up the front door. We had painted the shells", she said. "The side gate was open, so my mother rushed out because we were screaming. So she took us into the house and pacified us. "We weren't worried about the front door and the windows blowing out. We were concerned because our snails were squashed." The Blitz survivor advised mothers today to turn the radio off and try to shield their children from the news as much as they can. "During the war my mother was very placid, very easy going,and therefore my brother and I didn't take any notice when a bomb fell at us and our front door fell in because my mother was so placid. Coronavirus could wipe out indigenous communities in Brazil, health experts fear. The community's elders are most at risk of dying from the virus, which has killed 486 and infected more than 11,000 in the country alone. Experts say this would cause 'chaos' because elders provide wisdom and social organisation. To tackle the outbreak members of some communities are breaking off into smaller groups equipped with hunting supplies to wait out the outbreak in isolation. Coronavirus could wipe out indigenous communities in Brazil, health experts fear. Pictured: Indigenous people from the Mura tribe in Amazonas state The first reported case of a member of an indigenous community getting coronavirus was in Amazonas state. Federal University of Sao Paulo researcher Dr Sofia Mendonca told BBC News: 'There is an incredible risk of the virus spreading across the native communities and wiping them out. 'Everyone gets sick, and you lose all the old people, their wisdom and social organization. It's chaos.' Coronavirus could have the same outcome as other deadly outbreaks such as measles in the 1960s which killed 9 per cent of those infected in the Yanomami community. Coronavirus could have the same outcome as other deadly outbreaks such as measles in the 1960s which killed 9 per cent of those infected in the Yanomami community. Pictured: Guarani Mbya indigenous people Many communities don't have the facilities necessary to wash their hands with soap and water, thereby slowing the spread of the infection, and most don't have access to medical care. Members of the communities have been told to use stop sharing eating utensils and to isolate those who have become infected with the bug. But many groups already in voluntary isolation fear they will not be able to eat if they can't access markets in big cities, which are coronavirus hotbeds. Indigenous community elders are most at risk of dying from the virus, which has killed 486 and infected more than 11,000 in the country alone. Pictured: Guarani Mbya indigenous people President of the Federation of Indigenous Organizations of Rio Negro (Foirn) Marivelton Bare said some local communities are 'in a panic'. 'We'll need to take the food to the villages so that they don't expose themselves during this critical moment.' A seriously ill patient from an indigenous community would have to travel 1,000km by boat to reach a hospital with ventilators. A nurse working for the Special Secretariat for Indigenous Health (Sesai) - who did not want to be named - said staff do not have enough protective masks and equipment and they have no tests to deal with cases in indiginous villages. BANGALORE, India, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The demand for global personal protective equipment (PPE) market size was estimated at US$ 40,400 million in 2018 and is expected to reach US$ 58,700 million by 2025, at a CAGR of 4.8% over the forecast period. Personal protective equipment (PPE) includes protection of the head, eye, and neck, hearing protection, protective clothing, respiratory protection, professional boots, protection against falling, protection of the hands and others. Personal protective equipment is used in various sectors, including construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, chemicals, food, pharmaceuticals, transport, among others. The other section involves among other government usages, unorganized business, small-scale manufacturing services, and service stations. This study presents the global Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) market size and divides the market by manufacturers, country, form and application. This report also analyzes the market status, market size, growth rate, potential trends, market factors, opportunities and challenges, risks and barriers to entry, distribution channels, distributors and Porter's Five Forces Analysis. Inquire for Free Sample Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-25U56/Global_Personal_Protective_Equipment_PPE_Market TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GLOBAL PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT MARKET SIZE: Manufacturing was the largest end-use sector in 2016, accounting for more than 32.5% of the global industry, and is expected to remain the dominant sector over the forecast period. Demand from the PPE transport sector is projected to rise at 8% CAGR over the forecast period. The transportation sector in emerging economies like India and China , combined with increasing workforce efficiency, is expected to increase. and , combined with increasing workforce efficiency, is expected to increase. Increasing industrial deaths mainly in emerging economies due to lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) and growing knowledge of the health and safety of employees is expected to steer the market over the forecast years. Additionally, the recent effects of pandemic COVID-19 is expected to further fuel the global personal protective equipment market. Growing concerns about the health and safety of workers in areas vulnerable to earthquakes are expected to require employers to adhere to occupational safety legislation and promote the use of personal safety equipment when employed in high-risk activities. In addition, growing awareness of the measures to be taken after disasters is expected to encourage various industries to plan for natural disasters. This is expected to boost demand for the drug over the forecast period. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-25U56/global-personal-protective-equipment-market REGION WISE GLOBAL PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS The fastest rising demand is expected to be coming from Asia Pacific . This increase is due to the region's fast-growing manufacturing and transportation industries. Furthermore, the technical advancement and customer preference for personal protective equipment incorporating protection and fashion are expected to accelerate PPE Market development. . This increase is due to the region's fast-growing manufacturing and transportation industries. Furthermore, the technical advancement and customer preference for personal protective equipment incorporating protection and fashion are expected to accelerate PPE Market development. Europe was the largest PPE user and is projected to see modest growth over the forecast period. In most core industries, such as metal manufacturing, oil and gas, automotive and refining, there has been a growing need for highly efficient wear-and-tear resistant and high-utility personal protective equipment. This is expected to increase the adoption of personal protective equipment in the area over the forecast period. Inquire for Regional Data: https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/QYRE-Auto-25U56/Global_Personal_Protective_Equipment_PPE_Market PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) BREAKDOWN DATA BY TYPE Hand Protection Protective Clothing Protective Footwear Respiratory Protection Head, Eye and Face Protection Fall Protection Hearing Protection Others PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) BREAKDOWN DATA BY APPLICATION Manufacturing Construction Oil & Gas Transportation Chemicals Food Pharmaceuticals Others THE FOLLOWING MANUFACTURERS ARE COVERED IN THIS REPORT: Honeywell 3M DuPont Drager Msa Safety Ansell Kimberly-Clark Delta Plus Protective Industrial Products Moldex-Metric Avon Rubber COFRA JAL Group Cordova Safety Products Lakeland Industries Lindstrom Bullard Oftenrich Group Woshine Group Shanghai Gangkai Others THE STUDY OBJECTIVES ARE: To analyze and research the global Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) status and future forecast,involving, production, revenue, consumption, historical and forecast. To present the key Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) manufacturers, production, revenue, market share, and recent development. To split the breakdown data by regions, type, manufacturers and applications. To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks. To identify significant trends, drivers, influence factors in global and regions. To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. BUY NOW: https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-25U56 SIMILAR REPORTS : ?Europe Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Market The Europe Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) market size will hit US$ 15113.37 million in 2026, compared to US$ 10370.09 million in 2018, at a CAGR of 4.82% over the projected period. This report focuses on the status, outlook, growth potential, key market and key players of Europe Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The aims of the study are to present the production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Europe. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-2D263/europe-personal-protective-equipment-market ?UAE Personal Protective Equipment Market In 2017, the UAE Personal Protective Equipment market size was estimated at $401.4 million and is projected to reach $702.4 million by 2025, showing a 7.3 percent CAGR from 2018 through 2025. Where technical controls and administrative controls are not feasible or reliable, personal protective equipment is implemented to reduce risks to appropriate levels. Stringent government legislation on occupational health requirements and increased awareness of safety precautions among employees contribute to higher use of PPE. This study offers a detailed overview of the current developments, forecasts and dynamics of the UAE personal protective equipment market from 2014 to 2025 in order to recognize the business opportunities that prevail. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/ALLI-Auto-2R273/uae-personal-protective-equipment-market ?Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Gloves Market The global demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) gloves market size is projected at US$ 9265.7 million in 2020, reaching US$ 1,970 million by the end of 2026, rising at a CAGR of 3.7% in 2021 to 2026. This study focuses on volume and value of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) gloves at global, regional and enterprise level. From a global perspective, this study reflects overall market size of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) gloves by examining historical data as well as potential prospects. This study focuses on many main regions in the region: North America, Europe, China and Japan etc. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-24S896/global-personal-protective-equipment-ppe-gloves-market ?Protective Clothing Market The global protective clothing market size was estimated at $8.0 billion in 2018 and is projected to hit $12.9 billion by 2026, at a 6.2% CAGR over the 2019 to 2026 forecast period. The study focuses exclusively on current market trends and the prospects for potential growth in the industrial protective clothing industry. In addition, the study analyzes existing market patterns in protective clothing in different geographies and suggests prospects for potential growth by examining government regulations & policies, thus further growing customer acceptance of protective clothing. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/ALLI-Manu-0J15/protective-clothing-market ?Head, Eye, and Face Protection Market The research report analyses the demand for head, eye and face defense using different methodologies and analyses to provide reliable and detailed market information. The report is broken into several sections to cover various areas of the business for a better understanding. Afterward, each field is built to help the reader understand each region's growth potential and its contribution to the global market. View Full Report : https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-1T265/head-eye-and-face-protection-market ?Respiratory Protection Market This study analyses the global Respiratory Protection market size in key regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America and Middle East & Africa, and focuses on Respiratory Protection consumption in these regions. This research report classifies the global market for Respiratory Security by players/brands, area, form and application. This study also analyses the global market status, landscape of competition, market size, growth rate, potential trends, market drivers, opportunities and challenges, distribution channels, distributors, and Porter's Five Forces Analytics. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-1E266/respiratory-protection-market ABOUT US: Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. Our extensive report repository is constantly updated to meet your changing industry analysis needs. Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. We understand your niche region-specific requirements and that's why we offer customization of reports. With our customization in place, you can request for any particular information from a report that meets your market analysis needs. Valuates is curating premium Market Research Reports from the leading publishers around the globe. We will help you map your information needs to our report repository of Market research reports and guide you through your purchasing decision. We are based out of Silicon Valley of India (Bengaluru) and provide 24/6 online and offline support to all our customers and just a phone call away. In 2015 Fangyi Fan was appointed CEO of Chinese People Holdings Company Limited (HKG:681). First, this article will compare CEO compensation with compensation at similar sized companies. Then we'll look at a snap shot of the business growth. Third, we'll reflect on the total return to shareholders over three years, as a second measure of business performance. The aim of all this is to consider the appropriateness of CEO pay levels. View our latest analysis for Chinese People Holdings How Does Fangyi Fan's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies? Our data indicates that Chinese People Holdings Company Limited is worth HK$357m, and total annual CEO compensation was reported as CN1.1m for the year to March 2019. While we always look at total compensation first, we note that the salary component is less, at CN684k. We examined a group of similar sized companies, with market capitalizations of below CN1.4b. The median CEO total compensation in that group is CN1.6m. Pay mix tells us a lot about how a company functions versus the wider industry, and it's no different in the case of Chinese People Holdings. Talking in terms of the sector, salary represented approximately 85% of total compensation out of all the companies we analysed, while other remuneration made up 15% of the pie. Chinese People Holdings is largely mirroring the industry average when it comes to the share a salary enjoys in overall compensation At first glance this seems like a real positive for shareholders, since Fangyi Fan is paid less than the average total compensation paid by similar sized companies. Though positive, it's important we delve into the performance of the actual business. You can see a visual representation of the CEO compensation at Chinese People Holdings, below. SEHK:681 CEO Compensation April 6th 2020 Is Chinese People Holdings Company Limited Growing? Chinese People Holdings Company Limited has seen earnings per share (EPS) move positively by an average of 35% a year, over the last three years (using a line of best fit). It achieved revenue growth of 62% over the last year. Story continues This shows that the company has improved itself over the last few years. Good news for shareholders. The combination of strong revenue growth with medium-term earnings per share improvement certainly points to the kind of growth I like to see. Although we don't have analyst forecasts shareholders might want to examine this detailed historical graph of earnings, revenue and cash flow. Has Chinese People Holdings Company Limited Been A Good Investment? Given the total loss of 63% over three years, many shareholders in Chinese People Holdings Company Limited are probably rather dissatisfied, to say the least. It therefore might be upsetting for shareholders if the CEO were paid generously. In Summary... Chinese People Holdings Company Limited is currently paying its CEO below what is normal for companies of its size. Considering the underlying business is growing earnings, this would suggest the pay is modest. Unfortunately, some shareholders may be disappointed with their returns, given the company's performance over the last three years. We're not critical of the remuneration Fangyi Fan receives, but it would be good to see improved returns to shareholders before the remuneration grows too much. This sort of circumstance certainly justifies further research, because the investment returns might still come in the future. On another note, we've spotted 4 warning signs for Chinese People Holdings that investors should look into moving forward. Arguably, business quality is much more important than CEO compensation levels. So check out this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-06 15:00:15 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 961 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LAS VEGAS / ACCESSWIRE / April 6, 2020 /GB Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB:GBLX), is pleased to announce that the company's Canadian entity, GBS Global Biopharma, Inc. (GBS), signed an Amendment to their Agreement with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). The NRC has demonstrated that the company's PD formulations were able to reduce behavioral changes associated with the loss of dopamine-producing neurons, which underlies the pathology of Parkinson's disease in the animal model. Based on achieving the statistically significant reduction in Parkinson's disease symptomology, GBS has signed an amendment to include a final phase of testing, which will study the mechanism of action for these promising formulations. These important preclinical results will be included in GBS' Investigational New Drug (IND) application with US FDA in order to enter human clinical trial as early as this year. New therapies to address Parkinson's disease symptoms are needed to help those afflicted with this debilitating disease. The combined direct and indirect costs associated with Parkinson's disease are estimated at $52 billion in the U.S. alone."We have expanded the scope of testing with the NRC for our Parkinson's formulations based on achieving the statistically significant reduction in Parkinson's disease symptomology faster than expected," explained Dr. Andrea Small-Howard, Chief Science Officer and Director of both GB Sciences, Inc. and GBS Global Biopharma, Inc. "The NRC lab in Halifax has improved upon a zebrafish model of Parkinson's disease that allows us to rapidly validate our PD formulas and efficiently optimize them. Unlike rodent models of PD that take months to run with just a few animals in each treatment group, the zebrafish model of Parkinson's disease is a high throughput system. Each experiment takes about a week to complete and each treatment group has a minimum of twenty-five individuals, which makes statistical significance easier to reach quickly. Not only does the zebrafish model provide symptomatic data, we can also use this model to address the mechanism for how our formulas might be able to provide relief to Parkinson's patients. At the NRC, they can directly measure the loss or protection of the dopamine-producing neurons in response to our PD formulas. They will also be measuring conserved neuroinflammatory biomarkers in the zebrafish, which may underlie the disease-causing processes in humans." GBS selected this animal model because it addresses the underlying pathology of PD, rather than the genetic markers associated with PD that may be secondary rather than causal. There are two basic types of animal models for Parkinson's disease: 1) those using genetic modifications of the study animals, or 2) those using the application of targeted neurotoxins to induce Parkinson's disease-like symptoms in the study animals. This zebrafish model of PD uses a neurotoxin to induce PD-like symptoms related to the loss of dopamine producing neurons. The loss of dopamine producing neurons is directly related to the major symptoms of PD. In addition, significant neuroinflammatory biomarkers can be measured by the NRC to assess their role in symptomatic relief or disease progression."Although there is no single animal model for PD that is entirely predictive of the human disease, we believe this zebrafish model may be superior to the rodent models due, in part, to its high-throughput, low-cost nature," said Dr. Lee Ellis, Team Lead-Zebrafish Toxicology, Genomics and Neurobiology at National Research Council Canada. "We look forward to extending our studies of GBS' PD formulas. These positive preclinical results suggest that the zebrafish model for Parkinson's disease is valuable for demonstrating that cannabinoid-containing complex mixtures may be useful for the treatment of Parkinson's disease symptomology." About GB Sciences, Inc. and GBS Global Biopharma Inc.GB Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB: GBLX), through their Canadian entity, GBS Global Biopharma, Inc., is a dedicated biopharmaceutical research and cannabinoid-based drug development company whose goal is to create patented formulations for safe, standardized, cannabinoid therapies that target a variety of medical conditions in both the biopharmaceutical and wellness markets.About the National Research Council of CanadaThe National Research Council of Canada (NRC) is Canada's largest federal research and development organization. The NRC partners with Canadian industry to take research impacts from the lab to the marketplace, where people can experience the benefits. This market-driven focus delivers innovation faster, enhances people's lives and addresses some of the world's most pressing problems. We are responsive, creative, and uniquely placed to partner with Canadian industry, to invest in strategic R&D programming that will address critical issues for our future. Each year our scientists, engineers, and business experts work closely with thousands of Canadian firms, helping them bring new technologies to market. We have the people, expertise, services, licensing opportunities, national facilities, and global networks to support Canadian businesses. https://nrc.canada.ca/en/corporate/about-nrc Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release may contain statements relating to future results or events, which are forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "could", "should", "anticipates", "likely", "believes" and words of similar import may identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts, but instead represent only the Company's belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release, and we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or correct any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that subsequently occur or of which we hereafter become aware.Contact InformationGB Sciences, Inc.,3550 West Teco Avenue,Las Vegas, NV 89118866-721-0297orinfo@ gbsciences.com GBS Global Biopharma, Inc.200-900 Morrison DriveOttawa, Ontario, K2H8K7Michael Farley, PhDmichael@ gbsglobalbiopharma.com SOURCE: GB Sciences, Inc. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday asked people to raise their voice for more and more testing, saying it the only way to prevent the spread of coronavirus. She said the mantra should be to test as much as possible and raise the testing levels and then treat the infected people. "The only way to prevent infection of coronavirus is through more and more testing. Only then can we treat the infected person. "Test as much as possible and treat - this should be our mantra. My request to all of you is - raise your voice for more testing," she said in a tweet in Hindi. She also used the hashtag "TestMoreSaveIndia" along with her tweet. The Congress has been calling for more testing, saying India's testing has been the lowest in the world, going by its population. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) During these difficult times, when everyone is struggling, drivers are not left alone. Car insurance companies are offering a helping hand to those drivers who have troubles paying their insurance bills, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that presents how car insurance companies can help drivers during this coronavirus pandemic. For more info and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/car-insurance-companies-help-drivers-pass-through-these-times-of-financial-hardship-caused-by-the-coronavirus-pandemic/ Drivers who have been financially affected by the current COVID-19 outbreak can ask for help from their car insurance companies. Some car insurance providers are offering payment flexibility, they are suspending policy cancellations due to nonpayment, or they are automatically renewing policies even if the drivers can't pay. During these difficult times for everyone, car insurance companies understand their customers. Drivers who have financial difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic, should contact their car insurance providers and check all the helping options that are available to them. Compare-autoinsurance.org (https://compare-autoinsurance.org/) presents a list of options that car insurance providers present to their customers that are experiencing financial troubles: Car insurance providers are offering coronavirus-related payment delays. Many car insurance providers are willing to work with their customers who are financially affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Car insurance companies like Allstate, Geico, MetLife, or Progressive are offering assistance in different forms. In general, they offer the possibility to pause cancellation of premiums due to nonpayment. Insurance companies can suspend car coverage. Suspending coverage pauses the policy but doesn't cancel it. During the period of suspension, drivers will not have a coverage lapse. Also, drivers may need to file an affidavit of non-use from their states department of motor vehicles to halt state-required auto coverage. This document lets the state know that the drivers wont use their cars for a given period. Most insurers, including Allstate, CNA, Farmers, Geico, Progressive, and Travelers are pausing policy cancelations of their customers who are having financial difficulties during the coronavirus outbreak. Insurance providers are offering flexible payments and special payment plans. During these difficult times, car insurance companies are doing all they can to help their customers. Drivers may choose to pay less than their usual amount bill, and the unpaid bill will be evenly distributed among the remaining payments. No matter who provides the car insurance, drivers who are affected by this pandemic should contact their insurers immediately to discuss a custom payment plan. Insurers allow drivers to reduce their coverage. Another option to explore is the reduction of car coverage. Car insurance companies allow drivers to reduce their coverage during this pandemic. While the car is out of use, drivers shouldnt pay for unneeded coverage. Drivers should reduce their car coverage to the coverage required by the state law. However, drivers should consider keeping or adding comprehensive coverage that will cover their vehicles for different problems not related to driving like fire, flooding, animal damage, vandalism, and theft. For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/ Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. LGUs urged to pass ordinance on mandatory use of face masks in Luzon Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 6) The Interior Department on Monday urged all local government units in Luzon to pass their own ordinances requiring the use of face masks in public to stop the spread of COVID-19. This comes after the pronouncement of Inter-agency Task Force spokesperson Karlo Nograles that all residents and workers need to wear surgical masks or similar covers when they leave their homes. He said the order will last until the end of Luzon quarantine, which is on April 12. Without the presence of an ordinance and clear sanctions, the Philippine National Police can only reprimand people who will not wear face covers in public. The coronavirus disease is spread through small droplets from the nose or mouth when people infected with the virus cough or sneeze. The World Health Organization on Monday stood by its recommendation to not wear masks if you are not sick or not caring for someone who is sick. The country has recorded 3,246 patients with the viral disease, with 152 dead. Only 64 have recovered so far Randy Halprin in a visitation cell at the Polunsky Unit in Livingston, Texas: (2019 The Associated Press) The Supreme Court has declined to take up the case of a Texas death row inmate who asked for a new trial because he believed the judge who presided over his case was antisemitic. Randy Halprin, who is Jewish, was a part of the Texas Seven, who in 2000 escaped prison, robbed a sporting goods store and fatally shot police officer Aubrey Hawkins. Lawyers for Mr Halprin claimed that an investigation into Judge Vickers Cunningham, who sentenced him to death row, found that he was antisemitic and used racial slurs. They allegeed that the judge threatened to stop paying for his daughters law school, if she didnt break up with her Jewish boyfriend. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who was deciding on Mr Halprins Supreme Court appeal, wrote: the facts underlying this petition are deeply disturbing. She added that Mr Cunningham had created a living trust for his children that would have withheld payments had they married nonwhite non-Christians. Although Ms Sotomayor declined to hear his case, she wrote that Mr Halprin deserves a fair trial and believes that the Texas courts considering Halprins case are more than capable of guarding this fundamental guarantee. Tivon Schardl, one of Mr Halprins lawyers, said that they would continue to seek a new, fair trial, in a statement. Mr Halprins claims of bias against Mr Cunningham are still under review by a Texas court and Ms Sotomayor revealed that his execution has been stayed while they consider if bias infected his trial. Additional reporting by the Associated Press Read more Death row inmate scheduled to die loses last attempt at life in prison Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 7) Actress Iza Calzado has fully recovered from COVID-19. She thanked her supporters for praying for her all throughout her fight with the viral disease. Iza tested positive for the new coronavirus disease on March 28, her manager confirmed. I guess, I just want to express how grateful I am and then I would forever be expressing that, she told CNN Philippines. Her husband, Ben Wintle, also expressed his gratitude for their family, friends, and supporters. Its obviously great to have people praying for us and messaging us, Ben said. Iza narrated her experience of getting diagnosed and her story of recovery. She said that her early symptoms were dry throat, and cough, but she did not have high fever yet on the onset of the disease. However, she refused to share about the specific treatments she received at the hospital, as advised by her doctor. I was told by my doctor that perhaps; it would not be wise to disclose what they give me because people might start buying them and taking them on their own. The Health Department reported 414 new cases of the novel coronavirus disease in the country Monday, raising the total number at 3,660. There are now 163 fatalities, and 73 recoveries. Globally, COVID-19 has infected over 1,277,000 people, according to the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 global tracker. Of these, over 69,500 resulted in death, with Italy so far recording the highest number of fatalities. Meanwhile, some 264,000 patients have already recovered from the disease worldwide. By Ofeliya Afandiyeva The Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers approved an action plan worth $641.2 million on April 4 to provide financial support to business entities and people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the action plan published on the official website of the Cabinet of Ministers, $126.5 million will be allocated from the state budget to pay part of the salaries of 300,000 employees working in the pandemic-affected areas. In addition, $47 million will be directed to the support of about 300,000 business entities. The total amount of tax incentives and tax holidays for entrepreneurs affected by coronavirus is $67.6 million. According to the plan, $165 million will be earmarked from the state budget to provide the necessary financial support to the passenger transport sector in 2020, $52 million - additionally to the preferential mortgage system (during April), $29.4 million - to the Entrepreneurship Development Fund under the Ministry of Economy (during April-May), $11.7 million - to subsidize interest payments on bank loans of business entities (during April). Moreover, in April-May this year, the government plans to implement measures to create 50,000 public jobs and a total of $17.6 million will be provided for these purposes. In addition, 200,000 people registered as unemployed in the State Employment Service under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population will receive a lump sum payment of up to the subsistence level $111.9 and $41.2 million will be allocated for these purposes. According to the plan, $5.8 million from the state budget will be distributed to provide the population with benefits for utilities (for electricity), $23.5 million to pay tuition fees for socially vulnerable groups of the population. In total, $588.2 million will be directed from the state budget to finance all the above measures. In addition, another $41.2 million will be earmarked from the Unemployment Insurance Fund in April-December to expand the self-employment program (covering an additional 11,000 people), $11.7 million from the same fund will be allocated to expand the unemployment insurance system (covering an additional 20,000 people). Thus, a total of $641.2 million will be provided from the state budget and other sources to finance the measures envisaged in the program. Note that President Ilham Aliyev signed the Order On a number of measures to reduce the negative impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) and sharp fluctuations as a result of coronavirus in the global energy market and stock market, on the Azerbaijani economy, macroeconomic stability, issues of employment in the country and business entities dated March 19. According to the Order, $588.2 million will be allocated to the Cabinet of Ministers from the state budget in 2020 for these purposes. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 20:28:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported on Monday 24 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong to 914. The 24 new cases involve 10 females and 14 males, 18 of whom had travel history during the incubation period, Head of the CHP's Communicable Disease Branch Chuang Shuk-kwan said at a daily press briefing on Monday afternoon. The 18 patients with travel history include three students who were studying overseas, a domestic helper who have been to Britain with her employer, and five of the 65 Hong Kong residents who returned from Peru by chartered flights arranged by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government. Among the five patients returning from Peru, three joined a tour group of 20 tourists and a guide. After their diagnosis, the other 18 members of the group will be sent to quarantine centers, Chuang said. Out of the six patients without travel history, five are related to the clustered outbreaks in bars, including two children, aged three and eight, of a female who worked at a bar. According to Chuang, the bars-related clusters have grown to include more than 80 cases in total and have seen the fourth-generation transmission. The other of the six locally infected cases is a 48-year-old male working at a shopping mall in the Causeway Bay area on Hong Kong Island. Investigations into his source of disease is still ongoing, and it is suspected that the case is probably related to a couple who have been diagnosed earlier with COVID-19. The patient developed symptoms such as runny nose since March 23 but continued to work, and went to a karaoke lounge on March 25 with several colleagues, Chuang said. She reiterated the importance of reducing gathering and maintaining social distancing. A pregnant New Jersey mother took matters into her own hands Friday after her husband was turned away from a hospital due to new coronavirus rules. Erin Persia of Blackwood, told 6ABC that the staff at Virtua Voorhees Hospital told her husband to wait in the car while she delivered. She went through contractions alone in the triage unit before they stopped. The couple returned home when the contractions returned. Her husband suggested calling 911, but there wasnt time. So she gave birth in their tub. Their daughter, Ameila Gracelyn Persia, was born at 10:30 a.m., on April 3. So we did a thing today, in our bath tub, just the two of us! Now presenting Amelia Gracelyn Persia. Shes literally... Posted by Erin Persia on Friday, April 3, 2020 Virtua told the news outlet it was a misunderstanding, and that expectant mothers are left alone in triage and their support person can enter if the mom-to-be is admitted to the hospital. Most hospitals have additional restrictions in place because of the coronavirus pandemic, barring visitors in many cases to prevent the spread of the virus, which has killed more than 900 people in New Jersey. But a new state rule says pregnant women are allowed to designate one support person - like a spouse or relative - to accompany them during delivery. Acting Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli instituted an order last week amid concerns among some expectant mothers that they would have to deliver their babies without a loved one nearby. READ MORE Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Gregg Bisso was going to start his 2020 sea turtle volunteer patrol season at 7 a.m. April 1. Before he and his wife began patrolling the dunes of Surfside Beach, a small town in Brazoria County, in search of Kemps ridley sea turtle nests, hed never had the opportunity to see mother sea turtles actively nest. I had never seen one of these mother sea turtles come up and actually dig the area, deposit all her eggs, cover it up and wobble on top of it. Then she just goes back to the water, Bisso, a Surfside Beach city councilman and retired Houston police officer, said. Now, hes seen it several times. Its a neat thing to watch, he said. Ive been very lucky. Once a nest is found, biologists from Texas A&M University at Galveston and the Turtle Island Restoration Network are called to retrieve it. Then, they transport the eggs to the Padre Island National Seashore in Corpus Christi, where they incubate for 45-60 days. The eggs typically hatch overnight during June or July, and the hatchlings are released in front of a crowd of turtle admirers at the national seashore. The young turtles imprint on the beaches there, which means theoretically, they will return to deposit their own eggs when they reach sexual maturity. On HoustonChronicle.com: UTMB once helped defeat Ebola. Can it replicate that success with COVID-19? This process, which has helped restore the Kemps ridley sea turtle population from near extinction, will likely be different this year. As the COVID-19 crisis touches every part of human life, the effects of social distancing have yet to be seen in the Texas Gulf Coasts wildlife. For the first time since 2002, the upper Texas coasts volunteer patrols have been delayed. Their plan is to start patrolling by early May. The upper Texas coast is made up of 72 miles of beach between Galveston and Surfside Beach. This year, 300 volunteers, who work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff to patrol 12 driving and walking routes, began their turtle nest tracking training in February. Its a great activity for retired or older people to get outside either walking or riding, said Joanie Steinhaus, director of the restoration network. They are involved in a very important program protecting critically endangered animals. Its also a great exercise program. Historically, the upper Texas coast has been considered too far north for the turtles to nest; they typically favor the beaches of Tamaulipas, Mexico, or Corpus Christi. Last year, patrols yielded 13 nests in the Galveston-Bolivar area. And every egg is critical, said Christopher Marshall, professor of marine biology and director for Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research at TAMU-Galveston. If the nests are left on the beaches, the hatchling survival rate is lower than 50 percent, Marshall said. During a typical season, the nests are found by volunteers or state and federal agency workers and sent to the national seashore, raising survival rates by 85 to 90 percent. This year, due to coronavirus, the volunteers are absent. Once the hatchlings are in the Gulf of Mexico, only 10 percent will reach sexual maturity, according to Marshall. So the process of finding the nests, protecting the eggs and releasing the new turtles on a safe beach is important. Were in really unknown territory, so were trying to mitigate the situation by having more people from Texas Parks and Wildlife out there helping, as well, Marshall said. We might miss some nests thats quite possible. The need for social distancing has stalled volunteer efforts, but the National Park Service and other state agencies have begun their patrol seasons. Donna Shaver started the Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery at the national seashore in 1986, nine years after she began working toward sea turtle conservation. She was a member of a team that conducted the Kemps ridley head-starting and imprinting project in the late 70s. Every June, July and early August, the seashores turtle team hosts multiple public hatchling releases. Before sunrise, the rangers set a protective barrier halfway between the dunes and the water. Shaver is posted inside the barrier along with the rangers and hatchlings, while volunteers man the barriers edges to ward off seagulls, as tourists gather to witness the turtles first steps toward the Gulf waters. It is too soon to say if public hatchling releases will be impacted, but people gather for those, so they will likely not be possible if group size is still limited when they occur in June, July and early August, Shaver said. Most of our hatchlings are typically released in nonpublic releases. The peak of nonpublic releases occur when the hatchlings enter their frenzy, between late afternoon and early morning, she said. The NPS staff at the national seashore began its nest detection, documentation and protection patrols on April 1, Shaver said, and will continue those efforts with the help of some partners. Nesting season has begun in Mexico, with two nests found last month. Nests will likely be located on South and North Padre Island beaches soon. But based on historical data and weather patterns, Steinhaus doesnt expect many nests in the Galveston area in April. At least, she hopes not. Here, there are a lot of high tides, even up to the dunes in the patrol area, and the (turtle) tracks are eliminated, Steinhaus said. Theres a concave area that is made while theyre nesting, and its a big concern if the nests are in a driving area. Without volunteers spotting the turtles, Steinhaus worries some could be harmed. Its just adjusting to our new norm for a while, she said. julie.garcia@chron.com twitter.com/reporterjulie A 60-year-old Pune woman who had initially tested negative for coronavirus died three days after she was discharged. But, a test done on Sunday soon after her death showed positive result for the virus. The woman was first admitted in Pune's Naidu Hospital with several other health issues. She, however, tested negative for the virus and was discharged on April 1. However, three days later, she was taken to Sassoon Hospital, where she died before she could be admitted. Her samples were tested again and they turned out to be positive. "It might be possible that the disease was under incubation or she was having a lesser viral load when tested," Pune collector Naval Kishore Ram said. "We are checking her profile. We are trying to find out what happened when she was at home." Pune divisional commissioner Deepak Mhaisekar said that they have asked health officials to provide more details on the woman's case. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India currently has 3,666 active cases of coronavirus and 109 deaths. It also says that 291 people have been cured or discharged. Also Read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: 4,281 infected with COVID-19; death toll at 111 Also Read: Coronavirus outbreak: Increase testing to avoid another lockdown, says ex-RBI chief Urjit Patel All 50 states and territories in the United States have now been approved for major disaster declarations, President Donald Trump announced at the daily White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing April 5. The major disaster declaration provides a wide range of federal assistance programs for individuals and public infrastructure, including funds for both emergency and permanent work. The United States is already under a national emergency declaration issued March 13, which freed up $50 billion in emergency relief funds for cities and states. I just want to say this is an all-out military operation that weve waged and especially over the last number of weeks. Fifty states and territories have now been approved for major disaster declarations, which is very unusual thanks to the Army Corps of Engineers, Trump said. The president also noted that New York Citys Javits Center is now one of the largest hospitals in the United States, and staffed by hundreds of federal medical personnel deployed from two army hospital units, which he said are doing a great job. Trump said that his administration would be delivering an additional 600,000 N95 masks to the city on Monday to take care of the needs of the public hospital system. Ventilators will also be delivered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to hard-hit states, including Louisiana, which will be receiving 200. Michigan will get 300, Massachusetts will get 100, New Jersey will get 500, and 600 will be going to Illinois, Trump said. Trump also thanked Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington for returning 400 ventilators that they no longer needed, which can now be deployed elsewhere in our country. He said Inslee felt confident that they are in good shape for the coming weeks until we can declare a final victory. As of Tuesday, well have deployed over 3,000 military and public health professionals to New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and other parts of our country. Three thousand, and that number is going up, and we hope were seeing a leveling off in the hottest spots of them all. So well see. Youll be seeing that over the next few days. Lets see what happens. But were prepared, Trump said. Additionally, 1,200 brand new rapid point-of-care testing kits, which take 15 minutes to produce a result, and which the president said are very fast and very accurate, will be distributed to public health labs by Tuesday. Trump added that more are being produced and will be sent to other countries in the future. The president also said that 1.67 million Americans have now been tested and given the results for the virus. He noted that the United States would endure the peak of this terrible pandemic in the coming days before thanking the incredible doctors and nurses and healthcare workers on the front line of the fight, which he called warriors. His administration is also purchasing and stockpiling hydroxychloroquine, a drug that has been traditionally used to treat malaria, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. The president has touted the drug as a means to combat the CCP virus and previously called a game-changer. Doctors in the United States are currently prescribing hydroxychloroquine, as are France and Bahrain, while India has recommended it for health care workers. Despite it showing promising results, health officials have warned the public to remain cautious until larger clinical trials validate smaller studies. Among them is Dr. Anthony Fauci, the United States leading infectious disease expert and a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. At a White House news conference on March 20, he said data on the drug so far was not done in a controlled clinical trial. So you really cant make any definitive statement about it, and that only such studies would determine if the drug was truly safe and effective. From The Epoch Time Midland County added four more positive coronavirus cases Monday, bringing the total to 22 cases, according to a state report released Monday afternoon. Isabella County also added four more cases, bringing its total to 16 and two deaths. Saginaw County added 21 cases for 139 total and recorded its first two deaths. Bay County remained at 30 cases. The state added 1,503 new cases and 110 deaths on Monday. In all, Michigan has 17,221 cases with 727 deaths. The state is reporting, as of Sunday afternoon, a total of 40,581 specimens have been tested, and that includes those that were negative, positive and inconclusive. Counts represent the total specimens tested, not total patients tested, according to mich.gov, the state website where daily updates are reported. A patient can have more than one specimen tested, therefore the number of specimens tested may be more than the number of patients tested. The specimens are tested by commercial, hospital and public health labs, with hospital testings accounting for 29,830 of those tests. Of the 40,581 specimens tested, 30,030 were negative, and 10,435 were positive, the state reports. Counts of specimens tested positive will not equal number of people with COVID-19, the website states. People may have more than one test or may have had their test from an out of state lab. The state has categorized in percentages the ages of people who are testing positive. People age 50 to 59 make up 20% of the cases, with people ages 60-69, 18%; people 40-49, 17%; people 70-79, 13%; people 30 to 39, 13%; people 20 to 29, 9%; people 80-plus, 8%, and people 0-19, 1%. The state has categorized in percentages the ages of people who have died. People age 50 to 59 make up 12% of the cases, with people ages 60-69, 20%; people 40-49, 6%; people 70-79, 26%; people 30 to 39, 2%; people 20 to 29, 1%; people 80-plus, 33%, and people 0-19, 0% The state lists the majority of races in positive cases as 33% Black/African American; 23% Caucasian and 37% unknown, and the top three races in deaths as 40% Black/African American; 28% Caucasian and 28% unknown The positive cases involve male and female equally, with 46% men, 50% women and 4% unknown. State statistics show 60% of coronavirus deaths are male and 40 are female. Those who have died range in age from 20 to 107, with the average age 71.2 Midland County Department of Public Health continues to encourage residents to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19: Continue to practice social distancing as recommended by federal, state and local officials Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash Disinfect commonly touched surfaces Stay home when you are sick Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. We cannot stress enough how important it is for our community to be diligent in their community mitigation efforts," Yanoski said. "We know that COVID-19 is in our community, and our residents can make a huge impact on slowing the spread of disease by following the recommended precautions." If you think you've been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your health care provider for medical advice. If he/she isn't available, call MidMichigan Urgent Care in Midland at 989- 633-1350 or MidMichigan Medical Center's Emergency Department in Midland at 989-839-3100. MidMichigan Health has a COVID-19 informational hotline with a reminder of CDC guidelines and recommendations. The hotline can be reached toll-free at 800-445-7356 or 989-794-7600. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services also has a hotline number for Michigan residents for questions about COVID-19. The number is 1-888-535-6136 and is available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents can also send an e-mail to: COVID19@michigan.gov. E-mails will be answered seven days a week between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. If you are feeling anxious, stressed, depressed and feel you need to talk to someone, reach out to Community Mental Health for Central Michigan by calling 800-317-0708. With COVID-19 wreaking havoc on the routines of so many people, CEOs and other prominent Connecticut company leaders have needed to make changes on a daily and sometimes hourly basis. Hearst Connecticut Media reached out to some of these businesses to see how they have adjusted to changing workplace restrictions. At Pitney Bowes, which has limited employees to only the most necessary travel, President and Chief Executive Officer Marc Lautenbach explained how his team is making decisions in a somber video address. This is an unprecedented set of circumstances that civilization has not had to encounter in the last 100 years and, while things have been difficult over the last few weeks, I am confident that things are going to get more difficult before they get better, Lautenbach said. He said lessons the global technology company learned from Oct. 12 through Oct. 27 of last year, when it took steps to protect employees from a Ryuk virus malware attack on some of its systems, will help it address the much more serious coronavirus. The hopeful aspect is that as Pitney Bowes defeated the virus in October of last year, I am equally confident that the society at large will defeat this virus, he said. It will not be without pain, it will not be without sacrifice but the experience in China, Italy and I would say pandemics in general there tends to be a set of predictable curves that pandemics follow. Pitney Bowes has conducted as much business as possible with employees working remotely. That isnt an option for some other Connecticut-based companies. RELATED: Coronavirus could impact CT customers electricity demands, ability to pay bills RELATED: Is employee attendance essential at essential businesses? RELATED: Coronavirus: A list of resources we compiled to help you navigate this chaotic time Orange-based Avangrid Networks is the parent company of United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut Gas and Connecticut Natural Gas. There are situations when Avangrid employees have to be out in the community and even enter homes on service calls. Avangrid has placed a limit of one employee per service vehicle and taken precautions to keep both the employee and customer safe. They have also suspended late fees and reconnection fees. What we do know is, the electricity and natural gas our companies provide are vitally important to our customers, our communities and our economy, said Trish Nilsen, Avangrid Networks director of emergency preparedness. So our focus is continuing to provide safe and reliable service to our customers throughout this event. Among other things, that means keeping our employees safe, so they can continue working, and we have taken extraordinary measures to do this. In February Avangrid staff were being educated on proper hand-washing techniques in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus both within and outside the workplace. Milford-based Subway has approximately 42,000 locations in more than 100 countries, including more than 160 in Connecticut. Working remotely also isnt an option for much of its workforce. Subway has transitioned to a takeout-only model along with the other Connecticut restaurants that have stayed open. A statement on the companys official site said that locations are being cleaned and sanitized more often and other safety precautions are being followed. Subway now has free delivery through Uber Eats, DoorDash, Postmates, Grubhub and Seamless with the promo code SUBWAYNOW. The company also has promotions for takeout and drive-thru orders. During this unprecedented, complex and challenging time, Subway headquarters employees around the globe are focused on guiding and assisting our network of franchisee-owned businesses, Subway Vice President, Human Resources Lisa Shea said in a statement. As we adapt to working from home, we are not only continuing to provide a tremendous level of support to franchise owners but to each other. In addition to the day to day business tasks, teams are taking advantage of virtual offices and platforms to engage and collaborate. james.fuller@hearstmediact.com; @NHRJimFuller Two more people died of coronavirus in Moldova last night, bringing the total Covid-19 death toll to 17, Moldovan Minister of Health, Labor, and Social Protection Viorica Dumbraveanu said. "Two deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours. Those were a 81-year-old woman and a 78-year-old man. The coronavirus death toll in our country has thus risen to 17," the minister said after a meeting of the National Public Health Commission on Monday. The Commission recommends that public sector employees stay home for two more weeks. The employees went to work on Monday after a non-working week. "The decision to extend the non-working period will be made by the Emergency Situation Commission on Monday," Dumbraveanu said. ALBANY Dozens of nurses in regions hit hardest by coronavirus have been staying in hotel rooms paid for by their union, but leaders of the Public Employees Federation (PEF) said they are seeking help from the state and the private sector to help continue the effort. Many of the nurses in Long Island and Brooklyn are staying in hotels because they fear returning home after their shifts and infecting family members. The nurses are not tested for COVID-19 unless they show symptoms, but state and federal authorities have said roughly 25 percent of those infected with coronavirus have no symptoms. Wayne Spence, PEF's president, said the union has asked whether vacant state university dorm rooms at Stony Brook Hospital on Long Island and SUNY's Downstate Medical University in Brooklyn could be offered as temporary housing for the nurses and other health care workers. Spence said he is also calling on recreational vehicle dealers or private owners to consider offering their RVs as temporary residences for nurses on the front lines. The union as of Monday had spent about $70,000 to put nurses in hotels, including nearly 50 on Long Island and 18 in Brooklyn. State leaders have said they are concerned that the apex of COVID-19 cases could hit New York this week. At some hospitals, there are concerns about shortfalls in personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff, including masks and gowns. "There are certain locations where the state can step up and provide some free housing," Spence said. "It would help take away some of the anxiety of these workers. ... It takes away a lot of stress. Some nurses probably would work without PPE if they know they're not bringing (the virus) home to their family." On March 27, PEF announced it had secured a block of hotel rooms near Stony Brook University Hospital on Long Island for its members who work at that facility and may fear spreading the coronavirus to their families or are too exhausted to return home after their shifts. Our number-one priority is the safety of (PEF) members and their families as they fight the coronavirus from the front line every day, many without the proper personal protective equipment Spence said. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Anyone interested in donating housing or funds to help nurses during the crisis should contact Jane Briggs, jbriggs@pef.org. Hear from a frontline nurse in Long Island on a recent episode of the Cap Con podcast. The Australian government said last Friday it would partly suspend the pursuit of alleged welfare debts for six months during the coronavirus crisis, a measure triggered by a growing public outcry and the political establishments fear of social unrest. Even though tens of thousands of newly unemployed people struggled to apply for welfare assistance on huge jobless queues, Services Australia was still deploying 1,500 compliance officers to pursue alleged debts until the pause was announced on Friday. Outraged welfare recipients had taken to social media, as well as some corporate media outlets, to reveal threatening accounts payable letters they had received from Centrelink, the governments welfare agency, demanding payment of supposed over-payments. In addition, Prime Minister Scott Morrisons Liberal-National government is still delaying repaying hundreds of millions of dollars to recipients who were unlawfully accused of over-claiming benefits under the governments discredited automated robodebt scheme, even as the government channels billions of dollars in rescue packages to big business. Fridays decision, described as a pause on certain debt activity, was announced by Government Services Minister Stuart Robert, who said it would allow the redeployment of staff to process benefits claims. But he said fraud and serious non-compliance action would continue, leaving the door open to continuing to hound thousands of welfare recipients. At the same time, Services Australia issued a notice that it intends to use Medicare records for a data-matching program that would include detecting over payments and recovering debt. The Medicare information would be used to make sure Centrelink payments are only made to people who are entitled to those payments and help the whole-of-government approach to identify serious and complex fraud. The notice indicates that, having been compelled by a Federal Court ruling to abandon the automated robodebt scheme of computer-generated debt allegations, the government will now use Medicare data to pursue supposed welfare benefit over payments. Services Australia expects to match approximately 9.8 million unique records held in its Centrelink database, it said. Based on fraud criteria, Services Australia anticipates it will examine approximately 5,000-9,000 records per year. Families and Social Services Minister Anne Ruston last month issued a public interest immunity claim to prevent her department officials answering questions in a Senate committee hearing about the robodebt income compliance scheme, which is now the subject of a class action by about 10,000 people. The class actionKatherine Prygodicz & Ors versus Commonwealth of Australiaaccuses the government of unjust enrichment and negligence, basically for gouging illegal repayments out of poor and vulnerable welfare recipients and denying any duty of care to them. Despite Rustons manoeuvre to avoid public scrutiny, a leaked confidential cabinet submission revealed that the government expects to lose the class action, so it will have to refund 449,500 debt repayments worth a total of $555.6 million. However, the payments will not commence until July and will take 12 months to complete, according to the cabinet submission by Ruston, Stuart Robert and Attorney-General Christian Porter. Services Australia stopped initiating reviews under the robodebt method of automatic income averaging last December, after the Federal Court ruled the method unlawful. But the government had not halted its broader debt recovery program, and was also denying cash advances to people whose robodebts had been frozen. The governments callous, punitive and financially cruel regime had continued in the face of the enormous social distress caused by the COVID-19 disaster. Newly-sacked or laid-off workers were forced to wait in massive queues outside the governments Centrelink welfare offices to seek assistance. Workers queuing at a Centrelink office in Sydney late last month (Photo: WSWS) They could not access the MyGov website to lodge claims because it crashed due to years of staff and resourcing cuts in Services Australia, the government agency in charge of the welfare payment system. Nor could people get through by phone. After scenes reminiscent of the Great Depression of the 1930s, Ruston admitted last week that 123,000 people tried to access the website on March 24, the second day of the lengthy queues. Unable to get through to Centrelink by any other means, people had to queue dangerously, trying their best to uphold social distancing. According to Australian Council for Social Services CEO Cassandra Goldie, the $555.6 million mentioned in the leaked cabinet submission represents just 70 percent of the $785 million that the government extracted via the robodebt system by August 2019. The Labor Partys shadow minister for government services, Bill Shorten, last week said staff working on robodebts should be redirected to help Services Australia handle the thousands of people applying for welfare due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fearing a potential social explosion, Shorten called on Stuart Robert to settle the case and immediately front the Australian public and apologise to the multitude of robodebt victims who have suffered so much because of this scandal. This is sheer hypocrisy. It was the last Labor government that launched the data matching offensive against welfare recipients. While assistant treasurer in the Greens-backed Gillard Labor government in 2011, Shorten declared that income compliance detection would be stepped up. The new matching data link is expected to increase the number of former customers identified for this process by an additional 65,000, above current detection levels, over four years, he promised. One newly unemployed young mother, who worked in the welfare sector until she lost her job last week, told the WSWS about her experiences trying to access Services Australia. I tried but I couldnt get through. Im waiting for them to call back, but I have been waiting five days. I havent had any news. My partner was trying too. Everything the prime minister says is confusing. All the conditions are unclear. We also tried online, but were not going to queue up. Thats another contradiction. It is so unhealthy. They are not prioritising lives of workers. There are so many issues for us right now. These people in power dont care. Even the laws that exist cant cope with this situation. There is so much pressure and guilt. They are supposed to be for the whole of society, not just a sector. Im not naive, I know what they are like. The author also recommends: Great Depression-like mass jobless queues across Australia [24 March 2020] Robodebt assault on Australian welfare recipients deliberately targeted the vulnerable [22 February 2020] K oalas rescued during Australias summer bushfires are being released back into the wild after receiving weeks of treatment for injuries suffered during the blazes. The marsupials have been in the care of an array of zoos and animal hospitals since being plucked out of their habitats during infernos that killed 33 people as well as a billion native animals across the country - including thousands of Koalas. The devastating fire season, which lasted from September until torrential rains hit in February, also razed some 2,500 homes and a wilderness area the size of South Korea. One of the areas hardest-hit was the koala-rich habitats in the mid-north coast region of New South Wales state. New South Wales was the Australian state most severely affected by the wildfires, with an estimated 5,000 Koalas killed by the blazes throughout the territory (Reuters) / REUTERS But with the fire season officially declared over in NSW as of the end of last month, rescuers in the state have now begun releasing the koalas, many of which were left badly burned. In some cases, the animals have even been returned to the same trees in which they were found. Among the first to be returned to their natural habitat were a number of Koalas which had been cared for at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, which sits some 240 miles north of the state capital, Sydney. On Thursday, staff from the facility began transferring 49 of the mammals back into NSW bushland. Announcing the move in a post on Facebook, the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital described the animals' return to the wild as "an incredibly emotional moment". "Their habitat is recovering beautifully with the recent rain and there is plenty of food and water," the hospital's post added. "What a journey!" Those released included a young koala named Anwen by veterinary staff. Anwen's badly burnt limbs saw her became one of the most recognisable images of the Australian bushfires as the plight of the creatures attracted attention around the world. Koala Cuddles Teddy Bear During Vet Examination Sue Ashton, president of Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, described the hospital's joy in overseeing the four-year-old's recovery. "Anwen was our first ever female koala to be admitted during the bushfires and her recovery has been extraordinary," Ashton said. "It marks a proud moment for Australia; to see our Koala population and habitat starting to recover from what was such a devastating time," she added. PORTLAND, Oregon, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research recently published a report, titled, "Drug Delivery Devices Market by Device Type (Smart Pills, Inhalers & Nebulizers, Drug Eluting Stents, Safety Syringes, Implantable Drug Delivery Device, and Transdermal Patches, and, Others), End User (Hospitals and Diagnostic Centers, Ambulatory Surgery Centers and Clinics and Others), Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192026". According to the report, the global drug delivery devices market was pegged at $19.06 billion in 2018, and is projected to hit $26.74 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 4.3% from 2019 to 2026. Major drivers for the market growth Increase in prevalence of chronic diseases, rapid rise in the aging population, and growth in the biologics market have boosted the growth of the global drug delivery devices market. However, risk of needlestick injuries and stringent government regulations hamper the market growth. On the contrary, high potential in developing countries is expected to create lucrative opportunities in the near future. Request Sample Report at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/6460 Inhalers and nebulizers segment dominated the market The inhalers and nebulizers segment held the largest share in 2018, accounting for more than one-third of the global drug delivery devices market, owing to surge in prevalence of asthma across the globe. However, the smart pills segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period. This is due to the benefits they offer. For instance, smart pill has enabled monitoring of the results from different drug administrations, which assist in various stages of drug development such as drug candidate profiling, drug candidate selection, and accelerating the development of new drugs. Ambulatory surgery centers and clinics segment to manifest CAGR through 2026 The ambulatory surgery centers and clinics segment is projected to register the highest CAGR of 5.3% during the forecast period, as ambulatory surgical centers provided services for a few medical specialties such as urological, orthopedics, ophthalmology, and pain management. However, the hospitals and diagnostic centers segment held the largest share in 2018, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global drug delivery devices market, due to as hospitals have more resources to manage complications over ASCs. North America held the lion's share The market across North America held the largest share in 2018, contributing to around two-fifths of the market. This is owing to prevalence of chronic disorders such as cancer and diabetes that require use of specialized drug delivery devices. However, the global drug delivery devices market across Asia-Pacific is estimated to portray the fastest CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period. This is due to surge in prevalence of diabetes and surge in awareness related to use of specialized drug delivery devices and increase in healthcare expenditure in various countries such as India and Japan. For Purchase Enquiry at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/6460 Major market players AstraZeneca PLC 3M Company Company Dickinson and Company Becton Consort Medical plc Boehringer Ingelheim group Insulet Corporation GlaxoSmithKline plc, Sulzer Ltd. (Medmix Systems AG) Medtronic Plc West Pharmaceuticals Services, Inc. Avenue Basic Plan | Library Access | 1 Year Subscription | Sign up for Avenue subscription to access more than 12,000+ company profiles and 2,000+ niche industry market research reports at $699 per month, per seat. For a year, the client needs to purchase minimum 2 seat plan. Avenue Library Subscription | Request for 14 days free trial of before buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/avenue/trial/starter Get more information: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access Similar Reports: Influenza Treatment Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192026 Drug Delivery Devices Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192026 Pharmaceutical Drug Delivery Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192026 Tampon Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192026 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): 1-800-792-5285, 1-503-894-6022, 1-503-446-1141 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 [email protected] Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allied-market-research SOURCE Allied Market Research Eight members of Tablighi Jamaat have been tested positive for Covid-19 in Uttar Pradesh's Khairabad, officials said on Monday. All eight were part of the gathering at Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz, which emerged as a hotspot of coronavirus. Seven of them are Bangladeshis and one is from Maharashtra. All of them are being shifted to a hospital, informed Alok Verma the Chief Medical Officer of Sitapur. The religious gathering in Delhi last month sparked off a countrywide search for its attendees after reports emerged about the formation of new clusters of coronavirus-affected people linked to the event. The total number of Covid-19 positive cases in India climbed to 4067, said Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday. Out of these over 4000 cases, 3666 are active, 292 cured or discharged and 109 died. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Viral scams and increased prices, how prosecutors in the US are taking on pandemic profiteers. The global demand for hand sanitisers and other hygiene products has risen because of the coronavirus pandemic. And, in the United States and some other countries, there has also been a surge in complaints about profiteering and opportunism. As doctors combat the virus, prosecutors are pursuing the opportunistic villains who prey on the fearful. Al Jazeeras John Hendren reports from Chicago. Army researchers at Fort Detrick, Maryland have begun testing a potential coronavirus vaccine on animals, the first of many steps in manufacturing a widely available prevention against the virus, Defense Department officials announced Monday. Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman told reporters during a Pentagon briefing that, as of Monday, the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases was beginning non-human primate testing. The DoD is involved in five different clinical vaccine trials in addition to supporting other federal agencies conducting their own testing, added Air Force Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Paul Friedrichs, the Joint Staff surgeon. Friedrichs stressed while the vaccine-testing process is moving as quickly as possible, a breakthrough treatment is still months away. "Once we know that they're safe, then we expand the testing candidates," he explained. After animal testing, researchers will evaluate the the medicine in a small group of people, then a larger test group. "Only when we know they'll be both safe and effective [will we] be able to offer them more widely." Related: DIY T-Shirt Masks and Balaclavas: Military Services Release Face-Covering Guidance Friedrichs echoed recent remarks from Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House's coronavirus response coordinator, who regularly give briefs at the White House on the U.S. government's coronavirus response. "We are still months away, not weeks away, from a vaccine," he said. The military is also testing a number of drug mixtures that could dampen the severity of the coronavirus' symptoms, or even the length of the infection; Friedrichs said it's possible those results will come in faster than a potential vaccine. That also includes trials with hydroxychloroquine. Friedrichs said that while the drug is "not widely being distributed" to military personnel, the Pentagon is conducting a small-group study on its capabilities to treat COVID-19 cases. President Donald Trump in recent weeks has touted the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine, used to fight malaria as well as a treatment for patients with arthritis or lupus, as a "game-changer." Evidence that it works, however, is anecdotal at best. Trump has said its effectiveness can be increased when paired with azithromycin, an antibiotic. The drug has been used overseas: doctors have administered hydroxychloroquine in France, Spain, Italy and China during the growing pandemic, according to various media reports. A small French study on the use of hydroxychloroquine released last month found that the drug, a derivative of chloroquine, lowered the virus counts of 20 patients with COVID-19 within six days of it being administered. Six individuals who took the drug along with azithromycin, tested negative for coronavirus within a week. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, physicians in the U.S. have been using it "off-label" -- for use other than what is recommended by the Food and Drug Administration -- to treat patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Some U.S. patients who have spoken to media outlets in recent weeks about their treatment and or hospital experience have given credit to the drug combination in their road to recovery. But officials like Fauci still urge caution. Fauci has repeatedly stated that additional research is needed to determine whether the medications are safe and effective for treating COVID-19. In some cases, hydroxychloroquine can adversely affect those with chronic heart or blood pressure problems. "The data are really, just, at best, suggestive," Fauci said on CBS's "Face the Nation" Sunday. "There have been cases that show there may be an effect and there are others to show there's no effect," Fauci said. "So, I think in terms of science, I don't think we could definitively say it works." -- Patricia Kime contributed to this report. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Read More: 'Too Naive or Too Stupid:' Acting SecNav Slams Fired Carrier Captain Queen Elizabeth in a video address called on the British people to exercise self-discipline in "an increasingly challenging time." Donald Trump explained why he wouldn't be wearing a mask, despite the advice of experts. (Buckingham Palace) I never tried LSD, but when I turn on the TV now I think I know what an acid trip must feel like. Theres President Orange Julius delivering another bloated pandemic update with white spoons around his eyes, belittling reporters and mashing messages after falling asleep under the tanning lamp again. The president is competing for audience with "Tiger King" Joe Exotic, but Trump's show is an even bigger circus. In all my years of breathing there has never been a time when it was more important to stand as one, together, across all differences, to keep our hearts beating. And yet in this historic moment the free world is led by a man who lacks basic civility, a man who is rolling back clean air standards in the middle of a deadly plague of respiratory disease, and whose greatest talent is to divide, mock, insult, alienate. The U.S. lag in preparing for the coronavirus is costing thousands of lives. The bodies are piling up and Trump says hes doing a good job but not getting enough credit. Doctors and contagious disease authorities largely agree that all of us need to wear masks. But in response to that advice, which comes from some of the president's own experts, he flippantly says he's not going to wear a mask. Just doesn't think it's for him. Why would someone who could literally save lives by the mere act of leading by example refuse to do so? Because he sits behind that beautiful Resolute desk in the Oval office, Trump explains, and wouldnt feel comfortable wearing a mask when meeting with presidents, prime ministers, dictators, kings, queens. I thought all of those people were staying home. But if they did visit, theyd probably be wearing masks, wouldnt they? And speaking of queens, while Trump was flouting the advice of people with actual knowledge of this treacherous disease, Queen Elizabeth was delivering exactly the kind of speech you want to hear in a crisis. She thanked those staying home for helping to protect the vulnerable and sparing many families the pain already felt by those who have lost loved ones. Story continues And she urged Brits to keep going: I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge, the queen said. And those who come after us will say that the Britons of this generation were as strong as any. That the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good-humored resolve and of fellow-feeling still characterize this country. Trump, on the other hand, has refused to even ask irresponsible Republican governors to order isolation and social distancing in their states, even though his own medical team has said its the only hope we have of containing the virus. Theres a little something called the bully pulpit, mate, and heres how a leader might use it: He reminds everyone we are in a crisis for the ages and the only game is survival. He tells every governor who doesnt immediately order everyone to stay home for their own safety and the safety of others that he will gouge their eyes out with a 9-iron and punish them in ways they cant begin to imagine. He tells religious leaders who insist on packing people together at services that if indeed there is a heaven and a hell, he will buy them one-way tickets to the latter. He banks on the word of his medical advisers, not his trade adviser, regarding the risk of using anti-malarial medication on coronavirus. How hard can it be to do the right thing? I keep hoping maybe the people who stand near Trump at the daily briefings will turn their backs on him in unison and walk out in protest. Or maybe rush up behind him and throw a muzzle on him. Deborah Birx, the physician and coronavirus response coordinator, stands there a few feet away from Trump and Mike Pence, expressionless, and I think to myself, she seems normal, doesn't she? Why doesnt she grab the microphone and begin screaming that the emperor has no clothes? At the very least, why doesnt she take the scarf shes always wearing, make a mask out of it, and wrap it around the presidents face? Why doesn't Dr. Anthony Fauci, in the middle of Trump's fantasies about everything returning to normal soon, flash a sign that says "Don't Drink the Kool-Aid?" The coronavirus is the Chinese virus, the president says. The governor of Washington is a snake. The media are corrupt. The possibility that U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney had the virus prompted a sophomoric Gee, thats too bad, from the leader of the nation. Every day he spouts new nonsense. On Jan. 22: We have it totally under control. Its one person coming in from China. On Feb. 26: And again, when you have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero, thats a pretty good job weve done. On March 10: And were prepared, and were doing a great job with it. And it will go away. Just stay calm. Stay calm? With him in charge, with his apologists mute, with congressional GOP sycophants watching like mummies? Stay calm? Id have to get rid of the television. steve.lopez@latimes.com Drive-thrus are no longer just for a No. 1 combo meal at Whataburger. As public health officials enact longer stay-at-home orders to slow the transmission of the new coronavirus, the usual sit-down and come-inside places donation centers, churches and restaurants are opting to distribute goods and services through car windows. Alternate delivery methods like curbside pickup and drive-thrus have taken off during the public health crisis. Its how city officials are testing possible COVID-19 patients at the citys massive stadiums and how do-gooders are administering mask giveaways and food drives. Palm Sunday services went online, as hundreds of worshipers watched sermons on church livestreams and pre-recorded videos. But some Catholic churches opted to still do some face-to-face interactions, albeit through the glass of a vehicle window. CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Stay informed with accurate reporting you can trust At Grangerlands Caney Creek Cowboy Church in Montgomery County, over 100 people attended a drive-in service where many sat in their cars, while others plopped down in the beds of pick-up trucks and unfolded camping chairs from their trunks. In north Houston at the Assumption Catholic Church, volunteers handed out blessed palm fronds to parishioners, asking visitors to stay in their cars to avoid close contact. Father Albert Zanatta and his team had passed out palm fronds to 1,500 people passing through the parking lot, including far-flung visitors from as far as Tomball and Pearland who came in hopes of making human connection with their faith. Zanatta said hed gotten the idea after Cardinal Daniel DiNardo halted in-person Mass. He said Listen, its very important to do something so people dont feel left out and not part of the process, Zanatta said. Since we have palms anyway, might as well use them. On Sunday morning, volunteers shepherded by State Rep. Gene Wu gathered at Sharpstown Park to hand out surgical masks for seniors, people with compromised immune systems and health care workers. We have many people in my district who can not afford masks, dont know where to find masks or simply do not have access in such a short amount of time, Wu said. CORONAVIRUS IN HOUSTON: All of the latest news, numbers and analysis to keep you up-to-date, only on HoustonChronicle.com With masks strapped on their faces and blue disposable gloves shielding their fingers, volunteers passed bags containing two masks apiece to each person. Wu had assembled 400 sacks of masks, donated by the Sino Professionals Association and the Houston Tsinghua Alumni Association. The Houston Food Bank has shifted its community handouts throughout the area to automobile distributions. When families arrive for pickup, theyre advised to stay in their cars as staff load groceries into the back, according to the nonprofits website. Restaurants that usually rely on their dining rooms to drive revenues are also going the drive-thru route. At Platypus Brewing on Washington Avenue, usually crammed full of patrons eating Australian fare and drinking beers, the business has instead advised people to bring their own growlers for a beer fill and order specials to be delivered to their cars. The drive-thrus provide access to critical items, like food and masks, while minimizing the risk of transmission for workers and drivers. But the vehicular access to restaurants and churches also provide a glimpse for many into what life was like seemingly eons ago before social distancing measures went into place. They felt like being part of something special, Zanatta said. gwendolyn.wu@chron.com twitter.com/gwendolynawu IRVING, Texas, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, OneShare Health, a Christian-based Health Care Sharing Ministry (HCSM) based in Irving, Texas, welcomed insurance regulator Buddy Combs to their growing team. Serving eight years at the Oklahoma Insurance Department and, ultimately, as First Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Staff, Combs's background in health insurance, and the oversight thereof, is extensive. Today, Combs maintains the role of Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel for OneShare Health, and is responsible for overseeing the operations of the company's compliance, contracting, and legal teams. This includes handling member complaints that come through departments of insurance, the Better Business Bureau, and Attorney General offices, as well as the review of all legal matters within the organization. Once a leadership member at the Oklahoma Insurance Department, Combs also has extensive experience in the drafting and development of legislation related to healthcare and health insurance issues. "I think my combination of regulatory, legislative affairs and legal experience is unique," said Combs. "I am able to view issues through both a regulatory and legal lens to understand not only what the right legal requirements are but also what insurance regulators across the country will think, how they approach issues, and how their staff functions." Regarding his time at OneShare Health so far, Combs said he is most impressed by the "incredible sense of camaraderie among the staff." He stated that it was the company's faith- and people-based culture that ultimately led to his joining the OneShare Health team, as well as CEO Alexander Cardona's "commitment to constantly doing the right thing." "He always pushes me to ensure we do everything in an upright manner that fulfills our calling as a ministry and protects our members," said Combs. About OneShare Health:OneShare Health is an ACA-exempt, non-profit, 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 a set of shared religious beliefs. Healthcare sharing ministries are not traditional health insurance and do not accept risk or make guarantees regarding payment of bills submitted by members. For Media and Press Inquiries Contact: Buddy Combs OneShare Health 1-888-940-8291 Related Links OneShare Health SOURCE OneShare Health Prisons are releasing the wrong types of criminals in effort to combat coronavirus By Rachel Alexander While the rest of us are doing our utmost to avoid human contact, prisoners dont have that option. They are kept in open, close quarters that are conducive to spreading the coronavirus. Officials are trying to lower the risk by letting some inmates out of prison. U.S. Attorney General William Barr released a memorandum to the Director of the Bureau of Prisons encouraging the use of home confinement for vulnerable and low-risk inmates. He said the agency has 10,000 inmates over age 60 currently in custody (note one-third of those would not qualify since they were convicted of violent or sex offenses), who are at high risk due to their age. Especially the ones with health problems. Contracting the virus turns their prison sentence into a death sentence. Instead, they could be released to home detention. But the prisons and jails are not using good judgment in regards to who theyre freeing. Lower level offenders are being released, and those caught committing lower level offenses are merely cited and released. But some of these lower level offenses sound pretty violent. Philadelphia Police Chief Danielle Outlaw told officers to stop arresting people for crimes such as burglary and vandalism. Depending on the type of burglary, it can be a violent crime. Business burglaries have increased 75% since the pandemic started. Vandalism goes hand in hand with that. Chain retailers that have shut down are being forced to board up their shops. Why would we make looting, vandalism and burglaries at this time easier? In contrast, many elderly, nonviolent prisoners arent being released. This is troubling considering how badly the virus is spreading in prisons. A federal prison in Oakdale, Louisiana, has stopped testing inmates for the coronavirus due to how much it has spread there. BOP confirmed that seven inmates there have tested positive for the virus. But the agency has not released the number of presumed positive cases. One inmate has died. A maintenance worker told Vice that 68 inmates are being quarantined. An inmate told Vice, Everyone in the facility is sick and coughing. The inmates sleep in bunk beds, with no way to isolate or socially distance. BOP confirms that inmates at six of its facilities around the country have contracted the virus. Yet BOP continues to transfer inmates, increasing the risk of spreading the virus. Inmates are prohibited from having hand sanitizer since it contains alcohol. A jail is essentially a petri dish. Once the virus gets in there, it could have a devastating effect, said Public Defender Keith Lotridge of Maryland. Ross MacDonald, chief physician at Rikers Island jail in New York, issued a warning. We cannot socially distance dozens of elderly men living in a dorm, sharing a bathroom. Think of a cruise ship recklessly boarding more passengers each day, he wrote on Twitter. A storm is coming Former Republican Congressman Steve Stockman is over 60, has diabetes (considered high risk for the coronavirus), a lung condition, and is wrongfully in prison due to a politically charged DOJ under the Obama administration. He has not been released and feels like hes under a ticking time bomb. He said that jail staff instructed the inmates to shelter in place for 14 days. But Forcing inmates to stay near each other for 14 days is like telling people on a ship the best solution is to all get everyone together in one room to stop the spread. He cant go outside to get away from the other inmates since thats been banned due to the shutdown. The air conditioning has been turned very cold in the hopes that it will stop the virus, but its probably just spreading it quicker through the ducts. He told me, They are turning the warehouse into a hospital for prisoners. We are jokingly calling it a morgue for us. Letting all these elderly inmates linger is also putting correctional officers at risk. A guard who works inside the Arizona State Prison Complex in Tucson said they are not allowed to wear face masks. This is ostensibly to avoid creating panic. But the inmates already know whats going on, they watch the news. The prison said they didnt want to take away critical supplies from medical personnel. But what about wearing bandannas? Stockman says its bizarre that Iran, perhaps the most oppressive country in the world, has released 85,000 of its prisoners, while the U.S. is just letting a few types out. The prisons are mostly ignoring the directive from Barr about the sick and elderly nonviolent prisoners. There are 14 Democratic and Republican senators including Charles Grassley and Mike Lee the ACLU and the ACU, over 40 former DOJ officials, and nine bipartisan advocacy organizations that have called for the release of elderly prisoners who are at risk. Stockmans wife Patti has made a video for Trump pleading for her husbands release. When Republicans and Democrats join together on something, it must be taken seriously. Japan has isolated the elderly and infirm. They have not shut down their economy and they have a low death rate. But the deep unionized federal bureaucrats running the prisons think they are smarter than any professionals including doctors. And they may be holding back because some of the lower security prisons do work to support the higher security prisons a very selfish reason considering peoples lives are at stake. Does Barr realize they are ignoring his directive? How many have to die first? Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative. She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications.mericano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications. Home Hyderabad: A lady constable on duty wears a special protective mask during the 21-day nationwide lockdown (that entered the 13th day) imposed as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of COVID-19, in Hyderabad on Apr 6, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS Hyderabad, April 6 : The number of coronavirus positive cases in Telangana rose to 364 as 30 more people tested positive on Monday. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao said at a news conference that there are currently 308 active cases in hospital. The state has so far reported 11 deaths, while 45 people, including 10 Indonesians, have been discharged. He said the state successfully tackled the crisis when foreign returnees and their family members tested positive. "Had there been no Nizamuddin Markaz incident, the state would have overcome the problem," he said referring to the spurt in corona cases after many Tablighi Jamaat meeting returnees and their family members tested positive during the last few days. KCR said that in the first phase, 25,937 foreign returnees were quarantined. Thirty of them and their 20 family members tested positive. Nobody from this group died while all others will be completing their quarantine in a couple of days. The Chief Minister said in the second phase, 1,089 people who attended the Delhi event were identified and quarantined. Out of them 172 were found infected, including 11 who have since died. They also infected 93 family members and other contacts. Those found positive are not from one community, he said. Going by the trend, the health authorities expect the number of cases from this group to go up by another 100 over the next 2-3 days. He revealed that some of the patients at Gandhi Hospital died even before they could be put on ventilators. KCR said the state had readied 16,000 to 17,000 beds and a team of doctors, nurses and technicians to meet any contingency. There are eight COVID-19 notified hospitals in the state but all positive cases will be treated in Gandhi Hospital, irrespective of the social and economic status of the patient. The Chief Minister lauded the service rendered by healthcare professionals in combating the disease. "From sweeper to the director, I salute everyone for their courage and their services," he said. Government has put in place a GHS 600 million soft loan scheme with a two-year repayment plan for micro, small and medium scale businesses whose operations have been hit by the Coronavirus pandemic. Persons who access these loans will have a one year grace period before beginning repayment. Government, in collaboration with the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), Business & Trade Associations and selected Commercial and Rural Banks, will roll out a soft loan scheme up to a total of six hundred million cedis (GH600 million), which will have a one-year moratorium and two-year repayment period for micro, small and medium scale businesses, President Nana Akufo-Addo announced during a national address on Sunday evening. Currently, there is a two-week partial lockdown of Accra, Kasoa, Tema and Kumasi in place which started on Monday, March 30. The over 7 million residents in these areas have been advised to only leave their homes in search of essential items or activities. Most businesses in major economic hubs have been inactive during the period. Only persons and establishments working within the food value chain have been allowed to operate. A decision on whether to extend the current partial lockdown in place to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus will be made in the coming week, President Akufo-Addo noted. The government has already indicated that the cumulative effect of the novel coronavirus pandemic will cost Ghana GHS9.505 billion. Other monetary interventions The Finance Minister announced a GHS1 billion Coronavirus Alleviation Programme that will be funded from the Ghana Stabilisation Fund. There is also COVID-19 Trust Fund which has so far received GHS8,750,000 in donations, according to the President. The Minister is also seeking the support of Parliament to amend the relevant laws to lower the cap of the Stabilisation Fund from $300 million to $100 million. This is to enable the government to use the excess funds to bridge the gap created by the economic impact of the pandemic. Ghana has also turned to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for financial support to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic in the form of a rapid credit facility. Ghana is also among the International Development Association (IDA) countries that could benefit from temporary debt relief during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Six regions have so far recorded cases of the virus with Ghanas count standing at 214. The Greater Accra Region has most of the cases with 189 followed by the Northern Region with 10, the Ashanti Region with 12, the Upper West Region with one, Upper East Region with one and the Eastern Region one. citinewsroom Time to pool wisdom to stop massive layoffs SsangYong Motor is facing a fresh crisis as Mahindra & Mahindra has rejected a call for fresh funding for the ailing automaker, citing fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Mahindra's move is taken as indicating that the Indian carmaker, which has a 74.6 percent stake in SsangYong, could pull out of Korea. In a statement after a special board meeting in Mumbai, Friday, Mahindra said the company had decided not to inject "any fresh equity into SsangYong," urging the cash-strapped company to find "alternate sources of funding." But the parent company said it would consider a special one-time infusion of up to 40 billion won ($32 million) to SsangYong over the next three months. As Mahindra refused to deliver its promised investment of 230 billion won, SsangYong is obliged to stand on its own feet when it is almost impossible for it to find new investors due to the COVID-19 outbreak. After all of this, SsangYong's fate is highly likely to be in the hands of the Korean government that has rejected cash injections unless Mahindra puts in the promised 230 billion won out of the 500 billion won needed to keep SsangYong going. One could understand the deep impact on Mahindra from the ongoing pandemic, but it is incomprehensible that SsangYong's largest shareholder is seeking to offload its ailing Korean unit, taking only emergency measures. Mahindra's latest decision reminds Koreans of Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp., which withdrew from Korea in 2009 after obtaining sensitive technology related to SsangYong's specialty SUVs. The Mumbai-based car manufacturing corporation took over SsangYong in 2011. Since then it has invested 650 billion won into the company. However, SsangYong has continued to suffer losses due to sluggish sales amid dire financial straits. Its debt now totals 400 billion won, including 190 billion won in loans from its main creditor the Korea Development Bank (KDB). Making matters worse, its auto sales nosedived 28 percent in the first three months of the year from a year earlier. All these explain how difficult it is to normalize a troubled company, which has already lost its competitiveness. With the pandemic showing no sign of abating, the chances are high that more large companies will be on the brink of collapse like SsangYong. It is urgent for Mahindra, workers, the state-run KDB and the government to cooperate to look for a solution. It is also necessary to pool their wisdom to stop more than 5,000 SsangYong workers and many more employees of its subcontractors losing their jobs. However, it is undesirable for troubled companies such as SsangYong to ask for financial support from the government ahead of the April 15 general election. The Moon Jae-in administration should be careful not to pour taxpayers' money into nonviable businesses, despite recently announcing a 100-trillion-won ($80 billion) economic rescue package to minimize the economic damage arising from the coronavirus crisis. Israeli police released the Palestinian governor of Jerusalem on Monday after he spent 24 hours in detention for "illegal" political activities that he said was connected to the coronavirus fight. "If we must pay to protect our people and their security and to limit the spread of coronavirus, then this is the least evil," Adnan Ghaith said in a video posted on social media shortly after his release. He was detained over efforts by his office to curb the epidemic, which has contaminated 250 people in the Palestinian territories, according to his lawyer, Rami Othman, who did not elaborate. The governor's deputy, Abdullah Siyam, told AFP that Ghaith was freed on bail payment of 15,000 shekels (USD 4,200). Israel detained Ghaith on Sunday for the seventh time in 18 months, over what police said was "Palestinian activity in Jerusalem, which is illegal". A video on social media showed Ghaith, wearing rubber gloves and smoking a cigarette, being escorted by police out of his east Jerusalem home. A body representing various Palestinian factors in Jerusalem said he had working to ensure Palestinians in the city had supplies needed for protection against COVID-19. Israel occupied east Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move never recognised by the international community. It considers the entire city its capital, while the Palestinians see the eastern sector as the capital of their future state. Israel bans all Palestinian Authority activities in the city. As a result, the PA has a minister for Jerusalem affairs and a Jerusalem governor located in Al-Ram, just on the other side of an Israeli wall that separates the city and the occupied West Bank. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Earlier on Monday, the chairman of the City Council health committee, Mark D. Levine, a Manhattan Democrat, had sparked an uproar among city residents when he said on Twitter the that the office of the chief medical examiner was looking into creating temporary mass graves in a public park. The mayor firmly denied there were plans to use a park as a temporary grave site. His press secretary, Freddi Goldstein, said that if such a step became necessary, the city would bury people on Hart Island in the Bronx. The city medical examiners office said in a statement that no final decision on using temporary burials had been made and the morgues still had adequate capacity at this time. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo also said on Monday that he had heard nothing about the possibility of burying people temporarily in parks. I have heard a lot of wild rumors but I have not heard anything about the city burying people in parks, the governor said at his daily briefing. After the mayor and governor weighed in and after Mr. Levines comments caused an stir among some New Yorkers the councilman wrote on Twitter that what he was describing was a contingency plan, and that if the death rate drops enough it will not be necessary. In the evening, Mr. Levine put out another statement saying city officials had given him unequivocal assurance that no burials would take place in parks. State-run shadow banking firm REC on Monday said it has reached out to 36,500 needy people across the country with food and ration during the lockdown to contain COVID-19. "From Srinagar to Chennai, Ahmedabad to Kolkata, starvation is as much a threat as COVID-19 for daily wagers, many of them migrants from different parts of India. "Concerned over their plight, REC Foundation, the CSR arm of REC Ltd, has started distributing cooked food, rations, utility packets, masks, sanitizers and even providing shelter during the lockdown to over 36,500 daily wagers and their families," REC said in a statement. REC Foundation has already released funds overRs 3.26 crore for these activities, and more such funds are already in the pipeline, it added. REC Foundation in association with respective state-owned power distribution utilities is providing food grain packets and other utility packets like masks and sanitizers. It has also tied up with Delhi Police to provide 500 ration kits on a daily basis to over 2,000 beneficiaries. REC Foundation has also released funds to the offices of distribution companies, collector and/or district magistrates of various districts across India to provide cooked meals twice a day for 10-30 days. Talks are on with many other districts for execution of the same in their areas. In addition to these, food kits are also being provided in these districts to those who have facilities to cook at home, it added. Around 300 workers and daily wagers engaged in construction of REC World Head Quarters, Gurugram belonging to various states like Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Gujarat, among others,and other needy people from vicinity areas are also being provided ration items like atta, rice, dal, edible oil, soap, sanitizers on a bi-weekly basis, it said. REC has already donated Rs 150 crore to the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund to support India's fight against coronavirus, it said. REC focuses on power sector financing and development across India. It is also the nodal agency for Government of India flagship schemes in the power sector like Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), Saubhagya, among others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Australian pubs could be forced out of business as the coronavirus pandemic leads to a sudden and sustained loss of sales, the nation's biggest beer maker, CUB, has warned. "Some venues are facing the prospect of never opening their doors again if they don't get cash flow. It is an unprecedented challenge, not even during the world wars or the Depression did the pubs close," said CUB chief executive Peter Filipovic. CUB boss Peter Filipovic warns some pubs won't be able to ride out the loss of sales induced by COVID-19. Credit:Joe Armao In an interview with The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald on Monday, Mr Filipovic said the crisis was currently having a "devastating" effect on Australian pubs. "Most pubs are shut. You have a small portion of pubs that have reopened as takeaways ... selling takeaway meals etc. But most have had their livelihoods taken away from them," he said. Volunteers from the Los Angeles Food Bank help load boxes of food into vehicles in Sylmar on January 21, 2021. Health Where To Get Financial Assistance, Food And More During The Coronavirus Crisis Here's a list of places that are offering financial assistance, food aid, rent relief, debt relief and more. We regularly update it. Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung recently signed Decision No. 457/QD-TTg approving the Vietravel Airlines project of Vietravel - one of the countrys largest tour operators. At Phu Bai International Airport With investment of 700 billion VND (30.4 million USD), the project aims to provide domestic and overseas air transport services and contribute to improving the capacity of Vietnams air transport and tourism as well as socio-economic development amid global integration. It will be put into operation at Phu Bai International Airport in the central province of Thua Thien Hue and have a lifespan of 50 years. During its first year of operation, the carrier will use three Airbus, Boeing, or equivalent aircraft, which will then rise to eight by its fifth year. Vietnam currently has five operational airlines: national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, budget carrier Jetstar Pacific (majority-owned by Vietnam Airlines), Vietjet Air, Vietnam Air Services (VASCO), and Bamboo Airways. Two others - Kite Air and Vietstar Air - are awaiting operational authorization. Vietnamese airlines are among many around the world suffering heavy losses from the impact of COVID-19. The transport ministry has put the initial damage from suspending flights at some 30 trillion VND (1.3 billion USD). The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam recently issued two scenarios. The first is that if the disease is controlled before the end of April, the total number of passengers this year will reach 67 million, down 15 percent against 2019. In the second, where the market worsens but the pandemic is controlled in the second quarter, passenger numbers will stand at 61.2 million, down 22.6 percent year-on-year./.VNA Vietravel Airlines plan for first flights postponed due to COVID-19 The countrys newest carrier Vietravel Airlines has delayed its launch plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So its all about helping the economic victims of the coronavirus lockdown. How are we doing? The good news is that thanks to Democratic pressure, the CARES Act, the $2 trillion not-a-stimulus bill that became law less than three weeks after Trump dismissed the notion that Covid-19 might pose an economic problem, is mostly focused on the right things. The core provisions of the legislation are aid to hospitals, the unemployed and small businesses that maintain their payrolls; these are exactly the kinds of things we should be doing. Whats especially remarkable is that we got mostly sensible legislation even though the president was talking nonsense, pushing for what else? tax cuts as the solution for the economys problems. Actually, I cant think of any other recent example in which Republicans agreed to major fiscal legislation that mainly involved spending to benefit the needy, without any tax cuts for the rich. The bad news comes in two parts. First, the bill falls far short of whats needed on one crucial dimension: aid to state governments, which are on the front line of dealing with the pandemic. Unlike the federal government, states have to balance their budgets each year. Now theyre facing a surge in costs and huge revenue losses; unless they get a lot more aid, theyll be forced to cut spending sharply, which will directly undermine essential services and indirectly deepen the overall slump. And its not clear when or whether that hole will be filled. Senate Republicans are hostile to the idea of another rescue package; White House officials are reportedly still talking about tax cuts. Second, decades of hostility to government have left us poorly positioned to deliver even the aid Congress has voted. State unemployment offices have been underfunded for a long time, and red states have deliberately made it hard to apply for benefits. So the surge in unemployment is overwhelming the benefits system; Congress may have voted disaster relief, but the money isnt flowing. The loan program for small businesses is also, by all accounts, off to a shambolic start. And those $1,200 checks everyone is supposed to get? Many Americans wont get them for weeks or months. It doesnt have to be like this. Canada has already set up a special web portal and phone system to provide emergency unemployment benefits. Germans have been pleasantly surprised by how quickly aid is flowing to the self-employed and small businesses. Rise in demand for advanced safety and comfort in vehicles, strict safety regulations set by government for automotive industry, and surge in demand for automotive components fuel the growth of the global body control module market PORTLAND, Oregon, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled,"Body Control Module Market by Type (CAN and LIN), Vehicle Type (Passenger Car, Commercial Vehicle, and Electric Vehicle), and Application (Interior and Exterior): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027."According to the report, the global body control module industry was estimated at $23.59 billion in 2019, and is expected to hit $30.13 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 3.1% from 2020 to 2027. Drivers, restraints, and opportunities- Rise in demand for advanced safety, comfort, and convenience features in vehicles, strict safety regulations set by government for automotive industry, and surge in demand for automotive components drive the growth of the global body control module market. On the other hand, increase in complexity of module hampers the growth to some extent. However, surge in need for electric and hybrid vehicles across the globe, and steep rush in call for advanced driver assist features are expected to usher in multiple opportunities in the near future. Request Sample Report at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/5112 The CAN bus segment to dominate by 2027- Based on type, the CAN bus segment held the major share in 2019, generating nearly two-thirds of the global body control module market. Rise of cloud computing technology and growth in internet of things (IoT) have created significant demand for CAN buses in the automotive field which, in turn, propels the segment growth. The LIN bus segment, on the other hand, would grow at the fastest CAGR of 3.8% throughout the forecast period. The Local Interconnect Network device, with the master slave architecture on board, allows for up to 16 LIN RGB slave modules on a private LIN bus, thereby permitting up to 196 LED lighting devices to be connected to a single BCM via a LIN bus. This factor drives the segment growth. The passenger cars segment to lead the trail during the estimated period- Based on vehicle type, the passenger cars segment contributed to more than two-thirds of the global body control module market share in 2019, and is expected to rule the roost by 2027. Surge in demand for passenger vehicles in developing and developed countries boost the segment growth. At the same time, the electric vehicle segment would manifest the fastest CAGR of 7.8% during 2020-2027. Rising growth in urbanization and increase in attractive offers on electric vehicles from government bodies spur the growth of the segment. Asia-Pacific, followed by Europe and North America, to maintain the lead status- Based on geography, Asia-Pacific accounted for nearly two-fifths of the global body control module market revenue in 2019, and is anticipated to retain its dominance till 2027. The same region is also projected to register the fastest CAGR of 4.1% by 2027. Automobile manufacturers are actively involved in the process of developing innovative products to meet the consumer demands in this region which, in turn, has augmented the growth. However, North America appeared to be the third highest revenue holder in 2019. Interested To Procure The Data of This Report? Enquire More Here at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/5112 Frontrunners in the industry- Delphi Automotive PLC (UK) HELLA Texas Instruments Inc. Renesas Electronics Corporation Robert Bosch GmbH ( Germany ) ) Continental AG ( Germany ) ) Mouser Electronics Infineon Technologies AG Denso Corporation ( Japan ) ) Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Avenue | The Market Research Library Access Avenue, a user-based library of global market report database, provides comprehensive reports pertaining to the world's largest emerging markets. It further offers e-access to all the available industry reports just in a jiffy. Avenue is a premium subscription-based model that serves as an informative solution on which the world-leading companies can rely on. Avenue is a premium subscription-based model that serves as an informative solution on which the world-leading companies can rely on. Sign up and start using your 14-day free trial: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/avenueTrial Similar Reports: Automotive Electronic Control Unit (ECU) Market Automotive Interior Market Automotive Microcontroller Market Passenger Car Accessories Aftermarket Industry Pre-book Offer 12% Discount: Automotive Accessories Market Luxury Car Market About Us: Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. 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Contact Us: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States Toll Free (USA/Canada): 1-800-792-5285, 1-503-894-6022, 1-503-446-1141 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1-855-550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Follow us on: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allied-market-research Allied Market Research Blog: blog.alliedmarketresearch.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 10:50:03|Editor: yhy Video Player Close The Ruby Princess cruise ship docks at Port Kembla in Wollongong, Australia, April 6, 2020. Australian authorities launched a criminal investigation Sunday into the COVID-19 infected cruise ship, which was allowed to dock in Sydney before releasing thousands of passengers directly into the community. (Photo by Zhu Hongye/Xinhua) SYDNEY, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Australian authorities launched a criminal investigation Sunday into a COVID-19 infected cruise ship which was allowed to dock in Sydney before releasing thousands of passengers directly into the community. Since the Ruby Princess berthed at Circular Quay on March 19, more than 600 confirmed cases of the virus have been linked to the ship, and 11 of them have subsequently died -- accounting for roughly 30 percent of Australia's national death toll. Announcing the investigation, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said questions would be raised into the transparency from crew members regarding the level of disease on board, as well as the actions of local government agencies in allowing the ship to dock. "There appears to have been an exceptional amount of effort put in by ports to determine the true nature of the conditions on board, and even delayed the vessels arrival until they were provided additional information," Fuller said. "After reviewing the information at hand, the only way I can determine whether our national biosecurity laws or our state laws were broken is through a criminal investigation." New South Wales (NSW) Homicide Squad's Detective Chief Inspector Jason Dickinson was tasked with investigating the matter and thousands of passengers are expected to be interviewed as witnesses. Since releasing its passengers, the Ruby Princess has floated in the waters off NSW, and on Monday was allowed to temporarily berth at a port south of Sydney. In announcing a major initiative to combat drug trafficking in the Pacific and Caribbean and to defend the United States against the threat posed by the Maduro regime and associated drug cartels, the U.S. government is making the right move. But the assets chosen, in particular the assignment of three destroyers, seem to be the wrong tools for the job. Its as if the nation had decided to use a farm tractor to mow the front yard. At an April 2 White House briefing announcing the initiative, President Trump was joined by Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, national-security adviser Robert OBrien, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, and Chief of Naval Operations Michael Gilday, who came together despite social-distancing guidelines to present a united front against Maduro and other South American and Central American drug traffickers. The drug cartels are seeking to take advantage of the coronavirus pandemic, counting on the United States to be too distracted by the crisis to stop an increased flow of illegal drugs into the country. Nicolas Maduro, the illegitimate leader of an illegitimate government, was specifically called out as being part of a narco-terrorist conspiracy that is responsible, according to the White Houses statement, for smuggling some 250 tons of cocaine into the United States, with at least half of that arriving by sea. In response, the Navy will be assigning three destroyers, a littoral combat ship, and a detachment of P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft to the U.S. Southern Command to assist with this mission. Counter-drug operations are clearly a critical mission for the United States, given the tragedy of addictions and deaths associated with illicit-drug use and their impact on American families and the economy. The argument can even be made that the use of U.S. military assets to carry out that mission is appropriate: Stability is of strategic importance, as is maintaining laws and norms in the Western hemisphere. Furthermore, increasing levels of Chinese activity and investment in the Western hemisphere make it ever-more important for the U.S. military to have a highly visible presence in the region. We cannot be strong abroad if we are weakened at home; there must be no doubt that the Western hemisphere is our home, and that we are in charge. Story continues Nevertheless, the use of destroyers for this particular purpose raises concerns. At $1.8 billion each, Arleigh Burkeclass destroyers are among the worlds most expensive and technologically advanced weapons systems. Many of these ships are engaged in ballistic-missile defense and other high-end missions around the world. Although there is great demand for the vessels to support complex engagements, they are engaged all too often in low-end missions such as Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs) in the South China Sea or naval-presence patrols in any of the numerous maritime regions of the globe where U.S. regional combatant commanders have identified important U.S. national interests and have asked for ships to support them. These missions have the appearance of overkill, as a highly technically specialized warship is used for purposes that rank low in terms of technical requirements, such as providing naval presence in places like the Gulf of Guinea or taking part in counter-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Oman. So why are high-end ships being used so consistently to do low-end missions, of which counter-drug operations in the Caribbean and Pacific are yet another example? The answer is that the Navy doesnt have the low-end ships to match with those missions. Low-end refers traditionally to frigates and corvettes that are smaller than destroyers or cruisers, have smaller crews, lower sensor-system and weapons complexity, and lower costs so that navies can purchase them in larger numbers to perform day-to-day presence, escort, surveillance, and interdiction missions. British admiral Horatio Nelson referred to frigates as the eyes of the fleet, and historically corvettes were designed to be small enough to operate in an enemys close-to-shore littoral regions. By this standard the U.S. Navys littoral-combat ships would normally be considered corvettes. Although the Navy has purchased 30 of them, these ships have not been as effective as the Navy had hoped, with nearly all of them presenting difficulties with their combat systems. To fulfill the counter-drug mission described by the president and his team, what the Navy and the Southern Command really need is frigates, and fortunately, they should be coming soon. The Navy had the option, as some have previously suggested, to recall some of its Oliver Hazard Perryclass frigates now in the Ghost reserve fleet at the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, but it has consistently bypassed that option as being too expensive. In coming months hopefully sooner rather than later the Navy is set to announce its selection of a new frigate design and will then issue a contract for the first ships construction this fall. In its last 30-year shipbuilding plan, the Navy expressed its interest in buying 20 of these new ships. Analysis suggests that it will need around 55 of them for a well-balanced 355-ship fleet. These ships, with a combat suite of medium complexity, requiring smaller crews, and each costing less than $1 billion, should be purchased in sufficiently large numbers to free the Navys larger, more complex, and much more expensive combatants to focus on the readiness of their combat systems to win wars. Should the Navy also choose to purchase large and medium unmanned platforms equipped with either weapons or sensors to operate with its new frigates in a distributed network, then those frigates would only be more effective in their traditional role as the eyes of the fleet. To meet persistent requests and requirements, the Navy keeps about 110 ships deployed at any given moment out of a total of only 296 ships. Normally a ship should spend about six months in maintenance and then six months in training before deploying for six months; it then returns home to spend another six months in a ready-surge status before beginning the cycle again. The Navys current 110-to-296 ratio means that compromises have been made throughout the cycle truncated training or maintenance, or extended deployments, or ships unready for crisis surges. As the Navy charts its course to 355 ships, new frigates will offer a solution to the problem. For now, however, it must assign the high-end, and highly expensive, destroyers to perform counter-drug patrols off the shores of Central and South America, as well as to put additional pressures on Maduro. It is undoubtedly the right course of action for the president and his team to counter the damaging effect of narcotics on American life, and to isolate the corrupt regime in Venezuela. But it is also undoubtedly the case that they were forced to pick the wrong tools for the task. The U.S. should ensure that the Navy will soon be able to provide the commander-in-chief with a better option to defend the nations day-to-day interests at sea. More from National Review Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro is planning on dismissing Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta on Monday, according to Brazilian newspaper GLOBO. The media outlet reported that two presidential staffers confirmed Bolsonaro had made his decision and that he would make it official following a meeting with his ministers. In a meeting earlier Monday, Mandetta admitted seeing the writing on the wall and said had no clue 'until when I will be Health Minister.' Bolsonaro and Mandetta have clashed recently over the far-right leader's assessment over the coronavirus pandemic. Brazilian news outlet GLOBO reported Monday that President Jair Bolsonaro was working on firing Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta. Brazil's Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta has seen his popularity rise due to his handling of the coronavirus pandemic which has killed more than 500 people and sickened more than 11,700 Mandetta has been outspoken in his support for social distancing and isolation to combat the COVID-19 global pandemic that has produced 73,917 deaths and 1,331,032 confirmed cases in the world. Bolsonaro has been a proponent of using chloroquine as a treatment drug for coronavirus patients. During a March 20 press conference, Mandetta said that the government had validated the medicine but warned that its use to treat the disease was in an experimental stage and cautioned the public of its side effects. As of Monday evening, Brazil registered the highest death totals, with 516 people dead, and positive cases, with 11,721 diagnosed, in Latin America. On Sunday, the Brazilian leader threatened to eliminate those within his cabinet who 'suddenly became stars and speak at the elbows' while adding that he could not think twice about using his pen to fire or request their resignations. A poll on Friday showed that Mandetta's approval rating soared to 76 percent over his handling of the coronavirus crisis, while Bolsonaro's popularity dipped to percent, a poll by Datafolha showed on Friday. The survey was released a day after Bolsonaro dismissed the severity of the coronavirus and said it is 'not all it's being made out to be.' In a Thursday evening radio interview, Bolsonaro said that Mandetta has at times 'gone overboard' and lacked 'humility.' 'I don't plan on firing him during the war,' Bolsonaro said, referring to the current crisis. Bolsonaro also went on to deny that any of the hospitals in the South American nation had reached its full capacity because of the epidemic, and pleaded state governors not to be so 'radical,' warning that their confinement and quarantine measures are taking a heavy toll on the economy. Bolsonaro tested negative for the coronavirus in March a couple of days after a close aid developed symptom and tested positive after the Brazilian president and his contingent traveled to the United States to meet with President Donald Trump. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 13:41:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- China has been testing high-tech parachutes to control rocket debris and make space launches safer, according to the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT). During the March 9 launch of a Long March-3B rocket carrying a satellite of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, a booster was equipped with parachutes and control devices. After the booster separated from the rocket, the parachutes opened in a sequence to control its attitude and direction, and data of the fall trajectory and landing site were sent to ground control in Xichang, southwest China's Sichuan Province. It shows China has achieved a breakthrough in the technology of precise positioning of rocket debris, said CALT. It took just 25 minutes for staff to find the debris, compared to hours or up to a fortnight previously, CALT said. China has more than 30 space launches annually in recent years, and the risk of rocket debris has aroused wide concern. Currently, residents in the fall areas are evacuated before each launch, which disrupts their lives and raises the costs and difficulties of launches. CALT has been researching and developing grid fins and parachutes, aiming to narrow the range of the debris area by 85 percent. China first tested grid fin control technology on a Long March-2C carrier rocket on July 26, 2019. The first stage of the rocket was controlled to fall in a predetermined area. The feasibility of the parachute-based control technology on booster was verified in the recent mission. Engineers have spent more than 10 years developing the technologies. One of the difficulties is how to open the parachutes as each booster, weighing about 4 tonnes, travels faster than 2 km per second when separating from the rocket and its attitude is not controlled, said Zhang Puzhuo, a CALT parachute system designer. He said they chose the Long March-3B carrier rocket for the test as it's currently the most commonly used rocket in China, and they hope to increase its safety. Liu Lidong, a designer of the carrier rocket, said further experiments will be conducted to improve the design of the control system. A ferry with 35 Ukrainians on board has arrived in Chornomorsk from Karas, Turkey, Ukraine's State Border Guard Service has reported. "The ferry left Turkey for Ukraine on April 4. This morning, it was met at the Chornomorsk Sea Commercial Port," the report reads. It notes that specialists of the Ukrainian Health Ministry's laboratory center on water transport boarded the vessel and started examining all passengers and crew. No symptoms of coronavirus disease were detected. After that, border guards started registering passengers and drivers. According to the report, Ukrainian citizens could return home with the assistance of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and, in particular, Ukraine's Consulate General in Istanbul. According to a government decision, the specified category of persons must undergo mandatory observation within 14 days for which all citizens gave their consent. op South Africa: Municipalities warned against cutting water to residents Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has appealed to municipalities throughout the country to refrain from abruptly cutting water supply to residents. This she said, deprives residents of their basic human right of access to clean water. The Ministers appeal comes after the department received thousands of frantic callers complaining about municipalities who have cut off water supply to residents who are in arrears. In some cases, water has been cut for no apparent reason. Most of the complaints received from the departments call centres stem from the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. I appeal to municipalities who are guilty of this practice to switch on the water supply immediately. This is not the time to be punishing our people for failing to pay their water bills. We must all rally around the governments call to wash our hands frequently in order for us to defeat the scourge of Coronavirus (COVID-19), said the Minister at the weekend. Government has embarked on a national drive to encourage all South Africans to wash their hands with soap and water regularly to stem the tide of COVID-19. The Minister said the cutting of water supply hampers the governments efforts to fight the spread of the virus. Sisulu said the department is currently rolling out the distribution of Jojo tanks to all needy communities throughout South Africa, to enable them to adhere to the practice of regular hand washing. The maintenance of hygiene standards by everyone is key to containing and eventually defeating the pandemic, she said. The Minister also appealed to citizens who are still waiting to receive water tanks in their areas, to be patient, as government continues with the rollout. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-04-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Purdue University staff and graduate students in the Bechtel Innovation Design Center are using equipment such as 3D printers to produce medical supplies for hospitals. Frames for safety glasses and face shields have been produced and will be delivered this week. Items produced in Purdue manufacturing facilities will be sent to hospitals in Indiana WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. The Purdue University community has such a reputation for being makers that the word is literally a part of the team name, the Boilermakers. Now a group at the university has organized to produce much-needed medical supplies for Indiana hospitals. And being Purdue engineers and technologists, they couldn't get involved without finding a few ways to improve the products, too. The medical supplies safety glasses and face shields at first are expected to be delivered to hospitals in Indiana this week. The Purdue faculty and staff members are working closely with physicians and staff at IU Health, IU School of Medicine and Franciscan Health to develop plans for the supplies. Facilitated through an arrangement between county health officials and the Purdue University Fire Department under Indianas mutual aid program, Purdue is partnering with these institutions to augment their supplies of glasses, face masks, N95 respirators, and disposable fittings for ventilators. The volunteer Makers group has approximately 40 faculty and staff members participating, representing Purdue Polytechnic Institute, the College of Engineering, the College of Pharmacy and the School of Nursing, as well as Birck Nanotechnology Center, Ray W. Herrick Laboratories, the Bechtel Innovation Design Center and the Envision Center for Data Perceptualization. Nathan Hartman, Purdue's Dauch Family Professor of Advanced Manufacturing and head of the Department of Computer Graphics Technology, as well as co-executive director of the Indiana Manufacturing Competitiveness Center (IN-MaC), is leading the effort. "Getting this done has been a lesson in persistence," Hartman said. "Two weeks ago, when a few people began sending each other emails about discussing this, it seemed like it wouldn't be possible. But people kept getting involved and offering their expertise and equipment, and within a week we began working on a plan, and now we have produced useful PPE for the health care community." Because Purdue conducts research and teaches a variety of classes in manufacturing, technology and engineering, the university has several small manufacturing facilities. Capabilities include injection molding, vacuum forming, roll-to-roll manufacturing, machining, 3D printing, laser scanning and assembly operations. "We'll be putting out more information about this as more of the details are worked out. It's a fast-moving situation, but our faculty and staff are working together to do as much as they can for the people of our state," Hartman said. "We realized we had the expertise and the capacity to help, so why wouldnt we?" Purdue will be centrally supporting the material and items needed to support the Maker effort, until such time as resources become available for the state and federal stimulus funds to reimburse the university for these efforts. "The Purdue administration has been incredible in supporting our efforts, handling the purchasing, legal issues, communications, and facilities issues. They've supported us every step of the way," Hartman said. Purdue's Bechtel Innovation Design Center is a student "makerspace" or prototyping facility. Although closed to students at this time, it has a variety of tools that have been put to use in this effort, said David McMillan, assistant director of the center. "The Bechtel Innovation Design Center staff and students were searching for the right opportunity to apply our expertise in design and rapid prototyping," McMillan said. "Under guidance from medical professionals, we have redesigned and manufactured complex fittings for ventilators and are actively producing laser cut, waterjet cut, and 3D-printed parts for face shields and safety glasses." Purdue's Birck Nanotechnology Center is at work producing lenses for protective glasses and face shields in the center's pilot-scale manufacturing facility. Currently the facility's roll-to-roll laser cutting system has produced 1,600 lenses and 2,500 face shields, and is expected to eventually produce 3,000 lenses and 4,000 face shields. Miko Cakmak, Purdue's Reilly Professor of Materials and Mechanical Engineering, is overseeing the work in Birck. "A number of additional Birck staff members volunteered to work on this project to rapidly scale up our production," Cakmak said. "The work is being carried out by staff scientists Guy Telesnicki and Nick Glassmaker." The raw materials for the face shields and lenses were donated by Eastman Chemical. "This company has been very helpful to us in this effort," Cakmak said. The Maker team also is working to develop an improved design for N95 respirators using injection molding. "The respirator uses filters that are commonly found in hospitals in ventilators and other devices, so these are easy to find and are easy to replace. The rest of the respirator can be easily and quickly disinfected," Hartman said. Hartman also notes that he and other faculty members have been receiving many inquiries from people with home 3D printing machines, and says this is often not a good idea. "I completely understand their desire to help during a crisis. Although it is possible for individuals to model and print respirator masks or other PPE using plans they find online, they should exercise high levels of caution," Hartman says. "The printers use a filament as the raw material, and as it is laid down this material leaves microscopic gaps in the finished product that can harbor the virus and are impossible to disinfect." "The reality is that hobbyists really can't produce these materials effectively given the complexities of materials and processes." About Purdue University Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to todays toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 6 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at purdue.edu. Media contact to arrange interviews: Steve Tally, 765-494-9809, steve@purdue.edu, @sciencewriter Sources: Nathan Hartman David McMillan Miko Cakmak Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Claudia Cristoferi and Giuseppe Fonte (Reuters) Milan, Italy Mon, April 6, 2020 11:01 645 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206fef79b 2 World Italy,support-group,domestic-abuse,domestic-violence,coronavirus,COVID-19-lockdown,COVID-19 Free Italy has seen a sharp fall in official reports of domestic violence as it approaches a month under coronavirus lockdown, raising concern among some support groups that forced confinement is leaving victims struggling to seek help. Citing official data, a parliamentary committee into violence against women said last week that reports to police of domestic abuse dropped to 652 in the first 22 days of March, when Italy went into lockdown, from 1,157 in the same period of 2019. Telefono Rosa, Italy's largest domestic violence helpline, said calls fell 55% to 496 in the first two weeks of March from 1,104 in the same period last year. Other help groups said they had seen similar declines. The parliamentary committee's report said the trend did not mean a decline in violence against women but was rather a signal that "victims of violence risk being even more exposed to control and aggression by a partner who mistreats them." "There are a lot of problems in this situation, maybe not the least of them is the difficulty of asking for help when everyone is obliged to stay at home," said Alessandra Simone, director of the police criminal division in Milan. Successive Italian governments have passed reforms aimed at improving protections, but 13.6% of women have suffered violence from a partner or ex-partner, according to national statistics bureau Istat. The country has seen more than 100,000 cases of COVID-19 and accounts for almost a third of worldwide deaths. It was the first European nation to go into lockdown. "We're seeing a drastic fall in calls by women because they have less freedom in this situation of forced confinement," said Chiara Sainaghi, who manages five anti-violence centers in and around Milan for the Fondazione Somaschi, a social assistance foundation. She said calls to her group had fallen by as much as 70%. Some help groups and the authorities say they have tried to launch other forms of contact, including messaging services like WhatsApp, whose use has surged during lockdowns in many countries. Users in Italy are placing 20% more calls and sending 20% more messages on WhatsApp compared to a year ago, the company said in mid-March. Italian police have in recent days adapted an app originally designed to allow young people to report bullying and drug dealing near their schools to report domestic violence by sending messages or pictures without alerting their partner. In Spain, where police said they had also seen a fall in calls for help, authorities launched a WhatsApp service for women trapped at home which the Equality Ministry said had seen a 270% increase in consultations since the lockdown began. Valeria Valente, the senator who chairs the Italian parliamentary committee, said cultural and social factors in Italy already made it hard for many to report domestic violence. But she said the shutdown appeared to be leading some women who might otherwise try to leave their partners to stick it out. "How is a woman who wants to report violence supposed to move? With the lockdown [she] can only contact the anti-violence centers when she goes to the pharmacy or buys food," Valente said. Following is UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres update on his appeal for a global ceasefire amid the COVID-19 pandemic, in New York on Friday: Ten days ago, I issued an appeal 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. LIVE updates of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)'s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decisions live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More By now, most banks and Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) have published the details of Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) loan moratorium scheme on their websites. Some banks are also sending direct messages and emails to borrowers to seek their response. It isn't clear what percentage of borrowers have applied for the loan moratorium offer so far. A spokesperson of HDFC Bank said the bank is getting requests from customers but it is early to give a response. A spokesperson of ICICI Bank too said it is difficult to say at this stage. SBI did not respond to a query. However, according to bankers, there has been an increase in the number of customer queries in the past few days. Interestingly, even though the loan moratorium offer is mainly aimed at those who suffered income loss during the COVID-19 induced lockdown, there are also large number of customers -- including those whose cash flows aren't affected -- approaching banks to avail the scheme, bankers said. This is despite the additional interest burden that falls on the customer if he/ share avails the offer. But these customers have a reason to do so. The general consensus among bankers is that the EMI deferral scheme appeals to two category of borrowers. One, as mentioned above, for those who have faced loss of income on account of the COVID-19 induced lockdown (small businessmen, workers in companies that have shut shops and vendors to bigger companies who lost business). For this category, there isn't a choice. The EMI deferral scheme is a blessing for them to buy sometime to find a job or generate enough liquidity to arrange for EMI payments once the moratorium is lifted. During this period, their credit ratings won't get affected due to non-payment. This segment of the borrowers are largely from the unorganised sector. 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 latest updates on coronavirus outbreak The second category is borrowers who have enough money but still want to avail the offer. According to bankers, these customers find merit in this offer as they can build an emergency fund using the money saved, or to pre-pay the principal component of a costlier loan. "It is true that the interest burden will arise. The number of EMIs may go up. But, if the customer's strategy is to use this money and part-pay a costlier loan, then availing the moratorium makes sense," said one branch manager of ICICI Bank in Navi Mumbai. NBFCs There is still some amount of confusion among borrowers of NBFCs and HFCs (housing finance companies) about the implementation of the scheme. One is on the number of EMIs that effectively get deferred. While a section of the lenders said they will defer three months of EMIs (March, April and May), others said only two months of EMI (April and May) will be effectively applicable under this scheme. This is because March EMIs have already been drawn from borrower accounts. The RBI scheme was announced in late March for EMIs till May. By then most banks had debited the EMIs for the month of March. "We have been directed to defer EMIs for April and May. If someone wants a refund of March EMI, he can apply. But this process wont be automatic," said an official with PNB Housing finance requesting anonymity. But an official of another large HFC said they have already put on hold March payments from borrowers till clarity emerges on the implementation part of the scheme. Also Read: RBIs moratorium: Don't stop your loan EMIs if you can afford to pay Second is on the status of NBFCs with respect to their loans to banks. NBFCs typically borrow from banks. Unlike banks, these entities cannot raise funds from depositors. Now the problem for them is that under RBI guidelines, they are not eligible for loan moratorium. At the same time, RBI rules clearly state that NBFCs will have to give moratorium to their customers. This could lead to a temporary cash flow problem for these entities. This has created a confusion among smaller NBFCs, prompting them to tread cautiously while extending the scheme to their borrowers. Though these companies can avail liquidity from the RBI under the targeted long-term repo operation of the central bank, smaller NBFCs are slightly worried about their liquidity position. Also Read: SBI's 'automatic' EMI moratorium offer: Watch out for this hidden risk for borrowers Big banks are happy with the moratorium offer for retail borrowers for two reasons. One, only a relatively low percentage of borrowers (as a percentage of total) will avail the offer. Second, borrowers who avail this offer will have to pay additional interest to the bank as the interest continues to accrue during the moratorium period. For the borrower, this could translate into more number of EMIs. Consider this: for a Rs 30 lakh loan with 15 years EMI remaining, the additional interest burden will translate into 6-8 EMIs. If the EMI deferral is offered automatically, there is a chance that borrowers wouldn't even know the risks associated with the offer. For instance, SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar initially said SBI borrowers do not need to apply to avail the moratorium offer and the scheme will be made available to them automatically. But later, SBI changed the automatic option and sought customer consent. Since the RBI guidelines specifically mentions that deferral wouldn't amount to any changes in asset quality norms and borrowers credit rating, the banks do not need to worry. But, for the borrower, this will add to his repayment burden. The EMI moratorium scheme is turning out to be an interesting experiment for the banking industry. The health and safety of our workforce, dealers, customers, partners, and communities remain our highest priority. We are working very closely with union leaders especially at the UAW to develop additional health and safety procedures aimed at helping keep our workforce safe and healthy, said Kumar Galhotra, Ford president, North America. Ford recently announced that they are delaying the planned restart of its North American production plants in order to protect its workforce. Initially, the automaker planned to restart production of the Hermosillo Assembly Plant on April 6 and several key U.S. plants on April 14. Given the gravity of the pandemic, these have now been further postponed indefinitely. When Ford first announced the temporary shut down of their North American production plants, they also mentioned that production would immediately resume later this April. However, given the circumstances and the continuous spread of the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic around the world, it seems that wont be the case. Despite announcing the indefinite closure of Fords production plants across the US, the Rawsonville Components Plant will restart the week of April 20. However, this plant will not be building cars or vehicle components. Instead, they will be producing the Model A-E ventilator, in collaboration with GE Healthcare. In a previous announcement, the automaker expects to produce a total of 50,000 units by the end of July, helping reach the government quota. Approximately 500 paid volunteer UAW workers will be building these ventilators. On top of its US production, Ford also announced that the restart of its European vehicle and engine plants will also be pushed back further. The automaker says that the temporary closure of its European production facilities will be extended until May 4. However, it all depends on the coronavirus situation this April as the restart could still be moved back further if needed. Ford, however, made no followup announcements regarding their facilities in India, Vietnam, South Africa, and Thailand just yet, but we expect the same scenario. The initial announcement said suspension in India, Vietnam, South Africa, and Thailand was expected to last only "weeks". But given the continuous spread of the disease, it might take until May before production finally resumes. Facilities in South America have likewise been suspended with regards to production operations. Only one region in the world has largely resumed vehicle production, and that's China. Its a sunny early spring Friday and Im walking through the mostly empty streets to meet a bunny in an open field. The hopefulness of the fresh new season somehow adds to the citys ghostly mood. A pandemic is nothing if not a steep learning curve, bringing with it all manner of unforeseeable challenges. But among the most, lets call it, unique obstacles proves to be arranging a meeting with a rabbit during a period of strict social distancing. As isolation measures intensified, the bunnys mother, Kate Whyte, and I toyed with the prospect of setting up a FaceTime call with Marshall, a grey and white Holland Lop, but settled on a suitably distanced rendezvous in a field. So, here we are, sitting by a generously boughed storybook tree. Marshall is in his carrier, his nose busily wiggling through the mesh window. Hes a bit frightened, Whyte tells me, protectively patting his flopping ears, keeping him close so that he wont hop away at surprising speed. The last time he left the house, it was to get neutered, so he understandably may not have the happiest associations with the outside world. Marshall is hardly the only one who feels more comfortable staying in right now: COVID-19 has made house cats (house bunnies?) of us all. With workplaces and schools closed and people holed up at home, shuttered animal shelters along with loneliness and general despair have prompted an unprecedented worldwide surge in animal adoption and fostering. (Apparently, even hen adoption has hit a new high.) Theres an app, BarkNBorrow, that allows you to rent someones dog to go out for a walk and a play. If physical contact with our fellow humans is now perilous and verboten (even punishable by law), cuddling with a pet is positively medicinal. Now that people cant even visit with their therapists in 3-D, the animal IS the therapy. The notion of bunny, dog or hen therapy is not all, forgive me, fluff. Scientists have long attributed the healing benefits of pet ownership to oxytocin the love hormone or cuddle hormone responsible for easing stress and anxiety. Just looking at your dog can purportedly cause oxytocin levels to spike researchers in Japan found mutual gazing between humans and dogs may reduce stress in both parties. The benefits of mutual gazing with your bunny seem to be a yet uncharted research area. Bunny cuddling is currently a very fashionable activity. The American Pet Products Association reports that millennials have overtaken boomers as the largest pet-parent demographic, and rabbits have hopped into the spotlight as the millennial pet of choice. Theyre the perfect size for small apartments; they dont need to be walked multiple times a day; they can be house-trained; theyre vegan; and they are eminently Instagrammable. Indeed, Marshall has his own account, @marshallthelop. I love being part of the bunny community, says Whyte, 23, a nutritionist and manager at Torontos Nutbar Cafe. Indeed, a quick social media scan (see: #rabbitsofinstagram, #bunnylove) confirms the field of bunny influencers is proliferating like, yes, rabbits. Ive been fascinated with rabbits my entire life, says Whyte. Theyre in childrens books and theyre always the mystical, the vulnerable and gentle ones. (From a Darwinian point of view, of course, their fragility comes from their prey position at the bottom of the food chain.) Whyte tells me that as a child growing up in Hamilton, Ont., she had a stutter for 10 years, and worked with a speech therapist from the time she was 3 years old. Because of my speech impediment, I feel that Im more sympathetic to people and animals who are more vulnerable and more sensitive. She has also long struggled with obsessive compulsive disorder. I get a negative thought in my head and repeat it constantly. It makes it hard for me to get out of bed, to feel motivated. A psychologist told me that I had one of the worst cases of OCD she had ever seen. Last year, Whyte moved to Toronto to live with her boyfriend, the first time she had lived away from home, and it proved a dark and lonesome time. I wasnt working for a while, and I was anxious and very lonely, she says. She went into therapy, and adopted baby Marshall from a small-scale rabbitry in Ancaster, Ont., run by a 25-year-old breeder. Then, Marshall provided comfort and a cosy membership to a niche community; now, his mood-lifting adorableness is called into service more than ever. Hes made this difficult time a lot easier its hard to be angry or worried about your job all the time when you have a bunny who wants your affection. What is a pestilence to humans turns out to be a paradise for pets. Marshall loves the pandemic, Whyte tells me. Were home all the time and he gets all of our attention. He used to flip his bowls and kick out his litter (yes, hes litter-trained) to express his displeasure at being left alone; now he is flopping and binkying (i.e., leaping and twirling) classic behaviour of the happy, well-adjusted rabbit. He licked my cheek for an hour last night! Whyte told me. He is thriving. I too feel I am thriving as I gaze into Marshalls glossy brown button eyes and stroke his silky head. Part of the comfort, it seems to me, is in communing with a creature so blissfully unaware of the dangers and idiocy of the human world. Intruding on this moment is a rising sense of guilt how can I feel joy at a time like this? But then, joy is even more essential, and intensified, during the darkest times. Theres a conception of joy as meaning something like something easy, and to me, joy has nothing to do with ease. Joy has everything to do with the fact that were all going to die, said the poet Ross Gay during an interview for the podcast On Being. When Im thinking about joy, Im thinking that at the same time as something wonderful is happening, we are also in the process of dying. That is every moment. And each moment is to be cherished before it disappears, quick as, well, a bunny. Irrfan Khans latest release Angrezi Medium, whose run was cut short due to lockdown amid coronavirus outbreak, has finally arrived on the newly launched Disney Plus on Hotstar VIP. The film stars Irrfan and Radhika Madan in lead roles with Kareena Kapoor, Deepak Dobriyal and Dimple Kapadia in a pivotal roles. Irrfan took to Twitter to announce the release of the film on the streaming platform. He wrote, Hop on to the dreamy roller-coaster ride with this father-daughter duo as we bring to you the World Digital Premiere of #AngreziMedium only on @DisneyplusHSVIP ! Watch now: http://hotstar.com/1260024321 #KareenaKapoorKhan @radhikamadan01 #DeepakDobriyal #DineshVijan #HomiAdajania. Angrezi Medium had released on March 13 as the coronavirus outbreak began making its presence felt in India. The film registered an opening of Rs 4.03 crore. It wrapped up at just Rs 9.36 crore as movie theatres pulled down their shutters ahead of a countrywide lockdown. Irrfan has been undergoing treatment for cancer and couldnt join the film team in promotions. He had urged for support on Twitter in an emotional post. Soon after, a song titled Kudi Nu Nachne De was released from the film and had all from Alia Bhatt, Janhvi Kapoor, Katrina Kaif and Kriti Sanon grooving to the happy music. Also read: Was it Diwali?: Sonam Kapoor shocked as firecrackers go off during 9pm 9 min call, Taapsee Pannu says they felt its a rave Amitabh Bachchan had even sent a congratulatory note along with flowers to Radhika to appreciate her performance in the film. The note read, I dont know what to say or write..Im speechless and so so so overwhelmed!@amitabhbachchan Sir its an honour to receive this. I always used to imagine my doorbell ringing after my films release and a person standing outside saying Amitabh Bacchan sir ne aapke liye phool aur ek note bheja hai and me fainting right after that. Thankfully I didnt faint when I actually received it..I just stood there for a few seconds soaking it all in, teary-eyed, in gratitude. Follow @htshowbiz for more To apply to Snyders fund, a business must fill out a one-page form at va30dayfund.com and submit a video no more than three minutes long about the enterprise and its employees. Applications will be evaluated by volunteers with MBAs from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, as well as some of the top business minds from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Snyder said. Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - 7 April 2020 is the day to celebrate the work of nurses and midwives and remind world leaders of the critical role they play in keeping the world healthy First there was 'Go Corona, go' chanted by Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, which made headlines. Now, there's 'China Virus Go Back.' BJP's lone MLA in Telangana, Raja Singh, led a unique protest against coronavirus on Sunday night by raising slogans of "Chinese virus go back". The MLA, along with his supporters, lit torches in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to switch off electrical lights and light diyas, candles or flashlights on mobile phones as a mark of solidarity in the fight against coronavirus. Holding fire torches in their hands, Raja Singh and his followers raised slogans of "go back, go back, Chinese virus go back." The controversial MLA, who represents Goshamahal constituency in Hyderabad, was accompanied by more than a dozen supporters. While Raja Singh and five others were holding fire torches in their hands, others were seen carrying candles. Sequel to Go Corona Go is here. "Chinese Virus Go Back" Ft. Raja Singh, BJP MLA from Goshamahal, Hyderabad #99 pic.twitter.com/lxuQbGYflG No Show Rajneesh (@GochiwaleGuruji) April 5, 2020 Raja Singh himself posted a photo of the protest against Coroanvirus. The only problem? In the photos and videos it becomes evident that while Raja Singh has a mask, he's not actively wearing the mask (it's resting on his chin.) And he's definitely not practicing social-distancing at all, if he's crowding with many of his followers in public. PM Modi had however, urged people to take part in the activity, but do it while social distancing, to enforce which, India is currently in a 21-day lockdown, and to contain the spread of the new novel Coronavirus. "Don't go out into the streets. Do it only from the doors or balconies. Keep social-distancing, don't break it any cost," urges PM @narendramodi. Follow live updates: https://t.co/Mn308irQvJ #CoronavirusPandemic pic.twitter.com/ag7XTiaKKI News18.com (@news18dotcom) April 3, 2020 (With inputs from IANS) Reach key decision makers with sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Move the needle by delivering funnel qualified leads to your sales team. Learn more A session on the role of emerging technologies in the courtroom waspart of last months New York State Bar Association Annual Meeting in New York City. Emerging Technologies in Litigation included a panel of local and federal judges as well as an e-discovery researcher and emerging technology attorney. The group discussed the use of artificial intelligence in the courtroom. The session addressed the role that AI could play in judicialdecision making, where algorithms potentially can predict behavior andoutcomes resulting from different legal strategies. The rationale is that lawis based on precedent if a case is similar to past cases, then theresults shouldnt be all too surprising. However, given the rise ofdeepfakes and the possibility that AI in effect could manufactureevidence some argued that the technology should be excluded from court proceedings. Despite such concerns, the global legaltech market for AI isexpected to grow in the coming years, driven by the trend in major law firmsto adopt various legaltech solutions that aim to reduce turnaroundtime for some legal cases. AI is used to help with document management systems, e-discovery, e-billing, contract management, and even practice and case management. AI already has been employed at a lower level in the Los AngelesSuperior Court to handle seemingly mundane traffic citations. Visitorsto the courts website can interact with Gina, an AI-powered onlineavatar, to pay a traffic ticket, register for traffic school, or schedule a court date. Since being installed in 2016, Gina which ispart of an effort by the LA Superior Court to reduce the backlog ofcases has had more than 200,000 interactions a year, and has reduced traffic court wait times dramatically. One Step Closer to PreCrime AIs predictive algorithms can be used by police departmentsto strategize about where to send patrols, and facial recognitionsystems can be used to help identify suspects. Combined, these approaches sound eerily similar to the Philip K. Dick short story, The Minority Report, which became the basis of the Steven Spielberg-directed filmMinority Report, in which the police departments PreCrime unitapprehends criminals based on foreknowledge of criminal activity. Courts currently are using AI algorithms to determine the defendantsrisk, which can range from the probability that the defendant willcommit another crime to whether or not they will appear for their nextcourt date for bail, sentencing and parole decisions, explainedtechnology inventor/consultant Lon Safko. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Often AI can be wrong not only in determining whereofficers should patrol, but also in recommending how criminals should be sentenced.Here is where the Correctional Offender Management Profiling forAlternative Sanctions comes into play. It compares defendant answersto questions as well as personal factors against a nationwide datagroup and assigns a score, which is used to determine sentencing. Recently in Wisconsin, a defendant was found guilty for hisparticipation in a drive-by shooting, Safko told TechNewsWorld. While being booked, the suspect answered several questions that wereentered into the AI system COMPAS, he continued. The judge gave thisdefendant a long sentence partially because he was labeled high riskby this assessment tool. AI in the Courts At the present time it isnt clear how widespread the use of AI in thecourts will be in part because the courts at all levels have beenquite slow to embrace any new technology. This could be changing,however, as AI can help streamline the courts in ways that couldbenefit all parties. We believe the courts are leading digital transformation in themarket, and approximately 90 percent of courts have evolved fromtraditional court reporting to professional digital court reporting,said Jacques Botbol, vice president of marketing at software firmVerbit. Certain applications of AI are often adopted faster than others particularly those surrounding the automation of routine tasks andworkflows, he told TechNewsWorld. Its interesting to note that AI is also being utilized through morecomplex applications, such as utilizing AI to make decisions regardingcases, added Botbol. These use cases will be adopted more slowly asthere are significant concerns about due process, biases, etc. AI Court Reporting Supporters of AI technology in the courts point to how it can helpcourt reporters do their job better. Today, most court reporting firms reject work since they dont havethe necessary workforce to handle it all, explained Botbol. AI is helping to fill the gaps that the retiring court reporters andthe legacy court reporter market have left, he noted. A D V E R T I S E M E N T At the same time, lawyers want to receive materials quickly, andtoday depositions are getting delayed because of the shortage in themarket with some areas reaching more than 35 percent, Botbol added. AI, along with automatic speech recognition (ASR), allows forproceedings to be recorded and processed in a timelier manner. There is a backlog of cases that need to be transcribed, yet withAI-based ASR tools these transcripts can be processed at fasterturnaround times, said Botbol. Instead of relying on courttranscriptionists, the courts have multiple court reporting agenciesthat they can assign the work out to in order to clear their backlogand work more efficiently. Judge and/or Jury No one is expecting that AI will fill the role of judge or jury at least not in the legal system of the United States. However, AIcould help ensure that the accused in criminal cases truly aregranted the right to a speedy trial, while also addressing the backlogsin the civil courts. In the future, AI will not only serve as an add-on, but will alsohelp to streamline trials by removing delays, which will lead tosmarter and faster decisions being made, said Tony Sirna, legalspecialist at Verbit. Applications of AI are being studied and piloted for a number of usecases, he told TechNewsWorld. These include not only sentencing and risk assessment such as COMPAS,but also settlement of disputes. Online Dispute Resolution is another aspect where we may seeautomated adjudication of small civil cases, noted Sirna. AI could help the parties reach an equitable settlement in civil cases. Mining extensive amounts of related court cases and decisions willcome into play, with parties submitting their cases and using AIcombined with data mining for settlement options or fairadjudication, noted Sirna. AI Rights Another consideration that likely will come up is how AI will be treated by the courts. Can AI be an expert witness, for example? If so, how will AI need to be treatedby the courts? Will AI need to be granted some form of rights? AI likely wont need rights, but it will need control, and a teamthat manages the innovation in each court, said Sirna. The aspect of rights related to AI poses interesting legalquestions: Who is responsible for the AI? Is the AI algorithm fair orbiased? At what point does the AI make its own decisions? Who isliable for results or decisions rendered by algorithms the user, thedesigner, or the court? pondered Sirna. However, many of these questions likely wont need to be addressedanytime soon nor will AI have the power to pass judgment. Our judicial system is by no means early adopters, but for goodcause, said Safko. Rendering a just verdict and sentence is paramount, and we have to besure that the defendants and plaintiffs are properly represented andthat their information is protected, he said. This is why doctorsinsist on still using fax machines over email, which can easily behacked. Automated Recommendations AI could have a place in the courtroom, but perhaps only to aid the humanlawyers, judge, court reporters and jury. AI shouldnt replace any ofthose humans, but aid them in doing their job. Once a technology has proven itself to be reliable and show a time orcost savings, it has been and will be adopted, suggested Safko. AI is not a perfect science it is still programmed by humans, andnot every set of data perfectly matches the predetermined rulesprogrammed into the application, he warned. However, with the increasing pressure on court dockets, any time or cost saving measures need to be considered. It is important too, to consider how AI then could affect peoples lives. Every automated recommendation should be reviewed by a qualifiedjudge to verify the outcome. Then their recommendation needs to be fedback into that system to allow it to become more proficient atrendering appropriate decisions, said Safko. We cant risk peoples lives on automated apps that save money, he noted. Even the Chief Justice of our Supreme Court, John Roberts, isconcerned about how AI is affecting the U.S. legal system, Safkoexplained. When asked about AI in our legal system, he said its aday thats here, and its putting a significant strain on how thejudiciary goes about doing things.' UPDATE (4/7): 78 new deaths in Pa., 4 of them in Lehigh Valley; COVID-19 confirmed in all 67 counties Pennsylvanias nearing 13,000 total coronavirus cases of the virus thats claimed the lives of 12 more state residents, including a person who lives in Northampton County, in the last 24 hours. On Monday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported another 1,470 positive cases of COVID-19 bringing the total number of cases statewide to 12,980 in 65 of the states 67 counties. The Lehigh Valley now has 1,722 confirmed COVID-19 cases -- an increase of 188 cases overnight -- and a total of 20 deaths. Lehigh County has at least 1,006 positive tests and eight deaths, while Northamptons reported 716 cases and 12 deaths. The majority of the states new deaths occurred in Bucks County -- four more since Sundays report -- and Lancaster County, which recorded three more deaths. Chester, Delaware, Lackawanna, Northampton and Pike counties all account for one of the new fatalities. The novel virus has killed 162 adult residents since the states outbreak began March 6. During a Monday afternoon news briefing, Gov. Tom Wolf and state Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine expressed optimism that Pennsylvania seems to be flattening the curve -- meaning its growth of new coronavirus cases is not increasing exponentially -- but said it was too early to say definitively. Were still growing at an alarming rate every single day, Wolf, who arrived to the briefing sporting a mask, said. More and more people are getting sick and more and more people are dying." It is crucial that in the coming weeks Pennsylvanians do not become complacent, the pair emphasized. With the COVID-19 surge on the horizon, folks need to stay home and strictly adhere to social distancing rules to ensure the states hospital system can handle an influx of patients. We need to keep doing the things we know save lives, Wolf said. Pennsylvanias hospitals are now reporting stats on their available beds, ventilators and hospitalized COVID-19 patients to state health officials three times a day, Levine said. As of noon Monday, about 51% of the states hospital beds were free as well as 40% of the intensive care unit beds and 70% of ventilators, she said. The surge may not be as great as we once anticipated," Wolf said. "That is our fervent hope. There are about 1,612 patients currently hospitalized with the disease and 533 of those patients are relying on ventilators to breathe for them, she said. This means now about 12% of the states total patients are requiring hospital care, a slight uptick. Pennsylvanias hospitals have more than 5,000 ventilators now, more than state officials initially believed were available, Levine said. The health department also has its own stockpile and new ventilators purchased by the state are expected to arrive later this month. The states also requested 1,000 ventilators from the federal strategic national stockpile but its request is on hold due to the current availability of ventilators in Pennsylvania. Now more than ever, as we continue to see COVID-19 cases and deaths rise in Pennsylvania, we need Pennsylvanians to take action, Levine said. Those actions should be to stay calm, stay home and stay safe. If you must go out, please limit it to as few trips as possible and wear a mask to protect not only yourself, but other people as well. We need all Pennsylvanians to heed these efforts to protect our vulnerable Pennsylvanians, and also our healthcare workers and frontline responders. Anyone who has tested positive is at home in isolation or hospitalized. The number of positive cases include 598 healthcare workers and 518 long-term care living facilities residents, Levine said. There are 70,874 patients who have tested negative to date. The state is trying to working to acquire as much personal protective equipment as possible, but it has been a challenge, Wolf said. There really isnt enough supply to meet the demand," the governor said. With the number of positive cases rising every day, the governor outlined steps the state is taking to ensure the health care system is equipped to deal with a patient surge. Pennsylvania manufacturers that currently are producing or can pivot to produce COVID-19-related supplies to submit their information to a new Pennsylvania Manufacturing Call to Action Portal . Throughout our commonwealths history, our manufacturing sector has answered the call to move us forward and contributed tremendously in times of turbulence, Wolf said. "I call upon our private sector to be a part of the solution to this crisis. Wolf has closed schools statewide indefinitely and ordered non-life-sustaining businesses to shut down. The entire state is under a stay-at-home order. It remains critically important that all Pennsylvanians stay home as much as they possibly can, Levine said. If you must leave the house, please wear a mask, both Wolf and Levine said. The best thing people can do right now is to stay at home, she said. If you may have been exposed or exhibit the symptoms of COVID-19 fever, cough and shortness of breath contact your healthcare provider. For more information on the coronavirus, consult your state health department at www.health.pa.gov or www.nj.gov/health and the CDC website. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email her. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Reports of Chinese medical products 'substandard' not objective: official Global Times Source:Global Times Published: 2020/4/5 17:41:14 Responding to so-called "quality concerns" of Chinese medical products being exported, an official at China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said Sunday that some media reports are not objective enough, and do not reflect the whole picture but only blame the products for being "substandard." There are multiple reasons that might have caused the Chinese-made medical supplies to be considered unqualified: different standards of quality between China and other countries, and user habits are different. Inappropriate use could even raise doubts on quality, Jiang Fan, a first-level inspector of the Department of Foreign Trade at MOFCOM, told a press conference on Sunday. "For instance, the batch of Chinese-made non-surgical masks exported to the Netherlands were distributed to local hospitals," said Jiang. According to preliminary investigations by relevant Chinese authorities, the masks were purchased by Dutch agency companies. Chinese enterprises had informed the Dutch side that the masks were for non-medical purposes before delivery, and procedures for the export declaration were carried out in the name of "non-medical masks," Hua Chunying, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said at a press briefing on Thursday. Questions over the quality of Chinese-made masks have gained much attention after Dutch authorities ordered a recall of 600,000 masks from China, citing a variety of issues including masks not fitting health workers' mouths properly and not having sufficient filters. Dutch officials said that the KN95 masks should filter out at least 95 percent of airborne particles, but the masks couldn't filter them out. Dutch Medical Care Minister Martin van Rijn said on his Twitter account on Sunday that "This morning, another shipment came in from China with 938,000 type IIR surgical masks. These have all been tested according to the guidelines of the National Institute for Health and Environment and approved for issue. Good news for the fantastic healthcare staff." China will enhance communications and deepen cooperation with relevant countries and regions, including the Netherlands. "Tougher measures should be adopted to regulate the quality of medical exports amid the special period of coronavirus prevention worldwide," Jiang said. 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 MOFCOM. Meanwhile, China also hopes that overseas buyers of medical products would purchase from suppliers whose products have been registered with Chinese regulators, verify product quality before using them, and strictly follow the operation procedures and scope of application, the ministry said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Howard Schultz said Monday that he worries that many small restaurants and retailers may struggle to survive the coronavirus economic halt without additional help from the U.S. government. "If we don't provide a backstop for the restaurants, I suspect that we could see a situation around the country in which approximately 30% or more of small, independent retailers and/or restaurants never reopen," the billionaire former Starbucks CEO said on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street." Schultz said he hoped Congress and other public officials "are looking at ways to recognize that we must not only flatten the curve of the health crisis but we must begin to flatten the curve of economic despair." The value of these businesses extends far beyond their top-line revenues, he stressed. "It's employment. It's vendors. It's all the people who support them, not to mention the intrinsic value of neighborhoods and community gathering." Congress created a $350 billion loan program for small businesses as part of a $2 trillion economic relief package meant to soften the blow from the COVID-19 pandemic. The loan program, which went online Friday, has already seen a flurry of demand, adding to existing concerns that $350 billion wouldn't be enough to assist all the businesses that need help. Portions of the loans used for payroll and certain other expenses can be forgiven. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said he will ask Congress for additional funds if necessary. Schultz suggested that future fiscal stimulus measures should include more of a "backstop" to help landlords and banks who want to "forego not only the rent in the short term but give an opportunity for these restaurant operators to open in a way in which rent is forgiven." "We can't have a scorched earth situation in which 30 to 40% of restaurants and small businesses do not reopen," said Schultz, a longtime Democrat who had considered an independent run for the presidency but decided against it. "It's not a time for politics. It's a time to band together to get hope to people who need it most; and most importantly to demonstrate shared humanity," he said. "We must come together and recognize that we'll get through this, but we also have to dig deep to help those people who can't help themselves." Research News Fake Russian Twitter accounts politicized discourse about vaccines By BERT GAMBINI There is a real danger of health topics being politicized and used as propaganda tools. Activity from phony Twitter accounts established by the Russian Internet Research Agency (IRA) between 2015 and 2017 may have contributed to politicizing Americans position on the nature and efficacy of vaccines, a health care topic that has not historically fallen along party lines, according to new research published in the American Journal of Public Health. The findings, based on machine learning analysis of nearly 3 million tweets from fake accounts, expose a general threat made startlingly more relevant in the face of the pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus, according to Yotam Ophir, assistant professor of communication, College of Arts and Sciences, who co-authored the study. There is a real danger of health topics being politicized and used as propaganda tools. If that happens for topics such as coronavirus, people would be inclined to evaluate the importance and veracity of health messages from either health experts, politicians, or trusted media outlets based on how it reflects their political leanings, says Ophir, an expert in computational modeling, media effects and persuasion. If people perceive health topics as being aligned with a political agenda, whether its left or right, then they will consequently begin to lose trust in health organizations and question their objectivity. To understand why this might only be the beginning of more intense polarization is to understand that the threat posed by polarizing health care topics may be an unintended side effect of Russian attempts to influence other political discussions, including topics tied closely to the 2016 U.S. presidential election. I dont believe the Russians wanted to sow discord around vaccines specifically, but rather chose to harness social tensions around vaccines in order to make the Republican characters they created appear more Republican and the Democratic characters they created to appear more Democratic. This intensifies a recently emerging divide where one previously did not exist. The Russians intentions in this particular case, however, dont matter when considering the implications for public health, Ophir says. What is pertinent is that the IRA used a public health topic to serve its own strategic and political needs that targeted Republicans and Democrats with different messages. If that proves effective, the Russians will ramp up their misinformation campaign, moving from what might be an unplanned outcome to a more persistent and focused effort. In recent years, we see the change already with Republicans starting to lose trust in vaccines while Democrats seem unmoved, Ophir says. Again, I dont think the Russians care about vaccines, but along the way they created and intensified this emerging divide. Now they can target each party with different messages, spreading misinformation unequally, targeting susceptible groups with lower trust in government and science. Ophirs paper with Dror Walter, assistant professor of communication at Georgia State University, and Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, began as a conversation at a 2018 conference after it was first discovered that Twitter troll accounts were discussing non-political topics such as vaccines. At around the same time, Jamieson published Cyber-War, a book about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election that identified thematic personas among Twitter trolls. These personas are designated topical and linguistic roles played by each fake account. Inspired by Jamiesons work, previous research and Ophirs focus on connecting health misinformation and politics, the team used computational methods to identify nine personas among nearly 2,700 accounts. The pro-Trump personas were more likely to express anti-vaccine sentiment, while anti-Trump personas expressed support for vaccines. Accounts falling under the persona type mimicking African Americans and Black Lives Matter activists also expressed more anti-vaccine messages. The researchers used their own method, the Analysis of Topic Model Networks, to identify patterns among the nearly 3 million tweets and network analysis that treat each topic as a node in a semantic network. This form of unsupervised machine learning finds associations and clusters that are beyond human reach. I have reason to strongly believe, though we dont have the data, that Russia and other countries who try to interfere in our political discourse will use coronavirus to spread misinformation and rumors to solidify the relationships theyre building with new troll accounts that replace the ones removed by Twitter, says Ophir. The virus is not political, but when any health topic becomes a political matter at the expense of fact, the result is to base conclusions and make decisions, such as whether to social distance or not, on party loyalty, not science. Thats extremely dangerous. [April 06, 2020] Trend Micro Honored as 2019 Google Cloud Technology Partner of the Year for Security Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, today announced that it has been awarded as the 2019 Google (News - Alert) Cloud Technology Partner of the Year for Security. This award recognizes accomplishments on Google Cloud and further confirms Trend Micro's leadership in cloud security. "We're pleased to recognize Trend Micro (News - Alert) as our Technology Partner of the Year for Security," said Kevin Ichhpurani, Corporate Vice President, Global Ecosystem at Google Cloud. "Organizations running Trend Micro's 'Cloud One' on Google Cloud can benefit from a single, unified platform that brings together container, workload, network, and file storage security, while leveraging Google Cloud's global and elastic infrastructure." Google Cloud customers running Trend Micro have long benefitted from a complete stack, which includes infrastructure and security integrated and tested together to help customers meet their security and governane guidelines. A joint customer that depends on both Google Cloud and Trend Micro is ClearDATA, which is a leader in healthcare cloud security, compliance, and privacy. Their chief technology officer and co-founder, Matt Ferrari, said, "Our clients rely upon us to protect their sensitive patient information and so it's critical that we maintain technical partnerships that demonstrates implementation and cloud security capabilities that are well ahead of the curve. With Trend Micro and Google Cloud, we are confident in our ability to deliver." Cloud security has been simplified into a single security services platform. Recently launched, Cloud One from Trend Micro brings together workload security, container image scanning/runtime protection, application security, network security, file storage security and cloud security posture management (CSPM). "We see our customers around the globe leveraging Google Cloud and benefiting from the comprehensive controls provided by Cloud One," said Sanjay Mehta, senior vice president of business development and strategic alliances for Trend Micro. "Being selected as Google Cloud's Technology Partner of the Year for Security is a huge recognition for us, especially in a noisy cloud market where many vendors lack the depth and integrated modern cloud security portfolio for build-time to runtime application protection. We couldn't be more proud and are excited to delight customers with more innovations we have planned for Google Cloud over the year ahead." Any organization, especially Google Cloud customers, interested in advancing their cloud security strategy with Trend Micro can find more here. About Trend Micro Trend Micro Incorporated, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, helps to make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Our innovative solutions for consumers, businesses, and governments provide layered security for data centers, cloud environments, networks, and endpoints. All our products work together to seamlessly share threat intelligence and provide a connected threat defense with centralized visibility and control, enabling better, faster protection. With more than 6,000 employees in over 50 countries and the world's most advanced global threat intelligence, Trend Micro enables organizations to secure their journey to the cloud. For more information, visit www.trendmicro.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005508/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ohio Living is proud to announce a partnership with Village Home Health and Hospice, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, now known as Ohio Living Village Home Health & Hospice. Ohio Living, headquartered in Columbus, is one of the nation's largest not-for-profit, multi-site aging services organizations and is Great Place To Work Certified. Village Home Health and Hospice originated as a joint venture between Maple Knoll Communities., Inc. and Jewish Home of Cincinnati. It was established to further the mission of these organizations and has provided high-quality health and hospice services to older adults in their homes for over 25 years. In partnership with Ohio Living Home Health & Hospice, their existing mission will now expand to serve older adults residing in Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, Preble and Warren counties. "Working with key leaders at Village Home Health and Hospice over the past several months, it was clear that we shared a similar culture, a strong set of values and a high commitment to quality and service excellence," said Ohio Living CEO Laurence C. Gumina. "We are excited to bring them into our family and we are honored to join theirs. We are specifically proud to partner with their staff and board as we work together to expand our mission of serving the home health and hospice needs of our community." "The most important quality in any partner is a set of shared values," said Timothy McGowan, Board Member of Village Home Health & Hospice. "We chose to become part of Ohio Living because they are also committed to providing the highest quality care and promoting patient welfare with compassion, skill, respect and financial stewardship. Ohio Living's values align well with our organizational culture, and we are confident that this partnership will allow us to further our mission in the greater Cincinnati area." Gumina agrees. "Our decision to operate as a not-for-profit organization means that people are, and always will be, our first priority." Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio Living is one of the nation's largest not-for-profit, multi-site aging services organizations, and is Great Place To Work Certified. Since 1922, Ohio Living has defined the highest standards of quality of life for adults through its 12 life plan communities and Ohio Living Home Health & Hospice. Our Ohio-based services range from a variety of housing options in one of our communities through the full continuum of care to post-acute home health and hospice support for adults, wherever they live. Additionally, the Ohio Living Foundation raises several million dollars annually to support charity care, special programs, capital expansion and endowment. Village Home Health and Hospice began as a joint venture between Maple Knoll Communities, Inc. and Jewish Home of Cincinnati. Both non-profit organizations have a long history of serving adults dating back to 1848. Village Home Health and Hospice was established to further the mission of both of these organizations and to provide the highest quality of health and hospice services to seniors wherever they call home and to promote the highest level of wellness and comfort possible with skill, compassion, respect and fiscal stewardship. For 172 years, Maple Knoll Communities, Inc. has provided the setting for older adults to live longer, healthier and happier lives. Programs and services that impact 33,650 individuals, ranging in ages from 57 to 105, are provided through our retirement communities Maple Knoll Village and The Knolls of Oxford, Maple Knoll Outreach Services for Seniors, three affordable HUD Senior Living Residences. The Jewish Home of Cincinnati was created in 1992 with a goal of providing care and support for Jewish Seniors in Cincinnati to enable them to live with dignity, respect and in keeping with Jewish values. CONTACT: Melissa Dardinger, Corporate Manager of Public Relations, Ohio Living 614.888.7800 [email protected] SOURCE Ohio Living Related Links https://www.ohioliving.org/ A blind woman has suffered an alleged hate crime after someone coughed in her face amid the coronavirus pandemic. The woman, who is in her 50s, was walking with her guide dog in Melksham, Wiltshire, on Saturday evening when the incident took place, police said. The dog indicated someone was nearby, so the victim shouted out that she could not carry out social distancing because she was unable to see, and asked the person to keep away. But instead, the person approached the victim and coughed in her face, with the woman feeling their breath against her cheek. Sergeant David Hambly, who is investigating the incident, appealed for witnesses to come forward. Due to the current climate, the victim felt especially anxious and shocked by this persons actions and immediately went home and washed her face and hands, he said. This is completely unacceptable behaviour and we are treating this as an incident of hate crime the suspect in this case has shown complete disregard for this womans health and vulnerabilities, and I know members of the local community will be both saddened and disappointed to hear of this persons actions. Unfortunately, we do not have a description of the suspect, but we would urge anyone who may have seen this interaction to get in touch do you live in Halifax Road? Do you have CCTV fitted to your property? Or were you driving in the area with a dash cam fitted to your vehicle? If so, you may have captured footage of the suspect so please do call us. As of Sunday evening, 4,934 patients in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus had died. Press Association The government may need to make a provision of at least Rs 20,000-25,000 crore ($5.90 billion) for capital infusion in state-run banks New Delhi/Mumbai: The government has assured state banks it is ready to provide capital support as the coronavirus pandemic may lead to a surge in bad loans when economic growth is slowing, three government and banking sources told Reuters. New Delhi may need to make a provision of at least Rs 20,000-25,000 crore ($5.90 billion) for capital infusion in state-run banks. However, this number can increase significantly as the situation evolves, the officials said. The NPAs (non-performing assets) could remain an issue and the government may need to make a provision for some capital infusion in the public sector banks, said a senior government official with direct knowledge of the issue. None of the sources wanted to be named as the plan is not yet public. A finance ministry spokesman declined to comment. The government has already pumped in Rs 3.5 lakh crore ($45.91 billion) in the last five years to rescue the beleaguered banks. In this financial years budget announcement in February, it had not allocated any funds for capital infusion. Instead, the banks had been encouraged to tap capital markets for funds. Given the pressure on their credit profiles, we expect public sector banks access to equity capital market will remain challenging, at least over the next few quarters, Alka Anbarasu, vice president and senior credit officer, financial institutions at Moodys Investors Service said. Indian banks are burdened with a bad loan pile of nearly $140 billion and the lions share of it rests with the state-owned banks. Meanwhile, loan growth for the banking industry has also plummeted to the low single digits putting a further strain on these lenders. We expect public sector banks will require further capital support from the government as rising asset risk will lead to a deterioration in their profitability and internal capital generation, Anbarasu added. Moodys and Fitch groups India Ratings and Research have assigned a negative outlook for the Indian banking sector due to disruptions arising from the coronavirus outbreak. Most lenders are likely to require capital in the second or the third quarter of this financial year and that is when they will formally approach the government if required as they already have the reassurance, bankers said. On top of the list right now are the mergers and to ensure how one can tackle the COVID-19 related problems. Currently, most banks are in a position to meet their capital requirement for the first half of this financial year, said the CEO of a public sector bank who declined to be named as the matter is not public yet. In August last year, India had announced a series of mergers involving 10 state-owned banks to ensure stronger balance sheets to boost lending and revive economic growth. Appointment 6 April 2020 The Avani Seminyak Bali Resort has appointed I Made Subrata as General Manager. Scheduled to be rebranded in mid-2020, the resort features 21 rooms and 16 private pool villas. Made began his career in hospitality on his home-island of Bali as the pre-opening team of the well established InterContinental Bali Resort in 1993. In 2004, he joined Conrad Bali as Guest Activities Manager and worked his way up to Rooms Division Manager. He then moved to Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort as Executive Assistant Manager, before joining The Elysian Boutique Villa Hotel as Resort Manager. In 2015, he joined Anantara Vacation Club as Cluster General Manager and his role will also include the upcoming Avani Seminyak Bali Resort. Proposals have been made to abolish peak electricity time regulations and drop prices, photo Le Toan According to the Ministry of Industry and Trades (MoIT) proposal last week to the prime minister, companies and millions of vulnerable households are set to get relief on their energy bills. The total relief package, which is expected to take effect immediately, is estimated at VND11 trillion ($478.2 million) and should last for three months. The plan includes a 10 per cent cut for producers and businesses, costing around VND6.1 trillion ($265.2 million), as well as favourable terms to the value of VND2.9 trillion ($126 million) for households with energy consumption of less than 300 kilowatt hours a month. Households which use more than this would be charged the current rate, as they are classified as high-income earners less affected by COVID-19. Meanwhile, hotels and restaurants would enjoy similar reductions at a cost of VND1.8 trillion ($78.3 million), and hospitals treating virus patients and quarantine camps would be provided with free electricity. Economist Nguyen Minh Phong said that welcome must be given to the governments efforts to support consumers, particularly those in vulnerable circumstances or who need extra support. It will put an end to one-way price hikes, as well as provide protection for the investment climate. This is a necessary action when the country is also launching many relief packages for businesses to help reduce costs, said Phong. Previously the Ministry of Planning and Investment proposed abolishing regulations on peak electricity times (9.30am-11.30pm), narrowing electricity price scale, and reducing prices until October. Speaking to VIR, two associations of intensive-power industries in steel and cement said that the proposal should be granted with immediate effect in order to stabilise production and prevent decline. They also called for policies on tax exemption, tax reduction, and lending rate reduction to be implemented quickly for the affected business community. Executive chairman of PEB Steel Sami Kteily said that the MoIT proposal to cut electricity bills by up to 10 per cent is good news, and will provide some relief to many businesses that are struggling to pay fixed as well as variable operating expenses. However, now that oil prices have dropped, state-run Electricity of Vietnam can recalculate power prices and offer further cuts, said Kteily. It is apparent that the government is doing its best to help the business community cope with the repercussions of the coronavirus outbreak, but as local steelmakers in our industry are facing extreme hardships and are blocked from both import and export lines, we are expecting additional policies such as loan extensions and a reduction in lending rates. Moreover, a fall in corporate income tax rates would mean a lot to businesses, he added. Electricity costs account for about 8 per cent of production costs, while average profits are just 5 per cent of revenue for the steel and cement industries. In regard to the hospitality sector, Nguyen Tien Dat, owner of Lotus House in Hanoi said, We highly appreciate the governments determination to control the spread of the virus, because during an pandemic, it is very difficult to conduct business and recover completely. We are in favour of the relatively close care and direction from the government in providing packages to support the business community. Industry experts stated that the tariff reduction would not affect the countrys electricity supply across the whole year. Jeff Bezos' space venture Blue Origin confirmed on Monday that two employees at its Seattle-area headquarters tested positive for the coronavirus. The employees, who are married couple, work at Blue Origin's headquarters in Kent, Washington, and one was last at the company's office as late as Friday. The company has now had three employees test positive for COVID-19, as Blue Origin confirmed a separate first case on Friday, GeekWire reported. That first employee worked at the company's rocket factory in Kent, the company said, and was last at the facility on March 26. "Blue Origin's Human Resources team will remain in close communication with these employees throughout their recovery period to make sure they are getting the care and support they need from us while they quarantine, recover and seek medical care," Linda Mills, head of communications at Blue Origin, told CNBC in a statement. "We have also notified those employees who were in contact with them and have directed them to stay at home for the next 14 days to self-quarantine, and have deep cleaned the areas they visited," Mills added. "The health and safety of these individualsand the Blue Origin teamis our first priority and main concern. We are following all CDC guidelines at all of our facilities, and have implemented additional procedures to ensure the ongoing safety of our employees." The Seattle region is a hot spot for coronavirus cases in the U.S., with companies such as Boeing and Amazon also reporting employees have tested positive for the virus. About 135 Boeing employees tested positive for COVID-19 as of Sunday, the company told CNBC. Blue Origin and its around 2,500-person workforce are not the first in the space industry to see employees test positive for COVID-19. A SpaceX employee at the company's Hawthorne, California, headquarters tested positive last month, CNBC reported on March 24, and the rocket competitor placed about a dozen employees under protective quarantine. This story is breaking and will be updated. Seven pharmacy employees at the Kaiser Westside Medical Center in Hillsboro have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Kaiser Permanente confirmed the seven employees illness today and closed the outpatient portion of the pharmacy -- the same day The Oregonian/OregonLive inquired about the novel coronavirus breakout. The first pharmacy employee fell ill about four weeks ago, said a pharmacy technician, who commented on the condition they remain anonymous for fear of losing their job. Weve been dropping like flies ever since. Its unclear whether employees or customers were ever notified by Kaiser Permanente Northwest, which operates Kaiser Westside. Three employees interviewed by The Oregonian/OregonLive said they never were. Kaiser made a significant change to how it serves its customers at the facility, moving recently to curbside service only so customers no longer have to walk into the pharmacy. The safety of our patients and staff is our top priority," according to a Kaiser statement provided by spokesman Michael Foley. Following the identification of an initial staff member, other pharmacy workers were closely monitored, including daily temperature checks, and employees with symptoms were asked to self-isolate at home. The outpatient pharmacy at the Kaiser Westside Medical Center was closed today, and several additional steps have been taken to enhance the safety of patients and clinicians, the statement said. The Kaiser pharmacy breakout raises thorny legal questions about an employers obligation to inform its employees. Courtney Angeli, a prominent Portland employment lawyer, cited language in the Occupational Health and Safety Act that requires employers to furnish workplaces free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm. While an employer has a duty under the disability discrimination laws not to disclose medical information it learns about any particular employee, it does also have a duty to maintain a safe workplace under state and federal laws," Angeli said. "Failing to disclose to employees that several of their co-workers have tested positive for COVID-19 seems to be inconsistent with that obligation. The likelihood that health care workers will contract the highly contagious virus has been a leading concern for federal and state officials trying to deal with the pandemic. As of Friday, the number of COVID-19-positive health care workers in the largest hospitals in Oregon and Southwest Washington totaled at least 57. But as the Kaiser pharmacy illustrates, you dont have to stand over a critically ill patient in the emergency room to catch the virus. The Kaiser facility is not your garden-variety pharmacy in a suburban strip mall. It is the in-house pharmacy for Kaisers Westside Medical Center, a hospital with more than 120 beds. On a busy day, its 23 employees can fulfill a thousand orders. When the first few Kaiser pharmacy co-workers came down with the virus, the employees speculated the facility would be closed and they would be furloughed. But it never happened. In fact, the employees said, Kaiser has never alerted them to the outbreak. The only reason we know is because our co-workers who have the virus told us, one of the employees said. None of the Kaiser pharmacy employees have died as a result of the virus. Most have not been hospitalized. About 80% of COVID-19 sufferers do not get seriously ill. For the other 20%, particularly those with underlying health conditions, it can be more serious and even deadly. The first Kaiser Westside pharmacy employee tried repeatedly to get tested for COVID-19, her three co-workers said. Kaiser resisted until the employee got a fever. The test came back positive and she was sent home. Workers now wonder how many days their co-worker reported to work while contagious. Shortly after that first positive case, employees got permission to wear surgical masks. Though the paper masks provide little protection against the virus, the employees reasoned, at least it would limit the possibility of them transmitting the virus to others. Hours later, Kaiser reversed itself. No masks allowed. Employees still arent sure what prompted the change. Today, Kaiser announced it would close the outpatient operation of the pharmacy. Spokesman Foley said it was part of a larger plan to limit access to the hospital. Kaiser said its been working with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 and the Guild for Professional Pharmacists to determine the best way of providing critical care to our members and the safest conditions for our employees and clinicians. Jeff Manning 503-294-7606 971-263-5164 jmanning@oregonian.com Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaking in Government Buildings, Dublin, as he briefs the media on the latest measures Government Departments have introduced in response to Covid-19. The Taoiseach has said he does not think tougher laws will be needed to ensure people comply with Covid-19 restrictions. Emergency legislation passed in March provides for extensive new powers for gardai to police peoples movements in the context of the emergency and arrest people who fail to comply with their instructions. However, new regulations have not yet been signed off by the Government. Speaking in Dublin on Monday, Leo Varadkar said people have been compliant with the measures. Whether it is people self-isolating for 14 days or obeying the rules around social distancing, I am proud that we as a country have been able to do that by consent, he said. Do you know the difference between self-isolation and restricted movement? Find out all you need to know here: https://t.co/kR7PLZF9TL #coronavirus #COVID19 #StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/tN4fSxO4zq HSE Ireland (@HSELive) April 6, 2020 The coronavirus death toll in Ireland rose to 174 on Monday, with 16 further deaths reported. There were 370 new confirmed cases, taking the overall total to 5,364. Mr Varadkar added: We have regulations on the table that are ready to sign if we need to bring in the kind of enforcement powers that exist in other countries. I dont want to be in a position where we are criminalising people for going more than two kilometres from their house without an adequate excuse. The last thing I want is people to come out of this emergency with fines and prison sentences and criminal convictions. I know that is the approach in other countries I dont think that is our way. I think we can achieve what needs to be achieved by consent and the public being on board. That has been the case in the vast majority of scenarios. We can bring in tougher laws and they are ready to be signed if we need to. I dont want to do that just yet unless the Garda commissioner feels it is absolutely necessary. Mr Varadkar said the Government is working on childcare for healthcare workers during the emergency, but it needs to be cleared by the public health team. He said: There are essential workers in the economy and in the health service who are struggling and want to get to work but cant because childcare is not available to them. A number of proposals are being worked up and it is taking much longer than we would have liked. I understand peoples frustrations public health has to be the number one concern. While we are ready to push the button in terms of providing childcare for essential workers, we need clearance from the public health team and that it in itself does not become a public health risk or allow the virus to be spread. It is now an issue of public health clearance and we have not got that yet. Mr Vardakar has said he will be working as a doctor one day per week for the duration of the Covid-19 emergency. He said he has already completed one shift as a doctor to assist with contact tracing. He revealed on Sunday that he rejoined the medical register in March and is setting aside one day per week to help with the fight against Covid-19. So far it has just been a telephone clinic. We will see how it goes but the idea is to set one session aside per week to do that. It is a gesture of support for all of the people who work in our health service and everyone beyond our health service who are contributing to our health service, he said. It also gives me a chance to take the temperature of our health service and to talk at least once a week to people who are working in the health service, see how things are going and to see what challenges they are facing. I wont be giving regular reports on it and there wont be any photo-ops. It will just be something I am doing quietly once a week for the duration of the emergency. Meanwhile, the head of the GP association has said Covid-19 community assessment hubs will keep patients from overburdening the hospital system while being treated by healthcare staff. Expand Close Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has offered his services by returning to the Medical Register (Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has offered his services by returning to the Medical Register (Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland/PA) Community assessment hubs for Covid-19 will begin accepting their first patients this week. The Health Service Executive said 12 to 15 of the assessment hubs will be in place by the end of the week. The hubs provide facilities for people who need to self-isolate, those who are sick and people who are awaiting a test result. The vice-president of the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) Dr Nuala OConnor said the hubs will keep patients from overburdening the hospital system. She said: We are trying to make sure that as the figures increase that we can make sure not to overburden the emergency rooms and healthcare systems if at all possible. A number of private-only consultants have expressed concern about the terms of the new temporary HSE locum contracts. Last month, the Government announced it had reached agreement with private hospitals across the State to use their facilities for the treatment of both Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 patients. Some 500 consultants working at these hospitals who currently treat private patients only are to receive temporary HSE locum contracts to cover their work during the health crisis. In a statement, the Irish Hospital Consultants Association, the representative body of consultants working in private hospitals, said that under the proposed terms of these contracts, consulting rooms will be forced to shut to outpatients, for both current and future private outpatients. Dr Oisin OConnell, respiratory consultant, said: The current contractual arrangements proposed by the HSE would result in the withdrawal of private hospital consultants ability to provide ongoing care to their existing patients. It would equally prevent private patients presenting with new medical issues from being treated. It's important to know the symptoms of #COVID19 and what to do if you experience them so that we can help slow the spread. #ItsInOurHands pic.twitter.com/t1FeQGDm7Z HSE Ireland (@HSELive) April 5, 2020 Without access to consulting rooms, private patients with urgent and ongoing medical needs will now present for care to emergency departments at acute public hospitals all of which are already experiencing pressures in managing Covid-19. Private-only consultants believe the solution to this issue lies in a contractual arrangement which enables these consultants to meet their obligations under the proposed HSE temporary locum contracts but also permits them to continue to treat their private patients outside of their HSE contract hours. Every weekday, we deliver the news in under five minutes in podcast form. Listen to the podcast at this link or on your favorite app including Alexa and Google. Episodes are available every morning on syracuse.com. Subscribe/Follow and rate the podcast via your favorite app. syracuse.com Afternoon Flash Briefing | April 6, 2020 Here are the stories were discussing in todays podcast: Coronavirus in Onondaga Co.: New cases drop again, critical remains steady; 377 total Coronavirus in NY: Cuomo extends school, business closures until April 29 New York state cancels regents due to coronavirus Coronavirus: Downtown Syracuses biggest apartment construction project halted Mark Palmer admitted at Peterborough Magistrates Court to common assault and two counts of assault by beating against an emergency worker (Getty) A man who spat in his wifes face and told her I hope you get coronavirus and die has been jailed for 42 weeks. Mark Palmer, 55, of Edinburgh Road, Cambridge, attacked his wife when she returned from the shops to find him and a friend drinking beer, Cambridgeshire Police said. She had objected to him breaking self-isolation rules by inviting the friend into their home for drinks during lockdown. He attacked and spat at two police officers who were called to deal with the incident and told them Im going to give you all coronavirus, the force said. Palmer admitted at Peterborough Magistrates Court on Friday to common assault and two counts of assault by beating against an emergency worker, police said. He also admitted two counts of criminal damage, possession of class B drugs and a public order offence. Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world Fact-checker: The number of COVID-19 cases in your local area 6 charts and maps that explain how COVID-19 is spreading Police ask two women to move on in Primrose Hill, London, Sunday April 5, 2020, as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. (AP) Detective Constable Sean Clery said: This was a despicable incident where Palmer used excessive violence and made vile comments regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. DC Sean Clery said: This was a despicable incident where Palmer used excessive violence and made vile comments regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This type of behaviour against the victim and police officers, who were simply doing their job, is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Read more: Thief who spat at police officer and said 'I have coronavirus' is jailed "I would like to commend the victim for her courage and quick-thinking in calling the police, allowing us to apprehend this dangerous man and swiftly put him before the courts. I hope the sentence shows how seriously both police and the courts take this type of criminality. Tackling domestic abuse is one of our main priorities and I hope this sends a clear message that we are there for victims and will do all that we can to protect them. Story continues A leaflet and a letter, posted by the UK Government, inviting the public to stay at home. (Getty) Last week, a 23-year-old man was jailed for one year after spitting at police and claiming he had the coronavirus. Callum Heaton was arrested for being drunk and disorderly after Lancashire police were called to a report of a disturbance in Burnley in late March. Read more: NHS doctor pleads for more coronavirus protective equipment The officers said that Heaton spat at two officers while he was being arrested, and shouting that he had caught COVID-19. A spokesperson for Lancashire Constabulary called the offence "particularly offensive and dangerous". Coronavirus: what happened today The US embassy in Germany on Monday denied a claim that a Berlin-bound shipment of protective masks had been "confiscated" by the United States, calling it disinformation designed to stoke division. "The United States Government did not take any action to divert any... supplies that were destined to Germany nor did we have any knowledge of such a shipment," an embassy spokesman told AFP. "We remain concerned about pervasive attempts to divide international efforts through unsourced, unattributed disinformation campaigns," he added. Berlin's regional minister of the interior Andreas Geisel on Friday said 200,000 highly sought-after FFP2 masks, made by an American firm in China and destined for use by Berlin police, were "confiscated" in Bangkok. He accused the US of using "methods from the Wild West" and of carrying out an "act of modern-day piracy". Geisel doubled down on the accusations on Monday morning, insisting that the masks had been redirected to the US. "The fact is that we ordered a delivery and paid for it... our protective masks ended up in the USA. That is not OK," he told public broadcaster ZDF. German newspaper Bild said the shipment contained masks made in China by US firm 3M, one of the leading brands in the sector. The company came under fire from US President Donald Trump last week, who claimed on Twitter that his administration "hit 3M hard today after seeing what they were doing with their Masks". After a late start in procuring urgently needed protective gear, Trump recently invoked the Defense Production Act to make US firms divert resources to the battle against the pandemic. Geisel faced criticism from media and opposition lawmakers in Berlin for failing to provide proof the US had grabbed the masks. "The Berlin Senate is looking for a scapegoat to cover up its own inability to procure protective equipment," said conservative regional MP Burkard Dregger. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A British couple who lost their camera when it fell into the sea during a Caribbean holiday have been reunited with their photographs 18 months later. Simon and Cassie Woods from Shropshire never thought they would see pictures of their trip to the Dominican Republic after their kayak rolled over. Their Hero 4 Go Pro waterproof camera disappeared between the waves of the Caribbean Sea in April 2018. Cassie Woods and her husband Simon never thought they would see photographs of their dream trip to the Dominican Republic (pictured) after their kayak rolled over But after spending 18 months underwater, it was picked up by another British holiday-maker who was snorkelling and vowed to hunt down its owners. Mrs Woods, 34, was 'completely shocked' to find her holiday snaps posted on a lost and found Facebook group last month. Snorkeler Ryan Friday-Swann, 36, had shared the pictures online hoping someone might recognise the couple and help him reunite them with their memories. Mrs Woods said: 'I couldn't believe it. A friend sent me the link to the post with our photos and I saw the messages when we were in the middle of work and I thought, that can't be true. It is just amazing.' The Facebook page Lost Box put Mr Friday-Swann and Mrs Woods in touch and she was thrilled when she finally got her photos in the post. Their Hero 4 Go Pro waterproof camera (pictured) disappeared between the waves of the Caribbean Sea in April 2018 Mr and Mrs Woods, both vets, went on holiday to the Dominican Republic almost two years ago and had been using the Go Pro for swimming, sailing and horse riding. While kayaking with the camera, Mrs Woods hit a big wave and the Go Pro fell off her head and sunk in the sea. She had no luck when she tried to search for it so they had to give up. The couple told the staff in the hotel about the camera but did not hear anything back. Mrs Woods said: 'Honestly we had just given up. We just thought it was lost forever. 'We always joked that if someone were to find it they would have thought we had drowned, because I lost it when we rolled the kayak.' But after spending 18 months underwater, the camera was picked up by British holiday-maker Ryan Friday-Swann (pictured with his wife Ani) who had been snorkelling Mrs Woods had posted online about the lost Go Pro but had given up hope of ever being reunited with it. Civil servant Mr Friday-Swann was on his honeymoon with his wife Ani in September 2019 when they stumbled upon the camera. He was snorkelling when he saw the device, so reached down and grabbed it. The Go Pro had not gone far from the resort in Punta Canta where Mrs Woods and her husband, 37, had been staying. Mr Friday-Swann said: 'We opened up the casing and it was full of water and sludge. I let it sit and let it dry out for a couple of days in the hotel room. Mr and Mrs Friday-Swann moved to Northern Ireland in December and forgot about the memory card until they were clearing out some moving boxes. They posted some of the pictures online and asked if anyone recognised the couple 'We brought the camera home and took the memory card out. It was covered in muck so I had to do a little bit of soldering. Amazingly, all the photos were fine.' Mr and Mrs Friday-Swann moved to Northern Ireland in December and forgot about the memory card until they were clearing out some moving boxes. He said: 'We listened to some of the video and we heard the girl talking and she sounded like she was from the north.' He posted some of the pictures from the camera on the Facebook page Lost Box, a group that tries to reunite found items with their owners. He asked if anyone recognised the couple and was taken aback by the response, with over 1,000 users sharing the holiday shots. After just a day, Facebook users had tracked down Mr and Mrs Woods, who live in Shropshire. Pictured: A photo from the Go Pro during the couple's kayak trip Mr Friday-Swann wrote: 'After being underwater for over 18 months it would be wonderful to get them back to their original owners. 'If they are yours, or you know who they are, please drop me a message. Thanks everyone.' After just a day, Facebook users had tracked down Mr and Mrs Woods, who live in Shropshire. Mr Friday-Swann said: 'I was amazed it was so quick. I couldn't believe it. We were literally halfway around the world and managed to find their camera. 'I was really happy that the camera worked in the first place. We were there on our honeymoon and we would have been devastated to have lost our photos.' The page put Mr and Mrs Woods in touch and he sent over their photos and the damaged camera in the post. Mrs Woods added: 'It just shows that there are really kind people out there. To go to all that effort to get it back to us is really touching.' Cathy Evans and Josh Pihlak's relationship started off strong on Married At First Sight, but it wasn't to be. And on Monday, Cathy, 26 confirmed she's moved on from her MAFS groom and has since settled down and is head-over-heels in love with a new mystery man. Speaking to Yahoo, the Sydney based make-up artist announced: 'I've found someone so much better now'. 'I've found someone so much better now': Married At First Sight's Cathy Evans (pictured) has confirmed she's in a relationship with a mystery man after failing to connect with Josh Pihlak on the Channel Nine show 'I really tried so hard in the relationship and, if anything, it was a blessing that it didn't work out,' she admitted of her failed romance with Newcastle-based truck driver Josh. Cathy also told the publication that her stint on MAFS helped her build character development and realise she's a 'strong and patient person'. While she refused to reveal any details about the identify of her new beau, she insisted: 'They're just a private person, they're not a person who's famous or anything, it's just a normal citizen of Australia'. 'I really tried so hard in the relationship... it was a blessing that it didn't work out,' she told Yahoo Lifestyle, speaking about her failed romance with 'groom' Josh (right) On Friday, the reality star showed off her bust and long-wavy blonde hair in a cryptic message. 'Thinking bout you,' she wrote alongside the playful selfie. After a bitter breakup with Josh, Cathy admitted she was feeling nervous about seeing ex at the reunion dinner during last Tuesday's episode of Married At First Sight. Smiling confidently as she walked into the group dinner party, Cathy confessed she was keen to 'avoid a conversation with Josh'. Who is it? While she refused to reveal any details about the identify of her new beau, she insisted: 'They're just a private person, they're not a person who's famous or anything, it's just a normal citizen of Australia Despite her nerves, Cathy greeted Josh with a warm embrace, with her 28-year-old ex telling her she looked 'beautiful'. 'To be honest, I was not expecting to see Josh that quickly,' she confessed, clearly caught off-guard by the moment. A rattled Cathy then told the group she was 'going to get a drink', before having a mini panic attack at the beverage table. Boris Johnson was moved into an intensive care unit last night following a day of rumour and counter-rumour about the state of his health. The Prime Minister had insisted on working from his hospital bed even as his condition deteriorated yesterday. Downing Street said he was still insisting on receiving his red box of official papers, despite being under observation by doctors in case his condition went into decline. Behind the scenes, events were escalating fast. Mr Johnsons health took a turn for the worse and his medical team took the decision to move him to the hospitals ICU. The PM was taken to the ICU at 7pm. He is pictured above last month But after Mr Johnsons condition worsened during the afternoon, the decision was taken at 7pm to take him to the intensive care unit at St Thomas Hospital in London, in case he needs a ventilator to help him in his recovery. Only two hours earlier, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab the man who will deputise for him now he is in intensive care told the public that Mr Johnson was still in charge of the Governments response to the coronavirus crisis. Last nights dramatic events came after 24 hours in which Downing Street had insisted the PM was in good spirits and there was no cause for alarm. The official line was that he had been admitted to hospital on Sunday night only as a precaution. But from the start some questioned why the 55-year-old had been held in hospital overnight questions which only grew as they day went on, especially when it emerged Mr Raab had not even spoken to him. After Mr Johnsons condition worsened during the afternoon, the decision was taken at 7pm to take him to the intensive care unit at St Thomas Hospital in London, in case he needs a ventilator to help him in his recovery. Police officers are pictured above outside the hospital No 10 tried its best to radiate calm. Officials put mild-mannered Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick on the airwaves to assure the nation that there was nothing seriously wrong. On the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Mr Jenrick even suggested the PM would be out of hospital shortly. At the daily lobby briefing at 11am, the Downing Street spokesman said Mr Johnson was very much in charge and was perfectly able to take charge of the countrys affairs from his hospital bed. The spokesman insisted that while Mr Raab had chaired the morning war cabinet on coronavirus, that was all he was doing. Asked directly whether the PM had pneumonia, his official spokesman said: You have all of the facts relevant to the Prime Minister. Suspicions were raised when Dominic Raab (above) revealed he had not spoken to the PM since he had been admitted to hospital, which seemed odd considering he had chaired the war cabinet meeting The spokesman said Mr Johnson had had a comfortable night on Sunday and was in good spirits. Downing Street insisted it had been transparent about the state of the PMs health. This was the mood throughout the upper reaches of the Government: even privately, Cabinet ministers were upbeat about his health as late as the afternoon. And Mr Johnson himself insisted he was in good spirits. On Twitter, in which he thanked brilliant NHS staff, he said: On the advice of my doctor, I went into hospital for some routine tests as Im still experiencing coronavirus symptoms. Im in good spirits and keeping in touch with my team, as we work together to fight this virus and keep everyone safe. That afternoon, at 5pm, Mr Raab gave the Governments daily press conference, at which he claimed all was well. But suspicions were raised when he revealed he had not spoken to the PM since he had been admitted to hospital, which seemed odd considering he had chaired the war cabinet meeting. Behind the scenes, events were escalating fast. Mr Johnsons health took a turn for the worse and his medical team took the decision to move him to the hospitals ICU. The PM was taken to the ICU at 7pm. Only at 8.10pm was the truth revealed to the public, through a Downing Street press release. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 6, 2020 17:40 644 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd012e3f 1 National mask,face-mask,COVID-19,COVID-19-Indonesian-patients,COVID-19-Jakarta,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,COVID-19-death-toll Free Indonesia's death toll from the novel coronavirus disease topped 200 on Monday, with the government voicing particular concern about transmission from asymptomatic carriers as the number of positive cases continue to rise. Health Ministry Disease Control and Prevention Director General Achmad Yurianto said 218 new cases had been confirmed on Monday, bringing the country's tally to 2,491 following the testing of 11,242 samples nationwide. As many as 209 people have died of the contagious disease while 192 have recovered so far. We now believe the increasing number of cases come from sources [of infection] that are difficult to detect. We have noted that some sources are people who do not show symptoms, Yurianto said on Monday. He said asymptomatic carriers spread the virus through droplets when they talked, sneezed or coughed, but that they themselves did not notice they had contracted the disease. The real picture of the data we have collected shows that there are still sources of infection out there with asymptomatic carriers among the public, he noted, adding that There are also those prone to being infected because they don't wear face masks or wash their hands. With the trajectory of the coronavirus outbreak not showing any signs of slowing, the government declared last week a nationwide public health emergency and implemented large-scale social restrictions aimed at curbing transmission of the virus. Among the measures, the government has ordered people to stay at home and not to go to schools, offices, places of worship or public places. Some regions, such as Bandung in West Java, Balikpapan in East Kalimantan and Tegal in Central Java, are temporarily closing major roads and introducing curfews as rising number of cases begin to be recorded in provinces outside Java. Jakarta, the national epicenter of the outbreak, recorded on Monday 101 new cases, taking the number of confirmed cases in the city to 1,232 more than half of the countrys overall tally. West Java, the second-hardest hit region among the countrys 32 virus-hit provinces, has reported 263 confirmed cases as of Monday, followed by East Java with 189 cases, Banten with 187 cases and Central Java with 132 cases. With many health workers also being infected, the government is working to ramp up production of personal protective equipment amid an increasing shortage. Yurianto has also called on members of the public to wear face masks when outside their homes, explaining that cloth masks would suffice to prevent transmission. "Surgical masks and N95 masks are only for health workers. We can just use masks we make on our own, no less than four hours every day, and we have to wash them with soap," he said. Every name on the BrandBucket marketplace is exclusively listed with BrandBucket. That means that all of our sellers are very responsive, making for quick domain transfers. A dedicated BrandBucket agent will manage your domain transfer from beginning to end, ensuring a secure and easy transaction. They will manage the receipt of the domain into one of BrandBuckets secure registrar accounts and then complete the transfer to you. 1. Verification and registrar choice After we receive the payment and verify it, we will reach out via email to confirm which registrar you want the domain transferred to. We also provide a link to our tracking system, where you can communicate with us, check on the status of your transfer, view your invoice, and download your logo files. 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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By Lusha Zhang and Tony Munroe BEIJING (Reuters) - Mainland China reported 39 new coronavirus cases as of Sunday, up from 30 a day earlier, and the number of asymptomatic cases also surged as the government vowed tighter controls at land borders. The National Health Commission said on Monday that 78 new asymptomatic cases had been identified as of the end of Sunday, compared with 47 the day before. Imported cases and asymptomatic patients, who show no symptoms but can still pass the virus on, have become China's chief concern after draconian containment measures succeeded in slashing the overall infection rate. Hubei province, the original epicentre, accounted for almost half the new asymptomatic cases. A total of 705 people with asymptomatic cases were under medical observation around mainland China. The surge in asymptomatic cases, which China only began reporting last week, poses a worry as Hubei's capital Wuhan prepares to allow people to leave the city on April 8 for the first time since it was locked down in late January. Wuhan officials revoked the "epidemic-free" status of 45 residential compounds due to the emergence of asymptomatic cases and other unspecified reasons, according to a report on Monday by the official Xinhua news agency. "Epidemic-free" status allows people living in Wuhan compounds to leave their homes for two hours at a time. China has now reported a total of 81,708 cases, with 3,331 deaths. One new locally transmitted infection was reported in the latest data, in the southern province of Guangdong, down from five a day earlier in the same province. CASES CROSS LAND BORDERS China has closed its borders to foreigners as the virus spreads globally, though most imported cases have involved Chinese nationals returning from overseas. It began testing all international arrivals for the coronavirus from April 1, customs official Song Yueqian said. Of the new cases showing symptoms, 38 entered China from abroad, compared with 25 a day earlier. Of those, 20 arrived in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang from neighbouring Russia. All were Chinese citizens who had flown from Moscow to Vladivostok and travelled to China overland. Story continues China will work to prevent cases being imported through land borders, the government said after a meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Mondaywhich noted the number of such cases had exceeded cases recorded at airports recently. Those who try to hide their travel history or health condition face a fine of up to 30,000 yuan ($4,230) or even criminal proceedings, Song said, adding such people will be placed on a customs "blacklist" of travellers who will be subject to tighter checks in future. Another possible source of infection are the 1.6 million Chinese who study overseas, many of whom have struggled to return home since international flights were reduced. Charter flights are being arranged to bring home Chinese students in the United States, starting with the youngest, China's embassy in Washington said. The ambassador, Cui Tiankai, noted in the New York Times on Monday there had been "unpleasant talk" between the two countries about the virus. "But this is not the time for finger-pointing. This is a time for solidarity, collaboration and mutual support," Cui wrote. Amid criticism China was too slow to warn the international community about the outbreak, Xinhua on Monday published a "detailed timeline" of the country's coronavirus response and information sharing, from late December 2019 to March 2020. China started reporting to the United States "regularly" on the epidemic and containment measures from Jan. 3, according to the timeline. Click https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-HEALTH-MAP/0100B59S39E/index.html for an interactive GRAPHIC tracking global spread of coronavirus (Reporting by Lusha Zhang and Tony Munroe; additional reporting by Min Zhang and Tom Daly; Editing by Stephen Coates and Nick Macfie) In the fight against the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19), policymakers are fighting blind, because we do not know the extent of the infections in the population or the mortality rate due to it. It is possible to track the number of deaths, the cases that required hospitalisation and those who have tested positive for the virus at hospitals, but those numbers present a limited picture of the pandemic. Our response to this crisis depends critically on figuring out how fast the disease is spreading outside of hospitals, in the community, and how likely the virus is to kill individuals who have been infected. The only way to obtain this information is through random testing in the population. Existing methods of measuring the diseases prevalence are likely to give inaccurate results. India, like most countries, has a shortage of testing kits. As a result, it prioritises the testing of the individuals who have severe symptoms and show up at the hospital. It misses those who have symptoms, but not severe enough to go to the hospital, and those who are asymptomatic lack of cough, fever or trouble in breathing but, nonetheless, are carriers who can infect others. There are good reasons to think that many individuals are asymptomatic, which means that true caseload is under-measured. For example, the city of Vo (Italy) tested all its inhabitants, and found as many as 50% of individuals were asymptomatic. On the Diamond Princess cruise ship, 18% of the infected population showed no symptoms, while in Iceland, 50% of those who tested positive were asymptomatic. A recently released report from Maharashtra suggests that 85% of cases in the state were asymptomatic, similar to the recent findings from China, published in The British Medical Journal. They suggest that we will never be able to measure the true prevalence of Covid-19 by testing only high-risk populations. We lack the essential information to fight this disease because of such data limitations. Harvard economist James Stock has identified the lack of accurate infection rates as the central information gap behind efforts to combat the coronavirus. Consider the true mortality rate due to Covid-19. This is calculated by taking the number of deaths from the virus and dividing by the total number of infections it has caused. For any level of deaths from Covid-19, the higher the infection rate, the lower is the death rate. The mortality rate is, in turn, essential to calibrate our response. If the mortality rate from the virus is very high, it calls for doubling down on suppression methods to avoid mass deaths. A lower mortality rate does not mean the situation is any less troublingbut it tells us that the disease is more prevalent in the population than currently thought, and it demands mitigation rather than suppression approach in response. While we have estimates on the number of deaths, we are flying blind in estimating the denominator of the fatality rate. If, in fact, many people are walking around with Covid-19 and perhaps do not even know of their infection status as some doctors suggest we need to adopt a very different approach to address this crisis. At the time of writing, India has 4,067 coronavirus cases and 109 deaths, implying a 2.7% mortality rate, without considering future mortality of the currently sick. If the fraction of asymptomatic cases was 20%, this would imply a true fatality rate of 2.1%. However, if it were more like 80%, the true fatality rate would be considerably lower at 0.5%. Where India is on this mortality spectrum will greatly influence how we think about and combat this disease and thats why estimating this number accurately is an urgent priority. Measuring infections accurately will also allow for targeted efforts to combat the spread of the disease. Otherwise, we will not know how many hospital beds, ventilators and doctors we will need in different areas in the coming weeks. We cannot determine whether the lockdown has been effective, how long it should continue, or if certain places can safely be released from the lockdown without sparking an outbreak. To its credit, the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), at the very start of the pandemic, tested 826 patients who were admitted in hospitals with severe acute respiratory illness but no travel history. This was a valuable effort, showing that, at the early stages of the pandemic, the coronavirus had not yet spread through the community in India. The situation has since changed. There is now a wealth of evidence across countries, including in India itself, that Covid-19 can be found not just in those with severe symptoms, but also among individuals who display little or no symptoms. While ICMR has just expanded its testing criteria beyond symptomatic cases to include asymptomatic individuals with prior contacts with confirmed cases and antibody testing in hotspots, these efforts still fall short of true random testing across the entire country. The only way to determine the true mortality and infection rates is random testing in the community identify individuals randomly from the population, rather than from in and around hospitals and hotspots, and test them in the field so we can determine the precise prevalence. Closing this information gap will be critical to making well-informed decisions on how best to combat this disease. Countries like Austria and Germany have begun random testing of the population. India must do so immediately, either nationally, or, if the capacity is a constraint, at least sub-nationally. Arpit Gupta is an assistant professor of finance at NYU Stern School of Business. Anup Malani is a professor at the University of Chicago Law School and Pritzker School of Medicine, and Reuben Abraham is CEO of IDFC Institute, Mumbai The views expressed are personal In a recent study, researchers have developed a valuable new grip strength metrics that provide healthcare practitioners with an easy-to-perform and time-efficient screening tool for type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The study advocates that healthcare practitioners can use assessment of normalized grip strength to routinely screen for type 2 diabetes in apparently healthy adults. Muscular weakness is known to be associated with T2DM in otherwise seemingly healthy adults. However, previous research had not found a way to assess this reliably. The current study was able to identify consistent grip strength cut points relative to body weight, gender and age group in a large nationally representative sample of participants pre-screened for comorbid conditions such as hypertension. The new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine was published by Elsevier. Lead investigator Elise C Brown, PhD, Department of Public and Environmental Wellness, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA, said, "As the type 2 diabetes patient population continues to increase in the United States, diagnosing this disease in its early stages is becoming increasingly more important for preventing complications caused by blood vessel damage associated with diabetes." "Our study identifies the levels of handgrip strength or weakness that correlate with T2DM in otherwise healthy men and women, according to their body weights and ages. Healthcare providers now have a reliable test to detect it early before such complications set in," Dr Brown added. T2DM is linked to increased cardiovascular-related morbidity and mortality. Undiagnosed prediabetes and T2DM in the US in 2017 were estimated to cost USD 43.4 and USD 31.7 billion, respectively. This economic burden highlights the need for better early detection efforts. T2DM is asymptomatic in its initial stages, and prompt diagnosis can prevent or delay vascular complications such as neuropathy, retinopathy and nephropathy. Researchers analysed survey data from the 2011-2012 and 2013-2014 National and Nutrition Examination Survey to establish normalised grip strength (grip strength relative to body weight) cut-points for T2DM risk. Inexpensive portable handgrip dynamometer devices were used to determine hand and forearm strength. After controlling for sociodemographics (i.e., race/ethnicity, education, poverty, sex, and age), lifestyle factors (i.e., sedentary behaviour, alcohol use, and smoking status) and waist circumference, the investigators identified the grip strength levels of at-risk patients who were otherwise healthy. These levels are presented with age and sex-specific grip strength cut points that correspond to varying body weights to increase the ease of use for practitioners as indicators of when further diabetes diagnostic testing is warranted. For example, the cut point for women aged between 50 to 80 years is 0.49. This means that if a 60-year old woman's combined grip strength from left and right hands was 43 kg and her body weight was 90 kg, her normalised grip strength would be 0.478. Since this value is less than 0.49, this indicates that she is at increased risk for diabetes and further screening is warranted. "Given the low cost, minimal training requirement and quickness of the assessment, the use of the normalised grip strength cut points in this paper could be used in routine screenings to identify at-risk patients and improve diagnosis and outcomes," said Dr Brown. "This type of impactful research can make a difference for practitioners and individuals and is a key focal point of what Oakland University is all about. We are trying to improve the and wellbeing of individuals," Dr Brown added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A war-like gun battle between rival cartels left 19 people dead during a bloody weekend in Mexico in which nearly 300 were murdered. State prosecutors of the northern Mexican border state of Chihuahua said 20 members of the Gente Nueva del Jaguar, a gang linked to Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's old Sinaloa Cartel, were ambushed by 40 members of the Juarez Cartel's La Linea gang on Friday night. The incident took place at approximately 7pm when the Sinaloa Cartel's hit squad was traveling from Chuhuichupa, a town in the municipality of Madera, to La Nortena, another city located in Madera, when its convoy of vehicles were met with fire from La Linea. An 18-year-old identified as Tomas Estrada, with the Gente Nueva del Jaguar, was wounded in the shooting, according to Mexican newspaper El Financiero. He remains in custody. A shooting on Friday night in the northern Mexican border state of Chihuahua between two assassin squads tied to the Sinaloa and Juarez cartels left 19 men dead, including the nephew and brother of the leader of the Gente Nueva del Jaguar, a gang linked to El Chapo's old cartel Police in the northern state of Chihuahua confiscated two vehicles left behind by gunmen that were involved in a shootout between two cartels that left 19 men dead Friday night Another wounded man died in an ambulance while he was being transported to a local hospital. Among the dead identified by authorities is Jose Luis 'El Lobo' Arvizu, whose brother Francisco 'El Jaguar' Arvizu is the leader of the Gente Nueva del Jaguar. His nephew and El Lobo's son Uriel 'El Morito' Arvizu was also killed in the attack. Authorities found two grenades, two vehicles and 18 military rifles at the scene of the clash. A gang tied Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's old Sinaloa Cartel was ambushed in a deadly attack Friday in Chihuahua, Mexico The Chihuahua state prosecutor's office said police and soldiers had been sent to secure the area, where groups allied with the Sinaloa Cartel have been fighting other gangs, including a remnant of the Beltran Leyva Cartel and others aligned with the Juarez Cartel. Recent government figures show that Mexico registered a record 2,585 murders for the month of March, the highest monthly number since June 2019. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Friday that that violence generated by organized crime kept up last month, despite the government's introduction of measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus, such as suspending classes and urging residents of the capital to stay home. 'It seemed in late March, when the coronavirus had become more widespread, that we would have a considerable reduction (in violence),' Lopez Obrador. 'Unfortunately, it didn't turn out that way.' In an area about 60 miles to the north of Friday's clash, nine U.S.-Mexican dual citizens were ambushed and slain November 4 by suspected drug gang assassins along a remote road. It was not clear if any of the same groups were involved in the two sets of killings. Fifty-one people in South Korea, who recovered after contracting coronavirus, have tested positive again, but the results might have been due to the reactivation of the novel coronavirus, health authorities here said on Monday. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said the people from Daegu and the surrounding North Gyeongsang province, the epicentres of the pandemic in South Korea, tested positive for the virus after they were released from quarantine, rports Yonhap News Agency. KCDC Director-General Jeong Eun-kyeong said the virus was highly likely to have been reactivated, instead of the people being reinfected, as they tested positive again in a relatively short time after being released from quarantine. The health authorities said a team of investigators has been sent to Daegu to conduct an epidemiological investigation into the cases. Meanwhile, Kim Tae-kyung, an infectious disease expert at Soonchunhyang University Hospital, said: "Patients who retested positive are people in which the virus was reactivated or who relapsed." A COVID-19 patient is deemed fully recovered after showing negative results for two tests performed with a 24-hour interval. The country recorded fewer than 50 new cases of the novel coronavirus Monday, bringing the nation's total infections to 10,284, reports Yonhap News Agency. It marked the lowest daily increase since late February. The nation's death toll rose by three to 186, while more than 130 recovered from the virus Sunday, raising the total number of cured people to 6,598, according to the KCDC. Amid muted celebrations to mark its 40th foundation day, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday set itself the task of reaching out to thank health care workers, policemen, sanitation workers, who are on the frontline of the battle against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), as well as those who have been providing essential services during the ongoing 21-day nationwide lockdown to check the spread of the pandemic. Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted his party colleagues and asked them to help those in need as the country fights to contain the novel coronavirus outbreak. We mark our Partys 40th Anniversary when India is battling COVID-19. I appeal to BJP Karyakartas to follow the set of guidelines from our Party President @JPNaddaJi, help those in need and reaffirm the importance of social distancing. Lets make India COVID-19 free. #BJPat40, he tweeted. PM Modi also paid tributes to those who toiled for decades to build the party, and said it is because of them that the BJP got the chance to serve the country. In another tweet, the PM, who has been urging people not to break the protocol of the three-week lockdown (which began on March 25), said whenever the BJP has been given the opportunity to serve the nation, it has focused on good governance and empowering the poor. He praised his party colleagues for having worked hard to bring a positive difference in the lives of many and done great social service. In line with the partys ethos, our karyakartas (workers) have worked hard to bring a positive difference in the lives of many and done great social service, he tweeted. On Sunday, party president JP Nadda urged the cadre to mark the 40th foundation day though a week-long outreach programme; he said party workers must reach out to 490 families to carry out a signature campaign to thank the people working on the frontline in the fight against coronavirus. The party workers have also been told to make at least two face masks at their homes for the people. Nadda also asked party workers to feed at least five needy families. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 12:46:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HOHHOT, April 6 (Xinhua) -- E Tiezhu admitted that he had collected old items of the Daur ethnic minority from all around just to make money at first. However, as he brought more and more old objects together, the 58-year-old farmer, who is a Daur from Tengke Township in the city of Hulunbuir, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, found he could not bear to sell them. "They would be worth a lot of money now," E said. "But it's not easy to collect these things of our ethnic group. They are priceless treasures." With rapid economic and social development over the last 20 or 30 years, the Daur people, one of the Chinese minorities mainly living in Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang, have witnessed many old items and customs gradually fading out their daily life. Growing up in Tengke Village with its peculiar Daur ethnic cultural atmosphere and familiar with the local production tools and household items, E realized how important it is to preserve the traditional culture of the group and began to collect the old items in 2008. Later on, a wide range of old things with Daur characteristics, including birch bark utensils, hand-spinning tools and horse saddles, were all among his collection. When E acquired a treasure, he enjoyed repairing it and giving it a new look. "This one was so valuable that it took me a long time to get it from an old Daur herdsman," said E, with a freshly repaired horse saddle in his hand. "Look at it. It's a Daur saddle. Its front bulge is higher than the rear one, contrary to Mongolian ones." His obsession with collecting old Daur items impressed the cadres in Tengke Township as the local government was also trying to preserve the ethnic culture. In 2009, a museum of Daur folk culture, a wooden wicker-roofed traditional Daur dwelling, was set up in the township and the government funded E to continue his "hobby." "I'm in charge of looking for treasures and the government pays the bill; I'm in charge of preparing for the exhibition and the government organizes people to visit the museum," said E. "Our cooperation is very satisfying. Both sides are making joint efforts in preserving our past." In collecting the old objects scattered about, the Daur farmer has traveled across the Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Banner where he lives, even to places like the city of Qiqihar in Heilongjiang. Once, he took a fancy to a birch bark utensil during a visit to a local resident's home in his banner. The resident charged 2,000 yuan (about 287 U.S. dollars) for the utensil and refused all attempts to bargain. To save money for the government, E pretended to turn around and leave, but the resident didn't ask him to stay. In the following days, E was unable to get the birch bark utensil out of his mind and went back to the resident's home again. "I want to buy it for exhibition at the museum in my township. I hope to make our ethnic history and culture known to more people," he explained to the resident. Moved by his sincerity, the resident finally sold the birch bark utensil to him at a low price of 500 yuan. Over the past 12 years, E has collected all by himself 205 old Daur items, from cooking utensils and household items to hunting equipment and daily clothing, covering almost every aspect of the daily life of the Daur people. Now, the museum has become the most culturally vibrant place in the township and receives over 40,000 visits a year. Working as the curator and the docent for the museum, E lives there and is busy proudly telling stories behind the old items to his fellow villagers and tourists who come to visit. Someone once tried to buy the birch bark utensil from E for 15,000 yuan, but E politely refused. "Only by preserving these old items can our ethnic culture be passed on," E said. Unfortunately, the price of natural gas has often been a matter of political speculations. This is what Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said while answering citizens questions today, touching upon the bid that Gazprom Armenia has submitted to raise the natural gas tariff. By this I am referring to the Armenian government because the former government has always used this for political purposes. Today, the Armenian government is facing a problem with effective exploitation of the natural gas system, and it definitely needs to solve the issue, Pashinyan said. Pashinyan also recalled that Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan has addressed Gazprom Armenia on behalf of the government and asked to review the natural gas tariff, taking into consideration the global situation. This means the government has offered to launch talks over reduction of the natural gas price, and I would like to say that I have had a phone conversation with President of Russia Vladimir Putin and told him about the current crisis, and I hope the President of Russia and I will be able to consider the issue and reach an agreement, Pashinyan said. Online abuse and cyber-bullying are surging as millions of Australians log on to work, study and socialise from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant said there was a 40 per cent increase in reports over the past three weeks, compared with the previous 12-month weekly average. Reports of image-based abuse had increased by about 86 per cent, while reports about cyber-bullying of children were up 21 per cent. eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant speaking at a conference in February. Credit:Janie Barrett "It is concerning because we're so early on in the pandemic," Ms Inman Grant said. In just a matter of weeks, Ryan Sitton went from being a lame-duck commissioner of an obscure Texas agency to one of the key figures in a global effort to save the oil market from plummeting prices. Sitton, a Republican who lost the primary election for his own seat on the Texas Railroad Commission just one month ago, said Thursday that he had spoken with Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak about cutting global oil supplies and planned to have a conversation with Novaks counterpart in Saudi Arabia. Two weeks ago, he spoke with OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo and was invited to attend a meeting this summer in Vienna. To be clear, these kinds of exchanges between state-level regulators and national energy ministers about capping global oil supplies are not common. In fact, if Sitton attends that OPEC meeting, he would be the first member of the state Railroad Commission to do so since the 1980s. Hes earning a seat at the table just as the OPEC+ alliance, which includes Saudi Arabia and Russia, tries to form a global coalition to cut output, put an end to a war over market share and stem the rout in crude prices brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. A deal with non-OPEC+ nations including the U.S. would set a historic precedent. President Donald Trump hasnt publicly said whether the U.S. is willing to cut its own domestic production. He met with oil executives at the White House on Friday to discuss ways to shore up the industry. In the absence of federal action, Sitton -- an oil and gas engineer and self-proclaimed energy markets expert who leaves office in January -- became the face of Americas response to a global battle for oil market share. ELECTION DOWNFALL: Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton unseated in GOP primary upset Even before crude collapsed amid the virus and a Saudi-Russia price war, Sitton was in the public eye far more often than his fellow commissioners, Chairman Wayne Christian and Christi Craddick, both Republicans. He regularly appears on television and has his own website, ryansitton.com, where visitors can view everything from his annual oil industry report to a video of a Crossfit class he led for state employees. (Sitton, 45, attributes his more public persona to success early in his career as a business owner that allowed him to take more risks while in office.) To a certain degree, Sittons always had an eye on the global market. When the commission was criticized for its lax policy toward natural gas flaring, Sitton took it upon himself to release a report and subsequent video call, saying that the problem was far worse in Iraq and Iran. Other nations are flaring at levels four times higher than Texas, he said in the report, which was panned by environmental groups. They, therefore, present much more efficient paths to global flaring reductions. The power to manage the states oil production has been there all along. Following a slump in the oil market in 1931, the Texas Railroad Commission started periodically implementing a process known as pro-rationing to bolster prices. That ended in the early 1970s, just as OPEC, which had modeled itself on the commission, was rising to a dominant position in the oil market. Theres this regulatory authority thats just sitting there unused for all these years but all of a sudden becomes relevant again, said James Coleman, an energy law professor at Southern Methodist University. The Texas Railroad Commission, although obscure, has always been an important international player. Days after prices first crashed below $25 a barrel, Sitton penned an opinion piece advocating for a coordinated response with Saudi Arabia and Russia. Hes urging the agency to consider pro-rationing state production, a proposal that both Christian and Craddick have yet to support. It wouldnt be the first time Sitton has split with his fellow commissioners: Last year, Craddick nominated Christian to serve as chairman, even though tradition dictated that Sitton would lead the agency as he ended his six-year term. The commission has scheduled a hearing on pro-rationing for later this month, a move Sitton announced in a webinar he hosted to outline his take on the global oil market. SITTON'S STUDY: Flaring in Texas reaches levels not seen since 1950s, oil industry regulator says Our constituents elect us for situations like this and look at how we solve problems, he said in an interview last month. They dont need people who sit on the sidelines when youre in an economic catastrophe like were in right now. Complicated position Its a complicated political position to take in Texas, a state that prides itself on free markets and individualism. And Sitton doesnt appear to have much public support, with the exception of Pioneer Natural Resources Co. and Parsley Energy Inc. Scott Sheffield, chief executive officer of Pioneer, is himself an unusually public figure for the typically media-shy independent shale producers. Others companies, including Exxon Mobil Corp., and major trade groups like the American Petroleum Institute, have said theyre not seeking government intervention, preferring free markets take their course. And Christian and Craddick both reiterated Friday evening that Sittons vocal support for a government response doesnt necessarily reflect their positions. One commissioner does not speak for the Texas Railroad Commission, Craddick said. No decision has been made about proration to limit Texas oil production. But Sitton may have little to lose. Last month, he lost the Republican primary for his seat in a shocking upset. In November, Jim Wright, a rancher and chief executive of an oilfield-service company, will battle one of two Democrats vying for Sittons seat. Now Sitton could be spending his last few months in state office speaking with international energy chiefs and traveling to Vienna. Its important to remember that this is the history of the Railroad Commission, Coleman said. Its just amazing how quickly this happened. (Photo : Pixabay) Radiation level in Chernobyl has spiked due to forest fires. The infamous Chernobyl is now on fire, and it's because of the blaze that the radiation level around the area has significantly increased. Radiation Spike in Chernobyl According to a report by CNN, two forest fires started on Saturday and are still raging on as of Monday morning, Apr. 6, covering 50 acres of land and with firefighters in the scene, trying to control the flames. The fires broke out near Vladimirovka, an uninhabited village within the Chernobyl exclusion zone. The head of Ukraine's ecological inspection service, Egor Firsov, published a Facebook post about the fire, writing down: "There is bad news -- in the center of the fire, radiation is above normal." Along with the post is a video of a Geiger counter, which is used to determine the radiation level. Firsov explained what is happening in the video, saying that the device is showing a 2.3 when the norm is only 0.14. Nevertheless, he assured the public that the radiation level has only spiked within the area of the blaze. But what are the numbers? According to Gizmodo, these refer to the microsievert per hour (Sv/h), with sieverts measuring the energy, most specifically ionizing radiation, that could be absorbed by the human tissue--and the reading shows that it is 16 times higher than usual, and is five times more than the maximum allowable level of background radiation based on Ukraine's guidelines. Nevertheless, the radiation level is still normal in the city of Chernobyl itself as well as in Kiev, the capital city of Ukraine, according to authorities. Read Also: [BREAKING] Fire in Florida Airport Destroys More than 3,500 Rental Cars Brave Firefighters Battle the Fires Firsov describes the situation as "difficult," but as of writing, there are 124 firefighters who are battling the bigger of the two forest fires, who are also using two An-32P planes, and a Mi-8 helicopter. They have carried out 42 water drops on the area and are still working to keep it under control. Meanwhile, 14 firefighters were sent to combat the smaller of the two fires, which has covered 12 acres of land. Vladimirovka is located within the 1,000-square-mile exclusion zone that was vacated in 1986 after the devastating blast at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which sent radioactive fallout across Europe and exposed millions of people to dangerous levels of radiation. Decades after, high levels of radiation are still present and will remain so for more years to come. Although mostly unpopulated, there are still around 200 people residing within the exclusion zone despite orders to evacuate. Burning Dry Grass "For Fun" Meanwhile, the forest fires have been deemed as intentional, and that a suspect has already been caught. In a report by CTV News, the suspect was a 27-year-old man that was burning dry grass "for fun" in the area, but that he failed to extinguish the blaze when the wind caught it and it expanded quickly. Firsov disclosed that they do have "very acute" problems with people setting a fire, especially during the spring and autumn seasons. He also said that relevant draft bills exist, and he wishes they would be voted in so there will be harsher penalties to anyone caught intentionally starting fires in the area. Read Also: Nuclear Bombs Could Reveal How Old Whale Sharks are for the First Time 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Richard Branson moved assets from the U.S. to the British Virgin Islands, highlighting his use of tax havens at a time one of his businesses sought a state bailout because of the coronavirus pandemic. Filings show a Delaware-based company for his $1.1 billion stake in Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc. transferred shares in the space-travel firm on March 16 to the Caribbean territory where Branson, 69, lives. Residents in the BVI pay no income or capital-gains taxes while the U.S. state is known for preserving the privacy of its corporate owners. Virgin Galactic became the first publicly traded space-tourism firm last year after merging with a listed investment vehicle, and the Delaware holding company was set up for that transaction. The move is unrelated to Branson's request for British backing for Virgin Atlantic Airways, and many of his businesses do pay U.K. tax. He's also pledged $250 million to support his group's operations since transferring his shares in Virgin Galactic. "This is as an internal reorganization that has no effect on our ownership interest," a representative for Branson said. "Rather than continuing to hold the shares indirectly, we undertook this exercise to eliminate indirect ownership through that subsidiary, as the U.S. entity was no longer necessary." Virgin Atlantic, Branson's airline, has been hard hit by the pandemic. Last month, consultations with staff saw employees agree to take eight weeks unpaid leave. The company has requested that the British government provide hundreds of millions of pounds in government-backed loans and credit guarantees, part of a broader request for the aviation industry. "For the public, the concern may be more that the owner of global businesses appears happy to structure his ownership through some of the most opaque jurisdictions in the world," said Alex Cobham, chief executive officer of the Tax Justice Network. "The same person is now appealing for public support." Many billionaires maintain their assets in tax havens. Two years ago, four Chinese tycoons transferred more than $17 billion into family trusts with the ownership structures involving various Caribbean jurisdictions, while a trio of tax havens support the significant wealth of Stefano Pessina, chief executive officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. Branson has started businesses from fizzy drinks to bridal gowns. His rocket company, Virgin Orbit, is now looking to join the rush to make ventilators for the virus crisis, while Virgin Atlantic's CEO is taking a temporary pay cut. "This is the most significant crisis the world has experienced in my lifetime," Branson said in a March 22 blog post. "Because many of our businesses are in industries like travel, leisure and wellness, they are in a massive battle to survive and save jobs." Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 10:28:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SHANGHAI, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai reported five newly confirmed cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from overseas Sunday, the local health authority said Monday. The municipal health commission said a total of 197 imported cases had been reported in Shanghai by the end of Sunday, while 14 suspected imported cases are under quarantine for further confirmation. The new imported cases were all Chinese citizens, including three from Russia, one from the United States and one from the United Kingdom. All of them were quarantined and tested positive for the virus upon arriving at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. A total of 29 people in close contact with the five patients on flights have been screened and put under quarantine. Shanghai saw no new indigenous COVID-19 infections on Sunday. The municipality has reported a total of 339 indigenous confirmed cases and zero suspected case. If the COVID-19 pandemic tails off in a few weeks, months before the alarmists claim it will, they will probably pivot immediately and pat themselves on the back for the brilliant social-distancing controls that they imposed on the world. They will claim that their heroic recommendations averted total calamity. Unfortunately, they will be wrong; and Sweden, which has done almost no mandated social distancing, will probably prove them wrong. Lots of people are rushing to discredit Swedens approach, which relies more on calibrated precautions and isolating only the most vulnerable than on imposing a full lockdown. While gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited and high schools and colleges are closed, Sweden has kept its borders open as well as its preschools, grade schools, bars, restaurants, parks, and shops. President Trump has no use for Swedens nuanced approach. Last Wednesday, he smeared it in a spectacular fashion by saying hed heard that Sweden gave it a shot, and they saw things that were really frightening, and they went immediately to shutting down the country. He and the public-health experts who told him this were wrong on both counts and would do better to question their approach. Johan Giesecke, Swedens former chief epidemiologist and now adviser to the Swedish Health Agency, says that other nations have taken political, unconsidered actions that are not justified by the facts. In the rush to lock down nations and, as a result, crater their economies, no one has addressed this simple yet critical question: How do we know social-isolation controls actually work? And even if they do work for some infectious epidemics, do they work for COVID-19? And even if they work for this novel coronavirus, do they have to be implemented by a certain point in the epidemic? Or are they locking down the barn door after the horses are long gone? In theory, less physical interaction might slow the rate of new infections. But without a good understanding of how long COVID-19 viral particles survive in air, in water, and on contact surfaces, even that is speculative. Without reliable information on what proportion of the population has already been exposed and successfully fought off the coronavirus, its worth questioning the value of social-isolation controls. It is possible that the fastest and safest way to flatten the curve is to allow young people to mix normally while requiring only the frail and sick to remain isolated. Story continues This is, in fact, the first time we have quarantined healthy people rather than quarantining the sick and vulnerable. As Fredrik Erixon, the director of the European Centre for International Political Economy in Brussels, wrote in The Spectator (U.K.) last week: The theory of lockdown, after all, is pretty niche, deeply illiberal and, until now, untested. Its not Sweden thats conducting a mass experiment. Its everyone else. Weve posed these simple questions to many highly trained infectious-disease doctors, epidemiologists, mathematical disease-modelers, and other smart, educated professionals. It turns out that, while you need proof beyond a reasonable doubt to convict a person of theft and throw them in jail, you dont need any actual evidence (much less proof) to put millions of people into a highly invasive and burdensome lockdown with no end in sight and nothing to prevent the lockdown from being reimposed at the whim of public-health officials. Is this rational? When we asked what evidence is available to support the utility of quarantine and social isolation, academics point to the Diamond Princess cruise ship, with 700 COVID-19 passenger cases and eight deaths. But the ship is an artificially engineered, densely packed container of humans that bears little resemblance to living conditions in most countries. The other major evidence academics often cite is the course run by the 1918 swine flu, which swept the globe 102 years ago and was not a coronavirus. Philadelphia did not practice social distancing during the 1918 pandemic, but St. Louis did and had a death rate lower than Philadelphias. But how is that relevant to todays crisis? Apart from the post hoc, ergo propter hoc nature of the argument, a key difference was that the GIs returning from World War I Europe who were carrying the swine-flu virus couldnt fly nonstop from Paris to St. Louis. They had to land at East Coast ports such as Philadelphia. Its therefore not surprising that the sick GIs rested and convalesced while spreading the virus on the East Coast, and they got better before continuing to St. Louis and other interior cities. Basing the entire architecture of social distancing on the evidence from the 1918 swine flu makes no sense, especially when that architecture causes significant destruction in the lives and livelihoods of most of the American population. But the social-isolation advocates frantically grasp at straws to support shutting down the world. It bothers them that there is one country in the world that hasnt shut down and that hasnt socially isolated its population. It bothers them because when this coronavirus epidemic is over, they would probably love to conclude that social isolation worked. Sweden has courageously decided not to endorse a harsh quarantine, and consequently it hasnt forced its residents into lockdown. The strategy in Sweden is to focus on social distancing among the known risk groups, like the elderly. We try to use evidence-based measurements, Emma Frans, a doctor in epidemiology at Swedens Karolinska Institute, told Euronews. We try to adjust everyday life. The Swedish plan is to implement measurements that you can practice for a long time. The problem with lockdowns is that you tire the system out, Anders Tegnell, Swedens chief epidemiologist, told the Guardian. You cant keep a lockdown going for months its impossible. He told Britains Daily Mail: We cant kill all our services. And unemployed people are a great threat to public health. Its a factor you need to think about. If social isolation worked, wouldnt Sweden, a Nordic country of 10.1 million people, be seeing the number of COVID-19 cases skyrocket into the tens of thousands, blowing past the numbers in Italy or New York City? As of today, there are 401 reported COVID-19 deaths in Sweden. The really good news is that in Swedens ICU census, which is updated every 30 minutes nationwide, admissions to every ICU in the country are flat or declining, and they have been for a week. As of this writing (based on currently available data), most of Swedens ICU cases today are elderly, and 77 percent have underlying conditions such as heart disease, respiratory disease, kidney disease, and diabetes. Moreover, there hasnt been a single pediatric ICU case or death in Sweden so much for the benefits of shutting down schools everywhere else. There are only 25 COVID-19 ICU admissions among all Swedes under the age of 30. Sweden is developing herd immunity by refusing to panic. By not requiring social isolation, Swedens young people spread the virus, mostly asymptomatically, as is supposed to happen in a normal flu season. They will generate protective antibodies that make it harder and harder for the Wuhan virus to reach and infect the frail and elderly who have serious underlying conditions. For perspective, the current COVID-19 death rate in Sweden (40 deaths per million of population) is substantially lower than the Swedish death rate in a normal flu season (in 2018, for instance, about 80 per million of population). Compare that with the situation to Switzerland, a similar small European country, which has 8.5 million people. Switzerland is practicing strict social isolation. Yet Switzerland reports 715 cumulative Wuhan-virus deaths as of today, for a death rate nearly double the number in Sweden. What about Norway, another Nordic country that shares a 1,000-mile open border with Sweden, with a language and culture very similar to Swedens? Norway (population 5.4 million) has fewer reported COVID-19 deaths (71) than Sweden but a substantially higher rate of coronavirus ICU admissions. On Friday, one of us spoke with Ulf Persson in his office at the Swedish Institute for Health Economics. He said that everyone he knows is calm and steady, behaving with more caution than normal, following such government-mandated social controls as a 50-person limit on gatherings and only sit-down service at bars and restaurants. Persson estimates that the Swedish economy will drop about 4 percent because of the global economic shutdowns. But thats nothing compared with the Great Depression unemployment levels of 32 percent that the U.S. Federal Reserve Board of St. Louis recently forecast for the United States. Natures got this one, folks. Weve been coping with new viruses for untold generations. The best way is to allow the young and healthy those for whom the virus is rarely fatal to develop antibodies and herd immunity to protect the frail and sick. As time passes, it will become clearer that social-isolation measures like those in Switzerland and Norway accomplish very little in terms of reducing fatalities or disease, though they crater local and national economies increasing misery, pain, death, and disease from other causes as peoples lives are upended and futures are destroyed. John Fund is a columnist for National Review and has reported frequently from Sweden. Joel Hay is a professor in the department of Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy at the University of Southern California. The author of more than 600 peer-reviewed scientific articles and reports, he has collaborated with the Swedish Institute for Health Economics for nearly 40 years. More from National Review NOGALES, Mexico - For years, Catholic-led, U-S.-based nonprofits have been at the forefront of efforts to support migrants and asylum seekers along the Mexican border. Tough new border policies, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, have drastically changed their work, much of which now takes place in Mexico. The once heavy flow of undocumented border-crossers has dwindled as the Trump administration enforces a new virus-related ban on top of its Migration Protection Protocols that already had forced thousands of asylum seekers to wait in Mexico. The virus outbreak has prompted one migrant support agency, the Kino Border Initiative, to temporarily close its office in Nogales, Arizona. But it is committed to maintaining operations across the border, where it aids asylum seekers congregating in Nogales, Mexico, after being barred from the U.S. There is some resistance to this ministry of migrants and refugees, said Jesuit priest Sean Carroll, who heads the agency. But our sense of the common good doesnt stop at the border. Were all human beings. Earlier this year, before the coronavirus gained global attention, Carrolls agency opened a spacious new migrant outreach centre just inside the Mexican border. Carroll who works full-time in Mexico hoped to expand a twice-daily meal service that had been offered to hundreds of asylum seekers at a deteriorating cafeteria across the street from the centre. Now, amid worries about COVID-19, neither venue is being used as a dining hall. Instead, migrants line up outside the two buildings and approach the doors one at a time to get a meal served into a cup and bowl. Carroll also has cancelled the Masses that formerly were held in the cafeteria and has asked his long-term volunteers to stop reporting for duty, leaving only a small permanent staff in place. He recently appealed for donors to send hospital masks, rubber gloves, anti-bacterial gel and other medical supplies. We are serving with great courage and diligence in the face of very difficult circumstances, he wrote in that appeal. There are some similar circumstances for the Hope Border Institute, based in El Paso, Texas, and run by Catholic activist Dylan Corbett. Across the border in Juarez, Mexico, thousands of asylum-seekers have been living in shelters and squalid camps, waiting for a chance to enter the U.S. Corbett says his agency is trying to find the best ways of supporting those migrants, including some being denied accommodation at shelters now quarantined due to COVID-19. The burden of need has shifted dramatically over to Juarez, yet for a lot of people its out of sight, out of mind, he said. Theres so much suffering on the other side, but when the eyes of the nation are no longer on the border, its incredibly difficult. The Trump administration has justified the new border policy as necessary to minimize the risk of coronavirus exposure in dealings between undocumented migrants and U.S. government personnel. Were trying to limit the amount of contact we have with these individuals, said Chad Wolf, the acting secretary of homeland security. One of the most prominent Catholic migrant-rights activists along the border is Sister Norma Pimentel, who runs a respite centre for beleaguered migrants in McAllen, Texas. At a time when many Roman Catholic dioceses were distracted by financial problems, school closures and ripple effects of the clergy sex-abuse crisis, she became widely known for her passionate advocacy and often travelled to far-flung speaking engagements. The respite centre, which she operates on behalf of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Brownsville, is far less busy than it used to be, Most of the problem has been swept under the rug, said Pimentel, interviewed in the near-empty reception room. It hasnt been solved -- just pushed to the other side of the border. While Pimentel and Carroll are supported by some high-ranking Catholics, theyre frustrated that some people in the church give a higher priority to anti-abortion activism than to the migrants plight. We talk about being pro-life, and were OK returning families to places where they could be killed? Pimentel said. We need to hold our fellow Catholics more accountable. Perhaps the most outspoken bishop along the border has been Mark Seitz of El Paso. Last year, he ventured into Juarez, prayed for migrants well-being, then accompanied a family of Honduran asylum seekers to the U.S. entry point. Standing here at the U.S.-Mexico border, how do we begin to diagnose the soul of our country? Seitz said at the time. A government and society which view fleeing children and families as threats. A government which treats children in U.S. custody worse than animals. Many Hispanic Catholics in the U.S. are deeply invested in the immigration debate because they belong to mixed-status families some relatives have legal immigration status while others do not. Even in heavily Hispanic dioceses, views on immigration are not monolithic. Some priests and bishops rarely evoke the migrants plight; some parishioners resent the resources directed toward them by the church. We know our house of faith is divided, said Gerald Kicanas, the bishop emeritus of Tucson, Arizona. The vast majority who are struggling with this issue are just frightened. They feel theyre being overwhelmed. In Brownsville, Texas, a few parishes are issuing photo ID cards to undocumented immigrants verifying their parish membership. Local law enforcement agencies have agreed to recognize the IDs, potentially sparing some immigrants from being jailed and deported. St. Eugene de Mazenod Church, which serves a parish of low- to moderate-income Hispanics, is spearheading the ID program. But its Spanish-speaking Anglo pastor, Kevin Collins, says most Brownsville parishes arent interested. They dont want anything to do with that kind of social justice, he said. In Nogales, Sean Carroll is determined to speak out he recently assailed the Trump administrations move to immediately send asylum-seekers and other undocumented migrants back to Mexico. The administration has been continually focused on ways to stoke fear of migrants, Carroll wrote. The latest announcement uses the pandemic as a pretext to advance its dangerous goals. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Coal India arm MCL will fund the Covid-19 hospital, having 500 beds and 25 intensive care units, in the capital city of Odisha. The hospital was inaugurated on Monday By Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Coaland MinesMinister Pralhad Joshi also attended the programme coordinated through video conferencing. The development comesat a time when concerns have been raised about weak healthcare infrastructure in the country amid the coronavirus outbreak. "Government of Odisha started the country's second largest COVID-19 hospital in Bhubaneswar on Monday.Coal India's subsidiary company is funding the total operations of this hospital having 500 beds and 25 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds with ventilators," an official said. Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) will finance all expenses of the hospital including cost of treatment of patients for which MCL has already released Rs 7.31 crore as immediate advance. The hospital is a great medical asset for the people of Odisha, Joshi said. MCL has also established isolation and quarantine centres with a total capacity of over 250 beds in Angul, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda and Sundargarh districts of Odisha. The company has also pressed into service the state-of-the-art equipment fog cannon to sanitise peripheral areas, besides distributing masks and alcohol-based sanitisers among coal miners and people living in and around its operations. The central government has already issued guidelines to allow state governments to utilise up to 30 per cent of the balance fund available with District Mineral Fund (DMF) to combat COVID-19. This will also help the mineral rich state like Odisha in fighting with the pandemic," Joshi said. "I had personally directed the PSUs of coal and mines ministries to extend best possible support to the respective state governments to help fight COVID-19, which has engulfed most of the countries of the world. I am happy that these PSUs have risen to the occasion," he added. In response, Coal India's subsidiaries have set up over 1,500 quarantine/ isolation beds in eight states. Similarly, employees of Bhubaneswar- headquartered NALCO have pledged to contribute their one day salary amounting to Rs 2.5 crore to Odisha Chief Minister's Relief Fund. NALCO has also given its consent to fund a dedicated COVID-19 hospital to be set up by the government of Odisha in Koraput district. Coal India accounts for over 80 per cent of the domestic coal output. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The cement demand in India would contract by an unprecedented 20-25 percent this fiscal if the country is unable to contain the pandemic by May The ongoing NBFC crisis had hit the real estate sector in India. Grappling with the resultant credit squeeze in the market, the coronavirus pandemic and the governnment-announced nation-wide lockdown, the sector has been hit hard. The realty sector was looking forward to a higher demand before the Gudi Padwa celebrations, which is considered one of the auspicious occasions to buy a house. But nothing enthused the market. Even the 1 percent concession in stamp duty announced in the Maharashtra Budget on 6 March, applicable to Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Pune, Nagpur and Pimpri Chinchwad for a period of two years (effective from 1 April) did not spur any demand. Hakim Lakdawala, Group Promoter, Goodwill Developers, said, the coronavirus pandemic has put a halt to activities in the real estate sector across the globe, impacting the economy on a large scale. "Even though the government and authorities are taking steps to ease the stress on India's economic system, the current volatility has led to less demand as customers are not stepping out for walk-ins or exploring properties that are available in the market. Gudi Padwa generally witnesses a surge in enquiries. However, this year with the lockdown the festivities did not spur enough sales. We are hopeful that the measures announced by Finance Minster Nirmala Sitharaman will help the sector once the situation normalises," he said. Now, the cement demand in India is expected to fall sharply by 20-25 percent in the current fiscal year if the COVID-19 pandemic is not contained by May, and construction activities begin only in the second quarter, CRISIL said on Monday, according to PTI. With current lockdown situation in the country, the retail sector is experiencing material impacts and may continue to see a slowdown in the demand along with impact on the supply chain and logistics, according to a KPMG report. There is a high possibility of postponement of REIT launches (earlier scheduled for listing in 2020), which would mean further liquidity pressure on real estate developers. Fresh equity investments into the countrys real estate sector could slow down, with almost all subsectors going through turmoil, the report said. The number of COVID-19 infected cases has been spiking despite the lockdown and has surpassed the 4,000 mark, while the death toll crossed 100. Keeping a pessimistic approach, CRISIL said the cement demand in India would contract by an unprecedented 20-25 percent this fiscal if the country is unable to contain the pandemic by May. This would lead to extension of social distancing measures through June, and construction activity beginning only in Q2FY21. However, assuming that lockdown and other social distancing measures will continue till April-end and construction activity may resume in mid-May, the agency noted that the fall in demand during the fiscal could be to the extent of 10-15 per cent. "COVID-19 has cast a long shadow over a much-anticipated mild recovery in Indian economy in fiscal 2021, it noted. Along with external factors such as weak global demand, supply disruptions, and global financial shocks, the economy is grappling with lockdown, factory shutdowns, reduced discretionary spending, and delayed capex cycle, it said adding that all this is expected to affect construction, and thereby cement demand. According to CRISIL, on a quarterly basis, cement demand would be a washout in the first quarter of this fiscal, given that the lockdown measures across India would hurt construction and demand will pick up only from the second half of this fiscal. As government funds are diverted towards health and public welfare, its capex spends on all construction projects, which account for nearly 35-40 per cent of cement demand, will be significantly lower during the fiscal. Besides, further weakening of the real estate sector will impact the CAPEX spends and in-turn demand for cement, it said. The decisions over commercial space take-up may be delayed due to travel restriction, said Lincoln Bennet Rodrigues, Founder and Chairman, Bennet & Bernard Group. A lot of developers in India depend on China for the supply of fixtures, furniture and fittings and that will be impacted to some extent. Going forward, we will have to keep a watch on the overall macro level as the longevity of the crisis is uncertain, he said. However, CRISIL noted that rural housing, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana -rural, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, and spend on key infrastructure projects will be the saving grace for the sector in the second half of the fiscal. Due to the fall in demand, the capacity utilisation will also see a drastic fall to nearly 56-58 percent during the year, adding to the pain from the weakening seen in fiscal 2020, when incremental supply exceeded demand by 27 MT. "Pre-election spending in fiscals 2018 and 2019 had led to a surge in demand, and in turn to an 800 bps improvement in utilisation level to 70 per cent in fiscal 2019. This had encouraged players to undertake aggressive capacity addition to capture incremental demand. Furthermore, to maintain market share, players with relatively weaker financials had even entered newer markets, it said. However, the current demand shock is expected to dent the capacity addition plans of the industry, and stall or delay projects in the medium-term. The agency further noted that despite muted demand, the cement industry logged a healthy price hike of Rs 25 per bag in fiscal 2020. "This came after several years, despite healthy demand growth in the preceding years, and was helped in part by continued consolidation in regional markets by the largest player. The price hike, coupled with lower commodity prices, is expected to drive margins to a seven-year high in fiscal 2020," Crisil said. In fiscal 2021, it expects the price run up to reverse as players will struggle on the demand front. "The decline would be limited to 1-2 per cent or Rs 5-10 per bag as players exhibit pricing discipline, as they did last fiscal, too. However, we expect realisation to fall 2-3 per cent, as the share of non-trade is likely to increase, it stated. Profitability is expected to be under pressure after some expansion last fiscal. The impact of demand freefall, though, will be limited by lower input prices. Given this, the EBITDA margin for the sector is expected to contract by 100-125 bps in fiscal 2021. "However, lower crude and coal prices should limit margin erosion as power, fuel and freight costs are expected to ease. Crude prices are expected to ease to $35-40 per barrel in 2020 from $64 per barrel in 2019. Petcoke prices will also fall, though not commensurate with that of crude, given higher freight and disruptions in US markets. However, fixed costs are expected to rise given plant shutdown during lockdown as well as lower volumes," it added. In a sector which is already facing a huge trust deficit and liquidity crunch, these times will exacerbate the situation and accelerate the already consolidating trend that the sector is currently witnessing. Developers who have built significant networth and have superior capital structures and cash flows will survive whereas majority of the others may go belly-up, said Sharad Mittal, CEO & Head, Motilal Oswal Real Estate. To bring back customer demand, real estate developers may have to reduce prices significantly and resort to other similar measures to bridge the trust deficit as sentiment improves. "As a country, we have already witnessed a wealth erosion of Rs 52 lakh crore i.e. 40 percent of the estimated size of Indias GDP since 31 December, 2019. A UN agency expects job losses at 25 million worldwide owing to the COVID-19 outbreak. With the drop in sentiment and erosion of significant networth of every Indian, we foresee a prolonged recovery period before economic activity is back to normal," Mittal added. -- With PTI inputs Up to 4,000 patients with serious complications from the novel coronavirus in New York are being given the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine. President Donald Trump has hailed the drug, which also is used to treat arthritis and lupus, as a 'game-changer' for treating COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. Health officials told the New York Post that the medication has been shipped to at least 56 hospitals across the state. Patients are being given doses as part of either a four- or 10-day regimen, in hopes that their fevers, coughs and shortness of breath will subside. Health officials have sent hydroxychloroquine to 56 hospitals across New York to treat as many as 4,000 seriously ill coronavirus patients (file image) A small-scale French study found that the drug could reduce the duration of the illness, but doctors have warned against taking it without guidance. Pictured: A person is loaded into an ambulance at the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington, March 12 President Donald Trump has touted hydroxychloroquine, as a potential 'game-changer' for treating coronavirus. Pictured: A patient is being carried to an ambulance at the Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, March 25 President Trump was among the first to wax lyrical about the possible benefits of hydroxychloroquine for coronavirus patients last month. 'This would be a gift from heaven, this would be a gift from God if it works,' he said. 'We are going to pray to God that it does work.' He then repeated the claims on Twitter. 'HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE & AZITHROMYCIN, taken together, have a real chance to be one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine. The FDA has moved mountains - Thank You! Hopefully they will BOTH (H works better with A, International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents),' he wrote on March DATE. The study Trump refers to comes from Marseille, France, in which 30 patients were treated with hydroxychloroquine for 10 days combined with azithromycin, an antibiotic. Although very small, the study 'showed a significant reduction of the viral carriage' after the six days and 'much lower average carrying duration' compared to patients who received other treatments. Last month, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that a combination of the drug along with with azithromycin could be used in hospitals in cases where all other treatments failed. At the University of Albany's School of Public Health, researchers are analyzing the impact on patients and hope that have the results of a preliminary study out in just a few weeks. Meanwhile at New York University's Langone Medical School, a trial is underway to see if hydroxychloroquine can prevent infection in people who've been exposed to the virus. 'If everything goes as planned, the eight-week trial could provide answers by summer on whether a preventive dose of the drug is safe and effective,' a press release read. 'If so, the strategy could give health officials a much needed boost in slowing person-to-person transmission.' Some anecdotal evidence has also come out of China that hydroxychloroquine helps patients recover from the virus sooner. But Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is far more skeptical. 'The data are really just, at best, suggestive,' he said on CBS's Face the Nation on Sunday. 'There have been cases that show there may be an effect, and there are others to show there's no effect. So I think, in terms of science, I don't think we can definitively say it works.' In the US, there are more than 337,000 confirmed cases of the virus and more than 9,600 deaths. In New York, there are more than 130,000 cases and 4,700 deaths. Number of US sailors infected with Covid-19 on aircraft carrier rises to 155: Navy Iran Press TV Sunday, 05 April 2020 1:44 AM The number of American sailors tested positive so far for the coronavirus on the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier has surged 13 percent to 155 within the past 24 hours, the US Navy has confirmed amid the sacking of the warship's captain for publicizing the debacle. The Navy further declared in a Saturday statement that 44 percent of the warship's 5,000-strong service members had been tested and 1,548 of them were transferred ashore, noting that none of the infected sailors have been hospitalized. It did not elaborate on the conditions of those that have so far tested positive for the highly-contagious virus. The carrier's Captain Brett Crozier was relieved of his command of the Theodore Roosevelt last Thursday after the public leak of a contemptuous letter in which he urged the US Navy to take stronger action in efforts to contain the spread of the virus aboard the nuclear-powered warship. In the letter, which was published by the San Francisco Chronicle and caught the Navy by surprise, Crozier described how bleak the situation was onboard the carrier as more sailors were diagnosed with the virus. He further stated in his memo to the Navy's Pacific Fleet that the warship lacked sufficient quarantine and isolation facilities, warning the current strategy would slow but fail to eliminate the virus. US Navy's acting Secretary Thomas Modly then announced in a Thursday briefing that Crozier had been "relieved of command," explaining that the captain had allowed "the complexity of his challenge with the COVID-19 breakout on the ship to overwhelm his ability to act professionally when acting professionally was what was needed the most at the time." The fallout from the Navy's firing of Crozier is growing, however, as Democrats in both chambers of the US Congress called on Friday for a probe into his dismissal as well as the coronavirus outbreak on board the warship. Democratic Senators Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland wrote a letter co-signed by 15 other senators to Pentagon inspector general Glenn Fine demanding that his office "immediately conduct a formal investigation" into the outbreak and the Navy's decision to relieve Crozier of his command. "It is essential that your office conduct a comprehensive investigation to avoid any potential conflicts of interest within the Navy chain of command, and we encourage you to evaluate all relevant matters associated with the dismissal and the outbreak on the ship," the letter read, as quoted in local media reports. Separately, Democratic Congressmen Ted LIeu of California and Ruben Gallego of Arizona also wrote to Fine on Friday calling on him to "open an investigation into this matter as soon as possible." "As veterans, we were taught that protecting the health and safety of troops was one of the highest priorities of any commander," they wrote, insisting that they are "disturbed" by the captain's firing. This is while sailors on the warship cheered for their departing captain Thursday night as he was relieved from duty by the US military. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Civil Aviation Committee cant be deprived of its license. This is what Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said while answering citizens questions live on Facebook today, adding that, in spite of this, there are problems in the civil aviation sector. Armenian airline companies have been deprived of the right to carry out flights to Europe. The speculators speculations are in vain because I believe this is specifically the sabotage of state bodies I have talked about. If you watch my press conference in Kapan, you will see that I have talked about the activities of the Civil Aviation Committee and how ex-officials have dealt with illegal activities and the sale of weapons in African countries for many years, he said, adding that the European Aviation Safety Agency has inspected the Committee. The Agency hasnt followed the rules because the discussion was supposed to be held in May, and the Civil Aviation Committee of Armenia has sent a complaint. Express News Service CHENNAI/RAMANATHAPURAM: A controversy has erupted after the swab test result of a 70-year-old man who had died at the Government Stanley Hospital, returned positive for COVID-19 two days after his burial. Alleging that the hospital authorities didnt inform them about the likelihood of COVID-19 being the reason for the mans death, the relatives expressed fear that they couldnt take adequate safety precautions while burying the body. Meanwhile, over 100 people who attended the mans funeral have been home-quarantined in Ramanathapuram after the result came out. The deceased, a resident of Chennai and native of Keelakarai in Ramanathapuram, had a travel history to Dubai. He was admitted to Stanley Hospital at 9.45 am on April 2 and he died at 11.45 am on the same day without responding to treatment, according to a Health Department statement. Speaking to Express, a family member of the deceased said, At the hospital, we were neither informed that he was a suspected COVID-19 patient nor that his samples were drawn for testing. The body was handed over to us wrapped in a green-coloured cloth. We took the body to Keelakarai in an ambulance the same night. The family reached Keelakarai in the early hours of Friday and the body was kept for paying homage for a few hours before it was buried around 10 am as per religious customs, said local sources.Two days after his death, health officials on Saturday around 10 pm informed us that test samples returned positive for COVID-19, told the family member. Ramanathapuram Collector Veera Raghava Rao said that 11 family members and five men who washed the corpse had direct contact with the deceased. Besides, 85 others visited the house to pay homage. All these 101 persons are asymptomatic and have been kept under home quarantine. Their swab and blood samples would be taken if they develop symptoms. Inspecting the disinfection procedures being carried out around the house, the Collector said the area has been sealed and police deployed. Sources close to the family said Ramanathapuram MLA and former minister M Manikandan who had visited the deceased mans residence to pay homage, has been advised to stay under quarantine. Meanwhile, speaking to mediapersons in Chennai, Health Secretary Beela Rajesh refuted any wrongdoing from the part of the hospital. The man came very late and was in the hospital for only two hours. In that time the doctors did everything they could. Samples were also taken and sent for testing. After coming from Dubai he was under home quarantine. Following necessary guidelines, the body was handed over after packaging. A senior doctor at the hospital said the family was informed that the man could have died of COVID-19. We handed over the body and told them to follow the protocols. He was taking treatment locally for one week. He even took a CT scan on March 27 after coming from Dubai on March 15. However, the hospital has come under fire for the delay in getting the test results. The hospital management, however, denied the charges and said the samples were sent to King Institute, Guindy and the results were received on Saturday night. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 12:22:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CANBERRA, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Popular support for Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has surged to a record high amid the coronavirus crisis. The latest edition of Newspoll published on Sunday night revealed universal support for the government's 130 billion Australian dollar (77.9 billion U.S. dollar) wage subsidy scheme. Morrison's response to the virus has resulted in an unprecedented turnaround in support for a sitting prime minister. He now leads Anthony Albanese, the leader of the Opposition Labor Party, by 53-29 in the preferred prime minister stakes after having fallen behind his counterpart during the bushfire crisis. Morrison's net satisfaction rating has turned around from negative 22 in January to positive 26 -- the highest rating since former Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd at the height of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) in 2009. His governing coalition now leads Labor 51-49 on two-party preferred terms, a three-point swing from trailing 48-52 at the beginning of February. The poll was taken as the spread of COVID-19 in Australia began to slow significantly as a result of strict social distancing measures and border closures implemented by governments. It found that Australian voters remain most concerned about the impacts of the virus on the economy, with 84 percent of respondents worried compared to 76 percent in the middle of March. Satisfaction with federal, state and territory governments' economic response to COVID-19 has risen from 33 to 47 percent. However, the portion of people worried about the preparedness of the public health system has risen from 51 to 57 percent. Two Austin-area H-E-B employees tested positive for the coronavirus, the grocery store chain confirmed via a news release Saturday. One employee works at an Austin location, 2508 E. Riverside Dr., and last showed up to work March 28, according to the news release. The second employee works at a Dripping Springs location, 598 East Highway U.S. 290, and has not been at the store since March 8, the release said. It is unclear when the employees tested positive for COVID-19. H-E-B said both stores went through a deep cleaning and were sanitized multiple times. Grocery stores are considered essential businesses and remain open during the pandemic. H-E-B has been praised for its response to the crisis and have enacted social distancing measures to help protect employees and customers like installing protective shields at all checkout lanes. "While the pandemic is an evolving situation with many unknowns, we are sure of one thing: we will do our part to help our fellow Texans in any situation our company and communities might face," the company concluded. On Saturday, the store also revealed an employee at an H-E-B Plus! store in San Antonio near Bandera and Loop 1604 tested positive for the coronavirus. Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre The Arunachal Pradesh Police on Monday confirmed that a 21-year-old man was abducted by China's People's Liberation Army on March 19 from Asapila sector near the McMahon line in Upper Subansiri district. The whereabouts of the young man, however, is yet to be known, they said. Inspector General of police (IGP) Chukhu Apa said district superintendent of police Taru Gusar had sent the Nacho police station officer in-charge to the spot, and an inquiry has confirmed the incident. "The state government will be apprised of it so as to act accordingly as the matter is under the purview of the external affairs ministry," Apa said. The Army's Eastern Command headquarters in Kolkata is yet to respond to queries about the alleged incident. In a memorandum to Governor B D Mishra on March 27, the Tagin Cultural Society had said Togley Singkam and his two friends -- Gamshi Chadar and Ronya Nade -- were busy fishing when the Chinese security personnel ambushed them. "While his other two friends could successfully escape, Togley Sinkam was abducted at gunpoint by the Chinese security personnel," the memorandum said. A complaint was filed by Singkam's family at the Nacho police station on March 23, it said. The governor's office had confirmed receipt of the memorandum, which also claimed that Singkam was picked up from a place that is part of the clan's land and well within the Indian territory. The McMahon Line demarcates the boundary between the Tibet autonomous region of China and Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims as its own. The McMahon Line is not properly demarcated and small cement pillars erected on the Indian side often get covered under wild growth. Meanwhile, a number of organisations in the state have appealed to the state government for taking up the matter with the Centre for the safe release of the man. The Siyum Nacho Limeking Taksing Students Union (SNLTSU) has threatened to launch a democratic movement in the state capital, if his early and safe release was not ensured. (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 Spring may have finally arrived on P.E.I., but health officials are reminding Islanders to keep their distance if they head outside. "When you do go outside for a walk with members of your household make sure you are practising physical distancing if you come across others," said Dr. Heather Morrison, P.E.I.'s chief public health officer. She said she heard about a lot of Islanders out on the weekend enjoying time in parks and on trails, but not keeping two metres away from others. "I understand there were really too many people gathering all together and not really respecting that physical distancing," she said. Morrison said her office is keeping an eye on the situation and may have to bring in stricter measures. If you live in Sherwood, if you live in Winsloe, stay in your own neighbourhood, practise physical distance. Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown "Whether it's limiting access, and I'm not sure we want to do that, but trying to control some of the number of people that are gathering in close proximity," she said. One of the places that Islanders have been heading to enjoy the weather is Victoria Park in Charlottetown. 'Stay in your own neighbourhood' Mayor Philip Brown said when he was out this weekend, he saw some Islanders abiding by the physical distancing rules, but others were not. "Victoria Park is a beautiful place to go and stroll and just take in the beauty of Charlottetown," he said. "But the focus here is that if you live in Sherwood, if you live in Winsloe, stay in your own neighbourhood, practise physical distance," he said. He noted there are many green spaces outside the city's core for people to exercise. Brian McInnis/CBC The inside lane around Victoria Park was closed to vehicle traffic on April 1, to allow more room for people walking to keep their distance. But Brown said it's not an invitation to everyone to use the park in fact, it's the opposite. Story continues "The purpose of opening up that inside laneway was to provide more space between users at Victoria Park, not to open the floodgates to say, 'come on down.'" "If you're in the area, yes, do your exercise, physical, mental wellness exercise, and then go back home because if we're going to get through this, we have to follow the protocols that were set up by Dr. Morrison's office." It's to get those trails up and operational so residents in different parts of the city can get out. Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown Brown said he's had discussions with the Municipal Emergency Measures Organization about how to best tell Islanders about the importance of physical distancing. He also said police will be ramping up monitoring of Victoria Park to make sure people are keeping a safe distance from others. Brown said city staff are working to get trails in the city open so that everyone can safely enjoy the weather. "Their plan is to get some of the crews back on, but again we have to be following the protocols dictated by the chief medical officer," said Brown. "It's to get those trails up and operational so residents in different parts of the city can get out for their physical and mental wellness exercises." 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. "The good news is, these attacks are easily preventable by following basic security best practices, and that is what we plan to share with parents and the education community." In response to the growing number of schools and universities that have recently fallen victim to Zoom bombing attacks, the national online safety nonprofit Innocent Lives Foundation is providing free webinars for educators and parents on how to use Zoom safely and securely when conducting remote meetings, classes and lectures. These free one-hour webinars will run throughout the months of April and May for any educators or parents who would like to learn how to use Zoom more safely and effectively. Zoom bombing is of particular concern for video conferences that involve underage kids, as in many instances the attackers have displayed pornographic or other graphic and offensive imagery, in addition to making racist and hateful remarks. The FBI recently issued a warning about the threat of Zoom bombing, as these attacks have surged in recent weeks. These attacks are frustrating and can be quite terrifying for those who fall victim, especially when children are involved, said Chris Hadnagy, founder of Innocent Lives Foundation and CEO of Social-Engineer, a prominent cybersecurity consulting firm for corporations and government agencies. But the good news is, these attacks are easily preventable by following basic security best practices, and that is what we plan to share with parents and the education community. The key is to understand how this online tool works, how attackers can abuse it and what are the proper steps to take in order to secure your Zoom meeting so that it cannot be hijacked or abused. Criminals and pranksters are having a field day with Zoom calls right now, so this advice is very important to learn and follow. Innocent Lives Foundations free one-hour webinars will include a 30-minute overview of how to use Zoom, safety and security issues to be aware of, and simple ways to secure a Zoom meeting, followed by a 30-minute Q&A where participants can ask any questions they may have. The first three Zoom webinars will be held on the following dates: April 8 at 1pm EST April 16 at 2pm EST April 24 at 3pm EST To sign up for the free Zoom webinar, go to http://www.innocentlivesfoundation.org. About Innocent Lives Foundation: Innocent Lives Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit led by cybersecurity professionals, with the sole purpose of protecting children online. Using innovative online investigative techniques, ILFs team helps law enforcement by providing them with critical evidence to identify, arrest and prosecute online predators who target children. ILF was founded by Chris Hadnagy, a nationally prominent security consultant and published author who advises numerous Fortune 500s and government agencies on the threats posed by social engineering attacks. Hadnagy has also advised White House aides, the Pentagon and four-star generals, and has lectured at the FBI. For more information, visit http://www.innocentlivesfoundation.org. Media Contact for ILF: Janet Shoup Firm Nineteen, LLC 828-424-0983 janet@firm-19.com New Delhi, April 6 : Food delivery platform Swiggy on Monday announced it has received an additional $43 million funding as part of its ongoing Series I round. The Series I round, initiated in February this year, earlier raised $113 million led by existing investor Prosus N.V., along with participation from Meituan Dianping and Wellington Management Company, the company said in a statement. The size of the round now stands at $156 million. "As we continue to strengthen and expand our services that offer unparalleled convenience to our consumers, we are humbled by the faith shown by our investors year-on-year and welcome the new investors on board," said Rahul Bothra, CFO, Swiggy. "Our focus remains to execute on our vision while building a sustainable path to profitability, he added. Along with existing investor Tencent, new investors Ark Impact, Korea Investment Partners, Samsung Ventures and Mirae Asset Capital Markets have participated in this closing round. Media reports said on Monday that Zomato also raised $5 million from British investment manager Baillie Gifford's Pacific Horizon Investment Trust. A query set to Zomato went unanswered. Zomato earlier raised $150 million from existing investor Ant Financial, an affiliate of Alibaba. Several parishes in Ha Tinh Province held public masses last weekend despite the Governments ban on large gatherings and travel restrictions to contain COVID-19. People go to Nghia Yen Church on Saturday night. Photo vov.cn The parishes of Nghia Yen and Tho Ninh in uc Tho District, Thuong Binh and Lang Truong in Huong Khe District, Trang inh in Can Loc District and Ke ong in Thach Ha District held services on Saturday night and Sunday morning attended by hundreds of worshippers. The action triggered social uproar. I dont think it is proper to hold a mass at this time. The more people who gather together, the more easily the disease will spread, Tran Thi Hong Vinh in Can Loc District told Vietnam Television. Paul Nguyen Thai Hop, the first bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ha Tinh, said they had been discussing solutions that would allow people to pray without large gatherings Many believers did not fully understand the current situation so they were still going to church as usual, he said. Ha Tinh Peoples Committee said on Monday the gatherings severely violated regulations set by the Government in response to COVID-19. Local authorities have asked the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ha Tinh to suspend all public masses and religious services, raise public awareness of the disease and collaborate with law enforcement forces to deal with violators. Authorities in uc Tho, Can Loc, Huong Khe and Thach Ha districts have been asked to investigate individuals involved in organising these masses and file reports to the provincial Peoples Committee by April 9. On March 25, Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Nang of HCM City called for all local churches and chapels to temporarily suspend masses and all other religious activities starting at 4pm on March 26 until further notice. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on March 26 also ordered the suspension of religious ceremonies. On March 7, Pope Francis announced he would give his catechesis from the Library of the Apostolic Palace and live-stream it to the world instead of reciting the Sunday Angelus in St Peters Square. VNS Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 16:50:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BAGHDAD, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Five Katyusha rockets landed Monday near the sites of a U.S. oil company in Iraqi southern province of Basra without causing casualties, a local security source said. The attack took place in the early morning when the rockets landed near the U.S. Halliburton oil firm in the al-Zubair area in western part of Basra province, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. The attack caused no human casualty except for slight damages, the source said, while the Iraqi security force conducted a search campaign in nearby areas and found the rocket launcher, the source said. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, as the military bases housing U.S. troops and other U.S. interests across Iraq have been frequently targeted by insurgent mortar and rocket attacks. On Jan. 5, the Iraqi parliament passed a resolution requiring the government to end the presence of foreign forces in Iraq, just two days after a U.S. drone strike on a convoy at Baghdad airport, which killed Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Revolution Guards Corps. Over 5,000 U.S. troops have been deployed in Iraq to support Iraqi forces in battles against the Islamic State (IS) group, mainly for training and advisory purposes. As the coronavirus crisis rages across the world, those who hoped that guns might now go silent in theaters of war are finding their desires dashed. In Turkey, where the pandemic is bruising an already crisis-hit economy, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has showed no sign of backing down from his cross-border military ventures. He seems unperturbed by budget constraints as he presses ahead with his intervention in Libya and in Syria, as a matter of fact. Never mind that he has had to call for donations to help the needy in the coronavirus pandemic, stunning millions who expected support from the state but were effectively told that Ankaras coffers are empty in the fight against COVID-19. Turkeys role in the Libyan conflict has once again come to the fore amid a renewed escalation around Tripoli since March 25. Turkeys allies have launched a fresh offensive against Khalifa Hifters Libyan National Army, backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, in what is suggestively called Operation Peace Storm. Evoking Turkeys Peace Spring and Olive Branch operations to undo the Kurdish self-rule in northern Syria, the name in itself speaks of Turkeys influence in Libya, where Ankara backs the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord and its Islamist allies. Turkish military commanders and intelligence officers appear to have a decisive say in the operation center at the Mitiga military academy near Tripoli at present. Erdogan himself had stressed at the outset of the intervention that the Turkish militarys role would focus on command and coordination. The latest push of the Tripoli- and Misrata-based Islamist forces that Turkey backs aimed to capture the al-Wattia air base, held by Hifters forces since August 2014. Located some 160 kilometers (100 miles) southwest of Tripoli, al-Wattia is the second most strategic base in the area after the Mitiga airport. Hifters forces suffered heavy losses and lost the base on the first day of the operation, in which the active involvement of Turkish drones tipped the balance. Government of National Accord-backed forces along the Tripoli-Misrata route launched simultaneous assaults on Hifters forces at Rashfana, Ahia Barria and Naqlia Camp near Tripoli and Abu Qurayn and al-Washka to the west of Sirte. In a counteroffensive March 26, Libyan National Army forces recaptured al-Wattia. They did not stop there, however, and marched on to Zuwara and surrounding settlements to the north and then to the Tunisian border, seizing a number of towns in the area as well as the Ras Ajdir border crossing. With their route to Tunisia now cut, the Government of National Accord and its Islamist allies have taken a huge blow. Along the coastline, meanwhile, the Libyan National Army besieged Zuwara both from the south and the west. Should Hifters forces manage to take Zuwara, some 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of Tripoli, they could turn up pressure on the besieged capital from the coast. If Zuwara falls, the nearby city of az-Zawiyah might not be able to hold out for too long, either. The counteroffensive resulted also in the capture of Wadi Zamzam, some 238 kilometers (147 miles) southeast of Tripoli. Hifters forces have raised various claims regarding Turkeys involvement. According to the Libyan National Army, a Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drone that took off from the Mitiga airport was shot down near Tripoli on March 30. The Libyan National Army also claimed that missiles fired from a Turkish warship off Tripoli targeted its positions in al-Ajailat on April 1, without causing loss of life. Meanwhile, a French navy frigate was reported to have intercepted a Turkish cargo ship in the Mediterranean on suspicion it was taking weapons, including air defense systems, to the Government of National Accord. The incident took place before the European Union launched, on April 1, a new naval mission dubbed IRINI which means peace in Greek to enforce the arms embargo on Libya. Another striking reflection of Ankara's involvement in Libya is the mounting death toll among the mercenaries Turkey has transferred from Syria. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the number of Syrian fighters killed in Libya has reached 156. The Libyan National Army, for its part, claims that some 500 foreigners have been killed while fighting in Government of National Accord ranks. To limit the number of the Turkish boots on the ground, Erdogan relied largely on Syrian mercenaries, who came from various groups aligned with Turkey in Syria. According to the observatory, the number of Syrian fighters transferred to Libya has reached 4,750, with about 1,900 others in Turkey for training. Yet Syrian fighters seem to regret joining the Libyan war. According to the observatory, some of them claim Turkey has failed to pay them the promised monthly salaries of $2,000. Turkey paid our salaries for only one month. It has not secured anything for us. Even cigarettes, we hardly got them. We stay in a house but we cannot get out of it, since cells of Hifters forces are deployed throughout the area, a Syrian fighter says in an audio recording obtained by the observatory. The mercenary urges fellow aspirants to not come to Libya because Turkey has fooled those already in the country. All of us want to return to Syria, he said, adding that some groups are already preparing to leave Libya. And while the war in Libya has not gone as expected for Turkey, its financial burden continues. Intriguingly, the Turkish public is not prepared to discuss the cost of either the Libyan nor the Syrian war. Critical voices from the opposition have yet to mature into comprehensive grouping questioning government policies. On Jan. 2, Erdogan obtained parliamentary approval for the military deployment in Libya, soon after signing controversial accords on maritime borders and military cooperation with the Government of National Accord in late November. And while Turkeys involvement in Libya has grown increasingly visible, the contractual terms of its military equipment shipments remain unknown. Are they being granted or sold? Turkish-made equipment such as Kirpi armored vehicles, a product of BMC, and Bayraktar TB2 drones manufactured by Baykar, a family business of Erdogans son-in-law Selcuk Bayraktar have become a crucial element in the Libyan war. And while nobody thinks they are offered as grants, what the Government of National Accord has given in return remains anybodys guess. The cost of other military activities and the source of the money paid to Syrian fighters remain unknown as well. The government has been tight-lipped on its Libya budget, ignoring written parliamentary questions by the opposition on the issue. In a December decree, Erdogan set an upper limit of 20 million Turkish liras (some $3 million) for products and services to be provided to friendly and allied countries in 2020, including weapons and ammunition. This limit, however, appears rather irrelevant in terms of the military shipments to Libya, which have included even a Hawk air defense system. Unal Cevikoz, deputy chair of the main opposition Republican Peoples Party, submitted a parliamentary question on the issue in December, but the presidents office has yet to reply. On April 3, he submitted another written question, this time to the foreign minister. Cevikoz demands answers on how much Turkey has spent in the Libyan civil war and who are the beneficiaries of that spending, how much the Government of National Accord has paid for equipment such as drones and armored vehicles, how much Turkey has paid to fighters transferred from Syria and what budget funds are used to cover such spending, how many Turkish troops have been deployed in Libya and how many of them have died. The government has spurned calls for transparency on the Libyan dossier thus far. In the face of questions and criticism, its response has been limited to pointing to Emirati shipments to Hifters forces and saying that Turkey is doing what it takes to protect its own strategic interests. Amid the novel coronavirus outbreak in Egypt, the military took the lead in disinfecting state institutions to contain the spread of COVID-19. In addition, the Ministry of Military Production announced on March 24 that the military would begin manufacturing and selling medical masks across the country. Announcement of the armys decision to sell medical supplies came at a time when retail pharmacies and other businesses and, therefore, individuals were finding it difficult or impossible to procure them. Mohammed Othman, a pharmacy owner in Cairo, told Al-Monitor, The crisis suddenly emerged. The quantities we had had started to run out quickly, and when we asked suppliers for more, they told us that there was a shortage. The increase in the price of ventilators and medical tools by a rate that sometimes reached 300% was the result of a shortage in pharmacies, and when we asked suppliers about this shortage, no one had an answer, Othman added. A few days later, we started seeing the army selling supplies, and although this solved the crisis, it increased the pharmacies losses. Under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the Egyptian military has greatly increased its economic involvement and investment in the private sector, as Al-Monitor has previously reported. For example, last year it entered the tourism sector on the Red Sea, leading small businesses there to doubt their ability to survive. The military has also staked out markets in the food and construction industries, pharmaceuticals and car tire manufacturing. A member of the Chamber of the Sale and Manufacture of Pharmaceutical and Medical Supplies in the Federation of Egyptian Industries confirmed the plight of businesses like Othman's. When the army started selling medical supplies, it increased the losses incurred by pharmacies, private companies and factories that manufacture such products, he told Al-Monitor, speaking on the condition of anonymity. The army is selling these products at low prices, and it is impossible for private companies to compete with the prices of the army, which is why citizens are opting to buy from military outlets. The army has deployed large, service vehicles to public spaces across Cairo and in several governorates to sell supplies from what are essentially mobile stores. A military-made mask costs up to 12 Egyptian pounds (less than $1), while a mask sold at a pharmacy goes for 70 Egyptian pounds ($4.5) because of the supply shortage. The military is constantly joining various industries, and this will lead to more [private-sector] losses, the source reiterated. Under the current circumstances of the coronavirus, one cannot huff and puff in public, but we hope an end is put to the losses incurred, and we hope the army stops selling such products. Parliamentary deputy Khaled Mesbah, a member of the Daam Masr (Support Egypt) Coalition, which strongly backs Sisi, dismissed concerns about the military's actions. The armys attempts to solve the problems facing the civil sector do not constitute a problem, especially in light of the real coronavirus crisis threatening the lives of Egyptians, Mesbah told Al-Monitor. I do not think it is normal to discuss profits and losses in light of the current crisis. We must all join hands to provide the necessary services citizens need and help save their lives and ensure their safety. We should commend the armys role in such circumstances. The army had announced on March 17 on Facebook, The Chemical Warfare Department has started sterilizing and disinfecting public universities, official institutions and administrative buildings of ministries and state agencies. According to the statement, the operation would target universities, schools and some facilities frequented by large numbers of citizens. The plan starts with the disinfection of administrative areas, internal passages, classrooms, amphitheaters and laboratories of the Ain Shams and Al-Azhar Universities. The army was also dispatched to Cairo University to disinfect facilities, hallways, walkways and labs. In a video posted March 15 on Facebook, an army spokesman announced that the military had been stockpiling food reserves to distribute to the public in case of emergency, asserting that a single reserve unit could feed 20,000 people for 30 days. It was also reported that the military has the ability to conduct PCR testing to detect the novel coronavirus. It was unclear how the army secured the tests and equipment. Kolkata, April 6 : West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee government on Monday roped in Nobel laureate economist Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee as a member of newly formed Global Advisory Board for a Covid-19 Response Policy in the state. Announcing the formation of the expert committee, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said it would advise on the state's economic growth by tackling coronavirus pandemic. Other members of the committee are medicos Swarup Sarkar, Abhijit Chwodhury and Sukumar Mukherjee. The committee would advise her on limiting the state's financial losses due to the lockdown. Briefing mediapersons at the state Secretariat Nabanna, the Chief Minister said the state presently has 61 active Covid-19 patients. The death count stood at two, while 13 persons have recovered. "As many as 55 of them are members of seven families. More than 99 per cent of the affected have foreign connections," she said. She said 11 family members of a Kalimpong woman who died of Covid-19 at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital have tested positive for the dreaded virus. Another 11 persons who attended a marriage ceremony in Egra of East Midnapore district have also tested positive. A man suspected of stabbing to death a California resident in 2013 was arrested while trying to board a flight in Texas bound for Meixco. Bartolo Cruz was waiting to board the plane at the gate at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on Thursday when Border Patrol agents apprehended him following a tip from the Gilroy Police Department, according to U.S Customs and Border Patrol. The 31-year-old fugitive is wanted for the death of a 24-year-old man from Gilroy, California, following a fight June 22, 2013 on 800 Block of East Eight Street. The victim suffered multiple wounds and was taken to a local hospital where he died. Bartolo Cruz, who is wanted by California authorities for the fatal stabbing of a man during a fight in June 2013, was arrested at by Border Patrol officers at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on Thursday while waiting to board a Mexico-bound flight A second victim, a 23-year-old male, suffered multiple non-life threatening stab wounds. Bartolo Cruz also stabbed a second man during the June 2013 brawl. The victim's wounds were non-life threatening CBP said six officers approached Cruz at the gate where he was identified and then arrested. The Gilroy Police Department confirmed the warrant for his apprehension and extradition. The federal border protection agency handed the wanted man to the DFW Airport Department of Public Safety to await extradition. 'As a law enforcement agency, our officers take every opportunity to provide support to our partners seeking assistance, especially in a homicide matter,' said Dallas CBP Port Director Timothy Lemaux. 'In this instance, we were able to apprehend a wanted fugitive who evaded law enforcement for more than six years.' As the novel coronavirus continues to spread at a rapid pace across the globe, so too has misinformation surrounding the virus and its associated disease, COVID-19. One prominent theory making the rounds, particularly on social media, is that 5G communications equipment is linked to the cause of the virus.This theory, which appears to have surfaced in January and has been widely debunked by experts, says that the technology impacts and weakens immune systems, making people more susceptible to the virus. A Facebook post that was very widely shared stated that the city of Wuhan in China, which was the first epicenter of the outbreak, was one of the first places to receive a 5G rollout.Despite the fact that many experts and fact-checking organizations have thoroughly debunked this theory , people continue to share the information across social media. Some celebrities, even, have shared posts or links to sources supporting the theory. And some people have even attempted to take matters into their own hands: UK officials reported on Monday that at least 20 5G towers had been vandalized or set on fire due to what they believe to be coronavirus fears.UK government officials will be meeting with social media companies in the coming days to discuss what can be done to stem the tide of COVID-19 misinformation on these platforms. - It was recently announced that the government is considering an extension of the enhanced community quarantine for another 15 to 20 days - National Task Force COVID-19 said this is due to surging cases of the coronavirus disease in the country - And because of their fear of going hungry in the event that the lockdown gets extended, 19 vegetable vendors in Quezon City continue to sell their goods - A leader of a progressive group said many of those vendors have not received food and financial assistance from the local government - However, the vendors were caught and arrested by authorities for illegally selling goods PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed Nineteen vegetable vendors fearing hunger were nabbed for illegally selling goods amid the enhanced community quarantine all over Luzon. According to a report by Manila Bulletin, the vendors were caught along Elliptical corner Maharlika Street at Barangay Old Capitol Site in Quezon City at about 5:15 p.m. on April 5. Flora Santos-Assidao, head of the progressive group Sanlakas, said the vendors were only forced to sell their goods due to fear of going hungry as the National Task Force COVID-19 considers an extension of the lockdown for another 15 to 20 days due to surging cases of the coronavirus disease. She added that many of those vendors said they have not received food and financial assistance from the local government. Unless this government finds a speedy way of delivering its promise of support to the people, the struggling poor will continue to find ways to survive on their own, the leader of the progressive group said in a statement. Assidao also appealed to the Quezon City Police District for the release of the arrested vendors, and demanded to extend compassion for those in the fringes of society. In a report by Inquirer.net, authorities said the vendors will be facing charges for violation of City Ordinance 1364 series of 2003 or illegal street vending and Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act. PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! KAMI previously reported that an inspiring video of united Filipinos amid COVID-19 touched the hearts of netizens. At present, the Philippines is under a state of calamity while the entire Luzon is under an enhanced community quarantine due to the coronavirus disease outbreak. 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! Kapuso star Kris Bernal participated in the new episode of our Tricky Questions feature! Check out all of the exciting videos and celebrity interviews on our KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: KAMI.com.gh A DUP councillor is one of the latest recruits to the health workforce in the fight against coronavirus. Kathryn Owen, who was co-opted onto Newry, Mourne and Down District Council last year, will this week start working at a hospital site dedicated to Covid-19 patients. The married mother-of-two from Saintfield, who has a background in auxiliary nursing, said she didn't hesitate in signing up to the workforce, which has seen more than 14,000 people register to help in a week. The appeal was launched by Health Minister Robin Swann. The 42-year-old's career in nursing started in the RAF. She left two years ago to undertake a PhD in cardiology, but is returning to the health service to help the fight against coronavirus. Other politicians returning to the front line include PUP councillor John Kyle, who has come out of retirement as a GP. He told the Belfast Telegraph he felt "motivated" to do his part. Kathryn said, morally, it was the right thing to do. "I just decided that I have to go and help out. I will be working in the emergency department and the ICU, basically wherever my cardiology team is going," she explained. She will self-isolate from husband Steven and children Thomas (16) and Grace (12) while she works at the hospital. She will be staying in a caravan when she isn't working. At least 1,500 of the appeal's total registrations have been made by clinical staff, while 5,300 are support staff such as hospital porters and drivers. Meanwhile, the Department of Health has plans to invite second-year nursing, midwifery and allied health professions, including physiotherapy, radiography and occupational therapy, to further support care delivery as part of the scheme. Non-clinical workers are also needed for paid employment, including as porters, catering, cleaning and domestic services staff. To find out more about the workforce campaign, visit www.hscworkforceappeal.co.uk Lucknow, April 6 : The King George's Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow has doubled its capacity for Covid-19 confirmatory tests. The university has also decided to start rapid antibody test on suspected cases, as approved by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recently. KGMU Vice-Chancellor Prof M.L.B. Bhatt said: "KGMU's microbiology department had two machines that could conduct 180 confirmatory tests in 24 hours. We have now received two more units-one each from National Health Mission programme and ICMR-and we can now conduct 360 tests daily." To ensure smooth functioning of the lab, the KGMU has also doubled the staff strength. The vice chancellor said that in the rapid antibody test a sample is divided into three parts and tested one after another to minimize the error percentage. He also added that KGMU currently has reagents to test only 1,500 samples. However, more kits would arrive in the next two days. The rapid antibody or strip test is done to check presence of antibodies of coronavirus in the blood sample of a person. With the help of the strip test, it can be assessed whether a person is infected or not. After this test, the patient's swab samples can be sent to lab for confirmatory test if there is a requirement for it. The strip test can be done quickly and help in identifying suspected cases easily. A team of 15, including doctors, research scholars and lab assistants of the microbiology department of the medical university, has been working round the clock from February when the Covid-19 cases started surfacing in the state. Global cases of the new coronavirus have shot past 1 million with more than 54,000 fatalities, a tally showed on Friday, as death tolls soared in the United States and western Europe while the world economy nosedived. DEATHS AND INFECTIONS * Reported cases have surpassed 1.03 million globally and nearly 54,500 people have died, according to a Reuters tally. * For an interactive graphic tracking the global spread, open https://tmsnrt.rs/3aIRuz7 * U.S.-focused tracker with state-by-state and county map, open https://tmsnrt.rs/2w7hX9T 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 EUROPE * Spain overtook Italy for the first time for the number of confirmed cases, but the overnight death toll fell from the previous day. * Switzerland's government boosted its powers to force firms to make more critical medical supplies. * Scientific advisers to the Italian government said a reliable antibody blood test to find out who has already had the virus would give a better picture of Italy's epidemic and could possibly be identified within days. * The southerly region of Chechnya became the first in Russia to introduce a night curfew. * Cases in Ireland's nursing homes have increased four-fold in the space of a week. * British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was remaining in isolation with mild symptoms, seven days after he was confirmed to be infected. Britain's health minister said the curve of deaths could peak on Easter Sunday. Queen Elizabeth will make an extremely rare address to the nation on Sunday. * French high-school students have had their graduation exam, the "baccalaureat", cancelled for the first time since it was instituted two centuries ago under Napoleon. * It is too early for Germany to lift restrictions on people's movement despite signs that the virus may be spreading at a slightly slower pace, Chancellor Angela Merkel said. * Latvia reported its first death. AMERICAS * In New York, the U.S. state hardest hit by the coronavirus, the total death toll was around the same as that on 9/11, when nearly 3,000 people, most of them at New York City's World Trade Center, were killed in attacks on the United States. Another hot spot, Louisiana, reported that the number of its deaths related to COVID-19 rose from 310 at noon on Thursday to 370 at noon on Friday. * Total U.S. virus cases jumped to 239,279, while deaths rose to 5,443. * Canadian officials blasted a move by President Donald Trump to block 3M Co's export of N95 respirator masks for use by doctors and nurses as the daily death toll jumped by almost 20%, with total infections nearing 12,000. * Brazilians are increasingly against President Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the outbreak and overwhelmingly support officials he has attacked for advocating social distancing measures, two polls showed. ASIA AND THE PACIFIC * The top official in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where the virus was first identified, warned residents to stay vigilant and avoid going out, even as the latest data showed a decline in new cases in mainland China and no new infections in the city. * Confusion reigned in some Hong Kong pubs and bars after authorities ordered a two-week closure, with many food outlets uncertain if the latest restrictions applied to them. * The U.S. sounded the alarm about a surge in cases in Japan, adding to a chorus of prominent domestic voices who have called for more decisive action. * Taiwan and the United States discussed how to get "closer coordination" between the island and the World Health Organization during the outbreak, drawing a rebuke from China. * Pakistani Muslims at a Karachi mosque clashed with baton-wielding police trying to enforce new curbs on gatherings to prevent Friday prayers and contain infections. * The number of funerals in Jakarta rose sharply in March, a development the governor of Indonesia's capital city said suggested that deaths from the new coronavirus may be higher than officially reported. COVID-19 pandemic LIVE updates MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA * More than 2 million workers in Turkey have lost their jobs due to containment measures, the main opposition party said, as the government moved towards tightening curbs on movement. * Israel locked down an ultra-Orthodox Jewish town badly affected by the virus. * A United Nations official voiced concern over prisoners after reports of unrest in jails in countries including Iran, one of the worst-hit in the world. * Coronavirus has infected more than 3,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa and killed about 100, prompting some of the world's poorest countries to shut land and sea borders. ECONOMIC FALLOUT * Global stock markets sank on Friday following more signs that the COVID-19 pandemic would take a massive toll on economic growth. [MKTS/GLOB] * The global recession that economists polled by Reuters say is underway due to the coronavirus pandemic will be deeper than thought a few weeks ago, although most are clinging to hopes of a swift rebound. * The pandemic has brought the global economy to a standstill and plunged the world into a recession that will be "way worse" than the global financial crisis a decade ago, the head of the International Monetary Fund said. * The impact of the coronavirus, and for some the oil market crash, are putting at least half a dozen countries at risk of having their debt downgraded to a 'junk' rating. * The U.S. economy shed 701,000 jobs in March, ending a historic 113 straight months of employment growth, while U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Congress will work on another relief bill, with healthcare topping the list of priorities. * Britain's economy looks set for a slump that in the short term could be deeper than during the depression of the 1930s. Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here With India in lockdown to fight coronavirus, it seems many are getting "handsy" with their phones and iPads to fight the pandemic blues. As the 21-Day lockdown amid a growing number of COVID-19 cases managed to push Indians indoors, many sought comfort and solace in online pornography. As per traffic data released by Pornhub on April 2, Indians have been increasingly hitting the site for porn since the announcement of the lockdown on March 24. Luckily for Indians, the lockdown also coincided with Pornhub's announcement to provide a month's worth of access to its "Premium" account for free across countries as a token of support during the tough lockdown times. And Indians responded with full enthusiasm. All through March, the site saw increasing traffic from India. On March 24, there was a 23 percent increase in traffic from India. By March 27, Porn Hub saw a whopping 95 percent increase in traffic from India. While the following week saw a slight decline, the numbers were still quite high at 64 percent on April 1, meaning Indians were clearly making the most of both social distancing and free porn. It isn't just India, the entire world has seen a spike in porn watching with Porn Hub recording a spike across several countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and Russia among others. However, India recorded the highest jump. Pornhub had initially offered free Premium subscription for a month to Italy, United States and Spain when the countries first started to record large scale infections and deaths. The offer was soon extended to all countries as the pandemic spread, making lockdowns essential across the world. Free porn isn't just the only "aid" Pornhub has been providing. The MindGeek owned pornographic video platform has been providing aid to actors working in the industry. It has donated $25,000 to the Sex Workers Outreach Project and also donated 15,000 surgical masks to first responders of New York City of along with 15,000 surgical masks to firefighters. The idea, according to Pornhub's Vice President Corey Price's press release, behind the free porn subscription, was to encourage and more people to stay at home by using porn as an incentive. In India, it seems to be working. Bangladesh on Monday suspended prayers for the public at mosques across the country in a bid to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus after four more COVID-19 patients died in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 12. "Four more people died of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, while another 35 cases were confirmed, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) Director Meerjady Sabrina Flora told an online media briefing. She said the fresh reports of infections were detected as 468 samples were tested at 14 facilities, nine of them being in Dhaka. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Religious Affairs on Monday issued an emergency notice restricting the congregation in mosques. The ministry urged the public to pray at home. The notice also said that a maximum of 10 people can attend the weekly Friday prayers in mosques. The government also restricted visits to other places of worship. In several Muslim-majority countries, the 'azaan' (call for prayer) has been amended and now it urges people to pray in their homes. Director General of Health Services Abul Kalam Azad said one of the four dead in the last 24 hours was a director of the independent Anti-Corruption Commission, who was being treated for infection along with two other family members. The 48-year-old official died early Monday after eight days of treatment at the Bangladesh Kuwait Friendship Hospital, the hospital said. Azad said 739 people were quarantined in the past 24 hours, 30 of them in institutional quarantine while another 23 suspects were kept on isolation. The health officials briefing came hours after Health Minister Zahid Maleque issued a note of warning that Bangladesh was facing extra COVID-19 risks in the next 30 days as healthcare officials said the virus now appeared as a community wise pandemic. "Community transmission of the virus has begun," a spokesman of the directorate general of health services said, adding that 64 of the 123 infection cases were reported from Dhaka and 23 from Narayanganj on the outskirts of the capital. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday announced stimulus packages to the tune of Taka 72,750 crore (USD 8,573 million) to counter the adverse effects of coronavirus on the country's economy. "Earlier I declared Taka 5,000 crore (emergency) incentive package for paying salaries and allowances of export-oriented industry workers and employees and today I am announcing four fresh financial stimulus packages of Tk 67,750 crore," she said in a televised address from her official Ganobhaban residence. "I hope our economy will rebound and we can reach near the desired economic growth, if the stimulus packages -- the previous and the fresh ones -- are quickly rolled out," she said. Bangladesh on Saturday extended the nationwide transport shutdown till April 11. (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: 6 April 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 81,649 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 1,442 pence 17.71 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 1,392 pence 17.10 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 1,432 pence 17.58 USD Ticker: PSHD Date of Purchase: 6 April 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 93,488 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 17.60 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 17.20 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 17.52 USD Trading Venue: Euronext Amsterdam Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 6 April 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 137,870 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 17.68 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 17.06 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 17.51 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 200,136,331 Public Shares outstanding, or 205,845,582 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 10,820,419 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/20200406005767/en/ Contacts: Media Camarco Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk ANN ARBOR, MI -- For the first time in its history, some non-veteran patients will be treated for coronavirus infection at the VA hospital in Ann Arbor. Patient transfers to the 67-year-old VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, as well as the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit, began Sunday, April 5, to address the strain of COVID-19 inpatients in southeast Michigan hospitals, according to a news release. The Ann Arbor medical center opened 35 beds to critical and non-critical COVID-19 patients, according to the VA. Ten beds are for intensive care and 25 are for acute care. The two veteran health systems activated the VAs fourth mission, an additional goal to serve the nation more broadly during national emergencies by supporting local needs to non-veterans during crises. Both the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state requested support from the VA. The decision to accept non-veteran patients came after determining it would not negatively impact veteran care, VA leaders said. Were well-positioned to deliver humanitarian assistance to our community, Ann Arbor Medical Center Director Ginny Creasman said in a statement. Our colleagues at other health care systems are in desperate need of relief and were able to help, while still preserving a vast majority of our inpatient beds for our Veterans." Michigan is one of the hardest-hit states in the country during the coronavirus pandemic with more than 17,000 confirmed cases as of Monday, April 6. Some hospitals say they are at or near-capacity, especially those in the Detroit-area, where a majority of the states cases are so far. MORE FROM MLIVE: Read all Michigan coronavirus news here After weeks of mixed messages, Michiganders urged to wear masks to prevent coronavirus Beaumont urges state to make more hospitals release data on coronavirus Portraits from a Pandemic: Michiganders deal with fear, death and isolation during coronavirus With the COVID-19 pandemic hitting New Jerseys Bergen County extremely hard, the Meadowlands Racetrack wanted to help the community in any way possible. After learning the Meadowlands YMCA was working with Table to Table to distribute meals to families in need, the Meadowlands Racetrack and its restaurant partner Ark Meadowlands pitched in to help feed the local community. The racetrack donated over 500 meals along with fresh vegetables, cases of water, Gatorade and soda to the Meadowlands YMCA. Employees volunteered their time to help pack up the meal boxes and bag the vegetables. When we learned that our community was in need, we knew we could help immediately, said Jason Settlemoir, COO & GM of the Meadowlands Racetrack. Id like to thank Jennifer Jordan for organizing this food drive for us and Marianne Rotella, Marcello Esposito, Lisa Smoter, Rachel Ryan and Raul Perez for working so hard on getting this done. We are looking forward to our return to racing when it is safe to do so, continued Settlemoir. We encourage everyone to remain at home and stay healthy and we look forward to seeing everyone back at the track. For ways to help the Meadowlands YMCA, click here. (Meadowlands Racetrack) Patna, April 6 : In two incidents of fire in Bihar, an old woman and her two granddaughters died while several houses burnt in Munger and East Champaran districts respectively. At least one of these incidents took place during the 9baje9minute activity on Sunday, the authorities informed on Monday. According to the police, an elderly woman and two girls died after a sudden fire broke out in a house in Kahua Mushari village of Sangrampur police station area in Munger district. Cattle and food grains were also burnt in the incident. The parents of the deceased girls worked as wage laborers in Delhi, while the two girls lived in the village with their grandmother. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed to light lamps, candles or diyas in houses to express gratitude towards the corona warriors in a safe and peaceful manner. Block Development Officer of Sangrampur Prem Prakash said on Monday that the cause of the incident has not yet been ascertained. He informed that Rs 4 lakh and other regular government assistance will be provided to the families of the deceased. The fire was controlled with the help of local people. In the East Champaran district incident, 10 houses were gutted in the fire in Sapahi village of Dhaka block damaging property. According to villagers, after the Prime Minister's appeal, some people had lit lamps in their huts, and a house caught fire, which quickly engulfed the surrounding structures. The fire brigade's team arrived immediately after the incident was reported. Travellers at Sydney's international airport to be repatriated on April 2, 2020, amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. (Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images) Government to Fly Aussies Home From S. America Australians in South America have been thrown a lifeline after the government organised special commercial flights to rescue travellers stranded by the (Chinese Communist Party) CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. The first flight will depart from the Peruvian city of Cusco for Chiles capital Santiago before travelling on to Melbourne. A second journey will start in Perus capital Lima and stop in Iquitos en route to Melbourne. Demand is expected to outstrip the number of seats available after more than 400 Australians registered with the consulate to get on the next plane home. Foreign Minister Marise Payne has signalled another flight would be arranged in coming days. Australians in Peru will be able to book for an Australian government-facilitated commercial flight to Australia this Wednesday out of Lima, Cusco & Iquitos, she posted a tweet on April 6. Australias ambassador to Peru and Bolivia Diana Nelson said she was delighted to confirm the flights. Working hard to get you home, she said in her tweet. Sydney man Thomas Curnow is among hundreds of people hoping to get on one of the flights. Its 11 p.m. now and Im filling out details and stuff for the flight, he told AAP from Peru. In an email to Australians in Peru, the consulate said a seat would cost $1,539 (AUD $2550) a person. Australian tourists in Cusco and Iquitos will be given priority, along with vulnerable travellers, the elderly and families with children. Those not in priority groups will be placed on a waiting list. We expect this flight will be oversubscribed, and encourage Australians who wish to return to Australia to book as soon as possible, the consulates email reads. Reporting by Caroline Schelle and Christine McGinn As Today host, Karl Stefanovic has been keeping Australians up to date on the coronavirus pandemic. And speaking to TV Week on Monday, the 45-year-old revealed the measures Channel Nine has enforced on set, to prevent the spread of the killer virus. 'We're taking every precaution, because we all have families at home,' he said. 'We're taking every precaution': Karl Stefanovic (pictured with Today co-host Allison Langdon) revealed the measures Channel Nine has enforced on set to prevent the spread of COVID-19 Alongside Karl and co-host Allison Langdon, 40, sitting the advised 1.5 metres away from one another, producers have also limited the amount of people on set. 'We don't have cameramen in the studio,' Karl told TV Week. 'We have one floor manager and everyone else is in a different room. We have very little human contact.' Karl also revealed that the idea of broadcasting from home, should the crisis worsen and government intervene, has been discussed. Minimal contact: Speaking to TV Week on Monday, Karl said cameramen are not allowed on set: 'We have one floor manager and everyone else is in a different room' 'People might question why we're still going in [to work], but let me tell you: I do not want to get this,' he said. 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 1,280,000 cases worldwide and more than 70,500 fatalities. Thinking ahead: The TV personality also revealed that the network have discussed the idea of broadcasting from home, should the crisis worsen and government intervene further As of the evening of April 6, there are 5,795 confirmed cases in Australia, including 40 deaths. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged Australians to not leave the house unless absolutely necessary. Unfortunately for some, this has meant job cuts and loss of income. Daily updates: As Today host, Karl has been keeping Australians up to date on the pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic has completely disrupted our normal way of doing things, and this is especially true of how employees go to work. As millions of Americans transition to working from home as part of social-distancing precautions, many analysts are predicting that the impact on where we work will last long after the pandemic ends. Indeed, remote work has several advantages for employers and employees. Studies have reported greater levels of job satisfaction, less stress and higher productivity. Many employers have given feedback indicating improved retention, while also being able to reduce office expenses. Of course, despite these opportunities, remote work also presents several challenges one of the biggest being how to keep work-related information secure when someone is accessing it at home. A survey by Shred-It found that 86 percent of C-suite executives feel that the risk for data breaches is significantly higher with remote work. However, proactively addressing security challenges by following the below steps will enable your team to work remotely without risking compromising your data. 1. Ramp up user-training efforts. While criminal attacks are responsible for the majority of data breaches, human error is also a significant contributor to digital-security issues. An analysis in Australia found that 36 percent of all such cases were directly attributable to human error. Phishing emails are one of the most common threats facing employees, tricking them into clicking on fraudulent links that are designed to install malware or steal account information. These hacking attempts can be very intricate, even going so far as to imitate official communications from your company or its partners. Now that employees are working outside the office, you should make doubly sure that they understand the dangers of phishing and other attacks. Teaching them to identify fraudulent communications will keep many severe breaches from ever becoming an issue. Related: What You Need to Know About Multi-Factor Authentication 2. Require two-factor authentication. Whether a work-issued laptop is stolen or your employee uses the same password for work as they do for another account that has been compromised, there are countless avenues that criminals can use to gain access to employee information even when your team is using digital-security best practices. To counteract this, an increasing number of companies are requiring two-factor authentication when employees log in to their accounts. During a recent call with Ryan Lakin, president of IronEdge Group, he explained, Two-factor authentication adds a layer of redundancy to ensure that only the actual account owner can access their account. A hacker could steal an employees password, but they probably wont have a phone that receives the verification code. They certainly wouldnt have a fingerprint, which is used in some systems. Adding one extra step to the login process could make all the difference in keeping hackers out. Two-factor authentication systems can also serve as a type of alert when an unauthorized user is attempting to log in to an account. This will help remote employees know when they need to change their password or contact you about a potential issue. 3. Audit account-access restrictions. With the bulk of your team working remotely, now is an important time to audit account access-restrictions, particularly if everyone works within the same company dashboard. Information Security Form estimates that 54 percent of company security breaches are caused intentionally by internal actors. Exploiting proprietary information, giving away account access and other, similar actions could compromise your companys digital data. The more access someone has to your internal dashboards, the greater the threat. As such, you should double-check all user accounts and ensure that remote workers only have access to the information they need to do their job. In a time when many businesses are laying off employees to keep afloat, you should also be quick to remove account access from anyone who has been let go. Data wipes and account suspension will ensure that an upset employee wont take out their frustration on your company. 4. Provide remote security updates. While you may have invested in firewalls and other cybersecurity upgrades at the office, your employees may no longer have access to these resources now that theyre working from home. When providing company-owned devices, make sure that all firewalls and antivirus software is fully up-to-date. Consider helping employees using their own devices with the installation of such tools. The use of encryption software can also protect your data while your team is working remotely. This can even be done with programs like Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Office. Files that are encrypted can only be opened by someone who has the appropriate key or passcode. This way, even if a hacker were to intercept a work-related file, they would be unable to open it. Data encryption can even keep someone from accessing files if they were to steal a remote workers device. As with general digital-security practices, you must provide training to your employees to help them understand how to best use these resources. This way, security enhancements will not hinder their productivity while working from home. Related: 10 Cyber Security Best Practices for Your SMBs It is uncertain how long the COVID-19 pandemic will require many people to work from home, but even after the virus subsides, it is quite likely that there will be an increased desire for telecommuting opportunities. By taking steps to keep business data secure when accessed remotely, you can have confidence in your companys future. Related: Why Millions of Americans Are Struggling to File for Unemployment Benefits, When They've Never Been More Generous Autonomous Shuttles Ferry COVID-19 Tests Around Florida Lecciones de una higuera para rehacerse de las crisis Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved We've been under lockdown long enough to have exhausted all the major shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hotstar. We are all pretty much bored of Ludo and card games with family, and nothing seems to be interesting enough to while away time. So, maybe we should try something different and worthwhile - something that might add to our skills. Owing to the lockdown we have a lot of time on our hands that we previously did not. So, why not hone some skills that can boost our resume or make our lives easier in general? None of this asks you to order things online or spend money at all - you can acquire new skills for free. Ivy league courses Most of us are stuck in homes. Some time or they other, we have all wondered about doing a course from a foreign university, well now is the time. There are hundreds of courses out there on a variety of subjects like science, marketing, etc offered by Ivy league schools FOR FREE! Medium You can simply google them, and apply for a course at universities like Yale, Brown, Harvard etc and learn about your interest in detail! Since we are under lockdown, it's possible that you have been surviving on packets of Maggi and pasta - because you were probably too dependent on your house help/cook - but how long are you going to do that? Now that you HAVE to cook, might as well learn how to cook a few basic things like rice, idli, dosa, dal etc. There are thousands of videos available on YouTube on how to cook each dish. One thing I learnt is that I can make a chocolate cake from biscuits, oil, milk and sugar! No eggs or white flour needed. Acquire the basic culinary skills, they will surely come in handy sooner or later; actually, sooner rather than later. PM Modi recently released an animated video of him doing yoga, to urge people to take up this healthy regime. He is right. Yoga will not only render you physically fit, it will help you stay mentally fresh too. Unsplash Take up just a few basic yoga exercises, perform them at a fixed time of the day - they will increase your flexibility, and keep you calm and composed in general, and God knows we all can use some of that. Freelance If it does not come in conflict with the company where you are working at, or if you are a school or a college student just looking to save some money (this is a good time to save as there is hardly anything to spend money on) you should look for freelance opportunities. Source Given we are all saving more than a couple of hours a day because of lack of traveling and dressing up, you can invest that time into making more money for yourself! Learn Social skills Introverts or extroverts we all have our problems when it comes to dealing with people in social circles. Depending on what your nature is, you can take the time out to work on your social skills. Just like for everything else, there are a number of YouTube videos and courses available on how to hone your social skills. Apart from helping you with personal interactions these will also help you professionally as well. Take Up A Certification Many certification courses have cut down their registration fees tremendously, as no students can attend offline classes. Aws.amazon This is a great time to add a skill to your resume and learn some new tricks and trade of your profession. With almost no financial investment, it can prove to be tremendously beneficial for your career. Take up e-reading This is less of a skill than a hobby, albeit one that can prove to be very essential. No you don't have to buy books online, though it would be a good idea to first read those. Ereading There are thousands of e-books available free of cost, that you can download and read in your devices - fiction, non fiction, anthologies - this will not only help you gather knowledge but expand your vocabulary. Reading activities creative thinking, and you could always do with more of that, right? Write Blogs, Create Vlogs It's time to let that latent talent lose. You cannot say that you are not getting the time to create that blog or record that video. This is the time, take up a pen or your laptop and start writing. Source Or pick up your phone and start recording. This is the ideal time to create content and learn how to do it right. Learn a new language This will require you to stick around for longer than the lockdown period. but this is the ideal time to start learning a new language. Having more than two languages on your CV really ups your chances of getting hired and it is certainly a desirable skill. Source You can pick up the language of the country you want to visit next, or pick from the popular ones like German, Spanish or French, tutorials for which are available online for free. Learn to dance or sing None of these could be your forte but if you ever thought that you have the slightest interest in either, it is time to start honing. Take those jazz lessons available on YouTube or classes for singing. It is easy to simply sit and say I have nothing to do. With access to the Internet there is nothing in the world that you cannot do right now, from the comfort of your home. And you already know you're going to have to stay put for a while, so why not use this time fruitfully? FB Image credits: Unsplash In comparison to other nations, in which info on historical female figures could be sparse, the accounts of valiant females in Cuban heritage are much less complicated to locate and access. There are lots of females who participated in the struggle for independence, the Cuban Revolution, as well as the suffragist movement. Here's a summary of females that deserve as much recognition as the males you already know of - if not more. Pilar Jorge de Tella The 1901 Constitution of Cuba, used after the island secured freedom from Spain, blocked females from the right to vote. By the 1920s, a mass movement of feminists had begun a battle for their rights. Pilar Jorge de Tella emerged as a leader. She co-founded one of the most prestigious groups of the time, the Feminine Club and National Female's Congress - the meeting of different feminist groups to debate policies and strategy. Jorge de Tella took debatable political stances. She supported universal suffrage, use of birth control, education, child care, and much better labor conditions and protections for children born out of wedlock. Carlota Carlota is remembered for her part in directing a slave revolt in colonial Cuba. Not a lot is known about her life apart from the fact that she is from Yoruba, Cuba and was kidnapped from her West African home and put through a lifetime of slavery within the high sugar plantation of Triunvirato. The rebellion began when Carlota burned on the slave master's house as well as the sugar mill. With the slaves liberated, fellow forerunners, along with Carlota of the uprising, communicated the plans of their rebellion to nearby plantations through drums. Check these out: -Real Heroes 2.0: Latino Farmworkers Sustain Food in the US, but Are They Protected Against COVID-19? -WATCH: Fashion Designer Johana Hernandez Creates Face Masks For Frontliners -Tasty Homemade Mexican Dishes Your Family Will Love Rosa Castellanos She was a freed slave, medic along with soldier in the 10 Years' War, Cuba's very first battle for freedom along with a bid to abolish slavery. At the coming of the war in 1868, Castellanos used the knowledge of her of indigenous healing herbs for treating injured soldiers. As the combat intensified, Castellanos and the husband of her (also a former slave) made a life-saving area hospital. She had also been to charge into battle with a machete in hand and eventually a rifle. Although in 1895, a second war for freedom ignited, the war ended in a truce in 1878. The Santa Rosa area clinic, like a newly-appointed captain of the medical corps, was directed by Castellanos. Ana Betancourt A leader in the battle for freedom is commonly revered in Cuba. While the crusade where her husband fought raged on, Betancourt sent provisions and arms to the rebel army and then published and distributed propaganda. She finally fled the house to get away from mounting persecution and joined her husband on the battlefield. In the first constitutional convention held by the patriots in 1869, Betancourt advocated for female's rights, proclaiming before an area filled with males that "now was the time frame to liberate women." After Spanish forces took her prisoner, she was exiled abroad. She died in Spain in 1901. Her bravery is commemorated with the Order of Ana Betancourt medal, given to great groundbreaking Cuban females. If you are looking for a place with lakes, waterfalls and an inactive volcano, the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai will meet your expectations. The Central Highlands province of Gia Lai is one of the countrys largest provinces. VNA/VNS Photo Gia Lai shares borders with Kon Tum Province to the north, ak Lak Province to the south, the coastal provinces of Quang Ngai, Binh inh and Phu Yen to the east, and Cambodia to the west. A motorcycle is a best way to enjoy the scenery on both sides of the road. If visitors travel to Gia Lai from Binh inh by motorbike, you will see pine forests with the suns rays highlighting the kitchen smoke coming from wooden houses. TNung Lake northwest of Pleiku is dubbed ocean lake for its vast size. It is also hailed for its beauty. Besides beautiful lakes and waterfalls, Gia Lai is also home to many ethnic festivals such as the Central Highlands Gong Festival, which takes place at the end of November to promote the regions gong culture, which has received UNESCO heritage status. VNS Gia Lai province: Land of beautiful untouched nature Gia Lai province is an ideal destination for travelers wanting to explore the wild nature and the unique culture of the Central Highlands ethnic groups who are known for their gong space. ALBANY Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, over the past month, had pleaded for the federal government to provide life-saving ventilators as he warned of a dire shortage. A nursing home operator in Niskayuna, whose facility has dozens of unused ventilators, said he tried to be part of the solution. But its been difficult to lend the ventilators to New Yorks state government, according to Jeff Ruso, the administrator of the Pathways Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He told the Times Union on Monday morning that hed been trying to lend them for free for about two-and-a-half weeks to the state Department of Health, but had not heard back from the governor's administration for about a week on the matter, with the last directive to stand by. Ruso emphasized that he understood the Cuomo administration is at the epicenter of the COVID-19 crisis, and that DOH had been helpful to him in other matters. Still, he was frustrated in his efforts to unload the ventilators to people whose lives could depend on them, saying hed felt guilty for having them. We stand ready to help wherever needed, whether its here, or out in the community, Ruso said. After this article was initially published Monday evening, Ruso and the state government connected. Pathways will be lending New York 13 ventilators, said Cuomo senior advisor Richard Azzopardi. Were humbled by the outpouring of support from people in every corner of this state and beyond who are offering supplies, equipment and tools to help fight this pandemic," Azzopardi said. "Each offer needs to be vetted and we ask that all requests go through our centralized portal. In this case, our team spoke to Mr. Russo and his staff earlier today and he has agreed to temporarily lend us 13 ventilators. We thank him for his contribution to this effort. Others interested in helping New York respond to the crisis can find information on the state's website. The National Guard loaded the ventilators from the Niskayuna nursing home onto a truck on Tuesday afternoon. "They were great," Ruso said, adding that he was "disappointed in all the negative comments" that had emerged about his situation in light of this Times Union article. "This is what we wanted to do all along and I never wanted it to look political," Ruso said. The ventilators can be life-saving for some coronavirus patients that develop dire respiratory issues. As of mid-March, Ruso said he had about 46 ventilators that were not being used by Pathways patients. He had put in repeated calls and emails to the state Department of Health or governors office about lending them out, he said. During the time Ruso was having trouble connecting with New Yorks government, other hospitals in the same nursing home chain as Pathways in New Jersey and on Long Island took 22 of the ventilators. Two more are now headed to a small Capital Region hospital, Ruso said. Im trying to just get them out there, get them to people in need, he said. Latest coronavirus-related cancellations, postponements The latest coronavirus numbers in NY Sign up for the Times Union coronavirus newsletter Full coronavirus coverage So far, Ruso said, there are no coronavirus cases among the nursing home's patients, including more than 40 people already on breathing support whose underlying conditions put them at particular risk. The state Health Department had been very helpful to the nursing home in obtaining personal protective equipment (PPEs), as well as hand sanitizer, according to the nursing home. Department of Health spokesman Gary Holmes on Monday was unable to track down information about the agency's interaction with Ruso. Holmes said it did not appear that Pathways submitted information about its ventilators through the official portal that DOH is using to track offers of donated goods, spaces and services. Holmes said ventilators going from upstate to needier Long Island without state intervention was a positive step. DOH is getting inundated with offers of goods and services, he said, so to a degree has been focusing on "big game hunting" of larger quantities of ventilators and other needed equipment. Over the past three weeks, Cuomo repeatedly said that New York was in dire need of 30,000 ventilators and called on the Trump administration and other states to help out. President Donald Trump had said he did not believe New York would need as many ventilators as Cuomo predicted, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency sent the state more than 4,000 ventilators. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. On Friday, Cuomo said he would issue an executive order directing the National Guard to take and redistribute ventilators from less hard-hit areas of upstate New York to downstate, which has borne the brunt of the epidemic. But on Monday, Cuomo walked back his prediction and said that new data suggests New York may not need nearly as many hospital beds or ventilators at the apex of the pandemic. Last month, he predicted there could be up to 140,000 patients hospitalized at the height of the crisis. The governor also said that no hospitals or health care facilities are currently lacking ventilators or personal protective equipment. A frustrated Ruso recently joined Twitter and tweeted last Friday about the lack of state government response to his offer of free ventilators. Azzopardi, the senior advisor to Cuomo, had responded on Twitter about whether Ruso was authentic, citing as evidence the fact that Ruso had zero Twitter followers, no picture and had just joined the platform. Ruso has a lot on his plate beyond tweeting: Besides running a nursing home, he is also the supervisor of the Town of New Baltimore. On Tuesday morning following this article's publication, Republican U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York tweeted critically of the Cuomo administration. "This is disappointing. NYS fails to respond to proactive outreach to voluntarily donate ventilators," Stefanik wrote. "[New Jersey] accepts 22. Instead NY officials respond to the media that it's more interested in 'big game hunting' & then attack the authenticity of the nursing home owner's Twitter." In fact, according to Ruso, some of 22 ventilators went to Long Island, not just New Jersey. Stefanik has also expressed concern about Cuomo's plan announced Friday to take ventilators from her upstate district to needier downstate hospitals. While Pathways' plan before the state responded to Ruso on Tuesday was to give the ventilators to local Capital Region hospitals, it's possible some of the 13 could now be headed elsewhere. Ruso had the dozens of extra ventilators in part because of a quirk. In December, the lease had run out on one model of ventilator, the Flight 60, while Pathways got a shipment of a newly leased different type of ventilator. The company that owned the Flight 60s only took back 25 of them because there wasnt enough room on the loading truck, Ruso said, leaving another 29 extra ventilators on hand in Niskayuna. New York government has had successes gaining promises of larger numbers of ventilators from elsewhere, including 400 from Washington State, 140 from Oregon, and 1,000 from China. No denial of Covid vaccine, treatment, essential services for want of Aadhaar: UIDAI Baal Aadhaar: No fingerprint or eye scan required for kids below 5 years Bill which seeks to link electoral rolls with Aadhaar listed for introduction in LS Aadhaar will be accepted as birth proof from online subscribers: EPFO India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Apr 06: Retirement fund body EPFO will accept online its subscribers' Aadhaar card as valid proof to rectify their date of birth to ensure that the account is KYC compliant, the labour ministry said on Sunday. "In a move to extend the availability and reach of online services in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the EPFO (Employees' Provident Fund Organisation) has issued revised instructions to its field offices to facilitate PF members to rectify their date of birth in EPFO records, thus ensuring that their UAN is KYC compliant," a ministry statement said. According to the statement, the date of birth recorded in Aadhaar will now be accepted as valid proof of date of birth for the purpose of rectification, provided that the difference in the two dates is less than 3 years. The PF subscribers can submit the correction requests online. Deadline to link PAN with Aadhaar extended to June 30 It said that this will enable the EPFO to validate the birth date of members online with Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) instantaneously, thus authenticating and reducing the processing time of change requests. The EPFO has instructed field offices to expedite disposal of online requests, enabling Provident Fund members in financial distress, to apply online for availing non-refundable advance from their PF accumulations to tide over COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier, the EPFO allowed its subscribers to withdraw three months basic pay and dearness allowance as non-refundable advance on the ground of COVID-19 lockdown from March 28, 2020. Now get instant e-PAN based on Aadhaar from this month: Here is how However, the facility was available to those members whose KYC (Know You Customer ) compliance was complete. Now, this decision would help the members to make their universal account numbers KYC compliant. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, April 6, 2020, 8:30 [IST] T he Government will pay 80 per cent of wages for employees not working because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Chancellor announced last month. Here, we take a look at how the scheme works. Rishi Sunak announces financial support for self-employed during Covid-19 pandemic What is the scheme? The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is a temporary scheme open to all UK employers, designed to support employers whose operations have been severely affected by coronavirus. Employees who would otherwise have been made redundant due to financial difficulties can stay on their companys payroll as a "furloughed worker". Once it opens at the end of April, employers will be able use a portal to claim for 80 per cent of furloughed employees usual monthly wage, up to 2,500 a month, plus the associated Employer National Insurance contributions and minimum automatic enrolment employer pension contributions on that wage. Who is eligible? The scheme is open to all UK employers, including businesses, charities and public authorities, that had furloughed employees on a PAYE payroll scheme by February 28. 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 Furloughed employees can be on any type of contract, including: Full-time employees Part-time employees Employees on agency contracts Employees on flexible or zero-hour contracts Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, Jenny Harries / 10 Downing Street/AFP via Getty The scheme also covers employees who have been made redundant since February 28, if they are rehired by their employer. Importantly, to be eligible, an employee can't carry out any work for their organisation while on furlough. If an employee is working, but on reduced hours, or for reduced pay, they will not be eligible for this scheme and the employer will have to continue paying the employee through the payroll. People hired by a company after February 28 cannot be furloughed or claimed for. Employees on unpaid leave cannot be furloughed, unless they were placed on unpaid leave after February 28. How can I claim? Employers will make the claim through a Government portal and will receive a grant from HMRC to cover furloughed employees' wages. Syracuse, N.Y. A Syracuse nursing home is isolating some residents in their rooms as a precaution after a nurse who works at the facility tested positive for coronavirus. Bishop Rehabilitation and Nursing Center learned over the weekend one of its registered nurses tested positive, said Jason Newman, a spokesman for the nursing home. The nurse has been out sick and did not work in the facility last week. No other employees or residents of the 440-bed facility at 918 James St. have tested positive, he said. The state Health Department told Bishop to take precautionary infection control measures on three units of the nursing home where residents may have been exposed to the nurse, Newman said. He did not know the number of affected residents. Those residents will be restricted to their rooms and not allowed to have communal meals. Staff members must wear masks and other protective gear when entering the rooms of patients on those units. Newman said its unknown how long the precautions will remain in effect. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Coronavirus in NY: Cuomo extends school, business closures until April 29 Behind the Onondaga County execs latest move: Hes frustrated with coronavirus and some slackers Onondaga County warns of potential coronavirus exposure at 3 pharmacies, liquor store Coronavirus in NY: State releases deaths by ages, counties Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com James T. Mulder covers health news. Have a news tip? Contact him at (315) 470-2245 or jmulder@syracuse.com Sydney's eastern beaches were deserted after a police crackdown on coronavirus restrictions - but hundreds flocked to the northern beaches on Sunday instead. Eastern suburbs beaches Bondi, Coogee, Tamarama, Bronte and Clovelly were all eerily empty as authorities enforced coronavirus physical distancing rules and council beach closures. At Bondi, a man was photographed being arrested by police at 9am on Sunday after being spotted by a lifeguard walking on the sand of the closed beach. Tamarama Beach south of Bondi carried a simple message: #StayHome written in the sand Tamarama Beach in Sydney's east - completely deserted on Sunday morning A man was arrested at Bondi Beach at 9am on Sunday after being spotted by a lifeguard walking on the sand. Bondi Beach remains closed and the sands empty of people Bondi Beach was empty on Saturday also as the authorities enforce the beach closure NSW Police said in a statement that the 21-year-old man ignored signs saying the beach was closed, refused to move on then allegedly coughed on an officer and claiming he had coronavirus as he was arrested. He was charged with failing to comply with council signs, refusing to comply with police and resisting and intimidating police. Bondi Beach was closed after people repeatedly ignored social distancing rules to flock to the famous beach in late March. With authorities strictly enforcing the beach closures, the sands remained deserted on Saturday and Sunday despite the warm weather. People are only allowed to meet in pairs unless they are members of the same household, according to the rules put in place to try to curb the spread of coronavirus. NSW Police at North Bondi on Saturday, enforcing the beach closure on horseback Coogee Beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs, devoid of people. The council's sand cleaning machine left undisturbed lines in the sand early on Sunday morning Coogee remained empty later on Sunday Bronte Beach in Sydney's east, also deserted. 'Glorious day. Beach empty. Weird.' wrote one Instagrammer. Strangers must keep a minimum of 1.5 metres of distance between each other according to the requirements set by the Federal Department of Health. In NSW, police have issued dozens of on-the-spot $1,000 fines for breaking the rules. The eastern beaches were deserted after police and council rangers enforced the rules last week. 'Glorious day. Beach empty. Weird.' wrote one Instagrammer on a picture of Bronte Beach, south of Bondi, completely empty of people on a sunny autumn Sunday when it would normally be full of joggers, swimmers, snorkelers and surfers. It was Northern Beaches residents who flouted the strict rules on Sunday, thronging along the short walk from Manly to Shelly Beach to enjoy the sun and surf outdoors. Just as they did on Friday, crowds of people turned out in force all over the Northern Beaches on Sunday from Manly, to Freshwater and Curl Curl. Crowds throng the coastal walk from Manly to Shelly Beach on Sunday before the Northern Beaches Council closed the beach to prevent people getting closer than 1.5m. Nobody is wearing a face mask to protect others from droplet spray Swimmers at Manly Beach before the council shut the beach to enforce physical distancing Northern Beaches Council closed seven beaches for coronavirus distancing on Sunday: Warriewood, Manly, North Steyne, Queenscliff, Freshwater, Curl Curl and Palm Beach Dee Why on Sunday. While people tried to keep 1.5m apart there were just too many people While many people were only walking in pairs or in family household groups, the sheer numbers of people meant that physical distancing of 1.5 metres between people could not always be adhered to. Nobody wore face masks to prevent potentially infectious droplets coming from their mouths. 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 Non-surgical cloth barrier masks have been strongly recommended by the United States Centre for Disease Control to slow the spread of the deadly virus in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Northern Beaches council soon sent rangers and staff to shut down seven beaches. 'Our Rangers and Council staff have been posted to a number of hot spots today where large gatherings have occurred,' Northern Beaches council wrote in a Facebook post. 'We have had to close Warriewood, Manly, North Steyne, Queenscliff, Freshwater, Curl Curl and Palm Beach. More beaches will close and reserves too if people dont follow the rules.' Manly beach was shut at 11am, shocking the joggers, swimmers and mothers pushing strollers who were enjoying the last of the autumn sunshine, replenishing their Vitamin D reserves. 'Manly Beach is now closed for surfing and swimming too, by order of the NSW Police, and I am devastated,' wrote Ruby Prosser on Twitter. Dee Why Beach in Sydney's north was full of walkers on Sunday soaking up the autumn sun Kids on Manly Beach on Sunday. Coronavirus distancing rules require people to stand 1.5m apart unless they are members of the same household Surfers at the waters edge on Freshwater Beach on Sydney's Northern Beaches on Sunday. Northern Beaches Council closed the beaches after crowds were seen, threatening physical distancing regulations put in place to stop the spread of coronavirus People are still able to visit some parks, beaches and reserves as long as they maintain the strict social distancing rules. To see which Northern Beaches are open for exercise, closed or restricted at the Northern Beaches Council website here. Governments from the US to Israel have told their citizens to wear non-surgical improvised face masks in public to stop the spread of the deadly virus by putting a barrier in front of the mouth and nose to hinder droplet transmission. The Czech Republic has mobilised a national effort called # Masks4all to make and distribute home-made masks, which is especially important as some coronavirus sufferers who are seemingly healthy may be infectious and spreading droplets without knowing they have the virus. They also remind people not to touch their nose and mouth. The cloth barrier masks are used together with strict social distancing rules and lockdowns, to help prevent the spread of the virus. Australia's health departments continue to advise that healthy people do not need to wear masks despite a growing tide of international opinion - partly because there is a mask shortage and they don't want the public to compete with health workers for surgical masks, but also because they do not want people to get a false sense of security and flout social distancing rules. On Sunday evening there were 5688 coronavirus cases nationwide with 2580 - nearly half - in the New South Wales epicenter of the outbreak. Globally the pandemic has infected 1.2 million people and killed 65,669 according to BNO News which has tracked the outbreak since early January. Of the 1.2 million infected, 249,708 have recovered while 894,622 are still sick with the lingering illness which can take weeks to resolve and which leaves a percentage of survivors with permanent fibrotic scarring on the lungs. As of Sunday night, the US topped the coronavirus tally with 311,178 confirmed cases and 8802 deaths, followed by Spain with 126,168 cases and 11,947 deaths then Italy with 124,884 cases and 15,395 deaths. The Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Baba Tela, on Monday denied media reports that Governor Bala Mohammed has tested negative to COVID-19. Governor Mohammed went into self isolation on March 24 after the Nigerian disease management body, NCDC, confirmed his positive test for COVID-19. By the NCDC protocol, COVID-19 patients are expected to get their case reviewed after 14 days in order to determine whether they still test positive or negative. During the weekend, there was a news report that Governor Mohammed had tested negative. The report by Daily Nigerian trended on social media. Fielding questions from journalists in Bauchi during the routine media briefing of the State Task Force on Covid-19, on Monday, the deputy governor who chairs the committee said the reports were the rumour of social media. All I can say is that His Excellency the governor is doing very well. As you all know, yesterday he had a teleconference with the Nigeria Governors Forum. You all know also that it is exactly two weeks now since the governor went into.self-isolation. The protocol is for samples to be taken, when samples are taken, we have to wait for the NCDC and rely on what the NCDC tells us. We dont rely on hearsay or what we see on social media or from the reporter of Daily Nigerian. We have taken the samples and we are waiting for the report of the NCDC. Unless the result from the NCDC comes, as a government, we will not comment further on this matter. Bauchi tracing 305 contacts The deputy governor said so far, a total of 305 contacts of the first three index cases had been traced and their blood samples taken to the NCDC for testing. The contacts listed on our record are 305 and all of them have been contacted and their blood samples were taken, he said. Mr Tela said the state government was worried over the delays being experienced at the NCDCs lab where blood samples are taken. To that effect, the government is planning to set up a centre in the state. We will soon have a test centre here in Bauchi because the government is not satisfied with the time it takes to get a test done because all tests are done in Abuja, and it takes four to five days before the results come out. For that reason, we are planning to have a test center here in Bauchi, thereby we dont need to take samples as far as Abuja before getting our tests done. Since the confirmation of the governors case by the NCDC, five other persons, all confirmed to have made direct contact with Mr Mohammed, also tested positive. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said money is not a problem but the availability of protective equipment for healthcare personnel is, after BJP parliamentarian Gautam Gambhir accused the Delhi government of not accepting Rs 50lakh from his MPLADS fund. In a tweet, Gambhir, an East Delhi MP, said the "massive egos" of Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia did not allow them to take Rs 50 lakh from his Local Area Development fund. "CM @ArvindKejriwal & his Dy say funds are needed. Though their massive egos didn't allow them to take50 L from my LAD fund earlier, I pledge 50 L more so that innocents don't suffer! 1 CR would at least solve urgent need for masks &PPE kits for days Hope they prioritize Delhi," Gambhir tweeted. Responding to it, Kejriwal said, "Gautam ji,thank u for ur offer. The problem is not of money but availability ofPPE kits. We wud be grateful if u cud help us get them from somewhere immediately, Del govt will buy them. Thank u." In his letter to the chief minister, Gambhir said it is stated by Sisodia that funds are needed to meet the growing demand of medical equipment in Delhi government hospitals. "In addition to Rs 50 lakh which I had pledged two weeks ago, I would further like to pledge Rs50 lakh from my MPLAD to your kind office with the hope that the said amount would be used in procurement of equipment of medical staff as well as treatment of COVID-19 patients," the BJP parliamentarian said in the letter. Earlier Gambhir had accused the AAP government of "shedding crocodile tears" and playing victim card on the issue, saying he had offered Rs 50 lakh for PPE kits and masks to it but did not receive any feedback. Kejriwal on Saturday said his government has asked for PPE kits from the Centre but none were received. Sisodia had demanded a disaster fund from the Centre to fight coronavirus outbreak in Delhi, saying it wasthe third most-affected state in the country. In a letter toUnion Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, he said the Centre released over Rs 17,000 crore to states from the disaster fund butnot a single rupee was given to Delhi. "I have demanded disaster fund for Delhi also in a letter to the Central government.The Centre released Rs 17,000 crore to the states to fight corona from the disaster fund but Delhi was not given a single rupee from it. The country should fight as one at this hour. This discrimination is unfortunate," Sisodia said in a tweet. Coronavirus cases in Delhi have crossed 500 and seven deaths have been reported due to the virus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A video has gone viral on social media in which a lady doctor is seen being subjected to verbal abuse by her neighbour for stepping out to perform her duties amid the coronavirus outbreak. The video by the doctor who works at New Civil Hospital in Surat shows her neighbour harassing her for doing her duty. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had described doctors and other health staff at the frontlines of the fight against coronavirus as "incarnations of God" and said those harassing them would face police action. "In this hour of crisis, those in white coats are the incarnation of God. Today they are saving lives, putting their own lives in danger," the Prime Minister had said while interacting via video link with the people of his constituency Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Whats that I can see from the window of my little lazaretto? Big. Red. Four doors. Four wheels...oh yes, I remember now. Its my car. The one I used to use to go shopping for fripperies, meeting friends and taking on unnecessary journeys. Thems were the days, BC (Before Coronavirus, of course), and theyll be back one day. Meantime, I thought Id share a few tips about looking after your personal transport in the age of car-onavirus. The main thing is to make sure you dont have to call anyone out to fix it whilst its resting, risking the health of all concerned. We need to keep that vital R infection rate down as low as possible, as well as avoiding a bill for a new battery (plus labour). Here are some tips to prevent ensure your motor remains in top tip condition while its self-isolating: Do I need to be driving my car? If youve the luxury of a powered garage you can put the car on a mains trickle charger. Failing that, the easiest thing to do is to drive it around for about half an hour preferably in daylight (no headlights eating the power), and do that every week or so. A good guide would be to pootle around long enough to get the engine warmed up (good for it anyway). You could combine all that with a trip to the shops for essentials, just taking a slightly longer route than usual, or going to a supermarket slightly further afield. Thats probably as adventurous as motoring is going to be for a few months. You should stay just on the right side of the police with that routine. RAC Drive says that solo journeys are strongly advised at the moment, for instance, if youre going to buy essential supplies from the shops. If you need to share a car, you should only do so with members of your household. How can I keep the car clean? (Toyota (Toyota) If you decide to top up the fuel tank on the expedition, remember to use gloves or otherwise avoid handling the fuel pump an obvious cross-contamination point for the virus (and take off the gloves before you get home and wash them). Indeed you should also use antibacterial fluid or wipes to clean all the contact points on your car keys, door handles inside and out (dont forget the boot), steering wheel, dash, seatbelt, touch screens, all switches, handbrake, fuel filler cap and so on. These are generally the harder kind of surfaces the virus tends to survive longer on. Obviously wash your hands with soap for 20 minutes before, after and during your journey, and avoid touching your face and other people. As ever. Coronavirus live: Cases around the world"&amp;amp;gt; Ben Murphy, Toyota GBs professional car detailer responsible for their own fleets pristine condition, advises that every time I remove my gloves I always give my hands a good wash. I wear gloves during my working day and advise people to war gloves if they are in a vehicle such as a rental car or a taxi. You dont know which areas of the car the previous occupants have touched and germs can stay in a spot for 72 hours. If kids travel in your car then theres every chance theyve been wiping their hands in the windows. Release the handbrake The other mechanical issue is the brakes binding or even seizing if you lay the car up for too long with the handbrake on. You could leave the handbrake off, and put the car in gear and put blocks behind the wheels, but that might be too much hassle or unsafe or illegal on a public highway. If its on the street another additional precaution, mandated by the Highway Code, is to have the front wheels close to pointing towards the kerb (of parked nose downhill) or away from the kerb (of the front of the car is pointing uphill). Just in case. But a weekly drive should prevent sticky brakes anyhow and the Highway Code states you must apply the handbrake. Should I hoard petrol? You really shouldnt need to bother hoarding petrol, especially as you probably have no excuse to drive anyway. Its hazardous and in any case illegal to keep more than 30 litres without a licence. 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 Do I still need to get an MOT? Last month, the UK government announced that drivers had been given a six-month extension to their MOTs due to the coronavirus pandemic. The new rules, which apply to cars, motorcycles and light vans, dictate that motorists who have an MOT due from Monday 30 March will automatically receive a six-month extension. However, vehicles must still be kept in a roadworthy condition, with garages remaining open for essential repair works, and prosecutions for unsafe vehicles still possible. We must ensure those on the frontline of helping the nation combat Covid-19 are able to do so, said Grant Shapps, transport secretary. Allowing this temporary exemption from vehicle testing will enable vital services such as deliveries to continue, frontline workers to get to work, and people get essential food and medicine. Safety is key, which is why garages will remain open for essential repair work. But, will your insurance still be valid if you choose to postpone? Clare Egan, head of motor at Admiral, says: If youre unable to get your vehicle tested there is no need to worry as it will not invalidate a claim should you need to make one, providing you keep car vehicle safe and roadworthy during this time. Its important to also remember that garages will remain open for any essential repair work during this time as having a safe and secure vehicle is paramount at all times. You should only be driving your vehicle if it is safe to do so otherwise you risk putting yourself and other road users in danger. Those are the basics for keeping your car roadworthy. Using it sparingly will keep parts lubricated and avoid distortion to the brakes, tyres and other components cars are made to be driven not parked after all. One day your car, symbol and instrument of personal freedom, will be liberated and it, and its driver, can frolic in the Peak District free from persecution by a police drone. Something to look forward to. Edinburgh: Scotland's Chief Medical Officer Catherine Calderwood resigned on Sunday after she broke her own advice to stay at home to help slow the spread of the coronavirus by twice visiting her second home. Calderwood said that during discussions with Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Sunday evening they agreed her actions risked distracting from the "hugely important job that government and the medical profession has to do in getting the country through this coronavirus pandemic". Scotland's Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine Calderwood at a briefing last week. Credit:Getty Images "It is with a heavy heart that I resign as Chief Medical Officer," she said. Police had earlier issued a warning to Calderwood about her behaviour and Sturgeon had removed her as the public face of the campaign to tackle the coronavirus. The African Development Bank (AfDB) last week approved a $1.5 million emergency relief grant to assist nine countries in the East and Horn of Africa on the control of swarms of desert locusts that are threatening livelihoods and food security. The nine beneficiary countries are Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania. The proposed assistance will be channeled to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which has been mandated to mobilize resources on behalf of the African Union. IGAD is collaborating with the UNs Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which is leading coordination of development partner support to provide desert locust invasion control, safeguard of livelihoods and to promote early recovery of affected households in the East and Horn of Africa. FAO will act as the Executing Agency for the grant. The funds will be used to control the spread of the current locust invasion, prevent potential next-generation swarms and to conduct impact assessment and monitoring to enhance preparedness and awareness. A portion of the funds would also be allocated to administrative costs. Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia have been particularly hard hit by the outbreak and widespread breeding of locusts that is expected to create new swarms in the coming weeks. The infestation poses an unprecedented risk to livelihoods and food security in an already fragile region and has caused huge damage to agricultural production. In Ethiopia and Somalia, the outbreak is the worst in 25 years, and in Kenya, in 70 years. In Ethiopia, the locusts have devastated more than 30,000 hectares of crops, including coffee and tea, which account for about 30% of the nations exports. Despite government interventions, swarms and breeding have been reported in large parts of the country. In Djibouti, over 80% of 1,700 agro-pastoral farms located in 23 production zones are affected by desert locust infestations. At least 18 of 47 Kenyan counties are affected, with more than 70,000 hectares of crops under infestation according to recent FAO reports. Locust swarms are devastating pastureland, maize, cowpeas, beans and other crops despite the governments efforts to curb the outbreak. Locust swarms are reportedly also threatening Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Sudan and Eritrea. Efforts to control the infestations will require around $147 million, of which $75 million has been provided by governments, donors and UN agencies including FAO and the World Food Program (WFP). However, a significant funding shortfall remains. An estate plan is a necessary tool that allows you to protect, maintain and manage your property if you become ill or pass away. But more than that, it can also help people make sure their minor children are protected in the event of an emergency or minimize taxes paid on assets by beneficiaries. With proper planning, probate can even be avoided so that your beneficiaries receive your assets in a way thats controlled by you and not by attorneys, the government or the IRS. Recently, I hosted an estate planning workshop and noticed a common issue with those that attended. A substantial portion were already in their mid-60s and several others were over the age of 80. Thats alarming considering some of their comments, including misconceptions and reasons for delaying. So, why do so many hardworking people fail to take the time and effort to build an estate plan and preserve their hard-earned assets? Misconceptions in Estate Planning To begin with, a common misconception most people have is that estate planning is for those who are older or possess substantial wealth. Many people also assume that the process will be complex, time intensive and pricey. But some if not all of the problems mentioned arent true the majority of the time. Here are a few steps you can take to begin thinking about your estate plan: Gather important documents, and make sure that key family members know where they are. Gather a list of all the things you own, noting any liabilities (like your mortgage) as well. Record the value of each asset (properties, collectibles, jewelry, etc.). Print copies of your most recent statements from your relevant accounts. Note the values and benefits from insurance policies. Consider and write down your objectives for your estate plan. Who should get which assets? Who should get them if something should happen to your beneficiaries? Do you have minors who need care if something were to happen right now? Who should handle your assets if you become unable to make decisions about them? And so forth. Review your will, if you have one in place. Review and update the beneficiaries of your retirement accounts or insurance policies. Review and update powers of attorney for matters of health care or other affairs. Consider if you want to establish a trust, and prepare to talk to an attorney and experienced financial adviser about it. By using a will or trust to legally ensure that you will not only protect the things you worked hard to achieve, you will have the final say about those assets taking care of the people you love when youre no longer here. That means not leaving such decisions to attorneys, the government or the IRS. In some instances, it may be as simple as meeting with an attorney and preparing your documents, such as a will, power of attorney and trust. However, depending on if there are more complex assets, such as a business interests, different investments, retirement accounts or real estate, you may need more guidance on the appropriate strategies, including charitable giving, life insurance for business succession, and either living or irrevocable trusts. An estate planning attorney would then make sure what you decide to do is complete to the full extent of the law and that you aren't missing any important documents, so that everything will go through according to your wishes. Revocable vs. Irrevocable Trusts Trusts are a powerful and beneficial tool when properly used. There are two types of trusts: a revocable living trust and an irrevocable trust. Some other terms associated with trusts include grantor and non-grantor which are the parties creating the trust. With a revocable living trust, you still control the assets, can change the trustee at any time, or sell your assets while youre living, because the grantor the person who created the trust is normally the trustee as well. The only benefit a revocable living trust provides is to ensure your assets bypass probate. It does not provide any immediate tax benefits. In fact, income from a revocable living trust is taxed to the grantor. An irrevocable trust is completely different. It can be used when gifting assets in order to reduce a grantors taxable estate. Be aware that once you transfer assets to an irrevocable trust, changes are permanent and cannot be undone or at best can only be made through a lengthy process. You no longer have any control to sell investments inside the trust and will have to ask your trustee typically your children or grandchildren to do so. Since you dont legally own the assets any longer, theyre either taxed at trust income tax rates or your beneficiaries tax rates. Also, within the irrevocable trust family, there are two types simple and complex which will determine how taxes will be paid. With a simple trust, any interest or income earned will have to be distributed to the beneficiaries and taxed according to their income tax rates. On the other hand, a complex trust is multifaceted where it can either retain or distribute interest or income earned to the beneficiaries. If its retained, the trust will pay tax according to trust income tax rates. The key to creating a trust is to help your heirs avoid probate when asset distribution occurs. Probate is the process of legitimizing your will and ensuring that proper procedures are conducted during your asset distribution under the appropriate representative, all decidedthrough a series of legal proceedings and intermediation if conflict arises among heirs. The problem is that the probate process can be lengthy (months to years) and can delay your heirs from receiving their inheritances. It can also have a lot of associated fees and costs (sometimes 5% to 10% of your estate), and the proceedings are public record, which gives little privacy to families. Since the federal government will require payment for your estate tax bill in cash within nine months of something happening to you, avoiding estate taxes is the compelling reason for establishing an irrevocable trust. As of 2020, the estate tax exemption is $11.58 million per person and, according to the Tax Policy Center, an estimated 1,900 estates owed estate tax in 2018. Sometimes beneficiaries are required to undergo complicated processes in paying the estate tax bill. For instance, they may need to borrow cash, which will require repayment with interest, liquidate assets at a fraction of their original value, or use life insurance proceeds. Keeping Your Estate Plan Current Once finished, you should review and update your estate plan after every birth, death, marriage or divorce involving the members of your plan. You should also review your plan every time a significant increase or decrease in your finances occurs or if any laws change that are directlyrelated to your estate plan. While it may feel somewhat morbid to plan ahead for something that hasn't happened to you yet, remember that you do not want attorneys, the government or tax agencies to make decisions about the care of your loved ones and the assets you worked hard to obtain. Go through the additional (and minimal) time and effort to have the peace of mind that you and your family deserve. Thanks to Wirecard's payment solutions, UNAS merchants can offer customers a frictionless checkout experience A UNAS supports nearly 5000 active online stores ASCHHEIM, Germany, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --A Wirecard, the global innovation leader for digital financial technology, today announced a new strategic partnership with renowned Hungarian e-commerce agency UNAS to offer Wirecard's payment solutions to its almost 5000 merchants. Through the agreement, Wirecard will be integrated as Payment Service Provider (PSP) for UNAS. As a result, merchants can leverage on Wirecard's payment solutions for their online shop. Based in Sopron, Hungary, UNAS empowers all kinds of merchants, ranging from cars to furniture, in the region to move their businesses online through its powerful e-commerce site development tools. Through a unique subscription model, businesses get a multitude of professional, built-in features and integrations without the capital expenditure. These include all the necessary functions for the operation of a successful e-commerce site in 2020: persuasive marketing options, shopping incentives, social media tie-ins and a wealth of different payment options. Today, an e-commerce site's success depends on ensuring that customers can use their preferred means of payment and that their checkout experience is seamless. When a merchant chooses Wirecard as their PSP, they benefit from: acceptance of all major payment methods, an easy integration, integrated fraud protection, and additional banking services. "We open up a whole new world to legacy businesses struggling to survive through traditional retail methods alone. With our solutions, merchants of any size and industry can launch their online shop and become operational in minutes," explained GAll T. Barna, Business Development Manager at UNAS. "Key to these merchants being able to compete on a global footing, is the ability to ensure a smooth and frictionless payment experience for all. Wirecard provides the most comprehensive payment technology on the market so was an obvious choice as a PSP integration partner." UNAS is a true visionary. It was the first to introduce the concept of an e-commerce site as a service to the Hungarian market and now hosts one-in-five of all Hungarian online stores. Since inception, 27 million customers have bought from the e-commerce sites it hosts. "Having Wirecard as a payment service provider adds real intrinsic value for the merchants UNAS work with. Through this agreement, they can implement the payment options demanded by their customers. Whether they are big global enterprises, or traditional family-run micro-businesses, they get the most advanced payment system at their fingertips," added Roland Toch, Managing Director Central Eastern Europe at Wirecard. About Wirecard: Wirecard (GER:WDI) is one of the world's fastest growing digital platforms in the area of financial commerce. We provide both business customers and consumers with a constantly expanding ecosystem of real-time value-added services built around innovative digital payments by using an integrated B2B2C approach. This ecosystem concentrates on the areas payment and risk, retail and transaction banking, loyalty and couponing, data analytics and conversion rate enhancement in all sales channels (online, mobile, POS). Wirecard operates regulated financial institutions in several key markets and holds issuing and acquiring licenses from all major payment and card networks. Wirecard AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (DAX and TecDAX, ISIN DE0007472060). Find out more at www.wirecard.com. About UNAS: We believe that the Internet is one of the most important inventions in human history. Used well, it has benefits in all areas of life. Nowadays, the time has come when trading companies can hardly exist without an internet presence. Extensive functionality and customization are important for even the smallest company. Our mission is to provide businesses with a complex and truly effective web store system that allows them to take advantage of all the opportunities offered by e-commerce. https://unas.hu/A Wirecard media contact: Wirecard AG Jana Tilz Tel.: +49 (0)89-4424-1363 Email: jana.tilz@wirecard.comA UNAS media contact: Email: unas@unas.huA A Democrats and liberal groups on Sunday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to let stand an extended absentee voting period for Wisconsins primary on Tuesday, an election unfolding amid public health fears due to the coronavirus. The groups argue that a federal judges order last week extending absentee voting from Tuesday to April 13 is critical for a fair election and to protect public health. They said the crush of absentee ballot requests more than 1.1 million, far more than any previous election has made it impossible for clerks to get them out to voters and get them back in time to beat what had been an 8 p.m. election night deadline. Separately, a group of Wisconsin mayors on Sunday urged acting Health Secretary Andrea Palm to step up and stop the State of Wisconsin from putting hundreds of thousands of citizens at risk through in-person voting. The letter was signed by the mayors of Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay and other cities. Wisconsin is scheduled to conduct in-person voting Tuesday despite concerns about the health risks to voters and poll workers. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican leaders initially were united in sticking to the election date, but last week Evers reversed course and called for shifting to mail-only and extending absentee voting into May. A federal judge subsequently declined to postpone the election, but handed Democrats a partial victory by extending the absentee voting period. Republicans appealed to the Supreme Court after the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to reverse the lower court order. NEW YORK Dip in death count provides hope A slight dip in new coronavirus deaths in New York over a 24-hour period may be a glimmer of hope that the spread is slowing, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday as overall fatalities in the state climbed to nearly 4,200. Cuomo said it was too soon to determine whether the pandemic had reached its apex. We could either be very near the apex, or the apex could be a plateau and we could be on the plateau right now, Cuomo said. You cant do this day to day. You have to look at three or four days to see a pattern. The state reported 594 new coronavirus deaths Sunday a small decrease compared to the 630 new fatalities announced the day before. ICU admissions and intubations were also down, the governor said, while the discharge rate from hospitals was rising. Cuomo sounded cautiously optimistic even as he urged New Yorkers to remain vigilant and continue adhering to the strict social distancing policies in place. LOUISIANA Convention center to house patients Medical officials are preparing for Mondays opening of the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, which is being converted into a medical support facility to help local hospitals care for patients infected with the new coronavirus. The plan is for the most critical patients to remain in hospitals and give those with less severe symptoms but in need of medical care a place to go. Joe Kanter, assistant state health officer with the Louisiana Department of Health, told media the next three weeks are incredibly critical. Louisiana officials reported 68 coronavirus-related deaths Sunday, marking the states biggest jump in reported deaths since the outbreak began. The number of infections reported to the state also increased by more than 500 cases from 12,496 to 13,010. NEW YORK Bronx Zoo tiger tests positive A tiger at the Bronx Zoo has tested positive for the new coronavirus, in what is believed to be the first known infection in an animal in the U.S., officials said Sunday. The 4-year-old Malayan tiger named Nadia is believed to have been infected by a zoo employee who wasnt yet showing symptoms. The finding raises new questions about transmission of the virus in animals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says there are no known cases of the virus in U.S. pets or livestock. ARIZONA Hospital worker charged with theft A housekeeping employee at a hospital in Prescott has been fired after being arrested on suspicion of stealing personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies in recent weeks. Keith Brown, 49, was arrested after police found items in his vehicle and residence, police Lt. Jon Brambila said. The items recovered included gloves, surgical scrubs, and masks, Brambila said. Chronicle News Services CLEVELAND, Ohio -- State health officials would not say precisely how many times Ohioans have died of suspected COVID-19-related complications before their tests for the novel coronavirus were processed by private labs. A health department spokeswoman told The Plain Dealer the state could provide No exact number at this time. But that it involved a fair amount of cases. Last week, state officials issued an order requiring hospitals that dont have the ability to process coronavirus tests in-house to send their samples to other, mostly larger hospital systems that have the capability to cut the time it takes for results to get to patients and doctors. The order followed reports that overburdened out-of-state labs had large backlogs of samples to test and were taking up to six days -- and sometimes double that -- to get results to patients and doctors. In the week before the Ohio order, DeWine and Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton decried the slow results and urged private labs to report results promptly to patients, doctors and the states system that tracks the spread of infectious disease. Knowing that someone tests positive or doesnt test positive is information that we very, very desperately need, Gov. Mike DeWine said at the time. Read more: Hospital coronavirus testing order to cut down on simply unacceptable delays in Ohio results But it wasnt explicit during the states daily press briefings that Ohioans were dying before it was confirmed they were battling COVID-19. In Ohio, there are 4,450 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 142 deaths, as of 2 p.m. Monday. In Cuyahoga County, there are 871 confirmed cases and 15 deaths, according to ODH. Cuyahoga County health officials last week said multiple people have died from respiratory complications possibly related to COVID-19 before test results came back from private labs. Only cases with lab-confirmed positive results are included in death statistics shared by county and state health officials, according to Dr. Heidi Gullett, medical director for the countys board of health. Some results returned after patients deaths have been negative, though health officials have said that has happened in some cases where samples were collected as symptoms were emerging. The state also has not been conducting regular postmortem testing of suspected COVID-19 cases due to the scarcity of testing, which means that the full picture of deaths due to the coronavirus will be difficult to determine. Read more: Ohios limited coronavirus testing for the living and the dead means pandemic toll likely never known The states order followed weeks of uncertainty around testing availability for patients and a widespread rationing of tests, which continue to be available mainly to patients who are hospitalized, front line health care workers and first responders and some patients with symptoms of the virus who have an order from a physician. At first, the state was unable to test samples for the virus because of delays in receiving key materials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Within a week of the state beginning to test, locally, the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals began testing in-house and launched drive-through testing sites for those with doctors orders. Immediately, the sites were overwhelmed by long lines and, in some cases, the hospitals sent samples taken from patients with more mild symptoms to private labs, many of which are out of state. The problem is that many of the private labs are very overburdened from the whole country, Acton said last week. National media outlets, including CNN, reported last week that the backlogs at private labs, including Quest Diagnostics, which was between 115,000 and 160,000 tests. And on Friday, the inspector general for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a report that called testing one of the most significant challenges for hospitals because extended waits for test results limited hospitals ability to monitor the health of patients and staff. The report surveyed more than 300 hospital administrators. Most hospitals in the state do not have in-house testing capacity and will now have to send their collection kits to other health systems that do, including Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, UH, the Clinic and MetroHealth. These health systems have the capacity and are willing to take your tests, DeWine said. Some of these labs have a very significant unused capacity each day. MetroHealth, which would not share the number of coronavirus collection kits it has tested or its current capacity, says it has enough tests available for hospitalized patients who have the flu or any acute respiratory infection and health care workers who have symptoms of respiratory illness, according to Tim Magaw, hospital spokesman. MetroHealths testing is done in-house in a lab on the main campus, and results are available in about 2 hours, Magaw said. The Clinic can process a little more than 1,000 coronavirus tests a day and is looking for ways to increase its testing capacity, said Clinic spokeswoman Halle Bishop Weston. The hospital is prioritizing its testing supply for hospitalized patients and those who are 61 years old or older. The Clinic is also testing first responders who have symptoms of COVID-19. Thus far, the Clinic has had enough tests available for the patients who meet its testing criteria, Bishop Weston said. If the need arose, we could likely test everyone who is hospitalized, but currently we are testing only those with symptoms, she said. The Clinic, like MetroHealth, performs all of its coronavirus tests on-site and is not sending tests to outside laboratories, or to the states lab. The Clinics coronavirus turnaround time is one to two days, but the Clinic is looking for ways to get test results to patients more quickly, including with a different form of rapid testing. The UH Landerbrook Health Center drive-through testing site can test 90 patients per hour and up to 500 per day, if medically necessary, UH said in a statement. UH said it strategically prioritizes testing to provide results quickly for sick and hospitalized patients, as well as employees, and tries to provide results to those patients within 24 hours using its in-house lab. UH also this week began using a newly-approved testing method, known as a polymerase chain reaction test, that has already improved testing capacity and decreased turnaround times. More coronavirus coverage: Lack of demographics in Cleveland, Ohio leaves questions about coronavirus affect on races, ethnicities Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless calls for city, county action to protect the homeless during coronavirus pandemic How the Cleveland Clinic is using modeling to respond to the coronavirus pandemic: Q&A Delivering without doulas: Coronavirus hospital restrictions remove key support for black women Expectant moms, hospitals grapple with coronavirus uncertainties Cuyahoga County received 312 complaints about nonessential business operations Health care workers balance protecting family, serving community during coronavirus pandemic Cuyahoga Countys public health warriors try to get ahead of the local coronavirus curve MANISTIQUE, MI Michigan State Police troopers are taking on a new role as grocery delivery drivers in one Upper Peninsula town. Troopers from the MSP Manistique Post have partnered with a local grocery store, Jacks Fresh Market, to deliver groceries to people who are either scared to leave their home or who should not leave their home during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, Upper Michigan Source reports. Especially in this pandemic, any little bit we can do to help the community get through this, were willing to go that extra mile, MSP Sgt. Giannunzio told Upper Michigan Source. A statewide stay-at-home order remains in effect through April 13 but does allow for residents to leave their homes for essential trips, including to the grocery store. The state is now recommending that residents wear face coverings when leaving their homes. People who are sick or high-risk should not leave their homes. The trooper delivery service is free to residents in the city of Manistique and in a 10-mile radius around the city, the report said. It is offered from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday by calling the market at (906) 341-8070 or sending an order to assistant manager Kara Ziminski at kara.ziminski@jacksfreshmarket.com. Curbside pickup orders can also be placed via phone or email. As of Sunday, April 5, Michigan had 15,718 confirmed COVID-19 coronavirus cases and 617 related deaths. Schoolcraft County, where Manistique is located, had zero confirmed cases. Neighboring Delta County had seven cases and zero deaths. Neighboring Luce and Mackinac counties each had one case and zero deaths. 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: Monday, April 6: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Whitmer extends order banning non-essential visits to hospitals, care facilities Without coronavirus aid, point of no return looms for Michigan small businesses Next Michigan legislative session will look a lot different amid coronavirus outbreak Researchers have shown how a by-product of steel making can be used to both treat wastewater and make stronger concrete, in a zero-waste approach to help advance the circular economy. Produced during the separation of molten steel from impurities, steel slag is often used as a substitute aggregate material for making concrete. Steel slag can also be used to absorb contaminants like phosphate, magnesium, iron, calcium, silica and aluminium in the wastewater treatment process, but loses its effectiveness over time. Engineering researchers at RMIT University examined whether slag that had been used to treat wastewater could then be recycled as an aggregate material for concrete. The concrete made with post-treatment steel slag was about 17% stronger than concrete made with conventional aggregates, and 8% stronger than raw steel slag. Water engineer Dr Biplob Pramanik said the study was the first to investigate potential applications for "sewage-enhanced" slag in construction material. advertisement "The global steel making industry produces over 130 million tons of steel slag every year," Pramanik said. "A lot of this by-product already goes into concrete, but we're missing the opportunity to wring out the full benefits of this material. "Making stronger concrete could be as simple as enhancing the steel slag by first using it to treat our wastewater. "While there are technical challenges to overcome, we hope this research moves us one step closer to the ultimate goal of an integrated, no-waste approach to all our raw materials and by-products." In the study, civil and water engineering researchers found the chemical properties of the slag are enhanced through the wastewater treatment, so it performed better when used in concrete. "The things that we want to remove from water are actually beneficial when it comes to concrete, so it's a perfect match," Pramanik said. Civil engineer Dr Rajeev Roychand said the initial study was promising but further research was needed to implement the approach at a larger-scale, including investigating the long-term mechanical and durability properties of enhanced slag. "Steel slag is currently not in widespread use in the wastewater treatment industry -- just one plant based in New Zealand uses this by-product in its treatment approach," he said. "But there is great potential here for three industries to work together -- steel making, wastewater treatment and construction -- and reap the maximum benefits of this by-product." New Delhi, April 6 : The Ministry of Human Resource Development has decided to postpone entrance exams including JNU, UGC, NET and IGNOU PhD and several others keeping in mind the lockdown. Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said: "The Director General of National Testing Agency has been advised to postpone the last date for submission of applications for various examinations". The Union Minister said: "This includes admission examinations of Jawaharlal Nehru University UGC NET, IGNOU PhD, ICAR exam, NCHM-G and management course." The deadline for all these exams has been extended by one month. The Ministry of Human Resource Development has also directed the CBSE, NIOS and NTA to prepare a revised schedule of examinations. Along with this, autonomous bodies and the NCERT have been asked to prepare an alternative academic calendar. The Ministry has taken this step so that all students can apply for these exams with ease and accessibility. In view of the risk of coronavirus infection, the Central government has also decided to postpone the NEET examinations. Admission cards were to be issued for the NEET exams but have not been issued. Now, the Ministry has issued a notice to postpone the examinations. "After the nationwide lockdown is implemented, it is no longer possible to conduct this type of examination," said a senior official. The JEE Main examinations have also been postponed. The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has extended the last date for submission of the form for the term-end examination to be held on April 30, 2020 without any late fee. Students can submit the June TEE examination forms on the official website of IGNOU. The deadline for submission of assignments has also been extended to April 30. A senior official of the Ministry said: "In compliance with the order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on March 24, all the offices of the Ministry of Human Resource Development and its autonomous and subordinate institutions will remain closed for a period of three weeks." -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Curbs on movement and commercial activity could be relaxed first in districts with no coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases, officials in multiple states have said, offering some pointers about how a staggered return to normal activity could work after April 15, when the nationwide lockdown is scheduled to end. India has over 4,000 Covid-19 cases and infections have been doubling at a rate of 4.1 days, federal officials said on Sunday, adding that they discussed with states a containment strategy that hinges on identifying and cordoning off hot spot areas. Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic We held a video conference today with heads of all districts to orient them with our containment strategy, which focuses on districts reporting large number of cases such as Bhilwara, Agra and Gautam Budh Nagar. Officials from these districts also shared their insights, said Lav Agarwal, joint secretary of the Union health ministry, at the daily briefing in New Delhi. This strategy could be crucial to lifting the three-week lockdown in force since March 25 without risking a resurgence of the disease. As on Sunday, cases have been reported from 274 of the countrys 718 districts. Twenty-one of the 230 districts in 9 states are considered hot spots. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a conference call on Thursday with chief ministers from across the country, had asked states to pitch in with ideas on how the curbs can be relaxed in a phased manner. Officials in three states Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Haryana said they were in favour of first relaxing curbs in districts that are at present free of infections. There would be ban on entry of people from the Covid districts into these ones, said a senior official involved in the containment plan in Rajasthan. This may be the first phase of the easing, the official said, adding that the second would cover the districts with relatively few patients. The final phase of easing would then include high containment districts. Around half of Rajasthans 33 districts have no case. Non-essential public gatherings, such as those for religious and political reasons, and the reopening of public places such as malls and cinema halls and educational institutions, may take some more time, the official added. A senior official in the Haryana government, who asked not to be named, said the state is in favour of following a similar strategy, but a majority of the districts 14 of 22 may need to live with a longer lockdown since they have several cases. All will depend on how these districts recover in the next 10 days, this person said, identifying key NCR cities such as Gurugram, Faridabad and Palwal, which account for 57 of 76 cases, as those where the curbs could continue. In Maharashtra, officials said a lockdown was likely to continue in most urban areas for a couple of weeks more. I see lockdown extending beyond April 14 in urban areas, said state health minister Rajesh Tope, adding that these had seen significant infections. Maharashtra accounts for the highest number of infections in the country with at least 700 cases, and concerns have been mounting in recent days over the disease spreading to densely populated areas such as state capital Mumbais Dharavi area. In Uttar Pradesh, 47 of the 75 districts are without a reported Covid-19 infection. The good news is there is no indication of community spread in UP even though many cases are linked to Tablighi Jamaat, said an official from a key government office overseeing the containment efforts. Three containment facilities will be created in all districts with positive cases, this official added. Agriculture and allied industries in the state, such as flour mills and the sugarcane industry, as well some industries that are far from urban areas are likely to be allowed to resume operations. Key NCR cities such as Noida and Ghaziabad, and state capital Lucknow, are unlikely to return to normal levels of activity, officials said. Punjab, which was the first state to impose curfew on March 21, may continue with lockdown in most parts, but issue curfew passes to allow harvesting from April 15. Rabi harvest would be procured from villages, and some industrial activity in Jalandhar and Ludhiana may be allowed in staggered manner with social distancing rules in force. A final call will be taken on April 12 or 13, said Suresh Kumar, Punjab chief ministers chief principal secretary. The state is in favour of opening all farm markets to allow farmers to sell their produce; it wants office and business establishments to be allowed to function with staggered timings; and restoration of some interstate transport services, said Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, advisor to chief minister on public affairs. Reddy added that the state will likely send in its suggestions to the PM by April 8. Kerala has allowed leaf plucking and other activities in sprawling tea estates of Idukki and Wayanad, but with strict riders. We have given strict instruction to keep social distancing when they work. The district administration and labour officers of the area will monitor this, said chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The decision came after some establishments threatened to close their units permanently. (Pankaj Jaiswal in Lucknow, Surendra Gangan in Mumbai, Sachin Saini in Jaipur, Ranjan in Bhopal and Navneet Sharma and Hitender Rao in Chandigarh contributed to this story). More Than 25,000 People in Japan Are Eligible for Genetic Testing SALT LAKE CITY, April 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Myriad Genetics, Inc. (MYGN), a leader in molecular diagnostics and precision medicine, announced that it has received reimbursement and launched the BRACAnalysis Diagnostic System (i.e., BRACAnalysis) in Japan to help physicians determine which people affected with breast and ovarian cancer have Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) syndrome and qualify for additional diagnostic and medical management. BRACAnalysis previously was approved by Japans Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) in November 2019 for this indication. We are excited that the BRACAnalysis Diagnostic System is now available to assess HBOC risk in people with breast and ovarian cancer, said Seigo Nakamura, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Chairman, Department of Surgery, Division of Breast Surgical Oncology and Director, Breast Center of Showa University Hospital in Tokyo and president of the Japanese Organization of Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (JOHBOC). Our goal is to use the BRACAnalysis test to identify patients with BRCA mutations who may need more advanced diagnostic and medical care. Effective immediately, physicians can order the BRACAnalysis test for affected patients who meet the genetic testing criteria defined by JOHBOC including: Presence of BRCA1 or BRCA2 pathogenic mutations in family members. Individual has breast cancer and meets any of the following: Breast cancer under 45, Triple-negative breast cancer aged 60 or younger, Two or more primary breast cancers, One or more third-degree relatives with breast or ovarian cancer. Individual has ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancers. Male breast cancer. Tumor tissue profiling tests that suggest retention of BRCA1 or BRCA2 germline pathogenic mutation if cancer eligibility criteria for companion diagnosis for PARP inhibitor are met. Myriad estimates that more than 25,000 people in Japan currently meet the testing criteria, and the company has partnered with SRL Inc., a subsidiary of Miraca Group, to commercialize the BRACAnalysis Diagnostic System in Japan. Story continues BRACAnalysis is the gold standard for germline BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing worldwide, said Raymond Francot, executive vice president of International Operations, Myriad Genetics. We are excited to collaborate with our commercial partners to ensure that BRACAnalysis is widely accessible to patients in Japan. Todays announcement follows two prior regulatory approvals for the BRACAnalysis Diagnostic System in Japan. In February 2019, BRACAnalysis was approved as a companion diagnostic for Lynparza (olaparib) in women with ovarian cancer, and in March 2018, it was approved as a companion diagnostic for Lynparza in patients with metastatic inoperable or recurrent breast cancer. About the BRACAnalysis Diagnostic System BRACAnalysis is a diagnostic system that classifies a patients clinically significant variants (DNA sequence variations) in the germline BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Variants are classified into one of the five categories; Deleterious, Suspected Deleterious, Variant of Uncertain Significance, Favor Polymorphism, or Polymorphism. Once the classification is completed, the results are sent to medical personnel in Japan for determining diagnostic and therapeutic patient management decisions. About SRL Since the establishment in 1970, SRL, Inc., a member of the Miraca Group, Japan-based leading healthcare group, has been providing comprehensive testing services as the largest commercial clinical laboratory in Japan. SRL carries out nearly 400,000,000 tests per year, covering a wide range of testing services including general/emergency testing, esoteric/research testing, companion diagnostics tests, genomic analysis, and etc. For more information, please visit https://www.srl-group.co.jp/english/ . About Myriad Genetics Myriad Genetics Inc., is a leading precision medicine company dedicated to being a trusted advisor transforming patient lives worldwide with pioneering molecular diagnostics. Myriad discovers and commercializes molecular diagnostic tests that: determine the risk of developing disease, accurately diagnose disease, assess the risk of disease progression, and guide treatment decisions across six major medical specialties where molecular diagnostics can significantly improve patient care and lower healthcare costs. Myriad is focused on five critical success factors: building upon a solid hereditary cancer foundation, growing new product volume, expanding reimbursement coverage for new products, increasing RNA kit revenue internationally and improving profitability with Elevate 2020. For more information on how Myriad is making a difference, please visit the Company's website: www.myriad.com. Myriad, the Myriad logo, BART, BRACAnalysis, Colaris, Colaris AP, myPath, myRisk, Myriad myRisk, myRisk Hereditary Cancer, myChoice, myPlan, BRACAnalysis CDx, Tumor BRACAnalysis CDx, myChoice CDx, EndoPredict, Vectra, GeneSight, riskScore, Prolaris, ForeSight and Prequel are trademarks or registered trademarks of Myriad Genetics, Inc. or its wholly owned subsidiaries in the United States and foreign countries. MYGN-F, MYGN-G. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the companys BRACAnalysis Diagnostic System to identify patients with breast cancer who would be eligible for additional diagnostic and medical management; the Company working with commercial partners in Japan to ensure that BRACAnalysis is accessible to patients; and the Company's strategic directives under the caption "About Myriad Genetics." These "forward-looking statements" are based on management's current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: uncertainties associated with COVID-19, including its possible effects on our operations and the demand for our products and services; our ability to efficiently and flexibly manage our business amid uncertainties related to COVID-19; the risk that sales and profit margins of our molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services may decline; risks related to our ability to transition from our existing product portfolio to our new tests, including unexpected costs and delays; risks related to decisions or changes in governmental or private insurers reimbursement levels for our tests or our ability to obtain reimbursement for our new tests at comparable levels to our existing tests; risks related to increased competition and the development of new competing tests and services; the risk that we may be unable to develop or achieve commercial success for additional molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services in a timely manner, or at all; the risk that we may not successfully develop new markets for our molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services, including our ability to successfully generate revenue outside the United States; the risk that licenses to the technology underlying our molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services and any future tests and services are terminated or cannot be maintained on satisfactory terms; risks related to delays or other problems with operating our laboratory testing facilities and our healthcare clinic; risks related to public concern over genetic testing in general or our tests in particular; risks related to regulatory requirements or enforcement in the United States and foreign countries and changes in the structure of the healthcare system or healthcare payment systems; risks related to our ability to obtain new corporate collaborations or licenses and acquire new technologies or businesses on satisfactory terms, if at all; risks related to our ability to successfully integrate and derive benefits from any technologies or businesses that we license or acquire; risks related to our projections about our business, results of operations and financial condition; risks related to the potential market opportunity for our products and services; the risk that we or our licensors may be unable to protect or that third parties will infringe the proprietary technologies underlying our tests; the risk of patent-infringement claims or challenges to the validity of our patents or other intellectual property; risks related to changes in intellectual property laws covering our molecular diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical and clinical services and patents or enforcement in the United States and foreign countries, such as the Supreme Court decisions in Mayo Collab. Servs. v. Prometheus Labs., Inc., 566 U.S. 66 (2012), Assn for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, Inc., 569 U.S. 576 (2013), and Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank Intl, 573 U.S. 208 (2014); risks of new, changing and competitive technologies and regulations in the United States and internationally; the risk that we may be unable to comply with financial operating covenants under our credit or lending agreements; the risk that we will be unable to pay, when due, amounts due under our credit or lending agreements; and other factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in Item 1A of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as any updates to those risk factors filed from time to time in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Myriad undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law. The Authority of Social Contribution Maans Together We Are Good programme will allocate some of the contributions received so far towards extra relief for Abu Dhabis health care sector. The past week has seen businesses and individuals step up their support financially alongside many in-kind contributions for the benefit of Abu Dhabi and aid the current health and economic challenges. The Department of Health has identified the key priority areas that will be of most benefit outside of the usual operations of the UAEs healthcare system and will work closely with the Authority of Social Contribution - Maan to determine how to apportion the funds to best provide Abu Dhabis world-class health care professionals and facilities with any required support. Dr. Jamal Al Kaabi, Acting Undersecretary of the Department of Health, said: As the world faces the COVID-19 pandemic virus, the UAE has joined hands to ensure the safety and well-being of society. All working as one team, the healthcare sector is ready and fully capable to protect of all members of the community and fight against the spread of the virus. Maans Together We Are Good programme, reflects that in unison comes strength, our sincere gratitude and appreciation goes out to all the members of the community who continue to provide their support for the healthcare sector, and who remain fully committed to ensuring the delivery of high quality healthcare services for our nation, Al Kaabi added. Salama Al Ameemi, Director General of Maan, said: I continue to be humbled by the extraordinary public response to our Together We Are Good programme. We will ensure that the money raised so far will be used in the most effective way possible and I am extremely grateful to all of our contributors from across the community. While our health care system is robust and continues to rise to the various challenges that present themselves, the unprecedented public support is testament to the unique community spirit that is manifesting itself in Abu Dhabi. As always our focus will continue to be on our how we can constantly meet the various social challenges we face and benefit Abu Dhabi and its citizens and residents. In cooperation with the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, Ma'an will allocate funds which will contribute to supply hospitals with essential resources needed for isolation and quarantine facilities in hotels. In coordination with the specialised agencies and other hotels working closely together to establish a medical team, a part of these financial contributions will be devoted to the purchase of an additional set of medical supplies and equipment including infection prevention, examination supplies, provision of meals, and transportation for the medical staff. Additionally, part of the funds will be used to care for people in home quarantine. Finally, part of the donations will be allocated to healthcare entities converting their facilities into isolation units. DoH will conduct a thorough study of these entities to ensure they are meeting the necessary requirements under the current conditions, which are reviewed periodically and updated regularly based on updates from the government. -- Tradearabia News Service UPDATE: 2 killed, 5 wounded in multiple shootings in Trenton in span of 4 hours Multiple shootings across the city of Trenton Sunday evening left six people wounded and one person dead, police said. The violence began in the area of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near Bond Street in North Trenton at about 5 p.m., with three people shot. One of the victims later died, multiple police officers said. At about 7 p.m., a woman was shot in the head during a street fight on Hoffman Avenue, in the citys West Ward. And at about 9 p.m., three more people were found shot in the 400 block of Garfield Avenue, in the East Ward. One of them had a serious head wound. We lost our humanity, Mayor Reed Gusciora told the Trentonian. May be retaliatory. And emotions have just boiled over today. Police officers in the city said there were several other shots fired incidents during the evening, but nobody was apparently struck in those. No further information was immediately available from the city police department, or the Mercer County Prosecutors Office, which investigates homicides in the city. Two weeks ago, Trenton had two daylight killings in three days. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook. The number of cases climbed to nearly 340,000 by this morning with more than 9,600 fatalities, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Speaking at his latest White House briefing, President Donald Trump tried to sound a note of optimism while admitting the situation was about to get worse. I think we all know that we have to reach a certain point and that point is going to be a horrific point in terms of death but its also a point at which things are going to start changing, he said. Were getting very close to that level right now. Mr Trump added that his country was starting to see light at the end of the tunnel as authorities said there was a slight glimmer of hope that the spread was slowing. In one of his longest briefings, he also urged the nation to pray for the families of victims and ask God to comfort them in their hour of grief. With the faith of our families and the spirit of our people and the grace of our God we will endure, he said. We will overcome. Las Vegas homeless shelter' car park with social distancing 1 /14 Las Vegas homeless shelter' car park with social distancing Reuters Reuters Reuters Reuters Reuters Getty Images Getty Images Reuters Reuters Reuters Reuters His comments came after Americas top doctor warned: This is going to be the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans lives, quite frankly. This is going to be our Pearl Harbour moment, our 9/11 moment, only its not going to be localised, US Surgeon General Jerome Adams told CNN. Its going to be happening all over the country . And I want America to understand that. Loading.... New York state recorded a slight dip in fatalities yesterday compared with the day before, but governor Andrew Cuomo said it was too soon to say whether the pandemic had reached its apex and urged New Yorkers to remain vigilant. The state reported 594 new coronavirus deaths down from 630 the day before bringing the total to nearly 4,200. Mr Cuomo said intensive care admissions and intubations to help breathing were also decreasing slightly while the discharge rate from hospitals was rising. We could either be very near the apex, or the apex could be a plateau and we could be on the plateau right now, Mr Cuomo said. You cant do this day to day. You have to look at three or four days to see a pattern. New York City officials also reported a dip in fatalities. As of last night, deaths had risen by 218 since Saturday evening, to a total of 2,472. By comparison, there were 387 new deaths reported in the previous 24 hours and 305 the day before that. New Yorkers were also largely following the new guidance to wear face coverings when outside. Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda on Monday welcomed the Union cabinet's decision to reduce the salaries, pensions and allowances of Members of Parliament (MPs) by 30 per cent for one year in the fight against coronavirus. The cabinet on Monday approved an ordinance amending the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954 reducing allowances and pension by 30 per cent from April 1 2020 for one year. The money will go to Consolidated Fund of India. On the temporary suspension of MPLAD (Member of Parliament local area Development) fund scheme during 2020-21 and 2021-22, Munda said in a statement, it will be used for fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Washington A coroner in Indiana wanted to know if the coronavirus had killed a man in early March but said that her health department denied a test. Paramedics in New York City say that many patients who died at home were never tested for the coronavirus, even if they showed telltale signs of infection. In Virginia, a funeral director prepared the remains of three people after health workers cautioned her that they each had tested positive for the coronavirus. But only one of the three had the virus noted on the death certificate. Across the United States, even as coronavirus deaths are being recorded in terrifying numbers many hundreds each day the true death toll is likely much higher. More than 9,400 people with the coronavirus have been reported to have died in this country as of this weekend, but hospital officials, doctors, public health experts and medical examiners say that official counts have failed to capture the true number of Americans dying in this pandemic. The undercount is a result of inconsistent protocols, limited resources and a patchwork of decision-making from one state or county to the next. In many rural areas, coroners say they don't have the tests they need to detect the disease. Doctors now believe that some deaths in February and early March, before the coronavirus reached epidemic levels in the United States, were likely misidentified as influenza or only described as pneumonia. With no uniform system for reporting coronavirus-related deaths in the United States and a continued shortage of tests, some states and counties have improvised, obfuscated and at times backtracked in counting the dead. "We definitely think there are deaths that we have not accounted for," said Jennifer Nuzzo, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, which studies global health threats and is closely tracking the coronavirus pandemic. Late last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance for how to certify coronavirus deaths, underscoring the need for uniformity and reinforcing the sense by health care workers and others that deaths have not been consistently tracked. In its guidance, the CDC instructed officials to report deaths where the patient has tested positive or, in an absence of testing, "if the circumstances are compelling within a reasonable degree of certainty." In infectious outbreaks, public health experts say that under typical circumstances it takes months or years to compile data that is as accurate as possible on deaths. The reporting system during an epidemic of this scale is particularly strained. And while experts say they believe that virus-related deaths have been missed, the extent of the problem is not clear. But as mayors and governors hold daily news conferences reporting the latest figures of infections and deaths related to COVID-19, Americans have paid close attention to the locations and numbers of the sick and dead one of the few metrics available for understanding the new and mysterious disease threatening their communities. Public health experts say that an accurate count of deaths is an essential tool to understand a disease outbreak as it unfolds: The more deadly a disease, the more aggressively authorities are willing to disrupt normal life. Precise death counts can also inform the federal government on how to target resources, like ventilators from the national stockpile, to the areas of the country with the most desperate need. For families who have lost a loved one in the midst of this epidemic, there is an urge simply to know: Was it the coronavirus? Lingering questions As the coronavirus outbreak began sweeping across the country last month, Julio Ramirez, a 43-year-old salesman in San Gabriel, California, came home from a business trip and began feeling unwell, suffering from a fever, cough and body aches. By the next day, he had lost his sense of taste and smell. His wife, Julie Murillo, took him to an urgent care clinic several days later, where he was so weak he had to be pushed in a wheelchair. Doctors prescribed antibiotics and cough syrup and gave him a chest X-ray, but they did not test for the coronavirus, she said. Just over a week after he returned from his trip, Murillo found him dead in his bed. "I kept trying to get him tested from the beginning," Murillo said. "They told me no." Frustrated, Murillo enlisted friends to call the CDC on her behalf, urging a post-mortem test. Then she hired a private company to conduct an autopsy; the owner pleaded for a coronavirus test from local and federal authorities. On Saturday afternoon, 19 days after the death, Murillo received a call from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, she said. The Health Department had gone to the funeral home where her husband's body was resting and taken a sample for a coronavirus test. He tested positive. A spokesman for the Health Department did not respond to questions about Ramirez, and it was not clear whether any systematic post-mortem testing was being conducted beyond his case. The work of counting deaths related to the virus falls to an assortment of health care providers, medical examiners, coroners, funeral homes and local health departments that fill out America's death certificates. The documents typically include information on the immediate cause of death, such as a heart attack or pneumonia, as well as on any underlying disease. In coronavirus cases, that would be COVID-19. The federal government does not expect to produce a final tally of coronavirus deaths until 2021, when it publishes an annual compilation of the country's leading causes of death. A New York Times tally of known COVID-related deaths, based on reports from state and local officials, showed 9,470 deaths as of Sunday. On Friday, the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the CDC, began publishing preliminary estimates of coronavirus deaths, although a spokesman said that information would have a "lag of 1-2 weeks." Its first estimate noted 1,150 deaths, based on the number of death certificates that included COVID-19 as an underlying disease. "It is not a 'real time' count of COVID deaths, like what the states are currently reporting," Jeff Lancashire, a spokesman for the National Center for Health Statistics, said. But those who work with death certificates say they worry that relying only on those documents may leave out a significant number of cases in which the coronavirus was confirmed by testing but not written down in the section where doctors and coroners are asked to note relevant underlying diseases. Generally, certificates require an immediate cause and encourage but do not require officials to take note of an underlying disease. Then there are the many suspected cases. Susan Perry, the funeral director from Virginia, said that she was informed by health workers and families that three recently deceased people had tested positive for the virus so that she and her staff could take necessary precautions with the bodies. Only one death certificate mentioned the virus. "This probably happens all the time with different diseases, but this is the first time I'm paying attention to it," Perry said. "If we don't know the numbers, how are we going to be able to prepare ourselves and protect ourselves?" "The 'Aha!' moment" Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Early in the U.S. outbreak, virus-linked deaths may have been overlooked, hospital officials said. A late start to coronavirus testing hampered hospitals' ability to detect the infection among patients with flulike symptoms in February and early March. Doctors at several hospitals reported treating pneumonia patients who eventually died before testing was available. "When I was working before we had testing, we had a ton of patients with pneumonia," said Geraldine Menard, chief of general internal medicine at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans. "I remember thinking it was weird. I'm sure some of those patients did have it. But no one knew back then." An emergency department physician in San Francisco recalled two deaths that were probably caused by the coronavirus but not identified as such. One patient died at home; a relative in the same home later tested positive for the virus. Another patient was an older man who came to the hospital with typical coronavirus symptoms and who had been in contact with someone recently traveling to China but arrived at the hospital before testing was available. In New York City, emergency medical workers say that infection and death rates are probably far higher than reported. Given a record number of calls, many ambulance crews have encouraged anyone not critically ill to stay home. The result, medics say, is that many presumed coronavirus patients may never know for sure if they had the virus, so any who later die at home may never be categorized as having had it. Across the country, coroners are going through a process of reevaluation, reconsidering deaths that occurred before testing was widely available. Coroners and medical examiners generally investigate deaths that are considered unusual, result from accidents or suicides, or occur at home. Joani Shields, the coroner in Monroe County, Indiana, said she wondered about a man diagnosed with pneumonia who died in early March. A coronavirus test was requested at the time, but the local health department denied it, Shields said, on the grounds that the supply of tests was too limited. "I wish we could have tested him," she said. In Shelby County, Alabama, Lina Evans, the coroner, said she was now suspicious of a surge in deaths in her county earlier this year, many of which involved severe pneumonia. "We had a lot of hospice deaths this year, and now it makes me go back and think, wow, did they have COVID? Did that accelerate their death?" she said. Evans, who is also a nurse, is frustrated that she will never know. "When we go back to those deaths that occurred earlier this year people who were negative for flu now we're having the 'Aha!' moment," she said. "They should have been tested for the coronavirus. As far as under reporting, I would say definitely." Disparate reporting Even now, as testing is more widely available, there is a patchwork of standards about information being reported by state and local health officials on deaths in the United States. Around the world, keeping an accurate death toll has been a challenge for governments. Availability of testing and other resources has affected the official counts in some places, and significant questions have emerged about official government tallies in places such as China and Iran. In the U.S., uncertainties and inconsistencies have emerged, and health departments have had to backtrack on cases of previously reported deaths. Florida officials rescinded an announcement of a COVID death in Pasco County. In Hawaii, the state's first announced coronavirus death was later recategorized as unrelated after officials admitted misreading test results. L.A. County officials announced that a child had died from the virus, then said they were unsure whether the virus caused the death, then declined to explain the confusion. Adding to the complications, different jurisdictions are using distinct standards for attributing a death to the coronavirus and, in some cases, relying on techniques that would lower the overall count of fatalities. In Blaine County, Idaho, the local health authority requires a positive test to certify a death the result of the coronavirus. But in Alabama, the state Health Department requires a physician to review a person's medical records to determine whether the virus was actually the root cause of death. Nadia, a 4-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus after developing a dry cough, in what is believed to be the first known case of an animal infected with COVID-19 in the US, raising new questions about human-to-animal transmission of the deadly virus. The tigress, along with six other big cats, is thought to have been infected by an asymptomatic zoo keeper, the Wildlife Conservation Society, which manages the zoo, said in a statement on Sunday. Nadia, her sister Azul, two Amur tigers and three African lions had developed a dry cough and decrease in appetite, it said, adding that all the cats are expected to recover. "Though they have experienced some decrease in appetite, the cats at the Bronx Zoo are otherwise doing well under veterinary care and are bright, alert, and interactive with their keepers," the CNN quoted the zoo as saying. "It is not known how this disease will develop in big cats since different species can react differently to novel infections, but we will continue to monitor them closely and anticipate full recoveries," it said. The test result has stunned zoo officials. "I couldn't believe it," zoo director Jim Breheny said. The coronavirus, first detected in humans in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, is believed to have spread from animals to humans, and a handful of animals, including two dogs, have tested positive in Hong Kong. The pandemic has been driven by human-to-human transmission, but the infection of Nadia raises new questions about human-to-animal transmission. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), no other animals at the zoo are showing symptoms. The animals were infected by a zoo employee who was "asymptomatically infected with the virus" while caring for them, according to the zoo. The Bronx Zoo has been closed to the public since March 16. Anyone sick with the coronavirus is being advised to minimise contact with animals, including pets, until more information is known about the virus, the USDA said. "There is no evidence that animals play a role in the transmission of COVID-19 to people," except for the initial outbreak at a food market in Wuhan, China. In addition, there is "no evidence that any person has been infected with COVID-19 in the US by animals, including by pet dogs or cats," the CBS quoted USDA as saying. The USDA said "this is the first case of its kind" and "further studies are needed to understand if and how different animals could be affected by COVID-19." The World Organisation for Animal Health says studies are under way to understand the issue more and urges anyone who has become sick to limit contact with pets. According to Johns Hopkins University, there are more than 1.2 million coronavirus cases across the world and 69,479 people have died so far. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. By Dr. Nehginpao Kipgen Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex felt like they had no other choice but to leave the royal family after enduring what seemed like an endless amount of public and media scrutiny. Sources claim that the criticism they faced was so bad that Meghan suffered panic attacks and didnt want to go outside. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex | Samir Hussein/WireImage Prince Harry and Meghan decided that quitting the royal family was necessary In January, Prince Harry and Meghan made a bombshell announcement about leaving their royal duties to pursue a life out of the spotlight. Queen Elizabeth helped finalize a plan that worked for the monarchy and shared her support of their decision. Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family, the queen shared in a statement. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family. I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life. Prince Harry later shared how necessary their decision was. In a speech he presented at a dinner for supporters of Sentebale, Harry shed more light on why they made the huge decision. The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly. It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I know I havent always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option. Meghan shared the struggles they faced Given what Meghan and Prince Harry said in interviews for their documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, its not too hard to imagine that the criticisms they faced took a huge toll on the couples mental health. Meghan shared how challenging it was to be in the spotlight. Any woman, especially when they are pregnant, you are really vulnerable, so that was made really challenging, she explained in the documentary. And then when you have a newborn, and especially as a woman, it is a lot. She continued: So you add this on top of just trying to be a new mom or trying to be a newlywed, its um Yeah, well, I guess and also thank you for asking, because not many people have asked if I am OK. But its a very real thing to be going through behind-the-scenes. ITV's @tombradby spoke to Meghan as he gained exclusive access to the royal couple as they toured Africa for 10 days with their son Archie. The documentary, Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, airs on Sunday at 9pm on @ITV #HarryandMeghan https://t.co/Uy21iE6ozJ pic.twitter.com/XYlHVytiHF ITV News (@itvnews) October 18, 2019 Meghan reportedly had panic attacks According to a report from Us Weekly, a source shared just how devastating the reality of their situation was for the Sussexes. Meghan reportedly felt trapped and claustrophobic, suffered from panic attacks, and feared going outside because she didnt want to attract further negative media attention. When the couple made the move to Canada, however, the source shared how it had given her the chance to reset, adding, Meghans thrilled to have escaped the chaos of London. She feels like a new person. The source continued, Meghan has a real spring in her step again. Its wonderful to see her in top form. She was nervous to step outside her own front door because of all the negative attention she attracted, the source added. Meghan can go out in yoga pants and not be criticized for not following dress code. She feels more relaxed and loves walking around fresh-faced with barely any makeup on, the insider noted. As the nation came together to show solidarity and unity by switching off lights and lighting candles and diyas for nine minutes at 9 p.m. on Sunday, many places in Delhi NCR also saw crackers being burst even as the capital saw another death and cases rise to above 500. Many were left questioning the reason for celebration when India, and the world, is struggling to contain the pandemic. On Twitter, Dr Monika Singh asked "what is the celebration for..." Congress' south Delhi councillor Abhishek Dutt tweeted video of firecrackers and said that pollution level should be checked now. Many on the social media wondered how the people got firecrackers amid the lockdown. Congress leader Rajiv Shukla tweeted: "Nobody was suppose to burst crackers PM never said that .Actually today's event was not a celebration @PMOIndia @INCIndia" A man who spat in his wifes face and told her "I hope you get coronavirus and die" has been jailed for almost a year. Mark Palmer, 55, of Edinburgh Road, Cambridge, attacked his wife when she returned from the shops to find him and a friend drinking beer, Cambridgeshire Police said. His wife had allegedly been objecting to his breaking of the Covid-19 lockdown rules. Police were called to address where Palmer proceeded to spit at two officers. He told them "Im going to give you all coronavirus", the force said. Palmer admitted common assault and two counts of assault by beating against an emergency worker at Peterborough Magistrates Court on Friday, police said. He also admitted two counts of criminal damage, possession of class B drugs and a public order offence. The 55-year-old was jailed for 42 weeks. Amitabh Bachchan To Provide Monthly Ration To 1 Lakh Daily Wage Workers Of All India Film Employees Confederation Prof Sioux McKenna, Centre for Postgraduate Studies Director By Professor Sioux McKenna Around the world there has been a massive increase in demand for doctoral education. This mostly stems from the idea that the knowledge economy requires high-level skills. The claim that theres a correlation between a countrys economic stability and the proportion of its population who have doctorates has led to national targets being set for doctoral graduation. In 2010, 1 420 doctoral candidates graduated in South Africa. Since then the number has more than doubled. The high increase in both intake and graduation has led to concerns about quality. A key question is: how did South Africa find the capacity to double its numbers given that the number of supervisors has grown at a markedly slower rate over this period? A significant amount of money has been invested in doctoral education. The national funding formula gives all universities a strong incentive to increase their doctoral intake. But there are questions to be asked about whether the quality of doctoral education justifies these investments of taxpayer money. The quality of doctoral graduates matters because, as the highest level of education, it sets the tone for quality throughout the university. To answer some of the concerns, the Council on Higher Education is about to conduct a national review of higher education institutions that offer doctoral-level qualifications. This will be the first of its kind for the council, which, among other things, is responsible for developing and implementing systems of quality assurance for higher education. The review Every institution that offers doctoral qualifications has to develop a self-evaluation report indicating how it ensures it meets the doctoral standard. The report has to specify, with evidence, how the institution assures the quality of every step of the doctoral curriculum. This ranges from selecting students to allocating supervisors, providing institutional support, developing and reviewing proposals, ethical clearance and the examination process. It also needs to demonstrate how the institution ensures that its graduates embody specified doctoral attributes. A review panel then verifies and interrogates the claims by the institution. This is followed by a report to the institution. Institutions that dont meet all the requirements are required to submit an improved plan to the council. If there are serious concerns after this, the council has the authority to withdraw accreditation from the academic institution. Research shows that funding is a key determinant of the rate at which doctoral candidates complete the degree. Its also known that some universities are research-intensive with numerous seminars, research design courses and research chairs. But in others, the supervisor and doctoral candidate may feel quite isolated. Implications We do not know whether the rapid increase in the number of doctorates has led to a weakening of quality. Perhaps the rise in predatory publications, a problem faced across the continent, suggests there is cause for concern. What is known is that some institutional audits undertaken 10 years ago uncovered problems with examination processes at doctoral level. This review is an opportunity to revisit the issue. The quality of the doctorate has significant implications. Poor doctoral education can set the scene for the nature of knowledge creation and dissemination in the whole university. If quality processes dont safeguard academic integrity at doctoral level, then they are unlikely to protect quality at lower levels. Taxpayer money subsidises doctoral programmes, so the qualification should produce the kinds of knowledge and highly skilled graduates who can make a meaningful contribution to society. Quality assurance seems to encourage bureaucracy and compliance and be part of a rising managerialism in institutions. But its a good thing to start a conversation about what a doctorate is really for, and how to tell whether quality is being assured. Far more innovative approaches are needed. The review might be the vehicle for the necessary institutional conversations. Source: https://sundayworld.co.za Please help us to raise funds so that we can give all our students a chance to access online teaching and learning. Covid-19 has disrupted our students' education. Don't let the digital divide put their future at risk. Visit www.ru.ac.za/rucoronavirusgateway to donate Sun Small Programmable Object Technology Project Sun SPOT Programming the Real World Inspiring Java developers to create a whole new breed of devices and technologies - and accelerating the growth of the "Internet of Things" For years, Sun has been saying that one day everything of value will be part of the Internet. This vision of an Internet of Things includes not just computers that talk to each other and exchange data, but virtually everything-all connected, all-communicating and sharing data, all the time. Cars, bicycles, refrigerators, astronauts, toys, even trees will collect and deliver diverse data to equally diverse devices (yes, trees - embedded with sensors that detect climate changes and animal movements). That's a lot of data to process, manage and store. Over the past 24 years Sun has built its business by creating the back-end infrastructure to handle vast volumes of data: servers, storage systems, sophisticated networking infrastructure, data management software, and so on. And now, with Project Sun SPOT (Small Programmable Object Technology), an ongoing research project at Sun Labs, Sun is giving developers a platform for inspiration and innovation on the device side. We've created a platform that greatly simplifies development and experimentation with small wireless devices, and we've opened it up to the development community, said Roger Meike, research director for Project Sun SPOT. There will be tremendous opportunities to apply and expand this technology in all sorts of new and exciting ways. Project Sun SPOT began at Sun Labs in late 2003 as an exploration of wireless transducer technologies. Since then, the project team has been investigating new ways to make small devices smarter, more secure, and more capable-with considerable success. For example, the "Squawk VM" (a small J2METM virtual machine) provides the ability to run wireless transducer applications "on the metal," saving overhead and improving performance; "SPOTworld" simplifies development by providing a single tool for programming, configuring, managing and monitoring Sun SPOT devices; and the use of Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) dramatically improves device security. Over time, as innovation continues, as the Sun SPOT hardware platform gets even smaller and as more powerful processors, new sensors, new radios, and new power supplies are developed, the platform will inspire a growing number of real-world applications. Today, the SunSPOT team is focusing its ongoing research and innovation efforts on: Operating Environment By basing the Sun SPOT platform on Java technology-top to bottom, hardware and software-the Sun SPOT team has made it easier to write code for small wireless transducers, sensors, and other consumer electronics devices. Developers can write a program in Java, load it on a device, run it, and debug it with standard Java IDEs. With Java it's also simpler to port applications among platforms, and SunSPOT devices provide a small, flexible, wireless platform on which to put these applications. For the millions of developers who already write code in Java there is little additional learning curve for building Sun SPOT programs. With the unique features of the Squawk VM, developers can do some pretty amazing things. Sun SPOT devices can run applications without any underlying OS, or run multiple applications on one virtual machine. And the jaw-droppingly cool "migratable application" functionality enables applications (with their complete state information) to be dragged from one Sun SPOT device to another while they're still running. So you could, for example, move software off a SPOT device with low battery power onto another device with more battery life, avoiding loss of state information. Development Tools: NetBeans and SPOTWorld Unlike other embedded systems, SunSPOT developers are able to use industry standard Java development tools such as Netbeans or Eclipse to programs and debug their applications. Sun SPOT developers find extra productivity and power from the tight integration with NetBeans, the Sun-sponsored, open integrated development environment (IDE) tool for Java development. NetBeans is available for download free of charge at www.netbeans.org . The SunSPOT team is supplementing NetBeans with SPOTWorld -- a single tool for programming, configuring, managing and monitoring SPOT devices. SPOTWorld allows developers on the SunSPOT platform to address the issues of programming and managing hundreds of devices spread out over a large area. Security By using ECC technology developed at Sun Labs, the Sun SPOT team has made it possible to add strong security without compromising the limited memory and processing capabilities of small devices. Sun Labs' ECC implementations power a small-footprint, secure Web server stack (including HTTP and SSL), nicknamed Sizzle, that can be embedded inside a wide array of small devices, so you can monitor and control them securely via a Web browser. Scalability Any device or technology created on the Sun SPOT platform will be capable of leveraging the massive scalability of Sun infrastructure (vertically integrated systems from one to thousands of processors; horizontally scalable grids incorporating thousands of nodes; storage scalability to petabytes of capacity, etc.), so deployments can be carried out on virtually any scale with ease. Applications for Sun SPOTs The success of Java technology opens doors for innovative new Sun SPOT applications. Java technology is in 1.2 billion mobile phones. It's in 1.4 billion smart cards. It's in millions of set-top boxes, printers, Web cams, games, car navigation systems, lottery terminals, medical devices, parking payment stations, etc. By basing Sun SPOT technology on Java, the Sun SPOT team has made it easier for millions of programmers to build cool new technologies and devices that can do all kinds of things. And we've already seen some amazing applications prototyped and built with beta versions of Sun SPOT technology. For example: Swarm intelligence: Many companies ship sophisticated, high-value items with multiple parts-and sometimes not all of these expensive parts arrive with the item. In some cases thieves remove portions of the contents while the box is en route. RFID technology doesn't detect this type of activity-it can only provide information such as where the container is at a given moment or whether it arrived at its destination; and GPS technology sometimes doesn't work inside a truck. But by using Sun SPOT sensors in its containers, customers will be able to put a stop to this criminal activity. The Sun SPOTs can actually monitor and compare notes with each other during shipment-like a Neighborhood Watch for boxes--and provide alerts if, for example, one container is being opened while the others are still in transit. They also provide audit information so that the shipper can pin down who had control of the box at any given time. Rapid Prototyping and Experimenting with Ideas: Ever find yourself driving to work and wondering if you've left the iron on? Researchers with an auto manufacturer were preparing for an international transportation show and wanted to demonstrate new capabilities using the latest in electronics. After meeting with the Sun SPOT project team, they used Sun SPOT devices to create a system that could alert a driver that the iron was left on at home. One Sun SPOT was built into the iron, another into the car, and when the car left the garage while the iron was still hot, the signal was relayed to the driver that the iron was on. This amazing demo was built very quickly-from concept to working demo in about two weeks. Without Sun SPOTs this would not have been possible. This type of "home check" application could be instrumented in a broad range of other possibilities: security systems, smoke detectors, and other appliances. Rocket Launch Monitor: The Sun SPOT platform is a dream come true for hobbyists. To cite just one example: Sun Labs occasionally undertakes what are called Friday Projects. The goal of these projects is to do something from start to finish in a single day. For one particular Friday project, the Sun SPOT team decided to launch Sun SPOTs on a model rocket. Starting Friday morning, the team built a rocket, embedded two Sun SPOTs in "Space Shuttle" vehicles to monitor and graph the progress of the launch as it happened, wrote the ground-telemetry software (in Java), developed some Sun SPOT antenna extenders and documented the whole thing from start to finish. At launch time the pressure was on: Sun's CTO, Greg Papadopoulos, brought a couple of aerospace customers to watch the launch. The result? The researchers launched two (redundant) Sun SPOTs on a single rocket that streamed light, temperature and acceleration data live over the radio to the ground stations that were busy plotting the data. There are many other Sun SPOT applications in development at Sun and elsewhere, and new applications are limited only by developer's imaginations. That's why Sun Labs is making available a complete Sun SPOT Developer Kit, which will include all of the hardware and software needed to create applications for Sun SPOTs. In general, we believe Sun SPOT technology will be important in a broad range of emerging application areas, particularly in: Education: Sun SPOT technology is a natural fit in the field of education because it is so flexible. It's all Java-based, so the vast majority of students will be able to work with it, and it's broadly applicable-from sensors to wireless transducers to new gizmos to art and design (for a few innovative examples see http://people.artcenter.edu/~vanallen/ecology/ ). Industrial Research: Companies that want to experiment with new concepts and try new ideas for any number of applications can use Sun SPOTs to build prototypes, test models, and provide analysis. Government and Military Applications: Virtually every branch of government and the military has potential applications for Sun SPOT technology-from Homeland Security to space exploration to surveillance to warfare systems. Hobbyists: If you're building something cool-from a robot controller to a monitoring system for your hot-air balloon to an entirely new type of electronic device, chances are you have a great application for a Sun SPOT. Check out www.makezine.com and you'll see plenty of possibilities. By enabling whole new classes of devices to connect and share on the network, Sun SPOT technology brings the vision of the Internet of Things much closer to reality. And that's such a Sun thing to do, said Mr. Meike. Sun is a company that has always been about sharing and participation, and we've always been interested in creating technology to enable the community to innovate. We're excited by the possibilities that Sun SPOT technology opens up, and equally excited to see what develops. CONTACT: Pamela D. Wilson 303-810-1816 Email: Inquiry_For_Pamela@pameladwilson.com Golden, Colorado April 6, 2020 The Caring Generation What Causes Falls in the Elderly? Golden CO- Caregiving expert Pamela D. Wilson hosts The Caring Generation radio program for caregivers and aging adults this coming Wednesday, April 8th, on the Bold Brave Media Network. The program airs live at 9 p.m. EST. The Caring Generation aired initially from 2009 to 2011 on 630 KHOW-AM in Denver, Colorado. What Causes Falls in The Elderly? On Wednesday evening, April 8th, Pamela D. Wilson answers the question, What Causes Falls in the Elderly? Wilson shares injury prevention tips to reduce falls, one of the most common injuries in elderly persons over the age of 65. A variety of scenariosthat may not be recognized as contributing to fallsare discussed, helping caregivers identify early concerns associated with fall risk. The guest for this program is Dr. Michele Bedard-Gilligan, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington. Dr. Bedard-Gilligan talks about caregiver role strain and stress associated with responding to changes in health, physical injuries, and accidents. She is affiliated with Trauma Recovery Innovations, and the Center for the Study for Health ad Risk Behaviors at the University of Washington with a primary research focus on PTSD. Caregivers care for elderly loved ones injured in a car accident or suffering from a severe illness like a stroke. The coronavirus stirs up anxiety about transmitting the virus from working or family caregivers to the elderly. Dr. Bedard-Gilligan talks about how worry and trauma affect caregivers and offers tips to manage through ongoing situations. Fall Risk in the Elderly According to the CDC, falls are the number seven cause of death for the elderly. Research by the American Geriatrics Society confirms that 33% of the elderly over 65 fall each year. This number rises to 40% over age 75. Elderly parents hesitate to tell physicians and family members about falls because of embarrassment about being viewed as physically weak. No parent wants to hear, "I told you so," by adult children who expressed safety concerns. Physical weakness and frailty are the main reason that the elderly fall During this radio program, Wilson provides examples of exercises that indicate physical strength or weakness in elderly parents. Offered are ten scenarios to help caregivers and the elderly be proactive in avoiding or reducing the likelihood of falls. Falling Poses Consequences for the Elderly The experience of a single fall resulting in physical injury often results in fear of another fall. Twenty-five to fifty percent of older adults restrict physical activity after a fall. Limiting physical activity, like walking, has far-reaching effects on decreasing balance, muscle strength, and physical endurance. In essence, the cycle of falling and lower time engaged in physical activities increase overall weakness and the likelihood of another fall. Daily activities require physical strength, balance, and endurance. Limiting physical activity means that older adults are less able to perform self-care tasks safely like bathing, dressing, cooking meals, walking, and going out into the community to purchase groceries and run errands. Older adults may become depressed and anxious about declining abilities. Needing help with daily activities means that elderly parents need support from family caregivers or eventually move to a care community. Caregiving Support Programs Pamela D. Wilson offers keynote addresses and creates digital caregiving programs for corporations interested in supporting employees caring for elderly parents. She works with corporations in the industries of health, financial planning, and law to provide content and education for clients. Join Pamela on The Caring Generation radio program for caregivers, and aging adults live at 6 p.m. Pacific, 7 p.m. Mountain, 8 p.m. Central, and 9 p.m. Eastern every Wednesday night. Replays of the weekly programs are available in podcast format with transcripts on Pamela's website and all major podcast sites. More information about Pamela and her support programs are available on her website. # The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which is spreading very fast and, has so far, infected over 1.2million people globally continues to impact negatively on human lives and national economies. In Ghana, the number of infections is over 200, with 5 fatalities as at today, as published by wordometer.info, a trusted source for credible real time world statistics on numerous issues. The Government of Ghana, has consequently announced a partial lockdown of the Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan areas, which have reported the most cases of COVID-19 infections in the country. With the lockdown, the movement of people is restricted and nonessential businesses have all shut down operations for a minimum period of two weeks, subject to Government review. The prevailing limited movements have resulted in a slowdown of economic activities in the restricted areas. This has made most essential service providers to scale down operations to meet the resultant reduced demand. Forward-looking service providers have actively been repositioning themselves and educating customers on the need to resort to digital modes of transactions. Economist and Professor of Finance at the University of Ghana, Godfred Bokpin has however said that the coronavirus outbreak forcing people to work from home reveals gaps in the countrys digital landscape. According to Professor Godfred Bokpin, the coronavirus presents an opportunity for everyone to upgrade their digital literacy. Meanwhile, Ecobank Ghana, a proactive subsidiary of the Pan African Banking giant, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, has come to the rescue of its customers. The bank is currently fully operating 15 brick and mortar channels within the lockdown zones. This is complementing the many digital channels that are available for use by their customers and members of the general public, who have no accounts with Ecobank. Branches that are located outside the lockdown areas are working fully throughout the week, except Saturdays. The bank continues to call on customers to opt for technology-driven banking in order to lessen the risk of moving around. This will also minimise the rate at which customers touch physical cash and the negative consequences in the wake of COVID-19. At the last count, the banks digital platforms included; over 2,200 Ecobank Xpress Point agents for cash payments and withdrawals, 15,000 EcobankPay Merchants, who provide Mvisa and MasterPass QR code Scan and Pay services for cashless payments, about 205 ATMs, including several Intelligent ATMs that accept deposits. Ecobank Mobile is a unique banking App that provides users the true alternate to branch banking. Users of Ecobank Mobile can virtually perform all banking transactions anytime without the need for cash or the need to visit a bank branch. The Ecobank Mobile app is available on Google Play Store or the App Store for easy download by all. For high value transactions, the bank encourages customers to use its internet banking service, which functions whenever wherever. Ecobank OMNI and Ecobank Omni lite are the respective platforms for large corporates and small & medium enterprises. Ecobank has a dedicated contact centre that operates 24/7 on toll free, 3225, providing remote technical support to customers to facilitate online transactions without hustle. Ecobanks social media handles are very active and ready to provide answers to all concerns of customers. The following branches remain operational from 8:30am to 3:00pm Mondays-Fridays in the lockdown regions; 1. Ecobank Head Office, Accra 2. Ecobank Tema Main 3. Ecobank Hospital Road, Tema 4. Ecobank Spintex, Accra 5. Ecobank A&C, Accra 6. Ecobank Abeka Lapaz, Accra 7. Ecobank Silver Star Tower, Accra 8. Ecobank Osu, Accra 9. Ecobank Madina Firestone, Accra 10. Ecobank Dansoman, Accra 11. Ecobank Weija, Accra 12. Ecobank Kasoa, Accra 13. Harper Road, Kumasi 14. Bantama, Kumasi 15. Kumasi Stadium The bank has, for now, put a hold on Saturday banking in all branches nationwide until further notice. Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[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. Featured Video On March 24, the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, announced that all private hospitals in Ireland would operate as public institutions for the next three months, in the States battle against the coronavirus. So, should private insurance customers continue to pay their premiums? Yes, they should, or, at the least, they should consult with their insurer. The Governments move has opened up a vast can of worms, not least because the three major health insurers (VHI, Laya Healthcare, and Irish Life Health) were among the last to be consulted on the move. How come? Probably because the commandeering of the private hospital system was such a mammoth and unforeseen task that securing the services of the private consultants was the overriding priority. And that situation has not yet been sorted to the satisfaction of many of those private physicians, who say that, as it stands, they could be forced to abandon long-standing private patients. What are the insurance companies saying? Their initial response, it seemed, was to eliminate coverage at least temporarily for all medical work done in the countrys 19 private hospitals. Representatives from those companies met with the Department of Health and the Health Insurance Authority last Wednesday to thrash out the situation. Afterwards, industry body, Insurance Ireland, described that meeting as good, but added that the insurers required further clarifications to divine what the impacts would be on customers, many of whom have recently lost their employment and some of whom are, doubtless, not in a position to continue to pay their premiums. What are those clarifications? In a nutshell, the companies want to know whether or not they will have to continue to pay claims out of private hospitals for the next three months. Could I stop paying my premium? You could, but if you lost health cover in a post-Covid 19 world, that might not be ideal. The insurers have not yet made it clear how people who cannot pay will be dealt with, but they have underlined their commitment to playing a constructive role in the crisis. So what can I do? Health insurance consultants, TotalHealthCover.ie, suggest that customers shop around hard in the coming days to see if they can get a better deal, particularly those due for renewal or on a plan for more than five years. They advise that people take an excess (uninsured portion) on their policy, or increase the one they have. Temporary backloading of premiums is being considered by insurers, seeing temporary reprieves granted for monthly payments (the money will still fall due at a later date). Those wishing to strip to the bare bones are advised to lower their cover to entry-level plans, or consider canceling cover for those on the policy who represent the lowest risk. The latest restrictions in operation since Friday, March 27 mandate that everyone should stay at home, only leaving to: The National Treasury Management Agency is set to borrow between 3bn and 4bn by issuing seven year bonds, possibly as soon as tomorrow, according to market sources. The NTMAs borrowing will be the first test of sentiment for Irish bonds and the Government could need to spend as much as 25bn in order to combat the effects of the coronavirus on the economy. The transaction is expected to be launched and priced in the near future subject to market conditions, the NTMA said, without providing any further details on size and timing. Prior to the onset of the pandemic, the NTMA has looked set to raise a total of 10bn-14bn this year. /THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/ VANCOUVER, April 6, 2020 /CNW/ - SpeakEasy Cannabis Club Ltd. (CSE: EASY) (Frankfurt: 39H) (the "Company" or "SpeakEasy"), a holder of a federal licence to cultivate, process and sell cannabis under the Cannabis Act, is delighted to announce it has received an amendment to its licence from Health Canada for its 2.6 million square foot outdoor field. With the amendment, SpeakEasy expands its licenced cultivation area from 10,000 square feet to over 2.6 million square feet, an increase of over 250 times larger. Founder, Marc Geen states, "We have been eagerly awaiting the day we could grow outdoors. With the favourable climate here in Rock Creek, the advantages we have due to our location can not be overstated. Being licensed to grow in our 60 acres of outdoor grow area puts us in a position to be a global leader in the cannabis industry due to our size, location and efficiency." Rock Creek's Unique Climate Offers Efficient Low Cost Production Two key elements to any type of farming are the climate and the genetics a farmer has to work with. SpeakEasy's facilities are strategically located in Rock Creek, British Columbia, which the Company believes has one of the best climates in Canada in which to grow cannabis. The southern interior of British Columbia offers an arid climate with a warm summer and fall with very little rainfall, each a critical element for large scale outdoor production of cannabis in Canada. Excellent climate with excellent genetics is a winning formula and SpeakEasy believes its genetics are second to none. With the receipt of the amendment to our licence, SpeakEasy believes that it now has all pieces in place to plant its outdoor field commencing this spring. SpeakEasy anticipates that its first crops will be planted with proven varieties, that have been grown in licenced personal medical operations in the southern interior of British Columbia for many years. Over 100 Years Combined Farming Experience Brings It All Together SpeakEasy's agricultural know-how comes from a combination of the large-scale commercial agriculture experience of the Geen family and its collective of cannabis growers that bring over 100 years of combined experience. The experience of these growers enabled the Company to bring its first crop to harvest in March 2020, passing all testing criteria with an over 20% THC level and an average of 3.14 pounds per light, well above the industry average and 25% above our own projections. "This wisdom and knowledge have been fundamental and a cornerstone to everything SpeakEasy does", says founder, Marc Geen. Mr. Geen, further states, "without our growers and their vast knowledge of cannabis, our facilities would be just like any other group of nice buildings. Combining their knowledge and giving them everything they need to grow, with the addition of our outdoor facility, together, creates what we believe to be a winning combination." A New Global Player Cannabis production costs in the Canadian indoor or greenhouse facilities range, depending on the cultivation method, from $0.50 cents per gram to over $2.00 dollars per gram. SpeakEasy's projected cost of outdoor-grown flower is less than $0.10 cents per gram, giving the Company the opportunity to provide sun-grown flower at a price point that the Company believes will be among the lowest in the industry. Additionally, extract materials suitable for all forms of value-added products are expected to cost less than $0.04 cents per gram to produce at SpeakEasy's outdoor production field. "The scale and cost efficiency of the operation opens the opportunity to be competitive in domestic as well as global markets. "BC Bud" is a globally recognized brand and for good reason, leveraging that established brand, combining our high quality, eco-sensitive farming practices and projected industry-leading low cost of production, we believe we have a very bright future ahead of us" says SpeakEasy CEO, Bin Huang. About SpeakEasy Cannabis Club Ltd.: SpeakEasy Cannabis Club Ltd. holds a cultivation, processing and sales licence issued by Health Canada under the Cannabis Act. SpeakEasy owns 290 acres of land in Rock Creek, British Columbia, and leverages three generations of farming experience in B.C. as well as its favourable location to grow and process high-quality cannabis products at low cost. SpeakEasy cultivates small batch, high quality craft cannabis in its 10,000 square foot indoor facility and has recently completed the development of its 60-acre outdoor field. The Company expects to plant its outdoor cultivation area commencing the Spring of 2020, and to produce approximately 70,000kg of outdoor, sun grown cannabis in 2020. For more information about SpeakEasy, visit www.speakeasygrowers.com Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause SpeakEasy's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this document include statements concerning SpeakEasy's intention to plant its outdoor crops and the timeframe associated with such planting, its intent to produce and sell high quality craft cannabis, its expected production output, the costs associated with such output and the timeframes associated with such production output, its expectations that it will produce cannabis at a cost per gram that is among the lowest in the industry; its expectations regarding the climate, and all other statements that are not statements of historical fact. Although SpeakEasy believes the forward-looking information contained in this news release is reasonable based on information available on the date hereof, by their nature forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. By their nature, these statements involve a variety of assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, levels of activity and achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Examples of such assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with the global Covid-19 pandemic, including the risk that the Company be deemed a non-essential business and asked to temporarily cease operations; general economic conditions; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments involving cannabis; the Company's ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; the cannabis industry in Canada and generally; the demand for cannabis and cannabis related products, the ability of SpeakEasy to implement its business strategies; competition; the ability of SpeakEasy to obtain and retain all applicable licences under the Cannabis Act and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties. THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS NEWS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE THE COMPANY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. SOURCE Speakeasy Cannabis Club Ltd. For further information: Bin Huang, [email protected], 1-778-668-4339 Bay Area political events that are happening online during the coronavirus pandemic: THURSDAY Rep. Ro Khanna: Fremont Democrat holds a Facebook Live town hall. 5 p.m. Join here. Tom Steyer: Former Democratic presidential candidate on what he learned from his campaign. Hosted by Mannys. 5 p.m. More information is here; join here. MONDAY Indivisible: Progressive group hosts a workshop on creating and facilitating online meeting spaces that are inclusive, effective and motivating. 5 p.m. Join here. WEDNESDAY Rep. Jared Huffman: North Bay Democrat holds a Facebook Live check-in with constituents. Noon. More information and join here. APRIL 20 Dan Pfeiffer: Pod Save America co-host on how President Trump is handling the coronavirus crisis. Hosted by Mannys. 6 p.m. More information here; join here. APRIL 21 Change during a pandemic: Remote access-study group discusses possibilities for social change during the pandemic. Hosted by Freedom Socialist Party. Sessions on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. (register here) or Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. (register here). Reading list here. $3-$5 suggested donation per session. APRIL 24 Mayor Petes California campaign: Pete Buttigiegs California campaign director, Cecilia Cabello, talks about the experience. Hosted by Mannys. More information and join here. To list an event, please email Chronicle politics editor Trapper Byrne at tbyrne@sfchronicle.com Since Zhang Boli arrived in Wuhan as part of the Central Guidance Team on Jan.27, the 72-year-old academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) has been working around the clock for more than two months. Zhang, who is also a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress, said he felt duty-bound to help his country at this time of crisis. Jiangxia makeshift hospital COVID-19 patients in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak in China, have received treatment in collective isolation and under classified management, according to decisions made by the Central Guidance Team. Zhang and other experts in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) strongly advised the use of TCM on all of the isolated patients. With the approval of the Central Guidance Team, Zhang and 208 other experts formed a TCM medical team and started treating patients at a makeshift hospital in Wuhan's Jiangxia district. They decided to apply a comprehensive treatment solution primarily using the Qingfei Paidu Decoction and Xuanfeibaidu Formula, complemented by tai chi, baduanjin and acupuncture therapy. Proven efficacy of TCM After treatment with the TCM formulas, none of the 564 mild and common patients at the makeshift hospital developed into severe cases. In contrast, WHO statistics show that overall, around 6% to 10% of mild COVID-19 cases develop into severe ones. "More importantly, the blood biochemical indices of the recovered patients, such as the number of lymphocytes and leukocytes, showed significant improvements," explained Zhang. The effective practices at Jiangxia Hospital were swiftly applied by other makeshift hospitals, with 90% of such hospitals in Wuhan adopting TCM treatment. Having clearly demonstrated its efficacy, TCM has become an important part of the "Chinese approach to fighting COVID-19." Valuing research and treatment While promoting the use of TCM, Zhang also stepped-up related scientific research to provide a basis for clinical decisions. Zhang is leading a research program to evaluate the clinical value of TCM combined with western medicine in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, which was launched on Feb. 3. In order to improve the research coverage and allow data to be published in a timely manner, his team developed a dedicated system for the acquisition and analysis of COVID-19 clinical data. Meanwhile, TCM experts studied the details of 1,000 patients in varying conditions from nearly 20 hospitals across the country. They concluded that COVID-19 can be considered in TCM terminology as "a disease caused by noxious dampness," giving direction to TCM treatment. Under Zhang's guidance, his team also evaluated the clinical efficacy of various TCM treatments, and carried out drug screening and development. Promoting TCM's widespread use Many of the medical teams dispatched to Wuhan have now started to head home, but Zhang's return date has yet to be decided. After the closure of the Jiangxia makeshift hospital, Zhang shifted the focus of his work to the rehabilitation of recovered patients. "Many severe patients still have such symptoms as heart palpitations and fatigue even after they've been discharged from hospital. Some patients also suffer from damage to their lungs and other organs. We need to assess their conditions and then apply targeted rehabilitation treatments," Zhang said. On March 24, a platform offering rehabilitation services for medical workers infected with the virus was put into operation. "The platform is sponsored by the CAE and the Tencent Foundation, with Wuhan Union Hospital and Wuhan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine providing specific services. We're trying to help the medical workers recover completely and return to normal work and life within two to three years," explained Zhang, who is in charge of the platform. Meanwhile, the situation in other countries is also worrying to Zhang. "We have empathy for the current situation in Europe and the United States," he said. He said that many foreign organizations have invited him to share China's experiences in combating the pandemic, especially regarding the use of TCM. "We've given prescriptions to various countries based on their climate and other conditions. In addition, we've also sent them some TCM." This article was published in Science and Technology Daily in Chinese, and translated by Zhang Liying. A fisherman repairs nets at North Shields Fish Quay on the bank of the River Tyne (Owen Humphreys/PA) Shoppers should try UK-caught produce as fishermen struggle with the impact of the Covid-19 crisis, a seafood industry expert has said. With the export markets to Europe and China ruined, restaurants and chippies closed, hospitality shut down and many supermarkets not staffing their fish counters, skippers have decided to keep their vessels tied up. But some are still going out to fish, and more of what they catch is available online or being sold door-to-door. Barrie Deas, chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermens Organisations, said: This is a good time for consumers to try different fish where they can get access to them. Some of the more exotic species are not going abroad or into the restaurant trade, so theres no reason why prices should not be low. Expand Close Fishing boats at North Shields Fish Quay (Owen Humphreys/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fishing boats at North Shields Fish Quay (Owen Humphreys/PA) Theres Dover sole, crab, lobster, scallops that could be available. He said there had been rapid growth in fishermen starting up doorstep sales. But he said: I dont think this will substitute the main supply chains, it wont be anything of that magnitude. Seafish, which supports the British seafood industry, has provided online advice about selling directly to consumers. Expand Close Skippers have decided to keep their vessels tied up (Owen Humphreys/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Skippers have decided to keep their vessels tied up (Owen Humphreys/PA) Director Hazel Curtis said: We export around 80% of the fish and shellfish caught around the UK, so some fishing boat owners are adapting and finding ways to sell their catch directly to fishmongers or to the general public. Groups of fishermen around the UK are setting up websites so they can sell locally landed fish straight to local fishmongers or to households and were seeing an increase in the use of fish vans which makes it easier for people to buy seafood too. Wed love people to support our coastal communities and eat more of the delicious seafood we catch. The Scottish and Northern Ireland governments have announced packages of support for their shellfish boats and Mr Deas expected help will be announced for their English counterparts in the coming week. Much of the high-quality shellfish caught in the UK is exported to France, Italy and China, all badly affected by the pandemic. Expand Close A closed fishmerchants in North Shields (Owen Humphreys/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A closed fishmerchants in North Shields (Owen Humphreys/PA) The huge changes in the market mean many skippers could not cover their costs if they went to sea, leaving many vessels tied up. He said the centuries-old way crews were paid, by sharing the value of the catch, meant it was tricky to work out a fair scheme for the Government to support them, as it will with other self-employed people. In the meantime, fishermen like Rex Harrison, who works from Filey, North Yorkshire, will stay ashore. The 66-year-old, who has been fishing as long as he can remember, usually catches sea trout, crab and lobster, with the fish going to high-end London restaurants. Expand Close Fishing boats (Owen Humphreys/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fishing boats (Owen Humphreys/PA) He said: At the moment we are shut down. There are always jobs to do and at the moment we have been making new gear. These are usually the jobs we do in bad weather. At the moment we have no-one we can send our fish to. The United States has advised residents of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut not to travel domestically after the number of reported coronavirus deaths doubled to over 2,000 nationwide within two days. It took about a month from the first report of a coronavirus death on February 29 to the number reaching 1,000 on Thursday. By Saturday, the number of reported deaths had doubled to 2,000. As of Sunday there were more than 135,800 cases of coronavirus in the United States. At least 2,391 people have died. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the travel advisory Saturday, urging residents of the three states to "refrain from nonessential domestic travel for 14 days effective immediately." The states would have "full discretion" on implementing the advisory, which exempts employees in critical fields. Tracking coronavirus cases in the US President Donald Trump had contemplated issuing an enforceable quarantine for parts of those states, then later said it will not be necessary. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told CNN on Saturday that Trump's suggestion of a two-week enforceable quarantine within the three states was not legal or plausible. "The fact of the matter is, people really aren't traveling a whole lot," New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said when asked about the advisory on ABC's "This Week" Sunday. "A travel warning, we're fine with." Murphy added that his state is "all in on flattening the curve." Florida is implementing its own strategies to slow the spread of the virus by setting up checkpoints for motorists entering the state, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Saturday. According to a news release from the Florida Department of Transportation, travelers will be required to fill out a form with their travel history and contact information. Motorists coming from "areas with substantial community spread" including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Louisiana will be required to isolate themselves for 14 days, the news release said. More than two-thirds of the US population face restrictions As of Saturday, at least 215 million Americans were under various stay at home or shelter in place orders, according to a CNN count based on census data. By Monday, that number will reach 225 million, meaning more than two thirds of the country's population will be facing those restrictions. And the growing numbers have also revealed new demographics facing severe illness. Cases of young adults developing severe illnesses have been more widely reported, but children were thought to be avoiding the harshest effects. On Saturday, state officials reported the death of an infant under age 1 who tested positive for coronavirus and is believed to be the youngest person to die of the virus in the United States. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of death, the Illinois Department of Public Health said. Police and nurses are falling ill Those charged with treating patients and maintaining order are feeling the effects of the pandemic as well. A nurse for Jackson Health System in Miami, Araceli Buendia Ilagan, has died due to complications from the coronavirus, according to a Jackson Health spokeswoman. One colleague said the nurse, who worked in the intensive care unit, was "vital and irreplaceable." Ilagan's death also has her colleagues worried about their own health and safety. "Now everyone that works with her in the unit is scared that they may be carrying the virus as well," a nurse who worked closely with Ilagan told CNN. Meanwhile, 12 nurses at the University of Illinois Hospital have tested positive for coronavirus, the state's nursing association said. ln New York City, 730 uniformed NYPD officers and 96 civilian employees are infected with the coronavirus, according to a law enforcement official. Twenty-nine of them are hospitalized and one is in critical condition, the official said. At least 4,662 officers -- about 12% of the department -- are out sick, either with the coronavirus or other ailments, the official said. In a rare step, the NYPD is advising officers and employees with underlying conditions to seek permission from their commanding officers to work from home, the official said. Pregnant staff are being advised to do the same. New York City's police department lost its first detective to Covid-19, marking the third death of an NYPD employee to the disease. Gov. Cuomo paid homage to the detective, Cedric Dixon, in a news conference Sunday, along with Kious Kelly, an assistant nurse manager at New York City's Mt. Sinai Hospital who also lost his life. Cuomo described what they and all first responders do as an "act of love and courage," driven by their "passion and belief in helping others." "I don't even have the words to express my admiration for them," the governor said. A push for medical supplies grows Medical staff nationwide have struggled to maintain an adequate supply of personal protective equipment, hospital beds and ventilators. The shortage of personal protective equipment drove a group of New York nurses to protest outside the Jacobi Medical Center on Saturday, demanding the supplies they need to do their jobs safely. "If we get sick, our patients will get sick. This is for our entire community," said Kelley Cabrera, a registered nurse. "If you look at what we are wearing in comparison to others countries, it's unacceptable." The medical center said that although the staff has adequate supplies, there is a nationwide shortage and conservation measures are in place. Trump approved four more emergency hospitals in New York. The facilities in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx will provide 4,000 beds. Another 1,000 beds will be available this week in a temporary overflow hospital at Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, and an additional 1,000 beds will be on the USNS Comfort set to arrive in New York on Monday, Cuomo said. But officials believe the state will need 140,000 beds when it reaches the apex of the pandemic in 14 to 21 days, Cuomo said. The administration will also facilitate the production or acquisition of "100,000 additional units" of ventilators over a 100-day period, Trump said. "Maybe we won't even need the full activation," said Trump of the Defense Production Act, which he invoked Friday. "We will find out, but we need the ventilators." Large corporations are also stepping up to feed the supply gap. New Balance announced Friday on Twitter that its US factories will work on developing, manufacturing and delivering facial masks to hospitals. The same day, Delta Air Lines announced it will fly medical professionals for free to areas significantly impacted by coronavirus. More than 215,000 people have signed a petition urging French officials to let more doctors prescribe the anti-malaria drug chloroquine for coronavirus patients, a controversial proposal that has divided health experts worldwide. Support for the treatment has gained ground as doctors try to keep the COVID-19 outbreak from overwhelming hospitals, with some saying early use of chloroquine and similar treatments could keep symptoms from worsening to the point that intensive care is needed. The French petition on the Change.org website was launched Friday by a group of doctors including Philippe Douste-Blazy, a cardiologist and former French health minister. On Monday, three of France's most respected doctors penned an open letter backing chloroquine use despite the absence of randomised and peer-reviewed studies on its efficiency. In the absence of anti-virals for the new coronavirus, "we think it is legitimate, given preliminary results, to implement a new strategy," the doctors wrote in Le Figaro newspaper. The French debate was fuelled by "favourable" findings from a microbiologist who has been treating dozens of patients at the hospital department he runs in Marseille. Didier Raoult's results, however, have been criticised by other doctors who warn of potentially dangerous side effects, and last month France issued a decree against prescribing chloroquine to all but the most severe COVID-19 cases. US President Donald Trump has cited Raoult's work to push for chloroquine use despite reticence from his own health advisers, asking "What do you have to lose?" at a briefing in Washington on Sunday. France's Health Minister Olivier Veran on Saturday again urged caution, saying initial results from clinical studies on chloroquine and other potential coronavirus treatments would be available in the coming days. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ATLANTA, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Now more than ever, families need the security and stability of a decent home they can afford. The uncertainty so many of us feel today, far too many families have felt for a lifetime, if not generations. Habitat for Humanity knows that home is the key to freeing these families from the heavy burden and stress of financial and home instability. Habitat for Humanity's fourth annual Home is the Key campaign aims to raise awareness and support of Habitat's work in order to help communities build back after the global COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning in April, three corporate partnersAt Home, the home decor store, State Farm and U.S. Bankare partnering with Habitat for Humanity to address this challenge. "At Habitat for Humanity, we know that having a safe and decent place to call home can make all the difference in times of crisis," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. "As many of us shelter in our homes during this pandemic, our hearts are with those who don't have a decent or safe place to live. Through Home is the Key, we're reminded how critical home is to the safety and security of our families. We thank our partners who are helping us to make sure that when the time is right, Habitat for Humanity will stand ready to once again accelerate our efforts with renewed energy and commitment." Through the Home is the Key campaign, the three partner companies are making direct financial contributions to Habitat, as well as informing their customers and employees about the importance of affordable homeownership. State Farm, a company that has supported Habitat's mission for over 25 years, will engage its entire network of 58,000 employees and nearly 19,000 agents to amplify opportunities to support Habitat. U.S. Bank Foundation has supported local Habitat organizations across the country for over 30 years. They are expanding that support by participating in Home is the Key. At Home will once again return as a major brand partner to support Habitat during its fourth annual Home is the Key campaign. HGTV and iHeart Media are also partnering with Habitat to amplify key messages through social media, digital, print and radio. Habitat encourages others to join the campaign by sharing their support using #HomeIsTheKey on social media and visiting habitat.org/homeisthekey. About Habitat for Humanity Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org. SOURCE Habitat for Humanity International Related Links www.habitat.org (Newser) Investors are looking bullish as the new week begins, though the Wall Street Journal is reminding all that "volatility" remains the key word to remember. The Dow jumped 900 points at the opening bell, or 4%, reports CNBC. The index then settled back into a gain of about 750 points in the opening minutes. Stocks in Europe and Asia also rose. One reason is optimism that death rates in Europe appear to be slowing, suggesting that COVID-19 has peaked there. New York statethe epicenter of the US outbreakalso reported a decline in deaths, from 630 on Saturday to 594 on Sunday, though Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned it could be a "blip." President Trump and US health officials have warned that this week could be the worst yet for Americans. (Read more stock market stories.) A remark by Iran's Health Ministry Spokesman on Sunday calling China's coronavirus figures and reports "a bitter joke" has led to a diplomatic and political uproar. Kianush Jahanpur on April 5 said statistics from China made many in the world think the new virus caused an illness "just like influenza", even with fewer deaths", and added, If in China they say an epidemic was controlled in two months, one should really think about it. Chang Hua, the Chinese ambassador in Iran on Sunday took to Twitter to respond to Dr. Jahanpur's remarks, telling him to follow the Chinese Health Ministry's daily press conferences "carefully in order to draw conclusions". Chang Hua also told the Iranian official to "show respect to the truths and great efforts of the people of China". Not budging, Dr. Jahanpur also pointed out that the Iranian Health Ministry held daily press conferences which "will be useful for honorable ambassadors and the media in all countries particularly in friendly countries". "Friendly countries" was a clear reference to China that along with Russia have become Iran's closest allies among world powers. Iran Foreign Ministry Spokesman's tweet. The remarks appear to have drawn complaints from the Chinese government. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman later in the day in a tweet said the government and people of China "lead the way in suppressing the coronavirus" and are "generously aiding countries across the world". "Iran has always been thankful to China in these trying times," he added. Probably in response to the spokesman's tweet, Dr. Jahanpur took to Twitter again to say: "Scientific issues can't and should not be mixed with politics" and added: "On the basis of epidemiological information of Chinese researchers ll academic bodies in the world thought that at least Type A influenza was worse than coronavirus. Today's findings show the opposite." He insisted that the Iranian health system puts more trust in its own findings. Hundreds of Twitter users commented on Jahanpur's tweet with some of them criticizing him for disparaging relations with China and others praising him for his "honest" statements. As could be expected, the rogue Health Ministry spokesman was eventually forced to tweet again to repair the damage done to diplomatic relations with China but not after drawing great public attention to Iranian health experts' concerns about the unreliability of Chinese reports. "The support offered by China to the Iranian people in these trying times is unforgettable," he said in his latest tweet on Monday. This time hardliner trolls commented that he should not make such "uncalculated statements" again. Some have called Dr. Jahanpur "a spokesman for Trump and Israel" and called on authorities to sack him. Other Twitter users, however, have acknowledged the pressure on Dr. Jahanpur and encouraged him not to give up or "give in to the rude ambassador of China". Since the coronavirus outbreak in Iran hardliners and their trolls have repeatedly called the virus a biological weapon created by the United States. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei himself joined forces with the Revolutionary Guard Commander Major General Hossein Salami in describing coronavirus epidemic as an American "biological attack" on China and Iran. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 6) President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an order granting a special allowance to frontline public health workers during the period of the enhanced community quarantine. Under Administrative Order 28, a one-time COVID-19 special risk allowance, equivalent to a maximum of 25 percent monthly basic pay, will be granted to public health workers who have great exposure to health risks in light of the pandemic. The public health workers refer to medical, allied medical, and other personnel assigned in hospitals and healthcare facilities directly catering to or in contact with COVID-19 patients, persons under investigation or persons under monitoring. In order to avail of the grant, these workers should either be civilian employees under regular, contractual, casual, or part-time positions; workers engaged through job order; and barangay health workers regardless of the nature of engagements and have been assigned to health care facilities. The grant of the allowance will be pro-rated based on the number of days that the public health workers physically reported for work during the period of the enhanced community quarantine. Those who were present at work for three to seven days will get 25 percent of the incentive, 50 percent to those who worked for eight to 12 days, 75 percent for 13 to 17 days, and 100 percent incentive for those who worked for 18 or more days. Consultants, laborers engaged through job contracts, student workers, apprentices, and those not assigned in hospitals and healthcare facilities may not avail of the grant. "There is a need to recognize the heroic and invaluable contributions of our public health workers throughout the country, who bravely and unselfishly risk their lives and health by being at the forefront of the national effort to address the public health emergency," Duterte said in his order. The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) on Monday asked all zoos across the country to be on high alert and collect samples fortnightly in suspected cases after a tiger at a US zoo tested positive for coronavirus. In a letter to all states and Union territories, CZA Member Secretary S P Yadav said the United States Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratories has confirmed COVID-19 in a tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York. "Zoos in the country are, therefore, advised to remain on highest alertness, and monitor animals 24X7 using CCTVs for any abnormal behaviour or symptoms," it said. The authority said mammals, especially cats, ferrets and primates, need to be carefully monitored and fortnightly samples of suspected cases be sent to designated animal health institutes for COVID-19 testing. The samples can be sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Disease in Bhopal, the National Research Centre on Equines in Haryana's Hisar and the Indian Veterinary Research Institute in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, the letter said. "Sick animals should be isolated and quarantined," it added. No keeper or handler should be allowed in the vicinity of animals without safety gear, preferably personal protective equipment (PPE). They should have least contact with animals while providing them feed, it said. Zoos have been asked to follow all bio-containment and safety measures required to handle the high-risk pathogen as per the national/ICMR guidelines, the letter said. "Zoos are advised to coordinate with designated nodal agencies of the government for public health response and permit screening, testing and surveillance as and when required by the nodal agency," the CZA added. A four-year-old Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York has tested positive for the coronavirus infection. The female tiger, named Nadia, is believed to be the first known case of an animal infected with COVID-19 in the US. It is suspected that she contracted the virus from a caretaker who was asymptomatic at that time. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Footage has emerged of the emotional moment hospital workers applauded a four-month-old baby who was being taken off a ventilator after being infected with COVID-19. The baby boy, whose name has not been revealed, reportedly contracted the deadly bug and was hospitalised on 16 March in the Regional Hospital of Malaga, after being transferred from a hospital in Marbella. The baby, who required breathing assistance, has now left the ICU, with hospital workers on hand to applaud as the equipment was removed. In a video clip of the incredible moment, a crowd of doctors, nurses and healthcare workers can be seen applauding and cheering the baby through a pane of glass as his ventilator was removed. Footage has emerged of the emotional moment healthcare workers cheered for a four-month-old baby being taken off a ventilator in Spain Jose Camacho, head of the ICU at the Spanish hospital, said the baby had responded well to treatment and no longer required a ventilator. Official sources said the infant is stable and will be sent to a normal ward soon. Camacho told local media: 'Fortunately, cases like the baby boy we had in intensive care are exception during this pandemic. We usually treat patients with other diseases or infections from another virus.' He also thanked medical staff and local residents for their support during the COVID-19 crisis. Jose Camacho, head of the ICU, said the baby had responded well to treatment for COVID-19 and no longer needed treatment Camacho said: 'Cases like this boy, who no longer needs a respirator, are giving us strength to fight the virus.' According to the latest figures from the Johns Hopkins University Spain has registered 131,646 cases of COVID-19, 12,641 related deaths and 38,050 recoveries. Last month, doctors warned that young children and babies are not safe from the coronavirus that has gripped the world with fear. Experts say the highly contagious infection can still spread between children and youngsters even though the elderly are most at risk. In the video clip, a crowd of doctors and nurses can be seen standing in the corridor of the hospital as they cheer for the child And they warn the life-threatening illness may cause unusual symptoms in children, such as stomach aches. The tell-tale symptoms are a cough and fever. A study in China, where the outbreak began in December, found that almost one in ten patients in the country were under the age of 30. Even babies have been known to get the virus, which can kill people by causing pneumonia and putting stress on organs. World Health Organization chiefs have said young people are 'not invincible' and could end up in hospital 'for weeks'. A popular food market in Cork which was visited in recent years by both Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles has warned that it requires public support to endure the Coronavirus pandemic. Social distancing protocols are in place in the 18th century English Market which first opened to the public 230 years ago. In the face of famine, flood, war and multiple recessions, generations of traders have continued to serve the best of local and international produce to the people of Cork. Fishmonger Pat O'Connell is among the traders onsite who have set up a special delivery service for customers who are unable to shop in the city centre: We are doing everything we can to remain open - we are asking people to now do everything they can to help keep local businesses open. Butcher Tom Durcan, whose spiced beef is a culinary speciality in Cork, said the market is quite large. Therefore it is perfect for social distancing. "The market is ideal for social distancing. We are open for business and coping as best we can," he said. The picturesque market is normally full of international visitors. It became a major tourist attraction following the visit of Queen Elizabeth II nine years ago. However, the market is without its normal visiting groups who often stop to have their picture taken with Pat O'Connell to replicate his famous image with Queen Elizabeth II which was published in numerous papers. Fishmonger Pat O'Connell and Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to the English Market in 2011 Meanwhile, Cork City Council has vowed to keep the historic market opening as an essential place for shopping in the city centre. "Corks English Market has been the beating heart of Cork City for over 230 years. The English Market is, above all else, a food market for essential fresh produce." Social distancing protocols are being implemented onsite, special signage has been erected, special cleaning arrangements have been put in place and hand sanitisers have been provided throughout the facility. A group of agriculture students hailing from Telangana who are stranded in Maharashtra following the lockdown are learning yoga at an institute in Nanded district. After the 21-day nationwide lockdown was imposed last month, 29 students of two agriculture colleges in Maharashtra's Latur district, where they were staying in hostels, decided to return to their home state. They walked for about 60 km and on March 30 reached Nanded, where the district administration counselled them. The authorities also made arrangements for their stay for 14 days at an industrial training institute building in Deglur tehsil, located around 80 km from the district headquarters on the Maharashtra-Telangana border, tehsildar Arvind Bolange told PTI. With the help of experts, they are learning yoga at the institute which is equipped with internet, television and other facilities, he said. "The students are experiencing a camp-like life now. After getting up early in the morning, they practice yoga and have breakfast, lunch and dinner at prescribed timings. They are connected to the world through television and internet facilities available at the institute," the tehsilar said. While only three students out of the 29 can converse in Hindi, language has not posed a barrier and all of them are being provided necessary care and assistance, Bolange said. "The students were not ready to stop at any cost on March 30. Now, none of them says they want to go home. We have made all arrangements for these students. Deglur is on the border and some of our officials who speak Telugu are able to interact with the students," he informed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) is calling on media in Kosovo to refrain from intensifying tensions during the health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement on April 4, the Brussels-based organization said the quarantine of the Serb-majority town of North Mitrovica has resulted in inappropriate and unethical media coverage by Kosovar state broadcaster RTK and the Sinjali news portal. The EFJ strongly denounces these discrepancies, which show strong political interference in some media in Kosovo, the statement said. It said that unsupported statements and provocative questions asked by an RTK journalist while reporting live from North Mitrovica on April 4 raised a wave of reactions in Kosovo and risk contributing in raising tensions between Serb and Albanian communities. RTK acting editor in chief Ridvan Berisha, told RFE/RL that the journalist may have been responsible for some "professional mistake" that he attributed to "pressure" received during the reporting. But Berisha insisted that "there was never calls for riots or interethnic tensions. The previous day, on April 3, Sinjali published the names, addresses, and dates of birth of 210 people, mostly ethnic Serbs and Roma, who had been placed in quarantine in North Mitrovica and other cities, according to the EFJ. The personal information of these citizens was blurred following protests from the public and the Association of Serbian Journalists in Kosovo, the group said. Kosovos ombudsman Hilmi Jashari described the publication of the personal data as a violation of the constitutions Article 36 on the right to privacy. It seems clear that some politicians, starting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and the president of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, are using the coronavirus crisis to inflame political and social tensions in their own interest, said EFJ General-Secretary Ricardo Gutierrez, who called on journalists not to play their game and to act in the public interest. The mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Kosovo has also urged the media in the country to strictly observe the privacy of patients and under no circumstances to reveal the identities of those affected by the coronavirus. The situation with COVID-19 requires solidarity and cooperation throughout society, as well as between the authorities in the region, it said in a statement on April 4. Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo have imposed the same emergency measures as in neighboring Serbia to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Kosovar authorities have reported 145 cases so far, including three deaths. But the statistics do not include the cases reported by Serb-majority northern Kosovo 26, including one death who report to health authorities in Serbia. Kosovo, a former province of Serbia, declared independence in 2008 in a move rejected by Belgrade. European Union-mediated talks between Kosovo and Serbia to settle their differences have stalled. New guidelines for Int'l travellers: From South Africa to Mauritius, here is a list of at-risk countries India needs 50,000 ventilators, 27 million N95 masks in next two months India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Apr 06: The Centre has calculated that the country would require 27 million N95 masks and 50,000 ventilators in the next two months. A report in the Indian Express, while citing sources said that there would also be a requirement of 1.6 million diagnostic kits and 15 million PPEs in the next two months. During the meeting of the empowered group of officials held on April 3, the industry representatives were told about this requirement. Anti-parasitic drug kills coronavirus within 48 hours in lab grown cells: Study Action is being taken to procure 27 million N95 masks, 1.6 million testing kits and 15 million PPEs by June 2020. The demand for ventilators has been estimated at 50,000 by June 2020 of which 16,000 are available and orders have been placed for 34,000 ventilators, the report also stated. The Ministry of External Affairs has been taken on board to procure them. Doctors in protective clothes discuss the health condition of Covid-19 patients at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hanoi, March 24, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh. Among 150 Covid-19 patients under treatment in Vietnam, 75 have tested negative between once and four times, the Health Ministry confirmed Monday. The patients are being treated at 21 medical facilities across the country. The health ministry said 52 patients have tested negative once and 23 others have done so between two and four times. Among those testing negative for the first time are two British tourists being treated at the Hue Central Hospital in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue. One patient was confirmed positive for the Covid-19 virus on March 8 while staying in Hue. Shes the wife of another patient who was discharged on March 31 and is being monitored at a local resort. The other British patient is a 49-year-old man whod flown in from London on March 2. The man was confirmed infected with the virus on March 9. The ministry also revealed two of five critically ill patients, a 64-year-old Vietnamese woman and a 69-year-old British man, have tested negative three times in a row but are being closely monitored. They are being treated at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hanoi's Dong Anh District. Particularly noteworthy is that the woman, whod experienced breathing difficulties that escalated into respiratory failure on March 15, has stopped using the life support machine called Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) since Saturday. Another critically-ill British patient, 74, has tested negative four times. Under Health Ministry regulations, a person infected with the novel coronavirus is deemed healthy once she/he shows no sign of fever for three days and tests negative twice in three days. Other signs include improved clinical symptoms, overall stable status and vital signs, normal organ function and improved chest X-ray readings. Vietnam has only reported one new coronavirus infection in the past 24 hours - a 20-year-old man in HCMC returning from the U.K. So far, 91 patients have been discharged from hospital. Many of the 150 active cases are Vietnamese nationals returning from abroad, mostly from Europe and the U.S., and more than 60 people are related to the two major Covid-19 hotspots in the country the Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi with at least 43 cases and Buddha Bar & Grill in Ho Chi Minh City 18 cases. The global death toll in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has reached more than 69,300 people. The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Launch of Ballistic Missile by the Terrorist Houthi Militia From (Sana'a) Using Civilian Objects As Launching Location Saturday Morning, Missile Fell in (Sa'dah) Saudi Press Agency Sunday 1441/8/12 - 2020/04/05 Riyadh, April 05, 2020, SPA -- In reference to what was announced by Yemeni Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals regarding the terrorist Iran-backed Houthi militia's targeting of Safer Oil Pipeline's pumping station in (Sirwah) West of (Ma'rib) governorate, and what that action represents in targeting Yemen's national capacities, critical infrastructures and Yemeni assets and gains. This terrorist act of aggression is a continuation to the terrorist Houthi militia's violations and ongoing acts of vandalism against the brotherly people of Yemen The Official Spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen COL Turki Al-Malki issues the following statement: "In continuation of its terrorist, hostile acts, the terrorist Iran-backed Houthi militia launched a ballistic missile at (0633) Saturday April 04 2020, from (Sana'a) using civilian objects as a launching site. The ballistic missile fell, after traveling (200 KM) from launch, in Yemeni territory in (Al Safra) directorate, (Sa'dah) governorate in an agricultural area of civilian and civilian object capacity, that is in close proximity to ('Akwan) village. The continuation of the terrorist Houthi militia's violations of the International Humanitarian Law through launching ballistic missiles that fall indiscriminately on civilians and populated areas is deliberate, and threatens the lives of hundreds of civilians. The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition will continue to implement decisive measures to neutralize and destroy these ballistic capabilities in protection of civilians in Yemen, as well as regional and international security." --SPA 12:44 LOCAL TIME 09:44 GMT 0007 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address STAINES-UPON-THAMES, United Kingdom, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mallinckrodt plc (NYSE: MNK), a leading global specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that Stratatech, a Mallinckrodt company, has initiated the rolling submission of a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval to market StrataGraft, a regenerative skin tissue therapy, for the treatment of adult patients with deep partial-thickness thermal burns. StrataGraft skin tissue is an investigational product, and its safety and effectiveness have not yet been established by the FDA. "This is a significant step forward. Approval of StrataGraft regenerative skin tissue therapy could be a potential new treatment option for patients with deep partial-thickness thermal burns," said Steven Romano, M.D., executive vice president and chief scientific officer at Mallinckrodt. "We look forward to working closely with the FDA during its review of the application for StrataGraft skin tissue once the submission is complete." The StrataGraft skin tissue BLA is based on data from the pivotal Phase 3 STRATA2016 clinical trial, previously published as an abstract in the Journal of Burn Care & Research and accepted for presentation at the American Burn Association 52nd Annual Meeting, with support from the STRATA2011 clinical trial, previously published in Burns. A rolling submission allows the company to submit portions of the regulatory application to the FDA as they are completed.1 Mallinckrodt expects to complete the submission of the BLA in the coming months. The FDA granted StrataGraft skin tissue orphan drug status, and it was among the first products designated by the Agency as a Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) under the provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act. About StrataGraft StrataGraft regenerative skin tissue is an investigational treatment being developed to reduce autograft in patients with severe thermal burns. An engineered, bilayer tissue, StrataGraft skin tissue is designed to mimic natural human skin with both inner dermis-like and outer epidermis-like layers. StrataGraft skin tissue can be sutured, stapled or secured with an adhesive. StrataGraft skin tissue is cryopreserved in order to deliver viable cells upon application. Mallinckrodt is currently conducting a StrataGraft skin tissue continued access clinical trial (StrataCAT, NCT04123548) under an Expanded Access Program (EAP). The trial sites involved in the pivotal Phase 3 trial (STRATA2016, NCT03005106) have the opportunity to participate in this multicenter, open-label study. The company is planning to evaluate StrataGraft skin tissue for the treatment of adults with full-thickness burns (also referred to as third-degree burns). Additionally, Mallinckrodt plans to conduct a study evaluating StrataGraft skin tissue in treatment of pediatric populations. StrataGraft skin tissue is an investigational product, and its safety and effectiveness have not yet been established by the FDA. Funding and technical support for the continued development of StrataGraft skin tissue, including the pivotal Phase 3 clinical study (STRATA2016) and the Biological Licensing Application process for StrataGraft tissue in the United States, is being provided by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under Project BioShield Contract No. HHSO100201500027C. These efforts are part of BARDA's strategy to build emergency preparedness in response to mass casualty events involving trauma and thermal burns by developing novel medical countermeasures for adult and at-risk populations. In the case of a mass casualty thermal burn event, the Government Accountability Office estimates that more than 10,000 patients might require thermal burn care.2 The limited number of specialized burn centers and related medical infrastructure in the United States creates a public health need for therapies that could be deployed quickly for use in these and other care sites. About Deep Partial-Thickness Thermal Burns Deep partial-thickness thermal burns are complex skin injuries in which the damage extends through the entire epidermis (outermost layer of skin) and into the lower part of the dermis (innermost layer of skin). Autograft is considered to be a standard of care by many for deep partial-thickness thermal burns. It involves the surgical harvesting of healthy skin tissue from an uninjured site on the patient and transplanting the skin graft to the injury. While this process can be effective in providing closure of the original wound, it has significant limitations related to the donor site wounds created during surgical removal of the skin tissue for grafting. Donor site wounds are extremely painful and can create risks of additional scarring and infection. In addition, the amount of healthy skin available for harvesting is frequently limited in those patients with large burns, necessitating sequential re-harvesting of available donor sites. As a result, there is a need for alternatives to donor site harvesting for the treatment of severe burns. About Mallinckrodt Mallinckrodt is a global business consisting of multiple wholly owned subsidiaries that develop, manufacture, market and distribute specialty pharmaceutical products and therapies. The company's Specialty Brands reportable segment's areas of focus include autoimmune and rare diseases in specialty areas like neurology, rheumatology, nephrology, pulmonology and ophthalmology; immunotherapy and neonatal respiratory critical care therapies; analgesics and gastrointestinal products. Its Specialty Generics reportable segment includes specialty generic drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients. To learn more about Mallinckrodt, visit www.mallinckrodt.com. Mallinckrodt uses its website as a channel of distribution of important company information, such as press releases, investor presentations and other financial information. It also uses its website to expedite public access to time-critical information regarding the company in advance of or in lieu of distributing a press release or a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosing the same information. Therefore, investors should look to the Investor Relations page of the website for important and time-critical information. Visitors to the website can also register to receive automatic e-mail and other notifications alerting them when new information is made available on the Investor Relations page of the website. Cautionary Statements Related to Forward-Looking Statements This release includes forward-looking statements concerning StrataGraft regenerative skin tissue, including expectations with regard to future research plans and regulatory filings, its potential impact on patients, and anticipated benefits associated with its use. The statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: satisfaction of regulatory and other requirements; actions of regulatory bodies and other governmental authorities; changes in laws and regulations; issues with product quality, manufacturing or supply, or patient safety issues; and other risks identified and described in more detail in the "Risk Factors" section of Mallinckrodt's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC, all of which are available on its website. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date hereof and Mallinckrodt does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events and developments or otherwise, except as required by law. CONTACTS Media Relations Sheryl Seapy W2O for Mallinckrodt 213-262-9390 [email protected] Investor Relations Daniel J. Speciale, CPA Vice President, Investor Relations and IRO 314-654-3638 [email protected] Mallinckrodt, the "M" brand mark and the Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals logo are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company. Other brands are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company or their respective owners. 2020 Mallinckrodt. US-2000493 04/20. 1U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Guidance for Industry Expedited Programs for Serious Conditions - Drugs and Biologics." Available at https://www.fda.gov/files/drugs/published/Expedited-Programs-for-Serious-Conditions-Drugs-and-Biologics.pdf. Accessed February 6, 2020. 2 https://www.gao.gov/assets/590/588738.pdf. Accessed February 12, 2020. SOURCE Mallinckrodt plc Related Links http://www.mallinckrodt.com Idaho is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation. In recent years, that has been true for some population and economic measures. Right now, it also applies to Covid-19. A per-capita case analysis of case numbers shows that of all the metro areas in the country, Lewiston ranks within the top 10. (Its nine cases and smallish overall population put it there.) The state overall also is in the top 10 when it comes to rate of growth; this week, Idaho has shot well past the number of cases in Oregon, which has more than twice the population as and saw cases earlier than Idaho. And thats despite Oregon testing twice as many people as in Idaho. On March 24, the finance site Wallet Hub ranked Idaho 48th among the 50 states and District of Columbia for taking aggressive steps against Covid-19. That was just before Governor Brad Little did start taking more aggressive steps, including a stay at home order. Idaho being Idaho, well Quick on the heels of Littles order, Wayne Hoffman of the Idaho Freedom Foundation delivered an op-ed complaining that before a single death was logged in Idaho, Little bowed to the opinion of fear-mongering newspaper editorialists, the likes of Rachel Maddow, and the health experts who want to protect us to death. Little signed a confusing order this week that forces all Idahoans to stay at home. You can leave, but first you need to decipher about 22 pages of state and federal documents to conclude whether your job or activity is deemed essential or non-essential. Tommy Ahlquist, the developer and physician who ran for governor (as a Republican) a couple of years ago, tweeted back at Hoffman, Part of the [stay-at-home] order should have been a requirement for IFF freedom fighters to wear a purple bandana into the ER so they can be triaged appropriately. Wide open to hear your alternatives for getting through this one. Ive been on the phone all morning with ER docs around the country. Your push back on the order is not helping. The IFF tweeted back (apparently in trying to ease off), We can agree to disagree on this one. Ahlquist wasnt having it: We can agree to disagree, but using this crisis to score political points while putting my brothers/sisters in the healthcare trenches at risk is not right. Another approach. In her recent email update, state Representative Heather Scott said This path chosen by Idahos Executive Branch is unconstitutional, un-American, and NOT the Idaho way. Theres been some question about whether the governor has the authority to issue the order; he does, according to the Idaho Constitution and state statute 46-601. The argument after that boils down to: I gotta right! In this case: I gotta right! to put other peoples lives at risk. Its the same argument you could imagine coming from a drunk driver who contends his right to get behind the wheel of his car is greater than another persons right to live. The fear-mongeringadded to over the last week by figures like Ammon Bundyhas been running heavily in the I gotta right! direction. Most of us understand that some freedoms may be curtailed under extreme conditions. Your stroll down the sidewalk might be interrupted if police or fire agencies seal off a location to cope with a hazmat event. Its one thing to impose restrictions to cope with critical conditions, and another to default to it as a regular practice. If we can agree that special circumstances call for special reactionsthe U.S. constitution suggests as much when it specifically allows for suspending habeas corpus under certain emergency conditionsthen we might ask simply, is what we have now an emergency? Idahos first case of Covid-19 was reported on March 13. A week later, 42 cases. The week after that, 265. Yesterday, 776. As I write this (April 2), 891. The first Idaho death from Covid-19 was reported on March 26. Right now: nine. Yeah, this really does look like an emergency. Randy Stapilus is a former Idaho newspaper reporter and editor and blogs at www.ridenbaugh.com. He can be reached at stapilus@ridenbaugh.com. The body of a 40-year-old man was found outside his house in a village here on Monday with stab wounds, police said. The incident took place in Prempura village under the Ayana police station of Kota district and the deceased was identified as Giriraj Bairwa, they said. The victim had gone to sleep outside the house on Sunday night and his dead body was found by his family members on Monday morning, the police said. Unidentified miscreants attacked him with sharp weapons killing him on the spot, SHO of Ayana police station Rajendra Meena said. "It is a blind murder and the reason behind the crime is not clear yet, however the family members stated the deceased man did not have any enmity or rivalry with anyone in the village and they did not give any clue leading to the accused in the crime," Additional Superintendent of Police, Kota (Rural), Paras Jain said. Police handed over the body to the family members after an autopsy and lodged a case of murder against unidentified accused, the SHO said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Occasionally rain has caused the cancellation - or interruption - of one of Andalucia's Holy Week processions, causing tears of disappointment among participants. In Malaga we have to go back 84 years to 1936, however, to find the last time that not a single procession left its church. This year, faced with the cancellation of the entire week of public celebrations due to the coronavirus lockdown, the brotherhoods that organise the processions have turned their energies to the immediate cause. Resources and campaigns 'Semana Santa Solidaria' is the name of the programme launched by the Malaga brotherhoods (cofradias), which immediately offered their premises, financial resources and volunteers to help with the coronavirus crisis. "We started with a blood donation campaign, which was successful; we've given financial help to Hermanitas de los Pobres and Caritas; we've set up a project with Bomberos sin Fronteras to distribute masks; and we have volunteers who are working to distribute medication to families who can't go out to collect it," said Pablo Atencia,the president of the brotherhoods' umbrella organisation, the Agrupacion de Cofradias. "We have approved a fund of 26,000 euros which will be increased," he added in an interview given to SUR this weekend. Banderas and his foundation Actor Antonio Banderas, through his foundation Lagrimas y Favores, named after his own brotherhood that should have staged its procession on Palm Sunday, is also involved in the cause. His foundation is currently converting a donation of 53,000 euros into more than 30,000 disposable surgical gowns, using a network of small local suppliers and manufacturers. Banderas and Lagrimas y Favores are also helping the brotherhoods' general Semana Santa Solidaria scheme which, he says, already has 100 volunteers. Food initiative One Malaga brotherhood that has gone a step further to help families hit by the coronavirus crisis is the Cofradia de Jesus de Medinaceli, which has invested its annual budget of 10,000 euros in charity work. From the bar belonging to one of the members, a small team of volunteers manages the distribution of food among local people in need, in collaboration with the Bancosol foodbank and the city council. As many as 50,000 kilos of products were given out to 5,000 families in just one day. Virtual Semana Santa Meanwhile the brotherhoods are celebrating Holy Week with their members and supporters with initiatives via their social media and YouTube channels. Toni hopes to take her children to Legoland for a special day out before she reaches end-of-life care (Toni Crews) A single mum whose lifesaving cancer treatment has been cancelled due to coronavirus has pleaded with people to stay home so she can enjoy a final few months with her children. Toni Crews, 30, of Deal, Kent, had recovered from two episodes of life-threatening facial cancer, but on 25 March received the devastating news that it had returned and spread to multiple organs. I had a scan and was clear of cancer in November, she said. I started driving lessons, I started to make plans, I felt like I had a second chance at life. But by January I was feeling unwell again and had a lump on my hip. I went to my doctor and was sent for scans, X-rays and tests. Toni Crews cannot receive life-prolonging treatment, due to the coronavirus crisis. (Toni Crews) I was terrified but I knew what was happening, I knew it had come back. My first thought was just for my children. I have to stay strong for them. Two biopsies in March revealed that Crews cancer had returned and was terminal. On 25 March she received a phone call to tell her the cancer had spread throughout her body. My oncologist said he would usually send me to the Royal Marsden for clinical trials, or I could receive life-prolonging chemo, but all these options have disappeared because of coronavirus, Crews told Yahoo News UK. Without treatment I dont know how long I have. I may not make it through coronavirus. I just hope I have enough time to make some memories with my children when lockdown is over. I just want them to have a few photos so that they can have memories of happy times with me. They have always wanted to go to Legoland but I have never been able to take them. If I could do that it would mean the world to me. Toni with Faith, 7, and Charlie, 8 (Toni Crews) Crews, who is mum to Charlie, eight, and Faith, seven, is caring for her children alone as they self-isolate. She is part of the most vulnerable section of society to coronavirus, but because her diagnosis came two days after the government sent out letters prioritising vulnerable patients, she cannot get a priority shopping slot from a supermarket. Story continues I dont think people understand the gravity of the situation, she said. They dont understand the people they are harming. People like me. If we remain in lockdown I might never leave the house with my children again. If I get coronavirus I will die. I simply cannot go out. My oncologist has already told me that if I needed a ventilator they would not put me on one, because I am not expected to make it through this anyway. Now two of Crews oldest friends, Louise and Becky, have set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the mum-of-two to fund a day out or even a holiday if she is well enough to still leave the house when the coronavirus threat has subsided. Crews said: I am just grateful that I have such a supportive network of friends and family. People are leaving food on the doorstep and checking on me all the time. My mum and dad have been brilliant and I just cant believe how kind my friends have been to set up this page. Toni's friends Louise (left) and Becky (right) have created a Go Fund Me campaign to raise money so she can create memories with her children before she dies (Toni Crews) I dont want to look like I am asking for anything, but if I was able to take Faith and Charlie to Legoland once this is over, or even Disney, it would mean the world to us all. Even just to have a few photos of a day out. I just want them to have happy memories and photographs to hold on to once I am gone. Becky told Yahoo News UK: Time is running out. We know only a miracle can save our friend and we feel so helpless. I can drive her to appointments or leave shopping on her doorstep, but I cant hug her or tell her things will get better. I just want to do something and if we can raise some money so Toni can have a day out with her children, or a break with her family, before the end of her life, at least I will have done something. Louise said: Urgent treatment is Tonis only hope, but due to the coronavirus causing hospitals to cancel her life-saving treatment it is simply not going to happen in time. Toni's time remaining with her little family could now be counted in months. The children are going to lose their mum. Crews makes eye patches for other facial cancer sufferers and has shipped them around the world. (Bling-k Of An Eye/Toni Crews) Becky and Louise pleaded for people to donate to the fundraiser: Firstly to help Toni and her children make as many memories together, to do all the things they could never afford before, before it is too late, and secondly to put into trust a financial future for her children. Crews began battling blurred vision and headaches in July 2016. She was later diagnosed with adenocarcinoma a type of cancer that developed in the gland of her right eye and told her only option was to have her eye removed. A year later the cancer returned and she was forced to have a new mass removed. Since leaving her job as a care assistant in a nursing home to undergo treatment, Crews has been creating eye patches for other sufferers to wear post-surgery. She said: I made one for myself and then I started up a web page, Bling-k Of An Eye. I have shipped my eye patches all over the world now but its not a business, its a way to support other people going through the same thing, and I have received so much support from people who follow me on Facebook and Instagram. It turned into a sort of blog and has been something to focus on, and keep me going. Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world Fact-checker: The number of COVID-19 cases in your local area 6 charts and maps that explain how coronavirus is spreading As she began to recover, Crews began to make plans for her future with her children. She went abroad for the first time for Beckys 30th birthday in November, and hoped to take her children abroad to Italy and Spain in the coming years. Becky said: We had such a great time in Amsterdam for my birthday, we said we would go back this year. I know that can never happen now but I just want the chance to take my best friend out for the night. The cancer may have stolen her future but coronavirus has stolen her chance to make memories with her children. Toni may not make it past this time but if she does I really want her to have some happiness with her children. Shes the kindest, funniest, best friend you could imagine. Shes so strong, shes amazed everyone though this, she deserves some happiness. Most people might be embarrassed if they have a scar but not Toni. She wore her scar with pride, and said its a sign I have recovered from my cancer. Toni is beautiful and the strongest person I know, and shes an amazing mum. My son is great friends with her children so we are calling each other three times a day and the kids are Facetiming. I dont want to think about a time I wont be able to do that. Since it was set up on Sunday evening, Crews GoFundMe page has received more than 160 donations, totalling more than 3,800. To donate, click here. Coronavirus: what happened today PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-06 01:47:03 Stones International addition boosts the firms presence in China, Hong Kong and Singapore Boyden Announces Major Expansion in Asia Pacific Marie Evans, Boyden Asia Pacific E: mevans@boyden.com T: +852 9494 1018 Dan Margolis, for Boyden Americas and EMEA E. dan.margolis@fticonsulting.com T: +1 213 452 6472 Boyden, a premier global talent and leadership advisory firm with more than 65 offices in over 40 countries, today announced that executive search and leadership advisory firm Stones International has joined the organisation. The addition significantly expands Boydens presence in Hong Kong, China and Singapore. The new 17-member team includes 12 partners and principals with expertise that aligns with Boydens Global Practices in Financial Services, Consumer & Retail, Industrial, Technology, Professional Services and Healthcare & Life Sciences, further ramping up the firms regional leadership position in these sectors. The new team will be led by Managing Partners Giuseppe Milito and Neil Morrison. We are adding not only very well-established offices to Boyden, but also a team that prides itself on delivering the highest level of client service, said Trina Gordon, President & CEO of Boyden. Their history of success and strong performance in providing executive search and leadership advisory services will have an immediate impact globally and across the Asia Pacific region. Were thrilled to join Boyden, as our high growth plans closely match the firms strategic objectives, said Milito and Morrison in a joint statement on behalf of the new team. Boyden offers a strong global brand and a unique opportunity for our clients to benefit from the organizations vision and world class partners across the globe. Milito has two decades of experience in executive search and leadership consulting, during which he co-founded Stones International with Morrison and subsequently served as a global practice leader for the consumer & retail industry at another firm. His background also includes leadership roles in the consumer sector with Benneton Group and FILA Group as well as extensive international experience, particularly in Asia Pacific. Milito has lived and worked in Asia for nearly 25 years. Morrison has extensive experience in executive search and leadership consulting, with a deep focus in logistics and transportation. He has held senior management roles in global organizations including DHL and a privately owned transportation and logistics group. Later, along with Milito, he co-founded Stones International, which he headed for 13 years. Morrison has lived and worked in Asia for over 25 years. In Singapore, the new team will be led by Managing Partner Mirko Petrelli supported by Partner Ivan Lim and Principal Krista Espaldon. In Hong Kong, the team includes Partners Victor Filamor, Isabella Tan, Caroline Lim and Kong To and Petra Owusu serves as the Principal for leadership consulting and advisory services. Partners Ami Bhatt Hardy and Reid Wang will remain with Boyden China, joining the new team. About Boyden Boyden is a premier leadership and talent advisory firm with more than 65 offices in over 40 countries. Our global reach enables us to serve client needs anywhere they conduct business. We connect great companies with great leaders through executive search, interim management and leadership consulting solutions. For further information, visit www.boyden.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200405005 Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 12:27:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The east-based army of Libya on Sunday said it killed 41 troops of the UN-backed government's forces in the south of capital Tripoli, as the armed conflict between the two continues. The east-based army's information office also posted images of bodies in battlefields, saying they belong to the UN-backed government's forces. Earlier on Sunday, the east-based army said it shot down three Turkey-made drones belonging to the UN-backed government's forces near the city of Misurata, some 200 km east of Tripoli. On April 4, 2019, the east-based army launched a military campaign in and around Tripoli in an attempt to take over the city and topple the rival UN-backed government. The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has documented at least 356 civilian deaths and 329 injuries since the outbreak of the armed conflict. Nearly 150,000 people in and around Tripoli have been forced to flee their homes since the beginning of the conflict, and 345,000 civilians remain in frontline areas, while an estimated 749,000 others live in areas affected by the clashes, according to UNSMIL. April 5 (Reuters) - American Airlines Group Inc said late Sunday it would temporarily suspend more flights to three airports in the New York area, starting April 7, due to reduced demand in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. American Airlines said the new, temporary schedule will run through May 6, and include flights at New York's JFK and LaGuardia airports and New Jersey's Newark EWR. They will only operate between 10 a.m. ET and 6 p.m. ET as turn-only operations with no aircraft or crews remaining overnight at the airports, the airline said. The carrier had already reduced its flights around the world, and earlier this month shrunk its flights from close to 100 flights a day at New York's JFK Airport to just 11 flights. (Reporting by Bhargav Acharya in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips) Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku, Bernard Okoe-Boye has been named as the Deputy Minister of Health-designate in a recent reshuffle by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. He takes over from Hon. Alexander Kodwo Kom Abban, Member of Parliament for Gomoa West who has now been appointed as the Deputy Minister for Communications. According to a statement signed by Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications, Hon. Vincent Sowah Odotei's appointment as a Deputy Minister for Communications has been revoked by the President. "President Akufo-Addo is hopeful that Parliament will expedite the vetting of the Deputy Minister-designate for Health, so he can assume his office as quickly as possible. The President thanks Hon. Vincent Sowah Odotei for his services to the country, and wishes him well in his future endeavours" the statement added. 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 US Reports One Fourth of Global COVID Cases By VOA News April 05, 2020 Roughly 25 percent of the world's 1.2 million COVID-19 cases have been reported in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins figures Sunday morning. New York is the U.S. state hardest hit by the coronavirus, where it has claimed more than 3,500 lives. Public health experts say the situation is about to get worse, not only for New York, but for the rest of the United States as well. But New York noted a few positive developments Sunday, including lower numbers of new patient admissions and fewer patients needing ventilators. "But, we are looking at this seriously now, because by the data, we could be either very near the apex, or the apex could be a plateau and we could be on that plateau right now," New York governor Andrew Cuomo cautioned Sunday. "We won't know until you see the next few days, does it go up or does it go down?" U.S. hospitals have been fighting the coronavirus battle with a woefully inadequate arsenal. Hospitals have been pleading for ventilators for their patients and the protective gear that doctors and other medical workers wear to prevent passing the disease back and forth between themselves and their patients. The global tally of confirmed cases has climbed to more than 1.2 million and has claimed over 65,000 lives. Spain, which has reported the second highest number of cases, over 130,000, plans to extend its nationwide lockdown by 15 more days, until April 26. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Saturday he would ask parliament to extend lockdown measures for the second time after first extending them to April 11. But Sanchez noted that cases and death rates of the virus have been declining for the past week. "We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel," he told the nation Saturday. Italy, which has recorded the highest death toll in the world from COVID-19, has seen more than 11,000 of its medical workers infected by the virus, according to its National Institutes of Health and an association of physicians. The groups said about 73 physicians have died from the virus. Infections among medical personnel amount to nearly 10% of all infections in Italy. Queen Elizabeth II was expected to deliver a rare address to Britain Sunday as the virus continues to spread. Britain's Ministry of Justice said Saturday that thousands of prisoners would be released within weeks as part of its broader campaign to contain the spread of the virus. Britain reported 708 deaths overnight, boosting the country's death toll to more than 4,300. France's military has begun moving patients to hospitals across the country in an effort to contain the coronavirus's spread in the hard-hit area in and around Paris. Military planes, helicopters and trains are transporting patients to less-affected areas in western France. More than 7,500 deaths and 90,000 infections have been reported in France. Seventeen medical workers at Egypt's main cancer hospital have tested positive for the coronavirus and are now in quarantine, according to an Associated Press report. Dr. Hatem Abu el-Kassem, the director of Cairo's National Cancer Institute, told AP all the health workers at the facility will be tested for the virus. There are 1,070 confirmed cases of the virus in Egypt. China reported 30 new cases of the virus on Sunday, noting that 25 of them came from overseas. In past weeks, China had reported no new community infections, and has severely limited foreigners entering the country and flights landing from overseas in an effort to prevent another outbreak. The coronavirus first emerged late last year in China's Hubei province, killing more than 3,300 people. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan has been hitting the headlines a lot lately, courtesy his "controversial" tweets. From claiming that rising decibel levels would destroy the effect of coronavirus to tweeting that the deadly virus is caused by flies, Bachchan's tweets have been creating quite a stir on social media. And, the actor is at it again. On late Sunday night, the actor quote retweeted a picture, which claimed to be a satellite photo of India during the #9pm9minutes activity. PM Narendra Modi had appealed to the nation to switch off all lights of houses on April 5 at 9 PM for 9 minutes, and just light a candle, 'diya', or flashlight, to show the unity of Indians in the fight against coronavirus. "When the world was wavering! Hindustan was shining! Today's picture is telling this," the picture was tweeted alongside this post. Bachchan quote retweeted the photo by writing, "The World sees us.. we are ONE.." The World sees us .. we are ONE .. https://t.co/68k9NagfkI Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) April 5, 2020 A little digging quickly showed that the picture was not a satellite photo of India during the #9pm9minutes activity on Sunday, but rather, a photoshopped image of Google's visualisation of the global effects of the #MeToo movement that showed all of India brightly lit up with people searching for information about the movement. Credits: Me Too rising, a visualisation of Google Trends data. Soon after Bachchan's tweet went viral, netizens started trolling him for sharing yet another "fake WhatsApp forward" on social media. One user wrote, "And the #KingOfFakeNews is back appreciating a Whatsapp forward. Request @TwitterIndia to suspend him and save us the daily embarrassment." (sic) Another tweeted, "Whatsapp ruined the celebs by unmasking them and exposing their superlative levels of stupidity." Whatsapp ruined the celebs by unmasking them and exposing their superlative levels of stupidity Vinay Kumar Dokania | (@VinayDokania) April 5, 2020 setting > app manager > WhatApp. uske baad ye right wale option pe click kar dena pic.twitter.com/rnqljJy7uJ Self Isolated Sunil (@1sInto2s) April 5, 2020 Please uninstall whatsapp Suboohi (@subiism) April 5, 2020 Amitabh bachchan is real IPS of whatsapp university Pranjul Sharma (@pranjultweet) April 5, 2020 You need to quit those whatsapp groups and stop following some handles. Manu Sebastian (@manuvichar) April 5, 2020 It is the third time that Bachchan, who has been raising awareness about the deadly virus via PSAs and short films, has attracted criticism for sharing a post that many on social media say is unverified and fake. Earlier, during the Janta curfew announcement by Modi on last Sunday, Bachchan had tweeted a fake theory that claimed vibrations from clapping, blowing conch shells would have reduced or destroyed coronavirus potency as it was "amavasya", the darkest day of the month. He had posted the tweet along with his picture, which had three question marks scribbled on it, leading many to wonder if the actor was sharing his opinion or questioning the theory floating on social media. However, his tweet was met with criticism as netizens slammed him for tweeting something which was not factual. Even the Press Information Bureau (PIB) busted the viral fake claim, writing, "NO! The vibration generated by clapping together will NOT destroy #Coronavirus infection." In Newfoundland, more than 140 cases of COVID-19 have been traced back to services that took place over three days last month at a funeral home in St. Johns. In Albany, Ga., two funerals sent the towns case count spiking. The following comes from a lengthy conversation with an intern at a Toronto-area funeral home who aspires to become a funeral director, as she tries to navigate life and death in the time of the coronavirus. The Star has agreed not to name her because she worries about her future in the industry. These are her own words. I cant put my hand on someones shoulder. Its very different. In this job sometimes you have to be ready for people to cry into you, or hug onto you. You have to be comfortable being grabbed like that. But we cant have that now. Im an intern in the Humber College funeral program; Ive been working at a Toronto funeral home since June of last year. I know that Im secure in my job until my internship is done in June, and then I have no idea. I dont know whether there are going to be as many jobs available. They dont actually need as many people, because were only allowing 10 people in the building at once, so a funeral can be handled by three people, maximum. Our hours have been cut back. People think embalming and things like that are where we make the money, but its really the services aspect: people doing big visitations. And right now those are obviously not happening: visitations are so small that people feel like they shouldnt bother. That 10 people includes their clergy, too. Its very strange when you go into a visitation now, because usually we put out chairs for people to sit on, but now theyre scattered across the room to make sure nobody sits too close to someone else. Which honestly defeats a lot of the purpose: people are getting together so they can express their emotions together. Its absolutely harder. Everyone in this industry will pretend that it doesnt bother them at all. But from what Ive seen, you cant not feel for other people when theyre sad because theyve lost their parents. Weve all cried together at some point, because sometimes its a baby, and sometimes its a teenager, and those are almost impossible. But its changed. For example, we had a funeral you cant even call it a funeral, really but we had it in the building, and we had to ask people to leave if they wanted other guests to come in. Before all of this we would have visitations that ended at 9 oclock, but we never kick the family out. You just stay until theyre ready to leave, because it doesnt matter that you have somewhere to be: this is their last chance. So its now completely bonkers that were asking people to leave, or telling them their sister cant come in. Long story short, its not my first round of college. The recession in 2008 sidelined my first career, and I lost a retail job. And I had people who lost loved ones, and I became really involved, and it just kind of seemed like where I should go, actually. The first time I walked into a prep room at a funeral home, where they had a body, it was more just fascinating, because of science. It just felt right. It feels like where Im supposed to be, feels like what Im supposed to do. Im just trying to pursue what lets me help people. Theres something very pleasant I mean, a lot of it is unpleasant, but theres something very rewarding in taking care of something for someone when everything else is so difficult. Im from a smaller town, and there the whole community just takes care of you, but its a little different in Toronto: we dont have the space or the time for that kind of thing. So we do the parts people dont want to be involved in. The backroom stuff: embalming, and things like that. Some communities want to wash their own deceased, but a lot of people dont want to see them in the state that they were in when they passed away. So its picking them up, and washing them up, and getting them dressed. Back when they were still letting us have 50 people, in mid-March, nobody was listening at all, and they were still having funerals at churches. I worked a service that had easily over 200 people at it. And many were coming in from out of country, including the United States. Someone at another funeral home had more than 50 people at a funeral this week. Weve had to say that only two people could come in to plan the service, and thats fine for a lot of people, but there are families that have 10 children, and they all want to have a say in whats happening with Mom. Weve had to do that in our lounge, where we can space ourselves out better. Sometimes people dont have a super-secure grasp on the English language, and now instead of giving people instructions and pointing out things to them on a map, where we try to show them how to get to a cemetery, we just have to stand back and hope they understood. You hope they have a family member or a translator they can follow. Its just this big disconnection between everyone. Typically when someone passes away, theres not really a lot that you have to worry about catching from a body, especially once theyve been in the hospital overnight; theres a lot of stuff that just cant thrive. With COVID-19, theres so many rumours that we dont know what is true. So weve always had gloves and hand sanitizer and things like that. You always catch small things in hospitals, like colds or whatever, but now were going into nursing homes where they have cases of COVID-19, and even if were not picking up an infected person, were still regularly going into those facilities. Ive been in and out of hospitals, nursing residences and strangers homes to transfer the dead into our care, and Ive been provided very little protective equipment. It took the industry a while to even take the problem seriously, and so most things were no longer available by the time we were trying to get them. Right now I still have gloves, and hand sanitizer. We have one box of masks that we have to ration, so were trying to be careful. At nursing homes we get screened: someone takes your temperature, and theres a checklist. Have you been out of the country, cough, all those sorts of things. It is kind of nice to be screened multiple times a day. The hospitals I most regularly visit dont even screen. I just pick up the medical paperwork, then go get the person. So its mostly just uncomfortable: Im touching everything with gloves, but then Im going to touch the stretcher with my bare hands. It is very hard, because you also get to know the nurses and the security guards who monitor the morgues, and they are kind of up the creek on this one. Everyone is doing the best they can, but everyones very tired and overworked, and so what might have taken 15 minutes previously could result in you waiting half an hour, 45 minutes at the hospital just to get paperwork. And the longer youre there the more at risk you are, because we go in their emergency entrance, and thats where you wait, in a hallway. So you are almost always walking through the people who are sick, and coughing. Interns arent the highest-paid employees at our establishments, but I would argue were the most at risk, because we do a lot of the pickups. Whats the hardest part? Knowing that theres really not anything I can do about it. Theres just not PPE (personal protective equipment) for me. Theres just not. Theres nothing for my friends and my classmates, theres nothing for my co-workers. Some of my co-workers are over the age of 60, so its scary to think that theyre still coming in, and standing at the door, and waiting with the rest of us. Im sure youre hearing from every sector, and that my problems are the smallest of them. Its on top of the other things, like being forced to wear a skirt, pantyhose and heels because Im a woman. I cant just walk away from this job, because my chance of getting a directors licence is on the line. Im just stressed, and feel very alone. For those who dont have the coronavirus, were still getting a little bit of a funeral to happen for graveside services. The Catholic archdiocese said priests couldnt go into funeral homes anymore; honestly, they should be safer this way, because a lot of the clergy that we deal with are much older men. Some of them you wont be able to stop: theyll give last rites in the hospital to people with COVID, and continue on their way. We pick the deceased up from the hospital and usually take them straight to the grave, and their families dont even get to see them. The virus forces people to be alone, and then it takes them. Now the cemeteries dont want to interact with us, if they can avoid it, because they want to protect their people, which is understandable. So we go and we set the casket down on the lowering device, and then thats basically it. We have to leave after that. Some clergy are still coming with us to graves, and theyll speak there, but only 10 people are allowed, unless its a COVID case, and in that situation often nobodys allowed to be there. I think some cemeteries are letting people watch from their cars. But that doesnt really help if the grave is really far back from the roadside, which is pretty common. So much has been taken away. Theres a lot of joy in this job, that Im sure people from the outside cant imagine. The joy is people coming to terms with whats happening, or getting excited to see family, to come together. But the pandemic robs all of that, because you cant have the same interactions with people. I sat in the room recently while we talked to a family who had lost someone. And it feels like weird voyeurism to just sit there and watch someone cry and not do anything about it, other than to repeat over and over again how sorry you are that this is happening. We do everything for a funeral: we scan in their photos from home, and you get this look into peoples lives, and it feels really incredible when you then get to hear all the little stories of people memorializing them. And its just a very intimate but very positive feeling to see someone remembering someone else so fondly. Its showing love, together. Were losing that. Its such a good reminder to be grateful for everything I have. Because even when things are terrible and stressful, I get to come home, and my partner and I are both healthy. Hopefully, this is all over soon. Your browser does not support the audio element. Due to the closure of public schools and night classes, teachers around Vietnam are bearing quite a hit to their income. They have taken to an online-teaching approach in the face of the situation. Before the Tet [Lunar New Year] holiday, I was running several English classes, both interactive and highly entertaining. Now our school has come to a complete halt, said Kevin Vinh, a teacher of English in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam reported its first cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in late January, just days before the Lunar New Year. The disease has since been reported in 26 provinces and cities in the Southeast Asian country, with 241 cases confirmed and no death recorded to date. The transmission of the virus has not only taken its toll on English centers which often offer classes during the evening hours, but also elementary, middle, and high schools that operate during the day. Learners few and far between Teachers during this time are at a crossroads. They can either have a full unpaid break, seek some other errands to run, or keep up with the job using web-based teaching tools. As a teacher of English, Kevin Vinh has lost all of his tutor classes, as safety and social distancing are highly prioritized. Basically, outsiders are not welcomed in anybodys houses except in cases of emergency. I can understand the difficulty that everybody else is going through, so I am charging a mere VND80,000-100,000 [US$3.4-4.25] per online teaching hour, he said. However, students are few and far between. Currently, he has only two classes, which fail to provide him with adequate earnings for fundamental living expenses. The once stable monthly income of VND10 million ($425) was history. A veteran private tutor of English, Nguyen Hoang Phuc is going through a tougher time, for he is a wedded man fathering a newborn child, which means there are added expenses to shoulder. For the last decade, I have been confident of my teaching skills as my students score really high in national tests, so I decided to tutor full-time instead of applying for a public school position, he said. In Vietnam, being a public school teacher brings about a stable salary every month even during summer breaks. I didnt like the pressure of school regulations, and tutoring also means flexible hours and a good earning, he added. Who would have anticipated this pandemic? My nine classes are now reduced to only one. Despite deep concerns for his familys finance, Phuc has received some positive news from parents saying they would rather have their children participate in online classes than stay home doing nothing for the time being. Getting used to the trend While running an online class is an idea rather alien to the majority of teachers at elementary, middle, and high schools in Vietnam, many have resorted to recruiting students for online tutoring hours during the virus season. Nguyen Thi Phuong Lien is an elementary school teacher at CND International School in Ho Chi Minh City. Lien now advertises her online classes for grades 3, 4 and 5 in posts on her social media account even though the term online teaching was not in her book prior to the pandemic. When the school closed, the administrators encouraged us to continue teaching via web-based teaching tools. So I dabbled my feet in the field, she said. The biggest hurdle is scheduling the sessions so that all students can participate. Then Ill have to make sure the lessons are appropriately designed for this online teaching platform. It takes a lot of preparation, actually, she explained. Moving a class online means the instructor needs to utilize a videoconferencing tool that allows live interaction with a group of people, i.e. a video group chat. The group call functions of Facebook and Zalo a popular chat app in Vietnam can cater for basic teaching needs, but Zoom is highly preferred amongst teachers, as it is a free online videoconferencing tool that can accommodate dozens of students at a time. Zoom also simulates a real classroom environment in that students can raise their hands (by pressing a button), interact (by speaking into their microphone), and see the teachers screen clearly thanks to it being bigger than the rest. Besides running classes for her school, Lien recruits more students for on-the-side tutoring sessions. Online tutoring, indeed, has increased in popularity among teachers in recent months. According to Pham Bich Hong, a fifth-grade teacher, what challenges tutors is that both parents and children are not used to online learning, so they doubt its effectiveness and are reluctant to pay for online tutoring sessions. We have to offer a taster for the first few days, and once they have gotten used to it, we will discuss the pay, she added. Hong charges an hourly VND15,000 ($0.64) per student for a large group, VND50,000 ($2.12) for a small group, and VND100,000 ($ 4.25) for one-on-one sessions. I do organize online classes for students at my school, but I also offer online tutoring hours to those students preparing for the college admission exam, said Tran Phuong Duy from NS High School in Hanoi, referring to the annual National High School Examination for 12th-graders in Vietnam. Since online teaching and learning is rather a novelty, teachers have formed social media groups discussing their strategies and sharing tips. Le Minh Phan (left) is a chemistry teacher and runs an online teaching company. He and his teams have worked hard for the past month preparing their teaching platforms to serve teachers and parents. Photo: Tam Le / Tuoi Tre The whole learning approach might change This could well be the very first time in the history of Vietnams education when all school levels are taking to the digital environment, claimed Le Minh Phan, a chemistry teacher and leader of an online teaching company in Hanoi. In the face of the pandemic, his company offers free access to their websites online teaching tool to students across Vietnam. The results were staggering. Only after a week, their operators are up to their ears at work due to an excessive number of phone calls reaching their hotline. Most parents call for instructions on how to access the tool, even though we have written them all out very clearly. But they still say they cant do it, Phan said. Indeed, for many people living in rural areas, computer terminologies can be quite a whole new world. Terms like Google,' Gmail,' homepage,' website,' and more may all sound too strange to them. However, Phan and his team were dedicated to providing thorough guidance, making sure their clients get full access to the content they need. This is the first time Ive seen so many students in the country sign up for online learning, Phan said. Now they only need an average smartphone with 3G or 4G data service, and online learning is just a click away. "What well have to do is make sure the websites we design are good enough. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Houston, April 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- iland, an industry-leading provider of secure application and data protection cloud services built on proven VMware technology, today announced CRN , a brand of The Channel Company, recognized iland with a five-star rating in its 2020 Cloud Partner Program Guide for the third year in a row. The guide is a list of leading technology vendors with cloud-related partner programs that enable and accelerate the growth of solution providers cloud initiatives. The Channel Company selected vendors for the guide based on their partner programs, scored on factors such as investments in program offerings, partner profitability, partner training, education and support, marketing programs and resources, sales support, and communication. Based on that assessment, ilands partner program stands among the top cloud technology suppliers in the IT channel, providing the tools, resources and support to help MSPs, referral agents and master agents across six continents move their customers to a secure, VMware-based cloud. At a time when more organizations depend on the cloud to keep business going, iland provides customers with Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Backup as a Service (BaaS) solutions that are reliable, affordable and predictably priced. The 25-year-old company also provides support to backup Office 365 environments and object storage with 10 global data centers, including Los Angeles, Dallas, Washington, D.C., London, Manchester, Amsterdam, Singapore, Toronto, Melbourne and Sydney. Over the last year, iland has successfully transformed its business to more than double the companys annual channel revenue through substantial partner growth and customer demand for its secure cloud backup, infrastructure and disaster recovery solutions. Now when nearly everyone is using the cloud to work, play and keep in touch, our partners need all the help they can get to ensure their customers cloud environments are resilient and available, said Koorosh Khashayar, vice president of ilands global channels. Whether its supporting existing customers or competing for new accounts, iland provides our partners with the guidance and resources they need to succeed. Our team of channel partners around the world continues to grow at an exponential rate as more organizations move as much of their operations to the cloud as fast as possible. Story continues The iland channel program includes a partner portal for training, certification and sales management in addition to tools like iland Catalyst, a complementary cloud assessment tool for organizations using VMware to model and right size cloud requirements without costly over-provisioning or detrimentally under-provisioning. So far this year, iland has seen the number of partners using the portal more than double while Catalyst is being used in the majority of new account proposals and cloud migrations. With the speed and complexity of technology today, solution providers need partners that can keep pace and support their growing business. said Bob Skelley, CEO of The Channel Company. CRNs Partner Program Guide features insight into the strengths and benefits of each companys program to identify those that truly support and drive positive change within the IT channel. The 2020 Partner Program Guide will be featured in the April issue of CRN and online at www.CRN.com/ppg. About iland iland is a global cloud service provider of secure and compliant hosting for infrastructure (IaaS), disaster recovery (DRaaS), and backup as a service (BaaS). They are recognized by industry analysts as a leader in disaster recovery. The award-winning iland Secure Cloud Console natively combines deep layered security, predictive analytics, and compliance to deliver unmatched visibility and ease of management for all of ilands cloud services. Headquartered in Houston, Texas and London, UK, and Sydney, Australia, iland delivers cloud services from its cloud regions throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Learn more at www.iland.com. Bill Robbins iland 512-547-0921 brobbins@iland.com Haiti - Covid-19 : The agricultural sector needs special measures Agronomist Talot Bertrand, Specialist in Environmental Education, Secretary General of the non-profit association "Promotion for Development" (PROMODEV) in order to deal with the consequences of Covid-19 regarding availability on the local market believes that "[...] agriculture needs more resources to meet the needs of local consumption in order to ensure food security. In addition, it is the moment to revive the agricultural sector and enhance the Haitian peasantry in order to restore food sovereignty at the national level while putting Haiti on the path of the process of sustainable development [...] Today there is the possibility of having thousands of direct jobs in the agricultural trades which is deprived of labor if the authorities in place wanted to prioritize an agricultural policy in synergy with the state of emergency sanitary. People who are no longer active because of the Covid-19 and the State of Health Emergency measures must be called to join the agricultural sector in search of labor and resources as it is doing in France and in other countries [...]" Agronomist Bertrand recommends that the Ministry of Agriculture "immediately recruit volunteers who will be made available to the comunal agricultural offices (BAC) for the benefit of farmers throughout the national territory. Because, "the peasants of the more or less isolated communal sections are totally forgotten in the current situation". In addition, he asked the Government, via the Ministry of Public Health "to plan the implementation of a systematic screening policy by testing the farmers and all those who would be required to work in the fields or carry out an activity in rural areas, so that this workforce is not a vector for the spread of the coronavirus," adding that "At the same time the Ministry of Agriculture, in concert with civil society organizations, must put in place measures to safety and distance on farms." HL/ HaitiLibre Cardinal George Pell will learn whether his six year sentence for molesting two teenage choirboys more than two decades ago will be upheld after he appealed the sentence. The High Court of Australia will on Tuesday hand down the final verdict in the case, more than a year after he was sentenced for sexually abusing two 13-year-old boys in a back room of St Patricks Cathedral in Melbourne in December 1996. At the time, Pell was the archbishop of Victoria, but went on to serve as Pope Francis' finance minister prior to his convictions. The 78-year-old cleric has spent 13 months in two high-security prisons at high risk of experiencing a coronavirus outbreak, and he would have strong grounds for being released on bail if the court case is extended. Australia's highest court could deliver a sweeping victory or an absolute defeat for Pell - or the seven judges could settle on one of several options in between that could extend the appeal process again. Cardinal George Pell leaves the County Court in Melbourne, Australia on February 26, 2019. Australia's highest court will judge Pell's appeal against convictions for molesting two teenage choirboys more than two decades ago Pell was also convicted of indecently assaulting one of the boys by painfully squeezing his genitals after a Mass in early 1997. At present, he must serve three years and eight months behind bars before he becomes eligible for parole. The former Catholic figure was largely convicted on the testimony of one of the victims, now a father in his 30s who first reported the assaults to police in 2015. Pictured: Cardinal Pell leaving the Supreme Court of Victoria on June 6th while he was first appealing his conviction The other choirboy died of a heroin overdose in 2014. He was just 31. The identities of both victims are concealed by state law. A jury unanimously convicted Pell of all five charges in December 2018, but he was spared prison for three months while he underwent replacement surgery for both knees. The High Court has examined whether the Victorian Court of Appeal was correct in its 2-1 majority decision in August to uphold the jury verdicts. Pell's lawyers hope that the High Court finds that the appeal court made mistakes, acquits Pell and he is freed the same day. He is currently incarcerated in Barwon Prison outside Melbourne, and spends 23 hours a day alone in his cell. Prosecutors have argued that if mistakes were made, the case should be sent back to the appeals court to be heard again - a process that would set Pell back to where he was a year ago. Melbourne Law School Professor Jeremy Gans, who attended the two-day High Court hearing last month, said a delay in the case's resolution could encourage Pell to apply for bail, given his relatively short sentence, advanced age, poor health and the current COVID-19 risk in prison. 'He'd have a pretty compelling case for bail in these circumstances,' Gans said. Pell withdrew an earlier bail application without a hearing. Some lawyers suspect he did not want his release on bail to reduce the urgency for overturning the convictions. In this Feb. 26, 2019, photo, Cardinal George Pell leaves the County Court in Melbourne, Australia Much of the High Court appeal focused on whether the abuses of the two choirboys in the priests' sacristy could have been committed in a window of only five or six minutes that the evidence suggested Pell had available to him after a Mass. If the High Court decides there was insufficient time, the judges could acquit him of the oral rape conviction and three convictions for indecency that stem from the sacristy allegations. But the conviction for squeezing the surviving choirboys genitals more than a month later could still stand. Some lawyers regard this as an unlikely scenario, but it would result in Pell being quickly released given the time he has already served. Even a result at the extremes - Pell is acquitted of all charges or his appeal is entirely dismissed - may not put the case to rest. The state of Victoria abandoned a prohibition against double jeopardy which used to guarantee that no one was tried or punished more than once for the same crime. The change was made in response to developments in DNA matching which has provided damning new evidence against suspects long after they were acquitted. If a new witness brought compelling new evidence of either Pells innocence or guilt, a new trial could result. 'Nothing is final in Victorian law anymore,' Gans said. If Pell does win his appeal, he will experience a different kind of freedom in a country locked down by coronavirus than he did three years ago when he voluntarily returned to Melbourne from the Vatican determined to clear his name. Labelling people from one particular place as fools has been typical around the world and goes back to ancient times. Ancient Greeks thought that the people of Abdera were fools and madmen. The men of the English town of Gotham in Nottinghamshire were known for their foolish ingenuity. In Denmark, they tell stories of an entire village of fools who live on the peninsula of Mols. The Germans laugh at people from Schildburg and the Dutch make jokes about inhabitants of Kampen. In Spain, the Andalusian town of Lepe for some unaccountable reason was elected in irreverent folklore to serve as a centre of innocent stupidity. In the same province , Huelva, even the typical mineral from the river Tinto, pyrite, is called "fool's gold". Laughing at themselves Probably, in comparison to many other "towns of fools", the people of Lepe actually make jokes about themselves. And that has been going on for centuries. There is a legend that says that Lepe resident Rodrigo Perez de Acevedo was a pioneer in nurturing this reputation for idiocy. In 1492 he became a member of the first transatlantic maritime expedition led by Christopher Columbus, which started in Huelva. During the voyage, in the middle of the night, he suddenly started shouting that he had sited land. But obviously, it was very dark and impossible. From that moment on he was considered an idiot. Eventually, the fame of that odd representative of Lepe spread across the country. Now if a Spanish joke requires an innocent fool figure, then any inhabitant of Lepe will fit the bill. Village rivalry Another story maintains that the people of a neighbouring town were especially jealous of the people of Lepe. Its residents, therefore, started spreading the rumour that the 'Leperos' were "tontos" and had no sense. Instead of refuting all insinuations that they were village idiots, the residents of Lepe decided to transform the unflattering fame into something useful. Accepting the notoriety, they decided to launch an annual comedy festival and even started creating their own funny stories in which they appeared as naive. Some stories became very popular, especially with help of famous comedians. Among them Jose Alvares, who triumphed as a comic actor under the pseudonym of "Lepe", and Manuel Summers, an Andalusian film director and actor from a family that originated from Britain. Manuel was born in Seville but he was made an "adoptive son" of Lepe as a reward for doing great work in promoting the town and its jokes. In 2011, in the Andalusian Parliament it was suggested that the "chiste lepero" (the Lepe joke) be declared a Bien de Interes Cultural (Asset of Cultural Interest). Since the seventies Lepe has been surrounded by strawberry fields, which have brought wealth to the town. That's probably why the people can afford to use all their irony against themselves as they know that they will always have the last laugh. Indeed the strawberries have made them more successful than others who did nothing but laugh at them. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Daniel Bosque and Thomas Allnutt (Agence France-Presse) Madrid, Spain Mon, April 6, 2020 14:04 644 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206ffe230 2 World Spain,restaurant,health-worker,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic Free It is midday on Saturday and smoke rises off the grill even though the doors are closed at the Timesburg restaurant in Barcelona. The chefs are making hamburgers, not to be served at tables but packed up and delivered to doctors, nurses and other health staff on the front line of Spain's battle against coronavirus. "Contributing in any way we can at the moment makes us feel better," Vanessa, one of the cooks, tells AFPTV as she garnishes the burgers, wraps them up and loads them into takeout bags. Bars and restaurants have been closed in Spain since the middle of March but a dozen of them have joined forces with delivery companies as part of an initiative called "Delivery for Heroes". Every day, between 200 and 300 dishes are prepared and donated to Barcelona's hospitals, in the hope of offering some solace to those trying to save lives inside. "We know we are not an absolute necessity because they already have food and catering. But we are trying to give them that moment of excitement," says Axel Peinado, a promoter of the initiative and director of a Barcelona pizzeria. "They might have been working for 12 or 14 hours straight, in a very intense environment and during this very difficult situation that we're all experiencing. And then suddenly, a pizza or some sushi or maybe their favorite burrito in town arrives in their lap." As Daniel Valls parks his van outside Barcelona's Hospital Clinic, two nurses wearing white coats and protective masks emerge to collect his delivery. "When you deliver the food and you see they're happy, that makes us happy and it makes us stronger," says Valls, who takes precautions too by wearing a mask and gloves. Since the start of the coronavirus epidemic, which has caused more than 12,400 deaths in Spain, the second worst-hit country after Italy, solidarity initiatives like this one have burgeoned, especially with health workers at the receiving end. A statewide stay-at-home order by Gov. Kay Ivey means evictions and foreclosures are on hold for at least a month. The stay-at-home order issued last week by Ivey comes with a supplemental order prohibiting evictions and foreclosures for at least a month. Because COVID-19 mitigation efforts require people to remain in their place of residence, I find that it would promote the safety and protection of the civilian population to grant temporary relief from residential evictions and foreclosures, the order states. To that end: All state, county and local law enforcement officers are herby directed to cease enforcement of any order that would result in the displacement of a person from his or her place of residence. That doesnt mean you can skip the rent or mortgage payments, however. Nothing in the order shall be construed as relieving an individual of the obligation to pay rent, to make mortgage payments or to comply with any other obligation that an individual may have under a rental agreement or mortgage, the order states. The order is set to end April 30 but could be extended. By PTI BALRAMPUR: The Uttar Pradesh police has booked the BJP's Mahila Morcha president of Balrampur district for allegedly firing in air on Sunday night, when people across the country lit earthen lamps and candles on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to express the country's resolve to fight and win the anti-corona war, police said on Monday. The police booked Manju Tiwari, the president of the BJP Mahila Morcha unit of the district, after her video, purportedly showing her firing shots went viral on social media. Balrampur Suprintendent of Police Arvind Mishra said, "Last night Manju Tiwari, the BJP leader fired in air with her video of the celebratory firing going viral on social media. A case has been registered against Tiwari in Nagar Kotwali under section 286 of the IPC (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance)." Mishra said the police has launched a probe into the case and would take necessary action after investigation, Nagpur, April 6 : Amid industrialists, corporate houses, celebs, businessmen and the wealthy donating huge sums of money to help people in times of coronavirus pandemic, a railways employee is showing he also cares - and is proving it. Khushroo Poacha, a Superintendent with the Central Railway (CR)'s Commercial Department in Nagpur, has hit upon a successful strategy to feed thousands - but without using a NGO, donations, or even opening a bank account. The Parsi with a charitable soul uses his goodwill, personal and professional contacts through the social media, to collect food and help from kindly persons all over the world for thousands of poor and needy in India. In the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, he has single-handedly managed to collect food and aid materials worth more than Rs 4 million, which has benefitted over 6,000 families, besides two tonnes of rice to feed more than 60,000 poor. On Monday itself, responding to a SOS by Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swavlamban Mission President Kishore Tiwari, he immediately despatched a truckload of dry-food packets which will provide succour to nearly 550 farmers' widows and their families for the next 10 days. Image Source: IANS News "Luckily, I had the material ready. After 10 days, depending on the situation, we shall send more aid as needed," a smiling Poacha told IANS. For the ongoing pandemic relief work, Poacha deploys help requests through a series of WhatsApp Groups, and his websites, www.sevakitchen.org and www.indianblooddonors.com and apps, which in turn are supported by www.donatekart.com which assist him to source all his needs. "Requests go through www.donatekart.com and donors make their contributions which are routed to my supplier from where I pick up the stuff required. There is no monetary involvement at any stage," he explained. "We have set up 21 Seva Kitchens in India, mostly in cancer or children's hospitals or schools where people can get good, nutritious food absolutely free. Besides, we have installed 'Neki Ka Pitara' (Fridge of Kindness) at these locations for the poor and needy," Poacha said. The Seva Kitchens, each serving around 3,000 meals daily and 'Neki Ka Pitara' are currently functional in Nagpur (9), Hyderabad (4), one each in Bengaluru, Palwal (Haryana), Sawantwadi, Thane, Navi Mumbai (all in Maharashtra). He mentions with pride a Seva Kitchen in Guldasta School, Sarita Vihar Colony in New Delhi, manned by an '80-year young' sprightly Vimla Kaul. "My volunteers, a dedicated band of around 1,000, regularly maintain an uninterrupted flow of supplies to the needy, irrespective of the region, caste, religion, etc. Most importantly, it remains anonymous both ways - we don't know who is a beneficiary and they don't know through whose benevolence," Poacha explained. At 16, when he lost his father, Poacha "suddenly grew up in life', took up a clerical job with Indian Railways at 18, and watched many eke out a near-starvation existence or people dying just because they couldn't get blood on time. Almost 20 years ago, he pioneered India's list of blood donors through his website and has been instrumental in saving hundreds of thousands of lives since. During the 2001 Gujarat earthquake, when there was blood shortage for the victims, he called up a private TV channel and requested them to run his website name www.indianblooddonors.com on their ticker. "It got a massive response, and we were covered by BBC World a few months later," he said with pride. Now, with his wife Fermin and 7-year daughter Tunisha, the 53-year Poacha is linked with major social groups and groups like Sant Nirankari Seva Dal, "who silently work, without bothering about any publicity or photo-ops" to help the needy. "At the height of lockdown, my dedicated band of volunteers reaches everywhere with food packets, cooked meals or replenishments for the 'Neki Ka Pitara' round-the-clock. I get requests from persons like Tiwariji, or from community workers and we try to help them to the best," Poacha said. Incidentally, each Fridge of Kindness is supported by one WhatsApp Group linked with donors who ensure it remains full 24x7 with ready consumables like milk, juices, fruits, dry fruits of approximately Rs 10,000 daily, which proves a boon for relatives of cancer patients or kids who have undergone expensive procedures. "It opens twice/thrice daily, people pick whatever they need, when it goes empty, our local contact posts a picture of the fridge, within minutes, a donor chips in and magically, it gets refilled before the next opening time," he said. Before the era of mobiles and social media, Poacha encountered frustrations in his efforts, but would look at the heavens and thank the Almighty when absolute strangers suddenly appeared from nowhere to help out. "I have had many such experiencesa When I feel nothing is going to work out, just then some angel or fairy in a human form comes and solves my problems at one shot. Now, I leave everything to Him and he never lets us down," said Poacha. These messengers of goodness may be in the form of a local businessman, or a celeb or an industrialist or a foreigner who will simply ask - "How can I help you?" and it's granted without a second question. "I reciprocate likewisea I got a call from a Muslim colony today asking whether we could help out with their small community kitchen. I assured whatever you want, you will get," he said. Now, the 'kindness virus' has infected his daughter Tunisha. She made a beginning this year by donating a whopping 5,000 shoolbags to the children of those who suffered in last year's devastating floods in different parts of Maharashtra, appropriately labeling them 'Bags of Kindness'. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in) -- Syndicated from IANS The first act of newly elected Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was to agree cooperation with Boris Johnsons Conservative government for the duration of the coronavirus crisis. Starmers embrace of Johnsons vicious anti-working-class government confirms that outgoing leader Jeremy Corbyn has presided over a massive shift to the right in official politics, with grave implications for the working class. Almost five years after Corbyn was elected party leader in 2015 promising to end Labours pro-business, pro-austerity, pro-war agenda, the Blairites are back in the saddle and contemplating moves that even Tony Blair would have considered political suicide. Corbyns constant retreats on all fundamental issuesdemanding Labour councils impose austerity, agreeing a free vote on war against Syria, backing NATO membership and retaining nuclear weaponstogether with his cowardly refusal to oppose the witch-hunting of his supporters have ended in a debacle. Workers have deserted Labour in droves, and the hundreds of thousands who joined to twice elect him leader have been left angry and disenfranchised. As a result, almost 300,000 eligible voters abstained in the leadership ballot and many are now quitting a party that is as pro-imperialist as it ever was. Starmer easily won on the first round, with 56 percent of the vote, while Rebecca Long-Bailey, the nominal left candidate, came second with just 27.6 percent. Angela Rayner was comfortably elected as deputy leader, while all three contested posts on the National Executive Committee were won by right-wingers. Immediately prior to the result announcement Saturday, Johnson invited all opposition leaders to a coronavirus briefing at Number 10, stating, As party leaders we have a duty to work together during this time of national emergency. Starmer was ready with a pre-prepared response. His filmed victory statement declared, Our willingness to come together like this as a nation has been lying dormant for too long Under my leadership we will engage constructively with the government, not opposition for oppositions sake. Not scoring party political points or making impossible demands. But with the courage to support where thats the right thing to do. Starmers next step was to ring Johnson, with a spokesperson explaining that he had offered to work constructively with the government and agreed arrangements for privy council briefings and discussions going forward. While extending an olive branch to the Tories, Starmer made clear that the witch-hunting of hundreds of left-leaning Labour members as anti-Semites would be stepped up. Antisemitism has been a stain on our party, he claimed. And I will tear out this poison by its roots Rupert Murdochs Sunday Times predicted last week that Starmer would purge Jeremy Corbyns allies in the shadow cabinet and party headquarters within weeks of becoming Labour leader. This week, the newspapers deputy editor Sarah Baxter wrote that Starmer will be judged by the ruling class by whether he will send packing the Marxists, the ultra-leftists and the anti-Semites who flocked to Corbyns banner. To all intents, the Labour Party is now in a government of national unity with the Tories, though it hasnt yet been formalised, given the readiness of Labour to do whatever is demanded of it. But yesterday's announcement that Johnson was taken to hospital continuing to suffer from COVID-19 could accelarate discussions on a national unity government. Labour will do all it can to reinforce the message that the working class must accept the erosion of its democratic rights now proceeding under the pretext of combating the coronavirus. It will insist there must be no challenging a government that has handed over 370 billion to the banks and corporations, even as Johnsons weeks of inaction on COVID-19 and swingeing cuts to the NHS and care services are leading to thousands of needless deaths. A national unity strategy has all been discussed behind closed doors and in the media for weeks, in a brazen political conspiracy against the working class. The pro-Tory Daily Telegraph editorialised March 18, Everyone, including the Opposition, needs to row in the same direction. Perhaps a cross-party War Cabinet is required. George Freeman, a former minister in Johnsons government, told the Guardian March 24, The scale of this national emergency demands a suspension of politics as usual. When Labour have a sensible new leader, Keir Starmer [if elected] should be invited to COVID cabinet, Cobra and joint No 10 briefings. The various advocates of national unity repeatedly cite Winston Churchills wartime coalition with Labour under Clement Atlee as their example. However, todays collusion between Labour and the Tories is not motivated by a supposed war on the coronavirus, but in furtherance of an ongoing war against the working class. As one leading supporter of Starmer told the Financial Times, The precedent for Attlee is not a bad one If bodies start to mount up in a serious way and lockdown has to continue and we start to see civil unrest Johnson might say, Why dont you come in and help us? None of this will end with COVID-19 being brought under control. Hundreds of thousands have already lost their jobs. Millions more are threatened. Moreover, as was the case with the 2008 bailout, the massive sums handed over to the corporate elite in the past weeks are to be paid for through stepped up austerity and imposing savage levels of exploitation in the factories and workplaces. Once the anticipated surge in COVID-19 cases has passed, Labour will back the government in any moves to suppress rising social discontent at a time of continued national emergency. No opposition will be forthcoming from the supposed Labour left, whose impotence and cowardice found such perfect embodiment in Corbyn. His self-declared successor, Long-Bailey, already indicated she is ready to join a national unity government, telling Sky TV before the ballot result was announced, Ive already been collaborating with the government and urging them to listen to my advice and the advice of my colleagues in tackling this crisis, because we want to be as helpful as possible Were trying to help and thats what Ill do as leader, and thats what Ill do if Im not leader, if Im supporting a new leader. The Labour Party is dead as far as the working class is concerned. Workers and youth must now strike out on a new pathclass struggle and the fight for socialism. The Socialist Equality Party calls on working people to join us in rejecting all appeals for national unity, which are used to justify imposing savage attacks on jobs, wages and democratic rights. Workers must demand: An end to the bailout of the banks and corporations. Public money must be directed towards fighting the pandemic, providing the necessary resources to the NHS and care sector and safeguarding the jobs and livelihoods of working people. Seize the wealth of the super-rich. Take the banks and corporations into public ownership without compensation to fund essential social protections. No job and wage cuts. Freeze mortgages, rents and utility payments for the duration of the pandemic. Place production under the democratic control of the working class. No confidence in the trade unions, which are tools of the government and the employers. Form rank-and-file committees in every workplace and neighbourhood. Combating COVID-19, global warming, war and other existential threats to life demands intensive and planned collaboration between the peoples of the world, including their scientists and other experts. But this means ending the division of the world into antagonistic nation states based upon production for private profit, not social need, through the worldwide revolutionary transfer of political power from the capitalist class to the working class. The Houston Chronicle has lifted the paywall on this developing coverage to provide critical information to our community. To support our journalists work, consider a digital subscription. UPDATE: Follow the live blog for Tuesday, April 7, here. 10:45 p.m. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said 27 deputies have tested positive for COVID-19, with three more positives announced in the past two hours, reports the Chronicle's Julian Gill. Another 24 Houston police officers have returned positive tests, Houston police Chief Art Acevedo said. 10 p.m. Harris County has begun building a medical shelter at NRG Park in preparation for an expected surge of COVID-19 patients in the area, Harris County Public Health announced Monday night. Local, state and federal partners have no immediate plans to open the shelter. While there are no plans to open the shelter at this time, the county is determined to provide additional support to the medical community during this pandemic, health officials said in a news release. 9:20 p.m. President Donald Trump quoted a Houston-area coronavirus survivor during his Monday afternoon briefing, reports the Chronicle's Emily Foxhall. In the news conference, Trump began to discuss the courage that health care workers have shown trying to treat those infected with the new coronavirus. He mentioned some patients who have expressed thanks, including the Houston-area patient who contracted the illness on a Nile River cruise in Egypt and who was treated at a Sugar Land hospital after developing symptoms back home. "Another survivor in Houston said simply, 'I will consider them my angels forever,'" Trump said -- quoting from a letter the man wrote to the Chronicle. 8:45 p.m. Harris County Commissioners Court is poised to approve a $10 million fund on Tuesday for no-interest, forgivable loans of up to $25,000 to small businesses harmed by the pandemic. Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia said if approved, the program will go live Wednesday and cut checks to businesses within 30 days, according to reporter Zach Despart. 8:20 p.m. Nearly 2,500 households received boxes of free food at five Houston ISD schools Monday, as the district lifted a seven-day suspension of distribution that followed concerns about worker safety, reports the Chronicles Jacob Carpenter. Lines at a Houston ISD elementary school stretched nearly two miles-long at at one elementary school as the district and Houston Food Bank distributed the food. 7:15 p.m. Since noon, the statewide total of COVID-19 cases went from 7,209 to 8,073. Thats an increase of 864 cases. Twelve more people have died, bringing the total to 149 around the state. The Houston region count is 2,743, which is up 509 cases from yesterday. Harris County added 414 new cases today. There have been 33 deaths in the Houston region, up from 31 yesterday. 7:10 p.m. University of St. Thomas is offering empty dorm rooms to medical and healthcare professionals who are working on the front line to fight the new coronavirus, reports Brittany Britto. With its close proximity to the Texas Medical Center, the private Catholic university offered its main student dormitory Guinan Residence Hall, which houses 150 rooms, to four different hospital systems to use for employees who want to protect their families from possible exposure to the virus. 6 p.m. Galveston County health officials announced 16 new positive COVID-19 cases, upping the county's case total to 256. To date, 63 people have recovered from the virus. At least 2,082 residents have been tested, according to the Galveston County Health District. 5:55 p.m. Seventeen people in Chambers County have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to county officials. Three people have recovered. 5:20 p.m. Fort Bend County reported 38 new coronavirus cases on Monday, bringing their total number of cases to 318, according to Chronicle reporter Brooke Lewis. There were no new deaths reported in the county. 5:15 p.m. The 2020 Houston Open has been moved to the week of Nov. 2 to accommodate the rescheduling of the Masters, Astros Golf Foundation President Giles Kibbe announced Monday. The Houston Open, a PGA Tour tournament, will now be played Nov. 2 to Nov. 8. The Masters will be the following week, from Nov. 9 to Nov. 15. This is a win-win for both tournaments, Kibbe said. We anticipate having one of the strongest fields that the Houston Open has ever seen, making the inaugural year at Memorial Park a truly memorable experience for fans. 5:05 p.m. A longtime security officer who surveilled bags and briefcases at the entrance to Houstons federal courthouse and stood guard at trials died of suspected COVID-19, reports Gabrielle Banks. Brian Magee, 66, died early Monday at his home in Spring, according to the Harris County medical examiners office. His symptoms were consistent with the disease caused by the new coronavirus, although test results have not come back yet. Several Courthouse Security Officers are awaiting test results and some have self-quarantined due to symptoms or possible exposure, according to Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal. Several of the officers are confirmed to have COVID-19 and several others confirmed but, with one exception, none have acute symptoms. 4:40 p.m. The city of Houston on Monday reported 402 new cases of COVID-19, marking an almost 55 percent increase and bringing the city's total to 1,145. Mayor Sylvester Turner said a backlog contributed to the jump, with some of those cases dating back to mid-March, reports Jasper Scherer. Turner said 68 city employees have tested positive for coronavirus so far: 28 municipal workers, 19 firefighters and 24 police officers. The city's death total remains at 10, while cases in the county outside of Houston jumped to 12, according to Harris County Public Health. The agency reported 664 confirmed cases Monday, bringing the entire county's combined case count to 1,809. 4:35 p.m. Whataburger is laying off or furloughing an unspecified number of employees due to the coronavirus pandemic, Whataburger is laying off or furloughing an unspecified number of employees due to the coronavirus pandemic, reports the San Antonio Express-News' Madison Iszler. The reduction affects workers at the San Antonio fast food chains corporate offices and in field support across the 10 states where it operates restaurants. The companys dining rooms remain closed but it is still filling drive-thru and pickup orders. 3:55 p.m. As the COVID-19 crisis touches every part of human life, the effects of social distancing have yet to be seen in the Texas Gulf Coasts wildlife. For the first time since 2002, the upper Texas coasts volunteer patrols for Kemps ridley sea turtle nests have been delayed. Their plan is to start patrolling by early May. If the nests are left on the beaches, the hatchling survival rate is lower than 50 percent, Marshall said. During a typical season, the nests are found by volunteers or state and federal agency workers and sent to the national seashore, raising survival rates by 85 to 90 percent. This year, due to coronavirus, the volunteers are absent. - Reporter Julie Garcia 3:45 p.m. Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday said 30 patients from a Texas City nursing home who tested positive for coronavirus are being treated with a drug that has yet to be proven to be effective. Abbott said the patients at the Resort at Texas City are in the second day of treatment of a testing period that will go on for several days, reports Taylor Goldenstein. The drug, hydroxychloroquine, typically used to treat malaria among other illnesses, is being tested as a possible treatment for coronavirus. 3:30 p.m. Montgomery County now has 161 COVID-19 cases, logging a dozen more Monday, the Conroe Courier reports. Of the 161 cases, 132 are active, three are deceased, 24 remain hospitalized, 26 have now recovered and 108 are in self-isolation. Jason Millsaps, the executive director of the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, said all three deaths were residents of The Conservatory at Alden Bridge, an independent senior living community in The Woodlands. He said the facility currently has 14 active cases. 2:50 p.m. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now recommending cloth face masks not surgical masks or N-95 respirators to prevent spreading the new coronavirus. People who feel and look healthy could be spreading the new coronavirus. Some people infected by the new coronavirus will not get the prescribed symptoms: fever, cough, trouble breathing. And for those who do get the symptoms, they can start spreading the virus before the symptoms appear. The CDC updated its guidelines on face masks as it learned more about the virus. It recommends these in public settings such as grocery stores and pharmacies where it may be difficult to stay six feet from other people. -Reporter Andrea Leinfelder 2:45 p.m. Megan Thee Stallion has donated supplies, money and Amazon Fire tablets to Park Manor Skilled Nursing Facility in Houston, reports Joey Guerra. Amazon Music is matching Megans gift and also donating Fire 7 tablets to residents to help them stay connected with family members who can't visit because of social distancing guidelines. 2:30 p.m. The UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in intensive care for COVID-19, according to media reports. 2:28 p.m. The total confirmed COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. is now more than 10,000, the Associated Press reports. There are around 350,000 confirmed infections in the country. Worldwide, more than 1.3 million people have been confirmed infected and over 70,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. The true numbers are certainly much higher, because of limited testing, different ways nations count the dead and deliberate under-reporting by some governments. 2:15 p.m. Houston and Harris County officials launched a service Monday to connect essential workers with child care providers, a critical need for doctors, first responders and other parents operating on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis, reports the Chronicle's Jasper Scherer. 2:08 p.m. Houston oilfield service giant Halliburton on Monday laid off 350 workers at an office in Duncan, Okla., as the oil industry continues to contract during a brutal downturn. The job cuts were revealed in a filing with the Oklahoma Office of Workforce Development. Halliburton's move follows a December decision to close a similar facility in El Reno, Okla., and cut 800 jobs. Some employees from the El Reno center found new jobs at the Duncan facility. -Reporter Sergio Chapa 2 p.m. Galena Park, a small city located on the north bank of the Houston Ship Channel, on Saturday issued a public safety order that includes a daily curfew to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, reports Rebecca Henes. The nearly 11,000 residents of the city's six square miles are now under a daily curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. until further notice, according to a news release. People who are out traveling to and from businesses that are deemed essential or for emergency purposes are exempt from the order. Anyone traveling for work during these hours is required to have a travel letter for essential personnel, per the order. 1:30 p.m. After weeks of high-stakes wrangling about reducing the jail population to battle the coronavirus pandemic, just a dozen of about 7,600 inmates have walked out the door of Harris Countys downtown lockup. The keeper of the jail, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, is now asking a federal judge to help cut the Gordian knot impeding him from addressing a mounting health crisis as infections take root among inmates and staff inside the massive facility. The problem: in the past week Gonzalez has been trying to act while juggling conflicting orders from three government officials the governor, the county executive and the chief felony judge. The already slow machinery of jail release ground to a halt, says a Monday court filing by the sheriffs laywer, Murray Fogler, seeking help from Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal. But the health crisis respects no orders. The virus cares not for the turf wars of government. -Reporter Gabrielle Banks 1:15 p.m. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is pushing back on criticisms that it relaxed environmental regulations for companies during the coronavirus pandemic. An open letter from TCEQ Chairman Jon Niermann published Monday states that the agency has not rolled back any environmental rules for companies.He writes that the agency has, however, determined it may be inappropriate to pursue enforcement for environmental violations that were unavoidable due to the pandemic, including compliance with rules that would create an unreasonable risk of transmitting COVID-19. The TCEQ, the state's environmental agency, announced three weeks ago that it would use discretion to bring violations against regulated entities on a case by case basis -Reporter Erin Douglas 1 p.m. Texas has extended its eviction delay due to COVID-19, reports the Chronicle's Sarah Smith. No eviction cases will be heard in court until April 30. No writs of possession will be executed until May 7. However, landlords can still file for eviction 12:45 p.m. Small businesses struggling with the fallout of the coronavirus crisis are racing to take advantage of a loan program created by the federal stimulus law, overwhelming banks with applications as they seek aid before the money runs out, reports L.M. Sixel. 12:30 p.m. As the new coronavirus spreads, many in Houston's immigrant community are losing employment. The Chronicle's Olivia P. Tallet spoke with some about how their lives have changed since the pandemic. 12:15 p.m. One Harris County Sheriff's Office deputy is in critical condition with COVID-19, according to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. So far, 21 of the office's empolyees have tested positive for the virus. Three inmates in the Harris County jail have tested positive. 12 p.m. The Woodlands petrochemical company Huntsman is switching over production at one of its plants to make hand sanitizer that will be used to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Part the production at Huntsman's plant in McIntosh, Alabama will be retasked for making hand sanitizer that will be distributed to health care facilities across the United States, the company reported Monday. The Alabama plant normally makes coatings and adhesives for the aerospace, wind energy and automotive industries, among others. The first 5-ton shipment of hand sanitizer will be donated to Huntsman Cancer Institute and the associated medical facilities at the University of Utah. -Reporter Sergio Chapa 11:45 a.m. Houstonians are using social media --a Facebook group called Covid-Call Outs, in particular-- to blast businesses that they believe are not taking enough precautions to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, reports the Chronicle's Lisa Gray. 11:30 a.m. In the age of the pandemic, religious institutions are finding creative ways to congregate without spreading the virus. Correspondent Lindsay Peyton writes about a Conroe church that is planning to have Easter Sunday in a parking lot. 11:10 a.m. Texas is bracing for a pandemic that is projected to kill tens of thousands of people across the U.S., but health officials and state leaders are struggling to provide the public with timely updates on how many people are infected and how many hospital beds and ventilators are available for the critically ill. Other states across the country have been providing coronavirus hospitalization figures for weeks. On Friday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that 827 people have been hospitalized in Texas. But the true number of cases is likely far higher than the official tally due to a shortage of reliable tests and delays in delivering results, which can take up to 10 days. Even with the limited number of confirmed positives, Harris Countys top epidemiologist says it feels like her team is constantly behind. Its become overwhelming, said Dr. Dana Beckham, director of the countys Office of Science, Surveillance and Technology, which traces the steps of people who test positive for COVID-19 to determine how they got the disease and who they may have infected. Were always behind the eight ball. -John Tedesco , Alex Stuckey , Stephanie Lamm , Houston Chronicle and Matt Dempsey 10:37 a.m. The Chronicle wants to hear about how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting your life. Weve made a form that you can fill out to let us know whats going on. We will not publish your name or information without your permission. Here's a link to our form: https://forms.gle/RyJjDuN1PHS24yZWA 10:15 a.m. Houston is looking more like a ghost town everyday during the pandemic. The Chronicles Dan Carson has curated a gallery of drone images that reveal the citys new reality. 10 a.m. Police checkpoints are being set up along the Louisiana border in a move to further cut off travel from a neighboring state that has been among the hardest hit by the new coronavirus. The checkpoints are along all major arteries into Texas, according to an advisory Sunday from the Louisiana state police. The screenings are related to the COVID-19 pandemic and motorists are urged to exercise caution and remain alert for traffic congestion when traveling west into Texas, the advisory said. The Texas Department of Public Safety did not issue a public advisory, though House Speaker Dennis Bonnen tweeted Sunday that troopers would be gathering forms from travelers about their destination. -Jeremy Blackman 9: 45 a.m. While the novel coronavirus made oil demand plunge, one petroleum product is still in demand: Propane. Paul Takahashi reports that Cynch, which began delivering propane tanks in the Houston area earlier this year, has seen a surge in business during the pandemic. The Philadelphia-based company delivers propane tanks to about 120 customers in the Houston area daily, a four-fold increase since launching its service locally in February. 9:30 a.m. Many businesses are shifting gears to survive the pandemic. Meagan Ellsworth reports on the ways Conroe businesses are adjusting what kinds of goods and services they offer during COVID-19. 9:15 a.m. Mexico has responded far more slowly to the coronavirus pandemic because its leaders have been reluctant to put economic constraints on a society in which nearly half the people live in poverty, reports Emily Pickrell. 9 a.m. Drive-thrus are having a moment because of the pandemic, reports Gwendolyn Wu. Once reserved for fast food joints, usual sit-down and come-inside places donation centers, churches and restaurants are now opting to distribute goods and services through car windows now. 8:47 a.m. The disaster that was brewing for the Texas electricity market due to COVID-19 has been avoided -- for now, reports the Chronicle's L.M. Sixel. 8:30 a.m. Rice Universitys Glasscock School of Continuing Studies is now offering free COVID-19 related education to Houstonians, the school announced Monday. In light of the pandemic, the school launched OpenRICE, an initiative offering relevant and timely expertise and insight for free to Houstonians. OpenRICE's single-sessions will help participants gain a greater understanding of significant topics amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the school. Initial class offerings will focus on COVID-19-related to specialty fields, like professional practices, personal development and education. Like so many other people and organizations in our city and across the nation during this unprecedented time, everyone is trying to do their part, said Robert Bruce, dean of the Glasscock School in a statement. We, likewise, want to serve our community. That was the impetus for launching OpenRICE. It has always been our mission to meet the educational needs of the Houston area and to transform challenges into opportunities. Though none of us anticipated this being the challenge at hand, our mission remains and we are more committed to it than ever. 8:15 a.m. The novel coronavirus is likely killing Americans who are not included in the nation's growing death toll, according to public health experts and government officials involved in the tally. A lack of access to testing in the early weeks of the U.S. outbreak means people with respiratory illnesses died without being counted, reports the Washington Post's Emma Brown, Beth Reinhard and Aaron C. Davis. Some people who die at home or in overburdened nursing homes are also not being tested, according to funeral directors, medical examiners and nursing home representatives. 8 a.m. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) falsely claimed that China is "to blame" for the spread of the novel coronavirus, among other viruses, because "people eat bats and snakes and dogs and things like that" in the country. Politifact on Monday ruled Cornyn's statement false because he incorrectly stated MERS and the Swine Flu were first identified in humans in China. His assertion that China's culture caused the virus to spread is also false. Medical experts have said the risk of viral transmissions from animals to humans is not unique to China and is growing globally as humans come into closer contact with animals. 7:44 a.m. The lack of access to technology among students has come into sharper focus in recent weeks as school districts across Houston transition to online-based learning amid widespread school shutdowns due to COVID-19, reports the Chronicle's Jacob Carpenter and Shelby Webb. For up-to-date tracking of the spread of the novel coronavirus in Texas, visit houstonchronicle.com/coronavirus. CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Stay informed with accurate reporting you can trust The Travelers Companies announced that it will accelerate commission payments to eligible agents and brokers to help them ease liquidity concerns due to the COVID-19 crisis. In total, Travelers said it is accelerating more than $100 million, which it called a significant boost of cash flow to its distribution partners when they need it most. The company said that the commissions being accelerated were accrued in the ordinary course of business during the quarter ended March 31, and this program will not have a significant impact on the companys results. As so many are facing a significant financial burden due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to show our agent and broker partners, many of whom are small business owners, our support at this challenging time, said Alan Schnitzer, chairman and chief executive officer. Independent agents and brokers not only provide invaluable counsel and care to our customers but also play a critical role in the U.S. economy, and we are committed to standing by them. Bob Rusbuldt, president and chief executive officer of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, said, Travelers has always been the premier supporter of independent agents and brokers, and the Travelers Distribution Support Plan takes that support to a whole new level. The advanced payments to agents is one of several steps Travelers is taking during the crisis to help. It has pledged $5 million to COVID-19 relief efforts to assist families and communities in North America, the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is suspending cancellation and non-renewal of coverage due to nonpayment through May 15 for all of its U.S. customers and it is relying more on digital and virtual tools for claims and audits. Many Ways to Help in a Crisis While the property/casualty insurance industry is having to explain that in most cases there is probably no coverage for business income or event cancellation losses, some individual insurers are finding small ways to assist the businesses and families being hurt by the coronavirus shutdowns. They are offering everything from free insurance to medical masks. Learn more. Many insurers are offering flexible payment plans and donating to charities. Chubb announced it is donating $10 million to relief efforts and pledged not to layoff any of its 33,000 employees around the globe during the crisis. Allstate is forgiving 15% of monthly premiums for its auto insureds and offering free ID theft coverage for every American. Silicon Valley-based insurance company, Go, is offering a 50% discount on auto insurance to all essential workers in Texas. Small business insurer Next Insurance is cutting April premiums by 25% for some of its customers. Its workers compensation programs are providing telemedicine and tele-rehabilitation options for injured employees. The company has even repurposed its Hartford, Conn. kitchen facilities to aid nonprofits in the preparation and delivery of meals. A number of insurers are coming forward with ways to help during the crisis, with many offering flexible payment plans and donating to charities. Chubb announced it is donating $10 million to relief efforts and pledged not to layoff any of its 33,000 employees around the globe during the crisis. Travelers Insurance is advancing commission payments to its insurance agents and giving $5 million to relief efforts among other efforts. 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. Small business insurer Next Insurance is cutting April premiums by 25% for its customers with general liability, professional liability and commercial auto policies to help them get through the coronavirus crisis. Topics Carriers COVID-19 Agencies Texas Schools to remain closed through May 1 The last day local children were inside a classroom was March 6 and it will have been eight weeks, at least, before they return. March 31, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order implementing Essential Services and Activities Protocols for the entire state of Texas. - Most frequently asked questions about Humble ISD - The protocols direct all Texans to minimize non-essential gatherings and in-person contact with people who are not in the same household. Additionally, Abbott said, schools will remain temporarily closed to in-person classroom attendance through May 1, 2020. The Tribune recently spoke with Humble ISD School Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Fagen and Jamie Mount, chief communications officer for the district. School may be delayed until August. True or false? Gov. Abbot on March 31 ordered Texas schools to stay closed until May 4. At this point, theres not enough information to know if schools will remain closed beyond May 4. School is set to begin for the new year Aug. 12, 2020. Is school officially back in session - albeit via digital learning? What day did that start? Monday, March 16. Is there a set number of hours per day that students should be working from home? The state has moved from a system based on minutes and seat time to a system based on competencies. Teachers know the competencies that students need to master the course. The amount of time that students spend will vary by student. How are parents receiving instructions on teaching at home? Or are the teachers handling it all? Teachers continue to provide lessons and assignments. Just like during regular school operations, parents provide support by monitoring their childrens progress. We understand families face varying challenges. Some parents are working outside the home. Some parents are able to work from home but cannot oversee school work all day due to their job responsibilities. Some families are sharing computers. Some families need more powerful home WiFi now that everyone is using it at the same time. What media platforms is the District using? Zoom is one of several resources Humble ISD teachers are using. Other platforms include Class DoJo, Edgenuity, Google Hangouts Meeting, Google Classroom, Schoology, SchoolWires, SeeSaw and Wixie. What about students without internet or internet devices? We are developing a plan to provide Chromebooks to students who do not have a device at home. Several internet providers are providing free internet. Comcast, for example, is offering two months of free internet to low income families and many businesses are supporting this. We are surveying students to find out what they have at home and encourage them to contact us with their needs. What about spring sports, UIL competition, graduation? We announced March 24 that after-school activities are cancelled. An exception is prom which will be postponed until an appropriate time can be determined. Our announcement aligns with action take by the UIL that stated May 4 will be the earliest that games and contests may resume. Will construction and maintenance work from the 2018 bond issue continue? Yes, the work continues and there are no delays on any major projects. Will school board meetings continue to be virtual? The school board will make that decision. Any final thoughts? Our parents are so supportive of their kids who are now attending school from home, making sure theyre paying attention and encouraging them to participate. As our teachers put out information and assignments, parents play a major supporting role. We also have examples of our school district employees going above and beyond as well. One Id like to mention is a school counselor who picks up meals at the school and delivers them, leaves them on the porches of families who cant get to school. This is one example of understanding our students and their familys needs and using our resources to meet those needs. Keep up to date with all Humble ISD activities at humbleisd.net. A senior official of Hashd al-Shaabi (Iraqi popular forces) said that the countrys security forces will be able to fully annihilate the ISIL cells after the US army retreats from the Arab state. AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): A senior official of Hashd al-Shaabi (Iraqi popular forces) said that the countrys security forces will be able to fully annihilate the ISIL cells after the US army retreats from the Arab state. The US withdrawal from Iraq will trigger highly great achievements to the security situation in Iraq, Ali Al-Hosseini, one of Hashd al-Shaabis senior commanders, told the Arabic-language Baghdad al-Youm news website on Monday. He blamed the US build-up in Iraq and its support for the terrorist groups for the prolonged life of ISIL in the country, and said, Therefore, the remnants of the ISIL terrorists will be annihilated by the withdrawal of the last US military man. Al-Hosseini, meantime, warned that Washington might resort to its old tricks in 2014 and strengthen the ISIL cells across Iraq after its withdrawal in a bid to distort general security. Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), better known by their Arabic name Hashd al-Sha'abi, in a statement on Saturday blasted the US forces based in their country as "occupiers", pledging to bring the occupation of the Arab country to an end. Hashd al-Shaabi groups said from now on the US troops in the Arab country will be dealt with as "occupation forces", presstv reported. The statement cited the US refusal to withdraw its forces from Iraq and its continued aggression against the country as the reasons for their decision. You have proven to everyone that you are occupation forces and that you only respect the language of force; on these bases you will be dealt with as occupiers," the statement reads. It also said that the Iraqi resistance forces' military operations are a basic response to the US aggression. "Be aware that all operations which have been carried out against you so far were only a minor response to your aggressions as the decision to carry out operations [against US forces] had not been taken back then, it added. They stressed that the recent US threats to target the resistance forces are aimed at covering up their own failures. The statement was signed by Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Kataib al-Imam Ali, Harakat al-Awfiya, Saraya Ashura, Harakat Jund al-Imam, and Saraya al-Khurasani. In late March, the other PMU group Kata'ib Hezbollah blew the lid off a plot by the US military to carry out massive aerial operations backed by ground troops against bases of the elite anti-terror force, which is currently busy helping the government in the fight against a new coronavirus pandemic. The PMU statement was concluded with a message to the Iraqi people, in which the resistance groups vowed that they will not let the US occupy the country and rob its resources. The statement comes in line with earlier calls by the Iraqi Parliament and military for all foreign troops to leave the Arab country as soon as possible. Iraqi lawmakers unanimously approved a bill on January 5, demanding the withdrawal of all foreign military forces led by the United States from the country following the assassination of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, along with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy head of the PMU, and their companions in a US airstrike authorized by US President Donald Trump near Baghdad International Airport two days earlier. ............................................ End/ 257 WASHINGTON, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai on Sunday called for cooperation between Beijing and Washington to combat the coronavirus pandemic, saying "this is a time for solidarity, collaboration and mutual support." "Let's acknowledge there has been unpleasant talk between our nations about this disease. But this is not the time for finger-pointing. This is a time for solidarity, collaboration and mutual support," Cui wrote in an opinion article on The New York Times. "We will always remember that in our most difficult days, our friends in so many places -- many of them Americans, many of them New Yorkers -- offered us a helping hand. We stand ready now to repay their kindness and help them make it through too," said he. Cui noted that China is doing whatever it can to support the related countries in need, including the United States. "We are facilitating the U.S. government's purchase of personal protective equipment made in China. Indeed, factories are operating in full swing to fulfill the orders of medical supplies from New York State and other parts of America. China's provincial and city governments are rushing to help their sister states and cities in America too. And donations are pouring in from the country's business sector," he said. Cui suggested China and the United States make joint efforts to defeat the pandemic. "China and the United States need to lead international efforts in collaborative research into treatments and vaccines, and explore the sharing of pharmaceutical technologies among nations. We need to help countries with underdeveloped medical systems and contribute to better global health governance," he said. Cui also called for the two biggest economies in the world to "enhance our coordination of macroeconomic policy to stabilize markets; ensure growth and people's livelihoods; and keep the global industrial and supply chains open, stable and secure." In the meantime, the Chinese ambassador warned against fanning racism and xenophobia as well as scapegoating other countries or races at this moment, when solidarity is essential. "Such acrimony will not only undercut cooperation between our nations, but also sow seeds of suspicion and confrontation that could put our peoples -- and even the world -- in grave danger from this runaway virus and the economic fallout it is causing," he cautioned. It is vitally important now more than ever that businesses plan and prepare to grow and that college students and young professionals continue to have career connections into the innovation economy." In the current environment of unprecedented business disruption and uncertainty, Rev1 Ventures, the startup studio that combines capital and strategic services to help startups scale and corporates innovate, is looking ahead to how it can support startups as they plan to strengthen their foundation over the upcoming months. The company is announcing the launch of its first-ever Innovation Internship Program through a grant from the Ohio Third Frontier, a partner-supported initiative to bring students and startups together to create meaningful opportunities for businesses and young professionals in Central Ohio. With the unprecedented volatility across every aspect of the economy right now, all businesses, particularly startups, are concerned about the short- and long-term impact of this crisis, said Tom Walker, CEO of Rev1 Ventures. It is vitally important now more than ever that businesses plan and prepare to grow and that college students and young professionals continue to have career connections into the innovation economy. This program offers startups and students the opportunity to work together to drive business growth while fostering the next generation of business leaders in Columbus through hands-on experience. To boost opportunities, Rev1 is reimbursing participating companies for up to two-thirds of their interns salaries (up to $8,000 per intern), while also providing ongoing support to help them manage the placement, hiring, and onboarding process. In addition, Rev1 is providing training support for the interns in the program, including connecting them to the local startup and innovation community for relationship and long-term career-building. Were fortunate to have university partners come to the table, Walker added. Ohio Wesleyan University and The Ohio State University have put financial and in-kind resources to work so Rev1 can offer this training and support. Theyre also developing pathways to directly engage their student population to connect students with startup opportunities. The program is open to a wide student base, including those registered at or recent graduates from a technical or community college, incoming freshmen up to graduating seniors at four-year institutions, and masters or doctoral candidates in high-tech graduate studies. Interns will work directly with senior leadership teams of innovative startups from industries ranging from AgTech to IT and Biosciences. For startups or innovators that want to become part of the program, please visit https://www.rev1ventures.com/internship-program-for-startups/ and for college and graduate students looking to expand their experience, please visit https://www.rev1ventures.com/interns/. About Rev1 Ventures Rev1 Ventures is the startup studio that combines capital and strategic services to help startups scale and corporates innovate. Based in the Midwest, and in the number one city for scaling startups, Rev1 aligns innovators and founders with corporate and research partners to access customers and markets, helping entrepreneurs build great companies. With a proven track record of identifying, guiding, and investing in high potential startups, Rev1 helps companies solve real problems for markets in need of real solutions. Rev1 has $100MM in capital under management, providing a capital continuum from corporate and community partners, as well as the Ohio Third Frontier. Rev1 is the most active seed investor in Ohio for the past six years, according to PitchBook. For more information, visit http://www.rev1ventures.com. A KNIFE-wielding robber put shop staff in fear by shouting Coronavirus before chasing after a security man during an armed raid at a Dublin convenience store, a court has been told. Gardai said the raider allegedly had his face covered when he went to the shop but this fell down as the threat was shouted. Kevin Brosnan (39), who was arrested nearby with more than 600 in cash in his pocket appeared in Dublin District Court charged with robbery. Judge Patricia McNamara refused to grant him bail and remanded him in custody, for the directions of the DPP. Mr Brosnan, from Ardmore Park in Tallaght is charged with robbery at Centra, Old Bawn Shopping Centre, also in Tallaght on April 2. Objecting to bail, the prosecuting garda said he was on patrol when it was reported that there was an ongoing robbery at a store. As he went to the scene, he got a radio update with a description of the robber. It was stated that the culprit had changed his clothes. Some time after the garda spotted a man matching the description - the accused. As they spoke to Mr Brosnan the gardai asked him to take his hands out of his pockets and he at first refused but when he did so, he had a large sum of cash in his left trouser pocket, totalling 630. He also had lotto receipts that could only have come from that shop, the garda said. The garda believed this had been taken in the robbery and Mr Brosnan was arrested, at 8.42pm. He made no reply to the charge after caution. The garda said it was alleged the accused entered the shop at 8.30pm holding a knife and with a scarf or clothing covering his face. This dropped and it was alleged he shouted coronavirus at the security guard and threatened him by chasing after him with. The garda said the accuseds face was visible on CCTV as it was completely uncovered when he shouted Coronavirus. This was not audible on the CCTV but staff had made statements alleging it. The garda said although the accused had different clothing, when he was arrested, he still wore a distinctive black hat with a red design and the same footwear. Defence solicitor Michael Hennessy said the robber on CCTV was wearing a hat and the bottom half of his face was covered, and while at some point the covering came down, the person was not clearly identifiable. Mr Hennessy said he had seen the footage and its not him. Certain leaps were being made by the garda and the evidence was not strong, he said. Mr Brosnan would abide by conditions including signing on at a garda station if granted bail, Mr Hennessy said. He would observe a curfew and be contactable on mobile phone. Judge McNamara said that shouting about having coronavirus was a threat; it was a contagious disease and could be fatal. She said while the accused was presumed innocent, she was satisfied the garda had made out a case for refusing bail. She remanded the accused in custody, to appear in Cloverhill District Court later this week. UPDATE 27.04.2020 Iraqs Communications and Media Commission (CMC) has fined and banned Reuters news agency from operating following a report on the number of coronavirus cases in the country. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned this "blatant violation of media rights" and urged the CMC to lift the ban immedaitely. The CMC took its decision on 3 April after Reuters reported that thousands of people in Iraq had been infected with Covid-19 resulting in many more deaths than the government claimed. According to media reports, the CMC suspended the news agency's right to operate in the country for three months and fined them $20.000 for having put social security at risk. The IFJ said that the CMC had exceeded its mandate which normally only allows for issuing fines and not to implement media suspensions without a court order. The IFJ expressed its deep concern at this blatant breach of press freedom, supported the right of Reuters journalists to work freely and urged the Iraqi government to lift the ban and cancel the fine. UPDATE: On 19 April 2020 Iraq lifts Reuters News Agency suspension over virus report President Donald Trump and Joe Biden spoke by telephone Monday about the coronavirus epidemic, a source familiar with the call told DailyMail.com. Biden offered suggestions on actions the Trump administration can take to combat the virus, the former vice president's campaign said. 'VP Biden & President Trump had a good call. VP Biden shared several suggestions for actions the Admin. can take now to address the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and expressed his appreciation for the spirit of the American people in meeting the challenges facing the nation' Kate Bedingfield, Biden's deputy campaign manager, wrote on Twitter. The president said the two men spoke for about 15 minutes. 'I also spoke a few minutes ago with vice president, former vice president Biden, who called and we had a really wonderful, warm conversation,' President Trump said at his daily White House press briefing. He confirmed the two talked about the coronavirus. 'This is what we talked about. This is what everyone's talking about. This is where they want to talk about. He gave me his point of view and I fully understood that and we just had a very friendly conversation. Lasted probably 15 minutes. It was really good. It was really good, really nice. I appreciate his calling,' the president said. He also said they agreed not to reveal details of what they talked about. 'We had a good talk. We said we weren't going to talk about what we said. It was a warm talk. I enjoyed it. I hope he enjoyed it too. It was short, 15 minutes,' Trump said. 'He had suggestions. It doesn't mean I agree but he certainly had suggestions,' the president added. 'I also told him some of the things we are doing. The conversation was a friendly, very friendly conversation.' President Donald Trump and Joe Biden spoke by telephone Monday about the coronavirus epidemic, source familiar with call told DailyMail.com President Trump tweeted Monday morning, wondering why Joe Biden hadn't followed up on his offer to talk Trump, in a tweet on Monday, slammed Biden for suggesting holding a virtual political convention this summer in light of social distancing guidelines, and then asked why he never called. 'What ever happened to that phone call he told the Fake News he wanted to make to me?' the president wrote. The former vice president proposed speaking with Trump about his response to the coronavirus outbreak, including advising him on how to handle the pandemic. 'Our teams will be in touch and we will arrange a call,' Bedingfield said in a statement last Wednesday after Trump was asked if he would speak with the former vice president. 'I would absolutely take his call,' Trump said at a coronavirus press briefing last week. 'I would love to speak with him, sure.' Biden has been critical of the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus outbreak, saying that the president was too slow to take action in combatting the disease. He told reporters last week that he hoped Trump could 'learn some lessons' from the Obama administration, which dealt with outbreaks of Ebola in Africa and the swine flu in the United States. 'We've been through this in a slightly different way in the past, and I hope they can learn some lessons from what we did right and maybe what we did wrong,' Biden said, noting that his team had been working to arrange the conversation with Trump. The former vice president has publicly urged Trump to listen to medical experts, use the Defense Production Act to order companies to make the medical supplies needed, and to be more frank with American people about the dangers of the disease. 'If I see something thats not happening, I think its my obligation to step up and say, "This is what we should be doing,"' Biden said last month on NBC's 'Meet the Press.' And he told NBC's 'Today Show' he had no plans to criticize the president when the two men talked but just to offer lessons from his own experiences. 'All I can do is offer the President the things that we prepared, not the same exact thing, but give him my view of what the lessons learned and what I think we should be doing. And Im not here to criticize him, Im here to try to promote more rapid response to the things that have to be acted on. But Im ready to do that,' Biden said. More than 10,000 people have died from coronavirus in the U.S. since the first death last month and there are nearly 347,000 confirmed cases, more than any other country has reported. 3 1 of 3 Japan News-Yomiuri photo Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Japan News-Yomiuri photo Show More Show Less 3 of 3 TOKYO - Entrance ceremonies were held Monday at many schools in Tokyo, Yokohama and other cities where schools have been closed since early March due to the spread of the new coronavirus. The ceremonies were held amid high alert. The new first-grade students were asked to wear masks, while the schools did not allow other students and guests to attend the ceremonies. A robot bought from Sweden by a school in Maharashtras Thane district lighted candles on Sunday night in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modis appeal in connection with the fight against the coronavirus outbreak. Videos of the robot lighting candles at the premises of Sacred Heart School in Varap area of Kalyan taluka in the district went viral soon after. It lit nine candles as part of the PMs appeal to do so at 9pm for nine minutes. The robot was brought from Sweden. It can be programmed for many tasks and we decided to programme it so that it could light candles. We wanted to highlight a combination of science and culture, said the schools COO Albin Anthony. HCA Healthcare, the country's largest health system, in an email barred employees from posting publicly about its policies for treating coronavirus patients. Rusty Russell/Getty Images HCA Healthcare, the largest hospital system in the country, sent an internal email on March 24 about its employee social-media policy during the coronavirus outbreak. The email, reviewed by Business Insider, revealed that the company could fire employees who spoke with news outlets or posted on social media about the health system's coronavirus policy. One nur se told Business Insider that one of HCA's hospitals had suspended her without pay for violating this policy in a post in a private Facebook group. In a statement to Business Insider, the hospital said she is under investigation for posts that disclosed patient health information. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The largest healthcare system in the US has told employees that it could fire nurses and doctors who speak publicly about its policies regarding the novel coronavirus outbreak, according to an internal memo reviewed by Business Insider. HCA Healthcare, which has 185 hospitals in 20 states, sent an email to employees on March 24 that added new guidelines for social media and media inquiries during the pandemic. The email said HCA employees could get disciplined or even fired for posting information on social media about its policies about treating patients with COVID-19, the illness caused by this coronavirus. The health system also barred employees from speaking to journalists about the virus without explicit permission from HCA's communications director. One nurse, Jhonna Porter, told Business Insider that HCA Healthcare had already suspended her for violating these new guidelines and did so retroactively, for her activity before March 24. Porter, a charge nurse at West Hills Hospital in California, said HCA Healthcare suspended her without pay on March 25, a day after sending the email updating its social-media policy. West Hills Hospital provided a statement to Business Insider, confirming that it had suspended Porter and saying that it is investigating posts of hers that may have disclosed patient health information. HCA Healthcare referred to the West Hills Hospital statement. Story continues Porter told Business Insider that she hadn't violated the new policy and that she believed the actual reason for the suspension was that she has been a whistleblower, calling out hospital equipment shortages. And now her freedom of expression is being stifled during a crisis, she added. Her case paints a picture of how hospitals have been pushed to the brink by the coronavirus pandemic, and how the strain is starting to show. Hospitals might be cracking down on nurses who call out dire mask shortages during the coronavirus pandemic Experts have predicted that the novel coronavirus outbreak, which as of Monday had infected more than 336,000 Americans, will push US hospitals and health systems to their limits. Hospitals have a limited number of intensive-care-unit beds and ventilators, or machines used to treat respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19, creating chaos for nurses and doctors treating the rapidly increasing number of patients. Many healthcare workers have used social media or spoken with news organizations, including Business Insider, to call out the shortage of protective equipment like masks and the lack of protocol for treating COVID-19 patients. Nurses and other healthcare workers are worried that inadequate supplies will leave them at risk of contracting the disease. Business Insider's Lydia Ramsey reported last month that experts from HCA Healthcare helped devise coronavirus response plans for use at hospitals nationwide. Porter said HCA Healthcare issued her suspension over a phone call and told her it was for talking to her colleagues in a private Facebook group about a floor the hospital had turned into one for treating patients with COVID-19. Porter said the health system said her social-media activity was a violation of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, commonly known as HIPAA, which mandates that healthcare workers keep patient information private. West Hills Hospital, owned by HCA Healthcare, told Business Insider the social media policy hasn't changed since May 2019, but administrators updated it to "encourage increased vigilance with regard to patient privacy" during the coronavirus pandemic. Porter said her post did not name the health system or mention sensitive patient information. Rather, she said, she was being punished for being a whistleblower who called out equipment shortages and other hospital issues. "I know my HIPAA laws, and I didn't violate HIPAA," Porter said in an interview with Business Insider, adding that she told a hospital representative that she "felt singled out" and "felt attacked." "I said many nurses are all posting the same things that I am why am I the only one being suspended?" she said. "He had no answers for me." Porter said her union representative had asked HCA about the specific reason she was suspended and had not received an answer other than that she had been put under "investigatory suspension." West Hills confirmed that Porter is under investigation for posts that may have disclosed patient health information. HCA Healthcare is publicly traded, with backing from the private-equity firms Bain and KKR, which took the system private in a $33 billion deal in 2006, at the time the largest leveraged buyout in history. Its market capitalization on Monday was nearly $30 billion. Read the email HCA Healthcare sent to employees on March 24: As employees we all are a reflection of the brand and thus are at the very core of the fabric that keeps the organization intact. It is of the upmost importance that we follow the social media/media inquiry guidelines these are meant to protect our employees, patients and the organization. During this time of heightened media attention around COVID-19 some of you may be contacted by a variety of media sources via social media, email, text, or phone call. Social Media/Media Inquiry Guidelines: Personal social media accounts are a reflection of your personal brand and the company, so if you choose to interact with the brand in either a positive or a negative manner this is public and can be monitored Unless specifically authorized, employees are restricted from speaking on behalf of the HCA Healthcare Employees are expected to protect the privacy of patients, employees and other stakeholders and are prohibited from disclosing patient information without proper authorization Employees are also prohibited from disclosing proprietary or confidential information to which they have access and work with as part of their job duties , without proper authorization, inclusive of recent policy changes due to COVID-19 Do NOT provide information on patient statuses /information IT IS A HIPAA VIOLATION and will be treated as such All media inquiries should be fielded by the Director of Strategic Communications ONLY Directors of Strategic Communications are highly trained professionals in media relations, brand/reputation management, crisis communication and have HCA specific compliance training around their roles Non-compliance around these policies can result in disciplinary actions up to and including termination . Attached are the HCA approved social media guidelines that should be adhered to at all times. Our goal is to ensure that information around COVID-19 is accurate and in line with the CDC guidelines. All HCA generated social media activity is compliant with these guidelines and reflective of the truth. Note: The text has been updated throughout to reflect that HCA Healthcare has only said that it could fire nurses who violate its social-media policy, and to include comment from West Hills Hospital, owned by HCA. Read the original article on Business Insider HOMER, Alaska - An investigator and family members have appealed to residents of an Alaska city for help in finding a woman who has been missing for nearly six months. The Homer Police Department is trying to find Anesha Duffy Murnane, who was last seen Oct. 17, The Homer News reported. The 38-year-old disappeared after leaving her Homer apartment on foot for a health clinic appointment about 1 mile (1.6 kilometres) away. She did not arrive and the last confirmed sighting of her was from a security camera photo showing her departing the housing complex around 12:15 p.m. The Homer police hired investigator Matt Haney for assistance with the case. The former lieutenant with the department has experience investigating missing person cases in other states. Haney appealed to anyone to come forward who may have seen Murnane in the days before she went missing. I want to nail down what she was doing the week in her life before her disappearance, Haney said. Thats my major focus right now. Haney hopes to speak with people who attended an Oct. 16 event at the Pratt Museum where Murnane is known to have been while her stepfather, Ed Berg, gave a presentation about Grewingk Glacier. Berg also received an award Oct. 12 at an annual Kachemak Heritage Land Trust fundraiser. Haney wants to find out whether Murnane attended the event and speak to attendees who may have seen her. Berg also issued an appeal for information. The event at the Pratt Museum was the last time Murnane would have had any social contact outside her apartment complex, he said in an email. Who did she chat with at that meeting? Did she look OK? What did she say, Berg wrote. Even if you didnt see or speak with Duffy, we would like to know if you were present. This is admittedly a long shot, but after five months, long shots are all we have left. Even as Mr. Trump has promoted the drug, which is also often prescribed for patients with lupus, it has created rifts within his own coronavirus task force. And while many hospitals have chosen to use hydroxychloroquine in a desperate attempt to treat dying patients who have few other options, others have noted that it carries serious risks. In particular, the drug can cause a heart arrhythmia that can lead to cardiac arrest. Dr. Megan L. Ranney, an emergency physician at Brown University in Rhode Island, said in an interview on Sunday night that she had never seen an elected official advertise a miracle cure the way Mr. Trump has. There are side effects to hydroxychloroquine, Dr. Ranney said. It causes psychiatric symptoms, cardiac problems and a host of other bad side effects. Dr. Ranney said that the drug could be effective for some patients, but that there was not nearly enough scientific evidence to support Mr. Trumps claims. There may be a role for it for some people, she said, but to tell Americans you dont have anything to lose, thats not true. People certainly have something to lose by taking it indiscriminately. Hydroxychloroquine has not been proved to work against Covid-19 in any significant clinical trials. A small trial by Chinese researchers made public last week found that it helped speed the recovery in moderately ill patients, but the study was not peer-reviewed and had significant limitations. Earlier reports from France and China have drawn criticism because they did not include control groups to compare treated patients with untreated ones, and researchers have called the reports anecdotal. Without controls, they said, it is impossible to determine whether the drugs worked. But Mr. Trump on Sunday dismissed the notion that doctors should wait for further study. We dont have time to go and say, Gee, lets take a couple of years and test it out, and lets go out and test with the test tubes and the laboratories, Mr. Trump said. Id love to do that, but we have people dying today. Two more soldiers of the Indian Army lost their lives as the force foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmirs Kupwara district in an operation in which five terrorists were killed on Sunday. With the latest casualties, five soldiers have been killed in the exchange of fire with the terrorists, who had attempted to cross over to the Indian side, in Keran sector of north Kashmir. The terrorists were believed to have entered the Indian territory from Shamsabari range and were hiding in Gujjar Dhok or temporary shelter for nomads in the Poswal area of the sector, officials said. In an ongoing anti-infiltration operation in Keran sector of north Kashmir, alert troops braving inclement weather and hostile terrain have so far eliminated five terrorists attempting to infiltrate across the LoC, the defence spokesman had said earlier. Evacuation of the injured is hampered due to heavy snow and rough terrain conditions, he had said. Officials had said on Sunday that nine terrorists were killed by the army in 24 hours in the Kashmir Valley. (With agency inputs) The citizenry have been advised not to hide relatives who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19, to strengthen the countrys efforts in response to the novel Coronavirus. Madam Rahinatu Yakubu, Northern Regional Health Promoter at the Ghana Health Service, who gave the advice, said If you hide your relatives, who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19, they will infect others if they are positive for the disease and this is not good for the fight against the disease. Madam Yakubu emphasised the need for the citizenry to contact the COVID-19 Risk Communication Team in each region to check on their relatives exhibiting the symptoms to ensure that they were properly isolated to avoid infecting others. She said this at a presentation on the COVID-19 pandemic at a trainer of trainers workshop for Information Officers and Cinema Commentators drawn from 16 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the Northern Region. The workshop, held in Tamale at the weekend, was organised by the Information Services Department to equip the Information Officers and Cinema Commentators with adequate knowledge on the disease to enable them to better educate the citizenry on how to halt its spread in the country. The country recorded her first two cases of the disease on March 12, and so far, 214 confirmed positive cases have been recorded in the country out of which five persons have died while three others have fully recovered. Madam Yakubu expressed the need for participants to give accurate information to the citizenry to help demystify their misconceptions about the disease so that that they adhere to all the precautionary measures to help halt the spread of the disease in the country. She also urged them to be sensitive in communicating messages on the disease to the people to enable them to better relate to ensuring behavioural change in communities. Alhaji Alhassan Issahaku, Northern Regional Coordinating Director, who spoke about the illiteracy levels amongst the population, expressed the hope that the training would help participants to come out with well-crafted messages to impart relevant information on the disease. Mr Ahmed Hussein, Northern Regional Information Officer, urged participants to be diligent in their public education activities to avoid creating panic among the people. 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. Featured Video Sixteen new coronavirus cases were reported from Gujarat on Monday, including 10 having direct or indirect link to the religious congregation organised by Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin in Delhi last month, an official said. With this, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state has gone up to 144, Principal Secretary (Health) Jayanti Ravi said. Of the 16 new cases, 11 are from Ahmedabad, two from Vadodara and one each from Mehsana, Patan and Surat. Nine of these patients from Ahmedabad and the one from Mehsana have link to the Nizamuddin religious event, the official said. As many as 12 of the 16 new patients are in the age group of 15 to 40 years, she said. "The reason behind the surge in positive cases is that samples from hotspot areas -- where more number of patients have been found -- are being tested intensively. Several cases have come up in areas where people returned from the Tablighi Jamaat meet in Delhi," Ravi said. The death toll in the state has gone up to 12 after a 62-year old woman succumbed in Vadodara, she said. The woman had travelled to Sri Lanka and was admitted to hospital on March 18 after she returned and fell ill. Besides, 21 patients have been discharged so far after recovering from the viral infection, the official said. Out of the 112 active cases, two patients are on ventilator support, while the condition of 110 others is stable, she said. Ahmedabad has so far reported 64 cases, followed by Surat-17, Gandhinagar and Bhavnagar- 13 each, Vadodara-12, Rajkot-10, Porbandar- three, Kutch, Mehsana, Gir Somnath, and Patan- two each, and Chhota Udepur, Jamnagar, Morbi and Panchmahals- one each. Out of 2,714 samples tested in laboratories so far, results of 39 are pending, Ravi said. While 84 cases in Gujarat are of local transmission of the infection, 33 patients have foreign travel history while 26 have inter-state travel history, she said. A total 14,054 people are quarantined, including 12,885 who are kept under home quarantine, 900 in government facilities and 269 in private facilities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid nationwide lockdown, police personnel in Mahuva taluka of Surat district donned coronavirus-themed dresses on Sunday while appealing people to stay at home and practice social distancing. "We have done this to spread awareness amongst people. We are trying to reach out to as many places as possible to make people aware of the situation," said a policeman. As many as 122 positive cases and 11 deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported so far in the state. As per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is 3,577 with 83 deaths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) People wait in line for help with unemployment benefits at the One-Stop Career Center in Las Vegas, Nev., on March 17, 2020. (John Locher/AP Photo) The US Labor Market Can Heal Quickly, the European, Less So Commentary The jobless claims figures of the past two weeks have been unprecedented and alarming. However, knowing that the data will continue to be concerning, we need to analyze how quickly the economy can can heal and go back to the previous path of record job creation. The United States economy starts from a comparatively stronger base. Unemployment reached a five-decade low in February and, despite the extremely weak March jobs figure, it stood at 4.4 percent in the first week of April. This compares to a 7.3 percent unemployment figure in the euro area and 6.5 percent in the European Union. In countries such as Spain and Greece, unemployment stood at 13 percent and 16 percent, respectively. The underemployment figure is also significantly better in the United States. The unadjusted U-6 unemployment rate measure was 8.9 percent in March, and a comparable underemployment rate in the European Union would be an estimated 15 percent, and 12 percent in the eurozone, according to Eurostat figures. The expected rise in unemployment from the forced shutdown of major economies due to COVID-19 containment measures is simply staggering. The International Labor Organization reported that potential job losses worldwide could amount to 36 million. Unfortunately, this figure may be underestimated. The figure of unemployed in the second quarter of 2020 in the United States could rise to 52 million, a 32 percent unemployment rate, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. In Spain alone, the figure could rise by 5 million, and reach an unemployment rate of 35 percent in our estimates, while temporary and full unemployed could rise to 57 million in the European Union. The key to a strong recovery lies in the dynamism of the labor market and the strength of the business fabric, but also on a diversified and open mechanism of financing of the real economy. The United States could recover the entire job losses of a month in a period of one to three months. In the eurozone, this would take a minimum of five to six months, particularly in Germany, which also started the shutdown crisis with an all-time low unemployment rate, at 3.2 percent. Considering countries with higher labor market rigidity, such as Greece, Spain or Italy, this recovery could take between 14 months and two years. The key to recovering jobs quickly and efficiently is the combination of a flexible labor market, an attractive investment framework, and solid policies to preserve the business fabric of the country. These are the main reasons why the United States traditionally reduces unemployment faster and with better wage growth than the eurozone. Theres also the issue of disincentives. In the eurozone, excessive intervention in the labor and business environment adds to many entitlement programs that may be counterproductive in a recovery. The European Union spends about 1 percent of GDP per year in active employment programs and subsidies, yet the unemployment rate is almost double that of leading economies. Excessive regulation works as a barrier to investment and job creation in growth times and generates negative incentives to recover after crisis periods. This was evident during the last crisis. The European Union delayed its recovery by four years due to the increased intervention and regulatory hurdles. The financing mechanism is also key. In the United States, the real economy relies less on bank financing than in most of Europe. The real economy dependence on bank financing in the European Union is close to 80 percent, according to the European Central Bank, compared to 17 percent in the United States, according to the Federal Reserve Board. This dynamism and openness in financing of business opportunities has traditionally helped the United States boost its economic recovery from a recession, achieving faster growth and more job creation than its peers. An attractive taxation system is essential to recovering quickly. Unfortunately, in the European Union governments tend to raise taxes on businesses and capital in recession periods, which significantly hurts the recovery process. Legal and investment security are also fundamental in a sustainable and rapid recovery, and, unfortunately, interventionist messages coming from governments generate less inflow of foreign investment and lower growth in gross capital formation. The recent decision of the Italian and Spanish governments to make dismissals forbidden by law and to intervene in prices will likely prove ineffective, as unemployment will soar anyway due to the destruction of businesses forced to close and will likely harm future investment inflows. Shutting down the economy may cause long-lasting damage to job creation and businesses that cant be unwound in a few months; thats why its essential to contain the virus spread with effective measures, but we cant forget that each month of lockdown means millions of unemployed and thousands of business closures. The best course of action to tackle the health crisis, as well as the economic collapse risk, is to follow the South Korea and Singapore strategy, which is to implement strict prevention and testing measures, preserve the business fabric, provide safety equipment and health protocols for businesses to survive, and ensure that the economy continues to work while controlling the health crisis. We cant forget the difficult time that millions of workers and thousands of businesses are going through, and thats why its imperative for governments to preserve the business fabric to avoid an economic depression of long-lasting social consequences. The United States can recover the recent dramatic jobless figures in a few months if the government tackles the health crisis effectively and prevents an economic depression. Health and jobs are not mutually exclusive. The United States will recover faster and stronger if the government puts both as the main objectives of policy. Daniel Lacalle, Ph.D., is chief economist at hedge fund Tressis and author of Freedom or Equality, Escape from the Central Bank Trap, and Life in the Financial Markets. 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. WFH for Private offices in Delhi, restaurants & bars to be shut as Omicron-led to sudden rise in Covid cases Scared of getting infected with coronavirus, son refuses to cremate mother in Ludhiana India pti-PTI Ludhiana, Apr 06: Family members of a 69-year-old woman who died of COVID-19 in a private hospital here, refused to accept her body and cremate it, forcing the district administration to perform her last rites, said officials on Monday. Her son refused to perform the last rights despite authorities seeking to give him the requisite protective gears and assuring him that it would shield him against the infection, said Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), Iqbal Singh Sandhu. Admitted to a private hospital here on March 31, the Shimlapuri village resident died on Sunday. "It was a big shock for everybody when relatives including, son of the deceased, did not come to claim her body. The body was later claimed by the district administration," said Sandhu. He said the administrative authorities approached family members twice but they refused to claim the body. The son of deceased was also assured that he would be given protective gear for cremation but he refused to perform the last rites, he added. The last rites were performed late mid night by district administration officials while Kaur's son and other family members watched the cremation from a distance of over 100 metres. The incident comes close on the heels of Amritsar's Verka village residents refusing to allow the cremation of former 'Hazuri Raagi' Nirmal Singh Khalsa, who died of COVID-19, in his native village cremation ground. The answers to the three questions can be found in the works of German philosopher Erich Fromm. His book Escape from Freedom (1941) outlines that fascism and its leadership grow when citizens surrender their freedom and the readiness to accept any ideology and any leader, if only he promises excitement and offers a political structure and symbols which allegedly give meaning and order to an individual's life. Manufactured crisis and fear are twin projects of Hindutva forces in India. RSS and BJP provide a deceptive nationalist ideological narrative based on Hindutva symbols which have no basis in history or Hindu religion. The strong leadership of Modi and RSS is based on false propaganda, which destroys the very cosmopolitan fabric of Indian civilisation. The strong leadership of Modi and RSS is based on false propaganda, which destroys the very cosmopolitan fabric of Indian civilisation BJP and RSS pursued the politics of otherness by propagating the politics of Hindutva against Muslims and captured the political environment created by the failures of the Congress. It created a false sense of insecurity created by global war against Islamic terrorism, which helped BJP and RSS to pursue its politics of hate against Muslims. It also spreads a false sense of threat to Indian national glory by projecting Indian Muslims as pro-Pakistan, which is not true. The desire for order and security under a strong leader has provided grounds for propaganda that led to the victory of Modi led BJP. The menace of demonetisation, Goods and Services Tax, abrogation of Article-370 of Indian Constitution, Citizenship Amendment Act, lynching of Muslims, imprisoning human rights activists and political opponents, gunning down leaders of rationalist movements continue to be cited as some of the ideological achievements of the Modi government in India. The rising tide of unprecedented social disharmony, unemployment and acute economic crisis is battering India today. These are self-inflicted pains induced upon Indian society and economy by the architects of Hindutva to manufacture crisis, fear and otherness. This is a Hindutva shock doctrine to transform secular India into a Hindu Rashtra. This shock therapy is essential to sustain and manufacture further crisis that will allow RSS and BJP to enjoy absolute power in India. It will cost Indians their freedom and constitutional, secular and liberal democracy. There is a need for opposition to Hindutva under the leadership of Modi and his political practice. This is necessary for the survival of the unity and integrity of India. Opposition parties need to develop their own agenda and stop responding to diversionary and deceptive tactics of Modi-led Hindutva forces. It is important for the opposition parties to recover from their inner tiredness and political resignation. Political despair and depoliticization are twin weapons that create fertile environment for the establishment and growth of Hindutva as a fascist force in India. There is a need for mass movement against Modi to create an alternative narrative to counter the misconceptions created by Modis propaganda machine. It is important to highlight the ideological threats of Hindutva as a fascist threat to our society by highlighting lynching of Muslims, Dalits and human rights activists. --- *Coventry University, India India needs investment in health infrastructure by establishing more medical colleges, research centres and hospitals. Indians need more doctors, nurses, pathologists, pharmacists, medical technicians, laboratories and hospital managers. These facilities are central to public health infrastructure in India. Instead of providing these facilities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Indians to clap, bang thalis and light candles. Clapping and candles will not help patients and doctors. It cannot stop the spreading of diseases and pandemics like COVID-19. India needs schools, colleges, universities, industries, employment and all other modern infrastructures. In every crisis, there is no policy response but Modi addresses the nation as if his speeches can heal the broken republic of India.His speeches symbolize the art of deception; abandoning his constitutional responsibilities for the citizens of India during different crisis. In spite of all his failures, his popularity among Indians continues to surprise many.There are three questions central to understand the rise of Modi, RSS and BJP. The first question is what explains the appeal of Narendra Modi to unforgiving Indian voters. The BJP won last two general elections under his leadership. The second question is how did the fringe elements of Hindutva cultural movement led by RSS become mainstream in Indian politics and society. The third question is how strong constitutional institutions became so fragile after the electoral victory of Modi led BJP. National Guard members will man some polling stations and voters in more than 100 municipalities will have nowhere to cast their ballots as the US state of Wisconsin holds elections on Tuesday despite the coronavirus epidemic. Wisconsin, like dozens of other US states, is under a stay-at-home order to prevent the spread of the virus, which has caused nearly 10,000 deaths across the country. And while 15 US states and one territory delayed presidential primaries because of COVID-19, the midwestern state -- barring a last-minute postponement -- is going ahead with its election on Tuesday despite health concerns and a shortage of poll workers. Former vice president Joe Biden is favored over Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in the state's Democratic presidential primary to decide an opponent to face Republican Donald Trump in November. Sanders, 78, called for the Wisconsin primary to be delayed while Biden, 77, the frontrunner in the Democratic contest, said it was up to local officials to decide. Wisconsin's Democratic Governor Tony Evers has sought to postpone the election until May and have it done entirely by mail but the Republican-majority legislature adjourned over the weekend and again on Monday without taking up his proposal. Two members of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, in a letter to the leader of the state senate and speaker of the state assembly, said it was a mistake to proceed with the election "in the face of a deepening and escalating COVID-19 crisis." "Forcing an in-person election on Tuesday not only threatens the voters, the clerks and election staff, it threatens everyone those people subsequently come into contact with at home and elsewhere," commissioners Ann Jacobs and Mark Thomsen wrote. "A single asymptomatic virus-carrying poll worker could transmit the virus to hundreds of people on election day, creating a disease vector that would devastate a community," they said. The election commissioners also said there was a severe staffing shortage at polling stations and 111 municipalities did not have enough poll workers to open single polling site. They said others have had to be consolidated, risking the sort of crowding that health experts have warned can contribute to the spread of the virus. Milwaukee, the biggest city in the state, for example, usually has 180 polling places, they said, but will have only five. They also condemned a plan to bring in members of the National Guard to work at polling stations. Besides the presidential primary, Wisconsin residents will also be voting for mayors, judges, county executives and other local officials. According to the Wisconsin state health department, 2,267 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the state and there have been 68 deaths. On March 30, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York entered a final consent judgment against International Investment Group, LLC (IIG), a former registered investment adviser, which the Securities and Exchange Commission had charged with securities fraud for hiding losses and selling millions in fake loan assets to clients. The SEC's complaint, filed on November 21, 2019, alleges that IIG grossly overstated the value of defaulted loans in the fund's portfolio to conceal losses in its flagship fund. In an effort to continue its deception, IIG later doctored the firm's records to show that the defaulted loans had been repaid and that the proceeds had been used to make new loans, when in fact there had been no repayment and the purported new loans were fake. The SEC's complaint further alleges that IIG executives sought to raise money to meet investor redemptions and other the liabilities by selling at least $60 million in fake trade finance loans to other clients, including a collateralized loan obligation, a retail mutual fund, and two hedge funds. To deceive clients into purchasing the loans, IIG created fake loan documentation to substantiate the non-existent loans, including fake promissory notes and a forged credit agreement. Without admitting or denying the SEC's allegations, IIG consented to the entry of a final judgment, enjoining it 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 and Sections 206(1) and 206(2) of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940. The final judgment also requires IIG to pay more than $35 million is disgorgement and prejudgment interest. The SEC previously revoked IIG's registration as an investment adviser on November 26, 2019. The SEC's ongoing investigation is being conducted by Philip A. Fortino, Lindsay Moilanen, and Sheldon L. Pollock of the New York Regional Office and Osman Nawaz of the Complex Financial Instruments Unit, with assistance from Eli Bass of the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations, and is being supervised by Sanjay Wadhwa and Daniel Michael. The SEC's litigation is being handled by Mr. Fortino, Ms. Moilanen, Lee A. Greenwood, and Neal Jacobson. Every spring in the Northern Hemisphere, the ocean surface erupts in a massive bloom of phytoplankton. Like plants, these single-celled floating organisms use photosynthesis to turn light into energy, consuming carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen in the process. When phytoplankton die or are eaten by zooplankton, the carbon-rich fragments sinks deeper into the ocean, where it is, in turn, eaten by other creatures or buried in sediments. This process is key to the "biological carbon pump," an important part of the global carbon cycle. Scientists have long known that the ocean plays an essential role in capturing carbon from the atmosphere, but a new study from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) shows that the efficiency of the ocean's "biological carbon pump" has been drastically underestimated, with implications for future climate assessments. In a paper published April 6 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, WHOI geochemist Ken Buesseler and colleagues demonstrated that the depth of the sunlit area where photosynthesis occurs varies significantly throughout the ocean. This matters because the phytoplankton's ability to take up carbon depends on amount of sunlight that's able to penetrate the ocean's upper layer. By taking account of the depth of the euphotic, or sunlit zone, the authors found that about twice as much carbon sinks into the ocean per year than previously estimated. The paper relies on previous studies of the carbon pump, including the authors' own. "If you look at the same data in a new way, you get a very different view of the ocean's role in processing carbon, hence its role in regulating climate," says Buesseler. "Using the new metrics, we will be able to refine the models to not just tell us how the ocean looks today, but how it will look in the future," he adds. "Is the amount of carbon sinking in the ocean going up or down? That number affects the climate of the world we live in." In the paper, Buesseler and his coauthors call on their fellow oceanographers to consider their data in context of the actual boundary of the euphotic zone. "If we're going to call something a euphotic zone, we need to define that," he says. "So we're insisting on a more formal definition so that we can compare sites." Rather than taking measurements at fixed depths, the authors used chlorophyll sensors --indicating the presence of phytoplankton-- to rapidly assess the depth of the sunlit region. They also suggest using the signature from a naturally-occuring thorium isotope to estimate the rate at which carbon particles are sinking. ### Buesseler is a principal investigator with WHOI's Ocean Twilight Zone project, which focuses on the little-understood but vastly important mid-ocean region. In a commentary published in Nature on March 31, Buesseler and colleagues call on the international marine research community to intensify their studies of the twilight zone during the upcoming United Nations Decade of the Ocean (2021-2030). Increased understanding of the twilight zone ecosystem and its role in regulating climate, the authors say, will lead to global policy to protect the area from exploitation. Coauthors of the paper include: Phillip Boyd of University of Tasmania, Australia; Erin Black of Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, and Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, New York; and David Siegel, University of California, Santa Barbara. This work was funded by: WHOI's Ocean Twilight Zone project; NASA as part of the EXport Processes in the global Ocean from RemoTe Sensing (EXPORTS) program; the Ocean Frontier Institute at Dalhousie University; and the Australian Research Council. Key takeaways: Using photosynthesis, phytoplankton floating on the ocean's surface absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The depth of this sunlit layer affects the efficiency of the ocean's "biological carbon pump" or ability to take up carbon. By measuring the depth of the ocean's sunlit surface area, or "euphotic zone", scientists found that the "biological carbon pump" is twice as efficient as previously estimated. Using this method could lead to more accurate climate models, such as those used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to set global climate policy. More study of the mid-ocean "twilight zone" will lead to better understanding of the biological carbon pump's role in regulating climate and the productivity of fisheries. Investor Daymond John wasn't into sharing an investment with his fellow Sharks on Friday's episode of ABC's "Shark Tank." Not even with Shark Lori Greiner, who has had some of the most successful investments on the show. "Oh no... my buddy @TheSharkDaymond just threw me under the bus!" Greiner tweeted on April 3. John replied, "I love you @LoriGreiner but this is a Chocolate Thunder-only offer." (Chocolate Thunder is John's nickname.) Twitter exchange between John and Greiner The offer at the center of the exchange was for Muvez, a convertible sneaker-to-slipper footwear company. Ryan Cruz, his brother Eric Cruz and their best friend Kevin Zamora founded the company and asked the Sharks for a $200,000 investment in return for a 15% stake. "When guests enter my home and leave their shoes on, it drives me crazy," Eric said during the episode. Ryan and Zamora said they'd prefer to go in and out of the house without having to change from slippers to sneakers, so they created Muvez. The Muvez looks like a lace-less, slip on sneaker with a thin sneaker sole. And it comes with a separate, removable shell that can be clipped onto the sneaker sole to create a slipper when going indoors. A pair of Muvez sneakers sell for $99.95, and a pack of two pairs sell for $184.95, according to its website. By PTI NEW DELHI: The government may consider allowing flight operations in a staggered manner after the 21-day nationwide lockdown ends on April 14, officials said on Sunday. Except Air India, all other airlines have been taking bookings for commercial passenger services from April 15. Officials said the government may consider allowing operations of passenger flights from April 15 in a staggered manner, at the same time suggesting that flights may not be allowed to operate on all sectors. Reacting to reports on likely resumption of flights, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri called them "mere speculation". He referred to a tweet by him on April 2 stating that a decision on resumption of flights after the end of the lockdown period remains to be taken. India suspended domestic and international commercial passenger flight operations from midnight on March 24 for 21 days in sync with the nation-wide lockdown. However, cargo flights, medical evacuation flights, offshore helicopter operations and flights permitted on special ground by the aviation regulator DGCA were allowed to operate during the period. "News about resumption of passenger flights in a staggered manner from 15 April is mere speculation. The correct position is spelt out in my tweet of 2nd April 2020," Puri tweeted on Sunday. On April 2, he had tweeted: "The current lockdown on both domestic and 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." Asked at a press conference on April 2 about resumption of international flights, Puri had said: "Air India had first cancelled the flights to China, then the other carriers stopped flying." "So far as the lockdown is concerned, the lockdown is till April 15. And, we can start considering the resumption of flights on a case-by-case basis depending on where they are coming from after that," he said. When asked about the resumption of passenger flight services, Civil Aviation Secretary P S Kharola's statement at the briefing indicated that the government direction is very clear that the lockdown is up to April 14. "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," he had said on April 2. "In case the lockdown gets extended, then the same process (of cancellation) has to be followed, and if the lockdown is not extended, then the bookings will be honoured," said the secretary. Like many other countries, civil aviation sector has been hit hard in India too following restrictions of flight operations due to the coronavirus pandemic. On Sunday, Air Deccan became the latest casualty of the crisis as it announced an indefinite suspension of flight operations and asked all employees to go on sabbatical without pay. As revenues have fallen significantly due to the coronavirus crisis, IndiGo has announced a pay cut of up to 25 per cent for its senior employees. Another airline, Vistara, too has announced a compulsory leave without pay of up to three days for its senior employees. SpiceJet has stated that its employees' salaries would be reduced between 10 to 30 per cent while the Air India has announced a 10 per cent cut in allowances for every employee, except cabin crew, for the coming three months. GoAir has cut salaries of its employees, laid off its expat pilots and introduced leave without pay for employees on a rotational basis. MUSKEGON, MI Four months ago, Kalon Jones moved into a new apartment with her three kids. The one-bedroom was tight for the family of four, but Jones, 36, coming off a divorce, told her little ones to think of the new accommodations as a hotel suite while she saved up for something roomier. But then came COVID-19 and with it, financial insecurity. In some ways, Jones is lucky she didnt outright lose her job as a radiology clerk at Mercy Health, where shes been working for eight years while raising her kids and going to school. But her hours have been cut, and she is waiting to hear whether shell be among the companys 2,500 furloughed employees, she said. We were already living from check to check, before all this, Jones said. But Jones has one advantage: Her landlord, the nonprofit Community enCompass, has decided to forgive April rent for its tenants in response to the effect that novel coronavirus has had on low-income families. The organization informed tenants in its 26 affordable-rate units on Tuesday, March 31, that their April rent would be forgiven. It is an effort to ensure our neighbors are able to focus on their health and safety without worrying about getting too far behind on rent or facing the possibility of eviction," Community enCompass Director Sarah Rinsema-Sybenga said in a press release. The gesture will cost the organization about $18,000 in rental payments, Rinsema-Sybenga told MLive. Another $2,000 is set aside for future court appointments that tenants may need in order to trigger further statewide rental assistance, she said. Kalon Jones poses for a portraits on the front porch of the duplex she lives at with her three children in Muskegon, Michigan on Friday, April 3, 2020. Alison Zywicki | azywicki Lighthouse Property Management, which manages all enCompass-owned rental properties, will also reduce its fees and waive late fees for tenants in good standing if their income has been affected by the global pandemic, according to the news release. A representative for that company did not respond to MLives request for comment. We know this unprecedented situation impacts everyone differently, Community enCompass told its tenants in a letter. Some of you have lost your job or seen reduced hours; some of you are now taking care of kids all day long, trying to balance parenting and homeschooling; some of you are taking care of elderly, vulnerable family members; some of you are wondering how you are going to pay the bills Jones is juggling many of those questions. She loves her job and her colleagues, and understands why her work in an outpatient facility is not seen as essential during a pandemic, she said. But she wonders what a furlough would mean in the long term, including what kind of assistance she can apply for while she is still technically employed. I have my contract in my face, trying to read up on what that means, Jones said. Im trying to muddle through and process whats happening. Receiving a months rental assistance is life-changing" because she can now budget differently for the coming weeks, Jones said. Im going to take that rent money that I would have paid and I want to put it aside and pretend like I did pay it, she said. In the meantime, shell continue to use community resources, including the social services helpline 211. Shes working extra hours outside of work too, to make sure her kids a 13-year-old son, and daughters, ages 10 and 9 get both the food and the stimulation theyre no longer receiving from school. At home, theyre doing homework and reading books, but theyre bored out of their minds, she said. They miss their friends, they miss their school, she said. The novel coronavirus has affected nearly every facet of the economy, and especially hurt hourly workers in industries deemed nonessential, such as some construction, retail and hospitality who have no way of working from home or whose hours or jobs have been cut. But as Jones story demonstrates, even stable work in the healthcare field is at-risk during such a global upheaval. This is the first time in Community enCompass history that such a rent forgiveness has been offered, but unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures, the organizations letter to its tenants reads. The organization is soliciting donations in order to recoup those costs, according to Rinsema-Sybenga. It also is staying abreast of state or federal resources that may become available to assist mortgage-holders, and to connect tenants to proposed similar resources for renters. Although some states are beginning to offer moratoriums on mortgage payments, and Michigan has placed eviction proceedings on hold, there is not yet a clear standard for how this state will address what could become mass nonpayment of rent from tenants who have lost work due to the coronavirus. Were all wondering how things are going to be worked out, Rinsema-Sybenga told MLive. The lack of rental income will impact everyones housing security, and landlords personal finances Were just trying to be proactive on the front end, not knowing some of those details yet. Jones said she is trying to stay positive with help from her religious faith. She also thinks that her community has become stronger while everyone weathers this strange, new reality together. Even though people are frantic and scared, people are more friendly now, she said. People are caring about neighbors now. The community is doing the best we can to come together and get through this together. 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: Sunday, April 5: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Michigan National Guard expands food bank assistance amid coronavirus crisis Without coronavirus aid, point of no return looms for Michigan small businesses $8M in coronavirus aid coming to West Michigan Coronavirus shutdown of Michigan schools creates unprecedented challenge for educators, families Muskegon County coronavirus cases increase by 50 percent More small businesses may be purchasing cyber insurance today as compared to a few years ago, but agents still have work to do to help clients understand their unique risks and ensure they have the right coverage. Thats what panelists had to say during Insurance Journals March 31 webinar: What Agents Should Know About Cyber. Panelists opened the hour-long discussion on a positive note, stating there has been an uptick in small and medium-sized businesses that recognize their cyber insurance needs and are purchasing coverage. Weve certainly seen an uptick in small business customers, said Rob Rosenzweig, national cyber risk practice leader at Risk Strategies. With the growth of ransomware, I think the individual small businesses have realized how impactful that can be to their direct business. Indeed, ransomware malicious software designed to shut down access to a computer system until a ransom is paid is typically spread through phishing emails or infected websites. As technology has evolved, so have ransomware attacks, with The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) noting on its website that it has observed an increase in attacks globally. Weve seen a huge uptick with the awareness and increase in both frequency and severity of ransomware claims, and then a huge awareness on the social engineering and invoice manipulation fraud front that seems to be driving more smaller businesses into the marketplace, said Matt Donovan, senior vice president and cyber specialist at Worldwide Facilities. Donovan said he believes the industry is on the back of a 10-to-15 year period in which businesses began moving to digital capabilities, and this has led to increased concern about ransomware and other cyber risks. Now, we see a high concern on the business continuity side, whether it be reliance on your own network or people waking up and realizing how much theyve outsourced to the Cloud, to Amazon web services, Microsoft, Google whomever it might be and they recognize that while going through some pretty nice cost-cutting and efficiency measures, they now are further exposed to business interruption events, he said. Rosenzweig said on top of that, hes seen more carriers pulling back on including cyber coverages in other lines of business or silent cyber risk coverages in policies. which could be driving a need for smaller businesses to, for the first time, think about purchasing standalone, affirmative cyber coverage, he said. The Education Challenge While more small and medium-sized businesses may be buying cyber insurance, there are still some misconceptions among insureds about whether theyre too small to be a target or what their policies actually cover, Donovan said. Thats where agents come in. Where I think the insurance industry probably needs to do a better job is on the education front, Rosenzweig said. A lot of stories you might see about the insurance marketplace not necessarily addressing cyber risk exposures are a function of policyholders being reliant on other insurance products that they think are going to have some element of coverage for cyber-related losses. Matt Prevost, senior vice president of cyber at Chubb, agreed, adding that agents and brokers have a responsibility to help clients understand what their policies cover. I think theres an element of agents and brokers really pinpointing, Okay, heres what cyber coverage is, heres how it relates to you as an organization, and heres why you need to understand this,' Prevost said. Its important for agents to run through an actual claim scenario, he explained, in order to understand how a cyber insurance policy will respond in the event of a claim and what the next steps are. That way, agents can properly convey this information to clients. I think those are the good agents and brokers if they understand the ramifications of not just going out and seeking cyber coverage, but really knowing how a policy works at the time when its needed, he said. Thats where weve seen that education gap lessen in a favorable way, given that they can communicate that message to those non-buyers who are out there. Understanding Coverage for Clients However, its not just insureds that need a better understanding of cyber insurance. Agents also need to educate themselves in order to meet clients coverage needs, panelists said. I think weve only scratched the surface as to where its going to go. The popularity around cyber is something thats important, but also the significance of educating the agent/broker community around cyber insurance, Prevost said. Rosenzweig said any remaining lack of buyers in the cyber insurance space could partially be due to insurance brokers and agents who arent cyber specialists feeling hesitant to talk to clients about it. This is especially important for agents just getting started selling cyber, he added. If youre getting started, first and foremost, you need to understand that there is no standardization of policy wordings across the marketplace, he said. There is just a tremendous difference from one policy to the next, so either taking a crash course and familiarizing yourself with some of the trapdoors in the wording or linking up with a broker or other outsourced provider that can help you navigate those differences in the wordings can be crucial. You have to be able to give the 50,000-foot view of what a policy covers, and then try to extrapolate that to: What does that mean for the insured? Rosenzweig pointed to industry resources such as classes and publications that can help agents understand the available insurance coverage, as well as trends facing small and medium-sized businesses. You certainly dont need to be a technology expert, but to have that base level understanding so that you can communicate to a small business owner in a very succinct and clear way why they need to think about data security and why the insurance policy might help them thats imperative, he said. Additionally, Nadia Hoyte, national advisor for USI Insurance Services Executive & Professional Risk Solutions Practice, said new agents need to understand why their client is thinking about cyber in order to find the right product. Sometimes, there is the desire just to go out and just get an insurance policy, but I do think its always prudent to take that step back to really understand what are [the clients] asking for, and making sure that is aligning with the product that were putting in front of them, she explained. This starts through candid conversations with policyholders, Prevost said. I think thats when the cyber insurance marketplace is performing on all cylinders; when that communication happens, rather than just thinking, Okay, these small businesses are going to get attacked,' he said. We cant just throw our hands up in the air. The Age of Specialty However, if agents hope a better understanding of cyber coverage will be made easier with standardized policy forms, thats probably not going to happen anytime soon, panelists said. If we talked about cyber insurance overall as a marketplace, there are over 70 carriers in the market in the United States, Prevost said. All have different policy forms. All have different underwriting questions. Really, theres an element of innovation and staying flexible with both policy forms and the underwriting questions because these threats are evolving constantly. Indeed, Rosenzweig said differentiation of policy forms presents an opportunity for agents and brokers to set themselves apart by becoming experts who can navigate a crowded and noisy marketplace. We are in the age of specialty, he said. I think clients want a specialty-focused insurer that is nimble enough and innovative enough to continually have an iterative policy thats going to meet the unique needs of their industry and their risks. If we were to move towards a higher level of standardization, you lose that. You have to be able to give the 50,000-foot view of what a policy covers, and then try to extrapolate that to: What does that mean for the insured? That said, Hoyte noted overall concepts will need to see more standardization in the future to lessen the risk of inconsistency and confusion about whether coverage exists in certain areas. For example, the concepts of gaming or computer hardware replacement costs that particular concept is extremely different when you read the technical language from one policy to another policy, she said. There should be some consistency from that perspective, because that certainly would benefit the insured. Scratching the Surface With all of this in mind, panelists answered one final question: Where is the cyber insurance market headed? I dont think it can get much more competitive, Donovan said. Its pretty competitive right now in the marketplace. With the spike in ransomware and increased frequency of attritional losses, Rosenzweig said he anticipates more carriers will begin pulling out of the marketplace, leading to a smaller network of specialty insurers offering the right coverage, understanding the risks and asking important questions. It will ultimately be better for the marketplace to have a committed, concentrated number of carriers that we know are here for the long-term and that we feel confident placing our clients business with, he said. In addition, Hoyte said she believes the way insureds are thinking about purchasing cyber coverage will change in the future. I think you will start to see people buy very differently in the future because they will see it as a risk that overlays your business rather than something that ties specifically to certain aspects of your business, she said. I think there will also be an influx of different ways to buy cyber insurance. It wont necessarily be just a standard retention or deductible and then a limit on top of that. There will be different ways to conceptualize how youre able to buy the insurance. Donovan said while heightened competition may be keeping underwriters on their toes, he believes the industry has done well evolving with new cyber threats. Were still rapidly evolving as far as what the coverage is going to encompass. What were covering today will be expanded by next year, and so on, he said. I think weve only scratched the surface as to where its going to go. Topics Cyber Agencies Commercial Lines Business Insurance Training Development M ore than 300 former Metropolitan Police officers have volunteered to return amid the coronavirus pandemic. It comes as police forces across the country try to clamp down on people breaching Covid-19 lockdown rules while being exposed to contracting the virus themselves. So far, 339 officers who retired in the last five years have applied to return to the Met Police. The first have already started training to prepare them for returning to duty on Monday. More than 30 other former officers have applied to work as special constables. 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 Meanwhile, another 307 who retired more than five years ago have also volunteered to help the force. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said she was incredibly grateful. It comes as police force chiefs told the Commons Home Affairs Committee that around 13 per cent of police officers across the UK were currently off work. MPs were also told on Monday officers may be able to get tests to check if they have coronavirus by the end of the month. A policeman walks past a people exercising with a dog amid the coronavirus lockdown / PA Chief Superintendent Paul Griffiths, president of the Police Superintendents Association of England and Wales, said: "Obviously the key workers that they're (the Government) focusing on at the moment is National Health Service and we recognise the importance for both national health colleagues and also social care. "But we also are key workers in this system and we're very keen to make sure that we have a position within the testing regime and prioritisation. Mr Griffiths said: "We are obviously experiencing an absence rate. A police officer speaks with people in Greenwich Park / REUTERS "The absence rate is approximately 13% across the whole of the national establishment and that includes police officers and staff. "Those will be sick, some of those will be self-isolating because of symptoms and some of them will have caring responsibilities. "Most of them are trying as best as possible to see whether they can work at home, which gives you an idea of the solidarity that continues across the police service in trying to do their very best in extreme circumstances." He said no forces had so far raised their absence rate as a "risk in terms of service provision" and the numbers seemed to be "plateauing off". A police car is seen in Greenwich Park during the UK lockdown / REUTERS But he added: "We are acutely aware that this could change at any point and quite frankly we don't know what the impact will be if this disease continues to spread particularly into members of the police family." Simon Kempton, from the Police Federation of England and Wales, said that some forensic laboratories could be re-purposed to process tests. But he said: "Even then if we are able to do that, there are going to be some really difficult decisions about which officers get the tests and which don't; or which get them first and which have to wait." When asked about a timetable for testing, he added: "My expectation is that we will begin to see those tests coming online middle to the end of April." Mr Kempton said something had "gone wrong" in the supply chain of personal protective equipment (PPE) for officers. While a "huge amount" of PPE has been ordered by forces, it is not always getting to frontline staff. He was forced to go out to arrest a suspect thought to have Covid-19 without the equipment, MPs heard. Renewed fighting in Libya, where both sides rely on drone support from foreign backers, has fueled a battle for air supremacy that augurs further escalation despite the coronavirus outbreak in the country. It also raises the prospect of Turkey sending more military aid to its allies. Despite cease-fire efforts and an arms embargo, fighting in Libya has flared up since the second week of March, when the forces of rebel commander Khalifa Hifter launched a fresh push toward Tripoli, reinforced with fresh arms supplies from their allies the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. In early March, Hifters forces had already tightened their siege of the capital from the south and their siege of Misrata from the southeast. On March 25, the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) launched a counter-offensive, dubbed Operation Peace Storm, to repulse Hifters forces, drawing on Turkish military support. Turkey employed the tactics it used and apparently deemed successful in the five-day showdown in Syrias Idlib in late February and early March, namely an armed drone surge targeting high-profile command centers and critical enemy weapons, coupled with artillery and rocket fire support. The UN-recognized GNA said Operation Peace Storm was launched because Hifters forces had continued rocket and drone attacks on civilians in the Tripoli area despite a humanitarian truce over the coronavirus outbreak. It said Hifters troops attacked the prison in Ain Zara, south of Tripoli, wounding three officers March 24. In the five days from March 20, six civilians were killed in rocket attacks in the same area, it said. The commander at the helm of Operation Peace Storm is Lt. Gen. Osama al-Juwaili, a former defense minister for the Tripoli-based government and a trusted aide of Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of the GNA who is also the acting chief of general staff. Juwaili is known as Ankaras most trusted man among Libyan commanders and has visited Turkey several times. Early on March 25, the GNA forces made a successful push on the Hifter-controlled al-Watiya air base and the al-Wishka axis east of Misrata, capturing a number of fighters and mercenaries as well as ammunition and military equipment. Backing the offensive from the air, Turkish drones targeted a command center, along with 10 other buildings and some 40 armored vehicles. A colonel who was a close Hifter aide in charge of coordinating Arab mercenaries from Sudan, Chad and Nigeria was reportedly killed in the raids. The reason why Hifters Pantsir air defense systems failed to respond was likely the interference of KORAL radar jammers, the electronic warfare systems that Turkey had transferred to Libya in early February. GNA forces claimed that two other close aides of Hifter Lt. Gen. Salem Driaq, the operations commander of Sirte, and his deputy, Gaddafi al-Sadai were killed in the offensive. The conflict in Libya has evolved into limited clashes on the ground, with the real warfare going on in the air. Against a backdrop of old, good-for-nothing helicopters and combat aircraft, it has essentially become drone warfare. The Turkish Bayraktar TB2 armed drones purchased by Qatar and operated by GNA troops trained in Turkey are the GNAs drone of choice. The drones, which carry two or four MAM-L smart micro munitions, are capable of surgical hits on ground targets from a distance of up to seven kilometers (nearly 4.5 miles). The 40-kilogram (88-pound) MAM-L munitions, however, have limited destructive power. GNA forces have used also Israeli Orbiter-3 drones for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance. The Hifter-led Libyan National Army (LNA), for its part, has been actively using Chinese-made Wing Loong II drones, acquired by the UAE and Saudi Arabia. On April 1, a Turkish frigate off the shore of Sabratha, 55 kilometers (34 miles) west of Tripoli, fired SM-1 surface-to-air missiles on LNA drones in what was a first in Turkeys military involvement in the conflict. The Turkish navys Goksu and Gokova frigates have been providing air and naval protection support to GNA forces off the coastline between Tripoli and Sabratha since early February. Turkeys deployment of its HISAR-O medium-range air defense systems to Tripoli would not be a surprise as the power struggle in the war is increasingly becoming a battle for air supremacy, in which the frigates are capable of limited air defense support. Though Operation Peace Storm has relied heavily on armed drones, a Turkish Air Force Boeing E-7T, flying off the coast to provide signal intelligence to Turkish forces on the ground, has been instrumental as well. Besides supplying intelligence about targets on the ground, the plane has tracked LNA drones, allowing Turkish anti-drone systems to jam and shoot them down. Both the Moscow talks and the Berlin conference in January appear null and void amid the rekindled fighting and the parties escalating warfare for airspace control. Despite the UN arms embargo on Libya, both Turkey and the Emirati-Saudi-Egypt bloc have continued to ship weapons to their respective allies. Similarly, Russian mercenaries of the Wagner Group remain in Libya, backing Hifters forces, even though Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had voiced hope they would withdraw following talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in early March. In the meantime, the COVID-19 pandemic has reached Libya, leading some to hope that the fighting might let up. Yet even the prospect of a reluctant lull seems distant as fighters on the ground appear bent on carrying on with face masks and plastic gloves. In sum, none of the actors has shown commitment to seeking a lasting cease-fire, as agreed in Berlin. A further escalation appears inevitable in Libya in the coming weeks. The party that gains the upper hand in the skies is set to grab a strategic advantage. Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly denounced the former commanding officer of the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt Monday as either too naive or too stupid to be at the helm, according to a recording of the speech to the ships crew obtained by The Chronicle. Then, after a daylong torrent of criticism over the recorded remarks that included congressional calls for his resignation, Modly flip-flopped and apologized Monday night. Now Playing: Rraw audio of a speech given by Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly to the crew of the nuclear aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt Monday. Modly relieved Capt. Brett Crozier of his command of the ship last week after Crozier pleaded for help with a coronavirus outbreak in a letter to the Navy. Crozier has since tested positive for COVID-19. Video: SFGATE Let me be clear, I do not think Captain Brett Crozier is naive nor stupid. I think, and always believed him to be the opposite, Modly said in a statement. He apologized to the Navy, Crozier, his family, and the entire crew of the Theodore Roosevelt for any pain my remarks may have caused. Modlys about-face capped a dizzying day that included President Trump weighing in on what he called Modlys rough statement a 15-minute address in Guam, delivered over the ships intercom system. In it, Modly disparaged the heros send-off the crew gave Crozier after the secretary had relieved him of his command last week. The Navy chief called Crozier a a martyr CO who betrayed his crew, railed about the media having an agenda and complained his family has been under attack since his decision to remove Crozier became a big controversy in Washington, D.C. It was a betrayal, Modly said. Of trust with me, with his chain of command, with you. Crozier, a Santa Rosa native, last week sent a letter to naval command raising alarms about dire conditions on the ship, asking for evacuations, and criticizing the Navys response. The Chronicle obtained the letter and published it. Modly cited Croziers decision to copy more than 20 people on the letter as his reason for relieving Crozier of command of the Roosevelt. If he didnt think ... that this information wasnt going to get out into the public, in this information age that we live in, then he was too naive or too stupid to be commanding officer of a ship like this, Modly said Monday, to audible gasps heard in the the audio. The alternative is that he did it on purpose. Croziers March 30 memo to Navy command pleaded for immediate help to evacuate his carrier in Guam to prevent the spread of the virus through the cramped ship. But in his speech, Modly said he offered before then to come visit the ship and provide his full assistance. Crozier waved me off. He said he felt like things were under control, Modly said. 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 On Monday, the Navy reported that 61% of the Roosevelt crew members have been tested for COVID-19, with 173 testing positive. The Navy said that 1,999 sailors have been moved ashore. Modly and top Navy officials said last week that by Friday they had planned to remove 2,700 sailors from the ship. One of those who tested positive was Crozier, 50. Trump said Monday that he may look into it in detail. The president said Monday at a news conference that it was a mistake for Crozier to send his memo to many people, as the Navy has alleged. Its unfair to the families of the people on the ship because they get nervous, Trump said. And it shows weakness. Theres nothing weak about us now. Not anymore. We have the strongest military weve ever had. However, with all of that said, (Croziers) career prior to that was very good, Trump said. I dont want to destroy somebody for having a bad day. Modly said after the remarks became public Monday that he had no regrets. I have not listened to a recording of my remarks since speaking to the crew so I cannot verify if the transcript is accurate, Modly said in a statement provided by the Navy. The spoken words were from the heart, and meant for them. I stand by every word I said, even, regrettably any profanity that may have been used for emphasis. Chronicle attempts to reach Crozier were unsuccessful. The speech, delivered to a crew that had days earlier chanted Croziers name, did not sit well with some. One Roosevelt sailor told The Chronicle that the speech sounded Orwellian. The sailor echoed Modlys statement about Crozier, saying the secretary himself was too naive or too stupid to think this speech wouldnt get out. Some of these comments sound like something you might hear at a rally, the sailor said. And the comments about doing our jobs and duty? As if we need a reminder from this guy? Patronizing to try to play to the patriotism in us. The sailor who spoke to The Chronicle wished to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak to the media. The Chronicle agreed not to identify the sailor in accordance with its policy on anonymous sources. Modlys address also drew swift condemnation Monday in Washington that helped to trigger his late-night apology. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, was among those who called Monday for Modly to resign over his mismanagement of the coronavirus outbreak aboard the ship and for his retaliation against Crozier. 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. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, a Vietnam veteran whose district includes Croziers native Santa Rosa, called for an investigation into Croziers firing. The comments made by the Secretary of the Navy are downright unacceptable, Thompson said. The entire Department of Defense should be focused on the health of our men and women in uniform, not closing ranks and slandering a good man who has served his nation honorably. Bradley Martin, a retired Navy captain who served 30 years, said it was highly unusual to see the Navy secretary address the crew about a recently dismissed commanding officer. Typically, its something thats treated with a little bit of discretion, said Martin, who commanded the Naval Expeditionary Task Force for Europe and Africa. For the secretary to go on a ship and say that the guy who you all admired had it all wrong seems like something unusual, Martin said. I dont understand the point of being uncomplimentary of him. Martin thought it was a stretch for Modly to say that Croziers letter compromised the security of the ship. It was reasonably well known and had been reported in the media that crew members had tested positive for coronavirus, he said. Mark Blakewood, whose son serves on the carrier, read the transcript of the address by Modly and said it helped him understand why Crozier felt compelled to email so many people rather than rely on the secretary. Im now totally convinced Thomas Modly just cooked his own goose and ... needs to be immediately removed from his position, Blakewood said. Modly also bashed the media at length including The Chronicle specifically. There is no, no situation where you go to the media, Modly said. Because the media has an agenda and the agenda that they have depends on which side of the political aisle they sit. ... They use it to divide us and use it to embarrass the Navy. They use it to embarrass you. As he acknowledged the crew members might be angry with him for firing their beloved CO, Modly said that hatred and pure evil have since been directed at him and his family. Then he added: But ... its not about me. Modly gave the crew members his personal word theyd get what they need. Whatever else you may think of me, I dont go back on my word, he told them. And when it comes down to the TR, whether you hate me or not, I will never, ever, ever, ever give up the ship, and neither should you. Matthias Gafni, Tal Kopan and Joe Garofoli are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: matthias.gafni@sfchronicle.com, tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com, jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mgafni, @talkopan, @joegarofoli Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-07 01:53:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close AMMAN, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Jordan on Monday confirmed the 6th fatality of the novel coronavirus, and the total confirmed cases reached 394 with the announcement of four new cases. Also on Monday, 16 patients were recovered, increasing the overall recoveries to 126, according to a governmental statement. Jordan's Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh said there is a possibility for imposing a full curfew in the next few days. He added that around 1,036 people violated the curfew on Monday. "It is annoying to see many people not abiding by the curfew. Some people were seen picnicking today, which is a violation of the curfew," said Adaileh. After creating the star-studded #HesGotTheWholeWorldChallenge to raise COVID-19 awareness, Tyler Perry decided to use some of his $600M fortune to help the staff at one of his favorite restaurants in Atlanta. On Sunday, the 50-year-old movie/TV mogul left a $500 tip for each of the 42 out-of-work servers employed at the West Paces location of Houston's while picking up a to-go order, according to TMZ. Perry's $21K tip serves as a bit of a cushion for the struggling workers, who might have to wait up to 20 weeks for a $1,200 (and $500 for each child) stimulus check from the federal government. COVID-19 crisis: Tyler Perry decided to use some of his $600M fortune to help the staff at one of his favorite restaurants in Atlanta (pictured March 22) Generous: On Sunday, the 50-year-old movie/TV mogul left a $500 tip for each of the 42 out-of-work servers employed at the West Paces location of Houston's while picking up takeout As of Sunday, 219 people in Georgia have died from coronavirus and a further 6,742 have been infected, according to 11Alive.com. On Thursday, Governor Brian Kemp issued a stay-at-home order (but kept beaches, parks and churches open) after drawing criticism for not being aware that 'this virus is now transmitting before [asymptomatic] people see signs.' Tyler (born Emmitt Perry Jr.) is well known for his generous charitable acts and he employs 400 people at his 330-acre military base-turned-studio in Atlanta featuring 12 sound stages, which he acquired in 2015. Record unemployment numbers: Perry's $21K tip serves as a bit of a cushion for the struggling workers, who might have to wait up to 20 weeks for stimulus checks from the federal government (President Trump pictured signing CARES Act on March 27) 219 have died in the state: On Thursday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued a stay-at-home order (but kept beaches, parks and churches open) after drawing criticism for not being aware that asymptomatic people are contagious (pictured Wednesday) Employer: Tyler is well known for his charitable acts and he employs 400 people at his 330-acre military base-turned-studio in Atlanta featuring 12 sound stages (pictured October 8) Prolific: Fans can tune into one of the three shows the New Orleans-born, Atlanta-based showrunner created for BET - The Oval, Sistas, and Ruthless - as well as OWN's The Haves and the Have Nots and Nickelodeon's Young Dylan (pictured in 2018) Fans can tune into one of the three shows the New Orleans-born, Atlanta-based showrunner created for BET - The Oval, Sistas, and Ruthless. Tyler is also the mastermind behind OWN's The Haves and the Have Nots and Nickelodeon's Young Dylan. The A Fall from Grace director is likely hunkering down in 'prayer and meditation' with his five-year-old son Aman and his partner since 2009, Ethiopian model Gelila Bekele. Rush Transcript: Amid Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, Governor Cuomo Announces Federal Government is Deploying Approximately 1,000 Personnel to New York State April 5, 2020 A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks is available below: Good morning. Happy Sunday. For those of you who celebrate Happy Palm Sunday. Happy Passover week for those who celebrate Passover. Thanks for taking the time to be with us today. We want to give you an update as to where we are. The number of cases increase which is nothing new. It's happened every day since we've started this. It's been a long month. Something a little bit different in the data today. We're not really 100 percent sure yet what the significance is as we're feeling our way through this. Number of people tested, 18,000. Positive cases are up 8,000, total of 122,000 cases. Number of patients discharged, total discharged is 12,000 - 1,700 discharged in one day. Number of deaths is up. That's the bad news. It's 44,159 and we pray for each for each and every one of them and their families and that is up and that is the worst news. But the number of deaths over the past few days has been dropping for the first time. What is the significance of that? It's too early to tell. This is the impact by state. But as I said the interesting blip maybe in the data, or hopeful beginning of a shift in the data and the number of cases, total number of new hospitalizations is 574 which is obviously much lower than previous numbers. That's partially a function of more people being discharged but you see ICU admissions are also down. The daily intubations down slightly from where it was. Again, you can't do this day to day. You have to look at three or four days to see a pattern. Discharge rate is way up and that's great news and the statewide balance of cases has been relatively stable for the past few days. There is a shift to Long Island. Upstate New York is basically flat and as Long Island grows the percentage of cases in New York City has reduced. For those people who look at the data, you have all these projection models and what's been infuriating to me is the models are so different that it's very hard to plan when these models shift all the time. But there's also a difference of opinion on what happens at the apex. All the models say you go up until you go down - thank you very much. Then there's a difference of, is the apex a point or is the apex a plateau. In other words you go up, hit the high and the immediately drop, or do you go up and then there's a plateau where the number of cases stays high for a period of time and then drops? There's a difference of opinion. So you have to think about that when you think about what you're seeing in the numbers because you could argue that you're seeing a slight plateauing in the data which obviously would be good news because it means you plateau for a period of time and then you start to come down and we're all feeling our way through this and we have the best minds in the country, literally on the globe, advising us because New York is the first. I also think it will be very helpful for the other states that follow. I was just talking to Dr. Zucker about codifying everything we're learning because when the next states start to go through this we hope that they can benefit from what we're going through. But we're looking at this seriously now because by the data we could be either very near the apex or the apex could be a plateau and we could be on that plateau right now. We won't know until you see the next few days. Does it go up, does it go down, but that's what the statisticians will tell you today. As we've said before, the coronavirus is truly vicious and effective at what the virus does. It's an effective killer. People who are very vulnerable must stay isolated and protected. I mean, that was the point from day one. That was the point with Matilda's Law, my mother. You have to isolate and protect those people. If a very vulnerable person gets infected with this virus, the probability of a quote unquote "cure" is very low. And that's what this has really been about from day one. That small percentage of the population that's very vulnerable. Major effort that has impacted everyone to save the lives of those people who are in the very vulnerable population. If you're not part of that vulnerable population, then you will get sick, 20 percent require hospitalization, but the hospital system is very effective and it makes a real difference. And that's why the highest number of people ever now being discharged, right. So you're just seeing the evolution of this whole story. You're seeing the narrative unfold, right. We're all watching a movie, we're waiting to see what the next scene is, and as the movie unfolds you start to understand the story better and better. Rush of infection rate, rush of people into the hospital system, hospital system capacity explodes, more people are in, but, more people are coming out. 75 percent of those people who have now gone into the hospital system are coming out of the hospital system. It also helps with the capacity of the hospital system because obviously the more people who are coming out, it makes it easier to handle the large influx that's coming in. Having said all of that, the operational challenge for the healthcare system is impossible. Because the system is over capacity, all across the board. It's just over capacity. So what we're basically saying to a system is you have to manage with the same resources that you have, same staff, an over-capacity situation. And that is putting a tremendous amount of stress on the healthcare system. You're asking a system to do more than it has ever done before, more than it was designed to do with less. I understand that. I get that. Day in and day out, the commissioner and everyone at this table deals with the healthcare system. I understand what they're dealing with. I understand they're being asked to do the impossible. And they are being asked to do the impossible. But, life is options and we do not have any other options. So you get to a situation and you do what you have to do in that situation. And that's where we are. The only operational plan that can work, right, because you know the system doesn't have the capacity, doesn't have the supplies, doesn't have the staff. So how do you handle this surge over capacity? We call it, we have to surge and flex, which means you have to deal with, if you're an individual hospital or hospital network, yes, you're going to be over capacity. And the only way we can make this work is if we flex the system so that we take all hospitals, all hospital networks, some hospitals are in networks, and we work together as one system, which has never been done, right. We have public hospitals. We have private hospitals. We have Long Island hospitals. We have New York City hospitals. In totality, it's the health care system, the state manages, regulates the healthcare system, but they're all individual hospitals. And, or individual networks. And they are accustomed to just doing business and managing their own affairs. That doesn't work. We have to balance the patient load among all of these hospitals. So if one hospital starts to get high or has a protected high intake, we have to shift that patient load to other hospitals. That means some patients who show up at their neighborhood hospital may be asked, can we transport you to another hospital, which is not in your neighborhood, but actually has more capacity. So we have to adjust that patient load among all of the hospitals, which is a daily exercise and it's very, very difficult. We're running short on supplies all across the board. Some hospitals happen to have a greater supply of one thing or another. One hospital has a greater supply of masks, one hospital has a greater supply of gowns. And when we're talking about supply, hospitals are accustomed to dealing with a 60-day supply, 90-day supply. We're talking about 2 or 3 or 4 day supply, which makes the entire hospital system uncomfortable, which I also understand because we're literally going day-to-day with our supplies, with out staff, et cetera. Which is counter-intuitive and counter-operational for the entire health care system and I understand that also. The big operational shift will be Javits coming online if we get that up and running efficiently. That's 2,500 beds for people who test positive with the COVID virus. That is a major shift for the systems and at a time when we desperately need a relief valve for the system, Javits could do that. We're working very hard to get that up and running. That rolling deployment, that flexibility - there is no other way to do this on the state level. I can't say to a hospital, I will send you all the supplies you need. I will send you all the ventilators you need. We don't have it. We don't have them. It's not an exercise, it's not a drill. It's just a statement of reality. You're going to have to shift and deploy resources to different locations based on the need of that location. I think that's going to be true for the country. The federal government everyone says federal stockpile, federal stockpile. There's not enough in the federal stockpile to take care of New York and Illinois and Texas and Florida and California. It's not an option. The only option I see is there's a national deployment - everyone says this is war time, it is a war and the virus is the enemy - where help New York today, thank you state of Oregon, we're dealing with this curve today and this intensity and then nationally, we shift the resources to the next place that is most impacted. Just what we're doing in New York City and New York State on a microcosm, we shift resources from the Bronx to Brooklyn to Queens to Nassau. Shift national resources and state resources from New York to Florida to Illinois, whatever is next on the curve. We're going to do that in any event. We get through this, people have been so beautiful to us and it is the New York way. We're going to codify everything we've learned and when we get past this curve, whatever part of the country goes next, we will be there with equipment and personnel and however we can help. Federal government is also deploying approximately 1,000 personnel to New York. That's doctors, that's nurses, that's respiratory technicians. The immediate priority is to deploy those people to help the New York City public hospitals. The New York City public hospital system, H&H, was a system that was under stress to begin with before any of this. So obviously, you add more stress to institutions that were under stress, it only makes the situation more difficult so we're going to deploy all the federal personnel who are coming in today, 325, to the New York City public hospital system. I talk to the hospital administrators on a daily basis. We get them on a conference call and we do this shifting of supplies and balancing of patient load. I know that I'm asking them to do really difficult things, I get it. I don't enjoy being in this situation. I don't enjoy putting them in this position. I know their staff is all over burdened, but all I can say is thank you to the administration of this health care system and most importantly thank you to the frontline workers. These people, they are true heroes in the truest sense of the word, what they do day in and day out under very difficult circumstances, and we thank them all. On a different and somewhat lighter note, there is an accompanying affliction to the coronavirus that we talked about early on. It is cabin fever. It is a real situation. Not medically diagnosed, I asked Dr. Zucker there is no medical diagnosis for cabin fever, but I believe it exists. It is a feeling of isolation. It is often accompanied by radical mood swings, resentment of people around you to varying degrees, for no reason whatsoever. Just an upwelling of resentment, especially toward people who are in apparent positions of authority in this situation which I've noticed. Irrational outbursts can come at any time, without any warning. Just an irrational outburst, frustration, anger, with no rational basis. Cabin fever, in many ways, also threatens the essence of our Constitution, which is premised on people sharing domestic tranquility and it can be disruptive to tranquility. I can attest to that. It is a real thing. Think about it. It has only been one month but it has been a long month. Positive intervention for cabin fever, I am going to take up running again. I used to run in the normal days before this job. But I am going to start running again. My daughter Cara, we will run as a family and go out there. Cara has a head start. She is out there doing five miles every day. She thinks she can beat me. Give me a couple of weeks and I will be right there, right there. Fast like lightning. We are going to do it. We will make the dog come. The dog is also experiencing cabin fever. He's a little disrupted. The order of the pack has changed. Different people, he does not know where he fits. He has anxiety. He is going to run. Think of ways to deal with it. I don't have any great answer. But a little perspective on the whole situation is important. I challenged my daughters, this is terrible, this is terrible, this is terrible. I have been saying this is terrible for society, the economy and personally. But, you know, let's look back at history, right? Generations have gone through terrible times. So, my challenge to them is you find me a generation that has had a better overall situation than where we are right now. Go back to World War I, World War II, Vietnam, 1918 flu pandemic, you find me a generation that has not had a challenge to deal with and we will are going to have that discussion. Keep in mind on perspective. This is going to be over. You can see the story developing. You can start to see how the story ends, right? They will have a vaccine. Will it be 12 months or 14 months or 18 months? There are a number of treatments that are being expedited and are being tested right now. Dr. Zucker of New York is working expeditiously and cooperatively with the FDA to try all new different treatments: convalescent plasma, receptor antibody treatments, we are working on the hydroxychloroquine - we are working on it aggressively. So, we are trying all these new treatments. Some of them show real promise. But, you can see where the story ends. I think, this is opinion and not fact, I think you see the return to normalcy when we have an approved rapid testing program that can be brought to scale. We are now testing rapid testing programs. But, when you get to the point where you can do rapid testing, of scale, and people can start to go back to work because they know they are negative. We continue to protect the vulnerable population, which is what this was about, and we liberate, as my daughters would say they are seeking liberation. We liberate people who can go back to work because we know that they are not in the vulnerable category and they are negative. I think that is, it is under development now, the rapid testing, and we are part of it. That is going to be the answer, I believe. And we get through it because we are New York State tough. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Abe also told reporters Monday that his government will launch a 108 trillion yen ($1 trillion) stimulus package Japans largest ever and nearly twice as much as expected to help counter the economic impact of the pandemic, including cash payouts to households in need and financial support to protect businesses and jobs. Tokyo: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that he will declare a state of emergency for Tokyo and six other prefectures as early as Tuesday to bolster measures to fight the coronavirus, but that there will be no hard lockdowns. Abe said experts on a government-commissioned task force urged him to prepare to declare a state of emergency, with the COVID-19 outbreak rapidly expanding in major cities including Tokyo, and hospitals and medical staff overburdened with patients. He said the state of emergency will cover Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and four other hard-hit prefectures, and will be in effect for about a month. Measures are expected to include a stay-at-home request for residents, but there will be no penalties for objectors. Public transportation, banks, groceries and other essential services will continue operating. Abe said the state of emergency is intended to further reinforce social distancing between people to slow the spread of the virus, while maintaining as much social and economic activity as possible. But we need to ask everyone to step up cooperation, he said. The government had enacted a special law in March that paved the way for Abe to declare a state of emergency. The law, however, is a divisive one because it could limit civil rights. Abe said he will hold a news conference on Tuesday to further explain the state of emergency. The economic package which amounts to about 20% of the GDP of Japan, the worlds third-largest economy will pay out 300,000 yen ($2,750) to each household with severe income loss due to the outbreak, and will include 26 trillion yen ($238 billion) to address delays in taxes and social welfare payments, Abe said. Its to protect the peoples health and their lives, he said. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said the city will start transferring patients with no symptoms or mild ones from hospitals to hotels and other accommodations to make room for an influx of patients with severe symptoms. Koike has raised alarms over the acceleration of the outbreak in the Japanese capital since late March, warning of an infection explosion and saying that the only way to avoid a complete lockdown of the city is to follow guidelines such as social distancing. Please do not go out. Nothing is more important than that, Koike told a news conference late Monday, mapping out measures she plans to take under Abes emergency declaration. Its to protect your own health, your family, your loved ones and to save our society. Koike said Tokyos metropolitan government is set to approve a 22 billion yen ($202 million) budget of its own to supplement the national governments package. Tokyos budget will cover costs for more extensive virus testing, hotels for asymptomatic and slightly sick COVID-19 patients, expenses to increase hospital capacity and medical equipment including ventilators, as well as for child care for medical workers and to support those hit by job loss and other hardships. Haruo Ozaki, head of the Tokyo Medical Association, said that the situation in Tokyo is already critical. He said Tokyos infections are on the brink of being out of control due to a lack of restraint by residents. Japan had kept its number of coronavirus cases relatively low by closely watching clusters and keeping them under control rather than conducting massive tests, but that strategy has become increasingly difficult because of a sharp rise of unlinkable cases. Japans health ministry has confirmed 3,654 cases, including 84 deaths, as well as another 712 infections and 11 fatalities on a cruise ship that was quarantined in the port of Yokohama near Tokyo earlier this year. Tokyo reported 83 new cases Monday for a prefectural total of 1,116. Sify.com is a subscriber of AP News. Image in this story is an AP image. Is Coronavirus bringing the worst recession? What could be the impact? That and more of news, statistics and opinions related to Covid-19 here. New Jersey officials on Sunday reported at least 917 deaths from the coronavirus with at least 37,505 cases statewide, an increase of 71 deaths and 3,482 positive tests over the last 24 hours A total of 44,661 people in the state have tested negative for COVID-19, according to numbers released by the state. More residents have now died from coronavirus that the total number who were killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The peak of cases was expected to hit this month, though Gov. Phil Murphy told reporters he expected impacts from the virus to last deep into May. Heres a roundup of coronavirus news: At least 24 ShopRites in N.J. have workers sickened with coronavirus, company says: Employees working in at least 24 ShopRite stores around the state have been sickened with the coronavirus, according to the company. Large gathering forces N.J. town to shut down waterfront area: Officials in Keyport said a large gathering forced the town to close its waterfront and municipal parking lots near the Raritan Bay. New Jersey now has 917 coronavirus deaths and 37,505 cases: The state reported 917 deaths from the coronavirus, with at least 37,505 cases statewide, after an increase of 71 deaths and 3,482 positive tests in the last 24 hours, according to information released Sunday. Bergen County leads the state with 6,187 confirmed cases and 189 deaths. Tiger at Bronx Zoo tests positive for coronavirus disease, other big cats show symptoms: Nadia, a Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo, tested positive for COVID-19, the zoo said Sunday. Nadias case is the first reported case of infection of an animal in the United States. We tested the cat out of an abundance of caution and will ensure any knowledge we gain about COVID-19 will contribute to the worlds continuing understanding of this novel coronavirus, zoo officials said in a statement. Cops tell Pink Floyd cover band playing during coronavirus lockdown, Wish you werent here. Tickets issued: Officials on Sunday said police have charged a Rumson man who hosted an impromptu Pink Floyd cover band concert on his front lawn with about 30 middle-aged adults in violation of state restrictions aimed at curbing the coronavirus pandemic. 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. NJ Advance Media staff writers Matt Arco, Brent Johnson, Katie Kausch, Jeff Goldman, 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. On March 16, 2020, well into the throes of the coronavirus pandemic, Bob Patterson, CPA, CGMA, owner of Patterson & Company CPAs in Louisville and Lexington, Ky., began talking with clients via phone at 7:30 a.m. Fourteen hours later, at 9:30 p.m., he had spoken with 31 clients, most of them restaurant owners in desperate need of a listening ear. [That] was the hardest day of my career, Patterson said. We were helping them understand their business cash flow and their break-even point. And while that is normal for us, they are concerned about survival, and that's a hard conversation for us. Patterson and other CPAs across the globe are doing all they can to help clients through what has become a devastating crisis for some. CPAs have become not only trusted advisers, but also counselors of a sort who can provide comfort to clients in need. We spoke with Patterson and leaders at four other public accounting firms of varying sizes to find out how they are helping their clients weather this storm. Patterson & Company CPAs: This small firm, with 17 people on staff, including four CPAs, has 150 restaurant clients that make up about two-thirds of its revenue. Most of Pattersons clients have been forced to close their establishment doors, and many have laid off workers. One of their biggest issues is they are losing good staff, Patterson said. They hate to see good people leave, but if they dont have the cash, theres nothing they can do. Patterson has helped clients by talking with their landlords and insurance companies in the hopes of delaying payments in the near term. He has also aided clients in applying for U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. Partly due to the revised July 15 filing deadline, tax returns have taken a back seat to coronavirus conversations. Patterson sends out daily updates via email to his clients, focusing on updates from federal and state regulators. He then speaks with clients if they need additional information. Communication with clients has largely been via phone calls, texts, emails, and Zoom meetings. His advice to CPAs is to ask a lot of questions and try to anticipate clients' needs. Cerini & Associates LLP: Kenneth Cerini, CPA, the managing partner of his 50-person firm in Bohemia, N.Y., specializes in helping not-for-profit organizations, school districts, and health care clients, many of them government-funded. During this tenuous time, Cerini has been doing virus consulting, providing clients with updated data, including new financial rules and regulations and reimbursements affecting educational organizations, many of which are on lockdown. With the coronavirus and social distancing in place, people can no longer provide face-to-face services, he said. The governmental systems were not prepared for this, so they had to develop regulations on how to provide distance learning and teletherapy. Whats more, he noted, new rules have been coming out daily as to how services are to be provided, who can provide them, how providers will get paid, and other issues. Most of Cerinis employees are working remotely and focusing on the virus and the impact of the virus not on taxes or audits as they attempt to help clients comprehend the changes, he said. The firm provides webinars and continual updates on its website and sends daily email blasts to clients and friends notifying them about changing information, such as SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Cerini also sends updates via Twitter. He gathers data from trade associations, listservs, state government departments, and other sources and spends hours reading and on the phone. His firm has also set up a Facebook group so special education providers can communicate. His message to clients: Were here. If you have questions or concerns, reach out to us. His advice to fellow CPAs: The more you can push information out and help people navigate through the system, the more stickiness you will have with your clients. Frazier & Deeter LLC: This 400-person firm, with nine U.S. offices and one in London, works with startup and small businesses, individuals, and billion-dollar corporations. Fortunately, Frazier & Deeter was prepped for working remotely prior to the coronavirus crisis. The technology investment we made is really paying dividends now, noted Atlanta-based Seth McDaniel, CPA, the firm's managing partner. Most of the firms clients, too, have quickly shifted to working from home, but clients in a few industries, such as hospitality, are struggling. As a result, Frazier & Deeters accountants are communicating almost daily with clients via email, phone, and Zoom and trying to sort through the plethora of information flooding their own inboxes. Frazier & Deeter is also sending pre-recorded webinars with answers to the most-asked questions, so that clients can attend on their own time, McDaniel said. Were trying to personalize that communication with clients, instead of bombarding them with things theyve already seen in the media. The firm also launched a coronavirus webpage and a task force, led by a tax partner and former banking executive, to help staff a client hotline. The hotline provides clients with answers to questions and helps them figure out which direction to go during this challenging time. McDaniels advice to CPAs and their respective firms is to be focused and personal in the information that you share, he said. Make sure its meaningful. His firm's message to clients: Were going to get through this. EisnerAmper LLP: Approximately 1,900 people work for this large firm, headquartered in New York with offices throughout the country and the world. In early March the firm named its COO, Robert Levine, CPA, as the point person to handle operations and internal communications for COVID-19. Nearly all EisnerAmper employees are working remotely now, and the firm is taking a three-pronged approach to connecting with clients, Levine said. Most importantly, partners are reaching out to clients to help with government loans and other assistance programs, federal and state tax programs, liquidity planning, and other tasks. Second, EisnerAmper maintains a coronavirus hub on its website that offers a list of articles related to COVID-19, updated data from regulators, and links to state and government agencies. Third, EisnerAmpers CEO, Charles Weinstein, CPA, CGMA, has sent several mass emails to clients about the firms accounting work plan, its remote workforce, and its digital filing portal. Levine advises CPAs and firms to offer bite-sized communication so as not to overwhelm people who are already stressed. He also said its meaningful when partners reach out to clients. For clients, EisnerAmpers message is: First and foremost, talk to us, Levine said. Everybody is in this together. DMJ & Co. PLLC: This 90-person firm, with offices in four North Carolina cities, serves individuals and businesses such as dentists, restaurants, trucking companies, and others. Most recently, the firms wealth management division has been especially busy, addressing stock market and investment worries, said managing partner Michael Gillis, CPA/PFS, CGMA. Business clients are primarily interested in the coronavirus stimulus bill and how it may assist their workers. They are looking for ways to help their employees, Gillis said. DMJ has seen a huge uptick in client communication and is sending out daily e-blasts and connecting regularly with all of its clients via phone, email, and social media. The firm is gathering its information from Treasury announcements, research databases, and state agencies such as the North Carolina Department of Revenue. The firm also posts information on its website. DMJ wants to communicate to clients that it will provide the most current information possible on changing tax and business developments. Gilliss advice to fellow CPAs is to increase the amount of communication to clients as quickly as possible. For more news and reporting on the coronavirus and how CPAs can handle challenges related to the outbreak, visit the JofAs coronavirus resources page. Cheryl Meyer is a California-based freelance writer. To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Ken Tysiac, the JofAs editorial director, at Kenneth.Tysiac@aicpa-cima.com. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 12:41:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KABUL, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Thirty more confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported in Afghanistan, bringing the number of the infected people in the country to 367 as of Monday morning, a Ministry of Public Health spokesman confirmed. Sixteen of the new cases were confirmed in western Herat province, the epicenter of the disease bordering Iran, six cases were recorded in national capital of Kabul, three in Nimroz province, two in Kunduz province, two in Faryab and one in Daikundi provinces respectively, Wahidullah Mayar, the spokesman said in a statement. Seven patients have died and 12 others have recovered since the outbreak in mid February, according to the official. To contain the pandemic, the government has put big cities, including Kabul and Herat in a three-week quarantine, calling on the people to remain at home. By Gina Lee Investing.com - Oil prices slid in Asia on Monday morning as OPEC+ delayed a meeting scheduled for later in the day to Thursday. International Brent Oil Futures lost 6% to $32.74 by 9:55 PM ET (2:55 AM GMT) and U.S. Crude Oil WTI Futures also dropped 6,1% to $26.61, continuing their slide from the last session. The announcement of the meeting, called last week to mediate a truce between Saudi Arabia and Russia in their ongoing price war, sent oil prices soaring last week. But tensions between the two producers led to a three-day postponement and increased investor fears that these latest talks will also end in failure like its last meeting in March. Its probably going to crater, Again Capitals John Kilduff told CNBC. There was a lot of optimism priced into oil Thursday and Friday. With this new Saudi, Russia spat, it doesnt look like its going to come together. Saudi oil minister Khalid A. Al-Falih called for producers outside of OPEC+, such as the United States, Canada and Norway, to lend their support on Sunday. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to reduce global demand, oil still cannot resolve its inevitable oversupply dilemma. "The energy sector is facing its most challenging fundamental period since the Great Energy Depression of 1981-1995, Kurt Hallead, RBC co-head of global energy research, told CNBC. On the oil front, demand is set to decline by amounts never before seen driven by the COVID-19 global economic shock while supply is surging due to the Saudi-Russia oil price war, he added. Related Articles Gold in Wait and See Mode as Traders Await More News Oil drops over $1 on oversupply after OPEC+ delays meeting Trump open to big oil tariffs, but doesn't expect to need them The group of ministers (GoM) headed by defence minister Rajnath Singh will meet in New Delhi on Tuesday to discuss, among other issues, whether the lockdown put in place to combat the spread of Covid-19 should be extended -- in the backdrop of comments from administrators in at least four states that they would recommend prolonging it beyond April 14, when it is scheduled to end. According to at least half-a-dozen ministers and senior bureaucrats Hindustan Times spoke to, the meeting of ministers, which will also be attended by Union home minister Amit Shah, will consider the recommendations of the 11 empowered groups set up to manage various aspects of Indias response to the pandemic. None of the people wished to be identified ahead of a decision which, many of them stressed, could be taken as late as the weekend, and depend on how the numbers stand then. Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic The 62 districts that account for 80% of all cases, however, will most probably continue to be in lockdown, one of the people said. That includes parts of Delhi and Mumbai, a second person added. Also Read: How India performs on 6 steps to flatten coronavirus curve One of the big questions before the group will be lives versus livelihoods, according to Niti Aayog member Dr Vinod Paul, who is also the head of one of the 11 empowered groups. There is no decision yet on how the lockdown will be lifted, he said. We are assessing the cost of the lockdown economically with the lives that need to be saved. But voices in favour of an extension came hard and fast on Monday, from the chief secretary of Uttar Pradesh, Indias most populous state, the chief minister of Telangana, and a senior bureaucrat in Punjab. On Friday, a Maharashtra minister too spoke in favour of an extension. Also Read: Hydroxychloroquine could become bone of contention between Trump and India The ministerial group will have to weigh this against concerns about the economic cost of a lockdown and the impact of a continued lockdown on daily wage workers and the unorganised sector. According to one of the ministers HT spoke to, in all likelihood, units in less populated and relatively remote areas, may be allowed to reopen -- as long as most of their workers lived in and around the unit. There is also major pressure from foreign companies to start India operations with reduced staff, said a third official. The ministers will also consider a plan on staggered opening of industries from the department of promotion of industry and internal trade, the third official added. This person said that the group is unlikely to spend much time on the status of IT companies, which seem to have made adequate WFH (work from home) provisions. But the group is expected to consider the status of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which are hurting badly, HT has learnt. There is a wide ranging deliberation and consultation that is on now regarding the model to be followed after 14 April. The empowered groups are deliberating on their domains of focus. The IITs and other institutions of research are examining models too. This perhaps is the best way to bring about the most comprehensive and effective model. said (retd) Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain of the National Disaster Management Authority and a member of one of the empowered groups. A second minister said that there were concerns about the migrant workforce, and how to get them back to work. One proposal we have is that factory owners sign commitments saying they will maintain social distancing in the workplace and create a safe environment. If they do, then we will allow those factories, he said, adding that the nearly two million daily wage workers stranded in quarantine centres were also at risk. A lot now depends on how the case numbers stack up in the week ahead. If they see a sudden hike, then the lockdown will be extended despite the grim economic scenario, said a third minister. The Prime Minister has asked ministries and departments to prepare their plans. Respective ministries and departments have to prioritise, for example, the agriculture ministry will have to think of how to facilitate farmers in the harvesting season. Procurement will be another focus. But, it is a cautious approach, a graded plan is required. We cannot ignore the fact that the threat of Covid-19 is still there, a finance ministry official said . A fourth minister pointed out that the Prime Minister will take a final call after also consulting with the states. Unlike other decisions... this has to be one which involves consensus, he said. Also Read: Covid-19 update: States to get 500,000 rapid antibody test kits this week Some states seem to be veering towards an extension. Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said India should not lift the nationwide lockdown, at least not entirely, until the outbreak is brought further under control. At least some of the restrictions should stay for a bit more. Otherwise, India will not be able to handle things if the lockdown is hastily lifted, he said in comments to media. In Uttar Pradesh, too, a top state government official said the lockdown may not be lifted after April 14, when the current three-week restrictions are set to end. Covid-19 positive cases in the state are increasing daily...The state government wishes to make it clear that lockdown is not likely to be lifted till there is a single coronavirus case in the state. The lifting of the lockdown means UP has become coronavirus-free, Awanish Kumar Awasthi, additional chief secretary, home, said at a press conference in Lucknow. Punjab, which was the first state to impose a curfew on March 21, is expected to continue with the lockdown in most parts, but issue curfew passes to allow harvesting from April 15. A final call will be taken on April 12 or 13, Suresh Kumar, Punjab chief ministers chief principal secretary, said on Sunday. Last week, a minister in Maharashtra indicated that the government may extend the lockdown by a couple of weeks, especially in Mumbai and other urban areas of the state.We are expecting a fall in positive Covid-19 cases by April 15. We will have to extend the lockdown period by a few more weeks. Lifting it fully in a city like Mumbai is unlikely, health minister Rajesh Tope said on Friday. While the airline sector and Indian Railways are getting ready to restart operations, officials in the aviation and rail ministry confirmed that there is no confirmation yet that this will happen on April 15. President Moon Jae-in takes a photo with citizens after planting pine trees in a reforestation area in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, on Arbor Day, Sunday. Yonhap By Do Je-hae Politicians are coming under fire for flouting social distancing guidelines at a critical juncture in containing COVID-19. Many citizens have been baffled by President Moon Jae-in's activities in recent days as he has continued to travel outside Seoul to participate in events with large crowds, with criticisms rising that such activities go against his own social distancing recommendations. On Saturday, the government decided to extend social distancing for another two weeks until April 19 in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. On the day, Moon himself urged citizens to practice social distancing to prevent mass infections. "The number of new cases dropped and then went up again due to group infections," Moon wrote in a post on social media. "We must prevent cluster infections. If this keeps occurring, not only medical workers but the entire country will be drained." But Moon traveled to Gangneung, Gangwon Province, Sunday, to take part in an Arbor Day event. The area Moon visited had suffered major fire damage in April 2019. About 40 citizens and firefighters, along with Gangwon Province Governor Choi Moon-soon, participated. During the event, Moon was seen coming into close contact with local residents and posing for group photos, sometimes without wearing a face mask. He also wrote on social media after the event, "Because of the coronavirus, we are practicing social distancing. But despite all this, we must still keep up with planting trees and restoring our forests." The visit to Gangwon Province was the President's third regional visit this month. On April 1, he visited an industrial complex in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province. On April 3, he went to Jeju Island to participate in a commemorative event for the victims of the April 3 Jeju Uprising. The opposition parties have lashed out at the regional visits, saying they not only go against the social distancing guidelines, but also were inappropriate during the campaign period for the April 15 general election. "Just yesterday, the government announced a two-week extension on the strict social distancing period, and President Moon also posted a message in this regard on social media," Jeong Yeon-guk, a senior spokesperson for the main opposition United Future Party's (UFP) election committee, said Sunday. "But he visited a province with a large number of aides and stood close to residents to take group photos. What a discordance between words and actions!" He added, "As this is the official campaign period for the April 15 general election, these events are bound to be seen as acts to influence the election." Not only the President but also other politicians have been criticized for undermining the social distancing guidelines recommended by the government, such as wearing masks in public places and keeping a two-meter distance between persons in a group setting. During campaigning, many candidates shake hands with residents, and even hug and talk with them often without wearing masks. Lee Nak-yon, candidate for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) in the Jongno District in Seoul, shook hands with merchants at a traditional market in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, Friday. Lee is the chief of the DPK's COVID-19 response committee. His rival for Jongno, UFP leader Hwang Kyo-ahn, was also seen hugging a resident at a park in Seoul, with Hwang not wearing a face mask properly and the resident not wearing one at all. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 6) - The Philippine National Police confirmed Monday that three more police officers tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of infected personnel to 19. The three new COVID-19 patients include a 31-year-old female officer from Laguna Province, a 41-year-old male police personnel from Cavite Province, and a 45-year-old female police officer from Batangas Province. In a statement, PNP Chief Police Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa said that two police personnel have recovered while another two succumbed to the disease last week. Gamboa assured the public that the PNP Health Service is closely monitoring the remaining 15 COVID-19 patients within the organization. As of April 6, the PNP Health Service reported a total of 280 police personnel categorized as Persons Under Investigation (PUI) while a total of 1,332 personnel are now listed as Persons Under Monitoring (PUM). The police remain among those on the front lines fighting the pandemic. Oman's Ministry of Manpower (MoM), in a major move, has permitted some companies to hire expatriate workers provided they meet a set of criteria outlined for the sector. Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser al Bakri, Minister of Manpower, yesterday issued decision 127/2020 regulating the recruitment of expatriate workers for the construction sector and brick factories, reported Oman Observer. The exception is made to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who are full-time employers and are registered with the Public Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development and insured with the Public Authority for Social Insurance, it stated. The ministry also clarified that excluded from this decision are the establishments managing government projects, excellent grade companies and firms that employ 100 or more workers, said the report. As per new rules, the employer must submit the following documents through the electronic licensing system in the Ministry of Manpower: *Copy of the municipal licence and the lease agreement *Copy of the agreement to implement construction work provided that it includes the duration, work to be executed, and the value (all in Arabic language) *Copy of the project implementation order if the agreement is related to the implementation of a government project. Also the employer must be committed to the Omanisation percentages established in the facility, it added. Gangland killer Robbie Lawlor should have stayed at home instead of heading to Belfast with the intention of shooting a man over a drug debt. But the man who was involved in the horrific murder and dismemberment of Drogheda teen Keane Mulready-Woods himself became the victim when a gunman who was lying in wait shot him twice in the head in a clinical assassination. Police are trying to establish whether the 35-year-old - who had a contract on his head from two gangs, in Co Louth and Dublin - was deliberately set up or that his potential victim, a drug dealer who owed him money, decided to strike first in a classic case of kill or be killed. Gardai are aware that Lawlor had made another trip to see the same Belfast drug dealer last week, seeking payment of a debt and threatened that he would return to shoot the dealer if he didn't have the money. The PSNI arrested four males shortly after the incident, including a 17-year-old boy, who were still in police custody at Musgrave station in Belfast last night. It is understood that three of those arrested - one from Limerick and the others from Dublin - had travelled to Belfast with Lawlor and witnessed the shooting. Police were still hunting for the suspected shooter, who fled the scene. But while murder is the gravest of crimes there will be no sympathy for Lawlor who, like so many of his psychotic peers, lived by the gun and died by it; dispatched in the same fashion that he himself had murdered others in the past. When news of his violent demise at a house in the Etna Drive area of the Ardoyne quickly spread on social media, it was greeted with jubilation in parts of Drogheda and north Dublin - especially amongst the loved ones of his victims and the communities he had terrorised. Terror Gardai who were investigating Lawlor's activities say that he had become increasingly volatile and violently unpredictable, threatening rivals and muscling in on others' drug turf. "We have seen plenty of guys like him before where they become so dangerous and out of control that other gangs will get rid of them. "For Lawlor it was always going to be just a matter of time before he was shot dead," said one source familiar with Lawlor's reign of terror. Originally from Foxhill in Coolock and living in Laytown, Co Meath, Robbie Lawlor was involved in organised crime and violence since his teens. Garda intelligence has connected him directly to at least four murders - with the most recent being that of Keane Mulready-Woods. It copper-fastened Lawlor's reputation as one of the most dangerous criminals in the country. The deliberate dismemberment of the teen's remains stands out as one of the single most shocking acts of savagery yet recorded in the violent 50-year history of organised crime in Ireland. The horror of the crime was magnified when Lawlor turned his crime into a public spectacle - by dumping a bag containing the boy's severed limbs in the Moatview estate in Coolock as a warning to Keane's associates. The gesture alluded to an incident earlier this year when Mulready-Woods and a group of other young criminals recorded a confrontation with Lawlor in Smithfield in Dublin when they took his gym bag. They later publicly taunted him by posting the confrontation on social media along with a picture of one of the group wearing the sliders they found in his gym bag. He wanted them to know that he was only starting to exact revenge. Lawlor was released from prison before Christmas after being acquitted of threatening to murder his ex-partner's boyfriend. He immediately became embroiled in the Drogheda feud to seek revenge for the murder of his brother-in-law Richie Carberry, who was shot dead in October last year. Another associate of Carberry and Lawlor, Keith Brannigan, had also been assassinated two months earlier. While in prison in Cork, Lawlor had also received a severe beating from crime boss Cornelius Price, who is on the opposite side in the Drogheda gang war. Lawlor first came to the attention of the gardai as a contract killer when, at the age of 19, he was the prime suspect for the murder of Mark Byrne in May 2005. Byrne (31) was completing a five-year sentence for armed robbery when he was given a day release from Mountjoy Prison. A short distance from the prison gates a lone gunman approached and shot Byrne three times, once in the head. But Lawlor escaped justice because there was not enough evidence to charge him. Then on March 29, 2009, Lawlor demonstrated his treacherous personality when he executed his fellow drug dealer and friend David 'Fred' Lynch. Lynch had left his mother's house that afternoon telling her: "I will be back in 10 minutes, I'm going to meet Robbie [Lawlor]." Garda discovered Lynch had arranged to meet Lawlor and another associate, Noel Deans, to dig up a gun on waste ground in Belcamp. When they retrieved the weapon, without warning Lawlor then shot Lynch three times in the head at close range. More than a year later another close associate of Lawlor, Kenneth Finn, was drinking with Noel Deans in the Priorswood Inn in Coolock. Deans was drunk and openly bragged that he was with Robbie Lawlor when he shot Lynch. Gardai later discovered that Finn phoned Lawlor to tell him what Deans was saying. Feud When the pair left the pub at 10pm, Finn walked part of the distance with Deans who then turned into a pedestrian lane where Lawlor was waiting for his friend - and shot him several times in the head and body. He wasn't prepared to risk being charged with Lynch's murder because of his friend's loose lips so he simply murdered him instead. Loyalties and partnerships are capricious traits in gangland, and Lawlor and Kenneth Finn found themselves on the opposite sides of another gang feud. In February 2018, Lawlor is believed to have executed Finn in Darndale as part of a feud between Lawlor and Finn's closest associate, the crime boss known as Mr Big. In the end, Robbie Lawlor found he had a queue of people wanting to close his eyes permanently. CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cato Corporation (NYSE: CATO) today announced it will extend the closure of all brick and mortar stores, until further notice. Company management will continue to assess the situation, market by market as additional guidance is issued from U.S. and local governments, as well as the Centers for Disease Control, as it develops its plan to reopen stores at a future date. "We are taking decisive actions in the face of the uncertainties around the length and severity of the pandemic and its potential impact to the Company," said John Cato, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "It is a difficult decision to extend our store closures, but we are committed to protecting our customers, associates and communities we serve. However, during this closure we will continue to serve our customers through our e-commerce sites catofashions.com and shopversona.com." As a result of the extended store closure, coupled with the North Carolina's "Stay-at-Home" Executive Order impacting the Home Office, Cato has temporarily furloughed its store associates, a majority of distribution center associates, as well as additional corporate associates, whose work has been significantly reduced by the store closures. At this time, those impacted will continue to receive enrolled benefits. As part of the business response to COVID-19, the company has taken the following actions to protect our financial position during these challenging times: Temporarily discontinued monthly sales releases, until further notice, Temporarily suspended the quarterly dividend, Suspended hiring and eliminated all merit raises for 2020, Drew down $30 million from our $35 million line of credit, in an effort to protect cash reserves, from our line of credit, in an effort to protect cash reserves, Significantly decreased capital expenditures, Delayed or cancelled some planned new store openings, Continue to review non-payroll expenses across the business, Managing inventory by aggressively cancelling and/or delaying merchandise to better align with anticipated sales, Evaluating extending payment terms for vendor invoices and suspending rent payments, Temporarily reduced CEO salary by 50% Temporarily reduced Board fees by 50%. Temporarily reducing other associates salaries by 25%, however not below $55,000 . "Given the extraordinary circumstances we are facing today we must operate with great care and discipline," said Cato. "We have taken difficult steps to safeguard the health of our company, looking forward to the day we can reopen our stores, welcoming back our associates and again serving our customers and the communities in which we are located." Statements in this press release not historical in nature including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's expected or estimated operational and financial results and potential impact of the coronavirus are considered "forward-looking" within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations that are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, any actual or perceived deterioration in the conditions that drive consumer confidence and spending, including, but not limited to, prevailing social, economic, political and public health conditions and uncertainties, levels of unemployment, fuel, energy and food costs, wage rates, tax rates, interest rates, home values, consumer net worth and the availability of credit; changes in laws or regulations affecting our business including tariffs; uncertainties regarding the impact of any governmental responses to the foregoing conditions; competitive factors and pricing pressures; our ability to predict and respond to rapidly changing fashion trends and consumer demands; our ability to successfully open new stores as planned and our ability of any such new stores to grow and perform as expected; adverse weather, public health threats (including the global coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak) or similar conditions that may affect our sales or operations; inventory risks due to shifts in market demand, including the ability to liquidate excess inventory at anticipated margins; and other factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of the Company's most recently filed annual report on Form 10-K and in other reports the Company files with or furnishes to the SEC from time to time. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise the forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that the projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized. The Company is not responsible for any changes made to this press release by wire or Internet services. SOURCE The Cato Corporation Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-07 00:05:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIRUT, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's Middle East Airlines (MEA) chairman Mohammad Hout said Monday that MEA is losing 35 million U.S. dollars monthly due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the closure of Beirut's airport, the National News Agency reported. Hout held a conference after MEA were criticized by many for charging Lebanese returnees high tickets prices without offering to repatriate expats and students on the company's expense. Hout explained that the evacuation is costing the company 20 million U.S. dollars while ticket prices only reflect the cost of flights. "I am not ready to use the company's cash in light of a crisis that we don't know when it will end," he said. MEA sent four planes on Sunday to evacuate people from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Nigeria and Code d'Ivoire while it is planning to send four more on Tuesday to Kinshasa, Madrid, Paris and Istanbul. Vale is inviting businesses, researchers and individuals to propose innovative solutions to combat COVID-19. The mining giant is offering $1 million to "...propel innovative COVID-19 solutions into the marketplace. The challenge is open to participants in Canada and Brazil with each selected solution eligible to receive up to $200,000. Vale chose a panel of healthcare experts to assist in the technical evaluation of submissions. Entries must fit within three categories: Risk Monitoring and Prevention Patient Monitoring Open Challenge Around the globe, industries and individuals alike are working diligently to find innovative solutions to combat this invisible enemy, said Dino Otranto, Chief Operating Officer of Vales North Atlantic Operations and Asian Refineries. Through this challenge, Vale will be able to support the activation of solutions that have a real potential to positively impact the trends of this virus. By launching this challenge globally, we are hoping to expand its reach and accelerate the identification of solutions for our workplace and for the communities in which we live, added Afzal Jessa, chief digital officer. A number of mining companies have chipped in to help fight COVID-19: The coronavirus pandemic has hit older people far harder than those who are younger, but scientists are yet to fully understand why this is. Many of the elderly people who have died have had pre-existing health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, all of which make fighting the virus more difficult, but many have not had any such health problems, and occasionally the virus has caused the deaths of younger, apparently healthy people. Researchers around the world are racing to learn how the virus behaves, which health factors put people most at risk, and are trying to work out whether there may be genetic traits that could mean some people respond to the infection differently to others. There are various theories to suggest why the virus is so unusually and devastatingly selective. Some scientists have suggested the greater the amount of virus that infects an individual known as the viral load could make a large difference to how the body is able to respond to infection. Put simply, the larger the dose of the virus a person gets, the worse the infection is, and the least promising the outcome. A parallel school of thought is that genetic variations between humans differences in our DNA could affect how susceptible an individual is to the virus. And another candidate for why apparently healthy young people are dying is they may have a highly reactive immune system, which is sent into overdrive fighting off the virus. In such a scenario, a huge inflammation storm could inadvertently overwhelm vital organs such as the lungs. None of the theories compete with one another, and aspects of all of them, as well as innumerable other factors, could be at play in an individual case. Viral load Dr Edward Parker of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, explained how a high viral load can impact humans. He said: After we are infected with a virus, it replicates in our bodys cells. The total amount of virus a person has inside them is referred to as their viral load. For Covid-19, early reports from China suggest the viral load is higher in patients with more severe disease, which is also the case for Sars and influenza. The amount of virus we are exposed to at the start of an infection is referred to as the infectious dose. For influenza, we know that that initial exposure to more virus or a higher infectious dose appears to increase the chance of infection and illness. Studies in mice have also shown that repeated exposure to low doses may be just as infectious as a single high dose. He added: So all in all, it is crucial for us to limit all possible exposures to Covid-19, whether these are to highly symptomatic individuals coughing up large quantities of virus or to asymptomatic individuals shedding small quantities. And if we are feeling unwell, we need to observe strict self-isolation measures to limit our chance of infecting others. Professor Wendy Barclay, the head of the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College London, said existing knowledge of viral load means healthcare workers can be at greater risk of infection. In general with respiratory viruses, the outcome of infection whether you get severely ill or only get a mild cold can sometimes be determined by how much virus actually got into your body and started the infection off. Its all about the size of the armies on each side of the battle, a very large virus army is difficult for our immune systems army to fight off. So standing further away from someone when they breathe or cough out virus likely means fewer virus particles reach you and then you get infected with a lower dose and get less ill. Doctors who have to get very close to patients to take samples from them or to intubate them are at higher risk so need to wear masks. Genetic differences between those infected Scientists are currently preparing to scour Covid-19 patients genomes for DNA variations that might indicate why some people are more at risk than others. The findings could then be used to identify groups most at risk of serious illness and those who might be protected, and this knowledge could then inform the hunt for effective treatments. A huge effort to pool DNA research from patients around the world is now on, with the ultimate goal being to build a body of evidence from people with no underlying health issues, but who have reacted differently to infection by the virus. One promising strand of research into why some people are more susceptible to the coronavirus is on the gene variation for the cell surface protein angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), found on the outer membranes of cells, and which the coronavirus uses to enter cells in the lungs and airways. Variations in production of ACE2 could make it easier or more difficult for the virus to enter and infect cells. We see huge differences in clinical outcomes and across countries. How much of that is explained by genetic susceptibility is a very open question, geneticist Andrea Ganna, of the University of Helsinkis Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, told Science Magazine. Another fascinating line of inquiry is whether different blood types could lead to differing levels of susceptibility to the disease. A Chinese research team reported in a non-peer-reviewed article that people with type O blood may be protected from the virus, and those with type A blood could be at greater risk. Were trying to figure out if those findings are robust, Stanford University human geneticist Manuel Rivas told Science Magazine. The first results from the investigations into genetic differences and susceptibility are expected in less than two months time. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 7) President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday government will need more funds to fulfill its key promise to distribute cash aid to poor families amid the COVID-19 crisis. The P100 billion for one month or the P270 billion for two months, yan nakaprogram na as earlier estimated is not enough. Im calling on the Secretary of Finance to generate [funding.] Magnakaw ka, manghiram ka, wala akong pakialam. I-produce mo yung pera, Duterte said in a televised address to the nation. [Translation: The P100 billion for one month or the P270 billion for two months earlier estimated for this is not enough. Im calling on the Secretary of Finance to generate funding. Steal, borrow, I dont care. Produce the money.] Duterte appealed to wealthier people to consider extending financial assistance to the poor. He also floated the possibility of finally allowing the reclamation of Manila Bay in exchange for food aid. Hindi ko alam kung kailan ako makahatid ng pagkain sa lahat. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako magkuha ng ng pera. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang ipagbili ko kung may magbibili, he said. [Translation: I dont know when I can distribute food for all. I dont know where I will get money. I dont know what to sell and if someone would want to buy it.] Aid released Among the key provisions of the Bayanihan to Heal as One law, which gave Duterte special powers, is the provision of a 5,000 to 8,000 monthly allowance for two months to indigent families. Duterte said in his report that certain individuals from barangays affected by the communist rebellion, indigenous people communities and those running micro, small and medium enterprises would also receive a 5,000 to 8,000 cash aid. He added that agrarian reform beneficiaries will also receive a 5,000 subsidy, on top of emergency relief packages and seedlings for farms. The Department of Social Welfare and Development already received the first half of its requested 200-billion allocation for cash aid, according to Dutertes second weekly report to Congress. Of this, Duterte said P16.35 billion has been spent to distribute cash aid to 3,721,833 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. The DSWD is exploring the most efficient methods to transfer and distribute the assistance to all target beneficiaries before the lifting of the enhanced community quarantine, Duterte said in his 22-page report. On top of this, the Land Bank of the Philippines has paid out 6.07 billion for around 1.2 million conditional cash transfer beneficiaries of the DSWD, and will release an additional 2.66 billion to around 333,000 public utility vehicle drivers. The Department of Labor and Employment has also released 441.94 million in assistance to 83,388 workers from 6,923 establishments hit by the COVID-19 crisis. This is just 28 percent shy of the departments target beneficiaries. Duterte also said that 55,934 workers have so far benefited from the DOLEs emergency employment program, with the agency using 174.59 million to benefit 55,934 workers. The Department of Agriculture, meanwhile, distributed 2.5 million worth of agricultural products to the local governments of Caloocan City, Las PInas City, Makati City, Muntinlupa City and Paranaque City to add to their relief goods. The Department of Budget and Management is slated to give funding assistance to cities and municipalities equivalent to one month of their internal revenue allotment, which totals to 30.82 billion. Funding sources The government can still tap around 639.35 billion for its COVID-19 response. Part of this is a 300 billion loan from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Bulk of the possible funding for the response to the pandemic comes from dividends remitted early to the government by various government agencies and corporations and unused funding. A total of 189.82 billion from the 2019 and 2020 budgets may be discontinued, Duterte said, and realigned towards fighting COVID-19. The Health Department has so far recorded 3,660 cases of COVID-19, 163 deaths and 73 recoveries. CNN Philippines Triciah Terada and Jay Dones contributed to this report. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 6, 2020 16:56 644 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd00cfc3 1 National COVID-19,National-Police,Idham-Azis,coronavirus,Joko-Widodo,Jokowi Free The National Police have decided to step up social media monitoring to conduct sweeping against what they deem to be slanders against the ruling government in relation to the coronavirus outbreak in the country, prompting critics to warn the force not to take public criticism as an insult. According to a classified police telegram dated April 4, a copy of which was obtained by The Jakarta Post, National Police chief Gen. Idham Azis called on his personnel to start cyber patrols to monitor the "development of the situation and opinion in cyberspace". The telegram, signed by the police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) chief Comr. Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, specifically ordered the monitoring of the dissemination of hoaxes surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, defamation of the President and government officials as well as online shopping scams related to the selling of protective gear, masks and hand sanitizer. It also ordered the police "to carry out strict law enforcement" against those found to have committed such actions. According to the telegram, those who spread false information related to government policies in handling the contagious disease will be subject to articles 14 and/or 15 of the Criminal Code, which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years behind bars. Those found to have insulted the President and government officials could be charged with defamation and insult under the Criminal Code's Article 207, which carries a maximum sentence of 1.5 years in prison, while people involved in online shopping scams related to medical equipment will be charged under the 2016 Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law. Some critics, however, have raised concerns over the police's plan as they questioned what would constitute an insult, considering that lamenting the government's policies over the handling of the coronavirus outbreak should be seen as criticism. Read also: 'Extremely disturbing': Jump in Jakarta funerals raises fears of unreported COVID-19 deaths Amnesty International Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid said the plan would have an adverse effect on the country's freedom of speech and instead would drive people to refrain from expressing their opinions for fear of being criminalized. "Many people feel at a loss amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including due to some of the government's policies [...] Without public criticism and suggestions, it will be harder for the government to know what needs to be improved in the handling of the disease," Usman said on Monday. Members of the public have continued to voice their concerns about the pandemic on social media, including over what has been deemed the government's slow response to the pandemic, as well as the lack of protection for medical workers, as the number of positive cases and fatalities from COVID-19 continues to surge in the country. The official government count as of Monday showed that 2,491 people in the country had been infected, while 209 people had died of the disease. Some 20 doctors in the country have reportedly died as a result of contracting the virus. Lawmaker Habiburrokhman of the House of Representatives Commission III overseeing legal affairs said in a hearing with Idham Azis recently that public criticism of the government or state officials was normal. When people say the government and the House are incompetent in handling COVID-19, it is not an insult or a hoax. We have to let it go because the people are in extreme fear [of the pandemic]," the Gerindra Party politician said. Sarifuddin Suding of the National Mandate Party (PAN) said it was reasonable for the President or the government to receive criticism, both constructive and destructive. Read also: Turf war undermines COVID-19 fight in Indonesia "Criticism of the authorities is common in a democratic country like Indonesia and therefore law enforcement officials should not forbid people from making their voices heard," he said. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's spokesperson Fadjroel Rahman had previously called on the public to hold back on negatively criticizing how the government is handling the coronavirus pandemic, saying the public should focus on following the physical distancing measures to curb the transmission of the virus. It would be better if the negative criticism was put on hold first," he said on March 21. As of April 3, National Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said they had processed 72 cases of false information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic across the country. He said the suspects were subject to multiple articles, including Article 45 of the ITE Law, which carries a maximum sentence of six years in prison, as well as articles 14 and 15 of the Criminal Code, which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. United Development Party (PPP) lawmaker Arsul Sani called on the police on Monday to be careful in carrying out their duty, asking them to respect the principle of due process of law as to "avoid arbitrary law enforcement." Gov. Phil Murphy last week announced he would extend the tax filing deadline to July 15 in response to the coronavirus to match the new federal timeline. But that left some New Jersey taxpayers whose taxable income is not subject to withholding wondering whether they, too, would get a reprieve on their quarterly tax payments due next week on April 15. The answer, according to the New Jersey Department of Treasury, is probably. It still must be accomplished legislatively, along with legislation to extend the states fiscal year to Sept. 30 and the tax filing and payment deadline to July 15. Quarterly payments due on April 15 are expected to be covered as well by the extension in the legislation the governor expects to sign, Treasury spokeswoman Jennifer Sciortino said. The state Senate is expected to vote April 13 to pass such a bill, which also would need to be passed by the state Assembly and signed by the governor. The New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants is urging some amount of caution when it comes to delaying those payments. Since theres no guarantee that legislation will be passed before April 15, it falls to each CPA, working with their clients, to decide whether to proceed with preparing the filings, Ralph Albert Thomas, CEO of the CPA society, said in a statement. We are doing everything we can to help ensure that tax filing relief is finalized as soon as possible, but we cannot issue blanket recommendation to all CPAs since every situation is different. So who pays quarterly taxes? Most W-2 employees have their state and federal income tax withheld from their paychecks. But people who are self-employed or have other types of taxable income, such as interest, dividends, capital gains and some retirement income, must make quarterly estimated payments. Estimated payments are typically due by April 15, June 15, Sept. 15 and Jan. 15. Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter@samanthamarcus. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Daimler Trucks North America has extended the shutdown of its Swan Island factory for another week, until April 20. The plant closed March 25 and was originally scheduled to reopen on April 6. Daimler blamed parts shortages from other facilities and later extended the shutdown on April 13. Mondays announcement said the plant wont reopen until April 20 but warns employees that circumstances may change. Daimler said it is resuming limited production at two other factories that make components used in the Portland facility and it expects to begin building trucks in Portland and at other sites on April 20. The company said 600 Portland employees are on unpaid furlough, though they can use accrued paid time off during this period. They are also receiving their regular health benefits during the shutdown, according to Daimler. In recent years, Daimler has employed about 2,600 in Portland in jobs ranging from manufacturing to engineering to administration. The coronavirus outbreak has been relatively mild in Oregon compared to other parts of the country. The state has reported just over 1,000 cases and 27 deaths. Still, public health experts warn that without strict measures to contain the virus the toll could increase rapidly. Daimler may be the only large Oregon manufacturer to shut down for an extended period during the outbreak. Intel, Precision Castparts, Lam Research and others have maintained operations. Boeing extended the closure of its Washington factories Sunday but has continued operating its Gresham site. Gov. Kate Browns stay home announcement last month specifically exempted construction and manufacturing, provided those industries can maintain safe distances among employees and take other measures to restrict the spread of the coronavirus. The governor allowed many other industries to continue operating, too, with the same mandate for worker safety. Well over 1,000 workers have complained to state regulators, though, that some businesses safety measures are inadequate. Oregon began surprise inspections of workplaces last week. -- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway | Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. 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There are concerns that people will get complacent, as the fatality rate from Covid-19 begins to decrease. Italians had been hoping that the coronavirus lockdown restrictions would be eased for Holy Week and Easter. But that is not going to happen. In fact, police checks have become even more stringent out of fear that people will take advantage of the good weather and sunshine and decide to go to the countryside or to the seaside. The civil defence department reported that while still high, at 525, the daily death rate dropped to its lowest in over two weeks. But authorities want to ensure Italians keep up their efforts: they have been issuing more and more fines to those found to be outside without a valid reason. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, Health Minister Roberto Speranza and officials at the civil defence department stress that now is the time to be even more careful to make sure the downward curve stabilises. They have repeated constantly that the restrictions in movement and the ban on public gathering is bearing the desired fruits. Hospitals starting to breathe Even the number of patients in the intensive care units in the north has been coming down. In Lombardy, the worst-hit region, authorities said they would no longer need to move those needing the treatment to other regions. Meanwhile, Pope Francis celebrated Palm Sunday at the Vatican, opening up a Holy Week the like of which has never been seen: no crowds to be seen in Saint Peter's Square and no faithful waving palm fronds and olive branches. A solitary Pope Francis with a few collaborators celebrated the service inside an empty Saint Peter's Basilica. His audience saw the event on television and streamed on the Internet. Solitary Stations of the Cross It will be no different for the rest of the Holy Week services this week. They will all be held indoors except for one event on Good Friday, the day the Church recalls when Jesus died on the cross. Normally tens of thousands attend a solemn candle-lit procession at Rome's ancient Colosseum. This year, Pope Francis will celebrate the Way of the Cross on his own in front of an empty Saint Peter's Square, in much the same way as he did last week when he delivered an extraordinary Urbi et Orbi message. He told the millions of faithful, watching on television and online, that at this time of coronavirus pandemic, We have realised we are in the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other. All eyes and hopes will be on the Pope on Sunday for his Easter message to the world. DGAP-Ad-hoc: Dexus Finance Pty Limited / Key word(s): Acquisition/Real Estate Dexus Finance Pty Limited: Dexus establishes new JV to acquire interest in Rialto Towers, Melbourne 06-Apr-2020 / 02:36 CET/CEST Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Dexus (ASX: DXS) ASX release 6 April 2020 Dexus establishes new JV to acquire interest in Rialto Towers, Melbourne Dexus today announced the establishment of a new Joint Venture ("JV") with GIC that has exchanged contracts to acquire a 50% interest in Rialto Towers, 525 Collins Street, Melbourne, for $644 million[1]. GIC will hold a 90% share in the JV and Dexus will hold the remaining 10%. Dexus is the investment manager of the JV and has been appointed as the manager of the entire Rialto Towers complex. The establishment of the JV and acquisition of Rialto Towers is consistent with Dexus's strategic objective of being a wholesale partner of choice, providing the group with a breadth of capital sources through economic cycles. Dexus CEO, Darren Steinberg said: "We are pleased to continue to grow our relationship with GIC, enabling them to extend their investments into the Australian office market. In the current environment, we are focused on business continuity, and pleasingly were able to close this off-market transaction within our targeted timeframes." Rialto Towers is an iconic prime-grade, 55 storey building, and is one of the largest office buildings located in Melbourne's Central Business District. It is well located on Collins Street with good access to transport and other key amenities. The property is 91.7% occupied with a weighted average lease expiry of 4.6 years as at 1 March 2020. Rialto Towers is expected to benefit from the positive supply-demand dynamics of Melbourne's office market over the long term. The JV increases third party assets under management and reinforces Dexus's ability to secure and transact high quality opportunities off-market. In these times of elevated uncertainty Dexus continues to focus on preserving capital while selectively investing in assets with long-term value and strong fundamentals. The property is expected to settle in May 2020 (subject to FIRB approval), with Dexus's interest funded from existing debt facilities. This transaction follows the settlement of GIC's additional investment in the Dexus Australian Logistics Trust, announced to the Australian Securities Exchange on 1 April 2020, and further strengthens Dexus's growing relationship with GIC. Authorised by Brett Cameron, General Counsel and Company Secretary of Dexus Funds Management Limited. For further information please contact: Investors Jessica Johns Senior Manager, Investor Relations +61 2 9017 1368 +61 427 706 994 jessica.johns@dexus.com Media Louise Murray Senior Manager, Corporate Communications +61 2 9017 1446 +61 403 260 754 louise.murray@dexus.com [1] Reflecting the net acquisition price for the 50% interest in Rialto Towers (of which GIC will hold a 90% share and Dexus a 10% share) and excludes acquisition costs, incentives and other costs. Information and Explanation of the Issuer to this News: About Dexus Dexus is one of Australia's leading real estate groups, proudly managing a high-quality Australian property portfolio valued at $33.8 billion. We believe that the strength and quality of our relationships is central to our success and are deeply committed to working with our customers to provide spaces that engage and inspire. We invest only in Australia and directly own $16.8 billion of properties, with a further $17.0 billion of properties managed on behalf of third-party clients. The group's $11.2 billion development pipeline provides the opportunity to grow both portfolios and enhance future returns. With 1.8 million square metres of office workspace across 55 properties, we are Australia's preferred office partner. Dexus is a Top 50 entity by market capitalisation listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (trading code: DXS) and is supported by 27,000 investors from 20 countries. With 35 years of expertise in property investment, development and asset management, we have a proven track record in capital and risk management, providing service excellence to tenants and delivering superior risk-adjusted returns for investors. At 31 December 2019, Dexus's gearing (look-through) was 25.5% which is below the 30-40% target range with a debt duration of 7.4 years, $1.3 billion of cash and committed undrawn bank facilities available and minimal debt financing requirements with circa $400m of debt maturing in late FY21. www.dexus.com Download the Dexus IR app Download the Dexus IR app to your preferred mobile device to gain instant access to the latest stock price, ASX Announcements, presentations, reports, webcasts and more. Dexus Funds Management Ltd ABN 24 060 920 783, AFSL 238163, as Responsible Entity for Dexus (ASX: DXS) Level 25, 264 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000 06-Apr-2020 CET/CEST The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de Bir Lahlou, 6 April 2020 (SPS) - President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, sent a congratulatory message to Mr. Keir Starmer on his election as the leader of the British Labor Party. "On behalf of the people of Western Sahara and the Polisario Front, I would like to extend to you my sincere congratulations on your well-deserved election as the leader of the Labor Party, which has been democratically expressed by the overwhelming majority of the party members," said the President of the Republic. The Polisario Front is truly proud of its brotherly relationship with the Labour Party over the past decades and grateful for the strong and continued solidarity and unconditional support for the Sahrawi people in self-determination and freedom, he added. The President of the Republic took the opportunity to confirm the Polisario Front's willingness to further develop and strengthen the "excellent relationship of cooperation, brotherhood and friendship that already exist between us as partners." (SPS) 062/SPS/T The Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, has flagged off the distribution of food items to about 20,000 households across the state as a palliative for the harsh economic conditions caused by the lockdown to curtail the spread of the coronavirus. He said the state government has also reviewed and relaxed the curfew imposed on the state, to allow residents move freely on Tuesday and Thursday from 6 a.m to 2 p.m. The curfew was imposed about a week ago to check the spread of the disease, particularly with the recording of one confirmed case earlier in March. Speaking at the flag-off ceremony at the Governors Office on Monday, Mr Fayemi said the relief materials packaged in sacks would be distributed to the vulnerable to make life easier for them. He said intended beneficiaries include the poor, the aged, the physically-challenged,and the unemployed. He also said that the project was powered by the Ekiti COVID-19 Response Food Bank Drive. On the curfew, Mr Fayemi explained that residents would be free to move about on Tuesday and Thursday for eight hours each day to take the opportunity to restock and connect with those they have to connect with on a very important basis. He said the first phase of the distribution would target not less than 20,000 households already registered on the Vulnerable Peoples Support Programme domiciled at the state Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning which covers all the 16 local government areas of the state. The governor warned that the exercise had no political colouration and would not be distributed on streets or political ward basis. He further warned that the seals must not be tampered with until they got to the targeted beneficiaries. He equally revealed that tough sanctions awaited any political office holder or private citizen who may want to divert the items or involve themselves in any shady deal in their distribution. These packs are not meant to be distributed for streets or wards to share. Under no circumstances must the seal on the packs be tampered with till they get to the identified beneficiaries, the governor warned. Ekiti-kete, I assure you all that this exercise has no political colouration. The allocations will be depoliticised, therefore our community and religious leaders as well as traditional rulers, are actively involved to ensure smooth distribution of the items. I urge those saddled with the responsibility of distributing these relief materials to ensure that they reach the most vulnerable people in our communities and households across the State. The targeted beneficiaries are the aged, less fortunate and the physically challenged in Ekiti State. Any government official or private citizen involved in unscrupulous practices with regards to the distribution of these items will be severely sanctioned. The wife of the governor, Bisi Fayemi, in her remarks recalled that the Ekiti Food Bank initiative was launched in 2012 during the first term of her husband to assist the less privileged. She said her husband ordered that the Food Bank be revived as a palliative measure to assist the people tackle the effects of COVID-19. She said the scope was expanded to cater for the needs of the larger segment of the population to bring relief to them in line with governments determination to care for its citizens. The chairman of the state chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Amire Kola-Kolade, lauded the governors initiative to bring succour to the people at a very critical period. Mr Kola-Kolade, who is Chairman of Ekiti Southwest Local Government, promised to carry out the governors order to ensure that the materials got to the targeted audience in the grassroots. He also assured that the distribution would not be influenced by politics and would be carried out in collaboration with traditional rulers and community leaders. Mr Fayemi had earlier constituted a committee to help mobilise resources to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Advertisements The committee, which is officially known as Ekiti State COVID-19 Response Resource Mobilisation Committee, has three former governors namely AyonFayose, Niyi Adebayo and Segun Oni, as we as the Afe Babalola, the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti. The state has recorded two cases of the virus, and the index case has been discharged after testing negative for the virus. Mr Fayemi had also gone into self isolation, but later tested negative for the virus, and only emerged from his isolation on Monday. Harvard Law Students Want Licensing Without Taking Bar Exam Harvard Law students are asking school administrators to help them obtain law licenses without having to take the bar exam, citing the CCP virus pandemic. In an April 2 letter, nearly 200 law students set to graduate this year asked Harvard Law School to publicly support emergency diploma privilege which would allow them to practice law without taking the bar exam. They also urged school administrators to send a statement supporting the privilege to the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, which announced last week that the state bar would be postponed to a to-be-determined date in the fall. The states decision came after the National Conference of Bar Examiners, which develops the test, offered a separate exam this fall for jurisdictions that cancelled or delayed their exams scheduled for July amid the ongoing pandemic. The letter alleged that postponing the test would disproportionately affect minority students. Folks that dont have the financial security to be able to just quit their job and study for the bar at any moment they might choose to forego the state bar, co-author Donna Saadati-Soto told Harvard Crimson. That means low-income students, immigrant students, folks of color are the ones that are going to be more likely to have to forgo taking or studying a later exam because theyre going to be needing to work to provide for themselves and their family. Students move out of dorm rooms on Harvard Yard on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on March 12, 2020. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) Harvard law students also drew comparison to their medical school peers, who are being allowed to graduate early to help relieve the health care workforce shortages. They argued in the letter that struggling small businesses, recently unemployed individuals, and families facing eviction would need as many lawyers as possible to advocated for their interests. Just as our colleagues in medical schools have been called upon to join the front lines fighting COVID-19, so too are attorneys needed to fight for the rights of individuals most affected by this pandemic, the letter read. Law students from other jurisdictions that use the Uniform Bar Exam have also sent open letters to bar examiners, urging them to grant emergency diploma privileges. In New York, approximately 1,000 students from 15 law schools sent a letter on March 26 to the State Bar of New Yorks Task Force on the New York Bar Examination, which dismissed their demand. For one thing, there are about 15 percent of first-time test takers who do not pass, Alan Scheinkman, task force chair, told New York Law Journal. In this current year, where a lot of schools have gone to pass/fail courses, we would be very concerned about admitting people who have not shown a minimum degree of competency. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 6 By Ilkin Seyfaddini Trend: The Board of Directors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved the allocation of $385 million to Uzbekistan for the first phase of the project on the provision of drinking water and sewage systems in Bukhara region, Trend reports citing the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan. The project aims to develop sustainable water supply and sewerage infrastructure in priority districts of Bukhara region, which in turn will improve living standards and business activity in the region. It is expected that about 1.2 million residents of Bukhara region will benefit from the project, of which 540,000 residents of the region will have access to centralized drinking water supply for the first time and 105,000 people will have access to the centralized sewerage system. This project is the first stage of an unprecedented project on integrated development of water supply and sewerage systems in Bukhara region. The second stage of the project will increase access of 620,000 more people to the centralized water supply and sewerage system. In total, as a result of the project, the total cost of which is about $600 million, the Bukhara region will be fully provided with drinking water supply services, and all district centers of the region will be fully covered by access to the centralized sewerage system. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank was established on 24 October 2014 at the initiative of the Chinese authorities to support infrastructure projects in the Asian region. Uzbekistan has been a member of AIIB since 29 November 2016. Currently, a number of infrastructure projects in the areas of water supply, sewerage, construction and reconstruction of roads, electrification of railway tracks, integrated development of basic infrastructure in the regions and others, worth more than $2 billion, are being developed in the country in cooperation with the bank. --- Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini As the United States braces for what many think may be most critical weeks in the coronavirus crisis, many companies are temporarily pivoting their manufacturing capabilities to focus on the mass shortages of PPE and medical equipment. Most notably are car manufacturers that are using their expertise in hardware engineering and manufacturing to produce much-needed ventilators. Tesla is certainly no exception. To date, the company secured a surplus of 1,000 ventilators from China and delivered them to hospitals in California. The firm also purchased a large quantity of BiPAP (similar to CPAP) machines that can potentially be modified for use as a ventilator-type devices. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has also been reportedly working closely with Medtronic to design ventilators and manufacture them in Teslas Gigafactories. While some have been skeptical about the controversial CEOs efforts in building a Tesla ventilator, the company recently released a pretty detailed video showing real progress so far on a working prototype. Most notably, the ventilator utilizes many existing parts that are typically found in a Model 3, including its infotainment computer, HVAC components, and even its signature touchscreen. The design should hopefully help speed up manufacturing and reduce costs, allowing for rapid scalability. While the prototype isnt yet production ready, its a resourceful design that seems feasible to manufacture, so we hope to see Tesla ventilators coming off the production line soon! Link: Tesla homepage Dozens more people were fined at the weekend for leaving their house for non-essential reasons with the police promising to crackdown even harder during the Easter break. In the past week, 139 people have been fined for ignoring the non-essential movement restrictions, Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said. Police stop cars at a checkpoint on the Queensland and New South Wales border on Friday. Credit:AAP/Darren England Those included people failing to social distance in parks and 58 people who attended a car rally at Rochedale on Saturday night. Police have also been pulling over and fining motorists for going on leisurely drives or motorcycle rides. Kannywood film marketer and promoter, Hassana Dalhat, has said that the Hausa film industry will remain challenged for a very long time before any miracle to get it back on its feet happens. She said this is especially in terms of generating revenue for itself. In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES in Kaduna on Sunday, Mrs Dalhat said it has been too bad a business since the return of movies to cinemas for many marketers and promoters of the Kannywood films. Many people who make a living in the industry are now lying low. No business. Go to marketers shops in Kaduna and Kano. Some have packed up because there are no films to sell again. Filmmakers are running at a loss. So, they stopped. Let me tell you PREMIUM TIMES, I have been doing the business of promoting and marketing Hausa films and Hausa novels all my life. I know what it is in the industry. It (has been) a disaster for many marketers and promoters since movies returned to cinemas. Not even the producers and filmmakers are happy with that. But, sincerely, there is nothing they can do about it. Piracy has eaten up the industry and many people have to lay low. Since regulators and even we in the field cannot find a lasting solution to the problem, we allow everything to happen as it is. Films only go to the cinemas. I have spoken to many producers who have taken their films to the cinemas. They run at a loss. Our people are not the cinema type. Here, I mean the people who patronise the movies are really not people who will ordinarily go to the cinemas. They prefer to buy films and watch at home. Even women at homes use to show the films and rent them at a cheaper price. It has all stopped now. Making movies Mrs Dalhat said that while filmmakers are struggling to make movies and still show them at the cinemas, in Kano, making movies is becoming difficult by the day. Only the rich guys among the players can make films now. Thats it, and you will have to promote it to the extent of begging people to please go and watch your film. That is not good enough for the industry. Now the Coronavirus has virtually stopped everything and I am not sure even if everything gets to return to normal, people will have time to do movies ever. Just recently Rahama Sadau released her newest movie, Mati a Zazzau, you can see how she was moving all over to ask people to go and watch her film. It is now difficult. Now many film producers have returned to making films for cable Television. They make films and sell their franchise to TV stations to televise. We are just running out of business. Way forward Mrs Dalhat said that the only way forward is to get the private sector and the government invest in the industry. The government has to get involved, even at the state level. It will serve as a source of revenue for the states. It will generate employment for young Nigerians and many others. The North, with its population, needs this and time is running out, she said. Forwarding firms have been expanding their networks through franchise contracts. The strong rise of e-commerce has brought great opportunities to the logistics industry. According to the Department of Posts under the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC), the total revenue of post services in 2019 hit VND30 trillion, or $1.3 billion, an increase of 27 percent compared with 2018. EMS reported revenue of VND3.5 trillion for 2019, up by 19 percent over the year before. Meanwhile, Vietnam Post reported revenue of over $1 billion, up by 22 percent. EMS, Viettel Post and Vietnam Post all have haf big changes in their services. EMS joined forces with Lalamove to provide express delivery service (within two hours to addresses in inner city). Vo So and MyGo of Viettel Post joined forces to increase the number of orders and shorten delivery time in inner cities. Chu Quang Hao, CEO of Vietnam Post, commented that the post market has never been so competitive. Private delivery firms slashed fees while private firms have made heavy investments to scale up their business. Analysts say that the weak point of e-commerce lies in delivery service. They cited an MOIT survey as saying that 40 percent of online shoppers were unsatisfied about transportation and delivery. The forwarding market needs new names to develop. Analysts say that the weak point of e-commerce lies in delivery service. They cited an MOIT survey as saying that 40 percent of online shoppers were unsatisfied about transportation and delivery. The forwarding market needs new names to develop. This explains why so many freight and forwarding firms have come to Vietnam. In the second half of 2019, the market saw the arrival of Best Inc from the US, InExpress from the UK and ZTO Express. Through franchising, Best Express now has seven centers with more than 320 post offices in 63 cities/provinces nationwide, delivering 150,000 parcels a day and increase capacity by twofold in the next three years. Vietnamese investors also saw the great potential of the market. FPT Retail decided to engage in post and delivery by taking full advantage of its existing large network with 540 shops in 63 cities/provinces. SuperShip decided to expand its business through franchise contracts like ZJC Express, SF Exress and STO Express. beGroup also has jumped into the forwarding market by launching two delivery services beExpress and beDelivery that serve e-commerce firms. Analysts note that developing networks through franchising is the choice of many forwarding firms because it saves costs and time. This method helped STO Express open 50 forwarding centers in 2009-2010 alone. Kim Chi Food delivery by drones in Hanoi Using a drone to deliver banh mi a strange and unique way to deliver a snack to your door - has been pioneered by a shop in Hanoi which is caught the eye of customers. The Grands Prix of Australia, China, Vietnam, Bahrain, the Netherlands, Spain, Monaco and Azerbaijan have been either cancelled or postponed, but that should not spoil the fun. The Formula 1 drivers are now spending their time doing other things. In F1 Social Stint you'll find everything that keeps drivers and teams busy during the extra break preceding the F1 season. Verstappen imitates Vettel: 'Blue flag, blue flag....' It's been a while since we heard Sebastian Vettel talk about the onboard radio, but the lament about drivers ignoring blue flags is still in the back of everyone's mind. The same goes for Max Verstappen, who ventured into an imitation during a sim race on the circuit of Suzuka. End stream Charles Leclerc and his little brother Arthur Leclerc recently participated in the digital Grand Prix. It was broadcasted live, also via a Twitch live stream of the Ferrari driver, but he is not really handy with it yet. Closing the stream afterwards turns out to be another challenge for the driver. Can drive an #F1 car very fast Race winner, virtually and in real life Cant end a @Twitch stream Never change, @Charles_Leclerc #essereFerrari pic.twitter.com/GUaHr4kSQ9 Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) April 8, 2020 Vettel has a smile on his face while driving In a new video from Ferrari, Sebastian Vettel responds to his feelings while racing. The German has the feeling that he is always racing with a smile on his face, but can also be very disappointed when things don't go the way he wants. Driving an #F1 car feels like you want to do it again straight away#Seb5 reveals all about his job a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/essereFerrari?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#essereFerrari pic.twitter.com/W4qRRWoxA7 Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) April 8, 2020 Haas celebrates Dutch success after online race While Charles Leclerc took off with the win at the virtual Grand Prix of Australia, there was also a race going on on the same circuit for official simracers. Where Haas couldn't make an impression with the real drivers, the simracers could celebrate a podium finish. Dutchman, Floris Weijers, managed to secure a third place for the American race stable. Congratulations to @FlorisWijers for taking P3 in the Pro Exhibition Race tonight #F1Esports #HaasF1 pic.twitter.com/Q9Zv06caxE Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) April 5, 2020 Demonstration of the two WISKS at Ernakulam district collectorate. Kochi: As part of expediting Covid-19 testing in Kerala, the Ernakulam government medical college has developed Walk-in sample kiosks (WISK), the first of its kind in the country. The facility will help in easy and safe collection of samples. It takes less than two minutes to collect the blood and swab samples in the kiosk, which looks like a cabin. The disinfected kiosks have facilities like magnetic doors, exhaust fans and ultraviolet lights. People inside the cabin can collect the swab samples using the gloves affixed on the kiosk. The patient or persons with suspected infection will sit in a chair outside the chamber. The technology was initially introduced by South Korea and turned out to be successful there. The kiosks will help in easing the complexities with regard to sample collection and testing. The suspected person need not visit the hospital as the kiosk can be set up anywhere and hundreds of samples can be collected in a short time. The requirement for personal protective equipment (PPE) will also reduce drastically as the person collecting samples in the WISK does not need to wear PPE. In hospitals, the staff who collects swab samples should wear the PPE which cannot be reused. Since PPE kits are very expensive, the health authorities are finding it difficult to procure it. In the case of community spread or a sharp increase in the number of cases, sample collection will be the major challenge for the health department. These kiosks will help in effectively addressing the challenge. Each kiosk will cost only Rs.40,000. The two WISKS have been handed over to the district administration which will be installed at the Ernakulam medical college. District medical officer Dr N K Kuttappan said that more organisations and individuals have come forward offering assistance in setting up WISKS in other parts of the district. WISK was designed as per the instruction of the health department and the district administration by a team led by Ernakulam Medical college RMO Dr Ganesh Mohan. Air India is planning to conduct three special flights to London from April 8-10 to repatriate Canadians who are stranded in India amid a 21-day lockdown imposed to curb the coronavirus pandemic, senior airline officials said on Monday. Once the Air India flights drop them in London, the Canadian government will arrange flights to take them to Canada. The national carrier has signed a contract with the Canadian government to repatriate its citizens amid the 21-day lockdown till April 14. "One flight on Delhi-London route will take place on April 8. Another one would take place on April 10," said senior airlines officials. Another flight on the Mumbai-London route will take place on April 9, official said. All three special flights to take Canadians from India to London's Heathrow airport will be conducted using B777 wide body aircraft, they added. Apart from Canada, Air India has also signed contracts with Germany, France and Ireland to repatriate their citizens from India through special flights. Till now, more than 4000 people have been infected and 100 plus people have died in India due to the novel coronavirus. During the last few weeks, Air India has conducted multiple special flights to bring stranded Indians to the country from virus-affected cities such Wuhan in China and Rome in Italy. It has also conducted multiple special flights during the last few weeks to take stranded foreigners in India to their respective countries such as Israel and Germany. Since the lockdown was imposed, the national carrier has conducted multiple flights across India to transport essential cargo such has coronavirus testing kits, medicines and food. The civil aviation sector has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. On Sunday, Air Deccan became the latest casualty of the crisis as it announced indefinite suspension of flight operations and asked all employees to go on sabbatical without pay. Air India has already announced a 10 per cent cut in allowances for every employee, except cabin crew, for the coming three months. Other airlines such as IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir have also cut salaries of their employees. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Eye pain could be a symptom of Covid-19, according to a former Google data scientist. Seth Stephens-Davidowitz has analysed Google search result data from around the world in order to ascertain what symptoms are most searched for in countries worst hit by the pandemic. Writing in The New York Times, Mr Stephens-Davidowitz revealed that searches for eye pain rose dramatically in the last couple of months in regions badly affected by the coronavirus. Searches for eye pain rose above fourfold in Spain between the middle of February and the middle of March and rose about 50 percent in Iran in March, he said. In Italy, searches for bruciore occhi (burning eyes) were five times their usual levels in March. Italy, Spain and Iran have been severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic, with the two European countries reporting the highest amount of Covid-19-related deaths. Mr Stephens-Davidowitz wrote: search data offers suggestive evidence that eye pain can be a symptom of the disease, but added that the amount of searches for eye pain were a fraction of other symptoms. In New York there are now about one-sixth as many searches related to eye pain as there are searches related to loss of smell, he admitted. Nonetheless, doctors and public health officials should probably look closely at the relationship between Covid-19 and eye pain. In recent weeks, a loss of smell has been reported as a coronavirus symptom, and Mr Stephens-Davidowitz added that searches for the symptom were highest in areas where positive Covid-19 tests were most reported. In the United States, in the week ending this past Saturday, searches for I cant smell were highest in New York, New Jersey, Louisiana, and Michigan four of the states with the highest prevalence of Covid-19, he said. According to a tracking project hosted by Johns Hopkins University, upwards of 337,971 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the US. The death toll has reached at least 9,653. The gigantic hole in the ozone layer that formed above the Arctic due to extremely low temperatures in the stratosphere will repair by mid-April, the European Space Agency stated, Sputnik reports. Since 14 March, the ozone column above the Arctic has decreased to the size that is considered to be a normal ozone hole - of less than 220 Dobson units [a 2.2 mm ozone layer in standard pressure and temperature conditions]. We expect the hole to close again in mid-April, the ESA website cites Diego Loyola from the German Aerospace Centre DLR as saying. The ozone hole, which is being monitored by the European satellite Dentinel-5P, launched into orbit by the Russian rocket carrier Rokot from the cosmodrome Plesetsk in 2017, is now about one million square kilometres in size. DLR researchers attribute its emergence to the unusually cold atmospheric conditions observed in the area over the past year, including sub-zero temperatures in the stratosphere, which led the ozone levels to plummet. The Tropomi total ozone measurements are extending Europes capability of the continuous global ozone monitoring from space since 1995. In this time, we have not witnessed an ozone hole formation of this size over the Arctic, the ESA cited Claus Zehner, the agencys Copernicus Sentinel-5P mission manager, as commenting. Holes in the ozone layer - the Earths unique gas shield from ultraviolet radiation - are more characteristic of the atmosphere above Antarctica, which is typically much colder than the Arctic, as the latter is surrounded by mountainous continents rather than oceans, like the South Pole. By the peak of the winter season, the annually occurring hole, which is also to a great extent affected by human activity, sprawls a staggering 20-25 million square kilometres and stays in place for three to four months. [April 05, 2020] Wells Fargo Receives Strong Interest in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Wells Fargo (News - Alert) & Company (NYSE: WFC) announced today it is targeting to distribute a total of $10 billion to small business customers under the requirements of the PPP and will focus on serving two segments of its customer population: nonprofits and small businesses with fewer than 50 employees. The company has received forms from customers expressing interest in the PPP that it expects will fill the company's capacity to lend under the program, as it continues to operate under existing asset cap limitations. "Since the beginning of this health crisis, Wells Fargo has provided substantial credit and liquidity to our customers to help them weather these uncertain times. In the month of March alone, we extended nearly $70 billion in new and increased commitments and outstanding loans to customers including consumers, small businesses, and companies in the US. In addition, we have deferred more than 700,000 payments, representing almost $1.8 billion, and provided over 750,000 fee waivers, exceeding $28 million, for our customers impacted by this event. "Today, the company continues to operate in compliance with an asset cap imposed by its regulator due to actions of past leadership. While we are actively working to create balance sheet capacity to lend, we are limited in our ongoing ability to use our strong capital and liquidity position to extend additional credit. Since I arrived at the company, I have been clear that we will direct all resources necessary to do the work required by our regulators and we are in the process of doing so. "We are committed to helping our customers during these unprecedented and challenging times, but are restricted in our ability to serve as many customers as we would like under the PPP. While all businesses have been impacted by this crisis, small businesses with fewer than 50 employees and nonprofits often have fewer resources. Therefore, we are focusing our efforts under the Paycheck Protection Program on these groups," said Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf. The company also announced that fees generated through the program will be distributed as charitable grants to nonprofits that support small businesses, which is a focus of Wells Fargo's philanthropic efforts. Wells Fargo will review all expressions of interest submitted by customers via our online form through April 5 andprovide them with updates in the coming days. Wells Fargo is continuing to meet customer and community needs through a series of actions: The company has suspended residential property foreclosure sales, evictions and involuntary automobile repossessions. The company also is offering fee waivers, payment deferrals and other expanded assistance for credit card, auto, mortgage, small business and personal lending customers impacted by COVID-19 who contact the company. Additionally, Wells Fargo continues to take actions to serve customers, while also prioritizing employee and customer safety. The company is temporarily closing some branches, adjusting operating hours of branches, relocating employees to busier branches and utilizing drive up instead of lobbies where possible. Customers can check Wells Fargo's branch locator for ATM locations and the status of branches and can use mobile and online banking tools almost anywhere 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Wells Fargo continues to enable as many employees as possible to work from home, while enforcing social distancing and other safety measures for employees coming into an office or branch. As previously announced, the Wells Fargo Foundation will direct $175 million in charitable donations to help address food, shelter, small business, and housing stability issues, and to help public health organizations fighting to contain the spread of COVID-19. In addition, the company is providing: $1 million to Feeding America to support their 200 member foodbanks as they work to feed people during this time of crisis. $1 million for the CDC Foundation to meet emerging needs, including additional support for state and local health departments, global response and other necessities. $250,000 to the International Medical Corps for their work in 30+ countries, with more than 7,000 public health workers deployed across the globe. A majority of the funding will be allocated for local market response, including supporting local public health authorities and addressing community-specific needs in the coming months. In 2019, Wells Fargo invested $455 million in grants funding national organizations to deliver programs at scale and nonprofits that specifically address the needs of local markets. For additional and up-to-date information on how Wells Fargo is responding to the coronavirus click here. About Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial service company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo's vision is to satisfy our customers' financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through 7,500 locations, more than 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 32 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 261,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 29 on Fortune's 2019 rankings of America's largest corporations. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200405005041/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Berlin will guarantee 100 per cent of loans made by banks to small- and medium-sized firms, ministers said Monday, in an extension to the 1.1-trillion-euro coronavirus crisis package in Europe's top economy. "These speedy loans should make sure that middle-sized companies have liquidity quickly, without taxpayers losing too much money," Finance Minister Olaf Scholz told reporters in the German capital. The federal government will stand fully behind 500,000 euros (USD 540,000) of lending to companies with up to 50 employees and 800,000 euros for larger ones up to 250 workers. Monday's moves ups the guarantee level from a previous 80 percent for large firms or 90 percent for smaller ones, levels that were still causing banks to think twice about granting loans. Companies this size "typically have credit needs in small amounts, but that have to be paid very quickly," Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said. The government is "very sure that there's little likelihood of companies failing to repay," Scholz added. Berlin's economic aid so far totals over 1.1 trillion euros, the finance ministry said in an answer to an opposition parliamentary question seen by AFP Monday. Ministers have agreed a 600-billion-euro "economic stabilisation fund" offering 400 billion euros of guarantees for companies' debts, 100 billion to lend directly to or buy stakes in troubled firms, and 100 billion euros to fund state investment bank KfW. Meanwhile the amount of company borrowing KfW can guarantee has been boosted by 357 billion euros, for a total of 822 billion. To keep their liquidity flowing, companies will also be able to delay tax payments. Berlin says it will offer 50 billion euros of support for small and one-man-band companies, like photographers, musicians or carers. Depending on the number of employees, individual companies will receive up to 15,000 euros each to keep the lights on over a period of three months. Meanwhile freelancers applying for unemployment benefit will not be forced to seek new work. Germany has also eased access to a programme that tops up workers' pay with government cash when their hours are slashed. The scheme is widely credited with saving large numbers of jobs during the financial crisis of 2008-9. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Many states in the U.S. are currently subject to stay-at-home orders in attempts to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and the federal government has advised against holding any gatherings of more than 10 people. While there are many churches that have switched to virtual religious services to respect these orders, some Americans say their congregations are still gathering, with no plans to stop meeting together. According to recent poll conducted by three political scientists, 22 percent of respondents said that they had been encouraged to attend in-person worship because of the virus, and 17 percent said they were still attending worship services in person, Buzzfeed News reports. At a time where gathering together could mean endangering the lives of others, its important that we continue to monitor CDC guidelines and respect stay-at-home orders. We can still gather together as members of the body of Christ, even if that means were not physically together. If we understand the true definition of church, we can understand why its ok to gather virtually. Church is commonly understood to be a building used for public Christian worship but the biblical definition characterizes the church as people. We see the word church used in the Bible multiple ways. First, it is described as the body of Christ. The church is often defined as a local assembly or group of believers. Paul, who was called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, says in his greeting To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be His holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2). This is just one example of the church being defined as company or assembly. Next, the church is defined as the body of living, individual believers. When Paul preaches the Gospel after receiving it by revelation from Jesus Christ, he says, For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it (Galatians 1:13). Paul also said For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God (1 Corinthians 15:9). Both of these verses signal that the church is a body of living people. Finally, it is defined as the universal group of all people who have trusted Christ through the ages. When Peter makes his confession of Christ, Jesus replies, And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it (Matthew 16:18). From these examples, we see that church is not something we do individually. It is something we do collectively. A very important aspect of Christian life is not just what you do by yourself but also what you do together with other people. Biblically, the church is considered to be the family of God. We understand family to be a group that is mutually dependent on each other. The same goes for the church. Right now, we may not be able to gather with our family of believers physically, but we can answer that call in new ways. If your church is now gathering together online, this is a great way to stay connected, especially in the age of social distancing. This is important now, more than ever. Dont think this is a time where you should fall back from church. God wants us to still gather with our church community because its a good habit. The Bible says, Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship. But we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lords coming is getting closer (Hebrews 10:25). Scripture tells us that it is a good habit to regularly attend church and worship. Church is important for fellowship. Online church can be a place where we come together to not only hear Gods Word, but also encourage each other. We do this not only through prayer, but also by being involved in classes, groups and serving where we get to know, pray, help and encourage others on an intimate level. Church is a good habit and when it is a regular part of our practice, we benefit and those who we are in community with benefit as well. When we become Christians, we attend church not simply because its a good habit for growing in spiritual maturity. We join a church because its what Christ called us to do and who Christ made us to be members of His body. When we are in are union with believers, we are in union with Christ. Church is a place we have traditionally gathered to model our lives after Jesus, to live more Godly lives, and to discover our sense of purpose. The church helps us see that we are here to serve and to love. Even in the midst of the coronavirus, we can still make church attendance a priority. It is a part of who we are as believers. Yes, there are a million other things we could be doing on a Sunday but none of these reasons outweigh being in fellowship and mission. This is what God wants for you. Campus News Faculty find creative ways to teach amid distance learning By MARCENE ROBINSON The new term is academic preparedness. The tools and skills that faculty are learning now will help them meet the needs of a generation of students that are far more electronic. The tools and skills that faculty are learning now will help them meet the needs of a generation of students that are far more electronic. This type of environment has forced us all to collaborate and take a hard look at our preparedness for education in the future, adds Myers, also a member of the UB Educational Design Collaborative and an Open SUNY fellow. The new term is academic preparedness, says Jeanne Myers, a learning designer in the School of Management who has played a critical role in helping faculty transition to online courses. From crafting homemade document cameras to arranging cross-country tutoring, faculty are adapting quickly to the digital learning landscape caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As educators and students across the nation rapidly adjust to distance learning, UB faculty members have developed innovative tools and turned to non-conventional methods to continue teaching their students. Igor Jankovic and Todd Snyder channeled their inner-MacGyver to build a document reader that faculty can use from home. Jankovic bought more cameras online and the pair manufactured five additional camera stands to distribute among other faculty. Snyder is also creating a guide for faculty to build their own homemade document cameras out of a range of materials, including wood, joints and screws. The beauty of these webcams, in addition to having a high-quality lens and microphone, is that they are old enough so that the drivers come installed on Windows 10, says Snyder. We tested it on my desktop PC, and the camera worked immediately and appeared instantly as an input for Panopto. After quickly constructing a prototype, they formed an improved working model for less than $30 that functioned seamlessly with Panopto, a software for streaming and recording lectures. Working with Todd Snyder, instructional support specialist in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the pair channeled their inner MacGyver to fashion a stand for the camera using scraps of 80/20 aluminum framing. So when Igor Jankovic, associate professor of civil, structural and environmental engineering, found an old web camera in a box of junk at his home, he decided to put the forgotten lens to use. For some faculty members teaching from their homes, the document camera is a missed technology from the classroom. Many faculty use handwritten notes to guide students through problem-solving steps. Without the equipment, students lose a critical piece of their learning. Igor Jankovic and Todd Snyder fashioned a stand for an old web camera from scraps of 80/20 aluminum framing. Transferring tech for teens to the college campus War and American Memory, an upper-level course in the Department of History, does not have a final exam. Instead, students are tasked with learning historical figures, passionately debating that characters ideologies and swaying their classmates toward their political faction in a role-playing game. While the discussion-based project worked well in the classroom, Sarah Handley-Cousins, clinical assistant professor of history and course instructor, had to quickly find a way to move the assignment online while maintaining engagement. Handley-Cousins found her solution in Flipgrid, a video-sharing app primarily aimed at young students. Similar to the photo-sharing app Instagram, Flipgrid allows students to share short videos and comment on their classmates posts. Class communication also takes place on the messaging platform Slack. I hesitated to hold live discussions because I didnt know what each students living situation was like. This method preserves the face-to-face component and gameplay of the project, Handley-Cousins says. She is also using the software for her course Historical Writing, where students are required to present oral presentations on class materials. To accommodate the limits of the app, presentations will be shortened from 10 to five minutes. The last few weeks have shown me that flexibility is okay, she says. It has shaken my way of digging my claws into the way things have to be. Some things from the course can get cut. Some things can get changed. The students are still going to learn. No classroom, no problem Many students enrolled in pre-K12 schools across the nation lack the access to technology that enables consistent online communication with their instructors. For teacher candidates enrolled in the Graduate School of Educations Teacher Education Programs, classroom experience is essential to their certification and preparation for the field. With most learning transitioned online, the Graduate School of Education encouraged candidates to become inventive in how they connected with their students. Christina Turowski, a former lawyer pursuing a teaching certification in social studies, created a website on U.S. history for her seventh-grade class in one weekend. The website includes lesson plans for parents to use to supplement their childrens education, virtual tours of museums and national landmarks, games and a podcast. Every weekday, Turowski adds content to the site, which is accessed by hundreds of people. I made this website because there are parents out there who may not have the resources to teach their children moving forward. This is the whole reason I wanted to be back in the classroom, to help students, she says. Another group of candidates enrolled in the Early Childhood/Childhood teacher certification program is privately tutoring students online across the nation, connecting with families in New York, Massachusetts and Nevada. Everyone in the cohort wants to work with the kids. We came to the masters program to make an impact in childhood education, says Kaleigh Kenefick, who is tutoring a pair of young children in Massachusetts on telling time, writing and social interaction. There are so many kids not in school that could use our help. We felt an internal drive to help them get a better education, no matter where they were. Program clinical supervisor Grace Maylin reached out on social media to mothers who needed tutoring for their children. After being matched, the educators performed meet and greets with the families to learn areas of need and formed lesson plans. We normally have little say in the classrooms on the curriculum. This is a unique opportunity to use everything we learned to keep these kids engaged in what we know and love, says Emma Janicki-Gechoff, who is tutoring science and planning backyard learning activities for elementary school children in New York. Libraries race to go digital When the university announced that it would transition to distance learning, the University Libraries toiled around the clock to move course materials online for dozens of faculty and digitize hundreds of books. With only the week of spring break available, Libraries Education Services worked with more than 50 instructors in the Department of English and English Language Institute who were teaching Writing and Rhetoric a course delivered to 60% of the undergraduate population to move remaining information literacy lectures, assignments and quizzes online. Libraries Education Services also partnered with the Center for Educational Innovation to provide faculty with virtual assistance on using online video or instruction software, such as Blackboard, Webex, Panopto and Respondus. Other university librarians worked to place research guides, textbooks and course materials online before access to physical materials became limited. University librarians remain available through virtual chat services. The libraries had the grand task of putting everything online in just a week, says Cynthia Tysick, director of education services in the UB Libraries. One hundred sixty people became one driving force, working at all different hours. My Favorite Quotes Recent Quotes Portfolio Summary Your most recently viewed tickers will automatically show up here if you type a ticker in the Get Quotes box on the top of the page. An ambulance drives by the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on March 31, 2020 in New York City. In just over a week, The Jacob K. Javits Center has been transformed into a field hospital operated by the U.S. National Guard, taking in coronavirus patients to help alleviate the stress on existing hospital systems. The hospital is now set up to accommodate 2,500 beds and is prepared to add additional beds if needed. The federal government has also deployed the USNS Comfort to New York which is now docked at Port 90 on the Hudson River. The ship has also started to receive coronavirus patients. An additional field hospital was also set up in Central Park in conjunction with Mount Sinai Hospital and the Samaritan's Purse Disaster Relief organization. New York City currently has 64,955 reported cases and over 2400 people have died from the virus so far. While cases and deaths continue to increase, Gov. Andrew Cuomo sees a possible flattening of the curve in coming days. Here is a look inside the Javits Center as patients begin to arrive and receive treatment: Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Patient Access Solutions Market Size, Share, key Trends, Top Leaders and Analyzed information by Global Patient Access Solutions Market Service (Support & Maintenance and Implementation), Software (Eligibility Verification Software and Medical Necessity Management Software,), End User & RegionGlobal Forecast till 2024 Patient access solutions can be used by patients to gain access to their records, prescriptions, reports, and bills in a centralized location. The software helps in identification, management, and collection of data. The global patient access solutions market report by Market Research Future (MRFR) uses industry insights accumulated from experts by analysts for the compilation of pertinent drivers and challenges in a comprehensive manner. Market Overview The global patient access solutions market is predicted to accrue revenues at a CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period (2019-2024). The market can thrive by minimizing the amount of staff required for management of patient data. The increase in healthcare expenditure by nations globally can drive the adoption rate by hospital chains globally and provide the market a much-needed boost. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the total healthcare expenditure was reported to be USD 831.5 billion. Technological advances in software which have culminated in accuracy, portability, and affordability can ramp up the adoption rate significantly. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the software to assist patients in their search can bode well for the global Patient Access Solutions Market growth. Additional functions of health economics management and patient record management, as well as integration of real-time management models, can influence the growth patterns of the market. Segmentation The global patient access solutions market is segmented by delivery mode, software, service, and end-user. By delivery mode, it is segmented into on-premise solutions and web & cloud-based solutions. By software, it is segmented into eligibility verification software, pre-certification & authorization software, payment estimation software, medical necessity management software, medical claims payment processing software, claims denial & appeal management software, and others. By service, it is segmented into training & education, support & maintenance, and implementation. By end-user, it is segmented into laboratories & research institutes, hospitals & clinics, and healthcare providers. Regional Analysis The Middle East & Africa (MEA), Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), and North America are the main regions considered during the compilation of the market report. The Americas accounted for the lions share of the market due to presence of well-established hospital chains, reputed personnel, sophisticated infrastructure, and high healthcare expenditure. Europe accounted for the second-largest market share due to increased support for research and development. Furthermore, the integration of the latest technology as well as upgradation of current equipment can drive the global patient access solutions market demand till 2023. Investment of capital as well as the large healthcare expenditure allocated for the well-being of patients can augur favorably for the market in the region. The APAC region is estimated to grow at a robust pace due to rapidly growing economies as well as the large patient pool. Awareness among patients of mobile applications as well as large disposable income levels has led to the integration of the latest automated solution at major hospitals. This can prove fruitful for the market looking to expand in the region. Furthermore, the improving economies other than large ones of China and India can be lucrative areas for investment. Competition Outlook Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Optum, TeleTracking Technologies, Inc., TransUnion LLC, SCI Solutions, Inc., GAFFEY Healthcare, Experian Information Solutions, Inc., Genentech USA, Inc., PokitDok, Inc, nThrive, Inc, Stericycle Inc, Cardinal Health, McKesson, Availity, LLC, UNITED BIOSOURCE LLC, KYRUUS, Cerner Corporation, MEDHOST, and FormFast are prominent names in the global patient access solutions market. Industry News Patient Access Solutions, Inc., has decided to try out a new strategy of acquiring local clinics in order to expand its services. It will establish Integrated Health Centers in its place and focus on patient care. Table Of Contents: Chapter 1. Report Prologue Chapter 2. Market Introduction 2.1 Definition 2.2 Scope Of The Study 2.2.1 Research Objective 2.2.2 Assumptions 2.2.3 Limitations Chapter 3. Research Methodology 3.1 Overview 3.2 Primary Research 3.3 Secondary Research 3.4 Market Size Estimation Chapter 4. Market Dynamics 4.1 Drivers 4.2 Restraints 4.3 Opportunities Continued OBTAIN RESEARCH REPORT DETAILS WITH TOC @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/patient-access-solutions-market-7811 Related News Sex Cord Gonadal Stromal Tumor Market Bariatric Surgery Devices Market About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/ At the Wistar Instistute in January, project manager Faraz Zaidi, left, and Penn graduate student Daniel Park analyzed a coronavirus vaccine that is now being tested on humans. Read more A few minutes before 4 p.m. Monday, a researcher placed metal probes against the skin of a healthy volunteer at the University of Pennsylvania, delivering a small dose of fluid with a large goal: to protect the world against the coronavirus. The volunteer was the first of three people this week to receive an experimental vaccine made by Inovio Pharmaceuticals of Plymouth Meeting. The company began work on its vaccine just 10 weeks ago, after Chinese authorities published the microbes genetic code, an accelerated schedule that once was unimaginable. Here we are the first week of April, and were starting to vaccinate people, said Pablo Tebas, the Penn Medicine physician overseeing the effort. The whole time frame has been collapsed. The study will enroll up to 40 volunteers, split between Penn and the Center for Pharmaceutical Research in Kansas City, Mo., the company said. Human tests have begun on at least one other vaccine candidate, made by Cambridge, Mass.-based Moderna Inc., but most of the several dozen vaccines in development have not reached that stage. Each volunteer at Penn will receive two doses of the Inovio vaccine, spaced four weeks apart. Screening of potential participants at the Kansas City site is underway. A primary goal is to make sure the vaccine, for now called INO-4800, does not cause any adverse effects. Researchers also will analyze blood samples from participants to make sure their immune systems are generating an appropriate response a key marker of whether their bodies would be able to fight off an infection. READ MORE: Why a vaccine will take 18 months The vaccine volunteers are not being exposed to the virus, at least not on purpose. But separately, scientists are doing that in animal studies. Several dozen labs and companies are at work on vaccines worldwide; none is expected to be ready before next year. Even so, that timetable would represent the fastest development of a vaccine. Getting the process done by next year will require a lot of work and careful scrutiny, said Richard Hatchett, chief executive officer of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, which helped fund development of the Inovio vaccine. Producing a COVID-19 vaccine within the next 12 to 18 months is not only a scientific challenge; it will also require new levels of collaboration and investment across industry and government, he said in a statement issued by Inovio. There is still a long road ahead before we have a safe, effective, and globally accessible vaccine ready for broader use, but today we have reached an important milestone on that journey. Early lab tests of the Inovio vaccine were done at Philadelphias Wistar Institute, in the lab of David B. Weiner, a member of Inovios board. The technology used to make the vaccine is based on research Weiner did while at Penn. The approach is dramatically different from that used in most vaccines, in which people are injected with a weakened or killed form of a virus so their immune systems can learn to make antibodies to fight off a real infection. Instead, the Inovio vaccine is a plasmid: a minuscule package of genetic instructions injected into the persons skin cells. The cells make a fragment of the virus, enabling the persons immune system to make antibodies in much the same way it would respond to the weakened or killed viruses in a traditional vaccine. Called a DNA vaccine, Inovios drug can be assembled quickly from chemical components. A traditional whole-virus vaccine, on the other hand, is typically isolated and purified from strains in animals a process that takes years. Tebas, an infectious disease specialist at Penn, said there is no shortage of volunteers willing to try the vaccine. The Philadelphia site has enough for the first round of the trial, but if all goes well, more will be needed. There has been tremendous interest in this vaccine among people who want to do what they can to help protect the greater public from this pandemic as soon as possible, he said in the Inovio news release. The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has rejected plans by the Federal Government to invite and 18-member Chinese medical team to help Nigeria in her fight against the deadly coronavirus. The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said on Friday that gifts of medical supplies were being expected from China, organised by a group of Chinese companies working in Nigeria. He added that an 18 man team of Chinese medical experts will come along with the flight. Ehanire said: " A special cargo aircraft shall leave Nigeria in a few days to collect the items, which include commodities, PPE and ventilators. Of great interest is an 18 man team of Chinese medical experts, including doctors, nurses and public health advisers, who shall come along with the flight." However, NMA President, Francis Faduyile, in a statement Sunday, March 5, said the move is a misplaced priority. He described it as "a thing of embarrassment to the membership of the Association and other health workers who are giving their best in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic under deplorable working conditions." Faduyile urged the government to rescind the decision in the overall interest of the country. He asked the government to declare a state of emergency in the health sector and fix health institutions urgently. The plan of inviting an 18-member team of Chinese medical experts to Nigeria has been criticised since it was announced Friday by the health minister. The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) had advised the federal government against the plan, saying it was unnecessary to invite Chinese doctors as Nigeria was already handling the crisis effectively. TUC President Mr Quadri Olaleye and Secretary General Mr Musa Lawal-Ozigi, said in a statement that the minimal number of people infected and deaths recorded is a proof that Nigeria is not doing badly in the efforts to handle the situation. "Truly, the Chinese authorities have done well by not recording more cases in their country; it is novel and also shows their proactiveness and commitment to crises. That notwithstanding, we insist that we do not need them now; rather, we shall continue to adhere to precautions by health professionals to make the job easy," they said. On Saturday, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Garba Abari, clarified the reasons behind the proposed invitation of a Chinese medical team. He said the Chinese medical team were only coming to share experiences with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and not to directly take charge of the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in the country. According to him, they will be sharing experiences on how the pandemic was handled in China and giving expert suggestions to our medical teams. Abari said: "Whatever information the Chinese medical team makes available to NCDC will be filtered and applied to address the peculiar challenges of the country on handling the COVID-19 scourge. This is a global pandemic and from wherever assistance comes, you cannot reject it." However, Nigerian doctors opposed the plan. The NMA president said the government did not take into consideration the extant laws regulating the practice of medicine in Nigeria as enshrined in the Medical and Dental Council Act. "This is one such circumstance where the Medical and Dental Council of Nigerian should be consulted to grant necessary approvals to foreigners to interact with Nigerian patients", Mr Faduyile explained. The full statement from the NMA reads: (1) The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) received the news of the intention of the Federal Government of Nigeria to invite Chinese doctors into the country at this time of a global pandemic with great dismay and utter disappointment. (2) It is a thing of embarrassment to the membership of the Association and other health workers who are giving their best in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic under deplorable working conditions, and a fragile health system to be subjected to the ignominy of not being carried along in arriving at such a decision. (3) The lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), grossly inadequate test kits and test centres across the country, and the absolute lack of any form of insurance for the workforce are primordial issues begging for attention at this time. (4) We are therefore profoundly dismayed to learn that the Federal Government is instead inviting the Chinese who from available accounts are not out of the woods themselves. The spike in cases and the death toll from COVID -19 in Italy coincided with the arrival of the Chinese in the guise of offering assistance. Even the United Nations has only just recently commended the efforts of Nigeria so far. (5) The Association notes with grave concern that the Government did not take into consideration the extant laws regulating the practice of medicine in Nigeria as enshrined in the Medical and Dental Council Act. This is one such circumstance where the Medical and Dental Council of Nigerian should be consulted to grant necessary approvals to foreigners to interact with Nigerian patients. (6) The Association appreciates the commendable work done by doctors and health workers at the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the various isolation centres across the country. It expects the Government to show appreciation by channelling the available resources and donations to improving testing facilities to detect more cases and ramp up capacity to train more workers. (7) The Association is aware of a large pool of General Medical and Specialist Practitioners who are either unemployed or underemployed that can be engaged instead of bringing foreigners who aside from national security concerns may not be conversant with our culture, terrain and peculiar challenges. (8) The Association believes that this invitation is ill-timed and of no overbearing significance considering that whatever experiences the Chinese have can be shared by digital technology through conferencing bearing in mind that Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu has only just returned from China. We are not averse to the donation of equipment and supplies because we can always do with such support as even the developed countries receive support. (9) In rejecting the invitation of the Chinese doctors, the NMA would instead urge the Federal Government to review and approve better welfare incentives to the frontline medical personnel. The provision of adequate personal protective equipment, opening and properly equipping more isolation centres and health facilities across the country is an excellent first step. Deploying more resources to facilitate testing as we are beginning to witness community transmission of COVID 19 is equally a better application of scarce resources. (10) The Government should declare a state of emergency in the Health sector and use the opportunity to fix our health institutions as a matter of urgency in a bid to stem the rot. (11) The NMA urges the Government to expand the Presidential Task Force to include other critical stakeholders including journalists and the civil society to ensure more robust engagement especially as the decisions of the task force has implications for the health, wealth and security of our country. (12) It is a great disservice to the morale of the long-suffering frontline health workforce if the Government goes ahead to invite these Chinese doctors. The invitation demeans their sacrifices so far in this pandemic. We fail to see how the 18 man team would impact the current efforts in any significant way. (13) The Association, however, expects that the Government would rescind the decision in the overall interest of the country. (14) The NMA would loathe reviewing her participation in the fight against COVID-19 considering the grave implications and the risk to the lives of her members should the Government go ahead with this ill-thought-out invitation at this time. (15) The Association remains committed to the Nigerian people and the Government. We support the efforts of our frontline health workers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and we expect reciprocal trust from the Government. 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 Los Angeles Times headquarters in El Segundo. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) In an effort to aid scientists and researchers in the fight against COVID-19, The Times has released its database of California coronavirus cases to the public. To follow the virus spread, The Times is conducting an independent survey of dozens of local health agencies across the state. The effort, run continually throughout the day, supplies the underlying data for this site's coronavirus tracker . Its tallies can arrive days ahead of numbers published by the California Department of Public Health. By polling local agencies, The Times database also gathers some information not provided by the state. The system has won praise from public health officials, who do not dispute its method of data collection. In recent weeks, experts have asked for access to the records in order to better study the pandemic. Starting today, the database is available on Github , a popular website for hosting data and computer code. The files will be updated daily at github.com/datadesk/california-coronavirus-data. The Times data are already being put to use. The medical school at UC San Francisco today launched a new website for investigating COVID-19. The site, called the UCSF Health Atlas, is at healthatlas.ucsf.edu . It allows users to cross-reference the location of coronavirus cases with other factors, like age, race and income. This practice is common in the field of public health, where scientists scour data to identify the underlying forces that drive the spread of disease. The coronavirus is something that we know has the ability to affect everyone, said Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, chair of the department of epidemiology and biostatistics at UCSF. We also know that the impact of COVID is not going to be seen uniformly across the state. Bibbins-Domingo says its too soon to fully understand the forces shaping the coronavirus outbreak, which is why she says its vital to closely monitor the data as they arrive. As this pandemic plays out we will see many more patterns emerge, she said. Being able to see the COVID cases overlaid with other factors will help all of us better understand. Bibbins-Domingo said she hopes the new site can make the techniques used by experts accessible to a wider group of people, including journalists, policy makers, students and the general public. Nurse Dies From COVID-19 in Michigan, Family Says There Was a Delay in Testing A Michigan ER nurse who twice tried to get testing for COVID-19 later died from the virus, according to her family. They told Fox6 that it wasnt until Lisa Ewald, 54, had multiple symptoms and requested testing a third time, did she test positive for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus, which causes the disease COVID-19. Her niece, Mandi Standifer, told the Detroit Free Press that she died last week at her home. Standifer said Ewald told her she wasnt wearing a mask when she had been treating a patient who later tested positive for the CCP virus. Ewald worked for the Henry Ford Health System in Michigan, according to its CEO and president, Wright Lassiter III, who confirmed her death to the newspaper. Its just wrong, Standifer told the paper of the lack of testing. You would think they would take care of their own. Carly Ewald, another niece, told the Fox affiliate that Ewald lost her sense of smell and taste by the end of March, adding that she had asthma and was at high-risk to the virus. She cared so more about other people than she did herself, she told the station. And thats kind of what upsets me. But Lassiter said the system strictly adheres to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for testing employees. Currently, the CDC recommends testing employees only when they become symptomatic, he said. Whether at work or at home under self-isolation, if an employee begins experiencing symptoms, they are urged to contact Employee Health and arrange for immediate testing. Meantime, we strongly urge anyone who is at home with symptoms to go to their nearest emergency room immediately if symptoms worsen, including a rising fever, uncontrolled cough or respiratory problems. A group of Rohingya congregate at the Kutupalong refugee camp in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, where aid workers are preparing for a potential COVID-19 outbreak, April 1, 2020. Updated at 3:42 p.m. ET on 2020-04-06 Hospitals across Bangladesh have fewer than 1,500 ventilators, the health minister said Monday, after rights group Save The Children pointed to a severe nationwide shortage of the machines amid the coronavirus outbreak. The number of ventilators in Bangladeshi hospitals or in the pipeline would average out to about one for nearly every 100,000 people, as the densely populated South Asian nation contends with a public health threat from COVID-19, the London-based humanitarian NGO said. We have a shortage of ventilators. These machines are costly and sophisticated, Health Minister Zahid Maleque told BenarNews. Bangladesh, a nation of about 165 million people, has slightly more than 1,475 ventilators at all of its government-run and private hospitals, he said. This is very hard to give an exact number for ventilators as some machines remain in operation and some remain out of order or under maintenance, Maleque said. In addition, we have ordered 300 ventilators from European manufacturers. These have been in the pipeline. According to the minister, not all patients afflicted with the coronavirus need to be hooked up to these devices, which help patients breathe. The elderly patients with severe respiratory problems need ventilators. Ordinary coronavirus patients do not need ventilators, he said. But Bangladeshi health experts contacted by BenarNews on Monday said these machines were essential for treating patients suffering from COVID-19, because the virus attacks peoples lungs. [V]entilators actually provide alternative support to the respiratory system of the COVID-19 patients. In most of the cases, ventilators are a must for treating COVID-19 patients, said Dr. Md Nazrul Islam, a professor of virology at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), a state-run institution. There is a shortage of ventilators nationwide, and not all intensive care units at hospitals are equipped with those machines, he said. The hospital associated with the university where he teaches is considered one of the best centers of medicine in Bangladesh, but it has only 30 ventilators, he said. We have to increase the number of ventilators as the number of patients continues to grow, Islam said. On Monday, Bangladeshi health authorities reported the single largest daily spike to date in confirmed COVID-19 cases, saying 35 new cases were detected, bringing the national total to 123. Three new fatalities from the virus were also recorded, bringing the official national death toll to 12. Early in the day, Save The Children warned that hospitals in Bangladesh may not be able to cope under pressure from the pandemic as it eventually strains the countrys supply of ventilators. At present it is difficult for Bangladesh to meet the expected surge in demand for ventilators to help respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, Shamim Jahan, the NGOs deputy country director in Bangladesh, said in a news release issued by Save The Children. We are in this together no single country can confront COVID-19 alone, even the richest and most powerful among us. It is therefore essential that world leaders in particular the G20 countries commit to a coordinated global plan under-pinned by debt relief. We also urge the Bangladesh government to engage the public and private sectors urgently to secure ventilators for COVID-19 patients, Jahan said. No ventilators in Coxs Bazar The densely populated southeastern district of Coxs Bazar home to sprawling camps that house more than 1 million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar is particularly vulnerable to the viral outbreak, Save The Children said. The acute scarcity of ventilators in the district means lives will be lost when COVID-19 starts to spread more widely in the community, The NGO said. But in fact, according to Dr. Mahbubur Rahman, head of the districts health office, there are no ventilators in Coxs Bazar. We detected one coronavirus patient and referred the patient to Dhaka where she completely recovered, he told BenarNews. But we feel that Coxs Bazar hospitals should have an adequate number of ventilators. Rahman said the victim was a Bangladeshi woman who had returned from Saudi Arabia. So far, no Rohingya have tested positive for COVID-19. But we have already requested that authorities allocate ventilators for Coxs Bazar hospitals to meet an emergency, he said. Meanwhile, at the national level, help could be coming from Bangladeshi businesses assisted by a major international manufacturer of ventilators. In a Facebook post on March 31, the state minister for information and communication technology said Medtronic, an Ireland-based company led by a Bangladeshi man, had released software source codes and hardware designs to Bangladeshs government. Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak said local companies Walton, MyOne, Celltron, a2i Innovation Lab, MIST, Minister Electronics, Startup Bangladesh and iDEA were using that information to produce ventilators. Worldwide more than 70,500 people have died and nearly 1.3 million have been infected from the coronavirus, according to the latest data compiled by disease experts at Johns Hopkins University in the United States. Without access to intensive care facilities in Coxs Bazar, patients in critical condition may have to be transported to neighboring Chittagong district 150 kilometers [93.2 miles] away, further increasing the risk to them and others," said Athena Rayburn, the Rohingya Response Advocacy manager for Save The Children. "Ventilators and people trained to operate them are urgently needed to protect the host communities and Rohingya refugees to avert a humanitarian disaster if we start to see community-level transmission of COVID-19. Children are at serious risk of contracting the virus, but also of being orphaned or neglected if family members become infected or die, she said. April 06 : After Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan and many more opening their hearts and contributing generously towards Corona Pandemic relief fund, set by different authorities, including Prime Minister, Chief Minister and other organizations, young gun Arjun Kapoor has decided to make his contribution. Panipat Actor Arjun Kapoor just took to his social media profile and issued a statement, where he has pledged to support PM CARES, Chief Minister Relief Fund, Give India, FWICE and The Wishing Factory. The statement read, India is in the midst of a crisis and as responsible citizen we need to do our bit for our fellow brothers and sisters in need. Im trying my best to help as many people possible by humbly contributing to PM CARES Fund, Maharasthra Chief Ministers Relief Fund and Give India- which is working non-stop to help provide cash in the hands of daily wage earners who have lost their job/have no source of income due to the lockdown. The wishing factory which is doing remarkable work with thalassemia patients from low income groups so that they receive blood transfusions during the lockdown, especially since blood transfusions are not included under essential services. The darkest nights produce the brightest stars. Together, we shall overcome !!!#9MinutesForIndia pic.twitter.com/Q9DhskpXhR arjunk26 (@arjunk26) April 5, 2020 Federation of Western India Cine Empolyee my industrys backbone, the people without whom no film can be shot/made. We all regard them as our family. We can only fight Covid-19, if we stand united. I urge all of you to come forward and support to the best of your abilities. Arjun Kapoor Meanwhile on the work front, Arjun Kapoor will next be seen in Sandeep aur Pinky Faraar with Parineeti Chopra. The film is an unreleased Indian black comedy drama film directed and produced by Dibakar Banerjee. Initially scheduled for release on 20 March 2020, the film was indefinitely postponed due to the 201920 coronavirus pandemic. New Delhi [India], April 6 (ANI): They are warriors in white coats, soldiers in the frontline of the battle against coronavirus who are dedicatedly working in hospitals even as their families worry about their safety. The work is challenging as the number of positive cases has been going up but doctors, paramedics, nurses and other staff seem determined to provide treatment and care to patients. India had 4281 positive cases of coronavirus till Monday and 111 people have died. ANI talked to doctors at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) who shared how they were coping up with the challenges as their families worry about their safety and pray for them. Some have their families far away. For doctors, ICU is a critical area as there is a risk to a patient's life. As they go about their work of saving lives, it is social media that helps them and others in the frontline of coronavirus battle connect with families and convey their well being. Dr Ambica Singh, who specialises in geriatrics medicines, is now posted for COVID-19 patient care. "Every day is a challenge. Cases are increases every day. Far from home, I am here to save lives because it is our responsibility as a doctor. We also go through an emotional breakdown. At that time our friends and colleagues are our support," she said. Referring to the fight against the virus as a war without flame and smoke, she said: "My family encourages me to do my best. Sometimes, I am not able to pick my family's phone calls. My mother keeps track of WhatsApp--whether I am online or not. If I am online, my mother gets to know that I am safe," she said with tears in her eyes. Dr Amandeep Singh said he was worried in the beginning but AIIMS administration gave special training to medicos to deal with the crisis. "Inside the ICU, it feels that we are soldiers. I just pray that this coronavirus crisis settles down soon. I cancelled my plans to visit my home in Chandigarh. When on duty, I am unable to take phone calls--my mother just drops a small voice note message on WhatsApp and it literally makes me cry," he said. Dr Rajeev Ranjan is a former RDA General Secretary at AIIMS. He specialises in laboratory medicine at AIIMS and is also posted at COVID-19 unit. He recently got married and is now staying away from his wife to protect her from infection. He did not hesitate to join the medical team dedicated to coronavirus treatment. "Every second, every minute counts as it means life and hope for patients. We are dedicated to our duties to work in the ICU and are risking our lives but we have hope that we are severing society. Our family is also concerned for our safety but we are fighting against the virus," he said, adding that strong action by the government has certainly played a great role in containing the virus. "Even though my wife is a doctor too and we recently got married, we chose to severe people of our country. My only appeal to people is to maintain social distancing to contain the virus," he added. Dr Ranjan said once the COVID-19 epidemic gets over, he wants to have a lovely dinner with the wife and see the city streets busy as usual. Despite having family in Delhi, Dr Ajit Singh, a surgical oncologist at AIIMS, said he has not visited his home for the last three months. "Family is scared and talk to me almost every day. We are two brothers and both of them are doctors severing patients at this time, so they are extra worried," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There can be no silver lining in a crisis such as the current one. The coronavirus pandemic has shaken the foundations of how citizens live and work; it has taken thousands of lives; it has caused immense economic suffering. But disasters do also offer an opportunity to address legacy issues. Take the tsunami. In Indonesia, it was after the natural disaster that the government and separatists in the Aceh province signed a peace deal, ending an armed conflict. Closer home, after the devastating earthquake of 2015, political parties in Nepal came together to draft a Constitution after years of deadlock. To be sure, it generated criticism from the countrys ethnic minorities, but the disaster ended up giving the country a stable political order. India must consider this moment to address its legacy issues, particularly conflicts. The Communist Party of India (Maoist) has offered a ceasefire and said that it will not launch any attacks on police personnel till the threat of the pandemic subsides and asked for a response from the government. This comes soon after a Maoist attack led to the killing of 17 security personnel in Chhattisgarh. The Maoists are against the Indian State and Constitution; they have used violence and killed State officials and innocents; and the security establishment must not, for a moment, allow them to have the advantage. But this is a moment when the regime can also display political imagination and see if it is possible to not just have a ceasefire but also have a more sustainable peace agreement. For this, the precondition, of course, remains Maoists renouncing violence and abiding by the Constitution. This is also an opportunity to heal the wounds in another key region suffering from internal turbulence Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The government has done well to release leaders such as Farooq and Omar Abdullah and revise its domicile policy based on the sentiment on the ground. It must follow this up with the release of other political detainees and the promise of eventual restoration of statehood. For its part, J&Ks political leadership must accept that the nullification of Article 370 is final. This can then be the framework for politics to resume in the Valley. Crises such as the pandemic should make all stakeholders in a conflict recognise that there are common challenges humanity faces and there is a bigger battle to be fought, in unity with each other, not in conflict. Dr Nimota Buhari, Department of Behavioural Sciences, University of Ilorin (Unilorin), has warned Nigerian not to overexpose themselves to social media because of lockdown. Buhari said this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Ilorin. She revealed that the time spent by children and youths online may worsen and lead to social media addiction. Read Also: Lockdown: Police Harass Man Who Went To Buy Fufu For His Family (Video) According to her, the lockdown could encourage some young people to indulge in substance abuse as a coping strategy, especially among risked groups. The university lecturer also warned against using smoking, alcohol or other drugs to deal with emotions at this trying times of COVID- 19 pandemic, adding that if you feel overwhelmed, talk to health workers or counsellors. When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their engagement in November 2017, more than a year after they first met, it was clear that they wanted to take their relationship to the next level and start a new chapter together. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were so full of life in their engagement interview, and Prince Harry was extremely confident that the former "Suits" actress would be able to handle royal life. In the couple's interview, the 35-year-old prince once said: "She will be unbelievably good at the job of it as well as obviously a huge relief to me because she will be able to deal with everything else that comes with it." The pair, especially Prince Harry, was thrilled to make changes together -- full of optimism about what the royal life would hold for both of them. However, somewhere down the line, things took a different route. Royal Rift Prince Harry's older brother, Prince William, was vocal that he did not want the couple rushing into things. He also allegedly warned his younger brother, which became the most significant cause of their rift. According to royal journalist Carole Malone, "the biggest cause of their so-called rift was Wills tried to warn Harry when he met Meghan not to rush into it. He'd only known her for less than a year when they got engaged." The journalist shared that the Duke of Cambridge sat down with Prince Harry and just told him to take it a bit slow instead of "running into it." Another expert revealed that Prince William and Kate Middleton did not get the time to know the former actress because Prince Harry "hardly knew Meghan." "And of course, William and Kate though, 'Oh, she's been married before, she's older than Harry. I hope she's going to make him happy.' Anyone would think that," Majesty magazine editor Ingrid Seward shared. Because of what Prince William said, the Duke of Sussex reportedly went ballistic over the lack of support regarding his relationship early on. Rushed Engagement Meghan might have thought that being a royal would be a walk in the park, that things were just going to be handed out to her, and she would be a loved royal by every British out there. It was not the case. The rushed engagement did not help them get a grasp of how the entire British monarchy works. It also did not give them enough time to adjust to the British press. Aside from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the press and the rest of the royal family all seemed at odds with the couple. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were fighting a war against not only their own family but also against the media. "The relationship between the press and the royal family is often called a game, one that Prince Harry's mother knew how to play," The Guardian columnist Jane Martinson concluded. "No one ever gets a fairytale ending, but the tone of this story needs to change." Additionally, according to reports, people expected that Prince Harry could "tell his wife to wind her neck in after they got married," but the opposite happened. Prince Harry decided on his own and and went from "an easy-going guy who has a bit of a laugh to this neurotic millionaire." People at the palace believe the two were "a pain in the a**" since then. Tributes have been paid to a well-known Welsh farmer who tragically died following a tractor accident on his farm in Powys. Richard Tudor, a respected member of the farming industry, was killed on Friday 3 April. The 45-year-old farmed at Llanerfyl, Montgomeryshire, and it is believed he died while working. Richard, a father-of-two, also wrote an agricultural column for a local paper and has won an industry award for the management of his 700-acre farm. A family friend said the local community was 'deeply shocked' by the tragedy and he would be 'sorely missed'. Beryl Vaughan, a close family friend, said Richard was a 'good farmer' and a 'great contributor' to the local community, but 'above all a family man'. "He was also able to turn his hand to everything. He was an all-rounder who always tried to do everything the right way," she said. "We send our sincere condolences to his family in their loss at this very difficult time." Denbighshire County Councillor Mabon ap Gwynfor also paid a tribute to Richard on Twitter. "Very sad to hear this. Condolences to all of you in your grief." The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is now investigating the incident with Dyfed-Powys Police. It follows news of another tragic farm machinery accident which happened just days before this incident. A Scottish farm worker was airlifted to hospital with 'serious' injuries after becoming stuck under a tractor on 30 March. Pews across the Philippines were empty and churches locked their doors to parishioners, as priests went house-to-house to bless the faithful on a Palm Sunday like no other in Asias only predominantly Catholic country. Sundays observances of the day that marks the start of Holy Week on the Christian calendar usually draws large crowds. The other days that follow during Holy Week are traditionally observed in the Philippines through extreme acts of devotion. But a public health emergency over the COVID-19 outbreak and resulting restrictions on large gatherings have put a damper on this years celebrations. In the southern city of Iligan on Palm Sunday, Bishop Jose Rapadas III stared at the empty pews and sighed. I miss the huge rows of people of God inside the cathedral on Sunday, he told BenarNews. The Christian faith is steeped in many traditions, so it will be an awakening for many Filipinos to experience the coming week in concrete ways, said Broderick Pabillo, Manilas auxiliary bishop. The Holy Week, for us Filipino Catholics, is the most spiritually charged time of the year, he said. It is a special time marked by many traditional religious activities. But this time around, because of the pandemic, there will be no public spectacle of the Good Friday flagellation. The tradition has become a major tourist attraction over the years, with thousands descending on a dusty hill in the tiny village of Cutud, north of Manila, to witness crucifixions. Much of the nation has been under quarantine for three weeks after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a lockdown of Luzon island, home to the Manila, the nations capital. The church is advising Catholics to use their quarantine time to read the gospels from end to end and reflect on being a Christian as this time of global pandemic. In Iligan, Bishop Rapadas paid tribute to a doctor, Leonel Quitos, 33, the lone infectious disease specialist in Iligan who had treated patients but was under quarantine. Already, about 20 Filipino doctors have died of COVID-19. Meanwhile in nearby Cagayan de Oro city, police arrested a pastor, Alfred Caslam, 58, after about 500 members of the World of God Spirit and Life Ministries had flocked inside an old theater. They were accused of violating social distancing measures. We checked and found the names of 495 members in their attendance list. Many of them have their children with them, said Antonio Resma Jr., head of the citys regulatory compliance board. Basilio Sepe in Manila, Froilan Gallardo in Cagayan de Oro, Jojo Rinoza in Dagupan and Luis Liwanag in Quezon City contributed to this report. Russia and Saudi Arabia are "very, very close" to a deal on oil production cuts, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev said. "I think the whole market understands that this deal is important and it will bring lots of stability, so much important stability to the market, and we are very close," the chief executive of Russias sovereign wealth fund noted. When asked if Riyadh and Moscow will get together by the end of this week for some kind of deal, Dmitriev said: "Well actually look, a very positive message, I think theyre very, very close." He pointed to comments by Russian President Vladimir Putin last week when he proposed a combined production cut of 10 million barrels per day, according to a Reuters report. (Putin) talked about how important this oil deal is, so Russia is committed," the CEO of RDIF said. He added that Russia is working closely with U.S. authorities to have American producers participate in the output cut. "I think its Russia, Saudi Arabia, U.S., other countries that need to step in to stabilize the markets and to bring stability in the world that is about to see probably the greatest recession ever," CNBC cited Dmitriev as saying. A virtual meeting between OPEC and its allies was scheduled to happen on Monday, but is now likely to take place on Thursday instead, sources familiar with the matter told CNBC. Reductions in oil output were expected to be discussed at the meeting. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Its a remote type of learning literally. With a click of a television remote, families across the state can tune into school, starting Monday. Educational lessons for K-5 students, which were prepared by Albuquerque Public Schools, are being broadcast on New Mexico PBS stations across New Mexico. APS @Home is an initiative to keep students skills fresh while the district and state shift instruction out of the classroom. New Mexico Secretary of Education Ryan Stewart announced that schools would be closed for the rest of the academic year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and districts will have to create plans to keep teaching students from afar. While APS @Home isnt required schooling, executive producer Joseph Escobedo said the idea is for the segments to keep students engaged. What were trying to do is basically provide maintenance instruction. Its not focused on the standards and to really move them forward. Its to maintain the knowledge they have, Escobedo said. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays will be primarily for language arts; Tuesdays and Thursdays will focus on math and science. A full schedule of the televised classes can be found at www.aps.edu. A roughly one-hour time slot is dedicated for the different age groups. Madelyn Serna Marmol, APS associate superintendent, said the television program will be part of the districts state-mandated distance learning plan, which will unfold in the coming weeks. On Friday, she said the district has finished its continuous learning strategy, and it was presented to principals. APS spokeswoman Johanna King said this week the district will focus on teacher training and getting technology to families who need it. Required instruction will start the week of April 13 for all students, according to the district. Much bigger classroom Escobedo said the district came up with the idea to televise lessons as an extension of school closures loomed. We understand that not all students have access to technology nor to internet or to both at the same time. We know that 98% of households can be reached through a New Mexico PBS station, he said. Thats where Kathy Wolfe James and other educators come in. Working as a teacher support specialist for the district, Wolfe James is one of the programs educators who was filmed for the small screen, teaching kids math games and English language arts. Wolfe James, an elementary teacher for six years, said it was nerve-racking to know that her classroom was much bigger than before, spanning the district and the state. You have to get used to and really think about how this message will sound to a variety of students, a very diverse group in their living rooms or wherever they are, to make sure the message is heard, she said. Filming lessons for TV wasnt something Wolfe James ever thought she would be doing, but she said it has helped her grow as an educator to think about learning in a new way. It was a challenge to create a lesson plan that would suit such a big group of students, but she said there were also parts of teaching that transferred easily to TV, such as creating activities kids can do at home. Lynda Torres, who is also an APS teacher support specialist and a teacher for 26 years, said it wasnt the same teaching without the students. What youre missing is the actual response and interaction from the kids, she said. Still, Torres was glad to know that the program could provide stability and comfort for children while they have to stay out of the classroom. Ive enjoyed it very, very much. Its been a great opportunity to use my skills and to support an effort during a time when we have a lot of stress and anxiety, she said. From chalkboards to TV screens Escobedo said the show is filmed in APS Berna Facio Professional Development Center, which had the cameras and other technology needed. Sanitizing and social distancing procedures were put in place and a minimal number of staff members film the show. As of now, the district is planning to have content for April and May, he said. After some editing, a hard drive is passed off to the local PBS station, which will air the program from 8 a.m. to noon on weekdays on Channel 5.1. Sister stations will simulcast it, too. New Mexico PBS is co-licensed by APS and the University of New Mexico. The segments will also be uploaded and archived on YouTube as they air. Students who have questions can leave a comment on YouTube or email APSdistancelearning@gmail.com. Its really moving towards that space of anytime, anywhere, whenever-I-want learning, Escobedo said. And its where the education world is going, or part of it. Youd never know this from the ways that Trump or his senior aides have repeatedly played down public health and economic risks. Initially, they proclaimed the virus contained and said an early count of 15 cases within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero. (As of Monday, there were more than 350,000 confirmed cases.) Theyve said a vaccine was imminent. (Its likely at least a year away.) They said the economy would be opened up by Easter (nope). And so on. MUSKEGON, MI Construction has been temporarily halted on the Lakeshore Convention Center in downtown Muskegon due to novel coronavirus. Construction began last August on the $19.5 million future event site on Fourth Street between West Western Avenue and Shoreline Drive. The convention center, which will link the Mercy Health Arena and Delta by Marriott hotel, has an expected completion date of January 2021. But the cessation of non-essential work, a statewide precaution against the spread of COVID-19, has stopped that project for now. Disruption of work on the convention center does not even hit the top five concerns that the city has when it comes to planning for the impact of coronavirus on the local economy, said Muskegon City Manager Frank Peterson. Thats because at this point it is not actively losing any revenue, he said. Bookings for the site have not been affected because many are for later in 2021 or well into 2022, Peterson said. He said the city is more worried about loss of local income tax revenue if many residents file for unemployment payments; the loss of revenue at Mercy Health Arena, where games have been canceled; and the closure of industrial sites that use city water. Construction on the convention center was already several weeks behind schedule because of the discovery of PFAS in groundwater in November, and an abandoned oil well in January. Eventually, the city may decide that certain aspects of the project comprise critical infrastructure, which would allow work to continue on those elements, Peterson said. But that would require sign-on by the city, the contractors, and the building department, he said. There is some logic to say certain parts of that building should not be left open for a long period of time, especially if theres inclement weather in April, he said. When first announced, the 17,500-square-foot project signaled the citys investment in building up downtown Muskegon as a tourist attraction. Construction costs are financed through the citys sale of $20 million in bonds, to be paid back to the county through a tax on city hotel rooms. But although local hotels are closed because of COVID-19, Peterson said financing for the project is not threatened because the loan repayment program was designed to be lighter in early years and heavier towards the end of the 10-year repayment term. It was always set up to have more wiggle room in the first few years," he said. Muskegons entire tourism industry is threatened by the novel coronavirus, which has closed bars, restaurants and museums, canceled events, slashed hotel bookings and postponed summer cruise season. Its a very difficult time for tourism, hospitality and travel in not only Muskegon, but in America, Muskegon Countys community development director, Bob Lukens, previously told MLive. 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: Muskegon tourism hit by coronavirus uncertainty amid cruise ship cancellations Amount Muskegon city manager can spend without approval more than triples Where to get emergency food in Muskegon County during the coronavirus shutdown Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was told on Monday that there was no shortage of medical equipment, even as several doctors and medical staff protested against the lack of gears to protect them against the coronavirus that has infected over 3,400 people in the country. Khan chaired meeting of National Coordination Committee to tackle the pandemic and was briefed by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal, according to an official statement. He was informed that 3,300 ventilators were provided to 136 hospitals of the government and protective kits were also being provided to doctors and nurses. Khan was also briefed that 49,500 testing kits were already provided to provinces to conduct tests of the patients. We don't have any shortage of masks and testing kits and also working to provide more ventilators, Afzal said. Medical staff across Pakistan have complained for weeks over the severe shortages of safety equipment in hospitals as they treat patients suffering from the coronavirus. Police arrested doctors and medical staff in Balochistan's capital on Monday for protesting over the lack of protective gears. According to President Young Doctors Association Dr Yasir Khan, more than 150 doctors and paramedics have been arrested. The doctors and medical staff wanted to protest outside the Chief Minister House when the police baton-charged them. "This government wants us to work and does not provide us anything (PPE for protection against the virus)," he said. The protest came after more than a dozen doctors contracted the virus reportedly while discharging their duties. The Ministry of National Health Services reported on its website that 50 patients have died so due to the coronavirus. According to the website, Punjab recorded 1,627 cases, Sindh 881, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 405, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) 211, Balochistan 202, Islamabad 82 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 16 cases. The ministry for the first time reported that a total of 35,875 tests have been conducted in Pakistan so far. The number of cases were increasing fast in the largest province of Punjab, also the wealthiest region of the country, which should be worry for the government. Efforts were going to contain the disease and provide assistance to the poor people. Meanwhile, Supreme Court Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed criticised the government for lack of efforts to combat the virus by saying that nothing is being done on ground". He passed the remarks while hearing an appeal against Islamabad High Court's verdict about releasing the under-trial prisoners due to the coronavirus outbreak. Everyone is talking about funds, no one is doing anything. The public has been left at the mercy of God, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The net worth of Indias richest man Mukesh Ambani dropped 28 per cent or USD 300 million a day for two months to USD 48 billion as on March 31 due to the massive correction in stock markets, a report said on Monday. The chairman and managing director of the diversified Reliance Industries saw his wealth decline by USD 19 billion in February-March period, taking his global ranking down eight places to 17th, the Hurun Global Rich List said. Other Indian businessmen who have seen a major drop in wealth include Gautam Adani whose wealth eroded by USD 6 billion or 37 per cent, HCL Technologies Shiv Nadar (USD 5 billion or 26 per cent) and banker Uday Kotak (USD 4 billion or 28 per cent), it said. All the three have dropped off the top 100 list, leaving Ambani as the only Indian in the league. The Indian market has corrected by 25 per cent in the last two months as the economic costs and impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on companies led to a sell off across the world. Indias top entrepreneurs have been hit by a 26 per cent drop in the stock markets and a 5.2 per cent drop in the value of the rupee compared with the US Dollar. For Mukesh Ambani, it has been a perfect storm, with his wealth down 28 per cent, Hurun Report India Managing Director Anas Rahman said. Ambani is the second biggest wealth loser globally, after French fashion giant LVMHs chief executive Bernard Arnault, whose wealth dropped by 28 per cent or USD 30 billion to USD 77 billion. Berkshire Hathways Warren Buffet also lost USD 19 billion of wealth in the last two months, to USD 83 billion, making it a smaller fall in percentage terms at 19 per cent, the report said. With hospitality coming under intense pressure due to the pandemic, shared economy platform Oyo Rooms Ritesh Agarwal is no more a billionaire, the rich list said. Others in the top-10 list of wealth losers also include Carlos Slim and family, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page, Sergey Brin and Michael Bloomberg, it said. Amazons Jeff Bezos continues to be the richest man in the world with a networth of USD 131 billion, which has slid only by 9 per cent during the last two months and is followed by Bill Gates with a fortune of USD 91 billion (down 14 per cent), Buffet and Arnault. Chinese billionaires were among the few gainers in the last two months, and included promoters of video conferencing and pork meat producing companies, it said. While India lost three rankings in the top-100 rankings, China added six billionaires in the league, it said. Hospitals can prepare for a surge of patients critically ill with COVID-19, but it will require hospital leaders, practitioners and regional officials to adopt drastic measures that challenge the standard way of providing care, according to a new RAND Corporation report. The analysis summarizes a range of evidence-based and promising strategies for creating critical care capacity in the nation's hospitals. It includes a simple-to-use online tool that allows decision-makers at all levels -- hospitals, health care systems, states, regions -- to estimate current critical care capacity and rapidly explore strategies for increasing it. "Because the crisis falls upon a system that already is stretched thin, creating the critical care capacity needed for the surge in COVID-19 patients will require creative thinking about the allocation and use of space, staff and the stuff needed to provide critical care," said Dr. Mahshid Abir, co-author of the report and a senior physician researcher at RAND, a nonprofit research organization. She also is an emergency medicine physician at the University of Michigan and director of the university's Acute Care Research Unit. The RAND report is based upon a review of research about experiences during past outbreaks (including SARS, MERS and others), a survey of front-line clinicians conducted in collaboration with the American College of Emergency Physicians, and two roundtables conducted by conference call with leading emergency and critical care physicians and public health and preparedness experts from around the country. The research identified two tiers of activities that hospitals can take to expand critical care capacity. The first tier includes strategies to expand critical care capacity without significantly impacting the ability to provide other medical care. Those approaches include things such as acquiring additional ventilators from stockpiles and converting some operating rooms to critical care units. The second tier focuses on crisis capacity strategies that are likely to significantly impact routine care delivery and operations. This might include turning regular hospital beds into critical care beds and re-opening shuttered hospitals. It also includes items such as changing staffing and supervisory ratios, altering standards of care. To illustrate the possible impact of the strategies on capacity, researchers used publicly available data on the 10 Federal Emergency Management Agency Regions to estimate the number of patients that could be accommodated, given the number of available critical care doctors and nurses, respiratory therapists, ventilators, and beds. The analysis found the number of ventilators is the most common limiting factor, followed by the number of critical care doctors. The number of nurses, respiratory therapists, or beds were not the limiting factor in any FEMA region. As expected, the capability to move to higher tiers increases capacity. But the degree of increase in critical care surge depends on both the amount of resources available and the specific combinations. In most situations, the Tier 2 options produce considerably more capacity than Tier 1 options, but in some cases, there is little additional gain. In the survey of 343 physicians conducted nationally on March 13, the most-cited concerns were shortages in diagnostic kits, a shortage of negative pressure room capacity, and a shortage of N95 masks. Roundtable participants emphasized the need for real-time information sharing to increase situational awareness of critical care surge capacity among hospitals and across regions. "When Italy began to appreciate the community spread of COVID-19, it began using an ICU network to increase capacity to care for and to distribute infected patients and non-COVID-19 patients with critical care needs," said Christopher Nelson, co-author of the study and a senior political scientist at RAND. "Regionalization of critical care should be considered as the United States prepares for a surge in critical care needs with COVID-19." ### The report, "Critical Care Surge Response Strategies for the 2020 COVID-19 Outbreak in the United States," is available at http://www.rand.org. Other authors of the report are Ed Chan, Hamad Al-Ibrahim, Christina Cutter, Karishma V. Patel and Andy Bogart. Support for the research was provided by internal funding from RAND. RAND Health Care promotes healthier societies by improving health care systems in the United States and other countries. The UK governments new testing chief has admitted that none of the 3.5 million antibody tests ordered from China are fit for widespread use. Professor John Newton, who was appointed by health secretary Matt Hancock to oversee testing, reportedly said the tests were only able to identify immunity in people who had been severely sick with coronavirus. The tests did not pass the evaluation stage, and he was quoted by The Times as saying they were not good enough to be worth rolling out in very large scale. Prof Newton, director of public health improvement for Public Health England (PHE) said three mega labs for testing NHS staff was his top priority and did not expect university and commercial labs to be able to help. He said: We are not relying on lots of people coming forward to help us to achieve whats required and we shouldnt get too distracted by that. Theres a big, big ask at the moment which is quite specific [on testing NHS staff]. So a lot of these companies who are offering their capacity may not be directly related to that ask and therefore they might not be as helpful at the moment. Mr Hancock has also acknowledged that early analysis of the tests showed some of them have not performed well. He added, speaking on Thursday, that: Were hopeful that they [the tests] will improve and that the later tests that weve got our hands on will be able to be reliable enough for people to use them with confidence. Last month, a PHE director told ministers the 15-minute home test kits would be available within days once they have been cleared but doubt was cast over the accuracy of the tests just days after. But eight days after Professor Sharon Peacock said the tests would absolutely become available, Downing Street was unable to give any timetable for the introduction of the tests. A spokesperson for Boris Johnson also warned that the use of unreliable tests could have significant adverse consequences if people were given false confidence in their own immunity. Antibody testing, which Boris Johnson called a gamechanger, is regarded as crucial to eventually lifting the lockdown measures in place across the country. Prof Newton has poured cold water on the idea the government may be able to make millions of home test kits in days, and said the idea was based on the fact that we might just buy the existing test, and at the moment the judgement is that that wouldnt be the best thing to do. 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 He added he was optimistic that commercial partners wiling to work with scientists who had been evaluating the tests would be able to improve them. Meanwhile, the president of the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) raised concerns that labs around the country lack the vital materials needed to meet the governments promise to test 100,000 people for coronavirus a day by the end of April. Allan Wilson said during an interview with Sky News: My main concern is that we do not have the capacity to meet the targets set by Mr Hancock. Were still struggling to meet that target. We have staff around the country, biomedical scientists and equipment ready and staff trained to carry out the testing, but we are really struggling to get the consumables, the chemicals and testing kits we need to carry out these tests. Recommended Blair calls for appointment of minister for mass testing In a statement, IBMS said there were huge issues regarding the reliability of the millions of antibody tests bought by the UK government. At least one in 10 people who test positive on the antibody test (and are therefore considered to have immunity) will be false positives and will not have immunity, it said. Using the skilled workforce we have at our disposal and doing the tests that we know work is currently the best strategy. This will require the NHS to further expand its testing approach to ensure the right tests are performed at the right time on the right people to successfully tackle this worldwide pandemic, supporting and protecting those at most risk from this virus. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: Antibody tests offer the hope that people who think they have had the disease will know they are immune and get back to life as normal. We are currently working with several companies who are offering these tests and are evaluating their effectiveness. The Covid[-19] scientific advisory panel, led by Prof Sir John Bell, is currently undertaking a rapid evaluation process to establish their reliability. We will publish the results of this evaluation once it is completed. Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here or post it in the Slate Parenting Facebook group. Dear Care and Feeding, My husband and I have a 2-year-old son with another boy due in July. We also have cats. With the pandemic, both my husband and I are working from home (but I have a little more flexibility than my husband). My son has been pretty great about the whole thing despite the odd tantrum, but hes 2, so we know it goes with the territory. Advertisement Our dilemma is that his favorite things to do right now, when hes not busy with Legos or Play-Doh, is running around at jet speed and roaring like a dinosaur, loudly (thanks to his favorite cartoons), which he does to our cats. They are freaked out. We have talked to him, told him it scares the cats, reminding him about the time a neighbor kid screamed in his face and scared the crap out of him. We have also done timeouts. Nothing seems to be helping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of our cats hissed at him. Since then, he seems to have a healthier respect for that one particular cat. He will still interact with the cat (take pictures with a pair of binoculars, say hi when the cat comes into the room, etc.) but no longer runs after and roars at that cat. Our others, on the other hand, he still continues to roar at and chase. They will not hiss at him (even though we kinda wish they would). Advertisement Advertisement Any ideas how to get him to stop? Or is this a he will grow out of it situation. Hes kind to other animals, and I think he thinks he is playing with them. We just need him to learn that its not playing. Not a Tiger King Dear NaTK, Ah, the benefits of a hissing cat. We love a feline with well-defined personal boundaries. All three of my kids have gotten lightly scratched exactly once by our very unfriendly cat (shes just a dick, shes 12, she was a street kitten, we accept her basic nature) and have responded by treating her like the biggest guy on their prison block: with respect and wariness. Advertisement Advertisement My ears perked up at thanks to his favorite cartoons, because, guess what, even a 2-year-old can figure out the cause and effect of if you keep freaking out the cats, you cannot watch the shows that inspire you to freak out the cats. He does seem like a nice kid who will grow out of it, but that doesnt mean you cannot continue to goose that process with consequences. It sounds like you have very sweet cats, but the last thing you want right now is an infected bite wound, which could require you to take your kid into a hospital. And all cats have their breaking point. Advertisement Advertisement The cartoons will stop until the cat teasing comes to an end. Thats easy. I recommend you then facilitate more productive ways for him to play with the cats. The fake fishing rods that dangle a collection of feathers, the little laser pointers things that will allow him to have a good time with the cats that will also amuse the cats. Its never too early to teach kids how to interact respectfully with animals, and some cheap cat toys will go a long way to building a good relationship, minus the roaring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dear Care and Feeding, Any practical tips for how to get kids to keep their hands out of their noses and mouths? My kids are 4 and 7. The 7-year-old, in particular, has a lot of sensory preferences and scratching/picking his nose seems to have become a self-soothing route of choice. Before COVID-19, I was content to remind him to stop whenever I noticed but also just let him be a gross kid, as this behavior didnt seem out of the bounds of normal. Now, though, it feels like this is something I should be able to solve before schools reopen. Any smart solutions? Yes, weve talked about hand-washing and spreading germs and he definitely gets it, but frankly I dont even think he knows when his hands are on his face. Advertisement Snotty in Seattle Dear SiS, Oh, sister, I am right there with you. Its a real challenge, especially if its a soothing behavior in a time when theyre coping with a total loss of routine. I myself, a lifelong nail-biter and cuticle-murderer, have been carefully washing my hands for 20 seconds and then just going to town on my fingers a few times a week. Were all struggling. Advertisement Advertisement Im always encouraging people to buy chewing necklaces (run them through the dishwasher every night!) to redirect hands-in-mouths and repetitive-nose-manhandling and clothing-chewing behaviors, but its still putting stuff in your mouth, with your hands. You could go the fidget toy method, heres a big, inexpensive collection so you can find out what kind of alternative appeals to your kid in particular. Thats likely where you should start. Heck, you may find yourself soothed in the process. Advertisement I would suggest a lot of personal expectation management. This is not a great time to pick for definitively solving a long-term issue, and everyone will be eventually returning to school with a collection of new neuroses and hang-ups, not just your kid. Hes probably still going to mess with his nose. You can go for a reward chart for time spent not scratching/picking his nose, but hell still do it in private. Theres no definitive Answer I can offer, other than patience and just continuing to draw his attention to the behavior and redirecting it. I wish you both the very best of luck. If you missed Sundays Care and Feeding column, read it here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Discuss this column in the Slate Parenting Facebook group! Dear Care and Feeding, A good family friend is getting a trampoline. I have an (irrational?) fear of trampolines as a parent. Mostly what Im afraid of are injuries that would require medical care. We have insurance, but cant really afford extra expenses. I also have friends who have had really bad injuries from trampolines (though nothing Ive witnessed), and I never really had the opportunity to use one much as a kid. They look like so much fun though, and I know theyd be a great energy burner. Yet, I worry. Once shelter in place is done with Im sure well be spending time with them and their kids. I cant make my kids not bounce on it when we visit, that would be horrible for them, but I dont know what to do. Do I just suck it up? Im tired of being the only one who worries about this stuff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jumpin Jane Dear JJ, Theres a reason very few medical professionals acquire trampolines. You are not incorrect that they result in injuries, some very serious. There are also different kinds of backyard trampolines (nets, covers, etc). The American Academy of Pediatrics would prefer they be launched into the sun, like an untethered bouncy castle, but if you do use one, their best safety guidelines call for constant parental supervision, one (1) jumper at a time, adequate padding, and for the love of God, no flips and stunts. You are not the Buzzkill Mom; youre actually being quite prudent. I say this as someone whose kids would cheerfully donate half their spinal column in exchange for a trip to a trampoline park right now. Advertisement Advertisement If your friends acquire a small trampoline, you have the option of being the person who says, Hey, Im a Nervous Nellie. When my kids come over, would you mind dragging it into the garage? If they dont want to (totally their call as homeowners), or if its a larger trampoline, you can also stand there like a hawk and enforce good trampoline behavior. But, if you want your kids to have play dates there, and you dont want to have to watch them the entire time, theyre gonna use the trampoline. Its just science. It makes sense to me that youll just have to be the person who takes the responsibility of watching your kids use your friends trampoline. It is also the case that your kids will be less excited to use a trampoline if you are standing 4 feet away yelling NO FLIPS! LESS HIGH! and that this may be perfectly sufficient to make them bored of the entire enterprise. Advertisement Essentially, you are not unreasonable, you have valid concerns, and you will just have to actively parent your way through this, like you would any other potential safety issue at a friends home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Should Parents Feel Guilty About Being Bored by Small Children Dan Kois, Jamilah Lemieux, and Elizabeth Newcamp host this weeks episode of Slates parenting podcast, Mom and Dad Are Fighting. Dear Care and Feeding, Like a lot of us right now, I have an older parent (my mom, in her 70s) who lives alone halfway across the country. While otherwise healthy for her age, I know that the lack of in-person human interaction is starting to take a toll on her mental health. Advertisement A few days ago the son of a close friend of hers reached out to me to let me know her friend (his mother) had passed away, and asked if I could let my mother know since he didnt have her phone number. Im afraid if I tell her it will only make her mental health situation that much worse. But if I dont tell her she might try to call her friend and get the news from her grieving family (who expected me to tell her) or worse, from the newspaper. What should I do? Agonized in L.A. Dear AiLA, Tell her right now. I think in her situation I would want to reach out, to send flowers, to talk to her son on the phone and share my memories. Your mother desperately needs community, and sometimes community means being sad together. You absolutely do not want her to find out from someone else, and this is something you can do for her in a time of isolation and fear. Advertisement Advertisement Not all the gifts we can give our loved ones are fun. Sometimes its a hard but necessary phone call. She should hear this news from you, and you should try to be extra available to her while she grieves. Everyone (if theyre lucky) hits a point in their life when they start to lose their peers to old age and illness, and it sucks, and they need and deserve to grieve those losses. Ask your mother how they became friends. What are her happiest memories of her friend? How did she make her laugh? Advertisement My mother will call me and say, I had to make a peach pie today, which is Rural-Irish-Canadian-Catholic for someone I know died and I dropped off baked goods, and then we talk about it. You know your mother best, and I believe you can be a source of support to her though this. Its not a telegram; its a conversation. Have the conversation, and also my condolences. Advertisement Nicole More Advice From Slate I have been disturbed by the recent steady stream of news headlines about Facebooks apparent flagrant disregard for privacy. I believe that the only way to get Facebook to adopt higher privacy standards is for people to leave the platform. I was ready to do just that a couple of weeks ago. I downloaded all of my data and informed my friends that I was signing off. But in the process, I realized that I would be cut off from valuable parenting resources and connections. I can do without the friend updates in my news feed, but its harder to be cut off of the parent group for my daughters preschool, my new moms group, our town parents group, and of course, the Slate parenting group. Whats a mom to do? Spain has been holding drive-through funerals for its coronavirus victims as the country's death toll continues to mount. The country's largest cemetery in Madrid was conducting one funeral every 15 minutes at the weekend, with hearses driving up to the doors of the chapel before a quick blessing followed by burial or cremation. Spain announced 637 new deaths from coronavirus on Monday, marking the lowest daily death toll since March 24 and the fourth straight day of declines. The figure raises the total killed during the country's crisis from 12,418 to 13,055. The number of new infections increased by 4,273 from 130,759 to 135,032. Spain's total number of cases is now above Italy's, which stood at 128,948 on Sunday night. It marks a 3.3 per cent rise in new cases and a 5.1 per cent rise in new deaths, the lowest rate of increase since lockdown measures were announced on March 14 amid signs the strict policy is working. Spain and Italy were among the first European countries to go into lockdown as they were hit hardest and quickest by the virus - but are now plotting their route back out again as the infection eases. On Sunday, Spain's economy minister said the country will bring in a form of universal basic income 'as soon as possible' to help families hit by the lockdown. Spain has announced that 637 people died in the last 24 hours from coronavirus, the fourth straight day that number has declined and the lowest total since March 24 Spain has been holding drive-through funerals for its coronavirus victims, with 15-minute services being administered at the chapel attached to the country's largest cemetery As pressure on Spain's hospitals eases and the spread of the virus slows, the pressure has now filtered through to funeral providers as the country counts its dead The country also announced 4,273 new cases as the infection rate fell to 3.3 per cent, the lowest level since lockdown measures were introduced Nadia Calvino told the La Sexta newspaper that parliament is planning to introduce a pilot programme, with a view to it becoming a permanent policy. It will compliment 'a series of measures so that no one is left out or left behind, starting with the workers,' she said. If fully implemented, it would mark the first time that an entire country has adopted a permanent form of universal basic income, after trials and referendums on the measure in countries including Finland, Canada and Switzerland. Spain recorded 950 deaths from coronavirus on April 2 - which now appears to have been the peak of the country's outbreak, with that figure falling every day since. While infection data has been less clear-cut, amid issues with testing, the rate of new infections has been falling consistently since March 25. Despite the encouraging signs, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Sunday that he would be extending the country-wide lockdown until April 26. Funerals have been allowed to keep going ahead in Spain but no more than five people are allowed to attend (pictured, cemetery workers take a coffin to the grave) Two workers and a relative attend a burial of a COVID-19 coronavirus victim at La Almudena cemetery in Madrid Health workers transfer a patient, suspected to be infected with coronavirus, to hospital in an ambulance in Barcelona, Spain He said Spain is 'close' to defeating the virus and would begin to make a transition to 'recover some of our economic and social life'. He added that the extension was needed 'in order to give time to the health system to recover'. It marked the second time the lockdown has been extended since coming into force on March 14. Madrid, the capital, has recorded the highest number of deaths from coronavirus in the country, at 4,941, followed by Catalonia, which has recorded 2,637 deaths. Andalusia, which includes the Costa del Sol, has recorded 8,301 cases and 470 deaths. Spain recorded its highest number on Thursday this week, at 950. Health chiefs say although the actual number of coronavirus infections is stabilising, the situation could worsen if confinement orders were lifted. Nadia Calvino, deputy prime minister and minister for economic affairs, said a pilot scheme for basic income will be brought in 'as soon as possible' with a view to it being permanent Europe has been the hardest-hit region in the world with coronavirus so far, accounting for the largest number of deaths and hundreds of thousands of infections The government's current strategy aims to lift the restrictions after the Easter holidays, reports El Pais. Spain has recorded the second highest number of deaths from coronavirus in the world, with its numbers only being surpassed by Italy. The Prime Minister needs the support of Spain's lower house, the Congress of Deputies, to extend the alarm but Pablo Casado, the leader of the conservative Popular Party (PP) has been increasingly critical of the government's handling of the crisis. He recently accused the Socialist leader of 'improvising' and said his way of dealing with the coronavirus crisis was an 'explosive cocktail of arrogance, incompetence and lies'. Spain is also working on new advice and measures, including advising all Spaniards to wear face masks when outside. At the moment, however, there are insufficient stocks to give to the entire population. How Europe is planning to lift the lockdown: Austria will open small shops next week, Denmark wants 'staggered' return to work and Germany could re-open schools if infection rate stays low As Britain and America start to draw up plans for life after the lockdown, they may look for inspiration from European countries where the coronavirus crisis has already showed signs of peaking. Austria today became the first country to set out detailed plans for ending the standstill, with smaller shops re-opening on April 14 and larger ones on May 1. Denmark also plans to start lifting restrictions after Easter, but wants people to 'work in a more staggered way' to avoid crowding into trains and buses. Meanwhile Germany is willing to re-open schools on a regional basis and allow a limited number of people into restaurants if the infection rate stays sufficiently low. This graph shows how the daily number of new cases in Germany, Italy and Spain has flatlined in recent days, offering hope that the lockdown is working In Italy, which has been under lockdown longer than any other European country, officials are talking about a 'phase two' where society learns to 'live with the virus' by wearing masks and carrying out more tests. Italy and Germany are among the countries looking at smartphone tracking, which could allow them to jump on new outbreaks without sending everyone back inside. All of those countries, along with Spain, have seen signs of improvement in their recent figures which offer hope that the crisis is past its peak. That moment is still to come for Britain and America, which are bracing for one of their bleakest weeks. However, health officials across Europe warn that life cannot go back 'from 0 to 100' immediately and many lockdown measures will remain in place for several more weeks at least. For Immediate Release Chicago, IL April 6, 2020 Zacks Equity Research Shares of Chewy Inc. CHWY as the Bull of the Day, Cedar Fair FUN as the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Baidu, Inc. BIDU, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. BABA and Alphabet Inc. GOOGL. Here is a synopsis of all five stocks: Bull of the Day: Chewy Inc.is a Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) that operates as on online retailer, offering a variety of pet products. Chewy sells everything for pets on its Chewy.com website including food, toys, treats, vitamins and supplements. Recent Buying Interest The stock has surged after more investors noticed a shift to online pet suppliers. It looks like COVID-19 will force people like myself to buy from Chewy.com instead of their vet or local retailer. For that reason, we saw the CHWY almost double from its recent lows, despite the overall market being down. Even if the lockdowns dont last, more consumers will now be aware of Chewy and have accounts opened. This will allow for marketing opportunities in the future that will help retain customers and drive revenue. Q4 Earnings Chewy reported earnings late last week, reporting a 12% surprise to the upside. While the bottom-line beat, revenues came in as expected. The stock traded lower as investors where expecting more. However, there is reason to believe that earnings will improve going forward. The company guided Q1 higher, expecting revenues to come in at $1.50B-$1.52B vs the $1.45B expected. Net sales were up 7.8% year over year and this is expected to improve based on the stay at home environment. Here are some comments from the CEO Sumit Singh: While 2019 closed on a high note, and 2020 got off to a strong start, the world changed dramatically with the coronavirus outbreak. In times like these, we know how special and comforting the bond is between humans and pets, and we devote ourselves every day to supporting those special relationships. We are here, 24/7, caring for the safety and well-being of our team members and meeting the increased shop-at-home needs of our customers, staying true to our mission of being the most trusted and convenient online destination for pet parents everywhere. Story continues Estimates Chewy has been public for under a year and has only four quarters reported under its belt. Two of those four quarters have been surprises to the downside, which is part of the reason the stock hasnt been able to get back above its IPO high. After the recent quarter, we will see estimates start to rise. Already we can see improvement for both the current quarter and year. Analysts The company did not report full year guidance, but analyst have responded positively to the quarter. Raymond James had positive commentary, saying the 35-37% implied revenue growth from the Q1 guide will be driven by increased demand from COVID-19. Additionally, the firm increased revenue estimates for 2020 by 6.6%. JPMorgan was also out after earnings with a reiteration on their Overweight rating on CHWY. The firm puts a $43 price target on the stock, around 25% higher from current prices. Pet Market Sales Keep Growing We are crazy for our pets and sales in the industry have accelerated over the last 10 years. According to Statista, Pet Food is the hottest segment, with almost $37 billion in food sold in 2019. Vet care was the next segment, with over $29 billion in 2019. Moreover, the pandemic fears have led to a massive increase in pet sales. According to Nielsen, year over year dollar growth for pet food was up 6.4% the first week of March. Technicals The stock is significantly above the 50 and 200-day moving averages, which reside around the $29.50 level. The recent push higher to the $40 level has seen some profit taking. However, after the recent move lower after solid EPS, more buyers should show themselves. Look for support around $30-31 and long-term move higher to the $50 area. Strong demand and short covering should be fuel to get prices higher. Bottom Line The stay at home orders for many people across the country have pet owners turning online to meet their pets needs. Sales and customer acquisitions will break records for both March and April. After the lockdowns are lifted, pet owners will likely remain Chewy customers. The company will see its recent growth amplified by peoples desire for the convenience they found during the lockdowns. Bear of the Day: Cedar Fair is a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) that owns five amusement parks. Among them are Cedar Point, Knotts Berry Farm, Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, Vallyefair and Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun. A combination of bad earnings running into a season of lockdowns make a recipe for disaster for this company. While lockdowns might not last throughout the summer, the stigma of social distancing will likely lead to extreme pressure on business operations. Stock Crashes There are a handful of stocks that have ugly charts, but FUN is one of the worst. The stock started the year around the $55 level, but took a nose dive after a bad earnings report in February. After bottoming out at $13, we saw a huge bounce to $30, but now the stock under trading at the $16 level. This is a drop off over 70% already on the year. Q4 Earnings The issues started before the lockdowns when the company reported it Q4 earnings. The company saw a 56% EPS miss after a large miss on revenues. This was the fourth miss in the last eight quarters, but this one was big. It caused selling in the stock that carried into the COVID dominated month of March. I wrote the following about Six Flags a few weeks ago and the same issues apply to FUN: The company says it is facing challenges related to its base business. They are seeing soft organic revenue trends and increasing costs due to minimum and market wages. It seems as if people arent going to parks and it becoming more expensive to run them. Two negative catalysts for this business. This is forcing estimates lower. For the current year, we have seen estimates fall from $3.24 to $1.43 over the last month. This is a fall of 56%, compared to next years drop (when things should improve) of 17%. COVID-19 and Lockdowns While things could improve, the COVID lockdowns will seal the fate for FUN if they go on too long. The company has a lot of debt and not much cash on hand. A prolonged lockdown into the busy summer months could really put pressure on the business. In Summary You cant buy this stock until we know when the economy will open back up. Until we get some clarity on the virus and the timeframe of when we can get back to business, stocks like FUN must be avoided. Additional content: 3 Stocks Striving to Fight Coronavirus Using Power of A.I. Nearly four months have passed since the coronavirus outbreak was reported in Wuhan. Pharmaceutical companies and researchers have been constantly looking for a cure in the form of drugs and vaccines but that could take 12 to 18 months or even more. Now, researchers are taking help of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop an exit strategy from this global lockdown. In fact, as the death toll keeps climbing, doctors are hunting for treatments that will not only lessen the impact of the virus but also reduce its severity and in that way savelives. Artificial intelligence can help in two major ways, surveillance and AI-based antidote search. Globally, AI giants along with pharmaceutical companies are using their fastest supercomputers to crunch huge quantities of data to identify candidates that might work. In March, the IBM Summit, famed as one of the worlds fastest supercomputers, had identified 77 compounds as potential candidates. As these AI companies keep making progress in fighting COVID-19, their stock are sure to trend northward. AI Tools to Predict Patients' Hospitalization Requirement Leading healthcare AI, Jvion helps in predicting which patients diagnosed with coronavirus require hospitalization. This not only reduces pressure on hospitals during the pandemic but also helps critical care patients get utmost attention. Jvion basically uses machine-learning algorithms to identify risk factors that make coronavirus patients prone to complications, and help doctors to identify patients requiring assistance on an urgent basis. Further, AI also helps in enhancing surveillance, monitoring and detection capabilities. As lockdowns have been imposed in restricting the spread of the virus, AI plays a critical role in preserving public safety and social order. For instance, in China, authorities relied on facial recognition cameras to track a man who had traveled to an affected area and local police instantly instructed him to self-quarantine. In parts of Europe, especially Spain, police is using technology to enforce quarantine. Drones are being used to patrol and broadcast audio messages to the public and encourage them to stay at home. At the same time, a surveillance company in the United States announced the development of an AI-based thermal camera that can detect fevers. Along with that, AI is also helping government track movement of large groups, and individuals who traveled abroad to determine the risk factor that a person has to contract and spread the virus. AI to Help Medical Researchers in Drug Discovery So far, WHO has identified four most viable therapies that help coronavirus patients recover. However, results differ from one patient to another. The bucket includes an HIV combination treatment, an anti-malarial and a drug developed for Ebola but never used. Here AI plays a crucial role as immense computing power is being used to aid scientists. Open sharing of data allows scientists to map the genome of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The data pool includes potential candidate treatments of pharmaceutical companies from across the globe. Artificial intelligence helps in screening at an unprecedented speed and global engagement of institutional, commercial and international organizations will help in running multiple trials at a time. In fact, in the last week of March, an AI platform run by Gero identified six drugs that could help combat the novel coronavirus. These drugs are already approved for use in other indications. Progress is being made rapidly in this field with technology giants like Microsoft teaming up with C3.ai and Princeton, Carnegie Mellon University, MIT, the Universities of California, Illinois and Chicago. Scientist will be given funding to access most advanced supercomputers to search for solutions. However, pharmaceutical companies need to give access to their chemical libraries so that candidates can be identified and put to trials as soon as possible. Private companies like Iktos that uses AI for novel drug design and SRI International have entered into a collaboration agreement designed to accelerate discovery and development of antiviral therapies. Iktos will be using SRIs SynFini, a fully automated end-to-end synthetic chemistry system to design novel, optimized compounds and accelerate the identification of drug candidates to treat several viruses causing a range of diseases from influenza to COVID-19. 3 Stocks to Watch Artificial intelligence has immense potential and many companies still believe that their supercomputers are not being used to their fullest capacity. In fact, it is said that in future, AI could use social media data to predict potential outbreaks. Given such developments and the help AI is providing amid the coronavirus pandemic, it is prudent to keep a close watch on these three AI-focused stocks. Since the outbreak of coronavirus, Baidu, Inc. has offered its Linearfold algorithm to scientific and medical teams. The Linearfold algorithm is significantly faster at predicting a virus secondary RNA structure than traditional RNA folding algorithms. Scientists at Baidu are using this algorithm to predict the secondary structure of Covid-19 RNA sequence. The process is reducing overall analysis time from 55 minutes to 27 seconds, making analysis 120 times faster. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the current quarter is 80.5% compared with the Zacks Internet - Services industrys projected earnings growth of 28.7%. Baidu carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. has also made subsequent progress in the field of AI. The companys Alibaba Cloud, DAMO Academy, and DingTalk together have launched a series of AI technologies and cloud-based solutions. The technology helps to analyze CT images within 20 seconds, diagnosing suspected novel coronavirus cases with an accuracy rate of 96%. Alibaba is sharing its AI-powered novel coronavirus disease diagnostic technology for free use by hospitals across the globe. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 31.3% against the Zacks Internet - Commerce industrys projected earnings decline of 1.7%. Alibaba carries a Zacks Rank #2. Alphabet Inc.s subsidiary DeepMind AI is helping scientists understand the peculiar features of COVID-19. In January, DeepMind introduced AlphaFold that predicts the 3D structure of a protein-based on its genetic sequence and last month the system was put to test on the novel coronavirus. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the next year is 24.8%. Alphabet carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside? Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana. Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look. See the pot trades we're targeting>> Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com Zacks.com provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. www.zacks.com/disclaimer. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss.This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Baidu, Inc. (BIDU) : Free Stock Analysis Report Cedar Fair, L.P. (FUN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Chewy Inc. (CHWY) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Update: Family for Adrian Anders was located in Ohio and Florida Earlier: Authorities are asking for the publics help in finding family members of a man who died late last month at a Birmingham hospital. Adrian K. Anders, a 48-year-old white male, was found unresponsive just before 11 p.m. March 26 in the 4300 block of 74th Place North. Jefferson County Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said Anders was discovered in the back yard of a home. He was taken to St. Vincents Hospital where he was officially pronounced dead about 30 minutes later. An autopsy has been performed but the cause of death has not yet been determined. Yates said there was no sign of foul play. Efforts by authorities to locate Anders family members have been unsuccessful. Relatives or anyone with information on relatives is asked to call the coroners office at 205-930-3603. Finding public food on google maps. Find night shelters on google maps. COVID-19 food location on google maps. COVID-19 night shelters in India. The COVID-19 pandemic is spreading fast and the worst hit due to the lockdown are the poor and daily wage labourers. The poor in India are walking hundreds of kilometres to get to their hometowns and villages because they don't have a place to stay or means of getting food daily. The private and public sector is coming together to offer food and shelter to such people, but how can one know if the nearest shelter is a stone's throw away? Google is looking to help with this situation. To help bring respite to people during this difficult time, Google Maps is now indicating the locations of food shelters and night shelters in cities across India. Users will be able to find food location on Google Maps and night shelters in India amidst the COVID-19 According to a statement Google shared, Google is working closely with state and central government authorities to surface the locations of these relief centers. To date, across 30 cities, people can now find these locations on Google Maps, Search and Google Assistant by simply searching for Food shelters in or Night shelters in in any of these Google products. This will soon be available in Hindi, with queries like or . People can enter the above search query in Google Search or the Google app on phones and can even ask the Google Assistant for this information. The search query will yield results on KaiOS devices as well. Google says that it is working on bringing this feature to other Indian languages as well in the coming weeks. It is also working on adding additional shelters in more cities across the country to the search results. Google also says that in the coming days this information will be easier to access via quick-access shortcuts that will appear beneath the search bar on the Google Maps app, shortcuts on Google Maps on KaiOS feature phones, and food and night shelter pins appearing on the map by default when the Maps app is first opened. Commenting on the launch of the feature, Anal Ghosh, Sr. Program Manager, Google India, said, As the COVID-19 situation develops, we are making a concerted effort to build solutions that help people during these times of need. Highlighting the locations of food and night shelters on Google Maps is a step to make this information easily available to the users in need, and ensure they can avail the food and shelter services being provided by the government authorities. With the help of volunteers, NGOs, and traffic authorities, we hope to convey this important information to the affected people, many of whom may not have access to a smartphone or mobile device during this time." (Newser) Before his career in politics, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar was a medical doctor. Now, the coronavirus outbreak has spurred a return to his roots. The Irish Times reports that in March, the 41-year-old taoiseach registered once again to practice medicine, after a seven-year hiatus, when his country's health agency put out a plea for health care professionals who weren't currently practicing to assist in pandemic efforts. Per RTE, Varadkar will pick up one shift a week for the time being, reportedly doing phone assessments so other doctors can work on the front lines. story continues below USA Today notes that people in Ireland who believe they've been infected with the virus are instructed to first get an assessment over the phone before heading to the ER. "Many of his family and friends are working in the health service," a spokesperson says. "He wanted to help out even in a small way." Varadkar has deep personal ties to the medical profession, in addition to his own background: He's the son of a doctor and a nurse; his partner, Matthew Barrett, is a doctor; and his sisters and their husbands are in health care. As of Monday, nearly 5,000 cases of the coronavirus have been reported in Ireland, with more than 150 deaths. (Read more uplifting news stories.) Even as medical-grade equipment like face masks are in great demand across the world to protect frontline medical professionals who are dealing with Covid-19 patients, Canadas seniormost health official has said the country has started exploring the possibility of decontaminating such material for their reuse. Personal protective equipment or PPE like face masks keep medical workers safe as they treat and care for patients suffering from Covid-19 disease. However, with demand high, the supply of such masks has become a matter of contention. Canadas chief public health officer Theresa Tam has asked hospitals and medical facilities throughout the country not to dispose of used masks since public health officials are looking into whether they can be disinfected for reused. I think it is one of the most important and I think worthwhile lines of pursuit for PPE right now, she said, as several entities in the country were working on a process for decontamination that would make the material reusable and safe for healthcare workers. Given this ongoing research, she also asked authorities across Canada to retain such PPE. She said she was signalling to provinces and territories that certain things shouldnt be thrown away right now, so that we can actually implement this should we find the actual people who can do this. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has already announced that several million masks will be reaching the country early this week from China, even as an amicable resolution to the matter of the United States barring export of such N-95 masks to Canada appears likely. I am confident we are going to be able to solve this, Trudeau said. The coronavirus outbreak looks set to tip Canadas economy into recession and the Liberal government of Prime Minister Trudeau has already announced stimulus measures totaling C$105 billion ($74 billion) in direct spending, or five per cent of gross domestic product. Almost half the cases in Canada are in the province of Quebec, where premier Francois Legault said on Sunday he hoped to see new diagnoses peak in a number of weeks. He also told reporters he was extending a shutdown of non-essential businesses for another three weeks to May 4. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Stranded residents to return to Island from 15th April Copyright M J Richardson and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence. Residents from the Isle of Man who are stranded overseas will be allowed back to the Island from 15th April. Health Minister David Ashford confirmed the Government has been contacted by 190 people who are stuck in the UK and in other countries. The repatriation process will able to return to the Island from Wednesday 15th April via designated sailings from Heysham. Health checks will be carried out at Heysham Port. Sailings will be managed so the crew and passengers are able to stay at a distance. Mr Ashford said the arrivals would be subject to mandatory 14 days in isolation. Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister has described the disinfection of markets in the Volta Region as highly successful. The exercise, under the auspices of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, was undertaken by Zoomlion Ghana Limited with support from security services, the Regional Coordinating Council and the local Assemblies. A total of 75 markets across all districts in the Region, major streets, and business enclaves were all disinfected, in an exercise, which employed several mechanised spraying machines, thermal foggers, a road sweeper and a drone. Dr Letsa said he was impressed with the support received from market women, traditional authorities and other stakeholders and commended them for the purposefulness. He said Government was committing all resources towards the fight against COVID-19 and that people must respond to directives for a swift end of the pandemic. The Regional Minister appealed to public institutions, particularly commercial outlets to implement the social distancing parameters being recommended as a safeguard against contracting the virus. He said the Region would engage institutions including banks on enhancing social distancing. 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. Featured Video B oris Johnson has been moved to intensive care after his coronavirus symptoms worsened, Downing Street has said. The Prime Minister, 55, was moved on the advice of his doctors and is said to be receiving "excellent" care. He is understood to be conscious and was moved to the ICU at about 7pm on Monday as a precaution should he require ventilation to aid his recovery. Mr Johnson was admitted to St Thomas' Hospital in Westminster on Sunday for tests and observation after his coronavirus symptoms persisted for 10 days. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will deputise where necessary while he is in intensive care, a No 10 spokesman said. Mr Johnson has been moved into intensive care / London The spokesman added: Since Sunday evening, the Prime Minister has been under the care of doctors at St Thomas Hospital, in London, after being admitted with persistent symptoms of coronavirus. Over the course of this afternoon, the condition of the Prime Minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the intensive care unit at the hospital. The PM has asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is the First Secretary of State, to deputise for him where necessary. The PM is receiving excellent care, and thanks all NHS staff for their hard work and dedication. 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 The Queen has been kept informed by Downing Street about his condition, Buckingham Palace said. World leaders including US president Donald Trump, who described Mr Johnson as a "great friend", and France's Emmanuel Macron have voiced their support. Mr Raab confirmed it was over the course of Monday afternoon that the PMs conditioned deteriorated. He said: During the course of this afternoon, the Prime Ministers condition worsened and, on the advice of the medical team, hes moved to a critical care unit. So in light of those circumstances, the Prime Minister asked me as First Secretary to deputise for him where necessary in driving forward the Governments plans to defeat coronavirus. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will deputise for Mr Johnson / PA And, as youll know, hes been receiving excellent care at St Thomass hospital, and wed like to take this opportunity as a Government to thank NHS staff up and down the country for all of their dedication, hard work and commitment in treating everyone whos been affected by this awful virus. He added the Government was focused on making sure we can defeat coronavirus. He said: Theres an incredibly strong team spirit behind the Prime Minister, and making sure that we get all of the plans the Prime Ministers instructed us to deliver, to get them implemented as soon as possible." Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who has recovered after also contracting the virus, tweeted: "Sending all possible best wishes to @BorisJohnson and his loved ones. I know he will receive the best possible care from our amazing NHS." Chancellor Rishi Sunak wrote: My thoughts tonight are with @BorisJohnson and @carriesymonds. I know hell be getting the best care possible and will come out of this even stronger. Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "My love & thoughts are with @BorisJohnson, @carriesymonds & the Prime Ministers [sic] family." Jeremy Hunt, who ran against Mr Johnson in last year's Tory leadership race, added: "Keeping fighting Boris. Whole country behind you." Former Tory prime ministers David Cameron and Theresa May also tweeted their support. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer posted: Terribly sad news. All the countrys thoughts are with the Prime Minister and his family during this incredibly difficult time. Ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn added: "My thoughts are with Boris Johnson and his family tonight. Thanks to the #NHS staff for their hard work and dedication." Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: My thoughts are with the PM and his family sending him every good wish. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: Praying for the Prime Ministers swift recovery tonight. @GSTTnhs has some of the finest medical staff in the world, and he couldnt be in safer hands. Two uniformed police officers were stationed at the entrance to the hospital on Monday evening. Throughout the day officers and police vehicles could be seen entering and exiting the central London hospital. Listen to The Leader: Coronavirus Daily podcast Healthcare workers load a person into an ambulance outside the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center during the outbreak of the CCP virus in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York, on April 4, 2020. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters) Aliens Actor Jay Benedict Dies at 68 From COVID-19 Actor Jay Benedict, known for his roles in Aliens and The Dark Knight Rises, died from COVID-19, according to his website. It is with profound sorrow that we must announce Jays death on the 4th of April due to complications arising from a COVID-19 infection, which is caused by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus, the website said. He was 68 years old. And his agency, TCG ArtistManagement, wrote: It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear client Jay Benedict, who this afternoon lost his battle with COVID-19. Our thoughts are with his family. Benedicts friend, Allo Allo actress Vicki Michelle, described Benedict as a kind lovely man. Shocked to hear one of our most brilliant actors and kind lovely man Jay Benedict has passed. Married to my lovely friend Phoebe Scholfield #AlloAllo My heart goes out to her and her family at this sad time #PhoebeScholfield @FreddieBenedict #LeoBenedict #SyncorSwim #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/YJ7nn25ftv Vicki Michelle (@vickimichelle) April 5, 2020 Benedict was married to actress Phoebe Schofield. They had two children together, according to reports. Shocked to hear one of our most brilliant actors and kind lovely man Jay Benedict has passed. Married to my lovely friend Phoebe Scholfield #AlloAllo My heart goes out to her and her family at this sad time, Michelle also wrote on Twitter. His website noted that Benedict appeared in numerous films over the years. In addition, his voice can be heard on video games, documentaries and TV and radio adverts, as well as in innumerable lifts, theatre foyers and other public spaces. The irritatingly soothing voice requesting that you take your seat and switch off your mobile phone is quite probably him: so now you know who to blame, the website says. Kathryn Scott CENTENNIAL, CO MARCH 25: Gov. Jared Polis holds a news conference at the South Metro Fire and Rescue Authority Administrative Office to announce an executive order for Coloradans to stay in place due to the presence of coronavirus in March in Centennial, Colorado. The executive order is set to last through Saturday, April 11, 2020 unless modified further by the governor. (Photo By Kathryn Scott) Hundreds of Venezuelans who fled to neighboring Colombia during their country's economic crisis are now returning home, pushed by the deadly novel coronavirus and Colombia's own pandemic woes. Colombian migration officials said Sunday that 600 people -- including 35 children and 167 women -- crossed the main border point at the Simon Bolivar International Bridge in the northeastern city of Cucuta, into Venezuela one day earlier. Another group of 160 departed Bogota on their way back home on Sunday, officials said. Although the border is officially closed as a measure taken to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus, Colombia has opened a "humanitarian corridor" to allow Venezuelans to return home. Colombian agents on Sunday were on hand to make sure that those departing Bogota "were voluntarily returning" to Venezuela, an official at the immigration office told AFP. In recent years Colombia has welcomed 1.8 million Venezuelans fleeing their country's economic and political collapse. According to the United Nations, 4.9 million Venezuelans have fled their country, mainly to other South American nations, and many need international aid due to the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Before crossing the international bridge into Venezuela, Colombian police took the temperature of the departing migrants to make sure no one could be infected with the virus, and sprayed those wearing face masks with a disinfectant. "We're afraid because we don't know if over there we could face the coronavirus. We don't have medicine to fight that, because in reality in Venezuela you can't find anything," a Venezuelan returning home named Alexander Colmenares told AFP. The head of Colombia's immigration service, Juan Francisco Espinosa, told reporters that Venezuelans who fled to places like Ecuador and Peru often on foot, are now also returning to their home country. More than 1,400 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Colombia since March 6, including 35 deaths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) KABUL, Sept. 5, 2019 (Xinhua) -- A wounded person is sent to hospital after a car bomb attack in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Sept. 5, 2019. Over a dozen people were killed and injured as a car bomb blast rocked Shash Darak area in the Police Distr Image Source: PK Kabul, April 6 : Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and the explosive remnants of war (ERW) kill or maim more than 120 people in Afghanistan every month, authorities said. "The home-made IEDs and ERW, including unexploded ordnance (UXO) and abandoned explosive ordnance (AXO), kill or maim more than 120 Afghans every month," Xinhua news agency quoted the State Ministry for Disaster Management (SMDM) said in a statement on Monday. The statement was issued in the wake of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, which falls on April 4 every year. Taliban militants and other insurgent groups in the country have been using IEDs to target security forces, but the lethal weapons also inflict casualties on civilians, according to the statement. "The figures suggest that more than 60 per cent of the monthly casualties were from IEDs," it said. "Unprecedented increase in civilians' casualties from landmines, unexploded ordnance, the legacy of the past wars and IEDs are a matter of concern." Afghans continue to bear the brunt of armed conflicts as more than 3,400 civilians were killed and over 6,900 others injured in 2019, according to the figures released by the UN mission in the country. Out of the total casualties, more than 880 civilians were killed and over 3,450 others wounded in suicide and non-suicide IED explosions in 2019. Monday's statement acknowledged that "it was impossible to have Afghanistan free of mine without international support". The Mine Action Program for Afghanistan (MAPA) has cleaned some 56 square km of land from landmines and explosive ordnance over the past 11 months, in the wake of challenges including inaccessibility of some regions and lack of budget, it added. Greece imposes 8 PM curfew in Mykonos and Santorini Govt pledges to support sectors in crisis due to COVID-19 (ANSAmed) - NAPLES, APRIL 6 - Greek finance minister Christos Staikouras has said the government is bringing in measures to limit the effects of COVID-19 on tourism in the country. The country is heading towards a recession and the impact on the Greek summer tourism season must be taken into consideration, he said. He added that the government was weighing measures to support businesses that will extend into May and June and that there will not be cuts to pensions and salaries. An 8 PM to 8 AM curfew has meanwhile been placed on the popular islands of Mykonos and Santorini for the next 14 days, though 15-minute walks with dogs near one's home are allowed. The only exceptions will be for workers whose activities are necessary for the public good.(ANSAmed). Chinas efforts to downplay the coronavirus pandemic in its earliest stages and subsequent disinformation campaign surrounding the disease has cost lives and is hindering the international effort to contain it, MPs in Westminster have warned. A new report by the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee argues the country where the outbreak began should have taken a leading role in collecting data and sharing its research with other nations to help control the spread of Covid-19, accusing Xi Jinpings Beijing of engaging in obfuscation rather than transparency. The report also accuses Russia and Iran of refusing to come clean about their experiences of the global catastrophe and calls on the British government to confront and rebut untruths from foreign powers. But the committee, led by Conservative chairman Tom Tugendhat MP, reserves its sharpest criticism for China, which it says allowed disinformation to spread as quickly as the virus. Rather than helping other countries prepare a swift and strong response, it is increasingly apparent that they manipulated vital information about the virus in order to protect the regimes image, Mr Tugendhats panel argues. The government needs to tackle these lies with a clear and quick response, working with our allies to show a united front in the face of false facts and deadly disinformation. The committees report cites the tragic case of Dr Li Wenliang, the doctor in Wuhan who first raised the alarm about the new disease and was forced to confess to making false comments by the countrys authoritarian communist government before dying from the virus himself in February. Such deliberate misleading of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and scientists in other countries obscured analysis in the critical early stages of the pandemic, the report states. Disinformation about Covid-19 has already cost lives. It is essential that the government issues clear and transparent messages at home to confront and rebut disinformation spread by foreign powers. It must also work closely with allies to present a united front where possible, and to help ensure that vital international research efforts are not compromised by propaganda and bad data. With an eye to preventing future repeats of such crises, it also calls for the founding of a G20 for public health to enable co-operation between expert researchers around the world, even in the absence of a unified political leadership. Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Show all 20 1 /20 Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Top: Nabi Younes market, Mosul Bottom: Charles Bridge, Prague Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Grand Mosque, Mecca Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Nabi Younes market, Mosul Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Basra Grand Mosque, Iraq Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Charles Bridge, Prague Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Taj Mahal hotel, India Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Dubai Mall, UAE Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Beirut March, Lebanon Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Gateway of India, Mumbai Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo University, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Beirut March, Lebanon Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo University, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Victoria Memorial, India Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Sidon, Lebanon Reuters It is clear that existing regional and multilateral organisations, including the WHO, are not achieving the international co-operation needed to fight a global pandemic, the committee writes. Although the government is focused rightly on resolving the current crisis, it would be a catastrophic error to de-prioritise learning lessons from this pandemic and implementing them before the next one. Right-wing populist world leaders like US president Donald Trump and his Brazilian counterpart Jair Bolsonaro in particular have been in denial about the severity of the virus and reluctant to implement social distancing measures for fear of bringing their respective economies to a standstill. Mr Tugendhat trailed his committees verdicts in an editorial for The Mail on Sunday over the weekend, calling on Britain to reassess its relationship with China in the wake of the outbreak. Do we want to import Chinas authoritarian value system as well as its products? Or should we work with other free nations and reduce our growing dependence on this dictatorship? he wrote. Like all authoritarian regimes, the Chinese government is essentially weak. It relies on a toxic brew of lies and fear to maintain power and control over its people and this is why it has hidden the truth from the moment the virus first hit. Make no mistake, China is determined to create a new world order with itself at the top, Mr Tugendhat continued. While our political energy has been focused on regional squabbles, Chinas leaders have planned globally. Desperate to take back control from Brussels, we have ignored the tightening grip of Beijing. For all the criticism of its handling of the disaster, China has suffered greatly too, recording more than 82,600 cases and over 3,300 deaths. The country used its traditional Qingming Festival or Tomb-Sweeping Day on Saturday to stage a national wail of grief to remember its dead, with citizens bearing carnations bowing their heads in reflection, flags flown at half-mast and air raid sirens and car horns sounded in tribute. There are now more than 1.2m cases of coronavirus globally and the disease has caused more than 65,000 deaths. McGettigans and Bonnington Hotel will be donating hunders of free meals to thank frontline workers across the UAE as part of the national "Together We Are Good" campaign. The effort will be co-ordinated from the Bonnington Hotel in Dubais Jumeirah Lake Towers and will begin next week with classic favourites such as fish and chips, curries and burgers all being made available. Hundreds of free meals for a period of six weeks will be distributed to frontline workers. Dennis McGettigan, CEO of McGettigans, said: We have really seen the people of the UAE come together in a true time of crisis and it is only right that McGettigans shows support in the best way we can." The Together We Are Good campaign is fantastic and we chose to get these free meals to healthcare workers to say thanks for all they have done and will continue to do in the coming weeks," he said. - TradeArabia News Service "It's only been 30 days since our first case," battle-fatigued New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday about the COVID-19 outbreak that has invaded his state. "It feels like an entire lifetime." New York is the U.S. state hardest hit by the coronavirus, where it has claimed more than 3,500 lives. Public health experts say the situation is about to get worse, not only for New York, but for the rest of the United States as well. While Cuomo said the state is about seven days away from its apex of the health crisis, U.S. President Donald Trump warned Saturday that the U.S. would soon face its hardest two weeks with the virus. "There's going to be a lot of death," Trump said. U.S. hospitals have been fighting the coronavirus battle with a woefully inadequate arsenal. Hospitals have been pleading for ventilators for their patients and the protective gear that doctors and other medical workers wear to prevent passing the disease back and forth between themselves and their patients. New York received a shipment of 1,000 ventilators Saturday from China. "This is a big deal and it's going to make a significant difference for us," Cuomo said. Cuomo also said 85,000 volunteers are helping New York combat the virus and that he will sign an executive order allowing medical students slated to graduate this spring to graduate early and start practicing. Some states have been at odds with the White House because the Trump administration has not mounted a unified approach to combatting the virus, leaving each state to craft its own strategy to find medical equipment and drugs to fight the deadly virus. The Washington Post reported the White House got its first official notification of the outbreak in China on Jan. 3, but it took the administration 70 days to treat the outbreak as the deadly pandemic it has become. The United Kingdom on Monday revealed that all 17.5 million Coronavirus antibody test kits the country ordered from China are unreliable when used outside severely ill populations. The test developed in China was validated against patients who were severely ill, Professor John Bell, coordinator of coronavirus testing for Public Health England, told reporters. Whereas we want to use the test in the context of a wider range of levels of infection.So for our purposes, we need a test that performs better than some of these other tests. Bell added, We see many false negatives and we also see false positives. This is not a good result or test suppliers or for us. In response to the news, the Prime Ministers Office announced it would attempt to get refunds for some orders. If the tests dont work then the orders that we placed will be canceled and wherever possible we will recover the costs, the PMO said. As of Monday, Britain had confirmed over 52,000 coronavirus cases and 5,000 deaths, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson working from the hospital after contracting coronavirus. Britain has become the latest European nation to report on unreliable medical equipment shipped from China. In late March, the Czech Republic announced that up to 80 percent of 150,000 coronavirus test kits purchased from China were faulty. Czech interior minister Jan Hamacek said at the time that the tests could still be used if a patient had felt sick for a long time. Spain was also forced to scrap a shipment of test kits from China after finding that the tests accurately detected coronavirus cases only 30 percent of the time. Currently, Spain has confirmed 135,000 cases with 13,000 deaths, while the Czech Republic has reported over 4,700 cases and 78 deaths. China in mid-March also announced that it would donate medical equipment to Italy, which has recorded 132,500 coronavirus outbreaks with 16,500 deaths as of Monday. However, despite the announcement, China actually sold the equipment to Italy, and then forced Italy to buy back medical equipment it had donated to China at the start of the pandemic, theA Spectator reported. More from National Review By PTI LAHORE: Pakistani authorities have cancelled the Baisakhi celebrations at Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Punjab province from April 14, in which around 3,000 Sikhs from India were to participate, due to the coronavirus pandemic in the country, a media report said on Monday. The number of the coronavirus cases in Pakistan on Monday reached 3,277 with the infections in the worst-hit Punjab province approaching 1,500. The deadly virus which originated in China's Wuhan city has infected more than 1.2 million people globally. ALSO READ | COVID-19: Pakistan's coronavirus cases reach 3,277, death toll rises to 50; Punjab province worst hit The Baisakhi celebrations were scheduled to begin at the revered Gurdwara in Hasan Abdal city of Punjab province on April 14, Dawn News reported. Now only a symbolic event would be held on the day, it said. Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Deputy Secretary Shrines Imran Gondal said that a meeting of the ETPB and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbadhank Committee (PSGPC) unanimously decided that there would be no Baisakhi celebrations at the Gurdwara Punja Sahib this year and the scheduled visits of Sikh pilgrims has been cancelled, the report said. The ETPB looks after the holy places of the minority community in the country. Gurdwara Punja Sahib has a handprint of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev, on a boulder of the shrine. Around 3,000 Sikhs from India and 2,000 from around the world were to participate in the celebrations, the report said. Baisakhi is celebrated to mark the beginning of a new harvest season. Under the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974. CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES Every year, a large number of Sikh pilgrims from India visit Pakistan to observe various religious festivals and occasions. In 2019, over 2,200 Sikhs from India visited Pakistan to celebrate Baisakhi. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has already been informed of the decision, Gondal said, with onward communication for the Foreign Office and the Indian government regarding the development. The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi would not issue visas to pilgrims this year, it added. "We have monitored the situation closely in recent days and worked with government departments, including the PSGPC and other stakeholders. We are committed to following the guidelines set by the federal government to ensure a safe environment for our Sikh pilgrim guests and we would not risk their health amid the global coronavirus outbreak," Gondal said. PSGPC General Secretary Sardar Ameer Singh, a leading organiser, said the decision was made to prevent all risks to public health and safety. Deciding to cancel the event was not easy, he said, as the Sikh community around the world has great emotional, religious and cultural attachment to the event. He added that only symbolic Baisakhi celebrations will be observed at Gurdwara Punja Sahib. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 05:23:37|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close PARIS, April 5 (Xinhua) -- With the total coronavirus fatalities swelling to 8,078 while the number of critically-ill patients increasing less rapidly, French authorities on Sunday warned that the virus "continues to hit hard," urging people to continue to respect the confinement. The number of patients who died in the country's hospitals rose by 357 to 5,889. The one-day increase was less than 441 registered on Saturday and the record of 588 on Friday, according to the Health Ministry. In addition, the counting by elderly nursing homes across the country found that there were 2,189 deaths since March 1, the ministry said in a press release. A total of 70,478 people have been tested positive for coronavirus since the start of the epidemic. The number of "confirmed or possible" cases in nursing homes rose to 22,361. Some 28,891 people are hospitalized, among them 6,978 need life support in intensive care units (ICU), up by 140, a smaller increase compared with 176 recorded a day before. The ministry noted that the infection was spreading at slower pace and the number of critically-ill patients was increasing less rapidly, which it called a key indicator to evaluate how hospitals are using the available human and logistic resources. A slowdown in the number of patients in intensive care units meant less pressure on hospitals and that drastic curb on people movement to halt the virus spread begins bearing fruit. However, health and local authorities were cautiously optimistic, warning that social distancing instructions should be strictly respected despite some good signs and good weather. "Let us all be mobilized to fight against COVID-19. Let us respect the instructions, strict confinement, physical distance and barrier gestures, to protect ourselves, protect our loved ones," the ministry said, warning that the coronavirus "continues to hit hard." "Even if the weather is nice, don't forget that to limit the spread of COVID-19, containment measures are still in place," Paris police prefecture said on Sunday. Warm spring weather had incited Parisians to walk out, defying a lockdown imposed in mid-March to stem the virus spread. Footages broadcasting by local TV channels showed many people walking or jogging along the bank of the Seine river enjoying a sunny Sunday. "When we see some of these images, when we see some of these attitudes, it is true that it is totally incomprehensible," said Jean Rottner, head of the Grand Est region, the worst-hit region. "We are in a period of confinement. Staying at home saves your own life and that of others," he told BFMTV news television. Rottner warned that even if emergency calls decreased and beds in intensive care units became more available, "the situation remains tense." France has imposed a two-week nationwide lockdown on March 17, and it was extended to April 15. Under the confinement, only journeys to buy food and medicine and to go to work are allowed. All non-essential businesses have been closed and open-air markets are shut down. People would be allowed to go out for a walk with their children or to exercise once a day for no more than one hour, and within one kilometer of their home. Sanctions against those who break the rules would be tougher. Patrick Pelloux, president of the Association of hospital emergency doctors, echoed the urgent necessity to stay confined and not to cede to temptation of good weather. "We are probably winning the battle, but the French must understand that it we are winning over the epidemic it's because they remained confined," Pelloux told France info radio. "Better days will come, we just need more little patience... It's difficult, but we absolutely have to stay confined," he said. The scientific council, which advises the government on the epidemic crisis, recommended to prolong containment at least until April 28, noting that three weeks were needed to obtain an initial estimate of the impact. A top Uttar Pradesh government official has ruled out the possibility of lifting the 21-day lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus when it ends on April 14. There is little possibility of lifting lockdown after April 15 as claimed in a section of the media. We will not be in a position to lift the lockdown even if a single case of Covid-19 is left in Uttar Pradesh. So it can take time, said additional chief secretary (home) Avanish Awasthi, according to ANI. Uttar Pradesh has recorded 305 cases of coronavirus in the state so far. Three people have died of Covid-19 in Basti, Meerut and Varanasi. Those who have tested positive, are spread across 31 of the states 75 districts have so far Follow coronavirus live updates here. The countrywide lockdown came into force on March 25 on the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an effort to break the chain of transmission of coronavirus that now affected more than 4000 people across the country and claimed more than a 100 lives. On Sunday, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath had said that the government must prevent people from spilling out on the streets when the lockdown is lifted. All the hard work the state did would come to a nought if people crowd at the end of the lockdown. So we have to strategise accordingly. Please come up with suggestions to help the government, Adityanath told MPs and central ministers from Uttar Pradesh during a video conference. He also told the MPs and ministers that the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi had undermined the states hard work in checking the spread of Sars-Cov-2 but the government was tackling even that. The number of fliers has dwindled at LAX since the national emergency was declared. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Airline passengers whose flights are canceled or significantly delayed should receive refunds, the Department of Transportation said in a statement, but dont count on your money back just yet. A statement Friday noted that that DOT would give airlines a chance to comply first. DOT said it had received an increasing number of complaints and inquiries from ticket passengers who describe having been denied refunds for flights that were canceled or significantly delayed. A spokesman said Monday: "The obligation to provide refunds when scheduled flights are canceled or significantly delayed applies to U.S. and foreign carriers operating at least one aircraft having a seating capacity of 30 or more seats to, within, or from the United States." The departments Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings is charged with "monitoring airlines refund policies and practices, and take enforcement action as necessary. Enforcement action may include, for example, seeking corrective actions through warning letters or issuing consent orders (which may include fines)." On Monday, a Minnesota man filed a class action suit seeking an airline refund from United for tickets that were to have been used in April. His flight was canceled. The coronavirus pandemic has forced thousands of flight cancellations as air travel has ground nearly to a halt. Available seats on Delta Airlines, for instance, dropped by more than 3 million from Jan. 20 to April 6, according to OAG, which tracks airline data. The DOT order applies to U.S. and foreign airlines, the statement said. But, the statement added, DOTs Aviation Enforcement Office will exercise its enforcement discretion and provide carriers with an opportunity to become compliant before taking further action. Brett Snyder, a former airline employee who founded the CrankyFlier site that focuses on airline issues, said in an email that the statement seems like guidance but it isnt actually an enforcement action. Story continues Passengers have recently encountered resistance from airlines when trying to get their money back for canceled flights. Some airlines insist that they will issue only a voucher, despite contracts of carriage that say otherwise. Delta and United have extended the window of validity of that voucher to two years. But critics have noted that holding the value of that ticket as a credit is tantamount to a loan to the airline. The airlines are to receive billions in grants and loans as part of the economic stimulus package. On Monday, passenger Jacob Randolph of Minnesota filed a class-action suit against United asking for a refund of his more than $1,500 for three tickets to fly April 4 from Chicago to Hilton Head Island, S.C. The flight was canceled, and United denied Randolph's request for a refund, according to the suit. United said it could not comment on the suit because the company had not yet seen it. Nine U.S. senators, including Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.), have written to the chief executives of major U.S. airlines requesting refunds, not vouchers. The European Union last week told airlines they have to give refunds to passengers whose flights have been canceled. Assistant travel editor Mary Forgione contributed to this report. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 20:53:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Eric J. Lyman ROME, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Almost every medical professional on the front lines of Italy's battle against the coronavirus outbreak has a heartbreaking story about a patient they won't easily forget. One spoke about a patient who seemed far too ill to survive, but then miraculously recovered -- only to be blocked from returning home because his wife had become infected while he was in the hospital. Another mentioned an elderly woman who was stoic when speaking to her grandchildren via video chat but broke down into tears as soon as the call was over, tortured by the prospect of never holding them again. One nurse spoke about a well-liked ambulance driver who got infected on the job and died in his sleep a few days later. "I will never forget an older woman, extremely sweet, who called after her husband had been admitted to the emergency room," Federica Mencattelli, a 42-year-old nurse at Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic, told Xinhua. "She was worried because he has hearing problems and had forgotten his hearing aid at home. She kindly asked us to give him special care, telling us he had not slept alone for a single day since they'd been married. We all agreed." Mencattelli went on: "When the wife called back in the morning we had to tell her he was gone," adding "The husband didn't survive the night." Doctors and nurses on the front line of the outbreak say they are faced with heartbreaking situations almost every shift they work. But among the more than a dozen medical professionals who spoke with Xinhua formally and informally in recent weeks, none had shown the loss of the desire to treat patient entirely -- psychologically as well as physically. "The toughest part is the isolation," Edoardo De Ruvo, 59, an anesthesiologist, said in an interview. "It's easy for someone infected with the coronavirus to feel abandoned, forgotten. Doctors and nurses have to treat the symptoms but they must also help fight the feeling of abandonment." De Ruvo spoke with the voice of experience. He has been under quarantine at home for more than two weeks after becoming infected at the San Camilo Hospital, where he works. "I wanted to work, but I started to feel terrible and I ran a high fever and my throat swelled up," he said. "Now I am at home isolated from my own family as my colleagues continue to fight the outbreak." According to 53-year-old Laura Rita Santoro, a Roman nurse who was also as a coordinator for Nursing Up, a nursing trade union, the coronavirus outbreak can make it difficult to show empathy for patients and other colleagues in traditional ways. "We try to cheer each other up and to do the same for the patients, but it's a challenge," Santoro told Xinhua. "Patients worry about their children or parents or other loved ones and I just want to reassure them that we'll do our best and that they'll be OK." Santoro paused briefly. "Unfortunately, the mask means they can't see me smile," she said. "But maybe sometimes that is positive because the protective wear also makes it more difficult for them to see that my eyes could be red from crying." PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT Socialism is no longer a dirty word is a phrase we now hear people screaming. Even corporations are appealing to the state to fix the dying economy, to take care of the health system, and take over responsibility. The Morrison government, as expected, has its priorities wrong in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The first thing the government must do is ensure workers will have an income to feed their families so that they can quarantine. Workers have been dumped by employers from the very beginning of the pandemic. Even before the federal government announced some stimulus measures to assist businesses it was evident workers were going to be put out the door, led often by multinational corporations that boast obscene profits. Last week we saw workers lining up outside social security in the thousands across the country. With the perspectives of up to two million unemployed workers an economic recession is almost certain. The shocker of the week was the laying off of 600 nurses from private hospitals in NSW. Such a criminal action of bastardry while other states desperately seek health professionals to employ, including calling out those in retirement to assist with the crisis. The many years of neoliberalism in which privatisation of essential services went rampant are now exposing how those policies fail the people. Countries like Spain and Ireland have begun a process of putting private hospitals into public hands to put some control into the health system. The Morrison government has been able to put a $180 billion stimulus package together including an extra $1.1 billion into Medicare. The years of undermining Medicare requires it to be strengthened to deal with the pandemic. We dont want to see a situation where health workers have to decide who lives or dies due to lack of resources. The funding needed to take full control of the private health sector is readily available by abolishing the thirty per cent private health insurance rebate which amounts to some $10 billion. If that is not enough to fully fund the required national health system and workers wages savings must be found elsewhere. A good place to consider meeting this is through a reduction of at least ten per cent from the military budget. The real enemy is already here and has to be fought here. International cooperation to fight the pandemic is necessary and humanity must win. Socialism is, and continues to be, the answer to rapacious capitalism. Workers must continue to demand a better system that works in their interest. The crisis must not be paid for by working people. People in Southern Italy and other parts of the world are already taking to the streets to take control of shops and to demand government action. Current times are very dangerous, our civil and democratic rights are under attack and the pandemic is put to use as an excuse. The situation that arises when people are desperate and no longer prepared to live under the same circumstances can be full of opportunity and danger. Workers could now rebel and take control of their own destiny. Social change will come and the prospects are therefor the formation of national unity governments that could be formed as a result of the pandemic and economic crisis. This social change has to be in the interest of working people not the corporations. I want to end these few lines by thanking the health workers out there on the front line who despite facing shortages of personal protective equipment and other essentials continue to do their jobs and are, right now, in our hospitals and clinics saving lives. I also thank our small team in the Guardian collective who with so many limitations are managing to put The Workers Weekly Guardian out every week working from home. The message to all our Party members and readers is to keep the struggle going while staying home to help prevent the spread of the virus. Humanity shall overcome! Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Detectives are investigating if central members of the ruthless McCarthy/Dundon mob set up hitman Robbie Lawlor to be murdered over the weekend. Two of the gangs close associates, including a juvenile, are being quizzed by the PSNI as part of the murder investigation. Lawlor was blasted several times in the front garden of a house in Etna Drive in Ardoyne, north Belfast, shortly before midday on Saturday. PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne visited the scene yesterday afternoon and spoke to residents. Lawlor (35) was the chief suspect in the murder and dismemberment of 17-year-old Keane Mulready Woods in January, as well as at least five other gangland murders. Gardai are liaising with the PSNI and it is being investigated if Lawlor travelled north to collect a drug debt before being shot dead. One of the Limerick men in custody over the murder is a 34-year-old notorious criminal who is a central figure within the McCarthy/Dundon gang. Detectives are also quizzing a juvenile who is a close associate of convicted killer John Dundon, currently serving a life sentence for the murder of innocent rugby player Shane Geoghegan in 2008. The two gang associates and a third individual, also from Limerick, were being held as part of the murder inquiry at Musgrave police station. They were detained after PSNI detectives raided a property in west Belfast. Expand Close PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne (centre) visits the murder scene at Etna Drive / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne (centre) visits the murder scene at Etna Drive A fourth man was arrested yesterday morning after handing himself in. They are all being detained and quizzed by the PSNIs Major Investigation Team. Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy said yesterday: At this stage I believe that a single gunman was involved in the killing, firing multiple shots at the victim and striking him a number of times. The murder weapon has not yet been recovered. I do not believe that Robbie was in the Ardoyne yesterday by accident. I believe he had some reason to be there and key lines of enquiry for me at this stage are to establish why he was there and what his connection to the address is. A 27-year-old man was released without charge on Monday morning. Mr Murphy said detectives are keen to speak to anyone about the movements of a VW Scirocco car, registration YLZ 7052. It is understood the car was in Estoril Park on Friday and burnt out in Kingston Court immediately after the murder. The former chief financial officer for a Northern California city destroyed in a 2018 wildfire caused by Pacific Gas & Electric equipment is trying to upend the utilitys plan for getting out of bankruptcy because she believes the company is shortchanging the people devastated by its misconduct. Karin Gowins, the former comptroller for Paradise, told The Associated Press Friday that she resigned from the bankruptcy committee overseeing the claims of wildfire victims so she can publicly lambaste what she believes is a deeply flawed, $13.5 billion settlement with PG&E. Gowins is the third member of the wildfire victims committee to resign in the past two weeks. I have never liked this deal and I could not let my name be attached to it in good conscience, Gowins said in an interview. As part of the settlement reached in December, the attorneys representing the wildfire victims as well as the 11 members on the committee overseeing the claims have been forbidden from opposing the deal. The two other former members of the committee, Kirk Trostle and Adolfo Veronese, share some of the same misgivings about the settlement as Gowins. Most of their complaints revolve around the $6.75 billion in PG&E stock that represents half the settlement. They are worried about the companys stock falling in value before victims can sell their shares, a concern that has been magnified in the past month as the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has roiled the financial markets. PG&Es stock closed Friday at $7.93, a 57% drop from its six-month high in early February. Gowins believes the lawyers representing more than 81,000 fire victims arent being totally honest about the increasing risks underlying the deal because they are eager for PG&Es bankruptcy plan to win court approval so they collect their fees from the settlement. Theyre just not breaching their fiduciary duty, theyre blowing it up, Gowins said. There has been a complete lack of transparency. Email requests seeking comment from 15 lawyers representing the wildfire victims committee did not receive a response by late Friday afternoon. But in bankruptcy court hearings, lawyers for the victims have repeatedly described the $13.5 billion settlement as the best deal possible and emphasized that each member of the panel will be free to accept or reject it as part of a balloting process running through May 15. In a statement, PG&E reiterated that its top priority is getting wildfire victims paid. Besides the victims of the 2018 wildfires that killed 85 people, the $13.5 billion settlement also covers deadly 2017 wildfires blamed on the utilitys fraying electrical grid. The company is trying to win final confirmation of its plan to emerge from bankruptcy by June 30. Consumer activist Erin Brockovich, best known for a crusade against PG&E for contaminating the water supply of Hinkley, California, wrote an opinion piece this week urging the wildfire victims to approve the settlement because she believes its the only viable deal still on the table. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics California Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire WFH for Private offices in Delhi, restaurants & bars to be shut as Omicron-led to sudden rise in Covid cases India has been proactive in stemming spread of coronavirus: PM Modi India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Apr 06: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India's timely efforts to combat coronavirus have set an example and it is among countries which understood the pandemic's seriousness. "Our efforts to fight COVID-19 has set up a new example to tackle this crisis. We identified the crisis at early level and did whatever was necessary. We were quick to respond on the ground. We got in touch with all state governments at the earliest," Narendra Modi said while speaking on measure taken by the Centre to fight against the coronavirus pandemic. "India has worked rapidly with a holistic approach that is being appreciated by not only Indians but also WHO. All countries should come together and fight coronavirus, so India had active participation in the meeting of the SAARC countries and the G20 meeting," he added. 'It is a long war against coronavirus pandemic, must not rest': PM Modi The prime minister also appreciated the maturity shown by people during the lockdown, describing it as unprecedented. "Whether it was the Janta Curfew, or the nationwide lockdown, all of us have firmly stood together. The maturity shown by 130 crore people of India is unprecedented," PM Modi said in his address to the workers of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the party's 40th foundation day. "Noboby could have believed that people of this country will show such discipline," he added. "We got to see our collective strength on Sunday evening," he said referring to the countrywide exercise to switch off lights and illuminate diyas for nine minutes to show India's collective strength to fight the deadly virus. Let us win this war on COVID-19: Modi sets 5 tasks for BJP workers on partys foundation day He also urged BJP workers to follow a five-point agenda, including working to ensure that no poor goes hungry. He asked them to follow the guidelines issues by party president J P Nadda. Fight against coronavirus is no less than war, Modi said, asking BJP workers to donate and encourage others to contribute to the PM-CARES fund. Two parents whose truck was washed away during floods, killing two of their children and their niece, are now facing charges related to the deaths. Daniel Rawlings allegedly drove around a barrier in order to cross a creek, before his truck got swept away in Tonto Basin, Arizona. In the car were Rawlings and his wife Lacey, along with their four kids and three nieces. Both Rawlings and his wife Lacey escaped from the truck with four children but the couples own five-year-old son, Colby, and six-year-old daughter Willa were killed along with their five-year-old niece Austin. Daniel Rawlings been charged with three counts of reckless manslaughter and seven counts of child or vulnerable adult abuse His wife, Lacey, is facing seven counts of child or vulnerable adult abuse Parents Daniel and Lacey Rawlings, managed to escape from the car and were rescued, with their children including Willa (second from right, front) and Colby (far front right)were all killed Austin Rawlings, left, died in the accident along with her cousin Colby Rawlings, right Willa Rawlings also died in the tragic accident. She wasn't found until almost two weeks later Rawlings has now been charged with three counts of reckless manslaughter and seven counts of child or vulnerable adult abuse. Lacey Rawlings, his wife, is facing seven counts of child or vulnerable adult abuse. Austin was the daughter of Daniel's brother, Jay Rawlings. The survivors in the group were rescued and were airlifted to shore by a Maricopa County Sheriff's Office helicopter. Officials say one adult managed to swim to shore, while four children and one adult who were stranded on an island in the creek were airlifted out of the area by rescue crews. The family had been together for the Thanksgiving holiday last year when their oversized truck became stuck in the creek. Map showing location of Tonto Basin, which is in Tonto National Forest in Arizona During an interview given in December, parents Daniel and Lacey said very little about what happened at the creek as it was too painful to recount The crossing had been closed and barricaded because of the high water, but the parents allegedly attempted to pass it anyway. During an interview given in December, the parents said very little about what happened at the creek as it was too painful to recount. 'I will say one thing. People go around the barricades all the time,' Daniel said. 'I'm not justifying my actions one bit, but there could be more done.' Media coverage of the incident led many to express criticism of Lacey and Daniel for their decision to ignore the barricades - but the parents said they were trying to block those critics out. 'We don't have anything to say to them,' Daniel said. 'Everybody's a critic, and they're keyboard warriors. Those people may not have ever gone through something tragic in their life.' 'I hope they don't have to go through something like this and learn what it really feels like,' Lacey added. First responders were pictured in December pulling the family vehicle out of the flooded creek after three children got stuck in the truck that was swept away in flooding on Tonto Creek Punkin Center and Tonto Creek, Arizona, seen during heavy flooding in late November Meteorologist Sean Benedict in Phoenix estimated in the days before the tragedy, up to two inches of rain fell in the area, with some of the runoff coming from snow that fell on nearby peaks. The region got up to four inches of rain about a week before, Benedict said. 'So the grounds were already pretty wet and that probably helped with the runoff,' Benedict added. Two GoFundMe pages have been set up for both families. One of the GoFundMe pages was set up for the family of Colby and Willa, which has raised more than $60,000. A second GoFundMe page was set up for Austin's family. The page has raised more than $53,000. FamilyTime, AVDA rally to address uptick in domestic violence during quarantine Health, economic and natural crises can add to the pressures facing survivors of domestic violence. With the Stay Home orders for Harris, Montgomery and other surrounding counties, people who are surviving violence in their relationships and families are experiencing even greater isolation and danger. Over the last several days, AVDA (Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse) has had an uptick in calls from domestic abuse survivors, stated AVDA CEO Maisha Colter. The main message that we want to convey to family violence victims is that you are not alone. One in four women experience abuse in their lifetime. AVDA is based in Houston. The COVID-19 pandemic has created an environment in which survivors who have not separated from their abusers are now at even greater risk; however, area domestic violence service providers are still providing services, continued Colter. AVDAs free legal representation is still available in Austin, Grimes, Fort Bend, Harris, Waller and Washington counties. On March 30, the Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon announced an approximately 35% increase in domestic violence cases filed in March 2020 as were filed in the same time period in 2019. This rise, he said, may be due to increased isolation, stress, and more access to victims by perpetrators caused by the COVID-19 virus fallout. Sometimes, when a mandate to remain inside comes from the local and federal government, society witnesses a rise of physical abuse since victims have nowhere to go to escape their abuser. Therefore, local domestic abuse organization FamilyTime has a 24/7 hotline available with professionals trained in handling these situations. Victims or those aware of an abusive situation are encouraged to call 281-446-2615. Interim Executive Director of FamilyTime Crisis and Counseling Center Lori Carroll stated, Our calls to the hotline have been steady. We anticipate the longer we are required to stay home and practice social distancing, the greater the need for our services. It is not safe for victims of domestic violence to be home with their abusers, particularly during a time when there is additional stress. The health and safety for themselves and their children are at risk. I am monitoring closely the number of calls and it seems to go in waves. We will continue to monitor closely and answer our 24/7 hotline calls for victims. I feel we will see an overall increase in the number of calls we receive due to social isolation and social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Victims are particularly vulnerable at this time as their regular routines and lives have been disrupted. Many may also be confined at home with their abuser. Victims may have added stress, possible job loss, children at home, depression. FamilyTime advocates and staff want to make sure we are available for our clients needs. Our counselors are using telehealth programs to provide counseling to many clients during this time. Our caseworker/legal advocates are available to provide assistance and resources over the phone. Our shelter staff is working very hard to make sure all the needs of our clients are being met. Clients and staff are taking every precaution following all guidelines, Carroll said. FamilyTime depends, in large part, on donations from the community to sustain its counseling programs as well as to operate The Door, a shelter for battered women and their children. We have been fortunate to have our wonderful community offer donations of food and supplies. Since we do not know how long this pandemic will last, we need to keep our supplies well stocked. Currently we are in need of cleaning supplies, such as Lysol spray, hand sanitizers and Clorox wipes, added Carroll. In 2019 alone, FamilyTime provided 72 educational presentations and training for the community. Education and awareness is key to ending the prevalence of domestic violence. Board of Directors President Susan Meinholz of FamilyTime said, FamilyTime is a pillar within the community, even in this time of national need. However, The Mothers Are Jewels fundraising luncheon, originally scheduled for April 23, is postponed. Important Information If you are still living with your abuser: 1. Stay as safe as you can. When an argument breaks out, know the safest place in the house; stay away from spaces like the kitchen, bathroom and garage where objects that can be weaponized are kept. 2. Prepare for a situation where an abuser might hide essential supplies and/or prohibit you from leaving the home to access essential supplies. 3. Have a safety plan and know where your keys and important papers are. If it is safe to do so, call FamilyTime at 281-446-2615 or AVDA at 713-224-9911 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) or visit online at avda.org for safety planning. If it is not safe to use your phone or computer, ask a friend or family member to do so and share the information with you in a phone conversation, if safe. 4. For help 24/7, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522. 5. If you can make plans to leave your abuser safely for a shelter or to stay with a friend or family member, do so. Remember: never tell the perpetrator that you plan to leave. 6. In an emergency, call 911. If you recently left your abuser: 1. Remember the most dangerous time for a survivor of domestic violence is at the time of or right after leaving the perpetrator. 2. In the current climate, it might be difficult to access the protective order process. AVDA is doing its best to help survivors obtain the protective orders they need. If you need a protective order, call AVDA at 713-224-9911 if in Harris County. AVDAs victim advocates, paralegals and attorneys have replaced face-to-face meetings with phone calls and the Zoom conferencing application. The courts are still open, and in certain cases, AVDAs attorneys are accompanying clients for hearings at the courthouse. 3. AVDA also provides free counseling for victims of domestic abuse and their children. 4. For free legal representation for divorce, child custody, child support and adoption in the case of parent fatality: call 713-224-9911 in Harris County. For more information, visit familytimeccc.org or avda.org. AND WE'RE BACK!!! SORTA!!! Blaze Starts Monday Crews battle Monday morning house fire in KCMO KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City, Missouri, fire crews extinguished a house fire near East 9th Street and Benton Boulevard early Monday morning. The call for the fire went out around 7 a.m. It was out by the time 41 Action News crews arrived around 7:30 a.m. Mechanics Keep KC Moving Everyday Heroes: Auto body shops still doing business during coronavirus pandemic KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) - Typically, when you come into a shop like Hafkemeyer Motors, mechanics will have grease on their hands. But now, they're trying to wash and sanitize more often to prevent the coronavirus from forcing them to close. Local Lockdown Impact Hospital patients can't see loved ones during COVID-19 pandemic With the coronavirus keeping visitors out of hospitals, many people are worried for their loved ones who are there alone. KMBC 9 spoke with an Excelsior Springs man about the struggle his family is going through. Pr0n Game Is Cruel How Big Porn Is Making The Coronavirus Crisis Even Worse The Wuhan coronavirus epidemic has turned the lives of most Americans completely upside down. As social distancing practices have been adopted nationwide, many have found themselves isolated from everyday human interaction, suddenly cut off from extended family and friends, and - if they're lucky enough still to be employed - forced to work from home. Tragic American Milestone As Coronavirus Pandemic Worsens U.S. Coronavirus Deaths Near 10,000 Amid Warnings of Bad Week Ahead Health officials warn of a difficult week ahead as the U.S. death toll from the coronavirus nears 10,000. Leading infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said this will be a "bad" week, noting that "we should hope that within a week, maybe a little bit more, we'll start to see a flattening out of the curve and coming down." Debate Over Treatment Ecapsulates MSM Antipathy Toward Prez Trump 'He's answered that question.' Trump interrupts when reporter asks Fauci about hydroxychloroquine WASHINGTON - A reporter's question about hydroxychloroquine led to a testy moment at Sunday's White House briefing. Anthony Fauci was asked his thoughts on the effectiveness of the anti-malaria drug in treating coronavirus patients, and President Donald Trump interrupted before the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases could answer. BORIS STILL BOSS!!! Boris Johnson 'remains in charge' after coronavirus hospital admission, UK government says A senior British government minister said Boris Johnson was able to continue running the country despite being admitted to a London hospital for persistent coronavirus symptoms. COVID-19 Sparks Beat Downs Global Lockdowns Resulting In 'Horrifying Surge' In Domestic Violence, U.N. Warns United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, citing a sharp rise in domestic violence amid global coronavirus lockdowns, called on governments around the world to make addressing the issue a key part of their response to the pandemic. Speaking late Sunday, Guterres said, "violence is not confined to the battlefield." Talking Point Push Back Washington governor slams Trump administration for comparing coronavirus' grim outlook to Pearl Harbor Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee decried the surgeon general's comments on Sunday comparing the anticipated swell in the coronavirus crisis to Pearl Harbor in light of the President's prior comments on qualifying federal support to states struggling to fight the outbreak. Local Internets Cringe Local woman writes parody song about quarantine life KANSAS CITY, Mo. - With so many people staying home, one local woman got creative with her free time. Stefanie Stevens is a performer, but with many theaters closed and shows postponed or canceled, she brought the performance to her living room. Stevens wrote parody lyrics to "Part of Your World" from "The Little Mermaid." Kansas City Booze Hospitality Kansas City Breweries Join in Worldwide Beer Collaboration to Support Hospitality Industry In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, several Kansas City-area breweries are joining All Together, a worldwide beer collaboration that will raise funds and awareness for the hospitality industry. Other Half Brewing, based in Brooklyn, New York, launched the project that has quickly garnered interest from breweries around the globe including the acclaimed Side Project Brewing in St. Cloudy Monday Forecast Warm, windy Monday ahead Hide Transcript Show Transcript THROW A LOT OF SCIENCE OUT THERE FOR KIDS AND THE KIDS ALIKE. 55 DEGREES WITH A BREEZE OF 10 MILES PER HOUR. YOU CAN ALMOST SMELL THE MOISTURE IN THE AIR THIS MORNING, IT ALMOST SMELLS LIKE RAIN. MOSTLY DRY AND CLOUDY FOR TODAY. Back only by way of acknowledging that Monday doesn't mean much to a country suffering aboutStill we're inspired byas the "adult industry continues to confront challenges during the lockdown . . . Moreover, we also consider community news, pop culture and info from across the nation and around the world.is the song of the day and this is thefor right now . . . FPT has recently become a member of Keidanren, also known as Japan Business Association, in an attempt to strengthen ties with the Japanese Government and the local business community. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005314/en/ FPT hosted Vietnam Prime Minister's Breakfast to discuss trade collaboration with Japanese Government and businesses on the sideline of G20 Osaka Summit in June 2019. (Photo: Business Wire) Established in 1946, Keidanren has been the powerful voice of businesses in Japan with more than 1,400 members, ranging from startups to major manufacturers and tech giants such as Toyota, Sumitomo, Toshiba, and Facebook. FPT is the first Vietnamese IT firm to join the business lobby. FPT once had the pleasure to attend the meeting between Keidanren and senior officials of the Vietnamese Government, and now we are very proud to be a member of this federation. By joining Keidanren, FPT hopes to contribute to the growth of the Japanese economy and society through partnerships and collaborations with member companies, FPT Chairman Truong Gia Binh said. Membership in Keidanren also helps FPT reinforce its position in the Japanese market as well as facilitate trade and investment cooperation between the two countries, he added. Being a digital transformation pioneer, we look forward to exploring how innovations could be harnessed to create positive changes in our world. As Keidanren Chairman Nakanishi Hiroaki said on its website, the federations focus is to implement Japans Society 5.0, where technologies such as robotics, blockchain, and AI could be combined with human imagination and creativity to resolve social issues and create new value at the same time. We are pleased to welcome a global IT firm like FPT to join our business community, said Keidanrens Managing Director Kiyoaki Fujiwara. This membership will not only strengthen the economic ties between Vietnam and Japan, but also contribute to the realisation of Society 5.0 and accelerate our digital transformation journey. Since entering Japan in 2005, FPT has grown its local workforce to more than 1,500 employees with 12 offices nationwide, making it the largest foreign IT employer in the country. More than half of its offshore revenue is generated in Japan, where the company helps major companies like Toppan Printing, SCSK, and ISE Foods to accelerate digital transformation. Being Vietnams leading IT and digital transformation services provider, FPT has made a significant contribution in driving the adoption of technologies for businesses around the world. FPT Japan, its largest subsidiary overseas, is expected to gain US$ 600 million in revenue this year and set to become Japans top 20 IT firm by 2022. About FPT Corporation FPT Corporation is a global leading technology and IT services provider headquartered in Vietnam, with nearly US$2 billion in revenue and 28,000 employees. As a pioneer in digital transformation, FPT delivers world-class services in Smart factory, Digital platforms, RPA, AI, IoT, Enterprise Mobility, Cloud, AR/VR, Embedded Systems, Managed services, Testing, Platform modernization, Business Applications, Application Services, BPO, and more. The company has served over 700+ customers worldwide, a hundred of which are Fortune Global 500 companies in the industries of Aerospace & Aviation, Automotive, Banking and Finance, Logistics & Transportation, Utilities and more. For more information, please visit www.fpt-software.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005314/en/ When it comes to providing an accurate picture of the coronavirus situation, China could learn from Iceland. And so, perhaps, could the rest of the world. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/4/2020 (644 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Editorial When it comes to providing an accurate picture of the coronavirus situation, China could learn from Iceland. And so, perhaps, could the rest of the world. The small nation began testing its citizens for COVID-19 in February, and by last week had tested more than 17,900 people nearly five per cent of its population. It has adopted strict quarantines for those who test positive, including those who are asymptomatic which accounts for as many as 50 per cent of those who test positive. To get a true sense of the danger posed by COVID-19, we need reliable information on the number of cases, the number of deaths and those who recovered. Accurate figures have been difficult to get. While medical authorities and other organizations are analyzing the available data, such as a recent report by the U.K.s Imperial College published in The Lancet, what emerges is an incomplete picture. Are governments even keeping an accurate tally of deaths related to or caused by COVID-19? There is growing doubt. Recent reports suggest China, where the first outbreak was reported, has continually under-reported fatalities. The official death toll from COVID-19 in Wuhan is 2,500. Figures from local crematoriums, however, suggest a much higher number of deaths during the period possibly as high as 40,000. Not all of those deaths would be connected to COVID-19, but the sudden surge in cremations raises questions. It can be politically damaging for any government to admit things are worse than the "official" numbers show, particularly for China, where coronavirus deaths appear to have peaked. But China appears not to be the only source of questionable COVID-19 accounting. An analysis in The Economist showed Italys Bergamo region had 2,420 more deaths last month than in March 2019. Only 1,140 of those were attributed to COVID-19, but as the mayor of Bergamos capital put it to local media, "The data is the tip of the iceberg.... Too many victims are not included in the reports because they died at home." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Similar discrepancies between official COVID-19 fatalities and total recorded deaths have been noted in parts of Spain and France. In the U.S., catastrophic delays in testing and subsequent reporting have likely resulted in an incomplete picture of the total number of COVID-19 cases. That lack of accurate information has allowed some leaders at the federal and state levels to continue to downplay the magnitude of the crisis at a time when swift, decisive action is crucial. In Canada, our per-capita rates of testing may be better, but they dont approach the percentage that Iceland has achieved. Icelands advantage was not its small population, but the fact it started case testing and contact tracing early. South Korea employed a similar strategy and also reaped the benefits of swift intervention. Good public health policy must be based on reliable information. Governments must produce accurate case numbers and related figures (including fatalities), regardless of the political damage they may incur as a result of sharing them with the public. COVID-19 defies borders and spreads with alarming speed. Without a clear picture of what has already happened, and what is happening now, we wont stand a fighting chance at being ready for what comes next. While it depends on the further developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, Serbia will find a way to honor the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II, Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs Zoran Djordjevic told Sputnik WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 06th April, 2020) While it depends on the further developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, Serbia will find a way to honor the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II, Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs Zoran Djordjevic told Sputnik. "With respect to Victory Day, we will see in the following days the results of the measures we undertook to protect our citizens, but certainly as an antifascist country, which has always been on the winning side, we will not miss the opportunity to commemorate this day," Djordjevic said. The minister also pointed out that the brotherly ties between Russia and Serbia have further demonstrated their true strength and firmness through organizing the Immortal Regiment. "Namely, last year, Serbia declared that this manifestation is an event of state significance, and it was added to the Calendar of events that are important to celebrate ... It depends on how the situation develops regarding the pandemic, but we will find a way to mark this occasion so that the spirit of our ancestors who won freedom remains eternal," he stated. Djordjevic pointed out that Serbia fosters the tradition of the antifascist fight, and that since Aleksandar Vucic became the country's president, Serbia has paid special attention to its veterans and their associations. "There is no event related to World War Two to which our veterans and their descendants are not invited, and certainly the greatest contribution to the fostering is done by the organization, SUBNOR Serbia, headed by Dusan Cukic, with whom we have intensive cooperation and plan the organization and commemoration of all events," he noted. Russian President Vladimir Putin in December said that Vucic had accepted the invitation to come to Russia to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. In February, Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin said that Belgrade will also send 75 servicemen to join the parade commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany on May 9. Serbia has participated in the Immortal Regiment annually for the past several years across various cities with thousands of participants. Representatives of the Russian embassy, members of veteran organizations, the local authorities and citizens of the country have marched with photographs of their liberator-ancestors. Cronkite News WASHINGTON Banks and small businesses reported an overwhelming volume of calls and some confusion Friday as the Small Business Administration launched the first phase of the $2 trillion economic stimulus package in the face of COVID-19. The $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program aims to help small businesses weather the economic crisis with loans that can be forgiven if companies use the money to keep workers on the payroll throughout the coming months of social-distancing. The program was rushed into operation just one week after the signing of the historic Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act or CARES Act, with final rules not posted until Thursday night. That led to some confusion Friday and anxiety for small business owners like Randy Phillips. It was fairly clear some of these banks just dont know whats going on, said Phillips, owner of Think Graphic and Printing Solutions in Tempe. It just seems like the program was released so quickly and depending on how well the leadership of different banks are it doesnt filter down all the way. The Bay Mills Indian Country is ready to keep paying employees with the help of a major #Coronavirus relief program. But now the tribe and the entire Indian gaming industry are in danger of being shut out completely by the Trump administration. #COVID19 https://t.co/T0pPYNa0K2 indianz.com (@indianz) April 3, 2020 He said he reached out to two banks Friday that seemed unfamiliar with the new program, as he nervously watched Treasury and SBA officials tweeting about how many loans and how much money has been approved or processed for this program. Joel Nathanson, executive vice president of Scottsdale financial consulting company Arriba Capital, said his phones were ringing off the hook Friday. He also heard of problems with the roll-out. The SBA normally has 30 days to write guidelines, they tried to finish them in a week, Nathanson said. Its supposed to go live today and the feedback weve been getting from the banks is that they still dont have enough guidance to start lending yet. "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 While acknowledging some early issues on the lender side, the lead lender relations specialist at the SBA Arizona district office, Craig Jordan, said loan applications were being approved by some institutions as of Friday afternoon. Some lenders are accepting applications, some are not set up yet, Jordan said. It will roll out over the next couple of days. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a tweet Friday afternoon that the SBA had already processed $1.8 billion in loans nationwide mostly all from community banks. Ron Evans, the chief credit officer at West Valley National Bank, said even though his bank was overwhelmed, with 30 to 40 calls an hour about the Paycheck Protection Program, it was still able to process applications. Were trying to accommodate as many people as we can, Evans said. Were getting it over to the SBA as quick as possible based on the guidance we have from them now. Under the program, loans are available for companies, nonprofits and independent contractors that can have no more than 500 employees in most cases. Recipients can get up to $100,000 per employee to use on rent, utilities and payroll. UPDATE over $1,800,000,000 #PPPloan now processed by @SBAgov mostly all from community banks. Big banks taking in large amounts but not yet submitted in these numbers! #CARESAct #SmallBusiness Steven Mnuchin (@stevenmnuchin1) April 3, 2020 Businesses dont have to pay the loan back if they can prove that they used 75% of it to pay workers at close to their current salaries. Small businesses do not apply to the SBA, but are instead required to go through accredited lenders like banks to receive funds. Evans said its been a slow and unsure ordeal processing applications. Were still awaiting full guidance in some areas of the loan applications, but were processing them. We think we have a grasp, Evans said. Even on the SBA end, we still get the feeling things are still changing rapidly and its still sort of a fluid situation. "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 Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, said in a webinar on Thursday that part of the problem was the amount of time it took to pass the CARES Act. That left Mnuchin and the SBA scrambling to develop guidance out to financial institutions so that you can walk in or electronically apply for these forgivable loans, she said. Nathanson said with the rules and terms for the loan program being changed several times over the course of the week leading up to its launch, it left a lot of uncertainty still in the program for lenders. He said he is concerned by every day that goes by and people arent getting paid. Evans said all he could do was ask business owners applying for loans at his banks to be patient. Were doing everything in our power and we understand the sense of urgency of the business owners in our community and the impact it has on their employees, Evans said. We want to make sure that people in our communities are taken care of. I will immediately ask Congress for more money to support small businesses under the #PPPloan if the allocated money runs out. So far, way ahead of schedule. @BankofAmerica & community banks are rocking! @SBAgov @USTreasury Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 4, 2020 Phillips, who has been reaching out to banks all week, said he felt immobile by the confusion he encountered Friday and the news that loans were being approved for some businesses. But, he said, he doesnt have a choice but to keep on trying. I am fighting for my team, I am fighting for my business, I am fighting for my family right now, Phillips said. Note: This story originally appeared on Cronkite News and is published via a Creative Commons license . Cronkite News is produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University Join the Conversation The basics Separation If you are potentially infectious, it is important that you separate yourself from your partner, your housemates, your children, your elderly aunt. To be on the safe side, you shouldnt even pet your dog, according to the C.D.C., although pets are not known to transmit the coronavirus. A room must be designated for your exclusive use. A bathroom should be, too, if possible. Every surface you cough on or touch could become contaminated with the virus. You should have no visitors, and keep three to six feet away from others. Dont take the bus or subway, or even a taxi. Masks If you must be around other people in your home, or in a car, because youre on your way to see a doctor (only after you have called) you should wear a mask, and everyone else should, too. But first, you or one of your friends or family members have to find masks, which are sold out almost everywhere. If you cant, you can create a makeshift one from a scarf or other garment. Hygiene If you cough or sneeze, you should cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, and discard the used tissue in a lined trash can. Then you must immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-05 23:20:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ANKARA, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Fighting the novel coronavirus pandemic needs more global cooperation and won't put an end to globalization, which is an "irreversible process," said one expert. After the virus outbreak developed into a pandemic, "theories and arguments circulated in western media related to the possible end of globalization," said Dr. Altay Atli, an Istanbul-based scholar on Asia affairs. "I don't agree with this view." "Globalization is an irreversible process... It is not possible to act after this pandemic as if globalization has come to an end and that everyone has to close its doors amid rising protectionism," he told Xinhua in a recent interview. "This virus has shown us how global cooperation is of utmost importance and it is up to us, as mankind, to draw the necessary lessons from it for a better shared future," he argued. While stressing that globalization would continue after the pandemic, he also underlined the need to address its "shortcomings" for "a more egalitarian and cooperative" model. Asia will safeguard globalization and advance its technology hubs and supply chains, as China's businesses are gradually returning to normal, the scholar stressed. He urged nations around the world to act in coordination to tackle the crisis. Atli indicated that the fight against the pandemic needs the engagement of every nation. He praised China for fighting COVID-19 and assisting other countries in need. He said that in the long run stronger global collaboration will be needed to detect and fight the next pandemic. "Coronavirus has made no distinctions between countries or races, and it affects everybody on our planet. Because of this, we should fight the battle together and globally," he added. Lessons in crisis: A student during Katrina, now a professor amid COVID-19 Katrina to COVID-19: From left to right: Carrie Dolan and friends Kathryn Royse and Parham Jaberi at Tulane before Hurricane Katrina. Courtesy photo Photo - of - Hide Caption Carrie Dolan, kinesiology and health sciences professor at William & Mary, has a unique perspective on being a student during a crisis and having to leave campus behind. In August 2005, she was a graduate student at Tulane University in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina struck. She had to evacuate at a moments notice and didnt know when she would return. I think about that experience often now, in the midst of this crisis, she said. I really feel for what my students are going through. Dolan had been studying epidemiology at Tulane for about a year when the hurricane struck. She had just gotten back from a research trip in Guatemala when she saw the mayor on TV, calling for an evacuation. She and her husband packed a small bag and headed up to Houston to wait it out. We all thought it was going to roll over quickly, so wed be back in a few days, but that didnt happen, she said. And then the levees broke, and a few more weeks passed, and we realized we werent going back for a while. Much like her students, many of whom moved home after spring break without their belongings, she lived at home for a little while without my books, no computer, and no calculator, which was a big thing for me, she said. When it became clear Tulane would not reopen, Dolan enrolled at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, to finish her graduate degree. Hopkins ran on a quarter system, not a semester system, and their courses were faster paced. It was a steep learning curve. At the same time, Dolan was trying to put her life in New Orleans back together receiving phone calls from FEMA, following the ever-changing news, sorting out the financial implications of the disaster. It was sometimes hard to focus. I identify with the students and their level of stress, having to shift to a different way of learning and then be graded on that, she said. With her own experiences in mind, Dolan created a strategy for teaching online during this crisis to mitigate some of the stress for her students. She simplified her syllabus to focus on a few key points in depth instead of broader content more quickly. Her class sessions are asynchronous so students can watch them when they are able, which is especially key for her students who are now in different time zones or dont have access to reliable internet. Its been a stretch for her as well as her students to adapt to the new online-only model, but she is determined to focus on the advantages. Her epidemiology students are in the midst of a real-life case study of a pandemic, making their data immediately relevant. She is bringing experts into her virtual classroom via Zoom, and she said she will probably continue to use video elements as part of her in-person teaching because they have been successful. She also sees ways William & Mary as a liberal arts university is in the perfect position to tackle interdisciplinary research into this public health crisis. This is pushing us all forward in ways that we never expected, I think. And I think that that can be perceived as negative or positive depending on how you want to approach it. And for me, we are pushed in a way thats positive, she said. Through it all, she strives to be supportive and flexible, as her professors at Hopkins were during that stressful time. She knows how hard it is for her students, especially the seniors, to be thrust into a situation they didnt expect. I relate to what they are going through because I too had plans that I didnt get to do, she said. I didn't have a graduation like I expected, where my family came and celebrated with me in New Orleans with Tulanes traditions. I had to say goodbye to all that. Now, though, because of what they went through together, she feels closer to her Tulane community than ever before. We built a community, even though we were spread out all over the place, she said. I never thought Id find another community like that, where we all supported each other regardless of circumstance. But Ive found it here at William & Mary. Bingeing on action movies, hours-long video calls to his wife and watching 'less TV news' helped a coronavirus survivor in successfully getting through the tense isolation period in hospital. IMAGE: Technicians from Dr Dangs Lab greet media personnel before giving a demonstration of sample collection process for COVID-19 tests, in New Delhi. Photograph: Shahbaz Khan/PTI Photo The 29-year-old, who did not wish to be named, was discharged from the Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon, on April 1 after he tested negative for the virus in his second consecutive report. The Gurgaon resident was tested COVID-19 positive on March 21, soon after his return from an official trip in the United Kgindom. "I returned to India on March 18 and was absolutely fine as per the airport screening. But once I reached home, I felt shivering and fever. That is when I reached a government hospital for check-up and then I was asked to take the COVID-19 test," he said. "Till the report came, I was observing a self-quarantine at my home only. On March 21, I was told by the hospital that the report was positive. In no time I got myself admitted to Fortis as I wanted to spend the isolation period in a private setup only," he said. Though aware of the fact that he has to stay put in the isolation ward of the hospital for at least 14 days, he said after four-five days, no matter how hard one tries "boredom and frustration" starts creeping in. He said he will always be indebted to his wife for the several video calls, and the streaming apps for showing latest action movies that kept him 'busy and happily engaged' during such times of distress. "My wife and I would talk on the phone for four-five hours during my isolation period. Since I was not allowed to move out, she would go to the balcony and show me the view of my society, roads, trees and birds," he recalled. "Trust me, all this becomes very helpful when you are confined to one place for days with no access whatsoever to the outside world," said the man, who stayed in the hospital for 10 days owing to his speedy-recovery. On movies, he said he was binge-watching latest action movies and series. His favourites of the lot were: Mardaani-2, Special-OPS, Family Man and War. Particular about his 'watching list', he was also clear in his head about what 'not to watch' during the isolation period. For instance, 'negative news' on coronavirus. "The last thing that you want around you during the isolation period is negativity. In the hospital, we were given a separate TV for each bed, and yes I did keep a tab on the news but then only to a point," he said. "I avoided watching negative news on coronavirus -- like spike in cases or death toll. In fact during conversation with my wife also, we both made it a point to not use the C-word (coronavirus) much and talk about other things," he added. Dr Manoj Goel, 55, director of pulmonology at the Fortis Memorial in Gurgaon, who has so far successfully discharged four of six patients admitted there, said the hospital is monitoring its patients in the isolation ward round the clock and that they are being provided with all possible support they need -- be it physiological or psychological. "The treatment essentially is symptomatic in the majority of the patients and aimed at relieving fever, cough and shortness of breath. In mild cases, this might simply mean rest and fever-reducing medications such as paracetamol for comfort. "Oxygen therapy represents the major treatment intervention for patients with severe infection. Out of the two patients we are treating right now, one is a severe case," he added. The total number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases in India has crossed the 4,000 mark with the death toll surging past 100 on Monday. Im now on Covid-19 day 13 and Im still breathless, still coughing. My muscles feel as if Ive just done an intense workout; my head is being attacked by a phalanx of pickaxe-wielding pixies. These are the lingering effects of a moderate case of Covid-19. Yes moderate. It was still moderate when I felt so ill that I wondered how long I could hold off using the bathroom, because the idea of moving was unthinkable and my head was spinning so quickly that I could barely cope with watching Ferris Buellers Day Off on the iPad for the 60th time. I havent been this sick since being run over by a cement truck. Being diagnosed with type 1diabetes at aged two would also be worse. But Covid-19 takes the bronze. My wife is on day 20 and I imagine shed have been in hospital at some point if the UK had enough beds to cope. But she works in education rather than in government, so although its been touch and go, she has remained home throughout. This means that she too just about falls into the moderate bracket. Given the way this spiteful little bag of proteins and RNA has landed on my household, you can understand why I found myself wondering if the throngs of people out sunbathing at the weekend had dropped acid. Maybe thats the real 5G conspiracy: it doesnt so much spread the virus (as some numbskulls have been claiming) as it does a mass outbreak of selfish stupidity. Actually 5G might have played a role in disseminating the virus, along with 4G and the interweb and other media. No, Im not giving succour to the diseased imaginations of people who think the world is run by lizard creatures from a pod in the centre of a hollow earth. Im thinking rather of the messaging thats been consumed via handsets, computers and other devices. Terms like moderate and mild and most people have been much used. Id argue that theyve been overused because theyve clearly given some people the impression that they really dont need to worry. Theyll be ok. Theyll likely get nothing worse than a cough and a sniffle if they come into contact with it. It is what it is, innit, said one spectacularly complacent rube interviewed outside by Sky News, with a child in his arms. No it isnt. Take it from me, you dont want this. You dont want a moderate case of this. Moderate sounds light and easy. Moderate winds are what make walks bracing. A moderate case of the flu is nasty but bearable. A moderate Covid-19 experience is nothing like the latter. Itd come close only if you souped it up with nuclear waste and mamba venom. Ive seen the figure of 6 per cent used for the amount of people who end up ill enough to require something more than the observation and tests the PM was given during his hospital stay, people who may end up hooked up to a ventilator in one of those austere looking beds theyve put up in Nightingale, the new Covid hospital in Londons ExCel centre. Assuming they can find enough people to staff it. Ive not seen any stats for the number of people who get something more like what Ive had. But my GP whom Ive been lucky enough to speak to has told me its not at all uncommon and that it may take some time before Im feeling normal again. Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans Show all 25 1 /25 Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans A view of empty Bourbon street in the French Quarter amid the coronavirus pandemic in New Orleans, Louisiana Getty Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans Nyla Clark, 3, accompanied by her mother, Chavonne Clark, sits in a baby stroller at a corner in New Orleans, hoping to get a few dollars from an occasional passerby. Clark was a phlebotomist with a local company until she lost her job because of the coronavirus pandemic. She is waiting for unemployment The Advocate via AP Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans A man boards a streetcar Reuters Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans Jackson Square, normally bustling with tourists, is seen deserted AP Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans Words from Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" are painted onto plywood covering the window of a closed business AFP via Getty Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans Street performer Eddie Webb looks around the nearly deserted French Quarter looking to make money AP Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans Boarded up businesses Reuters Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans The normally bustling tourist mecca of Bourbon Street lies deserted in the early afternoon Reuters Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans A sign along I-10 informing persons who travel from Louisiana to quarantine AP Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans A man cycles along Jackson Square AFP via Getty Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans Elena Likaj, prevention department manager at Odyssey House Louisiana (OHL) which runs a drive-through testing site, takes the temperature of New Orleans resident Peyton Gill Reuters Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans A man walks his dog past a boarded up business on Frenchmen Street Reuters Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans An empty Bourbon street Getty Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans A meal is distributed at the Lantern Light Ministry at the Rebuild Center Reuters Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans A woman walks in the French Quarter Reuters Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans People practice social distancing as they queue up for a meal at the Lantern Light Ministry at the Rebuild Center Reuters Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans French Quarter Getty Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans A sign is pictured in the French Quarter amid the outbreak Reuters Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans A view of Bourbon Street Reuters Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans National Guard members walk down Rampart Street AFP via Getty Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans A man rides his bicycle in front of a boarded up French Quarter restaurant Reuters Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans A shuttered business is pictured on Decatur Street AFP via Getty Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans The normally bustling tourist mecca of Bourbon Street lies deserted Reuters Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans A view of Canal Street Reuters Impact coronavirus is having on Louisiana and New Orleans A New Orleans firefighter works to contain an early morning fire Reuters So to Mr It Is What It Is, Innit and all the other idiots thinking theyll roll the dice and not worry about their fellow Britons who could end up gasping or worse if they spread the stuff, consider this: I have an understanding employer, one thats afforded me time to recover somewhat and take this first week back easier than I usually would. You may not be so lucky. Plenty of bosses have read that stuff about most cases being mild, seven days with a bit of a cough and maybe a temperature. And some of them have been less than sympathetic towards those whove been dealing with the mamba venom infused version of Covid-19. Going out means people may be putting their jobs as well as their health and that of others at risk. No, we dont want a panic. But the way we talk about this thing needs to change. In many cases its very nasty indeed. And the worst thing? Even though Ive felt like microwaved death for two bloody weeks, Id still consider myself to be among the fortunate. 'Of course there are lots of healthy 70-year-olds but by abiding by the law we hopefully protect ourselves from the virus and/or prevent its spread.' (stock photo) The over-70s should be helping the Government and be giving a good example to the public. What is Liam Collinss gripe about (Defiance is only natural, Irish Independent, April 4)? Is it just himself or the general public? Of course there are lots of healthy 70-year-olds but by abiding by the law we hopefully protect ourselves from the virus and/or prevent its spread. Our civic duty is not to endanger the lives of others so by not coming in contact with others we help to prevent the spread of the virus. Simple! This from a 72-year-old woman. Gemma Hensey Westport, Co Mayo Exams limbo cranks up the pressure on our students To be or not to be? That is the question being asked by anxious and stressed State exam candidates. Are the remaining practical exams going ahead on April 27? Are the written exams going ahead on June 3? Postponed to a later date? Cancelled? Normally, young people would be enjoying the Easter Holiday break before returning to school for the final term. But we live in uncertain times as the country battles the pandemic. If schools dont reopen on Monday, April 20, the final term is likely to be lost. Exam candidates can hardly be expected to be emotionally at ease or knowledge-ready to sit these crucial exams in June. After weeks of home study, they are feeling the pressure and finding it hard to maintain their focus and motivation. Structured home study has become very challenging with more family members house bound. Outdoor physical exercise is confined to 2km from home and social interaction is limited. The fortnight of restrictive actions may be extended depending on the advice of the health care specialists. If that happens, its unlikely schools will reopen on April 20. More than 125,000 exam candidates can no longer be left in limbo. Its time for a decision, yea or nay, on the State exams. Billy Ryle Tralee, Co Kerry Box-ticking exercise would help track Covid-19 advance The main people who refer suspected Covid-19 patients for swabbing are GPs. This essential system has a week-to-10-days delay which puts our daily figures way out of date. At this stage, GPs can be fairly certain who has the dreaded disease by their symptoms and if the HSE put a small, extra box on the electronic referral form we use, we could tick it if we were 80pc certain the patient was infected. This would give us a fairly accurate infection level at the end of every day. Yes, we refer other people for testing but these would not be ticked. In previous years, sentinel GP practices observing flu patterns were one week ahead of hospital detections. Swabbing is essential but we GPs can give fairly accurate daily figures with a tick in a box. Dr Aidan Hampson Artane, Dublin 5 Refusal to holds talks with Sinn Fein attacks democracy Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald is correct in her claim that by refusing to speak to her party on possible government formation, both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are disenfranchising those who cast 535,595 first preference votes for it. Coupled with the strident attacks on Ms McDonald by some political opponents, which have become a feature of political discourse since the election, these are incorrigible attacks on democracy itself. There appears to be a steely determination by opponents of Sinn Fein to form a consensus to create a political atmosphere where SF is rendered politically toxic and impotent. The alacrity with which some politicians and political parties have consented to this by their silence is a deep concern amongst those of us who value civil and ethical political standards in public office. It seems it is easier for Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar to talk about principles than to live up to them. Tom Cooper Templeogue, Dublin 6 Great for golden oldies if RTE would delve into the archives I am a little disappointed with RTE in that, while it has put on programmes for the kids, it seems to have forgotten the elderly. It would be a great time to go to the archive and put on some of the great movies from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Remember that we older people are cocooned and many dont have Netflix, etc. Days can be long and it would help greatly if we had some good films to watch. Some of the great TV comedies such as Yes Minister would be much appreciated. Just some ideas from a cocooned elder. Michael OHanlon Tulla, Co Clare By Express News Service BHAWANIPATNA: The Kalahandi administration on Saturday sealed Beharaguda village under Khamarhaladi panchayat after a man tested positive for coronavirus. The 29-year-old man had returned from Bahrain on March 22 and registered himself on the helpline 104. He was asymptomatic and under home quarantine.He has been shifted to Ashwini Hospital at Cuttack for treatment. Collector Harshad Parag Gavali said the man had come in contact with 31 persons and their contact tracing is underway. All the 31 persons have been kept under home isolation and their swab and blood samples would be sent for test to RMRC at Bhubaneswar. The Collector said Beheraguda and five other villages under the panchayat have been sealed and people asked not to venture out. The administration has opened a 200-bed Covid-19 unit at the Government Engineering College at Singhjharan near Bhawanipatna town. Initially, it will be used as a quarantine facility and later converted into a hospital if required. According to Health Department, seven persons of Kalahandi had returned to the district from foreign countries. Of the seven samples sent for text, one was found positive. Meanwhile, five of the inter-state border points passing through the district have been sealed. A conspiracy theory that 5G radiofrequencies damage immune systems are baseless, as this myth buster proves Radio waves emitted by cellphones or mobile phones and cellphone towers, as well as microwave ovens, do not damage cells of the body. Chennai: While Covidiots in India banged plates, in the belief that sound frequencies would kill the coronavirus, and burst crackers to scare away the virus demon, another myth in the UK fuelled arson on cellphone towersa conspiracy theory that 5G network uses radiowaves that compromise the immune system of the body and allow the coronavirus to thrive. The police in the UK are investigating at least three cases of cellphone towers being set afire in Birmingham, Liverpool and Melling. The incidents prompted the UKs Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to bust the myth on Twitter. "There is absolutely no credible evidence" of a link between the coronavirus spread and 5G technology, the tweet said. Its just as well that we do not have 5G in India, or we might have seen this theory spreading like wildfire on WhatsApp groupswhere astrological humbug is shared widely, trumping science and rationale. In the UK, however, it was false information masquerading as purported science itself that sparked arson. An activist and philosophy lecturer at the Isle of Wight College was quoted by the tabloid Daily Star as saying that electromagnetic radiation from 5G suppresses the immune system and damages cells in the body. Another myth that caused concern was a hypothesis that said pathogens communicate with each other through electromagnetic signals before infecting a host. Lets bust the myths, step by step 1) Take inspiration from Sherlock Holmes. First examine the messenger. The person making the claims about 5G compromising immune systems is allegedly a lecturer of philosophy. Philosophy has nothing to do with electromagnetic radiation or the immune system. One might take the persons words seriously if they were an immunologist, that is an expert on how the immune system of the body works, or a physicist who studies electromagnetic waves. Even then, such a theory would have to be peer-reviewed before it can be accepted. 2) The hypothesis about pathogens communicating through electromagnetic signals referred to bacteria, and not to viruses. More importantly, the 2011 research paper that the Daily Star tabloid pointed to is disputed, fullfact.org reported. That means other scientists who reviewed the study have disagreed with its findings. Therefore, it is not considered scientific fact. 3) Why the words electromagnetic radiation cause alarm among common folk is because X-rays, and other medical diagnostic tools such as CT scan machines also emit radio waves. Radio waves are among the spectrum of electromagnetic waves that emit energy called electromagnetic radiation. However, radio waves emitted by cellphones or mobile phones and cellphone towers, as well as microwave ovens, produce only non-ionising radiation. Non-ionising radio waves do not damage cells, whereas higher frequency radio waves emitted by X-ray machines and CT scan equipment are thought to cause cancer if a person is exposed to them for too long. That is why at least six months' gap is recommended between two CT scans on a person. 4) Why is 5G, not 4G or 3G, being targeted by conspiracy theorists? 5G technology uses a higher frequency of radio waves than 4G and 3G. Yet, it is well within prescribed safety limits. The maximum levels of electromagnetic radiation emitted by 5G equipment measured by UKs communications regulator Ofcom was about 66 times lower than the safety limits set by international guidelines. 5) Apart from the science, logic too busts the 5G myth. Countries such as Iran, which had the worlds sixth largest population of Covid-19 infected persons, more than 58,000 on April 6, do not have 5G. In fact, many parts of the UK which have been hit by the virus also do not have 5G networks. This disproves the conspiracy that 5G is the cause of spread of the coronavirus. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he does not think there will be a second general election this year. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael meet on Monday for further discussions on government formation, two months on from Februarys inconclusive general election result. They are producing a joint framework document to present to smaller parties and independents to ask them to join them in government. Speaking in Dublin on Monday, Mr Varadkar said: I dont envisage there being a second election. I dont even know how we would conduct an election in the current context. It is not our view that we should bully any party into governmentLeo Varadkar And as you know when the results came in from the election two months ago, my party took the view that we should go into opposition. Even though we lost narrowly, we were defeated. We felt the right thing for us was to go into opposition at that time. We gave the other parties two months to form a government, they havent done so. For that reason we felt that it is our responsibility to the people and to the nation to be available to serve in government. Mr Varadkar said a third party is needed to join Fine Gael and Fianna Fail in Government but they will not bully any party into doing so. I cant speak for other parties, but if there is going to be a third pillar in this government, and theres a lot of ifs there Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have yet to agree a document. If we can agree a document, for a government to have a functioning majority and to be able to lead the country for the next four to five years then we need a third party, a third pillar as part of that government. Im absolutely sure that the Green Party wouldnt participate in such a government unless there was a very strong climate action and biodiversity agenda as part of that. The Social Democrats have focused a lot on making universal healthcare a reality and Im sure they would want that to be part of any coalition agreement. Labour have a huge interest in areas like health and child care and housing so what were saying really to those parties is we need a third pillar in this government. We wouldnt expect for a second that you would enter government unless a big part of your core agenda was a part of that governments mission as well. What we intend to do if we can come to an agreement between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael is to reach out to those parties to see if they will talk to us. It is not our view that we should bully any party into government. This is a democracy and there should not be any forced marriages only parties that want to serve together and work together and have a mandate. There seems to be an assumption in media reporting over the last few days that FF members will automatically endorse an agreement arrived at by leadership of FG and FF. From what I hear speaking to FF local reps & members across the country,this could be way off the mark. Eamon O Cuiv (@eamonocuiv) April 5, 2020 Tanaiste Simon Coveney has said a framework document being drawn up by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail may convince smaller parties to join them in government. Mr Coveney, who is chairman of Fine Gaels negotiating team, said the framework document is quite different in terms of anything youve seen from a government before. Speaking to South East FM, he said: When we produce that framework document, I think it might surprise a few people in terms of how open it is to quite fundamental change in a number of areas. I hope perhaps some of the parties might change their mind and might engage and work with us. A Fianna Fail TD has said there is serious disquiet within the party about entering government with Fine Gael. Once a document is drawn up, the two parties will share the agreed paper with the Green Party, Labour, the Social Democrats and independents to get their input. Both parties have ruled out Sinn Fein as a government partner. Any deal with a smaller party would still have to be passed by the Fine Gael and Fianna Fail party memberships. Large Quantities of Medical Supplies Exported By China Proven To Be Defective Click Here to Our YouTube Channel for More Videos The CCP virus (coronavirus) has spread globally. The Chinese regimes goal is to reverse their negative image by exporting medical supplies to Spain and other countries suffering from the pandemic. However these medical supplies sold have been found defective. These countries have now requested to return these low-quality products. The thermometers in this video are hollow inside, with parts missing, but still display a normal body temperature. Netizens find this unbelievable and cant imagine the further damages these would cause worldwide. Another netizen exposed the following: Zhang Xuandong, the owner of Haofeng Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. in Guangdong, suggested that manufacturers should produce fake thermometers to sell to the U.S. In a WeChat group of Aibang Thermometer Industrial Resource Exchange Group 3, he said let their body temperatures be tested at 36.5 degrees celsiuswhich is 97.7 degrees fahrenheiteven if they have a fever of 39 degrees celsiuswhich is 102 degrees fahrenheit in order to get more of them infected and see how Americans can spread the disease. After this conversation was doxxed, he claimed that he was just being patriotic. As the CCP virus pandemic continues to spread globally, even more exported medical supplies from China have been found defective. On March 24, the Czech Republic news site Ack-Tuaal-Nie reported that the kits sent from China were 80% defective. On March 26, according to Spains Health Minister Salvador Illa, 9,000 virus test kits sent from China to Spain were 70% defective, and these kits had been returned. On March 27, Ates Kara, the Turkish health ministry official said, the batch of testing kits from China were only 30 to 35 percent accurate. Philippines Department of Healths undersecretary Maria Rosario said Among the first test kits donated to us by China, only 40% were accurate, we did not use them because the accuracy rate was low. On March 28, the Netherlands announced it had recalled around 600,000 masks that had arrived in a shipment of 1.3 million purchased from a Chinese manufacturer a week earlier. European Union Minister for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell: We must be aware there is a geopolitical component, including a struggle for influence through spinning, and the politics of generosity. Armed with facts, we need to defend Europe against its detractors. With an increasing number of CCP virus infection cases, New York State has now become the most affected state in the nation. New Yorks shortage of medical supplies is dire, yet aid from corporations and other regions are arriving. On March 26, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo thanked Huawei on Twitter for their mask donations. Cuomo also told reporters during an Albany briefing We have ordered 17,000 from Chinaventilatorsthat we would pay for roughly $25,000 each. On the same day however, his brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, tested positive for the CCP virus. The What If genre is something that has been explored far and wide on numerous occasions in the comic book world. We as individuals are drawn to it. Not just because of the curiosity surrounding the path the writer might take. But also because it is relatable. Exploring possibilities and coming up with theories is something comic book fanatics enjoy doing. Based on the three-issue comic book mini-series of the same name, the latest instalment in the DC Animated Universe, Superman: Red Son, does just that. The premise of the movie is basically, What if Superman had crash-landed in the Soviet Union instead of the US? Directed by Sam Liu, the movie takes the audience on a journey through the life of a young boy getting chased by bullies in the farms, to his rise as a war symbol during the Cold War. Despite being raised in a completely different environment, Somishka (yes, that is his Russian name) or Supermans ideals remains the same. He wants to help people. However, he is misguided. Supermans idea of a utopia is flawed, and the movie stresses on that. Involvement of Batman and Wonder Woman in this movie acts as a cherry on top. Batman is portrayed as a terrorist born in the Gulags, who blames Superman for the death of his parents and the sufferings of the poor. Wonder Woman, on the other hand, acts as a bridge that tries to bring nations closer and put an end to the war. The cast does a pretty great job throughout the film. Voiced by Jason Isaacs, Supermans Russian accent grabs the essence of a Soviet Superman. It feels genuine and consistent for most parts of the film. Diedrich Bader is the voice of Lex Luthor, the primary antagonist of the film and Amy Acker as the voice of Lois Lane is his wife in this story. The rest of the cast also does a flawless job while keeping the accents as legitimate as possible. Wes Gleason, the voice casting director, did a pretty amazing job with the casting. The pacing of the movie is consistent. It does not beat around the bush for too long. Separated by three acts, in three different timelines, it succeeds in its attempt to keep the audience focussed, while not bombarding them with too many political elements. Another factor that played a key role with the pacing was the transitions. It is rare to see smooth transitions in animated movies. Especially ones that are designed for home release. The fight scenes were beautifully executed with seamless transitions, maintaining the flow of the fast-paced action. The animation and art style looks beautiful. It is the same palette that DCAU has been using for the past few years and has kept fans satisfied. As with most new age Superman films, this movie also sheds light on the God Amongst Men aspect of the Kryptonian. A God, who desires to be as human as possible. An alien who sees Earth as his home planet and desires to protect humanity at all costs. Blinded by his powers and morals, he takes a path that he sees as the right one, only to potentially fall. The script attempts a newer take on the Superman-Wonder Woman relationship by taking the romance out of the equation. Instead, it is replaced by a formal alliance with the mutual goal being world peace. With Batman, as mentioned earlier, he is not afraid to kill. The movie also does a pretty good job of manipulating the audience to side with the numerous characters ideals of a peaceful world with equal rights. This movie does not hold back on elements of brutal violence and sex thereby keeping the mood real, raw and grotesque. When it comes to DC Comics movies in the big screens, it is pretty much a hit or miss situation. The Animated movies, however, are God-tier. WB does a neat job with the animation and the directors remain faithful to the original material. Combined, within the 84-minute timeframe, DCAU brought to life one of the most beautifully structured Superman movies, while highlighting the real-world aspects such as politics, in a way, the audience could relate to. President Akufo-Addo has praised three Ghanaian students who invented devices which make handwashing easier amid the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed five people in Ghana out of the two hundred and fourteen confirmed cases so far with three full recoveries. In his fifth national address on the virus on Sunday, the President said: I am equally impressed with the invention of a solar-powered handwashing sink by Jude Osei from Kumasi, and the COVID-19 prevention electronic bucket made by Kelvin Owusu Dapaah and Richard Boateng, both students of Obuasi Senior High and Technical School. Necessity, indeed, is the mother of invention, as the Ghanaian sense of enterprise and innovation are beginning to be felt. Meanwhile, the President has also said the government is liaising with the private sector to produce personal protective equipment locally to properly equip health workers who are at the forefront of fighting the coronavirus outbreak. The President said: It is vital that we protect the lives of our frontline health workers, who are risking their lives every day to battle this virus, adding: That is why the government is placing a high priority on the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) for them. Thus far, three hundred and fifty thousand (350,000) masks, five hundred and fifty-eight thousand, six hundred and fifty (558,650) examination gloves, one thousand (1,000) reusable goggles, twenty thousand (20,000) cover-alls, seven thousand (7,000) N-95 respirators, five hundred (500) waterproof gumboots, two thousand (2,000) reusable face shields, two thousand (2,000) gallons of hand sanitisers, ten thousand (10,000) 100ml pieces of hand sanitisers, and five hundred (500) shoe covers have been sent to the regional health directorates, for onward distribution to the district health directorates for use by our health workers in all the districts. The Minister of Health is ensuring that they reach the health workers. This, notwithstanding, the government is aware that more needs to be done, especially in the face of the global shortage of PPE. It is for this reason that the government is actively engaged with local manufacturing companies to assist them in the domestic production of PPE., and I am encouraged by the response from the Ghanaian private sector. Domestic production of face masks, head covers, surgical scrubs and gowns will commence from Tuesday. For example, three million, six hundred thousand face masks will be produced domestically, with an output of one hundred and fifty thousand (150,000) per day, he said. The President also said: An insurance package, with an assured sum of three hundred and fifty thousand cedis (GHS350,000) for each health personnel and allied professional at the forefront of the fight, has been put in place, with a daily allowance of one hundred and fifty cedis (GHS150) being paid to contact tracers. Government has also decided that all health workers will not pay taxes on their emoluments for the next three months, i.e. April, May and June. Furthermore, all frontline health workers will receive an additional allowance of fifty percent (50%) of their basic salary per month, i.e. for March, April, May and June. The March allowance will be paid alongside that of April. The Ministry of Transport is also making available, for free, Aayalolo buses to convey health workers in Accra, Tema, Kumasi and Kasoa to and from work, along specific routes, for the entire duration of the restrictions. ---classfmonline National Christian leaders are concerned about the threatening assertion from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio that churches and synagogues will be "permanently closed" if they violated the coronavirus stay-at-home order at a March 27 press briefing. The Democrat mayor singled out synagogues and churches saying he would shut them down if they held in-person services. "[Law enforcement] will inform them they need to stop the services and disperse," de Blasio said. "If that does not happen, they will take additional action up to the point of fines and potentially closing the building permanently." "It's the last thing I would like to do because I understand how important people's faiths are to them and we need our faiths in this time of crisis. But we do not need gatherings that will endanger people," de Blasio argued. "No faith tradition endorses anything that endangers the members of that faith." His remarks were days before Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne in Florida was arrested at his home Monday after holding two services Sunday at his Tampa church, charged with "unlawful assembly" and "violation of public health emergency order." Liberty Counsel, the Christian conservative legal group is representing Howard-Browne, the leader of Revival International Ministries and The River at Tampa Bay Church in Tampa. Liberty Counsel gained media attention in 2015 when it defended Kentucky clerk Kim Davis after she was jailed for refusing to provide gay marriage licenses, Christian post noted. "The fact is that churches, including our client The River Church of Tampa, Florida, can and are obeying safety guidelines ... but the enemy wants our churches shut down," Liberty Counsel Chairman Mat Staver said in a statement. "Churches have a First Amendment right to exist and assemble, but the commercial businesses do not," the Liberty Counsel release argues. "The Home Depots in Hillsborough County look like they're giving out free merchandise. They're packed with people. Truckloads are arriving to deliver such 'essential items' as potted plants. There is no six-foot separation and there is no special effort at all to keep people safe. Yet, The River at Tampa Bay Church spent $100,000 on special equipment and enforced a six-foot separation throughout the sanctuary and lobby." National Christian leaders and evangelicals concern at the mayor's comments as it would not be helpful for bringing collaboration of the government and the church to stem the coronavirus outbreak. "This type of religious hostility is what fuels non-compliance because it reveals a motive beyond public safety," Tony Perkins, the chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and president of the Christian conservative activist organization Family Research Council, criticized de Blasio's comments on Twitter. "De Blasio's incendiary & unconstitutional threat to permanently shut down churches and synagogues must be retracted or corrected if it was a misstatement," Perkins, who had previously urged church to keep social-distancing by not having in-person services. Ronnie Floyd, the president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee, called de Blasio's remarks a "matter of great concern." "The First Amendment states that there should be no law that prohibits the free exercise of religion and constitutional protections are unchanged by current circumstances," Floyd, the former pastor of Cross Church in Arkansas and former SBC president, said in a statement to Fox News. "In times like these, we must insist that government officials put aside political, ideological and religious differences and work together for the common good," nydailynews reported. "After all, faith helps us weather times like these, and in countless denominations, churches have found resourceful ways to continue to preach and live out the Gospel, spreading love and hope to their communities and to those most in need, without physically gathering." Bollywood star Arjun Kapoor on Monday said he is contributing to a number of charity organisations fighting against the coronavirus crisis in the country, urging his fans to do their bit. The actor said he would contribute to the PM-CARES fund, Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund, GiveIndia, an organisation working to help provide cash in the hands of daily wage earners who have lost their jobs due to the lockdown, Federation of Western India Cine Employees and The Wishing Factory, working with thalassemia patients from low income groups so that they receive blood transfusions during the lockdown. "India is in the midst of a crisis and as responsible citizens we need to do our bit for our fellow brothers and sisters in need. I'm trying my best to help as many people possible," the actor said in a social media post. "We can only fight COVID-19 if we stand united. I urge all of you to come forward and support to the best of your abilities," he added. A number of Bollywood stars such as Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn have contributed to various charities working for those impacted by the spread of the virus and the 21-day lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help contain it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By PTI MUMBAI: Actor Akansha Ranjan Kapoor, who made her debut with Netflix original "Guilty", says she is thrilled with all the positive messages coming her way and wants her second project to be equally meaningful. Directed by Ruchi Narain and set at the peak of India's #MeToo movement, "Guilty" explored different versions of truth that emerge when a small-town girl accuses the college heartthrob of rape. The film, written by Kanika Dhillon and Atika Chohan, has been praised for the way it deals with prejudices against women coming forward to report cases of sexual violence against them. "Even before 'Guilty', I wanted to do something which wasn't just fluff. Not being disrespectful, but I didn't want to be an actor who just does song and dance. I'm hoping to stick to this kind of stuff which makes an impact and do more films which speak to the audience," Akansha told PTI. For the newcomer, landing a role in "Guilty" was a dream come true. Akansha, who is the sister of Anushka Ranjan Kapoor and the daughter of Shashi Ranjan and Anu Ranjan, said she gave as many as 60 auditions for different projects before "Guilty" came her way. "The first time I tested for Mukesh (Chhabra), five-six years ago, he told me I needed a lot of work to do. In my head, I grew up thinking 'I'm Kareena Kapoor' and this was a reality check. I've got no experience except for auditions. "With auditions, you get actual feedback in perspective. You're in a tiny room with someone blankly reading your line, which you have to perform to another level. That really helps. It gives you confidence and makes you comfortable in front of the camera." Bagging a role in "Guilty" came as a relief for Akansha "because after every audition, you feel you'll get it but then you don't." Akansha said the only acting advice that her friend Alia Bhatt gave her was to stay true to her craft. "For my craft, Alia has always told me to just surrender completely. Don't look left, right, just give whatever was asked of you. I keep joking that I'm always on time, sometimes even before the production comes, so I asked her whether there will ever be a time to come late, she said never, not even after ten years. "She said keep being punctual, kind and surrender yourself completely because those are the three things people notice about you." The actor said though the "Gully Boy" star is her one of her closest friends, she doesn't discuss work with her until something is finalised. "If I feel I'm going to get a part which till 'Guilty' I didn't and it'll be mine, then I tell her the story and ask for her opinion. We are testing so much, we don't need to talk about every screen test. "Like for 'Guilty', I didn't tell her till my second meeting. But now of course, when I get offers, I will take her opinion because she has a good idea of what scripts work," Akansha added. Aides have become increasingly worried about Prime Minister Boris Johnson's health Getty UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to an intensive care unit after his "persistent symptoms of coronavirus" worsened on Monday. Johnson's condition deteriorated after he was admitted to hospital on Sunday. Aides had reportedly become "increasingly worried" about his health after he tested positive for the coronavirus last week. The UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will deputise for him while he is being treated. Here's the plan for what happens if Johnson becomes too ill from the coronavirus to remain in the job. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to an intensive care unit after his "persistent symptoms of coronavirus" worsened, his spokesperson said on Monday evening. A spokesperson for Johnson said in a statement at 8 PM (GMT) on Monday that the prime minister remained conscious and was not yet on a ventilator. However, they added that the UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab would now deputise for the prime minister. Aides have reportedly become "increasingly worried" about the prime minister's health in recent days. The Guardian reports a source suggesting that Johnson was "more seriously ill than either he or his officials were prepared to admit," and "was being seen by doctors who were concerned about his breathing." Here's what will happen if Johnson becomes too ill to remain as prime minister. Who is Johnson's 'designated survivor'? Dominic Raab is Boris Johnson's 'designated survivor' Getty Downing Street had insisted earlier on Monday that Johnson would remain in contact with aides and colleagues and continue to lead the government, despite being in the hospital. However, after Johnson's condition worsened, Downing Street confirmed that Dominic Raab, who has twice tested negative for the coronavirus, would deputise for him. Raab was nominated as Johnson's "designated survivor," after Johnson tested positive for COVID-19 last month. Story continues The decision to make Raab Johnson's deputy reportedly upset some other members of Johnson's Cabinet. One unnamed minister told The Times: "If Boris can't do his job because he is incapacitated, a lot of people think that Michael [Gove] should be running the show, not Raab. One of these people is Michael, of course." What happens if Johnson cannot continue Downing Street Getty Should Johnson become too ill to remain as prime minister, Raab would have to step in. As the UK is a parliamentary democracy, there would be no need, under the UK's unwritten constitution, for an immediate election. However, political pressure from the opposition could eventually lead to one. Read the original article on Business Insider Tim Josef from Melbourne's south-east is pressed for time and with twins on the way, going to the shops during the coronavirus pandemic is not an option, so he has been ordering products online. While he was expecting to receive texts from Australia Post, he became suspicious when one message asked for money to complete a shipping payment. Tim Josef received a text message claiming to be from Australia Post, which then took him to this website (right). "Once you click in there, it looks like the Australia Post website - there are not many more credible organisations out there so you could be easily duped into clicking through," he said. While malicious emails including fake invoices and false changes to banking and phone details have surged during the pandemic, text message scams are becoming more popular. BOSTON, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The 3,400 registered nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital, represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, are calling on the hospital to provide to every nurse the N95 masks that are the safest standard for protecting against COVID-19 infection. Nurses are also seeking critical information about who has tested positive at the hospital. The Brigham and Partners Healthcare have refused to supply every nurse caring for patients with an N95 mask. Any patient and anyone in contact with patients may have COVID-19 because the virus can spread without symptoms. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Robert Redfield told NPR last week that an estimated 25 percent of coronavirus carriers experience no symptoms. "If nurses on the front lines are not protected, who will be there to care for patients?" said Trish Powers, Brigham OR RN and Chair of the MNA Bargaining Committee at the hospital. "Every Brigham nurse needs the best practice N95 mask protection. Why are we saving these masks if the surge is starting now? If we get sick, we cannot be at the bedside, and our families and communities are at risk." After the Kraft family donated 1.2 million N95 masks to Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island last week, Massachusetts General Hospital President Peter Slavin told the Boston Globe, "Any worry we've had about the availability of N95 masks to protect our staff is behind us." The hospital has also refused to notify staff if a patient they came into contact with or a colleague tests positive for COVID-19. Gov. Charlie Baker just announced a Contact Tracing Initiative for the state that involves a staff of more than 1,000 people (with Partners in Health as a partner) contacting COVID-19 positive patients in order to trace contacts and communicate with them by phone to alert them to their exposure. "The Brigham is violating widely accepted public health norms by refusing to disclose this information," Powers said. "This is critical information that will help our nurses make the right decisions about their health and the safety of their families and communities." As of April 3, 154 Brigham employees had tested positive for COVID-19, according to the hospital website (newer data was not available as of April 6). This makes sense because there are many COVID positive, COVID rule out and COVID unknown patients at the hospital and only a subset of staff are getting N95 masks. Timeline of Brigham and Women's Hospital Masking Policy Prior to 3/25/2020 Staff were not permitted to wear surgical masks unless caring for COVID-19 positive or COVID-19 rule-out patients Staff were not permitted to wear surgical masks unless caring for COVID-19 positive or COVID-19 rule-out patients 3/25/2020 Staff mandated to wear surgical masks in all patient care areas Staff mandated to wear surgical masks in all patient care areas 4/6/2020 Patients and visitors mandated to wear surgical masks *At all times N95 masks have not been available to staff unless they are caring for a COVID-19 patient and performing an aerosolizing treatment or swabbing a patient. Regarding the Asymptomatic Spread of COVID-19 Read the MNA letters to Gov. Baker more information at www.massnurses.org/COVID-19. MassNurses.org Facebook.com/MassNurses Twitter.com/MassNurses Instagram.com/MassNurses Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 23,000 members advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Legislature and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public. SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association Related Links http://www.massnurses.org Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman, Budi Sutrisno and Rizki Fachriansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 7 2020 Stay healthy: A woman helps an elderly man put on a face mask at Manggarai Station in South Jakarta on Sunday. The man was waiting for a train to take him to Bekasi, West Java. (JP/P.J. Leo) Indonesias death toll from COVID-19 topped 200 on Monday, with the government voicing particular concern about transmission from asymptomatic carriers as the number of positive cases continued to rise. Health Ministry Disease Control and Prevention Director General Achmad Yurianto said 218 new cases had been confirmed on Monday, bringing the countrys tally to 2,491 following the testing of 11,242 samples nationwide. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login General Secretary of the largest opposition National Democratci Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has asked the Akufo-Addo led government to absorb the Communication and Petroleum taxes too in this coronavirus crisis period. Commending government for providing free water in this crisis period, he added that it will be more appropriate if the Communication and Petroleum taxes are also taken care of by the government to mitigate the hardship of the masses. Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' program, he explained that this is the time the majority of Ghanaians need to feel the social intervention programs of the ruling government. "We all agree that we are not in normal times, but this the time government can intervene and ensure that those who are hard hit by this coronavirus stress will also enjoy some sort of freedom," he stressed. He said the sharing of food isnt a bad initiative but how many people are going to benefit. But he emphasized that when the government reduces and absorb the Communication and Petroleum taxes businesses and individuals would be cushioned to a larger extent. Watch Video Below Again, the Ghana Water Company Ltd and the Electricity Company of Ghana have been directed to ensure the stable supply of water and electricity during this period. In addition, there will be no disconnection of supply. Furthermore, Government will absorb the water bills for all Ghanaians for the next three months, i.e. April, May, and June. All water tankers, publicly and privately-owned, are also going to be mobilized to ensure the supply of water to all vulnerable communities.Government, in collaboration with the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), Business & Trade Associations and selected Commercial and Rural Banks, will roll out a soft loan scheme up to a total of six hundred million cedis (GH600 million), which will have a one-year moratorium and two-year repayment period for micro, small and medium scale businesses.Fellow Ghanaians, it is vital that we protect the lives of our frontline health workers, who are risking their lives every day to battle this virus. That is why the Government is placing a high priority on the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPEs) for them. Thus far, three hundred and fifty thousand (350,000) masks, five hundred and fifty-eight thousand, six hundred and fifty (558,650) examination gloves, one thousand (1,000) reusable goggles, twenty thousand (20,000) cover-alls, seven thousand (7,000) N-95 respirators, five hundred (500) waterproof gumboots, two thousand (2,000) reusable face shields, two thousand (2,000) gallons of hand sanitizers, ten thousand (10,000) 100ml pieces of hand sanitizers, and five hundred (500) shoe covers have been sent to the regional health directorates, for onward distribution to the district health directorates for use by our health workers in all the districts. The Minister for Health is ensuring that they reach the health workers. This, notwithstanding, Government is aware that more needs to be done, especially in the face of the global shortage of PPEs.It is for this reason that Government is actively engaged with local manufacturing companies to assist them in the domestic production of PPEs., and I am encouraged by the response from the Ghanaian private sector. Domestic production of face masks, head covers, surgical scrubs, and gowns will commence from Tuesday. For example, three million, six hundred thousand face masks will be produced domestically, with an output of one hundred and fifty thousand (150,000) per day. I am equally impressed with the invention of a solar-powered handwashing sink by Jude Osei from Kumasi, and the COVID-19 prevention electronic bucket made by Kelvin Owusu Dapaah and Richard Boateng, both students of Obuasi Senior High and Technical School. Necessity, indeed, is the mother of invention, as the Ghanaian sense of enterprise and innovation is beginning to be felt.An insurance package, with an assured sum of three hundred and fifty thousand cedis (GH350,000) for each health personnel and allied professional at the forefront of the fight, has been put in place, with a daily allowance of one hundred and fifty cedis (GH150) being paid to contact tracers. The government has also decided that all health workers will not pay taxes on their emoluments for the next three months, i.e. April, May, and June. Furthermore, all frontline health workers will receive an additional allowance of fifty percent (50%) of their basic salary per month, i.e. for March, April, May, and June. The March allowance will be paid alongside that of April. The Ministry of Transport is also making available, for free, Aayalolo buses to convey health workers in Accra, Tema, Kumasi, and Kasoa to and from work, along specific routes, for the entire duration of the restrictions.I am happy that operators of public transport, such as trotros and taxis, are largely adhering to the admonition to observe social distancing in their vehicles. Each one of them should do so.Wa Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[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. Featured Video New Delhi: People light 'diyas' and candles in their balconies after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people in a video message to the nation to turn off their lights for nine minutes at 09:00 pm on April 5 and light a candle or a 'diya' or even us Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, April 6 : Air pollution in the national capital and its surrounding regions spiked drastically on Monday, a day after people bursted firecrackers to "challenge the darkness" as a sign of participation in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for switching off lights and lighting diyas and lamps to fight against coronavirus crisis. The Prime Minister had called for a nine-minute candlelight vigil in a bid to dispel the darkness spread by the pandemic but instead of lighting candles, people resorted to bursting firecrackers. According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research, the air quality index (AQI) which was earlier in the "good" category due to complete lockdown in the country, now stands in the "satisfactory" category at 87 due to the pollution caused by bursting of firecrackers. Among several stations monitored by SAFAR, Delhi's Chandni Chowk, IIT Delhi and Mathura Road recorded the air in the amoderate' category with the AQI value standing at 95, 103 and 153, respectively. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), air quality index in Rohini stood at 194 and that of Mundaka docked at 185. Other major cities such as Pune, Mumbai and Ahmedabad recorded the air quality in the "satisfactory" category with the overall AQI value standing at 58, 79 and 92, respectively. aceThe air pollution due bursting of crackers is temporary and will subside in a day. The deteriorated air quality will come back to normal soon," said Kuldeep Srivastava, who heads the regional meteorological center at the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). Due to western disturbance, there will be a thunderstorm tomorrow, which will further clear up the air, Srivastava added. Environmentalists also condemned the act of bursting crackers at a time when the country was inhaling fresh air. "People should have controlled their emotions. The incident has drastically affected birds, animals and human health," said Vikrant Tongad, environment conservationist and founder of Social Action for Forest and EnvironmentA(SAFE). He said that bursting crackers was against the directions of the Supreme Court. "Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not instructed this to people."A The Russian government has waived its ban on commercial flights abroad to allow at least 400 citizens of Armenia to return home from Russia because of the coronavirus epidemic. It suspended all flights in and out of Russia on April 3 to try to stem the spread of coronavirus. The decision left hundreds of Armenians stranded at Moscows Domodedovo international airport. At the request of the Armenian Embassy in Russia, Moscow allowed a Russian airline, Red Wings, to transport 222 of them to Yerevan on Monday. They all were placed in quarantine by Armenian health authorities immediately after arriving at Yerevans Zvartnots airport. The Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations released a short video that showed officials clad in protective gear escorting the evacuees to buses that took them to two hotels where they will stay for at least two weeks. Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinian announced afterwards that the Russian government has allowed Red Wings to carry out a second Moscow-Yerevan flight. The flight is scheduled for Tuesday, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said later in the evening. Most of the evacuees are understood to have been selected by the Armenian Embassy. According to Ambassador Vartan Toghanian, priority was given to transit passengers from other Russian cities and people travelling with young children or lacking money to stay in Russia. Toghanian told RFE/RLs Armenian service on Sunday that a total of about 3,000 Armenian nationals have asked the embassy to help them return to Armenia. There are two categories of people willing to return: those who are ready to pay and to go to Armenia and those who are unable do to that because of financial or other problems, he said. The envoy said the Armenian mission in Moscow is now looking into ways of helping the latter category. First of all, we will try to accommodate them in several hotels outside Moscow, he said, adding that other stranded Armenians will likewise be offered free but temporary accommodation in two cities in southern Russia. Russia is home to hundreds of thousands of Armenian migrant workers. Many of them now risk losing their jobs due to coronavirus-related lockdowns ordered by authorities in various parts of the country. According to Armenias Labor and Health Inspectorate, almost 12,000 people have returned to Armenia from countries in the high-risk zone and been ordered to self-isolate since March 19. News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. The Odisha government on Monday said the state has not yet entered the community transmission stage of COVID-19 outbreak, even as 27 of the 39 positive cases were reported from just two localities of the state capital. As per a report of the Indian Institute of Public Health, Odisha has not yet entered the stage 3 of COVID-19 transmission, which is community transmission, Subroto Bagchi, the state government's spokesperson on COVID-19, said. Chief Secretary A K Tripathy echoed Bagchi while confirming that the most of the cases were reported in Bomikhal and Surya Nagar localities in Bhubaneswar. Of the 32 cases reported in Bhubaneswar, 19 were from Bomikhal of which 18 were from the same family, officials said. Eight cases were reported from Surya Nagar area, of which three were from the same family. Five other coronavirus infected persons were tenants of a 60-year-old COVID-19 patient, they said. Officials said that none of the patients had any travel history to abroad. "When three brothers of a family with no foreign travel history tested positive for novel coronavirus, the administration feared that there might be community transmission of the disease. "However, later it came to light that the three brothers had visited their father in Bhopal and contracted the disease from their father. Their family members got infected after the brothers returned to Bhubaneswar," the chief secretary said. Similarly, in Surya Nagar, the daughter of the family got infected while visiting Kolkata, the chief secretary said. "There is local transmission in certain clusters of Bhubaneswar but there is no community transmission," Bagchi said. He said these areas have been declared containment zones and are being sanitised to prevent further spread of the disease, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Trend Azerbaijans participation in the upcoming OPEC meeting is good news for its citizens and business circles, Doctor of Economics, Professor of Russias St. Petersburg State University Stanislav Tkachenko told Trend. The meeting will be held in the format of video conference on April 9. According to him, Azerbaijan, like its neighboring Kazakhstan and Russia, is not a member of OPEC, but it will be invited for sure to the upcoming negotiations in the form of a video conference. A representative of Azerbaijan will be able to express his countrys opinion about the current events, as well as demonstrate the positive role that Baku plays in efforts to stabilize the global oil market. This is important for both partner states and foreign investors, the professor noted. The expert believes that presently, the global oil market can be balanced by putting end to almost month-long price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia. Ending of their confrontation and, at least, mutual rejection from verbal threats to fill the global market with oil in dumping prices will allow the price of a barrel of oil return to the $30-40 level. This in itself will be soothing news for oil producing countries, as well as for private oil companies in countries where state monopoly on oil production is absent," Tkachenko said. At the same time, he called not to expect that Russia and Saudi Arabia will reach some kind of a broader agreement within the upcoming OPEC + meeting (in the form of a video conference). In particular, Russia wont formally assume commitment to reduce the production by several million barrels of oil per day. I should remind that last weeks price collapse was stopped by Donald Trumps Twitter messages about reducing oil production by 15 million barrels a day by OPEC and its partners, and the following statement of Russian President Vladimir Putin about plans to reduce the production only by 10 million barrels, and not by Saudi Arabia and Russia, as Trump insisted, but by all parties to the OPEC + deal, the expert said. Tkachenko believes that the current extremely low prices will remove a certain amount of oil from the markets in the coming weeks as a result of bankruptcies of individual companies. It will soon become clear to everyone, which is clear to professionals - Saudi Arabia is not able to realize its threats to increase oil production up to 13 million barrels, and exports - up to 10-11 million barrels per day," he said. According to the expert forecasts, the 2016 deal, known as OPEC +, will be re-declared as effective in its previous volumes. "But we won't see any specific figures, or moreover formal agreements on parallel cut of oil production by any significant volumes," the expert noted. According to him, when analyzing this situation, its important to take into account the peculiarities of the US position. "This state is not only the largest producer of oil (convenient and shale), but also its largest consumer in the world. Oil consumption in the US almost twice exceeds the production (approximately 18 million barrels of consumption versus 12 million barrels of production per day), Tkachenko said. We can draw at least two conclusions from this: Firstly, the US wont cut domestic production. The bankruptcy of shale oil companies, as well as the cut in the total number of operating oil rigs in this country, of course, will slightly reduce the production volume. But the federal authorities will not impose any "quotas" on the forced production cut by private companies. This would be a direct intervention of the authorities in business affairs, as well as the promotion of cartel conspiracy. Both are expressly prohibited in the US by the applicable law. Secondly, the US can close its domestic market for imported oil, and the first candidate, of course, is the Russian Federation. At the beginning of this year, Russia sold even a little more oil on the US market than Saudi Arabia did (about 350,000 barrels per day). The US will threaten to impose a special tariff on Russian supplies, which will close the American market for a number of Russian companies, the professor noted. But today it is impossible to imagine that, due to US threats, Russia will impose an embargo on the import of its oil into the US market, throw a white flag and, and as its said, lose its face. Since 2014, Russia has experienced even harder sanctions, so the threat of an import tariff will not frighten it," he added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Officials accuse Houthis of attack on Taiz prison that killed five women and wounded two dozen others, as war rages on. Shelling by Houthi rebels hit a womens prison in the countrys southwestern province of Taiz, killing at least five prisoners, Yemeni officials have said. The attack on Sunday also wounded two dozen prisoners, including four children staying with their jailed mothers, at the central prison in the government-held province, the officials said. Abdel Baset al-Bahar, deputy spokesman for Yemens national army in Taiz, said the Houthis targeted the central prison in Taiz with heavy artillery. This [attack] is criminal and dangerous, he said on his social media account. Yemens Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed said in a statement the attack on the prison was evidence of the Houthis aggression and massacres. Mohamad al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthis political bureau, told Al Jazeera by phone from Yemens capital, Sanaa, that he has no information about the attack at this point and declined to comment. The prison attack prompted Yemen President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to order the release of all prisoners held on minor charges during a phone call with Nabil Shamsan, the provincial governor, according to a statement issued by Shamsans office. War crime Gamal Gasim, professor of political science at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, told Al Jazeera the shelling of the prison was a war crime. This is certainly a war crime and those who committed it should be brought to justice. An international investigation should be conducted to hold those who are responsible for it accountable. Gasim also decried the Houthis disrespect for human rights and the targeting of women who are the most vulnerable segment of Yemeni society. Dire humanitarian needs He said the international community was not serious about ending the fighting in Yemen, which has caused the worlds worst humanitarian disaster. Gasim said both sides in the conflict were more concerned about their military goals than addressing the dire humanitarian needs of the people of Yemen. The prison attack came amid a drastic escalation in fighting between the internationally recognised governments forces and the Houthi rebels in recent weeks. Violence in Yemen has displaced more than 40,000 people since January, adding to the estimated 3.6 million who fled their homes since the war began more than five years ago. Yemens civil war erupted late in 2014 when the Houthi rebels seized Sanaa along with much of the countrys north. The Houthi advance ousted Hadis government. A US-backed, Saudi-led military coalition of several Arab states intervened in early 2015 to try and restore Hadis government. The coalition has since dwindled and is now largely made up of forces aligned with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have sought to remove the Houthis from power and restore the internationally recognised government. Despite its military advantage in the air, the Saudi-led effort has failed to drive the Houthis from power. The war has killed tens of thousands of people, many in Saudi-Emirati air strikes, and millions are suffering from food and medicine shortages as disease runs rampant. Follow Ali Younes on Twitter: @ali_reports Waukesha, WI (53187) Today Sunshine and some clouds. High 26F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. Low 23F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. The four people from Mexico who have worked seasonally for many years at the Ramagos sugar cane and soybean farm in Iberville Parish were at the U.S. consulate in Monterrey, Mexico, in mid-March, going through the usual four-day process to get a temporary visa for agricultural work in the U.S., when the coronavirus caused a short-lived but unsettling state of limbo for both workers and farmers. The consulate sent out an email saying it was suspending routine immigration and non-immigration services beginning May 18 until further notice, said Katie Ramagos Sistrunk, who farms alongside her father, Cecil Ramagos Jr., and two of her brothers on the familys 1,100-acre farm near Plaquemine. I got about 1,000 phone calls, texts and emails that night, said Katie Sistrunk, who also chairs the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federations labor committee and sits on the labor advisory committee of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Many of the calls were from Louisiana farmers whose workers had interviews at the consulate scheduled after March 18. The situation at the U.S. consulate in Monterrey continued to change over the next few days. The office announced it would continue processing temporary worker visas, but only for those who were renewing their visa and had worked in the U.S. within the last 12 months; later that was pushed out to the last 48 months. Everything was being changed as we learned about it, Sistrunk said. The Louisiana sugar cane industry is dependent on temporary workers from other countries, including Mexico, Guatemala and South Africa. These workers apply for and receive an H-2A temporary agriculture visa through the U.S. Department of Labor. Its difficult for farmers to find domestic workers even though by federal law, the farmers are required to place ads for job openings in the local newspapers, Sistrunk said. I couldnt tell you the last generation that was able to get domestic workers, said Sistrunk, a fourth-generation farmer on her familys farm. We wouldnt have a farm without the H-2A workers, Sistrunk said last week. Louisiana ranked sixth in the country last year for the number of H-2A visa workers, at approximately 10,800 working with a variety of crops in 2019, said Brian Breaux, senior commodity and public policy director for the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation. +3 Drive-thru operations keep Baton Rouge farmers markets in business for now Whether it's a crushing hailstorm or an unexpected drop in temperatures, farmers know how to deal with adversity. These workers are central, he said. You cant do this type of work without these workers. The four workers who will be driving tractors and combines at the Ramagos farm over the next 10 months, from the preparation of the fields to planting and harvest, are at the farm now. But the Ramagos family and other sugar cane farmers are now preparing paperwork for a May 1 deadline to bring in additional temporary workers for the hand labor needed during planting season that typically runs from late July through October, and they are hoping the process goes smoothly. Sugar cane farmers dont have to worry about one thing right now: the weather. Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The dry weather has allowed our farmers to get in the field, said Jim Simon, manager of the American Sugar Cane League. This cultivation season weve had these nice stretches of dry weather, Simon said. Any difficulty weve had getting labor in has been offset by dry weather. After harvest in the fall, the 11 sugar mills in Louisiana, which also rely on temporary agricultural workers from other countries, will be looking for their crews to return to operate the equipment used in sugar processing, which runs 24/7 from October to mid-January. Those workers, usually returning workers, come in on H-2B visas issued through the Department of Labor. +4 'I'm freaking out': Self-employed, freelance workers feeling effects of coronavirus lockdown The bills are coming due for Nicole David and her downtown hair salon, Mon Reve Salon, while business has slowed significantly during the coro These workers are highly skilled, good at what they do, said LSU AgCenter economist Michael Deliberto. Thats a majority of the sugar mills labor force, Deliberto said. If they had to rely on people coming in to apply off the street, they probably couldnt do it. At the mills, the juice of the cane is boiled until its reduced to thick syrup and starts to crystallize, Simon said. Knowing when to stop boiling the sugar and drop it in to a centrifugal machine to retain the crystals thats an art form, he said. Theres ongoing concern that if this coronavirus issue doesnt abate and moves into the fall, governments and consulates will become more restrictive and impact the sugar mills, Simon said. Meanwhile, Sistrunk has a new responsibility this year: guarding her farmworkers from the coronavirus. Shes provided the visa workers with printed and video information on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended precautions, such as social distancing and hand-washing. As agricultural workers, they already have personal protective equipment, although Sistrunk said that equipment was harder to get this year. The workers will have individual rooms in their home on the Ramagos farm, with a shared kitchen and living area and a commercial-type restroom. The house was cleaned and ready for them and has supplies of cleaning products and equipment, Sistrunk said. Housing for temporary agricultural workers is highly regulated and inspected by the Department of Labor, she said. In her role as labor committee chair for the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, Sistrunk is preparing a package of information for farmers on steps to take against the coronavirus on the farm. Were in brand-new times, she said. Were trying to figure everything out as we go. You have to think 10 paces in advance, Sistrunk said. Fully engaged to protect employees' health and jobs More than six million of masks ordered for employees Quick development of Work At Home: nearly 50% of the production force, target to reach 66% by mid-April High involvement to guarantee business continuity, while reinforcing financial strength Global task force strong of top 100 leaders <45 years-old who speed up and control the good implementation of the Group's strategy. Regulatory News: Teleperformance (Paris:TEP): COVID-19 is now hitting hard worldwide and has become an unprecedented global business disrupter, forcing many countries to implement country-wide lockdowns and travel bans. In these extraordinary times, Teleperformance's priority is to ensure safety for employees, support communities and most vulnerable people. The group continues its efforts to guarantee business continuity in order to provide critical services to many essential clients' businesses. Teleperformance is today fully engaged to fight against all the consequences of the pandemic. Teleperformance Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Daniel Julien said: "At a time of such great human vulnerability, nothing is more important than the safety of our people. The Group is following guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and applicable local government agencies. We are implementing internal policies that even go beyond these recommendations in many cases. In this unique context, our group is engaging closely with our clients to ensure they are supported, and we remain committed to keeping our employees, partners, and communities healthy and safe. We recognize and are deeply grateful for the incredible dedication of all our employees worldwide who are performing their jobs with high levels of professionalism during this extraordinary time. Our Group is agile and benefits from a solid financial situation and I am confident about the way-out of this crisis and its future." A dedicated and efficient organization Teleperformance has been proactively preparing for the possible spread beyond China since January, and immediately responded with steps to mitigate the threat posed to its employees, business operations for clients, and the cascading economic impact and implications for the wider society. As a result, the Teleperformance Global Business Continuity Model is now implemented worldwide. A global COVID-19 Crisis Committee has been established to closely monitor pandemic-related developments, inform and support key decision-makers, and coordinate rapid response efforts. The Crisis Committee is supported by daily Crisis Executive team calls and weekly executive virtual committee comprising top 22 leaders of the company. Strong development of Work At Home Allowing business continuity for clients and making operational sites compliant with social distancing rules, Teleperformance has implemented many emergency responses such as transitioning interaction experts to work-at-home, applying alternative delivery plans, and leveraging digital solutions. Home-based interaction experts have been notably activated within weeks of enacting initial safety measures, in compliance with security standards and certifications. As of today, Teleperformance has deployed around 120,000 interaction experts on a work-at-home model, which represents nearly 50% of the production force. Efforts to further expand this number will continue and the Group targets to achieve 66% by mid-April. A key role for economies worldwide in crisis period Around the world, Teleperformance teams have worked tirelessly to protect the health and well-being of all employees, while ensuring business continuity for clients. Teleperformance employees are on the front lines, providing critical customer-facing and back-office services to many essential businesses in industries such as healthcare, finance and banking, food and beverage, communications, transportation and logistics, information technology, energy, utilities, and governments. During the outbreak, Teleperformance is also responsible for supporting many emergency lines of local government around the world. Recognition in employee safety The health and safety of our employees is a top priority for Teleperformance, so the company has mandated a strict Safety and Hygiene Policy worldwide, with daily oversight by a dedicated central team to ensure: Adherence to guidelines and recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and close collaboration with local governments and officials. Social distancing policies following recommendations from the World Health Organization. Frequent and reinforced cleaning of facilities with disinfection products. Adequate availability of supplies such as hand sanitizers and, if recommended by the World Health Organization, masks. Everyone entering a Teleperformance facility is screened for elevated body temperatures. The implementation of a strict "no travel" policy. The group has already secured the order of 6.3 million of masks to be delivered on all sites across the world; thus one mask per employee per day for one month working in a brick-and-mortar environment. Frequent employee communications and updates are delivered through several communication channels, including a weekly CEO address to all staff and weekly interaction with top 100 leaders <45 years-old to be an additional force of change on the ground. Teleperformance practices, ensuring safety in its European campuses, have been recognized by the European Company Works Council (ECWC), who acted as Independent employee representatives to review individual Teleperformance operating company's responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Stephan Sielemann, Secretary of the European Company Works Council (ECWC) has declared in an official letter: "Teleperformance is, wherever possible, making sure that, our people, our jobs and our entire TP family are protected from the worst effects of this devastating virus. Information gathered by our ECWC members across Europe confirms that Teleperformance management, IT teams, and staff are working together to keep us all safe." Strongly recognized for employee engagement and CSR practice Taking care of our employees has always been a top priority at Teleperformance including offering physical and mental health awareness programs. In 2019 alone, the Group received 22 acknowledgements by Great Place to Work and KINCENTRIC Best Employer, encompassing 70% of our total workforce. Teleperformance is also a long-standing participant in the UN's Global Compact Initiatives to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies. In March 2020, Teleperformance was approved at "GC Advanced" level for the quality of its CSR documentation by the UN Global Compact, to which it has been a signatory since 2011. This is the highest level of distinction from the United Nations Global Compact. The group thus enters the closed club "Club GC Advanced". In 2019, for the sixth year in a row, Verego awarded Teleperformance the SRS (Social Responsibility Standard) certification for all its sites. This certification provides a comprehensive framework for the effective management of social responsibility initiatives. Verego SRS certification is awarded to companies that stand out through the excellence of their policies and practices in five key areas: leadership, ethics, people, community and the environment. Teleperformance has obtained Group-wide certification in all five of these areas, covering all sites worldwide. Charity and solidarity achievements: a force of good As one of the largest employers in most of its operating regions, Teleperformance is committed to creating a positive impact on local economies and more generally on people's lives. In the current crisis, the group is supporting communities to help the most vulnerable people, making them safer and healthier. As for examples: In Tunisia, Teleperformance brought its expertise and resources to help local medical emergency services (SAMU), by implementing a team of interaction experts on site ready to address emergency requests from patients; In the US, Teleperformance has been partnering with Feed the Children since 2006 by regular donations and exceptional ones during this crisis. Feed the Children is taking action to ensure neighbors aren't forgotten, by supplying community partners (like food pantries and soup kitchens) with the bulk items they need to help people. Work is dramatically increasing during this time of crisis. Reinforced financial liquidity Teleperformance is in the process of securing additional credit lines for above 700 million, on the top of undrawn facilities for 500 million available right now, to allow the group to cope with crisis contingencies. About Teleperformance Group Teleperformance (TEP ISIN: FR0000051807 Reuters: TEPRF.PA Bloomberg: TEP FP), a leading global group in digitally integrated business services, serves as a strategic partner to the world's largest companies in many industries. It offers a One Office support services model combining three wide, high-value solution families: customer experience management, back-office services and business process knowledge services. These end-to-end digital solutions guarantee successful customer interaction and optimized business processes, anchored in a unique, comprehensive high tech, high touch approach. The Group's 331,000 employees, based in 80 countries, support billions of connections every year in over 265 languages and 170 markets, in a shared commitment to excellence as part of the "Simpler, Faster, Safer" process.This mission is supported by the use of reliable, flexible, intelligent technological solutions and compliance with the industry's highest security and quality standards, based on Corporate Social Responsibility excellence. In 2019, Teleperformance reported consolidated revenue of 5,355 million (US$ 6 billion, based on 1 $1.12) and net profit of 400 million. Teleperformance shares are traded on the Euronext Paris market, Compartment A, and are eligible for the deferred settlement service. They are included in the following indices: CAC Large 60, CAC Next 20, CAC Support Services, STOXX 600, SBF 120, S&P Europe 350 and MSCI Global Standard. They have also been included in the Euronext Vigeo Eurozone 120 index since December 2015 and the FTSE4Good Index since June 2018 with regard to the Group's performance in corporate responsibility. For more information: www.teleperformance.com Follow us on Twitter @teleperformance View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005770/en/ Contacts: FINANCIAL ANALYSTS AND INVESTORS Investor relations and financial communication department TELEPERFORMANCE Tel: +33 1 53 83 59 15 investor@teleperformance.com PRESS RELATIONS Europe Laurent Poinsot Karine Allouis IMAGE7 Tel: +33 1 53 70 74 70 lpoinsot@image7.fr kallouis@image7.fr PRESS RELATIONS Americas and Asia-Pacific Mark Pfeiffer TELEPERFORMANCE Tel: 1 801-257-5811 mark.pfeiffer@teleperformance.com Beijing: Mainland China reported 39 new coronavirus 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. The National Health Commission said in a statement on Monday that 78 new asymptomatic cases had been identified as of the end of the day on Sunday, compared with 47 the day before. Residents chat along the Yangtze River in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province on Sunday. Quarantine in the the epicentre of China's coronavirus outbreak is to be formally lifted on Wednesday. Credit:AP Imported cases and asymptomatic patients, who have the virus and can give it to others but show no symptoms, have become China's chief concern in recent weeks after draconian containment measures succeeded in slashing the infection rate. Of the new cases showing symptoms, 38 were people who had entered China from abroad, compared with 25 a day earlier, authorities said. One new locally transmitted infection was reported, in the southern province of Guangdong, down from five a day earlier in the same province. Chinese Regime Should Be Sued for $4 Trillion for Causing Pandemic, Report Says Countries should take legal action against the Chinese regime for its initial coverup of the CCP virus outbreak that has caused tens of thousands of deaths worldwide and cost the global economy trillions of dollars, according to a new report. The truth is that China is responsible for COVID-19and if legal claims were brought against Beijing they could amount to trillions of pounds, the report by UK-based think tank Henry Jackson Society stated. According to the report, damages would amount to at least $4 trillion, which is how much G-7 countriesthe worlds top seven economieshave spent to stimulate their economies in response to the pandemic shutting down most commercial activity. The U.S. government alone has put in place more than $2 trillion in stimulus measures to support industries and individuals amid the crisis. The report found that the Chinese communist regime had breached international law by failing to disclose vital information about the initial outbreak in the central city of Wuhan over December and January. Under the World Health Organizations (WHO) International Health Regulations, the regime is obliged to report timely, accurate, and detailed public health information. But it didnt do so, the report states. Report co-author Matthew Henderson told NTD, an affiliate of The Epoch Times, that the evidence showed that the regimes failure to disclose such information was an act of deliberate deception. The regime informed the WHO of the outbreak on Dec. 31, 2019, and didnt confirm human-to-human transmission of the virus until Jan. 20. However, the regime was found to have silenced and reprimanded those who tried to sound the alarm about the outbreak in late December. Reports also show that authorities knew the virus was spreading between humans well before Jan. 20. A report by the South China Morning Post, citing government documents, stated that there were more than 200 cases by the end of December. Henderson noted that the regime also prevented research of the virus by labs in the beginning. On Jan. 1, the Hubei Provincial Health Commission official told a genomics company to stop testing virus samples and to destroy all existing samples, Chinese financial magazine Caixin reported. There was already an effort not only to conceal truth, but to prevent more truth being discovered, Henderson said. The report stated that it was possible that, had the regime provided accurate information about the outbreak at the early juncture, the infection would not have left China. The report outlines 10 legal courses of action countries could take to hold the regime accountable for pandemic under international law and in domestic courts. Several lawsuits have already been launched in U.S. courts suing the regime for the economic damage the pandemic has inflicted on Americans. Henderson said the point of any legal action against the regime isnt merely about pinning blame. Rather, he described it as an exercise in saying what can we possibly do [to] a) release the necessary information, and b) to prevent anything like this from ever happening again. The breach of international law has devastated the global economy, killed thousands and changed the lives of millions, the report stated. If the world does not act in response to this breach of international law, that begs the question when it will. NTD reporter Jane Werrell contributed to this report. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Workers at Amazons fulfillment center -- JFK8 -- in Bloomfield rallied on Monday after sources say there are more than a dozen confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) reported at the facility. While Amazon has sent several emails to employees about more coronavirus cases reported among workers at JFK8, the company has not given a tally of exactly how many people at the facility have tested positive to date. However, sources claim there are more than 25 workers who have confirmed cases of the virus. We are standing up for a good cause and we are going to continue to fight, said Chris Smalls, a former protest organizer who has since been fired, at the protest on Monday. We are going to continue to fight and we are not giving up. Said Jordan Flowers, an employee who live-streamed the protest on Made the Road New Yorks Facebook page, said workers want the facility to close for a deep cleaning. He said he is especially concerned for his safety since his grandmother has coronavirus. I call her every day to make sure she is all right. I have an uncle who died of COVID. ... We are speaking up and speaking out ...We are fighting for the people at our job, he said. Amazon just keeps saying additional cases, but no numbers. They aint giving us no numbers. Groups involved in organizing the protest are Make the Road New York and New York Communities for Change. About 50 workers participated in the protest, according to New York Communities for Change. Today, workers at Amazons JFK8 facility on Staten Island will strike for the second time in as many weeks, said Athena -- another involved in the protest. Since the U.S. outbreak began, workers at JFK8 have joined a chorus of Amazon warehouse and delivery workers across the country, speaking out about the dangerous conditions at Amazon facilities, which they believe are exposing them and their co-workers, their families, and their communities to contracting the coronavirus. Already, over 50 Amazon facilities in the U.S. have had positive cases, and cases at JFK8, in the middle of the outbreaks global epicenter, are multiplying, the statement added. Said Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU): RWDSU supports Amazon workers demands for stronger protections at the Staten Island facility and at all facilities in the United States. Amazon workers have walked out again today in New York because of an increased number of COVID-19 cases at the JFK8 facility. Workers have repeatedly reported their concerns about serious issues impacting their own health and safety at this and many other Amazon facilities." Although Amazon workers are not unionized, they have sought to form one in the past. ALERTING EMPLOYEES However, Amazon said it has been alerting employees of all cases of the virus at JFK8. Of the more than 5,000 employees at our Staten Island fulfillment center, less than 10 people participated in todays demonstration half of whom were not Amazon employees. Our employees are heroes fighting for their communities and helping people get critical items they need in this crisis, said Rachael Lighty, Amazon spokesperson. Like all businesses grappling with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, we are working hard to keep employees safe while serving communities and the most vulnerable. We have taken extreme measures to keep people safe, tripling down on deep cleaning, procuring safety supplies that are available and changing processes to ensure those in our buildings are keeping safe distances, she added. She said many preventative measures have been put in place at JFK8. Nothing is more important than the safety of our teams. ...We enforce strict six feet social distancing on our property and throughout our facilities. We also communicate when a COVID-19 case is confirmed in one of our buildings to all individuals who work at that site -- not just to those whove come in close contact with the diagnosed individual," Lighty said. Amazon has said it doesnt plan to close the facility. Were continuing to monitor the situation in our facilities and corporate offices, and we are taking proactive measures to protect employees and associates who have been in contact with anyone who has been diagnosed or becomes ill, said Amazon in a statement. "Like most global companies, weve had employees affected by this, and were doing all that we can to protect our employees and take the proper precautions as stated in WHO guidelines. ...What we are sharing with diagnosed individuals is that that we will be communicating across the building that there has been a confirmed case while also respecting their privacy and maintaining their individual confidentiality." MARCH 30 STRIKE Mondays strike comes after a March 30 protest at the site where city police officers made sure protestors maintained a six-foot distance from each other. There was one confirmed case of coronavirus at the facility at that time, according to Amazon. On April 1, Amazon sent an email to workers, which was obtained by the Advance, confirming three more cases of coronavirus. Then, on April 2, the Advance/SILive.com reported that Amazon confirmed yet more positive cases of coronavirus among workers at the Bloomfield fulfillment center. *** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK*** PROTEST ORGANIZER FIRED Smalls, who helped organize a walkout at Staten Islands Amazon fulfillment center last week, said he was fired by the company after the protest on March 30. Amazon would rather fire workers than face up to its total failure to do what it should to keep us, our families, and our communities safe," said Smalls. "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. My colleagues in New York and all around the country are going to keep speaking up. We wont stop until Amazon provides real protections for our health and safety and clarity for everybody about what it is doing to keep people safe in the middle of the worst pandemic of our lifetimes, he added. However, Amazon said in a statement to the Advance/SILive.com that Smalls was released of 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," said Amazon in a statement. Despite that instruction to stay home with pay, he came onsite today, 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, she added. Sign up for text message alerts from SILive.com on coronavirus: RELATED COVERAGE Exclusive: 3 more S.I. Amazon workers test positive for coronavirus Amazon workers protest working conditions amid coronavirus outbreak Staten Island Amazon worker who planned protest amid coronavirus is fired Exclusive: S.I. Amazon confirms yet more coronavirus cases Amazon workers plan walkout at Staten Island facility Monday due to coronavirus S.I. Amazon worker with coronavirus quarantined: What protocols are in place? Coronavirus: Macys to furlough almost 125,000 employees These companies are hiring in wake of coronavirus Coronavirus and the workplace: How Staten Islands largest employers are coping Amazon workers plan walkout at Staten Island facility Monday due to coronavirus S.I. Amazon worker with coronavirus quarantined: What protocols are in place? Coronavirus: Macys to furlough almost 125,000 employees These companies are hiring in wake of coronavirus Coronavirus and the workplace: How Staten Islands largest employers are coping The coronavirus pandemic has had a major impact on smartphone sales worldwide. The iPhone is not immune to this downturn in sales as well. In February, Apple reportedly sold less than half a million units of iPhone in China due to the virus outbreak. Things might be slowly going back to normal in the region but demand for smartphones is still low. This has forced many Chinese retailers to slash iPhone 11 prices by as much as 1,600 yuan ($225) in hopes to boost sales. Suning.com has reduced the price of the iPhone 11 Pro by 1,600 yuan ($225) to 7999 yuan ($1,128). The iPhone 11 Pro sees a reduction of 1,200 yuan ($170) and is now available for 7,499 yuan ($1057). The iPhone 11 has received a slightly smaller price cut of 500 yuan and is now available for 4,999 yuan. It is clear that online retailers are reducing iPhone 11 prices in a bid to boost sales. As per the report, prices of 4G phones are expected to reduce further this year as companies push for 5G adoption among consumers. However, it is unclear just how much of an impact this price cut is going to have on iPhone 11 sales as economies worldwide have come to a screeching halt. While life in China is slowly getting back to normal after the COVID-19 outbreak, the impact of most of the major economies being shut down is going to be felt in the region as well. [Via MyDrivers P ressure was on Monday mounting on Tesco to ditch a 550 million dividend due to be paid out this week as the coronavirus outbreak threatens to test its balance sheet. Covid-19 has so far proved a huge boon to the nations grocers as panicked shoppers have stockpiled on food and household items. Industry data last week showed sales are up around 20% across the sector but long-term an almost certain recession threatens to hit revenues. The board of the UKs biggest retailer is expected to decide tomorrow on whether to grant the payout, estimated at 5.6p a share or 548 million according to Goldman Sachs. It will be unveiled alongside annual results likely to show pre-tax profits of 1.9 billion on sales of 64.4 billion. Just a handful of FTSE companies have hung on to their dividends in the race to protect balance sheets from the crisis. Last week the Bank of England told lenders they should not pay a dividend and questions have also been raised over whether Britains insurers should pay out to investors. Veteran grocery analyst Clive Black, of Shore Capital, said Tesco and its peers had done an heroic job of feeding the nation. But he added: It may be expedient for Tesco to defer its final full-year 2020 dividend until the country and the business has a better understanding of the lay of the land. In doing so, a business that is solvent for sure would also be participating in measures to support liquidity until the dark clouds clear. Such a move would not, no doubt, please all shareholders, many of which are losing income left, right and centre, but until there is greater clarity and surety, it may be the wise thing to do, as we are all in this together. Tesco one of the most widely-held UK stocks will soon have a healthy balance sheet after last month agreeing the 8.2 billion sale of its Thai and Malaysian arm to local conglomerate CP Group. Tesco pledged to hand shareholders a 5 billion special dividend on announcing the deal, which is yet to be approved by investors. Rival Morrisons last month deferred a special dividend amid the coronavirus crisis. Independent analyst Nick Bubb said that, assuming the Thai sale goes through, they should definitely pay the divi. Bernstein analyst Bruno Monteyne said: Financially Tesco is well capable of paying its dividend. Tesco and its grocery peers have faced criticism for receiving a 12-month business rates holiday worth 700 million to Tesco while sales are surging. Chancellor Rishi Sunak handed the relief to all retailers non-essential retailers have been forced to shut stores. " " Image by 024-657-834 from Pixabay Anthropologist Clyde Kluckhohn described skinwalkers as secret witches (mostly male, some female) who creep out in the night to take the form of swift-moving animals like the wolf and coyote. The Navajo skinwalker wanders far across the American cultural landscape. Often reduced to a mere werewolf trope, this shadowy being frequently emerges in film, TV and even conspiracy theories. Yet the skinwalker's true nature belongs to the night. The world beyond humanity's campfire has always seethed with danger. We have always populated the night with beings that blur the line between human and beast, the sacred and the profane, order and chaos. Archaeological discoveries in modern-day Germany date the contemplation of therianthropes (shapeshifting or half-animal beings) back to between 35,000 and 40,000 years in the past. More recent findings in Sulawesi, Indonesia, may push the date back even more, to at least 43,900 years ago. Either way, the concept remains a key feature of religion, myth and the fantastic. The Navajo, or Dine, people of North America have their own long-standing beliefs on magic and shapeshifting and the skinwalker, or yee naaldlooshii, continues to stand as one of the more widely known examples of both. In his 1944 book "Navaho Witchcraft," noted anthropologist Clyde Kluckhohn explored magical traditions of contemporary Navajos. Specifically, in his book he examined the "influencing of events by supernatural techniques that are socially disapproved." Kluckhohn noted that English language translations like "witchcraft," are useful shorthand in this case, but they're not perfect. You can draw similarities between real or imagined European witches and skinwalkers, but the Navajo spirit world is undoubtedly unique. Advertisement Shape-shifters of the Night Based on his interviews with Navajo people, Kluckhohn pieced together general descriptions of the various forms of "witchcraft" that existed within Navajo folk belief. He described skinwalkers as secret witches (mostly male, some female) who creep out in the night to take the form of swift-moving animals like the wolf and coyote. They were said to gather in foreboding places to work dark magic against their victims and engage in various taboo rituals of incest, corpse defilement and sibling murder. Skinwalkers seem to fulfill roles occupied by folkloric beings in many cultures: the secret outsider, the plotter from within, the shapeshifter and the curse caster. But Kluckhohn also identified traits that were not common across all skinwalker accounts, stressing that skinwalker tales were inherently a part of living and malleable Navajo oral traditions. They evolved over time and depend on who's telling the tale. It's all too easy to look at another culture's folkloric traditions the same way you'd regard, say, a monster from Greek myth or a demon from medieval literature creatures for which vibrant belief has long subsided and whose attributes are readily cataloged and canonized in Western tomes. But the skinwalker, as with many other folkloric creatures, does not reside in a text no matter how many Western chroniclers have attempted to sequester them in one. Advertisement Studying the Elusive Skinwalker From Inside and Outside Navajo Culture Other anthropologists have studied and written about skinwalker beliefs over the decades since Kluckhohn's work. In the 1984 book "Some Kind of Power," Margaret K. Brady explored the social importance of skinwalker narratives among Navajo children. She discussed the way in which the skinwalker tales functioned to both serve as childhood ghost stories and also echo contemporary Navajo cultural concerns. In the 2016 book "Upward, Not Sunwise," anthropologist Kimberly Jenkins Marshall discussed the way skinwalker accounts and beliefs factored into Neo-Pentecostal Navajo communities. While it might seem paradoxical that one might convert to Christianity and retain belief in skinwalkers, Marshall explores the way traditional beliefs survive in the face of culture rupture. In the 2007 journal article "Watching Navajos Watch Themselves," anthropologist Sam Pack examined the way often-flawed media representations of Navajo culture including the 2002 movie "Skinwalkers" clashed with their cultural understanding of what it means to be Navajo. And so we come to another key aspect of the media's relationship with the skinwalker: cultural appropriation. Pack writes that the Navajo viewers he questioned generally seemed to enjoy the film "Skinwalkers," despite some cultural and linguistic inaccuracies. And yet, he also stressed, "This does not mean that the Navajo respondents in my study did not challenge the rights of both Anglos and non-Navajos to undertake such films." While 2002's "Skinwalkers" was helmed by Cheyenne/Arapaho tribe member Chris Eyre and starred a predominantly Native American (but non-Navajo) cast, other media incarnations of the skinwalker have come at the hands of non-Native people. Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling garnered criticism in 2016 for inclusion of an altered version of the skinwalkers in her online series "History of Magic in North America." Her critics charged that the move reduced an important and interconnected part of Native belief to a mere prop in an Anglo-centric story. In the Oregonian's coverage of the controversy, however, Douglas Perry pointed to a counter example of an Anglo author whose treatment of Navajo culture was well received by the Navajo Nation. They awarded the late novelist Tony Hillerman the Navajo Special Friends of the Dineh Award in 1991. Hillerman frequently wrote about Navajo culture and even penned the 1986 detective novel "Skinwalkers" upon which Chris Eyre's 2002 adaptation was based. Where does all of this leave us concerning the mysterious skinwalker? Many contemporary Native Americans would argue that its place is in the living beliefs and customs of the Navajo and that, as such, it is not necessarily open to interpretation and reinvention by those outside of it. Leave the skinwalker to the night. Now That's Interesting Clyde Klukhohn wrote that while some skinwalkers were said to acquire wealth through grave robbing, others engaged in fee splitting. One witch would magically inflict an illness on a victim, while another would treat the illness and split the doctor's fee with their secret cohort. More Closures, Cancellations Along Oregon Coast, Washington Coast Published 04/05/2020 at 7:24 PM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Oregon Coast) More features and events along the Oregon coast and Washington coast are dropping by the wayside as the COVID crisis continues. Most beach accesses have been closed off, especially beaches in Seaside which the city has declared off limits. Aside from the statewide stay at home order currently in place throughout Oregon and Washington, lodgings in most counties around Oregon are not allowed to operate, often through May 4. Two big events along the coastline were just cut: Lincoln Citys Summer Kite Festival, originally scheduled for June 27-28, and Florences 113th Rhododendron Festival, which was to take place in late May. Earlier in March, Aprils 2020 Astoria Warrenton Crab, Seafood and Wine Festival was also canceled and will not be rescheduled this year. Managers at Explore Lincoln City said they are hoping to make the fall kite festival happen. For some perspective, this will be the first time since WWII that Rhody Fest has been canceled, according to Florence Chamber head Bettina Hannigan. Based on the most current facts, government guidelines, and trending information, we must cancel Rhody Fest for 2020, said Hannigan. We gave this decision as long as we could and the deepest consideration. We had hoped for better news and a faster recovery. Logistically, there is no way to predict or plan for a new date this year, or postpone it until fall. Many chambers across the country are canceling events through July and some even into August. The Oregon coast isnt the only beach area to be closed off in the Pacific Northwest. The state Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks), and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced this week the extended closure of state lands to the public through May 4. The closure coincides with the extension of Gov. Jay Inslees Stay Home, Stay Healthy order. This action is a continuation of the states efforts to protect residents by stemming the spread of the coronavirus. This extension will apply to all camping on state lands, boat launches and water access sites, wildlife areas, and day-use recreation areas. The decision to extend the closure of public lands was an extremely difficult one. I share the sense of disconnection and loss that we are all feeling by not being able to be out in nature, said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, the elected official who leads DNR. Our trails, campgrounds, and outdoor spaces are core to who we are in the Washington, but this temporary sacrifice is necessary to turn the tide and protect our loved ones and neighbors. We have the responsibility to do what we must to save as many lives as possible. - Maps - Virtual Tours - Southern Oregon Coast - Washington Coast More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted By PTI HYDERABAD: Asserting that lockdown was the nation's sole weapon to fight the coronavirus, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to extend it beyond April 14 by one or two weeks for saving the lives of people. While agreeing that continuing the lockdown would impact adversely the economy, he, however, said ways can be found to recover from it once the threat of COVID-19 goes away but human lives cannot be saved. "I am for the lockdown of the country furthermore after April 15. Because, we can recover from economic problem. But, we cannot recover the lives of the people... So, I propose at least for another one-two weeks. Extension should be at least for one or two weeks more. Then we can review, he told reporters here. Rao, who has been backing Modi's initiatives in fighting the coronavirus, from the beginning, said given the spread of the virus in the country, lockdown should be its only weapon. It would be difficult for the country to contain it in view of its poor health infrastructure, he said. "I appeal to the Honourable Prime Minister, to the Government of India, please extend the lockdown without any hesitation," he said. Rao further said: "Consult everybody, consult every Chief Minister, have a video conference with entire country, but take a conscious decision. Because, we have no other weapon in India to contain this dreadful virus. Our only weapon could be extending the lockdown." If the lockdown was lifted, it would be difficult to control the situation if markets were opened and restrictions on various sectors eased, he said. "Better is to put the issue before the people and debate," he added. Recalling that the Prime Minister told him that further consultations would be held, Rao expressed hope that a positive decision would come out. In the process, it was important to ensure ration for the poor and his government had been taking care of various sections, including migrant workers, orphans, people in old age homes, beggars, transgender and others in the state, he said. ALSO READ: COVID-19 LIVE Rao said he also supported the Centres move to effect a 30 per cent cut in the salaries of MPs. It can be said that the country was moving on a safe path on containing the virus, with measures like lockdown having been announced. Otherwise, it would have faced a very serious situation, he said. Rao appealed to those who attended the Tablighi jamat religious congregation in Delhi and yet to be traced to report to the authorities. He announced a 10 per cent incentive over the gross salary to all the health staff in the state. He deprecated those who made light of the Prime Ministers call to light lamps on Sunday as an expression of resolve to defeat the virus. Asserting that there was no community transmission of the virus in the state, he accused sections of media of carrying false reports. The number of active cases in the state cumulatively stood at 308 as on Monday night, he said. According to a media bulletin, 30 fresh cases were reported on Monday while the COVID-19 toll remained at 11. Rao expressed anguish over the loss of life in countries like America and said the virus was a crisis faced by the mankind. When can the U.S. go back to work? It all depends on data that we dont yet have. Interviews with more than a dozen economists reveal widespread agreement that the U.S. needs more testing to determine how fast the virus is spreading and when it might be safe to return to work. Policymakers also need better data about how strained health care systems are likely to be if the infection rate flares. Once such levels of detection are established, its possible that some could begin returning to work. Betsey Stevenson, a University of Michigan economist, warned, Its also quite likely that we will need to figure out how to reopen the economy with the virus remaining a threat. The Daily: Todays episode is about job losses in the U.S. Related: Global markets rose today as investors looked to signs that the outbreak is peaking in some of the worlds worst-hit places. Here are the latest updates. Closer look: Young adults are facing what is, for most, the first serious economic crisis of their lives. By many measures, they are woefully unprepared. Going into the financial crisis of 2008, Generation X was roughly the same age, but had on average twice the total assets that millennials have now, according to an economic analysis prepared for The Times. If you have 4 minutes, this is worth it Living in the face of fear US President Donald Trump has praised Queen Elizabeth II ahead of her televised coronavirus address in the United Kingdom on Sunday. Taking to Twitter, Trump retweeted a tweet about the Queen's address, writing, "A great & wonderful woman!" Donald Trump has surprised people with his reaction to the Queen's coronavirus address. Photo: Getty Trump is, surprisingly, quite the fan of the Queen, but not so much of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, taking to Twitter in March to write, "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!" A great & wonderful woman! https://t.co/6ivEcwk12Z Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 5, 2020 The Queen's coronavirus address was unprecedented, usually reserved for Christmas or matters of national emergency. The Queen assured her subjects they will succeed in the face of the COVID-19 threat, and hearkened back to her very first national address with sister Margaret in WWII on the occasion of the evacuation of children from cities, saying Britons of this generation are proving themselves as strong as any. I am speaking to you at what I know is an increasingly challenging time, she began the broadcast. A time of disruption in the life of our country: a disruption that has brought grief to some, financial difficulties to many, and enormous changes to the daily lives of us all. She went on to thank the NHS the UKs National Health Service workers battling the pandemic on the frontline, as well as those simply staying home to slow the spread. I want to thank everyone on the NHS front line, as well as care workers and those carrying out essential roles, who selflessly continue their day-to-day duties outside the home in support of us all. Story continues I am sure the nation will join me in assuring you that what you do is appreciated and every hour of your hard work brings us closer to a return to more normal times. Donald Trump has reportedly always been a huge fan of the Royal Family and Queen Elizabeth II. Photo: Getty While Trump is clearly a fan of the Queen reportedly said it was "interesting" to have him visit her last year with royal expert Eve Pollard telling ITV's Royal Rota (via Daily Express), "Apparently the Queen said oh its been really interesting having you come again." But his mother was Scottish, he thinks the Royal Family is the most wonderful thing. And of course in many ways we have been lucky enough to invent, or for it to have happened, for us. The Daily Express reports the Queen told Trump she hoped he "comes to this country again". Taking to Twitter after the visit, Trump said, Could not have been treated more warmly in the United Kingdom by the Royal Family or the people. Our relationship has never been better, and I see a very big trade deal down the road. He added, We had a great rapport. We had a conversation that lasted an hour and a half, non stop. Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com. IN A stunning development, it has emerged that some of the coronavirus testing kits that have been donated or brought into the country are defective, the Daily News on Sunday can report. The bombshell revelation which comes as the global pandemic is escalating raises serious questions about the accuracy of the total number of people in the country who are said to have so far tested positive for the lethal virus. The coronavirus pandemic has so far killed about 60 000 people, in addition to infecting more than 1,1 million others around the world. To date, Zimbabwe has only reported nine positive cases of the killer virus as well as one fatality, that of prominent broadcaster Zororo Makamba. Speaking in an interview with the Daily News on Sunday yesterday, Health and Child Care minister Obadiah Moyo confirmed that there were defective rapid testing kits in the country, forcing authorities to wait for the delivery of more reliable equipment. We received some kits which we are not using because we found that they were defective. We are, therefore, waiting to receive definitive testing kits because some of the rapid results testing kits we have give defective results. This way, one person can test negative when one is positive, and a positive person can test negative when that is not the case. So, those tests are not reliable, Moyo said. The only reliable testing that is taking place in the country is being carried by the government and not private hospitals. As government, we are using the golden standard which is definitive, although this takes five hours for results to show. We hope to get more testing kits so that we come up with results early, Moyo further told the Daily News on Sunday. This comes as the government has taken a lot of flak for allegedly understating the number of people who have been infected by coronavirus. It also comes as many health experts have argued that by now, the country should have seen a significant jump in positive cases as the 14-day incubation period, being the time the virus takes before becoming fully blown, has long elapsed. Zimbabwe is currently under a 21-day lockdown that was imposed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa as a part of tough government measures aimed at combating the spread of the disease in the country. Moyo also told the Daily News On Sunday yesterday that the government was hoping to decentralise the testing for coronavirus before authorities embarked on an aggressive door-to-door campaign that would be informed by the rate at which cases would be soaring. Our intention is to have door-to-door screening as soon as possible, but we currently dont have the kits to enable us to roll out such an exercise. Once we secure those kits, we will be able to expand our testing capacity. Our plan is to decentralise the testing process. We want to ensure that we have testing capacity at each and every government hospital, in every province, Moyo said. We are in the process of decentralising the whole process. Currently, we have the kits for PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing and the PCR is the definitive testing (it is used to detect early infections). However, while it was being done just in Harare, the ministry of Health has already entered an agreement with Nust (the National University of Science and Technology) so that their equipment can be used at Mpilo, where there is a level three laboratory. After that, we will then increase the number of testing sites in Harare and then eventually go countrywide. This will be done in the shortest time possible, Moyo told the Daily News on Sunday further. In exposed areas like Beitbridge, we are going to start with rapid testing. For rural areas like Gokwe, if a patient shows signs of the disease we have the rapid response team that is in every province and those teams will attend to any case. If the person is showing clinical signs of the disease, they will be taken to a hospital and then comprehensive tests will be carried out, Moyo added. As of the end of last week, Zimbabwe had tested less than 400 people cumulatively, reporting nine positive cases and one death. In contrast, regional power and Zimbabwes biggest trading partner, South Africa, had by yesterday recorded 1 505 cases of coronavirus with nine people succumbing to the killer disease, and 95 others said to be recovering well from infections. South Africa, which has also been applauded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the manner in which it is tackling Covid-19, is to conduct a comprehensive door-to-door testing exercise after deploying 10 000 field officers across its provinces. Although the countrys hitherto striking doctors and other health workers have since returned to work, they are still concerned by the governments failure to quickly decentralise the testing, screening and isolation processes for coronavirus. Presently, only Harare has the laboratory that is conducting definitive testing for the lethal disease. The treasurer of the Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights (ZDHR), Norman Matara, told the Daily News on Sunday that the country was still not adequately prepared to contain coronavirus if its cases surged. The treasurer of the Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights (ZDHR), Norman Matara, told the Daily News on Sunday that the country was still not adequately prepared to contain coronavirus if its cases surged. As far as we are concerned, nothing has changed much in the health sector. We still have many challenges. Protective clothing has been delivered, but I am not sure if it will be enough if the situation demands heightened action. As a country, we are not prepared at all. Thereare no isolation centres and provinces are still sending samples to Harare, Matara said. What is more, we are still to have functional intensive care units, he added. White House trade advisor Peter Navarro said Monday that during the early days of the coronavirus outbreak, China attempted toA corner the world market in personal protective equipment such as face masks and gloves We know that China knew about the virus as early as mid-December. We know that for a period of about five to six weeks they hid the dangers from the rest of the world even as Chinese citizens were flying around the world seeding the world with the virus, Navarro said on Fox News. Navarro added that he has not been part of any discussion about suing China regarding this matter. Enemy of the World WH Trade Advisor Peter Navarro: China bought 2.2 billion masks between Jan. 24th thru the end of Feb. Peter explains how those statistics show that China tried "to corner the world market in PPE when they knew the dangers & didn't tell the rest of the world." pic.twitter.com/COheVvd7F8 The Columbia Bugle YY (@ColumbiaBugle) April 6, 2020 It looks like during that interval, China was basically attempting to corner the market in personal protective equipment including masks. So they were buying large quantities of masks, gloves, goggles, respirators from the rest of the world at a time when the world was still sleeping with respect to the dangers of the virus. Navarro pointed out that Chinese customs data shows one statistic that I think every American should sit up and really stare at, namely that China bought 2.2 billion face masks between January 24 and the end of February. Americans are getting infected because they dont have the masks. Italians are dying because they dont have masks. Health care professionals are going down, the White House trade adviser said.A If those statistics are telling a story about China basically going out and trying to corner the world market in PPE when they knew the dangers and didnt tell the rest of the world, I think thats a significant discussion we need to have, at least after this is all over because thats a serious matter. Story continues Health care workers in the U.S. are rationing personal protective equipment as they handle a shortage of supplies to handle the pandemic. More from National Review The Kanpur administration on Monday gave the last chance to those who attended the Tablighi Jamaat gathering in Delhi or have come in contact with them to report themselves to authorities, warning that NSA would be invoked against them if they failed to do so. The congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin area has emerged as one of the biggest clusters of COVID-19 in the country and many of the attendees have tested positive for the virus. Authorities fear those who have returned from the meet could spread the virus to other areas. "Those who have come in contact with any Jamaat member or were at the religious congregation in Delhi markaz have been given a last chance to come forward and present themselves before the district authorities for COVID-19 test, otherwise be ready to face the National Security Act," District Magistrate Brahmadeo Ram Tiwari said. A decision has been taken to invoke the NSA against those hiding information on coronavirus suspects, their foreign tours, or about the Jamaat event, Tiwari added. The magistrate said the decision is taken as three fresh COVID-19 cases have been reported in Kanpur city in less than 20 hours and is aimed at making people take the pandemic seriously. We are trying hard to identify and treating people contracted with COVID-19, he said. Police have made announcement in red-zones through public address systems, urging people to report themselves before Tuesday noon for the sake of their own life,Tiwari said. From Monday, Kanpur city and its suburban areas have been completely locked down and there won't be any kind of relaxation during the morning hours. Police and district administration officials are helping people get vegetables and other necessary items, but no one is allowed to step out of their homes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PROVO, Utah, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fifth consecutive year, Nu Skin was recognized as one of the best places to work by Direct Selling News (DSN). Nu Skin has received this award every year since the recognition's establishment in 2016. Additionally, Nu Skin was ranked #7 on the DSN Global 100 list of the top revenue-generating direct selling companies. Direct Selling News' Best Places to Work winners are determined through surveys completed by thousands of employees within the direct selling industry. These surveys measure traits like employee engagement and satisfaction, workplace culture, and how well the company vision resonates with its workforce. "We offer exceptional benefits, memorable experiences, and fun perks, but a key to our success is creating a culture where employees feel valued and empowered," said Jeff Bettinger, SVP global human resources. "We've taken this to the next level by developing the 'Nu Skin Way,' a guideline for our workforce that supports our mission of being a force for good in the world. It's small shifts like this that can considerably impact a company's culture." Nu Skin was also recognized for its revenue in 2019, ranking at #7 in the DSN Global 100. This year is the 11th year of the annual rankings, and Nu Skin has been recognized as a top-performing company in the global direct selling industry each year. "As a company, we consistently focus on developing innovative products, leveraging the latest technology and providing rewarding opportunities and incentive programs to our sales leaders," said Ritch Wood, CEO. "What really makes us a top-performing company, though, is our focus on peoplefrom our customers to our brand affiliates to our employees. This is our key to success. As we fulfill our mission to improve lives, growth and success will follow." About Nu Skin Founded 35 years ago, Nu Skin develops and distributes innovative consumer products, offering a comprehensive line of premium-quality beauty and wellness solutions. The company builds upon its scientific expertise in both skin care and nutrition to continually develop innovative product brands that include the Nu Skin personal care brand, the Pharmanex nutrition brand, and most recently, the ageLOC anti-aging brand. The ageLOC brand has generated a loyal following for such products as the ageLOC LumiSpa skin cleansing and treatment device, ageLOC Youth nutritional supplement, the ageLOC Me customized skin care system, as well as the ageLOC TR90 weight management and body shaping system. Nu Skin sells its products through a global network of sales leaders in Asia, the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Pacific. As a long-standing member of direct selling associations globally, Nu Skin is committed to the industry's consumer guidelines that protect and support those who sell and purchase its products through the direct selling channel. Nu Skin International is a wholly owned subsidiary of NSE, Inc., which is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol (NYSE: NUS). More information is available at nuskin.com. SOURCE Nu Skin Related Links https://www.nuskin.com [April 06, 2020] GBT Tokenize Corp is developing qTerm, an Intelligent Vital Signs Measuring Device - Patent Filed SAN DIEGO, April 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GBT Technologies Inc. (OTC PINK: GTCH ) ("GBT, or the Company), a company specializing in the development of Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled networking and tracking technologies, including wireless mesh network technology platform and fixed solutions, announced today the beginning of its development of an intelligent human vital signs device, suggested named qTerm. This development will be conducted together with Tokenize-It, S.A. through the previously announced joint venture, GBT Tokenize Corp. The platform is an expansion of the existing license agreement with GBT Tokenize Corp., which provided GBT Tokenize Corp. with an exclusive territory of California to develop certain of the Companys technology. As the nature of the platform cannot be restricted only to California, the Companys joint venture GBT Tokenize Corp. will be compensated with additional two hundred million shares of the Company to strengthen its funding, subject to board approval. A provisional patent application for the qTerm Medical Device was filed on March 30, 2020 with the USPTO. The application has been assigned serial number 63001564. It is intended for the qTerm to include temperature and optical sensors for rapid measurement of human vital signs like temperature, heart rate and blood pressure (systolic/diastolic). The device will include an onboard computer, Bluetooth radio, an autonomous power management system and an AI (Artificial Intelligence) components. qTerm, when fully developed, will be measuring vital signs and alerting the user of any abnormalities in real time. GBT plans to create two versions of the device. One version will be a standalone device with its own LCD display, monitoring and alert system. A second version, which reports through a mobile app, using Bluetooth to transmit all vital data to a mobile app that will be available on both iOS and Android. The system is designed to include intelligent circuitry and software that, with the user's permission, can build a worldwide thermal map, identifying locations of "HOT SPOTS" of users with high temperatures, and alerting the user, if desired, to avoid these locations. "As part of our efforts to move forward into the medical field, we started the design of a smart device to assist with rapid measurement and reporting of body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure," stated Danny Rittman, GBTs CTO. "We intend for the device to e enclosed in a compact case and will be easy and intuitive to use. The system will include GPS technology. We will embed our AI technology to enable the rapid measurement of accurate vital signs in real time. In case of abnormalities like high body temperature or heart rate, the system can provide an audible and visual alert. We believe that such an intelligent medical device can be very useful for people at all ages in order to achieve a high quality, healthy life. Furthermore, we believe the qLIFE can become a personal "health watcher", alerting users about any abnormalities in order to seek medical help. We are excited to being our contribution to the world's heath improvement efforts especially during the world's current pandemic." About GBT Technologies Inc. GBT Technologies Inc. (OTC PINK: GTCH) (GBT) ( http://gopherprotocol.com/ ) is a development-stage company which considers itself a native IoT creator, developing Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled mobile technology platforms. GBT has a portfolio of Intellectual Property that, when commercialized, will include smart microchips, mobile and security applications and protocols, and supporting cloud software. GBTs system envisions the creation of a global mesh network. The core of the system will be its advanced microchip technology that can be installed in any mobile or fixed device worldwide. GBT envisions this system as a low-cost, secure, private mesh network between any enabled devices, providing shared processing, advanced mobile database management/sharing and enhanced mobile features as an alternative to traditional carrier services. https://www.avant-ai.net - Powered by : About GBT Technologies, S.A. GBT Technologies, S.A., a private Costa Rican corporation (GBT - http://gbttechnologies.com/ ) is a development-stage company in the business of the strategic management of BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) digital communications processing for enterprises and startups; distributed ledger technology development, AI development and fintech software development and applications. https://aggregatorv2.genesisexchange.io (New Beta Version) Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors as disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission located at their website ( http://www.sec.gov ). In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic conditions, governmental and public policy changes, the Companys ability to raise capital on acceptable terms, if at all, the Companys successful development of its products and the integration into its existing products and the commercial acceptance of the Companys products. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of the press release. Contact: Dr. Danny Rittman, CTO GBT Technologies Inc. Media: [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Alabama could be among the states least affected economically by the coronavirus outbreak, according to research from Moodys Analytics. Moodys compiled data on March 30 and looked at six metrics: exposure to COVID-19, demographics, trade and travel disruptions, tourism, finance and commodities. A pair of economists from the University of Alabama last week said Alabamas economy could be on a "normal path of recovery by years end. However, the Moodys data should be taken with a grain of salt: The coronavirus pandemic is still an evolving situation, making concrete numbers and forecasts fluid. For example, new projections released Sunday from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington paint a less frightening picture of the death toll for Alabama. If youre getting hit hard now and businesses are failing, and theres bankruptcy and people are taking on debt or starting to default on debt, its going to be harder for those economies to recover, Moodys Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi told Yahoo Finance. So the No. 1 criteria for determining who recovers more gracefully will be who gets hit least hard during this period. States expected to be among the most affected anticipate large hits to tourism - Nevada and Hawaii. Others, like Washington and New York, have borne the brunt of the pandemic in terms of death toll and those affected. Alabama was grouped among other states, like West Virginia and Missouri, and neighbors like Mississippi and Tennessee, as among the least exposed. As of April 6, Alabama has 45 reported deaths with 32 confirmed as caused by COVID-19. Moodys projects that states with fewer deaths are better positioned to resume economic activity. The picture could change in the coming weeks, however, once data becomes available on consumer loans issued since the national emergency began. It should also be noted that an earlier Moodys analysis estimated that key Alabama industries, such as auto manufacturers and suppliers, retail and global shipping could be most impacted by the pandemic in the short-term. Alabama gross domestic product is about $221 billion. Of that, tourism accounts for about 7 percent of the states GDP, according to last years figures. Goods exports represent a little less than 10 percent of the states GDP, with leading categories including automobiles and aerospace products and parts. Grocery workers around the world are among those on the frontline of the Covid-19 crisis and they have earned praise from the likes of Pope Francis and former US president Barack Obama for their role in keeping people supplied. Toilet paper, eggs, produce and canned goods fly off the shelves with households locked down across the world and the grocery workers run their own health risks in working in such an exposed environment. They disinfect keypads, freezer handles and checkout counters as hundreds of people weave around them, sometimes standing too close for comfort amid the pandemic. Some work for hours behind clear plastic barriers installed at checkout counters, bulwarks against sudden sneezes or coughs that can propel germs. They may not be doctors or nurses, but the importance of their work is finally getting recognition. Expand Close Sarka Zachova wears a mask as she shops for groceries in Salt Lake City (Rick Bowmer/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sarka Zachova wears a mask as she shops for groceries in Salt Lake City (Rick Bowmer/AP) From South Africa to Italy to the US, grocery workers, many in low-wage jobs, have their work deemed essential to keep food and critical goods flowing. Some fear falling sick or bringing the virus home to vulnerable loved ones, and frustration is mounting as some demand better workplace protections, including shorter hours to allow them to rest, and hazard pay for working closely with the public. Everyone is scared everywhere, here in South Africa and everywhere in the world, said Zandile Mlotshwa, a cashier at Spar supermarket in the Johannesburg suburb of Norwood. Expand Close Global coronavirus cases and deaths. See story HEALTH Coronavirus. Infographic PA Graphics Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Global coronavirus cases and deaths. See story HEALTH Coronavirus. Infographic PA Graphics For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, and the vast majority survive. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can be more severe, even causing pneumonia or death. In the US, a handful of states, Minnesota and Vermont were the first, have given grocery workers a special classification that allows them to put their children in state-paid child care while they work. Unions in Colorado, Alaska, Texas and many other states are pressing governors to elevate grocery workers to the status of emergency personnel. Expand Close A worker sanitises shopping trollies as customers wait outside a Trader Joes grocery store in Los Angeles (Damian Dovarganes/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A worker sanitises shopping trollies as customers wait outside a Trader Joes grocery store in Los Angeles (Damian Dovarganes/AP) The governments responsibility is to step up in these moments, said Sarah Cherin, chief of staff for the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union in Seattle, the first US epicentre of Covid-19. The union, which represents about 23,000 grocery workers and 18,000 health care workers, won early concessions for higher pay. We have always been a group of people who come to work when others stay home, Ms Cherin said. Our workers need the same protection others get. US grocery and food delivery workers are insisting employers pay them more and provide masks, gloves, gowns and access to testing. Whole Foods workers called for a recent sickout to demand better conditions, including double pay. A group of independent contractors for the Instacart grocery delivery service walked out to force more protections. Jake Pinelli, who works at a ShopRite in Aberdeen, New Jersey, said customers do not stay six feet away from others and typically do not wear masks or gloves. Staffers have protective gear, but the younger employees often give it to older co-workers or those they know have health conditions. Expand Close Residents climb on chairs to buy groceries from vendors behind barriers in Wuhan, China (Ng Han Guan/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Residents climb on chairs to buy groceries from vendors behind barriers in Wuhan, China (Ng Han Guan/AP) Most of us are terrified, Mr Pinelli said. But he stays on because he wants to help. I have not only bills to pay, but its the only way right now I feel like I can do anything for my community and help out, Mr Pinelli said. Some have fallen sick. The Shaws supermarket chain told workers last week at six stores in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont that one of its employees had been diagnosed with Covid-19. The company reminded workers to wash their hands regularly and stay home if they dont feel well. Expand Close Women practice social distancing as they wait in line to enter a supermarket in Panama City (Arnulfo Franco/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Women practice social distancing as they wait in line to enter a supermarket in Panama City (Arnulfo Franco/AP) At the Organic Food Depot in Norfolk, Virginia, cash is no longer used. Customers cannot bring reusable bags. Children under 16 are banned. If somebody fell sick in the store, the store is most likely going to shut down, manager Jamie Gass said. There are some who are already thinking about after the epidemic, and all the problems that will arise regarding poverty, work, hunger. Let us #PrayTogether for all the people who are helping today, but who are also thinking about how to help all of us tomorrow. Pope Francis (@Pontifex) April 3, 2020 Mr Gass, 47, said his wife has asthma, which means she would be more vulnerable to the coronavirus. Yet he feels pride going to a job that helps ensure people get fed in a crisis. Am I scared that I could catch this? Absolutely, Mr Gass said. But Im sure everybody is in that position. Im just taking as many precautions as I can, so I dont have to worry as much. In Italy, where more than 14,000 people have died of Covid-19, consumers seem to prefer smaller, family-run stores and markets. Expand Close Nepalese people maintain social distance as they wait to buy daily groceries in Kathmandu (Niranjan Shrestha/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nepalese people maintain social distance as they wait to buy daily groceries in Kathmandu (Niranjan Shrestha/AP) One of them, the Innocenzi grocery store in Rome, was established in 1884 by Emanuela Innocenzis grandfather. Its wooden shelves, marble entrance steps and cherished custom of clerks waiting on each customer hearken back to another era. The small store now allows in only two customers at a time. A dentists office provided masks, which employees wipe down with alcohol each day and reuse. Ms Innocenzi shrugged off the popes praise. The doctors, the nurses have special training, she said. This is our work. WILDERVILLE, Ore. The Josephine County District Attorney's office has determined not to press charges against a man who fatally shot his son in September, after an investigation supported his claim of self-defense. 41-year-old Ivan Nutting Jr. died on September 3 at his parents' property in the 4000-block of Cheney Creek Road. At the time, Oregon State Police said that Nutting's father, Ivan Nutting Sr., wrestled a rifle away from his son before the deadly shooting. According to the DA's office, witnesses told investigators that Nutting Jr. has a history of methamphetamine use, mental health issues, and "a history of violence toward family members." His father had taken out a restraining order against him in May of 2018, though that expired a year later. The investigation found that Nutting Jr. was at the property on September 3 and was asked to leave after becoming "more hostile and aggressive," even threatening to kill his father. Nutting Jr.'s mother and 13-year-old daughter were inside the home during the argument. "At one point, an altercation occurred between Sr. and Jr. wherein Jr. had grabbed a firearm, and Sr. struggled with Jr. to get the firearm away from Jr.," the DA's office said. "Sr. claims Jr. armed himself with sheers in each hand. Sr. fired multiple shots, killing Jr. in the kitchen area of the home." Though investigators did find sheers near Jr.'s body in the kitchen of the home, "the location of the sheers and how it appeared Jr. was shot raised some questions," the DA's office said. Nevertheless, other witnesses corroborated Nutting Sr.'s account of his son's hostile behavior and threats, the DA's office said. One witness reported having to kick down the door of the home to assist Sr. in getting his son out, out of concern for the other people inside. That witness described the two men struggling for control of the gun after Jr. armed himself. "In a situation where self-defense is used, the reasonableness of the persons use of self-defense must be disproven by the State beyond a reasonable doubt," the DA's office said. "Based on the totality of the circumstances that occurred on September 3, 2019 the State would be unable to disprove self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt." Based on Nutting Jr.'s violent history and threats on the day of the shooting, the fact that he locked the door to the home and grabbed a gun, his "size and age" compared to his father, and his erratic behavior under the influence of drugs, the DA concluded that Nutting Sr. was reasonable in being in fear of his life. "It should be noted that use of physical force and/or deadly physical force is analyzed on a case-by-case basis," the DA's office said. "In each case involving the use of self-defense, a fact specific inquiry into the reasonableness of the use of self-defense must be made to determine if such actions are justified under Oregon law." Increasing numbers of mental health incidents are being reported to police during the coronavirus lockdown, senior officers have said. Amid a raging debate about access to public spaces and the impact of restrictions, witnesses told the Home Affairs Committee that issues were being compounded by mental health and social care services losing staff because of the outbreak. The Police Federations lead for coronavirus, Sergeant Simon Kempton, said it was becoming all too easy for some of these people in crisis to fall through the gaps. Its going to be vital that we keep an eye on that and there are very early indications of an increase in suicide attempts and suicides, he told MPs during a session held via video conference on Monday. Chief Superintendent Paul Griffiths, president of the Police Superintendents Association, said national data on mental health incidents had not yet been collated but anecdotally from members there is starting to be a slight increase. He added: If we continue the isolation strategies in place there is a risk that mental health issues will increase over the next weeks and months. Committee chair Yvette Cooper later asked four regional chief constables whether there was a tension between supporting physical wellbeing and mental health with access to parks, and social distancing. Chief Constable John Robins, of West Yorkshire Police, said local authorities had closed some parks in urban areas because they had become a magnet for people. The issue was people sitting, congregating and gathering and not fulfilling the spirit of one exercise a day, he added. Groups of people sitting, drinking, perhaps listening to music isnt in the spirit of the legislation and it isnt going to stop the spread of the virus I am satisfied that there are sufficient places for people to get exercise. Some police may have gone too far in enforcing lockdown, senior Tory admits Chief Constable Garry Forsyth, Bedfordshire Police, said officers had been patrolling urban parks and engaged with people flouting regulations but had not asked for any closures. Chief Constable Peter Goodman, of Derbyshire Police, said very minor breaches had been dealt with by speaking to members of the public. But he defended the forces controversial decision to film walkers in remote areas with a drone, even though they had not committed a crime under new coronavirus rules. Mr Goodman said the Peak District had been inundated with visitors who left local communities under siege. Elderly residents felt they couldnt go to the shop to get essentials and when they did there was nothing in there because the tourists had taken everything, he told the committee. There was a direct request from our communities for us to do something. Mr Goodman said there has now been a decline in visitors to the national park, and that people were behaving brilliantly on the whole. North Yorkshire Police had also been criticised for seeing up roadblocks. Chief Constable Lisa Winward defended the vehicle engagement points and said they had been stopped following a drop in car journeys. The chief constables admitted that it had been a challenge to enforce the new coronavirus legislation without the normal period of consultation, preparation and training, but said consistency was improving. Two sets of guidance have been sent out by the College of Policing on the Coronavirus Act 2020, which applies to potentially infectious persons, and Health Protection Regulations, which enforce the lockdown. Ch Supt Griffiths said the three-day gap between Boris Johnsons announcement and the regulations coming into force had generated some confusion. A lot of officers relied on the policy intent before the law was enacted, he added. Were there mistakes? Yes there probably were. Were there times where it could have been misinterpreted? Yes, but actually the intent was clear to everybody. Sgt Kempton said rank-and-file officers did not initially feel confident implementing the law because they were getting conflicting messages and different areas were interpreting things differently. North Yorkshire Police has stood its vehicle engagement points down (AFP/Getty) Two power points that is the training we have received, he added. We had several days where our only briefing was the guidance the government was giving to the public. The chair of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) wrote to all forces demanding greater consistency a week ago, and guidance has gone out telling officers to use fines and arrests as a last resort. Apparent confusion over how the Coronavirus Act could be applied resulted in a miscarriage of justice in Newcastle last week, when a woman was fined 660 for an offence she did not commit. British Transport Police admitted their mistake following media coverage and the womans conviction was quashed. The chief constables appearing before the Home Affairs Committee said said forces had given out between one and 30 fines so far. MPs were told that the absence rate stands at 13 per cent for officers and staff, but also varies regionally. Mr Forsyth said that forces were able to maintain business as usual because of a fall in routine demand, and isolating officers working from home. The committee heard that both 999 and 101 calls had fallen overall, but there had been an increase in members of the public reporting alleged breaches of coronavirus restrictions. We are clearly seeing a downward trend in public offences and acquisitive crime, emergency and non-emergency calls, arrests and custody, Ch Supt Griffiths said. But there is a concern about the private space, including domestic and child sexual abuse. Officers appealed for vulnerable people to seek help and said police were continuing to respond to emergency calls and give support. If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. For services local to you, the national mental health database Hub of Hope allows you to enter your postcode to search for organisations and charities who offer mental health advice and support in your area Los Angeles, April 6 : Director Eric Rivas, known for the "Vamp Biker" series, says he has started work on a movie about the coronavirus pandemic in spite of his stars being in isolation due to the lockdown. Rivas said he shot footage of the empty city over the weekend from his car, and the actors including porn star Ron Jeremy and the film's producer Noel Ashman are sending him videos of themselves performing their scenes, which Riva is editing together. The film, which is reportedly titled as "Duke Of York", is about a dastardly movie producer who tries to trick a director into killing an Asian actor in a misguided attempt to take revenge for the disease. "It's sort of a stand against xenophobia, and also about people's desperation during this time," Rivas said. Other details related to the project including its release date are still under wraps. On Sunday, at 9 pm, Indians responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modis call to light diyas and candles from their balconies and terraces to show solidarity during the 21-day total coronavirus lockdown. While PM Modi had specifically asked for people to light candles and flashlights or mobile torches, many decided to take it one step further and burst firecrackers. The country at present is in the middle of a lockdown in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 which has already affected more than 4000 people and claimed at least a hundred lives in India. Yet, when PM Modi asked Indians to light candles, many misinterpreted it as a call for an early Diwali. In the past few weeks, pollution levels across cities had drastically gone down, thanks to people staying indoors due to the lockdown. Construction services have been temporarily halted while factories and industries manufacturing non-essential goods have been shut down till further notice, further bringing pollution down. Studies and government data show that industrial pollution accounts for at least half of the pollution in the country, especially in populated cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and so on. Moreover, traffic has been reduced to a minimum in metropolitan cities around the country. In the last two weeks, people had become used to azure skies, animals roaming freely in the streets and the sound of birds chirping - all a result of reduced human activity outdoors. All this, however, was before 9 pm on Sunday when some Indians decided to step out in large numbers with candles in hand to respond to the PMs call and even burst crackers. We compared Air Quality Index levels of various cities on Monday with the AQI on Saturday to check if the quality of air had really deteriorated after some took Modis Diya Jalao mission a bit too seriously. And yes, the results were startling. In most places, the air quality had been within safe levels till Saturday which marked the twelfth day of the lockdown. However, AQUI turned unhealthy and mildly hazardous post-April 5. Safe to say, the nine minutes of firecrackers and merrymaking at 9 pm Sunday may have had something to do with the sudden spike. AQI in several cities switched from green (good with minimal impact) to yellow (moderate, may cause breathing discomfort to the people with lungs, asthma and heart diseases) and even orange (poor, will cause breathing discomfort to most people on prolonged exposure.) In Delhi, we compared the air quality at Patparganj on April 4 and April 6 and found a sharp decline. AQI on April 4 AQI on April 6 However, a report by Indian Express also suggests that changes in wind speed might have something to do with the fall in AQI. The report suggests that there has been a sudden dip in wind speed; this may be marginal but can have an impact on AQI. According to the report, the AQI in Delhi is likely to remain the same till Tuesday and that had it not been for the lockdown, air quality would have fallen to very poor categories." In West Bengal, too, certain areas in South Kolkata showed a sharp decline in AQI from Saturday. AQI on April 4 AQI on April 6 In Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, PM 2.5 levels increased to a hazardous level and air quality remained poor all morning on Monday. The graph below clearly shows how high the particulate matter concentration in the air is on April 6. The AQI in Ghaziabad had been moderate to begin with, and the antics of people on Sunday just made it wors. AQI on April 4 AQI on April 6 Parts of Noida exhibited a similar decline. AQI on April 4 AQI on April 6 Research shows that firecrackers end up causing extensive damage to the environment even if burst for a short period of time. They emit dangerous toxins, metal particles and other hazardous substances which dont really disintegrate and instead stay in the air for days. Delhi, in the winter of 2019, saw one of the worst smogs the country has ever seen. But the only silver lining of the pandemic in India was that air quality was finally improving. In fact, it was better than it had been in ages. But clearly, stupidity spreads faster than any virus. Read all the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News here *Story updated 4/9/2020 The packing industry is being hit hard by COVID-19, with meat processing facilities across the country slowing or suspending production because workers are sick or staying home. JBSs facility in Souderton, Pennsylvania was the first to scale back production due to several managers displaying flu-like symptoms. The company announced it would reduce production for two weeks starting March 30. The beef production facility outside of Philadelphia touts itself as the largest beef facility east of Chicago. The facility, which employs more than 1,000 workers, is expected to return to normal operations April 14. Cargill closed its processing plant in Hazelton, Pennsylvania, on April 7, saying it will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so. The facility makes case-ready ground beef, beef and pork products and employs 900 workers. Most recently, a Smithfield Foods pork plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, announced April 9 that it would close for three days after more than 80 employees were found to have the coronavirus, the Star Tribune reported. That plant employs 3,700 people. Workers at risk While COVID-19 is not known to be a food-borne pathogen, employees often work in close quarters in packing plants. So, while the food is safe, the employees may not be. Workers at plants around the country have tested positive for COVID-19, including a JBS beef plant, in Grand Island, Nebraska and a Sanderson Farms poultry plant, in McComb, Mississippi. Tyson Foods announced April 6 that it suspended production at a pork plant, in Columbus Junction, Iowa. More than two dozen cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in workers at the plant. Tyson said hogs would be diverted to other pork plants to minimize the disruption. The company said production has been impacted recently by worker absenteeism and additional worker safety precautions. Around 800 workers at a JBS packing plant, in Greeley, Colorado, called off work March 30, as part of a mass no-show after the company informed the plant that several employees tested positive for COVID-19, the Greeley Tribune reported. Its a pretty big facility but if youve never been in the plant, its amazing how that process works. People work pretty much elbow to elbow. Theres no 6-feet distancing there, United Food & Commercial Workers Local 7 president Kim Cordova told the Greeley Tribune. The Iowa League of United Latin American Citizens voiced concerns about the unsafe working conditions at a JBS plant, in Marshalltown, Iowa, the Times Republican reported. A representative from the Latino advocacy groups filed a complaint with OSHA April 1, saying employees work shoulder to shoulder and do not have proper protective equipment. Slowing down How these closures and changes to production will impact the supply chain are yet to be seen. Michael Nepveux, an economist with American Farm Bureau Federation, said in a Market Intel briefing that meat and poultry production in the U.S. is expected to increase this year. So, theres no shortage of meat. If plants spread out workers more or stagger shifts, that means theyre likely slowing down the production lines. JBS said that as an essential service, the company is doing everything it can to promote a safe working environment, including staggering shifts and breaks, health screenings, enhanced sanitation efforts and bonus compensation for plant workers. Tyson said it has taken similar measures to protect employees. Uncertain future People keep going back to the fire last summer at a Tyson Fresh Meats packing plant, in Holcomb, Kansas, to predict what disruptions from COVID-19 might look like in packing plants. That plant accounted for about 6% of the U.S. slaughter capacity. Nepveux told Farm and Dairy youre not likely to see a big plant go down for four months, like what happened in Kansas. Cattle prices dropped nationally after that. Youll see whats happening in the Pennsylvania plant. Thats more likely to be what we see around the country, smaller disruptions, he said. But to have five or six plants go down for two weeks at a time, thats a lot of capacity for down time. Theres a lot more uncertainty from this slow burning crisis. The impact is likely to be localized, Nepveux said, impacting producers and markets in the region that plant draws from. Eventually, though, it will trickle down through the supply chain. Michael Baker, a beef cattle extension specialist with Cornell University, said hes heard of buyers and auction barn managers calling sellers, telling them to hang on to finished cattle if they can, after the news that JBS Souderton stopped taking new cattle. He said theyre a major buyer of finished cattle in the Northeast. With the Tyson fire in Kansas, at least you knew where you stood, Nepveux said. We dont know how long the healthcare crisis is going to continue into the future, he said. Thats a lot of concern and uncertainty. (Reporter Rachel Wagoner can be contacted at 800-837-3419 or rachel@farmanddairy.com.) Bhopal, April 6 : With several members of the top bureaucracy in Madhya Pradesh testing Covid-19 positive and the number of coronavirus cases rising at an alarming rate, questions have cropped up on the officials attending meetings with the Chief Minister in the war room. Over 100 journalists have been asked to isolate themselves after one of them attended outgoing Chief Minister Kamal Nath's press conference a fortnight ago. An FIR has been filed against him for hiding the information about his daughter's return from London and testing positive for the virus. While others have been facing FIRs over lesser lapses, Principal Secretary in the Health Department Pallavi Jain-Govil, who has tested positive, is now facing a barrage of queries over hiding the information about her son's return from the US on March 16. She had been attending meetings that included the Chief Minister, the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police without going through the mandatory isolation. Jain-Govil said her son had arrived from the US on March 16 and the USA was not among the 12 nations listed by the government notification for restrictions to be observed. She said her son stayed in isolation till March 30. She claimed that her family had gone through mandatory tests. Dr Veena Sinha, Additional Director of the Health Department, too have tested positive for Covid-19. Her son had arrived from the US after the coronavirus outbreak. Jain-Govil and Sinha have been admitted to Bhopal AIIMS and their family members are also quarantined. Some of the staff who have been meeting them for preparing daily health bulletins have not been screened for coronavirus. Around 150 Health Department employees are now under medical supervision. Pramod Goyal, Deputy Director of the integrated disease surveillance programme, who has tested Covid-19 positive had travelled to Indore, the coronavirus hotspot in the state. On Friday, IAS officer and Health Corporation Managing Director J.J. Vijay Kumar tested coronavirus positive. On Saturday, 12 IAS officers of the coronavirus core group were quarantined at home. Eight more Health Department employees tested positive on Saturday, said Chief Medical and Health Officer Bhopal Sudhir Kumar Daheria. Eleven more Health Department staffers reported positive during the weekend. The officers who have quarantined themselves included Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. Also, acting Health Director, he has been put up at the Lake View Ashoka Hotel. Collectors Nishant Barwade, S Dhanaraju and Sudam P Khade have moved to the guest house of the Academy of Administration. Their families are quarantined at home. Prateek Hajela, till recently the Health Director, is staying at home. Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Bains has also quarantined himself. So far, 17 Covid-19 cases have been reported in the state capital. Oil storage tanks stand at the RN-Tuapsinsky refinery, operated by Rosneft Oil Co., in Tuapse, Russia, on Monday, March 23, 2020. Andrey Rudakov | Bloomberg | Getty Images The oil price bust may not be over. A historic demand shock sparked by the coronavirus pandemic is set to worsen in the current quarter, undermining any coordinated effort by heavyweight producers Saudi Arabia, Russia and the United States to cut supply aggressively and rebalance the market, according to a CNBC survey of 30 strategists, analysts and traders. Episodic spikes of $20 a barrel or more in benchmark crude oil futures of the type seen last week cannot be ruled out as rivals Saudi Arabia and Russia attempt to reverse a damaging battle for market share and engineer a global supply deal which could cut up to 15 million barrels a day, the equivalent of about 10% of global supply. But such price rallies are unlikely to last, according to the findings of the CNBC survey conducted over the past two weeks. Brent crude futures, the barometer for 70% of globally trade oil, are likely to average $20 a barrel in the current quarter, according to the median forecast of 30 strategists, analysts and traders who responded to a CNBC survey, or 12 out of 30 respondents. However, nearly a third, or nine of those surveyed, said prices may drop below $20 a barrel this quarter. Amongst the more pessimistic projections, ANZ's Daniel Hynes saw the risk of prices in the 'mid-teens' while JBC Energy's Johannes Benigni warned that both Brent and US crude futures could 'temporarily' fall to around $10 a barrel. New normal The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the supplier of a third of the world's oil, and its rivals outside the group are "of pretty limited relevance in this context, as they are neither likely to be willing nor able to stem the current demand shock," Benigni said. Bearish forecasters said two forces would keep oil prices depressed in the second quarter skepticism that Saudi Arabia and Russia would relent in their price war and commit to the deepest cuts in the producer group's history (with or without participation from U.S. shale producers) and a glut in the current quarter caused by a monumental collapse in global demand as the full economic severity of the global coronavirus pandemic unfolds. "A demand drop of 10% is the New Normal with oil," said John Driscoll, director of JTD Energy Services in Singapore and a former oil trader whose career spans nearly 40 years. Global commodities trader Trafigura's chief economist Saad Rahim offered a starker prediction. Oil demand could fall by more than 30 million barrels a day in April, or around a third of the world's daily oil consumption, Reuters reported on March 31, citing his forecasts. And even if Saudi Arabia, its OPEC allies and major producers outside the group such as Russia and the U.S. did agree on aggressive supply restraint, it's unlikely to materially drain global inventories that are closing in on what the oil industry calls 'tank tops', or storage capacity limits. Too little, too late "The long and short of it is that the current rally will likely be short lived," Citigroup's oil strategists led by Ed Morse said in an April 2 report. "The big three oil producers may have found a way to work together to balance markets, but it looks like it is too little too late. That means prices would have to fall to the single digits to facilitate inventory fill and shut in production." Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency said oil inventories would still rise by 15 million barrels a day in the second quarter even with output cuts of 10 million barrels a day, Reuters reported on April 3. Citi expects Brent to average $17 a barrel in the current quarter and warned Moscow, Riyadh and Washington "cannot in the end stop prices from possibly falling below $10 before the end of April." Plus, travel restrictions, border closures, lockdowns and economic disruption caused by 'social distancing' and other measures taken by governments globally to slow the spread of the virus will exact a heavy toll on oil demand and could even linger when the virus clears, clouding the prospects of a recovery. "As for the second quarter or even the third, I don't see a V-shaped recovery for prices," said Anthony Grisanti, founder and president of GRZ Energy, who has over 30 years of experience in the futures industry. "The longer people are shut in the more likely behaviour will changeI have a hard time seeing oil above $30-35 a barrel over the next 6 months." Negative pricing By Sanjeev Miglani NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India, like a lot of countries plunged into crisis by the pandemic, is struggling to ramp up testing for the coronavirus, but in few places would the odds of containing the disease appear so bleak should domestic transmission start to multiply. Officials hope to be testing 20,000 people daily by the end of the week, twice the current rate. Since India's first case was confirmed on Jan. 30, India has conducted only a little over 96,000 tests, having focused efforts on identifying those who had come in contact with people who have tested positive. The results show 4,067 people are infected, and 107 have died of the respiratory disease. Officials believe a three-week nationwide lockdown ordered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have slowed the spread of the virus in communities, giving them a chance to catch up in the race to stop a full blown epidemic. Lav Agarwal, joint secretary in the Indian health ministry leading the effort to tackle the spread of infections, said the country was increasing its testing capacity gradually. "We should be not be panicking, we should be preparing," Agarwal said. "We have followed a pro-active policy from the beginning. Our focus has been on surveillance and contact tracing. Instead of the virus chasing us, we have been chasing the virus." Testing had already doubled in the last two days from 5,000 samples a day, another health official said. "This is expected to reach 20,000 in the next three days and increase further over the next few weeks as per the plan," the official said. Further out, the country was planning to scale up to 100,000 tests a day in the "worst-case scenario", the Indian Council of Medical Research, the government arm regulating the testing, said in a statement. Worldwide, more than 1.25 million people have been reported infected by COVID-19, and far wealthier countries than India have been fiercely criticised for their slow initial response, particularly regarding testing. Story continues Having been chided for a lag in testing, the United States has overtaken China as the country suffering the most infections. The United States has now conducted around a million tests, and 336,000 people have tested positive. In India, with 1.3 billion people, hundreds of millions of poor, living in unhygienic and crammed-in conditions, there is a very real fear that if the testing starts too far behind the curve, the confirmed cases won't even account for the tip of the tip of the iceberg. "There is unanimity among epidemiologists, doctors and district-level administrators that the need of the hour is aggressive and extensive testing," said former finance minister P. Chidambaram and a leader of the opposition Congress party. Yet, doctors say the campaign for mass screening is handicapped by a lack of both testing kits and protective gear for staff carrying out the tests. SOUTH ASIA Elsewhere in South Asia, the medical infrastructure can be even more inadequate, and authorities are playing catch up as testing kits become available to them. Bangladesh and Nepal moved on Monday to further restrict people's movements in the hope of containing the virus. Nepal's Finance Minister Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada said a two-week lockdown that was due to end on Tuesday will be extended by another week. Bangladesh, struggling to get its people to abide by a similar shutdown, suspended prayers at mosques to stop worshippers from stepping out of their homes. Afghanistan has had 367 cases from the 2,737 people it has tested. The western border province of Herat has suffered the worst outbreak, as thousands of Afghans returned in recent weeks from Iran, where the virus has hit hard. Officials say there has been basic screening such as temperature checks but only a fraction of those crossing the border from Iran have been tested. In Bangladesh, with a population of 160 million, the government has faced criticism also over a lack of testing. "We are testing at 14-15 different places. We will increase the number of tests to 1,000-1,500 per day in future," Health Minister Zahid Malik said. The testing rate has varied from 300 on Sunday, to barely 50 to 100 last week. Pakistan's health ministry said it had conducted 35,875 tests so far, based on a policy of testing only those people with a suspect travel history, direct exposure to someone who has tested positive or showing acute symptoms with an underlying history of health problems. Following are government figures on the spread of the coronavirus in South Asia: * India has 4067 cases, including 109 deaths * Pakistan has 3,277 cases, including 50 deaths * Afghanistan has 367 cases, including 7 deaths * Sri Lanka has 176 cases, including 5 deaths * Bangladesh has 123 cases, including 12 deaths * Maldives has 19 cases and no deaths * Nepal has nine cases and no deaths * Bhutan has five cases and no deaths (Additional reporting by Abdul Qadir Sediq and Charlotte Greenfield in Kabul, Asif Shahzad in Islamabad, Ruma Paul in Dhaka, Aftab Ahmed in New Delhi; writing by Sanjeev Miglani; editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) OTTAWA (Reuters) - The number of people killed by the coronavirus in Canada has jumped by just over 20% to 258 in a day, officials said on Sunday, while Ottawa offered full-time jobs to reservists in the armed forces. By 11:05 eastern time (1505 GMT), the total number of those diagnosed with the coronavirus had risen by almost 12% to 14,426, the public health agency said. The respective figures on Saturday were 214 deaths and 12,924 positive diagnoses. OTTAWA (Reuters) - The number of people killed by the coronavirus in Canada has jumped by just over 20% to 258 in a day, officials said on Sunday, while Ottawa offered full-time jobs to reservists in the armed forces. By 11:05 eastern time (1505 GMT), the total number of those diagnosed with the coronavirus had risen by almost 12% to 14,426, the public health agency said. The respective figures on Saturday were 214 deaths and 12,924 positive diagnoses. The outbreak looks set to tip the economy into recession and the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has already announced stimulus measures totaling C$105 billion ($74 billion) in direct spending, or 5% of gross domestic product. Trudeau said his government was contacting reservists across the country to offer them full-time jobs for the coming months. "Bolstering the military's ranks will help offset some of the economic consequences of COVID-19 and ensure our communities are well supported," he told a daily briefing. Canada has around 31,000 reservists, most of whom serve one evening a week and one weekend a month. There are just over 67,000 full-time members of the armed forces. ($1 = 1.4199 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Nick Zieminski) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Three out of four US hospitals are already treating patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, but the facilities are still 10 days ahead of a peak in capacity. A report Monday from a federal watchdog agency warns that different, widely reported problems are feeding off each other in a vicious cycle as hospitals expect to be overwhelmed while cases rocket toward their projected peak. Such problems include insufficient tests, slow results, scarcity of protective gear, the shortage of breathing machines for seriously ill patients and burned-out staffs anxious for their own safety. 'There's this sort of domino effect,' said Ann Maxwell, an assistant inspector general at the Department of Health and Human Services. 'These challenges play off each other and exacerbate the situation. There's a cascade effect.' A federal report due out Monday, April 6, finds that three out of four U.S. hospitals surveyed are already treating patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center health care professionals stand and wave from the sidewalk at the Caravan of Care as it parades around the hospital in Athens, Georgia Hospital workers appear at a staff entrance as motorcyclists and friends of Chad Edmonds, of Cedar Rapids, wave from a parking ramp on the UnityPoint St. Luke's campus in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Sunday. Edmonds has been battling COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, in the hospital and is in an induced coma, according to his parents, who took part in the show of support Modelling shows that hospitals are expected to take their peak of coronavirus patients in the middle of April The inspector general's report is based on a telephone survey of 323 hospitals around the country, from March 23-27. With hundreds of new coronavirus cases daily, the situation is becoming more dire for many the nation's 6,000 hospitals. Others can still scramble to prepare. 'Hospitals reported that their most significant challenges centered on testing and caring for patients with known or suspected COVID-19, and keeping staff safe,' the report concluded. 'Its likely that every hospital in America is going to have to deal with this,' Maxwell said. In most people, the coronavirus causes mild to moderate symptoms. Others, particularly older people and those with underlying health issues, can develop life-threatening breathing problems. The U.S. has more diagnosed cases in the global pandemic than any other country, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Projections show the nation will see the peak impact later this month. Maxwell said the key insight from the report is that different problems - usually addressed individually - are building on each other to entangle the whole system. For example, a lack of testing and slow results means hospitals must keep patients with unconfirmed coronavirus disease longer. An emergency room nurse dons her face protectors after taking a break in a driveway for ambulances and emergency medical services vehicles outside Brooklyn Hospital Center's emergency room, Sunday in New York A sign acknowledging the work of doctors and nurses is posted on a traffic control box outside Brooklyn Hospital Center, as a hospital worker, right, waits for a traffic light to change before reporting to duty, Sunday, April 5, 2020, in New York. The Brooklyn hospital is one of several in the area treating high numbers of coronavirus patients. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) That takes up precious beds and uses up protective equipment like gowns, masks and face shields, since doctors and nurses have to assume that patients with symptoms of respiratory distress may be positive. The increased workload raises the stress on clinical staff, who are also concerned they may be unable to properly protect themselves. 'Health care workers feel like theyre at war right now,' a hospital administrator in New York City told the inspector general's investigators. They 'are seeing people in their 30s, 40s, 50s dying. ... This takes a large emotional toll.' The inspector general's office did not identify survey respondents due to privacy concerns. Overtime hours and increased use of supplies are raising costs at the same time that many hospitals experience a revenue crunch because elective surgeries have been canceled. The recently passed federal stimulus bill pumps money to hospitals. 'It is in fact a national challenge, not just from the hot spots, but from all over the country,' Maxwell said. Rural hospitals are vulnerable because of a limited number of beds and smaller staffs. Of the 323 hospitals in the survey, 117 reported they were treating one or more patients with confirmed COVID-19, while 130 said they were treating one or more patients suspected to have the disease. Suspected infections are treated similarly, because of the uncertainties around testing. Only 32 hospitals said they were not treating any patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. Another 44 hospitals did not provide that information. 'Hospitals anticipated being overwhelmed by a surge in COVID-19 patients, who would need specialty beds and isolation areas for effective treatment,' the report said. In this April 2, 2020, file photo a nurse holds a vial and a swab at a drive-up coronavirus testing station at a hospital in Seattle Above shows the number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the US as of Monday morning WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS? Like other coronaviruses, including those that cause the common cold and that triggered SARS, COVID-19 is a respiratory illness. The most common symptoms are: Fever Dry cough Shortness of breath Difficulty breathing Fatigue Although having a runny nose doesn't rule out coronavirus, it doesn't thus far appear to be a primary symptom. Most people only become mildly ill, but the infection can turn serious and even deadly, especially for those who are older or have underlying health conditions. In these cases, patients develop pneumonia, which can cause: Potentially with yellow, green or bloody mucus Fever, sweating and shaking chills Shortness of breath Rapid or shallow breathing Pain when breathing, especially when breathing deeply or coughing Low appetite, energy and fatigue Nausea and vomiting (more common in children) Confusion (more common in elderly people) Some patients have also reported diarrhea and kidney failure has occasionally been a complication. Avoid people with these symptoms. If you develop them, call your health care provider before going to the hospital or doctor, so they and you can prepare to minimize possible exposure if they suspect you have coronavirus. Advertisement The head of a group representing for-profit hospitals said Monday that, on top of the problems in the report, facilities are finding that COVID-19 patients take long to recover. 'We are finding that their lengths of stay are much longer than comparable illnesses like pneumonia and flu, and they are requiring a lot of drugs,' said Chip Kahn, president of the Federation of American Hospitals. Parts of Europe provide a glimpse of what hospitals in the U.S. are trying to avoid. The AP reported last week that some European nations are throwing together makeshift hospitals and shipping coronavirus patients out of overwhelmed cities via high-speed trains and military jets. In Spain, doctors are having to make agonizing decisions about who gets the best care. In the U.S., two Navy hospital ships have been deployed and field hospitals erected. How to set priorities for the use of ventilators, breathing machines that can sustain life, is one of the most worrisome questions. Hospitals from Louisiana to New York and Michigan are already confronting projected shortages, the AP reported last week. 'Government needs to provide guidelines on ethics if health resources are limited and decisions need to be made about which patients to treat,' a hospital official in Broward County, Florida, told the inspector general's office. 'Are physicians liable for their decisions if that happens?' Many hospitals are responding by improvising their own solutions. Some explored buying face masks from nail salons due to the shortage of personal protective equipment, or PPE. Others have been trying to make their own hand sanitizer by blending ultrasound gel with alcohol from local distilleries. Ingenuity can create its own worries. 'We are throwing all of our PPE best practices out the window,' a hospital administrator in West Texas told the inspector general's office. 'That one will come back and bite us.' Clearly the need even outweighs what that purchase would be, Moran said. We made it with alacrity, but we are going to need additional supplies." Northam would not commit to joining a nationwide PPE-buying consortium that governors of other states, most notably New Yorks Andrew Cuomo, have called for. We are working with the other governors. We are working with our leadership in Washington to follow our inventory, not only in Virginia, but for all the other states, Northam said. We also have a responsibility to prepare and we have prepared for the worst. Virginia has also started meals ready-to-eat, better known as MREs, to food banks in the state, which are seeing an increase in demand with many out-of-work. Northam said the state is finalizing contracts for the three venues, including the Greater Richmond Convention Center, that his administration has tapped as emergency field hospitals. Construction on the three sites is scheduled to begin this week, Northam said. - Justin Mattingly A pro-Tibet protester holds up a scarf as he waits for China's President Xi Jinping to pass on the Mall during his ceremonial welcome, in London, U.K., October 20, 2015. Chinese authorities in the Tibetan Autonomous Region recently announced a campaign aimed at stamping out rumors and misinformation, but Tibet analysts say that its true purpose is to stifle freedom of expression, especially among advocates of Tibetan independence. According to an April 1 report in the China Tibet Online, the 17-point Squash Rumors and Reactionary Activities campaign offers prizes for people who tip off authorities to a wide swath of illegal activities. Tipsters can earn between 1,000 and 10,000 yuan (U.S. $141-$1,410) for reporting on activities ranging from the creation or distribution of unauthorized publications, advocacy for a higher degree of autonomy for Tibet, and the "misguidance" of religious followers through the encouragement of superstitious belief. The measures also specifically discuss those who advocate illegal activities like calling for Tibetan independence. Spreading fear Several Tibetan analysts said that the campaign is meant to turn Tibetans on one another and destroy their sense of national identity. Arya Tsewang Gyalpo, the spokesman for the Central Tibetan Administration, told RFAs Tibetan Service, the campaign, in reality, is aimed at creating an environment of fear and suspicion for those advocating the protection of the environment and the preservation of Tibetan religion and culture. It streamlines the process for the arrest and detention of those courageous Tibetans who stand up for Tibetan language and culture, the spokesman said. Tenzin Dalha, a researcher at the Tibet Policy Institute told RFA, These so-called measures are nothing new. The Chinese authorities long ago implemented these policies to pave the way for easy crackdowns and control of the Tibetan people. By rewarding snitches, it sows a seed of discord among Tibetans themselves. Unlike anything that has come before, this [campaign] will create more resentment and distrust among Tibetans, he said. The policy of rewarding tipsters has precedents. Similar campaigns were in effect in the year 2000 and again in September 2019. Reported by Kalden lodoe and Lobsang Gelek for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Dorjee Damdul. Written in English by Eugene Whong. T he UK death toll has risen by 439 people as of 5pm on Sunday, the Department of Health and Social Care has said. A total of 5,373 patients have now died in hospital up from 4,934 on Saturday, the DHSC added. Today's daily death toll increase is 182 fewer than yesterday's rise in fatalities at 621. A further 403 fatalities were confirmed in England today along with 27 more in Wales and two more in Scotland. Meanwhile, the number of UK cases reached 51,608 after the results of a total 208,837 tests have come back as of 9am on Monday. 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 DHSC also said that 252,958 tests have concluded so far, with 13,069 tests carried out on Sunday, excluding data from Northern Ireland. Loading.... Todays figures from the Department of Health show the number of new people tested daily in the UK for coronavirus is continuing to climb above 10,000. Loading.... A total of 13,313 new people were reported as being tested in the 24 hours to 9am on Monday. The equivalent figure for yesterday was 12,334. A policeman walks past a people exercising with a dog in Roundhay Park, Leeds / PA The total number of people in the UK tested since the outbreak began 208,837 is the equivalent of around 313 people in every 100,000, or 0.3 per cent of the population. The number of deaths announced by the Department of Health has reached 5,373 but this is not a measure of how many deaths have occurred each day in the UK. A woman walks past a boarded up restaurant in Edinburgh's Old Town as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. / PA It is an updated total of the number of deaths that have been reported to the department as of 5pm on April 5, regardless of whether those deaths occurred in the past few days or weeks. The number also refers almost entirely to patients who have died in hospital, and excludes nearly all of those who died in the wider community. Listen to The Leader: Coronavirus Daily podcast It took 22 days for this particular number to pass 500. It has taken a further 11 days for this number to pass 5,000. It comes as Boris Johnson spent the night in hospital due to continuing Covid-19 symptoms as a "precautionary step" but is "in good spirits" and said to still be leading the Government. He remains in charge of Government, according to his spokesman, and vowed to carry on working with his team "to fight the virus", though Dominic Raab hosted today's Covid-19 meeting in his place. Capt. Crozier made a command decision in the best interests of his sailors. Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly recognized that Capt. Crozier did what he thought was in the best interest of the safety and the well-being of his crew. That recognition is the beginning, middle and end of the story. To remove Capt. Crozier from command discourages me and others from service. It is unfair given the sacrifice of our military and will pierce the desire of our millennials to serve and follow in the footsteps of those fallen before us. It is this new generation upon whom we must rely for the future defense of our country, and this action undermined their faith in our military. 2014 image from Central Juvenile Hall in Los Angeles. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) It was the phone call Domonique had been dreading, the one that seemed inevitable. Her 19-year-old son was on the other end of the line, calling from inside Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar. "Mom, one of the boys in the unit underneath me has the coronavirus," he said. It remains unclear whether the rumor was true, but the panic Domonique felt with no way to check on her asthmatic son was very real. Two days later, The Times obtained a document that revealed a probation officer who works at Nidorf had tested positive for the coronavirus. As a result, 21 youths were placed under quarantine. Fears of a coronavirus outbreak in county and state lockups have sparked efforts across California and the nation to lower the adult prison and jail populations in recent weeks, with thousands of nonviolent offenders and those nearing the end of their sentences being released early. But policies for early release of juveniles are more complicated, leaving hundreds of young detainees and staff in environments where an outbreak could spread rapidly. Los Angeles County detention centers have barred in-person family visits and those of community-based organizations. With limited contact, many parents who spoke to The Times on the condition of anonymity said they feel unable to protect their kids during a pandemic. Advocates and attorneys, meanwhile, say they face barriers such as court closures preventing them from arguing for the release of their clients. Theres a real disconnect between what we are hearing at every level of state government, county and city, compared to whats going on in the Probation Department and the juvenile courts," said Jerod Gunsberg, a Los Angeles defense attorney. "There is just not the same sense of urgency. The situation in juvenile halls is a microcosm of the broader struggle across the country to balance public safety against public health. The infection of more than 200 people in New York City jails has highlighted the virus' potential to spread rapidly through incarcerated populations. Story continues In California, a group of advocates and defense attorneys has called for the release of all juveniles awaiting trial or being held on technical probation violations. The Legal Aid Society in New York City has sued for the release of several youths 13 to 17 years old who are being held by a child welfare agency. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court received a petition Wednesday asking for the release of nearly 2,000 juvenile defendants, many of whom are considered medically fragile. Advocates are concerned that incarceration during the pandemic as well as isolation or quarantine in their rooms could also endanger children's mental health because of the prolonged separation from their families. We know that kids do better when they are connected with their families, said Michael Umpierre, director of the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University. In this context, its really challenging because you have the public health concerns, but you have to figure out a way to keep families engaged in the process in the meantime. For those serving time in county jails, sheriffs have the authority to release inmates early in an emergency. The L.A. County jail population, typically about 17,000 people in custody, is now fewer than 14,500. But attempts to enact a broad release of juvenile inmates in Los Angeles County have been blocked by court officials, according to a person with knowledge of the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss the issue candidly. During a meeting of attorneys and court officials late last month, some raised the idea of trying to identify young detainees who could be eligible for release, including nonviolent offenders, youths with compromised immune systems or those nearing the end of their sentences, the source said. But the initiative was blocked by L.A. County Superior Court Judge John C. Lawson, who oversees Delinquency Court, the source said. Lawson said juvenile releases would continue to be determined on a case-by-case analysis, depending on the youth's conduct and performance during custody programs. Lawson was not available for an interview, Mary Hearn, a spokeswoman for the court, said. "We recognize the urgency of protecting these youths," Hearn said in an email. "We are working with our juvenile justice partners to identify minors for release to slow the spread of COVID-19 in county juvenile facilities." Adam Wolfson, communications director for the L.A. County Probation Department, said the agency is actively working to reduce its juvenile population. "We continuously screen for early release due to youths meeting their treatment goals," he said. "Those that meet eligibility criteria will be sent to court with a recommendation for release; however, only the court can authorize a release." L.A. County juvenile halls and camps now hold 677 youths, a significant decrease from the 2,455 youths held in county facilities in 2012, records show. But at least 285 of those in custody are still awaiting trial, a group advocates argue should be released because of the virus. The vast majority of children living in the facilities are black or Latino boys, county records show. Children in the juvenile justice system are more likely to have experienced trauma, which can be linked to poor health outcomes, said Samantha Buckingham, the director of the Juvenile Justice Clinic at Loyola Law School. Last month, probation officers began "verbally screening" anyone entering a juvenile facility and turning away those with symptoms that could be linked to a respiratory illness. Young people newly entering county custody are also undergoing health screenings. "Youth and staff in Probation facilities are practicing social distancing strategies when feasible by limiting groups, assigning beds that can provide additional space between individuals, rearranging scheduled movements to minimize mixing of individuals from different housing areas, and utilizing social distancing during recreation," the Probation Department said in a statement. Wolfson said probation officers are limiting the congregation of youths to groups of six or less, having them shower individually and staggering meal times to prevent large groups from gathering in mess halls. Complaints coming from inside the juvenile facilities, however, paint a different picture. An 18-year-old being held at an L.A. County juvenile camp, who requested anonymity for fear of retribution, told The Times that physical distancing is nearly impossible where he's being housed. Youths still shower in groups as large as seven and sleep in tightly spaced beds, according to the teen, who said he turns his head away from others, fearing someone may cough or sneeze in his face. With nearly all educational and counseling programs on hold, he said, residents of the camp spend most days in their beds or in a recreational room that houses a television and a PlayStation 4 console. But the room is not large, and teens often end up sitting shoulder to shoulder on a couch or sharing the same video game controller. Surgical masks and gloves have been handed out inside the facility, he said, but only to probation staff. They dont want them to get it, but why can't they help us? Theyre just helping their staff, like we not nobody here," the teen said. "They take care of them more than us. Probation officials did not respond to questions about the boy's description of conditions at the camp. His concerns echoed those shared in a recent letter sent to the L.A. County Department of Public Health by a number of defense attorneys and criminal justice reform groups. "The most pressing concerns are system-wide reports that social distancing is not being enforced by probation officers who supervise the children," the letter said. "At the probation camps, it is our understanding that youth are still housed in crowded dormitory settings and that the 'six foot rule' is neither explained nor enforced." Gunsberg, the defense attorney, said there is no purpose in continuing to detain nonviolent teens while most educational, counseling and job training programs are on hold because of the coronavirus outbreak. "The whole point of the juvenile justice system is rehabilitation so if theres no rehabilitative purpose, what are they doing?" he asked. "Wouldnt they be better off at home? Some parents complain that they have received little information from probation officials, worsening their stress. Domonique said she was unaware a public defender assigned to the Sylmar Juvenile Court had tested positive for the coronavirus until she was contacted by The Times. Neither probation officials nor the public defender's office have answered questions about whether the attorney had contact with detainees. Domonique, who is a healthcare provider, said her son has been largely keeping to himself in recent weeks, fearful that anyone he contacts could be infected. After she heard that a public defender and a probation officer connected to the Sylmar hall had both become sick, the hours between phone calls from her son have become agonizing. If I dont hear from him, Im like, is he OK? What is he doing? Why hasnt he called me? Did my baby get sick?" she said. The concern goes both ways. Gabriela, whose 18-year-old son is housed in the Sylmar juvenile hall, said she's told him about how parks and movie theaters have closed because of the pandemic. She has assured him that she's exercised care, as have his father and sister, not to leave the house unless it's necessary. "He's very depressed and worried about us, because he hasn't been able to see us," she said. For some parents, recent developments at Sylmar have been bittersweet. One of them, Yolanda, said she felt a huge relief when she learned that her son might be released soon because of the virus. But after she heard about the infected probation officer, the mother's joy quickly turned to anxiety. I hope that my son wont bring the virus home, she said. The latest: White House, Congress look toward next relief package Members of Congress and the White House are looking ahead toward another coronavirus rescue package, the Associated Press reports. Last month President Trump signed a $2.2 trillion dollar stimulus package. Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said an additional $1 trillion is needed. According to the Associated Press, at his daily White House briefing, the president said, "We're going to take good care of our people. It was not their fault." Wisconsin Supreme Court blocks governor's order to postpone primary election Wisconsins Supreme Court blocked Democratic Gov. Tony Evers order to postpone Tuesdays election, despite his arguments that in-person voting could endanger poll workers and voters because of the coronavirus pandemic. The court sided with Republicans who control the state legislature and opposed Evers executive order Monday that sought to delay the election until June 9. The decision was 4-2, with the courts conservative majority backing the GOPs position. It was the latest twist in a legal battle that has thrown the primary into chaos as state and local elections officials have consolidated polling places and scrambled to find workers and supplies for those that will open. US death toll eclipses 10,000 In just six weeks, the U.S. death toll from coronavirus went from zero to more than 10,000. That grim milestone was reached Monday, shortly after officials warned this will be the toughest week yet in the pandemic. Michigan hospitals are three to six days away from running out of critical supplies, the governor said. Mortuaries in New Orleans are already out of space, and the mayor said she needs help getting more refrigeration. And New York, New Jersey and Detroit will see peaks in hospitalizations and deaths this week, a US Health and Human Services assistant secretary said. Other U.S. cities will experience their own peaks in the coming weeks, Dr. Brett Giroir told NBC's "Today" show. He said the peaks reflect infections that occurred two or three weeks ago. "We may be seeing the worst upon us right now in terms of outcomes," Giroir said. There could be many more deaths from coronavirus than we realize, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Some "may be misclassified as pneumonia deaths in the absence of positive test results," the CDC said. "We really are just seeing the tip of the iceberg, and a lot of it has to do with the tests we have available," said Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos, a critical care physician at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore. Yet there are also signs of progress. More Americans are finding creative ways to help. And in the U.S. epicenter of coronavirus, New York City, the worst of the pandemic might be over soon. Officials have cautioned that the week ahead will be a grim one, bringing more cases and deaths. The U.S. surgeon general said it will be the "hardest and the saddest" week many Americans have ever faced. "I want Americans to understand that as hard as this week is going to be, there is a light at the end of the tunnel," U.S. Surgeon General Vice Admiral Jerome Adams said on "Fox News Sunday." He described the week ahead as a "Pearl Harbor moment" and a "9/11 moment." British prime minister moved to intensive care One day after being hospitalized with coronavirus symptoms, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been taken to an intensive care unit after his condition worsened. Johnson is in intensive care at St Thomas Hospital, in London, 10 Downing Street said. Downing Street said Foreign Secretary Dominic Rabb will fill in for Johnson while he is in the ICU. "The PM is receiving excellent care and thanks all NHS staff for their hard work and dedication," according to a statement from Johnson's office. Johnson was admitted to the hospital on Sunday because he was still exhibiting symptoms 10 days after testing positive for the virus. New York reports drop in deaths Still, the weekend brought some promising news in New York, the state reporting the most cases and deaths. Gov. Andrew Cuomo reported a drop in the daily number of reported deaths in the state on Sunday for the first time in days. He also said ICU admissions and daily intubations were down and the hospital discharge rate was "way up." But Cuomo cautioned that it is still too soon to determine if the trend will hold, calling the developments "a few signs that are a little hopeful" that the state is approaching its peak in cases and will begin to plateau. Across the country, state leaders are still scrambling to pull together enough resources to battle the outbreak. The coroner's office and mortuaries in New Orleans have reached their limit, said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. She's asked the federal government for additional refrigeration. The city is also responding to the influx of patients by converting its convention center into an emergency hospital set to open Monday. There were more than 13,000 reported cases of coronavirus and 477 deaths in Louisiana early Monday. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said Sunday his state could run out of ventilators by the end of the week if cases continue to surge. Hard hit Pennsylvania saw an increase of 1,494 cases Sunday, the governor's office said, bringing the statewide total to more than 11,500. New Jersey reported another 3,482 cases on Sunday for a total of 37,505. At least 917 people have died in the state, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy's office said. Religious holidays threaten social distancing This week is Holy Week in the Christian faith, leading up to Easter. And with the Jewish holiday of Passover beginning Wednesday evening and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan later this month, those urging social distancing are warning against gatherings that go against coronavirus guidance. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh at a press conference Sunday urged worshipers to stay home this holiday. "I know it's a very difficult thing, as a Catholic, Easter Sunday for me next week, Palm Sunday today," Walsh said. "But that is not what we need right now. We need prayers right now, that's what we need." Many states have made exemptions from stay at home orders for religious gatherings. And even in states that haven't, some church leaders are still holding service. Rev. Tony Spell of Life Tabernacle Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was charged last week with violating the state's ban and Sunday he gathered again with 1,200 people. "We don't get our rights to worship freely from the government. We get those from God," Spell said Sunday. "We'd rather obey God than man." Other institutions are holding services virtually to maintain safety and spiritual connection. Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez on Sunday thanked religious leaders who held services online, calling it the "safest way to keep us all connected." Distributing help to hotspots Under the weight of the pandemic, individuals and officials are seeking innovative ways to help those most affected. The Department of Veterans Affairs will open more than 1,500 beds for civilians at hospitals in multiple states to alleviate the burden on hospitals under siege from coronavirus, according to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. Aid from the VA will be distributed in New York, New Jersey, Louisiana, Michigan and Massachusetts. Related video: First look at coronavirus field hospital at Boston Convention and Exhibition Center Californians are wearing homemade masks to avoid buying the medical masks needed at hospitals that are low on supplies. President Donald Trump on Friday announced guidance that Americans wear face coverings. Elsewhere, additional personnel, hospital beds and medical equipment are being brought in with the hope of relieving the growing strain on medical workers like Dr. Sneha Topgi, who works in an emergency department in Brooklyn. She describes an emergency room where it seems almost every patient, no matter what they originally came in for, is found to have coronavirus and where medical professionals are maneuvering through hallways where patients are put in beds and stretchers. Staff writes their name on the body-covering personal protective equipment they wear so patients have some sense of connection with the people treating them. "I think we're still at the beginning and I am scared. I'm scared for myself and I'm scared for everyone in general." A 10m scheme to deliver food parcels to the most vulnerable during lockdown has been announced by the Minister for Communities. Deirdre Hargey said the weekly deliveries are due to start from Wednesday, with an initial 10,400 people identified. Planned for the next 15 weeks, the department will work with local councils and volunteers to make the deliveries. The initial list has been based on those with underlying health conditions that have been asked to shield at home by their GPs. Ms Hargey said there was flexibility to add names to the list, taking guidance from councils and local communities. "These parcels will help people who don't have an existing support network or the financial means," she told the Belfast Telegraph. "This is a way to protect those people and reach out to them, as well as providing a friendly face once a week." Food suppliers are to provide the food boxes to local councils with packages including items such as tinned food, dried food and soap as well as some fresh fruit and bread. "The key is to protect those people who are shielding, but also to protect those who have lost their jobs and have fallen on severe financial hardship," the minister said. Ms Hargey said the Department for Communities was also working on plans with the Department of Health and health trusts to safely deliver prescription medications. "We will be working with community pharmacies and drawing up a list and building a database of people who need their prescriptions delivered," she said. Sporting organisations like Ulster GAA, Ulster Rugby and the IFA have offered their support to the food delivery scheme. In addition, Ms Hargey said those unable to work in other departments, such as forestry staff, would be able to make vehicles and staff available for deliveries. Delivery drivers are to be given the appropriate advice to protect themselves from coronavirus. "There will be guidance given that you leave the parcel at the front door, that it's wiped down and you don't go into the house and stay the two-metre distance away," she said. She said the initiative will complement existing measures, such as the Department of Education making direct payments for free school meals. In recent weeks community groups have been enlisting volunteers to help vulnerable people isolating from the coronavirus pandemic. On Saturday Belfast Multi Cultural Association worked with St Patrick's soup kitchen to donate 70 dinners to homeless and vulnerable people in the city centre. Last week several organisations in south Belfast, including Bredagh GAC and Ballynafeigh Flute Band, were praised for working together to make food deliveries to those most in need. Supermarkets are continuing to make home deliveries, but slots are being booked up three weeks in advance. A statement from Tesco has urged those customers who are able to safely visit stores to do so, in order to free up slots for the most vulnerable. Belfast City Council has relaxed its Sunday trading restrictions, allowing shops to open three hours earlier to allow dedicated slots for older people and healthcare workers. Eight years ago, the TaxPayers Alliance reported that in the last year, five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories. It currently reports that almost half of avowedly political appointees last year owed their allegiance to Labour Party, compared to less than a third for the Conservatives. Despite the selection of some Party members or supporters to fill important posts, over time, the Conservatives have punched beneath their weight when it comes to public appointments. One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply dont apply in the same number as Labour supporters. To help remedy this, each week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies, so that qualified Conservatives can be aware of the opportunities presented. Health Education England Non-Executive Director Science, technology and demography are changing the way health care services are provided and this has implications for the education and training of the future workforce. The World Health Organisation (WHO) are predicting worldwide shortages of doctors and nurses. These developments provide the context for the work of HEE over the next few years. How do we use finite resources most effectively to ensure that we have the right people in the right place with the right skills and knowledge to respond to these developments? This is an exciting and fundamentally important task and our purpose is to improve the quality and safety of healthcare through the development, education and training of the current and future workforce. Time: 2-3 days per month. Remuneration: 7,883 per annum. Closes: 07 April HM Treasury Financial Regulators Complaints Commissioner The Office of the Complaints Commissioner is headed by the Financial Regulators Complaints Commissioner (the Commissioner) who is a statutory appointment required under the Financial Services Act 2012. This is a senior position and, whilst the appointment is made by the regulators, it is an independent role, subject to approval by HM Treasury. The current Commissioner carries out his duties through a company limited by guarantee (Office of the Complaints Commissioner) from premises based in the City of London. He is assisted by three staff. The Commissioners role is to review independently complaints about the actions or inactions of the UKs current financial services regulators, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Bank of England (but only in respect of its oversight of the banking clearing houses and payment schemes). Time: Est. three days per week. Remuneration: Remuneration is on a level with judicial salaries, pro-rated as appropriate. Closes: 13 April HM Treasury External Member to the Prudential Regulation Committee The Prudential Regulation Committee (PRC) governs the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) which is responsible for the prudential regulation of banks, building societies, other deposit takers, insurance companies and certain investment firms. Chaired by the Governor, and accountable to Parliament, the PRC takes the most significant and high impact supervisory decisions. It is responsible for overseeing and holding to account the PRAs strategy and policy making functions, and for setting the levy on regulated firms. It also adopts the budget of the PRA.The Government is seeking to appoint up to three external members to fill vacancies which arise from retirements in 2020/21. These are high profile and influential roles. Appointees will be independent and will not represent or lobby for individual groups, interests or sectors. Time: The PRC meets 15 to 20 times a year. The nature of the role will require flexibility. Remuneration: 108,300 per annum. Closes: 15 April Harwich Haven Authority Non-Executive Chair Having celebrated our 156 year anniversary last year, we are looking forward to the challenge of strengthening our role in safeguarding the best natural haven on the east coast of England. We cover an area across the River Stour, the lower part of the River Orwell, Harwich Harbour and an area seaward extending 12 nautical miles from the harbour entrance. We provide services for shipping using the commercial ports of Felixstowe, Ipswich, Harwich International, Harwich Navyard and Mistley and also pilot boarding and landing services for the rivers Thames, Medway, Blackwater, Colne and Crouch. Our vision is to be an exemplary Trust Port offering world class services, working with all stakeholders for a flourishing Haven. Time: 20 days per annum. Remuneration: 37,000 per annum. Closes: 17 April Financial Conduct Authority Chief Executive This is an opportunity to take on an intellectually demanding role at the heart of international financial services, leading a sizeable and complex organisation. There is a requirement for strong leadership in a challenging environment to undertake a critically important role. Under Andrew Bailey, the FCA has formulated a transformation programme, to equip the organisation for the next phase of its development: a data strategy and enhanced analytical skills to rapidly identify harm across an exceptionally broad range of firms of all sizes exploiting fast-moving changes in technology and distribution to target consumers; enhance employee capabilities and processes to act swiftly on the harms identified; [and] and with a regulatory framework which is appropriate following the completion of EU withdrawal, and which takes advantage of the opportunities for better and more efficient regulation brought by technology and behavioural science. Time: Full-time. Remuneration: Competitive. Closes: 24 April Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency Non-Executive Directors This is an exciting opportunity to join the Board of an organisation which keeps Britain moving. You would be joining the DVSA at an exciting time, with the opportunity to help shape the future of the agency and ensure its continued success. This will mean supporting the executive team in developing the organisation to be equipped for a future where technological transformation will significantly influence mobility. The DVSA is now seeking to appoint two Non-Executive Directors to the Board who will embrace technological disruption, possess an entrepreneurial spirit and have a passion for harnessing the possibilities that digital transformation plays in driving greater customer insight and intimacy. We seek a Non-Executive Director who will be expected to provide thought leadership in digital transformation and keep abreast of digital transformation trends and innovative approaches to operational excellence, as well as a Non-Executive Director who will have the necessary skills required to chair the audit and risk committee. Time: Up to 36 days per annum. Remuneration: 15,000. Closes: 28 April Health care workers are at an especially high risk of catching the coronavirus because of their prolonged exposure to patients who have it. Making matters worse, the U.S. doesn't have enough of the protective equipment, like masks and gloves, that keeps them safe. And yet these workers, with loved ones of their own, keep showing up at hospitals across the country, knowing that more Americans than they can possibly care for are depending on them. Between the lines: The coronavirus is expected to create a demand for hospital care that far exceeds what the system was built to handle. An overwhelmed health care system is not some abstract thing. It is a group of overwhelmed people health care workers toiling around the clock with inadequate supplies to treat patients with a highly infectious disease. Thousands of health care workers in China and Italy have fallen sick from the coronavirus, a warning sign for the U.S. Two nurses in New York City died earlier this month, the New York Times reported last week, and health care workers said they were afraid more would follow. I am nagged by a constant fear that a patient who otherwise would have been saved, on any hour of any day before this pandemic, will die today, Dhruv Khullar, a doctor in New York City, writes in the New Yorker. Years of honing our clinical instinctsobserving patterns in disease pace and trajectorysuddenly seem insufficient and unreliable. Were learning what to do, and when to do it, as we go, Khullar adds. Shortages of masks, gloves, face shields and other protective equipment have led providers to reuse supplies and improvise with makeshift alternatives. Some hospitals have threatened to fire workers who raise the alarm about these shortages, Bloomberg reports. Beyond their own health, workers have to worry about spreading a highly contagious disease to their loved ones, including members of vulnerable populations. Some workers report physically distancing themselves from their immediate families including spouses and children by sleeping in separate rooms or living in different places altogether, per the NYT. The bottom line: Each morning, on the way to work, I wonder if Ill be healthy enough to return tomorrow, Khullar writes. MIAMI, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- To comply with the social distancing requirements of the CDC, CBT College, the accredited trade and vocational school located in South Florida, announced that their Campuses across Miami Dade County has temporarily transitioned from classroom instruction to a distance education model until further notice. "At these difficult times, our main concern is the health and welfare of our CBT Family. So, we decided to make the temporary transition from classroom instruction to remote online learning to minimize the spread of the virus and to comply with the official guidelines", said Luis Llerena, President & CEO at CBT College. To ensure digital accessibility throughout the transition to virtual classrooms, CBT College leadership assessed the internet service and laptops availability among the faculty and student body, to assure that everyone could have the proper access to the remote learning platform. "Normally, students with limited remote access use our labs and facilities to complete their classwork," said Llerena. "But in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we addressed the remote availability limitations by providing laptops to students that need them, ensuring that they can continue their courses online despite the unprecedented set of challenges that we are all facing nowadays." Llerena also mentioned that CBT College's next step is to implement a hybrid remote-onsite learning environment once CDC and Miami Dade County guidelines allow faculty, students, and staff to return to the facilities completely. Meanwhile, they also set up a CBT Hotline (786-693-8896) to inform about the latest news regarding the shift to the remote working/learning environment during the pandemic, and a FAQ page within the CBT Website to answer questions related to CBT College and COVID-19. "During these challenging times, we continue to be committed to providing a healthy and safe educational setting to our community and to continue to meet our mission of preparing our students for technical careers that fulfill the employment and economic development needs within the local, national, and international markets." - Luis Llerena, President and CEO. About CBT College: CBT College provides career training through a hands-on learning approach within the construction, technology, and allied health fields at its three locations across Miami-Dade County ( Cutler Bay, Flagler , and Hialeah .) Over the past 31 years, the organization has graduated thousands of students into the Miami-Dade County workforce throughout more than 70 graduation ceremonies. The College's involvement with employers, local organizations, and strategic business initiatives has opened up plenty of opportunities for our current students and graduates. CBT College is also listed as a Military-friendly school and participates in the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, as well as is approved by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to participate in the Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enroll International F-1 Visa students. The College is nationally accredited by ACICS, licensed by the Commission of Independent Education (CIE), and certified by the US Department of Education to receive Title IV funding. SOURCE CBT College Related Links http://www.cbt.edu Hey, good morning! There is so much money behind Quibi. If you've never heard of it, it's a mobile video service/network hot on the heels of many similar services that have failed. With Hollywood clout and again, so much darn money, Quibi launches today -- for $5 per month with ads! -- with a selection of shows and content with short runtimes and baffling sales pitches. Will it sideline Netflix, Hulu, podcasts, games, Instagram and absolutely everything else you use to kill time on your phone? I'm not sure it will. Still, there's a 90-day free trial if you want to give it the benefit of the doubt. -- Mat It's more popular than Firefox after just a few months. Microsoft Edge is now the second most popular desktop web browser Microsoft's new Chromium-based browser is picking up users. According to the latest figures from NetMarketShare, Edge just inches ahead of Firefox, with 7.6 percent versus 7.2 percent. Yes, it's Window's default browser, but it's that Chromium base that makes it more compatible, faster and, well, less janky compared to older versions of Edge. Spotify is still out front. Music streaming subscriptions grew by nearly a third in 2019 Counterpoint Research says paid music subscriptions jumped 32 percent to reach 358 million users in 2019. It points to a mix of exclusives, phone service bundles, regional price cuts and extended trial periods for the leap in growth. Spotify, with a 35 percent cut is out in front, while Apple Music claims 19 percent and Amazon has jumped up to 15 percent. After that, it's all the others, like YouTube Music, Tencent, Yandex Music and so on. Quit trying to make Quibi happen Quibi raised $1.75 billion for so-so shows trapped on your phone. Devindra Hardawar has been watching those Quibi snippets, and he can't fathom why anyone would be willing to stump up five bucks a month for it. He also didn't find much value flipping between portrait and vertical modes. Quibi's Turnstyle tech moves between those orientations without stopping the show, but without much commuting in our near future, where this would be useful on a crowded train, it's a miss. You also can't 'cast' the videos to TVs through AirPlay or Chromecast, which means you'll have to share your actual phone if you do eventually find something cool. New York City is among them. School districts ban Zoom over security concerns As Zoom hunkers down to fix its reputation and security holes, some US school districts, including large ones like New York City and Nevada's Clark County, have banned or disabled the video communication service over security and privacy worries. The exact issue differs depending on the district, but they tend to be a mix of tangible security and privacy problems, with teachers and staff who may not be familiar with how Zoom works. There's no end-to-end encryption for Zoom meetings, making it possible to intercept video conferences. Teachers have also had to grapple with "Zoombombing" incidents where bad actors disrupt virtual classes -- sometimes by guessing the meeting number, sometimes because staff share the meeting details on public sites. But wait, there's more... The Morning After is a new daily newsletter from Engadget designed to help you fight off FOMO. Who knows what you'll miss if you don't Subscribe. Craving even more? Like us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter. Have a suggestion on how we can improve The Morning After? Send us a note. A bipartisan traffic jam is forming to demand a painstaking investigation into the missteps and policy holes that led to a massive coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. Lawmakers are circulating at least four proposals in the House intended to establish a coronavirus commission that delves deeply into the government decision-making that failed to prevent the mass illness and death now wracking the country and to help guide preparations for any future pandemic. It's a case study in crisis legislating. Though all four proposals are overwhelmingly similar modeled after the 9/11 Commission that reviewed the failure to prevent the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks the backers are making competing cases for why their specific bills should advance. And the reactions they're generating have more to do with the identity of the sponsors than the substance of the measures, though Republican resistance could be an obstacle for any of the plans. For example, a proposal by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) who President Donald Trump has fashioned as an archrival drew instant derision from Republicans, who labeled it an effort meant to harm Trump and launch "another bogus impeachment." Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), who helped lead Trump's impeachment defense, said it is too soon for Schiff to begin discussing a long-term lookback at what went wrong. Yet Schiff's proposal is nearly identical to a measure offered by Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.) and John Katko (R-N.Y.), who have hailed it as a model of even-keeled bipartisanship. "There's no room for politics during a pandemic," Murphy said in a phone interview. "I think having a bipartisan proposal is one of the key ways you can assure people you're not trying to make a political tool but rather that you're trying to get to real results and improved capabilities for the American people." But the competing proposals arrive at a time of extreme distrust between Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill. Though Congress passed three massive coronavirus relief bills with overwhelming bipartisan support last month, any hope of a moment of national unity has been dashed amid the rising tension of a presidential campaign and a freewheeling response to the crisis by President Donald Trump, who has lashed out at his rivals from a White House podium on a daily basis. Story continues Any commission would also be in addition to the proposed House select committee responsible for real-time oversight of the emergency relief packages, as well as the various panels established by the $2 trillion CARES Act tasked with monitoring the funds. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said Trump's meandering handling of the virus has cost lives, and her proposal for a select committee to oversee the administration's actions, helmed by House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) met immediate resistance from Republicans who called it a thinly veiled effort to undermine Trump. "Its an open question as to whether we have our members participate in something like that. Im not sure I would," said Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.). "Its so transparently political. This is just a committee to harass the president when hes in the middle of dealing with a national crisis." Clyburn, however, said Sunday that he didn't intend his panel to dwell on the past so much as ensure the response is handled properly going forward. "We're not going to be looking back on what the president may or may not have done back before this crisis hit. The crisis is with us," he said on CNN's "State of the Union." "The American people are now out of work, millions of them out of work. The question is whether or not the money that's appropriated will go to support them and their families, or whether or not this money will end up in the pockets of a few profiteers." But the rapidly multiplying proposals for a forensic review of where the nation went wrong suggest the appetite for that kind of retrospective investigation is rising. Under Schiff and Murphy's proposals, a 10-member commission would be evenly divided among Republicans and Democrats and the president would pick the chair. In each plan, the commission armed with subpoena power would likely begin its work after the 2020 election, an effort to insulate the panel from campaign season sniping and provide distance from the immediate coronavirus crisis as well. A third proposal from Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), which also has bipartisan sponsors, is nearly identical as well. Under his plan, the chair of the 10-member commission would be selected jointly by the House speaker and Senate majority leader. The three plans closely track the structure of the 9/11 commission, which was a 10-member panel, evenly divided among the political parties. Schiff and Murphy's proposal also borrow the 9/11 panel's powers: to issue subpoenas and refer any defiance for prosecution. They also require federal agencies to expedite security clearances to commission members and staff. Davis' proposal does not include these features. House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson, of Miss., listens as Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf testifies before a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing on the coronavirus and the FY2021 budget, Tuesday, March 3, 2020 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) The most distinct proposal comes from House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and the panel's other Democratic members. Their proposal features a 25-member commission selected entirely by the leaders of House and Senate committees. The panel would be required to begin an 18-month investigation within 45 days of the plan's passage. Pelosi has voiced support for the concept of an "after-action" review but emphasized last week that she's more focused on the immediate crisis and would consider the structure of a commission later. "It has to be bipartisan," she said at a Thursday news conference. "And, again, anything that affects this many people in our country, their health and affects our economy in such a major way, involves the allocation of so many trillions of dollars, we really do have to subject to an afteraction review, not to point fingers but to make sure that it doesn't happen again in the manner in which it happened, hopefully not at all." Schiff and Thompson told POLITICO they've spoken to Pelosi about their plans but declined to characterize her response. They also indicated they've had conversations with each other about convening all of the commission sponsors to "harmonize" their plans and agree on a path forward. Schiff said despite his reputation as a bogeyman to Republicans, he's confident he can lead a bipartisan push. He noted that even during Trump's impeachment trial, while Schiff was leading the prosecution on the Senate floor, he helped drive a bipartisan House effort to recognize the Armenian genocide. "I can't worry about what the Republicans who view this from a partisan point of view are going to do," Schiff said, contending that most of his GOP colleagues would "support good policy, notwithstanding the fact that Fox demonizes me." "I'm certainly doing whatever I can do to make the structure of this something that can be embraced by both parties, he added. Schiff said he's been conferring with Tim Roemer, a former architect of the 9/11 Commission, to structure his proposal. Murphy, on the other hand, cites her experience as a national security official, who joined the Pentagon after the Sept. 11 attacks and focused on strategic planning. Murphy, a leader of the House's moderate Blue Dog Democrats, has warned her caucus against appearing too partisan in their responses to coronavirus. "Both parties can share some responsibility for having played a little bit of politics on this issue," she said. Thompson said the goal of a commission would be distinct from the multiple layers of oversight that Congress has approved to monitor the ongoing coronavirus response, including the distribution of hundreds of billions of dollars to shore up the economy amid the pandemic. The recently passed $2 trillion CARES Act included a congressional commission to oversee the Trump administration's handling of the funds, a special inspector general to review the funding decisions and a committee of federal watchdogs to oversee the entire implementation of the law. "I think it's not too soon to start thinking about how can we guarantee the American people that if something like this would happen again, there is a doable plan in place that can be executed," Thompson said. "I don't think there's any question about [whether] this helter-skelter response to this pandemic is orderly, transparent or effective." "I just think the interest of the American public would be better served," Thompson continued, "if we can look back on this pandemic and make America stronger." Sarah Ferris contributed reporting to this story. Coronavirus-stricken Europe breathed a sigh of relief Sunday, as Italy reported its lowest single-day deaths in nearly three weeks and Spain saw continued fall in new cases and deaths. Between Saturday and Sunday, the coronavirus-related death toll in Italy was 525, the lowest one-day total since March 19, when COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, claimed 427 lives, Xinhua news agency reported. The country registered its one-day high of 969 fatalities on March 27. The death toll has decreased in five of nine days since then. Still, the pandemic has now resulted in 15,887 deaths, more than in any other country. "We cannot let our guard down, but the trend" is positive, Angelo Borrelli, the head of Italy's Civil Protection Department, was quoted on Sunday. The number of active cases in the country climbed to 91,246 on Sunday, up from 88,274 a day earlier. All told, Italy has registered 128,948 cases since the start of the outbreak, up from 124,632 registered Saturday. In Spain, which took over Italy on Saturday, has further reported a continued fall in the number of confirmed cases and deaths. A total of 6,023 new infections were registered between Saturday and Sunday, fewer than the 7,026 new cases in the previous 24 hours and 7,472 between Thursday and Friday, bringing the country's total infection cases to 130,759. Meanwhile, the number of deaths in Spain rose by 674 to 12,418 on Saturday, 135 fewer than 809 deaths seen in the previous 24 hours. It means the country has seen the new daily deaths fall for three consecutive days. Belgium, where confirmed cases neared 20,000, also saw a sign of change in trend. For the first time since the start of the pandemic in the country, the daily number of people cured overtook that of people hospitalised. The public health institute Sciensano, in charge of monitoring and analyzing the COVID-19 data, reported that in the past 24 hours, 499 COVID-19 patients have been hospitalized while 504 people have left the hospital. The lethal bug, which has spread across continents and territories, has infected at least 1.2 million and killed close to 70,000 others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Staff at the countrys largest Covid-19 test centre have cleared their testing backlog, but are gearing up for a busy week. It follows the resumption of testing at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork yesterday at the start of what the health chiefs have described as a crucial week in Irelands battle against the deadly virus. Only a handful of people attended their swab sampling appointments at the stadium yesterday, but the HSE said it expects busier days ahead as testing in labs ramps up again following the securing of a special reagent used in the testing process. Pairc Ui Chaoimh was set up as Irelands largest coronavirus testing facility on March 22, with the space and resources to be able to conduct and process up to 1,000 individual swab samples daily. The swabs are then sent to labs for analysis. However, while hundreds of people attended for their GP-referred appointments at the stadium in the early days, an amendment in the criteria for referral for a test, followed by a national shortage of sampling kits, forced the suspension of testing there about a week later before testing resumed again. The sampling rate at the stadium fell off again, with the national rate of testing also falling to around 1,500 tests a day, following the shortage of a specific chemical or reagent used in the lab testing process. Last week, the HSE said the ability of labs to analyse those swab samples taken from patients around the country was hit by what it said it a global shortage of this reagent. However, the HSE said it now hopes to more than double its Covid-19 testing capacity this week to around 4,500 tests a day after securing a supply of the chemical. There have been many reports from around the country in recent days of people having to wait at least a week from their referral by a GP to get an appointment to attend at Covid-19 test centre, with many people waiting another weekbefore learning of the results of those tests. In an effort to clear the testing backlog, the HSE entered into an arrangement with a lab in a major German city to perform tests on thousands of its samples. The state originally hoped to conduct 15,000 tests daily. As of last weekend, around 30,000 tests had been conducted nationally an average of between 2,000 and 3,000 a day. A worker at Blue Wall Cafe on the campus of the University of Massachusetts Amherst has tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said Sunday. UMass administrators confirmed the positive test results in an email to the campus, saying the infected employee last worked at the cafe Thursday and is now in self-isolation at an off-campus location. Blue Wall Cafe is located in the Campus Center building and has since been closed for sanitizing. Campus officials are using contact tracing in an attempt to find other employees who may have been exposed, but so far, there are no other confirmed cases of coronavirus exposure on the campus. Anyone who is identified as having been in close contact with the infected person will be notified by UMass health officials. In March, the university shut down campus classes and began online instruction for the remainder of the semester. If youre having trouble viewing the embed to sign up on your mobile device click here. Related Content: WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal from a Catholic church in Washington, D.C., that sought to place religious-themed ads on public buses. The justices are leaving in place a federal appeals court ruling that found no fault with the Washington transit agency policy that banned all issue-oriented advertisements on the regions rail and bus system. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington sought to place an ad on the outside of public buses in the fall of 2017. The ad showed the silhouette of three shepherds and sheep accompanied by the text, Find the Perfect Gift. Justice Brett Kavanaugh took no part in the courts consideration of the case because he served on the three-judge panel that heard arguments at the appeals court where he served before joining the Supreme Court in 2018. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote a brief separate opinion to assert that the matter would have been different had Kavanaugh been a part of the case. Because the full Court is unable to hear this case, it makes a poor candidate for our review. But for that complication, however, our intervention and a reversal would be warranted, Gorsuch wrote, joined by Justice Clarence Thomas. Earlier this year, scientists warned that the Great Barrier Reef could be on the brink of its most widespread bleaching event ever recorded. That fear has been realized. Surveys conducted by scientists at Australia's James Cook University and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority show that a summer of extreme heat has caused the reef, which is a World Heritage Site, to suffer a mass bleaching of unprecedented scale. Corals from the far north to the southern tip of the 1,400 mile-long ecosystem are experiencing severe impacts. It was also one of the reef's worst mass bleaching episodes in terms of intensity, second only to 2016, which killed half of all shallow-water corals on the northern Great Barrier Reef. Unlike the summer of 2016, when an intense marine heat wave coincided with one of the strongest El Nino events on record, this past summer brought a bleaching event without any assistance from the Pacific climate oscillation. El Nino events can elevate ocean temperatures in that part of the world, making bleaching events more likely. To scientists, this is another clear sign that human-caused climate change is the primary driver behind these devastating events. Mark Eakin, coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coral Reef Watch program, described the rate of recurrence of these events as "truly disturbing." Bleaching from the 2016 event was followed by a recurrence in 2017, when there was also an absence of an El Nino. "In 2016 and 2017, the Great Barrier Reef had their first back-to-back bleaching events. Now we have the third bleaching event in five years," Eakin wrote in an email. "That is unprecedented on the Great Barrier Reef." Bleaching is a response to heat stress that occurs when corals spend too much time in water that's too hot for them to handle. Exposure to prolonged heat causes the reef-building animals to temporarily evict their zooxanthellae, symbiotic algae in which the corals shelter in exchange for food. Because these algae also give corals their vibrant colors, mild bleaching causes corals to grow pale. Severely bleached corals turn bone white, and if their algal partners stay away for too long, they can starve to death. As heat built across the reef in February, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority began reporting pockets of bleaching in the far north toward the end of the month. By early March, vast swaths of the ecosystem had accumulated eight or more "degree heating weeks," a metric scientists use to describe recent cumulative heat exposure. At this threshold, reef scientists expect to see widespread bleaching and mortality from thermal stress, according to NOAA. Researchers decided to conduct aerial and waterborne surveys to assess the extent of the damage. The surveys, which took place during the last two weeks of March, quickly confirmed the reef has undergone its third mass bleaching event in the past five years. Now, more details about the extent and severity of the event are emerging. A new map produced by Terry Hughes, director of the ARC Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University, confirms what scientists with NOAA and Australia's Bureau of Meteorology predicted: This year's bleaching was more widespread compared with 2016, which hammered the reef's northern third, and 2017, which struck the reef's midsection hardest. This year, some 35 percent of the 1,036 reefs the scientists surveyed experienced moderate bleaching, while a quarter were severely bleached. Scientists saw severe bleaching on coastal reefs from Torres Strait in the far north to the southern border of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, at levels only eclipsed during 2016. "For the first time, the south was hot as well as the middle and the north," Hughes said. "After 2016-17, when the north and middle went, I said to somebody our worst nightmare is if the next region to bleach is the south." That's because the south, having escaped the previous two events, is relatively unaccustomed to bleaching and contains large numbers of heat-sensitive Acropora corals, including branching and table-shaped species that give the reef its three-dimensional structure and provide habitat for fish. In the northern and central Great Barrier Reef, these corals were largely annihilated by bleaching in 2016-17, transforming vast swaths of the reef into a "highly altered, degraded system," according to a 2018 paper in the journal Nature. Now the south seems poised to slide into a similar ecological disrepair. Hughes cautioned that bleaching doesn't necessarily lead to mortality and said he would be conducting repeat surveys in about eight months to see which corals survived and which ones didn't. "I have to admit, I'm devastated to learn that the southern reefs are taking such a hit right now, as they were a rare bright spot during the 2016 mass bleaching event," said Kim Cobb, a coral reef and climate scientist at the Georgia Institute of Technology who was not involved in the new survey. Hughes is expecting less mortality in the north this year, because many of the heat-sensitive corals have already been killed. But reefs that bleached this year in addition to three or four years ago are likely to be set back in terms of recovery, he said. "Underwater and even from the plane, we could see very many small corals that have recruited to the reef since the previous bleaching . . . so that recovery, which was in its early phases, has been interrupted by this new bleaching event," Hughes said. Mass bleaching events have often been associated with El Nino, a recurring climate pattern characterized by above-average sea surface temperatures in the eastern equatorial Pacific, which leads to shifts in ocean heat distribution, atmospheric circulation, and weather patterns around the world. Across the Great Barrier Reef, changes in local weather patterns related to El Nino, including higher than average air and ocean temperatures, clear skies and lots of sunshine, can help fuel bleaching. But while the first recorded mass bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef in 1998 and the most intense mass bleaching event on record coincided with El Nino, mass bleachings in 2002, 2017 and now 2020, did not. This, along with the fact that the gap between severe bleaching events is shrinking, suggests that as summers grow warmer due to climate change, the reef will suffer heat stress more regularly regardless of whether the tropical Pacific is in a favorable state. It is telling, Hughes said, that February 2020 brought the highest monthly sea surface temperatures ever recorded across the Great Barrier Reef, with no El Nino to assist. "It's now clear that we can have major bleaching events caused by global climate change alone with no tropical forcing," Eakin said, adding that we may be seeing "early signs" of a world where the reef bleaches on a near-yearly basis. Lesley Hughes, a professor of biology at Australia's Macquarie University, agreed that the prospect of annual bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef, something climate models predicted could occur in the 2030s, is getting "closer and closer." As the entire country continues to battle the Coronavirus pandemic, Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust, which has been set to look after the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, has donated Rs 11 lakhs to the PM-CARES Fund. Several individuals, industrialists, celebrities, politicians, and athletes across the country have come forth to donate to the fund in an attempt to combat the Coronavirus and its subsequent crisis due to the lockdown. So far, 109 deaths due to the Coronavirus have been reported in the country. READ | Kareena Kapoor Khan, Saif Ali Khan Contribute To PM CARES & Maha CMRF To Combat COVID-19 Celebrities pitch in Eminent personalities such as Akshay Kumar, Varun Dhawan, Rajkummar Rao, Bhumi Pednekar, Anushka Sharma, Virat Kohli, Sabyasachi, and Badshah have pledged a donation to the PM CARES fund. Moreover, several corporates such as the Tata Group have pledged crores of rupees for this new fund. The staff of the Supreme Court has donated three days' salary to PM CARES. READ | Coronavirus LIVE Updates: India's Confirmed Cases Cross 4000-mark; 109 Deaths Confirmed Earlier on April 3, Union Home Minister Amit Shah revealed that the staff of MHA, Central Police Organizations and 6 Union Territories had decided to contribute approximately Rs.89 crore to the PM CARES fund. They will be donating one day's salary. Shah expressed his gratitude to all the aforesaid individuals. Meanwhile, employees of the Ministry of Defence have also pledged to contribute their one day salary to the recently launched PM-CARES Fund which is estimated to mobilise around Rs 500 crore. The proposal for the same was approved by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday. PM Modi has urged Indians to donate generously to the Fund in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. READ | Ishant Sharma Follows Skipper Virat Kohli, Donates Undisclosed Amount To PM CARES Fund Coronavirus crisis in India As of date, 3666 positive cases have been reported of the pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19) - 291 have been discharged and Maharashtra reported the highest at 690. 109 deaths have been reported till date. India has suspended all visas and barred travel from Afghanistan, Philippines, EU, UK, China, Malaysia and mandatory 14-day quarantine from several other countries. The Prime Minister has issued a 21-day countrywide lockdown starting from 23 March to April 15 and the Finance Minister has announced a Rs 1.7 lakh crore package under the 'PM Gareeb Kalyan Scheme'. READ | 'Foreign-based Individuals, Organizations Can Donate To PM CARES': Govt Sources As news of coronavirus began hitting close to home SXSW canceled, the Houston Rodeo closed Kelly Ingram says she pushed her employer, a luxury retail store, to take preventive measures at the makeup counter where she worked. Makeup samples shouldnt be left out for one customer after another to try. The bathroom needed soap. The makeup artists, she thought, ought to be able to wear gloves and masks. She got nowhere. And all around her, she says she saw evidence of similar malefaction: Workers laid off without vacation pay they were owed, or even common courtesy; workers heedlessly put in danger; businesses endangering the general public. So in mid-March, she channeled her stick-it-to-the-man fury into creating a new Facebook group, COVID-Call Outs. Its stated purpose: To publicly call out and criticize businesses and people who have chosen greed and selfishness over helping others during this crisis. CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Stay informed with accurate reporting you can trust Rules include Be fearless and Use the damn hashtag!!! Vengeance comes in the form of bad reviews on Yelp, Google, Glassdoor and anywhere else that seemed useful. Members could call for boycotts, or crowdsource solutions to protect our bodies and income during this crisis. On Friday, a typical post linked to the site of a Montrose coffee shop. The owner threatened to fire me if I didn't let customers hang out at the shop and use the bathroom, writes one group member. So I quit. I've been working there four years. He has zero concern for the safety of his employees. Are they still letting customers inside? Ingram asked, before urging the poster to obtain photos showing that infraction. Since the county judges stay-at-home order, Ingrams employer has furloughed her leaving her plenty of time to tend the site and unleash the wrath of the Internet. As of Friday, COVID-Call Outs had more than 2,400 members. Heroic landlords are praised; Hobby Lobby, Amazon and Tilman Fertitta are cursed. Petitions circulate. Price gougers are reported to the state attorney generals office. Plus, a posting on the site may have helped one guy get his job back. Sometime this week, via Facebook Live, lawyer Brian Harrison will answer legal questions for the group about employment law and evictions, most likely. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: 311 calls report social distancing violators in Houston area Ingram, stuck in her southwest Houston apartment, liked the idea of combining righteous vengeance with help. As a kid, she said, she loved Marvin Zindler Channel 13s bizarro-world consumer reporter, the white-haired, white-suited phenomenon who crusaded against restaurant filth with the deathless tagline SLIIIIIIIIME in the ice machine! Now, said Ingram, I get to be like Marvin Zindler. lisa.gray@chron.com, @LisaGray_HouTX By Joyce Campbell, Mary Gay Abbott-Young and Sasa Olessi Montano The five of us are at the helm of nonprofit organizations that serve those who are challenged to meet their basic needs in our Mercer County community. We provide the essential elements of our communitys social services safety net. Our missions run the gamut from providing meals, shelter, housing, clothing, professional counseling, and a wide range of supportive services. We serve the homeless, hungry, transient, addicted, home-bound, mentally-ill and the physically challenged. We serve families, including children, adults, and seniors. Those we serve are both working and not working, but all live in poverty which in itself creates significant vulnerability. We recognized from the start of this pandemic that continuing to serve our clients, while adhering to the CDC guidelines regarding social distancing was going to be extremely challenging. Many of our organizations use volunteers to provide critical services. This is a particular challenge for Meals on Wheels whose service model relies heavily on volunteers to deliver their meals to homebound seniors and disabled adults. We were all woefully aware of the extreme difficulty it would be to maintain the diversity and level of services we provide. Many of our funding streams might be reduced or eliminated because of the crisis. Some programs rely on referrals to fill slots in our treatment programs, resulting in interruptions in revenue from services not provided. We hold contracts with state, county and local governments, as well as private foundations, and worry about the ability to meet the guidelines we agreed to prior to the outbreak of COVID-19. In this regard, we want to acknowledge that various levels of government have indicated a willingness to temporarily waive regulations, make accommodations in levels of service, move away from fee for services contacts to zero-based contracts and allow us to utilize telehealth and telemedicine to deliver counseling services. Early on we realized that we were not going to be able to stage our respective signature fundraising events that provide each of us with desperately needed supplemental funds. And we recognized that many individuals who have supported our work were going to be facing their own dire circumstances as a result of losing their jobs and that both large companies and small businesses that provide us with financial support would be closing their doors. It has been heartening to see private corporations and foundations step up to the plate, acknowledging the loss of funding at a time when we are seeing increased demand. We also appreciate our government partners showing greater flexibility in allowing us to offer our services in new ways. Our individual community donors are also our heroes. We are not sure that all of the gaps in funding will be met this way, but we are grateful for the opportunity to try. We remain committed to our missions and providing the best services we can for as long as we can. It is important, for the greater community to understand the magnitude and scope of the problem we face as an essential service to the community. Yet, when federal, state and local officials, as well as the media, discuss the COVID-19 efforts, and who is impacted, we are often not included, as the focus is on small businesses. Charities are hugely impacted and people count on us during their most desperate time. It is important to point out that the charitable sector employs more than 10% of the workforce in the nation. The nonprofit sector ranks third among the top three employment sectors in the country, trailing only retail and manufacturing. It is encouraging that there may be some loan programs available to nonprofits; we only hope the applications and requirements are not too cumbersome. To date, we have managed to continue to provide most of our essential services by using new methods (providing box meals rather than seat-down congregate feeding), by coming with creative ways to keep children in their rooms (they really like to watch the Disney channel), by on-boarding new volunteers using virtual technology, by securing new sources of labor, by making use of furloughed restaurant personnel offered by the hospitality industry and by securing additional physical space to improve social distancing. As of now, we are serving more meals and more food than ever before to those who are hungry in Mercer County. And we continue to provide emergency shelter to homeless adults and homeless families with children. However, the situation is tenuous, to say the least, as there is no concrete plan in place as to what we do if multiple frontline staff members were to be quarantined or come down with the coronavirus and we couldnt fulfill our crucial safety net function. No one knows how long this may go on. The closing of Mercer Countys emergency and/or family shelter system or network of food providers to those most vulnerable would put us over 300 adults and children who are homeless on the street. Not providing food in the midst of coronavirus crisis to those who are hungry is unthinkable and would leave thousands hungry. A fallback plan should be developed immediately, led by the state and county in concert with the nonprofit sector. This plan should take a hard look at the best way the thousand of members of New Jerseys National Guard and reserves could be used by our frontline charities without jeopardizing their health or our state and our nations security. This plan should acknowledge that charities that provide the critical elements of the social safety net are essential, frontline responders in the battle against COVID-19. At some point, we will get past this crisis, which has exposed the gaps in our nations fragmented health care system and the lack of a back-up plan in our local social safety net. When we look back at what happened, we should think long and hard about Benjamin Franklins admonitory aphorism that Failing to plan is planning to fail. Joyce Campbell is the executive director of the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen. Mary Gay Abbott-Young is the CEO of the Rescue Mission of Trenton. Sasa Olessi Montano is the CEO of Meals on Wheels of Mercer County. This op-ed was also signed by: Connie Mercer, CEO, HomeFront and Marlene Lao-Collins, executive director, Catholic Charities of Diocese of Trenton and . 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. Actor Nikhil Kumaraswamy and fiance Revathi had earlier confirmed that they would be opting for a low-key wedding due to the COVID-19 outbreak and nationwide lockdown. And now, more details of their impending nuptials have been revealed. Nikhils father and former Karnataka CM, HD Kumaraswamy recently addressed the media to confirm that the wedding will indeed take place on April 17 as it is an 'auspicious day. He said, "We are not celebrating a huge wedding. Around 15 to 20 people from both families have been invited. It will take place in one of our houses. We will hold a celebration later, once the time is right." (sic) Kumaraswamy's spokesperson then confirmed that the couple will tie the knot at bride Revathis residence in Vijaynagar, Bangalore. And, precisely fifteen family members from each side will grace the ceremony. He went on to add, Once the coronavirus threat and the public health issues related to it are settled, then there is a plan to organize a huge celebration in Ramanagara district. They are planning to set up pandals in a 60-acre plot where people from the whole district will be given free food. But this will happen much later when there is no threat of coronavirus." For the unversed, Nikhil Kumaraswamy got engaged to Revathi on February 10 in a grand ceremony at Taj West End near Bangalore Turf Club. The gala affair was reportedly attended by 6,000 guests. ALSO READ: Nikhil Kumaraswamy Next Film Is Titled Ashwarangam, To Be Directed By AP Arjun ALSO READ: Kashmira Pardeshi To Make Her Kannada Film Debut Opposite Nikhil Kumaraswamy? Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 06:58:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SANTIAGO, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Chile's Health Ministry on Sunday said 4,471 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, and 34 have died from the disease. While 310 new cases were detected, the figures "show a constant downward trend" in the rate of infection, Health Minister Jaime Manalich said. In the past 24 hours, seven patients died, bringing the death toll to 34. Of the confirmed cases, 252 have been put on a respirator and 36 are in critical condition. The latest results led the government to extend a total quarantine in 14 cities around the country, and cordon off areas with a rising number of cases with the help of the police and military personnel. It also lifted the full quarantine in two locations, Puerto Williams and Rapa Nui, though special measures were to be put in place at area airports and ports of entry. A curfew is in place nationwide, from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m., among other measures. Welcome to Morningstar.co.uk! You have been redirected here from Hemscott.com as we are merging our websites to provide you with a one-stop shop for all your investment research needs.To search for a security, type the name or ticker in the search box at the top of the page and select from the dropdown results.Registered Hemscott users can log in to Morningstar using the same login details. Similarly, if you are a Hemscott Premium user, you now have a Morningstar Premium account which you can access using the same login details. YEREVAN, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS. The vision of the Government of Armenia on overcoming the crisis is related with short and long-term issues, ARMENPRESS reports PM Pashinyan said during a Facebook Live, answering the question of a citizen, who asked about the measures of the Government following the state of emergency for speedy recovery of the economy. PM Pashinyan noted that as a short-term goal, the Government plans to foster capital investments as much as possible, since these investments create most jobs, while the long-term goal is the development of human resources, technologies and knowledge. Our strategic vision on economic development is that Armenia should become a country of ready-made products, but not a supplier of raw materials. This means new jobs and new technologies, Pashinyan said, noting that they have a goal to develop manufacturing industries. Last year we recorded an important index. We had a high economic growth where manufacturing was one of the leading branches, he said. As refers to the establishment of metallurgical enterprises in Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan said that there will be environmental debates over this issue. We have to observe to important boundaries. The highest environmental standards must operate in Armenia, but environment protection should not become an absolute value, Nikol Pashinyan said, emphasizing that its necessary to find the correct balance between economy and environment. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan People who have worked in Louth but live in the North are among the groups who should not be denied the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and the government should stop "using the fig leaf" of EU laws to deny them their entitlements, according to a local TD. The newly-elected Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu was speaking after he and other TDs from his party, including Matt Carthy and social protection spokesperson, John Brady, continued to lobby the government to change their no payments policy for Northern workers. Mr O Murchu said his office had been inundated with queries from people who work in Dundalk companies but live in the North, after the Department of Social Protection denied them the 350 payment. And he revealed that Sinn Feins newly-appointed MEP, Chris MacManus, is to write to the European Commission to get clarity on the excuse of EU regulations being cited by the department which precludes them from paying Northern workers in the same company while the benefit is given to their Southern counterparts. He said: "It is unacceptable that hundreds of people from the North, who work in Louth, and other border counties, and who have paid their taxes and PRSI like everyone else, are not able to access the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Benefit because they happen to live in the North. "They are being told to apply for Universal Credit in the North and this is causing serious economic hardship for these workers and their families. This system is not set by Stormont it is entirely controlled by the British government. "I, and others in Sinn Fein, have been lobbying the government here for the last week but they have failed to address this appalling situation. "These people they are refusing to acknowledge now are the same people this State will be relying on to kick-start the economy when this crisis is over but they are treating them in a discriminatory way. "In addition to the strong representations we have made to the department, our MEP and government, I have also consulted with lawyers who are trying to find a route to take an action against the State, if there is no movement from the department on this issue. "A legal action may be taken against the government in Dublin because the non-payment to many Northerners may be in breach of their rights as Irish citizens. "Minister Heather Humphries stated to me that the governments view was that EU laws were an obstacle to making this payment, but I believed there was plenty of room for manoeuvre. "Initial legal advice and the view of people who worked in employment law in the EU is that the domestic government can make the decision. "The government needs to pay these people and at least consult the European commission and ascertain the Attorney Generals view on this EU obstacle that they perceive. Mr O Murchu said that this problem needs to be sorted "along with other anamoloies with the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, which we have raised, like the over 66s working and made unemployed". Nouakchott, 5 April 2020 (SPS) - The Mauritanian political party, Rally of Democratic Forces (RFD) has expressed condolences to the Sahrawi people and the family of the deceased leader, Emhamed Khaddad, who died on Wednesday after a long illness. "We received with great sadness and sorrow the news of the passing of the great late Emhamed Khaddad Moussa," said the Mauritanian party in a message of condolence addressed to President of the Republic, Secretary-General of the Polisario Front, Mr. Brahim Ghali. He had many good qualities and was one of the first founding pioneers who carried the cause of their people with merit, and fought with courage, sincerity and dedication to achieve the highest goals of self-determination. The late Emhamed Khaddad worked continuously and earnestly to develop historical fraternal relations between the two brotherly Sahrawi and Mauritanian people, it added. (SPS) 062/SPS/T This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. As a teenager, Sergio Rossi and his brother, the sons of a bespoke shoemaker, would travel up and down the Italian Riviera selling shoes in the years after World War II, as the country was rebuilding. Mr. Rossi fully joined the family business in the 1950s and by 1968 had introduced a namesake line, becoming one of the first major figures in the Italian footwear industry Mr. Rossi died on Thursday in Cesena, Italy at 84. The cause was the coronavirus, a spokeswoman for the company that carries his name said. Mr. Rossi was part of the generation of Italian artisans who emerged after World War II determined to take the countrys expertise in leatherwork and accessories from local family businesses to the world. Nikitas Story: Part One: Tenzenar: a thrilling science fiction about Nikita of Airies, a planet ravaged by uncanny extraterrestrials, forcing him and his brethren to evacuate and deal with the harshness of new terrain. Nikitas Story: Part One: Tenzenar is the creation of published author Gayle Hansen, a dedicated and inquisitive writer from Phoenix, Arizona. Hansen shares, What would you do if faced with an invasion of your home/planet? That is what Nikita Markain Malin was forced to decide when, on his way to meet his High King, his peaceful world was turned upside down by the landing of a spaceship filled with otherworldly beings. First, can Niki find a way to make the new place he and all other people on the planet Airies fled to into a home? Can he and his people find a way to keep hidden from the invaders? Then what are those invaders doing? Who are they? Are Niki and his people safe where they now hide? Are the invaders going to remain where they landed on the planet? So many questions and so many answers to discover. Time is running out, and Niki feels compelled to learn these answers as soon as he can. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Gayle Hansens new book contains suspenseful and action-packed scenes that depict the overwhelming predicament of Nikita and the people of Airies as they strive to rebuild their lives after their home worlds devastation. Witness Nikitas determination to survive in a strange land as he seeks answers to the mystery of their oppressors nature and save his fellow Airians from doom. View the synopsis of Nikitas Story: Part One: Tenzenar on YouTube. Consumers can purchase Nikitas Story: Part One: Tenzenar at traditional brick-and-mortar bookstores or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about Nikitas Story: Part One: Tenzenar, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. Cinemas in Malaysia have been temporarily closed since the Movement Control Order started last month. 6 Apr - The Malaysian Association of Film Exhibitors (MAFE) announced today that cinemas in Malaysia will continue to be closed until the end of the month. The decision was made due to "the ongoing COVID-19 situation globally and the extension of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia until 14 April 2020," stated MAFE. "This has not been an easy time for film exhibitors, but it is a moment for us to come together more than ever. "Malaysia is at a turning point with the coronavirus and it will take all our combined efforts to control the spread of COVID-19. While we intend to reopen the cinemas as soon as circumstances allow, we believe it is important that we put the nation's interest, as well as our customers' and employees' health and well-being first." MAFE members that have confirmed their participation in the extended closure are Golden Screen Cinemas Sdn Bhd, Berjaya-GSC Sdn Bhd, TGV Cinemas Sdn Bhd, MM2 Screen Management Sdn Bhd (mmCineplexes) and Lotus Five Star Cinemas (M) Sdn Bhd. MBO Cinemas has yet to confirm their closure. When contacted by Cinema Online, Mr Cheah Chun Wai (MBO Cinemas Chief Operating Officer) stated, "It is too premature to make any decision now, MBO Cinemas will monitor the situation and comply with the government's directive. As a respect to the malls where we are situated, we are also obliged to have a mutual agreement, so let's wait for further announcements or an update." Other local cinema exhibitors such as Paragon, Emperor, Bona Cinemas, Max Cinemas and more have not confirmed their participation as well. As of press time, their comments are still pending. Cinema exhibitors like Amerin, CineHouse, Mega Cineplex and Megalong will also follow suit and extend their closure to the end of April. The nationwide temporary closure was started last month, 18 March, when the local government enforced the MCO, which prohibits large gatherings, such as in cinemas, and requires citizens to stay at home at all times except for necessities and medical needs. Exhibitors in other countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Singapore have also temporarily closed their cinemas to prevent gatherings in the interest of their citizens' and customers' safety. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Amid the coronavirus pandemic, many Americans have embraced the idea of "flattening the curve," or slowing the spread of the virus over a number of months so that fewer people become infected and need health care at any given time. A key assumption of this strategy is that around the same number of people will eventually be infected with COVID-19, but just over a longer time period. Many models predict this period, which would require intermittent lockdowns, could last well over 18 months. But one veteran public health scholar says we can take a different path to more swiftly and forcefully bring an end to COVID-19. "The aim is not to flatten the curve," Dr. Harvey Fineberg, president of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, a philanthropic organization in Palo Alto, California, and past president of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine, wrote in an editorial published Wednesday (April 1) in the New England Journal of Medicine. "The goal is to crush the curve." Fineberg argues we can defeat COVID-19 in just 10 weeks if we take a "concerted and determined" approach. "I think we're thinking too defensively about what we should and could do against the coronavirus," Fineberg told Live Science. "If it is a war, and I believe that's a proper metaphor, then we should fight it like a war. That means we should fight to win to vanquish the foe, not to let it persist and hassle us for an indefinite period." Six steps to victory In the editorial, Fineberg outlines six steps the country should take to accomplish this goal. First, President Donald Trump should appoint a commander in charge of the coronavirus response. This person is not a "coordinator," but rather someone who has the authority "to mobilize every civilian and military asset needed to win the war," Fineberg wrote. Each governor should also appoint a commander with similar authority at the state level. "If we don't have a unified command structure with that person in charge who can help guide and make the strategic choices, then I think we can't execute successfully," Fineberg said. Second, America needs to carry out millions of diagnostic tests in the next two weeks. Such a strategy was successfully used in South Korea to contain COVID-19. These tests are needed to "trace the scope of the outbreak" and make informed decisions about managing patients, he said. "Testing is our form of intelligence" in the military sense, Fineberg told Live Science. Third, all health care workers should have access to ample supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE), Fineberg said. "We wouldn't send soldiers into battle without ballistic vests; health workers on the front lines of this war deserve no less." Next, the population should be divided into five groups, Fineberg said. These include those infected with COVID-19; those presumed to be infected based on symptoms but who initially test negative; those exposed to someone with COVID-19; those who are not known to have been exposed to or infected with COVID-19; and those who recover from COVID-19. People in the first two groups can be hospitalized if they are very sick or placed in "infirmaries" (such as a converted convention centers) if they have mild to moderate disease, he said. People who have been exposed to COVID-19, but don't yet show symptoms, may be quarantined in hotels for two weeks. Finally, those who have recovered from COVID-19, and are, in theory, immune, may be able to go back to work. This category, which would require the use of antibody-based tests to identify, "would be a game-changer in restarting parts of the economy more quickly and safely," Fineberg said. Researchers in Germany have already started a large study to find out how many people in the country are immune to COVID-19, which could allow officials to issue "immunity passes" to allow people to return to work, The Guardian reported. Fifth, intense efforts should be made to "mobilize the public" in the fight against coronavirus. "Everyone has a part to play and virtually everyone is willing," Fineberg wrote. For example, the U.S. postal service and other delivery companies could deliver surgical masks and hand sanitizer to every American household, Fineberg said. If everyone wears a mask, people who are infected but don't yet show symptoms would be less likely to spread the disease, he added. And sixth, researchers should continue fundamental, "real-time" research into COVID-19 to examine questions such as who is at higher risk of death from the disease and whether those who haven't yet caught the virus could safely return to work under certain conditions. It will also be critical to learn from our experiences in real time for example, when we start to open up parts of the economy in different parts of the country and adjust responses accordingly. "Different communities will be at different stages of success and readiness," Fineberg said. We can see how well and safely certain strategies are working and then "crank it up more widely throughout the country." Major challenges Fineberg acknowledged that "all these things, everything I'm describing is hard to do and has many pitfalls in execution." But the alternative to not trying is the "catastrophe that's unfolding before us." Dr. Courtney Gidengil, a senior physician policy researcher at RAND Corp. and a pediatric infectious disease specialist in Boston, said the editorial is an "interesting article and framework" for what needs to be done to address COVID-19. "These are really thoughtful and important steps that should already be under consideration." "In a perfect world if we could undertake these steps aggressively and immediately that would give us the best chance" of crushing the curve, Gidengil said. But the big question is how feasible it is to get these things to happen quickly enough to make a difference. "The more quickly these steps are implemented" the closer we'll be to achieving the goal, she said. Another major challenge is the risk of having the virus come back into the country from another part of the world. "In terms of truly containing it, we really need high levels of immunity" against the virus, Gidengil said. Immunity could come through a vaccine (which is likely at least a year away) or through recovered patients. "Because we live in such a globalized world, it's just very difficult to guarantee the virus won't be imported again." David Hutton, an associate professor of health management and policy at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, agreed that "to really 'defeat' this in the long term and get back to 'business as usual' we will need a highly effective treatment or a vaccine." Until the virus is totally controlled on a global scale "constant vigilance" is needed, he said. Hutton does think it's possible to re-open the economy by June, as China is beginning to do. But he noted that strict measures are still in place there, including temperature checkpoints and surveillance applications on people's phones. Such measures could be more challenging in the United States, where people may be less willing to share private information, he said. Another important issue is that, even if we get the number of infections down so that containment is possible, we will need an "army of efficient, effective public health workers" to perform contact tracing, Hutton said. This involves tracking down contacts of patients, testing and isolating them, "to stop this virus from spreading like wildfire again," he said. However, as Live Science previously reported, one company is working on building a voluntary app that can use location data to automatically notify other users if someone near them tests positive. If widely adopted, it could potentially cut down the work for such public health workers. The 9 deadliest viruses on Earth 28 devastating infectious diseases 20 of the worst epidemics and pandemics in history Originally published on Live Science. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 05th April, 2020) Iraqi Oil Minister Thamer Ghadhban is optimistic that OPEC+ countries will be able to reach a new agreement at the alliance's upcoming meeting scheduled for Thursday, spokesman from Iraq's Oil Ministry Asem Jihad said on Sunday. "Thamer Ghadhban, deputy prime minister for energy and the minister of oil, expressed optimism that a new agreement will be reached after conversations with the ministers of several OPEC+ countries. He described the mood as positive," Jihad said, as quoted by Iraq's INA agency. According to the spokesman, Ghadhban said that any new agreement needs the support of non-OPEC+ countries such as the US, Canada and Norway, the agency reported. "Producers both inside and outside OPEC+ are in the same boat. All of them should take responsibility and bring this boat ashore to ensure stability by reaching a new output cut agreement, and deciding on the right path for achieving common goals," Jihad quoted the oil minister as saying, the agency reported. On March 6, OPEC+ countries were unable to agree on an extension of a deal to limit oil production. Restrictions were lifted as the deal expired at the end of March, leading to a collapse in the market, in conjunction with a global drop in demand due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Both US President Donald Trump and premier of the Canadian province of Alberta Jason Kenney stated on Saturday that Washington and Ottawa may impose tariffs on oil imports from Russia and Saudi Arabia until the ongoing price dispute is resolved. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday stated that oil production could be reduced by approximately 10 million barrels per day, should OPEC+ nations coordinate jointly to each reduce output. Moscow seeks long-term stability in the oil market and will continue to work with its Saudi Arabian partners, the president stated. MINSK -- Two deputy prosecutors in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, have been arrested on drugs-related charges. The Prosecutor-Generals Office said on April 6 that deputy prosecutors for Minsk's Lenin and Soviet districts had been charged under a criminal code article that punishes "illegal production, processing, purchasing, keeping, transportation, and trafficking without aim to sell of narcotic substances" by up to 5 years in prison. The two officials, whose identities were not disclosed, were fired from their posts after the arrests, the Prosecutor-General's Office said. Last August, President Alyaksandr Lukashenka publicly criticized and reprimanded law enforcement for what he called the "failure" to prevent and investigate drug trafficking in the country. In December 2016, two former KGB officers and a former police officer were among 17 people convicted and sentenced to lengthy prison terms in a high-profile case against what the authorities called one of the biggest drug rings in Belarus. With reporting by BelTA and Nasha Niva Asia Indians Light Lamps to Heed Modi's Call for Coronavirus Comradeship Staff members of a hospital carry candles and oil lamps to show solidarity with people who are affected by COVID-19, and with doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers from all over the world during a 21-day nationwide lockdown to slow the spread of the disease, in Kolkata, India, on Sunday. / REUTERS MUMBAI/DHAKAMillions of Indians turned off their lights and lit up balconies and doorsteps with lamps, candles and flashlights on Sunday, in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modis appeal to challenge the darkness spread by the coronavirus crisis. Modi, who imposed a three-week-long nationwide lockdown on March 25, asked all citizens to turn out their lights for nine minutes at 9 p.m. local time on Sunday, and to display lamps and candles in a show of solidarity. Modis call was met with a huge response, with many people lighting up their balconies. Others lit firecrackers, played musical instruments, and sang patriotic songs. Grid data showed Indias national power consumption plunging more than a quarter in a matter of minutes. The show of unity came as the total number of coronavirus cases in India increased to 3,577, while the death toll rose to 83. Some officials have warned that lockdowns could continue beyond April 14 in parts of India where new cases have been detected. With the number of cases continuing to increase daily, India restricted the export of most diagnostic testing kits. The government, which in recent weeks already banned the export of certain medicines, along with ventilators, masks and other protective gear needed by both patients and medical staff, issued the latest directive late on Saturday. The move came even as US President Donald Trump urged Modi in a phone call to release supplies of anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, which is being tested as a possible treatment for patients with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The two leaders agreed to remain in touch on the issue of global supply chains for critical pharmaceuticals and medical supplies and to ensure they continue to function as smoothly as possible during the global health crisis, White House spokesman Judd Deere said on Saturday. In a briefing note on the conversation, India said the two leaders agreed to deploy the full strength of the IndiaUS partnership to resolutely and effectively combat COVID-19. Bangladesh stimulus The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Asia, home to roughly 1.9 billion people, topped 7,000 on Sunday, as the death toll from the respiratory disease rose to 149 in the region. While the figures are relatively low in comparison with the US, China, Italy and Spain, health experts fear that the spread of the pandemic in South Asia could overwhelm already weak public health systems in the region. Bangladeshs Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday unveiled a 727.50-billion-taka (US$8.56 billion, approx. 12-trillion-kyat) stimulus package to help the economy weather the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. The amount is equivalent to 2.52 percent of gross domestic product, Hasina said in a televised address. Reuters reported earlier this month that Bangladesh, the worlds second-largest apparel producer after China, was set to lose roughly $6 billion in export revenue this financial year amid order cancellations from some of the worlds largest brands and retailers. Bangladesh has recorded 88 cases of the disease, with nine deaths. The following are government figures on the spread of the coronavirus in South Asia: * India has 3,577 cases, including 83 deaths. * Pakistan has 3,059 cases, including 45 deaths. * Afghanistan has 349 cases, including seven deaths. * Sri Lanka has 175 cases, including five deaths. * Bangladesh has 88 cases, including nine deaths. * Maldives has 19 cases and no deaths. * Nepal has nine cases and no deaths. * Bhutan has five cases and no deaths. You may also like these stories: China Must Compensate World for COVID-19: Myanmars Cardinal Indonesia to Open Emergency Coronavirus Hospital on Uninhabited Island Police ripped up carpet and dug up parts of the backyard of the accused Claremont serial killer's former home in an attempt to uncover clues, it has been revealed. During testimony in the triple-murder trial, WA Police cold case forensic supervisor Colin Beck said police executed three simultaneous property search warrants the morning of Bradley Edwards' arrest on December 22, 2016. The 'crime scenes' were established at Mr Edwards Kewdale home, his parents former Huntingdale home where he lived after his 1997 divorce, and his parents Halls Head home. Mr Edwards' former work car was also seized that day from its new owner. About one month later, Sergeant Beck said the home Mr Edwards shared with his first wife between 1991 and 1997 was stripped bare. As one of only 10 states requiring physician supervision of certified registered nurse anesthetists, South Carolina cant take full advantage of the Trump administrations decisive action last week to provide health care facilities maximum flexibility to fight the pandemic. At President Donald Trumps direction, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services removed physician supervision for the duration of the crisis, enabling CRNAs to function to the fullest extent allowed by their state and expanding the work capacity of physicians as well. The only problem: In South Carolina, fullest extent means retaining supervision and keeping the handcuffs on CRNAs and physicians alike. This is not a good use of a valuable resource during a pandemic. In addition to being anesthesia experts, CRNAs have an extensive background in critical care nursing and expertise in airway management, ventilator support and managing critically ill patients, all capabilities vital to combatting a deadly disease that attacks patients lungs. Forty other states are deploying every available health care provider asset, but S.C. cant make full use of an essential provider who performs intubations, uses ventilators, and manages the care of critically ill patients for a living. To change this, Gov. Henry McMaster needs to waive the South Carolina statute on physician supervision of CRNAs. We encourage the governor to do so immediately in the best interests of his constituents. Time is of the essence if we are to beat COVID-19 sooner rather than later. JILL A. MASON-NGUYEN DNAP, MSN, CRNA, COI President, S.C. Association of Nurse Anesthetists Inverness Circle Spartanburg Credit card fees Just a suggestion for our consumer-conscious Dominion Energy. Because it might be difficult for some to go to the post office if they are out of stamps, and home quarantine negates paying a bill in person, it would be in the public interest if bills could be paid with a credit card and no fees charged. It would be good public relations, and I think Dominion could use some. JOHN MATTHEWS Legends Club Drive Mount Pleasant Nice distraction To keep our 4-year-old granddaughter entertained, we created a large hopscotch grid on the newly paved road at the end of our driveway. Wappoo Hall Road in Riverland Terrace has become a veritable highway of walkers, joggers, dog walkers, baby strollers and folks of all ages. As my husband and I sit on our front porch to watch the evening parade, we are delighted to see kids of all ages trying the hopscotch. Recently, we saw a 5-year-old boy and his mom try it. Then we heard mom say, Lets see if Mimi and Pop-Pop can do it. Sure enough, here came the grandparents and we called out to them to give it a try. And they did. We stood and clapped as we do for every person who gives it a try. This brings laughter to us and to the neighborhood. PRISCILLA SHUMWAY Wappoo Hall Road Charleston Threats on Fauci The fact that Dr. Anthony Fauci now warrants a Secret Service security detail, given the threats on his life, demonstrates once again that some illnesses may never be prevented by a vaccine. SAM DOLINSKY Privateer Creek Road Seabrook Island Plague numbers I just did the math. If the rate of infection doubles every three days, 120,000 Americans will be dead from COVID-19 by Easter. Easter was the date President Donald Trump initially said he hoped, the worst of the disease would have passed by then. What I am labeling as the new plague isnt a specific disease but the refusal of our political leaders to follow the advice of experts, instead relying on uninformed hunches and doing what they see as necessary to get reelected. All this is at the expense of human lives. TIMOTHY C. KIEL Pelzer Drive Mount Pleasant Working together In its 50th year, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences awarded the miniseries From the Earth to the Moon, also an Emmy-winning miniseries. It was a dramatization about the Apollo program that landed Americans safely on the moon in 1969. In his speech in 1999, the executive producer and an actor in the series accepted the award saying: We were able to dramatize a period piece 30 years old about 40,000 people in every state of the union working towards one common goal and achieving the impossible. Something so impossible it was considered madness for thousands of years. Imagine what problems we could solve and the ills that we could cure if we chose to live the same way the people of Apollo did in the 1960s. Thank you, and God Bless America. That actor and executive producer was Tom Hanks. R.S. BENNETT Hawks Circle Hanahan PepsiCo has committed to provide over 5 million meals and 25,000 COVID-19 testing kits for India. The food and beverage major is looking to achieve this target with the help of PepsiCo Foundation, its philanthropic wing. Pepsi Co has committed to provide over 5 million meals and 25,000 COVID-19 testing kits for India. The food and beverage major is looking to achieve this target with the help of PepsiCo Foundation, its philanthropic wing. PepsiCo India president Ahmed ElSheikh said the country is facing an unprecedented challenge like the rest of the world and it is the need of the hour to provide meals to the economically weaker sections and testing kits to diagnostic units. A company statement also quoted AlSheikh as saying that the company is committed to providing support to the central as well as state governments in the fight against the deadly virus. According to the statement, Pepsico will partner with Akshaya Patra Foundation for distributing cooked meals. Besides, it has collaborated with Smile Foundation for distributing dry food ration to support meals for over 8,000 vulnerable families which have been impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. Follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak here This philanthropic activity is being undertaken as part of the companys 'Give Meals, Give Hope' global programme. It has joined hands with non-profit organisation Foundation of Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), WHOs collaborating centre for laboratory strengthening and diagnostic technology evaluation, for donating 25,000 testing kits. FIND works in collaboration with the Indian government. The testing kits will be sent to public and private healthcare laboratories identified by the Indian government to increase COVID-19 testing. In order to generate more funds, Pepsico has launched a double matching gifts programme under which its employees can also extend their support to communities impacted by novel coronavirus. To further mobilize funds, the company said it has also launched a double matching gifts programme under which PepsiCo Foundation will match all employee donations by two-fold and give the total accumulated fund to the NGO partners working with the company. India is not the only country where the company is making donations to fight Covid-19. Pepsico is providing protective gear to healthcare workers, testing and screening services across the world. It also aims to offer 50 million meals through various partnerships. There are over 4,000 confirmed cases in India while over a 100 people have succumbed to the disease. The Canadian government is exploring the possibility of holding virtual sessions of Parliament to pass legislation, as part of emergency measures to counter the impact of Covid-19 crisis. The idea has been mooted by Pablo Rodriguez, a leader of the ruling Liberal Party in the House of Commons, in a letter to the Speaker Anthony Rota, as well as leaders of three major Opposition parties. The proposal comes as the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attempts historic bailout measures for employers and workers across the country. As the coronavirus crisis became pronounced in March, the House of Commons was suspended, but sittings with the minimum number of members required were held on March 23 and 24. While the House remains suspended till April 20, Trudeau has called for another emergency session in the week ahead to pass more measures. Rodriguezs effort comes in that context, as he wrote to the Speaker seeking to gauge ability of the House of Commons administration to support and facilitate virtual sittings. He pointed out that Canadians are working from home and only leaving for essential chores. He stated, It is only appropriate that Members of Parliament practice these same measures, and adapt the way that we conduct our business during the time the House cannot meet on a regular and normal basis. While the response from Opposition leaders to this proposal has been positive, it will require changes to the Standing Orders governing the running of the House of Commons, for business to be conducted remotely. The number of people killed by the Sars-CoV-2 virus in Canada has jumped by just over 20 per cent to 258 in a day, officials said on Sunday. On Sunday morning, the number of those diagnosed with Covid-19 had risen by almost 12 per cent to 14,426, the public health agency said. The respective figures on Saturday were 214 deaths and 12,924 positive diagnoses. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 11:11:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Xinhua writer Jiang Li BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- In a global race to save lives and control the coronavirus pandemic, some politicians and media outlets in the West seem to be headstrongly engaged in a China-bashing competition, peddling one wicked theory after another since the outbreak. When China was just into the COVID-19 battle, they questioned transparency. Later they accused Beijing of violating human rights for taking necessary quarantine measures, and beefed up racist talks. Now they appear to be concentrating their firepower on China's overseas assistance. They try to label China's aid actions as "mask diplomacy," and distort Beijing's help either as an image-improving campaign, a geopolitical tug of war, or a show-off of an ideological victory. It seems that they choose to believe in anything but China's goodwill. For the record, China has so far offered assistance to over 120 countries and international organizations over the raging pandemic, many of which helped China in the thick of its epidemic fight. Also, those aid packages have been sent without political preconditions. More importantly, Beijing's assistance is in line with its vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind. China fully understands that if it wants to truly beat off the deadly disease in this highly connected world, it needs to help those in need to overcome their difficulties too. Otherwise, any progress could be fragile and temporary. The so-called mask quality issue is even more preposterous. Local purchasers in countries like the Netherlands and Belgium have already come forward and made clear that those China-made masks, which are clearly noted for non-medical use, were commercial purchases, not official aid. So what are the causes of their China-bashing syndrome? Perhaps the most immediate motive is to try to divert public attention away from the dire epidemic situation in their own countries, and to find someone to blame for their sloppy domestic responses. Their you-win-I-lose zero-sum way of thinking is another deepgoing reason. Because of that, their minds have been locked in an ideological cage and they would interpret anything China does as a Red-China plot. Most fundamentally, it is the ego of those Western skeptics at work. Deep down in their hearts and minds, China's development is a fact they find difficult to accept. They fear that the pandemic is the beginning of the end of the West-led world order. Still, there are some sober voices in the international community. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her country is "very pleased" about China's help. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic also expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Chinese people for their assistance. As of Sunday, the confirmed coronavirus infections have topped 1.2 million and the death toll is approaching 70,000, according to the latest tally compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The fast spreading pandemic demands the international community move more swiftly and decisively with stronger solidarity. If those in the West still waste their precious time on smearing China and disinforming the general public, they could be giving the devil a leg up to claim more human lives. At least two MPS from the NCP and the Shiv Sena on Monday expressed divergent views on the Centre's decision to cut 30 per cent salary of all MPs for one year, and to divert MPLAD funds for two years to fund the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. NCP MP Supriya Sule, daughter of the party chief Sharad Pawar, has supported the move. In an official tweet from her handle @supriya_sule, she said, "I support the reduction in the MPs salary. WRT the suspension of the MPLAD funds for a duration of two years, I hope that the entire amount of MPLAD funds contributed by all Maharashtra MPs of both houses, are deployed in our state with concurrence of the state administration towards the welfare of our citizens". However, Sena MP from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency, Vinayak Raut, said, "There was no need to utilise the two years MPLAD fund when one year's fund was sufficient. "We understand that the fight against coronavirus is important, but other facilities should not be deprived which an MP offers through his funds," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Several leading arts companies that form the backbone of arts and culture in western Sydney are among 49 organisations that have lost their bids for long-term federal funding. From 2022 Australia Council multi-year funding will cease for Campbelltown Arts Centre, Information and Cultural Exchange, Urban Theatre Project and University of Western Sydney's Writing and Society Research Centre. The region's only dedicated dance company, FORM Dance Projects, was unsuccessful in its bid for new funding. But the Australia Council rejected the suggestion of any form of discrimination on the basis of geographic location. Applications had been assessed by peers from across the industry and according to published criteria and were peer assessed and at arm's length, it said. Western Sydney business leader David Borger called for the replacement of the Australia Council with another appointed group to more equitably distribute arts funding. "The Australia Council is spatially blind," Mr Borger said. "They discriminate against western Melbourne, western Sydney and southeast Queensland." Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order Monday that will allow public employees to return to work in New Jersey to help fight the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the state without any implications related to pensions. We need to remove any roadblocks that can keep them from service, Murphy said at the Trenton War Memorial during his daily coronavirus press briefing. Right now we need all the experienced help we can get whether it be retired law enforcement officers returning to duty or nurses who return to University Hospital or folks who can help staff the labor departments." The governor made the announcement on the same day he reported New Jerseys deaths from the coronavirus increased to 1,003, while its total COVID-19 positive tests jumped to at least 41,090. According to the executive order, For the duration of this emergency, retirees may return to employment by government agencies in any capacity, including but not limited to full-time employee, part-time employee, or special law enforcement officer, without having to re-enroll in any retirement system, if the following conditions are met: A. The retiree has retired before the date of this Order; and B. The retiree has completed at least a thirty-day separation from their employer, from the date of retirement or the date of Board approval, whichever is later; and C.The retirees return to employment is needed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage On Saturday, Murphy announced the states death toll from the virus already surpassed the number of New Jersey residents who died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The governor also warned Sunday New Jerseys battle against the coronavirus will get worse before things get better and that the state should brace for what will be a really challenging couple of weeks ahead. Murphy and state officials had spent the better part of Sunday trying to get our arms around when the state could expect to hit the apex in the number of positive cases and the number of people reported having died each day from COVID-19. He also said the effects of the pandemic will spill meaningfully into the summer. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey: Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. New Delhi, April 6 : The private sector in the country is lending a helping hand at the hour of need in the battle against the deadly coronavirus. It has its own way of sharing the burden at a time when many are looking up to the government for food, shelter and other requirements. Pharmaceutical manufacturing unit Kusum Healthcare Pvt. Ltd has donated Rs 2.50 crore to the PM-CARES Fund to help India fight the Covid-19 pandemic. "With Covid-19 spreading throughout the world, we want to assist our fellow citizens in this time of great need, and this contribution to the PM-CARES Fund is a small step towards that," said Sanjeev Gupta, Managing Director of the company. Founder and CEO of Bada Business Pvt Ltd, Vivek Bindra has donated Rs 1 crore to provide food for the poor and needy people of Delhi. The money has been donated to ISKCON, which has collaborated with the Delhi government to provide food through government schools. "A lot of people in Delhi are daily wage earners, and it becomes tough for them to earn and then eat in the current lockdown situation" said Bindra. Indian Saurashtra Cement resumes cement production in Gujarat 06 April 2020 As the impact of COVID-19 appears to be subsiding in India, the domestic cement industry is planning to resume cement production with the state government's permission under all possible precaution measures. Saurashtra Cement has informed Bombay Stock Exchange Ltd on 5 April that the company has received permission from the state government of Gujarat in accordance with the guidelines of the central government. India's federal government said that production units with the need for a continuous process may continue to operate after obtaining permission from the state government. Accordingly, the 1.5Mta Ranavav cement plant is partially operational and has commenced production of clinker from today in compliance with the permission received from the government. Further, the company has also framed policy for the safety and wellbeing of workers and will comply with the directives being issued by the central, state government and local administration. Earlier, the Saurashtra Cement suspended operations at its Ranavav plant in compliance with the nationwide lockdown from 25 March 2020 and the directives issued by the central and state government to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19. The overall impact upon the Saurashtra Cement's operations is difficult to assess at present but would be reflected in company financial results, if any, in future, experts said. Published under Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 6) A 45-year-old man from Midsayap town has been reported as the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Cotabato province. The province's Integrated Provincial Health Office confirmed the development on Monday, adding that the patient previously traveled to Davao City. Officials said the man is in stable condition while currently isolated at the Cotabato Provincial Isolation Center. Earlier in the day, Caraga in northeastern Mindanao the only region previously not infected with the virus also reported its first case from Butuan City. In total, the Philippines has recorded 3,246 COVID-19 cases, including 152 deaths and 64 recoveries. Lagos State Government is to prosecute all those who attended Saturdays birthday party hosted by Nollywood star, Funke Akindele for her husband. The state Attorney-General, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), said on Monday that they would be prosecuted for flouting social distancing regulation of the state He made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) shortly after an Ikeja chief magistrates court convicted and sentenced Akindele and her husband for flouting the regulation. The attorney-general said that efforts were being intensified to arrest all those who attended the party held in Amen Estate in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos. According to him, all the attendees will be made to face the full wrath of the law. Once they are apprehended, they will face charges. Today, the state charged two people to court for violating the Infection Disease Regulation of Lagos State Government. They pleaded guilty and the court has sentenced them to pay a fine of N100, 000 each, to observe community service for 14 days and to be kept in isolation in a place to be decided by the Lagos State Ministry of Health, he said. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates New Delhi, April 6 : It's a sunny day in Delhi and in normal times the tourists would have been enjoying in the national capital and the hotel staff happily serving them for those extra bucks, but difficult situations have forced both to stand together, wait in queues for food and hope for the lockdown period not to get extended. With no money left, over 850 tourists and the workers and helpers of the hotels near the New Delhi Railway Station are stranded since the lockdown was announced. For the last 12 days they are being provided food by the Delhi government and NGOs. Twice a day, the people gather near the gate number one of the New Delhi railway station, which falls in the Paharganj locality, to collect the food brought for them either by the government or the NGOs. The people, hailing from the different parts of the country, have only demand that the government buy them the rail tickets once the services are resumed to help them reach their homes as they are not left with any money. Speaking to IANS, Gopal Sarkar, a resident of West Bengal's Kolkata said, "We had came to visit several places in the month of March. We were supposed to return to Kolkata on March 23 as we had the railway reservation." "But suddenly train services were suspended and due to that we were stranded here," Sarkar said. He said that along with him there are eight people who are staying in the hotel near the New Delhi Railway station since March 21. Narrating his ordeal, he said, everyday we stand in queues to get the food. "We are thankful to the people of Delhi and the government for helping us in such times," he said. He further said that they have no money left with them to return to their homes and demanded the government to provide them railway reservations once the train services are operational so that they can return their home. When asked if the hotels, where they have been staying since lockdown was charging money, he said, "They were demanding money earlier. But we complained to the police officials and then they directed the hotel owners not to charge us." Savita Das, a resident of Jharkhand's Jamshedpur has similar problem. She said, the group of 20 people along with her started their journey on March 15 to visit Vaishno Devi shrine. "We returned from Vaishno Devi on March 20 and we had the rail tickets for March 21 but our train was cancelled. We had no idea what was happening," she said. She said that after the lockdown was announced, they searched for a lode to stay as they had very limited money with them. "It will be one month on April 15, since the day we came out of our homes. We just demand the government to help us reach our home as our children and relatives are waiting for us," she added. The Indian Railways has suspended over 490 trains before the nationwide lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24. And, from March 24 to April 14 the national transporter suspended all the passenger, mail and express train (approximately 13,600 trains) services to combat the spread of Covid-19. Only the freight and special parcel trains are pressed into service to ensure the supply of essential items across the country. A guest from Assam's Golaghat has similar problem, as he is also one of them who has been stranded in a hotel due to the 21-day lockdown. Middle Mohantam said, that he had come for an official purpose in Delhi and was stuck here due to lockdown. He said, following the lockdown the hotels stopped providing food to the guests. "And, its the police and the NGOs who are ensuring that we get food everyday," he added. Besides the guests, the police is also ensuring that the hotel workers and homeless people of the area also get food everyday. The police official, wishing not be named said, "We are ensuring that no one is left starving." He said, "The food packets that we receive from the Delhi government and NGOs we distribute among the people maintaining social distancing and sanitising." He said that the Delhi Police is also ensuring to provide milk and medicines to the people who had kids with them and those who are ill or have been prescribed medicines by their doctors as most of them are not left with any money with them. On Monday, India recorded 4,067 cases with 109 deaths across the country. The Delhi government has converted schools into shelter camps in several areas for the homeless and migrants and is serving food to them twice day. (Anand Singh can be contacted at Anand.s@ians.in) [April 06, 2020] SAIC Awarded Security Operations Contract From Texas Department of Information Resources Science Applications International Corp. (NYSE: SAIC (News - Alert)) has been awarded a contract from the State of Texas Department of Information Resources to provide cybersecurity services protecting data center infrastructure and network systems. The contract has a projected value of $36 million over the initial four year term. "We are thrilled to expand SAIC's state and local portfolio into Texas, and to strengthen our multi-sourcing integration capabilities through the provision of cross-functional cybersecurity operations," said Bob Genter, executive vice president and general manager of SAIC's Civilian Markets Customer Group. "We look forward to helping the Department of Information Resources (DIR) deliver outstanding, secure IT services to the Texas government and its citizens." SAIC is the prime contractor on the contract that has a four-year period of performance, with four one-year options. The company will implement security technology and practices to expand, improve, and enhance the Data Center Services (DCS) program's security posture. "SAIC is committed to helping DIR innovate and grow, while enhancing their flexibility, agility, and choice," Genter continued. "Our low-risk approach to implementing security technology and practices will help expand, improve, and enhance the DCS program's security posture." SAIC's solution includes the implementation and operations of leading cybersecurity technology to secure infrastructure and provide enhanced threat detection and identification. As part of that effort, SAIC will work to enhance the Department of Information Resources' investment in privileged access management tools. About SAIC SAIC is a premier technology integrator solving our nation's ost complex modernization and readiness challenges. Our robust portfolio of offerings across the defense, space, civilian, and intelligence markets includes high-end solutions in engineering, IT, and mission solutions. Using our expertise and understanding of existing and emerging technologies, we integrate the best components from our own portfolio and our partner ecosystem to deliver innovative, effective, and efficient solutions. We are 25,500 strong; driven by mission, united by purpose, and inspired by opportunities. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has pro forma annual revenues of approximately $7.1 billion. For more information, visit saic.com. For ongoing news, please visit our newsroom. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this release contain or are based on "forward-looking" information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "guidance," and similar words or phrases. Forward-looking statements in this release may include, among others, estimates of future revenues, operating income, earnings, earnings per share, charges, total contract value, backlog, outstanding shares and cash flows, as well as statements about future dividends, share repurchases and other capital deployment plans. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risk, uncertainties and assumptions, and actual results may differ materially from the guidance and other forward-looking statements made in this release as a result of various factors. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause or contribute to these material differences include those discussed in the "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Legal Proceedings" sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated in any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the SEC (News - Alert), which may be viewed or obtained through the Investor Relations section of our website at saic.com or on the SEC's website at sec.gov. Due to such risks, uncertainties and assumptions you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. SAIC expressly disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statement provided in this release to reflect subsequent events, actual results or changes in SAIC's expectations. SAIC also disclaims any duty to comment upon or correct information that may be contained in reports published by investment analysts or others. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005497/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Detectives are investigating whether key members of the ruthless McCarthy/Dundon gang set up hitman Robbie Lawlor to be murdered over the weekend. Two of the gang's close associates, including a juvenile, were being questioned by the PSNI yesterday as part of the murder investigation. Lawlor was shot several times in the front garden of a house in the Etna Drive area of Ardoyne, north Belfast, shortly before midday on Saturday. The 35-year-old was the chief suspect in the murder and dismemberment of 17-year-old Keane Mulready-Woods in January as well as at least five other gangland murders. Gardai are liaising with the PSNI and it is being investigated whether Lawlor travelled north to collect an outstanding drug debt before being shot dead. One of the Limerick men in custody over the murder is a 33-year-old notorious criminal who is a central figure within the McCarthy/Dundon gang. The man was released from prison only in recent weeks after serving a lengthy sentence for firearms offences. Detectives are also quizzing a 17-year-old who is a close associate of convicted killer John Dundon, currently serving a life sentence for the murder of innocent rugby player Shane Geoghegan in 2008. They were detained after police raided a house in west Belfast. Another two men, aged 30 and 27, are also being questioned. The PSNI believes a single gunman was involved in Lawlor's murder and he was not in Belfast "by accident" when he was shot dead. A number of searches have been carried out after the brazen killing while one man handed himself in to police yesterday. PSNI Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy said: "I believe that a single gunman was involved in the killing, firing multiple shots at the victim and striking him a number of times. The murder weapon has not yet been recovered. "Four males aged 33, 30, 27 and 17 have been arrested on suspicion of murder and are currently being questioned in the Serious Crime Suite in Musgrave police station in Belfast. "I do not believe that Robbie was in the Ardoyne by accident. I believe he had some reason to be there and key lines of enquiry for me at this stage are to establish why he was there and what his connection to the address is." Detectives are following a number of lines of inquiry and are investigating if the men travelled with Lawlor to Belfast before he was murdered in a double-cross. The gangland hitman was under active threat from a number of crime groups and had been warned a number of times about these threats. In recent days he had been staying at a property belonging to a 24-year-old Drogheda gang boss who is suspected of ordering the murder of Drogheda teenager Mulready-Woods. The mob boss had recently been in Spain but Lawlor had told family that he was staying with him in recent days, sources said. Despite being under threat from several groups, including associates of Owen Maguire and the 'Mr Big' drugs gang, Lawlor was spotted in public several times after the murder of Mulready-Woods. He was seen in various pubs in Drogheda and had also travelled to the Liffey Valley shopping centre in Clondalkin in February. He was only recently released from prison but, within weeks, he was the chief suspect in the abduction and dismemberment of Mulready-Woods in a crime that shocked the nation. The youth's limbs were put in a bag and dumped in Coolock, Dublin, days after he was reported missing. As well as the teenager's murder, Lawlor was also under investigation for the fatal shooting of fellow hitman Ken Finn in February 2018. Finn (36) was a suspect in the murder of Real IRA boss Alan Ryan and worked for the drugs boss known as 'Mr Big'. Lawlor had also been suspected of involvement in the murders of Mark Byrne in May 2005, David 'Fred' Lynch in March 2009, John Paul Joyce later that year and his own friend Noel Deans in January 2010. In a twisted act, Lawlor drank tea and consoled the Deans's devastated mother just hours after he had shot him dead. The hitman was also arrested for the murder attempt of Anthony Ayodeji in July 2008 and the chief suspect in the shooting of Drogheda gang boss Owen Maguire (36) which left the mobster paralysed. Lawlor was also suspected of firing shots at his former partner's new boyfriend's mother and shooting dead the family dog in 2018, but was acquitted of attempted murder last December. 246 Shares Share There have been increasing statements in the media to the effect that, for the COVID-19 pandemic, the cure is worse than the disease, and that the economic impact of the drastic and widespread quarantines will cause a severe recession that will result in excess deaths. This is very unlikely, as the overall U.S. mortality from unchecked COVID-19 would likely exceed the mortality from an economic recession resulting from the public health measures used to contain its spread. The currently available medical interventions are limited. There are no known vaccines or proven medication regimens for COVID-19. Travel restrictions initially slowed the spread of the infection to the U.S. But, the limited number of tests prevents widespread case identification, and the very limited public health workforce at the local level makes contact tracing with multiple infections virtually impossible. The remaining strategies which focus on reducing population spread have been employed globally with varying success. These include an array of options ranging from individual case isolation to nationwide lockdowns. The worst-case projections are truly frightening. The U.K.s Imperial College estimates that 2.2 million Americans will die from COVID-19 and that hospital bed demand will be 30 times greater than supply, if no public health measures are taken. The colleges modeling shows that mortality could be reduced by as much as 90 percent based on the intensity and speed with which five non-pharmaceutical measures are implemented. Even with more hopeful assumptions for infectivity and mortality, the anticipated number of deaths for unchecked COVID-19 is striking. Assuming a best-case scenario similar to a typical influenza outbreak, if 20 percent of the roughly 330 million disease-naive people in the United States became infected, and 0.1 percent died, this would still result in 66,000 deaths from unchecked COVID-19. This would create an overwhelming burden for our hospitals. Historical context These numbers contrast with the historical mortality from economic downturns. Studies of the U.S. Great Depression (1929-1933), Great Recession (2007-2009), and other periods of worsening economic conditions, demonstrate that mortality actually decreases during periods of economic downturn. In a 2009 publication, Berzruchka writes that, economic recessions have paradoxical effects on the mortality trends of populations in rich countries. Contrary to what might have been expected, economic downturns during the 20th century were associated with declines in [all-cause] mortality rates. Ruhm has shown a procyclical relationship between the economy and mortality meaning that overall mortality increases during economic expansion and decreases during decline. Statistically, a one-percent increase in unemployment decreases the predicted death rate by 0.5 percent. A 2009 descriptive analyses of associations in health indicators and economic activity for the period of 1920-1940 found that population health evolves better during recessions than expansions. Mortality from suicide is a notable exception, as it is countercyclical, and increases during economic downturn. However, this increased mortality from suicide does not outweigh the net decrease in overall societal mortality. These mortality findings only apply to higher-income countries. Countries with an annual GDP of less than approximately $5,000 to $10,000 per capita (in 2009 dollars) would expect to see mortality improvements with economic growth. Several factors may explain these counterintuitive trends. There are fewer traffic and industrial accidents when there is less economic activity, as people are not commuting or performing work. People also have less work-related stress, during times of economic downturn, which might exacerbate health conditions. In addition, without disposable income, people are less likely to engage in behaviors associated with poor health conditions, including drinking and smoking. Consequently, decreases in obesity and cardiovascular disease are often seen during an economic recession. Moreover, people are often home spending time with families and friends and are more physically active during an economic downturn compared to a period of economic expansion. The disease is more deadly Public health decisions in the face of the uncertain impact of a new threat are complicated, but when lives are at stake, public health leaders usually recommend the most conservative course to prevent deaths. Our current limited understanding of the transmission, infectivity, presentation, and fatality of COVID-19 has made choosing the best interventions to reduce mortality even more difficult. But watching the horrors of the impact of the thousands of patients overwhelming the hospitals and healthcare workers in Italy, Spain, and New York, is ample evidence that this pandemic requires drastic interventions. It is clear from historical precedent that the cure of public health strategies to suppress COVID-19 will result in significantly less mortality than any potential mortality caused by a resultant economic downturn. Craig Goolsby and Thomas Kirsch are emergency physicians. Raphaelle H. Rodzik and Nicole Dacuyan-Faucher are epidemiologists. Keke Schuler is a psychologist. Image credit: Shutterstock.com STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that schools in New York, including New York City public schools, will continue to be closed until April 29 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak -- as part of his extension of the New York State on PAUSE executive order. The announcement extends a previous closure from Mayor Bill de Blasio when he announced last month that New York City public schools would close beginning March 16 through April 20. Remote learning began on March 23. De Blasio has repeatedly said its possible that schools will remain closed for the remainder of the school year. In a tweet shared Monday, NYC Public Schools shared Cuomos tweet that school buildings will remain closed. Governor Cuomo has announced that school buildings will remain closed until 4/29 to keep New Yorkers safe. We will continue to support all our students, families, and educators to keep the learning going every day, reads the tweet below from NYC Public Schools. Governor Cuomo has announced that school buildings will remain closed until 4/29 to keep New Yorkers safe. We will continue to support all our students, families, and educators to keep the learning going every day. https://t.co/72YSRmj1mg NYC Public Schools (@NYCSchools) April 6, 2020 The school closure extension comes a few days after City Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza announced Friday that remote schooling will continue through spring break from April 9-17. For the health & wellbeing of all, the City & the State agree schools must continue to offer remote learning, including on days previously scheduled as breaks, the tweet reads in part. Schools will therefore continue with remote learning through 4/9-4/17, originally scheduled for Spring Recess. The move was immediately blasted by the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) union that was working to have union members off from April 9-12 in observance of religious holidays. *** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK *** Michael J. Deegan, superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of New York, told families last week who have children at various Catholic elementary schools that distance learning will continue through April 30. In accordance with state and federal guidelines all school buildings will remain closed, and home-based learning will continue through April 30, 2020, he wrote. Deegan also announced that Staten Island Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese of New York will be on Easter break from Monday through April 17. Home-based classes will resume on Monday, April 20. REMOTE LEARNING It was a learning curve for many New York City teachers when remote learning began. In addition to educating their students, preparing lessons, uploading videos, and grading assignments, they also needed to be able to help their own children navigate the new distance learning model. Staten Island parents are saying that while the new normal of remote learning was a bit overwhelming at first, both teachers and students are living up to the task. Before remote learning began, some Staten Island parents were trying to secure electronic devices to allow their kids to participate in online learning. The city is still working to distribute necessary technology to the estimated 300,000 students who currently lack an internet-connected device. You can go to www.myschools.nyc for more information. 42 NYC on pause: A month into the battle against deadly coronavirus Sign up for text message alerts from SILive.com on coronavirus: RELATED COVERAGE: Heres the testing schedule for 45-minute online AP exams NYC schools can no longer use Zoom for remote learning CUNY shortens spring recess at all schools, including CSI St. Johns University cancels commencement exercises Uplifting video shows teachers dancing for their students Remote learning a juggling act for those teachers with kids at home Staten Island school principal tests positive for coronavirus New York Public Library: Free virtual tutoring, read-alouds and more College of Staten Island vacates dorms; may be used as medical facilities DoorDash will deliver meals to medically fragile NYC kids Will first responder child care centers offer special ed services? Staten Island parents on remote learning: Teacher, school support amazing' FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. The promise of 100,000 daily coronavirus tests by the end of the month is in huge doubt, with a warning that the technology will not be ready by then. Health secretary Matt Hancock staked the governments credibility on the pledge last week, amid growing public anger about missed targets and NHS staff forced to isolate unnecessarily, rather than return to work. But an Oxford University professor advising ministers has warned that none of the antibody tests to find out if someone has had the virus and recovered is yet working properly. Without mass antibody tests, it will be very difficult to achieve the 100,000 commitment, given the problems securing sufficient chemicals and swabs for antigen tests, which show if someone currently has the virus. Although some progress is being made, only around 16,000 of those tests were carried out on Sunday and only around 1,000 on NHS staff and their families at the new drive-through sites. Recommended No 10 refuses to say whether Johnson was given oxygen in hospital There has been speculation that Mr Hancock might be forced to resign if the target has not been reached by end of April, little more than three weeks away. Writing on his blog, Professor Sir John Bell, regius professor of medicine, said: Sadly, the tests we have looked at to date have not performed well. We see many false negatives (tests where no antibody is detected despite the fact we know it is there) and we also see false positives. None of the tests we have validated would meet the criteria for a good test as agreed with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This is not a good result for test suppliers or for us. 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 Sir John said the Spanish government had also returned test kits that were not working, while Germany believed it was three months away from getting these available. We clearly want to avoid telling people they are immune when they are not, and we want all people who are immune to know accurately so they can get back to work, he added. When Mr Hancock made his pledge saying that is the goal and I am determined that we will get there he declined to say how many would be antigen tests and how many for antibodies. However, it is widely accepted that ministers waited too long before ordering antigen tests and so have staked their hopes on checking accurately for antibodies as the only exit strategy from the crisis. They have floated the idea of immunity certificates for people able to prove they can safely escape the lockdown early, in the months to come. It is believed that tests ordered from China were able to identify immunity accurately only in people who had been severely ill, when the UK needed to identify milder cases as well. Asked about the situation, Boris Johnsons spokesperson confirmed: No test so far has proved to be good enough to use. He said the government would seek refunds from the companies that have taken orders for millions of the tests, if they failed to deliver results. The Bihar government on Monday sought explanation from 76 doctors from across the state for absenting from duty unauthorisedly despite the health department's order to report to work immediately in view of coronavirus pandemic. They have been asked to submit reply within three days. State's health department had on March 13 last cancelled all kinds of leaves- except those for study and maternity- of medical officers,including those appointed on contract, nurses, paramedical staff and fourth grade employees in the backdrop of COVID-19 outbreak, an official release said. The order had asked all the absentee staff to report for duty immediately. Notwithstanding the order, 76 medical officers were found absent from duty in different parts of the state on March 31 last, it said. The department asked them to furnish reply as to why action be not taken against them under the relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act 2005 and the Epidemic Disease Act 1897. As per the State Health Societys bulletin issued on Monday, total number of positive coronavirus cases stood at 32 with one death in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Government has decided to distribute monthly 5 kg grains and 1 kg pulses, per person, for the next three months in the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, according to Chetan Sanghi, Chief Secretary, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This move will benefit all those covered under the Public Distribution System(PDS) amid lockdown imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19. India on Monday recorded the highest jump in the number of COVID-19 positive cases with 704 positive cases of coronavirus reported in the past 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. With this, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India has now increased to 4,281. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 20:24:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PARIS, April 6 (Xinhua) -- French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire on Monday warned that France's growth would likely record its worst post-war downturn after the coronavirus epidemic has taken a toll on the country's economic activities. Speaking at a hearing of the Senate's economic affairs committee, Le Maire said France was facing its major "economic shock" since the end of the World War II. "The worst growth figure that has been made by France since 1945 was in 2009 after the financial crisis of 2008: it was at -2.2 percent," the minister said. "We will probably be at more than -2.2 percent this year." The government had initially estimated that the economy would contract by 1 percent in 2020 due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Working to mitigate the epidemic economic fallout, the French government was mobilizing 45 billion euros (48.63 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 banks reduce potential exposure to loan losses. As for this year's deficit, the government forecast the public gap at 3.9 percent from previous estimate of 2.2 percent, while debt would top 100 percent due to negative growth and costly measures to cushion the coronavirus crisis' economic fallout. (1 euro =1.08 U.S. dollars) Heal the Healers Now, a new national initiative to bring the stress-reducing Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique to medical professionals who are battling the coronavirus pandemic, was launched today by two nonprofit groups: the Center for Health and Wellness of the David Lynch Foundation and the US TM Organization. A New York Times article published on March 31 titled Nurses Die, Doctors Fall Sick and Panic Rises on Virus Front Lines, reported that The coronavirus pandemic, which has infected more than 30,000 people in New York City, is beginning to take a toll on those who are most needed to combat it: the doctors, nurses and other workers at hospitals and clinics. In emergency rooms and intensive care units, typically dispassionate medical professionals are feeling panicked as increasing numbers of colleagues get sick. With COVID-19 testing our healthcare systems technology, infrastructure and most importantly human resources, the doctors and nurses taking care of the scared and sick patients at great risk to themselves deserve the very best tools to manage their health that we can provide them, said Bob Roth, Chief Executive Officer, the David Lynch Foundation. Throughout the years, 5,000 doctors and nurses have learned the TM technique. The goal of the David Lynch Foundation is to teach many thousands more of these heroes over the coming year. Save the doctors, save the nurses! said filmmaker David Lynch, chair of the David Lynch Foundation. This initiative will teach these courageous healthcare providers Transcendental Meditation so they can strengthen their immune systems, stay safe and continue to help others. Even before the pandemic, a Harvard report called physician burnout a public health crisis that urgently demands action, with several surveys putting the rate of provider burnout as high as 70 percent. The American Academy of Family Physicians linked burnout to higher rates of medical errors, substance abuse and addiction and suicide among physicians. Today, the situation is far worse and demands well-documented, innovative approaches to address this crisis. Transcendental Meditation is an evidence-based, non-pharmacological intervention for this devastating public health crisis, said Stuart Rothenberg, MD, Medical Director of the Center for Health and Wellness. The Center for Health and Wellness has a long track record of providing TM instruction to first responders, including police, firefighters, and military personnel. Today, our doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers are true first respondersthey are on the frontlines in a literal life-or-death battle against a pandemic that threatens the very life of society, Dr. Rothenberg said. Heal the Healers Fund The Center has established the Heal the Healers Now Fund with all money raised used to deliver the meditation to healthcare providers at no charge. Those interested in supporting the initiative can visit HealTheHealersNow.org. Deep relaxation and stress reduction Transcendental Meditation is an easy-to-learn, enjoyable-to-practice mental technique for deep relaxation and stress-reduction that has been successfully offered in medical schools, academic and VA medical centers, hospitals, military academies, substance abuse centers, prisons and other settings, according to the TM.org website. Instruction in the TM technique for healthcare providers includes eight hours of specialized training by a trauma-informed teacher, which includes one class of personalized instruction, as well as a comprehensive, one-year follow up program to ensure the provider is gaining maximum results. The technique is practiced for 15-20 minutes twice a day. Training will begin once health authorities give the greenlight for teaching medical workers onsite. Celebrities including Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, Oprah Winfrey, Katy Perry, Tom Hanks, Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Sting, Russell Brand, Laura Dern, Lena Dunham, Naomi Watts, Mary-Louise Parker, Amy Schumer and Bill Hader practice Transcendental Meditation and support the work of the David Lynch Foundation to bring the meditation for free to at-risk adults and youth. Unique state of restful alertness TM produces a unique neurophysiological state that combines deep metabolic rest with heightened mental alertness. This state of deep relaxation, which researchers have termed restful alertness, is a potent antidote to stress, Dr. Rothenberg said. Over 400 peer-reviewed published studies on TM have documented improvements in a wide variety of stress-related disorders, as well as significant improvements in cognitive function and overall health and well-being. The National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense have awarded nearly $30 million in grant support for research on TM. For example, a recent $2.4 million study funded by the Department of Defense found TM markedly reduced symptoms of PTSD among meditating veterans. Results of the randomized controlled trial were published in The Lancet Psychiatry in November 2018. Ten million people of all ages, nationalities and religions, including tens of thousands of healthcare providers, have learned TM. The TM-based Healthcare Provider Wellness Program has been offered in hospitals and clinics nationwide, most recently at Weill Cornell Medical Center-New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, with significant reductions in physician burnout, insomnia and symptoms of post-traumatic stress over a three-month period in those practicing the TM technique. Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, Director of the Friedman Brain Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, learned TM six years ago. TM has tremendous potential for healthcare providers to reduce burnout and increase job satisfaction and productivity, Dr. Nestler said. Patty J. Lee, MD, is Chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. I am leading an entire division of physicians through this CoV19 crisisand TM has been my anchor. I am now petitioning our entire health system to train all our healthcare providers in TM, Dr. Lee said. Track record in healthcare programs The TM technique has been adopted in healthcare provider wellness programs as a stand-alone approach or as an adjuvant therapy to make existing programs more effective. These programs include: Loyola Universitys Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago Medical students are offered a for-credit elective program entitled, Physician Wellness through Transcendental Meditation. To date, more than 350 medical students have learned TM, with more students learning all the time based on positive reports. A randomized controlled trial of 42 academic faculty physicians at Loyola Stritch performed over a four-month period found significant improvements in overall burnout, depression and insomnia in the TM group compared to controls. Weill Cornell Medical Center-New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City A pilot study of physicians in the Emergency Medicine Department found significant reductions in physician burnout, insomnia and symptoms of post-traumatic stress over a three-month period in those practicing TM. Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont A six-year study on cadets at Americas oldest military college (and the home of ROTC) has found significant reductions in perceived stress, hyper-vigilance and depression, and increases in psychological resilience in TM participants. Donating services to healthcare providers Dr. Rothenberg said the Heal the Healers Now Fund will allow certified TM teachers to provide the instruction to learn to meditate at no cost to doctors, nurses and other workers, as well as offer a comprehensive, one-year follow up program to ensure the providers are gaining maximum benefit from their practice. For more information, and to make a tax-deductible donation to Heal the Healers Now Fund, please visit HealTheHealersNow.org or contact Heroes@DavidLynchFoundation.org For media inquiries, contact Dan Knitzer at The TASC Group at dan@thetascgroup.com or 973-978-3956. Local health officials are concerned about the COVID-19 coronavirus spreading in the western Upper Peninsula as people arrive from densely populated areas of Michigan where the virus is spreading rapidly. A spike in population could also put an undue strain on communitys supplies of groceries and toiletry items, as well as local healthcare systems, the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department said in an advisory on Monday, April 6. Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties are seeing an influx of individuals who are seeking shelter from areas with significant COVID-19 community spread While we understand the desire to seek shelter within our communities with fewer COVID-19 cases, this potentially poses an unnecessary risk to all residents of the western Upper Peninsula, the document states. During this public health crisis, many rural communities may not be equipped with personnel, supplies or resources for a surge in population. As of Sunday, April 5, Michigan had 15,718 confirmed COVID-19 coronavirus cases and 617 related deaths. Seventy-one of Michigans 83 counties now have at least one case. The majority of cases are concentrated in the southeast Michigan counties of Wayne, Macomb and Oakland. Baraga and Keweenaw counties both have zero cases thus far. Houghton and Ontonagon counties each have one confirmed case. Gogebic County has three cases. The health department believes that many people are arriving at their summer homes, cottages or cabins while others might plan to camp. However, local campgrounds are shut down due to the pandemic. Remote camping is not a viable alternative, the health department warns. Emergency personnel may not be able to reach remote campers who need assistance or become ill. The health department provided these guidelines for people who still choose to shelter in the area: Stay home if you are sick Contact your healthcare provider if you have coronavirus symptoms Self-quarantine for 14 days after arriving from areas that have significant community spread After quarantine, continue to obey the statewide stay home order; only leave your residence to obtain essential goods when necessary. When out, adhere to social distancing guidelines. RELATED: After weeks of mixed messages, Michiganders urged to wear masks to prevent coronavirus 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: Monday, April 6: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Michigan State Police troopers are delivering groceries in this U.P. town Whitmer extends order banning non-essential visits to hospitals, care facilities Without coronavirus aid, point of no return looms for Michigan small businesses Next Michigan legislative session will look a lot different amid coronavirus outbreak Russia Cancels Evacuation Of Citizens Stuck Overseas, Promises To Resume By RFE/RL April 05, 2020 Russia has paused the evacuation of tens of thousands of its citizens stuck overseas due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused many countries to ban international commercial flights in their battle to contain the spread of the disease. Russia on April 4 canceled all flights to return citizens from abroad to prevent the import of the virus, local media reported. However, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said later that day that the government was only taking a pause to better plan their return. She said the government would create a new timetable of flights for citizens by April 6, but gave no date for when all citizens seeking to return would be flown back. Golikova said the temporary halt of flights was necessary "for a clear understanding" of who the citizens are, how many there are, and what their Russian destination is, she said. Russia's Foreign Ministry has said that there are more than 30,000 Russian citizens currently abroad while Golikova said about 26,000 are seeking to be evacuated. However, she said the government has not been able to identify half of the citizens seeking to return. Furthermore, she also said the government wants to fly as many people as possible directly to their home city because the nation's international airports don't have enough space to keep so many passengers under observation. All passengers will be asked to quarantine themselves at home for 14 days, she said. About two-thirds of Russian citizens asking to be evacuated are based in Thailand, which recently announced onerous requirements for foreigners to legally extend their stay. Thailand is a popular destination for Russians, many of whom spend winters in the Southeast Asian country. Russians seeking to return home are required to fill out an online form and wait for the government to give them a return flight date. The government has given the Foreign Ministry 500 million rubles ($6.25 million) to help passengers stranded. The ministry will pay a daily allowance for the days citizens are stuck in other countries starting from the day of their originally booked return flight until the day of their evacuation. The ministry will pay adults 2,400 rubles ($30) per day while children under 14 will receive 1,600 ($20). Reporting by RBC, Kommersant, and Rossiyskaya Gazeta Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-evacuation- coronavirus-foreign/30532004.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kentucky Governor Vetoes Voter ID Bill, Says Ballot Fraud a Problem That Does Not Exist Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D-Ky.) has vetoed a bill that would require the states voters to show government-issued identification before being allowed to cast ballots. In a statement (pdf) on April 3, Beshear said he was vetoing Senate Bill 2 because it would introduce an impediment to voting and that it sought to address a problem that does not exist, referring to Republican claims of voter fraud in the state. I am vetoing Senate Bill 2 because the provisions of the law would create an obstacle to the ability of Kentuckians to exercise their right to vote, resulting in fewer people voting and undermining our democracy. Furthermore, no documented evidence of recent voter fraud in the form of impersonation in Kentucky has been presented, Beshear said in the statement. Beshear said the legislation could endanger the health and safety of Kentucky residents by forcing them to leave their homes during the current pandemic to obtain the needed identification. Beshears veto might be overridden since the bill had been passed by supermajorities in both chambers of the states legislature. I ask the legislators of both parties who believe in election integrity and passed this law to override this regrettable veto, and I hope the governor will eventually join me in governing from the center, Secretary of State Michael Adams, a Republican, said in a statement. Sanctity of the Vote Voter fraud is a contentious issue, often falling along partisan lines, with Democrats often portrayed as broadly supportive of measures that soften voter ID requirements, while Republicans as those seeking to harden them. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) put her partys stunning disregard for the sanctity of the vote on full display when she tried to include the following measures into a proposed House bill dealing with the coronavirus: ballot harvesting, no voter identification requirement for absentee ballots, and no signature from a witness on absentee ballots, wrote Adrian Norman, author of the book, The Art of the Steal: Exposing Fraud & Vulnerabilities in Americas Elections, in an op-ed published by The Epoch Times. America currently has millions more names on its voter rolls than it does citizens eligible to vote. This vulnerability can be (and often is) exploited by casting invalid absentee ballots. Not confirming the identity of the person casting a vote makes it much easier to game the system, Norman wrote, providing a list of examples that he said pointed to evidence that an ample amount of election fraud is facilitated by loopholes provided by mail-in and absentee ballots. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, argues that voter fraud isnt just real, but bipartisan. Heritage Foundation experts have long pointed out that voter fraud is not particular to one party or ideology. At its core, people cheat in elections to further their preferred causes or to advance their own careers, and theres nothing inherently conservative or liberal about the desire to win, Jason Snead, a former policy analyst at the foundation, wrote in August 2019. While not a comprehensive list, the Heritage Foundations Election Fraud Database provides a sampling of election fraud cases from across the United States. Meanwhile, the Brennan Center for Justice, in a document (pdf) titled Debunking the Voter Fraud Myth, claims that fraud by voters at the polls is vanishingly rare, and does not happen on a scale even close to that necessary to rig an election. The document provides a list of studies and analyses that purport to show that voter fraud is a minor problem and references a policy solution (pdf) that is a six-part agenda to target fraud risks as they actually existwithout unduly disenfranchising eligible citizens. It Is Already Killing People Meanwhile, Kentuckys death toll from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, has climbed to 45. According to official state figures, 18,767 Kentuckians have been tested for COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus, and 955 have tested positive. Beshear said in a COVID-19 update on April 5 that the lower-than-usual number of new cases was probably because fewer labs reported results that day. I wouldnt read too much into it today because of it being a Sunday and what labs are reporting, he said, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. With that said, weve had a number of days in a row, I think four, where we have been about the same. Beshear said a Covington-based company would provide as many as 2,000 additional tests each day, the newspaper reported. He warned that his administration would crack down on those who disregard the states social distancing policies, censuring two gyms that were recently cited for allowing people to enter. It is already killing people and with an order out there that you cannot operate, you would open up the back door? Beshear said. My goodness, come on, we ought to be better than that and shame on those that are doing that. Beshear issued an executive order mandating all non-life-sustaining public-facing businesses, including gyms, to halt operations by 5 p.m. on March 18. Odisha: Coronavirus, dip in imports bring hard times for fish traders April 06,2020 | Source: The New Indian Express For the fish-loving Odia, the price is beginning to pinch the pocket. With fish import from Andhra Pradesh dropping by the day, it has affected the supply chain. What has made the matters worse is local fishermen community is not venturing out due to the lockdown and social-distancing. For the fishers, the fish eaters as well the traders, this is unprecedented. Though the Government has not imposed any restriction on transport of fish and other products, shortage of labourers and closure of hotels and restaurants have affected business of thousands of traders and vendors. Jameswar Mallik, Secretary of Jay Jawan Matsyabyabasayi Mahasangha at Unit-4, the largest fish market in the Capital, rues that the fish import has come down drastically due to the lockdown. "While a large number of fishermen in Odisha have stopped selling fish, the shortage of labourers in Guntur, Nellore and other places of Andhra Pradesh has also affected fish transport," Mallik said. Due to the lockdown, import has come down from around 8,000 kg to around 2,000 kg a day in the last two weeks. Compounding the problem is cost of transport which has increased as drivers are reluctant to transport fish to the State in the face of the virus outbreak. This, in turn, has pushed up the price of fish in the market. Rohu is being sold at Rs 200 per kg against the usual price of Rs160, while Bhakura sells for Rs 220 to Rs 240 though the normal price would be Rs 180. Closure of hotels and restaurants and restriction on movement of people has plunged their sale further. "We used to sell at least one quintal fish a day but now the sale has dropped by half," said Prasant Behera, a fish vendor at Rasulgarh. The 21-day lockdown has not only hit Odishas fishing industry hard but dealt a body blow to livelihood of lakhs of commercial fishermen and traders. The Government advisory to practice social distancing and fear of police action has forced the fisherfolk not to venture out. Demand from local markets has crashed due to closure of hotel and restaurants and transport of marine catch has also come to a grinding halt. Fishermen have stopped venturing into sea following the coronavirus lockdown, said B Iswar Rao, a fisherman from Penthakata in Puri. Hundreds of fishermen from the district, dependent on marine fisheries, are also facing difficulties in finding customers. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ardila Syakriah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 6, 2020 08:20 645 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206fe33e0 1 City anies-baswedan,DKI,Jakarta-COVID-19,COVID-19,coronavirus,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,health-minister Free Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has accused the central government of stonewalling his efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus by issuing a ministerial regulation that prevents him from directly imposing stricter measures to limit peoples mobility. Under pressure to control rising case numbers and fatalities in the capital, Anies strongly criticized the Health Ministrys new guidelines on large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) that include an assessment process and show no sense of urgency. [Its] as if we are proposing a project that needs a feasibility study, Anies told The Jakarta Post on Sunday. Cant the ministry see that we are facing a rising death toll? Is that not enough? Earlier this week, President Joko Jokowi Widodo said that, in lieu of a regional or national lockdown, regions could enforce physical distancing rules in their fight against COVID-19. According to Government Regulation No. 21/2020 on PSBB, provinces and cities are required to obtain a permit from the Health Ministry to impose the policy. As of Sunday, no region has obtained such a permit. According to a ministerial regulation issued by the Health Ministry on Friday, regional heads who want to enact PSBB have to submit requests alongside data on the increase of cases by also providing an epidemiology curve and a map on the spread of the virus as well as data proving that transmission had already occurred in their region. Cases in question refer to the number of patients under surveillance (PDP) and those having been confirmed through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Read also: Jakarta, West Java governors doubt central govt COVID-19 figures The request would then be discussed by an expert team appointed by the health minister, which would approve or deny the request in consultation with COVID-19 fast response team chief Doni Monardo, who also heads the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). Other than regional leaders, the COVID-19 fast response team chief can also submit such a request. The Health Ministry must make a decision within two days after the submission of the request, the regulation says. The PSBB should then be implemented for 14 days, which can be extended if there are still proven cases of transmission. The PSBB covers the closing down of schools and offices, limitations of religious activities, activities in public places, social and cultural events, transportation restrictions and activities related to security and defense. Anies said he had sent a PSBB request to Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto on Wednesday before the ministerial regulation was issued and would wait for an answer instead of sending a new letter. The request was being discussed by the Health Ministrys team on Sunday afternoon. How Anies held back in coronavirus response (JP/Hengky) According to the governments official count, there are 2,273 confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide as of Sunday, including 1,124 in Jakarta. Ninety-five of the countrys 198 fatalities were recorded in Jakarta. Padjadjaran University epidemiologist Panji Hadisoemarto said the procedure to obtain the PSBB status was overly bureaucratic. He feared local administrations would be late in taking necessary measures, as they failed to immediately meet the requirements imposed by the regulation. The criteria imposed are too restrictive, especially by referring to cases as those confirmed through PCR testing. In practice, its very likely that decisions will be made too late, because theres a bottleneck in our PCR testing, Panji said. Indonesia has conducted fewer than 10,000 tests using the PCR method so far, a small number that has been attributed to insufficient preparedness on the part of laboratories and a shortage of PCR testing kits. This has caused a backlog in testing, with many patients having to wait for days for their lab results to come back. Read also: Indonesia to receive 50,000 COVID-19 PCR test kits from South Korea Berry Juliandi of the Indonesian Young Scientists Forum criticized the new regulation that gives the Health Ministry the authority over PSBB policies. Weve seen that the health minister has not taken the right measures to contain and mitigate COVID-19 so far, Berry said. Bayu Dwi Anggono, a legal expert at the University of Jember in East Java, said requiring mayors and regents to consult with governors and also send their request to the latter instead of only to the Health Ministry would only increase paperwork, since the requirement was not stipulated in the 2018 Law on Health Quarantine nor in the 2020 government regulation. The Health Ministry did not immediately respond to the Posts request for comment. Taking over the world of social media as one of the top young singers is Armaan Thakur Chopper crash: One arrested for linking PM with the tragedy Influence is not about growth, its about knowing that there is a way towards it: Anand Mandal Social media slams those who burst crackers during PMs candlelight vigil call India oi-PTI New Delhi, Apr 06: "It's not a party," "It's not Diwali," netizens vented their ire on social media, as people switched off lights at their homes at 9 pm on Sunday and instead of lighting candles, burst firecrackers in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for a nine-minute candlelight vigil. Modi had called for a nine-minute candlelight vigil on Sunday as a means to dispel the darkness spread by the coronavirus pandemic. He had asked people to switch off the lights at their homes and light a candle or a diya at their doorsteps or in their balconies at 9 pm on Sunday. While many put up video clips and pictures of themselves lighting candles, most social media posts came down heavily against those bursting crackers. Netizens put up video clips and pictures of people bursting crackers and shouting slogans as 9 pm approached. "Corona ke Bharat aagman par deshwaasi khushi manate hue. Well done (people welcoming the entry of corona to India)," tweeted Arun Arora, taking a dig at those bursting crackers. Let us fight and kill fake news says PM Narendra Modi Twitter user Sparsh Oberoi, however, attributed the celebrations to boredom. "I find that we are getting crazier by every activity. Is this due to being bored of the lockdown or just no idea of what's going on around us. The PM never asked to burst crackers. We are not celebrating anything ppl," he tweeted. Disability rights activist Nipun Malhotra urged people not to burst crackers and reminded them that this was not a joyous moment. "Light a diya. Be united. But crackers? Really? This ain't a party!" he tweeted. Standup comic Vir Das indicated that he had preempted this reaction to the PM's call two days in advance. "Repeat: Sunday is an INDOORS show of solidarity. It is NOT diwali," he said, re-tweeting an April 3 tweet of his with a solitary "sigh". Many wondered how people procured firecrackers during a nationwide shutdown. "Who declared crackers as essential service?" wrote Anivar Aravind. Tweeting from the handle @_NairFYI, one user saw the bursting of crackers during a pandemic as an ominous sign and said, "Before the Titanic went down they did fire rockets to alert nearby ships." Some Twitter users also said slogans were raised as 9 pm approached. "This is so incredible & mesmerising, to my surprise ppl even shouted slogans "Bharat Mata Ki Jay" & "Vande Mataram"... #9pm9minute," tweeted Amol Siddham. However, there were some who found humour even in the mass voluntary blackout. "Itna andhera ho gaya hai poore India main, Corona ne rasta bhatak kar wapas China chale jana hai (there is so much darkness in India that corona has lost its way and gone back to China)," tweeted a user from the handle @swatic12. Another user, Rangjogi, said, "Well, right after the first 2 quaint minutes, there were rockets in the sky. Mithai anyone??" tweeting with the hashtag #DiwaliAgainstCorona. According to the Health Ministry, the number of coronavirus cases climbed to 4,067 in the country on Monday, while the death toll rose to 109. Of these, the number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 3,666 while 292 people were cured and one had migrated, it said. GREENVILLE, S.C., April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Clear Touch, a leading provider of multi-touch, interactive flat panels and software for education and business, was recognized as part of The Financial Times' inaugural list of The Americas' Fastest Growing Companies 2020. This prestigious award is presented by The Financial Times and Statista Inc. FT's The Americas' Fastest Growing Companies list comprises the enterprises that contribute most heavily to economic growth in North America, Central America, and South America; only 500 firms were selected for this first annual ranking. The top 500 companies received this recognition based on their Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), which was calculated using revenue information the companies shared with Statista's research team. "These past two months, we have been laser-focused on managing the changes brought on by the public health crisis associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. This award announcement comes at the perfect time since it recognizes the years of dedication and hard work of a team that continues to rally together every day," said Keone Trask, President of Clear Touch. "We are honored to be named to this list because it highlights how we are stronger together and how our entire team is working, even now, to make an impact in our community and around the world." ABOUT CLEAR TOUCH Founded in 2012, Clear Touch is a forward-thinking technology provider named to the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing companies two years in a row and recognized as one of South Carolina's 25 Fastest Growing Companies. U.S. owned and operated, Clear Touch is also a winner of multiple Tech & Learning Best of Show awards for its innovative products. The company's commitment to its customers, the reliability of its products, and its industry-leading innovation have paved the way for consistent growth. Clear Touch develops products for education, business, and government, including multi-touch interactive panels, software suites, and accessories. Clear Touch is also a reseller of Clear Digital products, including LED video walls, interactive podiums, and mobile digital signage. Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Clear Touch Related Links http://getcleartouch.com In early March, the governing and opposition parties in the nation of Georgia came together in a historic agreement to reform the countrys electoral laws, and, to once again, affirm the countrys commitment to Western values and to democracy. Under the cross-party pact, the number of parliamentary seats chosen by proportional representation were increased. This agreement was an important step forward that will strengthen democracy, stabilize the political environment and reduce polarization according to Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia. The talks that produced the agreement were co-facilitated by the U.S. Embassy and European Union Mission in Georgia, with the reforms winning strong backing from the EU and bi-partisan praise in the United States. I want to congratulate the Georgian people on achieving the pro-democracy reforms theyve long fought to achieve, said Rep. Adam Kinzinger, (R-Ill.), co-chair of the House Georgia caucus. Through compromise and maturity, the necessary steps to secure democracy has finally been reached. The overwhelming support demonstrates wide recognition of Georgias significant democratic progress, as well as my nations commitment to free and fair elections. Our economy has benefited from this commitment, as The Heritage Foundation ranked Georgia 12th in the world and 6th among European nations in economic freedom in its 2020 report. Moreover, this commitment further strengthens a vital relationship that holds tremendous importance for American security interests: the U.S.-Georgia strategic partnership. I see that partnership play out every day as Georgias ambassador to the United States. The U.S.-Georgia relationship has been especially vibrant and vital to our future in helping Georgia deter threats coming from outside, including through cyberattacks. On October 28th of last year, Georgia was the target of a cyber-attack that knocked thousands of websites offline, including media broadcasts, government agencies, and other services critical to the security and stability of my small nation. Our investigations, backed up by those in the United States and the United Kingdom, concluded that a unit of the Russian military intelligence had launched the attack. Georgia is no stranger to this kind of assault by Russia, nor are our neighbors. We were hit by an earlier cyber strike when Russia invaded Georgia in 2008, seizing two regions that constitute 20% of our territory, which Russia still occupies. Russia engages in this behavior because until recently, it incurred few costs for doing so. Fortunately this is starting to change thanks to Georgias unstinting support from the West, especially the United States. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo underlined the evolving landscape while condemning last months attacks on Georgia. This action contradicts Russias claim it is a responsible actor in cyber space and demonstrates a continuing pattern of reckless Russian [military intelligence] cyber operations against a number of countries, he said. These operations aim to sow division, create insecurity and undermine democratic institutions. Georgia is grateful for President Trump and Secretary Pompeos direct language, along with Congresss strong bi-partisan support in the Georgia Support Act, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in October 2019. The legislation, which is now making its way through the Senate, calls for more U.S. support and cooperation to deter Russian cyber threats and, notably, recognizes Georgias commitment to democratic values, including free and fair elections. In a rarity in these polarized times, the bill passed the House unanimously. We urge the U.S. Senate to support its passage. Top U.S. officials have also signaled that Georgia should eventually become a full member of NATO, which already says it considers Georgia one of the Alliances closest partners. Georgia is ready for this role, and it has stepped up countless times by sending troops on NATO missions such as support in Afghanistan. As Black Sea security assumes a larger profile in Western strategic deliberations, Georgias long Black Sea coastline, geographic proximity to the strategic Bosporus waterway, and our growing attachment to NATO will become ever more important. Georgias territorial defense efforts will also benefit from a new U.S. shipment of sophisticated portable Javelin anti-tank missiles, intended to boost our nations defensive capabilities. The evolving close ties between Georgia, the United States and other Western nations symbolize a powerful truth: Georgias commitment to Western values and ideals is unwavering. Working together in the face of significant threats and emerging challenges is the only imaginable way forward. David Bakradze is the Georgian Ambassador to the United States. The views expressed are the author's own. SAO PAULO, April 6 (Reuters) - Brazil's monetary policy council on Monday authorized banks to issue special certificates of deposit guaranteed by the country's deposit insurance fund in amounts up to 40 million reais ($7.63 million), up from 20 million reais previously. The move aims to boost banks' liquidity amid the coronavirus crisis. ($1 = 5.2443 reais) (Reporting by Carolina Mandl) Manila: In view of the increasing fear of Corona on one side and its attack, strict worldwide lockdown order has been issued, while till now it has been revealed that if anyone violates this rule then strict action against it and will be sentenced to the harshest. But still in many places this rule is not being followed completely. Due to which the police personnel there have chosen a different route. Corona worsens in Britain, 42 million children become victims of poverty According to the information received by the police, a person who violated the lockdown in the Philippines was shot. The age of this person is being told 63 years. This is the first time a lockdown violator has been fired in the Philippines. According to local reports, this person had drunk alcohol and was walking around with a scuffle in his hand. He did not put on a mask to avoid the coronavirus. Aljazeera and some other local media institutions have published this news. Number of corona victims reduce in Australia, wave of enthusiasm seen in people According to the police report, because of not applying the mask, a village health officer warned the person, then he got angry, he started abusing the health officer. Then he also attacked the officer with scare, after which the police shot him. The person died after being shot. He is being identified. Corona's awe in Ecuador, dead bodies lying in streets Wendy Williams appeared irked by former friend Nene Leakes as she addressed her audience during an at-home version of her beloved Hot Topics segment on Monday. The talk show hostess 55, blasted the Real Housewives of Atlanta star, 52, for trying to manipulate her into appearing on her Bravo reality show. After that, she continued to hurl insults at Nene, telling her ex pal she wouldn't dare to be seen 'slumming' it as a Housewife. Not having it: Wendy Williams used her Monday Hot Topics segment to slam former pal Nene Leakes for trying to get her to appear on her reality show Real Housewives Of Atlanta Wendy was not pleased when Nene attempted to sneak the native New Yorker onto the show by calling her on speakerphone to have a conversation last Friday evening. Describing it as an 'ambush,' Williams remembered: '[Nene] said, "Wendy, look." She was in hair and makeup and wardrobe with all her people. She said, "Were filming, and I want you to be on the speaker."' Wendy wasn't having it, telling her friend: 'Nene, I did that for you one time, you asked me to,' referring an appearance she made on the reality series earlier this season while consoling Leakes over the phone. She went on: 'I made it very clear, I am not a housewife. Sorry, my career is a bit different than being a housewife. I dont need that kind of attention. And then I hung up on her.' Shady: Nene attempted to sneak the native New Yorker onto the show by calling her on speakerphone to have a conversation last Friday evening Nope: Wendy wasn't having it, telling her friend: 'Nene, I did that for you one time, you asked me to,' referring an appearance she made on the reality series earlier this season while consoling Leakes over the phone Wow: Wendy's co-host Norman was shocked Method to the madness: Williams was offended at the suggestion she would be a reality figure, telling audiences: 'I know I make this look easy and I know I have my ratchet ways but the fact is I worked 35 years of my life to sit here for 11 seasons' Williams was offended at the suggestion she would be a reality figure, telling audiences: 'I know I make this look easy and I know I have my ratchet ways but the fact is I worked 35 years of my life to sit here for 11 seasons.' And she made it clear there was no way she'd be appearing on the show 'slumming it by being some add-on out of a suitcase for some housewives. Equally as upsetting, Wendy revealed that Nene never even called back or texted to apologize for the mess. She asked her viewers for their opinions, admitting: 'I don't wanna do anything' about the situation. Not even an apology: Equally as upsetting, Wendy revealed that Nene never even called back or texted to apologize for the mess No permission: The daytime queen finished her segment warning Bravo they 'better not use any of that footage' The daytime queen finished her segment warning Bravo they 'better not use any of that footage.' Nene and Wendy's feud has been on and off. Reality star Leakes recently said she believes Williams' ex-husband Kevin Hunter sabotaged her chances of getting her own daytime talk show. The Real Housewives of Atlanta star, 52, appearing on the radio show The Breakfast Club was asked if she thought Williams, 55, and Hunter had a hand in putting the kibosh on her show (which would have aired in the slot behind The Wendy Williams Show and been produced by Debmar-Mercury, which also produces Williams' show). NeNe said she believes Wendy Williams and her ex-husband Kevin Hunter sabotaged her chances of getting her own daytime talk show that would have aired in the slot behind Williams Way back when: Williams and ex-husband Hunter were snapped in 2018 in NYC Leakes replied, 'I do think so; I think it was her husband, yea - he was never nice to me.' But the pair seemed cheery as they described some of their previous spats during Nene's a fall 2019 appearance on Wendy's show. Williams said she felt Leakes had grown conceited amid her rise to fame on the Bravo series, which opened further doors for more career opportunities. Back on good terms: Leakes and Williams resumed their friendship last year Say what? Leakes was surprised when Williams said she 'started acting like a real jerk' on RHOA 'So here's what I feel happened between us: When we first met NeNe on the Housewives, she was like our big mouth friend who would say it like she meant it,' Williams said. 'She had a cute family, the laugh and that whole bit, just like keeping it real with NeNe ... I feel the fame got in the way of remembering who we liked her for.' Williams urged her audience to 'clap if you understand what I'm saying' - which they did - and Leakes rolled her eyes. Williams said Leakes 'started acting like a real jerk' on RHOA, which seemed to surprise NeNe, drawing a rebuke from Williams. 'We talk about this don't look shocked ... look, she started acting like a big head jerk and million-dollar paycheck or whatever they're paying you or not, we missed the girl that we knew,' Williams said. 'And then all of a sudden you stuck with that character so I was like, "I'm done with NeNe."' Her side: Leakes had a different take on her falling out with Williams, saying that she became a popular target for Williams on her show's Hot Topics segment Williams said that Leakes had gotten arrogant amid her success, adding, 'We missed the girl that we knew' The charismatic reality star had a different take on her falling out with Williams, saying that she became a popular target for Williams on her show. 'That's her version, I know y'all hear mine,' Leakes said. 'You know how Wendy does her Hot Topics ... and it was just "NeNe, this," "NeNe, that." And I was just like, "Well, dang, she is just really running my name in the dirt."' Leakes said the final straw was when Williams made a jab about 'NeNe and her Birkin' bag. 'I was like, "That's it!''' said Leakes, to which Williams recalled the details. 'When you marked up the Birkin ... and then put my name on it, calling me me a b***h or something on it - you called me a man or something!' Williams said. Besties: Leakes said the two were 'right back into' their friendship after reconciling at a restaurant in the wake of Williams' split with husband Kevin Hunter earlier this year Feedback: Both ladies seemed happy on social media in the wake of the appearance Leakes said the two were 'right back into' their friendship after reconciling at a restaurant in the wake of Williams' split with Hunter last year. 'Regardless to whatever happened, the thing that I loved the most is when I got on the flight, and we were meeting in the restaurant, when I got to the restaurant - it was almost like we never missed a beat,' said Nene, who has past been in public feuds with RHOA castmates Kenya Moore and Kim Zolciak. Leakes appeared to have a great time in the appearance, praising Williams and acknowledging the professional chemistry they share. 'Wendy really is the match to my fire, the chips to my salsa and the ice cream to my cake! You gotta love her,' Leakes said on Instagram, adding images from the appearance. Wendy wrote on her page, 'Always good catching up with the dip to my do.' SANTA CLARA (BCN) One of California's first active COVID-19 coronavirus field respite centers, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, took in its first two patients Sunday, Santa Clara County officials said. Operated through a contract with the state, this field respire center will increase the county's capacity to treat residents diagnosed with COVID-19. Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg said in a statement that, "Today's patients will have the ability to recuperate in a safe setting while still sheltering in place (and) keeping all of our residents and essential workers protected." Santa Clara County, she said, will continue to look to local partners as well as state and federal resources to help treat COVID-19 patients. The converted convention center has 250 beds, plus supplies and medicines delivered by the National Guard, to serve patients with less-acute COVID-19 symptoms. This will free up hospital beds to treat more seriously ill patients. The converted convention center "backstops hospitals and other care providers preparing for a surge in COVID-19 cases," said Dr. Jennifer Tong, the Branch Director for the Health Care Surge team within the Santa Clara County Emergency Operations Center. Patients will be admitted via referral from other facilities - there will be no walk-up services available. Santa Clara County is also working with businesses such as hotels to establish additional care locations and options for vulnerable populations, with sites secured in San Jose, Santa Clara and Gilroy to shelter and isolate homeless individuals, health officials said in a statement. "We are exploring every possible option in order to make sure all of our community members can receive care during the COVID-19 crisis," said Dr. Jeffrey V. Smith, Santa Clara County Executive. For more information about COVID-19 activities in Santa Clara County, go to http://www.sccphd.org/coronavirus. 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. Moving Pearlands May 5 municipal elections to Nov. 3 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic has had a direct impact on political campaigns, candidates say. Our campaign is neither suspended nor active at this time, said Kevin Cole, who is vying against City Council member Gary Moore and Quentin Wiltz to be the next mayor after retirement of the long-serving incumbent, Tom Reid. At this time our focus is on our families, the community, and those that are most vulnerable to this virus. Jeff Hunkele, who is running against incumbent Woody Owens and Mashundra Ivery for the Position 7 council seat, said his campaign is in a similar place. My campaign is in a very limited state and following the social distancing guidelines, Hunkele said. I am responding to emails and correspondence. Alex Kamkar, however, said his campaign is taking a somewhat different tack. Weve changed from campaign mode to being focused on COVID-19, said Kamkar, who is running against Lewis Barnes, Orlando Bruzual and Jai Daggett for Moores Position 3 seat. We are trying to bring awareness to items that could help the citizens of Pearland, like possibly loan forbearance in government-backed loans for up to 12 months. Incumbents in the posts open for election will stay in their seats until the November elections. The citys move to shift its election to November will put the candidates on a ballot that is already crowded with people running for state and federal offices. I believe there are voters who want to hear about Pearland issues, Kamkar said. Especially with a new mayor coming up. All the local candidates will have their work cut out trying to break through the noise of a federal election to talk about those Pearland-specific topics. Cole, who previously served as a Pearland council member, said the pandemic will have a decided effect on the citys coffers. This will also have an effect on the upcoming budget, he said. The longer the COVID-19 virus is with us, it will continue to reduce the sales tax revenues to the city. The city needs to start reassessing priorities and reallocation of funds in order to get a jump on the budget. Hunkele said the pandemic puts some perspective on things. I look forward to when we can go back to our normal lives, but until then it really makes me question what we thought was important before this all started, he said. John DeLapp is a freelance writer. He can be contacted at texdelapp@gmail.com. Warring sides accuse each other as blast hits oil pipeline in Yemen Iran Press TV Sunday, 05 April 2020 10:29 AM An oil pipeline pumping station has been attacked in the central Yemeni province of Ma'rib, with the country's warring sides blaming each other for the incident. Sources close to the Saudi-backed former regime in Yemen on Sunday accused Yemen's Houthi fighters of targeting the station, according to the Saudi state news agency (SPA). Hussein al-Ezzi, an official in the capital Sana'a, said Saudi-backed militants had attacked the Kofel pumping station in what he described as a dangerous escalation. The pipeline is operated by Saudi-backed Safer oil company but no oil has been pumped through it for years. Yemen's oil output has collapsed since 2015 when Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemen to try to restore the government of former president Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi to power after he resigned and later fled to Riyadh. Yemen's armed forces are seeking to liberate Ma'rib after taking control of the neighboring strategic province of al-Jawf, which borders Saudi Arabia. The Yemeni ground advancements come amid clashes between UAE-backed southern separatists and Saudi-led mercenaries in Aden. On Friday, the former governor of Yemen's southwestern Ta'izz province said that the United Arab Emirates is manipulating the demographic composition of the province to weaken pro-Saudi forces, exposing further rift in the Saudi-led coalition. "Forces affiliated to the UAE have rented certain homes in the coastal areas of Tai'zz and are financially supporting certain individuals who seek to overthrow the [Saudi-installed] government," Ali al-Moamari was cited by Al-Jazeera as saying. The UAE joined Saudi Arabia in 2015 in the war seeking to install the pro-Saudi former president Hadi and crush the Yemeni popular Ansarullah movement. However, with the Saudi-led campaign being brought to a standstill due to the Yemeni resistance, widening rifts have emerged between Saudi-led mercenaries loyal to Hadi and UAE-affiliated forces. Tensions reached a climax last summer when months of bloody infighting broke out, resulting in heavy casualties between the two sides before a power-sharing settlement was signed in November. Blast hits Saudi-backed forces in Aden London-based al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper reported that a booby-trapped explosion targeted Saudi-backed forces in Aden on Sunday. The attack occurred when a convoy of Saudi armored vehicles was on its way from Aden international airport to the headquarters of coalition forces. No casualties were reported, but the blast destroyed a Saudi armored vehicle. The paper said that the attack was the first military action against Saudi forces since they were replaced by Emirati forces in October. No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Both the UAE-sponsored separatists and the Saudi-backed militants loyal to Hadi serve the Riyadh-led military coalition and have been engaged in a bloody war on Yemeni people since March 2015. Ties between the two sides have soured over a number of issues, including what the Yemenis view as the UAE's intention to occupy Yemen's strategic Socotra Island and gain dominance over major waterways in the region. The US-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research organization, estimates that the Saudi war on Yemen has claimed more than 100,000 lives over the past nearly five years. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have purchased billions of dollars worth of weapons from the United States, France and the United Kingdom in their war on Yemen. The UN says over 24 million Yemenis are in dire need of humanitarian aid, including 10 million suffering from extreme levels of hunger. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has taken the national spotlight as the coronavirus governor, with his colorful press briefings, candor, and willingness to go toe-to-toe with President Donald Trump to bring home needed supplies. Read more Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and PennLive/Patriot-News. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter. With schools and businesses closed across the region, anxious residents with plenty of time on their hands have a new ritual: watching their states daily coronavirus briefings. What once would have been a bureaucratic bore is now must-see TV, as the worried public clamors for every new detail about the pandemic it can find. In New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, people have had to turn to three very different governors for guidance and information. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has taken the national spotlight as the coronavirus governor, with his colorful media briefings, candor, and willingness to go toe to toe with President Donald Trump to bring home needed supplies. His state has been the hardest hit so far, with more than 130,000 confirmed cases and 4,758 deaths as of Monday. New Jersey has more than 41,000 cases and 1,003 deaths, while Pennsylvania has 12,980 cases and 162 deaths. Gov. Phil Murphy has drawn on his roots as a former Goldman Sachs banker and ambassador to tackle the coronavirus pandemic with a mix of data and diplomacy as he watches more New Jerseyans die from the virus than from the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. He hasnt shied away from the camera or hesitated to show whos in control, saving his fiercest ire for knuckleheads who flout his stay-at-home order, price gouge, or engage in racist behavior. There is a special place in hell for the people who take advantage of this health crisis, he has said. Across the Delaware River, Gov. Tom Wolf, a soft-spoken Ph.D. holder who once cast himself as a political outsider, has let Pennsylvanias health secretary, Rachel Levine, take the public lead. Wolf and Levine have repeatedly said the state is doing all it can to prepare for a surge, an approach that has reassured much of the public, according to a new poll. Still, they have been tightfisted about details, instead emphasizing the need for everyone who can to stay home. Ultimately," Wolf recently said, were going to win or lose this battle by what each individual Pennsylvanian decides to do on his or her own." As the Trump administrations response to the outbreak has come under scrutiny, governors have become the public faces of the crisis. We are looking to our governors, our leaders, to do two things, said Anne Buchanan, a Pennsylvania public relations and crisis communications executive. Show us how to feel and what to do. Shes a fan of Cuomos news conferences, which include presentations, projections on the surge, and personal stories. Theyve drawn praise from pundits and even the governors political opponents. He leans on the science, and reinforces over and over again the steps that need to be taken, Buchanan said. He taps into everyones greatest fears and then offers reassurances. In New Jersey, its not uncommon to see Murphy channel his inner technocrat at hour-plus news briefings. He comes armed with graphs and projections of the virus spread, saying hes determined to break the back of that damn curve. Murphy has been relatively candid about the readiness of the states health system, with routine updates on beds available, ventilators in stock, and plans on how the state will find the medical supplies and hospital beds it needs to meet demand when the virus peaks. Wolf and Levine havent shared projections at Pennsylvanias 30-minute daily briefings, which begin with an overview of cases and end with officials replying to questions from journalists submitted online. Wolf has appeared at half of the briefings over the last two weeks, delivering updates on his mitigation orders and urging the public to stay home. Levine has emphasized the difficulty of modeling the future, and eschewed specifics about just how many intensive-care beds Pennsylvania will need at the virus peak or when exactly she believes a surge may occur. Instead, shes repeatedly sounded the message: Stay calm. Stay home. Stay safe. Of course, showmanship during briefings doesnt compare to actual results in this case, slowing the spread of the virus and saving as many lives as possible. To do that, each governor has ordered residents to stay home and some businesses to close. Wolf was the first to target businesses, strongly urging those deemed nonessential to close on March 16, 10 days after the state reported its first cases. That suggestion was shortly followed by an order telling all but life-sustaining businesses to close physical operations or face possible fines from the state police. Cuomo issued a statewide stay-at-home order that targets residents and businesses on March 20, nearly three weeks after the state reported its first case. In early March, he told the public the risk in general was low. He resisted a shelter-in-place order as late as March 18, when he told the New York Times he wouldnt approve one. Although Trump has tried to pin the blame on New York for its very late start, Cuomos office has said, The federal government was absent. Murphy ordered nonessential businesses to close and residents to stay home on March 21, more than two weeks after the state confirmed its first case. Two days later, Wolf put seven hard-hit Pennsylvania counties under a stay-at-home order, increasing the number as part of a measured approach. He extended the order to the entire state on Wednesday. Facing pressure from different industries, all three states have revised their lists of businesses that must close. Like Cuomo and Murphy, Wolf is a Democrat, but hes dealing with a GOP-controlled legislature that has begun to publicly question his order as well as mounting pressure to provide more information about a secretive waiver process thats allowed thousands of businesses to reopen. Pennsylvania officials have not released the list of businesses that have been granted a waiver. If I can be convinced that thats in the best interest of making sure that were doing the right thing, I will do that, Wolf said in mid-March. His administration has since said the information will be made public, but has not given a date. New York and New Jersey also have waiver processes, though theyve received less public scrutiny. Wolf has also taken a different messaging approach to enforcement of his orders, emphasizing voluntary compliance while Cuomo and Murphy talk tough. The state police are able to cite both businesses and residents who violate Wolfs order, but when asked about enforcement on Wednesday, the governor said he expected Pennsylvanians to stay home because they had a vested interest in doing so. Even so, state police have issued more than 100 warnings for businesses and one citation for a woman in York County. Compare that with New Jersey, where police have ticketed scores of people for not following Murphys order. In recent days, law enforcement officials have broken up gatherings including a funeral in Lakewood and a party in Ewing that defied the governors ban, and charged organizers with crimes that carry more than a year in prison time and more than $10,000 in fines. "No corona parties, Murphy said on Twitter. Theyre illegal, dangerous, and stupid. We will crash your party. You will pay a big fine. And we will name and shame you until everyone gets this message into their heads. 100% ESSENTIAL: Spotlight PA provides its journalism at no cost to newsrooms across the state as a public good to keep our communities informed and thriving. If you value this service, please give a gift today at spotlightpa.org/donate. A baby thought to have been the youngest ever to die of COVID-19 may not have been killed by the coronavirus after all. Days after Connecticut officials last week announced that a six-week-old baby died after contracting coronavirus, the states medical examiner is not ready to say that COVID-19 was the cause of death. Governor Ned Lamont on Wednesday said that the toddler who was rushed to intensive care at a Hartford hospital was the youngest fatality of COVID-19 anywhere. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont last week said that a six-week-old baby who died in a Hartford hospital tested positive for COVID-19 Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said on Wednesday that a six-week-old baby had died. He believes it is the youngest known fatality 'It is with heartbreaking sadness today that we can confirm the first pediatric fatality in Connecticut linked to #COVID-19, the governor said. A 6-week-old newborn from the Hartford area was brought unresponsive to a hospital late last week and could not be revived. 'Testing confirmed last night that the newborn was COVID-19 positive. This is absolutely heartbreaking. We believe this is one of the youngest lives lost anywhere due to complications relating to COVID-19. 'This is a virus that attacks our most fragile without mercy. This also stresses the importance of staying home and limiting exposure to other people. 'Your life and the lives of others could literally depend on it. Our prayers are with the family at this difficult time,' he said in a string of tweets. Luke Bronin, the mayor of Hartford, offered his own condolences to the family while agreeing with the governors assessment. During a news conference on Wednesday, Lamont said: Ive spent a lot of time trying to tell you that almost all the fatalities are related to people who are over 70 and over 80, but we have a tragic milestone in Connecticut. Probably the youngest person ever to die of COVID has died here in Connecticut. That baby was less than seven weeks old, and it just is a reminder that nobody is safe from this virus. For those young people who think maybe theyre a little more invincible, think again. Youre endangering yourself, youre endangering your family and youre endangering everybody you come into contact with. The medical examiner is expected to announce the results of an autopsy in weeks. The above image is a stock photo of Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford But as of Friday afternoon, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has yet to officially rule that the novel coronavirus was the cause of death. The baby died on March 26 after being rushed to St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center. Police initiated a preliminary investigation that found no signs of trauma on the toddler, according to the Hartford Courant. The state has ordered all hospitals to test all patients who die during the pandemic, regardless of the manner of death. A post-mortem test turned up a positive result for coronavirus, which is why Lamont and Bronin made their announcements. But there are still pending toxicology reports as officials are leaving open the possibility that the toddler had an underlying condition such as sudden infant death syndrome or positional asphyxiation. In light of the medical examiners inconclusive determination, Lamont and Connecticut State Epidemiologist Matthew Cartter appeared to walk back the suggestion that the infants death was a direct result of COVID-19. We have our role. We have our job, Cartter said. The medical examiner has his job. But we do know that that little baby tested positive, Lamont interjected. The discrepancy can be explained by how COVID-19 cases are reported by the state. The Department of Public Health reports the total number of people who have died as well as the total number of people who have tested positive for the virus. But the medical examiner has final say in determining whether the virus or complications arising from contracting it actually led to the deaths. Since the baby tested positive and died, the death was reported as connected to a positive COVID-19 result, according to Cartter. I dont know the cause of death of this [infant] that youre talking about or any of the people, because we dont determine cause of death, Cartter said. We define lab-confirmed COVID-19 associated deaths as anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19, tests positive on a COVID-19 test before or around the time of death. We do not determine causality. Officials close to James Gill, the states chief medical examiner, said it could take weeks for an autopsy to determine the official cause of death. Young children and babies are NOT safe from the coronavirus: Doctors warn ALL patients can be infected Young children and babies are not safe from the coronavirus that has gripped the world with fear, doctors have warned. Experts say the highly contagious infection can still spread between children and youngsters even though the elderly are most at risk. And they warn the life-threatening illness may cause unusual symptoms in children, such as stomach aches. The tell-tale symptoms are a cough and fever. A study in China, where the outbreak began in December, found that almost one in ten patients in the country were under the age of 30. Even babies have been known to get the virus, which can kill people by causing pneumonia and putting stress on organs. World Health Organization chiefs have said young people are 'not invincible' and could end up in hospital 'for weeks'. A study in China , where the outbreak began in December, found that almost one in ten patients in the country were under the age of 30 Young children and babies are not safe from the coronavirus that has gripped the world with fear, doctors have warned. Pictured, a child in a face mask in Italy It comes after it was revealed that a five-year-old girl who contracted coronavirus died, becoming the youngest victim in the United Kingdom. Weeks earlier, an 18-year-old from the UK died of the illness. The teenager had an underlying health condition but officials refused to reveal what it was. Officials in Louisiana on Monday announced that a one-day old infant who was born premature died from complications arising from COVID-19. The mother went into preterm labor after she was admitted to a Baton Rouge hospital while displaying symptoms consistent with COVID-19. The baby has not tested positive for the coronavirus, but the mother's positive test results led officials to classify the child's death as linked to COVID-19. The child was born at just under 22 weeks gestation, according to Fox News. President Donald Trump said Monday he may step in and settle a controversy that brewed from Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly firing a captain of a coronavirus-infected air craft carrier and then giving a controversial defense of his actions. Moldy told sailors on the USS Theodore Roosevelt that their fired captain was 'naive' and 'stupid' for the missive he wrote complaining about the lack of help from the Navy and then complained about the flak he was receiving for relieving Captain Brett Crozier of his command. 'I must tell you have heard very good things about both gentlemen,' President Trump said Monday when he was asked about it at the daily White House coronavirus briefing. He acknowledged Modly used 'tough language' when he addressed the sailors and said he may wade into in the situation. President Trump said Captain Brett Crozier made a mistake when he sent a letter decrying the Navy's response to a coronavirus outbreak on the USS Theodore Roosevelt but said he shouldn't have his career destroyed for 'having a bad day' 'Believe it or not, I am good at settling arguments. I'm good at settling these arguments. So I may look into it in great detail, in detail. I'll be able to figure out very fast,' the president said. Trump also said Crozier shouldn't have sent the memo that ended up leaked to the media, which led to Modly removing the captain from his command. But, he noted, the captain had a great career prior to the incident and shouldn't have that destroyed for 'having a bad day.' 'With all of that said, his career prior to that was very good. So I'm going to get involved and see exactly was going on. I don't want to destroy somebody for having a bad day,' the president said. 'He shouldn't be writing letters like that. But it happens. Sometimes I'll write a letter that I'll say I wish I didn't send it. Not too often but it happens,' Trump said. When pressed, President Trump declined to say what he may do for Crozier but said he would speak to Modly and Defense Secretary Mark Esper about it. 'The only thing that has played right up here with me is that I looked at his record,' Trump said, pointing to his head as he talked about Crozier. 'He's been an outstanding person. If he wasn't, I wouldn't even be talking about this. He's been an outstanding person. He's had a very exemplary military career.' The president then went on to praise Crozier's military record: 'He started off as a helicopter pilot. They called him chopper. He was a great helicopter pilot. Takes tremendous skill. Then he went to F-16s or f-18's and he was tremendous pilot and then he was very smart, he studied nuclear energy and he was fantastic and very few people have the aptitude, that they have the mentality to do that. Nuclear energy is very complex, it's very hard, very few people can do it. And he did it well.' Trump repeated that the captain merely made 'a mistake' in sending the missive and indicated Crozier shouldn't have to pay for it with his military career. 'He made a mistake. He made a mistake. And maybe we are going to make that mistake not destroy his life,' he said. President Trump said he may settle a controversy that brewed from Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly firing a captain from a coronavirus-infected ship Thomas Modly, President Trump's acting Navy secretary, told sailors on the USS Theodore Roosevelt that their fired captain was 'naive' and 'stupid' Modly flew to Guam over the weekend, where the Theodore Roosevelt is docked as 5,000 crew members get tested after a coronavirus outbreak on the aircraft carrier. He was there to address the sailors, who cheered Crozier as he left the ship after Modly relieved him of his command. But his speech became a controversy of its own when he criticized Crozier for the scathing memo he wrote to Navy officials, where the captain pleaded to be able to take the Roosevelt to dock to try and contain the growing out break on the ship. 'We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die,' Crozier wrote in the four-page missive, which was leaked to the media and ignited a fire storm of controversy for the Navy. Modly, in remarks sent over the ship's PA system, blasted the captain for going outside the chain of command. 'If he didn't think, in my opinion, that this information wasn't going to get out into the public, in this day and information age we live in, then he was either A) too naive or too stupid to be a commanding officer of a ship like this. The alternative is that he did this on purpose,' the navy secretary told the crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt in a speech obtained by the Daily Caller. After Modly called Crozier 'naive,' a person on the ship is heard shouting 'shut the f*** up,' on an audio recording of the address. Modly's speech leaked like wildfire and brought a new firestorm of criticism on the acting Navy secretary with some saying his speech made the situation surrounding Crozier's dismissal worse. He defended his remarks in a statement. 'I have not listened to a recording of my remarks since speaking to the crew so I cannot verify if the transcript is accurate. The spoken words were from the heart, and meant for them. I stand by every word I said, even, regrettably any profanity that may have been used for emphasis. Anyone who has ever served on a Navy ship would understand. I ask, but dont expect, that people would read them in their entirety,' he said. A handout photo made available by the US Navy shows medical staff taking a swab sample for COVID-19 testing aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt at Apra Harbor, Guam Captain Brett Crozier was relieved of his duties after a memo he wrote complaining the Navy wasn't doing enough to help with a coronavirus outbreak on his ship went viral Acting Navy Secretary Tom Modly, seen with President Donald Trump at the December Army-Navy game, said he fired the captain because he thought Trump would want him to Modly also used his speech to the crew to attack the media for printing Crozier's memo. 'I'm gonna tell you something, all of you, there is never a situation where you should consider the media a part of your chain of command,' he noted in his remarks. 'You can jump the chain of command if you want and take the consequences, you can disobey the chain of command and take the consequences, but there is no, no situation where you go to the media, because the media has an agenda, and the agenda that they have depends on which side of the political aisle they sit. Im sorry thats the way the country is now but its the truth and so they use it to divide us and use it to embarrass the Navy. They use it to embarrass you.' He then went on to complain about the hate being levied at him for firing the 'hero' captain, as Crozier is being referred to by supporters online. 'I cannot control or attempt to change whatever anger you have with me for relieving your beloved CO. If I could offer you a glimpse of the level of hatred and pure evil that has been thrown my way, my family's way and they are taking care of people on the shore who are busting their asses to get them off this ship. They aren't taking shots at them. They're asking how can we help them,' Modly said. The backlash to Modly's decision has been intense and support for the captain is strong. The crew of Theodore Roosevelt applauded Crozier as he descended the gangplank of the nuclear-powered ship after Modly relieved him. In his 15 minutes of remarks, Modly lectured the crew to do their duty and stop complaining even as he complained about his treatment after his decision to relieve Crozier. 'Im gonna give ya little bit of advice to make this important and often difficult job far easier on yourselves. My best advice to you is dont ever be dont ever worry about being loved for what you do. Rather, love the country you are asked to defend. Love the constitution you pledged your life to protect. And, most importantly, love the people you are ordered to lead. Make sure they eat before you do, care about their families as much as your own, be invested in their success far more than your own accomplishments. Nurture their careers more than you pursue your own advancement and value their lives to the point that you will always consider their safety in every single decision you make,' he said. He told the crew: 'You are under no obligation to love your leadership, only respect it. You are under no obligation to like your job, only to do it. You are under no obligation, you are under no obligation to expect anything from your leaders other than they will treat you fairly and put the mission of the ship first.' Then he went on: 'That's your duty. Not to complain. Everyone is scared about this thing. And let me tell ya something, if this ship was in combat and there were hypersonic missiles coming in at it, you'd be pretty f***ing scared too. But you do your jobs. And that's what I expect you to. And that's what I expect every officer on this ship to do, is to do your jobs.' He acknowledged he received a list of questions from the crew that he would answer once he was back in his office in Washington D.C. 'I got your list of questions. Im very, very thankful to have gotten them. I know theyre all sincere. I dont think there is any agenda in any of those. But theres a lot of them and Im gonna answer every single one of them. But Ive gotta do it respectfully, and Ive gotta take some time so you understand all the nuances of the questions you are asking. And theres a lot of them here. So rather than answer them all today Im going to take them back with me to Washington and Im going to answer them,' he said. Modly also brought up former Vice President Joe Biden, who said the decision to relieve Crozier was 'close to criminal.' 'It's not about me. The former Vice President of the United States Joe Biden suggested just yesterday that my decision was criminal. I assure you that it was not. Because I understand the facts and those facts show that what your captain did was very, very wrong in a moment when we expected him to be the calming force on a turbulent sea,' he told the crew, many of who have hailed Crozier a 'hero' for his actions. There was very little upside in this decision for me. You can believe that or not. I made a decision for the Navy I love, for the Navy I serve in and now serve for, and mostly for the sailors I am responsible for. Not just here but on nearly 300 other ships in the fleet. Your captains actions had implications for them too. Imagine if every other CO also believed the media was a proper channel to air grievances with their chain of command under difficult circumstances. We would no longer have a Navy. Not long after that, we would no longer have a country,' Modly added. And he concluded with these words: Still I understand that you may be angry with me for the rest of your lives. I guarantee that you wont be alone. Being angry is not your duty. Your duty is to each other, to this ship and to the nation that build it for you to protect them. Even in the midst of unexpected crisis, it is the mission of this ship that matters. Our adversaries are watching and that is why we are here. We will get you the help that you need. You have my personal word on it. Your CO had my personal word on that from day one. Whatever else you may think of me, I dont go back on my word. And when it comes the T-R whether you hate me or not I will never, ever, ever, ever give up the ship. And neither should you. Thanks for listening and Ill get the detailed answers to your questions to you sometime later this week. Go Navy.' In his 15 minutes of remarks, Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly lectured the crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt to do their duty and stop complaining even as he complained about his treatment after his decision to relieve Crozier. In this Nov. 15, 2019, photo U.S. Navy Capt. Brett Crozier, commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), addresses the crew Many sailors on the Roosevelt praised Crozier for his actions and for being a leader when the sailors needed him. 'He had legitimate concerns about his sailors, asked for help in a respectful and honorable way, and then they relieved him of duty' one Roosevelt sailor told The Wall Street Journal. 'Seriously, that's crazy. If anything the guy deserves a promotion. That's the type of leadership they lack, but the type they need,' another said. The acting Navy secretary defended his decision in an interview with The Washington Post, where he explained he fired Crozier because he thought that was what President Trump would want. 'I didn't want to get into a decision where the president would feel that he had to intervene because the Navy couldn't be decisive,' Modly said: 'If I were president, and I saw a commanding officer of a ship exercising such poor judgment, I would be asking why the leadership of the Navy wasn't taking action itself.' He said he did not speak to anyone in the White House before he made his decision. But Modly also recounted how his predecessor, Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, 'lost his job because the Navy Department got crossways with the president' in the case of former Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher. 'I didn't want that to happen again,' Modly said. And the president made it clear he agreed with the decision to terminate Crozier. 'I thought it was terrible, what he did, to write a letter. I mean, this isn't a class on literature. This is a captain of a massive ship that's nuclear powered. And he shouldn't be talking that way in a letter,' Trump said. Captain Brett Crozier was relieved of his command of the USS Theodore Roosevelt on Thursday, two days after his letter calling to evacuate the aircraft carrier was leaked in the media. Video posted to social media on Thursday shows hundreds of sailors aboard the ship bidding a raucous farewell and saluting their fired commander Trump went against Spencer's recommendation and reversed a demotion Gallagher received from the Navy. Gallagher was accused of multiple offenses during his final deployment to Iraq, including the murder of a prisoner of war. Ultimately, a court only convicted him on one count. He was sentenced to time served and demoted. Modly recounted that situation in his interview with The Post. 'I put myself in the president's shoes. I considered how the president felt like he needed to get involved in Navy decisions [in the Gallagher case and the Spencer firing]. I didn't want that to happen again,' he said. Modly is a graduate of the Naval Academy who spent seven years as a U.S. Navy officer before working in the private sector. He's served as acting secretary of the Navy since November. The Pentagon failed to provide DailyMail.com with the rank Modly held when he left the Navy or to confirm that he left with an honorable discharge. In early March, the USS Theodore Roosevelt made a stop in Vietnam. As it headed back out to sea, crew members began falling ill to the coronavirus with the highly contagious disease spreading rapidly throughout the ship. The numbers rose from from three initially to more than 150 sailors affected. In his memo, Crozier complained about the limitations of the coronavirus test, saying seven who tested negative displayed symptoms of infection one to three days later. He also pointed out the ship's close quarters made it unable to comply with the recommended social distancing guidelines. He wrote that bunk space, shared meals and bathroom spaces are 'most conducive' to spreading the disease. 'With the exceptions of a handful of senior officer staterooms, none of the berthing onboard a warship is appropriate for quarantine or isolation,' he noted. After the memo went viral, Crozier was relieved of command. Modly defended his actions, saying he had his chief of staff reach out to Crozier directly after he learned of the outbreak on the ship. 'That message and all the contents of that message was perfectly fine for him to send to people in his chain of command in a confidential way so they could get acting on it. He, in fact, could have given it to me, either my chief of staff, or to me, as I asked him to do when I first reached out to him on the ship when we first found out that there were COVID cases here,' he told the Roosevelt sailors in his speech. The outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (seen docked in Guam on March 27) was first reported days after the ship concluded a historic five-day visit to Vietnam from March 4-9. Officials say they are still working to trace the origins of the outbreak Sailors say morale quickly plummeted after the first COVID-19 cases were reported on the vessel, which provided the perfect environment for an outbreak given its close quarters. The ship is seen docked in Guam on March 27 And he told The Washington Post he was shocked when the missive from Crozier, which was sent to an email distribution list Modly wasn't on, went public. 'I was flabbergasted,' Modly said. 'My only conclusion was, 'he's panicking.' It was so out of character.' Officials say they are still working to trace the origins of the outbreak on the ship and have not positively determined whether it began in Vietnam. Data from the Vietnamese Ministry of Health suggests that the number of COVID-19 cases in Vietnam doubled during the five days the Roosevelt was docked at Tien Sa port in Da Nang. But sailors were largely unfazed by the virus as they went on shore leave in Da Nang, even as the number of cases across the world skyrocketed. Two Naval Academy classmates of Crozier who remain close to the family revealed that he had tested positive for COVID-19 to The New York Times on Sunday. The classmates said Crozier began to show symptoms of the disease before he was relieved of his command. A spokesperson for the Navy told the Times on Sunday that the captain has been reassigned to the headquarters of the Naval Air Forces Pacific command in San Diego. Before resuming his duties, however, Crozier must complete a quarantine period. News of Crozier's diagnosis comes on the heels of a report claiming that the top US military commander and the most senior naval officer were opposed to Crozier's dismissal but were overruled by the Trump administration. General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Admiral Michael Gilday, the chief of naval operations, believed that the Navy should have allowed an investigation into the letter written by Crozier to run its course. Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Sunday backed Modly's decision to fire Crozier Defense Secretary Mark Esper initially sided with the officers, according to The Washington Post. Esper on Sunday defended Modly's decision to fire Crozier. 'I think acting Secretary Modly made a very tough decision - a decision that I support,' Esper told CNN on Sunday. 'It was based on his view that he had lost faith and confidence in the captain based on his actions. 'It's just another example (of) how we hold leaders accountable for their actions.' Esper was asked if the Trump administration moved too quickly to fire Crozier instead of allowing the military to complete its probe into the matter. The defense secretary replied that it was 'not unheard of' for the Navy to fire a senior officer before an internal investigation is complete. 'All the services at times relieve commanders without the benefit of an investigation up front because they have lost confidence in them,' Esper said. 'It's certainly not unique to the Navy. 'The Navy has a culture of swiftly and decisively removing captains if they lose confidence in them.' READ NAVY SECRETARY MODLY'S FULL SPEECH TO THE CREW OF THE TEDDY ROOSEVELT When I first hear you had COVID cases on here, I was actually planning on being here last Tuesday after I went to see the Mercy off in Los Angeles. So I want you to know that no one in my level has been ignoring the situation here from the very beginning. I reached out to your CO through my chief of staff very, very early on in this crisis. On Sunday, I told him that I wanted to come out to the ship and if it would be OK or if it would be too disruptive. I told him that because I wanted to be able to help, if there was anything else he needed as this massive effort was under way, to get you guys healthy and clean and safe. He waved me off. He said he felt like things were under control. He had been concerned a day or so before that things werent moving quickly but things He still wanted to get more beds. But he didnt think it was necessary. He also talked to my chief of staff and emailed back and forth with him. On Sunday night he sent that email and that email went out to a broad audience of people. I know that I mention that it was over 20. We believe it was forward to far more, even more than that. And immediately it was picked up by the San Francisco Chronicle which published sensitive information about the material condition of a naval war ship. If he didnt think, in my opinion, that this information wasnt going to get out into the public, in this day and information age that we live in, then he was either too naive or too stupid to be a commanding officer of a ship like this. [A voice is heard saying loudly What the f***?] The alternative is that he did this on purpose, and thats a serious violation of the Unitary Code of Military Justice which you are all familiar with. That message and all the contents of that message was perfectly fine for him to send to people in his chain of command in a confidential way so that they could get acting on it. He in fact could have given it to me, through my chief of staff, or to me, as I asked him to do when I first reached out to him on the ship when we first found out that there were COVID cases here. He was a betrayal of trust with me, with his chain of command, with you, with the 800 to 1,000 people who, with your shipmates on shore right now, busting their asses every day to do what they need to do to convert what they do in a normal day to get you guys off of here, get you safe, get you healthy, get you clean and get you back on this ship where you are supposed to be. It was betrayal and I can tell you one other thing. Because he did that, he put it in the public form and its now become a big controversy in Washington D.C. and across the country, about a martyr CO who wasnt getting the help he needed and therefore had to go through the chain of command, a chain of command which includes the media. And Im gonna tell you something, all of you, there is never a situation where you should consider the media as a part of your chain of command. You can jump the chain of command if you want and take the consequences, you can disobey the chain of command and take the consequences, but there is no, no situation where you go to the media, because the media has an agenda, and the agenda that they have depends on which side of the political aisle they sit. Im sorry thats the way the country is now but its the truth and so they use it to divide us and use it to embarrass the Navy. They use it to embarrass you. While youre out here dealing with something that this country hasnt had to deal with in over 100 years, and the world hasnt ever dealt with anything like this on this scale. The American people believe in you and they think that of all the people in the world that can keep their s**t together in something like this, its the United States Navy and our sailors. And theyre stressed. They may be stressed and they may be tired. They may be scared but theyre keeping their s**t together and theyre taking care of each other and theyre taking care of the people on the shore who are busting their a** to get people off this ship. Theyre not taking shots at them. Theyre asking how can we help them, what can we do. How can I help the E-3 that works for me? Im an E-4. Im concerned. What do I do to help the E-2s and E-3s om this ship? Thats your duty. Not to complain. Everyones scared about this thing, and let me tell you something. If this ship was in combat and there were hypersonic missiles coming at it, youd be pretty f***ing scared too. But youd do your jobs. And thats what I expect you to. And thats what I expect every officer on this ship to do, is to do your jobs. One of the things about his email that bothered me the most was saying that we are not at war, that we arent technically at war. But let me tell you something. The only reason we are dealing with this right now is a big authoritarian regime called China was not forthcoming about what was happening with this virus, and they put the world at risk to protect themselves and to protect their reputations. We dont do that in the Navy. We are transparent with each other, using the proper channels with each other, and thats what we are supposed to do and what were expected to do. Ive got your list of questions. Ive very, very thankful to have gotten them. I know theyre all sincere. I dont think there is an agenda in any of these. But theres a lot of them and Im gonna answer every single one of them. But Ive got to do it respectfully, and Ive got to take some time so you understand all the nuances of the questions you are asking, and theres a lot of them here. So rather than answer them all today, Im gonna taken them back with me to Washington and Im going to answer them. And let me say one other thing. Everything that Im telling you right now, I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever throw you guys under the bus in Washington or anywhere else in the media, anywhere else. And I dont expect you ever to do that to your shipmates either, the ones on the shore right now who told me when Captain Croziers email made it to the San Francisco Chronicle after working 15-hour days, they were demoralized because they knew what they had bene doing for you guys since the 25th of March to get you guys what you need. And the other thing you need to understand is that we are in Guam. Its a U.S. territory but they have their own government and their own healthcare problems and theyre scared too, just like every other part of the world. And the governor of Guam has stuck her neck out big time with their own population to say that she is willing to open up hotel rooms all over this country or this state, this territory so that sailors from the USS Teddy Roosevelt can go and be safe. Because she believes that you all are her brothers and sisters, who are protecting this place for her citizens, so shes willing to put all that at risk to take care of you guys. And she told me today that when Captain Croziers letter came out to the public, she then had to deal with them, all her constituents, who are saying: Holy c**p, whats happening? Were going to have 5,000 people with COVI in our city without proper health care and everything else So think about that when you cheer the man off the ship who exposed you to that. I understand you love the guy. Its good that you love the guy. But youre not required to love him. I want to share something with you that I read at the Navy Academy graduation in 2018. I said it to the graduating class, but Ive expanded it a little. As officers and sailors of the United States military, you are given tremendous responsibility to respect and protect those who are placed under your command. The American people entrust you with their sons and daughters. And they place their security and the security of our nation in your hands. Do not expect to be loved by everyone for this, even though it may happen. As Secretary Mattis, my former boss, was fond of saying to us who were so honoured to work for with in the Pentagon he said your job is to protect the nation. So Im gonna give you a little bit of advice to make this important, and often difficult, job far easier on yourselves. My best advice to you is dont ever be, dont every worry, about being loved for what you do. Rather, love the country you are asked to defend. Love the constitution you pledge your life to protect. And most importantly, love the people you are ordered to lead. Make sure they eat before you do, care about their families as much as your own, be invested in their success far more than your own accomplishments. Nurture their careers more than you pursue your own advancement and value their lives to the point that you will always consider their safety in every single decision you make. Its only through this level of servant-leadership that you will maximize and empower those you lead to meet the demands that will face us in this century. And those demands are getting more complicated every day as were all learning. But its also going to incur incredible personal satisfaction during your time of service. Crew of the Teddy Roosevelt, you are under no obligation to love your leadership, only to respect it. You are under no obligation to like your job, only to do it. You are under no obligation you are under no obligation to expect anything from your leaders other than they will treaty you fairly and put the mission of the ship first, because it is the mission sof the ship that matters. You all know this, but in my view, your captain lost sight of this and he compromised critical information about your status intentionally to draw greater attention to your situation. That was my judgment and I judged that it could not be tolerated of the commanding officer of a nuclear [powered] aircraft carrier. This put you at great risk, even though I am certain that he never thought it would. I am certain that he loved you all, as he should, but he lost sight of why the Teddy Roosevelt exists and why fate brought you all here together in the middle of this COVID crisis. Your nation back home is struggling. No-one expected this pandemic so we are all working our way through it. Your fellow sailors in the states are volunteering, putting on uniforms and running into the fire in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and New Orleans. Ive seen them: no fear, running right into COVID. Nothing is easy. Is this for anything? But from the very beginning, we have been engaged from my level down to bring you the help that you need as fast as we possibly could. Understand it takes time to flex up for a crisis this unique. Teddy Roosevelt has to stand strong as warriors, not weak like victims. The Teddy Roosevelt has to work its way through this with grace, not panic. The Teddy Roosevelt has to demonstrate to the citizens back home that it has its act together and that its knocking down this virus just like it would knock down the Chinese or the North Koreans or the Russians if any of those nations were ever so stupid to mess with the big stick because they thought she was vulnerable. I cannot control or attempt to change whatever anger you have for me for relieving your beloved CO. If I could offer you a glimpse of the level of hatred and pure evil that has been thrown my way, my familys way over this decision, I would. But its not about me. The former vice-president of the United States, Joe Biden, suggested just yesterday that my decision was criminal. I assure you that it was not, because I understand the facts and what those facts show was that what your captain did was very, very wrong in a moment when we expected him to be the calming force on a turbulent sea. There were very little upside in this decision for me. You can believe that or not. I made a decision for the Navy I love, for the Navy I served in, and now serve for, and mostly for the sailors I am responsible for, not just here, but on nearly 300 other ships in the fleet. Your captains actions had implications for them too. Imagine if every other commanding officer also believed the media was a proper channel to air grievances with their chain of command under difficult circumstances: we would no longer have a Navy. Not long after that we would no longer have a country. Still I understand that you may be angry with me for the rest of your lives. I guarantee that you wont be along. Being angry is not your duty. Your duty is to each other, to this ship, and to the nation that built it for you to protect them. Even in the midst of unexpected crisis, it is the missions of this ship that matters. Our adversaries are watching and that is why we are here. We will get you the help that you need. You have my personal word on it. The commanding officer had my personal word, from day one. Whatever else you may think of me, I dont go back on my word. And when it comes to the Teddy Roosevelt, whether you hate me or not, I will never, ever, ever, ever give up the ship. And neither should you. Thanks for listening and Ill get the detailed answers to your questions to you sometime this week. Go Navy. Advertisement American televangelist Kenneth Copeland, who recently claimed that the coronavirus pandemic will be over much sooner you think because Christian people all over this country praying have overwhelmed it, has summoned the wind of God to destroy the novel coronavirus during a recent sermon. Before blowing at the camera, he said: I blow the wind of God on you. You are destroyed forever, and youll never be back. Thank you, God. Let it happen. Cause it to happen. Leading a chant surrounded by members of his church and preaching to an empty room, he called out: Wind, almighty, strong, south wind, Heat: Burn this thing, in the name of Jesus. I say, you bow your knees. You fall on your face. In a sermon last month, the pastor executed judgment on Covid-19, which he declared finished and over and made the US healed and well again. He also demanded a vaccination to come immediately. His Texas-based Kenneth Copeland Ministries megachurch previously has claimed that viewers of his show can be healed of the virus by touching their screens, and he has urged viewers to continue paying tithes despite losing their jobs amid unprecedented unemployment claims within the last several weeks. He also has compared the virus to the flu and suggested people who attended his services could be healed in person. If we have to pass out thermometers, if we find one with a fever, lets get him healed right there, he said. What do you do if you get it? Big deal. The pastor, who supports Donald Trump, also argued to his followers that the presidents opponents had opened the door for the virus with their displays of hate against him. Several other prominent evangelical leaders in the Christian right, who rely on miraculous healing in their ministries, also have denied the pandemic in addresses to their followers. Florida Pentecostal pastor Rodney Howard-Browne held several services in packed churches despite warnings from health officials and doctors to avoid large gatherings to prevent spreading the disease, which he called a phantom plague before his arrest for violating social distancing rules. Roy Moore, who launched a failed bid endorsed by the president for a senate seat in Alabama, has defended Louisiana pastor Tony Spell after he was charged for continually shunning a statewide ban on large gatherings. Mr Moore told his followers its their duty to continue attending church services despite the pandemic. The Kwara State Government has confirmed two cases of COVID-19 in the state. The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor and spokesman of the Technical Committee on COVID-19, Rafiu Ajakaye, announced this on Monday evening via a statement. He also confirmed the authenticity of the statement when contacted by PREMIUM TIMES. According to Mr Ajakaye, one of the infected persons is the wife of a patient, a UK returnee who died last Thursday, and the other is another UK returnee. This statement is issued at 18:33pm, a few minutes after the government received official confirmation of test results from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Test Centre in Ibadan, he said. He noted that the government will address a news briefing on Tuesday to give details and announce further measures to tackle the disease in the state. The UITH case This newspaper reported how the state authorities debunked the discovery of a COVID-19 patient in the state last week. The management of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), where the man was admitted, accused a professor of medicine of concealing vital information on the suspected case of COVID-19 who died at the hospital last week. The federal facility said the suspected case had been on self isolation on arrival in Ilorin prior to his presentation at the Accident and Emergency unit of the hospital on the advise of the Professor who brought him. READ ALSO: It said the information of self isolation was concealed from the frontline medical personnel at first contact in the A&E, an act that the hospital management considered HIGHLY UNETHICAL! The death of the 57-year-old UK returnee, identified as Alhaji Obanimomo, generated controversies among Kwara residents and even social media users. The state government had denied that it was a COVID-19 related case, adding that all the six samples of suspected cases taken in the state had been negative. As at the time of filing this report, a total of 232 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed across Nigeria. PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-06 22:33:02 NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Euro Manganese Inc. (TSX-V / ASX: EMN) (the "Company" or "EMN") is pleased to announce the closing of the first tranche of the non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") announced on March 24, 2020, and a grant of stock options. Closing of First Tranche of Private Placement The first tranche was comprised of 4,477,170 common shares ("Shares") and 227,273 CHESS Depositary Interests ("CDIs", with each CDI representing one Share), at a price of C$0.11 per Share and A$0.13 per CDI, respectively, for aggregate gross proceeds of C$517,489. The second tranche of the Offering (the "Related Parties Tranche"), consisting of subscriptions by related parties of the Company of 4,261,142 Shares at a price of C$0.11 per Share and 174,615 CDIs at a price of A$0.13 per CDI for aggregate gross proceeds of C$487,780, is expected to close on or about May 5, 2020, subject to and following approval by the Companys shareholders as required by Listing Rule 10.11.5 of the Australian Securities Exchange ("ASX"). The Company has called a special meeting of shareholders to be held on May 1, 2020 (the "Meeting") to approve the issuance of Shares and CDIs under the Related Parties Tranche. Aggregate gross proceeds under the Offering are expected to be approximately C$1,005,300. Net proceeds of the Offering will be used by the Company to further advance its Chvaletice Manganese Project in the Czech Republic, including advancing the feasibility study and preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment submission, and for other general corporate purposes. Fees payable by the Company in connection with the Offering are a management fee, payable in cash, of 1% of the aggregate gross proceeds from the Offering. Shares issued pursuant to the first tranche of the Offering are subject to a four month and one day statutory hold period expiring on August 7, 2020. The Shares and CDIs to be issued under the Offering have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. Persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration. This press release is not an offer or a solicitation of an offer of securities for sale in the United States, nor will there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Stock Option Grant The Company also announces a grant of stock options (the "Options") to an officer, an employee and a consultant to purchase up to an aggregate of 350,000 Shares. The Options are exercisable for a term of ten years at an exercise price of C$0.25 per Share. The Options vest one-third on the date of grant and one-third on each of the first and second anniversaries of the date of grant. About Euro Manganese: Euro Manganese Inc. is a Canadian mineral resource company focused on the development of the Chvaletice Manganese Project in the Czech Republic. The Project will recycle historic mine tailings that host Europes largest manganese deposit and result in an environmental remediation of this site. The European Union is emerging as a major electric vehicle manufacturing hub. EMN's goal is to become the preferred supplier of sustainably-produced ultra-high-purity manganese products for the lithium-ion battery industry and for producers of specialty steel, high-technology chemicals and aluminum alloys. Authorized for release by the CEO of Euro Manganese Inc. Contact: Euro Manganese Inc. Marco A. Romero President & CEO (604)-681-1010 ext. 101 Fausto Taddei Vice President, Corporate Development & Corporate Secretary (604)-681-1010 ext. 105 E-mail: info@mn25.ca Website: www.mn25.ca Company Address: 1500 1040 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6E 4H8 Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as may, would, could, will, intend, expect, believe, plan, anticipate, estimate, scheduled, forecast, predict and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking information or statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the completion of the Related Parties Tranche, the holding of the Meeting and the use of proceeds of the Offering. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed under Risks Notice and elsewhere in the Companys MD&A, as well as the inability to obtain regulatory approvals in a timely manner; the potential for unknown or unexpected events to cause contractual conditions to not be satisfied; unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the Company to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release. The Companys actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the factors set forth in the Risks Notice section and elsewhere in the Companys MD&A for the year ended September 30, 2019 and its Annual Information Form. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange), or the ASX accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Y oga is a flexible tool even in hard times. Sick or not sick, the last few weeks havent been easy on anyones body. You are always a) stressed and b) sitting down (probably in a hastily conscripted kitchen-turned deskchair). Help is at hand: here are five easy (ish) steps to stave off WFH fatigue hunched up over a laptop from yoga teacher Georgia Wood, who is teaching via her YouTube channel on Mondays (6.30pm), Wednesdays (7.30am) and Fridays (1pm). The reason I do yoga, even more than for the physical side of it, is because its so calming, she says. Not thinking about anything else for 20 minutes is a real respite, particularly in the current climate. You dont need a mat, or yoga gear, she says, just comfy clothing and a cushion or thick book as a prop if you need padding. 1. Begin with a cat cow, an accessible pose that requires you to come to all fours on your hands and knees. Breath is really important: on an inhale, lift the crown of your head and your tail bone, arching your spine. On an exhale, you drop your head and your tailbone and really round the spine. Repeat that five or 10 times, as a safe way of creating mobility through your spine. 2. The half pigeon is helpful if you're consciously unsupple - although it's worth looking this one up on YouTube. From all fours, bring your right knee towards your right wrist, flex into the right foot and bring your right knee forwards towards your right wrist, flex into the right foot and bring forwards towards the left wrist. Place the lower shin and knee down on the ground, then slide your left leg back. Make sure your hips are level to front. Walk your hands forwards and look down to the ground, coming onto your forearms if you can, letting the back of the neck release. Hold for a few breaths, and release. The reason I do yoga, even more than the physical side of it, is because its so calming 3. Next move to a bridge. Lying on your back, bend your knees up and bring your feet back towards your hips. Bring the soles of your feet to the ground, quite near to your bum, so you can feel your heels with your fingertips. And then you just tuck your tailbone and start lifting the hips and lifting the midback while your hands and feet remain planted on the floor, coming onto your shoulders, which really helps to build lower back strength. 4. Then try a forward fold. Come to a seated position, with your legs out in front and knees hip-width apart. Make a small bend in your knees, and then sit up as straight as you can, pulling yourself up through the crown of your head to elongate your lumbar spine. Then gently walk your hands forward on your shins, ankles or, if youre flexible enough, your feet and fold forward. Now let your head relax. LOS ANGELESM.D. Science Labs on Monday announced Briana Honz Watkins as the new Vice President of Sales North America. Honz Watkins will bring 13 years of industry sales experience and relationships to M.D. Science Labsmost recently excelling as Senior Sales at Pipedream Products where she diligently increased sales year-to-year. Previously, Honz Watkins served as head buyer for Hustler stores and prior as senior buyer/manager, merchandising manager in the fashion industry for Fortune 500 company Hot Topic. Ralph Albrecht, president of M.D. Science Lab, remarked, I am beyond thrilled and honored to announce, effective immediately, that Briana Honz Watkins will be joining our team as M.D. Science Lab VP of Sales North America. With Brianas years of experience and the fact that she owns some of the best relationships in our industry she will be playing a huge part in our companys growth strategy! Looking forward to Briana joining our family!" As Vice President of Sales North America, Honz Watkins will tap into her expertise in sales, product presentations and marketing strategies to build successful merchandising concepts and business plans to further company growth. Honz Watkins brings worldwide sales experiences, having managed accounts in Australia, Europe, U.K., Canada and the USA. She has won two consecutive Customer Choice Awards in Australia. "I am very excited to be working for M.D. Science," Honz Watkins said. "I have believed in this brand since the moment I brought it into the Hustler stores. Equally as important as the brand, is the way Ralph treats his employees. He respects and treats them like family. The longevity of employees speaks volumes. To me, thats a win alone. I am eager for a new challenge and excited to take the business to the next level of success. We have big plans in the works and cant wait to share them with our industry family. We are going to hit the ground running, so get ready!" The United States of America has evacuated 385 nationals from Nigeria over the Coronavirus pandemic. The United States becomes the latest country to evacuate its citizens from Nigeria, following in the footsteps of European nations, Israel, Germany and France and North American nation, Canada. Also Read: COVID-19: US Warns Citizens Seeking Evacuation From Nigeria According to reports, they left the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos in an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 777-300 via Adiss Ababa to Washington DC. According to reports, the flight departed the airport at 4:25pm. This development comes hours after the United States Embassy in Nigeria warned its citizens clamouring for evacuation to be prepared to foot their bills. We're a family of seven living in Georgia where Andrew's working as a professor at GSU. You can read more about us here Nigeria's Medical Association has rejected a decision by the government to invite Chinese doctors to help in its fight against coronavirus. In a statement, the association said it was an "embarrassment" that it was not involved in the government's decision, adding that it knew of "a large pool of general medical and specialist practitioners who are either unemployed or underemployed" who could help in the crisis. The statement went on to say the government should instead focus on remedying the lack of testing kits and facilities, as well as a shortage of protective equipment for the country's medical staff. More than 200 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Nigeria so far. Advertisement Sailors aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt say their ousted Captain Brett Crozier (pictured) deserved a promotion after he wrote a scathing letter calling for Navy leaders to do more to protect his crew from an escalating coronavirus outbreak Sailors aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt say their ousted Captain Brett Crozier deserved a promotion after he wrote a scathing letter calling for Navy leaders to do more to protect his crew from an escalating coronavirus outbreak on the ship. Crozier was relieved of his command of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier on Thursday, two days after his unprecedented letter leaked in the media. Navy top brass have accused Crozier of causing unnecessary panic by sharing his letter with people outside the chain of command, with Acting US Navy Secretary Thomas B Modly charging that the captain 'demonstrated extremely poor judgment in the middle of a crisis'. But several sailors have condemned Crozier's firing, saying he should be commended for speaking out in support of his crew. 'He had legitimate concerns about his sailors, asked for help in a respectful and honorable way, and then they relieved him of duty,' one crew member told the Wall Street Journal. Another called Crozier's removal 'crazy', adding: 'If anything the guy deserves a promotion. That's the type of leadership they lack, but the type they need.' 'When higher-ups go against the grain, it shows they actually care about the sailors they're in charge of,' a third sailor said. WSJ published the sailors' supportive comments hours after reports emerged that Crozier himself had tested positive for COVID-19 following his removal from the ship. In total, at least 155 people on board the Theodore Roosevelt, which is currently docked in Guam, have tested positive for the virus and results are pending for hundreds more. More than 2,700 members of the 5,000-person crew were evacuated from the ship in the wake of Crozier's letter. Sailors who remained on the ship were seen giving Crozier a rousing salute as he departed the vessel on Friday. Captain Brett Crozier was relieved of his command of the USS Theodore Roosevelt on Thursday, two days after his letter calling to evacuate the aircraft carrier was leaked in the media. Video posted to social media on Thursday shows hundreds of sailors aboard the ship bidding a raucous farewell and saluting their fired commander Several Roosevelt sailors have condemned Crozier's firing, saying he should be commended for speaking out in support of his crew. Crozier is seen addressing the USS Theodore Roosevelt crew for the first time in November 2019 The Navy arranged for the transfer of sailors from the USS Theodore Roosevelt (docked in Guam and seen above on Friday) to quarantine conditions on the Pacific island after at least 155 tested positive for COVID-19 The outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt was first reported days after the ship concluded a historic five-day visit to Vietnam from March 4-9. Officials say they are still working to trace the origins of the outbreak and have not positively determined whether it began in Vietnam. Data from the Vietnamese Ministry of Health suggests that the number of COVID-19 cases in Vietnam doubled during the five days the Roosevelt was docked at Tien Sa port in Da Nang. But sailors were largely unfazed by the virus as they went on shore leave in Da Nang, even as the number of cases across the world skyrocketed. 'I don't think anyone gave it much thought,' one sailor said. 'There was a lot of reassuring that the areas we would be in were safe and there weren't many cases of the virus.' The outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (seen docked in Guam on March 27) was first reported days after the ship concluded a historic five-day visit to Vietnam from March 4-9. Officials say they are still working to trace the origins of the outbreak Sailors say morale quickly plummeted after the first COVID-19 cases were reported on the vessel, which provided the perfect environment for an outbreak given its close quarters. The ship is seen docked in Guam on March 27 Concerns about a possible outbreak on the ship first arose while it was still in port when the US Embassy informed Navy leaders that two British nationals had tested positive after staying at a hotel where at least 30 sailors were put up. Those sailors were tested as the ship prepared to depart from Vietnam and the results came back negative, officials said. The ship's medical group - comprised of about two dozen physicians and staff working in an onboard facility - continued to perform tests after the ship departed. The results of three of those early tests came back positive. Sailors have said that morale on the ship was high when it first left Vietnam as the crew felt it was a refuse from the coronavirus crisis unfolding in the outside world. 'It was a bit scary because we were looking at the news, seeing that it had changed America and thinking we could be an episode of "The Last Ship", one sailor told WSJ, referencing the dystopian television series about a lone Navy ship that dodges a world-wide pandemic. But that quickly changed as the first three cases were reported on the vessel, which provided the perfect environment for an outbreak given its close quarters. 'The worry about it spread throughout the ship, so we went into overtime cleaning everythinghandrails, keyboards, doorknobs,' the sailor said. 'We were bleaching everything.' Another sailor said: 'There wasn't anything we could do but prepare for the worst. 'Some were afraid, paranoid about how fast it would spread and knowing they would more than likely get the virus no matter what precautionary measures we took.' Medical staff on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt are seen taking a swab sample for COVID-19 testing on April 1 The ship was ultimately diverted to Guam, where it docked on March 26 after at least 25 crew members tested positive for COVID-19. Captain Crozier penned his four-page letter to officials on March 30, warning that the outbreak on board was accelerating and calling for the evacuation and isolation of 90 percent of its 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,' the captain wrote. Crozier's extraordinary plea was made public on Tuesday - putting the Pentagon on the defensive about whether it was doing enough to keep the USS Roosevelt's crew safe as lawmakers and families of military members express concerns that other ships could be vulnerable to outbreaks. The captain is believed to have sent the letter to several people knowing that it stood a good chance of being leaked to the press. Navy top brass have accused Crozier of causing unnecessary panic by sharing his letter with people outside the chain of command, with Acting US Navy Secretary Thomas B Modly (pictured) charging that the captain 'demonstrated extremely poor judgment in the middle of a crisis' CAPTAIN BRETT CROZIER'S FULL MEMO TO NAVY LEADERS Advertisement Two Naval Academy classmates of Crozier who remain close to the family revealed that he had tested positive for COVID-19 to The New York Times on Sunday. The classmates said Crozier began to show symptoms of the disease before he was relieved of his command. A spokesperson for the Navy told the Times on Sunday that the captain has been reassigned to the headquarters of the Naval Air Forces Pacific command in San Diego. Before resuming his duties, however, Crozier must complete a quarantine period. News of Crozier's diagnosis comes on the heels of a report claiming that the top US military commander and the most senior naval officer were opposed to Crozier's dismissal but were overruled by the Trump administration. General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Admiral Michael Gilday, the chief of naval operations, believed that the Navy should have allowed an investigation into the letter written by Crozier to run its course. Defense Secretary Mark Esper initially sided with the officers, according to The Washington Post. But Esper eventually yielded to Modly, who favored immediately dismissing Crozier because he believed that is what President Trump wanted. Modly, who made the decision on Thursday to relieve Crozier of command of the Roosevelt, reportedly told colleagues that Trump 'wants him fired'. General Mark Milley (left), the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Admiral Michael Gilday (right), the chief of naval operations, were initially opposed to the decision to fire the captain of the USS Roosevelt after his letter warning of a coronavirus outbreak leaked to the press The acting secretary was reportedly told by Gilday as well as several current and former colleagues that it would be best to allow the military to handle the situation in-house without interference from the civilian leadership. When Modly said he wanted Crozier dismissed, Esper reportedly told him: 'I'll do what you want.' Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Sunday backed Modly's decision to fire Crozier Esper on Sunday defended Modly's decision to fire Crozier, who has emerged as a sympathetic figure in the eyes of his former sailors as well as a segment of the public who believes he was unjustly punished for looking out for the health of his charges. 'I think acting Secretary Modly made a very tough decision - a decision that I support,' Esper told CNN on Sunday. 'It was based on his view that he had lost faith and confidence in the captain based on his actions. 'It's just another example (of) how we hold leaders accountable for their actions.' Esper was asked if the Trump administration moved too quickly to fire Crozier instead of allowing the military to complete its probe into the matter. The defense secretary replied that it was 'not unheard of' for the Navy to fire a senior officer before an internal investigation is complete. 'All the services at times relieve commanders without the benefit of an investigation up front because they have lost confidence in them,' Esper said. 'It's certainly not unique to the Navy. 'The Navy has a culture of swiftly and decisively removing captains if they lose confidence in them.' During a coronavirus task force press conference Saturday afternoon, Trump said that the four page letter was 'inappropriate' adding that this wasn't a 'class on literature'. Modly is said to have favored firing Crozier because that's what he believed President Trump wanted. Trump is seen above on Wednesday at the White House flanked by, from left to right: National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien; Attorney General Bill Barr; Esper; Milley; and Gilday It was Navy leaders who made the decision to fire the captain but Trump said he agreed that it was the right thing to do after Crozier's call for help for his sailors became public. 'He wrote a letter. A five-page letter from a captain. And the letter was all over the place. That's not appropriate, I don't think that's appropriate,' Trump said. 'It looked terrible what he did. To write a letter. I mean this isn't a class on literature. This is the captain of a massive ship he shouldn't be talking that way in a letter.' Trump also chided Crozier for allowing sailors to be infected in the first place, claiming that he should not have allowed them to go to land during a stop to Vietnam at the beginning of March. The president said that this was not a smart move when there was a pandemic that could have spread to the ship. At the same time as the stop-off, Trump himself was dismissing the severity of the global outbreak and believed it would not pose a massive threat to Americans. In defending his decision on Friday, Modly said America's enemies might think the aircraft carrier was 'crippled' after Crozier's letter was leaked. Former Vice President Joe Biden, a Democrat who is seeking to challenge Trump in the November presidential election, on Sunday called the Trump administration's firing of the commander 'close to criminal.' 'The idea that this man stood up and he said what had to be said, got it out that ... his Navy personnel were in danger ... I think the guy, he should have a commendation rather than be fired,' Biden told ABC News in a separate interview. A group of Democratic senators have also called on the Pentagon's independent Inspector General to investigate the dismissal. The Navy announced on Saturday that 44 percent of the crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt had been tested for the coronavirus, and 155 service members had tested positive. About 1,548 service members had been moved onshore. None had been hospitalized. Advertisement Seven of Europe's most impressive ruined castles have been given an extreme makeover. They have been 'rebuilt' by a team of designers and architects using the wonders of computer-generated imagery. Scroll down to see these epic ruins - from a beautiful fortified Irish mansion to Vlad the Impaler's former Romanian abode - and travel back in time... Samobor Castle, Croatia - built between 1260 and 1264 Samobor Castle in Croatia was built in the 12th century by the Czech king Otokar, before a procession of noble families took control through the centuries From the initial Romantic-Gothic castle with a huge tower, late Gothic and Renaissance elements were added and at the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century Samobor became a Baroque-style castle Multiple owners, legal wranglings and war have marked this once-impressive castle's long history. Sitting above the market town of Samobor itself, the castle dates back to the 13th century, but the official website notes that 'from the initial Romantic-Gothic castle with a huge tower, it acquired through time the late Gothic and Renaissance forms and at the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century it became a Baroque style castle'. Since 1902, the castle - after years of legal battles between noblemen and the townsfolk - is now owned by the town itself. Chateau Gaillard, Les Andelys, Normandy, France - built between 1196 and 1198 This impressive chateau was built in the 12th century on the banks of the River Seine by English king Richard the Lionheart to protect his possessions from French archrival Philip II After Richard's death his successor, King John, eventually lost the chateau to Philip This stunning French chateau is perched impressively above the River Seine. The castle's official website explains: 'In the late 12th century, Richard the Lionheart, King of England - thanks to his Plantagenet roots - ordered the construction of a massive new castle here to guard his Norman possessions and the nearby Norman capital of Rouen from the powerful King of France, Philip II.' But Philip would have the last laugh - after Richard's death in 1199, his successor King John soon lost the castle to his French rival. Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven, Scotland - built in the 7th century Dunnottar Castle is situated just south of Aberdeen, overlooking the North Sea. It was invaded by the Vikings in the ninth century, who left a bloody trail of chaos in their wake Dunnottar was captured from the English by Scottish hero William Wallace in the 13th century Ancient Dunnottar Castle has a rich - and bloody - history. According to its official website, the dramatic cliff-top fortress was invaded by Vikings in the ninth century, who killed King Donald II while they were there for good measure. The site says that William Wallace captured the castle from the English in 1297 and it went on to welcome several key royals, including, 300 years later, Mary Queen of Scots. Menlo Castle, Ireland - built in the 16th century On the banks of the River Corrib, near Galway city, sits 16th-century Menlo Castle, inhabited by the wealthy English Blake family from 1569 Tragedy struck Menlo in 1910 when a fire gutted the property and killed Lord and Lady Blake's daughter Eleanor - it has been a ruin ever since On the banks of the River Corrib, near Galway city, sits 16th-century Menlo Castle, inhabited by the wealthy English Blake family from 1569 and an ivy-clad building with a rich, painful and occasionally mysterious history. The official website says that 'a local midwife to the Blake family used to tell a story that while on a night journey to the castle she heard fairy music and saw the fairies dancing in a fairy ring in a nearby field'. Modern times, meanwhile, brought tragedy - in 1910 a fire gutted the place killing Lord and Lady Blake's daughter Eleanor, whose body was never found. The building has been a ruin ever since. Olsztyn Castle, Poland - built in the 14th century Olsztyn Castle in Poland was built in the 14th century - in fact it was first mentioned in 1306 Ruined: The castle was badly damaged by warring Swedes in 1657 This formidable castle, located in the Krakow-Czestochowa Upland, was first mentioned in 1306. It was extended in the mid-14th century, but badly damaged (and captured) by warring Swedes in 1657 - and never regained its majesty. In fact, in 1722, some of its brickwork was ripped out and used to build a church in Olsztyn. Today, the 114ft tower - formerly used to house prisoners - offers visitors stunning views. Spis Castle, Slovakia - built in the 12th century Built 900 years ago in Slovakia, Spis Castle takes up over four hectares of space and is one of the biggest castles in central Europe The castle's architecture has changed over the centuries, and in the 15th century it was transformed into a Gothic-style fortress Built 900 years ago and covering more than four hectares, Spis Castle is one of the largest castles in central Europe. According to the castle's official website, the 'surrounding stone fortification protected the inner Romanesque palace from the Tartars during the invasion of the 13th century'. Hollywood came calling in 1992 and 2007, when the movies Dragon Heart and The Last Legion were filmed there. Poenari Castle, Romania - built in the 13th century To get to this 13th-century castle perched high up in the Carpathian Mountains, you have to climb over 1,400 stairs Poenari was once the home of the infamous Vlad the Impaler - the Romanian leader and folk hero who, it's said, was the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula To get to this grand ruin in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains - which dates back to the 13th century - you have to climb over 1,400 concrete steps. But that's not the most culturally significant aspect of Poenari - from the 15th century onwards it was the home of the infamous Vlad the Impaler, said to be the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. Ghost hunters flock to the ruin, claiming that the historic place is haunted. Standing in solidarity with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's '9pm9minute' campaign, the Indian-American community here lit diyas and lamps at 9 pm on Sunday (local time) to ensure a collective resolve to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, the Prime Minister had urged people to switch off 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 the contagion. The campaign received a modest response from people in the country as well as the community settled abroad. As the clock struck 9 pm, several Indian-American homes in New Jersey, San Francisco, Washington, Houston and Chicago blacked out, as the people turned off their lights and stepped out of their residences. Some people were seen lighting candles and lamps, while others waved their phones with the flashlights turned on. Religious chants were played at homes and while some prayed in solitude. A few homes even placed the flags of both India and the US together and lit lamps around them. "The heart of the US is New York City and the worst of the pandemic is there. Now, India and the US stand together and the two countries will win for their people and the They will overcome the pandemic and find a solution for humanity," Rajyalaxmi Saha, a resident of New York, told ANI. "My family and I are lighting a lamp for all those heroes out there who are risking their health to get us through this crisis. The lighting of lamps here in the US in our home is a show of solidarity of support to all those selfless men and women across the who are saving lives," said Vivek Sharma, a software professional and a person of Indian origin from the Bay Area. India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on late Sunday registered 3,577 coronavirus cases, with 83 deaths. The deadly virus, which has spread across continents and territories across the globe, has infected at least 1.2 million and killed close to 70,000 others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Boris Johnson is 'extremely unlikely' to sack Home Secretary Priti Patel when the findings of a probe into bullying allegations are published this week, Downing Street sources say. The Cabinet Office investigation was launched last month after claims from civil servants and the resignation of Sir Philip Rutnam, the Home Office's most senior official. He is suing the Government for constructive dismissal after accusing Ms Patel of 'swearing and belittling people'. British Home Secretary Priti Patel, leaves 10 Downing Street in London The results of the probe are due to be passed to the Prime Minister's Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests Sir Alex Allan within days. He will decide whether Ms Patel broke rules. However, the final say rests with Mr Johnson, who can overrule Sir Alex. A Government source said Mr Johnson was 'very supportive' of his key ally. Full details of the probe are unlikely to be published in full. Fans of Ms Patel said there had been a 'reset' between her and officials and she is working well with new Permanent Secretary Matthew Rycroft. Former permanent secretary Sir Philip Rutnam during the National Police Chiefs' Council and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners joint summit, February 2020 They also revealed Home Office relations with the police are the 'best in years'. Throughout the Covid-19 crisis, Ms Patel is hosting a daily call with police chiefs. A Home Office source said: 'Priti has been quietly getting on with the job of ensuring we're all safe.' The magazine Forbes France highlighted, on Monday, the Marshall Plan deployed by King Mohammed VI, from the start of the coronavirus health crisis, as part of an anticipatory approach meant to support the economy and protect the populations. The magazine detailed this response plan and the various far-reaching measures implemented by Morocco to combat the spread of the coronavirus and to offset the economic and social impact of the epidemic. Since the announcement of the first confirmed case of covid-19 on its soil, Morocco has deployed a major response plan to combat the spread of the virus and to address the economic and social impact of the world health crisis in several sectors mainly tourism or catering, underlines the magazine which publishes an analysis by economist Najib Benamour, who is the Executive secretary general of the Moroccan Institute of strategic intelligence. Morocco, which decreed a state of health emergency, locked its borders and instituted general confinement since March 20, is mobilizing massively to support the populations most affected by the slowdown in economic activity, particularly through the special fund for the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund, set up at the initiative of King Mohammed VI, has raised over 32 billion dirhams in donations to date ($3.2 billion), indicates the author of this analysis. He also recalls the establishment of the economic monitoring committee, to assess and anticipate the direct and indirect economic repercussions of Covid-19, which adopted a series of anticipatory financial measures targeting the whole population. The committee first targeted the MSMEs and employees affiliated to the National Pension Fund, CNSS, notably through the suspension of the payment of social charges and the disbursement of specific allowances. The committee then tackled the case of informal sector employees, who represent a significant part of the population and occupy a considerable place in the Moroccan economic landscape. The author of the analysis explained how the Moroccan Government tackled the difficulty to identify the informal sector workers, targeting first the households, which hold a RAMED health card, a medical assistance scheme implemented by Morocco for the benefit of the poor. In a second phase, compensations will be distributed to families operating in the informal sector but not affiliated to RAMED who have lost their income due to confinement. Forbes also highlights that Fitch Rating agency has maintained unchanged the Kingdoms rating, in a report published on March 16, where it analyzes the risks of Covid-19 on the Moroccan economy. While several countries have seen their sovereign rating downgraded, the American rating agency Fitch Ratings maintains the kingdom at BBB- rating with stable outlook, Forbes recalls. According to the agency, the kingdom has buffers capable of managing the pressures due to the coronavirus, despite the drought notably thanks to the recent decision to adjust the flexibility of the exchange rate regime. Taken together, these measures constitute a veritable Marshall Plan deployed by the King of Morocco, who from the start of the crisis applied the principle of maximum precaution in order to preserve the Kingdom from the pandemic, states the magazine. Britain needed a message of hope Sunday amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and the queen delivered it. Queen Elizabeth II offered support to a country locked down in the coronavirus pandemic, promising the nation that it would rise to the challenge and overcome the outbreak. In a rare address to the nation, the 93-year-old monarch acknowledged the suffering that many families have experienced because of the COVID-19 crisis, which has infected more than 47,806 people in the U.K. and killed at least 4,934 of them. She drew upon wisdom from her decades as Britains head of state to urge resolve in a time of crisis. While we have faced challenges before, this one is different, she said. This time we join with all nations across the globe in a common endeavor, using the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to heal. We will succeed and that success will belong to every one of us. Her remarks were broadcast only moments before Prime Minister Boris Johnsons Downing Street office announced he had been admitted to the hospital for precautionary tests. The news will add to unease in Britain, which has been in lockdown for nearly two weeks. The queen gives yearly Christmas messages but has given an address like this on only three previous occasions. She delivered speeches after the Queen Mothers death in 2002, before the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997, and at the time of the first Gulf War in 1991. But times are unprecedented. She lauded Britains beloved National Health Service in a broadcast that featured pictures of medical teams suiting up to go battle the virus. She praised other essential services, as images of soldiers loading medical equipment on trucks rolled on the screen. She also praised everyday citizens who are adhering to the terms of the lockdown and staying at home and helping to prevent the spread of the virus. I am sure the nation will join me in assuring you that what you do is appreciated and every hour of your hard work brings us closer to a return to more normal times, the queen said. I also want to thank those of you who are staying at home, thereby helping to protect the vulnerable and sparing many families the pain already felt by those who have lost loved ones. Together we are tackling this disease, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it. The leader who spends much of her time cutting ribbons and visiting charitable organizations, also made the point of mentioning the general public, such as the 750,000 people who volunteered to help the vulnerable. I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge, she said. Those who come after us will say that the Britons of this generation were as strong as any. That the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet, good-humored resolve, and of fellow feeling still characterize this country. The crisis has hit close to home for the queen. Her son and the heir to the throne, 71-year-old Prince Charles, had a mild case of the disease. She herself left London, the epicenter of Britains outbreak, and took up residence at her home in Windsor with her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh. Both the monarch and her 98-year-old husband are among those over 70 whom the British government have advised to stay home for 12 weeks. The virus causes mild to moderate symptoms in most people, but for some, especially older adults and the infirm, it can cause pneumonia and lead to death. Many in the U.K. have compared the pandemic to World War II, suggesting the effort needed to overcome COVID-19 would be similar. The queen herself suggested a parallel, and reminded the nation that other crises have served to strain family ties. It reminds me of the very first broadcast I made, in 1940, helped by my sister. We, as children, spoke from here at Windsor to children who had been evacuated from their homes and sent away for their own safety, she said. Today, once again, many will feel a painful sense of separation from their loved ones. But now, as then, we know, deep down, that it is the right thing to do. The address was recorded in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle. The location was chosen specifically because it allowed enough space between the monarch and the camera person, who wore personal protective equipment. Leadership expert James ORourke from the University of Notre Dame said that the monarchs remarks couldnt have come a moment too soon. With Johnson ill with the virus himself, the queen offers a message of continuity to a country in lockdown. Britons have not faced such grim circumstances since the darkest days of World War II, with the Blitz and the mass evacuation at Dunkirk in 1940, he said. Now, more than ever, the people of the U.K. must have someone to rely upon, someone whose word they can trust. The queen invoked the words of a World War II-era song Well Meet Again by Vera Lynn that offered hope to many a soldier sent to fight, promising that loved ones would be reunited in the end. The parallel was unmistakable: It cant last forever. We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return, she said. We will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again. Related Content: With Israeli neglect and PA banned from operating, Palestinians in East Jerusalem battle coronavirus on their own. As the highly contagious coronavirus continues to spread, Palestinian health officials in occupied East Jerusalem are warning the medical system will collapse if an outbreak occurs because of a shortage of resources and a lack of qualified staff. Citing Israeli neglect of Palestinians living in the holy city and with the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority (PA) banned from operating in the area, Palestinians in East Jerusalem say they have been left to fend for themselves. Walid Namour, the secretary-general of the Palestinian Hospitals Network in East Jerusalem and head of the Augusta Victoria hospital in the city, told Al Jazeera that East Jerusalem hospitals are facing a potential outbreak with a big shortage of medical respirators. The [Israeli] occupation [authorities] have ignored us for a long time and our capabilities are limited, Namour said. We have 20 [respirators] now in [six] East Jerusalem hospitals. In case an outbreak starts, we will need between 300-400 devices. We are examining the possibility to bring alternative devices but theyre not so effective. There are a total of 72 beds set aside in just three hospitals for coronavirus patients. Namour said there is also a big shortage of surgical masks, hand sanitiser, gloves and self-protection equipment and none of the medical staff in East Jerusalem is qualified to deal with the coronavirus. In case we have an outbreak, if our staff is not well prepared and dont have the equipment, we will see a collapse in the medical system in East Jerusalem, Namour said. Lack of testing The first reported case of coronavirus in Israel was confirmed on February 21. On Sunday, authorities confirmed 8,018 cases and 46 deaths related to the disease. But by March 30, there had only been 54 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among the 20 percent of Palestinian citizens in Israel because of a lack of testing. It was not until last week that testing centres opened in Palestinian communities in Israel, in the towns of Rahat and Wadi Ara, according to the Israeli health ministry. Similarly, the number of coronavirus cases in East Jerusalem is unknown as it was not until Thursday the first coronavirus testing centre was set up in the neighbourhood of Jabal Mukaber. The reports [by Israels health ministry] stating there are about 17 coronavirus cases in Jerusalem are misleading numbers because there have been no tests among the [Palestinian] communities because there have been zero [testing] centres to do it, Palestinian-Israeli legislator Ahmad Tibi told media. The health ministry did not respond to Al Jazeeras request for comment. Jerusalem Alliance Israel has been claiming a United Jerusalem for the past few decades, but there has been little to no support for East Jerusalem, which remains occupied, Palestinians say. Adding to the mounting troubles is the fact the Trump administration cut $25m in aid for East Jerusalem hospitals in September 2018, saying the funds will go to high-priority projects elsewhere. To fill the vacuum, 81 local Palestinian NGOs joined together to form the Jerusalem Alliance to provide support to neglected Palestinians in East Jerusalem. The volunteers have so far found two hotels that volunteered to use their space for quarantine as it is difficult for the infected to self-isolate in the notoriously overcrowded Palestinian neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem. They set up a call centre to provide information as well as an awareness campaign on social media, as the Israeli health ministrys website only provided coronavirus updates in Hebrew. According to a March 10 statement from Adalah, the Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, Arabic-language updates had been issued only after significant delays, despite Palestinians accounting for 20 percent of Israels total population. The ministrys social media posts and smartphone app were also only accessible in Hebrew, leaving many Palestinians uninformed and constituting an immediate danger to public health, according to Adalah lawyer Aiah Haj Odeh. The alliance also set up four medical tents for quarantine at two hospitals to take the temperature of patients before letting them in, to avoid the spread of infections. In Jerusalem, we saw the coronavirus crawling towards our community and we needed to take things in our hands since the Israeli authorities have neglected us and the Palestinian Authority cannot operate here, Ahmad Budiri, a spokesman of Jerusalem Alliance, said. We started this alliance to fill this vacuum. We couldnt wait and weep, and now after four weeks we have succeeded to at least achieve some projects on the health awareness volunteer communication and logistical aspects. I am afraid Namour told Al Jazeera that according to the Israeli health ministry, Palestinian patients infected with coronavirus will be treated equally in Israel and East Jerusalem, whether they have Israeli health insurance or not. But Nadine Lama, 33, who has lived in East Jerusalem for the past seven years since she got married, has her doubts. She is worried as she only has temporary residency and not the blue Jerusalem ID card that provides Israeli health insurance. It feels like someone is suffocating me Once the situation turns more serious, Im afraid how the authorities will deal with the people, Lama told Al Jazeera. Maybe theyll have priorities. I saw the Palestinian employee who was thrown by the Israeli ambulance outside a checkpoint in the West Bank without any care. Im reading the news about Palestinian employees inside Israel returning back to West Bank because the Israelis are not treating them in their hospitals despite the fact that they have health insurance inside Israel. Media reported in March the case of a Palestinian labourer working in Israel who had suspected coronavirus symptoms. Instead of being treated in a hospital, his Israeli employer reportedly called authorities who picked him up, drove him to the West Bank side of a checkpoint, and left him there throwing him on the ground. In a video circulated on social media, Palestinians there found the ill man lying on the ground with an extremely high fever, struggling to breathe, and unable to move his body. Suhad Qaissy, 47, is also worried as the medicine she takes for her rheumatism compromises her immunity. Despite living in East Jerusalem for the past 24 years, she and her daughter have never received the ID card, a big concern for them. In ordinary days its not easy to reach the hospital because I dont have a blue ID, and now with all movement restrictions its impossible, she said. Im afraid if the police catch me they will throw me outside one of the checkpoints like they did with that employee who was working inside Israel. I am afraid and theres nothing I can do but to pray to God. With additional reporting by Dareen Jubeh in occupied East Jerusalem Kate Langbroek has spent the past five weeks sharing regular updates to Instagram from her apartment in Bologna, Italy, where she and her family have been living under lockdown. And while many fans enjoy reading her lighthearted dispatches from Europe's coronavirus epicentre, the 54-year-old radio host has also copped her fair share of criticism from trolls who say she shouldn't have moved overseas in the first place. A recent appearance on The Project - during which she said it was 'more terrifying' to be in Australia than Italy right now - sparked a fierce backlash on Twitter, with critics pointing out that Australia's infection rate is significantly lower. 'Are you insane?' Kate Langbroek has offered a savage response to trolls who mocked her for relocating to Italy before the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured with her family in their Bologna apartment on March 21 Kate said that it was more frightening to be in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic because 'you can see the wave coming', whereas Italian residents were 'just thrust into it' without warning. In response to her statements, one critic wrote: 'Nobody cares what you think.' Another added: 'God, haven't we been punished enough?' One keyboard warrior pointed out that Kate had been 'laughing and cracking jokes' two weeks earlier, as if to suggest she hadn't been taking the situation seriously. Kate shut down this argument by responding: 'I still am [cracking jokes].' Criticism: While many fans enjoy reading her lighthearted dispatches from Europe's coronavirus epicentre, the 54-year-old radio host has also copped her fair share of criticism from trolls who say she shouldn't have moved overseas in the first place. Pictured on March 28 Backlash: A recent appearance on The Project - during which Kate said it was 'more terrifying' to be in Australia than Italy right now - sparked a fierce backlash on Twitter, with critics pointing out that Australia's infection rate is significantly lower Trolling: In response to her statements, one critic wrote: 'Nobody cares what you think.' Another added: 'God, haven't we been punished enough?' On the defensive: One keyboard warrior pointed out that Kate had been 'laughing and cracking jokes' two weeks earlier, as if to suggest she hadn't been taking the situation seriously. Kate shut down this argument by responding: 'I still am [cracking jokes]' Hitting back: Another troll mocked Kate's physical appearance, saying she looked 'way better' during her dimly-lit Skype call on The Project. But the comedian offered a perfect comeback, writing: 'Thanks, handsome' Another troll mocked Kate's physical appearance, saying she looked 'way better' during her dimly-lit Skype call on The Project. But the comedian offered a perfect comeback, writing: 'Thanks, handsome.' It comes weeks after Kate hit back at an Instagram follower who slammed her for moving overseas with her family before the coronavirus pandemic. Not impressed: It comes weeks after Kate hit back at an Instagram follower who slammed her for moving overseas with her family before the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured with her husband, Peter Allen Lewis, in Bologna on March 8 Online abuse: The troll wrote, 'GREAT DECISION TO GO TO ITALY! I WONDER WHO DROVE THAT DECISION! #KARMA LOL. Let's spend 12 months in ITALY, that's a great idea for a lifestyle change. How's that working for you? In hindsight? Lol.' Taking a stand: The mother-of-four, who relocated to Italy a full year before COVID-19 arrived in Europe, replied: 'Are you insane? Or just nasty?' The troll wrote: 'GREAT DECISION TO GO TO ITALY! I WONDER WHO DROVE THAT DECISION! #KARMA LOL. 'Let's spend 12 months in ITALY, that's a great idea for a lifestyle change. How's that working for you? In hindsight? Lol.' The mother-of-four, who relocated to Italy a full year before COVID-19 arrived in Europe, replied: 'Are you insane? Or just nasty?' Holiday from hell: Kate lives in Bologna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, which has become a ghost city amid the global health crisis. Pictured with her family Kate lives in Bologna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, which has become a ghost city amid the global health crisis. The country is in the middle of an unprecedented national lockdown, with the coronavirus death toll sitting at 16,523 as of Tuesday morning (AEST) out of a total of 132,547 confirmed cases. By contrast, there are 5,896 reported cases in Australia and 46 deaths. Kate has been documenting her experience on Instagram, sharing confronting photos of abandoned streets and empty churches, as well as describing some of the restrictions being enforced in public spaces. Meanwhile, she has been home schooling her children in recent weeks due to the nationwide closure of education facilities. Expat life: Kate and her husband, Peter Allen Lewis (right), relocated to Italy in January 2019 with their children, Lewis, Sunday, Artie and Jan, for what was supposed to be a 'gap year', but they have since extended their stay for another 12 months Kate and her husband, Peter Allen Lewis, relocated to Italy in January 2019 with their children, Lewis, Sunday, Artie and Jan, for what was supposed to be a 'gap year', but they have since extended their stay for another 12 months. COVID-19 was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December and has since spread to more than 1.3 million people worldwide, and killed more than 74,000. It was recognised as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11. Dispatches: She has been documenting her experience on Instagram, sharing confronting photos of abandoned streets and empty churches, as well as describing some of the restrictions being enforced in public spaces T he efforts of Brits to stay at home during the coronavirus lockdown "are working", one of the government's top scientific advisers has said. Professor Dame Angela McLean, deputy chief scientific adviser, said the growth in the number of Covid-19 cases in hospitals is not as bad as it would have been if we had not made these efforts. She added that people's efforts to follow Government's advice of social distancing is working. Speaking during the government's daily press conference, Dame Angela said: It is working but the big question is, is the virus spread slowing down enough to make hospital admissions stabilise and then even fall? Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images She said hospital admissions data by region had risen very steadily until April 1 and then showed a more complicated behaviour, starting we hope to slow down. But it really is too soon to see the effects of the big changes weve all made to our lives from March 23 onwards because thats only two weeks ago and it takes several weeks after youve become infected for you to realise youre ill enough that you really need to be in hospital," said Dame Angela. Were all watching these numbers very, very carefully and were very much hoping whats going to happen next is they will at least stop rising. Loading.... Foreign Secretary Dominc Raab said the Governments top priority is to "stop the spread and make sure we can get past the peak". When asked about the UK's "exit strategy from the current lockdown policy, he responded: "Thats the over-riding focus of the Government right now. "The other decisions can be considered in light of the evidence that were taking from Angela and Chris in due course. The Foreign Secretary refused to shed any light on whether Government lockdown measures could be eased in a staggered fashion by either region or by type of person. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab during a media briefing in Downing Street on coronavirus / PA Obviously were very mindful of the challenges businesses are facing, small businesses, all employers and of course the workforce as well," said Mr Raab. But the risk is if we start taking our eye off the ball, of tackling the coronavirus, stopping the spread and getting through the peak, we risk delaying the point at which we could in the future take those decisions on easing restrictions. So it is really important right now to keep the over-riding focus on maintaining the discipline that weve had, keeping adherence to the guidelines that the Government has set out and making sure that we stop the spread of coronavirus. It could take months for antibody testing for Covid-19 to be developed / AFP via Getty Images Professor Chris Whitty, in his first public appearance since recovering from coronavirus symptoms, said that it would be a mistake to discuss the next phase of managing the pandemic until there is confidence that the peak has been reached. He said: The key thing is to get to the point where we are confident we have reached the peak and this is now beyond the peak and at that point I think it is possible to have a serious discussion about all the things we need to do step-by-step to move to the next phase of managing this. But I think to start having that discussion until were confident that thats where weve got to, would I think be a mistake. The news comes as the number of deaths of the coronavirus in the UK topped 5,000 today, as the death toll rose by 439 to 5,373. Professor Whitty said effective antibody testing could take months to be developed. In terms of the current tests weve got at the moment, youve got to remember this is a new disease to which we have had absolutely no knowledge at the beginning of January and inevitably were feeling our way, to some extent," said Mr Whitty. I am very confident we will develop antibody tests, whether they be lab-based or dipstick-based over the next period. Im very confident of that. The fact that we have not, in our first pass, in the first things that people produced, got ones which are highly effective is not particularly surprising to anybody who understands how tests are developed. I would expect those to continue to improve potentially on the dipstick-side and definitely on the lab-side which would be available in due course through the NHS over time. Listen to The Leader: Coronavirus Daily podcast The Tanaiste has wished Boris Johnson well after it was revealed that the British Prime Minister After his coronavirus symptoms worsened, Mr Johnson was admitted to hospital yesterday with continuing coronavirus symptoms, as UK ministers resisted pressure to set out an exit strategy from the lockdown. Simon Coveney wrote on Twitter: "Everyone in Ireland is tonight wishing Boris Johnson well". Everyone in Ireland is tonight wishing @BorisJohnson well. This is a difficult time for the UK and its Govt. We in #Ireland wish the PM a speedy recovery. Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) April 6, 2020 Responding to a Conservative MP who thanked Mr Coveney for the message the Minister for Foreign Affairs added: "Hes in our prayers tonight". Thanks Tom. Hes in our prayers tonight. Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) April 6, 2020 Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has also wished Mr Johnson "a speedy recovery and a rapid return to health". Meanwhile the North's First Minister Arlene Foster says she's praying the PM makes "a full and speedy recovery" on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive. European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen and Canada's president Justin Trudeau have also wished Mr Johnson well. Sending my best wishes to Prime Minister @BorisJohnson for a full and speedy recovery. My thoughts are with you and your family right now. Hope to see you back at Number 10 soon. Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) April 6, 2020 - Additional reporting Press Association The UK government on Monday said Prime Minister Boris Johnson is "doing well" after staying overnight in hospital for some "routine tests" related to his COVID-19 diagnosis. UK housing and communities secretary Robert Jenrick said Johnson remains in charge of the UK's response to the coronavirus pandemic and is expected back at No.10 Downing Street soon. "This wasn't an emergency admission. It was a planned admission to undergo some routine tests. He is doing well, I am told, and we look forward to him being back at No. 10 soon," the Cabinet minister told the BBC on Monday morning. The update on the 55-year-old prime minister's health came following his admission to a National Health Service (NHS) hospital in London on Sunday evening for tests after he showed "persistent symptoms of coronavirus", including a temperature, even 10 days after testing positive for the disease. His hospitalisation was described as a "precautionary step" taken on the advice of his doctor, a Downing Street spokesperson said on Sunday. "This is a precautionary step, as the Prime Minister continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus ten days after testing positive for the virus," the spokesperson said. "The Prime Minister thanks NHS staff for all of their incredible hard work and urges the public to continue to follow the government's advice to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives," the spokesperson said. Downing Street said that it was considered sensible for doctors to see the UK prime minister in person given he has ongoing symptoms but he remains in charge of the government and in contact with ministerial colleagues and officials. UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab, the First Secretary of State, is the UK PM's chosen second-in-command and stepped in to chair the daily coronavirus response meeting, dubbed the COVID-19 war cabinet, on Monday morning. Johnson has until last Friday continued to chair the daily meetings remotely via video conference from his self-isolation in his private quarters in Downing Street since his diagnosis 10 days ago. The British prime minister 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 posted his last Twitter video message on Friday in which he said he was still displaying minor symptoms. He had extended self-isolation on Friday, which should have marked the end of the stipulated seven-day self-isolation period after his COVID-19 diagnosis last week. He 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. So in accordance with government advice I must continue my self-isolation until that symptom itself goes. But we're working clearly the whole time on our programme to beat the virus," he said in the video message. The UK has reported over 48,000 cases of COVID-19. On Sunday, the Department of Health said 621 more people died in hospitals in the UK over 24 hours after testing positive for coronavirus, taking the total death toll to 4,934 in the country. US President Donald Trump began a White House press briefing by sending "our nation's well wishes" for Mr Johnson's "own personal fight with the virus". "All Americans are praying for him. He's a great friend of mine, a great gentleman and a great leader," Trump said, adding that he was sure the prime minister would be fine because he is "a strong person". Newly-elected Labour Party leader Keir Starmer also wished Johnson well, saying he hoped for a "speedy recovery". Over the weekend, Johnson's pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds had revealed her own coronavirus symptoms as she said that she was "on the mend" and feeling stronger. "I haven't needed to be tested and, after seven days of rest, I feel stronger and I'm on the mend," said the 32-year-old, who has been self-isolating separately at her south London flat. UK health secretary Matt Hancock had also tested positive for coronavirus and returned from self-isolation after seven days last Thursday to host the daily Downing Street press briefing. The UK government's chief medical adviser, Professor Chris Whitty, has also had to self-isolate after showing symptoms, as has Johnson's top aide Dominic Cummings. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The WHO said Monday that asking the general public to wear facemasks could be justified in areas where hand-washing and physical distancing were difficult, but warned masks alone could not stop the coronavirus pandemic. World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also slammed suggestions that Africa should be used as a testing ground for a vaccine as racist. The global COVID-19 pandemic has killed more than 70,000 people, while more than 1.2 million people have tested positive for the new coronavirus. A vaccine is thought to be at least a year away. "Countries could consider using masks in communities where other measures such as cleaning hands and physical distancing are harder to achieve because of lack of water or cramped living conditions," Tedros told a virtual briefing in Geneva. Tedros said he understood that some countries had recommended or were considering the use of both medical and non-medical masks in the general population to prevent the spread of the virus. However, he stressed that the mass use of medical masks could exacerbate the shortage of protective equipment for healthcare workers, saying some were now facing "real danger". And he said that outside of health facilities, medical masks were recommended for those who were sick, and their carers. Tedros also lashed out at "racist" suggestions from some scientists that Africa could be used as a testing ground for a vaccine, which is thought to be 12 to 18 months away. Two leading French doctors sparked a storm of criticism last week by discussing on television the idea of testing a coronavirus vaccine in Africa, citing its relative lack of resilience to the pandemic in its infrastructure. They insisted Friday they had been misunderstood and apologised for any offence caused. Africa has confirmed relatively few cases and deaths so far compared to other continents. But the WHO and others have long warned that it could be badly exposed should the virus, both in terms of preparedness and health care. "Africa cannot and will not be a testing ground for any vaccine," Tedros said. "It was a disgrace, appalling, to hear during the 21st century to hear from scientists... this kind of racist remarks. "The hang-over from the colonial mentality has to stop. WHO will not allow this to happen. "We will follow all the rules to test any vaccine or therapeutics all over the world using exactly the same rules," said Tedros, who previously served as minister of health and foreign affairs in Ethiopia. Meanwhile the WHO teamed up with US superstar Lady Gaga to launch a giant coronavirus awareness concert on April 18 entitled "One World: Together at Home". The free online performances are billed as a "global broadcast and digital special to support frontline healthcare workers" and the WHO. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Government measures are aimed and providing relief for businesses, organisations, and workers, Photo: Le Toan Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has ordered the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to design a huge fiscal deal many times higher in value than the existing package of VND80.2 trillion ($3.49 billion) carved in the draft decree on extending payment of taxes and land rental which the ministry submitted to the government for approval. The highlights of the new fiscal package is that in addition to supporting enterprises, it will also assist labourers that have become unemployed due to COVID-19. It will also cover delayed payments of social insurance, unemployment benefits, and trade union fees. In addition, the government will also consider preferential loans for enterprises to pay salaries for employees. When this new policy is implemented, it will benefit millions of labourers, said PM Phuc. He also ordered the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs and localities to make assessments and calculations on the number of such unemployed people before the new fiscal arrangement can be implemented. COVID-19 has taken a heavy toll on all facets of the economy and society. Business and production activities are hit the hardest. Almost all state-owned and private economic groups, corporations, and companies are badly affected, the prime minister stated. Unemployment, unpaid leave, and salary cuts are common now in the economy, so we must have stronger measures to protect the basic living standards for labourers. Hong Sun, vice chairman of the Korea Chamber of Business in Vietnam, told VIR that he highly appreciated the governments fresh move, which he likened to a lifebuoy for struggling enterprises. Businesses and people are quite anxious and need critical support from the government, and while supermarket sales and business production have plummeted, they still have to pay salaries for employees, he said. We expect that the new fiscal package from the government will be implemented as soon as possible, he added. According to Sun, in April, enterprises have begun to pay taxes and insurance packages for the first quarter of 2020, and this should be delayed until enterprises perform better. He warned that if the government fails to accelerate its support, difficulties will escalate, with the appearance of massive unwanted social issues. Currently there are over 9,000 South Korean companies operating in Vietnam, employing over 200,000 South Koreans and over one million Vietnamese labourers. The American Chamber of Commerce in Hanoi (AmCham), also said the ongoing coronavirus outbreak is causing anxiety and uncertainty for both people and businesses in Vietnam. AmCham members are primarily concerned with ensuring the safety of employees, supply chain disruptions, and coping with the sharp drop in consumer and customer demand. Our members express their support and appreciation for the governments efforts to keep people safe and healthy during this crisis. Almost all members said that the government is doing an effective job responding to the crisis, said AmChams executive director Adam Sitkoff. Nguyen Anh Mau, an employee from Hanoi Knitting JSC in Hanoi which employs nearly 1,000 workers, told VIR that he has become unemployed for two months due to the pandemic, meaning his family of four will face more difficulties. Our company has cut production by half, and along with it, workers salary, he said. Many workers have had to take unpaid leaves or were even dismissed. We need support from the government, so that our life can be stable again. Earlier, on March 26, the MoF submitted to the government a draft decree on extending the payment of taxes and land rental for pandemic-hit enterprises and organisations. The total value of the policy amounts to VND80.2 trillion ($3.49 billion), as opposed to the VND30 trillion ($1.4 billion) in the previous draft due to an increase in the categories of those in need of assistance. Under the draft decree, Vietnam will push back the tax payment deadline for more sectors and add more tax categories. Payments of personal income tax and land use fees will be deferred. Over 20 sectors will benefit from the scheme, such as agriculture, car manufacturing, food services, seafood, tourism, transport, and textiles. The sectors have all reported massive losses due to the coronavirus outbreak, which is expected to cost the tourism industry VND161 trillion ($7 billion) and the textile industry VND11 trillion ($478 million). Your browser does not support the audio element. Editor's note: Mark Barnes is a freelance journalist currently based in Hanoi, Vietnam. He sent this piece to Tuoi Tre News as many foreigners in Vietnam have left or considered leaving for their home country owing to the financial toll of not being able to find work in times of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Many countries have also urged their citizens to return home while it is still a feasible option in light of travel restrictions and border lockdowns being rolled out by governments across the globe. Animal shelters in Hanoi have registered a spike in new arrivals as COVID-19 border restrictions force foreigners to return home leaving behind their four-legged friends. Some of them actually look into the procedure to take them back home lawfully. But the thing is no airlines are taking animals on their flights anymore, said Trang Nguyen, a coordinator at Hanoi Pet Adoption. Most countries also regulate the importation of pets, requiring vaccinations and mandatory quarantine periods. The cost of taking an animal overseas can, therefore, run into the hundreds and even thousands of dollars. Dominic Fourie, an English teacher from South Africa, was forced to leave his cat, Mango, behind when he returned home in March. I had been fostering her for a month after my housemate, who rescued her, had to return to the UK, he said. I felt very sad to leave her because I was planning on keeping her. Unfortunately, the situation just kept on getting worse and without an income, I couldn't afford to pay for her vet bills. As a result, Fourie was forced to try and find Mango a new home. I did not contact the shelters, as I am aware that they already have their hands full, so I didn't want to burden them even more. Instead, Fourie went online to search for a new owner. Fortunately, I found it quite easy to get her adopted. The local Vietnamese community was very supportive and within 15 minutes I had several people that were interested in adopting her," Fourie said. "I actually expected people to troll and judge me on Facebook for leaving her behind and giving her up for adoption, but that wasn't the case at all. Dominic Fourie and his cat Mango are seen in this supplied photo taken before COVID-19 travel restrictions forced him to return home in South Africa. Nguyen agrees that there is a level of understanding in the community that the current circumstances are unprecedented. With travel restrictions changing almost daily, it has been a tumultuous time for foreigners living and working in Hanoi. Over the past few weeks, many countries have urged their citizens to return home. In this context, Nguyen said that suggesting pets have been abandoned is far too strong of a statement. I wouldn't use the word 'abandoned' because I have seen many posts where they try to find foster homes or new adopters for their dogs and cats, she said. They seem to love the pets so I guess they'll try anything to at least find a foster home until they can return. The reality is, Nguyen went on to say, that finding adoptive parents for animals comes with its own unique set of COVID-19-related challenges. She said that many people are afraid that animals can transmit the coronavirus. They know that dogs have coronaviruses and they think it is the same type of virus that we are facing now, she said. The World Health Organization, however, has been quick to rebuke these ideas. While there has been one instance of a dog being infected in Hong Kong, to date, there is no evidence that a dog, cat or any pet can transmit COVID-19, it said. Adoptions, however, are not the only means by which the Hanoi Pet Adoption finds spaces for homeless cats and dogs. A foster program the shelter runs has proven popular with Hanoians who are currently out of work and short of money. Fostering requires less responsibility. They mainly take care of the pets and cover the food but we cover the vet fees and the healthcare treatments, said Nguyen. These placements are only temporary but suit a part of Hanois expat community that is largely transient. Helena Leech, an English teacher from the UK, has been a serial foster parent to many animals since arriving in Hanoi. She said she could not commit to settling in Vietnam long enough to raise an animal, but that the short-term fostering arrangements have worked well for her. Currently, Leech is fostering a mother cat with four kittens. I was volunteering at the shelter and she was one of the cats that were there and I just ended up falling in love with her, she said. Leechs previous fosters have been a dog and two kittens. She said that she has grown very attached to all of them and giving them away when they are finally adopted has been emotionally taxing. It's so horrible. I've cried every time, she said. But she also said seeing a foster pet find a permanent home is very rewarding. It's really nice and I still stay in contact with the people that the fosters have gone to," Leech said. "I still get updates and lots of photos and I still go and see the dog. It's nice, she said. It's wholesome. Pets around the world are feeling the impact of COVID-19 as uncertainty around their relationship with the disease persists. That said, the Hanoi Pet Adoption has noticed a marked change in the past week. Where inquiries at the shelter had dropped down to almost none. This week, Nguyen said, they have received about ten. This is hopefully a sign that life for Hanois pets may be returning to normal. With a bit of luck, this will foreshadow the same for Hanois human inhabitants, too. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! White House medical experts strike a cautiously optimistic tone. Vice President Mike Pence and his team of medical experts struck a cautiously optimistic tone on Monday night, saying California and Washington had seen remarkable progress for slowing the spread of the virus by following guidelines to stay at home and avoid congregating in groups. And they expressed hope that social distancing efforts were beginning to work. Thats a great tribute to the people of both of those states, and to all of their dedicated health care workers, Mr. Pence said. Were beginning to see a leveling. It only becomes a trend if every one of us continues to take ownership, Mr. Pence added. Dr. Deborah Birx, who is leading the administrations coronavirus response efforts, cautioned that the most recent data on the virus spread was not as accurate as experts would like it to be. She said at least one county in the New York area had seen a significant surge in cases over the weekend, and that officials were concerned with cases rising throughout Louisiana, Illinois and the Washington, D.C., area. But Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, joined the optimistic tone. Dr. Fauci, who has been rooted in explaining the virus through a scientific lens especially when the president is talking said that the number of hospital admissions and intubations in New York had seemed to level off. So we just got to realize this is an indication, despite all the suffering and the death that has occurred, Dr. Fauci said, that what we have been doing has been working. He added that he still would be reluctant to declare premature victory over a virus whose spread has been unpredictable. A point of contention between Dr. Fauci and Mr. Trump has been the presidents willingness to reopen the country despite overwhelming scientific evidence that the country is not yet in the clear. Prime Minister Viktor Orban hinted on Friday that the current state of lockdown imposed in Hungary could be tightened from next weekend. Speaking on Kossuth Radio, he said the current partial curfew will last until Holy Saturday, and the cabinet will decide on Wednesday about what is going to happen on Easter Sunday. He said a system will have to be created after Easter that will remain in effect until a vaccine against the Covid-19 virus is developed. We are up against an unknown enemy, he said, adding that he is working with people who can overcome their fears, listing priests, police officers and doctors. Orban emphasised that Hungary has received help from China and the Turkic Council, not the EU. He accused Brussels of sitting there in some kind of a bubble and lecturing us . . . We must hold back our justified outrage and focus on how to save as many human lives as possible. He described as the most important document of the nation a military command plan on how to reassign healthcare forces when the epidemic assumes mass proportions. Orban added that 110 college dormitories have been expropriated, where 19,820 people can be accommodated, as have 58 hotels that can house 5,661 people, while 3,543 vehicles are in service and arrangements have been made for providing meals to 203,770 people. He indicated that the government in its economic stimulus plan will not be giving money directly to the population, and especially not the unemployed, saying Without effort there is no money, adding there is no free money, either in advance or afterwards, you have to work for it. MTI Photo: Tamas Vasvari In yet another Cabinet reshuffle amid coronavirus crisis, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday dismissed Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar as Federal Minister for National Food Security and replaced him with PTI leader Syed Fakhar Imam. Bakhtiar has instead been given the charge for the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Bakhtiar has replaced Hammad Azhar, who has been made the Federal Minister for Industries. The reshuffle comes two days after a Federal Investigation Agency team released reports on the sugar crisis and beneficiaries of subsidies obtained by the industry's bigwigs. The report on crisis implicated Bakhtiar, the then Minister for National Food Security. This also comes amid the coronavirus crisis which the Pakistan government is struggling with. Pakistan has reported 3,469 cases of coronavirus including 192 in Balochistan. The country has reported 50 deaths since the outbreak of the deadly virus. The Prime Minister also accepted MQM-P convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui's resignation, which he had handed in January this year, as Federal Minister for Information Technology. MQM-P's Aminul Haq has been made Federal Minister for Telecom. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Washington Post is providing this news free to all readers as a public service. Follow this story and more by signing up for national breaking news email alerts. The worlds largest oil producers are groping their way toward a deal to mitigate the devastating impact of the coronavirus crisis on their industry. The challenge now is to nail down numbers everyone can live with. Ministers and diplomats will spend the next two days talking about whos willing to cut production, and by how much. The most important contributions will come from oils trio of big powers: Saudi Arabia, Russia and the U.S. An effective deal will require all three to participate, but not every barrel cut will be the same. Russia and Saudi Arabia are set to curb their production significantly, said people familiar with the negotiations. The U.S. is more likely to offer up the kind of gradual output reductions that will come as American companies respond to a market where prices are low and tanks are full. After a turbulent few days in which U.S. President Donald Trumps prediction of a historic output cut was followed by sniping between Moscow and Riyadh, there were signs that diplomats were making progress. U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette held a productive discussion over the phone on Monday with his Saudi counterpart Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the U.S. government said. Trump resists The talks still face significant obstacles: a meeting of producers from OPEC+ and beyond -- which has been delayed once already -- is only tentatively scheduled for Thursday. Russia and Saudi Arabia want the U.S. to join in, but Trump has so far shown little willingness to do a deal with the cartel. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies will meet by video conference at 4 p.m. Vienna time on April 9, delegates to the group said. That will probably be followed the next day by talks between energy ministers from the Group of 20 on wider contributions to a production deal. The G-20 may be a more acceptable forum to bring on board the U.S. and other big oil producers outside the OPEC+ alliance -- such as Canada and Brazil. Brouillette said he agreed with Prince Abdulaziz that there should be talks within that group in the near future. Crude prices have fallen 50% this year, as the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic have knocked out about a third of global demand. The price crash is so dramatic that its threatening the stability of oil-dependent nations, the existence of U.S. shale producers, and poses an extra challenge to central banks. Industry officials say that if a deal to cut supply in an orderly way isnt reached, the market will simply force producers to slash output as storage space runs out. The aim of talks, first revealed by Trump last week, is to cut oil production by about 10% -- the biggest ever coordinated reduction. Crude rallied on Trumps comments but pared those gains as the diplomatic intricacies became clearer. Brent futures fell 3.5% on Monday, trading near $33 a barrel. However, even if a deal is struck for as much as 10 million barrels per day, that will barely dent the supply glut, which is estimated at as much as 35 million barrels a day. In some corners of the physical market prices have already turned negative, and traders have been putting oil into tankers at a record pace to store it at sea. Jump together Saudi Arabia and Russia both say they want the U.S., which has become the worlds largest producer thanks to its shale revolution, to join the cuts. But Trump had only hostile words for OPEC on Saturday, threatening tariffs on foreign oil, though at a briefing late Sunday he said he didnt expect hed have to use them. Its not clear if Russia and Saudi Arabia will require the U.S. to publicly commit to cut production -- a challenge in the private, fragmented American industry -- or if a compromise gesture would be enough. Alexander Dynkin, president of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations in Moscow, a state-run think tank, said Moscow would like the U.S. to lift some sanctions as a compromise. Even a passive role for the American shale industry, whose output is already expected to go into decline at current prices, may be enough for a deal, according to Ed Morse, head of global commodities at Citigroup Inc. I think there is already an understanding between Saudi Arabia, Russia and the U.S., Morse said. The U.S. is a party to the agreement, in effect, because the price of oil is already reducing drilling activity to an extent that production will likely be down 1 million barrels a day by the end of the third quarter. Russia and Saudi Arabia -- which sparred publicly between themselves over the weekend -- have disagreed about how they would calculate the cuts, according to a person familiar with the talks. Russia favors using an average of the first quarter output as the baseline, while Saudi Arabia wants to use its current April production. The difference is huge: the kingdom pumped 9.8 million barrels a day on average between January and March. In April -- as it wages its battle for market share -- its producing more than 12 million. Minister Dr Shashi Panja on Monday distributed food items and ludo game kits among the people of her constituency in Shyampukur in Kolkata amid the nationwide lockdown. Speaking to ANI, Panja said: "It is very difficult for the people to stay at home for a long time. Ludo will help them keep engaged at home and get rid of mobile addiction." With an increase of 490 coronavirus cases in the last 12 hours, India's positive cases crossed the 4000-mark, mounting to 4,067, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dressmaker Flor Hernandez sells face masks on street after losing her job during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Los Angeles, California on April 2, 2020. (APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images) Life After Being Furloughed: Americans Adapting to a New Normal Ashley Ross was overseeing content and search engine optimization for a health company when she and nearly half of her colleagues were laid off due to the COVID-19 shutdown on March 24. Battling sadness and navigating through the unemployment website made things tough, but Ross is finding her way back with daily gratitude meditation and some freelance work. Knowing I wasnt alone in the frustrations of the backlog helped, but also made it worse because its so awful knowing how many people are affected by this, Ross told The Epoch Times in an email. Nearly 10 million people across the United States filed for unemployment insurance claims in the last two weeks of March, as massive waves of layoffs hit the country amid the CCP virus pandemic, according to U.S. Administration reports. Ross isnt alone in her battle with the unemployment website. Syracuse reports that almost 500,000 people were filing online applications for claims, and nearly equal numbers were calling the New York employment system toward late March. Ashley Ross. (Josh Maready/Courtesy Ashley Ross) Unlike Ross, who feels privileged because she has savings and a partner whos still employed, 37-year-old Sebastian Peter from Florida said hes scared about what his future holds. Ive never felt like this before. Helpless. Not being able to provide for my children. Not because I dont want to, but because I cant, Peter, who has a 2-year-old and a 2-month-old, told The Epoch Times in an email. Peter was working as the operation manager of a high-end retail store that decided to close in January. In mid-February, he started working as an operation manager in training for a company running a chain of gyms in his county, but lost the job when the gyms closed due to the pandemic. I was sent home and then, two weeks later, laid off, said Peter. I used to bring in about $3,500 a month. It certainly wasnt that much, but we could get by. He said he feels extremely anxious about not having been able to get a normal check since January. Like millions of people, I have bills, too, and Im starting to fall behind, he said. All I can say is that if I dont get sick from this virus, I will for sure get sick from the everyday stress. As the pandemic surges through the country, more than 363,000 people in the United States are confirmed infected, and more than 10,700 people have died of the virus as of April 6. While many professional associations have started COVID-19 relief funds for their communities, like the one by Professional Beauty Association and another by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), many others dont have any such possibility of seeking support. I have not heard of any charity offering help, said Peter, adding that hes scared for his kids as well. Samantha Wise, 24, from Kansas, lost her job at Hy-Vee supermarket on March 2. She alleges she was wrongfully terminated by her manager and since then has been trying to find a job, but hasnt been successful because of the pandemic shutdown. The notes of White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx during the White House coronavirus task force daily briefing at the White House on April 2, 2020. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Ive been trying to get another job, but Ive had no luck. Ive been in the middle of getting food stamps and unemployment, said Wise, adding that she was denied unemployment benefits because of her last job with the supermarket. I have an appeal April 7th, and I still dont have food stamps yet, she said. I have to call both places Monday. Again. I used to work at Hy-Vee in wine and spirits for almost a whole year. Wise stays with her parents and used to pay rent to them to contribute to the bills, but hasnt been able to do that lately. A study by Berkeley on coping with the Stress of Layoffs and Unemployment said that when a person loses a job, they lose many important things, including work associations, structure for your days, financial security, and status. Even though the job loss is due to budget cuts and is not your fault, it is common to feel some loss of self-esteem, and think that somehow you have failed, the study stated. Never-Die Attitude of Americans While the lives of millions of Americans have been upended by the pandemic, and the economic ramifications are causing more anxiety than the fear of catching the virus, Americans still have hope, and are finding solutions. Ross has started finding freelance assignments sitting at home amid the lockdown, Peter has been working on thinking affirmatively, and Wise has picked up hobbies to stay positive. Ive been lucky enough to pick up some freelance work through former colleagues I worked with throughout my career, Ross said. She said she is still disappointed, sad, frustrated, but looking at things from a broader perspective helps her stay motivated. Im also focusing on my mental health and find that doing regular gratitude meditations helps me put things in perspective, she said. She said shes not sacrificing everything because shes unemployed, and shes taking care of herself. I went through my bank statements to cut where I could and felt like I needed to cancel everything to save every single cent, but ultimately I kept what I knew would keep me stable: the Headspace meditation app, Spotify without ads, and Netflix. Samantha Wise. (Courtesy Samantha Wise) Its important for me to keep myself mentally well so that I can be a part of the healing process when the country, world, and society are ready to start healing, said Ross. Despite going through such desperate times, Peter feels that there are people in greater need than him. Im really hoping a solution comes up soon. I feel like time is of the essence, he said. Wise has medical and phone bills to pay, but shes trying to stay upbeat and remain mentally strong while she finds a solution to her situation. Its been really hard mentally, and Id be lying if I said I havent been depressed a lot since losing my only job due to discrimination, and then it being super hard finding a new job and having to worry about getting a virus, but I try to focus on other things to keep myself busy, like drawing and picking up hobbies to stay positive, she said. ROMEOVILLE, IL Two groups of workers walked off their job sites Monday morning in protest of their employers' coronavirus responses. Workers at the MAT Holdings Inc. facility in Romeoville and Raymundo's Food Group in Bedford Park left their shifts at 5 and 6 a.m. respectively; both groups worked with the labor rights group Arise Chicago to coordinate the protest. A spokesman for that group, Jorge Mujica, said the walkouts were workers' way of exercising their collective bargaining power without either group having a proper union. "This is not promoted by a union, [the Raymundo's workers] are still not union members, a union doesn't have any bearing on this," Mujica said. "As for MAT Holdings, as far as we know there's no union." Mujica clarified that the Raymundo's workers have voted to form a union, but the company has refused to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement. Patch called Raymundo's to confirm this, but did not receive any response. "This is what we call a 'concerted protected activity,'" Mujica said, in reference to the morning's walkouts. "It's a group of workers organizing in the workplace, and they get legal protection under the national Labor Relations Act." The specific concerns that prompted the walkouts, Mujica said, were very similar between the two groups of employees. In Romeoville, workers were upset that a possible case of coronavirus at the facility in March was not handled in a timely manner or communicated effectively to employees. That case eventually proved negative, but a document from MAT's chief HR representative Bob Patton admitted that the facility shutdown which occurred in response to that case "could have been handled better." The document sent from MAT Holdings Management to its workers admits that the facility closure 'could have been handled better.' (Photo used with permission of Lucio Ocampo) "We're still afraid to work, because like two weeks ago now, we heard ... a coworker was positive for the virus," a MAT employee named Lucio Ocampo told Patch. "At a meeting ... on [March 27] or so on, we had a meeting with the management telling us about this possible ... coronavirus; that they had to shut the warehouse down." Story continues In response to this development, Ocampo said the workers wanted two weeks paid time off to self-quarantine and a full deep-clean of the facility, especially after another coworker did test positive for the coronavirus. Though the facility was closed, Ocampo told Patch that the company offered employees extra pay to clean the facility themselves instead of hiring a professional sanitation service. He said MAT also told employees that if they took time off to quarantine, it would count against their personal days. "Here's the thing, they told us that if we want to get paid, they're going to take [quarantining] out from our ... personal time," Ocampo said. The document from Patton to MAT employees said he believed there was no reason for workers to be taking a quarantine leave. It stated the company had met CDC and OSHA standards in cleaning the facility, and as a result, no sick leave was warranted. Patch attempted to contact MAT Holdings, which reported more than $1.5 billion in total revenue in 2018, about this situation, but did not immediately receive a response. For Raymundo's workers, their concerns are very similar. They said company did not respond to a potential case of coronavirus in the facility in a timely manner, with one employee going so far as to claim the company hid the news from workers. After a second possible case came to light, the workers there are likewise now demanding a professional deep-clean of the facility and two weeks' paid leave to quarantine. "We had some people that were positive over there, and they didn't tell us the truth," a Raymundo's employee who asked to go only by Sonia said. Sonia also said that Raymundo's, like MAT Holdings in Romeoville, offered additional pay to their employees to clean the facility themselves rather than pay for a professional sanitation service. "For me it's kind of ridiculous," she said," because if [the company] gets us to clean, we're just going to get more and more [coronavirus cases] in there." Despite the workers' concerns, Sonia said Raymundo's has so far shown no inclination in meeting their demands for two weeks paid time off and a professional sanitizing of their workplace. "They don't want to do that," Sonia said. Patch contacted Raymundo's Food Group for comment on this situation, but as with MAT Holdings, did not immediately receive any response. The workers in Romeoville and Bedford Park who staged walkouts are part of a growing strike wave in America, as essential workers across the country demand their employers provide them with more robust coronavirus protections. In Chicago, Amazon workers are currently on strike, demanding the company close its facility on 28th Street and Western Avenue for a deep clean and provide its workers with two weeks paid leave. Last week, an Amazon worker named Chris Smalls was fired after he led a strike at a New York City facility, and leaked internal documents show Amazon officials wanted to portray Mr. Smalls as 'not smart or articulate.' Beyond Amazon, workers with upscale grocery chain Whole Foods and grocery delivery company Instacart have also launched strike actions across the country. Only time will tell if these actions bear fruit for workers as the coronavirus crisis continues. "They need to tell us exactly the truth, and we want two weeks paid [sick leave]," Sonia said, "because they exploit us." To keep on top of the latest coronavirus news, subscribe to Patch news alerts and newsletters. The latest updates on the coronavirus situation can be found on this page. This article originally appeared on the Romeoville Patch Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 03:49:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A woman walks on a street in Turin, Italy, on April 4, 2020. Between Saturday and Sunday, the COVID-19 death toll in Italy was 525, the lowest one-day total since March 19, when COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, claimed 427 lives. (Photo by Federico Tardito/Xinhua) ROME, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Italian health officials said Sunday that the nationwide quarantine put into place nearly a month ago is starting to show measurable results, as the one-day coronavirus death toll showed its smallest increase in nearly three weeks and the number of hospitalized patients declined. "We cannot let our guard down, but the trend" is positive, Angelo Borrelli, the head of Italy's Civil Protection Department, said Sunday. "It is still essential for residents to continue to stay at home and to leave only for the proven needs allowed" under quarantine rules. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced the country's first national coronavirus quarantine, the first in Europe, earlier last month. Officially, it is set to expire on April 13, though Borrelli and other ranking officials have speculated it will be further extended far beyond that date. Conte himself said Sunday that it was "impossible" to predict when the crisis would end in Italy. Between Saturday and Sunday, the coronavirus death toll in Italy was 525, the lowest one-day total since March 19, when COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, claimed 427 lives. The country registered its one-day high of 969 fatalities on March 27. The death toll has decreased in five of nine days since then. Still, the pandemic that claimed its first life in Italy on Feb. 20 has now resulted in 15,887 deaths, more than in any other country based on official figures. The total number of coronavirus patients in Italian hospitals also declined, slightly: 28,949 are hospitalized with symptoms, 61 fewer than a day earlier, and 3,977 are in intensive care units, down 17 from the previous day. The total number of recovered individuals rose to 21,815, an increase of 819. That number is smaller than the 1,238 registered as cured in the previous 24-hour period. The number of active cases in the country climbed to 91,246 on Sunday, up from 88,274 a day earlier. All told, Italy has registered a total of 128,948 cases since the start of the outbreak, up from 124,632 registered Saturday. Earlier on Sunday, Borrelli announced that domestic production of protective masks had increased to the point that every resident will have access to them within days, a step that will further enhance Italy's battle to contain the pandemic. On the day, the northern Italian Alpine region of Valle d'Aosta, one of the Italian regions hit least hard by the outbreak with only 576 active cases, became the first Italian region to make the use of protective gloves and masks obligatory for anyone leaving their homes in the region. According to Italian Minister of Public Administration Fabiana Dadone, Italian civil servants are making a quick shift to working at home during the pandemic. Dadone said nearly three in four public workers still working did their jobs from home last week, compared to around 5 percent prior to the start of the crisis. Imphal/Guwahati, April 6 (IANS) There is good news from Manipur, where a 23-year-old woman, who had returned from the UK and became the first positive coronavirus case in the entire northeastern region, was now declared completely free of the dreaded Image Source: IANS News Imphal/Guwahati, April 6 : There is good news from Manipur, where a 23-year-old woman, who had returned from the UK and became the first positive coronavirus case in the entire northeastern region, was now declared completely free of the dreaded virus. Manipur Health and Family Welfare Minister Langpoklakpam Jayantakumar Singh, in a Facebook post on Monday, said: "The much awaited news of our daughter Vimi's final COVID-19 test report has come out negative. Now she is completely free from the COVID-19 virus. It's a huge achievement for the whole medical department in general and the doctors and staffs of JNIMS in particular. Let's continue to fight and endeavour more to ensure that our state is completely free from nCOVID-19 spread." According to the health officials in Imphal, the woman is now undergoing treatment at Imphal's Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), where she was admitted on March 23 after she tested positive. "Her family members' swab samples were also tested negative earlier," the officials said. The officials said that the woman, who returned hom from London, via Delhi and then Kolkata on March 19, did not reveal her travel history earlier before she was detected positive. They said that on the same day, (March 19) the younger brother of the woman had arrived in Kolkata from Atlanta. Both stayed in a hotel in Kolkata and arrived in Imphal on March 21 by a private airliner via Agartala airport. In all, there are 30 positive cases in four northeastern states - Assam (26), Manipur (2), Mizoram (1) and Arunachal Pradesh (1) and 27 of the 30 took part in Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Nizamuddin in Delhi, while the others were this Manipuri woman and a Mizoram man who had returned from the Netherlands, respectively. Another 52-year-old trader in Assam's Kamrup (Metro) district was also infected with the nCoV. Besides, four persons from Assam and three people from Tripura, who attended the congregation, have tested positive for COVID-19 and they are under treatment in north India hospitals. Health officials in Aizawl on Monday said that the 50-year-old Mizo man was still at the Intensive Care Unit of the Zoram Medical College and Hospital in Aizawl. "His fever was a little controlled. The gentleman's wife and two children's swab samples had earlier tested negative and they are staying at home," Mizoram's nodal officer for integrated disease control surveillance programme Pachuau Lalmalsawma told IANS. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Oddly enough, gestures and symbols can linger in the popular memory long after the accompanying facts have faded into oblivion. Think Queen Elizabeth bowing her British royal head to the IRA dead at the Garden of Remembrance in 2011. Or, go back further and note the extraordinary decision of the leaders of the Native American Choctaw people to donate $170 in 1847 to Irish famine relief funds, in spite of their own battles against death, displacement and starvation. That was one of the most stand-out stories among remarkable gestures to our famine victims from places all across the globe. And in similar vein this week, the European Commission promulgated a number of true stories about solidarity between EU member states in the face of this huge coronavirus which has immobilised the 27 countries and spread illness and death on a grand scale. There were the 85 intensive care beds reserved across Germany for Italian patients stricken in a hospital system struggling to cope. There was Austria sending 1.5 million face masks to Italy while providing 11 intensive care beds for Italian patients. This list of snapshots of European solidarity is uplifting and encouraging. These are, of course, surface-scratching gestures. But, like Eamon de Valera's decision to send fire brigade units from Dublin and elsewhere to a blitzed Belfast at Easter 1941, such gestures can be immensely beneficial. The EU list includes Ireland's efforts to repatriate people from Peru last week with citizens from a total of 12 EU states benefiting. But the problem with the EU list is it is just a bit late and follows after some less fortunate events. It comes after France and Germany took unilateral action on March 4 to ban the export of protective equipment - even to other EU states. As former Taoiseach and EU ambassador John Bruton has pointed out, that action breached Article 35 of the EU Treaty. The Italian authorities, and the population generally, in their hour of dire need, are entitled to feel aggrieved. Italy had already shouldered the brunt of the migration crisis and things were worsened by their unsuccessful request days later for an urgent meeting of EU health ministers. The utter rejection of an EU bond issue - popularly dubbed 'coronabonds' - at a leaders' summit via video on March 26 compounded the Italian anger, and that of similarly stricken Spain. Ireland had lined up with these two and member states including EU founders France, Belgium, and Luxembourg, plus Portugal and Greece, making a total of nine out of the 27 member states seeking such an EU shouldering of debt. Like truncated negotiations on the future EU budget at the last physical gathering of leaders on February 20 and 21, this one threw up a distinct 'frugal north' versus 'profligate south' divide. Germany, the Netherlands and others genuinely fear being left on the hook for Italian and other member states' debts in the longer term. Besides, among the many powers the EU lacks to tackle this virus is the authority to actually borrow money as an entity. The new head of the policy-guiding Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has frankly admitted that the EU messed up in its initial coronavirus response. "Europe was initially blindsided by an unknown enemy and a crisis of unprecedented scale and speed. This false start is still hurting us today," she wrote in this newspaper on Saturday. It is important to note that Ms von der Leyen is only in office since December 1 and the powers of the Brussels executive she heads are rather limited. But it is also true that if Ms von der Leyen fails to get the necessary member governments' support for a real and swift EU coronavirus response, then her term heading the Commission could effectively end here. Tomorrow, EU finance ministers will discuss a suite of economic measures to combat the impending recession triggered by the coronavirus. Some fear the economic fallout could be worse than the Great Depression of the 1930s. Ms Von der Leyen sets great store by a scheme called Sure, which would in practice see the EU combine its budget might to underwrite coronavirus welfare payments in Ireland and the other EU states to a total up to 100bn. It would be a device to dilute the level of national debt and spread it out into a more tolerable length of time. It would be unfair and plain wrong to accuse the EU of being idle in the face of the coronavirus threat. The new European Central Bank president, Christine Lagarde, has echoed her predecessor's effective statement in 2012 - to do whatever it takes - which was credited with saving the eurozone from collapse. She has unleashed a major debt-buying campaign which has kept national borrowing costs down - even those of Italy. Ireland's positioning in all of this is also interesting. Before the coronavirus, this country was gravitating towards cultivating relations with the 'frugal north' countries in a post-Brexit world. Signing up with Italy, Spain and the others was a move in the opposite direction. Interestingly, 'coronabonds' of themselves might not suit Ireland, as they could be part of a move to things like tax EU harmonisation. But that is for another day - and odds are that an EU coronavirus financial response will not go that far. The other problems include Hungary's leader, Viktor Orban, using anti-virus measures to stymie democracy. On this issue, Ireland most definitely picked the right side, signing up with 16 countries condemning Orban. US healthcare groups have increased their footprint in Vietnam over recent years Currently 3M, a global leader in personal protective equipment, is increasing global production of respiratory protection products as quickly as possible in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. We committed to supporting the public health and governmental response to help protect and treat people. We have donated medical supplies including respirators, surgical masks, and hand sanitiser in affected areas, including the ASEAN, a representative of 3M told VIR. BAT, a leading, multi-category consumer goods business, and its US bio-tech subsidiary, Kentucky BioProcessing (KBP) are wishing to support more the world, especially the ASEAN region in the battle against coronavirus. Quickly developing a potential vaccine for COVID-19, KPB is now putting the vaccine in pre-clinical testing. If testing goes well, BAT is hopeful that, throught its right partners and support from government agencies, between one and three million doses of the vaccine could be used per week, beginning in June. Vaccine development is challenging and complex work, but we believe we have made a significant break-through with our tobacco plant technology platform and stand ready to work with Governments and all stakeholders to help win the war against Covid-19 disease, David OReilly, director of Scientific Research at BAT said. According to Oreilly, KBP has been exploring alternative uses of the tobacco plant for some time. One such alternative use is the development of plant-based vaccines. We are committed to contributing to the effort of the world in general and the ASEAN region in particular to halt the spread of Covid-19 using this technology, he said. Meanwhile, GE Healthcare is continuing to look for opportunities to provide sustainable improvements to healthcare delivery in Vietnam and other emerging markets in the ASEAN. This requires investment in training and education of the local workforce to successfully operate and service devices and build capacity at the frontline of healthcare, said Son Pham, Vietnam country leader for GE Healthcare. According to Pham, GE Healthcare has led continuous education and training courses for radiologists, radiographers, sonographers, and other clinical practitioners to support local workforce in Vietnam in successfully operating and keeping up to date with the latest in medical innovations. In another case, nutrition and healthcare group Abbott is committed to help solve related challenges in Vietnam and other ASEAN nations. We will further invest in innovating more trusted science-based solutions and products that are more accessible to people in the region, said Daniel Salvadori, Abbotts executive vice president of Nutritional Products. According to Salvadori, Vietnam and neighbouring countries are facing clear healthcare challenges from childhood malnutrition and stunting to malnourishment and muscle loss in ageing populations. As a company with scientific heritage, we work closely with our stakeholders to overcome the challenges in order to see the countries quite literally grow and succeed through the power of nutrition and health, he said. Over the years, the ASEAN has been a target market for US businesses, particularly those operating in healthcare. Moreover, the US government is also positively co-ordinating with the regional governments, particularly in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. The US Department of State announced last week that the United States will provide over $18 million in emergency health and humanitarian assistance to ASEAN member states. The Philippines, Myanmar, and Vietnam are the top three recipients, receiving $4 million, $3.8 million, and $3 million, respectively. Indonesia will get $2.3 million, Cambodia and Laos $2 million each, and Thailand $1.2 million. The funding will be used for preparing laboratories for large-scale testing for COVID-19; infection prevention and control and risk communication, and implementing public-health emergency plans for border points of entry; activating case-finding and event-based surveillance for influenza-like illnesses; and training and equipping rapid-responders in investigation and contact-tracing and updating training materials for health workers. Besides this financial support, the US is also working with the ASEAN to promote co-operation between the two sides in responding to the global health emergency and other public healthcare issues. US support for Vietnam has exceeded $706 million in health assistance and $1.8 billion in total assistance. The US has provided training to 15 hospitals in conjunction with the World Health Organization, and has assisted with training in 63 cities and provinces on COVID-19 surveillance, reporting, and sample collection. The Delhi government has decided to conduct large-scale testing for coronavirus so that infected people are identified and isolated at the earliest, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said here on Monday, asserting that this will ensure containment of the disease in the national capital. The number of coronavirus cases rose by 30 to 532 on Monday in Delhi. So far, Delhi has reported seven fatalities. Addressing an online briefing, the chief minister said that in the last few days, cases of coronavirus have suddenly spiked in Delhi and one of the reasons behind it is the Tablighi Jamaat event in Nizamuddin. Kejriwal said of 523 cases, 330 are from the Tablighi Jamaat's Nizamuddin centre, which has emerged as a major hotspot for the infection not only in Delhi but in the country. Scaling up testing will ensure containment of the deadly disease in the national capital, he said. "Our testing capacity around March 25 was 100-125 people per day, which increased to 500 people per day after April 1. We are now reaching a capacity of around 1,000 tests per day," he said. The Centre had allotted 27,000 PPE kits for Delhi, Kejriwal said. The alleged lack of personal protection equipment for healthcare workers also led to exchange of words on Twitter between Kejriwal and BJP parliamentarian Gautam Gambhir. The chief minister said money is not a problem but the availability of protective equipment for healthcare personnel is, after Gambhir accused the Delhi government of not accepting Rs 50 lakh from his MPLADS fund to fight the coronavirus outbreak. In a tweet, Gambhir, who is a member of Lok Sabha from East Delhi, said the "massive egos" of Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia did not allow them to take Rs 50 lakh from his Local Area Development fund. "CM @ArvindKejriwal & his Dy say funds are needed. Though their massive egos didn't allow them to take50 L from my LAD fund earlier, I pledge 50 L more so that innocents don't suffer! 1 CR would at least solve urgent need for masks &PPE kits for days Hope they prioritize Delhi," Gambhir tweeted. Responding to it, Kejriwal said, "Gautam ji, thank u for ur offer. The problem is not of money but availability of PPE kits. We wud be grateful if u cud help us get them from somewhere immediately, Del govt will buy them. Thank u." Gambhir replied to the chief minister in a tweet saying he has procured 1,000 PPE kits and asked where could they be delivered. He also told Kejriwal that this is no time to talk but act. Meanwhile, an NABL-accredited diagnostic laboratory in the city has come up with an innovative step for testing suspected infected persons without having them to queue up at hospitals and coming in contact with anyone, including the paramedical staff collecting the sample. Named "drive through test", the procedure for ICMR-conformed test has been designed by Dr Dangs Lab, a West Delhi-based diagnostic lab. It envisages the suspected patients reaching the laboratory's parking lot in his vehicle with a trained paramedic waiting to collect his sample with the patient sitting in his car and driving back home in just over 10 minutes. The Delhi government also said no fresh movement of migrant workers have been reported in the national capital during the ongoing lockdown. According to a statement, migrant workers, who were initially going to their home state due to various reasons, have been focused as a target group for which special facilities have been provided. After the lockdown was announced, thousands of migrant workers left the Delhi-NCR region on foot, and later in UP Road Transport Corporation buses for their native places citing lack of work. The government has set up 111 shelter homes specifically for migrant worker rendered homeless due to lockdown. "Till Sunday, 4,788 migrants have been housed in these shelters homes. The relief camps have a capacity to accommodate 40,000 persons," the statement stated. Due to pro-active steps taken by Delhi government no fresh movement of migrant labourers has been reported in Delhi, it stated. Amidst massive efforts to track down many Tablighi Jamaat members who continue to hide in different parts of the national capital, Delhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivastava also met Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla. The search for the Tablighi Jamaat members was launched after over 2,300 activists, including 250 foreigners, were found to be living at its headquarters located at Delhi's Nizamuddin last week despite the 21-day lockdown imposed to check the spread of coronavirus. About 9,000 people had participated in a congregation of the Tablighi Jamaat last month. The Delhi Police commissioner briefed the home secretary on the progress of the ongoing probe against the Tablighi Jamaat, a home ministry official said. The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police has already registered a case against the organisation while most of its top leaders, including chief Maulana Saad Kandhlawi, are hiding from police. The Delhi Police also said over 190 cases were registered and 3,728 people detained for violating government orders during the lockdown. As many as 247 FIRs have been lodged till now at different police stations across the city against persons found violating home quarantine rules, according to the police. While 81 FIRs were registered after physical verification, 160 FIRs were lodged after technical surveillance and six other cases were filed on the complaints of neighbours, an official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ukraine is making efforts to hold Russia accountable for the occupation of Crimea and leading a hybrid war in Donbas First in a two-part series analysing why Ukraines attempts at international justice are worth taking - and outlining how the impact goes far beyond just the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Part one examines the response of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to the possibility of holding Russia accountable as a state. Russias ongoing occupation of Ukraines Crimean peninsula and support of separatist hostilities in the eastern provinces of Donbas have resulted in 1.5 million internally displaced persons, 3,000 civilians killed, and a growing list of alleged violations of international law(opens in new window) and socio-economic hardship. But Ukraine is struggling in its efforts to hold Russia accountable either as a state or through individual criminal responsibility - as it cannot unilaterally ask any international court to give an overall judgment on the conflict. So it focuses on narrower issues, referring them to authorised adjudication and arbitration platforms such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ), European Court of Human Rights, UNCLOS arbitration, and the International Criminal Court (ICC). These options are limited, but still worth taking - and their relevance is proving to be far wider than the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Policy of cultural eradication In 2017, Ukraine initiated proceedings against Russia at the ICJ on the basis of two international treaties: the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), with regard to Crimea; and the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism (ICSFT), with regard to Donbas. Under the CERD, Ukraine alleges Russia has carried out a policy of cultural eradication of ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars in Crimea, including enforced disappearances, no education in the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages, and the ban of the Mejlis, the main representative body of the Crimean Tatars. Under the ICSFT, Ukraine alleges Russia has supported terrorism by providing funds, weapons and training to illegal armed groups in eastern Ukraine. In particular Ukraine alleges Russian state responsibility - through its proxies - for downing the infamous MH17 flight. Both these treaties are binding upon Ukraine and Russia and entitle an individual state party to refer a dispute concerning them to the ICJ, but certain procedural pre-conditions must first be exhausted. These include a failed attempt to settle a dispute either through negotiations or the CERD Committee (for the CERD) or unsuccessful negotiations and arbitration (for the ICSFT). Russia challenged Ukraines compliance with the pre-conditions, but the ICJ disagreed with Russias submission that Ukraine had to resort both to negotiations and to the CERD Committee. For the first time, the court clarified these procedures under the CERD were two means to reach the same aim, and therefore alternative and not cumulative. Requiring states to avail of both procedures before going to the ICJ would undermine the very purpose of the CERD to eliminate racial discrimination promptly, and ensure the availability of effective domestic protection and remedies. The relevance of this clarification transcends the Ukraine-Russia dispute. With the rise of discriminatory practices, from populist hate-filled rhetoric endangering vulnerable communities to large-scale persecution such as that of the Rohingyas, the UNs principal judicial body is sending a clear larger message to the world: such practices are unacceptable and must be dealt with expeditiously and efficiently. If states fail to do so, there are now fewer procedural impediments to do it internationally. The ICJ also confirmed Ukraine had complied with both procedural preconditions under the ICSFT and that it would give judgement on the alleged failure of Russia to take measures to prevent the financing of terrorism. The outcome of this will be of great importance to the international community, given the general lack of international jurisprudence on issues of terrorism. The courts interpretation of knowledge and intent in terrorism financing, as well as clarification of the term funds, is particularly relevant both for the Ukraine-Russia case and for international law. As the final judgement may take several years, the ICJ granted some provisional measures requested by Ukraine in April 2017(opens in new window). The court obliged Russia to ensure the availability of education in Ukrainian and enable the functioning of the Crimean Tatar representative institutions, including the Mejlis. When Russia contested Ukraines references(opens in new window) to the alleged Stalin-ordered deportation of the Crimean Tatars(opens in new window) and the rule of law in the Soviet Union being hypocritical(opens in new window), by arguing that history did not matter, the court disagreed. In fact, Judge James Crawford emphasised the relevance of the historical persecution of Crimean Tatars and the role of Mejlis(opens in new window) in advancing and protecting their rights in Crimea at the time of disruption and change. These conclusions are important reminders that the historical inheritance of injustices inflicted on vulnerable groups should be taken into account when nations address their imperial legacies. The courts provisional measures and Judge Crawfords position are particularly relevant in light of Russias policy of the total - territorial, historical, cultural russification of Crimea, as they highlight the role of the historical background for assessing the alleged discriminatory and prosecutorial policy of Russias occupying authorities against the Crimean Tatars. The ICJs judgement on the merits of this as well as other human rights, and terrorism issues of Crimea and Donbas will be an important consideration for the international community in its view of the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict and the sanctions policy against Russia. The development of this case also has a mutually catalysing impact on Ukraines efforts to establish those individually criminally responsible for atrocities in Crimea and Donbas, through domestic proceedings and through the International Criminal Court. Read the original article here. As more Alabamians lose jobs and the states economy slows, hanging on to health insurance could be key to avoiding the most severe financial risks of getting the coronavirus, experts say. Alabama Blue Cross Blue Shield told al.com it is waiving deductibles and co-pays for coronavirus treatment for its fully insured members. But for the uninsured, hospital bills could be doubled, possibly even tripled. In severe coronavirus cases, bills for the those without coverage could be as high as $240,000, the Kaiser Family Foundation estimates. Thats because uninsured patients who self-pay dont benefit from the negotiated rates insurers get, experts say. I'm worried that with so many people losing their jobs right now... there's going to be a lot of people who fall through the cracks, said Cynthia Cox, vice president of the foundation. The CDC reports about 12 percent of coronavirus patients in the United States were hospitalized in an early report. Alabama is projected to have the 16th highest death rate from coronavirus nationwide, according to the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. Researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation reviewed hospital costs for pneumonia to estimate projected costs for coronavirus hospitalizations. Treatment for coronavirus may range from $20,000 to $88,000, depending on severity of the illness, according to the foundation. While insurers may cover most of those bills for their members, the unemployed could end up paying two to three times the amount insurance companies are billed, Cox says. We really have no idea what hospitals are going to charge uninsured people." If patients require a ventilator, with a typical hospital stay of 23 days, the costs go up significantly. One non-profit focused on cost transparency in healthcare, FAIR Health, estimates COVID-19 costs for the uninsured could reach $75,000 for complications. Cox says that study relies on billing codes that dont necessarily include the cost of a ventilator. An early House version of the federal stimulus bill included funding for coronavirus treatment which was dropped in the final Senate version. Cox says she expects the issue may be revisited by congress. According to preliminary numbers, 66,638 filed for unemployment in Alabama as of March 31. There were nearly 81,000 claims the week prior. Thomas Weida, chief medical officer for the University of Alabama, is worried big hospital bills could drive some Alabamians into deep financial trouble. It would probably mean bankruptcy for most of those folks, he said of the most severe cases, adding that few estimates have factored in the cost of a recovery period post-hospitalization. According to the Urban Institute, a Washington D.C., policy group, 21 percent of Alabamians already have medical debt in collections. Options Weida says negotiating bills is one option. He advises that uninsured patients request the rates insurers get. If you ask, (some hospitals) will give you a discounted rate based off of BlueCross, BlueShield, or Medicare, but you'll have to ask, he said. Cox suggests prioritizing keeping continuous health insurance, although that may be challenging for the newly unemployed. Federal COBRA coverage is one option that includes a 60-day retroactive window after a job loss, but the premiums are often prohibitively high, about $20,600 a year for a family or $7,200 a year for a single person. Alabamians may qualify for Medicaid if they earn less than $16,612 as individuals or $34,248 for a family of four, have a disability, or are caring for some with a disability, are pregnant, or are raising children among other criteria. For many, the Affordable Care Act will be the best option, says Cox. It allows for enrollment up to 60 days after a job loss or significant household change. You should start this process as soon as possible, she said, adding that the foundation has put out a guide for people who have lost their healthcare coverage. Theres a catch though, to qualify, people must earn poverty-level wages. Cox says it is possible to anticipate future earnings for the year, income from stimulus checks and history of earnings to meet that requirement. There's going to be a lot more people finding themselves in that situation where they've never really had to think about how they're going to get their own health insurance, she said. To Weida, the financial outcome for people depends partly on how bad the disease is in Alabama. This is a major problem of underinsured, medically underinsured patients in America, he said. Theyll never get out of poverty with a medical bill hanging over their head. CHICAGO Five months ago, when Illinois schools Superintendent Carmen Ayala learned students were being repeatedly shut inside small rooms alone as punishment and physically held down on the floor, she said she cried. She vowed it would never happen again. But ProPublica Illinois, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power, teamed with the Chicago Tribune and found Illinois State Board of Education officials negotiated with a key legislative rule-making committee to allow schools to use prone restraint for one more school year, aiming to phase out its use by July 2021. The decision last week came after a few small schools including one whose advisory board includes state lawmakers mounted letter-writing campaigns and direct appeals to government leaders. State education board members already had relaxed the emergency ban that prevented children from being secluded by themselves, though with clearer direction on when isolated timeouts can and cant be used and, for the first time, state oversight. The board, however, had remained firm on not allowing face-down, or prone, floor restraints because they are too dangerous. It is surprising that all of a sudden another group that has the final say would put all of that feedback from citizens and good research and good data to suggest that is not safe or healthy for children aside, said Kevin Rubenstein, president of the Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education. The initial changes, including a declaration by Gov. J.B. Pritzker that isolated seclusion will end now, came in response to a Chicago Tribune-ProPublica Illinois investigation, The Quiet Rooms, that documented the misuse and overuse of seclusion and restraint in Illinois schools. Those emergency measures were set to expire this month. Permanent rules must be approved by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, which reviews new and existing rules proposed by state agencies. The bipartisan committee is made up of 12 legislators, including some of the states most powerful politicians. The committee met last Tuesday in Springfield amid the coronavirus pandemic in a room closed to the public. Audio was streamed on the committees website; the meeting lasted 12 minutes and there was no discussion. Legislation pending in the House and Senate, which would supersede ISBEs rules, still could ban prone restraint and isolated seclusion, and state education officials said they would review the use of prone restraint during the next year. They hope to eliminate it after that. ISBE spokeswoman Jackie Matthews confirmed that the decision to allow prone restraint came after some schools, most of them private, said they were concerned they didnt have enough time to transition to other methods. She said the restraint should be used rarely and with the idea that it will be phased out. ISBE absolutely will revisit the use of prone restraint either through legislation or future rulemaking before the one year-extension expires, she wrote in an email. The ProPublica Illinois-Tribune investigation documented more than 35,000 seclusion and restraint incidents involving students in 100 school districts over a 15-month period beginning in the fall of 2017. Although state law then allowed seclusion and restraint when students were in danger of harming themselves or others, reporters found that in one out of every three incidents of seclusion, school workers hadnt cited a safety reason; for incidents of physical restraint, the ratio was one in four. About 24 hours after the investigation was published, ISBE imposed an emergency ban on secluding students alone and on floor restraints, and pledged to make it permanent. Advocates for students with disabilities saw the bans as a victory; real change seemed imminent. The new rules still provide more protections for students than the state law that had governed the practices for 20 years. Seclusion rooms can no longer have locks, and employees cant hold the doors shut to keep children inside. Rules now specify that timeout and restraint can be used only when theres an imminent danger of serious physical harm. Schools now are required to report every incident to the state and provide more employee training. But at least three suburban Chicago schools two private, one public mobilized to lobby state officials, flooding them with comments supporting isolated timeout and prone restraint. Through a Freedom of Information Act request, the Tribune and ProPublica Illinois obtained more than 325 public comments filed with ISBE in response to its proposed rules. At least 101 of the 149 letters that advocated keeping prone restraint nearly 70% came from two private schools, Giant Steps and Marklund Day School, and the A.E.R.O Special Education Cooperative, a public school. As a staff member at Marklund Day School, I have personally performed a safe prone restraint more times than I can count, began each of the 350-word letters that about 30 employees of Marklund, a suburban school for students with autism, filed with the state. The nearly word-for-word letters sent by teachers, aides and other workers urged ISBE to allow prone and supine, or face-up, restraints at school and touted the improvements shown by Marklund students with maladaptive and aggressive behavior because employees were allowed to physically restrain them. State enrollment data shows that Marklund Day School serves about 70 students. Marklund workers worried that ending prone restraint immediately would harm students who needed that momentary brief, required relaxation to help them calm and regain their composure, Marklunds director of education, Paula Bodzioch, said in an interview. Workers werent trained to use other restraint systems. More than 60 letters the most from any school were written on behalf of Giant Steps, a 160-student school in suburban Lisle for students with autism. Parents, employees, siblings even friends of parents sent identical letters, sometimes without personalizing the suggested language: I am a (parent, staff member, friend of/escribe su nombre aqui) Giant Steps Therapeutic Day School in Lisle, IL and I am contacting you to submit the following comment(s) on the proposed final rules. The letters urged ISBE to remove the ban on face-down restraints, which both Giant Steps and Marklund say can be safe. More than 30 states have banned prone restraint in schools because the risk of asphyxiation is believed to be greater when adults put weight on students in that position. Among those who advanced Giant Steps argument was the chief of staff for one of the Illinois Houses most powerful members, Republican leader Jim Durkin. The schools suggestions were emailed to ISBE and the legislative rule-making committee by House staff, records show. Durkin and five former Illinois lawmakers sit on Giant Steps eight-member advisory board, along with two lawyers. The schools director, Sylvia Smith, said in a recent interview that she regularly speaks to Durkin and other legislators and has made building relationships with them a priority. When you know them and have their cellphone numbers, they will take your call, Smith told reporters during a tour of the school in February. Smith held an open house for lawmakers in January to make her case for seclusion and restraint, she said, and a dozen attended. The school, the first licensed therapeutic day school in Illinois for students with autism, aims to help children until they can transition to public schools. When [seclusion and restraint] came up, leader Durkin called and said, What do you think? Smith said. I told them we need help. Durkin did not respond to requests for comment. Prone restraint is one strategy the school uses to help students maintain stable behavior and return to the classroom, Smith said last week. Rep. Keith Wheeler, a North Aurora Republican and co-chairman of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, also listened to Giant Steps and Marklund. Both schools are in his district. Wheeler said he visited Marklund recently and saw employees use prone restraint on a student. They explained why they preferred it. Wheeler described learning about challenging students who bit or gagged themselves and who bite staff members, even through Kevlar gloves. They made it very clear to me that not only are we trying to protect the student from harming themselves or other students, but also to protect them from harming the staff, Wheeler said. I want to pause before we eliminate this option. How can we limit this enough to just these specific students who may benefit from it until we find an alternative thats better for them? At least 13 comments came from workers at A.E.R.O, a public special education cooperative in suburban Burbank, which lobbied ISBE more than any other public school to keep prone restraint. A.E.R.O. is one of the few public schools that used the restraint regularly, according to The Quiet Rooms, which found that about two dozen districts used floor restraints nearly 1,800 times in the 15-month period analyzed. A.E.R.O. executive director James Gunnell declined to comment. ISBEs change of course last week surprised educators who, just weeks ago, heard the board vote to eliminate prone restraint. In response to public comments from Giant Steps, Marklund and others asking to keep prone restraint legal, ISBE wrote: Its best practice to prohibit prone physical restraint. That echoed Ayalas earlier comments to reporters: Under my watch, I cannot I will not allow it to continue. In a December interview, Heather Calomese, ISBEs executive director of programs, said prone restraint was too dangerous to use. Staff could be injured, she said, and the safety risk to students is too high. Staff members could potentially block an airway. They could put pressure on a part of a body that would restrict airflow, she said. The rules include a sunset provision that means the permission to use prone restraint in schools will expire on July 1, 2021. ISBE will have to go through the rule-making process again unless legislators ban it in the meantime, Matthews said. Until then, schools can use both prone and supine restraints in narrow circumstances and only when less restrictive interventions have not succeeded. A trained adult must observe the restraint, and extra review will be required if a student is restrained on the floor twice within 30 days. The restraints must end as soon as the threat of serious physical harm ends. Wheeler, who co-chairs JCAR, also said he hopes to collect data about the use of prone restraint over the next year. Chris Yun, who oversees education policy for AccessLiving, a Chicago disability-rights group, questioned what data needs to be collected to understand whether prone restraint is too dangerous to use in schools. They want to see if somebody dies? Thats the data? Yun asked. Im really speechless. State Rep. Jonathan Carroll, a Northbrook Democrat, said he is working on amendments to a proposal he made in November that would address seclusion and prone restraint. He said he is sympathetic to schools that would have to find other ways to manage challenging student behavior. But Carroll, who was secluded as a child, said he also is focused on the harm that seclusion causes. We recognize that theres a lot of work to be done in this area and were willing to work with everyone on solutions, said Carroll, a former special education teacher. He said it was upsetting that schools lobbied for their position through the rule-making process and that he is disappointed in JCAR. Amber Patz said her hope for change has diminished. Her son, Dalton, 11, was repeatedly restrained and put in seclusion at The Center, an elementary school in East Moline for children with disabilities. We are coming up on almost six months into this and already (Pritzker) is backpedaling or allowing those around him to backpedal, Patz said. He made a promise to the children. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3 Royal fans have launched a global campaign to raise money for 'vulnerable children impacting by coronavirus' to mark Archie Mountbatten-Windsor's first birthday. Fans of Meghan Markle, 38, and Prince Harry, 35, are marking the celebration on 6 May with the hashtag #ArchieDay on social media. They urged others to share donations with charities in countries which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex hold dear to their hearts, including Canada, America and South Africa, with almost 3,000 donated since the campaign launched on Friday. Posting about the campaign on Instagram, fan account @Archie_Day shared an image which read: 'Motivated by the pure joy of Archie's arrival and the very serious circumstances of our time, we introduce a campaign to honour his first birthday and to promote the principles we hold dear. Community, kindness and compassion.' Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, fans have launched a campaign to celebrate their son's first birthday on May 6, encouraging followers to donate to a series of charities to mark the day The image, which was shared by multiple fan accounts on social media as they launched the coordinated campaign read: 'Before COVID-19 became an ominous presence in our lives, a group of us got together ot organise a fundraising campaign to honour the principles emphasized by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in their humanitarian efforts: community, kindness, and compassion for vulnerable people and ecologies.' It went on to explain that the group hoped to build on the success of previous fundraising efforts, including last year's #GlobalSussexBabyShower, which was launched by a Meghan fan account, called for users to celebrate Mother's Day by donating to some of the Duchess' favourite charities and patronages. The message went on: 'It is in that spirit, we kick off the #ArchieDay fundraiser in benefit of vulnerable children affected by the coronavirus epidemic. 'We are all in this together. We will get through this together. We would love your support.' Followers of the Sussexes are urging fans to donate to charities to help 'vulnerable children' impacted by coronavirus to mark Archie's first birthday next month Meanwhile accounts invited fans to help 'celebrate Archie's birthday with a global party', before listing a series of charities selected for the 'desire to help children.' Among the three charities chosen by the group was the Nourish Eco Village in South Africa, where Prince Harry and Meghan performed their final royal tour in November. The charity provides food to children from impoverished families in rural communities that rely on schools to get a meal daily. Posting on Instagram, the group said they had chosen the South African organisation because 'it is the country in which Archie had his first official royal engagement' and mark 'giving back to a country that welcomed him so warmly and brought us so many happy memories.' It follows a campaign last year by the group ahead of baby Archie's birth to raise money for some of the Duchess' patronages and favourite charities Meanwhile they also selected the Canadian charity Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, which they detailed as 'taking an extra step to support young people who are experiencing unique stresses and feelings of anxiety'. They said the charity had been chosen because 'Canada has always been central to The Duke and Duchess of Sussexs love story and relationship.' Fans were also directed to the organisation Children's Aid, which helps children living in poverty in America to honour the Duchess' home country. As royal fans rushed to support the efforts, donation pages for the campaign online detail totals of 3,000 raised in just days across the three organisations in total. Fans selected charities across South Africa, America and Canada to mark the significance of each country in the couple's life (pictured, Prince Harry and Meghan visiting Canada House in January) Unlike previous campaigns, the group are not raising funds for any British charities or any of the couple's royal patronages. The campaign's launch comes a week after Prince Harry and Meghan stepped back officially from royal duty. The Duke and Duchess are currently isolating themselves at a secluded mansion in a private gated community with baby Archie after moving from Vancouver Island, Canada, earlier this month. It is thought that the couple are continuing to look for their forever home in the affluent area of Malibu. 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 Can we accept this order and export under LUT? Yes. Regulation 3(1)(A)(ii) of the Foreign Exchange Management (Manner of Receipt and Payment) Regulations, 2016 allows you to receive payment for exports to Bhutan in Indian rupees. CBEC Circular no. 88/07/2-019-GST dated February 1, 2019, clarifies that the acceptance of LUT for supplies of goods or services to countries outside India will be permissible irrespective of whether the payments are made in Indian currency or convertible foreign exchange, as ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Miroslav Marcek killed Jan Kuciak and his fiancee, but investigations are ongoing to find who ordered the assassination. Former soldier Miroslav Marcek was on Monday sentenced by a court in Slovakia to 23 years in prison for shooting and killing investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova in February 2018. Marcek, 37, who was not present at the sentencing, had admitted guilt in the case, which led to nationwide protests and eventually brought down the Slovak government. It was cold-blooded and malicious. The victims did not have a chance to defend themselves, presiding judge Ruzena Szabova of the Specialised Criminal Court said at the hearing in Pezinok, north of Bratislava. His confession was a mitigating circumstance. Prosecutor Juraj Novocky, who asked for a 25-year sentence, appealed against the sentence. Kuciak had reported on corruption and the links of influential business owners to political, judicial and police leaders. Businessman Marian Kocner, who was a target of Kuciaks reporting and who verbally threatened him in September 2017, is standing trial with two others in separate hearings on charges of paying for the murder. High-level corruption and the Kuciak case were central topics in campaigning ahead of the EU countrys national election in February. The centre-right Ordinary People (OLANO), led by Igor Matovic, won a quarter of votes and formed a four-party coalition government, ousting the centre-left Smer, which had ruled for 12 of the past 14 years. The other defendants, whose trial is due to resume on April 15, include Marceks cousin Tomas Szabo and Alena Zsuzsova, charged with being intermediaries. All three deny charges of murder but Kocner pleaded guilty to illegal ownership of ammunition found by the police in his house. A fifth suspect, Zoltan Andrusko, admitted to facilitating the murder and was sentenced to 15 years in prison in December last year. Marcek also admitted to killing business owner Peter Molnar in 2016 as part of his confession in the Kuciak case. A day after the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) called for a ban on the Tablighi Jamaat and its Nizamuddin Markaz, which has emerged as a COVID-19 hotspot in the country, Congress MP Husain Dalwai on Monday said that Parishan should be banned first whose only aim is to "turn us towards Hinduvaadita" and not saving the people of the country at such a difficult time. Speaking to ANI, Dalwai said that, "The ban should first be imposed on VHP. Tablighi Jamaat has never been against the country and it is a religious organisation. In this way, if other religious organisations are banned, then many other organisations should be banned...VHP is trying to take us towards Hinduvaadita." "The Jamaat has committed a mistake and I am not in support of it on this issue since the beginning," he added. Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to former Presidents and senior leaders of opposition parties to discuss issues concerning the COVID-19 crisis, Dalwai said that the Prime Minister had taken a good initiative. "Even the oppositions have suggestions. But this step was taken very late," he said. Reacting on Prime Minister's '9 pm, 9-min' appeal to defeat the coronavirus in the country, Dalwai said that India is already united and it will continue to stay the same. "This nation is already united and will remain so. It cannot be said that the country is united only because of the Prime Minister," he added. He also supported Rahul Gandhi's advice of providing adequate personal protection equipment for medical workers. "If the government had accepted Gandhi's advice, this situation would not have occurred in the country. He had repeatedly warned against coronavirus. The government should provide protective equipment to the doctors," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) States are postponing elections and lawmakers are trying to figure out ways to hold a presidential election in the middle of a pandemic. A bill being considered in Congress would require states to implement absentee voting during emergencies for any reason, including for the coronavirus pandemic. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said last Tuesday the country needs to move toward a "vote by mail" system to give citizens a safe way to cast their ballots while the coronavirus makes it dangerous to congregate. "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," Pelosi told MSNBC. That's in stark contrast with what President Donald Trump said a day earlier on Fox News: "They had things, levels of voting that if you'd ever agreed to it, you'd never have a Republican elected in this country again." The House and Senate are considering the Resilient Elections During Quarantines and Natural Disasters Act of 2020. The bill aims to allow the race for the White House to continue without disruption using a system that has been gaining traction since the Civil War: vote by mail for any reason. While all states offer some form of absentee voting, the bill would require "states to adopt contingency plans to prevent the disruption of federal elections from the COVID-19 virus." The bill asks for $500 million for states to implement these changes, less than the $4 billion House Democrats had requested. In the $2 trillion stimulus package signed by Trump on March 27, $400 million was earmarked for elections in the form of grants to states. "The money will come in a way that the states are used to," said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. "They've gotten funding this way before from the Election Assistance Commission, and the funding once people apply has to go out in 30 days.The funding will be done on a per-capita basis. But each state will get at least $3 million and then the state has to match 20 percent within the first two years. So that's how it's going to work. It's very straightforward. But the whole idea is to get the money out immediately." According to the bill, when states of emergency are declared by at least a quarter of the country, the bill would go into effect. States and election jurisdictions would have 30 days to make contingency plans public for elections 180 days after the bill goes into effect. States would have to enact no-excuse absentee vote-by-mail, a feature that almost two-thirds of states already have in place. "Thirty-four states allow some form of vote at home and the District of Columbia. But that still means that there are 16 states that need this," said Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., who introduced the bill in the House. "And there is uncertainty surrounding what's going on in the elections. You saw the state of Ohio canceled their primary literally at the 11th hour over the objection of a federal judge who had declared that the election should go forward. We have confusion now. We have health problems. We have staffing problems. So I think this is something that will allow people to come together. It shouldn't be partisan." Under the proposal, states would also have to honor online requests for absentee ballots received five days prior to Election Day, guarantee the counting of absentee ballots postmarked or signed before the close of the polls on Election Day and require states to offer downloadable and printable absentee ballots. "It's actually the same process that we already have in place for military and overseas voters," said Amber McReynolds, president of the National Vote at Home Institute. "So it would now be something that could be applied to domestic voters as well." One interesting feature of the bill is the provision that states provide self-sealing envelopes with prepaid postage for all voter registration and absentee ballots, after Washington state cautioned against licking envelopes. Some states-rights activists are not board with this legislation. The bill is very problematic for a number of reasons," said Hans von Spakovsky, manager of the Election Law Reform Center at the Heritage Foundation and a member of Trump's now disbanded election integrity commission. "First of all, it's not needed. But I can tell you, as a former local election official, that the coronavirus is more than enough of an excuse, particularly given all the orders coming out from governors and mayors for people to stay out of public places." Watch the video to see how coronavirus could change voting in the U.S. CLEVELAND, Ohio Demographic data on coronavirus cases released by Ohio health officials for the first time Monday show the number of people with confirmed cases are disproportionately black. The data is the first window into how the virus is affecting races and ethnicities, though at this point, the picture is incomplete. Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton said information is not comprehensive because a huge part of the race data is unknown. In 25% of case results reported to the state by local health departments, hospitals and private laboratories, race was not included. We are asking hospital systems to encourage people to fill out that data, Acton said. It is unclear, however, at what point in the testing process demographic data is being gathered and whether it is being collected uniformly by the states 113 health departments, hospital systems and testing labs. Of the 4,450 total confirmed cases as of Monday, 18% involve black patients. In Ohio, only 12% of the total population is black, according to the 2020 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census. Acton acknowledged that health disparities are prevalent in the U.S. Even before coronavirus, we know that there are very huge health disparities in this country, Acton said. The data available so far does not show disproportionate deaths among black patients with COVID-19 statewide. Local health departments are working closely with civic leaders, hospitals and nonprofits on this issue, Acton said. Cuyahoga County and Cleveland officials have access to data for their local jurisdictions but have not yet released it. Confirmed COVID-19 cases (by race): White: 51% Black: 18% Unknown: 25% Coronavirus-related deaths (by race): White: 61% Black: 10% Unknown: 27% COVID-19 cases (by ethnicity): Non-Hispanic/Non-Latino: 58% Hispanic/Latino: 2% Unknown: 39% Coronavirus-related deaths (by ethnicity): White: 59% Hispanic/Latino: 1% Unknown: 40% Ohio demographics (via 2020 American Community Survey from the U.S. Census): White: 82% Black: 12% Across the country, health officials are starting to share demographic information on how the coronavirus is hitting different communities. But that has not been widespread. Read more: Lack of demographics in Cleveland, Ohio leaves questions about coronavirus affect on races, ethnicities The Cuyahoga County Board of Health is getting closer to releasing some aggregate demographic data on COVID-19 testing results, Medical Director Heidi Gullett said Monday. Assessing demographic differences are difficult because certain parts of our population have not had access to testing, Gullett said. She did not specify which populations. That is not something were ignoring at all, Gullett said, noting that equity drives everything the board does. Read more: Coronavirus raises familiar feelings of isolation, distrust and stigma in Cleveland Gullett said the county board of health has waited to release demographic information because there were too few cases to protect privacy. While that is still true in terms of the number of deaths in the county, there now are enough confirmed cases to start sharing data, she said. In Ohio, infectious diseases are reported to the Ohio Disease Reporting System (ODRS), according to ODH. The system is the repository for reports of all infectious diseases, including COVID-19 and test results from local, hospital and private laboratories. It is used for public health surveillance efforts on the state and local levels. Local health departments also can access summary disease reports. Coronavirus is considered a Class A reportable disease, which means it is a major public health concern because if its severity and potential for spread. Other diseases and infections in this category include suspected or confirmed cases of: Anthrax Botulism, food-borne Cholera, Diphtheria, Measles Meningococcal disease and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Patient demographics are collected by the state using multiple methods, including electronic laboratory reporting, which comes from health care facilities and providers, Melanie Amato, an ODH spokeswoman said in an email. If demographic information is left out at the time a sample is collected for testing and submitted to a lab, the local health departments, hospitals and healthcare providers have to gather it when they communicate with patients to manage their symptoms and cases, she said. Local health officials, she said, have access to add and pull aggregate reports on the cases in their jurisdictions. In response to Plain Dealer questions, University Hospitals said it was reporting demographic data from its patients to the state. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released national data on location and age of positive COVID-19 cases and deaths but has not released the same information on race, though it is typically collected. In March, days before Ohios first confirmed case of COVID-19 was recorded, three Cleveland City Council members Blaine A. Griffin, Basheer S. Jones, Kerry McCormack introduced a resolution asking that racism be declared a public health crisis in the area. The resolution has been referred for administrative review. Council committees are not currently meeting. Among the few cities and states that have reported demographic data, there are some indications of disproportionate impact on black communities, according to a ProPublica story published last week. Some of this, however, can be attributed to more testing being done in urban centers where there are major hospitals. As of Friday morning, black people made up almost half of Milwaukee Countys 945 cases and 81% of its 27 deaths in a county whose population is 26% black, according to ProPublica. In Michigan, where the states population is 14% black, black people made up 35% of cases and 40% of deaths as of Friday morning. Detroit, where a majority of residents are black, has emerged as a hotspot with a high death toll, according to the ProPublica story. In Illinois, 29.4% of positive COVID-19 were among black residents of that state, 27.9% were among white residents and more than 18% of tests were among Hispanic, Asian and other minority populations, according to the Illinois Department of Public Healths website. However, 24.5% of tests did not list a race. Deaths in Illinois do appear to have more clearly affected its black communities: 41.2% of deaths are listed as black residents; 38.7% are reported among white residents. Thats in a state where 71.67% of the population is white and 14.23% is black. The lack of trust and at times medical literacy on both the parts of the patient and health care providers can result unfair treatment and healthcare both perceived and actual generally and even in this crisis, Dr. Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, head of the office of community impact, equity, diversity and inclusion at University Hospitals Health System said. Fear and anxiety is of course heightened because of the general distrust of the medical system and the reality that structural racism and bias will continue to play out even in this crisis. The most vulnerable are black and brown folks, Larkins-Pettigrew, an OB-GYN, said. Disparity gaps also exist in economics, transportation, food security, housing, jobs all social determinants of health and co-morbidities offers grim predictions for the outcomes of this population. Add in implicit bias that exists in medical decision making and the challenge of trust in a system that bears such a horrible and tragic history, and that makes it harder for our patients to believe that we are truly All in this together, Larkins-Pettigrew said. As Clevelands major healthcare systems approach the coronavirus pandemic with a united front, Larkins-Pettigrew said she is hopeful and prayerful that it can be an opportunity to see the practice of medicine through a clear lens of equity and equality as we treat all with dignity and respect and disrupt the cycle of death as a consequence of bias. A MetroHealth spokesperson said the system is not getting into the specifics around demographics and referred The Plain Dealer to the Ohio Department of Health and the Cuyahoga County Board of Health. MetroHealth consistently has said its focus is on population and community health. The Cleveland Clinic could not immediately be reached for comment. Brie Zeltner contributed to this story. This story is being updated. More coronavirus coverage: A fair amount of Ohio patients with suspected COVID-19 died before tests returned from private labs, ODH says Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless calls for city, county action to protect the homeless during coronavirus pandemic Hospital coronavirus testing order to cut down on simply unacceptable delays in Ohio results How the Cleveland Clinic is using modeling to respond to the coronavirus pandemic: Q&A Ohios limited coronavirus testing for the living and the dead means pandemic toll likely never known Delivering without doulas: Coronavirus hospital restrictions remove key support for black women Expectant moms, hospitals grapple with coronavirus uncertainties Cuyahoga County received 312 complaints about nonessential business operations Health care workers balance protecting family, serving community during coronavirus pandemic Cuyahoga Countys public health warriors try to get ahead of the local coronavirus curve Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. Eleven days after an emergency request by President Hassan Rouhani, Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has allowed the withdrawal of one billion euros from the National Development Fund, or Irans foreign currency savings. Rouhani April 6 thanked Khamenei and issued a series of directives for the use of the funds to help fight the coronavirus epidemic that has killed thousands in Iran. The head of Irans Planning and Budget Organization, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht has also issued orders To take action to secure the needs of the health ministry, medical training and treatment, with utilizing domestic production as much as possible. He also announced that some of the funds will be allocated to the unemployment insurance funds. While Khamenei waited 11 days to approve Rouhanis request, it took him just four days after the death of Qods Force commander Qassem Soleimani to appropriate 200 million euros from the National Development Fund for the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps. The Rouhani administration says that it needs emergency funds and has applied for a $5 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund. So far there has been no public response from the IMF, although it has announced the first tranche of its coronavirus emergency loans, with India receiving the largest chunk. Iran has also launched a diplomatic and public campaign to pressure the United States to cancel its economic sanctions, which have seriously hurt Irans economy since 2018. Washington has responded that Iran should use large, tax-free funds available to the Supreme Leader. U.S. State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus tweeted on March 30, If the Iranian regime needs funds to deal with the #coronavirus, it can access billions in @khamenei_ir's tax-free hedge fund. More than a dozen new care home deaths were reported yesterday as tributes were paid to the first named carer suspected to have died of coronavirus. A single care home in Liverpool has now lost nine residents, with two more in a critical condition in hospital and one staff member testing positive for the virus. This means there have now been nearly 50 Covidrelated deaths in UK care homes but the lack of testing means it is impossible to know the true scale of the crisis. At the weekend, three major care home firms told the Daily Mail that no staff or residents had been tested despite witnessing a spate of deaths. An elderly man in wheelchair at window in residential home At the Oak Springs Care Home in Wavertree, three residents died at the weekend, with one of them testing positive for the virus, raising the death toll to nine since the outbreak of the pandemic. Home manager Andrea Lyon said: 'We are battling on and I can't praise my team highly enough. They are under great strain.' Last night Liverpool Wavertree MP Paula Barker said: 'Social care staff must be treated the same as NHS workers, the residents of these care homes must be tested and the Government must come up with a national strategy for our care homes.' In Portsmouth, four elderly residents at Harry Sotnick House have died after showing Covid-19 symptoms and a fifth died without symptoms. As Nicola Sturgeon revealed a care worker in Scotland had died with the virus, tributes were paid to Carol Jamabo, pictured, the first known care worker to have died. The mother-of-two, 56, worked for Cherish Elderly Care in Bury, Greater Manchester, but became ill around a week before her death last Wednesday, her family said. Her condition deteriorated so quickly that she was alone when she died at Salford Royal Hospital. Nephew Dakuro Fiberesima, from Purfleet, Essex, said: 'She was just an amazing aunt. She was a funloving person with many friends and will be remembered for her uplifting, joyful personality.' STOCK IMAGE: An elderly man in a care home is comforted by a carer [April 06, 2020] Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur: Standard Chartered Bank First Entity to Fund Ventilator Prototype by IIT Kanpur The fund will go towards developing and testing the prototype for quick availability to hospitals treating patients of COVID-19 KANPUR, India, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Standard Chartered Bank has come forward as the first entity to support an indigenized, affordable, portable and invasive ventilator prototype being developed by IIT Kanpur and its incubated company Nocca Robotics along with the Indian Angel Network. Standard Chartered Bank has approved a generous CSR funding that will be used for research and development of the prototype, followed by testing of the device and clinical trials. "We are extremely grateful to Standard Chartered Bank for enabling our efforts towards fighting this global pandemic through their generous funding. Given the urgency of proper and ample healthcare facilities at this time for patients of COVID-19, this fund will help us in the timely roll-out of the device swiftly and in time," said Professor Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur. He hopes and wishes this gesture by Standard Chartered Bank will motivate other corporates to come forward to assist IIT Kanpur in its research efforts to mitigate the impact of this global pandemic. Karuna Bhatia, Head of Sustainability, Standard Chartered Bank, said, "As a socially responsible Bank which has been in the country for over 160 years, we decided to contribute in this common fight against COVID-19 and ensure a safe and healthy environment for our citizens and communities." The ventilator design has been conceptualized by Nocca Robotics in such a way that it can be manufactured on a large scale at multiple sites using materials easily available with Indian suppliers and manufacturers. The ventilator is also capable of working with medical airlne and oxygen as well as ambient air and oxygen, thus making it usable in a variety of different conditions. The ventilator will also be connected to a mobile phone to control the device and monitor critical information. Since it will require very low wattage to run, it can be powered using solar panels. It is also noteworthy that the ventilator will be priced at a fraction of the cost proposed by competitors across the world developing similar devices. Also, as opposed to the non-invasive ventilators being currently developed, this design will be of the invasive kind, keeping in mind the needs of COVID-19 patients for respiratory support. Nocca Robotics and IIT Kanpur have created a consortium of bio-medical engineers, doctors, R&D leaders, supply chain and MedTech businesses to harness their expertise and take the design from the idea to the actual product. The entire project is being coordinated by Prof. Amitabha Bandyopadhyay, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and Professor-in-Charge, Startup Innovation & Incubation Center Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur About IIT Kanpur IIT Kanpur, an institute of national importance , was set up in 1959 and is currently celebrating its Diamond Jubilee. The Institute's 40,000+ alumni are experts and visionaries in various fields and many of them occupy leading positions all over the globe. The Institute has a strong focus on research and innovation as is set out in its vision statement "To create, disseminate and translate knowledge in science, engineering and allied disciplines that will best serve the society". The Institute's Startup Innovation & Incubation Center supports startups and encourages the spirit of innovation amongst the students of IIT Kanpur by providing guidance, access to infrastructure facilities and funding. With over 20 departments and inter-disciplinary programs, IIT Kanpur has a long history of supporting promising research and encourages its faculty and students, to undertake meaningful research and contribute to society. The faculty members at IIT Kanpur have been recipients of several national and international awards including Padma Shri, Fulkerson Prize, Goedel Prize, Member of US National Academy, Infosys Prize, Humboldt Research Award, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, TWAS Prize, National J.C. Bose Fellowship, Fellowships of National Academy of Sciences (NASc),Indian National Science Academy (INSA), Indian Academy of Science (IASc), Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE),. For more information, visit https://www.iitk.ac.in About Standard Chartered, India Standard Chartered Bank is one of India's largest international bank with 100 branches in 43 cities, and they have been operating In India since 1858. Key business segments include Corporate & Institutional Banking, Commercial & Private Banking as well as Retail Banking. For more information, visit https://www.sc.com/in/ Media Contact : Prachi Garg, [email protected], +91-7755048130, Media Manager, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] When Sujit Vakkalanka felt symptoms of COVID-19, he worried about his health. But the 31-year-old from India was also concerned about the visa allowing him to work in the U.S. (Sujit Vakkalanka) WASHINGTON When Sujit Vakkalanka felt he was showing symptoms of COVID-19, he was, naturally, worried about his health. But as the 31-year-old from India waited for the results of his test, he was also concerned about something else: the visa allowing him to remain working in the U.S. As with many foreign doctors on the front lines of the pandemic in America, Vakkalanka's H-1B visa is tied to his employment, and he fears he could lose his status if he remains sick and is unable to return to work promptly at a hospital in southwest Virginia. "If you don't keep working, you might sometimes be deported," the internist said. Vakkalanka said he wasn't surprised he was running a fever. The hospital has seen multiple cases of coronavirus, including a patient he treated directly. And when two practitioners with symptoms went into self-isolation, he was called in on a day off. Professionally, he had no qualms about going to work. "This is our profession," he said. "This is our job." On Saturday, his test results came back negative, but he was told to remain in self-isolation until the symptoms subside. But beneath his sense of duty lies the anxiety over his visa already uncertain given that it is due to expire, after three years, at the end of June, and the federal government has suspended routine visa services and premium processing for H-1B renewals due to the coronavirus outbreak. That leaves thousands of foreign medical professionals in immigration limbo. It's an added weight to bear, said Vakkalanka, and others in the same boat, as they fight the pandemic. "This feeling that you might be deported in the next three months should not be constantly haunting you, day in and day out," he said. "It's one more thing to worry about." For those with families in the U.S., the fear runs even deeper. When a foreign doctor on a non-immigrant visa dies in the U.S., dependent family members immediately lose their visa status and could face deportation, they worry. Story continues "It's one more thing to worry about," says Dr. Sujit Vakkalanka. (Sujit Vakkalanka) "God forbid an extreme scenario. Imagine our family," said Rahmath Begum, an Indian doctor in Mississippi and mother of three. "We have been here for almost 15 years." Vidit Bhargava, a 32-year-old pediatric critical-care fellow working within Stanford University's healthcare system, is anxious too. Also from India, Bhargava has been working in the U.S. since 2014 on a J-1 non-immigrant visa and has been accepted to a full-time position in Alabama. With visa processing services scaled back, the H-1B visa he needs for the new job is in jeopardy. "There is a real possibility that once I'm done with this process, not only [may I not] have a job; I may be an illegal immigrant in a country where I'm sweating it out every day in the hospital," he said. At week's end, there were already 28 COVID-19 cases in the Stanford hospital system, officials said, amid concerns there wasn't enough protective equipment for doctors. "Nobody is fearful in the hospital of taking care of people. What people are fearful of is that we may expose ourselves to the risk if there aren't ways for us to protect ourselves," he said. "Anytime a patient has any respiratory illness, all of those patients end up coming to the ICU.... There isn't enough personal protective equipment. Within the next couple of weeks we're expected to run out." Amid the high stakes, Bhargava wishes he didn't feel the additional pressure of visa uncertainty. Rahmath Begum, an Indian doctor in Mississippi and mother of three, worries about her visa status and that of her family. (Rahmath Begum) "The last thing I want to think about is prioritizing my visa status when there's so much else to be done," he said. "It's actually terrifying when I think about the fact that I've invested so many years of my life here.... [I could] have no job security, no security of where we live." In Indiana, another Indian doctor seeking to transition from a J-1 to an H-1B said he has been treating 14 infected patients. "Trump says that this is a war. And we are fighting a war. We are like soldiers," said the physician, who asked to remain anonymous for fears over his visa status. "While we're fighting on the front lines you really want to give 100%, and all your thoughts should be on one thing. The [visa] stress can be difficult." Besides foreign doctors already on American soil, more than 4,000 incoming international medical graduates who last month matched with U.S. residency programs remain in limbo. They're in need of J-1 visas before July, but with so many American consular services shut down globally, it's a race against time. "There's generally a lot of anxiety in the air about what's going to happen, because so much of it is really out or our control right now," said Basim Ali, a 24-year-old Pakistani who matched with a medical residency program in Texas. Ali said he is in touch with hundreds of other medical trainees across the world who have been accepted to U.S. programs and estimates that each has invested $10,000 to $15,000 in the process. "People draw loans sometimes to make sure they don't fall short," he said. "My investment in this process is now several years old." Experts said the need for foreign medical professionals is key to remedying the medical crisis in the U.S. "If we have any decrease in the number of healthcare providers, let alone [the fact that we're] needing more, then we're at risk of not being able to treat people," said William Pinsky, president and chief executive of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. Pinsky said he is optimistic the issue will be sorted out, after weeks of dialogue led to a State Department update he views as a commitment to process J-1 and H-1B visas for physicians. A U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesperson said petitioners can submit a request to expedite their cases if they meet the criteria. But many medical workers remain unclear about their status, and Memphis-based immigration lawyer Greg Siskind contended that "it's still a big mess." "They put out basically one or two sentences cryptically to say that they're going to treat doctors differently than everybody else, but the communication was poor, and it's still not entirely clear exactly what they meant." Siskind believes the process could be far simpler, pointing to a State Department decision recently to waive in-person interviews for H-2 temporary work visas, which he noted is the category used for workers in President Trump's hotels. "Why do they even have to be doing in-person interviews at all [for doctors]?" he asked. "You mean to tell me that hotel workers are important enough that you can waive the interview process, but doctors are not?" To immigration lawyers like Siskind, the system was flawed even before the coronavirus pandemic. Thousands of Indian doctors on H-1Bs are currently on 20-year waits to receive coveted green cards, he said. "We just want to maximize the number of colors that are in the healthcare system right now," he said. "And as far as we know, there's not a single person at any of these [government] agencies where it's their job right now to figure this out." Malhotra is a special correspondent. Several cell towers in the U.K. have been set on fire and engineers harassed amid the spread of online conspiracy theories that link 5G technology with the coronavirus pandemic. Four of Vodafone's mobile phone masts were attacked in the last 24 hours, a spokesperson for the British carrier told CNBC Sunday. It's unclear whether the sites affected were used for 5G. Video footage circulated online last week showing a mast torched in the English city of Birmingham. EE said its engineers were assessing the cause of the fire, adding it was "likely" arson and that, if so, the firm would work with local police to identify a culprit. The tower was not a 5G mast. "This site served thousands of people in the Birmingham area, providing vital 2G, 3G and 4G connectivity as it has done for many years," an EE spokesperson told CNBC. "We will try to restore full coverage as quickly as possible, but the damage caused by the fire is significant." Meanwhile, a clip also surfaced on Twitter showing a woman harassing telecoms engineers laying 5G fiber-optic cables. The woman questions why the engineers are working and claims the technology "kills people." Tweet There are floods of posts on Facebook claiming the coronavirus outbreak was caused by 5G, the fifth generation of mobile internet. Many of the claims center on the idea that the virus originated in Wuhan because the Chinese city had deployed 5G networks last year. NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Some 600,000 N95 masks will be sent to the citys private hospitals today from the federal government, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday morning. Now we can say that our supply of N95s is sufficiently secure, the mayor told reporters during a press conference outside of the Crye Factory at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, which is making protective gear for the citys hospitals. Its going to be a tough week, people are going to have to be careful and conserve on the crisis standards, he continued, calling the citys private hospitals ones that are the greatest need and serve communities in greatest need. The shipment of N95 masks is part of the Trump administration securing a month's worth of masks for New York City. City Hall could not provide a breakdown of how many masks would be sent to the Islands two private hospitals Staten Island University Hospital and Richmond University Medical Center at press time. The mayor described the Crye Factory as a war time factory that by the end of the day Monday will have made 9,200 surgical gowns, 19,000 more by the end of the week, and 320,000 by the end of the month. Last week, 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. On Monday, the mayor said the federal government had sent 291 military medical personnel to the citys public hospitals but not its private hospitals. The mayor called the additional medical personnel a good start, but said the city would need more. 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. FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER. Sign up for text message alerts from SILive.com on coronavirus: RELATED COVERAGE: NYC schools can no longer use Zoom for remote learning At least 2 Staten Island priests hospitalized with coronavirus Cuomo: Cabin fever is a second epidemic Crime down, except for burglaries, across NYC amid coronavirus shutdown Staten Island healthcare facilities to receive funding to battle coronavirus Data analysis: Three weeks in, how the coronavirus has spread in our borough Data shows which Staten Island zip codes have the most coronavirus cases At least 5,000 coronavirus patients will be in citys ICU beds, mayor says, as NYC waits for supplies, military personnel from DC EMTs to stop taking patients in cardiac arrest to hospitals if resuscitation isnt successful Contract Research Organization Market Overview Global Contract Research Organization Market is estimated to grow at 11.48% CAGR by 2023, witnessing a spectacular growth, says Market Research Future (MRFR). Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) market is currently bustling out with the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic. This stir is not a newly found thing for CRO markets. The industry known as Clinical Research Organizations/ Contract Research Organizations (CROs) has always been a matter for prominence. Subsequently, the contract research organization market has become an ever-increasing space. However, the recent COVID-19 cases have stirred the CRO market to a great deal. Over the past few years, a rapid increase in the global economy has been driving the healthcare sector, improving per capita healthcare expenses, and access to quality healthcare. This, as a result, had given a push to the outsourcing of R&D activities required for discoveries of breakthrough medicines, therapeutics, medical devices, and other pharmaceutical products. With the outbreak of COVID-19 Pandemic, the already booming CRO market has now been witnessing increasing insight programs supporting best practices to fight the Pandemic and time-sensitive, critical information, R&D, and clinical trials. Request Free Sample Copy at: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/3322 Factors such as the augmented demand for breakthrough therapeutics, medicines, and medical devices & instruments foster the CRO market predominantly. Also, the growing number of patent expiries and the growing drug manufacturing sector drive the market growth excellently. Additional factors such as the prevalent chronic diseases & disorders, large unmet medical needs, and drug shortages are leading to increased demand for pharmaceutical development. Besides, CRO benefits such as commercially successful biologics for clinical use & lower costs are acting as major tailwinds behind the growth of the market. Conversely, rising complexities in clinical trials and lack of in-house laboratory capacity are some of the major factors inhibiting the growth of the contract research organization market. Also, factors such as the structural changes in the industry associated with the employment, volunteers (participants), and volatility in the exchange rate & freight charges are impeding the market growth severely. Nevertheless, new CRO industry trends, such as the growing focus of pharma companies on improving the production of drugs, instead of getting involved in the R&D part, would support the market growth throughout the review period. Contract Research Organization Market Dynamics MRFR presents a carefully curetted report on the Contract Research Organization Market, offering comprehensive and unbiased analysis of key market dynamics in the global market. The report comprises an in-depth discussion on current and historical market trends, growth opportunities, and challenges that are backed by factual feedbacks. The primary segments of the CRO market that are covered in the report are segments of CRO, clinical phases, and end-users of CROs. For opportunity analysis, these CRO segments expanded to post-marketing services, drug discovery, clinical development, and others. Clinical trial phases are bifurcated as preclinical trials and phase I, II, III, and IV. By the end-users, the report covers segments such as pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical devices companies, academic institutes, and others. All sub-markets covered in the report are profiled under five major regions such as Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and the rest-of-the-world (RoW) with respective country-level analysis. Contract Research Organization Market Segmentation The analysis has been segmented into four main dynamics to widen the scope of understanding, Global CRO Market is segmented by Post Marketing Services, Clinical Development, Drug Discovery, and others. By Clinical Trial Phase, the global CRO Market is segmented into Preclinical Trials and Phase I, II, III, and Phase IV. By End- Users , the global CRO Market is segmented into Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical, and Medical Devices Companies, Academic Institutes, and others. By Region, the global CRO Market is segmented into Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Rest-of-the-World. Contract Research Organization Market Regional Analysis North America dominates the global contract research organization market. The largest market share attributes to the growing activities of outsourcing the research processes by the Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Besides, the presence of well-established healthcare sectors, notable players, and a huge patient pool in the region fosters market growth. The U.S. stands as the largest CRO market in the region. The North America contract research organization market is projected to retain its leading position throughout the assessment period. Europe stands second in the global contract research organization market, attributing to the presence of promising players and proliferating healthcare sectors in the region. The UK, Germany, and Switzerland are key CRO markets in Europe, which contribute to the regional market growth majorly. Additionally, factors such as the huge patient population, increasing healthcare expenditures, and public & private funding for research activities propel the growth of the regional market. The European CRO market is expected to grow at a considerable CAGR during the review period. The contract research organization market in the Asia Pacific region is a briskly growing market. Factors such as substantial investments by Asian CMOs are resultantly paying off well, facilitating the exponential progress in the regional market. Moreover, the availability of cost-competitive, skilled workforce, alongside the rising pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies propel the regional market growth rapidly. Besides, vast patient population and continually improving economic conditions in the region foster market growth. Contract Research Organization Market Competitive Analysis Highly competitive, the global CRO market appears widely expanded with the presence of several large players operating at the international level. Competitive strength of these players is hugely dependent on service precision, pricing, versatility, and service reliability. Hence, pricing and an array of services become a parameter to compete against each other to drive the contract research organization services market. Players operating in the market strive to offer services build up with adept technology and unrivaled features. The growth prospect demonstrated by the market attracts many new entrants, which further makes the competition fierce, increasing the number of services offered. CRO Market Major Players: Players leading the global CRO market include Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (U.S.), PAREXEL International Corporation (U.S.), QuintilesIMS (U.S.), Pharmaceutical Product Development, LLC. (U.S.), PRA Health Sciences, Inc. (U.S.), INC Research LLC (U.S.), and ICON plc. (Europe), among others. Browse More Details at: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/contract-research-organization-market-3322 CRO Industry/Innovation/Related News: Altasciences Company, Inc.(the U.S.), a mid-size CRO, announced the acquisition of a Canada-based small-molecule contract manufacturing and analytical firm Alliance Contract Pharma, LLC. The transaction would allow Altasciences to add commercial production, GMP warehouse storage, and clinical supply distribution to its range of preclinical, clinical, and bioanalytical offerings. Altasciences focuses on providing comprehensive early-stage drug development, right from lead candidate selection to proof of concept. Alliance Contract Pharma offers contract manufacturing of small-molecule products and a range of analytical services. NOTE : Our team of researchers are studying Covid19 and its impact on various industry verticals and wherever required we will be considering covid19 footprints for a better analysis of markets and industries. Cordially get in touch for more details. About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. Contact: Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, India +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown life out of gear. Businesses are getting affected and so are consumers. However, in the smartphone industry, phone makers are coming up ways to support their customers in many ways and one of those include warranty extensions on smartphones. We saw various phone makers such as Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus and others do it the recent weeks. Now, Lenovo has decided to join the list along with its sister brand Motorola. Motorola and Lenovo have announced that they are going to extend warranties on their smartphones for a limited period of time. The extension is happening on those phones that are getting their warranties ended between April 15 and April 30, 2020. Motorola says all the eligible phones will get a warranty extension of 75 days, which means the warranties will be extended up to May 31, 2020. The warranty extension makes Motorola join the list of the few phone makers that are trying to help the customer in these tough times. Last week, OnePlus came up with a new loaner phone programme in which if a broken OnePlus user needs to repair the device, OnePlus will ship a loaner unit in advance so as to let the customer create backups and transfer the data to the loaner unit for the time being. At the same, OnePlus will get the device picked up. Motorola is not among the leading names in the smartphone business in India but the company has a unique lineup of smartphones across various price points. Last year, Motorola went all out with its Android One series of phones. Phones like the Motorola One Vision and One Action offered stock Android experiences along with a unique 21:9 display ratio, decent cameras, premium designs and timely software updates. In the premium smartphone space, Motorola announced the new Razr in India a fortnight ago. The Razr is the company's first smartphone with a folding display. The Razr is Motorola's most expensive smartphone at Rs 1,24,999 and it competes with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip in the folding smartphone space. The phone carries the same iconic design as original Razr V3 from 2004. Had the COVID-19 pandemic not existed, Motorola had been launching more premium phones this year. Rumours suggested that Motorola has planned a new Edge series of flagship phones, flaunting high-end specifications and premium designs. - President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an ordinance that grants a special risk allowance for public health workers - The special allowance could be up to 25% of the monthly basic salary of the health workers - It will be pro-rated, depending on the days that they reported working during the enhanced community quarantine - The granting of additional benefit for health workers is part of the recently signed Bayanihan to Heal as One Act PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed! President Rodrigo Duterte expressed his gratitude to all health workers or frontliners who rendered their services during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis in the Philippines. KAMI learned that to extend his gratitude, he granted a special risk allowance to all public health workers. In a report by the Manila Bulletin (authored by Genalyn Kabiling), President Duterte signed the Administrative Order No. 28 that grants a special allowance up to 25% of monthly basic pay to the public health workers who work at the frontline. There is a need to recognize the heroic and invaluable contributions of our public health workers throughout the country, who bravely and unselfishly risk their lives and health by being at the forefront of the national effort to address the public health emergency, it read in the order. As reported by CNN Philippines, the public health workers are those who are in medical, allied medical, and other necessary personnel assigned in healthcare facilities and hospitals who cater directly to COVID-19 patients, persons under investigation (PUIs), and persons under monitoring (PUMs). The allowance will be pro-rated based on the number of days that the health workers reported for work during the enhanced community quarantine. According to a report by the Inquirer (authored by Krissy Aguilar), an additional benefit for public health workers was among the emergency powers given to President Duterte as stated under the Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act. PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! Earlier, President Duterte placed the entire Luzon under enhanced community quarantine to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As of April 5, 4 p.m., the Department of Health has recorded a total of 3,246 COVID-19 positive patients. 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! Kapuso star Kris Bernal participated in the new episode of our Tricky Questions feature! Check out all of the exciting videos and celebrity interviews on our KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: KAMI.com.gh OraSure Technologies, the Bethlehem-based tech company that gained notoriety years ago with its rapid HIV test, has been awarded a $710,310 federal contract to develop an in-home coronavirus test, the company announced Monday morning. The contract comes from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It will enable OrasSure to file for special authorization from the FDA allowing the in-home test to debut in the U.S. market. OraSure is billing the tests development as a possible breakthrough in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Once its developed and the necessary approvals are obtained, the test would help alleviate the pressure on over-burdened healthcare systems, a news release from OraSure says. Healthcare providers, retailers, and online vendors could ship tests directly to an individuals home, eliminating unnecessary trips to hospitals, doctors offices, and testing facilities, the release says. This would help maintain social distancing and curb the spread of coronavirus through symptomatic and asymptomatic transmission. Rapid in-home testing could also ease the burden on lab-based testing. OraSure envisions a rapid development cycle of approximately four to six months prior to seeking U.S. Food and Drug Administration Emergency Use Authorization, the authorization necessary to get it out to the U.S. Market. Lives and global economies are at stake. Its crucial that we understand just how many people are infected with SARS-coronavirus, OraSure President and Chief Executive Officer Stephen S. Tang says in a statement. In-home self-testing will dramatically increase the capacity for SARS-coronavirus testing and give our healthcare systems and labs some much-needed breathing room. "We believe that the development of an easy-to-use device that delivers accurate results to individuals in their homes can play a significant role in impacting infection rates. We are proud to bring our expertise with quality, rapid, oral fluid self-tests to the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. OraSure, which has its headquarters at 220 E. First St. in Bethlehems Southside, has worked with the federal government in the past on developing testing for ebola and on other public health initiatives. OraSure got its start in 1987 as Solar Care Technologies at the Ben Franklin TechVentures business incubator at Lehigh University. Its focus back then was developing sunscreen towelettes. Its OraQuick HIV Self-Test is a rapid, point-of-care test that allows an individual to detect antibodies to both HIV-1 and HIV-2 with an oral swab, with results in as little as 20 minutes. Pennsylvanias number of COVID-19 cases had climbed to 11,510 with 14 new deaths, including a Lehigh County resident, in the 24 hours preceding Sunday afternoon. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 1,493 new cases of the coronavirus, including 121 more positive test results in the Lehigh Valley, in its Sunday afternoon briefing. We need to put tests into peoples hands to know their infection status and protect their loved ones,' BARDA Director Rick Bright says in a statement. We know that people can spread COVID-19 without showing any symptoms, and with rapid at-home testing people could take immediate action to prevent the spread of the virus. 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. Nick Falsone may be reached at nfalsone@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickfalsone. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. In Mykolaiv today near the Tehnokontrakt business center, around 14:00 a shootout occurred during which a local businessman was wounded in the head. The national police of the Mykolaiv region reports about it. On this fact, the police began criminal proceedings under Part 2 of Art. 15, part 1, article 115 Attempted murder of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The sanction of article prescribes punishment in the form of imprisonment for a period of seven till fifteen years. There was a conflict with the use of firearms. According to workers at a nearby car wash, they heard several shots. After that, jumping out into the street, they saw a man lying in a pool of blood on the asphalt. The victim from the scene in a private car was taken to the hospital. The shooter disappeared from the scene. According to eyewitnesses, allegedly there is another wounded man who was taken by an ambulance. However, this information requires verification. Several 9 mm shells were also found at the scene. As we reported before, police in Odesa detained members of a criminal group who committed an armed robbery in the city center in 2018 and took 160,000 U.S.dollars The Lagos State Police Command have arrested one Christian Chikezie for allegedly having sexual intercourse with his neighbours nine-year-old daughter in the Ikorodu area of the state. The victims mother was ill and left her daughter in the care of one Mercy and went to the hospital for treatment, but on her return, she saw her daughter coming out of Chikezies room. Upon interrogation, the little girl told her mother that Chikezie had carnal knowledge of her in his room, adding that she reported the case at the Ikorodu Police Station, where policemen were detailed to arrest Chikezie. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said in a statement on Sunday that the victim had been taken to hospital for examination, adding that the suspect was arrested and taken to the Gender Unit of the command for further investigation. Elkana stated, On March 30, 2020, around 1.50am, a woman (name withheld) reported at the Ikorodu Police Station that on March 29, 2020, around 7.10pm, she left her nine-year-old daughter in the care of one Mercy and went to hospital. On getting back from the hospital, she discovered that the girl was no longer there. On searching for her, she saw her coming out from the room of one Christian Chikezie. On enquiry, her daughter told her that the said Christian Chikeze had sexual intercourse with her. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment and forensic examination. The suspect has been arrested by detectives from the Juvenile Welfare Centre, Ikorodu Police Station, and transferred to the Gender Unit, Command Headquarters, Ikeja, for discreet investigation and prosecution. An investigation is ongoing. Post Views: 15 Six executives of the Houston-based CITGO Petroleum Corporation have spent more than two years in detention in Venezuela without any evidence of wrongdoing presented against them. Five of the men are U.S. citizens; the sixth is a U.S. legal permanent resident. All six men have been held without due process, in violation of Venezuelas own laws. No less than eighteen hearings have been scheduled and then cancelled. It looks as if the illegitimate regime of Nicolas Maduro is trying to use these men as political pawns, even though they are not political figures associated with the regime or the Interim government. The United States is gravely concerned over the wrongful detention of the six CITGO employees Tomeu Vadell, Gustavo Cardenas, Jorge Toledo, Alirio Jose Zambrano, Jose Luis Zambrano, and Jose Angel Pereira. Originally detained in November 2017, they were put under house arrest last December. However, in February 2020 the detained business leaders were taken from house arrest without explanation by the Maduro regimes intelligence service, SEBIN, and sent to a SEBIN prison, where they remain. They have only been allowed to briefly speak to their families twice since returning to prison, where they spend their days in a cell without sunlight while struggling to prevent themselves from contracting COVID-19. State Department Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams called for an end to this cruel and indefensible imprisonment and condemned their unjust treatment. They should be permitted to leave Venezuela and return to their families, declared Special Representative Abrams. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, appointed by President Trump to work to secure the release of Americans wrongfully detained or held hostage overseas, is working with Special Representative Abrams to bring the men home. My heart goes out to the families of these American men, Special Envoy Carstens said. Now, with the spread of COVID-19, its even more imperative that the Maduro regime release them. As infections in Venezuela grow, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said he was extremely concerned about the risk for the [six CITGO employees] who are currently languishing in the notorious Helicoide prison in Caracas. In a written statement, Secretary Pompeo added that "[t]hese wrongfully detained men all face a grave health risk if they become infected . . . . They have already spent more than two years in jail without an ounce of evidence being brought against them. It is time, said Secretary Pompeo, to release them on humanitarian grounds. Imint Intelligence is a company based in Sweden that you likely haven't heard of, but its video stabilization algorithms are used by a whole bunch of phone makers today including Xiaomi, vivo, Oppo, OnePlus, and nubia, which is its newest partner. Imints main product Vidhance, is incorporated in some way in many of these brands' phones. Imint also has other video-based solutions like Object Tracking, and their zooming solution (Stable Zoom) that does not stutter when zooming in like phones traditionally would. Vidhance Demos Imint reached out to us and offered to test its latest Vidhance Selfie Video solution, which helps keep your face steady in the frame while taking videos using the front-facing camera. For this demonstration, were using two Google Pixel 2 devices. Both were mounted onto a small rig that holds two smartphones, and while one of them records with the stock camera app, the other is recording with the Vidhance Selfie solution enabled. Vidhance Selfie mode does a great job of centering the subject and it still allows for some movement of the subject in the vertical axis while walking. What Vidhance Selfie Mode feature does is keep the face centered with very little jelly-effect. Youll notice two things in the Vidhance Selfie videos. The first one is that the field of view for the Vidhance clip is slightly narrower than the native FoV. To achieve electronic stabilization in any video the camera needs to crop in a bit to have a margin to work with. Even when turning the camera quickly, we barely noticed any warping or distortion of the subjects face. Vidhance Selfie is keeping both the subject's face and the background smoothly stabilized with little effort needed from the user. Taking smooth selfie videos is difficult without something like a hand-held stabilizer such as a DJI Osmo, but were seeing impressive results from this demo and were excited to the solution make it to a retail smartphone. We'd anticipate a selfie camera with a relatively wider field-of-view would be ideal since the resulting video is cropped in. While we were at it, we figured wed also show how Vidhances Zoom action works. It smoothens the zoom action that the camera performs while shooting video, which makes the effect much less distracting. Auto Zoom also lets you track and zoom into a subject in the scene, thus resulting in a smoother, more seamless shot. This next video shows examples of Object Tracking, Stable Zoom, and Stabilization tests (walking and running). The Object Tracking works well. Not only does it smoothly zoom in towards the subject that you select, but it keeps the tracked object in its cropped frame. If you were to pan all the way away from the subject you were focuses on, the camera will zoom back out just as smoothly as it zoomed In, ready for you to choose another subject. Stable Zoom works just as smoothly as Auto Zoom. Zooming in with a slider, you select how far in you want to zoom and as soon as you let go of the slider, Stable Zoom takes over and perfectly zooms ahead without stuttering youd normally see when pinch-zooming. Stabilization is where youll notice how much narrower the field of view is. Much like the front-facing camera, the exposure is a bit off with the Vidhance enabled viewfinder, but again this isn't what the app we had was about. There is quite a bit of jelly-shake in the stabilized video, but as you can see in the non-stabilized footage, Im making no effort to keep the cameras stable as I walk. A little further into the stabilization part is when I start running to further test stabilization. Vidhance Selfie is certainly a game changer for anyone who loves to shoot video with their selfie camera. If youve ever tried to watch a YouTube video of someone violently shaking their phone as they speak, you'd know how much they could benefit from such a feature. The latest news from Imint was that the company will partner with Qualcomm to improve its video stabilization solution, Vidhance, by integrating its stabilization algorithms at the hardware level with the goal that theyd process video with better power efficiency. Imint has other solutions like Vidhance Super Stabilization (stabilization based on ultrawide cameras in smartphones), Vidhance Multi-Camera Transition (a more seamless transition when switching between main, ultrawide, and telephoto cameras while recording), and Vidhance Dynamic Motion Blur Reduction. The company is thinking of the small details that can polish the smartphone camera experience. Despite what youd think, a lot of work went into just the smoothening action of Stable Zoom. Im personally excited to see the Mulit-Camera Transition make it into smartphones because theres nothing more distracting than the blip that occurs when switching between the main and ultrawide cameras. You can head to Imints website to see all the solutions and services that the company offers. Edit:Due to our error in conducting the selfie tests, we have reshot our selfie sample video and updated the embedded Selfie video as such. We've also changed some of the text that accompanied the selfie video. Frustrated passengers of the Coral Princess cruise ship are still waiting to disembark two days after the vessel docked in Miami, Florida. The ship, carrying 1,898 passengers and crew, pulled into PortMiami on Saturday after being turned away from a port in Fort Lauderdale. Two people died before disembarkation, which is expected to last for several days, began on Saturday when first responders rushed 14 passengers to local hospitals. Princess Cruises confirmed that seven passengers and five crew members on the Coral Princess had tested positive for COVID-19. It was not clear if those taken to the hospital had coronavirus symptoms, but one person later died. Frustrated passengers (pictured on their balconies on Monday) of the Coral Princess cruise ship are still waiting to disembark two days after the vessel docked in Miami, Florida A passenger wearing a protective mask holds up a sign that reads, 'Test Me' as she stands on the balcony of the Coral Princess cruise ship while docked in Miami on Monday One Coral Princess passenger appeared to pray while standing on their balcony on Monday Passengers wearing protective masks wave to members of the news media as they stand on their balcony aboard the Coral Princess cruise ship while docked at PortMiami Others in need of hospital treatment disembarked first on Sunday, the cruise line said. Those fit to fly began leaving on Sunday, while others with symptoms of respiratory illness will remain on board until cleared by ship doctors. But others had still not been cleared to leave the ship as of Monday afternoon, despite some not feeling sick. 'It's a struggle,' Alan Podrid told USA Today, before demanding that officials 'get us off this ship so we can get home and let them deal with these sick people'. Podrid, 70, of Marietta, Georgia, said he and his wife, Sharon, both feel healthy, with no fevers, coughs or other symptoms of the coronavirus. The Coral Princess had been on a South American cruise that was due to end on March 19 in Buenos Aires. Those passengers who were fit to fly began leaving on Sunday. A flight attendant is seen standing at the top of the stairs as Coral Princess passengers began boarding a charter flight Miami International Airport A passenger from the Coral Princess cruise ship is wheeled out to a bus at PortMiami on Monday Passengers from the Coral Princess cruise ship check in for buses to the airport as they leave PortMiami on Monday Since then, the ship has encountered obstacles to docking because of various port closures and cancellation of airline flights, the cruise line said. Passengers have self-isolated in their staterooms and meals have been delivered by room service. Crew members have also remained in their quarters when they are not working. Last week, the cruise ships Zaandam and Rotterdam were permitted to dock at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, with 14 critically ill people immediately taken to hospitals. The remaining passengers were slowly being allowed to board flights for home. The MS Zaandam 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. Last week, the cruise ships Zaandam and Rotterdam (both pictured) were permitted to dock at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, with 14 critically ill people immediately taken to hospitals There are more than 347,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the US with more than 10,300 deaths 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. The US Coast Guard said it has been involved with processing about 120 vessels carrying some 250,000 passengers over the past three weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic. The cruise line industry announced a voluntarily suspension of most ship operations from US ports on March 13. The next day, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a 'no sail' order to all cruise ships that had not suspended operations. 'We commend the decision by the cruise industry to cease operations. However, pausing a global tourist industry does not happen instantaneously or easily,' said Vice Admiral Dan Abel, Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Operations. The Nigeria Center for Disease Control NCDC, has addressed rumors making wave on social media that the medical kits brought in from China are contaminated. The gist went viral last week that the medical equipments donated to Nigeria by Jack Ma, Chinese billionaire businessman, were contaminated. The NCDC yesterday April 5, debunked the rumors saying the the medical kits are good and are effective when safely used by health workers. The peak of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States could come sooner than first predicted given the lockdown and social distancing measures currently in place across much of the country, new research shows. Forecasters at the University of Washington's School of Medicine released updated coronavirus estimates on Sunday that show the pandemic could be over quicker than initially thought and level out as early as June. The estimated peak day of the US outbreak is expected to occur in 10 days on April 16 with a projected 3,130 deaths that day, the data shows. Peak resource use for hospitals is predicted to occur on April 15 - the day before the peak death toll - where an estimated 25,000 ventilators, 140,000 beds and 29,000 ICU beds will be needed. Data shows there will be a shortage of 36,000 hospital beds and 16,000 ICU beds by that day. As of Monday, there has been more than 10,000 deaths in the US and over 347,000 confirmed cases. Peak resource use for hospitals is predicted to occur on April 15 - the day before the peak death toll - where an estimated 25,000 ventilators, 140,000 beds and 29,000 ICU beds will be needed. The data shows the pandemic could be over quicker than initially thought and level out as early as June The estimated peak day of the US outbreak is expected to occur in 10 days on April 16 with a projected 3,130 deaths that day, the data shows While the data still shows a predicted 81,000 deaths from COVID-19 over the next four months, the estimate range has lowered. It was initially thought the range could be as high as 162,000 deaths but it is now predicted to be as high as 136,000 fatalities. Dr Christopher Murray, who is the director of the university's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, said New York could reach its peak in the next few days. He said New Jersey, which has experienced a larger number of cases than previously thought, will peak later than New York. Dr Murray said the data was predicting that Florida, Virginia, Louisiana and West Virginia will all peak earlier than initially thought. 'As we noted previously, the trajectory of the pandemic will change and dramatically for the worse if people ease up on social distancing or relax with other precautions,' he said. 'Our projections are strengthened by the new downturns in more regions . This is evidence that social distancing is crucial.' The forecasts are based on social distancing remaining in place until the end of May. 'Our estimates assume statewide social distancing measures are continuing in states where they have already been enacted, and for those states without such measures in place, it is assumed they will be will be in place within seven days,' Dr Murray said. While the data still shows a predicted 81,000 deaths from COVID-19 over the next four months, the estimate range has lowered. It was initially thought the range could be as high as 162,000 deaths but it is now predicted to be as high as 136,000 fatalities 'If social distancing measures are relaxed or not implemented, the US will see greater death tolls, the death peak will be later, the burden on hospitals will be much greater and the economic costs will continue to grow.' New data on health service use from multiple states, including New York, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Florida and California, since the pandemic started escalating has also led to decreases in the estimated need to deal with the outbreak. The need for ICU beds and ventilators are less than previously estimated and will dramatically decrease by June 1, according to the data. Dr Murray said the data showed the the length of stay for COVID-19 patients in ICU had increased but the length of stay had gone down for patients not requiring intensive care. The lower numbers of required hospital beds could reflect how moderately ill patients in cities like New York are not being admitted because of the demand on the over-stretched system. It comes as Assistant Health Secretary Admiral Brett Giroir warned New York, New Jersey and Connecticut could reach their peaks this week after Surgeon General Jerome Adams predicted that this week 'will be our 9/11' or this generation's Pearl Harbor in terms of the death toll. 'This week is going to be the peak - peak hospitalizations, peak ICU's and, unfortunately, peak deaths,' Giroir said. 'That doesn't mean we're over it. There are other parts of the country that will peak a a later date; New Orleans, Louisiana etc.' He also said he was 'very optimistic' about blood tests that are in development that will allow tens of millions of people to be tested to find out if they have had the virus and recovered from it or not. If the test proves they have recovered from it, it will suggest they are immune and are able to go back to work. There are two types of that test that are being discussed; both center on antibodies and blood plasma that could then be used to treat those who are sick with the virus and build up their immunity to it. 'When we get to the next phase, it will be a combination of the kind of tests we do now plus serologic tests which is a drop of blood, it's very, very quick. 'They will tell you if you've been exposed to the virus. That's very important as we think about reopening the country and the economy. 'If you've had the virus, in all probability, you are safe and immune. For the serologic test we're very optimistic. 'There are several going through the FDS right now. We want to make sure these tests are highly validated and that their performance is excellent,' he said, adding: 'I'm personally very optimistic that by May, we're going to have these in very large quantities.' Giroir added that the blood tests were much 'simpler' than the current COVID-19 tests being used in hospitals which involve swabs and more steps. This map from the University of Chicago highlights in red the country's hotspots by cases per capita. Many are 'hidden' hotspots that are not being spoken about as much as their cases numbers remain low when compared to urban centers but their fatality rates are high This University of Chicago mao show hotspots by number of confirmed virus cases alone It comes as Pennsylvania, Colorado and Washington DC are become emerging coronavirus hot spots as the United States enters what officials have said will be the 'hardest' week of the pandemic crisis. The death toll from coronavirus has been rising in places like Pennsylvania, Colorado and Washington DC as the number of deaths nationwide increased to nearly 10,000 and the number of infections rose to 337,000. Those three areas have seen the number of infections and deaths more than double in the past week. In Pennsylvania, there were 151 deaths as of Sunday - up from the 42 deaths the state recorded in the week prior. Colorado recorded 140 deaths by Sunday, which was up from the 45 from the previous week. Washington DC had nine deaths last Sunday but in a week it rose to 22. Dr Deborah Birx, the White House COVID-19 task force coordinator, said Pennsylvania, Colorado and Washington DC were being closely watched as the pandemic rapidly spreads across the country. 'We're watching them because they are starting to go on that upside of the curve,' she said. 'We're hoping and believing that if people mitigate strongly, the work that they did over the last two weeks will blunt that curve and they won't have the same upward slope and peak that New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and part of Rhode Island are having.' Texas is also experiencing a spike in the number of deaths and infections. The state had 39 fatalities last Sunday but that has since more than doubled to 140. In terms of current hot spots, New York remains the epicenter of the US outbreak with nearly 500 new fatalities and more than 8,900 new cases in the state as of Monday. Louisiana has become a hot spot for the virus, reporting a jump in deaths to nearly 500 and more than 13,000 cases. The governor has predicted that Louisiana would run out of ventilators by Thursday. The number of coronavirus-related deaths in Louisiana's New Orleans has now surpassed the total number of people who died from gun violence over the duration of last year. In addition to New York and Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Nevada, Illinois, California, Florida, Washington and Connecticut are the other current hot spots in the country due to rising death tolls. Five more people tested positive for coronavirus in Uttarakhand on Monday, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state to 31. Four cases were reported from Dehradun and one from Almora, officials at the COVID-19 control room here said. Four people who tested positive for coronavirus in Dehradun had come in contact with members of Tablighi Jamaat who returned from Nizamuddin Markaz via Kanpur in UttarPradesh, it said. The state has seen a sudden rise in coronavirus cases with 24 people testing positive in a span of five days. Three tested positive on Thursday night, six on Friday and as many on Saturday followed by four more on Sunday and five on Monday. The first positive case in Uttarakhand was reported on March 15 and till April 1 there were only seven positive cases in the state. Control room sources here said 176 people are in isolation at hospitals whereas 18,798 are quarantined at home or other places. However, five coronavirus patients have also been cured and discharged from the hospital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 6) - Businesses and private citizens alike are doing their part to help fight COVID-19 in the country. Business tycoon Ramon Ang made a personal donation of 100 million to help fight COVID-19, while San Miguel Corporation (SMC) aid surpassed 800 million. Three weeks into the enhanced community quarantine, SMC President Ramon Ang reported that nearly 200 million worth of food products is being delivered to vulnerable communities throughout Luzon. We are reporting on our progress so that people will be assured that help is on the way, that many organizations are mobilizing and working together to support the government and our fellow Filipinos, Ang said in a statement. The company also more than doubled its initial commitment to donate 500,000 kilograms of rice to communities affected by the island-wide quarantine. This will be distributed with the help of both government and non-government organizations. Meanwhile, Ginebra San Miguel Inc. completed retooling facilities across the country, which will allow the company to produce 100,000 liters of rubbing alcohol a day. As of April 4, SMC has donated 518,340 liters of rubbing alcohol to hospitals, as well as the Department of Health, local governments, and Philippine National Police. SMC also started to operationalize its commitment to donate 500 million worth of personal protective equipment (PPEs) for medical front-liners. The company has partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry to tap local suppliers while maintaining sourcing through its network of global suppliers. Ang reiterated that SMC efforts would continue throughout the crisis. Ang and his family donated another 100 million to the Project Ugnayan" initiative, which is a collaboration of business groups in cooperation with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation to help poor families that were economically displaced by the ongoing Enhanced Community Quarantine in Metro Manila. The aircraft carrier commander who urged the evacuation of his ship because of widespread COVID-19 infection has himself tested positive for coronavirus, it was reported Sunday afternoon. Captain Brett Crozier was fired, at the insistence of President Trump, after his letter to the Navy high command, warning that sailors would die unless urgent action was taken, was made public in the San Francisco Chronicle. Croziers own illness is a further demonstration of the deep inroads that the coronavirus has made within the military. At latest count, testing has been completed for nearly 1,600 of the sailors on the USS Theodore Roosevelt, and 155, or 10 percent, were found to be positive for COVID-19. At that level of contagion, and given the close quarters for working, eating and sleeping, it would have been only a matter of days before virtually everyone on the ship was infected. Trump angrily defended the firing of Crozier at the White House coronavirus press briefing Saturday. He wrote a letter. A five-page letter from a captain, Trump fumed. And the letter was all over the place. Thats not appropriate, I dont think thats appropriate. Making clear that his main concern was the political embarrassment for the White House, not the fate of the sailors, Trump continued, It looked terrible what he did. To write a letter. I mean this isnt a class on literature. This is the captain of a massive ship he shouldnt be talking that way in a letter. The commander-in-chief expressed no concern that Navy seamen might suffer permanent impairment or death from the coronavirus. Trump also suggested that Crozier was responsible for allowing sailors to be infected, because he was in command during a port call at Da Nang in Vietnam in early March where several sailors apparently contracted the disease. Such a visit would not be the commanders decision, however, but part of the high-level Pentagon strategy, coordinated with the White House National Security Council, in which US warships show the flag at ports of Asian countries Washington is seeking to align with its preparations for war against China. Besides the political repercussionswhich have escalated considerably after Croziers removalthere were concerns that the evident disabling of the Theodore Roosevelt by coronavirus would weaken the US force posture in the western Pacific. The aircraft carrier was one of four deployed in the Pacific region to threaten China with nuclear annihilation in the event of an open military clash. Subsequent press reports indicate a deep split in the Pentagon between uniformed officers, who largely sided with Crozier, and civilian appointees of Trump, who sought to carry out the presidents wishes without regard to such traditional procedures as military investigations. The sequence of events is worth reviewing, as it suggests that there are deeper crosscurrents in the political infighting within the military and the Trump administration. Crozier had voiced his concerns about the growing coronavirus infection aboard his ship through a series of messages up the chain of command that ultimately reached Thomas Modly, the acting secretary of the navy. Modly responded by sending Crozier his personal cellphone numberas he revealed in a radio interview Fridayan action that amounted to inviting the captain to bypass the chain of command and go directly to the top civilian authority. When Crozier sent his five-page letter, dated Monday, March 30, he copied it to 10 or 20 correspondents within the Navy hierarchy, but not to his immediate superior, Rear Admiral Stuart Baker, commander of the carrier battle group that included the Theodore Roosevelt. One press account indicates that the officers on board the Roosevelt had discussed the matter among themselves and decided on this unusual procedure in order to force action by making the issue public. Within a few hours, the Chronicle had a copy of the letter and published it. There was consternation in both the White House and the Pentagon after the plight of the sailors became public. Croziers stark messageWe are not at war. Sailors do not need to diewas a direct slap in the face. According to a column published in the April 5 issue of the Washington Post, written by David Ignatius, the top uniformed officersAdmiral Michael Gilday, the Chief of Naval Operations, and General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Stafffavored beginning a formal investigation of the crisis on the Theodore Roosevelt, but opposed any immediate disciplinary action against Crozier. Gilday actually told the press, Were not looking to shoot the messenger here. They were overruled by Modly, who told one colleague, Breaking news: Trump wants him fired. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, who had initially sided with Milley and Gilday, then acceded to Trumps demand. Significantly, as one defense publication pointed out, Crozier was fired three days after his letter became public, while ship commanders whose negligence led to collisions in which 17 sailors diedon the USS Fitzgerald and the USS John S. McCainwere not fired until 24 and 41 days had passed, respectively, and then only after preliminary investigations had been conducted. Ignatius, the son of a secretary of the navy and a fixture in the US foreign policy establishment, has a wide range of contacts within the military-intelligence apparatus, and is frequently a conduit for the views of the high command. His column reveals mounting conflicts between the top brass and the White House, already seen in the reported uproar in the Pentagon over Trumps abrupt decision to send a flotilla of warships large and small in the direction of Venezuela, at a time when naval operations are already under great strain because of the coronavirus. Former Navy commanders denounced the firing of Crozier in interviews with Ignatius, including retired Admiral Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who said, I think the firing was a really bad decision, because it undermines the authority of the military commanders who are trying to take care of their troops, and significantly negatively impacts the willingness of commanders to speak truth to power. Sean OKeefe, Navy secretary for George H.W. Bush., said Crozier was running up an SOS, adding, Its a judgment call, but you have to support the action of a deployed commander. Richard Danzig, who served as Navy secretary during the Clinton administration, told Ignatius: If Capt. Crozier carelessly or intentionally jumped abruptly outside of military channels, then the Navy had good cause for removing him. But I doubt it was good judgment to rush to do it at this time. Prominent Democrats and former military officers aligned with them have denounced the firing of Crozier. Former NATO commander Admiral James Stavridis wrote in a column published Wednesdaythe day before the firingHe made the right choice and the Navy will back him up. The Democratic leaders of the House Armed Services Committee issued a statement that condemned Croziers removal, but was critical of his conduct. Captain Crozier was justifiably concerned about the health and safety of his crew, but he did not handle the immense pressure appropriately, they wrote. However, relieving him of his command is an overreaction. Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee to oppose Trump in the November election, told ABC News the firing of Crozier was close to criminal I think the guy, he should have a commendation rather than be fired. Navy Secretary Modly, formerly a highly paid consultant at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, became acting secretary in November when Trump fired Richard Spencer after he tried to demote Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher, accused of war crimes by members of his own unit but celebrated by Trump. Modly was recently passed over for the permanent appointment, but he may have regarded firing Crozier as a means to regain favor at the White House. In a subsequent interview, Modly emphasized that there were broader national security considerations in the decision, saying that other US warships in the Pacific are now perhaps on higher standard of alert because our adversaries in the region think that one of our warships might be crippled, which its not. Another columnist with close ties to the military, onetime Iraq War cheerleader Max Boot, wrote a scathing denunciation of the firing of Crozier from the standpoint of aggrieved military officers. The damage that was done to the military by Trumps decision to pardon suspected war criminals will be compounded by Thursdays decision to fire the skipper of the Theodore Roosevelt, he wrote. The message that the administration is sending to the armed forces is that committing war crimes is acceptable but telling the truth and protecting the personnel under your command is not. michael barbaro From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. [music] Today: To contain the pandemic, the U.S. government has deliberately shut down much of the economy. My colleague Jim Tankersley on the result the worst unemployment crisis in U.S. history. Its Monday, April 6. archived recording (dan rather) Good evening. This is the CBS Evening News. Dan Rather reporting. The newest government economic figures out today show that the recession has not found its bottom. jim tankersley The last time that the United States set a record for new unemployment claims was the fall of 1982. archived recording (dan rather) President Reagan persists in remaining optimistic. jim tankersley Ronald Reagan is president. The country is engaged in a battle against inflation the rapid increase in prices that has just beset the economy for years. And the Federal Reserve, as part of that battle, has made the cost of borrowing money really high. And as a result archived recording (ronald reagan) My fellow Americans, in recent days, all of us have been swamped by a sea of economic statistics some good, some bad and some just plain confusing. Tonight, in homes across this country, unemployment is the problem uppermost on many peoples minds. jim tankersley Almost 700,000 people lose their jobs in the span of one week and file for unemployment. michael barbaro Wow. jim tankersley That is a record. archived recording (ronald reagan) We can do it by slowly but surely working our way back to prosperity. That will mean jobs for all who are willing to work and fulfillment for all who still cherish the American dream. jim tankersley And it stays a record for a long time. Stays through the next recession, even through the 2008 financial crisis. That remains the record 1982 until this March 2020. archived recording 1 The weekly unemployment numbers are in, and they are the biggest ever by far. archived recording 2 3,283,000 Americans filed for unemployment last week. archived recording 3 A health pandemic has become a financial pandemic. jim tankersley The third week of March of 2020, 3.3 million Americans file for unemployment in one week. archived recording And that is the equivalent of the entire city of Chicago. jim tankersley Thats a new record, and it lasts for exactly one week. archived recording The Labor Department is out with the jaw-dropping new numbers. jim tankersley In the following week, the fourth week of March, 6.6 million Americans file for unemployment. Which means in the span of two weeks, nearly 10 million workers in America file for unemployment benefits. archived recording In fact, the past two weeks all but eliminated the jobs created in the past five years. jim tankersley What we hit in a single week in March this year was almost 10 times as bad as the worst week of 1982. 10 times. michael barbaro Jim, take us through the timeline of how we got to this staggering figure 10 million people losing their jobs and needing unemployment benefits. jim tankersley So back in late January, as the virus is spreading rapidly through China and starting to really play havoc with supply chains there, there start to be warnings that this could really hurt the United States economy. But policymakers, particularly inside the White House, are not raising huge alarm bells. archived recording 1 So you have one person on the line. So [INAUDIBLE] archived recording 2 OK. Welcome, everyone, and for those of you on the phone as well. jim tankersley The White House Council of Economic Advisers summoned a bunch of reporters for a briefing on February 18. archived recording Whats the biggest threat that you see out there? jim tankersley And the acting chairman of the council, Tomas Philipson, who is a health economist by the way, told the reporters there, quote archived recording (tomas philipson) Lets talk about what I dont think. I dont think corona is a big a threat as people make it out to be yet. jim tankersley I dont think corona is a big of threat as people make it out to be. archived recording (tomas philipson) So if you look at flu seasons in the U.S., its about 40,000 deaths every year on average. In 2018, it was 80,000 deaths. jim tankersley In that same interview at the White House, we asked, well, if youre not worried about the risk of the virus, what risks are you worried about? archived recording Whats the biggest concern that you have? archived recording (tomas philipson) I dont think clearly, we dont have a lot of concerns. jim tankersley And the White House economist basically said, nothing, we dont really think theres anything that could go wrong. archived recording (tomas philipson) OK. Thank you very much. jim tankersley And White House advisers would keep that lineup for, I dont know, almost a month. I was having calls with White House officials who were saying, its not going to be that bad. Were not going to need government intervention. The big risk right now is the stock market is freaking out, but we think we can get it under control. archived recording Tonight, elected officials taking unprecedented measures to keep people safe. michael barbaro And what happened once it became very clear that this couldnt be kept under control? jim tankersley What happened is basically unprecedented in American history. Industries started shutting down one by one, sector by sector, county by county, and that led to all these layoffs. archived recording Life is about to look very different. So lets start with New York City, where nightlife is over. jim tankersley The first workers to lose their jobs are exactly the ones you could see being hit by the restrictions that governments are putting in place. archived recording Heres the full list of businesses being forced to close at 3 oclock this afternoon. Dine-in restaurants, cafes, coffeehouses, bars, taverns, brew pubs, distilleries, clubs. jim tankersley Restaurants close, and bartenders and waitstaff lose their jobs. Governors order certain shops to close most shops to close and so retail workers lose their jobs. archived recording Movie theaters, indoor and outdoor performance venues, gymnasiums, fitness centers, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities, exercise studios, spas and casinos. jim tankersley Also, its things like tourism. No ones flying on airplanes anymore. So suddenly you see airline employees start to lose their jobs. If you work for a hotel in a destination, a resort, youre starting to lose your job. If you are someone who relies upon one of those workers whos lost their jobs so say you are a house cleaner in Florida who works for someone whos an executive at a resort, and that executive loses their job. Suddenly they dont have money to pay a house cleaner anymore, and you lose your job. Its these ripple effects. And then they start getting into parts of the economy we might not necessarily expect: Day care workers, preschool teachers, law firms. Hospitals are serving coronavirus patients, but theyre not doing a lot of elective surgeries. So if you work in an elective surgery division, youre at risk or, in some cases, actually losing your job. All of these sectors are starting to lay people off. Even the places you might least think are vulnerable suddenly are. michael barbaro So this becomes a kind of wave, where people who are dependent on people who are dependent on people all end up getting squeezed and eventually are out of a job. jim tankersley Yeah, absolutely. And the wave is just going to keep going. Were going to see more and more people who can go to work, or at least work from home, who wont be able to because the revenue source that their business depends on is drying up. If youre a local newspaper and you depend on advertising from restaurants that cant be open, theyre not going to advertise. And so you are going to be stuck without any advertising, and youre probably going to start laying off people, which weve already started to see. michael barbaro You know, Jim, one of the most defining qualities of this whole moment is how fast everything has moved and changed, how quickly our whole reality has shifted. And the same is true here. I mean, has there ever been an example of peoples job security collapsing so quickly, not just the scale of it but the speed of it? I mean, one day, people own successful businesses. The next day, those businesses are closed. One day, I have a seemingly secure job, and the next day, I have been laid off. jim tankersley Yeah, weve never seen anything like this in modern America. Usually recessions spread kind of slowly. They take some time to work their way through various regions, or various parts of the financial system, or parts of the economy, to the point where economists often debate whether or not were in a recession well into the actual existence of the recession. But now, I mean, were a couple of weeks into this one, and no one disputes were in a recession. It is so fast. You go to bed one week thinking the economy works one way, and you wake up two weeks later, and not only does your industry not have a job for you, your industry doesnt really work anymore for the time being. michael barbaro Wow. jim tankersley And then on top of how fast and severe that all is, you are left with this almost unimaginable before this thought, which is, were doing this on purpose. We are doing this because public health officials think the only way to survive a pandemic virus without losing hundreds of thousands or even millions of people to it, is to turn the economy off and then eventually try to turn it all back on again. michael barbaro Right. This was the lesser of the awful possibilities that the U.S. had. jim tankersley Yes. [music] michael barbaro Well be right back. Jim, now that we have explained that we have 10 million Americans applying for these unemployment benefits, can you walk us through what the typical process of applying for that looks like, and what someone would have gotten before this pandemic? jim tankersley So what happens is if you lose your job, you go to your state unemployment office and file a claim. You can often do that online. Sometimes you have to do it on a paper form, but you, depending on your state, get a benefit back that lasts about three months. Its meant to be a baseline, just something to tide you through. For example, if youre in California, it ranges between, like, $40 at a minimum per week to $450 at maximum. If youre in Pennsylvania, its about half your weekly wage that you were earning before, up to a maximum. And the way that the system is set up, you dont get as much as you would have made on your job, but you get something. Its supposed to be there as sort of an emergency safety net to keep you from getting evicted or going hungry before you find a new job. michael barbaro Got it. And is that still the case during this crisis? jim tankersley Its actually better during this crisis, thanks to the law that the president signed at the end of March the CARES Act. archived recording (nancy pelosi) Last night, as you know, the Senate passed important legislation. Were very proud of the product. jim tankersley What that includes this was a big point of contention in the law, but that Democrats fought and got in. archived recording (nancy pelosi) We did jiu-jitsu on it, that it went from a corporate-first proposal that the Republicans put forth in the Senate, to a workers-first, democratic workers-first legislation. jim tankersley It includes enhanced unemployment benefits. That means that whatever you were going to get from the state, you get still, plus $600 a week. michael barbaro Wow. jim tankersley Yeah. Its a lot. Its a calculation meant to fill the gap between what you were earning before you were laid off and what you wouldve earned from unemployment. archived recording (chuck schumer) Every American worker who is laid off will have their salary remunerated by the federal government so they can pay their bills. jim tankersley It turned out to be too difficult for states to just calculate, OK, what was your wage, were just going to give that to you. So instead, the lawmakers just figured out the average gap for the average worker between what they would have gotten at their job and what they would have gotten in unemployment. That turns out to be about $600. So if you are, for example, a bartender and you earn about $15 an hour on average, which is a little more than $30,000 a year, youre going to end up getting more money out of your new enhanced unemployment check than you would have just regularly at your job. If you are, say, someone who works at a small manufacturer who is laid off because theres no demand now for your products, and you were earning a median salary in the country a little more than $60,000 a year then you are going to get about the same back in your enhanced unemployment check. And if youre like a manager of an office or a store thats had to close and lays everyone off and you earned, you know, $100,000 a year, youre not going to be getting really anything close to your full salary back, but you still are going to be getting back more than you would have under the unemployment system. The idea is, this does help you get by. Its just not going to fully fund the lifestyle you had before. michael barbaro And how long do these enhanced benefits last? jim tankersley Right now Congress has them set up for four months. I think theres going to be a lot of pressure to continue that if the crisis continues and this chill in the economy persists past four months. michael barbaro Jim, in your reporting, what has been the rationale for providing a level of unemployment benefit that is significantly greater than what states have traditionally offered in their unemployment benefits? jim tankersley The rationale is that this isnt a case where we are worried about dissuading people from looking for work. Usually, you dont want to give people, in the eyes of many economists, whats called a disincentive to work too much money that will just keep them at home on the couch and not looking for a new job. But in this case, we dont actually want these people working. We want them to stay home. We want them to socially distance. We want them to be able to keep paying their rent and buying groceries and doing the things people need to do. But we have to make sure somehow that they get money to do that. michael barbaro So weve been talking about employees. How has the stimulus bill impacted or attempted to help employers? jim tankersley Well, the government is trying to keep as many of those businesses still going and not bankrupt as possible. archived recording (chuck schumer) It will keep companies intact. jim tankersley Its bailing out big corporations, and its offering loans to small businesses that can turn into grants if they use the money to keep employees on their payroll. archived recording (chuck schumer) But with our plan, since they stay on the payroll of their employer, as soon as the crisis is over, they all can come back together. jim tankersley And this is actually an important point. Its probably almost certainly better for the government to subsidize employees staying on the payroll of their employer than to pay them unemployment benefits. michael barbaro Why? jim tankersley Well, we worry about what happens once were through this crisis and we got to start the economy back up. What we dont want to see are a bunch of people left out of work and no easy way to get them back into jobs. One easy way to make sure they can get back to work is to keep them tethered to their employer in the first place. So you dont lose your job. Youre basically just getting paid by the government not to work for your employer who you still work for. Its a little confusing, but its really important. michael barbaro So its a little bit like unemployment benefits. But instead of giving money to someone who loses their job, it kind of goes through the front door in order to keep that person from losing their job. jim tankersley Yeah, it helps the employee not have to look for a new job. It helps the employer not to have to hire for that job again. And archived recording (chuck schumer) And because so many of them will be furloughed rather than fired, if they have benefits they continue. jim tankersley if youre on the payroll of someone who offers health insurance, you keep that too. Which is something that, if you get laid off, you dont get to keep if you had employer health insurance. So there are a lot of benefits to it. archived recording (chuck schumer) And that means that company or small business can reassemble once this awful plague is over, and our economy can get going quickly. michael barbaro Jim, when it comes to these unemployment benefits and this stimulus package thats meant to enhance that benefit and keep people from needing it in the first place, how much money is there and how many unemployed people can this system absorb? I mean, when you see something like 6.6 million people applying for unemployment benefits in a single week, that makes me and Im sure many other people wonder how many people this system can handle? jim tankersley It may be a little crazy-sounding, but the money is probably not the issue for the next couple of months. The issue is how many people can actually get benefits when they need them. The system is just not built to handle this amount of demand for new benefits. Its like funneling all of the traffic of New York onto a country road and trying to figure out how to get every car through. So some states, weve already seen, are having to tell people to sign up for benefits on different days of the week based on the first letter of their last name. What were going to see, I think, going forward is a lot more of that. We know its a reason why some people who maybe would have signed up for benefits in the third week of March actually ended up signing up in the fourth week. And its a reason the first week in April is probably going to have even higher numbers of new unemployed than the last week in March. So new records, for a while maybe. And all of that adds up to tens of millions of people out of work, which will absolutely strain budgets state budgets, federal budgets. But the issue is going to be how long do lawmakers have the time and the patience and the money, in particular from the federal government, to keep funding that while we wait for the suppression measures here to work and the virus to go away. That is the great risk here, is that we lose our nerve and lose the strategy and its all for naught. michael barbaro Jim, right now, everybody of course wants to know when this pandemic will be over and how we will know its over. But Im curious how we will know when this economic crisis is over. jim tankersley I think were going to know the crisis is over when a critical mass of Americans feel safe going back to work, going out to eat, going back shopping. Every economist I talk to says this is a public health decision first and the economics will follow. Not just because we value human life so highly, which we do, but because if you dont have the confidence that if you leave the house youre not very likely to get a deadly illness, youre not going to keep going through the basic commerce that you did before. So once the infection rate drops or, I mean, quite possibly not until we actually have a workable vaccine, then we will start to see the real ramp up back to the economic activity we had before this pandemic hit. But the experts that I talked to say is that we were wrong to think about this as a trade off between human health and the economy. michael barbaro Hmm. [music] jim tankersley That they go hand in hand. That the more we are able to suppress the spread of the virus by suppressing the economy, the stronger the economy will emerge in the end. If we dont stick with this strategy, if we break out of it too early, if desperate people, the most vulnerable workers who need to eat, are forced to go back out and try to do their jobs to earn that living and they start infecting people again and infections and death rates spike some more, thats actually going to hurt the economy more than anything. Because it will undermine all of the confidence that people have left in the system for protecting them. So its really this very delicate, probably very slow process of building that confidence, figuring out exactly who has the virus and where its spreading and how its moving through the population. And then we can start really, brick by brick, rebuilding this economy that was just shattered to pieces in the last few weeks. [music] michael barbaro On that very sobering note, Jim, thank you very much. jim tankersley Thank you. michael barbaro Well be right back. Heres what else you need to know today. archived recording (dr. jerome adams) The next week is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment. Its going to be our 9/11 moment. Its going to be the hardest moment for many Americans in their entire life. michael barbaro In interviews on Sunday, top U.S. health officials, including the surgeon general, Jerome Adams, on NBC prepared Americans for staggering numbers of infections and deaths in the coming days, comparing it to the countrys darkest days. archived recording (dr. anthony fauci) Well, this is going to be a bad week, unfortunately, if you look at the projection of the curves or the kinetics of the curves. michael barbaro Speaking to CBS, Dr. Anthony Fauci said that at the moment, the crisis was beyond the governments control. archived recording (dr. anthony fauci) I will not say we have it under control. That would be a false statement. We are struggling to get it under control. And thats the issue thats at hand right now. michael barbaro In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has tested positive for Covid-19, was admitted to the hospital after suffering symptoms for 10 days. And Queen Elizabeth made a rare televised address to the British people from Windsor Castle. archived recording (queen elizabeth ii) While we have faced challenges before, this one is different. This time we join with all nations across the globe in a common endeavor, using the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to heal. We will succeed, and that success will belong to every one of us. We should take comfort that while we may have more still to handle, better days return. We will be with our friends again. We will be with our families again. We will meet again. [music] michael barbaro Kilifi deputy governor Gideon Saburi spent the weekend behind bars after efforts to be released on police bond proved futile. Saburi was detained at the Port Police Station following his arrest on Friday, hours after he was discharged from the Coast General Hospital Isolation Centre. A contingent of about 20 DCI officers in at least four cars arrested the DG after he recovered from the coronavirus. On Sunday, Saburis lawyer, Otiende Omollo, expressed his frustration as he tried to secure Saburis release on a police bond. There is no progress. He is still in, said Omolo, adding: We have been denied police bond without explanation. The Kilifi deputy governor is expected to be charged in court today, Monday 6, for refusing to self-quarantine following his arrival from an official trip to Germany on March 6. The Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the government would use Saburi as an example for those who refuse to adhere to the anti-coronavirus guidelines. Saburi is facing a fine of up to Sh30,000 or a jail term of not more than three years. Chef Omar Tate will do a mini-version of his Honeysuckle series of pop-up dinners a mix of music, art, food, and the black culinary experience at South Philly Barbacoa from 6 to 8 p.m. April 7. By mini, this one-off event is just the food what he calls small dishes of how Ive been coping through food" and its pickup only, by appointed time. The menu (white bread with sardines, mustard, and salad; Ghanian-style chicken; and my mothers banana bread, with candied walnuts) is on Instagram. (Whats in the salad? I dont know, Tate said. Depends on what I find at the Italian Market tomorrow.) Tate, 33, grew up in Germantown and worked at restaurants including at Fork and Russet before heading to New York seven years ago. Most recently, he was sous chef at Henry at Life Hotel, the pan-African restaurant that closed last summer. Tate recently moved back to Philadelphia. During the coronavirus crisis, hes been creating and selling art and, like everyone else, is wondering what the after is like. He wants to open a restaurant in Philadelphia when things settle down. But he is looking at this as a critical moment in the restaurant business, and not just the financial side. Were facing a time where we need to consider our values in the way that we behave and interact with our food and food systems, Tate said. The idea of abundance and opulence that we have that came along with restaurants all of those things is bubbling to the surface and were forced to taste the scum on the top of the soup. I dont know if we need every restaurant that exists. I think that in terms of an overall holistic health perspective, as a chef I have a community and civic responsibility. Every chef is going to be forced to reconsider that. Ten employees at Northampton Countys Gracedale Nursing Home have now tested positive for coronavirus and are self-quarantining at home, the countys executive reported Monday afternoon. Three Gracedale residents have also tested positive for the virus with two in an isolation unit at the nursing home and the third in a hospital, county Executive Lamont McClure said in a statement. A fourth resident who had previously tested positive died last week from complications related to COVID-19, the illness caused by coronavirus, and dementia. A family member identified that resident as Barbara J. Storm, 80, formerly of Wilson Borough. Gracedale employs 700 people, and McClure called them heroes and expressed his gratitude for their service during the pandemic. I want to thank the Gracedale administration and all the brave employees who show up to work every day to take care of our most vulnerable residents, he said. The number of positive cases among employees has gone from three to 10 in less than a week. On Monday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported another 1,470 positive cases of COVID-19 bringing the total number of cases statewide to 12,980 in 65 of the states 67 counties. The Lehigh Valley now has 1,722 confirmed COVID-19 cases -- an increase of 188 cases overnight -- and a total of 20 deaths. Lehigh County has at least 1,006 positive tests and eight deaths, while Northamptons reported 716 cases and 12 deaths. State officials have expressed concern over coronavirus spreading in nursing homes due to their residents age and underlying medical conditions. 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. Nick Falsone may be reached at nfalsone@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickfalsone. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. NORRISTOWN A Maryland woman was arrested in King of Prussia with $200,000 worth of high-grade marijuana, authorities announced Sunday. Kayla Messinese, 24, of Edgewater, Md., faces felony charges of possession with intent to deliver, criminal use of a communication facility and related drug charges. A joint investigation into large-scale drug trafficking by the Upper Merion Township Police Department Special Investigations Unit and the Montgomery County Detective Bureau determined that the defendant would be travelling to Upper Merion Township April 3, to deliver 100 pounds of high-grade marijuana, according to a release issued by the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office. Detectives located Messineses vehicle, followed her to a location in the 500 block of South Goddard Boulevard, and then to a parking garage, where she met with two others to complete the marijuana transaction. The defendant was arrested, and three large duffel bags containing 100 pounds of high-quality marijuana were found in her vehicle. The marijuana, packaged in multiple vacuumed sealed bags, had a street value of $200,000. This investigation determined that the defendant was going to use the COVID-19 emergency as an opportunity to traffic a large amount of marijuana, traveling several hours to King of Prussia to make the transaction, said Montgomery County DA Kevin Steele. Drug dealers and other criminals need to know that we have not stopped investigating and prosecuting crimes because of this pandemic. Do not traffic drugs of any kind in Montgomery County. Messinese was arraigned on April 3, 2020 by Magisterial District Judge Patricia A. Zaffarano, who set bail at $150,000 cash. Messinese was unable to post bail and was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing date will be determined. Sierra Leone on Sunday began a three-day lockdown to stem the spread of coronavirus, after two new cases of infection were reported. The country has now confirmed six cases, all within five days, with the latest reportedly from a Sierra Leonean and an Italian who returned from abroad on 16 March. National Covid-19 coordinator, retired Brigadier Kellie Conteh said the first priority during the short lockdown, was to locate all of the contacts they have identified, in order to isolate and monitor them. The next priority: to identify all the secondary contacts and also place them under surveillance. The Sierra Leonean authorities aim to improve quarantine conditions and tighten security, after reports of people leaving isolation areas. Conteh said they would also provide better communication and reassure the public with daily updates. Rush on businesses, banks There was brisk business on Sunday, the day before the implementation of the lockdown, with banks and market places overflowing with people. Although the coronavirus has threatened many businesses with closure, it brought with it a spike in trade in veronica buckets. Price gouging saw at least a 20 percent hike in the cost of the buckets, which are equipped with a tap at the bottom. Freetown City Council has ordered that all businesses, offices and markets have veronica buckets at their entrance to promote hand washing. Other people were more inventive and quickly created face masks with fashionable African print materials. This, after the pharmacies ran out of standard surgical protection. Freetown was clear on Sunday as most people complied with the decree to stay home. However, there were reports that most patients at the main referral centre the Connaught Hospital had voluntarily discharged themselves amid fears they would be mixed with coronavirus patients during the lockdown. The hospital wards were almost empty but the authorities refused to comment on why. A male nurse speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed that over the past ten days patients had been reluctant to be admitted, except those who were critically ill. Sick children have been turned away from the Ola During Children's hospital since the 100-strong staff went into self-isolation, following a second doctor testing positive. National Coordinator Kellie Conteh urged citizens to comply with the lockdown, saying: We are all in this together. Department store Debenhams is on the brink of administration for the second time in a year, the company has confirmed. With 142 stores closed and the majority of the 22,000 staff on furlough, the current owners want to push the business into administration then buy it back debt-free. The UK process does not directly affect Debenhams Ireland, which operates 11 department stores and employs around 1,500 staff. The Irish arm went through its own examinership process in 2016 to cut debts here, which included slashing rents on many of its outlets. Debenhams UK explained: This move will protect Debenhams from the threat of legal action that could have the effect of pushing the business into liquidation while its 142 UK stores remain closed in line with the Governments current advice regarding the Covid-19 pandemic. The company filed a notice of intent to appoint administrators from FRP Advisory to oversee the process. It added that it is making preparations to open again once government restrictions are lifted. The group is preparing to enter a light touch administration that will see the existing management team remain in place under the direct control and supervision of the administrators, it said. The majority of its employees in the UK are currently being paid under the governments furlough scheme, after its stores closed following the shutdown of non-essential shops. It added that it continues to trade online across the UK, Ireland and Denmark and customer orders, gift cards and returns are being accepted and processed normally. Debenhams said it has the support of its lenders to enter administration and is engaging with employees and suppliers over the move. The historic retailer has closed 22 shops in recent months as part of plans to shut 50 sites and bring its total estate to 110. The announcement comes amid reports that Cath Kidston is also set to appoint administrators, while rival Laura Ashley has said it will permanently close 70 stores after sliding into administration. Julie Palmer, partner at Begbies Traynor, said: Debenhams has been in financial difficulties for a while so this doesnt come as a major surprise, but it will leave its 20,000-plus strong workforce in a precarious position who will struggle to get new employment during the ongoing uncertainty. Biden Assails Trump's Coronavirus Response By Ken Bredemeier April 05, 2020 Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, the likely Democratic presidential nominee in the November national election, accused Republican President Donald Trump on Sunday of being slow to react to the coronavirus threat and still lacking the drive now to deal with the pandemic. "It's about urgency and I don't think there's been enough of it," Biden said on ABC's "This Week" show. He said Trump needs to "move swiftly, more rapidly" in dealing with the crisis. Trump, while leveling his own attacks on Biden's competence in recent news conferences, has said he appreciated his praise for Trump's action in January blocking flights from China to the U.S. after the coronavirus first broke out in the Chinese city of Wuhan. But Biden retorted, "We started off slow. Forty-five countries had acted before he did" to cut off flights from China. Trump routinely refers to Biden as "Sleepy Joe," while his reelection campaign last week told political surrogates to characterize Biden and other Democrats as "the opposition" in Trump's effort to combat the outbreak. Biden, making his third run for the presidency over three decades, said the U.S. could need two more coronavirus rescue packages beyond the $2 trillion package Trump signed into law more than a week ago. Trump and some Democratic congressional leaders have suggested that more aid may be needed, but currently the dominant sentiment in Washington seems to be to see how effective the initial assistance is before passing new legislation. Biden said he would wear a face mask when venturing out in public, but so far has not left his home in the eastern state of Delaware. U.S. health officials are now recommending, but not requiring, that people wear masks when they leave home. But Trump said Saturday he would not adhere to the face mask recommendation. "He may not like how he looks in a mask," Biden said of Trump. "My point is you should follow the science." He said Trump should "fully implement" the Defense Protection Act to order U.S. corporations to ramp up production of medical supplies, masks, gloves and other equipment, beyond Trump's order directing automakers to manufacture ventilators. He attacked Trump for refusing to reopen enrollment in the Affordable Care Act, the national health insurance program popularly known as Obamacare, that was adopted in 2010 during the administration of former President Barack Obama, when Biden was his second in command. "It will leave people naked to this problem," Biden claimed. Trump said the government would pay for Americans' coronavirus health care costs, but rejected expanding Obamacare, which he has long sought to undermine. Biden said that as the Obama administration left office in early 2017, it briefed incoming Trump officials about the possibility of a pandemic and laid out the shape of government agencies to deal with such a threat. But Biden said, "The president dismantled almost all of it. He didn't follow through with almost anything. We said there would be a problem." The former vice president also assailed the Trump administration's removal of the commander of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Capt. Brett Crozier, after the Pentagon claimed he showed "poor judgment" in copying a letter to 20 or 30 people that he had written to his superiors about a widespread outbreak of coronavirus on his ship. "I think it's close to criminal the way they're dealing with this guy," Biden said. Navy Secretary Thomas Modly dismissed Crozier, with both Trump and Defense Secretary Mark Esper supporting Crozier's firing. Esper told the ABC show, "This was Secretary Modly's call and I told him I'd support him." Esper called Crozier's actions "an issue of trust and confidence." As Crozier left his ship, his crew of about 5,000 sailors cheered him wildly. As of late last week, 114 of the sailors had tested positive for the coronavirus, as has Crozier, according to The New York Times. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Regulating the fishing industry in Cuba through new Fisheries Law by Yudy Castro Morales April 05,2020 | Source: Granma After the approval, in 2017, of the Fisheries Policy of Cuba, in correspondence with the transformations experienced in this area, and as part of the implementation of the countrys Economic and Social Policy Guidelines, it was essential to update the current legal framework and adjust it to the times. Hence, the proposed law to order fishery resources under the principles of conservation, sustainable use, a preventive approach, implementation of scientific-technological criteria, and protection of ecosystems, in line with national and international standards and food security and sovereignty precepts. According to the grounds of the draft bill, there are several political, economic, and social premises that support this regulation, which stemmed from a Council of Ministers proposal. Noted is, for example, that the core current regulation in this field, Decree-law No. 164, Fisheries Regulation, 1996, is obsolete in the face of current conditions, and insufficient for confronting illegal fishing and preserving fishery resources. The proposed law is structured into chapters and sections and consists of 27 articles and seven final provisions. The umbrella objective focuses on the establishment of regulations for the proper ordering, administration, and control of fishing, on the basis of the conservation and rational use of hydrobiological resources in sea, river, and lake waters of Cuba, in order to contribute to the food sovereignty of the nation. According to the proposed bill, fishing can only be carried out by Cuban or foreign individuals or legal entities that possess the corresponding authorization for such purposes. Excluded from this requirement is fishing that is practiced freely by national or foreign individuals from the coast or natural shores, using rods or reels, ropes and hooks, without the aid of water craft. Regarding fishing authorizations, the proposed law specifies that they are issued through licenses, concessions and permits, by the competent authority, based on previous state assessment of resources. The holder is authorized to carry out a certain fishing activity under the conditions and requirements established for that purpose. The draft bill also stipulates that the requirements for undertaking fishing and the use of approved methods and tackle, as well as the provisions regarding the final destination of catches, and other requirements related to each fishing modality, are set out in the Regulation and in the resolutions dictated by the Minister of Minal. Similarly, everything related to fishing areas, which are determined by the Council of Ministers, is set out, while the management and handling of fishery resources in these areas is the responsibility of the Minister of Food Industry. In addition, it is clarified that, within these zones, the practice of fishing may be limited or totally prohibited in some places, due to state interests related to the defense of the country or the environment. GRANMA 2014 Theme(s): Fisheries Development and Aquaculture. A controversy has triggered over Kerala getting a tiny sum as part of the first installment of the State Disaster Response Mitigation Fund (SDRMF) despite the state reporting a large numbers of coronavirus cases. But the allegation that the union government is biased seems to be unfounded since the allocations made were not arbitrary. They were as per the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission. The 15th Finance Commission has recommended an allocation (by the Centre) of Rs 314 crore to Kerala for 2020-21, half of which has been released by the Union government. Hence, Kerala has received Rs 157 crore in the first installment. There was outrage in many quarters that even smaller states like Himachal Pradesh has received a higher amount (Rs 204.50 crore) as part of SDRF. SDRF allocation has been calculated based on three-four major factors - the expenditures incurred by states on disaster management, area, population and risk profile of individual states - to arrive at the final allocation for each state. For calculating the figures related to expenditure on disaster relief, the states' expenditure booked for the past seven years (2011-12 to 2017-18) has been considered. Expenditure incurred in the past has a 70 per cent weightage, while area and population has 15 per cent each. The risk profile is based on Disaster Risk Index, which is developed by assigning scores to the probability of events like earthquake, flood, cyclone, drought, etc striking states and the extent of their vulnerability. Area, population and risk profile are new factors that are being considered for calculation of state allocations by the 15th Finance Commission. In the previous Finance Commission, per capita GDP and expenditure incurred used to be the factors for calculating SDRMF allocations. The union and state governments both contribute to the SDRMF corpus, with centre contributing 75 per cent and states 25 per cent towards the fund for general states. For North-East and Himalayan states, the ration is 90:10. The total size of the SDRF for 2020-21 is Rs 28,983 crore with centre contributing Rs 22,184 crore and the states Rs 6,799 crore. As per 15th Finance Commission calculations, Maharashtra receives the biggest share in the centre's contribution with Rs 3,222 crore, followed by UP (Rs 1,933 crore) and MP (Rs 1,820 crore) and Odisha (Rs 1,604 crore). The centre has released half of its share - Rs 11,092 crore - in first installment to 28 states. The responsibility of disaster risk funding is shared between the states and the union government. The states incur most of the disaster-related expenditure through their State Disaster Response Mitigation Funds (SDRMF) and these funds could be augmented and replenished through the National Disaster Response Mitigation Fund (NDRF). Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: 26 nurses, 3 doctors test positive at Mumbai hospital; declared containment zone Also read: Coronavirus in US: Tiger at NYC's Bronx Zoo tests positive for COVID-19 OTTAWA - As Canadians said farewell to the COVID-19-stricken Coral Princess cruise ship on Monday for their long journey home, other recently repatriated high-seas travellers coped with the emotional exhaustion of their new normal on dry land. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/4/2020 (644 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Passengers look out from the Coral Princess cruise ship while docked in Miami, Monday, April 6, 2020. Authorities say 14 people have been taken to hospitals from the cruise ship that docked in Florida with coronavirus victims aboard and one of them has died at a hospital. Two fatalities were reported earlier aboard the Coral Princess. The Coral Princess had more than 1,000 passengers and nearly 900 crew members. It began disembarking fit passengers Sunday. Any with symptoms of COVID-19 or recovering were being kept on ship until medically cleared. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) OTTAWA - As Canadians said farewell to the COVID-19-stricken Coral Princess cruise ship on Monday for their long journey home, other recently repatriated high-seas travellers coped with the emotional exhaustion of their new normal on dry land. A day after Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said on Twitter that Canadians on the Coral Princess would be coming home, their long journey with two pit stops in the U.S. started. There were 97 Canadian passengers aboard the ship, which left Santiago, Chile, on March 5 and docked in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Friday. The Canadian Press communicated with two couples travelling on the ship, who said that passengers had been allowed to leave and were on a bus headed for the Miami airport. "We just touched down in Toronto," North Vancouver resident Sanford Osler said in an email late Monday night, about two hours after a charter plane bearing the Canadians was due to land. A statement from Princess Cruises said 139 guests left the ship on Monday morning as part of an effort that gave priority to "those who departed on a chartered flight to Canada." It said 274 passengers remained on board. Earlier Monday, Gary and Sue Lyon said in an email they were on a bus waiting to board a charter flight to Toronto via Columbus and Newark. "We are all feeling relieved, happy and excited to go home. We will go home and self-isolate for 14 days," they said. "We appreciate all the crew and staff of the Coral Princess have done for us during this very challenging time. We wish them all the best." Osler, who was travelling with his wife, Betty Ann, said all passengers were wearing masks and gloves, and that he felt physically healthy. "Physically, I feel normal ... Emotionally, I'm relieved to be off the ship, obviously, and on the way home. Although now we have further uncertainties," Osler said by telephone from Florida before the flight home. Osler said he was getting "mixed signals" about whether he and his wife will have to be quarantined in Toronto for 14 days before moving on to Vancouver. Champagne tweeted Sunday that those who don't have COVID-19 symptoms would be able to return home on a charter aircraft Monday. "Upon arrival they will be screened again and subject to a mandatory 14-day self-isolation," Champagne wrote. Two people aboard the ship have died, and 12 have tested positive for COVID-19, Princess Cruises has said. Still more are experiencing flu-like symptoms. Cruise ships have essentially become floating Petri dishes for the novel coronavirus. This past week Canadians on the MS Zaandam and MS Rotterdam arrived in Canada on a plane chartered by operator Holland America. Catherine McLeod and her husband, Paul, arrived home from the Rotterdam on Friday, physically and mentally exhausted. They began their 14-day isolation in the comfort and safety of their own home. "The isolation is not difficult as we are too mentally drained to be wanting to do anything," McLeod said in an email. "We are in a state of shock really as we now can reflect on the danger we faced and how lucky we are to have walked away from that situation healthy." She praised the captain of the ship for taking swift action to lock it down and prevent further spreading of the virus. "Isolating is a small price to pay considering the possible consequences of not doing it. People who have not self-isolated are incredibly selfish fools," she said. McLeod urged other passengers now making the journey home to persevere. "Try to be patient on the way home as there are many people who simply do not understand the gravity of this virus and the lack of social distancing just about drove me crazy," she wrote. "Moronic behaviour." Global Affairs said it is monitoring the progress of 49 Canadians and eight crew members on seven other ships. The department says it is not aware that any of them have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The ships are the MS Albatros, Viking Sun, MV Columbus, Costa Deliziosa, Pacific Princess, MSC Magnifica, and the Queen Mary 2. In February, the largest cruise-ship outbreak occurred aboard the Diamond Princess ship, also operated by Princess Cruises. The Diamond Princess was quarantined for two weeks in Yokohama, Japan, as 700 of the 3,700 people aboard became infected. The federal government evacuated 129 Canadians from that ship and brought them to eastern Ontario for quarantine on Feb. 21, but 47 Canadians infected by the virus had to stay behind in Japan for treatment. The Public Health Agency of Canada is telling Canadians to avoid travelling on cruise ships, but delivered that firm warning March 9, a few days after the Coral Princess set sail. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 6, 2020. Critics of the Trump administration say the armed forces should play a bigger role in the fight against coronavirus. At a daily press briefing last week of the United States coronavirus task force, Navy Rear Admiral John Polowczyk shared some big numbers to illustrate the scale of the federal governments crisis response 27.1 million masks pushed out to state governments, 19.5 million N95 masks for medical personnel, 22.4 million pairs of protective gloves for first responders, 5.2 million face shields, and 7,600 ventilators, rising to 100,000 by June. The top Pentagon official charged with streamlining the US supply chain spoke as if the outbreak as well as the healthcare system and its severe equipment shortages were fully under control. But many state governors and Democrats were quick to differ. US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, among the most vocal critics of President Donald Trumps strategy, said Polowczyks logistics leadership of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is insufficient, and that Defense Production Act policy coordinator Peter Navarro also falls short. Schumer and others argued that the armed forces should play an even bigger role in commandeering resources and directing a war-like effort to manufacture enough gear to mitigate the coronavirus pandemic. America cannot rely on a patchwork of uncoordinated voluntary efforts to combat the awful magnitude of this pandemic, the senator from New York said in a letter to the president. He called for a fully empowered military czar on the coronavirus task force. Schumer demanded that Trump rapidly implement a plan for the increased production, procurement and distribution of critically-needed medical devices and equipment and called Navarro woefully unqualified. He also singled out the shadow participation on the task force by senior presidential adviser Jared Kushner. On Sunday, New Yorks outspoken senator even sent White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows a list of names of people who would be suitable for overseeing every aspect of production and distribution for medical goods. A woman walks into a pharmacy to purchase N95 face masks in the Manhattan borough of New York City [Carlo Allegri/Reuters] Geographic mal-distribution While some criticism of the White House response can easily be dismissed as partisan bickering in an election year, logistics experts say there is little doubt that US attempts to set up a coherent programme have so far been chaotic. Tim Dall, a health economist at IHS Markit, said that the political squabbling is not limited to the US, and that disturbances to the global medical supply chain may be at least partially to blame as well. Every country to some degree wants to look out for themselves, Dall told Al Jazeera. On top of that in China, [some] production capabilities have shut down due to coronavirus. Many countries are cracking down on exports of medical supplies and pharmaceutical products to focus on their domestic battle against COVID-19. Dall described the international scramble for healthcare resources as a perfect storm, calling the US experience with medical equipment a geographic mal-distribution. In the absence of a coordinated federal effort, states have been forced to wade into that perfect storm and jockey with each other for the same products from overseas suppliers. Referring to hospital needs in the state of Utah, where he resides, Dall said that local hospitals are loath to give up supplies because a week or two later, they dont want to be in the same position as New York. However, Dall believes the US will see significant sharing of personnel and, assuming that the initial epicentres are not too shell-shocked, we can [subsequently] have people give up supplies and ship to where theyre most needed. Not about politics New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo believes that states cannot organise rolling deployments on their own when all 50 of them in addition to FEMA are all trying to buy identical goods from China. Cuomo, in his own daily briefings, has said that states are not able to handle the current public health emergencies without federal assistance. I cant say to a hospital, I will send you all the supplies you need, I will send you all the ventilators you need, Cuomo said on Sunday. We dont have them. Its not an exercise. Its not a drill. Its just a statement of reality, Cuomo added. Youre going to have to shift and deploy resources to different locations based on the need of that location. Navy Admiral Polowczyk said last week that his role is to increase the throughput to the healthcare market, implying that the military would boost but not try to reinvent the existing supply-chain logic established by the private sector. Polowczyk emphasised the logistics tool that the Department of Defense uses to find pockets of personal protective equipment (PPE) down to the county level. He also cited the success of the air bridge flights that bring massive amounts of medical supplies directly to the US from China in a process that usually takes 37 days. The federal government, he has said, is doing everything it can. My sister is a nurse practitioner in a Westchester hospital and my niece is a nurse in a Long Island hospital, he said, referring to his family members needing material on the front lines of the pandemic in New York state. I have skin in this game. There is a drastic surge in the number positive cases and deaths due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus that started in Wuhan, China. Report shows maximum number of cases in USA while Italy has faced the maximum number of deaths so far. India too has entered phase 3 in the last one week. The condition has lead to the entire world coming to a standstill and the virus has not spared anyone. Celebrities like Tom Hanks, Idris Elba, Pink and many more tested positive and are now recovering from the ailment. Unfortunately, All My Children and The Edge of Night actor Forrest Compton, who was 94 succumbed to the virus and passed away after suffering from extreme symptoms. Compton was a big name in the primetime television and had shows like As the World Turns, That Girl and One Lie to Live to his credit. May his soul rest in peace. I would use tariffs, if I had to. I dont think Im going to have to, U.S. President Trump told media on Sunday as quoted by CNBC, in response to questions regarding his next moves in propping up devastatingly low oil prices. Trump has been consistent over the last week or so in his belief that despite difficulties, Saudi Arabia and Russia will reach a deal to reduce production. He has given no indication, however, that the United States is willing to take part in this production control effort, which may compromise its success. At the same time, Trumps position reflects the position of many U.S. shale producers: last week industry sources told the Financial Times that companies had launched a lobbying offensive with the White House to use any means necessary to force Russia and Saudi Arabia to cut production, including more sanctions on Russia and import tariffs on Saudi oil. 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. Riyadh has called on Western European oil producers to join this weeks OPEC+ meeting to discuss prices while Russia, according to a Bloomberg report, may be willing to cut close to a tenth of its March oil production, which stood at 11.3 million bpd, but only if the U.S. agrees to make its producers cut, too. Trump has signalled he would prefer the free market to have the last word but it seems the free market could use some help. To be fair, Trump noted he did not expect it to come to tariffs. Its obviously very bad for them, Trump told media referring to the effect of low oil prices on Saudi Arabia and Russia. This, the U.S. president believes, will ultimately push the two to an agreement, which would benefit all producers. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A closed sign hangs in the window of Kismet on March 20. The Los Feliz restaurant is one of many businesses that have seen their future jeopardized due to COVID-19-mandated closures. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times) A national advocacy group that represents more than 5,000 restaurant owners and chefs is calling for Congress to provide more financial relief amid the coronavirus pandemic for the independent restaurant industry and the 11 million people it employs. Its simple: Without help, many of your favorite restaurants are not going to be there once this crisis is over, said Tom Colicchio, the chef-owner behind Crafted Hospitality and one of the founding members of the Independent Restaurant Coalition. Not only the restaurants owned by well-known chefs, but the small mom and pops as well. On Monday, the coalition sent a letter to Congress and held a conference call led by Colicchio and fellow chef-restaurateurs Naomi Pomeroy and Kwame Onwuachi. During the call, the group expressed significant issues with the CARES Act signed into law on March 29 and advocated for a more comprehensive short-term plan as well as measures designed to help restaurants reopen and remain open in the long term. Among the actions requested by the coalition were changes to the Paycheck Protection Program that would extend loan terms to three months after restaurants can fully reopen and increase the amount of time owners have to repay loans; a $100-billion restaurant stabilization fund to provide upfront capital for reopenings; tax rebates that incentivize employment; and ensuring business interruption insurance covers COVID-19-related losses. The push comes in wake of reports that more than 10 million Americans filed for unemployment in the last several weeks. The U.S. Department of Labors Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that two-thirds of jobs lost in March came from hospitality; more than half were in food and beverage. Once its time to reopen, there will be huge obstacles ahead, Onwuachi said. "Without proper action, this will fundamentally alter our communities. If kitchens are the heartbeat of the home, restaurants are the heartbeat of the nation. The coalition's leadership team includes Jose Andres, Nancy Silverton, Suzanne Goin, Caroline Styne and Will Guidara. The full letter to Congress can be found here. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 13:56:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai on Sunday called for cooperation between Beijing and Washington to combat the coronavirus pandemic, saying "this is a time for solidarity, collaboration and mutual support." "Let's acknowledge there has been unpleasant talk between our nations about this disease. But this is not the time for finger-pointing. This is a time for solidarity, collaboration and mutual support," Cui wrote in an opinion article on The New York Times. "We will always remember that in our most difficult days, our friends in so many places -- many of them Americans, many of them New Yorkers -- offered us a helping hand. We stand ready now to repay their kindness and help them make it through too," said he. Cui noted that China is doing whatever it can to support the related countries in need, including the United States. "We are facilitating the U.S. government's purchase of personal protective equipment made in China. Indeed, factories are operating in full swing to fulfill the orders of medical supplies from New York State and other parts of America. China's provincial and city governments are rushing to help their sister states and cities in America too. And donations are pouring in from the country's business sector," he said. Cui suggested China and the United States make joint efforts to defeat the pandemic. "China and the United States need to lead international efforts in collaborative research into treatments and vaccines, and explore the sharing of pharmaceutical technologies among nations. We need to help countries with underdeveloped medical systems and contribute to better global health governance," he said. Cui also called for the two biggest economies in the world to "enhance our coordination of macroeconomic policy to stabilize markets; ensure growth and people's livelihoods; and keep the global industrial and supply chains open, stable and secure." In the meantime, the Chinese ambassador warned against fanning racism and xenophobia as well as scapegoating other countries or races at this moment, when solidarity is essential. "Such acrimony will not only undercut cooperation between our nations, but also sow seeds of suspicion and confrontation that could put our peoples -- and even the world -- in grave danger from this runaway virus and the economic fallout it is causing," he cautioned. Local authorities in Moroccos largest city of Casablanca announced their plan to transform an exhibition center into a hospital able to accommodate 700 coronavirus patients. The exhibition center is the largest in Morocco stretching over a surface area of 20,000 square meters, authorities said in a statement. The center will be transformed into a hospital in two weeks for a total cost of 45 million dirhams, the statement said. Also in Casablanca, the Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS) has set up a hospital unit to accommodate patients diagnosed with Covid-19. The unit has 42 conventional hospital beds, as well as 9 intensive care unit beds for the most serious cases. The Universitys National Reference Laboratory (LNR) has been equipped with a platform for quick biological screening and diagnosis of Covid-19. The university has also contributed to the training of health professionals (doctors, nurses, technicians, etc.) to provide high quality care to coronavirus patients. The moves will further boost Moroccos hospital capacity as the government announced that it intends to increase the number of intensive care beds to 3000. Morocco has imposed a confinement across all its territories and infections however have been growing to 1021 including 70 deaths and 76 recoveries. Most cases have been found in Casablanca with 259 cases followed by Marrakech 179 and Rabat 94. A financial committee announced that Morocco will spend 200 million dollars to buy 1000 intensive care beds in addition to testing kits, medicine and protective gear to fight the coronavirus. Meanwhile, health authorities in Morocco urged citizens to abide by the confinement measures as hot spots in families emerge as a worrying factor. At least 23 members of the same family contracted the virus in one week in the south-eastern locality of Errich after contacting a Moroccan living in Italy. Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) The 20-year-old student boarded Flight VN0050 from London to Vietnam on March 21, and arrived at Can Tho airport in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho one day later. Upon entry, the man showed no symptoms of the COVID-19 disease and was transferred to a concentrated quarantine area in the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu. He tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 on March 25. However, on March 31, he displayed symptoms of fever and sore throat. The second test by the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City on April 1 turned up positive. The student is being treated at the Bac Lieu General Hospital in Bac Lieu province. Premier Mark McGowan has said national modelling released today by Prime Minister Scott Morrison suggested 30,000 people could have died in WA if no measures were taken to slow the spread of coronavirus. Premier Mark McGowan. Credit:Richard Wainwright/AAP Across the nation 250,000 lives could have been lost, according to the Premier. "That is a huge number," Mr McGowan said. "It's hard to even think about that number of people dying in our state. "But it only reinforces in our mind that we need to keep on doing what we're doing." Mr McGowan said the modelling was hypothetical and didn't take into account Australian data but was instead based on the overseas numbers. He said WA's partial lockdown would be in place for "a hard, long six months" but didn't give any firm timeline for when social distancing and travel restrictions might be lifted. "The vaccine is the holy grail," he said. "So if the vaccine comes in obviously things will change, but we have no information that the vaccine is anywhere near being developed. "The advice I'm giving everyone is look forward to six months and we'll review it over the course of that time and if there are things we can do to lessen the pressure on people or open up businesses or whatever on medical advice over that six months, we'll take account of that advice." Health Minister Roger Cook said it was possible the peak of the epidemic in WA could be as late as November this year. "There's a bunch of work going on in Western Australia to understand our experience based on what the Prime Minister has released today," he said. "A long flat curve is much better for the community than a sharp high one." Yesterday Mr Cook said WA was working on its own modelling with the University of Western Australia. Keara Williams, a South L.A. high school teacher, has been calling students' homes and speaking to their family members to learn why she hasn't received work from them in the three weeks since LAUSD moved to online classes. (Keara Williams) By Friday morning, only eight of Keara Williams 24 Advanced Placement English students had submitted the assignments she posted online after school closed three weeks ago. Most of the remaining two-thirds of the juniors in her class at a South L.A. high school had not responded to any of her messages. These 16 were among the thousands of Los Angeles Unified high school students who have not been showing up to online classes. By end of last week, the school district had not made contact with 7%, or about 8,400, of high school students since campuses shut down on March 16, marking an improvement from earlier when about 15,000 had not joined online classes. Teachers, counselors and administrators are trying to get those students back. Many students, meanwhile, are telling teachers they receive emails about Zoom calls hours late through the district's system, and the program they use to check for work does not always show them posted assignments on time. Others lack WiFi access at home and many are helping their families care for younger siblings. Williams spent an hour Friday, as she has on many other days since school closed, focused on trying to reach her absent students. Williams has received a building bridges award from her school, a recognition that she is particularly skilled at creating and maintaining relationships with students and families in and out of the classroom. That may make it easier for her to connect with them when school is out, said Williams, who works at the Responsible Indigenous Social Entrepreneurship school, one of three small schools on the Hawkins High School campus in South L.A.'s Vermont-Slauson neighborhood. There's a lack of black teachers in LAUSD alone and just teaching period, Williams said. I think the fact that I'm black, I'm from the community... I'm cultured. I think all of that helps me build my relationships with them, she said. About a fourth of students in the school are black a higher percentage than in the district as a whole and three-fourths are Latino. Story continues After a few calls went straight to voicemail, and one message left with a student's brother, Williams reached a parent. But there was a problem the mother only spoke Spanish and Williams is not fluent. After a few minutes of trying to communicate that she is the English teacher calling to check in on schoolwork, Williams asked the parent to hold and called her grandmother, a native Spanish speaker from Belize. Her grandma picked up immediately and agreed to translate on a three-way call. Within minutes, the two Spanish-speakers understood what needed to be done the student was not completing work for English and needed to call Williams. The parent was at work but said she would call home and tell her daughter to call the teacher. "I've got to pool all my resources right now," Williams said after the call. About 25 minutes into her search for missing students, feelings started to set in. I miss my kids. I miss them so much. I just want to... I want to help them. I want to teach them. I think I'm getting a little emotional, Williams said. I wish I was in a class and I wish I had my white board and my marker and I wish I had all of them in one room because it is not easy, she said before collecting herself with a deep breath. Ok, so. Whew, all right. Should we move on? On to the next call. A student's mother answered. I was calling to see ... if you had internet access or a computer because I've noticed that he hasn't been submitting his work online, Williams told the parent. So I was calling just to check in and see whats going on, maybe he needs help, maybe he has questions? The mom called for her son to come to the phone. It was 11:20 a.m. and he was still in bed. When he came on, Williams greeted him the same way she had another student exclaiming his name, followed by a robust How are you? Oh, you just woke up. I'm sorry sir, she said, sounding contrite before changing up her tone. It's 11:20! What are you doing? She said she wasnt angry, and when he said he was good and asked her the same, she was honest. I'm kind of bored in the house, you know, I cook a lot, but I just want to go outside, she said. What have you been doing in the house? Playing PlayStation 4 and watching Netflix, he said. I think you're telling the truth because, you know, you havent submitted any assignments online, she responded. He thought he missed the deadline so didnt bother submitting, he told her. Thats four grades man! Anyway, Im going to stop yelling at you, she said after listening to him. Maybe you don't watch Netflix today and maybe you finish a draft, she negotiated. Send it to me... I can look at and give you feedback. You can strengthen it and then I can grade it." So you commit to doing it today? A draft? she urged him, also promising to post another student essay sample for him to look at. She told him to check in with two classmates she knows are his friends, who have submitted the assignment. She asked him about other classes, and then circled back to her own. We are being more flexible because we understand that remote learning is different. So our deadlines aren't really real deadlines right now as we try to figure out what we're doing next, she told him. So check your emails for that, but in the meantime, please complete all your missing work because you can get it graded. After securing the promise to get his overdue work, Williams ended the call as cheerily as she had started it. Ok sounds good, miss you so much! Some of the other parents she called did not pick up and had voicemails in Spanish she didn't leave messages for those numbers. Instead she made a note of them in the school's system and will pass their names onto the school's counselors, all of whom are bilingual and will reach out, she said. Another student had a device from school, his sister told Williams, but no internet that's why he hasn't been submitting work. She took the sister's email address to send a phone number that they can call to request internet access provided through the school district. "I can call you maybe in a couple of days to follow up to see how it went," Williams told her. "So if you have any other questions, please reach out to me and I can talk to my principal." She hung up and made a note to herself "Send hotline number, don't focus on work, just getting internet." She wants to make sure that students are not penalized because they don't have internet access. "Now what I would do is send an email to teachers," she said, "letting them know that he does not have the WiFi.... Let's as a team figure out how to get him internet." Two other students including the one whose mother spoke to Williams' grandmother called Williams back after family members delivered the message. Now that she's started calling these AP students, she expects more will get in touch. "I just have a feeling that the word's going to spread that Ms. Williams is calling home, like it always does," she said. "That means that they'll probably try to email me before I call home." Times staff writer Howard Blume contributed to this story. 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 As many as ten localities in four cities in Gujarat have been placed under cluster quarantine to contain the spread of coronavirus after some attendees of the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi last month tested positive in these areas, a senior official said on Monday. These comprise six localities in Ahmedabad, two in Vadodara and one each in Surat as well as Bhavnagar, said Ashwani Kumar, Secretary to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. "When members of Tablighi Jamaat returned to Gujarat from Delhi, it led to spread of COVID-19 cases. Because of this, six areas in Ahmedabad, that is one in Bapunagar, two in Kalupur, and one each in Dariyapur, Shah Alam and Danilimda, were converted into cluster quarantine," Kumar said. Similar is the case with Nagarwada and Saiyadpura in Vadodara, Sachin in Surat and Sandhiyawad in Bhavnagar, Kumar added. "Such a step has been taken to ensure the spread of coronavirus is contained in areas where these Tablighi Jamaat attendees have tested positive," he said. A health department official on Monday said at least 10 of the 16 new COVID-19 positive cases detected had a link to the Tablighi Jamaat event in Nizamuddin. Cluster containment strategy is meant to contain the disease within a defined geographic area by early detection of cases, breaking the chain of transmission and thus preventing its spread to new areas, as per health ministry guidelines. A containment zone is decided on the basis of extent of cases listed by surveillance teams. Agiven geographical area is quarantined, put under enhanced active surveillance, and measures taken comprise testing of all suspect cases, enforcing strict perimeter control for social distancing measures, said an official. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chron.com is compiling the latest headlines on the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the Houston area. 9 p.m. - Harris County officials announced Monday night that the county had begun building a medical shelter at NRG Park. The shelter is intended to serve as a COVID-19 patient care facility if area hospitals are overrun. There are no plans to open the shelter at this time, according to the announcement. 3:40 p.m. - Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and other city and county officials urged residents of the Houston area to continue social distancing and wear face coverings in public in order to protect themselves and others. "The mask that you wear is not designed to protect you. It protects the person next to you," said Dr. David Persse, health authority for the Houston Health Department. Persse said a mask or face covering is not a substitute for social distancing. "The mask you wear does not mean that it's ok to gather in large groups." Turner said Houston's hospitals are currently well-equipped to handle the number of people arriving for treatment, but added that the month of April will present a challenge to the city. "April is our month to do everything we can to flatten the curve." Domestic violence increases in Houston HPD Chief Art Acevedo said crime in Houston has continued to soften, with the exception of building burglaries and aggravated assaults. Aggravated assaults have increased 10 percent since the stay-at-home order was issued, Acevedo said. In the last 28 days, 50 percent of all aggravated assaults are domestic violence-related. That number typically runs about 36 to 38 percent, Acevedo said. He urged families to take a step back and give themselves as much space as possible, and "don't be afraid to call for help." City prepares for busy weekend at the park Turner said basketball goals and volleyball nets are being removed from city parks to promote social distancing. "We are going to be very intentional about enforcing social distancing." Steve Wright, director of the Houston Parks and Receation Department, said residents are still encouraged to use the parks while practicing social distancing. The city has reassigned park personnel to go out to the parks and remind residents to do so, he said. "The upcoming weekend is historically one of our busiest weekends at the park," Wright said. He urged families to seek other locations on Easter weekend if they arrive at a particular park and find it is too crowded. The city will close down parking lots if necessary, Turner said. 3:05 p.m. - The city of Galena Park has issued a daily curfew restricting residents inside buildings from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. The small city located on the north bank of the Houston Ship Channel issued the order Saturday, prohibiting all non-essential and non-emergency travel. "We know that with careful attention to public safety and strictly following these rules and orders we make our city safer," Galena Park Mayor Esmeralda Moya said in the release. 11:46 am - Texas students will not be required to repeat a grade, according to a Friday letter sent by Dayton Independent School District to district parents. The letter, sent after a possible April Fool's Joke elicited concern from some families, stated that the decision whether to hold students back will come after a review of each individual's progress. "The state's education agency, TEA, is leaving the promotion or retention to local school districts," Johnson wrote. Huffman and Crosby ISDs have committed to paying employees through the duration of the pandemic. 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. Actor Matthew McConaughey gave residents of a Texas nursing home a welcome surprise this weekend when he and his family dropped in for a game of virtual bingo. The Enclave at Round Rock posted video of McConaughey and family members video-conferencing in for some fun and games and to wish the residents well. "During a time when we are all working to make lemonade out of lemons, we are so humbled that Matthew took the time to play our favorite game with us," the center posted. 10:15 a.m. - Here are the rules for drivers from Louisiana going through Texas' new checkpoints Louisiana State Police posted the following rules for Louisiana residents who travel to Texas. The new checkpoints are being manned by the Texas Department of Public Safety at all entrances to Texas from Louisiana: Commercial vehicles may pass through, passenger vehicles must stop for COVID-19 screening. Travelers from Louisiana should fill out this form in advance of traveling to Texas. All travelers who enter Texas must remain at a designated quarantine location for 14 days, or the person's entire visit to Texas, whichever is shorter. People in quarantine may leave their designated location to seek medical care. Travelers may depart Texas at any time. 7:35 a.m. - Montgomery County issued official guidance Sunday asking residents to wear face masks while traveling outside. "According the the CDC, recent studies show the virus can be spread by people who do not show symptoms," the release stated. "You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick." The Houston Health Department confirmed the city's 10th coronavirus and reported 53 more cases, bringing the total to 743 in the city and surrounding area. Sunday night Governor Greg Abott took to Twitter to excoriate the Dallas Morning News over an article about Dallas County's use of an emergency pop-up hospital being erected for local coronavirus testing and treatment. "Federal officials told us those resources would be needed elsewhere if Dallas County didn't want them. [The Dallas Morning News] should be ashamed." HOW DID WE GET HERE?: A timeline of the coronavirus pandemic Check back for updates as they come in. Highlights Nagpur Police shared a post of social distancing They used a scene from the popular film Chennai Express The post has now left people in splits Social distancing is the norm of the day and there is no way around it. Every now and then, different police departments take to social media to remind people to maintain proper distance with one another if they are going out to buy essential items or for any other emergency. Nagpur Police took to Twitter to share a reminder about the same but this time using a scene from the famous film Chennai Express. Featuring Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan, the scene shows the duo sitting apart on a bench. The department just added one simple word in the image and it has now left people in splits while conveying a very important message in the process. Heres what they tweeted: Don't underestimate the power of Social Distancing!#NagpurPolice pic.twitter.com/AmFGYcAE0C Nagpur City Police (@NagpurPolice) April 5, 2020 The post has tickled peoples funny bone and their comments expressed the same. Best one, wrote a Twitter user. This is so funny, commented another. So cool. Hope people will understand this and strictly follow it, expressed a third. A person shared what happens in the next scene and tweeple reacted to that too. Check out the conversation: But just in next scene social distancing breaks. pic.twitter.com/bj47o8EJVS MANTHAN MG (@_brainvelocity_) April 5, 2020 Let's pray that the next scene comes in our real life too! Hope things get better after the lockdown. Mallika Kaleem (@MallikaKaleem) April 5, 2020 What do you think of Nagpur Polices tweet? Also Read | Black house and reflection: Nagpur police asks people to stay at home with a creative tweet A seven-year-old boy has been shot dead while playing on a residential Pennsylvania street. Chester police officers responding to a report of a shooting found Sinsir Parker lying in the middle of the street Sunday night. A neighbor said they heard more than a dozen gunshots. 'I heard about 15 shots ring out. I heard it come across the scanner and the Ring that it was a drive-by. I called my local friends on the block and they said two cars came down and just rang out about 15 shots and a little boy caught the bullet in the head,' a local resident told WPVI. Chester police officers responding to a report of a shooting found Sinsir Parker, seven, (not pictured) lying in the middle of a residential street Sunday night The child was shot in in the face after more than a dozen bullets were fired according to a witness He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics from Crozer Chester Medical Center around 9.15pm. Reports said there were several bullets casings at the scene. The release did not indicate any arrests and the circumstances of the shooting were still unclear. The location provided by police corresponds to a residential neighborhood in Chester. Chester is Delaware County's largest city that's not far from the Delaware state line and is just across the Delaware River from New Jersey. Officers at the scene were seen wearing N95 masks to protect themselves from possible infection amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In Pennsylvania, there were 11,589 cases of coronavirus and 151 related deaths as of Monday morning. 'I heard about 15 shots ring out. I heard it come across the scanner and the Ring that it was a drive-by,' a neighbor said The medical exmaniner just arrived to this Chester neighborhood after a 6-year-old child was shot in the face https://t.co/uyx8XGbnZI pic.twitter.com/0SbS9VwYg6 Matt Petrillo (@MattPetrillo) April 6, 2020 'I'm sure that kid was having the tie of his life because he was finally getting to come outside and pay,' the neighbor continued. 'His parents are here. They're not irresponsible.' An eyewitness told CBS 3: 'I've seen them with their kids. I've seen them be family. Good father, good mother. Theres no making sense of this, innocent child has nothing to do with it.' The child's death is the 14th homicide in Chester in 2020, police said. Further details weren't immediately released. Police asked anyone with information to contact the department. Anyone with information is asked to contact City of Chester Det. Victor Heness at 610-447-8429 or email vheness245@chesterpolice.org. Delaware County Det. Daniel McFarland can be contacted on 610-891-4716. At this moment, a cruise ship up from Antarctica, the Greg Mortimer, is stuck off the coast of Uruguay with a bunch of Australians who really want to get back home. Uruguay's March 13 emergency decree in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is not the strictest in South America in terms of rules for distancing and mandatory quarantines (which are applied only for those who test positive), but the decree includes a prohibition that anyone disembark from any cruise or commercial ship arriving from a "high-risk" area. Now, why a ship coming up from Antarctica would be considered high-risk seems like a reach, but we have to note that the ship was scheduled to visit the Patagonian port of Ushuaia on March 20, this after its visit to the South Shetland, South Georgia, and Falkland Islands. At that time, there were three reported cases of the coronavirus in Ushuaia but evidently none in the Falklands (only penguins and seals on Georgia and Shetland) hardly a high-risk zone, but evidently, the Uruguayan authorities are taking no chances. Even more concerning to Uruguayan authorities are their own citizens returning from truly high-risk areas and not heeding the instructions to self-quarantine for two weeks before mixing with others. An Uruguayan socialite and fashion designer flew home to Montevideo on March 7 and was instructed to shelter for two weeks because she had just visited the hard-hit country of Spain. She actually developed symptoms of the virus the next day, but the airport instructions were evidently not weighing heavily on her conscience after disembarking, because the same day, she arrived she had lunch with her 84-year-old mother and then attended a high-society wedding where, out of the 500 guests, 44 came down with her "Spanish" flu. The poor soul, a kind of modern Typhoid Mary, now complains that some are calling her a terrorist for importing death and destruction. Because of this one "import," Uruguay now has a much higher relative number of coronavirus cases than does either Argentina to the south or Brazil to the north. Argentina's cases are presently at 1,133 with 32 deaths; Brazil has 6,931 with 244 deaths; and Uruguay has 350 cases with 2 deaths, one of those a previous government minister. If Uruguay had the same percentage of cases as Argentina right now, its number of infected would be only 87. Uruguay has a similar increasing trend in cases, as do both of its larger neighbors, but the wedding guest kick-off gave the Uruguayans a jump-start toward Armageddon. To be fair, Uruguay, with its population of 3,470,850, has about the same number of cases as Sacramento, California, where the population of 508,529 is only 15% of Uruguay's. Uruguay has a modern and quite efficient health care system it's misleading to think "Third World" about Uruguay or even most of Argentina. Uruguay is the most educated country on our side of the ocean; yes, it has a higher literacy rate than the USA, and Uruguayans will quickly remind you of that distinction. We lived there for 22 years, and many have characterized this small nation as an island of Europe right in the heart of South America. The links to Europe are many. Almost all Uruguayans have European roots: Spaniards, Italians, British, German, and more. When we arrived in Uruguay in the early 1990s, most of the middle-class folk about our age spoke very good French; the ideal university education was often finished off with a year or more in France. French has since been replaced by English as the preferred foreign language, especially for the younger set. But in many ways, Uruguay's culture could almost be called Francophone, except that the national language is Spanish. While Argentina to the south has closed more businesses and decreed a lockdown for a good portion of the population (after which, like in Florida, thousands headed for the beaches to take advantage of the last summer-like weather), and Brazil to the north has taken a much more lackadaisical approach (at least from the president), Uruguay has tried to chart a more middle-of-the-stream course through this pandemic. The new centrist government of Luis Lacalle has decided on a set of measures that would be considered adequate farther north: classes suspended, public gatherings and church services prohibited, parties not allowed. But he has not taken the more drastic step of ordering the population to stay home. Rather, people are "advised" to stay indoors and avoid close contact if they have to go out, and those over the age of 65 are encouraged not to go to work. A special "sick leave" subsidy was created for this at-risk working population. With its educated population and a strong sense of civic responsibility, Uruguay will weather this crisis as well as or better than most other nations in the region. We have been in communication with several in Montevideo these days, and while this is not a scientific sampling, they inform us that there is very little panic. Most are going about their lives taking proper caution, and they hope, like everyone everywhere, that that curve will flatten soon. Being a small country (about 100,000 less population than the city of Berlin) makes it easier to organize the public health services as well as the general population for getting such a crisis under control (think Hong Kong or Singapore). But Uruguay does have the challenge that half of its people live in the "interior" in small cities, towns, and rural settings. As in North America, this hinterland is not as hard hit as the cosmopolitan capital city, but even there, the health system of clinics, hospitals, and health care professionals is accessible to all but the most remote inhabitants. One question that faces Uruguay, which is coming out of the Southern Hemisphere's summer season, is what will happen with the cooler weather and the coming flu season. While up north we all wait expectantly for COVID-19 to hopefully lose some of its "virulency" with the coming warm weather, down south, they are bracing themselves for a particularly rough ride as winter approaches with no vaccines in sight at this early date. And yes, Uruguay does get cold we welcomed short-term youth service teams from California to Uruguay over a 10-year stretch, and they always came during the northern summer vacation months, and there was no way we could warn these kids that Uruguay would actually get cold in the winter. They would show up in shorts and sandals and just about die when they got off the plane. We tried to tell them that Montevideo in the winter is just about like San Francisco in January; cold, rainy, and windy. But this was South America, and wasn't all of South America a tropical paradise? One Latin American country, Nicaragua, which should be a tropical paradise, has taken the most curious laissez-faire attitude toward the pandemic. Schools remain open, Easter celebrations are all still in place, no orders to shelter in place. We might add somewhat positively that an army of "brigadistas" was sent out to inform the population of preventative measures they can take. And most importantly, the government of Nicaragua organized for March 14 parades across the country against the virus; the theme of the rallies was "Love Walk in the Times of COVID-19," apparently a reference to Gabriel Garcia Marquez's novel Love in the Time of Cholera. Against that backdrop of another Spanish-speaking nation's "efforts," it appears that Uruguay has been exceedingly intelligent in its battle to keep this virus under control. OTTAWA - Some provinces and health officials saw glimmers of hope in the country's COVID-19 numbers on Monday, even as the prime minister warned that Canadians shouldn't expect life to return to normal any time soon. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/4/2020 (644 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 Monday, April 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick OTTAWA - Some provinces and health officials saw glimmers of hope in the country's COVID-19 numbers on Monday, even as the prime minister warned that Canadians shouldn't expect life to return to normal any time soon. Speaking in Ottawa, Justin Trudeau said officials will have a better idea of how long the crisis will last once models and predictions are developed, but success will depend on how fully Canadians practise distancing habits. "To stay at home, to continue this period of isolation and distance is the best way to get out as quickly as possible, but certainly it will be a case of several weeks, perhaps several months," the prime minister said in his daily update from Ottawa. New infections and deaths continued to be reported across the country Monday, with 16,666 total cases and 323 deaths reported by the evening. Dr. Theresa Tam, the country's top public health officer, said she was especially concerned with recent outbreaks in hospitals and long-term care homes, which have been reported in several provinces. Among the worst of those outbreaks is the Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon, Ont., where three more residents died on Sunday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 deaths at the 65-bed facility to 26. Tam said that while older people are at a higher risk for complications, people in their 20s have also died, and nobody should consider themselves immune. But Tam also said there was reason to be optimistic that distancing efforts were working. She said the case of British Columbia, which has seen its number of new cases decline in the past week, was a reason to believe that collective action could work to slow the pandemic. "As Canadians, we may not outwardly demonstrate our pride, but our hearts are full of it and we are determined people," she said. "When someone says flatten the curve, we say, 'We'll plank it.'" Tam also updated guidelines on wearing non-medical masks, amid what she said was increasing evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted by infected people who have not started to show symptoms or who never fall sick. As a result, public health authorities have concluded that simple cloth masks can help prevent the wearer from spreading the virus to others in places where physical distancing is difficult, she said. She said masks worn this way have not been proven to protect the people wearing them, and they don't exempt wearers from other measures they should take against COVID-19, including physical distancing and regular handwashing. While deaths rose by 13 in Ontario and by 27 in Quebec, officials in both provinces also saw reasons for optimism. Ontario reported 309 new COVID-19 cases Monday, for a total of 4,347, including 132 deaths and 1,624 patients who have recovered. The total number of cases reported Monday represented a 7.7 per cent increase over the previous day's total a lower percentage increase than in previous days. In Quebec, Premier Francois Legault said there was "light at the end of the tunnel," despite 27 new deaths and a total case count that rose to more than 8,500. While the province recorded 636 new cases, Legault noted that the numbers appeared to be stabilizing, and the total number of hospitalizations had increased by only eight over the day before. "If we can have this for a few days, that would mean we are approaching the peak," he told reporters in Quebec City, regarding the rate of infection in the province. "I don't want to speculate, but it's just, the numbers are encouraging today." Manitoba health officials reported just one new case of COVID-19 on Monday, while New Brunswick recorded two and Saskatchewan, four. The tone was less positive in Newfoundland and Labrador, however, as the province recorded nine new cases and a second death in what Premier Dwight Ball described as an extremely sad day. British Columbia recorded a total of 63 cases from Saturday to Monday, according to the provincial health officer. Dr. Bonnie Henry said the rate of new cases has been slowing, or "bending," but concerns remain including outbreaks in long-term care and assisted living homes as well as the federal prison in Mission, where two inmates have tested positive. Leaders across the country stressed that now is not the time to back off on physical distancing measures. "We must keep that firewall strong," Henry urged British Columbians. 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. Trudeau has himself been working from home since his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, tested positive for COVID-19 on March 13. He said that while he expects to return to the office in the days to come, he will mainly keep working from home because "that's what we ask of everyone." Meanwhile, Trudeau said more than 300,000 people successfully applied for emergency financial aid in the first few hours after the federal government opened the process on Monday. The benefit offers $500 weekly payments for workers who have lost their income due to the pandemic. The prime minister suggested the 16-week program would be expanded to offer help for people whose hours have been reduced but not eliminated, and he promised help for those who earn less than the benefit provides. By Morgan Lowrie in Montreal This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 6, 2020. Former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani has urged security agencies to enlighten citizens who violate the lockdown order of the government in a bid to curtail the spread of Coronavirus. This is coming following public outcry on social media over treatment being meted by security agencies to violators of the lockdown. Also Read: Shehu Sani Hails Fayemi For Appointing Fayose, Others Into COVID-19 Mobilisation Committee According to the former lawmaker from Kaduna on his official Twitter page, violators of the lockdown should be treated with civility and continuously enlightened to respect the directives being given. See his tweet below: Its hard enough fighting a deadly pandemic that threatens the health and prosperity of the entire country. Its even harder to do it with a knife in your back. The Trump administrations decision to block shipments of crucial protective equipment heading for Ontario is the equivalent of plunging a knife into someone fighting for their life. Its a disgraceful, destructive move. In the short run it threatens the safety of front-line health care workers in Ontario. In the longer run, it further undermines the badly frayed relationship between Canada and the United States. When the chips are down, as a frustrated Premier Doug Ford said over the weekend, you see who your friends are. Saskatchewans Scott Moe put it more bluntly. Trumps actions, he said, are nothing short of a betrayal. Federal officials have been working flat out, making the case to anyone in Washington who will listen that blocking shipments of medical supplies to Canada makes no sense. Medical equipment and health workers move back and forth across the border all the time, they point out. About a thousand nurses living in Windsor, Ont., work over the river in Detroit, which has been hit hard by COVID-19. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau points out that its a two-way street that benefits both countries. Ford deserves full credit for pushing back, publicly and forcefully, and warning that without those supplies from south of the border Ontario risks running out of masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) for front-line health workers. There was evidence on Monday that progress was being made. According to Ford, half a million of the four million masks ordered by Ontario from 3M have been released by U.S. authorities. If those masks do make it over the border, the province will get a bit of breathing room as the pandemic enters an even more dangerous phase. But at this point its far from clear what will become of the rest of the equipment purchased by Ontario, and whether the Trump administration can be persuaded to exempt Canada from its no export ruling. Ottawa needs to keep up the pressure. It managed to beat back a foolish proposal to place American troops near the Canadian border, supposedly to stop people crossing into the U.S. during the pandemic (as if anyone in their right mind would choose to do that). Now the Trudeau government must push back this latest destructive move from the White House. It mustnt stop until Washington recognizes that its relationship with Canada should not become another victim of the crisis. The sad truth is that most countries are turning inward during this pandemic. Theyre not just closing borders. Theyre cancelling deals to sell crucial equipment, even intercepting shipments en route to other countries. Any pretense of a global fight against COVID-19 is evaporating amidst the scramble to take care of their own and let the devil take the hindmost. Canada, like other countries, has no choice at this point but to ramp up domestic production of PPEs. If your friends turn out to be so untrustworthy in a pinch, youve got to rely on your own resources. But let this be yet another reminder that we should never again be caught so unprepared. If Canada (and other countries) had built up and managed adequate stockpiles of basic medical equipment, as all the experts recommended, they would not now be desperately competing for scarce supplies at exactly the wrong moment. That, however, is for the future. The priority now must be to talk sense to an administration with a notable lack of just that. Correction - April 8, 2020: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said Harmac Pacific, a British Columbia mill, supplies specialized pulp used in the production of masks and glovesto manufacturing company 3M in South Dakota. In fact, Harmac Pacific does not supply any materials to 3M. Read more about: BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 6 Azerbaijani Ministry of Taxes registered SOCAR-STP LLC, which was jointly established by SOCAR and Sumgait Technology Park (STP) LLC, on April 3, Trend reports. The authorized capital of the company is to 1.7 million manat ($1 million). According to the report, the new company has the same legal address as PASHA Holding: 153 Neftchilar Avenue, Baku, Nasimi district, Azerbaijan. The new joint venture will manage the manufacturing of heavy cranes and a large workshop of mechanical equipment in the Commonwealth Independent States (CIS). The main activity of the joint venture will be maintenance and repair work of heavy cranes, gushing, Advanced Parts Solution (APS), drilling equipment and well completion. Sumgayit Technologies Park is part of Azerbaijani Azenco company, which is engaged in the construction of facilities in the energy sector. The area of the park is 250 hectares. STP was created with the objective to implement large infrastructure projects in the industrial sector of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani State Oil Company SOCAR and Sumgayit Technologies Park have signed an agreement on the establishment of SOCAR-STP joint venture on February 20. STP's residents include 12 plants and 30 production sites. ($1 = 1.7 manat on Apr. 6) The Uttar Pradesh Covid Care Fund is yet to receive pledges of monetary support of Rs 1 crore each from many lawmakers of major opposition parties in the state, barring those of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has set up the fund to buy medical equipment and provide facilities in medical colleges and hospitals to fight the coronavirus. A fund collection target of Rs 1000 to Rs 1500 crore has been set. Yogi Adityanath called BSP chief Mayawati last week to thank her for her directive to her party MLAs to allocate Rs 1 crore from the Vidhayak Nidhi to the Uttar Pradesh Covid Care Fund. The chief minister also allocated Rs 1 crore from his Vidhayak Nidhi and held a video conference with MLAs/MLCs and MPs on the issue. Several opposition leaders attended the two video conferences last week. The attendees included Leader of Opposition Ram Govind Chaudhary, SP MP Rewati Raman Singh, Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Kumar Lallu and Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhna Mishra. Ram Govind Chaudhary was not available for comment on the issue. When asked whether SP leaders will allocate Rs 1 crore from the MPLAD fund, Rewati Raman Singh said SP chief Akhilesh Yadav will take a call on the issue. Samajwadi Party spokesman and former minister Rajendra Chaudhary, said, Samajwadi Party legislators have already committed or allocated a large chunk of their Vidhayak Nidhi for the fight against coronavirus in their respective assembly constituencies and so may not be left with sufficient amount for allocation of Rs 1 crore to the CMs Covid Care Fund. They may have to meet other commitments as well. How can SP members withdraw their commitment and take back the amount already given for the cause? The SP legislators will release the remaining amount on the directions of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. As for the Congress, while Lallu said the party will take a call on the issue, Mishra was not available for comment. Earlier, assembly speaker Hridaya Narayan Dikshit spoke to leaders of political parties, urging them allocate Rs 1 crore for the fund. Dikshit, who has allocated Rs 1 crore from his Vidhayak Nidhi, also spoke to most of the ministers and MLAs, seeking allocation of Rs 1 crore from the Vidhayak Nidhi. Yes, I tried to speak to all the ministers and MLAs. I have received letters from many ministers and MLAs, informing me about allocation of Rs 1 crore from Vidhayak Nidhi to the UP Covid Relief fund. Those who have sent letters in this regard include minister for finance Suresh Khanna and about 20 legislators, said Dikshit. The speaker also said, Each MLA is entitled to spend Rs 3 crore every year from the Vidhayak Nidhi and the limit of allocating Rs 25 lakh per item has been done away with. A state assembly functionary said although most legislators may agree to donate their salary for the fund, the assembly secretariat was yet to receive their letters of consent in this regard. This delay may be because of the lockdown, said the functionary, adding, The state government has the powers to deduct Rs 1 crore from the Vidhayak Nidhi of all MLAs and this power should be used to allocate funds to fight the corona disaster. UP legislative Council chairman Ramesh Yadav has also sent a letter to all the MLCs, urging them to allocate Rs 1 crore for the UP Covid Care Fund. I request you to allocate Rs 1 crore to the fund to fight the coronavirus pandemic, Yadav said in his letter. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As the novel coronavirus continues to spread through Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds faces one question more than any other: Why have you not yet ordered Iowans to stay in their homes? As of Friday, when this column was written, Iowa was one of just five states without any shelter-in-home order, according to tracking from the New York Times. Reynolds, who conducts daily briefings on the states response to the novel coronavirus, has said repeatedly that her public health department uses a range of data to determine whether and when to make such an order, and that the virus spread as of Friday had not yet triggered the need to require all Iowans' stay in their homes except for essential needs like groceries and health care. She also has said many of the orders she has put in place closing schools and many businesses are elements similar to what are in many states shelter-at-home orders. And yet as Iowans grow concerned with the virus spread, and whenever they see groups of people huddled together in public, the question keeps coming back. AMSTERDAM (April 06, 2020)I walked hand in hand with my boyfriend along the Looiersgracht Canal to the soft tune of a piano, which had floated sleepily out of a nearby third floor window for only us to hear, and as we gazed around Amsterdam, only our memory brought forth the people and colorful life that usually flourish herereplaced now by locked doors and vacant streets. Two weeks earlier, I wouldn't have thought I would be here. Knocks on the door, buzzing cell phones and the ringing of our longstanding landline telephone all erupted at once in my family's fifth floor apartment in the East Village of Manhattan, urgently compelling us to turn on the news. President Donald Trump was announcing his travel ban on Europe in an attempt to halt the persistent spread of the coronavirus. On that night of March 11, Trump declared in a brief Oval Office address that all travel between the United States and Europe would be suspended for 30 days and would go into effect in 48 hours. I stood statically before the television as headlines in capital letters appeared, my yellow carry-on bag gripped tightly in my right hand in preparation to leave for John F. Kennedy International Airport to catch my flight to Amsterdam in three hours. Against her view that fate brought this moment, my mother drove me to the airport with her eyes glued to the city streets over the wheel as we drove up 1st Avenue, ignoring each ding of the many incoming notifications from her cellphone. In the Queens-Midtown Tunnel she asked me, "God forbid, what if something happened and I couldn't get to you?" "Or, what if something happened to us?" she continued, speaking of our family. "Would you be okay with not being able to come back to us?" The virus had spread in a whirlwind across various countries and into the United States over recent weeks with many disruptions; days earlier, the school I attend, the University of Maryland, announced its closure until April 10. It later extended the closure for the remainder of the spring semester. Trump had placed a ban on all travel with Europe for the next 30 days, the woman at the desk for Norwegian Airlines at JFK reminded me. "If you go, there's no guarantee when you will be able to return," she said with a concerned look. Out of 246 seats, only 112 passengers had checked in for my 1:05 a.m. flight. Most were Dutch citizens returning home. The Norwegian agent said kindly, "It's your choice." I was torn about what to do as I sat with my mother in the airport parking lot watching our car's digital clock rise in numbers. Cutting through silence she surprised me when she said, "If it were me, I would go." My trip had been planned for two monthsto stay for 10 days in Amsterdam and Bussum, a small town nearby the capital city, with my boyfriend. I was at a gridlock, wondering when I would next be able to go if I didn't go then. With 20 minutes left to get to my gate, I decided to take the leap. The rest moved swiftly and I was soon on the plane, wiping down my seat and tray table with disinfectant wipes. In seat 8D, I could see only four fellow passengers and they were all engaged in similar cleaning practices. Looking around, I swayed between exhilaration and worry as I thought about how many would've opted to stay home. Only when the plane was rolling down the runway was a correction issued that American citizens were able to return after undergoing proper screenings. Upon my arrival in Amsterdam, I met the same surprise at my decision to travel after the ban; a TSA agent at the Schiphol Airport ran my bag through a second security scanner as suspicion accompanied my seemingly reckless decision. The regulations for COVID-19 came on my fourth day here, as I sat with friends before the television to listen to in on remarks from Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. I waited through gasps, groans and some cheers before it was translated to me that all cafes, shops and schools in the Netherlands would be closed through April 6. The Netherlands had earlier been reproached throughout the European Union for not yet holding crisis talks to address new health measures. School doors were already closed in most Western European countries the week of March 8. The Dutch Ministry expressed concern about how "public life will come to a standstill." Students globally have been making do with the adjusted circumstances through online learning programs connected to services like Zoom, through which they are able to watch and hear lessons and connect with professors. Everyone I know here who is still enrolled in an education program is participating in these virtual classrooms to further their studies until the schools reopen. In a recent directive, the Dutch government decided schools and businesses will stay closed until April 28, and all national exams for the academic year were cancelled. "There is a very real chance that we will have to extend the measures past April 28," Rutte said at a press conference to address the crisis. "We don't want people to travel all over the country, and after April 28 we certainly won't be back the way we were." On March 17, six days from my expected return to New York, I was alerted that my flight with Norwegian Airlines was cancelled. With instructions not to contact the airline unless flying before April 15 was absolutely necessary, there were no answers as to when I would be able to reschedule. All flights to New York with Norwegian through April have been eliminated and read as "sold out" on the carrier's website. Many airlines have halted operation of long haul flights, and the window to return home has been gradually shrinking. From over 50 countries, more than 26,000 U.S. citizens have been returned home with a repatriation task force dedicated to bringing all Americans back, according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. "We do not know how long the commercial flights in your countries may continue to operate," Pompeo said. "We can't guarantee the U.S. government's ability to arrange charter flights indefinitely where commercial options no longer exist." Now, two weeks overdue in my time here, it is unclear when I will return home. So I've chosen to stay and return to normalcy hereI will live in Amsterdam until the spread of COVID-19 has slowed and the U.S. border reopens. I am in a good placesafe and healthyand will abide by national regulations as my peers do in this new environment. When I venture around, I don't see many people outside, and the ones I have come into contact with are in groups of no more than three people, with a distance of five feet between them. Social distancing has been strongly encouraged and from what I have seen is widely respected by Dutch citizens. There is a limit of people allowed inside certain shops at once; outside the Albert Heijn, a popular grocery chain, there is often an organized line of patient people waiting to purchase groceries. It is a rare occurrence to see people wearing masks, latex gloves or goggles, but the reactionary panic that has been circling the globe exists here, too, though it is subtle. One day, a cashier at the grocery store didn't like that I paid for a bottle of orange juice with coins and carefully sorted them with one gloved finger. With announcements made regularly by the Dutch government every three days, the Netherlands seems to have been well prepared to manage a seemingly unmanageable crisis. As of April 2, the Netherlands has reported 1,339 virus-induced deaths. Approximately 14,697 people have tested positive for COVID-19. The U.S. State Department announced its most severe warning in a time of progressively increasing restrictions on March 19 when it issued a Level 4 travel advisory, urging Americans to not travel internationally and for citizens abroad to return home immediately. When people hear I am in the Netherlands they are in disbelief, usually with a trace of pity at my current situation, stranded in limbo. They tell me it is "wrenching to hear about (my) plight" and hope I can get home soon. But I am settled and happy, and curious to learn what lies ahead for my unexpected life abroad. Charlotte Parker Dulany is a reporter in the Washington bureau of Capital News Service. (In April 4 item, corrects paragraph 12 to show the location of Lone Star Baptist Church is Greers Ferry, Arkansas; corrects paragraph 17 to show Rob McCoy is the former mayor of Thousand Oaks) By Michelle Conlin and Rich McKay April 4 (Reuters) - Her house sits on a tidy, peaceful suburban street outside Cincinnati. For the past few weeks, she has been doing everything right: sheltering at home and working out of her makeshift office to help stop the spread of the new coronavirus. The Ohio megachurch down the road, Solid Rock, has charted a different course. Despite warnings from local and state officials, Solid Rock had been holding its 1,000-strong gatherings in person, and plans keep the church open on Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week in Christian churches. "I think they should obey the laws of the land, like the way the Bible tells us to," said Sandra, who lives a few miles from the site and asked not be identified by last name. Reuters was able independently to corroborate her address and identity. The local mayor and health officials have asked the church to close, so far to no avail. Solid Rock did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters but in a statement on its website said, in part, that "we are taking all necessary precautions to ensure the health and safety of anyone who comes to Solid Rock Church. We have scaled back our normal services; and there are not large numbers of worshipers in the facility, but we are we are open and continuing to practice and sustain our faith." Millions of American Christians will observe Palm Sunday at home this weekend, as the vast majority of U.S. churches have moved services online to comply with stay-at-home rules. But, like Solid Rock, pockets of churches from Florida to Texas and across to California are keeping their doors open and inviting worshipers to attend services this weekend. "We're defying the rules because the commandment of God is to spread the Gospel," Louisiana pastor Tony Spell said in an interview with Reuters. Spell, 42, who plans to hold three services at his 1,000-member Life Tabernacle megachurch in a Baton Rouge suburb on Palm Sunday, has defied state orders against assembling in large groups and has already been hit with six misdemeanors. Story continues "The church is the last force resisting the Antichrist, let us assemble regardless of what anyone says," he said. For Spell and others, the public health orders are a threat to religious freedoms and constitutional rights. "Satan's trying to keep us apart, he's trying to keep us from worshipping together. But we're not going to let him win," Kelly Burton, pastor at Lone Star Baptist Church in Greers Ferry, Arkansas, wrote in a post on Facebook. Lone Star has been holding services in the parking lot - what it calls "Church on the Lot" - and will do so on Palm Sunday. CORONAVIRUS VS COMMUNION Gatherings organized by at least two churches - one in France, another in South Korea - have been linked to the spread of the virus. In California, Sacramento County officials said on Friday that they have identified one evangelical church that has a cluster of 71 positive cases. They offered few details but said that while the church itself is closed, church members continue to gather in fellow parishioners' homes. Others in California are defying the ban. Rob McCoy is one of them. He is the former mayor of Thousand Oaks, in the Los Angeles area, but also the pastor of Godspeak Calvary Chapel, where he will offer communion on Palm Sunday - though encouraging worshipers to stand six feet apart. "It's very important theologically that communion not be taken alone," said McCoy. "What we are doing is exercising our inalienable rights. Communion is non-negotiable for us." About 400 miles (644 km) north of Thousand Oaks, police in Lodi, California, interrupted a service late last month at the Cross Culture Christian Center, an evangelical church with about 80 regular attendees, to tell members they were violating stay-at-home orders. They have since been given a warning posted on the church door, a "Notice of Public Nuisance," demanding the center stop holding services, according to local officials. "This is a serious public health threat," said city spokesman Jeff Hood. Still, the pastor plans to hold services on Palm Sunday, said the church's attorney, Dean Broyles. "Simply put, no, we're not going to obey it," Broyles told Reuters. "The virus does not suspend our constitutional rights, the right to assemble, freedom of religion and freedom of speech." Broyles said the church is taking steps to mitigate risks, including sanitizing the building before services and asking that the elderly or those with health problems remain at home. "We're much safer than a Walmart or grocery store," said Broyles, who is also president of the National Center for Law & Policy, a legal advocacy group based in San Diego. "Think about it, you're crammed into (store) aisles inches apart from other shoppers. Here we're sitting six feet apart." (Reporting by Michelle Conlin in New York and Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Paul Thomasch and Daniel Wallis) A petition at Smith College is calling for an extension of employment for contingent faculty, which make up about half of the Northampton colleges faculty membership. According to the petition, Smith Colleges stated support of tenured and tenure-track faculty has not addressed contingent faculty, whose members have been left without assurance or direction as to their futures. The goal of 800 petition signatures looked within reach; as of Monday afternoon, more than 600 had been received. Contingent faculty include visiting assistant professors, lecturers, senior lecturers salaried paid-per- course and short-notice hires, laboratory instructors teaching assistants and postdoctoral fellows. The petition, which is being presented in the form of a demand, calls for the college to extend all current contingent faculty appointments and accompanying benefits by at least one year, and honor all verbal, email, and informal agreements for employment for the 2020-2021 academic year. It is also urging transparency from the college in these discussions and decisions. The creator of the campaign was "Sophia Smith,'' according to the petition. Smith was the 19th Century founder and benefactor of the eponymously named college, which was chartered in 1871 and opened its doors in 1875 on the strength of the bequest from her will. Some contingent faculty, but not all, are eligible for benefits. Similarly, they may be part-time or full-time, some may have signed contracts for the 2020-2021 academic year, others may have verbal agreements for employment for 2020-21, and yet others are typically renewed in the summer. The petition comes on the heels of Smith College president Kathleen McCartneys declaration on Friday of a faculty and hiring freeze. A Wednesday, April 8 deadline was set to apply to the Provosts office for exceptions. In response to the upheaval caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Smith College has granted tenure-track faculty an automatic one-year extension of their probationary period. According to the petition, doing so for one branch of faculty without clarifying the status of the other establish a protection divide between members of the faculty. "If Smith College chooses not to rehire contingent faculty, their ability to seek employment now will be severely circumscribed,'' the petition states. According to the document, many contingent faculty were already teaching disproportionately heavier loads and larger classes, even before the pandemic, with limited job security and sometimes without benefits. The switch to a spring semester of online learning, which Smith College was one of the first Massachusetts colleges to adopt, has compounded the emotional and intellectual labor required in (such an) abrupt transition, the petition stated. The petition was addressed to McCartney, the Board of Trustees and the Provosts office. --- However, the WHO chose to ignore the warnings by Taiwan at China's behest and now the whole world is paying the price of it. Emerging from China's infamous wet market, the virus has so far infected at least 1.216 million people around the world. The global death toll from the deadly virus stands at 65,652.New York-based writer Wilfred Chan wrote for The Nation that despite early warnings from Taiwanese officials, the organization kept the island cut off from its global information networks. Now, it may be the rest of the world that's paying the price.Scientists from Taiwan informed the WHO as early as December 31 about the human to human transmission of the Chinese Virus from Wuhan but not only did WHO suppress this information, it continued peddling the lie that it doesn't spread from human to human, Chan stated in the article.Taiwan is an island nation off the southeastern coast of China, which the WHO refuses to recognise as a sovereign state.The WHO also allowed China to report Taiwan's coronavirus numbers as part of its own total, instead of reporting Taiwan's numbers alone--a conflation that created headaches for the smaller nation.Since the crisis unfolded, it seems Beijing is steering the WHO, which was so far known as an independent organization. Many experts believe that China has so much influence over the WHO because of its funding.China reported the first case of coronavirus in late December but the WHO intervened only at the end of January.The WHO only come to the forefront when its Director-General Tedros Adhanom visited the country. Before that, it was repeating Chinese government statements and was ignoring Taiwanese doctors.After the Beijing visit, though, WHO said in a statement that it appreciated "especially the commitment from top leadership and the transparency they have demonstrated." Only after the meeting did it declared, on January 30, a public health emergency of international concern.By the time the WHO finally declared a global health emergency on January 30, nearly 8,000 cases had been confirmed by Chinese authorities, hundreds of people had died, and the virus had surfaced in at least 18 countries outside of China.Still, the WHO continues to praise China. "This declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China," said Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "On the contrary, the WHO continues to have confidence in China's capacity to control the outbreak."Recently, Japan becomes the first country to highlight the unscrupulous collusion of the Chinese Communist Party and the WHO.Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso had said that the World Health Organisation should change its name. It shouldn't be called the WHO, it should be renamed the Chinese Health Organization (CHO).Speaking to Japanese lawmakers on Sunday, Aso referenced a Change.org petition calling for the removal of WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus."Although the details are murky, the WHO's previous Director-General was a Chinese national, and at that time, there were complaints all around," Aso said. (ANI) With 14 proposals, AMLO says Maya Train project still on schedule Mexico City, Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador affirmed that the flow of electrical energy for the Yucatan Peninsula is guaranteed and that the Maya Train project is still firm, which will impact jobs and economic reactivation. During a message from the National Palace, the president said that these are not times for depression but for fortitude, when announcing his Emerging Economic Reactivation Plan against the coronavirus. He indicated that the CFE will build thermoelectric plants in the Yucatan Peninsula and Baja California and that the Salina Cruz and Coatzacoalcos Itsmo Railroad project will directly employ 7,300 people. He confirmed that on April 30, the construction of the first section of the Maya Train will be signed and in May, four more sections to accelerate its construction once the Santa Lucia airport is complete. This year, in the five sections of the Maya Train, 80,000 jobs will be generated and there will be an economic gain of 35 billion peso in the states of the southeast of the country, he said. During his speech, AMLO promised jobs, social support and more investments to face the crisis, adding that if Mexico can overcome corruption, which has been the most tragic and disastrous of the plagues and calamities of Mexico, it will also overcome the contingency of the COVID-19 pandemic. The news comes days after the announcement of 14 proposals for the Maya Train. Last week, el Fondo Nacional de Fomento al Turismo (Fonatur) reported that in accordance with the schedule established for the tender of the construction sections of the Maya Train, 14 technical and economic proposals were received in their central offices. Fonatur says they continue to work to carry out the Mayan Train project, which they say, is progressing in compliance with the dates of its contracting calendar to start work on April 30 of this year. They say for that Section 1, which goes from Palenque, Chiapas to Escarcega, Campeche, 74,100 jobs will be created. YEREVAN, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS. An active-duty serviceman of the Artsakh military was shot and wounded by Azerbaijani gunfire on April 5, the Defense Ministry of Artsakh said in a news release. The serviceman, 20-year-old Arayik Shakhpazyan of the Defense Army of Artsakh, was hit by the adversary fire around 17:30 while on duty at a military position in the eastern direction of the border. The wounded soldier was taken to a military hospital where doctors assessed his condition to be satisfactory. The authorities of Artsakh said they are investigating the circumstances of the incident. The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Artsakh is urging the adversary to refrain from taking provocative actions and is announcing that the Azerbaijani side will bear full responsibility of consequences in case of further escalation of the situation, reads the news release. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan In the early days of March, a striking image of Meccas Al Haram Mosque went viral. The popular Saudi mosque was empty. Its white floor stood out in contrast to the towering Kaaba, Islams holiest site. In contrast to many countries around the world where lockdowns came too late, the Saudis had swung into action ahead of time in February end, decisively closing doors to tourists and pilgrims. The measures came even before the kingdom reported its first case of coronavirus disease Covid-19. Other countries that didnt take matters seriously should have followed all the measures taken by the kingdom to protect its people, G Sultan, a resident of Riyadh, told HT. If you go to the supermarkets, you find what you want and in very abundant quantities, and the prices havent changed. Sultan lives at home with his family, closely following up on his children, who are studying through distance education. The government has instituted strict measures to prevent people from leaving home, yet you can get what you want by using electronic requests, he says. Today, Saudi Arabia is the worst-hit among the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) group of Arab oil monarchies. It had reported 2,179 cases of confirmed infections till Saturday and 29 deaths. The first case positive coronavirus case the country was a Saudi national returning from Iran through Bahrain. Iran was Middle Easts focal point in the first days of the coronavirus epidemic, where the hotspot was the countrys holiest city of Qom. The virus quickly spread to other cities across the country and its neighbours, including several of its regional allies, suffered outbreaks that were linked to Iran. I dont think they (the government) are doing enough - at all, said an Iranian man who lives in Hormozgan. He wished not to be named. There havent been quarantines, no roads have been closed, people are free to travel, there are still planes coming and going. Its the people who are taking care of each other. In Iran, it has been disaster after disaster - the killings of protesters, the shooting of the Ukrainian plane, and now the outbreak. It has just been a never-ending nightmare. I am just happy to be alive, and I try everything I can to protect the people I care about, he added. The death toll in Iran from the outbreak has reached 3,603, health ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said in a statement broadcast live on state TV on Sunday. 151 people have died in the past 24 hours, he said. The Islamic Republic, the Middle Eastern country worst-hit by the epidemic, now has a total of 58,226 infections. Iran has been accused of covering up the crisis in the country. On March 12, the Washington Post published satellite images of a mass grave near Qom, the epicentre of Irans outbreak, indicating that the death toll is likely much higher than the state is publicly admitting. Iran has denied these claims. The story is nearly the same across the border in Iraq. The health ministry says Covid-19 has killed 56 Iraqis and infected more than 800 others. But many suspect the real numbers to be much higher, as only a few thousand people from a population of 40 million have been tested. Iraq on Friday suspended the work of Reuters news agency for three months, following a report by the agency the previous day that said the Iraqi government was underreporting confirmed cases of the new coronavirus. The Reuters report said the true number ranged from 3,000 to 9,000. Baghdad resident Zainab laments the country was too late to react. They were late in closing the airports. They allowed Iranian visitors to come in, says the 23-year-old engineer. Curfew procedures are not serious. Plus, the government hasnt been firm with some religious groups who insist on gathering for rituals. The secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council publicly accused the United States on Sunday of blocking Irans request for a $5 billion emergency loan request from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that would be used to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic that has ravaged the country. US opposition to granting Irans requested facilities from IMF to provide items needed to deal with coronavirus is a real case of crimes against humanity, tweeted Rear Adm. Ali Shamkhani. Why it matters: While the European Union has come out in favor of the coronavirus loan, the Donald Trump administration has so far refused to publicly state a position on the matter. Neither the White House nor the State Department replied to Al-Monitors request for comment. An IMF spokeswoman simply said that discussions are still ongoing. The Trump administration has opted instead to dial up the sanctions that have formed the crux of its maximum pressure campaign against Tehran since the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal. Iran asserts that the sanctions have exacerbated the crisis. The Trump administration, in turn, has pointed to a humanitarian exemption that allows for the trade of humanitarian goods with Tehran. Europe used its new INSTEX trade mechanism for the first time last week to ship humanitarian supplies to Iran. Whats next: The back and forth between Tehran and Washington is quickly becoming a US election issue. Last week, former Vice President Joe Biden the overwhelming favorite to win the Democratic nomination and face off against President Trump in November called on the Trump administration to better facilitate humanitarian transactions with Iran. His statement came after his primary opponent, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., issued a broader call last month for the Trump administration to lift financial sanctions on Iran as it struggles to contain the coronavirus. Know more: Read Congressional Correspondent Bryant Harris report on how the Iran sanctions debate is dividing Democrats. And be sure to read his report outlining how Trumps Iran policy is also under fire from hawks in his own party. In a shocking revelation, the PPEs which China claimed to have donated to Italy as it grappled to fight the COVID-19 pandemic were actually not donated but sold to the Vatican country, claims a report quoted by news agency ANI. China, which has been quite literally 'masking' the havoc it wrecked worldwide by its humanitarian gestures of donating faulty equipment, was caught in a lie after a senior official from Trump administration, as quoted by a British publication, revealed that China forced Italy to buy back the PPE supply that it gave to China during the initial Coronavirus outbreak." Read: China's Covid Alarm Bells Ring Again Amid 'second Wave' Fear; Beijing In Long-term Control Chinas 'slippery' diplomacy This comes after Italy had generously donated Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to China before it succumbed to the deadly disease itself recording over 15,000 deaths, exceeding China's death toll. During this time of crisis, Beijing had actually sold, not donated, Italy's PPEs back to the country, several media reports claimed. Read: Italy Registers Lowest Increase In Virus Deaths This does not come as a surprise to many since Chinas diplomacy in the wake of the pandemic outbreak has been slippery. Much of its supplies and testing kits that it sold or 'donated' to other countries have turned out to be defective. Spain had to return 50,000 quick-testing kits to China after discovering that they were faulty. While the Netherlands complained that half of the masks they were sent did not meet safety standards. China did respond to the Netherlands; however, asking them to double-check the instructions on its masks instead. Read: COVID-19: US Officials Warn Coming Week Could Be 'Pearl Harbor Moment' Lethal virus paves its way through continents First originated from China's wet markets, the coronavirus has now claimed over 69,480 lives worldwide as of April 6. According to the tally by international news agency, the pandemic has now spread to 208 countries and has infected at least 1,274,346 people. Out of the total infections, 264,838 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: COVID-19: China Donates 1,000 Ventilators To New York (With ANI Inputs) Global companies are on a mission to battle Coronavirus through their efforts to invent Novel Therapies, Vaccines and expedited Clinical researches Coronavirus pandemic has been a global threat to both healthcare and economy across the world. More than 200 countries and territories have confirmed coronavirus cases, pushing billions of people into lockdown as health services struggle to cope. As of today, 6 April 2020 the virus has infected 1,27,6302 people with around 69,526 reported deaths globally. Though WHO announced the enrolment of Spain and Norway for initial clinical trials, the struggle is still on the bar. US FDA approved certain quick solutions as vaccines or therapies for the immediate fight against the virus. The regulator on March 29 granted an emergency use authorization to hydroxychloroquine sulfate and chloroquine phosphate to treat COVID-19 patients. The emergency rules require patients to receive doses of the drugs donated to the U.S. federal stockpile by drug manufacturers. In the U.S., many of the companies that are initiating development have received funding from two organizations: the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Some companies have also received funding from Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a global organization funding to vaccine makers. Other companies are funding trials by themselves or through partnerships with other life sciences companies. Here are some of the companies developing treatments or vaccines in the U.S. for COVID-19: Company BioNTech SE and Pfizer Inc. Type: Vaccine; Stage: Preclinical; Name: BNT162; Announced: 17 March Pfizer announced that it would help develop and distribute BioNTech SEs COVID-19 vaccine candidate, though the deal excludes China. BioNTech plans to put the vaccine candidate into clinical trials in late April, in Germany and the U.S. It is testing the vaccine in collaboration with Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. in China. Company: CytoDyn Inc. Type: Treatment; Stage: Phase 2 clinical trial; Name: leronlimab; Announced: 31 March CytoDyn, a preclinical biotechnology company based in Vancouver, said that the FDA is allowing a mid-stage trial for its experimental drug leronlimab for COVID-19 patients. The investigational therapy has been proposed as a treatment for mild-to-moderate respiratory complications that occur in patients with the disease. Company: Dynavax Technologies Corp. Type: Adjuvant platform for vaccines; Announced: March Dynavax, the biopharmaceutical company announced that its making its adjuvant technology available to companies developing COVID-19 vaccines through a partnership with CEPI. Dynavaxs adjuvant technology can help provide an increased immune response to a vaccine. Company: Gilead Sciences Inc. Type: Treatment; Stage: Phase 3 clinical trials; Name: remdesivir Gilead, a drugmaker is conducting a randomized, controlled clinical trial in Wuhan along with U.S. trials to test remdesivir as a treatment for mild-to-moderate forms of pneumonia in coronavirus patients. The trial was given the go-ahead by Chinas FDA in February. However, on 28 March Gilead halted due to an overwhelming number of applications after providing the investigational therapy to 1,000 patients. Company: GlaxoSmithKline Type: Pandemic adjuvant platform for vaccines; Name: AS03 Adjuvant System; Announced: 3 Feb GSK announced that the CEPI-funded University of Queensland will have access to the British drugmakers vaccine adjuvant platform technology, which is believed to both strengthen the response of a vaccine and limit the amount of vaccine needed per dose. On Feb. 24, GSK said that Clover Biopharmaceuticals Inc., a Chinese biotechnology company, is also using its adjuvant technology in combination with its vaccine candidate, COVID-19 S-Trimer, in preclinical studies. Company: Heat Biologics Inc. Type: Vaccine; Stage: Preclinical; Announced: 17 March Heat Biologics has previously announced that it is developing a vaccine for the coronavirus with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and its vaccine candidate has been added to the WHOs draft landscape of 41 candidate vaccines. The company also recently joined the Alliance for Biosecurity, which may help it secure government funding to support its rapid development, production, and distribution of its COVID-19 vaccine, according to Maxim Group analysts. Company: Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc. Type: DNA-based vaccine; Stage: Preclinical; Name: INO-4800 Inovio, an immunotherapies and vaccines developer and a $9 million CEPI grantee proposed INO-4800 for COVID-19 treatment after its preclinical testing and small-scale manufacturing. The company plans to begin clinical trials in the U.S. with 30 participants in April along with plans to launch human trials in China and South Korea, and says that it has a total of 3,000 doses prepared for the trials in the three countries. Inovio said it expects to have the first results from the trial in the fall and to have 1 million doses of the vaccine ready for additional clinical trials or emergency use by the end of the year. Inovio on 12 March announced a $5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to test a delivery device for its vaccine candidate. In late March, Inovio said that Ology Bioservices Inc., a contract development and manufacturing organization, had received an $11.9 million contract from the Department of Defense to support future potential manufacturing of Inovios vaccine candidate for military personnel. Company: Johnson & Johnson Type: Vaccine; Name: To be named; Announced: 11 Feb J&J was working with BARDA to test its vaccine candidate, with each organization providing $1 billion for research and development and the public-health organization funding the Phase 1 trials. Similar to GSK, J&Js AdVac and PER. C6 technologies are used to improve the development process for a vaccine. J&J has started preclinical testing on multiple candidates in collaboration with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and by 30 March it had identified a lead vaccine candidate. The company is scaling up its vaccine manufacturing capabilities in the U.S. and abroad to bring an affordable vaccine to the public on a not-for-profit basis for emergency pandemic use. J&J had partnered with BARDA on a project that aims to screen existing antiviral medications, including experimental or approved therapies, which may be effective against COVID-19. The company aims to put its lead vaccine candidate in Phase 1 clinical trial in September 2020 and it may have investigational doses of the vaccine available by early 2021 for emergency use. Company: Moderna Inc. Type: RNA-based vaccine; Stage: Phase 1; Name: mRNA-1273 Moderna received funding from CEPI in January to develop an mRNA vaccine against COVID-19. On 24 Feb, it said it had shipped the first batch of mRNA-1273 to the NIAID for a Phase 1 clinical trial in the U.S. Company: Novavax Inc. Type: Vaccines; Phase: Preclinical; Announced: 26 Feb Novavax, a preclinical biotechnology company, had several vaccine candidates in preclinical animal studies and plans to initiate a Phase I clinical study by June. In March the company received $4 million from CEPI to develop a COVID-19 vaccine and that Emergent BioSolutions Inc. would support contract development and manufacture for the experimental vaccine. Company: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. Type: Treatment; Stage: Preclinical; Name: To be named; Announced: 4 Feb Regeneron announced it is working on developing monoclonal antibodies to treat COVID-19. The companys VelocImmune platform uses genetically-engineered mice with humanized immune systems in preclinical testing. The company aims to have hundreds of thousands of prophylactic doses ready for human testing by the end of August 2020. Companies: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi Type: Treatment; Stage: Phase 2/3 clinical trial; Name: Kevzara; Announced: 16 March The FDA previously approved Kevzara, a treatment developed by Regeneron and Sanofi, as a therapy for rheumatoid arthritis in 2017. A Phase 2/3 clinical trial was started in mid-March to test Kevzara on COVID-19 patients in seven countries, including the U.S. Company: Roche Holding AG Type: Treatment; Stage: Phase 3; Name: Actemra Roches Actemra was first approved in 2010 as a rheumatoid arthritis drug. The Swiss drugmaker has initiated a Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating Actemra to treat COVID-19 patients. Roche expects to begin enrolling around 330 patients in early April, in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world. The company plans to examine patient mortality and need for mechanical ventilation or an intensive care unit stay among other primary and secondary endpoints. The trial is in partnership with BARDA. Companies: Sanofi and Translate Bio Inc. Type: Vaccines; Stage: Preclinical; Name: To be named; Announced: 18 Feb Sanofi is working with BARDA to test a preclinical vaccine candidate for COVID-19 using its recombinant DNA platform. Sanofi Pasteur acquired this candidate through its 2017 acquisition of Protein Sciences for $750 million. The French drugmaker previously worked with the organization on flu vaccines. Sanofi announced a separate program with Translate Bio Inc. on 27 March to develop an mRNA vaccine. Sanofi aims to put a vaccine into a Phase 1 clinical trial between March 2021 and August 2021. Company: Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd Type: Treatment; Stage: Preclinical; Name: TAK-888; Announced: 4 March The Japanese drugmaker announced its attempt to test hyperimmune globulins for people who are at high risk for infection. As part of its research, Takeda said it would need access to plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19 or those who have received a vaccine if one is developed. Dr Rajeev Venkayya, president of Takedas vaccine business, is the co-lead of the companys COVID-19 response team. Takeda plans to examine whether other therapies, both experimental or with regulatory approval, may have treatment potential. Company: Vaxart Inc. Type: Vaccine; Stage: Preclinical; Announced: 31 Jan Vaxart was one of the first companies to announce plans to develop a vaccine. In March the clinical-stage company announced that Emergent BioSolutions will help develop and manufacture its oral vaccine candidate. The company plans to start a Phase 1 clinical trial in the U.S. in the second half of 2020. As of 31 March, it had five vaccine candidates for preclinical testing. Company: Vir Biotechnology Inc and Biogen Inc. Type: Treatment; Stage: Preclinical; Announced: 25 Feb Vir announced its collaboration with Shanghai-based WuXi Biologics to test monoclonal antibodies as a treatment for COVID-19. If the treatment is approved, WuXi will commercialize it in China, while Vir will have marketing rights for the rest of the world. The preclinical company is run by George Scangos, the former CEO of Biogen. It later announced a partnership with Biogen to help develop and manufacture its monoclonal antibodies as a potential treatment for COVID-19. Biogen will handle clinical manufacturing of Virs antibodies, the company said. Vir later announced a research agreement with Generation Bio as part of its COVID-19 antibody development program. Gandhinagar, April 6 : The Gujarat Police said on Monday that it was looking for a Tablighi Jamaat member suspected to be coronavirus positive but who had gone into hiding since the nationwide lockdown, even as four more Tablighi members were found positive during the day. The Gujarat Police has identified 126 such missing Tablighi members in the last couple of days and hunt is still on for more suspected cases. Shivanand Jha, Directorate General of Police (DGP), told the media: "We have found that one person believed to a Tablighi Jamaat follower is hiding in Ahmedabad. We have filed a case against him. The police will take stern action against all such persons who are hiding and have not come forward regarding their travel history, especially Tablighi members returning from the Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi." "We identified 126 such members till Sunday. We did not find a single Tablighi on Monday. Eight Tablighi members were found corona positive on Sunday, and four on Monday. All 12 are from Ahmedabad," Jha said. "We have also filed a police complaint against one person who had returned from Nizamuddin Markaz on charge of violating the lockdown provisions. After his quarantine period he came out and informed the police that he had returned to Gujarat on March 11. However, police investigation found that he had returned on March 27," the DGP said. "Police has been enforcing the lockdown very strictly in urban areas, but from now on we will do so in the rural areas of Gujarat as well. The police will also patrol the rural areas," added Jha. The DGP said that there should be no discrimination against positive patients who have since been cured, or persons coming out of quarantine or persons in the medical profession. "We won't tolerate it and culprits will be strictly acted against," Jha said. He said a Surat resident was bnooked for misbehaving with his neighbour, a medical professional. The police has filed 1,457 cases for violations of CrPC 144, 725 cases for violation of quarantine norms and 162 cases for other crimes. The Gujarat Police has arrested 3,918 persons and seized 18,430 vehicles till date. "Using drones, we noticed violation of lockdown and registered 365 cases. We registered 55 cases on the basis of CCTV surveillance. For spreading fake messages, criticism of lockdown provisions, we have filed 12 cases. A total of 113 cases were filed and 198 persons arrested in the state," the DGP said. Mahavir Jayanti or Mahavir Janma Kalyanak is the most auspicious day for Jains. The day is celebrated across the world by the Jain community in the memory of the last spiritual teacher of Jainism (Mahavir). Wikipedia This day marks the birth of Vardhamana Mahavira, who was the 24th and the last Tirthankara - spiritual teacher - in Jainism. As per Hindu Calendar, Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated on the 13th day of the bright half of the moon in the holy month of Chaitra. On this beautiful festival, a parade is carried out with the idol of Lord Mahavira, and it is called the Rath Yatra. Devotees all over the world visit Jain temples, worship Lord Mahavir idol, read religious rhymes and seek the blessings for a healthy and fruitful life. They also indulge in charity work. Significance & History of Mahavir Jayanti: Wikipedia Lord Mahavir is considered as the founder of Jainsim. He was born in 599 BC, at Kshatriyakund, Bihar, on the 13th day of the bright half of the moon, in the month of Chaitra. He was considered as the last Tirthankar (teaching god who devotes itself to dharma and preaches it to others) Born to King Siddhartha and Queen Trisala, Mahavir was named Vardhaman by his parents. He was born in a royal family, but the royalty and the luxuries did not please him. He was in constant search for peace and spirituality. In the early years of his life, Vardhaman developed a deep interest in the core beliefs of Jainsim and indulged in meditation. At the age of 30, he renounced the throne and his family to seek the spiritual truth. For more than 12 years he practised meticulous penance and profound austerity before attaining Kevala Jnana or omniscience. Principles or facts - Mahavir Jayanti 2020 As per records, according to Mahavira, to live a righteous life one should always follow these principles, Non-violence or Ahimsa - causing no harm to any living beings. Truthfulness or Satya - to always speak the truth Non-stealing or Asteya - to not possess things that dont belong to you Chastity or Brahmacharya - not to indulge in any sensual pleasures Non-attachment - Aparigraha - never get attached to material things. His teachings have always been the main pillars of Jainism which are also known as Jain Agamas. Motivational and inspirational quotes by lord Mahavira A man is seated on top of a tree in the midst of a burning forest. He sees all living beings perish. But he doesnt realize that the same fate is soon going to overtake him also. That man is fool All breathing, existing, living, sentient creatures should not be slain, nor treated with violence, nor abused, nor tormented, nor driven away. Dont accumulate if you do not need it. The excess of wealth in your hands is for the society, and you are the trustee for the same Fight with yourself, why fight with external foes? He, who conquers himself through himself, will obtain happiness. In happiness and suffering , in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self Do not injure, abuse, oppress, enslave, insult torment, torture, or kill any creature or living being. Messages and Wishes to send your loved ones on Mahavir Jayanti: On this holy occasion, I wish that you always walk on the path of truth and peace. Happy Mahavir Jayanti. Sending best wishes to you and your family on the auspicious occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, I wish that you are blessed with peace and happiness and grow stronger. On this auspicious occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, I am sending you and your family my best wishes and blessings. May you get blessed with the strength to follow the right path of kindness and goodness. Happy Mahavir Jayanti to you and your family. May your life is full of positivity and brightness, happiness and purity. May you always choose the path of kindness and righteousness. Authorities in Delhi should not have given permission to the Tablighi Jamaat for holding an international congregation at Nizamuddin in the national capital between March 13 and 15 amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar said on Monday. Pawar said Maharashtra, where the NCP is in the ruling alliance alongside the Shiv Sena and the Congress, earlier denied Jamaat permission for an event. The country wouldnt have experienced a spike in Covid-19 positive cases if the permission to hold the international congregation was denied to Jamaat, Pawar said, while interacting with people during a live Facebook chat. Tablighi Jamaat shouldnt have organised the international congregation in the first place. There was no reason to give permission to the organisation to hold the event amid the Covid-19 outbreak. In Maharashtra, too, a similar request was made, but both chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and home minister Deshmukh decided to deny the permission. If similar concern was shown by the authorities in Delhi, then we wouldnt have to see what is going on today, he said. Is there an attempt to create a perception about a particular community and foment a social divide? They wouldnt have got that opportunity, he added without pinning the blame on any individual or party. Pawar cited another example of social distancing from Maharashtra, where a bull and horse race competition was organised at a village in Solapur district and a crowd in thousands were gathered. The district police authorities started booking people, who made a beeline for the event, he said. If similar alertness was shown by the authorities in Delhi then wed certainly have averted the unfortunate situation, he added. He also stressed that the country needs to stand united and no attempt should be made that could lead to suspicion, animosity and social divide. Whatever Im watching on television and especially the messages being circulated on WhatsApp is of grave concern. Later, it was found that four of the five messages were fake. It appears these messages are being sent to create confusion and misunderstanding among people, he warned. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON [April 06, 2020] Bespin Global receives Google Cloud '2019 Reseller Partner of the Year for Asia Pacific' Award Bespin Global is awarded the Google Cloud Partner Award for 2 consecutive years, after winning '2018 Breakthrough Partner of the Year for Asia Pacific ' award in 2019. The award recognizes Bespin Global's success in generating Google Cloud related business opportunities in South Korea and Asia , as well as its outstanding customer service. SEOUL, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Global cloud management company Bespin Global ( http://en.bespinglobal.com CEO John Hanjoo Lee) announced that it received Google Cloud '2019 Reseller Partner of the Year for Asia Pacific' award on April 6th. Google Cloud awards partners to recognize partners who have created best practices with innovative thinking and outstanding customer service. Bespin Global was selected as the '2018 Breakthrough Partner of the Year for Asia Pacific' last year and '2019 Reseller Partner of the Year for Asia Pacific', recognized for its expertise for the second year in a row. 'Reseller Partner of the Year' is awarded to partners who have helped to sell Google Cloud products and transform their customers' business, and have built a successful relationship. Bespin Global was selectd as the 'Reseller Partner of the Year for Asia Pacific' in recognition of its outstanding profit growth rate in 2019 compared to the previous year, sales of products and creation of new business opportunities. Bespin Global is a Google Cloud's Premier Partner and MSP (Managed Service Provider) Partner. "We are honored to receive the 'Reseller Partner of the Year Award' of Google Cloud in the APAC region," said John Hanjoo Lee, CEO of Bespin Global. "Last year, after successfully placing Google Cloud in the Korean and Asian markets and winning the '2018 Breakthrough Partner of the Year Award for Asia Pacific', this year, in recognition of creating outstanding new business opportunities, we received the '2019 Reseller Partner of the Year for Asia Pacific' award. Bespin Global is one of the largest Google Cloud Premier Partners in Korea and the first MSP Partner in Asia. We have been heavily investing in Google Cloud competencies and have hundreds of Google Cloud certified engineers. As a cloud expert group growing with customers, we will try to become a globally recognized Google cloud partner." "We're delighted to recognize Bespin Global's work on behalf of customers in the Asia Pacific region," said Carolee Gearhart, Vice President, Worldwide Channel Sales at Google Cloud. "Bespin Global has proven its expertise in helping customers digitally transform with Google Cloud and we look forward to a continued, strong partnership." [For more information, visit our website here.] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bespin-global-receives-google-cloud-2019-reseller-partner-of-the-year-for-asia-pacific-award-301036292.html SOURCE Bespin Global [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] While the focus of the COVID-19 pandemic has been on respiratory problems and securing enough ventilators, doctors on the front lines are grappling with a new medical mystery. In addition to lung damage, many COVID-19 patients are also developing heart problems and dying of cardiac arrest. As more data comes in from China and Italy, as well as Washington state and New York, more cardiac experts are coming to believe the COVID-19 virus can infect the heart muscle. An initial study found cardiac damage in as many as 1 in 5 patients, leading to heart failure and death even among those who show no signs of respiratory distress. That could change the way doctors and hospitals need to think about patients, particularly in the early stages of illness. It also could open up a second front in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, with a need for new precautions in people with preexisting heart problems, new demands for equipment and, ultimately, new treatment plans for damaged hearts among those who survive. Famous faces of the past have been thrust into the 21st century thanks to the work of one Irish artist. Matt Loughrey, 41, has spent the last four-and-a-half years working on a technology to redefine and colour portraits of some of the world's most recognisable historical figures. Working with others to source images, Matt's self-developed method has brought the likes of Harry Houdini and Jesse James into a more relatable light. A black and white image of Harry Houdini is just one of the images Matt Loughrey has worked on to bring into new light. His work allows us a glimpse at the escape aritst in ultra-realism ahead of his handcuffed box escape attempt in New York's east river in 1912 With pictures of Billy the Kid not only hard to come by but also poor in quality, Matt's work finally gives us a chance to see the notorious outlaw in his full glory William F. Cody, more famously known as Buffulo Bill, was only 15 years old when the original image was taken of him This is the image of a young Rutherford B. Hayes taken 175 years ago. Rutherford went on to become President of the United States in 1877 The historical artist works with museums and libraries to keep these names of the past relevant and he believes his work, which shows portraits in colour and detail never previously realised, is key to keeping characters from the past a relevance in teaching today. 'We are at a stage where realism really does comes in to effect. I think it allows a very new sense of relatability to our past. 'I think thats vital in a world where the image that weve come to accept as standard is becoming obsolete owing to the advance in display technology,' he told MailOnline. 'When we consider a museum or a library or a documentary, as these displays advance, which they are rapidly, the producers of these are going to be less inclined to display and use these images. Theyre going to have to find new images by repurposing them.' Frank Lee Morris escaped Alcatraz Prison in 1962 with the Anglin brothers. The original image (above left) was taken in 1952, and Matt worked with the nephew of one of the brothers to help bring the picture to life This image is widely respected as the first ever recorded portrait picture taken by Dr. John Draper in 1832. The subject of the image is not known The image of American Civil War solider Stephen Pollard was originally deemed to be of an 'unknown soldier' until he was recognised by great-great-granddaughter. He eventually died in 1899 and Matt is hoping to reunite the new image with his descendants Laura Bullion, a female outlaw, was a member of Butch Cassidy's 'Wild Bunch' gang Matt, who also helps people repurpose black and white family photos through his company My Colourful Past, has worked with authorities on notorious individuals to ensure the representations are completely accurate. He worked with historian Steve Jager to ensure the detail on the two portraits of Australian bushranger Ned Kelly - one as a teenager and one later in life - caught the exact details of the notorious outlaw. 'I reached out to Steve Jager, hes the authority on all things Ned Kelly,' said Matt, who works from his home in Westport, Ireland, where he lives with Sarah and his three boys Aaron, Frank and George. 'We surmised that this is going to be an effective way to repurpose the icon that is Ned. Weve been working on a project in order to bring these images to Australian audiences. Matt worked with Ned Kelly authority Steve Jager to catch the likeness of the notorious Australian outlaw This image of Kelly was taken in 1880, just before his execution. The pictures are being used by Matt and Steve as part of an educational programme in Australia 'Steves a driving force and made me realise the potential is quite real. The images are a good example of what is possible.' The process has allowed Matt to bring to life pictures of other iconic faces. Those include an image of Houdini before his handcuffed box escape from New York's East river in 1912. There are also mugshots of notorious faces from the Wild West, with Jesse James and Robert Ford seen in a different light, alongside the likes of Billy the Kid and Laura Bullion - a member of Butch Cassidy's 'Wild Bunch' gang. Matt admits that the 2007 film 'The assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford', starring Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck, was a huge inspiration for working on their images. Matt worked on images of both Jesse James and Robert Ford - the man who assassinated the notorious outlaw Matt revealed that he took inspiration from the 2007 film 'The assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford' when working on images of Ford (above) and James An image of the Irish revolutionary Michael Collins taken from 16mm camera footage shows that it is not just stills Matt can work with. Collins was Chairman of the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State before his assination in August 1922 Fay Watson was arrested for possession of cocaine in 1928 and fined 10 in Australian pounds 'It was very wise to choose iconic characters form our past. Thats the method,' he explained. 'They all have a very strong link in terms of iconic status and pics that are ingrained in national mindsets.' It is not just pictures that can be used to bring subjects back to life. Matt can also work with death masks to bring the likes of Mary Queen of Scots back to life The death mask of Mary Queen of Scots is another example of what can be used to allow us access to the likeness of some of our most famous historical figures. 'Mary Queen of Scots was a great example of how far back we can go,' he added. 'When you think about the human face and photography you can only go back so far, but with her we can go back 400 years.' Visit My Colourful Past on Instagram for more images worked on by Matt Loughrey The Congress on Monday welcomed the government's decision to cut MPs' salaries to fight the battle against coronavirus, but said suspending MPLADs will undermine the role of an MP and called for its review. "Dear PM, INC supports the salary cut for MPs. Please note that MPLAD is meant to execute developmental works in the constituency. Suspending it is a huge disservice to the constituents and will undermine the role and functions of MP," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said on Twitter. Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel welcomed the decision but suggested cutting down on non-COVID-19 publicity costs to enable the central government to save money. "As a Member of Parliament, I welcome the government's decision to cut salaries of MPs. In this difficult time, this is the least we can do to help fellow citizens," Patel said on Twitter. "Apart from cutting salaries of MPs and ministers, the central government can save more than Rs 20,000 crore by scrapping the central vista redevelopment project & cutting down on non-COVID-19 publicity expenses," he also said. Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said suspending the MPLADS is an overstretch and needs to be restored, saying a knee jerk reaction much like the lockdown will hurt poor the most. "Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi - As an MP who represents a predominately rural constituency I fully support the 30 pc cut in my salary. However the suspension of MPLADS is a bit of an overstretch," he said. Tewari said at this time of grave humanitarian distress that will get only worse in the months ahead. He noted that MPLADS is a targeted and nimble instrument to customise micro level interventions to alleviate distress. "I think MPLAD Funds need to be restored. Please re-think it once again. It is a knee jerk reaction much like the lockdown at a 4-hour notice. It will hurt poor most," the Congress MP from Punjab said. Another Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said the Centre's decision to cut salaries and pensions of MPs is welcome. "It's a good way for us to show solidarity with people suffering across the country. But the ordinance ending MPLADS funds for two years and pooling them into a consolidated fund run by the central government is problematic," he said. Tharoor said MPLADS is the only means for an MP to direct development resources to his constituency. An order to earmark all MPLAD spending for COVID-19 related measures would have been okay. "I used mine to get urgently-needed rapid test kits and PPE to Thiruvananthapuram's health workers," he tweeted. Citing examples of disproportionate relief, he said the Centre has allocated Rs 157 crore of Disaster Response Mitigation Funds to Kerala, which has 314 COVID19 cases, while Gujarat, with only 122 cases, gets Rs 662 crore. "Will this kind of imbalance also affect the reallocation of MPLADS funds," he asked. "In order to avoid such injustice, it's essential that MPLADS money continues to be spent constituency-wise. I urge the government to revise this decision by allowing MPs to earmark these funds for COVID-19 related expenditure to meet local needs and benefit the vulnerable. It's their job," Tharoor said in another tweet. The union cabinet in its meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved an ordinance to bring a 30 per cent cut in salaries and pensions of MPs for a year starting April 1. The money will go to the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI), Union minister Prakash Javadekar had said. All the revenue received by the government by way of taxes like income tax, central excise, customs and other receipts flowing to the government are credited into the CFI. All government expenditure is incurred from this fund and no amount can be withdrawn from the CFI without authorization from Parliament. The Cabinet also approved temporary suspension of the MPLAD (Member of Parliament local Area Development) fund scheme during financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22, and the amount will be used for managing health and adverse impact of outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, he had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Society parties were once awash with cocktails, vintage wines and magnums of Champagne. But today's aristocrats and blue-blooded beauties are more likely to be found sipping on energy drinks and mocktails than stumbling out of a private members' club after having one-too-many. An article published in the May issue of Tatler notes that sobriety supper clubs are now the 'hottest invitations in the calendar' while celebrities are being spotted in alcohol-free watering holes like Notting Hill's Redemption Bar. And the poster girls for this trend towards teetotal living are suitably glamorous. Lady Lola Crichton-Stuart, 20, Lady Mary Charteris, 32, and Rose Van Cutsem, 40, are among the girls about town who've turned their back on booze in favour of clean-living. Here, FEMAIL meets a few of these sober society beauties... LADY LOLA CRICHTON-STUART Sober society beauty: Lady Lola Crichton-Stuart, the 20-year-old daughter of the Marquess and Marchioness of Bute, is among the girls about town who've turned their backs on booze. Pictured, Lady Lola strikes a pose in a festive snap taken last year on the Isle of Bute Proud: Lady Lola recently celebrated six months sober with this post on Instagram. Holding up a 'clean and serene' keyring, Serena wrote: 'Six months sober #grateful' Lady Lola Crichton-Stuart is the 20-year-old daughter of the Marquess and Marchioness of Bute. The blonde beauty, who has graced the pages of Tatler alongside her fashion designer mother, Serena, recently celebrated six months sober on Instagram. Holding up a 'clean and serene' keyring, Serena wrote: 'Six months sober #grateful.' Lola, whose boyfriend Kai Schachter-Rich, took his own life last year, has seen first-hand the dangers of a life of excess. She was a close friend of IIa Scheckter, daughter of former F1 champion Jody Scheckter, who died of a 'suspected accidental overdose' last year after losing her battle with addiction. LADY MARY CHARTERIS Still a party princess: Lady Mary Charteris is the daughter of James Charteris, 13th Earl of Wemyss and 9th Earl of March and Catherine Ingrid Guinness. Now more than two years sober, Lady Mary, pictured in an Instagram snap, still DJs the hottest parties Lady Mary Charteris is the daughter of James Charteris, 13th Earl of Wemyss and 9th Earl of March and Catherine Ingrid Guinness, of the Guinness dynasty. The stylish 32-year-old modelled for the likes of Tatler, Vanity Fair, Vogue and Love, and is now best known as a DJ and member of electronic rock band The Big Pink. Lady Mary, who recently celebrated two years sober, proves you don't have to give up partying when you give up on booze and is still seen on the decks at the hottest parties. INDIA ROSE JAMES Reformed Soho royalty: India Rose James, the self-described 'Princess of Soho' and granddaughter of porn and property mogul Paul Raymond, revealed she is 18 months sober after quitting alcohol and her hard-partying ways to become a better role model for her daughter, Sapphire. Pictured, India at an event in February At just 21 years old, her vast 329million inheritance made her richer than the Queen - and she was not afraid to flaunt her extraordinary wealth on London's social scene. But seven years on and life is very different for heiress India Rose James, the granddaughter of late porn and property mogul Paul Raymond. Speaking to Tatler in January this year, India, the self-described 'Princess of Soho', revealed she is 18 months sober after quitting alcohol and her hard-partying ways to become a better role model for her daughter, Sapphire. 'I was having fun,' she said. 'And, yeah...like, going out was happening a bit too often, and I started getting a reputation as a party girl. Which is fine when you're younger, but I was getting a bit... 'I don't judge people who are [partying], but I don't want that. I also don't want my daughter, if she looks me up online - which I'm sure she will at some point - to find that there are loads of articles about me out drunk. That's not right. I want her to be reading articles about my achievements.' ROSE VAN CUTSEM Royal ties: Rose Astor, whose husband Hugh van Cutsem is a friend of both Prince William and Harry, has spoken previously of how her 'last big blowout' was at the opening of Soho Farmhouse in 2015. Pictured, Rose and Hugh at Harry and Meghan's wedding in May 2018 Rose Astor, whose husband Hugh van Cutsem is a friend of both Prince William and Harry, has spoken previously of how her 'last big blowout' was at the opening of Soho Farmhouse in 2015. The mother-of-three credits the Sober Mummy blog with helping her on the path to sobriety and has now been alcohol-free for a number of years. Writing about her experience in The Times in 2018, she said: 'Who knew that there are other ways to have fun than getting p****d? That dancing sober is a laugh, that you can do yoga and have a sense of humour? And that if you leave a dinner party at midnight, no one remembers (all the good chats have been had by then anyway)? I no longer think "poor me" about being sober.' Rose now enjoys the sober good life in the Cotswolds, where she works as a yoga teacher. Authorities in North Carolina said a 1-year-old girl was shot while playing outside a home at McDougald Terrace in Durham Sunday afternoon. Investigators at the Durham Police Department told ABC 11 the gunman fled the scene and police were not able to make an arrest. A stray bullet hit the baby girl, and the apparent shooting was not meant to hit the child, WRAL reported. The toddler was transferred to a nearby hospital with minor injuries and is expected to be okay. The child was supervised by a parent who was outside at the time of the incident. The parent did not get injured, but investigators believe the parent was the target of the shooting, instead of the child, ABC 11 reported. The shooting happened just after 4:30 p.m. on Truman Street in Durham and was reported by multiple residents, police said. Many residents gathered around the scene, with some being worried about the current social distancing measures to help curve the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a CBS 17 reporter said at the scene. An active investigation is currently ongoing, and no additional information was released. Durham County is located about 50 miles from Greensboro and 121 miles from Charlotte in North Carolina. The News & Observer reported that McDougald Terrace is Durhams largest public housing community and was built in the 1950s. Earlier this year in January, some residents had to evacuate the community housing area because apartments furnaces, water heaters, and stoves needed replacement due to exposure to carbon monoxide. Hundreds of families were evacuated at the time, and some residents just started to return after authorities fixed the households. US Links International Aid to Fixing Afghan Political Dispute By Ayaz Gul April 05, 2020 The United States has linked international aid for Afghanistan to the settlement of a protracted political crisis, which has seen the war-shattered country politically paralyzed and threatens to derail a nascent peace-building deal with the Taliban insurgency. Separately, an American military spokesman has rejected insurgent allegations it was violating terms of the U.S.-Taliban deal signed on February 29. The political stalemate between President Ashraf Ghani and his chief rival, Abdullah Abdullah, stems from the disputed September 28 Afghan election. The national election commission declared Ghani as the winner but Abdullah, the runner-up, rejected the outcome as fraudulent. Both men held rival presidential inaugurations early last month. "It can't be business as usual for international donors in Afghanistan," Alice Wells, the top American diplomat for South and Central Asian affairs, warned in a tweet Sunday. "International aid requires partnership with an inclusive government and we all must hold Afghan leaders accountable to agree on a governing arrangement," wrote Wells, the principal deputy assistant secretary. On March 23, U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo visited Kabul to mediate between the two Afghan rivals but failed in his mission. Pompeo immediately announced a $1 billion reduction in aid to Afghanistan this year, and potentially another $1 billion in 2021 unless the political feud is settled and an inclusive government is formed in Kabul. US-Taliban Deal under Scrutiny On Sunday, the Taliban accused Washington of not upholding commitments under the agreement the two adversaries signed in Doha, Qatar. The insurgent group asserted and alleged that while it is respecting the deal and reducing battlefield violence, American and coalition forces in recent days have carried out airstrikes against non-combat targets in Taliban-held areas. The Taliban statement listed a number of other alleged violations, including the delay in releasing 5,000 Taliban prisoners under a prisoner swap with the Afghan government, a move it said outlined in the accord. "If such a breach continued, it would create an atmosphere of mistrust that will not only damage the agreements; but also force Mujahideen (insurgents) to similar response and will increase the level of fighting," warned the Taliban. But the U.S. military spokesman swiftly rejected the insurgent allegations and assertions. "U.S. Forces-Afghanistan has upheld, and continues to uphold, the military terms of the U.S.-TB (Taliban) agreement; any assertion otherwise is baseless," tweeted Col Sonny Leggett. He stressed that in compliance with the agreement, the U.S. military will defend Afghan security forces if attacked. Leggett was apparently referring to recent Taliban attacks against government positions that killed dozens of Afghan forces and overran territory. "The TB (Taliban) must reduce violence. A reduction in violence is the will of the Afghan people & necessary to allow the political process to work toward a settlement suitable for all Afghans," stressed the military spokesman. The U.S.-Taliban deal requires the insurgents to engage in negotiations with Afghan political and civil society representatives to negotiate a sustainable peace and power sharing. But the Taliban insists it is committed to engage in intra-Afghan talks only after the release of all 5,000 insurgent prisoners. The prisoner exchange requires the Taliban to free 1,000 detainees, mostly Afghan forces. Looming COVID-19 threat The Ghani-Abdullah feud and growing fears of increase in hostilities in spring come as the threat of pandemic coronavirus looms over Afghanistan. The country has confirmed the number of COVID-19 infections stood at nearly 350 as of Saturday, including four foreign troops. At least seven Afghans have died from the virus and officials say the number of infections are likely to increase, citing capacity issues. "We once again call on all parties to focus their efforts on the global pandemic of COVID-19," said Col Leggett. The U.S.-Taliban agreement binds the Islamist group to prevent terrorists from using Afghanistan as a base for international attacks. In return, American and coalition partners are committed to withdraw all their forces from Afghanistan in 14 months and the "conditions-based" drawdown has already. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SALT LAKE CITY, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Responding to the urgent and growing needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Extra Space Storage has found two ways to help: donating masks held in storage for emergencies and offering free storage to hospitals and first responders. First, employees in hurricane prone areas noted that their hurricane emergency response kits included N95 masks. Lead by employees, hundreds of stores banded together and donated their extra masks over 10,000 in total to hospitals in need. "A few store employees raised the question about us donating emergency masks," said Chief Legal Officer and Head of People Gwyn McNeal. "One of our guiding principles is to 'Do the Right Thing.' This one is clear and simple we'll be donating masks and we'll restock the hurricane kits when supplies aren't in high demand." Additionally, the company has decided to offer two months of free storage for new rentals to hospitals, hospital employees and first responders. Any of Extra Space Storage's 1,800 locations across the country will be offering storage space to help. "When a hospital in New York City reached out to one of our stores about the cost of renting a unit to store less critical hospital equipment to make room for COVID-19 patients, it was clear we could help," said McNeal. "We're hoping by offering two months of free storage to first responders, we'll be taking one concern off their plate, so they can focus on what matters most caring for COVID-19 patients." Currently, Extra Space Storage locations across the country are operating without physical contact between customers and store managers. Business is being conducted through a "no contact" lease process, operating with office doors shut and rental agreements processing online. This allows storage to continue to be used by those in need without creating additional exposure risk. "We talk about our company values often, and during times like these our values give us much needed direction," said McNeal. "We hope these donations provide some relief to health care professionals in our communities during this time." About Extra Space Storage Extra Space Storage Inc., headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a self-administered and self-managed REIT and a member of the S&P 500. As of December 31, 2019, the company owned and/or operated 1,817 self-storage properties, which comprise approximately 1.3 million units and approximately 140 million square feet of rentable space. Extra Space Storage offers customers a wide selection of conveniently located and secure storage units across the country, including boat storage, RV storage and business storage. The company is the second largest owner and/or operator of self-storage stores in the United States and is the largest self-storage management company in the United States. For more information visit extraspace.com. Medica Contact: McKall Morris, [email protected] SOURCE Extra Space Storage Inc. Related Links http://www.extraspace.com The state's response to the challenge contains lessons for the rest of the country When the COVID-19 virus started showing up in India, Kerala had the unenviable first position, as posted on the government of Indias COVID-19 tracker (https://www.covid19india.org/), in terms of the number of confirmed and active cases. Within a few weeks, i.e. by April 3, the state was able to successfully contain the spread of the disease, and at the time of writing this, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Delhi have more confirmed and active cases than Kerala. We need an explanation for why infected cases were high in Kerala initially and how the state was able to respond to the challenge swiftly and decisively. I first propose four hypothesis as to why the diffusion of COVID-19 was, relatively speaking, high in Kerala. Then I do a quick assessment of the strategies employed by the state which seem to have contained the spread. In my view, there are two aspects of the states containment strategy that are worthy of emulation by other states and this too is based in turn on the experiences of the few successful country cases that we have at present. Hypothesis 1. Kerala is a highly globalised state in terms of its engagement with the world, through migration of its people and the influx of tourists. The most recent wave of migration from Kerala has been to Italy, mainly as health workers in old-age homes. In fact, a lions share of the infected cases in Kerala have been returnees from abroad or those that came into contact with them. Hypothesis 2. Given the high density of population and high mobility due to ownership of automobiles, an infected person can pass on the virus fairly quickly to a very large section of the population. Hypothesis 3. Relatively speaking, Kerala has a higher proportion of aged population. Kerala's total population as per the 2011 census is around 33.6 million, of which 12.6 per cent are aged above 60 years. According to a CDS study, the state's elderly population is growing at a compounded rate of 2.3 per cent per annum. The growth rate is high among those aged 70 or 80 and above too. We know that COVID-19 infection is particularly bad for this age group. Further, a higher proportion of adults suffers from diseases such as diabetes, and hypertension according to the National Family Health Survey 4. Further, a recent study conducted on disease burden trends from 1990 to 2016 showed that Kerala had one of the highest incidences of coronary heart diseases. In the context of COVID-19, all these pre-existing conditions make the virus infection more complicated and increase the probability of fatality. Another factor is that aged parents are living with their younger children. Hypothesis 4. Earlier epidemiological studies, (CDS was one of the first to do one in 1985) have shown that Kerala tops the country in the morbidity prevalence rate. While the rest of the country has shifted its disease profile from communicable to non-communicable diseases, Kerala still has a higher proportion and episodes of communicable diseases which appear to rear up much more frequently than before. The states response Keralas response to the Covid-19 challenge was swift and decisive. A command centre was set up under the health minister initially and, when infection rates started rising, with the chief minister at the steering wheel. More samples are tested in Kerala than elsewhere in the country. Extensive testing of symptomatic cases has been a hallmark of Keralas effort. As of March 28, the state had five testing centres across the state. The government was quick to use technology to screen people at public places, especially those arriving at airports, by using non-invasive measures. Extensive use of handheld non-invasive thermometers and hand sanitizers at airports and public institutions very early on has been an important part of containment. There has been systematic and painstaking contact tracing and then publishing of the route map of an infected person so that all people who had the potential of being infected could be identified and put in self isolation. The government has released considerable information on a real-time basis. It could be gleaned through the daily press briefing by the chief minister himself and a very useful mobile app, GoK Direct. The police media centre even made an attractive video to explain how hand hygiene could be maintained and this video has gone viral. People who were put on quarantine are provided with food and daily necessities by the state. The state ensured supplies of essential items; even the police developed a shopping app. The emphasis is on online ordering so that unnecessary trips to the shop can be avoided. As a result, there has been only mild panic buying. The state seems to have marshalled at short notice an army of almost 80,000 community volunteers both to cook food and have it delivered through the support of local self-government. An initiative called the CornoaSafe Network has been formed with two major components: the Corona Literacy Mission and the Corona Care Centre. While the former focuses on creating awareness on COVID-19 in multiple Indian languages and in English, the latter presents a template for converting educational institutions into hospitals to offset for shortages. The states response can be summarised in two ways. First, these initiatives increased the trust which ordinary citizens have in the government. This increases compliance of even difficult measures such as a lockdown. It is this institution of trust that is explaining the relative success of countries such as Sweden and Taiwan. Second, is the paramount importance given to the advice given by public health authorities by the government the latter never overstepping the former? The public health authorities themselves have been on a learning mode, learning and correcting mistakes made in earlier handling of epidemics. Through these, the government could achieve a sort of public buy-in resulting in their acceptance of the government's recommended measures for containing the virus. [April 06, 2020] TUV Rheinland Provides Local Certification for Sigfox Monarch TAIPEI, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- There has been an explosion in sensor and transmission technologies due to Internet-of-Things (IoT) technology. Sigfox, developed in France, has become a star wireless transmission technology and network application. Key features include use of unlicensed spectrum and ultra narrow band technology, long range with low power consumption, and low cost. Sigfox is being used to create and implement IoT applications with kilometer-transmission ranges. With a range of up to 50 km and excellent signal penetration, it offers the greatest coverage for the minimum amount of power among all IoT wireless transmission technologies available today. TUV Rheinland Taiwan is the only laboratory in the Asia-Pacific and Greater China region to be accredited for certification of Sigfox Monarch functionality. One-stop certification for the global Sigfox network means time nd effort saved from not having to go through separate certification processes for each country or region. Sigfox Monarch technology will replace high-cost GPS and GNSS satellite positioning equipment. Global roaming will be realized through automatic connections to local Sigfox spectrum in all related regions (RC1~RC7) worldwide for seamless integration with global Sigfox networking and geographic positioning services. Sigfox Monarch technology has very low power consumption, making it suitable for remote surveillance and logistics tracking management. Sigfox sensor applications are widely utilized, from manufacturing industry supply chains to freight, aviation, and track maintenance, from smart home applications (power meters, water meters, gas gauges) to the World Wildlife Foundation's tracking and conservation program for white rhinoceroses, making it one of the most successful IoT technologies. Applications of Sigfox mobile location services should continue to expand in the future. In response to the rapid development of the global network, TUV Rheinland's IoT lab has become the only Sigfox Verified lab in the Asia-Pacific region. The lab offers the full range of testing capabilities, from the communication protocols of radio-frequency hardware to the transmission performance of antenna products. The first Sigfox Verified Monarch testing case in Asia was also completed in 2019. Manufacturers now no longer need to travel all the way to Europe to complete Sigfox Verified Monarch testing. TUV Rheinland can help vendors complete localized, one-stop Sigfox Ready, Sigfox Verified, and wireless certification testing for countries around the world, thereby seizing the initiative in the global IoT market. SOURCE TUV Rheinland Taiwan Ltd. [ Back To www.mobilitytechzone.com\broadband-stimulus's Homepage ] The Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over 'targeting of doctors for raising genuine concerns related to coronavirus preparedness'. The RDA is a part of All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Delhi. In the letter, the RDA, acknowledges the Prime Minister's initiatives in handling the COVID-19 pandemic. But the letter goes on to highlight the issues faced by the healthcare workers related to availability of Personal Protective Equipments (PPE), testing equipment and quarantine facilities. Don't target Doctors asking for PPE: AIIMS RDA writes to the PM to withdraw punishment on doctors who took to social media for highlighting lack of PPEs. Take criticism as a tool for improving care.@PMOIndia@drharshvardhan @AmitShah @MoHFW_INDIA pic.twitter.com/1HYlkqPJD0 - RDAAIIMS (@AIIMSRDA) April 6, 2020 When these medical workers voiced their concerns on social media, they received a "harsh backlash", the letter says. "Our frontline healthcare workers - doctors, nurses, and other supportive staff have come forward with their problems and issues related to the availability of PPE, COVID testing equipment and quarantine facilities, on social media. The officials should view these inputs constructively. Instead of appreciating their efforts towards welfare of their peers and patients, they have received a harsh backlash," the RDA wrote. The doctors' association appealed to the prime minister to ensure that their opinions were given respected. "It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that these soldiers are heard, their opinion respected, rather than humiliated," the letter read. Lastly, condemning the backlash, the RDA requested the government to create a "healthy space for debate and discussion to aid healthcare workers rather than ridicule them". Also Read: Coronavirus update: 697 fresh COVID-19 cases, 109 deaths reported so far Also Read: Infosys Q4 revenue to take 130bps hit; FY21 outlook gloomy: Analyst report Also Read: Coronavirus in US: Tiger at NYC's Bronx Zoo tests positive for COVID-19 Extraction is an upcoming American action thriller film directed by Sam Hargrave and screenplay by Joe Russo. It stars the likes of Chris Hemsworth, David Harbour, Manoj Bajpayee, Marc Donato, Fay Masterson, Randeep Hooda, Pankaj Tripathi and Derek Luke. The film is scheduled to be released on April 24, 2020, by Netflix. The makers have now released an action-packed trailer of Extraction. A hardened mercenary's mission becomes a soul-searching race to survive when he's sent into Bangladesh to rescue a drug lord's kidnapped son. Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) is a fearless black market mercenary who embarks on the deadliest mission of his career when hes enlisted to rescue the kidnapped son of an international crime lord. Directed by Sam Hargrave, this action-packed, edge-of-your-seat thriller is produced by Joe and Anthony Russo, the visionary directors of Avengers: Endgame. Now check out the trailer: The coronavirus-hit Ruby Princess berthed in New South Wales, Australia, on Monday hours after police in the southeast Australian state launched a criminal investigation into the cruise ship. Why it matters: Per the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the novel coronavirus has infected more than 600 people who were aboard the Ruby Princess and killed 11 others accounting for 30% of all deaths from the virus in Australia. The NSW Homicide Squad is investigating the circumstances surrounding a March 19 disembarkation of some 2,700 passengers in Sydney after a brief cruise to New Zealand, per a police statement. Details: Up to 200 of the 1,040-member crew aboard the ship are showing symptoms for the virus, police said. Sick crew members were being treated on board or transported to hospital. NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said in the statement his initial assessment "left questions about the transparency in conceptualizing the health conditions of passengers and crew in relation to COVID-19" and the only way he could determine whether any state or national biosecurity laws were broken was to launch a criminal probe. "There appears to have been an exceptional amount of effort put in by [port officials] to determine the true nature of the conditions on board and even delayed the vessels arrival until they were provided additional information," Fuller said. The big picture: Australia has reported more than 35 deaths from the coronavirus and over 5,600 cases as of early Monday, according to Johns Hopkins. The Australian government issued on March 16 a ban on cruise ships that prevents them from docking except for emergencies. State health authorities had classed the Ruby Princess as low risk based on the information available at the time of the Sydney docking, per Reuters. The Australian Border Force then "issued a notice allowing the passengers to travel home freely" but requiring them to isolate for 14 days, the news agency notes. What they're saying: Carnival Australia, which operates the Ruby Princess, said in a statement to news outlets the firm is "willingly participating in the investigation." "Carnival Australia will vigorously respond to any allegations of which there must now be full disclosure and the basis for them," the statement added. What's next: The ship is expected to remain at port for up to 10 days, "but the crew will not disembark unless in an emergency and approved by the NSW Police Commissioner," police said in a separate statement. Go deeper: Carnival CEO defends coronavirus response The Cities Where Taxpayers Will Get Shorn Financial ranking reveals rising tide of unfunded obligations Commentary The U.S. economy is heading into an unparalleled storm that will unhinge the budgets of governments and taxpayers alike. Across the country, a slew of cities are facing dramatic revenue crunches, ordering pay cuts, laying off workers, and enacting hiring freezes. The CCP virus is the straw breaking the camels back, but warning signs were already evident regarding the financial health of U.S. local governments. The ticking time bomb of debt is upon cities now, and it will continue once the health emergency subsides. As revealed in Truth in Accountings fourth annual Financial State of the Cities report, issued in January, 63 of the United Statess 75 most populous cities had insufficient assets to pay their bills in the 2018 fiscal year. In total, U.S. cities have racked up $323 billion in municipal debt, mostly from unfunded retiree benefits such as pensions and medical care. Even that is a low estimate, given misleadingly high discount rates from municipalities. Which Cities Are Worst? Truth in Accounting, an educational nonprofit devoted to fiscal transparency, has named the five municipalities at the bottom of the ranking sinkhole cities. Even if these cities sold all their assets, they would still leave taxpayers with per capita debts in the tens of thousands. Worst Cities Based on Highest Taxpayer Burden for 2018 Ranking| City Taxpayer Burden 75 New York City $63,100 74 Chicago $37,100 73 Honolulu $26,400 72 Philadelphia $25,500 71 New Orleans $18,800 For example, if New Orleans were to sell its assets, it would have $979.7 million, nowhere near enough to cover almost $3 billion in liabilities. Every taxpayer in the city would have to cough up another $18,800. To compound the problem, New Orleans has a 25 percent poverty rate and has been among the hardest-hit cities in the United States by the CCP virus. If you think New Orleans is in trouble, take a look at Chicago. The Windy City is one of four cities to receive an F grade from Truth in Accounting. If Chicago sold all its assets, it would have $10.7 billion available, yet it owes $45.1 billion. Chicago taxpayers would have to fork out $37,100 each for $30.1 billion in pensions and $684.6 million in retiree medical benefits. People see the writing on the wall, and Illinois is a national leader in outmigration. The biggest financial basket case is New York City, which also received an F. The Big Apple has a $186.7 billion shortfall. As a major U.S. epicenter of the CCP virus, New York City expenses are spiking and revenues are plummeting. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has already requested a federal bailout. Why Is This a Problem? Public-employee unions are among the most powerful special-interest groups in the United States. In addition, the cities with these types of financial problems are home to many elites. They will demand a bailout from working-class Americans across the country to pay the benefits these cities could never fulfill. Although tempting, perhaps to maintain a veneer of stability, bailing out these cities would set a ghastly precedent. It would come with strings and further centralize power in Washington, and it would incentivize state and local governments to expand welfare benefits without regard for funding. Bailouts would allow cities to kick the can down the road regarding fiscal reform and holding irresponsible city managers accountable. The conflict between bondholders, public-employees, and taxpayers will get uglywith all three set to get a haircut. Puerto Rico and Detroit are indicative of the tug of war set to take place. That outcome is icky, but its better than sweeping fiscal negligence and deceit under the rug. What Cities Should Do Instead If the federal government shouldnt bail out public-employee unions in cities, what should happen instead? City officials have two real choices: raise taxes or reform retiree benefits. Cities have only so much capacity to raise taxes without cannibalizing their base, although that will not stop them entirely. Closing loopholes and ending corporate welfare would do the least damage, though it would be politically difficult. Under the U.S. federal system, cities and states compete with each other to provide the highest possible quality of life with the lowest tax burden: better services at lower prices. The draconian taxes needed to fill these major fiscal gaps entirely would hamper job creation and harm cities ability to lure businesses. As businesses and individuals leave, voting with their feet, resources for public services such as law enforcement and infrastructure dwindle. At the state level, Illinois taxpayers are already witnessing a hollowing out of public services as more of their funds go for past servicesto retirees who used to work for constituents. Alongside smarter tax policies, that leaves retirement-benefits reform as the only realistic approach to fixing these fiscal crises. However, what cant happen will not happen, and in the near term, there will have to be reductions to payouts, as there have been in Detroit and Puerto Rico. Many government employees claim to have given up higher private-sector salaries in exchange for better benefits. That is false, particularly since government workers enjoy vastly greater job security. Regardless, the point is moot, since the prevailing payouts are simply unsustainable in most U.S. cities. These cities have pension plans that promise specific benefits upon retirement, whether there is sufficient money set aside or not, no matter how poorly pension funds have performed. City officials throughout the United States have mismanaged pension funds, both in terms of paying excessive fees and investing too riskily. Cities must move to defined-contribution plans that resemble the 401(k) retirement schemes many U.S. companies offer their workers. As researchers with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University have pointed out, making benefits depend on contributions and investment returns forces politicos to assume realistic market risks and avoid underfunding long-term obligations. Retirees then get what was set aside from them, no more and no less. Medical benefits can go entirely once the retiree reaches the minimum age to receive Medicare. Some states are already moving in that direction. The short-term orientation of the electoral cycle incentivizes spending now and making future promises, with an aversion to paying for them. The chickens, however, have come home to roost for freewheeling cities. A prudent taxpayer will avoid the crossfire by escaping hikes. He shouldnt be on the hook for politicos outlandish promises made in cahoots with public-sector unions. Fergus Hodgson is the founder and executive editor of Latin American intelligence publication Econ Americas. He is also the roving editor of Gold Newsletter and a research associate with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. The Supreme Court will not take up a lower court's decision that Washington's Metro system did not violate the First Amendment by banning religious advertising. The court on Monday passed on reviewing a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit that upheld the ban on religious messages on buses and trains and in stations as lawful and free from discrimination. Two justices said the lower-court decision was wrong. But because Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh was recused after earlier work on the case, "it makes a poor candidate for our review," wrote Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, who was joined by Justice Clarence Thomas. Nonetheless, he wrote, "The First Amendment requires governments to protect religious viewpoints, not single them out for silencing." The WMATA system was sued by the Archdiocese of Washington for rejecting a proposed advertisement around Christmas 2017. The planned "Find the Perfect Gift" ads featured a biblical Christmas scene and a link to a website that encouraged people to attend Mass or donate to a Catholic charitable group. A circuit panel of judges sided with Metro in 2018. The archdiocese's "claim of discriminatory treatment is based on hypothesis," wrote Judge Judith W. Rogers. "Were the Archdiocese to prevail, WMATA (and other transit systems) would have to accept all types of advertisements to maintain viewpoint neutrality, including ads criticizing and disparaging religion and religious tenets or practices." Rogers was joined by Judge Robert L. Wilkins, who wrote in a separate concurrence that the policy was reasonable and within the bounds of the First Amendment because it "does not take sides" when it comes to religion. The third judge on the panel was Kavanaugh. At oral argument in the case, Kavanaugh referred to Metro's ban as "pure discrimination." But he was nominated to the high court before the decision was reached, and had to recuse himself from discussion of the case at the Supreme Court. For decades, the transit system allowed a range of advertisements, including political satire and criticism of the Catholic Church. But in 2015, Metro banned issue-oriented messages as well as any related to religion or politics because of security concerns over anti-Muslim-themed ads. The policy limits ads to commercial products and services, which bring in more than $20 million for the agency that relies on funding from the District, Maryland, Virginia and the federal government. Under Metro's policy, "advertisements that promote or oppose any religion, religious practice or belief are prohibited." The full D.C. Circuit declined to review the panel's decision. Two of the 10 judges reviewing the Catholic Church's request said they would have taken another look at the case and said the panel ruling was at odds with Supreme Court precedent. "The government in this case violated the First Amendment by prohibiting religious speakers from expressing religious viewpoints on topics that others were permitted to discuss," Judge Thomas B. Griffith wrote in a dissent joined by Judge Gregory G. Katsas. Gorsuch endorsed Griffith's dissent. The government is free to "minimize" religious speech by limiting advertising space to subjects where religious views are rare, Gorsuch wrote. "But once the government allows a subject to be discussed, it cannot silence religious views on that topic," he wrote. "So the government may designate a forum for art or music, but it cannot then forbid discussion of Michelangelo's David or Handel's Messiah. And once the government declares Christmas open for commentary, it can hardly turn around and mute religious speech on a subject that so naturally invites it." The archdiocese was represented by former George W. Bush administration solicitor general Paul Clement, who asked the Supreme Court to reverse the lower court's decision. "WMATA has candidly explained that it views Christmas as having 'a religious half' and 'a secular half,' and that it will accept advertisements that address the latter, but not the former," Clement wrote. "There is a word for that - two words, in fact. It is called viewpoint discrimination, and the First Amendment forbids it." WMATA was represented by former Obama administration solicitor general Donald Verrilli, who said the decision was perfectly in line with Supreme Court precedent. The transit system's guidelines "are entirely neutral with regard to the viewpoint expressed by a speaker on the subject of religion," Verrilli said in his brief. "WMATA's advertising space is closed to such speech whether the speech supports or opposes religion, religious practice, or religious belief, or seeks to express any other message on those subjects. This type of restriction is quintessentially viewpoint neutral. " The case is Archdiocese of Washington v. WMATA. --- The Washington Post's Ann E. Marimow contributed to this story. Eight more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Rajasthan including six who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi, according to the Health Department of Rajasthan. Out of the eight people, five have tested positive in Jhunjhunu, two in Dungarpur and one in Kota. "The five people in Jhunjhunu and one in Dungarpur had attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi. The total number of positive cases in the state has increased to 274," said the State Health Department in a circular. Meanwhile, with an increase of 490 COVID-19 cases in the last 12 hours, India's positive cases crossed the 4000 mark, mounting to 4067, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday. There are 3666 active cases across in India so far, while 292 people have been cured or discharged or have migrated. 109 deaths have been reported in the country till date. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MANILA, April 6 (Reuters) - Nickel Asia Corp, the Philippines' largest nickel ore miner and exporter, said on Monday its two units in Surigao del Norte province will resume ore shipments as the local government has allowed mining operations to resume. The company said in a filing to the Philippine Stock Exchange that foreign vessels chartered to deliver ores will strictly observe quarantine guidelines covering their crew and stevedores loading ores to the vessels. Mining operations in Surigao del Norte had been suspended from April 1 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The province holds the Philippines' biggest nickel mines, supplying ore to Chinese nickel pig iron producers and smelters elsewhere. (Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) During this time of COVID-19 crisis, it seems like there's no aspect of life in Montana not touched by pandemic. To be sure, the state is doing as much as it can. For example, school teachers are becoming remote teaching specialists, along with parents' help. The state has gotten extensions and waivers for testing and scores. In another example, the state is sending Montana Army National Guard to help. We could take the rest of this space in today's editorial to list all the ways different state agencies are responding to the crisis and still not scratch the surface of what's happening. That's an editorial for a different day. But, it's a good reminder that the rallying cries of folks wanting government to get out of their lives have almost completely disappeared -- gone the way of toilet paper. It seems like government can't do enough to help hurting communities. We applaud so many aspects of our government from our law enforcement officers who respond to every call. We think Gov. Steve Bullock is doing as much as he can to balance the needs of Montana's economy with the necessity of public health. (Newser) The leader of the UN has made a worldwide appeal related to the coronavirus outbreak, but it has nothing to do with equipment shortages or best practices while out in public. Instead, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is worried about "a horrifying global surge in domestic violence," reports the AP. He didn't call out specific nations, but he said calls to help lines have doubled in some places amid the lockdown, and he urged governments to make sure victims are safe. The problem is that police departments are frequently overwhelmed with other virus-related issues. Coverage: Code word: Europe has been largely locked down for weeks, and the problem seems most pronounced in Spain and France. There, women can now go into pharmacies and use the phrase "mask 19" to alert the pharmacist to abuse, reports CNN. The pharmacist takes the woman's information and calls police. "There has always been gender violence, but this crisis makes it all worse," says a worker at a women's shelter in Rome. story continues below In the US: Women's groups around the US are seeing an uptick in domestic violence calls, a sign that what's been happening in Europe could follow suit here, reports the Wall Street Journal. The shutdown is "almost like a petri dish for violence to increase within families," Barbara Paradiso, director of the Center on Domestic Violence at the University of Colorado Denver, tells the newspaper. Women's groups around the US are seeing an uptick in domestic violence calls, a sign that what's been happening in Europe could follow suit here, reports the Wall Street Journal. The shutdown is "almost like a petri dish for violence to increase within families," Barbara Paradiso, director of the Center on Domestic Violence at the University of Colorado Denver, tells the newspaper. More on the US: NBC News reports that 18 of 22 US law enforcement agencies that responded to a request for data saw a rise in domestic violence calls in March. "The financial stress alone creates a ticking time bomb for some families with a history of domestic violence, says Sheriff Steve Mueller of Cherokee County, South Carolina, where calls rose 35%. "Unfortunately many of these domestic violence cases occur in front of children and often the children become victims of abuse and assault, as well." The situation is made worse because shelters for abuse victims are generally struggling to remain open amid the shutdown. NBC News reports that 18 of 22 US law enforcement agencies that responded to a request for data saw a rise in domestic violence calls in March. "The financial stress alone creates a ticking time bomb for some families with a history of domestic violence, says Sheriff Steve Mueller of Cherokee County, South Carolina, where calls rose 35%. "Unfortunately many of these domestic violence cases occur in front of children and often the children become victims of abuse and assault, as well." The situation is made worse because shelters for abuse victims are generally struggling to remain open amid the shutdown. All over: The National Domestic Abuse hotline in the UK saw a 25% increase in appeals for help since that nation's lockdown began, reports the BBC. The AP adds that the "the killing of women has surged in Turkey" since the lockdown in that nation, and that Australia has seen internet searches for domestic violence resources jump 75%. The story collects similar stats from India and South Africa. The National Domestic Abuse hotline in the UK saw a 25% increase in appeals for help since that nation's lockdown began, reports the BBC. The AP adds that the "the killing of women has surged in Turkey" since the lockdown in that nation, and that Australia has seen internet searches for domestic violence resources jump 75%. The story collects similar stats from India and South Africa. First person: The BBC talks to one woman in the UK about the tension in her own home, which worsened with the lockdown. "As soon as he gets up, he tries to cause an argument out of nothing, and if I fire back he'll just hit me." She has since fled to Wales and is being helped by a charity. Advocates say the abuse is wide-ranging, including men threatening to throw out women if they get sick, preventing them communicating with relatives, and barring them from leaving the house even for groceries. (Read more domestic violence stories.) Out of the over 4,000 cases of coronavirus, at least 1,445 have been found to be linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi, the Union health ministry said on Monday. The ministry's updated data came a day after it said the rate of doubling of COVID-19 cases in India accelerated to 4.1 days from the perviously estimated 7.4 days due to the Jamaat event held in Nizamuddin West last month. Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health Lav Agarwal at a press conference around 4 pm said there had been 693 new COVID-19 cases and 30 deaths since Sunday. According to an updated evening tally of the ministry, the total death toll now stands at 111 and the number of cases has climbed to 4,281. However, a PTI tally based on figures reported by states directly showed at least 137 deaths across the country, while the confirmed cases have reached 4,678. Of them, 344 have been cured and discharged. Presenting an analysis of the cases based on gender distribution, Agarwal said males account for 76 per cent of the positive cases and females 24 per cent. Agarwal said people aged below 40 years account for 47 pc of the total cases, those between 40 and 60 for 34 pc, and those aged 60 years and above account for 19 pc. Males account for 73 per cent deaths due to coronavirus while females 27 per cent, he said, adding that 63 per cent deaths have been reported among people aged 60 and above, 30 per cent among people between 40 to 60 years and 7 per cent among people below 40 years. "As of now, 86 per cent death cases have exhibited comorbidity related to diabetes, chronic kidney issues, hypertension and heart-related problems. Since 63 per cent deaths have been observed among elderly, they form a high risk population," Agarwal said. Young people with comorbidities are also at high risk of COVID-19, he said, while urging them to be equally careful and follow social distancing. On AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria reportedly saying that there has been "localised community transmission" in some parts of the country, Agarwal commented, "What the director has said is not in variance with what we have been explaining to you. He said localised community transmission, which implies a larger number of cases have been found in a particular area." According to an ICMR official, there is limited evidence on the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine to deal with COVID-19 cases and therefore, there is not enough proof to advise it for the general public. The Cabinet Secretary has been interacting through video conference with various district officials at cutting edge levels to ensure uniformity of response in all state. All districts have been advised to have a district-level Crisis Management Plan for COVID-19. States have already been advised to use funds under the National Health Mission (NHM) and State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) to create quarantine centres, dedicated COVID-19 hospitals and treatment of patients, he said. "In addition to this, Rs 1,100 crore has been sanctioned to all the states under the National Health Mission and Rs 3,000 crore of additional funds were released today. Also, N-95 masks, ventilators and PPEs are being procured from the central pool and distributed to all the states across the country," he said. Head of Epidemiology and Communicable diseases at ICMR Raman R Gangakhedkar said orders have been placed for procuring 5 lakh rapid antibody test kits for conducting COVID-19 tests. Around 2.50 lakh kits are likely to delivered by April 8 or 9. When asked whether hydroxychloroquine is recommended for public consumption, he said the government has allowed its use as a preventive medication for healthcare workers dealing with coronavirus infected patients. "There is limited evidence on the efficacy of the drug," Khedkar said, adding that the drug has side effects and people should not take it unless advised by a doctor. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) We're definitely into long term investing, but some companies are simply bad investments over any time frame. It hits us in the gut when we see fellow investors suffer a loss. For example, we sympathize with anyone who was caught holding Great Western Exploration Limited (ASX:GTE) during the five years that saw its share price drop a whopping 87%. And we doubt long term believers are the only worried holders, since the stock price has declined 60% over the last twelve months. Unfortunately the share price momentum is still quite negative, with prices down 33% in thirty days. But this could be related to poor market conditions -- stocks are down 21% in the same time. We really feel for shareholders in this scenario. It's a good reminder of the importance of diversification, and it's worth keeping in mind there's more to life than money, anyway. See our latest analysis for Great Western Exploration With just AU$9,896 worth of revenue in twelve months, we don't think the market considers Great Western Exploration to have proven its business plan. You have to wonder why venture capitalists aren't funding it. As a result, we think it's unlikely shareholders are paying much attention to current revenue, but rather speculating on growth in the years to come. For example, investors may be hoping that Great Western Exploration finds some valuable resources, before it runs out of money. Companies that lack both meaningful revenue and profits are usually considered high risk. There is almost always a chance they will need to raise more capital, and their progress - and share price - will dictate how dilutive that is to current holders. While some such companies do very well over the long term, others become hyped up by promoters before eventually falling back down to earth, and going bankrupt (or being recapitalized). Some Great Western Exploration investors have already had a taste of the bitterness stocks like this can leave in the mouth. Story continues Our data indicates that Great Western Exploration had AU$277k more in total liabilities than it had cash, when it last reported in December 2019. That puts it in the highest risk category, according to our analysis. But with the share price diving 33% per year, over 5 years , it's probably fair to say that some shareholders no longer believe the company will succeed. The image below shows how Great Western Exploration's balance sheet has changed over time; if you want to see the precise values, simply click on the image. ASX:GTE Historical Debt April 6th 2020 It can be extremely risky to invest in a company that doesn't even have revenue. There's no way to know its value easily. Given that situation, would you be concerned if it turned out insiders were relentlessly selling stock? I'd like that just about as much as I like to drink milk and fruit juice mixed together. It costs nothing but a moment of your time to see if we are picking up on any insider selling. What about the Total Shareholder Return (TSR)? Investors should note that there's a difference between Great Western Exploration's total shareholder return (TSR) and its share price change, which we've covered above. Arguably the TSR is a more complete return calculation because it accounts for the value of dividends (as if they were reinvested), along with the hypothetical value of any discounted capital that have been offered to shareholders. Great Western Exploration hasn't been paying dividends, but its TSR of -85% exceeds its share price return of -87%, implying it has either spun-off a business, or raised capital at a discount; thereby providing additional value to shareholders. A Different Perspective We regret to report that Great Western Exploration shareholders are down 56% for the year. Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 15%. However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case there's a good opportunity. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 32% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Great Western Exploration better, we need to consider many other factors. For instance, we've identified 6 warning signs for Great Western Exploration (3 can't be ignored) that you should be aware of. Of course Great Western Exploration may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on AU 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. Panama's Archbishop Jose Domingo Ulloa took to the skies to deliver the traditional Catholic Palm Sunday blessing from a helicopter after the coronavirus pandemic forced the closure of churches across the country. The Church is abandoning centuries of tradition and refraining from public celebrations of the official start of Holy Week among Christian faithful. Ulloa celebrated mass at Panama's Howard Air Force base before overflying the city's deserted streets and surrounding countryside. Along with the two priests accompanying him, the archbishop wore a white mask that covered his mouth and nose. "We are living through an unprecedented event in the history of Christianity, celebrating Holy Week without a congregation in our churches," the archbishop said. Ulloa carried with him a statue of Santa Maria La Antigua, Panama's patron saint "to protect the country from disease," as many residents placed palm fronds on balconies and at front doors to receive the blessing from the air. Ulloa dedicated Holy Week to health workers "and so many people who are determined to advance our country at the cost of risking their own lives." The ceremony is normally performed in churches where priests sprinkle holy water on palm fronds brought by the congregation. Palm Sunday marks the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. Easter Sunday on April 12 celebrates his resurrection from the dead. After shutting its borders and closing schools Panama decreed a total lockdown. Since last week, men and women are being allowed to leave their homes on alternate days to shop for food and essential medicines. Nobody is allowed out on Sunday. The Central American country has registered 1,801 infections with 46 deaths from the pandemic, according to the latest figures. Panama's Archbishop Jose Domingo Ulloa holds the Blessed Sacrament as he sits in a helicopter at Howard Air Force Base in Panama City before overflying the capital on April 5, 2020 A statue of Panama's patron saint Santa Maria de la Antigua is carried onto a helicopter at Howard Air Force Base in Panama City on April 5, 2020 Aerial view of a deserted Panama City on April 05, 2020. SANAA, Yemen In a surprise move, the leadership of the Houthi movement ordered the release of all detained members of the Baha'i religious minority in Yemen on March 25 and pardoned their leader, Hamed bin Haydara, who had been sentenced to death. We order the release of all Baha'i prisoners and announce the pardon and release of Hamed bin Haydara, Mehdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthi-led Supreme Political Council (SPC), said in a televised speech marking the fifth anniversary of the Yemeni war that broke out March 26, 2015. The concerned authorities should put all that into effect. The National Security Bureau under the government of Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi had arrested Haydara Dec. 3, 2013, and held him in Sanaa on charges of being a destroyer of Islam and religion. In October 2014, after Houthi rebels captured Sanaa, he was transferred to the Central Prison, under the jurisdiction of the Prosecution Service. On Jan. 8, 2015, officials announced the charges against him, including apostasy, using a false name (accusing him of being Iranian), converting areas of Yemen into a Baha'i homeland and collaborating with Israel. In 2017, the Sanaa-based Mwatana Organization for Human Rights and Amnesty International demanded Haydara's release in a joint statement. He was found guilty in January 2018, and a Houthi court had on March 22 upheld the death penalty against him. In 2010, the US Central Intelligence Agency estimated Yemen's population to be almost 99.1% Muslim and the remaining 0.9% consisting of Jews, Bahais, Hindus and Christians, many of them refugees or temporary foreign residents. According to the Bahai International Community (BIC), which represents Bahai worldwide, Yemens Bahais have constantly suffered persecution at the hands of the authorities in Sanaa, who subject them to arbitrary arrest and imprisonment. The BIC praised the order to free detained Bahais and called for its immediate implementation. On March 23, Amnesty International had urged Houthi authorities to overturn Haydaras death sentence and release him immediately and unconditionally, asserting that he was being persecuted for his beliefs. Hind al-Eryani, a journalist and Yemeni human rights activist based in Sweden, told Al-Monitor, The Houthis did the right thing to order their release. Noting that the Houthis are themselves a minority, she asserted that minorities who hold power should not treat other minorities the way the Bahais have been treated. Eryani said that she had learned about the Bahais and the treatment of them in 2000, after which she began to campaign for their release. She believes it is important to support what diversity there is in Yemen. Osama al-Fakih, director of media, communications and advocacy at Mwatana, said he isn't entirely sure why the SPC issued its order. What I believe is that this decision is a result of accumulative efforts by all human rights organizations, he told Al-Monitor. But also it might involve some political factors that I'm not aware of. According to the BIC, six of the Bahais being held have been in prison for several years for their religious beliefs. The community said in a March 25 statement, Todays order must lead to the lifting of the 2018 charges against a group of over 20 Bahais. Fakih welcomed the Houthi's action and said that in addition to the Baha'is, all other arbitrarily detained prisoners as well as those forcibly disappeared should be immediately released to reduce the threat of a coronavirus outbreak inside prisons even though Yemen has yet to confirm a case of COVID-19. The general conditions inside detention centers in Yemen are not really good, he stressed. [They] lack basic services. It would be catastrophic if [the novel coronavirus] spreads in detention centers. Approximately five visits were made to Haydara [by Mwatana representatives] in 2016 and 2018 while he was in Central Prison, Fakih said. On July 27, 2018, he was transferred to the health center inside the Central Prison. Fakih further remarked that someone from his organization last visited Haydara in late 2018 or early 2019 and that the last attempt, made a month ago, had ended unsuccessfully. They were denied access on the grounds that the prison director was not there to issue them an entry permit. Attempts by Al-Monitor to interview Haydara also ended unsuccessfully, with authorities and guards citing a number of reasons, including coronavirus restrictions and the need to obtain permits. In the meantime, BIC and other Bahai representatives appear to be limiting public comments until further movement on the releases. Diane Alai, the Bahai International Communitys representative to the United Nations, declined to speak with Al-Monitor, but on April 1, tweeted, One week since Mahdi Al-Mashat (Supreme Political Council) announced a pardon for Hamed bin Haydara & unconditional release of all #Bahai-s in prison in #Yemen. They are all still incarcerated. When will the order be implemented? #YemeniBahais. What the Bahais will face once they are released is anyone's guess. Eryani remarked that only with peace and a stable state will Yemenis be able to exercise freedom of religion and speech and enjoy human rights. The situation now is not helping the vulnerable groups, and I am talking about Yemen as a whole, not just Houthi-controlled areas, Eryani said. Yemen's civil war grinds on with fighting between Houthi and Hadi forces and their assorted allies, so the Bahai, and others, remain without reliable protections. Fakih wonders whether the Bahais, after their release, will be allowed to remain in Sanaa and to practice their faith openly or be forced into exile. We believe they should practice their beliefs freely, whoever they are, he said. [It] is going to depend on the behavior of the warring parties, whether they really do respect human rights and believe in their people. It's up to them. Calling all students! The Herald wants to hear about your experience of doing lessons at home. We're asking NSW school students of all ages to write us a letter of no more than 200 words, describing their thoughts and feelings about remote learning over the past few weeks. Students could address questions such as; do you like doing lessons at home? What do you miss most about school? What have been the best bits about staying home for school, and what are the things you have found hardest? We will choose a selection of letters from students of different ages to print in a special edition of the letters page. We are most likely to choose letters that use clear, concise language; offer a personal perspective; and comply with the word limit (the shorter the better!). Mum and dad can help type up the letters, but we want them to be students' own work. Please send your letters to education@smh.com.au by midday on Wednesday. Please include your full name, your age, home address and best contact number (your contact/address details will not be printed). Please do not send email attachments. Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Monday said he would give 30 per cent of his annual salary to the PM CARES Fund. The PM CARES Fund been set up to combat and contain the coronavirus outbreak and provide relief, a Raj Bhavan statement said, adding that Koshyari had already announced that he would donate his March salary to the PM Relief Fund. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The man accused of fatally shooting a teenage girl in the back of the head claimed self-defense while detectives questioned him about the incident, according to an arrest affidavit. READ MORE: Laredo confirms eight added coronavirus cases, 106 total Kevin Costilla, 20, alleged that Victoria Vicky Mireles, 16, set him up to rob him of his cellphone. However, investigators said they found inconsistencies with Costillas side of the story, according to court documents. The case unravelled at about at about 9:38 p.m. March 30 as police officers responded to a report of one female shot in the 4000 block of Totem Pole Lane. First officers on the scene discovered Mireles lying face down with a gunshot wound to the back of the head, records state. Witnesses identified the shooter as Kevin Castillo or Kevin Castro. Facebook Detectives learned that the shooter was someone Mireles had met on Facebook. Witnesses told police they had Mireles cellphone in their possession and that it should have communication between Costilla and Mireles. Detectives confirmed that the shooter was Kevin Costilla, as several messages were discovered on victims cellphone, giving a motive that Kevin Costilla was upset over a stolen cellphone taken from him by victim or victims friends, states the affidavit. Authorities placed out a lookout for Costilla and a vehicle description. The investigation led police to a residence in the 2600 block of South Louisiana Avenue. Costilla was detained there without incident. Costilla allegedly agreed to give a statement. READ MORE: Laredo man arrested after shooting death of teenage girl Police said he gave a confession to shooting Victoria Vicky Mireles. Self-defense claim Costilla claimed self-defense that Victorias friends barged into Vickys room where they were lying in bed pointing a gun at him. Costilla claimed that China was asking for his cellphone, a new iPhone 11 Pro Max but was too afraid to rob him at gunpoint. Costilla alleges that Vicky took the gun away from China and pointed that gun at his face, robbing him at gunpoint now. Costilla states that once Vicky turns around to look at her friend, he took out his gun and shot her once unknown where, states the affidavit. Investigators said that Costillas self-defense claim did not coincide with the evidence discovered and the witnesses statements. Police then questioned him about a supposed warning shot. Costilla then allegedly changed his story saying that he first fired a warning shot while China had the gun to intimidate her. But he alleged that Vicky took the gun and pointed it at his face. When Vick turned to look at her friends giving off the impression that she got this, Costilla states that he shoots her, the affidavit states. No weapon was discovered at the scene. Authorities only recovered two spent .40-caliber casings, according to police. Costilla alleged that only him and Mireles were in the room. He stated that about 5 minutes later, China and another person barged into Mireles room. Costilla believes that Vicky set him up to steal his cellphone, states the affidavit. GoFundMe Costilla was charged with murder. He remains behind bars at the Webb County Jail, according to custody records. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help relatives of Mireles with funeral expenses. The account has a goal of $2,000. About $400 was collected as of Thursday evening. READ MORE: City of Laredo unveils coronavirus website with map of confirmed cases People wanting to donate can visit https://bit.ly/39xgPu0. - An 89-year-old went out of her home to sell broomsticks because she had no money to buy food - When she reached a checkpoint, policemen stopped her considering that she was not supposed to be out at her age - Instead of "arresting" or charging the old lady with a fine, a junior police officer opted to show compassion to the old lady who was living alone - He bought the broomsticks that the lola was selling so that she would be able to have some money to buy food PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed An 89-year-old went out of her home despite the quarantine guidelines that senior citizens must stay at home during the period. KAMI learned that she went out in order to sell the broom in the market in Paypayan, Oroquieta City. When the grandmother arrived at the checkpoint, she was, of course, stopped by the policemen. Instead of the usual routine process that quarantine violators undergo, the police officers had her sit on a chair and they showed the kind of service that the Philippines needs today. According to News5 post, Police Trainee Raymon Lendio bought the brooms and gave lola some food and face masks too. Netizens lauded the act of the valiant and kindhearted police trainee. PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! In a previous report by KAMI, the government faced problems when they imposed the initial community quarantine, which was elevated into the now ongoing enhanced community quarantine. It also suspended transportation causing massive problems with commuters. The coronavirus outbreak started out in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China. Scientists believed that the virus came from an animal at one of Wuhan's wet markets. At present, the Philippines is under a state of calamity while the entire Luzon is under an enhanced community quarantine. Please like and share our amazing Facebook posts to support the KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinions about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts and views on different matters! Are you an avid fan of Liza Soberano? You might want to know more about how she rose to fame. Find out who Liza was before showbiz. Check out all of the exciting videos and celebrity interviews on our KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: KAMI.com.gh (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. 6.4k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Former national security adviser Susan Rice said President Donald Trumps response to the coronavirus pandemic has cost tens of thousands of American lives in an interview with Washington Post opinion writer Jonathan Capehart. This administration was not interested in pandemics. It was not prepared for pandemics. We now know that even during the Trump administration there were lots of reports, lots of warnings, said Rice, adding: Rather than moving immediately from very early January to do the things that we know we have to do, get in place the testing capacity, scale it up so that its widely available. Surge the purchase and the distribution of personal protective equipment, ventilators, masks, gloves, gowns, and get that to our hospital systems, build out a bed capacity, call back medical professionals. All these things that states and locals are now doing on the fly. These are the things that we know we needed to do and do at the outset. And so, they didnt do that. They waited two months. Its not the one month that the New York Times had a headline, A Wasted Month, it was a wasted two months, Jonathan. And those two months have meant the difference between many tens of thousands of Americans dying who might otherwise not have died. He has demonstrated utter lack of leadership, utter incompetence. And hes been profoundly dishonest about the nature of the threat to the American people by downplaying it, by dismissing it, by comparing it to the flu. He has misled the American people to such an extent that lives have been lost in the process, she continued. Whether thats because he didnt care or he was trying to downplay the problem and buoy his electoral prospects mistakenly, or whether it was to buck up the markets, or because he doesnt care, I dont know what it was. I just know that he has cost tens of thousands of American lives. Rice says she supports a nationwide stay-at-home order because when you do these shutdowns early and comprehensively, it makes a difference. It saves lives and it flattens the curve. At least 9,621 Americans have died from the novel coronavirus since the first death was reported on February 29. This will be probably the toughest week, between this week and the next week. And there will be a lot of death, unfortunately, said Trump during Saturdays coronavirus press briefing, emphasizing that the economy should reopen once more. We cannot let this continue, he said. So at a certain point, some hard decisions are going to have to be made. 100 years ago Big sewer rat meets his fate in city's stable house Thomas Kelly and Terrence McCaffrey, both members of Steamer 5 in Albany, killed a giant sewer rat in the stable house of the Steamer after a bitter fight with the oversized rodent. The rat was discovered by Kelly at around 8 p.m. Monday and he attacked it with a stable broom, but it eluded him several times until McCaffrey came to his aid with a shovel. Because of its unusual size, the animal's body was later put on a scale and weighed in at exactly 15 pounds. Times Union, April 7, 1920 50 years ago Medal of Honor awarded A Troy serviceman killed in Vietnam in 1968 would be among 21 American servicemen to be posthumously awarded Medals of Honor today by President Richard Nixon. The family of Spc. 4 Peter M. Guenette, 20, would be presented the medal during a ceremony at the White House. Guenette, a machine gunner with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, had been killed while his unit was attacking a North Vietnamese army base May 18, 1968. When an enemy grenade landed near him, he shouted a warning and smothered the grenade with his body. Times Union, April 7, 1970 Looking Back is compiled by C.J. Lais and Azra Haqqie. For questions about this feature or to submit information about historic events, contact Tim Blydenburgh, 518-454-5421 or tblydenburgh@timesunion.com The economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic can already be felt across the state. With businesses closed, many residents have lost their source of income, leaving them unable to pay for basic necessities such as food, rent, utilities and rent. Help-A-Neighbor is a new emergency drive to help meet some of those needs efficiently. The Stamford Advocate and Greenwich Time are working together with nonprofit agencies Family Centers, Person-to-Person, Domus and Building One Community, which collectively serve many of the most vulnerable members of the community. In the weeks to come, we will publish stories about neighbors in crisis. Included with each story will be an estimated dollar amount to meet their identified needs. The agencies will channel 100 percent of donations to the clients. Family Centers provides human service programs to more than 20,000 residents in Stamford, Greenwich, New Canaan and Darien. Person-to-Person serves those communities as well as Norwalk, Wilton, Weston and Westport. Among other things, it provides food and clothing to families in need. Domus provides services for at-risk youth, and Building One Community delivers assistance to immigrants. Both are based in Stamford. To donate, go to helpaneighbor. isecuresites.com. Here are the stories of neighbors in need. Case No. 34 Wendy was hospitalized due to a lung condition, which caused her to lose her job at a fast-food restaurant. She then landed a job as a housekeeper, but that was terminated due to the coronavirus public health crisis. Wendy is concerned about her financial situation because she needs to take care of her 4-year-old child as well as her unemployed father, who has been in poor health as well. A gift of $500 would help keep Wendy afloat during these uncertain times. Case No. 35 Richard, an 8-year-old boy in third grade, moved to the U.S. from Colombia a year ago with his mother and 3-year-old twin siblings. His mother lost two of her three cleaning jobs due to COVID-19 office closures. Richard feels sad and helpless because he misses his family and friends in Colombia. Richard lost his father to a heart attack when he was 3 and considers himself to be the man of the house. A gift of $500 would help Richards mother alleviate the struggle of providing for her children. Case No. 36 Juan, a 9-year-old boy in fourth grade, suffers from social anxiety when interacting with peers and adults. Juans mother works cleaning houses and his father is in construction, but he struggles with clinical depression and anxiety, making it difficult to put in long hours at work. Juans mother recently had her hours reduced at work due to COVID 19 outbreak. A gift of $500 would help Juans parents pay their rent during this difficult time. Case No. 37 Jose, a 9-year-old boy in fourth grade, displays symptoms of depression and low self-esteem as a result of a traumatic experience a year ago. Jose lives with his mother, who works cleaning offices and struggles to make ends meet. Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, Joses mother is working only two days a week so her income has decreased greatly. A gift of $500 would help Joses mother provide him with food and basic necessities during this difficult time. Case No. 38 Nine-year-old Jose lives with his uncle, who is his legal guardian. His mother lives in Guatemala and has a hearing problem that interferes with her ability to be self sufficient. His uncle works many hours in construction but struggles to provide for himself, Jose and his three children in Guatemala. A gift of $500 would help Joses uncle pay his rent and utilities because his work hours have been greatly reduced by the COVID-19 outbreak. Case No. 39 Manuel, an 18-year-old from the Dominican Republic, worked up to 35 hours per week while still attending high school. He also has difficulty sleeping and struggles with depression. He pays his share of the rent to his mother and pays for all his personal expenses. But Manuel recently lost his job due to the COVID 19 outbreak, which forced restaurants to close. A gift of $500 would help Manuel pay his rent this month. How do you practice social distancing in this era of coronavirus when youre part of a Great Lakes freighter crew? With a special set of rules, shipping leaders say. New protocols and precautionary measures are taking place on ships across the Great Lakes where crews are moving through more than 100 ports this shipping season, according to the Associated Press. James Weakley, president of the Lake Carriers Association, said the shipping industry has rolled out its own set of safeguards aimed at prevention. Freighter crews are following hygiene and social distancing guidelines set by health experts. Not only are there formal ramifications, but there is a very informal peer pressure among our sailors that will keep people from doing anything that is unsafe and potentially cause spread, Weakley said, according to the AP. The Lake Carriers Association is made up of 46 American vessels that each year haul 90 million tons of cargo annually across the Great Lakes. A few week ago, at the start of the 2020 shipping season, Weakley talked about the preparations being made. His comments were put on the LCA website: Since February, a tremendous team focus has gone into getting the fleet outfitted and sailing safely with healthy crews. This has been a truly concerted effort by the sailors, the vessel operators, U.S. Coast Guard, Centers for Disease Control, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, public health officials, the Great Lakes dock and port operators, and service providers that keep our fleet sailing. Our first priority is the men and women sailing the vessels. Our efforts are focused on preparedness, prevention, and response to ensure their safety from the impacts of COVID-19. Weve tried to anticipate as many contingencies as possible and prescribe the actions to counter them. This is a community effort and the partnerships we have forged are strong. The best plans are comprehensive and nimble. The U.S. Coast Guard is monitoring these ships as well as any international cargo vessels, especially if theyve been in an area of the world affected by the COVID-19 outbreak in the last couple weeks. Petty Officer Brian McCrum, spokesman for the Coast Guards 9th District which oversees the Great Lakes region, said these ships will be allowed to enter the U.S. only if they are not carrying sick crew members. In addition, all crew members must stay on board these ships unless they are involved in loading or unloading cargo, or getting provisions, the AP reported. READ MORE: Soo Locks opens for 2020 season, 700-foot freighter is first ship through 600,000 pounds of debris found at bottom of empty Soo Locks Mumbai: The house of a top Bollywood producer in Juhu Vile Parle, Mumbai, sealed after his daughter tested posotive for Covid-19, on Apr 6, 2020. (Phto: IANS) Image Source: IANS Mumbai, April 6 : Bollywood went into a tizzy after it emerged that the daughter of a top producer, the name behind Shah Rukh Khan films like Ra.One and Chennai Express - has tested Covid-19 positive, here on Monday. The producer and his two daughters, including one who is an actress, and eight other family members live in Juhu's Ashok Nagar Society which is now gone under isolation, according to local municipal corporator Renu Hansraj. Though shocked, the producer has taken to the crisis sportingly and even texted friends and close associates: "My daughter has not mingled with any foreign travelers and had no Covid-19 symptoms at all. It is my duty to inform you as we are law-abiding citizens. We are admitting her to Nanavati Hospital to be kept under isolation." Hansraj added that all the building residents shall be tested for Covid-19, and they are all very cooperative. A civic team visited the family on Monday for getting further details of their health status, the producer added, reassuring his friends in a message. This is said to be the first case of Covid-19 reported from the posh Juhu area, the abode of top Bollywood film personalities, industrialists and celebs from different fields. In the vicinity of the producer's apartment are the Jamnabai Narsee School, the N.M. College, Mithibai College, NMIMS, and even the homes of Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha, Jeetendra Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan among others. The Delhi High Court Monday reserved its order on the interim bail plea of Christian Michel James, an alleged middleman arrested in connection with the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam cases by the CBI and the ED, who cited risk of contracting coronavirus in Tihar Jail. Justice Mukta Gupta, who conducted the proceeding through video conferencing, heard the arguments on behalf of counsel for Michel and the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate. Both the probe agencies opposed the interim bail plea. Michel, 59, claimed that his health condition was critical and incompatible with the current prison status, especially to cope up with the risk of contracting the COVID-19 infection which could have a lethal effect on him as he is already suffering from serious pathologies. The agedness and a pre-existing ill state of health will make the applicant's (Michel) body more susceptible to the said infection than any other ordinary prisoner with a normal health condition. Further, the presence within prisons of subjects who are tested positive for Covid19 pose a threat to the applicant considering his existing health condition and age, said the plea, through Vishnu Shankar and Aljo K Joseph. Last week, the apex court had asked Michel to first approach the high court with his plea. In his plea, he also referred to the Supreme Court's March 16 order directing all the 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 jails in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. The plea further cited the Prime Minister's speech declaring a nation wide 21-day lockdown on March 24 to avoid spread of the virus. It said that Michel's health condition be monitored and treated and he required an environment like home where the risk of contagion is lesser and social distancing can be effectively practiced. The regular bail plea of Michel, who was arrested in 2018 and is in judicial custody since January 5, 2019, is also pending before the high court where the CBI and the ED have contended that he should not be granted the relief as he has a nexus with influential people and can influence witnesses. He has been denied bail in both the matters by the trial court. He has approached the high court against the lower court's decision. The special CBI court had denied him the relief, saying there was no sufficient ground to grant bail. Michel, extradited from Dubai, was arrested by the ED on December 22, 2018. On January 5 last year, he was sent to judicial custody in the ED case. He is also lodged in judicial custody in another case registered by the CBI in connection with the scam. Michel is among the three alleged middlemen being probed in the case by the ED and the CBI. The other two are Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cruise ships are docked at PortMiami in Miami, on March 31, 2020. (Wilfredo Lee/AP Photo) Cruise Ships Are Still Scrambling for Safe Harbor 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 percent 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 virus 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 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. Rescue workers transport a patient from the Zaandam of the Holland America Line cruise ship, afflicted with COVID-19 at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on April 2, 2020. (Joe Skipper/Reuters) Disembarkation is expected to be completed by April 3 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: Docking at Miami, 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 was originally headed for Fort Lauderdale, Florida. On April 4, Princess Cruises confirmed the ship is arriving into Miami, Florida. Disembarkation of guests is expected to take several days due to limited flight availability. Guests requiring shoreside medical care will be prioritized to disembark first, said the cruise line. The Coral Princess cruise ship arrives at PortMiami during the CCP virus outbreak, in Miami, on April 4, 2020. (Lynne Sladky/AP) 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. On April 5, a Princess Cruises spokesperson confirmed that two guests on board the Coral Princess have died. Our hearts go out to their family, friends and all who are impacted by this loss, the cruise line said in a statement. Guests and crew members who arent working have been self-isolating in their staterooms, 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. She spoke to CNN Travel before the shop docked in Florida. 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. 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 Coronavirus 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 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 Unites States. 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 handle 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 the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel 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. There are 907 passengers on board, including 602 nationals. There are an additional 619 crew members. The Columbus is set to arrive in Tilbury on April 14. ArtaniaPhoenix Status: In Western Australia The Artania cruise ship embarked on an 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 the CCP virus 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 disembarked 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 crew members 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. Crew members 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. Hanseatic NatureHapag-Lloyd Cruises The Hanseatic Nature is traveling from Central America to Hamburg, Germany, scheduled to arrive 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. Epoch Times staff contributed to this report The-CNN-Wire & 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. But once the government allows a subject to be discussed, it cannot silence religious views on that topic, he wrote. So the government may designate a forum for art or music, but it cannot then forbid discussion of Michelangelos David or Handels Messiah. And once the government declares Christmas open for commentary, it can hardly turn around and mute religious speech on a subject that so naturally invites it. Gabrielle Union is seen rocking different hairstyles while working. That reportedly played a part in her having a hard time while working on Americas Got Talent. Now she is no longer a judge and is moving on to other projects. However, right now she is staying home like many other actors because of the coronavirus outbreak. Union posted a cute picture with her daughter Kaavia on Instagram rocking her natural hair. Look at the post and what she had to say about her curls. Gabrielle Unions hair was reportedly criticized while working on Americas Got Talent Gabrielle Union | David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images Union was a judge on Americas Got Talent, but was reportedly not asked to return for another season. There were several reported reasons for this decision. Variety reported Jay Leno made a joke while filming on the show about a portrait with Simon Cowell and multiple dogs. He said the animals looked like something on the menu at a Korean restaurant. Union reportedly unsuccessfully pushed for producers to report this to human resources. Her appearance along with Julianne Houghs was reportedly criticized. Union would change her hairstyle often and her hair was reportedly considered too black for the audience. SAG-AFTRA later announced it was investigating the claims around Unions firing. A statement was given to Page Six: We take issues of workplace health and safety very seriously. We immediately reached out to Ms. Unions representatives when these reports came to light. It is our practice to work closely with members who reach out to us and their representatives in instances like this, as that usually affords the best protection and best resolution for the affected member. Page Six Union shared a post about unapologetically me after firing The former judge wrote about being herself in an Instagram post not long after her reported firing. She posted a video of different photos with herself along with the song, Flawless by Beyonce Knowles. Unapologetically me. Be comfortable and confident with your whole a** self. It might give others the fluuuxxx but never stop being you. You can shine on your own terms. And if you got something to say I dont take notes rooted in anti-blackness. I love me as i am, she wrote in the caption. She posted a video of her natural video Union posted a video on Instagram on April 4 showing off her natural hair. She captioned it with When your natural locks appreciate the lock down. Unlocking the secret soon#InTheLab #QuarantineNaturalHairChronicles #FrederickDouglassRealness. The mother followed it up with another set of pictures with her daughter. See @kaaviajames mamas got hair like yours!! When I took my braids out she was like now mom & baby both rocking their natural curls#QuarantineNaturalHairChronicles, wrote the actress in the caption. The family has been posting about their time together while social distancing to avoid the spread of the coronavirus. Union recently shared a video of her daughter Kaavia dancing to reggaeton with her parents and her husband, Dwyane Wade. The mother also shared a video of her in the pool with Kaavia, who is learning to swim. International and Indian airlines are refusing to refund cash and giving credit that can be used later. IMAGE: French nationals wait to board a special Air India flight on their way to Paris, at Cochin International Airport, Nedumbassery, Kochi, Saturday. These passengers, 105 French tourists and 7 other EU nationals, were stranded in various parts in Kerala due to COVID-19 lockdown for the past two weeks. Photograph: PTI Photo Visiting California was on Amritas mind since she got her first job in mid-2019. She saved and planned a Vegas trip. But with the coronavirus pandemic forcing India to cancel international flights, the Rs 42,500 she spent on the tickets, booked in December for travel in April, is stuck. Etihad Airlines has refused to provide her a refund and has given her a voucher of equivalent amount that can be used till July 31 next year. But with the virus spread becoming severe in the US, Amrita is unsure of any international travel in the near future. She now spends 10 minutes daily trying to get a refund. I call them. Theyre robotic, keep repeating the same information, that Etihad has decided not to give refunds and offer a voucher, said Amrita, 25. They wouldnt deviate from the repetition. They just say I could log a complaint but that wouldnt get me a refund. Not just the international airlines, its the same story with the domestic carriers. Indian airlines, too, are refusing to refund cash and giving credit that can be used later. As airlines pocket millions owed to customers, people are questioning the objective of spending taxpayers money to bail out these airlines while they hold the same taxpayers at ransom. Indian civil aviation regulation mandates airlines to offer passengers a refund if a flight is cancelled, with exceptions for circumstances like bad weather. If you are informed of the flight cancellation less than two weeks before but up to 24 hours of the scheduled departure time, the airline must offer another flight or refund the ticket amount, as acceptable by you, the ministry of civil aviations passenger charter states. That happens in normal times... but country lockdowns have dissolved schedules for weeks, forcing airlines to park their fleets and guarding their cash as revenue withers. "If forced to give refunds now, one or more than one airline will be out of business, an airline executive said. The officials comment echoes the message airline trade group International Air Transport Association (IATA) sent on Friday, urging governments to relax regulations on cancellation refunds. We believe the best answer for both airlines and travel agents is for regulators to ease requirements for cash refunds and allow airlines to issue vouchers instead. "This would remove the pressure on agents to issue cash refunds at a time when airlines are making decisions based on their own need to preserve cash, IATA said. Their customers though are taking to social media platforms to complain they cant get their money back. The Indian civil aviation regulator has also been flooded with complaints from passengers but the DGCA has not yet taken a call, fearing that pushing airlines for cash refunds will push the already stretched companies into bankruptcy. We are concerned about the situation. But, we have to take a balanced view regarding this, as we have to save both passengers and airlines, a DGCA official said, adding India has still not agreed to IATAs suggestion for vouchers instead of cash refunds. A second airline executive, who also has Rs 25,000 pending with British Airways for a family vacation he planned in May, said the best idea would be to give airlines a longer window to return the money. Give a window of one year to reschedule. If the passenger still doesnt, the money can be refunded after a year. "Till then, the situation will probably improve and airlines will have some cash buffer. But many, like Amrita, want their refunds back as soon as possible. Many want it back due to the same reason airlines want to keep the money - uncertain times. Environmental and health researchers in Denmark and Italy demonstrate a probable correlation between air pollution and mortality in two of the worst affected regions in northern Italy: Lombardy and Emilia Romagna The world has been hit hard by coronavirus, and health services and authorities everywhere are struggling to reduce the spread, combat the disease and protect the population. Nevertheless, the pandemic will cost lives throughout the world. An environmental researcher from Aarhus University has studied whether there could be a link between the high mortality rate seen in northern Italy, and the level of air pollution in the same region. The short answer is "yes possibly". The long answer is in the article below. The outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus2 had its source in the Wuhan Province in China in December 2019. Since then, the coronavirus has spread to the rest of the globe, and the world is now treating patients with the disease that follows virus infection: COVID-19. The course of the disease differs for patients the world over: many experience flu-like symptoms, while many others need hospital treatment for acute respiratory infection that, in some cases, leads to death. However, what factors affect the course of the disease and the possibilities to combat COVID-19 remains unclear, as long as there is no medical treatment or vaccine. At the moment, there are more questions than answers, and researchers all over the world are therefore working to find new insights into the global pandemic. At Aarhus University, the environmental scientist Dario Caro from the Department of Environmental Science, and two health researchers, prof. Bruno Frediani and Dr. Edoardo Conticini, from the University of Siena in Italy have found yet another small piece in the puzzle of understanding the deadly disease. They have focused on examining why the mortality rate is up to 12% in the northern part of Italy, while it is only approx. 4.5% in the rest of the country. They have just published an article entitled "Can Atmospheric pollution be considered as a co-factor in the extremely high level of SARS-CoV-2 lethality in Northern Italy?", in which they demonstrate a probable correlation between air pollution and mortality in two of the worst affected regions in northern Italy: Lombardy and Emilia Romagna. The research project has been published in the scientific journal Environmental Pollution. "There are several factors affecting the course of patients' illness, and all over the world we're finding links and explanations of what is important. It's very important to stress that our results are not a counter-argument to the findings already made. At the moment, all new knowledge is valuable for science and the authorities, and I consider our work as a supplement to the pool of knowledge about the factors that are important for the course of patients' illness," says environmental scientist Dario Caro, and clarifies that there are a number of other factors that could possibly play a role in the Italian situation: "Our considerations must not let us neglect other factors responsible of the high lethality recorded: important co-factors such as the elevated medium age of the Italian population, the wide differences among Italian regional health systems, ICUs capacity and how the infects and deaths has been reported have had a paramount role in the lethality of SARS-CoV-2, presumably also more than pollution itself," he explains. Different datasets show a link The two northern Italian regions are among the most air-polluted regions in Europe. The recently published article took its outset in data from the NASA Aura satellite, which has demonstrated very high levels of air pollution across precisely these two regions. The group compared these data with the so-called Air Quality Index; a measurement of air quality developed by the European Environment Agency. The index gathers data from several thousand measuring stations all over Europe, providing a geographical insight into the prevalence of a number of pollutant sources in the EU. The figures speak for themselves. The population of the northern Italian regions lives in a higher level of air pollution, and this may lead to a number of complications for patients with COVID-19 in the regions, simply because their bodies may have already been weakened by the accumulated exposure to air pollution when they contract the disease. Dario Caro explains that the situation in the Italian regions has been a challenge for several years, with high levels of air pollution that have accumulated over a long period of time in the population. It is therefore unlikely that there is any reason to imagine that people in Denmark are exposed to the same factors or the same levels of pollution as people in northern Italy, where the authorities have been trying to reduce pollution levels for many years. "All over the world, we're seeing different approaches from countries' authorities, in countries' general public health outset and in the standards and readiness of different countries' national healthcare systems. But this doesn't explain the prevalence and mortality rates that we're seeing in northern Italy compared with the rest of Italy. This feeds hope that we may have found yet another factor in understanding the high mortality rate of the disease in northern Italy," says Dario Caro. ### Fianna Fail TD for Galway West, Eamon O Cuiv has said there is serious disquiet in the party about entering into a four to five year government arrangement with Fine Gael. The options have been artificially narrowed, to present us with this choice only of government, he told RTE radios Morning Ireland. We need to treat people as equals in this process, he said. A number of groups and parties have been excluded including the joint biggest party in the Dail. Mr O Cuiv said there was a need for consultation with a much broader section of the Dail. He suggested that a strong majority is needed in the short term, a national government is one option to get a consensus to deal for the period of the Covid-19 health and economic crisis. Earlier, Catherine Murphy, one of the co-leaders of the Social Democrats said any new government had to be one that takes the right decisions for the next five years. Any partners in a coalition must be compatible and government formation was now very important because such a government would still be in place in 2024, she added. The Social Democrats would look at the framework document, she said, but pointed out that there are a lot of things that are unknown at this point, including the approach of the European Union. Ms Murphy described as "strange" and "tone deaf" the decision by Revenue to allow non-residents to avoid paying tax if they remain in the country for more than 183 days due to Covid-19 restrictions. There was a high degree of social solidarity at the moment and taxation was the essence of social solidarity because people have to pay taxes in order to get services. There were people today who were worried if they would have a job to return to or if their business will survive. Relaxing the system, which allows people to be out of the country for six months a year, seemed like the strangest of decisions, she said. Photograph: Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images Bernie Sanders is not done running for president and hes tired of saying so. Related: The US presidential election is frozen in time can it survive? For the fourth time, Sanders said tartly in an interview on The View this week, we are assessing the campaign. It was a response more diplomatic if no less irritated than previous versions to a question hes been getting for weeks: Why are you still in the race? Sanders has faced calls to drop out since early last month, when Joe Biden began his all-but unstoppable ascent to the nomination. But with the race for the nomination effectively in a state of suspended animation amid the coronavirus pandemic, the 78-year-old Vermont senator has resisted. Covid-19 has ravaged the US economy and strained the healthcare system, claiming more than 7,000 lives and nearly 10 million jobs. The twin economic and public health crises give what Sanders and allies have described as a new imperative to his calls for universal healthcare and a wide expansion of the social safety net. In many ways, this pandemic has made the case for a lot of the policies that the senator has spent 35 years fighting for, said Anna Bahr, a spokeswoman for the Sanders campaign. Reality has endorsed Bernie Sanders. Since stepping off the physical campaign trail, Sanders has turned his focus almost entirely to the coronavirus pandemic, a crisis he said is on the scale of a major war. In glitchy media interviews from his home in Vermont, the senator has argued that the US would be better prepared and more resilient in the face of a future pandemic if his policy agenda were already in place. But his continued presence in the race has alarmed many Democrats, haunted by the fallout from a divisive primary four years ago they believe contributed to Hillary Clintons defeat by Donald Trump. Sanders, they contend, had a year to make the case for his political revolution and should now bow out and help unify the party. Story continues Its a fantasy to say there is some path for Bernie Sanders to win this nomination, Jay Jacobs, chairman of the New York party. If he stays in this race, Bernie Sanders is doing it for one reason and one reason alone and unfortunately its for Bernie Sanders. Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders greet each other with a safe elbow bump before the start of the 11th Democratic presidential debate on 15 March 2020. Photograph: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Enough debates Sanders has sent conflicting signals. On the one hand, he has acknowledged Bidens daunting lead. Yet he insists there is a path to the nomination, albeit a narrow one. After a dismal showing last month, the campaign deactivated its digital ads while pausing spending on TV ads. Days later, the campaign announced it was ramping up digital organizing ahead of the New York primary, the most delegate-rich contest left New York has since postponed from 28 April to 23 June. Sanders recently said he would welcome a debate in April, an idea Biden dismissed. Weve had enough debates, the former vice-president said. Sanders allies are split. Some have said its time to exit while others believe he should continue to compete. On Saturday, the Washington Post reported that a group of top aides, including his campaign manager, had encouraged Sanders to withdraw. But many supporters believe the senator should continue collecting delegates, which will serve as leverage to shape the party platform at the national convention. Campaigns are an important way to maintain that fight and raise public consciousness on those issues, Sanders said on NBCs Late Night with Seth Meyers on Tuesday. So thats, I think, one of the arguments for going forward. Biden has largely avoided pressuring Sanders, well aware he will need support in the fall if he is the nominee. But hes not waiting for Sanders either. In recent weeks, Biden has begun making overtures to progressives and young voters. In a fundraising call on Friday night, Biden revealed that he had spoken to Sanders about his search for a running mate. Hes a friend, Biden said. I dont want him to think Im being presumptuous but you have to start now deciding who youre going to have background checks done on as potential vice-presidential candidates and it takes time. Like Biden, Sanders has been sharply critical of Trumps handling of the coronavirus outbreak. But they diverge on how they would harness the federal government to respond to a future pandemic. Our healthcare is without equal in the developed world in being dysfunctional and unfair and expensive, said Wendell Potter, former head of communications at Cigna who is now president of Business for Medicare for All. And I think this experience is going to bring into sharp focus how bad we are in terms of providing healthcare. As the crisis deepens, support for a single-payer system has climbed. In a survey this month by Morning Consult, support for Medicare for all rose to 55%, its highest point since June 2019. From February to March, net support for Sanders sweeping healthcare proposal nearly doubled from 11 points to 20 points. Sanders advocacy has not moved his rival. Biden was recently pressed on MSNBC to explain why universal healthcare isnt a better option as millions of Americans stand to lose coverage in the coming months, a shift in the way questions about the sweeping proposal are typically framed. Single-payer will not solve that at all, Biden replied. He said overhauling the US healthcare system would take too long and advocated instead for expanding the Affordable Care Act. In recent weeks, the Sanders campaign has stopped actively fundraising and instead leveraged its extensive donor list to raise money for charities helping Americans suffering from the outbreak. His team has surveyed supporters for ideas on how Congress can provide economic relief, circulated petitions demanding protective equipment and safety protections for Amazon and Walmart workers, and even adapted its digital organizing app, Bern, to help connect users with resources and aid. Sanders frequently hosts roundtable discussions. On one occasion he sought to channel a wartime president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, hosting a fireside chat. The campaign says it raised more than $4.5m for the charities and more than 14 million people have viewed its livestreams. Sander has also used his perch in the Senate to influence the debate over the response to the crisis. When three Republican senators objected to a provision in the $2tn rescue package that expanded unemployment insurance, Sanders threatened to block the bill unless they dropped their opposition. Oh my God, the universe is collapsing! he said, mocking their concern that the bill might give some struggling Americans extra financial support in a time of crisis. Oh my word, will the universe survive? The recovery package, the largest ever in American history, passed unanimously. On Friday, Sanders released a slate of priorities for the next stimulus package that his campaign touted as the boldest legislation ever written in modern history. They include monthly cash payments of $2,000 monthly to all individuals, including undocumented immigrants, a freeze on rent and mortgage payments, hazard pay for essential workers and using Medicare to pay all medical costs incurred during the pandemic. The plan is almost certainly a nonstarter in a Republican-controlled Senate wary of expanding federal relief beyond what was included in the last package. Bernie Sanders outside the Senate chamber in Washington DC on 25 March 2020. Photograph: Erik S Lesser/EPA Unprecedented moment It remains unlikely that Sanders can dramatically reshape the Democratic primary. He is almost hopelessly behind Biden in the delegate count and many of the biggest contests left are in states that appear more favorable to the former VP, like Georgia, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The next test comes on Tuesday, when Wisconsin is scheduled to hold its primary despite calls from Sanders and several legal challenges to postpone it. Sanders will likely need a strong performance in the state to keep alive the already dim prospect of a comeback. A new poll from Marquette Law School found Sanders trailing Biden by nearly 30 points in the battleground state. Sanders knows he has a decision to make. He is, as he tells every interviewer, assessing his options. Fundamentally, he believes the pandemic has changed the calculus. Is it possible to fall short of his presidential ambitions but succeed in his decades-long battle to remake US society? Right now in this unprecedented moment in American history, Sanders told The View, I think we need to have a very serious look at how we need to go forward. The coronavirus count in Uttar Pradesh breached the 300-mark on Monday with 30 more people testing positive for the infection, taking the total number of cases to 308, an official bulletin said on Monday. Among the fresh cases, 26 are linked to the Tablighi Jamaat, it said. Till Sunday, the state had reported 278 cases, about half of which were linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin, from where participants took the virus to several parts of the country. The bulletin on Monday said eight case were reported from Sitapur; five each from Lucknow, Shamli and Agra; two each from Mathura, Kanpur, Bijnore, Allahabad, Kaushambi; and one from Badaun. The state has so far reported three deaths--one each in Basti, Meerut and Varanasi. At least 21 people have recovered from the infection in the state. So far, the maximum number of cases has been reported from Gautam Buddh Nagar (58) followed by Agra (52), Meerut (33), Ghaziabad (23), Lucknow (22), Shamli (14) and Saharanpur (13). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) - President Uhuru Kenyatta said the Nairobi Metropolitan area, Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa counties were COVID-19 infected areas - Uhuru thus prohibited movement in and out of the four mentioned counties in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus - The head of state said only cargo and movement of food would be allowed into the four regions - He said 82% of the reported cases could be traced to the Nairobi Metropolitan area and 14% to the three coastal counties thus necessitating the cessation President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a cessation of movement in the Nairobi Metropolitan area, Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa for 21 days on the afternoon of Monday, April 6. The president said the counties were COVID-19 infected areas and needed stiffer measures to prevent a full-blown crisis. READ ALSO: Kenyan CEO Ogutu Okudo listed in Forbes Africa's 30 Under 30 for 2020 President Uhuru Kenyatta said most infections could be traced back to Nairobi, Kwale, Kilifi and Mombasa counties. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Kenyans support lady behind Utawezana challenge: "Her smile and passion are incredible" Speaking at State House on Monday, April 6, the head of state restricted movement in and out of the regions for 21 days effective 7pm Monday for Nairobi and Wednesday, April 8, for the three Coastal counties. "Fully conscious that 82% of Kenya's reported cases of COVID-19 have been in respect of residents from the Nairobi metropolitan area and 14% from Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi, the Ministry of Health has declared the counties as COVID-19 infected areas," he said "There shall be cessation of all movemenet by road, rail or air in and out of the Nairobi metropolitan area and the three other counties," he added. READ ALSO: Gavana Sonko asimamisha mkutano wa meja Badi kwenye ukumbi wa KICC Uhuru said no passenger-carrying bicycles, scooters, motorcycles, vehicles, railway wagons, aircraft shall be allowed into or out of the four regions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. "In the intervening period, movement in and out of the coastal strip shall be limited. "The few of the confined cases outside Nairobi can be traced to our nation's capital or the other three counties," the president said. Uhuru banned movement in and out the mentioned counties. Photo: State House. Source: Facebook The Nairobi Metropolitan include designated areas such as Nairobi city county, part of Kiambu county up to Chania River Bridge (Thika), Rironi, Ndenderu, Kiambu town, part of Machakos county up to Athi River. In addition, part of Kajiado county including Kitengela, Kiserian, Ongata Rongai and Ngong town were mentioned as part of Nairobi Metropolitan region. However, movement within Nairobi Metropolitan area and the mentioned coastal counties will still go on as usual. 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. Couple names new born twins Corona and Covid | Tuko TV. Source: TUKO.co.ke An ex-special branch police officer has thanked 'wonderful' medical staff after she becomes the oldest person on the UK to recover from coronavirus. Carrie Pollock, 99, was admitted to Queen Alexandra Hospital in early March, after getting hallucinations and suspected pneumonia. She also had a temperature - who is the symptoms of Covid-19 - as was tested by a doctor who confirmed the family's fears. But the former PC, who was special branch officer in Kenya, saw off the disease and is now back at home in Hayling Island near Portsmouth. Carrie Pollock, 99, was admitted to Queen Alexandra Hospital in early March after getting hallucinations and suspected pneumonia She said: 'I had malaria twice while I was in Africa and that was probably a little worse than coronavirus. 'I am really happy to be back at home now though listening to all my audiobooks. I listened to Radio 4 a lot while I was in hospital but I am happy to be out. 'I am doing very well. I would like to say thank you to all the doctors and nurses who helped me. 'They are wonderful people, they were really kind, and they talked to me about Africa a lot so I liked that.' Carrie shares her home with Peggy Hitchcock, 73, whose husband William was her nephew. She will turn 100 in November. Her husband Bill, who worked as an engineer, passed away in 2013 from heart problems. Mrs Hitchcock said Mrs Pollock was like a mother to her and added: 'We didn't want her to go into hospital as we were quite worried but the staff were absolutely amazing and couldn't have done more for her. Carrie Pollock cutting her wedding cake with husband, William Pollock, in Nairobi, 1956 'We visited her every day when she was being treated for her hallucinations and pneumonia but when the doctor called to tell us she had Covid-19, we were devastated because we couldn't see her and worried we wouldn't again. 'For her it was horrible as well as she is nearly blind but blow me down she is still going. 'Carrie is like a mother to me because I came from such a big family. She helped me make my bridesmaid dresses for my wedding and she has always been there for me. I can't thank the staff enough for how they treated her and I think they are all angels.' Mrs Pollock, who has no children, returned to the home she shares with Mrs Hitchcock last Thursday and is now relaxing at home with her audiobooks. She said: 'I am so grateful to the hospital staff. They were so kind and now I am doing very well.' Mrs Hitchcock's granddaughter Jess Keeley said: 'She is an absolute fighter and we are so proud that she has done so well. She is already back at home and walking to strengthen her legs again. 'She loves her audiobooks and loves a natter. She is an inspiration to our whole family. 'The hospital staff did an amazing job to care for her and nothing was too much trouble. We were able to call her when she was in isolation which was lovely.' Karen Clarke, senior sister at Queen Alexandra Hospital said: 'It was wonderful to see Carrie going home to her family as they had all really missed each other. 'These are worrying times for many and to see her leaving hospital after recovering from Covid-19 gave the staff a real boost.' Netflix will be releasing an extra episode of "Tiger King" next week, according to the zoo owner Jeff Lowe, who appeared on the hit docu-series. He revealed the details about a new episode in a video posted on Twitter by Justin Turner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, reports variety.com. "Netflix is adding one more episode. It will be on next week. They're filming here tomorrow," Lowe said in the video. It is unclear whether the new episode will be a follow-up to the show's seven-episode run or more of a reunion. Netflix recently released a reunion episode for "Love Is Blind" and did a post-show interview hosted by Oprah Winfrey with the "When They See Us" cast last year. "Tiger King", which premiered on Netflix on March 20, follows the bizarre exploits of private zoo owner Joe Exotic, who runs a zoo full of hundreds of tigers and other rare animals. At the end of the series, he ends up in jail serving a 22-year sentence for animal abuse and plotting to carry out a murder-for-hire plot against his fellow big cat owner rival, Carole Baskin. Many celebrities have also come out as "Tiger King" fans. Cardi B floated the idea of starting a GoFundMe to help release Joe Exotic, and actors like Dax Shepard have thrown their names out on Twitter to play the character if the story were adapted to a movie. Like the rest of Texas and the country, our community is adjusting to our new, temporary reality. While I miss friends, colleagues and the rhythms of a normal day, its important to keep each other safe. Its not just about staying away. During this time we need to think about our friends and neighbors at risk from those closest to them and sheltering with them. While it is scary to think about the direct impacts the new coronavirus can have if we get sick, this pandemic will unfortunately also impact vulnerable individuals in less obvious ways. Those experiencing domestic violence walk a tightrope every day, and the countrys uncertain future adds layers of stress that make the walk even more precarious. They need help more than ever especially when guns are added into this toxic mix. Im a proud Houstonian and a proud gun owner. In fact, I work with a group called Texas Gun Owners for Safety that advocates for commonsense reforms. I understand and respect the importance of firearms. I also know when they are in the wrong hands they can cause tragedy. All too often this happens in the home. Consider that when an abusive partner or family member has access to firearms, a victim of domestic violence is five times more likely to be killed. A CALL FOR LOCAL ACTION: Flatten the curve on domestic violence: Coordinated action needed during coronavirus quarantine [Opinion] Right now, Im thinking of all the individuals in precarious situations, who in normal times can get away from the house and escape potentially dangerous family members. There are steps we need to take immediately to let victims know they are not alone. Resources and shelters must remain open and available. During this time we should be doing everything we can to ensure shelters can keep their doors open for families. We also have a federal background check system; it needs to continue operating effectively so we can stop prohibited people from getting guns. When the country begins to look ahead to whats next, we should never forget how shamefully silent some people in our federal government have been on the issue of domestic violence. April 4 marks 365 days since the House of Representatives passed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. This legislation has always been bipartisan, including this reauthorization. Republicans and Democrats last year joined together to pass legislation that would, for the first time, include specific provisions to protect women from gun violence. Those measures prevent abusive dating partners from purchasing guns, as well as people convicted of stalking and those subject to temporary restraining orders. The National Rifle Association opposed these protections for women as too radical. And so when it arrived in the Senate, our senior senator, John Cornyn, opposed it too. Sen. Cornyn stood on the Senate floor and said that Democrats holding the line to make women safer was shameful. He called their actions degrading and disrespectful. Whats really disrespectful is carrying water for NRA lobbyists on a bill so important to Texas women and families. Texans should be fed up with this corporate lobby nonsense by now. The gun owners group I belong to is proud to work alongside former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords to elect leaders who will reflect our values and those of responsible gun owners everywhere. Congresswoman Giffords understands whats at stake and has consistently called for action on this bill. Times like these remind me of Americas capacity to come together. When times get tough, we take care of one another and we fight for a better future. Right now, well do everything we can to help those facing the unthinkable. We cant afford not to. And we also cant afford to forget who stood up for whats right, both on Capitol Hill and here at home. Shannon Flores is a Houston-area resident and a gun owner who works with the Giffords organization to organize fellow Texas gun owners. Over the weekend, the reported number of daily COVID-19 deaths in France nearly tripled from the levels earlier in the week. According to initial data, it appears this increase was almost entirely due to the French governments decision to acknowledge that COVID-19 has run rampant across the countrys retirement homesleading to thousands of deaths that the government had not even bothered to acknowledge. After a record high of 509 COVID-19 deaths announced on April 1, April 2 saw 1,355 deaths, followed by 1,120 on April 3 and 1,053 on April 4. These three days by themselves roughly doubled the overall death toll in France in the epidemic. With Sundays figures of 2,886 new cases and 518 new deaths from COVID-19, this brought the official national totals to 93,780 cases and 8,093 deaths so far. Though the pandemic is the most serious global health crisis in a century, official data published by the French state is a farce. Only cases confirmed in hospitals are counted, while at the same time state policy is to demand that anyone suffering from COVID-19 monitor themselves and not come to hospital. As such, most COVID-19 patients in France who are resting or dying untreated in their own homes or in rest homes are not included in the official toll. The state has acknowledged that its figures are wild underestimates. When the official toll in France was 16,018, Health Minister Olivier Veran said he believed the true total was 30,000 to 90,000. The lack of accurate information, while it serves to mask the depth of the crisis from working people, hampers scientific analysis of the epidemic and the implementation of necessary protective measures. It is now emerging that President Emmanuel Macrons government oversaw decisions that would block reporting of the disaster unfolding in the retirement homes, acting with barely disguised contempt for the homes roughly 700,000 elderly pensioners and their families. The government has made slashing social spending, including healthcare spending, a centerpiece of its plan to shovel hundreds of billions of euros into the pockets of the superrich and the army. On April 2, after news of COVID-19 outbreaks in a few retirement homes made national news, Professor Jerome Salomon, Frances chief medical officer, announced that at least 884 elderly people living in retirement homes had died in the country since the beginning of the pandemic. He added that 14,638 confirmed or possible cases had been noted in these homes. Salomon said that this data was incomplete, stating, This is an initial partial estimate due to the great unevenness in reporting between regions, and critical work is being done to bring together all of the data. Salomon gave no estimated data for other social institutions for the elderly or for deaths of working age people in their homes. The Macron government has claimed that it is desperately trying to set up an agency that would gather and analyze COVID-19 pandemic data. On March 25 LCI reported, The General Health Directorate (DGS) informed us that an app allowing for daily reporting of the number of deaths that have occurred in medical-social establishments will be operational in the coming days. This is an attempt to mislead the public. In fact, the DGS and the Health Ministry can already rely on the existing data collection program of the Weekly Flu Bulletin assembled to monitor and provide real-time data on the spread of acute respiratory infections and deaths, including among the elderly. It compiles data from the general population, hospitals and rest homes. There is no benign explanation for the Macron governments decision to ignore this existing agency, whose own rules specify that it should be compiling data on COVID-19. In 2012, the High Council on Public Health laid out a Code of Conduct for acute respiratory infections (IRA) in collectivities of elderly residents. It specified that data collection should be launched and a national report sent if interhuman spread of an IRA led to a situation in which at least five IRA cases emerge among residents in a four-day time period, not including institutional staff. COVID-19, like the flu, is an acute respiratory infection that meets the criteria for reporting. Indeed, the 11th Weekly Flu Bulletin posted on March 18, the last one available online, proposed creating a weekly report on the situation in elderly care institutions, noting that 655 episodes of grouped IRAs have been reported, and that at least three of these were confirmed COVID-19 IRA outbreaks. The bulletin added that given the relatively mild nature of the regular flu season this year, the new outbreak was likely linked to the COVID-19 epidemic in France. It also noted, however, that it is difficult to know to what extent these are individuals with flu symptoms who more frequently resort to care, fearing a COVID-19 infection, and to what extent they are genuine COVID-19 patients. This uncertainty stems from the fact that the state did not place COVID-19 test kits at the disposal of retirement homes. Thus, contrary to the claims of the Health Ministry, the state administration not only had an established mechanism to monitor the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, but this mechanism was in fact producing statistics on the spread of the disease. However, a decision was taken at top levels of the state to ignore and hush up these reports. As a result, thousands of people have been dying for weeks in retirement homes with virtually no public discussion and often with minimal response from authorities. In one instance, at the Thise retirement home near Besancon, 10 residents were infected with COVID-19 by a nurses aide returning from Mulhouse, a center of the epidemic in France. On March 7, a local newspaper Ma Commune reported the outbreak and added: Asked to comment, the Regional Health Authority (ARS) indicated that their situation was not cause for concern and that they would have been hospitalized if it had been such. Residents who have the virus are confined to their rooms to avoid infecting others in the retirement home. A month later, France3 television news reported on the now catastrophic situation at Thise: Since the detection of the first COVID-19 cases at the home on March 5, 25 people have died, that is, more than a quarter of the 80 residents of the home, whose average age was 88. At the time of the initial infections, Macron and the government were repeating that the epidemic would be uncontrollable and that measures to block the spread of the disease could not be allowed to harm the economy. Some, echoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, made the fascistic argument that the population should be forced to acquire immunity by allowing the disease to spreadcontained only by limited mitigation measures. British pharmaceutical group GlaxoSmithKline has teamed up with US peer Vir Biotechnology to find antibodies to help fight COVID-19 and "likely" future outbreaks, the pair announced Monday. It comes as UK defence engineering group Babcock said it was collaborating to make 10,000 ventilators, which are in short supply across the country that has seen more than 5,000 deaths from coronavirus. "GlaxoSmithKline plc and Vir Biotechnology, Inc. today announced they have signed a binding agreement to enter into a collaboration to research and develop solutions for coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19," said a statement. GSK will invest USD 250 million (228 million euros) into Vir to help "identify new anti-viral antibodies that could be used as therapeutic or preventative options to help address the current COVID-19 pandemic and future outbreaks", it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistani authorities have cancelled the Baisakhi celebrations at Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Punjab province from April 14, in which around 3,000 Sikhs from India were to participate, due to the coronavirus pandemic in the country, a media report said on Monday. The number of the coronavirus cases in Pakistan on Monday reached 3,277 with the infections in the worst-hit Punjab province approaching 1,500. The deadly virus which originated in China's Wuhan city has infected more than 1.2 million people globally. The Baisakhi celebrations were scheduled to begin at the revered Gurdwara in Hasan Abdal city of Punjab province on April 14, Dawn reported. Now only a symbolic event would be held on the day, it said. Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Deputy Secretary Shrines Imran Gondal said that a meeting of the ETPB and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbadhank Committee (PSGPC) unanimously decided that there would be no Baisakhi celebrations at the Gurdwara Punja Sahib this year and the scheduled visits of Sikh pilgrims has been cancelled, the report said. The ETPB looks after the holy places of the minority community in the country. Gurdwara Punja Sahib has a handprint of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev, on a boulder of the shrine. Around 3,000 Sikhs from India and 2,000 from around the world were to participate in the celebrations, the report said. Baisakhi is celebrated to mark the beginning of a new harvest season. Under the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974. Every year, a large number of Sikh pilgrims from India visit Pakistan to observe various religious festivals and occasions. In 2019, over 2,200 Sikhs from India visited Pakistan to celebrate Baisakhi. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has already been informed of the decision, Gondal said, with onward communication for the Foreign Office and the Indian government regarding the development. The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi would not issue visas to pilgrims this year, it added. "We have monitored the situation closely in recent days and worked with government departments, including the PSGPC and other stakeholders. We are committed to following the guidelines set by the federal government to ensure a safe environment for our Sikh pilgrim guests and we would not risk their health amid the global coronavirus outbreak," Gondal said. PSGPC General Secretary Sardar Ameer Singh, a leading organiser, said the decision was made to prevent all risks to public health and safety. Deciding to cancel the event was not easy, he said, as the Sikh community around the world has great emotional, religious and cultural attachment to the event. He added that only symbolic Baisakhi celebrations will be observed at Gurdwara Punja Sahib. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A tiger at the Bronx Zoo is believed to be the first animal in the U.S. and the first tiger in the world to test positive for the new coronavirus. Nadia, a four-year-old Malayan tiger, was tested for the virus that causes COVID-19 after she developed a dry cough and began to lose her appetite, Reuters reported. Three other tigers and three lions have also developed a cough, though Nadia was the only one tested because she was the sickest and large cats have to be anesthetized for testing. I couldnt believe it, Zoo Director Jim Breheny told The Associated Press of the positive test result. He said the zoo had only tested Nadia out of an abundance of caution. Officials believe Nadia caught the disease from a zoo worker who was asymptomatic at the time. The worker had contact with all of the infected animals, who live in two separate areas, and the zoo has been closed to the public since March 16. The infected worker is now doing okay. In addition to Nadia, her sister Azul, two Amur tigers and three African lions have shown symptoms. The first animal fell ill March 27. Its the first time, to our knowledge, that a [wild] animal has gotten sick from COVID-19 from a person, chief Bronx Zoo veterinarian Paul Calle told National Geographic. The tigers infection builds on evidence that animals can catch the virus from people. A Pomeranian and a German Shepherd tested positive for the virus in Hong Kong, as did a domestic cat in Belgium. A Chinese study also found that cats may be able to transmit the disease to each other. Steven Van Gucht, virologist and federal spokesperson for the coronavirus epidemic in Belgium, explained to Live Science why felines are susceptible to the disease: Cats and humans appear to have a similar doorknob on the surfaces of respiratory cells that lets the SARS-CoV-2 virus get inside, according to Van Gucht. In humans, scientists have figured out that the SARS-CoV-2 virus attaches to a receptor protein called ACE2 thats on the outside of respiratory cells. Once inside of these cells, the virus hijacks certain machinery so it can replicate. The feline ACE2 protein resembles the human ACE2 homologue, which is most likely the cellular receptor which is being used by Sars-CoV-2 for cell entry, Van Gucht said. The Belgian cat recovered after nine days, and the tigers and lions in the Bronx Zoo are expected to make a full recovery as well, the Wildlife Conservation Society, which runs the zoo, told Reuters. However, the fact that tigers and lions can catch the new coronavirus has frightening implications for feline conservation. Big cats like tigers and lions are already facing a litany of threats to their survival in the wild, chief scientist and tiger program director at Panthera John Goodrich told National Geographic. If COVID-19 jumps to wild big cat populations and becomes a significant cause of mortality, the virus could develop into a very serious concern for the future of these species. This is already a fear for endangered populations of great apes, which are known to be susceptible to human colds. Bronx Zoo workers who interact with the big cats will now wear protective gear as they long have when working with primates, The Associated Press reported. However, there is no evidence that the new coronavirus will pass back from cats or other animals to humans. There doesnt appear to be, at this time, any evidence that suggests that the animals can spread the virus to people or that they can be a source of the infection in the United States, U.S. Department of Agriculture official and veterinarian Dr. Jane Rooney told The Associated Press. Kenya Moore from The Real Housewives of Atlanta has expressed why she. is always painted as the villain on the show. She feels that the hate she gets has no substance and its unfair. However, on Episode 20 of Season 12, fans were able to witness how the former beauty queen operates. After seeing what Moore did to Porsha Williams, Twitter erupted exposing how messy the former is. Porsha Williams and Kenya Moore | Paras Griffin/Getty Images / Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images What did Kenya Moore do to Porsha Williams? On Sunday nights episode of RHOA, Williams invited her fellow co-stars to a March of Dimes event. The Bravo star wanted to share her difficult experience becoming a mother. It was a touching moment that gave Williams depth to her journey on the show. In attendance was also Shamea Morton, Williams close friend, and Moore. The latter dropped a bombshell at the event saying that Morton called her after her water broke during her pregnancy. She claimed none of her closest friends were there for her during the moment of emergency. Williams was taken aback as she was not aware that Moore and Morton had a close relationship. She didnt know that Moore was on top of the list to call during the uncertain moment. Twitter reacts to the shade It didnt take long before fans figured that Moore was shading Williams, making it seem she wasnt there for her friend Morton during her pregnancy. Fans took to Twitter to expose Moore of her sneaky ways. Kenya is so messy, she is trying to make this story about Porsha not being a good friend, a fan wrote. Once again trying to mess with a genuine bonding moment. Why doesnt Kenya just leave Porsha alone? If she doesnt like Porsha, she must not speak to her like she did with Marlo and Nene. She never wanted to fix things with her, a viewer added. While watching RHOA, Kenya throwing that shade at Porshas event about Shamea texting her when her water broke was just evil, a Twitter user commented. [Moore] deserves any and all the negative events that fall in her lap. I cant with Kenyas shade, talking about how Shamea texted her and said, I dont know where Porsha was, I think Porsha was doing something else, working that day,' another fan quoted. Kenya, that was not the time for you to insert yourself in Shameas story. Do you always got to sh** on a feel-good moment? That sucks for Porsha. Shamea [is] wrong. I would be hurt, another viewer said. Marlo Hampton says Kenya Moore is evil This was not the first event that Moore tried to ruin. Earlier in the season she interrupted Marlo Hamptons event by bringing in marching band promoting her own hair care products. We were having a good time, it was like a sisterhood, Hampton told Entertainment Tonight. I was launching my wig line that I paid a lot of money and invested into this venue and just pulling it together, and for you to just come in there and just bring such a dark cloud? I just feel like, how can you do that? Thats just awful. Hampton believes that Moore is evil because she provokes people a lot on the show. Is Kenya good for the show? Absolutely, Hampton told Hampton told ET. Does Kenya go too far? Absolutely. She just needs somebody in corporate to sit and talk to her and say how to balance it, because then itll end up how it was a couple episodes when she just, she provokes people. Shes provoked people several times. And its not dont do that. People have too much real stuff going on in their lives for you to be evil like that. The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs Sunday nights at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo. FRANKFORT, N.Y. The governor last Friday calling on the state to produce PPE or Personal Protective Equipment, for people and medical workers across the country. The governor said in that briefing "There is no reason we can't make these." Genesis Disposables in Frankfort is contributing to the fight against coronavirus by supplying personal protective equipment in the form of disposable gowns. The company plans to make more than 100,000 gowns for health care and other essential workers, as well as community members who may want them. But the company said that New York hospitals aren't buying. Owner Alfredo Zennamo said its hard to compete with China's low prices. Over the last 36 years we've ramped up and made products, but then had people run to China when they found a better price," said Zennamo. Like many industries, Genesis Disposables is trying to increase production while also following essential business guidelines for employers and staff. "We're changing and adapting to this thing as quickly as possible. We're doing as little labor as we can. So, its just ebb and flow here right now, we are just working to solve the needs of a lot of these people out there that are desperate," said owner Alfredo Zennamo. Zennamo said he has tried to reach out to the state for more funding to produce more. The factory, located at 2676 Southside Road, has been making gowns for 36 years. We are grateful for Staples help to ensure local children's hospitals have the resources they need. Kids can't wait to get treatment. As the COVID-19 crises deepens, Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals is committed to ensuring 170 childrens hospitals have the resources they need to care for the most vulnerable kids. Critical donations are needed to provide protective gear, equipment, charitable care and support services at Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals. Staples US Retail has partnered with CMN Hospitals to collect personal protective care equipment or donations to help local member hospitals fund their greatest needs. Donations of new, unused, unopened personal protective equipment such as N95 respirator face masks, disposable face masks, face-shield, eye protective wear, isolation or surgical gowns can be dropped off at participating Staples stores. Donations will be shipped to the local Childrens Miracle Network Hospital to help caregivers. Protective gear is essential to ensure the safety of hospital workers who are caring for the most vulnerable patients at childrens hospitals. We are grateful for Staples help to ensure local childrens hospitals have the resources they need. Kids cant wait to get treatment. When you donate personal protection equipment or funds through our partnership with Staples, CMN Hospitals are able to keep caregivers and kids safe during this crisis, says Teri Nestel, Interim President & CEO of Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals. Equipment can be dropped off only at participating, open Staples stores, or monetary donations are accepted at cmnh.co/staples to help member hospitals fund their greatest needs. Please visit Staples.com for store hours. Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals and Staples are committed to following the safety guidelines outlined by the CDC, federal, state, and local authorities. Customers should follow appropriate social distancing and other public health guidelines when dropping off PPE donations. Visit http://cdc.gov/coronavirus for more information. About Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. Since 1983, Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $7 billion, most of it $1 at a time through the charitys Miracle Balloon icon. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofits mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Find out why childrens hospitals need community support and identify your member hospital at CMNHospitals.org About Staples Retail Staples US Retail supports lifelong achievement for small businesses and consumers with the products and resources they need for continued professional and personal growth. With a focus on community and shared learning, Staples retail locations serve millions of customers from entrepreneurs and small businesses to parents, teachers and students. For more information about Staples US Retail and to stay up to date on weekly deals and events, please visit us in store or online at staples.com. Attorneys seek to release father of ex-senator from detention due to coronavirus RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 14:59 06/04/2020 MOSCOW, April 6 (RAPSI) Defense lawyers have filed a motion seeking to release Raul Arashukov, CEO of Gazprom Mezhregiongaz and father of ex-senator Rauf Arashukov, charged with the 30-billion-ruble natural gas embezzlement ($455 million), from detention, attorney Vladimir Postanyuk has told RAPSI. The motion has been sent by mail and e-mail to invesigators due to the coronavirus spread and red-tapery, according to the lawyer. In late January, the Moscow City Court extended detention of ex-Federation Council member Rauf Arashukov and his father Raul until April 24. Detention of the first deputy CEO of Gazprom Gazoraspredelenie Stavropol Nikolay Romanov was also extended for the same period. In May, the Federation Council terminated senators powers of Rauf Arashukov charged with murder and participating in a gang. According to the Federation Councils Deputy Chair Yury Vorobyev, an upper houses commission revealed that Arashukov had not submitted his and his relatives tax declarations in time. In April, Moscows Basmanny District Court ordered the seizure of assets belonging to Arashukov. The seizure has been applied to monetary funds, land plots, cars and residential houses. Rauf Arashukov was arrested and detained in late January. The upper house of parliament stripped him of immunity and gave consent to his prosecution upon an application by the Prosecutor General. He stands charged with murder, participation in a gang and witness tampering. According to investigators, ex-Federation Council member was involved in the murder of a Karachay-Cherkessia public youth movements deputy chairman Aslan Zhukov and the republican presidents advisor Fral Shebzukhov in 2010. Moreover, investigators believe that the former senator is implicated to natural gas embezzlement from Gazprom company. He has pleaded not guilty. His father Raul Arashukov is accused in a 30-billion-ruble natural gas embezzlement case ($455 million). He was detained by court in February. Moreover, a court placed branch manager of Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Stavropol Guzer Khashukoyev, CEO of Gazprom Gazoraspredelenie Astrakhan and Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Astrakhan Ruslan Arashukov, first deputy CEO of Gazprom Gazoraspredelenie Stavropol Nikolay Romanov and CEO of Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Stavropol Igor Travinov in jail for the same term. According to investigation, all of them are involved in gas embezzlement from Gazprom company. The top managers have been allegedly stealing gas from the state-run energy giant over a period of several years. Raul Arashukov pleads not guilty and calls the case against him fabricated. A military hospital is needed in a remote Ontario Indigenous community now that the COVID-19 pandemic has reached the area, the chief of the First Nation said Monday. Harvey Yesno said word that a resident of the Eabametoong First Nation has tested positive for the virus has struck fear into the community 300 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, since fear of further spread is compounded by knowledge that the local health-care and social system is not able to cope with the strain of a serious outbreak. Yesno said that although Eabametoong has been preparing for COVID-19 for weeks, including restricting entry into the fly-in community and declaring a local state of emergency, military intervention is necessary now that the pandemic has struck. EFN requires a field hospital with medical supports to provide in-community isolation and treatment, since there is no adequate infrastructure or housing options for membership to self-isolate, Yesno said in a statement. ... EFN Chief and Council are not willing to wait around as limited resources are expended and under-resourced nurses at the local clinic are suddenly faced with life and death triage decisions. Yesno said the field hospital should have the capacity to isolate and treat between 50 and 100 patients. The Armed Forces did not immediately respond to request for comment. The community is also calling on governments to establish a testing centre, along with the staff and kits needed to make it operational. Neither the Department of National Defence nor the Ontario Ministry of Health immediately responded to request for comment. Eabametoong is one of the communities comprising the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, a collection of 49 First Nations spanning about two thirds of the province. NAN Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler said the local COVID-19 patient recently returned to Eabametoong from Thunder Bay, where cases of the virus have already been confirmed. He said the man is self-isolating at home, but said the emergence of the virus is sounding alarms across NAN territory. This makes it even more real for all of us, Fiddler said in a telephone interview from Thunder Bay. The urgency of it all, and the importance of our communities to continue practising what weve been told by public health experts. But Fiddler said heeding that advice is more difficult in Indigenous communities than elsewhere in Canada. The time-honoured advice to wash hands regularly, he said, will be difficult to follow in Eabametoong, which has been under a boil-water advisory since 2001. Self-isolation, too, poses a problem in communities plagued by housing shortages and chronic overcrowding. Fiddler said numerous NAN communities are looking into converting empty classrooms and vacant community centres into spaces where prospective patients could be kept isolated if needed. But public health officials warned that even with preventative measures in place, the medical system serving northern communities does not have the capacity to deal with the crushing load COVID-19 has placed on other parts of Canadas health-care apparatus. Dr. Natalie Bocking, a physician with the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority, said most Indigenous communities wrestle with a shortage of personnel and equipment at the best of times. No communities, for instance, currently have ventilators on-hand. During a pandemic, she said, those shortages will be exacerbated and an already vulnerable population will face a heightened threat. Communities like Eabametoong experience a disproportionate burden of other chronic health conditions that put them at higher risk of becoming more sick with the virus, she said. The worst-case scenario we are concerned about where there are multiple people getting quite sick without the care that they need. Bocking and Fiddler both said talks are underway with various levels of government to secure key supplies, including the personal protective equipment thats currently scarce across the province. Premier Doug Ford said Monday that Ontario is at risk of depleting its stock of masks, gowns, gloves and other gear within a week without a renewal of supplies. Canadas top doctor, meanwhile, acknowledged that the public health advice guiding the rest of the country cant be applied in the same way across Canadas Indigenous communities. Weve issued guidance for public health actions in more remote and rural settings as well, and those do have to be adapted to the realities of whats on the ground, Dr. Theresa Tam told a Monday news conference without providing specific details of how guidelines have been revised. Bocking said health authorities have received acknowledgment that self-isolation is not possible in many homes in remote communities, such as three-bedroom houses with as many as 20 people living in them. Such messages, she said, have shaped conversations about how to create additional spaces for self-isolation. Fiddler said remote communities are increasingly concerned about the potential spread of COVID-19, which has surfaced in a number of cities that serve as key gateways to more remote First Nations. He said those include northern urban centres such as Timmins, Sioux Lookout and Dryden. The sorts of physical distancing measures that have transformed daily life across much of the country, he said, have taken hold in more remote areas over the past week-and-a-half. Theres a growing sense that this is a real threat to our communities, he said. We have to do everything we can to try and prevent it. Australian health officials are publishing a national coronavirus recovery tally for the first time in over a month. On Monday, the Department of Health revealed 2432 people - more than a third of the official number of infections in Australia - have recovered from the illness. Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly said on Monday that he believed a recovery tally was important. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The federal Health Department last week told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald it was unable to provide reliable, nationwide recovery statistics, drawing criticism from an Australian adviser to the World Health Organisation who said recovery numbers were just as important as confirmed case numbers. However, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly on Monday acknowledged its important to get that message back as encouragement for Australians. - Fareed Zakaria, a top American journalist with the CNN, said the world will wish it tried harder to intervene if Nigeria falls due to the coronavirus pandemic - Zakaria said apart from the health crisis caused by COVID-19, the next phase of the disease will be global economic paralysis - The American journalist said the looming global tragedy can only be prevented if world leaders fully cooperate to see to the end of the virus Fareed Zakaria, a top American journalist with the CNN, has criticised the world's reactions to the coronavirus pandemic that is ravaging the world. In a CNN video posted on Twitter on Sunday, April 5, Zakaria, said world leaders are not cooperating enough to see to the end of the virus. "We would not be able to get back to anything resembling normal life unless the major powers in the world are able to find a way to cooperate and manage these problems together," the journalist said. He said while developing countries, including Nigeria, have recorded relatively lesser cases so far, there is a tendency that they could be hit hard by the disease in the coming days. Speaking further, Zakaria said the world cannot afford to let countries like Nigeria and Iraq explode over the coronavirus pandemic. If countries like Iraq and Nigeria explode, the cost in refugees, disease and terrorism would all make us wish we had tried harder to manage their fall," the American journalist noted. The COVID-19 pandemic which started in December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei province of China, has spread to over 200 countries and infected over a million people with at least 60,000 deaths. The virus does not have any vaccine or cure at the moment, though thousands of those infected, about 20% of the confirmed cases, have recovered from it. As of Sunday, April 5, there were 232 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nigeria, according to the information from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Also speaking on the economic impact of the pandemic, Zakaria said owing to the drop in the demand for oil globally, the implications for countries like Nigeria could be political turmoil, refugees, revolutions, crackdowns, maybe terrorism. All of these might happen on a scale we havent seen for decades, the CNN journalist warned. Apart from the devastating health crisis, Zakaria said the next phase of the pandemic will economic paralysis. The first phase has been the health care crisis in the worlds major economies. The next phase is the economic paralysis, the magnitude we are only just beginning to comprehend. Next comes the explosions in the developing world. So far, the number of infected have been low in countries like India, Indonesia, Brazil, Nigeria, probably because they are less linked in trade and travel than the advanced world. In addition, these countries have tested very few people which is key to keeping their numbers deficiently low. But unless we get lucky and it turns out that heat does temper the virus, these countries will all get hit and hard. And then, there are the oil states. Even if the quarrel between Saudi Arabia and Russia gets resolved, at this point, the demand for oil has collapsed and will not soon recover. Consider what that means for countries like Libya, Nigeria, Iran, Iraq and Venezuela, where oil revenue makes up the vast majority of government revenue. The vast majority be the economy. expect political turmoil, refugees, revolutions, crackdowns, maybe terrorism. All of these might happen on a scale we havent seen for decades," he said. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, following the rise in the number of coronavirus cases in Lagos state, Professor Akin Abayomi, the state commissioner for health said that the state may witness a rise of up to 39,000 in a worst-case scenario. Abayomi revealed this on Friday, March 27, at a press briefing in Lagos state. He said in the coming weeks if residents fail to comply with preventive measures such as social distancing put in place to curb the spread of the virus, the figures might increase. Also, Legit.ng earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari met with members of the presidential committee to review the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nation's economy. The information was revealed on the official Facebook page of the president on Thursday, April 2. Legit.ng gathered that the meeting was used by the committee to give Buhari a report on the effect of COVID-19 situation on the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians across the country. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We keep evolving to serve our readers better. Coronavirus: Nigerians take advantage of every situation | - on Legit TV Source: Legit.ng Irish Water has announced multimillion-euro plans to upgrade a sewage treatment system in Cork which will facilitate the building of thousands of new homes. The utility is to upgrade capacity at the sewage treatment system in the greater Midleton area. This will allow for more house construction and the building of a new town planned for Waterrock, between Midleton and Carrigtwohill. Phase one of the project will see the construction of a pumping station and 6.2km of pipes in the Waterrock area. Irish Water says this will provide the infrastructure required for the county councils plans to develop the new town there. A spokesman for Irish Water said planning permission has already been acquired for the pumping station and site investigation works for the project will be completed by the summer. Land acquisitions required for the work should be completed by summer 2021. It is expected phase one will be fully operational by 2023. This will allow for the construction of about 2,550 homes in Waterrock. In the meantime, Irish Water is also assessing whether it can pump some existing sewage flows in the region to the state-of-the-art sewage-treatment centre at Carrigtwohill. The utility recently invested millions of euro in upgrading that plant and it is currently operating at one third of its new capacity. Diverting sewage there from the Midleton area would reduce volumes being treated at the towns treatment plant and free up more capacity in that area for further house building. Irish Water plans to then undertake phase two of the project which would involve the design, upgrade, and construction of wastewater networks and infrastructure between Midleton and Carrigtwohill. The utility said this will facilitate the construction of another 5,000 houses. It is expected this part of the project will be completed in 2026. Minister of State at the Department of Justice & Equality David Stanton, who lives in Midleton, said he was delighted to hear Irish Waters confirmation that it is to proceed with the projects. With a sustained demand for both social and private housing in the Midleton area, Irish Water and Cork County Council, have outlined the necessity for infrastructure upgrades to facilitate future population growth and local economic development, he said. He said he hopes Irish Water can increase capacity in the Midleton area ahead of its proposed schedule. We need this in order to facilitate planned developments to proceed as quickly as possible. I am certain that these works will be of enormous benefit in encouraging further development in Midleton and Carrigtwohill and I understand that several developers are already seeking planning permission for local projects. The council wants to develop as much housing as it can along the Cork-Midleton railway corridor so workers can commute by train. In 2015, council planners unveiled two masterplans to rezone 120 hectares of land north of the railway line at Carrigtwohill and a further 160 hectares at Waterrock for housing. It is also proposed to build a new railway station at Waterrock. On the 5th of April, Kang Ha-neul finally spoke up regarding his dating controversy with former co-star Lee Tae Eun, whom he worked with in a military musical show entitled "Shinheung Military Academy." According to the previous reports, the two have allegedly gone on a trip together concluding that they see each other with favorable feelings. In addition to this, the press also claimed that Kang and Lee developed their feelings for each other during the actor's military service, and decided to start dating. Based on the statement of a close source from Kang Ha-neul's side, "He and Lee Tae Eun met through the musical "Shinheung Military Academy" then they started dating." Also, the source stated that the actor and the musical actress have been dating for two years now. However, the agency and the actor immediately denied the speculations and the statements coming from the alleged close source and responded, "The rumor is not true. Though they indeed went on a trip together, but, other casts of "Shinheung Military Academy" joined them. There are around four of five who went to the trip along with them." The statement clarified that the two artists were nothing more than co-workers and friends. Meanwhile, Lee Tae Eun and Kang Ha-neul met as they worked together for the musical."Shinheung Military Academy" and run in celebration for the 70th foundation of the Korean Armed Forces, returning last year, 2019 as an encore to celebrate the 100th anniversary, wherein the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea was established. Other popular Korean idols and actors joined the musical as well, including actor Ji Changwook, 2PM's Jo Kwon, INFINITE's Sung Kyu, SHINee's Onew, and Go Eun Sung. The idols and artists successfully executed their roles, as they served their military service. On the other hand, after Kang Ha-neul's discharge in the military, he starred in the Korean drama, "When the Camellia Blooms," co-starring with actress Gong Hyo Jin, and the thirst is real for Ha-neul's comeback drama as it became the highest rating mini-drama of 2019. Through this drama, Kang Ha-neul received the awards for "Best Actor," "Top Excellence Award, Actor," "Netizen Award, Actor," and "Best Couple Award" with Hyo Jin during the 2019's KBS Drama Awards. As his drama received positive remarks and interest from the fans and viewers, Kang Ha-neul continues to works hard, and currently, he is preparing his first movie comeback since 2017. According to TH Company, the actor's agency, Kang Ha-neul, will be working with a melodrama film titled "Rain and Your Story," and the story will revolve on a couple that couldn't meet due to their circumstances. The only way for them to express their love for each other is through exchanging letters. However, the main actress that he will be working with is still not confirmed. "Rain and Your Story" will be having their filming in the first half of 2020, and the movie is set to be released at the end of the year, or could be pushed through to the following years. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 19:57:28|Editor: mingmei Video Player Close Shizhen plays with her daughter Gesang Quda and son Gama Quying at the Rongma relocation settlement in Gurum Township of Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, April 1, 2020. In 2018, more than 1,000 shepherds moved from Qiangtang grassland with an average altitude of about 5,000 meters in Rongma Township of Nagqu City to the Rongma relocation settlement, 30 kilometers west of Lhasa, thanks to the local policy on poverty alleviation. This measure also makes room for the living of wild animals at the Qiangtang National Nature Reserve. With the help of local government, the relocated people have developed the cultivation industry of yaks and sheep and other special pasture-style projects, thus increasing their incomes. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dmitry Zaks (Agence France-Presse) Rome, Italy Mon, April 6, 2020 13:57 644 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206ffced4 2 World Italy,COVID-19,COVID-19-lockdown,coronavirus,infection,infectious-diseases,SARS-CoV-2,novel-coronavirus Free Italy on Monday extended an economically crippling lockdown until "at least" mid-April to stem coronavirus infections that have claimed a world-leading 11,591 lives. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said any easing of containment measures would be done incrementally to ensure Italy does not give up gains it has made against the extraordinary disease. The near three-week shutdown "had been very tough economically," Conte told Spain's El Pais newspaper. "It cannot last very long," he said. "We can study ways (of lifting restrictions). But it will have to be done gradually." Health Minister Roberto Speranza later announced that "all containment measures would be extended at least until Easter" on April 12. Business closures and a ban on public gatherings were to have expired on Friday. 'Flattening of the curve' Italy was the first Western nation to impose sweeping restrictions to stem a pandemic that has claimed more than 36,000 lives worldwide. Its own toll grew by 812 on Monday and the number of infections reported by the civil protection service surpassed 100,000. But fresh evidence also suggested that COVID-19 was spreading more slowly than when the first victim died in Italy on February 21. The daily rate of new infections dropped to 4.1 percent -- a fraction of the 62 percent level registered a month ago. The number of people suffering from the illness at its epicenter in the northern Lombardy region also dropped for the first time. And the number of people who have recovered from COVID-19 across the nation of 60 million people hit a new high. "We saw 1,590 people recover in the past 24 hours," civil protection service chief Angelo Borrelli told reporters. "This is the highest number of recoveries recorded since the start of the pandemic." Deputy Health Minister Pierpaolo Sileri said the latest data showed that Italy might see "a drop in the number of people infected within seven to 10 days". Italy's ISS public health institute chief Silvio Brusaferro also felt the infection rate was approaching its peak. "We are witnessing a flattening of the curve," Brusaferro told the La Repubblica daily. "There are no signs of a descent yet, but things are improving." 'Picture has improved a lot' Health officials said one of the most encouraging figures was a drop from 25,392 on Sunday to 25,006 on Monday in the number of people in Lombardy testing positive for COVID-19. The figure had grown continuously for more than a month. "The picture has improved a lot over the past four days," Lombardy's chief medical officer Giulio Gallera said. The latest data was released nearly three weeks into a national lockdown that has emptied cities and paralyzed most business activity. Store and restaurant closures were reinforced last week by a shutdown of "non-essential" factories. Forecasts by several global banks and analysts point to Italian economic output shrinking by seven percent this year. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened imposing tariffs on crude imports "coming from outside" amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and the price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia. "If I have to do tariffs on oil coming from outside or if I have to do something to protect our tens of thousands of energy workers and our great companies that produce all these jobs, I'll do whatever I have to do," Trump told reporters during a COVID-19 briefing held Saturday. Trump's comments come a little more than a week after Alberta Premier Jason Kenney called for an aggressive approach from governments across North America, floating the possibility of imposing tariffs on foreign oil. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has yet to fully signal his approach to the price war, which has already sent the price of Western Canadian Select (WCS) to record lows. Though Trump's threat didn't explicitly omit Canadian crude, it's unlikely that would be the case under U.S. tariffs, according to Richard Masson, an executive fellow at the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy. "The oil that Alberta produces, diluted bitumen, is the equivalent to heavy oil. And that's what the U.S. refineries want," Masson said. "That's why it's very unlikely that Trump would try and impose a tariff on Canada, because it would just hurt his own refineries." To Masson, the threat from Trump appears to be the U.S. staking out its position in what is sure to be a very complex negotiation with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Russia and other countries like Norway. "[They all] have to figure out, how are we going to manage the market in essentially the worst crisis we've ever faced," he said. "That's the big picture to me. They're trying to establish whatever kind of leverage they can get." Alberta oil Speaking during a press conference on Friday, Kenney said he had spent the last week talking to several "key decision makers" in the U.S. administration and Congress about a path forward, including the possibility of implementing a tariff on foreign oil imports. Story continues "[We've discussed] how to protect North American jobs from the predatory dumping of energy by the Saudis and the Russians," Kenney said. Kenney said Alberta Energy Minister Sonya Savage would call a future online OPEC+ meeting with an "open mind." That meeting, previously scheduled for Monday, has been postponed until April 9, OPEC sources told Reuters. "But as I've said, it's OPEC and Russia that started this fire, and they've got to put it out," he said. "They irresponsibly decided to maintain and even surge supply in the midst of a total cratering of demand. "That's why we've ended up with the lowest energy prices, in real terms, since the Second World War." On Twitter on Saturday, Trump said that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had told him that he had agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin to reduce output by 10 million barrels per day or more. The countries have not confirmed that agreement. Attendees take pictures of the Crew Dragon spacecraft during the NASA Commercial Crew Program (CCP) astronaut visit at the Space Exploration Technologies Corp. headquarters in California. SpaceX has had six employees test positive for COVID-19 as of Monday, according to an internal company memo seen by CNBC. Elon Musk's space company has limited the number of employees physically working at its facilities, like others in the industry. But SpaceX operations have continued after it was deemed "mission essential" by the Department of Defense. A Pentagon letter allows companies working national security contracts to continue work, even if state governments enforce shelter-in-place orders. The SpaceX memo noted that one of the employees recently identified has self-isolated. The company has also previously directed employees who may have been exposed to self-isolate, a precautionary measure it took after the company's first employee case last month. SpaceX did not respond to CNBC requests for comment. NASA, like the Pentagon, has also determined that its upcoming SpaceX Demo-2 launch is mission essential. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine told CNBC last week that, despite the coronavirus crisis, his agency and SpaceX are still aiming for late May to launch Demo-2. The mission will be the first time SpaceX sends astronauts to space. WASHINGTON The Trump administration on Monday designated a Russian white supremacist group a terrorist organization and hit its members with sanctions. The move against the Russian Imperial Movement is the first time a white supremacist group has been named a Specially Designated Global Terrorist" group and comes amid doubts the administration believes extremist organizations of that type merit such sanctions. It was not immediately clear what the practical impact will be as the group is relatively small and does not have major international reach. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his counterterrorism coordinator Nathan Sales announced the step, which makes it illegal for Americans to engage in any transactions with the group and freezes any assets it may have in U.S. jurisdictions. The penalties can also include a travel ban. In addition to the group, the administration placed individual sanctions on its leaders Stanislav Anatolyevich Vorobyev, Denis Valliullovich Gariev and Nikolay Nikolayevich Trushchalov by adding them to the list. These designations are unprecedented, Sales said. This is the first time the United States has ever designated white supremacist terrorists, illustrating how seriously this administration takes the threat. We are taking actions no previous administration has taken to counter this threat. The Russian Imperial Movement is alleged to provide paramilitary training to neo-Nazis and white supremacists in Russia and elsewhere from two camps it runs in St. Petersburg, according to U.S. officials. In 2016, it was alleged to have trained two Swedes who later carried out a series of terrorist attacks in the Swedish city of Gothenburg, including bombing a cafe and attempting to bomb a campsite housing refugees, they said. There are dozens of entities on various U.S. terrorism blacklists, but most are Islamic extremist groups or separatist movements that have engaged in violence to achieve political ends. The al-Qaida network and Islamic State movement along with many of their affiliated organizations are perhaps the best known among them. Trump and his administration have been criticized for not appearing to take the threat of white supremacism seriously, either overseas or domestically. Trump came under fire for not responding more forcefully to violence provoked by some neo-Nazi groups in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017 and has been called out for supporting European nationalist politicians. Monday's designations will make it easier for national security prosecutors at the Justice Department to bring terrorism-related charges against anyone engaging in financial transctions to people affiliated with the Russian group. Federal authorities have used the designation to bar entry to United States of members of named groups. ___ Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report. A China-Australia academic symposium, held through webcast on April 4, introduced traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to the world, sharing its contributions to the global fight against the novel coronavirus, as this thousands-year-old branch of medicine has played a vital role in Chinas successful efforts to prevent and control COVID-19. Zhang Boli, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, noted at the video symposium that TCM was effective in treating both mild and severe cases. It is able to reduce the duration of fever, cough and feebleness, improve the lung CT image, lift the number of lymphocytes and lower inflammatory mediators, said Zhang, who is also a member of the work group sent by the central government to guide epidemic control work in Hubei. Whats more important is that TCM is able to reduce the ratio of severe cases turned from mild ones, which is significant, Zhang added. During the recovery period some patients, particularly those who had severe symptoms, can achieve full recovery and reduce possible sequelae through the combination of TCM and Western medicine. At the symposium, Vice President of Australian Chinese Medical Practitioners Society Li Jiang introduced and analyzed COVID-19 situation in Australia Now is the best time to combine TCM with Western medicine, said Ven Tan, chairman of Australian Soong Ching Ling Foundation, executive chairman of Australia China Economics, Trade and Culture Association, and chairman of Tasly Healthpac Group. At the medical centers of Tasly Healthpac Group, Tan learned of the broad demand for TCM of Chinese students in Australia, China-funded organizations and overseas Chinese. Zhang Boli suggested that overseas Chinese take TCM in accordance with local climates, their respective symptoms, and differentiation of syndromes. He said its not recommended that all healthy people take TCM for prevention, and its vital for people to adjust to their physical conditions. Secretary General Wang Guochen of China Association of Chinese Medicine said that the combination of TCM and Western medicine in Chinas fight against COVID-19 marked an important practice to inherit and innovate the traditional medicine branch. Its a duty bound for enterprises to join in the fight against the virus, saving the patients at this critical moment of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Executive Chairman Yan Kaijing of Tasly Holding Group. Yan shared that under the support of the China Association of Chinese Medicine, Tasly established an international sharing platform of TCM, hoping to forge a long-term mechanism for global exchanges on TCM through the internet. The symposium, hosted by China Association of Chinese Medicine and co-organized by Tasly Holding Group, Australian Chinese Medical Practitioners Society, and New South Wales Association of Chinese medicine, was held at a major venue in Tianjin, with 18 venue branches set up in Beijing, Wuhan and Australia. Only the fumigators will be given access to the markets for the duration of the exercise. It is only the sale of food items that will be allowed at these temporary markets. The traders will have to be relocated to allow for a proper job of fumigating the markets, he said. New Delhi, April 6 : Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Anurag Srivastava took charge as the new spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs on Monday, replacing Raveesh Kumar who held the position for around three years. A 1999-IFS batch, Srivastava was serving as India's Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union before returning to New Delhi. Earlier, he was ambassador to Ethiopia, head of the finance division of the ministry in New Delhi and chief of the political wing at the Indian High Commission in Colombo. Handing over charge, Raveesh Kumar welcomed Srivastava,"Time to pass the baton. After 33 months of an incredible opportunity to serve the nation, my best wishes to Anurag Srivastava as the next official spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs of India." "Grateful for the understanding and support of my family, friends and colleagues during this journey," he tweeted. Though he is likely to be the ambassador to Croatia but there was no official confirmation about it on Monday. Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar spoke directly to Gaza via Hamas' television network April 2. Sinwar told residents about how Hamas is preparing for the war against the pandemic. Among other things he showed them how the keffiyeh, or headscarf worn by Muslim men, could help them protect themselves and their surroundings. He then spoke directly to Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett, saying that Hamas doesnt need any help but threatening, If ventilators are not brought into [Gaza], well take them by force from Israel and stop the breathing of six million Israelis. Now as in the past, such threats from Sinwar and other Hamas leaders are intended to tell the people of Gaza that the organization is still strong and has options. However, these baseless threats revealed what really concerns Sinwar. He is worried that the novel coronavirus pandemic will spread to Israeli prisons and infect Palestinian security prisoners being held there. For the first time ever, a Hamas leader stated that he is willing to compromise on the issue of prisoners. In the past, Hamas had shown no flexibility whatsoever when it comes to negotiating over returning the bodies of Israeli soldiers Hadar Goldin and Shaul Oron, which have been held in Gaza for the past six years, or Israeli civilians Avera Avraham Mengistu and Hisham as-Sayyid, who are held by Hamas. We are ready to make partial concessions on our prisoners issue in exchange for Israel's release of elderly prisoners, patients and prisoners as a humanitarian gesture in light of the coronavirus crisis, he said. If there is one thing that Israel and Hamas are both worried about, it is the spread of the coronavirus in Israeli prisons. As for Israelis charged with criminal offenses, Minister of Internal Security Gilad Erdan has ordered that some will receive an early release, while others will be placed under house arrest. The release of security prisoners is another story. According to figures released March 29 by the human rights organization BTselem, some 4,500 security prisoners are currently held by Israel under relatively crowded conditions. The countrys prison service is not prepared for the pandemic. It will have a hard time isolating prisoners in jail facilities or external isolation units. Sinwar, who was released from an Israeli prison as part of the Gilad Shalit deal in 2011, is well aware of the trap that Israel finds itself in. Sinwar said that the Hamas and Izz ad-Din al-Qassam leadership is tracking the health of prisoners in Israeli jails. If Israel doesnt take steps to ensure their continued health and well-being, Hamas will take major retaliatory action, Sinwar warned. One Israeli security source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, Sinwar recognizes Israels weak point and understands the inherent risk. Hamas has made some outlandish demands over the last few years when seeking a deal for the release of the soldiers bodies. It looks like Sinwar and other leaders of the movement are fully aware that the chances of Israel agreeing to release hundreds or even thousands of prisoners are slim at best. He said that the coronavirus crisis actually serves the interests of Hamas from several perspectives. The organization can take advantage of Israel's worry about a mass outbreak of the virus in its prisons and link a prisoner deal with aid to Gaza, including ventilators. Hamas is well aware that the coronavirus crisis threatens the health of Gaza residents and that the means at its disposal to fight the pandemic are limited, to put it mildly. A serious economic and humanitarian crisis will exacerbate this threat immensely, so the organization needs to improve its standing in Gaza now. Alaraby al-Jadeed reported April 5 that Israel approached Egypt to mediate a deal with Hamas. The newspaper did not say whether Israel approached Egypt in response to Sinwars remarks, or if it happened earlier. Al-Monitor has not been able to confirm the report in Alaraby al-Jedeed, so it is unclear whether negotiations toward a deal are already underway or if the parties are just sending out feelers. Nevertheless, one thing is clear. Sinwar threw Israel a rope, even if he included conditions such as releasing several dozen prisoners released in the Shalit deal who were arrested in 2014. Israel apparently no longer sees them as a bargaining chip. As for the release of prisoners for humanitarian reasons, this is not the first time Hamas has suggested a deal involving the release of elderly and infirm prisoners as well as minor prisoners in their teens who were arrested for relatively minor crimes. A similar offer was made to Israel after the Shalit abduction in June 2006, but Prime Minister Ehud Olmert refused to make a deal with Hamas. What happened after that is well known. It took five years before Israel released 1,027 Hamas prisoners, many of them with blood on their hands, including Sinwar. It is doubtful that any Israeli and Hamas feelers sent by way of Egypt will lead to a deal anytime soon. Even if Sinwar is talking about a trust-building exercise based on the release of prisoners on humanitarian grounds, Hamas cannot back down from major preconditions such as the release of major figures from Israeli prisons in order to impress the residents of Gaza. Based on Sinwars public remarks, Hamas would make the deal conditional on a steady supply of medical equipment, especially ventilators. There are only about 70 ventilators in Gaza today, and some of them are already in use. On the other hand, given its own scarcity, Israel cannot afford to send a single one to Gaza, not even in exchange for the bodies of Goldin and Oron. As the sovereign authority in the Gaza Strip, Hamas is responsible for the civilian population there. The groups vast resources are too often invested in planning and manufacturing rockets. The sooner they are put to civilian use instead, to manufacture medical equipment that will benefit all the residents of Gaza, the better. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-07 02:12:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ALGIERS, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Algeria on Monday reported 103 new cases of COVID-19 and 21 new deaths, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 1,423 and the death toll to 173. In his daily press briefing, Djamel Fourar, head of COVID-19 Detection and Follow-up Commission, told reporters that the majority of the death cases were reported in Algiers with 44 cases, followed by Blida province with 42 cases. He added that 46 out of 1,423 infected patients have been admitted in intensive medical care. Fourar noted that the number of recoveries stood at 90, adding that 626 patients are receiving the new Chloroquine treatment process, which has shown encouraging results so far. A full lockdown was imposed in the virus epicenter province of Blida. The lockdown between 3 p.m. and 7 a.m. is underway in nine provinces, including Algiers, while partial lockdown is imposed in 38 provinces from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Astronomers using the CARMENES spectrograph at Calar Alto Observatory in Spain have discovered a super-Earth exoplanet orbiting an M-dwarf star in the binary system Gliese 338. The newfound planet orbits on the inner edge of the habitable zone and is much more massive than Earth. Gliese 338 is a wide binary system located approximately 20.7 light-years away from Earth. The stellar system is over one billion years old, and consists of two similar M0-type stars: Gliese 338A (also known as GJ338A or HD 79210) and Gliese 338B (GJ 338B or HD 79211). The stars are between 64 and 69% the mass of the Sun. The projected separation between them is about 109 AU. A team of astronomers led by Centro de Astrobiologias Dr. Esther Gonzalez-Alvarez explored the presence of small planets in tight orbits around Gliese 338A and B using the spectroscopic radial velocity technique. They analyzed radial velocity data from the CARMENES spectrograph as well as ground-telescope photometry from Las Cumbres and Sierra Nevada observatories. The planet they discovered orbits the smaller member of the system, Gliese 338B, once every 24.45 days at a distance of 0.14 AU. Named Gliese 338Bb (GJ 338B or HD 79211b), the alien world has a mass of 10.3 times the mass of the Earth. Gliese 338Bb is one of the least massive planets ever discovered in one star of a binary system of relatively small separation, Dr. Gonzalez-Alvarez and her colleagues said. They estimate the planets temperature to be between 27 and 117 degrees Celsius (81-243 degrees Fahrenheit). Gliese 338Bb lies inside the inner boundary of the habitable zone around its parent star, the astronomers said. The masses, spectral types, brightnesses, and even the rotational periods are very similar for both stars, which are likely coeval and formed from the same molecular cloud, yet they differ in the architecture of their planetary systems. The teams paper will be published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. _____ E. Gonzalez-Alvarez et al. 2020. The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs. A super-Earth planet orbiting HD 79211 (GJ 338 B). A&A, in press; arXiv: 2003.13052 P eople in Ryedale are most likely to stick to coronavirus "stay at home" rules when showing symptoms of Covid-19, survey data collected by a health app has suggested. More than 98 per cent of people in the North Yorkshire district are following the guidance, according to information from the Evergreen Life app that tracks Covid-19 symptoms in the UK, which was last updated on Sunday. Other areas where residents are sticking to the rules include Wandsworth in south London and Adur in West Sussex, with nearly 98 per cent of people with symptoms staying at home. Evergreen collected the data from more than 25,000 people who use the app to help scientists track the spread of the disease through the UK. Evergreen Life's coronavirus app shows where in the UK people are sticking to self-isolation rules when they have coronavirus symptoms. (Evergreen Life) / Evergreen Health Key workers, such as NHS staff or supermarket employees, are not included in the study. Most areas showed that more than 90 percent of people who may have coronavirus are keeping to lockdown rules, but some dipped lower. Middlesbrough showed that 25 per cent of people with symptoms have left the house. Around 18 per cent of people in Hertfordshire and Burnley have done the same. 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 People with coronavirus symptoms are supposed to self-isolate for seven days, even if their symptoms go away, according to Government rules. If you are in the same household as someone with symptoms, you should stay at home for 14 days. The data is being shared with scientists from the universities of Manchester and Liverpool, who are analysing the information. Dr Ian Hall, from the University of Manchester, said: Respondents are supporting a better understanding of the local experience of Covid-19 disease through sharing their data, which will be incredibly useful to national and local planning. Bayer AG is blaming the spread of the coronavirus for slowing negotiations aimed at resolving lawsuits that claim its controversial Roundup weedkiller causes cancer and is asking consumers to settle for less, according to people familiar with the talks. The German company recently backed out of tentative agreements to resolve the claims, said the people who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. The move gives Bayer more time to assess the future impact of the pandemic on its business and may help it keep the total amount of Roundup settlements under $10 billion. Shareholders are pressuring management to resolve the litigation to lift the overhang on its shares. Lagging revenues prompted company officials to ask consumers to take as much as 20% less in compensation than originally offered in the talks, the people said. That figure is going to be the focus of intense negotiations, they added. Bayer officials confirmed Friday that requirements for people to practice social distancing to help slow the spread of the virus have gummed up the settlement process. COVID-19 dynamics, including restrictions imposed in recent weeks, have caused meeting cancellations and delayed this process, Chris Loder, a U.S.-based Bayer spokesman, said in an emailed statement. We cannot speculate about potential outcomes from the negotiations or timing, given the uncertainties surrounding the pandemic and the confidentiality of this process, but we remain committed to engaging in good-faith talks, Loder said. The company is attempting to resolve more than 45,000 claims blaming exposure to glyphosate in Roundup made by Bayers Monsanto Co. unit for non-Hodgkins lymphoma in users of the product. The company denies glyphosate causes cancer. But after losing three cancer trials in California that resulted in combined damages of $191 million, Bayer agreed to postpone the next round of Roundup trials to provide more time for negotiations. At least a half-dozen trials scheduled to start in the first quarter of this year have been put on hold. Bayer is appealing the verdicts. Bayer shares fell under siege after the company acquired Monsanto in June 2018, losing as much as 47% of their value as trial losses mounted and new cases multiplied. The stock price began edging up again with the prospect of a settlement drawing closer. Over the last four months, Bayer reached draft settlement agreements with law firms across the U.S. representing Roundup cancer patients, but the accords hadnt been finalized, the people said. Because Bayer officials planned to use some operating revenues to help fund the settlements, they came back to the negotiating tables to ask consumers to take less than was originally offered, the people said. Lawyers must now go back and persuade their clients to do that, the people added. Tom Claps, a litigation analyst with Susquehanna Financial Group LLLP, said Friday that plaintiffs will likely accept lower compensation given the uncertainties created by the pandemic. While it will be difficult to go back and ask for massive discounts to the already agreed upon terms, Bayer has a strong argument that economic conditions have drastically changed requiring some discount, Claps wrote in a note to clients. Bayer isnt adverse to settling Roundup claims. Last month, the company agreed to pay $39.5 million to settle a proposed class-action case alleging its Monsanto unit ran misleading ads about the controversial Roundup weedkiller and its potential health risks to humans and animals. Under the deal, Roundups label wont say glyphosate the products active ingredient only affects an enzyme found in plants. Consumers contend the chemical attacks an enzyme found in humans and some animals. The case didnt raise cancer claims. The case is In re: Roundup Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2741, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco). Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. A major model relied upon by White House medical experts was updated overnight and projects nearly 12,000 fewer deaths from COVID-19. The new disease is caused the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus. It emerged in China last year. The major model now projects that between 49,431 and 136,401 (a mean of 81,765) deaths from COVID-19 will take place in the United States by June 19, when the deaths are predicted to hit zero per day. The previous version of the model projected 93,531 Americans would die by that time. The model in question was published by the University of Washingtons Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), which receives funding from the Gates Foundation. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Dr. Deborah Birx, the response coordinator of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, are among the top state and national officials who have cited it when talking about projected figures related to the virus outbreak. The apex of daily deaths in the United States is still projected to occur on April 16. Modelers believe deaths that day will be somewhere between 1,282 to 7,703, a mean of 3,130. The previous mean was 2,644. But the daily deaths are now projected to drop off faster than in the previous model, leading to the revised figure. Fewer hospital beds, beds in intensive care units, and will be needed on the new projected peak hospitalization date, modelers also said. The IHME model previously expected roughly 120,000 to 430,000 hospital beds would be needed on April 16, a mean of 262,092 beds, along with a mean of 39,727 ICU beds and 31,782 ventilators. The new means are: 140,823 hospital beds, 29,210 ICU beds, and 24,828 ventilators. Total hospitalizations are also down in the new model. Many COVID-19 patients who require intensive care are placed on ventilators, machines that help people breathe, and stay on them for weeks. Approximately 20 percent of patients in New York state, which has the most patients in intensive care, recover from the disease after being placed on a ventilator. Even before the model was updated, hospitalizations in the United States were just a fraction of the projections. The updated model also appeared to be overestimating hospitalizations in some states. For instance, it said New York would require 14,947 to 37,576 hospital beds on April 5; the state had 16,479 in hospitals on Sunday. While as many as 9,277 ICU beds were in the projection, state officials reported 4,376 patients in intensive care units. New York officials have projected needing up to 40,000 ventilators but the updated model projects needing no more than 10,606. On the other hand, the IHME was accurately predicting the number of deaths on some days. For instance, it predicted 1,133 to 1,555 COVID-19 deaths for April 4. There were around 1,350 deaths reported that day. A discarded surgical mask is seen on the sidewalk outside of Wyckoff Hospital in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, New York City, in a file photo. (Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images) Model Reflects New Data Dr. Christopher Murray, the IHME director, said in a statement that the revised model reflects a massive infusion of new data. Data from some states, including New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Colorado, concerning the use of healthcare systems led modelers to revise down the estimated need of the system during the CCP virus outbreak. As we obtain more data and more precise data, the forecasts we at IHME created have become more accurate, Murray said. And these projections are vital to health planners, policymakers, and anyone else associated with caring for those affected by and infected with the coronavirus. Modelers said projections of the pandemic depend on the peak in each state and the peak being reached in seven European regions, including Madrid, Spain, and Lombardy, Italy, helped inform the revised figures. Murray credited social distancing measures, which include remaining 6 feet away from non-household members, as contributing to the updated model but claimed that the trajectory of the pandemic would change dramatically for the worse if people ease up on such measures. The model assumes that widespread social distancing measures remain in place until the end of May, he said. President Donald Trump earlier this month extended federal social distancing recommendations to April 30. The advisory prompted a number of governors to either extend social distancing mandates or recommendations and others to announce stay at home orders for the first time. Trump on Sunday told reporters that models overestimated the number of hospital beds needed in the United States. Its turning out that we need less hospital beds, Trump said at the task forces daily briefing. We may have models, but weve been sort of saying that. In New York, we were saying we think youre gonna need less. Petr Svab contributed to this report. From The Epoch Times Emergency crews were at the scene of a large fire in Ridgewoods downtown business district late Sunday. The fire was reported around shortly after 9 p.m on North Broad Street, where photos shared on social media showed smoke coming from a building with a bagel store on the ground floor. Fire crews from nearby departments were assisting Ridgewood firefighters at the scene. Authorities did not immediately provide information on the blaze and it was unclear if anyone was hurt. Ridgewood Update 2nd floor collapse 3rd Alarm struck DWH pic.twitter.com/Li3Z6YAbJf NorthJersey FireNews (@NJFires) April 6, 2020 Ridgewood Side C Credit to Ohotographer. Water Pressure Issues. Dropping LDH 2 blocks out. Request water dept to increase pressure. pic.twitter.com/71Yh2BkAO6 NorthJersey FireNews (@NJFires) April 6, 2020 Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Dominic Raab is to take on prime ministerial duties after Boris Johnson was admitted to intensive care with persistent coronavirus symptoms. The foreign secretary will deputise where necessary, Downing Street said, hours after insisting the prime minister was still in charge of the crisis despite his poor health. While Mr Johnson remains the prime minister, Mr Raab will now lead the governments day-to-day running of the coronavirus response and other matters, Number 10 sources said. The prime minister was moved on Monday evening to the intensive care unit at Londons St Thomas Hospital, where he was taken for tests on Sunday 10 days after testing positive for Covid-19. He is understood to still be conscious and to have been moved as a precaution, in case he requires ventilation. Over the course of this afternoon, the condition of the prime minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the intensive care unit at the hospital, a Number 10 spokesperson said. The PM has asked foreign secretary Dominic Raab, who is the first secretary of state, to deputise for him where necessary. The PM is receiving excellent care, and thanks all NHS staff for their hard work and dedication. Asked if he was confident the government remained under control tonight, Mr Raab said: Theres an incredibly strong team spirit behind the prime minister, and making sure that we get all of the plans the prime ministers instructed us to deliver to get them implemented as soon as possible. And thats the way it will bring the whole country through the coronavirus challenge that we face right now. He added: The focus of the government will continue to be on making sure that the prime ministers direction all the plans for making sure that we can defeat coronavirus and can pull the country through this challenge will be taken forward. It comes hours after Mr Raab, speaking at Downing Streets daily press conference, faced intense questioning over his insistence that the prime minister remained in charge despite his poor health. Mr Raab told the nation that government was working full throttle to implement the prime ministers demands, but admitted he had not spoken to him in person since Saturday. The new caretaker prime minister previously a Foreign Office lawyer has spent much of the last month trying to repatriate British nationals from across the globe. The intricacies of negotiating border closures, grounded planes and fraught international authorities has seen the Foreign Office come under increasing pressure to get its stranded citizens home. By the time of his appointment as foreign secretary last summer, Mr Raab had already spent the best part of a decade establishing himself as an uncompromising political figure since first being elected to the seat of Esher and Walton in 2010. The son of a Czech-born Jewish refugee who fled the Nazis in 1938, Mr Raab has said he would probably not describe himself as a feminist, and rarely strayed from his dedication to leaving the European Union. He memorably quit his Cabinet role in protest against Theresa Mays much-maligned plan to leave the bloc in November 2018. Despite playing up to his image as a hard-talking Brexit enthusiast during the most recent Tory leadership race, the karate black belt failed to progress to the final two. Additional reporting by PA Most new drugs that show promise as potential COVID-19 cures will not end up working, scientists caution, and many are toxic. Last week, publicity around a tiny French study of hydroxychloroquine led to Australian and worldwide shortages of the drug and at least one death. Another study has since contradicted its findings. A scanning electron microscope image shows a sample of COVID-19 isolated from a patient. Credit:NIAID-RML A new Australian study released on Friday showing the anti-parasite treatment ivermectin eliminated the virus in a test tube led to a surge in demand at some pharmacies for the prescription-only drug, The Age can reveal. Some are now reporting shortages. Hydroxychloroquine last week, ivermectin this week, and it will be something else next week, said Dr Gaetan Burgio, head of an infectious diseases lab at the Australian National University. Tyson Foods is using walk-through infrared body temperature scanners at three processing plants in an effort to keep coronavirus out of its sites and maintain the stability of U.S. food supply. The scanners can check employees' temperature as they walk into the building. Tyson gave CNBC an exclusive first look at video of how the walk-through scanners work. A temperature scanner used by Tyson Foods. Tyson Foods "Every person that needs to enter our facility, team member, visitor, anyone has their temperature taken before they enter the facility," Tyson's senior vice president of health and safety Tom Brower told CNBC. "One beef facility in Nebraska produces enough food every day to feed 18 million people. We have a vital role to continue to feed the nation. We are doing everything we can to keep employees safe." Brower said the scanners allow for mass screening and are faster and more accurate than handheld devices. "People can just naturally enter the workforce and it's scanning them for their temperature," he said. The Food and Drug Administration said infrared body temperature scanners have not been approved to detect fevers as a symptom of COVID-19 but it's exploring new guidance in response to the pandemic. Similar fever-detecting devices have been used to identify sick travelers in airports in Asia since the SARS outbreak in 2003. A temperature scanner used by Tyson Foods. Tyson Foods "The FDA is committed to maximum regulatory flexibility in its response to this pandemic, while assuring products are appropriate for use," an FDA spokesperson told CNBC. "The FDA has a variety of tools to help meet the medical device needs of the American people during a public health emergency, including the ability to authorize emergency use of an unapproved medical device or product marketed for medical purposes that is eligible for such use, in certain circumstances." A temperature scanner used by Tyson Foods. Tyson Foods By Express News Service BENGALURU: Seven new COVID-19 positive cases were reported in Karnataka on Sunday, taking the states total to 151 cases from its overnight tally of 144. Five of the seven who tested positive had either attended or accompanied participants at the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi between March 13 and 18. The Health and Family Welfare Departments evening bulletin said Patients 145 and 146 are a couple aged 68 and 62, residents of Madiwala in Bengaluru, who had travelled to Dubai and returned to the city on March 22. Both were in quarantine at Akash Hospital in Bengaluru and had remained asymptomatic so far. Their test results arrived on Sunday showing them as positive for COVID-19. The others Patients 147 to 151 had either attended the Tablighi Jamaat event or accompanied them to the national capital. Patients 147 to 150 are all from Raibagh, Belagavi, aged 36 (female), 40 (male), 67 (female) and 41 (female), respectively. All of them have been are isolated at district hospitals in Belagavi. Patient 151 had returned from the Delhi event and was quarantined at MDRS, Ballari. BBMPs fever clinics have screened 1,839 so far So far, the 41-year-old male from Ballari has remained asymptomatic.Meanwhile, Patient 14, a 35-year-old male who had returned from US on March 10, has recovered and was discharged on Sunday. The states tally of 151 includes four deaths and 12 discharges. ICMR issues advisory The Indian Council of Medical Research has issued an advisory to start rapid antibody-based blood test for COVID-19 as a strategy for areas reporting clusters (containment zone) and in large migration, gathering/evacuee centres. 243 screened at fever clinics At the 31 Fever Clinics of BBMP, 243 people were screened on April 4 and till date 1,839 people have been screened. Home Quarantine Enforcement squads have quarantined 10 persons in institutions on April 4 based on complaints received from the public. So far, 371 people have been shifted from home quarantine to institutional quarantine. Around the state 4 more people tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday taking the count to seven in Belagavi district. A video clip of a man, who was quarantined at the civil hospital in Belagavi, dancing while claiming that he has tested positive for coronavirus, has caught authorities off guard. Kodagu police have traced nine moulvis from the Shura Tabligh Jamaat of Gujarat and shifted them to a quarantine centre. A Dubai-returned man has been booked by police for violating home quarantine rules as he tested positve in Udupi. ANNAPOLIS, Md. Shady middlemen, phantom shipments, prices soaring by the hour, goods flown in on a private plane. What sounds like an organized-crime thriller is now the new reality for governors desperately trying to find the medical equipment their states need in the throes of a pandemic. With the federal stockpile dwindling fast, and the Trump administration limiting access to whats left, state leaders are going to extraordinary measures on their own to secure faces masks, ventilators, gloves and other equipment essential to fighting the outbreak. Theyve ventured into a global market-place one governor described as the wild, wild, West, only to compete against each other and their own federal government. Theyve watched the price of a ventilators double and masks go for 10 times their original price. Theyve turned to rich friends and businesses for help. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker enlisted NFL owner Robert Kraft to send the Patriots team plane to China to retrieve over a million masks. In New York, an epicenter of the outbreak in the U.S., Gov. Andrew Cuomo has looked closer to home to secure ventilators, issuing an order that forces even private hospitals to redistribute ventilators to the hospitals most in need. Let them sue me, Cuomo said. All this has led many governors to call on the federal government to centralize purchases. But President Donald Trump has not appeared inclined to intervene in the private market. And the White House made clear this week that Trump views the federal stockpile as a backup for the states. It is the greatest frustration, said Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican who heads the National Governors Association. We have states out competing on the open markets with totally uneven distribution of these things, and now the federal government competing with us and other countries competing against us and then a very limited supply of all of these things and no real coordination of where its going. Hogan said there has been progress from the Federal Emergency Management Agency distributing supplies from the nations dwindling stockpile, but he described it as a tiny percentage of what is needed. Weve been buying up everything that we can possibly get our hands on in the open market all over not just domestically, but all over the world, from places like Korea and China and other places, he said. Its not just governments competing with each other for the precious and ever-pricier supplies. States also sometimes compete with their own hospital systems, which are trying to get direct shipments so they can quickly resupply their medical workers. Hospital employees like Dr. Daniel Durand, a physician and chief innovation officer for a hospital system in Maryland, now have a role they never imagined trying to find personal protection equipment in a market gone haywire. As just one example, Durand said coveted N95 face masks that used to cost less than a dollar each cant be found for less than $3.70. And thats a bargain: Plenty of buyers are willing to pay much more up to $10 apiece. He said some middlemen threaten to take their products to another hospital when he starts asking basic questions. And then what Im hearing is that people are paying millions for shipments and nothings showing up, said Durand, who is the chairman of radiology for LifeBridge Healths five hospitals. So, there are just totally people scamming hospitals. Virginia Secretary of Finance Aubrey Layne vets suppliers for that states medical gear and said they have to deal with people with questionable qualifications, and with little time to determine whether they are qualified or trustworthy. Everybody knows somebody who knows somebody in China, he said. Earlier this week, Trump acknowledged that the federal stockpile is nearly depleted, signaling that states will remain largely on their own just as the death toll begins to spike. Many governors have been complaining for weeks that they have not received the shipments they requested from the nations supply. Middlemen and suppliers are taking advantage of the desperation: Smaller ventilators that had been selling for $11,000 to $14,000 are now going for $20,000 to $30,000, said Christian Mitchell, deputy governor in Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzkers administration. More deluxe models that had topped out at $45,000 now cost $20,000 more. Your choices are between, Do I get enough of the stuff that I need to protect my front-line health care workers, do I get enough ventilators to make sure that more people get to stay alive. Or do people die?' he said. Big states like California have an advantage because their sheer size gives them massive purchasing power that others lack. California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he doesnt want that leverage to hurt smaller states and has reached out to Washington, Illinois, New Jersey and others about creating a partnership to centralize their purchases. Much of what youre hearing is true in terms of it being the wild wild West out there, Newsom said. Small states, like New Hampshire, are at a disadvantage. Im sorry, New Hampshire does not have the scale to compete with the state of New York, with the state of Illinois, said Brendan Williams, president of the New Hampshire Health Care Association, which represents the states nursing homes. If its just going to be this sort of Darwinian free-for-all, like Lord of the Flies I dont know what to say. Its absolutely unconscionable. Its unimaginable that this is where we are at right now. Some states are working with private manufacturers to convert buildings so they can produce their own medical equipment. LifeBridge Health is among those taking matters into its own hands. It converted a building in the Baltimore suburbs into a factory to produce masks. LifeBridges head of oncology, who sews, trained 40 staff members how to make the masks, said Durand, the radiologist. Its like a half sewing factory, half surgery suite, he said. ___ Associated Press writers John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas; John OConnor in Springfield, Illinois; Kathleen Ronayne in Sacramento, California; Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire, and Alan Suderman in Richmond, Virginia, contributed to this report. ___ Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak Former prime minister Tony Blair has called on the government to appoint a minister solely responsible for bringing about mass testing for the coronavirus in the UK. The ex-Labour leader said one cabinet member should be in charge of a specialist unit devoted to literally nothing else other than making sure testing is ramped up quickly. Unless youre able to get mass testing, at scale with speed, I dont see how you get a way out of this lockdown and Im terrified by the economic damage were doing with every week this lockdown continues, Mr Blair told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. The former occupant of No 10 expressed his sympathy with Boris Johnson, describing his hospitalisation for the virus as a hellish situation. I completely agree with the governments strategy Im not making a criticism, Im making a suggestion, said Mr Blair, recommending that the appointed ministers new unit would contain scientific advisers and people with experience of mass production. If I was handling this situation now, I think I would put a senior minister in charge of testing and nothing else, with people who have industrial experience, business experience of how you ramp up industrial-scale production, he said. I would have that unit reporting directly to the prime minister, and doing literally nothing else than ensuring we get the two types of test that matter You need people who are empowered decision makers, who can take decisions fast. Amid criticism that testing was not increasing quickly enough, health secretary Matt Hancock has said the government is aiming to carry out 100,000 coronavirus tests a day in England by the end of April. Labour has demanded clarity over how many would be swab tests identifying those currently infected, and how many would be antibody checks showing that people have had the disease and recovered. Mr Blair said the UK needed to boost the number of diagnostic swab tests which detect whether someone currently has Covid-19, and antibody tests which detect whether someone has previously had the disease. The vast majority of the public will either not have the disease, or, increasingly, they will have had it and probably therefore they are immune for this cycle, he said. So the problem is you have to lockdown the entire country, even though those who require isolation are probably only a small proportion The only way you resolve this is through testing on a mass scale. Mr Blair added: Ive never known a situation like this. If it goes on for a long period of time, then that economic damage doesnt just effect the economy per se, it also effects your ability to operate your health care system effectively. Giving Mr Johnson his best wishes, he told Today: I wish him a speedy recovery. I have every sympathy and solidarity with him. I know it must be a hellish situation to be in. Asked whether the prime minister should hand over control while ill, Mr Blair said: Im not going to second guess them on that. He knows the state of his own condition and he will be judging it carefully himself, Im sure. All the people that the patients who have tested positive for coronavirus came into contact with have been traced for sampling and testing, President Akufo-Addo has said. So far, the virus has killed five people in Ghana out of two hundred and fourteen with three full recoveries. In his fifth national address on the situation on Sunday, the President said: As of today, Sunday, 5th April 2020, our current situation is such that we have recorded a total of two hundred and fourteen (214) cases. The Greater Accra Region has one hundred and eighty-nine (189) cases, followed by the Ashanti Region with twelve (12), Northern Region ten (10), Upper West Region one (1), Eastern Region one (1), and Upper East Region one (1). The ten from the Northern Region are the West African nationals who entered our country illegally, after the closure of the borders. In total, three (3) persons have fully recovered from the disease, forty-nine (49) persons have been discharged from treatment facilities, and are being managed from home, and the remaining one hundred and fifty-five (155) are responding to treatment. Two (2) persons are moderately ill, and five (5) persons, as I said before, have lost their lives. Of the one thousand and thirty (1,030) travellers, who were mandatorily quarantined and tested on their arrival in Ghana on the 21st and 22nd of March, the President said: Seventy-nine (79) were initially found to be positive, and appropriate arrangements were made for their isolation and treatment. Subsequently, after twelve (12) further days of quarantine, twenty-six (26) other persons were found to be positive as a result of their second test, bringing the total number of those found to be positive to one hundred and five (105), all of whom have been isolated for treatment. Of the remaining nine hundred and twenty-five (925) persons, who have undergone two tests and found to be negative, eight hundred and four (804) have been released from quarantine to join their families. The remaining one hundred and twenty-one (121) are, as I speak, in the process of being released. I want to thank all of them and their families and loved ones for their understanding and co-operation with the stringent procedures that the government was forced to deploy in the public interest, the President announced. He said: Efforts, also, at contact-tracing have been ramped up over the course of the past week, adding: Indeed, for every confirmed case of COVID-19, all the contacts have been listed, monitored and tracked. Additionally, in the home or place of work of a confirmed case, all persons, be they at home or at work, have been tested, whether they had symptoms or not. Within the locality or neighbourhood of a confirmed case, the opportunity is also being provided for persons to undergo voluntary testing to ascertain the extent of community spread. We are, thus, about to enter a critical phase of our fight in the coming week, as the Ghana Health Service is due to receive the results of some fifteen thousand, three hundred and eighty-four (15,384) out of nineteen thousand, two hundred and seventy-six (19,276) persons who have been reached through contact-tracing. It is the results of these tests that will determine our future course of action. Governments policy and measures will continue to be driven by the science in this matter. The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) are now partnering the government in the struggle. I met with their representatives on Friday and arranged with them a mechanism for the realisation of this partnership. The nation and I appreciate their involvement. So, in the course of the coming week, a determination will be made as to whether or not to extend the duration of the two-week restriction on movement, and the implementation or otherwise of any more enhanced measures to deal with the virus. I have, however, by Executive Instrument, extended the closure of our borders for two (2) more weeks, until further notice. The data tells us that the overwhelming majority of confirmed cases came from travellers or from people who have come into contact with travellers, he said. Ghana is under a partial lockdown with movements restricted in Greater Accra, Greater Kumasi and parts of the Central Region, as part of measures to curb the spread of the virus. The President reiterated that: As I have said before, all that the government is doing is intended to achieve five (5) key objectives limit and stop the importation of the virus; contain its spread; provide adequate care for the sick; limit the impact of the virus on social and economic life; and inspire the expansion of our domestic capability and deepen our self-reliance. ---classfmonline Lee Cho Hee is a well-known Korean actress, and she has been active since 2001 with her debut in a short film which was titled Sunyoung's Letter, Cho Hee landed a significant role later in 2011 in the movie Bleak Night as Sejung and was given her very first leading role in 7 First Kisses. 7 First Kisses is a famous web series that is known to be produced by Lotte Duty-Free, which is under Lotte Corporation, a well known Japanese brand which is run by South Korean CEO - Shin Kyukho. 7 First Kisses was aired from December 2016 to January 2017, and it was exclusively premiered through online video platforms YouTube and Naver TV Cast for both local and international audiences. The storyline is merely unrealistic, yet the viewers can't help but tune in to watch every episode due to the heart-fluttering actors who were cast in the drama along with the relatable protagonist who we all wanted to trade shoes in. Lee Cho Hee plays the role of Min Soojin, an ordinary girl who works as a store employee at Lotte Duty-Free. As the story introduces Min Soojin, the audience figures out that she has yet to enter a relationship and is considered an "NBSB" or "No Boyfriend Since Birth" type of woman. Due to her unfortunate circumstance of never being kissed by anyone, she soon meets a goddess who is played by actress Choi Jiwoo. The goddess finds out about her kissless history and grants Soojin a once-in-a-lifetime chance of picking the perfect man for her to have her first kiss! Her options include seven of the most wanted and handsome actors and idols in South Korea, namely Lee Joongi, Park Haejin, Ji Changwook, EXO's Kai, Ok Taecyeon, Lee Jongsuk and Lee Minho! Lee Cho Hee's luck was out of this world when she landed her role in 7 First Kisses. The gentlemen who were cast in the drama were all equally handsome but played different roles in the story. Lee Joongi was the very first to appear as a very religious individual who just happens to be a billionaire as well. Meanwhile, Park Heejin plays the role of Lee Cho Hee's boss, who she often sees as a sober person; however, he changes her perspective with his romantic gestures that made the viewers swoon as well. In the third episode, the sudden presence of a dashingly sexy secret agent rocks Soojin's world, especially since Ji Changwook plays the said agent! Hold onto your seat fangirls as EXO's Kai also starred in this drama as Soojin's younger friend, who still goes to school but captures many hearts with his undeniable charm. Ok Taecyeon's role is a rich heir who exudes innocence and tooth-rotting sweetness. Meanwhile, Lee Jongsuk appears as himself, a very famous person with chiseled visuals and perfect body proportions to prove it. Lastly is Lee Minho, who plays the role of a free-spirited travel writer, a very handsome one at that. Do you know who Lee Cho Hee's character chose as her first kiss? Leave it in the comments! LONDON (Reuters) - Police issued a warning to Scotland's Chief Medical Officer Catherine Calderwood on Sunday after she broke her own advice on social distancing to slow coronavirus spread when she visited her second home this weekend and last. LONDON (Reuters) - Police issued a warning to Scotland's Chief Medical Officer Catherine Calderwood on Sunday after she broke her own advice on social distancing to slow coronavirus spread when she visited her second home this weekend and last. Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said Calderwood would no longer be the public face of the country's campaign to tackle the coronavirus. Photographs of Calderwood visiting her holiday home in Earlsferry, on the east coast of Scotland about an hour's drive from the capital Edinburgh, were published in the Scottish Sun. "I did not follow the advice I'm giving to others, I'm truly sorry for that," she said at a news conference in Edinburgh on Sunday. She said she had seen comments calling her a hypocrite and saying she was irresponsible. "What I did was wrong. I'm very sorry," she said. "I know how important the advice is I have issued. I do not want my mistake to distract for that." She also apologised to police and National Health Service (NHS) colleagues. Police Scotland said officers had spoken to Calderwood about her actions and had warned her about her future conduct. "The legal instructions on not leaving your home without a reasonable excuse apply to everyone," Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said in a statement. "Individuals must not make personal exemptions bespoke to their own circumstances. It is vital everyone adheres to these requirements." Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Calderwood would no longer take part in the media briefings on Scotland's campaign to tackle the coronavirus. "I am acutely aware of the importance of public trust in the advice the government is giving to stay at home in order to save lives and protect our NHS," she said in a statement. "To maintain that trust we will be revising our public information campaign and the Chief Medical Officer will be withdrawing from media briefings for the foreseeable future." Sturgeon earlier said she did not know that Calderwood had been spending weekends at her second home but nonetheless she stood by her colleague. Scotland has recorded 3,345 coronavirus cases and the death toll stands at 218. (Reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by Angus MacSwan) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Amid the unprecedented outbreak of deadly coronavirus as major cities across the world are put under lockdown and most people remain confined to their homes, a mother of four decided to help the needy by cooking 80 meals a day. Sophie Mears from Dorset reportedly decided to cook meals for the elderly or more vulnerable people amid the crisis of COVID-19 outbreak. According to reports, she spends nearly ten hours every day to cook a single batch of food and has been posting about the details to get in touch with her on Facebook as it is not allowed for many to leave their homes during the pandemic. Mears usually works in the admin department of the school and had started working from home when the lockdown was announced by the government in a bid to slow the drastic spread of the fatal pathogen. However, in the meantime, she reportedly also wished to play her part and contribute to society when a virus has emerged as a threat to the whole of humanity. That is when Mears decided to cooks massive meals, but, soon it was halted as the government required her to have a certification that the food was hygienic. But, since Mears did not want to stop her service, she got the required documents after a virtual inspection from the council officials, posted the image on Facebook and continued making meals for the members of her community. According to reports, the mother-of-four- now has an entire team to support her for her task during a health crisis. Read - Italy Moves Towards Phase Two As It Records Lowest Daily Rise In COVID-19 Death Toll Sophie Mears deed was widely appreciated on the internet but as of April 6, the confirmed cases in the UK has spiked to 47,806 with at least 4,934 deaths. Mears reportedly a media outlet that she had initially volunteered to cook few meals for someone in her community when the lockdown had started but now, she cooks at least 80 meals on a daily basis. Read - Coronavirus Outbreak: First-of-its-kind Disinfectant Tunnel Set Up In Tamil Nadu Read - Jodie Whittaker As Doctor Who Asks Fans To Be Kind To Each Other And Listen To Science Patient dies after refusing a ventilator In another act of kindness, a 90-year-old coronavirus patient died in Belgium after selflessly refusing to use a ventilator as she asked the doctors to keep this for younger individuals who have contracted the deadly COVID-19. Suzanne Hoylaerts reportedly from Binkom, near Lubbeek was hospitalised on March 20 when her health started deteriorating with the infection caused by the coronavirus. As the world currently battles with a chronic shortage of medical equipment and ventilators, the 90-year-old decided to sacrifice one machine for someone younger. According to Dutch media, Hoylaerts said, You shouldn't breathe me, just help the younger people. She reportedly even said that she had a good life. However, her family said that they were unable to bid goodbye to the 90-year-old as she was quarantined and was not allowed to meet anybody. The Mayor of Lubbeek, Theo Francken even lauded the altruistic act by the "beautiful" lady and wished she rest in peace. Read - #ThankYouForBeingMyFamily : Mankind Pharmas Salute To The Healthcare Community Read - Coronavirus: From Donating Money To Helping Elderly, Kind Acts Restore Faith In Humanity Kabul, April 6 : The Taliban has blamed the US for violating an agreement for peace in Afghanistan which was signed between the two sides on February 29 in Doha. On Sunday, the Taliban said US forces and their allies had repeatedly targeted bases and locations of the group in various parts of the country which it described as violations of the agreement and warned that such acts could provoke the group's fighters to respond, reports Efe news. It accused the US of "repeated violations" by carrying out airstrikes and attacks against bases, civilian targets, night raids and drone strikes in areas where there was no active fighting. Colonel Sonny Leggett, US forces spokesman in Afghanistan, said in a statement on Twitter that they would defend its partners "if attacked, in compliance with the agreement". "US Forces-Afghanistan has upheld, and continues to uphold, the military terms of the US-Taliban agreement, any assertion otherwise is baseless," he tweeted. "The Taliban must reduce violence. A reduction in violence is the will of the Afghan people and necessary to allow the political process to work toward a settlement suitable for all Afghans. "We once again call on all parties to focus their efforts on the global pandemic of COVID-19," Legett added. "The process to release 5,000 (Taliban) prisoners (as was agreed in agreement) has been delayed without any logical reason," the Taliban said in a statement on Sunday. It added that there had been "several evident violations" committed against the agreement in southern Helmand, Kandahar, western Farah, northern Kunduz, Badakhshan, Balkh and in eastern Nangarhar and Paktia provinces and other parts of the country. "We have timely shared the details of the violations with the Americans through the specified communication channel" the group said in a statement emailed to Efe in Kabul. "We seriously ask the American side to respect the provisions of the agreement and encourage its allies too to fully respect the provisions of the agreement" it said. "If such violations continue, it will develop an atmosphere of distrust and will not only harm the agreement, but will force Mujahidins (Taliban fighters) to react and respond that will increase the level of violence" in the country, the statement continued. The Taliban claimed to have fully "respected" the provisions of the agreement and said it remained committed to the promises made in the signed pact. But the group tried to justify its recent deadly attacks against Afghan security forces, not to be against the provisions of their deal with the US. "As per the signed agreement, until there is a separate agreement with the Afghan sides (government) and a comprehensive ceasefire is agreed upon, until that time the Islamic Emirate can carry out attacks against all military facilities and bases of the Kabul administration, both in urban and rural area" the statement continued. The Taliban said it was ready for intra-Afghan talks to discuss a comprehensive ceasefire with the government and political groups but if 5,000 prisoners were released as per the Doha peace agreement. A total of 5,000 Taliban and 1,000 security forces prisoners were expected to be freed before March 10, but the process has been delayed because of differences over security guarantees between the two sides. A three-member Taliban delegation arrived in Kabul on March 30 and has engaged in talks with the Afghan government to finalise the technical process for the prisoner release. It was hoped that a comprehensive ceasefire could eventually lead to political settlement to end the 19-year long war that has gripped the country. A disaster was brewing last month in the Texas electricity market. The coronavirus pandemic was spreading, stores and offices were closing and people were losing their jobs. Texas consumers were flooding the phone lines at the Public Utility Commission complaining their power was getting shut off because they couldnt pay their bills. The commissioners called an emergency meeting in mid-March and praised utilities for suspending service disconnections for non-payment. But it turned out the disconnection moratorium exacerbated the problem facing the Texas power market because electricity sellers had no way to force customers to pay their bills. Something had to be done, or the big Texas experiment of electricity deregulation that started two decades ago couldnt withstand the financial strain as hundreds of thousands of Texans lost their jobs and couldnt pay their bills. CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Stay informed with accurate reporting you can trust Traditionally integrated utilities that generate and sell and distribute power in other states can halt disconnections and then petition regulators to recover the losses during the next rate case. But the deregulated parts of Texas that includes Houston and Dallas dont have that option. Retail electric providers a group that includes NRG Energy, Vistra Energy and Direct Energy, which together sell more than two-thirds of the power in Texas have no way to recoup their losses. Energy experts predicted that many smaller electricity providers operating on thin margins couldnt survive the financial fallout, and consumers would get shifted into more expensive power plans if their own providers went out of business. If the dominoes of bad debt cascaded as expected, the competitive electricity market was facing industry upheaval and bankruptcies, according to regulatory filings. The commission voted on March 26 to start a temporary emergency fund for financially struggling Texans in the deregulated parts of the state, to be funded by a special fee of 0.033 cents per kilowatt hour. That works out to an extra charge of 40 cents for residential customers who use 1,200 kilowatt hours of electricity per month. Qualified consumers whose energy portion of their bills is 4 cents or less per kilowatt hour will likely receive a full subsidy, while customers who pay more than that will receive a partial subsidy. Retail electric providers can prevent customers who sign up for deferred payment plans from switching to new providers until their bill is paid. The program is slated to last one month, but can be extended if necessary. CORONAVIRUS IN HOUSTON: All of the latest news, numbers and analysis to keep you up-to-date, only on HoustonChronicle.com Commission Chairman DeAnn Walker told the two other commissioners during discussion of the program that she understands she is asking for something extraordinary, but with so many people suddenly unemployed, the market couldnt withstand several months of a moratorium on disconnections because no money would be coming in. I thought this was a reasonable balance to try to address the needs of the people who are losing their jobs with the needs of the market, said Walker. She said she acquired a new nickname around the commission as she grappled with the fallout of the coronavirus: Worst Case Wanda. In one sense, the emergency program is neighbors helping neighbors down on their luck, a temporary reincarnation of Lite-Up Texas, a program that helped low-income Texans pay summertime electricity bills that was eliminated by the Texas Legislature four years ago. But it also averted at least for a while the financial distress of retail electric providers who need to know theyll be paid at least partially so they can continue to provide power. The emergency payments will keep everyone afloat for at least a month. And then well see what comes next. lynn.sixel@chron.com Niko Savas was trying his best to concentrate on his online classes at Georgetown Law, despite the exhaustion, fever and aches caused by his bout with covid-19. But the physical sickness wasn't the coronavirus's only toll, he said. He worried for his parents, who also have covid-19, he said, and about the possibility that he unwittingly infected others before he knew he was sick. He knew classmates who were facing their own burdens, too. Which is why, Savas said, Georgetown University Law Center should eliminate letter grades this spring. With so much out of students' control, he said, "There's no way we could have a system that's fair when we're graded on a curve." Georgetown Law decided Friday to drop letter grades for students pursuing JD degrees. And hundreds of other colleges and universities have changed their grading policies in response to the pandemic, according to Laura Gibbs, a lecturer at the University of Oklahoma who has been tracking the announcements. It's the latest sign of how the pandemic has upended higher education, wiping out rituals, structures and rules that have been in place for generations. And it's sparking debates on many campuses, with faculty votes, student petitions and campus-newspaper op-eds arguing for and against new ways to evaluate students. "Instead of individual instructors thinking, 'What's the most fair, equitable way to grade in my class?'" Gibbs said, "We're now seeing that at an institutional level in a way that is really unprecedented." Whatever schools decide, there's a lot at stake in the coming months, with grades influencing admissions to graduate and professional schools, scholarships and even some jobs. And the resulting upheaval has led some advocates to push make some of the changes last, or at least use the moment to reevaluate student evaluation. "Just as COVID-19 has cast a stark and urgent light on the failures of our health care system, our economy and other basic structures of American life, the wave of emergency ungrading allows faculty members to think about whether we ever want to go back to reading papers with half of our thoughts already occupied in justifying the grade we're going to give," Adam Rosenblatt, associate professor of the practice in international comparative studies at Duke University, wrote in the campus newspaper. On many campuses, professors have the freedom to determine how they judge students' work throughout the term. Some already chose to eschew letter grades. In a phone interview, Rosenblatt said he has found it transformative to not grade individual projects. Students are more apt to take risks, he said, if they're not guessing what will persuade him to give out an A. His students get detailed, nuanced feedback instead. But at the end of the course, most schools require professors to provide letter grades. It's an efficient summary, easily recorded, that can be compared across courses and institutions. When the virus upended campus life, students across the country, including Savas at Georgetown Law, started pushing for that requirement to be waived. Students were feeling "beyond desperate and abandoned," Savas said. One of Savas' classmates said she has been unable to contact her father in South Korea and has begun to check death records there. She is preparing to move to Los Angeles to work as a driver to help her mother, an immigrant who is in the country illegally and expects to lose her job. "My case is extreme, I know," the student said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect her mother's identity. But other classmates are cancer survivors, immune-compromised, or have lost family members to covid-19. Last week, Georgetown University officials changed the spring-semester grading policy for undergraduate and graduate students, allowing them to choose between a traditional letter grade or an alternate system with "satisfactory," "credit" (for grades C-, D+ and D) and "no credit." The law school had previously announced a more flexible grading system. But on Friday, the law school faculty decided to impose a mandatory pass/fail standard for all JD students. Students studying for a master of laws degree can opt for a grade or choose pass/fail, school officials said. "As our students face a very difficult and evolving landscape, our faculty are deeply committed to finding a solution that best serves them all, and especially those who are most vulnerable right now," William M. Treanor, dean of Georgetown Law, said in a written statement last week. Students at schools from McNeese State University in Louisiana to the University of Utah to Harvard University have pushed for similar changes. Some students have even argued that everyone who completes course requirements should get either an A or an A-plus. Universities have responded with a variety of temporary solutions. Some are letting students see their grades and then opt for a "pass" instead. Some are letting students opt out of letter grades but requiring students to make that decision earlier in the term. Some are mandating that everything is pass/fail. Some are maintaining the status quo. And at least one school, the New School in New York, has agreed to give all students who pass a course in the spring term an A or A-minus. The result is a mash-up of new terms and letters this spring, jolting a grading system that has been widely accepted in this country since the late 1800s. But universities that have chosen leniency have faced complaints, too, including pleas from students who say the good grades they expect to earn, despite the dire circumstances, would help them more. At Stanford University, the Faculty Senate voted in late March to mandate that most spring quarter work be assessed as "satisfactory" or "no credit." But about 90 percent of students who responded to a student government survey before the vote preferred different grading options, with many favoring a system with more "student agency," the campus newspaper reported. At Wellesley College in Massachusetts also mandated "satisfactory/no credit" grading for the spring semester. But in the letter announcing the move, the school acknowledged that some students would prefer to have a choice. In a normal semester they would agree, school officials wrote, but this one is anything but. "Let's try to do our work and support one another without being required to make judgments," they wrote. At Brown University, students have had the option since 1969 of choosing between a letter grade and "satisfactory" or "no credit." But some student activists there joined a coalition from other schools - including the University of Missouri, Yale University and the University of California at Berkeley - calling for a universal-pass policy. "We don't believe that students need to be worried about their academics right now," said Shivani Nishar, one of the lead organizers at Brown, where about 2,500 undergraduates signed a petition in support. She and Xochi Cartland, another organizer, have heard from students who have lost the library as the only safe, internet-connected place they had to study. Others are facing eviction, job loss, illness or mental health crises. As a senior applying to doctoral programs, getting an A would be helpful, Nishar said. "But there are more important things we should be prioritizing." Even at Brown, though, some students lobbied to keep letter grades. Aryana Javaheri, a senior who was born in Iran, said she struggled early in college, with illness coinciding with her parents' divorce. But later, she found her footing academically. She plans on keeping that footing this semester, despite concerns about her relatives in Iran and other stress. And she'll need her good grades when she applies to MD/PhD programs, she said. "Some of the students that come from a disadvantaged background really do need their letter grades this semester," Javaheri said. Brown announced temporary changes last week. They didn't eliminate grades but did add flexibility: Students can decide much later in the semester than usual which grading option they prefer. Individual instructors will also be allowed to petition for mandatory "satisfactory/no credit" grading in "exceptional circumstances." "We have spoken with and heard from so many students on this topic," said Rashid Zia, Brown's dean of undergraduate academics. There is no single approach that could address their range of circumstances, Zia said, so they wanted to give students the power to make their own choices. "These are the most flexible and supportive policies for this moment," he said. There is no, no situation where you go to the media, Modly said. Because the media has an agenda and the agenda that they have depends on which side of the political aisle they sit, and Im sorry thats where the country is right now, but its the truth and so they use it to divide us and use it to embarrass the Navy. 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 pornography, 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 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. 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. Zoom recently updated guidance on how to better lock down meetings. Chief Marketing Officer Janine Pelosi said in a statement that the San Jose, Calif-based company is deeply upset about the incidents. We take the security of Zoom meetings seriously, she said. We also recently updated the default screen sharing settings for our education users so teachers by default are the only ones who can share content in class. We strongly condemn such behavior. 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 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. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has rejected the planned arrival of a Chinese medical team to assist the country in its coronavirus (COVID-19) response. The association, in a statement signed by its president, Dr. Francis A. Faduyile, on Sunday urged the federal government to rescind the decision in the interest of the country. The association said it was disappointed with the federal government for not carrying it along in arriving at the decision, and for not taking into cognizance the extant laws regulating the practice of medicine in Nigeria as enshrined in the Medical and Dental Council Act. We are therefore profoundly dismayed to learn that the Federal Government is instead inviting the Chinese who from available accounts are not out of the woods themselves. The spike in cases and the death toll from COVID-19 in Italy coincided with the arrival of the Chinese in the guise of offering assistance. Even the United Nations has only just recently commended the efforts of Nigeria so far. It is a great disservice to the morale of the long-suffering frontline health workforce if the government goes ahead to invite these Chinese doctors. The invitation demeans their sacrifices so far in this pandemic. We fail to see how the 18-man team would impact the current efforts in any significant way, the NMA said. The minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, had disclosed on Friday that gifts of medical supplies were being expected from China organised by a group of Chinese companies working in Nigeria. A special cargo aircraft shall leave Nigeria in a few days to collect the items, which include commodities, PPE and ventilators. Of great interest is an 18-man team of Chinese medical experts, including doctors, nurses and public health advisers, who shall come along with the flight, he said. While describing the invitation to the Chinese doctors as ill-timed, the association said they were not averse to the donation of equipment and supplies because the country could always do with such support as even developed countries receive support. NMA said the lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), grossly inadequate test kits and test centres across the country, as well as lack of insurance for the workforce were critical issues begging for attention. NMA commended the work done by doctors and health workers at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the various isolation centres across the country, and advised the federal government to show appreciation by channelling the available resources and donations to improving testing facilities and training more workers. The association also enjoined the federal government to approve better welfare incentives to frontline medical personnel. The provision of adequate Personal Protective Equipment, opening and properly equipping more isolation centres and health facilities across the country is an excellent first step. Deploying more resources to facilitate testing as we are beginning to witness community transmission of COVID-19 is equally a better application of scarce resources, it added. The doctors also advised the federal government to declare a state of emergency in the health sector and fix health institutions as a matter of urgency to stem the rot by Vladimir Rozanskij According to a TV station, an Abkhazian woman came to Georgia carrying the virus. Abkhazian authorities reject the claim. Tbilisi strengthens border controls. Georgia has more than a hundred coronavirus cases with 5,000 people in quarantine. Moscow (AsiaNews) The coronavirus outbreak has reignited the decades-old dispute between Georgia and Russian-backed Abkhazia. Recently, Georgias Rustavi-2 TV channel reported the story of an Abkhazian woman showing severe symptoms of pulmonary disease, hospitalised in the Georgian province of Zugdidi, which is next to Abkhazia. According to hospital doctors, the patient, who had returned from Russia, was in stable conditions. In order to determine if she was positive to the coronavirus, her test results were sent to the Lugar Research Center in Tbilisi, Georgias main infectious disease centre. Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said that We will do everything to protect the health of our citizens on both sides of the occupation line. The Zugdidi Infectious Diseases Hospital is one of the medical facilities reserved for coronavirus patients, and is located not far from the line between Georgia and pro-Russian Abkhazia, built after the bloody conflict of 2011. The hospital was built in 2014 at a cost of US$ 15 billion to provide care to Georgian citizens living in Abkhazia, and thus help ease tensions in the area. This time the opposite effect was produced. In Sukhumi, the capital of Abkhazia, a statement by the local Security Service (once part of the KGB) expressed surprise and regret for the television report. "In the last three days, no Abkhazian citizen has crossed the border with Georgia since it was closed by decision of the President of Abkhazia. Georgian authorities responded by saying that not only the woman in question was recovering in a Georgian hospital, but that many Abkhazians regularly go to Georgia for medical treatment, which is offered to them absolutely free of charge. For Irakli Chikovani, head of the Tbilisi Prime Minister's press office, the danger of the coronavirus has forced Georgian authorities to increase border controls, due to the worsening epidemiological situation in the Abkhazia region. Abkhazia however continues to deny that the virus is present in its territory. The situation in Georgia is also rather tricky. So far, more than a hundred people have tested positive, with 20 recovering. More than 5,000 are under quarantine. In the Kvemo Kartli region, the cities of Bolnisi and Marneuli have been completely isolated with army checkpoints, just 50 kilometres from Tbilisi. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili recently travelled to the area to be directly briefed by the military. T his is the moment police extinguished a beach barbecue to enforce the Government's coronavirus lockdown restrictions. In a clip shared on Twitter by Dave Strauss, police in Hove can be seen throwing a helmet full of water over a disposable grill, which two individuals had lit up. The helmet was lent to the officers by a passerby. Speaking to the Evening Standard about Saturday's incident, Strauss said the officers had been "casually" chatting to people along the beach when the pair "unpacked a load of food and drinks and lit a barbecue". "These two just rolled up, unpacked a load of food and drinks and lit a barbecue," he added. "They then argued when police tried to explain that they couldn't do it." Strauss described the officers' conduct as "great", adding they had been overseeing the lockdown restrictions in a "relaxed" manner along the south coast seafront. Sussex Police said on Saturday that that two people had been summonsed to attend court after having a barbecue on Hove beach. "The severity of this public health emergency means they will be summonsed to court for breaching the Coronavirus Act 2020," the force said in a statement posted on Facebook. It was not immediately clear if the two unnamed people referenced by the force were the individuals shown in Strauss' footage. When could the lockdown end? The developments reflected the challenges faced by UK police officers tasked with enforcing social distancing restrictions amid soaring temperatures over the weekend. On the south coast, Brighton and Hove City Council said on Saturday that too many people were meeting up with friends, making social distancing "impossible". In London, meanwhile, officers moved on people who were picnicking or had met with friends at the capital's Primrose Hill and told a sunbather in Streatham to "go home". Elsewhere in the city, Lambeth Council said it was forced to close one park in the borough after thousands of people ignored "stay-at-home" guidance and enjoyed the sunshine or met friends. Brockwell Park's gates were locked to the public on Sunday after 3,000 people visited a day earlier, the council said, with "many of them sunbathing or in large groups". The council called the behaviour "unacceptable" and blamed the closure on the "actions of a minority". Lockdown Londoners bask in Greenwich Park sunshine - In Pictures 1 /10 Lockdown Londoners bask in Greenwich Park sunshine - In Pictures Lockdown Londoners bask in Greenwich Park sunshine - In Pictures REUTERS Lockdown Londoners bask in Greenwich Park sunshine - In Pictures REUTERS Lockdown Londoners bask in Greenwich Park sunshine - In Pictures REUTERS Lockdown Londoners bask in Greenwich Park sunshine - In Pictures REUTERS Lockdown Londoners bask in Greenwich Park sunshine - In Pictures REUTERS Lockdown Londoners bask in Greenwich Park sunshine - In Pictures REUTERS Lockdown Londoners bask in Greenwich Park sunshine - In Pictures REUTERS Lockdown Londoners bask in Greenwich Park sunshine - In Pictures REUTERS Health Secretary Matt Hancock has warned people not to flout social distancing guidelines and said tougher restrictions - including a ban on public exercise - could follow if existing measures were not adhered to. Adding to the note of caution, Housing and Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick told the BBC's Today Programme on Monday lockdown rules remained "under review" but insisted there are no "imminent plans" to impose greater restrictions. "It would be very unfortunate if we had to do so and make it harder for people, particularly people who live in flats in towns and cities, to get the exercise they deserve," he told BBC Breakfast. Mr Jenrick also implored people to continue staying indoors in the coming days with the potential for more good weather and the Easter weekend approaching being big temptations to breach the lockdown. Under existing lockdown measures, people are only permitted to leave their homes to shop for essentials, exercise in public once a day, or provide support to an elderly or vulnerable person - provided they keep at least two metres apart from anyone they do not live with. Plenty of Windows laptops try to position themselves as MacBook Pro alternatives, combining slick designs and vibrant displays with powerful PC performance, but the Lenovo Yoga C940 15 is no mere copycat. While the Yoga looks sharp and has a bright display, it also leans into its differences as a Windows PC. It has a touchscreen that flips around into tablet mode, a built-in stylus for writing or sketching, andthank heavensa full-sized USB-A port to complement its two USB-C connections. It even fits in a number pad without cramping its excellent keyboard. This review is part of our ongoing roundup of the best laptops. Go there for information on competing products and how we tested them. Thats not to say the Lenovo Yoga C940 15 ticks every imaginable box. Screen backlighting is a bit uneven, audio quality could be better, and limited configuration options will prevent you from turning this into a beastly desktop replacement. Also, if were comparing to Apples MacBooks, Lenovos laptop doesnt include all the same niceties, such as a slightly larger screen and jumbo-sized trackpad. Still, the Lenovo Yoga C940 15 is a decent choice for those who want a luxurious workhorse PC without giving up what Windows does best. Tech specs Our Lenovo Yoga C940 15 review unit has a list price of $1,700 at Best Buy and includes the following specs: 15.6-inch display with 1920 x 1080 resolution 9th-generation Intel Core i7-9750H processor Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q graphics 512GB SSD 16GB DDR4-2666 RAM Left side: Two USB-C 3.1 ports (with Thunderbolt 3), proprietary charger, headphone jack Right side: USB-A 3.0 port Wi-Fi 6 Support Stylus with 4,096 pressure sensitivity levels Fingerprint reader 720p webcam with privacy shutter Windows 10 Home Dimensions: 14 x 9.4 x 0.8 inches Weight: 4.41 pounds (5.68 pounds with charger) Jared Newman / IDG The Lenovo Yoga C940 15 has two USB-C ports and a proprietary charging port on the left side, plus a USB-A port on the right. Best Buy also offers a 4K display version with the same other specs as above for $1,899. Lenovos website offers several other configurations: On the low end, you can drop to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage (currently $1,460), while on the high end you can upgrade to an Intel Core-i9-9880H processor, 4K display, and 2TB SSD ($2,440 as of this writing). In all cases, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 is the only option for graphics, and the non-upgradeable RAM tops out at 16GB. While its nice that Lenovo included a USB-A port on this laptop, its use of a proprietary chargersimilar to the one Lenovo uses for its ThinkPadsis a drag, as is the lack of a MicroSD card slot and additional USB ports on the right side of the laptop. Design and display The Lenovo Yoga C940 15 comes in either a darker Iron Gray or a lighter shade that Lenovo refers to as Mica. Its all-aluminum body, along with its sharp edges and flat sides, only serve to underscore the laptops heft, which is unavoidable given the discrete GPU inside. But for a workhorse laptop that folds around into a tablet, the C940s size and weight are reasonable. Jared Newman / IDG The squared-off edges give it a hefty look, but the Yoga C940 15 is fairly thin and light for a laptop with discrete graphics. As with Lenovos smaller and skinnier Yoga C940 14, the 15-inch model packs some clever design ideas. The laptops rotating hinge doubles as a speaker grille that projects sound outward, and the displays top bezel extends upward near the center of the screen, leaving extra room for the webcam and forming a little lip that makes it easier to open the laptop. Our review units display had a resolution of 1920 x 1080, which on a 15.6-inch screen has clearly visible pixels, but thats going to be an acceptable trade-off for most folks given the performance and battery life issuesnot to mention the higher price tagsthat often come with 4K screens. (Itd be great to see a laptop like this with a 1440p display instead, and perhaps a 16:10 aspect ratio to boot, but thats a rant for another day.) The displays brightness measures an eye-popping 415 nits at the center of the screen. While Lenovos ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 2 is in the same league (442 nits), most other 15-inch workhorse laptops dont get anywhere close unless theyre made by Apple. Although the glass display can create a lot of glare when youre outdoors or sitting in front of a window, the screen itself can get bright enough to compensate. Jared Newman / IDG Like most other Yoga laptops, the C940 folds around into tablet mode, plus it has a built-in stylus. Viewing angles could be better, though. While this is an IPS display, it was hard to find an angle that provided steady brightness throughout, particularly on white backgrounds. Its the kind of thing you might not notice until you notice it, at which point it becomes an annoyance. Keyboard and trackpad The keyboard on the Lenovo Yoga C940 15 is among the nicest youll find on a consumer laptop. Although the keys lack the same travel as on Lenovos ThinkPads, they provide a pleasant tactile bump on the way down without being overly loud. (Oddly enough, the snappy sounds I heard on Lenovos 14-inch Yoga C940 werent as apparent here, perhaps because the larger and heavier body absorbs more of the noise.) While not everyone needs a number pad on their laptop, Lenovo managed to fit one on the Yoga C940 15 without major sacrifice. Modifier keys such as Shift and Ctrl are a bit smaller than usual, but the size and spacing of letter keys are the same as on Lenovos 14-inch laptop. Jared Newman / IDG The Lenovo Yoga C940 15 fills its extra keyboard space with a number pad, but leaves trackpad space underutilized. Its too bad the Yoga C940 15s trackpad doesnt utilize the extra space. Its no larger than that of Lenovos 14-inch Yoga C940, and much smaller than the jumbo-sized trackpad on Apples MacBook Pro. And like most Windows laptop trackpads, the click mechanism gets increasingly stiff as your finger moves toward the top section. Audio, webcam, and security After being wowed by the speakers on Lenovos 14-inch Yoga C940, the 15-inch model was a bit of a letdown. The larger laptop does have even louder speakers built into its rotating hingestill better than the tin-can speakers youd find on cheap laptopsbut it lacks the low-end warmth that the smaller laptop offers and comes off as overly harsh at high volumes. The webcam, meanwhile, met its already-low expectations, being a 720p shooter like pretty much every other laptop on the market. The privacy shutter is a nice touch, though, and while theres no face recognition for Windows Hello, you can sign in with the fingerprint sensor just below the laptops cursor keys. Jared Newman / IDG Privacy shutters are the hot new trend in laptop design, and yes, the Yoga C940 15 has one. Performance Although we sometimes see 2-in-1 laptops take a performance hit compared to their non-convertible peers, that doesnt seem to be the case with the Lenovo Yoga C940 15. Its a solid performer on the CPU side, and it holds its own on the GPU side despite not being officially a gaming rig. Battery life holds up quite nicely as well, both in benchmarks and everyday use. Lets start with Cinebench, which tests CPU performance over a short period of time. Here, the Lenovo Yoga C940 15 topped every other laptop with a 9th-generation Intel Core i7-9750H processor, both in single-threaded and multi-threaded performance. (The former accounts for most office productivity tasks, while the latter comes into play for image processing and rendering.) Melissa Riofrio/IDG The C940 15 outscores most comparable laptops Cinebenchs quick performance test. To see how laptops fare under sustained workloads, we encode a large video file with the free HandBrake utility. Again, the C940 got the job done faster than nearly every laptop with a comparable CPU, save for MSIs GS65 Stealth 9SD. Melissa Riofrio/IDG The C940 15s 9th-generation Intel Core i7-9750H processor makes quick work of video encoding. PCMark 8s Work benchmark provides another look at how the Lenovo Yoga C940 15 zips through work tasks. Any score over 2,000 is satisfactory, so the Yoga C940 15s score of 3,927 keeps you well above the baseline. Melissa Riofrio/IDG No surprises here given the other two CPU-bound benchmarks: The Yoga C940 15 breezes through productivity tasks. The Lenovo Yoga C940 uses the Max-Q version of Nvidias GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card, which balances performance with the thermal challenges of thin-and-light designs. As such, laptops with standard GTX 1650 GPUs fare a bit better. In 3DMarks TimeSpy benchmark, for instance, the C940 fell markedly behind Dells XPS 15 7590 and Acers Nitro 7. Melissa Riofrio/IDG The C940 15 slick design, made possible by Nvidias Max-Q tech requires some compromise in the graphics department. Similar results emerged in Rise of the Tomb Raiders benchmarking tool, where the Lenovo Yoga C940 15 posted an average of 53.2 frames per second. Several other GTX 1650 laptops managed higher framerates (though Dells XPS 15 actually did worse here). Melissa Riofrio/IDG You can still play modern PC games on the C940 15, of course, but you may have to tweak a few settings to keep framerates up. In practical terms, this means youll be able to play some modern competitive shooters like Fortnite and Apex Legends without issue, even at 1080p and the highest possible settings. But with games that are more demanding, you may have to ratchet resolution down to 720p or reduce quality settings for consistently high framerates. On the brighter side, while the systems fan can get loud during gaming, it avoids the jet engine-like whine of more powerful gaming machines. With any laptop that has a discrete graphics card, you should expect some compromise on battery life. Tthe Lenovo Yoga C940s combination of a large 69,000 wHr battery and a 1080p, 60Hz display give it an advantage. In our looping video rundown test, the C940 15 lasted just over nine hours. Of course, battery life typically fell below two hours for gaming, but we found that the C940 15 could get through most of a workday with general productivity use. Melissa Riofrio/IDG Lenovo put a big battery in the Yoga C940 15, ensuring lengthy runtimes when youre not gaming. Is this big Yoga for you? As with so many other laptops, the Yoga C940 15s worthiness is a matter of which trade-offs youre willing to make. HPs 15-inch Spectre x360 has a similar convertible design, but the version with GTX 1650 graphics has a much dimmer display. Dells XPS 15 7590 packs in 4K graphics and even better battery life, but its touchscreen variants get pricey and its not a convertible design. Gaming-first laptops like the Acer Nitro 7 will give you even better performance, but theyre not as nice to look at. Of course, you could always go with a MacBook Pro, but then youll miss out on all those neat choices that make PCs like the Yoga C940 15 more interesting in the first place. Asian consumers are unlikely to go back to their old habits of frequently dining out, and will instead prefer takeaways and eating at home once life goes back to normal after the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a study. Consumer across Asia have signalled their eating habits may change permanently once the world moves beyond the impact of the novel coronavirus, an online survey by market researcher Nielsen found. Over 6,000 respondents in 11 markets China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia were polled between March 6 and 17. In China, 86 per cent of those polled said they would eat at home more often than before the outbreak, followed by 77 per cent in Hong Kong. In South Korea, Malaysia and Vietnam that number stood at 62 per cent. The survey underscores the changing retail landscape, particularly for the food and drinks segment, as businesses grapple with the new normal of social distancing drilled into the publics psyche to stem the spread of Covid-19. The highly contagious disease has affected over 1.2 million people across the globe and claimed at least 64,000 lives so far. The Covid-19 crisis has certainly changed attitudes and behaviours of consumers, said Vaughan Ryan, managing director for Southeast Asia at Nielsen Connect. I dont believe people will fully stop eating out of the home, but clearly the virus impact will last for quite some time and we do expect consumers to continue to eat more at home for the foreseeable future. But whilst consumer behaviour across markets in the immediate terms has definitely changed, the subsequent question is when will it return to normal? The answer may well be never. The trend in many of the Asian markets that were included in the survey shows that sales of fast-moving consumer goods has on average risen by at least 20 per cent every week since the outbreak began spreading in late January. Story continues Ryan said that this shows consumer behaviour has moved from on-the-go lifestyle to a more safe in-home consumption trend. This growth in home cooking can be seen in the growing user base of Hong Kong-based DayDayCook. The multimedia cooking platforms active monthly users in China grew by more than half in March from January, while community post users also grew at the same rate. Since the onset of Covid-19, there have been significant changes in the food shopping patterns of consumers across different regions, said Norma Chu, founder of DayDayCook. She noted that on Tmall consumers had drastically cut down buying of some non-essential foods, such as snacks, nuts and special regional foods, from 73.38 per cent to 21.98 per cent of their purchases. On the other hand, purchases of essential food items, such as noodles, rice, oils, Chinese dried goods and seasonings had increased significantly from 26.3 per cent before the outbreak to 67.69 per cent currently. Deepika Chandrasekar, research analyst at Euromonitor International, said that in Singapore, restaurants were feeling the impact of the measures rolled out to contain the virus. It is likely that restaurants are seeing lower footfall while eating at home starts to increase, she said, adding that even though online orders of food have been rising most of the citys restaurants make their revenue from dine-ins. Jack Chuang, partner at OC&C Strategy Consultants, said that as people start to increasingly dine at home, restaurants should rationalise their store portfolio. His colleague Veronica Wang added that retailers should also rethink the role of their physical stores, and what the implications are in terms of the store location, format, offerings, and service. Social distancing will lead to new, innovative ways of consumer engagement, which I believe will stay as a trend even after Covid-19, said Wang, adding that live streaming has played a bigger role in both engaging with consumers as well as selling products. And although social distancing will become the new normal for the foreseeable future, dining and eating together are not entirely going to disappear. Dining and eating together serves to also provide social interactions, said Tuan Phan, associate professor of marketing, innovation and information management at Hong Kong University. Sign up now and get a 10% discount (original price US$400) off the China AI Report 2020 by SCMP Research. Learn about the AI ambitions of Alibaba, Baidu & JD.com through our in-depth case studies, and explore new applications of AI across industries. The report also includes exclusive access to webinars to interact with C-level executives from leading China AI companies (via live Q&A sessions). Offer valid until 31 May 2020. More from South China Morning Post: This article Coronavirus pandemic likely to permanently change dining habits of Asian consumers, Nielsen study says first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 6 Trend: A significant date is traditionally celebrated in April as the Protocol on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan was signed on April 4, 1992, Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan Mikhail Bocharnikov said. Bocharnikov has commented on the current Russia-Azerbaijan relations on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan, Trend reports referring to http://press-unity.com. The fundamental documents of the legal framework of bilateral relations are the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Security between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan, signed on July 3, 1997, and the Declaration of Friendship and Strategic Partnership between Azerbaijan and Russia dated July 3, 2008, the ambassador added. Twenty-eight years is a rather short period by historical standards, which, however, was enough for the two countries, united by a common centuries-old history, culture and traditions, to build mutually beneficial cooperation in a new format, the ambassador said. Today, the strategic partnership between Russia and Azerbaijan, interaction in the political, trade, economic, humanitarian and other fields, has reached a high level, Bocharnikov added. Relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are based on the principles of sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs and respect for each other's interests, the ambassador said. The peoples of Russia and Azerbaijan reverently preserve and enhance the traditions of friendship and good neighborliness. Of course, the trusting relations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev give an impetus to the strengthening of cooperation between Moscow and Baku, Bocharnikov said. The presidents regular friendly contacts and communication are an example of the development of the interstate relations, the ambassador said. The presidents of the two countries met three times in 2019. I also would like to mention the official visit of Azerbaijani First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva to Moscow. Besides the traditionally intense and constructive political dialogue, I would also like to stress the active development of economic cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan, Bocharnikov said. In particular, an action plan is being implemented to develop key spheres of cooperation between our countries, consisting of six roadmaps. The positive dynamics in bilateral trade has been strengthened, the ambassador said. According to the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, the Russian-Azerbaijani trade turnover amounted to $3.2 billion in late 2019, which is an increase of 27.4 percent compared to 2018. Both Russias export to Azerbaijan and import from Azerbaijan have grown, Bocharnikov added. Thus, we have crossed the psychologically important barrier of $3 billion. This is a good incentive to work to further increase these indicators. The 2019 was very fruitful in terms of the development of our humanitarian ties, the ambassador said. Many famous artists, outstanding Russian ensembles came to Azerbaijan and performed before the Azerbaijani public. This is an important factor in maintaining mutual understanding and friendship between our peoples. Unfortunately, all countries are experiencing certain difficulties in the current difficult situation in the world associated with the spread of a pandemic, the ambassador said. But in the bilateral relations, Russia and Azerbaijan have not isolated from each other. On the contrary, it is necessary to stress the close coordination of actions in the current conditions by the heads of our governments, who maintain close and friendly mutual contact, Bocharnikov said. I would like to stress the measures to maintain mutual trade in the interests of the economy and the population, the ambassador said. I am sure that together we will go through the current difficult stage by supporting and developing mutual understanding, good neighborliness, preserving and enhancing everything that has been achieved within the strategic partnership between our countries. Heres Who Wont Get Pandemic Stimulus Checks A $2 trillion stimulus bill passed last month includes payments of up to $1,200 for people who make less than an earnings cap, but some people wont be able to receive the checks. It includes some college students, immigrants who dont have Social Security numbers, and some elderly or disabled adults. One of the major groups includes adults who are claimed as a dependent on another persons taxes for various reasons. Individuals earning up to $75,000 will get a check for $1,200, while couples earning up to $150,000 will get $2,400. And parents get $500 for every child under the age of 17. The package was passed last month by Congress amid business shutdowns and mass layoffs in an attempt to curb the spread of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus. But if someone is claimed as a dependent on another persons taxes, they wont get a check. Parents will get an extra $500 payment per childbut only for kids under 17, meaning that many 17-year-olds, some young adults, and a number of college students who are claimed by their parents as dependents on their parents taxes will not get an extra $500 or the $1,200 stimulus checks. A taxpayer is allowed to claim a full-time student between the ages of 19 and 24 as a dependent, so the parent will not get $500 for a college student, nor can the college student generally claim $1,200, Janet Holtzblatt, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, told CNBC. U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin speaks while President Donald Trump listens during the daily briefing on COVID-19 in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House, on April 2, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Individuals who get disability benefits from the Social Security Administration or Veterans Affairs can get the $1,200 payments. Disabled adults who are claimed as dependents by their parents or relatives on their taxes will not get the checks, says the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). Seniors who are living with their children who are on Social Security or make less than the income gap can get the $1,200 cash deposits. But seniors who live with their adult children or other relatives and are claimed as dependents on their relatives or childrens taxes will not receive payments. Immigrants who were not given a Social Security numberincluding those with green cards and those on H-1B and H-2A visaswill not receive checks. Nonresident aliens, temporary workers, and illegal immigrants also wont receive checks. Babies who were born in 2020 will not receive checks as the payments from the federal government are based on 2019 and 2018 taxes. Parents will receive $500 credits next year when they file their 2020 taxes. Medical workers approach a refrigerator truck being used as a morgue outside of Brooklyn Hospital Center amid the coronavirus pandemic in New York City, on April 3, 2020. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) To qualify for a direct payment, one has to have a Social Security number, meet the adjusted-gross-income thresholds, and file your taxes either independently or jointly with a spouse. As mentioned before, those who make up to $75,000 as a single filer or up to $150,000 as a couple will get $1,200 and $2,400, respectively, but those payments taper off the more each person makes, up to $99,000 for a single filer, $136,500 for those filing as head of household, or $198,000 if youre married and file jointly. The IRS will then calculate and automatically send the payment, with no action required by most Americans. For Americans who have not yet filed their returns for 2019, the IRS will use information from their 2018 tax filing. As noted by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), people who owe back payments on child support wont receive stimulus checks. Feed Ontario and the emergency fund of United Way will receive additional financial support to meet increased needs in Ontario communities TORONTO, April 6, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - METRO announces a donation of $500,000 to Feed Ontario and United Way, along with a pledge to match customer donations of up to $500,000 in support of its Together We Can toonie-fundraising campaign. Starting today, until April 30, METRO will be appealing to the generosity of its Metro and Food Basics customers inviting them to donate a toonie at checkout in stores. METRO is committed to helping Ontario communities during the COVID-19 pandemic who are struggling with food insecurity and other essential services which also include eldercare and mental health support. "At METRO we are committed to do everything we can to support communities in need across Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic. The idea of Together We Can has never been more true and I am proud that Metro and Food Basics, with the help of our customers, can truly make a difference during these difficult times," says Carmen Fortino, Executive Vice President, Ontario Division Head and National Supply Chain, METRO. In order to take immediate action, METRO has chosen its long-time community partners, Feed Ontario and United Way, to distribute the much-needed aid to regional agencies. These agencies are on the frontlines serving people who are struggling during this incredibly difficult period. It is an additional donation in Ontario after announcing on March 25 a $500,000 donation to Feed Ontario and Food banks of Quebec, as well as a $500,000 to the emergency fund of United Way/Centraide. "We cannot thank our longstanding partner, METRO, enough for their unwavering commitment to Ontario's food banks and communities across the province, particularly during this unprecedented time of need," says Carolyn Stewart, Executive Director, Feed Ontario. "This commitment will directly support Feed Ontario's COVID-19 Emergency Food Box program, helping us to provide nutritious food to our province's most vulnerable." "People who already face significant barriers of poverty, homelessness and social isolation need help more than ever and access to food has emerged as an immediate priority for our most vulnerable residents. United Way's network of agencies have been working quickly and tirelessly to adapt their food service delivery and meet these urgent needs. Thank you, METRO, a long time United Way partner, for helping us make sure that everyone has access to nutritious food. We're all in this together, and it is together that we will get through this. That's the power of community," says Daniele Zanotti, President & CEO, United Way Greater Toronto. METRO, through its network of Metro and Food Basics stores and pharmacies, has been providing essential services since the beginning of the crisis. Our priority has been to ensure the safety of our employees and our customers while continuing to meet everyone's needs. Together We Can make a difference for those who need it. About METRO Inc. With annual sales of more than $16 billion, METRO Inc. is a food and pharmacy leader in Quebec and Ontario. As a retailer, franchisor, distributor, and manufacturer, the company operates or services a network of some 950 food stores under several banners including Metro, Metro Plus, Super C and Food Basics, as well as some 650 drugstores primarily under the Jean Coutu, Brunet, Metro Pharmacy and Food Basics Pharmacy banners, providing employment to almost 90,000 people. For more details, visit corpo.metro.ca. SOURCE METRO INC. For further information: METRO Inc., Media Relations, 514 643-1009 or 1 800 463-2190, [email protected] Related Links www.corpo.metro.ca A deadly Pacific cyclone intensified as it hit Vanuatu on Monday, threatening a natural disaster that experts fear will undermine the impoverished Pacific nation's battle to remain coronavirus-free. Tropical Cyclone Harold, which claimed 27 lives when it swept through the Solomon Islands last week, strengthened to a scale-topping category five superstorm overnight, Vanuatu's meteorology service said. The cyclone is now packing winds of up to 235 kilometres per hour (145 mph), prompting red alerts across several provinces. It made landfall on the remote east coast of Espiritu Santo island on Monday morning and was heading directly for Vanuatu's second-largest town Luganville, which has a population of 16,500. The slow-moving storm is expected to pass north of the capital Port Vila early Tuesday. Officials warned residents in the nation of 300,000 to expect flash flooding and said ships should stay in port or risk facing huge swells. Another concern is the impact a large natural disaster could have on Vanuatu's attempts to remain one of the world's few countries without any reported COVID-19 infections. Vanuatu has virtually sealed its international borders to avoid the virus but emergency measures such bans on public meetings have been temporarily suspended to allow people to gather in evacuation centres. "The focus was more on COVID-19 and now we have moved our focus to preparedness for the cyclone," Vanuatu Red Cross disaster coordinator Augustine Garae told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "We understand that some people in some communities are not really well prepared." - Widespread destruction - A major international relief effort was needed the last time a category-five system, Cyclone Pam, hit Vanuatu in 2015. If a similar operation were needed in the wake of Cyclone Harold it would run the risk of importing the virus to a nation that lacks the health infrastructure to deal with even a mild outbreak. "There have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Vanuatu, but a significant disaster at this time could present serious logistical challenges to delivering life-saving aid," Oxfam's Vanuatu director Elizabeth Faerua said. Cyclone Pam flattened Port Vila, killed 11 people and left a swath of destruction that the World Bank estimated wiped out almost two-thirds of Vanuatu's economic capacity. The latest storm Harold has already caused widespread damage in the Solomon Islands, where an inter-island ferry ignored weather warnings and 27 people were washed off its decks. Solomons police said Sunday that the bodies of five passengers from the MV Taimareho had been recovered and the search would resume the next day. "I would like to thank everyone... involved in the search for the missing 27 people so far as we try as much as possible to find the bodies so their grieving relatives can give them a proper burial," chief superintendent Richard Menapi said. The ferry set off from Honiara for Malaita island on Thursday night, packed with more than 700 people as part of a government evacuation programme in response to the virus crisis. With Cyclone Harold strengthening, Vanuatu is still recovering from the last time a scale-topping, Category-Five system, Cyclone Pam, hit the impoverished Pacific nation in 2015, pictured Map locating Tropical Cyclone Harold which intensified to a category five storm as it hit Vanuatu on Monday. Former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday said in thewake of COVID-19 outbreak, his son Nikhil's wedding will be a low-key affair in the presence of close family members on April 17, at the residence. Nikhil is engaged to Revathi, the grand-niece of former minister and Congress legislator M Krishnappa. Both families had decided to have a grand wedding ceremony near Janapada Loka in Ramanagara, the political turf of Kumaraswamy and preparations were on for the same. "Can it (marriage in Ramanagara) happen in the given situation, we have decided to complete the marriage rituals in the presence of 15-20 family members at home," Kumaraswamy said. Speaking to reporters in Ramanagara, he said, "Let's see when time comes (about any grand event), for now have decided to do it in the House itself on April 17, it is auspicious day, we don't want to postpone it. About other things let's see in the future." Nikhil's wedding was planned in a 95-acre land near Ramanagara with a lavish set, with lakhs of party workers and well-wishers in attendance, followed by a grand reception in Bengaluru. Nikhil has acted in couple of Kannada films in the lead role. The grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from the party bastion of Mandya and had lost against multilingual actress Sumalatha Ambareesh, an independent candidate supported by BJP, in a bitterly contested poll. Meanwhile, stating that there was no clarity whether the lockdown will end on April 14 or would continue, with the graph of number of cases increasing, Kumaraswamy said, there are reports that the lockdown will continue in about 16 districts, while it will be withdrawn in other districts. "I'm also watching what steps the government will take, this is not the time for criticism, this is the time to advise the government to function efficiently," he said. The former chief minister also urged the government to provide proper infrastructure to doctors and other medical staff who were at the forefront in the fight against COVID-19, by providing them with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits immediately. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Delhi court on Monday extended the police custody of a student of Jamia Millia Islamia, who was arrested in a case related to alleged planning of a conspiracy to incite communal riots in northeast Delhi, by nine more days. Meeran Haider, a PhD student at Jamia, was presented before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sudhir Kumar Sirohi, who allowed Delhi Police to question him for another nine days. He was presented on expiry of his earlier three days police custody. Haider, who is the president of RJD youth wing's Delhi unit, was arrested on Friday. At least, 53 people including IB official Ankit and Head Constable Rattan Lal were killed in the violence that rattled the capital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sumi Sukanaya Dutta By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine seems to be emerging as medicine of choice for treating COVID-19 patients in the absence of a more targeted treatment yet, but there is little empirical evidence so far to conclude it really works in patients afflicted with the novel coronavirus. The renewed focus on the drug comes after US President Donald Trump on Sunday in a telephonic conversation with PM Narendra Modi reportedly asked him to remove the export ban on hydroxychloroquine a day after India, its biggest manufacturer, declared it won't send the medicine outside. In India, the drug along with antibiotic azithromycin was recently included in the clinical management guideline for COVID-19 patients - replacing anti-HIV drugs Lopinavir, Ritonavir - issued by the Union Health Ministry and the Indian Council of Medical Research with the rider that the two drugs should be given to only those needing ICU care. "These drugs should be administered under close medical supervision, with monitoring for side effects including QT interval," the guidelines said as the drug, also used in the treatment of auto-immune diseases lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, may cause cardiotoxicity effects. The government also said that these medications are presently not recommended for children less than 12 years, pregnant and lactating women. ALSO READ | Kolkata sweet shop comes up with Corona Sandesh, Corona Cake "These guidelines are based on currently available information and would be reviewed from time to time as new evidence emerges," the ministry said while issuing the guideline. Sources said that the revision had come as a study published in the New England Journal said that the anti-HIV drug combination did not work in 199 patients analysed, while another study from France said that the anti-malarial and antibiotic combination helped 78 out of 80 patients analysed. There was another independent study from China to support hydroxychloroquine-Azithromycin combination. Additionally, the government had said that hydroxycholoroquine should be taken by healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients and close contacts of those who have tested positive in order to prevent the infection. No evidence, however, was cited for this endorsement. In the daily briefing on the outbreak, the government clarified on Monday that since there was limited evidence on hydroxycholoroquine so far, it was not being recommended for public use yet. This statement came even as reports have emerged that many people, including doctors, were taking the drug prophylactically leading to its shortage in the market. ICMR, as per available information, has not started any randomised clinical trials to assess the efficacy of the drug in the country. ALSO SEE: Experts meanwhile said that the government guidelines related to the anti-malarial drug are "contradictory". "The government, on one hand, asks the drug, along with Azithromycin to be used in severely ill patients and on other hand asks certain high-risk groups to use it prophylactically this is a clear contradiction," said Dr Anupam Singh, an infectious disease expert with Santosh Institute of Medical Sciences in Ghaziabad. He added that in most states, however, the drug is being used even in mild and moderately ill COVID-19 patients. "We have seen that its too late if the drug is used in very sick coronavirus patients," he added. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday extended his wishes to BJP workers on the occasion of the 40th foundation day of the party. "With the aim of antoyadaya, humanism and nationalism and service to mother India, BJP has played the biggest role in establishing the principles of integrity, good governance and equality in Indian Many congratulations to all workers on 40th foundation day of BJP," the Chief Minister tweeted. The Chief Minister further advised BJP workers to exercise self-discipline and maintain social distancing in the times of the coronavirus pandemic. "In the time of crisis over the global pandemic, I request the BJP workers to fully comply with sanitation, social distancing and lockdown in a self-disciplined manner. Along with this, motivate people around your home and surroundings for the same," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has revealed their resolve on how the Chinese doctors and nurses expected in the country will operate. There have been concerns from various quarters on the expected arrival of some Chinese doctors and nurses in Nigeria, to help in the fight against the Coronavirus outbreak. Disclosing the commitments which were arrived at in the meeting attended by Minister of health, Osagie Ehanire and others, Gbajabiamila said the Chinese experts will be quarantined for 14 days once they arrive in Nigeria. He revealed this via a few tweets in his Twitter handle on Monday thus: I just met with the two Ministers in charge of Health over concerns expressed by indigenous medical practitioners and many Nigerians on the engagement of Chinese Doctors and Nurses for the management of COVID-19 in Nigeria. We extracted the following commitments from them: Read Also: Im Ashamed Of Pastors Misleading People On Coronavirus: Pastor Ashimolowo (Video) 1. The Doctors and Nurses will follow the protocol and be quarantined for 14 days once they arrive in Nigeria. 2. The Doctors and Nurses will at no time have any physical contact with any patient. 3. There will be strict compliance with all relevant immigration laws regarding work permits. We remain vigilant and Our engagement continues. [Spoiler alert: This Is Us Season 4.] The end of This Is Us Season 4 left fans worried about Rebeccas (Mandy Moore) future. In the present-day timeline, the Pearson matriarch finally received her diagnosis mild cognitive impairment likely due to Alzheimers. And now it seems Rebecca is headed to St. Louis, Missouri to participate in a nine-month clinical trial discovered by Randall (Sterling K. Brown). But heres the thing. Rebecca originally stated she didnt want to go in order to spend her final good years with family. So will Rebecca leave for the clinical trial on This Is Us? Fans think theres going to be some hesitation when the NBC drama returns for its fifth season. Why Rebecca is going to the Alzheimers clinical trial in St. Louis on This Is Us As mentioned, Randall was the one who proposed the Alzheimers trial in St. Louis. He was excited about the potential. But Kevin (Justin Hartley) was against the idea, as the trial would send Rebecca away for nine months. And in the end, Rebecca chose not to participate because she wanted to spend time with her family. But even so, Randall did not let it go. During a therapy session, he admitted losing Rebecca would break him. So Randall did everything in his power to get his mother to do the trial. While enjoying a game night with Kevin, Kate (Chrissy Metz), Miguel (Jon Huertas), Toby (Chris Sullivan), and baby Jack, Rebecca received a call from Randall. Once again, he brought up the trial, and Rebecca tried to shut it down. I told you I have no interest in being away from the family, she said. I respect the fact youre passionate about it. But I really dont want to talk about the clinical trial anymore. However, Randall pressed further, even bringing up the fact she kept his birth father, William (Ron Cephas Jones), a secret. Mom, Ive been a good son, he said. And I never say stuff like that. But I know that I have been. After dad died I stayed at home and took care of you. I have been a good son. And Ive let things go. Things that were kept from me, things that I should have resented you for. But I never did because I knew that it would be painful for you. So I didnt. He continued: Ive never asked you for anything But Im going to ask you for something now. Mom, you have to do this clinical trial. And I know you dont want to, but you have to. I dont want to be in a therapy session 20 years from now, playing out scenarios, wishing I pushed harder, wishing I had done more, because maybe if I had, maybe you would still be alive. I cant live with that, even if you can. Then while looking at her family playing games in the other room, Rebecca agreed to her sons terms. OK, she said while holding back tears. I will go to St. Louis and I will do the trial. This Is Us fans predict Rebecca wont leave for the Alzheimers clinical trial In the This Is Us Season 4 finale, Rebecca told the family she changed her mind and wanted to do the trial. Meanwhile, the NBC drama revealed three new additions to the Pearson family are coming soon. Kate and Toby decided they want to adopt. Then in a flash-forward, fans learned Jack (Blake Stadnik) has a sister named Hailey (Adelaide Kane) in the future. Madison (Caitlin Thompson) also had a bombshell to drop on Kevin shes pregnant with twins. And in the far-future, Kevin has a little boy and girl. Following the March 24 episode, fans predicted what the new additions mean for This Is Us Season 5. Then in a thread on Reddit, one viewer theorized Rebecca wont leave for the clinical trial once she finds out the big news. I think once Rebecca finds out about Kevins twins and Kate & Tobys decision to adopt, she will back out of the trial, the fan wrote. Before Randall guilt tripped her into saying yes, she was all about spending every possible moment with her family and enjoying life. They continued: I cant imagine her not wanting to be there for Kevin and Kate. Im not sure how well Rebecca knows Madison but Im guessing shed want to get to know the mother of her grandchildren. The fan also hypothesized the This Is Us Season 4 fall finale will reveal Randall isnt speaking with any members of the Pearson family, including Rebecca. Maybe she and Randall have a falling out because she chose time with family over the trial, the fan wrote. I hope Im right and Rebecca or Miguel call Randall out for manipulating her. Many fans seemed to agree with Rebeccas motivation. However, others pointed out its likely the Pearson matriarch will give the trial a chance at the very least. But if that happens, some viewers are worried how the stress could affect Rebeccas condition. Do you think the trial speeds up her dementia? a fan wrote. Her behavior seems so much worse than simply nine months into the future. Maybe thats why theyre not speaking to Randall. He forced her to lose precious time with her family. What This Is Us Season 5 has in store for Rebecca Mandy Moore as Rebecca on This Is Us | Ron Batzdorff/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images Regardless of what actually happens to Rebecca when This Is Us Season 5 returns, the writers confirmed she will participate in the Alzheimers clinical trial. According to The Wrap, creator Dan Fogelman hinted the upcoming season will focus on Rebecca journey to St. Louis. Its going to be, obviously, a challenging chapter for Rebecca moving forward, Fogelman said. We have a big storyline planned for Mandy next season in present day as an older woman and also her whole past timelines. The creator also noted this will include Rebecca and Miguels relationship. Fogelman said: Heres an opportunity where were going to be putting them in a location together and watching them as they undergo this treatment together that they didnt plan on trying. And it will also allow us to get toward, which has always been the plan in the back part of our series, get towards a further understanding of how their relationship bloomed, then stalled, then bloomed again and getting really inside of their lives. Now it seems This Is Us Season 5 will show Miguel and Rebeccas love story in parallel to the clinical trial in St. Louis. Nevertheless, we still dont know whether Rebecca will see it through or return to her family. So stay tuned. The fifth season will be back sooner than you think. Read more: Wait, Did We Already See the This Is Us Season 5 Premiere? Today marks exactly five years when former President John Mahama announced that his government had begun constructing five new district hospitals within the country in order to improve access to quality health care for citizens. John Dramani made the announcement at the 39th Annual Congress of the Gonjaland Youth Association (GYA) at Buipe in the Northern Region. According to him, the government was working to position Buipe as the industrial hub of the northern sector of the country, which would have inland port for cargo and other services as part of his then governments transformation agenda. Read the original story published by GhanaWeb on April 6, 2015 President John Mahama has announced that the government has begun processes to construct five new district hospitals across the country, to improve access to health care for all. President Mahama, who announced this when he addressed the 39th Annual Congress of the Gonjaland Youth Association (GYA) at Buipe in the Northern Region on Saturday, said the government was currently working on funding for the take-off of the projects, which would be sited at Buipe, Bole, Yendi, Somanya and Wheta. This years Annual Congress of GYA, which brought together Gonjas to deliberate on issues affecting Gonjaland, was on the theme: Ensuring the Effective Management of Natural Resources in Gonjaland: The Role of the Gonjaland Youth Association. The President said the Buipe Hospital would have Accident and Trauma Centre to cater for accident victims along the Tamale Kintampo Road. President Mahama said, as part of its transformation agenda, the government was working to position Buipe as the industrial hub of the northern sector of the country, which would have inland port for cargo and other services. He said feasibility studies were on-going to establish sugar plantation and factory in the Northern Region, to produce sugar, and expressed optimism that through the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority, the North would be transformed into an economic hub producing its needs. He said the government was working on several important roads in the North, while others were being awarded on contract with the objective to open up the savannah region for agricultural production and investment. President Mahama gave the assurance that youth development would continue to remain at the centre of his administration, and urged the Youth to channel their energies into productive ventures for development. Yagbonwura Tuntumba Bore Essa, Overlord of the Gonja Traditional Area, whose speech was read on his behalf, called for unity amongst Gonjas, to accelerate the development of the area. Buipewura Jinapor the Second, Paramount Chief of the Buipe Traditional Area, whose speech was also read for him, urged the youth of Gonjaland to enhance their skills to remain relevant in the socio-economic march of the country. He pledged the support of traditional authorities in the area to the government, to ensure its development. Mr. Alhassan Dramani, President of GYA, emphasized the need for sustainable exploitation of natural resources in the Gonjaland for the benefit of all, as well as ensuring environmental sustainability. Mr. Dramani called for the harnessing of tourism potentials in the Gonjaland to create jobs for the Youth. He commended the government for initiating numerous development projects in the area, and appealed for more. Two pupils, who distinguished themselves in the previous Basic Education Certificate Examinations at Buipe, were awarded with computers, other educational materials and cash prizes. 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 Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-07 01:21:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), China has timely released information, shared epidemic control experience, and advanced international exchanges and cooperation. The country's efforts in the global fight against the coronavirus has been applauded and widely recognized by the international community. BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday released a detailed timeline of its response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), chronicling the main facts and measures it has taken in the global joint anti-virus efforts. The document, titled "Timeline of China releasing information on COVID-19 and advancing international cooperation on epidemic response," stressed China's timeliness, openness and transparency in notifying people at home and abroad in its fight against the coronavirus. The timeline, recording major events from late December 2019 to March 2020, offered a glimpse of how China has timely released information, shared experience, and advanced international exchanges and cooperation. The COVID-19 epidemic, a major public health emergency, has spread the fastest, caused the most extensive infections and been the hardest to contain since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the document said. With joint efforts of the whole nation, the positive trend in preventing and controlling the epidemic has been constantly consolidated and expanded in China, and the restoration of normal production and daily life has been quickened, according to the timeline. The timeline noted a "formidable challenge" to global public health security as the pandemic has been spreading rapidly in the world. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 has affected more than 200 countries and regions with over 1.13 million confirmed cases by Sunday. "Virus knows no national borders, and the epidemic distinguishes no races," the document said, adding only with solidarity and by cooperation can the international community prevail over the pandemic and safeguard the common homeland of humanity. By upholding the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, China has been timely releasing information on COVID-19 since the onset of the epidemic in an open, transparent and responsible manner, unreservedly sharing with the WHO and the international community its experience in epidemic response and medical treatment, and strengthening cooperation on scientific research, said the document. It has also provided assistance to all parties to the best of its ability, according to the document. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus gives a speech via video during a virtual Briefing on China's Experience on COVID-19 Response in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2020. (National Health Commission/Handout via Xinhua) INFORMING PUBLIC AT HOME According to the timeline, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission sent out an urgent notification to medical institutions under its jurisdiction on Dec. 30, 2019, about an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown cause in the city. Upon the report of the outbreak, the National Health Commission (NHC) dispatched a working group and an expert team to Wuhan to guide epidemic response and conduct on-site investigations. One day later, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission released its first briefing about the outbreak of pneumonia of unknown cause on its website, in which it confirmed 27 cases and told the public not to go to enclosed public places or gather. The public were also advised to wear face masks when going out, according to the timeline. Starting Dec. 31, 2019, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission released briefings on the pneumonia outbreak in accordance with the law, according to the timeline. The NHC started to update via its official website and its new media platform the epidemic information on a daily basis since Jan. 21 and had updated 71 times by March 31. SHARING INFORMATION GLOBALLY Since the outbreak, the Chinese government has released information about the epidemic in a timely, open, transparent and responsible manner, actively responded to concerns of all sides, and enhanced cooperation with the international community, the timeline noted. China's regular informing of the outbreak with the WHO, relevant countries and regions and China's Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan came on Jan. 3, 2020, according to the timeline. Also starting Jan. 3, China began to inform the United States of the pneumonia outbreak and response measures on a regular basis. On the same day when an expert evaluation team from the NHC initially identified a new coronavirus as the cause of the epidemic on Jan. 8, heads of China and U.S. CDCs talked over phone to discuss technological exchanges and cooperation. Starting on Feb. 3, the English official website of the NHC started to release epidemic information simultaneously, updating the data for 58 times by March 31. From Jan. 3 to Feb. 3, China had given the United States briefings on the epidemic information and control measures in China for 30 times, including sharing with U.S. CDC project manager in China information about China's diagnosis and treatment guidelines, prevention and control guidelines, and the linkage of the novel coronavirus database that China shares with the world in real time. Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke over phone about the epidemic with dozens of leaders of countries and regions as well as international organizations, including U.S. President Donald Trump and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. During a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Feb. 7, Xi said that with an open, transparent and responsible attitude, China has kept the WHO as well as relevant countries and regions, including the United States, posted on the epidemic, and invited WHO and other experts to conduct field visits in Wuhan. The NHC gave briefings on China's anti-epidemic efforts and measures at the first meeting of the APEC health working group on Feb. 8, according to the timeline. On Feb. 12, specialists from the NHC joined a China-EU teleconference on COVID-19 related technical exchanges, introducing the latest developments of the epidemic, prevention and control measures, and the situation of international cooperation. Starting Feb. 16, the China-WHO joint expert team, which consists of 25 experts from China, Germany, Japan, Republic of Korea (ROK), Nigeria, Russia, Singapore, the United States and WHO, conducted a nine-day field visit in China, inspecting cities including Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou and Wuhan. 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) Under China's joint prevention and control mechanism of the State Council, a press conference has been held every day since Jan. 27, updating data on a daily basis, including new confirmed cases, severe cases, deaths and suspected cases, and giving briefings on the country's measures to fight the epidemic and minimize its impact on social and economic development. By March 31, 65 such press conferences under the mechanism had been held, with officials of 69 departments having answered 779 questions raised by Chinese and foreign reporters at the conferences, according to the timeline. The NHC shared on Feb. 25 updated technical guidelines on COVID-19 response with a number of countries and regional organizations, according to the timeline. RESEARCH COOPERATION In the global fight against the coronavirus, China has attached great importance to the role of scientific research, with scientists releasing their latest research results of the new virus, according to the timeline. China has timely shared with the world the whole gene sequence, primers and probes of the coronavirus, and shared diagnosis and treatment guidelines and other technical documents with more than 100 countries and over 10 international and regional organizations around the world, according to the timeline. By carrying out timely technical exchanges with the international community, such as the WHO, the United States, and countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America, Chinese scientists and health experts worked with global peers to share their knowledge about the virus to help countries develop testing kits and adopt responsive measures. Lithuanian health officials and experts attend a video conference with Chinese health officials, experts and their counterparts from Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries in Vilnius, Lithuania, March 13, 2020. (Chinese Embassy in Lithuania/Handout via Xinhua) After the China CDC succeeded in isolating the first novel coronavirus strain on Jan. 7, an expert team from the NHC made public of the pathogen two days later, saying a new type of coronavirus was initially identified as the cause of the viral pneumonia in Wuhan. On Jan. 12, the China CDC, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and the Wuhan Institute of Virology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as designated agencies of the NHC, submitted to the WHO the genome sequence of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which was published by the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) and shared globally. A number of papers on the latest research results by the Chinese scientists and health specialists were published by the journals Nature, Science and other medical publications over the past three months, according to the timeline. As Chinese researchers and doctors deepened their understanding of the coronavirus, the NHC updated different versions of guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of the COVID-19 and shared them globally. ASSISTANCE TO OTHER COUNTRIES While 1.4 billion Chinese are pulling together to contain the COVID-19 domestically, China has also helped other countries fight the pandemic to the best of its capacity after it peaked at home, providing medical supplies or sending medical experts to other countries, according to the timeline. China announced a donation of 20 million U.S. dollars to the WHO on March 7 to support its international cooperation in the fight against COVID-19. A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said at a press conference in Beijing on March 8 that while overcoming its own difficulties, China is willing to provide masks and other medical protection materials to relevant countries to support them in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic. According to the timeline, the first batch of Chinese medical experts carrying China-assisted medical supplies arrived in Italy on March 12. More medical experts and supplies from China arrived in Italy later to help with its epidemic prevention and control efforts. Medical experts and supplies from China were also sent to countries such as Iran, Iraq, Serbia, Cambodia, Pakistan, Laos and Venezuela. Chinese medical experts share their experience in COVID-19 prevention and control with health experts and officials from Venezuelan Health Ministry, in Caracas, Venezuela, March 31, 2020. (Xinhua/Salgado) By March 31, the Chinese government had provided material assistance including medical masks, N95 masks, protective suits, nucleic acid testing reagent and ventilators to 120 countries and four international organizations, according to the document. In the meantime, local governments in China had donated medical supplies to more than 50 countries. And Chinese enterprises donated medical supplies to more than 100 countries and international organizations. GLOBAL RECOGNITION According to the timeline, the WHO released on Jan. 9 on its website a statement regarding a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, saying that preliminary identification of the novel coronavirus in a short period of time is a notable achievement. On Jan. 13, the WHO issued another statement on the discovery of the novel coronavirus cases in Thailand, pointing out that China's sharing of the genome sequence enabled more countries to quickly diagnose patients. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Jan. 24 thanked on social media the Chinese government for its cooperation and transparency, saying that the Chinese government has been successful in isolating and sequencing the virus very quickly and has shared that genetic sequence with the WHO and the international community. Apart from the WHO, a number of foreign leaders appreciated China's efforts in dealing with the COVID-19 in openness and transparency when they visited China or talked with Chinese leaders over phone. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany appreciates China's efforts to respond in a timely manner, stay open and transparent, and actively carry out international cooperation during a phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Jan. 22. On Feb. 24, the China-WHO joint expert team held a press conference in Beijing, at which the team members said China's unprecedented public health responses to the COVID-19 outbreak have yielded notable results in slowing the spread of the epidemic and blocking human-to-human transmission of the virus, preventing or at least delaying hundreds of thousands of cases. Enditem (Video editors: Li Zhihui, Xu Yang, Yu Guoqing, Yang Zhigang) (Newser) Two of the country's top health officials warned Sunday that the US is heading into a likely "shocking" week, possibly "the hardest and the saddest ... of most Americans' lives." President Trump echoed those words later Sunday, per CBS News, warning at a press conference, "The next week and a half, two weeks, I think they're going to be very difficult ... The US will reach a horrific point in terms of death, but it will be a point where things will start changing for the better." As for that glimmer of hope at the end of his sentence, there were indeed positive signs emerging both in the US and around the globe, even as the US saw one of its highest-yet daily death tolls at 1,212: Italy: The AFP reports Italy, which has the highest death toll of any country at 15,887, on Sunday saw its lowest daily death toll since March 19525. While that could be a sign the tide is turning, the civil protection service chief said, "This is good news but we should not let our guard down." story continues below Elsewhere in Europe: The death toll has been declining each day for three consecutive days in Spain; Sunday's number was 674. France saw its lowest daily death toll in a week. The death toll has been declining each day for three consecutive days in Spain; Sunday's number was 674. France saw its lowest daily death toll in a week. New York: The AP reports that 594 deaths were reported in New York on Sunday, down from 630 the day prior. That decrease, coupled with the fact that ICU admissions and intubations were also down and hospital discharge rates were up, could be a good sign, but officials were tempering expectations, with Gov. Andrew Cuomo warning it could simply be a "blip," per NPR. "We could either be very near the apex, or the apex could be a plateau and we could be on the plateau right now, Cuomo said. You cant do this day to day. You have to look at three or four days to see a pattern. The AP reports that 594 deaths were reported in New York on Sunday, down from 630 the day prior. That decrease, coupled with the fact that ICU admissions and intubations were also down and hospital discharge rates were up, could be a good sign, but officials were tempering expectations, with Gov. Andrew Cuomo warning it could simply be a "blip," per NPR. "We could either be very near the apex, or the apex could be a plateau and we could be on the plateau right now, Cuomo said. You cant do this day to day. You have to look at three or four days to see a pattern. New York City: NYC, specifically, also saw a slight dip in the daily death rate, and Mayor Bill de Blasio's comments on the matter echoed Cuomo's. "I see a few signs that are a little hopeful, for sure," he said. But I think its early to be able to declare [a turning point]. Lets hope and pray, but were not quite there yet. He added that the city's supply of ventilators had so far outlasted earlier projections, though thousands more are still needed. NYC, specifically, also saw a slight dip in the daily death rate, and Mayor Bill de Blasio's comments on the matter echoed Cuomo's. "I see a few signs that are a little hopeful, for sure," he said. But I think its early to be able to declare [a turning point]. Lets hope and pray, but were not quite there yet. He added that the city's supply of ventilators had so far outlasted earlier projections, though thousands more are still needed. Washington state: Speaking of ventilators, Washington, one of the first states in which an outbreak emerged, now says it is able to return more than 400 of the 500 ventilators it received from the federal government so they can be used in harder-hit states like New York. The infection and death rates have been slowing in Washington after the governor issued a stay-home order. The federal government and other states are also sending ventilators to New York, whose health care system continues to be overextended. Speaking of ventilators, Washington, one of the first states in which an outbreak emerged, now says it is able to return more than 400 of the 500 ventilators it received from the federal government so they can be used in harder-hit states like New York. The infection and death rates have been slowing in Washington after the governor issued a stay-home order. The federal government and other states are also sending ventilators to New York, whose health care system continues to be overextended. "Hopeful": US coronavirus czar Dr. Deborah Birx said it was "extraordinarily hopeful" to see the recent news coming out of Europe, indicating countries like Italy and Spain are "coming across their apex." She said she hoped to soon see a "stabilization" of cases in New York and other big cities in the US. (But we're not there yet, and Birx on Saturday warned that over the next two weeks, you should stay away from even grocery stores and pharmacies if possible .) When Mount Carmel Clinic needed extra volunteers during the pandemic, it wasnt long before it had a full roster. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/4/2020 (644 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion When Mount Carmel Clinic needed extra volunteers during the pandemic, it wasnt long before it had a full roster. In recent weeks, the downtown clinic, which provides a wide range of health services, has become a screening site for COVID-19. The clinic recruited volunteers to act as greeters and helpers to support staff members in making the clinic a warm and welcoming environment. Fenil Vekaria is one of those volunteers. The 19-year-old, who studies microbiology at the University of Manitoba, started looking for pandemic-related volunteer opportunities as soon as COVID-19 reached Winnipeg. "I wanted to help the health care workers in any way possible," says Vekaria, who plans to become a family doctor. During a typical four-hour shift at the clinic, Vekaria welcomes people, gives them hand sanitizer, reminds them to practise social distancing and guides them to where they need to go. Although hes been involved at the clinic for only two weeks, the experience has already made an impression on him. "Every day is a memorable day at Mount Carmel Clinic," Vekaria says. "Its amazing how everyone (on staff) is a family to each other and to the members of the community." Sherri Derksen started volunteering at the clinic around the same time as Vekaria. The 46-year-old, who is finishing a degree in social work at the U of M, describes herself as an extrovert who enjoys talking to people and giving back. "I just try to bring a little bit of brightness into this dark situation weve found ourselves in," she says. "Its healing for me and I hope its helpful for other people." Both Vekaria and Derksen have previous volunteer experience. When he isnt studying or working part time as a pharmacy technician, Vekaria volunteers with St. John Ambulance. He is also involved with Inclusion Winnipeg and the Canadian Cancer Society. "I would attribute all of my interest in volunteering to my parents," says Vekaria, who was born and raised in Surat, India. "They have always instilled in me the value that nothing makes you feel better than giving back to the community." Derksen started volunteering eight years ago as part of her recovery from substance abuse. She has chaired meetings for people in recovery and volunteered at treatment centres. Shes also helped out at places like the Elizabeth Fry Society of Manitoba and Siloam Mission. While she has felt a variety of emotions as a result of the pandemic, including fear and uncertainty, its been good to contribute at the clinic. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "In the recovery movement, a big model that we learn to work with is living one day at a time," Derksen says. "Thats how I choose to move forward in this (pandemic). Thats all I can do." The people who have stepped in to volunteer as greeters are filling a unique and challenging role, says Claire Friesen, community engagement co-ordinator at Mount Carmel Clinic. "I can only imagine how scary it is for people who are symptomatic, who believe that they might have the virus," Friesen says. "Our volunteers help make them less anxious. Theyre that friendly face that talks them through sanitizing their hands and waiting in line in a safe way." Having new volunteers get involved at the clinic has been amazing, she adds. "Its been a real joy to get to work with so many generous people," Friesen says. "They bring so much to the work were doing right now." If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com. The Strokes' vinyl copies of their new album, 'The New Abnormal', have been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The New York rockers will release the CD and cassette tapes of their first record since 2013's 'Comedown Machine' as planned on April 10, but the vinyl won't be dispatched until April 24, as a result of a production delay due to the COVID-19 crisis. Julian Casablancas and co sent an email to fans to let them know. They explained that "CD, cassette and merch orders currently remain unaffected and will ship as planned". But added that "delays with vinyl production" mean that "there will be a slight delay with dispatching your order". Meanwhile, Julian recently admitted the group didn't tour 'Comedown Machine' because of "conflict and fear" spreading among the band. The 'Last Nite' hitmaker admitted they "weren't in harmony" back then and didn't feel it was possible to promote the record. He confessed: "You know, maybe in a few years it really won't matter and I'll just say it ... I could explain it, it's not a big deal." The indie group felt like they were tied to a band that was "limiting to our personal lives" and that they had lost their "pure brotherly love" and all "musical inspiration". He continued: "I guess it's not that controversial, really. "There was conflict and there was fear and we got through it and we made records, but it wasn't, you know, out of pure brotherly love and musical inspiration." However, The Strokes - completed by Nick Valensi, Albert Hammond Jr., Nikolai Fraiture and Fabrizio Moretti - are looking to the future with the most excitement they've ever felt during their 22-year career. He said: "What we could do next excites me more than I have been excited in, I don't know, our whole career." The new album was recorded at Shangri-La Studios in Malibu and was produced by Rick Rubin. Photo: Unsplash You can leave your umbrella at home through Wednesday, but light snowfall is in the forecast for Denver later in the week, according to the seven-day forecast from drone-powered weather service Saildrone. The best chance of snow is predicted on Sunday at 58 percent, with the possibility of light snowfall of 0.44 inches. Also look for warm temperatures through Tuesday. The weather will bring a high temperature of 73 degrees today, then turn milder from Wednesday to Saturday. Winds are expected to climb up to 22 mph on Sunday, while today will be quieter with a top speed of just 11 mph. Skies will be partly cloudy through Tuesday and cloudy on Wednesday. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. It is unclear whether the funds will be restored as ordered by the court. In a March 3 letter, Turner told the judge the company has no office, cash or bank accounts and is permanently closed. He and Sheil should not have been named as parties in this case and we want the opportunity to defend ourselves but cannot afford a lawyer, Turner wrote. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Partly cloudy. High 8F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 5F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette speaks with journalists during a roundtable in Rio de Janeiro By Timothy Gardner WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette said on Monday that after speaking with the energy ministers of Saudi Arabia and Russia he believes the countries will cut oil output and end their war over market share this week. "They are going to get together later this week and hopefully end this disagreement that started perhaps two or three weeks ago," Brouillette told Fox Business Network. When asked if he believes major producers Russia and Saudi Arabia would agree to participate in an oil production cut of between 10% to 15% of global oil supply, he said, "yes, I do." Oil prices have plummeted as demand crumbled on global economic shutdowns during the coronavirus outbreak, and as Saudi Arabia and Russia have pumped oil flat out in a war for market share. [O/R] Oil prices fell sharply on Monday after Saudi Arabia and Russia delayed a meeting on oil markets. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, a group known as OPEC+, are now expected to meet on Thursday. President Donald Trump has said a deal could see cuts of 10% to 15% of global supply, although analysts say even such a huge reduction would not address the problem of global demand which has slumped as much as 30 million barrels per day during the coronavirus outbreak. Brouillette said the United States is encouraging Saudi Arabia, chair of the G20 this year, to convene a G20 energy ministerial meeting toward the end of the week "and I expect that that's going to happen." Brouillette spoke to Saudi counterpart Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman at the weekend, telling him the battle for market share has "major implications" for the United States and the world, the U.S. Energy Department said. Many highly leveraged U.S. shale drillers risk bankruptcies and oil workers face layoffs. Brouillette said some U.S. lawmakers saw Russia and Saudi Arabia's moves to boost output as "predatory." Story continues "Some saw the actions to increase production ... as a direct attack on the U.S. shale industry," Brouillette told Fox. Two Republican U.S. senators from energy producing states introduced in late March a bill requiring removal of all U.S. troops and equipment from Saudi Arabia including Patriot missiles and THAAD defense systems, but the legislation faces an uphill battle. Brouillette also said the U.S. energy industry will have to adjust accordingly to reduced demand from the coronavirus outbreak. (Reporting by Timothy Gardner, additional reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by David Goodman, Steve Orlofsky and David Gregorio) A vial of the investigational drug remdesivir is visually inspected at a Gilead manufacturing site in March 2020. (Gilead Sciences via AP) CCP Virus Patients Rush to Join Studies of Gilead Drug The new CCP virus made Dr. Jag Singh a patient at his own hospital. His alarm grew as he saw an X-ray of his pneumonia-choked lungs and colleagues asked his wishes about life support while wheeling him into Massachusetts Generals intensive care unit. When they offered him a chance to help test remdesivir, an experimental drug thats shown promise against some other CCP (Chinese Communist Party) viruses, it did not even cross my mind once to say no, said Singh, a heart specialist. CCP virus patients around the world have been rushing to join remdesivir studies that opened in hospitals in the last few weeks. Interest has been so great that the U.S. National Institutes of Health is expanding its study, which has nearly reached its initial goal of 440 patients. The drugs maker, California-based Gilead Sciences, is quickly ramping up its own studies, too. Rubber stoppers are placed onto filled vials of the investigational drug remdesivir at a Gilead manufacturing site in the United States, in March 2020. (Gilead Sciences via AP) I would enroll my family in a heartbeat if the need arose, said Dr. Libby Hohmann, who placed Singh and nearly 30 others in the NIH one at Mass General. To have no approved medicines for COVID-19 now is kind of terrifying, she said. For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, which can include fever and cough but sometimes pneumonia, requiring hospitalization. The risk of death is greater for older adults and people with other health problems. Remdesivir is given through an IV. Its designed to interfere with an enzyme that reproduces viral genetic material. In animal tests against SARS and MERS, diseases caused by similar viruses, the drug helped prevent infection and reduced the severity of symptoms when given early enough in the course of illness. Its farther along in testing than many other potential therapies and the current studies could lead to regulatory approval. Gilead has given remdesivir to more than 1,700 patients on a case-by-case emergency basis, but more people ultimately will be helped if the company does the needed studies to prove safety and effectiveness, chief executive Dan ODay wrote in a recent letter to the public. A researcher works on a vaccine against COVID-19 at the Copenhagens University research lab in Copenhagen, Denmark, on March 23, 2020. (Thibault Savary / AFP via Getty Images) Many people have reached out to Gilead to advocate for access to remdesivir on behalf of friends and loved ones. I can only imagine how it must feel to be in that situation, he wrote. We are taking the ethical, responsible approach. In another letter on April 4, ODay said the company has 1.5 million doses, which could mean more than 140,000 treatment courses, depending on how long treatment needs to last. The company is providing the drug for free for now and has set a goal of making 500,000 treatment courses by October and more than a million by the end of the year. Gilead supplied remdesivir for two studies in China expected to give results by the end of the month. It also launched two studies for hospitalized patients in the United States, Asia, Europe, and elsewhere. One in severely ill patients tests five versus 10 days of treatment. Another in moderately sick patients compares those two options to standard care alone. Theres so much anxiety about the disease that the patients are quite interested and no one offered the chance has refused, said Dr. Arun Sanyal, the study leader at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. The first patient he enrolled was a previously healthy middle-aged man who had an out-of-state visitor a few days before his symptoms began. What started as mild illness escalated to profound shortness of breath requiring supplemental oxygen. A woman arrives by ambulance to Wyckoff Hospital in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn in New York on April 5, 2020 . (Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images) At University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Dr. Grace McComsey has enrolled roughly half a dozen patients. Were seeing more and more younger people, like 30, really sick, she said. The NIH study is the most rigorous test. It compares remdesivir to placebo infusions, and neither patients nor doctors know who is getting what until the end of the study. Besides the United States, its open in Japan, Korea, and Singapore. In Chicago, an 89-year-old man was Northwestern Memorial Hospitals first participant and the family was very excited to have him included, said infectious diseases chief Dr. Babafemi Taiwo. At the University of California, Irvine, Dr. Alpesh Amin has enrolled several patients. All are getting standard care even if they wind up getting a placebo rather than remdesivir, Amin said. The Boston cardiologist, Singh, said he was willing to take that chance to advance science even if he personally winds up not benefiting. Hes now recovering at home after spending a week in the hospital. The word placebo freaks some people out, but rigorous testing is needed to avoid giving false hope or using something unsafe. Still, its tough to face patients with no proven therapy now, Hohmann said. The worst thing is seeing some really young people who are really, really sick, such as a 49-year-old man with three young children on life support, she said. Thats pretty awful. By Marilynn Marchione Epoch Times staff contributed to this report. A cruise ship that has accounted for a quarter of all COVID-19 deaths in Australia was allowed to dock near Sydney on Monday after 200 crew members began exhibiting coronavirus symptoms. The Ruby Princess berthed at Port Kembla, some 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of Sydney, after weeks stranded at sea to allow doctors to assess sick crew members and take the most serious cases ashore for medical treatment. The government last month allowed 2,700 passengers to walk off the Carnival Australia-owned vessel and return to their homes around the country -- despite a ban on cruise ships docking in Australia being announced just days earlier. Hundreds of passengers were later diagnosed with coronavirus and at least 10 have died, accounting for a quarter of Australia's death toll of 40. The country has recorded almost 6,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19. New South Wales police said the ship could remain at the port for up to 10 days to restock and refuel before departing Australian waters, but the crew would not be allowed to disembark unless it was an emergency. "The berthing will be conducted under strict health and biosecurity guidelines and will not pose a risk to employees at the port or the broader community," police said in a statement. Several crew members have already been taken to hospital in recent days. Police have launched a criminal investigation into Carnival Australia over the circumstances that led to thousands of passengers disembarking in mid-March despite some exhibiting flu-like symptoms. Police commissioner Mick Fuller said there were "unanswered questions" over whether Carnival had been transparent about passenger health and possibly breached biosecurity laws. The cruise liner Ruby Princess sits in the harbour in Port Kembla, 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of Sydney after coming in to refuel and restock The State Department of Health and Human Services is investigating a complaint regarding a Port Arthur senior that confirmed last week that one of its employees had tested positive for coronavirus. Assistant press officer Danielle Pestrikoff on Monday said the investigation into the complaint is ongoing but did not give more details about what the complaint was regarding. Results of the "regulatory investigation" will be releasable upon completion. Michelle Lair, VP of Clinical Services for Southwest LTC, which manages the Senior Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center, said the complaint was related to "infection control." "Protecting the health and safety of the people we serve is our top priority," Pestrikoff said in a Friday email in response to a question about whether an infection control survey being conducted was the result of the confirmed case. "This facility has been keeping us informed of its status and an HHSC survey team is actively investigating to assess its compliance with all relevant health and safety rules." >> Related: PA nursing home employee positive as coronavirus tally doubles from Friday Lair on Friday in a text message said the "state is surveying all facilities for infection control to check on policies and implementation." The company on March 30 was informed that one of its employees at the facility on Lamplighter Road tested positive for coronavirus and staff was notified on that day, Lair said at the time. She said the company is aware of the employee's work scheduled but would not make those details public to avoid identifying them. At the time, no residents within the facility had tested positive for COVID-19, she said. On Monday she said she cannot give information about any employees or staff and if they were tested. "what I can tell you is at this time we still have no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the facility," she said. This report will be updated. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Sunday morning on Fox News that a lack of a national strategy to fight the spread of COVID-19 could prolong the coronavirus outbreak and result in a higher death toll, "Not having a national strategy where there is one policy for the country, as opposed to patchwork, based on whomever the governor is, is something that I think is creating a more porous situation where COVID-19 will go longer and more people will get sick and, sadly, more lives will get lost, Whitmer told Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday. Whitmer went on to say that a prolonged pandemic will only further hurt the economy. President Donald Trump so far has resisted calls to issue a national stay-at-home order. The administration has issued social distancing guidelines. Nearly all U.S. governors have issued some form of statewide stay-at-home over the course of March to slow the spread of coronavirus and ease the strain on hospital capacity. CNN reported on Saturday that there are only eight governors who have not issued stay-at-home orders in their respective states. Whitmer has made a number of national media appearances amid the pandemic, at times criticizing Trumps response to the crisis, drawing his ire. Wallace asked Whitmer if any of her criticisms of Trump are politically motivated, as a potential running mate for Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden. The governor said she isnt playing politics and didnt ask to be thrust into the national spotlight. None of the comments that Ive made have been personal in nature, I dont do that kind of thing, Whitmer said of her criticisms. What I do, though, is I speak truth to power. Whitmer thanked Vice President Mike Pence for his help establishing an emergency field hospital in Detroit and said she was grateful that the federal government recently issued Michigan 300 ventilators. The governor ended the appearance with a call for more personal protective gear, or PPE. We desperately need PPE," she said. "Lives are on the line here. Michigan is a hot spot for the new coronavirus, and cases here continue to rise. State health officials on Sunday reported a total 15,718 cases in the state and 617 deaths. Most of Michigans cases are in Metro Detroit. 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: Kalamazoo tops 50 coronavirus cases DeVos Place eyed for temporary field hospital amid coronavirus pandemic Without coronavirus aid, point of no return looms for Michigan small businesses Sunday, April 5: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 09:35:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's Health Ministry said on Sunday the country's death toll from COVID-19 has climbed to 486 as 11,130 people tested positive to the coronavirus disease. In the past 24 hours, 54 patients died, up 12.5 percent compared with the day before, and 852 new infections were detected, placing the mortality rate at 4.4 percent, said the authorities. Southeast Brazil, the country's most populous region, registered 60 percent of the cases (6,678) and 72.2 percent of the deaths (351). The state with the largest caseload is Sao Paulo, the most populous and wealthiest in the country, with 4,620 cases and 275 deaths. It is followed by Rio de Janeiro, also in southeast Brazil, with 1,394 cases and 64 deaths. In Latin America, Brazil is hardest hit by the coronavirus, with authorities acknowledging that the actual number of infections could be much higher, since only seriously ill patients receive tests. Russian medical teams installed 20 ventilators on Monday at a field hospital set up by Italy's mountain infantry in coronavirus-hit Bergamo and planned to install 15 more. The field hospital, with 142 beds, will host the first patients from Monday and will be operated by 200 medical experts from Russia and Italy. The Russian mission to Italy began after President Vladimir Putin offered the aid in a telephone conversation with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on March 21. 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 could lead to death. FLINT, MI -- A registered nurse in the intensive care unit at McLaren Flint has died from complications related to COVID-19. Chad Grant, president and CEO of McLaren Flint, issued a statement Monday, April 6 on the death of Patrick Cain. It is with deep sadness that I share with you the loss of one of our own due to the coronavirus, said Grant. Our deepest sympathies go out to Patricks family, friends, and immediate co-workers during this incredibly difficult time. Photos began circulating over the weekend of people sending best wishes to Cain and hospital staff gathering outside to share their support to him from a distance. Grant also offered his recognition for the efforts of the team who cared for Patrick. Frontline health care workers here in Genesee County and around the world are courageously battling coronavirus and helping many to recover, he said. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of caregivers everywhere, some patients will succumb to the virus throughout this pandemic. The hospitals behavioral health team will be available to staff members coping with the loss. The loss of one of our own heroes is a tragic reminder of just how widespread the virus we are fighting has become, said Grant. Please continue to support and care for each other during these trying times. Genesee County reported 504 COVID-19 cases, per the latest update on Sunday, with 18 deaths. 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: Coronavirus cases climb in mid-Michigan, led by Genesee County Half of Genesee County coronavirus cases coming from Flint; race a factor, doctor says New map and list show coronavirus locations in Saginaw and Genesee counties Monday, April 6: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan A coalition of Kwara North Elders on Monday rejected the appointment of Muhammed Akanbi, a professor, as the new Vice-Chancellor of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete. The elders in a statement issued in Ilorin, described the decision of the state government to appoint Mr Akanbi as insensitive, claiming it is extremely against the principles of equity, justice and fairness in such a symbiotic and heterogeneous political entity like Kwara. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had on April 1 approved the appointment of Mr Akanbi in the statement issued by Saadat Moddibo-Kawu, the State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology. Mr Akanbi who hailed from Kwara Central is the son of the late Justice Mustapha Akanbi, a former President of Court of Appeal and the pioneer Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The statement, endorsed by prominent elders in Kwara North led by Shaba Lafiagi, a former governor and senator in the state, and Shehu Abdulrahman said that the zone was marginalised for the position. The entire people of the Kwara North Senatorial Zone in Nigeria and the diaspora have been much saddened by the appointment of Prof. Muhammed Mustapha Akanbi as the new Vice-Chancellor of the Kwara State University (KWASU). The appointment is quite nauseating and very insensitive because it goes extremely against the principles of equity, justice and fairness in a symbiotic and heterogeneous political entity like our beloved Kwara State. It is very timely for us to recall here that the fact that the Kwara State University was established with the resources of all sections of Kwara State is really never in doubt. Indeed, it is an undeniable fact that not until recently, our five local government areas that constitute the Kwara North Senatorial Zone contributed funds through monthly deductions from our monthly statutory allocations and internally generated revenue, not only for the establishment but also for the sustenance of the university, the statement read in part. It faulted the appointment as failing the norms and conventions in Nigerias socio-political engineering process of balancing the allocation of the resources and privileges derivable from common patrimony. This, it said, included sharing of political appointments and positions of influence in government amongst the three senatorial zones of each state like the federal government sharing among the six geopolitical zones. The situation, the elders said, was different in Kwara. Apart from the initial consideration in the three major positions where the governor came from Kwara Central; the Deputy Governor, Kwara South and the Speaker, Kwara North. The idea of sustaining that equilibrium in the interest of equity, justice and fairness has been jettisoned, with a clear disregard for the interest of the Kwara North Senatorial Zone, especially in the light of the subsequent appointments made since the advent of the present administration in the state. It cannot be argued or claimed that only professors from the Kwara Central Senatorial Zone are the only persons qualified for the position of the VC of KWASU. This claim could not stand as available facts disclosed that while the Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Mahmud Sakah (from Kwara North) came first in the interview conducted, Prof Muhammad Mustapha Akanbi who was just appointed came third! Although, it is understandable that Your Excellency as the Visitor to KWASU reserves the right to choose a qualified person for the position of VC of KWASU, however, the pledges and assurances Your Excellency gave to the people of Kwara North Senatorial Zone that you will arrest the marginalisation on all fronts that the senatorial zone has been suffering for decades coupled with the zoning principle would have been considered in your decision in the appointment of the VC for KWASU, the statement further quoted the elders. Other signatories to the statement are Timothy Saba, Alfa Shonga, S.Y. Haliru, M T Mamman, S Y Abdullahi, Mohammed Haruna, Tajudeen Abdulkadir, Umaru Shaaba, Mohamed Kudu and Kollo Rifun. Sule Ahman Patigi, Dabarako Mohammad, who is a former Head of Service in the state, Zubairu Rogun, Abdullahi Lade, Attahiru Manko and former Speaker Benjamin Yisa, among others, also signed the statement. NAN recalls that Kwara North Groups under the aegis of Coalition of Kwara North Groups (CKNG) had in a statement last week said that Mr AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq-led administration had marginalised the senatorial district in the appointment of aides. The CKNG in its analysis stated that Kwara Central had 16 appointees, Kwara South 10, while only three appointments were made from Kwara North. Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Concerned Stakeholders Forum in Kwara has dissociated itself from call for a review of appointment of Mr Akanbi as the new Vice of KWASU). The forum said this in a statement signed by the former Chief Press Secretary to former Senate President, Masjid Adebimpe, and former Commissioner for Special Duties in the state, AbdulRasaq Lawal, in Ilorin on Monday. Advertisements They said the state Chairman of the Party, Kola Shittu, was not speaking for the Party. We dissociate ourselves from the purported media reports credited to the state party chairman, Engr. Kola Shittu, calling for the review of the appointment of new KWASU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mohammed Olarongbe-Akanbi, the statement said. The party stakeholders forum described the controversial statement calling for review as self-serving and personal opinion of Mr Shittu. It said that there was no time the party held an executive meeting, nor any key stakeholders consultation, where a decision was reached calling for the review of the appointment of Mr Akanbi as the vice chancellor of KWASU. The party stakeholders maintained that the said statement was the imagination and opinion of an individual using his exalted position to seek cheap political relevance at the expense of party members who are the majority. The statement said, The purported press release was at the instance of the chairman alone, Mr Kola shittu, it does not have the support and endorsement of members of our great party. As party stakeholders, we would have ignored the report, but to put the record straight, PDP is an organised political party with a well-coordinated mechanism of addressing issues. The forum said as an opposition party, it has ways of assessing the government performance when it comes to serving the people as well as when it affects the wellbeing of the citizens. It is not for us to applaud or condemn the appointment of the government of the day. It is therefore suffice to say that the purported claim of Engr. Shittu was a misrepresentation of our party in the state, we thus, dissociate ourselves from the unofficial statement, the forum said. The new vice chancellor, who was former Director, School of Preliminary Studies, University of Ilorin, and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), succeeds the current vice chancellor of the University of Abuja, AbdulRasheed NaAllah, a professor, Mr Akanbi became the second vice chancellor of the university since its establishment in 2009. (NAN) (Natural News) Until even just a few days ago there were still many people in this country and around the world who stubbornly insisted that the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, was no more dangerous than the flu. They argued that governments were hyping the whole thing up and making people hysterical for no good reason. With each passing day, however, as desperate doctors beg people to stay home and the numbers continue to climb at an alarming rate, fewer and fewer people are making that ridiculous argument anymore. In just a few days, the number of COVID-19 patients in the United States has skyrocketed to just under 165,000, with over 800,000 people affected worldwide. At the same time, the number of people who have succumbed to the disease also continues to climb, and intensive care units in hospitals around the world are overflowing with a disaster of unprecedented proportions. And yet, there are still irresponsible people in virtually every country who continue to selfishly put the health of others at risk by refusing to self-isolate, even after they have been ordered to do so. One example of this is a 24-year-old man from Argentina who, instead of self-isolating after returning from a trip to the United States, as he was legally obligated to do, decided to go out and party with 100 other people. Just days later, he was diagnosed with COVID-19, and tragically his selfish actions resulted in at least 11 other people also being diagnosed with the disease. He now faces up to 15 years in prison for willfully spreading a contagious disease. (Related: Isolation, quarantine and social distancing Practice these essential strategies to stop the spread of coronavirus.) Dozens might be infected, and some could die As reported by the U.K.s Daily mail, Eric Torales could be facing a maximum of 15 years in prison for flagrantly disregarding Argentinas quarantine law and attending a birthday party with 100 other people on his return to Buenos Aires from the United States on March 13. The Mail reported: Eric Torales returned to Buenos Aires from the United States on March 13 and celebrated the 15th birthday bash of a family friend in the town of Moreno the following day. News outlet Todo Noticias reported that on March 19 Torales experienced respiratory issues, one of the symptoms associated with the deadly disease, and visited Clinica Adventista, where he was admitted and placed in the intensive care unit after he later tested positive for COVID-19. Among the 11 people who attended the party and subsequently tested positive for the coronavirus are two elderly people, aged 76 and 79, and the 15-year-old birthday girl herself. At least 20 other party-goers are also under observation as a precaution, and health officials have asked that any other people who interacted with Torales after his return to Argentina should contact them urgently. (Related: More than 8000 Californians under self-quarantine for coronavirus, almost none of them tested zero enforcement of voluntary quarantine measures medical INSANITY on parade.) The Mail reported further: Torales, who was ordered to turn in his passport, was placed under house arrest Wednesday after he was discharged from the hospital. He will only be allowed to leave the home for medical appointments. Prosecutors in the coming days will officially charge Torales with spreading a contagious disease. He could face three to 15 years in prison if he is found guilty of violating article 202 of the Penal Code. Lets hope that people around the globe will take note of this story and think twice before they, too, put the health of others at risk by thinking only of themselves. Stay informed, stay alive. Bookmark Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk TN.com.ar Dublin City Council has given the green light for an eight-storey, 144-bedroom hotel and a 69-unit build-to-rent shared co-living development in the Liberties area of Dublin. The council has given the go-ahead to TC Fumbally Properties for the plan at a junction which links New Row South with Mill Street, and Blackpitts with Ward's Hill, in spite of strong local opposition. In response to the D8 proposal, which includes a restaurant and co-working/artistic creative studios, more than 25 objections were lodged. Solidarity-People Before Profit TD Brid Smith was one of those to object. "There is too much temporary accommodation already operational, under construction or granted permission in the area, including hotels, apart-hotels and student accommodation which is actually out of reach for most students," Ms Smith said. She also hit out at the co-living aspect of the plan, calling the idea "completely unacceptable". "Just because this type of accommodation has been established in other cities or countries doesn't mean that it is a good idea," Ms Smith said. Glut Sinn Fein TD Aengus O Snodaigh also opposed the plan. "There is, I believe, already a glut of student co-living and other accommodation for a transient population in this area and more to come, and this is contrary to the local area plan," he said. Co-living company The Collective purchased the site from Oakmount, led by Paddy McKillen Jnr and Matt Ryan, for around 10.5m last year. Planning consultants for the scheme, John Spain & Associates, told the council that the site is an appropriate location for the co-living aspect of the plan as it is within the city centre and close to a number of employment hubs. They also said the plan will significantly improve an under-utilised site in a strategic inner city location. The council had put the plan on hold last year and asked the applicants to outline the justification for the shared living component of the plan. In response, the applicants said "there is research which demonstrates that shared accommodation is more affordable than renting a typical apartment". The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, on Monday extended the stay at home directive issued to civil servants in the state for an additional two weeks. Mr Ganduje gave the directive while receiving a progress report from the 40-member Kano COVID-19 fund raising committee under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University Kano, Muhammad Bello, and co-chair, Tajuddeen Dantata. The governor directed civil servants in the state to continue observing the stay-at-home order for another two weeks so as to avoid spread of the deadly coronavirus in the state. Mr Ganduje said that the extension became necessary following his determination to ensure that all proactive measures are put in place to avoid the outbreak. He also appealed to Kano residents to strictly adhere to directives from the federal ministry of health and the state government, especially observing social distance, washing hands regularly and staying at home order to avoid being infected. We are extending the stay-at-home break given to our workers in the state because it is evidently clear to all that Nigeria is still recording more cases, with the number of five deaths, the governor said. Mr Ganduje also maintained that the states closure of its boundaries remains in enforce, promising residents that his administration will do everything possible to combat the deadly virus in the state. The governor commended the committees work and assured that very soon it would start distributing relief items to 300,000 households and other special clusters like orphanage homes, as disclosed by the committee. He said he was satisfied with the distribution modalities proposed by the committee, and assured of his maximum support. While presenting the report, Mr Bello said the total cash at hand that was already in the committees bank account stands at N365 million. According to him, individuals, groups and corporate organisations have donated foodstuff, medical equipments, among others. Mr Bello revealed that Lebanese Community in Kano also donated foodstuff and other items worth over N1 million. He disclosed that other segments of the society that made their contributions include members of the National Assembly and their counterparts from the state assembly, commissioners, corporate bodies, business community, other philanthropists. The governor has also visited Sani Abacha Stadium where Dangote Foundation is constructing a 500-bedded isolation centre. The centre is already half way completed with the 250-bed male section completed. The remaining part of the 250 beds would be ready by Tuesday, the Project Manager of Dangote Foundation, Sanusi AbdulKadir, said. Mr Ganduje, who spoke while sitting on one of the beds, said I am not sitting on this bed because of any sickness. You all know that I am COVID-19 negative. I just want to feel the comfort Dangote Foundation has made for those who are found positive. Which we are praying not to have. Many had expected that rights and freedoms would be among the first victims of the coronavirus crisis in Turkey, as they have been in any other turmoil in the country. Indeed, health professionals disputing the official tally of coronavirus cases have faced probes or seen their social media accounts blocked, while journalists have landed in police custody for their coverage of the pandemic, including one already in prison, pending trial for a tweet lampooning a donation campaign launched by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Such incidents have hardly come as a surprise, but few could have foreseen the crisis that erupted last week. As Turkeys infection cases shot up, prompting tighter restrictions to contain the outbreak, the government barred opposition-held local administrations from raising funds to help those worst affected by the economic impact of the pandemic. While the move is alarming in terms of civil rights and freedoms, it also speaks volumes about Erdogans fears, the vicious circles squeezing Turkish politics and what could be in store down the road. Underlying the crisis is the debacle that Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) suffered in last years local elections. The opposition won the mayoral races in Turkeys main urban centers, including Ankara and Istanbul, dealing Erdogan the biggest setback in his political career. The loss of Istanbul, where Erdogan served as a mayor in the 1990s, was especially hard to swallow for the president, who forced a rerun of the vote, only to see his candidate lose with a bigger margin. Since then, Erdogan has sought to restrict the powers of local administrations in big cities, while the highly popular mayors of Ankara and Istanbul both members of the main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) have often found themselves in the squeeze of AKP-dominated municipal assemblies. And now the government appears very much irked by the rising profiles of the Ankara and Istanbul mayors, who have actively sought to assist citizens amid the pandemic, including through donation campaigns to support the poor and small tradesmen forced out of business. Their fundraisers, however, could last only a few days. On March 31, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu barred local administrations from fundraising unless authorized by Ankara-appointed governors, a day after Erdogan announced his own nationwide campaign to collect donations from the public. As a result, banks blocked the fundraising accounts of municipalities. Soylu argued that unauthorized fundraising by local administrations would mean that they seek a different state and a [separate] government, while Erdogan said that would amount to a state within a state. Such arguments are devoid of legal basis, and the freezing of municipality accounts is a flagrant breach of the law. In democratic countries, people are free to donate to individuals and institutions of their choice, barring any clear prohibitions in the law. Article 15 of Turkeys Municipality Law openly authorizes municipalities to borrow and accept donations. The law was passed by the AKP itself in 2005, when Erdogan was prime minister. Moreover, not only opposition-held municipalities, but also local administrations run by the AKP as well as various Islamic communities, including groups close to Erdogan, had launched fundraisers in various provinces across the country. Obviously, the ban was deemed necessary at the expense of misconstruing the law when the opposition mayors embarked on collecting donations from the public. But why? To start with, power in Turkey has been concentrated in the hands of a single individual: the president. So, if the people need assistance or some other form of benevolence, only the omnipotent president is supposed to deliver it. The medical aid that Turkey sent last week to Spain and Italy, the epicenters of the pandemic in Europe, offered ample illustration of how power has become personalized in Turkey. The boxes bore labels identifying the sender as the presidency of the Republic of Turkey the first time that a state-to-state shipment by Ankara was labeled as such rather than simply the Republic of Turkey. Looking from another perspective, Erdogan appears bent on his policy of polarization, even in such grave times of crisis. The assistance that the CHP-run Ankara and Istanbul municipalities have extended to the needy many of them AKP voters has helped foster a spirit of solidarity in a society that has long been polarized over faith and political affiliations. But a Turkey free from divisions between the secular and the pious or the conservative and the modern must be looking threatening to populist politics. Also, the CHP mayors efforts to reach out to citizens in bad straits and raise funds for the needy challenge Erdogans long-standing narrative that the secularist CHP is an elitist party, aloof from the people and inept in serving them, unlike the AKP, which he frames as the true representative of the devout masses and national values. A striking example of how far such dichotomies have gone could be seen in a guidebook on psychological support for schoolchildren, which made the headlines in January after being distributed to school counselors across the country by the Education Ministry. In the book, affectionate mothers and other females representing good behavior are all depicted as veiled women, while bad behaviors, including the abuse of children, are visualized in women without headscarves. The socially-minded efforts of opposition mayors are obviously a threat to this image of good and bad that is being fed to the public. Yet Erdogans onslaught on the municipalities carries a serious potential to backfire. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas have both vowed to sustain their assistance efforts despite the freezing of donation accounts. By impeding citizens volunteering to donate to their municipalities to help fellow townsmen in need, Erdogan might end up boosting the popularity of the mayors, just as his refusal to concede defeat in Istanbul last year led him to face a bigger defeat in the rerun. Moreover, reports abound that Erdogans own donation campaign has effectively become compulsory for many public servants at the behest of superiors eager to please the government. The Trade Union of Education and Science Laborers, for instance, said that many teachers have been forced to donate, while some muftis, who head the provincial branches of the Religious Affairs Directorate, have reportedly asked staff to present bank receipts to attest their donations. For the first time perhaps, Erdogan and his government appear to have fallen behind in steering the agenda, trying to react to others who have set the tone. Moreover, their way of reacting has involved naked coercion in the glare of the public eye. The coronavirus crisis could further deepen the political crisis that Erdogan has been undergoing for some time and lead to developments jolting the power balance in Turkish politics. On March 31, a source within Yemens Health Ministry accused militants loyal to the United Arab Emirates-aligned Southern Transitional Council of stealing nine ambulances provided by the World Health Organization to fight COVID-19. Southern Transitional Council official spokesman Nizar Haitham denied these allegations to Al-Monitor, emphasizing the councils cooperation with the UN health agency and the Yemeni Ministry of Health against the threat of the novel coronavirus. Nonetheless, the episode reflected the recent upsurge in hostilities between the Yemeni government and the council. The escalation of intra-coalitional tensions in southern Yemen was triggered by Saudi Arabias alleged involvement in blocking four Southern Transitional Council officials from returning to Aden for political negotiations March 13. This incident caused the council to warn of negative consequences for Yemens peace process and revealed Saudi Arabias frustrations with the UAEs last-minute correspondence with Riyadh about the planned return of council officials from Jordan. Clashes erupted between the council and Yemeni government forces March 20, and on April 1, Saudi Arabia expanded its deployments of elite forces in Aden to guard against future hostilities instigated by the council. Escalating frictions between Yemeni government forces and the council have sparked concerns that November's Riyadh Agreement, which united both factions into a governing coalition, could collapse. Nadwa al-Dawsari, a nonresident expert at the Middle East Institute, told Al-Monitor that the Riyadh Agreement will likely inevitably fail as both sides who signed onto it walked away with very different interpretations of the agreement and that was never addressed. The Southern Transitional Councils interpretation of the Riyadh Agreement includes the belief that it should pursue self-determination or outright independence if popular support aligns with these views. Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi disagrees with this perspective, as he emphasized the inviolability of Yemens unity in a December statement and stated his preference for a federal structure in Yemen. In addition to the ambiguities within the Riyadh Agreement, deep-seated distrust between the Southern Transitional Council and the Hadi government has posed a major stumbling block to peace in southern Yemen. Southern Transitional Council-aligned officials continue to depict the Hadi government as a proxy of the Muslim Brotherhood, and Ahmed Omar bin Fareed, the Southern Transitional Council representative in Europe, recently asserted that al-Islah, Yemens Muslim Brotherhood movement, is aligned with the Houthis. Yemeni government officials also remain deeply divided on how to handle the council. Ayad Qassem, the editor-in-chief of South 24 News, told Al-Monitor that the Hadi government is divided into two factions. The first wing, which is funded by Qatar, seeks to control the south and crush the separatists, but the second wing, which is controlled by Saudi Arabia, prefers to deal positively with the Southern Transitional Council. These divisions noted by Qassem are causing the Yemeni government to vacillate between engagement and provocation of the council, undercutting its ability to live up to its Riyadh Agreement commitments. The UAEs geopolitical ambitions in southern Yemen, which include establishing economic hegemony over Aden and bridging its Red Sea presence in Yemen with its spheres of influence in the Horn of Africa, also impede the implementation of the Riyadh Agreement. The UAEs footprint is particularly visible in the clashes in Socotra, as Yemeni security forces recently seized arms caches from an Emirati humanitarian ship, and Emirates airline has reportedly continued flights to Socotra despite the COVID-19 pandemic. In the rest of southern Yemen, the UAE completed its withdrawal in February, but Qassem noted that Abu Dhabi has not severed contact with its allies in the south. As Saudi Arabia is preoccupied with containing Houthi belligerence on its borders, Riyadhs ability to rein in the UAEs ambitions in southern Yemen is constrained. Dawsari, noting this limitation, said, Saudi Arabia has not used enough of its leverage on both sides to force them to comply with the Riyadh Agreement. In spite of these countervailing pressures, the Riyadh Agreement might survive in the short term due to Saudi and UAE unwillingness to risk a major rupture in their alliance, and the Yemeni government and the Southern Transitional Councils common opposition to the Houthis. Although the UAEs strengthened relationship with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, unilateral dialogue with Iran and opposition to Hadi and al-Islah have fomented genuine frictions in its alliance with Saudi Arabia, COVID-19 and the crisis in world oil markets have underscored the need for a cohesive Saudi-UAE alliance. When disagreements over Yemen have flared up, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans close personal relationship with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has prevented a breakdown of the Riyadh Agreement, and a descent into a Saudi-UAE proxy war in Yemen. The growing belligerence of the Houthis in southern Yemen could also help paper over the cracks between Hadis coalition and the Southern Transitional Council. Houthi assertiveness has been particularly impactful in southwestern Yemens Dhale province, as the Houthis launched missile strikes on a Security Belt Forces military parade Dec. 29 in Ad-Dali, the provincial capital (the Security Belt Forces are a UAE-backed separatist group). Five Houthis were later killed in a retaliatory Yemeni army bombing in western Dhale on Jan. 15. The Houthis have also stepped up their military campaign in Abyan, where a missile attack killed three Yemeni soldiers at a government army base Feb. 12. As the Houthis achieve notable military successes in northern Yemen, this trend is likely to continue. Fatima Alasrar, a nonresident expert at the Middle East Institute, told Al-Monitor that the Houthis will intensify their expansionist ambitions in southern Yemen in an attempt to hand Iran access to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This prospect should lead to anti-Houthi solidarity between the Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which could extend in a limited fashion to the Hadi government and the Southern Transitional Council. Nevertheless, Alasrar said, Some powerful elements in the Muslim Brotherhood may see it better to ally with the Houthis than divide the country. Although the United Nations has urged Yemeni factions to lay down their arms and focus on the struggle against COVID-19, southern Yemen remains a major nexus of instability. The Riyadh Agreements fragility has been laid bare by recent events, but its imminent collapse could be staved off by the desire of both Saudi Arabia and the UAE to preserve their alliance, and by the growing momentum of Houthi forces on the battlefield. jarun011/iStock(NEW YORK) -- Longtime ABC News Correspondent Bob Woodruffs 28 year-old son, Mack, has been diagnosed with COVID-19. He believes he came down with the virus while traveling from Europe to Sydney, Australia, while on a film project. Bob Woodruff spoke to his son about what he saw countries doing as the virus continued to spread across borders. "Traveling from France to Switzerland was not an issue. I think if you are traveling on the other side of the border, Italy's border with Switzerland, it was a huge issue," Mack said. Mack says he may have caught the virus while at a dinner gathering with a large group of people while restaurants and bars were packed to enjoy their last day open for what they would anticipate to be the next four to five months. During this time, however, Europe was peaking -- although people didnt seem to be too concerned, according to Mack. Parties and gatherings were in full swing as French President Emmanuel Macron appeared on television to announce all non-essential businesses would be shut down. So when the guy sitting next to me ordered a cheeseburger, the waiter came and said, this is probably going to be the last cheeseburger served in this town for six months," Mack shared. The following day, Mack got on his flight to Sydney. "My chances of being infected in those airports, Geneva and Dubai and Sydney, the only other places I can think that it could have happened," Mack said. When the plane landed in Sydney, an announcement came over the speaker as they taxied to the gate explaining that the health organization would board the plane and hand out flyers. "I believe it was a guy and a girl came onto the flight dressed pretty much in a full hazmat suit. They had face masks, and they handed out flyers about what you should be doing during the first two weeks that you are back in Australia. Self-quarantine is a mandatory 14-day quarantine. You can't go outside. If you do, you have to wear a mask, but only for mandatory activities," Mack explains. Assuming his headaches were caused by jetlag, Mack overlooked the novel coronavirus symptom. Not until he had a loss of smell and taste did he come to the conclusion that he may be infected with COVID-19. "I've lost my sense of taste before, but never to this extent. Still to this day, I could bite into a chocolate bar and bite into a lemon and I don't decipher any difference in taste," Mack says. Staying in good spirits though, he jokes about his fathers food saying, now I can finally eat [his] cooking." The road to recovery is tough but a big relief when its possible. Those recovering look forward to the simple pleasures in life -- for some it's the sunshine touching their face again or, in Mack's case, enjoying cookies. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. [April 06, 2020] Confluent Delivers Fastest Route to Achieving Real-Time, Event-Driven Applications for Google Cloud Customers Confluent, Inc., the event streaming platform pioneer, announced today achievements from its strategic partnership with Google (News - Alert) Cloud, including being named Google Cloud Technology Partner of the Year for Smart Analytics. This recognition comes as an influx of organizations leverage event streaming for mission-critical use cases running on Google Cloud, including microservices, machine learning, image processing and real-time data pipelines. Since the launch of their strategic partnership, Confluent aimed to deliver the quickest way for organizations to build, deploy and scale event-driven applications on Google Cloud. As a result, the number of Confluent customers deployed on Google Cloud has increased more than tenfold year over year. "We're proud to recognize Confluent as our Technology Partner of the Year for Smart Analytics," said Kevin Ichhpurani, corporate Vice President, Global Ecosystem at Google Cloud. "Confluent on Google Cloud enables customers to quickly and easily build event-driven applications, with powerful analytics capabilities, from the ground-up. Organizations are increasingly turning to Confluent on Google Cloud to build and run their core IT architectures, and we look forward to partnering with Confluent to help them do so." Consumers have incredibly high expectations for applications today. Gone are the days of monolith applications built on batch data dumps. Now, consumers expect applications to quickly accommodate their rapidly changing demands. This requires applications to be built with intelligence and automation to adapt to the context of the moment. To gain this level of flexibility and agility, many organizations are turning to public clouds and open source event streaming solutions like Apache Kafka. However, streaming data at scale and in real time can be challenging, especially for organizations sitting on decades of data and complicated architectures. "Across every industry, organizations are adopting cloud technologies to achieve the business agility and flexibility needed to succeed," said Simon Hayes, Vice President, Corporate and Business Development at Confluent. "Businesses are looking for ways to harness the vast amounts of critical data in their legacy systems to fuel the next generation of applications built with those cloud tools. Through a strong, strategic partnership with Google Cloud, we've built a persistent bridge to cloud for data to span traditional applications and cloud-native environments. Now, organizations can rapidly build game-changing applications that are powered by Confluent's real-time streaming dta and the intelligence of Google Cloud's powerful analytics and machine learning tools." As a company built and operated by the original creators of Kafka, Confluent is dedicated to enabling any organization to harness the full power of event streaming. For Google Cloud customers who lack the size, skills or budget required to run Kafka clusters, they have the option to leverage Confluent's fully managed Kafka as a service. With Confluent Cloud on Google Cloud Platform, teams don't have to deal with the burdens of managing and securing underlying Kafka infrastructure. This frees them up to focus on building real-time big data pipelines that can easily scale and be used for applications in machine learning, IoT and across multi-cloud use cases. Since Confluent and Google Cloud established a strategic partnership last year, they have focused on deepening their joint capabilities to provide a fast, frictionless way to build event-driven applications. The Only Fully Managed Kafka Service Now Natively Available in the Google Cloud Console To gain the scalability and performance critical workloads demand, many developers, operators and architects have made Kafka and cloud platforms essential to their technology stacks. However, as use cases grow and become more complex, the more time teams need to spend on managing Kafka clusters, cloud costs and other operational burdens. To solve this issue for Google Cloud users, Confluent made Confluent Cloud, its fully managed Kafka service, available on the GCP Marketplace with a cloud-native experience. Now, Google Cloud users have the quickest route to event streaming right from the Google Cloud Console and GCP Marketplace. Google Cloud customers now benefit from a simplified, frictionless experience by leveraging their existing billing service on Google Cloud and using Google Cloud credits on Confluent Cloud. And with consumption-based billing for Confluent Cloud on Google Cloud, pricing is simply based on data that is in use. New Managed Kafka Connectors Offload Operational Burden of Streaming Data In and Out of the Google Cloud Ecosystem Developing ways to connect an event streaming platform to various sources and sinks is a time consuming task given the initial build, ongoing fixes and maintenance. To further enhance productivity for Kafka developers, Confluent works closely with its technology partners to launch supported connectors that easily get data in and out of Kafka. In partnership with Google Cloud, Confluent built fully managed connectors for Google Cloud Storage and Google Cloud's serverless data warehouse BigQuery (preview). These are also available as self-managed connectors in Confluent Platform along with Google Cloud BigTable, Functions, Spanner, Dataproc, Firebase Realtime and over 100 total connectors. This significantly speeds up the process of delivering event-driven applications. Supporting Customer Quotes "As the largest bank in Indonesia, we rely on Confluent Cloud and Google Cloud to build and deploy real-time, event-driven systems that beat out the competition in terms of reliability, security and customer satisfaction. With Confluent and Google Cloud, we're able to harness the agility of public cloud while maintaining our production levels on premises." -Kaspar Situmorang, Executive Vice President at Bank Rakyat Indonesia "Event streaming in the cloud has been central to our initiative to launch a data fabric platform at Intrado (News - Alert). Confluent and Google Cloud have enabled us to build a real-time, centralized, conference-mixing platform and hub that are critical to ensuring uninterrupted, high quality streaming conference services to our customers. Confluent and Google Cloud have made it possible to centralize data from all over the world and build a scalable, network latency sensitive and reliable platform." - Thomas Squeo, CTO, Intrado "My small team has the large responsibility of managing the data infrastructure underpinning Unity's development platform that powers more than 50 percent of all new mobile games. We chose to build our data infrastructure on Confluent Platform, Apache Kafka, and Google Cloud Platform to reliably handle half a million events per second with zero outages and support our move to becoming an agile, data-driven company." - Oguz Kayral, Engineering Manager, Data Platform, Unity About Confluent Confluent, founded by the original creators of Apache Kafka, pioneered the enterprise-ready event streaming platform. With Confluent, organizations benefit from the first event streaming platform built for the enterprise with the ease of use, scalability, security and flexibility required by the most discerning global companies to run their business in real time. Companies leading their respective industries have realized success with this new platform paradigm to transform their architectures to streaming from batch processing, spanning on-premises and multi-cloud environments. Backed by Benchmark, Index Ventures and Sequoia Capital (News - Alert), Confluent is headquartered in Mountain View and London, with offices globally. To learn more, please visit www.confluent.io. Download Confluent Platform and Confluent Cloud at www.confluent.io/download. Confluent and associated marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Confluent, Inc. Apache and Apache Kafka are either registered trademarks or trademarks of the Apache Software Foundation in the United States and/or other countries. No endorsement by the Apache Software Foundation is implied by the use of these marks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005230/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Srinagar, April 6 : Five army soldiers and five terrorists were killed in Sunday's gunfight on the LoC, in this year's bloodiest gunfight in any operation against the terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir. Defence sources said while one soldier and five terrorists were killed on Sunday in the LoC gunfight in Keran sector of J&K, four injured soldiers succumbed in the hospital late last evening. The terrorists had attempted to exploit inclement weather as it was snowing since the last two days. "At first light on April 5, one squad of soldiers, following the footsteps on the snow failed to realise that they were on a cornice...It broke...They fell into the nallah. As luck would have it, where they fell, the terrorists were sitting right there. It led to a firefight/Close Quarter Battle at virtually point blank range," an Army statement said. "Due to superior training standards of the Army team, inspite of the fall, all five terrorists killed... However, complete squad, five in all, were killed in action." The operation to flush out any hiding terrorists in the densely forested area is still going on, but so far there has been no further exchange of fire between the combing army personnel and the militants. The five martyred soldiers have been identified as - Sub Sanjeev Kumar, Hav. Davendra Singh, Sepoy Bal Krishan, Sepoy Amit Kumar and Sepoy Chhatrapal Singh. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed (Bloomberg) -- Britain is facing a new leadership crisis at its most vulnerable moment in decades. With the worst of the coronavirus outbreak expected to hit the country in the next 7-10 days, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been hospitalized for what Downing Street has characterized as precautionary tests. Since testing positive for the virus on March 26, the 55-year-old Johnson has recorded a succession of selfie videos from his apartment, designed to prove hes still in charge. But the shaky footage showed a visibly unwell leader who sounded short of breath and who still cant shake off the symptoms, including a fever. Now Johnson is handing over key duties to his untested deputy, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who will chair the daily crisis meetings. This has its own risks. Raab, along with other senior ministers including Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove, stood against Johnson for the Conservative Party leadership last year. Behind the scenes, officials squabble over what to do next as the U.K.s strategy comes under pressure. Critics say Johnson, like U.S. President Donald Trump, didnt move quickly enough and prevaricated over how intense a lockdown should be, a gamble that risks worsening the viruss impact. Queen Elizabeth II stepped in last night with a rare televised address to the nation, appealing for the unity and resolve it showed during World War II. Yet what the country needs now is a leader with a strong enough grip on the government machine to deal with the emergency. Global Headlines Worst week | The U.S. Surgeon General said this week would be the hardest and the saddest for Americans, likening it to the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor and 9/11 attacks. While Trump said there are signs the U.S. outbreak is beginning to stabilize, the governor of the countrys epicenter, New York, warned a day-to-day reduction in deaths there could be just a blip. Europes four worst-hit countries reported a slower pace of coronavirus deaths. Story continues Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe proposed an emergency declaration for Tokyo and Osaka after cases in the capital jumped over the weekend to surpass 1,000. Click here to read how negotiations over the next round of U.S. stimulus are already devolving into partisan bickering and here for details on how to access aid already in the pipeline. Masks fight | The race to secure masks, ventilators, gloves and medicines is seeing disputes break out between countries. It shows how vulnerable the trade in medical supplies (a $597 billion industry) is to unilateral action by individual nations. As Alan Crawford writes, its also happening in a climate of distrust as Trump pushes his America First agenda, which has seen him criticize global institutions as well as longstanding U.S. allies like Germany and France. Wuhans opening | The initial epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic will finally begin to emerge this week from the worlds first widespread lockdown. Our reporters on the ground explain how Wuhans tentative recovery after suffering more than half of Chinas confirmed cases and deaths could provide one of the first glimpses at how a major metropolis comes back from a drastic Covid-19 shutdown. Oil wrangling | Saudi Arabia, Russia and other oil producers are racing to negotiate a deal to stem the recent price crash. While diplomats say some progress has been made they face big obstacles: A meeting of producers from OPEC+ and beyond has been delayed until Thursday and Trump has shown little willingness for the U.S. to join output cuts. Oil futures erased an initial 11% loss as Trump said he didnt think hed need to use tariffs to get Saudi Arabia and Russia to reach a deal. Pandemic power | Viktor Orban was Hungarys firebrand champion of democracy when the Iron Curtain fell in 1989, the liberal student leader who told the Russians to go home. But as Zoltan Simon, Ian Wishart and Arne Delfs report, as prime minister three decades later he just called into question whether his country is a democracy at all. What to Watch This Week Euro-area finance ministry officials speak today on options for mitigating the economic hit from the pandemic. Theyll be followed by finance ministers tomorrow. Its possible leaders will speak later this week to sign off on a plan. Republicans are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to block the extension of absentee voting in tomorrows presidential primary in Wisconsin, where the Democratic governor issued a stay-at-home order because of the virus. The EU plans to impose tariffs on lighters and plastic fittings from the U.S. in retaliation over American duties on imported steel and aluminum. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador pledged to boost public works projects and low-interest loans to soften the outbreak blow but ruled out more significant stimulus, sending the peso tumbling. Israeli lawmaker Benny Gantz told President Reuven Rivlin he may need to seek an extension beyond April 13 as he tries to build a coalition government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Likud and aligned parties. Thanks to all who responded to our pop quiz Friday and congratulations to Raphael Muchunu Mwangi, the winner for the second week in row after he identified Ethiopia as the first country in Africa to suspend a national election due to the pandemic. He was just ahead of Daniel Bleiberg. Tell us how were doing or what were missing at balancepower@bloomberg.net. And finally ... From her home window, Belinda Constant, mayor of Gretna, Louisiana, watches the mighty Mississippi flow by. Beyond it are the sparkling lights of New Orleans. She views both warily these days. The Big Easy is a coronavirus hot spot, while the Mississippi has risen more than a foot in the past week, triggering emergency flood measures. And the rains keep coming. 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. Amitabh Bachchan has once again made it to the headlines for sharing yet another controversial tweet that has now been deemed fake. This is not the first time Big B is getting trolled for sharing fake information or updates. Earlier, the veteran actor claimed that rising the decibel levels would destroy the effect of coronavirus as we all banged utensils as a part of #JantaCurfew. Not only that, but Amitabh Bachchan also tweeted that the contagious virus is caused by flies. Now, Amitabh Bachchan is facing a major outrage on social media as he quote-retweeted a picture, which claimed to be a satellite photo of India during the #9pm9minutes activity. The World sees us .. we are ONE .. https://t.co/68k9NagfkI Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) April 5, 2020 A little research on the Internet revealed how the picture Big B shared was not a satellite photo of India during the #9pm9minutes act on Sunday, but, a photoshopped image of Google's visualisation of the global effects of the #MeToo movement that showed all of India brightly lit up. To nobody's surprise, soon after this tweet was made live by Amitabh Bachchan netizens started trolling him for sharing another "fake WhatsApp forward" on social media. Whatsapp ruined the celebs by unmasking them and exposing their superlative levels of stupidity Vinay Kumar Dokania | (@VinayDokania) April 5, 2020 setting > app manager > WhatApp. uske baad ye right wale option pe click kar dena pic.twitter.com/rnqljJy7uJ Self Isolated Sunil (@1sInto2s) April 5, 2020 And this is FAKE, sojao sir Salman Nizami (@SalmanNizami_) April 5, 2020 And the #KingOfFakeNews is back appreciating a Whatsapp forward. Request @TwitterIndia to suspend him and save us the daily embarrassment. Rofl Republic (@i_theindian) April 5, 2020 From being a national pride to becoming a national embarassment - the slide was quick and brutal. Just retire, dude @SrBachchan Quarantined Chirpy (@IndianPrism) April 5, 2020 While trolls do tend to get a little harsh and personal, the bigger reality is that fake news is not only circulated but widely read and that is why we all need to come together to curb the spread of fake news. Always get updates from credible sources and do carry out a little search before posting something. Larrysartworld.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 15 Jul 2014, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the larrysartworld homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if larrysartworld has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the larrysartworld homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. The total number of people who shared the larrysartworld homepage on StumbleUpon. The total number of people who shared the larrysartworld homepage on Delicious. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the larrysartworld homepage on Twitter + the total number of larrysartworld followers (if larrysartworld has a Twitter account). Basic Information PAGE TITLE larrysartworld DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The title found in the head section of the homepage. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. Domain and Server DOCTYPE HTML 5.0 CHARSET AND LANGUAGE UTF-8 DETECTED LANGUAGE Italian Italian SERVER public.app34.aus OPERATIVE SYSTEM Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) The language of larrysartworld.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Character set and language of the site. Type of server and offered services. Operative System running on the server. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for larrysartworld.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The type of Facebook page. The URL of the found Facebook page. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND KYODO NEWS - Apr 6, 2020 - 21:08 | All, Japan, Coronavirus Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday he plans to declare a state of emergency as early as Tuesday in Tokyo and six other prefectures over the coronavirus outbreak amid emerging signs of widespread infections across Japan. Abe has faced increasing calls from local governors and doctors to issue a state of emergency due to fears an explosive spike in infections would strain the health care system further. The declaration, which will be effective until May 6, will cover Tokyo and the neighboring prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa and Saitama, as well as Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka. "I will issue a state of emergency as early as tomorrow after seeking opinions from the advisory panel," Abe told reporters at the prime minister's office. "Even if such a declaration is made, we will not implement the kind of a lockdown seen overseas," he said. Under the Japanese law, citywide lockdowns, as seen in other countries hit hard by the coronavirus like China and France, cannot be enforced. The declaration would still restrict people's freedoms. Abe is scheduled to hold a press conference to explain his decision at 7 p.m. Tuesday, his office said. Once a state of emergency is declared, prefectural governors can urge local residents to stay at home and restrict the use of schools and other facilities to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. But people will not be punished if they do not fall into line, and business activity cannot be banned. The declaration, under a recently amended law, will come as Japan seeks to contain a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases, which poses a significant risk to people's lives and the Japanese economy. A growing number of cases in which transmission routes cannot be traced have raised the alarm. Abe has warned of an explosive surge if people let down their guard, having conceded that Japan was barely "holding the line" against the virus. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike and Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura have been stepping up calls on Abe to make the declaration, while the Japan Medical Association has also sought the measure. Before declaring a state of emergency, Abe first needs to consult an advisory panel of medical and public health experts who will determine whether the situation is warranted. He will have to notify parliament in advance. Arrangements are under way for the panel to meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday, a senior administration official said. As of Monday, the number of people with coronavirus in Japan surpassed 4,500, including some 700 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, with 107 deaths reported. Tokyo confirmed 143 new infections Sunday, marking the city's highest rate of daily increase and taking the capital's total to 1,033. To prevent the health care system from becoming overwhelmed and other widespread impacts, governors of areas subject to the declaration will be able to tell people to only go outside on essential errands such as grocery shopping, or if they are key workers in areas such as health care and public transport. Governors can restrict the use -- and request temporary closure -- of places where large groups gather such as schools, social welfare facilities, theaters, music venues and sports stadiums. In the event that hospitals become overrun and new ones need to be quickly set up, as has been the case elsewhere, such as in China and the United States, governors will be able to expropriate private land and buildings if rejected by their owners and users for no legitimate reason. They can also requisition medical supplies and food from companies that refuse to sell them and punish those that hoard or do not comply. They can force firms to help transport emergency goods. Abe gained the power to set in motion the process of establishing a state of emergency on March 13, when the Diet passed a revised version of a law enacted in response to the 2009 swine flu pandemic. The revision is effective for two years. Recent requests by the prime minister for all schools to shut and for large sports and entertainment events to be canceled or postponed to prevent group transmission were made without the legal basis to enforce them. One reason for the recent surge in infections is believed to be the importation of cases from abroad, prompting the government to implement an entry ban on foreign travelers that have recently been to one or more of 73 countries and regions. Abe has promised the country's "boldest-ever" stimulus measures to help struggling households and businesses amid the virus epidemic, more than the 56.8 trillion yen ($522 billion) package rolled out during the 2008 global financial crisis. The government is putting together the stimulus, which will include cash handouts to struggling households, with the possibility of a state of emergency declaration in mind. It may be finalized on Tuesday. Economists expect that Japan, already reeling from a consumption tax increase last October, fell into recession during the January to March quarter due to the impact of the pandemic. Related coverage: Tokyo confirms record 143 new coronavirus infections When New York ordered non-essential work to a halt to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, local dog groomer Laura Hearn quickly posted on her business website that Sherlock Bones would be suspending all appointments until further notice. Grooming is not life-sustaining to people, Hearn said of her prompt decision. The statewide closure order came after New York shut down nail salons, hairdressers, barbers and others in the business of grooming people. Hearn, who has had pneumonia three times in recent years, said it was obvious to her that closing was the right call. Besides her own health risks, Hearn said her business is mobile, so she typically goes into peoples private residences to trim dogs nails and fur. She didnt feel comfortable continuing to do that, given the main reason behind New Yorks order: to stop the spread of a contagious disease. Several local dog groomers, including The Puppy Cut in Fayetteville and The Pink Pug in Syracuse, just to name a few, have also temporarily closed. Theyve posted to their websites and Facebook pages that they have stopped accepting appointments and postponed previously scheduled appointments due to the coronavirus shutdown. We are sorry for the inconvenience. We hope that everyone stays safe, healthy and is patient with us during this process, The Puppy Cut shared on its website. This will disrupt our business for months to come. Unfortunately, The Pink Pug will be closed until the governor informs us its safe for us to reopen. As soon as we get... Posted by The Pink Pug on Sunday, March 22, 2020 Large pet stores including PetSmart and PetCo are open, but the Central New York locations are not currently taking grooming appointments, according to their websites. PetSmart had closed its grooming departments across the country for more than a week but reopened in some locations Monday with extra social distancing and safety protocols. Both companies have reduced hours, and are offering curbside pick-up options. Hearn said the coronavirus shutdowns across the country have sharply divided the industry. Some argue certain grooming procedures are necessary for the health and safety of pets and their owners. They cite certain health conditions, skin or fur-related, or the potential for health problems that could require grooming for some pets. Im kind of on the fence, Hearn said. It may not be life-sustaining right now, but for pets who need to be groomed, if this goes on up until the summer or fall, it might become necessary. PetSmart officials in a statement on the companys website said salons were reopening because regular grooming is vital to the health of so many dogs and cats. According to experts, regular grooming is important for every dog, regardless of size, age and coat type, PetSmart said in the statement. "It helps prevent common problems such as excessive shedding, skin and paw irritation, painful hair mats and excessively long toenails. And sometimes groomers can be the first to recognize a pets medical issue like fleas and ticks or an ear infection and alert the pet parent to seek veterinary care." The company said it would consider the rules for each state and local municipality where it operates its stores. New York state doesnt have dog groomers specifically named to its list of essential businesses. The state has issued some guidance for business owners to determine if their services are essential, but the regulations change frequently. Some businesses have been removed, and others, including stores that sell pet food, added. Hearn, the owner of Sherlock Bones, said shes kept an eye on the guidance from New York state, which initially included an exemption for animal care and maintenance. That was edited to only include veterinary services and animal shelters, she said, but now more broadly reads animal shelters and animal care. Thats such a gray line, she said. We have no idea whats happening." Hearn said shes heard from groomers in Ohio and Pennsylvania who have warned that their states are strictly enforcing the rules against groomers. A woman in Ohio was charged with a misdemeanor for continuing to groom dogs. Hearn said she also looked to the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council for guidance. The industry group wrote an open letter to federal, state and local government officials urging them to consider animals well-being and allow pet-serving businesses to remain open during coronavirus shutdowns. PIJAC notes a majority of households have at least one pet that needs food and care. The group also points out the importance of boarders, for example, who can provide a place for pets of medical professionals to go while humans are at work. But the PIJAC doesnt weigh in specifically on grooming. Hearn said, for now, she thought the right thing to do was remain closed and hope her contributions to social distancing help get everyone back in business and back to normalcy sooner rather than later. If the shutdown continues as long as some experts are saying it could, Hearn said shed be inclined to groom animals if she can get the appropriate protective gear, and if a vet writes a prescription or something similar to say grooming is medically necessary for the health of a pet or owner. She cautioned against pet owners assuming they should take grooming matters into their own hands, especially if their furry loved ones are difficult to handle or require specific equipment. With the equipment but no skills," she said, "you can actually do a lot of harm in terms of sharp objects and wiggly, moving animals. Have a question about your industry? Contact Reporter Julie McMahon: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992 MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Coronavirus in NY: Cuomo extends school, business closures until April 29 Behind the Onondaga County execs latest move: Hes frustrated with coronavirus and some slackers Onondaga County warns of potential coronavirus exposure at 3 pharmacies, liquor store Coronavirus in NY: State releases deaths by ages, counties Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Free TAFE courses are being offered to Australians wanting to learn new skills while isolating at home. The NSW Government said it would make 21 TAFE courses fee-free in a bid to help Australians stay productive at home during the coronavirus pandemic. The courses, which can cost as much as $1,570 for 12 weeks of study, offer practical skills and experiences across a range of industries including administration, business and computing. It comes as more than a million Australians face being unemployed, one in ten of the country's working population of 12.5 million. Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the free courses during her press conference in Sydney on Monday morning. TAFE New South Wales (pictured) is offering 21 courses for free for Australians wanting to learn new skills while isolating at home 'We know the next six months are going to be difficult and what we have done today is announce that through TAFE there are 21 free courses you can do from home to upgrade your skills or to acquire new skills and this is good news,' she said. 'It means people can start preparing for when these difficult times are over.' 'If you haven't got a job or not working from home it is an opportunity for you to upgrade your skills or acquire new skills so you can enter or re-enter the workforce when you finish this difficult time. There are a total of four administration skills courses, six digital skills courses on offer and two health and medical skills courses available for free. There are also two leadership performance courses and five business skills courses available for people to do at home during isolation. The full list of courses is available on TAFE NSW's website. 21 FREE TAFE COURSES ADMIN Administration skills for team leaders - $1,380.00 Covers skills needed to organise meetings, travel and conference arrangement for the workplace as well as designing business documents. Business administration skills - $1,170.00 Introductory skills in word processing, electronic scheduling and presentations for a workplace. Executive assistant organisational skills - $1,490.00 Suited to people who use administrative skills and broad knowledge base in variety of administrative contexts. Introduction to accounting - $1,030.00 For people who wish to learn new bookkeeping and accounting skills or enhance their current skills. DIGITAL Complex word processing and spreadsheets - $1,300.00 Training in office applications at complex levels. Learners will create letters, reports, flyers, budgets, formulas, macros, charts and templates. Computing skills - $1,570.00 Training in office applications such as word processing and spreadsheets. The course will show you how to cereate letters, reports, flyers, budgets, formulas, macros, charts and templates. eMarketing for small business - $800.00 Skills to use social media to build a basic website to interact with customers and promote products and services. Engaging customers using social media - $350.00 Develop skills to use social media platforms to interact with customers and promote products and services. Excel spreadsheets - $1,220.00 This short course enables learners to become proficient in the creation and use of spreadsheet functions. This statement is suitable for those interested in gaining the skills and knowledge to perform calculations by using formulas, functions, templates and charts. Websites for small business - $530.00 Develop skills to build a basic website to interact with customers and promote products and services. These skills can be applied across a variety of industries. HEALTH Medical administration skills - $1,250.00 Medical terminology, confidentiality and privacy, and develop skills to produce digital documents. Suitable for those working in medical administration or thinking of making a move into this area. S2/S3 pharmacy training - $180.00 This course provides the skills and knowledge required to meet the Pharmacy Guild of Australia's Quality Care Pharmacy Program (QCPP) requirements for all staff who directly supply Pharmacy Medicines (S2) or assist the pharmacist with the supply of Pharmacist-Only Medicines (S3). LEADERSHIP Executive skills - $840.00 This course is suitable for those working in various administration and clerical roles, and is a career pathway into a team leader role. Learn how to facilitate meetings, manage an electronic calendar and negotiate meeting arrangements. Team leader skill set - $1,460.00 Develop skills as a team leader and communicate effectively, ensure team performance, develop effective relationships in the workplace and implement operational plans. BUSINESS Computer applications - $1,030.00 For experienced ICT users wanting to take their knowledge to the next level. Learn how to manipulate data and access support resources to solve issues across a range of different software applications. Digital literacy skills set - $500.00 This skill set is for persons wanting to gain digital literacy skills in the use of a personal computer, software applications and digital devices. This skill set has been designed for individuals who wish to meet competency requirements for a broad range of digital literacy skills including the use of basic computing, web searching and basic applications software. Introduction to word processing and spreadsheets - $1,250.00 This course provides training in the use of office applications in word processing and spreadsheet software at a beginner level. Learners will learn correct keyboarding techniques to create a range of workplace documents which may include letters, reports, flyers, budgets, basic formulas and charts. Introductory business skills - $1,140.00 This course provides the underpinning skills and knowledge of customer services techniques, work health and safety awareness and intermediate word processing skills for the workplace. Writing and presentation skills - $1,570.00 How to create and deliver dynamic workplace presentations and write complex business documents. Advertisement Australians with extra time on their hands can also look to other platforms to up-skill in-demand skills during isolation. Online learning platform Udemy has created more than 250 free courses for people wanting to study tech and coding skills, web developing, photography, time management, productivity and public speaking. Udemy is also offering free courses on learning an instrument or digital painting. Coursera is providing learning resources free of charge until the end of May, including lectures and quizzes. Free courses are offered in career development, public health, science, soft skills and even poetry. The free learning resources come amid warnings one in ten workers may soon be unemployed. People are seen waiting in line at the Prahran Centrelink office in Melbourne after mass job cuts were made due to the coronavirus Westpac, Australia's second biggest bank, is now expecting the jobless rate to more than triple to 17 per cent by June, taking unemployment to levels unseen since 1932 at the height of the Great Depression. The government has been scrambling to organise a series of multi-million dollar economic stimulus package to help tackle the downturn. Hundreds of thousands of Australians in danger of losing their jobs are set to receive $1,500 a fortnight as part of the government's 'job-keeper allowance'. 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. The flat-rate payment is about 70 per cent of the median wage and is roughly equal to the median wage in the industries most affected such as hospitality and tourism. The payment will go to full-time workers, part-time workers and casual workers who have been employed by a company for 12 months, regardless of how many shifts they worked. The policy will apply to workers that have already been stood down, provided they were on their employer's books on March 1. The scheme is part of the government's third round of measures to shore up the economy as officials urge people to stay at home to slow the spread of coronavirus. Ms Berejiklian also said NSW will continue to review the restrictions in place but said the state is looking towards recovery. 'It has been about a week now and we know we are making a difference and we want to keep this up,' she said. 'Every four weeks we are able to review how NSW is going and there is a chance down the track where we can lift the restrictions in some ways. What we don't want to have to do is go harder.' 'I'm also pleased to say we have already started focusing on recovery, on what we can do as we emerge out of this difficult time.' NSW recorded 51 new cases of the coronavirus on Sunday as the number of new cases per day continues to decline. Nationally there were 5,750 cases as of 8am on Monday. Baltimore police are investigating the shooting death of a man who was hosting a game night party in a short-term rental property and streaming it live on Facebook, a city councilman said. The selfie video shows Ernest Wilson III walking through the house party and playing a hide and seek early Saturday. He goes into the back yard to find people when suddenly, an attacker can be seen climbing over the fence. Someone orders Wilson to get on the ground. After a commotion, the recording ends. Democratic City Councilman Eric Costello said in his own Facebook post that police told him there were two attackers who demanded money. The Baltimore Sun reported that according to Wilsons social media pages, he routinely hosted parties around the city, and began his Facebook Live video by telling people to reach out to him if they wanted to attend. In another post earlier that night, he wrote that there were only 15 people there and invited more to come for only $5. Marylands stay-at-home order bans gatherings of more than 10 people in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Texas police are searching for an 18-year-old girl wanted for making terroristic threats after she posted a video on Snapchat in which she vowed to spread the coronavirus while inside a suburban Dallas Walmart. The Carrollton Police Department identified the girl as Lorraine Maradiaga. Maradiaga posted a video on Snapchat claiming to have been infected with COVID-19. The video includes a caption which reads: NOT IN THE MOOD. An 18-year-old girl from suburban Dallas has been identified as the person who posted a video on Snapchat threatening to infect other Walmart shoppers with COVID-19 Lorraine Maradiaga, 18, is wanted by police in Carrollton, Texas, for making terroristic threats Investigators do not know if Maradiaga has tested positive for COVID-19, but are nonetheless asking for the public's help in finding her I'm here at Walmart about to infest every m**********r, because if I'm going down, all you m***********s are going down, she says in the Snapchat video. The video later shows Maradiaga in her car as she coughs into the camera. If you want to get the coronavirus and f****** die, call me," the person in the video says. I'll meet you up and (cough, cough) and I will shorten your life. Maradiaga posted an earlier video online in which she claims to have been tested for COVID-19 and was awaiting the results. Another brief video shows a health care worker who had just done a test using a cotton swab instructing Maradiaga to remain in quarantine. Carrollton police posted a statement on Twitter which read: We have identified the woman seen on social media claiming to be COVID-19 positive as 18-year-old Lorraine Maradiaga and are charging her with Terroristic Threat, Texas Penal Code 22.07. We have no confirmation Maradiaga is actually a threat to public health, the department said. We are, however, taking her social media actions very seriously. Americans who 'purposefully expose and infect' others with coronavirus could be charged as TERRORISTS, new Justice Department memo declares Americans who deliberately expose and infect others with coronavirus could face federal terrorism charges, according to a new memo sent out by the Justice Department. The document, signed on March 25 by Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and sent out to US attorneys and law enforcement heads across the country, declares that 'coronavirus appears to meet the statutory definition of "biological agent" under 18 U.S.C., [which means that] such acts could implicate the Nation's terrorism-related statuses'. Last month, George Falcone, 50, of New Jersey was charged with terroristic threats in the third degree for coughing on a supermarket worker claiming he has COVID-19 'Threats or attempts to use COVID-19 as a weapon against Americans will not be tolerated,' the memo further stated. It comes as the coronavirus crisis continues to deepen across with country, with almost 338,000 Americans testing positive to COVID-19 as of Monday afternoon. More than 9,600 people have died in relation to the highly-contagious virus. The Justice Department memo was released one day after a New Jersey man was charged with making terrorist threats after he allegedly coughed on a supermarket employee while claiming he was infected with coronavirus. George Falcone, 50, was charged for terrorist threats in the third degree over the incident, according to the office of New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal. The third-degree terrorism charge carries a sentence of three to five years in state prison. Falcone denies he has COVID-19, and has denied he coughed on the supermarket worker. Meanwhile, there have already been several other incidents in the US where people have exposed themselves to others while knowing or suspecting that they were infected with COVID-19. A New York Muslim firefighter has tested positive for coronavirus after three Jewish teenagers allegedly deliberately sneezed in his face. Omar Sattar, whose father was convicted of terrorism offenses in 2005, was reportedly sneezed on by a group of Hasidic youths in Borough Park, Brooklyn. The 33-year-old was said to have been inspecting a hydrant when he was approached by 'three Hasidic Jewish teens' on March 18. Omar Sattar, a Muslim New York City firefighter, was allegedly inspecting a hydrant in Brooklyn when three Jewish teenagers sneezed in his face In a letter to the FDNY's chief of operations, Thomas Richardson, Lt. Kasey Koslowski alleges that Sattar was 'taunted' by the group who 'asked him if he was afraid of the coronavirus'. According to the New York Post, the trio then ran away after the alleged sneeze attack. Last month, a woman flew from Boston to Beijing, with a stopover in Los Angeles, while allegedly concealing her coronavirus symptoms. The Chinese national, 37, is accused of gobbling down anti-fever medicine at LAX to suppress her high temperatures before boarding the 13-hour flight back to her homeland with her husband and son. She later tested positive to COVID-19 in China, and now faces up to three years in prison in that country for possibly infecting others on board her flights and at the various airports she transited through. Elsewhere, an elderly recently took a JetBlue flight from New York to Palm Beach, Florida, while reportedly awaiting the results of his coronavirus test. Upon arrival in Florida, he told airline crew that he had tested positive for the virus. He has not been charged. The Justice Department does not make explicit whether perpetrators must actually have a confirmation of a COVID-19 diagnosis to be charged with terrorism-related crimes. Elsewhere in the Justice Department's memo, Deputy AG Rosen identifies a range of criminal and fraudulent activities that have been cropping up in relation to the coronavirus outbreak. These include reports of fake COVID-19 apps that install malware, social media scams seeking donations, and the sale of fake testing kits and 'immunity pills'. Rosen calls for state and local agencies to coordinate in the fight against various crimes pertaining to coronavirus, stating: 'Capitalizing on this crisis to reap illicit profits or otherwise preying on Americans is reprehensible and will not be tolerated'. 'We had no inkling this would come. Admittedly, we failed to inspire confidence in migrants that no harm would come to them if they stayed back.' Radhika Ramaseshan reports. IMAGE: A migrant worker along with his family walks along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway, following the coronavirus lockdown, in Palghar, Maharashtra. Photograph: Mitesh Bhuvad/PTI Photo If Amit Shah jumpstarted his innings as Bharatiya Janata Party president in 2014 with a record-breaking membership drive, the Covid-19 crisis and the concomitant fallout of the lockdown posed the first big test for J P Nadda, Shahs successor. His reflexes -- as that of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh fraternity -- kicked in on March 26, two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the lockdown. Nadda directed the BJP-ruled states to create roti banks -- a concept borrowed from a Delhi partyman, Rajkumar Bhatia, who started mass production and distribution of rotis in his area, Adarsh Nagar, back in 2015 -- at every Shakti Kendra, the nuclei of three to six booths, to feed migrants and casual workers. Nadda asked state functionaries to identify community kitchens working in their neighbourhoods to function as food producer and conduit. He led by example, setting up a community kitchen at his Delhi house to service police persons working 24x7. The BJPs penchant for numbers tempted Nadda to fix a target: Mobilising 10 million party workers to feed 50 million people of the country every day. Every block, including the ones in villages, was expected to cover 1,000 people daily. An ambitious goal in these circumstances, remarked a BJP source. However, as the disease spread unchecked, ground rules were put in place. We decided to enlist a few volunteers, instead of crowd-sourcing, and told them strictly to work only with the local administration so that they were not infected. If a volunteer has to himself deliver medical kits and food, he must only deposit it outside the recipients house and avoid direct contact, a BJP functionary said. Another BJP office-bearer acknowledged the party was nudged to act when confronted with the mass exodus of migrants from Delhi that followed the enforced-confinement. We had no inkling this would come. Admittedly, we failed to inspire confidence in migrants that no harm would come to them if they stayed back, he said. The admission was politically significant because most of the eight seats the BJP won in the Delhi assembly elections were in the migrant-dominated pockets. We got cut off from them thereafter, conceded a Delhi BJP office-bearer. However, once Naddas lets feed the poor project rolled out, the BJP made it incumbent on general secretaries to attain the target. At six every evening, office-bearers assemble for a video/audio conference call with their assigned states to monitor the scale and spread of the distribution and cross-verify the feedback with their own sources on the ground. Delhi BJP eager beavers named the kits containing oil, rice, wheat flour, pulses, sugar, salt, spices, tea, biscuits, and detergent and bath soaps after Modi, taking a cue from the party's West Bengal leaders who gave away masks and gloves with Modi's insignia. The BJPs youth front, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, evolved its own template. Poonam Mahajan, Mumbai North Central MP and BJYM president, said the main features were focus on senior citizens, pregnant women and the differently-abled, delivering vegetables and fruit at subsidised cost, and large-scale sanitation activities at less well-off residential settlements. Poonam worked out of Mumbai and coordinated with her national team through videos and WhatsApp. If I get a call from outside Maharashtra, the relevant helpline numbers are there before me to connect with a worker and ask him to attend to the caller, she said. Ours is the first youth wing of any political party in the world that actively intervened in the crisis, claimed Poonam. But Poonams prototype was not necessarily emulated by the BJYM in the other states, Delhi being an example. A Delhi functionary said, We work under multiple command structures. We have to listen to the national president, Manoj Tiwari (Delhi BJP president), local MPs, and then Poonam. It gets confusing. The RSS affiliates, notably the Rashtriya Sewa Bharti and the Vishva Hindu Parishad, function independently or act as reinforcements to the administration/the BJP. Shravan Kumar, Sewa Bhartis general secretary, explained: Containing migrants exodus is the governments responsibility. "Ours is to try and alleviate their hardships for which we have a network of nearly 25,000 swayamsevaks and sympathisers," he said. "Last week, a worker, walking from Delhi to Azamgarh, reached Mainpuri, exhausted. He had my number and asked for help. I phoned our local unit. They arranged for his shelter with a local family. Sewa Bharti returned the hospitality by giving the family cereals, pulses and oil," Kumar said. Like the BJP, the VHP preferred to operate through the administration and local temples, and hospitals for safeguard of its activists. Milind Parande, the secretary-general, said the VHPs intended beneficiaries were policemen, rickshawallahs and daily wage-earners, and stranded students in that order. However, theres a possibility that the Sangh Parivars altruism-in-progress might get distracted with the controversy over the Tablighi Jamaats Delhi congregation in mid-March that left several virus-infected. Nearly every RSS constituent reacted, with the BJPs IT cell head, Amit Malviya, leading the chorus against the TJ. Delhis dark underbelly is exploding! Malviya declared in a tweet. Several masked individuals have attacked the Czech Embassy in Moscow after Prague authorities removed a statue of the Soviet military commander Ivan Konev. The attackers threw smoke bombs onto the embassy's territory on April 5 and placed a banner saying Stop Fascism on the compounds fence. A group called Other Russia that consists of members of the former National Bolshevik party that was banned in 2007 claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that it was "a response to the Czech authorities, who on Friday [April 3] removed the monument of the Marshall Ivan Konev in Prague." "Our tanks will be in Prague!" the message said. The Czech Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, calling it an act of "vandalism" and the organization behind it "extremist." "The Czech Republic protests an attack on the premises of the diplomatic mission which the host country is obliged to protect. The official note was sent today by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Moscow to the Russian Foreign Ministry. We expect that the Russian authorities will take measures to prevent such incidents from reoccurring," the statement made accessible to RFE/RL says. The bronze statue of Soviet Marshal Ivan Konev was dismantled on April 3 after a local assembly in the Prague 6 district voted in 2019 to remove it. Turkey and Azerbaijan have applied for the registration of balaban as part of UNESCOs Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, according to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The ministry noted that Turkey has applied for the registration of four elements one national and three multinational. The national element suggested to UNESCO is the art of Islamic calligraphy, while multinational elements proposed for the list include: Tea culture as a symbol of identity, hospitality and social interaction; balaban wind instrument craftsmanship and the art of performance in partnership with Azerbaijan. The two other cultural elements being offered with other countries include the art of miniature in cooperation with Iran, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan and moderated by Turkey as well as Mangala / Kocurme, a traditional game of intelligence and strategy, offered in cooperation with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Head of the department for international cooperation and innovative development of Azerbaijan's Culture Ministry Vasif Eyvazzade told Vestnik Kavkaza about the close cooperation of Azerbaijan and UNESCO in the field of protection of intangible cultural heritage. "For 2021, we decided to submit an application with Turkey to include the art of balaban performance to the UNESCO intangible art list. Among other things, we also announced tea traditions as a symbol of hospitality and social contacts with Turkey," he said. The tradition of telling jokes by Seljuk satirist Nasreddin Hodja has been proposed in cooperation with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, Vasif Eyvazzade added. Afghan special forces arrest local Daesh leader Iran Press TV Sunday, 05 April 2020 5:30 AM Afghan Special Forces have arrested the leader of the Daesh terrorist group's affiliate in Afghanistan. Special Forces of the Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS) arrested Abdullah Orakzai, alias Aslam Farooqi, who led Daesh's so-called Khorasan Province affiliate, the ISIL-KP, during an operation on Friday, NDS said in a statement on Saturday. At least two other top commanders of the terrorist group were also arrested in the special operation, along with 17 other militants, according to the NDS. Orakzai was said to have been behind terror-related activities both in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He took over as the chief of the outfit after the death of Abu Saeed Bajawori in 2018. Further information was not offered by NDS, and it was not clear where in Afghanistan the operation had taken place. The ISIL-KP claimed responsibility for a terrorist attack on a Hindu-Sikh religious complex in the capital, Kabul, last month, killing 25 people. In recent years, Daesh has claimed responsibility for a string of horrific bombing and other attacks across Afghanistan. The Takfiri group emerged in Afghanistan in 2015 as it gradually faced defeat and lost its strongholds in Syria and Iraq. The terrorist group, which has based itself mainly in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar Province, has an estimated 2,000 to 2,500 militants. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Morgan County Health Department is recommending following state and federal guidelines to wear a cloth face covering in public settings in which social-distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as grocery stores and pharmacies. Use of a simple covering may be used to slow the spread of COVID-19 and prevent people who may have the virus and not know it from transmitting it to others. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Riska Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 6, 2020 18:50 644 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd0162cf 1 Business Japfa-Comfeed,rating-agency,Pan-Brothers,fitch-ratings,Standard-Poors,Moodys-Investors-Service,COVID-19,coronavirus,debt-payment,BCA,gajah-tunggal,alam-sutera,Lippo-Karawaci,Medco-Energi-Internasional,Agung-Podomoro Free International rating agencies are questioning Indonesian companies ability to repay their debts and have consequently downgraded their ratings and outlooks amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Moodys Investor Service has lowered the ratings of property developers PT Agung Podomoro Land and PT Alam Sutera Realty, as well as tire producer PT Gajah Tunggal and coalminer PT Bumi Resources. Fitch Ratings has downgraded private lender PT Bank Central Asia (BCA) and Standard & Poors (S&P) has put Alam Sutera on credit watch negative. Credit rating outlooks on several companies have also been revised to negative, from stable previously. This includes oil and gas firm PT Medco Energi Internasional and textile company PT Pan Brothers by Moodys and property developers Alam Sutera and PT Lippo Karawaci by Fitch Ratings. S&P has also assigned a negative outlook for poultry firm PT Japfa Comfeed and Medco Energi. The rationale behind the ratings decisions varies for each company but revolves around liquidity risks, concerns over debt repayment ability, a sharp rupiah depreciation, low commodity prices and overall weak demand. The pandemic has disrupted the economy and hit almost every industry there is in Indonesia. Its no wonder that the rating agencies are casting doubt on the companies business processes and their ability to repay their debts, Anugrah Sekuritas Indonesia fixed income analyst Ramdhan Ario Maruto told The Jakarta Post. The government has projected economic growth to reach 2.3 percent this year, the lowest in 21 years, or contract by 0.4 percent in the worst-case scenario, as COVID-19 disrupts economic activities. Meanwhile the rupiah is expected to hover between Rp 17,500 and Rp 20,000 per United States dollar under the worst-case scenario as foreign investors dump risky assets, including those of Indonesia. The situation has forced businesses to close and companies to lay off workers, reducing peoples purchasing power significantly, said Ramdhan. People will, for instance, be less likely to buy homes at this time. They are more concerned about fulfilling their own basic needs during times like this rather than buying a house, he said, explaining the reason behind the property developers downgrades. Given the widespread impact of the pandemic on the overall economy, Ramdhan also warned that the rating downgrades could also extend to Indonesias rating as well, just as Fitch and S&P have done for the United Kingdom and China. Indonesias sovereign credit rating from the three top rating agencies currently stands at the lower-end of investment grade, which allows a full range of institutions worldwide to invest in the countrys debt papers. Any downgrade would return the countrys rating to junk, which would result in only selected investors being eligible to invest in the countrys financial assets. But as long as the government can maintain the countrys debt-to-GDP ratio at a safe level, I think the rating agencies would at least affirm our ratings even during times of hardship like today, he said. A new government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) would allow the state budget deficit-to-GDP ratio to surpass the previous legal limit of 3 percent as President Joko Jokowi Widodo expects the budget deficit to reach 5.07 percent of GDP, although government debt-to-GDP would be maintained at 60 percent. For the private sector, the sharp depreciation of the rupiah, Asia's worst performing currency so far this year, will lead to a spike in debt repayment costs, at a time when demand has been severely hit by the governments large-scale social restrictions and public health emergency measures. Read also: Indonesia braces for recession, activates crisis protocol Moodys cited heightening risks over liquidity and ability to repay debts as the primary concerns for Agung Podomoros and Alam Suteras ratings, while Gajah Tunggal was downgraded because of the companys lack of mitigation amid the sharp rupiah depreciation that could affect the companys financial performance. If sustained, [the rupiahs depreciation] will drive up debt and weaken earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization [EBITDA] margins, Moodys analyst Stephanie Cheong said in a statement on March 31. Moodys senior vice president Vikas Halan said on March 23 that it was revising Medcos outlook to negative as it expected the firms credit profile to deteriorate if oil prices remain low for a prolonged period. Pan Brothers outlook was also changed to negative as concerns grow over the companys ability to refinance its loan that falls due on February 2021, given the challenging credit conditions and heightened global and regional turbulence. Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings lowered BCAs rating to BBB- from BBB with a stable outlook: The downgrades reflect Fitchs view of the weaker operating environment for Indonesias banks as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it wrote in a statement on March 24. Such conditions could put pressure on the banks asset quality and reduce profitability as a result of higher provisioning, the statement states. The pandemic is also the basis of Fitchs decision to revise its outlook on Lippo Karawaci, which will have difficulty improving cash flow or launching new projects this year amid the challenging circumstances. S&Ps decision to put Alam Sutra on credit watch negative means the agency could downgrade the companys rating over concerns of slower-than-expected refinancing efforts on its US$175 million notes due in April 2021. A couple of years ago, two tiny towns Hopkinton and Parishville in one of New York state's poorest counties erupted in a prolonged battle over wind power. The fight in St. Lawrence County concerned whether to lease land to Avangrid Renewables, a wind power developer headquartered in Portland, Ore. On one side, community members pointed out the lopsided arrangement: residents would be burdened with the visual blight of the wind turbines, while downstate customers gobbled up the generated power to Avangrid's profit. Those in favor argued that any dollars for their impoverished towns justified the deal. This small town problem is worth revisiting as Gov. Andrew Cuomo prepares to establish an office of renewable energy permitting. There are lessons to learn from Parishville and Hopkinton. New York has one of the nation's most-aggressive renewable energy plans, requiring nine gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Meeting just this offshore target will require thousands of turbines; Cuomo's step to consolidate the permitting process is necessary and correct. But the concerns of local residents are legitimate. The towers are imposing structures that change the landscape or seascape. Residents of these towns should have a voice in the permitting process and benefit financially if they agree to host such projects. The problem with land-leasing for energy development is a lack of transparency. A large part of the discord that arose in Hopkinton and Parishville stemmed from Avangrid's taking a page from the fracking industry. For years, fracking companies have bought drilling rights from landowners without a standard compensation package. A wind developer knows exactly how much money they stand to earn from a project and can determine how to maximize their profits by leasing land for as little as possible. The landowner typically has little access to essential information, including how well other local landowners are compensated. These sentiments were captured by the Parishville town supervisor, who said "we haven't dealt with a project of this magnitude in our small towns before, and people worry that you're not getting the right answer and you're not getting the right help," in an interview by North Country Public Radio in 2017. Is it fair to expect a local farmer to engage in a detailed financial analysis of a wind project's profitability? Or to engage in awkward conversations with their longtime neighbors about the financial terms of each other's proposed land deals? Certainly not. Luckily, New Yorkers are not the first people to encounter these issues when developing wind power. Denmark, a world leader in wind power, realized early on that local buy-in was critical in successfully developing wind at large scale. Their solution was a policy called the "buy-legal system." This system required the developer to sell at least 20 percent of the project to residents. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. The Danish policy overcame two challenges that New Yorkers will face in the coming years, as wind development increases across the state. First, local residents get to share in the profits of the wind project. A wind turbine becomes less of a nuisance if the spinning blade represents dollars to those living in a city or town. And second, setting a standard, statewide compensation package eliminates any opportunities for backroom deal-making. Cuomo also announced that he will also establish the "host communities benefit program" to provide incentives to communities that host major renewable energy facilities. Whatever the compensation package is, it must give local residents buy-in on the profitability of the project, and must be transparent. If these profit-sharing and transparency measures were in place, Hopkinton and Parishville residents might have reaped the benefits of wind power. Instead, the project was rejected by local residents, enemies were made among families in the small communities and Avangrid spent more than six years on a project that yielded no profits. Everyone lost. If a project does well, so should the local landowners. Transparency assures communities that everyone is being treated equally and fairly. Without such measures, the lose-lose scenarios of Hopkinton and Parishville are likely to be repeated across New York for years to come. A framing art gallery is closed in Venice Beach, California' during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. Some small-business owners are growing increasingly worried that loan money being distributed as part of the coronavirus relief package will run out before they can access funds. The Paycheck Protection Program, which is being overseen by the Small Business Administration, will pay out up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to businesses with 500 or fewer employees. It is one of the core provisions of the $2 trillion economic stimulus package President Trump signed into law March 27. Businesses can qualify to have eight weeks of their loan forgiven if funds are used for certain business expenses, such as payroll and rent. More from Personal Finance: Treasury makes loan terms less favorable for small businesses Here's why holding individual stocks can come back to hurt you What to expect if you have a 401(k) loan and lose your job Demand for the loans, facilitated through local banks, has surged. The Small Business Administration approved 130,000 loans worth $38 billion as of 9:30 a.m. on Monday, according to Larry Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council. That represents nearly 10% of the total pot. Business owners like Doug Trovinger are afraid there won't be any money left by the time his application is processed. Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Tyler Perry Studios Rapper Jeezy and The Real host Jeannie Mai are officially engaged, quarantine-style. People exclusively confirmed the Atlanta rapper popped the question on March 27, although his original plan was to propose during an upcoming trip to Vietnam this month. According to Mai's representative, Jeezy opted to create a special moment at home, due to restricted travel stemming from the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. "Jeannie and Jay were set for a trip to Vietnam this April. What Jeannie didnt know is that Jay was planning to propose," a representative confirmed. "Instead, Jay decided to bring Vietnam to Jeannie with a surprise quarantine date night in his home filled with Vietnamese food and decor." The couple met during Jeezys appearance on The Real, yet didn't confirm their relationship status until last August, although rumors suggest they began dating in November 2018. "We both went through enough in our life to connect on the understanding that love should feel safe, honest, and pure," Mai told People of their relationship. "Immediately that was a magnetic attraction. We are very attracted to each others passions to serve. So because we have a mutual joy of having purpose, were going to find a way to do that together. Congratulations to the happy couple! Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Amid coronavirus pandemic, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar rejoined the medical register in a bid to help health services. While speaking to an international media outlet, a government spokesperson reportedly said that Varadkar will be offering his services to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for one session a week in areas that are within his scope of practice. Varadkars help comes as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Ireland reached 4,994. With a medical degree from Dublins Trinity University, Varadkar is expected to work assessing his patients over the phone. The government spokesperson said that many of his friends and family are working in health services and like them, Varadkar also wanted to help, even in a small way. The son of a doctor and nurse, Varadkars partners and his two sisters are also helping healthcare workers. READ: Egypts Health Minister Claims 'Global Coronavirus Spread To Be Contained In 3 Weeks' As coronavirus has claimed nearly 158 lives in the country, the HSE made a call for qualified healthcare workers, who were not currently working in the sector, to return. According to an international media outlet, more than 60,000 responded to the recruitment drive. The HSE also requested for medically skilled and general volunteers to the health services. READ: US Conducted 1.6 Million Coronavirus Tests So Far; Social Distancing Must: Trump Govt to re-evaluate measures Meanwhile, Ireland government has reportedly announced that it will ease a few mandatory movement restrictions in view of the slow rate of admission in its intensive care units, as the country hopes to achieve the desired control on the pandemic impact on lives. Health Minister Simon Harris reportedly said at a press briefing that Ireland is expected to bounce back from the widespread health crisis by April 12, after which, the government will evaluate some measures. However, Harris told the press, that it does not mean that life will return to normal. He emphasised that the citizens might have to exercise precautionary measures while the threat of relapse from the disease still looms. Harris was further quoted saying by a national broadcaster that his government foresees that in a matter of days, some containment measures can be reformed, removed or modified to ease restrictions. The measures in place were so drastic and significant, that the Irish wouldnt sustain them long, he added. (Image source: LeoVaradkar/Twitter) READ: Arkansas Coronavirus Cases Up To 830, Governor To Wear Mask READ: UK: Coronavirus Claims 621 More Lives, Nationwide Toll Rises To 4,934 Ranchi: Every day, due to the grip of Corona, the number of deaths and infected people has started increasing in the country. Every day some new corona patient is coming out. Every day there are many deaths in the country due to this virus. In Bokaro district of Jharkhand, a woman who recently returned from Bangladesh was confirmed to be infected with Coronavirus on Sunday. The number of people infected with the coronavirus in the state has increased to three. This information was given by an official. Gwalior: Members Of Tablighi Jamaat "Misbehave" With Doctors, demands special food The official said that a 22-year-old Malaysian woman and a person from Hazaribagh were found to be infected with the virus on March 31 and April 2 respectively. Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Kumar said that three couples had recently returned to their homes from Bangladesh in Chandrapura block of Bokaro district. In Chhattisgarh, 3 patients recovered from Corona They were separated and their samples were taken and sent for testing. Investigations have revealed the woman to be infected. He said that all the people suspected of coming in contact with the woman were being investigated. Corona threat increased in Madhya Pradesh, life of 26 thousand people at risk (RNS) World Vision U.S. President Edgar Sandoval Sr., like many Americans, has been working from home in recent weeks. But he continues his mission to help vulnerable children and families across the globe during the coronavirus epidemic. World Vision staff are working with church volunteers responding simultaneously for the first time in this country and globally to provide needed food and supplies and help faith leaders train local communities on ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The evangelical Christian humanitarian organization estimated it has helped about 4.3 million people worldwide with coronavirus preparations. It plans to reach 5 times that number in the next six months. In the U.S., staff and volunteers have helped more than 2,700 children and adults with emergency aid since March 20. Theyve also provided much-in-demand health supplies tens of thousands of masks, gloves and gowns to U.S. health care workers. Sandoval, who describes himself as a Bible-based Christian who attends nondenominational churches, spoke with Religion News Service on Wednesday (April 1) about the challenges ahead. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. You have been president of World Vision since 2018. How would you compare the coronavirus to any other global crisis you have faced since you started? This is probably the most uncertain and concerning situation that World Vision has faced in our 70-year history. But just like other challenging emergencies of the past, in these uncertain times, World Vision is bringing prayer, kindness and action to combat fear, aimlessness, loneliness. We believe that every small act of courage and love does more than just stop the spread of fear. We actually replace it with hope, and that's why, from the onset, we have been responding across the world and right here in the U.S. Please describe the international work first and then we'll go to work in the United States. Internationally, we started responding from the outset in China. We declared the very first time in our history the first global emergency response. We're responding in every region that we operate at the same time. We are scaling our response to 17 priority countries. We are particularly concerned about vulnerable children, such as refugees, displaced children and those living in communities where infrastructure and access to health systems are weak. We're aiming to reach 22.5 million people in the next six months, and, while that's a huge challenge, what I can tell you emphatically is our long history has prepared us for such a time as this. We're drawing on the lessons that we've learned in responses to things like HIV pandemics, Zika, Ebola outbreaks. And one of the core learnings is that vulnerable communities need to be mobilized and the faith leaders, they make all the difference. They can be a powerful force in stopping the spread of COVID-19, just like they were in previous pandemics. How has the previous work on the Ebola crisis informed what World Vision is doing now? In Sierra Leone in 2014, World Vision worked with faith leaders to help with things like how to bury people the appropriate way safe burial practices and other ways to protect the family. They helped to mobilize entire communities. Despite being in the epicenter of the outbreak, not one, not one of 59,000 World Vision-supported children and their families died during that outbreak. And today those same faith leaders that we trained back in 2014, they're already mobilizing on their own, and we continue to train more to be prepared for the crisis. What are you most concerned about as the coronavirus moves to countries that may have limited medical resources and large populations of poor people? I tell you what's on my mind: the tightly built, overcrowded and sanitarily weak places like refugee settlements, slums, shantytowns, barrios. And here's the thing: While you and I can choose not to travel or go to music recitals or sporting events, those ultra-vulnerable folks are being asked to go home to those overcrowded sanitarily weak places. I think they're much more at risk than we are. Is there anything specific World Vision is doing for those populations with poor sanitary conditions at this point? We are definitely responding in the same way that we're responding across the world. We are in Bangladesh in the Rohingya camps, and in South Sudan. We are in Syria, helping them practice the best sanitary practices that they can. World Vision is known for its global work, but what is keeping your staff most busy as you address needs in the U.S. related to the coronavirus pandemic? The very first thing we did was we sprung all of our warehouses into action, and the very first day we provided emergency protective supplies, things like soap, hand sanitizer, disinfectant, all the basics, to low-income families and schools. We also came alongside health care facilities, and we were just so blessed to be able to provide them with thousands of masks, gloves and other protective equipment. But now we're stepping up our efforts even more, and we are aiming to reach 650,000 vulnerable people with what we call family emergency kits. These kits provide a week's worth of food for a family of five, hygiene and protective items, educational supplies, etc., etc. Where are the family emergency kits being distributed in the U.S., and what difference are they making in particular communities? The beautiful thing is we are partnering with the church. And so we have 13 strategic locations around the country, places like Seattle, Chicago, New York City, Dallas and others. World Vision procures the food and the essential items for the family emergency kits. We put them together. Then we engage the local church partner, and they serve in a safe and secure distribution location. Your organization says it reaches one person with clean water every 10 seconds. Is that still happening in light of the coronavirus? We are trying to maintain our water and sanitation efforts because they're critical infrastructure, particularly for a moment such as this. In Rwanda, the government has asked us to help them with water and sanitation stations. This is a core part of our preventative response but also of our emergency response. So we're going to continue to look for ways to provide clean water, to provide training in hygiene and sanitation around the world because it's critical to stopping the spread of the virus. What crises are being neglected in general and having to get less attention from your organization because of the coronavirus? I don't know that I know exactly what is being neglected. I can tell you that right now our No. 1 priority is to stop the spread of the virus, because of the deadly consequences. And so we're mobilizing all of our staff to respond with the things that we've learned in the past, to mobilize communities, to leverage the influence of faith leaders to train people to stop the spread of misinformation. And so that's going to have to take priority No. 1 so we can keep people safe and alive and doing well until the virus dissipates. And then we can go back to the other things that we need like education and food distribution systems and all the economic empowerment programs that we do on the ground. But, right now, it's all hands on deck on stopping the virus. Article originally published by Religion News Service. Used with permission. Photo courtesy: Religion News Service/World Vision The World Socialist Web Site recently spoke with an Amazon worker at the DFW7 warehouse in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas who has developed possible symptoms of the coronavirus. Jo, whose real name will not be used in this article, is currently under doctors orders to self-quarantine. Despite having a doctors note diagnosing her with severe bronchitis and possible COVID-19, Jo has been told there are no tests available in her area. To her knowledge, none of the other workers at her warehouse have been told about her condition. In addition, despite Amazons public statements that workers who are quarantined will receive paid time off, the company has thus far failed to provide Jo with any sick pay. Jos experiences over the past week underscore the callous disregard exhibited by the entire social system for the lives of workers on the front lines of the efforts to counteract the pandemic. On March 28, Jo remembers feeling unusually tired when she set out for work. By the time she arrived in the parking lot of the Amazon warehouse for the start of her 6:00 p.m. shift, she had developed a severe headache and shortness of breath, and began to feel very sick. She did not have a thermometer with her, so she walked into AmCare, Amazons in-house health care unit, and asked if her temperature could be taken. She was told that her temperature could not be taken because that would violate the six-foot rule. The first thing I did was I went to AmCare, she said. So I went in there and requested my temperature. And thats when I was told about the six-foot rule. Taken aback by this Kafkaesque response from AmCare, she confronted her co-manager, who was walking past. He directed her to speak with human resources. She walked into the human resources office, where she was given numbers to call. She was given the number of a doctors office to call and was also told to call the company medical advice line. Jo returned to Amazons parking lot, and a doctor evaluated her over the phone while she sat in her car. At that time, the doctor indicated that the most likely cause of her symptoms was her severe chronic bronchitis. However, the doctor told her that she had an elevated risk of having more serious health problems if she contracted the coronavirus. Jo applied for a leave of absence immediately, using her cellphone, and submitted all of the paperwork the same day. She had recently switched insurance, and her previous doctors office would not take her new insurance, adding an additional level of frustration to her journey through the insurance and corporate bureaucracy. Jo remembers feeling lost and in shock. I felt like nobody could help me. There was one person telling me to talk to someone else, then another person telling me to talk to someone else. I was in the facility for an hour, talking to different people. And I went in there not feeling good. Before developing symptoms, Jo did not appreciate that the coronavirus was a serious danger for someone living in her corner of Texas. When you work the p.m. shift, you miss the news, she said. I didnt even realize it was spreading at such a rate. You hear Trump saying its bogus, its bogus, its a hoax, its the flu. If thats all you hear, thats all you believe. Then all of a sudden there is blue tape telling you where you can stand, and tables are spread out and half the tables are gone. Then she developed symptoms. Its scary. Jo, who has worked for Amazon for two years, developed chronic bronchitis during a previous peak period, which is a period of extreme stress and high activity in the warehouse. As a result, Jo now needs to carry an inhaler. The warehouse is very dusty, she explained, and the fans are rarely if ever cleaned. They are on 24/7, and the business is open 24/7. Jo had previously sparred with management over managements refusal to let her bring her inhaler to her station, instead forcing her to stow it in a far corner of the warehouse or in her car, where it would do her little good in an emergency. On March 29, the day after she developed symptoms, a second doctor evaluated Jo over the phone and recommended that she be granted a two-day leave of absence while her condition continued to be monitored. On April 3, a third doctor evaluated her and diagnosed her with severe bronchitis and possible COVID-19. The doctor wrote a letter to Amazon, stating that Jos condition impairs [her] ability to work and/or is highly contagious, recommending that she self-quarantine for two weeks before returning to work. For Jo, the phrase possible COVID-19 in the doctors note was alarming. Given the danger, especially in light of her severe chronic bronchitis, she immediately asked to be tested for the coronavirus. But she was told: There are no tests. The available tests in her area have all been used, the doctor said. The doctors efforts to secure a test for her were unsuccessful. She was also told that when more tests became available, they will likely be given to the patients already in the hospital with the most extreme symptoms. As of this writing, Jo is still on a waitlist and has still not been tested. The doctor prescribed a course of treatment with the assumption that Jo has the coronavirus. A neighbor has been helping her with groceries and errands. Since Im still on leave I cant apply for unemployment, Jo says. If it wasnt for my neighbor I dont know what Id do. Meanwhile, Amazon has failed to provide Jo with sick pay. Jo points out that a glossy magazine distributed to employees states reassuringly that Amazon employees diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed into quarantine will receive up to two weeks of additional paid time off, so they can get healthy without worrying about lost income. Despite being told that she would receive a response by Friday, April 3, Jo has thus far not been able to obtain any response from management about her sick pay. Many workers at Amazon warehouses are concerned that management is concealing the number of possible infections and downplaying the risk. Walkouts of Amazon workers have already taken place in New York, Illinois and Michigan. In many workplaces, the discovery by workers of a diagnosed case of COVID-19 has been explosive. One worker at DFW7 wrote an anonymous message on the VOA (voice of associate) board, which workers use to communicate with management, asking whether a rumor was true that three workers had already fallen ill. As of Jos last day in the warehouse, management had not responded to that message. The World Socialist Web Site has received a tip that there may already be four suspected coronavirus cases at DFW7, based on internal emails that were circulated among area managers. In any case, workers have every right to demand that management immediately communicate all such information to workers. Until Jo and any other suspected cases can be tested, the DFW7 facility should be immediately closed. If any worker tests positive for the virus, DFW7 must remain closed until all workers are tested and until the workplace can be thoroughly cleaned. Workers must be quarantined with full pay until these measures are implemented. Before the pandemic, the DFW7 warehouse had already been singled out as a meatgrinder on the World Socialist Web Site, based on the discovery of records showing an incredible 567 workers were seriously injured there over a two-year period. This included whistleblower Shannon Allen, who exposed the conditions in the warehouse in a 2018 interview. Jo, too, was injured at Amazon, despite only working there for two years. In June 2019, she broke her wrist and damaged a nerve in her thumb while working as a stower. Like Shannon Allen and many other workers, she received the run-around in terms of compensation and treatment after her injury. She worked at a homeless shelter while she recovered from her injury, and she returned to work in November. After she was finally able to see a doctor, she was told that the nerve damage in her thumb had become permanent. This is for the ones that are working there now, Jo says. Think about this $2 raise you are getting. My health savings account is wiped out. I was trying to save up to go get my dental work. I had to pay for the doctors appointments out of my own pocket. I had to pay over $400 and Im still not diagnosed, and I still dont know if I have this virus or not. My next doctors appointment on Tuesday is going to be another $75, and if there is any medication prescribed that will be more. The $2 raise, Jo says, is totally out of proportion to the scale of the danger workers confront and the consequences they will face if they fall ill. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, says Jo, does not care about his employees. I dont even know if I get a check for sick pay after working there two years. And this is just what was already promised to me. The most important thing for Jo is the health and well-being of other workers at DFW7 and their families. At first, she says, she was concerned about herself. She has chronic bronchitis, and the coronavirus is a very serious threat to her health. She has been struggling with the symptoms, coughing and feeling sore, and taking strong medications that make her feel shaky and old. In addition, the bills are piling up, her health care savings are wiped out, and it is still uncertain whether she will receive her promised sick pay. The landlady already put a notice on my door that I did not pay rent. However, what keeps Jo up at night is the thought of other workers being potentially infected. I think about all the people I was in contact with. Many live at home with their elderly parents. Did they take it home? Did I infect them? Since I havent been diagnosed I dont really know and I dont want to frighten them. But dont they have a right to know they could have been contaminated? They are sitting there thinking our facility has no cases, Jo said, referring to her coworkers. There are no confirmed cases because they dont test you. They only test you when you are in the hospital and you already have it bad. I feel guilty not knowing, and I feel guilty about all of them. They are not doing this right, she said, referring to management at her warehouse. They are not communicating at all. [April 06, 2020] Yext Recognized as One of the Americas' Fastest Growing Companies by the Financial Times NEW YORK, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Yext, Inc. (NYSE: YEXT), the Search Experience Cloud company, today announced its selection to the inaugural list of The Americas' Fastest Growing Companies 2020 by the Financial Times. Yext was one of 500 companies selected from millions in North and South America for impressive revenue growth between 2015 and 2018. "Yext is proud to be recognized as one of the Americas' Fastest Growing Companies," said Howard Lerman, Founder and CEO of Yext. "Our significant revenue growth over the years has been fueled by our rapid global expansion and development of innovative search solutions that help businesses dramatically improve the customer experience and grow their business. And the best is yet to come." To accommodate its global growth, the company recently announced plans to open a ne nine-story headquarters in New York City along with offices in Tokyo and the Washington D.C. area, as well as to significantly expand its team in each city. See the full list of The Americas' Fastest Growing Companies here. About Yext The customer journey starts with a question, and every day consumers search for answers about brands. However, they are increasingly served false or misleading information from sources other than the brand. Yext (NYSE: YEXT), the Search Experience Cloud company, exists to help brands regain and maintain a direct relationship with their customers. With a mission to provide perfect answers everywhere, Yext puts businesses in control of their facts online by delivering brand verified answers straight from the source wherever their customers are searching. Companies like Taco Bell, Marriott, Jaguar-Land Rover, and businesses around the world use Yext to take back control of the customer journey, starting on their own website. Yext has been named a Best Place to Work by Fortune and Great Place to Work, as well as a Best Workplace for Women. Yext is headquartered in New York City with offices in Amsterdam, Berlin, Chicago, Dallas, Geneva, London, Miami, Milan, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai, Tokyo, and the Washington, D.C. area. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yext-recognized-as-one-of-the-americas-fastest-growing-companies-by-the-financial-times-301035873.html SOURCE Yext, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Africa has long suffered darkness owning to the magnitude of ignorance that exists on the continent. Africa has also long been thought of as a continent of desperation with weak leadership and famishing population. The continent is deep-seated in superstition and religion and culture dominate the lifestyle of many indigenes. With the outbreak of a world pandemic Corona Virus, the western world is seeking to demonstrate again that the science of this world belongs to them and they are lacing their boot to come and display their discovery on the poor continent. Recently, two French doctors had alluded to the fact that vaccines meant to tackle the coronavirus could best be tested on African soil. They have come under huge backlash as many disagree with them. Bill Gates, a world billionaire, has also alluded to the fact that vaccines must well be tested on Africans. Though many well-meaning Africans had registered their displeasure, this is not the first time Africa is being used as a testing arena for vaccination. Many pandemics that broke out in the world had their vaccines tested on African soil and the more scientific experiment continues to take place on the continent by the western world. Africa and Ghana, in particular, are endowed with powerful witch doctors, herbalists, and voodooists who through their practices had found solutions to many epidemics that had surfaced in their communities. They continue to use their practice to solve many ailments and sicknesses foreign to our soil and have succeeded. We have great herbalists who have found a cure to the most deadly diseases like HIV/AIDs and among others. They are able to cure infertility, tuberculosis, etc without any special machines or research and to some extend had even revived people from the dead. Africa herbalists are great. Ghana is endowed with many of them who know serious herbal medicines that can cure many ailments. Unfortunately for us, these rich human resources of *native doctors* had been relegated to the background by our leaders. They are waiting for a world body called the World Health Organization (WHO) to direct them on what to do and to dictate the happenings in every country. Meanwhile, we have native doctors who are equally good when it comes to epidemics and pandemics. The coronavirus is not a foreign disease as most of the symptoms are common to many people. Many herbalists are pleading with the government to allow them to prove their potency by allowing them to administer their drug on people who had contracted the virus. The government had turned deaf ear to them because International Organization had given them funds to combat the situation and thus native doctors (herbalists) do not stand a chance no matter how potent they claim their herb can be. I believe this is the time for us in Africa to prove to the Whiteman that he was wrong about us and will continue to be wrong about everything he thinks of us. What is preventing our leaders from allowing our herbal practitioners (native doctors) to showcase their talent? *What is preventing the government from assembling all the native doctors in Ghana and charging them with one responsibility: find the cure for the virus and let's save our people.* The so called medical doctors are fidgeting in the country and hardly do we hear that certain research is underway to find a cure or vaccine to lower the impact of the virus. We hear them on the radio using the biggest scientist terms and predicting doom if the country is not lockdown amidst threats of sit-downs and a possible strike. They know how much their will benefit if the virus persists: now the government had announced a 50% bonus on their salary in the next three months. Contact tracers are receiving GH150 a day (GH4500 monthly). The whole incidence of the coronavirus is about money-making at the expense of the health of the masses. We ask again, where are our native doctors (herbal medicine practitioners)? What is the government doing with them? How are they contributing their quota to solving the current pandemic as citizens and not spectators? Are we going to wait for WHO to come and announce a date for the vaccine before we open our economy to normal life? It is unfathomable how the whole situation had been shredded in secrecy, massaging and maneuvering of events. Creating unnecessary fear and panics with updates of numbers of infected persons *with some testing kids that might lack credibility and bias as well.* This lockdown is just artificial; our leaders are just fulfilling the will of their masters. Africa is just responding to the call by WHO. Ghana is just doing the biddings of WHO and nothing else and the truth about this coronavirus is fast evaporating. If the government really wants to help the people of Ghana and to wean us from the so-called Global War of Pandemic, then the cure is with us here in our country. The Cure is here in Africa. We must tap into the cure and start vaccinating ourselves with it before the Whiteman comes to spring surprises on us and polarize our health environment with secretive vaccines. God bless our homeland and make our country great and strong. Isaac Ofori TRS Lok Sabha member from Telangana G Ranjith Reddy has urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to bring back Indian students from the UK who reportedly want to return to India in view of the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Britain. Reddy, who represents Chevella in the Lok Sabha, suggested to Jaishankar that Air India flights, which would reportedly take back UK citizens stuck in India, can bring back the Indian students. "I am given to understand that Air India is going to run six flights 4 from Delhi and 2 from Mumbai very soon to take back citizens of the UK stuck in India. "So, I suggest for your favourable consideration that while returning from UK, the same flights can bring Indian students stuck in various parts of UK...," Reddy said in a letter, dated April 4, to Jaishankar. The letter was released to mediahere on Monday. The Indian students can be sent to quarantine for a prescribed period after they land in the country, Reddy said, adding the students can be allowed to go home "only after they are clear from every respect." According to his information, about 380 Indians students from different universities have submitted representation to the Indian High Commissioner in the UK requesting for help to go back to India, he said. Reddy said as many as 50 students are from Telangana and that he is "flooded with requests to rescue them. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The novel coronavirus thats endangering Canadians health could soon threaten their food supply. With just weeks to go before the start of another growing season, the COVID-19 pandemic is already making it harder for farmers across the country to bring in the tens of thousands of temporary, foreign workers they need to get the spring planting and other essential agricultural jobs done. The window of opportunity for farmers and governments to answer this challenge is short. The time to get fields prepared, crops in the ground and orchards pruned is almost here. Without the necessary workforce, many farmers will cut back on what they grow and harvests will be less bountiful. And given the pandemic has already shattered so many long-held assumptions, we cant be sure if it will also disrupt the supply chains that bring fresh produce into this country from the United States. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week warned the Trump administration to keep the border open after medical manufacturer 3M said it was forced to stop exporting N95 face masks to Canada. This country depends on many American products. But who knows what COVID-19 could eventually do to movement across the border? Clearly, our political leaders already have a lot on their plates. But they need to deal with a growing farm labour shortage, too pronto or our plates could be missing some of the things we expect. This isnt to suggest Canadians will go hungry. Given how highly mechanized most farms are today and how a domestic workforce is already in place, many of the farms that produce the foods we deem essential can cope with the changes the pandemic has brought to our society. But lots of other farm operations depend on the 60,000 seasonal agricultural labourers admitted into Canada every year. We have access to such an abundant supply of nutritious, domestically-grown fruits and vegetables including strawberries, apples, tomatoes, asparagus, broccoli, peppers, potatoes and squash because of hard-working foreign labourers who spend part of their year in this country. And, we might add, doing repetitive, manual jobs many Canadians avoid like a plague. Fully aware of just how vital this foreign workforce is, the Canadian government last month decided to allow them to enter the country, provided they self-isolate for 14 days. That was the right move. But the self-isolation means some workers wont be able to help with the busy spring season for two weeks. COVID-19 has also made it harder for foreign workers to get here. There are few flights arriving. The visa offices in Mexico, a country many temporary workers come from, have been closed. Already, Ontario farmers are short of an estimated 3,000 labourers. Some of the impending labour shortage could be filled by Canadians who are unemployed because governments have shut down large sectors of the economy. At least some of the thousands of post-secondary students scrambling for hard-to-get summer employment should be available, too. The federal governments Job Bank should help Canadians seize the opportunities on the farms. Perhaps some people will even welcome it as a way they can help in a crisis. And governments should be ready to do more. One of the problems facing farm labourers is they are often expected to live in cramped living quarters where theyre employed. Such conditions could encourage the spread of COVID-19. But governments could arrange better, temporary living accommodations in some of the rural community centres that are now closed. This pandemic is not going away soon. But neither will Canadas need for food. The coronavirus pandemic has revealed the vulnerabilities of the U.S. oil and gas industry, and that specter cannot be exorcised. Careful market watchers have always known that Saudi Arabia, Russia and the government-owned oil companies in OPEC possess a silver bullet that can kill scrappy North American oil companies. OPEC and Russia have access to vast reserves at very low costs and can flood the market anytime. Now that theyve threatened to do that, the threat feels much more real. The numbers dont add up for Texas producers to compete. A barrel of oil from an existing well in Saudi Arabia has a marginal cost of $4, according to the number crunchers at Wood Mac, the financial data analysis company. In Russia, the short-run marginal cost is $10. CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Stay informed with accurate reporting you can trust Permian Basin shale oil requires $12 just to get it out of the ground, excluding the drilling and financing costs that are far beyond what OPEC and Russia pay. Based solely on operating costs, Texas oil ranks among the most expensive. American oil executives have always assumed the cartel would keep oil prices high, and allow them to compete, due to what the petrostates call social costs. Saudi Arabia, for example, relies on oil revenue for 87 percent of its budget, and the government needs $88.60 a barrel to balance it, according to S&P Global Platts Analytics, which tracks energy markets. The flood of North American oil, though, has kept prices from rising that high again. Saudi Arabia and other OPEC nations are waking up to the fact they must diversify their economies. In the meantime, they are selling assets and borrowing money. But for how long? Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman tried to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin to cut production and drive up prices. The problem with Texans is that when prices go up, we produce more oil and grab market share from Saudi and Russia. Putin is tired of propping up American companies and refused to deal. The prince, known as MBS, decided to teach Putin and the Americans a lesson by promising to reclaim Saudis spot as the worlds largest producer. The MBS-Putin tiff created too much supply as the coronavirus pandemic cratered oil demand. The result is $21-a-barrel oil for West Texas Intermediate, and $25 for Brent, the international benchmark, down from $60 a few months ago. Prices below $30 barrel endanger every U.S. oil company, and even some of the majors, such as Houston-based Occidental Petroleum, which is struggling to avoid bankruptcy. All producers are slashing drilling plans, cutting salaries and laying off tens of thousands of workers. The energy business activity index, produced by the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank, dropped to a historic low last month, signaling a significant contraction in the oil and gas business. The number of operating rigs is plummeting. All this puts President Donald Trump in an awkward spot. He likes low gasoline prices for the American consumer, but his pledge to achieve American Energy Dominance requires OPEC and Russia to prop up prices. Trump has reportedly been on the phone with Putin and MBS, urging them to reach a deal. But even if they do, there remains the problem of reduced demand due to the new coronavirus. Tomlinsons Take: Drivers need our support to keep on trucking in age of coronavirus The pandemic has caused oil consumption to drop more than 7 million barrels a day, and that oil is filling up storage. IHS Markit, a consulting firm that tracks these things, says storage will be full by summer if producers shut-in wells. This glut will likely suppress prices into 2022. Investors who have already abandoned the oil and gas industry will not come back anytime soon. They have learned that MBS and Putin can pull the rug out from under U.S. producers anytime they want. North American oil companies have been relying on a murderous dictator and a self-appointed czar to fix prices for their business plans to work. That is one heck of a business plan, and thats before investors start to question how the coronavirus will permanently change consumption patterns. When oil prices rose following the 2014 bust, I warned readers that not all the lost jobs would come back, nor would the market ever again sustain prices above $110 a barrel. Sadly, this latest bust may be another step down in the oil markets, bringing prices permanently lower. What were witnessing now is more than routine volatility in the oil markets. These low prices signal a long-term, secular shift, and the dark presence of low prices will haunt the oil patch for a long time to come. Tomlinson writes commentary about business, economics and policy. twitter.com/cltomlinson chris.tomlinson@chron.com ALEPPO, Syria In an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the Syrian opposition-led interim government has authorized the use of distance learning at all levels of education until further notice. The Ministry of Education in a March 29 statement gave educational institution leaders the go-ahead to activate virtual learning. Though the ministry didn't mention any specific plan, it gave the people in charge the leeway to choose the most appropriate learning method. Educational institutions have been closed since March 14 because of the virus. Such a dangerous epidemic will have disastrous consequences if it reaches the towns, cities and camps in northwest Syria, which are filled with displaced people. That's why it was absolutely necessary to close the schools preemptively, Education Minister Huda al-Absi told Al-Monitor. We started working on the distance learning program March 29, and gave the executive officers at the ministrys directorates and universities the freedom to opt for a method deemed easy and appropriate. The "Digital School" program, which seems to be the preferred option, has been launched in many opposition-held areas. It consists of an electronic platform involving 3,000 lessons based on the modified Syrian curriculum, which the ministry approved. "Digital School seems to be a good e-learning platform for intermediate and secondary schools. It's an important option we suggested to the education directorates in opposition-held areas. Such a platform can ensure that the students continue to learn from home. Yet Digital School is not mandatory for the students for many reasons, most notably that many of them lack access to the internet, computers and mobile phones," Absi said. The ministry will be working to boost cooperation with Digital School, to adopt it as an e-learning platform and facilitate access to its content. That could be achieved by broadcasting the lessons and lectures on a TV station, for instance." Osman Hajawi, dean of the pharmacy program at the University of Aleppo, noted how easily COVID-19 could have spread among schools teeming with students. The educational centers in Aleppo countryside were filled with students," he told Al-Monitor. "Subsequently, they could seriously have increased the spread of the coronavirus, which poses a threat to the lives of students and teaching staff. That's why it was decided to close them. E-learning will also help fill the gap in students' education created by the civil war, Digital School general coordinator Abdallah Zanjir told Al-Monitor. "The Syrians have faced many challenges, notably that the learning process was interrupted by Syrian regime forces targeting the schools, and the countrys instability. The urgent need for education led to creation of Digital School, which can help during this epidemic and in other times as well, given the [general] circumstances under which the Syrians live in the opposition-held areas. Ali Bakkour, an eighth-grade student in northern Aleppo province, told Al-Monitor, Distance learning is comfortable, and the lessons the Digital School gives are very useful. I'm able to understand the daily lessons and do the homework. Bakkour, who started using the online lessons April 1, said, I am following two lectures per day and doing the homework after making sure that I understand the lesson. I can repeat the lesson when anything is unclear. Some teachers in the opposition-held areas use other distance-learning methods. Ahmed Abu Hamza, for example, opened a WhatsApp channel to follow up on his students learning process after the schools closed. He told Al-Monitor, "E-learning requires having the appropriate means and applications. There is an internet problem in opposition-held areas, and the children do not have their own devices. Also, the parents seem to have concerns about this new experiment. Ahmad al-Ali, a math teacher in northern Aleppo, told Al-Monitor, Digital School is a tool to explain the curriculum. It cant, however, test the students. Based on that, it can't be an alternative for regular schools. Abu al-Alaa al-Halabi, a news correspondent for Enab Baladi, told Al-Monitor, E-learning requires that the students or families have in hand digital devices with a fast internet connection. But this isn't the case in northern Syria, as many families can't afford to provide such things to their children in light of the hard living conditions. It seems that for now the distance learning experience will remain limited in northwestern Syria, where a large number of displaced and poor people are crammed into camps without proper network access or equipment. Meanwhile, the opposition-led Education Ministry doesn't have the ability to remedy the situation. On February 28, Doctor Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, expressed that there was no need for the entire community to wear face masks. Healthcare workers should be prioritized for face mask issuances. This announcement originating from a CDC director was an official directive during that time. This means that as a large volume of Asian nations wears masks, US citizens remain to roam the country mask-less. Change of Plans In just a month, the CDC had changed its statement regarding the use of face masks, says an article. During a briefing conducted on Friday with the White House coronavirus task force, US President Donald Trump stated that all US citizens are advised to wear face masks when going outside their homes. Do Face Masks Protect You From Getting COVID-19? According to Trump's statement on Friday, the order to wear face masks is not mandatory. The US government will not provide face masks to every US citizen. However, he suggested that everyone may do so by making use of certain materials to use as a face mask when they leave the house. He even suggested the use of scarves as face masks. The CDC Now Recommends US Citizens to Wear Face Masks On the CDC's coronavirus page, it is not recommending every citizen of the county to wear a cloth face cover when going out. For example, everyone who is going on a trip to the grocery stores should wear masks. According to a statement on the page, the face mask does not offer protection from the illness. However, it will serve as protection in case a person is sick. This means that wearing a face mask means that it is an act of personal protection rather than unselfishness. Singapore's Study on Presymptomatic Transmission of the COVID-19 This new guidance from the US government came two days after a study from Singapore on the presymptomatic transmission of the COVID-19 was published. Presymptomatic transmission occurs when an infected individual is not yet showing symptoms of the COVID-19 and continues their daily routine. This results in an unintentional spread of the COVID-19. Check these out: How Effective is Social Distancing at Battling the COVID-19 Pandemic? The Life and Death of the Red Princess of Spain COVID-19 Recoveries: Is the World Winning the Fight? How does wearing face masks prevent presymptomatic transmission of COVID-19? According to the study, presymptomatic transmission typically happens between one to three days before infected individuals showcase symptoms of the illness. These symptoms include shortness of breath, high fever, and dry cough. It was also discovered that one in eight infections of COVID-19 in China was a result of presymptomatic transmission among those who were unknowingly positive for the deadly novel coronavirus. When people wear face masks, they are prevented from releasing viral droplets when they cough or sneeze. When every citizen in the country wears a face mask, then the presymptomatic transmission can be lessened. PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-06 17:01:03 ANPI is the Jack Ma Foundations flagship philanthropic program in Africa, and aims to give entrepreneurs across Africa a platform to develop their talent and business ideas, and inspire others to pursue entrepreneurship Now in its second year, the Africas Business Heroes (ABH) prize competition will open applications in French and English, and award a pool of US$1.5 million in grant money to ten finalists Open to entrepreneurs across all sectors and African countries, ABH has a special focus on those building up their local communities and working to solve the most pressing problems Jack Ma Foundations Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI) Launches Search for Africas Business Heroes Press Contacts Holly Zhao (+1)5054693316 holly.zhao@alibaba-inc.com Miriam Forte (+44)7534247780 m.forte@alibaba-inc.com The Jack Ma Foundation announced today it has officially launched the second edition of the Africas Business Heroes (ABH) prize competition with applications now open to African entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries, as well as every sector, age group, and gender. Applications will also now be available in both French and English. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005 Top 10 Winners from 2019 Africas Business Heroes Prize Competition (Photo: Business Wire) The ABH prize competition and show is organized by the Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI), the Jack Ma Foundations flagship philanthropic program in Africa. ABH made its debut last year, and aims to identify, support and inspire the next generation of African entrepreneurs who are making a difference in their local communities, working to solve the most pressing problems, and building a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the future. Every year, ten finalists will be selected to compete in a finale pitch competition show that will be broadcast online and across the continent. At this years grand finale, all ten finalists will share a prize pool of US$1.5 million, up from $1 million last year, as well as gain access to the ANPI community of business leaders to leverage the communitys shared expertise, best practice, training and resources. Last year, the prize received nearly 10,000 applications from 50 African countries. The 2019 top ten finalists pitched their business ideas to a prominent judging panel during a televised grand-finale show in Accra, Ghana. The finalists represented a variety of industries including cloud kitchens, tech agribusiness, healthcare and pharma, e-commerce, consumer goods, and water supply solutions. It was an incredible honor to be named Africas Business Hero last year. The Prize enabled me to expand to multiple states in Nigeria and become a truly pan-Nigerian business, and I was truly inspired by my experience and by all my fellow winners. I am looking forward to serving as an Ambassador for this years prize and to seeing the next group of entrepreneurs come forward to showcase the best of Africas entrepreneurial spirit and strength, said Temie Giwa-Tubosun, founder and CEO, LifeBank. We find ourselves in unprecedented and extraordinary times. Now, more than ever, we need entrepreneurs with courage, initiative, and vision to do what they do best solve problems for society. With this prize competition, we are looking to inspire and reward African business heroes in all sectors and encourage any aspiring applicants to seize this opportunity to break through barriers and create hope for the future, said Jason Pau, Senior Advisor for International Programs, Jack Ma Foundation. Global leaders Graca Machel, Chair of the Graca Machel Trust Board and Ban Ki-moon, Former UN Secretary- General and Co-chair of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens serve on the ANPI advisory board. Over a ten-year period, the ANPI will recognize 100 African entrepreneurs and commit to allocating US$100 million in grant funding, training programs, and support for the broad African entrepreneurial ecosystem. This year, ANPI will work with a select group of Anchor Partners, including Ashesi, Dalberg, Janngo and RiseUp to identify and support African entrepreneurs. ANPI will also partner with Pulse.Africa to highlight stories of African entrepreneur heroes. More partners will be announced in due course. In addition, Anita Erskine, UN SDG Advocate and Founder of the STEM Woman Project, joins ANPI to serve as the official host of Africas Business Heroes program and Brand Ambassador. Her advocacy for social good reflects the boldness, creativity and strength that the Prize will be looking for in their entrepreneur heroes. Applications will be open online from April 6th to June 9th 2020 with semi-finalists announced in August, and the top ten finalists for 2020 unveiled in September. To apply and for more information about ANPI, please visit: africabusinessheroes.org and follow @africa_heroes on Twitter. About ANPI The ANPI is the flagship philanthropic initiative spearheaded by the Jack Ma Foundation aimed at supporting and inspiring the next generation of African entrepreneurs across all sectors, who are building a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the future of the continent. Over a ten-year period, ANPI will recognize 100 African entrepreneurs and commit to allocating US$100 million in grant funding, training programs, and support for the development of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. The ANPI organizes the Africa's Business Heroes prize competition and show, in which ten finalists have the opportunity to pitch their business to win a share of $1.5 million in grant money. Jack Ma, Founder of Alibaba Group and the Jack Ma Foundation, first created the prize after he made his first trip to Africa in July 2017 and was inspired by the energy and entrepreneurial potential of the young people he met with. About Jack Ma Foundation Established by Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba Group, the Jack Ma Foundation was founded on 15 December 2014 and has been focusing on education, entrepreneurship, womens leadership, and the environment. The Foundation aspires to be a reliable, participative, and sustainable philanthropic organisation. The Jack Ma Foundation has so far supported projects worldwide including the Jack Ma Rural Education Program, the Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative, the Ma & Morley Scholarship Program, and Jordan's Queen Rania Foundation. Additionally, the Foundation has also funded a number of projects in its priority areas. The Jack Ma Foundation is committed to empowering rural educators, entrepreneurs, rural children, young start-ups, and women to equip them for the future and to help build a happier, healthier, more sustainable and more inclusive society. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005 F oreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said that the Government is working "full throttle" while Boris Johnson works from hospital as he battles coronavirus. Speaking at the daily Covid-19 press conference at Downing Street on Monday, Mr Raab insisted that the Prime Minister is "still in charge" and his instructions are being implemented. It comes after the PM was taken to St Thomas' hospital during the weekend as his symptoms continued to persist, with Mr Raab chairing the Government's coronavirus meeting on Monday instead. When asked if he was ready to lead in Mr Johnson's place, the Foreign Secretary later added: Look, hes (Mr Johnson) in charge, but hell continue to take doctors advice on what to do next. 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 He said the team was full throttle making sure that his directions and his instructions are being implemented and followed through whether its the purchase of ventilators through to the diplomatic effort to return UK nationals who are stranded abroad. Mr Raab also reiterated that the Prime Minister was admitted to hospital as a precaution only. Boris Johnson tweets he's 'in good spirits' after being admitted to hospital with Covid-19 symptoms The Foreign Secretary said: He was admitted to hospital for tests as a precaution only and that was because some of the symptoms that he had when he first tested positive had persisted. Hes had a comfortable night in St Thomas (Hospital), hes in good spirits, and hes being regularly updated. A policeman walks past a people exercising with a dog in Roundhay Park, Leeds / PA And he still remains in charge of the Government and we are getting on with all of the various strands of work to make sure at home and abroad we can defeat the virus and pull the country through coronavirus and the challenges that undoubtedly were facing at the moment. Asked if the PM was taking a risk by continuing to work, Mr Raab said: Just to be clear, the PM both in terms of going into St Thomas yesterday was taking the advice of doctors, so hes followed the doctors advice there and, in terms of his recovery in the days ahead, will continue to do so. A woman walks past a boarded up restaurant in Edinburgh's Old Town as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. / PA On the lockdown exit strategy for the UK, he said: The risk right now is if we take our focus off the strategy which is beginning to work, is that we wont get through the peak as fast as we need to, which is why its perfectly legitimate to ask the question, but the Governments over-riding priority has got to be to keep up the work and the commitment that so many people have made to make sure that we maintain the social distancing, we stop the spread, we protect the NHS as we come through the peak. Mr Raab also said he would not comment on security matters when asked if he had taken over any of the Prime Ministers security responsibilities. He said Mr Johnson was being kept abreast of developments. Pressed again on why Mr Johnson is sick enough to be in hospital but well enough to be running the country, Mr Raab said: Thats something he will decide on the medical advice hes received from his doctor. Chief Medical Office Professor Chris Whitty, who joined his first press briefing since recovering from Covid-19, said he was not responsible for recommending Mr Johnson went to hospital, and praised the PMs medical advisers as outstanding. Asked about the pneumonia risk to Mr Johnson, Prof Whitty said: Im absolutely not going to discuss any individual patient nor, to be clear, do I have all the details; nor should I as this is an issue between him and his medical advisers. File photo of Cui Tiankai, Chinese ambassador to the U.S. /Xinhua Cui Tiankai, Chinese ambassador to the U.S., on Sunday called on China and the U.S. to work together against the coronavirus, as COVID-19 continues to sweep across the world. "We will always remember that in our most difficult days, our friends in so many places many of them Americans, many of them New Yorkers offered us a helping hand. We stand ready now to repay their kindness and help them make it through too," Cui said in an article published in the New York Times. "There has been unpleasant talk between our nations about this disease. But this is not the time for finger-pointing. This is a time for solidarity, collaboration and mutual support," Cui said. "That is why over 100 Chinese public health experts have traveled abroad to save lives. That is why we are sending test kits, protective masks and medical equipment to overrun hospitals in the United States and many other countries. That is why we are sharing expertise and hard-learned lessons with countries seeking information and answers." The ambassador said China has been providing updates about the disease in a responsible manner, including setting up an online COVID-19 knowledge center that's available to all countries and that the country is doing whatever it can to support the United States and other countries in need. New York, America's epicenter of the pandemic, is one of the biggest destinations of China's assistance, Cui said. "We are facilitating the U.S. government's purchase of personal protective equipment made in China. Indeed, factories are operating in full swing to fulfill the orders of medical supplies from New York State and other parts of America. China's provincial and city governments are rushing to help their sister states and cities in America too. And donations are pouring in from the country's business sector." Many Australians are still ignoring warnings to stay at home to help combat the spread of coronavirus. More than 100 Victorians who recently returned from overseas have been caught breaching self-isolation laws during police checks in the last week. Of almost 400 checks on returned travellers ordered to self-isolate for 14 days, 99 weren't home, much to health minister Jenny Mikakos' dismay. Sydneysiders aren't much better and are still flocking to closed beaches in the city's eastern suburbs in their droves, two weeks after Bondi was shut down indefinitely due to social distancing breaches. Dozens of swimmers had a splash at Mackenzies Bay on Sunday, despite being closed While Bondi's famous foreshore was deserted on the weekend, it was a different story at Mackenzies Bay, a secluded rocky inlet between Bondi and Tamarama. It's also popular with surfers as a well-known surf break. Photos show dozens of swimmers in the water and on the rocks fishing and sunbaking to soak up the autumn sunshine. That's despite the beach being off limits and closely monitored by Waverley Council rangers who have erected fences and ordered countless swimmers and surfers out of the water in recent days. The council's website states Mackenzies Bay is closed in addition to Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte beaches. 'The community is being asked to act responsibly and to comply with the restrictions so that the spread of the Covid-19 can be slowed,' the website states. Sydneysiders are still flocking to Mackenzies Bay to swim and sunbake on the rocks Daily Mail Australia has contacted Waverley Council for comment. The local government has the highest rate of coronavirus in NSW with 163 cases. Coogee, Maroubra and Clovelly have also closed in recent weeks while Manly and nearby beaches were closed on Sunday due to large gatherings but have since reopened. NSW Police now have the powers to issue on the spot $1000 fines and prosecute individuals and corporations for breaching Public Health Order directions. The maximum penalty for individuals is a fine of up to $11,000 and or six months jail. There was no sign of council rangers in sight to order these swimmers out of the water at secluded inlet Mackenzies Bay on Sunday While Bondi Beach was deserted, beachgoers flouted the rules at nearby inlet Mackenzies Bay NSW Police have issued at least 43 penalty infringement notices since last Thursday. One man, 21, will face court on Monday charged with a string of offences after an incident at Bondi Beach on Sunday. Police will allege the man failed to comply with the 'beach closed' signs and was arrested after he refused to follow move-on directions. The man then allegedly coughed at an officer, claiming to have coronavirus. Swimmers and sunbakers weren't the only ones at Mackenzies Bay on the weekend. This keen angler was spotted on the rocks Meanwhile Victoria's Health Minister Jenny Mikakos is 'incredibly disappointed' at the 99 caught not self-isolating in the last week. 'Those individuals are putting their fellow Victorians at risk,' she told reporters on Saturday. 'It's really important that they understand that, since last Sunday, we have now been quarantining return travellers in hotels, but for those who returned prior to the start of those changes they are still required to self-quarantine for the full 14 days. 'No exceptions.' Victorians who breaching self-isolation faces fines of more than $1,600. The US naval commander whose widely publicized plea for help for his coronavirus-affected crew led to his dismissal has reportedly himself tested positive for the disease. Captain Brett Croziers COVID-19 test result was reported Sunday by the New York Times, just hours after US Defense Secretary Mark Esper defended the captains firing. Esper told ABC that Navy Secretary Thomas Modly had made a tough decision, tough call in deciding to fire Crozier from his command of the aircraft carrier USS Roosevelt, now docked in Guam. Asked about a report that President Donald Trump wanted Crozier fired, Esper replied, This was the secretarys call. He came and briefed me ... It was the secretarys call. I told him I would support it. The firing was widely condemned as a callous and unfair punishment of a respected officer who was looking out for the welfare of his crew when he implored his superiors to let him quickly vacate the ship after it docked in Guam. We are not at war, Crozier wrote in a letter that leaked to the press. Sailors do not need to die. But some senior Pentagon officials said Crozier erred by letting his plea go public. Crozier demonstrated extremely poor judgment in the middle of a crisis, needlessly worrying family members and undermining the chain of command, Modly said. Trump, speaking in a news conference Saturday, supported the dismissal. He shouldnt be talking that way in a letter, he said of Crozier. I thought it was terrible what he did. The Times, in reporting Croziers test result, cited two of his former classmates at the US Naval Academy. It said he had begun exhibiting symptoms before leaving the ship on Thursday. Hundreds of sailors cheered Crozier as he left the ship, as seen in video that quickly went viral. Some called him a hero. Democrats have also sharply criticized the dismissal. Joe Biden, the leading Democratic candidate for president, condemned the firing on Sunday, telling ABC it was close to criminal. I think he should have a commendation rather than be fired,the former vice president said. And a statement from Democratic leaders of the House Armed Services Committee said Crozier might not have handled the matter perfectly, but that his dismissal was an overreaction. Protection and readiness Esper declined Sunday to say whether other Pentagon leaders agreed with the firing, pointing to an ongoing investigation. He told CNN that more than half the Roosevelts 4,800-member crew had now been tested for the coronavirus. In all, 155 sailors tested positive but none required hospitalization, he said. Croziers dismissal came as the Pentagon struggles, amid the spreading pandemic, to maintain the readiness of its air, sea and ground forces worldwide. We have had to cancel exercises. Weve had to constrain basic training, for example, Esper said, before adding, We think those are all manageable. Esper pointed to the particular challenges facing the military -- it is impossible to respect social distancing in a crowded bomber plane or in the confinement of a nuclear submarine, he told ABC. He said the military overall was ahead of the curve in balancing troops health and military readiness. The military has also been called to help the fight against the coronavirus inside the US. Trump said Saturday that 1,000 military personnel, mostly doctors and nurses, would be deployed to help in New York City, the epicenter of the US outbreak. Troops have already been helping out at the Javits Convention Center, which has been transformed into an enormous hospital. But an increasing number of people have been caught breaking self-quarantine orders over the weekend. As of 6 p.m. Saturday, a total of 37,248 people were in self-quarantine across the country, 79 percent of them after returning or traveling from abroad. The number has swollen by more than 5,000 a day since all arrivals from overseas have been ordered to quarantine themselves for two weeks since April 1. A considerable proportion of recent coronavirus patients arrived from overseas or were infected by family members who have been abroad. The Gunpo city government in Gyeonggi Province on Saturday filed a police complaint against a married couple in their 50s and their daughter who had tested positive for coronavirus. The husband had ventured outside their home for the last seven days and the wife for six days. When they were ordered to quarantine themselves, they were also told to install a smartphone app that can monitor them, which they refused to do. "Unlike foreigners or Korean evacuees from overseas, we can't force locals who did not travel overseas to install the smartphone app," a city spokesman said. But an investigation suggests that they routinely ventured outside but left their smartphones at home to avoid GPS tracking. In Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, three Vietnamese students who were in self-quarantine went to a nearby park for five hours last Friday but left their phones at their residence. They now face deportation by the Justice Ministry. An 18-year-old Korean student from the U.S. was found in Busan on Saturday to have taken a large dose of antipyretics right before boarding a plane at a U.S. airport and passed quarantine inspections here. With many people taking advantage of quarantine loopholes, a spokesman for the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said health officials and police officers will make surprise visits to check. He warned that anyone violating self-quarantine orders faces jail for up to a year or a fine of up to W10 million effective Sunday" (US$1=W1,236). Until Saturday, violators were just fined up to W3 million. The self-diagnosis app sends an alarm to an official in charge if a person in self-quarantine is 30 m away from his or her home. But of the 59 violators caught nationwide as of Sunday, only 28 were discovered by the app. A ministry official said, "We call them only when they fail to report on their health on a daily basis by simply ticking their status on the app." Ma Sang-hyuk of the doctors' association in South Gyeongsang Province said, "There are inevitably many violators if we rely only on the app and people's sense of civic responsibility to control those in self-quarantine." The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has rejected the federal governments proposed invitation of an 18-member Chinese medical team to support the countrys fight against coronavirus. The NMA President, Francis Faduyile, in a statement Sunday said the move is a misplaced priority. He described it as a thing of embarrassment to the membership of the Association and other health workers who are giving their best in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic under deplorable working conditions. The plan of inviting an 18-member team of Chinese medical experts to Nigeria has been criticised since it was announced Friday by health minister, Osagie Ehanire. The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) had advised the federal government against the plan, saying it was unnecessary to invite Chinese doctors as Nigeria was already handling the crisis effectively. Clarification But the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Garba Abari, further clarified the reasons behind the proposed visit on Saturday. He said the Chinese medical team were only coming to share experiences with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and not to directly take charge of the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in the country. According to him, they will be sharing experiences on how the pandemic was handled in China and giving expert suggestions to our medical teams. Whatever information the Chinese medical team makes available to NCDC will be filtered and applied to address the peculiar challenges of the country on handling the COVID-19 scourge. This is a global pandemic and from wherever assistance comes, you cannot reject it, the official noted. Rejection The clarification, however, did not stop Nigerian doctors from opposing the plan. Rejecting the invitation, the NMA president said the government in arriving at the decision, did not take into consideration the extant laws regulating the practice of medicine in Nigeria as enshrined in the Medical and Dental Council Act. This is one such circumstance where the Medical and Dental Council of Nigerian should be consulted to grant necessary approvals to foreigners to interact with Nigerian patients, Mr Faduyile explained. He also said the association of Nigerian doctors was subjected to the ignominy of not being carried along in arriving at such a decision. Read the Full Statement Below (1) The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) received the news of the intention of the Federal Government of Nigeria to invite Chinese doctors into the country at this time of a global pandemic with great dismay and utter disappointment. (2) It is a thing of embarrassment to the membership of the Association and other health workers who are giving their best in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic under deplorable working conditions, and a fragile health system to be subjected to the ignominy of not being carried along in arriving at such a decision. (3) The lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), grossly inadequate test kits and test centres across the country, and the absolute lack of any form of insurance for the workforce are primordial issues begging for attention at this time. (4) We are therefore profoundly dismayed to learn that the Federal Government is instead inviting the Chinese who from available accounts are not out of the woods themselves. The spike in cases and the death toll from COVID -19 in Italy coincided with the arrival of the Chinese in the guise of offering assistance. Even the United Nations has only just recently commended the efforts of Nigeria so far. (5) The Association notes with grave concern that the Government did not take into consideration the extant laws regulating the practice of medicine in Nigeria as enshrined in the Medical and Dental Council Act. This is one such circumstance where the Medical and Dental Council of Nigerian should be consulted to grant necessary approvals to foreigners to interact with Nigerian patients. (6) The Association appreciates the commendable work done by doctors and health workers at the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the various isolation centres across the country. It expects the Government to show appreciation by channelling the available resources and donations to improving testing facilities to detect more cases and ramp up capacity to train more workers. (7) The Association is aware of a large pool of General Medical and Specialist Practitioners who are either unemployed or underemployed that can be engaged instead of bringing foreigners who aside from national security concerns may not be conversant with our culture, terrain and peculiar challenges. Advertisements (8) The Association believes that this invitation is ill-timed and of no overbearing significance considering that whatever experiences the Chinese have can be shared by digital technology through conferencing bearing in mind that Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu has only just returned from China. We are not averse to the donation of equipment and supplies because we can always do with such support as even the developed countries receive support. (9) In rejecting the invitation of the Chinese doctors, the NMA would instead urge the Federal Government to review and approve better welfare incentives to the frontline medical personnel. The provision of adequate personal protective equipment, opening and properly equipping more isolation centres and health facilities across the country is an excellent first step. Deploying more resources to facilitate testing as we are beginning to witness community transmission of COVID 19 is equally a better application of scarce resources. (10) The Government should declare a state of emergency in the Health sector and use the opportunity to fix our health institutions as a matter of urgency in a bid to stem the rot. (11) The NMA urges the Government to expand the Presidential Task Force to include other critical stakeholders including journalists and the civil society to ensure more robust engagement especially as the decisions of the task force has implications for the health, wealth and security of our country. (12) It is a great disservice to the morale of the long-suffering frontline health workforce if the Government goes ahead to invite these Chinese doctors. The invitation demeans their sacrifices so far in this pandemic. We fail to see how the 18 man team would impact the current efforts in any significant way. (13) The Association, however, expects that the Government would rescind the decision in the overall interest of the country. (14) The NMA would loathe reviewing her participation in the fight against COVID-19 considering the grave implications and the risk to the lives of her members should the Government go ahead with this ill-thought-out invitation at this time. (15) The Association remains committed to the Nigerian people and the Government. We support the efforts of our frontline health workers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and we expect reciprocal trust from the Government. Signed: Dr. Francis A. Faduyile NMA PRESIDENT. (Repeats story that ran on Friday afternoon) 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. 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. Story continues Samsung has only a small presence in China and sells most of its premium 5G phones in other markets. IMPACT ON BOTTOMLINE 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) Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. Dr. Rachael Bedard is the senior director of geriatrics and complex care services at New York Citys jail complex on Rikers Island. For the past few years, Bedard has worked primarily with the sick and elderly at the jail as part of NYC Correctional Health Services. Lately, shes had that same anxious feeling a lot of doctors have had as the coronavirus has hit the city. According to the Legal Aid Society, the infection rate at Rikers is nearly eight times the infection rate for the rest of New York City. On Sunday, the first infected inmate in Rikers died. Bedard is trying to help patients there as much as she can, but Rikers, like jails across the country, is not built for a crisis like this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Mondays episode of Slates daily news podcast What Next, I spoke with Bedard about what Rikers and others jails need to do to save their inmates from COVID-19. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Mary Harris: What was the first conversation you remember having at work about the coronavirus? Rachael Bedard: The first conversation I really remember was a text exchange that I had with my boss when somebody else had tweeted something like, This virus is going to be a disaster for correctional settings. Someone described it as seeing a tsunami coming from the shore. When Ive talked about jails recently, Ive described them as the worlds worst cruise ship crossed with the worlds worst nursing home, plus violence. Its people who are trapped together, reliant on communal services for things like food and recreation. And my patients are particularly vulnerable. Advertisement Advertisement The only meaningful intervention here would be to reduce the jail population. Rachael Bedard How are the conditions inside Rikers like or unlike whats going on outside? Theyre not even comparable. Rikers buildings are quite decrepit and have had very little investment over the past 20 years. There are rotting floors where patients are at risk of falling through. Patients and colleagues have described seeing rodents in their housing areas. The buildings are drafty in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable. Advertisement Youve talked about having dorm meetings with inmates to try to explain how they can protect themselves. Given whats happening now, can you take me inside one of those? When we talk about dorms, were really talking about these large barracks-style rooms where there are 35 or 45 guys in one entirely open room, sleeping in cots that are a few feet apart from one another. They have a shared bathroom with maybe three sinks for all of them to use. The inmates share showers. They share toilets. Theres very, very little privacy, as you might imagine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It sounds like an ideal breeding ground for an infectious disease. Absolutely. I talk to my patients in the infirmary and tell them: Were going to do our very best to keep you safe here. Please wash your hands as frequently as you can. Try to kind of stay apart from one another. But their beds are not even 6 feet apart. Theres no way for them to observe social distancing. Its not just that people are trapped near one another, but they also dont get to do things for themselves. So when a person in a housing area needs to be moved to the clinic for evaluation, an officer has to open a gate and walk them down the hall. When a person goes to the hospital, they are transported on a bus with officers at their side. When people move from one facility to another, they might be handcuffed. When they are given medication, a pharmacist holds the medication and gives it to them. When theyre given their meals, a worker comes around with trays and hands them out. Theres just an incredible amount of excess contact that happens in this setting that is a function of jail and cant really be minimized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know you doctors are doing everything you can, but I imagine you must feel the frustration of not being able to reach everyone in their time of need. Jail is a terrible place to be sick. If youre in a hospital or at home, there are ways for you to call out for help and reach a person whom you trust to come and help you. But everything in jail is like a game of broken telephone. A person in their cell might be getting sicker, and that might not come to attention for a while. And then, when it does, it might be to an officer and not to a health professional. And its on that officer, who has many other things to do, to then communicate that so the right response happens. Advertisement Advertisement In the situation were in right now, where people are sick in this acute wayjails a really hard place to take care of a lot of people like that. So its been clear to myself and my colleagues since the beginning that the only meaningful intervention here would be to reduce the jail population. Youre not the only people saying that. The New York City Board of Correction wrote this letter weeks ago basically saying, We know the best efforts we have will not be enough to prevent the transmission of this virus in Rikers. The board recommended releasing people over 50 as well as people with underlying conditions, people who are there for administrative reasons like a technical violation of parole or failing to meet curfew, and people serving sentences under a year. But how many people are still inside? Advertisement Advertisement I think today there are about 4,400. The challenge is the amount that we need the population to decrease to make a real difference in terms of the public health benefit. Were not there yet. And its not just about how many detainees are sharing a dormits also about staffing. If you have a dorm that has 30 people and now youve released a bunch and have 18 people, you still need staff for that dorm. There are still officers there 24/7. Theres still health staff coming around to give up medications and check on people. There are still workers giving out those meal trays. So all of that movement in and out is whats going to make it impossible for us to totally say that we have anything contained. Advertisement Ive seen this compelling argument made that when you think about jails, you have to think about them not just in terms of the people inside but like a continuous churn of people coming in and out on a daily basis. Advertisement Advertisement Jails are the emergency rooms of correctional facilities. Most people who come in and out of jails in this country spend relatively few nights there. Jails are not fortresses, and theyre not closed systems. They are very, very permeable. That applies for everybody coming in and out: the detainees, the officers, health staff, attorneys, and visitors. I saw that there are multiple correctional officers who have died already. Thats extraordinary and devastating. Those folks are not health professionals. They dont need to be on the front lines of this crisis, but they are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What does a good response look like here? What would you have done from the beginning? I wouldnt do a ton differently from what we have done in terms of the health care response. We have aggressively tried to identify people with symptomswe are really lucky that we can test those people and that weve had tests for a long time. We can separate the people who are positive and keep a really close eye on them. On the facilities side, I wish that our patients had better access to cleaning supplies and more control over their environment than theyre allowed in jail. What are some of the stories youve heard from patients who are unable to get what they need? Advertisement At least a couple of weeks ago, it was true that things were clogged and nonfunctional, or toilets were overflowing, or there were 40 men sharing a bathroom. One issue is being able to keep up with things as they break down from use. The other thing is that surfaces are very seldom disinfected. Also, business visits were cut off several weeks ago. The only access our patients have to the outside world right now is a shared telephone in the dorm. And that means that you have 30 or 35 guys who are lining up to hold the same phone receiver up to their mouths. Theyre supposed to have access to supplies to be able to wipe it down between uses. But can I say with certainty that that is actually happening, that those supplies dont run out? I cant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I wish the jail population were even lower than it is now. If I could change anything about the past month, I would have preferred that we got more people out faster. Having said that, its still vitally important that we get as many people out now as we can. The team at What Next is committed to covering as many angles of this coronavirus outbreak as we can. You can help. Call and leave us a message. The number is 202-888-2588. Tell me how youre getting through lockdown. Tell me about your work situation. Tell me how youre staying positive. Tell me what is freaking you out. Your message will inform our coverage. We might even play it on the show. You can also find me on Twitter. Im @marysdesk. Listen to the full episode using the player below, or subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Senator Steve Daines (R., Mont.) has asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to investigate Chinas role in covering up the initial outbreak of coronavirus as the world continues to battle the global pandemic. As you know, prior to China locking down Wuhan and Hubei Province on January 23, 2020, there were early indications that a SARS-type virus had jumped from an animal host and had begun to infect humans, Daines wrote in the letter. What is more alarming was that despite official denials, indications of human-to-human transmission were clearly evident by early January. He also slammed Chinese officials for spreading baseless conspiracy theories by suggesting the virus had originated in the U.S., calling it a simplistic attempt to muddy the waters for those that are easily swayed or misinformed. The American people deserve to have the information to truly understand why they are making the sacrifices that they are, Daines stated. Additionally, we must discover the truth about the origins of this disease in order to better prepare ourselves against another future pandemic. Daines is not the first U.S. lawmaker to call for an expose into Chinas initial handling of the virus, with Senator Josh Hawley (R., Mo.) and Representative Elise Stefanik (R., N.Y.) calling for an international investigation to determine how the governments coverup hastened the emergence of a global pandemic last month. Senator Rick Scott (R., Fla.) has also said the World Health Organization needs to be held accountable for their role in promoting misinformation and helping Communist China cover up a global pandemic. Recent reports have also suggested that a theory dismissed by Chinas government, which linked the viruss outbreak to the Wuhan Institute of Virology Chinas only infectious disease lab may have something to it. More from National Review The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has denied claims that Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele, is its brand ambassador. This is coming on the heels of Akindeles arrest for violating the government-ordered lockdown and ban on large gatherings after she hosted a celebrity-studded house party in honour of her husband, JJC Skills, on Saturday. Though the actress on Sunday apologised for the action, she was arrested at her residence in Amen Estate off the Lekki-Epe Expressway and taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba. The police have also summoned her husband and Naira Marley who were at the party. Until her arrest, the actress had been the face of the DettolNigeria/NCDC campaigns for personal hygiene and social distancing sensitisation against the pandemic. In reaction, the NCDC said on its verified Twitter account on Sunday that the agency had no connection with the actress as a brand ambassador. As an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, NCDC has not engaged brand ambassadors as part of our response to #COVID19 We continue to emphasise that all Nigerians maintain #socialdistancing to prevent the spread of #COVID19#StayHomeStaySafe https://t.co/jPquFV2Y9u NCDC (@NCDCgov) April 5, 2020 As an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, NCDC has not engaged brand ambassadors as part of our response to COVID-19. We continue to emphasise that all Nigerians maintain social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID, it wrote Meanwhile, DettolNigeria, which contracted Funke as their brand ambassador, has condemned the actress misconduct. We have been made aware through social media that Funke Akindele recently, acting in her personal capacity, had a celebration which is against the caution to the public on social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, it said. The NCDC partnered with Dettol on a public service message to educate our communities about preventive measures against COVID-19. Funke is not a brand ambassador of the NCDC. The company frowned at the breach of order regarding COVID-19 pandemic. As a responsible organisation and brand, Dettol does not condone any breach of the guidelines on COVID-19. The company did not, however, state if it would take any action on its partnership with the actress. Risk of fine, jail term With the violation of the government-ordered lockdown and ban on large gatherings, the couple risks a fine or jail term as comeuppance for the violation. The Lagos Infection Diseases Regulations 2020 (the Regulations) prescribes a jail term of one month or N100,000 fine or both for persons found guilty of hosting gatherings or flouting the lockdown order. Where there is a violation of a close down or stay at home order, security agencies shall have power to arrest without warrant and may detain any person who violates the close down or stay at home order for at least forty-eight (48) hours. Where the arrested person is found guilty, the person is liable to a fine of one Hundred Thousand Nara fine (N100,000.00) or one (1) month imprisonment or three (3) months Community service, it reads in part Amazon Prime Videos Four More Shots Please is coming back with a second season on April 17. The show, about four best friends navigating a sometimes spicy and sometimes stressful life in Mumbai, stars Bani J as Umang, the bisexual fitness trainer with a heart thats ready to love. Bani J earned a lot of kudos for her grounded, subtle performance in the show and emerged as one of the biggest surprises of the first season. In this interview, she talks about her chemistry with Lisa Ray on the show, the most crucial scene she shot for the show and what to expect from season two: When everyone watched the show, myself included, your character, Umang was the one I liked the most. You played her as this clear-headed person who is always let down by those she loves. Did you expect the praise you got from audiences and critics? I didnt spend too much time thinking about whether people will like this or not. I just knew that I was doing as sincere and honest a job of bringing my 100% every day to play Umang. I knew I had a big responsibility to play this character as honestly as possible and to be able to bring the kind of realism to her. I think I was just very secure in being able to portray her well that I didnt really care what anybody would say about it and that is where I left her in my head. I think I was very satisfied with that whole thing so after that whether people liked it or not didnt really cross my mind. The validation from other people is like Oh cool. They liked it. It would be the same if they didnt like it. What I liked most about your performance was whenever you talked in Punjabi to your family. In Mumbai, Umang would try to be all posh but the real her would reveal itself when she would argue with her mother on phone. The level of authenticity could not have been a directors note. Was it all you? That was all in the script. She is from Ludhiana, so obviously whenever your mom calls, you speak to her in the same language that you speak at home. Its a completely different ball game. Her life is different from all the other girls because she has left her hometown and she has come here to be somebody who is very different from who she was back home. Thats the whole reason why she moved. She wants the freedom; she wants to live a life that she never could. I remember one of the most crucial scenes in Umangs story was when she confronts her and her prospective grooms family at dinner at the end. That scene was an emotional moment for her but written humorously still. What was it like to film it? I was looking forward to this scene for quite a while. The day that I was supposed to do it originally was the day that I found that my mother had passed away. I still went to the set that day and thought I am going to do it. But once I got there, I realised I couldnt do it; I sat in my trailer and cried for four hours straight. I had to take a break of a week or 10 days. I had to go back home and deal with all of it. So when I came back, it was the first scene that I had to shoot and I just remember thinking that I need to be able to bring so much justice to this scene and this character. It was extremely difficult for me, but it was something I really wanted to get through and do honestly because there was no way I could have faked emotions; thats just my approach to it. I had goosebumps the entire time I shot that scene. Its like when youre speaking so much truth, whether for yourself or somebody else, or for somebody who is in a similar situation somewhere, you just see the light in it. We have often seen that whenever it comes to same sex relationships on the big or small screen, filmmakers have often shied away from really exploring their intimate scenes the way they would any straight couple. But this was not the case with your scenes or chemistry with Lisa (Ray). Was there a discussion about it between you, Lisa and the director or the writer? The girls (other actors on the show) had more concerns about their girl-on-boy scenes than Lisa and I had about our girl-on-girl scenes. I think Lisa has had more experience with these scenes because she has played these kind of characters before. However, if you really believe that love has no gender and that everybody deserves to fall in love with whoever they choose to, then you can bring that to the screen. So with Lisa and I, we didnt have to have a discussion as such really. It was just about where the camera is going to be and if you want to move this side, is it okay and is that way ok. Just boundary questions, very basic things that everybody should be asking anyway. Because the trailer for the new season isnt out yet (this interview was taken on March 30, before the trailer was released) can you tell us whats next for Umang in the new season? Do you think she will accept Samara if she returns to her? I have seen two cuts of the trailer and I dont know which one they are going with. So its hard for me to comment because both the trailers are so different. In one trailer they didnt give away anything that is happening and in the other they gave away everything that was happening. So it could go either way. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Board of Regents Chancellor Betty Rosa announced Monday that Regents exams will be canceled this year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The state Education Department announced it would be providing additional details and guidance for school districts on Tuesday. North Warren Superintendent Michele French said it was too early to tell the impact on her district until she saw the full plan. North Warren faculty and staff are ready, motivated and prepared to serve the students and our community Regents or not, she said in an email. Whitehall Superintendent Patrick Dee said there are many unanswered questions, but he is confident the state will have procedures to ensure that students are not harmed by the decision. While there are not state examinations in place for the end of the year, I am confident that districts will be able to develop local examinations to benchmark student knowledge and ensure that the content and concepts that are instructed in each of the courses have been mastered, he said in an email. The cancellation of Regents exams could affect students ability to graduate on time, depending on the Regents guidance. Students are required to pass one exam in English, math, science, social studies and a fifth one in one of these subject areas, or an alternative assessment. Many students have already taken the required exams before their senior year, however. There is also the possibility the exams could be taken later in the year. In addition to June, Regents exams are also given in August and January. The Board of Regents on Monday also approved other amendments. State education officials will not conduct a review of school and district performance using school year data to see if districts are meeting standards. The federal government has already granted New York a one-year waiver from the education requirements. This years assessments for grades 3-8 in English and math were already canceled. The Regents also granted an exemption to students who are unable to fulfill the requirements of their academic programs because their schools are closed, if they have completed all the other coursework. Reach Michael Goot at 518-742-3320 or mgoot@poststar.com and follow his blog poststar.com/blogs/michael_goot/. Love 16 Funny 5 Wow 5 Sad 1 Angry 5 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A British Airways pilot out of work due to the coronavirus pandemic has started a new job as a Tesco delivery driver. Peter Login was saluted for his temporary change of career as he ditched Boeing 747s for a Mercedes Sprinter to drop off food to Britons in coronavirus lockdown. BA has grounded all flights at Gatwick and dramatically cut its services at Heathrow, while pilots have been hit with a 50% pay cut for three months and told to take two weeks of unpaid leave in both April and May. British Airways pilot Peter Login with his partner, Marianne Whiston. They met while working for Thomas Cook, which is when they are pictured Mr Login has ditched his Boeing 747 for a Mercedes Sprint after becoming a Tesco delivery driver Mr Login tweeted: '@British-Airways 747 keys hung up for a while. Back in the cockpit with @Tesco.' In his tweet - which racked up more than 7,000 likes - he joked about BA's 'To Fly To Serve' motto - adding: '#EveryLittleHelps #ToDriveToServe #StayHomeStaySafe' Friends were quick to praise him, including Brad Tate, who wrote: 'Shows a lot of character, Peter. I hope you're back on the flight deck soon.' Stu Whiteman said: 'What an absolute superstar you are. That dogged spirit & can-do, will-do attitude will get us through this, yours is such a great example. 'For everyone else, it's simple; either help the nation by doing the Key Work required, or stay at Home. Nothing else, just one of those two!' It is the second time Mr Login has found himself out of work in a matter of months. Mr Login used to work for Thomas Cook for three years before the airline went bust last September. The former DHL cargo pilot then went on to BA where he has worked for four months before the coronavirus pandemic stopped flights across the world. One Twitter user said: 'Just had a look on your timeline, made redundant from Thomas Cook as well. You sir are what I call one of life's Grafters. Great work sir.' Another, called George, added: 'Thanks for doing your bit to help those who need it. Hopefully you'll be back in the skies very soon.' Mr Login's partner, Marianne Whiston, used to work for Thomas Cook as cabin crew. She is now on the coronavirus front line at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals Foundation Trust. Mr Login behind the wheel of his Tesco delivery van (left) and while still working as a pilot (right) Friends were quick to praise him, including Brad Tate, who wrote: 'Shows a lot of character, Peter. I hope you're back on the flight deck soon' BA has furloughed 36,000 of its 45,000-strong workforce, including cabin and ground crew, engineers and office staff, who will now receive 80% of their pay from the government. The airline has axed all its flights to and from Gatwick Airport and London City - with a severely reduced schedule from Heathrow's Terminal 5. BA boss Alex Cruz also revealed that he won't take a salary for two months. Separately, on Thursday IAG cancelled its final dividend, saving 320 million ($366 million). Last night, the number of UK coronavirus-related deaths climbed by 621 to 4,934 and infections rose by 5,903 to 47,806. I just saw that the number of Americans that have died from this virus reach the 9,600 level today Obviously anyone can suffer the tragedy that this disease can bring. Rich or poor, black, brown, or white, male or female, and yes Democrat, Independent, or Republican. But as usual, at today's White House news briefing on the virus, we had our typical liberal journalist playing "gotcha" with what were attacks, not real sincere questions. A typical CNN agitator and Trump hating journalist said, "Mr. President, why don't you leave it to the scientists, labs, and doctors to suggest if people should take the hydroxychloroquine drug?" President Trump quickly said "people are dying, dying even as you speak. I have only said that there are many reports of folks being helped by this drug, even in small test groups in Europe. We don't have a year or so to wait while controlled studies are conducted. This drug has been approved for human use for decades, with no suggestion that it kills people. Those with a heart condition, perhaps should not take it, but why not let people try it if their doctor approves." I would have gone further, however, and put that CNN "reporter" in his place like this. "Tell me young man, do you have living parents, brothers or sisters?" He probably would say yes. With that I would have President Trump ask the one question, not being asked of every one of these so called progressive reporters. "If you were sitting by your mother's bed in the hospital with a fever, possibly dying of this virus, would you really say to the doctors, No! Don't give my dying mother that hydroxychloroquine, it hasn't been fully tested against my Mom's illness." Want to bet what any of these "gotcha" Trump haters would say? I think we all know. Bill Reesor * * * Bill, I dont get medical knowledge from our leader. I get it from a doctor and from medical journals and texts. If you want to take health advice from a guy who looks directly at a solar eclipse, go ahead. You are absolutely correct, he is practicing his politics as usual. He mentions CDC new guidelines on mask wearing, says wear a mask, then says he wont. It looks silly or something. What about the millions of tests he mentioned weeks ago? Chattanoogas test numbers do not reflect any nationwide surge of testing. The reporter could have read him the whole of what this drug is known in combination by medical professionals to be good for, it would have done no good. Some old dogs you cant teach new tricks. As for this malaria drug that caught his fancy, do your due diligence and look up how it was used in China and to what end. And to the outcome it with two or three other substances produced. Or did not produce. You can find the information in several medical journals that have done research on its use and outcomes. Ask a Vietnam vet how they enjoyed it. As for me, I follow the mayors and governors rules and I say my prayers after I brush my teeth before I go to sleep. This situation is for medical and health professionals to take charge in, not some guy who has a love affair with a microphone and a camera. Last but not least, no, Im not some liberal leftist, Im a pragmatic centrist. Prentice Hicks About 30 people are facing penalty after throwing a drinking party inside a quarantine camp in the north-central Vietnamese province of Quang Binh. The incident happened at a quarantine facility in Minh Hoa District in Quang Binh. The managing board of the quarantine camp is expected to decree a suitable punishment upon these people in the coming days, said Bui Anh Tuan, chairman of the Minh Hoa District administration. Photos of about 30 men gathering to drink rice wine inside the isolation facility were uploaded to social media on Friday last week, while the nation was on its third day of practicing social distancing as per a prime minister directive. Local authorities were informed of the incident and began probing the case. All of the men hail from Tuy Hoa District in Quang Binh Province. They were previously brought to the quarantine camp after returning from Laos via Cha Lo Border Gate in Minh Hoa District. The men said it was considered a farewell party as they had almost finished their 14-day isolation period. They had chipped in money to buy rice wine, food, and fruit online, and had the seller deliver the order to the quarantine facility, placing the items near the fence at the premises. Some of the men were sent to fetch the foodstuffs to their room. The novel coronavirus, which first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, has infected over 1.27 million people and killed more than 69,400 globally as of Monday morning, according to Ministry of Health statistics. Vietnam reported only one COVID-19 patient on Sunday, raising the countrys tally to 241, with 91 having recovered. No new cases were announced on Monday morning for the second morning in a row. No fatality associated with the disease has been reported in the country to date. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked in a directive that citizens practice social distancing from April 1 to 15 by refraining from going outside unless absolutely necessary and maintaining a minimum distance of two meters from others in social interaction. Gatherings of more than two people outside of public offices, schools, hospitals, and in public spaces in general are also banned. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! >>> Vietnam reports no new Covid-19 cases on the morning of April 5 >>> Government looks into social welfare package for pandemic-affected groups >>> Vietnamese in Laos advised to follow local COVID-19 regulations Earlier, on Sunday morning, the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control announced that nobody had tested positive overnight. Only one case was later confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 on Sunday afternoon, who was a Vietnamese student returning from the UK, bringing the total number of COVID-19 infections in Vietnam to 241. However, also on Sunday, a 66-year-old British man, the 57th COVID-19 patient recorded in the country, was discharged from a hospital in the central province of Quang Nam, after 21 days of treatment. The 57th patient tested negative for the SARS-CoV-2 for two consecutive times on March 28 and April 1. Vietnam has recorded 241 cases of COVID-19, of which 150 are from abroad, account for 62.2% of the total. 91 cases have recovered, accounting for 38%. Currently, among those still being treated at health facilities across the nation, there are 29 cases that have shown their first negative test (12%), with the number of second negative cases standing at 23 (9%). * On Sunday afternoon, the Ho Chi Minh City Centre for Disease Control simultaneously carried out medical inspection on people entering the city at its gateway check points. That evening, the centre issued a notice announcing that it commenced sample taking for COVID-19 testing for all passengers on domestic flights to Tan Son Nhat Airport and Saigon Station from the afternoon of April 4. * From April 2 to 4, FPT Group presented two ventilators and other medical supplies to several hospitals in Hanoi and HCM City, worth nearly VND5.5 billion, which is part of the groups VND20 billion package to support efforts against the COVID-19 epidemic. Representatives of Bach Mai Hospital receive medical masks and two ventilators presented by FPT Group. (Photo: NDO/Minh Hoang) The Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF)s Ho Chi Minh City chapter has received about VND81.6 billion in donations to fund the fight against COVID-19 and help people affected by drought and saline intrusion. During a ceremony to receive the aid held on April 5, head of the chapter To Thi Bich Chau thanked the donors for their valuable support. Of the sum, cash and kind worth VND71.3 billion were earmarked for the COVID-19 prevention and control fund. VFF branch in Dong Thap Province also received donations worth more than VND4.3 billion between March 30 and April 5 to support the fight against COVID-19. * On April 5, National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines announced that it will adjust the frequency of its flights from Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang after the central city requires a 14-day quarantine period for passengers from the two major cities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, the carrier will conduct three flights per week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, on each route from April 7-15. It continues to operate one flight a day from Hanoi to HCM City and vice versa. * On Sunday, over 3,300 citizens, including foreigners, completed their 14-day medical quarantine at local isolation camps in HCM City, Binh Duong, Ha Nam and Vinh Phuc. Certificates granted to citizens who finished their 14-day quarantine period in Binh Duong Province on April 5, 2020. (Photo: NDO/Trinh Binh) The federal government will also soon save 10 percent of the supplies on each flight for the national stockpile, according to officials. A Korean War-era production act also allows the federal government to force companies to prioritize its order over another clients, whether it be a private hospital or another nation. In the past week, 14 flights carrying more than 83 million gloves, four million masks, one million gowns and 300,000 respirators have landed in New York, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, Columbus, Ohio, and Louisville, Ky. Mr. Pence said more than 50 flights had been scheduled. The administration pivoted to the system of distribution after President Trump tapped FEMA to replace the Department of Health and Human Services as the agency leading the response to the coronavirus pandemic. States had previously submitted formal requests to the government to obtain materials from the stockpile. Because the federal government determines which states are in greater need, governors and hospitals executives preparing in advance for the worst have complained that FEMA was effectively commandeering their personal protective equipment, or P.P.E. FEMA realizes that prioritizing P.P.E. deliveries to Covid hot spots can have the unintended consequence of disrupting the regular supply chain deliveries to other areas of the country that are also preparing for the coronavirus, said Lizzie Litzow, a FEMA spokeswoman, adding that the agency was not seizing any shipments. The intervention has confused some local officials and company executives who have watched as the administration has repeatedly called on states to find medical supplies on their own without relying on the federal government. But hundreds of hospitals continue to struggle with widespread shortages of test kits, protective gear for staff members and ventilators, according to a new report by the inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services. The chaotic race to procure such supplies has also drawn fraudsters looking to hoard items and resell the equipment at a steep price. A number of F.B.I. investigations are already underway. CUBAN INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL BRIGADES FOCUSED ON SOLIDARITY AND CAUTION All 28,268 members of Cubas sixty-one medical brigades working abroad are free of the coronavirus, reports Dr Jorge Hidalgo Bustillo, director of the Medical Collaboration Central Unit. For those who love their family members and their compatriots, the spreading COVID-19 pandemic is cause for alarm, given the risk faced by the more than 28,000 Cuban health workers serving on missions around the world. But it seems that their solidarity and internationalist vocation has been, thus far, a moral repellent. According to information provided by Dr Jorge Hidalgo Bustillo, director of the Central Unit for Medical Collaboration (UCCM), all 28,268 members of Cubas medical brigades working in sixty-one countries around the world, remain free of the virus, to date. Given the situation, the centre is maintaining close contact with brigade leaders via video conferences, and provides a report on the health of doctors and technicians which is updated daily. There is permanent communication, as has historically been done, and we have here, at the UCCM, a command post that works twenty-four hours a day, Dr Hidalgo reported. Of the countries where Cuban medical brigades are present, he said, Qatar, Algeria, China, South Africa and Kuwait have cases of infection within their populations, but added, Our personnel is well protected, and has not had contact with the sick patients. He said that communication is also maintained with health directorates in brigade members home provinces, to keep family and loved ones informed of their health. Confirming this reality were heads of medical missions in Haiti, Guatemala, Algeria, South Africa and Qatar, who interacted with the press via video telephone calls to describe the health condition of their respective teams, and precautions being taken. From Guatemala, mission leader Dr Yuri Batista Varela stated that the 441 collaborators there were healthy, following protocols established by the nations Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance. He stressed that, of the members of the delegation, fifty-seven per cent are considered to be at high risk since they are over fifty-nine years of age and have chronic diseases. Today we have fourteen epidemiologists on the team, who will perform the task of caring for suspected patients. We have a national referral hospital, located in Guatemala City, with a capacity of 200 beds for the care of the most serious cases, he added. Dr Batista pointed out that Cuban personnel have the necessary resources to prevent contagion, including face masks, disinfectant solutions and medicines, and attention has been increased for the twenty-four brigade members serving in locations along the border. He noted that the country has sufficient supplies to handle test samples in the capital city laboratory. In Haiti, Dr Luis Olivero Serrano described the experiences of Cubans in this sister country, which is vulnerable due to its weak health infrastructure, and permeable border with the Dominican Republic, which has reported several COVID-19 cases. He stated that the 345 Cuban healthcare professionals three on vacation who provide services in the needy country are meeting their responsibilities without interruption, and that relevant measures are taken to prevent contagion. Dr Olivero added that updated training on COVID-19 has been provided; all brigade members have protective resources; and that security protocols are followed for those who travel to Cuba. On the other side of the world, in Qatar, where the 499 members of the Cuban medical mission work in a single hospital, brigade chief Dr Ernesto Lopez Cruz, reported that, within the countrys population, several cases of coronavirus have been confirmed, and there is also concern given the situation in neighbouring nations such as Iran. A policy has been designed here for contingency plans. The sick are kept in a quarantine centre with all the appropriate conditions. Our hospital has five rooms with negative pressure for cases of infectious diseases which would be used if necessary, he said. From South Africa, another of the countries reporting the existence of Covid-19, Dr Reynaldo Denis de Armas, in charge of 216 Cuban medical brigade members, reported that one coronavirus patient is being treated at the hospital where three of our doctors work, but they are not in danger of infection. In Algeria, the country where Fidel first began our efforts to offer solidarity around the world through Cuban medicine, the head of the brigade, Dr Reinaldo Menendez Garcia, stated that the 891 brigade members providing services in forty-seven health centres are healthy and not involved in the COVID-19 cases reported to date. None of our staff members have respiratory symptoms, or any suspicious signs of infection, he said, and in a completely natural tone added: Were good! Granma A nurse and a firefighter talking are seen in the Villalba General Hospital on April 05, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. David Benito There are tentative hopes in Europe that the coronavirus outbreak could be slowing, as the number of new infections and fatalities starts to slow down, according to data over the weekend. The figures are prompting European leaders to look for an exit strategy to national lockdowns, while urging the public to maintain discipline while the apparent recovery from the outbreak is in its infancy. Italy, the epicenter of Europe's pandemic, reported its lowest daily COVID-19 death toll for more than two weeks on Sunday. The Civil Protection Agency said there had been a rise of 525 deaths from a day earlier the smallest daily increase since March 19, Reuters noted. On Saturday, there had been a rise of 681 deaths, and the day before that, a rise of 766 deaths, so the numbers are going in the right direction. Italy has recorded 128,948 cases of the coronavirus to date, and 15,887 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University, meaning it has the highest death toll in Europe. Rome has implemented some of the most draconian restrictions in the world, imposing a national lockdown on March 12, but there were hints Sunday that it could start to look for a way to ease the measures the near future. "The curve has started its descent and the number of deaths has started to drop," Italy's ISS national health institute Director Silvio Brusaferro told reporters. "If these data are confirmed (in the coming days), we will have to start thinking about Phase 2," he said. However, he noted that there needed to be consistency in the slowdown in numbers. "It is a result that we have to achieve day after day," he said. In Spain, which now has a higher number of infections than Italy (at 131,646 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University) the rate of new infections and deaths also continued to decline this weekend: Sunday's rise in the number of deaths (674 new deaths, down from 809 reported Saturday) was about half the rate reported a week ago. "The data from this week and today confirms the slowing down of infections," Spain's Health Minister Salvador Illa told a news conference, Reuters reported. "The data confirms that confinement is working." Mid-morning on Monday, Spain reported 637 deaths in the previous 24 hours, continuing the downwards trend. Both France and Germany have also reported falls in their daily death tolls. France's health ministry said Sunday that the daily death toll from the coronavirus fell in the past 24 hours and admissions into intensive care also slowed. It said 357 people had died in hospitals, down from 441 the previous day. France has recorded a total number of deaths of 8,093, according to Johns Hopkins. Germany reported a slowdown in the rate of new cases for a fourth consecutive day in a row Monday, with a rise of 3,677 cases from the previous day, and a rise of 92 deaths, data collated by Germany's public health body, the Richard Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases, showed. In total, Germany has 95,391 confirmed cases of the virus but has recorded a total of 1,434 deaths from the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University. The low death rate has been attributed to widespread testing, a robust healthcare system and a bit of luck, in that its first cases were among younger people. Step by step Grab has launched a support fund worth VND70 billion ($3 million) to assist the community, government, and its partners in the fight against COVID-19 Supporting merchant partners to overcome tough times Over the past six years in Vietnam, Grab has made constant efforts to improve services for better customer experience. The ride-hailing firm has helped its partners to increase their incomes, thereby contributing to improving their livelihoods. In 2019, Grab launched Grab for Good, a social impact programme that aims to empower micro-entrepreneurs and small businesses and promote financial inclusion. Grab stays committed to implementing the Grab for Good programme in Vietnam. In the midst of the rapidly-escalating COVID-19 crisis, Grab has led several initiatives to support its partners. Most recently, Grab has launched a support fund worth VND70 billion ($3 million) to assist drivers as well as delivery and merchant-partners as well as support the government's initiatives during the tough times of the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, Grab uses part of the fund to support fast-food restaurant chains as well as 500 small- and medium-sized merchant partners in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. The firm will implement a range of support activities such as running ads, promotions, and increasing PR activities, thereby helping restaurants attract new customers and increase revenue. According to Pham Thi Thanh Phuong, managing director of the fast-food restaurant chain Aloha, Grabs new policies are really helpful for restaurants and merchant partners in the mist of the rapidly-escalating COVID-19 crisis. In particular, Grab supports part of the rental fees of eligible merchant partners to maintain their operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The support creates mutual benefits for both sides as the demand for takeaway food has soared during the national social distancing. Aloha has been Grabs partner for years. Restaurant chains like us are suffering from the COVID-19 outbreak. We hope that Grab can reduce commission fees for restaurants to overcome the tough time, she added. On the same note, Le Lan Vy, manager of the Chili Chicken Hotpot restaurant in Thu Duc district, Ho Chi Minh City lauded Grabs new policies to support merchant partners amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. She said that restaurants and cafes are struggling to pay high rental fees in the city with their shrinking revenue. Therefore, the rental fee support is welcome help for restaurants and cafes to survive the pandemic. Joining hands with community in war on COVID-19 Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Grab Vietnam has launched the Safer Everyday campaign with many meaningful activities. The ride-hailing firm has granted face masks to 33 health centres in seven northern provinces. Grab offered 50,000 face masks and 30,000 safety packages, including gloves and hand sanitiser to its drivers. In addition, Grab has granted 100,000 face masks to the Ministry of Health and assisted in the delivery of vast amounts of the ministrys own face masks to people in seven northern provinces including Dien Bien, Cao Bang, Ha Gian, Lang Son, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, and Quang Ninh. The activities aim to help locals in protecting their health and safety during the rapidly escalating COVID-19 outbreak. Grab has recently teamed up with Vietnams social networking platform Lotus to launch a new channel named Corona Shield to provide useful information about COVID-19 for the community, especially customers, driver- and merchant partners. The channel is expected to attract public attention as well as raise the communitys awareness about prevention measures during the pandemic. GrabFood has introduced contactless delivery to ensure hygiene and the health of customers during the COVID-19 crisis. Grab has also launched GrabMart, a grocery service on its app in Ho Chi Minh City. GrabMart is implemented in light of the governments push for online shopping, providing a safe option for local people amid the spreading pandemic. This will also help consumers avoid panic-buying and stocking up on supplies during the crisis. Grab is the only ride-hailing firm providing financial support to restaurant partners and food merchants affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, helping them to generate revenue and attract new customers during the crisis. [April 06, 2020] New Innovative Monitoring App "STOP COVID" by Austrian NGO NOVID20 Launched in Georgia TBILISI, Georgia and VIENNA, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The application was developed by the Austrian NGO NOVID20 in cooperation with the highly innovative Austrian software company Dolphin Technologies, and is now to be made available pro bono and license-free to all governments worldwide by Rocket Media Communications. The NOVID20 app works with state-of-the-art technology, including Bluetooth, for highest accuracy, in contrast to tracking based on telecommunication data. In compliance with the strictest data protection guidelines and on a completely anonymous basis, millions of infections can be averted. To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8710251-monitoring-app-novid20-launched-in-georgia/ The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended more stringent measures against the pandemic: "To win we need to attack the virus with aggressive and target tactics testing every suspected case isolating and caring for every confirmed case and tracing and quarantining every close contact." - World Health Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The key strategy in defeating the outbreak of this profound global impact has been to isolate every known infected person and commit people to stay at home. But exceptions for shopping for food and medical supplies, as well as getting medical treatments, are necessary. Also, for many people working from home is not an option, and many asymptomatic people may be spreading the virus without realizing it. Until recently, governments had to rely on the memory of infected persons to identify people at risk of infection. To be able to inform possibly infected contacts immediately, it is crucial to know the movements of those diagnosed with COVID-19 during the critical periods of incubation. The NOVID20 app enables users to know if they have been in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19. Bluetooth, GPS, and other technologies are being used to determine which smartphones have been in close proximity to each other, which the system recognizes as a "contact." When two devices meet, they store each other's ID and the date, time, and location of that interaction. If a user tests positive, the system warns all their "contacts" that they are at risk of contracting and sreading the virus. Governmental guidelines are then provided, according to each country. The system pays particular attention to privacy and data protection in accordance with European law. The NOVID20 app creates anonymous IDs for every user and stores all data locally on the phone using strong encryption. The users have full control over their data - deciding if, when, and which information they want to release. Furthermore, users can voluntarily donate their data to support scientific analysis and improve governmental decision-making. This turn-key solution was developed for governments who are granted a free license; only adaptation and operation costs are being charged. Harald Trautsch, CEO of Dolphin Technologies, who leads product development for the NOVID20 App: "We have designed a lean solution that can be provided stand alone, but also be implemented in existing apps. This allows us to reach a broader audience faster and increase coverage. We are able to implement the App within few days in every country on request of their government". The Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health & Social Affairs of Georgia took advantage of the innovation at an early stage of infections. The intention was to provide reliable information and prevent the disease from spreading uncontrollably. In case of a confirmed infection, the app automatically sends instructions for quarantine and information to contact local government authorities. NOVID20 app in Georgia is available for iOS & Android under the name "STOP COVID". "The App is very precise and easy to use", says Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze. "It will help us to react much faster in Georgia. We want to make sure that we can provide the sick with the best health care available and therefore have to combat this disease with all efforts. We won't wait until we reach the capacity of our health system." Georgia follows Japan and South Korea which have become successful role models for prevention in the corona crisis, especially with the help of technology. In the past, large regions in Georgia and other countries were shut down based solely on personal statements of COVID-19 patients. The NOVID20 App provides all necessary data and identifies critical contacts to prevent people from spreading the virus. It also enables more precise quarantine regulations. Main facts of the NOVID20 Application against COVID-19: IT turn-key solution in fighting the spread of corona virus. Anonymous and encrypted tracking and tracing to inform people at risk of spreading the virus unknowingly, thus breaking down the infection chain. Communication tool for exchanging information between governments and residents. Enables more precise quarantine regulations. Highly effective to shorten the crisis and flatten the curve. Video: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1140321/Novid20.mp4 Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1140337/COVID_APP_Start_Screen.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1140338/NOVID20_Logo.jpg Contact: Rocket Media Communications, NOVID20 - International Distribution & Media Communications, Michael Grabner, CEO, T: +43 664 85 19 160, E: [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Seven people were killed when two suicide bombers, suspected to be members of Nigeria's Boko Haram jihadist group, attacked a village in northern Cameroon on Sunday, police and a local official said on Monday. "Two Boko Haram bombers blew themselves up at around 8pm" in the attack on Amchide, on the border with Nigeria, a policeman said, while a local official said a village chief and two teenagers were among the dead. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mumbai, April 6 : Bollywood actor Arjun Kapoor has pledged to donate to various COVID-19 relief funds. The actor has tried to help as many by contributing to the PM-CARES Fund, Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund, GiveIndia, The Wishing Factory and Bollywood's Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), although an idea of the exact amount has not been officially disclosed. "India is in the midst of a crisis and as responsible citizens, we need to do our bit for our fellow brothers and sisters in need. I'm trying my best to help as many people possible by humbly contributing," he wrote on social media. Arjun joins a list of Bollywood names who have already pledged their support for the PM-CARES Fund and the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund. About the other three contributions, Arjun said: "GiveIndia is working non-stop to help provide cash in the hands of daily wage earners who have lost their jobs/have no source of income due to the lockdown. "The Wishing Factory is doing remarkable work with thalassemia patients from low-income groups so that they receive blood transfusions during the lockdown, especially since blood transfusions are not included under essential services." The actor has lent his helping hand to his industry too by supporting the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE). He says the FWICE is "my industry's backbone, the people without whom no film can be shot/made. We all regard them as our family." Arjun also urged others to come forward and support as many people as possible. "We can only fight COVID-19 if we stand united. I urge all of you to come forward and support to the best of your abilities." On the acting front, he will next be seen in Dibakar Banerjee's "Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar". The film also stars Arjun's "Ishaqzaade" co-star Parineeti Chopra. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The European Investment Bank (EIB) is considering the possibility of issuing a EUR 30 million credit line to Ukrposhta state-owned enterprise for the implementation of an investment plan for the modernization of the logistics network and related infrastructure. "The investment loan would support investment in Ukrposhta's logistics network modernization, including investment in new sorting hubs and depots, as well as an investment in related IT infrastructure. The investments will help ensure the quality of universal postal service for businesses and consumers at affordable prices. Moreover, the investment will enhance postal and logistics systems of Ukrposhta to meet the demands of domestic and international supply chains," the bank said on its website. "This operation is covered by the EU Guarantee for EIB loans outside the EU," it said. The EIB indicates that the total cost of this project is approximately EUR 62 million, but does not specify other sources of co-financing. Director General of Ukrposhta Igor Smelyansky told Interfax-Ukraine these funds are to be used to create new logistics centers. Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) on Monday said it is releasing advance payments to its dealer partners in order to help them with cash flow to remain afloat in difficult business environment due to COVID-19 forced nationwide lockdown. In normal business flow, payments to dealers are made as claims after the closure of the sales month. The Japanese auto maker said it has also cleared all pending payments of dealers till March. Besides, the company has given support on interest cost of fresh stock available at dealer before lockdown, HCIL added. Furthermore, the company is ensuring that payments to its suppliers is being done on time, it said. "Our dealers are the company's interface with the customers and it is important that they stay healthy and viable financially," HCIL Senior Vice President and Director (Sales and Marketing) Rajesh Goel said. The company understands that due to the lockdown and no business activity, they will face cash flow concerns and measures are being taken to address these issues, he added. The company is also taking various initiatives to help customers like extension of warranty and service timelines. "Service and warranty are two of the most important factors that concern customers and we are addressing all of them during the lockdown period," Goel said. Already, Honda India Foundation, the CSR arm of all Honda group companies in India, have pledged an aid of Rs 11 crore to central and state governments for relief and prevention efforts for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As part of this aid, Honda is immediately supplying 2,000 units of Honda engine-powered high pressure backpack sprayers to the various government agencies. The sprayers will be used for disinfectant fumigation at hospitals, public transport, railway stations, public canteens and other common areas. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Akufo-Addo has thanked Ghanaians for complying to the lockdown order in Accra, Kumasi and Tema. According to him, the majority of Ghanaians have so far complied with the lockdown. However, he stated that a recalcitrant individuals have failed to comply with the directive. He made the comments as he delivered his fifth address to the nation. According to him, the compliance shows That being a Ghanaian means that we look at for each other. He has also thanked nurses and other health workers for working hard to save Covid-19 patients. You are the heroes and heroines of our generation, he said. The police and other security agencies have executed their mandate with considerable professionalism, he said. Daily Guide Four months ago, Pacific Gas & Electric seemed poised to emerge from bankruptcy after reaching a $13.5 billion settlement with tens of thousands of people who lost homes in wildfires started by the utilitys equipment. Investors cheered that agreement, bidding up the companys share price by nearly 40 percent. But the deal now appears to be in danger and with it the companys hopes of getting back on its feet by a crucial deadline. Some homeowners say they no longer intend to vote for the deal in bankruptcy court because half the money they are set to receive will be in PG&E shares. The shares value has tumbled in recent weeks in the broad stock sell-off prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. Three of the 11 victims on a bankruptcy court committee representing those with fire claims against PG&E have resigned. The remaining members rejected the deal in a court filing on Monday. . The total number of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra's Thane district neighbouring Mumbai crossed the 100 mark on Monday, officials said. The latest tally of the positive cases from Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Navi Mumbai, Ambernath, Bhiwandi and Badlapur stood at 106 with four deaths so far. A total of 21 people have been found positive for coronavirus in Palghar district with four deaths so far, they said. Meanwhile, police on Monday raided a factory in Wada taluka and seized a huge stock of sanitisers worth Rs 20 lakh, a police official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Oregons coronavirus outbreak remains perilous but the possibility it might overwhelm the states hospitals appears less imminent than it did just a few weeks ago. So on Saturday, Gov. Kate Brown announced she will reroute 140 ventilators Oregon received from the Strategic National Stockpile late last month and direct them to New York. Oregon will still have 762 ventilators, according to the governors office. Washington, the site of the first major outbreak in the United States, followed suit on Sunday as its predicament also seems to have eased. Here are more coronavirus developments from the weekend: MORE THAN 1,000 CASES: The Oregon Health Authority reported 69 new cases of COVID-19 Sunday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Oregon up to 1,068. Officials also reported one new death, bring the states total number of deaths to 27. OREGONS FIRST FATALITY: Lynn Bryan was the first Oregonian to die from COVID-19. A lifelong Oregonian, he grew up in Newberg and served in the Army. He worked a number of jobs over the years, including stints as a mapmaker and city engineering technician. But Bryan was a cowboy at heart. Dancing was his lifelong passion. TRACING THE OUTBREAK: When the coronavirus outbreak first arrive in Oregon health officials hoped to trace its spread, person to person, and thereby limit its reach. That tracking system quickly became overwhelmed. NEIGHBORS: A video of a Portland man pouring a glass of wine, out the window, for his downstairs neighbor went viral on Twitter. It was actually a pretty decent pour, the recipient said, adding the wine was an Oregon white blend called Big Salt by Ovum. Met the girl downstairs tonight banging pots out the window for healthcare workers. Told her to hold out her wine glass. Bystanders saw. pic.twitter.com/mWh65D0qza Phillip Kirkland (@philsince87) April 4, 2020 HOUSING: Oregon renters and landlords are bracing for an uncertain spring, with many people simply unable to pay their rent. The outbreaks economic catastrophe is taking a particular toll on homeless Oregonians, and those living on the brink. FORESTRY: The coronavirus outbreak is clobbering the states forest products industry, Oregons forestry department and undermining its capacity to fight wildfires this summer. SMALL BUSINESS: Heres The Oregonians list of regional, state and federal resources available to help small businesses weather the pandemic. LAYOFFS: Portland city officials say the cost of the coronavirus outbreak could exceed $100 million in lost revenue as of the beginning of April and have cut 950 jobs amid the financial fallout. Timberline Lodge laid off 471. CORONAVIRUS IN OREGON: THE LATEST NEWS TESTING: Oregons Jackson County has tested more people per capita for coronavirus than every state except New York, Washington and Louisiana -- three viral hotspots with thousands of patients, according to an analysis of state and national data by The Oregonian/OregonLive. HEALTHCARE: Groups representing doctors, hospitals and senior care facilities are asking Oregon Gov. Kate Brown to give them limited legal immunity in their treatment of coronavirus cases and patients who may be affected by the pandemic. FACTORIES: Boeing extended the shutdown of all its Washington factories. Its large site in Gresham, though, continues operating. SUPERMARKETS: Grocery workers many in low-wage jobs are manning the frontlines amid worldwide lockdowns, their work deemed essential to keep food and critical goods flowing. Some fear falling sick or bringing the virus home to vulnerable loved ones, and frustration is mounting as some demand better workplace protections. -- The Oregonian/OregonLive Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday urged the Central Government to provide the Personal Protection Equipment to the medical staff as requested by the AIIMS doctors association. "In this critical time, doctors, health workers and sanitation workers are the leading soldiers of this fight. It is our collective responsibility to protect their equipment, their honor and their voices. Hope that our government will hear the plea made by the AIIMS doctors association," Vadra tweeted. Earlier today, Resident Doctor's Association (RDA) of AIIMS, Delhi, had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over 'targeting of doctors for raising genuine concerns related to COVID-19 preparedness'. "Over the last few days, our frontline healthcare workers-doctors, nurses and other support staff have come forward with their problems and issues related to the availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), COVID testing equipment and quarantine facilities, on social media. The officials should view these inputs constructively," read the letter by the RDA. "Instead of appreciating their efforts towards the welfare of their peers and patient, they have received a harsh backlash. In the face of the Corona pandemic, it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that these 'soldiers' are heard, their opinion respected, rather than humiliated," it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Many startups are struggling to survive through the coronavirus, but some well-established companies with significant funding and revenue streams are using their technologies to help governments, health-care professionals, and local communities in New Mexico and elsewhere confront the pandemic. RS21 Albuquerque-based data analytics firm RS21 has built interactive online maps that show where the most-vulnerable populations are located in New Mexicos three largest cities, and in urban centers throughout the U.S. Users can tap on any city sector within the maps to pull up detailed community-specific information, including: number of residents over 65 distance from the nearest medical facility percentage of population lacking health insurance incidence of chronic diseases in the area, including cancer, asthma, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, obesity and high blood pressure Based on that data and more, the map produces an urban health vulnerability index for each city sector to show which areas are the most at-risk as the coronavirus spreads. That can help local governments, public health officials and community groups identify critical needs and better allocate resources to assist people, said RS21 President and CEO Charles Rath. Were hopeful these tools can help save lives, Rath said. Thats why we built it. The maps are based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Census Bureau. After the company rolled out maps for Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Santa Fe, it got calls from across the U.S. asking for more maps of other cities. In response, RS21 has created them now for dozens of other cities including major urban centers like New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago and San Francisco. The initiative came from RS21s team of data scientists, graphic interface designers and software developers who wanted to use company capabilities to put critical information at peoples fingertips, said communications manager Natalie Sommer. The maps focus on cities because thats where the most data is available, Sommer said. Weve made them publicly available for anybody to use. RS21 launched in 2014 to create resilient solutions for the 21st century. It specializes in packaging mounds of information into easily understandable, web-based platforms to allow decision-makers to rapidly analyze the root causes of issues. To access the maps, go to covid.rs21.io. Descartes Labs Santa Fe-based data analytics firm Descartes Labs is providing near real-time information on population movement in states and targeted counties around the U.S. where travel and stay-at-home restrictions have been implemented. The company, which launched in 2015, uses advanced image recognition software originally developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory that sifts through reams of data from satellites and other sources to rapidly analyze global trends in almost any field. It uses a cloud-based supercomputer to analyze that information and provide advanced insight into everything from energy and agriculture to weather patterns and large-scale industry operations across the globe. Tracking population mobility can help state and local officials assess how well government restrictions on movement are working, determine if reduced mobility is helping to slow contagion, and provide critical information to adjust policies as needed, said Descartes Labs CEO Phil Fraher. The company uses GPS-based mobile device data aggregated from thousands of phones to produce daily averages on movement compared with before mobility restrictions were put in place. No individual data is recorded, and the system only looks at county-level information to protect privacy. We wont go below the county level so there are no privacy concerns, Fraher told the Journal. The data shows how much movement there is and how far people are traveling in different localities. That data can then be collated with infection rates to see if higher contagion levels correlate to greater movement, Fraher said. It can show how far people are traveling, whether theyre still moving around town, if theyre coming in and out of the state or in and out of the county, Fraher said. yellCast Santa Fe-based yellCast, which created an online search platform and connection engine to link local consumers with local businesses, is preparing to launch an expanded platform that will allow neighbors and consumers to easily connect with one another to buy, sell and share things. That could hook people up at the local level to help one another in emergencies like the coronavirus, said yellCast co-founder Bill Foster. The enhanced platform will go beyond linking buyers and sellers to connecting people with people, Foster said. Instead of asking in a search where you can buy toilet paper, you can maybe connect with a guy down the block who has excess toilet paper. Maybe that person needs hand sanitizer and can offer to trade. The technology and online infrastructure to roll out the new connection platform is already in place. The company is now working to make it more user friendly for people to easily post searches or offer things, said yellCast Marketing Director Mike Ault. We want to make it easy for inexperienced ad hoc sellers and consumers to use it to create listings without being a tech expert, Ault said. We want it to be instantaneous and simple. The company hopes to push the platform out within a couple of weeks. The search-and-connect system builds on yellCasts original concept of creating an online platform to strengthen local marketplaces, making it easier and more efficient for consumers to deal directly with area businesses without big national companies sidelining them when people do Google searches. The company, which launched in 2016, has also built new technology that will allow people to simply point their smartphones at objects including businesses, locations or things to automatically and instantly produce information about the targeted object on the users phone. Marpac Albuquerque manufacturing firm Marpac is working with Sandia National Laboratories and Lovelace Health System to produce coronavirus-resistant face masks for health-care professionals that are equally as effective as standard N95 respiratory masks. The company is a specialized sewing manufacturer that makes medical accessories to stabilize secure breathing and feeding tubes, plus custom-sewn products for individual clients. It also makes sleep apnea accessories, including face masks. N95 masks are designed to achieve a very close facial fit to insulate the wearer from face contamination by airborne particles and liquids. But with the pandemic rapidly spreading nationwide, those masks are in short supply and materials to make them are going to traditional mask-making companies. Marpac is designing its own masks with alternative materials that Sandia is testing to assure their effectiveness, said Marpac owner Jeff Alcalde. We want to make a high-level mask with the equivalent filtration properties as an N95 mask, Alcalde said. Marpac is doing the design to make the masks comfortable and breathable using materials outside the traditional N95 supply chain. Weve put together the filters and are sending them to Sandia for testing. The company already sent the first batch of masks to Sandia, and its now working with Lovelace to try them out and provide feedback on any needed alterations, Alcalde said. Marpac employees normally work 10-hour shifts four days a week from Monday-Friday. But on March 27, it switched to a five-day work week to immediately ramp up face mask production, a schedule that will continue through April and beyond, if needed. We can make north of 5,000 masks per week based on a five-day workweek, Alcalde said. Lovelace will use the masks first, with supplies expanding to other local medical facilities if they want them. To increase production beyond 5,000 per week, the company is reaching out to other companies around the state to supply needed equipment, such as ultrasonic welding machines. Its all about getting across the finish line now with a product that we know will protect health-care workers, Alcalde said. She recently said she felt 'lonely' during quarantine and and would 'give anything to have a row with a husband right now'. And Emily Atack admitted that she's had some 'difficult moments' while self-isolating alone during the coronavirus pandemic. The actress, 30, spoke to Lorraine Kelly on Monday's Good Morning Britain where she also revealed that getting glammed up for the supermarket makes her 'feel better'. 'Difficult': Emily Atack admitted that she's had some 'difficult moments' while self-isolating alone during the coronavirus pandemic Emily said about coping with the lockdown alone: 'I'm a very strong person, there's definitely been some difficult moments being on your own. I'm the least lonely person in the world, surrounded by family and friends in real life. 'It's [the pandemic] so awful, we have to look at the positives in life. If we've got our health it's the most important thing in the world. Everything is so difficult, but if you have your health, friends and family, it's good.' Talking about how her famous mother, Kate Robbins, is coping during lockdown, Emily continued: 'She's good, she's missing us all. It is hard, we have our moments, we call each other and bring each up. 'We will see each other again, we will meet again... I'm nicking parts of The Queen's speech here! We're all thinking about that first hug, that's what we're thinking about, that first hug.' Glammed up: The actress, 30, spoke to Lorraine Kelly on Monday's Good Morning Britain where she also revealed that getting glammed up for the supermarket makes her 'feel better' Talking about things to keep her motivated, Emily revealed that getting glammed up for the supermarket makes her 'feel better'. She said: 'Make sure your dressing gown doesn't become your depressing down! There's definitely days that I don't want to put make-up on. It makes me feel better. 'I now get glammed up to go to the local supermarket. I queue outside and stand the 2 metres. It's like queuing up for a bar! I do get glammed up for the supermarket, it makes me feel better.' Sharing the first thing she will do after the pandemic, Emily joked: 'I'm going to the nearest pub! Obviously, I should say I want to hug my friends and family, but we can do that in the pub!' 'Strong person': Emily said about coping with the lockdown alone: ' I'm a very strong person, there's definitely been some difficult moments being on your own.' Family: Talking about how her famous mother, Kate Robbins (pictured in 2018), is coping during lockdown, Emily continued: 'She's good, she's missing us all. It is hard, we have our moments.' Although the star importantly added that the NHS also needs credit, she said: 'I think the first thing we all want to do is give the NHS a big hug, and say we couldn't have got through this without them!' It comes after Emily admitted she feels lonely while self-isolating and would 'give anything to have a row with a husband right now'. The actress told Emma Barnett on BBC Radio 5 Live that the current situation around the coronavirus pandemic is 'bleak and miserable and awful'. She said: 'I'm just trying to use it all as another way of showing myself that I can cope and that I am capable and I am brave and strong. 'I think at times like this you've got to appreciate everything you have, but you know, I'd give anything to have a row with a husband right now.' Honest: It comes after Emily admitted she feels lonely while self-isolating and would 'give anything to have a row with a husband right now' (pictured in March) Emily added the crisis has made her not want to be alone and more thankful than ever of the support system she has around her. She said: 'With everything that's happened, it puts you in a different headspace with it all. 'One second I'm flying the flag for single women and everything's great and the next minute all this is happening and I want anything but to be on my own. 'Watching the news is just absolutely heartbreaking so every day my main thing to do is just to look at what I have in my life and the people I have in my life.' While she may be craving company at the minute, Emily insisted she wants to know she can rely on herself when she finds her next romance. She said: 'I'm just trying to use it all as another way of showing myself that I can cope and that I am capable and I am brave and strong' She said: 'When I go into my next relationship I want to know that I can rely on my own happiness and not have to rely on a man. 'I'm just trying to use it all as another way of showing myself that I can cope and that I am capable and I am brave and strong.' It comes after Emily was reported to have split from ex boyfriend Rob Jowers in September after six months of dating. A source told The Sun: 'When the dust settled they realised it just wasn't right. The split was mutual and they are both really sad about it and remain friends'. Emily and Rob, who met at the BRIT Awards in February, were said to be devastated after the demise of their fleeting romance. Relationship: It comes after Emily was reported to have split from ex boyfriend Rob Jowers in September after six months of dating (pictured in June 2019) Insiders went on: 'Emily and Rob were enjoying a honeymoon phase in their relationship with lots of fancy dates and extravagant weekends abroad. 'But when the dust settled they realised it just wasn't right. The split was mutual and they are both really sad about it and remain friends... 'Emily's enjoying one of the busiest times in her career so wants to give all she can to the exciting work opportunities coming her way... she's throwing herself into upcoming projects and remains positive.' Living on a visa in a foreign country comes with its restrictions. Six months working for one company then having to move on, back-breaking fruit picking for $5 per bucket for 88 days to qualify for your second year visa, and no access to Medicare here in Australia. Not being eligible for welfare should you lose your job under normal circumstances is resolvable and acceptable as we are not citizens, and we can replace that job easily with a new one as the workforce is thriving here. However, being conspicuously absent from the government's assistance package in a national crisis with closed borders - not so normal. This is an emergency. The running theme of uncertainty, dismay and disbelief on the minds of my peers and myself on temporary visas is somewhat daunting. The 1.1 million visa holders living in what once was a secure habitat, are now wondering if they will have a roof over their heads in a short few weeks. A large percentage of those have been stood down from their jobs in the hospitality, retail and tourism industry. The security of my job, like many others is on the fence. I am nervous. Prime Minister Scott Morrison still has not released a resolvable plan for the more than a million people in Australia on temporary visas who are excluded from the governments job-keeper and other support payments. People cannot be left with nothing, with no income to survive. It shouldnt be so complex. But it seems having a grasp of compassion, or lack thereof, seems to be the issue here. See for example New Zealands Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern - an admirable leader doing her utmost best for her people; locals and internationals alike living and working in New Zealand. For we are still your people should we not be citizens here in Australia, as we are living under your government and paying our taxes. If its broken into fair technicalities; like residents of Australia, we pay taxes and we lodge our yearly tax return. I now pay the same amount of tax as a resident does, this tax supports the economy and aids funds such as the rescue package the government has rolled out. I, like a million others, have been told we will not receive a cent of this during this crisis. Why should our hard earned and paid tax not be reciprocated to us during this pandemic? It should be our entitlement, even for a short period of time to get us through this crisis. I have called this country home for nearly 4 years now. I have built a life and a career here. I am not ready to abandon the pathway built, and nor are others. We are living history. The challenges posed by Covid 19 are similar the world over but everybodys experience of this emergency will be different. In this special series, Lockdown Letters' gives our readers at home and across the globe an opportunity to share their stories about how the Coronavirus and the measures to tackle its spread are impacting their lives in these unprecedented times. Please email your submission (400 words max.) to stories@independent.ie along with a photograph. We will publish as many letters as possible on Independent.ie and a selection in print every week. New Delhi, April 6 : In a bid to help fight against the new coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), health experts have shared some tips for disinfecting your office to stop the spread of the virus. According to the experts, office spaces, including conference rooms should be cleaned every evening after office hours or early in the morning before the rooms are occupied. "Cleaning and sterilization are the essentials that need to be followed amid the COVID spread. Depending upon the number of users, disinfectants must be used frequently. The most common and effective disinfectant is Sodium Hypochlorite (commonly known as Household Bleach) is available with 5-6 per cent solution which can be diluted with water," Dr Meenakshi Jain, Associate Director, Internal Medicine, Max Hospital Patparganj, told IANS. Any surface including tabletops, countertops, tables, handles, door latches and knobs etc. should be left for one minute in contact with the solution and then wiped off. "Certain precautions are - it is essential to keep the doors open, ensure proper ventilation, and one should not directly inhale it and should not be mixed with any other disinfectant which are quaternary ammonium compounds. For electronic gadgets like mobiles, desktops, laptops, mouse, keyboards, normal sanitizers can be used which has a composition of isopropyl alcohol (70 per cent)," Jain said. "For sterilization of rooms, with expected gatherings, using UV-C band of light in the room, is an easy way of disinfection. The room should be closed and the light should not be seen directly as it can be dangerous for vision," she added. According to Dr Rakesh Chawla, Senior Consultant, Respiratory Medicine, Saroj Super Speciality Hospital in Delhi, it is important to keep the office ambience hygienic and well sanitized. While most of us prefer to keep various items which has a potential of multiple touches, clean, but other things include, clothes (uniform), carpets, rugs, doormats etc. which also needs to be cleaned, the doctor said. "Normally available disinfectants like Lysol, Harpic, 256 DT (diluted with water) can be used to clean the floor and soap solution can be used to disinfect cloth materials which can be washed in the warmest water possible. Basically cleaning has to be done effectively especially things which are easily touchable," Chawla said. According to the guidelines issued by the Union Health Ministry, hand sanitizing stations should be installed in office premises (especially at the entry) and near high contact surfaces. In addition, all employees should consider cleaning the work area in front of them with a disinfecting wipe prior to use and sit one seat further away from others, if possible. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Miller to Step Down as UWs Provost June 30 Kate Miller, the University of Wyomings provost and vice president for academic affairs, will step down from the position June 30. We express our appreciation to Dr. Miller for her service to the university and the state, Acting President Neil Theobald says. UWs incoming president, Ed Seidel, will consult with key university stakeholders to consider candidates and select an acting vice president for academic affairs to take the position July 1. That person will serve until a new provost is selected. A national search is planned to begin in September. Miller has been UWs chief academic officer since August 2016, coming to Wyoming after serving as dean of the College of Geosciences at Texas A&M University. Among other accomplishments, she helped spearhead UWs grand challenges task force; led the universitys strategic enrollment management effort; and developed UWs current academic program review process. [April 06, 2020] Molina Healthcare Donates Over $68,000 to Michigan Nonprofit Organizations to Help Alleviate Pandemic Shortages Molina Healthcare of Michigan ("Molina") is donating over $68,000 to 17 community-based organizations throughout the state to help address COVID-19 pandemic resource shortages. The nonprofits focus on health centers, food insecurity, senior care, families with children, and the homeless. "As this unprecedented public health crisis continues to evolve, we have an obligation to support organizations serving Michigan residents in need as we all face the new reality of addressing the many ways this pandemic has affected our daily lives," said Christine Surdock, plan president of Molina Healthcare of Michigan. "The donations will support important efforts as Molina continues to provide best-in-class support for our members, providers, and the various communities we serve." The funds will support organizations on the ground helping Michigan's most vulnerable populations while the state is under a stay-at-home order. Several local community partners across the state will receive funding support from Molina Healthcare, including: Access of West Michigan (Kent County, Grand Rapids) Carriage Town Ministries (Genesee County, Flint) Catholic Charities of West Michigan (Kent County) Cherry Health FQHC (Kent County, Grand Rapids) Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (Wayne County, Detroit) Food Bank of Eastern Michigan (Genesee County, Flint) Forotten Harvest (Wayne and Oakland County) Genesee County Community Action Resource Dept. (Genesee County) Gleaners Community Food Bank (Wayne County, Detroit) Grace Centers of Hope (Oakland County, Pontiac) Ministry with Community (Kalamazoo County, Kalamazoo) Neighborhood Service Organization (Detroit) Open Doors Kalamazoo (Kalamazoo County, Kalamazoo) Salvation Army Eastern Michigan Division (Wayne County, Detroit) Salvation Army KROC (Kent County, Grand Rapids) SECOM (Kent County, Grand Rapids) The Baldwin Center (Oakland County, Pontiac) For members seeking information about COVID-19 risk factors, Molina launched its Coronavirus Chatbot, an enhanced digital tool available on the Molina website, member portal, and mobile app. About Molina Healthcare of Michigan Since 1997, Molina Healthcare of Michigan has been providing government-funded care for low-income individuals. As of December 31, 2019, the company serves approximately 362,000 members through Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare-Medicaid (Duals) and Health Insurance Exchange programs throughout Michigan. For more information, visit molinahealthcare.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005621/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Page Content St. Maarten is now the recipient of the much-needed medical equipment sent this morning on the Military C 17 aircraft, from the Netherlands at approximately 2:00 pm on Sunday, April 5, 2020, to SXM Airport. The equipment was received by a delegation consisting of Honorable Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs, Dr. Felix Holiday representing St. Maarten Medical Centre (SMMC), ESF 6 Coordinator Fenna Arnell, SXM Airport CEO Brian Mingo, SXM Airport COO Michel Hyman and Head of the Dutch Representation Office in St. Maarten Chris Johnson. Along with six (6) Intensive Care (IC) beds including the medical equipment, St. Maarten received Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), COVID-19 testing kits, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) medicine, and COVID-19 medication to treat COVID-19 patients. The equipment consists of a Military ICU facility which will be assembled tomorrow by the marines and the fire department. The so-called Hospitainer will house six (6) fully equipped ICU beds with six (6) additional ventilators to be used within the compound of SMMC. These additional six (6) spaces at SMMC are intended for the COVID-19 patients for St. Maarten. In addition to these six (6) IC beds, six (6) more IC beds including equipment is expected to arrive in a second shipment. The current six (6) IC beds provided today, to St. Maarten is amongst the forty-two (42) IC beds that the Netherlands has committed to the Dutch Caribbean. The State Secretary of Public Health, Welfare and Sport Paul Blokhuis and his VWS Ministry were instrumental in the coordination of the medical equipment for the island with strong intervention from the Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). According to RIVM, St. Maarten was the first among the islands to receive their units, given the medical capacity and limited resources on the islands. Additionally, St. Maarten is expected to receive some technical support in the form of additional medical personnel. The team of medical professionals will arrive in St. Maarten on April 7 and 8, from the United States and are all screened COVID-19 negative. This forms the first tranche of the aid that the Netherlands has pledged in ensuring the Dutch Caribbean islands and countries can properly deal with the pandemic within our region. We continue to pledge to assist each other where possible, especially our sister islands Saba and St. Eustatius for whom we serve as overflow for medical emergencies even under normal circumstances. We also offer condolences to the Netherlands for the more than 1000 deaths recorded as a result of this COVID-19 crisis and wish each and every citizen of the kingdom and the world much strength as we band together to beat back this monster, disclosed Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs. The distribution of the PPEs will be registered and distributed by the Public Health Department who will be distributing them to all health care professionals who are involved in the care of COVID-19 patients and are serving at the front-lines of this untimely pandemic. Currently, the updated count of COVID-19 cases as per April 5, 2020 at 3:00 PM are as follows: Self- Quarantine: 273 Self-Isolation: 168 Number Tested: 105 Number Positive: 37 (1 currently admitted to SMMC) Male: 26 Female: 11 Number Negative: 60 Number Pending: 8 (3 currently admitted to SMMC) Deceased: 6 Number recovered: 1 Discharged from SMMC in good condition: 3 Hudson said the fire department can lose 200 and in some circumstances up to 400 members and still operate efficiently, as long as most are not on the same 24-hour shift and the outage does not stretch over weeks. It takes 362 firefighters, paramedics and EMTs to fully staff every vehicle in every firehouse across the District. That number is locked in to meet national safety standards which sets minimum requirements for staffing apparatus. Dividend paying stocks like Asia Cement (China) Holdings Corporation (HKG:743) tend to be popular with investors, and for good reason - some research suggests a significant amount of all stock market returns come from reinvested dividends. If you are hoping to live on the income from dividends, it's important to be a lot more stringent with your investments than the average punter. With Asia Cement (China) Holdings yielding 7.3% and having paid a dividend for over 10 years, many investors likely find the company quite interesting. We'd guess that plenty of investors have purchased it for the income. Remember though, given the recent drop in its share price, Asia Cement (China) Holdings's yield will look higher, even though the market may now be expecting a decline in its long-term prospects. Some simple analysis can offer a lot of insights when buying a company for its dividend, and we'll go through this below. Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis SEHK:743 Historical Dividend Yield April 6th 2020 Payout ratios Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. Comparing dividend payments to a company's net profit after tax is a simple way of reality-checking whether a dividend is sustainable. Looking at the data, we can see that 25% of Asia Cement (China) Holdings's profits were paid out as dividends in the last 12 months. Given the low payout ratio, it is hard to envision the dividend coming under threat, barring a catastrophe. While the above analysis focuses on dividends relative to a company's earnings, we do note Asia Cement (China) Holdings's strong net cash position, which will let it pay larger dividends for a time, should it choose. We update our data on Asia Cement (China) Holdings every 24 hours, so you can always get our latest analysis of its financial health, here. Dividend Volatility Story continues Before buying a stock for its income, we want to see if the dividends have been stable in the past, and if the company has a track record of maintaining its dividend. Asia Cement (China) Holdings has been paying dividends for a long time, but for the purpose of this analysis, we only examine the past 10 years of payments. The dividend has been cut on at least one occasion historically. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was CN0.10 in 2010, compared to CN0.50 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 17% a year over that time. Asia Cement (China) Holdings's dividend payments have fluctuated, so it hasn't grown 17% every year, but the CAGR is a useful rule of thumb for approximating the historical growth. So, its dividends have grown at a rapid rate over this time, but payments have been cut in the past. The stock may still be worth considering as part of a diversified dividend portfolio. Dividend Growth Potential With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share (EPS) are growing. Why take the risk of a dividend getting cut, unless there's a good chance of bigger dividends in future? Strong earnings per share (EPS) growth might encourage our interest in the company despite fluctuating dividends, which is why it's great to see Asia Cement (China) Holdings has grown its earnings per share at 32% per annum over the past five years. Earnings per share have grown rapidly, and the company is retaining a majority of its earnings. We think this is ideal from an investment perspective, if the company is able to reinvest these earnings effectively. Conclusion When we look at a dividend stock, we need to form a judgement on whether the dividend will grow, if the company is able to maintain it in a wide range of economic circumstances, and if the dividend payout is sustainable. Firstly, we like that Asia Cement (China) Holdings has a low and conservative payout ratio. Next, earnings growth has been good, but unfortunately the dividend has been cut at least once in the past. Asia Cement (China) Holdings fits all of our criteria, and we think there are a lot of positives to it from a dividend perspective. It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. For example, we've picked out 3 warning signs for Asia Cement (China) Holdings that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. We have also put together a list of global stocks with a market capitalisation above $1bn and yielding more 3%. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Freixenet Copestick introduces Italian still wine collection Freixenet Copestick is adding to the Freixenet brand by introducing a new range of premium Italian still wines. The wines, which follow the successful launches of Freixenet Prosecco and Sparkling Italian Rose, represent three of Italys leading wine regions via a Pinot Grigio, Italian Rose and Chianti. The Pinot Grigio DOC (rsp: 10) is an elegant white wine made with grapes from the Garda region in northern Italy. The Italian Rose (rsp: 10) is made from grape varieties in the Veneto region. The company said the wine evokes a subtle fragrance and the taste of red cherries and strawberries. The Chianti DOCG (rsp: 10) is a superb red wine made from traditional grapes (mainly Sangiovese), grown in the namesake region in Tuscany. The wine has tones of wild berries, complemented by lightly spiced notes and violet aromas, with a delicate finish. The trio are packaged in bespoke diamond-cut glass bottles to match the sparkling variants. Lucy Auld, head of marketing, said: The consumer response to this range has been exceptional and we are so excited about the launch of the Freixenet Italian Wine Collection. Although the current market conditions are far from normal we are sure this range will build on the performance of the Italian sparkling range and deliver success to the category for years to come. Morrisons will be the first major retailer to launch the range from April 20, with further retailer launches and activity planned throughout May. Related articles: Refugees have no legal status, worry about cost of COVID-19 treatment and do not want to risk arrest. When Malaysia announced everyone should stay at home as part of a nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO) on March 18, Mai Mai, who is originally from Myanmars Kachin State, did what she was told. Crammed into an apartment she shares with eight other refugees in Kuala Lumpur, with no legal status and suddenly out of a job, 23-year-old Mai Mai is one of more than 200,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia who fear not only the virus, but its effect on their lives. Nearly 180,000 refugees and asylum seekers are registered with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia, most of them from Myanmar. Refugee community groups estimate that more than 80,000 have no documentation as they await registration with the UNHCR. Malaysia currently has the highest reported number of COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia, and the epidemic has exposed not only the difficulties faced by refugees and asylum seekers in getting medical treatment but also the risk that creates for public health as a whole. Refugees too often face needless obstacles in accessing health care, Dr Susheela Balasundaram, UNHCR associate public health officer, told Al Jazeera. COVID-19 clearly demonstrates that we are all connected. Barriers to healthcare and discrimination create an environment where the ill are not treated, cases go undetected and the virus spreads. Cost of medical care Malaysia is not a party to the UN Refugee Convention and lacks a legal framework for refugees, who are considered illegal immigrants and a policy known as Circular 10/2001 requires healthcare providers to report such people to the police. A woman is tested for COVID-19 at a temporary testing facility set up by the Malaysian Ministry of Health in a community centre on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. The Ministry of Health has provided free testing to refugee communities around Malaysia. [Alexandra Radu/Al Jazeera] Although the law is not always applied, in the past refugees and asylum-seekers particularly those without papers have been arrested after going for treatment or giving birth. Healthcare costs can also be prohibitive. Non-citizens must pay a foreigner rate often 100 times higher than local rates in government health facilities, according to the Hospital Kuala Lumpur website. While those with UNHCR status receive a 50 percent discount, the undocumented must pay the full amount. The current COVID-19 crisis simply accentuated the harmful public health effects of such policies, Beatrice Lau, Head of Mission for Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres, or MSF) in Malaysia told Al Jazeera. Policies of social exclusion and limited access to healthcare can impact society as a whole, [and] add to the challenge Malaysia now faces in achieving better contact tracing for COVID-19. These issues reached a critical point in the last week of February when several hundred Rohingya refugees were among an estimated 16,000 who attended an event at a mosque on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur to which more than 1,200 COVID-19 cases have been traced. Amid heightened concern that not all attendees had come forward, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri said last week that the government would not arrest anyone based on their immigration status who sought medical services in relation to COVID-19, while the Ministry of Health announced that COVID-19 treatment would be free for foreigners showing symptoms. Inclusive and non-discriminatory policies will only strengthen the response as it is in everyones interest that all people, especially the most vulnerable including refugees, asylum-seekers and the stateless have access to health services, said the UNHCRs Dr Balasundaram, who called the governments announcement of amnesty an important step to build trust and confidence helping all who need medical attention to come forward. Reluctance borne of experience MSFs Lau, who also commended the steps, expressed concern, however, that Malaysias past treatment of refugees may make them reluctant to come forward for testing. Malaysian authorities are trying to encourage Rohingya who took part in a mass gathering at a mosque on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur to come forward after the event fuelled a spike in coronavirus infections [File: Lim Huey Teng/Reuters] She said that MSF had received calls from refugees who, despite the governments assurances, remained hesitant. A persistent fear of arrest and the inability to afford healthcare have led [some refugees] to delay seeking healthcare or abscond treatment, Lau explained. This can lead to serious and permanent health repercussions. UNHCR is working with refugee community organisations including the Coalition for Burma Ethnics Malaysia, and the Rohingya Society Malaysia, as well as the Ministry of Health district health officers and non-profit partners across the country, to translate and disseminate vital information through multimedia channels. UNHCR has also established a hotline in eight languages and an online portal and is offering interpretation services for refugees using public hospitals. I am afraid to even go out to get groceries. If I contract the virus and need to go to the hospital, I worry I could get arrested or detained. Mai Mai, refugee in Malaysia The UN refugee agency and refugee community organisations told Al Jazeera that, in addition to health concerns, financial needs are becoming increasingly dire. Of the roughly 90 calls each day to its hotline, more than 70 percent are requests for financial assistance or help with food, according to the UN body. Financial hardship Refugees lack the legal right to work in Malaysia, leaving most to find an income in the informal sector, with only limited employment protections at most. Mung Lawt Awng, from Myanmars Kachin State, became the sole income-earner for his wife, child, brother and sister when the Movement Control Order went into effect two weeks ago. The MCO has now been extended until April 14 and he is in an increasingly difficult position. The death toll in Malaysia rose to 67 [File: Fazry/EPA] At the time the MCO was imposed, Mung Lawt Awngs employer at the restaurant where he works withheld his March wages and gave him a choice leave work and forfeit the money or continue to work on a schedule that goes beyond legally-permitted hours. [My boss] knows we [workers] are in a tight corner and have to work to survive, he said. Our financial situation is our biggest weakness Thats why he wants to exploit us. We cant ask for anything, just follow his demands. Mai Mai, however, decided not to take any risks. Although she has been in Malaysia for six years, she is still waiting for her registration interview with UNHCR and, because she lacks documentation has been arrested three times. Last year, she says she paid 8,000 Malaysian ringgit ($1,850) to be released. Fearing that if she got the virus, she could get arrested at the hospital and knowing she could not afford the cost of treatment, she stopped working in mid-March, and has not left her apartment since. Mai Mai said she is aware of the governments recent announcement but does not trust it. I am afraid to even go out to get groceries. If I contract the virus and need to go to the hospital, I worry I could get arrested or detained, she told Al Jazeera. We are facing the greatest hardship of our lives. Additional reporting by Jaw Tu Hkawng and Zau Myet Awng Raiders of the Lost Ark (Credit: Universal Pictures/Lucasfilm) The fifth movie in the Indiana Jones series has been bumped back to 2022, according to reports. It was set to begin shooting in April, with a release date plotted for 9 July, 2021. The movie will now be released worldwide on 29 July, 2022, following a huge reshuffle of the Disney slate. Read more: Disney shares new movie release dates It's just the latest Disney movie to be delayed by the worldwide coronavirus outbreak, which has disrupted the shoots and release plans for countless projects in Hollywood and beyond. The studio's big-budget remake of Mulan has been delayed, as have new Marvel movies Black Widow and The Eternals. The Eternals, starring Angelina Jolie, Kumail Nanjiani and Richard Madden, will now premiere on 12 February, 2021, with Black Widow shifting to 6 November, 2020. Black Widow (Credit: Disney) Mulan has now been shoved by from its original 27 March release date to 24 July, 2020. The fifth movie in the Indiana Jones series, the follow up to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull from 2008, has been a long-in-gestation affair, but one that Lucasfilm has been keen to pursue since its acquisition by Disney. Read more: The Disney+ originals in development now According to former Disney boss Bob Iger, the movie won't be 'just a one-off', leading to speculation that Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones could hand over his treasure hunting mantle to another. Then in February, it was announced that Logan director James Mangold was in talks to direct the fifth film, with Steven Spielberg, who has helmed all the other Indy movies, remaining on board as a 'hands-on' producer. With this additional delay, it means that Ford will have turned 79 when the film comes out. In March 2020, the remains on bank accounts of households decreased by 2.752 billion in hryvnia equivalent and by $19 million in dollar terms. The Expert Platform of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) wrote on Facebook. In total, the remains on the accounts of the population in the banking system of Ukraine have declined by 2,752 billion in hryvnia (-0.8%) and 19 million in dollar equivalent (-0.2%), reads the report. Fight against the pandemic and economic uncertainty affect the financial behavior of the population, the central bank stated. However, the trend of withdrawing funds from bank accounts turned out to be weak and short in March 2020. The decision of the NBU on non-introduction of any restrictions in the financial market contributed to the inflow of funds. According to operational monitoring of the National Bank, the reduction of remaining funds on the accounts of individuals actually stopped after March 25. Deposits in national currency in the last seven days of March even grew by UAH 4 billion (+1.2 %). Trump Suggests Intelligence Watchdog Was Fired For Sharing Whistle-Blower Complaint By RFE/RL April 05, 2020 U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on April 4 that the inspector-general of the intelligence community he fired the previous day had taken "a fake report and took it to Congress with an emergency," lending weight to accusations that the dismissal was retaliation connected to Trump's congressional impeachment over pressure he put on Ukraine. Trump informed the Senate Intelligence Committee late on April 3 that he had fired Michael Atkinson, the intelligence official who handled the 2019 whistle-blower complaint that described the president's pressure in a July 2019 phone call with Ukraine's president to investigate Trump political rival Joe Biden and his son. "I thought he did a terrible job, absolutely terrible." Trump told reporters on April 4. "He took a fake report and he took it to Congress with an emergency, OK? Not a big Trump fan, that I can tell you." The whistle-blower complaint, written by an anonymous intelligence official, described accounts of the phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in which Trump asked for "a favor" and urged investigation of Biden and his son. Atkinson reportedly determined the complaint was urgent and credible and therefore was required to be disclosed to Congress. But Atkinson was overruled for several weeks by the acting director of national intelligence before public reports of the complaint prompted its publication with redactions. An inquiry in Congress led to the Democratically controlled House of Representatives passing two articles of impeachment against Trump in December. The Republican-controlled upper house, which tries impeachment cases, acquitted Trump in February. "Never came in to see me, never requested to see me," Trump said of Atkinson in his remarks on April 4, adding: "That man is a disgrace to IGs [inspectors-general]." He repeated his earlier description of the phone call with Zelenskiy as "perfect" and said it had been wrongly described in the whistle-blower's account. The partial transcript released by the White House appeared to largely corroborate the whistle-blower's account, although Zelenskiy later said that he had never felt "pressured" by Trump. Michael Horowitz, chairman of an independent federal watchdog within the executive branch called the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), vowed after Atkinson's firing that the U.S. inspector-general community "will continue to conduct aggressive, independent oversight of the agencies" it oversees. Horowitz, who also has been the inspector-general of the U.S. Department of Justice since 2012, said on April 4 that Atkinson was known for his "integrity, professionalism, and commitment to the rule of law and independent oversight." Horowitz said the committee would work "on behalf of U.S. taxpayers, families, businesses, patients, and health-care providers to ensure that more than $2 trillion in emergency federal spending is being used consistently with the law's mandate." Democrats have expressed concerns about how the recently approved fiscal package to combat the social and economic devastation of the current COVID-19 pandemic will be disbursed by the U.S. Treasury, whose secretary answers to the president. Atkinson's firing elicited questions from Democrats but also from some prominent Republicans. Senator Chuck Grassley (Iowa-Republican), who heads the Finance Committee in the upper house, said Congress was "crystal clear" that written reasons were required when inspectors-general are removed for cause. "More details are needed from the administration," Grassley said. Another Republican, Senator Susan Collins (Maine), who is on the Senate Intelligence Committee, suggested Trump's rationale for firing Atkinson outlined in his April 3 letter might be insufficient. The dismissal, she said, "was not warranted." Another Republican, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (North Carolina), said an inspector-general "must be allowed to conduct his or her work independent of internal or external pressure." Trump's letter was addressed to Representative Adam Schiff (Democrat-California), the head of the House Intelligence Committee, and Devin Nunes (Republican-California), the top Republican on the committee. Schiff called the firing a "blatant attempt to gut the independence of the Intelligence Community and retaliate against those who dare to expose presidential wrongdoing." "It puts our country and national security at even greater risk," Schiff tweeted. Trump wrote that he plans to nominate an individual "who has my full confidence" to replace Atkinson at a later date. The senior Democrat on the Senate intelligence panel, Senator Mark Warner (Virginia), said that "we should all be deeply disturbed by ongoing attempts to politicize the nation's intelligence agencies." With reporting by AP, Reuters, and dpa Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-suggests- intelligence-watchdog-was-fired-for-sharing -whiste-blower-complaint/30532571.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Teslas EV plants are shuttered due to the coronavirus, but like other automakers, its retooling its operations to build ventilators. Now, the company has released a YouTube video showing a prototype built with EV parts including the Model 3s display and infotainment system, as spotted by TechCrunch. Hospital-grade oxygen goes into Teslas mixing chamber (a car part used in Teslas vehicles). Its subsequently pumped through Teslas custom designed manifold, which is powered by vehicle computers and controlled by the infotainment system. All the patient parameters are then displayed on the Model 3s main display. First Medtronic units from Tesla getting installed in NY metro area. These are for worst case situations. pic.twitter.com/xyFRZwv1M7 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 4, 2020 Tesla, along with Ford and GM, have promised to donate or build ventilators, and CEO Elon Musk said recently that the New York factory could reopen soon to produce ventilators. The company recently donated 1,000 ventilators, though critics said that the non-invasive models were the wrong kind. Thats because critical COVID-19 patients need invasive ventilators that can inflate a patients lungs with air via intubation. However, New York governor Andrew Cuomo said that the so-called BiPAP non-invasive ventilators could be converted into the right type to help offset the burn rate of critical invasive ventilators. Elon Musk subsequently tweeted that all hospitals were given exact specifications of [the donated models] & all confirmed they would be critical. He added that Tesla has now started delivering critical intratracheal ventilators from Medtronic for worst case situations. TDT | Manama Higher education institutions across the Kingdom must have a clear strategy towards e-learning and distance learning in the circumstances that require it. This was asserted yesterday by Higher Education Council (HEC) Evaluation and Accreditation assistant secretary-general Dr Muna Al Balushi, who laid out guidelines and standards for e-learning at higher institutions. Amongst other guidelines, Dr Al Balushi said that these schools should engage the stakeholders in developing their plans and explain their goals to them. She added that they must apply the e-learning systems using all available means to achieve the preset goals, and also keep the evidence supporting the academic and administrative activity and train all faculty members to use the available means. Higher education institutions should also verify the efficiency of the information and communication technology infrastructure, and enhance its ability to meet the requirements of e-learning. Dr Al Balushi indicated that these guidelines are in line with the institutional accreditation standards in force in the Kingdom, and to which private higher education institutions should be committed. Dr Al Balushi added that most higher education schools in Bahrain have already taken the necessary procedures to use electronic education platforms to ensure the continuity of learning amidst the current situation. She said that it is in line with the directives of the HECs secretariat general. Three SIU students win prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship awards by Tim Crosby CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The National Science Foundation has awarded three students at Southern Illinois University Carbondale a highly competitive research grant aimed at nurturing the countrys scientific and engineering leaders of tomorrow. Amanda Leppert Gomes, Haley Hostetter and Allison McMinn have been named as winners of the prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship Award. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions. Having one student bring in such an award in one year would be very special, said Gary Kinsel, vice chancellor for research at SIU. But three SIU students winning the award is highly unusual and speaks volumes about the research opportunities for undergraduates at SIU. It is absolutely fantastic that we had three students receive these prestigious fellowships, Kinsel said. The success of these students in this highly competitive program clearly shows how valuable the opportunities for undergraduate students to participate in faculty mentored research can be for their future career goals. As a nationally ranked research institution, SIU is proud to provide such opportunities and even prouder that three of our students are using these research experiences as a springboard for future success. Fellowship singles out future leaders The GRFP is the oldest graduate fellowship of its kind. It maintains a long history of supporting high-achieving students who show great promise for future academic and professional careers. Winning the award often marks students as future leaders in their fields and prepares them for significant success in teaching and research. Fellows receive a three-year annual stipend of $34,000 along with a $12,000 education allowance for tuition, fees and other professional development. They are free to conduct research of their choice at any accredited U.S. institution of graduate education. The fellowship is highly competitive, with more than 13,000 applications from students at the nations top universities this cycle. Of those applications, the NSF awarded fewer than 2,100 fellowships this time around, university officials said. University Honors Program, faculty play important role Leppert, Hostetter and McMinn have outstanding records of achievement as undergraduates and are members of the University Honors Program at SIU. Jyotsna Kapur, director of the honors program, said officials this year created a special class, UHON 11-The Honors Colloquium, which is dedicated specifically to helping students who are applying for major scholarships and other research opportunities. Elizabeth Donoghue, assistant director of the honors program, worked closely with all three students on their applications this year, Kapur said. The honors program works with the student as a whole, Kapur said. Their civic engagement and co-curricular experiences are, for us, inseparable from the academic paths the students take. This gives Elizabeth a unique perspective on the students overall promise. Amanda Leppert Gomes A senior in anthropology, Leppert has participated in several research projects, including some with Roberto Barrios, professor of anthropology, which looked at social impacts of a green energy mega project on the local people in Oaxaco, Mexico. Barrios allowed her to conduct original research, which in turn helped her conceptualize and conduct a study based on a research question, create relationships with individuals at the field site, and analyze the data from interviews This allowed me to strengthen my passion in the work and realize a career-path which I believe will have a meaningful impact, she said. Leppert said SIUs support of low-income, first-generation students through scholarship programs made it possible for her to commit all her energy to becoming a top scholar. She cited support from the Provost Scholars program, the McNair Scholars Program, the University Honors Program and the Research-Enriched Academic Challenge (REACH) grant program, as well as support from Barrios and the anthropology degree program, in making difference in her career as an undergraduate at SIU. Leppert, of Marseilles, said she will use the NSF award to pursue a graduate degree in medical anthropology, which she hopes to use to further explore the impact of the green mega-development in Mexico, looking particularly at the way those with type II diabetes make new claims for care in front of new actors. Eventually, Leppert said she would like to earn her doctorate and become an activist-scholar conducting research on pressing social questions in the hopes of influencing policy and making a meaningful impact. Haley Hostetter A senior in civil engineering, Hostetter last summer completed a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program during which she studied at the University of California-Berkeleys Simulation and Computational Modeling Center also known as the SimCenter. The research project focused on geotechnical earthquake engineering, which later became the center of her NSF fellowship application. I applied as a prospective masters student wanting to complete a degree in structural/earthquake engineering, Hostetter said. The research project I proposed is for an earthquake evacuation study in various structures for people with disabilities. Hostetter said her experience with the SIUs Saluki Service Dawgs registered student organization opened her eyes and fired a passion for helping make the world more accessible for the disabled community. Through the Saluki Service Dawgs, I learned how inaccessible the world is for people in wheelchairs, with service dogs, with oxygen tanks, and so much more, Hostetter said. I want to help make buildings safer for the community in the event of a natural disaster. Hostetter, of Jasper, Indiana, said SIU prepared her to compete for the NSF fellowship in several ways. Countless supporters helped her through the application process, with two professors writing letters of recommendation. The civil engineering program has been instrumental in providing me with not only the technical background I needed to compete on the same level as students from Harvard, Yale, UC-Berkeley and others, but also in allowing me to pursue my own interests and choose courses that match those interests, Hostetter said. She also cited the many engineering-related registered student organizations she has joined, including Tau Beta Pi (engineering honor society), the American Society of Civil Engineers, where she held several officer positions, and Saluki Service Dawgs. Hostetter said she will use the NSF fellowship to pursue her masters degree in structural engineering at Clemson University. The fellowship will allow her to focus on her classes without needing a second job or assistantship. The professor I am working for researches fire as a structural hazard, and I am hoping to participate in a joint project with a transportation professor on a fire evacuation study for those with disabilities in various types of structures, she said. Once I finish my masters degree, I will be looking at obtaining my professional engineering license and my structural engineering license while working for a structural engineering firm. Allison McMinn A senior in electrical engineering, McMinn has participated in research aimed at improving early detection of breast cancer. Working with Ying Chen, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, the project was key in helping her obtain the NSF fellowship, McMinn said. The undergraduate research opportunities at SIU are directly responsible for me being able to win this award, McMinn said. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to participate in research for all four years of my undergraduate education. This gave me important research-based experience that helped me to stand out from other candidates. In her fellowship application, McMinn outlined a research project building on her work with Chen. The proposal would focus on using a specific algebraic reconstruction technique to improve an imaging technology known as tomosynthesis in the treatment of kidney disease. McMinn, of Chatham, also took advantage of various SIU undergraduate research opportunities such as the McNair Scholars Program and REACH grant. Each helped her sharpen her focus in different ways, she said. (McNair) helped me identify my research interests and encouraged me to reach out to faculty to find a mentor at SIU, McMinn said. (REACH) gave me experience writing up professional proposals like the one I had to submit for this award. McMinn also worked as a math and science tutor at SIUs Center for Learning Support Services and as president of both the Society of Women Engineers and Biomedical Engineering Society of SIU. She said she will use the NSF fellowship to pursue a doctorate in electrical engineering. My career goal is to become a professor and role model for future students while continuing to perform exceptional research that will benefit society, she said. McMinns older sister, Madison McMinn, was awarded the same NSF fellowship last year and currently is pursuing her doctorate in chemistry at Northeastern University in Boston. The special bond between sisters is something she treasures. I was really fortunate to get to go to SIU with Madison for three years, Allison McMinn said. It is crazy to think that my family now has two NSF Graduate Research Fellows. Sudan's justice ministry said Monday it has finalised a settlement with families of the victims of the USS Cole bombing, ending long-running litigation in US courts. Khartoum agreed in February to compensate the families of 17 American sailors who were killed in a suicide bombing targeting their navy destroyer in Yemen's Aden harbour in 2000, an attack that was later claimed by Al-Qaeda. A US court held Sudan responsible for the attack and ordered compensation, finding that the bombers were trained in the country. In March 2019, the US Supreme Court overturned the ruling on procedural grounds. On Monday, Sudan's justice ministry said it had submitted on Friday a petition alongside families who pursued the case with the relevant US court to end pending lawsuits against Sudan regarding the USS Cole. "The settlement procedures have now been completed in such a way that would permanently scrap lawsuits," the ministry said in a statement. The ministry did not give further details on the deal or the amount of compensation. Khartoum has always denied the charges but by agreeing to a settlement, Sudan has fulfilled a key condition set by the United States to remove it from Washington's state sponsors of terrorism list. Sudan has been on Washington's blacklist since 1993 over its alleged support of Islamist groups, a designation that impeded foreign investment. The country hosted Al-Qaeda's late leader Osama Bin Laden from 1992 until 1996. Since the ouster of strongman Omar al-Bashir last April, Sudan has been in talks with the US over its removal from the blacklist in a bid to revive the country's ailing economy. Sudan's justice ministry said the settlement "clearly states that Sudan was not responsible for the attack of the USS Cole... [the deal] was only to serve Sudan's strategic interest. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) * Laos tested more 53 COVID-19 suspected cases, and all of them are negative, according to Lao health official. As of Saturday, there are 573 suspected cases in Laos, with 10 cases were tested positive. *One more COVID-19 patient in Cambodia has recovered, bringing the total number of patients cured in the country so far to 50, said a Ministry of Health (MoH) statement released on Sunday. The remaining 64 patients have been receiving treatment at various designated hospitals. According to the spokeswoman of MoH, no new COVID-19 case was detected in the kingdom on Saturday. * Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) on Saturday reported 75 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 1,189. * Authorities in Thailand on Saturday are searching for 152 Thai nationals who have apparently avoided a government-provided quarantine after returning from overseas. Thailand is currently under curfew nationwide between 10:00 p.m. and 04:00 a.m. (local time) daily. * The Indonesian government said on Saturday that the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country jumped to 2,092, with the death toll climbing to 191. * India's federal health ministry Sunday morning said the death toll due to COVID-19 in India rose to 77 and the total number of confirmed cases in the country reached 3,374. * The Republic of Korea reported 81 more cases of the COVID-19 compared to 24 hours ago as of midnight Sunday local time, raising the total number of infections to 10,237. Six more deaths were confirmed, lifting the death toll to 183. The total fatality rate came in at 1.79 percent. * More than 89,300 COVID-19 cases and at least 1,250 deaths have been registered as of Saturday afternoon across Germany, according to evaluations of the German Press Agency (DPA) which took into account the latest figures from all federal states. * Russia has confirmed 582 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the tally to 4,731 as of Saturday, official data showed. The death toll rose to 43 after nine more patients died of the disease, Russia's coronavirus response center said in a statement, adding that 333 people have recovered, including 52 in the last 24 hours. * Bangladesh has extended the ongoing shutdown of the public transport to April 11 to contain the spread of COVID-19. Bangladesh's COVID-19 death toll rose to eight as the country reported two more fatalities Saturday. With nine more new cases reported in the last 24 hours, the total number of the cases increased to 70 in the country. * Pakistan announced on Saturday to open two border crossings with Afghanistan next week for four days to allow stranded Afghans to return to their country. Some Afghan people including patients have been stuck in Pakistan after the country closed borders with Afghanistan to stop the spread of the COVID-19. * Sri Lanka's Health Ministry said that to date 159 people had tested positive for the COVID-19 out of which 25 had recovered and been discharged, while 129 people are under observation in the designated hospitals across the country. * China has fully resumed its ground public transportation and urban rail transit services, which were disrupted by the novel coronavirus outbreak. * The Brazilian Ministry of Health reported on Saturday 73 new deaths from COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 432 in the country. The number of COVID-19 cases in the country rose from 9,056 to 10,278 within the past 24 hours, according to the authorities. * The Chilean Ministry of Health reported on Saturday that there were 4,161 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country and 27 deaths. * The Ecuadoran Ministry of Public Health on Saturday raised the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus to 3,465, with 172 deaths. * A gas blast in a five-story residential house in the Moscow Region of Russia on Saturday has left one person dead and four others injured, national media reported, citing the Russian Ministry of Emergencies. * Malta has declared a public health emergency as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected 213 people but so far without any deaths, the Times of Malta reported on Saturday. * Saudi Arabia on Saturday registered 140 new COVID-19 cases and four more deaths from the novel coronavirus, the official Saudi Press Agency reported. With the new cases, the tally of COVID-19 cases in the kingdom increased to 2,179, including 420 recoveries and 29 deaths. * The Omani Ministry of Health announced on Saturday 25 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 277. So far, 61 coronavirus patients in Oman have recovered. * The number of Palestinian families living under the poverty line is expected to double in the coming months amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, said a senior Palestinian official on Saturday. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye said that his government expected to need US$120 million to cope with the pandemic. * Jordan said on Saturday that imposing a full curfew across the country was still a possibility in order to contain the spread of COVID-19, or novel coronavirus. Jordan's Health Minister Saad Jaber said 13 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed Saturday, increasing the total number of confirmed cases to 323, including five deaths. * A total of 423 people in Israel were tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 7,851, the Israeli Ministry of Health said. The ministry also announced four new deaths from the novel coronavirus, raising the death toll to 43. * Yemen's government forces declared on Saturday that 25 Houthi fighters were killed during an armed ambush in the country's northeastern province of Marib. * Egypt's Sawiris family announced in a statement on Saturday donating EGP100 million (about US$6.3 million) to back the country's efforts in combating the spread of COVID-19. Until Friday night, Egypt has confirmed 985 cases infected with the novel coronavirus, including 66 deaths and 216 recoveries. * Senegalese Ministry of Health and Social Action reported Saturday morning 12 new cases of COVID-19 and one death, bringing the country's total number to 219 cases. * Uganda on Saturday started relief food distribution to about 1.5 million urban poor who are affected by the lockdown as a measure to contain the COVID-19 outbreak in the country. Currently the country has 48 confirmed cases of COVID-19. By Daniel Trotta and Amanda Becker (Reuters) - The United States enters one of the most critical weeks so far in the coronavirus crisis with the death toll exploding in New York, Michigan and Louisiana and some governors calling for a national stay-at-home order. By Daniel Trotta and Amanda Becker (Reuters) - The United States enters one of the most critical weeks so far in the coronavirus crisis with the death toll exploding in New York, Michigan and Louisiana and some governors calling for a national stay-at-home order. New York, the hardest-hit state, reported on Sunday that, for the first time in a week, deaths had fallen slightly from the day before, but there were still nearly 600 new fatalities and more than 7,300 new cases. Places such as Pennsylvania, Colorado and Washington, D.C. are starting to see rising deaths. Bodies of victims of COVID-19, the flu-like respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, were stacked in bright orange bags inside a makeshift morgue outside the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, according to photos provided to Reuters. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Sunday that new hospitalizations had fallen by 50% over the previous 24 hours, but he cautioned that it was not yet clear whether the crisis was reaching a plateau in the state, which has a total of 4,159 deaths and more than 122,000 cases. (Graphic: https://tmsnrt.rs/2w7hX9T) "The coronavirus is truly vicious and effective at what the virus does," Cuomo told a daily briefing. "It's an effective killer." Once the peak of the epidemic passes, Cuomo said a mass rollout of rapid testing will be critical to help the nation "return to normalcy." For now, some New York hospitals are scrambling to care for the flood of coronavirus patients. An email to staff by Columbia University Irving Medical Center in Manhattan, seen by Reuters, said they must all be ready to redeploy to handle such patients regardless of an employee's specialty. Those without approved exemptions for health or other reasons may be placed on unpaid leave or could be fired. The hospital did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its message to staff. 'OUR PEARL HARBOR' U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams warned on Fox News Sunday that hard times were ahead but "there is a light at the end of the tunnel if everyone does their part for the next 30 days." "This is going to be the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans' lives, quite frankly. This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment, only it's not going to be localized," he said. "It's going to be happening all over the country. And I want America to understand that." Most states have ordered residents to stay home except for essential trips to slow the spread of the virus in the United States where over 327,000 people have tested positive and more than 9,300 have died, according to a Reuters tally. However, a few churches were holding large gatherings on Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week in Christian churches. "We're defying the rules because the commandment of God is to spread the Gospel," said Tony Spell, pastor at the Life Tabernacle megachurch in a suburb of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He has defied state orders against assembling in large groups and has already been hit with six misdemeanors. Louisiana has become a hot spot for the virus, on Saturday reporting a jump in deaths to 409 and more than 12,000 cases. Governor John Bel Edwards told CNN on Sunday that the state could run out of ventilators by Thursday. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said on Fox News Sunday that a number of hospitals there were already at capacity and the state needed more ventilators, tests and personal protective equipment. She said the pandemic is "growing exponentially" in Michigan. 'IT COULD COME BACK' White House medical experts have forecast that between 100,000 to 240,000 Americans could be killed in the pandemic, even if sweeping orders to stay home are followed. President Donald Trump warned on Saturday that there were "very horrendous" days ahead. Still, Wisconsin's Republican-controlled legislature decided to hold in-person voting for its presidential primary on Tuesday, when Democratic-led Colorado will also go ahead with local elections. Washington state Governor Jay Inslee, a Democrat, whose state recorded the country's first confirmed COVID-19 infection but has since seen cases flatten after early action to shutter activity, said if other states do not also impose strict measures, the virus will simply circulate. "It would be good to have a national stay-at-home order," he told NBC News' "Meet the Press" program. "Even if Washington gets on top of this fully, if another state doesn't, it could come back and come across our borders two months from now." Republican Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, however, defended his refusal to order statewide restrictions, saying the situation was being watched closely and that his more "targeted approach" was still slowing the spread of the virus. Adams, the surgeon general, said governors who have not issued month-long stay-at-home orders should at least consider one for the upcoming week. Kate Lynn Blatt, 38, a property manager from rural Pottsville, Pennsylvania, said she was astounded that her state's governor, Tom Wolf, waited until April 1 to issue a statewide stay-at-home order. "We were shocked. I can't believe Trump hasn't issued a nationwide order and I still can't believe there are states that are still open," Blatt said. (Reporting by Susan Heavey and Amanda Becker in Washington, Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut and Daniel Trotta; Writing by Lisa Shumaker; Editing by Daniel Wallis) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. OREGON COAST, Ore. -- The seafood industry has been supended by the spread of the coronavirus, which has halted restaurant sales and sent fishermen and dealers scrambling for new markets. Seafood is a global industry that relies on a complex network of fishermen, processors, buyers and distributors. They've all been affected by the virus. The lack of demand for seafood has sent prices tumbling and led some fishermen to tie up their boats until the virus subsides. Members of the U.S. seafood industry are calling on the Trump administration and Congress to help them weather the uncertain time. Seoul, the capital city of South Korea on April 5 took legal action against a protestant church which broke the administrations rules forbidding public gatherings. In an unprecedented development, South Korea has till now reported 16,237 cases of infection and 183 deaths. According to reports, Sarang Jeil Church pressed ahead with service for the second consecutive Sunday on April 5. The church was previously banned by the city authorities from holding mass gatherings after it broke the social distancing rule on March 22, a South Korean news agency reported. Recommendations for churches In a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the nation, the government has recommended that all the churches must check the temperatures of their followers, and should maintain a minimum distance of two meters during service. However, Sarang Jeil Church flouted these guidelines in March and then again ignored Governments orders against offline services on April 5. Read: 99-year-old Becomes Oldest Patient In UK To Recover From Coronavirus Read: COVID-19: UK Plans 7 Special Flights From Delhi, Mumbai, Goa For Stranded Britons The church officials in their defence said that only pre-registered followers were allowed to attend the service and were kept at least a meter apart from one another. On April 5, the city government sent three staffers to check if they were adhering to quarantine rules or not and found that they were not. In addition, authorities sent some police officials to guard against potential clashes. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency reportedly said that it has all 517 officers stationed at 206 religious facilities across the city. The Asian nation extended its social distancing measure which was due to end on April 4 by another two weeks until April 19 in an effort to contain the spread of the novel Coronavirus. The country is reporting over 100 cases of infection in a day, from being the second worst-hit country at the time the outbreak spiralled out of China, as per media reports. Read: COVID-19: UK Plans 7 Special Flights From Delhi, Mumbai, Goa For Stranded Britons Read: US Faces Worst Week Of Coronavirus Outbreak, Warns Country's Top Doctor Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reconsider the Centre's decision to suspend MPLADS funds for two years, saying they have a demonstrable potential to be deployed as an effective supplement to the initiatives being made by the central and state governments. In a letter to the prime minister, Tharoor commended the government for its decision to revise the salaries of Members of Parliament and offered his wholehearted support for it. However, he expressed concern over the government's decision to suspend all Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds for the period of two years in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. "As I am sure you will agree, by design, the MPLADS has traditionally been utilised to address and remedy gaps in our governance initiatives that may have been overlooked by the state and central government in their announcements of major development projects," Tharoor said in his letter. "By removing the resources at their (MPs) disposal to make critical interventions and bringing them under the ambit of the Consolidated Fund of India, it would centralise the allocation of funds, in turn, potentially leading to significant delays in the devolution of funds. MPLADS preserved the sense of direct responsibility for the well-being of constituents that is a hallmark of an Indian MPs work," he said. The money will now be allocated by the Centre and will follow the priorities and preferences of New Delhi, rather than reflect 543 sets of local needs, the MP from Thiruvananthapuram said. The government's move will also raise other questions regarding allocation, he said. "For instance, despite being one of the most affected regions, my state of Kerala has so far only received 157 crores from the first instalment of the Centre's share in State Disaster Response Mitigation Fund, whereas other states that are less affected have received a larger portion of the first tranche from the Centre," he said. Tharoor said that he agrees with the prime minister on the need to garner additional resources in the nationwide campaign against COVID-19. However, he said, "I would urge you to reconsider the decision to suspend MPLADS funds since it has a demonstrable potential to be deployed as an effective supplement to the initiatives being made by the central and state governments." "As an alternative, the government could use its authority to mandate that the MPLADS should be directed for COVID-19 related initiatives and could issue a fresh set of guidelines to enable the same," he said. There are no political differences in the fight to address the impact of this epidemic but at the same time, it must also be ensured that all branches of the governance structure of the country are equipped in their own way to intervene and offer relief to the people in these trying times, Tharoor said. The Cabinet on Monday approved temporary suspension of MPLADS fund scheme during 2020-21 and 2021-22, and the funds will be used for managing health services and the adverse impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the country. The Union cabinet also approved an ordinance to reduce the salaries, allowances and pensions of Members of Parliament (MPs) by 30 per cent for one year and the amount will be utilised in the fight against coronavirus. The President, Vice President, governors of states have also voluntarily decided to take a pay cut as a social responsibility. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When Lamar University moved the majority of its classes online for remainder of the semester, most of the students returned home. But for those that stayed, the disruptions of the COVID-19 reality both good and bad have started to settle in. Honestly, I love it, said April Brown, a senior studying psychology. Im able to walk into the washateria and the dining hall and get what I need and walk out, and the WiFi is not overloaded. However, the global ramifications of the virus put Browns senior year plans on hold. I saved one class so that I could travel abroad to Italy, Brown said. However, we know what is going on in Italy and they canceled all study abroad programs, and now I am stuck with that one class that will not allow me to graduate. Instead, Brown will take an alternative course this summer. As of Monday, there were more than 120 cases of coronavirus in Southeast Texas. By the end of the afternoon, two counties Jasper and Jefferson reported virus-related deaths, bringing the regions fatalities to six. While Brown takes solace in the emptier campus, the quiet dorm halls are not a comfort to all students staying behind. Jasmine Delarosa-Bonilla, a freshman studying English, said the experience of being alone on campus with the uncertainties of the pandemic has been frightening. I am scared sometimes when I see the news, I realize how severe things have gotten, Delarosa-Bonilla said. And it sucks because you can only do so much. And then youre sitting in a dorm all by yourself and then the only way to talk to your parents is a phone call or video chat. On top of the stresses of social isolation, Delarosa-Bonilla also is concerned about the financial realities of the pandemic. Its like were not in a time or place in our lives where we have tons and tons of money, Delarosa-Bonilla said. Were young adults trying to like actually become something. To ease that pressure, her fellow students have joined together to share the burden. If one of us doesnt have food, whatever we have in our dorm, we share it over, she said. We try to make the best of it because obviously we cant do it alone. We cant, without our parents. Were just focused on making the grade, passing the class and getting through because thats kind of what were stuck with doing. A shared struggle for students and faculty alike is the transition to online classes, which occurred shortly after the pandemic was declared. When it came to transitioning to online classes, I noticed that some of my older teachers faced struggles, which in turn made us struggle because there were assignments that we were supposed to do, but we didnt know how to turn them in, Brown said. After a few weeks of classes, most of the issues have been resolved, but difficulties still remain. I had personally never had online classes, so when the email came three days into Spring Break that we were going to be switching to online classes, I didnt think it was going to affect me as much, since I am already an organized person, Delarosa-Bonilla said. But the speed of the transition along with a broken laptop was overwhelming. It was very difficult for me because, in my case, I didnt have resources. Prior to this whole incident I had broken my laptop, she said. By then I started to get tons and tons ... of emails by my professors explaining where assignments for the week were, and for the next week and what tab to go to and this link to download this app and Im sitting there like why? Im stressing out because I dont know how this works. Delarosa-Bonilla has since replaced her laptop, and said both students and instructors are trying to make the most of the transition.. The university also is providing resources to students both on and off campus. Those include giving pro-rated refunds to students who did make the decision to move off campu, and using the Cardinal Emergency Fund to support struggling students. That fund was established three years ago to support students facing disruptions in their academic endeavors. The fund will help our students with the current issues they are facing, including housing and food insecurity, travel expenses, technology costs associated with digital learning, and other financial challenges according to the university website. Lindesy Hendrix, a freshman studying Family and Consumer Sciences, said she hasnt been contacted about the dorm room refunds yet, but has had a smooth transition to online classes. The academic transition hasnt been difficult because a lot of the teachers use Blackboard already, she said. But then I have also been really blessed to have teachers who are very communicative and if you have a problem with something, all you do is email. Extra resources and extended deadlines have made the experience relatively smooth, Hendrix said. They have done just about everything to make it as easy as possible in switching from face-to-face to online, she said. So I really have no complaints; theyve done everything in their power to make it as easy of a transition as it can be. Hendrix has moved back to her Houston-area home to be with her family and animals, and says she is not overly worried about what happens next. Whatever happens will happen, she said. I mean, Gods got it all under control. Though whatever happens, happens and well just roll with the punches and take it as it goes. Brown and Hendrix agreed that while the disease was a concern, the panic in the community is unfounded. I understand that the disease and stuff is extremely dangerous and bad, Hendrix said. But I think everybody should just take a deep breath, because a lot of people are stressed now and theyre freaking out whenever you should be a little worried but theres no reason to pull your hair out over it. Delarosa-Bonilla said the circumstance was harrowing, but that she and her friends were keeping their head up to make it through their hectic first year of college. Were not going to stress about this, she said. The only thing you can do is relax and try your best to maintain yourself in the best possible way. Because in this situation, you cant really be stressing, cant really be going crazy, because thats whats gonna bring you down. isaac.windes@hearstnp.com twitter.com/isaacdwindes Advertisement New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has extended the state's lockdown period to April 29 and is increasing social distancing fines to $1,000 in an effort to keep people indoors as the coronavirus growth curve flattens. On Monday, Cuomo announced that the death rate had flattened for the second day in a row and that the number of new cases was also slowing, which are both 'good signs' that suggest New York might have hit its apex. He shared data which showed hospitalizations are thousands less than the 50,000 or 110,000 that models predicted, but warned New Yorkers they were not free and clear of the virus, saying: 'Now is not the time to take our foot off the gas.' There are now 130,689 cases of coronavirus in New York - an increase of 8,568 in a day. The death toll has risen from 4,159 to 4,758, an increase of 599 which is less than in previous days this week. 'None of this is good news. The possible flattening of the curve is better than the increases that we have seen,' Governor Cuomo said. He said no matter what the evidence showed, he had no choice but to extend social distancing, saying: 'If that curve is turning, it's turning and it's going down because social distancing is working. Scroll down for video Gov. Cuomo urged New Yorkers not to become complacent or over-confident and said the data could change at any moment New York's realtime projection models, shown in purple, are falling far short of what was predicted but Governor Cuomo is urging people not to take it as a sign they can relax, but rather that social distancing is working and must continue. The numbers indicate the number of hospitalizations there would be. There are currently The rate of new hospitalizations appears to be slowing dramatically along with the rate of intubations and deaths The number of intubations is also decreasing from a peak on April 3 when there were nearly three times as many as yesterday The number of people being discharged from the hospital rose on April 4 to its high and is now coming back down because, Cuomo said, fewer people are being admitted in the first place 'Schools and non-essential businesses will stay closed until April 29. I know what that does to the economy but I'm not going to choose between public health and economic activity. 'Whether we've hit the apex or not, we have to do the same thing. From day one, we have underestimated this enemy. 'There's a real danger in getting over-confident too quickly. While the numbers look like they may be turning and it's "yay it's over". No, it's not. 'Other places have made that mistake. Hong Kong and South Korea... we are not going to make that mistake,' he said, adding they 'let their foot of the gas too quickly.' 'We have hopeful data but it's dependent on what we do. That's why I'm extending the ban. But it's individual behavior that has been problematic over the weekend. 'I get it, it was a nice day and people have been cooped up. But we get reckless. [If we change] or are non-compliant, you will see those numbers go up again,' he said. Soldiers assigned to the Javits New York Medical Station (JNYMS) monitor COVID-19 patients in the facility's intensive care unit. There are 2,500 beds in the facility which was constructed by the military in just five days CALIFORNIA GIVES NY 500 VENTILATORS California's governor announced Monday the state would loan 500 ventilators to the national stockpile for use by New York and other states experiencing a crush of coronavirus-related hospitalizations. California chose to loan out some of its equipment because it is not yet in as dire a situation as New York, now the nation's epicenter for the crisis, said Jesse Melgar, a spokesman for the governor. Gov. Gavin Newsom said state modeling shows California will hit its peak of cases sometime in May. "I know that if the tables were turned and we were experiencing a hospital surge, other states would come to our aid and provide ventilators just as we are today," Newsom said in a statement. Newsom's decision follows Oregon and Washington committing to transfer ventilators to New York. California has been on the hunt for ventilators to boost its own supply for weeks. Officials requested 10,000 ventilators from the national stockpile, though it has received none. Los Angeles, the state's most populous city, got 170 ventilators from the stockpile, though many were broken. As of Friday, California had access to 4,252 ventilators, Newsom said. Melgar said Monday the state is boosting that number by rehabilitating thousands of broken ventilators and procuring thousands more from other places. But he declined to provide a rough estimate of how many ventilators the state now possesses. Hydrogen fuel cell manufacturer Bloom Energy has dedicated a portion of its production plants in California and Delaware to repairing old ventilators. As of last week, the San Jose-based company had repaired 515 ventilators, with more on the way. The company says it has the capacity to repair up to 1,000 per week. Virgin Orbit, billionaire Richard Bransons company that makes rockets, has developed a prototype for a "bridge ventilator" designed to help patients breathe until they can be put on a traditional ventilator. The company is awaiting federal approval before it can begin mass producing the model, which was developed in partnership with researchers at the University of California, Irvine. Newsom touted both as part of California's efforts to procure ventilators. Asked Saturday if California would share medical supplies with other states, Newsom told reporters the state was "working day and night to find new ventilators." But, he said, if the state was in a position to share medical supplies or to team up with other states to bulk purchase such supplies "absolutely, unequivocally we will do that." Newsom was expected to hold a daily press briefing Monday afternoon. While the federal government hasn't given California any ventilators from the national stockpile, it has sent other supplies to the nation's most populous state. As of last week, California had received roughly 837,000 N-95 masks, 1.31 million gloves, nearly 2 million surgical masks, as well as face shields, surgical gowns, coveralls and 2,000 medical station beds, according to a White House press release. California has recorded more than 15,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 virus infections and at least 320 deaths, according to the latest data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. New York, meanwhile, has more than 123,000 confirmed cases and more than 4,000 deaths. Advertisement 'This virus has kicked our rear end. We underestimate it at our own peril. 'Now is not the time to slack off on what we're doing,' he said. He is furious that people flouted social distancing rules over the weekend to socialize, particularly in New York City, and has increased the fine for anyone who is caught from $500 to $1,000. 'The weather is turning. People have been locked up. 'Now it's, "it's a nice day. I'm going to get out and take a walk." 'Now is not the time to do that. 'There has been a laxness on social distancing, especially over this past weekend, that is just wholly unacceptable. 'People are dying. People in the healthcare system are exposing themselves every day to tremendous risk. 'If you get infected, you infect someone else and they go to an ER and put a burden on all sorts of people who frankly, you don't have the right to burden with your lack of responsibility. 'The level of activity is up. Now is not the time to be laxed. It's a mistake. 'We all have a responsibility. We all have a role in this,' he said. Despite a grave shortage in supplies and equipment, Cuomo said no hospital has reported not having what they need to treat people. The state has now started using 'plan B, C and D' ventilators; they are converted BiPap machines, converted anesthesia machines, and in some cases two patients are sharing one ventilator. Cuomo said that while it was not an 'ideal' situation, no one had died that could have been saved. 'The challenge is to make sure we don't lose anyone who could have been saved if the healthcare system was operating fully. That is a legitimate ambitious goal of government and that, we have done. 'Have we saved everyone? No. 'But have we lost anyone because we didn't have a bed or a ventilator or healthcare staff? No,' he said. He added that he planned to call President Trump to ask him to turn the USNS Cokmfort, a 1,000 bed facility that has refused to take COVID-19 patients, into one that will accept them. 'The original plan was that it would come in for non-COVID people...be a relief valve but for non-COVID patients. 'As it turned out, there's not a lot of non-COVID people in the hospital system. 'I'm going to call the president this afternoon and ask him to shift the Comfort from non-COVID to COVID. 'Then we'd have Javits and the ship Comfort as a relief valve. That's 3,500 beds which could serve as a relief valve for the whole downstate hospital system. 'That is the only way we sustain this level of intensity in the hospital system,' he said. The Javits started accepting patients over the weekend. It did not originally plan on accepting COVID-19 patients either, but Cuomo asked Trump to overrule FEMA - which he did. Cuomo also said on Monday that New York was prepared to help other states if and when their cities need it. He thanked California Gov. Gavin Newsom for donating 500 ventilators. 'As soon as we get through this, we will be there for every other state. We will lead the charge the way we always have,' he said. Archived Results for Monday, April 6th, 2020 Older Page 1 Its very difficult to get a handle on how big this is, said Grand Island Mayor Roger Steele, when you dont have the testing. Hall County, where Grand Island sits, ranks second in known positive cases only to the far more populous Douglas County, home to Omaha. A letter signed by 45 doctors and published in The World-Herald over the weekend begged for more testing and action. As of Sunday at 6 p.m., when the states most recent numbers were posted online, Nebraskas number of known positive cases had climbed to 367, from 323 the day before. Of known positives, 145 were in Douglas County and 45 were in Hall. Douglas, with about 560,000 people, has 30% of the states population and 40% of known coronavirus cases. Hall, at 61,000 people, has just a 3.2% share of Nebraskas 1.9 million people but 12% of its known coronavirus cases. We believe we have more cases than are showing up, and we believe were on a different trajectory, said Teresa Anderson, director of the Central District Health Department, which oversees Hall, Merrick and Hamilton Counties. Anderson said the Sunday total of known positive cases for all three counties was 67. German car giant Volkswagen faces the threat of a hefty "dieselgate" payout in Britain after a court Monday ruled in favour of more than 90,000 VW drivers whose vehicles cheated emissions tests. Following adverse rulings and compensation payouts elsewhere, the High Court in London ruled that the German auto giant was liable also in Britain. The ruling adds pressure on Volkswagen just after the carmaker said last month it was preparing to shutter most of its European plants, joining a slew of other carmakers as the coronavirus pandemic disrupts supply chains and sends demand plummeting. The British judgement concerned "defeat devices" installed in about 1.2 million Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Skoda diesel vehicles in Britain, which artificially lowered emissions. The court found the devices were a "fundamental subversion" of European Union tests designed to limit noxious pollutants, and will rule later on compensation to the owners. VW admitted in 2015 to fitting 11 million vehicles worldwide with software to make engines appear less polluting in regulatory tests than in real driving conditions. So far the legal fallout has cost VW more than 30 billion euros ($32.3 billion) globally in costs, fines and compensation, most of it in the United States and Germany. Gareth Pope, head of group litigation at Slater and Gordon, which represents around 70,000 of the British claimants, welcomed the "damning judgement". He said it "exposes VW's disregard for EU emissions regulations and public health in pursuit of profit and market dominance". Pope demanded VW end the "shameful episode" and settle with the plaintiffs. The company, however, said it would consider grounds for appeal. "While Volkswagen is disappointed that the outcome was not in our favour, the judgement relates only to preliminary issues," it said in a statement. It was still to be determined if the vehicle owners had suffered actual losses, the company insisted, adding: "We will continue to defend our position robustly." Bozena Michalowska Howells, of law firm Leigh Day that also represented claimants in Britain, said the ruling was "hugely significant" for its clients "battling for four years to hold Volkswagen to account". She called on VW to "do the right thing and put their customers first by entering into settlement negotiations", therefore avoiding "further years of litigation". Around five weeks ago, Volkswagen struck a compensation deal with German consumer groups representing owners of cars caught up in "dieselgate". The 830 million-euro compensation deal fended off a collective lawsuit brought by 400,000 diesel car drivers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Here are the latest developments in Asia related to the coronavirus pandemic: - Japan state of emergency - Japan's prime minister proposed a state of emergency for several major regions seeing a sharp rise in coronavirus cases, as well as a stimulus package worth $1 trillion to cushion the impact on the world's third-biggest economy. The official declaration of the state of emergency would likely come as soon as Tuesday, Shinzo Abe told reporters, as the country grapples with a recent spike in coronavirus cases, especially in the capital Tokyo. - Singapore quarantines foreign workers - The city-state has put nearly 20,000 migrant workers under quarantine for two weeks after a growing number of infections were detected in their dormitories. Authorities reported 120 new virus cases Sunday, the highest jump in a single day, with many linked to the dorms. Many workers from less affluent countries -- particularly parts of South Asia -- come to Singapore to work in construction, and are typically housed in large dormitory complexes. - Markets up, oil down - Asian markets rose as some of the world's worst-hit countries reported falling death rates, although oil prices were rocked after a meeting of top producers was delayed. - Virus-stricken cruise ship docks near Sydney - A cruise ship that has accounted for a quarter of all COVID-19 deaths in Australia was allowed to dock near Sydney after 200 crew members began exhibiting coronavirus symptoms. The Ruby Princess berthed at Port Kembla, some 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of Sydney, after weeks stranded at sea to allow doctors to assess sick crew members and take the most serious cases ashore for medical treatment. - South Korea reports fewer than 50 cases - South Korea reported fewer than 50 new coronavirus cases for the first time in more than six weeks, having once been the hardest-hit country outside China. The South confirmed 47 new cases on the previous day, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, taking its total to date to 10,284. It was the lowest increase since late February. - Singapore airport to suspend Terminal 2 operations - Singapore's Changi Airport, one of Asia's busiest travel hubs, will suspend operations at its Terminal 2 for 18 months from May 1 due to the steep fall in passenger numbers, its operator said. The operator also said it would consider suspending operations at Terminal 4, which have already been scaled back considerably, if more airlines axe flights or adjust their schedules. - Indonesian police to guard virus victims' burials - Indonesia's capital Jakarta has launched a special police unit to guard the burial of coronavirus victims over concerns that scared residents would try to block their funerals. The move comes days after angry mobs in several cities on Sulawesi island and in Central Java blocked streets to prevent ambulances from transporting victims of the deadly illness to local cemeteries. - Mumbai hospital shut after medics test positive - A major private hospital in Mumbai was shut to new patients and declared a "containment zone" after 26 nurses and three doctors tested positive, an official said. Mumbai city authority spokesman Vijay Khabale-Patil told AFP that "extreme precautions" were being taken at the Wockhardt Hospital, which included quarantining 300 staff members. - Easter bunny 'eggs-empt' from New Zealand lockdown - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern officially granted the Easter Bunny an exemption from strict travel restrictions imposed under a nationwide lockdown. "You'll be pleased to know that we do consider both the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy to be essential workers, but as you can imagine they're potentially going to be quite busy at home with their own bunnies," she said -- cautioning youngsters may have to organise their own egg hunts. burs-sr/fox We can counter novel coronavirus-COVID-19 through technology. With good surveillance, its half done. Prevention is always better than cure. It has been proved in China and other eastern countries. So, Telangana Govt is now taking the help of the technology. In a major COVID-19 pandemic Public Health initiative, the Public Health and Family Welfare Department, Govt of Telangana, has invested swiftly to deploy Indias first automated COVID 19 Monitoring System App by Vera Smart Healthcare to identify, undertake live surveillance, track, monitor, and provide real-time analytics to Chief Minister and the Health Department. COVID 19 Monitoring System App, has been developed in a record time to deal with the pandemic, enables live surveillance, monitoring, tracking, reporting, and major bulletins. The analytics by the app also facilitate assurance to the stakeholders by providing the facts and figures in their fingertips. The system empowers each health-caller to handle 1500+ calls, and simple chat-bot interaction every day with a patient, to ensure that the symptomatic or confirmed positive, quarantined and is under treatment, helping to strengthen the COVID-19 contacts outreach significantly. The callers will also persuade and remind the patient to self-administer the prescribed treatment, to maintain social distancing, as well as give a reminder to stay home and stay safe. This user-friendly app is developed by the US and Hyderabad-based, early stage start-up Vera Smart Healthcare, which had earlier helped Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu, to create detailed health profiles for more than 50000 people across these 3 states in a record number of days.Vera has introduced the first-ever mobile hospital in India to help increase healthcare accessibility in rural areas covering most of the Indian villages. The company focuses on building smart hospitals in India along with its technology partner Fellow. Announcing the successful deployment of Veras COVID 19 Monitoring System App, Director of Public Health Dr. G Srinivas Rao, for COVID surveillance, commended Vera Smart Healthcare expertise to handle COVID surveillance complexities, understand the protocol, and developing the technology platform in a record of 3 days. Also Read: PM Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind, Amit Shah, Shahnawaz Hussain, Piyush Goyal, JP Nadda and others light candles, diyas to support corona warriors The system has helped us first, track and monitor the foreign returnees; community spread and already hospitalised for severe acute respiratory infection (SARS) very early to control spread of COVID pandemic in the state. Vera Centralised COVID Monitoring System is a timely technology innovation, eased the pain off by effective surveillance, and deploy a meticulous tech-enabled method to collate vital data, at the click of a button empowering active associates across the state, from the hierarchical polity to bureaucracy to the front line ASHA & ANM workers, to make COVID 19, a history. Dr. Srinivas stated The Monitoring System which is built on a digital platform, erases human errors, and provides accurate information. The quick turnaround, and the innovative psyche, has initiated improved surveillance, tracking effective monitoring, and supervision. Dr. Srinivas added. Also Read: Coronavirus: Hyderabad police starts COVID-19 volunteer cell with techies help Explaining its benefits, Dharma Teja Nukarapu, Founder and CEO of Vera Healthcare stated Our technology is based on IoT, Smart devices, GPS and Geotag via a super lite centralised App COVID 19 Monitoring System, which is installed in the phones of all associates from the ground level till the Chief Ministers Office. The system was built by Vera in record time. Every stakeholder got comprehensive training on using the Ap. Among the vital features of the app is Geotagging and GPS tracking of the home quarantined person, to ensure that he/she is not breaching the law of quarantine. With instant trace and trackability, accurate information is pushed to the authorities even if there is a breach. Every detail reported reaches the Chief Ministers Office through various updaters like the ASHA worker, Doctor, Police, concerned Bureaucrat. Vera Healthcare is now readying to release a batch of SMART PATCH which tags the patient geographically, monitors and disseminates his / her real-time health progress Dharma Teja added. COVID -19 Monitoring System ASHA and ANM worker at the frontline. At any given point of time, around 1500-2000 of these workers use the App. A total of more than 5000 ASHA ANM workers are involved, and are using the App to identify, register, track, monitor and report the health condition of the patients who are home quarantined for symptoms. PHC sub-center Around 4800 in number, receive data from the ASHA workers, push them to the next level. PHC Public Health Centre, 886 in the state, flows out the data to the District Medical Health Office. DMHO the officer-in-charge takes charge of the situation in the respective districts by following the concerned hierarchical officer at the Health Department, to whom the data is transmitted. Also Read: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana CMs support PM Modi call to fight COVID-19 together For all the latest National News, download NewsX App The targeting of the Russian group may be used by the Trump administration to push back against criticisms that it has not taken white nationalism seriously, a charge that gained prominence after President Trump said there were very fine people on both sides of the 2017 white-nationalist rally in Charlottesville. S cotlands chief medical officer has resigned after being criticised for visiting her second home despite lockdown restrictions. Dr Catherine Calderwood earlier issued an apology saying she was "truly sorry" for "not following the advice she has been giving to others" by travelling to her house in Fife. She was visited by police following the incident who spoke to her about her action, reiterated crucial advice and issued a warning about her future conduct. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon acknowledged she had been wrong to flout social distancing guidelines but backed her to remain in the role. Nicola Sturgeon: Scotlands chief medical officer wrong to visit second home However, after further conversations with Ms Sturgeon, Dr Calderwood said on Sunday night that she had resigned with a heavy heart, agreeing the justifiable focus on my behaviour risks becoming a distraction from the hugely important job. She said in a statement: The most important thing to me now and over the next few very difficult months is that people across Scotland know what they need to do to reduce the spread of this virus, and that means they must have complete trust in those who give them advice. Dr Calderwood will now work over the next few days to ensure a smooth transition to her successor. The First Minister paid tribute to Dr Calderwood, saying she was a transformational chief medical officer (CMO). Mr Sturgeon said: It is however clear that the mistake she made even though she has apologised sincerely and honourably for it risks distracting from and undermining confidence in the Governments public health message at this crucial time. That is not a risk either of us is willing to take. Catherine has been a transformational CMO, bringing changes to the way medicine is delivered in Scotland and in particular using her experience to bring an overdue focus to womens health. While she has made a very serious mistake in her actions, that should not detract from the fact that as CMO she has made a highly valuable contribution to the medical profession and to health in Scotland, and I have no doubt she will continue to do so in future. The CEO of Wagamama owner The Restaurant Group is to take a 40% pay cut and forego his 2019 bonus. (Matthew Horwood/Getty Images) The CEO of The Restaurant Group (RTN.L), which owns several popular chain restaurants including Wagamama, Frankie & Bennys, and Chiquito, will take a voluntary 40% pay cut in response to the impact of coronavirus. CEO Andy Hornbys 40% pay reduction reflects the core policy for senior members of the company who are not being furloughed, and will be in place for three months from 1 April, according to The Restaurant Group. Kirk Davis, CFO, will see a 20% voluntary pay cut for the same period. The smaller pay reduction for the CFO reflects the exceptional workload for the finance function, the company said. Both executive directors have also volunteered to waive their bonuses for the 2019 financial year. CEO Hornby, who joined the company in August last year was due to receive 98,000 ($120,220) 37.5% of his salary prorated to reflect his joining date. Davis was due to receive 30% of salary, which equates to 109,000. Read more: Primark chiefs take 50% pay cut with stores closed The company said that a very significant number of colleagues in TRG sites have been furloughed due to the coronavirus. The coronavirus has had a huge impact on the hospitality industry as UK prime minister Boris Johnson ordered restaurants to close as part of the countrywide coronavirus lockdown to prevent the spread of the disease. Business groups are sounding the alarm on jobs, warning that huge swathes of the population could be laid off or furloughed in the coming weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic. Last week the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) said 52% of businesses surveyed planned to use the furlough scheme. The British Chamber of Commerces (BCC) survey of 600 businesses found 44% were planning to furlough at least 50% of staff in the next week. As part of financial measures to help protect workers and jobs, the UK government pledged to pay up to 80% of workers wages in a bid to help businesses mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Story continues Andy Hornby, chief executive of The Restaurant Group said: These are unprecedented times for our business and our sector. Read more: Founder of $10bn hotel startup Oyo gives up salary over COVID-19 Against this backdrop we have taken decisive action to improve our liquidity, reduce our cost base and downsize our operations. I would like to wholeheartedly thank all of my TRG colleagues for their extraordinary understanding and commitment during this period. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said 12 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the state since Saturday evening, taking the total number of active cases to 61. So far, there are only three COVID-19 related deaths in the state, Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat. "Till Monday noon, there were 61 active COVID-19 cases in West Bengal. Out of these, 55 belong to seven families," Banerjee told reporters. Most of these 61 people have either returned from abroad or came in contact with someone who is a foreign returnee, she said. Meanwhile, as many as 62 health care workers including 39 doctors of the state-run Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata have been put under quarantine following a patient's death, a health department official said. The CCU of the hospital was shut down temporarily on Monday and will reopen only after disinfection of the entire unit is over, the official said. The 35-year-old patient who was admitted to the hospital with haemophilia, died on Saturday afternoon and his test reports came positive for COVID-19 later. "Immediately we looked for those doctors, nurses and Group D staff who came in contact with the patient. They are all okay at the moment. We are closely monitoring their health," he added. The male general medicine ward of the NRS Hospital, where the patient had been admitted, was disinfected. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Budi Sutrisno (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 6, 2020 14:46 644 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206fff6dc 1 National COVID-19-Indonesian-patients,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,BNPB,health-ministry,discrepancy,tidak-sesuai,tidak-sinkron,angka-kasus-COVID-19 Free National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesman Agus Wibowo says that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases the central government has been publishing did not match the figures that regional administrations were reporting. Agus said on Sunday during a virtual discussion with the Energy Academy Indonesia that the BNPB had been collating reports from both the Health Ministry and regional administrations in its work behind the scenes, and claimed that he did not understand the reason for the discrepancy in the data. BNPB gathers data from the regions and the Health Ministry. We compare them. But because the [government] spokesman is Pak Yuri, we publish what he reports, Agus said, referring to Achmad Yurianto, the Health Ministrys disease prevention and control director general. Agus confirmed a lack of data transparency from the central government, saying that the data the BNPB received from the Health Ministry was limited. We have been fed limited data from the Health Ministry, so we have not been able to provide complete or [transparent] data, said Agus. Read also: KawalCOVID-19 volunteers call for regional quarantines as crisis looms I just found out that what the Health Ministry reports to the WHO [World Health Organization] is complete, with the case gender, age and [medical] status. Ive only just been made aware that such data [exists], he said. Agus said that the disaster agency was currently developing the Lawan COVID-19 (fight COVID-19) application, which would gather data on confirmed cases from around the country and be made available in the coming week. We are mobilizing many personnel from the BNPB and BPBDs [Regional Disaster Mitigation Agencies], also the military and the police, for data input that will connect to the application, he said. KawalCOVID-19 community group initiator Ainun Najib, who also participated in the discussion on April 5, said that the government needed to be more open about the outbreak on Indonesian shores, fearing that inaccurate data that did not reflect the reality might catch the public off guard. Read also: COVID-19: Anies slams Health Ministrys requirements for large-scale social restrictions People could perhaps think [that cases] have declined, Ainun said. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan earlier cast doubt on the central governments data, saying that the capital had buried more than 400 Jakartans according to COVID-19 protocol. West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil also suggested that the number of confirmed cases in his province was exponentially higher than the central governments published figures. During a teleconference with Vice President Maruf Amin on Friday, Ridwan said that the government's official count reported only 225 confirmed cases in West Java on Friday, but that his administration's rapid testing program had identified 677 new cases. By Sunday, Indonesia's COVID-19 epicenter of Jakarta had recorded 1,124 confirmed cases and 95 deaths, followed by West Java with 252 confirmed cases and 28 deaths. Gautam Buddh Nagar, April 7 : Noida police arrested father and son for making objectionable comment on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and posting it. A criminal case was registered against both in Noida Kotwali Phase 2 while they have have been sent to jail after been produced in the court. The accused have been identified as Abdul Salam while the name of the son is Rahmat residents of Shramik Kunj. Complaint was registered by a person living in Sector 93. A case has been registered against both of them for misusing Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution. The police said father and son are accused of sending an objectionable post related to Prime Minister on WhatsApp day before yesterday. Over 200 countries have been hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. The virus has infected more than 1 million people across the globe, killing over 60,000 worldwide. The United States continues to bear the brunt of the contagion with nearly 3 lakh cases. Italy, France, Spain and Germany are the European nations that continue to struggle to contain the coronavirus crisis. US President Donald Trump tweeted out saying that the country is dealing with an invisible enemy, but is tougher and smarter. Here are key Covid-19 global updates. 1. On Sunday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to hospital for tests in what Downing Street said was a precautionary step because he was showing persistent symptoms of coronavirus 10 days after testing positive for the virus. 2. Russia reports 954 coronavirus cases in 24 hours, after 658 the previous day. 3. The Japanese government may declare a state of emergency this week to contain the coronavirus outbreak, media reports said. 4. Singapore has put nearly 20,000 migrant workers under quarantine for two weeks after a growing number of coronavirus infections were detected in their dormitories. 5. South Korea reported fewer than 50 new coronavirus cases for the first time in more than six weeks. 6. Medical staff in Japnas Tokyo say a shortage of beds and a rise in cases linked to hospitals are pushing Tokyos medical system to the brink of collapse. 7. The New Zealand government has decided to stick to its tough curbs to combat the coronavirus, despite some early signs the spread of the illness has been stabilising. 8. UK Housing Secretary said the UK is heading into the most difficult few weeks of the outbreak. 9. Mainland China reported 39 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, up from 30 a day earlier, and the number of asymptomatic cases also surged. 10. In India, the number of coronavirus cases crossed the 4,000 mark, more than 100 dead. - The initiative would enable primary and high school students continue learning through audio visual programming that would be available to subscribers on the platform - The programme would be available through its local channel Elimu TV - StarTimes regional marketing director Aldrine Nsubuga noted that the move was advised by the fact that the students were spending a significant amount of time indoors Following schools closure due to the ongoing government mitigation efforts against the spread of COVID-19, pay television company StarTimes Kenya has rolled out home schooling programming. The initiative would enable primary and high school students continue learning through audio visual programming that would be available to subscribers on the platform. READ ALSO: Coronavirus: It's now responsibility of Kenyan youth to save us from infection, Mutahi Kagwe Elimu TV would be avaible on StarTimes for free in April. Photo: StarTimes. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Kenyan preacher in London Irungu Wiseman under investigation for selling coronavirus protection oil In a statement on Friday, April 3, the company said the programme would be available through its local channel Elimu TV. "Elimu TV would have a key focus on secondary school students by developing over 2,000 educational videos specifically geared towards the 8-4-4 system of education," "It will be available at no subscription cost in the month of April with the introduction of the local education channel being a significant step towards the delivery of home schooling content during this period and will include live lessons by experienced teachers," part of the statement read. StarTimes has also introduced a new channel for primary school students, mindset learn. The channel will broadcast lessons on several subjects such as Mathematics, physical and life Science. A file photo of a teacher in class. Photo: Daily Nation. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Idadi ya maambukizi ya covid-19 yaongezeka baada ya watu 4 kupatwa na virusi The broadcaster has also adjusted programming on various children channels among them ST Kids and Baby TV with the introduction of home schooling content to cater for primary education through creative animated lessons including science, handcraft, painting and music. Speaking on these developments, StarTimes regional marketing director Aldrine Nsubuga noted that the move was advised by the fact that the students were spending a significant amount of time indoors and therefore there was need to have content aimed at encouraging them to continue learning away from school. We want to make sure that every student while staying safe at home will access a variety of audio visual lessons tailored to their requirements. With these channels and updated content, we are confident learning will not stop and that the school programming will go a long way towards keeping up with their peers while learning at home, Nsubuga noted. Subscribers would also be in a position to access the content on the companys over the top platform StarTimes on which would enable users to broadcast the content live and replay the same on mobile devices at their convenience. 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 He was stranded, broke and desperate to get home to his wife and children | Lockdown Kenya | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke (Photo : Pixabay) Oh no, a comet that traveled light-years across space before winding up in the Solar System has reached its dead end. New data show that the 2I/Borisov is falling apart. A notice posted to Astronomer's Telegram noted the comet has broken into at least two pieces. New York Post also reported a group of researchers from Poland has pointed out that the object has brightened up twice this month. "Images from UT 2020 March 23 show a single inner brightness core, like that observed in all previous HST images of 2I/Borisov," wrote a team of astronomers led by David Jewitt of the University of California Los Angeles. In contrast, the astronomers said images from UT 2020 March 23 show a single inner brightness core, like that observed in all previous HST images of 2I/Borisov. ALSO READ: Astronomers Spot First Interstellar Visitor From Outside The Solar System No sign of surprise in the past This isn't always in any sign a surprising turn of events. Astronomers had been avidly looking the comet following its closest method to the Sun, or perihelion, on December 8, 2019. Scientists said the behavior is strongly indicative of an ongoing nucleus fragmentation. Space.com reported 2I/Borisov's approach toward the Sun is possible. Astronomers were observing and waiting to see whether or not 2I/Boriso would hold on its way, or come to a stop its long journey here. Comet 2I/Borisov is the second one interstellar object observed, following the mysterious cigar-formed Oumuamua, which was discovered in October 2017. ALSO READ: Oumuamua Interstellar Asteroid Tumbles Through Space For Billions Of Years After Collision With Mystery Object Comet brightened significantly twice, researchers claim Researchers lately theorized that 21/Borisov might be intercepted the usage of existing technology to see what material, if any, has been picked up from other solar systems. And positive enough, last month, it appeared the latter was the case. A group of Polish astronomers led through Michal Drahus, and Piotr Guzik of Jagiellonian University noticed that, in early March, the comet brightened significantly, two times in some days. This behavior, they claim, was "strongly indicative of an ongoing nucleus fragmentation." According to these new observations, as of at least March 28, the comet is now in bits. "The double appearance, indicating the ejection of a nucleus fragment, is confirmed in HST data from UT 2020 March 28," Jewitt's team wrote. So far, observations have found that the comet's shade and composition are, in fact, very much like comets from the outer limits of the Solar System. This is thrilling, according to astronomers, because Solar System comets ought to have carried a group of the components for lifestyles to Earth. If 2I/Borisov is just like those comets, it pointers that comets may want to have taken such elements to other worlds, too. Astronomers are clearly going to be retaining an eye fixed on 2I/Borisov. More Hubble observations have been planned to ensure we seize as plenty of its ongoing fragmentation as possible. Research published in October 2019 suggested the comet could be sporting water on it from past the Solar System. If proven true, that would be the first time water from outdoor the Solar System has been detected. In November 2019, astronomers captured a picture of the mysterious comet and its impressive tail, which at nearly 100,000 miles long, is more or less 14 instances the size of Earth. The mystery about its specific nature deepened in late 2018 when NASA stated it was searching on the object for two months and did now not initially see it. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Amid coronavirus outbreak, NCP leader Supriya Sule on Monday urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to help Indians studying in Ukraine. According to the NCP leader, over 1600 Indian medical students are studying at Ivano Frankisk University. Ever since the outbreak, many countries have announced severe lockdown measures thereby leading to people being stranded in those countries. Taking to Twitter, Sule urged MEA to intervene and further requested Indian Embassy in Ukraine to look into the matter and help the students at the earliest. More than 1600 Indian Medical students are studying at Ivano Frankisk University, Ukraine. Requesting Hon.@DrSJaishankar Ji - to help them. Also Requesting Indian Embassy (@IndiainUkraine) to look Into the matter and help them at the earliest.@MEAIndia @meaMADAD Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) April 6, 2020 READ: PM Modi's FULL Covid speech to BJP cadre: 'This is a long battle; mustn't tire; must win' NCP chief urges Jaishankar to evacuate Indian Students Earlier, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar too had requested EAM S Jaishankar to help evacuate several Indian students stranded in the Philippines. Pawar's request came due to the travel limitations imposed after the COVID-19 outbreak. Pawar in his appeal, posted a series of videos of the students stranded in the Philippines highlighting their conditions. In the videos, the Indian students elaborated on the condition there and stated that it is getting worse as they are unable to get food too. READ: India's Coronavirus cases cross 4000; death toll rises to 109: Ministry of Health Coronavirus outbreak The Coronavirus infection has claimed more than 69,400 lives across the world and has infected over 12,74,000 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, France, the United Kingdom, and Iran have also overtaken China in terms of total deaths related to COVID-19, which adds up to about 26,233. 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: Coronavirus LIVE Updates: India's confirmed cases cross 4000-mark; 109 deaths confirmed Even since the outbreak, India has tried its best to rescue stranded Indian from around the globe. Recently, the Embassy of India in Italy rescued 263 Indian students from Rome, fulfilling the commitment to ensure their safe return home. So far, around 1600 Indians have been returned from other countries. Taking to Twitter, the Embassy apprised about the departure and extended its profound gratitude towards Air India and Italian authorities. READ: India's Coronavirus testing gets big boost: ICMR to get 7 lakh rapid antibody testing kits 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #14 Posted on 5 April 2020 by John Hartz Story of the Week... Editorial of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Claim Review... SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week... Story of the Week... North Atlantic's capacity to absorb CO2 overestimated, study suggests Research into oceans plankton likely to lead to negative revision of global climate calculations Phytoplankton blooms are visible from space in this 2017 satellite image taken of the Gibraltar strait. Photograph: Suomi/VIIRS and Modis/Nasa The North Atlantic may be a weaker climate ally than previously believed, according to a study that suggests the oceans capacity to absorb carbon dioxide has been overestimated. A first-ever winter and spring sampling of plankton in the western North Atlantic showed cell sizes were considerably smaller than scientists assumed, which means the carbon they absorb does not sink as deep or as fast, nor does it stay in the depths for as long. This discovery is likely to force a negative revision of global climate calculations, say the authors of the Nasa-backed study, though it is unclear by how much. We have found a misconception. It will definitely impact the model of carbon flows, said Oregon State University microbiologist Steve Giovannoni. It will require more than just a small tweak. Oceans' capacity to absorb CO2 overestimated, study suggests by Jonathan Watts, Environment, Guardian, Apr 3, 2020 Click here to access the entire article. Editorial of the Week... Big Oil is using the coronavirus pandemic to push through the Keystone XL pipeline The oil industry saw its opening and moved with breathtaking speed to take advantage of this moment TransCanadas Keystone pipeline facility. Photograph: Jeff McIntosh/AP Im going to tell you the single worst story Ive heard in these past few horrid months, a story that combines naked greed, political influence peddling, a willingness to endanger innocent human beings, utter blindness to one of the greatest calamities in human history and a complete disregard for the next crisis aiming for our planet. Im going to try to stay calm enough to tell it properly, but I confess its hard. Big Oil is using the coronavirus pandemic to push through the Keystone XL pipeline, Opinion by Bill McKibben, Comment is Free, Guardian, Apr 5, 2020 Click here to access the entire Op-ed. Toon of the Week... ; Coming Soon on SkS... Could the Atlantic Overturning Circulation shut down? (Richard Wood & Laura Jackson) (Richard Wood & Laura Jackson) The irreversible emissions of a permafrost tipping point' (Christina Schadel) (Christina Schadel) SkS New Research for Week #14 (Doug Bostrom) (Doug Bostrom) How does the way we define methane emissions impact the perception of its effects on global warming? (Justine Wickman) (Justine Wickman) 'What's the best kind of car for the climate?' (Sara Peach) (Sara Peach) 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15 (John Hartz) (John Hartz) 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #15 (John Hartz) Climate Feedback Claim Review... Temperature trends in the U.S. are consistent with warming around the world, contrary to Electroverse claim CLAIM: "Historical data of temperature in the U.S. destroys global warming myth" VERDICT: SOURCE: Historical Data Destroys the Global Warming Myth, And People Are Waking to It by Cap Allon, Electroverse, Jan 18, 2020 KEY TAKEAWAY: Land surface, sea surface, and atmospheric temperature data all show trends of global warming. The warming trend observed over the past century is correlated with increased levels of CO2. Temperature trends in the U.S. are consistent with warming around the world, contrary to Electroverse claim, Edited by Nikki Forrester, Claim Review. Climate Feedback, Mar 24, 2020 SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week... Health workers wear protective masks as they observe a minute's silence at the entrance of the Hospital Doctor Peset in remembrance of nursing staff who have died due to Covid-19 on April 06, 2020 in Valencia, Spain. The World Health Organization is urging countries to create at least 6 million new nursing jobs by 2030 to offset a projected "global shortfall" as health-care workers across the world respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nursing is the largest occupational group in the health-care sector, accounting for roughly 59% of health professions, WHO says. There are just under 28 million nurses worldwide, about 5.9 million short of what the world needs to adequately care for the growing population, according to a new report published Monday from WHO, the International Council of Nurses and Nursing Now. The greatest deficit of nurses is in low- to low-middle income countries in Africa, Southeast Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean region and some parts of Latin America, according to the report, which looked at 191 countries using data between 2013 and 2018. More than 80% of the world's nurses work in countries that account for half of the world's population, according to the report's findings. "Nurses are the backbone of the health system," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement. "Today, many nurses find themselves on the frontline in the battle against COVID-19. This report is a stark reminder of the unique role they play, and a wakeup call to ensure they get the support they need to keep the world healthy." The coronavirus, which emerged in China a little over 3 months ago, has spread to almost every country, infecting more than 1.3 million people worldwide and killing at least 72,700 as of Monday afternoon, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. More than 350,000 of those cases are in the United States, where doctors, nurses and other health-care workers scramble to take care of the sick as hospitals reach capacity and essential medical supplies run short. Dozens of nurses and other health-care workers protested outside a New York hospital on Monday for better protective gear. On Friday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called for a "national enlistment of medical personnel" in the city as local officials prepare for a crush of coronavirus patients expected over the next few weeks. WHO recommended that countries experiencing nursing shortages should increase the number of nurse graduates by about 8% each year and improve the availability of jobs. "Politicians understand the cost of educating and maintaining a professional nursing workforce, but only now are many of them recognizing their true value," ICN President Annette Kennedy said in a statement. "Every penny invested in nursing raises the well being of people and families in tangible ways that are clear for everyone to see." WHO also recommended that world leaders educate nurses in the scientific, technological and sociological skills they need to drive progress in health care as well as improving working conditions. WHO officials said leaders should also strengthen the role of nurses in care teams, noting about 90% of nurses are female, but few nurses or women hold leadership positions. A 54-year-old man, who died three days ago here in Madhya Pradesh, has tested positive for coronavirus, said an official on Monday. With this, the number of people who have succumbed to COVID-19 has risen to 15 in Madhya Pradesh, where Indore is the worst coronavirus-affected city, accounting for 10 deaths. An official of Indores government-run Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Medical College said the 54-year-old man was admitted to a private hospital here on April 1 with complaints of breathlessness, cough and fever. His samples were taken for testing, but he died on April 3 during treatment, the official said, adding the man suffered from pre-existing illnesses. "His test report was not received at the time of his death. In the report received now, he has tested positive for COVID-19," the official said. Besides the viral infection, the patient also had asthma and hypertension, he said. "The patient had no immediate travel history. So far, it is not known how he got infected with the virus," the official said. Among the 15 COVID-19 fatalities reported so far, Indore accounts for 10, Ujjain (2) and Khargone, Chhindwara and Bhopal (one each). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Baek Byung-yeul Johnson Controls, a U.S. building management company Johnson Controls has appointed GE Power Korea former president Ha Woon-sik as general manager of its Korean unit. The company said Monday it recognized Ha's leadership and management skills. "South Korea plays an important role in the overall Asia Pacific growth strategy," Johnson Controls Asia Pacific President Visal Leng said in a statement. "Johnson Controls expects Ha Woon-sik to contribute to Korea business by bringing his world-class project management and execution experience." The company said in a statement, "Ha started as a plant operator with Korea Electric Power Corp and progressed through various roles in engineering and senior site management. He then joined General Electric in 1994 under the Field Engineering Program in the U.S. "Upon completion of the program in 1995, he returned to Seoul as GE Korea Power Generation's Service Manager. He has since held various senior leadership positions covering the commercial, services and installation business across the region with GE Power and GE Energy." Under Ha's leadership, Johnson Controls Korea aims to strengthen business growth in Korea. "I'm pleased to join Johnson Controls, which has continued innovation over 130 years and has the best building technology and solutions," Ha said. "I will do my best to position Johnson Controls to lead the Korean smart building and smart city industry by providing Johnson Controls' technology to more local customers." Turkey records 574 coronavirus death Country registers 3,135 new COVID-19 cases in past 24 hours, bringing total number to 27,069. Turkey confirmed Sunday that 73 more people died from the coronavirus in the country over the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 574. 27,069 TETSED POSITIVE FOR THE DISEASE The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases surged to 27,069 as 3,135 more people tested positive for the virus in a day,according to data Health Minister Fahrettin Koca shared on Twitter. Koca also held a video-conference meeting with Turkish doctors discussing the epidemic. So far, a total of 1,042 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals, while 1,381 patients are currently under intensive care units, the data shows. Also, 20,065 tests were conducted on Sunday, and the number of overall tests carried out so far reached 181,445. [April 06, 2020] Global Educational Robots Market, Forecast to 2025 - Widespread Adoption Teaching Robots, Digital Whiteboards and Flip Classrooms DUBLIN, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Educational Robot Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2020-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Looking forward, the market is projected to expand at a CAGR of more than 15% during 2020-2025. The emerging trend of digitization, along with the increasing utilization of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) technologies in the education sector, is one of the key factors driving the growth of the market. Owing to their effective interactive capabilities, educational robots are rapidly being adopted in K-5 and K-12 schools and other educational institutes. Furthermore, widespread adoption of e-learning techniques, including teaching robots, digital whiteboards and flip classrooms, to offer an advantageous way of knowledge dissemination, has provided a boost to the market growth. Additionally, technological innovations, such as the development of advanced variants equipped with autonomous navigation and environmental sensors to detect obstacles in the vicinity, have made these robots more user-friendly and enhanced their overall operational ability. Other factors, including increasing investments in the education sector by both government and non-government organizations (NGOs), extensive research and development (R&D) activities in the field of robotics and the availability of affordable educational robots, are projected to drive the market further. The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined with some of the key players being Adele Robots, Asoy Robotics, Arrick Robotics, Blue Frog Robotics, DST Robot Co., Hanson Robotics, Idmind, Macco Robotics, Pal Robotics, Primo Toys, Probotics America, Qihan Technology Co., Robobuilder, Robotis, Softbank Robotics Corp., etc. Key Questions Answered How has the global educational robot market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years? What are the key regional markets? What is the breakup of the market based on the component? What is the breakup of the market based on the product type? What is the breakup of the market based on the end-user? What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry? What are the key driving factors and challenges in the market? What is the structure of the global educational robot market and who are the key players? What is the degree of competition in the market? Key Topics Covered 1 Preface 2 Scope and Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Introduction 4.1 Overview 4.2 Key Industry Trends 5 Global Educational Robot Market 5.1 Market Overview 5.2 Market Performance 5.3 Market Forecast 6 Market Breakup by Component 6.1 Hardware 6.2 Software 7 Market Breakup by Product Type 7.1 Humanoid 7.2 Non-Humanoid 8 Market Breakup by End-user 8.1 K-12 8.2 Universities 8.3 Others 9 Market Breakup by Region 9.1 North America 9.2 Asia Pacific 9.3 Europe 9.4 Latin America 9.5 Middle East and Africa 10 SWOT Analysis 10.1 Overview 10.2 Strengths 10.3 Weaknesses 10.4 Opportunities 10.5 Threats 11 Value Chain Analysis 12 Porters Five Forces Analysis 12.1 Overview 12.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers 12.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers 12.4 Degree of Competition 12.5 Threat of New Entrants 12.6 Threat of Substitutes 13 Price Indicators 14 Competitive Landscape 14.1 Market Structure 14.2 Key Players 14.3 Profiles of Key Players Adele Robots Aisoy Robotics Arrick Robotics Blue Frog Robotics DST Robot Co. Hanson Robotics IDMind Macco Robotics Pal Robotics Primo Toys Probotics America Qihan Technology Co. Robobuilder Robotis Softbank Robotics Corp. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/hnrh9m 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] 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 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-educational-robots-market-forecast-to-2025---widespread-adoption-teaching-robots-digital-whiteboards-and-flip-classrooms-301035150.html SOURCE Research and Markets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] PHILIPSBURG:--- Economies across the world have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and St. Maarten is no exception. The necessary measures of closing the borders in order to control the spread of the virus have resulted in a practical halt of all economic activities on the island. The foremost affected are all economic activities that are directly related to tourism; the so-called frontline or first tier. Depending on the source and what is considered directly related, indirect and induced, tourism accounts for 50 - 80 % of the GDP of St. Maarten. This further cements the need for substantial financial injection considering the current dilemma. The severity of the economic and social impact can be considered even more profound than others in the region or internationally as the country finds itself in the recovery phase after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which divested the island in September 2017. There is already a high level of uncertainty, which is further exacerbated by not knowing how long this pandemic will last and how long it will take the global tourism sector to start recovering. This coupled with St. Maarten heading into its low season and hurricane season, puts the island in a vulnerable position. The government acknowledges that it is imperative that adequate measures are taken to absorb the economic and social impact of this new shock and to achieve rapid recovery of the economy. Businesses that are severely affected will need financial assistance and for those who risk losing their jobs, the creation of a social safety net is essential. These measures are presented and outlined in more detail below. The Government of St. Maarten has put much effort into following the guidelines set forth by CFT for the budget 2020, but it is clear that the budget cannot finance the measures necessary to safeguard the health of the population, avoid social unrest and disruption of the already fragile economy. St. Maarten has implemented all measures in their power up until this point, however, we need the support of The Netherlands. The Ministers of Finance of St. Maarten Ardwell Irion and his team, with the information and recommendations gathered by the Emergency Support Functions and their relevant teams and task forces (EFS) prepared a Support Relief Plan SRP. Together with the relief and programs the plan includes the cost of the plan which forms part of the request to The Netherlands and totals ANG 254 million for the first 3 months. The SRP covers direct relief which includes a payroll support program, income support program, a soft loan program as well as an under-employed program for an amount of Ang 108.44 million. For the unemployed, the established unemployment benefits will continue. The SRP also includes funds to compensate for the loss of government income for an amount of Ang 89.2 million which is needed to enable government to carry out already existing but now expanded programs, a food vouchers program and a food boxes program for the most vulnerable groups, meals for the elderly and psycho-social care. For the additional healthcare expenses, an amount of Ang 56.28 million has been budgeted and is intended for additional healthcare expenses as well as support to SZV and the St. Maarten Medical Center. The request has been prepared in close consultation with the CFT and with guidance from the IMF. My Path from Doormat to Dignity: A Personal Story: a sapient narrative that addresses emotional abuse by analyzing biblical and personal insights to inspire wisdom and healing. My Path from Doormat to Dignity: A Personal Story is the creation of published author Jane Bartelmes, a wife, mother, and grandmother with a masters degree in education from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Bartelmes shares, Although there are a number of good books on the market that address the topic of emotional abuse, My Path from Doormat to Dignity is unique. It is a personal and passionate story, born of pain, written by a recovering doormat that learned her lessons the hard way. Using in-depth biblical analysis and personal journal entries, this book chronicles how, one by one, I unmasked the lies that fed my passivity and uncovered the truths that set me free. Dignity is distinguished from pride, discernment from judgment, and forgiveness from reconciliation. Numerous biblical examples regarding how to be appropriately assertive are citedJesus, Paul, and Job in particular. Personal illustrations expose the red flags of emotional abuse, and the dos and donts of appropriate confrontation are addressed. Quotes from C. S. Lewis, Jane Austen, popular movies, and TV talk shows add relevancy, color, and depth. I write with the sincerest hope of coming alongside a fellow sufferer, someone who feels overwhelming fear and false guilt at the prospect of being assertive. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Jane Bartelmess new book desires to educate readers on the importance of emotional abuse awareness by retelling real-life moments and the underlying lessons for the heart and minds enlightenment. This book assures a truthful look at legitimate anger, indignation, and ultimately honest forgiveness that leads to freedom. View the synopsis of My Path from Doormat to Dignity: A Personal Story on YouTube. Consumers can purchase My Path from Doormat to Dignity: A Personal Story at traditional brick-and-mortar bookstores or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about My Path from Doormat to Dignity: A Personal Story, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. An international ban on wildlife markets could help stop future pandemics like coronavirus from breaking out, according to the United Nations biodiversity chief. The Covid-19 outbreak is believed to have originated in a seafood market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where it is thought stallholders were infected during contact with animals on sale. Previous epidemics have also begun with animal-to-human transmission, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars), which infected more than 8,000 people between 2002 and 2003. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, acting executive secretary of the UN's biological diversity department, has said banning markets where live animals are sold for human consumption could prevent new pandemic diseases from spreading. However, she said such restrictions should only be imposed in the right conditions. The message we are getting is if we dont take care of nature, it will take care of us, Ms Mrema told The Guardian. It would be good to ban the live animal markets as China has done and some countries. But we should also remember you have communities, particularly from low-income rural areas, particularly in Africa, which are dependent on wild animals to sustain the livelihoods of millions of people, she said. Unless we get alternatives for these communities, there might be a danger of opening up illegal trade in wild animals which currently is already leading us to the brink of extinction for some species. China temporarily banned people from eating and trading wildlife for food earlier this year as the country worked to combat the spread of coronavirus. Humane Society International, an animal charity, has called for this ban to become a permanent fixture across the globe. The capture and consumption of wild animals is a global trade that causes immense suffering for hundreds of thousands of animals every year, including endangered wildlife species being traded to the brink of extinction, said president Jeffrey Flocken. The trade can also spawn global health crises like the current coronavirus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and the deadly bird flu. Wildlife markets across the globe, but particularly in Asia and Africa, are widespread and could easily be the start of disease outbreaks in the future. Environmental experts have warned current practices with natural habitats and wildlife can set off outbreaks of infectious diseases in humans. Dr Samuel Myers, principle research scientist at Harvards Department of Environmental Health, told The Independent last month: Other animals are an enormous reservoir of pathogens, many of which we havent yet been exposed to. He said the live markets in Wuhan had an extraordinary number of exotic species alive in cages, all in proximity to each other and to humans in a way that you would never find in the natural world. Dr Myers, who is director of the Planetary Health Alliance, added: Once a pathogen has made that jump from animals to humans, it has the capacity to spread around the globe very quickly with air travel. HIV and Ebola pandemics are believed to have originated from animal-to-human transmission, as well as coronaviruses such as Covid-19, Sars and Mers. More than 1,250,000 people have now been infected with the new coronavirus across the world, with the worldwide death toll topping 69,000. A total of 65 Hong Kong residents who took chartered flights arranged by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government safely arrived in Hong Kong from Peru today. After they arrived, they went to the Centre for Health Protections testing centre at AsiaWorld-Expo for COVID-19 testing and are now awaiting the results. If tested negative, they can return home or proceed to a designated place to undergo the 14-day compulsory quarantine. Peru declared a state of national emergency mid-March, imposing very strict restrictions on all land and air traffic. Afterwards, the Immigration Department received 98 requests for assistance from Hong Kong residents stranded there. With the assistance of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (OCMFA) and the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of Peru, 65 of them took the chartered flight arranged by the Hong Kong SAR Government from Lima to London, followed by an ordinary connecting flight to Hong Kong. Among the people who sought assistance, one of them passed away in Peru earlier from COVID-19 and 13 have left the country through other arrangements. The remaining ones have not taken the chartered flights to leave Peru on personal preference or because they have been quarantined. Currently, at least four Hong Kong residents are required to stay in Peru for quarantine and undergo COVID-19 testing. The SAR Government will continue to follow up with the OCMFA and the Chinese Embassy in Peru to provide assistance to affected residents. Veteran Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday (April 6) said that India has now entered a "crucial two-week period". He also mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's outreach to former prime ministers, presidents and some opposition leaders to hold discussion over COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. In a series of tweets, Chidambaram, 74, wrote about the steps taken by the Centre to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, which has infected over 4,000 people in the country so far. "India enters a crucial two week period today. So does the world. It is good that @narendramodi spoke to leaders of Opposition parties. I have no doubt that every one of them pledged support to the government's efforts to battle the spread of COVID-19," Chidambaram tweeted. India enters a crucial two week period today. So does the world It is good that @narendramodi spoke to leaders of Opposition parties. I have no doubt that every one of them pledged support to the governments efforts to battle the spread of COVID-19. P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 6, 2020 "If the Congress and other Opposition parties have pointed out the shortcomings in the measures taken by the government, it was in a spirit of constructive criticism and cooperation - a point highlighted in the CWC resolution of 2nd April, 2020," he said in another tweet. , - 2 , 2020 CWC P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 6, 2020 Chidambaram reiterated that aggressive testing should be conducted across the country to fight the pandemic, which has already claimed 109 lives in India so far. On Sunday, PM Modi called two former Presidents Pranab Mukherjee and Pratibha Patil to hold discussions on COVID-19 related issues. The prime minister also called two former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and HD Deve Gowda to discuss the deadly virus and the steps taken by the governments at Central and state levels to combat the menace. He also called up leaders of various political parties like Sonia Gandhi, Mulayam Singh, Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, Naveen Patnaik, KCR, Stalin and Parkash Singh Badal. India is under a 21-day lockdown period after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced it on March 24 asking people to restrain for going out of their homes and maintain social distancing in order to curb the spread of coronavirus. A 26-year-old woman was arrested on Sunday for allegedly trespassing on the grounds of Prime Minister Shinzo Abeas private residence. An officer from the Metropolitan Police Department found Eri Shimada standing on the Abe premises in Shibuya Wardas Tomigaya district at around 11 a.m. and arrested her on the spot. aI thought I would be able to reset my life if I am arrested,a the woman was quoted as saying, adding that she was not on good terms with her parents, according to investigative sources. Abe was home at the time, but the woman was unarmed, the sources said, adding that she claimed to be a corporate employee. Russia seeks to use coronavirus pandemic to intensify contradictions within the European Union. "I understand and agree that the European Union must demonstrate unity, because a part of Russias COVID plan is to use coronavirus pandemic to intensify the contradictions within the European Union, and thus to break it, at least politically, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations Serhiy Kyslytsya told the Voice of America, commenting on Russia's attempts to adopt a resolution on coronavirus at the UN General Assembly. As noted, the draft contained wording on the abolition of international sanctions. According to the Ukrainian diplomat, the Russian side demonstrates professionalism, striving to achieve its goal. Moscow develops multi-level and multi-step plans, Kyslytsya emphasized. The Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations also stressed that Ukraine's position on Russias draft resolution had been supported by a big number of states. Kyslytsya drew particular attention to the EU's position on the Russian project. The EU made a stand against the Russian wording a few minutes before the end of the vote. Ukraines Permanent Representative noted that the crisis caused by coronavirus could become, by a twist of fate, an opportunity for the UN, individual countries and regional unions to "get rid of the old methods" and to start to use new technologies more broadly while preserving democracy. The UN General Assembly adopted the resolution on global solidarity in the fight against COVID-19, initiated by Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Ghana, Indonesia, and Singapore. The resolution points to the "unprecedented consequences" of the pandemic and calls for intensified international cooperation to contain, mitigate and defeat the pandemic. Ukraine, among other countries, was the co-sponsor of this resolution. This was preceded by Russias submission of its own draft resolution on COVID-19, which required the lifting of international sanctions. Ukraine blocked the draft and was supported by Georgia, the United States, the United Kingdom, the EU and other countries. ol The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought out some of the untapped potentials by local institutions to offer solutions to challenges we ordinarily look for solutions abroad using billions of shillings. The closing of major trade destinations and routes only means that we have to search for what is within our reach in these desperate times. READ ALSO: Opinion: Kenyans on Twitter should shun hatred and embrace positive energy Chinese billionaire Jack Ma has made two key donations of Personal Protective Equipment and other key supplies to help fight COVID-19. Photo: Collage. Source: UGC READ ALSO: COVID-19: Jack Ma donates second batch of medical supplies to all African countries The peculiar thing about COVID-19 is that it has affected almost all countries and pushed demand for medical equipment so much that even the countries which usually produce excess for export are themselves facing shortages. Out times of trial have awakened our local heroes. Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, for example, is now producing an Alcohol-free hand sanitiser to cater for the scarcity caused by panic buying. The institution is also making Personal Protective Equipment for the health-care sector and has already inked a deal with Laikipia County government to train innovators on mass production of the PPEs to help combat the spread of COVID-19. In ordinary circumstances, purchases of simple items such as face masks are sourced internationally, stifling chances of the local industries to benefit from supplying the government. One wonders why we have government-supported industries and research institutions funded by taxpayers yet are not allowed to offer the simplest of solutions. READ ALSO: Kenya's unsung hero: Health CS Kagwe feted for spirited fight against coronavirus In leading Nations, governments and universities have been working hand in hand in providing inexpensive, easy to use and maintain medical devices. Rice University in the US, for example, has this week innovated a US dollar 300 ventilator to help with the surge in demand accessioned by the high number of people who may not be able to breathe due to the inhibition of the lungs by the coronavirus. The device could go into mass production as early as next week could go into mass production as early as next week, offering hospitals around the world a way to address a ventilator shortage that is expected to kill thousands of coronavirus patients suffering from the respiratory illness in the coming weeks. High-quality ventilators like the kinds hospitals rely on can easily cost US dollars 10,000 apiece. The Rice team believes they can eventually lower the cost of their units to somewhere between US dollars 100 and US dollars 200. Rice University also developed a low-cost, high-performance Bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) system to treat infants with respiratory distress syndrome in the developing world. A clinical trial of the CPAP device at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi showed that the device significantly improved the survival of newborns in respiratory distress. These devices are already being rolled out locally at the Nyeri County Referral Hospital, Mama Lucy and Pumwani Maternity Hospital. Our Universities and technical institutions have, in their archives, wonderful innovations that, given the right conditions, can solve some of the problems we face as a country. Unfortunately, we have never put in place a support mechanism to help in the commercialization of the projects. If our government can partner with local innovators extend incentives, it is without a doubt that we can make most of the devices that we source from abroad expensively and which we are not able to maintain in case of breakdowns. In doing so, we will be saving our foreign exchange reserves, empowering the local institutions and above all creating the much-needed jobs. And because the devices will be sourced locally, it will reduce the period between when the order is made and when it lands at the medical facility. The lockdown in the global economies should be an eye-opener for us to turn to local innovations. The writer Dr. Steve Adudans, Executive Director Centre for Public Health and Development . The views expressed in this opinion article are his and do not represent the position of TUKO.co.ke. 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 police have taken more lives than Covid-19 in Kenya | Tuko Reports | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke NASA is headed to Saturn's largest moon, Titan but some scientists hope to convince the agency to send another mission to Titan's neighbor, Enceladus , to look for signs of life. Enceladus is a tiny, icy world that scientists best know from NASA's Cassini mission to the Saturn system, which ended in 2017. During Cassini's tenure, the spacecraft determined that the moon has an ocean hidden below its icy crust. The probe also found that Enceladus spit plumes containing material from this ocean out into space. These plumes are the primary reason why scientists want a dedicated spacecraft to visit the world. "Enceladus is the only confirmed current habitable environment beyond Earth, it's the only world meeting the canonical requirements for habitability," Amanda Hendrix, a planetary scientist at the Planetary Science Institute, said during a presentation coordinated by the National Academies of Sciences on March 31. "The next step is to search for signatures of life in the Enceladus ocean materials, and Enceladus makes it easy because it ejects its ocean material into space." Related: Photos: Enceladus, Saturn's Cold, Bright Moon Specifically, Hendrix argued that Enceladus should be a target for the next round of the same mission size that includes the new Dragonfly mission to Titan , as well as missions like the OSIRIS-REx asteroid mission, the Juno mission to Jupiter and the New Horizons mission to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt. Two missions proposed during the most recent round did focus on Enceladus, but they did not make the final selection. Both Enceladus and Titan were listed together as the same potential type of destination, " ocean worlds ." Because NASA didn't select an Enceladus mission, scientists are worried that the "ocean world" goal will now be considered under control, even though Dragonfly's visit to Titan will only teach us so much about Enceladus. The same limitation holds true of NASA's Europa Clipper , which will visit an icy moon of Jupiter that is superficially much more similar to Enceladus than Titan is. "We now know that there's a lot of ocean worlds in our solar system and each as we currently understand it is unique and each offers something different to our understanding of ocean worlds," Hendrix said. "Enceladus is distinct from Europa and Titan." The most exciting reason Enceladus is so distinct from other ocean worlds in our solar system is those plumes shooting out of the moon near the south pole. These plumes mean that scientists wouldn't need to build a spacecraft that can land on and penetrate an icy shell to study the hidden ocean. "This is my personal opinion, but if we're going after life in our solar system and we've got an ocean out there that's just spewing itself out into space and making it easy for us," Hendrix said, "let's go do it, let's not make things harder on ourselves by first trying to do a lander mission ." While Enceladus' plumes make its ocean more accessible to spacecraft, the innards of the world remain isolated enough that, if there is indeed life in its hidden ocean, it could have evolved independently of life, say, here on Earth. But right now, that is a possibility of a possibility, and the only way to begin navigating out of these "ifs" is to send a spacecraft to check out the ocean. "This ocean at Enceladus could be a host to a whole separate genesis of life," Hendrix said. "It could be uninhabited or it could be in a prebiotic state, but regardless, any Enceladus mission exploring this ocean is going to provide groundbreaking discoveries." Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook . 1. Hollywood Buddy Comedies - Midnight Run (1988) 2. Hollywood Buddy Comedies - Waynes World (1992) 3. Hollywood Buddy Comedies - Dumb and Dumber (1994) 4. Hollywood Buddy Comedies - Harold and Kumar go to White Castle (2004) 5. Hollywood Buddy Comedies - Step Brothers (2008) Brennan Huff (Will Ferrell) and Dale Doback (John C Reilly), are two middle-aged men who are forced to live together as brothers after their single parents, with whom they still live, marry each other. They might be in their 40s but they still remain tweens to the extreme. They hate each other at first but become friends after many misadventures together. They refuse to grow up however and its only after their parents threaten them with eviction that they give a thought towards being functioning adults. They might have finally found their feet but along the way lose their spark. Fate unites them again and they finally start something -- a company that hosts Karaoke events -- that not only makes them financially successful but helps them retain their boyishness. Brennan Huff (Will Ferrell) and Dale Doback (John C Reilly), are two middle-aged men who are forced to live together as brothers after their single parents, with whom they still live, marry each other. They might be in their 40s but they still remain tweens to the extreme. They hate each other at first but become friends after many misadventures together. They refuse to grow up however and its only after their parents threaten them with eviction that they give a thought towards being functioning adults. They might have finally found their feet but along the way lose their spark. Fate unites them again and they finally start something -- a company that hosts Karaoke events -- that not only makes them financially successful but helps them retain their boyishness. Hollywood has a thing for buddy movies. Such films have come out since the silent movie era and the genre has been extremely popular ever since Laurel and Hardy appeared together in The Lucky Dog (1921). In the modern era, such movies have more or less become cop dramas. While cop comedies are a whole lot of fun in their own right, were not covering them here right now. Instead, the focus is to provide a list of buddy movies from Hollywood which feature oddball couples. Share the list with your goofy pals during the lockdown and compare notes about them afterwards. Happy viewingRobert De Niro plays a bounty hunter with temper issues while Charles Grodin plays an accountant on the run from the mafia as well as from the police. De Niro is hired by a bail bondsman to bring him and considers it an easy dog. But he hasnt counted for Grodins crafty ways. He fakes a panic attack so the duo has to make the journey to LA via train. They had to ditch the train as people are after them. It so happens that both run out of money so have to steal cars and hitchhike to complete the journey, leading to various misadventures. The FBI wants to apprehend the gang whose money Grodin embezzled. They use De Niro to entrap the mob boss. When the two men finally part, Grodin gifts the bounty hunter with 300,000 dollars he was carrying in his money belt as a token of friendship.In its own goofy way, the film highlighted how creative content developers, who are often shy beyond measure and thus prefer to live in their own imaginary world are exploited by the consumerism of corporate culture when they make a jump to the big league. They find it hard to adjust to studio policies catering to high TRPs, taking them away from the radical content which made them famous in the first place and trimming them into safe bets. Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar, played by Mike Myers and Dana Carvey may have been misfits but they stuck to their own individuality to the very end. The film has three endings: one utterly realistic, one cartoonish and the last a mega happy ending.Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne, played by Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels are the dumbest people youll ever encounter your whole life. At first, you merely laugh but later you become frustrated by their idiocy. Their dumbness has become a gold standard of sorts and spawned a number of tributes and copycat versions over the years. It was a road movie at one level and the duo kept getting into bad to worse situations while travelling to Aspen. It says a lot about Carrey and Daniels prowess as actors that they made us invest emotionally in their character. Despite the abundant display of stupidity, we come to love their characters.When was the last time two Asian actors were cast as leads in a stoner comedy? Director Danny Leiner took that leap of faith and ended up with a hit on his hands. Harold Lee (John Cho) and Kumar Patel (Kal Penn) are stoned out of their skulls and want nothing better in life than to munch on some White Castle burgers. The various hurdles they encounter during this parodic urban quest do make them grow up a little. Harold, who has always been bullied by his co-workers, manages to confront them at the end while Kumar comes to terms with his fear giving in to the stereotype of becoming another Indian doctor in America. The goofy writing, as well as some loony acting by the two leads, converted it into a successful franchise. In the past two weeks, as the worsening coronavirus pandemic strengthens its hold on the United States, nearly 10 million laid-off workers applied for unemployment benefits. Seeking to exploit personal financial loss, scammers are using fake unemployment filing websites in order to steal personal information or to harvest the data to sell to others for uses not properly disclosed to the user, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro warned. Scammers are working overtime to try and make a profit during this emergency, and we are staying on high alert to stop them, Shapiro said in a news release Thursday. You can help. Only file for unemployment through the Department of Labor and Industry at uc.pa.gov. If you see a website or email claiming to be a source for filing for unemployment outside of this Department, report it to the Office of Attorney General. In New Jersey, the place to go to file unemployment claims is myunemployment.nj.gov. David Finkelstein, information security director for St. Lukes University Health Network, also warned of cybercriminals exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic to try to gain access to confidential personal and financial information. He encourages everyone to be wary of online ads and websites that offer cures or preventions for the potentially devastating virus. The COVID-19 pandemic creates a perfect environment for unscrupulous individuals, Finkelstein says in a news release. Many people are afraid and desperately looking for ways to protect themselves and their families. As a result, they are more vulnerable to falling for a hackers trick than they might be during more typical times. Unfortunately, there are no easy fixes for COVID-19 so be sure to get your information from reputable sources like sluhn.org or CDC.gov. One popular trick of cybercriminals is to pose as an executive and send a fictitious email, often with an attachment or a link to a website, according to St. Lukes. The names of legitimate company executives are usually available through a Google search or on the companys website. Before opening emails or attachments from people outside of your usual contacts, double-check the email address, Finkelstein says. If it doesnt look right, delete it. If its a suspicious work-related email, contact your companys information services department immediately. As always, to protect your information, he recommends: Do not provide your credentials, usernames or passwords unless you are confident of the source. Do not open email attachments from unknown sources. Do not click on a link that takes you to a website, even those that appear to be reliable. Use google or other favorite search engines to find websites and then type the URL into your web browser instead. Keep your computer, router firmware and web browser up to date. Make sure you have security software installed and keep it current. Install software updates promptly. The Federal Trade Commission urges Americans to use stay-at-home orders like those in Pennsylvania and New Jersey as a chance to social distance themselves from robocall scammers, too. The FTC at consumer.ftc.gov offers examples of coronavirus scammers pretending to call from the Social Security Administration, offering fake tests to Medicare recipients and scaring small businesses into buying bogus online listing services. The commission also offers these tips to help keep scammers at bay: Hang up on robocalls. Dont press any numbers. Scammers are using illegal robocalls to pitch everything from scam Coronavirus treatments to work-at-home schemes. The recording might say that pressing a number will let you speak to a live operator or remove you from their call list, but it might lead to more robocalls, instead. Ignore online offers for vaccinations and home test kits. Scammers are trying to get you to buy products that arent proven to treat or prevent the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) online or in stores. At this time, there also are no FDA-authorized home test kits for the coronavirus. Visit the FDA to learn more. Fact-check information. Scammers, and sometimes well-meaning people, share information that hasnt been verified. Before you pass on any messages, contact trusted sources. Know who youre buying from. Online sellers may claim to have in-demand products, like cleaning, household and health and medical supplies when, in fact, they dont. Dont respond to texts and emails about checks from the government. The details are still being worked out. Anyone who tells you they can get you the money now is a scammer. Dont click on links from sources you dont know. They could download viruses onto your computer or device. Watch for emails claiming to be from the CDC or experts saying they have information about the virus. Do your homework when it comes to donations, whether through charities or crowdfunding sites. Dont let anyone rush you into making a donation. If someone wants donations in cash, by gift card, or by wiring money, dont do it. 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. DAKAR, April 5 (Xinhua) -- China's efforts to fight the COVID-19 epidemic and its public health system have proved highly effective, said Sire Sy, president of the pan-African think tank Africa WorldWide Group (AWG). "Out of a total of more than 82,000 people infected, China has managed to cure more than 75,000 while (about) 3,000 have died. This is proof enough that China has the best public health system at present," the Senegalese economist and a media expert said in a recent interview with Russia's Sputnik news agency on the topic "China and the coronavirus pandemic." According to him, the AWG, which studies geopolitical problems and geo-economy from African perspectives, estimates that the statistics published by the Chinese authorities show the essential information about its coronavirus outbreak. Speaking of some Western observers questioning China's official data, he said people should "go beyond the figures," and "it is the perspective which is the most important." "If there is a prospect that emerges, it is that, at present, China shows the best public health system in the world," he said. The African think tank president refuted the media speculation that "this epidemic marks the decline" of China, saying "but now, today, this China has been able to contain the coronavirus and better, offer its aid to other countries, either through official or private means, notably the Jack Ma Foundation." Moreover, in his opinion, in this global public health crisis, "China teaches us a lot. Western societies say 'time is money', and the Chinese have shown 'time is health,' a way of saying that health is the first wealth of men and nations and not capital and the market." The expert said China's anti-virus efforts remind some of the Western countries that "the economy must be at the service of people and not vice versa." Also, he told Sputnik that he believes the COVID-19 pandemic is a reminder that "we were in a world dominated by global competition on monopolies and exclusion. China reminds us that we must also integrate people and public health systems." In the interview, the AWG head also called on the international community to start preparing for new, post-pandemic international relations and global economy. International rights groups on Monday condemned an attack on a prison in Yemens besieged city of Taez that left six women and a child dead. The internationally-recognised government has accused the Iran-aligned Huthi rebels of carrying out Sundays attack. The rebels targeted the female section of the prison with mortar shells, according to the governments Saba news agency. The Huthis categorically denied responsibility for the attack, in a tweet by the spokesman for their armed wing, Yahya Saree. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said the Taez attack could amount to a war crime. We understand three shells, allegedly fired by the Huthis, hit the womens section of the prison, she said in a statement. This attack appears to be in breach of international humanitarian law, and depending on the circumstances could amount to a war crime, she said. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said its hospital in Taez received the casualties. MSF-supported Al-Thawra Hospital in Taez city received the bodies of six women and one child who were killed in an attack on the central prison in Taez, it said on Twitter. The government said 28 other female prisoners were wounded. Taez citizens continue to suffer from the ongoing violence in the sixth year of the protracted conflict in Yemen, MSF said. These attacks on civilians, whether indiscriminate or targeted, are unjustifiable breaches of international humanitarian law. The International Committee of the Red Cross said specifically that attacks on prisons were banned under international law. The ICRC deplores yesterdays attack on Taez central prison that left women and children dead and injured, the ICRC said on Twitter. Prisons and their inmates are protected under international humanitarian law and can not be a target, it said. Taez, a city of 600,000 people in southwest Yemen, is under government control but has been under siege by rebels in recent years. Tens of thousands of Yemenis have been killed in more than five years of fighting that has devastated the impoverished Arab nation. Yemens broken healthcare system has so far recorded no case of the COVID-19 illness, but aid groups have warned that when it does hit, the impact will be catastrophic. The country is already gripped by what the UN calls the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. The amount of money Louisiana has spent responding to the coronavirus has ballooned to $573 million, as the state races to stand up a temporary hospital and other facilities to house patients that have tested positive for the virus. The figure is more than double from last week, when state government had spent about $247 million. Spending on the biggest effort to surge Louisiana's medical capacity--a temporary hospital facility at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans--has grown to $109.5 million, according to Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne. That increase came after Gov. John Bel Edwards moved to double the amount of beds there from 1,000 to 2,000. The amount spent is expected to continue growing. Edwards has indicated the state will build temporary hospitals, or "step-down" facilities for coronavirus patients, in most major metro areas in the state. 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 Officials are hoping a pot of $1.8 billion in federal money Louisiana is receiving from the latest federal stimulus bill can be used to cover the state's portion of the total spent responding to the virus. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne said Monday he expected guidance on how those funds can be used in a week. Currently, the federal government covers 75% of the costs incurred by the state responding to the coronavirus. But Dardenne said once Louisiana hits $661 million in spending, the share moves to 90%-10% federal-state. The vast majority of the total--$539 million--was spent by the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, which is executing contracts for new facilities and buying up supplies for hospitals, according to a breakdown provided by the state Monday. In addition to the $573 million spent, agencies have lost nearly $25 million in revenues, mostly from colleges and universities. Married At First Sight's Hayley Vernon had fans scratching their head on Sunday night. After returning to the show for the finale, many viewers noticed something had changed with the 32-year-old's appearance - but struggled to work out what it was. Only a handful of eagle-eyed people at home noticed what was so different about the former finance broker, and once they did, they couldn't believe it. Wow! Married At First Sight 's Hayley Vernon had fans scratching their head on Sunday night when viewers noticed something had changed with the 32-year-old's appearance. It turns out the three months between leaving the show in October and filming the last episode in January, Hayley finally finished her huge 'leg sleeve' tattoo During the three months between leaving the show in October and filming the last episode in January, Hayley finally finished her huge 'leg sleeve' tattoo. The enormous inking runs from the top of her thigh down to her ankle. She had the artwork done during a trip to Bali in December. After some viewers worked out what was different about Hayley, they discussed the tattoo on Twitter. While some called it 'iconic', others thought it was too much. Inked up: Hayley had the ink done in Bali in December, after leaving the show in October 'New leg tattoos?' questioned one Twitter user on Sunday night. 'Hayley's Lana Del Ray tattoo on her leg is iconic,' wrote another, with the design appearing to be of the American songstress. More viewers mused if the ink was new, with one person calling it 'ugly'. Dividing: After some viewers worked out what was different about Hayley, they discussed the tattoo on Twitter. Whereas some called it 'iconic', others thought it was too much It was previously estimated that Hayley's stunning transformation is worth $50,000 - but she's received some enhancements free of charge due to her rising profile. In recent years she has undergone a breast augmentation, had regular lip filler injections and received porcelain veneers worth up to $30,000 for free. Along with this, Hayley's extensive tattoo collection is worth thousands. Wow! It was estimated that Hayley's stunning transformation is worth $50,000 - but she's received some work for free due to her rising profile Pictured left: in 2012, and right: in 2019 Dazzling smile: In recent years she has undergone a breast augmentation, had regular lip filler injections and received porcelain veneers (pictured) worth up to $30,000 for free The years Hayley has spent enhancing her body as a bodybuilder would not have been cheap either, with gym supplements and protein power setting her back. In 2016, Hayley first started sculpting her body with weight training. She initially shredded all her body fat and became as lean as possible to compete in bodybuilding tournaments in 2017, before later bulking up. Since then, she has boosted her booty and worked on her curves in the gym. Dedicated: Hayley has spent years changing her body in the gym. She initially shredded all body for bodybuilding tournaments in 2017 (pictured), before then bulking up IMAGE For the past five years, Gina Rejas, an immigrant from Peru, has worked as a housekeeper at White Plains Hospital in Westchester County, N.Y., one of the places hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Rejass unit is a red zone dedicated solely to patients infected with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. On Saturday, Rejas, who moved to New York in 2001, went to Facebook to share her feelings about working on the frontlines of the pandemic. This is my chance to thank New York for making my familys dreams come true, she wrote in Spanish alongside a photo showing the full protective gear she wears every time she steps into her unit. Rejas is my mother-in-law, and after I shared her words on Twitter, the post ended up earning over 160,000 likes. I called her up to hear more about her experience as an immigrant fighting the battle against the coronavirus. Rejas admitted that she is afraid of catching the highly contagious disease that has killed thousands but said she sees her work as part of a moral obligation to her adopted home. Gina Rejas. (Courtesy of Gina Rejas) I feel proud to be part of New York. Im a New Yorker in spirit. I feel this way, and I want to hug everyone with my soul and tell them that were going to get through this, she said. Rejass unit at the hospital originally held pediatric and elderly patients. However, she said most of the hospital is now focused on COVID-19. On the days she is on duty, Rejas is the only housekeeper cleaning the rooms of 25 coronavirus patients. Before each shift, she dons shoe covers, a full-body gown, gloves, a mask and a full-face shield. Infection control specialists inspect all the staffers before they enter the unit. While someone died in the unit last week, Rejas said more and more of the patients she works with are recovering and leaving the hospital. The work is hard, but actually what makes it more bearable is that the nurses inspire me. The work that they do is hard, but you never see them tired, you dont see them exhausted. I dont know where they get so much energy, she said. They make you day in and day out keep up with their pace. So this is what makes us a small but mighty team. We work together. Story continues Rejas said she believes hospital support staff are less valued than other medical workers like doctors and nurses. At White Plains Hospital, she said, the housekeeping department has opened its arms to immigrants and includes a multiracial group, many of whom are still learning English. The cleaning department is in the frontline making sure that there arent infections, that there isnt contagion. I want to tell people that we make it so when you arrive at the hospital you find a place thats disinfected. I want to tell people that we will always greet you with a smile, Rejas said. Gina Rejas, center, with two of her colleagues. (Courtesy of Gina Rejas) And Rejas said theres one thing she wants other Americans to understand about immigrant workers. Immigrants whether theyre from Asia, Africa, South America, Central America wherever theyre from, come to this country to contribute because we give the best of us, she said. Were the foundation for the new generations. Thats what makes our American dream happen. She also had another message to share about the coronavirus. Rejas urged everyone to follow the guidelines and remain in their homes if possible to stem the spread of the disease and give essential workers an opportunity to do their jobs. Please, give the train conductors, the bus drivers and the people who serve you in the supermarkets everything that we need to safely get back to our homes, said Rejas. If you have the privilege to be in your house, stay home. _____ 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: Available reasonable projections suggest New Mexico will suffer between 300 and 800 coronavirus deaths this year. Those figures would imply between 25,000 and 60,000 New Mexicans will be infected, with a death rate somewhat above 1%. Some other projections suggest all these figures might be too low. About 15% to 20% of coronavirus victims require hospitalization. This means that at least 20,000 to 50,000 infected New Mexicans will be sent home and told not to infect anybody else. For people in comfortable situations two or three people living in six or seven rooms that may not be a problem. More people living in fewer rooms would invite contagion. Many of them would welcome an opportunity to move out for two weeks or so to keep their families safe. There has been limited discussion in New Mexico of the issue of separate housing for infected patients not requiring treatment. There was one fine letter to the Journal from registered nurse Cindy Gillespie on March 23, but no visible activity has since occurred. Temporary living facilities should be available for the huge majority of patients who do not require hospitalization and for those patients leaving hospitalization. This seems clearly a state and local, not a federal, responsibility. Confinement should be voluntary so there would be no need to provide strict security. China imposed mandatory confinement for anyone infected and appears to have had some success in limiting transmission. The virus does not survive more than a few days outside of a host body, so facilities could be returned to other purposes soon after they become unnecessary for housing coronavirus patients. For state and local officials, arranging quickly for temporary space for this purpose may be one of the most important challenges they face while in office. Fortunately, there is space available. Gillespies letter suggested the old Lovelace facility on Gibson would work. Possibly college dormitories could be made available. Services to the infected patients could be provided by similarly infected staff. Probably several facilities will be required in Albuquerque and other major New Mexico cities. However, haste is required since the peak demand for these temporary facilities will be in April and May. There are few things state and local governments can do that would have as great a direct impact on the life of New Mexicans as responding adequately to the challenge of this virus. It seems almost certain that the difference between an active local response to the spread of this virus and a passive response may be dozens of additional deaths and many hundreds of additional illnesses. Dick Minzner is a Democratic former member of the N.M. House of Representatives and former Secretary of Taxation and Revenue. OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio -- It is Holy Week. Doesnt seem like it, does it? The church doors are locked. During this most sacred of weeks, you cannot attend a service on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, a Saturday vigil service or Easter Sunday Mass/service. But hope is not lost. There are ways to observe these special days at home by yourself or with family. Two local church leaders are offering suggestions in keeping the solemnity of these holy days when we are unable to attend services during the coronavirus pandemic. The Rev. Ryan Cubera is St. Mary of the Falls Catholic Churchs administrator. He, too, misses meeting, seeing -- and serving -- the people of his parish, as well as family and friends. The church now places more updates on its facebook page and shares short videos that Cubera records. He said parishioners can find daily and Sunday Masses online that are live-streamed from the Vatican, Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, other churches or replayed throughout the day. He said there are several general actions one can take at home during this time. The first is taking the time for daily prayer in a special spot at home. Set aside a space in your house for prayer, whether its a chair or an entire room, he said. Build it into something where you can go and pray. He then recommends saying an Act of Contrition, asking for salvation and mercy. Many faiths believe in receiving a Spiritual Communion when Holy Communion -- receiving the host/bread and wine -- is unavailable, such as in our current condition. Spiritual Communion is a 15- to 20-minute time to invite the Lord into your heart to be one with you, uniting Him with you, Cubera said. As in Baptism and the reception of Spiritual Communion, we become closer to Christ at this time. He also offers specifics for Holy Week, including Easter. On Holy Thursday, services remember Jesus establishing the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, which also saw Him wash the feet of his disciples. Maybe consider, as a family, washing each others feet. It is a simple, yet powerful and very uncomfortable thing to do, he said. It is just a simple way to celebrate Holy Thursday. Holy water fonts, which are usually removed from Catholic churches after the Holy Thursday service until the Easter Vigil Mass, were absent earlier in Lent due to the coronavirus crisis. (Joanne Berger DuMound, special to cleveland.com) He said praying the Stations of the Cross and reading St. Johns gospel account of the Passion of Christ are two ways to observe Good Friday. Maybe split up the Passion and have family members read sections of it, he said. When ending the stations or the reading, kiss a crucifix. Also, putting aside technology -- texting, computer use, TV and radio -- between the hours of noon and 3 p.m. is another way to solemnly observe Jesus hanging and death on the cross. Saturday is traditionally observing Jesus in the tomb. Its a day of stillness, prayer and still fasting, he said. This can be a good day to have a little extra quiet time. He recommends reading any or all of the nine readings that are available at the Easter vigil service. They may be found at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website. He said they tell the story of salvation. Easter, well, its the day Christ rose from the death -- the greatest of all Sundays. It is such a big celebration. Do something joyful, he said. Have a wonderful meal with your family. Celebrate life. He also said to take a walk, create something, talk with those who are important in your life or maybe write a letter to them. There are so many ways Gods life takes shape in us, he said. The Rev. Joel Bubna of Grace Church in Olmsted Falls keeps in touch with his congregation via Zoom appearances, phone calls and live-streaming services. (Joanne Berger DuMound, special to cleveland.com) Joel Bubna is the pastor at Grace Churchs Olmsted Falls campus. It was formerly Hope Church, but merged with Grace Church in Middleburg Heights in February. Grace Church is part of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Bubna also misses his congregation, but keeps in touch with small groups via Zoom. I try to call everyone once every two weeks and do things in the community, such as helping the food bank. It is difficult with the way we are limited, but we have to be safe," he said. Grace Church provides services that are live streamed. It will offer 4, 6, 8 and 10 p.m. services on Good Friday; a 5 p.m. service on Saturday and 9 and 10:30 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. services on Easter Sunday. He and Jonathan Schaeffer, senior pastor of the Middleburg Heights campus, will share leading the services, which are broadcast from the Pearl Road facility. He said Holy Week is a time for quiet, reading and remembering. He said the night before Jesus was crucified, he had a meal with his friends. It was at that meal that He shared bread and wine with them and the Eucharist meal was born, he said. Jesus instructions to his friends were that every time they shared the bread and the cup they were to remember. He said remembering is an important spiritual discipline. "It protects us from ingratitude and from living inconsequential lives, he said. Even though we cant gather together in the same place to remember and to celebrate during Holy Week, our hope is to gather virtually and remember. Bubna said one of the practical ways to remember as a family is to take time during Holy Week to read the gospel accounts of Jesus death and resurrection. Read them personally and read them to your children, he said. "The passion story is found in Mark 14-16 and John 12-21. He said the church has videos that provide projects parents may want to do with their children. I recently heard someone say that the cross is the healing of those who are distressed. Maybe that cross will bring some peace, hope and joy to us this Holy Week. May you and your family enjoy the solemnity and joyfulness of this holy season. A special and joyous Passover to our Jewish friends as they begin their seven-day festival this week. Spring break: OK. This entire time that kids are out of their regular classrooms may seem like spring break, but its not. The Olmsted Falls School District wants to remind parents that the official Spring Break is from this Friday (April 10) through April 17. So, you get a break, too, from home schooling. Distance learning for students will begin again April 20. Enjoy -- as much as you can. Adopt a child/senior: The Olmsted Community Center and the citys Jenkins Place Senior Center are sponsoring an Adopt a Kid/Senior program. A list is being gathered of families and seniors who would like to be adopted. It may include shopping, running small errands, crafts, writing letters, phone calls, assisting in reading or history assignments or wherever community adoption may take you, according to its flyer. You may sign up online by going to olmstedcc.com or calling 440-427-1599. What a wonderful way to keep in touch and help each other throughout this pandemic. Food donations: Our Christians in Action food pantry is trying to remain open for those who need this service. Its shelves are getting bare. Many donors would contribute food items to the Christians In Action barrels that were inside several churches in the community. With churches closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, that method of donating has stopped. People may drop off items at the Olmsted Township police station and safety services building in Olmsted Falls. Olmsted Falls High School student Nick Hoffman with his younger twin brothers, Nathan and Noah, drop off $200 in groceries and cleaning supplies to the Olmsted Community Center. (Photo Courtesy of Donna Winter) A special thanks to Nick Hoffman, an Olmsted Falls High School 11th-grader, who dropped off $200 in groceries and cleaning supplies to the Olmsted Community Center. He bought the items with his Shakers MarketPlace paycheck to help with Christians In Actions latest needs. He said it felt good to do this and know Im helping others, because there are people out there in need. His younger twin brothers, Nathan and Noah, helped him with his delivery to the center. Thanks so much to the Hoffman boys and all who continue in this ongoing need. Helping local businesses: Some small businesses and restaurants have been able to stay open during this time. The local operational restaurants are still offering carry-out service or delivery through various forms. Weve eaten a delicious seafood pizza from Angelinas Pizza, a tasty fish dinner from Moosehead Hoof and Ladder and a scrumptious Italian meal from Matteos. Others will be on our list as the stay-at-home order continues. Tom Grassi, owner of Matteos in Grand Pacific Junction, is offering carry-out and delivery. The latter is free on Saturdays in April. We ordered veal and eggplant parmigiana dinners, parked and walked into the restaurant for pickup. Tom said his restaurant is not normally a carry-out one, so it has been a bit difficult to adapt. We have a good staff, chef and loyal customers who are supporting us. We were to celebrate our fifth anniversary today (March 29), but we will wait to celebrate that," he said. " We are surviving. Things are good. Kixksy Siss, a Matteos Italian Restaurant employee, hands carry-out dinners to a customer as owner Tom Grassi takes a phone order. (Joanne Berger DuMound, special to cleveland.com) Olmsted Falls resident Rachel Sculac also was picking up dinner that day. Its my husbands (Bob) birthday. We cant go out to eat and celebrate, so this is the next best thing," she said. Please remember to support all our local businesses. It keeps them, the city and township alive. Information, please: To include news, tidbits, honors or activities in Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township, contact Joanne DuMound at jdumound@yahoo.com. She also is on Twitter, @JoanneDuMound. The columns online version at cleveland.com/olmsted has direct links for many news items. Read more from the Sun Post Herald. Quito: In today's time, the coronavirus has become not only an epidemic in the whole world but an enemy of people's lives. Due to which the condition of the entire world has been disturbed today. Many lives are being ruined, how many families are getting hurt by coming in contact with Corona every day. There have been more than 69000 deaths due to the virus. As of now, it cannot be said how long the outbreak of this virus will end. Or how long one can get rid of this virus. Corona's havoc continues over world, condition become worse in these countries According to the information received, Vice President Otto Sonnenholzner has apologized to the public for the dead bodies lying in the streets of the Corona affected city of Guayaquil in the Latin American country of Ecuador. Local people had posted pictures of these dead bodies on social media. There are about 150 such unclaimed dead bodies in the streets of the coastal city of Guayaquil. The fear of corona infection is such that people are not going to the dead bodies. The Vice President, who is leading the fight against Corona in the country, said that he had never seen such a thing before. Corona spread across world, death toll crosses 69000 Vice President Otto Sonnenholzner has issued an order to remove the bodies, apologizing. Authorities have taken 150 bodies from the streets and homes earlier this week but did not confirm how many of the dead had corona infection. Vice President Otto Sonnenholzner said in his statement that the pictures we have seen, they should not have been like that. I apologize for this. 3,500 people are infected with the Coronavirus in Ecuador while 172 patients have died. An emergency has been imposed in the country to prevent infection. Wuhan overcoming from Corona's havoc 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) One-Day-Old Infant Dies From COVID-19 Complications in Louisiana: Coroner A one-day-old infant died from COVID-19-related complications in East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, according to the local coroners office. Coroner Beau Clark said the infant died Monday, reported WAFB in Baton Rouge. Clark said that 27 people have died in East Baton Rouge Parish due to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus as of Monday, WAFB reported. The baby girl was born prematurely after the mother gave birth while being hospitalized on a ventilator, according to the coroner. The mother was admitted to an area hospital on April 1, and the child died on April 6, coming one day after she was born, Clark said, WBRZ reported. However, the baby has not tested positive for the CCP virus, Clark said on Facebook. But due to the circumstances surrounding her death, it has been ruled as being tied to the virus, WBRZ reported. [Medical experts] all agree, this would be a COVID-19-related death because of the positive virus in the mother. Had she not been, she would likely not have gone into preterm labor, Clark said, according to the news outlet. We should all pay attention to the quarantine, the stay-at-home order, the social distancing. It becomes very, very important that we pay attention to what weve been told, Clark said, adding, We are seeing some improvement in the surge, we are starting to do what they call flattening the curve, [but] social distancing is more important than ever at this moment. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China before it was transmitted worldwide. Farmers looking at alternative ways of generating income are being urged to consider signing up to a new government tree planting scheme. The Woodland Carbon Guarantee is a new scheme which incentivises tree planting by 'selling' the carbon dioxide they capture in the form of 'carbon credits'. If farmers or landowners have spare land where they can plant trees, the Woodland Carbon Guarantee is a 'great way' of earning reliable extra income, Fisher German says. The credits' price is guaranteed once it's been initially agreed, and the government will buy them every five or 10 years up to 2055/56; providing regular long-term income for those who plant trees. However, farmers can also choose to sell their credits to the open market if they feel they can get a better price for them than what was agreed. The scheme is open to land managers who are owner occupiers, tenants, landlords and licensors, as long as they have control of the land. Julie Wade, of Fisher German, says the scheme it is an 'excellent way' to bolster funds in the long-term. "It is something that has never been done before and will give landowners the opportunity to make a long-term investment in exchange for a good return," she says. "Another benefit is that the wood will be commercially viable after the 35 years, meaning farmers can gain extra income by selling it." To apply, landowners must register for the Woodland Carbon Code which measures how much carbon their trees will capture. They then participate in an online reverse auction where farmers make their bids to the government on what price they should buy their carbon credits for. If a landowner is successful, the government will offer them a conditional 30 to 35-year contract which will allow them to plant the trees. Once the trees are planted, the government will then pay for the credits at regular intervals, providing sustained, long-term cash flow. Ms Wade says, however, with payments only being every five or 10 years, it is not something that will be suitable for everyone. "We would advise those interested to seek expert advice," she says, "This can give farmers a clear view of what to bid to the government and recommend a minimum price which they should not bid under. "It will also give information on the other grants available in relation to the scheme, for instance to fund establishing the trees, as many people are unaware that several grants can be used. "The Woodland Carbon Guarantee is an extremely positive scheme which has the potential to provide very good income to those suitable." New Delhi, April 6 : Tablighi Jamaat chief, Maulana Saad Kandhalvi, who is at the centre of the controversy for holding a large global congregation at a time of spreading coronavirus -- despite advice of veterans -- which led to a wider spread of the disease across the country, has been faulted by community leaders and intellectuals for his misjudgements. Given that Islam is not against science, they said the community expects that followers of Jamaat to adhere to the "scientific approach". "The community is suffering because of the lack of vision shown by Maulana Saad in dealing with the issues which could have been dealt in a better manner," Navaid Hamid, President of the Majlis Mushawarat, said, adding that had Maulana Saad showed vision, "the community would not have been maligned the way it is being done by the adversaries". "Since the beginning, authorities of the Markaz Jamaat, including its Amir Maulana Saad, have not shown the visionary attitude which they were supposed to demonstrate during the whole crisis in its basic aspects....the foremost is the continuous congregation of the faithful and the inept response of the Markaz," he said. Hamid suggested that Maulana Saad should have made a public statement when attendees got stuck in the lockdown, but at least now, he should come out to make a public statement. Maulana Ashraf Imam of Mumbai said that mosques were closed when the government advisory came and it is in the teachings of Islam to save your life and the life of other person. "The Prophet himself has said to do research on certain things to serve the human kind. The Prophet also said that not to go to the place where there is pandemic and also not to migrate from the place of pandemic," he said. Shakil Ahmed, an engineer who has lived in the Gulf for years, said: "Islam is not against scientific approach and it seeks a person to be practical.... the problem is that the Markaz issue has damaged the image of Muslims whereas there are very less number of people who follow the Tablighi Jamaat." However, the Jamaat disagrees on the charge that they do not follow modern ways and says its chief is in quarantine as per the advice of doctors. Maulana Saad released an audio message last week in which he had said that he is in "self-quarantine in Delhi as advised by the doctors" and appealed to all Jamaatis wherever they are in the country to follow the directives of the law. He said that it is also advised to remain indoors and adhere to the directives of the government and not assemble anywhere. Maulana Saad, through his advocate, also appealed that followers of Jamaat should present themselves to the authorities for checkup and follow-up if any of the persons has returned from Jamaat and they should also adhere to the directive of the authorities and there was "no need to argue and misbehave with anybody". Between Corona to Jung, the Defense Equipments Company of Dehradun changed its course. In addition, the company, which prepares equipment for mountaineering, camping, trekking, disaster force, has started to develop large scale affordable and quality personal protective equipment, PPE kits. 600 PPE kits are being prepared and supplied to many states including Uttarakhand in 24 hours. Gautam Gambhir offered financial help, Kejriwal says "No money, we want PPE kit" These 22 items are in PPE kit - a coverall with attached hood -Five pair gulls -Five mask -Eyewear means goggle -Five disposable headcover -A 100ml Sanitizer -A Bio Hazard Bag -A kit bag non-won Goggles are certified with ASTM Ankit Chadha, the owner of Defense Equippers, said that his special focus is also on the fact that the PPE kit is fully qualified. Whatever goggles are being given in it, they are certified by the American Society for Testing and Materials i.e. ASTM. Apart from this, Galves have also been imported from Sri Lanka. Ireland PM registers himself as doctor to treat his people from corona Doing supply here Apart from Doon Medical College in Dehradun, this PPE kit supply has started in Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital. Apart from this, supplies are also being supplied at Bathinda Military Cantt in Punjab. Recently, the company has also received orders from Pune and Bikaner. Ankit Chadha, the owner of Defense Equippers Company, said that he has designed a new fabric with a mill to strengthen and enhance the PPE kit. More than 68,000 people died, 12 lakh people infected worldwide The main gate at Ellsworth Air Force Base was closed for about four hours Sunday afternoon and some neighbors evacuated after a suspicious man prompted a precautionary bomb search. A man approached security personnel at the main gate and began acting erratically" around 4:15 p.m. on Sunday, the base said in a news release. The man was detained and turned over to the Box Elder Police Department. Assistant Police Chief Chris Misselt said the man had strange and suspicious behavior but didnt know exactly how he was acting or what he said to gate security. The Journal is waiting to learn these details from the base. Police determined the man didnt commit any crime so he wasnt arrested, Misselt said. But police took him to the hospital to see if he needed any treatment. The man has a North Carolina address and it's unclear if he recently moved to South Dakota or was just passing through. After the man was detained, the news release said, members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team set up a perimeter and searched the mans vehicle as a precautionary measure. Traffic was directed to the commercial gate during the search. And police officers alerted a nearby mobile home community about the search and some chose to temporarily evacuate, Misselt said. The explosives team found no threat or suspicious item in the vehicle, and the main gate reopened around 8:15 p.m., the news release said. Contact Arielle Zionts at arielle.zionts@rapidcityjournal.com. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 2 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The states first known COVID-19 wrongful death lawsuit was filed today by Tony S. Kalogerakos, principal attorney at Injury Lawyers of Illinois, LLC. Kalogerakos filed the lawsuit on behalf of the family of a Walmart employee who died from complications of COVID-19. The lawsuit filed in Cook County, Illinois alleges willful and wanton misconduct and reckless disregard, in the March 25 death of Wando Evans, 51, a 15-year employee at the Evergreen Park Walmart store. Evans, who worked as an overnight stock and maintenance associate at the store, first mentioned symptoms consistent with COVID-19 to store management two weeks ago but was ignored, the lawsuit alleges. On March 23, 2020, Evans was sent home by store management; two days later he was found dead in his home. The lawsuit alleges Walmart did not initially follow the CDCs or OSHAs recommendations, putting not only its employees but the general public at risk. It took additional measures only after Wandos death. Kalogerakos said his firm also has requested an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigation into Walmarts actions, especially after Walmart issued a statement indicating they are now hiring individuals within 24 hours, as opposed to its typical period of two weeks. The complaint further alleges they were well aware of employees having symptoms, and not communicating such to its employees or customers. About the Firm Tony S. Kalogerakos, Esq. is the founding and managing partner at Injury Lawyers of Illinois in Lincolnwood, IL. His practice is exclusively focused on personal injury and wrongful death matters. Contact: Tony S. Kalogerakos, Esq. tsk@injuryrights.com Case No. 2020 L 003938 China rolls out stricter controls on clinical research for COVID-19 medicine Global Times Source:Global Times Published: 2020/4/5 12:53:40 The State Council, China's cabinet has issued a notice on Saturday to further standardize the clinical research of medicine amid the outbreak of novel coronavirus. According to the notice, clinical research must be approved and reviewed by medical institutions and be supervised by medical and technological authorities during the process. The medical institution must sign a clinical research project agreement with the person in charge of the clinical research, and upload the project on a register platform within 3 days. For Clinical research that has already been undertaken, institutions should complete the registration and the information upload process within 3 working days. Those that don't complete such registration before the deadline shall not continue to carry out clinical research. Provincial health administrative departments should follow up on the progress of clinical research, summarize and transfer the results to the scientific and technological administrative authorities at the same provincial level, which will report to the national level of Ministry of Science and Technology. The usage, contraindications, possible toxins and side effects collected from the research will be reviewed and analyzed by a panel of experts. For clinical studies with obvious toxic side effects or no clear treatment effects, the scientific research team shall request the medical institution to terminate the research. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A 60-year-old man, who was tested positive for Covid-19, died on Sunday. The man had been hospitalised with symptoms of pneumonia, fever and cough earlier yesterday. The patient gave no contact or travel history. Some people, who attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi, lived in his area but they had tested negative for the virus, said the Rajasthan Health Department. On Monday, the department said that eight new people have tested positive for Coronavirus in Rajasthan. Six of these patients had attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi. While five are from Jhunjhunu, two are from Dungarpur and one from Kota. The total number of Covis-19 positive cases in the state has increased to 274, the Health Department added. According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, so far there have been 4067 corona cases in the country, out of which 3666 are active, 292 cured or discharged and 109 died. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MIDDLETOWN Members of the Connecticut National Guard joined the lieutenant governor Monday afternoon at Middlesex Hospital to tour a newly erected 25-bed facility to service coronavirus patients with non-acute conditions. These mobile medical care units will be used for patients who dont need to be hospitalized, according to Maj. Gen. Francis J. Evon Jr., adjutant general of the guard. Hospital staff Tuesday were caring for 133 coronavirus patients, 16 of whom were in the emergency department, 26 of whom have been admitted, and 19 whose cases are under investigation, according to David Giufriddo, vice president of operations at Middlesex Health. Of those, 19 were on ventilators. As of Monday afternoon, five of those patients had died from contracting the illness, officials said. Currently, the hospital is at less than 50 percent capacity, Giufriddo said. The number of positive cases in Middletown reached 52, Mayor Ben Florsheim tweeted Monday. There have been no coronavirus-related deaths in the city, he added. Statewide, 17 new deaths had occurred since Sunday, bringing the states total to 206, Gov. Ned Lamont said Monday. In addition, 1,231 newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases raised the states total to 6,906. Our No. 1 priority right now to get out from this pandemic is to build hospital surge capacity so we can allow the hospitals some flexibility for non-COVID-type patients with non-acute conditions, Evon said. Our hospitals are prepared to care for that surge, Bysiewicz said, adding the National Guard hasnt been deployed since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Shes expecting the surge could be as high as 6,000 coronavirus cases. Similar operations are being made at Danbury Hospital and St. Francis in Hartford. Guardsmen constructed a facility with 250 beds at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven as well as a 300-bed facility at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. We know thats a hot spot and we need to be prepared for that, Bysiewicz said. By the end of the week, guardsmen will have added 1,000 more beds across the state in anticipation of a large uptick in coronavirus cases. That figure is expected to grow in the near future, officials said. These are not typical hospital beds, Evon said. Picture an Ikea-like no-hardware college dorm room. Soon, other locations around the state, such as Webster Arena and the Hartford Convention Center, will have similar units. Youll see that coming to fruition by the end of the week, Evon said. By comparison, Yale New Haven Health reported the current census of all patients across the systems five hospitals was 1,692 with 388 COVID-19 patients. Bridgeport Hospital had 91 such patients, of whom 33 were in intensive care. Yale New Haven Hospital had 197 of these individuals with 42 in the intensive care unit. The numbers of coronavirus patients in the five hospitals within the Yale New Haven Health System was 152, with one-third being treated in intensive care units. In all, 4,700 state residents have been tested, with 16 percent of those positive. Numbers are increasing daily by 25 percent, officials said. Bysiewicz said the need is great for physicians, nurses and other health-care workers. Beds are one thing. Medical personnel is another. Retired personnel are being vetted by Middlesex Health, and will be prepared to be deployed if needed. State officials are aggressively securing masks, gloves and ventilators domestically as well as internationally, Bysiewicz told those gathered. They expected a very large shipment Monday, which will be disbursed to medical facilities and first responders in Connecticut. Guardsmen delivered 31 ventilators to six different hospitals Monday in Fairfield County, Evon said. Members of the community have been donating ventilators, N95 and surgical masks, gloves and other measures of protection. Mask covers are being washed prior to use. The hospital has about 50 respirators in total. Middlesex Health President and CEO Vincent Capese, Bysiewicz and Evon praised the efforts of doctors, nurses, first responders and personnel on the front lines of the pandemic. Many times Im asked what keeps me up at night. Ill tell you how I sleep at night: due to the fact we have great Americans, great Connecticut soldiers and airmen, militia members who raised their right hand to be part of something greater than themselves and theyre here to help the Nutmeggers of this great state, Evon said. Connecticut is a federal disaster recipient state, Bysiewicz explained. We really want to make sure we get our fair share of PPE equipment. For information on coronavirus in Connecticut, including how to donate supplies or volunteer, visit portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus. Middlesex Health has its own guidelines for masks and other donations, which can be accessed by visiting MiddlesexHealth.org/masks. APDesign professor named winner of 2020 Gabriel Prize Monday, April 6, 2020 A watercolor by Otto Chanyakorn, assistant professor of architecture at Kansas State University. | Download this photo. MANHATTAN A Kansas State University architecture professor is the winner of the 2020 Gabriel Prize, a prestigious award presented by the Western European Architecture Foundation. Otto Chanyakorn, assistant professor in the College of Architecture, Planning & Design known as APDesign is the recipient of the $20,000 grant for the study of classical architecture and landscape in France. As part of this award, Chanyakorn will travel to France and hone his skills in drawing and painting, as well as explore creative potentials in architecture. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chanyakorn's travel will take place in summer 2021. "I'm humbled to be selected as the 2020 Gabriel Prize recipient by the Western European Architecture Foundation," Chanyakorn said. "This fellowship will provide me with three months in Paris to fully concentrate on my drawing and painting. Undoubtedly, this will be a life-changing experience for me. Most importantly, I am excited to share the knowledge and skills that I will gain with my students. I'm thankful for the generous support from the APDesign community, my colleagues and particularly Dean Tim de Noble and department head Matt Knox who offered insightful and constructive input." As the winner, Chanyakorn will embark on a three-month itinerary of his own devising. While abroad, he will focus on some particular aspect of French architecture and will work closely with the Western European Architecture Foundation's European representative, a Parisian architect who is available for regular criticism and discussion. Chanyakorn also will spend much of his time sketching, measuring and, in the course of his time in France, produce three large renderings. Through this process, he will come to know some of the masterpieces of France. "Otto brings the same passion and artistry to his teaching as he does to his creative work. He is an amazing artist and this prestigious award is well deserved," Knox said. Otto's talent, so evident on every page of his sketchbooks and leaves of his watercolor pads, is rooted in an obvious joy and passion for investigating the natural and designed world around him," said de Noble said. "It is infectious, a superb example for our students and fellow faculty. After viewing his work in anticipation of his interview, I ran back to my office and started sketching! I am not at all surprised that he won the prize, and suspect the jurors, like me, were motivated to hunker down and draw for the joy of it after seeing the depth of his drawn investigations." The selection process included three phases: the submission of pertinent illustrations of personal work and an outline of the studies contemplated; selection of three finalists by a first jury; and meeting with a second jury, which then selects the winner. Jurors are chosen for their experience as teachers and artists and for their knowledge of study abroad. Jurors have included architects, landscape architects, painters, professors and past Gabriel Prize laureates. The goal is to maintain a variety of viewpoints and experiences among the jurors. Chanyakorn teaches design studio and digital courses. Before joining K-State in 2019, he taught a variety of courses at the School of Architecture at Southern Illinois University Carbondale for six years. Chanyakorn's current focus is on building a circularity between digital and analog methods in design thinking, visual communication and representation to enrich architectural design processes. He also maintains his meditative practice as part of his daily routine via painting and drawing. Chanyakorn earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Khon Kean University in Thailand and a Master of Architecture from the School of Architecture at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. A work by Otto Chanyakorn, assistant professor of architecture at Kansas State University. | Download this photo. Concerns continue to mount over video chat provider Zoom, with New York City's school district, the largest in the country with more than a million students, advising teachers not to use its software. Zoom was also forced to issue yet another apology, this time for routing some calls through China. Why it matters: Zoom has seen a massive increase in adoption amid the coronavirus lockdowns, but it has also repeatedly been forced to apologize for security lapses and other problems. In a blog post, Zoom CEO Eric Yuan said that in a rush to add capacity, the company sent some calls through China, in violation of its usual procedures. Zoom attempts to host most calls on servers in the region in which they operate, but sometimes uses a different region to ease spikes in demand. However, calls from outside China aren't supposed to be handled there. The China issue was first uncovered by Toronto's Citizen Lab. Go deeper: Zoom's tarnished moment of glory Gerald Adams, the urban planning reporter for the San Francisco Examiner for 20 years during creation of the San Francisco downtown plan, including contentious skyline height limits, died April 1 at home in the San Francisco Towers retirement community where he had lived for the past 14 years. The cause of death was complications of Parkinsons disease, said his wife, Anna Adams. He was 92. While covering the planning beat, which included redevelopment, Adams blanketed both the Planning Commission and the Redevelopment Agency when major policy decisions were being made that would impact the nature of the urban core for decades to come. He was there when the city was changing dramatically and at every meeting week after week. He always sat in the front row and offered a front-line perspective on what was happening at City Hall, said Sue Hestor, a neighborhood activist. He was able to explain clearly to the public what was happening, and that was enormous. In addition to beat reporting, Adams wrote features for California Living Magazine, including a special issue called The Neighborhoods of San Francisco, in which Adams meticulously mapped and defined hundreds of neighborhoods within neighborhoods. It had such an impact on a Walnut Creek teenager named John King that he still keeps it at his desk, where he is now Chronicle Urban Design Critic John King. Jerrys dogged coverage of the city in the 80s and 90s is remarkable, King said. He scrutinized the machinations of what gets built and what doesnt, and the values that people saw as being at stake. Gerald David Adams was born Jan. 8, 1928, in San Francisco. His father, Leon, had been a newspaperman with the McClatchy chain in the Central Valley and was assigned to cover Prohibition in the 1920s. He developed an interest in wine, which led him to leave newspapers and become a wine-industry author and advocate. He formed the California Grape Growers League, which evolved into the California Wine Institute and the Wine Advisory Board. When Adams was young, the family moved to San Anselmo, where he grew up and attended Yolansdale Elementary and Sir Francis Drake junior high before graduating from Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley.He majored in journalism at UC Berkeley. After serving in the Army, and spending a few years living and traveling in Europe, Adams came home and began his journalism career at the San Jose Mercury, in the Gilroy bureau. He developed an interest in urban planning during the very early years of expansion, and carried that interest with him when he was hired at the Examiner in the early 1950s. His first posting was in San Rafael, where Adams and his younger brother Brian formed a seven-day-a-week Marin County bureau, splitting up the shifts. Our dad worked seven days a week and he wanted to make sure his sons earned an honest living, Brian Adams said. Eventually, Adams made his way made his way to the downtown headquarters in San Francisco and got an apartment in North Beach. It was there that his interest in urban affairs was allowed to flourish. There were enormous battles played out right in front of Jerry, Hestor said. How were people going to move downtown and how was transportation going to be provided? The lines were being drawn developers versus housing activists and Adams was able to walk the middle, which was valuable, Hestor said. He wrote about what was happening every single week, and translated it into stories that people could understand. 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. In 1969, Adams met Anna Finan, an Irish immigrant who worked in public relations. They met in July at a party and he invited her to go sailing on the small boat he kept in Sausalito. In December, they were married in Old St. Marys Cathedral. They bought a Victorian on Scott Street at Duboce and spent 15 years fixing it up before moving to an apartment at Telegraph Landing on the Embarcadero. Every weekend, they set sail on the Jacqueline, which he kept moored in Sausalito. They lived there until moving to the Towers. Adams made the transition from the Examiner to The Chronicle when Hearst bought it in 2000 and finished his career there, but he still contributed articles after retirement. He was a lovely, albeit tough, reporter, said Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who got to know Adams in the late 1990s when Peskin was involved in trying to save the Colombo Building in Jackson Square from demolition, first for office, then for City College. Nobody was interested in saving this century-old Beaux Arts edifice except for Jerry Adams, and he covered it all the way through to when City College decided not to knock it down. He saw the big picture, and he was able to cast in see it in that light. Survivors include his wife, Anna Adams, of San Francisco, his brother, Brian of Santa Rosa, and half-siblings Tim Adams of Madrid and Susan Adams of New York City. Services are pending. Donations may be made to the Sierra Club Legal Research Fund, the Leon D. Adams Research Scholarship Fund in the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology, or the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association. Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SamWhitingSF JOS, Nigeria, April 6, 2020 (Morning Star News) Weeks after human rights group Christian Solidarity International warned of impending genocide in Nigeria, Muslim Fulani herdsmen since March 1 have killed more than 60 Christians, including at least 13 Christians last week in Plateau state, sources said. Following a rash of attacks by herdsmen and Islamic extremist groups in Nigeria the first three months of the year, Fulani herdsmen on Wednesday (April 1) killed seven Christians in Bassa Countys Hukke village, Miango District at about 7 p.m., area resident Patience Moses said. Those killed in Hukke village are mostly elderly Christians who were unable to escape as members of the community ran into surrounding bushes during the attack, Moses told Morning Star News. Killed were Izinpa Muntu, 72; Madah Imeh, 80; Jummai Geye, 78; Gado Muntu, 67; Mary Alhassan, 70; Gado Nguni, 90; and Rigwe Muntu, 84, according to Moses. She said the assailants burned 24 houses in the village. On the same day and time, Nkiedoro village too was attacked by the herdsmen, she said. The Christian villagers escaped unhurt, but 15 houses were burned by the herdsmen. The herdsmen also attacked Ancha village on Wednesday (April 1), killing three Christians, and on Tuesday night (March 31) attacked Rosu village in the same area, where another three Christians lost their lives, Moses said. All those slain in the villages were members of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) or Baptist churches, she said. Herdsmen also wounded three others in Rosu village and destroyed 11 houses, Moses said. Christian community leader Sunday Abdu confirmed the killing of the three Christians in Ancha village. Abdu, president of the Irigwe Development Association, said in a press statement from Jos that Fulani herdsmen killed them. While our people have continued to remain indoors and law-abiding in the wake of the national outcry over the coronavirus, the assailant Fulani herdsmen have continued each day within the last two weeks to visit us with mayhem, Abdu said. On Wednesday, April 1, in Ancha, one of our troubled communities was visited once more in an attack that left three people dead and various houses razed. On Thursday, April 2, we woke up to bury seven people burnt to death in Hukke from an overnight attack. Ancha had been attacked by Muslim Fulani herdsmen on Sept. 7, 2017, when 27 Christians were killed, he said. Christian community leaders say more than 500 Christians have been killed in the area in the past five years. Istifanus Gyang, a member of Nigerias parliament, the National Assembly, expressed sadness over last weeks attacks. It is sad and disturbing that while all nations, Nigeria inclusive, are battling to overcome the plague of coronavirus, killer herdsmen are still in the habit of attacking helpless communities of Plateau North Senatorial District, Gyang, deputy chairman of the Senate Committee on Defense, said in a statement. At a time when the entire human race is sober and seeking God in prayers against COVID-19, killer herdsmen are showing no sense of fear of God nor value for human life. Genocide The killings follow March attacks in which herdsmen killed 50 Christians in Plateau, Benu and Kaduna states, the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law reported in a statement from Onitsha, Anambra state. In a statement issued from Zurich, Switzerland on Jan. 30, Christian Solidarity International (CSI) issued a genocide warning for Nigeria as it called on the Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council to take action. CSI issued the call in response to a rising tide of violence directed against Nigerian Christians and others classified as infidels by Islamist militants in the countrys north and middle belt regions. The conditions for genocide exist in Nigeria, with Christians, non-violent Muslims, and adherents of tribal religions being particularly vulnerable, John Eibner, chairman of CSIs International Management, said in a statement. The increasingly violent attacks and the failure of the Nigerian government to prevent them and punish the perpetrators are alarming. CSI therefore calls on the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council to take swift action to uphold this commitment to genocide prevention in Nigeria. At least 1,000 Christians in Nigeria are reported to have been killed by Islamist militias over the past year, with 6,000 murdered since 2015, according to the most conservative estimates from Nigerian Christian sources, Eibner said. Additionally, he said, the International Criminal Courts (ICC) Office of the Prosecutor reported at the end of 2019 that there is reasonable basis to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity have taken place in Nigeria. The ICC report stated that not only Boko Haram and its Islamist offshoots are under investigation, but also the Nigerian Security Forces (NSF), Eibner said. According to the ICC, the investigation of NSF includes acts of violence against persons associated with the Shiite Islamic Movement of Nigeria and the predominantly-Christian Indigenous People of Biafra. CSI last year launched its Nigeria Report website with news and a discussion platform about ways to end the sectarian conflicts and tribal rivalries in Nigeria. Nigeria ranked 12th on Open Doors 2020 World Watch List of countries where Christians suffer the most persecution but second in the number of Christians killed for their faith, behind Pakistan. If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved. If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/? Article originally published by Morning Star News. Used with permission. Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Kylie Ellway European leaders battling a deadly coronavirus outbreak are facing the biggest test to their union, Germanys leader said Monday, as the United States braced for what authorities warned would be its hardest week in living memory. As France bluntly warned that it faces the deepest recession since World War II, Germanys Chancellor Angela Merkel called for European nations to work together to rebuild from the deadly pandemic gripping the continent. Japan announced an imminent state of emergency and a trillion-dollar stimulus package, while the United States prepared to cross the 10,000 death mark and its top doctor compared the likely impact of the outbreak in the week ahead to 9/11 or Pearl Harbor. More than 70,000 people have now died worldwide, some 50,000 of them in Europe. The daily toll has begun to drop in hard-hit Spain and France, but is still accelerating in America.- Merkel called for strength in the face of the grinding crisis. In my view the European Union stands before the biggest test since its founding, Merkel warned, a day ahead of a key eurozone finance ministers conference to agree an economic rescue plan for the bloc. Everyone is just as affected as the other, and therefore, it is in everyones interest, and it is in Germanys interest for Europe to emerge strong from this test, she said, following criticism from harder-hit partners. Italy, France and Spain have implored Germany, Austria and the Netherlands for common debt facilities to cushion the economic impact of the virus. But leaders from the richer northern nations have resisted the calls with Germany and the Netherlands in the lead fearing their taxpayers will be left to foot the bill. In terms of Europes frontline health response, some countries already ravaged by COVID-19 outbreaks reported lower numbers of new infections and deaths, offering a glimmer of hope the worst may have passed. Norway said Monday the epidemic was under control and Austria began thinking about easing its lockdown. But the death toll topped 5,000 in Britain after more than 400 new fatalities were reported Monday. In London, Prime Minister Boris Johnson remained in hospital but said he was in good spirits after he was admitted Sunday for tests for persistent coronavirus symptoms. Officials said the leader, who was diagnosed with the virus 10 days ago, remained in day-to-day control of the British government. Critical situation The pandemic has reached almost every corner of the planet, confining nearly half of humanity to their homes and turning life upside down for more than four billion people, according to an AFP tally of populations under some form of lockdown. The worldwide number of fatalities from the novel coronavirus rose to more than 70,000 on Monday and more than 1.2 million declared cases have now been registered around the world since the outbreak first emerged in China in December. About three quarters of all deaths have been recorded in Europe, and the US now has the most declared cases of any country along with a steadily rising death toll. This is going to be the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans lives, quite frankly, US Surgeon General Jerome Adams told Fox News. This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment, only its not going to be localised. In Tokyo, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said hospitals in Japan face a critical situation and that an emergency could be declared as early as Tuesday. Were currently seeing rapid increases of new infections particularly in urban areas like Tokyo and Osaka, he said. But there was hope in parts of Europe after France recorded its fewest dead in a week and Spain said deaths were down for a fourth straight day Monday though it still logged 637 new fatalities. Italy reported a jump in new fatalities Monday with 636 deaths, after a weekend that saw its lowest toll in two weeks. Meanwhile, Australian tour company Aurora Expeditions and Uruguay officials warned that more than 80 passengers and crew aboard an Australian cruise ship off South America have tested positive for the coronavirus. Uruguays public health ministry said six passengers with life-threatening illness had been taken off the Greg Mortimer for treatment in Montevideo. The rest of the more than 200 passengers and crew remain stranded on the vessel anchored some 15 miles (25 kilometres) off the coast. In India, the worlds second most populous country, a major private hospital in economic hub Mumbai was shut down after 26 nurses and three doctors tested positive, amid complaints from staff that they had been told to work without adequate safety gear. Mumbai city authority spokesman Vijay Khabale-Patil told AFP that the Wockhardt Hospital has been declared a containment zone. Three hundred staffers have been quarantined and the hospital is shut, he said. India has so far recorded 4,000 coronavirus cases among a population of 1.3 billion, but experts warn true the real number is likely to be far higher, with the country carrying out little testing. SOURCE: AFP Nearly 50 years ago, Lewis Powell, a big-firm lawyer in Richmond, had a dream: What if American business took over the then-liberal Supreme Court and turned it into a defender of capitalism and large corporations? Powell set out his ideas in the summer of 1971 in a confidential memorandum for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, with a bombastic title: Attack on American Free Enterprise System. Within months, President Richard Nixon appointed Powell to the court, and he helped bring about the pro-corporate transformation he had called for in his memo. Adam Cohen @adamscohen, a former member of the editorial board of the New York Times, is the author of "Supreme Inequality: The Supreme Court's Fifty-Year Battle for a More Unjust America." Powell could hardly have predicted just how much success his vision would have over the next half-century, in almost every area of the law. The Supreme Court would repeatedly rule in favor of corporations and the rich, and against the middle class and the poor undermining unions, paving the way for lower taxes and generally playing an underappreciated role in reshaping the economy in ways that hurt working people. Democratic presidential candidates and the media generally attribute growing inequality to policies adopted by Congress and presidents, and to larger forces like automation, but the Supreme Court deserves a sizable share of the blame. By the numbers, the transition in the courts position on business-related issues has been dramatic. One study, from 2009, found that businesses won 28 percent of their cases before the court led by Chief Justice Earl Warren (over the period 1953 to 1969) but 64 percent under the current court, led by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. Another found that Justice Samuel Alito and Roberts are the No. 1 and No. 2 most pro-business justices, respectively, to serve since 1946. The courts past half-century of favoring the rich and powerful coincides almost exactly with the period when the richest Americans have left the rest of the nation behind. The World Inequality Report 2018, produced by Thomas Piketty and other economists the most recent available identified two chief drivers of economic inequality in the United States: unequal educational opportunity and an increasingly regressive tax system. The modern court has contributed greatly to both. The courts role as a force for inequality started a few years before the Powell memo in 1969, when Nixon became president. Nixon shared the business communitys skepticism toward the Warren court, and he campaigned on a promise to change it. That court had spent the past 15 years promoting civil rights, starting with Brown v. Board of Education, and expanding the rights of poor Americans, with rulings like Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections, a 1966 decision striking down poll taxes. In Nixons first three years in office, he appointed four justices, one of the fastest rates of turnover in history. The new members Warren Burger (the new chief justice), Harry Blackmun, William Rehnquist and Powell were more sympathetic to big business than their predecessors. The ways in which the court drove inequality were wide-ranging. In 1976, in Buckley v. Valeo, it held for the first time that money is First Amendment-protected speech and struck down limits on spending in political campaigns. That began the dismantling of campaign finance laws, clearing the way for wealthy Americans, and then corporations, to use unlimited amounts of money to influence elections. In labor law, the court turned against unions a trend that reached its nadir in 2018 with Janus v. AFSCME, which held that government unions cannot require nonmembers to pay fees for being represented in collective bargaining. Most important, however, were the courts decisions concerning education and desegregation. In the early 1970s, a consensus was quickly forming among law professors and lower courts that the Constitutions equal protection clause required equitable funding across rich and poor school districts in a state. When parents and students from a poor, heavily Mexican American district challenged Texass school finance system, a federal district court ordered the state to equalize funding. Justices of the United States Supreme Court sit for their official group photo at the Supreme Court on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018, in Washington, D.C. The modern court has become decidedly business-friendly. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) In 1973, however, in San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez, the court, by a 5-to-4 vote, reversed that ruling, upholding the right of states to oversee school systems in which spending was tied to property values meaning poorer districts typically had less money than wealthier ones. Some of the harshest critics of this decision have compared the courts willingness to accept government-imposed inequality in schools to Plessy v. Ferguson, in which the court upheld segregated railroad cars, confirming the doctrine of separate but equal. Then, the following year, the court ruled that states could provide children with a de facto segregated education. This time, students in Detroit, represented by the NAACP, challenged a system in which blacks were concentrated in urban schools, surrounded by heavily white suburbs. A federal district court ruled that Michigan had to bus children between Detroit and its suburbs to create integrated schools for all. But in 1974s Milliken v. Bradley, the court overturned that ruling, again by a 5-to-4 vote, and held that if a states schools were segregated because whites and blacks lived in different districts, courts were powerless to act. The class lines in the suit were not straightforward much of the opposition to busing came from working-class whites but the effect was to lock many poor blacks in segregated, failing urban schools. Rodriguez and Milliken entrenched inequality deeply in American education. The quality of the education that children receive today depends to a great extent on how much money their district has, and the gaps in funding among districts in a single state can be enormous. At the end of the Obama administration, the U.S. Department of Education concluded that 6.6 million students in the highest poverty districts in 23 states were being fundamentally shortchanged by funding inequities. Those districts, the department found, spent 15.6 percent less than the lowest poverty districts making an enormous difference in the quality of teachers, equipment, textbooks and other educational inputs a school can afford. Researchers have documented a link between low spending levels and racial segregation and inequality. One study found that for students from low-income families, a 10 percent increase in per-pupil spending for all 12 school years was associated with earning nearly 10 percent higher wages in adulthood and a lower incidence of adult poverty. As for the nations nonprogressive tax system, a significant portion of blame lies with the courts unraveling of campaign finance laws starting in the 1970s: These decisions rely on the dubious claim that money is speech and therefore deserves constitutional protection. The courts rulings gave more political power than ever to the rich, who used that influence to drive down their own tax rates. Higher taxes on rich people are popular in one recent poll, 76 percent of registered voters wanted them to pay more. But wealthy campaign contributors have been blunt about conditioning future donations on lower tax rates. When the 2017 Trump tax bill was pending, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) warned colleagues that if Republicans did not get it passed, the financial contributions will stop and incumbents would lose their jobs. When lawmakers voted, more of them listened to their contributors than to their constituents. A dramatic example of the contemporary courts attitude toward the poor came in 2012, when it narrowly upheld most of the Affordable Care Act. That part of the opinion marked a victory for people who could not afford health insurance. Yet in the same ruling, the court limited the laws Medicaid expansion, on unconvincing constitutional grounds that it involved coercion of states by the federal government. That decision effectively took Medicaid away from millions of the poorest Americans (given that 14 states still have declined to expand the program). One study estimated that more than 15,000 deaths could have been avoided over four years if all states had expanded Medicaid. If President Trump is reelected and replaces even one liberal justice, a larger conservative majority could go much further. The court could strike down Obamacare it agreed last month to hear a case challenging it and continue the deconstruction of the social safety net that poor and middle-class Americans rely on (for example, by holding that Congress lacks the constitutional authority to pass sweeping laws like the federal minimum wage). In his 1971 memorandum, Powell warned that business interests were under broad attack and urged them to be more aggressive. Today, however, most Americans believe that its ordinary people who need protection against big corporations and plutocrats. The public may not fully grasp the role the court has played in exacerbating inequality. But Democratic presidential candidates may find a receptive audience if they explain that connection and promise voters a court that puts ordinary Americans ahead of the 1 percent. CORRECTION: This article originally provided an incorrect date for the Supreme Courts Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections decision, which struck down poll taxes. It occurred in 1966. Supreme Court wont hear Catholic Churchs challenge to DC Metros ban on religious ads Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Supreme Court denied hearing a petition from the Catholic Church on Monday challenging the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area Transit Authoritys policy banning religious advertising as a violation of the First Amendment. The case was set in motion after WMATA refused to run a Christmas ad from the church in 2017. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit previously upheld the ban on religious messages on buses and trains and in stations as lawful and free from discrimination, The Washington Post reported. While Justice Neil M. Gorsuch and Justice Clarence Thomas agree that the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit was wrong, the Supreme Court chose not to review the case because Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was involved with the lower courts ruling, had to recuse himself from the case. Because the full Court is unable to hear this case, it makes a poor candidate for our review, Gorsuch wrote. In his dissent, Gorsuch argued that WMATAs policy is a clear case of viewpoint discrimination. At Christmastime a few years ago, the Catholic Church sought to place advertisements on the side of local buses in Washington, D. C. The proposed image was a simple one a silhouette of three shepherds and sheep, along with the words Find the Perfect Gift and a church website address. No one disputes that, if Macys had sought to place the same advertisement with its own website address, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) would have accepted the business gladly, he noted. Indeed, WMATA admits that it views Christmas as having a secular half and a religious half, and it has shown no hesitation in taking secular Christmas advertisements Still, when it came to the churchs proposal, WMATA balked. That is viewpoint discrimination by a governmental entity and a violation of the First Amendment. In fact, this Court has already rejected no-religious-speech policies materially identical to WMATAs on no fewer than three occasions over the last three decades, he explained. The Constitution requires the government to respect religious speech, not to maximize advertising revenues. So if WMATA finds messages like the one here intolerable, it may close its buses to all advertisements. More modestly, it might restrict advertisement space to subjects where religious viewpoints are less likely to arise without running afoul of our free speech precedents, he argued. The one thing it cannot do is what it did here permit a subject sure to inspire religious views, one that even WMATA admits is half religious in nature, and then suppress those views. The First Amendment requires governments to protect religious viewpoints, not single them out for silencing. A 44-year-old woman who has a foreign travel history tested positive for coronavirus in Agartala on Monday, making it the first case in Tripura, officials said. The woman, who is from Udaipur town in Gomati district, about 60 km from here, is currently undergoing treatment at the Agartala Government Medical College and GB Pant Hospital, they said. The woman was admitted to a private hospital a few days back with cough, fever and breathing difficulty, officials said, adding that later she was shifted to the government facility. She has a foreign travel history, they said without divulging further details. Her swab sample was collected around 11 am and the test report came in as positive, officials said. Chief Minister Biplab Deb urged people not to panic and said the government is taking proper care of the patient. Eight persons from Tripura, who attended a religious congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin, have tested positive, but they did not return to the state as they were quarantined in different parts of north India, officials said. A group of people from Tripura left for Nizamuddin on March 18 and on March 21 they attended the congregation. They then visited different places. Among them, eight persons were found to be positive for COVID-19, nodal officer on COVID-19 Deep Debbarma told reporters. Two of them are undergoing treatment in Delhi, four in Uttar Pradesh and two in Bikaner, he added. While one of the persons is from Sepahijala district, four are from South Tripura district, two from West Tripura district and the other person is from Gomati district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Research led by scientists at the University of Southampton has found settlers arrived in East Polynesia around 200 years earlier than previously thought. Colonisation of the vast eastern Pacific with its few and far-flung island archipelagos was a remarkable achievement in human history. Yet the timing, character, and drivers of this accomplishment remain poorly understood. However, this new study has found a major change in the climate of the region, which resulted in a dry period, coinciding with the arrival of people on the tiny island of Atiu, in the southern group of the Cook Islands, around 900AD. Findings are published in the paper, 'Human settlement of East Polynesia earlier, incremental and coincident with prolonged South Pacific drought' in the journal PNAS. "The ancestors of the Polynesians, the Lapita people, migrated east into the Pacific Ocean as far as Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, reaching them around 2800 years ago. But for almost 1500 years humans failed to migrate any further into the pacific," explains lead researcher, Professor David Sear of the University of Southampton. "Our research gives us a much more accurate timescale of when people first arrived in the region and helps answer some key questions about why they made their hazardous journey east." A team of geographers, archaeologists and geochemists from the UK, New Zealand and the US, worked with the people of Atiu, to collect core samples of lake mud, charting over 6000 years of history. Back in the labs in UK and US, the mud samples were subjected to a range of analyses including new techniques for reconstructing precipitation, and detecting the presence of mammalian faeces. Apart from fruit bats, the Southern Cook Islands never had mammal populations before humans settled there, so when the researchers found evidence of mammal faeces alongside other evidence for landscape disturbance and burning, it was a clear sign of the arrival of people. Within 100 years the first settlers, most likely from Tonga or Samoa, changed the landscape by burning native forest to make way for crops. The team, including undergraduate and postgraduate students from the universities of Southampton and Washington, as well as scientists from Newcastle, Liverpool and Auckland universities, also examined lake sediments from Samoa and Vanuata. Using this data, they found evidence for a major climate change which coincided with the newly established arrival time of the settlers. The data revealed a major change in the climate of the South Pacific region with the main rainbands that bring water to the archipelagos of Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji migrating north. The result was the driest period in the last 2000 years. This led the researchers to conclude that, alongside growing populations, water stress drove decisions to make dangerous voyages, aided by changes in winds that enabled easterly sailing. Soon after the arrival of people to Atiu, the climate changed again. Rain returned to the eastern Pacific - supporting a rapid (c. 200 years) settlement of the remaining islands of Polynesia. Professor Sear adds: "Today, changing climate is again putting pressures on Pacific island communities, only this time the option to migrate is not so simple. Within two centuries of first arrival those first settlers changed the landscape and the ecology, but were able to make a home. Pacific islanders now live with modified ecologies, permanent national boundaries and islands already occupied by people. The ability to migrate in response to changing climate is no longer the option it once was." ### This research was supported by grants from the NERC, Explorers Club and Royal Geographical Society. The team wishes to acknowledge the support of the peoples of the Cook Islands, Samoa and Vanuatu. Notes to Editors 1) For interviews with Professor David Sear, please contact Peter Franklin, Media Relations, University of Southampton. Tel 07748 321087 Email p.franklin@southampton.ac.uk 2) For more about Geography and Environmental Science at the University of Southampton visit: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/geography/index.page 3) The University of Southampton drives original thinking, turns knowledge into action and impact, and creates solutions to the world's challenges. We are among the top 100 institutions globally (QS World University Rankings 2019). Our academics are leaders in their fields, forging links with high-profile international businesses and organisations, and inspiring a 22,000-strong community of exceptional students, from over 135 countries worldwide. Through our high-quality education, the University helps students on a journey of discovery to realise their potential and join our global network of over 200,000 alumni. https://www.southampton.ac.uk 4) https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en.html https://www.washington.edu/ https://www.ncl.ac.uk/ https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/ https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/suerc/nercfacilities/lifesciencemassspectrometryfacility / 5) https://nerc.ukri.org/ https://www.explorers.org/ https://www.rgs.org/ Srinagar, April 6 : A local police constable was injured in accidental firing on Monday in high security Gupkar Road area of Srinagar city. Police said a police constable of the Special Security Group (SSG) was injured when his service rifle went off in the SSG lines in Gupkar Road area on Monday. Police said he was shifted to hospital where attending doctors have described his condition as stable. The SSG is a special security group carved out of the local police for providing security to VVIPs in Jammu and Kashmir. Except for former Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah who is protected by the NSG, the lieutenant Governor and former Chief Ministers are protected by the SSG deployed on inner circle security duties. The Committee for Public Education (CFPE) held a successful public meeting yesterday on The COVID-19 pandemic: The political issues confronting educators. More than 70 people attended, including primary and high school teachers, education support staff, academics, and undergraduate and postgraduate university students. People linked in to the online event from across Australia, both regional and metropolitan centres, including in Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales. Importantly, educators from several other countries participated, including New Zealand, South Korea, and the United States. The Socialist Equality Partys (US) candidate for vice president, Norissa Santa Cruz, brought greetings to the meeting. Sue Phillips Sue Phillips, the national convenor of the CFPE and a member of the Socialist Equality Partys National Committee, delivered the opening report. Within just a few weeks of the pandemic, governments and politicians internationally have been exposed as politically, economically, socially and morally bankrupt, she told the meeting. They have been unable to put in place a coordinated plan or provide the necessary resources and measures to deal with the situation. Phillips contrasted the situation in the schools and universities internationallyUNESCO figures indicate country-wide closures in 188 countries, affecting 1.5 billion studentswith Australia, where Prime Minister Scott Morrison has sought to keep them open. The governments response has been dominated by lies and misinformation about safety, mixed messages, incompetence and above all else indifference to the health and wellbeing of educators, students and children, she said. Its statements are driven by economic considerations, not health. Governments are risking the lives of thousands in order to protect the ability of corporations to continue to make profit. The opening report detailed the chaotic conditions within the schools, which have been semi-closed on a state-by-state basis. Teachers are being pressured into working extra hours to prepare and deliver online learning activities. Phillips also reviewed the complicity of the teacher unions, which have done nothing to defend the safety of educators and students, but instead are working closely with the government. A slide from the meeting detailing growing struggles of teachers worldwide Phillips reviewed the socialist perspective advanced by the CFPE in its March 18 statement, Close Australian schools to stave off coronavirus! Form action committees of teachers and school staff! The guiding principle must be that the shutdown of the education system to minimise the spread of the coronavirus is not an individual or a family-based responsibility, but a social responsibility, she said. We insist on life over profit. We encourage all educators and school workers to sign up as members of the CFPE to develop this discussion and begin immediately forming Action Committees. The report was followed by a lively discussion period. Educators in New Zealand, South Korea, and the US reported on the situation in their areas. Several teachers in Australia made suggestions on what teachers could do amid the pandemic, report on the situation in their schools, and ask questions. There was an important discussion in response to questions about the viability of forming Action Committees, independent of the trade unions, and the danger of education department and school disciplinary measures against teachers. Other teachers chose to use the online chat feature to contribute to the meeting. Several reported on the unsafe conditions that educators were being exposed to as the federal government insisted that schools operate as usual. A slide from the meeting In my area, council closed all outside playgrounds as they believe it is not safe, but the school must be opened, a Sydney primary school teacher wrote. A student teacher also from Sydney added: The AP [assistant principal] at the local primary school has told [staff] they are not allowed to wear masks because it instilled fear. Another wrote: My experience of the final week was a classroom which was business as usual, no social distancing! Teachers unable to supervise student hand washing on an individual basis. Students using communal drinking fountains one after the other. Its impossible to organise, especially as teachers were flat chat trying to provide home learning booklets and learn about setting up remote learning classrooms. Teachers at my school are still working daily through the holidays... John Braddock, of the Socialist Equality Group in New Zealand, spoke about the coronavirus cluster in Aucklands Marist College. There are 72 confirmed cases, highlighting the health risks in leaving schools open. In her greetings, Norissa Santa Cruz, the SEP (US) vice presidential candidate in this years election, endorsed the perspective advanced by the CFPE: We recognise in this fight the determination of the working class to take matters into their own hands, she said. We recognise that the move by teachers Australia is an important struggle in what is a global fight. Norissa Santa Cruz Santa Cruz detailed the enormous medical, social, and economic crisis wracking the United States, as well as the emerging struggles of the working class to defend its interests amid the pandemic. The main question at hand for the working class in the US, Australia and around the entire globe is, in whose interests will society and its vast resources be run and directed? she concluded. Who will run society? Will it be the discredited and parasitic financial elite or the international working class? Sue Phillips concluded the online meeting by urging educators to join the fight for the formation of Action Committees in their schools, institutions, and communities. Teachers need to strike out independently outside the unions and establish their own committees, she said. This arises now out of the necessity to protect the lives of teachers, students and educators. We urge people here to join the CFPE. This meeting is not a one-off, we will organise more. We encourage educators to sign up for our newsletter, read the World Socialist Web Site. Become active in this situationpeople can no longer sit back and hope that the unions or some other organisation is going to do something to protect our lives. It is up to us to do this ourselves. Teachers and education workers can contact the CFPE via email or via our Facebook page. The CFPE Twitter account is @CFPE_Australia. The authors recommend: South Australian teacher speaks out against governments keeping schools open [3 April 2020] Obviously there has to be a revolt US teachers speak out on the coronavirus epidemic [28 March 2020] Australian school system in chaos after coronavirus semi-closures [27 March 2020] Close Australian schools to stave off coronavirus! Form action committees of teachers and school staff! [18 March 2020] Sweetwater teachers and students protest impending mass firing of teachers [11 March 2020] A father of two has told of how he was verbally abused by a group of drunken youths and accused of historic sex abuse during a harrowing train journey from Longford to Dublin. Patrick Doyle called for government and Irish Rail bosses to introduce a dedicated policing unit for public transport to curb anti social behaviour issues in the wake of his ordeal on Sunday March 8. Mr Doyle and his daughter boarded the Sligo to Dublin train shortly after 2pm and sat down at a table seat. Within moments, however, the Dubliner was disturbed by a number of passengers creating noise. We got on the carriage that's part of the engine itself, right behind the driver's cab, he said. It was fairly packed but we managed to get a seat with a table. The seats behind us were single seats, two by two and there was a gang of lads right behind us who I would say were rather loud and had quite a lot of drink with them. They were cursing a good bit, f-ing and blinding. My daughter said for me not to do anything but I just said 'I'm not putting up with this any longer' so I went over to them and said: 'Lads, would you do us a favour and turn down the volume and mind the language because there are ladies present'. Mr Doyle said it was an intervention which, in hindsight, caused greater distress than what he had originally anticipated. They said 'Yeah, yeah, no bother' (to keep the noise down), he said. And the volume did go down for a while but it came back up again a bit later. Two lads then came up from the carriage behind us and spoke to the crowd behind us and just before we got to Dublin one of them as they went to walk back down the train pointed and said: 'See him, he sexually abused me all my life from the time I was a child.' I couldn't do anything at that stage but when we arrived at Dublin as the crowd got off, one of the lads (cleaners) came onto the carriage to clear the carriage and there must have been 25 to 30 bottles of empty beer on the ground. Mr Doyle said had security personnel been present the controversy would not have deteriorated to such an extent, something he said was now very much needed on Irish trains. If there was a garda or policeman present I would have had your man hauled in or made give a public apology but unfortunately CIE seem to have prioritised their security for the DART because sometimes there isn't even a collector or supervisor on the Sligo train, he said. Maybe I am a croaky old fella but I won't put up with that crap. Read also: Longford councillor defends actions in confronting youths following late night house party in face of Covid-19 crisis Phuket Governor orders shut down for Karon, Rawai PHUKET: Karon and Rawai have been shut down by order of the Phuket Governor, with all non-essential vehicles being banned entry or exit from the main tourist and expat residential areas in the south of the island. COVID-19Coronavirushealth By Eakkapop Thongtub Monday 6 April 2020, 10:37AM Russian tourists staying at a condo project in Rawai have been ordered to isolate themselves for 14 days. Photo: Rawai Municipality Russian tourists staying at a condo project in Rawai have been ordered to isolate themselves for 14 days. Photo: Rawai Municipality Russian tourists staying at a condo project in Rawai have been ordered to isolate themselves for 14 days. Photo: Rawai Municipality Russian tourists staying at a condo project in Rawai have been ordered to isolate themselves for 14 days. Photo: Rawai Municipality Russian tourists staying at a condo project in Rawai have been ordered to isolate themselves for 14 days. Photo: Rawai Municipality The two orders by Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana to shut down the areas to try to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus were dated as issued yesterday (Apr 5), but were posted publicly in the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department official Facebook page after 10pm last night. Both orders were worded to come into effect on Apr 6, less than two hours after the public was notified. All non-essential vehicles are now banned from entering or leaving the two subdistricts, including all public transport buses, said the orders. People are asked to say in their homes, and public health teams will be deployed to check the areas for the virus. Any persons in the areas who start to experience any symptoms of infection are to report to officials immediately. Rawai Municipality and Karon Municipality have been ordered to ensure important public areas are santised in their respective areas. Checkpoints into Karon have been set up at the Three Bays Viewpoint (officially called the Karon View Point), at the entrance to Freedom Beach and on Kata Hill. A checkpoint has been set up in front of the Tesco store near the Rawai beachfront, and Rawai officers will also be stationed at the Karon View Point, which is located on the border of Karon and Rawai subdistricts, said the order for Rawai. However, the order made no mention of a checkpoint at Chalong Circle, one of the main traffic entry opints to Rawai and which sits right on the northern border of the Rawai municipal area. The Rawai shutdown follows Rawai health officials discovering Russian tourists staying at a condo project in the area who they believe had been staying in Patong. "Health officials confirmed that some of them came from Patong. Some of them claimed they came from Kathu, but we do not believe them, Mayor Aroon told The Phuket News this morning (Apr 6). Most of them Russian tourists, not expats, he added. None of them were showing any signs of infection, but we asked them to isolate themselves for 14 days. Officials will follow up and keep a close eye on them, Mayor Aroon said. Both orders issued by Governor Phakaphong noted, [We] ask people in the area not to leave their homes or place of residence to protect themselves from infection and [because] they may be a carrier and spread the CONVID-19 virus to other people However, they also pointed out that breach of the order would violate Section 52 of the Communicable Disease Act 2015, which may incur a penalty of up to one year in prison or a fine of up to B100,000, or both. Both orders are in effect until further notice. Additional reporting by Tanyaluk Sakoot Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Most of us have unanswered questions about our faith. Unfortunately, we also have unquestioned answers, beliefs weve come to hold without really thinking them through. Cliches such as Just have faith or Its not my place to judge can keep our faith at a shallow level when God calls us to go deep. The Apostle Paul said, We have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16, ESV). To think like Jesus, we must move beyond flippant answers and showcase the thoughtfulness of the gospel in a culture hungry for meaning. Christians Dont Need Slogans to Share the Good News While speaking at a conference I once found my book table located next to a company selling T-shirts with clever yet silly Christian slogans. One had a Budweiser beer logo but proclaimed Be wiser. Another imitated a fishing club logo and featured the phrase Fishers of Men Catch and Release Club. Such t-shirts are like bumper stickers for your body. Theyre attention-grabbing but offer little useful insight. Im betting that for every person who says, Thats cool! there are ten who roll their eyes. Around the time of my encounter with the t-shirt company, I attended a summit for youth pastors headlined by a well-known Christian speaker. As he offered one boiled-down slogan after another, the audience would ooh and ahh and scramble for paper on which to record his insights. It was as if his being succinct somehow made him more profound. Though this speaker wasnt saying anything doctrinally wrong, my conversations with attendees left me with the impression that they were allowing him to do their thinking for them. These two experiences served as a one-two punch to my confidence in Christian thoughtfulness. I began to wonder whether the church was really helping people have the mind of Christ, or just to accept the cliches offered up by Christian leaders. Were Becoming Anti-Bereans Todays church risks becoming the anti-Bereans, the opposite of the actual Bereans Paul commends for their eagerness to search the Scriptures and double-check the apostles teaching (Acts 17:11). By the time they got to Berea, Paul and Silas had become pretty good at communicating the gospel. But the Bereans didnt just take their word for it. And the Apostles admired them for their thoughtfulness. As a speaker, I appreciate a clever turn of phrase. But if Im honest, I like tweetable insights mainly because they make people think Im smart. Its all about me. In my book Unquestioned Answers, I describe how Ive come to realize that I need to be rescued from this me-ness. Jesus needs to be at the center, not me. Three Practical Things Im Doing This Year to Have the Mind of Christ This year, Im relearning the art of soaking in Scripture long enough to wash the me-ness off. Yes, I want to be an effective communicator, because I want to stimulate an insatiable appetite for the Word of God. Heres what Im trying to do differently: First, Im spending a lot of time thinking through how to approach Scripture without putting myself at the center. Instead, Im trying to focus on the context of the passage, asking questions about who it was written to and for what purpose. Second, Ive asked godly mentors to help me rightly divide the Word of truth (see 2 Tim 2:15, NKJV). What the text means to me should take a back seat to what God reveals about himself and His story of the world. Finally, as much as I love a clever exchange, I am abandoning the idea that an idea is truer if it is catchier. Bumper-sticker theology is not biblical theology. Now is the time to abandon the unquestioned answers that keep us in the shallows when God calls us to go deep. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Retno Listyarti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 6, 2020 17:09 644 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd01018b 3 Opinion #coronavirus,#COVID19,coronavirus,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,COVID-19-Indonesian-patients,COVID-19-children,COVID-19-children-deaths Free The COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia is escalating day by day and spreading indiscriminately, reaching almost the entire country. Even among confirmed patients, a lot is still unknown regarding precisely where and how they were infected. As of April 3, confirmed cases in Indonesia had reached almost 2,000 and 181 people had died, including medical professionals and other health workers. Thousands have returned to their hometowns and villages, many having lost their income and workplaces have been temporarily closed. The mass homecoming exodus (mudik) from the capital has intensified virus transmissions to more regions in the country, as Jakarta is the epicenter. These travelers have strong potential to be COVID-19 carriers and they could endanger their families and local communities, especially the elderly and children. Millions of more travelers are expected ahead of post-Ramadan celebrations, which fall in May this year. The absence of clear and decisive policies from the government has largely contributed to the massive numbers of coronavirus cases, mainly in diverse areas in Java, which makes the pandemic even harder to control. Nationwide policies were only announced last week. A few minors have already died of COVID-19 even though the infection rate among children worldwide has been relatively low. In Indonesia, one fatality was an 11-yearold patient who died on March 20 in her hometown in Madura, East Java. She reportedly also had dengue fever but tested positive for the coronavirus only after her death. On March 31, a 14-year-old patient in Kubu Raya, West Kalimantan, also died with COVID-19 as the suspected cause. Almost all recommendations from the World Health Organization and the government regarding the pandemic have not yet covered detailed explanations related to children. Treatment for children differs greatly than that for adults. Human rights issues related to health for children is also distinct. Many parties have pushed the government to be more transparent in delivering COVID-19 data including regarding patients ages. This data is required to investigate the source of virus transmission among children and to prevent the more expansive spread among minors. For children, the same standard must be applied in differentiating individuals being monitored (ODP) from patients under treatment (PDP) to identify children suspected of having COVID-19. Children in weak condition are likely to have had prior health issues, as was the case with the aforementioned girl from Madura. Exclusive referral hospitals, or at least exclusive isolation wards, are needed for children. Involving the Indonesian Pediatric Society (IDAI) is vital in the treatment of minors in COVID-19 cases. Moreover, all referral hospitals should have pediatric pulmonologists. This is particularly true for children under 5, as they would be isolated with their parents, who could also become infected along with the whole household when they are isolated at home given the high risk of contagion from COVID-19. As we now have confirmation of infected children, all aspects need to be questioned. Are there referral hospitals exclusively for COVID-19 pediatric patients? Are there isolation wards for minors with COVID-19? Are pediatric pulmonologists available at the existing referral hospitals? The deaths of the children, even though seemingly very few so far, are not mere numbers in the nations death toll. They are our wake-up call. The government must be transparent by opening the data on the age of CO VID-19 patients under treatment in Indonesia. As child victims have fallen, its time to thoroughly review the countrys handling of the pandemic. *** Member of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. "Post Reports" is the daily podcast from The Washington Post. Unparalleled reporting. Expert insight. Clear analysis. Everything you've come to expect from the newsroom of The Post - for your ears. - - - In this episode: Aaron Gregg discusses how small businesses can get loans under the new stimulus law. Nicole Dungca reports that the federal government lagged for months in helping local officials respond to the coronavirus pandemic. Karin Bruilliard explains that the plight of tigers around the United States goes beyond what's in the Netflix documentary "Tiger King." President Nana Akufo-Addo has disclosed a total sum of GHC 8.75 million has been deposited into the COVID-19 National Trust Fund. The Government of Ghana set up a Covid-19 Trust Fund to assist the needy and underprivileged communities during these dire times of the Coronavirus pandemic. President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo updating Ghanaians from the Jubilee House Friday night, March 27, 2020 on measures taken by the government together with health experts to curtail the outbreak of the virus, noted that the Fund will be used to cushion the public as the nation fights against COVID-19. The President donated his three months salary into the Fund. He authorized an independent Board of Trustees chaired by former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo to take charge of the fund. In the Presidents fifth Nation Address on the pandemic on Sunday, April 5, 2020, he expressed gratitude to benevolent individuals and institutions for supporting his call for contributions into the fund. I am very grateful to the individuals and institutions, who have responded to my appeal for donations to be made into the COVID-19 National Trust Fund, which has been established to complement Governments fight against the virus, and to assist in the welfare of the needy and the vulnerable. A total amount of some eight million, seven hundred and fifty thousand cedis (GH8.75 million), which includes six hundred thousand United States dollars (US$600,000), has been received so far for this purpose. I am happy that so many appointees of my government have also followed my example by donating their salaries to the Fund," he stated. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/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. Featured Video TEHRAN, Iran, April 6 Trend: 'Intelligent body temperature detection system for people with corona symptoms in a densely populated environment' was unveiled at Baqiyatallah Hospital in Tehran, Trend reports via Mizan News Agency. The system was unveiled in presence of the IRGC deputy commander for health, rescue, treatment and medical education Brigadier General Ahmad Abdollahi, President of Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences Alireza Jalali. "This is a pilot model, and the mass production of this system will be launched soon," Abdollahi said on the sidelines of the ceremony. The native high-precision electro-optical screening system will be used to detect coronavirus cases, at crowded centers and busy streets, he added. 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. Iran continues to apply strict measures to contain the further infection 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. Nnamdi Kanu, who is wanted in Nigeria, said he does not expect Nigerian Army to be present at war front because they are busy looking for girls to rape in Warri, referring to a recent viral video where some soldiers were seen threatening to rape women and infect them with HIV. As coronavirus outbreak continues to tighten its grip around the world and leaders are forced to ramp up their precautionary measures, Turkey has ordered its troops in Syria to minimise their movements. As of April 6, Turkey has reported at least 27,069 confirmed cases of the fatal COVID-19 with 574 casualties and Turkish Defense Ministry reportedly said that the recent order is an attempt to stem the drastic spread of coronavirus. According to reports, it was just in 24 hours that the death toll of COVID-19 rose from 73 to 574 and confirmed cases jumped from 3,135 to 27,069. Moreover, it is Turkey which reportedly has recorded the ninth-highest number of confirmed cases of coronavirus according to John Hopkins University. Most of the countrys social movements have also been restricted to slow the spread of the highly contagious pathogen. Along with sealing the borders, Turkey has shut all businesses as a precautionary measure against the pandemic. In the latest development, the defence ministry reportedly said that it has set up a special unit to combat the disease of COVID-19. The Turkish troops deployed in Syria would now be prohibited to enter or exit the operation zones without permission by the head of the army. Read - Turkey Coronavirus Deaths Pass 500: Health Minister Read - Turkey Expands Measures To Tackle Virus Outbreak Coronavirus outbreak After originating from Chinas wet markets, the coronavirus has now claimed over 69,480 lives worldwide as of April 6. According to the tally by international news agency, the pandemic has now spread to 208 countries and has infected at least 1,274,346 people. Out of the total infections, 264,838 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. The World Health Organisation (WHO) had declared the coronavirus as a global pandemic on March 11 while the virus has now spread to all continents except Antarctica, resulting in thousands of deaths worldwide. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom further even urged all nations to get very serious over the issue and take all necessary measures to contain the virus from spreading at this rate. Tedros said, that the word 'Pandemic' cannot be used lightly or carelessly due to its strong connotation. Read - Imams In Turkey Perform Special Prayer Amid Virus Read - Pets Abandoned In Turkey Amid Rising Fears Of Coronavirus Spread (Image Source: AP) NEW YORK, NY New York's statewide stay-at-home order amid the new coronavirus pandemic will remain in effect until April 29, with the NY PAUSE program keeping schools and nonessential businesses closed even as the state's death rate appeared to level out. Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday extended the order after announcing the death toll climbed slightly to 4,758, noting it seemed to flatten out over the last two days. Early indications showed the state's strict social distancing policies have worked, Cuomo said. The big question now is what the apex of the coronavirus case curve will look, he said. Will the apex look more like the peak of a mountain or a plateau? "No one can tell you which can occur," he said. Cuomo's staff said it appears the state is in the early stages of the apex of the pandemic, with New York currently on the purple trajectory in the graph below. Graphic courtesy of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office. "It is hopeful and still inclusive," Cuomo said. On Sunday, Cuomo said downstate New York could be at or very near the apex of its coronavirus outbreak. "The apex could be a plateau and we could be on the plateau right now," he said. "The next few days will tell." On Monday, Cuomo said the health care system was already at maximum capacity Monday, comparing it to redlining a car. "We cant stay at this level," he said. He said the state will crack down on violators of social distancing policies, increasing the maximum fines from $500 to $1,000. "It's not about the fine," he said. "No one wants the money. We want the compliance. We are serious. You don't have the right to risk someone else's life." Cuomo reiterated he will not choose between public health and economic activity, and noted there is danger in becoming overconfident too quickly. He pointed to Hong Kong and South Korea as countries that abandoned social distancing policies too early. "We're not going to make that mistake," he said. This article originally appeared on the Hicksville Patch The country is trying to avert a sovereign default on public debt in the midst of an economic crisis and virus outbreak. Argentina plans to postpone payments on up to $10bn of dollar debt that was issued under local law until the end of the year, the government said in a decree late on Sunday, in a bid to relieve pressure over looming foreign currency payments. The decree of necessity and urgency (DNU), sent to Reuters, would not affect almost $70bn of foreign currency debt issued under international law that Argentina is currently in talks to restructure with creditors. Argentinas government has previously said it is looking to restructure $83bn in foreign currency debt under international and local law as it looks to avert a sovereign default that would affect its access to global markets. The move to delay payments on the local-law debt could give Argentina breathing room and may enable it to make payments more easily on foreign-law bonds. As the debt was issued under local law, any creditors wanting to take legal action would need to do so in local courts. The countrys economy ministry did not immediately respond to a request for further comment on Sunday. President Alberto Fernandez and Economy Minister Martin Guzman have repeatedly said Argentina cannot pay its public debts until it is given time to revive an economy that has been mired in recession for the last two years. The International Monetary Fund, which is Argentinas biggest creditor, has supported the countrys stance, saying its debts are unsustainable. Guzman is expected to soon make a proposal to private creditors to restructure the countrys foreign law bonds, a process that has been hit by delays amid the global coronavirus pandemic that has led to a nationwide lockdown in Argentina. (Newser) Determination or idiocy? You decide. A Frenchman decided to head from his home in southern France and cross the border into Spain to buy inexpensive cigarettes. But his drive to La Jonquera was stymied by a police checkpoint. Rather than return home to Perpignan and abide by the lockdown regulations in place, authorities say he decided to cross the Pyrenees by footbut ran into misfortune during his attempt. Rescuers say that after falling in a stream and tussling with brambles he found himself lost and cold around the border village of Le Perthus. He phoned for help, and CNN reports he was quickly sighted, removed via helicopter, and returned to Perpignan. His fine for breaking lockdown, per the Guardian: just shy of $150. (Read more lockdown stories.) Mahoney P, one of the pioneers of Twi rap in Ghana has died in Amsterdam, Netherlands, where he was based. According to a family source the death took place on Friday, and that he had been battling with cancer for some years now. Born Patrick Kwabena Poku, Mahoney P broke into the limelight with his 1994 album, Highlife In Gangsterdam which featured the popular hit song, Ebe Ye Yie. Rapper Kojo Cue paid a tribute to Mahoney on Twitter saying : Just got word that Mahoney P died. For those who dont know, he released one of the first albums to feature rap in Ghana in 1994. The only reason he doesnt enter the Hiplife originator conversation is because he didnt call what he did Hiplife. Rest In Peace to a king. Just got word that Mahoney P died. For those who don't know, he released one of the first album's to feature rap in Ghana in 1994. The only reason he doesn't enter the Hiplife originator conversation is because he didn't call what he did Hiplife. Rest In Peace to a king. Mahoney P was also known for hit songs like Kyere Me Odo and Kofi Babone. He had been living in the Netherlands since 1986. One of his recent visits to Ghana was met with controversy when it was reported that he had been arrested for possession of marijuana. VIDEOS Source: ameyawdebrah.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 Tennessee now has 65 coronavirus deaths - up 21 since the Sunday report. Cases have gone up from 3,663 to 3,802. Hamilton County is now reporting nine coronavirus deaths. A 10th person died earlier in a Chattanooga hospital, but was from an area county. There have been 85 coronavirus cases within Hamilton County thus far, according to the latest report. Officials said 352 people have been hospitalized in the state from coronavirus. County Mayor Jim Coppinger said officials are now planning "in a worst case scenario" to use the Alstom "Big Blue" Building that has 400,000 square feet of space. He said that would take the place of the Convention Center, which was mentioned earlier He said over people were tested on Monday morning at the Bonnyshire Drive site. He said two PH.Ds. have been added at the Baylor School lab and another piece of equipment ordered. He said those moves should lead to the ability to test 300 people per day. County Health Director Becky Barnes said eight of the nine victims have been ages 65-81. The ninth was a child under five. She said Hamilton County has an older population than such areas as Nashville and Memphis. Concerning long-term care facilities, she said one patient earlier contracted the virus, was hospitalized and several workers were quarantined. She said no further patients at the facility contracted the virus. Ms. Barnes said of the 26 people tested on Friday, all were negative. She said it appears that many tested Monday morning will also be negative. Bradley County is at 23 cases of the deadly new strain of virus. Marion County now has 20 cases. It has recorded one death. Shelby County has shot up to 766 cases and is now recording 13 deaths. There have been 15 deaths at Sumner County (Gallatin) with 335 cases. Sequatchie County has gone up to two cases. Grundy has gone up to 15 cases. Meigs County has two, while Bledsoe County has three cases and Franklin County has 14 and has now recorded a death. McMinn County has three cases and Monroe County has increased to six. Polk County has three cases. There are now 260 cases in Williamson County - up from 148 on Thursday. Williamson County has now reported two coronavirus deaths. Knox County, which now reports three deaths, is at 119 cases. Metro Nashville Public Health Department officials announced on Monday a total number of 1,034 confirmed cases of coronavirus COVID-19 in Nashville/Davidson County, an increase of 110 cases in the past 24 hours. The confirmed cases range in age from 2 months to 85 years. Health officials have confirmed a total of six deaths in Davidson County. Thirty-seven individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 remain hospitalized, and 129 individuals have recovered from the virus. The remaining cases are self-isolating at home and have mild and manageable symptoms. [April 06, 2020] DoiT International Wins Google Cloud Reseller Partner of the Year Award for North America SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- DoiT International, a leading provider of proprietary cloud optimization technologies and public cloud expertise, today announced that it has received the 2019 Google Cloud Reseller Partner of the Year award for North America. The award is particularly meaningful as DoiT only opened full-time operations in North America in 2018. The award was presented by the Google Cloud partner leadership team. DoiT International was recognized for the company's achievements in the Google Cloud ecosystem, helping customers adopt Google Cloud and provide substantial savings using proprietary technology and expertise. Since its inception in 2011, DoiT International has distinguished itself by providing clients with unlimited support, unlimited consulting, and market-leading cost-optimization and cloud productivity technologies at no extra cost. This 2019 Google Cloud Reseller Partner Award for North America follows multiple years of Google Cloud's recognition, including winning the Reseller Partner of the Year award for EMEA in 2018, Global Sales Partner of the Year award in 2017, as well as Global Partner of the Year award in 2015. 2019 was an exciting year for DoiT International, adding San Francisco, New York, Austin, and London to the list of global offices worldwide. In addition, the company received over $100M in investment from Charlesbank, completed the acquisition of superQuery to help companies adopt Google Cloud Big Query, and generated over $200M in revenues of new Google Cloud business. "We are proud to be recognized by Google Cloud as the 2019 North American Reseller of the Year," said DoiT International's CEO, Yoav Toussia-Cohen. "It's amazing what we have been able to accomplish together, and yet I still can't wait to see what 2020 brings - in new business, the evolution of our technology, and most importantly, in new ways to support our customers and the Google Cloud ecosystem." "We're thrilled to recognize DoiT International's work to support customers over the last year," said Carolee Gearhart, Vice President, Worldwide Channel Sales at Google Cloud. "DoiT International has proven its expertise in helping customers digitally transform with Google Cloud and we look forward to a strong, continued partnership to help customers succeed." About DoiT International DoiT International is the leading global cloud consulting company and strategic partner of Google Cloud Platform and Amazon Web Services. We tackle complex problems of scale for our customers, using our expertise in resolving problems, machine learning, algorithms, complexity analysis, and system design. Founded in 2011, DoiT International has offices in Tel Aviv, San Francisco, Santa Clara, New York, Austin, London, Los Angeles, and Melbourne with plans to expand to Paris, Berlin, Chicago and Seattle in 2020. For more information, please visit doit-intl.com. For press inquiries, contact [email protected] Related Images image1.png View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/doit-international-wins-google-cloud-reseller-partner-of-the-year-award-for-north-america-301035776.html SOURCE DoiT International [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] For the rest of the lockdown, get yourself busy either making a mask for yourself, your family or your local community of non-healthcare service providers. Since the coronavirus pandemic was first reported in China in December 2019, health experts have debated on whether ordinary people should use masks for protection against the infection. The World Health Organisation has recommended that healthy people should use masks only if they are taking care of someone suspected of being a novel coronavirus patient. Authorities in some countries had initially recommended that healthy people should not wear masks, pointing out that they create shortages for healthcare workers, who need them the most. However, many are now offering different advice. For example, the United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has modified its earlier recommendation, and now says that the general population should wear non-medical masks made of fabric. In India, both ordinary people and healthcare professionals are presently scrambling to buy masks. In this context, it is important to understand whether masks are effective against COVID-19. In this episode, Dr Aiswarya offers advice on whether people should wear masks to secure themselves against COVID-19. You can listen to the full episode here. Here is the full transcript of the interview: *** Sixty-five days in, there have been contrasting views from authorities on the need to wear a mask at all. In this episode, Dr Aiswarya explains where the debate came from, and what one really needs to do now. Today is the 65th day since the first case of Coronavirus was detected in India. Today is also the 12th day of lockdown to contain the march of the virus in our nation. Nearly 206 countries of the world have reported the infection, thats almost all countries of the world, except perhaps North Korea. While we are grappling with effective and urgent ways to halt and reverse the epidemic, something as simple as the use of face masks has the world divided into two schools until recently. I am Dr. Aiswarya Rao, a Paediatrician and Public Health Consultant, and today I am going to look at the various flip-flops that public health officials have made with regard to the use of masks by the general population. On 29th February, the US Surgeon General, Dr Jerome Adams, issued an advisory asking people not to buy masks. He said that they are not effective in preventing general public from catching the coronavirus. This advice came because he explained that if people buy masks, then they wont be available for healthcare providers who are caring for sick patients and it puts them and communities at risk. Follow LIVE updates on the coronavirus outbreak here But 2 days back the CDC and the US Surgeon General have had to review their position on wearing the face mask. The CDC now recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. He went on to explain that emerging data suggests facial coverings help you from spreading the virus if you're an asymptomatic carrier a person who lack symptoms and dont know whether you have it. This recommendation underlines the concept that wearing a mask is harm reduction, and it is risk reduction. It helps slow the spread of the virus especially if there is community transmission. Dr. Jerome Adams then made a DIY video tutorial on how to make a face mask with common household items such as an old used T Shirt, within 45 seconds. On the other hand, World Health Organisation officials still stood by their advice on the general use of face masks by the general population. They do not recommend the use of face masks unless someone is sick with COVID 19 or caring for someone who was sick. Less than 5 days back, Dr. Mike Ryan, Executive director of WHO health emergencies program said at a media briefing that there is no potential benefit from the wearing of masks by the general population. However, yesterday he said WHO supports any decision a country comes to on its own, based on the context in which they're dealing and the resources that they have at their disposal. The WHO official advised that the use of masks, both homemade or cloth masks, at community level may help in an overall, comprehensive response to this disease," WHO made this guarded recommendation in the light of the significant global shortage of Personal Protection Equipment including masks, gloves, gowns and face shields. Therefore, prioritising the use of masks for those who need it the most, which would be frontline health care workers was essential. Meanwhile in India, yesterday the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GoI, has issued a detailed advisory and manual on homemade protective cover for the face and mouth. This advisory seems to suggest that everyone should wear a face mask to protect the community at large without explicitly saying that. The manual has extremely detailed instructions with clear pictures of how to make re-usable pleated face masks at home. They have given 2 tutorials one tutorial uses a sewing machine, and another without a sewing machine. This second tutorial is the same one that was demonstrated by the US Surgeon General. These guidelines were issued by the office of the principal scientific advisor, GOI. Throughout the manual they do not use the word face mask but call it a re-usable face cover. I think that is important and well thought out for our country context. The manual goes on give instructions on how to clean and sanitise the face covers every day and how to store the clean face covers. They recommend that everyone has two face covers so you can wear one, while the other is washed and dried. The ministry has given very practical tips and options on cleaning the face covers one option is to wash the face cover with salt and warm water and dry it in hot sun for 5 hours. The next option is to put in in a pressure cooker and pressure boil it for 10 minutes. If you dont have a pressure cooker, then boil it in hot water for 15 minutes. And the last option is to wash and clean with soap and water and apply heat for up to 5 minutes with an iron. A meta-analysis of several studies published in the Medline and the Cochrane register which were conducted during the SARS outbreak in 2003, concluded that washing hands more than 10 times daily was 55 percent effective in stopping virus transmission. This is regarding health care workers with exposure to the virus. Interestingly they also found that wearing a mask was actually more effective at about 68 percent. Wearing gloves offered about the same amount of protection as frequent handwashing, and combining all measures hand-washing, masks, gloves and a protective gown increased the effectiveness of the protection to 91 percent. Such data is not available for the effectiveness of using the mask or the face cover- whatever you may choose to call it in general population, especially if they show no signs or symptoms of the infection. But all scientists agree on one thing and that is Anything is better and its not about youIts about harm reduction. If you get infected, you infect others. The face cover prevents droplets from flying out and contaminating the air and objects around you. And remember to always use a face and mouth cover in conjunction with all the other healthy habits that prevent COVID 19 such a staying at home, always maintain physical distance from others both inside the house and outside, wash your hands, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, and seek medical care early if you show symptoms. The message is loud and clear. Dont buy a mask if you can help it. Leave those for the health care workers and those with the infection, who need them more. Make your own mask. It may not be as effective as an N95 mask, but it is more effective than nothing. Never leave home without it. In the words of the Eric Garcetti, the mayor of Los Angeles, covering your face is like casting a vote for the pandemic to end. So, for the rest of the lockdown, get yourself busy either making a mask for yourself, your family or your local community of non-healthcare service providers. This is Dr. Aiswarya Rao signing off. And I will see you with my next podcast on the evolving coronavirus outbreak in India soon. Miles LeBoeuf, a supply clerk at Laguna Honda, San Franciscos biggest nursing home, wasnt concerned about the new coronavirus when he first read about it in January. There were only a few cases in the country at the time, hes a healthy 43-year-old, and everything at the nursing home seemed normal. But as the weeks went on, and he delivered nursing supplies throughout the sprawling facility, he started to notice strange and troubling things, he said. His job gave him a unique vantage point on Laguna Honda, and it seemed to him that the facility was dangerously unprepared for what might be coming. And this was even before staffers and residents started testing positive for the virus, sparking a desperate scramble by the city to contain the spread of infection at one of the most vulnerable spots in the Bay Area. Since the start of the pandemic, the prospect of an outbreak at Laguna Honda has been a worst-case scenario for San Franciscos Department of Public Health, which owns and operates the nursing home. Most of the homes 750 residents are frail and elderly, and the virus has taken a particularly heavy toll on people who are older and have compromised immune systems. Over the last two weeks, The Chronicle interviewed a dozen people with connections to the home, including medical professionals who work there, other employees, residents and their loved ones. We agreed not to name several sources who told us they were not authorized by their employer to speak or feared retaliation, in accordance with The Chronicles anonymous source policy. They said the citys response to the crisis has been spotty, fuzzy, secretive and slow, leaving the facility porous to the outside world for weeks and dangerously unprepared for disaster. While the city has significantly ramped up its response in the past week, many worry that early missteps and delays may have caused irreversible damage. Nursing homes and long-term care facilities nationwide have become hot spots for the virus. In February, 35 people died at a Kirkland, Wash., nursing home; Laguna Honda has six times as many residents as that facility. On Friday, a 47-bed nursing home in Orinda reported that 27 residents and staffers have tested positive. Jana Asenbrennerova / Special to The Chronicle On March 5, a porter working at Laguna Honda decided to quarantine himself on suspicion he was infected, and he tested positive. Eighteen days later, on March 23, the city publicly confirmed that the first health care staffer had tested positive there. That day, Dr. Grant Colfax, the citys health director, indicated to Supervisor Aaron Peskin that he was horrified at the possibility of a wider outbreak at Laguna Honda, recalls Peskin, who discussed the danger with him at the citys Emergency Operations Center. A few days later, the health department announced a flurry of steps to halt the contagion. Two residential units in Laguna Hondas South tower, housing 60 people each, were placed under quarantine. All residents were prevented from leaving the facility. The department tested more staff members and residents. A handful of experts from the CDC and state health department parachuted in to give advice, and Mayor London Breed and Sen. Dianne Feinstein wrote separate letters to federal agencies, pleading for 100 additional support personnel. From the outside, it seemed like the city was taking control of the situation. But people inside Laguna Honda said they have experienced a different and more upsetting reality. The sources said there has not been enough protective equipment for doctors and nurses, potentially exposing front-line workers to the virus. Some employees have been entering the building without being given masks and without being screened for symptoms of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus. Residents supposed to be on quarantine had been mingling with non-quarantined people in a communal smoking area, one resident said Tuesday, and social distancing wasnt being strictly enforced. In response, the department maintained that there is enough protective equipment. A spokeswoman for the Department of Emergency Management said that all staff members are screened at the beginning of their shifts, and residents in the quarantined units are restricted to their neighborhoods and have been provided a location to smoke and access to fresh air. As of Sunday, 11 Laguna Honda staff and three residents tested positive for the new coronavirus, according to the Department of Emergency Management. But because of delays caused by a national shortage of tests, most residents and employees still havent been tested. Inside the newsroom Anonymous sources: The Chronicle strives to attribute all information we report to credible, reliable, identifiable sources. Presenting information from an anonymous source occurs extremely rarely, and only when that information is considered crucially important and all other on-the-record options have been exhausted. In such cases, The Chronicle has complete knowledge of the unnamed person's identity and of how that person is in position to know the information. The Chronicle's detailed policy governing the use of such sources, including the use of pseudonyms, is available on sfchronicle.com. See More Collapse The department responded that it is identifying and testing those staff and residents they are most concerned about for COVID-19 exposure throughout the hospital. I pray Im not an asymptomatic carrier spreading the virus throughout the hospital, LeBoeuf told The Chronicle in one of several emails over the past two weeks. Without testing, there is no way to know. He stressed that he was speaking only for himself, not for the city or the nursing home. In the communal parlance of Laguna Honda, LeBoeuf is a storekeeper. The most important part of his job is making daily deliveries of nursing supplies across the facility, including protective equipment, peroxide wipes, hand sanitizer, gauzes and tapes, needles and catheters. He stocks the two residential towers, North and South, and brings parcels to a third, older building used for administration. He likes his job people on his team, materials management, tend to stay until retirement and believes in the facilitys mission. Part nursing home, part hospital and part old-fashioned almshouse, Laguna Honda serves those with nowhere else to turn. The setting is peaceful, a lush wooded campus near Forest Hill. On his breaks, LeBoeuf would go for hikes, spotting coyotes, hawks and deer. In late February, he started to worry when he noticed that personal protective equipment, or PPE, was going missing from supply cabinets. These are the masks and gowns and other gear that doctors and nurses need to protect them from airborne virus particles. LeBoeuf realized that the stockpiles were being depleted faster than he could refill them. He couldnt tell whether the gear was being used for medical purposes or if it were being stolen or hoarded. In either case, it was a problem. My direct manager is now working seven days a week, LeBoeuf emailed, heroically and desperately trying to keep ahead of demand for supplies, using every purchasing trick she can think of to get PPE from any and every source possible. Its too much. Todd Trumbull Deirdre Hussey, an acting spokeswoman for the hospital, said late last month that there was enough PPE for the frontline workers. She said the equipment had been moved from its regular supply cabinet to a centralized location and staff members had to request it through a manager. But two unions representing doctors, nurses and other workers at Laguna Honda have said that PPE supplies are inadequate. The week of March 23, the unions demanded that the city provide a detailed inventory of masks and other gear, but no inventory has been released. By no means do we have plenty of PPE, said a Laguna Honda medical professional. Right now theres still not enough, and it just makes me so angry to hear people say, Oh, theres plenty of PPE supplies. How could they say that when theyre not working on the ground at Laguna Honda? LeBoeuf was also alarmed by another problem that seemed to fester throughout March: The facility didnt seem to be taking basic precautions to contain the virus. On March 6, one day after the porter quarantined himself, the health department suspended visitors from entering Laguna Honda. But the facility remained porous, LeBoeuf said, with hundreds of employees coming and going every day through multiple entrances. No one was consistently checking the staff for fevers or asking about their health, he said. Meanwhile, more employees tested positive. On March 25, the city disclosed that five staff members had contracted the new coronavirus, and two units where those employees worked, South 5 and South 4, were placed under quarantine. More front-line workers started staying home, fearing they could either contract or spread the virus at work, said Brandon Dawkins, an activities therapist at the facility and the San Francisco County representative for the labor union SEIU 1021. According to a Laguna Honda resident who said he lives in South 4, understaffing has meant that vulnerable residents can come into close contact with others. You have older patients wandering around the unit, and going through drawers, going through places where they shouldnt be, the resident said. Theyre allowed to mingle without wearing masks. The resident said that in the shared dayroom in his unit, residents are allowed to watch TV and eat in close contact without wearing masks, and until about a week ago, maskless residents in South 5 the first unit to be quarantined were taking breaks in a communal smoking area frequented by residents from other parts of the hospital. A lot of patients could have the virus, the resident said. I told staff, I said, Wouldnt it be better if we just test everybody? And they said theyll just wait for symptoms. Contacted via text message on Saturday afternoon, he said he still hasnt been tested. He and his fellow residents havent been given masks, either, he said. According to the Laguna Honda medical professional who spoke to The Chronicle, employees have been pushing administrators to test all residents in South 4 immediately, but testing has lagged. As of Saturday, 278 out of some 1,600 Laguna Honda staffers have been tested, and 94 residents of a total 750. In an ideal world, officials have said, everyone inside the facility would be tested immediately. But due to pervasive failures by federal, state and local governments to build testing and lab capacity, there arent enough test kits to go around. Using its public health laboratory, the city health department can perform only 150 tests per day. So the department has rationed the tests, reserving them for people who show symptoms of COVID-19 or who came into contact with a known infected person. 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. Nick Otto / Special to The Chronicle Dr. George Rutherford, a UCSF infectious disease specialist, said the departments hands are tied when it comes to the amount of available tests, and officials are doing the right thing by testing only people who display symptoms. This is the most efficient way to do it, he said in an interview Thursday. Unless youre going to go through and commandeer all of the citys testing capacity, this is the way that makes the most sense. But will that work? If the experience of the Kirkland nursing home is any guide, the answer may be no. Officials in Kirkland tried to stop the outbreak by checking the symptoms of staff and residents. That strategy failed because the outbreak was at least partly driven by residents who were infected but lacked symptoms, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paper released last week. If were going to wait for someone who is outwardly showing symptoms, then we are really behind the curve, said San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Norman Yee, whose district includes Laguna Honda. Dawkins, the activities therapist at the facility, said he was finally able to get tested Thursday after several days of waiting. He said the hospital asked him to get tested because he may have come in contact with someone who was infected. His test came back negative. While Dawkins said it was a tremendous relief to know that he was not spreading the virus to others, he wishes other colleagues could get tested, too, because they are terrified of coming to work without knowing their status. Folks want to know where they stand, he said. They want to know what they are carrying. LeBoeuf, the storekeeper, says he would get tested immediately if he could. Meanwhile, he has continued to work, not knowing whether he is a carrier. On March 24, the day after the first worker tested positive, LeBoeufs manager began taking the temperatures of people on his team once per shift, but only after weve already entered the facility, made our coffee runs to the cafeteria (where residents are also grabbing drinks and snacks), and begun work, he emailed. Last Saturday morning, March 28, LeBoeuf arrived at work and saw a new sign at the door. It said not to enter without a mask, and if you dont have a mask, to get one at the administration entrance. He went to the entrance but there was no one posted in the lobby, there were no masks and there was no one taking peoples temperatures, he said. So I walked through to my department and am about to begin work, LeBoeuf emailed. I have an ear-loop mask on to protect others from myself, and am washing my hands between floors. He spent the rest of his shift delivering supplies, traveling via elevator, and needing to touch numerous buttons, door handles and cabinets along the way. Then, on Saturday morning, April 4, he arrived at work, and for the first time, he says, he was stopped and asked whether he had any COVID-19 symptoms. An employee also took his temperature. My temperature read low because Id walked downhill in the cold morning air, he emailed. I was not allowed into the building until my temperature was back within a normal range. LeBoeuf felt relieved. Nearly two weeks after the first staffer at the nursing home tested positive and almost a month after the porter quarantined himself the storekeeper was finally screened at the start of his shift. This is a great change, he said. Jason Fagone and Trisha Thadani are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jason.fagone@sfchronicle.com, tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfagone, @TrishaThadani The Morrison government has shut down the idea of extending its $130 billion wage subsidy to more casual workers one day after signalling it would be as "inclusive and reasonable" as possible. Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter said the government would "refine" the plan before it went to a vote in Parliament on Wednesday but said the essential features would not be changed. Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations Christian Porter said on Monday morning the bill would apply the definition of casual worker announced last week, requiring someone to have been "attached" to an employer for a minimum of one year. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Mr Porter stepped back from earlier remarks that indicated he was willing to negotiate with the Australian Council of Trade Unions on the rules for casual workers to sign up to the scheme. The government closed off that option on Monday morning with a warning that it would not change the "essential principle" of the scheme, which is available to casual workers who have worked for one employer for the past year. Is there any financial housekeeping that people who are not laid off but are worried about the economy should get in order? The problem is: Its like if your neighbors house is burning down, but the fire hasnt gotten to your house yet, its too late to buy insurance. Its helpful to have an emergency fund, but trying to start one now may not be much help. Youve written in the past couple of months that despite the tumult in the stock market, most people should pretty much sit still. Is that still the case? All the best economic science tells us that if and its a big if youre willing to stay invested in stock for decades and decades, if you just sit still more or less, keep putting money in at regular intervals, and sell some stock when stock prices get too high and buy some stock when the prices fall, you will do better and earn more than most professional brokers. Now, thats a science-based answer its not quite a behavioral-science-based answer. I recognize that there are people who have never been psychologically tested in this way before. Thats it for this briefing. See you next time. Isabella Thank you To Melissa Clark for the recipe, and to Theodore Kim and Jahaan Singh for the break from the news. You can reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com. P.S. Were listening to The Daily. Our latest episode is about a 1960s bondage-film actress battling with a toy company over ownership of the Sea Monkey empire. The story is as crazy as it sounds. Heres todays Mini Crossword puzzle, and a clue: tip off (five letters). You can find all our puzzles here. Times journalists were honored by the Overseas Press Club with awards in five categories and one citation, leading our honored competitors for a second straight year. 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 K?lauea 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 K?lauea'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 K?lauea. "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 K?lauea 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 K?lauea, in part because, "It was difficult to fly on the exact same path every day," Rennich said. The flights over K?lauea, 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. The data were tabulated in February and the radar was finalized in February. ### For more information about NASA's Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO), visit: esto.nasa.gov Elizabeth Goldbaum NASA's Earth Science Technology Office Washington, April 6 : Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced that the state will return more than 400 ventilators received from the Strategic National Stockpile to help states with the higher numbers of COVID-19 cases. "These ventilators are going to New York and others states hardest hit by this virus," Xinhua news gency quoted Inslee as saying on Sunday. "We are in this together. This should guide all of our actions at an individual and state level in the coming days and weeks." As it continues to prepare for increased hospitalizations and the necessary treatment of serious cases of COVID-19, the state recently purchased more than 750 ventilators, which are expected to arrive over the next several weeks. Raquel Bono, director of Washington State COVID-19 Health System Response Management, said, "we have seen fewer infections in our communities than anticipated. Our current status allows us to help others who have a more immediate need". The state Department of Health on Saturday confirmed a total of 7,591 cases and 310 fatalities in the state. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Saturday that China has donated 1,000 ventilators to the state, which arrived at JFK Airport later in the day. Oregon Governor Kate Brown was also sending a shipment of 140 ventilators to New York, deemed the epicentre of the pandemic in the US. The US has so far reported a total of 337,310 confirmed coronavirus cases, the highest in the world, with 9,643 deaths. Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion at 9 PM. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Amid coronavirus pandemic, doctor BJP MPs are returning to hospitals For Sanjay Jaiswal the day begins with a rushed breakfast and some quick exercises. Then he sets out for the hospital, where on any given day he takes between 500-700 phone calls from those seeking medical advice and examines patients. Read more UP: Teenagers commit suicide, bodies found hanging on tree Two teenagers allegedly committed suicide by hanging themselves from a tree outside their village in Fatehpur, said police. Read more Floriculture crisis: No demand, growers forced to destroy flowers in their fields As the curfew enforced in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak has brought down the demand for flowers in the market to almost nil, flower growers in Punjab are destroying their yield in the fields. Read more Irish PM Varadkar returns to hospital duty to help Covid-19 patients Leo Varadkar, who remains the caretaker prime minister of Ireland after the February general election threw up a hung parliament, has returned to his earlier profession as a doctor to resume duty to help with coronavirus patients. Read more F1 team Williams furlough staff as drivers take pay cut Williams became the second Formula One team to furlough some staff due to the coronavirus pandemic as drivers George Russell and Nicholas Latifi agreed to cut their wages by 20 percent on Monday. Read more Google Maps now shows food, night shelters details across 30 cities Google Maps will now show the location of food shelters and night shelters across 30 cities in India amid the Covid-19 lockdown. Google said it is working closely with the central and state governments to provide the location details of these relief centres. Read more World Health Day 2020: History and significance Every year on April 7, the World Health Organisation (WHO) celebrates World Health Day. World Health Day is celebrated to spread awareness about the importance of health. Read more Marvel boss Kevin Feige teases completely unexpected surprises in Black Widow Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has teased that the upcoming Black Widow film will approach the characters backstory in a completely unexpected way. Read more Kolkata sweet shop makes Corona sandesh and people are not happy A sweet shop in Kolkata came up with a new type of sweet and its not something that many would like to eat at least thats what tweeple suggest. Read more Key workers are reportedly being turned away from supermarkets despite efforts to prioritise those on the frontline A carer and and an NHS worker say they couldn't get in to Aldi's priority shopping slot as a surgery staff member said she was refused entry to Tesco because she worked at 'just a GP practice'. Marion Kilmurray says she was denied priority access to an Aldi in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, yesterday after she went in to buy bread for an elderly client. The frustrated carer went on to film a tearful video following the ordeal, begging for carers to be treated as frontline workers too. The footage quickly went viral and Aldi to apologised. As the clip begins, a furious Marion can be seen sporting her carer's uniform filming from her car. She rages: 'Absolutely fuming just been turned down from Aldi, Wishaw because I am not a key worker what the f*** is my uniform. Fuming. This uniform doesn't count.' Marion Kilmurray (pictured) says she was denied priority access to Aldi and Belinda Brown (right) said she suffered a similar case in Liverpool Belinda Brown (pictured) said that she was told she had the wrong type of NHS ID to use the prioritised entry system 'I went in to get bread for an elderly woman who can't come out of the house because she has to self-isolate and I can't get her bread because my uniform doesn't count. Well guess f***** what my uniform does count.' Marion then breaks down in tears, adding: 'I'm absolutely and utterly sick, tired. They're are f****g carers out there working there best. 'Working 24 hours a day to try and help and what thanks do we get slapped in the f***** teeth sent away from every shop we attempted to get into this morning. 'No way now somebody else can come on this front line and you go and do it because we've had a f**** enough. Carers f*** count take note guys. Carers f***g do count. We are out here working are a**s off risking our lives. The Aldi supermarket in Wishaw (pictured) failed to grant the carer priority access despite her turning out to get food for an elderly person 'Do I want to be out here working? I'm trying to raise a family, look after a family plus trying to shop for people, washing and dressing people. 'I'm risking my life and my family's life so get a grip and somebody do something about this. Carers do f***** count. It's ridiculous.' An Aldi spokesperson said: 'Carers are very welcome at all of our stores and we recognise the vital role they play in our local communities. Mrs Kilmurray wasn't turned away from our Wishaw store so we are looking into what may have happened and are trying to contact her.' Marion posted the clip online, where it has since clocked up over 71,000 likes. Her video prompted outrage from social media users. Rita Marie Farndell wrote under Marion's post saying: 'Your uniform certainly does count. 'The Government needs to change this.You're doing the most wonderful job. I'm sorry this has caused you so much upset.' Michele Kyle added: 'You do count Marion and a brilliant job you do, disgusted with Aldi not what I would have expected from them, stay safe hen and take care.' And Yvonne Cole said: 'Heartbreaking Marion and shocking behaviour by a big retailer. 'I hope this goes viral everyone should share. You are amazing and worth just as much as anyone else.' Aldi has promised early access for emergency workers on a Sunday when they can enter stores 30 minutes before official opening time. However, the policy only defines NHS, police and fire service staff as key workers. Meanwhile a hospital worker was left 'humiliated' after she was turned away from an Aldi store when she tried to get priority in the queue. Belinda Brown had gone to an Aldi store in Liverpool, with her husband Ronnie before starting her shift on a coronavirus ward. Although she's normally happy to queue with other customers, on this occasion she was in a rush and decided to take advantage of Aldi's policy of giving priority to key workers during the Covid-19 crisis. But a security guard refused her entry - grabbing her NHS ID off her before telling her it was was the 'wrong' type. Belinda's son Allen Weston said the incident had left his 59-year-old mum 'embarrassed' and she couldn't understand why she'd been turned away. It came as doctors blasted Tesco for turning away and humiliating an NHS worker because she was from 'just a GP practice'. The woman's surgery has slammed the supermarket for leaving her 'embarrassed, humiliated and made to feel worthless'. The Salisbury Medical Practice - one of the largest in the Wiltshire city - posted a withering attack on Tesco about the incident on social media. The GP practice blasted: 'Rest assured we will not discriminate against ANY of your staff who come to us for care.' The staff member was queueing up for the special NHS hour - where the first hour of trading is dedicated to healthcare workers - at Tesco. Many supermarkets have been giving extra time to NHS staff to buy food, who are working hard to protect the public from the coronavirus. However when she got to the front, she was grilled by the staff member on the door as to why she was not wearing a lanyard or uniform. The woman - who provides catering to GPs and support staff - produced a letter from the practice's management as evidence. However the security guard turned her away, saying she was from 'just a GP practice'. The medical centre said: 'Unfortunately, a member of our staff was left embarrassed, humiliated and made to feel worthless in front of a queue full of people over the weekend for priority shopping at Tesco in Castle Street, Salisbury.' It continued: 'As a GP Surgery, we have contact with over 95 per cent of the population. 'Our GPs, nurses and support staff are at the frontline with patients enquiries, home visits, processing prescriptions, urgent care etc. 'Not all NHS staff wear scrubs and we are encouraging staff to stay safe and not wear their lanyards outside of their workplace due to reports of these getting stolen. 'This particular member of staff is working extremely hard to provide lunch and much needed refreshments to all our clinicians and support staff to enable them to keep providing the best care they can in these challenging circumstances.' It urged Tesco to accept letters from the practice manager as a form of ID for the special trading hour. The GP surgery has not named the staff members. On social media people rushed to slam the superstore. Helen Dowse said: 'How sad that you have had to post this Salisbury Medical Practice. You are all doing a wonderful job supporting the community - thank you.' Nurse Jennifer Bennett said: 'We are absolute encouraged not to wear our uniform out in public. 'Especially in supermarkets due to infection control and hygiene. So disappointing from Tesco. Sorry your staff member had to endure this.' A Tesco spokesman said the store manager has apologised to the member of staff. He said: 'We are very sorry to hear about this. We want everyone to feel welcome in our stores. 'The manager of our Salisbury Metro store has contacted the GP practice to speak to the staff member and personally apologise. 'We know how hard all NHS staff are working at the moment in many different roles and we want to thank them for everything they're doing.' By Associated Press WASHINGTON: The new coronavirus made Dr. Jag Singh a patient at his own hospital. His alarm grew as he saw an X-ray of his pneumonia-choked lungs and colleagues asked his wishes about life support while wheeling him into Massachusetts General's intensive care unit. When they offered him a chance to help test remdesivir, an experimental drug that's shown promise against some other coronaviruses, "it did not even cross my mind once to say 'no,'" said Singh, a heart specialist. Coronavirus patients around the world have been rushing to join remdesivir studies that opened in hospitals in the last few weeks. CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES Interest has been so great that the US National Institutes of Health is expanding its study, which has nearly reached its initial goal of 440 patients. The drug's maker, California-based Gilead Sciences, is quickly ramping up its own studies, too. "I would enroll my family in a heartbeat" if the need arose, said Dr. Libby Hohmann, who placed Singh and nearly 30 others in the NIH one at Mass General. To have no approved medicines for COVID-19 now is 'kind of terrifying," she said. For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, which can include fever and cough but sometimes pneumonia requiring hospitalization. The risk of death is greater for older adults and people with other health problems. Remdesivir is given through an IV. It's designed to interfere with an enzyme that reproduces viral genetic material. In animal tests against SARS and MERS, diseases caused by similar coronaviruses, the drug helped prevent infection and reduced the severity of symptoms when given early enough in the course of illness. It's farther along in testing than many other potential therapies and the current studies could lead to regulatory approval. Gilead has given remdesivir to more than 1,700 patients on a case-by-case emergency basis, but more people ultimately will be helped if the company does the needed studies to prove safety and effectiveness, chief executive Dan O'Day wrote in a recent letter to the public. "Many people have reached out to Gilead to advocate for access to remdesivir on behalf of friends and loved ones. I can only imagine how it must feel to be in that situation," he wrote. "We are taking the ethical, responsible approach." ALSO READ | 'Going to be our 9/11 moment': Americans brace for 'hardest, saddest' week as COVID-19 death toll surges In another letter on Saturday, O'Day said the company has 1.5 million doses, which could mean more than 140,000 treatment courses, depending on how long treatment needs to last. The company is providing the drug for free for now and has set a goal of making 500,000 treatment courses by October and more than a million by the end of the year. Gilead supplied remdesivir for two studies in China expected to give results by the end of the month. It also launched two studies for hospitalized patients in the US, Asia, Europe and elsewhere. One in severely ill patients tests five versus 10 days of treatment. Another in moderately sick patients compares those two options to standard care alone. "There's so much anxiety about the disease that the patients are quite interested" and no one offered the chance has refused, said Dr. Arun Sanyal, the study leader at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. The first patient he enrolled was a previously healthy middle-aged man who had an out-of-state visitor a few days before his symptoms began. What started as mild illness escalated to profound shortness of breath requiring supplemental oxygen. At University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Dr. Grace McComsey has enrolled roughly half a dozen patients. "We're seeing more and more younger people, like 30, really sick," she said. The NIH study is the most rigorous test. It compares remdesivir to placebo infusions, and neither patients nor doctors know who is getting what until the end of the study. Besides the US, it's open in Japan, Korea and Singapore. In Chicago, an 89-year-old man was Northwestern Memorial Hospital's first participant and 'the family was very excited" to have him included, said infectious diseases chief Dr. Babafemi Taiwo. At the University of California, Irvine, Dr. Alpesh Amin has enrolled several patients. All are getting standard care even if they wind up getting a placebo rather than remdesivir, Amin said. The Boston cardiologist, Singh, said he was willing to take that chance to advance science even if he personally winds up not benefiting. He's now recovering at home after spending a week in the hospital. "The word 'placebo' freaks some people out," but rigorous testing is needed to avoid giving false hope or using something unsafe. Still, it's tough to face patients with no proven therapy now, Hohmann said. "The worst thing is seeing some really young people who are really, really sick," such as a 49-year-old man with three young children on life support, she said. "That's pretty awful." by Pierre Balanian Despite nine years of war, Syria seems to be most effective at dealing with COVID-19. The opposition has accused the government of hiding the real extent of the outbreak, a claim dismissed by the WHO. An Emirati prince called Assad to offer friendship and help. Some cities are on a lockdown. The epidemic is monopolising hospital services. In Aleppo, ventilators are made locally. Damascus (AsiaNews) An earthquake rattled residents along the coasts of Lebanon, northern Syria and southern Turkey. The quake, which lasted a few seconds, measured 4.7 on the Richter scale. The epicentre was 65 kilometres from the Syrian city of Latakia. No damage was reported. In Syria, the quake briefly distracted people from the increasingly strict measures taken by the authorities to counter the COVID-19 outbreak. Despite nine years of war, and the destruction of infrastructures, hospital facilities, pharmaceutical and medical equipment plants, and an embargo on imports of such material, Syria seems to be handling the outbreak more effectively than other Arab countries. Since 31 January, the day after the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that COVID-19 was a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, AsiaNews, which is present on the Syrian-Lebanese border, has been able to observe how travellers from Lebanon underwent a medical check-up before crossing, something not done on the Lebanese side of the border. Pilgrimages scheduled for February and March from Catholic churches in Tartous and Latakia to Christians in Lebanon have been cancelled. Syrias Health Minister Nizar Yazji, a Christian, announced the countrys first COVID-19 case on 16 March, a 20-year-old from abroad. Preventive measures follow immediately. Syrias land borders were closed. Syrians in Lebanon were told they had two days to come home. The country was placed on a lockdown with a night-time curfew (6 pm to 6 am). Except for grocery stores and pharmacies, all shops were closed. Newspapers stopped publication. Schools and universities were shut down. All mass meetings were banned, including religious gatherings. Crews began disinfecting the streets. To reduce overcrowding and prevent prisons from becoming hotspots for contagion, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued a general amnesty, except for people convicted of foreign currency speculation and people responsible for crimes against 'humanity. Those serving life had their sentence reduced to 20 years. Outside the country, opposition groups were unconvinced, dismissing the measures. Instead, they have accused the Syrian government of hiding the actual numbers and the real extent of the outbreak. Orient News TV, an anti-Assad TV network based in the United Arab Emirates, has accused the Syrian regime of allowing Iran Air and Mahan, two Iranian airline companies, to continue flying into the country. According to the broadcaster, the government has not counted the positive cases reported in Damascus, Homs, Latakia and Tartous, whilst "no cases were recorded in the territories freed by the regime". The impression is that the global health threat is being used for political purposes. On 16 March, another anti-Assad organisation, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported 128 cases and one death, that of a nurse who treated patients. The Observatory mentioned 15 other cases east of Deir ez-Zor, not reported by security forces. By contrast, WHO representative in Damascus, Neama Saeed Abd, backed the Syrian government, dismissing other claims. Perhaps taking advantage of the easing of pressure from the United States, which is involved in the fight against COVID-19, Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, of the United Arab Emirates, phoned Syrian President Bashar Assad on 27 March asking that bygones be bygones, saying that Arab Syria will not face alone'' this pandemic. City in lockdown In a country torn by a long war, the spread of the virus would have catastrophic consequences. Yesterday the official figures stood at 16. For this reason, the authorities are taking more steps. Travel between provinces has been banned until 16 April. Citrus fruit, dry legumes, and disinfectants (like chlorine) cannot be exported. Anti-gauging measures have been adopted to prevent price hikes. Syrias ambassador to the UN Bashar Al Jaafari called on the international community to lift sanctions, especially on medicines and medical equipment. A source told AsiaNews that all public hospitals in Damascus are reserved for COVID-19 cases and that it has become almost impossible to get hospital treatment for other conditions. The city of Sayyidah Zaynab, near Damascus, has been isolated for two days after a COVID-19 case was reported. The city is home to shrine and the tomb of the daughter of Imam Hussein, a pilgrimage destination for Shias from around the world. Residents in building in Tal Mnin, a rural village outside Damascus, have also been placed on a 14-day lockdown because one resident tested positive. Police have cordoned off the area and are providing food and disinfectant to the residents. Opposition groups outside Syria have criticised the regimes repressive measures. In Lebanon, where the number of cases is rising, many Syrians and others are trying to get into Syria illegally because they think the country is safer. Al Madina radio station in Hama yesterday reported the arrest of ten illegal African workers near Hama, who had fled Lebanon for Syria. After a medical check-up they were placed in isolation. To contain the COVID-19 outbreak, a toll-free number (193) is available to report anonymously on anyone who enters Syria illegally from Lebanon after the borders were closed and entry banned. In Aleppo, the local Chamber of Commerce yesterday announced that it had succeeded in making ventilators (picture 2). Syrian TV also showed university medical students handing out free masks made in Syria. Everyone in the country, Muslims and Christians, is praying to God, anxiously waiting for the results of these efforts. They hope the pandemic will reach its peak with the least possible harm to human life. In a recent interview with an online portal, Aditya Dhar revealed that Vicky Kaushal would be his first choice for all his movies. He said that he loved working with Vicky Kaushal during Uri: The Surgical Strike, and finds Vicky's sincerity and dedication towards a film amusing. In the interview, Aditya Dhar revealed that besides the abovementioned reasons, Vicky Kaushal is perfect for his next film, which is based on mythological character Ashwatthama. Also Read | 'We All Knew This Film Needs To Be Made': Director Aditya Dhar Reveals What Went Into Making 'Uri: The Surgical Strike', Vicky Kaushal Reaffirms Recently, media reports revealed the team of Uri: The Surgical Strike is all set to reunite for a new movie. The new film, titled The Immortal Aswatthama, is reported to be based on the life of the Ashwatthama who battled against the Pandavas during the Kuruksetra. In the media interview, Aditya Dhar confessed that he wants to work with Vicky Kaushal in all of his films because he is sure that once he commits for a project, he will put his blood and sweat for it. Also Read | Uri: The Surgical Strike | Vicky Kaushal Reveals How Director Aditya Dhar Turned His Setback Into A Blockbuster Uri: The Surgical Strike, starring Vicky Kaushal and Yami Gautham in the lead released in 2019. The Aditya Dhar directorial managed to impress the audiences, hence becoming one of the highest-grossing films of that year. Meanwhile, as Aditya Dhar starts the pre-production work on his next, Vicky Kaushal is spending his time with family in lockdown. Also Read | 'There Is Nothing Anti-Pakistan' In 'Uri: The Surgical Strike', Says Director Aditya Dhar Meanwhile, on the professional front, Vicky Kaushal is reported to be shooting for Shoojit Sircar's next. The movie, starring Vicky Kaushal and Bandita Sandhu in the lead, is reported to be a biopic on Sardar Udham Singh. The upcomer is slated to hit the silver screen on January 15, 2021. Also Read | Vicky Kaushal To Weigh 115 Kgs For Next Trilogy, Immortal Ashwatthama, Reveals Aditya Dhar Thereafter, Vicky Kaushal has Karan Johar's multi-starrer Takht and Meghna Gulzar's Manekshaw. After completing the shoot on these films, Vicky Kaushal will join the sets of Aditya Dhar's next. The forthcoming movie is expected to go on floor by the end of 2021. 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. The Taliban has accused the US of pushing their peace deal towards breaking point, accusing the Trump administration of violations including drone attacks on civilians. The deal, signed by both parties in February, saw the US and Nato agree to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan within 14 months in return for Taliban commitments to prevent terrorism. But Taliban militants said in a statement they would escalate violence in the region if the US and the Afghan government continued alleged violations of the deal. The statement said they had restricted attacks against Afghan security forces to rural outposts, had not attacked international forces and had not attacked Afghan forces in cities or military installations. These limits on their attacks had not been specifically laid out in the agreement with the US, they said. US Bombardier wreckage in Afghanistan Show all 10 1 /10 US Bombardier wreckage in Afghanistan US Bombardier wreckage in Afghanistan AP US Bombardier wreckage in Afghanistan Reuters US Bombardier wreckage in Afghanistan Reuters US Bombardier wreckage in Afghanistan Reuters US Bombardier wreckage in Afghanistan AP US Bombardier wreckage in Afghanistan AFP via Getty US Bombardier wreckage in Afghanistan AP US Bombardier wreckage in Afghanistan AP US Bombardier wreckage in Afghanistan AFP via Getty US Bombardier wreckage in Afghanistan AP They also chastised the Afghan government for delaying the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners promised in the agreement. US military spokesman Colonel Sonny Leggett denied the Taliban allegation, tweeting that US forces in Afghanistan have upheld and continues to uphold the military terms of the US-TB (Taliban) agreement; any assertion otherwise is baseless. Col Leggett called for Taliban to reduce violence and said the US military will continue to come to the aid of Afghanistan's security forces if attacked, in line with the agreement. The militants said they had reduced their attacks compared to last year, but warned continued violations would create an atmosphere of mistrust that will not only damage the agreements, but also force mujaheddin to a similar response and will increase the level of fighting. The Taliban have accused the Afghan government of using indefensible arguments to explain the repeated delays in releasing a promised 5,000 Taliban prisoners in exchange for 1,000 government personnel. The Afghan government's foot-dragging has also left Washington frustrated. Meanwhile, in the Afghan capital, president Ashraf Ghani announced his new cabinet even as he squabbles with his main political challenger over last year's election results. Mr Ghani's move came even as mediators, including former president Hamid Karzai, shuttled between the president and his opponent, chief executive Abdullah Abdullah, who has also declared himself Afghanistan's president. The country's independent election commission has declared Mr Ghani a winner, but Mr Abdullah and the Elections Complaint Commission have charged widespread irregularities. Attempts to negotiate an end to the political turmoil in Kabul have made little progress, frustrating the US and potentially derailing the next stage in the Afghan peace process. Washington has threatened to withhold $1bn in aid this year if Mr Ghani and Mr Abdullah cannot reach a compromise. The Trump administration wants a quick start to intra-Afghan negotiations, the next step in the peace deal it signed on 29 February. It looked promising when Mr Ghani announced his negotiating team last week, but Mr Abdullah's response to it has been lukewarm and the Taliban have rejected it as one-sided. The US and Nato have already begun to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. The full withdrawal is expected to be completed in 14 months and is tied to Taliban commitments to fight terrorist groups and help in the battle against Isis. The withdrawal is not tied to the success of intra-Afghan negotiations, but US secretary of state Mike Pompeo had travelled to Afghanistan last month to try to break the impasse between Mr Ghani and Mr Abdullah. Mr Pompeo left without a solution, but last week he welcomed that the Afghan government had put together a negotiating team and made progress towards the prisoner releases. Those releases have stumbled even as the Taliban sent a three-member team to Kabul last week. Additional reporting by AP The project's mission is to help small businesses all over the US sell more gift cards, providing additional cash flow to save these companies and the jobs they create. OperationMainStreet.com was born in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project's mission is to help small businesses all over the US sell more gift cards, providing additional cash flow to save these companies and the jobs they create. The project is made possible by gift card technology and services provided by eGifter of New York. The eGifter Platform has historically served large national and regional retailers, however the technology was leveraged to support small businesses in this unprecedented time. The Operation Main Street team has already found and listed thousands of small businesses across the country. There is no cost for a business to join the Operation Main Street directory. If a company sells their gift cards online and wants to list their website in the directory they simply fill out the form on the site. eGifter is a small company located on an actual Main Street on Long Island, said Tyler Roye, CEO of eGifter. Our team feels the pain of small business everywhere and welcomed the opportunity to share some of its resources to drive this initiative. The site was built to help any town or chamber of commerce in the country to find and promote the gift cards available from the small businesses in their town. We can easily help the town or Chamber of Commerce create a special page that includes just the businesses in their town, added Roye. We have automated the creation of these sites, so we can do this free of charge for any organization that wants the help. About OperationMainStreet.com Operation Main Street was born in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our mission is to help small businesses all over the US sell more gift cards, providing additional cash flow to get them through the crisis. Our hope is that this will save many small businesses and the jobs they create. About eGifter: eGifter is the most dynamic gifting platform available. Our e-Gifting Platform helps retailers and partners grow their gifting businesses. The eGifter Rewards & Incentives Platform and robust APIs adds gift cards to a wide range of motivation programs. eGifter also operates a gift card marketplace and digital gift card wallet at eGifter.com and on our mobile apps for iOS and Android, where consumers can earn loyalty points, access flash sales, get cash back and save. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 12:24:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SUVA, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Fiji confirmed on Monday two more COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of such cases to 14. In a televised speech on Monday afternoon, Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said that the first new case is the wife of the 54-year-old man from Labasa, a city in Fiji's second largest island of Vanua Levu, who is the father of patients 6 and 7 (a couple) at Nabua, Suva. The female was taken into isolation two days before being diagnosed positive on Monday morning. The second new case is the sister of Fiji's very first case, the male flight attendant from Lautoka, the second largest city of Fiji. The female in Lautoka is the young mother of an existing case -- the COVID-positive one-year old baby boy -- and she chose to stay in isolation with her child to continue to breastfeed and care for him. She has been in isolation since March 19 when the nation's first case tested positive. The prime minister has warned that in Fiji, the number of deaths would likely be higher. To curb the spread of COVID-19, Fiji has taken strict measures including the lockdown of capital city of Suva and Lautoka, a nationwide curfew and the suspension of international and domestic flights. By Trend Iran's government should implement necessary measures to support individuals to earn a living during the coronavirus spread, said a member of national security commission of Iran's parliament Alaeddin Boroujerdi, Trend reports citing ILNA. "While some families are currently struggling, the govenment can order to have their bank loan payments delayed or provide discounts," Boroujerdi said. "People depend on the government and it can provide special discounts for example - provision of natural gas for three months," said the MP. "In situation when incomes have dropped to zero, the government can reduce costs to a minimum," he added. "The issue should be reviewed by the National Headquarters to Fight Coronavirus , since the following establishment has authority that is on the same level with the National Security Council to make decisions," he said. "The government should consider the coronavirus situation in other countries in the world serious, otherwise the duration of this disease in our country would last longer. The statistics show the number of infections in recent days has grown," he added. 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. Iran continues to apply strict measures to contain the further infection spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease. The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The world's most powerful earthquakes strike at subduction zones, areas where enormous amounts of stress build up as one tectonic plate dives beneath another. When suddenly released, this stress can cause devastating "megaquakes" like the 2011 Mw 9.0 Tohoku event, which killed nearly 16,000 people and crippled Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant. Now a study published in Geology suggests that sediments atop the downgoing slab can play a key role in determining the magnitude and location of these catastrophic events. In this newly published study, a team led by Gou Fujie, a senior scientist at the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, used a trio of geophysical methods to image the subducting sediments in the northeastern Japan arc, where the Tohoku event occurred. The findings suggest that variations caused by volcanic rocks intruded into these sediments can substantially influence the nature of subduction zone earthquakes. "Our imaging shows that the enormous amount of slip that occurred during the 2011 Tohoku earthquake stopped in an area of thin sediments that are just starting to subduct," says Fujie. "These results indicate that by disturbing local sediment layers, volcanic activity that occurred prior to subduction can affect the size and the distribution of interplate earthquakes after the layers have been subducted." Researchers first began to suspect that variations in subducting sediments could influence megaquakes after the 2011 Tohoku event, when international drilling in the northeastern Japan arc showed that giant amounts of slip during the earthquake occurred in a slippery, clay-rich layer located within the subducting sediments. To better understand the nature of the downgoing slab in this region, Fujie's team combined several imaging techniques to paint a clearer picture of the subseafloor structure. The researchers discovered there are what Fujie calls "remarkable regional variations" in the sediments atop the downgoing plate, even where the seafloor topography seems to be flat. There are places, he says, where the sediment layer appears to be extremely thin due to the presence of an ancient lava flow or other volcanic rocks. These volcanic intrusions have heavily disturbed, and in places thermally metamorphosed, the clay layer in which much of the seismic slip occurred. Because the type of volcanism that caused sediment thinning in the northeastern Japan arc has also been found in many areas, says Fujie, the research suggests such thinning is ubiquitous -- and that this type of volcanic activity has also affected other seismic events. "Regional variations in sediments atop descending oceanic plates appear to strongly influence devastating subduction zone earthquakes," he concludes. NDC National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi has commended President Nana Akufo-Addo for his timely interventions in the face of the growing challenges regarding the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic. He lauded the Presidents efforts to provide relief for Ghanaians and incentives for health workers at the forefront of fighting the virus infection saying the provisions will go a long way to cushion many Ghanaians, particularly the vulnerable in society. Sammy Gyamfi averred that as a party with foresight, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) thought about the announced measures beforehand and were initially put forward by the partys flagbearer, John Mahama. He expressed satisfaction that the ideas of former President and NDC Flagbearer John Mahama have been finally implemented by President Akufo-Addo. Folks, the new social intervention measures announced by President Akufo-Addo relative to the COVID-19 pandemic are laudable. As a party that is inclined to social democratic principles, the NDC believes that providing some safety net to cushion the vulnerable and Ghanaians at large, is a vital necessity in a time like this. We therefore support any policy or program, that is intended to cushion Ghanaians against the impact of the pandemic. "Indeed, most of the newly announced interventions, such as free water, distribution of free food to deprived communities in lockdown areas, provision of insurance to our frontline health workers, local production of PPEs among others, were first canvassed by H.E John Dramani Mahama. We are glad that at long last, President Akufo-Addo is beginning to adopt these recommendations, portions of a statement he released in response to the Presidents address read. He however expressed doubts the President will be able to see all the interventions through describing him as one who is quick to make promises but slow to implement them when it mattered. the critical issue that remains to be seen is their implementation. President Akufo-Addo has proven time and again to be an expert in delivering flowery speeches laced with lofty promises, but he is always found wanting when it comes to actual implementation, he stated. Read Sammy Gyamfis full statement COMRADE SAMMY GYAMFI WRITES ON THE NEW SOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ANNOUNCED BY PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO IN HIS LATEST ADDRESS TO THE NATION ON COVID-19: Folks, the new social intervention measures announced by President Akufo-Addo relative to the COVID-19 pandemic are laudable. As a party that is inclined to social democratic principles, the NDC believes that providing some safety net to cushion the vulnerable and Ghanaians at large, is a vital necessity in a time like this. We therefore support any policy or program, that is intended to cushion Ghanaians against the impact of the pandemic. Indeed, most of the newly announced interventions, such as free water, distribution of free food to deprived communities in lockdown areas, provision of insurance to our frontline health workers, local production of PPEs among others, were first canvassed by H.E John Dramani Mahama. We are glad that at long last, President Akufo-Addo is beginning to adopt these recommendations. But aside the announced interventions, the Flag-bearer of the NDC, H.E John Dramani Mahama has made other far-sighted proposals, that government must adopt to enhance our mitigation efforts against the socio-economic impact of the pandemic. President Mahama has proposed that: 1. government cancels the 50% increment in the Communication Service Tax (CST) and negotiate with Telcos to suppress their pricing (airtime and data cost), in exchange for free 6-months extension of licenses and other incentives. 2. government scraps taxes on essential products such as sanitizers, wipes, food, among others to make these items readily available and accessible for our people. 3. government provides Ghanaians with free electricity, as has been done by the Government of Togo. https://citinewsroom.com/2020/04/covid-19-togo-declares-state-of-emergency-imposes-curfew/ 4. government expands the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program to cover more poor households in this time of crisis. 5. The Ghana Buffer Stock Company should release and distribute free food to more deprived households in lockdown areas. These far-reaching suggestions if adopted by President Akufo-Addo, will go a long way to further enhance our mitigation plans against the socio-economic impact of the pandemic on the nation. Admittedly, the newly announced interventions, will bring some relief to Ghanaians, but the critical issue that remains to be seen is their implementation. President Akufo-Addo has proven time and again to be an expert in delivering flowery speeches laced with lofty promises, but he is always found wanting, when it comes to actual implementation. For instance, in the last few weeks, the President has given several assurances to our frontline health workers that government is procuring and will be providing them with PPEs. However, till date, this promise has not been fulfilled and has compelled doctors and nurses at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to threaten a sit-down strike action over lack of PPEs and other essential logistics. This is just a reflection of the general apprehension among our frontline health workers across the country. Various health facilities, be they clinics or hospitals are reeling under the burden of lack of basic PPEs. This has put our frontline health professionals at great risk as the first line of contact with victims of COVID-19. It is disheartening to note that above four (4) Doctors and Nurses have tested positive for the virus in the last few days. There can be no greater disincentive to the sacrifices of our health professionals than to deny them personal protective gears to work with. Also, during one of his recent addresses, the President told the nation that his government has ordered 50,000 test kits which were to arrive in the country weeks ago to enhance our response plan against the pandemic. But as we speak, this promise has not been fulfilled. But for the 20,000 test kits donated to the country by Jack Ma, we would have experienced a shortage of test kits by now. The general rate of testing even in lockdown areas remains very low and there is no specific indication as to when mass testing or voluntary testing will commence. These two (2) examples underscore the need for the nation to remain focused on the implementation of the new social interventions announced by the President rather than the mere announcement. As a responsible opposition, we will do our part to follow-through on the actualisation of the social mitigation measures announced by the President to ensure that they dont end up as pipe dreams, as has been the trend under President Akufo-Addo in the last three (3) years. But It is worth adding, that some of the announced social interventions raise pertinent questions that need to be addressed. For instance, the President indicated that he has directed the Ghana Water Company Ltd (GWCL) and the Electricity Company of Ghana to ensure the stable supply of water and electricity during this period. ??How reliable is this directive given the recent press statement of the GWCL, in which they indicated that they are experiencing challenges with water supply in Accra and several parts of the country, and admonished consumers to brace ourselves for imminent water rationing, which by the way, has already began? https://www.pulse.com.gh/news/local/brace-yourselves-for-imminent-water-rationing-gwcl-warn-ghanaians/t1jhh13 ??How reliable is this directive, given recent lamentations of GRIDCO about the lack of sustained financing to fuel various dual power generation plants? This is what is partly accounting for the intermittent power outages we are experiencing in several parts of the country as recently reported by several news portals including rehttps://citinewsroom.com/2020/03/gridco-blames-intermittent-power-outages-on-lack-of-fuel-to-power-plants/ How has the President addressed these critical issues to assure the nation that the directives he has given to GWCL and ECG to ensure the stable supply of water and power respectively, will be kept? ??Again, the President indicated that government is collaborating with some faith-based organizations to provide dry food and hot meals to 400,000 individuals in lockdown areas. Question is; what is the selection criteria for these 400,000 individuals?; on what basis (daily or weekly) will this be done?; and how can we assess and evaluate the implementation and impact of this program to ensure that it is not exploited for the benefit of the rich and political apparatchiks of the ruling NPP as we have seen in similar ventures? Before I conclude, may I remind President Akufo-Addo that although he has heeded good counsel in these difficult times, the announced socio-economic impact mitigation measures cannot be a substitute for the management of the pandemic as a science. Most of the serious challenges confronting our fight and response plan against the COVID-19 pandemic havent been resolved and that should not be lost on any of us. In fact, this should give every Ghanaian genuine cause for concern because: As we speak: 1. Our frontline health workers across the country lack PPEs and basic logistics to work with. 2. We are yet to see the establishment of additional isolation centers in the other 14 regions of the country, especially in the northern part of Ghana. 3. Governments promise to establish additional testing centers has not been fulfilled. 4. Public education and sensitization on the pandemic still remain low, especially in deprived communities. Even in some of the Metropolitan Epicenters, some public spaces such as markets are still choked with little to no social distancing. 5. The lockdown is not being observed in deprived areas in the lockdown zone. Also, the excesses of some of our men in uniform in enforcing the lockdown have not stopped and have even resulted in the killing of a citizen at Ashaiman; an incident the President failed to condemn in his address to the nation. 6. Surveillance along our land borders is still very weak, thereby exposing us to illegal migrants who could be infected like the 10 Guinean nationals entered the country illegally a couple of days ago. 7. Information and communication on community infections hasnt been transparent to aid in contact tracing. In conclusion, let me commend the visionary John Dramani Mahama for his unprecedented investments in health Infrastructure (BOG Hospital, Ridge Hospital, UGMC etc.), the provision of potable water (Teshie desalination project, Kpone water project, etc.) and the Transport sector (Ayaloloo Buses), which have become pivotal to our response plan against the COVID-19 pandemic. We thank him for the constructive alternative solutions he continues to offer and we are grateful for his donation of PPEs and other medical supplies to hospitals and our frontline health workers across the country. Folks, it is clear from all indications, that we are likely to see an astronomical jump in positive cases as the Ghana Health Service is due to receive the results of some 15,384 individuals, out of a total of 19,276 persons, who have been reached through contact tracing. So far, Governments response to the pandemic has been one of Public Relations and Information Management. There are a lot of things government is not telling us. We must brace ourselves for a possible extended lockdown and extreme hard times in the coming weeks. In critical times like this, we must celebrate works and not words. Promises are not achievements! SAMMY GYAMFI Esq. (National Communication Officer, NDC) 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 Coral Princess cruise ship arrives at PortMiami during the CCP virus outbreak, in Miami, on April 4, 2020. (Lynne Sladky/AP) Canadians Not Allowed Off Coral Princess Cruise Ship Due to New CDC Guidelines Canadians remained aboard the COVID-19-stricken Coral Princess cruise ship on Sunday, a full day after some passengers were allowed on dry land. New guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control saying cruise passengers shouldnt board commercial planes have limited who is allowed off the ship, Princess Cruises said in a statement, adding that only those with imminent chartered flights can disembark. This will unfortunately result in further delays in disembarkation and onward travel for many guests as we work through this complex, challenging and unfortunate situation, the statement said. Only those bound for Australia, the U.K., and California have been allowed to leave the ship. North Vancouver resident Sanford Osler said he and his wife are more than ready to head home, and they hope the federal government will help speed up the process. Princess says they will try to a arrange a chartered flight for us, but we are calling on Canada to send a plane down for us, Osler said in an email. The couple is among 97 Canadian passengers aboard the ship, which left Santiago, Chile, on March 5 and docked in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on April 3. Osler said the last time he was on dry land was March 13, and passengers have been confined to their rooms for nearly a week. Were still healthy but do want to get off this ship and get home, said Osler, 70. Two people aboard the ship have died, and 12 have tested positive for COVID-19, Princess Cruises has said. Still more are experiencing flu-like symptoms. Global Affairs said Sunday that apart from the Coral Princess, it knows of 49 Canadian passengers and eight Canadian crew members on seven ships. It said it isnt aware of any of those people testing positive for the novel coronavirus. Cruise ships have been a hotbed for the novel coronavirus beginning in February, when the largest outbreak outside mainland China was aboard the Diamond Princess ship, also operated by Princess Cruises. The Diamond Princess was quarantined for two weeks in Yokohama, Japan, because of the virus. Ultimately, about 700 of the 3,700 people aboard became infected in what experts pronounced a public-health failure. They cite the close quarters and frequent socialization as contributing to the spread. The federal government eventually evacuated 129 Canadians from the ill-fated ship and brought them to eastern Ontario for quarantine on Feb. 21, but 47 Canadians infected by the virus had to stay behind in Japan for treatment. More recently, Canadians on the MS Zaandam and MS Rotterdam, arrived in Canada on a plane chartered by operator Holland America. GRANBY - Granby is becoming the latest community to recommend residents wear face masks when they venture out in public. The town Board of Health on Monday is asking residents to have their mouths and noses covered when they encounter someone in public. In recent days, the mayors of Springfield and Boston have urged people to wear masks in public. The Centers of Disease Control on Friday made the same recommendation as a way to slow the spread of COVID-19. A statement issued by the Granby Board of Health said masks are an important way to reduce the chance of being exposed to the airborne spread of the coronavirus. If people do not have access to a surgical mask or an N95 mask, they can use a scarf, handkerchief or bandanna. We think this is a reasonable and important concession to protecting us against the COVID-19 virus which is highly infectious, the statement reads. There are two types of people in this world, one who end up taking jobs and one who actually follow their passion. Speaking of Bollywood actors, there have been a couple of them who chose acting above their first careers, leaving behind corporate, lucrative jobs, for which they were highly-qualified, obviously. Here's a compiled list of celebrities who gave up their well-paid jobs and pursued acting: 1. Ranveer Singh Instagram/Ranveer Singh Even though Ranveer Singh always wanted to be an actor, he ensured that he went all the way with his educational qualifications. He completed his studies from H R College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai and further pursued his Bachelor's Degree from Indiana University in Bloomington. Before he began acting, he was working as a copywriter and has worked with major ad agencies like O&M and JWT. And then he gave us his debut in 2010 with Anushka Sharma in Band Baaja Baarat. 2. Parineeti Chopra Instagram/Parineeti Chopra Parineeti Chopra also has an impressive educational background. With her brilliant acting chops, this actress has already amazed us with several of her impressive works like Ishaqzaade and Ladies vs Ricky Bahl. At 17, she moved to UK and got her triple honours degree in business, economics and finance from the Manchester Business School in London. Before acting, Parineeti worked as a public relations consultant with Yash Raj Studio where she applied for an internship in the marketing department. What followed this was her big break and the start of her new career as an actor. 3. Vicky Kaushal Instagram/Vicky Kaushal Ace actor, Vicky Kaushal is not just a versatile actor but his impressive education background has left us stunned. This young actor, who gave up engineering for acting, graduated in electronics and telecommunications in 2008. Vicky was placed by several reputed firms and yet he refused it all. He began to pursue his career in acting and started with theatre, where he acted in workshops before he took up roles. You would remember him starting with small works but then came his big break with Masaan, where he won our hearts and received heaps of accolades for his role. 4. John Abraham Instagram/John Abraham John Abraham might be off Bollywood's grid at the moment, but even he gave up his lucrative job to try his hand at acting. He received his Bachelor degree in economics from Jai Hind and later, went onto pursue Masters in Management Sciences, Mumbai Educational trust. This was in 1998. Initially, he started with modelling, but then entered an ad agency named Enterprises- Nexus and worked there as a media planner. 5. Sonakshi Sinha Instagram/Sonakshi Sinha If you have observed, Sonakshi Sinha has been pretty on point with her fashion game and that's also because of her educational background. Sonakshi received her degree in designing from Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Womens University, Mumbai. She worked as a costume designer and stylist for several movies. She came into the limelight post her ramp walk at the Lakme Fashion Week. Post that, she was offered a lead role in Dabangg, along with Salman Khan. 6. Randeep Hooda Instagram/Randeep Hooda Randeep Hooda has made an impact in B-town with his impeccable acting prowess but he also has a strong educational background. With a handful of degrees, Randeep went to Melbourne to pursue higher studies. He did his Bachelor's and Masters in business and human resource management. Once he returned to his roots, he worked in a marketing firm before his debut in 2001. 7. Taapsee Pannu Instagram/Taapsee Pannu Before she became an actress with a penchant for strong roles in Bollywood, Taapsee Pannu was a software engineer. She completed her graduation from Guru Tegh Bahadur Institute of Technology, New Delhi. To enter the world of B-town, she first auditioned for the Channel V show Get Gorgeous which led her straight to her Bollywood debut in Pink as a lead actress. Doctors have explained the real reasons behind why Australian panic buyers are still stockpiling toilet paper during the coronavirus crisis. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has repeatedly urged people to 'stop hoarding' toilet paper - but chaotic scenes at supermarket stores show many are ignoring his plea even though tissue manufacturers promise there is no risk of it running out. Dr Brian Cook, from the University of Melbourne, said he believed people were mass-buying toilet rolls as a way to deal with their stress because they want an 'element of comfort and security' against COVID-19. 'Stocking up on toilet paper is also a relatively cheap action, and people like to think that they are "doing something" when they feel at risk,' Dr Cook told The Conversation. Doctors have explained the real reasons behind why Australian panic buyers are still stockpiling toilet paper during the coronavirus crisis Last month, dramatic footage emerged on social media showing hundreds of shoppers stampeding into an Aldi store in Sydney to get their hands on toilet paper Dr Niki Edwards, from the University of Queensland's School of Public Health and Social Work, said toilet paper 'symbolises control'. 'We use it to "tidy up" and "clean up". When people hear about the coronavirus, they are afraid of losing control. And toilet paper feels like a way to maintain control over hygiene and cleanliness,' she said. While Dr Alex Russell, from Central Queensland University's School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, explained that as people become scared by the thought of the coronavirus, they are 'hunkering down' by buying what they need. Consumer behaviour expert Dr Rohan Miller, from the University of Sydney, said shoppers have fallen into a 'herd mentality', where they act how others' act, rather than making than making their own conscious decisions. 'People are being panicked and they're just following the herd,' he said. 'We've been operating in an information void and in the absence of that information, the herd has indicated you need toilet paper.' In recent weeks, shoppers have been stockpiling on toilet paper and grocery essentials A pleasantly surprised shopper took a photo of three pallets full of Quilton toilet paper at Costco in Marsden Park, in Sydney's north-west, on Saturday Dr Chris Moy of the Australian Medical Association, previously told Daily Mail Australia panic buying was just a 'psychological strategy'. 'There has been a significant level of anxiety. There's a widespread of toilet paper hoarding but when you stand back and take a look, it really is just a psychological strategy to cope with anxiety,' Dr Moy said. 'People can't control how they feel and they are worrying about their future so they are resorting to this psychological strategy - and that's by hoarding toilet paper.' Despite the country facing a toilet paper shortage, shoppers around the country reported finding supermarket full of rolls for the first time in weeks - as panic-buyers finally slow down on hoarding. This post has been updated with new information. U.S. President Donald Trump has been pushing for the use of an anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine against the coronavirus, and one prominent doctor says that could be a problem given the lack of data available. Its just not likely to be a silver bullet, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, who served as special advisor for health policy to the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget during the Obama administration, told Yahoo Finances The Ticker. We all want a silver bullet, but rather than being overly optimistic and talk about the good feelings that we have, we need to rely on data. Because if we just go with our feelings, were likely to be severely disappointed. And that could be a problem. The president has repeatedly touted hydroxychloroquine as an effective way to combat COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, even as his top medical advisors disagreed with him. U.S. President Donald Trump listens as Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, addresses the daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 4, 2020. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts If it does work, it would be a shame we did not do it early, Trump said on Sunday, asserting that there are very strong, powerful signs of its effectiveness and adding that the government had stockpiled 29 million pills of the drug. We are sending them to various labs, our military, were sending them to the hospitals. [See also: The coronavirus scenario that has Dr. Zeke Emanuel really worried] On the one hand, Trump asked: What do you have to lose? On the other hand, the president added: But what do I know? Im not a doctor. But I do have common sense. There is some anecdotal evidence of the drug being helpful for COVID-19 treatment. A Democratic representative in Michigan credited President Trump after taking hydroxychloroquine as she recovered from COVID-19, and some doctors in major U.S. health care systems are now routinely administering the drug as part of COVID-19 treatment without knowing if it will work. Anecdotally, it may have had limited effect in patients with milder disease, Dr. Daniel McQuillen, an infectious disease specialist at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Massachusetts, told Reuters. However, the drug has had no effect in limiting or slowing progression of our patients that have been at or near ICU level when they arrived. Story continues A pharmacy worker wears a protective mask shows a box of Plaquenil, also known as hydroxychloroquine, on March 25, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo: Chesnot/Getty Images) Doctors weigh in on hydroxychloroquine Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a key advsior amid the coronavirus pandemic, has repeatedly downplayed hydroxychloroquines potential use to treat COVID-19. In terms of science, I dont think we can definitively say it works, he told CBSs Face the Nation. The data are really just at best suggestive. There have been cases that show there may be an effect, and there are others to show theres no effect. Members of Trumps inner circle, including personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, are encouraging the use of hydroxychloroquine despite no meaningful clinical trials being conducted. A small trial by Chinese researchers touted by some was found to have clear limitations. Another small-scale trial from France touted by others broke with standard clinical practices by specifically choosing patients (instead of the standard practice of randomly assigning patients to treatment or control groups) and failing to collect some data. Weve got to take a little risk, goddamnit, if we want to save lives, Giuliani, who cited the French study to President Trump during discussions of using hydroxychloroquine amid the pandemic, told The Washington Post. We are looking at a slaughter. Coronavirus cases are still on the rise. (Graphic: David Foster/Yahoo Finance) Another person close to Trump, White House Economic Adviser Peter Navarro, aggressively pushed back against Dr. Faucis skepticism: According to a report by Axios, Navarro argued in a meeting of the White House Coronavirus Task Force that there was indeed enough evidence to prove hydroxychloroquines effectiveness. Amid some anecdotal reports, experts are largely siding with Dr. Faucis stance. First of all, there are no proven benefits [and] we have to be very clear about that, said Dr. Emanuel, who is currently Vice Provost for Global Initiatives and chair of the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. Emanuel added that many of us in the health community are suspicious, because you use the drug with patients who are doing well. We call that patient selection, and thats probably what were seeing in most of the positive reports. Those patients may have done well anyway without the drug. Nurses adjust protective masks inside a testing tent at St. Barnabas hospital on March 20, 2020 in New York City. St. Barnabas hospital in the Bronx set-up tents to triage possible COVID-19 patients outside before they enter the main Emergency department area. (Photo: Misha Friedman/Getty Images) Other prominent doctors argued, contradicting the president, that people may indeed have something to lose by taking the drug without proper medical oversight. There are side effects to hydroxychloroquine, Dr. Megan L. Ranney, an emergency physician at Brown University in Rhode Island, told The New York Times. It causes psychiatric symptoms, cardiac problems, and a host of other bad side effects. Ranney added that there may be a role for it for some people. But to tell Americans you dont have anything to lose, thats not true. People certainly have something to lose by taking it indiscriminately. Dr. Emanuel noted that the idea that youre going to take it as a prophylactic something to prevent a disease like COVID-19 when its totally unproven: bad idea. He explained that if you have a serious illness like lupus, its worth taking on risks related to the potential side effects. But if youre taking it because you want to prevent [COVID-19], thats not a good idea. Read more: Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, SmartNews, LinkedIn,YouTube, and reddit. Two women were charred to death and another was injured in a forest fire at a village in Uttarakhand's Bageshwar district, a forest officer said on Monday. Nanda Devi, Indira Devi and Ganga Devi had gone to collect fodder for their cattle in the forest in Chachai village when it caught fire. While Nanda and Indira were burnt, Ganga managed to escape, District Forrest Officer, Bageshwar, Mayank Jha said. By the time forest officials reached the spot, both the women were dead, he said. The fire was in a small patch of forest and could not be sighted by the satellites, Jha said. A man of the same village has been arrested on the basis of an FIR lodged in connection with the incident by the husband of one of the deceased, Bageshwar SP Rachita Juyal said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Montgomery County now has 161 COVID-19 cases, logging a dozen more Monday. Of the 161 cases, 132 are active, three are deceased, 24 remain hospitalized, 26 have now recovered and 108 are in self-isolation. Jason Millsaps, the executive director of the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, said all three deaths were residents of The Conservatory at Alden Bridge, an independent senior living community in The Woodlands. He said the facility currently has 14 active cases. The community remains under a shelter-in-place order issued March 30 by Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough. According to the order, residents must shelter in place for the duration of the order. Those who leave the facility cannot return to the property until the order expires April 13. Misti Willingham, public information officer for the Montgomery County Hospital District, said the Centers for Disease Control is recommending everyone were masks when leaving your home when it is necessary. For instructions on wearing face masks, making them or cleaning them, visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html. The case counts per ZIP code for Montgomery County are: The Woodlands, 33; Spring, 28; Montgomery, 22; Conroe, 36; Oak Ridge North, eight; Porter, 12; Shenandoah, four; Magnolia, four; Willis, four; Hockley, one; Pinehurst, one; New Caney, two; Kingwood, two; and Splendora, two. Details on Montgomery County cases can be found at https://mcphd-tx.org/coronavirus-covid-19/confirmed-cases/. cdominguez@hcnonline.com A couple have been fined $2,000 for violating coronavirus laws after police caught them sitting in their car on a quiet suburban street. The 32-year-old woman and the 27-year-old man were parked on a wide and grassy street in the NSW Hunter Region. Police fined the pair in Muswellbrook on April 1 as neither could offer a valid explanation for why they were out. A couple (not pictured) were fined $2,000 for violating coronavirus distancing laws after they were found sitting in a car. Police are pictured above at a check point on the NSW and QLD border A NSW Police statement said: 'Following inquiries, officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District found neither the 32-year-old woman or the 27-year-old man had a reasonable excuse not to be at home.' New South Wales has been the state most affected by the coronavirus and has implemented strict social distancing measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. The Public Health Act states that residents may not gather in groups over two people and can only leave their homes for one of 16 essential reasons. These allowable excuses include exercise, medical appointments, providing care and attending school or work. Violating these strict laws can see people issued with a Penalty Infringement Notice that carries a $1000 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 In the 24 hours to 8am on Monday, Victoria Police issued 108 fines. In Queensland, police fined 139 people last week, including 19 people at a car rally. New South Wales Police has fined 85 people for breaking restrictions, including 18 people over the weekend. One man who was enjoying a kebab on a park bench in Newcastle was slapped with a $1,000 fine last week. Police stopped a car in Quakers Hill around midday on Saturday and issued a $1,000 fine after speaking with the two people in the front seat. The driver was employed delivering food but the 33-year-old passenger was fined after admitting she was only there because she was 'bored' at home. Officers also pulled over a car in Bankstown in Sydney's western suburbs on Friday night and spoke to a 20-year-old driver and her 21-year-old passenger. The pair were unable to provide a valid reason for driving around and the passenger was issued with a fine when she gave false identification and became argumentative. NSW Police officers have also issued fines to residents who were out drinking and socialising. NSW Police (pictured) are giving fines locals without a valid excuse for being outside A 37-year-old Newtown man was threatened with a Penalty Infringement Notice on Friday night after police warned him against socialising with four other adults on Federation Road. The man was given a $1,000 fine two hours later after he was stopped again on King Street. On Saturday night police officers responded to noise complaints from a caravan park in Tenterfield, in northern NSW. Officers found five people gathered for a barbecue and issued two fines and three warnings. Meanwhile, four men in their 20s were handed fines after they were found drinking and having a barbecue at the Lillie Pilli Baths, in Sydney's south, on Sunday night. NSW Police raise $18,000 in 3 days: Coronavirus fines this weekend Since Friday, 18 fines have been handed out in NSW. In each case the person was previously given a warning or argued with police A 55-year-old man who was in Benerembah Lane, Griffith without reason. A 27-year-old man drinking with a group of people at a pub in Tenterfield Street, Deepwater A 37-year-old Newtown man for hanging out with other people on a road Two women aged 20 and 21 for driving around in Bankstown Three men in Liverpool for not obeying social distancing rules A 30-year-old man in Bankstown who was pulled over A 33-year-old woman in Quakers Hill Police who sat in the front of a delivery driver's car while he worked because she was bored at home A 38-year-old woman found drinking with six people in Jonson Street, Byron Bay A 34-year-old man and his 24-year-old friend from Goulburn A man at the Sydney Opera House who was previously seen there A 23-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl at a barbecue in New England Four men from the Sutherland Shire who were drinking and having a BBQ. Advertisement WATERLOO Children arent going to school. They arent being allowed to play with their friends, participate in many of their favorite activities, including sports, attend birthday parties, visit grandparents, or attend Sunday school. Their parents may be working from home, or perhaps have been furloughed or laid off their jobs. While school-age children may understand their world has temporarily changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they may still feel overwhelmed, anxious and frightened by whats happening. They may worry that they are going to become ill, or their parents and friends may get the virus. School-age children, especially, are able to understand quite a bit and still get confused. Many parents feel the need to start explaining things and give too much or too little detail, says Lesia Oesterreich, a human sciences expert and adjunct assistant professor in human development and family studies at Iowa State University. She recommends the best way for parents to talk to children about the coronavirus is to first understand their childrens level of understanding. Begin by asking, Do you have any questions about what is happening, and then parents can respond. Listen to a childs concerns. Many times the conversation is about clearing up sources of confusion and misinformation, says Oesterreich, who is also an ISU Extension specialist in early childhood programs. Be honest and accurate when sharing information and keep updated on rapidly changing news without being immersed in it, or overly anxious. I encourage parents to talk with kids on a daily basis about whats going on. Maybe at the table right after dinner, ask if the kids have any questions, or feel confused about what theyve heard. Then parents can respond. Communication can clear up confusion. If you dont have an answer to a question, say, I dont know. Why dont we try to find out together? Parents need to be patient and reassuring. Kids pick up on your cues, so you have to watch your emotions. Its OK to share you cant be so stoic that kids think you dont feel anything. When adults share, children feel free to share, Oesterreich explains. Talk about your own feelings, but be the grown-up, Oesterreich says. Some parents over-share their own emotions. You dont want to keep children in the dark, but you dont need to give the same level of detail you would in a conversation with another adult. Children may imagine the worse, like Grandma or Grandpa getting sick, so let kids know that its OK to feel worried, and that you feel anxious, too. You can be realistic, but dont go into horrendous detail about older people dying from the coronavirus. Parents also need to model good behavior. For example, were telling kids to wash their hands for 20 seconds, but you may have to show them how to properly wash their hands and explain why they must do it. Show them how to properly sneeze or cough into their elbow. Communication helps people feel connected, so encourage kids to call, text or Skype with their grandparents, for instance. If you lose your job or get laid off, explain to your children what that is going to mean for the family, Oesterreich advises. Its OK to say, Were going to have to do some things differently, but weve got a plan. This demonstrates coping skills for your children. In addition: Dont let anger and fear reach the boiling point. Rely on other adults as safety valves, or seek help from a mental health professional. The Iowa Concern Hotline at 1-800-447-1985 offers licensed counselors and is free. Kids can be disruptive if youre working from home. Ask them to come up with activities that will keep them occupied. Too many electronic devices can overtax your internet connection, so kids may have to refrain from streaming movies or playing electronic games during your work hours. Be positive. Share what people are doing to help each other. Let kids contribute by staging teddy bear hunts, coloring hearts to put in windows and making cards to send to grandparents and friends. Giving children the opportunity to do something good in a crisis is a tremendous skill and shows kids they can still control their lives, Oesterreich explains. If theres a silver lining in this pandemic, its that were building childrens resilience and ability to cope with adversity. Children need to be problem-solvers, too, and for school-aged children, its a real-life way for them to learn how. Photos: Coronavirus threat impacts the Cedar Valley Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Cynthia Caldwell said she felt the urgency to do something. It wasnt enough to just help out her four children and 16 grandchildren aged 19 to 3, many now shut-in because of the coronavirus emergency in the state. She was first in line nearly three weeks ago in Cherry Hill to pick up Chromebooks laptops for her four of her grandchildren. But the retired Newark public school art teacher wanted to do more. Thats when she hatched the idea of a virtual art class on Facebook Live. Never mind that she had never done a Facebook Live post or had any idea how to do it. She was a teacher and there were children in her home and far beyond who needed to be taught. I want them to learn how to do basic drawing, said Caldwell, 65, who lives with one of her daughters and her husband and 4 of her grandchildren in Cherry Hill. Pencil and paper, I keep it simple. I dont want their parents to have to go out and find a sketch book when they cant even find toilet paper. Her sons-in-law gave her a crash course in Facebook live and Caldwell was off. Posted by Cynthia Caldwell on Thursday, April 2, 2020 It is what it is, she said. I cant get stressed out. I prayed about it. I just decided to be who I am. Some people dont want the extra, extra. They just want the real thing. Her first broadcasts were Tuesday and Thursday of last week. She plans to continue at 4 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. Caldwell said she is still figuring out the right lighting and camera position and how to respond to real-time viewers. But she said the reviews in her debut week were good. This was amazing, Donna Mosley wrote on a comment after Thursdays broadcast. I had no idea that you were an artist and so very skilled. What a great teacher! This relaxed me and took my mind off of the worlds problems. I watched twice because I love seeing the creative process. The compliments are nice but Caldwell said she has a simple goal. I just teach, she said I dont take time and get caught up if they dont respond immediately. I have years of working with children. I tell them dont get caught up in mistakes, just create. Sometimes they think they are making a mistake. I tell them there are no mistakes in art. Caldwell said she relies on her 30 years of experience as a teacher to plan her lessons. She starts with an ice breaker. I ask them to draw their favorite cartoon character, she said. Then on Thursday, we started with portraits, drawing eyes, noses, ears. We keep it very basic. Caldwell has stayed connected with her former students and their parents since her days as a teacher. Even though she didnt know much about Facebook Live she did have hundreds of friends on Facebook. So when she posted a message about her new art class, it resonated. I thought it was pretty cool, especially for the young people, said Dominique Wilson, 35, who had Caldwell as an art teacher in 1998 at the former Vailsburg Middle School in Newark and had stayed in touch since. It inspired me to bring out my old sketchbook. Wilson went on to Arts High School and continued to study fine art. She now lives in Willingboro and works in banking, but saw Caldwells post on Facebook. She said she ended up holding a virtual viewing party with nearly a dozen of her friends for Caldwells premiere. I remember doing the characters and drawing ears and noses, she said. Having her as a teacher not only helped me grow artistically, it helped me grow spiritually. She helped keep a safe bubble in her class and when you came to her class you knew you were protected and going to learn something. New Jersey now has 917 deaths from the coronavirus with 37,505 cases statewide, another increase of 3,482 positive tests, according to the latest numbers released Sunday. The update includes 71 additional deaths. A total of 44,661 have tested negative for the coronavirus. Have you seen an inspiring story in your community during this troubling time? Tell us about it. And, see more uplifting stories in #TogetherNJ. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bduhart. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. The coalition, which includes the Mortgage Bankers Association, the National Association of Home Builders, the National Association of Realtors, the Independent Community Bankers of America, U.S. Mortgage Insurers and the National Apartment Association, issued a press release Saturday saying, "The scale of this forbearance program could not have been foreseen by mortgage servicers, or fully anticipated by regulators ... it is therefore incumbent upon the government to provide a liquidity facility for single-family and multifamily servicers ... any further delay could lead to greater uncertainty and volatility in the market." In normal times, they have enough to cover these payments, and, in fact, at the end of last year the mortgage delinquency rate was near a record low, according to CoreLogic. Now that rate is skyrocketing, and servicers do not have nearly enough cash to cover those payments to bondholders. Those payments would then have to be made at a later time through a payment plan. Servicers are granting the payment deferrals to borrowers with no questions asked, as is required by the law, but the servicers still have to pay mortgage bond holders. The Cares Act, which seeks to limit the economic damage from COVID-19 , mandates that all borrowers with government-backed mortgages about 62% of all first lien mortgages according to Urban Institute be allowed to delay at least 90 days of monthly payments and possibly up to a year's worth. A broad coalition of mortgage and finance industry leaders on Saturday sent a plea to federal regulators, asking for desperately needed cash to keep the mortgage system running during the coronavirus pandemic , as requests from borrowers for the federal mortgage forbearance program are pouring in at an alarming rate. Mr. Cooper, the largest nonbank servicer in the nation, with close to 4 million mostly government-backed loans has already granted more than 80,000 forbearances, and the requests keep flooding in. Jay Bray, Mr. Cooper's CEO, helped federal regulators set up the plan. He said he was told there would be federal cash for servicers, but that part of the deal never made it to the final act. "It's frankly frustrating and ridiculous that we do not have a solution in place," said Bray. "There is going to be complete chaos. We're the largest nonbank. We have a strong balance sheet, but for the industry as a whole you're going to start seeing problems soon." In an interview Wednesday on CNBC, Mark Calabria, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, said he estimated about 2 million borrowers would seek forbearance by May. He did not agree that servicers need liquidity now, only later. "If this goes beyond two or three months, and we start to get worse than that, then that's going to be a lot of strain, and certainly we're going to start to see some firms get into a lot of liquidity trouble," Calabria said. Others, however, have much higher estimates for the forbearance program. Laurie Goodman, co-director of the Housing Finance Policy Center at Urban Institute, predicted a worst-case scenario of nearly 12 million borrowers receiving some kind of forbearance at a cost of $66 billion for six months. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, predicted about 15 million households would receive some forbearance on their home loans. "We had a tremendous surge in April, you're going to see another massive surge in the middle of the month when they [borrowers] are considered late, and another massive surge in May," said Bray. "They're going to need these forbearance plans, and it's going to continue to grow at a pace that, frankly, some people don't understand and are dismissing how big a problem it's going to be." Even as Americans begin to receive checks from the government, there is no guarantee they will use that money to pay their mortgages. The forbearance program forbids servicers from asking for any proof of hardship. Bray said that was the right course. "I do not believe it is a moral hazard. It's not a payment forgiveness plan. Let's say it's three month, at the end of that time they can repay, go onto partial payment, or go into some type of modification, and then there will be some kind of documentation required," said Bray. But others disagree. "Throwing this out there without showing evidence of hardship was an outrageous move, outrageous," said David Stevens, who headed the Federal Housing Administration during the subprime mortgage crisis and is a former CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association. "The administration made a huge mistake bringing moral hazard in and thrust extraordinary risk into the private sector that could collapse the mortgage market." Stevens said borrowers should have been required to show at least some proof of hardship, which they had to do during subprime mortgage bailout. Moral hazard aside, he, too, contended a liquidity facility for servicers is essential. "This is a crisis so easily correctable," he said. "The GSEs [Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac] for years have always assured the servicing community that in the event of a major credit event, they'll be there to make sure they provide the liquidity. From what we are hearing, and we can't verify it, the FHFA director instructed the GSEs not to set up a liquidity or advance facility." When asked for a response to the industry plea, Calabria on Monday declined to comment. Both Stevens and Bray said that because of this new and momentous risk in the mortgage market, it is suddenly much harder for borrowers to get new loans or refinance current mortgages. Wells Fargo is already placing restrictions on jumbo lending to its customers. "It's just going to create more fear within the nonbank servicing sector. The banks that service them are going to start to not lend," said Bray. "Ultimately that impacts homeowners. They won't be able to be served because these companies will be in the middle of a crisis. We've seen a lot of businesses close their doors, and if you start closing the doors of servicers you're impacting people's lives much more than other sectors. You're talking about their homes. It's the largest asset they have." The tiny north Alabama town of Falkville is grieving the loss of a father and two young daughters who were killed in a house fire on Sunday. The victims were identified by Morgan County Coroner Jeff Chunn as Quentin Heath Ryan, 44; Chelsea Ryan, 7; and Kylee Ryan, 3. Emergency crews were called around 6:30 a.m. to the familys home on County Road 55. The cause of the fire hasnt yet been determined. The world is facing enough pain and now we hurt even more with the loss of these two young children, said Morgan County Schools Superintendent Bill Hopkins. Weve learned this fire claimed the life of a Falkville Elementary student and her family. Our entire Morgan County School family is heartbroken to learn of this news, Hopkins said in a statement. A GoFundMe account has been created to collect money for the victims wife and mother, Sheryl Ryan, who survived the fire. The family didnt have insurance, according to the account, so funds are needed to pay for funerals. She needs help, a message on the account says. Any money raised on this campaign will go toward funerals for her children and helping her with a home, clothes and other essentials. Efforts to reach the family for comment werent immediately successful. In an interview with WHNT News-19, Michael Robinson, a neighbor, recalled the girls smiles. They were always happy, running around, playing, Robinson told the TV station. Their mother is really going to need to remember the smiles at this point because theyre not there to smile at her no more and shes going to have to remember the good times. Were all here for her. Hopkins said he hopes the school system, which is currently closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, can honor the family when school resumes in the fall. "We are all devastated about the loss of these children and our thoughts and prayers are with this entire family at this time, he said. India's Narendra Modi is reportedly considering relaxing his blanket ban on exporting a malaria drug which scientists believe could be used to treat coronavirus, following a phone call with President Trump. The US president has described the drug, known as hydroxychloroquine, as a 'game changer' in the battle against Covid-19, although its efficacy in tackling the virus is not yet known. India produces the drug in large quantities but the country on Saturday banned its export 'without any exception'. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reportedly considering relaxing his blanket ban on exporting a malaria drug which scientists believe could be used to treat coronavirus, following a phone call with President Trump. Pictured together in February The US president has described the drug, known as hydroxychloroquine, as a 'game changer' in the battle against Covid-19, although its efficacy in tackling the virus is not yet known Local media is now reporting that Mr Modi is considering whether to reverse the ban, following a telephone conversation with Trump, and could make a decision on the issue as early as this week. It is not yet clear whether hydroxychloroquine is effectively able to treat Covid-19 patients. Typically used to treat auto-immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, researchers believe it could also work as anti-viral medication. Trump has made his opinion on the drug well known and personally pressed federal health officials to make them available to treat coronavirus, two sources have told Reuters. The president has repeatedly pushed the drug as a potential treatment, most recently on Sunday, adding 'But what do I know? I'm not a doctor.' The US president has described the drug, known as hydroxychloroquine, as a 'game changer' in the battle against Covid-19, although its efficacy in tackling the virus is not yet known Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and other top health advisers have argued there have not been enough studies done to prove the drug was effective against Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus. In an interview on CNN on Monday, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said 29 million tablets of hydroxychloroquine were sitting in a warehouse. He told CNN that at the task force meeting on Saturday, 'there was unanimous agreement' that the Federal Emergency Management Agency 'would immediately begin surging hydroxy into the hot zones to be dispensed only between a doctor and a patient decision not the federal government.' 'My qualifications in terms of looking at the science is that I'm a social scientist,' Navarro said during his interview from the White House Monday. 'I have a PhD, and I understand how to read statistical studies, whether it's in medicine, the law, economics or whatever' More than 9,600 people have died from coronavirus in the U.S. as of Monday morning as doctors all over the world scramble to find an effective treatment or vaccine for the fast-spreading respiratory disease The U.S. has reported the highest number of confirmed cases of coronavirus of any other country although there is speculation that other nations, like China, are under-reporting Navarro said Monday that he is qualified to weigh in on the effectiveness of malaria drug hydroxychloroquine on coronavirus because he is a social scientist. 'Doctors disagree about things all the time,' Navarro said when asked on CNN Monday morning why he is better qualified to talk about the drug's effectiveness on COVID-19 than Dr. Anthony Fauci. 'My qualifications in terms of looking at the science is that I'm a social scientist,' he continued. 'I have a PhD, and I understand how to read statistical studies, whether it's in medicine, the law, economics or whatever.' If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Inside Hook Wes Andersons highly anticipated movie The French Dispatch is the latest film to see its release date pushed back as a result of the pandemic. The New Yorker-inspired movie originally slated to hit theaters on July 24 has reportedly been pushed to Oct. 16. As Indiewire notes, The original July 24 release date led many in the film industry to believe Searchlight would world premiere The French Dispatch at the 2020 Cannes Film Festival, but that event has been postponed until future dates that still havent been determined. Now the film which stars frequent Anderson collaborators Bill Murray, Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson, Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton and Frances McDormand, as well as Elisabeth Moss, Timothee Chalamet, Anjelica Huston and Saoirse Ronan will be released in the fall, when most studios tend to release their awards-season contenders. Yahoo Life A year after the insurrection, video clips continue to come at such a relentless pace that they seem to be on a constant loop not only on TV and social media feeds, but in people's minds, triggering anxiety, insomnia and all sorts of traumatic stress. Open source The Russian government has stepped up efforts to inflame racial tensions in the United States as part of its bid to influence Novembers presidential election, including trying to incite violence by white supremacist groups and to stoke anger among African-Americans, according to seven American officials briefed on recent intelligence. Russias lead intelligence agency, the S.V.R., has apparently gone beyond 2016 methods of interference, when operatives tried to stoke racial animosity by creating fake Black Lives Matter groups and spreading disinformation to depress black voter turnout. Now, Russia is also trying to influence white supremacist groups, the officials said; they gave few details, but one official said federal investigators are examining how at least one neo-Nazi organization with ties to Russia is funded. Other Russian efforts, which American intelligence agencies have tracked, involve simply prodding white nationalists to more aggressively spread hate messages and amplifying their invective. Russian operatives are also trying to push black extremist groups toward violence, according to multiple officials, though they did not detail how. Russias more public influence operations, like state-backed news organizations, have continued to push divisive racial narratives, including stories emphasizing allegations of police abuse in the United States and highlighting racism against African-Americans within the military. Kinshasa, DR Congo (PANA) Three DR Congo MPs and one Senator on Sunday reiterated their appeal to the government to repatriate citizens stranded at foreign airports Two kayakers were rescued Sunday morning from the Ipswich River in Topsfield. Authorities received a report from a passing driver around 8:30 a.m. that two kayakers had been separated from their boats and were in distress in the river near Boston Street, according to a joint statement from Topsfield Fire Chief Jenifer Collins-Brown and Police Chief Evan Haglund. Three police officers as well as the fire station crew and Collins-Brown, who was off duty but in the area, responded to the scene. The kayakers were recognized as two men, one from Danvers and the other from Tyngsboro, the statement said. Police units initiated a rescue attempt, traversing down a steep and rocky hillside to reach the victims, authorities said. The kayakers were in danger of being swept away by the strong current. The water was especially high due to recent rainfall, according to officials. While hurrying to rescue the two men before they were taken away by the river or fell victim to hypothermia, one of the police officers injured his ankle, officials said. Ropes were thrown to the men so they could be pulled to shore, according to authorities. Both the injured officer and the two kayakers, who were hypothermic, were extricated from the roughly 30-foot drop and brought up to street level. Two of the three individuals were taken by first responders to a local hospital. The third patient refused transport, authorities said. Both the fire and police chief expressed their gratitude for the boots-on-the-ground" effort. The officials noted that Topsfield is a small town with two to three police officers and two firefighters on duty at a given time. Incidents like the river rescue present a serious challenge, they said. This time of year is tempting to get out and enjoy the outdoors in New England, especially with the ongoing pandemic keeping people indoors, but anyone wishing to travel recreationally on the river or any body of water should know that the currents are strong with the high water level, the water is cold, as is the air, the chiefs said in their statement. As the state analyzes how hard COVID-19 is projected to hit Oklahoma, the government is asking hospitals what each can do to bolster their own capacities by 40%. Dr. Kayse Shrum, the states secretary of science and innovation, on Wednesday said each hospital has submitted plans that the Governors Solution Task Force is reviewing to be published at a later date. Contingencies include field hospitals like those used for catastrophic events; using ventilators on multiple patients; converting other medical equipment into ventilators; and extending the life of personal protective equipment. Theres certainly models out there that tell us we need to be prepared for what could be to come, Shrum said. In particular, Shrum said the state is focusing on personal protective equipment. She described it as a critical puzzle piece to keep medical professionals safe and healthy on the front lines handling patients. The state has a strategic stockpile of PPE from the federal government that it can dole out. 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. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. 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. W2lmcmFtZSBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vZDJjbXZicTdzeHgzM2ouY2xvdWRmcm9udC5uZXQvZW1haWwvcHJvZF9jb3JvbmF2aXJ1c19pZnJhbWVfYXJ0aWNsZS5odG1sIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjQxNCIgc3R5bGU9IndpZHRoOjEwMCU7Ym9yZGVyOm5vbmU7b3ZlcmZsb3c6aGlkZGVuIiBzY3JvbGxpbmc9Im5vIiBmcmFtZWJvcmRlcj0iMCIgYWxsb3dUcmFuc3BhcmVuY3k9InRydWUiXVsvaWZyYW1lXQo= An arms store believed to be owned by suspected Boko Haram insurgents have been captured by soldiers from Chad. The Chadians troops ... An arms store believed to be owned by suspected Boko Haram insurgents have been captured by soldiers from Chad. The Chadians troops had on Saturday launched an offensive against the insurgents in the Goje-Chadian area of Sambisa forest, a stronghold of Boko Haram. The operation, led by Chadian President Idriss Deby, lasted for hours with the soldiers clearing the insurgents off the area. Deby is a former chief of Chadian army. Military sources in the area revealed that the arms store is the largest owned by Boko Haram. Commenting on the operation, Deby tweeted: In Baga-Sola, I visited soldiers injured this afternoon during the operations launched against the Boko Haram enlightened. They are proud to have accomplished a sacred mission in the service of their dear homeland. A Baga-Sola, j'ai rendu visite, cet apres midi, aux soldats blesses lors des operations lancees contre les illumines de Boko Haram. Ils sont fiers d'avoir accompli une mission sacree au service de leur chere patrie. pic.twitter.com/Ba08pIHSWz April 5, 2020 Hundreds of the insurgents were dislodged before the Chadian soldiers got through to the arms store, one of the sources said. Clips from the operation where Chadian president lead soldiers to capture Boko Harams arms store in Sambisa pic.twitter.com/dEv3EyDaoi April 5, 2020 Below are pictures and video from the operation: The European Union is providing a grant of 8 million euro (US$8.6M) to help the Caribbean fight the coronavirus outbreak. The funds will be used to purchase COVID-19 test kits, masks and other personal protective equipment, testing reagents, and other materials required for coronavirus testing. It will also increase the capacity of regional countries to carry out laboratory testing for COVID-19, support coronavirus quarantine and isolation procedures, as well as contact tracing. The EU assistance will also support laboratory testing and epidemiology training, strengthen surveillance at ports of entry and support and promote the use of COVID-19 guidelines and protocols among health professionals. The grant will be implemented by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and overall is expected to improve the detection, surveillance, prevention, control and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically it will increase the capacity of CARPHA and CARPHA Member States to respond to outbreaks of the COVID-19 virus, strengthen public education and behaviour change programmes on communicable diseases, as well as strengthen regional coordination and the institutional capacity of CARPHA in preparing for and responding to public health emergencies. In addition, it will finance treatment and vaccines when they become available and allow CARPHA to hire two additional laboratory technologists to deal with the anticipated surge in demand for testing for the COVID-19 virus and also support the maintenance of new and existing equipment. Australia will send charter flights carrying tonnes of urgent medical supplies and other support to Pacific island nations within days to help combat the coronavirus pandemic. The deliveries come as the Pacific Islands Forum moves closer to agreeing on the creation of a "humanitarian corridor" to keep medical and food supplies flowing amid travel and movement restrictions, and China steps up its aid to the region. Prime Minister Scott Morrison, pictured in Fiji last year. Australia has kept all essential personnel in the South Pacific and its posts remain open. Credit:AAP Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently told G20 leaders Pacific island nations and Timor-Leste must be a "focus of international support". The Morrison government will look at how to use its $2 billion infrastructure lending facility, announced as part of the Pacific "step-up", on projects that help the region recover from the pandemic. The $1.4 billion in foreign aid earmarked for the region this year will also be used to help island states prevent and combat outbreaks of COVID-19. CANADIAN DOLLAR FORECAST: USD/CAD PRICE STUCK BETWEEN SUPPORT & RESISTANCE LEVELS, CAN THE LOONIE EXTEND ITS RECOVERY? Spot USD/CAD price action gives back recent gains to start the first full trading week of 2Q-2020 as the Canadian Dollar selloff stabilizes The US Dollar exploded higher last month and appreciated more than 5% against its Canadian Dollar peer amid the coronavirus lockdown and crude oil price war USD /CAD now gyrates back and forth within a 300-pip trading range as markets await more clarity from economic data and OPEC The Canadian Dollar plunged against most major currencies last month as the Loonie fell alongside the crash in crude oil. USD/CAD gained over 5% and now trades nearly 9% higher year-to-date. Upside in USD/CAD was likely compounded by broad-based strength in the US Dollar, which a prior Canadian Dollar forecast discussed in detail. USD/CAD price action has since pulled back, however, after recent monetary policy intervention from the Bank of Canada and Federal Reserve provided relief to market strain and US Dollar liquidity pressure. USD/CAD PRICE CHART: DAILY TIME FRAME (31 DECEMBER 2019 TO 06 APRIL 2020) The Canadian Dollar has also started to recover with a modest rebound in crude oil sparked by rumor of an OPEC meeting later this week. Spot USD/CAD currently fluctuates around the 1.4130 price, which roughly corresponds with its 9-day exponential moving average, after sliding over 500-pips from its March 18 swing high. Read More Canadian Dollar and Oil Price Correlation Recently defined technical support and resistance levels might continue to jostle USD/CAD price action while market participants digest oil price headlines and upcoming data releases teed up to detail economic damage caused by COVID-19. As such, spot USD/CAD could be kept relatively contained between its March 27 swing low and March 31 swing high, which are levels of technical confluence underpinned by the 38.2% and 23.6% Fibonacci retracements of its year-to-date trading range. USD/CAD PRICE CHART: 4-HOUR TIME FRAME (06 MARCH TO 06 APRIL 2020) As USD/CAD consolidates, spot prices have developed a notable series of higher lows and lower highs that appear to form a triangle pattern on a 4-hour chart. The positively-sloped support trendline, extended through the March 09 and March 27 swing lows, might look to bolster spot USD/CAD going forward. Although, resistance posed by the 1.4200 handle and shorter-term downtrend since last months top could keep the Canadian Dollar propped up and a lid on USD/CAD price action. A breakout above last week's high or breakdown below last week's low has potential to open up the door to a retest of the March 18 top or bridge the March 08 gap higher. -- Written by Rich Dvorak, Analyst for DailyFX.com Connect with @RichDvorakFX on Twitter for real-time market insight Downing Street blasted Russian 'disinformation' today after a Moscow state media outlet claimed Boris Johnson had been placed on a ventilator to create his coronavirus. A furious No 10 lashed out after the RIA Novosti news agency published claims by an anonymous source 'close to the top of England's national healthcare system' claiming Mr Johnson was 'rushed' to hospital and required treatment with an artificial lung due to coronavirus. That claim was flatly denied by Downing Street which said the Prime Minister had gone to hospital on the advice of his doctor for 'tests' because he continued to present symptoms of the virus 10 days after catching it. This evening it was however announced that Mr Johnson had been moved to the intensive care unit. Earlier today Mr Johnson was today said to be in 'good spirits' in St Thomas's Hospital in London, but Downing Street said he was well enough to receive his ministerial red box with official documents, and had been in contact with aides. This afternoon his official spokesman, responding to the RIA claims, said: 'This is disinformation. Russian state media has been accused of misinformation after quoting an anonymous 'source' who said that that Boris Johnson will be put on a ventilator after being admitted to hospital Downing Street has flatly denied that Mr Johnson - who tested positive for coronavirus 10 days ago - requires emergency treatment, saying he went to hospital for 'tests' on doctor's advice 'Our specialist government units have seen a rise in false and misleading narratives since the coronavirus pandemic started. 'It is vital that any disinformation is knocked down quickly. 'DCMS and the Cabinet Office continue to work closely with social media companies to press for further action to stem the spread of falsehoods and rumours.' It cames as it was revealed that Vladimir Putin has been self-isolating after shaking hands with a doctor who later tested positive for the virus. The office of the Russian President said he began taking the measures last week after coming into close contact with the medic during a visit to a hospital in Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state-run TV: 'A week has passed; I dare to suggest that Putin will work remotely for another week, or even longer.' Meanwhile claims about the British Prime Minister's condition were circulated among Russian outlets including RT and Sputnik - which are often accused of circulating state propaganda - before making their way into foreign outlets. The Moscow report was headlined 'Source: Johnson will be on artificial lung ventilation' . Datelined London, it reported Johnson had been 'rushed' to hospital. It cited 'a source close to the top of England's national healthcare system' telling RIA Novosti: 'He will be on artificial lung ventilation.' The source was not identified. The report said that earlier the premier's official representative said that Johnson - who was diagnosed with coronavirus and still suffers from problems like high fever and cough - has been admitted into a hospital at a recommendation of his doctor. Vladimir Putin began self-isolating last week after shaking hands with a doctor who had coronavirus, and will continue working from home this week his spokesman has said And it made clear that Downing Street said that Johnson continues to be in charge of the government and was in touch with the Cabinet. BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Daniel Sandford, formerly based in Moscow for the corporation, tweeted: 'Well, either the Russian news agency has amazing sources or this is a shocking lie. 'RIA Novosti claims Boris Johnson will have 'artificial lung ventilation'. 'Assuming this is untrue, it is a truly dreadful bit of misinformation.' RT in Russian made clear that the source's claims were different to the official British government statement. Sputnik's headline stated 'UK Prime Minister Will Undergo Lung Ventilation as His Covid-19 Symptoms Persist - Source'. Observers - including the BBC's Daniel Sandford who was once to corporation's Moscow correspondent - accused state media of 'dreadful misinformation' The report claimed: 'UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has tested positive for COVID-19, will get artificial lung ventilation, a source close to the UK healthcare authorities told Sputnik.' Hospital staff pay tribute to midwife Lynsay Coventry, who died after contracting coronavirus. (Rachel Marchant/Facebook) NHS workers lined a hospital corridor in an emotional tribute to a midwife who died after testing positive for coronavirus. Lynsay Coventry, 54, is the first serving NHS midwife in England whose death has been publicly confirmed. A number of NHS staff have lost their lives through fighting the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. Coventrys colleagues at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex, paid tribute to her by lining up along a ward in silence. Colleague Rachel Marchant posted an image on Facebook of their tribute, and wrote: This is what our maternity unit in Harlow looked like on Friday. My friends, work colleagues and work family all united in grief. We stand apart to minimise spread but stand together in mourning the loss of our midwife. I hope you sleep well my beautiful friend. Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world Fact-checker: The number of COVID-19 cases in your local area 6 charts and maps that explain how COVID-19 is spreading In a statement, Coventrys family said: Our hearts are broken at the loss of our loving, wonderful and caring mum, sister, daughter and grandmother. "We each know how much she loved and cherished us. Her love for us all was unfailing and her strength in the way she cared and supported us will fill our memories. "What we also know is how proud she was to be an NHS midwife." They said Coventry had "followed her dream" to train as a midwife in later life and that it was a role in which she was "very well-respected". The number of coronavirus-related hospital deaths stands at 4,934 patients as of 5pm on Saturday, up by 621 from 4,313 the day before, according to the Department of Health. Watch the video below Lance McCarthy, chief executive of the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, paid tribute to Coventry's years of service and said the loss would be felt by colleagues in the maternity team and across the entire organisation. Story continues The chief midwifery officer for England, Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, said she had been "deeply moved and saddened" to hear of the death. "Lynsay was clearly a highly regarded midwife whose dedication to women, babies and their families will be remembered and cherished by her own family and her colleagues," she said. "My deepest thoughts are with them, her children, grandchildren, parents and siblings." Gill Walton, chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said: "Lynsay went to work every day to support pregnant women and bring new life into the world. Her loss is not only a tragedy for her family, friends and colleagues, but also for all the women and children she touched during her career. "It's important to remember that the NHS frontline doesn't only apply to those working in intensive care or direct COVID support, but to midwives and others." Last week, tributes were paid to NHS nurse and mother-of-three Aimee ORourke, 39, who worked at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital in Margate, Kent, and tested positive for coronavirus before she died. Liz Glanister, centre, a nurse at Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool, died after contracting coronavirus. (Facebook) Another nurse, Areema Nasreen, 36, died at Walsall Manor Hospital, where she worked in the acute medical unit, after contracting the virus. And Liz Glanister, a nurse at Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool, died on Friday after testing positive for the virus. Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust chief nurse Dianne Brown said: "It is with great sadness that I can confirm that Liz Glanister, a long-serving staff nurse at Aintree University Hospital, sadly passed away at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital on Friday after being tested positive for COVID-19. "All our thoughts are with Liz's family at this time and we offer them our sincere condolences. "Liz will be sadly missed by all those who knew and worked with her." Coronavirus: what happened today Dinh Dao, Director of the Quang Nam Central General Hospital, hands over the hospital discharge certificate for the 57th COVID-19 patient (Photo: VNA) Dinh Dao, Director of the Quang Nam Central General Hospital, said that the hospital had followed the Health Ministrys treatment regimen for COVID-19 patients. The 57th patient tested negative for the SARS-CoV-2 for the two consecutive times on March 28 and April 1. The British tourist came to Hanoi on Flight VN0054 on March 9. He travelled to Quang Nam provinces Hoi An city and tested positive for the virus and brought to the hospital on March 16. By April 5 morning, Vietnam recorded 240 infection cases, including three reported in Quang Nam province. The first prototype of a bi-level turbine ventilator for pressure-monitored ventilation in patients affected by COVID-19, Acute-19, developed by Spanish researchers, has just successfully surpassed the validation phase in an animal model at the CEU Cardenal Herrera University of Valencia. This last step is essential for its use in humans, meaning it will be used very soon in patients who require mechanical ventilation due to respiratory complications from the COVID-19 disease. The validation in an animal model was successfully conducted at the Hospital Clinico Veterinario of the UCH CEU, by the team comprised by professor and head of the Anaesthesiology department, Jose Ignacio Redondo, professor and head of the Large Animals department Jaime Viscasillas, and alvaro Gutierrez, member of this department, together with anaesthesiologists Jose Miguel Aonso, from the La Fe hospital and project leader, and Miguel Casan, from the Hospital General of Castellon, and with engineer Damia Rizo, from Darimo Carbon SL, one of the creators of the ventilator. After designing and assembling the prototype and testing it in different respiratory simulation models, bi-level turbine respirator for invasive ventilation Acute-19 has shown its efficacy and reliability for the ventilation of a healthy animal model and an animal model with an induced respiratory distress pathology, in tests conducted recently at the CEU UCH. As professor Jose Ignacio Redondo explains, "during the testing on the animal model of prototype Acute-19, we have assessed three aspects: the respiratory mechanism, the gas exchange and hemodynamic parameters. The validation has been conducted with anesthetized sheep, monitoring the spirometry and all vital signs in a non-invasive way. In the animal model test, the data from the mechanical ventilation has been analyzed by way of a flow sensor, as well as with gas, hemodynamic and oxygenation data, showing the efficacy and reliability of the Acute-19 prototype." The professor stresses that "the results during animal testing have overcome the team's expectations: the prototype has shown reliability not just during mechanical ventilation, but also in the transition phase to spontaneous ventilation, or weaning phase. Furthermore, we also validated the Acute-19 model in CPAP mode, in other words, as an additional ventilatory platform during the recovery phase of patients, where they need help to breathe spontaneously, meaning it can also be used outside ICUs to provide ventilatory support for non-intubated patients." First turbine ventilator, validated at the CEU UCH Acute-19 is the only turbine ventilator of its characteristics that has been developed and validated in Spain in an animal model during the confinement period decreed on 14 March. There are several teams in Spain, both from companies as well as research centers, that have developed models of bag mask ventilators, or mechanical manual balloons, or with a compressed gas compressor, in order to send oxygen into the patient. But the operation of turbine ventilators, such as Acute-19, is better in terms of the stability of gas flow than those that work with other motor systems. Unlike other ventilators being developed, Acute-19 is based on a turbine that has a set of sensors and actuators to accurately regulate the air output pressure that is sent to the patient, making it possible to adjust inspiratory and expiratory pressure parameters, respiratory frequency and inspiration-expiration relation. In addition to these differential features, there is now the fact that very few devices have thus far surpassed the animal model testing of their prototypes. For these reasons, with this validation at the CEU UCH we have taken a very important step forward for the Acute-19 model to start being manufactured in order to ease the current need for suitable ventilators for Covid-19 patients." Professor Jose Ignacio Redondo Next clinical phase The Acute-19 project team now starts the clinical phase with a prior observational study in patients with no respiratory pathology, at the Hospital Universitario La Fe of Valencia, headed by anaesthesiologist Jose Miguel Alonso, project director, with the collaboration of specialists Guido Mazzinari, Oscar Diaz, Jorge Puchol and Maria Pilar Argente. Alonso also stresses the ease of the design and efficiency of ventilators based on turbines, the components of which can be obtained easily: "These are important advantages regarding its manufacturing and development, which is why we hope to begin their manufacturing soon and make them available to anyone who needs to produce them anywhere in the world by way of an open source system on the project website, http://acute19.com/." This design of the Acute-19 prototype, which has now been tested, has been developed by a multidisciplinary team comprised by Jose Ramirez Paz, from the Universidad de Cordoba; Damia Rizo Morant, from Darimo Carbon S.L.; Pedro Alonso Perez, from Tecnikoa 3d Filaments S.L.; and Jose Miguel Alons Inigo, head of the VMNI CR Group of Experts in Non-Invasive Therapies of Valencia. Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said Monday the real unemployment level could be far higher than officially recorded as she warned of a depression. Yellen told CNBC second-quarter GDP could decline by 30 per cent and unemployment is already at 12 per cent and 13 per cent amid the coronavirus outbreak. She warned the downturn is 'absolutely shocking', adding: 'If we had a timely unemployment statistic, the unemployment rate probably would be up to 12 or 13% at this point and moving higher.' With a labor forced of 165 million that means up to 21 million Americans unemployed by Yellen's calculations. Yellen said: 'This is a huge, unprecedented, devastating hit, and my hope is that we will get back to business as quickly as possible.' On whether the economy can recover quickly with a sudden 'V' upturn, she warned: 'I think a 'V' is possible, but I am worried that the outcome will be worse and it really depend to my mind on just how much damage is down during the time that the economy is shut down in the way it is now. 'The more damage of that sort is done, the more likely we are to see a 'U,' and there are worse letters like 'L' and I hope we don't see something like that.' Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, pictured, said second-quarter GDP could decline by 30 per cent and unemployment is already at between 12 per cent and 13 per cent Unemployment could already be at 12-13%, and second-quarter GDP could decline by at least 30%, former Fed Chair Janet Yellen says. This is a huge, unprecedented, devastating hit. https://t.co/9d7jmffI3B pic.twitter.com/b4WcvTYIyF CNBC (@CNBC) April 6, 2020 More than 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, according to new figures released by the Department of Labor on Thursday. About 50 people lined up (above) outside an Arkansas unemployment office 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. Janet Yellen told CNBC second-quarter GDP could decline by 30 per cent and unemployment is already at 12 per cent and 13 per cent amid the coronavirus outbreak More than 10,000 Americans have now died from the coronavirus and the number of infections increased to over 347,000 - as new data predicts the outbreak in the US will peak in 10 days with over 3,000 deaths in 24 hours. The death toll in the United States increased by 1,147 overnight to bring the total number of fatalities to 10,358. The number of confirmed cases across the country increased by 25,841 to bring the infection total to 347,516. The number of Americans officially 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. New claims for unemployment benefits rose to 6.65 million in the week ending March 28. In the same week of last year, only 211,000 people requested benefits for the first time The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits last week has shot to a record 6.6 million, according to figures released by the Department of Labor on Thursday Walt Disney Co. officials announced they will start furloughing some workers in two weeks at its theme parks resorts in Florida and California. The statement released late Thursday from The Walt Disney Co. said the first wave of furloughs will start April 19 and involve workers whose jobs aren't necessary at this time. Anyone who is furloughed will remain a Disney employee, the company said. Companies announcing the furlough of workers Walt Disney Co. SeaWorld Entertainment Sarasota Memorial Hospital Macy's Kohl's Gap Inc Whirlpool Corp. - two weeks of unpaid leave Nordstrom Designer Brands Inc. American Eagle Outfitters Inc . Rent the Runway - laying off retail staff Advertisement SeaWorld Entertainment said it was furloughing 90 per cent of its workers because the novel coronavirus had forced the company to close its 12 theme parks. Florida's Sarasota Memorial Hospital with 34 coronavirus patients in its 839-bed facility said it was furloughng staff after a $16 million decline in revenue amid the pandemic. 'This was an extremely difficult decision, and one that we did not make lightly,' CEO David Verinder said. Macy's, Kohl's and Gap Inc. all said last week they will stop paying tens of thousands of employees who were thrown out of work when the chains temporarily closed their stores and sales collapsed as a result of the pandemic. Macy's said the majority of its 125,000 employees will be furloughed and that it is transitioning to an 'absolute minimum workforce' needed to maintain basic operations. The retail giant said it has lost the bulk of its sales due to the temporarily closing of more than 600 stores starting March 18. Kohl's, based in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, said that the furloughs will apply to 85,000 of its 120,000 employees at stores and distribution centers. It will continue to ship products and do curbside pickup from most stores with a limited number of staff. Gap's spokesman Sandy Goldberg said the furloughs affect nearly 80,000 out of 129,000 employees across all brands, including Banana Republic and Old Navy. The furloughed workers will continue to collect health benefits. Whirlpool Corp. asked its workers to take two weeks of unpaid leave. The company said: 'We continue to take proactive measures to mitigate the economic impact of this global pandemic. 'We believe these short-term actions will further enable our company, and our employees, to weather this storm and continue to serve our consumers as we have been doing for 108 years.' Unemployment In US surged to a record 6.6. Millions americans filing for benefits under COVID-19-related layoffs. A man reads a sign on the door of the New York State Department of Labor offices in the New York City borough of Queens on April 2 People wait in line for help with unemployment benefits in Las Vegas Unionized hospitality workers wait in line in a basement garage to apply for unemployment benefits at the Hospitality Training Academy in Los Angeles It's bad news for an economy in which the retail industry supports one out of four workers. It is also perhaps the most dramatic sign that even big name retailers are seeing their business evaporate and that the $2 trillion rescue package passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump may have limited impact. Nordstrom said last week it was furloughing a portion of its corporate staff. And shoe company Designer Brands Inc., which operates DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, furloughed 80 per cent of its workers, effective this past weekend. US stocks rally as the Dow surges past 1000 points US stocks rallied on Monday's open as investors were encouraged by signs that new cases and deaths resulting from the coronavirus were beginning to slow in certain states. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shot above 1000 points and rose as high as 5.5 per cent while the broader S&P 500 jumped 4.9 per cent, and the Nasdaq Composite was up more than 4.8 per cent. Basic materials and financial shares were leading the gains. Apple also jumped more than 5 per cent, while rival Amazon gained over 2.5 per cent. Bond prices fell, pushing yields, as both typically move in the opposite, with the yield on a 10-year Treasury note rising to 0.65 per cent. Investor hopes of the outbreaks slowing down also lifted European and Asian stocks. Meanwhile, the price on oil dropped as Russia and Saudi Arabia continue a dispute over supplies. Advertisement American Eagle Outfitters Inc. also announced temporary furloughs of its store, field and corporate employees from Sunday. Analysts expect more furloughs to come as retailers scramble to pay their employees from fast-dwindling cash reserves. Labor is the single biggest monthly fixed cost for retailers, according to investment research firm Cowen & Co. The furlough of workers will have negative consequences for an economy in which the retail industry supports one out of four workers. 'This could push us further into a damaging recession that will last longer than the duration of the crisis,' said Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail. More than 190,000 stores, including J.C. Penney and Neiman Marcus, have temporarily closed, accounting for nearly 50% of the U.S. retail square footage, according to Saunders. Discounters, grocers and wholesale clubs that sell essential items like groceries remain open, although they have their own challenges of keeping up with shoppers who continue to stockpile canned goods, paper towels and other staples. When announcing the temporary closures, most retailers said they would keep paying their workers but they were looking at a two-week timetable. That moment has now passed and the furloughs have become increasingly necessary as the coronavirus rapidly spreads. The big question is how much of these furloughs will lead to permanent layoffs. Rent the Runway, a pioneer in fashion rental, confirmed earlier Monday, that it was laying off its retail store staff and said it may not be able to reopen its stores that temporarily shuttered earlier this month. Its online subscription service still continues to operate. Swedish retailer H&M said earlier this month that it may be forced to permanently layoff some its employees after temporarily shuttering 3,441 of its 5,062 stores globally. Coresight Research's Deborah Weinswig now forecasts a new record high of 15,000 stores will close this year, up from her original prediction of 8,000 all because of the viral outbreak. 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. 'You should be ashamed of yourself' Striking Amazon staff shout at cops clearing them off the picket line as construction workers and McDonald's employees also walkout Workers manning the frontlines amid worldwide coronavirus lockdowns continue to strike across the United States. Staff at an Amazon delivery facility in Chicago, Illinois protested Saturday, looking for more protections as they work. Police who broke up the vehicular picket were told they should be 'ashamed' of themselves, Patch.com reports. In Massachusetts 10,000 construction workers plan to strike Monday. 'Nothing we've seen has been able to ensure the safety of our members, or workers at other sites', Union executive Tom Flynn said. And in California McDonald's staff walked out after their colleague contracted the virus - but say bosses did not tell them. Staff at an Amazon delivery facility in Chicago, Illinois protested Saturday, looking for more protections as they work. Police who broke up the vehicular picket were told they should be 'ashamed' of themselves, Patch.com reports Cook Bartolome Perez told City News Service: 'We've been pleading for protective equipment for more than a month now, but McDonald's is putting its profits ahead of our health. We don't want to die for McDonald's burgers and fries.' Grocery workers - many in low-wage jobs - are manning the frontlines amid worldwide lockdowns, their work deemed essential to keep food and critical goods flowing. They are insisting employers pay them more and provide masks, gloves, gowns and access to testing. In a handful of states - Minnesota and Vermont were the first - have given grocery workers a special classification that allows them to put their children in state-paid child care while they work. Unions in Colorado, Alaska, Texas and many other states are pressing governors to elevate grocery workers to the status of first responders. 'The government's responsibility is to step up in these moments,' said Sarah Cherin, chief of staff for the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union in Seattle, the first U.S. epicenter of COVID-19. The workers are demanding a two-week quarantine period, with full pay for a co-worker who tested positive for COVID-19 The union, which represents about 23,000 grocery workers and 18,000 health care workers, won early concessions for higher pay. 'We have always been a group of people who come to work when others stay home,' Cherin said. 'Our workers need the same protection others get.' Whole Foods workers called for a recent 'sickout' to demand better conditions, including double pay. A group of independent contractors for the Instacart grocery delivery service walked out to force more protections. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Los Angeles, United States Mon, April 6, 2020 14:02 644 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206ffd6a5 2 Tips Movie,travel,adventure,coronavirus,COVID-19,self-quarantine Free While some may miss the bustling chaos of city life during the worldwide lockdown, others sheltering in place can't wait to break out of their cabins and into the great outdoors void of walls and screens. It may be awhile before we can break free and run wild and in less than 6 feet of one another. But in the meantime, we can turn to storytellers and movie makers who have made some of the world's most stunning, natural surroundings into secondary characters in their films. In many of the movies, a protagonist sets off on a solo adventure that becomes a rite of passage. In both Wild and The Way, the main characters (played by Reese Witherspoon and Martin Sheen respectively) try to deal with grief and loss by hitting the trails on hiking trips. Read also: 5 movies based on true stories that you should consider watching In The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Ben Stiller's character heads to the otherworldly landscape of Iceland on an impulse in search of adventure and to break with monotony. In 127 Hours, the stunning canyons of Utah serve as the background for a dramatic mountain climbing trip gone horribly wrong. The film stars James Franco and is based on a true story. And for the kids, fire up their imagination with the live-action version of The Lion King, which showcases the African savannah in all its glory. Penn State University will have a graduation ceremony next month. It just wont be held in the traditional sense as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Penn State announced Monday it will hold its spring 2020 commencement ceremony via livestream on May 9. The school said it made the decision to choose a livestream commencement in response to growing coronavirus pandemic, orders from the state government and recommendations from global public health organizations. According to a university release, Penn States College of Medicine, Dickinson Law, Penn State Law and Penn College will manage their own celebrations. The virtual graduation ceremony will recognize both undergraduate and graduate students. Penn States streamed ceremony will feature formal remarks, musical responses and sharable digital slides honoring each graduate. Penn State President Eric J. Barron announced the school is committed to providing opportunities for the 2020 class to return for in-person celebrations when public health guidelines allow. While no one could have anticipated a virtual celebration, I want our graduates and their families to know we are excited to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2020, Barron said in the schools release. Despite the disappointment of not doing so in-person, we are inspired by the idea that graduates and families across the United States and internationally will be able to mark this very special occasion. We are so proud of all our graduates, and of their parents and extended families who have contributed so much to their success. This is a moment to celebrate. For more detailed information on Penn States virtual ceremony, you can email Penn State at graduation@psu.edu. More of PennLive coverage: Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. SAO PAULO, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Litmus, the Intelligent Edge Computing company, today announced a partnership with Baumier Automation to distribute Litmus Edge and Litmus Edge Manager in Brazil and provide local Portuguese technical support. Litmus Edge is an Industrial Edge Computing Platform designed to quickly collect, analyze, and take action on real-time data at the edge. Litmus Edge Manager is a centralized management platform for control over Litmus Edge implementations with secure mass deployment, over-the-air updates and automated actions. Baumier Automation has distributed solutions for industrial network communication and IoT in Brazil for more than 15 years. The partnership with Litmus will allow Baumier to help companies in Brazil jump-start their industrial and manufacturing IoT projects. "Brazil is an emerging market for IIoT, and we are glad to partner with Baumier to help companies realize the benefits of industrial edge computing," said Christine Frank, Director of Channel and OEM for Litmus. "Litmus software is perfect for a growing market since we can connect to any industrial asset both legacy or modern and derive value from the edge immediately." With Litmus Edge and Litmus Edge Manager, Brazilian customers can easily work out a proof of concept for applications ranging from remote asset monitoring to predictive analytics. Litmus Edge comes with out-of-the-box support for any PLC, CNC, sensor or robotic system so industrial customers can be up and running to collect and analyze edge data in minutes. "Our customers rely on us to solve their problems, and we deliver connectivity, security, and remote access solutions in many markets in Brazil, such as mining, oil and gas, utilities, transportation, process automation, and more," said Newton C. Fernandez, Technical Director of Baumier Automation. "We want to be prepared for the increasing demand for Industry 4.0 solutions in Brazil, and we are happy to find a strong partner in Litmus." About Litmus Litmus enables out-of-the-box data collection, analytics, and management with an Intelligent Edge Computing Platform for IIoT. Litmus provides the solution to transform critical edge data into actionable intelligence that can power predictive maintenance, machine learning, and AI. Customers include 10+ Fortune 500 manufacturing companies, while partners like Siemens, HPE, Intel and SNC Lavalin expand the Company's path to market. For more information visit www.litmus.io. Media Contact Allison Yrungaray +1 626-841-1640 [email protected] Related Images image1.jpg SOURCE Litmus Related Links http://www.litmus.io Actors Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer are coming back for the sequel of "Call Me by Your Name", director Luca Guadagnino has confirmed. The filmmaker said Michael Stuhlbarg and Esther Garrel, who played parents to Chalamet's Elio in the 2017 romance, will also return for the second part. "It was a great pleasure to work with Timothee Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Esther Garrel and the other actors. Everyone will be in the new movie," Guadagnino told Italian newspaper La Repubblica, as quoted by Variety. While not much is known about the new movie, but Andre Aciman's novel on which the original film was based has a sequel, titled "Find Me". It takes place 10 years after the original story. Like most of the films in the works, Guadagnino added, work on the sequel was put on hold in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. "Before coronavirus, I made a trip to the United States to meet a screenwriter I love very much, whose name I don't want to say, to talk about the second part. Unfortunately, we had to put it on hold," he said. "Call Me by Your Name" is based on Aciman's novel which takes place at the height of the AIDS epidemic in 1987. The film showcased Elio (Chalamet) and Oliver (Hammer)'s summer love story in 1983, around the time HIV was discovered. Previously, Guadagnino said he aims to address the HIV-AIDS crisis in the planned sequel. "Call Me by Your Name" earned four Oscar nominations, including best picture and best actor for Chalamet. Veteran screenwriter James Ivory, who adapted the novel, became the oldest recipient of an Oscar at the age of 89 to win the award. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dear EarthTalk: Internet data centers are fast becoming the largest power hogs in the world. Whats being done in this industry to make Internet usage more energy-efficient?M. T., Reno, NV Though our online activity uses no paper, it still consumes quite a lot of energy. Data centers account for much of this energy use. These warehouse-sized buildings contain arrays or "farms of servers, which are essentially souped-up computers that have many uses, including storing data and supporting all the activity on the internet. They are the hardware behind the proverbial "cloud. Like the personal computers we all use, servers require electricity to function. Since internet users can call upon them to provide information at any time, they must remain on 24/7. Furthermore, as with any form of electrical activity, the functioning of this large number of servers packed together in a small area can result in overheating, making the need for cooling an additional energy cost for data center managers. According to data center provider vXchnge, U.S. data centers alone use over 90 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annuallyabout what 34 coal-powered plants generating 500 megawatts each produce. ComputerWorld magazine reports that the energy consumption of data centers worldwide will likely account for 3.2 percent of global carbon emissions by 2025about as much as the airline industryand as much as 14 percent by 2040. In light of all this, finding ways to cut energy use has become a big priority in the industry. One of the simplest strategies is to locate data centers in cool climates, and use outdoor air to counter excessive heating. Alternate options include cooling inlet air by running it underground, or using a nearby water source for liquid cooling. Another issue is separating hot air produced by servers from the colder air used to cool themno easy task if the servers are all housed together. But there are plenty of cheap solutions. Google, for example, uses low cost dividers from meat lockers for this purpose. Another way data centers can reduce cooling costs is to design servers that can operate at high temperatures without overheating. Recent research shows that servers can operate at much higher temperatures than initially believed without compromising safety or efficiency. But not all data centers are comfortable letting their servers run hot. Other ways to make server farms more efficient include optimizing grid-to-server electrical conversions and reducing the energy required by "sleeping servers. The good news is the industry is making strides in the right direction. Apple, Facebook and Google all power 100 percent of their data center and other operations with renewables, albeit through the purchase of "renewable energy credits akin to carbon offsets that air travelers can buy to keep their carbon footprints in check. Microsoft is moving toward 70 percent renewable energy by 2023, while laggard Amazon still only gets about half its data center power from renewables. And Switch, one of the largest U.S.-based data center companies, transitioned all of its facilities to run on nothing but renewables in 2016, including the nations largest data center in Reno, Nevada. Much of the UK is set to see blue skies, sunshine and soaring temperatures this week, as the government was forced to issue a fresh warning to observe lockdown rules and stay indoors despite the balmy conditions. Some parts of Britain could see highs of 24C later this week and the dry, sunny spell should hold over the Easter weekend. There are fears the warm spring weather could encourage more people to gather in public spaces unnecessarily and flout social distancing measures. Monday will see a cooler start to the week, with highs of 18C expected after rain clears eastwards across most of the country. Tuesday will turn warmer, before rising to highs of 23C or 24C on Wednesday and Thursday in the southeast, according to the Met Office. The heat is really going to build in the middle of the week, Met Office meteorologist Bonnie Diamond told The Independent. There will be generally settled conditions, and there will be plenty of sunshine in England and Wales. Easter weekend wont be quite as warm and will be more unsettled, with the high pressure breaking down bringing spells of rain and stronger wind. The west coast of Scotland and Northern Ireland will continue to be hit by more rain on Monday and could even see some coastal gales on Tuesday, before the conditions ease and settle on Wednesday. A police officer approaches a sunbather in Greenwich Park, south London. (REUTERS) Sunday saw the warmest weather of the year so far with London and parts of north Wales experiencing highs of 22C. Police were forced to clear people sunbathing in parks and beaches in several parts of the country. Londons Lambeth Council closed Brockwell Park after police found too many people gathered in large groups. Brighton & Hove City Council warned people to stay away from promenades, saying residents were still using the seafront to meet up with friends. If people did not follow the rules which allow people to walk, run or cycle outdoors once a day but not sunbathe health secretary Matt Hancock said the government would have to ban exercise of all forms outside the home during the coronavirus outbreak. I dont want to have to take away exercise as a reason to leave home ... if too many people are not following the rules, he told the BBCs Andrew Marr. Hancock said it was unbelievable to see a small minority flouting the governments advice to maintain social distancing. At the moment the vast majority of people are [observing the rules]. But people should not break the rules because that would mean that the virus spreads more and we then might have to take further action. Immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has called on government at levels in Nigeria, religious bodies, corporate organisations and individuals to focus on full time strategic implementation of "stomach infrastructure", saying; "hunger can kill quicker than coronavirus." Fayose, who said the human and economic losses occasioned by the Coronavirus pandemic will be mind-boggling, added that; "in the face of all these, leaders must remain leader and stand up for their people." In a statement on Monday, by his Spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, the former governor hailed the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu for what he described as "his pro-activeness and unrelenting efforts in the management of these challenges as well as his transparency and interface with the people." He called on the federal government to emulate the Lagos State government and do more in the area of prompt information dissemination so as to stem the tide of misinformation in the country. The statement read in part; "Regrettably, we all did not planned or ever imagined this level of attack occasioned by Covid-19, same has humbled world powers not to talk of third worlds like our country Nigeria. "The human and economic losses seem endless and in the face of all these, leaders must remain leader and stand up for their people. "We all know the sit-at-home is inevitable but the government at all levels, particularly governors and council chairmen as well as Churches and Mosques that have received allocations and offerings, etc, must forget projects and embark on full time strategic implementation of stomach infrastructure as hunger can kill quicker than coronavirus. "It is time to give back to the people as nothing else would matter now. "Yam, cassava, garri, others can be bought locally and distributed, while bakers will be glad to be patronized to bake for the people for free daily while it lasts. This will help to enforce the stay-at-home order of the government effortlessly. "The federal government will be making billionaires if the so-called palliatives and physical cash is managed by wrong hands. "I appeal to the general public to show understanding, knowing that our challenges outweigh our income as at today. "Today, I am sure what is on the minds of ordinary Nigerians is, on stomach infrastructure we stand. This, if well implemented, will no doubt help to enforce the stay at home order of the government effortlessly." Tina Marie Photography | Getty Images The Diocese of Springfield will be hosting Holy Week liturgies online through the dioceses website at dio.org/holyweekliturgies and its Facebook page. Services will take place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, at 3 p.m. Good Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Easter Sunday. SIU Head Start program employees earn statewide awards by Pete Rosenbery CARBONDALE, Ill. Two members of the SIU Carbondale Head Start program recently earned statewide honors for their efforts. Joyce Guy, the programs family and partnerships coordinator, was selected the Illinois Head Start Associations Support Staff of the Year. Chrisden Marshall, the center director/lead teacher at the John A. Logan location, was selected the organizations Teacher of the Year. They received their awards during the associations annual banquet last month at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois. Im ecstatic to see the contributions of these two individuals recognized at the state level, Lea Maue, SIU Carbondale Head Start program director, said. Im also proud of the difference Head Start makes for families and communities and Joyce and Chrisden have contributed significantly to that difference. Maue said the awards were based on: Length of service in the program. Training, qualifications, and credentials. Mobilization of resources and collaboration. Quality and provision of services. Special contributions. Singing Wheels on the Bus in no time Guy, from Carbondale, has been with the program since October 1994. She recalls being encouraged to visit one of the centers as a volunteer. I had so much fun with the children reading stories, being involved in curriculum-based activities, playing on the playground, riding buses and so much more, Guy said. The children had me singing Wheels on the Bus in no time. Guy said she was inspired to apply for an extra help position to join the team. She has developed lasting relationships through the years and shares her passion for the program with others. Getting to see children grow Marshall has worked with the program since September 2011. Like Guy, she is also thankful, humbled by the award and said that she feels more confident in her work. Marshall said Head Start is special for her because of the work for the families and children. I get to see how much the children grow throughout the school year, said Marshall, who was a Head Start parent and saw first-hand the programs success. A team effort Guy added that the Head Start staff is equally worthy of the award, adding she could not have accomplished anything without her co-workers. Our program has so many great staff who works tirelessly to provide services to our children and families, she said. We work together as a team and without having a great supportive team, little can be accomplished. Celebrating its 50th anniversary Nationally respected for its success the SIU Carbondale Head Start program is celebrating its 50th year in 2020 and is one of only a few university-related Head Start organizations in the country. The program focuses on meeting the social, intellectual, emotional and physical needs of preschool children from income-eligible families. The national Head Start program got its start in the summer of 1965. The program is now serving 353 children ages three to five attend Head Start centers in Carbondale, Carterville, Marion and Murphysboro. Head Start centers are at 1900 N. Illinois Ave., Carbondale; John A. Logan College in Carterville; 907 N. Vicksburg, Marion, and McElvain Center, 593 Ava Road, Murphysboro. SIUs Head Start program is closed through April 30 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program has a Healthy at Home tool kit that shows activities available for children. MANYONI District Court at Manyoni in Singida District has sentenced three poachers to 40 years in prison each after being convicted of unlawful possession and dealing in 14 pieces and two elephant tusks, which are government trophies. The convicts are Kulwa Subila, alias Ngeleja, Charles Makunga, alias Jumanne and Jumanne Kwangulija, alias Shija Masanja. Resident Magistrate Stella Kiama convicted the trio of the offences charged in two separate cases after being satisfied with the testimony given by prosecution witnesses. State Attorneys Salim Msemo, Patrida Muta and Tulumanywa Majigo represented the prosecution during the trial. The magistrate sentenced the convicts to serve a custodial sentence of 20 years for each count. She, however, ordered the sentences to run co-current. This means that the convicts will remain behind bars for only 20 years. The magistrate also ordered the confiscation of the elephant tusks and that they are kept by the government. Delivering the sentence, the magistrate said that the prosecution sufficiently proved the case against the convicts beyond reasonable doubt as per criminal cases requirements. It was alleged by the prosecution during the trial that on November 21, 2017 in Kambikatoto Village within Chunya District in Mbeya Region, Makunga and Kwangulija were found in possession and dealing in 14 pieces of elephant tusks without permission from the Director of Wildlife. According to the prosecution, the pieces were obtained from one elephant, the property of the United Republic of Tanzania, valued at 15,000 US dollars, which is equivalent to 33m/ -. It was alleged in a separate economic case that on September 20, 2018 in Mitundu Village in Manyoni District in Singida Region, Subila was found in unlawful possession and dealing in two elephant tusks obtained from an elephant, also valued at 15,000 US dollars (33m/-). Meanwhile, the prosecutions file in the trial of eighteen people allegedly linked with the killing of leading Elephant Conservationist in Tanzania, South African Wayne Lotter, has been taken to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for scrutiny. This was revealed by State Attorney Ester Martin at the Kisutu Resident Magistrates Court in Dar es Salaam last Friday when the murder trial came for mention. She told the court that the file was with the DPP and, thus requested for another mention date. The trial attorney was responding to a concern raised by Advocate Rayson Luka, for the accused persons, over lack of progress recovered by the prosecution in conducting the investigation. Defence counsel had complained that incomplete investigation had become an endless song for prosecution. After listening to both parties, the magistrate adjourned the case to April 17, 2020. The accused persons in the trial are two Burundian nationals Nduimana Zebedayo, alias Mchungaji and Habonimana Nyandwi. Others are Khalid Mwinyi, a banker and his sister, Rahma Mwinyi, a businesswoman, Mohamed Maganga, an office attendant, Godfrey Salamba and three businessmen; Innocent Kimaro, Chambie Ally and Allan Mafuwe. The rest are Robert Mwaipyana, a bank officer, Ismail Mohamed, a Somali national and Abdallah Bawaziri, alias Bawaziri, a resident of Dodoma, Leonard Makoi, Amini Sham, Ayoub Selemani, Joseph Lukoa, Gaudence Matemu and Abuu Mkingie, who are all businessmen. The prosecution claimed that on diverse dates between July 1 and August 16, 2017, within the United Republic of Tanzania, all accused persons conspired to murder Wayne Derek Lotter. It is alleged that on August 16, 2017, at the junction of Chole and Haile Selassie Road within Kinondoni District in the Commercial City of Dar es Salaam, the accused persons murdered Wayne Derek Lotter, who was a South African antipoacher campaigner. Wayne Lotter was killed while being chauffeured from the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport to his hotel when his taxi was stopped by another vehicle. Two men, one armed with a gun allegedly opened the cars door and shot him. Lotter was a director and co-founder of the PAMS Foundation, an NGO that provides conservation and anti-poaching support to communities and governments in Africa. Since starting the organisation in Tanzania in 2009, he had received numerous death threats relating to his work. Lynne Hewett, a Utah nurse, flew into New York City a couple of weeks ago, to work the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. She was an emergency room nurse in New York, after 9/11 and Superstorm Sandy. She was in Haiti after the earthquake. Now, shes in a Manhattan hospitals emergency room, treating an onslaught of New Yorkers who have coronavirus, or worry that they do. Shes never seen anything like it. Its overwhelming, Ms. Hewett said. These are really, really sick patients coming in, needing 10 or 11 people to work on them. These patients are coding or going into cardiac arrest. Theres not enough staff to have a break and regroup; its nonstop. Youre trying to do one person, then you turn around and hear, Youve got another code next door. For many medical providers, such stress is the new norm. Theyre coping with, or prepping for, crowds of sick or anxious patients and inadequate stores of personal protective equipment (P.P.E.). On the job, they expose themselves and by proxy their families, to a frightening disease. Theyve watched colleagues sicken or die from it. GOTHENBURG, Sweden, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Getinge, the world market leader in advanced ventilators for intensive care units, is announcing yet another ramp-up in production capacity, to 26,000 ventilators in 2020. The increase equals a growth of 160% compared to 2019, when 10,000 ventilators were produced. The demand for advanced ventilators for the intensive care units in hospitals continue to increase globally as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Getinge is ramping up the production capacity stepwise at its production facility in Solna, Sweden, and is now increasing production capacity to 26,000 in 2020, compared to the previous planned 16,000 unit level that was communicated on March 17. The ramp up will start immediately and progress in close collaboration with Getinge's suppliers. "We continue to ramp up to be able to respond to the increasing demand from our customers", says Elin Frostehav, Vice President Critical Care at Getinge. "We work closely with our sub-contractors and the ramp up is of course pending availability of supply parts". In 2019, Getinge produced 10,000 ventilators at the production facility in Solna. Since the start of 2020, Getinge has increased its production capacity with 160%, compared to 2019. The estimated increase in demand and production capacity of ventilators is expected to be accretive to Getinge's result. Learn more about Getinge's products on www.getinge.com. Media contact: Anna Appelqvist, VP Corporate Communications Phone: +46-(0)10-335-5906 E-mail: [email protected] Jeanette Heden Carlsson, EVP Communication & Academy Phone: +46-(0)73-4244797 E-mail: [email protected] This information is information that Getinge AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 13:00 CET on April 6, 2020. About Getinge With a firm belief that every person and community should have access to the best possible care, Getinge provides hospitals and life science institutions with products and solutions that aim to improve clinical results and optimize workflows. The offering includes products and solutions for intensive care, cardiovascular procedures, operating rooms, sterile reprocessing and life science. Getinge employs over 10,000 people worldwide and the products are sold in more than 135 countries. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/getinge/r/getinge-to-further-increase-production-capacity-of-ventilators-in-2020,c3082344 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/942/3082344/1225245.pdf Release https://news.cision.com/getinge/i/elin-frostehav-,c2769773 Elin Frostehav https://news.cision.com/getinge/i/getinge-ab----solna,c2769774 Getinge AB - Solna SOURCE Getinge In response to the social distancing measures amid the COVID-19 outbreak, CoreLogic has launched a new tool that allows property valuers to assess and inspect homes remotely. The ValConnect Upload Portal enables valuers to provide a link where residents can upload images of the property. The tool provides real-time internal photos of the property, with accompanying time/date stamp and geo-coordinates. The tool enables valuers to undertake external assessments, kerbside inspection, and desktop assessment without having to physically be in the property. "Over the past few weeks, we have seen an acceleration and proliferation of crowd-sourced and distance-based collaboration tools, developed to enable the flow of lending in an era of social distancing," said Tim Jenner, executive for product at CoreLogic. Jenner said the tool meets strict global technology protocols, including data controls and privacy regulations. "If these services are deployed with robust compliance services, solid data-governance principles and technology standards, efficiency continues to be driven into the system whilst still meeting the high prudential and governing body standards," Jenner said. Lisa Claes, CEO of CoreLogic International, said the COVID-19 outbreak has shed light on the need to embrace technology to further improve services in the property industry. "The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the urgent need for creative industry-based solutions which provide stability and support for homeowners in Australia and New Zealand and critically facilitate the continued flow of lending," she said. Herron Todd White recently unveiled a similar tool, which helps make the process of accessing a propertys equity more efficient. The White House coronavirus task force had its biggest fight yet on Saturday, pitting economic adviser Peter Navarro against infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci. At issue: How enthusiastically should the White House tout the prospects of an antimalarial drug to fight COVID-19? Behind the scenes: This drama erupted into an epic Situation Room showdown. Trump's coronavirus task force gathered in the White House Situation Room on Saturday at about 1:30pm, according to four sources familiar with the conversation. Vice President Mike Pence sat at the head of the table. Numerous government officials were at the table, including Fauci, coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx, Jared Kushner, acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, and Commissioner of Food and Drugs Stephen Hahn. Behind them sat staff, including Peter Navarro, tapped by Trump to compel private companies to meet the government's coronavirus needs under the Defense Production Act. Toward the end of the meeting, Hahn began a discussion of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, which Trump believes could be a "game-changer" against the coronavirus. Hahn gave an update about the drug and what he was seeing in different trials and real-world results. Then Navarro got up. He brought over a stack of folders and dropped them on the table. People started passing them around. "And the first words out of his mouth are that the studies that he's seen, I believe they're mostly overseas, show 'clear therapeutic efficacy,'" said a source familiar with the conversation. "Those are the exact words out of his mouth." Navarro's comments set off a heated exchange about how the Trump administration and the president ought to talk about the malaria drug, which Fauci and other public health officials stress is unproven to combat COVID-19. Fauci pushed back against Navarro, saying that there was only anecdotal evidence that hydroxychloroquine works against the coronavirus. Researchers have said studies out of France and China are inadequate because they did not include control groups. Fauci and others have said much more data is needed to prove that hydroxychloroquine is effective against the coronavirus. As part of his role, Navarro has been trying to source hydroxychloroquine from around the world. He's also been trying to ensure that there are enough domestic production capabilities inside the U.S. Fauci's mention of anecdotal evidence "just set Peter off," said one of the sources. Navarro pointed to the pile of folders on the desk, which included printouts of studies on hydroxychloroquine from around the world. Navarro said to Fauci, "That's science, not anecdote," said another of the sources. Navarro started raising his voice, and at one point accused Fauci of objecting to Trump's travel restrictions, saying, "You were the one who early on objected to the travel restrictions with China," saying that travel restrictions don't work. (Navarro was one of the earliest to push the China travel ban.) Fauci looked confused, according to a source in the room. After Trump imposed the travel restrictions, Fauci has publicly praised the president's restriction on travel from China. Pence was trying to moderate the heated discussion. "It was pretty clear that everyone was just trying to get Peter to sit down and stop being so confrontational," said one of the sources. Eventually, Kushner turned to Navarro and said, "Peter, take yes for an answer," because most everyone agreed, by that time, it was important to surge the supply of the drug to hot zones. The principals agreed that the administration's public stance should be that the decision to use the drug is between doctors and patients. Trump ended up announcing at his press conference that he had 29 million doses of hydroxychloroquine in the Strategic National Stockpile. Between the lines: "There has never been a confrontation in the task force meetings like the one yesterday," said a source familiar with the argument. "People speak up and there's robust debate, but there's never been a confrontation. Yesterday was the first confrontation." In response to a request for comment on Axios' reporting, Katie Miller, a spokesperson for the vice president, said: "We don't comment on meetings in the Situation Room." The bottom line: The way to discuss the drug's potential has become a fraught issue within the Trump administration. Most members of the task force support a cautious approach to discussing the drug until it's proven. Navarro, on the other hand, is convinced based on his reading that the drug works against the coronavirus and speaks about it enthusiastically. Some of Trump's favorite TV hosts, including Fox's Sean Hannity, and friends including Rudy Giuliani, have also been touting the malaria drug for the coronavirus. Trump has made no secret who he sides with. "What do you have to lose? Take it," the president said in a White House briefing on Saturday. "I really think they should take it. But it's their choice. And it's their doctor's choice or the doctors in the hospital. But hydroxychloroquine. Try it, if you'd like." Subscribe to Mike Allen's Axios AM to follow our coronavirus coverage each morning from your inbox. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) San Francisco's iconic Transamerica Pyramid will begin lighting the building's crown jewel beacon nightly in order to show solidarity with health care workers, the building's managers announced Monday. The 6,000-watt beacon that sits atop the 853-foot-tall building, located in the city's Financial District, will also be lit to provide the Bay Area with hope during the novel coronavirus pandemic. When lit at night, the beacon can be seen as far as the East and North bays. MORE: State has secured more than 4,500 additional beds for COVID-19 prep "Each night at 8 p.m., the crown jewel beacon will be lit to honor health care workers in the Bay Area who are performing vital work and battling to save lives of Bay Area residents during the crisis," said Elaine Chan, general manager of Jones Lang LaSalle, the company that manages the building. In addition to the beacon, the building's managers have also donated a box of about 350 N95 masks to first responders to protect themselves from COVID-19 amid a nationwide shortage. The masks were recently found sitting around in an emergency supply room. The masks will be delivered to San Francisco Fire Department Station No. 13, which is located just next door to the Transamerica building. 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. Robin Marcato, the Danville woman who was tested for coronavirus on March 24, said she tested positive for COVID-19. Marcato, 47, waited nearly two weeks for her test results, which she received Saturday. She told the Danville Register & Bee on Sunday she is slowly getting her appetite back and hasnt had a fever in two days. The main issue is I feel so weak, she said via Facebook Messenger on Sunday. Going from one room to another is exhausting. As of 9 a.m. Sunday, the Virginia Department of Health's website reported 12 cases of COVID-19 in Danville. Since the health department only discloses ages of patients, it's not known if Marcato is included in that group of 12. It was in my back, my hips, my hands, neck and feet, she said in an interview on March 24. I started to shake and my skin felt funny. I rarely, if ever, get fevers, so it was a huge warning sign. Her temperature soared from 99 to 103 within an hour, she said. The Virginia Department of Health reported Sunday that 2,637 people in Virginia have tested positive for COVID-19 and 51 have died. Crane reports for the Register & Bee. He can be reached at (434) 791-7987. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. New Delhi, April 6 : In the wake of the increasing threat of Covid-19, the medical fraternity has asked the government to consider withdrawing GST on hand sanitiser and masks in these 'difficult times'. "We understand that certain ingredients (in sanitisers) are taxable, still in these difficult times or at least for next few months, hand sanitisers should not attract GST," said Sandeep Sharma, President of Indian Medical Association's (IMA) Delhi branch. According to Sharma, hospitals, ambulance, nursing and support staff desperately require sanitisers, masks and other protective equipment in 24x7 mode. "We require all these items in bulk, but at present we are paying 18 per cent GST on sanitisers and 5 per cent on masks etc. Besides, medical practitioners and public at large also require hand sanitisers and masks as a major preventive measure to keep away from the highly infectious virus. It would be a big relief for people if GST is not levied on these items," said Sharma, who coordinates with all leading chains of top private hospitals and doctors. Meanwhile, the President of the Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI), Roy K George, has appealed to all the state governments to ensure urgent and smooth supply of personal protective equipment (PPE), and essential items like masks and sanitisers to serve patients and combat the spread of the infectious disease to the medical staff. "Our state associations, particularly from Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, have informed us that adequate supply of PPEs, masks and sanitisers has to be provided to the nurses and other medical staff," said George, adding, "What happened in Mumbai, where 26 nurses tested positive for Covid-19 in private hospitals, suggest that frontline soldiers of the this war against virus need more attention in terms of equipments and medical kits." TNAI, founded in 1908, has 6 lakh nurses as its members, making it one of the largest associations of nurses in the world. It has postponed all its celebrations related to the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, legendary social reformer and founder of modern nursing. While nurses world over combat the dreaded infectious disease, the WHO has declared 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and Midwife in honour of Florence Nightingale. Corona lockdown impact: With no access to livelihood, India's small-scale fisheries sector needs urgent relief measures from govt by Sarita Fernandes April 06,2020 | Source: Firstpost In India, fishing in the small-scale fisheries sector -- also known as artisanal or traditional fisheries -- is practised by fishermen who use unique methods of fishing based on natural tidal patterns and seasons, small boats, go fishing for limited periods, make few trips and use relatively less fossil fuels in the overall fishing activity. The sector is prominent for Indias coastal development programmes as it is a major contributor of employment, food security and export earnings. Small-scale fisheries contribute to a significant amount of catch in the coastal communities of India. The ICSF (International Collective in Support of Fishworkers) estimates that about half of all small-scale fishworkers accounted for are fisherwomen. Small-scale fishing methods are important and essential in ensuring sustainability in fishing, marine wildlife habitats and ensuring cultural and traditional knowledge is protected. The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations) estimated that 90 percent of all people directly involved in fisheries work, are small-scale fishers. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in 2019 released a press report which said that the fisheries sector is a major contributor to the overall agricultural sector and estimated it contributed to about 1 percent of Indias annual GDP. However, the lack of policy protection, political representation and poor documentation has resulted in low representation, loss of fishing grounds to infrastructure development and marginalisation of the community to address urgent issues that it faces, especially in a period of national and global health or disaster crisis. A lockdown was announced by the Indian government on 24 March, 2020 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic which has since brought to a halt production, trade and sale of goods. Besides, it also restricts the movement of people. The lockdown was essential in order to reduce the spread of the pandemic, given that India is the second-most populous country in the world. The escalation from the lowest to the highest stage of the pandemic would progress faster and farther if necessary social distancing and quarantine measures are not taken. However, for the unorganised and semi-organised workforce, which accounts for about 80 percent of Indias workforce, this meant reverse migration, food shortages and loss of a sustainable livelihood. The semi-organised to unorganised fisheries sector, particularly the small-scale fishers are the worst-hit in any national or global crisis. The characteristics of small-scale fishingplace of fishing, methods, sale and storage mechanisms being diverse and unique to various communities, raises the following issues with respect to the lockdown: -- Small-scale fishers sustain on a daily catch. The fishworkers usually go fishing for short periods of time in the intertidal or subtidal region and their catch depends on the daily accessibility to the coast. The lockdown that mandates social distancing has essentially stopped access of the small-scale fishers to the coast for their daily catch. Most small-scale fishers operate in low numbers from one to five. They sustain on the daily catch for home, community consumption and local sale. -- Fisherwomen account for half of all small-scale fishers. The sale of the catch is dominantly carried out by this demographic and the lockdown means no catch; thus no sale. Fish and fish commodities were not included in the list of essential commodities initially, with several state governments imposing complete lockdowns on markets. Due to this, we have seen several media reports of commercial fishers discarding their entire catch of fresh fish back into the sea as there is no option for sale and storage. Daily sale provides livelihood sustenance for fisherwomen and their families. -- The spring catch for small-scale fishers is an important phase of monetary sustenance. The catch is more diverse than other seasons and this monetary spring sale ensures sustenance for the community during the monsoon ban period. The monsoon ban period is also the period of repair and maintenance of nets and boats and without the spring catch and sale, this would add up to economic pressure on the community as they would require loans to carry out maintenance costs to be able to resume fishing post-monsoon and ban periods. The measures taken up by the Centre involves providing immediate relief through monetary compensation to the affected community. The amount to each community or boat owner/labourer/fish vendor, etc is ambiguous and unclear. The Centre also implied it would compile the number of affected fishworkers, fish farmers and fish vendors to provide this financial aid. However, for an unorganised and fairly undefined sector like the small-scale fishers, this would warrant a mild chance for them to avail any relief through these monetary packages. Another component to consider is that the relief package will not contribute to a percent of the monetary spring sale that they would require to sustain the monsoons and ban period. The immediate measures for relief for small-scale fishers across the country during the lockdown would be: 1. Immediate relief by allowing access to the coast by issuing advisories and guidelines on the number of trips permitted per week. The maximum number of fishworkers in these trips can also be limited and personal protection equipment (PPE) provided to eliminate health risks. 2. Include sale of fish, especially local catch from small-scale fishers and the community, into the village and town horticulture shops that are currently selling vegetables and essentials to the villages and cities across the country. This would eliminate the risk exposure of fisherwomen and fish vendors for sale as the catch, like horticulture produce, would directly be brought by the government for sale in these ration shops. Additional hygiene advisories can be issued for sale of fish during the lockdown. This also ensures the catch is sold as per the market price and wont lead to unfair, low pricing or vice-versa. 3. If periodic markets are allowed, like in some parts of the country which are open only for a few hours, fish vendors and fisherwomen must be included into these markets and personal protection equipment (PPE) provided to such vendors with social distancing measures. Some fishing societies are already practicing these health guidelines in the sale of fish in their communities. 4. Monetary compensation must be allocated to registered societies than to individual accounts. The individual accounts scheme is eligible currently to only Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, which several fishworkers in the commercial or small-scale sector do not possess or have access to currently. This also raises ambiguity in the proper dispersal of this monetary relief to the most affected during this period of lockdown. Theme(s): Others. [April 06, 2020] Chile introduces tax on OTT digital services Sydney, April 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on Chile outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Chile-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses Chiles telecom sector benefits from effective competition, particularly in the broadband and mobile sectors. In recent years there has been an emphasis on developing fibre infrastructure to improve the reach and capacity of fixed-line services. Fixed-line teledensity continues to fall as consumers switch to mobile networks for voice calls. The leading operators are Telefonica Chile, trading as Movistar, VTR Globalcom (VTR), the GTD Group, Entel, and Claro. Telefonica Group in February 2020 selected banks to advise it on its plan to spin-off its Latin American units to allow it to focus on Germany, Spain, the UK and Brazil. Fixed broadband penetration is relatively high for the region, with services among the fastest and least expensive in Latin America. The mobile penetration rate is among the highest in South America. Movistar and Entel remain the market leaders, with a similar market share, while Claro accounts for about a quarter of the market and WOM has rapidly increased its subscriber base. LTE infrastructure is extensive and while there is a National Plan for 5G, services await spectrum auctions scheduled for mid-2020 though these may be delayed given the current coronavirus pandemic. This report provides an overview of Chiles telecom sector and regulatory environment, including a range of statistical data and market analyses. It covers the mobile voice and data segments, profiling operators and the key MVNOs and assessing the development of LTE and 5G infrastructure, and also reviews the fixed-line and fixed-wireless broadband segments, including the status of DSL, cable and fibre broadband. BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains all around the world. During this time, the telecoms sector may experience a downturn in mobile device and ICT equipment production and a decline in consumer spending on telecoms services. Overall progress towards 5G may also be postponed or slowed down in some countries. Please also note: Industry forecasts contained in this report have not taken Coronavirus into consideration as it is yet largely unknown what the long-term impact will be. In response to the coronavirus crisis the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunication together with Movistar, Claro, Entel, VTR and Grupo GTD launched the Solidarity Plan in April 2020, by which low-income fixed broadband subscribers under financial stress are guaranteed a minimum 2Mb/s service for three months, while mobile subscribers are able to access 300 minutes of calls, 50 SMS and basis data. The offer could potentially benefit up to three million households. In addition, the Ministry of Education since March 2020 has promoted tele-education with free access to educational content for about three million school pupils. Key developments New telecom tax on OTT players introduced; Telefonica Group making progress on selling its Latin American units; Google completes laying the Curie submarine cable linking Chile with the US west coast; GTD to lay a 3,500km submarine cable from Africa to Puerto Montt; Regulator preps for 5G multi-spectrum auction by mid-2020; Industry lobby group Atelmo proposes $26 billion investment program to 2024 to increase reach of LTE and fibre-based broadband networks; Report update includes the regulator's market data update to September 2019, telcos financial and operating data to Q4 2019, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report VTR, Claro Chile, GTD Group (including Telsur, GTD Manquehue, Telesat, Telcoy), DirecTV, CTR, CMET/Cable Central, Mundo Pacifico, TuVes HD, Nextel, VTR, Virgin Mobile, Falabella, Globalcom, Entel Chile Table of Contents Key Statistics Regional Market Comparison Telecom Maturity Index by tier Market Leaders Market Challengers Market Emergents South America Telecom Maturity Index Central America Telecom Maturity Index TMI versus GDP Mobile and mobile broadband penetration Fixed and mobile broadband penetration Country overview Telecommunications market Market analysis Regulatory environment Historical overview Regulatory authorities Subtel Superintendency of Telecommunications CNTV Fixed-line developments Telecommunications Development Fund Number Portability (NP) Interconnect Access Network neutrality Digital agenda 2013-2020 Mobile network developments 3G spectrum auctions LTE spectrum auctions 5G spectrum plan 3.5GH Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Mobile Termination Rates (MTRs) Mobile towers Roaming SIM card registration Mobile market Mobile statistics Mobile infrastructure 5G 4G (LTE) 3G 2G (GSM) Other infrastructure developments Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Mobile voice Mobile data Mobile broadband Mobile network operators Entel Chile Movistar (Telefonica Moviles Chile) Claro Chile (America Movil) WOM (Nextel Chile) VTR Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) Mobile content and applications M-payments Fixed-line broadband market Market analysis Broadband statistics Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks VTR Claro Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks Entel Movistar Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks Other fixed broadband services WiMAX Satellite broadband Competition issues Network Neutrality Law Minimum access speeds Fixed network operators Introduction Local operators Long-distance operators Movistar (Telefonica Chile) VTR GTD Group Telefonica del Sur (Telsur) Entel Chile Claro Chile (formerly Telmex) Telecommunications infrastructure Overview of the national telecom network VoIP Digital economy E-government E-commerce Tele-education International infrastructure Submarine cable networks Satellite networks Wholesale Appendix Historic data Related reports List of Tables Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Chile 2020 (e) Table 2 Change in the number of mobile and fixed-line subscribers 2010 2019 Table 3 Change in the fixed and mobile market share of subscribers 2010 2019 Table 4 Telecom market investment 2009 2017 Table 5 Annual fixed number portings 2012 2020 Table 6 Spectrum auction 700MHz band February 2014 Table 7 Annual mobile number portings 2012 2020 Table 8 MTRs 2014 2018 Table 9 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Table 10 Development of mobile network traffic 2010 2019 Table 11 Change in the number of mobile prepaid/postpaid subscribers 2010 2019 Table 12 Change in the proportion of mobile prepaid/postpaid subscribers 2010 2019 Table 13 Change in the share of mobile subscribers by major operator 2010 2019 Table 14 Growth in the number of Movistars LTE subscribers and penetration 2016 2019 Table 15 Growth in the number of Entel Chiles LTE subscribers 2017 2019 Table 16 Change in operators 3G market share 2009 2019 Table 17 M2M connections via mobile broadband 2013 2019 Table 18 Movistar Chile M2M connections 2014 2019 Table 19 Decline in the number of SMS messages sent, annual change 2010 2019 Table 20 Decline in the number of MMS messages sent, annual change 2010 2019 Table 21 Change in the number of mobile internet connections by platform 2009 2019 Table 22 Change in the proportion of mobile broadband connections by technology 2009 2019 Table 23 Mobile broadband penetration by technology 2009 2019 Table 24 Change in mobile broadband market share by major players 2013 2019 Table 25 Mobile broadband market share by minor players 2013 2019 Table 26 Smartphones using mobile internet 2013 2019 Table 27 Growth in mobile data traffic 2017 2019 Table 28 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Table 29 Growth in the number of Entel Chiles mobile subscribers 2010 2019 Table 30 Change in the number of Entel Chiles mobile broadband subscribers 2012 2019 Table 31 Decline in Entel Chiles mobile revenue 2017 2019 Table 32 Change in the number of Movistars mobile subscribers 2010 2019 Table 33 Development of Movistar Chiles mobile revenue 2012 2019 Table 34 Growth in Movistar Chiles traffic by type 2013 2019 Table 35 Change in Movistar Chiles mobile ARPU 2013 2019 Table 36 Change in the number of Claros mobile subscribers 2010 2019 Table 37 Development of Claros mobile revenue 2012 2019 Table 38 Growth in the number of WOMs mobile subscribers 2008 2019 Table 39 Growth in the number of VTRs mobile subscribers 2012 2019 Table 40 MVNO subscribers by operator 2011 2019 Table 41 Virgin Mobiles mobile subscribers 2012 2019 Table 42 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Table 43 Change in the number of fixed broadband subscribers by platform 2010 2019 Table 44 Change in the market share of fixed broadband technologies by subscribers 2010 2019 Table 45 Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by speed 2010 2019 Table 46 Change in operator market share of fixed broadband subscribers 2010 2019 Table 47 Mobile and fixed-line internet subscribers 2009 2019 Table 48 Decline in dial-up traffic (minutes and sessions) 2010 2019 Table 49 Growth in the number of cable modem subscribers and penetration 2010 2019 Table 50 Growth in the number of VTRs fixed broadband subscribers 2010 2019 Table 51 Growth in VTRs revenue 2011 2019 Table 52 Growth in the number of Claros broadband subscribers 2007 2019 Table 53 Decline in the number of DSL subscribers and penetration 2010 2019 Table 54 Growth in the number of Entels broadband subscribers 2007 2019 Table 55 Change in the number of Movistars fixed broadband subscribers 2010 2019 Table 56 Growth in the number of GTD Groups broadband subscribers 2010 2019 Table 57 Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers 2011 2019 Table 58 Growth in the number of Movistars fibre broadband subscribers 2014 2019 Table 59 Decline in the number of WiMAX broadband subscribers 2009 2019 Table 60 Change in operator market share of fixed lines in service 2010 2019 Table 61 Decline in fixed-line local traffic (minutes and calls) 2010 2019 Table 62 Decline in the number of Movistars fixed lines in service 2010 2019 Table 63 Development of Movistars financial data 2014 2019 Table 64 Decline in the number of VTRs fixed-line subscribers 2010 2019 Table 65 Decline in the number of GTD Groups fixed-line subscribers 2010 2019 Table 66 Decline in the number of Entels fixed-line subscribers 2010 2019 Table 67 Development of Entel Chiles financial data 2014 2019 Table 68 Change in the number of Claros fixed lines in service 2006 2019 Table 69 Development of Claros revenue by platform 2012 2019 Table 70 Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2010 2025 Table 71 Growth in international internet bandwidth 2010 2018 Table 72 Historic - Mobile and fixed-line subscribers 2005 2009 Table 73 Historic - Mobile prepaid/postpaid ratio 1999 2009 Table 74 Historic - Mobile network traffic 2000 2009 Table 75 Historic - Mobile market share of subscribers by major operators 2000 2009 Table 76 Historic - Fixed and mobile market share of subscribers 1997 2009 Table 77 Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate 1995 2009 Table 78 Historic - SMS messages sent, annual change 2002 2009 Table 79 Historic - Entel PCS mobile subscribers 2000 2009 Table 80 Historic - Movistar mobile subscribers 2000 2009 Table 81 Historic - Claro mobile subscribers 2000 2009 Table 82 Historic - Internet users and user penetration 1998 2015 Table 83 Historic - Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration rates 2001 2009 Table 84 Historic - Fixed broadband technologies by market share of subscribers 2001 2009 Table 85 Historic - Fixed broadband connections by data speed 2007 2009 Table 86 Historic - Dial-up traffic (minutes and sessions) 2000 2009 Table 87 Historic - Cable modem subscribers and penetration rates 2001 2009 Table 88 Historic - VTR broadband subscribers 2001 2009 Table 89 Historic - Fixed broadband technologies by market share of subscribers 2001 2009 Table 90 Historic - DSL subscribers and penetration rate 2001 2009 Table 91 Historic - Fixed broadband operators market share of subscribers 2007 2009 Table 92 Historic - Movistar fixed broadband subscribers 2001 2009 Table 93 Historic - GTD Group fixed broadband subscribers 2001 2009 Table 94 Historic - Fixed lines in service operators market share 2000 2009 Table 95 Historic - Fixed-line local traffic (minutes and calls) 2000 2009 Table 96 Historic - Movistar fixed lines in service 2000 2009 Table 97 Historic - VTR fixed-lines subscribers 2000 2009 Table 98 Historic GTD Group fixed lines in service 2000 2009 Table 99 Historic Entel fixed lines in service 2000 2009 Table 100 Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity 1995 2009 Table 101 Historic - International internet bandwidth 2000 2009 Table 102 Historic - Falabella Movil mobile subscribers 2013 2018 List of Charts Chart 1 Latin America Overall Telecoms Maturity Index Chart 2 Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index Market Leaders Chart 3 Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index Market Challengers Chart 4 Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index Market Emergents Chart 5 South America Telecoms Maturity Index by country Chart 6 Central America Telecoms Maturity Index by country Chart 7 Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita Chart 8 South America mobile subscriber penetration versus mobile broadband penetration Chart 9 Latin America fixed broadband penetration versus mobile broadband penetration Chart 10 Change in the number of mobile and fixed-line subscribers 2010 2019 Chart 11 Change in the fixed and mobile market share of subscribers 2010 2019 Chart 12 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Chart 13 Development of mobile network traffic 2010 2019 Chart 14 Change in the number of mobile prepaid/postpaid subscribers 2010 2019 Chart 15 Change in the proportion of mobile prepaid/postpaid subscribers 2010 2019 Chart 16 Change in the share of mobile subscribers by major operator 2010 2019 Chart 17 Growth in the number of Movistars LTE subscribers and penetration 2016 2019 Chart 18 Change in operators 3G market share 2009 2019 Chart 19 Decline in the number of SMS messages sent, annual change 2010 2019 Chart 20 Decline in the number of MMS messages sent, annual change 2010 2019 Chart 21 Change in the number of mobile internet connections by platform 2009 2019 Chart 22 Change in the proportion of mobile broadband connections by technology 2009 2019 Chart 23 Mobile broadband penetration by technology 2009 2019 Chart 24 Change in mobile broadband market share by major players 2013 2019 Chart 25 Smartphones using mobile internet 2013 2019 Chart 26 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Chart 27 Growth in the number of Entel Chiles mobile subscribers 2010 2019 Chart 28 Change in the number of Entel Chiles mobile subscribers 2012 2019 Chart 29 Change in the number of Movistars mobile subscribers 2010 2019 Chart 30 Development of Movistar Chiles mobile revenue 2012 2019 Chart 31 Change in Movistar Chiles mobile ARPU 2013 2019 Chart 32 Change in the number of Claros mobile subscribers 2010 2019 Chart 33 Growth in the number of WOMs mobile subscribers 2008 2019 Chart 34 Growth in the number of VTRs mobile subscribers 2012 2019 Chart 35 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2010 2025 Chart 36 Change in the number of fixed broadband subscribers by platform 2010 2019 Chart 37 Change in the market share of fixed broadband technologies by subscribers 2010 2019 Chart 38 Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by speed 2010 2019 Chart 39 Change in operator market share of fixed broadband subscribers 2010 2019 Chart 40 Mobile and fixed-line internet subscribers 2009 2019 Chart 41 Growth in the number of cable modem subscribers and penetration 2010 2019 Chart 42 Growth in the number of VTRs fixed broadband subscribers 2010 2019 Chart 43 Growth in VTRs revenue 2011 2019 Chart 44 Decline in the number of DSL subscribers and penetration 2010 2019 Chart 45 Change in operator market share of fixed lines in service 2010 2019 Chart 46 Decline in fixed-line local traffic (minutes and calls) 2010 2019 Chart 47 Decline in the number of Movistars fixed lines in service 2010 2019 Chart 48 Development of Movistars financial data 2014 2019 Chart 49 Decline in the number of VTRs fixed-line subscribers 2010 2019 Chart 50 Decline in the number of GTD Groups fixed-line subscribers 2010 2019 Chart 51 Decline in the number of Entels fixed-line subscribers 2010 2019 Chart 52 Development of Entel Chiles financial data 2014 2019 Chart 53 Development of Claros revenue by platform 2012 2019 Chart 54 Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2010 2025 List of Exhibits Exhibit 1 Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment Exhibit 2 South America - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country Exhibit 3 Central America - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country Exhibit 4 Regions and primary zones in Chile Exhibit 5 Local telephony operators number of zones of operation Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Chile-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses Nicolas Bombourg [email protected] Within Australia (02) 8076 7665 Outside Australia +44 207 097 1241 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Photo: CDC The latest news on the COVID-19 global pandemic (all times Eastern): 12:15 p.m. Three more residents of a nursing home in central Ontario have died of COVID-19, bringing the total number of deaths at the facility up to 26. The wife of a resident at Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon, Ont., has also died from the novel coronavirus. The outbreak at the seniors' residence in Ontario's cottage country is considered one of the worst in the country. At least 24 staff members at the facility have also tested positive for COVID-19. 11:55 a.m. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he's confident shipments of personal protective medical gear from the U.S. will continue to arrive in Canada. He was responding to reports U.S. President Donald Trump is trying to keep U.S.-made medical equipment on American soil. Trudeau says talks between the two countries are ongoing and have proven to be productive. 11:30 a.m. Politicians in southeastern British Columbia are calling on the provincial health officer to close the B.C.-Alberta border to non-essential travel. A statement on the Regional District of East Kootenay website says people are not heeding the message from health officials in both B.C. and Alberta urging everyone to stay home. The regional district also wants all non-resident property owners to stay away and it is seeking closure of all private campgrounds, overnight and backcountry camping. 11:24 a.m. Nova Scotia is reporting 31 new cases of COVID-19. The province's total has now grown to 293 confirmed cases 64 of which have been resolved. While most cases in Nova Scotia have been connected to travel or a known case, the province has confirmed cases are now being linked to community spread. 11:22 a.m. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says 240,000 people successfully applied for emergency relief in the first few hours after Ottawa opened the process. Only people with birthdays in the first three months of the year can apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit today. The benefit offers $500-a-week payments for workers who have lost all of their income. Trudeau says changes to the program will come soon to offer help for people whose hours have been slashed but who are still working a little. 10:50 a.m. Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is calling on the government to increase the charitable donation tax credit. He says this would help increase charitable contributions to hospitals, churches, food banks, women's shelters and other worthy organizations. Scheer also wants the government to immediately remove the capital gains tax on charitable donations of private company shares and real estate. He says although many businesses are struggling, some are still thriving and should be encouraged to support the charitable sector. 10:40 a.m. Ontario is reporting 309 new COVID-19 cases, including 13 additional deaths. There have now been a total of 4,347 cases in the province, including 1,624 resolved cases. The new cases represent a 7.7 per cent increase in the past 24 hours, but the number of resolved cases jumped by more than 37 per cent. 10:38 a.m. Halifax police say they issued 39 tickets on the weekend for violations of the province's Health Protection Act and the Emergency Management Act. That means Halifax Regional Police have handed out a total to 47 tickets since the province declared a state of emergency on March 22. The majority of the fines were handed to people in prohibited areas under the Emergency Management Act. 7 a.m. Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says Canadian passengers on the Coral Princess cruise ship will be headed home today, after undergoing a health screening. Champagne says in a tweet that Canadians who don't show any symptoms of COVID-19 will be allowed to disembark the ship in Florida and get on a flight chartered by Holland America. The minister says they'll be screened again upon arrival and subject to a mandatory 14-day self-isolation period. Some passengers were allowed off the ship yesterday but Canadians weren't among them, due to new guidelines by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control guidelines. Those guidelines said cruise passengers shouldn't board commercial flights, meaning only those with chartered flights were able to disembark. Dr Ramu Kharel, from Nepal, is currently based in Georgia, the US. He is busy taking care of the patients infected with coronavirus at a local hospitals emergency ward. OnlineKhabar recently talked with Kharel about his experience of being in the front line of treating coronavirus patients, security measures required for the health workers during this time and what Nepal learn from the experiences of people like him. Excerpts: What are the stages a patient infected with coronavirus has to go through for treatment? When a patient comes to our emergency department, we first measure their temperatures, then look at other symptoms followed by a series of questions. If they show relatable symptoms, they are called persons under investigations and we give them a surgical mask. Based on their symptoms, we categorise the patients into different categories with high, medium and minimum risks. They are kept in separate rooms and we take a nasopharyngeal swab [from their nose]. People who do not have respiratory problems and who do not have chronic diseases are sent home for quarantine and prescribed medicine against fever. Once the test results are out, we inform those patients. If the patients have to be admitted to the hospital, we treat them according to their respiratory conditions. Across the world, thousands have died after contracting the virus. Why do you think the death toll is so high this time? The case fatality rate of Covid-19 is 2-4 per cent anywhere. There are different factors behind this. The first is that the virus affects the respiratory system worse than other viruses, resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome and then death. Furthermore, it affects people with other chronic illnesses more just like other viruses and the death toll increases. Another reason is that it is easily transmitted and it is estimated that 40 to 60 percent of the world population will be infected by the virus. There is a chance that our health system will be overwhelmed by it, resulting in more deaths. What are the differences between the treatment of Covid-19 patients and other patients? The problem with the coronavirus is that even the healthiest-looking person can be a carrier of the virus while it heavily affects those with other chronic illnesses. It does not have any definite cure yet, and its vaccine will likely take some 18 months before we get one as per infectious disease experts. As we are still in the process of understanding the virus; new information and new protocols are coming out every day. So, it is crucial that doctors follow the security protocols on the dot as well as stay updated with the newest developments, and treat patients accordingly. Were you involved in treatment against coronavirus-like viruses before this? There were many other viruses similar to this coronavirus in the past, and they all cause similar symptoms like cold, cough, and fever. However, the attack on the lungs as seen in the Covid-19 patients is worse and that results in death in severe conditions. But a majority of the patients have recovered and are symptomatically treated. Being at the frontline, how do you see the mental state of the patients in the hospital? The emergency ward in my hospital is one of the busiest in the US. About 6,000 cases of coronavirus have been reported in the state (Georgia) so far, and among them, 100 are being treated in the hospital right now. Definitely, the fear of the virus has gripped people here as well. The patients are scared and there is a lot of mental stress among them. And this is true even among those who have mild symptoms. On the other hand, how is the mental state of the doctors who are constantly treating the patients? The doctors are also facing a high level of stress right now, with so many deaths and social turmoil around us. Doctors from cities like New York where there is a higher number of cases face a higher level of risk. They do not have personal protective equipment (PPE), or ventilators for critical patients in the hospitals. As a result, many have died. The stress in this situation is expected. Many of my colleagues have children and also other elderly people at home. In such conditions, extra stress is added as they have to get isolated from their own family members. What are the precautionary measures the doctors working at the frontline need to follow? While treating the patients, those infected with and suspected of coronavirus infection both, the doctors have to follow the universal assumption of risk, a defensive approach, to avoid contracting the virus. If we suspect that the patients have Covid-19 based on their travel history and respiratory problems, we should use the PPE with gloves, gowns, eye gears, and a special N-95 mask. There is a protocol on how to wear and take off the PPE, as we are at high risk while taking it off. We get special training for that. What are the procedures the doctors in quarantine need to follow? If the doctors do not show any symptoms, they do not need to be quarantined. However, those with the virus do not necessarily show symptoms, so it is hard to tell. Therefore, they need to strictly follow the universal assumption of risk approach and PPE protocol while washing their hands regularly and avoiding interactions as much as possible. If they show any symptoms, they must isolate themselves promptly, even from the family members, and get tested for the coronavirus. A few of my colleagues have been at home in isolation. Of late, there are reports in Nepal like doctors working at coronavirus dedicated hospitals got mistreated in society and at homes. Is there any such case there? Such news from Nepal makes us sad. Thankfully, to date, doctors in Atlanta are getting respect and support from society. Every night, the locals here cheer for us and the hospital administration has also been equally supportive. This is a difficult time for all of us and doctors are working continuously, putting their lives at risk. This is the time when we need support from everyone. Having said that, the doctors should not forget their duty to treat patients of all kinds and follow the protocol while doing it. Meanwhile, the government has given guidelines to restrict our movement to essential work only, but there is not any lockdown like in Nepal. However, the state is suffering just like Nepal due to the lack of testing samples. What are the standards to follow to keep an infected person in an ICU? Each hospital has its own requirements for ICU placement. In general, those who have failing respiratory status, or require IV fluids or other medicines to support their blood pressure should be kept in the ICU. Even in the ICU, these patients must be isolated and the health workers must wear PPE properly while treating them. Some hospitals have restricted the movement of doctors in and out of the ICUs by having someone deliver the medicines outside the ward and communicating via phone. They have managed iPads for the patients to communicate with their relatives. There is a stress for contact tracing and testing as a measure to control the spread of the virus here in Nepal. Why is it important? The patients infected with the virus might not show symptoms until 14 days post-exposure. However, asymptomatic patients can infect others. It has been speculated that on average, one patient can infect two to three people before they begin to have symptoms. Through contact tracing and testing, we can prevent the person from infecting hundreds of thousands of people. Who is at a higher risk of getting infected among the health workers, ambulance workers, nurses or OPD doctors? How and why? There are different kinds of PPEs: droplet, contact and airborne. While treating the coronavirus patients, if patients are being intubated or given treatment that includes nebulisation or BiPAP, the providers need to have airborne precautions with an N95 mask. Otherwise, droplet and contact precaution is enough. This includes a surgical mask, eye shield, gloves, and gown. If anyone is suspected of having the virus, the ambulance drivers should also use the PPE like the doctors while transporting them. In case they do not work with the patients, a simple mask is enough. The coming two weeks can result in an increasing number of cases. For now, we have enough PPE sets for a month, but there is a chance that the virus will still overpower us. The capacity of the state and the hospital is decreasing day by day. We are asking the citizens to follow healthy habits and preventive measures, to prevent the spread of the virus. There is a lack of PPE sets in Nepal as well. What can be the alternatives of the PPE for doctors to be secure? Without PPE, it is difficult for providers to be safe. In case there is nothing, the least a doctor will need is an N-95 mask to cover his/her nose and mouth while treating the Covid-19 patients. Without it, they are at high risk of getting infected. But we need full sets of PPE and the health workers need to advocate for that. Finally, do you have anything to say about the current crisis with a focus on Nepal? The coronavirus is the biggest challenge of our generation when the health workers are the soldiers. The situation is the same worldwide and no powerful government has been able to control it. If the cases increase in Nepal, the current health system will not be able to cater to it. All the doctors, citizens and the state should understand this and be prepared for it now. To be prepared, the government and administration must focus on PPE and contact tracing and testing, while the public needs to follow public health measures like washing hands, coughing/sneezing properly, social distancing, etc. As the novel coronavirus continues its spread across Wyoming and the rest of the country, the state Department of Health is mirroring national guidelines recommending residents here wear face coverings when in public. We want you to stay home and away from other people as much as possible, State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist said in a press release announcing the guidance. But if and when you do need to go out into the community, this is an extra voluntary measure CDC is suggesting to help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Last week, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended people voluntarily wear face masks or coverings when in public settings, like the grocery store. The coverings dont have to be the sort of masks that doctors or nurses wear; they can be purchased, made or adapted from common items and materials at low cost, according to the Health Department. Indeed, Harrist recommended against using surgical or advanced face masks because theres a limited supply of the gear and health care providers need them. In its recommendation for the use of face coverings, the CDC wrote that studies have shown patients with no symptoms can spread the disease, as can those who will eventually get symptoms but havent developed them yet. This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms, the agency wrote. In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. The CDC recommends using simple cloth masks, though the coverings shouldnt be placed on children 2 or younger. The CDC writes that cloth face coverings should fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face be secured with ties or ear loops include multiple layers of fabric allow for breathing without restriction be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape. In the state press release, Harrist added that simply wearing the masks isnt enough. Wyomingites need to continue social distancing, limiting their trips outside of their homes and into public settings, and keep 6 feet of distance away from others when youre at the grocery store or elsewhere. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. According to BP, the discount is being offered at BP and Amoco gas stations through the month of April to first responders, doctors, nurses and hospital workers to thank them for their efforts amid the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Pennsylvania locations of BP/Amoco gas stations can be found in eastern Pennsylvania in and around Philadelphia, as well as western Pennsylvania. Search for locations here. Read more: Anyone eligible must verify their community status online through ID.me to obtain the discount. Once they have the discount code, they can redeem it at the pump on their next fill up at participating BP and Amoco gas stations. According to BP, the discount codes can be claimed from now until April 30. There is a limit of two discount codes per user. Check BPs website for more disclaimers. Redemption instructions may vary at the pump. If paying inside, codes can be entered by pressing the Loyalty ID key on the PIN pad inside at the register. BP encourages everyone to share the website www.bp.com/localheroes -- and send a personal thank you on social using #bpsupportslocalheroes. For more information on the offer, including how to receive a code, visit BPs supporing our local heroes page. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. The state of Washington has made it legal for law enforcement and other state agencies to use facial recognition. The new law makes Washington the first state in the US to legalize facial recognition software for government business. Facial recognition has been used by a number of law enforcement agencies at the city and county level, but it has never been formally legalized at either the state or federal level. Washington has become the first state in the US to officially legalize facial recognition software for law enforcement, which it says will be limited to finding missing persons, identifying the deceased, and 'for the purposes of keeping the public safe' According to the law, facial recognition will be limited to a handful of uses, including efforts to 'locate or identify missing persons, and identify deceased persons, including missing or murdered indigenous women, subjects of Amber alerts and silver alerts, and other possible crime victims, for the purposes of keeping the public safe.' Agencies that want to use facial recognition technology will have to file a notice of intent with the state government along with an accountability report that details how and why they need the technology, according to a report in InfoSecurity. The law specifically forbids using facial recognition based on a person's religious, political or social activities or 'participation in a particular noncriminal organization or lawful event.' It also forbids using facial recognition on any 'actual or perceived race, ethnicity, citizenship, place of origin, immigration status, age, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or other characteristic protected by law.' The bill was passed through the Washington State House of Representatives on March 12, and signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee on March 31st. The bill was signed into law on March 31st by Washington Governor Jay Inslee (pictured above). It passes just two months after the European Union recommended a five year ban on the technology to give researchers more time to study its potential negative effects Microsoft president Brad Smith celebrated the new law, saying it would help prevent a 'commercial race to the bottom' for the facial recognition industry. 'This balanced approach ensures that facial recognition can be used as a tool to protect the public, but only in ways that respect fundamental rights and serve the public interest,' Smith wrote. The bill comes at a time when many other governments have moved to ban facial recognition altogether. In 2019, San Francisco's Board of Supervisor's voted 8 to 1 to ban facial recognition software for any official use by the police or other government agencies. In January, the European Union suggested a five year ban on the technology to give researchers an opportunity to study its potential benefits and drawbacks. Google CEO Sundar Pichai supported the EU proposal for a five year ban. 'I think it is important that governments and regulations tackle it sooner rather than later and give a framework for it,' Pichai said at a tech conference in January. 'It can be immediate but maybe theres a waiting period before we really think about how its being used.' Twitter, Facebook and other social media companies are being urged by the government to deal with a spate of conspiracy theories linking 5G to coronavirus. Ministers will meet with the companies after mobile masts in Birmingham, Merseyside and Belfast were set on fire following theories being posted online. Mobile companies described the fears 5G caused coronavirus as 'baseless', with the government describing the theories as harmful to public health. A spokesman for the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson said that the idea of 5G masts being responsible for coronavirus is a 'crazed conspiracy theory'. Government officials will meet with the companies after mobile masts in Birmingham, Merseyside and Belfast were set on fire 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. As well as mast burning, engineers have been facing physical and verbal threats from those who believe the 'baseless' theories being spread on social media. One of the prominent fears being spread by people, including some celebrities, includes the idea that radiation from 5G masts lowers people's immune system. Culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, will meet with Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and Twitter 'to hammer the message home' that the claims are 'utter rubbish'. A spokesperson for the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport told the BBC they had several reports of criminal damage to phone masts and abuse of telecom engineers 'inspired by crackpot conspiracy theories'. 'Those responsible for criminal acts will face the full force of the law. We must also see social media companies acting responsibly and taking much swifter action to stop nonsense spreading on their platforms which encourages such acts.' WHAT DO 5G CONSPIRACY THEORISTS BELIEVE? One theory claims that the coronavirus originated in Wuhan because the city had been rolling out 5G. It suggests it has been spread to other cities that are also using 5G. Other theories suggest that the radiation emitted by 5G masts lowers the immune system of people nearby. One version of this theory suggests the radiation sucks the oxygen out of the atmosphere and disrupts the regular functioning of the human body. Scientists have described the claims as baseless and a biological 'impossibility'. Advertisement Mobile UK, the trade body which represents network providers, said key workers had been abused and infrastructure threatened as a result of the claims. Dr Paul Carter, CEO Global Wireless Solutions, says destroying 5G infrastructure will cause problems for the entire mobile network. 'Because were in the early stages of rollout, what we think of as 5G is currently being supported by the existing 4G network, with both working together as part of a mesh network to deliver consistent coverage to customers,' he said. 'Because of this, operators are still deploying 4G sites across the UK as well as turning on advanced LTE features, and both 4G and 5G networks are often being operated from the same base stations. 'By damaging any network infrastructure, people are increasing the likelihood that they wont be able to get a mobile connection when they need to use their phones, which is particularly worrying in times such as these when people are at home and relying on phones more than ever.' National medical director of NHS England Professor Steve Powis said: 'I'm absolutely outraged, absolutely disgusted, that people would be taking action against the very infrastructure that we need to respond to this health emergency.' Facebook deleted a Facebook group full of conspiracy theorists claiming 5G being emitted from masts was sparking coronavirus Last week, 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 spokeswoman 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. Cabinet Secretary Michael Gove said the theories spreading from various social media groups and profiles were 'just nonsense, dangerous nonsense as well.' Dr Michael Head, senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton, said: 'Conspiracy theorists are a public health danger who once read a Facebook page. '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 world health organisation has branded the spread of disinformation about COVID-19 on social media platforms as an 'infodemic'. On 5G generally the World Health Organisation said: ''A large number of studies have been performed over the last two decades to assess whether mobile phones pose a potential health risk. 'To date, no adverse health effects have been established as being caused by mobile phone use.' Professor Adam Finn, professor of paediatrics at the University of Bristol, said the internet connections from the 5G networks are one of the most important tools in the effort to co-ordinate the response to coronavirus. Brendan Wren, professor of microbial pathogenesis, at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said a connection between the phone masts and the virus would be 'both a physical and biological impossibility'. Mobile networks including Three, O2, EE and Vodafone were forced to debunk the various theories circulating about 5G, especially those linking it to COVID-19. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 4G and 5G? Infrastructure expert Dr Paul Carter, CEO of Global Wireless Solutions says there is a marked difference between fourth and fifth generation mobile. 'Currently higher radio frequencies are being used by next-generation networks,' he said. 'There is generally greater bandwidth available in the higher frequency bands which lead to higher network speeds (which are required for many 5G applications) but these signals wont travel as far as lower frequency signals. 'Therefore, to achieve the promise of ultrafast, super-reliable connectivity, there will be a need for a larger and more densely distributed arrangement of cell sites built in closer proximity to one another. 'However, current UK deployed frequency bands for 4G range from 800 MHz up to 2,600 MHz current 5G frequency bands are in the 3,400 MHz range, so although higher, they are not dramatically higher. 'As part of GWS ongoing testing and research, weve discovered that consumers have come to consider the performance of 4G as the new minimum technology standard anything less causes frustration. 'Its highly likely that the increased performance offered by 5G will very quickly follow suit as the new normal in the future.' Advertisement They said it was concerning the pandemic was being used to further untruths. Facebook deleted a Facebook group full of conspiracy theorists claiming 5G being emitted from masts was sparking coronavirus. The company said it breached its policies because it had the potential to cause real world harm from the content being shared. There were multiple videos claiming to show 5G towers on fire on the page and it encouraged others to do the same thing. Mobile UK 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. The group said it was 'not acceptable' as it impacts on the industry and its ability to maintain the resilience and capacity of the network to support people working from home during the pandemic lockdown. 'Research into the safety of radio signals including 5G, conducted over more than 50 years, has led to the establishment of human exposure standards including safety factors that protect against all established health risks.' Radiation watchdog ICNIRP published new guidelines for the use of the frequencies 5G uses and found there were 'no risks of cancer or other illness' after a 7 year study. They have introduced new guidelines for device manufacturers that limit the use of the highest- 6Ghz - parts of the radio spectrum that could be used for 5G but aren't implemented by any carriers in the UK or USA. The number of theories about the impact of 5G on the human body has been rising, with some groups claiming it can cause male infertility, cancer and Alzheimer's. The most recent trend among conspiracy theorists has been to link it to COVID-19. Mobile UK 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' A spokeswoman for the GSMA - the body responsible for the telecom industry in the UK - said the guidelines prove existing technology is safe. 'Importantly, the health risk assessment is unchanged. The review found no established health risks to anyone, including children, using mobile phones or living near base stations,' she said. All major telecom companies in the UK have now launched 5G networks, with more than 100 locations connected to the next generation service. Other health theories blamed on the roll out of 5G include headaches and the spread of coronavirus. Testing by UK communications regulator Ofcom of existing 5G masts found that they were using a 'small fraction' of allowable emissions with the highest reading at just 1.5 per cent of the maximum level. Public Health England said: 'The overall exposure is expected to remain low relative to guidelines and, as such, there should be no consequences for public health.' 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.' Director general of industry organisation GSMA, Mats Granryd, said: 'The telecoms industry is working around the clock to keep vital health, education and emergency services online, businesses running, and friends and families connected. 'It is deplorable that critical communications infrastructure is being attacked based on outright mistruths. We urge everyone to trust health authorities and rest assured communications technology is safe. There is no link between 5G and Covid-19.' Ofcom has warned broadcasters not to spread the baseless theories as they 'have the potential to undermine people's trust in the advice of mainstream sources of information' during a health crisis. Carter, of Global Wireless Solutions, said it's difficult to know exactly what it is about 5G that has people so worried. 'Perhaps too all the recent discussion of Huawei (from China) and the concerns about network security, and the fact that Covid-19 was discovered in China around the same time, has caused some to believe there is a link,' he said. 'What is clear is that we need to be very careful with how 5G is implemented, since the impact of failure is even greater. 'We have all come to rely on our 4G wireless networks for many activities in our daily lives. 'But 5G promises to integrate itself into our worlds in an even more meaningful way if 4G brought ride-sharing to us so that we can arrange a ride with our phones and then track its progress to come to us, 5G will potentially even bring the car to us, without a driver!' Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 21:16:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHANGCHUN, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Northeast China's Jilin Province saw 2,796 standard containers transported by China-Europe freight trains in the first quarter of this year, up 36.3 percent year on year. The increase was partly attributed to the unstable maritime transport between China and Europe in Q1. So far, the transportation of goods like electronic products and auto parts made by Japanese and Korean enterprises via the Changchun-Manzhouli-Europe railway have remained steady, despite the impact of COVID-19. "We strengthened the contact with domestic and foreign customers and timely informed the logistics delivery process during the epidemic period," said Wang Yue, chairman of the Changchun International Land Port Development Co., Ltd., which operates the cargo trains on the route. As an important project for Jilin to join the construction of the Belt and Road, the Changchun-Manzhouli-Europe cargo train line was launched in 2015. The route starts from Jilin's capital Changchun, exits China via Manzhouli, the largest land port on the China-Russia border, and passes through Russia, Belarus and Poland before arriving at the terminus of Nuremberg, Germany. It measures more than 10,000 km, and a single trip usually takes 14 days, saving more than 20 days compared with sea transportation. St. Vincent and the Grenadines has confirmed its second case of the COVID-19 disease, which is its only active case, since the first case has since recovered. By the time this publication hits the streets, Vincentians would have been apprised that this country had confirmed its second case of the COVID-19 disease. The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment (MHWE) announced that confirmation last Wednesday evening, noting that the second positive case was among the most recent batch of samples sent for testing at the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) laboratory, Trinidad and Tobago. Second case According to the MHWE, this is an imported case, as was the first. The positive sample was taken from a Vincentian female who had travelled to St. Vincent and the Grenadines from the United States on 25th March. The individual and the other passengers who arrived on that aircraft were reportedly put on mandatory quarantine. However, symptoms akin to infection caused by the coronavirus, the COVID-19 agent, were reported by the female as referenced, on March 28, and a test sample taken. The positive result was returned on 1st April. The individual was informed of her status and has been placed in isolation. The MHWE is currently in the process of informing persons with whom the would have come into contact. Community lockdown It didnt take long for news to surface that the person identified as SVGs second case of the COVID019 was from Owia, the second most north-easterly community on mainland St. Vincent. Reports are that the community was thrown into an obvious panic when the news broke, and THE VINCERNTIAN has been reliably informed that Owia has since been locked down. Nothing people, vehicles, animals - is going into or out of Owia. Residents are said to be in a state of uncertainty. This means that Fancy the most north-easterly community on St. Vincent - is effectively cutoff by land. Owia residents are appalled that the person concerned, who was put on mandatory quarantine, in her Owia home, seemed to have disregarded this (order), leaving her home to mingle with persons in the community. THE VINCENTIAN also understands that authorities have moved to trace the occupants of a minibus in which the victim is said to have travelled. The bus has been taken off the road, and as many of the persons who rode in the van, including the driver and his brother, are now in isolation, one source said. Indications are that residents of Sandy Bay, the community immediately south of Owia, are also in a state of concern, bordering on panic. SVGs response to COVID-19 As of 31st March, forty-four samples have been sent to CARPHA for testing. Four of these were rejected because they did not satisfy the COVID-19 testing criteria. Only two positive results have been received; all other results were returned negative. According to a news release on the National Broadcasting Corporations morning news programme of 2nd April, discussions held between Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment Hon. Luke Browne and Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Dr. Carissa Etienne on SVGs response to COVID-19, were enlightening. Suggestions on the procurement of critical supplies for SVG were given; offer for technical assistance made; and support for ongoing activity here were expressed. It also noted that Min. Browne also stated that the FDA has approved a test kit which is a Gene Xpert instrument. He explained this would allow SVG to do COVID-19 testing in-country with equipment that is already here. In the meantime, citizens are being reminded to follow the protocols of social distancing, hand hygiene, coughing best practices, and the constant sanitization of frequently used areas. A Delhi court Monday extended by nine days the police custody of a student of Jamia Millia Islamia, arrested for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to incite communal riots in northeast Delhi, said his lawyer. Meeran Haider (35), a PhD student at Jamia, is the president of RJD youth wing's Delhi unit. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sudhir Kumar Sirohi sent Haider for custodial interrogation after the police said further remand was required to confront him with co-accused and unearth the larger conspiracy in the case related to the recent communal violence in north east Delhi over the Citizenship Amendment Act. Advocate Akram Khan, appearing for Haider, opposed the police remand and said no new evidence has come up during his 4-day custody and it has the videos based on which the student was called for interrogation and arrested thereafter. Haider was willing to join the investigation as and when required, his lawyer told the court. 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.) Russias oil production dropped slightly in the first days of April compared to the average output in March, a source in the industry told Reuters on Monday, as major producers are getting ready to discuss a massive collective cut amid what looks like an increasingly bitter spat between former allies Russia and Saudi Arabia over who ditched whom in the OPEC+ talks. So far this month, Russias oil production has averaged 11.25 million barrels per day (bpd), down by 0.35 percent compared to the average output of 11.29 million bpd in March, a Reuters source said today. Russia is not raising its crude oil production because it doesnt make sense for Russian firms to boost output while the market is oversupplied, a Russian government official told Bloomberg last week. Early in March, Russias Energy Minister Alexander Novak said that Russia could raise its oil production by 200,000 bpd to 300,000 bpd in the short term, with a potential for up to a total increase of 500,000 bpd. But as oil prices continued to slide and demand continued to plunge, Russian companies signaled later in March that boosting production might not be the wisest thing to do right now. Tatnefts CEO, Nail Maganov, who boasted weeks ago that even $8 oil is not critical for the company, told reporters that it might not be economically feasible for Russian firms to boost production from April, due to the coronavirus pandemic. A video meeting between Saudi Arabia, Russia, and other major oil producers, including representatives from the U.S., was slated to be held on Monday, but the meeting was postponed for Thursday after the Saudis and the Russians accused each other over the weekend of dumping the other in the OPEC+ alliance that had tried to manage oil supply and oil prices for the past three years. Both producers signal that they are ready to talk but that any collective massive cut, 10 million bpd-15 million bpd, as touted by U.S. President Donald Trump, should involve the United States, too. The U.S. has not given indication that it would take part in such cuts, while analysts think that it will be a tall order for the U.S. to make its free-market oriented individual companies join a global effort for a collective cut. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Safety is our top priority, said Thomas Vitale, Just like everyone else, we are watching this situation closely. We recognize the immediate need to reduce the spread of disease. We will continue to take every precaution necessary to protect our employees and our valued customers. Oak Hill Building & Remodeling, Northern Virginias premier home remodeler, announced this week that they will remain open during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The Company is monitoring the situation closely and has implemented several safety precautions to ensure the continued protection and safety of their workers and the general public. Safety is our top priority, said Thomas Vitale of Oak Hill Building & Remodeling, Just like everyone else, we are watching this situation closely. We recognize the immediate need to reduce the spread of disease. We will continue to take every precaution necessary to protect our employees and our valued customers. Oak Hill Building & Remodeling has implemented several safety measures aimed at minimizing the risk to staff and others while on the job site. The Company currently requires all employees to wear face masks and keep a reasonable distance from others while working. In order to limit exposure, the Company only permits one trade to work on each job site at a time. Until the situation changes, Oak Hill Building & Remodeling management will only come on-site when absolutely necessary. As recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as other leading government agencies, Oak Hill Building & Remodeling is encouraging their employees to wash their hands frequently. During the outbreak, employees must carry alcohol-based hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes with them at all times. All areas will be fully sanitized upon entering and leaving and employees will wipe down all doorknobs using sanitizing wipes. In addition to implementing stricter cleaning and safety habits while on the job site, Oak Hill Building & Remodeling has also begun giving proposal presentations via Zoom, a leading video and audio communications platform. Using Zoom, management can share screens and communicate with new and existing clients without having to come in close contact with them. Deemed an essential business by Washington DC-area officials, construction companies like Oak Hill Building & Remodeling continue to provide vital services to individuals and businesses during these uncertain times. The construction industry, which employs over 7 million people nationwide, contributes significantly to the economic growth of the nation. Construction workers provide necessary services such as building and maintaining essential infrastructure including residential buildings, institutional buildings, and housing. These companies will likely play a leading role in the countrys recovery. About Oak Hill Building & Remodeling Oak Hill Building & Remodeling offers a wide range of construction services throughout Northern Virginia and Maryland. Since 1978, the Company has strived to provide exceptional customer service, superior workmanship, and competitive pricing. Oak Hill Building & Remodelings design and build services include additions, bathrooms, kitchens, sunrooms, basements, decks, custom homes, feasibility studies, and historical renovations. The Companys team of design and construction professionals has more than fifty years of combined experience and has the tools and knowledge needed to complete both large and small projects on-time and on-budget. Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer has been criticised for prioritising public arguments with Donald Trump over handling the coronavirus pandemic in her state. The Democrat, who has been tipped to become Joe Bidens running-mate ahead of Novembers election, was warned by local media this weekend that she could damage her partys chances in the swing state. In an op-ed published on Saturday, The Detroit News slammed Ms Whitmer for playing politics during the pandemic. It warned that there was confusion about whether Whitmer is advocating for her Michigan constituents, or carrying out her duties as co-chair of Bidens presidential campaign, or worse, serving her own ambition to be vice president. Ms Whitmer was described as having assumed the role of Democratic attack dog, whilst other Democrat governors, including New Yorks Andrew Cuomo and Californias Gavin Newsom, have appeared to work in collaboration with the White House. Californias governor, Mr Newsom, previously told CNN that Mr Trump had been responsive, saying The fact is, every time Ive called the president, hes quickly gotten on the line. Michigans governor has now come under fire for doing the opposite. Trump is a petty and vindictive man. Hes not beyond punishing a state whose governor torments him, and has said as much publicly., The Detroit News op-ed warned. Ms Whitmer claimed last month that the federal government had stopped sending supplies to Michigan. In the past week, the governor performed a U-turn after previously blocking the use of the drug hydroxychloroquine, which had been touted by Mr Trump as a treatment for coronavirus. Her actions appeared to irritate the president, who said on Twitter:I love Michigan, one of the reasons we are doing such a GREAT job for them during this horrible Pandemic. Yet your Governor, Gretchen Half Whitmer is way in over her head, she doesnt have a clue. Likes blaming everyone for her own ineptitude! #MAGA. The Detroit News cautioned that politics needed to be set aside to save lives during the pandemic, with Michigan recording more than 15,000 cases of the coronavirus and over 600 deaths. Until the pandemic is over, the paper warned that Michigan residents need to know their governor is serving one master them. Whilst it did not specifically criticise the governors management of the coronavirus in her state, it added that people were better served when politicians at all levels worked together. It added: Partisanship is unacceptable when lives are at stake. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Casey Mull, an extension military specialist for 4-H youth development at the University of Georgia, has been selected as Purdue Extensions new assistant director and program leader for 4-H youth development. Mull succeeds Renee McKee, who recently retired after serving in the position for 17 years. Mull also has been appointed to a clinical associate professor position in the Department of Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication. Jason Henderson, director of Purdue Extension and senior associate dean of the Purdue College of Agriculture, expressed excitement for Mull to implement his expertise and passion for youth programs at Indiana 4-H. I am thrilled to have Dr. Casey Mull as our 4-H youth development program leader. His personal story of how 4-H shaped his life as a youth and now through his professional career is a testament to the impact of 4-H on peoples lives. He is a respected leader nationally in 4-H and I look forward to seeing how the freshness of his ideas can help expand our programs, Henderson said. Mull earned his bachelors degree in business from Wake Forest University, and his masters and doctoral degrees from the University of Georgia. Since 2009, he has been the extension military specialist for 4-H youth development at the University of Georgia. In this position, he coordinated and co-coordinated programs serving over 8,000 people in 53 states and territories and six countries, secured over $10 million in grants, gifts and donations, and trained or presented to over 3,000 individuals. No stranger to Purdue, Mull has worked with Purdue Extensions leadership for the past 10 years on the following programs: Military Teen Adventure Camps and Extension Military Partnerships. Im most excited to work with the people of Indiana, especially since the 4-H program here is so well recognized regionally and nationally, Mull said. My 4-H experience started in the fifth grade, but what I didnt know at the time was that it would become my career. Im eager to partner with the incredible young people, educators and volunteers across the state to impact their lives and make their communities better, just like 4-H has done for me. Mull will continue to serve as deputy chief in public affairs for the 94th Airlift Wing in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, where he leads 12 full-time and part-time photojournalists and broadcasters to engage various audiences in media relations and community engagement. He is an active member of the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (NAE4-HYDP) and served as president of NAE4-HYDP from 2017-18. Mull is also a third-generation auctioneer and enjoys working with local communities at benefit and charity auctions. Writer: Abby Leeds, 765-496-2384, mayer36@purdue.edu Sources: Jason Henderson, 765-494-8489, jhenderson@purdue.edu Casey Mull, mullc@purdue.edu Note to Journalists: A mug shot of Casey Mull is available on Google Drive. Agricultural Communications: 765-494-8415; Maureen Manier, Department Head, mmanier@purdue.edu Agriculture News Page Dairy Farmers in Wisconsin Forced to Dump Their Entire Milk ProductionEvery Day A Wisconsin dairy farmer was forced to discard around 56,000 pounds of milk on Wednesday, April 1, because there was no one buying milk amid the CCP Virus pandemic, according to multiple reports. Mark Mueller, who owns the Mueller Dairy Farm in Greenleaf, Wisconsin, said that a member of the Dairy Farmers of American informed him that he had to get rid of all of the milk, according to WFRV. Amidst the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, the pandemic made it impossible for the farmers to get their milk to the market. He was forced to discard his milk in a pit on their property. Mueller said that all the milk dumped inside the pit would rot there. Its like the principle of it. You put all that labor and work into the milk, and you hate to see it go down the drain when you know that there are people starving in the world and in our country even. We hate to throw things away, Mueller said, according to WFRV. Mueller said that though he will get reimbursed, he will have to continue dumping the milk in the coming days because of the limited number of milk purchases allowed in grocery stores. Other food-related places, Mueller said, didnt feel like they had any place to take all the milk farmers are producing. Whats more, many other farms in Wisconsin have also had to dump their milk. WFRV reported that J and J Pickarts Farm in Fond du Lac was dumping around 65,000 pounds of milk per day. One family-run farm had to dump around 220,000 pounds of milk a dayup till April 6, according to USA Today. The owners never thought that this would happen. Everybodys rushing to the grocery store to get food, and we have food thats literally being dumped down the drain, the owner, Ryan Elbe, said. Dairy Farmers of America has agreed to reimburse Elbes family farm for all the milk thats being dump for now, as the farm is a part of Dairy Farmers of America. Still, even they are in a tough situation, according to USA Today. Elbe said that its essential to figure out what to do now, and not in the next couple of weeks. Due to the perishable nature of dairy, the products produced have a short shelf-life. So if there arent any customers buying their products, dairy farmers would be forced to dump their products down the drain. Various farmers are closing down their processing plant or just cutting down the amount of production of dairy items, as a result of the pandemic, USA Today reported. I think that a lot of milk will all of a sudden be dumped. Everyone across the industry is feeling distressed now. Over the last several hours, I have heard this is unfolding. There is definitely a strain on markets now. The whole consumption rate for milk is so much different than it was before COVID-19, said Julie Sweney, the spokesperson for the FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative in Madison, Wisconsin. Daniel Smith, the president and CEO of Cooperative Network, said that they had hoped that the disposal of milk could be avoided, and its unsettling for him to see that it is happening, according to USA Today. He said that support needed to be given to these dairy farmers as soon as possible, and calls upon the government for help. The dairy industry is facing unprecedented challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is essential that every means of support be given to Wisconsin dairy farmers and cooperatives as quickly as possible. This support should include increased government purchasing and distribution of dairy products, Smith said. From NTD News The Court of Appeal has dismissed a challenge brought against the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to grant an industrial emissions licence in respect of the Bellanaboy gas refinery in Co Mayo. In 2015 several local residents brought proceedings against the EPA's decision to grant the revised licence in respect of the controversial gas terminal. The refinery, and large combustion plant, formed part of a controversial project that resulted in protests and several complex court actions involving local people, campaigners and Shell. Three of the parties subsequently withdrew from the case, while one, Maura Harrington of Doohoma, Ballina, Co Mayo, proceeded with the action. In her proceedings against the EPA, Ireland and the Attorney General Ms Harrington, who lives close to the refinery, argued that the EPA's decision to grant the license is flawed and should be set aside. The challenge was brought on several grounds. Ms Harrington questioned if there had been an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) carried out in respect of the application in accordance with the EU's EIA Directive. Another ground asked if the EPA had conducted an Appropriate Assessment in according with EU Directives. The challenge was opposed by EPA. Her challenge, in which Vermillion Exploration and Production Ireland (previously known as Shell E&P Ireland was a notice party, was dismissed by the High Court. That judgement, delivered in 2017 by Mr Justice Donald Binchy, was appealed to the COA on grounds including that the Judge failed to completely answer the issue raised in the case regarding the carrying out of an EIA. Dismissed In its judgment on Monday the three-judge court, comprised of the President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham, Ms Justice Una Ni Raifeartaigh and Mr Justice Robert Haughton dismissed the appeal and upheld the High Court's earlier dismissal of the action. Delivering what was a unanimous decision Mr Justice Birmingham said none of the grounds raised by Ms Harrington had convinced him that there were any deficiency in the approach taken by the High Court that would warrant the interference by the CoA. Russia may be willing to reduce its oil production by as much as 1 million bpd, or a little under 10 percent of its March average but only if the United States joins the cuts, Bloomberg has reported citing sources it said were familiar with the dominant sentiment in the industry. The report comes on the heels of a verbal escalation between Riyadh and Moscow after comments from Russian government officials prompted Riyadh to accuse Russia of trying to pit it against U.S. shale and blaming Russia of starting the price war by refusing to deepen production cuts precisely to hurt U.S. shale. This spat may have played a role in the delay of an OPEC+ meeting initially scheduled for Monday to Thursday in hopes that the tension might cool down. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has called on Western European producers to join the production adjustment effort and Norway has responded: it will be attending the Thursday meeting along with representatives from Alberta, Canadas deeply troubled oil province. The United States, however, has made no official statement concerning its participations in any production cuts. On the contrary, President Trump floated the idea of oil import tariffs, although he mitigated the threat by saying he did not believe he would need to use tariffs. Last week, however, Trump said he may join talks between Russia and Saudi Arabia, if need be. The U.S. President then tweeted that he had spoken separately with Saudi Arabias de-facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed and with Russian President Vladimir Putin and he expected the two to cut a combined 10 million bpd from their production. Despite the far-fetched nature of this statement and the fact Trump only said he hoped they will cut this much, markets reacted frantically, with many taking the tweet as a signal of a done deal. Oil prices rebounded significantly over the last two days of last weeks before the reality that a cut deal is far from done settled in. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: I am not a lawyer. Neither do I claim to be a legal scholar nor a paralegal. I am an activist and an emerging economist. But if I were the Minister of Justice (Attorney General), I would have been prosecuting A. Ndubusi Nkwuka Nwabudike on these charges or criminal offences by now. Ndubusi has committed a number of grave crimes. These are indictable offences under the laws of Liberia. Why isnt an indictment being drawn by now? The credibility of MOJ, Supreme Court, OSG, LNBA, LNP, LIS, LACC, The Senate, and The Presidency will ruin further if Ndubusi Nwabudike is left alone to go with impunity. Perhaps those in authority have forgotten THE LAW. Let me remind them about what THE LAW says and requires if a hardcore criminal like Ndubusi commits grave crimes against Liberia and Liberians. In my opinion and in the context of legal applicability and/or judicial authenticity, these are charges that should be drawn against Ndubusi Nwabudike: Perjury Section 12.30 of Subchapter B; Falsification Section 12.31 of Subchapter B; Forgery Section 15.70 of Subchapter E; Fraud Section 15.50(a) of Subchapter E; Criminal Malevolence Section 11.14 of Chapter 11. What does our Law say about these criminal offences (Ref. Penal Law, Liberian Codes Revised Volume IV, Title 26. Approved July 19, 1976 and Published April 3, 1978): Perjury Section 12.30 of Subchapter B: A person has committed perjury, a third degree felony, if, in official proceeding, he makes a false statement under oath or equivalent affirmation, or swears or affirms the truth of a false statement previously made, when the statement is material and he does not believe it to be true. Argument or legal Note #1: Defendant Ndubusi lied under oath at the Supreme Court, the Liberian Senate, and the Liberia National Bar Association about being a naturalized citizen of Liberia. Falsification Section 12:30 of Subchapter B: A person has committed a first degree misdemeanor if, in an official proceeding, he makes a false statement, whether or not material, under oath or equivalent affirmation, or swears or affirms the truth of such a statement previously made, if he does not believe the statement to be true. Argument or Legal Note #2: Defendant Ndubusis credentials/documents, including his academic transcript and official passport, are a reflection of falsification. Both documents have different dates of birth. The defendants also made a number of false statements and presented conflicting testimonies relative to his controversial and fake claim of being a naturalized Liberian. Forgery Section 15.70 of Subchapter E: A person has committed forgery or counterfeiting, if, with the purpose of deceiving or harming the government or another person, or with knowledge that he is facilitating such deception or harm by another person, he (a) Knowingly and falsely makes, completes or alters any writing or subject; or (b) Knowingly utters a forged or counterfeited writing or object. Forgery is a second degree felony in Ndubusi's case. Argument and Legal Note #3: Defendant Ndubusi forged his Certificate of Citizenship that he claimed to have gotten since 1982 under the leadership of a Military Junta. There are proofs that he also forged other relevant documents. E.g. Ndubusi has 3 different dates of birth on his Certificate of Citizenship, National ID Card, and Academic Transcript from UL. His name on these documents are spelled differently. Fraud Section 15.50(a) of Subchapter E: A person is guilty of a first degree felony, if he knowingly conspires or colludes to defraud the Government of Liberia; Argument and Legal Note #4: Defendant Ndubusi is guilty for fraud because he willfully lied at almost every public or private institution of being a Liberian. As a result, he fraudulently enjoyed the privileges and immunities of a Liberian citizen at these institutions. He was even preferred to serve based on the fact that he was a "Liberian citizen". For instance, he paid lesser fees at the University of Liberia as a Liberian student, and not a foreign student. Criminal Malevolence Section 11.14 of Chapter 11: A person has committed a first degree misdemeanor if he accuses any executive authority, judicial authority, member of the Legislature or any other public authority either by word ofmouth, writing or by public broadcast, of conduct which constitutes the commission of a crime; provided that at the time of such accusation. Argument and Legal Note #5: Defendant Ndubusi lied that Senator Varney Sherman of Grand Cape Mount County gave him a letter of recommendation to seek admission at the University of Liberia. He lied that he has worked with Sherman before. He also linked Chief Justice Francis Korkpoh to his letter of recommendation. It was this letter of recommendation from the Chief Justice that Ndubusi used to defraud our system for decades. If I were the Justice Minister, these are five (5) criminal charges I was going to indict Ndubusi Nwabudike on these charges. Can Justice Minister Musa Dean give me the statutory permission to draw an indictment against Ndubusi Nwabudike? Penalties for committing these grave criminal offences according to Section 50.5 and Section 50.7: Third degree felony a definite term of imprisonment to be fixed by the court, the maximum of which shall be three years; First degree misdemeanor a definite term of imprisonment to be fixed by the court at no more than one year; Second degree felony a definite term of imprisonment to be fixed by the court, the maximum of which shall be five years; First degree felony a definite term of imprisonment to be fixed by the court, the maximum of which shall be ten years. Why isn't Ndubusi arrested, charged, prosecuted, and jailed by now? Why is he even still serving as Chairman of LACC? Those who aided and abetted this con artist of a lawyer in the commission of these grave crimes should also be made to account. The President and the Chief Justice are tied to this controversy as leading enablers of these crimes. Those who aided and abetted Ndubusi are equally guilty of violating Section 12.5 of the Penal Law. Section 12.5 of Subchapter A: Aiding consummation of crime: A person is guilty of aiding consummation of a crime if he purposely aids another to secrete, disguise, or convert the proceeds of a crime or otherwise profit from a crime. Recommendation: There is an urgent need for electoral, judicial, and legislative reform in Liberia. Our systems are actually WEAK and very vulnerable. Fellow Liberians, please stay home to stay safe against COVID-19. Watch out and Wise up. Stay alive and protect your families through Prevention and Precaution. About The Author: Martin K N. Kollie is an exiled Liberian activist, columnist, and emerging economist. He can reached via [email protected] The novel coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan in late December where it was listed as "pneumonia of unknown cause", China said on Monday as it published an official timeline of the detection and control of COVID-19 for the first time, amid international criticism of Beijing for its alleged cover-up. Since the coronavirus outbreak, the pandemic has killed 3,331 people with the number of infections rising to 81,708 by Sunday, China's National Health Commission (NHC) said on Monday. A total of 1,299 patients are still being treated, while 77,078 patients have been discharged after recovery, it said. The deadly COVID-19 has spread rapidly throughout the world, killing 70,590 people and infectecting more than 1.2 million across over 180 countries and territories, according to Johns Hopkins University data. In India, the COVID-19 death toll has gone up to 111 and the number of cases stands at 4,281, according to the Health ministry figures. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show In late last December, the Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in central China's Hubei Province detected cases of "pneumonia of unknown cause", state run Xinhua news agency reported, citing the timeline document. On December 30, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission issued an urgent notification to medical institutions under its jurisdiction, ordering efforts to appropriately treat patients with pneumonia of unknown cause, it said. China has faced criticism over COVID-19 crisis and Beijing has been accused of using its "propaganda" to hush-up coronavirus cases. In Pics | India turns off lights to switch on solidarity Last month, US President Donald Trump said the world was "paying a big price" for China hiding the initial information on the deadly coronavirus, as he ramped up his charges that Beijing was responsible for the current global public health crisis. "The world is paying a big price for what they (China) did and the world is paying a very big price for not letting them (information about coronavirus) come out," Trump said. The president's remarks had come after the National Security Council had tweeted that the Chinese Communist Party suppressed initial reports on the coronavirus and punished doctors, causing Chinese and international experts to miss critical opportunities to prevent a global pandemic. On March 26, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said China's ruling Communist Party posed a substantial threat to Americans' health and their way of life, blasting Beijing for the intentional "disinformation campaign" and trying to deflect from its handling of the coronavirus crisis. China has rejected US allegations that it was not transparent enough in sharing the details about the coronavirus outbreak, saying it was working with the international community in an "open and highly responsible manner" to contain the global crisis. Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here This is the time when businesses need to put their own survival first. And sometimes that means confronting difficult decisions and maybe even looking at ways that they could utilize other companies to help them get through it. Approximately 57 million U.S. workersa third of the countrys total workforceare employed in whats known as the gig economy as independent contractors rather than traditional W-2 employees, according to studies by Small Business Labs and Gallup.(1) Monica Eaton-Cardone, an entrepreneur and global fintech executive specializing in risk management and fraud prevention, says that fintech companies are rapidly developing instant access payment solutions tailored to these workers and the companies that employ them.(2) Considering the waves of uncertainty and panic that COVID-19 continues to flood the economy with, she cautions the payments industry to maintain awareness of security and contract performance issues as they traverse this new labor landscape. Within the payment industry, some are also voicing concerns about the impact that Assembly Bill 5 will have on gig workers. Assembly Bill 5 Builds Doubt for Instant Issuance One source of ambiguity for the gig economy is Californias Assembly Bill 5, which went into effect on January 1st of this year. AB 5 requires many businesses to reclassify their gig workers as employees to be entitled to paid health coverage, pension contributions, overtime, and other benefits (though the specifics regarding which employers and industries will be required to comply with AB 5 is still being determined in court. Eaton-Cardone notes that there is no conflict between the ability to make instant payments and AB 5s core assertion (being that the burden of proof for classifying individuals as employees or contractors is the employers responsibility). For example, one payment facilitator company known as Galileo has already rolled out its Instant Issuing program, which enables business to make payroll for both gig workers and traditional 1099 employees.(3) Regardless of a workers status as employee or contractor, Eaton-Cardone says, businesses can still provide real-time pay. Assembly Bill 5 Amidst COVID-19 AB 5s implementation comes during an interesting time for not only gig workers, but employees all over the countryas the COVID-19 crisis has abruptly and indefinitely upended the economy. Officially signed into law on March 27, a $2-trillion law known as the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act features a new protocol called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, which extends unemployment benefits to gig workers, self-employed individuals, and independent contractorsall of whom were previously ineligible.(4) This has presented gig economy companies an entirely new set of challenges. For example, at the end of last month, ridesharing companies Lyft and Uber faced backlash when two drivers requested federal judges to interfere in enforcing AB 5, with the attorney representing both drivers claiming these companies are failing to provide for their employees amidst COVID-19, according to Wired.(5) In response to this, the article cited a statement made by Lyft spokesperson Adrian Durbin, who said that the drivers lawyers are improperly trying to use this crisis to obtain benefits that courts had otherwise denied in the past. He continued to say that pushing the company to change its business model in the wake of a pandemic would leave drivers out of work. During the Top Summit COVID-19 Quarantined Press Conference on Tuesday, March 31st , Eaton-Cardone discussed several challenges companies are tackling as COVID-19 rages on, including rises in fraud, chargebacks, and other financial uncertainties. While such issues pose obvious threats, Eaton-Cardone noted she does see this as an opportunity for businesses to change. Some good news is that I think a lot of merchants will be inspired to confront these challenges, pivot, and innovate out of them. I mean, this is how most companies got started: they found a problem and they solved it. And we all know there are plenty of problems right now, she said, but there are also a lot of opportunities to solve them. While many states are still awaiting further guidance before making CARES Acts benefits available to gig workers, Californias Employment Development Department is a prime example of such innovation. Department spokesperson Loree Levy recently stated that the office is revving up its processing abilities, to include adjusting eligibility to address this unique situation.(5) With that office alone seeing a staggering 363% increase in processed unemployment insurance claims during the last week in March, developing and enacting plans is now more crucial than ever. Future Opportunities for Instant Issuance Eventually, Eaton-Cardone says legislation will catch up with the ongoing transformation for the instant access payment solutions market. In the meantime, the instantness of these new payment platforms creates potential opportunities for abuse and outright fraud, especially considering the tremendous chaos brought on by the coronavirus. That leaves the burden for policing the market with sites like Upwork and Freelancer, who may embrace stricter know-your-customer privileges for the contractors who seek work through their platforms, Eaton-Cardone says. They may even opt to guarantee conditions between contractors and those who hire them to protect their own reputationsif they dont already do this. While speaking primarily on the issue of increased chargebacks in relation to the current pandemic, during the recent press conference Eaton-Cardone stressed the importance of companies working to maintain a balance between consumer relations while keeping the business afloat during such dire times. Many business ownersmyself includedare used to the policy of putting others first, she says. This is the time when businesses need to put their own survival first. And sometimes that means confronting difficult decisions and maybe even looking at ways that they could utilize other companies to help them get through it. One thing that I think that this whole pandemic has done is exposed the wonderful nature about being humans. We all have a connectivity, and at the end of the day, we're really interested in surviving as a whole. About Monica Eaton-Cardone; As an acclaimed entrepreneur, speaker, and author, Monica Eaton-Cardone is widely recognized as a thought leader in the FinTech industry and a champion of women in technology. She established her entrepreneurial credentials upon selling her first business at the age of 19. When a subsequent eCommerce venture was plagued by revenue-leeching chargebacks and fraud, Eaton-Cardone rose to the challenge by developing a robust solution that combined human insight and Agile technology. Today, her innovations are used by thousands of companies worldwide, cementing her reputation as one of the payment industrys foremost experts in risk management, chargeback mitigation, and fraud prevention. As CIO of Global Risk Technologies and COO of Chargebacks911, Eaton-Cardone leverages her global platform to educate merchants on best practices in fraud prevention and to spotlight the competitive and economic advantages women can bring to the technology workforce. Her nonprofit organization, Get Paid for Grades, invests in students to inspire a new generation of innovators. For more about Monica Eaton-Cardone, visit http://www.monicaec.com. 1. Mitic, J., Gig Economy Statistics: The New Normal in the Workplace, Fortunly, August 21, 2019, fortunly.com/statistics/gig-economy-statistics#gref. 2. Mastercard Launches Accelerate to Supercharge Fintech Success, Mastercard press release, October 28, 2019, mastercard.com/press-releases/mastercard-launches-accelerate-to-supercharge-fintech-success/ 3. Galileo Launches Galileo Instant Issuing, Empowering Businesses to Quickly Issue Debit Cards, Galileo press release, November 21, 2019, mobilepaymentstoday.com/news/galileo-mastercard-launch-program-to-rapidly-issue-debit-cards-to-companies/ 4. Iacurci, Greg. Unemployment Benefits for Gig and Self-Employed Workers Stalled by Confusion, Delays. CNBC, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2020, cnbc.com/2020/04/01/unemployment-for-gig-self-employed-workers-mired-in-confusion-delays.html. 5. Marshall, Aarian. The Covid-19 Pandemic Aggravates Disputes Around Gig Work. Wired, Conde Nast, 30 Mar. 2020, wired.com/story/covid-19-pandemic-aggravates-disputes-gig-work/. # # # Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-07 00:14:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COLOMBO, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's health ministry on Monday reported two more confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the country's total number of confirmed cases up to 178. Four more COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospital, raising the total number of recoveries up to 38. Currently, 135 COVID-19 patients are under medical care. Meanwhile, the government announced that the ongoing island-wide curfew would be lifted in 19 districts from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. Curfew in the districts of Colombo, Kalutara, Gampaha, Puttalam, Kandy and Jaffna districts will continue indefinitely. (Photo : Screenshot from: Pexels Official Website) A new study has shown that scientists have now identified the Achilles Heel of the coronavirus that can be targeted with various therapies and drugs. Results of this new study show that distinct parts of the virus could lead to a potential vaccine as well. Read Also: Data Has Shown that the U.S is Capable of Producing More Ventilators For COVID-19 Patients but Not For Essential Medicine The 'Achilles Heel' of Coronavirus Scientists have closely inspected and studied an antibody from a certain SARS patient and tried to track down how it leeched to a particular area of the SARS virus. They then observed and surveyed how SARS can latch on to the same exact part on the sample at a "near-atomic-scale resolution." Though the antibody that clamped itself on the coronavirus sample was weak compared to the SARS sample they studied, it did help determine its vulnerability. According to Daily Mail, Dr Ian Wilson, the lead author of the study stated that "the knowledge of conserved sites like this can aid in structure-based design of vaccines and therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2, and these would also protect against other coronaviruses-including those that may emerge in the future." Wilson also told the San Diego Tribune that he describes the findings on the area of the virus as a possible Achilles' heel, which was published in the journal Science. According to Scripps scientists, this has suggested that the virus is very likely vulnerable to specific medication and from that they can find out how can it circulate and develop. These vulnerabilities, however, are hard to spot. Co-author, Meng Yuah has claimed that "we found that this region is usually hidden inside the virus, and only exposed when that part of the virus changes its structure, as it would in natural infection." They need survivors who are willing to donate blood The advancement in this research rose from a growing effort by scientists all over the world to try to find human antibodies that can destroy the coronavirus. Scripps Research has said that the high degree of affinity has implied that this particular spot has a very important function that could be lost if it significantly mutates. The team currently needs to study the matter further, although it will certainly not be easy. Meng Yuan has stated that they found out that this particular area is usually hidden inside of the virus and can only be exposed and defined when that area changes its structure -- similar to how it would in a natural infection. These scientists will be searching for antibodies that can actually do a better job of clamping itself onto the vulnerable part of the virus. They also seek the public's help as they look for COVID-19 survivors who can volunteer to donate some of their blood which can then be screened for a possible vaccine or antibodies. The institute is interested in speaking to survivors who have shown no symptoms for at least two to three weeks. Those who wish to participate can contact Scripps Research. Read Also: Recent Cases Have Shown That COVID-19 Patients Can Suffer Brain Damage and Other Neurological Complications 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. After months of scandal surrounding the massive compensation packages awarded to Tiffany Carr, the CEO of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Miami-Dade County has assumed control of a Miami non-profit domestic violence center currently led by Angela Diaz-Vidaillet, a former coalition board chair. According to a letter sent by the county to Diaz-Vidaillet and the non-profits chairman, Franceso Diberli, The Lodge will be taken over by the county in two months. The county may assume control earlier if the operating entity, Victim Response, Inc., complies. The Lodge, a 46-bed shelter that opened in May 2004, gets about $1.9 million in local funds for operations in addition to state and federal dollars that are passed down through the coalition. The coalition is the clearinghouse for all state and federal domestic violence funds, and manages about $52 million annually in state and federal government funding that goes to 42 domestic violence centers that serve as emergency shelters for victims of domestic abuse, including The Lodge in Miami. Diaz-Vidaillet came under fire earlier this year for being part of a group of board members who approved more than $7.5 million over three years in salary, bonuses and cashed-in paid days off to Carr. A probe of the coalition was prompted after the Miami Herald revealed in 2018 that Carr reported to the IRS a $761,000 annual salary and the FCADV refused to cooperate with a subsequent state audit. In her testimony before a Florida House committee in February, Diaz-Vidaillet said as the investigation into FCADV heated up she called Carr and asked: What have you done? And she said, Ive done nothing wrong. Everything I did, I did for the contract. Tiffany Carr shown during a 2004 visit to a Hollywood nail salon, where she spoke on domestic violence was the longtime CEO of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Carr told her that if a former staffer hadnt leaked details about how she cashed in $4 million in paid time off, nobody could have found out for two years, because that is how long it would take before her 2019 salary would be reported on the IRS 990 form. Story continues Diaz-Vidaillet also testified that the boards former attorney, Leonard Collins, attempted to find a cure for the financial mess Carr had gotten into and came up with a plan that would save the coalition. We were kept in the dark for a long, long time, she said. Diaz-Vidaillet also testified that she thought the hundreds of paid days they awarded to Carr were hundreds of hours, not days, drawing skepticism from lawmakers. The county is currently conducting an audit of Victim Response, Inc., and asked that the organization continue providing full access to records to facilitate the audit. The county operates the only other domestic violence center in Miami-Dade through its Community Action and Human Services Department. In her letter, Kemp wrote that the county will work with the center to keep intact any grants, donations or in-kind services that it has and ensure the safety of domestic violence survivors who depend on services at The Lodge. A spokesperson for The Lodge could not be reached for comment. Its adios. See you later, said Ron Book, who chairs the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust. The trust helps fund domestic violence centers in the county. What was discovered is what some of us knew related to Ms. Carr in the past. ... I dont think we had any other option. Last month, the state of Florida launched two legal actions against the coalition, its board of directors including Diaz-Vidaillet and three current and former executives, alleging they conspired to defraud the state to pad Carrs hefty compensation package and demanding that millions in taxpayer money be repaid. VRI Termination Letter by Casey Frank on Scribd Gov. Ron DeSantis lawsuit, filed in the Second Judicial Circuit, accuses Carr, the coalition and the board of breach of its contract with the Department of Children & Families, breach of implied duty of good faith, and breach of fiduciary duty. DeSantis also signed a bill that severed the special relationship FCADV had as the states sole contractor for domestic violence funds. Attorney General Ashley Moodys complaint, also filed in the Second Judicial Circuit, seeks to recover all or part of the estimated $7.5 million paid to Carr over the past three years, as well as dissolve the coalition and reorganize it. Mary Ellen Klas contributed from Tallahassee. Correction: An earlier version of this story cited a letter that gave 30-day termination notice for The Lodge contract. The county has since updated the letter, giving The Lodge a 60-day termination notice. The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) on Monday put all zoos across the country on highest alert and asked them to collect samples fortnightly in suspected cases after a tiger at a US zoo tested positive for coronavirus. In a letter to all states and Union territories, CZA Member Secretary S P Yadav said the United States Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratories has confirmed COVID-19 in a tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York. "Zoos in the country are, therefore, advised to remain on highest alertness, and monitor animals 24X7 using CCTVs for any abnormal behaviour or symptoms," it said. The authority said carnivores, especially cats, ferrets and primates, need to be carefully monitored and fortnightly samples of suspected cases be sent to designated animal health institutes for COVID-19 testing. The samples can be sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Disease in Bhopal, the National Research Centre on Equines in Haryana's Hisar and the Indian Veterinary Research Institute in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, the letter said. "Sick animals should be isolated and quarantined," it added. No keeper or handler should be allowed in the vicinity of animals without safety gear, preferably personal protective equipment (PPE). They should have least contact with animals while providing them feed, it said. Zoos have been asked to follow all bio-containment and safety measures required to handle the high-risk pathogen as per the national/ICMR guidelines, the letter said. "Zoos are advised to coordinate with designated nodal agencies of the government for public health response and permit screening, testing and surveillance as and when required by the nodal agency," the CZA added. A four-year-old Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York has tested positive for the coronavirus infection. The female tiger, named Nadia, is believed to be the first known case of an animal infected with COVID-19 in the US. It is suspected that she contracted the virus from a caretaker who was asymptomatic at that time. The incident has raised concerns over whether the infection can be transmitted between animals and humans. According to media reports, a Pomeranian dog in Hong Kong also tested positive for COVID-19 last month. So far, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been spreading from humans to humans and there is no research yet to support human-to-animal transmission, experts say. Still, they say, people infected with COVID-19 should limit contact with their pets. The Union Environment Ministry also issued an advisory to states and Union territories, expressing concern about the transmission of the virus between humans and animals. It asked the states and UTs to take immediate preventive measures, reduce human-wildlife interface and restrict the movement of people to national parks, sanctuaries and tiger reserves. Zoos across the country have been shut following a CZA directive on March 13, with their administration taking precautionary measures while taking care of animals. In India, there are 145 recognised zoos with over 56,000 animals, according to the CZA. The Delhi Zoo or the National Zoological Park has asked its staff with symptoms such as cough, cold, fever to stay home. "We have been screening our employees at the gates. If they show any symptoms, they are asked to quarantine themselves at home," Delhi Zoo Director Suneesh Buxy said. The zoo staff has been taking all precautionary measures. They wear gloves, masks and wash hands with soap frequently, Range Officer Saurabh Vashishtha said, adding that disinfectant is being sprayed in common areas. There are around 1,100 animals, 30 attendants and around 15 animal keepers in the 188-acre zoo, he said. The authorities at the Itanagar Biological Park are also taking extra care of their nine big cats. "Food for the carnivores is treated properly before the animals eat it. Even the vehicles are sanitised thoroughly," Biological Park, Itanagar, curator Raya Flago said. The zoo administration has not allowed any employee to go out of the park since the lockdown came into force. "We have also made it mandatory for the staff of the park to wear masks and other protective equipment while feeding the animals," Flago added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike has attacked the federal government of Nigeria for releasing a whopping sum of N10b to the Lagos state government while his state is yet to receive a dime as the nation battles COVID-19. Read Also: Expect Palliatives Soon, Wike Tells Residents Speaking via a statement on his official Twitter handle on Sunday, Wike lamented on why Rivers would be overlooked, despite being the greatest producer of the nations wealth. He wrote: It is quite unfortunate that the containment of coronavirus has been politicized by the Federal Government. While Lagos State received a grant of N10billion as a commercial hub, Rivers State as the nations oil and gas hub that produces a greater percentage of the nations wealth has not received any support from the Federal Government. One wonders why Federal Government should single out a state out of 36 States to give support. Does it mean that support will come when a State has a record of over 50 infected persons before it gets support? No state should be seen as more important than any other state. This is the Federal Republic. No state is superior to others. Rivers State is entitled to support from the Federal Government. Every day, we are inundated with letters from the Federal Government to allow oil companies to fly in expatriates to drill Oil. Then we ask, what is the status of those coming from Lagos? Nobody has told us their status as regards coronavirus. If they come to come Rivers without us knowing their status, what will be implication assuming they have the virus. Rivers State as the nations oil and gas hub that produces a greater percentage of the nations wealth has not received any support from the Federal Government.#Covid_19 pic.twitter.com/uNXd22CAXd Gov N E Wike Information. (@GovWike) April 5, 2020 One wonders why Federal Government should single out a state out of 36 States to give support. Does it mean that support will come when a State has a record of over 50 infected persons before it gets support. #Covid_19 Gov N E Wike Information. (@GovWike) April 5, 2020 No state should be seen as more important than any other state. This is a Federal Republic. No state is superior to others.#Covid_19 Gov N E Wike Information. (@GovWike) April 5, 2020 Rivers State is entitled to support from the Federal Government. Every day, we are inundated with letters from the Federal Government to allow oil companies to fly in expatriates to drill Oil. #Covid_19 Gov N E Wike Information. (@GovWike) April 5, 2020 Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday expressed his happiness over Centre's decision to procure gram and lentil at MSP from farmers in 13 states saying the move will benefit farmers. "Happy to know that the Centre has approved a decision to procure gram & lentil at MSP from farmers in 13 States," Naidu said in a tweet. "This will not only benefit farmers but also ensures supply of these produce to people. Farmers need to be enlightened on this so that they don't resort to distress sale of their produce," he added. On Sunday, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had tweeted to inform about the government decision about the same. "Government took important decision to purchase gram and lentils under MSP during lockdown ...Without waiting for proposal from states, procurement have been approved from 13 states at the MSP," he had tweeted in Hindi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ali Shamkhani says US sanctions imposed on crucial medical equipment are illegal and an inhumane act. An Iranian official has called US President Donald Trump more dangerous than coronavirus saying moves to block vital medical supplies to fight coronavirus from reaching Iran was tantamount to crimes against humanity. Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council, accused the American government of opposing efforts by the International Monetary Fund to assist Iran during the pandemic. The sanction on health items is an illegal and inhumane act and a symbol of Trumps open hostility to the Iranian people, Shamkhani wrote in a tweet on Sunday. The US opposition to granting facilities to Iran by the International Monetary Fund to meet the required medical items to fight against the coronavirus is a real example of crimes against humanity. The sanction of health items is an illegal & inhumane act & a symbol of #Trump's open hostility to the Iranian people. US opposition to granting #Iran's requested facilities from @IMF to provide items needed to deal with #CoronaVirus is a real case of crimes against humanity. (@alishamkhani_ir) April 5, 2020 Trump is more dangerous than coronavirus, Shamkhani added. Iran will never ask the United States for help in the fight against the new coronavirus, Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Monday. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has rejected offers from Washington for humanitarian assistance for Iran the Middle Eastern country so far worst-affected by the coronavirus with 3,739 deaths and 60,500 people infected according to the latest figures. Iran has never asked and will not ask America to help Tehran in its fight against the outbreak But America should lift all its illegal unilateral sanctions on Iran, Mousavi said in a televised news conference. Wed love to meet Trump on Friday 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. Well they havent even asked us to do that, said Trump when asked if the United States would consider easing sanctions on Iran in light of the global outbreak. 200403092935715 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 Tehran after Washington withdrew from the landmark 2015 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 crucial oil exports. On March 26, 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. Good omen Iranian authorities have urged other countries and the United Nations to call on the United States to lift crippling sanctions. They [the US] are trying to force Tehran to accept negotiations with America, Mousavi said. He welcomed the launch of a European barter system to bypass US sanctions as a good omen but said it was insufficient in light of the Europeans commitments. Britain, France and Germany said last week they had carried out the first transaction through the Instex mechanism to deliver medical supplies to Iran. Mousavi said the transaction had involved a few hundred thousand euros (dollars). What the Islamic Republic of Iran expects [from now on] is for the Europeans to fulfill the rest of their commitments in various fields [such as] banking, energy, insurance, he added. U.S. medical professionals on the front line of the coronavirus pandemic are lobbying policymakers for protection from potential malpractice lawsuits as hospitals triage care and physicians take on roles outside their specialties. State chapters of the powerful American Medical Association and other groups representing healthcare providers have been pressing governors for legal cover for decisions made in crisis-stricken emergency rooms. More than half a dozen emergency room doctors and nurses told Reuters they are concerned about liability as they anticipate rationing care or performing unfamiliar jobs due to staff and equipment shortages caused by the outbreak. Governors in New York, New Jersey and Michigan have responded with orders that raised the standard for injuries or deaths while working in support of the states response to COVID-19 from negligence to gross negligence, or an egregious deviation from standard care. Physicians, who have long blamed malpractice lawsuits for driving up healthcare costs, hope other states will follow. There are too many variables here. We are going to be second-guessed, said Jeremy Faust, an emergency physician at Brigham and Womens Hospital (BWH) in Boston. We need better protection, if only to guard against unreasonable claims. On Monday, U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, a Republican from Nebraska, introduced legislation that would protect U.S. doctors who practice outside their area of specialty or who use a modified medical device. Doctors would also be protected for providing treatment outside standard healthcare facilities. Plaintiffs firms that specialize in malpractice are keeping an eye on how healthcare providers are responding to the crisis. The Doan Law Firm, which has offices nationwide, said on its website that some providers are adopting untested treatment plans or use hastily-designed and manufactured patient care equipment that could lead to medical malpractice. Jimmy Doan, the firms founder, did not respond to a request for comment. President Donald Trump warned on Tuesday that the outbreak could kill up to 240,000 in the United States and said that the impact would intensify in coming weeks, potentially overwhelming hospitals. Doctors and nurses said they worried about the lack of equipment and obligations to resuscitate patients without the ventilators needed to do it. In an example of how healthcare professionals could be exposed to malpractice lawsuits, several doctors said the increasing demand for hospital beds meant they werent able to be as cautious as they normally might be with non-coronavirus patients. Doctors routinely order extensive testing and overnight observation for patients with mild heart conditions or strokes, even if their symptoms have disappeared once they get to the hospital, for example. Now, they are sending these individuals home to make room for COVID-19 patients. Costly Malpractice lawsuits can be very costly. A Baltimore jury last year awarded $229 million for brain damage suffered by a girl born at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, for example. Insurance premiums can top $100,000 a year for some specialists in states without caps on damages. An image was posted on Twitter last week of a malpractice law firms website which featured a blog post titled What you should know about medical negligence during the COVID-19 crisis. It truly disgusts me to see what badness comes out during a crisis like this, wrote Eugene Yang, a professor of medicine at the University of Washington who tweeted the post, which drew dozens of comments, many from healthcare professionals, sharing his rage. The website of the law firm, Mannarino & Brasfield, has been taken offline and a recorded message on the firms answering system said the post was published by an outside contractor. The firms phone message apologized and said the post did not reflect the firms values. Joe Belluck, a New York lawyer who brings medical malpractice cases, said hes concerned the coronavirus crisis could be used to enact a wish list of changes sought by doctors, hospitals and the medical industry to curb unrelated lawsuits. I just hope these things are done in a way that is tailored to the crisis taking place, he said. Lawyers who represent patients said the law already protects medical professionals. To make their case, patients must show a medical provider negligently deviated from the reasonable standard of care for the particular circumstances. An emergency room doctor operating in the peak chaos of the coronavirus outbreak wouldnt be judged against the standard of care provided in a physicians private office, they said. The question I would ask is, why arent the ordinary liability rules already sufficient to address the issues? said Chip Becker of the Kline & Specter law firm in Philadelphia. Kimberly Chernoby, an emergency room doctor in Indiana who works with BWHs Faust on brief19.com, a website that reviews COVID-19 research and policy, said shes not reassured. Were in a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Who knows whats reasonable? she said. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: At a time when most of the people are gripped with panic, a few tend to stand out as inspiration to others. When the entire world the scrambling for three-layered masks and sanitizers to ward off deadly coronavirus, a man in Uttar Pradesh has offered himself to be used to help find a vaccine for the treatment of COVID-19. Harkeerat Singh, 44, works in Lakhimpur Kheri. He is currently staying with his father and brother at his village in Prayagraj. He has written to health authorities - both state and central volunteering to serve as specimen for human trial for any vaccine to combat coronavirus. Harkeerat had been a part of National Health Mission in 2017-18. He believes it is an opportunity to do something for mankind. So I have volunteered to face human trial by any medical authority working to make a vaccine for Sars-Cov-2, said Harkeerat. As a new vaccine is possible only after passing through human trial, I am ready to be that first human. It can be tested on me wherever necessary either in India or abroad, he maintained. Harkeerat has reached out to the health department, local MLA and also to Sikh Sangathan in Lucknow in this connection. He claimed that he was a sikh, a community known for serving mankind. I am just doing the same, added Harkeerat. When asked about the risks involved in the trial, he said he was aware of the dangers but the cause was much bigger. However, medical experts said there were medical and ethical issues involved in any such trail. The offer is inspirational and worth appreciation but certain medical criteria have to be fulfilled before going on for any such trial, says a senior doctor Dr Sunil Verma. He also referred to certain ethical issues which have to be looked into by the authorities. He said a vaccine had to go through animal trial before human trial. However, it was a lengthy process and used to take years of research before reaching the stage of human trials. Rep. Adam Schiff, of Mueller investigation and impeachment fame, is proposing an "independent" commission to examine why the country was so unprepared for the pandemic. In an effort to be helpful, I'd like to humbly offer some guidance. In 1999, two Chinese generals published an influential treatise that said China should not be bound by Western rules and methods of war. Treaties were written by Westerners to maintain their military advantage over China. For defense, China should do anything to win nothing is off the table, and every occasion is an opportunity for strategy. At that time, China still believed that the USA had engaged in impossible biowarfare in Korea. China signed the Biological Weapons Convention in 1984 (12 years after drafting), agreeing provided other states were not in violation. They privately felt that the unenforceable treaty was a "fraud of sham disarmament" and engaged in bioweapons research. Frankly, they had a point: everyone was researching bioweapons for "defensive" purposes. Probably from disclosures of their 20-year plan, the USA knew that China had "potential" dual-use bioweapons research in 2012 but that it would not constitute a treaty violation. In 2015, some Chinese believed that DARPA was doing bioweapons research and put faith in technological innovation to weaponize "living organisms" and create "non-traditional combat styles." Also by 2019, multiple research studies had warned that Chinese bat coronaviruses were a "time bomb" for humans, like SARS in 2003. By November, the bomb exploded: a likely Patient Zero from Hubei. China publicized its efforts into bat virus research and hired foreign help. The Chinese were definitely working hard in Wuhan, and in 12 years, they had nearly doubled the virus discoveries of the rest of the world over 200 years. Was it an accident? Some things weren't: as policymakers fretted about China weaponizing its control over medical exports, Chinese laboratories were secretly sequencing their first samples of novel coronavirus and seeing pneumonia patients with a SARS-like virus in Wuhan. Chinese doctors were silenced as hospitals were vaguely warned about "pneumonia of unclear cause," and the first official reports to health agencies were made at the very end of 2019. Dozens were infected by this time. At the new year, Chinese authorities were ordering destruction of the earliest virus samples and warning each other of their danger. By January 6, China warned the world of a mysterious illness but not that it had a new SARS-like virus. On the 9th, China finally made the DNA public, roughly seven weeks after discovery. Despite China's strong evidence of human-to-human transmission (sick doctors and similarity to SARS), the WHO heard the opposite from Wuhan and failed to warn the world. The U.S. CDC warned doctors about respiratory illness in recent travelers to Wuhan anyway, four days before the WHO recommended no travel restrictions on China. Shortly after finding a U.S. patient zero but before testing could confirm, the CDC instituted public health screening at airports and created a National Health Commission to go to Wuhan. Members arrived the day after Wuhan hosted 100,000 people for the World's Largest Potluck Supper before millions traveled for New Year's in the "World's Largest Human Migration." Next, China confirmed what it knew for weeks: human-to-human transmission was happening. As the virus spread but the lone known U.S. patient improved, Trump banned travel to China. The media were apoplectic at his racism. China supplied statistics daily, but there were inconsistencies: social media posts about, e.g., stacks of bodies unlike official data, before the posters vanished. China refused help and expelled journalists. When asked if the virus is from bioweapons research, the Chinese ambassador told CBS, "It's true that a lot is still unknown." China published a threat in its state news outlet: should the USA continue its trade practices, the Chinese will put export controls on medicine and drown the USA in a sea of coronavirus. The propaganda mills ramped up and obfuscated. China sold faulty equipment after buying tons throughout the West and called everyone racist. One week after the threat, the WHO declared a pandemic, and a national emergency was declared next. Is it possible to have biowarfare not based on a deliberate release of a disease, but based on a predictable accident, promulgated by lies and made worse by withholding medicine? If such a thing is possible, it is lucky the virus is not worst-case: if this were SARS 2.0, as China likely thought in December, the death rate could be 15% overall. If this were SARS 2.0, we'd be in a lot more trouble. A pseudonymous recent graduate of a top American law school, J. Paul Oso is a top researcher and writer whose collaborative work with law firms and think-tanks has made history. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr. Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg arrives for a Cabinet meeting in October. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP) The ambition of Jacob Rees-Moggs investment firm to make super normal returns for its clients from the coronavirus crisis have been criticised as grotesque and as sick as it comes by Labour party MPs. Newly installed Labour leader Keir Starmer said that nobody should be seeking to take advantage of the pandemic. We should all be asking ourselves what we can do for our country and each other, he said. In a note to clients last month, Somerset Capital Management said that the crisis was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to profit from stocks in emerging markets such as Brazil and South Africa. Though Rees-Mogg stepped back from his role at the firm when he became leader of the House of Commons in July 2019, he is still thought to own at least 15% of its shares. Read more: Debenhams to file for administration, putting 22,000 jobs at risk Market dislocations of this magnitude happen rarely, perhaps once or twice in a generation, and have historically provided excellent entry points for investors, a fund manager at Somerset wrote in a note. History has shown us that super normal returns can be made during this type of environment, they said. While fund managers often seek to invest during stock market downturns, former shadow chancellor John McDonnell said Somersets plans demonstrated the need for a tax on profiteers. This is about as sick as it comes. Profit seeking from suffering is nearly as low as you can get, he said. Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana called it grotesque, arguing that the crisis was a public health emergency, not a business opportunity. We should take any profits they make and invest it in our NHS, she said. In a statement, Oliver Crawley, a partner at Somerset Capital, said that his firms thoughts were with those suffering as a result of these tragic circumstances. Our fund managers investment commentary is focused on the valuations currently seen in the emerging markets, not the appalling human cost of the virus, and we sincerely hope these comments are not misconstrued as being unsympathetic, he said. Story continues As a firm we are supportive investors, that work with emerging market companies, while investing for the long-term future and security of our clients savings and pensions. Pro-remain lawyer Jolyon Maugham, who has often criticised Rees-Mogg for his position on Brexit, said on Sunday that the criticism was a bit silly. Read more: EasyJet founder warns airline 'will run out of money by August' [Somerset Capital] wants to invest in bombed out share prices, he said. This is actually a good thing as higher share prices will make it easier for those businesses to attract fresh capital and survive. Publicly available accounts for Somerset Capital show that it made 26.4m in operating profit in 2019, down from 34.1m in 2018. Members of the firm shared in some 19m of those profits last year, but it is not clear how much Rees-Mogg earned in dividend payments. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo Finance UK It is difficult to think of anyone more irresponsible at this time of coronavirus crisis than those people who returned from a skiing trip to Colorado with COVID-19 a couple of weeks ago and then wandered around and about, leading to the infection of dozens of people. Yet Prime Minister Scott Morrison has decided that he is not ready to adopt a technology based on mobile phone apps widely used in other countries such as Taiwan and Singapore which could have kept track of people who are in isolation but who refuse to do the right thing. Tracking apps are being used abroad to monitor infected people and enforce home quarantine. Credit:Bloomberg After the council of chief medical officers suggested using the technology, Mr Morrison said last week that using mobile phone data to track and contain the disease was not consistent with what Australian society understands and accepts. The Prime Minister is right that using mobile phone data involves serious privacy risks and, if badly managed, might reduce community support for other important measures such as lockdowns. Joe Biden leads President Donald Trump in the latest Florida poll amid the COVID-19 pandemic thats brought 2020 campaigning to a halt and the presidents response under the spotlight. According to the University of North Florida poll, 46% of registered voters would back the former vice president if hes the Democratic nominee, versus 40% who preferred Trump. The poll showed 45% approve of Trumps response to the deadly new coronavirus, while 53% disapprove. The disease has killed at least 200 and infected more than 12,000 in Florida, a key battleground state that Trump won by less than 2% over Hillary Clinton in 2016. Gov. Ron DeSantis garnered 51% support for his handling of the crisis in the state, with 46% disapproving. Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the presidents top public health advisers, received nearly double the support of the president in terms of handling the crisis, with an 85% job approval rating. Eighty-six percent of Floridians trusted Fauci and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for information on the virus, more than doubling trust in Trump, at 41%. Fifty-eight percent of those surveyed said they do not place faith in what the president says on the pandemic. Floridians are clear in their stance on who they trust, and its not their political representatives," Dr. Michael Binder, director of the universitys Public Opinion Research Lab, said in a statement. Health organizations have the spotlight and authority to make suggestions to officials, and it would behoove politicians to follow their advice, especially as election season creeps closer. Lately, the president and Fauci have been divided over the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19. The president, who helped fast-track the drug for clinical trials in New York, has suggested Americans with COVID-19 should take the drug, arguing, What have you got to lose? He said Sunday that the government had purchased and delivered tens of millions of the hydroxychloroquine pills to medical facilities. Fauci has argued that theres only anecdotal evidence the medication, which is helpful to patients with lupus, arthritis and malaria, has any positive effect on COVID-19 patients. He says more data is required before he could recommend the drug as a treatment for the virus, which has now killed 10,000 Americans and infected nearly 350,000 across the country. Binder expressed caution on the presidential head-to-head numbers in the poll, which surveyed 3,244 voters and had a margin of error of plus or minus 1.7 percentage points. First these are registered voters, not likely voters, he said. Second, the campaign season has screeched to a grinding halt and people are rightly less focused on politics. Although, this same sample of voters when asked who they voted for in 2016, indicated a very slight advantage for Trump, suggesting that something may be changing in Florida ahead of the election. Related Content: [April 06, 2020] Xerox and Vortran Medical Partnering to Mass Produce Disposable Ventilators Xerox Holdings Corporation (NYSE: XRX) and Vortran Medical Technology are teaming up to speed and scale production of Vortran's GO2Vent ventilator and related Airway Pressure Monitor (APM (News - Alert)-Plus) for hospitals and emergency response units fighting the battle against COVID-19. The two companies expect to work together to quickly respond to the shortage of critical ventilation equipment necessary to support patients breathing. Assuming a stable supply of essential parts, the companies will be rapidly scaling up production from approximately 40,000 ventilators in April to between 150,000 and 200,000 ventilators a month by June. Together, Xerox and Vortran could produce as many as 1 million ventilators in the coming months. While the GO2Vent is not a replacement for ventilators found in intensive care units (ICUs), it is widely used in emergency situations, inter-hospital transport and MRIs. Given the shortage of ICU-grade ventilators, medical professionals are utilizing tools like this and other technology to support patients who do not yet or no longer need an ICU-level breathing device, which can be freed up for another patient. "Our smartest minds met (virtually) with Vortran's smartest minds and figured out how to mass produce this critical technology," said John Visentin, vice chairman and chief executive officer, Xerox. "We want to help make sure doctors, nurses and paramedics on the frontlines have the resources they need to help the rising number of patients with COVID-19." Xerox plans to manufacture these FDA-approved ventilators and APM-Plus devices at its facility outside of Rochester, NY, where the company was founded and maintains a large presence. Vortran will continue to manufacture ventilators at its current facility in Sacramento, CA (News - Alert). "The partnership with Xerox has one clear goal - to help save as many lives as possible. With Vortran's proven technology and Xerox's ability to hyper-scale manufacturing, we believe we can supply healthcare providers as many as 1 million ventilators in the coming months," said Vortran Co-founder and CEO, Gordon A. Wong, M.D. "For all of us, this will be the most important thing we ever do." Vortran's GO2Vent was designed for emergency use, natural disasters and disease outbreaks such as the COVID-19 pandemic. A gas-operated, disposable ventilator that can be set-up within minutesand discarded after use by a single patient, it provides support via a secure airway and can be operated on a compressor, oxygen or air with a minimum of 10 liters per minute flow rates. The GO2Vent can provide continuous ventilatory support for up to 30 days and operates independent of Vortran's APM-Plus. The APM-Plus is a battery operated, portable device that connects to a GO2Vent and provides enhanced monitoring of patient status and key respiratory parameters. Given the need to confirm key supplies, the companies are actively assessing how quickly production can ramp for the APM-Plus devices. In addition to scaling up production of the GO2Vent and APM-Plus, Xerox and Vortran expect to compile and analyze data and feedback from healthcare professionals on the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19 in order to design and mass produce external, in-line modifications that can be added to the GO2Vent to expand the potential applications of this life-saving equipment. Both Xerox and Vortran will distribute the products. About Xerox Xerox Holdings Corporation makes every day work better. We are a workplace technology company building and integrating software and hardware for enterprises large and small. As customers seek to manage information across digital and physical platforms, Xerox delivers a seamless, secure and sustainable experience. Whether inventing the copier, Ethernet, the laser printer or more, Xerox has long defined the modern work experience. Learn how that innovation continues at xerox.com. About Vortran VORTRAN Medical Technology has been providing medical device excellence since 1983. We are a research, development, and manufacturing company of advanced medical respiratory and ambulatory devices. We serve domestic and international markets with a superior line of products for hospitals, emergency medical services (EMS), disaster preparedness, and MRI/CT applications in hospitals, acute care, post acute, homecare and EMS situations. Note: To receive RSS news feeds, visit https://www.news.xerox.com. For open commentary, industry perspectives and views, visit http://twitter.com/xerox, http://www.facebook.com/XeroxCorp, https://www.instagram.com/xerox/, http://www.linkedin.com/company/xerox, http://www.youtube.com/XeroxCorp. Xerox is a trademark of Xerox Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005642/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The chief suspect in the murder and dismemberment of 17-year-old Keane Mulready Woods was gunned down in Belfast on Saturday. Said to be one of Irelands most feared underworld figures, father-of-three Robbie Lawlor, 35, from Coolock in Dublin, was shot dead at Etna Drive, a residential area in the Ardoyne. He had been in hiding since the murder in January of Keane Mulready Woods, which shocked the nation due to the victims age and the brutality of his killing. Social media was awash with videos purporting to show rival organised crime figures celebrating Mr Lawlors demise, while speculation was rampant that he had been in Belfast to collect a debt when he was killed. PSNI Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy said: I do not believe that Robbie was in the Ardoyne yesterday by accident. I believe he had some reason to be there and key lines of enquiry for me at this stage are to establish why he was there and what his connection to the address is. Four men, aged between 17 and 33, were arrested on suspicion of murder and are being questioned in the Serious Crime Suite in Musgrave police station, Belfast. One has since been released. Two properties, one in west Belfast and one in Crumlin, were also searched as part of the murder inquiry, the PSNI said. Det Supt Murphy appealed for anyone in possession of recording footage that could assist the inquiry to make it available. Anyone who has CCTV, dashcam or mobile phone footage recorded in the area of Etna Drive and Kingston Court is also asked to make it available to my investigation team, he said. Mr Lawlor was said to be infamous among the underworld, shocking even the most hardened criminals with the level of violence he was prepared to use. He was a suspect in a number of murders, and had amassed more than 100 convictions. A video uploaded to social media showing Mr Lawlor being accosted by a group of men shortly after his release from custody in December, was thought to be one of the catalysts in the escalation in violence between feuding gangs in Dublin and Drogheda, leading to the murder of Mr Mulready Woods. Mr Lawlor left prison in December after a charge of assaulting his ex-partner was dropped, while a jury found him not guilty of assaulting her new partner. He was cleared of shooting the dog of his ex-partners mother. Gardai told him in January that there was a serious threat to his life. NEW YORK, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. HVAC Services Market Research Report: By Type (Installation, Upgradation/Replacement, Maintenance & Repair, Consulting), Equipment (Heating, Ventilation, Cooling), Implementation (New Construction, Retrofit Buildings), End User (Commercial, Industrial, Residential) - Industry Trends Analysis and Growth Forecast to 2030 Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05879079/?utm_source=PRN The biggest factor fuelling the demand for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) services in the U.S. is the booming construction sector in the country, primarily due to the rising population level and increasing urbanization rate. As per the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of the U.S. is set to increase by almost 7% during 20192029. As a result, the U.S. HVAC services market is predicted to see an increase in value from $25.6 billion in 2019 to $35.8 billion in 2030 and progress at a CAGR of 3.1% during the forecast period (20202030). In the U.S, the demand for HVAC maintenance and repair, upgradation and replacement, installation, and consulting services is quite high. Amongst these, repair and maintenance services were demanded by a lot of American citizens during till 2019. It has been observed that HVAC systems that go through frequent maintenance and repair activities lead to 20% more savings in energy consumption and exhibit improved functional efficiency. The demand for consulting services for HVAC systems, including thorough inspection by technicians, is expected to register quick growth in demand during the coming years. HVAC systems are widely used in the industrial, residential, and commercial sectors. Out of these, the highest sale of HVAC services was recorded in the commercial buildings in 2019. This is primarily attributed to the massive surge in the construction of various commercial buildings, especially those pertaining to the hospitality niche. Furthermore, the construction of new commercial spaces in the country is expected to propel the adoption of HVAC systems, thereby boosting the need for installation and maintenance services. The biggest rage in the U.S. HVAC services market currently is the growing adoption of smart HVAC systems, which has, in turn, massively pushed the demand for associated maintenance and repair services. Additionally, the rapid advancements and innovations in data analytics have fuelled the rise in the demand for streamlined HVAC system processes, exhibiting improved efficiency. For instance, HVAC contractors employ the use of widgets and software, nowadays, in order to collect data, with the help of real-time tracking of the coolants in the HVAC systems. The southern part of the country recorded the largest sale of HVAC services in 2019. This is mainly ascribed to the fact that the cities and towns in the southern part of the country experience varying weather conditions, as compared to those in other regions. This creates a huge need for efficient heating and cooling of residential, industrial, and commercial buildings, which in turn, powers the demand for HVAC systems. As a result, the need for various associated services remains consistently high in this part of the country. Therefore, owing to the soaring population level and the resultant rise in the construction of residential buildings as well as the flourishing industrial sector, the demand for HVAC services wound continue to skyrocket in the U.S. in the coming years. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05879079/?utm_source=PRN About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links www.reportlinker.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 19:21:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAMASCUS, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish forces have established a total of 56 military observation points in northern Syria since October of 2017, a war monitor reported Monday. The latest Turkish point was established on Monday, a day after three points were set up in the countryside of Idlib province in northwestern Syria, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Turkish forces established their observation point in Idlib in October of 2017. In February 2018, the Turkish military observation points were expanded in northern and southeastern Idlib. As of Sept. 15, 2018, the Turkish observation posts became an official part of the 2018 Idlib demilitarization agreement reached between Russia and Turkey about creating a demilitarized zone in Idlib. Year 12 students may be forced to repeat their academic year unless an agreement is reached for them to work from home. Schools have been closed in Victoria because of the coronavirus outbreak since March 24 - as state officials work alongside the federal government to create a robust distance learning plan for students. But if a plan is not reached a Year 13 may be created by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, while internal assessments could be pushed back to 2021. Pictured: Geelong Grammar School. Year 12 students in Victoria face potentially having to repeat their school year - creating a Year 13 A playground closed off to the public in Frankston in Melbourne. State officials in Victoria are battling to draw up a plan for distance learning for students 'What we need for Year 12s is some sort of certainty... even if that certainty changes down the road,' the president of the Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals Sue Bell told 3AW. 'What Year 12s are aiming for is an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank), an Australia-wide qualification we need to actually work with other states as well and that's why it's taking a little bit longer to come to an agreement.' She said she was hopeful an agreement would be in place to prevent internal assessments being pushed back to next year, but was preparing for all eventualities. 'Teachers are ready to work remotely, and we've been planning furiously for this - I think probably that is going to be the most effective way of working at the moment,' Ms Bell said. State and federal ministers will meet on Tuesday to canvass options including extending the academic year or postponing final exams. They will also discuss boosting overall scores and changing university application procedures. State and territory curriculum and assessment authorities will present all available options to the meeting. Federal education minister Dan Tehan said it was likely responses to the pandemic would vary between jurisdictions. Term two in Victoria is scheduled to begin on April 14 - three weeks after premier Daniel Andrews brought the school holidays forward to March 24. Schools are expected to open with reduced staff numbers to accommodate children of keyworkers. The Victorian government has already stated it aims to have students getting an ATAR by the end of 2020. 'It is my aim that they can get an ATAR, if not within this calendar year, then very soon thereafter,' Mr Andrews told ABC News. CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement 'We've got six or eight weeks at the end of the year that we can catch up.' Mr Andrews added term two would likely involve students working from home. 'That's why it was so important to bring the school holidays forward, so we can do that work around online learning,' he said. Universities themselves are keeping a close eye on how the virus and disruptions are playing out for their potential graduates. But the sector's peak body says it's still too early to know what concessions might have to be given. 'This unprecedented situation is changing so rapidly that the impacts on both universities and schools six, nine and 12 months from now just aren't possible to predict,' Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said. 'However, universities are nonetheless aware of the potential impact of COVID-19 on school examinations and are developing contingency plans. These will be updated as circumstances change.' The uncertainty comes as it is revealed more than 1700 casual staff in government schools in the Northern Territory will continue to be paid in the event schools close due to coronavirus. Over 1800 support staff - including cleaners, grounds and maintenance personnel, canteen staff and classroom support staff - are employed directly by NT government schools, with 90 per cent of them casual. NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner has meanwhile said school attendance is optional for the remainder of term one. Yesterday marked 10 years since WikiLeaks published the Collateral Murder video, showing US soldiers in an Apache helicopter indiscriminately firing upon unarmed civilians and journalists in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. The footage, filmed by the US military on July 12, 2007, shows the gunship circling above a group of 10 men, going about their business in the suburb of Al-Amin al-Thaniyah. In increasingly exasperated tones, those on board ask whether they have been given permission to open fire on the individuals, who pose no conceivable threat. When the signal has been given, they let loose with 30 mm cannon fire. The viewers horror at the massacre is matched only by revulsion at the glee of the American soldiers. As the 10 men lie catastrophically wounded or dead, a US soldier expresses his hope that one of them will pick up a non-existent weapon, so that the fusillade may be resumed. A van pulls up to give assistance to the wounded. It is fired upon, killing the driver and inflicting horrific wounds on his two young children. At the end of the carnage, as many as 18 lie dead. They include Reuters journalists Saeed Chmagh and Namir Noor-Eldeen. Congratulations and more blood lust are the response from within the Apache. Collateral Murder,17 minute version The video has had an indelible impact on the consciousness of millions of people around the world. Its 39 minutes of footage exposed the real character of the US invasion and occupation of Iraq as an illegal, neo-colonial operation involving the perpetration of war crimes and an assault on the social and democratic rights of an entire population, unprecedented since the horrors of the Nazi regime. A decade on and none of those responsible for the 2007 massacre depicted in the video, or for the illegal invasion which resulted in the deaths of over a million people, has been brought to justice. Some, such as former US President George Bush and then Australian Prime Minister John Howard, are enjoying a quiet retirement. Others, including former British PM Tony Blair, remain politically influential and powerful figures, while still more are at the helm of the US and allied militaries as they continue to perpetrate crimes in the Middle East, and plot new wars, including against China and Russia. The only individuals who have suffered any repercussions as a result of Collateral Murder are Chelsea Manning, the courageous US army private who leaked the video, and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who published it. Most recently, Manning was released from six months imprisonment last month, after refusing to give false testimony against Assange before a secret US Grand Jury. Behind bars without charge or conviction, she was again driven to attempt to take her own life. Assange, after almost a decade of arbitrary detention, faces the prospect of extradition from Britain to the United States, where he would be hauled before a kangaroo court, convicted on espionage charges and sentenced to life in a supermax prison. Assanges only offence is having exposed the war crimes, global diplomatic conspiracies and mass spying operations of the American and allied governments. Even before he has been extradited, all of the WikiLeaks founders rights have been trampled upon by a corrupt British judiciary and political establishment. After years of abuse, his life is in imminent danger. The British government and the courts have refused to release him as the coronavirus pandemic hits British prisons, despite the fact that Assange is on remand and has been convicted of no crime. The very individuals responsible for the crimes exposed in Collateral Murder are spearheading the attempt to destroy Assange. They include the US military and intelligence agencies, the American ruling elites political parties, the Democrats and the Republicans, and their allies in the British Tory and Labour Parties and the Australian political establishment. The video revealed, not only the crimes of individuals, but the systemic criminality of the entire occupation of Iraq, implicating the military commands, governments and a pliant corporate media. On July 13, 2007, the US military issued a statement which declared that the Reuters employees Chmagh and Noor-Eldeen, had been killed during a firefight with insurgents. An August 2007 Freedom of Information request for the footage, lodged by Reuters, was denied by the US government and the military. Perhaps most damningly, the publication of Collateral Murder exposed the corporate press as an adjunct of the military as it was wantonly committing war crimes. All of the major publications in the US, from the New York Times to the Washington Post, had promoted the lies about weapons of mass destruction used to justify the illegal invasion of Iraq. Manning had contacted those outlets, and others, but never received a reply, prompting her to turn to WikiLeaks. At least some corporate journalists, however, were already intimately familiar with the crimes that politically radicalised Manning. During the invasion of Iraq they were the embedded ones, integrating themselves into the military and filing breathless reports hailing the decimation of Iraqs civilian and military infrastructure and the catastrophe that befell its population. In a 2009 book, David Finkel, a Washington Post journalist, described a scene that bore striking similarities to the 2007 Apache attack in Baghdad. His book was titled, without irony, The Good Soldiers. Finkels follow-up work was headlined Thank You for Your Service. According to some sources, Finkel and the Washington Post had had access to the video since at least 2009. There are even allegations that the reporter showed it to friends and colleagues at dinner parties held in his plush Washington DC home. The response of WikiLeaks, a tiny organisation with extremely limited resources, was very different. Assange and a group of colleagues spent months decrypting the video, studying its contents and investigating the events it depicted. This alone should put paid to the claims of the corrupt corporate stenographers of the intelligence agencies that Assange is not a journalist. Current WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hraffnson risked his life to track down the victims of the attack, travelling to Iraq two years after a secret US military document had outlined a strategy to destroy WikiLeaks. Hraffnson met the widow of Matasher Tomal, the man who was killed while attempting to help those wounded in the first barrage of artillery fire. He spoke to Tomals children Sayad, who was 10 at the time of the attack, and Doaha who was just 5-years-old. Both suffered wounds that will affect them for life. In an interview at the time, Hraffnson commented on the experience of speaking to Sayad: When I was watching his eyes [I felt] I was looking into the eyes of my own son. I think I have never been as touched by anything Ive seen. The sorrow of a child who loses his father is so deep, so devastating. I really wanted to get that to the public. Asked by the interviewer if it had not been dangerous for him to travel to Iraq, Hraffnson commented: Yes, but journalism should be dangerous. Journalists are becoming, and have been, a part of the military propaganda machineryeasily manipulated. For his part, Assange unveiled the footage at the US National Press Club, despite the clear danger that he would be targeted by the CIA and the US military. All of those credited on the Collateral Murder video, including those who ended their collaboration with WikiLeaks many years ago, have been subjected to harassment and surveillance by the military intelligence complex, including having their personal details and correspondence subpoenaed from major internet conglomerates. The Collateral Murder video will be remembered for decades as testimony to the barbarity of imperialist war. Its contents are more significant than ever, amid stepped-up inter-imperialist tensions and preparations for new and catastrophic military conflicts. Workers, students and young people must do everything they can to fight for Assanges freedom and for the safety and security of all those involved in this historic exposure of militarism and war. Yesterday, WikiLeaks held an online meeting marking the anniversary of Collateral Murder, at which Hraffnson and others spoke. It can be viewed here. If you dont have access to a printer to print out your schoolwork packets, We want to help you! ... We are all in this together! Cleary advertised on her Facebook account. The agent asked students to forward their homework by email to her State Farm email address with their name and address. Our office will print your packet for you and drop it off at your front door, Cleary outlined in her online post. She explained that she was inspired by something she had done in the past printing out the homework of her sons friends, particularly for those kids who did not have access to a printer in their own homes. I was thinking with all that the schools are doing and they are doing a great job [of] getting homework packet information to the students, that the schools and students might need some help in printing out their packets, the agent told Bowling Green Daily News. So far, she has hand-delivered 40 to 50 homework packets to students, and she continues to receive requests for printouts daily. The agent said that her actions have even encouraged State Farm agents from other states to reach out to her, with interest in delivering homework packets in their own local communities. One call from another agent based in a town in Maine revealed that their effort even got local police officers involved to deliver the homework packets door to door. I didnt realize it would take off the way it has, Cleary remarked. Jenelle Evans is working overtime to defend her reportedly abusive husband, David Eason on social media. Fans thought Evans was making positive strides after she left Eason in November 2019. The changes didnt last long, and in the last 30 days, Evans has seemingly reverted to her former self. Not only did she move back in with Eason, but her social media activity is awfully reminiscent of her past activity, and fans are completely over it. Jenelle posted about her broken phone, prompting concerns from fans Evans ignited concern from fans when she took to social media to inform her followers that her phone was smashed and that she would need to be contacted via social media if anyone was trying to get in touch with her. The post, along with several follow-ups, caused followers to worry that Evans had, once again, found herself in a volatile situation. The first post came on April 1, followed quickly by a second social media post suggesting that Evans couldnt trust anyone. In Touch notes that fans immediately assumed there was trouble in North Carolina. After all, Evans had accused Eason of several instances of domestic violence, and there has been serious concern from experts that domestic violence incidents could tick up during the quarantine. Evans didnt feel the urge to explain why her phone was broken. Jenelle is back to defending David at every turn Several days later, she decided to take to Instagram to set the record straight. Followers quickly noted that Evans appeared to be back to her old tricks. Those tricks include defending Eason on social media. In an Instagram Story, Evans chastised followers for assuming every post is about Eason. Instead, she claims her posts were more about having a bad day because of the quarantine and being cooped up with her children. There is one problem with her post, though; Evans never bothered to explain exactly how her phone was rendered unusable, or whom she cant trust. If Evans is abiding by the shelter in place rules, she wouldnt have contact with anyone but Eason and her children most days. Fans find it hard to believe that she would be finding it hard to trust the kids. That leaves Eason as the only viable culprit, but Evans wont confirm it. Why did Jenelle move back to North Carolina? Evans move back to North Caroline shocked followers, who truly believed the mother of three was thriving in Tennessee. Evans later suggested she made the move back for the benefit of her children, although fans arent buying it. After all, Evans claimed, in legal documents, that Eason was abusive towards the children, as well as towards her. Fans have surmised that Evans decided to head back home when a different romance didnt pan out. During her time in Tennessee, Evans was linked to a Boston-area man. She appeared on his Instagram several times in late 2019, but the romance quickly soured. Both Evans and her alleged beau, Herbert Wilkinson, took to social media to talk trash about each other. Passover begins on April 8, and typically that means families getting together for Seder. But this year, coronavirus has changed the way the Jewish community is able to celebrate. As a solution, many local temples and synagogues have gotten creative by hosting virtual Seders and weekly services as well as helping congregants celebrate Passover at home. >> Click through for information on some of the virtual Passover and weekly services in Connecticut. CT Insider took an in-depth look at how religious communities in Connecticut are coping with the coronavirus pandemic. Local rabbis spoke about their Passover initiatives. Rabbi Jon-Jay Tilsen of Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel in New Haven told Hearst Connecticut that his congregates are offering technical support for people who need help with Zoom. Also, because many people are used to being guests at the Passover Seder, some Jews will have to perform a Seder for the first time, Tilsen noted. With that in mind, hes putting out plenty of guidance in the mail, and he gave a how-to class last week something he does every year, although not normally over video, he said. More for you Connecticut restaurants offering takeout, delivery for Easter, Passover Rabbi Mendy Hecht of the Orchard Street Shul in New Haven said he has been putting together Seder-To-Go kits for people who need them. Rabbi Daniel Cohen, the leader of Congregation Agudath Shalom in Stamford, said that while this holiday is different from any other, it has also opened up a reservoir of kindness, of connectivity in a way Ive never seen before. >> Click here for our CT Insider story on how faith communities in Connecticut are coping with the pandemic. For example, his community has instituted a senior buddy system where people from younger demographics check in with senior citizens, making sure they are doing all right and have all the necessary supplies, Cohen said. HOLYOKE One more veteran from the Holyoke Soldiers Home is believed to have died of the coronavirus overnight and the number of staff who have contracted the illness has nearly doubled according to state officials. Currently, a total of 22 residents at the home have died since the first veteran tested positive for COVID-19 on March 21. Of those residents, tests have confirmed 18 died of coronavirus, tests from three are pending and one is unknown. Three other veterans have died during the time period of other causes, according to state officials. There are 59 additional veterans who have tested positive for the illness, leaving more than one-third of the about 210 residents infected with the virus. The remaining 59 veterans have tested negative, state officials said. The number of staff who work at the home who are infected with the coronavirus has also increased dramatically in the past day. As of Monday, 31 of the about 240 staff have tested positive, an increase from 18 staff on Sunday. A total of 179 employees have tested negative, officials said. After learning the virus was rapidly spreading at the Soldiers Home and eight people had died of COVID-19, the state Executive Office of Health and Human Services sent a team to the home a week ago to examine the situation. Every resident and every employee has been tested for the virus since then. By Monday night officials placed Superintendent Bennett Walsh on paid administrative leave and put Val Liptak, a registered nurse and CEO of Western Massachusetts Hospital in Westfield in his position. Chief Operating Officer Anthony DiStefano is overseeing day-to-day operations of Western Massachusetts Hospital in her absence. The state also formed an onsite clinical command team made up of medical, epidemiological, and operational experts to respond to the outbreak. The National Guard is also assisting. Walsh has denied any wrong-doing in the management of the facility and said he welcomes the results of an investigation into the handling of the virus that will be conducted out of Gov. Charlie Bakers office. On Monday additional nursing staff, who will receive training in infection control, have supplemented the regular staff to care for residents. The state is also seeking immediate staffing support through per diem workers and contract employees to assist the depleted staff, state officials said. Officials also moved 39 veterans out of the Soldiers Home to a unit at Holyoke Medical Center previously used for labor and delivery. Those veterans had tested negative for the virus and were moved to keep them safe from the virus, but one of the men in the group has fallen ill since then. Those who have tested positive are being treated at the home or at hospitals as needed. Strict quarantine zones have set up to prevent those who have tested positive from spreading the coronavirus to the about 120 residents who remain at the home and have tested negative for the virus, state officials said. In response to complaints about families being left with little information about relatives at the home, the state also set up a clinical team which includes a nurse case manager, to provide information to families. It includes workers from the Behavioral Health Network and Riverside Community Care and is being run in coordination with the Massachusetts Association of Social Workers, state officials said. Shortly after the state took over the running of the home officials set up a hotline number at 413-552-4764 and an email at CommunicationsMailbox-HLY@Mass.gov for families of veterans. After hearing complaints that families couldnt get through on the phone, the emergency contact for every resident was phoned or emailed over the weekend so they could find out more about the health of their family member, officials said. Holyoke Mayor Alex B. Morse said during an update on Facebook about the state of the city, he reached out to officials after receiving complaints from family members who were having difficulty finding out information and was given a new contact. While things seem to be improving, he told people to contact his office if they have problems and pledged to hold the directors accountable. My commitment is to transparency and honesty, he said. Not everyone may like information and sometimes it is tough to handle but it is important you have the most up-to-date information. He also thanked the Holyoke Medical Center for offering space to help the veterans who have tested negative. We are doing our best, now that we have test results back, to make sure we save as many lives as possible, Morse said. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday announced that California was lending 500 state-owned ventilators to the Strategic National Stockpile to help New York and other COVID-19 hot spots facing shortages of the desperately needed medical devices. We want to extend not only thoughts and prayers, but we're also extending a hand of support with ventilators, Newsom said during a press briefing Monday in Sacramento. Newsom said lending the critically needed ventilators was possible because hospitals throughout California have procured thousands of devices in the last few weeks, increasing their total ventilator inventory from 7,587 to 11,036. Given that coronavirus cases are not expected to peak until May, under current estimates, California could afford to lend the medical devices to parts of the country where they are in seriously short supply, Newsom said. Newsom emphasized that the ventilators are being lent to the Strategic National Stockpile on the condition that they will be returned if California needs them. These are lent. They are not given, Newsom said. Still, Newsoms announcement came on the same day that Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors President Cindy Chavez and other local leaders put out a plea for used ventilators, offering a $1,000 bounty for each device. Santa Clara County has been one of the hardest hit areas in California during the coronavirus outbreak. The governor said the state also has continued searching worldwide for additional ventilators, as well as masks and other personal protective equipment for healthcare workers and others, to increase its stockpile. About 1,000 additional ventilators are currently being refurbished by Bloom Energy, a Silicon Valley fuel-cell company, nearly half of which could be available by Tuesday. For all of those reasons, and the responsibility the moral and ethical responsibility of providing resources in real time to those most in need that's why we thought it appropriate to send those, Newsom said. Story continues Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that California was lending 500 state-owned ventilators to the national stockpile for use by other states. (Beth LaBerge / Associated Press) Newsoms announcement comes after Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon and Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington also announced they would donate ventilators to areas of the country in need. Brown on Saturday said 140 ventilators were being sent to New York and Inslee on Sunday said the state would return more than 400 ventilators received from the Strategic National Stockpile to help New York and other coronavirus hotspots. One reason California can afford to spare ventilators, at least for now, is because the vast majority of Californians have heeded orders to stay at home and, when venturing outside to buy essentials or for recreation, have also maintained the recommended social distancing from others. If Californians maintain that behavior, California should have enough ventilators to care for those in need in the state for the near future, Newsom said. "That will give us the time, well within the next few weeks, to have enough ventilators, we believe, to meet the needs of 40 million Californians that may be vulnerable to this virus," Newsom said. Newsom held his press conference at the Sleep Train Arena, former home of the Sacramento Kings, which is being transformed into a 400-bed hospital to treat coronavirus patients. The facility is one of many sites the state is using to add 50,000 hospital beds to the hospital system in California to treat a surge in coronavirus patients. On This Day The Chinese Nationalist Party Leader's Short Visit to British Burma From left to right, Chiang Kai-Shek, his wife Soong Mei-ling and General Joseph Stilwell in Pyin Oo Lwin. YANGONOn this day in 1942, Chinese political and military leader Chiang Kai-shek met with US Army General Joseph Stilwell and British Army General Harold Alexander in Pyin Oo Lwin, Mandalay Region to discuss plans to repel the Japanese occupation of Burma. Chiang Kai-shek was head of the Chinese nationalist Kuomintang party. As the United States and the United Kingdom were backing Chiang Kai-shek, who was also at war with Japan, the Chinese general in return lent his support to the Allies. When Japanese forces invaded Burma, he sent his troops into the country. At the time, Pyin Oo Lwin, a scenic hill town in Mandalay Region which served as the summer retreat for British governors and officials, had become the administrative center for the British after they lost control of Yangon (then Rangoon) to Japanese forces. When Chiang Kai-shek and his wife, Soong Mei-ling, arrived in Pyin Oo Lwin from Chinas Chungking on April 6, 1942, Governor Reginald Dorman-Smith and his wife, known as Lady Dorman-Smith, were on an inspection tour in Mandalay, which was left in a state of ruin following bombing raids by Japanese forces three days prior. The British couple met the Chinese couple after they returned from Mandalay later in the evening that day. Governor Dorman-Smith invited Chiang Kai-shek and his wife to stay at the state guesthouse but the Chinese couple insisted that they preferred simple accommodations, so the governor made other arrangements for them. Governor Dorman-Smith later told British writer Maurice Collis, who served as an administrator in Burma, that the simple lifestyle that Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling led in their house was far better than the luxury of the state guesthouse. Lady Dorman-Smith wrote in her diary that Soong Mei-ling interpreted for her husband and that the Chinese generals wife loved to poke her nose into everything. Not long after their meeting in Pyin Oo Lwin, all of Myanmar fell into the hands of Japanese forces. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. Getty Many Canadian dairy farmers are being asked to dump raw milk amid the COVID-19 outbreak that has led to a decline in overall demand for key dairy products. While grocery stores have seen sales of dairy products soar as consumers engaged in panic-buying, the widespread closure of restaurants, coffee shops and cafeterias across Canada has seen dairy demand plummet in recent weeks. The supply chain is adjusting to the shift in demand from wholesale to retail, but those changes are challenging and can take time. As it grapples with the demand fluctuations, the Dairy Farmers of Canada said it has asked farmers to dispose of raw milk products. The dramatic changes in demand and the related challenges being felt throughout the supply chain have resulted in the need for the disposal of some raw milk, which is extremely unfortunate and difficult, Dairy Farmers of Canada said in a statement. The last thing anyone wants to see is their milk being discarded, least of all farmers and their partners in the value chain. The Dairy Farmers of Canada said that farmers and processors are donating significant volumes of products to food banks, but the dearth in demand still means many farmers will have to dump their unspoiled raw milk. Cheryl Smith, the chief executive officer of the Dairy Farmers of Ontario, said in a statement to Yahoo Finance Canada that the move to force farmers to dump milk is an extraordinary measure and one that Dairy Farmers of Ontario has only ever considered in emergency situations. We are working very closely with processors and industry groups to respond to the unpredictable market fluctuations that are now part of our current environment, Smith said. The steps we take now are vitally important to the continued strength of our food supply chain and we are proceeding with that important goal in mind. Farmers will be asked to dump milk on a rotating basis, and will be compensated, but at a significantly lower rate than if that product was sold to market. Story continues The Retail Council of Canada (RCC), which represents the countrys major grocery retailers including Loblaw, Metro and Sobeys, is working with producers and processors to ensure the supply chain keeps up with demand while minimizing food waste, said Jason McLinton, vice president of the RCCs grocer division. A lot of the processors are picking up a lot of the fluid milk that would have otherwise seen sold to restaurants and schools and processing that into products with a longer shelf life, such as yogurt, McLinton said. Our individual members are also working with suppliers to make sure as consumer demand remains really strong that they are getting that product and able to offer it to consumers. Canadas dairy industry operates under a supply management system that limits the amount of dairy produced while controlling the price farmers receive. It also limits foreign imports of dairy products through the use of tariffs. The dumping of dairy has not been restricted to Canada. Farmers in Wisconsin also began pouring milk down the drain last week as the coronavirus dried up the marketplace for dairy products. Sylvain Charlebois, a professor of food policy at Dalhousie University, said that while the current situation due to COVID-19 is exceptional, Canadas dairy supply management system means there is little incentive for farmers to invest in technology to avoid situations where milk has to be dumped. As soon as you store milk, youre going to actually have to decrease the prices farmers get per litre, Charlebois said. With files from the Associated Press Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android and sign up for the Yahoo Finance Canada Weekly Brief. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper defended the Navy's controversial decision to remove the commander of a coronavirus-stricken aircraft carrier, who was reported on Sunday to have tested positive for COVID-19 as the number of its sailors with the highly-contagious disease also grew WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper defended the Navy's controversial decision to remove the commander of a coronavirus-stricken aircraft carrier, who was reported on Sunday to have tested positive for COVID-19 as the number of its sailors with the highly-contagious disease also grew. Captain Brett Crozier started showing symptoms of the virus before he was relieved of his command of the Theodore Roosevelt on Thursday and has tested positive, the New York Times said, citing two Naval Academy classmates who are close to Crozier. The Navy did not immediately respond to a request for comment but does not usually discuss individual cases due to privacy laws. The Pentagon also did not immediately respond. Acting U.S. Navy Secretary Thomas Modly removed Crozier after a scathing letter written by the commander urging the Navy to do more to halt the spread of the potentially lethal virus aboard the nuclear-powered carrier was leaked to the media. The move sparked intense backlash as videos posted on social media showed sailors aboard the vessel cheering Crozier as he departed and an online petition called for his reinstatement. It has also become a political lightning-rod as the Trump administration faces intense criticism for its handling of the nation's coronavirus outbreak. Esper, in his first public comments on the issue, on Sunday said he backed the dismissal. "Secretary Modly made a tough decision, a tough call. I have full faith and confidence in him and the Navy leadership, and I support their decision," Esper told ABC News' "This Week" program. "This is a chain of command issue. It's an issue of trust and confidence in the captain of the ship." Modly last week told Reuters Crozier was being reassigned while the Navy weighed possible disciplinary action, adding that the commander's letter was shared too widely and was in the press before he could even read it. On Saturday, President Donald Trump described the letter as "not appropriate" and said Crozier had done a "terrible" thing. Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, a Democrat who is seeking to challenge the Republican Trump in the Nov. 3 presidential election, called the firing of the captain "close to criminal." "The idea that this man stood up and he said what had to be said, got it out that ... his Navy personnel were in danger," Biden told ABC News separately. "The guy, he should have a commendation rather than be fired." A group of Democratic U.S. senators have also called on the Pentagon's independent Inspector General to investigate the dismissal. The Navy on Saturday said 155 Theodore Roosevelt sailors have now tested positive for the coronavirus but none have been hospitalized, with 44% of the ship's nearly 5,000 crew having been tested so far. The carrier, whose home port is in San Diego, was at sea when the outbreak began and has since docked at a U.S. naval base on Guam, allowing sailors to evacuate and be quarantined on the American island territory in the western Pacific. (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Tim Ahmann; writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Daniel Wallis) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. LOBS. How are you coping with this coronavirus outbreak ? William Boyd. I am living in our house in London, in Chelsea to be precise. Two weeks ago, I was at our house in France, in the Dordogne, but I returned to London by sheer chance just before the confinement total. We Im with my wife, Susan are respecting the conditions of the UK lockdown. We go for a long walk once a day in Battersea Park, across the Thames from where we live. We shop for food every four or five days. All our local shops seem well stocked. There are long, orderly queues outside the supermarkets on the Kings Road. We see nobody apart from waving at our neighbours. La suite apres la publicite In some respects great sections of the day seem entirely normal. I am very busy, writing a screenplay for a TV series about the 2019 fire at Notre Dame. Im writing a lot of literary journalism. Im also writing an introduction to a Simenon roman noir. Im correcting the copy-edited typescript of my new novel, TRIO, that will be published in October. We talk to friends on the phone; we FaceTime with family. I listen to music. We watch long-form TV series, movies and news bulletins. We eat simply but well. Wine is delivered. In many ways a writers life is ideally suited for a lock-down. Susan is writing a screenplay based on a short story by Elizabeth Taylor. Two writers in a house, writing away. But Chelsea is eerily silent: no planes overhead coming in to land at Heathrow, no traffic, no construction work. Its like a permanent Sunday outside. How do you see the situation evolving in Great Britain ? Here in the UK we are still, I believe, about two weeks behind the situation in France. We are some way off from reaching the peak of the pandemic. I suspect this lock-down will last for all of April, if not longer. As for the government, finally they seem to be getting their act together. But initially all was confusion and contradictory messages a disturbing mixture of complacency and panicked surprise. La suite apres la publicite Its apparent that we were very unprepared for anything of this scale and also that our health service was too understaffed and under-funded to respond. The NHS is doing heroically well but no thanks to the government. I think, once this is all over and the blame-game begins, that the state of the UK health service will be at the centre of the debate. The Conservative government has not provided sufficient funds for even the status quo to be maintained and yet they have been in power for ten years. There has been a haemorrhage of non-British but essential staff from the NHS because of the Brexit disaster (remember Brexit ?). What this pandemic has exposed is how skewed the social values of this country have become under the Conservatives. Ideologically, the Conservative government was heading in a direction of more and more privatisation when it came to the health service. That policy must now be dead in the water. There may be some good consequences that will arise from this crisis. Boris Johnson suddenly went from laissez-faire and denial of the epidemic to more drastic measures. What does this crisis reveal about the Prime minister ? In this country, Boris Johnson has a reputation of being a serial liar (outdone only by Donald Trump), a serial philanderer and a lightweight political journalist. He is, fundamentally, a joke and a joker. He cannot do serious. Its beyond his temperament and personality. And this crisis has cruelly exposed his many inadequacies. He has risen to the level of his incompetence. His decision-making has been revealed as contrary and misleading. La suite apres la publicite Without a script he is inarticulate; his attempts at gravitas, empathy and concern are bogus and deeply embarrassing. He was obsessed with becoming Prime Minister he would do anything to achieve this and, in his narcissistic vanity, he considers himself to be a new Winston Churchill. And now his crucial, Churchillian moment has arrived. Be careful what you wish for. Lets simply say its blindingly obvious that he is no Winston Churchill ! Hes not fit to shine Churchills shoes, as the saying goes. Does the division between Remainers and Brexiters overlap a difference of attitude in the face of this epidemic ? I dont think the Remainers/Brexiters division is apparent in this crisis. Despite the governments confusing signals, the people have organised themselves and united. There is a lot of help and solidarity in evidence which wasnt there during the toxic arguments over Brexit. Will this crisis make the British people think again about the wisdom of leaving the EU ? I suspect so. The global pandemic has shown the predominant need for a co-ordinated, united response. Going it alone is the absolute opposite of what is required now. But I fear its too late. When this pandemic crisis is over, the remorseless, masochistic self-harm of the Brexiteers will once more be in the ascendent. Those Labour voters who voted for Johnson and the Conservatives at the last election and gave him his big majority will be the first to suffer they are suffering now and its too late to turn the clock back. La suite apres la publicite You are Scottish. Is the epidemic approached differently in Scotland or Ireland ? I think it has been handled differently in Scotland. It is a much smaller country, of course, with a much smaller population, but the Scottish government seems to be unified, its decisions are emphatic and seem to be enforced, and they have as a leader, in Nicola Sturgeon, someone who is serious-minded, much respected and capable of taking firm, pragmatic decisions. The contrast between her and Johnson is stark. Does the crisis benefit a political party over another ? When the crisis is over the Labour party will have a new leader and that should change everything. Jeremy Corbyn, in his inept, uncharismatic way, was a disastrous liability to the party, as the last election proved. I believe, and hope, that under Keir Starmer the party will begin to regain something of its old authority and natural, traditional connection with voters. La suite apres la publicite One thing is for sure, the Labour Party would not have abandoned and run-down the health service as the Conservatives were doing prior to this pandemic. After this crisis I suspect that fact will be very dominant in peoples minds. Any party that vigorously funds and supports the health service will benefit hugely. After this crisis it will be very easy to point the finger of blame at the Conservatives. They have no answer. The only hope for the Conservatives is that the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, has emerged as someone highly competent and responsible again exposing the evident imperfections of the prime minister. Sunaks star is on the rise. Do you think some of the measures taken to deal with this coronavirus outbreak may infringe on our liberties ? Not yet. Almost the entire country supports this lock-down and social-distancing. I think it might change were some sort of tracking app installed in our mobile phones such as happened in South Korea. It obviously works in the times of a pandemic but would there be a way of disconnecting from the system once it had served its purpose ? I think people would react adversely to some sort of Big Brother state that was able to surveil your every move and contact. La suite apres la publicite In what state is the National Health Service ? Clearly the NHS was struggling and to have this further, massive burden imposed on it has exposed the unhappy state it was in. I think people will be somewhat shocked at the neglect this much-loved and essential public service had suffered at the hands of the Conservatives. The continuing inability to test front-line NHS staff for Covid-19 shows the extent of this wilful dereliction and mismanagement. We mustnt forget that this Conservative government is currently very right-wing. Johnson expelled all moderate voices from his cabinet in order to bring about his Brexit dreams. Ideologically, this government is very opposed to costly monolithic state services like the NHS. Before the crisis there were genuine fears that the Conservatives were on the point of selling-off parts of the NHS to private enterprise, including the huge American health insurance corporations. After this crisis I dont think the people of Britain would tolerate any such further degradation to occur. Every government Labour or Conservative will have to underwrite every demand the NHS makes. Again this may be a good consequence to emerge from this crisis. Does the insularity of Great Britain (and its history) lead to a different way of coping with the epidemic ? La suite apres la publicite I dont think so. Though there are no doubt some sad, deluded, nationalistic fantasists who think the British have more fortitude and spirit than the rest of the world. I think in the face of global danger everyone realises the seriousness of what we are facing. Everyone tries to respond with the same stoicism and dedication. In tough times, like World War II, Britain has shown its ability to mobilise. Will the epidemic be the occasion for a new sacred union ? Is the royal family still able to embody this patriotic spirit ? I think the people of Britain will behave and react as best they can. But I think the days of seeing the Royal Family as the nations exemplars are long gone. Even in World War II it was something of a myth. For example, during the Blitz the King and Queen were booed when they visted bomb sites and their victims in the East End of London. Certainly the current Royal Family the Queen excepted, perhaps doesnt generate much respect. We can all see them for the very ordinary, flawed people they are. Just like the rest of us. Will there be a before and an after ? La suite apres la publicite Very hard question to answer, as the crisis is still unfolding. I hope there will be some changes for the better. Perhaps a growing distrust of demagogues and demagoguery Trump and Bolsonaro have been totally exposed as the mendacious fools and deluded incompetents they are even to those who had a perverse faith in them. Perhaps a sense will emerge that we are all indeed Better Together to borrow the slogan of the anti-independence movement in Scotland. And, more generally, perhaps there will be a simple philosophical understanding that life can be very hard and that we have to look out for each other and at the same time take care to protect the disadvantaged and the unfortunate. I suppose my greatest hope is that there will be an increase in the respect and kindness we need to show to each other. Because, for sure, there will be more crises and more pandemics. What readings would you recommend today ? A difficult choice ! I think my own suggestion would be to read the great short stories of Anton Chekhov particularly those that he wrote in the last decade of his life (he died in 1904, aged 44). Chekhov was a doctor and he knew epidemics at first hand cholera, typhus and the shocking consequences of widespread famine. He also knew, being a doctor, that he himself had not long to live because he suffered from chronic tuberculosis. I believe this acute sense of his own mortality, and his impending death, infused his stories. They have an incredibly modern spirit: they are profoundly secular and he refuses to judge other people. Profitez de l'offre 1 pour 3 mois avec Google En choisissant ce parcours dabonnement promotionnel, vous acceptez le depot dun cookie danalyse par Google. But its very clear that his knowledge of abject human suffering and his familiarity with the random cruelties and injustices of the human condition made him a profoundly wise observer of human behaviour and his fellow beings. I go back and re-read his stories again and again. Chekhovs understanding of our complicated, difficult lives and his clarity of vision is incredibly stimulating and, paradoxically, uplifting. La suite apres la publicite You read French ? Have a look at the french version of this interview, and at our other articles about the coronavirus outbreak. William Boyd British novelist and screenwriter, William Boyd was born in Ghana. He published A Good Man in Africa , Waiting for Sunrise , Solo , Ordinary Thunderstorms and Love is blind which received the Fitzgerald Prize 2019. A laboratory technician working on samples from people to be tested for the new coronavirus at "Fire Eye" laboratory in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province in February. Getty The UK government reportedly believes the coronavirus outbreak may have started in a Chinese laboratory. Most experts believe the outbreak began when animals passed COVID-19 onto humans in China. However, some scientists believe an accidental leak is a plausible alternative theory. UK officials are not ruling out the possibility that a laboratory close to Wuhan accidentally leaked the virus. A UK Parliament committee on Monday accused the Chinese government of spreading "disinformation" about the origins of the virus. "Perhaps it is no coincidence that there is that laboratory in Wuhan," one UK government official told the Mail on Sunday newspaper. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Related Video: Inside London During COVID-19 Lockdown The UK government believes the coronavirus may have accidentally leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan where Chinese scientists were researching the virus, according to a Mail on Sunday newspaper report. Most experts believe the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus began in markets in the Chinese city of Wuhan when animals passed on the disease to humans. However, The Mail on Sunday report says that while officials in Boris Johnson's government believe this is still the most likely explanation, it is "no longer being discounted" that a leak from a nearby laboratory actually caused the outbreak. A member of the UK government's emergency committee of senior officials, COBRA, told the newspaper: "There is a credible alternative view [to the zoonotic theory] based on the nature of the virus. Perhaps it is no coincidence that there is that laboratory in Wuhan. It is not discounted." There are two scientific labs within close proximity of of Wuhan where scientists are believed to have been carrying out tests on the coronavirus: the Institute of Virology, and the the Wuhan Centre for Disease Control. Both are within 10 miles of the animal market where it is believed the outbreak started. Story continues The reports come as Prime Minister Johnson is admitted to hospital for "persistent symptoms" of the coronavirus. Johnson was admitted to a London hospital on Sunday where he received oxygen treatment and remained for tests on Monday. Scientists disagree on whether an accidental laboratory leak is a plausible explanation. One biologist who believes it cannot be ruled out is Professor Richard Ebright of Rutgers University's Waksman Institute of Microbiology. Ebright is quoted in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists as saying many of the scientists in Wuhan who have been working on the coronavirus have only had "minimal protections" against infection. "Virus collection, culture, isolation, or animal infection at BSL-2 [moderate biosafety level] with a virus having the transmission characteristics of the outbreak virus would pose substantial risk of infection of a lab worker, and from the lab worker, the public," he says. He goes on to say the evidence available leaves "a basis to rule out a lab construct, but no basis to rule out a lab accident." Johnson's government has reportedly started to question the veracity of China's statements regarding the coronavirus. Last week it was reported that UK officials were furious with the Chinese state for spreading disinformation about the severity of the pandemic, and believed China had up to 40 more cases of the virus than it had claimed. On Sunday, March 29, senior UK minister Michael Gove told the BBC he was skeptical of the China numbers. "It was the case [that] the first case of coronavirus in China was established in December of last year, but it was also the case that some of the reporting from China was not clear about the scale, the nature, the infectiousness of this," he said. A report by the UK Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee published on Monday accused the Chinese government of spreading "disinformation" about the spread of the virus. "Disinformation about COVID-19 has already cost lives," the committee found. "It is essential that the Government issues clear and transparent messages at home to confront and rebut disinformation spread by foreign powers." Read the original article on Business Insider India reported its first novel coronavirus case on January 30 when a student from Kerala tested positive after returning from Wuhan. On Monday (April 6), around two months later the total number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 3,666, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The total number of deaths has jumped to 106. Although, the Health Ministry has said that there is no evidence of widespread community transmission yet, it identified 20 existing and 22 potential COVID-19 hotspots in the country for taking special containment steps. Yet, with new cases being reported from across the country every day, it would be a herculean task for the government to identify emerging hotbeds of the virus as it would necessitate stationing of more health workers and resources. Also Read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: 693 new cases in 24 hours; 1,445 related to Tablighi Jamaat Where Mysore, Pune, Kerala, Noida, Bhilwara and Bengaluru have reported a substantial number of coronavirus positive cases, the Tablighi Jamaat event held at Delhi's Nizamuddin in March has emerged as a major COVID-19 hotspot, with around 1,100 cases and several deaths connected to the religious gathering. Meanwhile, here is the list of major states that have been hit hard by novel coronavirus pandemic: Maharashtra: The state has been the worst-affected by COVID-19 as cases are being reported at an alarming speed across the state. As many as 29 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Mumbai on Sunday, taking the total number of such cases in Maharashtra to 690, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said. With this, 406 coronavirus cases have been reported from Mumbai alone, he said. A total of 45 deaths have been reported from the state so far. Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu has the second-highest number of coronavirus cases after Maharashtra. According to the Health Ministry, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases stands at 571 in the state with five deaths. As many as 86 people, including 85 returnees from the Delhi Tablighi Jamaat meet on Sunday tested positive for coronavirus in Tamil Nadu, an official told PTI. Delhi: The national capital is third in the country with 503 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including seven deaths, according to the Health Ministry. State health authorities had confirmed one more casualty on Sunday. Out of these 503 cases, 320 were linked to Tablighi Jamaat event. Telangana: Telangana, another hotspot with mounting cases of coronavirus, has 321 confirmed cases including seven deaths, according to the Health Ministry. Meanwhile, the state government has deployed the country's first automated 'COVID-19 Monitoring System App' to undertake live surveillance, trace, monitor, and provide real-time analytics. The app is helping authorities in the state track the situation on a real-time basis. Kerala: Kerala which was neck and neck with Maharashtra in terms of the number of COVID-19 cases, has been able to somehow improve its numbers. According to the Health Ministry, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state stands at 314 including two deaths so far. Also Read: Coronavirus cases in India: Maharashtra tops list; Tamil Nadu, Delhi follow suit Rajasthan: Rajasthan has 253 confirmed novel coronavirus cases with zero deaths so far, according to the Health Ministry's website. Of the total people infected with the virus as of date, 21 have recovered so far. Uttar Pradesh: The state has 227 confirmed coronavirus cases including two deaths. Andhra Pradesh stands at 226 with 3 deaths, Madhya Pradesh has 165 confirmed cases with nine deaths. Karnataka has reported 151 cases, including four deaths. Gujarat has seen 122 cases, including 11 deaths. 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 Optimism that the US government will provide more financial support to its economy and corporations, and hopes OPEC+ and Russia will meet this week to cut oil production boosted markets on Monday. Wall Street futures pushed the Australian market to a three-week closing high and a one-day gain of 4.3 per cent, with the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index closing nearly 220 points higher at 5286.8 points. The energy sector outperformed, with gains of 5.7 per cent, boosted by stocks like Beach Energy, which gained 10.4 per cent to $1.43, and Woodside Petroleum, which gained 6.3 per cent to $20.95. "Now, its probably a matter of time before the OPEC+ agrees on a sizeable production cut of around 10 million barrels per day to curtail the historical fall in oil prices," senior analyst at Swissquote Bank, Ipek Ozkardeskaya, said. Planes are seen at the plant of Airbus during the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID19) in Hamburg LONDON (Reuters) - Airlines, airports and regulators have given their backing to a plan to turn large passenger aircraft into intensive care wards during the coronavirus pandemic, a UK-based group working on the idea said on Monday. The group, calling themselves Caircraft, believe that big aircraft like A380s and A340s, which are grounded due to coronavirus travel restrictions, could be stripped down and refitted with ICU beds and equipment in seven to ten days. Between 100-150 beds could fit on each aircraft depending on the size of the jet under the group's design plans, and it is now waiting for government support for funding and coordination. "We've had various conversations at various levels. And we absolutely appreciate how busy they are with everything else going on," aviation economist Chris Tarry said of contact with government. "It's a question of reaching the right desks at the right time." Tarry has joined entrepreneur Nick Dyne, Jonathan Sackier, Visiting Professor of Surgery at Oxford Universitys Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences and others on the plan. The group is also talking to the U.S. government, Canada, Germany and Malaysia about the idea, Dyne said. UK airlines with parked-up widebody jets support the idea, said Dyne without naming them, although they are believed to include British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, as well as a number of UK airports and the UK aviation regulator, the CAA. Britain is bracing for the epidemic to peak in the coming weeks, and is building field hospitals in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Cardiff to bolster its state-run National Health Service (NHS). Under the Caircraft plans, which the group has been working on for a week, the aircraft would first fly to the place where they were to be needed, before being fitted out. They would not move once treating patients. "What we don't want to do is to be a flying hospital. The regulatory issues regarding that are just too great," said Dyne. Story continues The group say the advantage of using planes is that not only are they mobile and there are plenty of them now available, but also that their filtered, one-way airflow systems mirror those of an operating theatre. Dyne declined to comment on the how much it would cost to convert each aircraft. (Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by Stephen Addison) Celebrity stylist Elliot Garnaut has named his 'worst dressed' Australian star in Hollywood. The Melbourne-based sartorial expert took part in an episode of The Lady Bunch, hosted by social media star Rozalia Russian. Also featuring in the episode was model Rebecca Harding and designer Emma Hawkins, with the four discussing a range of topics submitted by fans. Spoken! Celebrity stylist Elliot Garnaut (pictured) has named his 'worst dressed' Australian star in Hollywood in an Instagram video on Monday One fan asked Elliot who he felt was the worst dressed Australian celebrity and he hesitated before answering. A giggling Rozalina goaded him into confessing his thoughts, saying Elliot sent texts 'shading' this person all the time. Elliot then said dramatically: 'Margot Robbie. Call me b***h!' as a photo of Margot crossed the screen. Lady bunch: The Melbourne-based sartorial expert took part in an episode of The Lady Bunch, hosted by social media star Rozalia Russian (bottom left). Also featured in the episode were model Rebecca Harding (top right) and designer Emma Hawkins (top left) Her? One fan asked Elliot who he felt was the worst dressed Australian celebrity. Elliot then said dramatically: 'Margot Robbie. Call me b***h!' Pictured: Margot Robbie He continued: 'Your stylist is literally f***ing torturing you. You look like an old wench!' A number of members of the chat then discussed the fact that Margot is an ambassador for luxury house Chanel. 'Somebody at Chanel obviously hates her,' Elliot joked. He continued: 'Your stylist is literally f***ing torturing you. You look like an old wench!' Ouch! A number of members of the chat then discussed the fact that Margot is an ambassador for luxury house Chanel. 'Somebody at Chanel obviously hates her,' Elliot joked 'She has the entire archive at her disposal and shes walking out in these old rags. B***h no!' he added. Elliot is an Australian stylist, based in Melbourne, who has a number of high profile clients. They include Rebecca Harding, Phoebe Burgess and Elyse Knowles, Nadia Fairfax Kate Waterhouse, Karl Stefanovic and Shanina Shaik. (Newser) "Joe Exotic" has become a household name for anyone who's been holed up at home with a Netflix account, because Tiger Kingthe "enthralling" and "disturbing" true-life series that documents the strange goings-on at the Oklahoma roadside zoo run by Joseph Maldonado-Passage and an equally strange cast of charactersis all anyone has been watching. Now, one of those cast members says a bonus episode is on the way to supplement the previous seven, Variety reports. "Netflix is adding one more episode," says Jeff Lowe, who took over the zoo from Maldonado-Passage before the latter went to prison. "We'll be on next week. They're filming here tomorrow." There's been no official comment yet from Netflix. story continues below Lowe made his announcement via a video sent to Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner, a fan of the show, along with his wife. Fox News notes that Lowe has been accused by some fans of having something to do with Maldonado-Passage's murder-for-hire arrest so he could gain full control of the park; Lowe denies playing any part in his former partner's legal troubles. Meanwhile, an extra episode will likely find an eager audience: Business Insider reports that Tiger King has been the most popular title on Netflix for two weeks straight. It's also among the top three most-watched TV series as of Monday on Rotten Tomatoes. (The series has reinvigorated authorities' interest in the disappearance of the husband of one of the main characters.) One of the big questions facing the international community today is how to hold China legally and politically accountable for all its dishonesty and harm to people around the world. According to reports, U.S. intelligence agencies have confirmed to the White House that China has deliberately understated the number of its people who have contracted and died from the coronavirus epidemic. Such deceit follows Beijings recklessness in suppressing news of the origins, rapid spread, and lethality of COVID-19 in December and January. Chinese officials punished doctors who tried to warn of the outbreak in Wuhan, slowed identification and research on the virus, and allowed thousands to leave the region for the rest of the world. If China were an individual, a company, or a law-abiding nation, it would be required to provide compensation for the harm it has inflicted globally. The United States alone may well suffer 200,000 or more deaths, billions in health-care costs, trillions in lost economic activity, and trillions more in new government spending. Chinas failures render it legally liable under international law, but the COVID-19 crisis has exposed the crisis of ineffectiveness and corruption of international institutions. Instead of focusing on international law, the U.S. should thus protect its national interests by opting for the self-help mechanism. International institutions provide no meaningful way to force China to remedy the harm it has caused. The United Nations Security Council, allegedly the supreme lawmaking and executive body in international law, cannot hold China to account because China and Russia exercise their permanent right to veto any Security Council resolution. China has rendered the U.N. impotent, even though U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has declared the COVID-19 pandemic the worlds most challenging crisis since World War II, as it has become a threat to international peace and security by shutting down swaths of the global economy and killing thousands, if not millions. Story continues The U.S. and its allies also could try to sue China before an international tribunal, such as the International Court of Justice, although countries have never been sued for their violation of infectious-disease treaties. But even if a court were to judge China responsible for the injury caused by its handling of COVID-19, China would just ignore any decision. When the Permanent Court of Arbitration found that Chinas construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea violated international law, Beijing simply ignored the ruling. A Chinese official declared that the judgment was nothing more than a piece of paper. We should expect nothing different from China in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) has only a weak, non-binding dispute-resolution mechanism, but Chinas failure to promptly report the coronavirus outbreak to the organization violated the International Health Regulations, which require states to notify the WHO of potential public-health emergencies of international concern. In fact, China has used its financial war chest to manipulate the WHO. Chinas annual funding of the organization, which relies on voluntary donations, has increased to $86 million since 2014 (a rise of 52 percent). The WHOs director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has praised Chinas leadership for its openness to share information with the international community and stated that China has bought the world time regarding the coronavirus. In January, the WHO parroted Chinas line that there was no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel coronavirus. The WHO has also followed the Chinese line on Taiwan, excluding it from membership and barring it from COVID-19 response meetings. While some scholars have suggested that a larger budget would make the WHO more effective, the Trump administration has rightly halved Americas contribution. Not only has the WHO become a Chinese client, but it also spends $200 million a year on luxury travel. The U.S. should investigate the WHO and its director general and expose their ties with China. Rather than rely on corrupt, conflicted international institutions such as the WHO, the United States and its allies should engage in self-help. To protect against the next virus outbreak, the U.S. should create a new monitoring mechanism that can detect global health threats early, spread information about them reliably, and coordinate national efforts to develop a response. The International Atomic Energy Agencys inspection regime for illicit nuclear weapons could provide a model. The U.S. and other wealthy nations could establish a similar inspection regime and provide financial assistance to developing nations that agree to participate. Trust but verify could become the watchword not just for Ronald Reagans nuclear-reduction treaties with the Soviets, but for a truly effective global health system. The U.S. should also punish China for its coronavirus failings as an incentive for Beijing to mend its ways. Washington could persuade leading nations to join it in excluding Chinese scholars and students from scientific research centers and universities. China has used its Thousand Talents program to recruit scientists to help steal sensitive technology from American laboratories. Confucius Institutes have spread propaganda while masquerading as Chinese cultural centers. Senator Ted Cruz (R., Texas) and Representative Francis Rooney (R., Fla.) have introduced the Stop Higher Education Espionage and Theft Act to help colleges protect against threats by foreign actors. According to China experts, President Xi Jinping depends on a humming economy and appeals to nationalism for his political legitimacy. The U.S. and its allies could strike at the heart of the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) claim to a mandate from heaven by further ratcheting up the pressure on Beijing to adopt a more cooperative, transparent stance on public health by imposing economic sanctions and inflicting serious economic harm on China. The Trump administration could enhance its efforts to exclude China from buying and selling advanced technologies, such as microchips, artificial intelligence, or biotechnology. It took an important step in that direction this week by implementing new measures on chip exports to Huawei. In addition, the U.S. should use targeted sanctions on specific CCP leaders and their supporters by freezing their assets and prohibiting their travel. The administration needs to impose pain on CCP supporters so that they will want to change policy to alleviate their own economic losses. In addition to halting any further trade cooperation with Beijing, the administration could also seize the assets of Chinese state-owned companies. Under its Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing reportedly has loaned billions to developing nations in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America, and then taken over their strategic ports and facilities once the debts fall due. The U.S. could turn this strategy on its head by supporting the expropriation of these assets by legal process and the cancellation of these debts as compensation for coronavirus losses. Seizing Chinese property would allow the United States to finally use international law to its advantage. Let China try to go to court and claim that the U.S., its allies, and the developing world have violated international rules. Let Beijing try to show that these nations have no right to compensation for its coverup of the coronavirus outbreak. Let the Chinese Communist Party try to claim, outside its own borders, just as it does within them, that it can deny common sense and blame the very victims of its wrongdoing for the worst public-health catastrophe in a century. John Yoo is the Emanuel S. Heller Professor of Law at the University of California at Berkeley, a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, and a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. Ivana Stradner is a Jeane Kirkpatrick Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. More from National Review Seven people were killed when two suicide bombers, suspected to be members of Boko Haram jihadist group, attacked a village in northern Cameroon on Sunday, police and a local official said. Two Boko Haram bombers blew themselves up at around 8pm in the attack on Amchide, on the border with Nigeria, a policeman said Monday, while a local official said a village chief and two teenagers were among the dead. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates WASHINGTON For three years, Peter Navarro has been corporate Americas biggest nemesis, punishing multinational companies for moving jobs offshore by advocating tariffs and other trade barriers in pursuit of President Trumps America First strategy. Now, as the United States scrambles to secure equipment to fight the coronavirus, Mr. Navarro has been handed expansive authority over those multinational firms and their global supply chains. As the policy coordinator for the Defense Production Act, a Korean War-era law that the president recently invoked, Mr. Navarro is tasked with marshaling American industry to procure face masks, ventilators and other products hospitals need in their fight against the coronavirus. He has been given the authority to order up products, block exports and claim goods made overseas by subsidiaries of American companies. He can also seize products from hoarders and price gougers and channel them to where they are most needed. It is a vast expansion of power for the 70-year-old Mr. Navarro, as well as a rare opportunity to advance the type of protectionist agenda that has endeared him to Mr. Trump. A Harvard-trained economist whose ideas put him at odds with most of his profession, Mr. Navarro has antagonized multinational companies by pushing to scrap trade deals and impose tariffs on foreign products. He is now positioned to channel government resources into bolstering American manufacturing and to bully multinational companies to sever their ties abroad. The U.S. military has rejected a claim by the Afghan Taliban that the United States is violating the terms of a peace deal signed by the two sides in late February. U.S. Forces-Afghanistan upheld and continues to uphold the military terms of the U.S.-[Taliban] agreement; any assertion otherwise is baseless, spokesman Colonel Sonny Leggett tweeted on April 5. Leggett also wrote that the militant group must reduce violence and warned that the U.S. military will continue to defend Afghanistan's security forces if attacked, in line with the terms of the agreement. In a statement issued earlier in the day, the Taliban accused U.S. and Afghan forces of conducting raids and air strikes against the group in noncombat zones and of launching operations on civilian areas. It also chastised the Afghan government for delaying the release of thousands of Taliban prisoners as promised in the agreement signed by the United States and the Taliban in the Qatari capital, Doha, on February 29. The militants claim they have reduced their attacks compared with last year and warned that continued violations would create an atmosphere of mistrust that would damage the agreements and increase the level of fighting. The Doha deal calls for the Afghan government to release 5,000 detained Taliban fighters as a confidence-building measure ahead of formal peace talks aimed at ending the countrys 18-year conflict. The Taliban has vowed to release some 1,000 Afghan government troops and civilian workers it is holding. With reporting by AP and dpa Former homicide detective Gary Jubelin said he was "disappointed" after he was found guilty of illegally recording conversations during the investigation into the disappearance of missing toddler William Tyrrell. Jubelin, 57, a former NSW police detective chief inspector, was charged in 2019 with four counts of using a device to record a conversation he was party to, which can be unlawful under the Surveillance Devices Act. Gary Jubelin outside court on Monday. Credit:Rhett Wyman A two-week Local Court hearing was told Jubelin visited the Kendall home of Paul Savage who was then a person of interest in the case and recorded two conversations in May 2018 and one in December 2018. The fourth conversation was recorded in November 2017 when Jubelin put his phone on loudspeaker at police headquarters in Sydney and instructed another officer to record. WASHINGTON - The private-equity industry is pressing members of Congress and senior Trump administration officials, including President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, to help them gain access to billions of dollars of stimulus funds to protect their riskier investments. The rush of behind-the-scenes jockeying by the powerful financial sector has raised the prospect that an industry often known for slashing workforces could tap into the program designed as a life raft for small businesses. The intense appetite among private-equity firms to get a bigger piece of the stimulus windfall has put a spotlight on the numerous ties between wealthy industry figures and Trump and his family - raising questions about potential conflicts of interest as the Treasury Department writes the rules for handing out billions of dollars in loans and grants. One significant connection to the industry is through Kushner, a top White House official whose family real estate company received millions in loans from Apollo Global Management, a New York-based private equity firm. Two weeks ago, a partner at Apollo sent a personal email to Kushner suggesting steps the administration should take to ensure that companies with private-equity investment get access to stimulus loan programs, according to two people briefed on the correspondence, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the private communication. More for you Kushner puts self in middle of virus response More broadly, top private-equity leaders have given Trump counsel as the coronavirus pandemic has shaken the economy. Days before the passage of the $2 trillion stimulus package, an elite group of financiers - including the heads of two major private-equity firms Blackstone Group and Vista Equity - offered advice to Trump and Vice President Mike Pence on a conference call, according to people familiar with the discussion. The private-equity industry is pushing to qualify for various pots of stimulus funds, arguing that companies with investors should not be left out of the relief effort. Some private-equity firms want their companies to be able to tap the stimulus' loan program for small businesses, which is limited to companies with fewer than 500 employees. Many also want their companies to be eligible for other loans aimed at larger businesses, even though some of those businesses are at higher risk for defaulting. Drew Maloney, director of American Investment Council, the industry's trade group, said private-equity firms simply want a level playing field for the companies they back and are not lobbying for special treatment. "What we've highlighted is our employees are suffering just as much as those in any sole proprietorships and public companies," Maloney said. "The virus is not discriminating against businesses based on ownership structures." In the past week, a bipartisan group of lawmakers including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, have blitzed Treasury Department and Small Business Administration officials with letters on behalf of companies backed by private equity or venture capital funds. The lawmakers have called on the administration to waive a rule that would normally disqualify "equity-backed" companies, such as ones receiving private equity or venture capital funding, from winning small business stimulus funds, because it treats multiple businesses controlled by a single investor as one entity. An aide to Pelosi said the House speaker's letter was intended to help venture capital-backed companies, which are particularly prominent in her San Francisco district, and that private equity representatives had not approached her about waiving the rule. Khanna said he is concerned that start-ups backed by venture capital will be left out. "This rule change is needed to protect thousands of workers," he said in a statement. "It has nothing to do with equity interests." On Friday, the financial industry secured a modest victory: The Treasury Department issued guidance waiving the rule for a small subset of small businesses backed by private equity and venture capital, to include those in the accommodations or food service industries, as well as franchisees. Treasury Department officials did not reply to requests for comment. Critics say the federal government needs to prioritize taxpayer money for small businesses that are not controlled by major financiers and for companies that are more likely to pay back their loans to the government. "We're going to have our radar up on how private equity is going to try to maneuver this whole issue," Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, said in an interview last week. "Our argument is that private-equity companies shouldn't be trying to milk the small business side." Some of the private-equity industry's most influential executives have long-standing ties to key members of the administration, including Kushner and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, a former investment banker. In late 2017, Apollo loaned $184 million to Kushner's family real estate company, Kushner Companies, to help it refinance the mortgage on a Chicago skyscraper. It was one of the larger real estate loans Apollo had made at the time, according to information the company provided to Congress, and it allowed Kushner to refinance a purchase he'd made at the peak of the real estate bubble. Kushner had resigned from the company when he joined the White House, but he retained stakes in dozens of subsidiaries of Kushner Companies, over the objections of ethics experts. Kushner had also discussed a possible White House job for Apollo co-founder Josh Harris soon after Trump's inauguration, the New York Times reported in 2018. Harris became an outside adviser to the White House on infrastructure policy, but never joined the administration. Two weeks ago, Apollo co-found Marc Rowan emailed Kushner, arguing for expanded access to a new Federal Reserve loan program, a move that would benefit his company. The email was first reported by NBC. Rowan urged that the Federal Reserve overhaul its program, known as Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility or TALF, to loan money to even those companies with higher risk of defaulting on their loans - all to get money moving through the economy again. Kushner forwarded Rowan's email to the White House team working on the stimulus, according to an administration official. White House deputy spokesman Hogan Gidley said Kushner's practice is to simply pass on any such suggestions. "Sec. Mnuchin, Larry Kudlow and Chief of Staff Meadows led the negotiations along with all of the Senators and Congressmen who speak to and get input from many people," Gidley said in a statement. "When Jared receives suggestions from industry experts he shares them with the economic team as appropriate." Apollo spokeswoman Joanna Rose said Rowan emailed many people his ideas for the bailout package, including Kushner. "He didn't have any further conversations with Jared to my knowledge," she said. She said Harris had not spoken to Kushner about the stimulus and that she was not aware of any conversations he had with other administration officials. Rose said the firm has not received any special access or treatment from the administration because of the company's support for Kushner Companies. Private-equity firms represent some of the wealthiest players in the financial industry, and invest money for other large financial players, including pension funds and college endowments. Sometimes they invest in small and promising companies. The firms also often buy distressed companies at bargain prices, like Toys R Us, then cut wages and benefits and lay off workers to make the most profit. One of the biggest figures in the industry, Blackstone Group chief executive Stephen Schwarzman, has been a frequent guest at Trump fundraisers and White House events, and a top adviser to the president on China. Since 2017, Schwarzman has given $250,000 to Trump's inauguration committee and about $700,000 to a joint fundraising committee supporting Trump's reelection campaign, federal filings show. On March 24, Schwarzman joined other financial chiefs on a call with Trump to discuss how the novel coronavirus was affecting the economy and the need for Congress to support both the major financial sectors, as well as small and midsize businesses, according to people familiar with the discussion. On the call, which had been arranged by Pence's office, Trump asked several questions about what was driving volatility in the market, how the credit markets were faring and how Federal Reserve actions were being received, the people said. In addition, Blackstone has ties to Kushner's family company. In 2016, it financed a $340-million Kushner purchase in Brooklyn, according to loan documents filed with the city. In all, it has provided the company with more than $400 million in financing, according to a 2017 Bloomberg News tally. A company spokesman said the firm's principals are not lobbying the administration to adjust stimulus rules for private equity. No one "from Blackstone has spoken to the Administration about including PE-owned companies" in the stimulus package, said Blackstone spokesman Matthew Anderson. However, Blackstone is a prominent member of the American Investment Council, which is actively involved in the push and has sought support from lawmakers. Critics say the private-equity model often leads to more unemployed workers because firms are focused on ruthless efficiency and the investors' bottom line, rather than long-term growth and workers. One 2018 study found companies bought by private equity lost 4 percent of their workers, on average, within two years of the purchase; large public companies bought by private equity lost far more workers, an average of 13 percent of jobs lost. "The idea is that, if there is some labor or employees who do not fit with the new vision of the firm and private-equity firm, they can be let go and find a job somewhere else," said Amit Seru, finance expert at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a senior fellow at Hoover Institution. "In the process their hope is that the firm creates more value for their investors and the economy. The vilified nature comes typically from the fact that there are, many times, employees that get fired." Private-equity leaders argue their companies are an increasingly large part of the economy. An industry-commissioned report said private equity generated $1 trillion for the U.S. economy and employed 8.8 million people in 2018. The industry says that 12,000 of the companies it backs are small businesses. Currently, most small companies in a private-equity firm's portfolio don't qualify for stimulus funds provided through the Small Business Administration under what is known as the "affiliation rule." Businesses must report if they have major investors, and they are blocked from the program on the theory that they can borrow money from their larger and deep-pocketed private-equity backers, rather than taxpayers. The purpose is to make sure that businesses truly owned and operated by individuals can benefit from the loan, rather than opening the funds to companies that must answer to the interests of shareholders and parent companies, experts said. "The Small Business Administration needs to focus on small businesses. Firms controlled by private equity aren't really small businesses," said Joshua Sewell, senior policy analyst at the nonpartisan budget watchdog Taxpayers for Common Sense. "The private-equity firms have access to resources, financing vehicles, technology and the like that small mom-and-pop companies don't." Private-equity firms say many of their small businesses will have the same struggle to get cash, regardless of who invests in them. Other stimulus programs will make loans to much larger businesses. But some economic experts fear that companies backed by private equity often have a higher risk of failure and defaulting on loans, and taxpayer money shouldn't be risked on these investments. The Institutional Limited Partners Association, the trade group for companies owned by private equity or venture capital funds, urged the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department in an April 2 letter to be more flexible in allowing companies in danger of defaulting to apply for loans. Companies that are rated to be higher risk represent more than 5 percent of the gross domestic product as the corporate sector has taken on more debt over the years, and a significant percentage of them are backed by private-equity firms, the group wrote. But some economic experts warned about using stimulus loans this way. "They are basically asking the Fed to think about investing in junk-grade debt, because that is where a large chunk of investments in the economy are currently," Seru said. - - - Tom Hamburger, Ashley Parker and Erica Werner contributed to this report. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 18:59:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DHAKA, April 6 (Xinhua) -- A total of 35 new cases of the COVID-19 were reported from the capital Dhaka and elsewhere in the country in the last 24 hours as of 8:00 a.m. local time Monday, Abul Kalam Azad, director general for Health Services in Bangladesh, told journalists here at a press conference. He said Bangladesh's COVID-19 death toll spiked Monday to 12 as health officials confirmed three more fatalities Monday. With the new cases reported in the last 24 hours, he said the number of cases also increased to 123 in the country's 15 out of 64 districts so far. This is by far Bangladesh's biggest daily jump in positive cases over a 24-hour period since the country announced its first detection of the COVID-19 cases on March 8. Samples from 468 people were tested in the last 24 hours across Bangladesh, the health official said. The government is not going to save the charity air ambulance, according to those who run it. In a statement from the Irish Community Rapid Response (ICRR) charity, its chairperson John Finnegan says appeals to the State have failed. It has, however, been given a six-weeks line of credit from UK-based helicopter provider Sloane Helicopters and its leasing partners, Millstone Aviat While the service is tasked 999 jobs by the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and NAS paramedics are on board, all the other costs have to be met by the charity. For example, it costs 350 for an hour of fuel and missions cost around 3,500. It must now rely on any monies it has left as well as whatever it can raise through its continued online fundraising efforts. ICRRs board had to make a decision two weeks ago to ground our Air Ambulance Helicopter on Friday April 3 after eight months of service due to the effects of Covid-19 pandemic in our community fundraising campaign, Mr Finnegan said. This was (a) gut-wrenching decision for us to make, knowing the impact and lives saved by the service in that short time. We applied to the government for Interim funding for this vital frontline service to help us through this exceptional time we find ourselves in. It was apparent this week, even with all the political support that was provided by a number of cross-party politicians that were lobbied by concerned members of the public, no interim financial support is going to come from the Government. That neither the Department of Health or the HSE are prepared to fund the ambulance is a massive blow to the service. When asked last week if it would bail the charity out ahead of Fridays deadline, the HSE said: The National Ambulance Service (NAS) cannot comment on any funding arrangements or issues that the charity may have. The National Ambulance Service will continue to provide medical staff and task coordination of the service as per our agreement with the charity. When asked if that meant there would be no money coming from the NAS, it added later: You will need to refer this question to the Department of Health. The Department of Health said: The charity-funded air ambulance service is underpinned by a service level agreement between the HSE/National Ambulance Service and ICRR. As such this query is more appropriately answered by the HSE. Air ambulance campaigner and Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae said: The State appears to have washed its hands of this charity. Given how important it is to the remote rural communities of Cork and Kerry, this is yet another slap in the face from the ministers and officials in Dublin. They just dont seem to care about this service. If they do, they have a very funny way of showing it. I asked Health Minister Simon Harris about funding for the service last Thursday in the Dail and he left before he would give an answer. Im still waiting for his reply. I dont see why they dont divert the money ring-fenced for the Cork events centre to the air ambulance. As Canada faces a nationwide shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers, those working in long-term care and home care capacities are terrified not enough equipment is trickling down to keep both them and their clients safe. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/4/2020 (644 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. As Canada faces a nationwide shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers, those working in long-term care and home care capacities are "terrified" not enough equipment is trickling down to keep both them and their clients safe. One nurse at a private Winnipeg long-term care facility, who asked not to be identified, said that around half of nursing staff and health care aides work at a number of different facilities over the course of a week, sometimes splitting time between locations with positive tests and those without. "Theyre terrified terrified. Health care aides are crying because they were still admitting patients, theyre coming from facilities where theres other known cases," she said in an interview Sunday. "Theyre crying, theyre in tears because they dont have any personal protective equipment to wear on a new resident." In a news release Sunday, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) noted that despite an April 4 directive from Shared Health instructing all health care workers, including home care, to wear masks, eye protection, gowns and gloves when working directly with patients, many home care workers may not have access to proper supplies until April 13. "The PPEs are needed today not a week from now, but today," said Debbie Boissonneault, president of CUPE 204, which represents home care workers in Winnipeg. "Everyday that theyre not getting a PPE, theyre putting themselves and their clients at risk." Boissonneault said home care workers, who can see upwards of 15 clients in a given day, have been provided kits with a single set of PPE equipment to use throughout their entire day a practice she has never seen in her 20 years of health care experience. Some kits have even been incomplete, she added. Those working directly with clients many of whom are elderly or otherwise at a high risk of contracting COVID-19 are feeling anxious and afraid, Boissonneault said. "We dont know whats going to happen and we dont know what were walking into every day that we go into a resident or client or patients room. We need to make sure that were protected and were protecting those that we look after," she added. During a daily press briefing Sunday afternoon, Shared Healths chief nursing officer Lanette Siragusa noted that there are processes for home care workers to screen their clients and that PPE has been distributed to home care facilities. "If theres some disconnect there between the worker and the PPE, I think it needs to be raised to the leadership, the management so we can understand where the problem is," Siragusa said. "They shouldnt be feeling unsafe. They shouldnt be feeling like they dont have what they need to provide care." Home care workers are not the only health care professionals being asked to work without sufficient protective equipment. Nurses and health care aides in private long-term care homes have also been facing stark PPE shortages, with most not offered new PPE between patients unless those patients are symptomatic or being kept in isolation. During Sundays briefing the provinces chief health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin, said the health care worker at Betel Home in Gimli who had tested positive for the virus on Wednesday, is in fact, negative. He said it was concluded that the worker had a false positive test initially. The province had said on Saturday that all nine residents of the long-term care home who had been tested for the virus, had negative results. The Winnipeg nurse said long-term care homes are monitoring their staffs movement between facilities, but staff who are asymptomatic and may have been exposed to the virus are unable to get tested. "The rate of transmission between facilities will be astronomical, because our health care aides work at the Victoria Hospital, they work all over the place," she added. The province had previously relaxed the required 14-day isolation for nurses and health care workers who may have come in contact with the virus in order to ensure enough staff are able to work. "Most of the exposures that take place in a health care facility are not close and prolonged contacts, the contact tracing is wide and vast so a number of health care workers can be affected, however when we move to those individuals using continuous, universal protective equipment then it becomes less important to ensure that they self-isolate for 14 days," Roussin said Sunday. "If we monitor symptoms, theyre wearing PPE at all times, then the risk is greatly reduced." Siragusa said Sunday that the provinces logistics teams expect a shipment of PPE to arrive today, and that teams are assessing the needs of all essential services to ensure the equipment makes it to the right hands. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "We are in an OK state right now but obviously thats depending on our vendors and that the supply chain keeps moving," she said of Manitobas PPE supply. On Sunday, Manitobas confirmed cases of COVID-19 surpassed the 200 mark, with nine new cases bringing the cumulative total to 203. Eleven people were in hospital, with seven of them receiving treatment in intensive care. The province conducted an additional 488 tests at the Cadham laboratory, bringing the total number of tests to 12,998. Manitoba soft-launched its first isolation centre at a hotel in Winnipeg over the weekend, though the province declined to identify the hotel at this point, while it continues to solidify the intake process. The province is also considering free parking at hospitals to reduce stress for nurses and health care workers, Siragusa said. julia-simone.rutgers@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @jsrutgers This is the moment a Blue Angels F/A-18 fighter jet swoops so low it leaves a cloud of dust swirling around Ed Harris in sneak peak of Top Gun: Maverick scene. The US navy-owned Hornet aircraft, capable of reaching speeds up to 1,360mph, undertook the flyover for a practice shoot at the Naval Weapons Station in China Lake, south California. The plane is part of the Blue Angels squadron, which perform flight demonstrations across the country. Hornet aircraft shoots low over the team during practice filming for the upcoming movie Tom Cruise, 57, has learned to fly planes so that he can perform some of his own stunts during filming. In the clip it is not believed that he flew the plane Stunning footage shows clouds of dust curling into the air behind the armed-jet as it makes the spine-tingling flyover. It also narrowly misses a guard hut as the production team leap down to their knees. The clip was shared on social media by a fan account with the message: 'Here's an up close and personal view of a US Navy Blue Angels F/A-18 practicing a flyover at the Guard House Set of Top Gun: Maverick.' Tom Cruise, 57, who plays the film's main character Pete Mitchell, is not believed to have piloted this aircraft, although he is known to be a capable pilot. The actor had six cameras pointing at his face to capture its contortions due to G-Force as he filmed for the movie, reports USA Today. Tom Cruise pictured talking to a crew member during filming for Top Gun: Maverick A pilot from the Blue Angels took part in the filming. They are shown above at the US Navy show in Seattle last year The Blue Angels fly in formation behind a B-29 Fortress bomber in California F/A-18 Hornet statistics An F/A-18 Hornet fighter plane (above) Wingspan: 37 feet and five inches Length: 56 feet Takeoff weight: 36,710lbs Speed: 1,360mph Ceiling: 50,000 feet Power plant: Two 16,000-pound-thrust GE engines Accommodation: One crew member Arms: One 20mm six-barrel cannon and 17,000 pounds of ordinance Source: Boeing Advertisement 'You can't act that,' says Tom describing the importance of the G-Force. 'The distortion in the face. Theyre pulling 7, 8 G's. Thats 1,600 pounds of force.' A stunning trailer for the film show Tom Cruise taking off from US navy carriers sailing in the ocean. It also shows actor Ed Harris, 69, who plays Mitchell's superior Admiral in the film. In the film, his character has been sent to train a detachment of Top Gun graduates for a specialized mission. However, during his time there it emerges he could be up for the challenge of acting as mission leader even if it makes him out of breath. The hotly anticipated movie is the follow up to the first Top Gun film that was released 34 years ago. It was scheduled for release on June 24 but the date was quickly pushed back due to the coronavirus outbreak, meaning fans will have to wait until December 23. The clip may have been released to maintain interest due to the delayed release date. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has thanked Vietnamese all around the country for their support and efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and lauded the many good deeds of organizations, businesses, and individuals. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam speaks at the event Speaking at a meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Hanoi on April 6, which he heads, Deputy PM Dam said Vietnam is one of only three countries worldwide where cases surpass 200 but no fatalities have been recorded. It has been able to contain the pandemic, he said, thanks to the sound leadership of the Party and the State and the comprehensive engagement of involved agencies. Given the complex developments globally and the various hardships and risks likely to lay ahead, Deputy PM Dam called upon all to remain vigilant and united. The Ministry of Health reported that Vietnam has had 241 confirmed COVID-19 cases to date, including 150 infected people arriving from overseas. Ninety have recovered and been transferred to health facilities for further monitoring. Echoing Deputy PM Dams comments, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Xuan Tuyen said the disease is now under control in Vietnam thanks to drastic countermeasures being adopted in a timely manner. He urged ministries, agencies, and localities to continue following the directions of Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. According to Deputy Minister of Health Truong Quoc Cuong, Vietnam has produced medical face masks and protective gear using domestic materials for its medical workers, and is studying the production of ventilators which are currently being imported. The country has prepared sufficient medical supplies in case the number of COVID-19 patients tops 10,000, he said, adding that logistics agencies and providers have been working on contingency plans should the situation worsen. Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son said the ministry has asked hospitals at all levels to upgrade countermeasures to ensure the safety of patients, health workers, and the community. He recommended people contact medical facilities and book check-ups to ensure social distancing. Lieutenant General Tran Duy Giang, Director of the General Department of Logistics and deputy head of the Standing Board for COVID-19 Prevention and Control under the Ministry of National Defence, said the pandemic is developing in a complex manner throughout Southeast Asia and the number of Vietnamese returning home is forecast to rise in the time ahead. Given this, the ministry has instructed border guards to be vigilant and assigned military zones in the south to set up shelters for returnees./.VNA Davis said for weeks the National Guard had staged military tent cities across the BaltimoreWashington metropolitan area. She said military Humvees had been spotted in East Baltimore (down the street from MECU bank), more specifically on East Monument Street, near the Johns Hopkins Hospital, which she adds is a low-income/high-crime area. She said the last time Humvees were spotted on East Monument Street was back during the 2015 riots. Davis said residents had concerns that military vehicles on the streets could suggest that social unrest is nearing. She said, "you know it is kind of weird, everyone just lost their jobs, people are freaking out, and now people are storming the bank." "How are they going to pay their bills that are still mounting? How are they going to feed their families," she said. Davis said residents are going to the local banks because they fear banks are going to fail, and unrest could be nearing. "They want their monies out," Davis said, adding that some people in the community have been watching their 401ks crash, and others have been watching the news that a recession could be imminent. Last month, the smart money in Mid-Town Manhattan and Hamptons were withdrawing as much cash as they could, with at least one bank running out of $100 bills. Several weeks ago, we noted that the FDIC made an unusual request to all Americans to keep their monies in the bank because it is safe "Your money is safe at the banks. The last thing you should be doing is pulling your money out of the banks thinking its going to be safer somewhere else." The chart below shows the surge in demand for cash by Americans at the moment has surpassed all of 2008, and about to rival the panic ahead of Y2K that ATMs would not function... COLUMBIA South Carolina issued a stay-at-home order on Monday, the last state east of the Mississippi River to tell residents they must limit their travel during the coronavirus outbreak. Gov. Henry McMaster also issued an order restricting the number of shoppers in stores. The number of stricken South Carolinians is expected to quadruple to more than 8,000 over the next month, according to forecasts by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. About 3,500 will need hospitalization, S.C. Adjutant General Van McCarty said. While he encouraged South Carolinians to avoid unnecessary travel and issued several orders limiting nonessential activity, McMaster has resisted calls that threaten legal action against people for not staying in their houses. The governor felt like he lacked the constitutional authority, McMaster chief of staff Trey Walker told The Post and Courier last week. Plus, DHEC leaders had not requested a stay-at-home order. But pressure mounted as more states issued stay-at-home orders, which reached 41 before South Carolina's order. Then, over the weekend, some South Carolinians were still gathering at parks and flocking to stores a month after the first coronavirus cases were reported in the Palmetto State. That, along with a growing number of COVID-19 cases statewide, led DHEC leaders to ask the governor for a stay-at-home order, McMaster spokesman Brian Symmes said. The governor agreed and issued the order that takes effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday. "Too many people are on the roads, too many people are on the waters, too many people are in the stores, too many people are not (complying) with our requests for social distancing," McMaster said. "We've asked, we've urged, we've suggested. ... But the last week or so has shown that it's not enough. The rate of infection is on the rise and the rate of noncompliance is on the rise." The governor called his order "work or home" so that residents concentrate on being at essential places. His order does not prevent trips to supermarkets, big-box stores or hospitals, but he suggests combining trips or making stops while commuting to work. Three of South Carolina's four largest cities Charleston, Columbia and Mount Pleasant have issued stay-at-home orders. The statewide order will supersede them. Violators face a $100 fine or 30 days in jail. The governor said he has worked to balance public health while preserving the state's economy. He already issued orders closing a number of businesses considered nonessential, including gyms, nail salons and jewelry stores. McMaster said he expects the total number of South Carolinians filing for unemployment benefits to double to 200,000 this week. Ahead of the year's holiest Christian holiday, McMaster did not ask churches across the state to halt live Easter services on Sunday. He encouraged churches to video-stream Easter worship, but, if they must hold live services, he asked they hold them outdoors or allow for social distancing inside sanctuaries. The number of S.C. coronavirus cases has reached 2,232, doubling in less than a week. More than 180 new cases were announced Monday. Deaths reached 48, with another four revealed Monday. Still, in an effort to stop the spread of coronavirus, the governor ordered stores to limit shoppers to either 20 percent of capacity or five people per 1,000 square feet, whichever is less. Once a store reaches maximum capacity, a shopper cannot enter until another one leaves. Walmart has adopted similar restrictions at stores nationwide. The new order comes as shoppers filled parking lots of home-improvement centers across the state this past weekend. Before Monday, McMaster had issued 13 executive orders that have stopped many activities across the state. His orders shut off eating inside restaurants, shopping at department stores, getting haircuts, using public beach or river accesses, attending school classes in person or visiting prisoners. His orders also allow police to break up gatherings of three or more people and bar New Yorkers from getting a hotel room. Among the 42 governors who have now ordered their states residents to stay at home, McMaster was among the slowest to issue the mandate. McMaster unveiled his order as state officials reported that South Carolina now has more than 2,200 known COVID-19 cases. Residents of 36 states were ordered to stay home before their states had that many cases. More than half of the nations governors took that step before their states topped 1,000 coronavirus diagnoses, according to a Post and Courier analysis of data compiled by the COVID Tracking Project. McMasters delay is more striking when each states population is taken into account. When his order was announced Monday, South Carolina had 43 confirmed coronavirus infections for every 100,000 residents. Nearly every governor who has issued a stay-at-home order announced their decision when their states had lower rates of infection, including hot spots Louisiana, Michigan and New York. Accounting for population, only two states were slower to issue orders: Georgia and Pennsylvania. South Carolina officials on Monday also unveiled a plan to have the National Guard set up auxiliary medical units outside hospitals and reopen closed rural hospitals to help with the expected surge in COVID-19 patients. The states three-tiered response plan for the anticipated surge of COVID-19 patients involves adding 3,000 available beds to hospitals statewide by May 5, when the peak could hit South Carolina. Half of those beds should be available by April 28, McCarty said. The state has about 6,000 empty beds available as of Monday. The three tiers for level of care range from self-care facilities where people need to be isolated but are not sick enough to need hospitalization and full-service hospitals for both COVID-19 patients and others needing intensive care, said Dr. Eric Ossmann, vice chair of operations in Prisma Healths department of emergency medicine. The mid-level for handling the COVID-19 surge could involve opening facilities in coliseums and arenas, creating tent hospitals and opening rural hospitals in Winnsboro and Bennettsville that have closed in the last few years. No decisions have been made regarding those shuttered hospitals, McCarty said. He also did not identify any coliseum or arena, but said 18 facilities have been assessed, and the Army Corps of Engineers would need to examine what would be needed to make them compliant, to include restrooms, disability access and emergency backup power. Medical University of South Carolina CEO Pat Cawley said the hospitals fitness center can accommodate an additional 250 beds if needed. Thad Moore and Seanna Adcox contributed to this report. When I awake these spring mornings, my first thought is: "So I made it through the night!" One of my sons, who knows about statistics and probabilities, has dolefully mentioned that I have a one-in-10 chance of dying from Covid-19, should I be infected, because of three conditions: age, a former smoking habit and an existing respiratory condition. Smoking takes the blame for a lot of health problems, although, on a point of information, my bronchial weakness is due more to childhood pneumonia - I almost died at the age of four - than to the three packets of Gauloises I liked to consume, daily, in my prime. I know I'm supposed to show due penitence for this habit, and if I do pop my clogs from the coronavirus, ye can all say, "Serves her right - she'd been a smoker". People love to blame the victim, anyway. But the truth is that I enjoyed all those fags and loved the companionship of other smokers too - sharing a ciggie moment might even be described as solidarity. We're in a scolding culture these days - every second email I receive, currently, ends with the admonition "stay home!" and "wash your hands!" - so a reprimand will be in order. So be it! As for this wretched coronavirus which stalks the earth, well, as our political masters have told us, people have been through similar experiences before and have endured. Indeed they have, although it inevitably left a psychological, as well as sometimes a physical, mark on them. One of the best descriptions of the impact of a pandemic emerges in John Healy's memoir about a small-holder's life in Co Mayo in the first half of the 20th century, Nineteen Acres. It's such a classic text now that a collectable version is on offer from Amazon at 125 and a new edition may be had for 144.95. It was originally published in 1978 for under a fiver. Healy portrays the hard life of rural people in the 1930s and 1940s, around Charlestown. His mother Nora had been packed off to America as a young woman, with advice from her own mother to "Keep your mouth and your legs closed. Keep your ears open. And send home the money (for the next sibling's passage)." Families saw daughters and sons, one after another, emigrate out of necessity, with the mournful custom of the American wake held the night before departure. Nora Healy did well in America, qualifying as a nurse and a midwife. But then the formative experience of her life struck: she witnessed the Spanish flu of 1918-20 (sometimes they called it the Spanish lady), which killed countless millions worldwide - estimates range between 50 and 500 million. The flu epidemic hadn't actually come from Spain, but the Spanish press was free to report it when other media outlets were censored. As a nurse, Nora developed a second sense about the approach of death from the epidemic. She knew, as soon as she entered a house, the "death smell" of a patient. She was able to predict "to the hour" when death would occur. Nora herself survived, returning to Mayo to marry her husband, Stephen Healy, and give birth to five children. But witnessing that Spanish flu epidemic left her with a horror of crowds and enclosed spaces. She deplored dance halls, cinemas and all crowded places, considering them infested with infections. Even after the influenza pandemic passed, Ireland was afflicted by tuberculosis, again spread by contact with others. Stay away from crowds and enclosed spaces, Nora would warn. How prescient such warnings seem now as we are told to, above all, maintain social distancing and to stay at home. There was also another psychological impact on Nora, which might have been a pre-existing condition, as we say now. She took a very stoical attitude to life. Life was precious - as a practising midwife, she was proud of her record of never having lost a baby that she delivered - but it was also tough and you had to be tough in dealing with it. She despised "the weakness of self-pity". She reprimanded her husband for being "soft" when he acted indulgently towards clients lapsing on their funeral insurance payments (he was an insurance agent). When her own daughter died after childbirth - in England, surrounded by up-to-date medical technology - she "cried her fill" at the grave, but then she "mastered herself". I remember an uncle of mine using that phrase too: that you should master your emotions rather than indulge them. This self-mastery is a tradition from before Christianity - from the Ancient Greek and Roman philosophers. People who lived through hard times also cultivated an attitude of pride that is alien to us, even perhaps absurd. Nora refused the pensioners' free travel pass when the occasion arose because she didn't want State charity. Her brother, Jim, refused a free TV licence on grounds that he didn't fight the War of Independence for free television. In hard times, maybe it was their robustness and their pride that got them through. As I shut my eyes each night, wondering if the virus may strike on the morrow, I'll try and emulate that stern fortitude. West Bengal Chief Minister on Monday slammed the BJP's IT cell for allegedly spreading fake news against the state's health department over COVID-19 cases and asked it to refrain from 'petty politics' in the time of crisis. Her comments came in the backdrop of BJPs IT cell chief Amit Malviyas tweet accusing the West Bengal government of hiding the data. She, however, did not name the BJP or Malviya. Banerjee also announced the formation of a 'Global Advisory Board', a policy making body which will aid the state government in preparing a roadmap for COVID-19 response in Bengal. Nobel Laureate Abhjit Banerjee will be a member of the board. "A political party's IT cell is using fake news to malign West Bengal's health department. Our doctors and health staff are doing their best to fight the disease. This is not the time for petty We never pointed at the lacunas of the central government in dealing with the crisis," she told a press conference here. "They may be more interested in by clanging utensils and bursting crackers, but we are not," she said, apparently targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his public campaigns involving people in applauding the corona fighters and in a symbolic show of solidarity. West Bengal currently has 61 COVID 19 cases. (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.) Health care professionals working on the frontline of the UK's coronavirus pandemic may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the crisis as many are faced with an ongoing strain on their mental health. So far in the UK there have been over 51,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 5,373 deaths, with doctors and nurses constantly caring for and treating patients with the illness. Health leaders have now warned that NHS staff have 'never been exposed to this kind of demand' and have claimed it could put a further strain on their mental and physical well-being. The head of intensive care at London's Royal Free Hospital, Dr Alison Pittard, today said many healthcare units have shifted from one nurse per patient to six. Doctors and nurses battling the coronavirus across the UK may need treatment for PTSD after the crisis (health workers at University College London are pictured working today) Dr Alison Pittard (pictured above) today said many healthcare units have shifted from one nurse per patient to six Speaking to The Independent the dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine said the hospital is also running out of key machines and equipment. 'We are used to dealing with emergencies, but we have never been exposed to this sort of demand. We know staff are already struggling physically and mentally and that this will only continue. 'The government's approach to flatten the peak will help to spread it out but what that means for staff is that we are in this for the long haul. We will get through this because that is what we do. But there will be some patients and staff who will suffer forms of PTSD and some staff with mild symptoms may not be aware and continue.' Up to April 3, almost 2,250 patients in the UK have been admitted to intensive care units. The NHS is expecting a peak of cases in the next seven to ten days despite deaths having dropped by a third today. Dr Pittard also said that critical care units had been forced to adapt in order to cope with the virus. She said it was an 'unprecedented situation' and that the boundaries of critical care were being pushed. She also said 'safety would be compromised' but added that the NHS 'has to do the best it can'. More and more NHS continue to be struck down by the virus and it was today revealed that a 42-year-old nurse was struck down with coronavirus and forced into self-isolation one week after returning to the NHS frontline from private sector to fight the disease. Victoria Hume assessing patients at Maidstone Hospital in Kent last week Victoria Hume, 42, was diagnosed with Covid-19 on Saturday morning after having a swab test the day before. She had only returned to the A&E department of Maidstone Hospital, Kent, the previous Saturday and had been assessing potential in-patients at the door. The mother-of-two left the health service 18 months ago to focus on her private clinic Maidstone Aesthetics which she set up more than 10 years ago. This is while other workers continued to feel the strain across the country. An exhausted ICU nurse from Manchester was told his grandfather died from coronavirus just moments after finishing his shift in an intensive care unit. Adam, aged 24, took a picture of himself during his night shift showing him covered in sweat and with sores from his mask. The medic, who describes himself as a 'make-shift ICU nurse', was then told minutes later that his own Grandad had died from coronavirus. Adam, aged 24, from Manchester, took a picture of himself during his night shift showing him covered in sweat and with sores from his mask The Renault Samsung SM3 Z.E. / Courtesy of Renault Samsung By Nam Hyun-woo Renault Samsung will provide a discount of 6 million won ($4,870) for customers purchasing its SM3 Z.E. electric vehicle (EV), according to the carmaker, Monday. The SM3 Z.E. is priced between 37 million won and 39 million won depending on the option. When the company's 6 million won subsidy is added to the government subsidy of 6.16 million won, the price will drop dramatically by 12.16 million won. Since the EV is also eligible for subsidies from municipal governments, the actual prices will go down even further. For example, Seoul Metropolitan Government provides a 4.5 million won subsidy for the SM3 Z.E. thus the final price for the SE version stands at 20.34 million won and the RE version at 22.34 million won. Renault Samsung said the discount came amid growing EV sales and subsequent declines in subsidies. The number of EVs registered in February stood at 1,209, up 48.7 percent, triggering central and municipal governments to cut subsidies. The maximum subsidy from the Ministry of Environment on EVs this year is 8.2 million won, down 800,000 won from a year earlier. As subsidies decline, carmakers including Renault Samsung are launching their own discounts to keep customers' interest on their EVs. The SM3 Z.E. is a compact sedan which can drive 213 kilometers on a full charge. According to the Korea Transportation Safety Authority, the daily mileage of passenger vehicles in Korea averaged to 40 kilometers, meaning a fully charged SM3 Z.E. covers approximately five days. The vehicle takes an hour for rapid charging to 80 percent and seven hours for slow charging to 100 percent. The SM3 Z.E. hosts a pack of upgraded design features in and outside the vehicle, along with an eight-inch smart connect touch screen displaying information on battery status, nearby charging stations and other trip data. Renault Samsung offers a warranty of 8 years or 160,000 kilometers on the SM3 Z.E., up from seven years and 140,000 kilometers. Also, maintenance and repair services for the EV are available at 60 percent of all Renault Samsung after sales service centers across the country, the company said. To enhance its EV service network, the company said it is launching five education programs for technicians and mechanics, and more than 70 engineers are winning their EV repair license every year. Currently, more than 300 mechanics specialized in EV are working at Renault Samsung service centers across Korea. "For customers looking for reasonable EVs, carmakers are striving to provide various options, and the SM3 Z.E. is standing out as one of the best options," a Renault Samsung official said. "Along with its price, the vehicle offers the comfortable experience of a sedan." A care worker who died after being infected with coronavirus was praised by her family today as a 'fun loving person with many friends'. Mother-of-two Carol Jamabo, 56, is believed to be the first care worker to be identified publicly after succumbing with the killer virus. She worked as a carer in the community for Cherish Elderly Care in Bury, Greater Manchester, but fell ill around a week before her death last Wednesday. Care worker Carol Jamabo (centre), with her sons Tonye Selema (left) and Abiye Selema (right) A devout Christian, Ms Jamabo served the public as a key worker for over 25 years, after moving to the UK from Nigeria in the early 1990s. She previously worked in both the prison service and as an NHS administrator at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London. Most recently, she worked as a carer in the community after moving to Bury to be closer to her two children, Tonye Selema, 25, and Abiye Selema, 22. Her youngest son Abiye, a student at Leeds University, has also now tested positive for the virus, according to the family. Ms Jamabo, seen in a video issued by her family, served as a key worker for over 25 years. Ms Jamabo became suddenly unwell at her home whilst with her youngest son and was then rushed to hospital. She is not thought to have had any major underlying health conditions but did suffer from asthma. Over the days her condition rapidly deteriorated, according to her nephew, Dakuro Fiberesima, from Purfleet, Essex. She was transferred to an intensive care unit and put on a ventilator at Salford Royal Hospital but could not be saved. She was transferred to an intensive care unit and put on a ventilator at Salford Royal Hospital Mr Fiberesima said: 'It happened so rapidly. No one was by her side. With the ventilator decision, you just get a call they are planning to turn the ventilator off. 'You wonder if you were there, whether that would make a difference? She was such a popular person, there would have been people there to fight her corner so to speak. 'The youngest son is in a terrible position. He was extremely close to her. He was living with her. She was just an amazing aunt. 'Growing up in an African background, the aunts are very strict, but she was fun and had such a positive character. 'She would have been well deserving of a round of applause for her hard work and commitment over the years.' Mr Fiberesima, writing a tribute on the Go Fund Me website to appeal to help the family pay for her funeral costs added: 'She was a fun loving person with many friends and will be remembered for her uplifting, joyful and enthusing personality. 'Words cannot describe the damaging and destructive impact her passing will have to her work colleagues, friends, family and most painfully, her two children. 'With the goodness of your heart, please kindly donate what you can to support her family and two children to raise the necessary funds for the funeral costs in this painfully sad and upsetting time. 'May God bless you and help us all through this challenging period.' More than 5,260 has been raised for the family, surpassing the target of 4,500 to pay for the funeral. Donations can be made by clicking here. President Trump said he could slap 'very substantial tariffs' on oil imports if prices stay low, but doesn't expect to as neither Saudi Arabia nor Russia - which are battling in an oil price war would benefit. Oil prices have dropped by about two-thirds this year as the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the new coronavirus has hammered demand and as major producers Russia and Saudi Arabia boost output in a war over market share. When asked at a White House press briefing Sunday under what conditions he would impose the levies, Trump said, 'If the oil price stays the way it is...I would do that, yeah, very substantial tariffs.' He previously said he expects Saudi Arabia and Russia to make a deal to cut output by up to 15 million barrels per day. President Trump (pictured) said he could place 'very substantial tariffs' on oil import prices, but noted neither Russia nor Saudi Arabia would benefit from it Neither country has confirmed his comments, but Trump expects tariffs can be avoided. 'I would use tariffs if I had to,' Trump said. 'But I dont think I'm going to have to, because Russia doesn't benefit by having this and Saudi Arabia doesn't benefit by having this. Oil and gas are their major sources of income so it's obviously very bad for them.' Russia and Saudi Arabia became embroiled in an oil war after Russia suddenly pulled out of an agreement with Saudi Arabia to limit oil production Experts said the oil war may strain the relationship between the two countries. A virtual meeting scheduled between President Vladimir Putin and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss a deal on production cuts is 'likely' to be held on Thursday. Experts said the oil war between Russia and Saudi Arabia could signal a riff. Pictured: Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (right) The United States in recent years has become the world's biggest oil producer, at times putting its exports in competition with Russia and members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC. As oil prices drop, many heavily leveraged U.S. energy companies face bankruptcies and workers are at risk of layoffs. While Trump noted the low oil prices buoyed the battered airline industry and helped consumers, he reiterated his support for the oil sector. 'We have to save a great industry,' he said. The American Petroleum Institute and other energy interests have told Trump they oppose tariffs, fearing the measures would add costs to importing crude and materials for refineries. Last month, Saudi Arabia slashed its oil export prices over the weekend and declared a price war with Russia that sent global markets reeling and marked the sharpest decline in oil futures since 1991. The price drop came after Russia refused to sign on with a proposal by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to cut production globally as the coronavirus outbreak has slowed the demand for oil. OPEC nations met with allies like Russia on Thursday and Friday in Vienna to reduce oil production by an additional 1.5million barrels per day to stabilize the market starting in April through the end of the year. But Russia refused to join to agreement. From Russia's perspective cutting production would boost US oil producers at the expense of international competitors and lead to a loss in profits. The New York Stock Exchange Opening Bell rings on Friday. Stocks dropped on Friday, as doubts grew about an end to the Saudi- Russia oil price war The failed talks marked the first break in a three-year alliance between Saudi Arabia led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Russia's President Vladimir Putin. The alliance was key to competing with a surge in American oil production that turned the US into a major crude exporter for the first time in decades. In response to the price cut Russia said its companies were free to pump as much as they could, as per Bloomberg. Last week, stocks rose after oil surged more than 30 percent immediately after President Donald Trump said he expects Saudi Arabia and Russia to back away from their price war. The U.S. is a major producer of oil, and hundreds of thousands of American jobs depend on a Saudi-Russian deal to cut production and send oil prices back up. 'The market already knew that job losses recently have been historic and tremendous,' said Russell Price, chief economist at Ameriprise Financial Services Inc in Troy, Michigan. 'We are coming to terms with just how significant this is going to be. The data will be very bad before it gets much worse in April and May, before we start seeing improvements.' In his latest rambling and at times bad-tempered press conference, Donald Trump made a series of false and misleading claims about the escalating coronavirus pandemic that is killings hundreds of Americans a day. In what has become a daily opportunity for Mr Trump to attack his political adversaries, the US president used Sunday's briefing to lash out at a Democratic governor, brand a reporter a wise guy, and advise engineers on how to repair highways. There is a governor, I hear him complaining all the time. Pritzker, I hear him, hes always complaining, Mr Trump said of Illinois governor Jay Pritzker, adding: He has not performed well. It came hours after Mr Pritzker, whose state has been hit hard by the virus, criticised the president's calls for local governments, rather than the White House, to take the lead on stockpiling for potential disasters. Announcing his administration had stockpiled 29 million doses of hydroxychloroquine, Mr Trump said: I think, as you know its a great malaria drug, its worked unbelievably, its a powerful drug, on malaria, and there are signs it works on this, some very strong signs. Conceding it was only being tested now for its effectiveness against Covid-19, Mr Trump went on to say: I just think its something, you know the expression, Ive used it, what have you got to lose?' He added: Ive seen things that I sort of like, so what do I know Im not a doctor, Im not a doctor but I have common sense. Dr Anthony Fauci, the governments leading infectious disease expert, had earlier said there was little evidence so far that the anti-malarial drug was effective against the virus. In terms of science, I dont think we can definitively say it works, he told CBSs Face the Nation. The data are really just at best suggestive. There have been cases that show there may be an effect and there are others to show theres no effect. When Dr Fauci, who was in attendance at the White House briefing, was later asked by a reporter about the drugs effectiveness, Mr Trump blocked him from answering. You know how many times hes answered that question 15 times, said Mr Trump. You dont have to ask that question. When a CNN reporter asked why he was promoting the drug and not leaving it to health experts, Mr Trump admitted it may not work, before saying: Only CNN would ask that question. Fake news bunch of fakers. Asked about the potential to escalate road repairs amid a sharp drop in highway usage, Mr Trump hit out at US engineers for what he perceives to be overly expensive and ineffective fixes. They dont do construction techniques that work and that are better. I see a highway, which is what I do, I do construction, what I did. I see a highway thats good, but its got a bad top, and its got a big base, a concrete base underneath, Mr Trump said. And Ill see them come in and they rip the hell out of it, they take out the base, they take out everything, now they pour a new base that isnt as good, isnt as deep, isnt as thick. Mr Trump provided no evidence for his claims, but went on to complain repairs took forever and that many would crack after completion. They spend 10, 15, 20 times more money than they have to they take the most expensive solution and the bottom line, the job itself is far worse, he added. Mr Trump next falsely claimed the US had undergone the greatest economic boom in history under his administration, before attacking an Associated Press reporter who asked about the adequacy of the governments preparedness for a pandemic. Defending his administrations miracle response, Mr Trump said: You should be thanking them for what theyve done, not always asking wise guy questions. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 6) Agusan del Sur has been placed under strict home quarantine hours after a COVID-19 case was confirmed in nearby Butuan City. Governor Santiago Cane, Jr. issued Executive Order No. 18-20 placing the province under enhanced community quarantine effective Monday, April 6, after the neighboring city in Agusan del Norte confirmed the Caraga region's first infection. This means only workers in critical industries as well as holders of quarantine passes to buy food and essential supplies will be allowed to go out of their homes, with the province under a 24-hour curfew, Cane said in a Facebook post. The executive order also cited Agusan del Sur's common boundaries with Butuan City and Davao de Oro where cases have been confirmed, saying these put residents "at high risk of contamination." Checkpoints have also been set up at all entry and exit points linking Agusan del Sur to nearby cities and provinces. A price freeze on basic goods and a liquour ban have also been imposed. Congressman Adolph Edward "Eddiebong" Plaza said separately during the government's Laging Handa briefing that local authorities "cannot afford" to have coronavirus cases in the province, as there were no level 3 hospitals that can cater to these patients. Residents aged 17 or younger and 60 or older, pregnant women, as well as those with underlying diseases are not allowed to head out except for medical checkups. Exempted are health workers, authorized government officials, persons traveling for medical and humanitarian reasons, and providers of basic services and public utilities. The order takes effect immediately until withdrawn or revoked by the governor. Waitrose is making its workers pay back the time they spend self-isolating due to coronavirus, it has been claimed. Supermarket bosses have told staff they will have to pay for up to two weeks of leave if they are self-isolating or doing so to protect someone else in their household. Employees with severe underlying health problems are currently 'shielding' for 12 weeks and are unable to work or leave the house at all. A whistleblower who works for the upmarket food store told The National they fear infectious staff will return to work and risk spreading the virus to others because they 'can't afford' to be off. Meanwhile John Lewis employees, who have been drafted in to help out at Waitrose while their stores are closed, are receiving 100 per cent of their salaries if they are off sick with symptoms. Waitrose (Milton Keynes store pictured) is making its workers pay back the time they spend self-isolating due to coronavirusy, one worker has claimed The anonymous employee told the newspaper: 'Lots of people who have worked with Waitrose for ages and who are self isolating or shielding family members are now getting phone calls saying they will have to pay time back. 'It's just a massive kick in the teeth. Most of the staff are really honest but now they will have to lie and come in to work even if they are not supposed to or pay back between 74 and 78 hours if they are full time and self-isolate for a fortnight.' Waitrose is owned by the John Lewis Partnership, which was forced to put nearly 1,400 staff on furlough after John Lewis closed 50 stores nationwide. Some have been drafted in to help at Waitrose, but the whistleblower claims they are not faced with the same 'punitive' payback measures as their colleagues. Both Waitrose staff and shoppers hit out at the supermarket over the claims this morning John Lewis staff who are 'shielding' at home will get 100 per cent of their salaries for the 12 weeks they are off work. But the Waitrose whistleblower says their colleagues are 'furious' that the two halves of the company are being treated differently and has escalated a complaint to senior management. One Waitrose employee wrote on Twitter: 'Waitrose, John Lewis were in helping us at Waitrose stores and now they've been told they can stay safe at home with 80 per cent of their pay. 'Whilst us Waitrose staff have to go into work and risk ours and our families lives... how is this far? I thought we were 'one' partnership?' A shopper wrote simply: 'Waitrose treat your staff better,' while someone else posted: 'Shame on you clawing back salaries for staff self-isolating.' Yesterday it was announced that all Waitrose employees will receive a 200 bonus for continuing to work throughout the deadly virus outbreak. Shoppers are pictured queueing outside a Waitrose store in south London Both in-store and through their home delivery, Waitrose has taken a number of measures to protect staff and customers from COVID-19. Last weekend it banned couples from shopping together to increase capacity in stores while still maintaining social distancing. Like at many other supermarkets, tape has been laid down on the floor to help shoppers stay 6ft apart from one another and queues are being spaced out evenly. Waitrose is not part of any workers' union, but some employees are represented by UDSAW, the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers. They said in a statement: 'Usdaw is working with employers to ensure that our members have the support they need to limit the spread of the virus as much as possible. 'Some of the measures we have secured include paid time off for sickness and self-isolation, ensuring that staff are not penalised under any absence policies for time off, access to hand washing facilities, hand sanitiser, clean workplaces and appropriate safety equipment. 'We are also expecting employers to take appropriate security measures to keep workers safe. Any Usdaw member with concerns should contact the union for advice.' A Waitrose spokesman told MailOnline said they are asking workers to 'time bank' where possible and get a doctors note from NHS 111 if they are isolating for more than a week. Like at many other supermarkets, tape has been laid down on the floor to help shoppers stay 6ft apart from one another and queues are being spaced out evenly (Kensington store in west London pictured) They said in a statement: 'For all Partners who are self-isolating due to a family member displaying COVID-19 symptoms, if they are physically well enough themselves to work then we will explore the option of working at home in the first instance. 'However, as with many of our shop floor Partners, this is not an option available to them. Therefore, these Partners will be paid in full for the duration of their self-isolation. 'All we ask is for Partners who are self-isolating for more than 7 days, we require them to obtain an online isolation note from the NHS 111 website and provide this to their People Manager upon their return to work. 'Where possible we are asking Partners to time bank, however we are being flexible about when time can be paid back, including into 2021, and we understand that isn't possible for everyone - particularly where partners may need to isolate for more than one period. 'So we are being as flexible and supportive to our Partners as we can and everyone will be looked at on an individual basis and discussed with their manager. The military branches are requiring troops to make their own cloth face masks after the Pentagon's latest policy directed face coverings for all personnel during the novel coronavirus outbreak. The Defense Department announced Sunday that troops, DoD civilian employees, contractors and family members are encouraged to make simple coverings out of clean T-shirts and other household materials. The do-it-yourself face coverings are mandatory whenever people cannot maintain six feet of social distance in public areas or places of work, according to the policy, signed by Defense Secretary Mark Esper. The DIY masks will help preserve much-needed N95 and surgical masks for health care workers, the policy states. Some services have since posted updates to emphasize that personnel must stay in line with their respective uniform guidance. Service officials, such as those in the Air Force and Marine Corps, emphasized that base security checkpoints may require the lowering of masks to verify identification when coming onto an installation. Related: Full Details: What You Need to Know About the Military's New Face Covering Policy Here's what else you need to know: The Air Force wants commanders to ensure face coverings worn by uniformed military members are "conservative, professional, and in keeping with dignity and respect" in compliance with current instructions, and "cover the mouth and nose," the service said in a release Monday. "Various cloth items worn as face coverings -- scarves, T-shirts, neck gaiters, neck warmers, balaclavas, etc. -- may be acceptable as long as they are functional, cleaned and maintained," the release adds. The Navy will also require face coverings to present a subdued appearance. The makeshift masks must cover the person from nose to chin, but cannot fully cover the face like a ski mask, according to a Navy-wide administrative message. The masks must be tied behind the head or fastened by ear loops, states the guidance, posted Sunday. Masks should be made out of "multiple layers of fabric if the material is cloth," but should not restrict sailors' breathing in any way. "Until official uniform face coverings are produced and implemented, personnel are authorized to wear medical or construction type masks, or other cloth covering such as bandanas, scarfs, etc. When in doubt, priority will be compliance with the [Centers for Disease Control] guidance for function over appearance or preferred date of implementation," the Navy guidance adds. It was not immediately clear when or if the Navy will require sailors to wear "official Navy" face masks as part of the standard service uniform. There was also no timeline for such items to be manufactured. Graphic from the DoD gives instructions on constructing a t-shirt face covering to protect against the spread of COVID19. (Graphic: U.S. Department of Defense) At least one Marine Corps command is offering guidance on fit and look for masks. Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools, the command that develops training for combat support military occupational specialties, posted a photo tutorial on its Facebook page on how to make a mask out of a T-shirt with no sewing required. The command will require troops at Camp Johnson, North Carolina, to make their masks out of olive green T-shirts, according to the post. While the Army has yet to publish explicit guidance, the Maryland National Guard released guidance for soldiers to wear masks that are "black, brown, olive green or tan in color," according to a memo obtained by Military.com. "Masks will not have printed wording, logos, profanity, racist, demeaning or derogatory logos, script, or imagery," the memo states. The Guard units, which are part of many deployed in areas where there are widespread COVID-19 cases, have been granted the use of commercial, medical-grade masks, the memo said. "Leaders are asked to use their best judgment when it comes to color, fit and design of face masks and approach this as a force protection issue," it added. The U.S. Coast Guard, part of the Department of Homeland Security, advised Coasties to use DIY face masks. It instructed them to store the masks appropriately to avoid contaminating others, and wash them as often as needed before wearing them again, according to the service's policy. "Homemade and do-it-yourself cloth masks or personally-procured [coverings] are the preferred option for non-operational use," according to the Coast Guard guidance. "Face coverings are approved for wear in uniform," but members should strive to wear masks "of neutral solid coloring -- e.g. navy blue, black, gray or white," it said. Other colors and patterns are permitted "if they are workplace appropriate," officials said. The service stressed that, due to the nationwide shortage of personal protective equipment, surgical masks should be worn "as a last resort" and only with commanders' authorization. "N95 respirators shall not be used for this purpose," the guidance adds. -- Hope Hodge Seck contributed to this report. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Read more: 'Too Naive or Too Stupid:' Acting SecNav Slams Fired Captain in Speech to Crew Click here to read the full article. LONDON Independent fashion publications are facing a series of problems amid the coronavirus outbreak: Shoots have been canceled, advertisers are pulling out, production costs are surging and international shipping blockages are forcing publishers around the globe to pivot and act creatively in order to connect with readers. In the U.K., Dazed Media is offering the April issue of Dazed and the spring/summer issue of Another Man free to download as a small gift to our readers. It has also launched a digital campaign #AloneTogether on Dazed that invites homebound audiences worldwide to take part in an open movement that uses creativity to celebrate community in the face of isolation, according to Jefferson Hack, chief executive officer and cofounder of Dazed Media. More from WWD Another has introduced the #CultureIsNotCancelled campaign, which urges people and organizations alike to practice social distancing, and still keep culture alive. We will be supporting the creative industries by showcasing otherwise postponed or canceled projects, from fashion collections to exhibitions, films and much more. Culture must be protected and projected in the bedrooms of every home to give hope and humanity in a time crisis. The importance of digital media in doing this cannot be underestimated, Hack said. Dazed will also suspend the print edition of its summer issue and, instead, create a special digital moment with contributions from readers and its creative community around the world. We are learning to adapt, connecting with each other via Zoom and our audiences as much as possible to ensure we can act and react in meaningful ways. It is important for Dazed to document this time not to reflect it, but to help shape positive future narratives around culture and society in light of the crisis, added Hack. Story continues On Sunday, Hack penned an open letter to members of the British fashion industry, entreating them to save our creative fashion workforce and save our national identity. He urged people to support the BFCs new fashion survival fund, which I am hoping our government will prioritize for urgent financing. As part of his call to action, Hack cited BFC research showing that 35 percent of young designers in the U.K. will not make it past the next three months, and over half of the industry could be wiped out by the end of the year, including the livelihoods of many creative freelance individuals the photographers, stylists, hair stylists, make-up artists, art directors, the tailors and the young creatives who are the very essence of our countrys creative production; its life and soul. alongside the humanitarian crisis, we must also recognize the very real economic crisis that has put our creative industries on a cliff-edge for survival. I-D is releasing a similar project to Dazed in the coming week. Its parent company Vice introduced a pay cut last week for many employees for the next 90 days. Executives will see their pay reduced by 25 percent, with ceo Nancy Dubuc taking a 50 percent cut. As reported, Vice staffers taking home $125,000 will have to endure a 20 percent cut and also work a four-day week while those making between $100,000 and $120,000 face a 10 percent cut The i-D editorial team in London has not yet been impacted by the pay cut, because of the generally lower salaries in the U.K. Conde Nasts Love magazine, meanwhile, has seen a 41 percent surge in unique online users and a 94 percent jump in social media engagement over the past week, as it presented its own lockdown initiative #LOVEIN, featuring an exclusive interview with Rita Ora on how she is coping with loneliness during self-isolation. There is also Matty Bovan whipping up the perfect chocolate souffle at Bistrotheque; New York celebrity personal trainer Korey Rowes workout routine, and Mei Kawajiri, Bella Hadids favorite nail artist, creating custom nails art daily for the publication. Love hopes to offer some respite from the horrendous developments we are all experiencing, actively working remotely to present colorful and upbeat content to enrich their audience, said a magazine spokesperson. Meanwhile, British and Italian editions of Conde Nast titles are offering free digital access to the May issues. The biannual magazine A Magazine Curated By, which has collaborated with Pierpaolo Piccioli, Kim Jones and Simone Rocha on recent issues, wrapped the production of its latest issue just days before quarantine measures and forced confinement came into effect across Europe. With the help of screen-sharing applications, it managed to finish graphic design, and layouts, and slowly put the pages together with team members in France, Germany, Italy and Canada all working from home. Dan Thawley, editor in chief of the magazine, said: Photography labs started closing down across the globe, and our contributors were racing to retouch images and process films in various cities. One was even the victim of price-gouging at a New York facility, which close to doubled their costs overnight knowing they were the only lab left open. The magazines printing facility is in northern Italy, and its still operating during this quarantine period as it is considered an essential service. Our print schedule did not change. Many of our museum boutiques will receive the magazine later, but we expect it to still have several good months of shelf life. We are unsure of how [the virus] will affect deliveries to other stores, Thawley added. The team is now assessing ways of moving forward in the second half. We are confident that both our creative and business models are agile enough to weather the economic repercussions of reduced advertising dollars and constrained production budgets. We remain hopeful that the logistics to mail out will remain an essential service. And to ensure that, we are preparing targeted digital partnerships to help support this launch, said Blake Abbie, editor at large at A Magazine Curated By. Adriano Batista, editor in chief of the Barcelona-based mens wear magazine Fking Young! said despite the fact that the title already had most stories produced before lockdown, it will have to hold the release of the new issue a bit longer as its design studio is closed. In the meantime, it has been producing interviews focusing on the recent situation for its web site. We also depend on other factors that we cant control, like distribution. Advertising will also be a big problem, not for this issue but for the next ones, because the brands are not selling like they used to sell before this crisis and we all depend on each other. Its a full circle, he said, adding that the magazine will try to focus more on sustainability and responsible consumption in future issues. For smaller titles, the lockdown has been particularly brutal. Wei Liu, editor in chief of The Wow, a London-based magazine celebrating Asian women, said he has had to postpone the upcoming issue until everything returns to normal. I was informed our shoots, including the cover story, had been temporarily canceled or postponed since February due to the virus situation. And 80 percent of our shoots were initially scheduled in March and early April in New York and London, then the shutdown happened. My distributor also told me most of the shops were closed because the government decided that magazines were not an essential product, he said. As a new, independent magazine without any advertiser, the production budget has always been the biggest issue. Each of the interviews and editorials takes a long time to communicate and confirm, I cant afford the time and money to get everything done on time. The only thing I can do now is focus on the text content, try to finish the interviews by e-mail and phone, ask the interviewees to provide their self-portraits, and find a way to use it in the magazine, he added. Independent magazines in areas with stricter lockdown rules than Europe are facing even more challenges. Cynthia Jreige, founder and editor in chief of the Beirut and Dubai-based Jdeed magazine, said: The apparition of the virus in Lebanon has forced all the businesses that arent first necessity to shut down, the printing house we work with and most of our distribution points included. Fortunately, the printers were able to work in shifts to finish the production which ended up being delayed by about a week. Distribution has also been severely disrupted. The magazine could only be delivered to 45 stores in Lebanon, instead of the usual 340, and international shipping has stopped as Beirut International Airport has been closed for almost three weeks. In response to the restrictions, she has released more content from the latest issue online, and partnered with Toters, the top delivery company in Lebanon, to make sure her readers will be able to receive the magazine on their doorsteps. She is also about to start a series of live interviews on Instagram with designers, photographers, make-up artists and vegan restaurant owners. Some publications are less impacted, such as the annual, independent fashion magazine 1 Granary, which was founded by Olya Kuryshchuk when she was a fashion student at Central Saint Martins and doesnt rely too much on advertising. The majority of the revenue of the publication comes from sponsorships, brand and showroom consultancies and event partnerships. We released our latest issue mid-November and plan to begin working on the next issue from May, said Kuryshchuk, who is currently stranded in Mexico due to the lockdown. This month we will be observing and gathering ideas and information that will feed into our print. We can see the undying demand for online orders, and our distributors are working nonstop. As long as the printing press is able to stay open, we hopefully will manage to go ahead. She said the core team is very small. None of the [British] government support schemes work for any of us. For now, there are no changes and I am determined to support my team through this time. But thanks to the success of our previous issue and the multiple revenue streams of 1 Granary, we should be secure for the next few months, she added. Started as a student magazine from Central Saint Martins, 1 Granary is also aiming to help fashion students who, due to the virus, wont be able to stage graduate shows. The magazine is proposing to showcase and promote their work online and represent them via their graduate showroom. Magazines Lift Paywalls on Coronavirus Content Coronavirus Pressure on Media Spreads From Alt-Weeklies to Digital News Outlets, Magazines Conde Nast Britain Unlocks May Issues, Offers Free Digital Access She watches him all morning from one window, then another. Maybe hes taking his time to avoid getting back to his farm work. Or maybe hes calculating, so as to finish just when itll be the right time to call his girlfriend in Mexico. Mi novia, he had said. More than a girlfriend. A bride, a fiancee. What time is it in Mexico now? She is not policing him so much as making sure that he doesnt fall. And if he does, then what? Does she call 911 for help? Take him to the hospital? Better the Open Door Clinic, if they are open, where the staff, mostly volunteers, are poor-friendly, undocumented-friendly, friendly period. Before Sams death, she used to volunteer there, translating for the migrant workers. Of course, anything serious, the clinic would send him over to the hospital, where theyre more fearful of liabilities. They might notify the sheriff, whod come racing over to the ER, sirens going, lights flashing. Or theyd ask if he has insurance, as he lies on a gurney, bleeding to death. Who is allowed to have access to care? Universal health care, Sam argued. He could ruin a dinner party with his fierce advocacy. How can we call ourselves civilized and withhold care from those who cant afford it? He was invited on several local talk shows and college panels. Some of his colleagues at the hospital began shunning him. But the younger doctors, especially the young women, regarded him as their mentor. Of course, Antonia agreed with Sam, though she let him do the arguing. Even now, long after immigrating as a child, she still thinks of it as their country. Not for her to meddle in their affairs. Besides, Sam was better at arguing, sticking to the topic, not getting teary and tongue-tied when someone disputed her facts. Over the years, there was so much overlap in their opinions. She could tell what he thought from a glance at his face, the tone of his voice as he spoke on the phone in another room. Nice to get to that place with someone where you dont have to ask. A different kind of silence now. She has the radio going constantly. She makes a mental note to up her contribution to VPR during the next membership drive. Shes out collecting the mail when she spots the sheriffs car coming slowly down the road toward her house. Instantly, she is alert, some instinctive reaction, like seeing a hornet in her vicinity. She runs down a checklist. What could she be doing wrong? On the top of the list would be the small brown undocumented man cleaning her gutters. But Mario has finally made it to the back of the house. Antonia lifts a hand casually in greeting, a performed rather than an innocent gesture. One may smile, and smile, and be a villain. Would the sheriff recognize Hamlet? Most of the law enforcement in town are local boys whose family farms have gone under. Many didnt even finish high school, thinking theyd end up farming. [ Return to the review of Afterlife. ] Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. High Throughput Screening Market Size 2019 HTS Industry Analysis, Growth Segments, Leading Manufacturers, Phenomenal Growth and Business Boosting Strategies till 2025 Market Research Future published a research report on High Throughput Screening Market Research Report Global Forecast till 2025 Market Overview, Segmentation, Progress, Regional analysis, key Trends, Major Players and Forecast to 2025. Global Wearable Sensors Market is likely to value of USD 13,460 million with a CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period Competitive Landscape: Better integration of diverse plans in the global high throughput screening market and introduction of several strategic moves that encompasses mergers, acquisitions, tie-ups, and others are expected to inspire growth. Companies impacting the growth in the market are Danaher (US), Aurora Biomed Inc. (Canada), Tecan (Switzerland), PerkinElmer (US), Axxam (Italy), Hamilton (US), Corning (US), Merck Group (Germany), Beckman Coulter, Inc. (US), BioTek (US), Luminex Corporation (US), Agilent Technologies Inc. (US), and Roche (Switzerland). Overview High-throughput screening (HTS) can be defined as a method that includes scientific experimentation needed for various drug discovery and deciding typical moves in the the fields of biology and chemistry. The procedure includes data processing/control software, liquid handling devices, robotics, and sensitive detectors. This allows the system to get into the procedure of conducting tests for millions of chemical, genetic, or pharmacological processes. The process has evolved as necessary to find active compounds, antibodies, or genes that can cover various biomolecular pathway. This process assists in the designing of various market process. The High Throughput Screening Market is getting traction from high technological advancements in HTS and hike in expenditure for research and development. The government funding for the procedure is also providing better scope for growth. Segmental Analysis The global market for high throughput screening, by product & service, can be segmented into instruments, reagents & assay kits, consumables & accessories, and software and services. The reagents & assay kits segment can find growth with increasing demand from the diagnostic segment. By technology, the global market report on high throughput screening can be segmented into cell-based assays, Bioinformatics, 3D cell culture, 2D cell culture, perfusion cell culture, 3D cell culture, Ultra-high-throughput Screening, lab-on-a-chip (LOC), and Label-free Technology. The 3D cell culture segment includes scaffold-based technologies and scaffold-free technologies. The scaffold-based segment comprises hydrogels, inert matrix, and micropatterned surfaces. The scaffold-free technologies segment consists ultra-low binding plates, hanging-drop plates, microplate, and other scaffold-free technologies. By application, the global market for high throughput screening includes primary and secondary screening, toxicology assessment, target identification & validation, and others. The application segment is showing signs of fastest CAGR owing to its inclusion in the research and development sector. By end user, the global market for high throughput screening can be segmented into contract research organizations, academic & government institutes, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, and others. Global High Throughput Screening Market Research Report- https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/high-throughput-screening-market-1280 In October 2019, researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute revealed that they have developed a machine-learning algorithm that would assist in the high throughput screening of epigenetic drugs. Related News Blood Glucose Monitoring Market Global Forecast till 2023 About Market Research Future: MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. The scale of the disaster confronting Africa in the coronavirus crisis, with the least robust health care systems in the world and a venal bourgeoisie incapable of responding to the surge of cases, is becoming ever clearer. Nearly 10,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed on the African continenta huge underestimate given the lack of testing kitsand 376 people have died. At least 148 health care workers have tested positive and four have succumbed to the virus. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, secretary general of the World Health Organization (WHO) said, The best advice for Africa is to prepare for the worst and prepare todayadvice African governments have ignored. The Global Health Security (GHS) Index, which assesses countries abilities and preparedness to respond to biological threats and novel flu epidemics or pandemics, exposes African governments lack of preparation for the pandemic, which was both foreseeable and foreseen. Its 2019 report stated, National health security is fundamentally weak around the world. No country is fully prepared for epidemics or pandemics, and every country has important gaps to address. It found, Only 19 percent of countries receive top marks for detection and reporting of biological threats, with only 5 percent of countries scoring in the highest tier for their ability to rapidly respond to and mitigate the spread of an epidemic. The average overall GHS Index score among all 195 countries assessed was 40.2 out of 100. The majority of countries ranked as least prepared are in Africa, with Somalia (16.6) and Equatorial Guinea (16.2) listed at the bottom. Only South Africa comes in with a relatively high number34. A recent Bloomberg article, Trapped by Coronavirus, Nigerias Elite Faces Squalid Hospitals, notes that the Nigerian elite, who have long been accustomed to flying to the UK, France or India for medical treatment, will now have to face the consequences of their own policies. Francis Faduyile, head of the Nigerian Medical Association, said, The health system is not strong enough. Over the years, its been denied normal funding and things are not where theyre supposed to be. If the burden of the coronavirus is added, it may be too heavy; it may actually cause a total collapse. He said, Its going to be a lesson for those who think they can neglect the health system. What the article describes is horrific. And Nigeria is by no means the worst case as the GHS index shows. According to its health ministry, Nigeria has 75,000 doctors, 180,709 nurses and 25,000 pharmacists for a population of 200 million. But half of all registered doctors have emigrated to the advanced Western countries. Nigeria has 0.5 hospital beds per 1,000 people, far below WHO thresholds, and only five laboratories are able to test for the coronavirus. Health spending accounted for about 5 percent of the governments budget over the last decade, falling far short of the African Unions recommended minimum of 15 percent. It has largely focused on recurrent spending, with little or no capital investment. Only N427.3 billion ($1.096 billion) of the federal budget (4.5 percent) went to health, which amounts to just N2,000 (US$5.50) for each of Nigerias 200 million population. The Financial Times noted that African governments spend an average of $12 per capita a year on health compared with $4,000 in the UK. In Nigeria, there are just 169 ventilators for 200 million people. Nigeria has one of the highest mortality rates of children under five in the world, with one in ten children dying before the age of five. It provides health care coverage to only 3 percent of its population through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Life expectancy, at 52 years, is below the African average. HIV, tuberculosis and malaria are among the leading causes of death, together accounting for around 20 percent of all deaths. Some 40 percent of the population lack access to clean drinking water while only 30 percent have adequate sanitation. This terrible situation is not due to a lack of resources. According to Oxfam, The combined wealth of Nigerias five richest men$29.9 billioncould end extreme poverty at a national level, yet 5 million face hunger. More than 112 million people are living in poverty in Nigeria, yet the countrys richest man would have to spend $1 million a day for 42 years to exhaust his fortune. The amount of money that the richest Nigerian man can earn annually from his wealth is sufficient to lift 2 million people out of poverty for one year. The worldwide economic slowdown has led to plummeting demand and prices for Africas natural resources, including oil and gas, a collapse in tourism and travel and remittances from the African diaspora, while border closures and flight bans have curtailed the export of key agricultural produce. Ahunna Eziakonwa, the UN Development Program regional director for Africa, warned that the economy faces a complete collapse unless the spread of COVID-19 is controlled. Up to 50 percent of all projected job growth will be lost. We will see a complete collapse of economies and livelihoods. Livelihoods will be wiped out in a way we have never seen before. Governments throughout the continent are using the pandemic and the attendant lockdowns as the pretext for military dictatorship to deal with mounting opposition in the working class. The Japan Times reported that in Nigeria a soldier enforcing the lockdown killed Joseph Pessu, a resident of the oil city of Warri in the southern state of Delta. In Kenya, security forces enforcing the lockdown killed a 13-year-old boy on his balcony. Yusuf Moyo, the boys father, said, Where is our safety if not in our own homes? Four others have been killed. In South Africa, the police and the army have used whips, rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse people in Hillbrow, an inner-city Johannesburg neighbourhood. In Zimbabwe, the army and police forced thousands of homeless people from the streets and transported them to open fields, empty school grounds and stadiums where makeshift shelters are being set up to enforce social distancing. Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the IMF, estimates that emerging countries may need as much as $2.5 trillion in support. The possibility for widespread unrest will only grow as food shortages hit ailing African economies. Vera Songwe, executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, If we need an example of what the lack of multilateralism looks like, were seeing it today. If one of us has the virus, all of us have it. An international and coordinated response to stop the spread of the virus on the African continent must be mounted. Measures must be taken to provide the necessary medical equipment and staff to halt the pandemicwithout which the coronavirus will spread, killing millions. A socialist leadership in the African working class must be built, pulling behind it the impoverished peasantry and in unity with the workers in imperialist centres for an uncompromising struggle against the banks, corporations and world imperialism. Former President John Dramani Mahama has recommended some key measures he believes, could help scale up the fight against the spread of the Coronavirus disease in Ghana. Mr Mahama made the recommendations via his Facebook page. The former president during the Facebook stream announced that he had donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) worth more than GH300,000 to some selected health facilities in the country. He indicated that the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Regional and District hospitals nationwide, were all to benefit from the donation. Mr Mahama proposed to the government, the development of a National Infectious Diseases Response plan that clearly sets out the specific steps that must be taken to prevent the entry of such diseases, and quickly arrest them even if they do enter the shores at the very early stage, to reduce its impact on the population. He also proposed the establishment of another medical research centre with capacity like the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in the northern part of Ghana, while calling for an expansion of the 37 Military Hospital, by doubling the current bed size, and also build an Infectious Disease Centre to cater for the southern sector to help with the situation. He asked the government to expand the testing centres to include the Navorongo and Kimtampo Research Centres and ensure that Noguchi or the KCCR in Kumasi supports the testing of more people in good time. 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 YEREVAN, 6 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 6 April, USD exchange rate down by 1.42 drams to 501.55 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.48 drams to 542.38 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.02 drams to 6.58 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 1.49 drams to 616.76 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price down by 133.48 drams to 26011.57 drams. Silver price up by 2.82 drams to 232.04 drams. Platinum price down by 242.81 drams to 11513.4 drams. As churches continue to stream their services online, President Trump made it known that he will be watching. On Saturday evening, Trump tweeted, Palm Sunday is the beginning of a Holy week for many people of Faith and a great day to lift our voices in Prayer. I will be tuning into Pastor @greglaurie at @harvestorg Church in Riverside, California tomorrow at 11:00 A.M. Eastern." Palm Sunday is the beginning of a Holy week for many people of Faith and a great day to lift our voices in Prayer. I will be tuning into Pastor @greglaurie at @harvestorg Church in Riverside, California tomorrow at 11:00 A.M. Eastern. https://t.co/2eTaKsZVT4 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 4, 2020 According to CBN News, Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California called Americans to turn their worry into worship and pray for an end to the spread of coronavirus. He noted on social media that his churchs online worship attendance experienced a nearly 50 percent increase from a week ago. Laurie wrote on Instagram, "We had 359,000 people watch our webcast of "Harvest At Home". That number is realistically much larger because in many cases, families and groups are watching together." Viewership aside, the number of professions of faith were also highlighted. "Best of all, we had 3,188 people make professions of faith to follow Jesus Christ. If you combine that with last week's webcast, that means we have had 5,000 people give their lives to Jesus Christ," Laurie wrote. As Christian Headlines previously reported, on April 1, Harvest Christian Fellowship started offering drive-thru testing for COVID-19 in its parking lot, making it Riversides third testing site. The church posted on Facebook that they are pleased to have been chosen as one of the drive-thru testing spots for COVID-19 testing. We want to be as helpful as we can during this difficult season and this opportunity is allowing us to do that." On Palm Sunday, Laurie addressed his concern of some peoples poor response to the virus as though this has not been asked of us and called for selfless consideration as people around them can potentially get infected. Viewers of the online service were also encouraged to remember, amid anxieties and concerns, that Jesus understands, and he cares, and he wants you to cast that care and give those burdens over to him. Despite the church building being closed, Laurie reminded the congregation that they are the temple of God in whom the Holy Spirit dwells. Related: California's Harvest Christian Fellowship Sets Up Drive-Thru Coronavirus Test Site Online Church Attendance Quadrupled Sunday in Light of COVID-19, Company Says Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Win McNamee/Staff Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer. He is also the co-hosts of the For Your Soul podcast, which seeks to equip the church with biblical truth and sound doctrine. Visit his blog Blessed Are The Forgiven. Categorically stating that the battle against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic will be long, and akin to a war situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that India has been proactive and comprehensive in its approach to fighting the outbreak, even as he encouraged citizens to take a series of measures to secure themselves and help the vulnerable. In an address to the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) workers on the 40th foundation day of the party, the PM made five specific appeals to the cadre to provide rations to the poor; wear and distribute face covers; organise letters of gratitude to frontline workers; get people to download the governments Aarogya Setu App, which is both an information and tracking tool; and encourage citizens to donate to the PM-Cares fund. The PM said that Indias efforts to battle the pandemic set an example and was appreciated globally, including by leaders with whom he spoke. India is among those countries which took the threat of the coronavirus seriously and began a comprehensive battle against it when there was time, even though so little was known about the disease. It took several decisions and we implemented it based on expert advice. The remarks come in the wake of the Opposition, particularly the Congress, alleging that the governments response was delayed. Questioning the pace of testing in the country, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted on April 4: India is simply not testing enough to fight the Covid19 virus. Making people clap & shining torches in the sky isnt going to solve the problem. Outlining the measures taken by his government on Monday, Modi said the Centre introduced thermal screening for international passengers, evacuated Indian citizens who were stuck abroad, took the difficult decision of stopping all global flights to India, and prepared the medical infrastructure to deal with the pandemic. The support of state governments has also ensured the effectiveness of these decision, said the PM. The remark was seen as a signal of political outreach to other parties. The PM has held two video conferences with chief ministers and on Sunday, he called up top Opposition leaders to brief them on efforts being made to battle the outbreak. India has worked comprehensively and rapidly, he said on Monday. Modi also praised citizens for their sense of discipline, service and maturity during the ongoing lockdown, and referred to people switching off lights and lighting candles and lamps on Sunday night. We saw the collective power of 1.3 billion people... it has prepared citizens for a long battle. I say this after careful consideration this is a long battle, we cant get tired, we cant get defeated. There was only one resolve, the PM emphasised of defeating the pandemic. Turning specifically to the BJP workers, the PM said that he had five specific appeals. One was to provide rations to the needy. Millions of BJP workers are engaged in providing ration. I want you to make this a major campaign. Bind all social organisations in one framework. And ensure not a single poor person is hungry. He emphasised that while doing this, workers must cover their faces and to make it a habit. His second appeal to workers was to produce such face covers and gift them to five to seven people each. The PMs third appeal to workers was to go to 40 homes in their polling booths, and prepare and get five sets of letters of gratitude. These letters meant for doctors, nurses and paramedical staff; police personnel; sanitation staff; government staff engaged in essential work; and bank and postal staff personnel should then be distributed to the concerned individuals for whom it was meant within the area. His fourth appeal to workers was to get 40 people each to install the Aarogya Setu app and fill their details. This would give them relevant health information and also help them keep track of interactions with positive Covid-19 cases, he said. And finally, the PM asked workers to contribute themselves, and get 40 individuals to contribute to the PM-Cares fund. During wars, women used to give their jewellery; even the poor used to give their meagre savings. Think of this situation as a war. It needs the same spirit of donation. Islamabad, April 6 : The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has declared that overcrowding in jails was unconstitutional and ruled that a prisoner can sue the government and prison authorities for inhumane treatment during incarceration, it was reported on Monday. The court on Sunday issued directives to the federal government and Islamabad's commissioner for observance of provisions in jail manual as well as in the international conventions and treaties related to the well-being of inmates, Dawn news reported. The 38-page verdict authored by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah pointed out alarming conditions of prisoners, loopholes in the criminal justice system and how prisoners were subjected to inhumane treatment. "The intolerable and shockingly inhumane and degrading treatment highlighted in the proceedings in hand meets the threshold of the hypothetical illustration in the above judgement," the court observed. "It is, therefore, obvious that the incarcerated prisoners, subjected to the unimaginable degrading and inhumane treatment highlighted in these proceedings, may have become entitled to seek damages against the prison authorities and the state." The order was issued on the petitions filed by inmates of the Central Jail Rawalpindi, said the Dawn news report. The inmates claimed that they could not access the courts and feared being punished by the prison authorities for attempting to draw court attention towards their plight. The country's overall prison population was currently 73,721 while the authorized capacity of all the jails in Pakistan is 55,634 inmates. In Punjab, 29 out of 41 prisons were found overcrowded while in Sindh eight jails were reportedly overcrowded. Out of 73,721 prisoners across the country, more than 60 per cent have not been convicted by any court. A large number of prisoners are suffering from serious illnesses such as HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis and mental diseases. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is remaining in hospital for "observation" after struggling to recover from coronavirus, his spokesman said on Monday, as the country braces for the outbreak to peak. The premier has a persistent cough and fever and has been undergoing tests, but had a "comfortable" night and continues to work on his government papers, Johnson's official spokesman James Slack told reporters on Monday. "Last night, on the advice of my doctor, I went into hospital for some routine tests as I'm still experiencing coronavirus symptoms," Johnson said on Twitter on Monday. "I'm in good spirits and keeping in touch with my team, as we work together to fight this virus and keep everyone safe." Johnson's illness deals a blow to the U.K. as the country prepares for the worst of the pandemic to hit. Almost 5,000 people have died from covid-19 in the U.K. so far and, according to government advisers and scientists, the peak is likely in the next 7-10 days. Europe's worst-hit countries reported declines in deaths, with the latest data from Spain, Italy and France suggesting measures that have halted economies and forced people to stay home are having an effect. But while the rise in fatalities also slowed in the U.K., Britain is behind other nations in the infections curve and is struggling to ramp up testing. While Johnson, 55, remains technically in charge, he stayed in hospital overnight and will not be able to chair the critical daily meeting to coordinate the government's response on Monday, according to an official. That thrusts the responsibility into the hands of Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is Johnson's de facto deputy. U.S. President Donald Trump sent well wishes to Johnson during his daily press briefing on Sunday, saying "all Americans are praying for him." "He's a friend of mine, he's a great gentleman and a great leader," Trump said. "But I'm hopeful and sure that he's going to be fine - he's a strong man, a strong person." --- The premier's illness was initially described as mild, and there is no sign that it's getting worse. Instead, his doctor advised that he should be admitted to the hospital for "precautionary" tests because symptoms, including a fever, have not cleared up. He remains in St Thomas's Hospital, a National Health Service facility close to Westminster, on Monday. Johnson's personal health problems add to the sense of confusion surrounding the U.K.'s response. His administration has struggled to prove it is on top of the pandemic, and faced criticism from health specialists and the national media. Unlike in some other countries, the U.K. has not conducted widespread testing to gather reliable data on infections, instead advising anyone with symptoms of a cough or a fever to self-isolate at home. Medical experts including at the World Health Organization, and some of Johnson's own Conservative colleagues, have questioned the government's record on testing. He had already been criticized for taking too long to impose limits on socializing. The virus outbreak has forced several top officials to isolate in recent weeks, including the health secretary, the chief medical officer for England, and Johnson's most senior and influential adviser, Dominic Cummings. On March 23, Johnson ordered a lockdown, with schools, non-essential shops and public venues closing, and people only allowed out of their homes if they can't work from home, or for other vital needs. Police have been given sweeping powers to enforce the rules, while the government said on Sunday it will release many as 4,000 low-risk prisoners from jails in England and Wales to curb the spread of the virus. --- Health Secretary Matt Hancock criticized what he described as a "minority" of people who are ignoring the social-distancing rules to sunbathe or gather in parks, and said the government would not hesitate to ban all outdoor exercise if necessary. "I don't want to have to take that action, of course I don't, but we have already demonstrated that we are prepared to take the action that's necessary to get this virus under control," Hancock said. "Let's not have a minority spoiling it for everybody." Later, he added that stricter measures were not "imminent." In Scotland, Chief Medical Officer Catherine Calderwood resigned after she visited her second home 45 miles (72 kilometers) from Edinburgh, in breach of her own guidelines. Indeed, there have been internal divisions over the U.K. government's tactics. Officials from Johnson's office clashed last week with colleagues in Hancock's department over whether the government should commit to a target of carrying out 100,000 tests per day by the end of April. Hancock eventually went ahead with the plan, despite objections, a person familiar with the matter said, speaking on condition of anonymity. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. A spate of foodborne illnesses in leafy greens and other produce in recent years has sickened consumers and disrupted growers and supply chains. Its been thought that hydroponic and aquaponic systems could reduce these issues since there is little opportunity for pathogens like E. coli to contaminate the edible parts of plants. A Purdue University study, however, has found the presence of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) the same bacteria that have made consumers of several produce products ill in hydroponic and aquaponic growing systems. Hye-Ji Kim, an assistant professor of horticulture and the studys corresponding author, said the findings suggest growers using these systems should be careful in handling and harvesting to avoid contamination. Many people think that there is no chance that E. coli could be present in these systems and that risk of contamination is low, said Kim, whose results were published in the journal Horticulturae. Our findings suggest there is some potential for food safety concerns. Were not saying that these foods are unsafe, but that its important to handle these plants properly and carefully. The E. coli outbreaks that have occurred in recent years tend to happen in leafy greens and other vegetables grown in irrigated fields. Potential sources could be from E. coli in manure or groundwater that reaches the edible portions of plants, or from those contaminants getting to plants after root damage by wild animals. Proponents of hydroponic and aquaponic systems suggest their growing methods would reduce or eliminate any risk of contamination. Both soilless systems, hydroponic plants are grown in water and chemical fertilizers or nutrient solutions, and aquaponic systems include the raising of fish, with fish wastewater utilized as water and nutrient source for the plants. Kim, Yi-Ju Wang, a graduate student in Kims lab, and Amanda Deering, a Purdue clinical assistant professor of food science, set up both hydroponic and aquaponic systems for growing lettuce, tomatoes and basil for about two months. The scientists found E. coli in both systems at the time of harvest. In the aquaponic system, the authors believe the E. coli was introduced by the fish. The bacteria was found in the water, on plant roots and in fish feces. Our separate aquaculture system confirmed that fish feces were a major source of contamination with STEC in the aquaponic system, the authors wrote. These results indicate that introducing contaminated fish can be a source of foodborne pathogens in aquaponics. The presence of E. coli in the hydroponic system, in which fish were not used, suggests that the bacteria was introduced accidentally. Kim believes it could have splashed from a nearby aquaponic system or have been introduced by a visitor who brought it in from outside the greenhouse. Either way, the presence in the system suggests that accidental contamination is a real risk. E. coli was also found on plant roots in both systems, but the bacteria did not internalize in the plants. In other words, even with the bacteria present in water and on the roots, the edible portions of the plants were still safe to consume. The key, Kim says, is proper handling to ensure that E. coli or other pathogens dont make it to the edible parts of plants. Damaged roots would allow bacteria into the plants, potentially making it to edible portions internally. And splashing of water during growing or harvesting could introduce bacteria to the edible portions of the plants. The best way to manage these issues is to not touch roots or water throughout production cycles. If you do, you should thoroughly wash your hands before touching the edible parts of the plants, Kim said. Proper sanitization of equipment is also important. And acquiring fish that do not contain E. coli would also be beneficial. Kims lab is continuing to investigate food safety risks in hydroponic and aquaponic systems. Projects include damaging roots and simulating splashes to understand how much contamination can occur. The Indiana State Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the Purdue University College of Agriculture funded this research. Writer: Brian Wallheimer, 765-532-0233, bwallhei@purdue.edu Source: Hye-Ji Kim, 765-496-0122, hjikim@purdue.edu Note to Journalists: A portrait of one scientist, a picture of another scientist in the lab and a picture of a growing system are available for journalists to use via Google Drive. ABSTRACT The Occurrence of Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli in Aquaponic and Hydroponic Systems Yi-Ju Wang1, Amanda J. Deering2 and Hye-Ji Kim1 Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN Department of Food Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN Food safety concerns have been raised over vegetables and herbs grown in aquaponics and hydroponics due to the reuse of wastewater and spent nutrient solutions. This study was conducted to determine the occurrence of foodborne pathogens in greenhouse-based aquaponic and hydroponic systems. Fish feces, recirculating water, roots, and the edible portions of lettuce, basil, and tomato were collected at harvest, and microbiological analyses were conducted for the bacterial pathogens Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella spp. Enrichments and selective media were used for the isolation, and presumptive positive colonies were confirmed by PCR. STEC was found in fish feces, in the water of both systems, and on the surface of the roots of lettuce, basil, and tomato regardless of the system. However, contaminated water did not lead to the internalization of STEC into the roots, leaves, and/or fruit of the plants. Meanwhile, L. monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. were not present in any samples examined. Our results demonstrated that there are potential food safety hazards for fresh produce grown in aquaponic and hydroponic production systems. Agricultural Communications: 765-494-8415; Maureen Manier, Department Head, mmanier@purdue.edu Agriculture News Page Normally, we would be celebrating the 10th birthday of Morgans Wonderland, and that will happen one of these days, but right now, all of us are confronted with an invisible storm that threatens San Antonio, our state and our nation. To reduce the storms damage as much as possible, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff have mobilized the COVID-19 Community Action working groups. In making the announcement, Nirenberg said these groups will act as strike teams focused on immediate areas of impact within the community. Theyre charged with identifying measures to mitigate the challenge (posed by the pandemic), recommending measures for long-term recovery, and identifying local, state and federal resources to assist the community, he added. This is a commonsense, methodical approach to pinpoint critical issues and determine the resources needed to address them. Its my honor and privilege to lead this process and coordinate among five working groups of leaders in our community: Federal and state government advocacy: Every state and municipality is going to seek governmental funding, so its absolutely essential we specify what financial assistance our community will need and make sure we have a seat at the table. Philanthropy: This doesnt mean the establishment of a new fund to provide community assistance. Rather, its a process to inform existing foundations and philanthropists as to how they can play a role for either a specific purpose or a common purpose. Food security and shelter: Suddenly, the San Antonio Food Bank is being called on to feed 120,000 families, twice the normal number, so securing enough food for those in need is of critical importance. Likewise, we must deal with shelter issues - thousands who will be delinquent in paying their monthly rents and thousands of homeless people living on our citys streets. Business and employment: This working group is involved in helping small businesses survive the economic downturn and retain their employees, and it also concentrates on helping these businesses get re-established once the storm passes. Social services: Its important the demands on the so-called safety net are being met. This includes helping those with special needs, the elderly and children in low-income families who need care so their parents can attempt to earn a living. Weve just begun, but already Im greatly encouraged with the enthusiastic response of residents from all over San Antonio and Bexar County eager to lend a hand. Im also very impressed with the dedication and determination of our health care providers and first responders. In the midst of the health emergency, Ive never seen a better opportunity for greater San Antonio to come together for the common good. As we move forward, I ask that you continue to heed the guidance of health professionals, volunteer to help your neighbors in need through entities such as the San Antonio Food Bank and Haven for Hope, and keep the well-being of our community in your prayers. Working and cooperating together, we will survive the COVID-19 storm and get back to living life to the fullest in the city we love. Gordon Hartman is founder and CEO of the Gordon Hartman Family Foundation. Washington, DC - Belief in all powerful supernatural entities that police moral behavior between people has been shown to promote prosocial behavior between co-religionists. But do these effects extend to members of different religious groups? In a new paper, which will appear in print in an upcoming special issue of Social Psychological and Personality Science, Michael Pasek, Jeremy Ginges, and colleagues find that, across religious groups in Fiji and Israel, religious believers see God as encouraging people to treat others in a more universal, or equal, manner. The studies reported in this paper are part of a broader project, led by Ginges and funded by the Templeton Religious Trust and the U.S. National Science Foundation, that investigates the effect of religious belief on relations between different ethno-religious communities. Whether exemplified through the crusades, the Holocaust, or modern persecution of Uyghur Muslims in China, religion is often implicated as a source of intergroup conflict. This leads many to believe that religious diversity makes societies less cohesive. "Contrary to popular opinion, our findings suggest that, at least in some contexts, religious belief can attenuate, as opposed to promote, religious tension," says Pasek. The team, led by researchers at The New School for Social Research and Artis International, conducted three preregistered studies, comprising two field studies with Christians, Hindus, and Muslims in Fiji (727 people total), and one online study with Jewish Israelis (539 people). In every study, people were asked if a passerby should sacrifice his life to save five individuals trapped in a burning house. In one scenario, the trapped people were of the same religion as the passerby. In another scenario, the trapped people were from a different religion than the person passing by. For each scenario, study participants also indicated which action they thought God would prefer. Across studies and religious groups, the researchers found that when participants did not uniformly think that out-group members should be saved, they thought that God would be more likely than them to want an in-group member to sacrifice his life to save out-group members. Moreover, when people showed a preference for saving in-group members more than out-group members, they thought that God would be less likely to endorse such in-group favoritism. Findings replicate and extend a study by Ginges and colleagues from 2016, shedding new light on how people view God's moral preferences. "In our previous research, we found similar beliefs among Muslim Palestinian youth, who thought that Allah would be more likely than them to want an in-group member to save Jewish Israelis. Our current work shows this belief is also held among Christian, Hindu, and Jewish populations," says Ginges. According to Pasek, "this suggests that the potential for religious beliefs to promote intergroup cooperation is not just limited to members of proselytizing religions, like Christianity and Islam." This work also helps to confront an ongoing challenge in psychological research--the overreliance on samples from WEIRD (Western, educated, industrialized, and democratic cultures). As Pasek explains, "A key contribution of our research is that it extends knowledge to understudied populations, like indigenous Christian iTaukei in Fiji, helping psychologists build theories that generalize beyond WEIRD contexts." ### The government said on Monday that 25,500 local workers of Tablighi Jamaat and people who came in contact with them have been quarantined in an effort to rein in the coronavirus pandemic. Last month, the Tablighi Jamaat group had organised a massive congregation at Delhis Nizamuddin area which has now emerged as a Covid-19 epicentre. We have quarantined 25000 local TJ (Tablighi Jamaat) workers as well as people who have come in contact with them. Apart from that, the five villages in Haryana where some of the TJ people had stayed have also been sealed and quarantined, Punya Salila Srivastava, joint secretary in the home ministry said at the daily briefing. Follow coronavirus live updates here. At least 1,445 cases out of a total 4,067 coronavirus cases in the country, have been linked to the Tablighi Jamaat event, the government said. More than 1700 TJ members have been blacklisted so far. So far 2,083 foreign TJ members have been identified out of which 1,750 have been blacklisted. We are hopeful that with such measures we can enforce the lockdown and break the chain of transmission of Covid-19, Srivastava said. Last week, the government cancelled visas of hundreds of Tablighi Jamaat members for their involvement in activities in violation of their visa conditions amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Union home ministry had also directed police chiefs of all States and Union Territories concerned and the 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. A 65-year-old woman on Monday became the first COVID-19 case from Jalna in Marathwada region of Maharashtra, Health officials said. In neighbouring Aurangabad, a frontline medical worker tested positive for the novel coronavirus, taking the total number of such cases in the biggest city in the region to 11 on Monday. The 65-year-old woman from Jalna is a retired teacher residing in Dukhi Nagar and contact tracing was underway to contain the spread of infection, district civil surgeon Dr Madhukar Rathod said. Jalna is the home district of Maharashtra Health Minster Rajesh Tope. "The woman was shifted from a private hospital to district government hospital on April 3 and her report returned positive on Monday. The area where she lives has been sealed off, and fumigated," he said, adding that the woman's daughter had a history of travelling to New Delhi. In Aurangabad, a male nurse was found positive for novel coronavirus after coming into contact with COVID-19 patients admitted in the Government Medical College. "After a male nurse was found positive for coronavirus, we have undertaken screening of doctors and other staff members. We will categorise them in high and low risk groups. The swab of high risk staff will be sent for testing," GMC Dean Dr. Kanan Yelikar told reporters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rochdale MP Tony Lloyd is being cared in hospital after his coronavirus symptoms worsened A veteran Labour MP who served under Jeremy Corbyn and Tony Blair has been admitted to hospital after being struck down with coronavirus. Rochdale's Tony Lloyd, 70, the party's shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland, is being cared for at Manchester Royal Infirmary. Mr Lloyd is believed to be the second serving MP to be admitted to hospital, after Boris Johnson went into St Thomas' in London for tests yesterday. A statement from Mr Lloyd's family said: 'He is stable and responding to the treatment and dedicated care that he is receiving from the brilliant doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff at the hospital.' Mr Lloyd has been the Labour MP for Rochdale since 2017 after serving as MP for Stretford between 1983 and 2012. He has also served as Greater Manchester police and crime commissioner and interim mayor of Greater Manchester. Labour's new leader, Sir Keir Starmer, currently conducting an on-going party re-shuffle since his election on Saturday, tweeted: 'Wishing @tony4rochdale a swift and full recovery from coronavirus. Our thoughts are with him, his family and friends at this difficult time.' A Labour Party spokesman said Mr Lloyd's family will not be issuing any further statements. Manchester-born Mr Lloyd has been a major figure in politics in the North West of England for decades, having also served as the MP for Manchester Central between 1997 and 2012. He is being cared for at Manchester Royal Infirmary - and is in a stable condition, his family has said He served in Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet and was also minister of state in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office under Tony Blair and chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party for four years until 2010. Boris Johnson insisted he is in 'good spirits' in hospital today despite mounting fears over his 'persistent' coronavirus symptoms. The PM thanked 'brilliant' NHS staff after he was dramatically admitted to St Thomas', near Downing Street, last night, with doctors alarmed that his temperature has still not dropped 10 days after his positive diagnosis. Taking to Twitter, the 55-year-old insisted he was undergoing 'routine tests' and was 'still in touch with my team' as the government battles the deadly UK outbreak. But there are warnings from ministers that Mr Johnson has 'risked his health' by keeping up a frantic workrate, while one senior Tory said he must learn he is 'not indispensable' and has to rest. One MP suggested that he was too keen to emulate his hero, Winston Churchill by defying illness. No10 has insisted it was not an emergency admission and the premier remains in control of the government's response, despite staying in hospital with no clear timeframe for being discharged. However, his effective deputy Dominic Raab chaired the daily coronavirus crisis committee meeting this morning, and full Cabinet tomorrow has been postponed. The PM's spokesman refused to say whether there has been a diagnosis of pneumonia, although they dismissed claims emanating from Russia that he is on a ventilator as 'disinformation'. Asked if symptoms are 'mild' - the word previously used to describe them - the spokesman instead said they were 'persistent' and included a 'a temperature and a cough'. Mr Johnson tweeted: 'Last night, on the advice of my doctor, I went into hospital for some routine tests as I'm still experiencing coronavirus symptoms. I'm in good spirits and keeping in touch with my team, as we work together to fight this virus and keep everyone safe. 'I'd like to say thank you to all the brilliant NHS staff taking care of me and others in this difficult time. You are the best of Britain. Stay safe everyone, and please remember to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.' Experts say there is a risk of pneumonia when a temperature lasts more than a week. There have been claims Mr Johnson has been coughing heavily during conference calls. Mr Johnson's spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister was admitted to hospital for tests last night, his symptoms have remained persistent,' the spokesman said. 'He had a comfortable night in St Thomas's Hospital in London and is in good spirits. He remains in hospital under observation.' It emerged at the weekend that Mr Johnson's pregnant partner Carrie Symonds has also been suffering coronavirus, although she is now 'on the mend'. The government's chief medical adviser Chris Whitty has also recovered in a glimmer of good news. Earlier, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said Mr Johnson had been 'working incredibly hard' and said he hoped he would be back in Downing Street soon - but did not rule out him being forced to stay in for longer. Coronavirus claims 3 more pastors; one may have exposed hundreds to disease at funeral Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment At least three more pastors have lost their lives to the new coronavirus in just over a week, leaving more churches across the nation mourning in the fallout from the pandemic. Bishop Timothy Titus Scott, Sr., 88, of St. James Temple Church of God in Christ in Clarksdale, Mississippi; Pastor Alvin Charles McElroy, 79, of Friendship Baptist Church in Riverhead, New York; and Father Gioacchino Basile, 60, a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark, who had been leading Saint Gabriel Church in East Elmhurst, New York City, all died as a result of the coronavirus. Scott, who died last Friday, had been the pastor of St. James Temple Church of God in Christ in Clarksdale since 1972, according to the city of Clarkdale's website. He also served as prelate of the Northern Mississippi Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ and prior to his death was the longest serving Jurisdictional Prelate in the Church Of God In Christ. Bishop T. T. Scott is an icon of fatherly leadership, humble servitude, and unwavering faith, Bishop Robert G. Rudolph, Jr., adjutant general in the Church Of God In Christ, Inc., wrote in a statement on Scotts passing. Both Scott and his wife tested positive for the virus after attending a funeral on March 7, WREG-TV reported. One of the attendees at the funeral from New Orleans had tested positive for the virus. Prior to his diagnosis, Scott may have also unknowingly exposed about 300 people to the virus at a funeral held at his church on March 14, WREG-TV said. Due to restrictions on gatherings due to the ongoing pandemic, COGIC said they will wait until after the restrictions have been lifted to celebrate Scotts life. During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic resulting in local and state restrictions on public gatherings to achieve social distancing, the Terry family will hold a private memorial service for this valiant soldier of the Gospel. When the restrictions are lifted, a date will be set for a Jurisdictional Memorial Service that will appropriately recognize the godly life and notable achievements of Bishop Timothy Titus Scott, Sr, Rudolph wrote. During this time of uncertainty, we request the continued prayers as well as acts of emotional and spiritual support for the family. It is with great honor that the National Adjutancy will assist the Scott family and the Northern Mississippi Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction during this most difficult time. Friendship Baptist Church member Bonnie Cannon told the Riverhead News-Review that Pastor McElroy, who died at the Peconic Bay Medical Center on March 26 after contracting the coronavirus, was a leader who practiced what he preached. Hed pour into you things that would help you live from week to week. How to have peace and joy even if youre in a circumstance others would see as a bad situation. He wasnt just preaching it, he lived it, she said. His wife, the Rev. Maryanne McElroy, remembered her husband as a man who loved his community. He was well-grounded, she recalled. He was very community minded. Most people just think a pastor shows up to preach on Sunday. Its much more than that. Father Basile, whose death was announced by church officials on Saturday, is the second priest from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn to die from the coronavirus in a week, the New York Post reported. A week earlier, Father Jorge Ortiz-Garay, 49, who served at St. Brigids Church in Wyckoff Heights, died from the virus. "Father Gioacchino Basile, a native of Calabria, Italy who died today, was small in stature, but mighty in energy for the Lord. Unfortunately, Father's underlying health conditions made it difficult for him to fight the virus. In addition to English and Italian, Father spoke Spanish fluently and ministered well to all of the people of his parish and the faithful of the Diocese in Brooklyn and Queens," said the Most Rev. Nicholas DiMarzio, bishop of Brooklyn. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- While schools are closed across the United States due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the College Board released the testing schedule for Advanced Placement (AP) exams that will now be administered online and shortened to 45 minutes. The College Board announced its traditional face-to-face exam administrations, which are usually two to three hours long, will instead be 45-minute exams given online from May 11-22. Makeup test dates will be available for each subject from June 1-5. Each subjects exam will be taken on the same day at the same time worldwide. Students can take the exams at home or in schools if they reopen. For most subjects, the exams will be 45 minutes long, plus an additional 5 minutes for uploading. Students will need to access the online testing system 30 minutes early before an exam begins to set up. Most exams will have one or two free-response questions with each question timed separately, and students will need to write and submit responses within the allotted time for each question. Students can take exams on any device they have access to, including a computer, tablet, or smartphone. They can type and upload their responses or write responses by hand and submit a photo via their cell phones. Certain courses -- Art and Design: 2D; Art and Design: 3D; Computer Science Principles; Drawing; Research; and Seminar -- will use portfolio submissions and wont have a separate online exam. All deadlines for these submissions have been extended to May 26 at 11:59 p.m. Students taking world language and culture exams will complete two spoken tasks consistent with free-response questions 3 and 4 on the current AP exam. Written responses wont be required. Additional details about these exams will be shared in the coming weeks. *** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK *** Student work will continue to be scored on a 1-5 scale. The College Board said it anticipates releasing scores as close to the usual July timeframe as possible. And students dont have to worry about colleges not accepting their scores. According to the College Board, colleges are supporting this solution and are committed to ensuring that AP students receive the credit they worked hard to earn. The College Board will release tips for testing on specific devices later this month. Students who need devices or internet connectivity can contact College Board directly by April 24. The at-home testing options will provide more than 3 million students worldwide the opportunity to earn the college credit and placement that have been working toward all school year. The College Board surveyed 18,000 AP students, and 91% indicated they wanted to take the exam. We surveyed thousands of students from all over the country, and they overwhelmingly want to test, said Trevor Packer, senior vice president of AP & Instruction, in a statement. We want to give every student the chance to earn the college credit theyve worked toward throughout the year. Thats why we quickly set up a process thats simple, secure, and accessible. Heres a look at the full exam schedule in Eastern time. May 11 Noon -- Physics C: Mechanics 2 p.m. -- Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism 4 p.m. -- United States Government and Politics May 12 Noon -- Latin 2 p.m. -- Calculus AB; and Calculus BC 4 p.m. -- Human Geography May 13 Noon -- Physics 2: Algebra-Based 2 p.m. -- English Literature and Composition 4 p.m. -- European History May 14 Noon -- Spanish Literature and Culture 2 p.m. -- Chemistry 4 p.m. -- Physics 1: Algebra-Based May 15 Noon -- Art History 2 p.m. -- United States History 4 p.m. -- Computer Science A May 18 Noon -- Chinese Language and Culture 2 p.m. -- Biology 4 p.m. -- Environmental Science May 19 Noon -- Music Theory 2 p.m. -- Psychology 4 p.m. -- Japanese Language and Culture; and Italian Language and Culture May 20 Noon -- German Language and Culture 2 p.m. -- English Language and Composition 4 p.m. -- Microeconomics May 21 Noon -- French Language and Culture 2 p.m. -- World History: Modern 4 p.m. -- Macroeconomics May 22 Noon -- Comparative Government and Politics 2 p.m. -- Statistics 4 p.m. -- Spanish Language and Culture 42 NYC on pause: A month into the battle against deadly coronavirus SAT, ACT TEST CANCELLATIONS College entrance exams are being canceled or rescheduled. The College Board announced it is canceling the May 2 SAT administration, as well a make-up exam scheduled for March 28. Students who already registered for the May exam, whose March test centers were closed, or who dont receive March scores because of any irregularities will receive refunds, the College Board said. The ACT, which also administers college placement exams, announced it has rescheduled the April 4 national ACT test to June 13 in response to concerns of coronavirus. All students currently registered for the April 4 exam will receive an email from ACT in the coming days informing them of the postponement and instructions for free rescheduling to June 13 or a future national test date. Students who cant or dont want to reschedule can receive a refund of their April registration fee. Sign up for text message alerts from SILive.com on coronavirus: RELATED COVERAGE: NYC schools can no longer use Zoom for remote learning CUNY shortens spring recess at all schools, including CSI St. Johns University cancels commencement exercises Uplifting video shows teachers dancing for their students Remote learning a juggling act for those teachers with kids at home Staten Island school principal tests positive for coronavirus New York Public Library: Free virtual tutoring, read-alouds and more College of Staten Island vacates dorms; may be used as medical facilities DoorDash will deliver meals to medically fragile NYC kids Will first responder child care centers offer special ed services? Staten Island parents on remote learning: Teacher, school support amazing' FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. CAIRO Islamic Cairo includes roughly 800 Islamic monuments, including mosques, hammams, water fountains and schools, each reflecting the architectural styles of every Islamic era in Egypt, beginning with the Muslim conquest by Amr ibn al-As (693-642) in the seventh century. In recognition of this heritage, the Islamic World Organization for Education, Science and Culture (ISESCO) selected Cairo as the capital of Islamic culture 2020 last year. If it had not been for the outbreak of the coronavirus that restricted public events, April 5 would have been the first day of a whirlwind of festivals, cultural events and tours that would have put in the spotlight the archaeological and historical heritage of the Egyptian capital. Director of the Historic Cairo Development Project Mahmoud Abdel Basset told Al-Monitor that the program, though postponed, aimed to celebrate the citys heritage in a number of ways. He said, Six commemorative medals will be issued for the first time on Islamic Cairo, and each medal will illustrate an architectural symbol from one of the Islamic eras that ruled Egypt, including the Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan, Al-Azhar Mosque and the Mosque of Ibn Tulun. The program would highlight the role of the water carriers as a profession that has symbolized the history of Cairo. Tours of the monuments, photography exhibitions and art contests would also be included in the program. Cairo has been host to different dynasties and civilizations that have all built their own monuments throughout the centuries, archaeologist Youssef Osama told Al-Monitor. After the Muslim conquest in the seventh century, the Tulunids (868-905), the Ikhshidid Dynasty (935-969), the Fatimid Caliphate (969-1171) and the Ayyubid Dynasty (1171-1250) briefly ruled Egypt, until the Mamluk Sultanate that lasted several centuries (1171-1517). Then the Ottoman Empire (1517-1805) took over, followed by the dynasty established by Muhammad Ali Pasha, the Ottoman viceroy often accredited with founding modern Egypt. The monuments built by the Islamic civilizations fall under three categories. There are religious buildings such as mosques, shrines and schools; military buildings such as towers and castles; and civil buildings such as palaces and 'bimaristans' [Persian for hospitals], all of which were renovated over the years. They have all been ornamented with different Islamic decorative arts, either during construction or in subsequent renovations with Islamic designs, Osama said. Of all these, mosques which are currently closed following the coronavirus outbreak have played a major role in showcasing Islamic decorative arts and architecture of the different periods, he noted. The architectural heritage of Islamic Cairo is unparalleled in the Islamic world some of the streets, lined with monuments on both sides, are like open-air museums, Osama said, citing as an example Al-Muizz li-Din Allah al-Fatimi Street, which attracts visitors who want to learn more about its history and the history of its construction. Mukhtar al-Kasbani, an Islamic and Coptic archaeology professor, told Al-Monitor that a mosque represents the architecture of the era it was built in. The Mosque of Amr ibn al-As, the first mosque built in Egypt in 642 is located in the Ancient Egypt region south of Cairo, and its shape has changed over the years until it became what it is now. The design comprises a large open 'sahn' [courtyard] surrounded by four corridors, the largest of which is the Qibla [the direction of the Kaaba] corridor. A dome in the center of the courtyard is supported by eight marble columns, while the minaret has a conical top, he said. He added, During the Tulunid era there was none other than the Mosque of Ahmed Ibn Tulun, which bore the name of its owner, and was built between 877 and 879, located in the Sayyida Zeinab neighborhood in the southern region of Cairo. The mosque is made up of an open courtyard with four corridors around it. The minaret is isolated from the mosques walls and an outer staircase surrounds it. It has plenty of murals and frescoes. Kasbani added, The elements of architecture in mosques evolved and became more diverse during the Fatimid era, which is reflected in the Aqmar Mosque, whose construction was ordered by Fatimid Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah in 1125 in al-Gamaliya area in southern Cairo. Much like previous mosques, it has a sahn and four corridors. The entrance, however, stood out from other walls, which were decorated with ornate Kufic inscriptions [one of the most ancient forms of Islamic calligraphy], as well as stellar and muqarnas motifs were used to decorate the mosque's facade, and the minaret returned to be part of the mosque's walls. Kasbani noted that the madrasas, or Islamic religious schools, came much later in Egypt's architectural history, with the Ayyubid and Mamluk eras. The best example of that period is the Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan, which was built by Sultan al-Nasir Hasan between 1356 and 1363 in al-Khalifa neighborhood in southern Cairo. It is the most luxurious in terms of Islamic architecture. The entrance door is as high as the walls, decorated with many inscriptions and geometric and muqarnas motifs. The Wall to the Qibla is decorated with ornate Kufic inscriptions, he explained. After 1517, the Ottoman Empires architectural styles were adopted and the trend remained when Ottoman viceroy Muhammad Ali established his own dynasty. This is why the Citadel of Salah al-Din in Cairo has two similarily built mosques, the first of which is the Sulayman Pasha al-Khadem Mosque and the other is the more famous Great Mosque of Muhammad Ali, whose construction was ordered by Muhammed Ali in 1830. The mosques design represents a rectangle divided into two equal squares. The first is an open sahn with a lamp in the middle, and the other is topped in the center by a large dome and surrounded by semi-domes. Both inside and outside walls are covered with alabaster-colored marble and the mosque has two slender minarets, he said. Raafat al-Nabarawi, former dean of the Faculty of Archaeology at Cairo University and professor of Islamic Archaeology, told Al-Monitor, Cairo is one of the Islamic worlds most important beacons given what it had to offer Islam and Muslims for many years, through its scientific institutions such as Al-Azhar, the Mosque of Ibn Tulun and Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan, not to mention the scientific missions abroad to introduce Islam and its civilization and culture in the West. A 19th-century journalism fad made the abbreviation central to our lingo OK, that most American of words, started as an inside joke shared by journalists and their readers in the mid-1800s. Like modern social media users hip to lol and omg, in the 1830s readers of Boston newspapers congratulated themselves on recognizing the meaning o.f.m. (our first men, meaning notable local figures), s.p. (small potatoesof no consequence), n.g. (no go), and other facetious abbreviations. Editors salted copy with these and other examples of shorthand as a lighthearted way to liven up pages of dense text often unrelieved by illustrations. Unlike todays papers, which strive for broad news coverage and a neutral tone, 19th-century newspapers mostly were written by a publications editor, idiosyncratically reflecting his personality. Layouts jumbled fact and opinionfinancial news, lurid crime stories, political commentary, short poems, reports on trends, and whatever else the editor felt like covering, often with a personal style that incorporated frivolous abbreviations. Charles Gordon Greene, editor of the Boston Morning Post, was among the heaviest users of abbreviations, and may have instigated the fad. Abbreviations often appeared in political contexts, as in a June 26, 1838, Post item: The proceedings were entered on the journal of the House, and reported with great pomposity in the whig papers. S.P. (small potatoes). Shorthand popped up in non-political articles. Holman prepares the m.j.s [mint juleps] to perfection, reported a Morning Post story of June 18, 1838. The June 27 edition includes the advice, All of o.f.m. [our first men] should make frequent pilgrimages to the o.b.s. [Old Boston Stone, an ice cream parlor] in this hot weather. Several months into the abbreviations craze, a subspecies of initials started to appear. These represented deliberate misspellings meant to suggest characters speaking in dialect. Popular misspellings converted into abbreviations included o.w. for oll wright (all right), k.y. for know yuse (no use), k.g. for know go (no go), n.s. for `nuff said (enough said), and o.d.v. for oll done vith (all done with). OK fit into this category. The letters stood for oll korrect (all correct). The first appearance of o.k. occurs in a teasing exchange between Boston Morning Post editor Greene and his counterpart at the Providence, Rhode Island, Daily Journal. The back-and-forth concerns a non-existent organization, the Anti-Bell Ringing Society, on whose fictional farcical doings the Post frequently reported. On March 20, 1839, the Daily Journal editor comments, Quite an excitement was caused here yesterday by a report in the Boston Post that a deputation from the A.B.R.S. would pass through the city on their way to New York. However, he continues, The report proved unfounded. The next day Greene, the Post editor, replies, We said not a word about passing through the city of Providence. He adds that the A.B.R.S. might pass through on its return journey, however. He suggests that the Journal editor should treat Society members to a drink, or in his words, have the contribution box, et ceteras, o.k.all correctand cause the corks to fly, like sparks, upward. After that debut, OK began to show up frequently in newspaper copy, first in stories on light topics, then in more serious material. A recommendation for a new hotel, the New England House, says, [the] establishment will be found to be A No. Onethat is, O.K.all correct. The letters became familiar enough that they began to run without the explanatory all correct. An article about Wall Street lingo has a trader saying, Yesthats goodO.K. A report on the establishment of a benevolent fund for the widow and children of a recently deceased actor includes the sentence, The net proceeds was upward of $1,200, O.K. Soon, OK was being read and heard around the country. OK and similar abbreviations caught on because early 19th-century Americans loved wordplay and absurd linguistic inventions. Coinages like bumfuzzled (confused), exflunctified (worn out), and absquatulate (to leave quickly) were popular, appearing not only in newspapers and magazines but sometimes heard on the floor of CongressRepresentative William Wick (Democrat-Indiana) declared in a July 21, 1840, speech, The administration is teetotaciously exflunctified. The 1830s were also the heyday of backwoodsman-turned-politician Davy Crockett, who as a representative from Tennessee was famous for stump speeches that included folksy frontier expressions like bark up the wrong tree and go the whole hog. Most abbreviations disappeared by the 1840s as the wordplay fad faded. OK likely would have disappeared as well but for coincidence. The Democratic candidate for president in 1840 was incumbent Martin Van Buren, nicknamed Old Kinderhook, a reference to his birth in Kinderhook, New York. A campaign operative saw an opening for catchy slogans like Old Kinderhook is O.K.! Democratic O.K. Clubs were born and Van Buren supporters at rallies waved banners reading O.K. In the end, Old Kinderhook was not OK. He lost to Whig William Henry Harrison. By then, OK was here to stay. Americans embraced this simple way to express agreement or approval. By the mid-1800s, typesetters and letter writers often dropped the periods, and by 1900 the word sometimes was being spelled okay, making it look more like a typical English word. The noun okay, as in to give the okay, began appearing in print in the 1840s, while the adjectival forman okay timewas current by the 1870s. The transitive verb to okay came in about a decade later, and the 20th century gave us okey-dokey and A-OK. OK is such a handy expression that speakers of languages around the world have adopted it. An expression that started as a joke has turned into one of Americas most popular exports. _____ Uh huh, yeah, yep American English has long featured slang terms to express affirmation. One of the earliest is uh huh. British author Frederick Marryat notes in his 1839 Diary in America, There are two syllablesum, huwhich are very generally used by the Americans as a sort of reply to express dissent or assent. The exact origins of uh huh are unclear; some linguists have suggested that it may come from African-American speech. The language has included several snappy variations on yes for a while. Yessirree and yessirree-bob debuted in print in the 1840s, you bet had achieved currency by 1866, and yep was in use by 1891along with nope. Yeah appeared on the scene at the beginning of the 20th century. The OK of today Several social media abbreviations have made it into the Oxford English Dictionary, suggesting that, like OK, they might permanently join the vocabulary. These include lol (laughing out loud); omg (omigod); imho (in my humble opinion); btw (by the way); and tmi (too much information). Most were being mentioned in print sources such as magazines by the early 1980s. The United States currently faces an unprecedented crisis caused by the international pandemic. The nation has the largest number of COVID-19 cases in the world and the numbers are rising exponentially. Many governors have led the offensive against the novel coronavirus in their own states, including notably Californias Gavin Newsom, Ohios Mike DeWine, New Yorks Andrew Cuomo and Marylands Larry Hogan. They have pulled out all the stops acquiring protective gear for medical workers, purchasing ventilators for patients and ordering strict shelter-in-place measures to slow the spread of the virus. But the virus is not attacking one state at a time. Scarce resources, which are common during pandemics and crises of this magnitude, have challenged coordination efforts and increased competition. Its a problem the nations founders could have foreseen. After all, they knew from experience that some problems cant be dealt with on a state-by-state basis. During the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress had passed a new governing document called the Articles of Confederation. After declaring independence from the British monarchy, the congressmen were fearful of strong central governments and they overcorrected a bit. Under their new system, Congress had little authority to coordinate the states diplomatic, military or economic efforts. Congress could pass requisitions, which were basically requests for money from the states. They had no power to enforce compliance, however, so the states frequently ignored the appeals from Congress. Furthermore, the states frequently competed with each other for land, passed taxes that harmed each other and pursued conflicting diplomatic agendas. For example, states in New England prioritized a trade agreement with Great Britain because they wanted to sell their timber and fish to the British Navy. On the other hand, western regions demanded a treaty with Spain that would open the Mississippi River and the Port of New Orleans to American merchants. By 1787, the economy was in shambles and sectional leaders were threatening secession. Story continues Get your history fix in one place: sign up for the weekly TIME History newsletter On September 17, 1787, President George Washington sent a letter to the President of Congress and attached the proposed constitution, which the delegates to the Constitution Convention had spent the last four months debating, looking to replace the Articles of Confederation. In his note, Washington argued that the Difference among the several States as to their Situation Extent Habits and particular Interests had caused significant challenges under the Articles of Confederation. He praised the attached constitution for providing the necessary central authority to provide for the Interest and Safety of all states. While the delegates didnt understand modern medicine and they could have never predicted COVID-19, this health threat was the exact type of national crisis they anticipated. The new federal government created by the Constitution solved many of these issues by creating a strong central authority. Congress acquired the power to levy taxes, the President and his representatives were tasked with negotiating foreign policy on behalf of all states, and states were prohibited from implementing trade policies that undercut each other. Most importantly, the Constitution granted the federal government broad authority in times of crisis, permitting Congress to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper to carry out its responsibilities. Washington didnt hesitate to use that newly created power when faced with a crisis. In 1794, rebels in western Pennsylvania refused to pay excise taxes on distilled whiskey and burned down the house of the local tax official. After attempts at peaceful negotiation failed, Washington ordered militias from Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland to subdue the rebellion. After eight years in office as the first President of the United States, Washington announced his intention to retire. In his Farewell Address to the American people, he encouraged his fellow citizens to properly estimate the immense value of your national union to your collective and individual happiness. He urged them to reject every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts. That advice is needed now more than ever. We must encourage our public officials to work together, applaud their efforts to help each and contribute in whatever small ways we can. But the founders were right: some crises cant be dealt with on a state-by-state basis. As cases of COVID-19 explode throughout the world, its clear that viruses dont care about borders. The only way to combat the virus is to implement a coordinated, national response, and it is only together that well be able to start the healing process. HUP Lindsay M. Chervinsky is a historian at the White House Historical Association. Her book, The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution, will be published by Harvard University Press on April 7. City Police have filed cases against 10 Indonesian nationals for violating Foreigners Act and have confiscated their passports on Monday. Ten Indonesians had come on tourist visa, but had been carrying out religious activities. They had attended religious gathering of Tablighi Jamaat at New Delhi and had later come to the city. They have been quarantined in a mosque here. Cases were booked against them for violating the Foreigners Act, Police Commissioner B S Lokesh Kumar informed DH. Mal-Maruti police filed cases against them. The supplier claims they only need an EU certificate to sell them. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled 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. It is possible to buy rapid coronavirus tests online. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement While the State Institute for Drug Control (SUKL) knows nothing about the e-shop, the supplier, Recept Zvolen, claims they can sell them. The tests from a Chinese producer have been approved by the EU and it is not necessary to list them in SUKLs database of medical aids, the Sme daily reported. We have a CE certificate from the EU, and since were living in hard times, we put the test on the market, Jozef Beno, an authorised representative of the company operating pharmacies in Banska Stiavnica and Kremnica (both in Banska Bystrica Region), told Sme. SUKL confirmed the EU certificate is enough; they do not need to have them in their database to sell them. Made in China The tests reliability is 90 percent. They are similar to the ones purchased by the Peter Pellegrini government, which have been criticised by the incumbent PM Igor Matovic (OLaNO). They measure the amount of antibodies in a person's blood by using colloid gold, i.e. a solution with gold nanoparticles. The person pricks a finger, takes blood with a pipette and drops it on a small testing desk. They then add the solution, which reveals whether the blood contains the antibodies present when a person suffers from the coronavirus. SUKL recommendations The package should contain information about the producer or an authorised representative. The product should have the CE certificate and a name in the Slovak language. It should contain instructions in the Slovak language. People should approach the self-testing carefully. The results need to be confirmed by an official coronavirus test. SUKL is ready to check the sale of home tests. The test result needs to be confirmed by the direct coronavirus test though, the Chinese producer said. The tests were purchased from a Chinese company, whose name Beno refused to reveal. Its a renowned Chinese company that has been dealing with the production of tests for years, Beno said, as quoted by Sme. We dont want to publish our know-how though. The tests can be purchased via Recept Zvolens website. SUKL recommends checking the product SUKL has already said that similar tests may appear on the internet. Some similar to the ones offered by Recept Zvolen have been offered via various online ads. The institute recommends that people check the basic parameters, such as whether there is confirmation that the producer or a company is authorised to sell it in Slovakia on the package. The product should also have the CE certificate, which means that it can be sold on the EU territory. Some home tests are also promoted by the Alza eshop, but they are not sold yet. The seller is checking the tests developed by the Chinese Superbio Biomedical company and is trying to quickly obtain permission to put it on the market, Sme reported. Your dogs may be the last ones to fully grasp the concept of social distancing. In this crazy time, where a little love from a pet can go a long way, dog owners probably wouldn't have it any other way. But with the daily onslaught of new information about the novel coronavirusincluding reports that two dogs in Hong Kong tested positive for the virusdog owners might be wondering if their four-legged friends are also at risk. Can dogs get COVID-19? Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not received any reports of dogs or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19 in the United States. While the situation is still being evaluated, all major health organizations, including the CDC and the World Health Organization, have stated that there is no evidence at present that companion animals, including pets, can spread COVID-19 or that they might be a source of infection in the United States. There is no evidence that dogs have infected any people, says Dr. William Karesh, a wildlife vet and executive vice president for health and policy for EcoHealth Alliance in New York. It would be prudent, though, not to let dogs lick infected people, and dogs in households with infected people should also maintain social distance from other dogs and people, just as the human members of the household are urged to do. Here are some other points to keep in mind to help your pet keep living its best quarantine life. How to protect your pup Keeping healthy and virus-free should extend to your pets, too. So practice good hygiene when handling your dog. That means no kissing! The American Veterinarian Medical Association recommends washing your hands before and after interacting with a pet; keeping the pet well-groomed; and regularly cleaning the pets food and water bowls, bedding material, and toys. The CDC and AVMA advise those already sick with COVID-19 to limit contact with animals out of an abundance of caution, until more is known about the virus. They recommend having another person in the household care for the pets or, if thats not possible, continuing to practice good hygiene when interacting with pets and wear a face mask. Respiratory illness and your dog Even if your dogs can't get COVID-19, they could come down with another kind of respiratory disease, although their symptoms might be different from anything humans might experience. If your dog has respiratory disease, it will most likely be due to a number of common viral and bacterial diseases in dogs. Owners should contact their veterinarian to discuss the case and decide on a treatment plan, says Karesh. So, can dogs catch the coronavirus? A definitive answer might be near. IDEXX Laboratories, a global network of more than 80 diagnostic labs, recently announced it has been testing animals for the SARS-CoV-2 virus (the virus that causes COVID-19). To date, the company has analyzed more than 4,500 cat and dog samples and found no cases of the virus. We wanted to make the public aware that if there becomes a medical need and/or clinically relevant reason pets should be tested for the virus, there is an accurate option that could be made available, says Dr. Jim Blacka, a veterinarian with IDEXXs Companion Animal Commercial Business. Maintain essential vet visits While pets are currently presumed not to be at risk of contracting or transmitting COVID-19, that doesn't mean they won't have other health issues. Vets have been deemed as providing essential services, and many offer telemedicine and the occasional house visit. Best Friends Animal Society is offering free veterinary consultations to those unable to leave their house due to the quarantine or to safety concerns, through the Best Friends Vet Access app for your phone or tablet. The app allows users to connect with a licensed veterinarian by phone or video call. You can also text a vet with quick questions. The app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, and is free for 30 days with the code BFHELPS. Users will have to enter a credit card number. However, if they delete the account before the 30 days expires, they will not be charged the $12.99 monthly fee. The post Can Dogs Get COVID-19? A Reality Check for Pet Parents appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. As police scale up operations aimed at curbing coronavirus spread, groups raise fears over possible breach of conduct. Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Off the open-air market in Bulawayo, Zimbabwes second city, armed soldiers and police controlled a modest queue of vegetable traders, scuttling people away as soon as they make their purchase. On a normal day, the marketplace would be a bustling hive of activity. But on Monday, as Zimbabwe entered its second week of a 21-day lockdown aimed at mitigating the spread of the new coronavirus, activity was sharply reduced. Standing near a neglected mass of open-air empty stalls covered in black sheeting is Mary Gumbo. The 69-year-old usually sells tomatoes here, but now she has to bundle her wares for resale in her neighbourhood. She complains the tight security and transport controls have reduced her earnings. I had to get off the bus and walk to get into town because I didnt have a letter to explain why I was coming to the market. Ive bought a crate to resell at home, but I need to quickly search for a box and get out of here before the police come back and take my things, Gumbo said. Theyve already told me to leave, she added, before trying to negotiate with a two-wheeled cart driver to reduce the fare to carry her goods. But with no loitering allowed, Gumbo did not have much time. Police arrest a man for loitering at the market in Bulawayo [Tendai Marima/Al Jazeera] According to police records, nearly 2,000 people were arrested during the first week for defying lockdown laws across Zimbabwe. Scores of people have been rounded up and crammed into police trucks to be held at Bulawayos central police station. Since President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday appealed to the security services to ensure [the] pathway of food supply and for agricultural trade to continue undisturbed, trading controls have slightly eased. However, the increased security measures to ensure the public comply with lockdown laws risks stoking tensions between the police and an urban populace already buckling under the weight of Zimbabwes complex and long-standing economic problems. And some struggling vendors like 38-year-old Precious Mutasa who survive on their day-to-day earnings, it is uncertain whether Zimbabweans can maintain the lockdown for another two weeks with limited financial means, prolonged water rationing and food shortages. Police round-up people for being unable to explain why they dont have written permits to be in the city centre during Zimbabwes COVID-19 lockdown [Tendai Marima/Al Jazeera] Meanwhile, human rights groups say they fear police are abusing their mandate to make people stay at home as they scale up operations across the country. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), an NGO, said they have received individual complaints alleging police harassment, while videos circulating on social media show security forces in various cities assaulting civilians and disposing of fresh food produce. Roselyn Hanzi, executive director of ZLHR, said the NGO has issued a letter to the police expressing concern about their conduct during the 21-day lockdown. The constitution is very clear that some rights must be limited during this time that the government is undertaking an emergency public health measure, she told Al Jazeera. However, some rights are not limited no matter the circumstance, police cannot subject people to cruel and degrading treatment or torture and they must respect the right to life. Paul Nyathi, assistant police commissioner, denied that the police are in breach of human rights laws and urged the public to cooperate with law enforcement officers. We are saying people should just comply, there is no need for people to play with their health. There is no need for the people to disregard measures that have been put by the government so that the nation will be able to contain COVID-19, Nyathi said, referring to the highly infectious respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus. Businesspeople and government officials look at a sample bed for Ekusileni Hospital, an unused private medical facility in Bulawayo that is set to be turned into a COVID-19 testing and treatment centre [Tendai Marima/Al Jazeera] While municipal workers continue to clean up Zimbabwes empty cities and the first steps towards mass disinfection of public areas and busses take place in the capital, Harare, questions still loom over the countrys preparedness for a full-blown COVID-19 outbreak. So far, Zimbabwe has registered nine cases and one death. Some medics complain of the lack of preparedness and accuse the government of underplaying the numbers of those infected, a charge the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare strongly denies. However, Health Minister Obadiah Moyo has said the discovery of faulty test kits has slowed down the testing process. We received some kits which we are not using because we found that they were defective. We are therefore waiting to receive definitive testing kits because some of the rapid results testing kits we have give defective results, he told the Daily News. Currently, the blood samples of those showing symptoms associated with COVID-19 are sent to Harare. In the event of a confirmed case requiring hospitalisation anywhere outside of the capital, a patient will have to be transferred there for treatment, according to July Moyo, the minister of local government and public works. Hospitals in other cities identified as potential treatment centres are still being equipped and undergoing major renovations. Follow Tendai Marima on Twitter and Instagram @i_amten Kabul, Afghanistan When 55-year-old Khairullah from a village in Afghanistans northern Jawzjan province was invited to join a meeting after Friday prayers on March 27, he was not prepared for what he witnessed. Despite the unusually cold spring weather, Khairullah, who asked for his name to be changed, and his neighbours were welcomed by Taliban fighters holding their AK-47s and dressed in complete medical PPE (personal protective equipment) for a workshop on the prevention of the coronavirus. Its been about a week since the Taliban has been conducting such awareness campaigns here. They are asking people to use masks and gloves, talking about washing hands with soap, those kinds of things, Khairullah told Al Jazeera, in a phone call from his village in the Taliban-controlled Darzaab district. They have cancelled all public gatherings, weddings and have asked people to pray at home instead of the mosques, he added. While Afghanistan has fewer than 400 confirmed cases of coronavirus, there are worries of an outbreak of the deadly virus in a country already facing years of conflict, displacement and poverty. We were directed by our health commission to hold public awareness campaigns, which we have undertaken in areas we control. We are also distributing pamphlets with advice on prevention of coronavirus in these districts, Qari Khalid Hijran, who described himself as the Talibans newly-appointed director of public health of the Baghlan province, told Al Jazeera. Government welcomes move 200122194509687 As surreal as it was for many Afghans, the Talibans initiative was welcomed by the countrys Ministry of Public Health. We noticed photos circulating on social media that show the Talibans campaign, and regardless of their intention, we appreciate the cooperation from anyone or any group that supports the fight against coronavirus, Wahidullah Mayar, adviser to the Ministry of Public Health, told Al Jazeera. Visuals shared by Khairullah and the Taliban of the coronavirus workshops show men dressed in white medical gear and masks, holding disinfectant sprays as well as heavy weapons, as they gather around large posters of instructions on avoiding the coronavirus. The Taliban flag and insignia were also visible in some of those photos. The printed material, issued by the Talibans General Commission for Public Health, listed precautions that people should take, including regular prayers, eating halal as well as medical advice. We also provided villagers a list of vegetables that contain high amounts of vitamin C to boost immunity, Hijran said. While there are concerns over the Talibans health commission providing information that meets medical standards, Mayar said his ministry was also running simultaneous campaigns in all provinces. We provide healthcare services in all provinces through trained health workers and 26 partner NGOs, even in Taliban areas. So there are professional medical workers that Afghans can turn to, he said. Safe passage to health workers The Taliban has also offered safe passage to health workers and international organisations working to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Afghanistan. We are willing to allow and support government health workers or NGOs who can help the villagers in our areas. All they have to do is ask for our permission before coming so we can assess them, and we will let them work here, said Hijran, adding that they were ready to accept any help for the sake of people. Only last year, the Taliban had banned operations by the World Health Organization and the Red Cross in areas it controlled, citing suspicious activities. It later partially lifted the Red Cross ban. Many Afghans also hope that the Taliban takes this opportunity to act on a United Nations call for a ceasefire in all conflict zones, due to the pandemic. The Taliban mentioned that if there is a [COVID-19] positive case, it will impose a ceasefire in that region. I ask them on behalf of the ministry to call for a ceasefire in the whole country, said Mayar. Let us fight this disease together instead of fighting each other. However, despite its public service campaign, the Taliban continues to attack Afghan forces, often claiming civilian lives. A recent peace deal signed with the United States to end the 18-year war amid hopes for negotiations with the Afghan government have done little to prevent those attacks. They coronavirus hasnt affected the conflict much. There is still fighting in many areas, and unless the fighting stops, the doctors and health teams cant openly work in these areas, Khairullah said. Taliban quarantines virus suspects Khairullah added that resources in his village were thinly stretched amid the pandemic. 200405185652146 There is only one health centre in our district with 10 beds and a few health workers. Medicine supplies are low and I heard that the Taliban has also requested government officials to bring more medicines, he told Al Jazeera. While the Taliban may not have stopped fighting, the group says it has taken the coronavirus threat seriously by moving its fighters from the battlefields for the COVID-19 campaign. The group has enforced lockdowns in affected areas and even quarantined those suspected of having the virus, especially Afghan refugees returning from Iran, the worst-hit Middle East country. About two weeks ago, they quarantined two villagers who had returned from Iran. They were not allowed to leave their homes and were later tested, said Khairullah. In some northern provinces, the Taliban even detained returnees from Iran who had escaped government quarantine facilities. About two million Afghan refugees live in Iran, with thousands among them being deported to the shared western border in Herat province, making it the epicentre of Afghanistans coronavirus outbreak. Of the nearly 400 cases in Afghanistan, more than 200 are from Herat alone, with seven deaths so far. Hijran confirmed to Al Jazeera that the Taliban was quarantining and even testing Afghan citizens. We have health centres in our areas in Baghlan, we have two centres. We check returnees in these health centres and even if they test negative, we lock them in homes for 20 days, he said, adding that the group had conducted 135 tests in Baghlan province so far. Testing kits available Hijran also said the Taliban had COVID-19 testing kits, a shortage of which has been a matter of concern for Afghan health workers and organisations. Fewer tests have made it difficult for the Afghan government to address the magnitude of the pandemic. We were provided 950 kits for Baghlan province from the Taliban health commission, Hijran said, without revealing who provided the kits to the group. For civilians like Khairullah though, the Talibans health initiatives, limited as they might be, provided a much-needed assurance to the people amid the crisis. This virus threatens all of us, whether Taliban or civilians or government, he said. Ellen Pompeo's 5-year-old daughter, Sienna May, has had it with her little brother Eli. In an adorable video the "Grey's Anatomy" star shared to Instagram over the weekend, Sienna May tells her mom that 3-year-old Eli has been "testing" her patience while the family quarantines together during the coronavirus pandemic. The video shows the precocious little girl who looks adorable with her mop of curly hair and sweet rainbow T-shirt calmly telling her mom that Eli is "so annoying." "He keeps testing me," Sienna May explains, sounding as rational as an adult. "Who keeps testing you?" Pompeo asks offscreen. Celebrities At The Los Angeles Clippers Game (Allen Berezovsky / Getty Images) "Eli. He keeps testing me," replies Sienna May. "Even when I was 4, he keeps testing me. Even now I'm 5, he was still testing me. So, every day, he tests me." "What should we do about it?" Pompeo asks her little girl. "We should separate," says Sienna May, to her mom's approval. Pompeo captioned the cute video, "Social distancing 101 from Sienna May #micdrop." The actress' fans headed to the comment section to gush over her daughter. "She is my new favorite. Forever," one wrote. "How can someone be so adorable?" asked another. Pompeo, who's played Dr. Meredith Gray since 2005, shares Sienna May, Eli and their big sister Stella Luna, 10, with her husband, music producer Chris Ivery. The couple tied the knot in 2007. Here's hoping we see more of Sienna May and her siblings soon! The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals today condemned the move by the Federal Government to invite Chinese medical doctors in to Nigeria. NUAHP President, Dr. Ogbonna Chimela Obinna and General Secretary, Comrade. Egbanubi Martin Adekunle in a press statement said the health professional in Nigeria are qualified and capable to deal with covid19. The union advised the government to put the plan on hold given the controversies surrounding China's involvement in the covid-19. According to the statement, "Have they found the cure? What experience are they coming to impact that our health care Professionals have not been using". "We handled bird flu, lassa fever, Ebola diseases ourselves without the invitation of any foreign based experts. "It's not even ideal now that the entire world is suspecting China in the complexities of this covid-19." "How are we sure that these Chinese doctors are not coming in with the muted strain of the coronavirus which may be genetically more harmful to the black race." The union advice the federal government to tread softly on this matter because of its sensitive nature. Laurent Levan, president and general director of URC Vietnam As Vietnam implements a social distancing plan in the COVID-19 fight, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) for in-home consumption is expected to sustain growth. What is the impact for URC in the midst of the rapidly-escalating crisis? The pandemic is having a big impact on consumer behaviours, which shall possibly continue in the next few months and possibly even beyond. We will put all our efforts to helping mitigate the spread of the deadly coronavirus. The outbreak is disrupting our businesses, including the food and beverage (F&B) category, and companies like us. While business continuity is important, our peoples safety is our first concern. We have put in place a stricter hygiene policy and work arrangements, which may be extended if the situation requires. Our key actions include empowering our various task forces, reviewing, and adapting productions plans, pushing logistics flexibility to serve our consumers across the country, and to maintain steady prices. The out-of-home could create negative impacts if the isolation and social distancing measures are going to last in Vietnam. Therefore, we need to adapt and adjust our processes, and we have launched various initiatives to support our distribution partners. The current global health emergency has led to an increased health consciousness among Vietnamese consumers. Could you share URCs plan to provide healthy and nutritious F&B products to meet this demand? Being a leading F&B player, URC is encouraged to maintain its operations to serve consumers. Having said that, URC and our staff are strictly complying with the directions of the government as well as internal hygiene and safety policies to ensure the best state of health and safety for employees, partners, and the community. Our mission is to delight consumers with brands of exceptional quality and value, and our mission is also to answer the needs of our consumers during the crisis: healthy products, on-the-go products, and meaningful products. In our portfolio, our energy drink Rong Do can support the front-liners bringing them alertness during those extended hours on duty: they need to stay strong and keep confidence to help our communities. Our ready-to-drink tea C2 is made of natural tea leaves, brewed fresh with all the natural antioxidants for Vietnamese people, boosting immunity and wellness. The new C2 Black Tea offers bold taste and flavour, together with the same natural antioxidants found in our natural tea leaves. Although the pandemic may contribute to growth in FMCG spending, the crisis will continue to disrupt businesses. What is the outlook for URCs activities in Vietnam in the coming time? In term of business operations, while we cannot predict the future, it is timely for us to have appropriate assessment and preparation for plausible scenarios. We have initiated a cross-functional COVID-19 team to step out of their day-to-day roles and dedicate most of their time to virus response. This team will be responsible to ensure first the stabilisation of the company by defining scenarios tailored to the context, and also ensure resilience in the supply chain. URC Vietnam is also investing in our companys core customer segments, as we can be agile and anticipate purchasing behaviour as consumers now begin to live a new normal. As a responsible company, URC Vietnam is participating with the countrys efforts by donating VND700 million to the VNExpress Hope Foundation and VND1 billion to the Fight COVID-19 with Tuoi Tre programme in partnership with the Young Business Association. These contributions will help to provide medical, sanitation, and hygiene products for frontliners. These important social actions are in the continuity of doing good for the community following partnership with other players in the industry to set up the Packaging Recycling Organisation Vietnam, in which URC Vietnam is a founding member. New Delhi, April 6 : Courts, at all levels, must respond to the call of social distancing and ensure that court premises do not contribute to the spread of coronavirus, said the Supreme Court on Monday, passing a slew of directions for all courts in the country extensively using video-conferencing as a medium to conduct hearings. A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and comprising Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and L. Nageswara Rao, exercised its plenary power under Article 142 of the Constitution to direct all the High Courts to frame a mechanism for hearing through video conferencing. "The Supreme Court of India and all High Courts are authorized to adopt measures required to ensure the robust functioning of the judicial system through the use of video conferencing technologies," it observed. The district courts in each state shall adopt the mode of video conferencing prescribed by the High Court concerned, it said. "The concerned courts shall maintain a helpline to ensure that any complaint in regard to the quality or audibility of feed shall be communicated during the proceeding or immediately after its conclusion, failing which no grievance in regard to it shall be entertained thereafter," said the apex court. The court shall duly notify and make available the facilities for video conferencing for such litigants who do not have the means or access to video conferencing facilities. "In no case shall evidence be recorded without the mutual consent of both the parties by video conferencing. If it is necessary to record evidence in a court room, the presiding officer shall ensure that appropriate distance is maintained between any two individuals in the Court," said the court. The apex court has limited its functioning to hear only extremely urgent matters through video conferencing during the lockdown period since March 25, stressing that "technology is here to stay." The top court has taken suo motu (on its own) cognizance of a letter written by senior advocate and Supreme Court Bar Association's (SCBA) former President Vikas Singh, who suggested measures for use of technology for hearing. "The presiding officer shall have the power to restrict entry of persons into the court room or the points from which the arguments are addressed by the advocates. No presiding officer shall prevent the entry of a party to the case unless such party is suffering from any infectious illness," said the court. Attorney General K.K. Venugopal contended the lawyers will be the best judge having the most efficient system, and the department concerned should examine the aspect which is the most efficient and cheap application for lawyers across the country. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that this is the best solution would be to have short hearings. "Modern technology has enabled courts to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the administration of justice. Technology has facilitated advances in speed, accessibility and connectivity which enable the dispensation of justice to take place in diverse settings and situations without compromising the core legal principles of adjudication," said the top court. The Director General of National Informatics Centre, present in the hearing, said three things are required for video-conferencing -- good broadband connection, good devices and conduct of people, where people should use mute while the other person is arguing. King Abdullah and Queen Rania Al Abdullah, in a phone call, expressed appreciation to Chinese philanthropist and businessman Jack Ma for donating medical supplies and equipment to support Jordans healthcare sector and the countrys efforts to combat coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The support package through the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation includes 100,000 virus detection kits, 30 BiPAP machines, 300,000 medical facemasks, 50 infrared thermometer guns, and 10,000 sets of protective clothing for the use of medical personnel, Petra news agency reported. The medical supplies, particularly the detection kits, are of great value to Jordan, as extensive testing for the virus worldwide has proven to be an effective strategy to confront COVID-19, and is in line with World Health Organisation guidelines. Ma expressed hope that Jordan will overcome the crisis caused by COVID-19, stressing the importance of international medical and humanitarian cooperation to galvanise and step up efforts towards preventing the spread of the pandemic, both within nations and across borders, the Jordanian news agency added. In May 2018, Ma visited the Queen Rania Foundation for Education and Development and learned about its digital learning platform, Edraak. During his visit, Ma announced a $3 million grant towards education in Jordan. Later that year, Queen Rania participated in the XIN Philanthropy Conference, which was hosted by Ma and the Alibaba Foundation, in Hangzhou, China. Amid increasing numbers of novel coronavirus cases in Pakistan, tracking down the cases and affected persons has turned into a massive struggle for authorities after hundreds of cases tested positive in provinces, including a big amount of persons who had attended religious Tableeghi congregations earlier this month. The Tableehi congregation (Ijtimah), held in Raiwind area of Lahore, an annual event held with hundreds of thousands of devotees come not only from all corner of the country, but from many foreign countries, was held on 11 March 2020. The five-day congregation was attended by at least 250,000 persons, who departed to their respective provinces and towns on 13 March 2020, after the event was cut short due to ongoing rains. However, after cases of COVID-19 emerged from people who had attended the congregation, rang alarm bells for the authorities, who are now on an uphill talk to track down the whereabouts of thousands, spread across the country. Till now, hundreds of cases have been reported from all parts of Pakistan, where people, who had attended the congregation has returned to their homes. As per Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Provincial Health Minister for Punjab province, majority of the number of COVID-19 cases, reported in the province have been from the pilgrims, who returned from Iran while the second highest number of cases are of the Tableeghi congregation persons, who have not only been tested positive of COVID-19, but have also spread the virus in their respective areas of residence. Many towns have been completely sealed by law enforcement agencies after reports of positive COVID-19 cases emerged among people who had returned from the Raiwind Tableeghi Ijtimah on March 13. In Islamabad, areas including Barah Kahu, Chak Shahzad and Shahzad Town have been completely sealed after dozens of people were tested positive of the virus, after returning from the Raiwind congregation. As many Muslim foreigners also attended the congregation, at least two cases of COVID-19 were also reported from Gaza among persons who had traveled to Pakistan to attend the tableeghi congretaion in Lahore. Many of the latest casualties reported from the country due to COVID-19, has also been among those elderly persons, who attended religious congregation in Lahore, raising serious concerns for the authorities, who are now tracking down thousands to their hometowns and sealing down their towns under suspicion of the spread, that those persons may have done in their vicinity. Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: 490 cases in 12 hours; active patients rise to 3,666; death toll 109 Also read: Coronavirus in US: Tiger at NYC's Bronx Zoo tests positive for COVID-19 The Allahabad High Court on Monday directed release of all undertrials, who were given bail to curb overcrowding in jails amid the COVID-19 spread, on furnishing of personal bonds itself. A bench of Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Siddhartha Verma ordered the release of the bailed out accused on basis of personal bonds in view of their difficulties in finding people top stand sureties for them amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis. The bench came to the rescue of prisoners invoking its inherent powers under the Article 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India. "It is brought to our notice that before enforcement of the lockdown, different courts in Uttar Pradesh including the high court have passed orders to release the accused applicants on bail but they have not been released so far due to non-availability of sureties, the bench said Looking to impediments in arranging sureties because of the lockdown, we deem it appropriate to invoke powers under Article 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India and order that all the accused applicant, whose bail applications came to be allowed on or after March 15, 2020 but have not been released due to non-availability of sureties as a result of the lockdown, may be released on executing personal bond," the bench said. The bonds have to be of worth "as ordered by the court or to the satisfaction of the jail authorities", said the bench, adding the accused applicants have to undertake to furnish required sureties within a period of one month from the date of his or her actual release. The court also directed that in any arbitral proceedings, if the pleadings have been completed and the period of twelve months has expired or is going to expire on or after March 25, the same would stand extended up to May 25. Earlier on March 26, taking suo moto action, the court had directed the extension of the limited-period bail for one month. The high court on March 26 had also put in abeyance all judicial orders for eviction, dispossession or demolition in the state for a month. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Marie Noonan is on the hunt. She is a disease detective these days, conducting phone interviews with coronavirus patients to trace where they have traveled and who they have seen, starting three days before they felt sick. The objective? Document the chains of infection and figure out where COVID-19 will strike next. "Find out whos been exposed and did not know about it, Noonan said. The data informs the states communicable disease registry, allowing public health officials to track the pandemic. Noonan, normally a nurse at Elizabeths Nicholas Murray Butler School, is volunteering in the fight against the coronavirus. She is one of a legion of medical professionals who answered the call as New Jersey mobilizes to meet Americas greatest public health emergency in at least a century. As the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to overwhelm the states hospital system, Gov. Phil Murphy has repeatedly asked for volunteers, saying they are critical to stemming an outbreak that has killed at least 917 in New Jersey. School nurses are among those who have responded, helping to staff testing centers, interview patients to document the contagions spread, work as EMTs and even offer care in a juvenile detention center. In Union County alone, dozens of school nurses have stepped forward, according to Barbara Maher, president of the Union County Nurses Association and a former emergency room nurse. They have full-time jobs to juggle, even with schools closed and the state under a shelter-in-place order. They provide scared families with up-to-date information about the disease raging around them. They call parents of children with medical conditions and listen to them vent. And they have health concerns for their own family members, whether a 90-year-old mother, or two children with autism. Yet they heeded the call to serve. NJ Advance Media interviewed five school nurses from Union County as they pivot to the front lines to combat coronavirus. Their accounts capture a slice of life in just one profession in just one of New Jerseys 21 counties, as the state musters en masse to meet a challenge that Murphy has called the fight of our lives. We want people to know that were helping, Maher said. Noonan, who like many school nurses started out as an emergency room and surgical nurse, says the outbreak is like nothing she has seen before. She cant even guess how many people she has interviewed patients, and when they are too sick to talk, their family members. I cant believe what we are going through now, Noonan said. Never in our wildest dreams did we think wed go through this. Several school nurses volunteered Friday at Union Countys coronavirus testing site at Kean University. Pictured left to right are Elizabeth Radil of Linden Public Schools; Barbara Maher of Rahway Public Schools; Anthony Torres, a substitute school nurse in Elizabeth; and Sharon Cardona, also of Elizabeth Public Schools. A new kind of fear Diana Garces has worked for years at corrections facilities. This is the first time she fears going into one. At her day job, Garces is a nurse at the Douglass School, a specialized Rutgers-run program for children with autism. But to earn extra money, she covers nursing shifts at the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center, where she spends every other Saturday and other evenings when needed. Nothing would scare me then, Garces said. Now, Im actually afraid to go into jail, not because of the inmates or the residents. What scares her is the unknown. An invisible virus that could be anywhere. Garces, 36, knows she has a lot to lose. She has four children at home, including a 7-month-old baby. Her two eldest her sons, 14 and 12 are both on the autism spectrum, the younger non-verbal. She cares for them, just like she helps Douglass parents care for their special-needs children, albeit remotely since the school shut down. She is a fantastic person," said Catriona Francis, the director of the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center, the organization that oversees the school. School nurses are highly-trained professionals equipped to handle increasingly complex medical problems, whether its students with allergies, mental health issues or chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma and epilepsy. Now, many are facing COVID-19 as well. Garces said she is torn every time she goes into the juvenile detention center, knowing the dangers of contamination inherent in corrections, even with the precautions the Newark facility is taking. She thinks of saying no, but remembers her oath as a nurse to help others. To ease her mind, she said, she reminds herself that no public place is safe from the coronavirus. She could contract it at the supermarket when she buys baby formula. Or at the pharmacy when she fills medications for her children. We dont know either way," Garces said. Is it at work, or is it because you went to pick up something at the store? It is reassuring and terrifying she admits. Diane Garces, a school nurse at a Rutgers program for children with autism, continues to work a second job at a youth detention center, though she worries she could contract the coronavirus. She is pictured with her four children. Clockwise from top, Michael Torres, 14; Giovanny Torres, 12; Marilyn Torres, 7 months; and Leslie Torres, 6. Answering calls, despite the risk Milestone moments for Norma Hubers family have been derailed by the contagion. Her sons wedding has been postponed until June, if coronavirus allows it to be held then. Her mothers 90th birthday was last month, but the celebration had to be canceled even though she lives right next door. Theres so much uncertainty here, Huber said. She is a nurse at Hurden Looker Elementary School in Hillside. She has worked in the district since 1979, starting as a teacher. Huber is also a longtime EMT in her hometown of Mountainside, where she serves as president of the volunteer ambulance company. I respect her very, very much, said Eric Pastore, the chief of Mountainside Rescue Squad. He remembers when he was a kid, Hurden was part of the ambulance crew that took his ailing grandfather to the hospital. She knows everyone, and I mean, everyone. Many school nurses have a level of experience that is valuable in the crisis, but it also places them near or already past the age at which the disease is particularly dangerous. Huber is 63 and has asthma, but she continues to respond to emergency calls on the nights she is on. Surprisingly, theyve dropped with the outbreak, she said, probably because people are afraid to go to the hospital, fearing infection. Recently, her squad received a COVID-19 call. Concerned for her health, her fellow medics recommended she remain at the station. She did, knowing they could handle the job. I said, Ill sit out, and Ill help you clean when you get back,' Huber recalled. Shes trying to be safe, knowing this virus is different. Everybody is scared because unfortunately, with some dispatches, you can tell that they have something that is very catchy and you could get very sick, Huber said. But this is an invisible illness. Do you know what I mean? Doing their part Rina Lieberman, a nurse at Elizabeth High School, likes to be cheerful. She likes to do things with a smile. But wrapped in a surgical mask, gloves, goggles and a medical gown, how do you impart that to a worried driver who pulls up at Kean University to be tested for the coronavirus? With a mask on, you cant tell if somebody is smiling, Lieberman said. That struck her Thursday when she volunteered at the Union testing center, working in a tent with two other medical professionals collecting samples. Drivers would pull up, and one of her colleagues would approach and take nose swabs. The samples would be placed five to a container, with names and dates of birth recorded. It was only after they were done for the day that Lieberman saw the faces of the people shed worked alongside for hours. It was only after they had taken off the gear that protected them from infection. Oh, now I know what you look like, she remembered reacting. Maher, a school nurse in Rahway, also spent a day last week volunteering at the Kean coronavirus testing site. I have a daughter who is a nurse who is yelling at me. Shes worried about mom, who is not 20, Maher said. She thinks Im old. Im 60. Like Maher, Lieberman felt safe at the site, and wanted to do her part to help. She said she has family members who already have the virus. Liebermans team tried to cut through the forbidding atmosphere. They held up signs to the drivers. Feel Better, they read. Riley Yates may be reached at ryates@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. 'The spread of COVID-19 is not increasing across Maharashtra.' 'Only Mumbai remains a concern.' IMAGE: A view of deserted roads outside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters There is buzz that the ongoing pan-India lockdown, meant to contain the spread of COVID-19, will be extended in Maharashtra which has registered the largest number of cases -- as of now it has recorded 690 coronavirus positive cases -- in the country. Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope says the state government has not reached any decision on the matter yet. Decisions will be taken only after the Maharashtra government has wider consultations with central and state government officials who are at the forefront of the coronavirus battle. "We will communicate our decisions to the people of the state between April 10 and 15 depending on the situation which is constantly evolving," Tope tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com "The Union government is also keeping a watch on the situation and we keep sharing our experiences and feedback with each other," adds Tope. "We are in constant touch with each other about it (the evolving situation and how to tackle it)." "The spread of COVID-19 is not increasing across Maharashtra. Only (the spread of COVID-19) within Mumbai's boundaries is a matter of concern. The situation in the rest of the state is fine," Tope points out. Talking about how the civic administration, the Mumbai police and state health authorities are tackling the spread in Mumbai, Tope says, "Marking out containment zones is the only effective measure right now (to prevent the spread of coronavirus)." The minister profusely thanks all the doctors, medical and paramedical staff, health workers and policemen, who are at the forefront of fighting the pandemic in Mumbai and the state. "All the doctors and medical staff and paramedics have been provided with adequate personal protection equipment and the state government is sourcing more of these PPEs as and when the requirement emerges," he adds. Clearing the air on the issue of scarcity of ventilators and other life-saving equipment in the state, Tope asserts that is not the case in Maharashtra and denies there is any such shortage. "Please give me information about people who are facing any problem. We will help them," says Tope about doubts being raised about the preparations of the state government. "The state government has more than 1,500 ventilators and private hospitals have another 2,000 of these. We have 250,000 N95 masks, 35,000 PPEs, 25,00,000 triple layer surgical masks. So there is no worry on this front right now." For years, President Trump has touted low oil prices as a win for American consumers and used his position to try to keep them that way. Good for the consumer, gasoline prices coming down! he tweeted on March 9. But as the new coronavirus has brought much of the world economy to a halt, it has also helped trigger a collapse of oil prices that has forced Trump to reverse course and try to raise prices. In recent days, he has threatened to impose tariffs on oil imports, called the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Russia to persuade them to cut production and pushed his administration to find ways to buy oil itself. The question now is how far Trump is willing to go to fight back. On Friday, he brought top U.S. oil and gas executives to the White House for a closed-door meeting with senior members of the administration and a handful of Republican senators. Were going to take care of our energy business, he said at the White House on Saturday. But intervention is risky. Helping some in the domestic oil industry could hurt others, and cost jobs among the losers. Fighting back abroad could fracture old alliances and spread unrest in the Middle East. And any action by the White House could have knock-on effects for the fight against climate change. The current industry tumult is the result of two things: reduced demand thanks to the coronavirus-driven decline in economic activity and increased supply from a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia. The reduced demand is simple to understand: factories are idle, airlines are flying less and people are staying at home. More complicated is the supply glut: talks between OPEC+ members, a cartel of countries that control much of the worlds oil production, fell apart Mar. 6 as Russia and Saudi Arabia failed to agree on a pact to reduce production. Instead, the two countries, the worlds second and third largest producers of oil, announced that they would ramp up production, further driving down the price. Story continues Having supply and demand shocks hit the oil market at once is rare, and challenging. For the first time in decades, we are seeing both of them, said Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency at an online Atlantic Council event on Mar. 26. This will have, Im sure, significant consequences for the next years to come. In America, the immediate problems are the survival of energy companies and the job security of the nearly half a million people they employ. There is now an unbridgeable gap between the cost to drill for oil domestically and the price paid for oil on the market. Producers in Texas, which has experienced a fracking boom in recent years, need oil to trade around $50 per barrel to break even on a new well, according to a survey from the Dallas Fed. Oil prices in Texas dipped just below $20 per barrel in recent weeks. Oil companies are running out of places to store oil they produce, which means an even bigger drop if they run out space. Every little nook and cranny is full of oil, says Deborah Byers, says U.S. oil & gas leader at consulting firm EY. Trump and his allies on Capitol Hill are fully aware of the problem: the fortunes of many of the presidents wealthy supporters in the industry are on the line as well as and the employment of workers whose jobs are heavily concentrated in red states like Texas, North Dakota and Louisiana. Beyond workers directly employed in the industry, many more rely on them to support the local economy in oil and gas heavy regions. There are jobs that are hanging in the balance, Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, told Trump ahead of the White House meeting. Without action, were going to see bankruptcies at a level that this country hasnt seen in decades, Cruz said. Trump has suggested a slew of different approaches to help. At first, he tried to direct the U.S. to buy $3 billion in oil for its Strategic Petroleum Reserve, an idea rejected by Congress. As recently as Saturday, he floated tariffs on oil imports. Most importantly, hes hopped on the phone with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to try to push for a compromise. (The two parties initially agreed to discuss potential production cuts in an emergency OPEC+ meeting on Monday, which was later pushed to April 9). Well get our energy business back, Trump said to oil executives gathered at the White House Friday Im with you 1000%. Among the players at Trumps meeting last week were top executives from a handful of key players in the U.S. oil industry, including the leaders of oil majors like ExxonMobil and Chevron as well as those of independent producers like Continental Resources. But for all the worry in the oil and gas industry, its leaders dont agree on how to solve the problem. Many small producers, which face the biggest threat and could go bankrupt in the coming months, are desperate for any help, even if it means government intervention like tariffs. Big players with more cash are less inclined to push such steps, knowing they can wait it out. The American Petroleum Institute, the powerful industry lobbying group, wrote a letter to Trump last week opposing tariffs. The sharp decline in oil prices also presents national security and geopolitical concerns. Sustained low oil prices will lead to a huge budget shortfall in many developing countries, from Ecuador to Oman. That fiscal crunch would almost certainly exacerbate challenges these countries face battling the coronavirus pandemic. The fate of developing countries may not sound like a concern for a president who has declared America First as a motto of his administration, but oil has shaped U.S. foreign policy since the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt and Trump is no exception. Just in recent weeks, the administration has used low oil prices to pressure geopolitical foes like Iran and Venezuela. The bigger long-term geopolitical consideration concern may be the implications for the Middle East, where the U.S. still keeps thousands of troops. Iraqs fiscal breakeven point for oil, the price that is necessary for an oil exporting state to balance its budget, is $60 per barrel, according to the International Monetary Fund. The revenues alone will not be enough to pay the salaries of employees, which is very important for the social stability of the country, said Birol, noting that oil revenue funds 90% of the countrys budget. In recent years, Republicans in the administration, including Trump, have spoken plainly about American involvement in the Middle East as a move to protect oil. At the meeting with oil executives on Friday, at least one Republican suggests Saudi Arabias over-supply of oil, and the threat it poses to American jobs, could change that long-running strategic interest. We have a great military thats protected Saudi Arabia for decades, said Sen. Dan Sullivan, an Alaska Republican, at the White House Friday. We have some legislation that could possibly change that if they dont start cooperating. One issue at stake in the White Houses approach to oil almost certainly isnt on Trumps mind: climate change. Democrats opposed Trumps efforts to include support for the oil and gas industry in economic stabilization legislation, and climate activists quickly decried Trumps White House meeting. Politics aside, the world needs to wean itself off oil to avoid catastrophic climate change in the coming decades, and yet Trumps stated goal is to further grow and entrench the industry. The oil price volatility of recent weeks could weaken the investment case for oil, speeding that transition. Alternatively, low oil prices could reduce the economic incentives to reduce emissions. Either way, analysts say whatever support Trump may offer the industry may help avoid a bloodbath in the near term, but the long-term writing is on the wall: the industry needs to change or disappear. Millions of labourers in Southeast Asia could lose their jobs as economies grind to a halt due to impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). In the policy paper on the Asia Pacific region issued on March 26, ESCAP noted that while exact data on the impact of the pandemic on employment remained unavailable, the impact is likely to be substantial as services and labour-intensive manufacturing comprise over 80 percent of the region's informal sector and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and contribute to most of the jobs in the region. The report stressed the need for countries with weak social protection systems to have ample policy space to save jobs and support minimum living standards for households. Meanwhile, in its report issued on April 3, the Asia Development Bank projected that growth in Southeast Asia will decelerate from 4.4 percent in 2019 to 1 percent this year before rebounding to 4.7 percent in 2021, partly because of the region's strong trade and investment ties with China. Based on the ADB's projections, Indonesia's growth is expected to shrink from 5 percent last year to 2.5 percent this year. Thailand is expected to slow to minus 4.8 percent. Vietnam's annual average growth of 7 percent will slow to 4.8 percent in 2020, while Singapore is expected to eke out just 0.2 percent growth. Already, several governments have rushed out programmes to support the masses of newly unemployed from sectors like tourism, hospitality and garment production. Thailand is giving a 5,000 baht (150 USD) monthly support for three months to some nine million informal or self-employed workers. Singapore's supplementary budget worth some 48 billion SGD (33.36 billion USD) pays unemployed workers 800 SGD a month, for three months, to help them look for a new job or undergo training./.VNA Atheist fails to get so help me God removed from naturalization oath for US citizenship Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The naturalization oath for U.S. citizenship will continue to include the words so help me God, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has ruled, rejecting claims that the words violate First Amendment rights of atheists. We follow the Supreme Courts most recent framework and apply American Legions presumption of constitutionality to the phrase so help me God in the naturalization oath because we consider the inclusion of similar words to be a ceremonial, longstanding practice as an optional means of completing an oath, the judgment states in a federal lawsuit that was filed in 2017 by an atheist, Olga Paule Perrier-Bilbo, who moved to the United States from France and applied for naturalized citizenship in 2008. And because the record does not demonstrate a discriminatory intent in maintaining those words in the oath or deliberate disrespect by the inclusion of the words, Perrier-Bilbo cannot overcome the presumption. Perrier-Bilbo, a resident of Massachusetts, had argued that whether the use of the phrase is rooted in history and tradition is not a legitimate way to assess if the oath in its current form is constitutional. Judges said the Supreme Court Establishment Clause jurisprudence supports the district courts analysis of the challenge by reference to historical practices and understanding. By its very nature, an oath that concludes so help me God is asserting that God exists, read her lawsuit. Accordingly, the current oath violates the first ten words of the Bill of Rights, and to participate in a ceremony which violates that key portion of the United States Constitution is not supporting or defending the Constitution as the oath demands, it stated, referring to clause that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The phrase so help me God is optional in the Oath of Allegiance of the United States, which reads: I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God. Some Democratic leaders of several key committees have nixed the phrase so help me God from a swearing-in oath for individuals testifying before them. I think God belongs in religious institutions: in temple, in church, in cathedral, in mosque but not in Congress, Democrat Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee, the chairman of the Judiciary Committees Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, told The New York Times last May. What Republicans are doing, he argued, is using God. And God doesnt want to be used, he said. At the time, the Rev. Franklin Graham, who serves as president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, blasted the move as backward. Why has the Democratic Party turned its back on God? Graham said in a series of tweets in response to the report. We need more of God, not less! What @RepCohen is suggesting is what Communism did in Eastern Europe & is still doing in places around the world like Cuba. Communism only allows worship inside approved churches. "God is our Creator & the maker of the universe. He is present everywhere; He is not limited to churches or temples. The root of the issue is that many politicians dont want God in any part of their politics or our countrys business because His standards condemn their sins. Tiger King viewers have been keen to hear Louis Therouxs opinions on the series, considering he spent time with Joe Exotic for a documentary nine years ago. Theroux promised fans he would discuss the bonkers Netflix series after watching it and has now begun sharing his views on Instagram. In replies to his followers, he also revealed some behind-the-scenes details about his experience with the eccentric tiger trader in 2011. Exotic appeared on BBCs Americas Most Dangerous Pets after permitting Theroux to follow him around GW Exotic Animal Foundation in Oklahoma. One bizarre moment in the episode sees him tell Theroux that if he were to get into the cage with his tigers, he would shoot him in the head to spare him a grisly fate. Theroux, who told his Instagram followers that he liked spending time with Exotic, revealed that this was just one of a few disturbing parts of his experience. The most troubling thing he said was probably that if the park went bankrupt he would kill all the animals, Theroux commented. Another moment sees him comparing caged tigers to people in wheelchairs. The journalist described Exotic as an emotional dude and said that he attempted to shut down the documentary a few times as he was worried about the angle filmmakers were going for. EDWARDSVILLE When an email from the Illinois State Dental Society recommended for dental offices in the state to shut down for two weeks starting March 17, Glen Carbon dentist Dr. Briana Ollers thoughts were on her patients at Simply Smiles. I was very scared. I was very nervous for my employees. I was nervous for my patients, who I wasnt going to be able to serve. I was nervous for myself. How was I going to be able to make the bills of my business and the personal bills, Oller said. Those fears became secondary when Oller, 42 with no underlying issues, was diagnosed with coronavirus on March 30 after battling a headache, fever and loss of taste and smell. She was tested on March 26, nine days after a headache started. We dont know where I got this. We have no clue, said Oller, who hasnt traveled outside the country. We now know Ive had my symptoms since March 17. We believe exposure occurred sometime around March 13 somewhere in the community because my mom is also positive for the coronavirus. She has followed a similar timeline but started a day later than me. The last time we were together was March 13. It is in our community and it has been this whole time. All of Ollers patients and staff were made aware of the diagnosis and none have shown any symptoms. Her mom is also on the road to recovery. Oller has been recovering from her home with her two daughters, who havent shown any symptoms. All of Ollers symptoms have subsided except the fever, which is hovering around 100.5 degrees. The highest it reached was 101.9 degrees. Im getting stronger every day and its no longer up and down like it was. The breathing is so much better. I feel like the worst part is beyond me, Oller said. As of Sunday, Madison County was reporting 48 cases of coronavirus, including six females in their 40s, with 13 hospitalizations and 12 recoveries. Late Thursday morning, Oller used a 10-minute Facebook video to share her emotions through the journey. As of Sunday afternoon, it has been viewed approximately 69,500 times and with over 2,800 shares. It actually was very hard for me to post because Im a pretty private person, but I was compelled to tell my story to help spread awareness, Oller said. Besides my vulnerability and raw emotions, I worried about spreading fear. With that being said, I felt people knew me better that because Im an extremely optimistic person. I can find positive in any situation. By posting the video, I could share my journey of emotions, symptoms and educate others. I felt that it might be more real to people by knowing someone who actually has it and they would truly take this seriously. Not one that typically watches the news, Oller said she became more aware of the virus when a supply company alerted her dentist office that it may run low on specialty masks and gloves. Oller started to self-quarantine after seeing her last patient on the morning of March 17. She left the house just once that first week to get essentials for my family. Her daughters havent left the house since March 16 after Oller received the e-mail from the Illinois State Dental Society. Oller said an intense headache started the afternoon of March 17 and continued for several days and was followed by fatigue and a low-grade fever. The fever lasted a day but the headache and fatigue stayed. I blamed it all on stress since I didnt have any other symptoms, Oller said. On March 20, Oller lost all sense of taste and smell. At the time, it wasnt known these were symptoms of coronavirus, Oller said. The fever returned March 25, as the headache, fatigue and loss of taste and smell continued. It was also that day it was confirmed that the loss of taste and smell were symptoms of the virus. Oller went through her primary doctor to set up a test with a private lab on March 26 and she received the results four days later. Its such an evolving situation that testing availability differs between doctors, hospitals and counties based on their access to tests. With that, their policies change daily, Oller said. Though Oller is active by exercising five times per week, she wasnt immune to the virus. Oller said the shortness of breath was the scariest aspect of the virus. Its not a shortness of breath with chest tightness. Its a shortness of breath to where I can sit and still not be able to get in a full breath, Oller said. Theres been times where it has been scary and breathing has been getting out of control. It got to the point where I would have to sit down at the top of the stairs if I climbed the stairs. I either sat on the couch or in my bed to rest all the time. Once Ollers fever subsides, she will have to wait 14 days before she can donate blood to be tested to help for a potential cure. Through all this, Oller said theres been a lot of community support from friends and strangers. I know I am one of the lucky ones and able to recover at home and not in the hospital, Oller said. I will get to the other side of this. With time, I know I will get there and I cant wait to get to the other side of this. Factories and farmers clashed on hogget prices this week, with sheep producers angrily challenging processor claims that the market has taken a severe knock. The ICSA claimed there was ample evidence of a shortage of sheep meat at retail level in Ireland and Britain and that prices of up to 5.60/kg were still being paid to farmers in some instances. However, Cormac Healy of Meat Industry Ireland (MII) claimed that major logistical difficulties in France and on the continent generally meant that getting product to customers was extremely problematic. Mr Healy maintained that increased domestic demand for the Easter holiday was helping to put a floor on the trade for sheep meat in the short-term but he predicted that the market will be much more difficult from next week. The closure of French restaurants, as well as retailers suspending counter services which usually perform particularly well for lamb, has hit export demand for sheep meat. Prices to farmers have suffered as a result, with the base price for hoggets falling from 5.60/kg to 5/kg over the last fortnight. This equates to almost 14/hd. However, ICSA sheep chairman, Sean McNamara, has urged sheep farmers to resist the price cuts for hoggets. There is ample evidence of scarcity of sheep meat in retail outlets in Ireland and Britain. The volatility in recent weeks is a sign that supplies of hoggets are a lot scarcer than factories would like, Mr McNamara said. What you see is threats of price cuts one day, followed by better prices a day or two later. This is a symptom of supplies being scarce. This week, we have seen prices fluctuate between 5/kg and 5.60/kg. Any farmer accepting the lower quote is being codded. Meanwhile, a lamb crop of around 3.3m head is being forecast this spring, with farmers reporting few lambing difficulties to-date. Although strong scanning results were reported for the countrys 2.45m ewes, it is expected that the average number of lambs per ewe will be around the 1.33-1.35 mark. The top lowland flocks will average close to 2.0 lambs per ewe, with the Teagasc BETTER farms coming in at a scanned litter size of 1.97 lambs per ewe. Frank Campion of Teagasc Athenry said lambing has generally gone well, with no major issues on lamb mortality. However, a shortage of grass has emerged as a serious concern in the northwest, where the late spring and atrocious ground conditions resulted in very poor grass growth during March. John Noonan of Teagasc in Westport said many farmers have been forced to feed ewes post-lambing as a result. This could add significantly to farmers costs, he said. At the peak of the Covid-19 outbreak in China, Italy had donated Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to China and now when Italy is in dire need of PPE, China wants to sell them to Italy, according to a report in the Spectator magazine. The China-originated bug, which crossed continents to make Italy its epicentre in Europe, wreaked havoc on its people, especially the frontline warriors- the doctors and nurses. Within days, more than 15,000 people were killed and over a lakh others got affected by the dangerous pathogen. In an attempt to restore its humanitarian image following the crisis, China projected to the world that it would donate PPE to Italy. Also Watch | Coronavirus: When Italy death toll overtook Chinas; Pope Francis releases message But later it was revealed, it was not a humanitarian gesture but a business- Beijing had actually sold, not donated, the PPE to Italy, several media reports claimed. A senior Trump administration official was quoted by The Spectator as saying that it is much worse than that and China forced Italy to buy back the PPE supply that it gave to China during the initial coronavirus outbreak. Before the virus hit Europe, Italy sent tons of PPE to China to help China protect its own population, the administration official explained. China then has sent Italian PPE back to Italy -- some of it, not even all of it ... and charged them for it, he added. Unfortunately, Chinas diplomacy in the wake of the pandemic outbreak has been slippery. Much of the supplies and testing kits that China sold to other countries have turned out to be defective. Spain had to return 50,000 quick-testing kits to China after discovering that they were faulty. In some cases, instead of apologizing or fixing the issue, China has blamed its defective equipment on others. It condescendingly told The Netherlands to double-check the instructions on its masks, for example, after The Netherlands complained that half of the masks they were sent did not meet safety standards, the media reported. Its so disingenuous for Chinese officials now to say we are the ones who are helping the Italians or we are the ones who are helping the developing world when, in fact, they are the ones who infected all of us, the senior administration official said. Of course they should be helping. They have a special responsibility to help because they are the ones who began the spread of the coronavirus and did not give the information required to the rest of the world to plan accordingly, he added. The official also said that Chinas disinformation campaign of lying to the world about the seriousness of its COVID-19 outbreak has further delayed the response by countries. As China downplayed the outbreak within its borders, nearly half a million people traveled to the US potentially carrying the virus, the official said. As the lethal virus paves its way through continents and various territories across the globe, killing people in millions and crippling economies, China has still been underreporting about the accurate figures in the mainland. The country has also claimed no new deaths from the virus, even as thousands of ash urns are shipped to local hospitals. Call to boycott Chinese goods is once again gaining steam among some Indians on social media following the outbreak of the novel cornavirus in China few months ago. The outbreak has thrown the world in disarray, forcing a quarter of the worlds population to stay indoors. Since the virus first originated in a wet market in Wuhan, people around the world have been criticizing the Chinese government and the citizens for the consumption of wild animals. Since we are talking about boycotting Chinese products. Let's start with the app that's being used by most of us. Tiktok. #BoycottChina#BoycottTikTokpic.twitter.com/acAwZ002zZ Salil Tripathi (@SalilTripathi17) March 30, 2020 Some Indian users on social media have been calling for the ban of TikTok, an app owned by Chinese tech giant Bytedance.However, the call to boycott Chinese goods is gaining steam not just in India but outside as well. Some users are encouraging people to share images of products that havent been made in China, while others are criticizing the authoritarian Chinese President Xi Jinping for suppression of information, human rights violations and an oppressive regime. But like most social media trends, the call to boycott Chinese goods and technology seems like more of a knee jerk reaction to a crisis as opposed to a well thought out movement. India is one of the biggest importers of Chinese goods. Chinese smartphone brands currently control 51 percent of India's over USD 8 billion smartphone market. India is also reliant on China for meeting its solar equipment demand. In 2018-19, China exported well above 60 percent of electronic products and components and over 80 percent of antibiotics. Several Indian sectors will be affected if Chinese goods are boycotted, costing thousands of jobs. India will need to reduce its trade deficit and bolster its manufacturing sector before even considering boycotting Chinese products. Moreover, who is to say that the Chinese government won't react to such a move. After the US government put sanctions on Chinese goods, the Xi Jinping administration replied by enforcing sanctions of their own on crops imported from the US, killing the country's soybean market and forcing President Trump into a USD 28 billion bailout for farmers. They've made full recoveries, and now it's time for koalas rescued during last year's devastating Australian bushfires to go back into the wild. Science for Wildlife, a conservation organization in Sydney, released the first 12 koalas back into the Blue Mountains on March 25 and 27. Those koalas were saved in December and spent the last few months recovering at Sydney's Taronga Zoo. Dr. Kellie Leigh, Science for Wildlife's executive director, said in a statement that her team made sure conditions had improved enough to sustain the koalas. "The recent rains have helped and there is now plenty of new growth for them to eat, so the time is right," Leigh said. "We will be radio-tracking them and keeping a close eye on them to make sure that they settle in okay." On April 2, Port Macquarie Koala Hospital released a koala it rescued in October, and has plans to set 25 more koalas free in the next few days, The Independent reports. Sue Ashton, the hospital's president, said not only will the koalas go back to their home habitats, but in some cases, they will be returned "to their original tree." More stories from theweek.com Pelosi reportedly tells Democrats next coronavirus relief package will top $1 trillion Obama suggests lawmakers follow Elizabeth Warren's coronavirus recovery plans Trump's fervor for an unproven COVID-19 drug is reportedly fueled by Rudy Giuliani, Dr. Oz The city of Port Arthur confirmed its first coronavirus-related death on Monday. The man was 45-50 years old and had underlying health issues, according to a news release from the Public Health Department. He had no known travel history. He was hospitalized with coronavirus symptoms and died at the hospital, the release said. Jasper County also confirmed its first death on Monday -- 69-year-old James "Jim" Washburn. Southeast Texas has seen five coronavirus-related deaths. Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum announced via Instagram on Monday that he plans to donate $250,000 through his foundation to help provide meals in Boston and St. Louis, along with Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal -- one of his close friends. Tatum, speaking to reporters via conference call Monday afternoon, said he was simply looking for a way to help. Just trying to find a way that I could be of some assistance during this time," Tatum said. "Always trying to find a way to give back, especially back in St. Louis. Brad is from St. Louis as well, so he teamed up with me to donate to help the people back home in St. Louis and then I wanted to help the city of Boston. So thats how that came about. Just announced that today for people to be aware of. They can look look at my Instagram, click the link and get more information and donate to either if they would like to. Tatum has plenty of revenue from other ventures, and he is in line for a big extension this summer. But while even his current contract is certainly lucrative by normal standards, $250,000 is a significant amount of cash for a player on his rookie deal who cant be sure all of his checks from the league will arrive this season. In combination with Beals contribution, the duo will be able to help a lot of people. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced the states first presumptively positive coronavirus cases a month ago today. Since then, more than 11,500 residents have tested positive for COVID-19, and the death toll in the state now sits at 150 as of 12:01 a.m. April 5. There have been 66,261 negative tests, according to the Pa. Department of Health. Of the positive tests, the age brackets break down as follows: Nearly 1% are aged 0-4; Nearly 1% are aged 5-12; 1% are aged 13-18; Nearly 8% are aged 19-24; 42% are aged 25-49; Nearly 29% are aged 50-64; and Nearly 20% are aged 65 or older. The continued rise in cases combined with our increasing deaths from COVID-19 reflects the seriousness of this situation, state Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said in a Sunday news release. We need everyone to listen to the orders in place and to stay calm, stay home and stay safe. We know that these prolonged mitigation effects have been difficult for everyone, but it is essential that everyone follows these orders and does not go out unless they absolutely must. Heres a timeline of the major developments over the last month: March 6: Wolf announced Pennsylvanias first two presumptively positive cases, one in Delaware County and one in Wayne. At the time, a presumptive positive case was one where a person tested positive for COVID-19 at a state or local laboratory but that had yet to be confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Within two weeks it had changed how it labeled cases from confirmed positive and presumed positive to either negative, pending or positive. March 13: The states K-12 schools were closed for at least two weeks. Since then, as youll see below, the closure has been extended. Cant see the statewide county-by-county confirmed case count map embedded above? Click here. March 17: Pennsylvanias state-controlled Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores closed their physical locations. Limited online ordering has since resumed. March 18: Pennsylvania reported its first coronavirus-related death, in Northampton County. The same day, Penn State University joined many other colleges in moving all classes online for the rest of the semester. March 19: Non-life sustaining businesses were forced to close, per an order from Wolf and Levine. The list would be updated in the days that followed, but besides factories and production plants almost everything but grocery stores, pharmacies, hardware stores and restaurants offering to-go or delivery orders were forced to shutter. March 23: The order to close K-12 schools in Pa. is extended until April 6. On that day, six counties were put under a stay at home order by the state, and a seventh, Philadelphia, was as well via a local government order. March 25: Pa. announced updated confirmed coronavirus case totals, and for the first time, the number topped 1,000. March 30: Gov. Wolf announced that the K-12 closures will extend indefinitely. April 1: The stay at home order is extended statewide. It will run at least until April 30. On the same date, the PLCB re-opened limited online sales. April 2: A grim milestone is reached in Pennsylvania: The death toll topped 100 for the first time; the reported number was 102. Cant see the daily growth chart of confirmed cases embedded above? Click here. April 3: Despite mixed guidance at the federal level, Gov. Wolf and Dr. Levine asked all Pennsylvanians to wear masks while in public to help slow the coronavirus spread. April 5: The latest numbers in Pa. included 1,493 new coronavirus cases, raising the statewide total to 11,510 in 65 of 67 counties, including 150 deaths. When could the peak hit? There are various models available, and it should be noted that, like the weather forecast, the below information is subject to change. That said, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, which was founded by Bill and Melinda Gates, estimates that the peak in Pa. will come on April 18. More of PennLives coronavirus coverage: The Walker family never thought having an age range of 3 to 96 under the same roof would be risky. That was before the coronavirus pandemic. Wilma Walker's now nonagenarian mom moved into her daughter and son-in-law's home about 15 years ago. Their party of three turned into a household of six when the Walkers' now 30-year-old daughter, Andre'a Walker-Nimrod, moved back in with her young son and a daughter on the way. Their living arrangement four generations together under one roof has its advantages: financial support, shared meals and built-in child care for Andre'a's kids, now 5 and 3. But this "tier" generational setup also heightens their concerns as the coronavirus continues to march across the world, with young people positioned as potentially inadvertent carriers of the virus to vulnerable elders for whom COVID-19 could be a death sentence. "With all of us in the same home, I feel like I'm the one that's kind of guarding everybody," said 63-year-old Wilma Walker. While nursing homes are banning visitors and many people are preaching the message to stay away from older adults, not everyone has that option. More than 64 million Americans live in multigenerational households like the Walkers often a combination of adult children, their parents and grandchildren. That's 1 in 5 U.S. residents. With the omnipresent coronavirus threat looming, those who live in such households around the country are voicing concerns and sharing their experiences online. Some families have decided to practice social distancing within the home, while others worry about being asymptomatic carriers. "Until further notice, all of us are quarantined," Tori Dixon said of her two-generation household in Fort Worth, Texas. "We're trying to stay put and stay in place until we have a better idea of what's going on." Dixon, 42, shares a home with her 69-year-old mother, her 48-year-old sister and 13-year-old brother. For now, they are social distancing from others to keep her mom safe, and her mom has not been out of the house in four weeks. Dixon's mother was diagnosed with severe bronchitis in 2018, which left her with a compromised immune system. "She's nervous," Dixon said. "I'm nervous for her." In some cultures, within the United States and elsewhere, multigenerational households are the norm. In recent years, more American families have adopted the lifestyle, some building homes with "granny flats" as baby boomers move in with their kids and vice versa. To be sure, the idea of combining households has always helped families get through tough economic times and life transitions such as death, divorce or job loss. Multigenerational households face a unique set of challenges during the novel coronavirus pandemic because they can't easily separate children from older family members in the home, said Donna Butts, executive director of Generations United, a national nonprofit that advocates for children, older people and families. In addition to her group's online tips, which include cleaning kids toys and seeking home delivery of medications, she suggested leaving younger children at home, if possible, when someone has to go out for groceries. Kids are more likely to touch things in stores, risking the spread of germs. Excellent hygiene is strongly encouraged, she said. In Belleville, Illinois, Maxine Edwards, 74, has been living with her daughter and granddaughter since her husband died. Now, ever since the pandemic shuttered preschools, she is taking care of her 4-year-old granddaughter, Kinsley, during the day while the girl's mother, Kristi Edwards, continues to work as a patient care coordinator at Southwestern Hearing Centers in Fairview Heights, Illinois. "She keeps me busy," Maxine Edwards said. "It's a lot busier than it was, but I'm glad to have them around." Every night, Maxine Edwards sleeps in a plush, brown recliner in the living room. The common space doubles as her bedroom because Edwards, who suffers from arthritis, said it's too painful to sleep in her bed. "I always say that I don't have to make my bed in the morning," Edwards said, with a chuckle. "My granddaughter gets a kick out of waking Grandma up." If they needed to separate, someone else would have to drag her recliner into a bedroom. Edwards isnt able to physically move around as much as she would like. But she pushes past her pain to keep her granddaughter entertained. "They love playing Play-Doh, painting and Barbies," Kristi Edwards, 46, said. "Frozen' is a favorite, along with 'Trolls.'" To give her mom a break amid the pandemic, she recently found a friend willing to watch her daughter a few days a week. But while the coronavirus presents new challenges for these families, communal living with multiple generations gives each person a foundation to withstand the crisis, said Butts, the advocate for elders. "In our society, we tell people that they have to be independent, they have to be alone, and that's the way to be. And yet, we are people, we need each other, we're interdependent," Butts said. "Multigenerational families are incredibly strong." The Walker family has a preparedness plan for illness, just as they do for a fire or natural disaster. As a family of ministers, Walker said, her family is praying for the pandemic to end. But they're also practicing social distancing and washing their hands more. They canceled an 80th birthday party for Walker's husband, Howard. The matriarch of their family, Evelyn Whitfield, the oldest member of their family at 96, is spending more time inside. She loves to give warm hugs. But, for now, she's avoiding direct contact with anyone who appears sick. Long before "social distancing" became a buzzword, her family always put space between Whitfield and anyone who felt sick in their home. Taking it one step further, Walker said, members of their family go into isolation in the home if one of them falls ill. Both ideas can be hard for younger children to grasp. That's one reason Whitfield has her own space in their house. It's a place where she can go if she needs to escape from germs. "I love being around my family," Whitfield said during breakfast on a recent Saturday morning. "I wouldn't want to live alone." Walker loves having her mother there, too. She was still learning how to take care of herself when she decided that, later in life, as her parents aged, she would take care of them. Her father, Wiley Whitfield, died in 1992. "I can remember being a girl, probably about 10, when I started to realize that I wanted to take care of my mother," Walker said. "I always knew we were all going to live together. I always looked forward to it." Complicating matters in these coronavirus times, though, is her effort to keep the family's business afloat. Six years ago, they opened WTMM Adult Day Health Care Center, a nonprofit adult day care for seniors who have Alzheimers, autism or dementia. The center closed late last month, because the pandemic was reducing visits from the seniors and dried up the insurance payments needed to pay staff. But even when it does reopen, Whitfield, the 96-year-old who serves as a chaplain at the day care center, said she may spend less time there because shes now more aware of the risks she faces around her. As fear grips the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky are enjoying the perks of living in one of Australia's trendiest coastal towns. And on Sunday, the Hollywood couple were spotted in Byron Bay enjoying a leisurely stroll down an isolated beach. The couple appeared to be in good spirits as they chatted and joked together beneath the autumnal sun. Life's a beach! Chris Hemsworth, 43, and wife Elsa Pataky, 36, (both pictured) showed off their incredible bodies during a leisurely coastal stroll in Byron Bay on Sunday Exercise-loving Elsa, 43, displayed her lithe physique in a black string bikini. Trekking through the sand with the aid of a large stick, the Spanish actress completed her look with a trendy fedora hat, Ray-Ban sunglasses and a woven tote bag. She also adorned her wrists, fingers, neck and ankle with delicate jewellery. Fit as a fiddle! Exercise-loving Elsa, 43, displayed her lithe physique in a black string bikini Welcome to muscle beach! Meanwhile, 36-year-old Chris showed off his bulging biceps in a white singlet top and printed blue board shorts Meanwhile, 36-year-old Chris showed off his bulging biceps in a white singlet top and printed blue board shorts. Carrying a surfboard beneath one arm, the Thor actor accessorised his look with blue sunglasses and a grey cap. Chris and Elsa live in a $20million Byron Bay mansion with their three children, India Rose, seven, and twins Tristan and Sasha, six. Beach chic: Trekking through the sand with the aid of a large stick, the Spanish actress completed her look with a trendy fedora hat, Ray-Ban sunglasses and a woven tote bag Bejewelled: Elsa adorned her wrists, fingers, neck and ankle with delicate jewellery The couple had spent two years renovating the property, which they had previously bought for $7million in 2014. In January, after six years of living in Byron Bay, Elsa told Vogue Australia she felt 'privileged' to enjoy such a beautiful life. 'If life has given you great things, just enjoy it as much as you can, because you never know whats going to happen next,' The Fast And The Furious actress said. 'So at least in those moments of having what I want, I try to make the best of it,' she added. As of Monday afternoon, there are 5,795 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia, including 40 deaths. Glamorous: Chris and Elsa live in a $20million Byron Bay mansion with their three children, India Rose, seven, and twins Tristan and Sasha, six Living the good life! In January, after six years of living in Byron Bay, Elsa told Vogue Australia she felt 'privileged' to enjoy such a beautiful life So blessed! 'If life has given you great things, just enjoy it as much as you can, because you never know whats going to happen next,' The Fast And The Furious actress said DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / April 5, 2020 / Harmony Painting | Denver Interior, Exterior, and Commercial Painters has announced that they offer popcorn ceiling removal for homes and buildings in Denver, Colorado and neighboring areas. The popcorn ceiling or textured ceiling or stucco ceiling was popular during before the 1970s but it often contained white asbestos fibers, which is why they fell out of favor when asbestos was banned in ceiling treatments by the Clean Air Act in the US. However, the existing inventories of texturing materials containing asbestos were exempted from the ban so that popcorn ceilings that were done through the 1980s are likely to contain asbestos, which means they need to be removed. Spencer Melfi, owner of Harmony Painting, says, "Our expertise extends to many aspects of painting, carpentry, and construction. These include interior painting for all surface, cabinets, faux finish, texture, popcorn ceiling removal, murals, and color consulting; exterior painting for the house, fence, garage, shed, deck, finishing, staining, and pressure washing; commercial painting for buildings, businesses, multi-tenant, rental houses, restaurants, coatings, and sealants and general construction and carpentry for siding replacement, board replacement, windows, fencing, and tiles." After the ban, the popcorn ceiling materials were paper-based or Styrofoam products. Textured ceiling are still common in residential house construction in the U.S. However, since the mid-2000s, the popularity of textured popcorn ceilings declined substantially across North America. This was replaced by a trend toward clean-lined, modern design features. Smooth ceilings became the trend because of a number of advantages, including the fact that they are reflective, they don't harbor dust and allergens that get blown back into the air, easier patch pup and retouching, and more aesthetic appearance. This led to home improvement professionals offering popcorn ceiling removal services. Those who would like to know their specific location and other information regarding Harmony Painting can check out their Google Maps page at https://www.google.com/maps?cid=914780021090860474. Story continues Harmony Painting offers exterior and interior residential painting, exterior and interior commercial painting, full power washing, design consultation, and free estimates. They point out that what distinguishes them from other painting services are their 3, 6, or 9 year guarantee, full workers compensation, full liability insurance, and lifetime guarantee paint. Their interior painting services include all surface painting, cabinet painting, faux finish, murals, and color consulting. Another key factor that makes them stand out among the crowd is their attention to prep work. They take extra care in protecting the site and rearranging the furniture to make sure that they can work efficiently. They will repair all cracks and sand all rough spots, as well as seal any stains before they start painting. They will also tape off all moldings, windows, and other surfaces before they apply a primer paint to ensure the clean finish expected by clients. After that, they will then provide efficient interior painting using a low-VOC paint. They want to stress that color consulting before starting an interior painting is advisable. The professionals at Harmony Painting will be using their design knowledge and years of experience in establishing the best concept for the interior painting project, while also ensuring the final result will be unique and customized based on the client's preferences. This is where the popcorn ceiling removal may be included as part of the interior painting project. With regards to exterior painting, the professionals at Harmony Painting have a lot of experience and knowledge, having served both residential and business clients for many years. They also provide fence painting or staining; deck and railing finishing, painting or staining; and other kinds of exterior painting services. When doing an exterior painting project, they will also be careful in protecting the surrounding property and furnishings. They will prepare the surfaces appropriately and take their time to make sure that they provide quality work. They will remove any loose paint, fill in any cracks, and clean the surfaces properly before applying a primer and then a low VOC high quality paint. Those who would like to schedule popcorn ceiling removal appointment can visit the Harmony Painting website, or contact them on the phone, or through email. For more information about Harmony Painting - Denver Interior, Exterior, and Commercial Painters, contact the company here: Harmony Painting - Denver Interior, Exterior, and Commercial Painters Spencer Melfi 720-571-0500 info@harmonypaintingdenver.com Harmony Painting - Denver Interior, Exterior, and Commercial Painters 2008 South Corona Street Denver, CO 80219 SOURCE: Harmony Painting View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/583997/Harmony-Painting-Offers-Popcorn-Ceiling-Removal-in-Denver (GETTY) Canadas energy sector has weathered storms in recent years. But this one is expected to be worse than 2008 and 2015, according to a Bank of Canada survey released on Monday. The central banks sample of Canadian oil and gas firms paints a dire picture as the dual forces of the COVID-19 demand hit and Saudi-Russian supply shock took hold. The bank conducted the short survey online and by phone between March 12 and March 18. The financial health across the sector has deteriorated significantly, the bank wrote. The majority of firms viewed the current oil price shock as worse than the episodes of significant oil price declines in 2008 or 2015. This is because accessing financing has been more difficult, and many businesses had been anticipating a bottoming-out in the sector, rather than a negative shock. A number of industry observers have said this recent plunge is like nothing theyve seen, given the issues on both the supply and demand sides, and the unpredictable nature of the unfolding global pandemic. March was a brutal month for Canadas energy patch. The price of North American benchmark oil was cut in half. Canadas primary crude grade fell to US$3.82 per barrel. Billions in planned spending was scrapped. Some firms halted operations. On average, companies had revised their 2020 capital spending down 30 per cent compared with 2019, the bank wrote. Significant staffing reductions were imminent, especially among oil-field service companies that employ a large share of the sectors workforce. An end to the hostility between Riyadh and Moscow seemed more distant on Monday after a planned OPEC+ meeting was postponed. That dragged West Texas Intermediate (WTI)(CL=F) crude down about six per cent to US$26. Western Canadian Select once again fell below US$10 per barrel. The majority of companies surveyed said they expect WTI prices to remain depressed for the remainder of 2020, averaging between US$30 and US$35, before recovering to US$40 to US$45 in 2021. Story continues RBC senior economist Josh Nye expects tough times for the energy sector will persist beyond efforts to contain COVID-19 that have reduced demand through slowed business activity and travel. This survey highlights the need for policymakers to provide more targeted support to the oil and gas industry, he wrote in a research note on Monday. Ottawa has yet to spell out its promised extra support measures for highly at-risk segments of the economy, like energy and airlines. Finance Minister Bill Morneau said on March 25 that more details would be unveiled in hours, possibly days. 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 transit officials will shut down all but 17 of 68 Muni bus lines this week because an estimated 40% of the systems operators are expected to be out because of the coronavirus outbreak. The service cut, which will take place over the next few days, comes a week after the citys fleet of Muni light-rail trains was shuttered and replaced by buses. Despite the shelter-in-place order, bus lines are still serving about 100,000 passengers a day many of them essential workers such as nurses, cooks, dishwashers and security guards said Jeffrey Tumlin, director of transportation for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. Tumlin said Sunday that transportation officials are figuring out which lines will remain open, and prioritizing routes that serve the most passengers, hospitals and areas where riders have few alternatives. The cuts come as coronavirus cases and deaths continue to climb in the Bay Area, California, and around the world. By Sunday there were 120 additional cases in the Bay Area, totaling 3,623 in the region and 15,182 confirmed cases in California. San Francisco reported 39 additional cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the citys total to 568. Across the U.S., COVID-19 has stricken more than 325,000 people and killed more than 9,400. Tumlin said five Muni workers have contracted the virus, and many others are members of vulnerable populations. Approximately 900 of the 1,200 operators are slated to report to work Monday, and that figure is expected to shrink later in the week. Monday will be a mess, Tumlin said, noting that they are expected to be short on operators yet wont begin service reductions until Tuesday, with a full rollout Wednesday. SFMTA is expected to lose about $200 million this quarter, Tumlin said, but added that the agency is striving to avoid layoffs and unpaid furloughs. Also in San Francisco, the citys Palace of Fine Arts will soon begin serving as a homeless shelter, according to Supervisor Catherine Stefani. The landmark structure in the Marina will start housing 20 to 25 people as soon as the end of this week, with more to come as many as 162. People will be screened for the coronavirus when they enter and there will be a curfew, Stefani said in a message shared on social media. Stefani said those sheltering at the facility will be housed in a socially distant and responsible way, and the facility will be cleaned with extreme frequency. 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. To fight this pandemic, San Francisco has rightly required everyone to shelter-in-place and to keep physical distance from others, Stefani said in her message. But we know that not everyone in San Francisco has the ability or resources to meet those requirements including those who live in our shelters and other congregate living facilities. Apple CEO Tim Cook announced Sunday that the tech giant has donated more than 20 million masks around the world, and has launched a companywide effort to design, produce and ship face shields for health workers. The first batch was delivered to Kaiser facilities in the Santa Clara Valley this week, and Cook said the company anticipates shipping more than 1 million by the end of the week and 1 million per week after that. For Apple, this is a labor of love and of gratitude, Cook said in a Twitter post. We will share more of our efforts over time. In the meantime, each of us can stop the spread of the virus by following expert advice to stay home and practice social distancing. Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Paul Sandle (Reuters) London, United Kingdom Mon, April 6, 2020 07:40 645 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206fe154e 2 World Scotland,official,resign,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-travel-restriction,COVID-19-quarantine Free Scotland's Chief Medical Officer Catherine Calderwood resigned on Sunday after she broke her own advice to stay at home to help slow the spread of the coronavirus by visiting her second home this weekend and last. Calderwood said that during discussions with Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Sunday evening they agreed her actions risked distracting from the "hugely important job that government and the medical profession has to do in getting the country through this coronavirus pandemic". "It is with a heavy heart that I resign as chief medical officer," she said. Police had earlier issued a warning to Calderwood about her behavior and Sturgeon had removed her as the public face of the campaign to tackle the coronavirus. Photographs of Calderwood visiting her holiday home in Earlsferry, on Scotland's east coast about an hour's drive from the capital Edinburgh, were published in the Scottish Sun. Calderwood had apologized earlier on Sunday when she appeared next to Sturgeon at a news briefing that was supposed to update the country on the response to the pandemic, but was instead dominated by her actions. "I did not follow the advice I'm giving to others, I'm truly sorry for that," she said. She said she had seen comments calling her a hypocrite and saying she was irresponsible. "What I did was wrong. I'm very sorry," she said. She also apologized to police and National Health Service (NHS) colleagues. But the apology did little to calm a storm of criticism from opposition politicians and the public. Police Scotland said officers had spoken to Calderwood about her actions and had warned her about her future conduct. "The legal instructions on not leaving your home without a reasonable excuse apply to everyone," Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said in a statement. "Individuals must not make personal exemptions bespoke to their own circumstances. It is vital everyone adheres to these requirements." Sturgeon had said earlier on Sunday that the chief medical officer would no longer take part in coronavirus media briefings, and that she had not known Calderwood was spending weekends at her second home. "I am acutely aware of the importance of public trust in the advice the government is giving to stay at home in order to save lives and protect our NHS," Sturgeon said. Scotland has recorded 3,345 coronavirus cases and 218 deaths. A former US Marine who was serving life in jail for murdering his nursing boss called his onetime lawyer the day before he killed himself in prison. Walter Ciaran Marsh was found dead at the maximum security Lithgow Correctional Centre last Friday, ten years after killing Sydney nurse manager Michelle Beets, 57. New South Wales Corrective Services confirmed the 59-year-old's body was discovered by officers around 8.20am. No cause of death was given but Daily Mail Australia understands Marsh was in a single cell in segregation and killed himself. Prominent solicitor Ben Archbold, who represented Marsh during his 2011 murder trial, said his former client had called his office last Thursday morning. 'Walter rang me Thursday and I wasn't in to take his call,' Mr Archbold said. 'He asked if I could arrange for his embassy to come and see him.' Former US Marine and nurse Walter Marsh called his solicitor the day before he was found dead in his New South Wales prison cell. Marsh was serving life for murdering Sydney nurse manager Michelle Beets, 57. He believed she had prevented him getting another job Walter Ciaran Marsh (left) was serving a life sentence for killing nurse manager Michelle Beets (right) in 2010. He was found dead in his cell at Lithgow Correctional Centre on Friday Mr Archbold, who had not heard from Marsh for years, was surprised to learn of the peculiar call. 'It was really bizarre that he rang,' Mr Archbold said. 'He never asked to be put through to me. 'He just said, "Can you get Ben to get the US embassy to come and visit me?"' The Corrective Services NSW Investigations Branch and NSW Police are investigating Marsh's death, which will be the subject of a coronial inquest. Marsh liked to boast about his nursing and military skills and claimed he would be able to kill himself efficiently if he chose to end his life in prison. A prison source said Marsh had previously slashed his wrists with a tuna tin at another jail, activating the emergency button in his cell just in time to be rescued. 'This is a guy that when he was at Parklea he professionally controlled his bleeding by cutting his wrists to the point that he would hit the knock-up bell just before he passed out,' the source said. 'He wanted to be found just before he died, to be put on a stretcher with a view to escaping between the prison and the hospital. 'That was what he was bragging about after he had been found, taken to hospital, stitched up and returned.' Marsh was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for murdering Ms Beets after she did not renew his contract at Royal North Shore Hospital in 2010. Ms Beets, a nurse manager, was killed after she did not renew Walter Marsh's contract at Royal North Shore Hospital in 2010 He believed Ms Beets had given him several bad references which prevented him from getting another job which he needed to stay in Australia on a 457 visa. In April 2010, he crept into Ms Beets's Chatswood house, cut her throat and stabbed her eight times in the chest after she came home from work, leaving her to die on the verandah. Justice Derek Price described Beets's murder as 'an act of barbarity' which was 'cold, merciless and abhorrent' and noted Marsh had 'neither expressed remorse or shown contrition for the offence.' The murder came after weeks of planning in which Marsh surveilled Ms Beets's house to learn its layout and security and called her from payphones to see when she usually got home. The former embassy guard also used his wife and brother-in-law to practise throat-cutting techniques Marines were trained in to kill silently. But on April 27, 2010, Ms Beets changed her routine as she backed into her driveway instead of pulling straight in, forcing Marsh to confront her head-on. Her screams alerted neighbours and a couple walking their dog nearby, who challenged Marsh before he fled and they ran to Ms Beets's aid. Solicitor Ben Archbold, who represented Marsh during his murder trial, told Daily Mail Australia his former client had called his office last Thursday After the murder Marsh told his wife Samantha, whose testimony was critical to his conviction: 'It's done, the bitch is gone. No more bad references.' Marsh also planned to kill his ex-wife Tammy to avoid paying a $50,000 child support bill, and even flew to the U.S. to do it but failed. The killer failed to have his conviction and life sentence overturned on appeal in July 2015. Lawyers for Marsh argued Justice Price should not have allowed evidence of his knife training while in the Marine Corps in the 1970s. They submitted that evidence was not relevant and had prejudiced the jury. Three judges of the Court of Criminal Appeal found on the evidence of various Marines it was available to the jury to draw an inference that Marsh had received the training. The Court of Criminal Appeal described the murder of Ms Beets as 'extreme' and the evidence 'overwhelming'. Marsh crept into Ms Beets's Chatswood house and cut her throat and stabbed her eight times in the chest after she came home from work There were no witnesses to the murder, no forensic evidence at the crime scene such as DNA or fingerprints and no weapon was found. However the judges pointed to a raft of damning evidence including Marsh's confession to his wife. 'No part of my review leads me to have the slightest doubt about the guilt of the appellant,' Justice Ian Harrison said in the court's decision. 'The Crown submitted that the case at trial was irresistible. I agree.' While Marshs offending did not involve elements which typically attract a life sentence, such as torture or multiple victims, the court was satisfied the penalty was appropriate. 'The level of criminality exposed by the evidence in this case is extreme,' Justice Harrison found. 'Taken alone, the significant individual features of the crime are chilling.' Indias petrol sales shrank by 17.6 per cent and diesel demand tanked nearly 26 per cent in March as the economy froze under the nationwide lockdown announced to check the spread of Covid-19. Also, aviation turbine fuel (ATF) sales fell by 31.6 per cent as flights got suspended alongside the shutting of businesses and most vehicular traffic going off-road. Petrol sales dropped to 1.943 million tonnes in March sold in the same month in 2019, according to provisional industry demand numbers. Diesel, the most consumed fuel in the country, saw demand contract by 25.9 per cent to 4.982 million tonnes. Similarly, ATF sales fell to 4,63,000 tonnes. The only fuel that showed growth was LPG as households rushed to book refills for stocking during the three-week lockdown period. LPG sales rose 1.9 per cent to 2.286 million tonnes in March. These are provisional numbers for the three public sector oil marketing companies - Indian Oil Corp (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL). Actual March numbers after including sales by private sector firms would be announced in the next few days. Industry officials said the pattern in fuel consumption is likely to continue in April as the lockdown is to last till mid of the month and there are indications that part restrictions will continue even after the lockdown is lifted. Petrol and diesel sales in April are one-third of what they were a year back, they said adding demand is expected to pick up when the lockdown is lifted and restrictions on public transport lifted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a 21-day lockdown beginning March 25, shutting offices and factories, barring those involved in essential services. Also, flights were suspended, trains stopped plying and vehicles went off the road as most people were asked to stay home to help check the spread of coronavirus. March will be the first month in two-and-a-half-years when petrol sales would see a negative or degrowth. The fuel had registered an 8.2 per cent growth during the first 11 months of 2019-20 fiscal. Diesel has seen a 1.1 per cent rise in consumption from April 2019 to February 2020. It had seen sales slip into negative territory in January this year before rising in February. LPG consumption recorded a de-growth of 4.3 per cent during February and a cumulative growth of 6.2 per cent in April-February. RTHK: US denies diverting masks bound for Germany The United States had no knowledge of a shipment of face masks bound for Germany that officials in Berlin have accused it of diverting from an airport in Bangkok, a spokeswoman for the US embassy in Thailand said on Monday. The comment came after Berlin Secretary of Interior Andreas Geisel said on Friday that an order of 200,000 masks bound for Germany had been "confiscated" in Bangkok and diverted to the United States, calling it an "act of modern piracy". "The United States Government did not take any action to divert any 3M supplies that were destined to Germany nor did we have any knowledge of such a shipment," said Jillian Bonnardeaux, the spokeswoman for the US embassy in Bangkok. "We remain concerned about pervasive attempts to divide international efforts through unsourced, unattributed disinformation campaigns." Thai authorities were not reachable on Monday as the country was observing a public holiday. The accusation that masks were diverted came at a time when countries are scrambling to secure protective gear to battle the coronavirus pandemic. Allies of the United States from Europe to South America have complained about "Wild West" tactics they say Washington has employed to outbid or block shipments of medical supplies to original buyers. Globally, there were more than 1.25 million cases of coronavirus and 68,400 deaths across 211 countries and territories, as of Monday morning, according to a Reuters tally. Although Germany's Geisel said on Friday the consignment had been "confiscated" in Bangkok, his office rowed back a day later, saying it was still trying to clarify the circumstances of how the masks, which were ordered from a German wholesaler, and not from US manufacturer 3M, had been diverted. A spokeswoman for 3M had said the company had no evidence that its products had been seized. US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that "there has been no act of piracy". (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2020-04-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. LONDON Prime Minister Boris Johnson was moved into intensive care on Monday, a worrisome turn in his 10-day battle with the coronavirus and the starkest evidence yet of how the virus has threatened the British political establishment and thrown its new government into upheaval. The government said the decision was a precaution and that he had been in good spirits earlier in the day. But with Mr. Johnsons aides releasing few details about his condition, the nation kept a tense vigil on Monday night, hoping for the best and experiencing, together, the frightening mysteries of this disease. In a sign of how grave the situation had become, Downing Street said in a statement on Monday that Mr. Johnson had asked the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, to deputize for him where necessary. The pound fell against the dollar after investors reacted to the news. After noting earlier in the day that the prime minister was still getting official papers, Mr. Johnsons aides said he had been moved to the intensive care unit in case he needed a ventilator to help his recovery. Not every patient in critical care is ventilated, medical experts said, but many are or are at least given oxygen. The prime minister remains conscious, officials said. We stood on a landscape of rubble, oyster shells, ancient animal bones and a crazy jigsaw of tile, the detritus of what London ate and built for thousands of years. Roman roof tiles, charred tiles that withstood the Great Fire of London, tiles unmoored by the Blitz it was all there. Walking nearer to the water, there were hundreds of pins, bobbing in the murk pins that had swaddled 16th-century babies, pins a Victorian dressmaker would have used, pins that held a funeral shroud. Near the pins, there was a miniature dull sliver of gun gray, almost invisible to the naked eye. Lara spied it first, generously pointing me in its direction. It was a rose farthing from the time of Charles I, used to pay a wherryman, then dropped by drunken fingers. This was the story I told myself about it. Was its owner bound for a brothel, a playhouse, a bear fight? I clutched it tightly and said hello to the ghost of the person whose palm it rested in, hundreds of years before mine. The river had held it until now, a muddy guardian. There were pipe bowls and stems in their shards. Shoe soles tripped out of the mud, impossibly narrow and perfectly preserved. I wondered about their owners: one who may have stood in the audience at Shakespeares Globe; one a few hundred years later, who knew the horror of the workhouse. So often we rose-tint the past, but mudlarking throws that nostalgia on its head. The river spits history at us, forcing us to engage. It holds the bones of convicts, who were crammed inhumanely on prison barges for crimes as petty as stealing bread. The mud bears witness to the inherent injustice in being born a human. Horror and war have always existed. Plagues, pandemics, fires and persecutions abound. Tyrants reigned and murdered their wives by churchly decree. Humans are nothing if not consistent. But for thousands of years, people have also sought out the sun, sat by the side of the bridge and had a beer. They made their family dinners, and I carry the scraps of their plates home, to show mine. They celebrated engagements, marriages, births; they prayed to myriad gods and longed for an answer. Lovers engraved their names on tokens, the tide carried them away; children tried to catch wriggling elvers, dropping a hapenny as they slipped free. People sang their songs, drank their tea, paid to cross, whistled their tunes and wore their Sunday best. They held secrets in their hearts and sometimes threw them into the river, lost in the peaty water, until now. The great world continues to spin, the river ebbs and flows. I am one of many millions who has been here before. And this, this simple truth, reassures me. Hyderabad, April 6 : Telugu star Allu Arjun was among many celebrities who responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 9pm, 9 minute call on Sunday night to express solidarity in the fight against the COVID-19 crisis. Image Source: IANS Allu Arjun participates in 9 pm, 9 min for India call. Arjun took to Twitter, where he shared a photograph of himself participating in the Prime Minister's call. In the picture, the actor is seen standing at the gate of his house with his entire family including young son and daughter, diyas in their hands. He captioned the picture: "9pm-9mins". Arjun's photograph on the micro-blogging website currently has 5.8K retweets and 56K likes. Earlier last week, the Telugu star Allu Arjun penned an emotional note on his son Ayaan's birthday. Arjun had shared the picture and his note on Twitter. "I used to think 'what is Love ?' all my life. Many times in the past I felt strong feelings but I was not sure if it was love. But after you came into my life I now know what LOVE is. You are the LOVE. I Love you Ayaan. Happy Birthday My Baby," the actor wrote. Arjun married Sneha Reddy in Hyderabad in March 2011. The couple has two children, son Ayaan and daughter Arha. On the work front, Arjun's latest release "Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo" opened in January and went on to become a huge hit. The film co-stars Tabu and Pooja Hegde. The actor will next be seen in "AA20" directed by Sukumar. The film also stars Rashmika Mandanna, Vijay Sethupathi, Prakash Raj and Jagapati Babu. -- Syndicated from IANS At the time of this blog posting the Covid19 global updates stood as follows: cases: 1.2 million, deaths 65,832. This figure includes a young doctor in the front line of this battle to stop the deadly corona virus. Philippine Heart Association on 3rd April, 2020 declared the claim of a young doctors life by Covid19 "while fulfilling his duties as a doctor." The agency further stated: "It is a sad day for the whole association as we have lost one of our own in the fight against COVID. He is a casualty of this war". In Nigeria the battle is as fierce as you can imagine with the virus toll hitting 210 cases with 2 deaths. As those in front line, medical staff and support workers toil day and night to stop the bull, more humanitarian individuals and institutions have risen to the occasion with financial and resource contributions. United Nations donated medical equipment worth U80,000. World Health Organisation (WHO) has committed to the battle against Covid19 by the deployment of staff and donation of laboratory supplies in the pursuit of the institutions corporate social responsibility. So says its country representative, Dr Clement Lugala Peter. Germany donated U5.5 for the battle against the scourge. Others include: United Bank for Africa (UBA), Africa's Global Bank has donated N5 bn. African Research Company, 54 Gene launched Testing Support Fund with $150,000. Jack Ma, Chinese billionaire fought the virus with a donation of 20,000 testing kits, 10,000 protective suits. Dangote Foundation owned by a philantropist/industrialist and global business guru Alhaji Aliko Dangote donated N200 m for the fight against the virus. BUA group of companies donated N1.3 bn as contribution towards fight against corona virus. Dr Mike Adenuga of Globacom gave N1.5 bn to stop the disease. Bola Tinubu sponsored the battle with N200 m. Femi Otedola, industrialist pledged N1 bn in a show of global solidarity against the virus. Folorunsho Alakija, oil magnate made a donation of N1 bn to smash the scourge. Deji Adeleke, business tycoon father of music legend Davido donated N500 m towards waging battle against Covid19. Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) had announced donation of N1 bn to the 9 states benefiting from the commission. Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced the donation of 2 isolation centers and 5 ambulances to eradicate the deadly disease. Lagos state being a critical sector has perfected plans with group of insurance companies to cover the lives of medical and front-line staff. Our legislators, 109 senators as well as 43 ministers have indicated their preparedness to forgo half of their March salaries in their efforts towards the combat. Covid19.ncdc.gov.ng free toll 080097000010 The gestures of these individuals and corporate institutions acknowledges the importance of corporate social responsibility, even in the austere time like this. We identify with these efforts and shall endeavor to keep updates as much as we can. Meanwhile a word for donors. Crowd/public funding has a common challenge everywhere in the world: abuse. Therefore donors are advised to ensure that funds are focused on PURPOSE for which they are donated. Iyke Ozemena Esq is a Corporate Attorney/Consultant IKECHUKWU O. ODOEMELAM & CO #corporateleaders :// www.amazon.com/dp/B005MKCESY MEETINGS: Dynamics and Legality CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Is there another way to fight the coronavirus? But with fears that the curve -- and therefore stay-at-home measures -- will last through June, is there another new, more practical way to protect our communities? Take Sweden, which has closed high schools and banned gatherings over 50 people, but is isolating only the most vulnerable. Grade schools, shops and restaurants are still open. According to the National Review, Johan Giesecke, Swedens former chief epidemiologist and now adviser to the Swedish Health Agency, says that other nations have taken political, unconsidered actions that are not justified by the facts. So without adequate testing and absolute knowledge about how long the coronavirus lives on surfaces and the air, is it worth asking if social isolation -- and the shutdown of everything nonessential -- is the only way to control the pandemic? Obviously Ohios early, strict stay-at-home strategies are working. Gov. Mike DeWine said last week we were in a decent position." But much of the strategy is based on what we learned in the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918. Technology and science have advanced mightily since then. Could Americas can-do spirit innovate here to find less debilitating ways forward? Editor Chris Quinn sent out this question on our from-the-newsroom Subtext account, a free service in which he shares once or twice a day what were thinking about at cleveland.com. You can sign up for free by sending a text to 216-868-4802. (Youve also been offering all sorts of great perspective in our coronavirus alert account, which has 12,000-plus subscribers. You can sign up for free by texting 216-279-7784.) Here are a few of the responses Chris got back: I agree that some sectors of the economy can phase in using technology and common sense measures, but has to be planned very cautiously and clearly communicated because there is risk. Too many people are hearing and heeding the wrong messages, and will see any opening as an excuse to immediately get back to normal. And that could, in effect, destroy all the sacrifice made to this point. Rather than always reacting, we need to see a strategic plan with clear milestones. Right now this is sorely lacking. Im not convinced people would adhere to the protocols instituted...many couldnt afford to maintain them and many others would be fixated on circumventing them. People arent even reliably practicing social distancing when they leave their homes. I think staying home is the only real shot we have at compliance. Agree. Ramp up mask production significantly. Have enough for more essential businesses, like manufacturing to get back to work. Also, institute social distancing measures for those more essential businesses. Unfortunately my belief is that things like public gatherings and eating in restaurants will have to wait. Too many people are not self-disciplined enough to make it work for all of us. The problem is the lack of data. We are not offering widespread testing to see who has the antibodies and who doesnt. We check prostrate, mammograms, strep throat, ear infections...its not unusual to think we could have a test for this too and then concurrently develop a vaccine. Just my opinion. Agree, but people rarely wear PPE the way they are actually supposed to. The idea of keeping a mask on correctly for an entire work day out is just not something most people will do. Of course, there isnt another way quite yet. And soon is relative, right? Our best and brightest minds are working feverishly on this. Theyre making progress and its pretty incredible. Four months ago, this virus was unknown. Today, Ive read that the guess is 25% of the worlds population is infected, and could end up at 40-70%. We just have to ride this out. Quarantine has been the response to plagues for millennia because of fear, but also because it helps. Before we understood anything of germs, we realized that, whatever it was, it seemed to need living creatures to spread. So no; this is scary, and bad, and its going to get worse. We just need to hunker down and starve the damn thing until its spread is fractured. If were lucky, within a few months our scientists will have started to patch together some mitigation-type treatments. THEN, maybe we can start creeping out of our dens, and tentatively try returning to some semi-normal life. I think its going to be a very long time, though, before we return to carefree and thoughtless social associations. Like well have some type of social PTSD. Need widespread antibody testing in order to reopen. Thats the only way. For every world event that causes disaster for some also causes opportunity for others. Every kid (and adult) who has ever competed in a Science Olympiad should be using that brain power and creativity to come up with a solution to this problem of how to stay protected from this virus while still living a relatively normal life. As always, our hope and our future lie in the success of our young people. We should follow the advice and recommendations of scientists and health care professionals (and not business people or economists.) If the scientific community and health care professionals believe there is another way that would work and we all understand and are comfortable taking the risks, then lets try it. YES! There is a manufacturing company near Columbus that has re-tooled to allow for the appropriate 6-foot distance between workers. They have re-configured their lunch room. Given everyone PPE. All employees who can work at home have been given the tools to be able to work from home. We are innovative. We are smart. Given the chance most of us will continue to do the right thing. Massive testing is the solution to opening back up. this 14-day precautionary isolation is necessary only because there is a shortage of testing. This 15-minute point-of-care test, if and when readily available is the solution. I am worried that giving the PPE to everyone will bring out the hoarders. Then once again our first responders, medical, nursing home people, retail will be scrambling for their lives without protection. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page Married At First Sight star Elizabeth Sobinoff has lashed out at Michael Goonan and KC Osborne, claiming their relationship is just 'revenge' against Stacey Hampton. Appearing on Talking Married on Sunday night, Elizabeth laid into her former co-stars, claiming that Stacey and KC had been close and 'confided in one another' and hence KC's involvement with Michael is a betrayal to Stacey. Elizabeth said: 'If KC and Michael are together, I will be very disappointed in each of them, because KC was very friendly with Stacey when filming, and Stacey confided in KC a lot'. Revenge? Elizabeth Sobinoff has lashed out at Michael Goonan (right) and KC Osborne (left), claiming their relationship is just 'revenge' against Stacey Hampton She added: 'I would also say that I would think that would be more of a revenge thing from Michael to get back at Stacey. 'If Stacey did cheat, if she did cheat, she was not close with Michael at that point. There was a little bit of separation there and Mikey wasn't with Natasha, so different circumstances. 'And the fact that Michael is ready to throw in the towel like that when Stacey was confiding in KC at that moment. Not cool!' Lizzie concluded. After keeping their relationship a secret for weeks, KC and Michael finally made things official on Monday. Pals: Appearing on Talking Married on Sunday night, Elizabeth (pictured) laid into her co-stars, claiming that Stacey and KC had been close and 'confided in one another' Elizabeth said: 'If KC and Michael are together, I will be very disappointed in each of them, because KC was very friendly with Stacey when filming, and Stacey confided in KC a lot' The lovebirds, who were originally paired with other people in the social experiment, kissed in public for the first time in Elwood, Melbourne. Michael, 29, who manages his family's commercial ice business, was attending work meetings and KC, 31, was accompanying him. He was previously partnered with Stacey on MAFS, but they broke up after the reunion dinner party in mid-January. KC split from her 'husband', Drew Brauer, a few weeks after their final vows in December. She added: 'I would also say that I would think that would be more of a revenge thing from Michael to get back at Stacey'. Pictured: Stacey Hampton On Monday, KC and Michael spoke to New Idea about their relationship, confirming they were indeed together after weeks of speculation. In their first joint interview, the couple told the magazine they had been dating since early March and were self-isolating together in Melbourne. They are planning to stay at Michael's home for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic. 'It's love,' said Michael. 'We have one hell of a journey ahead of us.' ; Tamil Nadu on Monday continued to top the southern states with the most number of COVID19 patients, with a bulk of them being returnees of the Tablighi Jamaat religious congregation in Delhi last month. Kerala also reported fresh cases of the virus, some of them with a history of travel to the national capital to attend the Islamic meet in Nizamuddin West in South Delhi. Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda expressed concern over an entire community being allegedly projected in bad light in the social media on this issue, and wanted government action against such persons. On Monday, Tamil Nadu reported 50 new cases of coronavirus, with as many as 48 of them having attended the Delhi conference. With the 50 new ones, Tamil Nadu's overall positive cases stood at 621 on Monday, Health Secretary Beela Rajesh said. Of the total 621 positive coronavirus cases, 574 are returnees of the Delhi Tablighi Jamaat meet as of today, the government said. As many as six people from the state have died of the virus, with two of them having a Tablighi Jamaat connection. A 51-year-old man from Villupuram in who had attended the congregation in Delhi and the wife of another positive case from Theni who participated in that meet are the two fatalities. In Kerala, 13 fresh cases of the virus were reported on Monday with three of them being returnees of the Jamaat event. Two people from Malappuram and one from Kollam had returned after attending the Tablighi Jamaat meeting in New Delhi, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram. So far, the southern state has reported 327 positive cases and two fatalities. Meanwhile, Deve Gowda said an entire minority community was being projected in bad light on the social media in the backdrop of several attendees of the Tablighi event testing positive for COVID-19 and urged the Karnatka government to take legal action against those indulging in such acts. In a letter to Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Monday, he appreciated the efforts of the Karnataka governmentin identifying and testing Tablighi event returnees for COVID-19 and also sought action against those trying to project the entireminority community in bad light on social media for the spread of the pandemic. Gowda also condemned incidents of attacks on doctors and health department workers and sought protection for them. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) global pandemic has changed many things across the globe bringing chaos to lives and economies. However, efforts to curb the spread of the virus, have lowered pollution levels, carbon emissions, and oceans and rivers appear cleaner. Now, it seems that the lockdown efforts have also affected the planet's movement. With roughly one-third of the world's population in lockdown, the planet is quieter. The reduction in the hum of daily human activity has led to a decrease in Earth's crust vibrations, a team of scientists explained in an article published in Nature. Vibrations of human noise According to the scientists at the Royal Observatory of Belgium in Brussels, a noise reduction of this magnitude is only experienced for a short moment each year at Christmas time. Seismic "Noise" (vibrations) induced by human activity is still going down, down, down! #StayHomeBelgium works! pic.twitter.com/0lOGisKmkd Seismologie.be (@Seismologie_be) March 23, 2020 The reported a significant drop in seismic noise, the buzz of vibrations in the planet's crust that as a result of human activities being shut down during the coronavirus disease pandemic. Anthropogenic seismic noise or sounds are vibrations created by human movement through activities such as transportation, travel, concerts, and other big sounds. Seismograph. Image Credit: Vchal / Shutterstock Traffic, trains, the sound of machinery, and electric power lines, among others, can influence vibration levels. The differences can be seen between holidays and working days, and day and night. Seismometers are instruments that respond to ground motions, including volcanic eruptions and earthquakes or tremors. The data recorded from the equipment is typically used to locate and characterize earthquakes and analyze the internal structure of the planet. Changes in sound Before the coronavirus outbreak, Kenmore Square's acoustic environment, which is usually a bustling intersection, is about 90 decibels during rush hour. During widespread lockdown across various countries, the reading was just at 68 decibels. Further, the team studied some spots in the Fenway Park area, has a reading of 30 decibels. Kenmore Square, Boston. Image Credit: Marcio Jose Bastos Silva / Shutterstock Lockdowns were imposed to contain the spread of the virus, and if they continue in the coming months, the city-based detectors across the globe may be better at detecting the earthquake aftershock locations. "You'll get a signal with less noise on top, allowing you to squeeze a little more information out of those events," Andy Frassetto, a seismologist at the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology in Washington DC, said. The reduced noise and seismic activity could benefit seismologists to study the Earth's crust through studying background vibrations. Also, quieter conditions, like for as long as seven months, can be a good thing. Noise pollution has been tied to various diseases such as sleep problems, stress-related disorders, high blood pressure, and other health problems. Scientists can have the unique opportunity to listen to the planet's natural sounds, without the background noise of people. This way, they can have baseline data for future studies. Further, without the noise people create due to daily activities, scientists can also detect smaller earthquakes, which are otherwise not heard. Coronavirus global numbers The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has so far infected more than 1.27 million people and killed more than 69,000 people. The number will continue to rise as more countries grapple with the virus, with the United States being the hardest-hit country in the world. The U.S. has a staggering 337,274 confirmed cases as of writing and 9,633 deaths. Italy has reported 128,948 confirmed cases and 15,887 deaths, while Spain has moved up with 131,646 cases and 12,641 deaths. Germany has now topped 100,000 cases, while the United Kingdom has 48,440 cases and nearly 5,000 deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) strongly recommends social distancing, contact tracing, and mass testing to curb the pandemic, which has impacted nations and economies. Most countries have imposed lockdowns in the effort to contain the virus. "The restrictions many countries have put in place to protect health are taking a heavy toll on the income of individuals and families and the economies of communities and nations. We are in a shared struggle to protect both lives and livelihoods," Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, said. Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. Most states have now issued orders for everyone other than essential workers to stay home except in a few instances, such as to buy groceries or seek necessary medical care. When people do go out, health officials advise staying away from others, or social distancing. The goal is to slow down the spread of the novel coronavirus. Along with social distancing, the steps youd take to protect yourself from colds and the flu will also help reduce your risk of contracting the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to Jesse Goodman, M.D., M.P.H., a professor of medicine and infectious diseases at Georgetown University. Here, some of the most important steps to take to stay safe. Stay Home The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the White House recommend staying home as much as possible. Around the country, cities and states are implementing social distancing measures by closing restaurants and other businesses, requiring telecommuting where possible, and moving schools to distance learning plans. Follow any instructions and recommendations from your local health officials. The idea behind social distancing is to reduce the chances that the virus will spread. According to the CDC, respiratory viruses are most often transmitted between people who are less than 6 feet apart, so keep that in mind when you need to go outside to buy supplies or do solo exercise. This is especially important for people at high risk of serious illness due to COVID-19, including those 60 and older and anyone with a chronic medical condition like diabetes, heart disease, or lung disease. If youre sick, you should avoid going out even for groceries, according to the White House guidelines. Leave your house only if you need medical care. (Its a good idea to have groceries on hand for a couple of weeks in case you get sick for this reason.) And in general, you should try to avoid people who may be coughing, sneezing, or ill, says Goodman. While evidence shows that people can spread the coronavirus before they show symptoms, something like a cough can disperse the virus farther into the air. (If you have to cough or sneeze, be sure to use a tissue, or cough into the crook of your elbowand clean your hands right after.) Story continues Seriously, Wash Your Hands Theres a good reason the admonition to wash your hands is so frequently repeated. Hand-washing is critical in stopping the spread of respiratory viruses and other bugs, and its one of several measures the CDC recommends for reducing your risk of COVID-19, the flu, and more. When should you wash your hands? At a minimum, do so after you use the bathroom, before you eat, and after you blow your nose, cough, or sneeze, according to the CDC. Its also important to use the proper technique. That means not just rinsing your hands for a few seconds, Goodman says. Use soap and scrub for at least 20 seconds. At home, its a good idea to regularly clean frequently touched surfaces, like doorknobs, handles, and counters. Keep Sanitizer Handy If youre in a situation where you need to wash your hands but arent able to get to a sinksuch as after you pump gas or touch a door to exit your apartment buildingan alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol is your next best option. With the flu still circulating widely in many states, cleaning your hands after being in crowded spaces or after touching surfaces in public areas makes sense, Goodman says, and hand sanitizer is a good, portable way to meet that need. Along with washing or cleaning your hands, try to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Sometimes you can arbitrarily pick up germs in between hand hygiene cleaning, so its key to try to keep your hands away from your face and eyes, says Connie Steed, M.S.N., R.N., president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). Thats how viruses can get from your hands into your system, making you sick. Wear a Face Covering Along with practicing social distancing and frequent hand-washing, the CDC now recommends that nearly everyone wear a cloth face covering when out in public. (Medical masks should generally be reserved for healthcare workers, who desperately need them when caring for highly infectious patients at close range.) While handmade face coverings aren't very effective at protecting the wearer, they can help protect others. That's important because mounting evidence shows that people can spread the virus even before they feel sick. Asymptomatic transmission could be slowed if more people covered their mouth and nose when in public. Those who are sick or caring for people who have COVID-19 should wear medical masks if they're available and other face coverings if they're not. Health officials have emphasized that wearing a mask isn't a substitute for staying home as much as possible and practicing social distancing. (See our article for more about masks.) Editor's Note: This article, originally published Feb. 27., has been updated to include the latest information about coronavirus protection. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright 2020, Consumer Reports, Inc. ASX-listed plumbing supplies giant Reece has tapped the market with a $600 million capital raise, becoming the latest in a long list of companies seeking extra funds during the pandemic. Reece chief executive Peter Wilson said sales of hot water units and heating equipment had risen "substantially" in March as families anticipated a long period at home during the coronavirus outbreak. But despite the rise in sales, Mr Wilson said the capital raising was "really about fortifying the business, to be able to take advantage of the opportunities that will eventually arise". Reece says its $600 million capital raise will fortify the business. The company told the ASX it was a "pre-emptive and decisive" step that would strengthen its balance sheet and position it for the future. Reece will also "temporarily" suspend dividend payments to shareholders. The money to be raised includes a fully underwritten $232 million accelerated pro rata non-renounceable entitlement offer, a fully underwritten $368 million institutional placement and a non-underwritten share purchase plan. NEW YORK (AP) Americans braced for what the nation's top doctor warned Sunday would be the hardest and saddest week of their lives while Britain assumed the unwelcome mantle of deadliest coronavirus hot spot in Europe after a record 24-hour jump in deaths that surpassed even hard-hit Italy's. Britain's own prime minister, Boris Johnson, was hospitalized, 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19 in what his office described as a precautionary step. STILL LIFE: Drone photos show an empty Houston from the sky during stay-at-home order Amid the dire news, there were also glimmers of hope some hard-hit areas the number of people dying appeared to be slowing in New York City, Spain and Italy. The news was cautiously welcomed by leaders, who also noted that any gains could easily be reversed if people did not continue to adhere to strict lockdowns. U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams offered a stark warning about the expected wave of virus deaths. This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment, he told Fox News Sunday. But President Donald Trump later suggested the hard weeks ahead could foretell the turning of a corner. Were starting to see light at the end of the tunnel, Trump said at an evening White House briefing. In New York City, the U.S. epicenter of the pandemic, daily deaths dropped slightly, along with intensive care admissions and the number of patients who needed breathing tubes inserted, but New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned it was too early to tell the significance of those numbers. Italy and Spain also got some encouraging news. Italy registered its lowest day-to-day increase in deaths in more than two weeks 525, said Angelo Borrelli, the head of the national Civil Protection agency. The pace of infection also seemed to be slowing. Even so, Borrelli warned, This good news shouldnt make us drop our guard." CORONAVIRUS CELEBS: Celebrities whove tested positive for COVID-19 Confirmed infections fell in Spain, too, and new deaths declined for the third straight day, dropping to 674 the first time daily deaths have fallen below 800 in the past week. The outlook, however, was bleak in Britain, which reported more than 600 deaths Sunday, surpassing Italy's increase. Italy still has, by far, the worlds highest coronavirus death toll almost 16,000. In a rare televised address, Queen Elizabeth II appealed to Britons to rise the occasion, while acknowledging enormous disruptions, grief and financial difficulties. I hope in the years to come, everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge, she said. And those who come after us will say that the Britons of this generation were as strong as any. Johnson, meanwhile, has been hospitalized, though his office said it was not an emergency and that the 55-year-old Conservative will undergo tests. There are concerns that Johnson's government did not take the virus seriously enough at first and that spring weather will tempt Britons and others to break social distancing rules. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the U.K. might even ban outdoor exercise if people still flout the rules.'' HOW DID WE GET HERE?: A timeline of the coronavirus pandemic The vast majority of people are following the public health advice, which is absolutely critical, and staying at home," Hancock told Sky TV. "But there are a small minority of people who are still not doing that its quite unbelievable, frankly, to see that. As the numbers of infections rose, Saffron Cordery, the deputy head of Britain's National Health Service Providers, said the agency needed to focus on quickly increasing ventilator capacity and getting more protective equipment for health care workers. Italians have not been immune to lure of the good weather, either. Top Italian officials took to national television after photos were published showing huge crowds out shopping. Health Minister Roberto Speranza told RAI state television that all the sacrifices Italians have made since the nationwide lockdown began risked being reversed. Restrictions on movement vary from country to country, state to state, locality to locality. Swedes have been advised to practice social distancing, but schools, bars and restaurants remain open. In Germany and Britain, residents can get outdoors to exercise and walk their dogs, while in Serbia and South Africa, dog walking is not allowed. The ACLU filed its first lawsuit over coronavirus restrictions, arguing in part that Puerto Rico's curfew leaves people fearing arrest if they help elderly relatives by letting police determine who belongs in a family. A coastal community's mayor in Georgia fears the governor's mandate to open beaches will bring crowds to the small island with older residents and no medical facility. At the Vatican, Pope Francis blessed palms for Palm Sunday in a near-empty St. Peters Basilica. At a New Orleans church, Rev. Emmanuel Mulenga blessed palm fronds and put them on a back table so people could get them while also observing social distancing. FURLOUGHS: These companies have furloughed or laid off Houston and Texas workers due to virus Worldwide, more than 1.2 million people have been confirmed infected and nearly 70,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. The true numbers are certainly much higher, due to limited testing, different ways nations count the dead and deliberate under-reporting by some governments. The vast majority of infected people recover from the virus, which is spread by microscopic droplets from coughs or sneezes. For most people, the virus causes mild to moderate symptoms such as fever and cough. But for some, especially older adults and the infirm, it can cause pneumonia and lead to death. The rapid spread of the virus in the United States has prompted a chaotic scramble for medical equipment and protective gear. An Associated Press review of purchasing contracts showed that federal agencies largely waited until mid-March more than two months after the first warnings of a potential pandemic to begin placing bulk orders of N95 respirator masks, mechanical ventilators and other equipment needed by front-line health care workers. By that time, hospitals in several states were treating thousands of infected patients without adequate equipment and pleading for shipments from the national stockpile. Now that stockpile is nearly drained just as the numbers of patients requiring critical care is surging. When asked about the issue, Trump said federal officials and the military had worked "a miracle. Rebekah Gee, who heads the Louisiana State Universitys health care services division, warned that the private and public sector have been competing with each other, leading to price increases. Gee said one of her colleagues went on eBay to buy gowns, while equipment her department ordered from China got stalled for weeks in Hong Kong. Our whole country is at war with this virus, said Gee, who once ran the states Department of Health. This needs a coordinated approach, and right now thats not happening. Louisiana and the New Orleans area have been hard hit by the virus, and Gov. John Bel Edwards has repeatedly warned of looming equipment shortages. SAFE SHOPPING: How you can avoid coronavirus exposure while shopping Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said he hoped the pace of new infections would plateau soon, but that the virus is unlikely to be eradicated this year. Speaking on CBS's Face the Nation, Fauci said the prospect of a resurgence is why the U.S. is working so hard to develop a vaccine and conducting clinical trials on treatments. Scientists are still learning about the virus that was first detected in late December in Wuhan, China. In what is believed to be the first known infection in an animal in the U.S., officials said Sunday that a tiger at the Bronx Zoo had tested positive. ___ D'Emilio reported from Rome. Associated Press writers around the world contributed to this report. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, India's major ports and PSUs under the Ministry of Shipping on Monday announced contributing Rs 52 crore to the PM-CARES Fund to fight the pandemic. India has 12 major ports -- Deendayal (erstwhile Kandla), Mumbai, JNPT, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Kamarajar (earlier Ennore), V.O. Chidambaranar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia). "All major ports and public sector undertakings under the Ministry of Shipping have decided to contribute Rs 52 crore as CSR fund to the 'Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund' (PM-CARES Fund) which has been created to provide relief to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic-affected people," the Ministry of Shipping said in a statement. Apart from 12 major ports, other entities under the shipping ministry which contributed to the Fund include Cochin Shipyard Ltd, which contributed Rs 2.5 crore; Dredging Corporation and DGLL pledged Rs 1 crore each; IPRCL Rs 0.5 crore; Shipping Corporation of India Rs 0.37 crore; and SDCL Rs 0.094 crore. Among the major ports, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust contributed the highest Rs 16.40 crore from corporate social responsibility (CSR) to the PM-CARES Fund, followed by Rs 8 crore each by Deendayal Port Trust and Paradip Port Trust, and Rs 4 crore each by Kamarjar Port and New Mangalore Port Trust. V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust gave Rs 2 crore to the Fund for fight against COVID-19, while Vishakhapatnam Port Trust, Kolkata Port Trust and Mumbai Port Trust contributed Rs 1 each crore each to the Fund. Among others, Cochin Port Trust contributed Rs 0.54 crore, Chennai Port Trust Rs 0.50 crore and Mormagao Port Trust Rs 0.25 crore. The death toll due to novel coronavirus in the country rose to 109 and the number of cases climbed to 4,067 on Monday, according to the Union Health Ministry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) OTTAWA, April 5, 2020 /CNW/ - Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada, wishes to share the following message from Her Majesty The Queen: "As the people of Canada experience profound and rapid changes to their lives, we are all concerned about the future. It may be difficult to remain hopeful when faced with loss and uncertainty, but Canadians have many reasons for optimism, even in the most trying times. Across Canada, countless people continue to care for the most vulnerable and to provide essential services for their fellow citizens. I am thankful for their dedication and for the hope it offers. In the coming weeks and months, the people of Canada will need to continue to work together to ensure the health and vitality of our communities. I know that Canadians will remain optimistic and will rise to the challenges ahead. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Canada at this time." Elizabeth R. Message from Her Excellency the Governor General of Canada "One cannot choose when hardship comes, but one can choose how to respond to it in times of crisis. Canadians are grateful for the incredible dedication and care Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II continues to show to all. Like many around the world, we listened to her inspiring words as she addressed the nation about the coronavirus outbreak. In these most difficult times, it is absolutely essential to stay the course, to not get discouraged, and to continue to do our part. It is important to hold fast to news that gives us hope and to the lifelines that are all around us: the people who have recovered, the stories of mutual aid and solidarity from every part of Canada, the steadfastness of our public officers, the courage and dedication of our health care professionals, our collective resilience. Together we are all making a difference. We are all part of the fight against the virus. Stay put, stay safe, stay healthy." Julie Payette For information regarding the activities of the Governor General and the OSGG during the COVID-19 crisis, please consult the following: Britons are being warned by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) against all non-essential global travel abroad 'indefinitely' as the coronavirus crisis continues. The FCO said that travellers could face 'severe disruption' and may be unable to return home if they leave the UK at this time. But consumer champion Which? has warned that the lack of an end date could cause confusion and prevent travellers claiming refunds. The Foreign Office tweeted that it advises against all non-essential global travel indefinitely Earlier this month, a 30-day advisory was put in place by the FCO warning against all non-essential foreign travel until April 15. But on Saturday, the FCO tweeted: 'The Foreign Office indefinitely advises against all non-essential global travel.' It added: 'The situation is changing rapidly. Travellers could face severe disruption and be unable to return to the UK.' It also quietly updated its website to say: 'FCO extends advice against travelling overseas for an indefinite period.' However, Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: 'While it is right the government extends its advice, the FCOs decision to make the time period indefinite will cause a huge amount of confusion for anyone who has foreign travel booked in the months ahead. Passengers arriving at Heathrow Airport over the weekend. Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: 'While it is right the government extends its advice, the FCOs decision to make the time period indefinite will cause a huge amount of confusion' 'The travel warning should be extended to a definitive date, which can be reviewed if needed, so that travellers have some much-needed clarity around refunds, rebooking or claiming on insurance. 'The government, travel sector and insurers must work together to ensure that any emergency measures introduced in response to this crisis include strong guarantees or protections to prevent consumers from losing their money if a travel firm fails.' A spokesperson from Abta (Association of British Travel Agents) said: 'The FCO travel advice against all but essential travel has now removed the interim review date and could be in place for the foreseeable future however, this travel restriction can be removed at any time. 'Therefore Abtas advice remains the same for managing a similar restriction for an individual country. 'Each company will have their own process for managing future departures and will be contacting customers due to travel imminently. There is no legal definition of "imminent travel", however it is generally considered to be within the next few days. British Airways aircraft parked up at Heathrow's Terminal 5. The Foreign Office says it is 'ramping up' efforts to bring home thousands of British travellers stranded overseas due to the coronavirus crisis 'Our advice to customers with future bookings is to be patient and wait to be contacted by your travel provider. 'Travel companies are extremely busy, given the pressures of the current crisis, and will be looking at imminent departures first and deciding how far in advance they will offer alternative arrangements or refunds.' To add to the confusion, it has been reported that airlines including British Airways and easyJet are selling tickets for flights in May - despite health officials warning a global lockdown could last for months. Meanwhile, the FCO says it is 'ramping up' efforts to bring home thousands of British travellers stranded overseas due to the coronavirus crisis. Flights have been chartered to bring home Britons from Bolivia, Ecuador, the Philippines and India. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: 'Travellers are facing an unprecedented challenge on a global scale, and I know people are understandably desperate to get back to their homes and loved ones. 'We are committed to supporting Britons getting home either through commercial routes we have helped keep open or through specially chartered flights.' An elderly couple stuck on a coronavirus-infected cruise ship in the Mediterranean are back in Florida now, but have been "prisoners" in their West Palm Beach home for two weeks while awaiting their COVID-19 test results. Marin Pavkovic, 84, and his wife, Angela, 79, were passengers on the Costa Luminosa, which had a coronavirus outbreak days after leaving Fort Lauderdale on March 5 for a trans-Atlantic trip to Venice, Italy. An elderly couple from Fort Pierce were on the ship too, but their daughter asked that they remain anonymous and declined to talk about their experience. Before docking March 19 in Marseille, France, 75 passengers reportedly had COVID-19 symptoms or had been in contact with people who did, according to a report by the Reuters news agency. Angela and Marin Pavkovic of West Palm Beach, seen here visiting Seattle in 2019, were stranded on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean Sea as of March 17, 2020. Confined to their cabin and not knowing when or how they would get off the 1,400-passenger ship was nerve-wracking, Marin Pavkovic said; but things got worse when they got off the ship and began a harrowing journey home. "At Marseille, they let all the American citizens and the Canadians off, around 400 of us," Pavkovic said. "There were police cars everywhere. They checked us, physicals, one by one. It took several hours. Then they put us on buses, maybe 10 to 15 buses, and took us to the airplane." Several dozen French passengers also were allowed off the boat. French media later reported 36 tested positive for COVID-19. The Costa Luminosa disembarked more than 700 passengers in Marseilles, France, on Friday. From sea to air The buses sat on the tarmac for five hours before passengers boarded an overnight flight to Atlanta. During the flight, U.S. health officials learned three of the passengers had tested positive for coronavirus back in Marseilles. "A lot of people on the plane were sick;" Pavkovic said. "Maybe not sick from the virus, but sick. I'm 85, and a lot of people were around my age. Everybody looked sick, even if they weren't sick." A Customs and Border Protection officer meets a plane carrying 359 American and Canadian passengers from Costa Luminosa. Three people on the flight, which arrived in Atlanta Friday, have tested positive for coronavirus. Passengers were not given meals, only juice and snacks during the flight or during the several hours after the plane landed at 6:30 a.m. March 20 in Atlanta and sat on the tarmac. Story continues "No water, no food and it got so hot," Angela Pavkovic said. Passenger Kelea Edgar Nevis sent a series of texts to several news organizations, including the New York Times: 7:58 a.m.: Another HOUR. Were stuffed in here like sardines and its hot. 8:09 a.m.: People are starving. 9:20 a.m.: Everyone is up in arms. At 9:46 a.m., Nevis reported the plane had run out of toilet paper and tissues and passengers had been without food "since lunch yesterday, French time." Coronavirus: Australian police launch criminal probe of Ruby Princess cruise ship docking Positive test results The positive test results on passengers in Marseille led to more testing. "In Atlanta, it was another mess, getting checked out again by the health department," Pavkovic said. "There was no air conditioning. More hours waiting." Back in West Palm Beach, Pavkovic said he and his wife were tested again March 21 at the JFK Medical Center. "They said we would have test results in less than seven days," Pavkovic said. "It's been exactly 14 days (on April 3), and no results. I keep calling, several times a day. They say, 'It's pending. Call tomorrow.' " Fever is a common symptom of coronavirus, and the Pavkovics have been checking their temperatures twice a day. "We are lucky," Pavkovic said. "Every day it's normal. But this is not normal. We are prisoners in our own home. Not even one hour have we gone out." The Pavkovics were scheduled to go to a drive-through testing site April 6. "I don't know what happened to the results of the first test," Pavkovic said. "No one will tell us. Maybe they'll tell us when we get these new tests." Costa Crociere Group, an Italian company that's part of the Carnival Corp., is the the parent company of the Costa and AIDA cruise lines. Coral Princess cruise passenger dies of coronavirus after disembarking delay, daughter says Tyler Treadway is an environment reporter who specializes in issues facing the Indian River Lagoon. Support his work on TCPalm.com. Contact him at 772-221-4219 and tyler.treadway@tcpalm.com. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Coronavirus: West Palm Beach couple talks about Costa Luminosa cruise Curbs on movement and commercial activities could be relaxed first in districts with no Covid-19 cases, state officials say, offering some pointers about how a staggered return to normal activity could work after April 14 in India, where over 100 people have died due to the disease. Health authorities, meanwhile, may begin a rapid antibody testing on Thursday, with people in high-risk areas expected to undergo first this test that checks the presence of antibodies created by the body to stop the Sars-CoV-2 virus. Indias Covid-19 toll hits 100; Delhi infection tally 503 The number of deaths from the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) topped 100 on Sunday as the total infections crossed 4,000 503 of them in Delhi with the central government pegging the doubling rate of the pathogens spread at 4.1 days, a figure it said would have stood at 7.4 in the absence of the Nizamuddin cluster. Read more Covid-19: What you need to know today Lets look at some numbers. The number of Covid-19 cases in the world was 1.25 million on Sunday night, and the number of deaths stood at 68,000. That works out to a fatality rate of around 5%. But, like all aggregates, this number is not representative. Read more Will districts with no Covid-19 cases be first to be unlocked? Curbs on movement and commercial activity could be relaxed first in districts with no coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases, officials in multiple states have said, offering some pointers about how a staggered return to normal activity could work after April 15, when the nationwide lockdown is scheduled to end. Read more Modi calls former Presidents, PMs, Sonia Gandhi to discuss Covid crisis Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called former presidents Pranab Mukherjee and Pratibha Patil, two former PMs Manmohan Singh and HD Deve Gowda apart from heads of different parties, including Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, to discuss the situation in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak and the steps taken by the Centre to contain the pandemic. Read more Coronavirus Update: PM Modis lights off call gets huge response, sharp dip in power demand The Centre said on Sunday that the national response to Prime Minister Narendra Modis call to switch off lights for nine minutes at 9pm was huge and power demand dropped by 32 GW, more than double of what officials had anticipated. Read more Shortage of safety equipment crippling states Covid-19 containment efforts In Indias two biggest states -- Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra that have nearly a thousand cases between them -- health officials admitted to a shortage of PPE, saying that private companies had expressed their inability to provide the kits early because of an increase in demand. Read more Cases doubling in 4.1 days, up since Jamaat event: Govt The government on Sunday said that the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) doubling rate in India is currently at 4.1 days and attributed the rapid increase to Tablighi Jamaat congregation that took place in Delhi between March 10 and 15. Read more US and UK set to evacuate their nationals from India The UK and the US are set to join a list of countries that have been evacuating their stranded nationals from India, with the Boris Johnson government on Sunday announcing the first wave of seven charter flights for some 20,000 Britons in different states. Read more Vigilant Jaipur Police monitors lockdown from coronavirus war room A large hall on the first floor of the Jaipur Police Commissioners office, near the government press, is buzzing despite the 21-day national lockdown. On the left, it has three rows of eight workstations, each with three computer screens. About 30 other screens are mounted on a wall in front. Read more A new set of results posted to Geekbench 5 point to a brand-new Samsung Galaxy A variant that will, furthermore, launch with a completely new processor to boot. Should this leak be believed, it is to be called the Exynos 850, and will power a device that may be the A20s' successor. Working For Notebookcheck Are you a techie who knows how to write? Then join our Team! English native speakers welcome! News Writer (AUS/NZL based) - Details here Samsung has yet to even launch the Galaxy A21; nevertheless, speculation about an alternative variant of this still-pending phone have sprung up already. Should a panel of specs leaked via Geekbench 5 prove valid, it also has a completely new Exynos processor to go with it. The device in question is called the "samsung SM-A217F" on this website. This is close enough to the putative A21's own number (SM-A215U) to invite theories that this phone will be called the Galaxy A21s (or something similar) on its launch. Given that Samsung did release what could be this product name's previous generation in 2019, this idea could hold some water. Thus far, the "exynos850" specified in the 'Motherboard' field for this benchmark is detected as having a clock-speed of 2GHz exactly. Therefore, we know it may have at least 1 core running at this speed. However, there is no further information on the rest of them, not to speak of its architecture or other aspects of its nature to date. Then again, given its initial apparent single- and multi-core scores, it is not likely to be a world-beater of any kind. Therefore, it may indeed add up to a plausible update to the Snapdragon 450-powered Galaxy A20s. This possible phone, according to SamMobile, will have a 2MP macro camera. Should it be anything like the rumored A21, it will be one of 4 rear shooters. The blog also now asserts that the SM-A217F will have 32 to 64GB of internal storage and (like the Galaxy A11) will have red, white, blue and black color SKUs. Going by the A21's own latest leaked renders, it is also most likely to have a rear-facing fingerprint sensor, and may or may not have a punch-hole display. Iran on Monday welcomed the launch of a European barter system to bypass US sanctions as a "good omen" but said it was insufficient in light of the Europeans' commitments. Britain, France and Germany said last week they had carried out the first transaction through the Instex mechanism to deliver medical supplies to Iran, which has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. In the first official reaction to the development, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said the transaction had involved "a few hundred thousand euros (dollars)". "We see the launch of Instex as a good omen," Mousavi said in a televised conference. But "what the Islamic Republic of Iran expects (from now on) is for the Europeans to fulfil the rest of their commitments in various fields (such as) banking, energy, insurance," he added. Iran has struggled to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus which officials say has claimed over 3,600 lives and infected more than 58,000 in the country since February 19. Calls have mounted for the United States to ease its sanctions on Iran so that the Islamic republic can adequately respond to the COVID-19 crisis. Washington reimposed crippling sanctions on Tehran in May 2018 after withdrawing from an international deal that put curbs on its arch enemy's nuclear programme. In response, the three European countries party to the nuclear deal -- Britain, France and Germany -- announced the creation of Instex in January 2019. But the implementation of the mechanism has been slow, with Iran and the Europeans blaming each other for the delay. Instex functions as a clearing house and allows European companies to trade with Iran without exposing themselves to the consequences of US sanctions. It is designed to be open to other companies, particularly from China or Russia, which are also party to the 2015 nuclear agreement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) I have had the honor of serving the people of Montana as a State Representative for the past four years. One of my proudest accomplishments in this position is that we were finally able to change our law so that people can no longer share private or sexual images of another person without their permission. This is commonly called revenge porn and can have devastating impacts on lives. I didnt do this alone, however. I had the expert help of Rep. Kimberly Dudik in changing this law. Together we wrote and fine-tuned the law that eventually passed and, without her strong advocacy to protect citizens through this needed reform, we would not have been able to make this change. And that is one of the examples of why I support my colleague Kimberly Dudik for Montana Attorney General. As an experienced prosecutor, four-term legislator, mother of four, and former neonatal intensive care nurse with a specialty in public health, Kimberly brings by far the most impressive background and experience out of any other candidate to this race. I know who Kimberly is, I know what Kimberly will stand for as our Attorney General, and I am confident she is the Democrat that can win this election. I have been especially impressed with her work improving the safety of children and women in our state through her work in the Montana Legislature. Kimberly has led reforms to our laws so that children are protected from sexual abuse, human trafficking is stopped, and our criminal justice system is reformed so more people receive the treatment and help they need for chemical dependency and mental health issues that all too often lead them to repeated involvement in the criminal justice system. Kimberly also has a strong record of protecting public access to our public lands. This is an important benchmark because of the position of the Attorney General on Montanas Land Board. Kimberly will keep fighting to keep public lands in public hands. As we have seen over the last two years, some of the most important work being done to protect our rights and democracy is being done at the desks of our nations Attorneys General. And from access to health insurance to reproductive rights to consumer protection, Montanans need a strong advocate. The stakes of this next election matter. Everything from our healthcare to our environment, fair elections to basic human rights, are at stake. And I have every confidence that Kimberly Dudik has the diverse background and experience that voters are going to look for. That is why I am supporting her for Attorney General and I ask you to join me. State Rep. Marilyn Ryan of Missoula, a Democrat, represents House District 99. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 The federal wage subsidy for small businesses that have seen a substantial revenue dip due to the COVID-19 outbreak has drawn mixed reviews, with 37 per cent in a new survey saying the subsidy will not help them retain or recall staff. Nearly a third of those say the aid will arrive too late to prevent further layoffs. Thirty-eight per cent of the businesses who call the program unhelpful said layoffs have already happened and cant be easily reversed, while 30 per cent said they are worried they may not be able to prove the 30 per cent drop in revenue required to qualify. A further 17 per cent said they would not qualify based on the current conditions and the remainder said the wage support amount would not be enough to retain jobs. Twenty-nine per cent of businesses said the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy would be helpful in retaining all or some staff still on payroll 21 per cent said they are unsure, while the question was not applicable to the remaining 13 per cent of respondents since they have no employees, have not laid off staff or have no plans to do so. The ongoing online survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business started April 3 and has received 8,892 responses from small businesses across Canada so far. A probability sample with the same number of respondents would have a margin of error of +/- 1.0 per cent, 19 times out of 20. I have two dine-in restaurants, a Toronto business owner who didnt want be named told the Star. I could only hire one person back to cook for takeout. This would only benefit me if I had the funds now to do it. To press the start button again, I need some cash flow to buy food, prepare for takeout and have a small portion for bills. We do not have enough for rent for May. While Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, applauded the federal government for increasing the wage subsidy to 75 per cent and opening it up to businesses of all sizes and structures, he said there are still a lot of businesses in dire need of help that report they will not be able to access it. In order to meet the programs objective of helping businesses retain staff and avoid layoffs, more work remains to be done to make this program successful. The CFIB is calling for changes including elimination of the 30 per cent test for small- and medium-sized firms or the need for a test for firms ordered by governments to fully or partially close. It also wants Ottawa to reduce the 30 per cent test to 15 per cent for March to reflect the major impacts on business that began in mid-March. Finance Minister Bill Morneau on Wednesday unveiled more details about the wage subsidy that will provide three quarters of each employees salary for businesses that have lost at least 30 per cent of gross revenue since this time last year due to COVID-19. The subsidy will apply to the first $58,700 of each employees salary and provide up to $847 a week per employee for up to 12 weeks, with a possible extension if the crisis continues. The money is available to companies of all sizes, as well as charities and non-profits, and will be retroactive to March 15. Funds will be available in approximately six weeks, Morneau said, adding that businesses will be able to apply through a Canada Revenue Agency portal soon. Companies that are signed up for CRA direct deposit will receive funds faster. The finance minister said companies will be required to show what the pre-crisis income was of an employee and show that theyre paying that employee an amount up to $847, and then they will get that money returned to them from the Canada Revenue Agency. But a spokesperson for the CFIB said the requirement that companies cover the full cost of salaries until reimbursed by Ottawa under the subsidy program may be too onerous for businesses that have seen revenues plunge. More than two million Canadians lost their jobs in the last half of March alone as businesses were forced to close or reduce operations. The CFIB survey shows only 19 per cent of businesses remain fully open, down from 21 per cent last week. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has indicated he could be open to tweaks of the emergency funding system put in place to help individuals and business weather the COVID-19 storm, saying on Sunday that the government should have more to say in the coming days about helping post-secondary students who are shut out of existing programs. In his daily COVID-19 update Monday, Trudeau said there may be relief for those who fall through the cracks of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, which pays $2,000 every four weeks for up to four months to workers who have lost their income as a result of COVID-19. He said changes could be made to improve eligibility for groups including students who depend on having a job this summer as well as home care, contractors and other self-employed workers. Click here to read the full article. Warning: This post contains a major spoiler from Sundays Outlander. Outlander viewers who are familiar with the novels on which the series is based have known for a while: Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser was living on borrowed time. outlander-duncan-lacroix-leaving-murtagh-dies-season-5 Jamies godfather/right-hand man died on the Culloden battlefield in Diana Gabaldons third novel, Voyager. And in Starzs adaptation of the books, poor Murtagh met his end in this weeks episode during the Battle of Alamance in North Carolina. (Read a full recap.) Given the current state of the real world, TVLine jokes with Duncan Lacroix during a chat earlier in the week, the timing is not optimal. I know, I know, he says, chuckling ruefully over the phone from where hes waiting out the coronavirus quarantine in Glasgow, Scotland. I was thinking that. This is not the cheering-up that we need at this time! Read on for Lacroixs thoughts on his reticent characters extended life on the TV series and the on-set moment with co-star Caitriona Balfe that nearly broke Dead Murtaghs steely resolve. outlander-duncan-lacroix-leaving-murtagh-dies-season-5 TVLINE | Book readers have known this was coming, but how far ahead did you find out that it would happen this season? Just shortly before we started shooting season five it was explained yeah, that this was going to be it for the old kid. [Laughs] TVLINE | Had you wondered about the way that they might take him out? Did you figure that he would go down in a battle like he does in the book? Thats exactly the way Id wanted it, form way back. This is really is the way I pictured it. Its kind of what happened in the books, but its just being transposed 25 years later. Its the same lines that he said to Jamie in Culloden in the books. It was just postponed long enough for the silver fox to make an appearance. [Laughs] TVLINE | I know youre friends with both Sam Heugh and Caitriona Balfe. Both of their characters have moments with Murtagh after he passes away. Talk to me about playing dead while your friends are weeping over your body. Obviously, Ive just got to stop breathing and stay as still as possible. Oftentimes, the more you concentrate on that, it all goes wrong. So its just like you kind of like zone out of the whole scene. But youre kind of aware that the performance going on around you. There was a point its when Caitriona took my hand and put it on my chest, just the way she was playing it, touching my corpse, as it were, and that kind of got to me a bit, yeah. It was emotional. Story continues Then we got to film it twice, actually. Because the one you see is like a pickup shot of me, so luckily enough it was the very last thing I ever shot was me laying there on the table. Fitting enough. TVLINE | Was it harder to get through the post-death scenes with Caitriona or Sam, would you say? Well, when youre there, you just got to let them, I mean, its their scene at that point. We shot that scene at the tree twice, as well, but the first time we shot it yeah, I got really emotional that day for some reason. I didnt expect to It was just that scene, saying goodbye to this guy that Ive inhabited for six years. It all kind of came crushing down on me between takes. Sam did such an amazing job in those scenes and in the triage tent. TVLINE | Lets pivot and talk a bit about last weeks episode. Your scenes with Maria Doyle Kennedy were great. I kept thinking about how weve talked about how Murtagh has a lot going on inside, but much of it doesnt bubble to the surface and here he was saying things like, I love you. Please wait for me. I made a mistake. Seems like a huge step for him. Well, yeah. That was just such a magical scene as we were shooting it, and Maria is just so amazing in it. Shes such a talented actress It was such a well-written scene but also were very good at the non-verbal communication, myself and Maria. Theres a lot that were able to play out on our faces and gestures. You know, it was great to give it that richness and depth. So yeah, I just chewed that scene up, I loved it. [Laughs] Launch Gallery: The Coronavirus Effect: Every TV Delay and Cancellation More from TVLine Best of TVLine Sign up for TVLine's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Kochi: More than 40 nurses from Kerala working in a private hospital in Mumbai have been tested positive for the novel coronavirus. They have been shifted to isolation ward, according to reports by regional media. A total of 53 medical staff including doctors has been confirmed with the virus infection in this hospital in Central Mumbai, reports say. A Keralite nurse whose condition is critical has been shifted to another private hospital in Bandra. Seven Malayali nurses working in the hospital were tested positive earlier. As the nurses who tested positive now were in home quarantine in a hostel, other inmates of the hostels are worried over the chances for infection. Majority of the nursing staff in the hospital are Keralites. Software developed by a University of Dayton Research Institute scientist to quickly diagnose COVID-19 has been exclusively licensed by Greenville, South Carolina, software development company Blue Eye Soft. The technology, which detected the presence of the COVID-19 disease on a dataset of chest X-rays in seconds with 98 percent accuracy, was adapted from existing medical diagnostic software in a matter of hours, then licensed in less than three days. Blue Eye Soft owner Srikanth Kodeboyina an alumnus of UD and his team further developed the technology, and he plans to submit a full proposal to the FDA for approval within a matter of days. The company has already filed a provisional patent on the software. "We hope to be able to bring this new tool to market very quickly," Kodeboyina said, adding that his start-up company's staff of 40 employees has been virtually joined in the last several days by more than 100 professionals based in Singapore, India and across the U.S., all contributing their expertise in artificial intelligence, medical licensing, cybersecurity and other related fields, to help expedite the development of the product. The software, developed by UDRI research scientist Barath Narayanan, uses a "deep learning" algorithm that searches for markings on X-rays that indicate the presence of COVID-19. Narayanan, who spends his days working on sponsored research programs in artificial intelligence for manufacturing and other commercial applications, has for several years been working evenings and weekends pursuing his principal passion: advancing research in AI to help doctors diagnose and treat patients more quickly. Using medical imaging including X-rays, CT scans, blood smear slides and eye scans, Narayanan had already developed a number of software codes that successfully detectwith 92 to 99 percent accuracylung and breast cancers, malaria, brain tumors, tuberculosis, diabetic retinopathy and pneumonia. When a set of chest X-rays from patients with and without COVID-19 were recently made available, Narayanan quickly switched focus to develop coding to detect the disease on the images. Drawing on expertise developed on and off the clock, he quickly developed an algorithm that classified the images as having, or not having, COVID-19 with a high degree of accuracy. Narayanan, who received his master's and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering from UD, said he enjoyed the image processing aspect of his graduate student research, and decided to use the field to help people in some way. "I wanted to do something for the common good, and medical imaging seemed a good way to do that," he said. "Software-based diagnostic tools can serve as a valuable, virtual second opinion for medical professionals, especially in parts of the world where medical teams are short-staffed. With additional research, these technologies can be fine-tuned to detect even the slightest anomalies on imagesthose that are difficult to see with the human eyehelping doctors diagnose and treat patients more quickly." Kodeboyina, who received his master's degree in electrical and computer engineering from UD in 2011, has also been on a mission to develop software that will enhance human life, he said. "I launched Blue Eye Soft in 2017 with a mission to create job opportunities in areas that are innovative and impactful," he said. "Right now one of the most pressing needs on the planet is addressing the COVID-19 crisis. Artificial intelligence can be an important solution to support the healthcare industry in its fight to mitigate the impact of the disease, and we are on the leading edge of developing that technology." BES brought in a third-party company to validate its new diagnostic system, and a number of customers in the public and private sectors are already prepared to adopt the technology once it has received FDA approval, Kodeboyina said. In the United States, end-users will include hospitals, laboratories and medical professionals, he added. UD vice president for research John Leland said the University has been working to execute technology licenses quickly, but completing an agreement between UD and BES in only two and a half days was unprecedented. "We were driven to help Blue Eye Soft make this technology available as quickly as possible," Leland said. "We are also excited that a UD grad has licensed one of our technologies and is working diligently to provide medical professionals a new tool in the fight against the spread of this devastating disease." While Narayanan is hoping to find funding that will enable him to further develop AI tools for the medical field, he said he will continue to work on his own time to help bring them to the healthcare industry. He credits his graduate advisor Russell Hardie, professor of electrical and computer engineering in the University's School of Engineering, with ongoing guidance and support in his off-hours pursuits. For media interviews, contact Pamela Gregg at 937-229-3268 or pamela.gregg@udri.udayton.edu, and Blue Eye Soft at info@blueyesoft.com or 864-479-0888. EDWARDSVILLE When an email from the Illinois State Dental Society recommended for dental offices in the state to shut down for two weeks starting March 17, Glen Carbon dentist Dr. Briana Ollers thoughts were on her patients at Simply Smiles. I was very scared. I was very nervous for my employees. I was nervous for my patients, who I wasnt going to be able to serve. I was nervous for myself. How was I going to be able to make the bills of my business and the personal bills, Oller said. Those fears became secondary when Oller, 42 with no underlying issues, was diagnosed with coronavirus on March 30 after battling a headache, fever and loss of taste and smell. She was tested on March 26, nine days after a headache started. We dont know where I got this. We have no clue, said Oller, who hasnt traveled outside the country. We now know Ive had my symptoms since March 17. We believe exposure occurred sometime around March 13 somewhere in the community because my mom is also positive for the coronavirus. She has followed a similar timeline but started a day later than me. The last time we were together was March 13. It is in our community and it has been this whole time. Oller has been recovering from her home with her two daughters, who havent shown any symptoms. All of Ollers symptoms have subsided except the fever, which is hovering around 100.5 degrees. The highest it reached was 101.9 degrees. Im getting stronger every day and its no longer up and down like it was. The breathing is so much better. I feel like the worst part is beyond me, Oller said. Late Thursday morning, Oller used a 10-minute Facebook video to share her emotions through the journey. As of Sunday afternoon, it has been viewed approximately 69,500 times and with over 2,800 shares. It actually was very hard for me to post because Im a pretty private person, but I was compelled to tell my story to help spread awareness, Oller said. Besides my vulnerability and raw emotions, I worried about spreading fear. With that being said, I felt people knew me better that because Im an extremely optimistic person. I can find positive in any situation. By posting the video, I could share my journey of emotions, symptoms and educate others. I felt that it might be more real to people by knowing someone who actually has it and they would truly take this seriously. Not one that typically watches the news, Oller said she became more aware of the virus when a supply company alerted her dentist office that it may run low on specialty masks and gloves. Oller started to self-quarantine after seeing her last patient on the morning of March 17. She left the house just once that first week to get essentials for my family. Her daughters havent left the house since March 16 after Oller received the e-mail from the Illinois State Dental Society. Oller said an intense headache started the afternoon of March 17 and continued for several days and was followed by fatigue and a low-grade fever. The fever lasted a day but the headache and fatigue stayed. I blamed it all on stress since I didnt have any other symptoms, Oller said. On March 20, Oller lost all sense of taste and smell. At the time, it wasnt known these were symptoms of coronavirus, Oller said. The fever returned March 25, as the headache, fatigue and loss of taste and smell continued. It was also that day it was confirmed that the loss of taste and smell were symptoms of the virus. Oller went through her primary doctor to set up a test with a private lab on March 26 and she received the results four days later. Its such an evolving situation that testing availability differs between doctors, hospitals and counties based on their access to tests. With that, their policies change daily, Oller said. Though Oller is active by exercising five times per week, she wasnt immune to the virus. Oller said the shortness of breath was the scariest aspect of the virus. Its not a shortness of breath with chest tightness. Its a shortness of breath to where I can sit and still not be able to get in a full breath, Oller said. Theres been times where it has been scary and breathing has been getting out of control. It got to the point where I would have to sit down at the top of the stairs if I climbed the stairs. I either sat on the couch or in my bed to rest all the time. Once Ollers fever subsides, she will have to wait 14 days before she can donate blood to be tested to help for a potential cure. Through all this, Oller said theres been a lot of community support from friends and strangers. I know I am one of the lucky ones and able to recover at home and not in the hospital, Oller said. I will get to the other side of this. With time, I know I will get there and I cant wait to get to the other side of this. Newport Beach, Calif.-headquartered Alliant Insurance Services has tapped Kevin Dolan and Craig Graham to co-lead the national wrap up insurance team for Alliant Construction Services Group. Dolan is based in New York City and Graham is based in Los Angeles. In the new leadership roles, Dolan and Graham are responsible for managing the growth of this rapidly expanding division, with a focus on delivering industry-leading wrap up services to the largest public, private, and PPP construction projects across the country. Over the past nine years, Dolan and Graham have been instrumental in the success of Alliant, helping grow the Construction Services Group from inception to its current standing as the nations largest risk advisor and surety broker to the construction industry. In the Northeast, Dolan has been a dominant broker and client advocate, having led Alliants broking and placement efforts on the largest PPP project in the U.S. at LaGuardia Airport and largest private development at Hudson Yards. Graham has successfully managed significant client relationships and implemented major rolling and project-based wrap up placements throughout the West. Graham was named a Risk and Insurance Power Broker for the construction space in 2014. As co-leads of national wrap up programs, Dolan and Graham will continue to develop and enhance the service offerings to provide high-value customer experiences across the companys portfolio of large-scale construction projects. Source: Alliant Insurance Services Topics Leadership Construction Alliant Prime Minister Narendra Modi and King of Bahrain Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa on Monday discussed the coronavirus crisis and its consequences on logistics chains and financial markets. During their telephonic conversation, the King assured the prime minister of his personal attention to the welfare of the large Indian community in Bahrain, an official statement said. "The two leaders discussed the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis and its consequences, including on logistics chains and financial markets," it said. Modi expressed his appreciation for the care and affection that the Bahrain authorities have always extended to the Indian diaspora. The leaders agreed that their officials would remain in regular touch and ensure all possible support to each other for dealing with the challenges of COVID-19. The prime minister conveyed to the King that India regards Bahrain as an important part of its extended neighbourhood. He also recalled his visit to the country last year, the statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two more staff members at a Lancaster County retirement home have tested positive for the coronavirus, coming just days after it was announced that another staff member tested positive and a resident in the facility died from the virus. Brethren Village, located in Lititz, Pennsylvania, said in a statement that both of the cases from Monday had previously been in contact with others at the facility who also had tested positive, and that one has been home since April 2 and the other since April 1. "Brethren Village remains committed to transparency as we navigate this virus. Symptoms continue to be monitored of both residents and team members to ensure COVID-19 patients receive the best possible care and all necessary precautions are taken to ensure the well-being of our team members and residents," the update read. --Read all of PennLives coronavirus coverage by clicking here-- The first positive cases of the coronavirus were reported at the caregiving facility on April 1, when in the morning it was reported that a non-caregiving administrator had tested positive the day prior, then in the afternoon, a resident was announced as having tested positive. On Saturday, Brethren Village said that three others in the same unit as the resident were tested for the virus and that two came back positive, including the resident who died from the virus. The last test was negative. One of the positive cases announced on Monday was another administrator in the same department as the first announced case, and another was a certified nursing assistant who worked in the nursing memory support unit of the first resident announced. The release on Monday said that public health officials have been notified and the facility is following procedures recommended by the CDC. We are taking every step as recommended by authorities and we want to make residents, their families, our dedicated staff, and our community aware of this situation and reassure everyone that we are mitigating the situation, the update read. 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. -- Follow Ed Sutelan on Twitter, @EdwardSutelan 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. STORY LINK Pound New Zealand Dollar (GBP/NZD) Exchange Rate Falls as Kiwi Soars on Positive Risk Sentiment GBP/NZD Exchange Rate Sinks as Easing Covid-19 Cases Boost Risk Appetite GBP/NZD Exchange Rate Sinks as UK Construction Sinks Deeper into Contraction GBP/NZD Forecast: Could the Kiwi Fall as Dairy Prices Plummet? Like this piece? Please share with your friends and colleagues: The Pound to New Zealand Dollar (GBP/NZD) exchange rate fell by -0.9% today, with the pairing currently trading around NZ$2.07.The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) rose against its peers today because of an upwards surge in risk sentiment, with coronavirus cases leveling off both in Europe and China, while the US faces its peak surge this week.Joshua Mahony, a Senior Market Analyst at IG, commented:With a decline in daily mortality rates across the likes of France, Italy, and New York, we are seeing some optimism that the current restrictions could be shorter than many had previously speculated. However, without a cure or vaccine, any easing on the current restrictions would likely short-term in nature, sparking a likely surge in cases before long.Kiwi investors will be awaiting this evenings publication of the NZIER Business Confidence report for the first quarter. However, with the gauge expected to fall due to the coronavirus outbreak, we could see the New Zealand Dollar begin to shed some of its gains against Sterling.The Pound (GBP) struggled against the Kiwi following this mornings release of the UK Construction PMI for March, which fell more deeply into contraction territory than expected at 39.3.Tim Moore, Economics Director at IHS Markit, was downbeat in his analysis of the report:March data provides an early snap-shot of the impact on UK construction output from emergency public health measures to halt the COVID-19 pandemic, with activity falling to the greatest extent since the global financial crisis.Meanwhile, the Pound (GBP) has been beleaguered by fears over Prime Minister Boris Johnsons after he was admitted to hospital following his recent coronavirus diagnosis.Nevertheless, these fears are beginning to recede as the PM is expected to return to Downing Street shortly.Sterling also suffered from todays release of Marchs GfK Consumer Confidence report which fell to a worse-than-expected -34, its sharpest fall in over 45 years.Analysts at Reuters commented:Economists fear Britains economy, like many others around the world, is heading for a severe recession but say a bounce-back is possible later in the year, depending on how the coronavirus outbreak develops.New Zealand Dollar (NZD) investors will be awaiting tomorrows release of the NZ Global Dairy Trade Index. Any signs of deterioration in New Zealands largest commodity likely to clip some of the Kiwis gains.The GBP/NZD exchange rate will continue to be driven by coronavirus developments this week, with any indications of an up-tick in cases of the virus weighing on the Pound as the nation continues to battle its domestic outbreak. International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements. TAGS: New Zealand Dollar Forecasts Pound New Zealand Dollar Forecasts Galena Park, a small city located on the north bank of the Houston Ship Channel, on Saturday issued a public safety order that includes a daily curfew to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. The nearly 11,000 residents of the city's six square miles are now under a daily curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. until further notice, according to a news release. People who are out traveling to and from businesses that are deemed essential or for emergency purposes are exempt from the order. Anyone traveling for work during these hours is required to have a travel letter for essential personnel, per the order. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 6) Rizal province was put under total lockdown Monday in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. The province formally shut its borders at 8 a.m., pursuant to the earlier directive of Acting Rizal Governor Reynaldo San Juan. San Juan over the weekend ordered a total lockdown of the entire province, which includes entry and exit restrictions at its borders, amid the rising cases of the infectious disease in the area. As of Friday, Rizal has recorded at least 106 COVID-19 positive cases, including 18 fatalities. Exempted from the new restriction are essential employees including those working in supermarkets, markets, hospitals, food preparation and delivery, transport delivery service, agricultural supply, as well as in other business establishments allowed by the national government to operate. Authorized government officials, health workers, media personnel, evacuated overseas workers, and religious ministers will also be allowed entry but will be subjected mandatory thermal scanning or temperature check. Mass transportation were banned, except for vehicles provided by local government units for health workers, frontliners and critical services workers. Social distancing measures shall also be observed in the said transport vehicles. Checkpoints were established in the province's borders, in accordance with the guidelines of the Joint Task Force Corona Virus Shield. The lockdown will be imposed indefinitely, as San Juan did not specify how long the directive will last. Meanwhile, some motorists to and from Metro Manila were seen passing through the province's borders hours and even minutes before the lockdown started. While Rizal and other provinces have imposed respective local lockdowns, the entire Luzon was also placed under an enhanced community quarantine, in an effort to fight the spread of the contagious disease. As of Sunday, the Philippines has recorded 3,246 COVID-19 cases, including 152 deaths and 64 recoveries. A ruthless letter addressed from Tommy Lee to US President Donald Trump has gone viral - but the Motley Crue drummer isn't the original author. The letter criticises Trumps behaviour, calling the president a circus orangutan and highlighting a range of his recent controversies. Dear f****** luantic, it starts. At your recent press conference - more a word salad that had a stroke and fell down the stairs, you were CLEARLY so out of your depth you needed scuba gear. Within minutes of going off air your minions were backpedalling faster than Cirque du Soleil acrobats." The letter highlights a range of controversies, such as when Trump called Kim Jon Un "short and fat" in 2017. Donald Trump impeachment protests: December 2019 1 /33 Donald Trump impeachment protests: December 2019 People hold signs critical of U.S. President Donald Trump while participating in a protest in support of his potential impeachment in New York Getty Images People gather in Times Square Getty Images An anti-President Trump crowd gather at a rally in Times Square to protest and call for his impeachment AP Demonstrators join national impeachment demonstrations to demand an end to Donald Trump's presidency named "Nobody Is Above The Law" Rally - NYC at Times Square Getty Images for MoveOn.org A message pro-impeachment is projected on the facade of the City Hall building before the start of a protest in Los Angeles AFP via Getty Images A protester holds a sign during a demonstration in part of a national impeachment rally, at the Federal Building in San Francisco, California AFP via Getty Images Demonstrators gather in Times Square to demand the impeachment of Donald Trump Reuters People hold signs critical of U.S. President Donald Trump while participating in a protest in support of his potential impeachment in New York Getty Images People hold signs critical of U.S. President Donald Trump while participating in a protest in support of his potential impeachment in New York Getty Images People hold signs critical of U.S. President Donald Trump while participating in a protest in support of his potential impeachment in New York Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images for MoveOn.org Getty Images for MoveOn.org Getty Images for MoveOn.org Getty Images for MoveOn.org AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images Several hundred of protesters march down Market Street during a demonstration in part of a national impeachment rally, at the Federal Building in San Francisco, California AFP via Getty Images Connie Jeung-Mills of San Francisco holds a sign during a demonstration in part of a national impeachment rally, at the Federal Building in San Francisco, California AFP via Getty Images You attempted with evident f****** glee to get 24 million people thrown off their health insurance, it continues. You gave billions away to corporations and the already wealthy while simultaneously telling struggling poor people that you were doing exactly the opposite. Tommy Lee shared the post on his account, receiving thousands of retweets and likes, while a second posting of it, by user @MysterySolvent, also went viral. Confusingly, Lee attributed the letter to someone named Craig Alan Wilkins, but US comedian Sarah Silverman cleared up the mystery when she retweeted the latter post, writing: THIS IS F****** BRILLIANT **NOT WRITTEN BY Tommy Lee but @AJPennyfarthing. A version of the letter was originally shared on The Daily Kos by Aldous J Pennyfarthing in December 2017, following Trumps interview with the New York Times. On Twitter, Pennyfarthing welcomed his new followers, writing: Yes, I'm the original author of the Dear F****** Lunatic letter. Not Tommy Lee. I simply don't measure up to Tommy Lee. "And here's the book of the same name. Buy it, read it, enjoy the japery. 06.04.2020 LISTEN Vodafone Ghana is still taking customers for granted even in the outbreak of the COVID-19 when one would have expected them to be better service providers especially in the wake of a partial lockdown of the country. Its rather a shame that after several years of being in existence in Ghana, since 2006, the Ghanaian service consumer can still not enjoy uninterrupted services from this network while they pay Vodafone to provide them with apt services and not the crappy one they currently provide. It also looks like the crawling network is comfortable being second or just followers of some leading Telco in the country instead of rising to be a giant in the telecom industry too. They would have been a perfect alternative to other networks, if only they took their customers a bit more serious. Thereve been times customers have done money transfers via Vodafone Cash and not received a message indicating a successful transaction yet, the transaction went through. How does one know if the transaction has gone through, and how do customers avoid repeating the same transaction multiple times? Is this a serious network? Well, if at the time of the transaction, there were challenges, were the challenges never restored, because they never come back to send a message indicating a successful transaction. Which serious network does that? My journey with Vodafone Ghana began when MTNs network crushed in January 2020 as a result of the undersea fibre cut that resulted in the shutdown of its internet service for days. Pissed with MTN and obviously tired of being taken for granted especially after it claimed to have compensated consumers with 2GB of data and yet that data was swept away like chaff, I quickly resorted to using a Vodafone SIM I had acquired since 2016 but never used except to receive calls once a while. Prior to that, my sister would always complain about Vodafones crawling data services and was heard a million times arguing with customer care agents over the networks inability to provide its customers with apt services. My response was for her to drop that network. Thus, I knew about the challenges before opting to use the network for data. Perhaps, because I wanted to prove to my internet service provider as of the time that I could indeed port, I moved on. On Wednesday, 1 April, 2020, Vodafone internet service consumers had to endure another one of Vodafones crawling network phases with no prior notice, and no apologies sent to these service consumers. For hours, pages took forever to open and some never even opened at all. Social media was filled with complaints about Vodafone. The customer centre line 100 never worked at a point, customers gave up on calling them because there have been times when calls to that call centre failed. After holding on for minutes, the call just drops when there are no agents available to hear your complaints. Apparently, Vodafone had sent its customers who were experiencing challenges a message posted on its Twitter handle that same day saying: Dear Customer, we are currently experiencing challenges with our mobile and fixed services. This is impacting customers within some part of Accra. We are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience. This is why Vodafone continues to look like an unserious network. How do you send information across to customers who have no access to internet via social media which requires the use of internet to log in? Again, because it isnt the first time this is happening, the customers can confidently say that the service provider indeed takes them for granted. On a regular day, pages take forever to load. Messages are delayed. However, the one good thing about the network is that they have some really attractive internet packages. Perhaps to compensate for the crappy service or just to win customers over. This was my personal message to Vodafone on my Whatsapp status: The shitty disrespectful network called Vodafone. No regard for service consumers and because Ghanaians do not speak up, they continue to disrespect us by providing us with shitty services. Yet, we keep them in business by using their internet services. Other customers had more to say as Divine H Kwame posted on Facebook: Vodafone just be yawa network... while Tetteh Kwaku wrote: Charley talk am ooo. I post WhatsApp status since afternoon... still loading and Aku Yayra also wrote: "If I ever told you to switch from MTN to Vodafone data, please forgive me. Im deeply sorry. Dear Vodafone, let me remind you that without us, customers, there would be no Vodafone. Stop disrespecting and taking your customers for granted, only because Ghanaians have developed a habit of letting go off issues without seeking proper redress. These same people keep you in business, because despite the shitty service you provide, they still patronise your services. You have come to fit into the whole Ghanaian service provider taking customers for granted style. From ECG, whose ECG Power app does not work even in times of the pandemic when Ghanaians need to use it. It makes me wonder if the launch of the app that allows customers to buy electricity at their convenience from the Electricity Company of Ghana by Vice-President Bawumia was just a fanfare because this is the time we need the app to work when theres a partial lockdown of parts of the country. From the banks to the Telcos: Airtel Tigo customers have had their own share of challenges in these times. This is not a fun time for lights to go off, neither is it a good time for water supply to stall or for internet service providers to take their consumers for granted with the excuse of fiber cuts etc. These are hard times, when people are working from home, when people are relying on the internet to bond with family and loved ones across the world and also to keep them busy and prevent boredom as well as to keep informed. This is certainly not a time for unserious networks like Vodafone Ghana to be pranking customers with shitty services that they have provided all year long in the name of challenges. How do customers know when you are telling the truth? After all, your network is always crawling. Sit up Vodafone! Ghanaian service providers had better sit up in the wake of the pandemic. This is when Ghanaians need your services the most. Speaking on behalf of the many Vodafone customers, hoping you improve on your services. A reusable bag that allows you to wash your fresh groceries before taking them out and storing them in your fridge or on your benchtop is now available in Australia. Onya's produce bags, which are made from recycled plastic bottles, give shoppers an easy way to clean fruits and vegetables to prevent potential contamination in their home. This comes after a virologist recently confirmed that 'every surface is a hazard' when it comes to COVID-19 and supermarket customers should be particularly mindful of the loose fruit and vegetables in the store. The strong mesh bags which have a drawstring tie, can be purchased in a pack of five for $15.95 or an eight pack for $19.95. A reusable bag (pictured) that allows you to wash your fresh groceries before placing them in a fridge or storage container is now available Each bag can hold up to 2.2 kilograms and they're available in four different colours: green, red, purple and turquoise. The bags can also be washed with a cool water handwash or they can be placed on a cool gentle cycle in the washing machine. The sustainability advocate and managing director of Onya, Hayley Clarke said: 'With washable bags, you can keep produce in the same bag from picking up produce in the store, to washing within the bag when you get home.' Onya's strong mesh bags can be purchased in a pack of five for $15.95 or eight pack for $19.95 online '[This] can eliminate some of the risk [of spreading viruses], especially if they are washed after each use to further prevent the spread of cross-contamination.' 'By bringing our own produce bags, bread bags or even bulk food bags, we are controlling the surfaces that our food touches,' Hayley said. Associate professor at the University of Sydney, Timothy Newsome, specialises in infection, vaccines and virology, and told FEMAIL that patrons doing their weekly grocery shop should be particularly wary of the fruit and veg aisle as customers are constantly picking up and placing back down items. The bags are made from recycled plastic bottles and give shoppers an easy way to clean fruits and vegetables to prevent contamination in their home Associate professor at the University of Sydney, Timothy Newsome 'We have to remember that every surface is potentially contaminated. And like with any surface there is a risk,' Mr Newsome explained. 'We don't see it as high risk because that comes from sustained contact with other people, but nonetheless it's important to be mindful.' While it would be 'poor practice' to be testing 'every avocado for coronavirus', Mr Newsome did say anything people can touch poses a potential problem. 'People working in the supermarkets should be picking all of the fruit and veg up and setting it back down with protection,' he said. The best course of action is to wash your fruit and vegetables with soap as soon as you bring them home, not simply relying on the high heat of cooking them to 'kill' the virus What are Coles and Woolworths doing? * Every second cash register is closed. * Every attendant is issued with gloves but it's up to the individual to use them. * Hand sanitiser is readily available. * There are plastic 'walls' set up in front of the cash register to reduce exposure. Advertisement Luckily he noted a large proportion of shelf stackers and general workers wearing gloves and disinfecting their hands at every turn. The best course of action is to wash your fruit and vegetables with soap as soon as you bring them home, not simply relying on the high heat of cooking them to 'kill' the virus. 'Wash them with warm soapy water, just as you do your hands,' he said. A Woolworths employee told FEMAIL she has seen a number of drastic measures enforced at her local store which are helping to keep the working environment safe. 'There is certainly social distancing at checkouts. So every second register is closed at the moment including self serve,' she said. 'We have gloves supplied to us, hand sanitiser as well. However it's currently a personal preference to wear gloves or not.' She noted there were cleaners coming in to wipe down registers, screens and eftpos pinpads who walk around every 20 minutes to do their job. A staff member noted there were cleaners coming in to wipe down registers, screens and eftpos pinpads who walk around every 20 minutes to do their job 'It's very good for us. One less thing to worry about at this point,' she said. While she doesn't work in the fruit and veg area, the employee thought nothing had changed in that area, however they may soon be incorporating special cleaning procedures. Coles has similarly put social distancing practices in place and gives all workers access to hand sanitiser. They have also started a 'community hour' in the morning to allow elderly patrons a chance to do their shopping before the larger community. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Coles and Woolworths to ask if any further safety procedures are to be implemented in stores. By David Shepardson and Tracy Rucinski WASHINGTON/CHICAGO (Reuters) - Alaska's congressional delegation warned U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin last week that many of its airlines, including its largest regional carrier, RavnAir Group, were on the verge of collapse, according to a letter seen by Reuters. "Without badly needed federal support, many of our air carriers are in danger of bankruptcy and failure and could leave many of our rural and Alaska Native communities completely isolated," U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Representative Don Young said in the Friday letter. The Treasury Department had no immediate comment. RavnAir filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Sunday, laying off nearly its entire staff and grounding all of its 72 planes, saying it was clear that government aid would not arrive before it ran out of cash. Its Chapter 11 filing underscored the challenges facing other U.S. regional carriers that, like larger airlines, are seeking federal aid to help them through the worst downturn the industry has ever faced. Alaska is more dependent on passenger and air cargo transport than any other state in the country because over 80% of the communities are only accessible by air. "This lack of air service could damage our other industries such as oil and gas, mining, seafood, and tourism," the congressional delegation said in the letter. The Trump administration is weighing applications from numerous airlines as it considers how to distribute up to $32 billion as soon as this week for passenger and cargo carriers and airport contractors under the CARES Act meant to help the sector cover payroll costs. Regional airlines, which tend to serve remote communities, are particularly vulnerable to the downturn because they are not publicly traded and cannot access capital markets. They have asked the U.S. Treasury Department to prioritize assistance for them when awarding the grants. RavnAir - which has a partnership with Alaska Airlines and interline agreements with American Airlines Group Inc, United Airlines Holdings Inc and Delta Air Lines Inc - said it applied on Friday for federal payroll support but did not know if or when it would be granted. Story continues It cited an "astonishing" decline in bookings and revenue due to the coronavirus in its Chapter 11 filing in Delaware. Airlines began seeing a dramatic drop in bookings around March 12 when it became clear that coronavirus outbreaks were increasing across the world. "In the event that government relief, under the CARES Act or otherwise, becomes available, (the company) hope to restart operations with as many of its laid-off employees as required," RavnAir said in the filing. In a letter posted on Sunday, RavnAir Chief Executive Dave Pflieger said the airline was working to "resume the vital air service you depend on ... that are essential to our communities and the state of Alaska." Many of RavnAir's customers fly on tickets subsidized by Medicaid, the government program for the poor and disabled, it said. Top Democrats have urged Mnuchin to move quickly to release the grants without imposing unreasonable conditions. (Reporting by David Shepardson and Tracy Rucinski; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Marguerita Choy) Maharashtra recorded 120 more coronavirus (Covid-19) cases on Monday, taking the total number of infected people in the state to 868, with Mumbais tally rising by 68 cases to 526. The death toll in the state, too, rose to 52, with seven more Covid-19 related fatalities on Monday. Mumbai alone has recorded 34 deaths. According to the state health department data, around 85% (752) of Covid-19 cases and 92% (48) of the deaths have been reported from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Pune district. This has led authorities to aggressively pursue cluster containment plans to combat the spread of the virus. The MMR Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivali, Ulhasnagar, Mira-Bhayander, Bhiwandi-Nizampur, and Vasai-Virar excluding Mumbai has recorded 85 cases and nine deaths. Pune has reported 141 cases and five deaths. Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic In Mumbai, where the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has earmarked 226 containment zones, Worli is the worst-hit area. Eleven fresh cases were recorded on Monday in Worli, taking the areas tally to 68. In Mumbai, a containment zone is categorised when even 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 said. In Worli Koliwada, after a BMC sweeper tested positive on April 2, civic health staffers have screened more than 50,000 people, said BMC officials. From Monday, the BMC initiated a second survey of all homes in the area, with the help of doctors. The number of cases in this particular area is increasing. So we have imposed a strict ban on movement. We are rigorously tracking high-risk and low-risk contacts, said BMC commissioner Praveen Pardeshi. Civic health officials said a team of four members identified containment zones in the area to conduct door-to-door surveys for suspected patients. Beyond the containment zones, the BMC has surveyed buffer zones, where the virus might have spread. As part of this survey, 320 high-risk contacts have been identified and quarantined at the local Potdar Hospital for 14 days. According to BMC protocol, families and immediate neighbours of positive patients are tested, as they are considered high risk. Other residents in their neighbourhoods are considered low risk and are asked to be under home quarantine. They are also asked to keep a tab on their symptoms. Residents of adjoining buildings in the containment zones are also surveyed. Entry and exit from a containment zone are restricted and severe lockdown protocols are put in place. State health minister Rajesh Tope indicated the state government would have to take additional precautions with respect to lifting the lockdown in Mumbai and Pune. He hinted that the lockdown in Maharashtra may not be lifted after April 15 and said that nobody should assume that things would come back to normal after that. There is a protocol to follow on how to lift the lockdown. We have case studies of countries lifting the lockdown. The Centre, too, will send us advisories regarding this. We will study the situation between April 10 and April 15 Nobody should think the lockdown will be lifted completely. We will have to take all precautions. Wherever there are more cases, like in Mumbai and Pune, we will have to take additional precautions. So, nobody should assume things will be back to normal after April 14, Tope said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-07 02:15:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GENEVA, April 6 (Xinhua) -- World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said here on Monday that the WHO has been evaluating the use of medical and non-medical masks for COVID-19 more widely, and it will issue guidance and criteria to support countries in making that decision. "As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we recognize that individuals and governments want to do everything they can to protect themselves and others. So do we," he said at a virtual press conference. Saying that in the community, the WHO already recommended the use of medical masks by people who are sick and those who are caring for a sick person at home, Tedros told reporters that if masks are worn, they must be used safely and properly. Most importantly, he stressed, masks should be used as part of a comprehensive package of interventions, like keeping distance, cleaning hands and avoiding touching face. The WHO head also highlighted that medical masks must be prioritized for health workers on the front lines of the response. "We know medical masks can help to protect health workers, but they're in short supply globally," he said, adding that the mass use of medical masks by the general population could exacerbate the shortage. Click here to read the full article. Spoiler warning: If you havent watched the last 4 years of Outlander, this article contains spoilers. Why are you even reading it?! There is no new episode of Outlander, Season 5 this week. I know! This is not the time for a Droughtlander, Outlander! Its a global pandemic, we need you. Though, lets face it, last weeks episode was so good, that they deserve a break, so I have decided to do us all a favor and break down all of Jamie & Claires best fights and make-up (hey, sex) scenes to get us through this week. Youre welcome. Lets start at the very beginning. Season 1, Episode 9 The Reckoning No, You Didnt, Jamie! This episode actually contained their first ever fight as a couple, a make-up scene, a follow-up fight and then a really intense make-up sex scene. So what were they fighting about? In the previous episode, Claire and Jamie were enjoying some honeymoon sex in a field as one does and they were rudely interrupted by Red Coat deserters who also happened to be rapists. Claire saved them though, when she knifed the would-be almost rapist in the back with her tiny little ankle knife. Cut to Jamie telling an in-shock Claire, that he and the guys were going to go confront a man and it would be too dangerous for her, so shed have to stay back with one of his guys. Claire is not happy. PTSD, James. Probably not the best time to gallop off without her. Long story short, Claire takes a walk, gets kidnapped by the Red Coats and Blackjack Randall almost rapes her. Honestly, Claire is having a very STRESSFUL 24 HOURS, can someone please acknowledge this?! Thankfully, Jamie saves her with an empty gun. Note for the record: From this point forward, I am #TeamClaire for this episode. The River Fight On their ride back to the castle, they stop at a river, and Jamie blames Claire for what happened. He tells her shes his wife and she must listen to him. She retorts, Oh you think Im your property! Then she slaps him. (We might know where their daughter gets her fondness for slapping from. Hi, Mom! See Season 4 fight below). Jamie grabs her and it looks VERY TENSE. She tells him he only wants a wife to keep his bed warm, and that a wife is just place for him to put his c*ck. And he does not like that and he grabs her. She screams, Let go of me, you f*cking bastard, and he calls her a foul-mouthed b*tch. Story continues I know. Theyre really mad. How will they recover from this? (When I first watched this scene, I had shock face on the whole time. My mouth was ajar. Thats right, ajar). But then Jamie crumbles. He falls back on his knees and reveals he was scared of losing her. Youre tearing my guts out, Claire. She breaks and runs to him and says shes sorry and asks him to forgive her. Which he does in under 3 seconds. And then he does something no 18th century man did, he apologizes to her for what he said and says he didnt mean it. Then in a voice over Jamie says, I had forgiven her before that day for everything she could have done or would ever do. That was falling in love. This scene is perfect. Actual perfection. Truly the best scene of the entire series. Balfe and Heughans performances are at peak level here and both have said this was their favorite scene to film. The Spanking Fight But then they get ready to head back to Castle Leoch, and shit goes bad again. Theyre at an inn and Claire thinks everything is fine, but the highlanders are mad she put them in danger and tell Jamie its his duty to teach his wife a lesson. So he takes off his belt and walks towards his new wife. And shes like, B*tch what?! Now remember, its 1743 or something and apparently thats what husbands did back then. They taught their wives lessons with spanking (but not in that safe, sane, consensual kinky way). Jamie grabs Claire and attempts to spank her and she really fights back in the struggle, she kicks him in the face, throws hard objects at his head, scratches him and calls him a sadist. But he ends up carrying out the punishment. In the middle of it, the highlanders are shown laughing saying theyre not sure whos punishing who. This is probably one of the most controversial scenes from the book series. Caitriona Balfe said that for Claire, Theres big psychic wounds. I think that it was such a betrayal to her; this man that she had fallen in love with so deeply, would then do something to her. The next morning, ice cold Claire and Jamie come down to breakfast and the men immediately ask how her butt is. Seriously, they do. Claire ignores and then sexiles Jamie for the next few days. In fact, at one point, shes getting into bed and Jamie starts to take off his clothes to join her, and shes like, (Scoff) What are you doing? And hes all wide-eyed and puppy dog like, and says, I thought And she crushes him with, Think again. So how did they make up? With a whole lot of carpet sex. Jamie comes to her and says he realizes that what hes been taught about treating women will not work for their marriage. He then kneels before her and makes a pledge of his loyalty and respect to her and only her. He holds his knife to his heart and says may it pierce his heart, if ever his hand is raised in rebellion against her again. Swoon. Claire seems unfazed by this but then breaks, and we see them both realize theres no going back for them. Jamie then tells her, You are my home. And Claires a goner. He says, I want you Claire. I want you so bad I can scarcely breathe. And then Jamie says the hottest thing anyone could say in this scenario: Will you have me? This show crushes consent in the best way. Perhaps when schools are back in session, Jamie Fraser can go around to every sex-ed class and TEACH CONSENT. (And maybe leave out the spanking your wife part, Jamie). Claire responds, Yes Ill have you. Spoiler alert: Shes always had him. (There was never any question about that, since she fixed his broken dislocated shoulder in episode one, she had him). And then they have what can only be described as probably the most shocking and best sex scene in television history. Why? Because mid-act, Claire grabs a knife and puts it to Jamies throat while still doing her business. The level of multi-tasking skills Claire has in this scene cannot be understated. She says, Listen to me, James Fraser, if you ever raise a hand to me again, I will cut out your heart and have it for breakfast. And guys, I think she really means it. Jamie does too, because he immediately says, You have my word! (He would have agreed to anything at this point). A lot of people think this is an S&M scene. Its not. Its just merely a wife getting her husband to hear her with a knife in the middle of sex. Its about power, and Claire taught Jamie about equality in a really, unique way. Honestly, she deserved an award. A sex Oscar. After their equality sex lesson, they enjoy some post-sex banter. Jamie: What does f*cking mean? Claire: Um, what? Jamie: You called me a f*cking bastard. Claire: Oh, it means what we just did. Class over, kids. Behind-the-scenes facts: The River fight was actually the scene with which Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan chemistry tested. Somewhere on YouTube that audition lives and wow, they have had chemistry since the minute they met. Its on tape, people. We have the receipts. During the spanking scene, Caitriona Balfe didnt tell Sam Heughan shed be throwing so many objects at his head. Maybe he got hit and had a slight bruise. And that kick to his face? One of those may have made contact during one of the takes. The sex was also the first love scene they ever filmed. And they both got awful carpet burns. So after that, they never did it on a carpet again. Season 1, Episode 12 Lallybroch When Your Wife Flips You Off the Bed Jamie returns to his home, Lallybroch with Claire, who has just made the decision to stay with him in the past and not return to the future. Its a big turning point for them. Jamies sister, Jenny Fraser, is elated to see her brother, until he accuses her of being an unwed whore who clearly had Blackjacks Randalls bastard child and named it after Jamie. Claire tries to get him to calm down, and Jenny says, Tell that trollop to stay out of this. Wow. His sister is NO JOKE. Thankfully, Jennys husband Ian (Steve Cree), enters and diffuses the situation. He asks who Claire is, and she responds, Im the trollop. But you can call me Claire Fraser. Ian seems pretty happy about his new funny, sister-in-law. Jamie and Claires first disagreement happens when Jenny tells Jamie he owes her an apology, and he gives a classic guy response, Well, didnt I? Claire responds, No you didnt, you owe her an apology. And Jenny says, This is between my brother and me. Jamie tells Claire he needs to speak to her alone. Uh oh. He tells her that she cant embarrass him in front of his family and the servants, and says she has a sharp tongue, but theres a time and place for it. To which Claire responds with her iconic line, Im not the meek and obedient type. Nobody ever would think that, gurl. Nobody. Jamie relents and just says, Um, can you at least just yell at me in private? And when were alone, you can throw cutlery at me. Claire tells him to remember she has a good throwing arm. (See Reckoning fight, we know). The next fight happens after Jenny saves Jamie from the Red Coats finding him. He has to hide naked in a river under water. Jenny screams at Jamie, whos still naked and tells her to turn around before his little Jamie snaps off. (Its a cold river!). Jenny sees his back scars for the first time and runs away. Jamie angrily asks why Jenny was there and Claire says, She saved your ass. Later than night, Jamie is having a wee little nap and Claires had enough, so she flips him off the bed. This wasnt really a fight (if it was, Claire WON). Jamie never had a chance. When he tried to speak up, she silenced him. She basically told him to stop acting like a power hungry douche with his sister and he listened. The end. How do they make up? This is the first time they say, I love you, to each other and it ends with them heading to bed and some fade to black hibbity dibbity. This actually also might be the scene where they conceived their first child. Because not long after, Jamie is kidnapped. Season 2, Episode 4 La Dame Blanche It Was Only a Bite After Jamies sexual assault at the end of season one, Claire and Jamies intimacy was obviously impacted. Claire is pregnant and Jamie cant look at her or even sleep without having nightmares of Blackjack Randall. Jamie comes home one night looking pretty happy. He was at a brothel hanging with the would-be-king doing undercover work to change history. (That actually sounds insane but makes sense in Outlander-speak). He jumps into bed with Claire, sans pants and is ready to go. Claire is into this too, until she sees bite marks on his thighs. Uh oh. Big fight incoming. She asks where he got them from, and then Jamies response is the worst response in the history of responses. I doubt a gently reared woman like you would know the term soixant-neuf. To which Claire irately responds, I know what 69 is! JAMIE. WE ALL KNOW. Jamie tries to explain the bites and says Claire is the reason he felt alive for the first time since the attack. Claire yells because it was with another woman. He says, No nothing happened! Im no mathematician but thigh bites do not equal nothing happened. When Claire tells him she feels totally alone in her pregnancy, Jamie says she has no idea what hes been going through. And then she says something that shows why this couple is so strong and should teach a master class in communication: Well then, tell me god dammit. So he tells her that the brutal attack made him feel like he was, naked and alone, trying to hide under a blade of grass. Claire is in tears and Jamie tells her he will sleep somewhere else. Theyre so upset and its really sad. But, thankfully, Claire decides to take matters into her own hands, naked. She goes to the tiny room Jamies sleeping in, doesnt say anything and then gets on top of Jamie and they connect for the first time since the attack. The best part of this make up scene is that it shows a pregnant woman in a love scene. I know that shouldnt sound so unique, but it is. It is! Most shows dont show that pregnant women have sex. But they do! Season 2, Episode 5 Untimely Resurrection Claire Wants Jamie to Save Frank Claire realizes that Blackjack Randall cant be killed for another year, otherwise her future husband Frank wont be born. So she begs Jamie not to kill Randall for another year. This discussion gets intense and Jamie gives Claire a knife and says if she doesnt let him kill Randall, she might as well kill him. She doesnt react to this knife drama, and says, Its just one year, and then Ill help you kill him. The most powerful part of this fight is when Jamie agrees not to kill Randall for one year, Claire goes to touch his hands and he physically recoils and tells her not to touch him. Claire is gutted and quite frankly (see what I did there), so are we. The only reason Claire might be right in this particular case is because, lets not forget, if Claire hadnt married Frank, they would have never been in Scotland on their honeymoon and Claire would have never traveled back in time. Which means she wouldnt have met Jamie and she could very possibly just go poof in the middle of a scene. At least, I think it means that. I dont really get the intricacies of time travel! But either way, without Frank, there would be no Jamie and Claire! Thankfully, by the beginning of the next episode, Jamie has forgiven Claire and is giving her a pregnant foot rub. Helpful, JAMMF. He explains that he doesnt really care about saving Frank, causing Claire to be like, WTF, why did you promise me? And then he explains that if they cant change history and she has to go back through the stones, he wants her to be able to go back to Frank. (Worst. Plan. Ever. Jamie. And I hate that thats exactly what happened). From Claires expression, shes not into the plan either. Season 2, Episode 7 Faith Claire and Jamie Lose Their Baby In episode 6, Best Laid Schemes, Jamie goes back on his word to Claire and fights Randall, seemingly killing him, causing Claire to miscarry. Jamie is thrown into prison and Claire must grieve the loss of their child alone. This episode flashes back to her miscarriage, which happened pretty late in her pregnancy. In fact, Claire holds her deceased daughter in one particularly heart-wrenching scene. Once Claire learns the horrible reason why Jamie had to go back on his word, she spends the rest of the episode working to free Jamie from prison. Turns out Blackjack Randall sexually assaulted Jamie and Claires adopted son, Fergus, just as he did to Jamie. When Jamie returns home, with a prison beard, Claire can barely look at him. He asks if Claire hates him. And as they flash back to her holding their deceased daughter, Claire says, I did hate you. She then says she blames herself for putting Frank before their family and that shes the reason they lost their daughter. She asks Jamie how they can ever be the same. Jamie kneels before Claire and says, What has happened here is too much for any one of us to bear alone. The only way we can live with it, is to carry it together. We lost our child, by the grace of God we may be given another. Claire responds, Then bring me home. To Scotland. They visit their daughters grave together before leaving France. This isnt a typical Jamie and Claire fight, and hence there isnt an immediate make-up, since they are grieving their child. But in Season 2, episode 8, Foxs Lair, theyve returned home to Lallybroch, and they seem to be back in the rhythm of things. By episode 12, Claire is pregnant again. So they made up. Probably many, many times. Then, of course, they are separated for 20 goddamn years. Season 3, Episode 7 Creme de Menthe Jamie Gets Jealous About Frank After finally reuniting after 20 long years, Claire gets upset with Jamie that he wasnt honest with Ian about where his son was. She tells Jamie he is not Young Ians father and doesnt know what its like to be a worried parent. And Jamie says, Yeah, but I am Briannas father, and I couldnt raise her. Eek. Hes mad Claire, and hes been mad for 20 years. Not at Claire, but then he makes it personal. I had no say how you and Frank raised her. To which Claire, says, Ill have you know Frank was a very good father. (She probably could have skipped that fact!) Then Jamie says, Was he a really good husband too? And there it is: JAMMF jealousy. Claire is speechless, and asks what does he mean? And Jamie says, Did you fall in love with Frank again? She quickly answers, No. I was in love with Frank, but before I met you. Pretty sure this fight would have ended up with some make-up sex, but theyre interrupted with the news that Jamies stupid print shop burnt down. We also learn something that Claire doesnt know yet: Jamie has another wife. Season 3, Episode 8 First Wife Jamie Forgot to Tell Claire One Little Thing Jamie and Claire arrive back at Lallybroch for the first time in 20 years. Jenny gives Claire the coldest shoulder ever. (In her defense, Jenny thought Claire was dead and Jamie and Claire never told her Claires a time traveler). Later that night, in their room, Jamie tries to tell Claire something but he doesnt do it fast enough and, all of a sudden, two young girls pop open the door and call him, Daddy! Say, what?! Then evil Laoghaire whips in and calls Claire a Sassenach whore. (The way whore sounds with a Scottish accent is actually hilarious, it almost makes me want to change my name to that). Laoghaire then reveals that she is Jamies WIFE! No Jamie, no. Claires in shock. Did he actually marry the girl who tried to kill Claire? What in the James Alexander Malcolm McKenzie Fraser was he thinking?! As Claire angrily packs, she and Jamie have a well-deserved HUGE FIGHT. Its worth a re-watch. Jamie says that those arent his kids and he only married Laoghaire because of the kids he didnt live with her and he did not love her. Claire spits, Oh, so you can marry a woman and just discard her?! Jamie responds, Im damned one way or another, if I felt anything for her, Im a faithless letch and, if I didnt, Im a heartless beast. Then Jamie spits you left me, and let Frank raise our child. Claire flips and says, Left you?! You made me go back. And then Jamie says the saddest thing, that for 20 years he imagined Frank holding their child and taking her body. And Claire says, Well I dont have to imagine you and Laoghaire. What happens when Jealous Jamie meets Jealous Claire? Well Jamie says I would do anything to be with you, even lie. Then he grabs her and kisses her. And she slaps him. So he kisses her again, pins her to the floor and says he loves her and only her. This seems to work, because all of a sudden they are angrily making out and headed to sexville. But then Jamies sister Jenny cools them down, literally. She tosses cold water on them and yells, Stop it! You guys are fighting and rutting like crazy wild animals, and are VERY LOUD. That pretty much ruins the mood (#ThanksJenny) and Claire storms out. Jamie, who has his pants half on, seems pretty annoyed with his sister. (Same, Jamie, SAME). The next morning Claires heading out with her stuff, and Jamie stops her and says hes only loved one woman in his life. But then Laoghaire whips out a gun and points it at Claire. Ugh, Laoghaire! Can you just GO AWAY FOREVER, PLEASE. *Narrator: But she would not go away forever, in fact shed come back again in Season 4. Jamie stands in front of Claire and tells her to put the gun down, but that little raging idiot accidentally shoots Jamie in the chest and arm. Claire quickly hockey checks Laoghaire, who runs away. Claire then performs surgery on Jamie to remove all the bullets. When Jamie wakes up, shes still super mad at him. And lets just say she enjoys giving him a butt shot of penicillin more than she should. In fact, she smiles whilst administering the shot. They end up making up in episode 9, The Doldrums, with some quickie boat sex and a super cute post-sex chat, in which Jamie tells Claire he likes her gray hair. And she tells him he would get laid a lot in the future if he said that in the 1960s. Behind-the-scenes fact: During their bedroom fight scene, Sam accidentally threw Caitriona across the room and she landed on her bum and couldnt walk for three days without pain. Season 4, Episode 10 The Deep Hearts Core Family Fight After Bree told Claire she was sexually assaulted, Claire finds her wedding ring in Briannas stuff. You know the wedding ring that Stephen Bonnet pulled off of Claires throat? (Hi, traumatic). Claire puts two and two together and Bree confirms it was Bonnet, but tells Claire that she cant tell Jamie because he will try and kill Bonnet. (I dont see the problem here, Bree?) But Claire reluctantly agrees to keep it from Jamie. Meanwhile, thanks to Lizzys terrible detective work, Jamie and Ian thought Roger was the one who assaulted Bree. Jamie sees him and punches him in the face about 37 times, and then tells Ian to get rid of him. So Ian sells him to the Mohawk, who then make him walk about 500 miles tied to a horse. (And whats worse is we were forced to watch 499 of those miles, which was why Season 4 was the weakest). Cut to the Frasers having a nice family moment in the kitchen, Brianna comes whipping into the cabin super angry, turning Frasers Ridge Cabin in to Frasers Rage Cabin, demanding to know where Roger is. She looks at Jamie and says, What did you do to him? Claire looks at Jamies bruised hand. Uh oh, Jamie. Whats worse than Claire being mad? Mini Claire being mad, and Jamie had both his wife and daughter super pissed off at him. Honestly, Lizzy was to blame for ALL OF THIS. Brianna soon starts dishing out slaps for everyone (except her mom), first her dad, Jamie (he kind of maybe deserved it). Next up Cousin Ian (didnt really deserve it), Like mother, like daughter people. That throwing arm clearly got passed down. Even Claire was like, Brianna! Stop it, gurl. Luckily, Murtagh quickly left that Slap Cabin before he got hit. I feel bad for Jamie in this scene. Hed literally just bonded with his daughter for the first time ever. They went bee hunting and then they commiserated about the fact that they are both rape victims. Jamie explains he thought Roger went back to the future. And he says, So Roger didnt bed you? And Brees like, No, he did, but I wanted it. And this is where new Dad Jamie goes wrong. He says, You bedded him from lust! And then accuses Brianna of lying about being violated, so Brianna slaps him (Hard) mid-sentence. Claire runs over to Brianna, and Jamie has never looked sadder. He tries to apologize, but Bree tells him to go to hell. Before Young Ian is Bree-slapped, he asks then, who attacked you? And Claire pulls out her wedding ring and puts it on the table for Jamie to see. And everyone realizes it was Bonnet. This is a big moment for Jamie and Claire, when he realizes Claire knew and didnt tell him. Later, Brianna tells Claire she has to go with Jamie to get Roger back. Claire doesnt want to leave a pregnant Bree alone. They decide Brianna will go to Aunt Jocastas where she will be safe. Jamie says, You knew it was Bonnet and you didnt tell me. And Claire replies, You told me you hit a tree. And then leaves without another word. Mom and Dad are FIGHTING guys and its really BAD because theyre not even talking about it. Silent fights are the WORST fights. That means youre REALLY, REALLY MAD. And why are they fighting? Because their child is deeply upset. And thats really the one thing that could splinter Jamie and Claire emotionally their daughter being upset. Season 4, Episode 11 If Not for Hope Mom & Dad Fraser Fight Jamie and Claires cold spell lasts a whole episode. Young Ian tries to get them to talk to each other. In the book, Young Ian implies he knows they havent been sleeping together which means everyone knows that Jamie and Claire have a lot of sex. Even their nephew! LOL. But Young Ian knew all was not right with the world if they werent doing it, and he was just trying to help them and the world, guys. Claire and Jamie do end up making up in a tent, when Claire reveals shes not mad at Jamie but at the world for hurting Brianna. Jamie reveals that he thinks Brianna and Claire loved Frank more, and Claire calls him a fool and explains that Brianna is exactly like Jamie and has his temper and didnt mean what she said to him. They both apologize to each other and then really make it up to each other with some tent sex. Season 5, Episode 6 Better to Marry Than Burn Stables Fight This was a fun reminder that Jamie and Claire can still fight, but not enough screen time was dedicated to it. It started in the middle of the wedding, continued in the stables and then within 20 seconds, Jamie and Claire were having very angry sex next to a poor innocent horse named Lucas! (What did LUCAS ever do to you Jamie and Claire?!) Their post-coital make-up scene was sweet though and when Claire reveals she got a sex bruise, Jamie kisses it and makes it better. The fight begins in the middle of Aunt Jocastas wedding, when Jamie wants to gamble with Claires wedding ring from Frank. She gets mad he wants to risk losing something so important to her, so she gives him both wedding rings! Claire storms off. Jamie gets drunk and then finds Claire in the stables. He says something about her thinking she can do whatever she wants and this pisses her off, so she slaps him. (Sidebar: Claire has slapped Jamie three times in the show. Ok, maybe more, since she kicked his ass in the spanking scene just as much as he did hers). I think they just both wanted to push each others buttons in this scene. Because that slap just turns drunk Jamie on, and soon theres all this stable sexing. And there it is, five years worth of Jamie and Claire fights, which we love because when they fight, they make up. Okay, Outlander, no more taking any more weeks off. Though, I am willing to fill in again with a future article: Every time Sam Heughan has accidentally wounded Caitriona Balfe. (Though, Caitriona Balfe should probably write this). NEXT NEW EPISODE: Spoilers The Ballad of Roger Mac Season 5, Episode 7 recap and next weeks promo. Another new promo released showed that Bonnet is back. And he might be holding Claire at knife-point on a beach. Also, Brianna has a gun and so does Jamie. And is it next Sunday, yet?! What day is it? Seriously, does anyone know? Launch Gallery: These 19 Shows Gave Us Some of the Best Sex Scenes on TV More from SheKnows Best of SheKnows Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Public health officials and doctors in the US are warning that thousands of people infected by the Covid-19 virus will die this week. This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment, only its not going to be localized, Surgeon General Jerome Adams said on Fox News Sunday. Therell be a lot of death, Donald Trump added Saturday. In Europe, nearly 3,000 people died Saturday as the disease continued to burn through Italy, France and Spain. In the less developed countries of Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, where large portions of the population live in extreme poverty, the death toll will certainly be in the hundreds of thousands. The United States has emerged as the global center of the pandemic. The total number of deaths is approaching 10,000, with 1,331 deaths on Saturday alone. However, this number, according to an article posted Sunday in the New York Times, undercounts the actual number of victims. In many rural areas, the Times reports, coroners say they dont have the tests they need to detect the disease. Doctors now believe that some deaths in February and early March, before the coronavirus reached epidemic levels in the United States, were likely misidentified as influenza or only described as pneumonia. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci, for his part, made clear that it would be a false statement to say the United States has COVID-19 under control. This, to put it bluntly, is an understatement. The lack of even an accurate account of the number of dead is just one more grotesque example of a spectacle of disorganization and chaos almost defying description. The United States still does not have a policy of testing and isolating all suspected cases, as recommended by the World Health Organization. Over 90 percent of cities throughout the country are missing the most basic supplies, including face masks for first responders and medical personnel. Ninety-two percent do not have enough test kits, and 85 percent do not have enough ventilators. Meanwhile state and local governments continue to warn that they face an imminent shortage of ventilators. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has said his state is expected to exhaust its supply of ventilators by Monday, while Mayor Bill De Blasio warned that New York City is slated to run out of the lifesaving devices by Tuesday or Wednesday. The governments combination of incompetence and indifference is personified by Trump himself, who, in his daily rambling press conferences, can hardly bring himself to express sympathy for the victims of the pandemic. To the extent that there is any element of the catastrophe that really agitates Trump, it is the impact of the pandemic on the corporate bottom line. Fauci has said that the spread of Covid-19 can be significantly slowed, if not entirely stopped, by shutting down all nonessential businesses and maintaining a nationwide social quarantine that must likely last for several months. But Trump himself, while occasionally paying lip service to the warnings of Fauci and the scientific community, declares repeatedly and with far greater conviction, as he did at his Saturday press conference, that Americans have to get back to work. Think of it, he said. Were paying people not to go to work. How about that? How does that play? It would be a mistake to see Trumps indifference toward human life as merely the manifestation of his sociopathic personality. However crudely, Trump is expressing a position that has widespread support within the ruling elite. Under the slogan, The cure should not be worse than the disease, the capitalist media began arguing that the economic damage caused by the shutdown of businesses and factories would, in the long run, prove more harmful to society than the deaths that would result from a rapid return to work, even if the pandemic was not under control. With consummate cynicism, the media presents itself as the champion of working people and the poor. For example, the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal, which has never complained when corporations slashed jobs and cut wages to boost corporate profits, now professes, in an editorial statement published Friday, to worry about the shutdowns psychological toll on Americans who can least afford it. Viewing the pre-pandemic economy through rose-tinted glasses, the Journal asserts, The tragedy [of the shutdown] is all the worse because the main victims are the low-skilled and blue-collar workers who had been gaining the most in the last couple of years. Gaining the most! Compared to whom? Perhaps the CEOs and other corporate executives whose average annual salaries, not to mention bonuses and earnings from investments, are several hundred times greater than the average worker. And for all its concern about the burdens caused by a prolonged shutdown of unsafe workplaces, the Wall Street Journalwhich happens to be owned by the multibillionaire reactionary Rupert Murdochdoes not identify the section of the population that is likely to suffer the highest mortality rates from a premature return to work. Stripped of all deliberate obfuscation, the demand to balance saving lives against the economy means nothing more nor less than sacrificing human lives for the profit interests of the capitalists. From the standpoint of the ruling class, the process of class exploitation through production must continue. And those who die can be replaced. The single overriding concern is the growth and expansion of stock market values for the enrichment of the financial oligarchy. In another article published Friday, Politico declared, Yes, We Need to Measure Lives Against Money. On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, the same argument is being made. In Britain, the Economist argues, Covid-19 presents stark choices between life, death and the economy. The weekly writes, It sounds hard-hearted but a dollar figure on life, or at least some way of thinking systematically, is precisely what leaders will need if they are to see their way through the harrowing months to come. As in that hospital ward, trade-offs are unavoidable. The Economist continues: When one child is stuck down a well the desire to help without limits will prevailand so it should. But in a war or a pandemic leaders cannot escape the fact that every course of action will impose vast social and economic costs. To be responsible, you have to stack each against the others. And what does the stacking consist of? In column A there is a global tally, country by country, of the numbers of people who are likely to die if there is a speedy return to work while the pandemic rages. In column B, there is another tally, bank by bank and corporation by corporation, of the billions in profits that will be forfeited. The choice, according to the Economist, is clear. The consequences of a prolonged regime of factory shutdowns and social distancing are, from a sober-minded business point of view, too terrible to contemplate: Markets would tumble and investments be delayed. The capacity of the economy would wither as innovation stalled and skills decayed. Eventually, even if many people are dying, the cost of distancing could outweigh the benefits. [Emphasis added] The stone-hard heart of the nineteenth century capitalist economist and hater of mankind, Thomas Malthus, still beats in the breast of the British ruling class. Der Spiegel, writing on behalf of the German ruling class that gave the world Adolf Hitler, declares that it is dangerous idea to believe that the country can ride out a multi-month lockdown without suffering any grave consequences. Initially it was right to follow the advice of virologists and to shut the country down in order to stem the uncontrolled spread of the virus. But in the coming weeks and months, we will have to continually reassess. At that point, serious decisions will have to be made about what risks we are willing to take in order to get the economy back on track. The risk that capitalist governments are preparing to take is with the lives of the working class. The demand for a return to work on the part of substantial sections of the political establishment has emerged as a clear line of social division between the working class and the financial oligarchy. The calculations made by the ruling class and its apologists assume that all social and economic decisions must be based on the needs and interests of the capitalist profit system. Any policy or action that undermines that system or threatens the wealth of the ruling class is illegitimate. But the working class, as an objectively progressive and revolutionary social force, has a completely different set of priorities and interests that are fundamentally incompatible with those of the capitalists. Last month, the major Detroit automakers were forced to close down production amid a growing wave of walkouts by workers. Employees at Amazon, Instacart, and Whole Foods went on strike last week to demand safe working conditions and the closure of nonessential production. And nurses and other healthcare workers staged protests to demand the vital safety equipment they have been denied. There can only be one priority in this pandemic: the saving of lives. All nonessential production must be shut down until adequate testing and contact tracing protocols are in place and the disease can be contained. All essential workers, including those in medicine, transportation, and food service, must be provided full protective equipment and guaranteed safe working conditions. Yes, the issue of economic hardship is an important one, which must be addressed. As long as the pandemic makes it impossible for workers to safely return to their jobs, they must be fully compensated. The economic resources must come from the cancellation of the multitrillion-dollar bailout of the corporations and the reallocation of the funds to support the working population. The fight for these demands must be developed into a broader struggle to end private capitalist control of economic life, transform the large corporations and banks into public utilities democratically controlled by the working class, and thereby establish a socialist economy that is based not on the procurement of private profit, but on the advancement of the interests of humanity on a global scale. As the World Socialist Web Site wrote last week, the alternatives present themselves as the capitalist profit system and death, or socialism and life. Fans of Selena Quintanilla Perez, legendary Tejano music icon, pay tribute through social media to commemorate her 25 years in the industry since she was shot and killed according to a recently published article. 25 years after the legendary Tejano music icon was shot and killed by the president of her fan club, she is still one of the most celebrated performers around the globe. With the achievements and awards that she had at her young age, it is not a question anymore why she was loved and admired. Every year on her death anniversary, Selena's fans would gather either in front of her museum in Corpus Christi in Texas, near her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, or in front of the concert hall, where people first heard Selena performing her iconic song, "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom." However, because of the threat brought by COVID-19 and the restrictions of mass gatherings to control the spread of the virus, Selena's fans cannot carry on with their tradition this year. But this did not hinder them not to commemorate the life and success of Selena Quintanilla Perez. Selena's family has planned a concert through their family company Q Productions to commemorate the death of the legendary Tejano music icon. The show was supposed to take place on May 9 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Renowned Latino and Latina celebrities were also supposed to perform, but this might not happen this year because of the present situation. Since people are forced to stay at home, fans who wanted to commemorate Selena's talent and achievements poured their support through social media. Suzette Quintanilla, Selena's sister, led the memorials by posting a white rose with the name of her sister. In Suzette's official Facebook account, she wrote: "To a beautiful person who lives on...WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU! #SELENA25." Some of her fans posted on social media as well. One wrote: "25 years since this gorgeous soul gained her angel wings. We all miss you so much, my love...#Selena25 #SelenaQuintanilla #Selena" Another fan also wrote: "It's been 25 years since we lost a legend and an icon. I hope she rests in peace, knowing that she changes the lives of Chicanos who feel out of society. As a little gay boy growing up in California, she was the one that helps me connect to my Hispanic heritage. RIP SELENA #Selena25." Many were very excited to commemorate Selena's success in the music industry 25 years after her death through a concert. However, just recently, the family decided to cancel the show due to the restrictive protocol brought about by COVID-19. Meanwhile, Selena also helped Jennifer Lopez to have her breakthrough in the industry. After Lopez played the role of Selena's life in a movie in 1997, she became even more popular than she already was. In her recent Instagram post, she wrote: "Join me today in #CelebratingSelena. I can't believe it's been 23 years since this incredible movie came out and 25 years since her passing. Selena was such an inspiration to me, and I was so lucky to be chosen to play her. As an artist, this movie truly was an experience I'm going to remember for the rest of my life." In this period of isolation, everyone misses their daily routine. However, you can still enjoy staying in your house by watching the movie about the life of Selena Quintanilla, starring Jennifer Lopez. Or have some time listening to her songs. Read related articles: Selena's 25th Anniversary to be Celebrated by Latino Artists in San Antonio 10 Remarkable Mementos at the Selena Museum U of A scientists have taken a step toward proving the existence of quantum spin liquids, which could lead to next-generation computing A recent discovery by University of Arkansas physicists could help researchers establish the existence of quantum spin liquids, a new state of matter. They've been a mystery since they were first proposed in the 1970s. If proven to exist, quantum spin liquids would be a step toward much faster, next-generation quantum computing. Scientists have focused attention and research on the so-called Kitaev-type of spin liquid, named in honor of the Russian scientist, Alexei Kitaev, who first proposed it. In particular, they have looked extensively at two materials - RuCl3 and Na2IrO - as candidates for this type. Both have small quantum spin numbers. "Traditional candidates are pretty limited to only these two," said Changsong Xu, a researcher in the Department of Physics and first author of a paper published in the journal Physical Review Letters. In their recent work, U of A physicists have greatly expanded the number of materials that might be candidates as Kitaev quantum spin liquids by looking at materials with higher quantum spin numbers, and by putting materials under physical strain to tune their magnetic states. "Suddenly, we realize there are dozens of candidates we can propose," said Xu. Quantum spin liquids are defined by their unusual magnetic arrangement. Magnets have a north and south pole, which combined are called dipoles. These are typically produced by the quantum spin of electrons. Inside a magnetic material, dipoles tend to all be parallel to each other (ferromagnetism) or periodically alternate their up and down direction (antiferromagnetism). In the case of hypothetical quantum spin liquids, dipoles aren't as well ordered. Instead, they exhibit unusual ordering within a small distance of each other. Different ordering creates different types of spin liquids. Xu, along with Distinguished Professor of Physics Laurent Bellaiche and colleagues in China and Japan, used computational models to predict a Kitaev quantum spin liquid state in materials such as chromium iodide and chromium germanium telluride. The work, which was supported by grants from the Arkansas Research Alliance and the Department of Energy, will give researchers many more materials to study in a search to prove the existence of quantum spin liquids, said Xu. ### The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Monday blocked Gov. Tony Evers' executive order to postpone in-person voting for the state's presidential primary set for Tuesday. The Democrat aimed to delay voting until June 9 because of the coronavirus pandemic. In a 4-2 ruling, the court said Evers did not have the authority to move the election. Earlier Monday, the governor cited safety as he pushed to postpone in-person voting. "As municipalities are consolidating polling locations, and absent legislative or court action, I cannot in good conscience stand by and do nothing," Evers said in a statement from his office. "The bottom line is that I have an obligation to keep people safe, and that's why I signed this executive order." Later on Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 along partisan lines to reverse a lower court order that extended the deadline for absentee ballots in the state. A federal appeals court on Friday had upheld a one-week extension, but state and national Republicans urged the justices to do away with it. The execution of Wisconsin's primary has been in a tug-of-war between Republican and Democratic legislative members for weeks, with Evers, a Democrat, proposing key changes to allow people to avoid in-person voting due to the spread of the outbreak. GOP members have opposed the moves. Last week, Evers called for a special legislative session just days before the state's original primary date to cancel the in-person portion of voting. He said the state aimed to shift to an all-mail voting system for the primary with a deadline of May 26 to get ballots in. But the effort got shut down. Republican legislative members in Wisconsin have been keen on pushing back against any effort to postpone elections because a key statewide race, if postponed, could loosen their grip on the judiciary. A Republican candidate is running in the race for a state Supreme Court seat, and Republicans fear that adjustments to the election could bring more favorable outcomes to the Democratic candidate on the ticket. Wisconsin, with 84 pledged presidential delegates, would have joined a list of more than a dozen states and U.S. territories that have adjusted their nominating contests due to the coronavirus, with some opting for a mail-in system to replace in-person voting and others delaying the primaries entirely. The moves have upended the Democratic primary between former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. 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. The coronavirus, which is believed to have originated in Wuhan, China, has spread to dozens of countries globally, with more than 1.3 million confirmed cases worldwide and over 72,638 deaths so far, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. There are at least 347,003 cases in the United States and at least 10,335 deaths, according to the latest tallies. CNBC's Tucker Higgins contributed to this report. Just about seven weeks ago, both the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), had completed campus interviews. The placement committees were happy that job offers were healthy despite a slowdown-like scenario. But the picture has turned dramatically since. From March 15 onward, the placement cell numbers across these institutes havent stopped ringing, be it concerned students calling to check on their offers or companies calling to ask for more time or deferring offers. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a few job offers at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) getting revoked due to uncertainty among companies. With students unable to attend future placement sessions due to rules, these institutes are likely to make some tweaks. We have had one major consulting firm take a step back and say that they wouldnt be able to honour the offers made. However, we are still engaging with them to see if at least five to seven students could be offered jobs post-October, said the head of placements at an older IIT. Originally, 18 students had received offers. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show The situation is grim for students especially because the current placement rules at the IITs and IIMs disallow students from appearing for any campus interview once they have a job offer in hand. Even if the job offer is revoked at a later stage, the institutes do not allow students to come back for placements. But now the institutes (IITs and IIMs) are looking at making some changes to allow select students (based on merit) to take a second chance at placements. The placement rules were designed with the idea that every student must get an equal opportunity to secure a job. However, with the uncertainty due to Coronavirus and talks of a slowdown, we are open to making changes in consultation with other IIMs, said the head of placements at an IIM. Placement heads of IITs and IIMs are likely to meet over the new few weeks to discuss the next course of action for students. V Ramgopal Rao, Director of IIT Delhi in a LinkedIn post requested the recruiters to be considerate and keep their promises. He added that a few months of delay could also be fine Sources told Moneycontrol that a total of 40 offers at IITs and 35 offers at IIMs have been revoked so far. The companies here include US-based consulting firms and Indian startups. Two information technology majors who have hired several students from the IIMs would take a decision on the offers made by April 15. Institute officials said the older IITs and IIMs would be better off than the new ones who will now find it challenging to find replacement companies. Also Read: Live updates on the Coronavirus outbreak in India An IIM student whose international job offer got revoked told Moneycontrol that he had all the documents ready and booked his tickets as he was supposed to join the company by June 1. The company has said that they are withdrawing the offer due to a slowdown in their US business. But will they compensate my losses related to visa fees and flight tickets that cost upwards of Rs 2 lakh? he wondered. The rapid spread of COVID-19 has led to a shutdown across campuses. This has delayed all the remaining rounds of placements at the engineering and management institutes. While almost 50,000 students across the smaller institutes are yet to be placed across the world, IIT and IIM candidates are also now being added to the list. Human resource officials said the job market could be tougher for IIT, IIM pass-outs. There are several mid-size companies who have clearly stated that they would not be open to hiring from top institutes like IITs and IIMs due to the bad experiences in the past. Not only do students from these colleges demand a higher salary their retention rates are also very low. Considering that companies are looking to cut all excess costs now, IIT/IIM graduates wouldnt be their top choice for entry-level talent, said the head of staffing vertical at a recruitment firm. For the time being, the placement cell officers at both IITs and IIMs are involved in convincing companies to defer the offers, but not revoke it. Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here Fans of Alexander Wang's rebellious, street-savvy clothes got a welcome surprise this morning. The designer announced that he is opening up his archives online with a rare flash sale of pieces from past collections and seasons. Among the items featured are his signature notch-heeled boots, denim shorts and sexy knit dresses from his main collections as well as his lower-priced T line. Products are heavily discounted, with many listed at up to 80% off. In addition, 20% of net proceeds will go to the United Nations' COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund in support of the World Health Organization. A bunch of items are already sold out, so act fast as the Alexander Wang Vault is only available for 72 hours. In the meantime, can we suggest following the designer's personal Instagram account? Between the hype dance moves, livestreams with Alexa Demie and videos of the designer when he was a kid, there's plenty of good content to keep you entertained while you #WangFromHome. One of the biggest challenges the United States faces in the coronavirus pandemic is a shortage of life-saving medical supplies and equipment like ventilators for critically ill COVID-19 patients. Johns Hopkins University says Americans may need as many as 740,000 ventilators during this crisis. But there are only about 160-thousand available right now. Enter automakers and other businesses big and small. As part of the weekly series MichMash, MLives Cheyna Roth and WDETs Jake Neher break down how businesses big and small are switching gears to help save lives. You can hear Roth and Nehers complete conversation with Congresswoman Haley Stevens about the medical supply shortage and about the federal stimulus package by clicking on the player above. Shuttered because of concerns about their employees becoming ill or because they were not considered essential services in states like Michigan where there is a stay home order, auto manufacturers are now starting to retool their plants to make things like ventilators, masks and specialized hospital beds. When the idea was first floated a lot of people were skeptical that auto makers wouldnt have the precision parts, digital software, or expertise to pull it off quickly. But it turns out, there are a lot of things automakers can do to ramp up production. Congresswoman Haley Stevens, a Democrat representing Michigans 11th district, said, in the end, a lot of it comes down to having great engineers. The physical production of something is, whether its a face-mask or an automobile or a ventilator, is very complicated and it takes a lot of dedicated precision and commitment to good engineering practices, she said. Major corporations arent the only ones changing up their status quo. Distilleries across the state have started making hand sanitizer using their alcohol. Last week, MichMash delved into the help available locally for small businesses in Michigan. But there is also help becoming available at the federal level for small businesses. And its confusing, especially the Paycheck Protection Program. It provides a total of almost $350 billion in forgivable loans. It will offer loans of up to $10 million at one-percent interest to businesses and nonprofits with 500 workers or fewer to cover payroll and overhead expenses. The problem is that the rollout of this program has been confusing for banks and businesses. As part of Roth and Nehers conversation with Congresswoman Stevens, she broke down when small businesses can expect help, and how to get it. 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: Sidewalk chalk art cheers up Michigan Medicine nurses: 5 things that give us hope amid coronavirus crisis Spectrum Health to use heat, ultraviolet light to sanitize and reuse masks and goggles MichMash: As small businesses struggle to stay alive, some help is out there U.S. President Donald Trump doubled down Sunday on his push for the use of an anti-malarial drug against the coronavirus, issuing medical advice that goes well beyond scant evidence of the drugs effectiveness as well as the advice of doctors and public health experts. Trumps recommendation of hydroxychloroquine, for the second day in a row at a White House briefing, was a striking example of his brazen willingness to distort and outright defy expert opinion and scientific evidence when it does not suit his agenda. Standing alongside two top public health officials who have declined to endorse his call for widely administering the drug, Trump suggested that he was speaking on gut instinct and acknowledged that he had no expertise on the subject. Saying that the drug is being tested now, Trump said that there are some very strong, powerful signs of its potential, although health experts say that the data is extremely limited and that more study of the drugs effectiveness against the coronavirus is needed. But what do I know? Im not a doctor, Trump added. If it does work, it would be a shame we did not do it early, Trump said, noting again that the federal government had purchased and stockpiled 29 million pills of the drug. We are sending them to various labs, our military, were sending them to the hospitals. Trump, who once predicted that the virus might miraculously disappear by April because of warm weather, and who has rejected scientific consensus on issues like climate change, was undaunted by skeptical questioning. What do you have to lose? Trump asked, for the second day in a row, saying that terminally ill patients should be willing to try any treatment that has shown some promise. When a reporter at Sundays briefing asked Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, to weigh in on the subject, Trump stopped him from answering. As the reporter noted that Fauci, who has been far more skeptical about the drugs potential, was the presidents medical expert, Trump made it clear he did not want the doctor to answer. You know how many times hes answered that question? Maybe 15 times, the president said, stepping toward the lectern where Fauci was standing. Even as Trump has promoted the drug, which is also often prescribed for patients with lupus, it has created rifts within his own coronavirus task force. And while many hospitals have chosen to use hydroxychloroquine in a desperate attempt to treat dying patients who have few other options, others have noted that it carries serious risks. In particular, the drug can cause a heart arrhythmia that can lead to cardiac arrest. Dr. Megan L. Ranney, an emergency physician at Brown University in Rhode Island, said in an interview Sunday night that she had never seen an elected official advertise a miracle cure the way Trump has. There are side effects to hydroxychloroquine, Ranney said. It causes psychiatric symptoms, cardiac problems and a host of other bad side effects. Ranney said that the drug could be effective for some patients, but that there was not nearly enough scientific evidence to support Trumps claims. There may be a role for it for some people, she said, but to tell Americans you dont have anything to lose, thats not true. People certainly have something to lose by taking it indiscriminately. Hydroxychloroquine has not been proved to work against COVID-19 in any significant clinical trials. A small trial by Chinese researchers made public last week found that it helped speed the recovery in moderately ill patients, but the study was not peer-reviewed and had significant limitations. Earlier reports from France and China have drawn criticism because they did not include control groups to compare treated patients with untreated ones, and researchers have called the reports anecdotal. Without controls, they said, it is impossible to determine whether the drugs worked. But Trump on Sunday dismissed the notion that doctors should wait for further study. We dont have time to go and say, Gee, lets take a couple of years and test it out, and lets go out and test with the test tubes and the laboratories, Trump said. Id love to do that, but we have people dying today. Trump is typically joined at his briefings by top medical advisers, including Fauci and Dr. Deborah L. Birx, his coronavirus co-ordinator. But the president does most of the talking, and has told several advisers that the briefings give him free airtime and good ratings. A day earlier, Fauci had privately challenged rising optimism about the drugs efficacy during a meeting of the coronavirus task force in the White Houses Situation Room, according to two people familiar with the events who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe a conversation in a sensitive setting. The argument was first reported by the website Axios. The meetings agenda included the question of how the administration would discuss chloroquines. Dr. Stephen Hahn, the Food and Drug Administration commissioner, gave an update on chloroquines, and what various tests and anecdotal evidence had shown. Peter Navarro, the presidents trade adviser who is overseeing supply chain issues related to the coronavirus, asked to join the meeting, said the people briefed on what took place. Navarro, who has been pushing to secure chloroquines at the presidents request to provide to caregivers, walked in with a sheaf of folders he had placed on a chair next to him, plopped them on the table and said he had seen studies from various countries, as well as information culled from officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, showing the clear efficacy of the drug in treating the coronavirus. Navarro also argued that the medicine was being used by doctors and nurses on the front lines of the coronavirus fight. Fauci pushed back, echoing remarks he has made in interviews in the past week that rigorous study is still necessary. Navarro, an economist by training, shot back that the information he had collected was science, according to the people familiar with the episode. Vice-President Mike Pence tried to tamp down the debate, and as emotions calmed, Trumps son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, advised Navarro to take yes for an answer. The president went to the briefing room lectern a short while later and glowed about chloroquine use, suggesting he might even take it himself despite not having symptoms or evidence of the virus. Katie Miller, a spokeswoman for Pence, declined to comment, saying the administration does not discuss events in the Situation Room. Last month, an Arizona man died and his wife was hospitalized after officials said they treated themselves with a deadly home remedy for the coronavirus a popular fish tank additive that has the same active ingredient as an anti-malaria drug. Medical professionals are also concerned that a run on hydroxychloroquine for potential coronavirus treatment could create shortages for people who need it for its traditional uses. In a March 25 joint statement, the American Medical Association and two pharmacists associations noted that doctors and pharmacists have been prescribing the drug for their families and colleagues and that some pharmacies and hospitals had purchased excessive amounts of these medications in anticipation of potentially using them for COVID-19 prevention and treatment. The organizations strongly oppose these actions, the statement said, citing potential grave consequences for patients with conditions such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis if the drugs are not available in the community. Since patients with heart troubles and other underlying conditions are more likely to be severely affected by the coronavirus, they may also be at higher risk of dangerous side effects from hydroxychloroquine, said Dr. Kenneth B. Klein, a consultant who works for drug companies to design and evaluate their clinical trials. What have we got to lose? Klein said, echoing Trumps remarks. Weve got patients to lose from dangerous side effects. Trump did mention the potential risks to patients with heart troubles, but Klein said that even people with normal hearts are at risk for developing a fatal arrhythmia. And he said other medications could interact with hydroxychloroquine and cause serious medical complications. Then the doctor would have to spend time thinking, could this drug be playing a role, either directly or indirectly? Klein said. Other researchers have noted that while future trials may show a benefit, hydroxychloroquine has disappointed in the past, even though it has been tested as a treatment for other viruses, including influenza. Hydroxychloroquine has been studied as a possible antiviral therapy for many decades, said Dr. Luciana Borio, who oversaw public health preparedness for the National Security Council in Trumps White House and was the acting chief scientist at the FDA under President Barack Obama. Despite showing evidence of activity against several viruses in the laboratory, it never showed success in randomized clinical trials. Read more about: * Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping led other Chinese leaders on Saturday (April 4) to attend a national mourning for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) victims. The commemoration lasted three minutes. They had white flowers pinned to the chest and paid silent tribute in front of a national flag, flying at half-mast. * 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. * Thai government has imposed a curfew between 10.00 p.m. and 04.00 a.m. (local time) starting from Friday to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. Thailand's Ministry of Public Health on Friday reported 103 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 1,978, with four new deaths, raising the death toll to 19. * Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported here Friday 65 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total confirmed cases in the city state to 1,114. * Another 385 COVID-19 cases were recorded in the Philippines on Friday, bringing the total number to 3,018, while the country eyes mass testing of persons suspected of having COVID-19 from April 14. * Chinese health authority said Saturday it received reports of 19 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland on Friday, of which 18 were imported. The overall confirmed cases on the mainland had reached 81,639 by Friday, including 1,562 patients who were still being treated, 76,751 patients who had been discharged after recovery, and 3,326 people who died of the disease. * US President Donald Trump said on Friday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends that Americans wear cloth face covering to protect against COVID-19. He stressed that Americans should still follow the administration's social distancing guidelines. * Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo and his ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday agreed to give JPY300,000 (US$2,800) in cash to each household whose income has fallen to a certain level owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. * The Republic of Korea reported 94 more COVID-19 cases compared to 24 hours ago as of midnight Saturday local time, raising the total number of infections to 10,156. Three more deaths were confirmed, lifting the death toll to 177. The total fatality rate came in at 1.74 percent. * Germany reported 1,017 total COVID-19 deaths of infection on Friday morning, as confirmed cases have risen to 79,696, according to Rober-Koch-Institut, the country's disease control agency. The total figure of COVID-19 cases in Germany has seen an increase of 6,174 over the past 24 hours, the agency said. * Russia has tallied 4,149 cases of COVID-19 in 78 regions as of Friday, up by 601 the previous day, official data showed. The death toll rose to 34 after four more patients died of the disease, Russia's coronavirus response center said in a statement. So far, 281 people have recovered, including 46 in the last 24 hours, it said. * Palestine on Friday announced extending the state of emergency for another month in order to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. The presidential decree came after the Ministry of Health on Friday morning declared 10 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number in Palestine to 171, including 12 cases in Gaza Strip. * Lebanon's number of COVID-19 infections increased on Friday by 14 cases to a total of 508, while the death toll went up by one additional case to reach 17, the National News Agency reported. * 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. * Five more people have been tested positive for the COVID-19 in Bangladesh, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 61 on Friday. * About 50 Qantas and Jetstar airline staff, including pilots and cabin crew, have tested positive for COVID-19, according to local media on Saturday. * Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil have risen from 7,910 to 9,056, with deaths rising from 299 to 359. Minister of Health Luiz Henrique Mandetta on Friday said that the Brazilian health system is suffering from a shortage of equipment and the coming weeks will be stressful. * Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra announced on Friday an economic plan to aid companies that have been affected by the state of emergency, currently in place to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country, where 1,595 infections and 55 deaths have been reported. * The Chilean Ministry of Health announced on Friday the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country has raised to 3,737. The official stated that to date, 22 people have died from COVID-19, four of them reported on Thursday. * Every Hungarian healthcare workers will receive a special bonus of HUF500,000 (US$1,475.4) this year, Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared here on Friday. According to official figures, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Hungary stood at 623 on Friday, with 43 reported recoveries and 26 fatalities. * Latvia recorded the first death of a patient with COVID-19 on Friday, as the number of coronavirus infections continue to rise in the Baltic country. Since Latvia reported its first coronavirus patient on March 2, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has grown to 493, the country's Center for Disease Prevention and Control said Friday. * A total of 571 people in Israel were tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the tally of confirmed cases to 7,428, the Israeli Ministry of Health said. Of the 681 patients being treated in hospitals across Israel, 113 were in serious condition and 155 in moderate condition, it said. * Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday declared a partial curfew for the citizens under the age of 20 to curb the fast spread of COVID-19. At a televised address to the nation, Erdogan announced a series of new measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak as the death toll from the virus climbed to 425, and the confirmed cases totaled 20,921 on Friday. * 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. * The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday announced 240 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number in the country to 1,264. * Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Ishtaye announced on Friday that the number of COVID-19 cases in the Palestinian territories has reached 193. * Egypt confirmed on Friday eight COVID-19 deaths and 120 new cases, the largest daily figures since the outbreak of the infectious disease in the North African country. The new deaths are seven Egyptians and one foreigner, bringing the death toll to 66, said Khaled Megahed, spokesman for the Egyptian health ministry, in a statement. * South Africa will conduct mass community testing for coronavirus as cases continued to rise, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Friday. Until Friday, the number of confirmed coronavirus infections in South Africa has risen to 1,505, an increase of 43 from Thursday's figure, Mkhize said. * A total of 70 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Morocco on Friday, bringing the total number of cases in the North African country to 761, the Ministry of Health said. A total of 47 people died from the virus while 56 others have recovered, according to the ministry. * 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. Uganda currently has 45 confirmed COVID-19 cases, a majority of which are imported, according to the country's health ministry. * Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) said on Thursday that the shutdown of oil exports in the country's eastern regions has caused losses of nearly US$3.9 billion so far. Libya's oil production was estimated at 1.3 million barrels a day before the shutdown. France on Monday opened a hotline aimed at curtailing domestic abuse in families confined together during the coronavirus lockdown -- but the number is reserved for perpetrators, not victims. The number will be open seven days a week from 09:00 am to 07:00 pm, France's Equality Minister Marlene Schiappa said on Twitter. "Protect your family from violence: seek help at 08 019 019 11," she tweeted. "Confinement affects the family and personal lives of everyone. This situation can sometimes create anxiety -- there are fewer outlets and, in certain families, homeschooling can exacerbate tensions," Schiappa said. "There is no shame in calling," she added. The hotline will be staffed by psychologists and other experts dealing with domestic violence. The goal "is to allow people on the verge of committing violence, or already doing so, to find a sympathetic ear and to begin to work" on getting help, said Alain Legrand of the Fnacav association, which seeks to help abusers end their violence. Those who seek help may be given temporary lodgings for the safety of their families. "Call before you strike," Legrand said. In France, some 210,000 women fall victim to domestic violence every year, but only about 18,500 perpetrators were found guilty in 2018 of abusing a partner or ex-partner. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) To feed his wife and three daughters, Mahmoud Imam worked two jobs in Cairo as an office assistant in the morning and a waiter in the afternoon. Now, as the Egyptian government enforces measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Imam is being forced to stay home. For Imam, 35, this may be the opportunity to realize his dream of having a son. I used to spend over 12 hours at work, now I spend 24 hours at home. I suddenly found that I have three young naughty girls, Imam told Al-Monitor. Children are a blessing," he said, "and I never had the opportunity to spend time with them. Now, my old dream of having a baby boy has come back. As Egypt's partial lockdown enters its third week, most people are either working from home or on paid or unpaid leave. Many couples are spending more time together, raising alarm among Egyptians that quarantine could lead to either a population surge or an increase in divorce, two issues Egypt has tried to address in recent years. Though many interpret the Quran as rejecting birth control and encouraging procreation, the Egyptian government has long advocated family planning and encourages Egyptians to not have more than two children. Egypt, with a population of 100 million, is the most populous country in the Middle East. According to a UN report, the countrys population is expected to increase by 60 million within the next 30 years. I think lockdown will lead to more children, especially in rural areas," said Shaymaa Abdel Aziz, an Assiut-based Regional Council member. "In the present setting, there are no guests, no means of getting out, so people spend most of their time between four walls, eating and sleeping. There will definitely be an increase in population after nine months. Abdel Aziz is a volunteer for a project to raise awareness on family planning in Upper Egypt. She lectures as part of her volunteer work and hopes to educate Egyptians on available family planning methods. When we give a lecture on the population crisis, we bring along a sheikh [an Islamic scholar] with us to explain the issue," she said. "We want people to understand that family planning is good for them, as they should be giving appropriate time between each child for the health of the mother. We also tell them that fewer children enables families to look after their children better, both emotionally and financially. Abdel Aziz and other volunteers, who can no longer travel freely, now hold their sessions online. We use social media and do WhatsApp groups for people to provide them with reliable info and reach them easily, she said. However, Dr. Desiree Labib, the project manager of the family planning campaign Two Is Enough, run by the Ministry of Social Solidarity, told Al-Monitor that no one can predict the future. The population may increase or it may not, she said. We cant know for sure if the population will increase after nine months. But we do our best to make sure all contraception methods are available for women and all family planning health clinics are open and ready to help women, even during the partial lockdown. We stopped our knock-on-the-door awareness campaigns due to the lockdown," Labib said. "However, we are thinking about new ways to reach out to people. She is concerned that online campaigns aren't the best outreach because the target group of Two Is Enough has a literacy rate of 62% and lacks access to computers. Labib also added that the lockdown could make people psychologically averse to having more children due to financial and emotional insecurity. According to recent reports, China, which was the first country to be hit by the coronavirus in December, has witnessed a spike in divorce rates, which officials say is linked to quarantine. The Egyptian government has worked in recent years to lower divorce rates. According to a 2018 report by Egypts Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, one-fifth of marriages in Egypt end in divorce each year, and 40% of divorces occur within the first five years of marriage. To help decrease divorce rates, the Ministry of Social Solidarity established the Mawada platform, which offers free anti-divorce courses. At the end of March, the ministry announced that the platform witnessed an increase of subscriptions by 225% during the lockdown, while visitors to the platform reached 280,000. Coronavirus lockdown could heal and repair damaged marriages and complicated relationships," said Hala Mansour, a professor of sociology at Ain Shams University. "Before lockdown, some couples felt estranged simply because they spent a lot of time with men at work and all the women busy with housework and children. This created problems between them. But now, people are obliged to stay at home. Its time for them to understand each other. In order to avoid problems in this period, partners should give each other personal space, even if they are in the same home, Mansour added. Egypt announced 120 new coronavirus cases April 3, raising the total toll to 985 documented infections and 66 deaths, with hints from officials that they could extend the lockdown. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Dubai's state-backed developer Emaar said on Monday it sold an 80% share of its district cooling project around the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, for $675 million as the city-state's property market suffers from the new coronavirus pandemic. The sale to Tabreed, also known as the National Central Cooling Co., had been rumored for months amid the property market slowdown. With the sale, Tabreed assumes majority ownership of a system of chilled water cooling plants that cool the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Opera and Dubai Mall during summer months that see temperatures rise above 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit). Emaar posted net profits of $1.68 billion for 2019, but revenue slightly dipped and the developer said it wouldn't pay a dividend to shareholders. That comes as property values, a major economic engine of Dubai, have dropped by a third since 2014. Even before the pandemic, Dubai's ruler created a commission seeking to slow the sheikhdom's construction projects out of concern of flooding the market. As coronavirus cases crossed the 300-mark in Uttar Pradesh on Monday, the state government indicated that the lockdown in the state could continue even after April 14 when the three-week period announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ends. It will take time, Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Information) Awanish Awasthi said on the possibility of the restrictions ending that day in Uttar Pradesh. His remarks come a day after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the lockdown, which was imposed nationwide to contain coronavirus, will be lifted on April 15. The CM had called for a mechanism to ensure crowding doesn't take place when this happen, else all efforts so far will go to waste. But Awasthi indicated that lifting the lockdown on April 14 is unlikely. Since the number of coronavirus cases has gone up markedly in the past couple of days with a large number of those linked to the Jamaat testing positive, it would be impossible to say that the lockdown will be lifted or not after April 14, he said. Even If one case remains, lifting it would not be right as the entire work done so far to control the virus would go in vain," Awasthi added. "At this preliminary stage it is impossible to say if it will be lifted after April 14. It will take time," he said. Awasthi said the number of coronavirus infections in the state climbed to 305 on Monday, an increase of 27 over the previous day. He said 159 of these cases are linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin, which has emerged as a major coronavirus hotspot. Twenty-one of the 27 fresh cases are linked to the Jamaat, he said, adding that eight members of the organisation tested positive in Sitapur, five each in Lucknow and Shamli, and one each in Bijnor, Kanpur and Allahabad. Agra district tops the overall Tablighi Jamaat list so far with 29 people testing positive, according to Awasthi. This is followed by Ghaziabad (14), Saharanpur, Shamli and Meerut (13 each), Lucknow (12) Sitapur (8), Kanpur (7), Maharajganj (6), Ghazipur (5), Firozabad, Hathras and Varanasi (4 each) among others. So far, the state authorities have identified 1,600 people associated with the Jamaat. Of them, 1,200 were quarantined. Thousands of people had participated in a congregation at the Jamaat's headquarters in Delhi's last month and then travelled to various parts of the country, with many of them carrying the virus. "Our priority is to first take up the treatment of patients who have tested positive and then those who come in contact with them, besides tracing the chain of other contacts," Awasthi said. Uttar Pradesh has so far reported three coronavirus deaths, one each from Basti, Meerut and Varanasi. At least 21 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. Awasthi said the chief minister's meeting on Sunday with religious leaders from several faiths had a very positive impact. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) We are here to assist Maryland home and business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic. Four Seasons Roofing, a roofing contractor based in Maryland, is announcing that until further notice they will remain open and continue to take on new projects during the Coronavirus pandemic. They are receiving calls from home and property owners who are in need of assistance and want to know if they will remain open during this pandemic. We understand that this Coronavirus pandemic is serious; and we werent sure how it was going to impact our business. We started receiving phone calls from people who wanted to know if we were open and still providing estimates. We have found that many homeowners are stuck at home and want to use this time to make repairs and perform home improvements theyve been putting off. Business owners who have needed to get their roofs repaired or replaced and want to do it now while their buildings are shut down. To ensure everyones safety, we are following all regulations and precautions issued by our local and federal government. Four Seasons Roofing Representative In order to better assist new customers, the contractor has announced that they will be offering new roof financing and will continue to perform other services like repair and replacement work, siding, gutters, and window installation. More information about these services can be found on the company website with updates of availability based on the changing impact of this pandemic. If you are not sure how to cover the cost of a new roof, dont worry. We have financing options with low payments that are available to help you out immediately. The weather is warming up and right now is actually the best time to get started on upgrading your home or business. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has made things a bit stressful for people, but if you have the time and means to get the work done, its best to act now. We are offering free consultations for anyone who wants to know what we can do to help them improve their home or commercial property. 4-Seasons Roofer Representative About The Company Four Seasons Roofing utilizes over 20 years of experience and elite customer service to provide high-quality work for commercial and residential projects. Fully licensed, insured and bonded, the business is happy to provide contractors and property owners with a free consultation and quote. tech2 News Staff How'd you like a pic next to a roaring lion, or a cuddly panda? If your answer is yes, and you're also wondering how you'd do that in post-lockdown India, this how-to is here to help. This can happen thanks to a seldom used Google search feature that shows 3D animals in augmented reality (AR). Even if you don't have a pet at home, you can at least interact with a virtual one. If you haven't already tried it out yet, you should! Here is how to do it. How to use 3D animals on Google Step 1: Open Google and type the name of the animal you want to see Step 2: Scroll down and tap on the "View in 3D" Step 3: Move around while pointing your phone on the floor and wait till it recognises a base for the object to appear And that's it! You are good to go. You can now enlarge the object by zooming in or, zooming out to make it small. You can also drag and drop to move it around. Happy petting! C hildren across the UK have been home from school for two weeks now, as the UK remains on lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic . To get their creativity flowing, national broadcaster ITV has announced its new initiative: ITV Kids Create. It is encouraging kids across the UK to be creative while at home and submit their artwork for a chance to have it featured on ITVs idents (the ITV logos broadcast before and after ad breaks). How can my kids get involved? ITV said in a statement: We are making a very special ITV logo featuring artwork created by kids at home across the nation. "So, for a chance to be part of it, draw, paint or sketch us your best picture. Then ask your parent or guardian to post a photo of your artwork using #ITVKidsCreate and @ITV to Twitter or Instagram. You can download the ITV template from itv.com/itv-kids-create, and start colouring in. Drawings must be on an A4 size piece of paper and the submission must be a photograph of this drawing. To submit a picture via social media, simply visit ITVs Instagram or Twitter page and tag @ITV and use the hashtag #ITVKidsCreate. If ITV like the image, a member of the team will contact you by direct message on these platforms. As many pictures as possible will be used, with on-screen credit for each submission broadcast and they will be on ITV this month. As part of measures to ensure no new case of coronavirus (COVID-19) is imported into the country, the federal government has said all Chinese medical experts expected to arrive Nigeria will undergo a test for the dreaded ailment. The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, said this while responding to questions at the Presidential Task Force briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja, on Tuesday. Mr Ehanire had earlier announced that an 18-member team of Chinese medical experts will be coming into Nigeria to support the countrys fight against Covid-19. Though some Nigerians have kicked against this move, the government said the experts will be sharing their experience after making progress in the fight against Covid-19. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) described the move as a thing of embarrassment to the membership of the Association and other health workers who are giving their best in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic under deplorable working conditions. The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) also advised the federal government against the plan, saying it was unnecessary to invite Chinese doctors as Nigeria was already handling the crisis effectively. Nigeria currently has 232 cases of Covid-19 of which 33 have recovered and five deaths. Test Mr Ehanire said the Chinese medical experts will be subjected to already established rules on curbing the spread of Covid-19. The Chinese experts or anybody coming into the country at all will have to be subjected to the rules and regulations we have set down. This is for the interest of protecting our people. Even if we assume they have done a test in their country, we still have to a confirmative test here, he said. Mr Ehanire said the medical experts are arriving in Nigeria with some globally scarce medical supplies. He said the experts, comprising doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians and public health managers will stay behind in the country to share their knowledge with Nigerian personnel. On Friday, 3rd of April 2020, I announced, that an 18-man team of Chinese medical experts is expected to arrive Nigeria in a few days with a consignment of globally scarce medical supplies, to augment government efforts and build capacity to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. READ ALSO: The donation by the Chinese Companies in Nigeria, includes PPEs (personal protective equipment), medical consumables, over one million surgical masks for health workers and even ICU ventilators, valued at over $100,000, all sourced in the face of global scarcity of these items. In addition, Chinese medical experts, comprising doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians and public health managers will share their knowledge, skills and real-life experiences of fighting Covid-19 with Nigerian personnel to strengthening management of COVID-19 cases, especially with regard to critical care, he said. He also said the initiative will greatly build the capacity of hard-working and resourceful Nigerian healthcare workers at the forefront of fighting coronavirus. Doctors not accredited to practice Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF) Boss Mustapha, aaid the Chinese doctors are not accredited to practice in Nigeria. He also said all countries of the world seek for and receive help in the fight against COVID-19. The Chinese doctors are not accredited by the Nigeria Medical Association so they cannot practice in Nigeria. So I dont see where the fear is. They cannot manage our patients. They are only saying that we have gone through this experience. Would you allow us share our experiences on how we were able to deal with our own. They have become experts in that field because it started with them. No other person can give you better information of the management of COVID-19 better than the Chinese, he said. He appealed to Nigerian medical professionals to see the positive aspects of this gesture as an extension of development in the field of medicine. The PTF recognises and respects the competence and capability of Nigerian doctors and other medical personnel. Advertisements This is a state of war against the coronavirus and time should not be devoted to unhelpful controversies, he said. [April 06, 2020] SPIE Photonics Europe Digital Forum Set to Launch With Over 700 Presentations SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, will be holding its inaugural Digital Forum during the week of 6-10 April. SPIE Photonics Europe 2020, which was set to run in Strasbourg, France, from 29 March to 2 April, will now be held completely online via a virtual and interactive format. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200405005011/en/ SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, will be holding its inaugural Digital Forum during the week of 6-10 April. (Graphic: Business Wire) The SPIE digital forum platform was developed in response to the inability to hold in-person conferences due to the global spread of COVID-19. The forums ensure the timely continuation of information exchange and discussion opportunities that the Society's optics and photonics community values and relies on to advance research, product development, and collaborations. SPIE Photonics Europe Digital Forum, an exciting new and completely free version of SPIE Photonics Europe 2020, will offer a convenient, high-quality, and timely method for researchers, engineers, and government and industry leaders in the photonics community to share emerging research, new results, and technological advances with their peers. All conference presentations and manuscripts will be accessible via the SPIE Digital Library with a commenting capability. The SPIE online format makes presentations and discussion accessible during the Forum in whatever time zone is convenient for the participant and in any order. In addition, the SPIE Photonics Europe Digital Forum includes a virtual exhibition, allowing participants to connect with more than 100 exhibitors showcasing products and services that support the optics and photonics community. "Once it became clear we would have to cancel the Strasbourg-based Photonics Europe, we immediately shifted direction for the 2020 version," said SPIE Senior Director of Technical Programs and Proceedings Marilyn Gorsuch. "We were determined to create the best way to help our scientists and engineers share their critical research with their peers without travel. Our Digital Forum platform has already generated an enthusiastic response, and we are thrilled to see the engagement from the optics and photonics community in terms of the number of participating presenters and authors. We are looking forward to an exciting week of engaging discussions and information sharing." With more than 700 presenters involved, topical areas of research range from nano and quantum technologies, to biophotonics, lasers and nonlinear optics, and optical imaging, sensing, and metrology. Signing up for the event is completely free and will give participants full access to all of the SPIE Photonics Europe Digital Forum's pre-recorded presentations and over 500 accepted manuscripts. During the Forum, participants can engage with speakers by watching and listening to presentations at their convenience, posting questions and comments, with the presenters monitoring their discussions frequently throughout the week in order to respond and participate in the conversations. Four of the invited plenary speakers have already agreed to participate, with more confirmations expected. The lineup so far includes University of California, Berkeley, Professor Laura Waller, whose topic is computational microscopy; the European Research Council's Anna Mignani, who will address funding opportunities with the ERC; Pascale Senellart, of the Centre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies, who will discuss her lab's work on semiconductor-based quantum dots acting as artificial atoms for use in developing optical quantum technologies; and Translucent's Michael Lebby on how naturally fast and low power electro-optic polymer devices are ideally positioned for the next-generation optical Internet roadmap. In addition to the Photonics Europe Digital Forum, SPIE is launching two more such forums to take place in lieu of previously scheduled in-person conferences: SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing 2020 and SPIE Smart Structures and Nondestructive Evaluation 2020. These Digital Forums will take place 27 April - 1 May. To sign up for the free 2020 SPIE Photonics Europe Digital Forum and receive more information on this newly launched SPIE initiative, please visit: https://spie.org/news/epe-digital-forum About SPIE SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics, an educational not-for-profit organization founded in 1955 to advance light-based science, engineering, and technology. The Society serves more than 255,000 constituents from 183 countries, offering conferences and their published proceedings, continuing education, books, journals, and the SPIE Digital Library. In 2019, SPIE provided more than $5.6 million in community support including scholarships and awards, outreach and advocacy programs, travel grants, public policy, and educational resources. www.spie.org View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200405005011/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] On a recent visit to Libya, I met a family living in an improvised shelter in a displaced persons camp east of Tripoli. One of the tens of thousands of Libyan families uprooted by war, the family of seven was living in a room barely 20 paces long and half as wide. A clothesline, a pile of mattresses, a hot plate and the stench of body odor filled the room. Outside, they faced a shortage of potable water and abusive taunts from locals. The spread of the novel coronavirus will have a devastating effect on the Middle Easts communities of refugees and migrants. The pandemic may also bring into focus the legitimacy and governance deficit of increasingly troubled Middle Eastern regimes. A swift public health and economic response could strengthen authoritarian rule by these regimes, but not indefinitely. A critical lesson of the 2011 Arab uprisings and the protests that erupted last year is that without more inclusive governance, less corruption and greater economic equity, technocratic and coercive tools are only stopgap measures. The demands for citizen buy-in are likely to grow in the Middle East in the pandemics aftermath. The pandemics most immediate and ruinous impact will be felt in the regions active civil wars: Libya, Yemen and Syria. [April 06, 2020] SoftServe Achieves AWS Well-Architected Partner Status Recognition highlights expertise in building high quality solutions, best practices, and improvements for customers AUSTIN, Texas, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SoftServe , a leading digital authority and consulting company, has achieved Amazon Web Services (AWS) Well-Architected Partner status, affirming that it has the expertise to deliver AWS Well-Architected reviews for existing application workloads or new applications based on AWS best practices and guidelines. Achieving the AWS Well-Architected Partner status differentiates SoftServe as an AWS Partner Network (APN) member that provides specialized demonstrated technical proficiency and proven customer success in identifying if customer workloads meet the five pillars of the AWS Well-Architected Framework: Operational Excellence, Security, Reliability, Performance Efficiency, and Cost Optimization. AWS Well-Architected Partners have the skills and expertise to identify critical customer workloads and remediate any issues in a customer's AWS environment. To receive the designation, APN Partners must possess deep AWS expertise and deliver solutions seamlessly on AWS. "As n AWS Well-Architected Partner, SoftServe looks forward to bringing our expertise and technical skills to further improve our clients' needs," said Todd Lenox, VP, global alliances and partnerships at SoftServe. "Our team is dedicated to helping companies achieve their technology goals by leveraging the agility, breadth of services, and pace of innovation that AWS provides." AWS is enabling scalable, flexible, and cost-effective solutions from startups to global enterprises. To support the seamless integration and deployment of these solutions, AWS established the AWS Well-Architected Partner Program to help customers identify APN Consulting Partners with deep expertise in optimizing workloads and mitigating risks in their workloads. SoftServe provides seamless innovation and improved customer experiences by building customized, high-quality solutions through applying design and optimization best practices to workloads that meet the specific needs, challenges, and priorities of clients. About SoftServe SoftServe is a digital authority that advises and provides at the cutting-edge of technology. We reveal, transform, accelerate, and optimize the way enterprises and software companies do business. With expertise across healthcare, retail, energy, financial services, software, and more, we implement end-to-end solutions to deliver the innovation, quality, and speed that our clients' users expect. SoftServe delivers open innovationfrom generating compelling new ideas, to developing and implementing transformational products and services. Our work and client experience is built on a foundation of empathetic, human-focused experience design that ensures continuity from concept to release. We empower enterprises and software companies to (re)identify differentiation, accelerate solution development, and vigorously compete in today's digital economy. No matter where you are in your journey. Visit our website , blog , LinkedIn , Facebook , and Twitter pages. SoftServe Media Contact Tyler Mahan Public Relations Manager [email protected] 830-832-8898 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/812484/SoftServe_Logo.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) said on Monday that coronavirus pandemic needs global effort to contain its impact on healthcare systems and address the economic downside. Hailing the initiative taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump to evolve Indo-US partnership, President of IACC northern regional council Lalit Bhasin said it should be a signal to all countries to engage in wider consultations to combat the infection. Bhasin said India should extend all possible help to combat the spread of the virus since the US recovery from COVID-19 and its economy bouncing back are critical to an early global economic pick-up. The United States, China and India -- three of the world's largest economies -- together contribute more than 70 per cent of global trade. "The earliest recovery of these economies can spur global growth at a faster pace and in that process, all countries-developed, developing and least developed-will be beneficiaries," he said in a statement. Bhasin said India needs considerable accommodation from the United States to come out of the COVID-19 backlash and to pep up its demand and supply side. The World Bank's assistance of one billion dollars to India, which was announced recently, can partly help bridge the resource gap. India needs greater market access to the United States to tie down its export contraction. Bhasin said COVID-19 has led to massive supply disruptions in both ways that will have bearing on the contract entered between the governments and private sectors. "Both countries should sit together to sort out the issues including the triggering of force majeure in the spirit of give and take to ensure that bilateral relations move in the value chain," he said. IACC has pan India presence with 2,400 members at 12 locations, representing a cross-section of US and Indian industry. It promotes bilateral trade, investment and technology transfer, facilitates collaborations, joint ventures, marketing tie-ups and strategic alliances through a set of proactive business-oriented initiatives. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BAY CITY, MI Richard Rick Steele II put others first and loved his family, say those who knew him. He was a family guy. He loved his kids for sure, said Richard Steele, Ricks father. Rick Steele died after a long battle with melanoma on Saturday, April 4, at his home in Bay City. He was 52. The father and son duo were best friends. They saw each other every day to run the family business, Penzien-Steele Funeral Home in Bay City, where Rick Steele was partner and vice president. The son began working alongside his father in the business at the age 12. He was always happy, Richard Steele remembers. Richard is grieving two losses. His wife, Barbara L. Steele died the day before his son on Sunday April 3, from dementia. Im kind of numb, Richard Steele said. Its kind of hard to absorb it all. We knew that Rick was not going to get better. But we didnt expect Barb to... well we knew she wasnt going to get better from dementia, either, but we didnt know that was going to happen now. Barbara L. Steele was living at an assisted living home and over the last three weeks, no one could visit her because of visitor restrictions to try to curb the spread of coronavirus. Before she died, Richard Steele got to see his wife on the last day she was alive. She was a very kind and generous person. And happy and smiling, Richard Steele said of his wife of 53 years. Marie Steele, Rick Steeles wife, married her husband 22 years ago at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Disney was truly a magical place for the family, who continued to visit the theme park after the couples two children were born. That was the most fun in our lives, was going there, Marie Steele said as she spoke through tears. She recounted her husbands excitement for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. By the second visit to Disney, Rick Steele had ridden the attraction over 20 times. There were other family adventures that Marie Steele vividly remembers, such as setting out to visit 50 states before the kids graduated high school, but the one quality she admired most was Rick Steeles selflessness. He was a person that really wanted to help others, Marie Steele said. He didnt want anyone to help him, but he wanted to help others all the time when his friends would call. Michael Bacigalupo and Rick Steele met some years ago. As Rick Steeles health declined, he would ride with Bacigalupo to Bay City Morning Rotary club meetings or wherever he needed to go. Rick Steele worked as long as he could. Last summer, he became legally blind from more health complications related to his cancer. He was a fighter, Bacigalupo said. The thing I admire about him was him getting up in the morning, getting in my car and, having a joke as soon as he got in the car and we would laugh all the way to wherever we were going to go. Rick Nelsen met Rick Steele decades ago as the two were both preparing to get married. Nelsen said he would miss the friendship the pair had. Im going to miss him not being around, Nelsen said. I lost my buddy. I dont have that now. Rick Steele is survived by his wife, Marie; children Morgan and Dylan; father Richard C. Steele and brother John. A private family service will be held with the Rev. Kevin C. Jones and the Rev. Chris Garcia officiating. Burial will be at Fremont Cemetery, 1035 E. Hotchkiss Road. Visiting hours and a memorial service will be held after the COVID-19 restrictions for social gatherings are lifted. Related news: Owner of Bay Citys Kramers South End Grocery dies at 89 Coronavirus impacts funerals in Michigan with new fears and services moving online Wells Fargo, the countrys biggest small-business lender, says the ban on its growth, a punishment for its past sales practices, limits how much it can lend to small businesses through the bailout program passed by Congress last month. The bank said Sunday that it received ample demand for the $349 billion small-business stimulus passed by Congress, but that its already maxed out how much it can lend to small-businesses through the program at $10 billion. Wells has been restricted from growing past its 2017 size, about $2 trillion in assets, since early 2018 by the Federal Reserve, as punishment for creating millions of sham customer accounts, amid other misconduct. We are committed to helping our customers during these unprecedented and challenging times, but are restricted in our ability to serve as many customers as we would like under the (Paycheck Protection Program), CEO Charlie Scharf said in a statement. The bank said that because its capacity for the program is limited, its focusing participation in the program on nonprofits and businesses with fewer than 50 employees. The fees it makes through the program will be turned into charitable grants to nonprofits that support small businesses, the bank said. At issue are Paycheck Protection Program loans, which are mostly forgivable loans of up to $10 million to businesses with 500 or fewer employees. The loans are one of the central components of the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package known as the CARES Act. Fridays rollout of the program was plagued by mixed participation and limitations on who could apply for loans and where. By Monday, some of the issues had been resolved, with most major banks now participating. As of Monday, Bank of America had received 178,000 applications for the loans, seeking $32.9 billion in total. Since the growth cap was enacted, Wells has kept its size right up near the cap as it has tried to satisfy regulators concerns about the bank and get the cap lifted. So, when the government created a massive small-business loan program, the bank found itself without enough room to satisfy all the demand for the program from its massive small-business customer base. Story continues A Fed spokesman declined to comment on potential changes to the asset cap. Wells Fargo said Sunday that it had already maxed out how much it could lend through the federal governments small-business bailout. Critics openness Even from bank critics, theres some openness towards easing the asset cap for stimulus programs. Sheila Bair, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation chair during the 2008 financial crisis, wrote on Twitter that she thinks, Wells Fargo should be given latitude to make CARES Act small business loans even if that expands its balance sheet beyond current regulatory limits. Dennis Kelleher, chief executive officer of Better Markets, a financial regulation advocacy group, wrote last week that while the asset cap was fully merited, the cap should be temporarily suspended to help customers and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Wells Fargos actions during the cap suspension could be a real-time stress-test of their claimed management, systems and control improvements, that the Federal Reserve may want to consider in connection with its subsequent evaluation of fully removing the cap, Kelleher wrote. For over a decade, Wells Fargo engaged in numerous sham sales practices, including creating millions of accounts in customers names without their consent. The asset cap is just one of the punishments from regulators for the scandal. In February, the bank paid $3 billion to settle multiple federal probes into the practices. Wells Fargo has 27,000 employees in the Charlotte area, the most of any city the bank has a presence in, a legacy of its 2008 acquisition of Wachovia. If you're at home, there's time to take care of your nails using tips from celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik, whose clients include Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez and Kim Kardashian West. (Ross May / Los Angeles Times; Getty Images) Your regular salon manicure is on hiatus with California's estimated 7,800 nail salons closed because of the "Safer at Home" order. In the coronavirus era, your nail maintenance is now in your own hands. As you try to replicate the technique of your trusted nail technicians, don't worry. Doing your own nails at home isn't impossible. Celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik said you just have to have the right tools, particularly for removing a gel manicure that might be growing out or peeling about now. (Your standard $20 to $25 manicure can be yours at home using a manicure set, which can be found online or at a pharmacy.) Here are Bachik's tips for DIY nail and hand care. Un-gel yourself Gel manicures are popular for their durability and shine, but the gel polish is generally removed at a nail salon because it cant be taken off with regular nail polish remover. The safest way is to chemically remove it, said Bachik, who counts Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, Kim Kardashian West, Victoria Beckham and Margot Robbie as regular clients. Begin the process at home by first filing the top of each nail with a medium to coarse grit file until the shine of the polish is gone. The shine is really a strong seal that keeps out solvents. You have to remove that shine or [the acetone] almost doesnt soak up," he said. Cut little squares of foil that you'll wrap around each finger tip. Next, douse cotton balls with pure acetone and place the pieces of cotton on top of each fingernail. Bachik recommends starting with the thumb. Being the biggest nail, it may need more time soaking than the rest of the fingers. Wrap each nail and the cotton with foil. Keep the cotton and foil on for about five to 10 minutes before removing. The foil traps body heat to make the acetone work more effectively. Story continues After taking everything off, the gel polish should be soft enough to scrape off with an orange stick or, if you must, a metal scraping tool. Metal is fine. If thats what you have, just be gentle, Bachik said. The key is to push in the direction that the nail cells grow. Natural nail cells are layered like shingles on the roof. Start at the cuticle and scrape out and off the nail. If you have to scrape hard, put the cotton back on and let the acetone work for a few more minutes. Goodbye, dip Dip powder manicures have become popular of late. The powder is essentially acrylic and nail glue and can be a bigger challenge to remove on your own than gel polish. Bachik recommends thinning the dip powder down with a file first and, similarly to removing a gel manicure, soak each nail in acetone for 10 to 15 minutes. The key to remember is to be patient. Take your time and allow the remover to work," he said. "If youre having to scrape hard to remove the dip powder, then it needs to soak longer. The product should swell and be soft and easily remove without a lot of pressure. Bachik created an at-home removal kit to make the process more streamlined. Hydrated hands With the constant handwashing and sanitizing, its also imperative to keep hands and nails hydrated during the coronavirus crisis. Antimicrobial soaps are so dehydrating. Plus this time of year, with seasonal changes, also dries out the hands, Bachik said. What Ive been recommending to a lot of my clients is to use a nice facial oil. Those are great for the hands. They penetrate, are not greasy and [are] good for our skin. Put it on your face and rub it straight into your hands. The key is to keep moisturizing. Key cuticle care It might be tempting to pick at or cut your cuticles out of habit or nerves. However, Bachik warned, the cuticle itself is living tissue that seals and protects against infection. If too much is cut, the body will grow the cuticle back quicker, much like a callous on the foot. Tweezerman Rockhard cuticle nipper, $26 at tweezerman.com. (Tweezerman) Push back cuticles very gently. You only want to cut the excess and not get too close to the living tissue, he said. Use a cuticle nipper. Tweezerman makes a great one called the Rockhard. And cut. Dont pull it. Tearing the tissue underneath could potentially become a hangnail. Steady strokes There's a secret to polishing your own nails, Bachik said. It's simple: Use the least amount of strokes possible. Start by cleaning each nail with at least 70% alcohol. Bachik warns that nail-polish removers have oils and lanolin, which can block adhesion of the nail polish. A nail cleaned and dried with alcohol will retain polish longer. With nail salons closed because of the "Safer at Home" order, you'll have to polish your own in the weeks ahead during the coronavirus crisis. The key is to have the right tools, says celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune) Put the hand down on a hard surface and stabilize it. The least amount of strokes you use, the smoother the polish is going to be, the manicurist said. Otherwise it will start to get gummy and streaky. The goal is three strokes. Brush on a base coat. Products that are a top coat/base coat combo are fine, Bachik said. However, ideally you will have a base coat, polish and top coat. A base coat works like a double-sided sticky tape," he said. "It helps polish last longer and helps [prevent] heavily pigmented color from staining the nail. For applying color, Bachik likes to use a technique for which he draws an imaginary line down the center of the nail and does to one side what he does to the other. Put the brush three-quarters back on the nail toward the cuticle, leave a hair-size margin between color and cuticle, and then take your brush and follow toward the free edge tip of the nail, down to the side and out off the edge. Repeat this on the other side. You can practice the technique with a base coat because its clear, Bachik said. To clean up any color on the skin or cuticle, take an old lip or eyeliner brush, dip it in remover and clean up around the cuticle to remove any excess. Apply a top coat in the same manner in thin even coats. To finish, put a drop of cuticle oil onto each nail. Cuticle oil is basically your manicure in a bottle, Bachik said. Polish continues to dehydrate as you wear it, so using an oil with jojoba and vitamin E on the nails nightly helps keep your polish flexible, maintains shine and prevents chipping. HOUGHTON, MICH. -- Isle Royale National Park is delaying its opening date this spring in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Park Service announced Monday that Isle Royales opening date will be changed from April 16 to June 15 to support federal, state and local efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus. The delayed opening affects Isle Royale, its surrounding islands, and all park facilities, including visitor centers, campgrounds and docks, all of which are now closed to visitors until June 15. Lake Superior waters remain open. The parks mainland visitor center in Houghton, however, will open on May 18 to assist with trip planning and other visitor services. Visitors who already paid for Ranger III ferry reservations or park entrance fees for the affected dates will receive full refunds upon request, the park service said. Refunds will be processed when staff return to the parks Houghton headquarters after Michigans stay-home order has been lifted. The park service noted that further opening-date delays are possible for both the Houghton visitor center and the park itself, depending on how the pandemic continues to evolve. Updates will be posted on Isle Royales website. RELATED: DNR closes campgrounds and overnight lodging, but state parks and trails remain open DNR closes Tippy Dam due to social distancing violations, warns more closures are 'likely Some Michigan cities closing boat launches during coronavirus spread Volunteers are lending RVs to medical workers to protect families from coronavirus exposure Pure Michigan offers stay-home virtual travel, from museum tours to film festival live streams Sleeping Bear Dunes closed restrooms because thieves stole toilet paper and Purell YEREVAN. Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Republic Defense Army serviceman Arayik Shakhpazyan (born in 2000), who sustained a gunshot wound at a Defense Army military unit from a shot fired by Azerbaijan on Sunday at around 5:30pm, is being transferred to Yerevan. Shushan Stepanyan, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense of Armenia, told Armenian News-NEWS.am about this. "The soldier's condition is assessed as stable," Stepanyan added. Armenian News-NEWS.am, has learned that this serviceman is from Vanadzor, Armenia. Armenian News-NEWS.am spoke also with Vanadzor Mayor Mamikon Aslanyan, who said that the soldier's father is not in Armenia at the moment. "They are from a normal family; I know his father personally," he added. His life is not at risk; first aid was provided in Stepanakert." To note, an investigation is underway to find out the details of the incident. A spokesperson for the United States in Thailand reportedly denied diverting a shipment of face masks, which was bound for Germany, from an airport in Bangkok. The comment by the US embassy spokesperson comes after Berlin Secretary of Interior, Andreas Geisel, said that an order of approximately 200,000 masks bound for Germany had been confiscated in Bangkok and diverted to the US. Geisel further also called it an act of modern piracy. However, while speaking to an international media outlet, US embassy spokesperson said that the US government did not take any action to divert any 3M supplies that were destined to Germany. The spokesperson also added that they did not even have any knowledge of such shipment. Furthermore, the embassy said that they also remain concerned about the pervasive attempts to divide international efforts through unsourced, unattributed, disinformation campaign. READ: Fact Check: Did Dr Charles Lieber From The USA Manufacture And Sell Coronavirus To China? No act of piracy' US President Donald Trump also shunned the accusations and reportedly said that there had been no act of piracy. Although, Geisel said that the consignment had been confiscated in Bangkok and added that it was still trying to clarify the circumstances of how the masks, which were ordered form a German wholesaler, diverted. Meanwhile, US allies from Europe and South America have also reportedly complained about Wild West; tactics and said that Washington has employed to outbid or block shipments of medical supplies to original buyers. READ: Robert Downey Jr Pens Heartfelt Note For A Friend He Lost To Coronavirus On His Birthday The accusations come at a time when leaders around the world are scrambling to secure protective gear to battle the coronavirus pandemic. US itself has been struggling to with the insufficiency of ventilators and other medical equipment. Trump also said that his administration is taking new action to ensure that America has the medical resources and equipment needed to fight the global pandemic. Meanwhile, coronavirus, which originated in China in December 2019, has now claimed over 70,000 lives worldwide as of April 6. According to the tally by international news agency, the pandemic has now spread to 208 countries and territories and has infected more than one million people. Out of the total infections, 271,000 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: Unsplash) READ: Coronavirus UK: Liverpool Trolled After Placing Non-playing Staff On Furlough READ: Coronavirus Outbreak: Japan Reports 378 New Cases And 3 Deaths Within 24 Hours All British tourists and short-stay travellers currently abroad should return to the UK, where and while commercial flight options are still available, the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announced late Monday. Last week, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) announced an unprecedented change in travel advice to advise against all but essential international travel, initially for a period of 30 days. The announcement reflects the pace at which international travel is becoming more difficult with the closure of borders, airlines suspending flights, airports closing, exit bans and further restrictions being introduced daily. Further closures to air routes may come in the next 48 hours, possibly without notice. The UK Government is working with airlines to keep routes open and is calling for international action to keep air routes open for a sufficient period of time to enable international travellers to return on commercial flights. "We are strongly urging UK travellers overseas to return home now, where and while there are still commercial routes to do so. Around the world, more airlines are suspending flights and more airports are closing, some without any notice. Where commercial routes dont exist, our staff are working round the clock to give advice and support to UK nationals. If you are on holiday abroad the time to come home is now while you still can," Raab said. British travellers should contact their tour operator or airline now to arrange a commercial flight if they want to leave. There is an unprecedented demand on the FCOs consular services so all British tourists abroad should go online for the latest in-country advice. This advice is aimed at British people travelling abroad rather than those who are permanent resident overseas who are urged to follow the advice of the local authorities in their host country. - TradeArabia News Service India on Monday received 1.70 lakh personal protection equipment (PPE) coveralls donated by China, the Union Health Ministry said. Along with the domestic supplies of 20,000 coveralls, a total of 1.90 lakh coveralls will now be distributed to hospitals and will add to the 3,87,473 PPEs already available in the country as of now, it said. Supply lines from abroad opened up today with the receipt of 1.70 lakh Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) coveralls from China which have been donated to the Government of India, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in press release. A total of 2.94 lakh PPE coveralls have been arranged and supplied by the Centre till now to states, the ministry said. In addition to this, 2 lakh domestically produced N-95 masks are also being sent to various hospitals. Including these, over 20 lakh N-95 masks have been supplied by the government of India. "About 16 lakh N-95 masks are presently available in the country, and this figure will increase with the fresh supply of 2 lakh masks," the ministry said. Major portions of the fresh supplies are being sent to states with comparatively higher number of cases such as Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Delhi, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rajasthan. Supplies are also being sent to central institutions like AIIMS, Safdarjung and RML hospitals, RIMS, NEIGRIHMS, BHU and AMU, it said. "The commencement of foreign supplies marks a major milestone in our efforts to procure personal protection equipment for the battle against COVID-19," the ministry said. An order for 80 lakh complete PPE kits (including N-95 masks) had been placed on a Singapore-based platform earlier and now it has been indicated that supplies will commence from April 11 with the first installment of 2 lakh, followed by 8 lakh more soon thereafter, it said. "Negotiations are in final stages with a Chinese platform for placing an order of 60 lakh complete PPE kits, which will also include N95 masks. Separate orders for N95 masks and protective goggles are also being placed on some foreign companies," the ministry said in its statement. Giving a further fillip to domestic capabilities, the Northern Railways has developed a PPE coverall, in addition to the PPE coveralls and N-99 masks developed by DRDO earlier, it said. "Efforts are now being made to start mass production of these products," the ministry said, adding existing N-95 mask producers have increased their capacity to about 80,000 masks per day. In all, srders have been placed for 112.76 lakhs standalone N95 masks and 157.32 lakhs PPE coveralls. Out of these, 80 lakh PPE kits will include N95 masks, it said, "The objective is to achieve a supply of about 10 lakh PPE kits per week. Looking at the number of patients in the country, sufficient quantities are available for the moment. Further supplies are expected within this week," the ministry said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The restrictions gradually grew tighter. One week you could hike on the Shelf Trail along the ridge of town in Ojai, California. The next week you could still hike but a big sign at the entrance to the trail warned you to social distance. Then the following week the road was closed and you couldnt hike anymore. Same for the beaches. As the county of Los Angeles and the state of California shut down within hours of each other one Thursday last month, the beaches were still a place to escape, walk, breathe the air, stare at the vast ocean. Then one day the beaches were off limits too, blocked by yellow crime tape. Same for grocery stores and restaurants, this gradual tightening of daily life. First, they limited restaurant seating. Then they closed restaurants entirely. You could order food for pickup but after a week or two most restaurants couldnt deal with the loss in customers and just shut their doors altogether. Also Read: Millions of People Get Coronavirus Updates From Fox News - This Lawsuit Says the Network Gave Them False Information coronavirus social distancing Getty Life as we knew it went away. Grocery stores were still open obviously people had to eat. But then grocery stores Trader Joes first, then Whole Foods, then Vons and Pavilion started limiting the number of patrons allowed inside. Youd stand outside in a line six feet apart waiting for your turn to buy lettuce and milk. But not toilet paper. Toilet paper was mysteriously unavailable. Vast shelving in big-box stores just empty. Maybe youd get lucky and find a roll, one per customer. And then you disinfected your cart with an antiseptic wipe, having enjoyed your single social experience of the day. It was like choking slowly, to stop the pandemic a virus that attacked the lungs and mercilessly choked its victims. But the uninfected were being squeezed too coming slowly, then with the sudden force of a noose. And then it tightened some more. Three weeks into the great California shutdown, with the virus not yet at its peak and testing still difficult to get, we sat powerless, our individual rights sucked up into the greater good with no sign of an end. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti told us to sit still, Gov. Gavin Newsom told us to sit still, President Trump mostly just went on television and spewed nonsense. Story continues So we sat still with no real information, and thus no end in sight. Spring was everywhere, the outrageous explosion of nature taunting everyone with wildflowers and the incessant chirping of birds. The mountains of Santa Monica were never greener or more inviting to explore. The blue Pacific Ocean roared and rolled its invitation to bid farewell to winter, all for naught except in Malibu, where surfers defied the rules as expected. Also Read: Celebrities Who Have Died From the Coronavirus (Photos) Santa Monica pier For the first two weeks, social media normally a cesspool of trolling and self-promotion suddenly turned into a warm bath of compassion. Neighbors, previously strangers, reached out to one another. Long-lost friends and family reconnected. Divorced couples reconciled for the time it took to figure out child care and home schooling. There was love and discovery, all virtual. (Even dating.) And there was time, suddenly, for all the things you were supposed to take time for and never did when life was normal. There was an outpouring of remembering what really mattered. For a while. But then cabin fever set in and human nature returned to its nasty, brutish self. For one thing, peoples minds wandered and as isolation set in, so did paranoia (justified, not justified, whatever). So the person who dared not to wear a face mask in public drew sneers and insults. If you stepped outside the lines of staying-at-home orthodoxy, the social media scolds were there to put you (back) in your place. Groupthink combined with fear made for a newly toxic combination and mocking the president went from sport to science. The power of social media was that much more intensified since there was almost no human interaction to soften the digital blow. And people started running out of money. Quiet desperation became a reality. Uncertainty reigned. Government checks were supposed to come in the mail but who the hell knew if or when they might arrive? Many of us were lucky enough to be born into the richest country in the history of the world, the most advanced, most free, most innovative, most diverse, most sophisticated in every way. In the age of this pandemic, it didnt seem to matter much. Read original story Coronavirus Diary: Squeezed Slowly to Stop the Pandemic At TheWrap Billy Porter may have just come sparkling into the public eye most recently for his daring and gender-bending red carpet outfits, such as his pink caped ensemble at the 2019 Golden Globes, but hes been hard at work as an actor for over 30 years. From the stage, to the small screen, to the big screen, Porter has been working tirelessly pursuing his passions since he was a child. Now, at age 50, hes not only learning how to more bravely and boldly express himself in public, but how to practice more self-care in private as well. Friends and family thought Billy Porter would be a preacher Billy Porter | Santiago Felipe/Getty Images Billy Porter was born in Pittsburgh, PA and knew by age 11 that he wanted to act. He sang in church and was the only student out of 100 at his middle school whose role in the musical wasnt double cast. It may have been one of his first hints at his future in the business. Around the same time, he wowed his community by giving a sermon at his church. So many people felt something speciala special energy coming from me in my life early on. And its immediately about little preacher man. Youre going to be a preacher. Because its the only space that they understand a special energy like that, he told Esquire. That special energy did not lead him to pursue a life in the ministry, but to a scholarship to study drama at Carnegie Mellon. He credits the decision to the insistence of his high school counselors. At the time, he wanted to head straight to New York, but they advised him to get the acting chops to go along with his stellar voice to have a more stable future in the industry. Billy Porter has won a Tony, Emmy, and Grammy It seems the advice to study acting paid off for Porter, and continues to pay off for the fans that get to appreciate his work. Porter landed his first Broadway role in Miss Saigon in 1991, followed by his role as Teen Angel in the 1994 revival of Grease. For a time, he left New York to study screenwriting at UCLA. When he returned to New York in 2010, he was back on Broadway as Belize in the play Angels in America, a hard-hitting drama and a vast departure from his past musical roles. It was his role as Lola in Kinky Boots just a few years later that really changed Porters life. He won a Tony for the role in 2013, followed by a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album for the show in 2014. In 2019, he won an Emmy for his role as Pray Tell in FXs show, Pose. Billy Porter uses the one-year rule for his clothes In a recent interview with Hello Giggles, Porter went into detail about how he practices self-care. He is working with Clorox Scentiva to promote the idea that cleaning can be self-care in their Spring Queening campaign. Part of Porters decluttering efforts, he shared, is to use this popular rule on his clothes: if he hasnt worn it in a year, it gets donated. He makes a point to donate his unwanted clothing to an NYC non-profit, Housing Works, that works to end AIDS and homelessness. His striking runway clothes, however, are safe from this rule. Pieces that arent yet featured in a museum are kept by the designers or Porter himself. Billy Porter is working on not being a perfectionist Beyond cleaning, Porter does a lot to keep his life in balance. The self-care thing is new for me as a workaholic, as a person whos just always like work, work, work, work, working, he told Hello Giggles. The performance work he does, especially on a show like Pose, can leave him emotionally drained. He enjoys meditating (Tara Brach is one of his favorite guides), writing, and listening to music. His last piece of self-care advice, as a perfectionist himself, that can ring true for all of us is this: One must allow themselves to forgive themselves for not getting it right, for not being perfect. The central government is grappling to ensure that employers abstain from layoffs or unpaid leave during the countrywide lockdown. Government authorities are issuing advisories and directions to companies in India in this regard. In one such instance, the chief labour commissioner, under the Union Labour and Employment Ministry, has communicated in writing to SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh to abide by the "instructions" of the government and not cut the salaries of employees during the lockdown period, the Business Standard reported. SpiceJet had announced a 30% salary cut for its employees for the month of March and had declared "leave without pay" during March 25-31 period. Following this announcement, the airline's employees complained to the regional labour commissioners of New Delhi and Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh). Also Read: Startups cut jobs, salaries as coronavirus impact businesses The central labour commissioner directed Singh on April 2 to produce before him a report over the action taken by the airline on the government's advisories. The regional labour commissioner of Vijayawada called the wage cut "violation", and the issue has been taken up with SpiceJet's management, the news daily reported. "While circulars are being issued by various state government authorities that are in nature of advisories, we wish to state that SpiceJet has neither retrenched nor deducted wages or salaries of any casual or contractual worker, as advised," SpiceJet told the news daily in an official statement. The aviation industry has been one of the hardest-hit sectors globally due to the restrictions imposed by governments the world over on domestic and international flights. The Indian industry too has come to a grinding halt, following the government's announcement of a nationwide lockdown till April 14 Meanwhile, SpiceJet is not the only company where the government authorities have intervened. The employees of Indian Oil Corporation's (IOC) Bongaigaon refinery in Assam had also complained about the layoffs and wage cuts during the lockdown. Also Read: Coronavirus: Companies assure employees of no layoffs as businesses take a hit "An advice has been given to the refinery management not to do so and has asked to comply with directions issued from various departments or ministries of the government," said a status note prepared by Chief Labour Commissioner Rajan Verma as cited by the news daily. Furthermore, similar complaints emerged from the Jamnagar and Vadodara refineries of IOC, besides Power Grid Corporation of India (Kutch) in Gujarat. The regional offices of the labour commissioner have also written to other companies and received assurances from firms such as Vodafone, Neyveli Lignite Corporation, JK Cement, Carins India and Hindustan Zinc that they will not cut the wages of their employees during the nationwide lockdown period. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Monday that his country plans to take steps to begin lifting its coronavirus lockdown next week, Reuters reports. The state of play: Kurz said the country would begin reopening non-essential shops of less than 400 square meters on April 14, followed by all shops and malls on May 1. Schools will stay closed until mid-May with public events banned until June, notes MarketWatch. Kurz also said that the government "always has the possibility to hit the emergency brake" should the rate of infections spike as restrictions wind down. The big picture: Austria has more than 12,000 cases and at least 220 deaths from the virus, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. At least 3,463 people have recovered from the disease. The country, which borders Italy, was one of the first in Europe to institute a wide national lockdown on March 16. Kurz's government has also taken steps like making the use of face masks in stores mandatory, per the BBC. Go deeper: Irish prime minister returns to medicine to help with coronavirus crisis 'It is clear that primary care would be extremely critical in providing care to and preventing deaths of large numbers of patients,' says Pavitra Mohan and Jagdish Rattanani. IMAGE: Doctors screen patients for coronavirus at a government hospital in New Delhi. Photograph: PTI Photo The fight against COVID-19 has been likened to fighting a war with an insidious, dangerous, but invisible enemy. We need to carefully chart out the strategy to emerge victorious. While no formal strategic plan has been issued by the government, the broad parameters of its strategy can be drawn from the series of actions it has announced. This includes closing of all schools and colleges, and imposing a 21-day lockdown, with only essential services allowed to function. What is not clear is the level of preparedness of other components of the containment or mitigation strategies. This includes steps such as expansion of testing to include all those who show symptoms and their contacts, and arrangements for managing large numbers of cases, should the epidemic grow. What is emerging, however, is the economic and social costs to a large number of marginalised people in the immediate run. While the lockdown provides an immediate respite from the growing epidemic, there is an urgent need to ameliorate the adverse economic and social impact of the 'battle' itself, and fine-tune the strategy to address the 'enemy'. The lockdown in most states and Union territories is causing a medical and a humanitarian situation. Thousands of migrant labourers are returning home from different cities and towns, as workplaces shut. They are mostly stranded at state and district borders or on highways, without any money or food. Simultaneously, the number of people affected by COVID-19 is increasing, as are deaths, though absolute numbers are still low. Massive restrictions on movements and difficulty in accessing basic amenities and healthcare, especially when away from home, can have significant adverse effects on the basic right of every citizen to life and survival. While these are extraordinary times, the State must provide basic amenities of food, shelter, humane treatment and timely repatriation back home. Students wait to return to their respective homes after completing 14 days of quarantine as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus in Srinagar, April 2, 2020. Photograph: S Irfan/PTI Photo Allow people to return home The central government has done a remarkable job in bringing back hundreds of students and other Indian citizens stranded in foreign lands, with due precautions to ensure that they do not become carriers and disseminators of the virus in the country. Having done that, we cannot leave behind labourers and migrant workers on our highways to fend for themselves, when all shops, establishments and services are closed. This will create a crisis that may be worse than the one we seek to fight, as we try to fend off the COVID-19 pandemic. In view of difficulties faced by these thousands of internal migrants, and the fact that, as many scientists have warned, the transmission of the virus is unlikely to stop anytime soon, the central and state governments must make arrangements to bring them home safely. All symptomatic people can be tested at the borders, and, if found to be negative for the virus, should be repatriated immediately. If found positive, they can be kept in isolation, as was the protocol followed when repatriating people from overseas. This will not only give the government a truer and fuller picture of the extent of the COVID-19 threat in India's interiors, but it will also send a signal that will get many more to seek help and report their condition to the authorities. In the absence of this, we run the risk of the threat slipping underground, leading to a slow but more severe spread of the disease. IMAGE: Workers make face masks in Chennai. Photograph: P Ravikumar/Reuters Expand testing The number of people currently being tested is small, while the number under lockdown is huge. While providing a respite for a short period, this is not sustainable, and as many experts have pointed out, may lead to a resurge after the lockdown is relaxed. We need to progressively reverse this situation: Have much more expanded testing (with rigorous promotion of social distancing) and fewer people under lockdown. Currently, only about 100 laboratories, almost all located in large cities, provide testing facilities for COVID-19. We would urge the government to follow the example of South Korea (as recommended by the World Health Organisation and many experts), and urgently expand testing facilities, with sample collection facilities being opened outside hospitals and laboratories. This will have to be through home collection, walk-ins and drive-through centres, to facilitate access and restrict exposure. For this to work the test must be free for patients, or cost very little. A test for Rs 4,500 -- the current fee in Mumbai -- will not work. IMAGE: The Odisha government has set up two COVID-19 dedicated hospitals in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Both were completed in a record time of one week. Photograph: PTI Photo Strengthen primary health care We need to prepare ahead to provide health care to large numbers of patients requiring it. As revealed by a review of about 160,000 patients from China and Italy, 90 to 95 per cent of patients would be managed at home or in primary care settings, and only 5 to 10 per cent would require in-patient care. Of the latter, about 30 per cent would require critical care, while 70 per cent would require supportive care and oxygen. Even in the best of health systems, the mortality rate among those who require critical care is upwards of 50 per cent. So, it is clear that primary care would be extremely critical in providing care to and preventing deaths of large numbers of patients through providing supportive care and oxygen. A lot of attention in the media has been focused on increasing the capacity for critical care and the number of ventilators, which will address only 30 per cent of severely ill patients, and would, in the best of situations, save only 50 per cent of the severely ill. The government should urgently review and strengthen primary health care centres, community health centres and district hospitals, to enable them to provide supportive care, isolation and oxygen to the 70 per cent who would require in-patient care, almost all of whom can be saved. An analysis based on data from 2012 to 2014 showed that no oxygen is available in about 30 per cent of PHCs and 10 per cent of community health centres. Small private general practices, nursing homes and hospitals must also be roped in for this fight, with controls on the charges they can levy. This would mean the supply chain of oxygen, which is now highly inadequate, will have to be quickly reactivated if we are to claim that we are truly prepared to fight the threat of COVID-19. Dr Pavitra Mohan is a paediatrician, public health expert and co-founder of Basic Health Care Services. Jagdish Rattanani is a founder of The Billion Press and a faculty member at SPJIMR. More than 80 passengers and crew aboard an Australian cruise ship off South America have tested positive for the coronavirus, the cruise company and officials in Uruguay announced on Monday. Uruguay's public health ministry said six passengers with "life-threatening" illness had been taken off the Greg Mortimer for treatment in Montevideo, but the rest of more than 200 passengers and crew remain stranded on the vessel anchored some 15 miles off the coast. The vessel was on a voyage to Antarctica and South Georgia with Australian tour company Aurora Expeditions, leaving the Argentine port of Ushuaia on March 15. Aurora said 81 passengers and crew had tested positive for COVID-19 after being assessed by a team of Uruguayan infectious disease specialists who were brought aboard at the weekend. "We know that there is a relatively high percentage of infected people but only six required to be transferred to Montevideo hospitals because they were at risk," Uruguay's Foreign Minister Ernesto Talvi told local Channel 10 Some 90 results are still pending, and 45 others have tested negative, the company said. Aurora said it had begun the "extraordinarily complicated" task of repatriating passengers, as most airlines had stopped flying "and access to charter planes is difficult". This would require passengers to disembark in three groups, those who had tested negative for COVID-19 and were well, those who were positive but either recovering or with vague symptoms and those who are ill. "We are confident that group one, well people who have tested negative, will be able to disembark and leave," the company said in a statement Monday. The company said it was seeking the assistance of the Australian government for help with those who were asymptomatic or who had only mild symptoms. For those who were ill, it said, "We are working with the Uruguayan Health Ministry and its medical director to develop the best plan to have them cared for and returned to their home countries as soon as their health allows. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) This article is published through a partnership with New York Medias Strategist . The partnership is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Every editorial product is independently selected by New York Media. If you buy something through our links, Slate and New York Media may earn an affiliate commission. In the wake of the coronavirus crisis, prom is canceled, graduation is postponed, and millions of students have been forced to do their schoolwork at home in an attempt to keep up with their studies. Even with technology at their fingertips, remote learning isnt always easy but like many adults who are newly working from home, students are suddenly forced to figure it out. We spoke to a handful of high school and college students about their new routines and necessities for surviving school from home SFH amid these uncertain times. And while the stress of adapting to an altered reality is undeniable, theres always a silver lining. The one thing that is helping me get through this new school situation, says 11-year-old Ella Ehrlich, is now I can text my mom to bring me food whenever I want, and I couldnt do that before. Beyond on-demand snacks, heres everything else helping young people SFH. Planners Ban.do 12 Month 2020 Classic Academic Hardcover Planner Despite studying going completely digital, students are trying to maintain a somewhat normal school schedule. In order to stay on top of their workload, many of the students we spoke to are turning to paper notebooks and planners. Thirteen-year-old Sophia Paley and her sister both recently ordered Ban.do planners to get them through the rest of the school year. (Theyre also fans of the brands vibrant desk supplies, they say.) $10 from Amazon Moleskine Classic 12 Month 2020 Weekly Planner Twenty-year-old Wen Hsiao is fond of her Moleskine Classic 12 Month 2020 Weekly Planner. What Ive been struggling the most with schooling from home is finding motivation, she says. The lack of routine really throws me off my game even when I try to plan out my day each morning, I always find myself wasting the day away on endless episodes on Netflix. By writing down each task, it gives me something tangible to refer back to, and I love the feeling of checking off each task at the end of the day. $22 from Amazon Tech stuff Marshall Major III Bluetooth Wireless On-Ear Headphones When youre multitasking between Zoom calls, homework deadlines, and unloading the dishwasher for mom, wireless headphones can be a lifesaver. Usually Im not a big headphones fan, but schooling from home and enduring classes on Zoom calls for a pair of good-quality headphones, says Hsiao. Wearing wireless headphones means I dont have to worry about them falling out of my ears like AirPods, and it allows me to do minor chores at home while still being wired in for school. $80 from Amazon Apple EarPods with Lightning Connector - White Dont feel like splurging? Nineteen-year-old Jane Minor recommends some good ol Apple originals with the single attachment, as its a lot easier to switch from laptop to phone than carrying two pairs! $20 from Amazon Google Chromecast When youre stuck inside doing schooling from home, it can feel a little suffocating to be tied to your phone and laptop 24/7. For Hsiao, Chromecast, Googles streaming device, has been a game-changer for making her feel less confined. By having [schooling] on a larger screen, I am not restricted to my desk and chair and can move around my room and stretch a little, she says. She does warn that if you dont have the best internet connection, it will fail on you from time to time, so keep that in mind. $35 from Amazon Duolingo I use this app because it helps me keep up with French, says 15-year-old Ava Paley, Sophias sister. Now that shes transitioned to online learning, Ill be using this for practicing reading, writing, and speaking, she says. Duolingos quick lessons are intended to make learning a foreign language feel interactive, as if youre actually in an IRL class. From $10 from Duolingo Art supplies Caran Dache Luminance Colored Pencil, Set of 40 When shes not working on homework, Sophia says something thats keeping me occupied is drawing. She likes drawingnow.com, because the website shows how to draw whatever you want, from cartoons to doodles to animals, and there are step-by-step pictures with explanations. But when she wants to go analog and take a break from screens Sophia likes to draw with these Caran Dache colored pencils. $90 from Amazon Study music Lana Del Rey NFR! 2XLP When youre trying to focus on your studies (and tune out your little sister), students agree that good music is a must for productivity. SFH is something that nobody is used to, so to help with stress, I go to music, says 15-year-old Cole Thompson. I collect vinyls, and I also listen to music on Spotify hours upon hours every single day. $40 from Urban Outfitters Makeup Nars Ignited Eyeshadow Palette Even though Im not going into school every morning, I still like putting makeup on, says 13-year-old Dylan Anderson. Experimenting with different looks has been a way to feel like herself; she names NARS eyeshadow palettes and Kaja cheeky stamp blendable blushes as a few of her favorite beauty products to play with. Thompson, a budding makeup artist, agrees: Im getting in many hours of practice to help refine my craft, and its very therapeutic as well. $59 from Nars Coffee Bru Instant Coffee and Roasted Chicory Just because students arent sitting in back-to-back classes all day (and just because most coffee shops are shuttered) doesnt mean caffeine isnt a must. I drink a lot of instant cold coffee; I prefer it strong, says says 15-year-old Smri Nair. I usually use Bru or a Colombian coffee you get at Publix. Buy from Amazon Exercise Peloton Bike With P.E. canceled and gym closed indefinitely, many students are still prioritizing exercise or, in Aris case, their parents are prioritizing exercise for them. Im reaching my personal best every day on the Peloton, which my parents are making me do and I hate, he says. Avas also been working out at home with her family. Ive been doing a lot of home workouts with my mom and sister in our living room, she says. We ordered a bunch of things to create a little at-home gym. $2,245 from Peloton Elite Sportz Exercise Sliders Sophia, Avas sister, says that theyve started to tune in to a lot of Instagram Live workouts such as Bandier, 305 Fitness, and Barrys Bootcamp. They also like the workout apps Neou and Sweat and stream their dance studio Shuffles Broadway Tap and Musical Theater Schools live lessons. My sister and I are big tap dancers, adds Sophia. Our dance studio started live lessons for tap dancing, singing, and acting. (All of Shuffles live lessons are available for anyone, not just paying students.) $15 from Amazon For study breaks PlayMonster 5 Second Rule Game A plus side of SFH, many teens say, is being able to take breaks throughout the day, whether thats playing Animal Crossing or pulling out a board game. We love this, Ava says of 5 Second Rule, which gives you five seconds to name three things in a category (think, three different flavors of ice cream). $17 from PlayMonster Reach key decision makers with sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Move the needle by delivering funnel qualified leads to your sales team. Learn more Microsoft on Wednesday unveiled several new artificial intelligence capabilities across Dynamics 365 applications and a new solution to help project-centric services organizations transform their operations. The AI enhancements include first- and third-party data connections in Dynamics 365 Customer Insights, Microsofts customer data platform (CDP). The work in AI and CDP is new and a key part of Microsoft taking their products to an AI-driven approach, noted Ray Wang, principal analyst at Constellation Research. The company also unveiled new manual and predictive forecasting capabilities for Dynamics 365 Sales and Dynamic 365 Sales Insights. Integration with the CDP is important, but more important will be the ability to automate transactions and apply AI to drive the next best action, Wang told CRM Buyer. Were seeing a need to deliver on ambient experiences which are subtle, next best actions. Microsoft also is making Customer Insights available to government agencies that previously could not access this feature for their cloud computing environments. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations, which connects cross-functional project teams, will be generally available Oct. 1. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance Insights, slated for preview in May, will bring AI into an organizations finance processes, automating or eliminating repetitive, time consuming and low-value daily activities so organizations can understand and act on their cash position and take proactive actions to improve it. Having a clear view from sales, service and finance for the marketer looking to drive growth through customer engagements that are both creative and contextual is pure gold, observed Liz Miller, principal analyst at Constellation Research. Making customer intelligence part of the workflow helps to remove some of what makes bridging the gaps set up by data silos so hard, she told CRM Buyer. Beefing Up Customer Insights Dynamics 365 Customer Insights new first- and third-party data connections add proprietary audience intelligence and data from third-party data sources to customer profiles that can be updated and activated in real time. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Integrating Microsoft Forms Pro will bring in the customers voice across channels so enterprises can act on insights based on customers changing behavior and perception. Customer Insights can be used with Azure Synapse Analytics, which combines customer data with enterprise and streaming data, to improve data completeness, run high-speed analytical processing, and build custom machine learning models. Those models can predict customer needs and provide guidance on the next best action to reduce churn and maximize revenue opportunities. This shows Microsoft bringing the power of its whole portfolio to business applications, with Azure Synapse Analytics and Forms Pro, remarked Rebecca Wettemann, principal at Valoir. Synapse Analytics is SQL Data Warehouse, so companies and Microsoft partners with SQL skills and resources will be well positioned to take advantage of its speed and scale, she told CRM Buyer. Enterprises can use prebuilt APIs to act upon these insights in real time across multiple destinations to enable Website personalization, dynamic marketing campaigns, effective ad targeting, and dealing with clients on site, said James Phillips, president of Microsoft Business Applications. Microsofts tools by nature are comparatively easy to learn and use, and this should be consistent with those expectations, noted Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group. However, You break down silos with journeys and process, not integration of APIs, Constellations Wang pointed out. End-to-end flows that power decisions provide a solution. Tools for the Sales Team Dynamics 365 extracts patterns from CRM data, current and historical leads, won or lost opportunities, contacts, accounts, customer interactions and other data sources, and projects these patterns into the future to provide predictive forecasting for Dynamics 365 Sales and Dynamic 365 Sales Insights. These insights can be accessed without the need for data scientists or tech experts. The prediction and forecasting is only as good as the data, so training data will be key to success, Wang observed. You need more high-quality data sources in order to build precision decision models. A D V E R T I S E M E N T A new engagement center provides sellers with their own AI-prioritized work queue based on built-in predictive scoring from Dynamics 365 Sales Insights that uses new, configurable sales cadences. Other embedded AI capabilities offer a path to a warm introduction and guidance from the assistant. When considering AI, said Wang, almost every organization asks four questions: When do I trust human judgment? When do I augment human judgment with machines? When do I augment a machine with a human? When do I trust machine automation? Microsofts announcements bring us one step closer to this autonomous reality, he remarked. For Project Operations Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations is built on Microsofts unified business cloud and leverages its expertise in front- and back-office processes and project management. It aims to break down data silos and to optimize operations from prospect to cash. Project Operations is where Microsofts breadth capabilities, from finance collaborations to project management, will really shine, Valoirs Wettemann noted. Its another example of Microsoft bringing its portfolio game to the business apps space. The value of end-to-end visibility and collaboration is broadly applicable. That said, these are data and process flow tools, but silos are often more behavioral and political rather than technical, Enderle told CRM Buyer. So, while these tools will certainly help, to get the full benefit managers will have to continue to train people to break these data silos. Finance Insights Finance Insights will bring AI into an organizations finance processes, automating or eliminating repetitive, time consuming and low-value daily activities so organizations can focus on working with their cash position. Dynamic Finance Insights can really help companies move the needle where it matters, not just by automating manual tasks but by leveraging AI to rapidly understand finance data and act on it together manage cash, Wettemann observed. The Big Picture The announcements represent an important strategic move for Microsoft, trying to beat the bigger players Salesforce, Oracle, SAP by having a better integrated portfolio, though the proof is yet to come, said Nicole France, principal analyst at Constellation Research. Microsoft also is competing with smaller, younger competitors such as Zoho, Freshworks and Zendesk, who have been building integrated capabilities that span marketing, sales, service and sometimes more, with consistent, straightforward interfaces for users, she told CRM Buyer. However, things like customer data integration are not simply a technology or application integration challenge, France noted. They require consistent definitions and improved process as well. Good Microsoft technical skills are out there, and many enterprises already have significant internal Microsoft teams, she said, but the big question is whether those organizations have tight links between technology experts and business experts. A representative of local rights group LICADHO offers food to a female inmate and her baby at Prey Sar prison in Phnom Penh, in a file photo. Cambodias government should take urgent measures to reduce the risk that the countrys severely overcrowded jails will suffer coronavirus outbreaks, a human rights group said over the weekend, calling on authorities to release prisoners at greater risk, as well as those detained for minor offenses. The number of patients confirmed to have COVID-19the disease caused by the coronavirusheld steady at 114 on Monday with no reported deaths for the third straight day in Cambodia, but New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned in a statement a day earlier that overcrowding in the countrys prisons risks serious health consequences for prisoners, prison staff, and the broader public. It urged authorities to immediately release people who should not be in custody, including pretrial detainees held for minor offenses, and political prisoners. The group also recommended alternatives to detention for prisoners with underlying health conditions, older prisoners, and women who are pregnant or held with small children. Cambodias seriously overcrowded prisons are COVID-19 disaster zones waiting to happen, said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at HRW. Cambodia should speedily release prisoners at greater risk if infected, as well as those detained for minor offenses, and take urgent steps to ensure prisoners get adequate medical care. According to HRW, as of January, 18 of Cambodias 28 civilian prisoners held nearly 24,000 detainees, including more than 1,600 women43 of whom are pregnant. More than 100 children are incarcerated with their mothers, though the prisons also hold more than 540 other children. Cambodia on March 25 suspended visiting rights for anyone except people who obtain medical certificates and undergo temperature checks upon entering prisons, and instructed prison chiefs to quarantine all new detainees for two weeks but has provided little detail about the measures. HRW said prisoners have limited access to soap and water, as well as hand sanitizer, and are held in cramped conditions with others. To reduce the risk of transmission in prisons, the government should routinely monitor all patients for symptoms, immediately test those who become ill, isolate those who test positive, and quarantine prisoners who were in close contact with those found to have COVID-19, the group said. HRW also cited international guidance which says that prisoners should be able to maintain a distance of six feet from one another, including in housing and at meals, and that guards should be routinely screened to ensure they arent sick. The Cambodian government needs to immediately reduce the prison population while undertaking rigorous testing inside prisons to isolate those who are sick, Robertson said. Foreign donors should urge the Cambodian government to abide by international guidance and human rights standards, which would be in the best interest not only of prisoners and prison staff, but also the Cambodian people. Responding to HRWs statement on Monday, Secretary of State and Ministry of Justice spokesman Chhin Malin told RFAs Khmer Service that authorities had already implemented preventive measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 in prison cells, and said releasing inmates is unfeasible. HRWs demands are hilarious, as no country is in a position to release its detainees, he said. Also, in Cambodia, there are no prisoners of conscience, only politicians who were detained for having committed felony offenses. Attempts to reach General Department of Prisons spokesperson Nuth Savana and his deputy, Sorn Keo, went unanswered on Monday. According to official statistics, as of March 2020, Cambodia had nearly 39,000 inmates nationwide, among whom more than 20,000 inmates are serving jail terms for drugs-related offenses. Inmates with court rulings or final judgments number around 10,000, while the rest are held under pre-trial detention. New measures HRWs statement came as Cambodias government rolled out a series of new measures aimed at containing the spread of the virus over the weekend, including the establishment of working groups to control supplies and prices of essential goods, study financial and banking policies to lessen the impact of the outbreak, prepare a budget to combat the crisis, and implement social security mechanisms. The measures came after the World Bank and Asian Development Bank issued forecasts which anticipate that Cambodias economic growth would drop from around 7 percent in 2019 to 2.5 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively, in 2020. Experts suggested that measures taken by Cambodias government to combat the coronavirus have so far failed to reassure the countrys citizens. Speaking to RFA over the weekend, Ministry of Economy and Finance spokesperson Meas Sok Sensan said that the COVID-19 budget for the Ministry of Health had been expanded from U.S. $60 million to U.S. $100 million. Prime Minister Hun Sen has also vowed to allocate between U.S. $800 million to U.S. $2 billion to fighting the virus if it last for between six months and one year, while campaigning for donations from the private sector and civil servants to fund the countrys National Committee for Combating COVID-19. Over the weekend, Cambodia also joined several other Southeast Asian nations in putting trade restrictions in place for certain rice exports, citing a need to ensure domestic food security during the outbreak. Hun Sen hinted that fish may soon be included on the list of restricted exports. The prime minister also said that he will issue new measures requiring the reservation of an additional 10 million face masks and 5,000 protective gowns for health workers, and the production of 1 million liters of hand sanitizer. Cambodias Ministry of Health on Sunday also issued guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus in buses and taxis with more than 10 occupants, urging drivers to open windows so that air can pass through the vehicle and use sanitizer to clean vehicle seats, while calling on passengers to wear face masks or scarves. State of emergency Meanwhile, former Pursat province member of parliament for the CNRP Ngim Nheng on Monday issued a statement saying Hun Sens government should be held accountable for creating an economic crisis by failing to allocate funds from the national budget to offset hardships endured by Cambodians during the outbreak. He called draft legislation authorizing a state of emergency to contain the spread of the coronavirus in Cambodiawhich has faced criticism from rights groups who say it contains vague clauses that would provide Hun Sen with a means to run the country by fiata bid by the prime minister to escape his responsibility for leading the country into financial ruin. As the leader of our country, [Hun Sen] must be accountable for the nations fate and hardship of its citizens, he said. There are several problems he can solve, but he has chosen not to do so. He merely wields his power for himself alone He has never acted on behalf of the nations interests. I think he is trying to escape from his responsibilities. Attempts to contact government spokesperson Phay Siphan for a reaction to Ngim Nhengs comments went unanswered Monday. The draft law approved by Hun Sens cabinet last week will be reviewed on Tuesday by the National Assemblys permanent committee before submission to lawmakers for debate and adoption. Chairman of the board of directors for the Grassroots Democracy Party Yang Saing Komar told RFA that based on Ministry of Healths tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases, Cambodia is not yet at a stage that would require the declaration of a state of emergency. Instead, he called on the government to adopt a law allocating a portion of the national budget to lessen the economic burden for people impacted by COVID-19. The law that we should adopt for now is related to how to assist our people in regard to preventing economic hardships, a food security crisis, and other things, he said. These are the areas of the law that we want the government to focus on, especially relating to the national budget. There should be a special budget, like a stimulus package, to carry out these measures. Last week, HRW Asia director Brad Adams noted that Hun Sen has claimed the draft Law on Governing the Country in a State of Emergency, 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 of Cambodia. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Sovannarith Keo. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Less than a week after saying the effects of the coronavirus pandemic will bleed meaningfully into May, Gov. Phil Murphy on Sunday offered an even more ominous assessment. The outbreak will spill meaningfully into the summer," Murphy said in an interview on CNN. He added that the battle against the coronavirus will get worse before things get better and that the state should brace for what will be a really challenging couple of weeks ahead. The number of deaths associated with the coronavirus climbed to at least 917 in New Jersey on Sunday. At least 37,505 people have tested positive for the virus, though approximately 80 to 85% of the cases are mild or moderate, health officials have said. Another 44,661 in New Jersey have tested negative for COVID-19. A roundup of coronavirus stories: NJ Transit suggests riders wear face coverings: NJ Transit is asking all riders to wear face coverings to help lessen the spread of the coronavirus. In a tweet Sunday night, NJ Transit cited a recommendation by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advising the use of cloth face coverings in public places where keeping at least six feet apart is difficult. School nurses answer the call, volunteering on the front lines as coronavirus cases surge: School nurses are among those who have responded to Murphys call for volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to staff testing centers, interview patients to document the contagions spread, work as EMTs and even offer care in a juvenile detention center. EMS squads on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis: Were scared. But were still going out there:' Throughout New Jersey, emergency medical service first responders are being pressed into duty like never before. EMTs are on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, offering the first level of treatment. Cops tell Pink Floyd cover band playing during coronavirus lockdown, Wish you werent here. Tickets issued: Officials on Sunday said police have charged a Rumson man who hosted an impromptu Pink Floyd cover band concert on his front lawn with about 30 middle-aged adults in violation of state restrictions aimed at curbing the coronavirus pandemic. The incident was included in the latest batch of people accused of violating the states stay-at-home restrictions. Mom delivers baby in bathtub after hospital turned husband away due to coronavirus rules, report says: A pregnant South Jersey mother says her husband was turned away from a hospital due to new coronavirus rules on Friday. Erin Persia of Blackwood, told 6ABC.com that the staff at Virtua Voorhees Hospital told her husband to wait in the car while she delivered. She went through contractions alone in the triage unit before they stopped. The hospital says it was a misunderstanding and that her husband would have been permitted inside once she was admitted to the hospital. Cape May temporarily bans short-term rentals: People who are searching for short-term rental properties at the Jersey Shore during the coronavirus pandemic will have one less option beginning Sunday night. In an executive order issued by the city of Cape May, all seasonal and short-term rentals are banned beginning at 8 p.m. Sunday. The restriction is scheduled until May 22, but can be extended or amended depending on future developments related to the virus. Stock markets could rally at open Monday: Dow futures are pointing to a strong open on Monday morning after global markets rallied overnight. The price of oil, however, dropped after a meeting about a production cut was pushed back a few days. Worldwide coronavirus cases: The virus has infected more than 1.28 million people in 183 countries, according to a running tally by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University as of Monday morning. Of those, nearly 70,000 have died and more than 265,000 have recovered. U.S. coronavirus cases: More than 337,000 with at least 9,648 deaths as of 7 a.m. Monday, Johns Hopkins University says. Nearly 18,000 have recovered. NJ Advance Media staff writers Noah Cohen, Chris Franklin, Rob Jennings, Riley Yates and Joe Brandt contributed to this report. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. A source on Sunday said six Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) drones will be deployed at a USFK air base in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province in September. The U.S. Forces Korea will deploy six new advanced spy and killer drones this year. An improved version of the MQ-1C attack drone, they can fly for more than 40 hours non-stop and carry about 1 ton of bombs and missiles, including Hellfire anti-tank missiles that can hit tanks some 8 km away and GBU-44/B Viper Strike advanced GPS-aided laser-guided munitions. They are capable of detecting targets up to 75 km away. The U.S. military mobilized an MQ-9 Reaper attack drone to kill Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in January, and the GE-ER can carry out similar operations. It also has the capacity to guide surface-to-ship ballistic missiles, for example against North Korean warships in the West Sea, so the threat could help force Pyongyang back to the negotiating table. It can guide Army Tactical Missile System missiles with a range of 300 km with "pinpoint" accuracy. Six MQ-1C Gray Eagles are already deployed at the air base in Gunsan. The new drones were to have been deployed earlier, but U.S. President Donald Trump diverted the budget to his Mexican border wall. Prison riots have broken out in southern Italy following reports of inmates testing positive for coronavirus or of displaying symptoms of the infection, according to local media. Around 150 prisoners protested after news spread of a Covid-19 case at a jail in Caserta in Campania on Sunday. Inmates took over a section of Santa Maria Capua Vetere prison in a disturbance which lasted for several hours, according to Italian news agency Ansa. Some threatened to throw hot oil on people who came near them, the agency reported. In nearby Naples, prisoners hit metal objects against the bars of their cells after hearing reports of potential coronavirus symptoms in the prison. Bedsheets hung from the Secondigliano jail with messages saying Covid-19 has entered the prison: help us and We are here to pay, but not with our lives, according to Napoli Today. No guards were injured in either protest, Aldo di Giacomo, the secretary general of a prison guard union, told The Independent. Prison riots erupted across Italy last month as its coronavirus outbreak escalated. The justice minister said around 6,000 prisoners had been involved in unrest at more than two dozen facilities in early March. Alfonso Bonafede said he was aware that many inmates were worried about their health and prison conditions as the virus was rapidly spreading through the country. Inmates also protested last month as prison authorities announced family visits would be banned or limited in a bid to contain the virus. At least 12 prisoners died following the riots, while a jail in Foggia saw nearly 60 prisoners break loose amid the chaos. Recommended Italy reports first drop in intensive care coronavirus cases Italy has imposed sweeping measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic, with people only allowed outside of their homes for trips deemed essential, such as to buy food or medicine. It has been one of the worst-hit countries in the world by the pandemic, with the number of doctors who have died during the outbreak rising to 87 after the weekend. Nearly 129,000 people have been infected by Covid-19 in Italy to date. The death toll stood at around 15,800 on Monday, according to official figures. On Monday, the region of Tuscany started to distribute masks for its 3.7 million residents. Masks will be required when in public once they reach each household. Civil Protection volunteers unloaded cartons of the first batch of some 620,000 masks from a warehouse to be distributed to towns and cities throughout the central region. Volunteers are working around the clock to distribute three masks each to every resident. Once local authorities confirm everyone has received their share, the Tuscany governor's order to wear them in public will go into effect. Tuscany has nearly 6,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, while Lombardy, Italy's most afflicted region, made a similar mandatory mask-wearing order last week. Prison authorities in Campania have been approached for comment on the riots. Additional reporting by AP With school out, and everyone staying home to stay healthy, it's time for a quiz on Washington history. It's deliberately difficult, designed to cover high and low points of World War II to the present. Learn from it. Answers can be found in the slideshow above. Here goes: 1) In his 1938 book on the Pacific Northwest, Our Promised Land, author Richard Neuberger entitled one chapter "The Biggest Thing Ever Built." What was he talking about that is still with us? Hint: It is still the largest concrete structure in North America. 2) What two things, manufactured in Washington state, were pivotal to ending World War II without an infantry invasion of the home islands of Japan? 3) What small National Park Service national historic site receives a large percentage of its visitors during early weeks of spring in March and April, even in pandemic times? 4) The 1962 Seattle World's Fair was a smashing success, making the cover of Life Magazine, drawing thousands to the city, and serving as set for an Elvis Presley movie. President John F. Kennedy was scheduled to close the fair in October of 1962. What were the unofficial and true reasons why JFK did not show up? 5) What major event in Pacific Northwest history also took place in October of 1962, and is remembered as the worst event of its kind in the region's history? 6) What major contribution did Boeing chief test pilot Tex Johnston make to the launching of commercial jet air travel and his employer's role in it? 7) When the North Cascades Highway opened to much fanfare in 1972 -- except from the North Cascades Conservation Council -- a future mass murderer was at the wheel of one of the cars. Who was he? 8) What political experience do former Seattle Mayors Charley Royer, Norm Rice, and Greg Nickels share in common? 9) Voters of Seattle, in 1978, voted to reject a measure which had earlier passed in cities from Eugene, Oregon, to Wichita, to Miami. What did they turn down by a 60-40 margin. 10) As the U.S. Senate drew ready to kill the Boeing supersonic transport (SST) plane, a senior Washington lawmaker decried environmentalist opposition, declaring: "We can't all live at Walden Pond. Even Walden only lived there two years. With a nod to Henry David Thoreau, who was he? 11) Doesn't seem like two decades have passed, but still we remember the spectre of terrorism preceding arrival of the 21st Century. The greatest threat came from the so-called Millennial Bomber, Ahmed Ressam, caught with a trunkload of explosives and bound to bomb Los Angeles International Airport on New Year's Eve. At what port of entry was he arrested? 12) In 2004, with a 139-vote victory -- confirmed by a lengthy court trial in Wenatchee -- Chris Gregoire became Governor of Washington. Why was that historic? Also see... CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio General complaints: Main Street After receiving complaints March 29 that people all over the village were not practicing social distancing during the coronavirus outbreak, police advised businesses to remove benches from the sidewalks. Numerous complaints were received about people not distancing as they waited in line at the Popcorn Shop. Officers advised employees there on better practices. Information received: Riverside Park A March 29 caller voiced concern about people walking near the falls due to high water from recent rain storms. Another caller complained about mesh fencing at the park due to the high river water level. The caller reported having to help an older woman who had gotten tangled in the fencing. Motor vehicle crash: West Cottage Street A Chicago man, 33, was charged with failure to control his vehicle March 28 after his vehicle rolled into a house. He had exited the vehicle without putting it into park. Theft: Elm Court Someone entered a mans vehicle parked in his driveway and stole several items from it. He reported it at 1 p.m. March 28. Police are awaiting additional information from the victim. Threatening: Riverside Park A man called police at 4:42 p.m. March 27 after encountering eight college students. After the complainant asked them why they were not social distancing, one young man charged at him. The group was gone upon police arrival. Theft: Hickory Hill Someone stole $40 from a parked car. The theft was reported at 10 a.m. March 25. Officers gathered information on a suspicious person seen in the area. Drunken driving: East Washington Street Officers responded to a 7:48 p.m. March 25 call about a man slumped over the wheel of his car. The Kent man, 28, was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Read more from the Chagrin Solon Sun. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-07 06:28:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LISBON, April 6 (Xinhua) -- China will continue to support Portugal in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese Ambassador to Portugal Cai Run said on Monday. "China has actively supported the Portuguese and European sides in combating the pandemic by providing relevant materials and facilitating procurement of preventive materials in China," the ambassador said in an interview with Portuguese national television RTP. He disclosed that according to preliminary statistics to date, donations from China that have arrived or are arriving in Portugal include 632,000 medical masks, 135,000 N95 masks, 102,000 pairs of medical gloves, 6,450 protective gowns, 3,500 goggles, 5,000 nucleic acid test kits, and over 100 ventilators, among other medical equipment. The donations were made by China's provincial and municipal authorities, Chinese companies operating in Portugal and the Chinese communities in Portugal, said the ambassador. He told RTP that China has also shared its experience in preventing, testing and treating COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, pledging that China will continue with its support. "The Chinese side will continue to provide more donations, and at the same time, offer assistance to the Portuguese side in their purchase of these materials in China," Cai said. The ambassador also expressed his appreciation of the solidarity and support the Portuguese government and people have shown to China during its critical fight against the pandemic. The joint efforts in combating the COVID-19 by the two countries will "deepen the Sino-Portuguese comprehensive strategic partnership as well as the friendship and mutual trust between the two peoples," he noted. To date, Portugal has registered 11,730 COVID-19 cases and 311 deaths, according to the Directorate-General for Health (DGS). For New Yorkbased interior designer Phillip Thomas, the renovation of the Bellport Community Centers bowling alley is a project that brims with nostalgia. Hes been visiting the charming village since he was just four years old, and when the opportunity arose to restore the 90-year-old alley, he knew it was one he couldnt pass up. I sit on the board of a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) of the Bellport Village Program Fund, and every year we try to help the village execute projects they dont necessarily have the budget for, he says. The entire committee saw the promise in renovating the basement recreation area and bowling alley, and asked Phillipthe only designer on the committeeto oversee the entire project. Its easy to fall in love with the charm of Bellport, located on Long Islands Great South Bay, which the designer states is a wonderful town with a year-round community, with its own natural private beach and bucolic ferry. Its also been rated one of the top 10 seaside villages in the U.S. Throughout the year, its common to see residents driving to the marina at the end of Bellport Lane paying homage to the Great South Bay, he adds. But the community center, which was home to town meetings, the village theater, and the childrens summer camp, had fallen into disrepair, and Phillip realized it was time to revamp this important mainstay of the community. I am the youngest of three and remember going down to there in the mid-1980s, he says. I remember how big a part of the summer community that alley was. The renovation began in January 2019 and was completed in May, just in time for Memorial Day Weekend, to draw a lot of the year-round and summertime residents, but it would be quite the challenge. Originally built in 1929, the lanes were damagedpieces of the polyurethane were missing so balls couldnt roll straight down the lanes, and the paint hadnt been touched in decades. Story continues Alongside fixing the obvious, one of the greatest challenges was creating an aesthetically pleasing divider between the alley and the main recreation area. The existing divider was the most mangled pile of chicken wire and wood I had ever seen, and really presented an obstacle of the room acting as one large space, he says. The ceiling was also not up to code, and had to be upgraded. When it came to the design, color palette was very important, as the space lacked natural light. To give the illusion of there being light inside the alley, he took cues from the existing yellow tiles in the bathrooms, continuing the primary feel with red, green, and blue. Plus, he added in some unexpected Bellport love via the flooring. The light and dark blues represent the surf on the bay, and the red circles represent the buoys, he says. The floors were hand-painted by the villages maintenance crew to save on money, while the highway department helped with heavy lifting. To add visual texture and depth to the space, Thomas added cascading bowling balls and pins on the wall across from the entrance. Its backlit with LED lights to make it seem like each piece is popping off the wall. It was truly a treat to get to see people I dont know or those I havent seen in years enjoying the space," says Phillip. "It makes it all worthwhile. Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest Los Angeles, April 6 : "Aliens" actor Jay Benedict has tragically passed away after suffering complications from the coronavirus. He was 68. His official website announced: "It is with profound sorrow that we must announce Jay's death on the 4th of April due to complications arising from a COVID-19 infection." Benedict was known for playing Russ Jordan in James Cameron's 1986 release "Aliens", sequel to Ridley Scott's 1979 sci-fi horror classic, "Alien". He also appeared in detective drama "Foyle's War", playing John Kieffer, a US Army officer and friend of Christopher Foyle. He had recently starred in "Call The Midwife" and "Downton Abbey". Soon after the news of his death broke out, tributes poured in remembering the actor. Vicki Michelle, who starred in "Allo Allo", paid tribute to the "lovely man". She wrote: "Married to my lovely friend Phoebe Scholfield #AlloAllo My heart goes out to her and her family at this sad time #PhoebeScholfield @FreddieBenedict #LeoBenedict #SyncorSwim #COVID19." "Only Fools and Horses" actor John Challis wrote: "Strangest coincidence this morning-talking on the telephone to my brother in law & telling him that my old friend Jay Benedict died yesterday." His management wrote in their obituary: "Jay was born in California, but his family left the United States for Europe when he was a child. As a legacy of his itinerant childhood, he is English/French bilingual, and no slouch in Spanish and German, either. "People meeting him in 'real life' are surprised that he sounds more English than American - but so would you if you'd lived in Europe for 50-odd years (some of them very odd indeed). This doesn't, however, prevent most casting agents from insisting that he play Americans - which he does happily and, not entirely surprisingly, like a native." Benedict is survived by his wife Phoebe Scholfield and their two sons, Leopold and Freddie, as well as his daughter from his previous relationship. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) A decrease in the number of new patients with the coronavirus is a result of the ongoing quarantine. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about a drop in the number of newly confirmed COVID-19 coronavirus cases in Ukraine in the past day. Read alsoNumber of confirmed coronavirus cases in Ukraine rises to 1,319 by Monday morning "Sixty-eight out of 1,319 coronavirus cases were recorded in the past day. This is a significantly lower figure than in the preceding days," the Presidential Office's Telegram channel said on April 6 after a daily conference call the president had with members of the government and agencies involved in preventing the spread of COVID-19. According to the report, six people have died as a result of severe chronic diseases. "A decrease in the number of [new] patients with the coronavirus is a result of quarantine. We could have had significantly more patients as is the case in European countries. Therefore, our measures were timely and correct," the statement quoted Zelensky as saying. Texas is bracing for a pandemic that is projected to kill tens of thousands of people across the U.S., but health officials and state leaders are struggling to provide the public with timely updates on how many people are infected and how many hospital beds and ventilators are available for the critically ill. Other states across the country have been providing coronavirus hospitalization figures for weeks. On Friday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that 827 people have been hospitalized in Texas. But the true number of cases is likely far higher than the official tally due to a shortage of reliable tests and delays in delivering results, which can take up to 10 days. Even with the limited number of confirmed positives, Harris Countys top epidemiologist says it feels like her team is constantly behind. Its become overwhelming, said Dr. Dana Beckham, director of the countys Office of Science, Surveillance and Technology, which traces the steps of people who test positive for COVID-19 to determine how they got the disease and who they may have infected. Were always behind the eight ball. CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Stay informed with accurate reporting you can trust The countys epidemiologists were pulling 12-to-16-hour days, seven days a week and they still couldnt keep up, Beckham said. They brought in more workers roping in other county government employees and hiring outside contractors to prevent burnout and alleviate stress, tripling the number of people working in the unit to about 65. Its still not enough, she said. As health officials scramble to mitigate the worst pandemic in generations, the level of detail released by Texas lags behind that of some counties and cities. The Texas Department of State Health Services publishes a daily update of the official number of confirmed coronavirus cases there were 5,330 statewide as of Saturday and 90 deaths. But the agency doesnt routinely publish other key measurements that could show the potential for strain on Texas health care system in the coming weeks. On March 24, Abbott ordered hospitals across Texas to report their bed capacity to DSHS to help prepare for a surge of new coronavirus patients. The agency also is receiving reports showing how many ventilators are available at each hospital. The mechanical breathing devices help the critically ill survive the respiratory disease. The reports from hospitals have been flowing to DSHS on a daily basis but until recently, most of the information wasnt released to the public, and there was initially confusion about the states reporting requirements. Theres an issue that a lot of people in Texas have had upon their mind as we work our way through responding to the coronavirus, Abbott said at a news conference Friday. And that is, what is the capability for hospitals across the entire state to be able to meet the needs of people in whatever region they may live in to access the health care they might need in the event they need to visit a hospital? For the public to properly hold their leaders accountable, people need the most up-to-date and accurate information as possible, community leaders said. They need to know the extent of the problem in order to asses if their leaders are dealing with the problem effectively. I dont understand it, said Houston activist Erin Toberman, who founded a nonprofit to help Galveston residents recover from Hurricane Ike. In a disaster, the very best thing you can give to people is good, timely, accurate information. CORONAVIRUS IN HOUSTON: All of the latest news, numbers and analysis to keep you up-to-date, only on HoustonChronicle.com Abbott announced how many coronavirus patients have been hospitalized in Texas 827 people. The governor promised Texas, with a population of about 29 million, can handle more. Abbott said Texas has 19,695 available hospital beds and 8,741 ventilators, and the state can add even more beds if necessary. New York state, which has more than 100,000 confirmed cases, says it needs 30,000 ventilators and could need 140,000 hospital beds. State officials havent released their estimates on how many resources theyll need when the pandemic peaks. But Abbott cited a study by the University of Washington showing that more than 17,000 coronavirus patients will have to be hospitalized and there will be beds for them. The model, which assumes full social distancing through May, projected a shortfall of about 300 ICU beds in Texas. But both state and local officials have been making plans to help free up ICU bed space, including using NRG Park as an emergency hospital if needed. Our capacity should prevent us from facing the type of situation that New York is having to deal with today, Abbott said, referring to a surge of cases that has killed nearly 3,000 people in that state and led to a dire shortage of ventilators and protective equipment. A confusing process The 827 hospitalized coronavirus patients in Texas are confirmed COVID-19 cases not suspected cases in which patients are exhibiting symptoms but have no test results, said Chris Van Deusen, a spokesman for DSHS. Frontline health care workers in the Houston area have told the Houston Chronicle that many patients who should be tested and hospitalized are slipping through the cracks. They also worry that patients admitted with other conditions, such as a heart attack, who also are showing symptoms of the virus may not show up in overall counts. Unconfirmed COVID-19 cases are likely taking up a significant number of hospital beds. According to the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Committee, an organization tasked with tracking medical resources in Houston and the surrounding area, as of Thursday more than 700 patients with COVID-19 symptoms which includes confirmed and suspected cases had been hospitalized in Harris County alone. More than 240 were being treated in intensive care units in the county, which has about 4.7 million residents. There were 480 patients on ventilators as of Thursday and 684 additional ventilators were available. Currently, we do not have any hospitals reporting that they are nearing capacity, Darrell Pile, SETRACs chief executive officer, told the Chronicle in an email. Available beds can actually rise if a hospital opens a closed wing, or opts to use beds in the recovery room or other specialty areas to care for inpatients. Van Deusen said the state health department had initially collected statistics on suspected cases from hospitals, but by Tuesday had only received reports on 629 patients statewide, raising questions about the accuracy of the states figures. Hospitalization reporting is a work in progress, and were definitely still refining the process, Van Deusen said. SOCIAL DISTANCING: 311 calls report social distancing violators in Houston area Van Deusen blamed the confusion on the questionnaire that hospitals fill out. Some hospitals reported the total number of COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized in the past 24 hours; others reported the number of new COVID-19 patients during that time frame, not the grand total. Van Deusen said DSHS clarified its reporting requirements and the confirmed cases cited by Abbott on Friday are accurate. Lagging behind While hospital and ventilator statistics havent routinely been made available to worried Texans, residents in most other states are able to receive daily updates on coronavirus hospitalizations, according to the COVID Tracking Project, a website that compiles coronavirus data from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Every state reports positive and negative test results for COVID-19, but Texas is one of 15 states that hasnt shared timely statistics on hospital-bed usage. Five states report the number of patients in intensive care units, and only two states Oregon and Louisiana report how many patients are on ventilators. Joseph Larsen, an open-government advocate in Houston and lawyer with the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, said state law allows public health officials to withhold a wide array of information pertaining to contagious diseases, ostensibly to prevent panic. But the magnitude of the coronavirus pandemic shows the limitations of the law, Larsen said. In the situation that were in, I tell you whats going to cause a panic: Its not knowing whats going on, Larsen said. And you know whats going on with the coronavirus? We dont have a clue. Health officials are playing a difficult balancing act in deciding what information to release while avoiding the very real risk of stoking panic, said Summer McGee, dean of Health Sciences at the University of New Haven in Connecticut. Information transparency in a pandemic is a moral gray area, McGree told the Chronicle in an email. In normal times, we would always want to be as transparent as possible with the public, McGee said. But in times of crisis we have to be sure that the information shared will help people and not harm them. Anxieties about running out of medical equipment and ventilators are already at an all-time high. Dwindling supplies Until Abbotts news conference on Friday, it was unclear how many ventilators were available in Texas. State officials didnt release that information, and Van Deusen declined to say how many ventilators Texas has requested from the Strategic National Stockpile, a federal resource for medical supplies thats been stretched thin during the outbreak. Thats not information were sharing yet, Van Deusen said. But were determining the best way to share that. While Van Deusen declined to comment on Texas supply of ventilators, he said the national stockpile provided other medical resources to Texas. Among them: Texas received more than 484,000 N95 respirators, which block air particles and are in high demand by health care providers. Texas has also received 1.15 million surgical masks, 219,000 face shields, 179,000 medical gowns and 637,000 gloves, Van Deusen said. We got a whole lot of people all out beating the bushes looking for other sources, Van Deusen said. So were not just relying on the (Strategic National Stockpile) for these kinds of things. Differences in disclosure While hospitalization data can offer a glimpse into the scope of the outbreak, many Texas counties do not report it. Out of 23 Texas counties with more than 40 reported cases, about half publish hospitalization figures; 13 percent report the numbers of intensive care patients; and 13 percent report ventilator usage. Neither Harris County nor the city of Houston publish updates on hospital-bed usage. Mayor Sylvester Turner said the city plans to begin releasing figures on hospital bed capacity on Monday. In San Antonio, city officials said they didnt know how many patients were on ventilators and, until recently, didnt know how many had been hospitalized. San Antonio officials also initially declined to release the age and gender of victims, citing federal and state privacy laws. Larsen criticized the move, saying the laws apply to health departments, not city leaders. COVID-19s unprecedented impact on society shows how important government transparency can be in a time of crisis, Larsen said. What the people need is the real data, Larsen said. HELP OUR REPORTING: Is there something you want us to know about how COVID-19 is affecting you or your community? Tell us using this link. Jenny Deam contributed to this report. john.tedesco@chron.com Famously private Vogue editor Anna Wintour is offering a sneak peek into her private life in quarantine, as she opens up about how she is dealing with the experience - and the things that are helping her to get through it and remain positive. The 70-year-old is currently staying at her home on Long Island, where she has been throughout much of March, after New Yorkers were urged to shelter in place and work from home amid the coronavirus pandemic. And in that time, Wintour has found a number of things to lift her spirits - including the third birthday of her first grandchild, Caroline, which she revealed that she celebrated with the rest of her family on video conferencing site Zoom. Sending a message: In a new online essay, Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour urged people to wear masks when they are outside, while sharing an image of herself wearing one Special occasion: Wintour, 70, also shared an image of her three-year-old granddaughter Caroline, who celebrated her birthday on Zoom while in quarantine While penning a piece for Vogue.com about the things she is most grateful for while in quarantine, she celebrated three-year-old Caroline, who is her son Charlie Shaffer's first child with his wife Lizzy. 'What else am I grateful for? My granddaughter, who celebrated her third birthday through a virtual party the other day,' she wrote, while sharing an adorable photo of the youngster enjoying her birthday cake. 'A lot of people Zoomed in and it was just a joy seeing how happy that made her.' Wintour, who also shared a chic photo of herself modeling a face mask along with her signature dark sunglasses, urged other people to follow in her footsteps and cover their faces when they go out in public, saying: 'I hope that youve discovered what it feels like to wear a face mask when you go out. 'As we are learning from health officials, this is one of the most important steps we can take to slow the spread of this virus. If you dont have a mask, a simple fabric covering will do. Please follow this new guideline; it couldnt be more important.' Like so many people, Wintour has been self isolating at home for a few weeks, and she opened up about how this has changed her perspective on so many things - particularly 'the simple pleasures' that she used to take for granted. 'I think of the simple pleasures we once took for grantedlike going to the theater, dinner with friends, coming into the officeand they seem to me like impossible luxuries,' she said. But, Wintour noted, her experience over the past few weeks has made her all the more grateful for so many things in her life - in addition to her beloved granddaughter - a handful of which she named. Family: Caroline is the eldest daughter of Wintour's son Charlie Shaffer and his wife Lizzy Close: Wintour, seen with her son in 2018, also wrote about the things she has been most grateful for while sheltering in place at her Hamptons home First, the fashion icon praised those designers who have dedicated themselves to supporting healthcare workers and people in need, calling particular attention to A Common Thread, a fund started in collaboration between Vogue and the CFDA, which aims to look after American designers. Wintour also spoke out to praise New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, applauding his hard work over the past month, while thanking him for being so 'incredibly reassuring'. 'Im not the first one to say this, but Im grateful for New Yorks governor,' she wrote. 'Governor Cuomo goes in front of cameras every day and simply levels with us about the crisis were in. 'He tells us the truth without sugar coating ita feat our president cannot bring himself to do. How incredibly reassuring that is. How lucky we are to have him.' One of her personal pleasures while in quarantine has been artist David Hockney, who has been producing new pieces using his iPad, which he then shares with the world via social media. As a well-known lover of art, Wintour admitted she has been finding hope in his work, particularly a rendering of daffodils that he did recently. 'I am grateful for daffodils!' she said, adding: 'David Hockneys in particular. The 82-year-old artist, whose work I have always loved, has been producing new paintings on his iPad and they couldnt be more glorious. 'His daffodils are extraordinarya vision of color, optimism and hopea reminder that these days of isolation wont last forever and that new ideas are growing all the while.' Stay inside! Last month, Wintour shared a photo of herself staying inside her Long Island home and urged other not to go out Wintour also took the opportunity to pay tribute to her team at Vogue, thanking them for 'rising to the occasion' and continuing to 'produced stories that Im so proud of' - while revealing that they have been working on a new issue that will seemingly be released on schedule. The latest essay from Wintour comes just a few weeks after she shared a first glimpse into her life in quarantine, when she shared a photo of herself lounging inside her Hamptons home while wearing those signature shades. 'Like so many of you, I have been adjusting to reality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Above all else, I have been doing one simple thing, and I urge everyone to do the same: I have been staying at home,' she wrote. She continued: 'There is no more important rule for all of us to follow. We must, right this moment, pledge to stay in our homes as much as we possibly can. 'There are, of course, health workers, emergency-response personnel, grocery store employees and others whose essential jobs we depend on. And they must go out to perform these life-saving tasks. 'For the rest of us, there is no debate or discussion. We must stay in our homes. That is the only way to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and to protect those who are most vulnerable to it. 'So join me in a pledge that all of us at @voguemagazine are making today: #stayhome. There is no more valuable action you can take. We encourage you to share your own promise and comment below with a [rose emoji] to pledge to #stayhome too.' Alongside the message, she included a rare smiling photo of herself in a chunky ivory sweater, black scarf, and dark shades inside her home. She said: 'There is no more important rule for all of us to follow. We must, right this moment, pledge to stay in our homes as much as we possibly can' While the editor owns a place in Manhattan, she appears to have dashed off to her bigger home in Mastic, Long Island. According to Cafe Design, the house was built in 1820 and decorated by Carrier & Company. The end of an era: Wintour has postponed this year's Met Gala 'indefinitely' in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak She reportedly paid just $350,000 for the 5.9 acre property with four bedrooms and waterfront access back in 2013. Last month, one of Wintour's biggest projects the Met Gala was cancelled due to the coronavirus. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where the glitzy event is held every year, made the call after being closed by New York City. This is the first time that the event for which tickets can cost up to $35,000 per person has been called off in the 22 years that Vogue editor-in-chief Wintour has chaired it, a job that she took on back in 1995 when she made her debut as the hostess of the star-studded party. According to Vogue.com, an email sent out to staff members on Monday afternoon stated that any and all 'programs and events' due to be held by or at the Met through May 15 had been 'canceled or postponed,' 'in deference' to CDC guidance that all gatherings of more than 50 people should be called off. The party was set to celebrated an exhibition with the theme 'About Time: Fashion and Duration,' which would have featured 160 pieces of women's fashion from the last 150 years. Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is planning to declare a state of emergency in view of the surging cases of coronavirus in the country, especially in Tokyo and other large cities, government sources said on Monday. Pressure had been mounting on Abe to make the declaration amid a spurt in COVID-19 cases recently, with calls for the move from Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and the Japan Medical Association intensifying, Xinhua news agency reported. The Tokyo metropolitan government, along with healthcare specialists, said that the number of hospital beds available for coronavirus patients will soon reach capacity, with the health ministry rapidly trying to secure more beds. Adding to pressure on the government to demonstrably bolster its preventive and countermeasures to the spread of the virus, a panel of government experts warned recently that the country's healthcare system could collapse if coronavirus cases continue to spike. The healthcare system in Tokyo and four other prefectures are under increased strain and "drastic countermeasures need to be taken as quickly as possible," the experts said. As of Sunday, 143 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Tokyo, a record daily high for the capital, bringing the total to 1,034, with Japan's health ministry and local governments adding that nationwide cases rose to 3,531 as of Sunday afternoon. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A third person infected by the coronavirus at a Southeast Side nursing home has died, bringing the local death toll to 12. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Bexar County has risen to 410, Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said at their daily public briefing Sunday. Were doing better than any other metropolitan area in Texas, said Wolff, who cautioned that no one should feel complacent, especially those who might think that the virus is not hitting the young. The under-50 age group is the largest growing group (for infection), Nirenberg said. We have 119 confirmed positive cases of people who are under 40. The latest death was that of another resident of the Southeast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where 67 residents and 12 employees have tested positive for the virus. The man was described as in his 60s and with underlying health conditions. As numerous federal sources, including President Donald Trump, seemed to be preparing the country for a spike in COVID-19 cases over the next two weeks, Wolff held out hope that decisive local governmental efforts might keep the countys mortality figures lower than Dallas, Houston and New Orleans. Dallas County has reported 18 deaths, Harris County 17, Travis County 6, and New Orleans 161. Ive felt confident all along that we were doing the right thing, Wolff said moments before speaking with the media. Im trying to reassure people that theyre doing the right thing by staying at home. I think theyre responding wonderfully. He added that he was trying to be careful about what he said in public and to remain calm. I think thats the best kind of leadership, said Wolff, 79, who has served in the roles of mayor, county judge, state representative and state senator since 1971. Nirenberg said the decision Friday to lift the requirement that people get a doctors referral before getting free city COVID-19 testing has helped dramatically increase testing numbers. The mayor said a new preapproved testing site at Freeman Coliseum next to the AT&T Center performed 289 tests Saturday, more than double Fridays total. All persons must have an appointment. Those without access to a computer may call 210-233-5970 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to complete the registration process for a test. If a person does not have insurance, they will still have access to testing at no charge, officials said. Wolff said the number of ventilators in the county was encouraging. Some 576 are currently available in all county hospitals, and he said University Hospital may receive an additional 50 as soon as Monday. Both men agreed that the current number of available hospital beds in the county just under 2,000 was promising, and that an additional 250 could be brought into the Freeman Coliseum if needed. The officials both emphasized how important it was for residents to remain vigilant about staying isolated and away from others. Wolff cited one public interest group in the city whose research suggests that the citys efforts at social distancing could save as many as 2,500 lives over the duration of the crisis. I know its hard to stay indoors. I know were asking a lot of the community, Nirenberg said, but these next few weeks are where we will make a difference in saving peoples lives. Do go outside. Get fresh air. Walk your dog. Call your mom and your neighbors. You dont have to stay emotionally isolated. The mayor also mentioned that during this period of civic isolation, reports of domestic abuse have risen. If you are a victim of domestic abuse, he said, you do not have to stay in an abusive situation under this order. On Saturday, Wolff and Nirenberg reminded the public that while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that people wear masks in public, medical-grade masks need to go to health care workers and emergency personnel. Wolff added that the basic cotton masks the CDC recommends do not protect people against the tiniest aerosolized particles from someones sneeze or cough, so it should not create a false sense of security by the wearer. Everyone, he urged, with or without masks, should be practicing a social distancing of at least 6 feet. Bruce Selcraig is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Bruce, become a subscriber. BSelcraig@express-news.net [April 06, 2020] Touchpoint Group Holdings Signs Licensing Agreement with Hip-Hop Mogul and Wellness Guru Russell Simmons Touchpoint platform connecting fans and brands while promoting wellness in new ways during COVID-19 pandemic Touchpoint app allows fans to participate in live stream yoga, meditation and spiritual well-being classes from the safety of home MIAMI, April 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Touchpoint Group Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: TGHI), a media and digital technology holding company, today announced that it has entered into a licensing agreement with Russell Simmons and Rush GDAS LLC to utilize the Touchpoint app on iOS and Android devices. The Touchpoint app provides subscribers the ability to view live stream content hosted by their favorite celebrities and elite influencers that use the platform. The GDAS Fitness app will provide subscribers the ability to live stream classes hosted by Russell and a team of elite instructors in yoga, meditation and spiritual well-being that use the platform. The app will also provide access to class schedules and descriptions, as well as original merchandise. Russell and the instructors will live stream or record classes and upload to the app, providing users access to content anytime and anywhere. The fitness application will be available for download on any iOS or Android device via Apples App Store and the Google Play Store. Mark White, CE of Touchpoint, said, We are extremely excited to have entered into a licensing agreement with Russell and Rush GDAS to produce their fitness app utilizing our Touchpoint platform. Importantly, the Touchpoint app is helping celebrities and fans connect in new ways during the COVID-19 pandemic. With fitness centers around the world closed due to health concerns, the Touchpoint app provides users the ability to stream live and recorded interactive content from their favorite celebrities, which users can view from the safety and convenience of home. We look forward to building upon this relationship with Russell and his team as we continue to serve our customers. Simmons says that he discovered yoga in 1994 and has practiced it every day since, extolling the virtues of his healthy and balanced lifestyle to everyone from Oprah to Ellen DeGeneres. He has written extensively on the topic and it is pervasive in every part of his life. Simmons is a firm believer in the value of Transcendental Meditation and has supported initiatives to introduce meditation to children in the name of peace. He looks forward to inspiring others to adopt a yoga and meditation lifestyle from the comfort of their homes. About Touchpoint Group Holdings. Touchpoint Group Holdings Inc. is a media and digital technology acquisition and software company. For more information, see http://touchpointgh.com/ . Safe Harbor Statement This news release may contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward looking-statements. Potential risks include such factors as the inability to enter into agreements with parties with whom we are in discussions, the uncertainty of consumer demand for the Companys products, as well as additional risks and uncertainties that are identified and described in the Companys SEC reports. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release. Statements made herein are as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as of any subsequent date. The Company does not undertake, and it specifically disclaims, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, events or circumstances after the date of such statement. Contact Crescendo Communications, LLC 212-671-1021 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] London commuters are again having to contend with overcrowded tubes and stations despite the current coronavirus lockdown. Only key workers and those who are unable to work at home are supposed to be travelling across London during this period. But for days, many in the capital have been squeezed into confined carriages, further risking the spread of the deadly Covid-19. Key workers are being forced to take crowded journeys across the capital even though few are meant to be taking public transport Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has been criticised for running a reduced Underground service, effectively forcing commuters to cram in together It comes as rail union Aslef is demanding that London Underground drivers are provided with masks and gloves to help protect them from the virus. On social media, one commuter tweeted a picture of a busy Seven Sisters Station, saying: 'Are all these people key workers? Why is this still allowed? I'm so angry!' Another key worker said: 'We are ashamed that our city doesn't care about us.' Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has been criticised for running a reduced Underground service, effectively forcing commuters to cram in together. Aslef official Finn Brennan said: 'Every day brings fresh news of friends, family members and colleagues being struck down by this terrible virus. Sadiq Khan has hit out at commuters who are refusing to stay at home following the deaths of five London bus workers who tested positive for Covid-19 Many in the capital have been squeezed into confined carriages, further risking the spread of the deadly Covid-19. Pictured: commuters on the Jubilee line on Thursday 'Unlike politicians and managers, frontline transport staff can not work from home. Everything possible must be done to protect their safety. 'Tube drivers and other TfL staff are risking their own health and that of their families by leaving home to provide transport for vital staff. 'By refusing to close non-essential workplaces, the Government is endangering their safety and that of other key workers who rely on public transport.' Tube drivers must be provided with masks, gloves and instructions on how to use them safely, said Aslef. The call follows news over the weekend that five bus workers in London have died of the virus. Sadiq Khan said he was 'absolutely devastated' following the coronavirus deaths. He tweeted a statement saying that 'lives depend' on people following Government rules to stay at home unless travel is essential. The Mayor of London said: 'I have been clear that our incredible public transport staff on the buses, tubes, trams and trains are critical workers, making a heroic effort to allow our NHS staff to save more lives. 'But we need to play our part too and that means fewer Londoners using the public transport network. 'Please follow the rules. Stay at home and do not use public transport unless it is absolutely unavoidable.' It comes after Mr Khan blamed commuters for packing public transport rather than ramp up services across the capital. Sadiq Khan today again blamed commuters for packed Tube trains during the coronavirus crisis as he was shown photographs of cramped conditions on live TV today He said last week 'too many people are not staying at home' and again insisted they could not run any more services as he admitted only around half of all trains are now going during rush hour. There are waits of up to 20 minutes between trains when usually it would be three to five minutes, leading to more busy carriages and platforms packed with key workers with no choice but to go to work. Mr Khan told Good Morning Britain last Wednesday: 'Transport for London staff are working their socks off. 30 per cent are self isolating or have symptoms. We are providing max services we can - of the 13 lines on TFL all but two are working'. He added: 'There is a concern that still too many people who really, really should not be going to work are using public transport during the rush hour and the key message is unless you really have to get to work, work from home, and if you do have to go into work, please avoid the rush hour.' Himachal Pradesh police have booked 97 Jamaat members on various charges, including negligent acts that likely led to the spread of coronavirus and deliberately concealing information from authorities, an official said on Monday. A majority of them had attended a congregation last month at the organisation's New Delhi centre which has emerged as a COVID-19 hotspot, SP law and order Khushal Sharma said. Five FIRs were lodged in Una district against 14 Jamaat members, four in Mandi against seven members, three in Shimla against 15 members, two in Baddi against 45 members, two in Bilaspur against five members, two FIRs against two Jamaat members in Sirmaur district, one in Chamba against 8 persons and one in Kangra against one person, he added. They have been booked under sections 188, 269, 270 of the Indian Penal Code and 51 of the Disaster Management Act, he added. Besides the 329 people who returned to the state after attending the gathering in Delhi's Nizamuddin area and those who came in their contact have also been quarantined, he said. Most of them were traced by the police whereas 64 of them reportedt hemselves to authorities for COVID-19 test after they were warned of a strict action. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CLAYTON Ten banks have kicked in $500,000 to an interest-free loan fund for small businesses operated by the region's economic development organizations. The contribution brings the fund's total capital to $1.25 million. The city's St. Louis Development Corporation and the St. Louis County-oriented St. Louis Economic Development Partnership last month contributed the initial $750,000 to launch the loan fund. Recognizing the extreme pressure small businesses are under right now and the importance of dollars flowing quickly into the community, we are appreciative that these banks have stepped up to provide immediate support of small businesses in St. Louis, Partnership CEO Rodney Crim said in a statement. The zero-interest loans are intended to provide up to $5,000 for working capital for any businesses in the city or county, with repayment over two years. Officials hope the capital can help serve as a bridge until more money begins flowing to employers through the emergency Small Business Administration loan program approved by Congress. The St. Louis County Port Authority may also consider adding to the fund. SPRINGFIELD - Police arrested a 20-year-old city man with illegal possession of a firearm on Sunday after he was found with a handgun fitted with laser sights and a loaded 31-round magazine, police said. David Ballard of Stuyvesant Street is charged with carrying a firearm without a license, possession of a high-capacity magazine, three counts each of assault with a dangerous weapon and threatening to commit a crime, said police spokesman Ryan Walsh. Walsh said that just before 5 p.m. Sunday, officers patrolling Crown Street spotted a car that matched the description of a vehicle involved in a March 30 assault on Massachusetts Avenue. In that incident, people reported that a man pulled a handgun fitted with a laser sight from a fanny pack and pointed it at them. On Sunday while police were running the plat on Crown Street, Ballard walked up to ask why they were looking at his car. He was wearing a fanny pack, Walsh said. Police patted him down as a precaution and found a loaded 9mm semiautomatic pistol with a laser sigh inside the fanny pack along with a 31-round magazine that was loaded with 28 rounds. Magazines of more than 10 rounds are illegal in Massachusetts. Walsh said that when officers were bringing Ballard back to the station for booking, he threatened to shoot three officers once he was released from custody. Walsh said that less than 2 hours before his arrest, Ballard appeared in the lobby of the police station to bail out a friend, Kavante Branley, 26, of Massachusetts Avenue, who had been arrested for firing a gun in the air during an argument. Walsh said Brantley was wearing the same fanny pack he had with him at the time of his arrest. A man poured fuel over himself, set himself alight and ran at officers before they shot him dead in Brisbane's southside on Monday, according to police. The incident began with police officers responding to reports of a disturbance about 9pm involving a man pouring fuel over himself and a house in Sunnybank Hills. When officers arrived at Wynne Street, the man had already fled the scene. However, an hour later, police found the 43-year-old man in a carpark on McCullough Street, about two kilometres north of the original location related to the emergency services call. Police said the man set himself on fire and ran towards officers, before one of the responding officers shot him. Police extinguished the man and rendered first aid, but he died a short time later. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaking during a March 24 news conference against a backdrop of medical supplies at the Jacob Javits Center that would house a temporary hospital in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in New York. Read more Donald Trumps current term as president ends at noon on January 20, 2021. As strange as it may seem at this time of exclusive focus on our public health and economic emergencies, a vital national election is still coming. I have been a Republican candidate for Congress, a GOP staffer in the Senate and a business partner of Roger Stone when he conceived of and managed Donald Trumps first campaign for President (seeking the nomination of the Reform Party, in 2000). In spite of some of that, and because of some of it, in 2016 I became one of the earliest public never Trumpers, creating a SuperPAC, Republicans for Her. Today, I stand ready, willing and able to do anything I can to help the presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden, win the upcoming election and replace our profoundly unfit chief executive. Joe Biden is temperate, experienced, empathetic and profoundly decent. He has served our country more than well for decades, clearly embarking on this, his almost certainly last, campaign, out of duty, not vanity, out of a calling to do something good. In recent days, however, as the rhythm and rhyme of this period of crisis have taken shape, I have come to think there may be an even wiser and more selfless way for the most honorable Joe Biden to serve. At the Democratic National Convention, whether it happens conventionally or virtually, Vice President Biden could, and perhaps should, step aside, and ask his delegates to vote to nominate Governor Andrew Cuomo. This, despite the Governors declarations of non-candidacy. As the epochal events through which we are all living an epidemic likely to take a six figure count of American lives and put as high a percentage of Americans out of work as the Great Depressioncontinue to unfold, Governor Cuomo has already emerged as a singular voice. He is showing capacities, intellectual, emotional and moral, and skills, managerial and as a communicator, which seem to me to make him the best standard bearer for his party in this election and a potential next president of great promise for our country, as it tries to heal and rebound from all it will by then have suffered. The point here isnt a comparison between the qualifications or the qualities of Biden and Cuomo, but rather a recognition that the current crisis has been a major blow to the Biden campaign because the reality of the situation has propelled the Governor into the position of being the major contrast to Trump being heard at a national level. The presidential debates are in effect already occurring daily between the two of them. But with respect to comparing Biden and Cuomo, it is also just reality that the former Vice President is of a certain age and therefore it is much more likely that the Governor could offer the country the opportunity for the stability of a two-term president, coming on the heels of the tumultuous Trump and Corona eras. Couldnt there be an enormous constituency this fall for taking a breather, and for the prospect of a relatively younger and vigorous president who could serve two terms if the people wanted him to? But for the necessary stay at home orders, on March 21 I would have seen Gore Vidals, The Best Man at the Walnut Street Theater. Sorry for the spoiler, but as lovers of political fiction already know, Vidals tale of an epic race for a presidential nomination ends with an almost jump scare twist in which the winner at the partys convention hadnt been one of the two main rivals who are the subject of the whole drama up until that surprise ending. But that candidate was, for entirely different reasons, the best man. Perhaps the people who voted for Trump werent wrong in thinking that a hard edged New Yorker, a guy who made it in the place where it means you can make it anywhere, like both Theodore Roosevelt and FDR, could be an agent for positive disruption in Washington. They just picked the wrong one. In the Before Times, that distant pre-Covid-19 world, the idea that a modern political convention could nominate someone other than the candidate who won the most delegates in the primaries seemed almost impossible. But what on earth can still seem impossible in what 2020 has become? So, just maybe, with the blessing of Joe Biden, Andrew Cuomo for President. Craig Snyder is former chief of staff for U.S. Senator Arlen Specter. Please redirect the massive structure of surveillance you've built to the task of providing services to the poor right now Among the outpouring of reports on local events into my WhatsApp group from the low-income areas in which I have been working in Delhi, two photographs stand out. One is a miles-long queue at the Anand Vihar bus terminus at the border of New Delhi; another is the copy of an appeal to the assistant district magistrate (ADM) from residents of Gali No. 3, Prem Vihar, asking the ADM to rush food supplies to the area, especially for pregnant women. How does a lockdown strongly propagated by public health experts in the interests of containing the spread of Covid-19 play out on the ground? First, consider the exodus out of Delhi. Most people working in factories, construction industry, or providing daily wage labour are migrant labour a large number from the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh. So once factories closed and demand for causal labour vanished because of the lockdown, the first instinct of these migrants was to go back to their respective villages. Media reports of men, with children atop their shoulders and women in tow, starting a trek for hundreds of miles to reach home led the chief minister of UP to announce that a large number of buses would be made available to provide free transport to migrants returning home. The crowds that gathered at Anand Vihar, estimated to be 15,000 at one point of time and going up to 1,00,000 by 10 pm were clearly at risk to themselves and others. As one resident from a nearby area posted, Even if one person has the coronavirus, is it not going to spread all over? The choice for these people was that they could either stay and face hunger and starvation, or get back to what might have appeared safer places in villages. How is it that this question was not one that public health experts or politicians asked? I was getting updates by the hour today we heard that the government is supplying free rations of one kilo of rice, one kilo of wheat; today a local Gurudwara (Sikh temple) has set up a langar (public feeding) in our area; the local NGO Matrbhumi is collecting petitions and is also reaching emergency rations. I had seen a similar upsurge of altruistic giving during different kinds of crises people have no other model except that of charity to meet immediate needs for food and medicine. A dizzying circulation of rumours ensued. People rushing here and there to procure some rice, some flour, some potatoes, and often coming back home with small bits. The enterprising ones were sharing what they got with their neighbours, but these were not enough. TV stations were suddenly abuzz with the risks 'migrants' posed to the city as if it were a darkly hidden secret that Delhi depends upon migrant labour to (wo)man its garments industry, its factories, its need for maids to sweep and swab, its cooks, its delivery boys. There were other pictures and videos people had sent. Those of police with their lathis (sticks) beating up those they cornered in the streets. Perhaps the most frightening video I saw was of a young man standing on the terrace of his house with some other young men chatting as the policeman on patrol commanded them to disperse the man did a long jump to the next terrace and then to the next to escape every time he risked a fall on the hard street, a head injury, or a concussion. No wonder I was left aghast at the expert opinions in support of the lockdown. It's not about compliance Consider an opinion piece in New York Times from an 'expert' who said, Our estimates and those from the Indian Council for Medical Research indicate that a national lockdown, if adhered to well, could reduce the number of infections at the peak of the pandemic expected by early May by 70 per cent to 80 per cent, depending on the degree of compliance with physical distancing. (The New York Times Opinion, by Ramanan Laxminarayan, March 27, my emphasis.) Depending on the degree of compliance? Do you have no clue, sir, that keeping physical distance might be a matter of compliance for those in their comfortable apartments with enough food to go around but that the poor cannot live like this years and years of neglect of urban slums, indifference to improvement of health infrastructure and a government focused entirely on Hindu nationalism and on creating social violence to intensify their own support have not left any place for the poor to find the means to keep social distance. To those who say, what were the options the government had? I suggest that there were options. That using the time it had to slow the pandemic by doing cluster testing, concentrating on building up supply chains for medical equipment, using the excess capacities of the PHCs and the existing providers in rural and urban markets to do massive testing, isolating and treating those who tested positive and quarantining their contacts by giving governmental support, should have been prioritised. No one can be sure that they have the right answers but one needed a vast amount of ineptitude to create the conditions in which we landed. To those within the government who still have a modicum of care please redirect the massive structure of surveillance you have built to the tasks of providing services to the poor right now do not leave it to the local philanthropists to do what they cannot possibly do. A patient arrives to Wyckoff Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, on April 5, 2020. Bryan R. Smith | AFP | Getty Images Three steps can be taken by policymakers to ensure the world is better prepared for the next global health crisis, a health expert told CNBC Monday. The new strain of coronavirus, known as COVID-19, was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019. More than 1.2 million people around the world have since been infected with the virus, which has so far led to 70,590 deaths globally, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Speaking to CNBC's "Street Signs," Rajeev Venkayya, former special assistant to the U.S. president for biodefense and president of the vaccine business unit at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, said there were three important moves that policymakers could make to ensure they were better prepared for any future pandemics. Understanding inter-species transmission The new coronavirus is thought to have originated in a wildlife market in Wuhan, although Chinese officials have claimed the outbreak may not have begun in China. In late January, Chinese authorities announced a temporary ban on the trade of wild animals in wet markets, supermarkets, restaurants and e-commerce platforms but experts and wildlife organizations have called for a permanent ban to help prevent future pandemics. Venkayya told CNBC that the first thing that needed to be worked on was our understanding of viruses circulating within the animal population. "We haven't really been paying attention to (this) but (they) are out there and have the potential to jump over from animals into the human population," he explained. "We call that surveillance, and we have some surveillance activities going on around the world, but we need to make those much better." Improve response strategies Another area that needed improvement was government response plans, according to Venkayya. "We know that whenever you have something like this, a lot of people are going to get sick very, very quickly, and as we're seeing in different parts of the world, the illnesses can come in waves," he told CNBC. "You've seen in the graphs that there are peaks in the demand on health care capacity, (which) in many cases overstretch and break the health-care system. We need to do a very effective job not just at flattening the curve but to lower the difference between the peak demand and the supply that's available." One way this could be done was by increasing the supply of products that health-care systems had struggled to source amid the current COVID-19 pandemic. "That involves very smart planning for large numbers of sick people in a community, where you incorporate into your plans the desire to use gymnasiums, hotels, and alternate facilities," Venkayya said. "But facilities aren't enough you also need people and as we're seeing around the world, retired physicians and nurses are being brought in, medical students are graduating early so we can expand the army of health-care workers." "So I would say that kind of preparedness for large numbers of people being ill is incredibly important," he added. Global cooperation Venkayya also said policymakers needed to approach pandemic response strategies "as a global community." "There are places in the world that are really suffering in terms of their access to the medical resources they need, whereas in other parts of the world the wave hasn't hit them yet, or it's already passed through their communities," he said. "We need to have the free flow, the sharing of people and resources and technologies, (and) tools for the communities that are the hardest hit to address the problem in that moment." NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also told CNBC on Wednesday that coordinated efforts were needed to tackle the "common invisible enemy" of COVID-19. Some analysts have been critical of world leaders for failing to take cooperative action to mitigate the impact of the outbreak. A 43-year-old man has been shot dead by police after he allegedly set himself on fire and charged towards officers. Emergency services were called to a home on Wynne St in Sunnybank Hills, in Brisbane's south on Monday night, after receiving reports a man was dousing himself with fuel. Officers located the man at 10pm at a McDonald's carpark on McCullough St, where he set himself alight and began running towards police. A 43-year-old man was shot dead by police after he allegedly set himself on fire at a McDonald's car park in Sunnybank Hills, south of Brisbane on Monday night A police officer opened fire on the burning man before extinguishing him and attempting first aid. He died a short time later. The Ethical Standards Command will investigate the incident on behalf of the coroner. Just as the new coronavirus was declared a global pandemic, gym members in New York City frantically called the fitness center where Rahmell Peebles worked, asking him to freeze their memberships. Peebles, a 30-year-old black man whos skeptical of what he hears from the news media and government, initially didnt see the need for alarm over the virus. I felt it was a complete hoax, Peebles said. This thing happens every two or four years. We have an outbreak of a disease that seems to put everybody in a panic. Peebles is among roughly 40 million black Americans deciding minute by minute whether to put their faith in government and the medical community during the coronavirus pandemic. Historic failures in government responses to disasters and emergencies, medical abuse, neglect and exploitation have jaded generations of black people into a distrust of public institutions. Ive just been conditioned not to trust, said Peebles, who is now obeying the states stay home order and keeping his distance from others when he goes out. Some call such skepticism the Tuskegee effect" distrust linked to the U.S. governments once-secret study of black men in Alabama who were left untreated for syphilis. Black people already suffer disproportionately from chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease and are far more likely to be uninsured. How the government and medical community responds to the crisis will be especially crucial for outcomes among black Americans, civil rights advocates and medical experts say. We are right to be paranoid and to ask tough questions, said U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts who joined other congressional leaders in asking the government to collect and release information about the race and ethnicity of people who are tested or treated for the virus that causes COVID-19. History has shown us, when we do not" ask questions, said Pressley, who is black, the consequences are grave, and in fact life and death. NAACP President Derrick Johnson, who hosted a coronavirus tele-town hall with U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams last month, said black and brown communities need reliable information about the crisis. Now that this has been deemed a pandemic, I am most concerned with inequities in whos provided tests, whos provided treatment and how those tests and the treatments are administered, in a way that is open, transparent, and equitable, Johnson said. For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. Cities with large black populations like New York, Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee and New Orleans have emerged as hot spots for the coronavirus. Figures released by Michigans Department of Health and Human Services show 40% of those who have died from COVID-19 are black in a state where African-Americans are just 14 percent of the population. And many Southern states with large black populations have been slow to mandate statewide restrictions shown to slow virus spread. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, black adults are 60% more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes, 40% more likely to have high blood pressure and are less likely to have those conditions under control. Additionally, in 2015, black women were 20% more likely to have asthma than non-Hispanic whites. Those disparities make the availability of a treatment or vaccine urgent, even as the virus is currently projected to claim tens of thousands of lives. But given history, Peebles said he wouldnt rush to accept a remedy. If we got to a place where the government says, Okay, now its time to take a vaccine, then Im definitely going to be skeptical of their intentions, he said. Launched in 1932 by the U.S. Public Health Service, the Tuskegee study involved roughly 600 poor black men in Alabama who werent treated for the sexually transmitted disease so researchers could track its progress. The program was exposed and ended in 1972, and then-President Bill Clinton formally apologized in 1997. The Tuskegee legacy has helped pollute the black communitys relationship with American medical science. A 2016 paper found the fallout included mistrust of medicine among black men, along with fewer interactions with doctors and higher mortality rates. In Tuskegee, where many families include descendants of victims, many residents dont trust government health information, said Lucenia Dunn, a former Tuskegee mayor. So volunteers trying to get the word out about coronavirus have gone door-to-door distributing fliers with cartoon-like illustrations that dont look too official, she said. We have a general distrust in this community, Dunn said. I call it subconscious rejection. The attitude is, Im going to rebel against this. You people have been telling us lies for years. Why should I believe you now? In Los Angeles, Jahmil Lacey helped found a public health group for black men and boys, TRAPMedicine, that educates black barbers and organizes workshops to address health disparities among their customers. People will quote the Tuskegee experiment as the reason why black people dont trust health care, but theres so much more than just that one example, Lacey said. We dont trust systems that are connected to white supremacy. So, we have to do the work to repair it. Indeed, Tuskegee didnt happen in a vacuum. In the 1950s, doctors at the John Hopkins Hospital used cervical cancer cells from Henrietta Lacks, a black mother of five, to pioneer medical advances and research that continue globally today. Lacks, who died in 1951, never gave her consent and her family has never been compensated. One way to begin healing the mistrust is to increase black representation in the medical field, said Dr. Nicollette Louissaint, executive director of the Washington-based emergency response advocacy group Healthcare Ready. We have to make sure that ... the message itself and the messengers are being adapted to the appropriate audience, said Louissaint, who is black. Its going to be really important that we get that right. The vehicles are not legal to operate on city streets, as they lack safety features such as turn signals or headlights. But the bikes have grown in popularity in recent years, which police and residents complain can create havoc in neighborhoods as many riders trick ride or speed through traffic and even on sidewalks. Five Indian Army special forces soldiers and five terrorists were killed in Sunday's hand-to-hand combat and gunfight on the Line of Control, in this year's bloodiest encounter in any operation against militants in Jammu & Kashmir. The Indian Army launched Operation Randori Behak in Keran sector, at the Line of Control and engaged Pakistan-supported infiltrators in a close quarters battle in heavy snow, neutralising the entire infiltrating batch of five terrorists. Four soldiers under the command of a Junior Commissioned Officer from one of the most professional Para Special Forces units were heli-dropped near the LoC after information on the infiltrators was received. "An intense hand-to-hand battle ensued and all five terrorists were eliminated," the Indian Army said in a statement. In this battle, however, the Army lost five of its best soldiers, three on the site and two more succumbed while they were airlifted to a nearby military hospital. Sources explained that at first light on April 1, footprints were noticed near Line of Control where fences were completely submerged in snow. "Area is completely rigged with razor sharp ridge line all routes cut off due to high snow levels," sources said. Terrorists attempted to exploit inclement weather as it was snowing since last two days. Search parties were launched. Brief contact established at approximately 1 pm on April 1. "Five bags were recovered, however terrorists broke contact," said the sources adding that additional troops were launched and area cordoned. Trail was followed at first light on April 2. Contact was re-established at 4:30 pm, however, terrorists managed to escape by jumping off a ledge. Search continued on April 3. Contact was again established at 4:30 pm and again at 6:30 pm on April 4. "Based on visuals from UAV, special troops staged forward to the nearest battalion headquarter by air as the battalion is still winter cut off," the sources said. "At first light April 5, one squad, following the footsteps on the snow failed to realise that they were on a cornice.... It broke.... They fell into the nallah...where they fell, the terrorists were sitting right there.... it led to a firefight and close quarters battle at virtually point blank range," sources explained. The forces said that due to training standards of the Army team, inspite of the fall, all five terrorists were killed. However, complete squad, five in all, were killed in action. "Mortal remains of the soldiers and terrorists found within two to three meters of each other," sources added. The Indian Army Special Forces squad was led by Subedar Sanjeev Kumar and included Havildar Davendra Singh, Paratrooper Bal Krishan, Paratrooper Amit Kumar and Paratrooper Chhatrapal Singh. All of them were killed in action. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Jerusalem Mon, April 6, 2020 18:02 644 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd013def 2 World COVID-19,Israel,COVID-19-travel-restriction,pandemic,religious-beliefs,health,beards,global-crisis,face-mask,coronavirus Free Israelis who have beards for religious reasons will get the option of custom-made face masks to protect them from the coronavirus rather than being told to shave, a government official said on Monday. As part of measures to combat the epidemic, Israeli authorities last week told people to cover their mouths and noses in public. Many of the country's Jews and Muslims, and some Christian clergymen, wear beards as a mark of faith, and the order raised questions as to how facial hair would be accommodated. Health Ministry deputy director-general Itamar Grotto said masks would be adapted accordingly. "We are creating an industrial certification for masks, which means that in a few days there will really be masks of different sizes," he told Army Radio. "...[So] those with beards will be able to use the appropriate masks." A spokesman for Israel's Chief Rabbinate has said it might consider issuing a ruling permitting religious Jews to shave if the ministry were to deem it necessary. Grotto said seeking a rabbinical dispensation to remove facial hair was "not on the agenda right now". DERBY As City Hall remains closed to the public during the coronavirus pandemic, Town/City Clerk Marc J. Garofalo has found a way to help residents and others access Derby land records without having to leave home. Garofalo said Derby land records, dating from March 12, 1909, to the present, now are available online at www.uslandrecords.com. This allows our citizens and customers better access to these public records, especially during this public health crisis, Garofalo said. There was no additional cost to the City of Derby to provide this service. While there is no cost to view the index or the documented images of unofficial documents, there is a $2 per page fee to print an official document, Garofalo said. Garofalo said when residents log on to the website they need to select Connecticut from the state list, and then choose Derby from the town list, in order to access the records. Since City Hall closed its doors to the public last month, for safetys sake, Garofalo said anything to help keep business running as usual, in the new normal, is a must. By making the land records available online, citizens dont have to worry about rearranging their schedule to come to City Hall during business hours, Garofalo said. Many times a homeowner needs a copy of their deed or property description and now they can access it from home. They can access them at any time. Additionally, during the current public health crisis, this allows access and helps promote social distancing. We want to make it easier for our citizens and customers to have open access to their records. Garofalo noted the online availability of land records is helpful to attorneys and title searchers, especially during this pandemic when the business of buying, selling, financing real estate needs to continue. It is an essential part of our basic economy. But by cutting down on travel time and cost and lifting the limit on when access can occur it provides regular citizens with quicker more efficient service. Residents, for example, can access their property deeds, which they may need to provide residency for schools, using the city landfill or public park permits, according to Garofalo. They may need a copy of their mortgage if theyre thinking about refinancing at a time when interests are falling, he added. In the 21st century, we are lucky to have the technology to provide these types of service to make peoples lives a little easier, said Garofalo. We are trying our best to keep our entire staff safe and serve the public in the best way possible. City Chief of Staff Andrew Baklik agreed. While the COVID-19 pandemic has made it very difficult to do municipal business, we have also found that there are many opportunities to modernize some of our processes, Baklik said. Putting the land records online represents a great example of that. The mayors office commends the Town Clerk for taking this initiative to put this convenience in place for our residents. Those who have any land records that fall outside the scope of the online documents can contact Garofalos office by email at requests@derbyct.gov. jean.sos@snet.net Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Jagat Prakash Nadda has said that the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi has led the country during the Covid-19 crisis is being praised everywhere. The way Prime Minister Narendra Modi has led the country at this moment of global crisis due to Covid-19, it is being praised everywhere. The whole world is looking towards PM Modi with hope, to recover from this crisis, Nadda said in his address to the party workers on 40th foundation day of the party. On the occasion of 40th establishment day of the BJP, every party worker will contact 40 people and urge them to donate 100 in PM-CARES fund, said Nadda. We should thank the policemen, doctors, nurses, bank officials and postmen who are working for our convenience, he added. He had earlier tweeted, I request you to express gratitude and motivate those who work for our health 24x7. Nadda also asked party workers to give up one meal to show solidarity with people facing hardships during the ongoing lockdown. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to Twitter and posted his message on the 40th anniversary of the BJP. We mark our Partys 40th Anniversary when India is battling COVID-19. I appeal to BJP Karyakartas to follow the set of guidelines from our Party President @JPNaddavJi, help those in need and reaffirm the importance of social distancing. Lets make India COVID-19 free, the Prime Minister tweeted. Senior BJP leader and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the organisation has emerged as the biggest and strongest pillar of democracy in the country. In just 40 years of its foundation, BJP has not only become the biggest and strongest pillar of Indian democracy but has also become the centre of peoples trust. The credit for this goes crores of party workers and a strong leadership. Congratulations to all workers on BJP foundation day, Singh said in a tweet on Monday. The UP unit of the BJP is celebrating the partys 40th Foundation Day by undertaking a signature campaign to thank the corona warriors, who are working on the frontline in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic that has claimed nearly 70,000 deaths across the world. The BJP was founded on April 6 in 1980 by leaders of the erstwhile Jana Sangh, which had merged with the Janata Party to put up a united fight against the Indira Gandhi-led Congress in the 1977 Lok Sabha polls, held after the Emergency. A woman who broadcast her arrest live on Facebook Thursday for walking and jogging through the quaint Florida coastal town of Stuart while suspected of being infected with COVID-19 has tested negative for the virus, she told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview. During the interview about her arrest, Melissa Barton, 38, received a message on an app she downloaded when she was tested March 23 at a drive-through site, and it read: 'Your COVID testing was negative.' Barton, a public relations executive, briefly screamed her happiness then went off on what she says is turning into a police state. 'Now I'm scared for my health because Stuart Police forced me to be in contact with people during and after the arrest,' she said. 'I have underlying health issues and they take me to jail. If I don't have coronavirus now, maybe I caught it in police custody.' Melissa Barton, 38, was arrested Thursday for walking and jogging through a Florida town while suspected of being infected with coronavirus Barton broadcast her arrest live on Facebook and was charged with disorderly conduct and violation of the Florida governor's order on quarantine Barton says four to five police officers surrounded her in the historic downtown Stuart Thursday afternoon after a business owner who spotted her on the street called 911 to report that a woman believed to be suffering from the deadly respiratory illness was walking around. Police confirmed Friday a 'concerned business owner' reported Barton, adding Barton had said on Facebook she thought she was positive. Barton said she suspects the owner of a restaurant she frequents retaliated against her lack of desire to hook up with him by calling police. Police confirmed Friday a 'concerned business owner' reported Barton, adding Barton had said on Facebook she thought she was positive (pictured in her mugshot) 'He keeps asking me out, and I keep saying no,' she said. The incident report mentions she entered in several shops that are still open during her walk. 'I followed the letter of the law and my government failed to protect me,' she added. 'We are losing our liberties. Citizens are now ratting out other citizens they don't like. That's crazy.' The Facebook Live footage of her arrest, meanwhile, is spreading online. At one point, one cop can be heard calling the mother of three a 'crazy a**' while a female captain is referring to her as a 'chick.' And then, the police officer who took her to jail forgets to turn off the Facebook Live broadcast, so viewers were treated to her conversation with the officer. He finally turns off the phone after he and Barton arrive at the jail. Barton says her troubles stem from her self-quarantine started March 18. 'I felt sick and I had that diarrhea and headaches that everybody's talking about,' she said. 'So, I figured I'd stay home and see what happens.' Barton said she called the local hospital several times for a test but kept getting turned down. 'They said I wasn't old enough, and I didn't travel, and some symptoms weren't right,' she said. To break the monotony of the quarantine, Barton started posting Facebook Live videos documenting her ordeal. In one, she says she assumes she was infected with the virus. 'I called again on March 23, they finally told me to go get tested,' she said. She also did a Facebook Live from the testing drive-through. Barton then stayed home and called the hospital on April 2 to ask about her test. 'They told me it could take a month for the result, if I ever get the result because they're so backed up,' she said. 'I asked the nurse if I can start jogging and walking outside and she said yes, for as long as I go out alone.' During an interview with DailyMail.com she received a message that read: 'Your COVID testing was negative' She was tested on March 23 at a drive-through site and was awaiting results. She documented the testing process The arrest came hours later in downtown Stuart, on the two-week anniversary of her self-quarantine day. She described how she noticed an SUV, unmarked, following her. Then, she said, two men in plain clothes came out and started walking towards her. 'I got scared,' she says. 'I don't know who these people are.' Eventually, they turned on their blue lights, and she turned on Facebook Live on her cellphone. 'You guys, live, our liberties are being taken away,' she says to her followers on the footage. 'Share this right now. I'm a suspect for being a corona victim. I'm being detained for going on a walk.' At one point, the camera shows Stuart Police Capt. Heather Rothe on the phone, then she asks Barton: 'Have you been on social media saying you're positive?' Barton responds: 'That's not what I said. I said I had symptoms, but I never said I was positive because of our government's failure to properly test. This is not me. It's your president. I have done nothing wrong.' Eventually, Rothe appears to call the hospital and obtains the date when Barton took her test. While the cops are checking Barton's social media, she takes them to task for not respecting social distancing and not wearing any protective gears. 'Don't get tested, y'all, this is what happens if you get tested,' Barton says on the video as the police officers appear not to know what to do. After about 10 minutes, Barton is cuffed without anyone reading her Miranda Rights or being told what she is charged with. 'Shut up, you crazy a**, tired of listening to you,' one of the officers says. 'I've never been in trouble for anything,' Barton said. 'I'm sitting here at home with a GPS bracelet and I can't even walk out to my mailbox' Now she says she worries her arrest exposed her to the virus and she has underlying health issues Once in the back of the police car, her cellphone continues to broadcast as she tells her story to the officer taking her in. 'Do I look like I've got COVID to you?' she asks the officer. 'I don't know what it looks like,' the cop responds. At one point, the officer receives a call from a colleague on speaker phone and he's told: 'Hey, she's still live on Facebook.' Barton then starts asking her followers to come bail her out. In the end, Barton was charged with disorderly conduct and violation of the Florida governor's order on quarantine. She was released on her own recognizance with a GPS tracker and an order to not go outdoors, even to hang out in her. 'I've never been in trouble for anything,' Barton said. 'I'm sitting here at home with a GPS bracelet and I can't even walk out to my mailbox.' Stuart Police spokesman Brian Bossio defended the arrest, and the professionalism of his department. 'We don't want to arrest people for this,' he said. 'Our preferred response is one of compliance.' OTTAWA - Wearing a simple cloth mask is a way for someone who might have COVID-19 without realizing it to avoid spreading the illness to others, Canada's top public health doctor said Monday. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/4/2020 (644 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. People wearing protective face masks walk past a photograph outside a drug store, in Vancouver, on Sunday, April 5, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck OTTAWA - Wearing a simple cloth mask is a way for someone who might have COVID-19 without realizing it to avoid spreading the illness to others, Canada's top public health doctor said Monday. Dr. Theresa Tam said the new advice, a shift from previous instructions, flows from increasing evidence that people with the virus can spread it without knowing they're sick. Masks worn this way protect others rather than the people wearing them, and don't exempt wearers from all the other measures they should take against COVID-19, including physical distancing and regular handwashing, Tam said during a media briefing by federal officials. "We are still in a very critical stage of Canada's COVID-19 epidemic, and this is no time to relax our preventive measures." A bike courier wears an alternative protective face mask in downtown Vancouver, Monday, April 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward Medical masks still need to be preserved for front-line health workers, so cloth masks and other alternatives are the way to go, Tam said. A non-medical mask can reduce the chance of respiratory droplets coming into contact with other people or surfaces for instance, on a bus or at the grocery store, she said. Scientific knowledge of COVID-19 continues to grow and it is clear that transmission of the virus is happening more often than previously recognized from infected people right before they develop symptoms, something called presymptomatic transmission, Tam said. There is also evidence that some infected people who never develop symptoms are also able to spread the virus, a phenomenon known as asymptomatic transmission, she added. Officials still do not know how big a role these two circumstances play in transmitting the virus, "but we know that it is occurring," Tam said. "Wearing a non-medical mask in the community has not been proven to protect the person wearing it. It is an additional way that you can protect others." Health Minister Patty Hajdu said the advice was not being characterized as a universal recommendation because it applies in cases where someone may feel they cannot stay two metres away from others and "would like to take additional measures to protect the people around them." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Some of the emerging evidence has only recently been published and, in the international community, various public health experts and countries have been looking "very intensely" at the issue, Tam said. The federal advice follows a similar message last Friday from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The U.S. organization says the virus can spread between people who are speaking, coughing, or sneezing, even if they are not exhibiting symptoms. "In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 6, 2020. Follow @JimBronskill on Twitter Bollywood producer Karim Morani's daughter Shaza Morani has tested positive for novel coronavirus. To a text message inquiring if Shaza had tested positive for COVID-19, Morani told PTI, Yes it is true. As per reports, Shaza had returned from Australia before the city announced lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19. Morani has backed many Bollywood films like "Chennai Express", "Dilwale", "Dum", "Ra.One" and "Happy New Year" among others. As of Monday morning, the number of coronavirus cases rose to 4067 in India with the pandemic claiming 109 lives. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday made five appeals to the workers of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a bid to support the country's fight against coronavirus. While addressing the party workers, PM Modi said, "Ensure food for the poor, show gratitude to those who serve, wear and distribute face masks, install Aarogya Setu app and make others install it, support the PM-CARES Fund and motivate 40 others." "Our mothers and sisters gave their jewellery during wars in the past. The current situation is in no means less than a war. It is a war to save humanity. I appeal to every BJP worker to contribute to PM-CARES Fund and motivate 40 others for the same," he added. The Prime Minister further said that service is in the values of the BJP workers and in this difficult time of coronavirus threat, their responsibility has increased even more. PM Modi added that everyone must pay their regards to doctors and nurses, "Safai Karmacharis" (cleaning staff), police officers, bank/post office employees and government employees. We must thank all of them for facing risks during this period," he added. Speaking about his '9 pm-9minute' appeal, PM said that people from every section of the society and age group demonstrated unity on Sunday by responding to the Prime Minister's call and strengthened the resolve to the fight against COVID-19. He further praised the citizens of the country for their support to the lockdown imposed across India in the wake of coronavirus threat. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tommy Lyons ranks the country's greatest horsemen from the past 50 years. 1 Ruby Walsh: A star from the outset, Walsh served notice of what was to come by winning the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham aboard Alexander Banquet, and winning the Aintree Grand National at the first attempt. He showed his outstanding natural ability and adaptability by being able to ride equally successfully in Ireland and Britain. He made the Cheltenham and Punchestown festivals his own and very little eluded him in a stellar career which came to a close when Walsh waved to the crowd as guided Kemboy to victory in the 2019 Punchestown Gold Cup. 2 Mick Kinane: Irish champion jockey on 13 occasions, Kinane won on his first ride in public. He was crowned champion apprentice, and Irish champion jockey for the first time in 1984. His association with Dermot Weld brought him worldwide success most notably aboard Vintage Crop when winning the Melbourne Cup in 1993. It was fitting that his final season in the saddle will be remembered for his association with one of the great racehorses of all time, Sea The Stars, on whom he won six Group 1s, including the Newmarket 2000 Guineas, Epsom Derby, and Prix de lArc de Triomphe. 3 AP McCoy: A winning machine, if ever one were born, McCoy was champion jockey in every year in which he rode as a jumps jockey in Britain. His ambition to be the leading National Hunt rider carried him to the conditional jockeys title in the UK in 1995, and thereafter to the National Hunt jockeys title for the 20 years up until his retirement at the end of the 2014/15 season. He hit a high of 289 winners in the 2001/02 season, but it wasnt all about numbers. McCoy won the Champion Hurdle twice, the Champion Chase once, the Cheltenham Gold Cup twice and finally notched the Aintree Grand National he coveted when Dont Push It won the race in 2010. 4 Richard Dunwoody: Dunwoodys first autobiography was the aptly named Obsessed as the Belfast-born jockey had a dogged determination which carried him to almost 1700 victories in a riding career which ended in 1999. During his time in the saddle, he was associated with the likes of Desert Orchid, One Man, West Tip, Charter Party, and Remittance Man, and his three champion jockey crowns in Britain, between 1993 and 1995, bridged the gap between the Peter Scudamore and Tony McCoy eras. The drive which brought him so much success has been carried on into retirement and brought him to the South Pole, and on extreme distance walks, all in the name of charity. 5 Charlie Swan: A supreme and stylish horseman, Swan was the darling of Irish punters in a time when a handful of winners at the Cheltenham Festival was considered a successful one for the raiding party. His winning ride on Time For A Run at the 1994 Festival prompted owner JP McManus to term it a balls of steel effort, but it was his association with four-time Cheltenham Festival winner Istabraq and the peoples champion Danoli which most will remember him for. Swan was the leading rider at the Cheltenham Festival in 1994 and 1995 and crowned Irish champion for nine consecutive years from 1990 to 1998. 6 Pat Eddery: The Kildare man was crowned champion jockey in Britain in 1974 the first of 11 such titles he would collect. Eddery won every one of the English Classics at least once, and the Prix de lArc de Triomphe on four occasions, including three times in a row from 1985 to 1987. The Irish 1000 Guineas eluded him, but he won the other four Irish Classics at least three times. In 1980, he took over from the great Lester Piggott as number one rider to Vincent OBrien and enjoyed tremendous success before becoming retained rider to Khalid Abdullah. During his time with OBrien he was crowned Irish champion jockey, following the footsteps of his father, Jimmy, who was champion in 1944 and 1955. 7 Pat Smullen: Following the footsteps of Mick Kinane was a formidable task for any jockey, but Pat Smullen took to the role of stable jockey to Dermot Weld with particular ease and they formed a brilliant team for over 20 years, which resulted in nine jockeys titles for Smullen. Tactically brilliant and equally reliable, he made race riding look straight-forward. A professional in every way throughout his career, he continues to inspire with the manner in which he is tackling his battle with pancreatic cancer which prompted his early retirement from the saddle in 2018. 8 Kieren Fallon: Champion jockey in Britain in six of the seven years between 1997 and 2003, Fallon had his troubles in and out of the saddle but was a superb rider. He had a successful spell as stable jockey to the late Henry Cecil and, after a well-documented split, later joined Michael Stoute. He enjoyed plenty more Classic success before becoming first jockey at Ballydoyle in 2005, a position which lasted almost three years until he picked up a worldwide ban from the French authorities. During his time linked to Ballydoyle, he enjoyed high-profile successes, including the 2005 Prix de lArc de Triomphe aboard the Michael Tabor-owned and Andre Fabre-trained Hurricane Run, and the 2007 renewal aboard the Aidan OBrien-trained Dylan Thomas. After his worldwide ban, he returned to action in 2009 and had plenty of success before retiring in July 2016. 9 Paul Carberry: Whilst others are known for their industry in the saddle, Carberry was best known for his motionless style which he employed to extract the best from his mounts. He was seen to best effect winning on Bobbyjo, trained by his father, Tommy, in the 1999 Aintree Grand National, but it wasnt always successful, of course. The famous ride aboard 2005 Champion Hurdle runner-up Harchibald remains a great source of debate, but its impossible to deny he was a supreme horseman. 10 Frank Berry: Known nowadays for his role as racing manager to JP McManus, Berry was a tremendously successful jockey from an early age. From his Flat success in the Irish Leger of 1968, aboard Giolla Mear, his career took a different path and it wasnt long before he won the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The first time he was crowned champion National Hunt jockey was in 1975, when he shared the title with the hat-trick-completing Tommy Carberry, and in two of his nine further success, he shared the spoils, with Tony Mullins in 1984 and Tom Morgan two years later. 11 Davy Russell: Three times champion jockey in Ireland, Russells background is in the point-to-point fields and thats evident in his riding as he never looks happier than when tackling the toughest of obstacles. Its fitting his first Cheltenham Festival success was in the Cross Country Chase and, from that win in 2006, he enjoyed at least one winner in 13 consecutive Festivals. He drew a blank last year but was back with a bang this year, enjoying a treble. Amongst his greatest successes is the 2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup aboard Lord Windermere and the last two Aintree Grand Nationals on Tiger Roll. The 40-year-old continues to ride at the top of his game. 12 Adrian Maguire: A real powerhouse in the saddle, Maguire enjoyed great success in Ireland and Britain, and such was the regard in which he was held from an early stage, he was still a 7lb claimer when riding his first Cheltenham Festival winner, aboard the Martin Pipe-trained Omerta in the 1991 Kim Muir. Injuries frustrated a great career, which included Cheltenham Gold Cup success on Cool Ground in 1992, and Champion Chase success aboard Viking Flagship two years later. He amassed more than 1000 winners in Britain before his career was cut short due to injury. At the time of Maguires retirement in 2002, Richard Dunwoody, to whom he lost out by just three winners in a final-day battle for the 1994 jockeys title in Britain, described his old rival as the best rider in the last 20 years not to have been champion. 13 Johnny Murtagh: His first winner came in 1987 but the most important association of his career began in 1992 when he joined John Oxxs stable. During an 11-year spell he enjoyed tremendous success, mostly in the colours of HH Aga Khan. A colourful character on and off the course, his talent carried him to further success as number one at Ballydoyle. By the time he announced his retirement in 2014, to concentrate on his training career, he had won all Irish Classics at least once, and enjoyed top-level success in Britain, France, America, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, and Dubai. 14 Richard Hughes: In 2015, after 27 years as a jockey, Hughes hung up his riding boots and switched his attention to his training career. Son of former leading rider and trainer, the late Dessie Hughes, he rode his first winner as a 15-year-old, at Roscommon in 1988, and went on to have a great career, winning more than 100 races in a season in the UK on 13 occasions, and more than 200 on one. He was champion Flat jockey in the UK in three consecutive years, from 2012 to 2014, but during his career there were also glimpses of the National Hunt rider he could have become, his most notable success being the Irish Champion Hurdle of 1997. 15 Barry Geraghty Though at the latter stages of his career, Geraghty turned the clock back with some superb rides at the recent Cheltenham Festival. His tally of five winners, including a fourth Champion Hurdle success, equalled the number he achieved at the 2003 and 2013 Festivals, but 2003 was a special year as he also won the Aintree Grand National, aboard Montys Pass, and the 2012 Festival will always be hard to beat as all five winners were at Grade One level. He is second only to Ruby Walsh in the all-time leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival, has enjoyed successful times with Jessica Harrington, Nicky Henderson and now through his association with owner JP McManus. Sudhir Suryawanshi By Express News Service MUMBAI: After 26 health workers and three doctors tested COVID-19 positive in Mumbai's Wockhardt Hospital on Monday, the Brihnmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) sealed the hospital and decided to conduct swab tests for all 270 staff Wockhardt. In Mumbai, more the 50 health workers and doctors were tested COVID-19 positive. The BMC has also sealed Kalanagar area around Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's private residence Matoshree after one tea stall seller was confirmed COVID-19 positive. Earlier Aaditya Thackeray, who represents Worli constituency, also reported a large number of COVID-19 cases in Mumbai. As a result, the fishermen colonies of this area have been also sealed. COVID-19 LIVE | With 704 new cases and 111 deaths, India sees biggest one-day spike in last 24 hours The local authority is likely to carry out an all doctors and health workers antibody test to identify those vulnerable to coronavirus pandemic. In Jaslok hospital almost ten health workers and doctors were detected COVID-19 positive. Suresh Kakani, the additional municipal commissioner said that they have taken swab test of all 270 health workers and doctors of the hospitals. 'These tests will help us to get the numbers of COVID 19 positive infected patients in medical fraternity in Mumbai. Those are positive they will be admitted while negative will continue to work. But the precautions will be taken,' Kakani said. Santosh Andhale, Mumbai based health expert said that the rising COVID-19 positive patients number is not as worrisome as doctors getting tested positive. 'In this global war against the virus, the doctors are only our front soldiers. If they are getting injured before the main battle, then this is the cause of concerned for us. There should be proper training to doctors and health workers that they are not dealing with the normal diseases but the deadly coronavirus that causes havoc in many developed countries despite their world-class health system,' Andhale said. As of April 5, in Maharashtra, there were a total of 868 COVID-19 positive patients. Out of which, Mumbai recorded the highest with 469 coronaviruses positive patients. As per BMC data, more number of coronavirus positive patients were reported in the upscale areas of Malabar Hills, Peddar road, Worli and Dadar. The coronavirus positive patients numbers are also increasing in the slum pockets like Dharavi, Kurla, Byculla, Andheri, Malad Malwani, Mulund, Ghatkopar etc. There are 68 COVID 19 positive patients in Worli, Prabhadevi and Lower Parel area, while the minority-dominated Byculla area has 44 and Andheri, has got 37 coronavirus positive patients. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nacho Doce and Nathan Allen (Reuters) Madrid, Spain Mon, April 6, 2020 11:32 645 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206ff2522 2 World Spain,nursing-home,elderly,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-medical-supplies Free As Spain struggles desperately to cope with more than 130,000 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. "It's sad, it's really sad. They don't deserve this." The home did not respond to requests for comment, but the local government in the area said half the home's residents were in isolation. In addition, two-thirds of its workers had been sent home because of the virus, a picture that the UGT union says has been repeated across Spain. After Italy, Spain has the world's second highest death toll, with over 12,000 fatalities as of Monday. 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. Like seven other private care homes in the area, it has been taken over by regional authorities. "Faced with an infection of this scale, we simply aren't prepared," said Antonio Morales, operations director with the owner, Vitalia Homes. He said at least 150 of the residents were likely to be infected - but that some hospitals had stopped admitting patients from care homes, forcing the residences to cope as best they could. A lack of testing kits was preventing staff confirming whether or not the patients had contracted the disease. And the few staff who are not ill or scared and still coming to work often have to contend with a lack of protective equipment such as masks and gloves, though supplies are beginning to filter through. "We're a care home, not a hospital," Morales said. Union leaders say many homes are failing to adhere to basic protocols such as separating healthy residents from those who have tested positive or have symptoms. Army units deployed to disinfect care homes across Spain have discovered unattended bodies, as staff lacked the resources to dispose of them properly. Official data released on Friday showed that care home residents accounted for around 40% of coronavirus deaths in the region of Castilla y Leon, and a quarter in neighboring Castilla La Mancha. In the northeasterly Catalonia region, authorities said on Thursday that 31% of care homes had residents with coronavirus symptoms, and that they had reported 511 deaths. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan Mon, April 6, 2020 12:08 645 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206ff483f 1 National tiger,North-Sumatra,farmer,Mt-Leuser,tiger-attack Free A 42-year-old farmer was mauled to death by a Sumatran tiger in the encroached forest area of Mount Leuser National Park in Langkat regency, North Sumatra over the weekend. The farmer, named Ramelan, was found by local people in Pir ADB village, Besitang district on Saturday evening at 11 p.m. in a severe condition. Ramelan was a farmer who lived in the former encroached area located in Sei Lepan district within the National Park. The victim was mauled by a tiger in the encroached area in the park, the location used to be the habitat of Sumatran tigers, the park's spokesman Sudiro told The Jakarta Post on Sunday. Besitang district head Ibnu Hajar confirmed that his resident died in a tiger attack. His office reported the incident to the Langkat regent. The victims body was evacuated and laid to rest by his family on Sunday. Pir ADB village chief Ilham Bhakti said Ramelan farmed in areas around Mt. Leuser National Park. He explained that the victim went to his farmland with his partner on Saturday morning. However, he had still not returned home by the evening, prompting local residents to launch a joint search around the Park area. Ilham said the victim was found with severe wounds to his head, hip and thighs. Besitang police chief Adj. Comr. Adi Alfian said that before the incident, several residents had reported that they saw a tiger in the same location where Ramelans body was found. In the afternoon before he was found dead, residents saw a tiger near the farm. We have not seen it again but we will push it back to its habitat to prevent further attacks, he said. Habitat loss due to deforestation and land encroachment have fueled conflict between humans and the critically endangered big cat on Sumatra island. The Sumatran tiger, the only surviving species of the Sunda Islands tigers, has been listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List since 2008. Grant Geiger, founder of EIR Healthcare, is applying for a new SBA coronavirus loan program for his employee payroll through Wells Fargo. Read more So many businesses are rushing to get loans through a special Small Business Administration coronavirus relief program that some banks are struggling to keep up. We got thousands of applications, said Dan Fitzpatrick, president of Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, which normally processed a few hundred SBA loans a month. The $350 billion Payroll Protection Program is part of the $2.2 trillion economic rescue package that President Donald Trump signed into law late last month. I have to applaud the government for moving swiftly with this program. This really helps," said Amol R. Kohli, president of the Cherry Hill restaurant development and management company AARK Enterprises, who has applied for a loan and is waiting to hear. Kohli declined to describe the size of the loan, but said he doesnt need the maximum $10 million loan allowed under PPP. He only needs enough to keep key staff on payroll at 17 Friendlys restaurants in Philadelphia, South Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, and Florida during April and May until, he hopes, he can re-establish sit-down service. He had to close three mall stores entirely, but said most of his landlords have been willing to work with us until the PPP money arrives to keep 14 restaurants open with small crews providing takeout, typically at less than 20% of normal sales. The loan, under PPP rules, will be forgivable covered by U.S.taxpayers if Kohli spends the money on worker pay and occupancy costs. The new program required a new all-electronic system to speed the loans. Citizens Fitzpatrick said major lenders and the SBA had to build online systems in just one week. The two-page application is very straightforward," Fitzpatrick said. But they are also asking for pretty significant amounts of tax records. So we are getting some applications in with five electronic attachments. As you can imagine, keeping it organized is a big undertaking. And we need to get it right. Like other SBA lenders, Citizens is taking PPP applications only from current clients. If you dont bank with an SBA lender that is pushing the new program, youre put in the back of the line. The plan is to add other applicants after we service existing clients, said spokesman Frank Quaratiello. ADP, Paychex and other automated payroll systems are expanding their own software to make it easier for small employers to collect PPP records, Fitzpatrick said. Like many banks, Wilmington-based WSFS Bank is currently targeting PPP applications to its current business customers. WSFS reported a high volume of applications Monday from its largely Pennsylvania- and Delaware-based clients. ASK US: Do you have a question about the coronavirus and how it affects your health, work and life? Ask our reporters. We have lots of interest from small businesses we serve. Theyre our first priority, said Candice Caruso, director of government guaranteed lending at WSFS. We launched today and are actively entering applications as we receive them," Caruso said Monday. "All of our customers are directed to our website and we have gotten loan confirmations. Not everyone qualifies. Gus Drakopoulos is disappointed: The operator of the V-Lounge gentlemans club near Philadelphia International Airport, Drakopoulos hoped for PPP money. But the banks are taking the position that, because we are in the adult nightclub business, that we are not eligible for this loan, he said. (Banks are taking a similar stance against backing marijuana-related businesses, a lender said.) Drakopoulos said PPP lenders are relying on a 1990s-era SBA exclusion for businesses that are of prurient sexual nature. Those are old rules, and shouldnt apply to his 35 employees, who had hoped to expand into the next-door Sin City club this month. Donald Trump said this is a relief package especially for the hospitality industry," Drakopoulos said. "My employers are bartenders, waitresses, waiters, bar-backs, line cooks, busboys, managers, assistant managers. He has no plans to have taxpayers compensate dancers: Performers at the club are independent contractors, he said. Wells Fargo started taking applications with other banks on April 3 and then announced on April 5 that it was closing its own online portal for Small Business Administration loans, saying the giant bank had maxed out of its target of $10 billion in commitments already. Some bank websites are crashing due to high demand or arent yet functioning. I spent the better part of 12 hours on Saturday trying to complete our application with PNC, said Anne Buchanan, who owns Buchanan Public Relations in Byrn Mawr, who said she normally loves the bank. It was a disaster, primarily because the bank rushed to get its portal up, launching something that was riddled with programming errors, she said. PNC customers took to social media such as Twitter and called that banks PPP application program a dumpster fire. For a good part of the day, the portal would not allow Buchanan to upload any of the documents required for an SBA loan. And worse, the application which was fairly long and complex timed out after 15 minutes and wouldnt save any work. I would be nearly through the application which involved uploading dozens of documents, and it would freeze up. Nothing could get it going again. And then, it would kick you off and make you start all over, Buchanan said. I get it. The banks were in an unwinnable situation, racing to get something up with minimal and conflicting guidance from the SBA. But, boy, did it create for a painful and stressful day for many of us. And PNC stayed pretty unresponsive until later in the day, when it began acknowledging issues with its platform. She was finally able to complete the application on Saturday night-- but has no idea if the delays will hurt her ability to secure funds. PNC issued the following statement: We opened our Paycheck Protection Program online application late Friday night to PNCs small business clients, and have had a tremendous response, with tens of thousands of applications submitted over the weekend and this morning. We appreciate how patient our customers have been as we continue to work with them to complete their applications and adapt to guidelines, which are being set by the SBA. We will continue to work through the process to support our many business clients, their employees and our communities during this challenging time. A weekend survey of Businesses for Responsible Tax Reforms small-business network found that most respondents tried to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program loan Friday, the day the program went live. But most were not able to submit an application because lenders were waiting for further program guidance from the federal government and were unprepared. About one-fifth, or 21%, of the more than 500 respondents said they can wait only a week for loans to arrive before their business fails. A full 75% said they can wait for a month or less before their business fails. Grant Geiger, founder of EIR Healthcare in Center City, applied for a PPP loan on Friday with Wells Fargo. We have a local banker, he was open to communication," he said. "But he had no idea what to do with our application. I dont really blame Wells, theyve tried their best. EIR, which designs hospital facilities, submitted an indication of interest for the roughly $100,000 loan to cover payroll, but not a formal application yet. EIRs revenues were on track for $6 million this year, and it has seven employees in Philadelphia. They said theyd get back to us in a few days, Geiger said. Gardai have arrested two people and seized a firearm, a pipe bomb, drugs and around 27,000 in cash in Co Limerick. Shortly before 8.30pm yesterday, gardai from Henry Street were on patrol when they stopped and searched a car in the Castleconnell area. During the search, around 27,000 in cash was seized. A man, aged in his 40s, was arrested and brought to Henry Street Garda Station. He is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. Two follow up searches were carried out at houses in the Castleconnell area later that evening. At the first house, gardai seized a firearm and a pipe bomb. A woman in her 40s was arrested and she is currently detained at Henry Street Garda Station under Section 30 Offences Against The State Act, 1939. The Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team attended the scene and the suspected pipe bomb was taken for further examination. At the second house, gardai seized 1,000 of suspected cannabis herb. No arrests were made following this seizure. All of the items seized will now be sent for technical analysis. Unilever is just one of many companies at the forefront of reaching out to help healthcare staff and others affected by the ongoing crisis The items included Lifebuoy handwash, P/S and Close-up toothbrushes, toothpaste, Clear shampoo, and Vim, Cif, Sunlight, and OMO detergents. The hospital has become a focal point during the pandemic in Hanoi, with more than 20 coronavirus sufferers. This can cause cross-contamination within the hospital and can affect the health of local people. Hanoi authorities and the citys healthcare sector have immediately employed the most urgent and stringent measures so as to detect all affected sources, and gradually eradicate the pandemic. Do Thai Vuong, vice president of Unilever Vietnams Sustainable Development and Communications, said, Upon learning that Bach Mai Hospital was in critical shortage of personal hygienic products for patients, doctors, and nurses, as well as caregivers, Unilever promptly mobilised a great volume of hygienic products in order to support more than 5,000 people at the hospital at this critical time. Unilever wants to contribute to supporting the hospital in particular and the healthcare sector generally in their efforts to combat COVID-19, he added. Unilever presents Bach Mai Hospital with items to support staff and patients It is reported that out of those 5,000 people currently at the hospital, about 800 patients cannot be discharged or moved to other hospitals. Bach Mai Hospital is facing many difficulties as thousands of people are stuck and cannot go out to purchase personal goods and items. Everything, from toothbrushes to toothpaste, is provided by the hospital. Unilever Vietnams product donation to Bach Mai Hospital is part of the companys recently-launched Stay Strong Vietnam initiative, which is a wide-ranging set of measures to support the community and people in the fight against the pandemic. The initiative is implemented through partnership with the Ministry of Health (MoH), the Ministry of Education and Training, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front. Under this initiative, Unilever commits VND50 billion ($2.17 million) for implementing a series of programmes for assorted groups of beneficiaries, firstly to fight against COVID-19, reduce contamination in the community, and then create long-term and sustainable effects in protecting peoples health and improving hygienic conditions and living standards for Vietnamese people. Specifically, in the Stay Strong Vietnam initiative, Unilever will together with the MoH build up a programme on raising community awareness and improving hygienic habits of Vietnamese people in order to curb the spread of COVID-19 and other contagious diseases. Besides that, the company has also offered more than 550 tonnes of products to over 1.6 million people across 3,000 hospitals, schools, isolation areas. In addition, in the Stay Strong Vietnam initiative, Unilever has continued installing Lifebuoy field handwashing stations in major cities with a vision to assisting more than three million people in maintaining their habit of washing hands with soap to fight the pandemic. The company has also installed Pureit water purifiers at field hospitals, schools, and households, bringing clean water to more than five million people throughout the country. Part of Unilevers vision is to create positive social impacts, and it has never been more important for us to deliver on this commitment as now, when the COVID19 pandemic is affecting lives and livelihoods in the country. With these contributions, we stand in solidarity with the rest of the country so that we can fight this disease together, and emerge from this difficult time stronger than ever, Vuong said. LUMMI NATION, Wash. - They hastily piled all the dumbbells and treadmills in the back of a gym to make room for 23 extra hospital beds. The beds aren't needed yet, but on a reservation where residents suffer high rates of disease that exist throughout Indian Country, the Lummi Tribal Health Clinic in Washington is bracing for the deadly coronavirus. Two thousand miles away at the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma, where 11 people have tested positive for the virus as of Friday and one has died, "We're preparing for the worst," Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. Health workers plan to move hospital beds into a nearby university and a job training facility shuttered because of the pandemic. "This is the worse public health crisis we've had in a generation." At the Navajo Nation that crosses three western states, 270 people were infected as of Saturday with 12 fatalities, the most in Indian Country. A shelter-in-place order was imposed by President Jonathan Nez. "Some won't listen, but we're doing everything we can," Nez said. "We're doing . . . road blocks, handing out . . . booklets to share with relatives and community members. We need everyone to take this virus seriously." Coronavirus is ravaging the United States, but experts say more than 5 million people who identify as American Indians and Alaskan Native are especially vulnerable. "When you look at the health disparities in Indian Country - high rates of diabetes, cancer, heart disease, asthma and then you combine that with the overcrowded housing situation where you have a lot of people in homes with an elder population who may be exposed or carriers - this could be like a wildfire on a reservation and get out of control in a heartbeat," said Kevin Allis, chief executive of the National Congress of American Indians. "We could get wiped out," Allis said. About half of Native Americans live on reservations mainly in the West, Midwest and South, according to the National Congress of American Indians. They live in small homes, where the virus can easily spread through families. Houses often lack electricity and running water so that washing hands is more challenging, health experts at Johns Hopkins University said. And they suffer disproportionately from hypertension, asthma, cancer, heart and cardiovascular disease - maladies that put them at a higher risk of fatal complications from the coronavirus. American Indians are 600 times more likely to die from tuberculosis and nearly 200 times more likely to die from diabetes than other groups. More than a quarter under age 65 lack health insurance. American Indians have a dark history with infectious disease, dating back hundreds of years. In the last century, the 1918 flu struck the group four times harder than the general population, according to a 2014 study in the online archive JSTOR. At least 3,200 died, including 72 of 80 residents at the Inupiat village of Brevig Mission, Alaska, according to the National Institutes of Health. Tribes "suffered hideously," the study said, citing reports from the time. "The Navajos' situation of 1918-19 was an almost perfect storm." Considering the conditions that made them vulnerable, the researchers said, "it is remarkable not that so many of them were lost but that so many survived." Conditions a century ago were similar to what exist today in Indian Country: multigenerational families living in close quarters, struggling with poverty, poor nutrition, and underfunded health care programs. "We have very limited data right now because of lack of surveillance systems, but we are hearing disproportionate level of severity of health impacts from coronavirus, a higher need for intubation and ICU-level care and more severe stress," said Laura Hammitt, an associate professor of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, which works with the Navajo Nation. Nez watched in frustration as the virus spread through the population of 327,000 Navajos. As infections more than tripled from 71 to about 270 in just over a week, he said the Navajo couldn't quickly get federal funding for American Indians allocated by Congress in early March because he had to apply for it through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nez said money should have come directly to the tribe so he could quickly buy protective gear for health workers. "I'm pretty pissed," Nez said. "I think you really need to let the people know the federal government again is shortchanging tribes throughout the country. We're always at the bottom of the list. That money has already been given to the states. What they want us to do is beg for money." From California to New York, tribal presidents and chiefs expressed similar frustration. When the economy shut down last month, so did the casinos and tourism that funded their way of life. Tribal gaming operations are the 13th largest employer in the United States, with a workforce of about 640,000. Joe Kalt, a professor and co-director of the Harvard University Project on American Indian Economic Development, said tribes' casino revenue is going to "get hammered." "Just like a county or city collecting taxes, tribes use their casino revenue to provide for their citizens and the travel and tourism industries are going to take a direct, immediate hit," Kalt said. The Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma doesn't know how it will pay 4,000 workers laid off when its 10 casinos and hotel operation closed more than two weeks ago. The Cherokee are losing $40 million per month, Hoskin said. "If you imagine a state's entire tax base turning off like a switch, that's what's happened to us," Hoskin said. "Our revenue stream for education, health care, housing - all of that is tied to our businesses." The tribe promised to pay the employees through the middle of this month, but "it's unreasonable to think we can do this for periods of months and months," Hoskin said. The federal government has to step in to prevent a catastrophe, he said. "We expect the U.S. government to understand that if a tribe has its entire revenue base ripped out from underneath it from a pandemic, they ought to be made whole." A third stimulus package passed by Congress on March 27 included $10 billion for American Indians but allocating the funds could take weeks, Allis said. Less than adequate health facilities are another concern. At the Ogala Sioux in South Dakota, President Julian Bear Runner said the federal Indian Health Services facilities "are not well equipped." For the tribe's 50,000 members, there are 24 coronavirus test kits, six ventilators and four beds set aside for quarantine at the Pine Ridge Hospital. "If we were to be infected or have an outbreak of 10 or more people that's going to be overwhelming for IHS here and they're going to be unable to handle that," Bear Runner said. Which is why so many tribes are walling off the outside world. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The Chippewa Cree in northern Montana erected checkpoints at the borders to block anyone who didn't belong. The Crow and Northern Cheyenne in that state ordered curfews. The Ogala Sioux's president plans to enlist retired veterans to help run checkpoints at the dozen entrances to its 3.6 million acre reservation in South Dakota. "We're trying to limit the amount of travel coming and going and to educate people that aren't aware of the dangers," Bear Runner said on March 27. "Right now, none of our tribal members have it." No tribe has been more proactive than the Lummi. As early as Jan. 22, when there were only a handful of confirmed cases in the United States, clinic physicians on the reservation started ordering medical supplies, including test kits. "Any time there was an opening for an order, we just ordered," said Dakotah Lane, the clinic's executive director. "We were always a week ahead of everyone else and that gave us an advantage." On March 3, the clinic declared a public health emergency. It started testing early, confirming the reservation's first infection on Mar. 12 - a worker on the reservation who lived in Seattle and wasn't a tribal member. By March 27, the Lummi health clinic had conducted more than a third of the 330 tests in surrounding Whatcom County, despite having only two percent of its population. Eighteen people have tested positive for coronavirus at the clinic, so far with no fatalities. A tribal elder at a nearby nursing home experiencing an outbreak died in early March. Tribal leadership attribute the low infection to dogged prevention efforts put in place before similar measures by Washington Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee. "The public health team kept pushing -- we'd be right back at the table a day or two later -- and it really started to sink in," Lummi tribal councilman Nickolaus Lewis said. It took time because defenses against coronavirus - separating elders and children - are offensive to the Indian way of life. "Social distancing is at odds with the Cherokee culture," Hoskin said. "It probably feels to people like we're saying break up the family but literally going to see elderly grandparents is putting them in peril. It goes against the natural inclination of Cherokee Nation." American Indian attachment to family is tighter than the general population and isn't easily discouraged, said Allison Barlow, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health. "It's such a strong reverence for elders but it's also terrifying," she said. "Elders have a different meaning from other communities. They are the speakers of the native language. The meaning of this virus in tribal communities is incredibly traumatizing." - - - The Washington Post's Scruggs reported from the Lummi Nation in Washington. Hedgpeth and Fears reported from Washington, D.C. (Newser) The US Navy captain removed from command after he asked the Navy for help with the coronavirus outbreak on board his warship has now tested positive for COVID-19, sources tell the New York Times. Capt. Brett Crozier, who ended up getting assistance from Guam, came down with symptoms before he was relieved of his command Thursday, according to two of his Naval Academy classmates who remain close to him and his family. As of Sunday, there were 155 confirmed cases among the nearly 5,000 personnel on board, according to a CNN interview with Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. No one had yet required hospitalization, more than half the ship had been tested, and 1,500 had been evacuated to land, per Fox News. Crozier is currently quarantined on Naval Base Guam; when his quarantine is complete, a Navy spokesperson says he has been reassigned to a San Diego position. story continues below His removal has sparked criticism from online commenters, Democratic lawmakers, and the Navy "rank and file" alike. The Times notes that Crozier's diagnosis, which a defense official confirmed to Fox, "is likely to fuel further skepticism of the Navys handling of the outbreak" aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier. (He was fired because his letter, which called out the Navy's poor handling of the outbreak, was sent to Navy leaders via "non-secure unclassified email" and ultimately leaked to the media.) Esper said all branches of the military relieve commanders before a probe is carried out if confidence has been lost in their leadership, but that an investigation is now being done. Though President Trump said he fully supports Crozier's removal, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden told ABC Sunday, "I think its close to criminal the way theyre dealing with this guy." (Read more coronavirus stories.) As schools are closed due to COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, teachers across the world are using different tools for online teaching and one such platform which has gained popularity for remote teaching in the recent weeks is Zoom. But officials in New York City on Sunday (April 5) banned Zoom in schools for remote teaching ciitng privacy issues. Providing a safe and secure remote learning experience for our students is essential, and upon further review of security concerns, schools should move away from using Zoom as soon as possible. There are many new components to remote learning, and we are making real-time decisions in the best interest of our staff and students," said Danielle Filson, a spokesperson for the New York City Dept. of Education. The New York City Department of Education has directed the schools to use Microsoft Teams, which the spokesperson said has the same capabilities with appropriate security measures in place. The ban will cover around 1,800 schools in New York City. The decision to ban Zoom was made in part by New York Citys Cyber Command. The Cyber Command took the decision to ban Zoom after several people raised objections over the companys security policies and privacy practices. Zooms chief executive apologized on Friday for mistakenly routing some calls through China. The CEO of Zoom also apologized for claiming that the service offered by the company was end-to-end encrypted while this was not the case. Zoom tried to ward off criticism by changing its default settings to enable passwords on video calls by default but it seems that this was not enough to convice New York City officials. Overcrowding, unsanitary conditions in Asia's largest slum pose big challenges to containment, reports Viveat Susan Pinto. IMAGE: A girl looks on through the window of her house during a nationwide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, at Dharavi in Mumbai. So far, the area, also known as Asia's largest slum, has reported five cases of the deadly virus. Photograph: Kunal Patil/PTI Photo The roads are empty, the shops closed, and some areas are cordoned off. Dharavi, Asias largest slum, is locked down like the rest of Mumbai. However, the rising number of coronavirus cases in this teeming shantytown, where people live in huts and decrepit tenements, has put it front and centre of Indias fight against the coronavirus outbreak. So far, Dharavi has reported five cases, including one death -- that of a 56-year-old man. But there is fear that the numbers could inch up in a place where people grapple daily with overcrowding and unsanitary conditions. To add to their misery, the lockdown has left residents with no income and little food. Rajesh Tope, Maharashtras health minister, said that Dharavi was a grave concern for the government, given the density of its population and the poverty of its residents. We are ensuring there is strict adherence to the rules of the lockdown in Dharavi. We do not allow crowds to collect, but it isnt easy. Theres a space constraint, people are poor and without work right now. There are challenges, he says. Non-governmental organisations estimate that the average monthly income of a household in Dharavi is below Rs 5,000. Around 5-10 per cent of its population of 1.5 million, spread over 613 hectares and seven Mumbai wards, have headed back to their home towns in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar after the lockdown. Sajeevan Jaiswal, a cloth merchant, is dipping into his meagre savings to somehow get by till the lockdown ends. His shop, near the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation office in Dharavi, is shut. Jaiswal fears for the safety of his family -- his wife, two sons, and a daughter-in-law -- who live above his shop in a small, 200 square feet space. I dont let them step out of the house, he says. If groceries have to be brought, I do it. We dont have the luxury of using hand sanitizers and hand wash. We share a small bar of soap between us, he says, speaking through a cheap mask, his only means of protection outside of home. Jaiswals fears are echoed by Anil Shivram Kasare, a social worker and resident of Dharavi. The biggest challenge, he says, comes from the slums public toilets. There are 1,500 public toilets in Dharavi. This is not enough for the people who reside here. But what can we do? We have to use them. The danger of catching the virus lurks everywhere in a slum, he says. IMAGE: A view of deserted roads near Dharavi during a nationwide lockdown in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic in Mumbai. The death of a COVID-19 patient has exposed its residents to the vulnerability of contracting the viral infection and sparked a fear of its spread in the highly congested area. Photograph: Kunal Patil/PTI Photo Dharavis narrow bylanes, its lack of hygiene, and large families squeezed into small spaces -- some of them near open gutters -- make the area a veritable nightmare for any effort to step up cleanliness. To tackle the situation, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has set up a branch in each of the seven wards of Dharavi. Every branch has around 150 sanitation workers who fan out across the length and breadth of the slum pocket, sweeping the roads and collecting garbage twice a day. Fumigation is done every two days. But the garbage piles up quickly, says Akhtar Khan, an advocate who helps run a free food delivery service for Dharavis poor. These days, people have been frequently sweeping their homes, no matter how small, in an attempt to keep them clean. Its a good habit. But lets see how long they do it, he says. The food delivery service that Khan helps run provides one free meal to around 100-150 people per day. Ever since the lockdown, the number of people approaching us has been increasing. But there is a limit to which this number can be extended. I dont think we can cross 200 per day, he says. Most NGOs working in Dharavi say there is an urgent need to put money into peoples bank accounts. Moreover, ration should be reached to their homes to prevent them from crowding into ration shops and increasing the risk of spreading the virus. Kasare puts it succinctly: It is nice that the rich and powerful have come forward to support the government in this health crisis, and are donating to the cause. But I hope the money is put to use where it matters the most -- to care for the poor and the needy. Cronkite News PHOENIX Tribal response to the 2020 Census badly trails state and national rates, according to Census Bureau data, with the already-challenging task of counting in tribal areas further complicated by the arrival of COVID-19. U.S. and Arizona response rates to the questionnaire that went out in mid-March were hovering around one-third of the expected total by the end of the month. But the highest response rate for an Arizona tribe is just under 22%, and many more of the states tribes are at or below a 1% response rate. Experts have blamed the lack of internet access in Indian Country and the arrival of the coronavirus, which has hit some tribal areas particularly hard. But they also said its not time to panic yet, as there are still months for census takers to finish the job. We are fairly early in the process, and because of coronavirus, a lot of the dates have gotten shifted around, said University of Arizona geography Professor David Plane. About when they can get people into the field and so on. So I would be a little hesitant to authenticate what is going on. As of March 31, the Census Bureau said 38.4% of households across the country had self-responded through one of several methods by phone, by mail or online. The response rate for Arizona that day was 36.5%. The response rate from tribes in the state did not even come close. The Salt River Pima-Maricopa and the Pascua Yaqui had the highest response rates at 21.8% and 21.7%, respectively, two of just five tribes in double digits. The Tohono Oodham response rate was 1.5%, for example, while the Hopi and Navajo rates were 0.1%. At stake in the Census are billions in federal funding and representation in Congress. In 2016, Arizona got more than $20.5 billion in federal funding based on numbers from the 2010 Census roughly $3,000 per Arizonan, according to a study last month by University of Arizona Associate Professor Jason Jurjevich last month. But Jurjevich said Native Americans are historically undercounted, with an estimated 30,000 American Indian and Alaska Natives excluded in the 2010 count. Native Americans, as of 2010, those living on reservations have the highest undercount percentage, Jurjevich said. Census Bureau officials are well aware of the difficulty of counting in tribal areas, and said they have several programs to address the problem, including by hand-delivering questionnaires. Dennis Johnson, deputy director for the Census Bureaus Denver region, said the bureau often hires tribal members who know the land and can assist in finding hard-to-count homes in areas where there may not be reliable maps showing homes. In many of the tribal areas, we are delivering to a post office box or central location, so we dont know where that housing unit is, Johnson said. We have our own staff go out and deliver those questionnaires, and they can pinpoint the location of that unit, which is very critical in census taking, he said. Not only knowing how many people but where they live. Join us for an #IndianCountryCounts Census Week of Action! Throughout April, we're connecting with tribal communities and sharing the latest and greatest resources. Visit https://t.co/mRzpdbWkj2 for more! @APIAHF@Demos_Org@NAACP@WeAreUnidosUS@NatUrbanLeague@FIAnational@AAAJ_AAJC pic.twitter.com/4c9r96u3l3 NCAI (@NCAI1944) April 1, 2020 The coronavirus outbreak forced the bureau on March 18 to pull workers from the field, and the agency is urging state residents to file their questionnaires online. It has not affected the ability for households to respond on their own. Theyre encouraged to, and they can go online to fill out their census information, Johnson said. That can be a problem in Indian Country, where internet access is often more scarce than in other parts of the country. But Plane said the bureau has taken that into account. It always takes more effort to enumerate rural areas but there are different procedures that the bureau has, he said. Even though April 1 is considered Census Day, responses are still being accepted and that will be followed by in-person enumerators who are currently scheduled to be in the field until mid-August, tracking down people who have not responded. Jurjevich, pointing to Arizonas relatively high response rate, believes the state is on-track for a successful count this year. While rural areas tend to take longer to respond, he believes tribes will eventually follow the lead of metro areas. Right now, Arizonas response rate is 36%, Jurjevich said. I think the challenge for local census leaders across the state is to take stock of where we are now and work with census bureau officials and community-based outreach. Note: This story originally appeared on Cronkite News and is published via a Creative Commons license . Cronkite News is produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University Join the Conversation Employees eat their lunch while staying 2 meters away from each other at the Dongfeng Fengshen plant in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, on March 24, 2020. (Getty Images) CCP Virus: Just Reparations Commentary The CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic is imposing an enormous cost across the world. This must already amount to many trillions of dollars. While writing this, the London-based Henry Jackson Society released a report on this very subject. It contains valuable information on the damage sustained and the complicity of Beijing in failing in its duty to inform the world about the virus. I have, however, somewhat different views on the best method to obtain just reparations. According to this and numerous reports, the Beijing communist regime behaved irresponsibly when the virus emerged, suppressing information, harassing those medical practitioners who tried to warn about what was happening and, in particular, that the virus was being transmitted between humans. The World Health Organization (WHO) supported Beijing in the suppression of information concerning the virus. Clearly, the WHO leadership is captured. The irresponsibility of the authorities is graphically illustrated by the arrest of the principal whistleblower, Dr. Li Wenliang, who was required to sign a confession that he had made false comments and had disturbed the social order. This was consistent with the state position that there was no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission. Tragically, Li died in February, reportedly from the virus. Theres a widespread view that Beijings attempts to suppress the facts and failure to warn the world led directly to the spread of the virus without the authorities in other countries being aware of the danger. Had Beijing warned the world, the virus could have been contained much earlier than it has been. Its widely believed that the virus escaped from a bat in a wet market where, in particularly unhygienic conditions, bats, rats, dogs, cats, scorpions, and other exotic animals are stored in cages stacked on top of one another, sharing fluids, discharge, and excrement with the carcasses of pythons and other animals on slabs. According to the Daily Mail on March 28, those markets are operating again. Further, Communist Party officials subsequently promoted the myth that the U.S. Army had introduced the virus into Wuhan. Given that the communist system strongly discourages autonomous and independent activity in government, its highly unlikely that this was done without high-level approval. According to other reports, the virus escaped from a laboratory in the Wuhan area, one possibly involved in weaponizing viruses. A variation of this is that the remains of bats used in experiments were sold at a wet market. Proponents of these alternative origins of the virus point to the rejection by the leader of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) of President Donald Trumps offer to send U.S. scientists to Wuhan to help. They say this indicates a wish to keep its laboratory activities confidential. In addition, its been reported that Beijing required the destruction of samples that Li and others had taken of the virus. Accordingly, there are widespread demands, indeed, an expectation, that the Chinese regime will have to pay reparations to those countries that have suffered, with people dying or seriously ill, and economies significantly damaged. The question is, how could this be done if, as can be expected, Beijing refuses to take responsibility? Unfortunately, without Beijings cooperation, most of the methods suggested for legal action may fail. However, I believe that one course of action would bring Beijing to heel and settle the claims. I believe that in the event that Beijing refused to settle, this method would enable countries to sequester assets in recompense. This isnt to deny the ability of and indeed the likelihood that Beijing might retaliate in ways known and as yet unknown. Legal proceedings have, in fact, already begun against Beijing with a class action in the U.S. federal court system. However justified this class action is, it has no chance of success. Thats because of the doctrine of sovereign immunity in public international law that is incorporated into most legal systems. It was consolidated in the United States in 1976 in the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, with the Supreme Court confirming that a foreign government in cases such as the one brought against Beijing is immune from the jurisdiction of U.S. courts. An amendment, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, 2016, does not offer a wide enough window to encompass a claim for damages over the CCP virus. Nor would a similar chipping away of sovereign immunity in the UK in House of Lords cases involving a former head of state, the late Augusto Pinochet. An action brought in other domestic courts, including Hong Kongs, would probably meet the same hurdle. The second suggestion is for a government to bring an action against Beijing in the World Courtthe International Court of Justiceand obtain a judgment, which normally takes years, and then, seek an order for reparations. Although a judge nominated by Beijing sits on the court and is its vice president, China has refrained from lodging a declaration accepting the courts jurisdiction and would be most unlikely to accept it in such a case. Similar difficulties would apply to the International Court of Arbitration. The third avenue would be for the U.N. Security Council or the General Assembly to seek an advisory opinion from the World Court. The problem is that Beijing would veto any Security Council action and probably be able to discourage a necessary majority to agree to General Assembly moves. The WHO could also seek an opinion in the unlikely event that a majority of its 194-member assembly or of its 34-member board agreed. But then the court could be persuaded to find that an opinion about the economic consequences of a health issue were beyond the powers of the WHO. In fact, in 1993 the court actually rejected, for a similar reason, a request from the WHO for an opinion on the use of nuclear weapons. In the unlikely event that an application were successful, the further problem would be that the advisory opinion, delivered many years hence, would be just that, an advisory opinion. A fourth avenue would be for activists to establish an informal peoples tribunal. These have been used to investigate mass human rights abuses in Iran, Vietnam, Indonesia and, more recently, the China Tribunal in relation to forced organ harvesting in the PRC. Decisions of such informal tribunals can provide some resolution for survivors and those close to victims. Moreover, what they discover and what they establish inform the public and the media and can encourage subsequent official action. The London-based China Tribunals judgment was handed down in 2019. It found, on the basis of strong evidence, that the Chinese state was engaging in the forced harvesting of organs for sale on demand. This trade was found to involve the killing of political dissidents, those who belong to religions or sections of religions outside of party controlMuslim, Protestant, and Catholicand above all, Falun Gong practitioners. Chaired by a respected international lawyer, Sir Geoffrey Nice QC, who had led the prosecution of former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic at the U.N.s International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the Tribunal consisted of several outstanding members. These included a prominent thoracic transplant specialist and professor of cardiothoracic surgery at University College London, prominent Malaysian, Iranian, and U.S. human rights lawyers, a businessman engaged in a range of NGOs in the fields of human rights, and a respected academic on Chinese history. Obviously, Beijing would neither take part in a private tribunal over the CCP virus nor observe any ruling. As with the China Tribunal on organ harvesting, Beijing would be likely to use its influence to try to ensure that governments and the mainstream media would pay only nominal attention to it. This was surprisingly successful in relation to organ harvesting, but would probably be less successful in relation to the CCP virus. I believe that theres a solution in a fifth process, one that would allow the recovery of substantial damages. It would require courage on the part of the governments taking this action. This is what I would call the Nuremberg solution, based as it is on the tribunal of that name. This was established in response to the Moscow Declaration by Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin to pursue World War II Nazi criminals to the utmost ends of the earth and will deliver them to their accusers in order that justice may be done. It would be open to selected powers, for example, the United States and similar countries, to enter into a treaty to establish a similar tribunal to hear the claim. This need not be a treaty as defined in U.S. constitutional law, that is, one by the president requiring the advice and consent of two-thirds of the Senate. It could be an executive agreement by the president, which in international law, would constitute a treaty. Now in both U.S. law and that of the UK and Commonwealth realms such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, where the Crown enters into and ratifies treaties, legislation would be necessary to give effect to decisions taken by the tribunal. The initial number of countries wouldnt affect the enforceability of the tribunal decisions, which could be affected in each country against assets available. It would be important to provide for other countries to accede subsequently to the treaty but out of caution, only with the unanimous approval of the original signatories. Beijing has a poor record in respecting international tribunals, even those rare ones to which it is legally subject, such as one that heard a case brought by the Philippines concerning the South China Sea and was handed down in 2016. While Beijing would be under no obligation to appear before this tribunal and can be expected to refuse to take part, every opportunity for Beijing to appear and to give evidence at every stage should always be given. Provision should be made in the treaty that where a government refuses to appear, one of the parties may apply for the tribunal to appoint an amicus curiae, a friend of the court, to appear and to present a case for Beijing. An invitation could go, for example, to the Chinese Society of International Law to fill that role. The treaty should clearly state the questions, which should be determined by the tribunal and would include such questions as how the virus started, the obligation of Beijing to warn, whether that obligation was fulfilled, how the virus spread to the parties and other countries, and the amount of both interim and final damages. The treaty should rule on evidentiary questions and make broad provisions for the hearing of evidence, including hearsay and in any form. The tribunal should have power to declare that the property of the Chinese state will be available to satisfy any award, a power to freeze that at any time and that such property extend to that of high-level functionaries within the Politburo, the CCP, its associates and partners, as well as all corporations and other entities formed in, domiciled in, or under the control of Beijing, the CCP, its associates and partners, wherever located and whether or not vested in nominees, trustees, or similar cover. The process would be that once interim orders are handed down, these could be given legislative effect by the parties, for example by the U.S. Congress and say, the Australian Parliament. In the Australian case, Beijing-owned and -controlled property could then be taken to satisfy the outstanding interim and final judgments. The tribunal should stay in place for five years in the event of further possible accessions or the need, for any reason, to hear requests from any party or the amicus (appointed to represent the interests of Beijing). There should be a power to make further orders with a continuing power in the court to make or refuse those orders or to take such decisions as it deems necessary or expedient. Such a tribunal will allow the recovery of full and fair compensation for damages incurred by Beijings role in the crisis relating to the CCP virus. David Flint, A.M., is a former chairman of the Australian Press Council and Australian Broadcasting Authority and is an emeritus professor of law. 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. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has poured cold water on a push by nine EU member states, including Ireland, for a European borrowing structure to fund the costs of reviving the economy after the Covid-19 outbreak. The influential German leader's opposition to common bond issuance is unchanged, according to her chief-of-staff Helge Braun. Germany's government is "sceptical towards anything that endangers the stability of the eurozone economic and currency area", Mr Braun, the head of the Federal Chancellery, told the 'Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung' newspaper yesterday. The common bonds would ensure weaker countries can continue to borrow if the markets become more challenging but Germany, along with the Netherlands and Austria, fears the scheme could undermine their own financial stability by putting their taxpayers on the hook for other governments' spending. On March 25, Ireland joined eight other eurozone members in signing a joint letter backing the scheme, an idea that was initially raised but rejected after the last financial crisis. "We need to work on a common debt instrument issued by a European institution to raise funds on the market on the same basis and to the benefits of all member states, thus ensuring stable long-term financing for the policies required to counter the damages caused by this pandemic," the letter said. It was signed by the leaders of Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Slovenia, as well as Ireland. Yesterday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez set out the case for such bonds in an article that was published in newspapers in Germany as well as in Spain and Italy. "It is time to act with solidarity: creating a new debt mutualisation mechanism," Mr Sanchez wrote in an op-ed for several newspapers, including Italy's 'La Repubblica' and Germany's 'Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung'. "This is a time for breaking old national dogma," he said ahead of an EU finance ministers meeting that is due to take place tomorrow. Eighth grader Kyree Williams holds his new Chromebook outside Universal Alcorn Charter Middle School in Philadelphia, Pa. Thursday, April 2, 2020. Schools and districts are pivoting their curriculum from entirely in person to entirely online. Read more As the coronavirus outbreak bore down on the region, Toby Albanese was in a meeting laying out how Merion Elementary School would prepare when he got the word: The state was closing schools. Teachers needed to go home. Even the two afternoons teachers were going to have to plan, they no longer had those opportunities, said Albanese, principal of the Lower Merion public school. Since Pennsylvania closed schools March 13 and New Jersey followed days later educators, students, and families have been learning on the fly as they and schools across the nation have scrambled to shift instruction from classrooms to homes. The pivot has presented the challenge of rapidly moving lessons online, training staffs, and supplying computers to students. It has also raised questions: How do you track attendance? What lessons do you prioritize? And how much work is too much for children being supervised by older siblings or by parents juggling jobs or dealing with job losses? Were trying to conduct school as we know it, but were attempting to do it in an environment thats unknown. We dont know how life is unfolding day by day in the households within our community, said Maureen Reusche, superintendent of the Haverford Township School District. I wouldnt call this online learning. I would call this emergency remote learning, said Jim Scanlon, superintendent of the West Chester Area School District. In Pennsylvania where the state initially closed schools without ordering that they keep teaching students, but now is requiring a good-faith effort to continue instruction some districts have been providing online assignments to students since the first week of the closures. Others wont begin formal instruction until later this month. READ MORE: As coronavirus closes schools, wealthier districts send laptops home with students. What about poorer districts? In New Jersey, which has required schools to continue teaching students, preparing for the shift was quite literally a whirlwind, said Superintendent George Rafferty of the Mount Laurel School District. We made use of every hour we had available to get our staff ready. While all 3,900 first through eighth graders in the Burlington County district had computers at school, they had not been taken home. The district enlisted every employee, including custodians, paraprofessionals, and teachers, to distribute the devices, Rafferty said. Technology remains a hurdle in other districts. The Philadelphia School District has been distributing Chromebooks to students, with plans to begin online learning the week of April 20. Many students also lack internet access. The district is negotiating the purchase of mobile hot spots for students, Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. said Friday. READ MORE: Thousands of Philly students are stuck at home without internet after coronavirus closed schools To be sure, online learning experiences vary by district and grade level, and much of that has to do with economics. Were already dealing with an achievement gap, said Michael Kozak, an assistant professor in Drexel Universitys School of Education. My fear is that this is just going to exacerbate that gap. And it compounds the longer it goes that students dont have instruction, the more that gap will widen." Typically, teachers are posting assignments via online platforms, and setting up office hours for students to ask questions. In Mount Laurel, for instance, a second grader might be asked to be online for two hours, moving through science, art and math on Monday, then switching to social studies, gym and English on Tuesday. School leaders say teachers have faced a learning curve. In the Cheltenham School District, which will launch online instruction Monday, teachers spent last week preparing. We didnt want to say, Hey, teachers. All of the children have computers, you have computers, ready, set, go, said assistant superintendent Tamara Thomas Smith. School leaders say they are emphasizing flexibility as they try to accommodate the circumstances families are facing, giving students multiple days to complete assignments. They are also adjusting as they go. West Chester decided that tracking attendance was a burden for teachers, who have been doing double duty as tech support for families, said Scanlon, the superintendent. Instead, secondary students will be marking themselves present through the districts online platform. While a student theoretically could check the box and go back to sleep, Scanlon said, teachers will be monitoring whether they complete work. Many districts have been grappling with how to assess students performance. In some districts, including Downingtown, younger students arent being graded. We dont want to increase stress in an already stressful situation, said Jennifer Shealy, district spokesperson. School leaders largely said they are letting students complete work at their own pace to account for differing family schedules, and so multiple children in a home dont need to use computers at the same time. But many are also looking to incorporate live video meetings and lessons. In Haverford Township, elementary teachers are desperately asking to do a morning meeting with our students, said Reusche, the superintendent. She said the district intends to train teachers to manage online classrooms. The longer this goes on, we have to create that opportunity for human interaction, she said. Philadelphias Universal Audenried Charter School, which will begin online lessons Monday, will have staff make appearances on social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook Live, said principal Blanchard Diavua. All school workers will be making some kind of connection with students even our support staff, Diavua said. Everyone will have a caseload and be checking in with families. Despite the challenges of the transition, there have been bright spots. James Lavender, superintendent of the Kingsway Regional School District in Gloucester County, said online learning has benefited some "kids who were shy, anxious about getting involved in school. At Merion Elementary, fourth and fifth graders had been looking forward to performing a chorale concert last week. Instead, their teacher assembled a montage of parent-submitted photos of the students singing, using a recording of a rehearsal as the soundtrack, said Albanese, the schools principal. The idea was to create a sense of normalcy, which is a heavy lift, Albanese said. "If were honest, its not normal at all. Pennridge to vote on one textbook; further review on other one Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 23:08:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISTANBUL, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's national flag carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) on Monday said that it increased the number of cargo flights to 215 per week in April in line with the measures taken to curb the fast spread of COVID-19. The press office of the carrier told Xinhua that the suspension of its domestic passenger aircraft would contribute an additional 60 flights every week in the delivery of food and medical supply amid the COVID-19 outbreak. "Wide-body passenger aircraft, especially Boeing 777 and Airbus 330, will be used as cargo flights," the official said, noting that all of them will be bound to Istanbul. "With this strategy, an additional capacity of 5,000 tonnes is created, ensuring that the food and medicine chain would not be interrupted during these difficult times," he added. Medicines and medical products are prioritized over other products during loading and unloading, said the flag carrier. At a press release issued the previous day, the THY also emphasized that the sensible products are kept in ideal temperature conditions in special storage rooms in the cargo terminal in Istanbul. After Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on April 3 the country's new measures against the fast spread of the virus, the THY declared that it suspended all its domestic flights until April 20. The carrier had halted all its international flights and reduced the frequency of its domestic flights to 14 major cities across the country at the end of March. GRAFTON Before this is over, Grafton could have its own chapter in the Biblical Book of Job. The Mississippi River town has taken everything that Mother Nature can throw at it in recent years bouncing back each time with an indomitable community spirit and throngs of visitors who come for leisure, shopping and some of the areas best fish sandwiches. But unlike last springs ubiquitous flood waters, this new viral coronavirus menace is one that nobody can see. Its thrown a new curve ball at the Little City That Could. Yet, as always, Grafton businesses and residents are coping the best that they can. Ive lived here all of my life been through every flood since 1939, been in business 53 years and its just part of it, said OJans Fish Stand owner Oliver Ready as he served carryout customers at his Grafton business. This virus is altogether different. I dont know what to think of this. Despite an overall drop in business due to COVID-19 restrictions, Ready said hes making ends meet by serving fish to people who dont mind eating it elsewhere, and he still has steady Friday customers during Lent. But the eight-and-a-half feet of water that swamped OJans last year is still fresh in his memory, and the 80-year-old Ready isnt taking any chances with viral disaster. I dont venture out too far myself, he said. I just come down every morning and make sure everything is running. Then I go back home and the girls take care of it from then on. I dont want to be around too many people myself, he said. Thats why I go home with the dogs. Deborah Beasley, the owner of Beasley Fish Stand, is also serving take-out customers. Although business is way down due to COVID-19, its keeping my employees working, she said. I figure in America if you work hard you are going to get ahead. You do what has to be done, said Beasley, who was also flooded out last year. Here in Grafton, everybody pulls together. Its a wonderful community for helping each other. Graftons fish stands are some of the citys smallest employers, while Aeries is one of the largest with its winery, restaurant, banquet center, hotel rooms, zip line and newly-opened Grafton Sky Tour. Aeries owner Jeff Lorton said hes had to lay off 140 employees, approximately 50 of whom are full-time, as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. But hes hoping the federal stimulus package may help ease some of the sting for the workers who feel like family to him. Things happen. Floods happen. Plagues happen, he said. We have our good times and our sad times, and the last couple of years have been kind of sad times. But well get through this; our people help each other, he said. If somebody needs something, somebody will figure out how to help them get it. Small communities like Grafton stick together. Lortons son, Laef, watched his parents invest in Grafton while he was growing up. Hes one of the towns native sons who is coming up with novel ways to get the community back on its feet. Laef Lortons businesses, Wittman & Lorton PC and Preferred Title & Escrow, Inc., have teamed with the Grafton Chamber of Commerce for a daily gift card giveaway through the City of Graftons Facebook page. Each day through May 11, visitors who like the Facebook page are entered to win a $100 gift card to a Grafton restaurant or bar plus a $100 gift card to the Grafton Sky Tour. The Facebook page is averaging nearly 800 likes per day. The promotion started March 23 and a total of $10,000 in gift cards will be given out. We wanted to keep Grafton out there and, most importantly, we wanted to put some money in the pockets of these businesses during this time that they are shut down, Laef Lorton said. I wish I could do more because I love Grafton. I feel so sorry for all of the businesses and our community, how this has affected us. During this time of business shutdowns, one new facility opened Friday in Grafton. The JCH Grafton Clinic, operated by Jersey Community Hospital, moved into a former office building on East Main Street directly across the street from Grafton City Hall. It is open 1-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday and is staffed by a nurse practitioner and a medical assistant. The hospital and city had been discussing the need for a Grafton clinic for some time, but Jersey Community Hospital Vice President Kevin Goss said it took the pandemic to get things on the fast track. With the COVID-19 situation going on, the federal government has relaxed some of their guidelines. They have removed hoops, and its allowed us to open a clinic very quickly in Grafton, Goss said. We are getting Grafton residents some care during this time to keep them from having to come to the emergency room in Jerseyville or to other out-of-town clinics, he said. Hopefully its sustainable and we can stay there for quite a while. We would love to see mid- to late summer, when things pick up and its really taken off, that we could look at expanding the clinic hours at that point, Goss said. Grafton is also getting help from the Illinois Municipal League, both now and after the pandemic, according to Executive Director Brad Cole. Restrictions put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19 have placed a double burden on communities, especially those like Grafton who are facing flooding concerns or have lost their entire tourist economy, Cole said. The Illinois Municipal League is providing all cities, villages and towns with as much information as possible, at a time when information is changing by the hour, so they can make the best decisions possible for their specific community. The Jersey County Business Association works in concert with the Grafton Chamber of Commerce to promote the community. Association director Beth Bear said the heartbreaking back-to-back flood and COVID-19 disasters may have brought down lesser communities but not Grafton. When they flood, they come back. When theres a pandemic that weve never seen the likes of before, they remain optimistic, Bear said. The business community there is resilient, optimistic, and just amazing. Grafton is a world class tourist destination. I have traveled around the world and am constantly reminded that I would go to great lengths to visit a community like that, Bear said. To sit on the bluffs and overlook the river, to bird watch or participate in water sports. Its easy for us to overlook that because we are just a few miles away, she said. But it is a true gem of Jersey County. Grafton Mayor Rick Eberlin has become the face of the community in good times and bad. Although he admits COVID-19 has reduced visitor income for the citys tourist-driven economy to next to nothing, Eberlin said there are announcements in the coming weeks that will mean positive things for Grafton. One is the change in its officials Mississippi River flood stage. Now at 18 feet, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Coast Guard are raising the flood stage designation in Grafton to 20 feet. Thats a good thing, Eberlin said, because in many peoples minds flood stage means flooded out. At 18 feet there are no impactful changes that come to Grafton. With all of the buyout properties on the river side of Route 100, we dont see any real, significant impact until it crosses the main highway, and thats about 24.5 feet, Eberlin said. With an 18-foot flood stage, people would think, Oh, Grafton is flooded again; were not going to go there. People assume flood stage means water is all over the place and Grafton is closed or partially shut down. The streets of Grafton are normally teeming with visitors at this time of year. Now, its mostly local residents and those buying carry-out food. But Ebelin said the COVID-19 restrictions wont last forever, and the next chapter of the Book of Grafton will hopefully include some uplifting passages. Im an optimist, Eberlin said. And thank God there are other people in Grafton who are optimists. The illegal black-market trade online and the dark web is selling chloroquine, test kits, and ventilators. These venues are strictly prohibited, especally in these trying time as COVID-19 continue to spread worldwide. One entity, who is identified as a West Yorkshire G, is selling an anti-body test which is against the law in the UK. Another suspected anomalous transaction is an anonymous Facebook page that offers COVID-19 antibody testing kits for 49.99 each, stating it will donate to the NHS. The administrator is Youssef Beaini, a family doctor in Bradford. He soon stopped selling online when contacted by the Guardian. The general practitioner added he ceased selling because home test kits are not allowed, and he was worried about testing in the UK. Beaini's online activity was detected by the Guardian's digital investigation team. They had been tracking illicit trade of COVID-19 products that are not in regulations. It is important to note that testing kits are for medical use only, not for self-testing at home as the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) disallows it. Authorities are sending the message that these products are not tested and unsafe, despite the claims, said Health Secretary Matt Hancock. He added that they are not suited for home-use. The agency said it is investigating a large number of allegations of "non-compliance" relating to the selling of medical devices for use during the outbreak. Ventilators for sale on eBay The sleuths in the Guardian had tracked down the sale of two ventilators that were supposed to be used in an ICU. They were sold by a seller who had not previously traded in such equipment. Investigation shows that the unit was made in China for 12,800 pounds, quite recently on March 26 and was also sold on eBay. Also read: Increased Hydroxychloroquine Demand Due to COVID-19 Risk Lives of Lupus Patients as Drug Supply Dwindles Further investigation shows that the seller is also selling TV parts and mobile phones which got bad reviews. Another seller, based in China, is selling the same type of ventilator for $2,100 ,which is less than eBay price by far. eBay was asked about the item, and they confirmed the sale of the item saying that if it does not reach the buyer, they will be giving refunds. Soon after, another seller of the same machine was taken off the site with restrictions on the users' account. On March 20, one ventilator was sold on eBay for 12,800 pounds. Research shows that the seller sold mobile phone cases and later anti-bacterial wipes. According to eBay, the seller had documents to show about the sale. Later he cancelled and gave a full refund because he ran our of stock. eBay is now monitoring the transaction as a preventive measure. High demand for pandemic related items has prevented advertising on Facebook, pledging a ban on March 19 of related posts that are overpriced. Despite this pledge, some ads are still online, but Facebook said it would do something about it. Chloroquine sold in the dark web Since the misunderstood pronouncement of Chloroquine as a cure, there is a huge demand for it because of the COVID-19 crisis. Chloroquine is an anti-malaria drug used for Lupus was never verified as a cure for COVID-19, and has harmed or killed those taking it. Empire and Kingdom are now selling chloroquine that is not legal. These shady companies sell illegal recreational and prescription drugs which are not cures for COVID-19. They even claim that the drug kills coronavirus. In the dark web or other online platforms, the black-market trade in chloroquine, test kits, ventilators will endanger gullible folks who do not know any better. Related article: Chloroquine Not Yet Proven as Anti-Viral, Other Drugs May Be Better for Coronavirus @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The aim is to ease tensions in the country's overcrowded and insalubrious prisons. Responding to an appeal by the UN, the government promised the release more than 30,000 prisoners. Once outside, prisoners will have to be quarantined. Indonesia recorded the second largest death toll yesterday after China. Jakarta (AsiaNews/Agencies) Indonesian authorities have ordered the release of 18,000 inmates to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus in the countrys overcrowded and insalubrious prisons. The Indonesian government is worried about the pandemic as number of deaths rises so fast. On Thursday, it recorded the second highest death toll in Asia after China. The mass release comes a few days after the government announced that it would let out 30,000 prisoners to ease pressure on the prison population. In so doing, the government heeded an appeal by the United Nations to free vulnerable prisoners. Afghanistan last week announced that it would let out 10,000 prisoners. "Our target is to release 30,000 inmates in total, but it could end up being more," said Rika Aprianti, a spokeswoman for the Corrections Directorate General. This is part of the plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in prisons." Both juvenile offenders and adult prisoners who had served at least two-thirds of their sentences are set to be among those released. Once outside, they will have to be quarantined for two weeks at home. Indonesia tops Southeast Asia in terms of confirmed novel coronavirus cases with 1,986, 181 deaths and 134 healed. The countrys population is 261 million. Just under 7,200 people have been tested, far fewer than in other countries in the region, including smaller ones. But the actual figures could be much lower. West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said that his province carried out more than 25,000 "quick tests" and at least 500 were positive but needed further testing. Officially, West Java has 223 cases 127 reported in one cluster, a Lembang church with 25 deaths. "Without massive testing, we wouldn't have found this cluster," Kamil said. "Other regions which report low cases are the same maybe if they did more tests they would find more. The province intends to promote a campaign of rapid and massive tests, until we are sure that it is indeed low", which might serve as input for the rest of the country. The authorities have deployed police to ensure that everyone at risk is tested. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 20:58:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISTANBUL, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The use of public transportation in Turkey's biggest city Istanbul has recently dropped over 90 percent since the beginning of March, the Istanbul metropolitan municipality announced on Monday. Murat Ongun, a spokesperson for the municipality, tweeted that such a sharp decrease was observed for the first time in the city in one month. A total of 382,492 residents out of a population of over 16 million used public transportation, including subway services, metro buses and others, on Sunday, the graphic of the municipality revealed. The number signified a total of 91.7 percent decrease when compared to the figures recorded at the beginning of March, according to the data. Ongun said the main reason behind this sharp decrease lies in the high number of the confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the city. Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said last week that more than half of the cases were registered in Istanbul. According to the latest figures released the previous day by the ministry, Turkey has recorded a total of 574 deaths and 27,069 cases in total. Also on Monday, Ekrem Imamoglu, mayor of Istanbul, reiterated that the nostalgic tram that travels from the central Taksim square along the pedestrian Istiklal Street would be suspended. The mayor also said the emergency lighting system would be initiated in all the metro stations, and the frequency of subway services would be reduced. Turkey on Friday night declared a partial curfew for the citizens under the age of 20 to curb the fast spread of the pandemic, but exempted young employees including seasonal agricultural workers aged between 18 and 20. The government had already banned elderly citizens over 65 years old and those with chronic diseases from going out of their homes. This article is part of Privacy in the Pandemic, a new Future Tense series. Now that much of the United States has been sheltering in place for weeks, its natural to wonder whether our collective efforts are working. Is the virus spreading more slowly as a result? It may seem like a straightforward question, but its hard to work out, because given the serious dearth of COVID-19 testing, data sets that rely on deaths or confirmed cases are incompletethey leave out asymptomatic carriers and people who experience mild symptoms but arent eligible for testing. Advertisement Kinsa, a smart thermometer company, offers a side door to tracking the virusor at least symptoms related to it. The company has a cache of users body temperature data, which it has begun to examine for trends. Based on this data, it announced Wednesday that it has seen a decreasing trend in atypical flulike temperatures across the country. To Kinsas credit, the company has included on its FAQ site the caveat that its map does not show COVID-19 infections. But in a blog post, the companys founder, Inder Singh, made that logical leap anyway, saying that the results indicate social distancing is working. The goal, a Kinsa spokesperson told me, is not to paint a rosy picture of whats happening in the U.S., but to identify signals that indicate abnormally high levels of fever in specific regionsand to show people some data that might motivate us to keep up the distancing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Major news outlets like the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Boston Globe have reported that Kinsas data demonstrates the spread of COVID might be slowing. One hopes this is the case, but there are also reasons to exercise caution in using and interpreting Kinsas data. First off, the metric Kinsas usingfewer feversmight not be particularly meaningful for revealing coronavirus transmission. People with confirmed cases of COVID-19 have reported a range of symptoms; many dont exhibit fevers at all. And while were all very focused on coronavirus at the moment, there are still plenty of other reasons people might develop a fever, like the flu. (A Kinsa spokesperson was clear about this as well.) Advertisement Even if Kinsas data set does reveal something about COVID-19, it represents a small sample of the U.S. According to the Times, at least 311 million Americans live in a state with stay-at-home measures in place; a Kinsa spokesperson told me they have sold or donated 1 million thermometers representing up to 2 million users, since each thermometer may be used between families. Even assuming every single user provided data used in Kinsas map and none have opted out of sharing their data, thats 0.6 percent of the stay-at-home population. Advertisement That sample is also drawn from the pool of people who have bought this particular smart thermometer. Kinsas user demographics reported in a 2018 study suggest its skewed toward younger people, and uptake is higher in certain states, including California, Texas, and New York. In their paper, the companys researchers report that readings may not uniformly cover socioeconomic or age groups or geographic locations; they specifically mention people over 50 as an underrepresented population. However, a Kinsa spokesperson told me that since that study was done, theyve had more uptake from users older than 50, and that Kinsas current demographics reflect the general U.S. population, with more users in highly dense urban areas. (A blog post Kinsa recently released on their demographics shows that people 3544 are overrepresented among Kinsa users as compared with the general population, while people 65 and over are underrepresented.) Still, its hard to know how well Kinsa users reflect the U.S.s socioeconomic diversity; Kinsas cheapest thermometer is $35.99, a fair bit more expensive than your typical $5 drugstore thermometer. If wealthier, tech-savvy people in the U.S. are spiking fewer fevers, that might not tell us anything about national trends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a moment when government officials, experts, and citizens are all hungry for data about COVID-19, Kinsas readings could help flesh out the bigger picture, as long as people understand the limitations. But even in a crisis, privacy matters, and sharing personal dataeven in aggregateshould merit close scrutiny. Facebook and Google are now sharing aggregated user location data to assess peoples adherence to social distancing policies, and in other countries, like India and Israel, citizens are being closely surveilled. Anonymized temperature and location data may seem innocuous compared with the massive surveillance efforts that have taken off in the name of COVID, but health data is still a form of surveillance. I talked with a Kinsa user who said she was aware that Kinsa could track fevers by state or region, but otherwise had no idea how else her familys data was being used. In an effort to learn what Kinsa users agree to when they use the companys service, I read over Kinsas privacy principles page, which lays out how its data is used, including sharing information with third parties and selling information to companies like Clorox to market their products. But that page made no mention of, say, creating a U.S. Health Weather Map with data broken down by county, accessible to anyone online. I attempted to access the privacy page linked from the companys FAQs page but got an error message; I then also attempted to access the additional legal details linked on the bottom of Kinsas privacy policy page, but the link just redirected me to that same page. Luckily, a quick Google search did the trick, and the Kinsa app and websites privacy policy appears to have been last updated in December. It, too, mentions personal info may be used for business purposes like marketing, or given to third party service providers, but none of the scenarios seem to account for a public map. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I asked a Kinsa spokesperson about how the Health Weather Map was rolled out, and whether users were specifically asked to opt in. She told me that users opt in to having their data used for things like the Health Weather Map, though there is an option to opt out of sharing data. The Kinsa user I spoke with didnt remember opting in to this map or getting email communication about it, either. When we agree to terms and conditions for digital serviceswhether thats Kinsa, Google Maps, or Facebookwere often agreeing to a blanket opt-in, where were offering to share our data with those companies for many uses, including new ones we never imagined as part of those terms and conditions we signed years ago. If Kinsa users were specifically asked to share their data for this Health Weather Map, would they have agreed? If Google Maps users had been allowed to opt in to have their locations tracked for their new mobility reports, which shows whether people are adhering to social distancing policies, would we have said yes? Advertisement Kinsas spokesperson also emphasized that the maps data is anonymized and aggregated, with no way to pinpoint individuals. Location data collected and shared by Google and Facebook do the same. These are important precautions to take. But recent investigations have revealed that the individual records that constitute this aggregate data can be compromised, and even anonymized location data can be traced back to individuals with surprising accuracy. Its clear that companies with access to user data want to help track the spread of COVID, and their contributions could be incredibly valuable. Still, as researchers and companies rush to collect and analyze the data they have, users are left out of the discussion. How, exactly, will users data be used, and how useful is it to helping us understand COVID? And perhaps more importantly, what safeguards are there from preventing this data from backfiring on a community, or even individuals? As the pandemic rages on, its worth taking a step back and asking what data users are giving up in the name of COVID, and whether surveillance is worth it. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Cardinal George Pell will learn whether his appeal against child sex abuse convictions has been successful Wednesday, when Australia's High Court hands down its judgement. The former Vatican treasurer is trying to overturn a six-year sentence for sexually abusing two 13-year-old choirboys at a Melbourne cathedral in the 1990s. Pell, who once helped elect popes, is the highest-ranking Catholic Church official ever convicted of child sex crimes. He maintains his innocence. The 78-year-old was found guilty on five charges by a jury in December 2018 before losing his first appeal in Victoria state's Court of Appeal last August. Judges could yet deny Pell's appeal, order a retrial or quash his conviction altogether. One of Australia's highest-profile court cases, the judgement will be delivered to a near-empty Brisbane courtroom as coronavirus social distancing measures limit the public gallery to a maximum of three people. That is in stark contrast to earlier hearings which have drawn large crowds of his supporters and detractors, the world's media, and members of the legal profession. The case relied largely on the testimony of Pell's surviving victim, who testified in a closed-door hearing. The second choirboy -- who is not known to have ever spoken of the abuse -- died of a drug overdose in 2014. Neither man can be identified for legal reasons. Pell was quietly removed from top Church bodies while a wide-ranging court gag order suppressed mention of his trial, but he remains in the priesthood. The Vatican previously said it would avoid launching an investigation into his conduct until after all legal avenues are exhausted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Expressing concern over alleged targeting of Muslims over the spread of coronavirus, rights activists here have demanded urgent intervention by the Rajasthan government, fearing that the blame game can become a precursor to another spate of lynching. The activists submitted a joint memorandum to additional chief secretary (Home) seeking his intervention on the matter on Sunday. We fear that this can become a precursor to lynching. On the social media among the people of the majority community, one of the main discourse is the Muslims, being dubbed as transmitter of the infection by spitting on fruit and other means, they said. Citing certain examples of Jaipur, the activists alleged that a section of people are preventing Muslim fruit and vegetable vendors Muslims from entering various housing colonies. There have also been instances of people returning fruits or vegetables after coming to know that the vendor was a Muslim, said the memorandum, adding that people have also been insisting upon vendors to show their Aadhar cards. It has even impacted the mindset of the police as there was an example of one policeman driving away two Muslim vendors, the activists claimed. We reiterate that before this becomes a reason for lynching and harming and injuring the Muslim community people and before we see the people of the Muslim community retaliate, this rising expression of hate should be stopped at the earliest, the activists said. They said Muslims should not be targeted by police and citizen of the state should be assured and explained that no one community is a transmitter, despite the Tablighi Jamaat meet episode. A section of the Muslim community is feeling humiliated and agitated, and this could snowball into retaliatory violence. We need to assure them that the law violators will be brought to book so that they do not take law into their own hands, they added. The memorandum, which is also addressed to DGP and police commissioners of Jaipur and Jodhpur, was submitted by activists of behalf of the People's Union for Civil Liberties, the Centre for Equity Studies, Majdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan and others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Some 20 Malian soldiers were killed in an apparent jihadist attack Monday, local politicians and a military official said, in the latest bout of violence in the war-torn West African state. Militants attacked a military base in the northern town of Bamba early on Monday morning, according to a local government official, who called the assailants "terrorists" and said at least 20 soldiers had died. Another local official gave a similar account, but suggested the death toll was likely higher than 20, while a leading army official also confirmed an attack had taken place, with losses on both sides. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) She's in lockdown like the rest of the nation amid the global coronavirus pandemic. But Daisy Lowe ensured she marked her pal Charli Howard's 29th birthday in style as she shared a throwback image of the pair's Valentine Day's shoot with Agent Provocateur on Monday. In the social media post, the model, 31, sent temperatures soaring in red underwear as she praised her 'dearest bosom buddy', who is celebrating her milestone in isolation. 'To my dearest bosom buddy': Daisy Lowe marked Charli Howard's 29th birthday in style as she shared a throwback image of their Valentine Day's shoot with Agent Provocateur on Monday The gorgeous fashion stars commanded attention as they cosied up to each other, with Daisy sizzling in a full lingerie set, while Charli highlighted her curves in a rose floral-print two-piece. Celebrity offspring Daisy captioned the image: 'Happiest birthday my dearest bosom buddy @charlihoward youre the body to my positivity. 'You are so ridiculously beautiful inside & out. You make this planet a whole lot brighter. 'I wish I could celebrate with you today but I promise you, we will be dancing around in our undies, cocktail in hand as soon as this blows over. I love you with all my heart. Happy celebrating bombshell .' [sic] Working it: In the social media post, the model, 31, sent temperatures soaring in red underwear as she praised her 'dearest bosom buddy', who is celebrating her milestone in isolation Turning heads: The gorgeous fashion stars commanded attention as they cosied up to each other in barely-there lingerie 'I love you my cutest, most thoughtful, most sexy, most booby friend', the delighted birthday girl commented. In the romance department, Daisy has been happily dating Jack Penate since early October, shortly after her split from model ex Cameron McMeikan. The brunette bombshell and musician Jack, 35, recently jetted off on their first romantic holiday together, with the couple posting corresponding social media images from Sri Lanka. Although they have been friends for years, the pair were first romantically linked when they were seen holding hands while walking Daisy's dog in a London park. Delighted: 'I love you my cutest, most thoughtful, most sexy, most booby friend', the birthday girl commented on her close friend's post Jack is the latest in a line of high-profile boyfriends for Daisy, with her previous lovers including The Crown star Matt Smith, 37, Hurts frontman Theo Hutchcraft, 33, and Thomas Cohen, 29, the husband of the late Peaches Geldof. The daughter of artist Gavin Rossdale and interior designer Pearl Lowe claimed she knew her relationship with one of her ex-boyfriends was over when he told her to lose weight. Speaking to Mel B on Badoo's The Truth Flirts podcast in late 2019, she said: 'I hadn't been very well, and I was on annoying medication that made me put on a lot of weight. 'We had been seeing each other for a while but I knew at this point that it was definitely over. He was in a bad mood or whatever, so I was like, "You're in a really bad mood so I'm just going to leave you in here and go shower". 'I got in the shower and because obviously he didn't like that I had said that to him he came into the shower. 'Bearing in mind, I am starkers and showering, he pointed at me and said, "You're so disgusting you need to lose weight so you can get work". 'And I was like, "You know what? We're done. You and me, over, bye!" I was like, "Do you ever think I want to get on top of you again? No thank you".' Happy: In the romance department, Daisy has been happily dating Jack Penate (pictured in November) since early October, shortly after her split from model ex Cameron McMeikan Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has completed the previously announced acquisition of ESR Labs, a Munich, Germany-based company that develops embedded software for German car brands and suppliers. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. ESR Labs is joining Accenture Industry X.0, the part of Accenture that uses digital technologies to improve how companies design, engineer and manufacture products and services, and operate industrial facilities. The acquisition expands Accentures capabilities to help its automotive clients drive value from software. ESR Labs will team with two other German acquisitions for Industry X.0, strategic design consultancy designaffairs and technology consultancy Zielpuls, to develop mobility services for carmakers as well as smart connected solutions for medical technology, industrial equipment and high-tech companies. ESR Labs is the latest acquisition that Accenture has made to strengthen Industry X.0. In February, it bought VanBerlo, a Dutch product design and innovation agency. In 2019, it acquired US product innovation and engineering company Nytec and UK innovation firm Happen. In 2018, it bought US embedded software specialist Pillar Technology and US hardware engineering firm Mindtribe. FinSMEs 06/04/2020 There have been isolated cases of 5G phone masts being vandalised following claims online that the masts are responsible for coronavirus (Photo by Matthew Horwood/Getty Images) Scientists have stepped in to debunk a dangerous conspiracy theory that the coronavirus outbreak is somehow linked to 5G mobile phone technology. The past few days have seen mobile phone masts being set on fire in Britain, and wild conspiracy theories spreading online. Cabinet office minister Michael Gove described the claims as dangerous nonsense. Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Conspiracy theorists have claimed that 5G technology either causes the symptoms of coronavirus, or somehow triggers its effects, claiming that the fact there is a 5G network in Wuhan is proof of these claims. Staff working for British telecoms networks have even received threats and abuse. In response, social networks such as Facebook and YouTube have said they will now remove content linking coronavirus to 5G. Viruses and phone networks are totally different Experts including Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at University of Reading, have dismissed the claims as complete rubbish. One of the key points, Clarke said, is that viruses and radio networks are two different, unrelated things, and comparing the two is meaningless. Read more: Coronavirus shows how vulnerable societies are, says Greta Thunberg He said: The idea that COVID19 is caused by 5G mobile phone signals is complete rubbish. This is a disease which numerous doctors and scientists around the world have said is caused by a virus, something completely different to a mobile phone signal. Viruses are tiny particles made up of genetic material, wrapped in a layer of proteins and fats. They have no metabolism and can't reproduce without causing an infection. In the case of this coronavirus, it infects cells in human lungs in order to replicate, damaging them and also causing a harmful immune reaction in the process. Story continues Viruses are completely different things, Clarke said. 5G radio signals are electromagnetic waves, very similar to those already used by mobile phones. Electromagnetic waves are one thing, viruses are another, and you can't get a virus off a phone mast. We know coronavirus is caused by a virus Everything that we currently know about the coronavirus is based on scientific research, said Dr Michael Head, senior research fellow in global health at University of Southampton. He said: Virus experts have looked at the genetic code of the virus to track its origins. Epidemiologists have tracked the spread of the virus around the world, identifying risk factors to advise policy. Diagnostics researchers are developing tests to identify those with the infection and those who have been infected. Collectively, we know how infectious diseases spread. Scientific papers are published, new knowledge is generated. That is what experts do. There are samples of the virus already growing in labs, pointed out Professor Adam Finn, of University of Bristol. Finn said: The present epidemic is caused by a virus that is passed from one infected person to another. We know this is true. We even have the virus growing in our lab, obtained from a person with the illness. 5G technology has already been tested Campaigners have fought against 5G in many areas of Europe, claiming that the new technology carries health risks to people near the masts. But a comprehensive review of the technology by an international body in charge of radiation limits found that, at the levels it is used in the real world, the tech is safe. The International Commission on NonIonizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), which assesses the risks of radio broadcasts, tested a high-frequency version of 5G which is coming to Europe, The Guardian reported. Read more: Coronavirus - what is really happening in North Korea? It concluded that at the levels used in real-world mobile networks, the technology carries no real risks to humans. Public Health England has previously said there is no convincing evidence that 5G adversely affects peoples health. Dr Eric van Rongen, chair of the ICNIRP, said: We know parts of the community are concerned about the safety of 5G and we hope the updated guidelines will help put people at ease. Social networks stamping down on 5G lies Social networks have classified the rumours as false and have said they are dangerous. YouTube has said it will remove videos linking coronavirus and 5G. A Facebook spokesperson said: We are taking aggressive steps to stop misinformation and harmful content from spreading on our platforms and connect people to accurate information about coronavirus. Under our existing policies against harmful misinformation, we are starting to remove false claims which link COVID-19 to 5G technology and could lead to physical harm. We will continue to work closely with governments and other tech companies to remove harmful misinformation and have partnered with health authorities like the WHO and NHS to connect people to the latest official guidance. Coronavirus: what happened today Three people in their 30s without any pre-existing health conditions are fighting for their lives in hospital suffering from coronavirus. The patients are spread throughout hospitals in New South Wales and are among 35 people in the state who need ventilators to breathe. Nationally, 5,795 people are known to have contracted COVID-19, including 41 who have died. Twelve of those fatalities disembarked the ill-fated Ruby Princess cruise liner on March 19. Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Paul Kelly, on Monday said the three young people requiring intensive care harbour no pre-existing medical conditions, and should serve as a warning to the community. Medical professionals are seen preparing COVID-19 tests for members of the public at the Bondi Beach drive-through COVID-19 testing centre on April 6. The testing clinic was opened after a cluster of cases were diagnosed among young people in the region 'Those relatively young people [on ventilators] don't have risk factors, and that is an important point,' Professor Kelly said. 'This is a disease which mostly is mild, but in some occasions, we have seen and will continue to see people with severe [cases of the] disease. 'This is a wake-up call for all of us,' he said, while conceding most of the serious cases have been seen in the more 'vulnerable people in our society - older people and those with chronic illnesses'. Dr Jeremy McAnulty from NSW Health on Sunday reminded young people that people in their 20s could still experience significant and severe symptoms. 'The biggest single age group is people in their 20s, we are seeing the largest numbers,' he said. Australians - particularly young people - have been urged to stay indoors and take social distancing measures seriously to slow the spread of the virus, with authorities warning they are not immune to the deadly side effects. Pictured at Shelly Beach on April 5 Pictured: A ventilator used to help critically ill people breathe. Three people aged in their 30s require a ventilator in NSW alone right now due to coronavirus CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement Professor Kelly said the significant slowdown in the rate of new cases each day shows Prime Minister Scott Morrison's 'draconian' restrictions have helped to 'flatten the curve'. Mr Morrison dismantled Australia's culture of socialising by closing beaches, pubs, bars, cinemas and gyms and limiting time allowed to be spent outdoors. He also closed the nation's borders to foreigners and told people not to leave their homes unless for necessities to help slow the spread of the deadly respiratory infection. Despite the positive signs in Australia, Professor Kelly is cautious about celebrating too early, and urged people to remain vigilant. 'The peak in terms of the daily cases indeed was last week or the week before, at the moment,' he said on Monday. 'Whether that is the final peak, I can't really say at this stage, it's speculation.' Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly hopes the peak of the infection in terms of daily cases has now passed A woman takes a walk on the beach with her dogs at Duranbah Beach on the Queensland - New South Wales border on Monday, April 6 That said, the nation's leaders and medical experts are now looking at how and when to start easing the tough restrictions. That will include a consideration of how prepared the health system is for an increase in cases and what effect lifting particular measures would have on new case numbers. 'But I would say that people have been so far extraordinarily willing and able to change the way that they are living in Australia, and I think that will come into play for some of those processes as well,' Professor Kelly said. Governments are concerned people will be tempted to breach restrictions on movements and social distancing rules over the coming Easter weekend. Dublin, April 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "U.S. Hematologic Malignancies Testing Market: Focus on Product, Disease, Technology, End User, Country Data and Competitive Landscape - Analysis and Forecast, 2018-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report projects the market to grow at a significant CAGR of 14.60% during the forecast period, 2019-2025. The U.S. hematologic malignancies market generated $723.9 million revenue in 2018, in terms of value. The U.S. hematologic malignancies market growth has been primarily attributed to the major drivers in this market, such as rising incidence of hematologic malignancies, favorable reimbursement scenario, and increase in funding in the hematologic malignancies market. However, there are factors hindering the growth of the market, such as lack of training professionals, high pricing pressure, and issue pertaining to the analytic validity of genetic testing. Key Questions Answered in this Report: What are the major market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the U.S. hematologic malignancies testing market? What are the key development strategies which are being implemented by the major players in order to sustain in the competitive market? Which is the dominant product type developed by the leading and emerging players for the diagnosis of hematologic malignancies? What are the key technologies that have been used by leading players in the U.S. market for the development of diagnostic solutions for hematologic malignancies? How each segment of the market is expected to grow during the forecast period from 2019 to 2025. Which companies are anticipated to be highly disruptive in the future and why? What are the reimbursement scenario and the regulations for the development of diagnostic solutions for the diagnosis of hematologic malignancies, specifically in the U.S.? Market Segmentation The U.S. hematologic malignancies market (on the basis of product type) is segmented into kits and services. The U.S. hematologic malignancies market (on the basis of technology) is segmented into polymerase chain reaction, next-generation sequencing, fluorescence in-situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, flow-cytometry, and other technologies. The U.S. hematologic malignancies market (on the basis of disease) is segmented into leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, myeloproliferative neoplasms, and myelodysplastic syndromes. The U.S. hematologic malignancies market (on the basis of end-user) is segmented into specialty clinics and hospitals, research institutions, reference laboratories, diagnostic laboratories, and other end users. Story continues Key Companies in the U.S. Hematologic Malignancies Market The key manufacturers that have been contributing significantly to the U.S. hematologic malignancies market include Abbott Laboratories, Illumina, Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Sysmex Corporation, Cancer Genetics Inc., QIAGEN N.V., ICON plc, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, Invitae Corporation, Opkp Health, Laboratory Corporation of American Holdings, NeoGenomics Laboratories, Inc., ASURAGEN, INC., ArcherDX, Inc., Adaptive Biotechnologies, ARUP Laboratories, and Invivoscribe, Inc, among others. Key Topics Covered: 1 Product Definition 2 Market Scope 3 Research Methodology 4 Epidemiology of Hematological Malignancies in U.S. 5 U.S. Hematologic Malignancies Testing Market: Value and Volume Data 2019 (U.S. State Regions) 5.1 Midwest U.S. 5.2 Mid Atlantic 5.3 The Southwest 5.4 New England 5.5 The West 5.6 The South 6 Market Dynamics 6.1 Market Drivers 6.1.1 Rising Incidence of Hematologic Malignancies 6.1.2 Increasing Adoption of Inorganic Growth Strategies in the Market 6.1.3 Favorable Reimbursement Scenario in the U.S. hematologic Malignancies Testing Market 6.1.4 Increase in Funding in Hematologic Malignancies Testing Market 6.2 Restraints 6.2.1 High Pricing Pressure 6.2.2 Lack of Trained Professionals 6.2.3 Issues Pertaining to the Analytical Validity of Genetic Testing for Cancers 6.3 U.S. Market Opportunities 6.3.1 An Underlying Relaxation in Revised 2018 PAMA Criteria 6.3.2 Informatics and Technological Innovation for Larger Consumer Base 6.3.3 Technological Advancements in the Field of Molecular Diagnostics 7 Competitive Landscape 7.1 Key Strategies and Developments 7.1.1 Synergistic Activities 7.1.2 Approvals 7.1.3 Product Launches and Enhancements 7.1.4 Merger, Acquisitions & Expansions 7.2 Product Scenario 7.3 Funding Scenario 7.4 Market Share Analysis 7.5 Growth Share Analysis (Opportunity Mapping) 7.5.1 By Company 7.5.2 By Product 8 Industry Insights 8.1 Regulatory Framework 8.1.1 Legal Requirements and Framework in the U.S. 8.2 Reimbursement Scenario 8.2.1 Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) Criteria for Advanced Diagnostic Laboratory Tests (ADLT) 8.3 Physicians' Perceptions 9 U.S. Hematologic Malignancies Testing Market (by Product) 2018-2025 ($ Million) 9.1 Services 9.2 Kits 9.2.1 NGS-Based Gene Panels 9.2.1.1 Leukemia 9.2.1.2 Lymphoma 9.2.1.3 Multiple Myeloma 9.2.1.4 Myeloproliferative Neoplasms 9.2.1.5 Myelodysplastic Syndromes 9.2.2 NGS-Based Molecular Clonality Testing 9.2.2.1 Leukemia 9.2.2.2 Lymphoma 9.2.2.3 Multiple Myeloma 9.2.2.4 Myeloproliferative Neoplasms 9.2.2.5 Myelodysplastic Syndromes 9.2.3 NGS-Based Translocation Testing 9.2.3.1 Leukemia 9.2.3.2 Lymphoma 9.2.3.3 Multiple Myeloma 9.2.3.4 Myeloproliferative Neoplasms 9.2.3.5 Myelodysplastic Syndromes 9.2.4 NGS-Based Mutation Testing 9.2.4.1 Leukemia 9.2.4.2 Lymphoma 9.2.4.3 Multiple Myeloma 9.2.4.4 Myeloproliferative Neoplasms 9.2.4.5 Myelodysplastic Syndromes 9.2.5 NGS-Based Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) Testing 9.2.5.1 Leukemia 9.2.5.2 Lymphoma 9.2.5.3 Multiple Myeloma 9.2.5.4 Myeloproliferative Neoplasms 9.2.5.5 Myelodysplastic Syndromes 10 U.S. Hematologic Malignancies Testing Market (by End User) 10.1 Specialty Clinics and Hospitals 10.2 Diagnostic Laboratories 10.3 Reference Laboratories 10.4 Research Institutions 11 U.S. Hematologic Malignancies Testing Market (by Disease) 11.1 Leukemia 11.2 Lymphoma 11.3 Multiple Myeloma 11.4 Myeloproliferative Neoplasms 11.5 Myelodysplastic Syndromes 12 U.S. Hematologic Malignancies Testing Market (by Technology) 12.1 Next-generation Sequencing (NGS) 12.2 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 12.3 Fluorescence In-Situ Hybridization (FISH) 12.4 Immunohistochemistry (IHC) 12.5 Flow Cytometry 12.6 Other Technologies 13 Company Profiles Companies Mentioned ARUP Laboratories ASURAGEN, INC. Abbott Laboratories Adaptive Biotechnologies ArcherDX, Inc. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Cancer Genetics Inc. F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd ICON plc Illumina, Inc. Invitae Corporation Invivoscribe, Inc. Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings NeoGenomics Laboratories, Inc. Opko Health QIAGEN N.V. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated Sysmex Corporation For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xcrdeu Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. 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 The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), deployed in Jammu and Kashmir to control terrorism, shifted a patient to a hospital to help his son, who left on a bicycle from Mumbai to meet his seriously ill father in Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, a distance of almost 2,200 kilometres. CRPF got to know about the journey of Aarif through media when they decided to help him. "On April 1, Mohammad Aarif, a resident of Panjgrain village situated on LoC in Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir, working in Mumbai as a watchman, came to know that his father has suffered a stroke and is in a critical condition. Aarif wanted to meet his father but there were no means of transport. A distraught Aarif left from Mumbai for Rajouri on April 2 on a bicycle," CRPF said. "CRPF Madadgaar got into touch with Aarif. 72 Bn CRPF, located about 15 kilometres from Aarif's village in Rajouri, sent a team to his house. The patient was put into contact with the CRPF Panel of doctors through the Madadgaar Telemedicine scheme, Tel Me," CRPF added. On Sunday, the doctors after diagnosis recommended immediate hospitalisation, doing contrast CT Scan/MRI and regular monitoring of the BP. The team of 72 Bn shifted Wazir Hussain, father of Aarif, to the hospital where he is under treatment. The CRPF doctors are in regular touch with the doctors at District Hospital, Rajouri. "Meanwhile one of the CRPF call takers at Madadgaar hails from the same village as Aarif and is in constant touch with him. With the help of some local policemen and a truck, Aarif reached Vadodara this morning and is moving towards Ahmedabad. Madadgaar has got in touch with GC Gandhinagar to provide assistance to Aarif. Yesterday, his father was helilifted for further treatment to Jammu," CRPF said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Popular Islamic cleric Mohammed Tawhidi Imam of Peace on social media took yet another shot at the Nigerian government. Some days back, the Ministry of Finance via its Twitter handle, appealed to billionaire businessman, Elon Musk, to help the Nigerian government with ventilators. Elon Musk, who is the co-founder and CEO at Tesla, tweeted: We have extra FDA-approved ventilators. Will ship to hospitals worldwide within Tesla delivery regions. Device & shipping cost are free. Only requirement is that the vents are needed immediately for patients, not stored in a warehouse. Please let me or @Tesla know. And the verified Twitter account of Nigerias Ministry of Finance replied to the tweet, writing: Dear @elonmusk @Tesla Federal Government of Nigeria needs support with 100-500 ventilators to assist with #Covid19 cases arising every day in Nigeria. Reacting to the news via his Twitter handle this morning, Imam of Peace wrote By Terje Solsvik and Victoria Klesty OSLO (Reuters) - Norwegian Air's passenger volume fell by 60% year-on-year in March as it grounded planes amid efforts to halt the spread of the new coronavirus, and will book a hedging loss of $102 million as the cost of fuel has plunged. A pioneer in low-fare transatlantic air travel, Norwegian's rapid expansion has left it heavily in debt. It has repeatedly raised cash from shareholders in order to stay in business and its Oslo-listed shares have plunged 78% so far this year. "The company experienced a dramatic drop in demand following government-imposed travel restrictions and a general travel decline," the carrier said on Monday of its March numbers, adding its capacity had been 40% lower than originally planned. Norwegian has said it will cancel 85% of its flights and furlough 90% of staff while seeking financial aid from Norway's government. The company last month also said it would start talks with creditors on postponing payments to qualify for a government rescue package requiring, among other things, that debt repayments must be put on hold for the time being. The group said it estimated losses on fuel hedging positions of 1.07 billion Norwegian crowns (82.72 million pounds). Europe's largest budget carrier Ryanair , one of the few others to so far disclose its fuel hedging losses, last week said it would book a charge of 300 million euros ($324 million). "We will provide further financial and business updates to the Oslo Bourse when it is appropriate to do so," Chief Executive Jacob Schokram said in a statement. Norwegian's shares were down 4% at 1214 GMT. Before the outbreak in Europe of COVID-19, the airline had set a goal of returning to profit this year after three years of losses. That goal was scrapped early last month, however, and Schram said on March 13 the company needed access to cash liquidity "within weeks, not months." Story continues In addition to flights in Norway and some other routes in the Nordic region, the company was also helping stranded Scandinavians in recent weeks return from Spain and other destinations. "Norwegian operated multiple rescue flights on behalf of the government to ensure that thousands of Scandinavian passengers could safely return home," Schram said. Although limited in scope, other European airlines have seen similar business oportunities, including Hungary's Wizz Air which said it was repatriating citizens and transporting medical equipment for governments. Wideroe, which mostly flies local routes in rural Norway, has also been asked to operate a flight from London on Tuesday. "It is the only flight directly between London and Oslo in a while," tweeted Norway's ambassador to Britain, Wegger Chr. Stroemmen. (Reporting by Terje Solsvik and Victoria Klesty; Editing by Kirsten Donovan/David Holmes/Jane Merriman) In a dark day for the armys Special Forces (SF), five commandos belonging to an elite unit were killed in action along the Line of Control in Kashmirs Keran sector on Sunday during an intense close-quarter battle with an equal number of terrorist infiltrators who were all eliminated, three officers familiar with the details said on Monday on condition of anonymity. The bodies of the commandos and the terrorists were found barely two to three metres from each other, said the first officer cited above. In a statement issued on Monday, the army said all five terrorists were killed in an intense hand-to-hand battle. The Indian Army launched a daring operation at the LoC and engaged Pakistani-supported infiltrators in a close-quarter battle in heavy snow, neutralising the entire infiltrating batch of five. Four soldiers under the command of a junior commissioned officer from one of the most professional Para SF units were heli-dropped near the LoC after information on the infiltrators was received, the army said. Three of the commandos were killed at the encounter site while two succumbed to their injuries while being airlifted to a military hospital. The army began hunting for this batch of terrorists on April 1 when they infiltrated into Kashmir with ground troops reporting footprints near the LoC fence that was covered under snow, said the first officer cited above. The armys search teams made contact with the terrorists and engaged them in firefights four times between April 1 and April 4 before the commandos from 4 Para (SF) were called in to take over the operation and hunt the intruders, he said. Commandos from 4 Para (SF) carried out key missions during the 2016 surgical strikes against terror pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The strikes were Indias first direct military response to the attack on the Uri army base in September 2016 that killed 19 Indian soldiers and was carried out by Pakistan-based terrorists.. Based on visuals from unmanned aerial vehicles, the SF troops were staged forward to the nearest battalion headquarters by air as the location was winter cut off (due to heavy snow), said the second officer cited above. At the crack of dawn on Sunday, the five commandos began tailing the infiltrators following their footmarks on the snow. Several hours later, the footprints indicated that the infiltrators had gone towards a nallah and were hiding there. The SF men split into two squads and approached their target stealthily to prevent the terrorists from escaping, said the third officer cited above. And thats when tragedy struck. One of the squads didnt realise that they were on a cornice. The complete snow block collapsed taking the squad leader and the two scouts down all the way to the nallah where the terrorists were sitting... It led to a close-quarter battle at almost point blank range, the officer said. The two commandos in the other squad rushed to provide support to their comrades who were locked in an intense close-quarter fight with the terrorists. In the ensuing engagement, the five commandos were successful in killing all the infiltrators but at the cost of their own lives. Despite the fall, the commandos killed all the terrorists because of their superior training standards, the officer said. The army on Monday identified the fallen commandos as Subedar Sanjeev Kumar from Himachal Pradesh, Havildar Davendra Singh from Uttarakhand, Paratrooper Bal Krishan from Himachal Pradesh, Paratrooper Amit Kumar from Uttarakhand and Paratrooper Chhatrapal Singh from Rajasthan. Army sources said while the world was fighting the Covid-19 pandemic with all its might, Pakistan was focused on abetting terrorism. Pakistan and its army are fomenting terrorism in India to hide its failure to fight Covid-19. The Indian Army is not only fighting Covid with utmost professionalism both in India and in neighbouring countries but it is also concurrently defeating Pakistans evil designs along the LoC and in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the sources said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New York, April 6 : Authorities in New York, the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic in the US, announced that the disease has claimed 4,159 lives and infected 122,031 others in the state, while the US's surgeon general said that the coming week will be a "Pearl Harbor moment... our 9/11 moment". New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who warned on Saturday that the peak of the coronavirus epidemic in the state would come in the next seven days, announced on Sunday that the state's outbreak may have already reached its apex although he warned that instead of a reduction in deaths and cases, what could occur is a "plateau" with a high number of cases for a period of time, Efe news reported. "By the data we could be either very near the apex or the apex could be a plateau and we could be on that plateau right now. We won't know until you see the next few days... does it go up, does it go down, but that's what the statisticians will tell you today," Cuomo said at his daily press briefing. "You're seeing the narrative unfold, right. We're all watching a movie, we're waiting to see what the next scene is, and as the movie unfolds you start to understand the story better and better," he added. Cuomo said that all hospitals and hospital networks, whether public or private, would need to start working together as one system in order to balance the patient load among all the medical institutions along with supplies and resources such as masks and gowns and asked federal authorities to do the same at the national level. "You're going to have to shift and deploy resources to different locations based on the need of that location," he explained. Meanwhile, the US will find that this coming week will be its Pearl Harbor or 9/11 moment regarding the anticipated high number of deaths, US Surgeon General Jerome Adams warned. "The next week is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, it's going to be our 9/11 moment, it's going to be the hardest moment for many Americans in their entire lives. And we really need to understand that if we want to flatten that curve and get through to the other side, everyone needs to do their part," Adams said on Sunday morning. The number of COVID-19 cases in the US reached 337,637 as of Monday, the highest in the world, with 9,647 deaths, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. New York has the highest number of infections (122,031) and fatalities (4,159), followed by New Jersey (34,124 infections and 459 847 deaths), Michigan (14,225 infections and 540 deaths), California (13,796 infections and 323 deaths) and Louisiana (12,496 infections and 412 deaths), according to Cuomo. The coming week is "going to be shocking to some", Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a key official in President Donald Trump's Coronavirus Task Force, told CBS News. "But that's what is going to happen before it turns around, so just buckle down," Fauci said, adding that the rate of increase of new cases will determine whether the US is seeing the epidemic plateau. "We've seen that in Italy," Fauci said, referring to an apex in the number of new cases followed by a decreasing number day by day, adding: "We're going to hopefully be seeing that in New York very soon and that's the first sign of that plateau and coming down." He also warned that, barring the quite unlikely scenario in which the disease is fully eradicated, "as we get into next season, we may see the beginning of a resurgence," with the coronavirus taking on a seasonal aspect, much like the yearly flu, albeit far more deadly. At a press conference later in the day, President Donald Trump once again expressed his desire for the country to return to normal as soon as possible and spoke of a "light at the end of the tunnel". Coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx said that the number of number of daily confirmed cases in Italy and Spain were giving the US, which, according to her, was about 12 days behind those countries, "hope for what our future could be." Trump said that by Tuesday, around 3,000 military doctors and nurses would have arrived in New York and surrounding areas, and that the shipment of ventilators to New Jersey, Illinois and Louisiana was being sped up. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio made another appeal on Sunday to the US federal government for help in tackling the outbreak in the city, saying that while health workers and ventilators had arrived, the city would need many more by April 12. De Blasio said that to adequately treat the number of new patients being intubated every day, approximately 200-300 across the city, New York must secure a total of 1,000-1,500 ventilators. "We need bold action - and fast. We need to mobilize doctors, nurses, and supplies to our front lines. And it needs to happen now - before it's too late," he said. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text India on Monday opened supply lines with the receipt of 1.70 lakh Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) coveralls from China amid the coronavirus crisis. Along with domestic supplies of 20,000 coveralls, a total of 1.90 lakh coveralls will now be distributed to hospitals and will add to the 3,87,473 PPE kits already available in the country as of now. A total of 2.94 lakh PPE coveralls have been arranged and supplied by the Government of India now. In addition to this, two lakh domestically produced N95 masks are also being sent to various hospitals. Including these, over 20 lakh N95 masks have been supplied by the Government of India. About 16 lakh N95 masks are presently available in the country, and this figure will increase with the fresh supply of two lakh masks. Major portions of the fresh supplies are being sent to States with a comparatively higher number of coronavirus cases such as Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Delhi, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Rajasthan. Supplies are also being sent to central institutions like AIIMS, Safdarjung and RML Hospitals, RIMS, NEIGRIHMS, BHU, and AMU. "The commencement of foreign supplies marks a major milestone in the efforts to procure personal protection equipment for the battle against COVID-19," reads an official statement. An order for 80 lakh complete PPE kits (including N95 masks) had been placed on a Singapore based platform earlier and now it has been indicated that supplies will commence from April 11 with two lakh, followed by eight lakh more in a week. Negotiations are in final stages with a Chinese platform for placing an order of 60 lakh complete PPE kits, which will also include N95 masks. Separate orders for N95 masks and protective goggles are also being placed on some foreign companies. Giving a further fillip to domestic capabilities, Northern Railways have developed a PPE coverall. This is in addition to the PPE coveralls and N99 masks developed by the DRDO earlier. Efforts are now being made to start mass production of these products. Existing N95 mask producers have increased their capacity to about 80,000 masks per day. Orders have been placed for 112.76 lakh stand-alone N95 masks and 157.32 lakh PPE coveralls. Out of these, 80 lakh PPE kits will include N95 masks. The objective is to achieve a supply of about 10 lakh PPE kits per week. According to the latest update of the Health Ministry, there are 4,281 cases in the country including 3,851 active cases and 318 cured or discharged and 111 deaths. The Ministry said there has been an increase of 704 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, which is the biggest rise so far in India in a day. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 24-year-old teacher trapped in Wuhan during the coronavirus outbreak said she feels safer in China because Australians are not taking the pandemic seriously. Shay Kearney, from Murwillumbah in north-eastern NSW, moved to the epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak two years ago to teach English. But Ms Kearney has been holed up in her apartment for more than two months, after the city of 11-million was shut off from the rest of the world on January 23. 'We didn't really have time to process it. We just went straight into lockdown,' she told A Current Affair. Shay Kearney, from Murwillumbah in north-eastern NSW, moved to Wuhan two years ago to teach English 'The streets were empty. We were stuck in our apartment, we couldn't go anywhere and it felt like the apocalypse in a way. It was very scary.' China, where the outbreak first emerged in December 2019, has officially registered 81,470 coronavirus cases and 3,340 deaths. Residents will be allowed to leave Wuhan - for the first time since January - from April 8 as the city gradually loosens its lockdown measures implemented to combat the virus. They are allowed outside for two hours a day as life slowly goes back to normal. Ms Kearney, who lives with her boyfriend, said she only intended to stay in China for a year but stayed on for a second because she loves her job. The 24-year-old suggested Beijing initially downplayed the seriousness of the virus. Pictured: Residents go for a walk in Wuhan on Monday, as the city gradually loosens their lockdown Ms Kearney said she only intended to stay in China for a year but stayed on for a second because she loves her job (pictured) 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's just like the flu, it's not that bad that was before they even knew anything that was when we were just learning about the disease,' she said. Ms Kearney said it was 'frustrating' seeing Australians failing to take the pandemic seriously by ignoring social distancing rules. 'I even just spoke to my mum today and she's like ''people just aren't getting it, people are at the beaches, people are just going to Bunnings',' she said. 'Australia's just in this mindset that's weeks behind everyone and it's time to catch-up. 'Honestly, I feel safer here.' There are 5,795 cases of coronavirus in Australia and 41 people have died. Public gatherings of more than two people have been banned and Australians are advised to stay at home. Ms Kearney said it was 'frustrating' seeing Australians failing to take the pandemic seriously by ignoring social distancing rules Passover, otherwise known as Pesach in Hebrew, is regarded as one of the most important festivals in Judaism. Every year, Jewish families celebrate the festival by sitting around the Seder table and recounting how Moses led the Jewish people out of Egypt following years of slavery. So when does Passover take place this year, what's the history behind it and how is it observed? Heres everything you need to know: When does it take place? Passover begins on Saturday 27 March this year and lasts for seven or eight days. The festival is traditionally observed for eight days by many Jewish people around the world, including those who left Israel as part of the Jewish diaspora. For those celebrating Passover for eight days, it will end this year on the evening of Sunday 4 April. Jewish families recall how Moses led the Jews out of Egypt on Passover (Getty Images/iStockphoto) In the Torah (the body of Jewish scripture), Passover begins on the 15th day of the month of Nissan, the day in the Hebrew calendar on which the Jewish departed from Egypt thousands of years ago. Its no coincidence that the observance coincides with the Christian festival of Easter, with Good Friday falling a couple of days after the first day of Passover this year. In the ancient languages of Latin and Greek, Easter was called Pascha, which derives from the Hebrew word Pesach. How important is it? Raymond Simonson, CEO of north London Jewish community centre JW3, says that Passover is one of the most important Jewish festivals. Even the most secular Jews, who might not celebrate any other festival - they might not fast on Yom Kippur, or go to synagogue on Jewish New Year, he says. If theres one festival theyll do its more likely to be Pesachthan anything else. During Passover Jews eat matzah, which is unleavened bread (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Whats the story of Passover? During Passover, Jewish people remember how Moses freed the Israelites from slavery under the reign of the Egyptian Pharaohs, as stated by the Torah. Moses was raised as the adopted son of the Pharaohs daughter, who found him in an ark by a riverbank in Egypt. Following orders by the Pharaoh to drown all male Hebrew children in the river Nile, Moses' mother had given him away in the hopes that he would survive. As an adult, Moses discovered his true identity and was instructed by God to lead the enslaved Jewish people from Egypt to Canaan, which was regarded as the promised land. Recommended Jewish and Muslim paramedics pray together in Israel amid outbreak Moses proceeded to ask the Pharaoh to let his people go, which the Pharaoh initially refused. According to the Book of Exodus, Moses warned the Pharaoh that if he failed to free the Israelites, Egypt would be hit by a host of terrible plagues. After the people of Egypt were subjected to 10 plagues, including blood, frogs, boils, locusts, darkness and the death of every firstborn son, the Pharaoh eventually relented and allowed the Jewish people to leave Egypt with Moses. The Jewish people spent 40 years travelling in the desert before reaching the promised land. Why is it called Passover? Jewish people believe that when the Pharaoh initially turned a blind eye to the plagues wreaking havoc on his people, God then inflicted the worst plague of all the death of every firstborn male in Egypt. In order to protect the firstborn sons of the Israelites, God instructed Moses to tell the Jewish people to mark their front doors with lambs' blood. God then proceeded to "pass over" the houses that had been daubed with lambs' blood, thus sparing the firstborn Israelite sons from the deadly plague. Jewish people read from the Haggadah during the Seder night (Getty Images/iStockphoto) How is it celebrated? During Passover, Jewish families come together for a traditional meal called the Seder, which means order, because everything is done in a particular order. This order is followed by reading instructions in a book called the Haggadah. The whole theme of the special meal on the Sedernight is to remember the exodus of Egypt as if we were there, explains Simonson. Its not when they were, our ancestors. Its when I left Egypt, this is what happened to me. Its educational and experiential. We must remember what it was like when we were slaves, so we must fight so there are no more slaves and everyone is free." The Seder plate includes a variety of foods, each which is symbolic. The lamb bone represents the blood of the lamb that adorned the doors of the Jewish people as God passed over them; the roasted hard-boiled egg is a symbol of mourning; the maror (bitter herbs) represents the bitterness the Jews had to endure as slaves; the charoset (a sweet, brown concoction) represents the mortar used to build the Egyptian pyramids; and the dipping of parsley into salt water represents the tears of the enslaved Jewish people. What is matzah? According to the Book of Exodus, the Israelites left Egypt in such a hurry that their bread didnt have time to rise. This why Jewish people eat unleavened bread during Passover, otherwise known as matzah. It is traditionally viewed as the bread of the poor, and is therefore consumed to remind Jewish people of the hardships their ancestors endured. Muslim man comforts elderly Jewish woman in symbol of Manchester unity Show all 4 1 /4 Muslim man comforts elderly Jewish woman in symbol of Manchester unity Muslim man comforts elderly Jewish woman in symbol of Manchester unity A Jewish woman named Renee Rachel Black and a Muslim man named Sadiq Patel react next to floral tributes in Albert Square REUTERS Muslim man comforts elderly Jewish woman in symbol of Manchester unity REUTERS Muslim man comforts elderly Jewish woman in symbol of Manchester unity REUTERS Muslim man comforts elderly Jewish woman in symbol of Manchester unity REUTERS For seven or eight days after the first Seder night, Jewish people abstain from eating all sorts of leavened foods including bread, cakes and muffins. Some people come up with creative solutions to this, including Simonson. I make lasagne but with sheets of matzah instead of pasta, he says. During the Seder night, many Jewish children play a game in which one piece of matzah, called the afikoman, is hidden. The child who finds the afikoman at the end of the meal wins a prize. What other foods and drink are consumed during Passover? Whether to eat rice or beans is one of the most discussed customs or traditions, Simonson states. Its what everyone seems to be talking about at the moment. Some grains and other foods, such as beans, peas, corns, rice, chickpeas and sesame, are traditionally prohibited by some Jewish people during Passover. These are known as kitniyot. However, many Sephardic Jews - Jewish people who can trace their ancestry back to the Iberian Peninsula during the early Middle Ages - continue to eat kitniyot on Passover. It depends on your family and background, Simonson says. Every year, more and more people say: Hold on, this kitniyot isnt forbidden by law in the same way. Its more of a tradition to do with how they were packed in sacks. Every piece of food on the Seder plate is symbolic (Getty Images/iStockphoto) How do Jewish people prepare for Passover? As leavened goods are banned during the festival, the weeks leading up to Passover are traditionally spent cleaning. Every nook and cranny is scrubbed to get rid of even the tiniest forbidden crumb that might lurk there. Some say this tradition is the origin of the more widely known "spring clean". Many Jewish people use crockery during Passover that has been set aside for especially for the festival. Telecom masts near Dundry, Somerset. The government have condemned vandals who are spreading misinformation online and encouraging people to destroy 5g masts. (PA) The government has launched a blistering attack against people spreading the crazed conspiracy theory that 5G masts are spreading coronavirus. Boris Johnsons official spokesman warned on Tuesday that vandals who destroy 5G masts are putting lives at risk and said ministers would talk to social media companies about clamping down on misinformation. The secretary of state is due to speak to the big social media firms later on this week to be very clear about the need to stop the spread of what is a crazed conspiracy theory, he said. Youve seen reports of criminal vandalism against 5G masts people need to understand that by destroying these masts theyre actually putting lives at risk, because these are masts that emergency responders rely upon. Boris Johnson's spokesman warned against spreading 'crazed' conspiracy theories linking 5G to the coronavirus outbreak. (PA Images) The warning comes after after videos purportedly showing masts on fire were posted on social media, leading UK mobile network providers to warn against the spread of baseless theories linking coronavirus to 5G. Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world Fact-checker: The number of COVID-19 cases in your local area Mobile network phone masts are visible in front of St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London in January. (AP) One unfounded claim is that 5G could have caused the coronavirus outbreak because Wuhan, the Chinese city where the virus originated, was one of the cities where it was first rolled out. Another is that radiation emitted from 5G towers sucks oxygen from the atmosphere and affects people's ability to breathe. 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. Several videos claiming to show 5G towers on fire were posted to a page on Facebook that encouraged others to do the same. The page was created on Thursday and taken down by Facebook on Friday morning. Story continues Read more: Inside the new 4,000-bed NHS Nightingale Hospital at Londons ExCel centre Mobile UK, the trade body that 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. The top four UK mobile operators have also issued a joint statement asking for help to stop people burning 5G towers. A screengrab of the video showing an apparent arson attack on a EE 5G mast in Birmingham, UK. EE, O2, Three and Vodafone said stopping the attacks is critical to keeping communities across the UK connected during the pandemic. We are 100% focused on making sure the UKs mobile and broadband networks are resilient, ensuring you, your families and businesses, can keep connected when you need it most, the statement said. Read more: NHS doctor pleads for more coronavirus protective equipment Sadly, we have experienced cases of vandals setting fire to mobile masts, disrupting critical infrastructure and spreading false information suggesting a connection between 5G and the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no scientific evidence of any link between 5G and coronavirus. Fact. Not only are these claims baseless, they are harmful for the people and businesses that rely on the continuity of our services. They have also led to the abuse of our engineers and, in some cases, prevented essential network maintenance taking place. The networks called for people to stop spreading misinformation online and report vandalism or any abuse of key workers carrying out essential maintenance. Read more: Government says no plans to tighten restrictions despite warning of exercise ban Last week, a Change.org petition claiming 5G is responsible for the coronavirus pandemic was removed after receiving more than 100,000 signatures. Presenter Amanda Holden re-posted it but deleted it soon after. A spokesperson for Holden told The Independent that she had posted the tweet, which stated: "No to 5G!!! Sign the petition!, "by mistake from a link she clicked on". Coronavirus: what happened today Telangana Chief Minister's Office on Monday said that there was no announcement of an extension of lockdown and a suggestion had been made for extending it for two more weeks taking reference from the report of Boston Consulting Group. "CM K Chandrasekhar Rao suggested extension of lockdown for two more weeks. He took a reference from BCG report which suggested lockdown in India will be good until June 3. No announcement of extension yet," Telangana Chief Minister's Office said. The country is in 21-day lockdown announced on March 24. The lockdown has been enforced to contain the spread of coronavirus. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India has reached 4,281. While 111 people have died, 318 patients have been cured. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) London: The outbreak of Corona, which is getting increased suddenly, has been taking the form of an epidemic for the whole world. The same virus has caught more than 69000 deaths so far. But still this death game has not stopped. This virus has rocked the whole world today. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also come in the grip of this virus. Corona worsens in Britain, 42 million children become victims of poverty According to the information, United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to the hospital. Johnson's office gave this information. Johnson was found infected with the symptoms of coronavirus only last month. He was found infected with Corona on 27 March. Johnson himself gave this information by tweeting. Number of corona victims reduce in Australia, wave of enthusiasm seen in people It is also being said that Johnson had tweeted and said, 'In the last 24 hours, I have mild symptoms and have come out positive. Now I am isolating myself. At a time when we are fighting the war against Corona, I will continue to lead the government through video conferencing.' After this, a Downing Street spokesperson had said that Johnson's corona test was done on Thursday on the advice of a doctor after mild symptoms emerged, which resulted in positive results. According to the advice of the doctor, the Prime Minister is living separately in Downing Street. However, now he has been admitted to the hospital. Corona's awe in Ecuador, dead bodies lying in streets Lupin announced the launch of Mycophenolic Acid Delayed-Release Tablets USP, 180 mg and 360 mg. Lupin's alliance partner Concord Biotech (Concord) had received an approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (U. S. FDA) earlier. Mycophenolic Acid Delayed-Release Tablets USP, 180 mg and 360 mg, is the generic equivalent of Myfortic Delayed-Release Tablets, 180 mg and 360 mg, of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, and are indicated for: Prophylaxis of organ rejection in adult patients receiving kidney transplants and in pediatric patients at least 5 years of age and older who are at least 6 months post kidney transplant. Use in combination with cyclosporine and corticosteroids. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Fort Bend County Sheriff's deputy has tested positive for COVID-19 and 12 other department employees are in quarantine, officials have confirmed. The confirmed positive case involves a deputy who recently traveled to California for training. According to department spokesman, Major Chad Norvell, the deputy is experiencing mild symptoms and is at home recuperating. Were closely monitoring our employees and hoping the symptoms continue to be minor. Battling this virus is a challenge for us all and especially for those in the public safety sector, Major Norvell said this week. Officials confirmed the positive case on Friday, two days after eight Fort Bend County Sheriff Department employees were self-quarantined due to travel or possible exposure. Officials originally reported two deputies had tested positive but test results for one deputy were later ruled inconclusive and a re-test was ordered. Officials are currently working with the Fort Bend County Department of Health and Human Services to identify and notify any department employee or civilian that may have been exposed to the virus through contact with the deputy. As recently as last week, Sheriff Troy Nehls stated no department employees had tested positive for COVID-19. As of yet, there have been no positive cases reported among the inmates at the Fort Bend County Jail. When contacted by phone, Sheriff Nehls said he wasnt planning to consider allowing any inmates being held on a non-violent charge to be released from the jail as a safety measure to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19. However, over the last several weeks Nehls said new safety precautions were put in place and new procedures were implemented to mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19 with the jail. Before a person is processed and booked into the jail, deputies ask a series of screening questions to determine if that person has been exposed or is at greater risk of contracting the virus. In addition, new inmates are assessed to make sure they arent running a fever or experiencing any symptoms, Nehls said. I dont believe because of the coronavirus that we need to release anybody. Weve not had any cases and I would not be in favor of releasing anybody, Nehls said. The Fort Bend County Jail can hold up to 1,800 inmates and currently houses approximately 900 people, allowing extra space for social distancing. knix@hcnonline.com Dubais Vision Tech Solutions DMCC, a specialist in IT infrastructure and support, is offering a free technology solution consultancy to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to enable them to move to remote working arrangements. Rajab Ali Virani, managing director of Vision Tech Solutions DMCC, said: As the world goes into a lockdown mode to contain the pandemic, cybercriminals will not be curtailing their efforts to access valuable data during the outbreak. They will, in fact, take the advantage of the situation to launch malicious attacks, which can result in errors and outages. Customer-facing industries, such as airlines, hospitality and healthcare, are particularly in need of effective tech support and solutions. Educational institutions are another sizable sector that needs such support, to replace physical classrooms with online e-learning alternatives. One of the other challenges of a work-from-home policy is that employees are not being able to connect to appropriate servers that boost their productivity. Vision Tech Solutions highly qualified management team and tech personnel have the expertise and experience to provide the requisite IT infrastructure and support that can resolve this issue efficiently, safely, and cost-effectively. Millions of workers are now signing in remotely to corporate networks and cloud-software programmes, which could easily open doors to malicious attack by hackers. We will provide free consultancy to SMEs and work closely with them to help connect employees working from home to access office servers remotely, through a firewall, Virani added. This arrangement will ensure that data privacy and security of the company is not compromised. We will also offer our services to help schools run their e-learning programs and assist with deploying reliable remote access to servers, so people can work or learn at home seamlessly even during this crisis. The threat of hackers and malicious online actors, who can infect users with malware by duplicating coronavirus tracker-maps, has emerged as a significant risk to businesses. They are using these maps to spread malicious software and gather information on users, including their names, passwords, credit card details and other personal data. One of the primary reasons we are offering to manage all the IT systems for SMEs is to ensure that these businesses are protected from opportunistic hackers and malicious parties, particularly if they use a network that is not secured said Virani. The coronavirus contagion might be the key challenge right now, but a companys data, privacy, and security cannot be compromised under any circumstances. Vision Tech Solutions DMCC assures businesses peace of mind, by ensuring they do not have to choose between productivity and security while working remotely. TradeArabia News Service S weden's monarch has appealed to his nations citizens to stay home at Easter amid fears the countrys relaxed approach to Covid-19 could yet lead to thousands of fatalities. King Carl XVI Gustaf said that staying indoors would be a small sacrifice. We have to rethink, prepare ourselves for staying home, he said in a televised address. We might feel sad about this. But there will be more Easter holidays. After all, for most of us, this will require relatively minor sacrifices especially if we compare this to falling seriously ill or losing a friend or member of our family. His appeal followed a warning from the Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven that his country, which has suffered 401 deaths so far, needs to prepare for thousands of deaths over the coming weeks. Empty Europe during Coronavirus - In pictures 1 /45 Empty Europe during Coronavirus - In pictures The Pariser Platz in front of the Brandenburg Gate is almost empty in Berlin AP The Arc de Triomphe in Paris is deserted Getty Images Barcelona's cathedral, Spain AP Duomo Square in Milan, Italy, AP Colosseum in central Rome AFP via Getty Images The Autobahn 12 is completely empty shortly before the German-Polish border crossing near Frankfurt AP Closed shops following an outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Brussels, Belgium Reuters The Malagueta beach is cordoned off in Malaga, Spain AFP via Getty Images Vienna, Austria AP Deserted Hotel de Ville in Paris, France Getty Images The highway leading to Barcelona is seen empty of cars AP City of Gdansk in Poland is virtually deserted Reuters Ratusz Arsenal metro station visually deserted, amid coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns, in Warsaw, Poland via Reuters St. Peter's Square, Vatican in Rome, Italy Reuters The Royal palace in downtown Madrid, Spain AP The usually busy Larios street remains empty in Malaga AFP via Getty Images A view of an empty square in Naples, Italy during a lockdown across all of the country, imposed to slow the outbreak of coronavirus, in Naples, Italy Reuters Galleria Umberto in Naples, Italy Reuters A street is almost empty in downtown Naples AP An empty beach in Barcelona, Spain AP Homes and an empty street are seen under partial lockdown as part of a 15-day state of emergency to combat the coronavirus outbreak in downtown Ronda, southern Spain Reuters Restaurants remain closed on a seaside promenade in Valencia in Spain AFP via Getty Images A deserted Westland shopping center in Brussels BELGA/AFP via Getty Images A view of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele shopping arcade in Milan, Italy AP An empty street in the Porta Nuova district in Milan, Itlay Reuters An almost empty Roemerberg square, the main tourist spot in Frankfurt, Germany AP An empty Via Condotti street in Rome, Italy Reuters Piazza Trilussa in Rome, Italy Reuters The Louvre Museum Getty Images Musee du Louvre in Paris is closed to the public AFP via Getty Images The Eiffel Tower is seen next to a board that reads: "In the context of the COVID-19 the Eiffel Tower closes Reuters An empty Disneyland Paris PA Old Town area visually deserted, amid coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns, in Warsaw, Poland via Reuters Old Town area is visually deserted, amid coronavirus disease (COVID-19) concerns, in Warsaw, Poland via Reuters Mr Lofvens government has attracted worldwide interest by pursuing a markedly different strategy to most other nations by keeping bars, restaurants and schools open. Outdoor venues were busy over the weekend as a result, and many people flocked to parks and forests around the capital Stockholm. There was more positive news elsewhere in Europe as Germany today recorded a fourth consecutive daily decline in new infections. Confirmed coronavirus infections rose by 3,677 in the past 24 hours to 95,391, compared with 5,936 new infections reported the previous day. Spain today recorded its lowest number of fatalities in more than a week as the country began its fourth week under a near-total lockdown. The government today said it plans to widen coronavirus testing to include people without symptoms as a first step towards slowly easing the lockdown. Loading.... Italy yesterday reported a daily death toll of 525 the countrys lowest number for more than two weeks. The health minister, Roberto Speranza, outlined plans for broader testing and beefed-up health services as part of measures following a future easing of the lockdown. With nearly 16,000 fatalities, Italy has the worlds biggest death toll from the disease. In order to do their part to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the Houston area, Jersey Village has followed suit with the extension of the Stay Home-Work Safe order put into place by Judge Lina Hidalgo. Judge Hidalgo extended the Harris County Stay-Home Stay Safe order until April 30 on March 31 as cases of coronavirus rise within the area. The order closes most businesses and stops public gatherings. Stay Home-Work Safe extended: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo extends stay-at-home order to April 30 It is not the time, right now, to scale back our containment measures, Hidalgo said. If anything, its time to double down, because our rates continue to grow very, very rapidly and weve not yet gotten to a point of flattening the curve. The City of Jersey Village announced that the city will follow these orders, as well as orders from Governor Greg Abbott to close schools until May 4. The message from the city said City Hall will be closed until April 30. City staff continue to work via telecommuting, the message said. You can reach out to the city via phone or email. City Police, Fire, EMS, and Public Works continue to operate as normal as Essential Services. All City sponsored activities for the month of April have been canceled. City Parks are closed, but walking trails remain open. People are encouraged to get outside. Jersey Village has closed the Jersey Meadow Golf Course until May 1. According to an update from April 8, the city is still monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and is asking residents to fill out a survey so the city can learn on how to improve their approach to COVID-19. The CDC recommends citizens wear face masks when in public in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Jersey Village created a webpage dedicated to resources for businesses that have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 outbreak: www.jerseyvillagetx.com/page/econdev.covid19. The website provides links to information about applying for Economic Injury Disaster Advance Loans from the Small Business Administration and to free webinars from the Houston SBA office on how SBA is helping local businesses survive COVID-19. The city is also exploring the possibility of providing loans for businesses needing assistance with rent or mortgages. For more information on Jersey Village and their response to coronavirus, visit https://www.jerseyvillagetx.com/page/article/144 chevall.pryce@chron.com (Natural News) People infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can spread the disease even before they show symptoms, says a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published in this weeks Morbidity and Mortality Report (MMWR), it revealed how people infected with the coronavirus can transmit the disease one to three days before the onset of symptoms, making them presymptomatic carriers. The report also highlighted the challenges of identifying and isolating infected people. In response, the CDC has updated its guidance to acknowledge that even people who appear healthy can potentially transmit the novel coronavirus. All it takes is a presymptomatic carrier to trigger an outbreak In the report, the CDC defined presymptomatic transmission as the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from an infected person (source patient) to a secondary patient before the source patient developed symptoms. The researchers looked at clinical and epidemiological data from 243 cases in Singapore from January 23 to March 16, and identified seven clusters of COVID-19 cases, where presymptomatic transmission most likely occurred. Among the cases reviewed, the team noted that 6.4 percent of locally acquired cases, including the clusters identified, were caused by presymptomatic transmission. (Related: If we want America to get back to work, then TEST EVERYBODY first, so we can isolate the asymptomatic carriers.) To account for the possibility of presymptomatic transmission, officials developing contact tracing protocols should strongly consider including a period before symptom onset, the team wrote in their report, noting that presymptomatic transmission underscores the critical role social distancing, including avoidance of congregate settings, plays in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. CDC to shift federal guidance on masks The White House says that the CDC is close to recommending that all Americans wear cloth masks when going out the complete opposite of what it said in February, when Surgeon General Jerome Adams asked people in a tweet to stop buying masks. Seriously people- STOP BUYING MASKS! 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! https://t.co/UxZRwxxKL9 U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) February 29, 2020 During a White House briefing on Thursday, President Donald Trump said the CDC will roll out the new guidance in the coming days. He also added that people can wear masks if they want to, which could indicate that following the planned regulations is a personal choice. However, Dr. Deborah Birx, the White Houses coronavirus response coordinator, issued a stern warning following the announcement, saying that Americans should not get a false sense of security from just wearing the masks. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that he would lean toward asking everyone to wear masks, but only if this does not take away masks from healthcare workers who need them. A white paper from researchers at Yale University proffered the use of homemade cloth masks for the public, which ensures that healthcare workers will not run out of surgical masks and high-grade respirators. It is critically important that public adoption not come at the expense of medical mask availability for health workers, said Jason Abaluck, an associate professor of economics at the Yale School of Management and a co-author of the paper. This is why we emphasize universal adoption of cloth masks. The masks are primarily for the benefit of those wearing it, say researchers, as these prevent infected people from spreading the virus by coughing or sneezing. In Los Angeles, health officials have already advised residents to don masks when going out for groceries or medicine. According to Los Angeles County Health Director Barbara Ferrer, everyone needs to assume that they could potentially be carriers of the coronavirus, even if [they] are feeling fine. Meanwhile, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp enforced a statewide stay-at-home order, following the CDCs recent findings about asymptomatic transmission. Those individuals couldve been infecting people before they ever felt bad, but we didnt know that until the last 24 hours, said Kemp. This is a game-changer for us. Pandemic.news has the latest on the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com CIDRAP.UMN.edu FoxNews.com NYTimes.com Twitter.com BusinessInsider.nl The Arctic Ocean increasingly resembles the Atlantic, not only regarding its temperature but also the species that live there. However, scientists from the CNRS and Universite Laval, Quebec[1] showed that an unprecedented strengthening of Atlantic currents is playing a major role in this phenomenon called 'Atlantification'. The research team studied Emiliania huxleyi, a marine microalgae that typically lives in temperate waters at lower latitudes. A specific feature of this organism is that it has a calcareous shell that reflects light so well that its massive development makes the ocean surface turquoise over large areas, a phenomenon that can be seen from space. As a result, the scientists were able to use satellite images to show that the strengthening of Atlantic currents largely explains the increased presence of temperate species such as Emiliania huxleyi in the Arctic Ocean. The findings are published in the journal Nature Communications (6 April 2020). ### [1] Scientists working in the Takuvik International Research Laboratory (CNRS/Universite de Laval), the Laboratoire d'Oceanographie et du Climat : Experimentations et Approches Numeriques (LOCEAN, Museum national d'Histoire naturelle/CNRS/IRD/Sorbonne Universite) and the Laboratoire d'Oceanographie de Villefranche-sur-Mer (CNRS/Sorbonne Universite). WFH for Private offices in Delhi, restaurants & bars to be shut as Omicron-led to sudden rise in Covid cases Unlocking India to take place in a phased manner: Zero COVID-19 districts to be opened first India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Apr 06: The unlocking of the lockdown would take place in a staggered manner, sources have said. Officials that OneIndia spoke with said that the lockdown would be eased in a phased manner. Districts with no coronavirus cases would be first unlocked. There are several places in the country which have seen a steep rise in the number of COVID-19 cases. The lockdown in these areas would continue for sometime more until the virus is brought under control, the source cited above said. Meanwhile the Union Health Ministry is putting in place measures to ensure that the coronavirus does not spread further, following the nation wide lockdown coming to an end. Post the lockdown that ends on April 14, the focus would be on the hotspots. Ministry sources say that the focus would be largely on the hotspots and densely populated areas. Anti-parasitic drug kills coronavirus within 48 hours in lab grown cells: Study The government is taking a cue from the 2009 outbreak of H1NI, which had a bigger impact on well connected cities when compared to smaller towns and villages with lower population. During the recent deliberations, it was decided that post the lockdown there would be different approaches in different parts of the country. The containment efforts would be extremely strong in the hotspots and the lockdown would not be lifted suddenly in such areas. The Health Ministry in particular is concerned about the community transmission of the coronavirus. Health Ministry officials say that the outbreak is still under control and has not reached the community transmission stage as yet. Post the lockdown a separate plan of action would be in place to ensure that the spread is under control, the official also said. The government plans to divide hot spots into the quarantine and a buffer zone. The quarantine zone would focus on areas where there are a large number of cases. The buffer zone will include certain blocks or districts around it. The buffer zones would be decided by the authorities on a case to case basis. Fact check: Did Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi 'break curfew to visit friends, amid coronavirus lockdown? In these zones, outbound travel will be cut off. Movement of all vehicles and public transport too would be stalled. However an exception would be made to those with special passes to ensure that the supply of essential commodities are not hit. In these zones schools and colleges will be closed and mass gatherings would be banned. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, April 6, 2020, 8:03 [IST] PwC has added its voice to the growing calls for the Government to substantially increase the amount of money it is committing to save companies at risk from going under due to the Covid-19 crisis. The latest call comes ahead of an expected additional 200m suite of supports for manufacturing and exporting firms this week. Significantly more working capital will be needed and probably in the order of multiples of the amount already committed by the exchequer, said PwC Irelands markets and strategy leader David McGee. He said the estimated 3% of GDP that the Government has committed in income and working capital supports is not likely to be enough to replace lost demand and kick-start the economy, should it shrink by 8% as predicted. Mr McGee said the choices for any country would be to wait for the market to correct itself which could prove very slow and painful or to set aside a large working capital fund to tackle the problem. Last week, employers group Ibec called for a 30bn stimulus package covering loans, crisis payments, and tax and rate deferrals to inject emergency liquidity into the economy and help under pressure companies to survive the crisis. A PwC survey shows that over 80% of businesses say they could be significantly impacted by the crisis, but 75% said they would be back to normal within three months if the virus were to end immediately. The Government has also been urged not to shelve the planning and financing of important infrastructure projects because of the Covid-19 outbreak; with the warning that it could take up to two years to get them back on schedule. While work has been suspended on non-essential sites as part of measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus, we believe it is vital that finance and planning for state projects which are being progressed at the moment should continue as much as possible in the current circumstances, said Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) vice president Micheal Mahon. Issues in housing, health, and infrastructure will still be with us when we come out the other side of this crisis. If projects are shelved it might take 18 to 24 months to get teams back working and up to current levels. The SCSI said the Government must learn from the lessons of previous crises, most notably the 2008 financial crash. The current housing shortage, our infrastructure deficit, particularly in health, and widespread skills shortages can all be traced back to the failure to plan for the economic recovery in the post-crash scenario. That cannot be allowed to happen again, and it would give the sector some confidence if Government could demonstrate such planning was in train, Mr Mahon said. The SCSIs call coincides with a slump in confidence amongst construction companies. According to Ulster Banks monthly industry barometer, around 45% of firms expect a fall in activity in the coming year amid virus uncertainty. CLEVELAND, Ohio An updated model from the University of Washingtons Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation predicts the coronavirus outbreak will peak this week in Ohio without overwhelming hospitals and intensive care units. The IHME forecasting model projects that Ohio could reach peak resource use the maximum number of hospital beds, ICU beds, and ventilators needed during the outbreak -- on Wednesday. The model also suggests Ohio will fall well short of running out of resources, even under a worst-case scenario. Those projections are a contrast to those offered previously by Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton. They have used models from the Cleveland Clinic and Ohio State University to predict the state might need to double or triple the number of available hospital beds during the peak. The IHME models latest projections include two notable changes to its underlying methodology, IHME Director Christopher Murray said Monday in a conference call with media. First, the early data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested 11 percent of coronavirus patients may require hospitalization. The latest data indicates that might be closer to 5 to 7 percent, Murray said. Second, the IHME model initially used data from the first major COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China, to gauge the effect of social-distancing measures. Data from seven other locations in Italy and Spain suggest measures like Ohios stay-at-home order had a more significant impact than anticipated. The reason our numbers are so much lower is that we saw and believed from data in Wuhan that social distancing can lead to a peak, and then a decline to near-zero transmission while social distancing is in place, Murray said. Now thats being reaffirmed in seven other places. The models that Ohio officials use to project the outbreak also suggest the states outlook has improved, thanks in large part to social-distancing measures like the stay-at-home order, Acton said Monday. She plans to release more data later this week but cautioned it might not be as optimistic as the IHME model. We know that we are making a dent in the hospital surge. I think well be able to celebrate some things, that it is not the worst-case scenario that had been raised at some of the early Cleveland Clinic data modeling, Acton said during a news briefing. But I think it will not be as optimistic as that [IHME] data. I think it will be somewhere in between. The fluidity of data surrounding the novel coronavirus makes predicting exact numbers difficult, statistical and epidemiological experts told cleveland.com. The U.S. lags behind countries like South Korea, in testing for the virus, and Ohio officials have said they only have enough tests for the sickest people. Previous updates to the IHME model suggested Ohio could reach peak resource use sometime between April 15 and April 20. Five days ago, the model also allowed for a small possibility the state could run out of hospital beds if it did not increase capacity. The IHME model assumes all social distancing measures will remain in effect through May 31; Ohios order is set to expire May 1. Murray cautioned that if states relax social-distancing measures sooner, it could lead to another spike in coronavirus cases. If you ease up prematurely, the epidemic can rebound right back to the level were at now in a matter of weeks, Murray said. The IHME is not prepared to say when it will be safe for states to begin easing social-distancing measures, Murray said. Latest IHME projections offer a better outlook for Ohio The IHME model says there are 14,290 hospital beds and 1,238 ICU beds available in Ohio. It does not give a total number of ventilators, but three Northeast Ohio healthcare systems told cleveland.com they have more than 1,000 ventilators in total. Ohio is projected to need 1,372 hospital beds, 269 ICU beds and 229 ventilators at different times during the peak, according to the IHME model. All of those figures are significantly under peak capacity. The IHME model also offers a range of possible outcomes known as a 95 percent confidence level. The range provides a snapshot of the resources Ohio will need under a worst-case scenario. Even then, the state will need a maximum of 2,516 hospital beds, 470 ICU beds and 400 ventilators, well below levels that would overwhelm healthcare systems. The model projects 544 deaths in Ohio through Aug. 4, with all of them occurring by May 1. The number of deaths could range from a low of 400 to a high of 742, according to the models 95 percent confidence level. Murray said government officials and healthcare workers should treat the IHME projections like a weather forecast, and plan for the worst-case scenario. Its far better to be planning for the upper (range) because its harder to scramble to get personnel and equipment and resources on very short notice than it is to have it go unused, he said. How does the IHME model differ from Ohio models? The IHME model uses a litany of factors pulled from multiple countries, including the U.S., China, South Korea and Italy, to make its estimation. Among those variables is the probability of one person infecting others, death rate, age, implementation of social distancing policies and hospital bed capacity. The IHME is using three types of models to reach its conclusions, although Murray did not specify which types. You want to hedge your bets when it comes to forecasting by having more models in that model pool, he said. Its difficult to say how the model differences from others used in Ohio because modelers have not yet released their underlying data. Ohio State Universitys Infectious Disease Institute has not released any underlying data for its modeling, but that information could be released sometime this week, Director Michael Oglesbee said Thursday. The Cleveland Clinic has not disclosed its methodology either, but the healthcare system has said its using a SIR model to provide a forecast for Ohio. A SIR model, which stands for susceptible, infected, recovery, is a commonly-used method for projecting a viral outbreak. Read more from cleveland.com: Ohio State researchers say state coronavirus modeling will likely be public next week Why are different coronavirus models predicting a wide range of outcomes in Ohio? University of Washington projection: Coronavirus wont overwhelm Ohio hospitals and ICU beds Gov. Phil Murphy is calling on all jackasses and knuckleheads out there not following New Jerseys strict rules to fight the coronavirus to get with the program. As the state starts to see signs of the curve of new COVID-19 cases beginning to flatten, Murphy pleaded with people Monday to continue to stay at home unless travel is necessary and to social distance. We know who you are and we will not relent, Murphy said during his daily coronavirus press briefing, referencing the Pink Floyd cover band concert in Rumson where attendees hurled criticism at police who arrived to break it up. They criticisms included F-the police and welcome to Nazi Germany. So vile and so unacceptable. I just cannot fathom, the governor said. To all the jackasses out there and all the knuckleheads out there, get with the program." To all the jackasses out there who we now have to carry get with the program. We know who you are and we will not relent until we have 100% compliance. pic.twitter.com/b0ic1maDgT Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) April 6, 2020 CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage In the Rumson incident, the accused host of the impromptu concert John Maldjian, 54, was charged with disorderly persons offenses of reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and charges related to violating the emergency orders, according to the state Attorney Generals Office. Officers were called Saturday night to an unfortunate report of 30 people on the lawn of a home on Blackpoint Road, near Wood Lane, Rumson police said in a statement. Acting State Police Superintendent Patrick Callahan said Monday people who engage in that sort of activity should think about what it means for others in the state. If nothing else, think that your actions at a gathering like that may lead to somebody not getting a ventilator, Callahan said about the potential to spread coronavirus. These parties may lead to somebody not being on a ventilator and thats the truth of it. Murphy announced Monday New Jerseys deaths from the coronavirus increased to to least 1,003, while health officials announced the total COVID-19 positive tests jumped to at least 41,090 in the last 24 hours. The governor has called violators of the restrictions members of the knucklehead hall of shame," as the state works to limit the spread of the virus. Newark police said Monday that cops closed 44 businesses found in violation of the states coronavirus orders and have issued more than 800 summonses. The governor has also lashed out at people who say they have the virus and then cough, spit or drool on police officers. If you engage in such reckless behaviors you are going to face, at the very least, fines of up to $10,000 and up to 18 months in jail, Murphy said at a news briefing last week. He also the police would continue to crackdown on people who ignore orders to stay indoors unless necessary and not gather in public to help curb the spread of the virus. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey: Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. FOX News in the lead up to the coronavirus crisis here in the United States repeatedly assisted President Trump to downplay the danger of the pandemic, to U.S. citizens. Now FOX has crossed a line by allowing its medical contributor to recommend what amounts to euthanasia openly, by suggesting certain patients should be removed from ventilators. Fox News has been the pro-life channel for decades and has now become the DEATH NETWORK. Fox News officially became the network of death, allowing its medical contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier to suggest on Sunday that COVID-19 patients would soon need to be removed from ventilators even if they cannot breathe on their own. Dr. Saphier said on Fox & Friends, which has become notorious for its lousy advice during this pandemic and has earned the moniker of Fox New Doctor of Death by saying some patients are being allowed too much time on ventilators... Theres going to be more deaths this coming week, Saphier said on Fox & Friends. The reason I try and explain that to people is although our rates of hospitalization are going down, that is a good thing. But were going to start seeing more deaths, she continued. Because the people that are having to be in the ICU on the ventilators, they are being kept on the ventilators from anywhere one to four weeks. And theyre either going to survive or theyre either going to die, she added. Some of the mortality rates coming out of China are ranging from 60 to 90% of people on the ventilators [who die]. Thankfully, here in the United States, that number varies. Saphier insists that at some point, they will have to come off the ventilators. Dr. Nicole Saphier: COVID-19 patients will have to 'come off' ventilators Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 13:23:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close XICHANG, April 6 (Xinhua) -- China is expected to launch the last satellite for its BeiDou-3 Navigation Satellite System in May from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province. The new satellite is the 55th satellite of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System. It arrived at the launch site in Xichang on April 4, where it will be tested, assembled and fueled before the launch. The BDS family satellite is a geosynchronous earth orbit satellite. The BDS is China's independently developed and operated global satellite navigation system. China started to build the BeiDou-3 Navigation Satellite System in 2009. The launch of the 55th satellite represents the completion of the system. Former MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar announced that he was officially "passing on the baton" to Anurag Srivastava after 33 months serving in the high-profile post. Anurag Srivastava took over the post of the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday. In his first tweet after assuming the post, Anurag Srivastava said that he was "looking forward to working closely with everyone around him to fulfill his responsibilities." Anurag Srivastava was previously the Indian ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union. He is from the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) batch of 1999 as has also served at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in Geneva Read: Anurag Srivastava To Succeed Raveesh Kumar As MEA Spokesperson: Sources Honoured and privileged to take over as the Official Spokesperson of @MEAIndia. I look forward to working closely with all to fulfill my responsibilities in this new role. https://t.co/dhwoZM6D69 Anurag Srivastava (@MEAIndia) April 6, 2020 Who is the new MEA spokesperson? Before taking up his assignment as ambassador to Ethiopia, he headed the Finance Division of MEA which is tasked to administer the ministrys annual budget of about US $2 billion. Srivastava has also headed the political wing at the Indian High Commission in Colombo. Earlier, Ambassador of India to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, he had been concurrently accredited as the Ambassador of India to the Republic of Djibouti, with residence in Addis Ababa. South Sudan has confirmed its first case of Covid-19. The patient is a 29-year-old woman who returned from Netherlands via Addis Ababa on February 28. The patient a United Nations staff, arrived South Sudan February 28 and resided there for five weeks. When she started experiencing symptoms, she began to work from home and requested to be tested for the virus. According to the UN, the patient is recovering well. WHOs country representative to South Sudan, Olushayo Olu, said with the confirmation of a first case of Covid-19 in South Sudan, the virus is now a reality. He added, working with the Ministry of Health and partners, WHO has shifted its focus from readiness to response. Time is critical now, we must now focus on tracing the people that the patient may have come in contact with to be able to isolate, test and provide them with medical care as need arises. South Sudan is the 51st African country to confirm a case of coronavirus. Comoros, Lesotho, and Sao Tome and Principe are the countries that have not confirmed a single case of the virus. Meanwhile Senegal and Algeria have extended their states of emergency and curfew, as cases in both countries continue to rise. President Macky Sall of Senegal extended the emergency rule for another 30 days. The state of emergency allows the authorities to regulate or prohibit the movement of goods and people and gatherings, temporarily close public places and meeting places, ban the movement of planes boats, decide on entry and exit points, or place people under house arrest. There are 222 confirmed cases, two deaths, and 82 recoveries in Senegal. In Algeria, Prime Minister Abdeliziz Djerad on Saturday announced the extension of the earlier placed curfew from 12 hours (7:00 PM 7:00 AM) to 17 hours (3:00 PM 7:00 AM). Algeria has 1,320 confirmed cases, 152 deaths, and 90 recoveries. MivPiv/iStock(NEW YORK) -- Some inmates at Alabama state prison facilities asking for help amid the novel coronavirus pandemic highlighted what they described as broader threats inside the U.S. prison system. "Its fixin to be a mass grave site," one prisoner said in exclusive footage obtained by ABC News. The video, aired on ABC's This Week Sunday, showed inmates who say they lack access to adequate handwashing and displayed a level of overcrowding that precluded their ability to practice social distancing. "My thing for the outside world is, help. Help. Help for the overcrowding, help for sanitary purposes, help for a release mechanism. We need to release some of these people, we need help," an Alabama prisoner said. ABC News reached out to the Alabama Department of Corrections -- they acknowledged that current conditions mean they can't enforce social distancing -- adding that the department is working "to do everything in our power to mitigate the spread of the virus." As of Friday, no inmate in Alabama had tested positive for COVID-19, and "only two ADOC staff members have been confirmed positive." The conditions in prisons amid the coronavirus pandemic are not just threatening those incarcerated, but also presenting a broader public health crisis, according to experts. "This is going to drive the entire epidemic curve for this nation up, just when were trying to flatten it," Dr. Homer Venters, an epidemiologist and former chief medical officer of the NYC Correctional Health Services, told ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos on Sunday. The virus is spreading rapidly throughout the nations prisons. In the New York City correctional system, there is an emerging trend where the number of positive cases among city corrections staff has outpaced the number of infected inmates. As of Friday, there were 273 staff members who tested positive for COVID-19 compared to 239 inmates, according to the New York City Department of Correction. And those numbers do not include individuals who may have contracted the coronavirus while in custody, but have since been released. At the Cook County Jail in Chicago, one of the largest single-site jails in the country, the number of cases continue to spike. Its first two detainees tested positive on March 23 and by April 3, 210 detainees tested positive, according to the sheriffs office. "There is no such thing as social distancing inside prisons," said Topeka K. Sam, a prison reform activist advocating for the release of elderly, nonviolent prisoners due to the pandemic. After serving three years in federal prison for a nonviolent drug offense, Sam now serves as a senior adviser for New Yorkers United for Justice, a statewide campaign she helped co-found to advocate for criminal justice reform. Sam says the conditions are no different from what she experienced when she was incarcerated in both federal prison and county jails. "Theres no way to properly be 6 feet apart, there is no way to properly wash your hands," Sam told Stephanopoulos. "Theres not enough soap. They cant use hand sanitizer because alcohol products that are in them and they are considered contraband." Sams perspective is a stark departure from the position of some sheriffs, like Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hogdson, who believes prisoners are safer behind bars. "I cant think of anything that would be more distancing than have the prisoners in the jails, protecting the people on the outside from adding more carriers and more exposure," the sheriff from Massachusetts said on This Week. "Its all about the control you have in your prisons," Hogdson said Sunday. "We have the protocols in place, we have no COVID-19 people." On Wednesday, a health care worker who treated inmates and detainees in a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility and Womens Center run by the Bristol County Sheriff tested positive for COVID-19, according to a news release from the sheriff's office. When she confirmed she had developed a fever on March 24, she put on a mask, left the facility and contacted her physician, according to the sheriff's office. She has not returned. Even if prisoners remain incarcerated, Venters said the way prisons operate the staff could still send the coronavirus into the communities. "The danger here is that were not only really going to see the explosion of cases among people who are detained," Venters said. "These places are almost perfectly designed and run in a way to promote the spread of this virus throughout these institutions." There are nearly 2.3 million people incarcerated in federal, state and local prisons, jails and other correctional facilities across the country, according to a report from the Prison Policy Initiative. Additionally, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is currently detaining about 38,000 immigrant detainees -- some of whom are seeking asylum -- at many of these institutions. Sheriffs nationwide have attempted to mitigate the risks in a variety of ways, including instituting visitor restrictions, enhanced precautions for staff and attempts to enforce social distancing. And, while criteria vary by state, there are currently no nationwide guidelines governing which inmates are eligible for early release or home confinement. Some state institutions and federal prisons have started releasing certain prisoners in vulnerable populations in an effort to contain the pandemic as the disease spreads through the system. At a White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing on Thursday, President Donald Trump expressed concern about these releases, saying that some prisoners "are getting out that are very serious criminals, in some states." Late Friday, Attorney General William Barr called to accelerate the release of vulnerable and at-risk inmates at particularly hard-hit facilities in Ohio, Connecticut and Louisiana, pushing for "transfers to home confinement of all appropriate inmates ... where COVID-19 is materially affecting operations," in a memo to the director of the Bureau of Prisons. Among the prisons Barr prioritized was the Federal Correctional Institution's Oakdale, Louisiana, facility, where five inmates have died of the coronavirus. Barr was clear his recommendations on expanding prisoner release would not come without restrictions. "The last thing our massively over-burdened police forces need right now is the indiscriminate release of thousands of prisoners onto the streets without any verification that those prisoners will follow the laws when they are released," Barr said in the memo. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Exports from Vietnam decline due COVID-19 pandemic ICR Newsroom By 06 April 2020 Vietnam exported 7.5Mt of cement and clinker, to a value of US$291m, in the first quarter of this year, said the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The lower volume has been attributed to the coronavirus pandemic. Total exports fell by nearly 40 per cent in volume while the value declined by 20 per cent when compared with the year-ago period, when the country exported 12Mt with a value of US$360m. In 2019, Vietnam exported 33.8Mt of cement and clinker, earning just under US$4bn. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Construction forecast exports of around 33Mt and a domestic demand of 69-70Mt. Two cement production lines were also expected to be commissioned, resulting in a total of 86 plants with a combined output of 105.84Mta, reports Saigon Online. Published under eye-on-india Business Insight | When is the second relief package coming? In this episode of Business Insight, find out what all can be included in the second stimulus boost to be announced by the government (Alliance News) - OptiBiotix Health PLC on Monday said it has entered into a manufacturing agreement with French food supplement manufacturer Laboratoire PYC Inc, with regards to its SlimBiome product. SlimBiome is OptiBiotix's weight management product. The life sciences firm said the agreement gives Laboratoire the exclusive rights to manufacture a new meal replacement product designed to support the international expansion of OptiBiotix's GoFigure weight management brand. OptiBiotix said the deal builds on its efforts to create a source of supply of GoFigure products located within the European Union to support the growth of the brand in Poland, Malaysia, Singapore and Eastern Europe. "We are very pleased to work with Laboratoire PYC to manufacture a new range of meal replacement shakes formulated with SlimBiome, and sold under the GoFigure brand. The agreement helps us lower the cost of trade in case of a hard Brexit, supports our existing and future European distributors, and builds contingency into the supply chain: a key requirement from large retail partners who do not want to be single-sourced," said Fred Narbel, managing director of OptiBiotix's prebiotics division. Earlier in April, the company signed a manufacturing agreement with Denmark-based Fipros AS to ensure supply-chain continuity in case of a "hard Brexit", adding that the agreement de-risked its supply chain by creating a source of supply in the European Union. OptiBiotix shares closed 6.7% higher at 48.00 pence each on Monday afternoon in London. By Ife Taiwo; ifetaiwo@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Vice President Mike Pence said last night, We are beginning to see the glimmers of progress in the fight to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the US and around the world. I watched the press conference and was also encouraged by Dr. Deborah Birx, the US coronavirus coordinator. She reported on hopeful signs from Spain and Italy, where we see, finally, new cases and deaths declining. As she said, Its giving us hope of what our future could be. All this because more people than ever are practicing social distancing. However, stay-at-home orders are also affecting many people in damaging ways. Some cities in China are reporting record-high divorce rates after stay-at-home orders were lifted. Pornography consumption rates in the US are up. Isolation is challenging those in recovery from other addictions as well. This Holy Week, we will focus each day on what Jesus did that day on his way to Calvary and the resurrection. What does Holy Monday say to us as we are socially distancing on a level unprecedented in our lifetimes? "Hosanna to the Son of David!" Our Lord entered Jerusalem triumphantly on Palm Sunday (Mark 11:1-10), then spent the night in Bethany (vv. 1112). On Holy Monday, he cursed a barren fig tree as a symbol of the fruitless nation of Israel (vv. 1214; cf. Jeremiah 8:13; Micah 7:1). He next drove moneychangers from the temple (Mark 11:15-18). Then the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them (Matthew 21:14). He received the praise of children crying out in the temple, Hosanna to the Son of David!' (v. 15), despite the indignation of the chief priests and scribes (vv. 1516). Then, leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there (v. 17). Lets focus today on Jesus cleansing of the temple. Five financial functions took place there during Holy Week, each of which incurred our Lords wrath. Five reasons Jesus cleansed the temple People came to Jerusalem for Passover from every nation under heaven (Acts 2:5). Since there were no banks along the way, they had to bring the money they would need to finance their trip to Jerusalem and back. (Some stayed in the Holy City for fifty days until Pentecost, which made their trip even more expensive; cf. Acts 2:5-11). Three financial functions were performed at the temple which carried their own Greek designation but are translated into the same English term: money-changers. One: Foreign coins had to be changed into local currency, which was the function of the kollybistes (the money-changers of Matthew 21:12). Two: Travelers would typically bring large denominations of money for ease of transport, which had to be converted into smaller coins. This was the function of the kermatistes, (the money-changers of John 2:14). Three: Travelers would also store money at the temple, a service rendered by the trapezites(the money-changers of Matthew 25:27). For the first two functions, the money-changers typically charged a premium of 4 to 8 percent; those acting as bankers paid interest at a fixed rate (though this was contrary to Jewish law; cf. Exodus 22:25). Four: Those who came to the temple were required to pay a tribute of half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (Exodus 30:13). This currency was in use only at the temple. As a result, those who came to sacrifice had to exchange their currency for it. For each of these four functions, however, the money-changers were charging exorbitant rates. Since those who came to the temple had no other option, they were forced to pay them. Five: Animals used for sacrifice at the temple were required to be without blemish (cf. Exodus 12:5). Since raising such animals and then transporting them all the way to Jerusalem was difficult for most people, they chose to buy their sacrificial animal when they arrived. However, those who marketed such animals were charging unfair prices for them. For these reasons, Jesus began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple (Mark 11:15). He explained his action: Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? But you have made it a den of robbers (Mark 11:17). Two transforming life principles Jesus cleansing of the temple teaches two profound principles today. First, our Lord knows our sins, whether others hold us accountable for them or not. The authorities allowed corruption by money-changers and perhaps profited from them personally (cf. Mark 11:18; Luke 16:14; Matthew 23:25). But Jesus saw their sin and responded proactively to it. He sees our secret sins just as clearly today (cf. Proverbs 15:3; Hebrews 4:13). Second, our Lord is willing to forgive all we confess. Holy Monday was the second time Jesus had to cleanse the temple (cf. John 2:13-17). The corrupt merchants had been unwilling to repent, so he was forced to judge and punish them. By contrast, if we will admit the sins in our personal temple (1 Corinthians 3:16), he will cleanse us and forgive us. If we continue to seek his help, he will continue to give us victory. I encourage you to make time on this Holy Monday to get alone with Jesus. Ask him to bring to mind anything in your life that needs to be cleansed from your temple, then confess all that comes to your thoughts and claim his forgiving grace (1 John 1:9). Ask him to help you cleanse your temple often. I am convinced that one way our Lord wants to redeem the social distancing of these days is by using it to draw us closer to himself than ever before. Who are the money-changers in your temple today? Publication date: April 6, 2020 Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Coompia77 For more from the Denison Forum, please visit www.denisonforum.org. The Daily Article Podcast is Here! Click to Listen VALEURA ENERGY DOUBLES WORKING INTEREST AND RE-AFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO DEEP UNCONVENTIONAL GAS PLAY CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / April 6, 2020 / Valeura Energy Inc. (VLE.TO)(VLU.L) ("Valeura" or the "Company"), the upstream natural gas company focused on the Thrace Basin of Turkey, announces an increase in its working interest in the Banarli and West Thrace exploration licenses and re-affirms its commitment to appraisal of its deep unconventional gas play. Highlights Working interest in the deep play increases to 100% in the Banarli exploration licences, and 63% in the West Thrace exploration licence and production leases Management and Directors remain committed to the deep play and believe that further appraisal is warranted Intend to re-start production from the Devepinar-1 well with a longer-term production test than was previously conducted Data sharing and cooperation arrangements with other operators in the region initiated Enviable financial position, with no debt and approximately $36 million of cash at year-end 2019 Seeking an additional partner to participate in the deep unconventional play Working interest doubled Valeura announced on February 4, 2020 that its joint venture partner Equinor Turkey B.V. ("Equinor") intended to discontinue participation in the deep unconventional gas appraisal programme. Equinor elected to relinquish their interests under the terms of the joint operating agreements ("JOAs") between the parties, and as such their working interests and rights transfer to the remaining parties, Valeura and Pinnacle Turkey Inc. ("PTI"), at no cost. On April 2, 2020 the Government of Turkey provided notice that it has approved the transfer of Equinor's working interests and rights to Valeura and PTI. This doubles Valeura's working interest in the deep play. In the Banarli exploration licences, Valeura will hold 100%, and in the West Thrace exploration licence and production leases the Company will increase its holdings to 63% of the deep rights. Ownership in shallow rights is unchanged (100% at Banarli and 81.5% at West Thrace) and Valeura remains operator of all of the blocks. Story continues Having completed the exit of Equinor from all of the blocks, the Company will now apply for the first extension to the Banarli and West Thrace exploration licences. Exploration licences in Turkey have an initial 5-year phase followed by up to three 2-year phases, for a maximum of 11 years, prior to being converted to production leases. The first 5-year phase of these three exploration licences ends on June 26, 2020, and the first extension phase would then extend until June 26, 2022. Committed to the play Valeura remains committed to the appraisal of the deep play, as the management and directors continue to see the potential for significant long-term gas production. Taking into account all technical data gathered to date, the Company believes that further appraisal is warranted. The clear objective is to demonstrate stable commercial long-term flow potential by identifying the production sweet spots within the play, and optimising drilling and completion techniques and associated cost. Valeura also recognises that the play is at an early phase of its life cycle and will ultimately require more drilling and testing. Of the 11 deep wells that have penetrated the deep gas play to date, only the most recent three of these have been subjected to stimulation and production testing, all which resulted in gas flowing to surface. This yields a drilling density of 0.02 wells per 1,000 acres over the approximately 450,000 acres play area, which is extremely low compared to proven North American unconventional basins, which generally have well densities ranging between 5 and 50 wells per 1,000 acres. Fit-for-purpose near-term plan The data that has been acquired through drilling and testing has increased the Company's understanding of the subsurface and these learnings are pointing to new areas for appraisal. Valeura has been encouraged by identifying deep zones with dryer gas where hydrocarbon maturity, reservoir quality, saturation and natural fracturing are all improved. Short-term production testing from these deepest zones suggest that they may have the potential to be economically developed. In the near term, Valeura will focus its efforts on low cost data collection while it plans the next part of the appraisal programme. The Company intends to re-start production from the Devepinar-1 well with a longer-term production test than was previously conducted. The Company expects testing will cost only a few thousand dollars per day, compared with just under $100,000 per day incurred during the earlier testing campaign when a larger complement of personnel and equipment conducted the stimulation and testing operation. All produced gas during testing will be sold to Valeura's customers. Timing for this operation is currently uncertain given the cascading effect of the ongoing Covid-19 global pandemic. The Company also recognises the importance of gathering as much data as possible about the scope of the deep unconventional gas play. Valeura has initiated data sharing and cooperation arrangements with other operators in the region to benefit from the collective learnings gathered through all deep wells drilled in the basin. The Company anticipates no material spending associated with these arrangements. Partnering for the long-term Valeura is in excellent financial shape, with no debt and approximately $36 million of cash at year-end 2019. While management sees this as an enviable position, they recognise that the substantial potential of the deep, unconventional gas play justifies an ongoing and extensive work programme. The Company will seek an additional partner to participate in the deep unconventional play. The target will be a partner who brings both financial and technical capability to the joint venture, for a work programme that is expected to include drilling new vertical and horizontal wells, reservoir stimulation, and production testing operations. Until such a partner is in place, the Company anticipates only minimal capital spending towards the deep play and a focus on fit-for-purpose data collection, as noted above. Sean Guest, President and CEO commented: "We are doubling our interest in the deep play and reaffirming our conviction that this presents an opportunity to add substantial value. The character of our business will evolve to ensure we have the resources and the longevity to see through a meaningful ongoing appraisal programme. In the near term, we will be cautious with our spending and creative when it comes to opportunities to learn more from our existing well stock and from our neighbouring operators. There are exciting days ahead for Valeura and its shareholders." Annual and Special Meeting Arrangements In light of public health recommendations to reduce social gatherings to curtail the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, Valeura will defer its Annual and Special Meeting, which had previously been scheduled for May 13, 2020. Alternate meeting arrangements will be communicated in due course. For further information please contact: Valeura Energy Inc. (General and Investor Enquiries) +1 403 237 7102 Sean Guest, President and CEO Heather Campbell, CFO Robin Martin, Investor Relations Manager Contact@valeuraenergy.com, IR@valeuraenergy.com Canaccord Genuity Limited (Corporate Broker) +44 (0) 20 7523 8000 Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor, James Asensio CAMARCO (Public Relations, Media Adviser) +44 (0) 20 3757 4980 Owen Roberts, Monique Perks, Hugo Liddy, Billy Clegg Valeura@camarco.co.uk Oil and Gas Advisories Forward-Looking Statements and Cautionary Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and information (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking information") including, but not limited to: the Company's ability to demonstrate stable long-term flow potential from its deep gas play; the intent to restart production from the Devepinar-1 well for a longer-term production test; the capture and sale of gas through Valeura's sales pipeline network to generate revenue for the Company; the intent to apply for license extensions, the ability to achieve data sharing and cooperation arrangements with other operators, and the expected scope of the forward appraisal programme. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as "anticipate", estimate", "expect", "target", "potential", "could", "should", "would" or similar words suggesting future outcomes. The Company cautions readers and prospective investors in the Company's securities to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, as by its nature, it is based on current expectations regarding future events that involve a number of assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company. Forward-looking information is based on management's current expectations and assumptions regarding, among other things: the ability to continue safe operations at the Company's worksites in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the implementation and effectiveness of preventive measures; continued political stability of the areas in which the Company is operating; continued safety of operations and ability to proceed in a timely manner; continued operations of and approvals forthcoming from the Turkish government and regulators in a manner consistent with past conduct; the continued favourable pricing and operating netbacks in Turkey; future production rates and associated operating netbacks and cash flow; decline rates; future sources of funding; future economic conditions; future currency exchange rates; the ability to meet drilling deadlines and other requirements under licenses and leases, including the ability to meet the timelines to drill two commitment wells in the current term of the West Thrace exploration licence; the ability to achieve the first two-year extension of the exploration licences at Banarli and West Thrace; and the Company's continued ability to obtain and retain qualified staff and equipment in a timely and cost efficient manner. In addition, the Company's work programmes and plans are in part based upon anticipated costs and sales prices, the actual results of drilling, testing and related activity, availability of drilling, reservoir stimulation and other specialised oilfield equipment and service providers, and unexpected delays and changes in market conditions. Although the Company believes the expectations and assumptions reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information involves significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Exploration, appraisal, and development of oil and natural gas reserves are speculative activities and involve a degree of risk. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company including, but not limited to: uncertainty regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's operations, including the potential shutdown of government offices and processing of government applications, the potential shutdown of various businesses and activities in Turkey that may impact drilling, testing and other operations and identification of a potential case at one of the Company's worksites; the risks of currency fluctuations; changes in gas prices and netbacks in Turkey; uncertainty regarding the contemplated timelines and costs for the deep evaluation; the risks of disruption to operations and access to worksites, threats to security and safety of personnel and potential property damage related to political issues or civil unrest in Turkey; potential changes in laws and regulations, the uncertainty regarding government and other approvals; counterparty risk; risks associated with weather delays and natural disasters; and the risk associated with international activity. The forward-looking information included in this news release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information included herein is made as of the date hereof and Valeura assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. See the AIF for a detailed discussion of the risk factors. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction, including where such offer would be unlawful. This announcement is not for distribution or release, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Ireland, the Republic of South Africa or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which its publication or distribution would be unlawful. Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Valeura Energy Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/584003/Valeura-Energy-Inc-Announces-Update-on-deep-unconventional-gas-play With curiously little fanfare, the White House released last week a six-page document called the National Strategy to Secure 5G, a blueprint that was mandated by the Secure 5G and Beyond Act. That bill, signed into law by President Trump on the same day, March 23, that the White House released its strategy paper, directed the president to release his strategy paper within 180 days of the bill's enactment. The paper's stated goal is to articulate a vision "for America to lead the development, deployment and management of secure and reliable 5G communications infrastructure, worldwide, arm-in-arm with our closest partners and allies." The four "lines of effort" driving this vision include: Facilitating the domestic roll-out of 5G Assessing the security risks and core principles for infrastructure Managing those economic and security risks Promoting responsible global development and deployment of the 5G infrastructure The domestic roll-out of 5G, coordinated by the National Economic Council, primarily lies with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which has what it calls its 5G FAST plan. FAST makes more radiofrequency spectrum available, streamlines government processes, and "modernizes" regulation to promote the deployment of 5G backhaul. The Commerce Department is also working on a National Spectrum Strategy to plan for future generations of wireless networks. US government to work with private sector on 5G security When it comes to assessing the risks and security of 5G, the "strategy" paper, which reads much more like a set of aspirational goals as opposed to a game plan for achieving government objectives, says the U.S. government will promote secure 5G infrastructure by regularly assessing the economic and national security risks to the infrastructure. To that end, the government will work with the private sector to "identify, develop and apply core security principles best practices in cybersecurity, supply chain risk management, and public safety to United States 5G infrastructure." The goal would be to synchronize these principles with those endorsed by the US in the "Prague Proposals" from the Prague 5G Security Conference in May 2019. When it comes to the third line of effort, managing those risks, the paper says the United States will identify or develop supply chain risk management standards, guidelines, and practices for executive agencies to use when assessing and mitigating supply chain risks as spelled out in the Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act of 2018. The paper also points back to the Executive Order (E.O.) 13873, issued May 15, 2019, on "Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain" to prohibit or unwind transactions involving "foreign adversaries" sale in the US of information and communications technology and services. Finally, in terms of the fourth line of effort, promoting responsible global development and deployment of 5G, the paper says the US government wants to work with like-minded countries to lead the international development and deployment of 5G technologies. It is this last piece of the paper addressing global cooperation that may offer the most upside potential in any implementation of a new 5G strategy, John Watts, senior fellow in the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at the Atlantic Council says. Watts, who has studied and written extensively about the global security ramifications of 5G technology, tells CSO that "Motorola and Nokia missed the move from 3G to 4G and Nokia ended up selling off, and also Motorola ended up selling off, their cellular businesses because they missed that jump." The upshot is that China's Huawei, currently considered the most significant supply chain threat to 5G technology, saw these disasters and said: "We've got to get 5G right." "China recognized this about 2015, and they directed the tech champions like Huawei and ZTE to go and start researching, getting on the front foot of this, says Watts. They saw this as an opportunity to jump in and shift the balance of economic power. So, we are behind." Not only is it important for international companies to pull together in the face of potential technological obsolescence, but the US operates on a global footprint. "The US military is operating in Germany, it's operating in Korea, it's operating in Japan, in the Philippines or Sudan or Southern Lebanon and they've all got Huawei equipment and then there's a security risk." Software the best chance for the US to secure 5G But the US can't, in the words of two leading Rand Corporation analysts, "out-China" China and compete against Huawei and other companies in the development of the physical infrastructure and hardware. Where there is hope, according to Watts, is in the US arena of competitive advantage: software, particularly in approaches that involve multiple software vendors within a single network. That also has the benefit of making the supply chain more resilient. The best chance for U.S. success is to collaborate in creating robust software alternatives on a global scale with likeminded partners in countries around the globe in countries with advanced 5G capabilities such as Sweden, Finland and South Korea, Watts contends. "China is building a better internal combustion engine car. We need to build a Tesla, which is better in different ways," Watts says. Legislative proposals the next step The next step in implementing the White House's 5G security strategy is to develop legislative proposals that move the US toward the outlined goals. But the coronavirus crisis has turned Capitol Hill on its head. The lawmakers behind the Secure 5G and Beyond Act are currently mum on what the next legislative implementation steps might be. It's also quite possible that the paper is merely an empty "box-ticking" exercise that the White House knew it had to complete as a result of the Secure 5G bill. Still, the paper is congruent with a lot of other actions and executive orders the administration has undertaken, Watts says. One intriguing idea is to marry the administration's desire for a secure 5G network with the need to jumpstart the economy after the immediate crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic subsides. "There's talk at the moment of an infrastructure builder to get the economy back on track," Watts says. "It would be a good option if the government said, 'Let's jumpstart the economy by rolling out 5G to the rural systems.' And they throw money behind it as part of the two trillion dollars that is sitting out there already. I think we could bounce back really quickly, and we could accelerate up to compete against China soon. An error has occurred within file /articles.aspx Please report the error to support@bizcommunity.com and it will be fixed as soon as possible. NEW HAVEN The Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge in New Haven often referred to locally as the Q Bridge will be lighted in red lights beginning Monday night to honor the thousands of Connecticut health-care workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Gov. Ned Lamont. The bridge carries Interstate 91 over the Quinnipiac River in New Haven; it is operated and maintained by the state Department of Transportation. Our states health care workers have been thrown into this crisis and are literally working around the clock to protect our state from this pandemic, Lamont said in a release. This is a visible way for us to express our appreciation for their dedication during this national crisis, and a reminder to our residents about the sacrifices they are making on our behalf, Lamont said. Too often, our doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, and so many others are almost taken for granted. We want them to know that we understand and appreciate their commitment to the health and safety of our citizens. Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said, also in the release, that Health care workers across Connecticut deserve our sincerest gratitude for stepping up to be on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19. Their hard work and dedication to the people of our state is truly praiseworthy, she said. I encourage everyone to take a moment to thank the health care workers in their community and to honor their sacrifice by continuing to stay home and practice safe social distancing in order to stop the spread of this virus. State Transportation Commissioner Joseph J. Giulietti noted, The Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge is one of the gems of Connecticuts highway system - a signature structure on our coastline traveled by more than 130,000 vehicles on a typical day. I am pleased that we are able to honor these brave men and women in this special way, he said. The special red lighting honoring the states health care workers will continue as long as the COVID-19 pandemic remains at significant levels, according to Lamont. 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) - Responding to COVID-19 containment measures, Nevada Copper (TSX:NCU) said Monday it is suspending copper production at its Pumpkin Hollow project located in Nevada. The company said suspension is expected to last six weeks. "As in many parts of the United States, Nevada has imposed stringent travel and workplace restrictions the nature of which are continuing to evolve. As previously disclosed, these restrictions have resulted in significant operational delays and work constraints affecting the company. Their continued impact without mitigation measures, especially during ramp up of the companys underground mine, prevent it from continuing effective operations," said Nevada Copper. "General concern regarding the risks to the health of the companys workforce, contractors and suppliers, the consequences of the working restrictions now in effect, and disruptions to the companys supply chains, have made it necessary for the company to suspend copper production." Nevada Copper is a new mine. It kicked off production in December. Thiruvananthapuram, April 7 : BJP's Kerala state President K.Surendran on Monday asked the state government to take a cue from the Centre and reduce pay and perks of legislators. " This decision to cut the pay and perks by 30 per cent for a year and the MPLAD scheme for two years by the Centre has been widely welcomed and hence Kerala should take such a step. This is being done to tide over the financial crisis which the country is facing in the wake of Covid-19. Kerala CM, Ministers and legislators also should do the same," he said. The BJP has just one member in the 140-member Kerala Assembly. Incidentally Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who has contributed Rs 1 lakh for Covid relief, has asked all his cabinet ministers to do the same, and they have complied. Vijayan has also announced a salary challenge (one month) for the state government employees, which the Congress-led opposition has objected to, saying it should not be compulsory and exemptions should be given to all those sections who are presently engaged in fighting Covid-19 spread. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The UK's safety watchdog is calling on the farming industry to ensure children are safe on the farm while they stay home during the coronavirus pandemic. Every year children are killed or seriously injured during agricultural work activities, most of which are family members. Just this week, a six-year-old girl was airlifted to hospital after she was struck by a vehicle on a farm in Camelford, Cornwall on Monday 30 March. A spokeswoman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: Police were called at 4:20pm to farmland in Camelford following reports of a collision involving a vehicle and a child." In 2019 alone, two children, both aged 3, were killed on British farms in incidents that could have been prevented. With schools now closed due to the spread of Covid-19, more children will be staying at home on the farms. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is now reminding farmers that they should be kept safely away from any work activities. Although many agricultural workers are in the essential key workers list so their children can go to school, many will be at home for longer periods. Farmers have been urged to take note of government advice on self-isolation and social distancing and apply this on-farm. HSEs Head of Agriculture, Adrian Hodkinson, said work life should always be separated from home life - and farming should be 'no different to any other job'. "Farms are full of hazards vehicles and other machines, large animals, deep lagoons, a variety of chemicals and hazardous dusts they are not a place for children, unless risk is very carefully managed. Not only would causing harm to a child be devastating for the family, part of the reason we must stay home during the coronavirus pandemic is to protect the NHS and avoid burdening services with injuries and issues that are avoidable," he said. "Farm work should stop immediately if an unsupervised child appears in any work area. How can I keep children safe on the farm? Keep children out of work areas, play areas should be secure and away from the work area If children are in a work area, they must be closely supervised by an adult who isnt involved in any work Children under the age of 13 years are specifically prohibited from driving or riding on any agricultural machine Keep children out of pens, out of handling facilities and well away when animals are being moved or handled. Singapore on Monday announced an additional budget of SGD 5.1 billion (USD 3.5 billion) to support jobs and mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the country's economy, days after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the closure of most workplaces as part of his "decisive move" to contain the spread of the deadly disease. The third tranche of COVID-19 support measures includes wage subsidies for every local worker, cash payouts for all adult citizens and more help for the self-employed. This will cost the city-state government SGD 5.1 billion ((USD 3.5 billion), including SGD 4 billion (USD 2.7 billion) that would be drawn from the country's reserves. With this, the government's combined COVID-19 support package comes to SGD 59.9 billion (USD 41.7 billion), Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said in parliament, announcing the latest increases in state spending dubbed as solidarity budget. This is an unprecedented budget, for extraordinary times. The situation remains highly fluid and uncertain. The government stands ready to provide further support, should it become necessary, said Heng. This is about 12 per cent of Singapore's gross domestic product, according to Channel Asia. Lee, in a live televised speech on Friday, announced the closure of most workplaces and moving to home-based learning for schoolchildren to contain the spread of the disease in the country. Of the new package, SGD 4 billion will go to additional support for businesses and workers, and SGD 1.1 billion to the solidarity payment that includes payouts of SGD 600 (USD 418) for each adult Singaporean. This adds to the SGD 48.4 billion (USD 33.17 billion) resilience budget unveiled on March 26 and the SGD 6.4 billion (USD 4.4 billion) unity budget announced in February. The overall budget deficit for FY 2020 will increase to SGD 44.3 billion (USD 30.8 billion) or 8.9 per cent of GDP, said Heng, who is also the Finance Minister. President Halimah Yacob had already given her in-principle support for the government to draw up to SGD 17 billion (USD 11 billion) from past reserves to fund some of the measures in the resilience budget. With the significantly stricter pre-emptive measures needed to protect Singaporeans and our families, it is now necessary for us to propose a further draw on past reserves, said Heng as country's economic situation is deteriorating amid the coronavirus crisis, increasing uncertainties for the 5.6 million population. The President has given in-principle support to draw on an additional SGD 4 billion from the reserves, said Heng. Specifically, this will be used to fund the enhanced Job Support Scheme, the enhanced Temporary Bridging Loan Programme and Enterprise Financing Scheme, and the Solidarity Payment to Singaporeans, he said. Singapore reported 120 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, the highest daily increase since the disease broke out. As of Sunday, Singapore has a total of 1,309 coronavirus patients. A total of 19,800 foreign workers across two dormitories have been placed under quarantine and they will have to stay in their rooms for the next 14 days, Channel Asia reported. Authorities are anticipating further spike in the number of coronavirus cases while people have been told to stay at home and step out only to buy essentials to contain the fast-spreading disease. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Approval Based on Positive Results from the Phase 3 ALTA-1L Trial Showing ALUNBRIG Demonstrated Superior Overall and Intracranial Effectiveness over Crizotinib in the First-line Setting Expanded Indication Provides Additional First-Line Treatment Option for the Approximately 10,000 People with ALK+ NSCLC in Europe Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) today announced that the European Commission (EC) extended the current marketing authorization of ALUNBRIG (brigatinib) to include use as a monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK+) advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) previously not treated with an ALK inhibitor. This decision follows a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) on February 27, 2020. Patients with ALK+ NSCLC, particularly those who have developed brain metastases, have been in need of additional treatment options that are proven effective in the first-line setting, said Professor Sanjay Popat, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. As brigatinib has shown superiority compared to crizotinib in this setting, including in patients whose disease has spread to the brain, this approval is an important advancement for these patients and gives physicians in the European Union another choice when addressing the needs of ALK+ NSCLC patients. At Takeda, our commitment to patients drives us as we seek to advance care and address the unmet needs of the lung cancer community, said Teresa Bitetti, President, Global Oncology Business Unit, Takeda. We are proud of the positive results ALUNBRIG has demonstrated in the first-line setting, including strong overall and intracranial efficacy, and look forward to making ALUNBRIG available to newly diagnosed ALK+ NSCLC patients in Europe. ALK+ NSCLC is a complex and nuanced disease, and people with this form of lung cancer may benefit from the availability of a variety of treatment options, said Stefania Vallone, President of Lung Cancer Europe (LUCE). We welcome the availability of additional treatment options that may benefit the European cancer community and patients with this serious and rare form of the disease, with the hope that they will soon be accessible to patients across Europe. The approval is based on results from the Phase 3 ALTA-1L trial, which evaluated the safety and efficacy of ALUNBRIG compared to crizotinib in patients with ALK+ locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC who have not received prior treatment with an ALK inhibitor. Results from the trial showed ALUNBRIG demonstrated superiority compared to crizotinib with significant anti-tumor activity observed in patients with baseline brain metastases. After more than two years of follow-up, ALUNBRIG reduced the risk of intracranial disease progression or death by 69% in patients with brain metastases at baseline (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.170.56), as assessed by a blinded independent review committee (BIRC), and reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 76% in patients with brain metastases at baseline (HR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.120.45), as assessed by investigators. ALUNBRIG also demonstrated consistent overall efficacy (intent to treat population), with a median progression-free survival (PFS) more than two times longer than that with crizotinib at 24.0 months (95% CI: 18.5NE) versus 11.0 months (95% CI: 9.212.9) for crizotinib, as assessed by BIRC, and 29.4 months (95% CI: 21.2NE) versus 9.2 months (95% CI: 7.412.9), as assessed by investigators. The safety profile of ALUNBRIG in the ALTA-1L trial was generally consistent with the existing European summary of product characteristics (SmPC). The most common treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) Grade 3 in the ALUNBRIG arm were increased CPK (24.3%), increased lipase (14.0%) and hypertension (11.8%); and for crizotinib were increased ALT (10.2%), AST (6.6%) and lipase (6.6%). This decision by the European Medicines Agency means that ALUNBRIG is now approved for marketing of this indication in all European Union member states, in addition to Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland. For further details about the decision, please visit the European Medicines Agency website: www.ema.europa.eu/ema. About the ALTA-1L Trial The Phase 3 ALTA-1L (ALK in Lung Cancer Trial of BrigAtinib in 1st Line) trial of ALUNBRIG in adults is a global, ongoing, randomized, open-label, comparative, multicenter trial, which enrolled 275 patients (ALUNBRIG, n=137, crizotinib, n=138) with ALK+ locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC who have not received prior treatment with an ALK inhibitor. Patients received either ALUNBRIG, 180 mg once daily with seven-day lead-in at 90 mg once daily, or crizotinib, 250 mg twice daily. The median age was 58 years in the ALUNBRIG arm and 60 years in the crizotinib arm. Twenty-nine percent of patients had brain metastases at baseline in the ALUNBRIG arm versus 30% in the crizotinib arm. Twenty-six percent of patients received prior chemotherapy for advanced or metastatic disease in the ALUNBRIG arm versus 27% in the crizotinib arm. Blinded independent review committee (BIRC)-assessed progression-free survival (PFS) was the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR) per RECIST v1.1, intracranial ORR, intracranial PFS, overall survival (OS), safety and tolerability. The safety profile of ALUNBRIG in the ALTA-1L trial was generally consistent with the existing European summary of product characteristics (SmPC). About ALUNBRIG (brigatinib) ALUNBRIG is a potent and selective next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that was designed to target and inhibit anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) genetic alterations. In April 2017, ALUNBRIG received Accelerated Approval from the U.S. FDA for ALK+ metastatic NSCLC patients who have progressed on or are intolerant to crizotinib. This indication is approved under Accelerated Approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial. ALUNBRIG is currently approved in more than 40 countries, including the U.S., Canada and the European Union, for the treatment of people living with ALK+ metastatic NSCLC who have taken the medicine crizotinib, but their NSCLC has worsened or they cannot tolerate taking crizotinib. ALUNBRIG received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the FDA for the treatment of patients with ALK+ NSCLC whose tumors are resistant to crizotinib and was granted Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA for the treatment of ALK+ NSCLC, ROS1+ and EGFR+ NSCLC. About ALK+ NSCLC Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common form of lung cancer, accounting for approximately 85% of the estimated 1.8 million new cases of lung cancer diagnosed each year worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.1,2 Genetic studies indicate that chromosomal rearrangements in anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) are key drivers in a subset of NSCLC patients.3 Approximately three to five percent of patients with metastatic NSCLC have a rearrangement in the ALK gene.4,5,6 Takeda is committed to continuing research and development in NSCLC to improve the lives of the approximately 40,000 patients diagnosed with this serious and rare form of lung cancer worldwide each year.7 Takeda in Lung Cancer Takeda is dedicated to expanding treatment options in the ALK+ NSCLC and EGFR/HER2 mutant NSCLC treatment landscapes. Our comprehensive programs include the following clinical trials to continue to address unmet needs for people living with lung cancer: ALUNBRIG Phase 1/2 trial , which was designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and preliminary anti-tumor activity of ALUNBRIG. This trial has completed enrollment. , which was designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and preliminary anti-tumor activity of ALUNBRIG. This trial has completed enrollment. Pivotal Phase 2 ALTA trial investigating the efficacy and safety of ALUNBRIG at two dosing regimens in patients with ALK+ locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC who had progressed on crizotinib. This trial has completed enrollment. investigating the efficacy and safety of ALUNBRIG at two dosing regimens in patients with ALK+ locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC who had progressed on crizotinib. This trial has completed enrollment. Phase 3 ALTA-1L , global, randomized trial assessing the efficacy and safety of ALUNBRIG in comparison to crizotinib in patients with ALK+ locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC who have not received prior treatment with an ALK inhibitor. This trial has completed enrollment. , global, randomized trial assessing the efficacy and safety of ALUNBRIG in comparison to crizotinib in patients with ALK+ locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC who have not received prior treatment with an ALK inhibitor. This trial has completed enrollment. Phase 2 J-ALTA , single-arm, multicenter trial in Japanese patients with ALK+ NSCLC, focusing on patients who have progressed on alectinib. This trial has completed enrollment. , single-arm, multicenter trial in Japanese patients with ALK+ NSCLC, focusing on patients who have progressed on alectinib. This trial has completed enrollment. Phase 2 ALTA 2 , global, single-arm trial evaluating ALUNBRIG in patients with advanced ALK+ NSCLC who have progressed on alectinib or ceritinib. This trial has completed enrollment. , global, single-arm trial evaluating ALUNBRIG in patients with advanced ALK+ NSCLC who have progressed on alectinib or ceritinib. This trial has completed enrollment. Phase 3 ALTA 3, global randomized trial comparing the efficacy and safety of ALUNBRIG versus alectinib in participants with ALK+ NSCLC who have progressed on crizotinib. This trial is now enrolling. TAK-788, a selective inhibitor of EGFR/HER2 mutations, currently being explored in patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations: Phase 1/2 study evaluating the safety, pharmacokinetics and antitumor activity of oral EGFR/HER2 inhibitor TAK-788 in patients with NSCLC. This trial has completed enrollment. study evaluating the safety, pharmacokinetics and antitumor activity of oral EGFR/HER2 inhibitor TAK-788 in patients with NSCLC. This trial has completed enrollment. Phase 2 EXCLAIM , pivotal extension cohort of the Phase 1/2 trial, which was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TAK-788 at 160 mg once daily in previously treated patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations. This trial has completed enrollment. , pivotal extension cohort of the Phase 1/2 trial, which was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TAK-788 at 160 mg once daily in previously treated patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations. This trial has completed enrollment. Phase 3 EXCLAIM 2 , global, randomized study evaluating the efficacy of TAK-788 as a first-line treatment compared to platinum-based doublet chemotherapy in treatment-naive patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC whose tumors harbor EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations. This trial is now enrolling. , global, randomized study evaluating the efficacy of TAK-788 as a first-line treatment compared to platinum-based doublet chemotherapy in treatment-naive patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC whose tumors harbor EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations. This trial is now enrolling. Phase 1 , open-label, multicenter, dose-escalation study evaluating the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of TAK-788 in Japanese patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC. This trial has completed enrollment. , open-label, multicenter, dose-escalation study evaluating the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of TAK-788 in Japanese patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC. This trial has completed enrollment. Phase 2 J-EXCLAIM , open-label, multicenter, study evaluating the efficacy of TAK-788 as a first-line treatment in Japanese patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC whose tumors harbor EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations. This trial is now enrolling. , open-label, multicenter, study evaluating the efficacy of TAK-788 as a first-line treatment in Japanese patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC whose tumors harbor EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations. This trial is now enrolling. Phase 1, open-label, two-period, fixed-sequence study designed to characterize drug-drug interaction between TAK-788 and either a strong cytochrome P-450 (CYP)3A inhibitor, itraconazole (Part 1) or a strong CYP3A inducer, rifampin (Part 2) in healthy adult subjects. This trial is now enrolling. For additional information on the ALUNBRIG and TAK-788 clinical trials, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov. ALUNBRIG (brigatinib): GLOBAL IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION CONTRAINDICATIONS Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients of ALUNBRIG is contraindicated SPECIAL WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS FOR USE Pulmonary Adverse Reactions: Severe, life-threatening, and fatal pulmonary adverse reactions, including those with features consistent with ILD/pneumonitis, has been reported with ALUNBRIG. Most pulmonary adverse reactions were observed within the first 7 days of treatment. Grade 1-2 pulmonary adverse reactions resolved with interruption of treatment or dose modification. Increased age and shorter interval (less than 7 days) between the last dose of crizotinib and the first dose of ALUNBRIG were independently associated with an increased rate of these pulmonary adverse reactions. Consider these factors when initiating treatment with ALUNBRIG. Some patients experienced pneumonitis later in treatment with ALUNBRIG. Monitor for new or worsening respiratory symptoms (e.g., dyspnea, cough, etc.) in the first week of treatment. Promptly investigate signs of pneumonitis in any patient with worsening respiratory symptoms. If pneumonitis is suspected, withhold ALUNBRIG, and evaluate patient for other symptoms (e.g., pulmonary embolism, tumor progression, and infectious pneumonia). Hypertension has been reported with ALUNBRIG. Monitor blood pressure regularly during treatment with ALUNBRIG. Treat hypertension according to standard guidelines to control blood pressure. Monitor heart rate more frequently in patients if concomitant use of a medicinal product known to cause bradycardia cannot be avoided. For severe hypertension ( Grade 3), ALUNBRIG should be withheld until hypertension has recovered to Grade 1 or to baseline. The dose should be modified accordingly. Bradycardia has been reported with ALUNBRIG. Use caution when administering ALUNBRIG in combination with other agents known to cause bradycardia. Monitor heart rate and blood pressure regularly. If symptomatic bradycardia occurs, withhold ALUNBRIG and evaluate concomitant medications known to cause bradycardia. If a concomitant medication known to cause bradycardia is identified and discontinued or dose adjusted, resume ALUNBRIG at the same dose following resolution of symptomatic bradycardia; otherwise, reduce the dose of ALUNBRIG following resolution of symptomatic bradycardia. In case of life-threatening bradycardia, if no contributing concomitant medication is identified or in case of recurrence, discontinue ALUNBRIG. Visual Disturbance was reported with ALUNBRIG. Advise patients to report any visual symptoms. Withhold ALUNBRIG and obtain an ophthalmologic evaluation in patients with new or worsening visual symptoms. Creatine Phosphokinase (CPK) Elevation has been reported with ALUNBRIG. Advise patients to report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. Monitor CPK levels regularly during treatment. Withhold ALUNBRIG for Grade 3 or 4 CPK elevation. Based on the severity of the CPK elevation, and if associated with muscle pain or weakness, treatment with brigatinib should be withheld, and the dose modified accordingly. Pancreatic Enzyme Elevation: Elevations of amylase and lipase have been reported with ALUNBRIG. Monitor lipase and amylase regularly. Withhold ALUNBRIG for Grade 3 or 4 pancreatic enzyme elevation. Based on the severity of the laboratory abnormalities, treatment with brigatinib should be withheld, and the dose modified accordingly. Hyperglycemia: Elevations of serum glucose have occurred in patients treated with ALUNBRIG. Assess fasting serum glucose prior to initiation of ALUNBRIG and monitor periodically thereafter. Antihyperglycemic medications should be initiated or optimized as needed. If cannot control hyperglycemia with optimal medical management, withhold ALUNBRIG until adequate hyperglycemic control is achieved. Upon recovery, consider reducing the ALUNBRIG dose or permanently discontinue ALUNBRIG. Embryo-Fetal Toxicity Based on its mechanism of action and findings in animals, ALUNBRIG can cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women. There are no clinical data on the use of ALUNBRIG in pregnant women. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective non-hormonal contraception during treatment with ALUNBRIG and for at least 4 months following the final dose. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment and for at least 3 months after the last dose of ALUNBRIG. ADVERSE REACTIONS The most common adverse reactions ( 25%) reported in patients treated with ALUNBRIG at the recommended dosing regimen were increased AST, increased CPK, hyperglycaemia, increased lipase, hyperinsulinaemia, anaemia, diarrhea, increased ALT, increased amylase, anemia, nausea, fatigue, hypophosphatemia, decreased lymphocyte count, cough, rash, increased alkaline phosphatas, increased APTT, myalgia, headache, hypertension, white blood count decreased, dyspnea and vomiting. The most common serious adverse reactions (2%) reported in patients treated with ALUNBRIG at the recommended dosing regimen other than events related to neoplasm progression included pneumonitis, pneumonia, and dyspnoea. DRUG INTERACTIONS CYP3A Inhibitors: Avoid concomitant use of ALUNBRIG with strong CYP3A inhibitors. If concomitant use of a strong CYP3A inhibitor cannot be avoided, reduce the dose of ALUNBRIG. After discontinuation of strong CYP3A inhibitor, resume ALUNBRIG dose tolerated prior to the initiation of the strong CYP3A inhibitor. No dose adjustment is required for ALUNBRIG in combination with moderate CYP3A inhibitors. Monitor patients closely when coadminister ALUNBRIG with moderate CYP3A inhibitors. Avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice as it may also increase plasma concentrations of ALUNBRIG. Concomitant use of ALUNBRIG with moderate CYP3A inhibitors should be avoided. If concomitant use of moderate CYP3A inhibitors cannot be avoided, reduce the dose of ALUNBRIG. After discontinuation of a moderate CYP3A inhibitor, resume ALUNBRIG at the dose that was tolerated prior to the initiation of the moderate CYP3A inhibitor. CYP2C8 Inhibitors: No dose adjustment is required for ALUNBRIG when coadministered with strong CYP2C8 inhibitors P-gp and BCRP Inhibitors: No dose adjustment is required for ALUNBRIG coadministered with P-gp and BCRP inhibitors. CYP3A Inducers: Avoid concomitant use of ALUNBRIG with strong and moderate CYP3A inducers. If concomitant use of moderate CYP3A inducers cannot be avoided, the dose of ALUNBRIG may be increased in 30 mg increments after 7 days of treatment with the current dose as tolerated, up to a maximum of twice the dose that was tolerated prior to the initiation of the moderate CYP3A inducer. After discontinuation of a moderate CYP3A inducer, resume the dose of ALUNBRIG to the dose that was tolerated prior to the initiation of the moderate CYP3A inducer. CYP3A Substrates: Clinical drug-drug interaction studies with sensitive CYP3A substrates have not been conducted. ALUNBRIG may reduce plasma concentrations of coadministered and induce other enzymes and transporters (e.g., CYP2C, P-gp). Transporter Substrates: ALUNBRIG inhibits P-gp, BCRP, OCT1, MATE1, and MATE2K in vitro. Coadministration of ALUNBRIG Transporter substrates may increase their plasma concentrations. Monitored patients closely when coadminister ALUNBRIG with substrates of these transporters with a narrow therapeutic index (e.g., digoxin, dabigatran, methotrexate). SPECIAL PATIENT POPULATIONS Women of childbearing potential/Contraception in males and females: Advised women of childbearing age not to become pregnant and advise men not to father a child during treatment with ALUNBRIG. Advised women of reproductive potential to use effective non hormonal contraception during treatment with ALUNBRIG and for at least 4 months following the final dose. Advised men with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment and for at least 3 months after the last dose of ALUNBRIG. Pregnancy: ALUNBRIG can cause fetal harm. There are no clinical data on the use of ALUNBRIG in pregnant women. ALUNBRIG should not be used during pregnancy unless the clinical condition of the mother requires treatment. If used during pregnancy, or if patient becomes pregnant while taking ALUNBRIG, advise patient of the potential harm to fetus. Breast feeding: There are no data regarding the secretion of ALUNBRIG in human milk. Breastfeed should be stopped during treatment with ALUNBRIG. Infertility: ALUNBRIG may cause reduced fertility in males. Elderly Patients: The limited data on the safety and efficacy of ALUNBRIG in patients aged 65 years and older suggest that a dose adjustment is not required in elderly patients. There are no available data on patients over 85 years of age. Hepatic Impairment: No dose adjustment of ALUNBRIG is required for patients with mild hepatic impairment (Child Pugh class A) or moderate hepatic impairment (Child Pugh class B). Reduce the dose of ALUNBRIG by approximately 50% (i.e., from 180 mg to 90 mg, or from 90 mg to 60 mg) for patients with severe renal impairment Renal Impairment: No dose adjustment of ALUNBRIG is required for patients with mild or moderate renal impairment (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 30 mL/min). The dose of brigatinib should be reduced by approximately 40% (i.e., from 180 mg to 120 mg, 120 mg to 90 mg, or from 90 mg to 60 mg) for patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class C Pediatric Patients: The safety and efficacy of ALUNBRIG in patients less than 18 years of age have not been established. For US Prescribing Information:https://www.alunbrig.com/assets/pi.pdf For European Union Summary of Product Characteristics:https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/alunbrig For Canada Product Monograph: https://www.takeda.com/siteassets/en-ca/home/what-we-do/our-medicines/product-monographs/alunbrig/alunbrig-pm-en.pdf ALUNBRIG IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION (U.S.) WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)/Pneumonitis: Severe, life-threatening, and fatal pulmonary adverse reactions consistent with interstitial lung disease (ILD)/pneumonitis have occurred with ALUNBRIG. In Trial ALTA (ALTA), ILD/pneumonitis occurred in 3.7% of patients in the 90 mg group (90 mg once daily) and 9.1% of patients in the 90180 mg group (180 mg once daily with 7-day lead-in at 90 mg once daily). Adverse reactions consistent with possible ILD/pneumonitis occurred early (within 9 days of initiation of ALUNBRIG; median onset was 2 days) in 6.4% of patients, with Grade 3 to 4 reactions occurring in 2.7%. Monitor for new or worsening respiratory symptoms (e.g., dyspnea, cough, etc.), particularly during the first week of initiating ALUNBRIG. Withhold ALUNBRIG in any patient with new or worsening respiratory symptoms, and promptly evaluate for ILD/pneumonitis or other causes of respiratory symptoms (e.g., pulmonary embolism, tumor progression, and infectious pneumonia). For Grade 1 or 2 ILD/pneumonitis, either resume ALUNBRIG with dose reduction after recovery to baseline or permanently discontinue ALUNBRIG. Permanently discontinue ALUNBRIG for Grade 3 or 4 ILD/pneumonitis or recurrence of Grade 1 or 2 ILD/pneumonitis. Hypertension: In ALTA, hypertension was reported in 11% of patients in the 90 mg group who received ALUNBRIG and 21% of patients in the 90180 mg group. Grade 3 hypertension occurred in 5.9% of patients overall. Control blood pressure prior to treatment with ALUNBRIG. Monitor blood pressure after 2 weeks and at least monthly thereafter during treatment with ALUNBRIG. Withhold ALUNBRIG for Grade 3 hypertension despite optimal antihypertensive therapy. Upon resolution or improvement to Grade 1 severity, resume ALUNBRIG at a reduced dose. Consider permanent discontinuation of treatment with ALUNBRIG for Grade 4 hypertension or recurrence of Grade 3 hypertension. Use caution when administering ALUNBRIG in combination with antihypertensive agents that cause bradycardia. Bradycardia: Bradycardia can occur with ALUNBRIG. In ALTA, heart rates less than 50 beats per minute (bpm) occurred in 5.7% of patients in the 90 mg group and 7.6% of patients in the 90180 mg group. Grade 2 bradycardia occurred in 1 (0.9%) patient in the 90 mg group. Monitor heart rate and blood pressure during treatment with ALUNBRIG. Monitor patients more frequently if concomitant use of drug known to cause bradycardia cannot be avoided. For symptomatic bradycardia, withhold ALUNBRIG and review concomitant medications for those known to cause bradycardia. If a concomitant medication known to cause bradycardia is identified and discontinued or dose adjusted, resume ALUNBRIG at the same dose following resolution of symptomatic bradycardia; otherwise, reduce the dose of ALUNBRIG following resolution of symptomatic bradycardia. Discontinue ALUNBRIG for life-threatening bradycardia if no contributing concomitant medication is identified. Visual Disturbance: In ALTA, adverse reactions leading to visual disturbance including blurred vision, diplopia, and reduced visual acuity, were reported in 7.3% of patients treated with ALUNBRIG in the 90 mg group and 10% of patients in the 90180 mg group. Grade 3 macular edema and cataract occurred in one patient each in the 90180 mg group. Advise patients to report any visual symptoms. Withhold ALUNBRIG and obtain an ophthalmologic evaluation in patients with new or worsening visual symptoms of Grade 2 or greater severity. Upon recovery of Grade 2 or Grade 3 visual disturbances to Grade 1 severity or baseline, resume ALUNBRIG at a reduced dose. Permanently discontinue treatment with ALUNBRIG for Grade 4 visual disturbances. Creatine Phosphokinase (CPK) Elevation: In ALTA, creatine phosphokinase (CPK) elevation occurred in 27% of patients receiving ALUNBRIG in the 90 mg group and 48% of patients in the 90 mg180 mg group. The incidence of Grade 34 CPK elevation was 2.8% in the 90 mg group and 12% in the 90180 mg group. Dose reduction for CPK elevation occurred in 1.8% of patients in the 90 mg group and 4.5% in the 90180 mg group. Advise patients to report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. Monitor CPK levels during ALUNBRIG treatment. Withhold ALUNBRIG for Grade 3 or 4 CPK elevation. Upon resolution or recovery to Grade 1 or baseline, resume ALUNBRIG at the same dose or at a reduced dose. Pancreatic Enzyme Elevation: In ALTA, amylase elevation occurred in 27% of patients in the 90 mg group and 39% of patients in the 90180 mg group. Lipase elevations occurred in 21% of patients in the 90 mg group and 45% of patients in the 90180 mg group. Grade 3 or 4 amylase elevation occurred in 3.7% of patients in the 90 mg group and 2.7% of patients in the 90180 mg group. Grade 3 or 4 lipase elevation occurred in 4.6% of patients in the 90 mg group and 5.5% of patients in the 90180 mg group. Monitor lipase and amylase during treatment with ALUNBRIG. Withhold ALUNBRIG for Grade 3 or 4 pancreatic enzyme elevation. Upon resolution or recovery to Grade 1 or baseline, resume ALUNBRIG at the same dose or at a reduced dose. Hyperglycemia: In ALTA, 43% of patients who received ALUNBRIG experienced new or worsening hyperglycemia. Grade 3 hyperglycemia, based on laboratory assessment of serum fasting glucose levels, occurred in 3.7% of patients. Two of 20 (10%) patients with diabetes or glucose intolerance at baseline required initiation of insulin while receiving ALUNBRIG. Assess fasting serum glucose prior to initiation of ALUNBRIG and monitor periodically thereafter. Initiate or optimize anti-hyperglycemic medications as needed. If adequate hyperglycemic control cannot be achieved with optimal medical management, withhold ALUNBRIG until adequate hyperglycemic control is achieved and consider reducing the dose of ALUNBRIG or permanently discontinuing ALUNBRIG. Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Based on its mechanism of action and findings in animals, ALUNBRIG can cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women. There are no clinical data on the use of ALUNBRIG in pregnant women. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective non-hormonal contraception during treatment with ALUNBRIG and for at least 4 months following the final dose. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment and for at least 3 months after the last dose of ALUNBRIG. ADVERSE REACTIONS Serious adverse reactions occurred in 38% of patients in the 90 mg group and 40% of patients in the 90180 mg group. The most common serious adverse reactions were pneumonia (5.5% overall, 3.7% in the 90 mg group, and 7.3% in the 90180 mg group) and ILD/pneumonitis (4.6% overall, 1.8% in the 90 mg group and 7.3% in the 90180 mg group). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 3.7% of patients and consisted of pneumonia (2 patients), sudden death, dyspnea, respiratory failure, pulmonary embolism, bacterial meningitis and urosepsis (1 patient each). The most common adverse reactions (25%) in the 90 mg group were nausea (33%), fatigue (29%), headache (28%), and dyspnea (27%) and in the 90180 mg group were nausea (40%), diarrhea (38%), fatigue (36%), cough (34%), and headache (27%). DRUG INTERACTIONS CYP3A Inhibitors: Avoid coadministration of ALUNBRIG with strong or moderate CYP3A inhibitors. Avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice as it may also increase plasma concentrations of brigatinib. If coadministration of a strong or moderate CYP3A inhibitor cannot be avoided, reduce the dose of ALUNBRIG. CYP3A Inducers: Avoid coadministration of ALUNBRIG with strong or moderate CYP3A inducers. If coadministration of moderate CYP3A inducers cannot be avoided, increase the dose of ALUNBRIG CYP3A Substrates: Coadministration of ALUNBRIG with sensitive CYP3A substrates, including hormonal contraceptives, can result in decreased concentrations and loss of efficacy of sensitive CYP3A substrates. USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS Pregnancy: ALUNBRIGcan cause fetal harm. Advise females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus. Lactation: There are no data regarding the secretion of brigatinib in human milk or its effects on the breastfed infant or milk production. Because of the potential adverse reactions in breastfed infants, advise lactating women not to breastfeed during treatment with ALUNBRIG. Females and Males of Reproductive Potential: Pregnancy Testing: Verify pregnancy status in females of reproductive potential prior to initiating ALUNBRIG Contraception:Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective non-hormonal contraception during treatment with ALUNBRIG and for at least 4 months after the final dose. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ALUNBRIG and for at least 3 months after the final dose. Infertility: ALUNBRIG may cause reduced fertility in males. Pediatric Use: The safety and effectiveness of ALUNBRIG in pediatric patients have not been established. Geriatric Use: Clinical studies of ALUNBRIG did not include sufficient numbers of patients aged 65 years and older to determine whether they respond differently from younger patients. Hepatic or Renal Impairment: No dose adjustment is recommended for patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment or mild or moderate renal impairment. Reduce the dose of ALUNBRIG for patients with severe hepatic impairment or severe renal impairment. Please see the full U.S. Prescribing Information for ALUNBRIG at www.ALUNBRIG.com Takedas Commitment to Oncology Our core R&D mission is to deliver novel medicines to patients with cancer worldwide through our commitment to science, breakthrough innovation and passion for improving the lives of patients. Whether its with our hematology therapies, our robust pipeline, or solid tumor medicines, we aim to stay both innovative and competitive to bring patients the treatments they need. For more information, visit www.takedaoncology.com. About Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) is a global, values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan, committed to bringing Better Health and a Brighter Future to patients by translating science into highly-innovative medicines. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on four therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Diseases, Neuroscience, and Gastroenterology (GI). We also make targeted R&D investments in Plasma-Derived Therapies and Vaccines. We are focusing on developing highly innovative medicines that contribute to making a difference in people's lives by advancing the frontier of new treatment options and leveraging our enhanced collaborative R&D engine and capabilities to create a robust, modality-diverse pipeline. Our employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients and to working with our partners in health care in approximately 80 countries. For more information, visit https://www.takeda.com. Important Notice For the purposes of this notice, press release means this document, any oral presentation, any question and answer session and any written or oral material discussed or distributed by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Takeda) regarding this release. 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Such forward-looking statements do not represent any guarantee by Takeda or its management of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to: the economic circumstances surrounding Takedas global business, including general economic conditions in Japan and the United States; competitive pressures and developments; changes to applicable laws and regulations; the success of or failure of product development programs; decisions of regulatory authorities and the timing thereof; fluctuations in interest and currency exchange rates; claims or concerns regarding the safety or efficacy of marketed products or product candidates; the timing and impact of post-merger integration efforts with acquired companies; and the ability to divest assets that are not core to Takedas operations and the timing of any such divestment(s), any of which may cause Takedas actual results, performance, achievements or financial position to be materially different from any future results, performance, achievements or financial position expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For more information on these and other factors which may affect Takedas results, performance, achievements, or financial position, see Item 3. Key InformationD. Risk Factors in Takedas most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and Takedas other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, available on Takedas website at: https://www.takeda.com/investors/reports/sec-filings/ or at www.sec.gov. Future results, performance, achievements or financial position of Takeda could differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Persons receiving this press release should not rely unduly on any forward-looking statements. Takeda undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or any other forward-looking statements it may make, except as required by law or stock exchange rule. Past performance is not an indicator of future results and the results of Takeda in this press release may not be indicative of, and are not an estimate, forecast or projection of Takedas future results. 1 World Health Organization. Latest Global Cancer Data. https://www.who.int/cancer/PRGlobocanFinal.pdf. Accessed May 11, 2019. 2 American Cancer Society. What is Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer? https://www.cancer.org/cancer/non-small-cell-lung-cancer/about/what-is-non-small-cell-lung-cancer.html. Accessed May 11, 2019. 3 Kris MG, et al. JAMA, 2014;311:1998-2006. 4 Gainor JF, Varghese AM, Ou SH, et al. Clin Cancer Res. 2013;19(15):4273-81. 5 Koivunen JP, Mermel C, Zejnullahu K, et al. Clin Cancer Res. 2008; 14(13):4275-83. 6 Wong DW, Leung EL, So KK, et al. Cancer. 2009; 115(8):1723-33. 7 Chia PL, Mitchell P, Dobrovic A, John T. Clin Epidemiol, 2014;6:423-432. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005146/en/ Asserting that lockdown was the nation's sole weapon to fight the coronavirus, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to extend it beyond April 14 by one or two weeks for saving the lives of people. IMAGE: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao addresses a press conference on COVID-19, in Hyderabad, on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo While agreeing that continuing the lockdown would impact adversely the economy, he, however, said ways can be found to recover from it once the threat of COVID-19 goes away but human lives cannot be saved. "I am for the lockdown of the country furthermore after April 15. Because, we can recover from economic problem. But, we cannot recover the lives of the people... So, I propose at least for another one-two weeks. Extension should be at least for one or two weeks more. Then we can review, he told reporters in Hyderabad. Rao, who has been backing Modi's initiatives in fighting the coronavirus, from the beginning, said given the spread of the virus in the country, lockdown should be its only weapon. It would be difficult for the country to contain it in view of its poor health infrastructure, he said. "I appeal to the Honourable Prime Minister, to the Government of India, please extend the lockdown without any hesitation," he said. Rao further said: "Consult everybody, consult every chief minister, have a video conference with entire country, but take a conscious decision. Because, we have no other weapon in India to contain this dreadful virus. Our only weapon could be extending the lockdown." If the lockdown was lifted, it would be difficult to control the situation if markets were opened and restrictions on various sectors eased, he said. "Better is to put the issue before the people and debate," he added. Recalling that the Prime Minister told him that further consultations would be held, Rao expressed hope that a positive decision would come out. In the process, it was important to ensure ration for the poor and his government had been taking care of various sections, including migrant workers, orphans, people in old age homes, beggars, transgender and others in the state, he said. Rao said he also supported the Centres move to effect a 30 per cent cut in the salaries of MPs. It can be said that the country was moving on a safe path on containing the virus, with measures like lockdown having been announced. Otherwise, it would have faced a very serious situation, he said. Rao appealed to those who attended the Tablighi jamat religious congregation in Delhi and yet to be traced to report to the authorities. He announced a 10 per cent incentive over the gross salary to all the health staff in the state. He deprecated those who made light of the prime ministers call to light lamps on Sunday as an expression of resolve to defeat the virus. Asserting that there was no community transmission of the virus in the state, he accused sections of media of carrying false reports. The number of active cases in the state cumulatively stood at 308 as on Monday night, he said. According to a media bulletin, 30 fresh cases were reported on Monday while the COVID-19 toll remained at 11. Rao expressed anguish over the loss of life in countries like America and said the virus was a crisis faced by the mankind. Supreme Court to Weigh in on Wisconsins Absentee Ballot Voting Dispute The Supreme Court has been asked to referee a dispute on whether Wisconsin voters can continue to submit absentee ballots six days after election day. The 6-day extension on the voting deadline for absentee ballots was granted by a district court judge on April 2 in order to provide relief for the disruptions caused by the CCP virus pandemic on the April 7 primary election. Although many other states have postponed their primaries in order to comply with public health orders on gatherings, Wisconsin is expected to proceed, after Republicans pushed back on the governors last-minute efforts to delay. The lawsuit was first filed by Democratic Party organizations, individual voters, and various liberal groups to seek relief from complying with certain provisions of Wisconsin law that pose an obstacle to absentee voting, such as suspending a deadline where ballots arriving at polling places after 8 p.m. on election day may not be counted. U.S. District Judge William Conley granted various accommodations on April 2, including an extension on the deadline when absentee ballots can be returned, through 4 p.m. on April 13. Conley also extended a deadline, which has since passed, for requesting an absentee ballot and to remove a witness certification requirement. The state Republican-controlled legislature and the Republican National Committee then filed an appeal at the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, which restored the witness certification requirement but kept the extension on the deadline for submitting absentee ballots through April 13. County Clerk Brenda Jaszewski holds a box of absentee ballots from the town of Erin, Wis., as Board of Canvass member Marilyn Merten reaches to take a ballot out during a statewide presidential election recount in West Bend, Wis., on Dec. 1, 2016. (John Ehlke/West Bend Daily News via AP) Then on April 4, the Republicans asked the Supreme Court to block the lower courts decision to grant the 6-day extension to the voting deadline for absentee ballots in an emergency request for a stay. Applicants seek a stay of the district courts injunction to the extent it requires the State to count absentee ballots postmarked after April 7, thus clarifying that absentee ballots must be postmarked (or personally delivered to the polls) no later than April 7 in order to be counted, the Republicans wrote in their filing (pdf). The Republicans argue that by permitting the extension, it would threaten the states election integrity, voter confidence and the orderly administration of an election that already has strained state resources due to the difficult circumstances associated with COVID-19. The Democrats responded to the petition on Sunday in a filing arguing that the relief was necessary because the pandemic had wreaked havoc on Wisconsins upcoming April 7 election, driving poll workers and voters away from the polls, dramatically escalating the number of requests for absentee ballots, and overloading Wisconsins absentee-voting process. They said they had initially asked to postpone the deadline for the receipt of absentee ballots that were postmarked on or before election day but it quickly became apparent that thousands, if not tens of thousands of voters would not even receive their timely requested absentee ballots until on or after April 7, leading the Democrats to request further relief. They added that if the deadline for casting an absentee vote was upheld, then thousands would be disenfranchised without the relief. The district court granted relief only to the limited extent necessary to address the severe burdens faced by voters who, through no fault of their own, will be disenfranchised by the enforcement of the April 7 absentee ballot-receipt deadline, given that even the most diligent voter may be unable to return his or her ballot in time to be counted,' the Democrats and groups wrote in their filing (pdf). A sign directs voters towards a polling place near the state capitol in Madison, Wisconsin, on Nov. 6, 2018. (Nick Oxford/File Photo/Reuters) Tuesdays election has garnered much political controversy. Wisconsins Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat, had previously refused calls to postpone the election over concerns that a delay would leave local official spots empty as they expire on April 21. This stance had infuriated many Democrats in his state. Evers declared a mandatory stay-at-home order (pdf) for Wisconsin on March 25 but waited until April 3 to take executive action to try to postpone the election. He called for an emergency legislative session on April 4 to address the voting issues in an attempt to delay the election. On April 4, the state Assembly and state Senate each gaveled in and out within seconds of opening the special sessions, reported Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Evers then accused the Republicans of playing politics with public safety in a statement. Republicans in the Legislature are playing politics with public safety and ignoring the urgency of this public health crisis. Its wrong. No one should have to choose between their health and their right to vote, Evers wrote on Twitter. Meanwhile, Republicans, who are opposed to delaying the election, have criticized Evers of flip-flopping about the election in recent weeks. 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, Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said in a joint statement on April 3, responding to Everss call for the special session. Unfortunately, its this type of feckless leadership Wisconsin has come to expect of the governor in the face of this crisis. Instead of remaining strong to ensure our representative democracy continues, he caves under political pressures from national liberal special interest groups. 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. We continue to support what Governor Evers has supported for weeks: the election should continue as planned on Tuesday, they added. The Republicans have asked the Supreme Court to make a decision on the application by Monday. Photo credit: Hannah Rank From Red Online Last weekend, junior doctor Hannah Rank got engaged to her boyfriend Oli Williams proving that even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, love always prevails. This is her story. Romance might not seem high on the agenda right now, particularly if youre a junior doctor working in A&E. But last weekend, on our first Saturday together in months, Oli my boyfriend of five years proposed. It was a moment of unadulterated joy to counteract the unfolding chaos. Everything else was forgotten and in that moment, Covid-19 didnt exist. The hospital is demanding at the best of times, so I often work during evenings and weekends. Oli is a chartered accountant, working a conventional five-day week so our schedules are often at loggerheads. This was our first weekend together since early February and we were not letting coronavirus ruin it. Wanting to make the most of our time, we arranged to get up early, walk along the beach and watch the sunrise over the water. Perhaps I should have been suspicious, but living on the east coast, we do things like that a lot and with everything going on, the possibility he might pop the question didnt cross my mind. We set the alarm for 5am. Oli got up and had a shower, which I thought was odd as we were just going for a walk. I most definitely was not showering, it was far too early to think about looking nice. I pulled on a pair of trackies and a woolly hat, then looked over and saw hed opted for smart jeans not exactly early morning beachwear. I was tired from work, so was bickering at him for no reason as we began walking along the beach. The sky went from inky black to a vivid palette of orange and red in front of our eyes and all we could hear were the crashing waves. We were completely alone. Just us. We met five years ago when we were both working at a ski resort in France. I wasnt remotely interested, and he told me he fancied my friend. Not a smooth start. But we became friends, and one night I drunkenly confessed that I did fancy him after all. We kissed, then went out for pizza. That was it. Story continues After the ski season ended, I went back to university in Bristol and Oli continued his travels to Central America. I flew to Guatemala and we spent a magical month together, before returning to England and embarking on a long-distance relationship. Oli was working in London and I still had two years of my medicine degree in Bristol, but we visited each other most weekends. There were usually tears on Sunday night, when we said goodbye. But Oli transferred to the Bristol office, so we could live together during my final year and when I got my job in a Newcastle hospital, he followed me. On the beach, Oli wanted to walk far out around the headland, but the wind was whipping up, so I suggested we turn around. We walked along a pebble spit jutting far out into the water, and stood still wrapped up in each other, as we waited for the sun to emerge from behind the sea. I could feel Olis heart pounding through his jumper, which I thought was weird. I asked him why it was beating so fast. Hes very fit so it couldnt have been the walking... Then suddenly, he fell to his knee and pulled a little box from his pocket. Inside was a sapphire ring just like both of our mums have. He said lots of nice things, although its all a blur now. All I can remember clearly is will you marry me? I was so in shock, it took me a while to say yes. I said, are you sure?! He was. We turned around and the sun was just creeping up, a glowing orange orb in the sky, just for us. We walked back, newly engaged, basked in golden sunlight and blissfully happy. We knew the world was going into meltdown all around us, but that whole weekend it felt like we were in a big bubble, away from it all. We didnt watch the news, so we felt very apart from the pandemic. The only reminder was the fact we werent able to celebrate with our friends and families. Still on the beach, I called my parents at 6.30am to tell them the news. They were in bed my mum screaming and crying on Facetime. We sent a message to Olis parents saying we had some exciting news (and that it wasnt anything to do with Covid-19). They didnt reply for an hour which made us nervous, but it turns out they wanted to get properly dressed for the occasion. Everyone was so happy, but it was tinged with sadness that we wouldnt be able to celebrate together. As a compromise, we drove past my parents house and waved from the car. I stuck my left hand out of the window so they could get a glimpse of the ring. My mum, dad and sister were all waving like maniacs through the window and there were lots of tears. Mum was sobbing she said how much she wanted to hug me but couldnt. Photo credit: Hannah Rank When we got back to our flat, we discovered she and my sister had snuck in while we were out and decorated it with bunting, balloons and flowers. Our friends left a big bunch of sunflowers on the doorstep, too. We felt so loved, if only from a distance. Even if you cant physically be with each other, there are still so many ways to show someone you care. Its been a strange and oddly unifying time to get engaged. Our new downstairs neighbour heard us excitedly yelling out of the window to our friends and posted a card beneath the door to say congratulations. Weve never met her and probably wont until this is all over, but the kindness of this stranger really touched us. Lots of people havent been able to buy engagement cards because of shop closures, but Olis parents improvised with an On Your Wedding Day card, crossing out the word wedding and inserting engagement. Olis grandmother is called Hilary, and inside his dad wrote: We couldnt have wished for a better next Mrs H. Williams. That evening, my sister said she had one final surprise for us. In one day, shed contacted all of our friends and family members, asking them to video themselves saying congratulations. Even my grandparents were in it. I cried hysterically as we watched it it was so lovely. Well treasure this forever. Times of hardship bring out the best in people my sister had thought about the fact we wouldnt be able celebrate with everyone, and had come up with a really special alternative. Its been a week since we got engaged and, in that time, the world has turned topsy-turvy. Work is stressful, but home is sacred. Photo credit: Hannah Rank Ordinarily, Oli and I dont get to see each other much during the week but being in lockdown means that were together much more. Our flat has become a bit of a love bubble. In a way its been the perfect time to get engaged. Everyone is so bored at home, theyre so happy and excited to have something else to talk about. Its been the ultimate good news story to counteract the gloom and is the loveliest distraction from what is a very stressful time at work. On Monday, I returned to the Covid-19 frontline. Id only had two days off but, in that time, my world had changed seismically. In the hospital, weve completely rearranged A&E to create an entire respiratory section, split off from the wider wards, in an effort to keep all the Covid-19 patients in one place and minimise spread. Were experiencing a sharp increase in patients who need oxygen and critical care and are preparing for another big influx. The next few months are going to be challenging, with a lot of 12-hour shifts, weekends and long nights. But weve got to do what weve got to do to get patients through. Coming home and thinking about the future with Oli makes it easier. We will get through this, and then we can start planning our wedding properly. Its going to be one hell of a party. Ive known I wanted to marry Oli for a long time, our engagement just made it official, demonstrating our commitment to each other and the outside world. It feels like a defiant act the world may have ground to a halt and hospitals may be overrun, but we still managed to get engaged. Even in the depths of despair, theres always love. Subscribe to Red magazine now to get six issues delivered to your door for just 6. Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. SIGN UP You Might Also Like Forrest Compton passed away on Saturday, April 4, from complications due to the coronavirus at the age of 94. The actor is best known for playing Col. Edward Gray on the sitcom Gomer Pyle: USMC (1964-1969) and Mike Kerr on the daytime soap opera The Edge Of Night (1971-1984). The Pennsylvania native's resume also included roles on Mayberry RFD, Hogan's Heroes, My Three Sons, The Twilight Zone, 77 Sunset Strip and That Girl. He also portrayed President Flynn in the 1991 Christopher Walken film, McBain. RIP: Forrest Compton, 94, died due to complications from the coronavirus on Saturday, April 4 Compton first had a recurring role in the NBC series The Troubleshooter with Keenan Wynn, Bob Mathias and Chet Allen from 1959-1960. Some four years later he landing the role opposite Jim Nabors in Gomer Pyle: USMC. He went on to become the third actor to play Monticello district attorney Mike Kerr on The Edge Of Night, a role that would last some 15 years until the show was canceled in 1984. The actor would also make appearances on two other popular soaps: All My Children and As The World Turns. Compton was born in Reading Pennsylvania, and served with the 103rd Infantry Division in France during World War ll, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Big TV break: The actor is also best known for playing Col. Edward Gray on the sitcom Gomer Pyle: USMC (1964-1969) After the war, he attended Swarthmore College, where he initially studied pre-law and Political Science, but later switched to English. He went on to earn a Masters In Fine Arts at the Yale Drama School, where he struck up a friendship with Paul Newman. 'He was a great guy, charming, sharp, six months older than me. I remember Paul making salad dressing back then,' Compton revealed in an interview with the Shelter Island Reporter. 'Once the agents saw Paul and those blue eyes and his charm, he was on television a month later.' Compton has been married to Jeanne Sementini since September 28, 1975. Coronavirus: Syrian refugee sets himself on fire in Lebanon To protest ever more difficult living conditions (ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, APRIL 6 - A Syrian refugees who set himself on fire on Sunday in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley is in critical condition with 3rd-degree burns over his entire body. The gesture was an act of protests against the difficult living conditions experienced by his family and himself, aggravated by the restrictions imposed by the authorities to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Lebanese media reported that the 50-year-old had poured petrol over his body and set himself on fire in Taalbaya, central Bekaa, not far from a refugee camp where he had been living for years with his family and dozens of other Syrians who had fled the ongoing war in their country. Since 2011, over a million Syrian refugees have fled to Lebanon and are living in makeshift camps. This social and economic pressure comes in addition to that felt by the about four million Lebanese citizens. Most Syrian refugees are living in the poorest, most disadvantaged areas of Lebanon. (ANSAmed). Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-07 01:06:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese medical and technical experts share their experience with their Venezuelan counterparts in Caracas, Venezuela, April 1, 2020. Chinese and Venezuelan experts gathered in Caracas on Wednesday to assess diagnostic procedures to bolster Venezuela's capacity to tackle the COVID-19 epidemic. (Miraflores/Handout via Xinhua) BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- A detailed timeline published Monday has shown the fact that China has released information on COVID-19 and advanced international cooperation on epidemic response in an open, transparent and responsible manner. This global public health emergency came all of a sudden. As the novel coronavirus was unseen in the past, its detection, research, testing and confirmation needed time. China has performed its duty and taken strong and effective measures at the earliest time possible. As the timeline shows, the National Health Commission (NHC) sent an expert group to Wuhan, the capital city of central China's Hubei Province, for on-the-spot investigation on December 31, shortly after cases of pneumonia of unknown cause were detected by the Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Starting from January 3, China has been regularly informing the World Health Organization (WHO), relevant countries and regions about the pneumonia outbreak. On January 12, the NHC shared with the WHO about information on the genome sequence of the novel coronavirus, which laid a solid foundation for global efforts of scientific research and vaccine development. Facts speak louder than words. China has been open, transparent and responsible in all its efforts. News about the leadership's meetings on epidemic control and prevention were released in a timely manner. Chinese leaders frequently spoke over phone with heads of other countries, promoting cooperation on the epidemic prevention and control. Chinese medical experts share their experience in COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment with their Lao counterparts in Vientiane, Laos, March 30, 2020. A team of 12 Chinese medical experts arrived in Vientiane on Sunday with medical supplies donated by the Chinese side to assist the Southeast Asian country's fight against the novel coronavirus outbreak. (Photo by Yang Lunjiao/Xinhua) The Chinese government has paid high attention to releasing accurate and timely information on the epidemic. Press conferences are held every day to answer questions of concern to the public and the international community. Chinese scientists have been cooperating with experts from other countries and sharing research results on international platforms including the journals of Nature, Science and the Lancet. China has also been sharing its prevention, control and treatment experience with the rest of the world without reservation. China's efforts have ensured the life, safety and health of the Chinese people and earned valuable time for other countries to combat COVID-19. As the WHO puts it, China's measures have altered the dangerous course of the virus' quick spread and prevented hundreds of thousands of infections. Now COVID-19 is haunting more than 200 countries and regions. At this critical juncture, only by uniting as one can the world prevail over the pandemic. Facing censure over their response to the outbreak, however, some U.S. politicians are playing blame games. It is immoral to politicize public health emergency at the moment when hundreds of thousands of people are suffering and even facing death threats. Lies and smears only waste time and endanger more lives. China has made all-out efforts. Knowing how difficult it is to combat COVID-19, China goes through thick and thin together with the people around the world suffering from the ravage of the virus. In front of the epidemic, a common enemy of mankind, no one can stand alone. Facing "the most challenging crisis we have faced since the Second World War," as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres put it, we have no other choice but to join hands to get through this together. The Arunachal Pradesh Police on Monday termed as "rubbish" reports of several truckers, belonging to a particular community, were allegedly beaten up in state, following which they fled to neighbouring Assam, leaving their vehicles behind. Inspector General of Police Chukhu Appa said reports of drivers and handy men of a particular community were fleeing the state especially in Kurung Kumey was "rubbish" and "without any iota of truth". He said that no passenger vehicle was plying due to the lockdown. The Deputy Commissioner of Kurung Kumey district Kento Riba said on Monday that a truck had hit a parked SUV at Sangram on Saturday that led to an altercation between both the drivers, which, he said, was given a different colour by some official. An officer of the civil supply department in a letter to the DC on Sunday informed that truck drivers and handymen of a particular community were beaten up between Sangram and Palin by a few youth forcing them to flee to Assam. The DC said that the district officer was reprimanded for inordinate delay in informing him about the incident and a police team led by sub-divisional police officer was sent to the spot to settle the issue of compensation and a case was registered against the driver for his fault. Three rice-laden trucks reached Koloring, the headquarters town of remote Kurung Kumey district on Sunday evening and retuned smoothly, the deputy commissioner said. Trucks carrying essential commodities are plying even on Monday but continuous landslide at Leel being the only problem for which men and bulldozers are deployed to clear the road, he said over phone from Koloriang. The deputy commissioner said the the situation in the district is totally normal and all residents including non- Arunachalees are living peacefully by staying indoors due to the ongoing lockdown while all drivers and handymen of vehicles carrying essential commodities are discharging their duties. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The number of coronavirus-related deaths increased to 260, after health officials reported 29 new fatalities on Monday. Statewide, there are now 13,837 cases of the virus, according to the latest figures. Altogether, 76,429 COVID-19 tests have been carried out by state and commercial labs. While Massachusetts continues to see double-digit COVID-19-related deaths on a daily basis since the trend began last week, there was a slight drop in reported fatalities on Sunday. The vast majority of those reported to have died on Monday were in their 70s, 80s and 90s. Two individuals in their 50s were also reported to have died. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now urging all Americans to wear cloth face coverings in public settings. Gov. Charlie Baker said Thursday that the coronavirus surge is predicted to hit Massachusetts between April 10 and April 20, and could potentially infect up to 172,000 people. The latest projections also show the need for acute care need and ICU capacity during the surge. On Tuesday, Baker also extended the business closure and stay-at-home advisory until May 4, and on Friday, his administration announced that the state is setting up a tracing collaborative to better track down people who may have been exposed to COVID-19. Here are the cases listed by county: Barnstable County: 383 Berkshire County: 268 Bristol County: 722 Dukes County: 8 Essex County: 1,653 Franklin County: 107 Hampden County: 889 Hampshire County: 147 Middlesex County: 2,950 Nantucket County: 9 Norfolk County: 1,382 Plymouth County: 1,067 Suffolk County: 2,929 Worcester County: 1,077 Unknown location: 246 Related Content: Advertisement More than 3,500 rental cars were damaged or destroyed in a huge fire that burned near a Florida airport. The cars were in a grassy area used as an overflow lot by car rental companies at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers when thousands of vehicles caught fire. Firefighters managed to contain the blaze using helicopters to dump water on the flames that stretched across the lot late on Friday night. Witnesses said they heard multiple small explosions and flames leaping high into the air as the flames spread across the area. Thousands of rental cars at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers caught fire and had to be extinguished using helicopters Witnesses said they heard multiple small explosions and flames leaping high into the air as the flames spread across the airport parking lot By around 8pm, the fire appeared to be spreading with the flames getting higher even as two helicopters continued to drop water and firetrucks emptied their tanks in a bid to halt the spread of the blaze. Charlotte County Sheriff's Office said that 'over 80 drops' were made over 'this massive fire'. The Sheriff's Office posted a series of images showing the extent of the damage to thousands of vehicles. Pictures from after the inferno was extinguished showed rows or burnt out cars spread across the lot. It is thought the car rental parking lot was busier then usual due o the coronavirus lockdown as fewer customers had hired vehicles while most flights are suspended and travel restrictions in place. Another 3,850 vehicles were undamaged, according to airport spokeswoman Vicki Moreland. Over 3,500 rental cars were damaged or destroyed in the huge blaze at the RSW Airport car parking lot in Fort Myres, Florida An aerial view of the parking lot shows the extent of the fire as rows of vehicles caught fire. As many as 3,500 were damaged in the inferno Two choppers were used to put out the flames. Charlotte County Sheriff's Office said that 'over 80 drops' were made over 'this massive fire' Melinda Avni, Mitigation Specialist for Florida Forestry Service of Caloosahatchee, said authorities were called to put out the blaze at around 5pm, when around 20 vehicles were on fire. She told WINK: 'By the time we had units on the scene, we had 100 cars [on fire]. We lost count after the hundreds.' The vehicles were not occupied, according to the Fort Myers News-Press. Arlene Salac, a spokeswoman for the FAA, said the fire did not effect air traffic or operations at the airport. In a Facebook post, the airport thanked all the agencies who responded to the blaze, saying: 'We appreciate their courage and willingness to help our Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting department. Together they were able to keep all our passengers and airport visitors safe.' Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire. On Saturday morning, the Forest Service returned to the scene to make sure the fire did not start again. LONDON, April 4 (Reuters) - British Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said his thoughts went out to the family of a 5-year-old child who died in hospital after being infected with the novel coronavirus. The United Kingdom's hospital death toll from the coronavirus rose by 20% to 4,313 at 1600 GMT on April 3, the health ministry said. COVID-19 deaths in English hospitals made up 3,939 of the UK total. Those who made up the 637 daily rise in English deaths were aged between five years and 104 years old. Of the 637, 40 had no known underlying health conditions. They were aged between 48 and 93 years old. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge and Kate Holton) - Jack Ma send a donation of among others 500 ventilators, 200k suits and face shields, 2k thermometers, 1M swabs and extraction kits - The billionaire had made an initial donation of 20k testing kits, 100k masks and 1k protective suits and face shields - The billionaire indicated the donations would be shipped to Ethiopia from where they would be distributed to all African countries - His donations have put Kenyan billionaires on the spot with citizens questioning the deafening silence of local tycoons Chinese billionaire Jack Ma has announced another mega funding for African countries to help the continent fight the coronavirus pandemic. In March, the Ali Baba co-founder donated 20k test kits and 100k masks to each of the 54 African countries amidst the spread of the virus in Africa. READ ALSO: Kenyan billionaires on the spot as fight against coronavirus gathers momentum This is the second time Jack Ma is sending medical supplies to Africa Source: UGC READ ALSO: Combating COVID-19: Kenyan tycoon Narendra Raval donates KSh 100 million worth of oxygen to hospitals On Monday, April 6, Ma announced he would send another batch Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and medical equipment to aid all African countries combat the pandemic that has claimed over 50k lives worldwide. "Our second donation to 54 countries in Africa is on the way. That includes 500 ventilators, 200k suits and face shields, 2k thermometers, 1M swabs & extraction kits and 500k gloves," Ma maded the announcement on his Twitter handle. The billionaire was however not specific what each of the 54 countries would get from the batch of donations, but his gesture was applauded by netizens. The donated equipment will be shipped to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia where they will later be supplied to all the remaining African nations. Ma thanked Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Mohammed, Ethiopian Airlines and African Centre for Disease Control (CDC) for the partnership that made the donation successful. READ ALSO: Kenya's unsung hero: Health CS Kagwe feted for spirited fight against coronavirus He urged African countries to stay safe during the announcement of the donation. In March, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced donated commodities from Ma's first batch had been delivered Nairobi. In the first philanthropic gesture to Africa, each of the 54 countries received 20k testing kits, 100k masks and 1k protective suits and face shields. The billionaire has also made similar donations to help battle COVID-19 in US, Europe and Asia. 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 Golden Globe winner Jennifer Garner got a break from COVID-19 quarantine by taking a Sunday morning bike ride with her son Samuel around their Los Angeles' Brentwood neighborhood. The Texan-born, West Virginia-raised 47-year-old and her eight-year-old boy both donned protective helmets as well as cloth face masks for their mother-son exercise session. On Friday, the Center for Disease Control officially changed its prior recommendation to now urge all Americans cover their faces with cloth masks when going out in public. Bonding: Jennifer Garner got a break from COVID-19 quarantine by taking a Sunday morning bike ride with her son Samuel around their Los Angeles' Brentwood neighborhood Jennifer skipped the disposable gloves but she bared her arms in a black sleeveless muscle tee, matching sweatpants, grey sneakers, and she hauled a large backpack. 'I think I have the perfect aged kids for this [global pandemic],' Garner said on The Tonight Show At Home Edition on March 19. 'Because they are big enough to understand and to have the conversations like, "We're built for challenge. We can do this. We're a tough team. Let's learn about a vacuum cleaner." But then they're not so big that they're just like, "Well I don't care, I'm going to go..." 'The hard ones are teens and early 20s people and my parents. My parents [Patricia and William] are the hard ones. I'm like, "Dad, Mom, the world is shut down to keep you safe." And they're like, "We think we're going to go to Sam's Warehouse." Stay home, you have to stay home!' Better safe than sorry: The Texan-born, West Virginia-raised 47-year-old and her eight-year-old boy both donned protective helmets as well as cloth face masks Mandatory: On Friday, the CDC officially changed its prior recommendation to now urge all Americans cover their faces with cloth masks when going out in public Skipped the disposable gloves: Jennifer bared her arms in a black sleeveless muscle tee, matching sweatpants, grey sneakers, and she hauled a large backpack Missing from the outing were the Alias alum's two daughters - Violet, 14; and Seraphina, 11 - from her second marriage to former Daredevil leading man Ben Affleck, which legally ended in October 2018. The 47-year-old Oscar-winning filmmaker is currently hot and heavy dating his Deep Water onscreen wife Ana de Armas, and they're becoming quite the quarantine couple. As for Jen, she's been quietly dating Cali Group chairman John Miller since May 2018, but the coy couple haven't been pictured on a date since September 20. Garner's street sighting came five days after she shared a haiku titled Corona Virus written by little Sammy: 'Corona virus / we eat we sleep we stay home / thrilling it is NOT!' Garner said on The Tonight Show At Home Edition on March 19: 'I think I have the perfect aged kids for this [global pandemic]' She added: 'Because they are big enough to understand and to have the conversations like, "We're built for challenge. We can do this. We're a tough team. Let's learn about a vacuum cleaner." But then they're not so big that they're just like, "Well I don't care, I'm going to go..." The Alias alum's street sighting came five days after she shared a haiku titled Corona Virus written by little Sammy: 'Corona virus / we eat we sleep we stay home / thrilling it is NOT!' Jen - who boasts 12M Instagram/Facebook followers - wrote: 'Things must be getting bleak when an 8 year old boy adopts a pen name [Fitz B. Ireland] and voluntarily writes poetry!' The Llama Llama actress - who boasts 12M Instagram/Facebook followers - wrote: 'Things must be getting bleak when an 8 year old boy adopts a pen name [Fitz B. Ireland] and voluntarily writes poetry!' The traditional short-form Japanese poetry is defined as containing 17 syllables broken into three phrases of 5, 7, and 5. Since Jennifer and her Catch Me If You Can co-star Amy Adams co-founded Save the Children and No Kid Hungry's #SaveWithStories initative on March 13, they've raised over $1.7M and served nearly 90K children in 200 school communities. 'And that's from 25K different donors. Most of that is $10 increments, which is something that Amy and I really were aligned on and knew we wanted the [donations] number to be attainable, especially given just the financial climate of the world,' Garner told Deadline last Thursday. Success! Since Garner and her Catch Me If You Can co-star Amy Adams (L) co-founded Save the Children and No Kid Hungry's #SaveWithStories initative on March 13, they've raised over $1.7M and served nearly 90K children in 200 school communities The Llama Llama actress told Deadline last Thursday: 'And that's from 25K different donors. Most of that is $10 increments' (pictured March 24) Star-studded storytellers: Booksmart director Olivia Wilde (L), Superstore star America Ferrera (R), and Dr. Jill Biden were the most recent famous faces reading children's books for confined families in quarantine 'This time has really shown how much food insecurity there is, how reliant people are on schools and what a job they have. So schools are really trying their best to have people in the cafeteria to make the food. 'Save with Stories is giving them money for the bus drivers and money for the gas to get out to deliver to these small communities where people can't come in or in cities making sure that, through No Kid Hungry, the food banks and the community feeding services are stocked with school supplies and books to go home with.' Booksmart director Olivia Wilde, Superstore star America Ferrera, and Dr. Jill Biden were the most recent famous faces reading children's books for confined families in quarantine. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 6 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Turkey's foreign trade turnover amounted to $32.2 billion in February 2020, Turkeys Ministry of Trade told Trend. In February 2020, Turkeys export increased by 2.3 percent compared to February 2019, amounting to $14.6 billion. In this month, Turkey's import increased by 9.8 percent compared to the same month of 2019 and amounted to $17.6 billion. From January through February 2020, Turkeys trade turnover exceeded $66.1 billion. During the reporting period, export of Turkey increased by 4.1 percent compared to the same period of 2019, reaching $29.3 billion. Meanwhile, Turkeys import increased by 14.3 percent compared to the same period of 2019, exceeding $36.8 billion. The foreign trade turnover of Turkey amounted to $374.2 billion in 2019. Export from Turkey exceeded $14.7 billion in January 2020, showing an increase of 6.4 percent compared to January 2019. In January 2020, Turkey's import increased by 18.8 percent compared to the same month of 2019 and exceeded $19.2 billion. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu NAIROBI, Kenya - Children use a hand washing station provided by grassroots organization SHOFCO in the Kibera settlement. Anwar Sadat/SHOFCO Around four miles southwest of the center of Nairobi, residents in Africa's largest 'slum' the sprawling, densely-populated informal settlement of Kibera are bracing for the coronavirus pandemic. Around 60% of the Kenyan capital's 4.4 million inhabitants live in 200 high-density informal settlements like Kibera, which account for around 6% of the city's total land area. African leaders, scientists and the World Health Organization have voiced concern over the potential damage the virus could inflict if allowed to spread to such areas, which are home to nearly 43% of the continent's population. But in Kibera, a homegrown grassroots movement is mobilizing to improve education, sanitation and healthcare provisions, while calling on governments in Kenya and beyond to prioritize, finance and adapt interventions in the continent's poorest communities. Coronavirus is 'an equalizer' Kennedy Odede, who grew up in Kibera and founded Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) in 2004, told CNBC that poor sanitation, a lack of clean water and harsh living conditions meant hand washing and social distancing were not as readily available. The average home measures 12ft x 12ft, built with mud walls, a corrugated tin roof and a dirt or concrete floor. These usually house around eight to 10 people, mostly sleeping on the floor. "There is a lot of malaria, there is a lot of TB. If this thing hits anywhere like this, it is going to be a fire," Odede told CNBC via telephone from Nairobi. SHOFCO has set up hand washing stations with clean water tanks, going door-to-door promoting awareness, engaging community and religious leaders, operating a health clinic and working with the Ministry of Health to conduct screening tests. NAIROBI, Kenya - Health workers carry out coronavirus screening on residents in the Kibera settlement. Kelvin Juma/SHOFCO Odede suggested that the coronavirus was an "equalizer," in forcing the government to acknowledge that areas like Kibera could no longer be "ignored by the system." "They know very well that the cooks come from the slum, the nannies come from the slum, the security guards come from the slum, so now they are looking for ideas," he said. Many Kibera residents, Odede explained, did not initially perceive the coronavirus to be a threat, since they had not directly seen for themselves the death and devastation it has wrought across the globe. "It is a message for the government. Before people start feeling it by seeing death, right now they should provide those sanitation measures and make sure people have clean water, otherwise there will be no solution," he said. By working on the ground with organizations like SHOFCO, he hopes that the government will realize that the best preventative measure in Kibera and similar communities is engagement and provisions, not "police and guns." Curfew and crackdown The Kenyan government has introduced a dusk-to-dawn curfew in a bid to curtail the spread of the virus, with just 142 cases confirmed nationwide as of Monday morning. However, instances of police brutality have drawn ire from rights groups such as Amnesty International, and a 13-year-old boy was shot and killed by police in the Mathare area of northeastern Nairobi earlier this week. Abuse of civilians by police and military personnel has also been reported in neighboring Uganda and further afield. Tweet 1 Odede said a lack of planning prior to the curfew's implementation meant businesses in the city kept workers too late to allow them time to travel home. Small buses which often carry 16 people were only taking eight due to distancing measures, which meant there were not enough vehicles and people were unable to get back to settlements. "That for me was the system against the poor people, because those who didn't have a car were struggling to get buses, and they were the ones being beaten and abused, while people who are rich have got their own cars, and they are senior people where they work, so it was unfair and Kenyans were really mad," he explained. In areas like Kibera, much of the informal economy is active in the evening. Odede told CNBC that there is a "different law" in Kibera, that people will continue trading in the street after hours in order to continue earning a living, in the absence of a financial safety net from the state. NAIROBI, Kenya (March 2020) - A truck delivers clean water to residents in the Kibera settement as part of a campaign to improve sanitation in order to tackle the coronavirus. SHOFCO A host of countries in the subcontinent have implemented nationwide lockdowns in recent days, but Odede suggested that there would need to be robust planning should President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration follow suit. "People need food, and there is no way food goes into Kibera slums, there is not even a road for the car to pass, so before they do that, they must have a plan, otherwise they are going to create an uprising. I know my community if there is no food, they are going to go onto the streets and there is going to be violence." Calls for unity in East Africa Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, April 7 2020 As countries around world face the COVID-19 pandemic, some Indonesian students said that they felt safer staying in Australia, despite Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrisons statement that international students make their way home. On Friday, Morrison advised holiday visa holders and foreign students who are unable to support themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic to return to their home countries as the country looks to reserve economic aid for its own citizens. As much as its lovely to have visitors to Australia in good times, at times like this, if you are a visitor in this country, it is time [] to make your way home, Morrison after a Cabinet meeting on Friday, as quoted by Australian public broadcaster ABC. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login COLUMBUS, Ohio - The 4,450 confirmed coronavirus cases to date in Ohio are spread across 81 of the states 88 counties, with 142 deaths, the Ohio Department of Health reported Monday. This map is updated daily: see this link for the latest Ohio coronavirus maps. The total was up from 4,043 cases in 77 counties from Sunday, while the number of deaths increased from 119. Mondays report included the first cases for Morgan, Paulding, Putnam and Scioto counties. The number of confirmed cases increased by 10% on Monday, marking the second smallest percentage increase since the second day of the outbreak on March 10. The smallest increase of 8% was on Sunday. Increases the previous days were 13%, 14%, 14%, 16% and 14%. In March, the daily increases were often above 20% and sometimes above 40%. These charts show the daily increase in confirmed cases of coronavirus in Ohio, from the previous day's total.Rich Exner, cleveland.com We are doing pretty well, Gov. Mike DeWine said Monday. Were doing the right things. Ohioans are doing the right things. Yet Dr. Amy Acton, director of the Ohio Department of Health, said the state will still experience a surge, predicting a peak in late April to early May. These are the estimated onset dates for each of Ohio's 4,043 confirmed coronavirus cases. Note, however, that confirmation often is days after the first symptoms, leading to smaller numbers for recent dates for which test information is available.Rich Exner, cleveland.com The state has not released information on the number of current cases, excluding those who no longer have coronavirus, saying the information is not yet available. Health officials have said coronavirus often runs its course in 14 days, though severe cases can last longer. Based on state estimates of the onset of symptoms, 2,515 of the cases confirmed to date had an onset in the last two weeks, excluding people who have died. Among the 4,450 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Ohio reported Monday by the Ohio Department of Health, 142 people have died. Among the remaining cases, the state estimates the onset of coronavirus for 2,515 in the last two weeks. Health officials have said recovery is often under two weeks, though longer for severe cases. Others who have been infected most recently are less likely to have been tested yet, or results could be pending.Rich Exner, cleveland.com Acton said many more cases than confirmed likely have coronavirus in Ohio, but testing has been limited. There have been 48,378 tests to date, the state reported. The age range to date is from under 1 to 101, with a median age of 53. There are now 38.1 confirmed cases per 100,000 people in Ohio, with the highest rates in Mahoning (118.9), Miami (84.1) Lucas (74.9) and Cuyahoga (70.5). Confirmed cases of coronavirus in Ohio from the first three on March 9 through 4,450 on Monday, April 6.Rich Exner, cleveland.com Nearly half of all deaths have been to people age 80 and over (67 of the 142, or 47.2%). Another 36 people (25%) were in their 70s. The 142 deaths are spread across 31 counties, with the most in Mahoning County (17), Cuyahoga (15), Lucas (12), Miami (10) and Summit (10). The state reported 1,214 hospitalizations to date, with 346 in intensive care units. Acton said 303 people have been discharged. Nearly half of the deaths attributed to coronavirus in Ohio are among those age 80 and older.Rich Exner, cleveland.com The hospital totals were up from 1,104 and 346 on Sunday, 895 and 288 on Friday and 802 and 260 on Thursday. The statewide total of confirmed cases was 3,739 on Saturday, 3,312 on Friday, 2,902 on Thursday, 2,547 on Wednesday, 2,199 on Tuesday and 1,933 last Monday. The first three cases were confirmed on March 9. The total topped 100 on March 19, exceeded 1,000 on March 27, topped 2,000 on Tuesday and then moved over 3,000 on Friday. Sunday marked the first time over 4,000. These maps illustrate the spread of coronavirus from the first three confirmed Ohio cases on March 9 through 4,043 on Sunday, April 5.Rich Exner, cleveland.com Some numbers may change from day to day. As the state works to clean data, it sometimes has reduced the number of cases in individual counties from one day to the next. The chart below shows what the Ohio Department of Health reported on Sunday. Cleveland.com calculated the cases per 100,000 rates based on 2019 census population estimates. 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. County Cases Hosp. Deaths Cases per 100,000 Adams 2 0 0 7.2 Allen 19 14 0 18.6 Ashland 3 1 0 5.6 Ashtabula 15 5 0 15.4 Athens 3 1 1 4.6 Auglaize 8 3 0 17.5 Belmont 22 5 1 32.8 Brown 3 1 1 6.9 Butler 75 29 2 19.6 Carroll 9 4 0 33.4 Champaign 5 2 0 12.9 Clark 10 4 0 7.5 Clermont 27 5 1 13.1 Clinton 8 2 0 19.1 Columbiana 53 33 5 52.0 Coshocton 10 2 0 27.3 Crawford 9 0 0 21.7 Cuyahoga 871 231 15 70.5 Darke 32 0 6 62.6 Defiance 8 3 0 21.0 Delaware 77 12 1 36.8 Erie 10 8 1 13.5 Fairfield 54 10 0 34.3 Fayette 2 0 0 7.0 Franklin 644 115 9 48.9 Fulton 5 2 0 11.9 Gallia 4 3 1 13.4 Geauga 40 11 0 42.7 Greene 15 6 1 8.9 Guernsey 1 0 0 2.6 Hamilton 394 66 9 48.2 Hancock 14 5 0 18.5 Hardin 2 1 0 6.4 Highland 6 2 0 13.9 Holmes 2 0 0 4.5 Huron 9 4 1 15.4 Jefferson 15 6 0 23.0 Knox 7 3 1 11.2 Lake 87 25 3 37.8 Lawrence 10 1 0 16.8 Licking 57 9 2 32.2 Logan 5 1 0 10.9 Lorain 117 33 3 37.8 Lucas 321 84 12 74.9 Madison 17 6 2 38.0 Mahoning 272 117 17 118.9 Marion 25 3 0 38.4 Medina 83 26 3 46.2 Mercer 8 2 1 19.4 Miami 90 31 10 84.1 Monroe 2 1 0 14.6 Montgomery 109 31 2 20.5 Morgan 1 0 0 6.9 Morrow 5 2 0 14.2 Muskingum 5 2 0 5.8 Ottawa 5 3 0 12.3 Paulding 1 0 0 5.4 Perry 4 1 0 11.1 Pickaway 27 0 0 46.2 Pike 1 0 0 3.6 Portage 94 21 5 57.9 Preble 5 3 0 12.2 Putnam 1 0 0 3.0 Richland 19 11 0 15.7 Ross 6 3 0 7.8 Sandusky 5 5 0 8.5 Scioto 1 0 0 1.3 Seneca 6 2 1 10.9 Shelby 17 6 0 35.0 Stark 109 22 7 29.4 Summit 189 72 10 34.9 Trumbull 102 49 8 51.5 Tuscarawas 23 4 0 25.0 Union 8 0 0 13.6 Van Wert 2 1 0 7.1 Warren 37 5 0 15.8 Washington 15 2 0 25.0 Wayne 26 11 0 22.5 Williams 1 1 0 2.7 Wood 34 17 0 26.0 Wyandot 5 2 0 23.0 Statewide 4,450 1,214 142 38.1 Not seeing the county-by-county chart? Some mobile users may need to use this link instead. Read previous stories Did Summit County really have no new coronavirus cases Sunday? Cuyahoga just 1 more on Saturday? What we know and dont know about Ohios coronavirus trends Age, gender, counties, for Ohios coronavirus deaths: 73% age 70 and up The coronavirus pandemic has reshuffled schedules for all Americans over the past several weeks. That will also be the case for a number of notable spring events at Cass County high schools. Plattsmouth Community Schools officials will meet with student leaders this week to discuss possible rescheduling options for activities such as Prom, Honors Night, the STARS banquet and the annual commencement ceremony. Those events were scheduled to take place in April and May. Gov. Pete Ricketts announced April 1 that all public, private and parochial school districts in Nebraska would be required to operate without students in their buildings through May 31. He made the decision in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus in the state. Plattsmouth students will continue to take part in remote learning for the rest of the school year, but the announcement means that the district will be unable to host classes, activities or events in buildings. This is heartbreaking for many of us, especially our seniors, Plattsmouth Superintendent Dr. Richard Hasty said Friday night. We appreciate their commitment to our district and the community. Unfortunately, there are many activities and events that might not happen in their traditional formats. Regardless, we want to honor and recognize our students accomplishments this year. Hasty said he and Plattsmouth Board of Education President Ken Winters are planning to meet with members of the districts student advisory board this week to talk about possible alternatives for these events. Options could include postponing the events until later this summer, holding them in an online format or conducting a series of smaller activities to be in compliance with state health restrictions on crowd size. We are looking forward to working with the students and exploring possible options that will allow our students to be honored and recognized by our school and community for their accomplishments in the 2019-20 school year, Hasty said. I am confident that we will identify some appropriate alternatives. The district will continue to offer free grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches for all children ages 0-18. Meals will be distributed in a drive-through manner every Monday from 6:30-9 a.m., 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. The meal pickup site will move from Plattsmouth High School to the parking lot of Plattsmouth Community Middle School beginning this week. Construction workers started removing concrete from the staff parking lot at PHS last week in preparation for the new vocational technology building. Weeping Water Superintendent Kevin Reiman told community members Thursday that the district learned about the announcement from Ricketts at the same time as the general public. He said everyone associated with the school was determined to create positive outcomes from the situation. Everyone at Weeping Water Public Schools is disappointed with this decision, Reiman said. However, we understand that this was done for the health and safety of our citizens. We continue to attend online meetings with local health officials, area superintendents, lawyers and state officials. Each of the stakeholders plays a part in our overall decision-making process for the district. Weeping Water teachers will continue to conduct classes through remote learning sessions. The district will continue to offer breakfast and lunch grab-and-go meals for students through May 19. Both meals will be offered in the morning. Reiman said the district is exploring dates in July to hold Prom and graduation activities. Graduation had been scheduled to take place May 9. Conestoga, Elmwood-Murdock and Louisville officials have been holding many meetings on similar items. Remote learning is taking place at all three districts and students have been completing assignments for their teachers. This setup will remain until the end of the regular academic year in late May. School officials at all three districts are also conducting meetings about events such as graduation. Commencement activities for Conestoga, Elmwood-Murdock and Louisville had been scheduled for May 9. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Volunteers sort essentials and groceries for the needy in Bangalore, during India's lockdown. (AFP or licensors) In compliance with Mumbai municipality instructions, Indian Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay has asked his faithful to cremate those who die because of Covid-19. By Robin Gomes Cardinal Oswald Gracias has appealed to priests and faithful of his Archdiocese of Bombay to cremate people who die from Covid-19 rather than bury them. In a video message last week, the cardinal asked Catholics to abide by the directives issued by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) of Mumbai (formerly Bombay) and cremate the bodies of those who die of the infection, UCANEWS reported. Father Nigel Barrett, the spokesperson of the archdiocese, said that the cardinal had also advised people to strictly comply with government restrictions such as maintaining social distancing and washing hands with soap frequently to prevent the spread of the infection. As per the direction of the cardinal, Christian people are supposed to cremate the bodies of victims of Covid-19, but if someone wants a burial they have to follow the directions of the BMC as it has identified one place, the priest told UCA News The archdiocese also asked pastors to ensure there are no more than five mourners present at funerals. The cardinal said that the police should also be informed about the death and cremation. The BMC has is acting in line with a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), according to which the burial of coronavirus victims poses the risk of a further outbreak of the disease but cremation doesn't. It says the high temperature of cremations kills the virus and there is no risk of it spreading. Mumbais municipal commissioner had issued a directive under the Epidemic Disease Act 1897 to cremate all coronavirus victims. However, the directive was withdrawn after Maharashtra Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik objected. Hours later, a fresh order was issued stating that burials should take place on large grounds so that there is no possibility of the virus spreading in the vicinity. Father Barrett said families would be allowed burials only if they adhered to WHO guidelines. The number of Covid-19 cases in Mumbai increased by 103 to reach 433 on April 5, the BMC said. Eight more deaths took the total in the city to 30, the highest figure in India. Maharashtra state, of which Mumbai is the local capital, has the highest number of infections among Indias 28 states and 8 union territories. The state has 748 cases with 45 deaths. As of April 6, India reported 4,314 Covid-19 cases with 118 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Since the start of the infection, there have been nearly 1.3 million worldwide, with more than 70,500 deaths. A 21-day nation-wide lockdown ordered by the Indian government to contain the spread of the contagion is scheduled to end on April 14, until further notice. Envisaging a possible extension of the lockdown, Cardinal Gracias advised his faithful to refrain from programming church services such as Baptisms, First Communions or marriages, immediately after April 14. He also urged Catholics of his archdiocese to keep their eyes and ears open for distressed migrant workers stranded in their parishes because of the lockout and help them out. The cardinal also thought about the lonely elderly and urged that the Small Christian Communities (SCC) help them out with sufficient provisions during the lockdown. Forty-nine people at an Orinda nursing facility, including 27 patients, have tested positive for the coronavirus, and one resident in hospice who had previously tested positive has died, officials said Monday. The number of cases Monday at the Orinda Care Center was nearly double the 27 positive tests reported Friday. The 22 new positive cases were among staff members, prompting concern among some about the facilitys ability to provide adequate care. Will Harper, a spokesman for Contra Costa Health Services, said four residents had been hospitalized by Monday. Their conditions were not disclosed. The cause of death for the resident at the facility Sunday was unknown, Harper said, but the person had previously tested positive for the virus and was already in end-of-life care. County health officials on Friday announced they had identified an outbreak at the assisted-living facility after two staffers sought medical attention earlier in the week. The two staffers test results confirmed they had COVID-19, and officials later learned at least 24 residents and three staffers had the virus following tests on all patients and staff. There are 45 residents in total, health officials said. As of Monday afternoon, the county had 417 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and seven deaths. The Ombudsman Services of Contra Costa, Solano and Alameda counties, which visits long-term care facilities to ensure quality of care, has been in contact with residents and staff at Orinda Care Center. An official with the oversight agency said she is concerned about staff levels. In light of the current staffing challenges, at this and other facilities, we are concerned residents needs may not be met and implore facilities to develop creative solutions to ensure all residents have the highest level of care and protection, said Nicole Howell, executive director of the organization, in a statement. Howell also said that nursing home staff often work at more than one facility, but that this practice should not be permitted right now because it is too risky. Orinda Mayor Darlene Gee said she learned of the outbreak Thursday night, but that county health officials have led the investigation and handling of the situation. She called the outbreak a strong reminder that the virus is very much active in the community. We are deeply saddened by it. We are certainly thinking of all the residents, staff (and) their families, Gee said Monday evening. The community is wishing for all the best. Scott Fraser, a patient advocate for an Orinda Care Center resident, said his client, who has underlying health conditions, is among those who tested positive for COVID-19. He became concerned over the weekend when, he said, he was unable to reach anyone at the facility to check on his clients condition. On Monday, however, he said he got through to a helpful nurse who answered his questions and said the resident is in good condition. Fraser said he thinks the nursing home staff are doing their best, but worries he may not be able to receive immediate updates. The only contact information he has is the facilitys general phone number. Its a very serious illness and the facility is clearly and understandably overwhelmed, Fraser said. I dont feel that I am worried about the attitude of the staff, Im not worried about their competence Im worried simply about the sheer extent of this situation. 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 announcement of more cases comes as county health officials said they started investigating reports of COVID-19 at other high-risk locations, including nursing homes and other congregate settings. Several Bay Area long-term care facilities are grappling with outbreaks. In San Francisco, at least 16 people 12 staff and four residents had tested positive at the 780-bed Laguna Honda nursing home, while officials at Canyon Springs Care in San Jose recorded 20 cases among staff and residents. Officials at Pacifica Nursing and Rehabilitation confirmed some residents have been tested for the virus off-site and would remain away from the facility if results were positive. But both the facility and San Mateo County health officials, who oversee the Pacifica home, have refused to say how many patients have tested positive. A county spokesman said Monday that health officials are not releasing information about specific facilities. In a statement, Pacifica Nursing and Rehabilitation officials said, Our top priorities are the health of our residents, making sure their families and loved ones receive clear communication, and keeping our staff safe during the coronavirus crisis in our community. When we learned of the coronavirus threat we responded by applying our plans and protocols for infection control and adding new layers of precautionary action to fight the spread of COVID-19. Alejandro Serrano and Anna Bauman are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: alejandro.serrano@sfchronicle.com; anna.bauman@sfchronicle.com Seoul, April 6 (IANS) South Korea recorded fewer than 50 new coronavirus cases on Monday, marking the lowest number since late February, as the nation extended strict guidelines on social distancing. South Korea has recorded around 100 or fewer daily new cases for more than three weeks, but health authorities remain on high alert over cluster infections at churches and hospitals, as well as new cases coming from overseas, said a Yonhap News Agency report. The 47 new cases, detected on Sunday and down from 81 new cases a day earlier, brought the nation's total infections to 10,284. The nation's death toll rose by three to 186, while more than 130 recovered from the virus Sunday, raising the total number of cured people to 6,598, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Speaking to the media here, Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip cautioned against reading too much into Sunday's decline in daily infections, saying that fewer tests over the weekend meant fewer cases were detected. Kim said social distancing is the best containment measure to slow the spread of the virus, calling for people to continue maintaining a distance from one another. "In the end, the success of slowing the virus depends on people," Yonhap News Agency quoted Kim as saying in the briefing. --IANS ksk/ Norway could discuss reducing its oil production if the worlds major producers reach a deal on significantly cutting global oil production, Tina Bru, Minister for Petroleum and Energy of Western Europes biggest oil producer, told Reuters over the weekend. If a broad group of producers agree to cut production significantly, Norway will consider a unilateral cut if it supports our resource management and our economy, Bru told Reuters via email on Saturday. This week, a broad group of producers are expected to discuss a global cut in oil production to try to prevent the glut from overwhelming storage within weeks and to prop up oil prices so low that no ones happy with them. Analysts remain skeptical that a major coalition of producers, including the United States, will agree to enforce significant production cuts in the range of 10 million bpd-15 million bpd, as touted by U.S. President Donald Trump. While all producers signal willingness to participate in talks, no one is willing to cut unless everyone elseincluding the U.S.agrees to take part in those cuts. Norway, for its part, is not a member of either OPEC or the extended OPEC+ format, which collapsed last month but is set to be revived at least in the form of talks expected later this week. While Norway had cut its production in the 1990s and early 2000s when prices were low, it hasnt done so as part of any deal with OPEC or other producers. Right now, Norway by itself cannot do anything to help the severely imbalanced market, Reuters quoted Bru as saying to private Norwegian broadcaster TV2 last week. Were still producing profitably at todays oil price and nothing indicates that well end up in a situation where wed have to cut output, the minister said last week. Some Norwegian oilfields would turn in profits even at $10 oil, the Norwegian minister told the television broadcaster. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The state's Judicial Council could set bail at zero for many offenses in a Monday vote. Above, Men's Central Jail in Los Angeles. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) In dramatic moves aimed at slowing the rapid spread of the coronavirus, California judicial leaders are expected to adopt a statewide emergency order setting bail at zero for misdemeanor and lower-level felony offenses. In a remote meeting Monday, the Judicial Council also is expected to vote to suspend evictions and foreclosures and to allow for the expansion of court hearings held by video or telephone. The moves come as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases topped 15,000 in the state, with more than 350 deaths. Los Angeles County had a particularly grim weekend, recording 43 deaths, with confirmed cases nearing 6,000. Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye heads the council, the policymaking body for Californias court system. Gov. Gavin Newsom has given her and the council, which is primarily made up of judges, extraordinary temporary powers to suspend laws to deal with the health crisis. For criminal and juvenile proceedings, including arraignments and preliminary examinations, the council will direct courts to prioritize the use of technology to meet legal deadlines and ensure that defendants and children are not held in custody without timely hearings, according to a report prepared for Mondays meeting. In criminal cases, the defendant must agree before a court hearing can be held remotely. Orange County Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer last week called on judicial leaders to issue a statewide order requiring preliminary hearings be held remotely. Orange County Public Defender Sharon Petrosino countered that clients had a constitutional right to appear in person for preliminary hearings. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the report says, trial courts must protect defendants constitutional rights to have the assistance of counsel and to be personally present with counsel, and at the same time take steps to protect the health of defendants, judicial officers, court staff, counsel, and all those who are required to be present in court. Story continues During preliminary hearings, prosecutors must show there is sufficient evidence to believe a crime has been committed. Defense lawyers say defendants must be able to see the witnesses testifying against them and confer with counsel. Another area of deep concern is California's prisons, where coronavirus cases are rising. A federal court panel has denied an emergency motion to force California prison officials to move thousands of inmates out of harms way. We are living in unprecedented times. The spread of COVID-19 is a global crisis, a crisis that is heightened in the most vulnerable groups among us, the 13-page ruling begins. But in the end, the deciding judges wrote, the decision on whether to require mass prison releases and other measures is not theirs to make. The number of prison infections grew in the two days since the judges held a hearing on the emergency motion. By Saturday, 60 people in the prisons 47 workers and 13 inmates were diagnosed with COVID-19. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said eight inmates are ill at the state prison in Lancaster, four prisoners are infected at the California Institution for Men in Chino, and one at North Kern State Prison. The request by prisoners attorneys for mass releases is understandable, and inmates have an 8th Amendment right to be protected from disease, the ruling states. But the three judges on the special panel ruled that dealing with a pandemic is beyond its authority. The three-judge court was created in 2007 to address chronic prison overcrowding, and its powers in 2009 were affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court. The judges Saturday said the question of protecting prisoners from COVID-19 belongs before a single court, such as one overseeing inmate medical care. We take no satisfaction in turning away Plaintiffs motion without reaching the important question of whether Defendants have implemented constitutionally adequate measures to protect the inmates of Californias prisons from the serious threat posed by this unparalleled pandemic, the ruling stated. Inmate lawyers said they plan to refile the motion before a single court. Yes, definitely, said Don Specter, executive director of the Prison Law Office in Berkeley. The decision by the three-judge court also laid out expectations that the state prison system needs to do more. It is likely that only through significant effort will Californias prisons be able to minimize the spread of COVID-19, judges wrote. Its a clear message to the state, said Michael Bien, one of the lead attorneys for inmates in the federal civil rights case. this is awesome. kudos, gaga. Reply Thread Link still waiting for the post about shawn and camila's inevitable break-up Reply Thread Link We could all be singing something from CHROMATICA if she just releases it! No, we're not singing stupid love. Reply Thread Link Wow imagine not stanning a humanitarian legend? Reply Thread Link Celebs are genuinely afraid we'll forget them. Reply Thread Link Perpetually side eying the WHO But i guess any org is going to have shady parts Reply Thread Link One thing that's never seemed disingenuous about LG is her willingness to be a participant in helping others. Sure this might also be PR for the album too but I do think she really cares even if her way of expressing is very theater kid Reply Thread Link bless ha I really liked the fact that this concert isn't a fundraiser, that all the fundraising was done ahead of time. I had some feels when she was like "put away your credit card". Reply Thread Link the fact that gaga reached out to these corporations to get them to donate as opposed to asking fans or us to donate, has me impressed. nothing is more annoying than corporations and millionaires asking the working class to donate. Edited at 2020-04-06 08:41 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ Reply Thread Link Ultimate drag queen - the VARIETY she presents - Kindness Punk yesterday, Humanitarian today but at the end of the day, she's just an Italian. Reply Thread Link Omg lol gaga fans are such liars, just like their fav! Raised 35 million? Where? It's good that she's doing something about the pandemic but don't oversell her. Reply Thread Link HOLY SHIT GAGA Reply Thread Link My baby Dermot has been doing things all week for his home country and world. This is cool the gaga presents is a bit much, it's just her spin on album promo and I don't like it. Reply Thread Link Are you referring to Dermot Kennedy? Bc if so I love him and I love seeing him just casually referred to on a first name basis here lol. Reply Parent Thread Link Lol yes, I'm always dropping his name here, those who know know. Yeah he is really amazing. Edited at 2020-04-07 01:28 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Wait it will be clips from everyone doing things on their Instagram so many we may have seen. Reply Thread Link This is how you do it, cc @GalGadot. Reply Thread Link SAGINAW, MI People who rely on mid-Michigan health departments for immunizations and family planning services are seeing changes in how they get those services amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Saginaw County Health Department is redirecting its critical infrastructure resources to manage the coronavirus pandemic, like other health departments around the state. The shift looks different for each health department, but Saginaw Countys is servicing non-COVID individuals on a case-by-case basis, according to Saginaw County Health Officer Christina Harrington. Services like family planning and immunizations are very important to us. But they dont fall under the governors executive order as essential and life-sustaining. And our building is closed to the public now until the order is lifted, Harrington said. Meanwhile, we encourage folks to call us regardless so we can work through issues on a case-by-case basis. The countys Personal Health Center, located within the health department, features family planning services like physical exams for males and females, laboratory testing for cervical cancer and HPV, HIV/AIDS counseling and testing, condom distribution and other birth control supplies, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment for males and females among other services. Our amazing staff is troubleshooting daily and creating plans to continue to serve those who need us for non-COVID-19 related matters, Harrington said. For more information about the countys services during the coronavirus pandemic, call 989-758-3870. The Genesee County Health Departments family planning clinic is located at G-3373 S. Saginaw St., in Burton. The clinic is still open to the public, but only by appointment in an effort reduce the number of people coming in and coming in contact with each other, according to Brad Snyder, public health supervisor for the STI/HIV and family planning programs. Prior to the pandemic, patients were able to walk in to get services, Snyder said. A few changes the health department has implemented to cut down on contact with other people include a drive-up option for some family services and STI treatment, no new patients for family planning services, and only one person allowed in the clinic at a time. When patients arrive at the health department, there is a designated parking spot they can park at for those certain services. The visit takes place without the person ever leaving their car, said Snyder. Were doing everything we can to avoid having patients come back into the exam rooms if at all possible, the public health supervisor said. In 2019, the clinic serviced over 3,000 people for family planning services and sexual health. To see a full range of services and more information about the clinic, visit here. The Midland County Health Department is also making some adjustments around its family planning services. Mary MacInnes, director of clinical services, said the health department is currently only offering urgent services. "We are doing that while maintaining the appropriate social distancing, and making sure that everybody is staying safe while we are providing those services said MacInnes. For more information about the services being offered at the Midland County Health Department at this time, call 989-832-6665. Related news: Biggest single-day jump in Genesee County coronavirus cases; Lapeer doubles New Burton health clinic looks to remove barriers to senior care Community members fill incredible need feeding Saginaw children during coronavirus pandemic A social activist here in Maharashtra has alleged that he and his family were heckled and termed as "anti-national" by a neighbour after they did not switch off lights at 9 pm on Sunday in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal. Siddharth Prabhune took to Twitter to express his grievance and said his family did not switch off lights as he was unwell. His wife Trupti Prabhune said they did not lodge a police complaint in the matter as the security personnel are already busy enforcing the lockdown. The activist said he along with his family were on the terrace of their house by 8.45 pm on Sunday. "By 9 pm, people started switching off the lights and lit diyas and candles. Lights in our house as well as on the terrace were on because I was not well," he tweeted. He further stated that a builder, who lives in front of their building, started shouting to switch off the lights. "However, we remained silent. He then came down and gathered people and started shouting at us," Prabhune alleged. In his Twitter post, the activist further alleged that the builder used intimidating language, labelled his family as "anti-national, "vile", and threatened to send them to jail for three months. The activist said the appeal made by Prime Minister Modi was voluntary, and such "intimidation" is wrong. When contacted, the activist's wife said the behaviour of the person was not appropriate, but they do not want to escalate the matter. "He should have not used that sort of language," she said, adding that they chose not to approach police who are already overburdened due to the current lockdown situation. Prime Minister Modi last week appealed to people to defeat coronavirus by switching off lights in their premises for nine minutes at 9 pm on Sunday amid the nationwide lockdown. People across the country enthusiastically responded to his appeal by lighting candles and diyas, and flashing lights of their mobile phones by standing in balconies and in front of their houses. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act put a finger in the dike, to help families put food on the table and small businesses keep the lights on. But to avoid a complete meltdown of the U.S. economy in coming months and the devastation that will cause to state and local tax revenues for years to come all levels of government need to work immediately to keep the gears of our economy working. Some states have enacted laws to halt foreclosures and evictions for homeowners and tenants who cant make their mortgage or rent payments. That is a start, but it fails to address the underlying problem, which is that there is somebody on the other end of that unpaid bill who depends on the revenue to keep a business going. The federal aid packages $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), administered by banks and the Small Business Administration, is a brilliant design: Offer bank loans that are forgiven (and reimbursed by Uncle Sam) if the participating business keeps workers on the payroll. The loan forgiveness includes the owners fixed costs, such as rent, insurance and utilities, giving them a chance to make it to the other side of the economic crisis and not close their doors forever. PPP offers a template that needs to be broadened massively to other sectors of the economy. It could go a long way toward avoiding a catastrophic plunge in state and local tax revenues at a time when the programs they fund will be needed more than ever. Until Americans are able to return to work enough to allow most businesses to reopen, the economy will suffer a chain reaction of payment defaults that lead to even more payment defaults, along with business bankruptcies like weve never seen before. A survey late last week suggests that half of small businesses hadn't paid their full April rent . When tenants fail to pay their rent, the landlords cant just reach into a magic cookie jar to pay their mortgage and property taxes. Every dollar that is not spent will also not be spent somewhere else in the economy. Its the famous Keynesian macro-economic income multiplier in reverse. Some will default on their fixed costs, some will eventually go out of business, and property values will plunge. The same applies especially to retail businesses, which furloughed nearly a million workers just last week . If federal, state and local governments fail to act, this country will never be the same. The online retailers will own the consumer sector, with malls and Main Streets becoming ghost towns. Those properties will plunge in value, and their tax assessments will follow suit. Yet hardly anyone seems to be talking about what that will do to property and sales tax revenues, the lifeblood of local governments. Some governments, those that planned ahead, will fall back on their rainy-day funds, but that will cover their ongoing expenditures for a few months at most. Others are struggling already. Budget cuts will be coming very soon, as states and localities are required to run balanced budgets. In the next round of federal aid, the House undoubtedly will take the lead with a bill to help states and municipalities, and that will start a log-rolling campaign to pass another COVID-19 relief act. However, we are already seeing partisan swiping at states and localities for how they have funded their operations, as if they were the source of this problem, and the Senate will be a tall mountain for state and local advocates to surmount. So heres a strategy that will appeal to the business and investment community as well as to the public-sector leaders who are trying to shortstop the damage that raw capitalism will otherwise wreak on state and local revenues for years to come: We need a national moratorium on rents, mortgages, health insurance premiums and utility bills for any person or business unable to make those payments as a result of COVID-19 stay-home and business-closure orders. But that is just the first step. The second is to provide federal reimbursement through a short-term forgivable-loan program similar in design to the PPP. If a tenant fails to pay rent and documents the hardship, the landlord gets aid in the form of a loan that can be fully or partially forgiven as long as the tenant isnt evicted. If a store keeps its employees on the payroll, even without customers in the door, the stores owner is eligible for a forgivable loan to cover its fixed costs. If a store cant pay its rent, the buildings owner gets reimbursement for its fixed costs when the property is put back in use. And owners of mortgage securities can be reimbursed for the defaults they suffer through no fault of their own, which in itself can help America avoid yet another financial crisis similar to the Great Recession. Congress could also help these businesses with a federal income-tax loss carry-back that allows a credit on taxes previously paid, provided that the store or its landlord stays in business. There is no point in subsidizing a business that declares bankruptcy, but for those that keep the doors open and support workers, some tax breaks make sense. I have not put a price tag on this concept, because it requires more refinement than this short overview can possibly provide. If the bill becomes a Christmas tree, I wont be surprised if it pencils out to a trillion dollars. That is not my intent: Something closer in scope to the $349 billion PPP is far more defensible and warranted; otherwise it would crowd out direct aid to the states. There also are eligibility-policy issues far over my head. But I dont think we need to keep over-leveraged independent oil producers and cruise ship operators alive by subsidizing their debt, so the scope needs to be narrow enough to sustain our nations primary state and local tax bases without becoming a giveaway to Wall Street and political insiders. But directionally, it is where we as a nation need to go, and its the only way to stabilize property and sales tax revenues beyond 2020. The state and local government lobby will get a lot more support in the GOP-controlled Senate if this moratorium and lights on reimbursement program covers the backs of Main Street investors. And dont forget that President Trump and his strategic adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner are real-estate operators with hundreds of friends in that industry. They will make sure that their camps senators see the light for an omnibus bill that benefits states and localities in more ways than one. This is the emotional moment a New York mother-of-five who spent more than two weeks battling coronavirus was discharged from hospital and reunited with her husband. Christina Paz, 47, was finally discharged from Staten Island University Hospital over the weekend. She had been receiving critical care at the hospital for 15 days after falling ill and testing positive for coronavirus. In an emotional video posted online, nurses and medical staff lined the hallways as Paz was wheeled out of the hospital in a wheelchair. Christina Paz, 47, was finally discharged from Staten Island University Hospital in New York over the weekend She had been receiving critical care at the hospital for 15 days after falling ill and testing positive for coronavirus The hospital staff formed an honor guard and clapped as the emotional mother-of-five was escorted out following her recovery. Paz broke down sobbing as she was finally able to embrace her husband. The hospital shared the video on its Facebook page to announce her recovery. 'After a 15-day battle in the hospital and receiving critical care for COVID-19, Christina Paz, the 47-year-old mother of five was discharged from Staten Island University Hospital - South and reunited with her husband,' they wrote. 'Christina, thank you for letting us share this wonderful news and thank you to everyone working so hard to get us through this very difficult time!' New York remains the epicenter of the US coronavirus outbreak. There are now 130,689 cases of coronavirus in New York state - an increase of 8,568 in a day. The death toll has risen from 4,159 to 4,758 - an increase of 599. 'None of this is good news. The possible flattening of the curve is better than the increases that we have seen,' Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Monday. In an emotional video posted online, nurses and medical staff lined the hallways as Paz was wheeled out of the hospital in a wheelchair Paz broke down sobbing as she was finally able to embrace her husband. The hospital shared the video on its Facebook page to announce her recovery The hospital staff formed an honor guard and clapped as the emotional mother-of-five was escorted out following her recovery He said no matter what the evidence showed, he had no choice but to extend social distancing to the end of April. 'If that curve is turning, it's turning and it's going down because social distancing is working,' he said. 'Schools and non-essential businesses will stay closed until April 29. I know what that does to the economy but I'm not going to choose between public health and economic activity. 'Whether we've hit the apex or not, we have to do the same thing. From day one, we have underestimated this enemy.' Despite a grave shortage in supplies and equipment, Cuomo said no hospital has reported not having what they need to treat people. Cuomo said that while it was not an 'ideal' situation, no one had died that could have been saved. 'The challenge is to make sure we don't lose anyone who could have been saved if the healthcare system was operating fully. That is a legitimate ambitious goal of government and that, we have done,' he said. 'Have we saved everyone? No. But have we lost anyone because we didn't have a bed or a ventilator or healthcare staff? No.' After weeks of news they surely wanted to 86, some local food, beverage and retail workers are getting new hope. A temp jobs program for Huntsville service industry employees is on the way. The program, organized by Downtown Huntsville Inc., Downtown Huntsville Charitable Fund and Land Trust of North Alabama, is expected to launch this month. The program will assist unemployed and furloughed workers in the Downtown Huntsville Core and Downtown Huntsville Districts. The Land Trust will temporarily hire these recently unemployed workers to remove invasive Japanese Honeysuckle plants from Monte Sano Nature Preserve trails. The program will pay $10 an hour for up to 40 weekly hours. To be eligible, workers must prove that they were a downtown Huntsville food, beverage or retail industry employee who, effective April 1, was laid off due to coronavirus pandemic cutbacks. The initial deadline to apply is April 15. To apply or request more information, email jobs@landtrustnal.org. Only unemployed employees are eligible. Once re-employed for 20-plus hours per week by any other employer, that person is no longer eligible. In a press release, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said, "This creative opportunity to provide jobs and wages for our displaced downtown workers and to help one of our treasured assets is the kind of compassionate creativity that will help Huntsville get through this pandemic stronger than ever before." Local artists are also now receiving some much needed help during coronavirus. Arts Huntsville recently launched an Individual Artist Emergency Relief Grant Fund that can provide Madison County performing and visual artists with $250 to $500 grants to cover immediate expenses. Arts Huntsville has contributed $25,000 from the organizations emergency funds for the relief grants. Theyre also seeking community donations to further build the fund. The grant application and donation portal is at artshuntsville.org. To be eligible for a grant, artists must have resided in Madison County for three or more years, be a self-employed artist in any discipline and make more than 50 percent of their income as a professional artist. Applicants will also need to demonstrate an estimated loss of income, cancellations of bookings and shows scheduled prior to the COVID-19 outbreak and previous weekly/monthly arts income. Arts Huntsville is no doubt empathetic to the countless local artists who lost their gigs due to the pandemic. The nonprofit recently canceled Panoply, the citys signature festival. "Without public interaction at their studios, galleries and performances venues, our local artists have lost their livelihood,, Arts Huntsville executive director Allison Dillon-Jauken said in a release. These are the very individuals who entertain and inspire us each week across our community and they need help to get through this crisis. MORE ON LOCAL CULTURE When coronavirus cancels your grand opening Coronavirus a challenging canvas for Lowe Mill Downtown Huntsville dining: How it may be changed forever Huntsville breweries and coronavirus Coronavirus impacts Alabama musicians, concert pros Gina Engst holds a digital tablet so Carmela Apolonio-Hernandez (left, on the screen) and Suyapa Reyes, both in church sanctuary at the time, could be a part of a rally outside the office of Congressman Dwight Evans in February. Evans' work helped to free Reyes and her children from sanctuary in March. Hernandez has spent more than two years in sanctuary. Read more You may have seen the meme bouncing around Facebook during the pandemic: Cant visit your family? Cant leave the country? Dangerous working conditions? Now you know what its like to be undocumented. The United States is home to about 11 million undocumented immigrants, including 50,000 in Philadelphia. Undocumented workers make up roughly 5% of the U.S. labor force, according to the Pew Research Center. The time of the coronavirus can be especially difficult for people for whom every contact with government authorities presents a risk. Heres what you need to know. I have symptoms of COVID-19. Could I be arrested and deported if I go to the hospital? If you go to a hospital, you should not have problems because of your status. Hospitals generally have resisted attempts to force them to collect and share immigration information, saying they work to provide care, not to enforce immigration laws. Hospitals have no interest in discouraging people from using their services, said Gabrielle Lessard, a senior policy attorney at the National Immigration Law Center in California. But a hospital should not be your immediate choice for care unless youre terribly sick. You could become infected if you dont carry the virus and spread it to others if you do. Contact your local community health center, as they generally serve everyone, regardless of status. Work with them to figure out what you should do next. FAQ: Your coronavirus questions, answered Both U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, operate under what are called sensitive locations policies. Those regulations bar agents from making arrests at churches, schools, and hospitals except in extraordinary circumstances. However, those lines occasionally become blurry. The grounds surrounding hospitals are not necessarily safe for undocumented people who are leaving care or coming to visit family inside. Last month, ICE took a Honduran man into custody at a Scranton hospital, then placed him in detention at the Pike County Correctional Facility. Pennsylvania lawyer Juliette Gomez said her clients arrest clearly violated the locations policy. ICE said the arrest began at the federal courthouse, and what followed was a continuation of that process. Am I at greater risk from coronavirus if Im undocumented? You could be, but not because of your immigration status. A 2009 public-health study found that some immigrants and refugees could be more vulnerable to a flu pandemic because of health issues and living conditions. They may have limited savings, and getting care even in normal times can be a struggle because of language barriers and cultural misunderstandings, the study found. Some migrants have lower rates of immunizations and preventative care, and higher prevalence of certain infectious illnesses. 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 Will I get a check from the $2.2 trillion stimulus package if Im undocumented? No, even if you pay taxes to the IRS, as do millions of undocumented workers. The stimulus excludes nonresident aliens and people without Social Security numbers. Nor can undocumented immigrants get unemployment benefits. Activists say excluding migrants from the stimulus puts everyones health at risk, because many work in food-growing and maintenance jobs that power the supply chain and keep equipment operating. They dont have the option of working from home. Im out of work and my family needs food. Where can I get it? The City of Philadelphia has set up distribution points to give people free food, with no identification needed. The limit is one box per household, with each box expected to last up to five days. The list of pickup sites is on the citys website, and they are open Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon. The Cathedral Kitchen in Camden is feeding people as well. Where can I get information about the pandemic in my native language? The Inquirer is publishing many essential stories about the pandemic in Spanish. News and updates in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, and French has been posted on the citys website. They dont answer every question, and the Office of Immigrant Affairs intends to provide more information soon. Juntos, the Latino advocacy group based in South Philadelphia, continues to post and update information on its website in English and Spanish. Whats the primary worry right now for people who lack official permission to be in the U.S.? The main concern weve heard so far is paying rent, says Blanca Pacheco, co-director of New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia, who noted that the pandemic has put millions of people out of work. In Pennsylvania, renters are protected from eviction through at least April 30, and in New Jersey evictions are on hold through most of May. New Sanctuary Movement has been alerting renters that they have rights as tenants, and that eviction goes through the courts, which are largely closed for now. Doesnt Philadelphia treat undocumented people differently than other places? The City of Philadelphia strives to treat all its residents the same, whatever their immigration status. Its a sanctuary city, a term that has different meanings in different jurisdictions, but generally applies to places that limit their cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Thats created conflict with the Trump administration, which wants Philadelphia to have its police officers help enforce immigration laws. City officials won a federal lawsuit over that issue, saying the community is safer when everyone, undocumented or not, feels comfortable coming forward as a witness or victim of crime. The number of coronavirus cases in Bhopal has gone up to 54, with 14 more patients being found in the Madhya Pradesh capital in the last 12 hours, an official said on Monday. The new patients comprise employees of the health department and police personnel, Chief Medical and Health Officer Sudhir Deharia said. Out of the total 54 patients, two have been discharged after recovery, he said, adding that one of the victims died during treatment at a private hospital on Sunday night. In the past one week, two IAS officers posted in the state health department, including a principal secretary, have tested positive for coronavirus. Some other health officials engaged in combating the the deadly virus also tested positive for the disease in the state capital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) To say the world has completely changed over the last 1-2 months in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic is an understatement, says Goldman Sachs Bonnie Herzog in a recent note to clients. It is impossible to disagree. Wall Street has been grappling with the implications, as stock prices and valuations have tumbled due to the increased uncertainty in the face of COVID-19s long term impact. Herzog has been assessing the current health of the beverage and tobacco sector, and in addition to the unprecedented uncertainty regarding the broader economy, is worried of other possible developments. We are also concerned about the ripple effect on broader consumer demand as concerns about health considerations & social distancing give way to the long-term effects on the job market, wages, consumer behavior & consumer spending, Herzog said. Having said that, the analyst identifies a number of names in the beverage sector that are well setup to outperform as the year progresses. We ran three of Goldman Sachs' top picks through TipRanks database to further gauge Street sentiment towards them. As it happens, all are Buy rated, and whats more, the analysts forecast all to have at least 25% upside in the year ahead. Lets take a closer look. Boston Beer Company (SAM) Lets start off with one of 2020s sturdier performers in the face of COVID-19. Although the Boston Beer Companys share price is down by 5% year-to-date, it has fared significantly better than the overall market, considering the S&P 500s 20% decline. There are a couple of reasons, according to Herzog, why the company has proved resilient. SAMs relative lack of exposure to the on-premise channel, compared to its peers, means it has taken less of a hit from the nationwide closure of bars and restaurants. 11% of SAMs business is on premises, compared to the industry average of 16%. Furthermore, the reduction of on-premise sells is set to be countered by a strong retail/take home trend. Story continues The second positive driver for SAM is due to it being advantageously levered to what Herzog claims is one of the few big growth opportunities in alcoholic beverages, - hard seltzers. In its brand Truly, SAM has the No.2 position in the hard seltzer market, which the analyst believes, it is not about to relinquish any time soon. The trend, Herzog argues, is only likely to grow. The analsyt said, We believe the hard seltzer category is here to stay and our analysis suggests category volumes could expand 2-3x by 2023 to become ~10% of total beer consumption in the U.S., up from ~3.5% in 2019. As a strong No.2, we believe Truly could capture a signicant share of this growth and our sensitivity analysis suggests every incremental 6% step-up in Truly shipment volume growth boosts SAMs net rev growth by +340bps. To this end, Herzog resumes coverage of SAM with a Buy rating along with a $415 price target. The upside from current levels is 13%. (To watch Herzogs track record, click here) Turning now to the rest of the Street, SAM has a Strong Buy consensus rating, based on 7 Buys and 2 Holds. At $450, the average price target is set to provide upside of 24%, should it be met in the year ahead. (See SAM stock analysis on TipRanks) Constellation Brands Inc (STZ) Unlike SAM, Constellation Brands cant boast of beating the market so far in 2020. The largest beer import company in the US is down by 30% since the turn of year. But like SAM, Herzog sees multiple growth drivers for Constellation, calling it one of the most attractive stocks across consumer staples and among the rare ones levered to growth. Herzog argues STZs valuation has been unfairly punished due to the coronaviruss impact on on-premise business (roughly 15% of the companys beer sales) and an overreaction to its exposure to California, where stay-at-home measures have been implemented since mid-March, and, therefore, impacting sales. But There is another problem that has just reared its ugly head for Constellation. The company owns Grupo Modelos - the maker of Corona beer U.S. rights. Unlike in the U.S., beer is not considered an essential business in Mexico and Anheuser-Bush InBev, who own Modelos rest of the worlds rights, temporarily shut down its Mexican brewing facilities on Sunday April 5th, to help curb the spread of the virus. Constellation Brands CEO Bill Newlands has said the companys Mexico plants are still operating and it has 70 days of inventory to guarantee minimal disruption, but with uncertainty currently in the air, it will be interesting to see if the plants remain open for much longer. Nevertheless, Herzog is confident in Constellations long-term growth drivers. The analyst said, We believe STZ can deliver on its growth objectives without signicant degradation to its beer operating margin, which at ~39% is already very high and best-in-class. We believe, like the best CPG operators out there, STZ has multiple levers to pull to drive top-line growth while protecting prots/margins, and we expect this to happen as the company leans into change and leads on growth. Therefore, coverage on Constellation is resumed, with a Buy rating and a $165 price target, implying possible upside of 17%. Overall, 10 Buys and 6 Hold ratings published over the last 3 months present STZ with a Moderate Buy consensus rating. The average price target comes in at $192.07, and suggests possible upside of 37%. (See Constellation Brands stock analysis on TipRanks) Monster Beverage Corp (MNST) The last name on our list nestles somewhere between our two previous companies. With a 15% year-to-date drop, according to Herzog, the manufacturer of energy drinks including Monster Energy, Relentless and Burn is well set up to reward investors. Simply put, Herzog says, We see recent share price pressure as a buying opportunity. Herzog believes strong customer loyalty & low household penetration are reasons why the energy category will remain resilient in the current climate. And according to optimistic comments from the analysts convenience store retailer contacts, concerns about signicant less demand across the category due to COVID-19s impact on lower traffic, are misplaced. Additionally, energy drink consumers are likely to step up purchases in other channels and load up on pantry items. In short, Herzog concludes we think this is being largely disregarded by the market, with shares trading at a FY21 P/E multiple of 23.5x, an -12% discount vs. MNST 1-year historical average multiple of 26.5x and a -19% discount vs. MNSTs 3-year historical average multiple of 28.9x. Most importantly, MNSTs current valuation only implies an 85% premium vs. the S&P 500 (slightly below MNSTs 5-year average premium of 86%) despite limited downside risk to growth, improving margins & an increasingly rational competitive environment. Bottom line, what does it mean for investors? Herzog resumes coverage with a Buy rating and a $65 price target. Expects returns in the shape of 20%, should the analysts thesis play out in the coming months. Looking at the consensus breakdown, 7 Buys, 3 Holds and 1 Sell rating coalesce to a Moderate Buy consensus rating for the energy drink manufacturer. Investors will take home a 19% gain, should the average price target of $67.33, be met over the next year. (See Monster Beverage stock analysis on TipRanks) To find good ideas for beverage stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. The governments decision to suspend the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) has led to a fissure within the Congress party, exposing the disconnect between its Lok Sabha (LS) and Rajya Sabha (RS) MPs. The government has announced that the amount allocated to each MP under MPLADS will be suspended for two successive years till 2021 and the sum will be sent to the Consolidated Fund. Some of the senior Congress leaders, including the partys RS member Jairam Ramesh, welcomed the move. I have been arguing for long that the approximately Rs7,000 crore given to MPs & MLAs (members of legislative assembly) annually for development works should be used as a corpus for state funding of elections, he tweeted. Moments after, his party colleague, Lok Sabha MP Manickram Tagore, tweeted that RS members are not up to speed with realpolitik. Its sad that how Rajya Sabha MPs are completely disconnected with the ground reality, Tagore tweeted. Tagore told HT that the move to suspend MPLADs is driven by pure politics. It is a well-thought strategy to block Opposition MPs doing anything in their constituencies, he said. Another senior Opposition member said that the LS members were anticipating trouble regarding MPLADS funds for a while. There were strong indications and in a meeting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders had held with an Opposition party a senior BJP leader had let it slip, said the leader. The move has found other supporters and detractors inside the Congress. The partys chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the move is a huge disservice. Please note that MPLADS is meant to execute developmental works in the constituency. Suspending it is a huge disservice to the constituents & will undermine the role & functions of MP, he tweeted. Manish Tiwari called it an overstretch. MPLADS is a targeted & nimble instrument to customise micro-level interventions to alleviate distress. I think MPLAD funds need to be restored, he tweeted. Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor also said that the move was problematic. MPLADS is the only means for an MP to direct development resources to his constituency. An order to earmark all MPLADS spending for #COVID19 related measures would have been OK; I used mine to get urgently-needed #rapidtestkits & PPE to Thiruvananthapurams health workers, he tweeted. Airlines, airports and regulators have given their backing to a plan to turn large passenger aircraft into intensive care wards during the coronavirus pandemic, a UK-based group working on the idea said on Monday. The group, calling themselves Caircraft, believe that big aircraft like A380s and A340s, which are grounded due to coronavirus travel restrictions, could be stripped down and refitted with ICU beds and equipment in seven to ten days. Between 100-150 beds could fit on each aircraft depending on the size of the jet under the group's design plans, and it is now waiting for government support for funding and coordination. "We've had various conversations at various levels. And we absolutely appreciate how busy they are with everything else going on," aviation economist Chris Tarry said of contact with government. "It's a question of reaching the right desks at the right time." Tarry has joined entrepreneur Nick Dyne, Jonathan Sackier, Visiting Professor of Surgery at Oxford Universitys Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences and others on the plan. The group is also talking to the U.S. government, Canada, Germany and Malaysia about the idea, Dyne said.UK airlines with parked-up widebody jets support the idea, said Dyne without naming them, although they are believed to include British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, as well as a number of UK airports and the UK aviation regulator, the CAA. Britain is bracing for the epidemic to peak in the coming weeks, and is building field hospitals in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Cardiff to bolster its state-run National Health Service (NHS). Under the Caircraft plans, which the group has been working on for a week, the aircraft would first fly to the place where they were to be needed, before being fitted out. They would not move once treating patients. "What we don't want to do is to be a flying hospital. The regulatory issues regarding that are just too great," said Dyne. The group say the advantage of using planes is that not only are they mobile and there are plenty of them now available, but also that their filtered, one-way airflow systems mirror those of an operating theatre. Dyne declined to comment on the how much it would cost to convert each aircraft. Franklin Graham says coronavirus pandemic is 'result of a fallen world' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The novel coronavirus pandemic is the result of sin that exists in a fallen world that has turned its back on God, conservative evangelical leader Franklin Graham said. Graham, president of the Christian humanitarian organization Samaritans Purse, spoke with Fox News Jeannie Pirro on Saturday for an interview that mostly focused on the emergency field hospital Samaritans Purse is operating in New York Citys Central Park. In New York City, there are over 67,551 confirmed cases of the virus with over 3,048 related deaths as of Monday afternoon, according to statistics compiled by Johns Hopkins University & Medicine. Nationally, there are over 338,995 cases of coronavirus with over 10,000 deaths, and over 1.3 million cases and 72,638 related deaths worldwide. This pandemic, this is a result of a fallen world, a world that has turned its back on God, Graham said in the interview. So I would encourage people to pray and lets ask God for help. Toward the end of the interview, Graham, the son of the late evangelist Billy Graham, was asked by Pirro if he gets questions from a lot of people wondering: Why would God allow this kind of thing to happen? I dont think that God planned for this to happen, he responded. Its because of the sin that's in the world. Man has turned his back against God. We have sinned against Him. We need to ask for Gods forgiveness. Thats what Easter is all about it, Graham, who also leads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, continued. Its about God so loving the world that He gave His only begotten son so that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but should have everlasting life. He assured that Christ came to save sinners and save the world. If we put our faith and trust in Him, Hell forgive our sins and heal our hearts and Hell change the course of our lives, Graham added. The evangelist has long warned that sin is being glorified in American society and that Gods judgment could be coming for embracing things like same-sex marriage or abortion. During the 2016 election cycle, Graham held Decision America tour rallies across the United States to encourage people to let biblical values inspire their votes. Earlier in the interview with Pirro, Graham admitted that no one ever thought Samaritans Purse would ever need to set up a field hospital in the heart of New York City. In the past, Samaritans Purse has operated field hospitals in war-torn countries like Iraq as well as in disaster-stricken areas like the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian in 2019. On April 1, the organization opened a 14-tent, 68-bed respiratory care unit that was designed to care for people suffering from COVID-19 in New York City. The unit is staffed with over 70 doctors, nurses and other medical staff. Additionally, Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains are there to minister to the sick and staff. The unit includes 10 intensive care unit beds. Patients are coming to the field hospital from its partner, Mount Sinai Health System. We never thought we would be in New York City, thats for sure, Graham admitted. These tents are state-of-the-art mobile hospitals. Samaritans Purse also operates a 68-bed emergency field hospital outside of Cremona Hospital in Northern Italy, just outside of Milan. In Italy, there have been over 132,000 cases and over 16,523 deaths as of Monday afternoon. Graham said that whats happening in the U.S. is very similar to what is happening in Italy. I believe that we are probably about two weeks behind where Italy is, he said. We are hoping that we will see it kind of plateau in Italy in the next few days. At least that is what the predictions are. Graham called on people across the globe to pray for Gods protection and that Gods hand would release us from this pandemic. This is a very serious situation, he said. We need Gods help. Of course, in Central Park, our doctors and nurses are Christian men and women. We pray for our patients. We have chaplains there to pray for our patients. We care for everybody that comes in. And of course, we want people to know that God loves them and He hasnt forgotten them. We are there to care for them in Jesus name." Dr. K. Elliott Tenpenny, the leader of the Samaritan's Purse response team in New York City, told The Christian Post in an interview last week that the coronavirus is not something to "think this is the end of the world." "[B]ut it is not something thats also to dismiss, Tenpenny said. 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. A federal government survey of the experience of hospitals in responding to the coronavirus pandemic paints a desperate picture of equipment shortages, overworked staff, and insufficient tests. Three quarters of hospitals are already treating patients with confirmed or suspected cases of Covid-19. The report, released on Monday by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), warns that the problems experienced by hospitals that are already being overwhelmed with patients, particularly in terms of supplies, are feeding off each other in a vicious cycle insufficient equipment leads to more potential infections, further draining supplies. In direct contrast to the report, during Saturday's White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing, President Donald Trump claimed that hospital administrators even in the really hot spots ... are communicating directly with us that their level of supplies are meeting essential needs. And at the current time, they're really thrilled to be where they are. The administrations own report says that hospital administrators describe shortages of basic equipment such as thermometers, and insufficient deliveries of personal protective equipment (PPE) from federal and state sources that wont even last a day. Shockingly, a hospital reported receiving a shipment of 2,300 N95 masks from a state strategic reserve, that were unusable because the elastic bands had dry-rotted. Another reported that the last two shipments it had received from a federal agency contained PPE that expired in 2010. The shipment also contained construction masks that did not contain a true N95 seal. Another health system received a delivery of 1,000 masks when it was expecting far more, only to discover that 500 of them were for children and therefore unusable by hospital staff. Hospitals also report shortages of critical supplies, materials and logistical support, from IV poles to linen, toilet paper and food, as well as thermometers and disinfectant. The shortage of thermometers completely undermines the ability to take temperatures of both staff and patients one of the key indicators of the virus. Severe shortages of testing supplies and extended waits for results, sometimes as long as eight days, mean patients are spending longer periods in hospitals causing further strain and depleting limited resources. The massive anticipated shortage of full-feature ventilators has led to the use of alternatives, and poses potentially difficult ethical decisions. Though at the time of the survey no hospital reported limiting ventilator use. Health systems are also having difficulties maintaining staffing levels through overwork and the emotional toll on both medical and support staff. A further day-to-day challenge is also the changing and sometimes inconsistent guidance from federal, state, and local authorities, which confuses both hospitals and the public, and increases workload. Longer term, hospitals are concerned about their financial viability as the drop in elective procedures has decreased revenues as costs have increased. Before the release of the report, the American Hospital Association said officials are worried about shortages of critical medical supplies, including medication for patients and PPE for staff. In a statement to NPR, Alicia Mitchell, the group's senior vice president of communications, said: Not a day goes by where we don't hear from hospitals and health systems across the country that are concerned about shortages of PPE for their heroic frontline caregivers. She added: The AHA continues to urge that all levers be used by both the government and private sector to ensure those on the front lines have the resources and support they need to care for their patients and communities. The findings of the report were based on phone interviews with administrators at 324 hospitals conducted between 23 March and 27 March. Civil rights groups have filed a federal lawsuit against the Miami-Dade jail system seeking the release of medically vulnerable inmates who may be at risk of catching the coronavirus. Miami-Dades MetroWest Detention Center is a petri dish for the coronavirus, according to the lawsuit filed by the civil rights group, Dream Defenders, and two others. People are crammed together in dorm-style bunks, 60 people to a cell, without access to the basic things that we have on the outside. They have no hand sanitizer, no gloves, no ability to distance. On top of that, there are broken toilets and sinks, and dirty bathrooms with standing water, Maya Ragsdale, a lawyer with Dream Defenders, said in a press release. Were seeing throughout the country, from Chicago to New York City, that COVID-19 spreads like wildfire in jails. This is a ticking time bomb and officials in Miami must act now to release as many people as possible from cages. An initial hearing was held Monday afternoon in front of U.S. Judge Kathleen Williams. The lawsuit was filed Sunday on behalf of seven MetroWest inmates who lawyers say suffer from medical issues that make them particularly susceptible to the respiratory illness. A dozen Miami-Dade corrections officers and employees have tested positive for the coronavirus. Like police departments, paramedics and hospitals, they have also run low on masks, gloves and hand sanitizer. The Miami-Dade corrections department said Monday that the agency could not comment on a pending lawsuit. Across South Florida, authorities have grappled with how to shield inmates and the corrections officers who guard them in cramped jail and prison facilities from the highly contagious coronavirus. The Florida Department of Corrections, which houses inmates convicted of crimes and serving more than a year behind bars, revealed Sunday that two inmates have tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus. On Sunday evening, 26 prison staff and civilian contractors had tested positive, the department said. Within the Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitation department, no inmates have tested positive for COVID-19, although only two had been tested. Story continues One man, James Griffith, 19, who was released from MetroWest on Friday, told the Miami Herald: Two officers told us, Dont believe what theyre telling yall. The coronavirus is in here. Be safe. Wash your hands. Fifteen jail officers and civilian employees have contracted the virus, according to the department. As with first-responders across the nation, Miami-Dade jail officers have struggled to obtain enough masks, gloves and other equipment that might keep them safe from the virus. Officers have even resorted to making their own masks. The Dream Defenders lawsuit, filed along with the Advancement Project National Office, Community Justice Project and Civil Rights Corps and GST LLP, said the department hasnt done enough. The groups press release quoted one of the plaintiffs, Anthony Swain, a 43-year-old with paraplegia and cystic myelomalacia and is being held at a medical unit at MetroWest. The facility houses over 1,800 inmates. I am trying my best to take care of myself in the midst of this pandemic, no different from you, no different from any other human being. But its impossible to do that at this jail. The cell is filthy and we have no access to hygiene products. Today [on April 3rd] I had to make a mask out of my yellow sock and an elastic string from my catheter bag. We are crowded together with no space between us, Swain said, according to the press release. In Miami-Dade, prosecutors, defense lawyers and judges have succeeded in trimming the jail population by about 600 inmates since the pandemic kicked into high gear last month. On Friday, there were about 3,400 inmates in three Miami-Dade jails. Just a few weeks ago, the number was about 4,000. Also on Friday, the Miami-Dade judge overseeing the head of the criminal division ordered 18 inmates freed because their jail sentences were nearly complete. The order was done in conjunction with the Public Defenders Office and Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office. Downhill Directors - Jim Rash, Nat Faxon Cast - Will Ferrell, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Miranda Otto, Kristofer Hivju A married couple is forced to reevaluate its relationship after an incident during a ski vacation in Downhill, the English language remake of the Swedish drama Force Majeure. Oscar-winning writer-director duo Jim Rash and Nat Faxon largely follow in the tracks of Ruben Ostlunds original film, but deviate drastically towards the very end, leaving their film to cascade down a cliff in the process. Julia Louis-Dreyfuss and Will Ferrell star as the Stauntons, who in the films opening scene arrive with their two teenage sons at an Alpine ski resort. Its a trip that the family has taken to help Pete (Ferrell) cope with the recent death of his father, sympathy for which Pete never hesitates in gathering. He brings it up at dinner, during random encounters with other travellers, and even in an argument with his wife, Billie. Watch the Downhill trailer here After a couple of days on the slopes, the family sits down for lunch at a pretty outdoor restaurant overlooking the grand Alps. Explosions to initiate controlled avalanches can be heard in the distance. While the Stauntons are deciding whether or not to order soup, a particularly loud explosion triggers an avalanche that hurtles straight towards their restaurant. Initially, the diners observe with mild curiosity, assuming it will fizzle out like most controlled avalanches do before hitting the town. But the cloud of snow grows larger and the rumbling under their feet becomes more intense. Suddenly, theres panic as the everyone begins running for cover. Everyone including Pete, who has abandoned his family at the table, left with no option but to cling to each other. A few moments later, the gust of snow settles down, and Pete sheepishly returns. Billie and their two kids are shaking with fright, too stunned to speak. The decide theyll have the soup anyway. But a cold, unspoken resentment lingers between Pete and Billie for the next few hours, until it explodes in one scene when she confronts him with what he has done. In many ways, Downhill is like a cousin to the recent Anubhav Sinha film Thappad, also about a woman who is forced to reevaluate her marriage after a shameful act by her husband. Both films and Force Majeure, of course wonder if a single incident is enough to trigger someone into reconsidering the very foundation their marriage is built upon. Petes selfish sprint opens up a whole can of worms that he simply isnt prepared to clean up. This image released by Fox Searchlight shows Alex MacQueen, from left, Miranda Otto, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Will Ferrell in a scene from Downhill. (AP) After the confrontation, Billie insists on spending time apart from him, which sends her on an adventure with a handsome ski instructor in one scene, and forces her to have a frank discussion about her own needs and desires in another. Later, when Billie and Pete see a couple of Indian honeymooners giggling about their day, he attempts to overcompensate and grabs her hand, a gesture she gives the Melania Trump treatment. Also read: Guilty movie review: Karan Johar and Netflix atone for past sins, Kiara Advani is a revelation Downhill, like its brash American protagonists, is far more abrasive about its intentions than the very emotionally reserved Forced Majeure. It has less patience for silences, which the Swedish original absolutely revelled in. The lingering discomfort of that film has been replaced by a rather straightforward approach in this one. While it was quite difficult to empathise with the father in Force Majeure, Will Ferrell has an inherent likability that quells whatever anger you might have towards him. Downhills steadfast feminist streak also seems slightly tacked on and is completely undone by the films glaringly awful final moments. And there lies the problem with the remake Rash and Faxon seem to have misunderstood the point of the original and have given a morally debatable scenario a black-and-white solution. Follow @htshowbiz for more The author tweets @RohanNaahar It is increasingly evident that obesity is linked to poorer outcomes for those who are infected with the coronavirus. We already know that patients with obesity-related conditions such as cardiovascular disease are at higher risk of diabetes, which can mean a higher risk of developing complications if you catch COVID-19. But is obesity itself a risk factor for developing complications and, if so, why? Writing about obesity is always difficult. People are overweight for different reasons, and often these are far-reaching and complex in nature. It is also unfair to group all overweight people into the same category, but for the purposes of this article, I will be looking at obesity as an individual risk factor for complications of COVID-19 from a strictly medical point of view. How big of a risk factor is obesity? Obesity impacts millions of people around the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults were overweight, of whom 650 million were classed as obese. As time has gone on, it has become increasingly evident that obesity is linked to poorer outcomes for those who are infected with the coronavirus. A study in New York looking at more than 4,000 people concluded that obesity was the single biggest factor, after age, in whether those with COVID-19 had to be admitted to a hospital. This was particularly true for young people, who by and large have been told they are likely to develop only mild symptoms should they contract the virus. However, young (under 60) patients with a Body Mass Index (BMI) a calculation taking into account height and weight of between 30 and 34 were almost twice as likely to be admitted to ICU compared to patients with a BMI of less than 30. This likelihood increased to 3.6 times in those patients with a BMI of 35 or greater. (Normal BMI is 24.9 or below.) It is not just in the US that studies are showing obesity as a risk factor for developing complications of COVID-19. A study in China looking at 383 patients showed that people who were overweight or obese were more than twice as likely to develop complications, such as severe pneumonia, with the coronavirus than those who were of a healthy weight. This was particularly true for overweight men. Similar findings have been shown to be true in French and British studies, with an NHS audit showing two thirds of patients who fall seriously ill from coronavirus are obese and nearly 40 percent are under the age of 60. It is a sobering statistic for those who thought that only the elderly are dying from COVID-19. Why is obesity a big risk factor? There are multiple reasons why obesity is such a big factor. Overweight or obese patients often have underlying health conditions related to their weight, such as Type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Their immune systems may be impaired being overweight may mean someone is in a chronic state of inflammation. As a result, their immune system is always switched on and may not have enough in reserve to fight a serious illness effectively. You can imagine it as being a bit like leaving a car engine running while stationary and burning the fuel needed for an upcoming long distance drive. Excess body weight around the abdomen can also prevent the lungs expanding fully and filling with air, so when they need to work harder, for example with a pneumonia, they are restricted. A patient who is obese is also physically more difficult to intubate a procedure where an airway tube is fed down the throat to allow air to pass into the lungs due to the fact that their neck tends to be thicker, putting pressure on the airways, especially when the patient is flat on his or her back. Patients in ICU with COVID-19 do better when they are lying on their stomachs as more air can get into the lungs. This is harder to do for obese patients. People with obesity are also harder to transport. Specialist beds and equipment are often needed for larger patients, equipment that is not widely available. It is fair to say that most healthcare systems are not well set up to manage patients with obesity, and this pandemic may well highlight that fact and expose its limitations further. Obesity and general health concerns Obesity is defined as a disruption of energy balance that leads to weight gain and metabolic disturbances that cause tissue stress and dysfunction. This means that obesity is not just being overweight but also the adverse effect that being overweight has on your bodys health. One of these adverse effects is a disruption in a function of the immune system called the lymphoid and neutrophil line. These are cells that can tell infection from normal tissue and that need to be kept in careful balance in order to maintain a healthy immune system. Obesity can disrupt this balance and lead to a low level of chronic inflammation of normal tissue, caused by these cells. This places the body under a constant low level of physical stress on a microscopic scale. This imbalance in the immune system and chronic inflammation of normal tissue has put people with obesity at increased risk of complications of infections and higher rates of chronic diseases generally. During the influenza A (H1N1) or swine flu viral pandemic of 2009, studies showed that obesity was an independent risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality following infection. Those studies found that people with a BMI of 30 or above fared much worse after being infected by the flu virus than those with a normal BMI of 24.9 or below, with more cases of pneumonia reported in this cohort. It comes as no surprise, then, that if people who are obese are struck down with the COVID-19 virus, they will also be at increased risk of its complications. As hard as it might be for some people to hear, obesity looks to be the second biggest risk factor after age when it comes to developing serious complications of COVID-19. Colombian President Ivan Duque Marquez during a Facebook live session on April 5 appealed to his fellow citizens for solidarity and support for more than a million Venezuelan migrants currently present in the country. Ever since the preventive lockdown has been imposed in Colombia, the Venezuelan migrants who had left their country to avoid economic crises have found themselves stuck in the midst of a health crisis without any proper source of income. Read: Sydney Shut Down More Beaches After People Gathered Over Weekend Violating Lockdown Ivan Duque said that Colombia will help the Venezuelan migrants despite the difficulties caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Ivan said that the government will continue to support more than 1.7 million displaced Venezuelan migrants with food aid and protection programs. According to reports, more than 600 Venezuelan migrants arrived at the Colombian border on April 4, where they were received by the immigration officials. The migrant crisis in Colombia peaked when the Venezuelan government in July 2016 opened its border to allow migrants to cross the border due to shortages and other economical difficulties. Read: Australia Launches Investigation Into Docking, Disembarking Of Ruby Princess Cruise Ship Colombia has recorded 1,485 confirmed coronavirus infections so far, of which 1,362 cases are still active. According to data by worldometer, 35 people in Colombia have lost their lives due to COVID-19, while 50 patients remain under critical condition. Read: Italy Moves Towards Phase Two As It Records Lowest Daily Rise In COVID-19 Death Toll Coronavirus outbreak The Coronavirus infection has claimed more than 70,100 lives across the world and has infected over 12,82,000 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, France, the United Kingdom and Iran have also overtaken China in terms of death toll related to COVID-19. 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: COVID-19: Rouhani Says 'low-risk Economic Activities' To Resume In Iran From April 11 (Image Credit: AP) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Iceland has tested about 5 percent of its 360,000 residents, according to CNN. The founder of DeCODE, a biotech company which has done about 9,000 of these tests, told the news site that about 50 percent of positive cases are asymptomatic. Keep in mind that fewer than 1 percent of the 9,000 tests came back positive. Iceland is offering free coronavirus testing of the general, non-symptomatic, non-quarantined population through DeCODE. The rest of the testing occurs at National University hospital of Iceland in Reykjavik for patients showing symptoms. The comment from DeCODEs founder sheds some new light on the testing situation. The DeCODE testing is separate from the numbers released by Icelands government on March 25, which showed 737 have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Iceland. Of those, 52 were positive without symptoms -- about 7 percent. The country is claiming that it is testing the highest percentage of any country in the world. For comparison, Ohio has tested less than 1 percent of its cases, according to numbers from covidtracking.com. Ohio is planning for population-based testing to assess the reach of the virus, Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton said in a briefing on Saturday. The team would start with a random sample of 100 asymptomatic people. There are many bank holidays, and some extra rest days in Hungary this year. As you can see from the easy to read lists below, instead of having one free day in the middle of the work week, Hungarians usually prefer to have long weekends in exchange for a Saturday that would otherwise be a rest day. Depending on which day of the week a bank holidays falls on, the previous or the following day is deemed to be a rest day to make a long weekend for employees to enjoy. In these cases, Saturday is usually declared a working day instead, to keep the number of work days the same during the year. National holidays and rest days in 2020 * 10 13 April (Friday - Monday): Good Friday - Easter Monday * 1 May (Friday): Labour Day * 31 May 1 June (Sunday - Monday): Pentecost * 20 - 21 August (Thursday - Friday): Stephens Day or the Day of the New Bread + rest day * 23 October (Friday): commemoration of the revolution in 1956 * 1 November (Sunday): All Hallows Day * 24 December (Thursday): rest day * 25 26 December (Friday - Saturday): 1st and 2nd day of Christmas * 1 January 2021 (Friday): New Years Day Earlier: * 15 March (Sunday): commemoration of the revolution in 1848 Long Weekends In 2020 * 10 13 April: 4-day long weekend * 1 3 May: 3-day long weekend * 31 May 1 June: 3-day long weekend * 20 23 August: 4-day long weekend * 23 25 October: 3-day long weekend * 24 27 December: 4-day long weekend Working Saturdays in Hungary in 2020 * 29 August (for long weekend 20 23 August) * 12 December (for a Christmas holiday of 24 27 December) Special days which are not public holidays Around the end of the year there are two short days, when most employees are allowed to leave early, shops close around noon, and even public transport switches to night mode around 4 p.m. In 2020 these are: * 24 December (Thursday): Christmas Eve * 31 December (Thursday): New Years The United States on Monday designated a Russian white supremacist group a foreign terrorist organisation and hit its members with sanctions. The move against the Russian Imperial Movement is the first time the designation has been made for a white supremacist group and comes amid doubts the administration of President Donald Trump believes organisations of that type merit such sanctions. It was not immediately clear what the practical impact will be as the group is relatively small and does not have major international reach. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his counterterrorism coordinator Nathan Sales announced the step, which makes it illegal to provide the group or its identified members with any kind of material support. Those penalties can include asset freezes and travel bans and can apply to non-Americans. In addition to the group, the administration placed individual sanctions on its leaders Stanislav Anatolyevich Vorobyev, Denis Valliullovich Gariev and Nikolay Nikolayevich Trushchalov by adding them to its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists. These designations are unprecedented, Sales said. This is the first time the United States has ever designated white supremacist terrorists, illustrating how seriously this administration takes the threat. We are taking actions no previous administration has taken to counter this threat. The Russian Imperial Movement is alleged to provide paramilitary training to neo-Nazis and white supremacists in Russia and elsewhere from two camps it runs in St Petersburg, according to US officials. In 2016, it was alleged to have trained two Swedes who later carried out a series of attacks in the Swedish city of Gothenburg, including bombing a cafe and attempting to bomb a campsite housing refugees, they said. There are 69 entities on the State Departments foreign terrorist organisation blacklist Trump and his administration have been criticised for not appearing to take the threat of white supremacism seriously, either overseas or domestically. Trump came under fire for not responding more forcefully to violence provoked by some neo-Nazi groups in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017. After a neo-Nazi rammed his car into a group of anti-racist protesters, Trump said there were very find people on both sides. Trump has also has been called out for supporting European nationalist politicians. Mondays designations will make it easier for national security prosecutors at the Justice Department to bring terrorism-related charges against anyone who supports or provides aid to people affiliated with the Russian group. Its illegal to provide money, equipment or even less tangible aid, to people connected with the movement. Federal prosecutors routinely use the material support statute to charge people in the US who attempt to travel to Syria to fight alongside the ISIL (ISIS) group, and more recently, FBI Director Chris Wray has warned Congress about white supremacists in the US who have traveled to Eastern Europe to train with people who share their ideology. We are starting to see racially motivated violent extremists connecting with like-minded individuals overseas online, certainly, Wray said at a hearing last October. And in some instances, we have seen some folks travel overseas to train. Former McLaren supremo Ron Dennis has created a scheme to supply a million free meals to workers in Britain's National Health Service during the coronavirus outbreak. Dennis said Monday his foundation would provide a budget of 1.5 million pounds (USD 1.8 million, 1.7 million euros) after linking up with other organisations with the aim of supplying 1,000 meals a day to health workers. "I wanted a big solution to a big problem," Dennis told the BBC. "It is an amazing effort, which I think is reflective of my reputation. If I say I'm going to do something I do it." The 72-year-old was inspired to act after a meeting with his family. His daughter, Dr Charlotte Hall, added: "We were talking about how, we as a charity, could help everyone in the current coronavirus crisis. "We can't help medically but we could perhaps make the situation just a bit more bearable -- being in the hospital, taking away the stress of getting food, having something hot and nutritious to eat or having something to look forward to when you get home. "I never doubted him. We know he would rise to the challenge and he certainly has." Dennis said the "real breakthrough" came when the chief executive of leading UK supermarket chain Tesco told him "we're behind you". "We had great logistics in place but we needed volume," Dennis added. "We now have volume and as we speak we are ramping up...We're looking at 1,000 meals a day. It will be challenging, but we will get there." Dennis's initiative is the latest of several moves by Grand Prix figures to help support efforts combating the spread of COVID-19. Several British-based teams are involved in plans to increase ventilator capacity, while last month the Agnelli family that controls Fiat and Formula One giants Ferrari donated 10 million euros to the Italian government to support the fight against the coronavirus. Dennis, however, warned the greatest impact of COVID-19 would be felt well beyond Europe. "The real loss of life is going to come in the townships, the favelas (of South America), central Africa, where there is no running water, no chance (for people) to wash their hands. "The only thing that is going to stop this waving across the world and causing phenomenal loss of life is a vaccine. "We are (in danger) of seeing the biggest loss of life this world has ever seen...This is a long, long way from being over. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly on Monday delivered a scathing attack against the captain who sounded the alarm over the spread of the coronavirus on his ship. Speaking in Guam to the crew members of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Modly said Capt. Brett Crozier was guilty of a betrayal of trust in choosing to express his concerns to a broad audience in an email that ultimately was leaked to the media, according to a recording of the speech obtained by NBC News. If he didnt think, in my opinion, that this information wasnt going to get out into the public, in this day and information age that we live in, then he was either A, too naive or too stupid to be a commanding officer of a ship like this, Modly said. The alternative is that he did this on purpose. Crozier was relieved of his command last Thursday. In a news conference, Modly defended the decision as his own and insisted it was made because Crozier went outside the chain of command. Image: (Nicholas Huynh / U.S. Navy via AP) But Modly used far more biting language in his speech to the Theodore Roosevelt crew members Monday. It was betrayal, Modly said, according to the recording, which was first obtained by the online publication Task & Purpose. And I can tell you one other thing: Because he did that, he put it in the publics forum and its now become a big controversy in Washington, D.C., and across the country, about a martyr CO who wasnt getting the help he needed and therefore had to go through the chain of command, a chain of command which includes the media. Modly, in a statement released after a purported transcript of the remarks was reported by several news outlets, said he stood by his words. "The spoken words were from the heart, and meant for them," Modly said. "I stand by every word I said, even, regrettably any profanity that may have been used for emphasis. Anyone who has served on a Navy ship would understand. I ask, but don't expect, that people read them in their entirety." Story continues But several hours later, Modly reversed course and apologized for his remarks. "Let me be clear, I do not think Captain Brett Crozier is naive nor stupid," he said in a statement. "I think, and always believed him to be the opposite." Modly went on to describe Crozier as "smart and passionate." "I believe, precisely because he is not naive and stupid, that he sent his alarming email with the intention of getting it into the public domain in an effort to draw public attention to the situation on his ship," Modly said. "I apologize for any confusion this choice of words may have caused. I also want to apologize directly to Captain Crozier, his family, and the entire crew of the Theodore Roosevelt for any pain my remarks may have caused." Modly's new statement came after President Donald Trump addressed the controversy at a news conference, saying he planned to intervene. "The letter shouldn't have been sent," Trump said, referring to Crozier. "But all of that said, his career prior to that was very good, so I'm going to get involved and see exactly what's going on there because I don't want to destroy somebody for having a bad day." Modly had delivered the sharply-worded speech to the Theodore Roosevelt crew members two days after a video appeared on social media showing dozens of them cheering for Crozier in a rousing farewell as he walked off the ship in Guam. Modly said the governor of the U.S. territory told him that the release of Croziers letter caused great alarm among local residents who feared an influx of sailors infected with the virus. So think about that when you cheer the man off the ship who exposed you to that, Modly said. I understand you love the guy. Its good that you love him. But youre not required to love him. In justifying his decision to remove Crozier, Modly said the captain lost sight of the ships mission and compromised critical information about your status intentionally to draw greater attention to your situation. This put you at great risk, Modly said. Nearly 4,900 crew members were aboard the vessel. According to the latest figures, tests have been performed on 61 percent of the crew. Some 173 have tested positive for the virus. More than 800 others are in isolation at a base on Guam, many of them still awaiting test results. About 1,150 crew members who tested negative were moved off the ship and placed in hotels. Nearly 2,900 sailors remain on board. This year, the Jewish festival of Passover, or Pesach, as it is known in Hebrew, starts on Saturday 27 March. The observance commemorates Moses leading the Jewish people out of Egypt to the "promised land" of Canaan, following years of slavery. Every year, Jewish families celebrate the first two nights of the festival by sitting around the Seder table and eating foods that symbolise the plight of their ancestors. These include matzah, which represents the unleavened bread the Jewish people took with them as they embarked on a 40-year journey through the desert. Here's everything you need to know about the meaning behind foods eaten during Passover: Matzah Matzah (Getty Images/iStockphoto) When the Jewish people fled Egypt, as the story of Passover goes, they didn't have much time to prepare food for the long journey ahead. They were forced to leave their homes with unleavened bread, as the bread they'd been making hadn't had enough time to rise. Recommended Everything you need to know about the Jewish festival Passover This is why matzah, an unleavened flatbread, is eaten during the festival. Plain matzah is made from flour and water, although other variations of matzah may also contain ingredients including egg, milk and fruit extracts. During the Seder meal, three pieces of matzah are placed on top of each other and covered with a napkin. These three pieces of matzah represent three groups of Jewish people: the Kohanim (priests), the Levites (members of the Levi Hebrew tribe) and the Israelites, Jewish organisation Chabad explains. The piece of matzah in the middle of the pile is broken, and half of it is hidden for an activity later on in the evening. During the Seder night, Jewish children play a game with the aim of finding the hidden piece of matzah, called the afikoman. The child who finds the afikoman at the end of the meal wins a prize. Maror Maror (iStock) The maror which appears on the Seder plate is bitter herbs, often in the form of the root vegetable horseradish. This item represents the bitterness of the lives of the Jewish people who were enslaved and put through hard labour for years in Egypt. In a verse in the Torah, the books of Jewish scripture, it states: "And they embittered their lives with hard labour, with mortar and with bricks and with all manner of labour in the field; any labour that they made them do was with hard labour." Romaine lettuce is also frequently used as maror, due to its bitter aftertaste. Charoset Charoset (iStock) A pasty concoction made from fruits and nuts, charoset is representative of the mortar the Jewish slaves used for their hard labour in ancient Egypt. During the Seder meal, it's tradition to eat a "Hillel sandwich", made by combining charoset and maror within two pieces of matzah. According to historian Dr Susan Weingarten, the tradition of eating charoset, which isn't mentioned in the Torah, stems back to the ancient Romans. Dr Weingarten states that the Romans believed that eating bitter foods was "bad for you". "I reckon that what happened was that ever since leaving Egypt, the Jews had been eating their maror and parsley. The Romans arrived and said: 'You need to dip it into this charoset to stop them harming you'. So it became part of the service." Parsley Parsley (Getty Images) Parsley, or another form of green vegetable, appears on the Seder plate for the opposite reason to the bitter herbs - to represent hope and renewal. This is particularly poignant for the story of Passover, as the Jewish people were able to look forward to a new life in the "promised land" following years of slavery. It's custom to eat the parsley after dipping it in salt water, a symbol of the tears of the Jewish slaves. Shank bone Shank bone (Getty Images/iStockphoto) The shank bone that appears on the Seder plate is usually that of a lamb, although bones from other animals, such as chickens, are sometimes used. This represents the lamb that the Jewish people would sacrifice as a Passover offering at the Holy Temple in ancient Jerusalem. Nowadays, the shank bone isn't eaten during the festival meal. When Jewish people read the story of Passover from a book called the Haggadah, they articulate how God inflicted terrible plagues upon Egypt, the last of which involved the deaths of all firstborn sons. In order to protect the Jewish people from the last, deadly plague, God instructed Moses to tell the Jewish people to mark their front doors with lambs' blood. God then proceeded to "pass over" the houses that had been daubed with the blood when inflicting the plague, hence where the name for the festival comes from. Hard-boiled egg Hard-boiled egg (Getty Images/iStockphoto) The hard-boiled egg eaten during the feast of Passover is a symbol of mourning. Eggs are a symbol of mourning in Judaism because, as an object with a round shape, it represents the symbol of life, a component of which is death. For some Jewish families, it's tradition to eat a hard-boiled egg dipped in salt water, a symbol of the Jewish slaves' tears, for the first course of their Seder meal. Wine Wine (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Wine plays an important role during the Passover proceedings. At a certain point when reading the story of the festival from the Haggadah, the 10 plagues inflicted on Egypt by God are read out. As the plagues are read out, Jewish people spill a small amount of wine for each one. It's widely believed that is done in recognition of the fact that while the Jewish people were liberated, the Egyptians suffered. Recommended Jewish and Muslim paramedics pray together in Israel amid outbreak Throughout the Seder meal, four cups of wine are drunk, as a symbol of the Jewish people's freedom. It is custom to lean to the left while drinking these cups of wine, as only those who are free are able to recline while drinking wine. During the feast, an extra cup of wine is placed on the table for the prophet Elijah. This is done with the belief that one day, the prophet will signal the arrival of the Messiah. For everything you need to know about Passover, click here. Yemeni army refutes Saudi allegation of attack on oil pipeline in Ma'rib Iran Press TV Sunday, 05 April 2020 5:09 PM The Spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces Brigadier General Yahya Saree has categorically dismissed an allegation by Saudi media outlets that Yemeni troops and allied fighters from the Popular Committees have attacked an oil pumping station in the central province of Ma'rib as "baseless." "Since the start of the brutal aggression against our country, we have committed ourselves to sparing national installations, whether they serve all people or only part of it," the Arabic-language al-Masirah television network quoted Saree as saying on Sunday. "Even though our missiles and unmanned aerial aircraft have reached the enemy's depth and targeted its installations, we have never attacked any national facility inside our country." Earlier in the day, Yemeni Deputy Foreign Minister, Hussein al-Ezzi, said Saudi-led coalition forces had attacked the Kofel pumping station in what he described as a dangerous escalation. Saudi state-run news agency (SPA) alleged that Yemeni army forces and their allies had targeted an oil pipeline in Safar oil field of Ma'rib, causing damage. Also on Sunday, Saudi-led warplanes launched ten airstrikes against the Hazm district in Yemen's northern province of al-Jawf. Saudi-led warplanes also carried out six air raids against the Harad district in the northern province of Hajjah. 3,526 educational facilities affected by Saudi-led campaign: Official Meanwhile, a high-ranking Yemeni official said at least 3,526 educational centers have been affected as a result of the Saudi-led military aggression. Deputy Yemeni Minister of Education Abdullah al-Naami said at a press conference in the capital Sana'a that such attacks are aimed at keeping the Yemeni nation in the dark. Naami said Saudi-led forces of aggression have targeted both Yemeni teachers and students over the past five years, emphasizing that 402 schools have been totally destroyed during the onslaught. He went on to say that some 1,465 educational centers have been partially damaged, while another 666 have been forced to close down. A total of 993 schools are housing internally displaced persons as well. Naami highlighted that schools in the provinces of Ta'iz, Sa'ada, Hajjah and Sana'a have had the largest share of direct targeting of educational facilities by the Saudi-led coalition and its mercenaries. He pointed out that nearly 200,000 teachers have been denied their salaries as a result of the Saudi-imposed blockade, stressing that five million Yemeni students have been affected educationally and psychologically as well. Naami also said forces of the Saudi-led coalition and their mercenaries have prevented the import of paper needed for printing textbooks meant for Yemeni school students. Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched the devastating war on Yemen in March 2015 in order to bring former President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi back to power and crush the Houthi Ansarullah movement. The US-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research organization, estimates that the war has claimed more than 100,000 lives over the past five years. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have purchased billions of dollars' worth of weapons from the United States, France and the United Kingdom in their war on Yemen. Riyadh and its allies have been widely criticized for the high civilian death toll resulted from their bombing campaign in Yemen. The UN says over 24 million Yemenis are in dire need of humanitarian aid, including 10 million suffering from extreme levels of hunger. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Tokyo, Japan Mon, April 6, 2020 07:30 645 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206fe0a41 2 World Japan,Prime-Minister,Shinzo-Abe,state-of-emergency,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,infection,infectious-diseases,health Free Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will declare a state of emergency over the coronavirus as early as Tuesday, the Yomiuri newspaper reported, as the number of infections topped 1,000 in the capital, Tokyo. Abe will likely announce his plans to declare the emergency on Monday, the paper said. Pressure had been mounting on the government to make the move as the pace of infections - while slow compared with harder-hit countries around the world - continues to accelerate. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike indicated last week she would favor a state-of-emergency declaration as a means to help her push residents for stronger social-distancing measures. Under a law revised in March to cover the coronavirus, the prime minister can declare a state of emergency if the disease poses a "grave danger" to lives and if its rapid spread could have a huge impact on the economy. The virus has already increased Japan's recession risk. The move would give governors in hard-hit regions 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, although public compliance would likely increase with an emergency declaration. More than 3,500 people have tested positive and 85 have died from the new coronavirus in Japan, according to public broadcaster NHK. While that toll is low compared with 335,000 infections and more than 9,500 deaths in the United States, experts worry about a sudden surge that could strain the medical system and leave patients with nowhere to go. The High Court has approved a Personal Insolvency Arrangement (PiA) allowing a 51 year old man write off of debts of almost 300,000. In a lengthy and detailed judgement Mr Justice Denis McDonald said that he was satisfied to dismiss an appeal brought against the Circuit Court's decision to approve a PIA for Mr Mark Fay of Puttaghaun, Tullamore, Co Offaly. Mr Fay, who works as an upholster and an agent for an insurance company, had debts of over 547,000 after his business got in difficulty due to competition from other stores and the 2007-09 financial crisis. The bulk of his debts were owed to financial institutions, including Pepper Finance and AIB. He also owed smaller amounts to a supplier when he had formerly operated his shop, and to Revenue. The terms of his PIA include that he retains retain his home, which is valued at 200,000, and that his creditors do better than if he was adjudicated a bankrupt. Under the terms of his PIA his secured debt of 482,000 owed to Pepper Finance Corporation Ireland DAC in respect of his property, will be written down to 210,000 which he will continue to pay off. The remainder of what he owes to Pepper will be written down and treated as unsecured debt. Other unsecured creditors, will receive a dividend of 2 cent in the euro, compared to nil if Mr Fay was bankrupted. Pepper which acquired Mr Fay's debt from ACC Loan Management, had appealed the Circuit Court's decision to approve Mr Fay's PIA. Its appeal was brought on several grounds including that the property over which it held a mortgage was not a principal private residence as defined in the 2012 Insolvency Acts and that a majority of unsecured creditors had voted against the arrangement. Mr Fay, represented in court by Keith Farry Bl, had argued that the PIA should remain undisturbed and the appeal should be dismissed. In his judgement Mr Justice McDonald said he was satisfied to dismiss the appeal and approve Mr Fay's PIA. The Judge also said he was making a wasted costs order against solicitors that had acted for Mr Fay's Personal Insolvency Practioner. This was because there had been a manifest failure by the firm, Ashtown Gate Solicitors, in relation to its handling of evidence in the case, including an affidavit sworn by Mr Fay and accompanying exhibits in 2018. The firm, which accepted that such an costs order should be made against it, admitted its shortcomings in this, and several other insolvency cases, it had handled. It told the court that following a full review it had taken steps to ensure there would be no repeat of what had happened, and had told it staff specific instructions and had warned that disciplinary action would be taken if this were to occur again. The Judge said that while taking into account the gravity of the failing, once the matter had been raised by the court the principal of Ashtown Gate Mr Bill Holohan had acted entirely properly and undertook a comprehensive review of his firm's records. The judge said the solicitor was "entirely frank with the court and accepted his own failings in not having an appropriate level of supervision over the personnel dealing with the swearing of affidavits." "It is clear that he has now taken steps to ensure that failings of this kind will not recur in the future," the judge added. However to mark the gravity of the situation in Mr Fay's case the judge ruled that should pay 6,000 plus VAT to Pepper's solicitors, or at Pepper's option make a donation in the same amount to a charity of Pepper's choosing. The Judge also ruled that where there had been a similar shorting coming in a separate unrelated case the should make a payment of 2,000 plus VAT to the objecting creditor's solicitors or make a donation to a charity. Express News Service Some of them are struggling to make ends meet, others are aware that how perilous this outbreak could be for them. Despite all, these bravehearts from different walks of life step out of their houses to provide essential services. Rahiba R. Parveen and Somrita Ghosh speak to them. Inder Pal, ration store owner Inder Pal stays three kilometres away from his famous grocery store -- Bhagat Ram -- in Lajpat Nagars Krishna Market. Since the coronavirus gripped the national capital, there hasnt been a single day when he closed his shop. He has been catering to the entire area from the shop with nine young employees by his side. The day lockdown was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I decided to not step back since I come under essential services. My employees have been allotted a room on top of my store for their stay, Pal said.Pal has also bought masks and gloves all of them. We also suspended home delivery services as my boys felt it could be risky, he added. Pal lamented that although many grocery stores are open in the area, people have been panic-buying. From day one itself, I have been trying to convince customers that I will be at their service. There would be no shortage of essential commodities, but people have still been coming and hoarding things for at least two months, he said, adding this if continues, his stock might get over soon. Sanjeev Kumar, pharmacist For Sanjeev Kumar, providing medicines to the public is as important as food. Kumar is just a text away. One just needs to leave a WhatsApp message about the medicine he/she requires, he will deliver it to any house in Lajpat Nagar and Defence Colony areas. But like millions in the country, Kumar also is worried about the virus outbreak. I have taken all precautions. We wear masks, use gloves, hand sanitiser and do not allow customers to come beyond the stairs of our store, he added. We are putting up a brave face but ultimately, we also go back to our families and children, Kumar said. Even though the government has warned everyone against hoarding, Kumar said the stocks are getting over because people are taking too much. People are taking stock for one month because they feel the chemists shops might also shut down. This is why we are getting short of stock and many items are already unavailable, he said.Kumar, however, doesnt entirely blame his customers for the panic-buying as everyone including him is scared. Vimla, safai karmachari My youngest daughter tries to stop me every time I step out of my house these days. But I have no other choicewho will earn otherwise? What will we eat? said Vimla while sweeping the lanes in Gulmohar Park area wearing gloves, but without a mask.Vimla, in her late 40s, is a safai karmachari of the Delhi Municipal Corporation and an essential service provider. Vimla, who stays in Badarpur border, is the only bread-earner of her family. I dont know if the kuda (garbage) that I am collecting has got any infection. I am not aware of any of the surface touched has got the virus. We get gloves and masks after every four days. My mask tore offer recently, but my office refused to give me a fresh one, she lamented. My husband doesnt work, he remains at home most of the time. So, I have no other option but to risk of my life. If I take leave now, my contractor will deduct my salary. I earn around Rs 14,000 a month and then pay a house rent of Rs 4,000, she added. Her daily routine begins at 4 am, she then prepares the meal for her family and takes the first bus from the Badarpur at 5.30 am to Green Park, where she works. Bholan Saphi, rickshaw-puller Bholan Saphi has been pedaling a rented rickshaw, which he has to pay Rs 40 a day, for several years now. Since the day of the lockdown, he has been peddling through the lanes and by-lanes of South Delhis Jal Vihar to ferry passengers to earn his daily bread and butter despite testing times. The crisis began soon after he just returned from his village in Bihar. I used to earn Rs 300-Rs 400 per day before the lockdown, and now, its hardly Rs 50-80 a day. This is a tough time for me as I have to pay rent of Rs 40 for the rickshaw. I know there is a disease looming over everyone, but I cant afford to sit back, Saphi said. As a precautionary measure, he has been wearing a mask, which is supposed to be replaced after every 5-6 hours, but he cant afford to do that. I cant help much, but whatever I could do, I am doing that. I keep my rickshaw clean...I cant even go back home, Kumar, who has a family of members, including his wife and four children. Saphi, who stays with other 10 fellow rickshaw-pullers, fears that the administration might ask them to vacate the place because of the social-distancing. Dr Arvind Kumar, chest surgeon Dr Arvind Kumar, an eminent chest surgeon at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and founder trustee of the Lung Care Foundation, knows how difficult times he is in when fellow health workers across the world are either losing their lives from the COVID-19 outbreak or being tested positive.But being a part of the essential services, he cant afford to stay home. It is indeed scary, doctors across the world have lost their lives. But this is a war-like situation, and this time, the doctors are the soldiers. When a person joins the army and goes for a battle, theres no guarantee that he will come back alive. Similarly, doctors for the fear of life cannot sit at home, said Dr Kumar. Dr Kumar said throughout his career of more than four decades, he hasnt seen such a pandemic. There were epidemics earlier tooSARS, Ebola and others, but nothing in recent history has happened like Coronavirus... at least not in my 44 years of career. Not just the doctors, but the families of us are dealing with the effect of the Covid-19 every day, he added. Dr Kumar has performed more than 10,000 Thoracic Surgeries. On Demand We have a new story every day on the front page of thephuketnews.com. Also like us on our Facebook page (facebook.com/thephuketnews) and be the first to watch all the new stories. Finally you can watch any segment, any time by going to thephuketnews.com/tv where all the stories are listed for you to enjoy. All our programs can be enjoyed in High Definition when watching on the internet. In-Room VDO Stranded Afghan nationals will be able to return home after Pakistan announced to temporarily lift restrictions on borders with Afghanistan from Monday that were closed in view of the coronavirus crisis a couple of weeks ago. Pakistan, starting from today, will open the Torkham and Chaman border crossings for four days to facilitate Afghan nationals stranded in the country due to the border closure, Dawn reported. Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement that the step was taken on a special request by the Afghan government based on humanitarian considerations and to facilitate the Afghan nationals. The government has also decided that the Pakistanis who return from Afghanistan will be quarantined at facilities established near the Pakistan-Iran border in Chaman. The Afghan government has also put Afghan citizens in a quarantine centre in the border town of Spin Boldak. "We have a capacity to accommodate up to 900 people in quarantine at a time," Zakaullah Durani, a senior official of the Chaman administration, told the newspaper, adding that every tent had an attached washroom, food and other facilities. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan stood at more than 3,278 as of Monday, with at least 50 deaths. In Afghanistan, the Ministry of Public Health reported 30 new coronavirus cases on Monday, raising the national tally of infection to 367 and the number of deaths to at least seven. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Americans are bracing for the "hardest and saddest" week of their lives with tragedies similar to the 9/11 attacks and the Pearl Harbour bombing, the country's top doctor has warned while the death toll approached the 10,000-mark as President Donald Trump expressed hope that coronavirus cases were "levelling off" in major US hotspots. IMAGE: Healthcare workers wheel the bodies of deceased people from the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Photograph: Andrew Kelly/Reuters Surgeon General Vice Admiral Jerome Adams' remarks came a day after President Trump said that the next week is going to be a "very very difficult" time for the country. He said the coronavirus pandemic rivals some of the darkest moments in the US history, including the two worst foreign attacks on American soil: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the September 11 terrorist attacks. "The next week is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment. It's going to be our 9/11 moment; it's going to be the hardest moment for many Americans in their entire lives. "And we really need to understand that if we want to flatten that curve and get through to the other side, everyone needs to do their part," Adams told 'Meet the Press' Sunday talk show. The death toll in the US due to coronavirus on Sunday crossed 9,500, which is three times more than the number of people who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. A total of 2,977 people besides hijackers were killed in the September 11, 2001, attacks. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and America officially entered World War II, more than 2,400 casualties had occurred as a result of the attack. More than 3.3 lakh Americans have been infected by coronavirus. Over 4,000 deaths have reported in the New York state only. Members of the White House Task Force on COVID-19 have predicted between 100,000 to 200,000 lakh deaths in the next several weeks. Peak in New York is expected in the next six-seven days, during which the US authorities are urging people to strictly enforce the social mitigation measures including social distancing. Nearly 95 per cent of the country's 330 million population are under stay-in-home orders. "Ninety per cent of Americans are doing their part, even in the states where they haven't had a shelter in place I wish every governor would encourage the people in their states to follow these guidelines for 30 days, that's what I want. But I want them to do what they can within their states," the surgeon general said in a passionate plea to his countrymen. In addition to declaration of a national emergency, President Trump has notified major disaster declaration in more than 42 of the 50 states. "This is going to be a hard week, it's going to test our resolve. It's going to be the hardest week of our lives, but I'm confident based on the numbers in Washington and in California and Italy and in Spain, we can get through this, we will get through this. I know the American people will do the right thing and stay-at-home," Adams said. The US armed forces have deployed more than 50,000 of its soldiers, including 1,000 doctors and nurses in the fight against coronavirus. They have built or in the process of building 30 hospitals. The US Navy has deployed two of its hospital ships -- in New York and Los Angeles --to treat the rush of COVID 19 patients. Meanwhile Trump, during a press briefing at the White House on Sunday, said the US has so far conducted 1.6 million tests, more than any other country. "It really is an all-out military operation that we have waged and especially over the last number of weeks. Fifty states and territories have now been approved for major disaster declarations, which is very unusual," Trump said. As New York reported a drop in the number of new infections and deaths, Trump described the dip as a "good sign", but warned of more deaths as the pandemic neared its "peak" in the US. "In the days ahead, America will endure the peak of this pandemic," he said, expressing hope that coronavirus cases were "levelling off" in US hotspots. Reiterating his push for using Hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug in the fight against coronavirus, Trump said the US has procured some 29 million doses of Hydroxychloroquine tablets to be distributed across the country. President Trump on Saturday said that he has sought help from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow the sale of Hydroxychloroquine tablets ordered by the US to treat the growing number of coronavirus patients in his country, hours after India banned the export of the anti-malarial drug. In the last seven days, Trump has told reporters that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has airlifted critical supplies and protective equipment from the every corner of earth. "They are coming from all over the planet including from within the United States, where the equipment isn't as necessary. "Since last Sunday, cargo planes have delivered almost 300 million gloves, almost eight million masks and three million gowns. Similarly many more fully loaded cargo planes are right now on the way; three big ones landed today and these supplies are being distributed directly to the hospitals and healthcare providers all across the nation," he said. In a related development, Governor Jay Inslee announced on Sunday that Washington will be returning more than 400 ventilators from the federal government to help New York. Washington recently purchased more than 750 ventilators that will arrive in the coming weeks. "These ventilators are going to New York and others states hardest hit by this virus. I've said many times over the last few weeks, we are in this together," Inslee said. German chancellor Angela Merkel speaks to the media to announce further measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus and COVID-19. (Clemens Bilan/Getty Images) German chancellor Angela Merkel said ahead of a finance meeting of the Eurogroup this week that it was in the interests of Germany that other EU countries could be financially supported during and after the coronavirus crisis. From my point of view, the European Union is facing its greatest test since its founding, Merkel said at a press conference in Berlin on Monday 6 April. Germany, too, will only do well in the long run if Europe is also doing well. She said that members have been asked to put forward their suggestions at the meeting on how the EU can face the crisis. Merkel, who is under pressure from Spain, France, and Italy, to support so-called corona bonds which would see EU-wide debt mutualisation, said several financial mechanisms were on the table to help, including the European Stability Mechanism, which offers credit lines with low-levels of conditions, and the European Commissions new fund to support short-time workers to prevent job losses. Merkel said that Germany is also ready to contribute to an economic recovery programme once the crisis was over. Merkel and her finance minister Olaf Scholz have expressed strong opposition to the idea of Germany assuming debt for other EU countries. Asked about the ongoing lockdown in Germany, and when she thought restrictions could be lifted, Merkel said that hers would be a bad government if it didnt think day and night about when it would be possible to ease the nation-wide measures, but it would be just as bad if it were to lift restrictions too soon and endanger lives. She said that the federal government had agreed with the states that people who live in Germany and have been abroad for more than a few days should be quarantined for two weeks upon their return to Germany. However, no quarantine is likely to be required for commuters and service technicians who have to travel in and out of the country briefly for work. Merkel returned to the chancellery in central Berlin at the end of last week, after two weeks in self-quarantine to undergo tests as she had seen a doctor who later tested positive for coronavirus. Story continues The Robert Koch Institute (RKI), which is in charge of Germany's coronavirus monitoring said on Monday that the number of infections had risen by 3,677 in the past 24 hours to Monday morning, marking a drop in new infections for the fourth day in a row. RKI data puts the German confirmed coronavirus cases at 95,931, and death toll at 1,434. RKI statistics tend to be a little lower than those of Johns Hopkins University due to data-collection methods. Johns Hopkins reported just over 100,000 cases and 1,584 deaths in Germany as of Monday. Face mask fracas German finance minister Olaf Scholz said on a Sunday talkshow that the government is increasing its efforts to buy face masks. "We need unbelievable amounts of masks. Our entire effort is going towards procuring them, he said. A row blew up between the US and Germany last week, after Berlins interior minister Andreas Geisel said a German order of 200,000 3M masks for the Berlin police force from China had been confiscated in Bangkok, Thailand and presumably diverted to the US. "We consider this an act of modern piracy," Geisel said in a statement. "This is not how you deal with transatlantic partners. Even in times of global crisis, Wild West methods shouldn't rule." The US company 3M denied the accusation, saying in a statement that: 3M has no evidence to suggest 3M products have been seized. 3M has no record of any order of respirators from China. We cannot speculate where this report originated. "The United States government has done nothing to redirect 3M shipments destined for Germany, nor did we know anything about such shipments," the US embassy in Berlin said. The accusation from Berlin highlights the pressure governments face trying to find and buy enough protective medical supplies for hospitals and others in the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic. Business tycoons Mukesh Ambani, Ratan Tata and many other industrialists lit candles and lamps on Sunday to express solidarity in the country's fight against coronavirus. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had urged people to switch off lights and light lamps, candles or turn on mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 pm on April 5 as a gesture to "challenge the darkness spread by coronavirus". Mukesh Ambani and wife Nita Ambani lit candles and earthen lamps at their residence Antilla. The couple switched off lights as the clock struck 9 pm. Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: 490 cases in 12 hours; active patients rise to 3,666; death toll 109 A picture of Ratan Tata with a lamp on a plate has also gone viral on social media. OYO founder Ritesh Agarwal also lit diyas and shared a picture on his official Twitter account. The youngest Indian billionaire wrote,"Lit diyas for front-liners who are working day and night to serve the nation as we strive hard to win the fight against corona". Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson, Biocon, also posted a picture with diyas. "Lit the flame of unity for our universal fight against COVID-19," she wrote. This was the second such mass activity PM Modi requested citizens to undertake since the coronavirus outbreak. People had paid tribute to frontline healthcare workers on March 22 by stepping out on their doorsteps and balconies to clap and clang utensils. Also read: Coronavirus impact: CEOs fear job losses, fall in revenue, profit, reveals CII snap poll Just over a week after they first asked the UK government to work with them to support freelancers in the nation's creative sectors, the UKs major broadcasters and producers have now called on the Culture Secretary to take steps to ensure they are eligible to qualify for support schemes during the Covid-19 crisis. In a joint letter, ITV, BBC, Sky, Channel 4, Viacom and UK producers trade association Pact have written to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport pointing out the risk of freelancers paid through the UKs pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) tax scheme unintentionally falling through the cracks of the furloughing and freelance schemes recently announced by the UKs Chancellor of the Exchequer. The letter signed by signed by the organisations' leaders in the form of Tony Hall, Carolyn McCall, Alex Mahon, Stephen Van Rooyen, Maria Kyriacou and John McVay sets out serious concerns about this issue, which is of particular relevance to the television industry, explaining the circumstances in which a category of freelancers will not qualify for any of the current government assistance scheme s. It notes that there is a category of TV workers who will not qualify for any of the current government assistance schemes.For instance, there are those who are freelancers but who have been paid continuously (or just occasionally) via PAYE and will not meet the furloughing requirements -- for instance because they weren't on the PAYE payroll on 28 February, or their contracts did not have long enough to run after 1 March. There are also others who will not qualify as self-employed as they aren't making profits via the tax system which can be compensated (as they are paid in whole or part through PAYE and will also not qualify for the corporate support scheme as they aren't trading through a limited company.The broadcasters and producers add that in part because of the fragmentation of engagement and lack of information held by any one organisation, only the UK government was realistically able to help this group. As a solution they have proposed a and puts forward a proposal for an amendment to the self-employed assistance scheme, which the broadcasters believe would resolve the issue without the need for the creation of a new scheme. Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media The funding of public schools in Connecticut is unfairly distributed and directly leads to the cycles of the wealth gap and education disparity. I have seen it loud and clear. When I was in high school, I visited an elementary school in Bridgeport where I had a fifth-grade pen pal named Jose. He loved vidio games and dreamed of being a creator. In his school, the teachers wore sweatpants, the children highly struggled to spell and read at their grade level, and the classes were completely overwhelmed with low supplies and high demand for learning. After taking the bus back to my school in Westport that same day, I noticed the fancy multimillion-dollar building, the kayaks for the indoor swimming pool, and the seemingly unlimited resources available for the students who already had more than what was needed in and outside of school to ensure success. Fourteen thousand, two hundred forty-one dollars is the amount of money spent per student in the Bridgeport School system in Connecticut. This may seem like enough to someone unaware of the specific needs of students in differentiating districts; people who do not know how to compare all of the factors such as what level the school is already at, what extra services they may need, and other aspects about the location of the school and the demographics of the families who attend. The spending in Connecticut is all over the place. According to CT School + State Finance Project, While Connecticuts average per-student spending is $16,988, there is a wide difference in spending levels. From Danbury, which spends $12,828 per student, to Cornwall which spends $35,155 per student. Even similar, neighboring towns may spend significantly different amounts per student. LANSING, MI -- Michigans restaurant industry lost an estimated $491 million in sales and more than 72,000 jobs during the first three weeks of March, according to the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association. In an effort to assist employees of the states restaurant and lodging industries who have been laid off during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, a relief fund has been created. Grants of $500 will be awarded to approved applicants who were furloughed or lost their job in the hospitality industry following Gov. Gretchen Whitmers March 10 state of emergency declaration. Creation of the Michigan Hospitality Industry Employee Relief Fund was announced Monday, April 6, by The Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association Educational Foundation (MRLAEF). The association pledges to match, dollar-for-dollar, the first $100,000 in contributions to the fund. The hospitality industry has been upended by the pandemic with more than half of the 600,000 hospitality workers in Michigan expected to temporarily lose their jobs, said Justin Winslow, president & CEO of the association, in a prepared statement. The professionals who dedicate themselves each day to improving ours through excellent service and world-class hospitality dont deserve this outcome. All hospitality employees in the state are eligible to apply for the funds and must provide proof of employment in the hospitality industry on March 10, as well as proof of furlough or job loss in the wake of that date. Grants will be available until the fund is depleted. Applications for grants from the Michigan relief fund are available online, here. Restaurant employees can also apply for financial assistance from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Relief Fund online, here. Michigans governor ordered all bars and restaurants to temporarily close dine-in services on March 16 in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. Whitmers executive order also temporarily closed theaters, casinos, cafes, coffee houses, taverns, brewpubs, distilleries, clubs, indoor and outdoor performance venues, gymnasiums, fitness centers and recreation centers. The closures were later extended until Monday, April 13. A spokesperson for MRLA said its expected that at least one in 10 restaurants wont reopen after the governor allows dine-in services to resume in Michigan. She said that number could expand to one in three businesses depending how long businesses are forced to remain limited or closed. A member survey by MRLA found that from March 1 through March 22, Michigan restaurant operators reported an average decline in sales of 43 percent. Sixty-two percent of operators laid off employees during that time, and 47 percent anticipate doing more of this during the next 30 days. Within the last two weeks, more people in Michigan have applied for unemployment than in all of 2019, according to Whitmer. The state reported 129,298 new claims for the week ending March 21, and expects an even higher number for the week ending March 28 after many businesses shut their doors or dramatically scaled back their workforce as a result of the coronavirus crisis. The employee relief fund is a 501c3 non-profit organization capable of accepting personal and corporate contributions. Financial contributions can be made online, here, or by sending a check to the MRLAEF at 225 W. Washtenaw, Lansing, MI 48933 with Michigan Hospitality Employee Relief Fund written in the memo line. The mission of the MRLAEF is to educate and support our workforce and there has never been a more acute need for such support, said Amanda Smith, executive director of the MRLAEF, in a prepared statement. We have dedicated our team to supporting them through this challenging time. Founding donors include The Musser Family, Great Lakes Wine & Spirits, KSL Capital Partners + Grand Hotel, Imperial Beverage, Republic National Distributing Company and Titos Handmade Vodka. Great Lakes Wine & Spirits, the states largest wine and liquor distributor, announced Monday afternoon that it had donated $25,000 to the employee relief fund. Employees from restaurants across the state are our customers, associates and friends, and we couldnt think of a better way to lend a helping hand during these difficult times than to make a $25,000 donation to the Michigan Hospitality Industry Employee Relief Fund, said Lew Cooper III, co-CEO of GLWAS, in a prepared statement. Restaurants have been hit especially hard by efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 and we want to do everything possible to help those during this time of need. The Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association employs more than 595,000 people and creates nearly $40 billion in annual sales. The association represents more than 5,000 Michigan food service and lodging establishments. 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. More on MLive: Without coronavirus aid, point of no return looms for Michigan small businesses Whitmer says patchwork response to coronavirus with no national strategy could prolong fight Monday, April 6: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Michigan reports 1,493 new coronavirus cases on Sunday and 77 more deaths Kalamazoo creates $2M fund to help small businesses hurt by coronavirus Is your favourite coffee shop closed? The restaurant you love to eat at shut right now? Dont worry too much, we have option for you. The latest food trend sweeping Ha Noi is cream cheese garlic bread with butter. Tried it? You should. Here is a list of places that deliver this South Korean tasty treat. 1.Kitchen La Fleur A cream cheese garlic bread at Kitchen La Fleur. Photo: Kitchen La Fleur Facebook page The homemade buns are quite large and bursting with cream cheese filling. Granted they are a little more pricey than other places, but you wont be complaining after your first bite! But if you want to make sure to snag your bun, book ahead. They are very popular. Kitchen La Fleur has two shipping shifts per day at 2pm and 5.30pm and closes on Sunday. Price: VN100,000 (US$4.4) per bun. 2.Phuong Min-5 Hang Mam Phuong Min offers a combo of 3 mini buns. Photo: Hoang Mai Phuong Facebook page The owner of the online cake bakery is a young woman famous for Vietnamese savoury salted egg sponge or (bong lan trung muoi). The shop offers two options - large buns and a combo of three small sized buns. Price: VN60,000 ($2.6) for a big-sized bun; VN70,000 ($3) for a combo on Now Delivery. 3.Susis cake-No 73, Van Chuong 2 Alley/ No 76 Duy Tan Alley A piece of cream cheese garlic bread at Sushi's Cake. Photo: Sushi's Cake Facebook page Another choice if you want to try homemade buns. The shop gives customers free chewing gums for fresh breath after stuffing yourself with all that beautifful garlic. Price: VN75,000 ($3.2) per bun 4.Madame Huong-39 Ly Thuong Kiet Freshly baked cream cheese garlic breads at Madame Huong Bakery. Photo: Madame Huong Facebook page Already a famous dessert chef in Ha Noi, Madame Huong has followed the cream cheese bun trend. Her garlic bread is perfect for those who want to try small-sized snack at a cheap price. Price: VN35,000 ($1.5) per bun 5.Pan Pacific Hanoi, No 1 Thanh Nien Road Cream cheese garlic breads at Pan Pacific Hanoi. Photo: Pan Pacific Hanoi Facebook page The buns are ready for delivery and pick-up at the hotels pastry corner in the lobby on the first floor. The hotel chefs call it cheesy lava garlic butter buns. Street food made by hotels chefs, why not? Price: VN55,000 ($2.4) per bun 5 things you should know about the dish: It is a South Korean-style famous street food. To easily fill the cream cheese inside, the buns are cut into six parts, which makes them easier to be recognised among many types of bread. After the cream cheese filling is added into the buns, there are two ways to make the butter to absorb into them: dip the bread into butter-garlic-basil mixture or rub the mixture around it. Garlic and parsley or basil flakes are put on top for decoration and enhancing the buns taste. How to taste: Try a small bite and feel the smooth cheesy cream and soft bread melt in your mouth. VNS Khanh Duong Int'l media praises Vietnamese food inspired on COVID-19 Coronavirus-shaped burger and dragon fruit baguettes made by Vietnam were featured and praised in world media outlet. Honor Blackman, an actress who achieved fame as a beautiful pilot with judo skills and a highly suggestive name in the 1964 James Bond movie Goldfinger, then went on to a long screen career in her native England and abroad, has died at her home in Lewes, in southeastern England. She was 94. Her family announced her death in a statement released to The Guardian in London on Monday. She was a breast cancer survivor, having undergone a lumpectomy in 2003. Ms. Blackman may have been unknown to American audiences when she played Pussy Galore opposite Sean Connery as the dashing secret agent James Bond, but she had already become a star in Britain on television. She joined the spy series The Avengers for its second season in 1962, replacing Ian Hendry as the co-star of Patrick Macnee, who played John Steed, an almost painfully cultured British intelligence agent. Her character, Mrs. Cathy Gale, was an anthropologist who enjoyed martial arts and dressing head to toe in leather while saving the world from increasingly bizarre plots and conspiracies. Health authorities are expanding coronavirus testing to 13 hotspots across NSW, as the number of mystery community transmissions rises and the state's death toll reaches 18. NSW Health will begin the community testing immediately for all symptomatic people in Broken Hill, Lake Macquarie, Manning, Waverley, Woollahra, Ryde, Macquarie Park, Dee Why, Manly, Nowra, South Nowra, the Byron Bay area and Port Macquarie. Testing had been previously restricted to only symptomatic people who had returned from overseas, those who had close contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases or healthcare workers. It follows a pop-up clinic for testing being set up in Bondi last week. (Alliance News) - Spire Healthcare Group PLC said Monday it has signed Heads of Terms with the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee to make its facilities and services available to the NHS and its patients during the Covid-19 outbreak. The company operates two private hospitals in Wales. Spire Healthcare said the deal is similar to the one it signed with NHS England in mid-March. The deal means the private hospital operator has now made its private hospitals - a total of 37 - available to the NHS in England and Wales during the Covid-19 health crisis. The NHS will pay Spire weekly in advance to cover the company's costs. Spire said primary care is excluded, and its private general practitioner service will continue as normal. "We are committed to supporting the NHS in combatting the Covid-19 outbreak and will update the market when further information is available," Spire added. Shares in Spire Healthcare closed 5.7% higher in London on Monday at 87.00 pence each. By Paul McGowan; paulmcgowan@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. The acting Navy secretary who removed a popular commanding officer from his position last week is facing growing criticism for his actions, including calls for his resignation. Democratic lawmakers, former officers and scholars say Thomas Modly should step down or be removed from his position as the service's top civilian leader. Those calls increased on social media Monday when new audio of a speech Modly gave to the crew of the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt was leaked to the media. Rep. Elaine Luria, a Virginia Democrat and retired Navy commander, said Monday that she has called on Defense Secretary Mark Esper to immediately fire Modly. "If you want to know why, listen to this," she tweeted, sharing a link to the audio of Modly's speech to the Roosevelt's crew. Related: 'Too Naive or Too Stupid:' Acting SecNav Slams Fired Captain in Speech to Crew The secretary's office did not respond to a request for comment over the calls for his resignation. In his speech, Modly said Capt. Brett Crozier, the ship's former commander, should have realized when sending an email about coronavirus cases spreading on the ship that it would end up being leaked to the media. Failure to realize that, Modly said, shows Crozier was "too naive or too stupid" to lead his crew. Members of Croziers crew cheered for him as he left the ship on Thursday. Crozier has since tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. The leaked letter he wrote warned Navy leaders that cases were spreading rapidly on his ship. Sen. Tim Kaine, another Virginia Democrat, said suggesting Crozier was stupid and bashing the media for reporting the truth was "completely inappropriate." "Our dedicated sailors deserve better from their leadership," he said. Modly told sailors on the Roosevelt they should never go to the media, claiming journalists have an agenda and will use information to divide the public and embarrass service members and the Navy. Rep. Ted Lieu, a Democrat from California and Air Force Reserve colonel serving in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, said the civilian-controlled military "requires our troops to have confidence that our civilian leaders always have their best interests in mind." "Modly has now lost that confidence," Lieu said. "He should resign." Rep. Jason Crow, a former Army Ranger and Colorado Democrat, called Modly's address on the Roosevelt "a failure of leadership," adding that the acting Navy secretary is the only one who should be relieved of command. Normal Ornstein, a scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute think tank in Washington, also called for Modly's resignation or removal. On Thursday, after Modly removed Crozier from his position, Ornstein said the secretary is "a danger to the health and integrity of our military." David Frum, a political commentator who served as a speechwriter for President George W. Bush, said future Navy and Marine Corps officers will learn about Modly's speech "for the next 100 years as a perfect textbook example of how not to lead and inspire." "Every time you think it can't get worse, it gets worse," he said Monday. A Change.org petition calling on Crozier to be restored as the Roosevelt's commanding officer had more than 260,000 signatures after audio of Modly's speech was made public. Editor's note: Rep. Jason Crow represents Colorado. -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Read more: Petition to Reinstate Fired Carrier Captain Goes Viral as Lawmakers Call for Probe In these truly bizarre times in which we find ourselves, now more than ever we need media to keep us informed, entertained, distracted, and heard as readers. We here at Sprudge have been doing our best to provide you high quality daily coverage that meets these criteria, and we thank you deeply for tuning in with us over the last few weeks. But media right now, specifically coffee media, finds itself with a new charge: supporting the communities that have supported them over the years, particularly for impacted cafe owners and coffee workers. In the world of coffee print media weve been contacted about several initiativeseverything from discounted and extended subscriptions, to donated subscription fees, to innovative community-focused contests and giveawaysall of it meant to support the wider health of the coffee industry. Today were rounding up some of the best efforts by our colleagues in coffee media, focused on print magazines. If you believe in coffee journalism, now would be a good time to show your support. Caffeine Magazine The COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent lockdown has had a profound impact on baristas and coffee professionals in the UK and worldwide. Caffeine is trying to do everything we can to support our friends and colleagues at this time. We felt that the coffee industry should be doing more and our industry bodies should not be waiting to act. Scott Bentley, Founder of Caffeine Magazine The UKs Caffeine Magazine is going straight to the source with their initiative. Teaming up with United Baristas, Caffeine is creating Barista Care Packs. Each pack includes coffee, Oatly oat milk, Mr. Black coffee liqueur, London Coffee Festival tickets, vegetarian-friendly groceries and preserves, chocolates and treats, and an all-important roll of toilet paper. Through leveraging our combined networks we have secured enough money to distribute over 250 care packs to furloughed baristas and coffee professionals. And we hope to be able to distribute many many more in the coming weeks, Bentley states. We want baristas and coffee professionals to know that the coffee industry cares for them, says United Baristas Founder Tim Ridley. Care Packs have been designed to provide practical support to those baristas facing hardship and emotional support to all. UK coffee professionals can register to receive a Barista Care Pack here. If youd like to assist in their efforts, head over to the Barista Care website and bid on a donated item at one of their twice-weekly auctions. Or if you are a coffee company that wants to help, Caffeine is actively seeking further donations to fund more Care Packs. Imbibe Magazine The beverage polymaths over at Imbibe Magazine are doing their part to help out the entirety of the service industry, including coffee professionals. For all of April, Imbibe will be donating $5 from every new subscription to the Restaurant Workers Community Foundation (featured here on Sprudge) as well as coming out of pocket with a 100% match of all donations raised. Members of the hospitality industry make up a big part of our audience, so we really wanted to give back to an organization that we know is directly helping this community, Imbibe founder Karen Foley tells Sprudge. RWCF is one of our Negroni Week charity partners, so were especially happy to be able to support the incredible work theyre doing right now. Barista Magazine First and foremost, we at Barista Magazine are concerned about the health and well-being of our community. As our readers are on the frontlines of service work, constantly interacting with customers, we know that they have to take care to avoid infection and exposure to themselves, their co-workers, and their customers, adding extra strain to an already stressful time. Of course many other members of the community have been forced out of their jobs as cafes and coffeeshops have closed either via government mandate or economic concern. Hopefully these furloughs are temporary and everyone can get back to work sometime in the future. But in the meantime, the economic hardship our readers will have to overcome is extraordinary, and national and local governments around the globe must support them in the time of crisis. Ken Olson, Publisher at Barista Magazine The folks over at Barista Magazine have put a few cool initiatives in place right now. On top of automatically extending current BMag subscribers (as of March 17th) an additional six months as well as cutting subscription fees in half for new subscribers, they have incentivized donation with their Give Some Get Some contest. In this recurring social media driven effort, a donation to any of the many virtual tip jars gets you entered into a contest to win some pretty cool prizes; the winner of the first contest took home a Puqpress Q2 donated by Puqpress. All you have to do to enter is give as little as $5 to a virtual tip jar, food bank, or health/medical organization of your choosing and send a screenshot confirming as much to giveget@baristamagazine.com. Roast Magazine As a long standing member of the coffee community, we want to do as much as we can to keep folks positive and looking forward to the future. The are trying times but they will pass and well be stronger if we get there together! Connie Blumhardt, Founder of Roast Magazine Similar to the efforts of Barista Magazine, Roast will be automatically extending subscribers at no charge as well as making all their digital back issues free of charge. Additionally, they are offering $15 off new annual subscriptions using the code STAYHOME. Standart Standart, your coffee and print lovers favorite periodical (and winner of the 2019 Sprudgie Award for Best Magazine), is running a program where new half the cost of new subscriptions go directly to coffee shops, and the coolest part is, the subscriber gets to decide which coffee shop benefits. Called the Give & Get program, the two-week programthough it will most likely go longer, per Standart Founder Michal Molcanallows new subscribers to pick any cafe in the world to receive their 20 part of an annual sub. To have your favorite coffee shop benefit, all you have to do before subscribing is get them to sign up here. Once they join the ranks of the 100 other coffee shops spread across 30 countries that are registered, use the cafes unique referral code when subscribing and they will receive half their half of the subscription fees. The Give and Get program is not here to *save* coffee shops, raise donations, or ask people to help just for good will. They run a capable business, same as we do, that are going through a tough period of their existence, Molcan tells Sprudge. Its simply a profit-sharing initiative that supports both coffee shops and us, all while giving a great value to readers. Its a win-win-win. Also, its global and super inclusive. Any coffee shop can sign up and start getting commissions. The program is hassle free and easy to join. Michal Molcan, founder of Standart. Update: Coffee People Zine We could all use a little bonus reading right about now, dont you think? Thats why Coffee People Zine is offering a pretty stellar deal on zine two-packs. For just $19, you can get two editions of Coffee People, saving you $11 off the regular price of two. So many baristas and coffee pros are stuck at home and out of work right. And were ALL spending too much time on our screens. To provide an alternative to the endless scroll, and to bring some positivity and artistry into the homes of those sheltered in place, Im offering HUGE discounts on multiple zine orders. Ive curated a collection of 2-zine packs for $19, rather than the usual $30, so you and your household will have hours of offline entertainment. Kat Melheim, Founder of Coffee People Zine Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge. President Donald Trump said Monday that the White House and 3M reached a "very amicable agreement" that will bring more than 55 million masks to the U.S. each month, following a public dispute between the manufacturing giant and the president. "So the 3M saga ends very happily," Trump concluded at a White House press briefing on the coronavirus outbreak. Under the terms of the new deal, 3M will import 166.5 million respirator masks to the U.S. over the next three months. The additional masks will supplement the 35 million masks 3M produces domestically each month, the company said in a statement later Monday night. "I want to thank President Trump and the Administration for their leadership and collaboration," 3M CEO Mike Roman said in the statement. "We share the same goals of providing much-needed respirators to Americans across our country and combating criminals who seek to take advantage of the current crisis. These imports will supplement the 35 million N95 respirators we currently produce per month in the United States," Roman said. The imported masks will primarily come from China starting this month, the statement said. "The Administration is committed to working to address and remove export and regulatory restrictions to enable this plan," 3M said. The company also said it will not stop exporting U.S.-made respirators to Canada and Latin America a major point of contention with Trump that spilled into public last week. "We're very proud to be dealing, now, with 3M," Trump said at the press conference. The president added that he thanked Roman, who was "very happy to get it done." The remarks at the latest daily press briefing marked a major shift in tone for the president, who last week harshly accused 3M of wrongdoing over "what they were doing with their masks." They "will have a big price to pay!" Trump tweeted Thursday. Roman pushed back in an interview on CNBC the next day, saying it was "absurd" to suggest 3M was not doing all it could to help the U.S. slow the spread of the coronavirus. The dispute centered around 3M's exports to outside markets. 3M said in a statement Friday that the Trump administration asked it to stop exporting its U.S.-made respirator masks to Canadian and Latin American markets. As a primary supplier of respirators to those markets, halting exports would have "significant humanitarian implications" for health-care workers there, 3M said. Choking off its flow of supplies to those countries could also cause foreign retaliation that might ultimately make respirators less available in the U.S., the company said. "That is the opposite of what we and the Administration, on behalf of the American people, both seek.," 3M said. Trump had invoked the Defense Production Act to authorize acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf to "use any and all authority" to acquire as many respirators from the company or its affiliates as was deemed "appropriate." But 3M said in its statement that it was already working with the Trump administration on getting more masks to the U.S. prior to Trump's invocation of the DPA. On Friday evening, Trump once again drew upon the Korean War-era law, signing an order to ban "unscrupulous actors and profiteers" from exporting critical medical gear used to protect wearers from the coronavirus. "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 that evening. U.S. President Donald Trump (R) greets Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) during their bilateral meeting at the G20 Osaka Summit 2019, in Osaka, Japan on June 28, 2019. Mikhail Svetlov | Getty Images During World War II, American and Russian soldiers fought side by side against a common enemy. We achieved victory together. Who can forget the images of allied soldiers embracing each other on the banks of the Elbe on April 25, 1945, nearly 75 years ago? Those images stand as a symbol of international unity in the face of a global threat. Now is surely the time to collaboratively tackle a challenge that threatens us all today. Just as our grandfathers stood shoulder to shoulder to defend our values and secure peace for future generations, now our countries must show unity and leadership to win the war against the coronavirus. This war has already affected the lives of billions of people and may lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths. To change the views on Russia in an election year may be an insurmountable challenge. But so it also seemed in 1941, when the U.S. and the Soviet Union put behind the differences of the past to fight the common enemy. Kirill Dmitriev CEO, Russian Direct Investment Fund Despite many differences, Russia and the United States have a lot in common. We love our families and want them to be healthy. We know how to work as a team in the face of adversity and are ready to make sacrifices for our values and communities. In recent years, there has been too much attention paid to our differences and too little to opportunities to work together on global issues. In fact, we have allowed the culture of fear to emerge with business leaders and even scientists, causing them to be afraid to talk about U.S.-Russia cooperation. The time has come to improve relations by focusing our efforts on three areas: (1) jointly fighting the coronavirus, (2) reducing the impact of the inevitable global economic recession and (3) developing a platform for future cooperation in confronting terrorism, nuclear proliferation and climate change. The fight against coronavirus As the sovereign wealth fund of Russia, we realized in early January when we established our network of top investment funds in 18 countries, that the coronavirus pandemic could have a devastating global impact. Jointly with our partners, we focused on the best available technologies to address it.We formed partnerships in China, Japan and the U.S. to invest in some of the most accurate, quick and mobile virus testing systems in the world. We identified a top venture capital firm in the U.S., who will be our co-investor in this technology. The usual critics from both sides, who will attack this op-ed as "trying to solve the insolvable" or as another "propaganda stunt" are stuck in the past and are not offering a viable alternative forward. Kirill Dmitriev CEO, Russian Direct Investment Fund This joint U.S.-Japan-Russia consortium will provide an important and scalable testing solution for the U.S. market. Through our partners, we are already providing testing solutions in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, working jointly with many nations to slow down the spread of the virus through extensive testing. We formed partnerships to test and manufacture drugs that showed significant clinical potential and supported collaboration between U.S. and Russian pharma companies. Our doctors and scientists must work together on creating and testing a vaccine. We can exchange best practices regarding hospital and manufacturing processes, and exchange medical equipment and supplies where possible, while jointly coordinating our efforts to help other countries. Just as we supported financially part of the medical supply cargo that Russia delivered to New York, so we hope to facilitate medical supply shipments from the U.S. after the U.S. coronavirus peak. In short, the coronavirus challenge can be best addressed through a coordinated global response, including a close partnership between the U.S. and Russia. Reducing economic turbulence At last year's World Economic Forum in Davos, we discussed extensively with our global partners that the global debt burden is too high. We highlighted that it stood at over 300% of global GDP, compared with just over 200% preceding the 2008-2009 economic crisis. We noted that any significant shock could lead to the downward spiral of a debt crisis and an inevitable world recession in an inter-connected world. We could not have predicted, however, that the tsunami of the coronavirus would lead to such significant supply and demand-side shocks, dramatically reducing global demand and paralyzing economic activity. In times like this, new approaches to explore close collaboration between the U.S., Russia and other countries are needed to stabilize energy and other markets, to coordinate policy responses and to revitalize economic activity. For example, Russia proposed to jointly undertake significant oil output cuts with the U.S., Saudi Arabia and other countries to stabilize markets and secure employment in the oil industry. Platform for US-Russia cooperation Tiger King is on a roll, with Netflix sharing on Monday morning that the popular docuseries was once again its most-watched show or movie in the U.S. over the past 24 hours pushing its streak of being the top title on the streaming service to 15 straight days. The seven-part series, covering the bizarre life of former tiger zoo owner Joe Exotic and several other owners like him in the U.S., easily holds the longest streak atop Netflixs recently-launched top 10 overall shows and movies list. The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez holds the second-longest streak at 6 straight days as Netflixs most watched show or movie, followed by Love Is Blind and Spenser Confidential, which were both in the top spot for five straight days. Tiger Kings 15 days overall as the top title on Netflix is also far and away the most days spent at number one by any show or movie on the service. These records are relatively new, of course: Netflix has only been publicly sharing its Top 10 lists which cover TV, movies and a mixed overall category since late February. Also Read: 6 Ways Coronavirus Pandemic Will Impact Gaming Industry | PRO Insight More Tiger King could be on the way, too. Jeff Lowe, one of the stars of the series, said a few days ago that Netflix is planning to release a new episode of the show this week. Lowe, who owns the Oklahoma zoo that Joe Exotic once ran that is featured in the docuseries, sent a video message to Los Angeles Dodgers player Justin Turner following an episode of a podcast hosted by Turners wife, Kourtney. Netflix is adding one more episode. It will be on next week. Theyre filming here tomorrow, Lowe said in the video. Take care, stay safe, and put your mask on. Netflix did not respond to TheWraps request for comment. Also Read: 'Tiger King' Producers Push Back on Carole Baskin's Criticism of Series: 'She Certainly Wasn't Coerced' Tiger King has been a wildly popular series for Netflix since it debuted on March 20. The docuseries is about the eccentric owners of wild tigers and how their world coincides with drug kingpins, conmen and cult leaders who all love the cats. It most closely follows Joe Exotic (nee Joseph Maldonado-Passage), who by the end of the series winds up in jail serving a 22-year sentence for animal abuse and for a plot to hire an assassin to take out his rival and big cat owner, Carole Baskin. Story continues Fans of the series have created petitions calling for Exotics release, and celebrities including Dax Shepherd have led social media campaigns to be cast in an inevitable Tiger King feature film. Its unclear what the nature of the new Tiger King episode would be either a continuation or a reunion of the existing docuseries. Brian Welk contributed to this report. Read original story Tiger King Holds Longest Streak as No. 1 on Netflixs Top 10 Titles List At TheWrap Frontliners and health workers can now easily find the best routes to take going to the free bus rides. This after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) collaborated with Google to make the routes to be readily available in Google Maps. Be it mobile phones, desktops, or a tablet computers, Google Maps can recommend the best routes going to their destinations being served by the DOTrs free shuttles. Currently a total of 19 routes are beinh served under the DOTr to ferry medical frontliners and hospital staffers to the different hospitals and medical facilities during the enforcement of the Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine. DOTr P2P Bus Routes Below are the instructions for using Google Maps Launch Google Maps via app or web. Enter your intended destination. Tap Directions. Select the public transit tab. This is the train icon which comes after car and motorcycle icons. Maps will immediately pull up a recommended route which uses the DOTrs hospital shuttle routes, when available. "This innovative initiative adds up to the convenience we wish to provide our frontline health workers as they go into battle daily against the COVID-19 pandemic. I always tell everyone that all of us, especially at this point in time, should embrace technology, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said. Tugade Technology makes our lives easier. So, as we help provide our health workers with daily free rides, I am certain that partnering with digital technology will also make navigating routes the least of their worries. We want to make things easier for them, given the enormous tasks that they perform everyday, he added. For their part, Bernadette Nacario, Country Director, Google Philippines, expressed its gratitude to the forntliners. We admire and honor all our frontline workforce, both in the medical and non-medical fields, risking their personal health and lives to save others and flatten the curve. Google Philippines strives to use our technology to provide help and support during this challenging time. We hope that by making the routes of the DOTr's free rides accessible on Google Maps, we are helping provide ease and convenience to the daily transport of our frontliners," Nacario said. Updates to the bus routes and schedules will be reflected in the service, including the addition of free shuttle services from local government units (LGUs) soon. Also read: Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 6, 2020) - Bay Talent Group Inc. (TSXV: HIRE) ("BTG" or the "Company"), announces that its Board of Directors has accepted the resignation of Mr. Allan Hartley as Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company, effective immediately. The Company also announces the resignation of Steven Wang as officer and director of BTG's subsidiaries, Provision IT Resources Ltd. and PTC Accounting and Finance Inc., effective immediately. Both Mr. Hartley and Mr. Wang played significant roles in the formation and growth of the Company. BTG is grateful for their contributions and wish them well in their future endeavors. The Company announces the appointment of Mr. Simon Dealy, CPA, MBA, as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Dealy has more than 25 years experience in operations, finance, strategic planning, acquisition, and business development. Mr. Dealy is co-founder of BTG and has served as BTG's President since January 1, 2018 and Chief Financial Officer since January 1, 2019, and has, during these periods, and among other things, overseen the acquisition and integration of BTG's material subsidiaries. Mr. Dealy holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Suffolk University and is a Certified Public Accountant. The Company also announces the addition of Dan Teguh as Vice President, Finance. Prior to joining BTG, Mr. Teguh was Director of Corporate Development at a leading North American healthcare consolidator where he was responsible for acquisitions and transaction execution. Prior to this, Mr. Teguh held progressively senior roles at a publicly traded insurance holding company covering all aspects of capital management including mergers and acquisitions, planning, operations, financial reporting, and investor relations. Mr. Teguh began his career at Ernst & Young LLP. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Queen's University. The Company also announces that Eric Loree has been named Chief Legal Officer. Mr. Loree joined BTG in December 2018 as Corporate Secretary. Prior to BTG, Mr. Loree worked in the Listed Issuer Services department at the TSX Venture Exchange where he was a member of the Exchange's Executive Listing and Policy Committees. He also previously acted as legal counsel to a major telecommunications company and practiced in the Corporate Finance and Securities Law department of a national law firm based in Toronto. Mr. Loree holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Queen's University. Mr. Dealy, Chief Executive Officer of BTG was quoted "While COVID19 creates general uncertainty for business and the market, BTG is taking bold steps to realize on our strategic plans. We continue to move forward on our acquisition pipeline as we build towards an ever more digitized operating environment. The Canadian job market may be reduced during the next quarter however our Company's management is now strengthened, has a demonstrated track record in the HR industry and is looking to lead to a technology-based future driven by industry leading advisors." About Bay Talent Group Inc. BTG is a technology company in the HR consulting industry with a strong focus on staffing and recruiting. BTG's strategy is to complete accretive acquisitions of staffing, information technology, and HR consulting firms that meet BTG's strategic, valuation, expertise, geographic, and operational criteria. BTG's organic growth plans combined with acquired growth creates value and provides Bay Talent Group entities additional diversified vertical and cross-selling opportunities, realized savings from consolidating operations and leveraging a centralized back-office structure. BTG's current operating subsidiaries, Provision IT Resources Ltd. and PTC Accounting and Finance Inc., are HR consulting firms that offer a range of professional staffing services for accounting, finance, information technology, office administration and human resources. BTG's clients include large organizations in the financial, government, insurance, and pension fund sectors, as well as, small and medium sized businesses across a broad range of industries. For further information, please contact: Bay Talent Group Inc. Simon Dealy, Chief Executive Officer Phone: (647) 868-9611 Email: sdealy@baytalentgroup.com Neither the TSXV 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 press release. Forward Looking Information The information provided in this press release contains "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively referred to hereafter as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this press release that address activities, events or developments that BTG expect or anticipate will, or may, occur in the future, including statements about BTG's business prospects, future trends, plans, strategies, including, in particular, BTG's acquisition strategy and the expected benefits thereof and objectives. In some cases, forward-looking statements are preceded by, followed by or include words such as "may", "will", "would", "could", "should", "believes", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "expects", "plans", "intends", "anticipates", "targeted", "continues", "forecasts", "designed", "goal", or the negative of those words or other similar or comparable words. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are based upon a number of, including, without limitation, assumptions about: future economic conditions (including the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on national and international financial markets), competition; anticipated and unanticipated costs; the ability of BTG to obtain any necessary financing on acceptable terms; and the ability of the BTG to obtain qualified staff and services in a timely and cost-efficient manner. Although management of BTG believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of BTG to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, risks relating to: the limited operating history of BTG, reliance upon key management, adverse changes in general economic conditions (including the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic), the failure to identify eligible candidates, competition and low barriers to entry, litigation risk, cybersecurity risks, reputational damage, failure to access technology necessary to compete, failure to align cost structure with revenue, reliance on key customers, risk that BTG will be unable to meet its obligations under financial instruments, risks inherent to BTG's acquisition strategy, conflicts of interest, significant ownership and control by significant shareholders, requirement for additional financing, potential dilution from the exercise of convertible securities and the potential for activist shareholders, all as more particularly described in "Risk Factors" in the filing statement of BTG (then Danacore Industries Inc. dated as at November 26, 2019 filed under the Company's profile on www.SEDAR.com). Although BTG has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. All forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by such cautionary statements. BTG undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/54158 Getty For a time the Middle East seemed like it just froze, the conflicts of yesterday put in quarantineas so many of us have beenwhile various countries strive to contain an epidemic of biblical scale. Dont expect that to last. The coronavirus outbreak is not the great equalizer, nor is it the crisis in which past rivalries will be forgotten. Trumps Most Vital Mideast Allies Are Trending Fast Toward Tyranny Like an earthquake, the coronavirus is magnifying the foundational weaknesses of the least prepared countries, exacerbating existing inequalities across the region. And like a particularly lethal aftershock, the crash of the oil price further debilitates petroleum-based economies that lack the financial reserves to weather the secondary blow to their system. For Gulf countries, the double whammy of the coronavirus and the oil shock, while major disruptions, can be weathered with mass injections of capital. Moreover, these countries appear to have been some of the best prepared to deal with the pandemic, likely because they already faced the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak. They acted relatively quickly and decisively to identify cases and close down their borders. Thats not to say that things arent going to be bad for Gulf countriesthey willbut there will be different shades of bad. By contrast, Algeria, Iraq, Egypt, and Lebanon are certain to be hit especially hard by the twin blows. Algeria and Iraqs budgets are so tied to the price of oil that they have no margin to maneuver. The economic crisis will also hit Egypt, especially with the loss of tourism, while Lebanon was in the process of defaulting on its sovereign debt even before the outbreak really took off. Refugee and internally displaced communities across the region also are going to be hit very hard, which is likely to increase refugee flows both within and outside the regionwith potential recipients of these flows having another reason to close their doors. As a result, the burden of these new refugees is poised to be borne most by the states that can least afford to do so and those that already are host to massive displaced populations. Story continues This widening gap will have an impact on the regions geopolitics. Desperate people do desperate things, and desperate regimes even more so. The recent escalation in attacks against coalition forces in Iraq which resulted in the killing of two U.S. and UK soldiers in the Taji military base is one example of what could become a trend: namely, the growing need for countries weakened by the outbreak to project strength. Iran has been at the epicenter of the crisis in the region and its lack of transparency and effort to maintain ties with one of its last trading partners, China, turned the crisis into a nightmaremaking us, as geopolitical analysts, wonder what does Iran have to lose and where could its proxies strike next? Beyond that, as the crisis shifts Americas focus even more inwards, local actors will test Washingtons willingness to respond to escalation. Given what happened in Iran, and the possible geopolitical consequences, this raises the questions of what would (or more likely will) happen if/when the crisis will reach these levels in areas such as Syria, Yemen, Libya or Gaza? In an already unequal world, the crisis may well make asymmetric warfare even more relevant than it already was. While some regimes struggling against popular protest movements may have perceived a silver lining in the outbreak, a day of reckoning is not far over the horizon. In Algeria and Lebanon the streets are emptying fast. Now that the scale of the outbreak has set in, most if not all protesters wont be marching for weeks or months to come. But there will be some reluctance to call off the demonstrations. Some protesters view their local regimes as worse than the virus. Those who decide to continue demonstrating will face a crackdown rationalized by the outbreakAlgeria already issued a ban on protests. The pandemic will break the momentum of these popular movements, but, once the dust settles, these may also come back swinging at governments that mishandled the crisis. The Middle East and North Africa were in the middle of a second Arab Spring. Theres every reason to expect the uprisings to regain their momentum when coronavirus season is over. On a domestic level, the crisis likely wont bring people together, at least not in the long termand not only because of the need for social distancing. Sectarian tensions are liable to increase, particularly as a result of Irans catastrophic mishandling of the situation. In the Gulf, where much of the initial outbreak was the result of Iran-related travelswhich are difficult to track given that Gulf citizens who travel to Iran dont get their passports stampedfear of a broader outbreak due to such travel is already having an impact, with Saudi Arabia closing the Shiite-majority region of Qatif, and other Gulf countries reluctant to repatriate their own citizens from Iran. The lack of testing capabilities in Sunni areas of Iraq (when compared to Kurdish and Shiite-majority areas), a similar lack of balance between testing numbers among the Jewish and Arab communities in Israel alongside tensions prompted by lockdown measures in Jaffa, all highlight the possibility that the outbreak will widen domestic divides rather than bridge them. In Israel, the crisis has revealedovernightthe governments willingness to approve massive spying on its own population at a time when parliament cant convene to monitor the use of data gathered by the Israeli Security Agency. This is not an isolated case: more broadly, containment measures and the subsequent reaction by their respective populations will widen the gap between governments who managed to gain public trust, and those who didnt. All of these factors suggest the coronavirus pandemic will turn into a defining moment for the region, not simply because of its magnitude, but because it came at a time when most countries were experiencing their own political crisesand failed to build any immunity to the one that suddenly knocked at their doors. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Online bike taxi aggregator Rapido has announced a partnership with BigBasket, Big Baazar, and Spencer's Retail to help last-mile deliveries of essential suppliers during the 21-day lockdown. Rapido, in a statement, said that it is committed to increasing its existing delivery services to provide essential supplies during the nationwide lockdown. Rapido was founded in 2015 and currently operates in over 95 cities across the country. The company has become one of the major players in the ride-hailing segment. The company would now be catering customers across 90 cities in the country and around 70 per cent of its fleet are on-ground to facilitate the supplies of essential commodities. Rapido is also in talks with other e-commerce players - Grofers, Dunzo and FreshtoHome - on extending support to deliver essential orders. The bike taxi aggregator said that the company would not be charging any commission and will act as the platform to facilitate deliveries. Additionally, Rapido also said that it is following all necessary precautions issued by government and health authorities during the commute of its fleet in the 21-day lockdown period. Earlier, the company had declared a temporary suspension of its India operations amid the lockdown. The company stated that it will operate with minimum vehicles to support only essential services to hospitals, doctors, nurses and government staff. Moreover, the company is also ensuring proper sanitisation of pillion seat every time a customer takes a ride. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had declared a 21-day nationwide lockdown from March 25 to April 14 to fight novel coronavirus pandemic in the country. So far, the coronavirus outbreak has claimed around 118 lives in the country with over 4,300 infected cases. Also Read: Coronavirus update: 697 fresh COVID-19 cases, 109 deaths reported so far Also Read: Infosys Q4 revenue to take 130bps hit; FY21 outlook gloomy: Analyst report Also Read: Coronavirus in US: Tiger at NYC's Bronx Zoo tests positive for COVID-19 New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked his ministers to list major priority areas once the restrictions imposed to halt the spread of the coronavirus pandemic are lifted. He also said spoke for creating a graded plan to slowly open departments where hotspots arent existing. Modi told his team that the present crisis also required that the country needs to lessen its dependence on other nations as he asked all departments to maintain an objective index on how their work will promote Make in India. The prime minister addressed his ministers through video conference, which officials said was a first. Modi asked the ministers to prepare a list of ten major decisions and ten priority areas of focus once lockdown ends exhorting them to identify and implement pending reforms. Talking about the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, he said the government must work on war-footing to mitigate the impact, adding that the ministries should prepare a Business Continuity Plan. According to an official statement, Modi noted that a graded plan to slowly open departments where hotspots arent existing should be made, adding that the crisis offers an opportunity to become self-dependent in the medical sector. Highlighting the impact on Indias exports, he asked the Ministers to submit actionable suggestions on boosting manufacturing and exports and ensure that new sectors and countries are added in Indias export net. He said the lockdown measures and social distancing must go hand in hand and added it is essential to strategise for the emergent conditions once the curbs end. Addressing ministers, Modi said it is important that leaders communicate with the state and district administrations, especially in the areas that have emerged a the pandemic hotspots, to remain apprised about the ground situation. He said it is also important to ensure there is no crowding at Public Distribution System centres. Modi called for maintaining effective monitoring, taking action on complaints and preventing black marketing and a rise in prices of essentials. Modi said the welfare of farmers is of high importance. He added the government would provide all possible help to farmers in the harvesting season. He suggested harnessing of technology and encouraging exploration of innovative solutions like using truck aggregators to connect farmers with mandis on the lines of app-based cab services. Modi underlined the need for devising a strategy to ensure the procurement of products from tribals so that the sources of income of the indigenous populace remain intact. He stressed on the importance of monitoring continuously and ensuring that the benefits of PM Garib Kalyan Yojana keep reaching the intended beneficiaries. Modi said there should be continuous monitoring to maintain timelines of the production of essential medicines and protection equipment. ENDS TEL AVIV, Israel, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyolo, a provider of secure connectivity solutions, announced today its coming out of stealth mode with a $4.2 million seed round, led by Flint Capital, with participation by Global Founders Capital, Differential Ventures and private investors. Cyolo's unified network and security platform creates a secure digital path that connects authorized users to approved resources, to ensure business continuity. "Cyolo introduces a new concept of a secure business connection that is not network bound," says Almog Apirion, Cyolo's co-founder and CEO. "We are excited and grateful for the opportunity to carry out our vision to enable local and mobile users to securely access the tools and data they need in an organization's network, cloud or IoT environments, regardless of where they are and what device they are using." Cyolo's solution minimizes the attack surface and reduces the risk to an organization's critical assets and data in an era where users are everywhere and resources are scattered across platforms. In today's COVID-19 reality, Cyolo is enabling its customers to ensure secure remote access to employees who work from home, using their personal devices. Cyolo's secure access platform ensures risk-based access and action control by providing granular visibility and control per application, based on user ID, device ID, time, location, behavior and action. "Cyolo delivers a new level of data protection, which is vital for industries such as healthcare, government, retail, banking and critical infrastructure," explains Sergey Gribov, Partner, Flint Capital. "In the age of cloud computing, mobility and advanced targeted attacks, we need solutions that are unconventional and Cyolo transforms the way organizations think about networks, in order to secure their resources, apps and files." Cyolo is currently deployed in organizations with thousands of users, in multiple sectors and the funding will be used to grow the team, accelerate development efforts and expand into new markets. "We live in an era where connectivity is essential. We see it today more than ever," says David Citron, Partner, Global Founders Capital. "We are thrilled to be part of a startup that at a time like this, enables to securely connect remote employees, who work from home with their personal computers, to their office desktop, to ensure business continuity and productivity." About Cyolo Cyolo was founded in 2019, by former commanders of the Israeli Navy Cyber Unit, to help organizations remain agile, resilient and productive, by securely connecting onsite and remote users, to the organization's applications, servers, desktops and files. Media contact: Yael Beeri [email protected] http://cyolo.io SOURCE Cyolo Related Links https://cyolo.io [April 06, 2020] John Tanner Named Chief Compliance Officer for Beacon Healthcare Systems Beacon Healthcare Systems announced today the appointment of John Tanner as its chief compliance officer, effective immediately. Beacon is home to the healthcare industry's leading compliance and risk management technologies. In his new role Tanner will have the dual responsibility of overseeing all compliance-related issues for Beacon and its clients as well as providing leadership for the company's acclaimed Virtual Compliance Manager (VCM). As the industry leader in its space, VCM provides state-of-the-art compliance, analytics, monitoring, and regulatory guidance-tracking and routing capabilities. With separate modules for guidance, audit workflow and automated monitoring, VCM is also the only solution to provide over 1,000 built-in audit rules for real-time auditing and monitoring of transactional data that allows a health plan the opportunity to correct and address issues immediately. "John's diversity of healthcare experience over the past three decades provides him a broad foundation of understanding health plan operations, which is key to effectively managing health plan compliance," said Beacon Founder and CEO Ken Stockman. "As more and more health plans ntionwide turn to Beacon to be their trusted partner in meeting today's regulatory requirements, John is the ideal person to help us further enhance our industry-leading compliance modules so as to ensure that all of our clients remain audit ready at all times." Most recently, Tanner served as vice president of compliance operations and Medicare compliance officer for Molina Healthcare. There Tanner managed compliance operations for Molina's 3.5 million members across 13 health plans and was responsible for Medicare compliance with federal, state and local regulators. Prior to his nine years at Molina, Tanner worked as director of regulatory compliance for SCAN Health Plan, where he fostered an environment of early identification, notification and resolution of compliance issues. Tanner holds a master's degree in business administration from California State University, Long Beach and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Ohio State University. Beacon Healthcare Systems is home to the healthcare industry's leading compliance and risk management technologies, providing health plans of all sizes and sponsorships with customizable and scalable SaaS (News - Alert) (Service as a Software) solutions that ensure accountability, accuracy and operational efficiency. With a focus on appeals, grievances, compliance and analytics, Beacon HCS is the first place health plans turn to when they are looking for a trusted, experienced partner who can help them reduce costs, grow revenue and achieve their strategic goals. Founded in 2011, Beacon HCS is a privately held California-based company with a technology center located in Austin, Texas. beaconhcs.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005062/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By Barani Krishnan Investing.com - Crude prices notched a record weekly gain of as much as 37% on OPEC jawboning and President Donald Trump's tweets that he expected world oil producers to resume production cuts. A drop in the U.S. oil rig count, however, showed that drillers in the country had already begun work to balance a market left incredibly oversupplied by the Covid-19 pandemic. Trump tweeted on Thursday that he had brokered a deal for Saudi Arabia, Russia and other oil producers to cut between 10 million and 15 million barrels of supply from daily world output. Crude prices rose as much as 25% on Thursday on his tweets, The market added another 12% or so on Friday as OPEC delegates, speaking on conditions of anonymity, tried to keep alive talk of production cuts in a market that had lost more than 60% of its value prior to the rally on estimates that there was an oversupply of some 20 million bpd. West Texas Intermediate, the New York-traded benchmark for U.S. crude, settled Friday's trade up $3.02, or 12%, at $28.34 per barrel. Just on Monday, WTI hit 18-year lows of $19.27. After the two-day rally, it ended the week up 32%. Brent, the London-traded global benchmark for crude, settled Friday's trade up $4.717, or 14%, at $34.11 per barrel. Brent rose 37% on the week. Crude prices were also supported by data showing that U.S. drillers had cut the number of rigs actively pumping oil by 62 this week, the most in a week since 2015. The rig count data was evidence that shale drillers in America, who had contributed to much of the global oil glut, were already paring output even before Trump's intervention this week. The Kremlin also said President Vladimir Putin was scheduled to meet Russian oil industry executives and officials today to discuss the situation on the world energy markets. Some analysts and market participants had been wary of Trumps remarks because there was little evidence to suggest that the Saudis and Russians would be willing to shoulder the bulk of a 10-15 million bpd cut he announced. Such a volume of cuts would account for 5%-7.5% of global output, now standing at around 200 million bpd. Coordinated Saudi-Russian cuts since 2016 under the OPEC+ pact ended unceremoniously early last month, and the two oil titans had been engaged in a production-and-price war in recent weeks. Story continues Asked at a news conference on Thursday on where he got his numbers, Trump implied that his information came from calls placed to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and Putin, as well as conversations between those two individuals. But a spokesman for Putin denied that the Russian leader had spoken to the Saudi crown prince since the price war between the two countries began. Saudi oil officials also privately told The Wall Street Journal that Trump had exaggerated the potential cut numbers. OPEC delegates, however, attempted to lend credibility to the president on Friday, suggesting he wasnt off the mark. Bloomberg quoted one OPEC delegate as saying that a global cut of 10 million barrels a day was a realistic goal. "The U.S. needs to contribute from shale oil to the cuts, Reuters quoted another OPEC source as saying. Industry regulators in Texas, the largest U.S. oil producing state that churns out some 4 million barrels per day, have indicated they are ready to work with their oil drillers for cuts. But Trump, who will meet CEOs of some of the biggest oil companies such as ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) and Chevron (NYSE:CVX) at the White House on Friday, said at Thursdays news conference that he offered no cuts on behalf of American industry ostensibly due to U.S. antitrust regulations that forbid any coordination of production controls. White House Economic Adviser Larry Kudrow, who arranged for Trumps meeting with the oil company CEOs, said in media interviews on Friday: I think... oil companies, seeing a decline in price are going to pull back on production. Thats just common sense. We dont dictate oil policies to our oil and gas sectors, Kudlow added. Related Articles With no fries sold, Dutch farmers face billion kilo potato pile U.S. biofuels industry seeks bailout to weather 'collapsing demand': letter Gold Rises as Jobless Surge Prompts Fresh Rush to Havens British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Monday he's "in good spirits" and is leading the government's efforts to tackle the coronavirus epidemic despite being hospitalized. Dominic Raab, the U.K.'s first secretary of state, said the prime minister had a "comfortable night" in hospital. "This was a precautionary step because he continues to have persistent coronavirus symptoms 10 days after first having tested positive for the virus," Raab told reporters at the government's daily press conference Monday. Under British law, Raab would assume responsibilities of running the government if the prime minister becomes unable to. Earlier Monday, Johnson said he went to hospital on Sunday for "routine tests" because he was still experiencing coronavirus symptoms 10 days after contracting COVID-19. Tweet "I'm in good spirits and keeping in touch with my team, as we work together to fight this virus and keep everyone safe," he tweeted. The prime minister had been in self-isolation at his flat next door to 10 Downing St. before being admitted to St. Thomas' Hospital in London. In a second tweet, Johnson thanked the National Health Service and urged Brits to stay at home. The U.K. has been on lockdown for over two weeks. "I'd like to say thank you to all the brilliant NHS staff taking care of me and others in this difficult time. You are the best of Britain," the prime minister said. "Stay safe everyone, and please remember to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives." "A Pyrrhic Victory: Volume 1, The Shaping of Destiny" by Ian Crouch Dr. Crouch succeeds splendidly in conveying a compelling interpretation of the lives and loves, the achievements and aspirations of great men in a great age. Dr. Eoghan Maloney, lecturer in ancient history at the University of Adelaide Author Ian Crouch has earned another award for his highly appraised novel "A Pyrrhic Victory: Volume I, The Shaping of Destiny." His book was named a Finalist in the Historical Fiction Category for the 2020 Book Excellence Awards. (http://www.bookexcellenceawards.com) The highly researched book was chosen by the international book awards competition over hundreds of entries from around the world, noting its high-quality writing, design, and market appeal. "A Pyrrhic Victory" refers to one that comes at such a cost that it threatens to destroy the victor. In the 22 years since the death of Alexander the Great, his empire has been divided between his generals. King Pyrrhus of Epirus becomes a major figure in the struggles of the Hellenistic World, and will later invade Italy to dispute the mastery of the Mediterranean with the Romans. Pyrrhus was described by Hannibal as the finest commander the world had seen after Alexander himself. Dr. Crouch succeeds splendidly in conveying a compelling interpretation of the lives and loves, the achievements and aspirations of great men in a great age. Dr. Eoghan Maloney, lecturer in ancient history at the University of Adelaide About the Author: Dr. Ian Crouch is a medical practitioner living in Adelaide, South Australia. Since his early days in medical school, his abiding interest has been Greek and Roman history. He has also published the second volume of "A Pyrrhic Victory," subtitled "Destiny Unfolds." This award-winning book conveys the triumphs of ambitious warriors who fought epic battles in the centuries before Christ. We are proud to be the publisher of this fine historical novel. Robert Fletcher, CEO of Strategic Book Publishing and Rights Agency A PYRRHIC VICTORY: VOLUME I, THE SHAPING OF DESTINY (ISBN: 978-1-60911914-0) is now available for $19.50 and can be ordered through the publishers website: http://www.sbprabooks.com/IanCrouch or at your favorite book seller. WHOLESALERS: This book is distributed by Ingram Books and other wholesale distributors. Contact your representative with the ISBN for purchase. Wholesale purchase for retailers, universities, libraries, and other organizations is also available through the publisher; please email bookorder@sbpra.net. Hello, dictator! said Jean-Claude Juncker cheerily to Hungarys leader, Victor Orban, at a European Union summit meeting a couple of years ago. The president of the European Commission was only joking, of course, but it was gallows humour. Dictatorship was clearly where Orban was heading and now he has arrived. Last week the Hungarian parliament passed a new law, allegedly to deal with the coronavirus crisis. It declares a state of emergency and allows Orban to rule by decree for the duration of the crisis but it doesnt say when that state of emergency will end. That will be decided by the man who has just been granted supreme power. Orbans spokesperson, Zoltan Kovacs, helpfully explained that Just as in wartime, a state of emergency could extend until the end of hostilities. Today we confront not a military power, but are in a warlike state to defend our people against a pandemic the likes of which we have not seen in a century. Never waste the opportunity offered by a good crisis, as Machiavelli allegedly said 500 years ago. So is what we are seeing in Hungary now the tip of the iceberg? Will governments in other democracies whose leaders have dictatorial ambitions use the coronavirus crisis as an excuse to give themselves absolute powers? Will Rodrigo Duterte take emergency powers to get around the one-term Filipino presidential limit that obliges him to quit in two years time? Will Narendra Modi copy Indira Gandhis 1975 Emergency and set up as the temporary dictator of India? Will Recep Tayyip Erdogan destroy what remains of Turkeys democracy to save himself if his popularity declines further? For that matter, will Donald Trump use the great wave of American coronavirus deaths in the coming months and an alleged threat of mass disorder as an excuse for postponing the November election, especially if his prospects for re-election are not looking bright? Its a toss-up with Duterte, who is responsible for so many murders that he can never safely retire. But for the rest, the answer is almost certainly no. Both Modi and Erdogan have created solid blocs of religious supporters who practically guarantee their political futures (at great cost to the unity and future prospects of their respective countries). They dont need to destroy democracy to survive. As for Trump, whose base is too narrow to assure him a political victory in November if other elements of his victorious 2016 coalition defect, he doesnt really have the option of cancelling the election. Americans loyalty to their ancient constitution is still too strong to let that happen. Which leaves us, then, with the question of why Orban is going to such political extremes when he already had all the power he could possibly want. He has already fiddled the constitution so that his party can win a two-thirds majority of the seats in parliament on only 44 per cent of the votes. Hungary is effectively a one-party state, and the media and the judges both serve Orbans Fidesz Party, not the general public. He even had a state of emergency in place already, declared in 2016 during the great refugee flood of that year (though none of the refugees came to Hungary), and he has never rescinded it. True, he can now hand out five-year prison sentences to Hungarians who spread false information, but the courts were already giving his critics multiple shorter sentences if they got too noisy. Why go to this extra trouble when it might even tip the EU into expelling Hungary as a non-democratic country (although I wouldnt hold my breath on that one)? I once spent a day with Orban in Budapest, when we were both much younger men. He was a student leader who had just got famous for defying the Communists with a fiery nationalist speech, and I had spent the summer in the Soviet Union interviewing the emerging democratic opposition. (We were introduced by Hungarian-born philanthropist George Soros, then Orbans mentor and later a prime target of his rabid anti-Semitism.) We had much to talk about, and I enjoyed his company. What struck me, though, was that he really thought like a lawyer. Maybe a radical one, and certainly later a corrupt one, but a lawyer by character and by training. So maybe what hes doing now is just tidying up the law. Hungary was already a dictatorship in practice. Now its also one in theory. At around midnight Monday morning, seven night shift nurses at Sinai-Grace Hospital in Detroit were sent home after refusing to work in unsafe, understaffed conditions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Sinai-Grace, the largest of eight hospitals in the for-profit Detroit Medical Center, has been inundated with COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. Michigan now ranks as the US state with the third highest number of cases after New York and New Jersey, with most cases and deaths centered in the Metro Detroit region encompassing Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. These three counties have a combined 12,556 cases and 539 deaths, numbers which are forecast to rise rapidly over the coming weeks, and which have already strained many hospitals to the breaking point. The city of Detroit alone suffered 38 deaths from COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the citys death toll to 167, including three nurses (aged 40, 53 and 72) and a 37-year-old surgeon. Five of the nurses outside Sinai-Grace Hospital A video recorded by one of the nurses, Sal, makes clear that the small group of nurses were sent home after engaging in a sit-in protest in their break room, standing up for their rights and safety. The nurses protest comes amid a wave of wildcat strikes and protests that have erupted internationally in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the demands of the ruling classes that nonessential workers continue to work to generate profit, while essential workers, including health care, food processing and delivery workers, risk their lives without adequate protection. In the Detroit region alone, wildcat strikes have erupted involving autoworkers, city bus drivers, and Amazon warehouse workers. The video filmed by Sal has gone viral within hours of being posted. As of this writing, it has already been viewed over 125,000 times, shared over 6,750 times, and garnered over 3,500 reactions and over 4,200 comments. A separate post of the video has been viewed over 75,000 times and shared 1,800 times, with over 750 reactions and over 550 comments. In the video, Sal states, We were told to leave because we refused to accept unsafe patient loads. Another nurse adds, Twenty-five patients to one nurse! Sal comments, This is the amount of nurses we have for the night shift, pointing to the six nurses on camera, with one other nurse still inside on orientation. He continues, they want us to go out there and accept 68 patients, multiple [patients requiring ventilators], and so everybody left. We were told to basically leave. One nurse approaches the camera and angrily states that management werent even willing to put on scrubs and help us. It was youre not getting any more staffyou can leave the premises. Another nurse summarizes the position of management as saying, You aint gotta go home, but you got to get the hell out of here! A nurse states emphatically, Something needs to change. You have to make a stand at some point to get a change. Nurses on the previous day shift, who began working at 7 a.m. Sunday, were kept on the job after the night shift workers were told to leave. One nurse suggests that they start calling day shift to get out. Later on, a nurse reports that she FaceTimed a day shift nurse, who said, all of day shift loves you all forever. Near the end of the video, Sal explains in more detail what happened, stating, They sent us home because we refused to come out. Since 7 p.m., weve been in the break room, trying to tell them we need more staff for tonight, because its unsafe. They came in and asked what our demands were, and we said we only need staff, pool people if you can. After four hours, they told us they cant pool nobody and nobody else is coming in. What do you all want to do? Either go out or go home. So, I mean, we have to take a stand at some point. At another point in the video, Sal states, Sinai-Grace is like the epicenter for this coronavirus. Weve had three straight weeks with over 110 patients, and an average of 12-14 nurses. At night, that drops down to about eight nurses, and weve been accepting that and working hard. But tonight, it was the breaking point for us, because we cannot safely take care of your loved ones out here with just six, seven nurses, with multiple people on [ventilators], multiple people on drips. Its not right. He continues, We had two nurses the other day with 26 patients, with 10 [that needed ventilators], and nobody was out here to help them. Its not acceptable. Multiple nurses reiterate, Its not acceptable, while one states emphatically, We want the public to know, were fighting for you all! which is seconded by another, Were fighting for you all and your loved ones! When Ty, the final night shift nurse, exits the building, one nurse shouts to him, Fight the power! Two more nurses exit the building during the video, including one that had volunteered to help from another hospital, who was told to go home by management without explanation. Another nurse, Phil, was also sent home without explanation, and Sal says that it was his second day back after testing positive for COVID-19. On the Facebook video, there has been a flood of comments in support of the victimized nurses. One commenter, Jimmian, wrote, Horrible. For both the staff and the patients. I dont blame the staff one bit. It is impossible to expect them to take care of that many patients. Heartbreaking for both sides. Victorria, a nurse from Texas, wrote: 25 patients! There is absolutely NO way 1 nurse can take care of 25 patients. That is insane! All of the nurse managers, assistant nurse managers directors, educators, supervisors, case managers, anyone with an RN license in that hospital should be in scrubs with a patient assignment BEFORE any nurse is given a double-digit patient assignment! Leilani wrote, Sorry to see it come down to this but any nurse who works ICU knew it was coming! I support you in Wisconsin. Another commenter, Meghan, said, Management didnt put on scrubs and help?? that is horrifying. Jamie commented, These nurses stood up to the administrators and demanded a safer working environment for both staff and patients. I feel horrible for the day shift. But the conditions these brave nurses were working with was costing lives and exposing them to unnecessary dangers. The struggle of Detroit nurses is the latest in a series of protests by nurses and other health care workers across the US in the face of a gross lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), testing kits, ventilators and trained staff to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Nurses Union (NNU) reports that only 19 percent of nurses in the US have enough PPE to protect staff and patients, while only 52 percent have access to N95 respirators nationwide, a product of the subordination of health care to the profit motive. Multiple nurses across the US have been fired for protesting these conditions and speaking to the media. Beaumont Health, the largest health care system in Michigan, implemented a new policy on Friday which mandates that any health care worker who refuses to work with COVID-19 patients will be terminated and ineligible for future employment. The only exception made is for those with underlying conditions. On Sunday, Beaumont also announced that theyve begun disinfecting and reusing N95 face masks for those treating COVID-19 patients, in violation of basic safety protocols. As of Sunday, Beaumont health care workers have been caring for 1,074 confirmed COVID-19 patients. Detroit, one of the poorest large cities in America, is also slated to become a testing ground for clinical trials on the use of the anti-malarial drug, hydroxychloroquine, which Donald Trump has repeatedly and falsely touted as a miracle drug to relieve symptoms of COVID-19. At the White House press conference Sunday, Vice President Mike Pence announced that Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit will begin a 3,000-person study on the use of hydroxychloroquine, which can cause a heart arrythmia that can lead to cardiac arrest, as well as psychiatric symptoms and other serious side effects. In an effort to cushion the sufferings of the Physically Challenged Persons sequel to the stay at home directives, Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (YOSEMA) has distributed food items to some members in Damaturu. The distribution which was spearheaded by the Executive Secretary of Yobe state SEMA, Dr. Mohammed Goje had beneficiaries from over 150 families or households. Dr. Goje said the support was aimed at minimizing begging on the streets and at gatherings to avoid social risk of spread of COVID -19. He added that the support was also part of Governor Bunis administrative drive towards cushioning the sufferings of the Physically Challenged Persons as they abide by the sit at home directives against the spread of Covid-19 Pandemic. The Executive Secretary further noted that those who engage in petty trading and begging in some cases, are usually first hit and worse hit during the lockdown while considering Damaturu, the state capital as one of the high risk COVID-19 LGA as the door to door food support was extended to the physical challenged persons Those who benefited were in Nayi-nawa, Pompomari, Gwange, Fulatari, Ganye-uku, Bindigari-Pawari, Tsohon Kasuwa, Sabon pegi and Ajari areas of Damaturu and food Items distributed to the beneficiaries include Rice, Cooking oil, Maize,Tin Tomatoes, Salt and Beans among others. The leader of the Physically Challenged Persons , North East Chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Comrade Mohammed Abba Isa expressed gratitude and appreciation to Governor Buni's gestures and assured him of their continuous support to all government policies and programmes including campaigns against the spread and prevention of Covid19. Isa also prayed for the progress and Development of state and Nigeria at large. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram On April 1, 2020, officers of Algerias National Gendarmerie arrested three employees of the privately owned Essawt El-Akhar daily newspaper and interrogated them about a story the paper published that day about the COVID-19 pandemic, according to news reports and Abdelrahman Saleh, the employees lawyer, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app. Officers detained reporter Meriem Cherfi, publications manager Rafik Mouhoub, and editor-in-chief Mohamed Lamari for about two hours at the gendarmerie headquarters in Algiers before releasing them without charge, according to Saleh. The three were interrogated about an article in Essawt El-Akhar alleging that the Pasteur Institute in Algiersthe main state facility dedicated to studying COVID-19 in the cityhad published incorrect test results from patients with the virus, according to Saleh and those news reports. On April 2, a national prosecutor at the Sidi MHamed Criminal Court in Algiers charged Cherfi, Mouhoub, and Lamari with committing an attack on national unity through their work at the newspaper, an offense under the criminal code, Saleh said. If convicted, the three could each face up to 10 years in prison, according to Saleh and those reports. The national prosecutor requested the three remain in detention, but the judge ordered them to be released under judicial supervision until the end of the investigation, Saleh told CPJ. He said the Essawt El-Akhar staffers are barred from traveling abroad and are required to present themselves to the judge every week. He said the investigation may take between four and eight months. The judge can replace the judicial supervision order with a prison sentence at any time, Saleh told CPJ. CPJ emailed the Algerian Ministry of Justice and the Pasteur Institute of Algiers for comment, but did not immediately receive any replies. On March 25, a judge in Algiers replaced the judicial supervision of Algerian journalist Khaled Drareni with a prison sentence, as CPJ documented at the time. Millennials entered the workforce in the turmoil of a financial crisis. Now, just as we are finding our feet, realising our career potential, and starting our own families, we are being brought to our knees. Theres the idea of a generational bargain an implicit contract between generations to help their elders and those who come next. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the generational bargain into focus. As a society we have asked a generation of young, working age people to put their dreams on hold to slow the progress of a virus thats more likely to seriously affect older Australians. Meanwhile, the sectors hardest hit by the governments shutdown disproportionately affect young people and, unlike the Baby Boomer generation, Millennials do not have the asset base to weather this storm. Economists at the Grattan Institute have found that households headed by someone aged 65-74 have an average equivalised net wealth of $1 million today, up from about $600,000 just 12 years ago. Meanwhile, younger households have made barely any gains compared to a household of the same age 12 years ago. We are giving up our freedoms, having our wages lowered, losing our jobs all for the lives of a generation outraged at the thought of losing their precious franking credits. The nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spread of novel coronavirus is forcing tipplers in the city to shell out a hefty overcharge to buy liquor in the black market. Liquor outlets and bars are shut in West Bengal since March 25. In areas like Salt Lake and Dumdum, foreign and country-made liquor is being sold several times the MRP. "I went to Salt Lake to buy liquor in the black market. They are charging at least Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 more for each bottle depending on the brand of the liquor," Arup Mazumdar, an employee of a private firm, said. Taking advantage of the situation, people selling liquor in the black market are charging a hefty price, a buyer in Dumdum said. West Bengal Foreign Liquor, Country spirit, OFF and ON Hotel Owners' Association secretary Gautam Mukherjee said, "We have told our members to abide by the government guidelines. We will wait for the government to allow the liquor shops to reopen." "Whatever the bootleggers are doing is a social crime and we urge the government to take strict action against them. The closure of liquor outlets and bars is important in the present situation," he said. The monthly consumption of foreign liquor in West Bengal is one crore bulk litre and that of country-made liquor is 1.2 crore bulk litre, Mukherjee said. One bulk litre is equivalent to 12 litres, he said. In West Bengal, there are more than 2,000 'OFF' shops or liquor outlets, 1,400 bars and 500 'ON' shops were food is served along with liquor, besides 1,000 outlets selling only country-made liquor, Mukherjee added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Paris, April 7 : France reported 833 more coronavirus deaths, bringing the total to 8,911, while infections, both confirmed in hospitals and "confirmed or possible" cases from nursing homes, jumped to 98,010. The number of patients who lost their lives because of the respiratory illness in the country's hospitals rose to 6,494, up 605. The counting by retirement homes found that there were 2,417 deaths since March 1, said Health Minister Olivier Veran at a daily briefing on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported. A total of 74,390 people have been tested positive for coronavirus since the start of the epidemic. That was up from 70,478 confirmed on Sunday. The number of "confirmed or possible" cases in nursing homes was at 23,620, up by 5.6 percent. The minister announced a vast screening operation targeting elderly people in medico-social establishments in order to curb the number of deaths among the most vulnerable. Among the 29,752 hospitalized patients, 7,072 were in intensive care units. In the past 24 hours, 94 new cases required life support compared with 140 on Sunday. Veran hailed medical caregivers' mobilization which helped overcome the epidemic, noting that the coronavirus crisis "is changing the hospital situation." "This health crisis reflects the need to reinvent the model of hospital which needs to be better-equipped to manage crisis of this extent," he said. When the epidemic began last month, French government had decided on a batch of measures to halt the virus spread. It ordered a country-wide shutdown of all the public institutions and museums, suspended sporting events and closed non-essential facilities. Under a lockdown imposed on March 17, people have been forced to stay at home, except for trips for purposes of work, health needs or shopping of necessities. "The confinement impact is notable in the territories where the virus spreads a lot...In France, we are starting to feel (its effects). We believe that confinement saves lives," Veran said. However, he warned that the epidemic "is not over" and "there is still a long way ahead." "We are not at the end of the epidemic ascent. We must continue mobilization by staying at home," the minister stressed. Capt. Brett Crozier, the Navy captain who was removed from command of the coronavirus-stricken aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, has tested positive for COVID-19, according to two Naval Academy classmates of Crozier's who are close to him and his family. A Navy spokesman declined to comment on Crozier's COVID status. The commander began exhibiting symptoms before he was removed from the warship Thursday, two of his classmates said. Crozier was fired following a leak to The San Francisco Chronicle of a letter he had emailed to Navy leaders that detailed the failures on the service's part to provide the necessary resources to swiftly move sailors off the carrier and disinfect areas on board as the virus spread through the ship. Thomas Modly, the acting secretary of the Navy, said he had lost confidence in Crozier's ability to command the ship effectively as it dealt with the evolving crisis after Crozier sent the letter on an unclassified email system to 20 to 30 people. Sending such a letter, Modly said, caused unnecessary alarm about the operational readiness of the ship and undermined the chain of command. "In sending it out pretty broadly, he did not take care to ensure that it couldn't be leaked," Modly said. "And that's part of his responsibility." In a briefing Saturday, President Donald Trump offered support for Modly's decision. "He shouldn't be talking that way in a letter," the president said of Crozier. "I thought it was terrible what he did." Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union" that there were 155 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among sailors aboard the aircraft carrier and that more than half of the ship had been tested. So far there have been no hospitalizations. "There is an investigation ongoing," Esper said of Crozier's actions. "All the services at times relieve commanders without the benefit of an investigation up front because they've lost confidence in them. It's certainly not unique to the Navy." The news of Crozier's diagnosis is likely to fuel further skepticism of the Navy's handling of the carrier outbreak, which has already received notable criticism from the rank and file. On Friday, videos circulated showing hundreds of sailors aboard the Roosevelt cheering for Crozier as he disembarked the ship. Memes depicting the Navy captain rescuing his sailors from a burning building over saving his own career sprouted up across social media. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Crozier's firing has also raised concerns with Democratic lawmakers. In a statement, the Democratic leaders of the House Armed Services Committee condemned his removal, although they acknowledged that Crozier might have made missteps in his handling of the situation. "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. "Throwing the commanding officer overboard without a thorough investigation is not going to solve the growing crisis aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt," the lawmakers added. On Sunday, former Vice President Joe Biden expressed criticism of the Navy's actions on ABC's "This Week," saying, "I think it's close to criminal the way they're dealing with this guy." "I think he should have a commendation rather than be fired," Biden added. The virus has made British Prime Minister Boris Johnson sick. Has it done the same for his style of politics? Right-wing populism powered Johnson, like Donald Trump, to the very top. But the new coronavirus has not only incapacitated Johnson, who's now hospitalised as a "precautionary" measure. It's also testing that style of politics which is essentially a revolt against elites and experts. "I don't know whether Johnson's condition is an omen," says Robin Archer, a political sociologist at the London School of Economics. "But there's meaning for populism, the whole thing of experts being denounced and traduced. There's no anti-elite answer to COVID-19 it's doctors and scientists who are the people that count." Illustration: Andrew Dyson Credit: "What's striking about Johnson," says Archer, "is that what worked for him before the crisis doesn't work any more. His jocular, 'don't take me too seriously, it's all a bit of a joke' approach is completely useless in a crisis." When Johnson started to take the crisis seriously, the British people cheered him on. The tougher the measures, the higher his approval rating. In the US, however, Francis Fukuyama isn't so sure that right-wing populism has reached its expiry date. Even as the number of dead Americans approaches 10,000. "Political partisanship tribalism here is so strong that a lot of people are acting contrary to their own, individual self-interest," says the world's most famous living political philosopher and author of The End of History and the Last Man. He describes it as American "cognitive dissonance" on a mass scale. Mumbai, April 6 : Outbreak of Covid-19 decelerated the growth of India's service sector activity in March, an economic data point showed on Monday. Accordingly, the IHS Markit India Services Business Activity Index fell to 49.3 in March, down from February's 85-month high of 57.5. An index reading of above 50 indicates an overall increase in economic activity and below 50, an overall decrease. "The global COVID-19 pandemic reportedly led to a fall in new orders from clients, particularly overseas. That said, the decrease in output was mild overall. March data were collected between March 12-27," IHS Markit PMI report said. Similarly, deceleration in manufacturing production with a slowdown in services activity dipped the growth slows to marginal pace in March. Consequently, the Composite Output Index fell to 50.6 in March, down seven points from February's 57.6 "to signal a sharp slowdown in private sector output growth and bringing an abrupt end to the recent strong upward-moving expansion trend". The index is a weighted average of the Manufacturing Output Index and the Services Business Activity Index. Commenting on the latest survey results, Joe Hayes, Economist at IHS Markit, said: "Strong growth momentum seen so far in 2019 was halted in March as demand conditions deteriorated, particularly overseas, leading to a reduction in business activity." "Clearly, the worse is yet to come as nationwide store closures and prohibition to leave the house will weigh heavily on the services economy, as has been seen elsewhere in the world. Pressure now fully lies on the government to combat the economic challenges the lockdown will cause." New Delhi: About 40,000 crew and seafarers stranded on cargo and cruise vessels across the globe are awaiting return to Indian shores, with the government assuring to extend help once the nationwide lockdown on account of coronavirus outbreak is lifted, maritime bodies have said. There are about 15,000 seafarers onboard about 500 cargo vessels across the globe, and another 25,000 on cruise ships. Maritime bodies like NUSI, MUI and MASSA said that they have raised the issue with the Shipping Ministry, which has assured to extend all possible help for return of these seafarers after the lockdown is lifted. "It is estimated that around 40,000 Indian seafarers are stranded on cargo and cruise vessels across the globe and are waiting to come back home since their job contracts have expired," said Capt Shiv Halbe, CEO of Maritime Association of Shipowners, Shipmanagers and Agents (MASSA). He said the issue was raised before Shipping Minister Mansukh Lal Manadaviya, who assured their safe passage back home once the lockdown is lifted. "However, the minister said that the seafarers will need to be tested and then quarantined or isolated," he added. Maritime Union of India (MUI) General Secretary Amar Singh Thakur said, "The minister agreed that there is a need to treat seafarers as 'essential workers' and to provide smooth relief facilities in ports. Their welfare should be looked after whilst they are onboard and in transit." National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) General Secretary Abdulgani Serang said, "I assured the minister that NUSI will certainly do the needful to financially support Indian seafarers in the current scenario when Indian economy is passing through a rough phase due to pandemic across the globe." He said NUSI has earmarked a corpus of Rs 10 crore to support retired Indian seafarers, disabled seafarers, widows of seafarers and jobless seafarers who have been out of job for the past nine months. India has 12 major ports Deendayal (erstwhile Kandla), Mumbai, JNPT, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Kamarajar (earlier Ennore), V.O. Chidambaranar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia). The 2020 Beijing Auto Show was postponed until late September due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. Original scheduled for April 21 to 30, the event will take place between September 26 and October 5. The delay was announced by Beijing event organizers, who claim that the event will be held this autumn. "In light of the serious challenges posted by the COVID-19 pandemic, after close consultation with the relevant parties, we, on behalf of the Organizing Committee of the 2020 (16th) Beijing International Automobile Exhibition (AUTO CHINA 2020), have decided to postpone the auto show which was initially planned at the new and old venues of China International Exhibition Center (CIEC) in April this year so as to effectively protect the health and safety of exhibitors and spectators. The AUTO CHINA 2020 is rescheduled to the following date September 26 to October 5, 2020," the organizers said on April 3. Unlike in Europe and the United States, where the virus continues to spread rapidly, the situation in China seems under control with only a few cases reported daily. The epicenter of the epidemic a month ago, China has now fallen behind the United States, Spain, Italy, and Germany in terms of confirmed cases. The number of deaths are also far below those from Italy and Spain. Whats more, of the 82,509 cases confirmed as of April 3, 76,760 have recovered. On the flipside, there are reports that claim China may have underreported COVID-19 cases. For now, China has started to come back to life, as many areas have been reopened for movement and commerce. But fears of a second wave of coronavirus infections are still strong and a second outbreak could cancel this years Beijing Auto Show. Previously a lesser auto show that revolved mainly on local brands and vehicles from big brands built in China, the Beijing Auto Show is now almost as important as key shows from Europe and North America. In 2018 (Beijing is a biennial event), it hosted debuts for important cars like the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, BMW M2 Competition, Lexus ES, and Volkswagen Touareg. This trend will likely continue as China is the largest car market in the world. [April 06, 2020] Hagens Berman: Passenger Files Class-Action Lawsuit Against United Airlines for Denying Ticket Refund Following Coronavirus-Related Flight Cancellation A passenger has filed a class-action lawsuit against United Airlines for refusing to honor his ticket refund request after his family's flight was cancelled, according to attorneys at Hagens Berman. Like so many other U.S. ticket holders who had their travel cancelled due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus, the lawsuit's plaintiff received a voucher in lieu of a refund, which he would not be able to use due to employment restrictions also related to COVID-19. If an airline denied your refund request after your flight was cancelled due to the outbreak, find out more about the lawsuit and your rights. According to the lawsuit filed Apr. 6, 2020 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, United refuses to issue monetary refunds to passengers with cancelled flights, despite their being entitled to a refund if the airline cancelled a flight regardless of the reason. United is only offering its customers vouchers that expire in one year or the opportunity to rebook on another flight. Following travel restrictions, lockdowns and shelter-in-place orders due to COVID-19, within a span of seven days in March 2020, United changed its refund policy four times regarding passenger rights when flights are altered. In January 2020, the suit's plaintiff and his family had purchased flights from Minneapolis to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina in late March of the same year. As a police officer, the case's plaintiff was immediately impacted by the local state of emergency issued in his city, thus causing his department's administration to cancel all vacations and adopt modified schedules for police officers. This rendered United's offered voucher unusable and a rebooking a non-option. When he requested a refund in light of these circumstances, United denied it. "Our nation and the world are facing a crisis of unprecedented proportions, ad to the public's collective disappointment, airlines are using this as an opportunity to put their profits first," said Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman and attorney consumers in the class action. "So many airline ticketholders are in the same position as our plaintiff, left with no ticket, no refund and no recourse. We're here to fight for their rights under the law to an honest refund of their ticket price, and force airlines to follow the rules." "A pandemic does not give license to corporations to take advantage of their customers," Berman added. "All citizens are currently under economic uncertainty due to the pandemic, and the least United could do would be to issue the monetary refund its customers are entitled to." Nearly 9 in 10 Americans are now subject to a travel restriction, all in an effort to protect the health and welfare of the nation during this public health emergency. "United has slashed its flight schedules, resulting in thousands of flight cancellations for thousands more passengers. But such passengers face additional hardship for booking their flights with United," the lawsuit states. "As United announced flight cancellations (combined with decreased domestic bookings), United took a variety of steps to make it difficult, if not impossible, for consumers to receive any refund on pandemic cancelled flights. It does so despite consumers' right to receive a refund for unused transportation, even for non-refundable tickets." The lawsuit against United seeks refunds for class members for the amount paid for airline tickets, punitive damages and an injunction directing United to issue refunds for cancelled flights. United's Changing Refund Policy On Mar. 7, 2020, the same day the World Health Organization reported that there were now more than 100,000 cases of COVID-19 in 94 countries, United altered its policy to require a flight time change of at least 25 hours to receive a refund, according to the lawsuit. "Yet after consumers complained, it tried out two more policies, a vague March 10 policy permitting refunds only if 'departure or arrival time significantly changes,' followed by a March 12 policy permitting refunds only if the flight is moved by more than six hours," the lawsuit states. "More recently, on March 14, the company settled on its current policy of credits, not refunds - even with six-hour-plus changes - until a year has passed from the original date of purchase, at which time a refund may be issued." "Airlines are set to receive a hefty bailout for their share of the unforeseen hardships the pandemic has caused, to the tune of $58 billion," Berman said. "And yet, United and other airlines, are leaving their customers helpless, adding one more worry to a seemingly endless list. We expect better, and legally we believe United is obligated to change its behavior." The lawsuit states that members of Congress have also called upon United to issue refunds, and United's failure to do so may violate regulations under the Department of Transportation. The suit brings counts under the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act and other state consumer protection acts, and accuses United of unjust enrichment, among other causes of action. Find out more about the class-action lawsuit against United. About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP is a consumer-rights class-action law firm with nine offices across the country. The firm's tenacious drive for plaintiffs' rights has earned it numerous national accolades, awards and titles of "Most Feared Plaintiff's Firm," and MVPs and Trailblazers of class-action law. More about the law firm and its successes can be found at www.hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005707/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Le Meridien Saigon is offering delicious takeaway dishes for those isolating themselves at home Healthy eating should be a priority of life but with a tight schedule, time to cook is becoming a luxury. You are what you eat! Now with plenty of time at home, it is time to get back to the kitchen! If you have zero cooking skills, Le Meridien Saigon is here for you with a full menu of sumptuous dishes ready to takeaway every day at G Floor. A wide variety of menu items from Vietnamese dishes such as beef pho soup, grilled-pork banh mi, and broken rice to Western food like lobster pasta, rye bread tuna sandwiches, baby spinach salad, or pumpkin soup are freshly prepared and ready for you to take out and enjoy with your loved ones! COVID-19 rates showing signs of decline as 102 cases found THAILAND: The country recorded 102 new COVID-19 infections and three deaths yesterday (April 5), although the rate of infections in Bangkok may be on the decline, according to the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). CoronavirusCOVID-19healthSafety By Bangkok Post Monday 6 April 2020, 08:45AM A sign announcing the closure of the temple ubosot or ordination hall due to the COVID-19 pandemic is seen at Wat Don Muang in Bangkok. Buddhists usually pay their respects to the Buddha statue inside the hall during a visit. Photo: Apichit Jinakukl The number of imported cases, meanwhile, was no more than 10 per day. Most of them were from people who had travelled from Europe, said CCSA spokesman Taweesin Visanuyothin. Three new COVID-19 deaths were reported yesterday, bringing the death toll to 23, while the accumulated number of infections rose to 2,169, including the 674 people who have recovered, he said. The first of the three deaths reported yesterday was a 46-year-old Thai man who had returned from London on March 22, admitted to a hospital with COVID-19 symptoms on March 25 and died on Friday, Dr Taweesin said. The second death was an 82-year-old Swiss man with a history of heart disease and high blood pressure, who two weeks ago attended a party in Hua Hin district of Prachuap Khiri Khan and another party at a bar and restaurant on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok on March 29, Dr Taweesin said. This patient was admitted to a private hospital in Prachuap Khiri Khan on March 31 with a high fever, high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat and fatigue, said Dr Taweesin, adding doctors first thought he had pneumonia and acute heart failure. The patient was later referred to another private hospital in neighbouring Phetchaburi on April 1, where he died the following day, Dr Taweesin said. The third death was a 30-year-old Thai construction worker with a drinking habit who had travelled from the southern province of Phatthalung to work in the northeastern province of Surin on March 20, Dr Taweesin said. On March 29, he fell ill with COVID-19 symptoms. He was then rushed to Prasat Hospital in Surin on April 2 and later died, Dr Taweesin said. The new 102 confirmed cases fall into three groups patients with close contact to the people with COVID-19 virus, patients who have recently returned from abroad and patients whose sources of infection are under investigation, of which there are 12, Dr Taweesin said. Of the new 102 infections, most of them were in Bangkok and Phuket, 34 and 24 respectively, he said. However, Dr Taweesin added infection trends in Bangkok are showing signs of declining, while those in the provinces are starting to level off. To date, the average COVID-19 mortality rate in Thailand stood at 0.97%. From our experience in the past three to four months, just one or two infected people who had returned from overseas could spread the virus to a huge number of people, he said. He said this has been known to happen to recent returnees who showed no fever and had medical certificates declaring them fit to fly. This is why the standard 14-day quarantine period is recommended, Dr Taweesin said. Former F1 boss Ron Dennis has launched a scheme to deliver one million 'restaurant quality' meals to NHS frontline staff during the coronavirus outbreak. Appearing on Good Morning Britain via video link from his home in Virginia Water, Surrey, Mr Dennis, 72, explained he had been inspired into action by his anaesthetist daughter, Dr Charlotte Hall, who is unable to work on COVID-19 wards for health reasons but wanted to do something to help her colleagues. Multimillionaire racing mogul Mr Dennis said the meals will be delivered via courier to intensive care care staff, anaesthetic teams and A&E workers who are unable to leave their clinical areas during shifts. He has donated 1million to the project. Charlotte, who also appeared via video link, explained that she 'had to do something from home' and so enlisted her father to help create the initiative. Former F1 chief Ron Dennis appeared on on Good Morning Britain today where he spoke about launching a major initiative pledging one million to feed medical staff across the country His daugher Dr. Charlotte Hall, explained that she was too high risk to work in the hospital, but knew she 'had to do something from home' She said: 'I'm not actually in the hospital at the moment, but I have constant contact with my peers and colleagues and it is incredibly tough. 'I'd love to be standing next to them, but I cant due to health reasons, so Ive had to do something from home instead, which is why we've created this.' Food deliveries will be carried out by courier Yodel and will go to workers unable to leave their zones during their 12-hour shifts, which is a policy used in all Covid-19 designated hospitals. Speaking of the initiative, Mr Dennis said: 'I decided with my children, who are part of my foundation, to really step up to the plate and contact chief executives that I know throughout business. The multimillionaire racing mogul told host Piers Morgan he will deliver 'restaurant quality' food to intensive care care staff, anaesthetic teams and A&E workers who are unable to leave their clinical areas during shifts Charlotte told host Susanna Reid she is teaching online classes to other medical staff, as well as enlisting her father to help create the initiative 'We set a huge target one million meals in three months and and built in ten days one of the biggest infrastructures, with unique abilities. 'We work with the hospital and identify those who are physically ill, we will be delivering to their doors through Yodel a five day food pack. 'All of the key frontliners, are clinically held in their areas so they cannot move between normal hospital rooms. They can't go to the restaurant so we are taking the restaurant to them. 'We are delivering food to the wards, they are being distributed the NHS charity limited and we're delivering to a particular point a food dinner pack to take home.' Charlotte went on to say that doctors are working through 'unprecedented and uncharted times'. Charlotte went on to say that doctors are working through 'unprecedented and uncharted times' 'The issues are that this is unprecedented and uncharted time everyone is working incredibly hard. 'Their hours have increased and they have families and are concerned about their families and we're taking small things like meal planning away, so they can eat on shift .' Speaking of her online anesthetist classes she said: 'All of them go through a period of working through intensive care. 'Being stuck at home,I had to do something. So Im teaching a crash course in intensive care through online tutorials.' By Laman Ismayilova Azerbaijani and Georgian artists are preparing for international symposium organized by the Cyprus Museum of Modern Art. Inspired by the fight against coronavirus, the art project brought together incredibly talented national artists Asmar Narimanbayova, Aysel Mirgasimova, Rena Amrahova as well as Georgian artists Ketevan Shalamberidze, Irina Lavrinenko and David Mkheidze. In the following video, world-famous artist Asmar Narimanbayova provides insight into the upcoming event, held during the quarantine regime. Asmar Narimanbayova lives and works in two cities - Paris and her native Baku. The artist grew up in the atmosphere of love to art, music and literature. Her father Togrul Narimanbayov was the world-famous Azerbaijani artist and her mother Elmira Huseynova was a sculptor. Narimanbayova is distinguished by her bold and unique art works. The artist thrills art connoisseurs with her vibrant paintings in different styles, including impressionism, postimpressionism, cubism and others. Narimanbayovas works are displayed at prestigious exhibitions, international festivals and symposiums all over the world. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz A solution to the COVID-19 epidemic is in sight. It is the combo used by South Korea, where people are back at work, to successfully stem its COVID-19 outbreak. It has three parts: (1) greatly expanded testing of those who could be infected and (2) effective treatment of the virus with a hydroxychloroquine-zinc cocktail, combined with (3) the product of American ingenuity: rapid development of vaccines. While these solutions might be thwarted by bureaucracy, progress is happening rapidly, and there are reasons why our collective Groundhog Day of staying at home every day while the economy falters and body counts grow could soon be over. Greatly Expanded Testing Testing is one key. South Korea did its testing for COVID-19 by setting up drive-through testing stations around the country. Sufficient tests are now available in the United States to make testing widespread, but it isn't happening. During President Trump's Coronavirus Task Force press conference on Tuesday, Vice President Mike Pence and Task Force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx discussed the problem: THE VICE PRESIDENT: On the subject of testing, we have now completed more than 1.1 million tests around the country. We're working very closely with governors around America to to assist them in drive-through and community testing centers[.] ... Abbott Laboratories is actually going to be producing 50,000 tests a day and distributing those around America. There's already the machines in some 18,000 different locations around the country, and they've told us they have several thousand on the shelf now[.] ... We're testing about 100,000 Americans a day. That'll continue to grow. It'll continue to accelerate[.] ... DR. BIRX: It is disappointing to me right now that we have about 500,000 capacity of Abbott tests that are not being utilized. So they are out. They're in the states. They're not being run and not utilized. Why aren't the tests being utilized? The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are standing in the way. On its website, the CDC has extremely restrictive criteria regarding who should be tested. The only ones with high priority are: Hospitalized patients. Those who are in long-term care facilities with symptoms. Those who are 65 years of age or older with symptoms. Those with underlying conditions with symptoms. First responders with symptoms. Additional people can receive testing, but only if resources allow. These include: Critical infrastructure workers with symptoms. Individuals who do not meet any of the above categories with symptoms. Health care workers and first responders. Individuals with mild symptoms in communities experiencing high COVID-19 hospitalizations. The CDC criteria must be eliminated immediately. A substantial line of infection spread involves people who don't have symptoms (yet) or have mild symptoms and can communicate the disease. Allowing the general public to access tests on a mass scale will help identify the many people with moderate, mild, or nonexistent symptoms who are now spreading the virus to others. But the CDC is not the only problem. On March 21, the FDA shut down the at-home testing for COVID-19, which was being conducted by several companies including Everlywell, Carbon Health, and Nurx. Some of those tests had already been submitted to FDA-approved COVID-19 labs when the FDA intervened, even forcing conducted tests to be thrown away without analysis. None of those companies has been permitted to resume at-home testing. President Trump, Dr. Deborah Birx, and the American people have a huge problem. The American people want tests to be available. Private companies would do the testing if permitted. There is a huge backlog of unused tests. Unfortunately, the CDC and FDA are standing in the way. Effective Treatment Greatly expanded testing would make it possible for anybody who suspects that he has COVID-19 to find out before he needs hospitalization. Those infected could be instructed to quarantine themselves at home and contact a primary care physician for the cure, such as the one developed by South Korea. Their hydroxychloroquine-zinc cocktail gave South Korea one of the best recovery rates from COVID-19 of any country in the world. Nevertheless, on its website, the CDC pretends the South Korean cure doesn't exist: Limited information is available to characterize the spectrum of clinical illness associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). No vaccine or specific treatment for COVID-19 is available; care is supportive. Dr. Vladimir Zelenko, a primary care physician who successfully treated the COVID-19 epidemic when it raged through a New York Hasidic community, noted in his interview with Mayor Giuliani that he adapted his hydroxychloroquine-zinc cocktail from the South Korean treatment. His prescription was the following: Hydroxychloroquine. 400mg first day and 200mg per day for four days Zinc. 220mg once daily for 5 days Zithromax. 500mg day for 5 days Nobody is sure why hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) works. Several mechanisms have been proposed, including "ACE2 cellular receptor inhibition, acidification of the surface of the cell membrane inhibiting fusion of the virus, and immunomodulation of cytokine release." Zelenko thinks that HCQ opens a channel into the human cell for the zinc to enter. Then the zinc slows the virus's reproduction, giving the body's immune system time to catch up. He added the antibiotic Zithromax to his cocktail in order to prevent secondary pneumonia infections. In an interview with Rabbi Katzin, Zelenko detailed his success rate. He had diagnosed 699 COVID-19 patients with the disease, some by lab result and others by their symptoms and the fact that they had been in contact with others who were infected. He didn't prescribe anything to those who were young and healthy, but he treated 200 of the others with his cocktail. His results were almost perfect: Zero deaths. Only four needing hospitalization for pneumonia. Only two needing hospitalization for intubation on a respirator. The hydroxychloroquine-zinc cocktail has contributed to South Korea having one of the lowest death ratios in the world. On April 2, according to worldometer.com data, South Korea had just 169 total deaths and 5,828 total recovered out of 9,976 total cases. Here is how South Korea's death ratios compared with the world as a whole: Deaths per 1,000 Recoveries. South Korea had 29 deaths per 1,000 recoveries as compared to 249 deaths per 1,000 recoveries in the world at large. Deaths per 1,000 Cases. South Korea had 17 deaths per 1,000 cases as compared to 52 deaths per 1,000 cases in the world at large. Many studies that found that HCQ and the closely related drug chloroquine (CQ) are effective against COVID 19. Only one small study with just 15 treated patients found no benefit. The successful studies include: The bureaucrats at the E.U., like those at the CDC, claim that HCQ is unproven. They are like the 1932 U.S. Public Health Service that conducted an infamous study of syphilis upon black men that left the control group untreated when effective treatment for the disease was available. E.U. countries have been among the hardest hit. France, Spain, and Italy are among the countries with the worst death ratios in the world: Deaths per 1,000 Recoveries. South Korea 29, Spain 387, France 433, Italy 761. Deaths per 1,000 Cases. South Korea 17, France 91, Spain 92, Italy 121. Vaccines and Prophylactics There are several vaccines that appear to work, including a promising vaccine that the University of Pittsburgh just developed and two U.S. vaccines that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is already testing. Pitt's vaccine researchers have led the world before, and one of us had the opportunity, while a child, to receive a groundbreaking experimental polio vaccine at their hands. Unfortunately, the NIH has already shown itself to be capable of slow-walking its testing and paperwork in line with one of their director (Anthony Fauci)'s claim that no vaccine could possibly be approved in less than a year. Fortunately, while waiting for the NIH to finally approve a vaccine, HCQ can function as a stopgap prophylactic. It just needs to be taken continuously by those who are at risk. In fact, the CDC has already approved HCQ for healthy people to take continuously while traveling in countries where malaria is present (but only for those countries in which the malaria virus has not yet developed resistance to HCQ). The bad news is that HCQ is already in short supply in the United States. But Mylan labs is starting a new production line in Morgantown, W.Va. that will come online this month. Peter Navarro, President Trump's national Defense Production Act policy coordinator, may need to intervene to get additional production lines going in order to avoid a shortage. Despite the many challenges, the good news is that there are lots of testing kits available that could be soon used. Mylan Labs will be turning out many additional HCQ pills that could be soon taken. And once HCQ is plentiful enough, it could be used by at-risk people as a prophylactic. The successful South Korean solution to the COVID-19 crisis could soon be implemented in the United States and augmented by the development of vaccines. The Richmans co-authored the 2014 book Balanced Trade, published by Lexington Books, and the 2008 book Trading Away Our Future, published by Ideal Taxes Association. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr. Deputies in Georgia are desperately searching for a 21-year-old woman who they say may be held against her will by a friend who is wanted for murder. The Butts County Sheriff's Office released a statement on Monday asking for the public's help in locating Autumn Keara Finlay, who they say 'is in extreme danger'. She is believed to be with 20-year-old Cody Bruce Matthews, who is being sought for charges of murder and aggravated assault. Officials in Butts County, Georgia, are looking for Autumn Finlay, 21 (left), who they believe is in extreme danger and may be held against her will by murder suspect Cody Matthews (right) It is believed that Matthews killed someone and took Finlay, who is a young mother of two, against her will. Matthews is accusing of shooting and killing William Ryan Ray, 30 (left), pictured above with his girlfriend The Sheriff's office has not released any details on the homicide connected to Matthews, but CBS46 reported that the killing took place on Sunday on Madison Avenue in Jackson. According to a separate report by Jackson Progress-Argus, a shooting was reported in the Jackson Glenn subdivision on Sunday afternoon that left one man dead. The victim was identified on Monday as William Ryan Ray, 30. Witnesses told deputies that several children were playing near a pool when gunshots rang out. Ray's girlfriend posted a message on Facebook on Sunday mourning his loss. 'My heart has been ripped out of my chest tonight I have lost the love of my life! I'm overwhelmed with all the love and prayers please pray for me my children and Ryan's family!' wrote Krista Tyler. Finlay's sister said Autumn last called her on Sunday, saying that she was not with Matthews but with another friend, but would not say who it was. The woman has two young children A woman who introduced herself on Facebook as Autumn's sister wrote in a post that the 21-year-old mother-of-two last called her on Sunday from a private number, saying she 'supposedly' was not with Matthews but with another friend, whom she refused to name, and said she was on her way home. 'Growing up we had a rule- it dont [sic] matter what you're doing someone HAS TO know who you're with and all she would say is she is with a friend. Wouldn't say who,' Chrichelle Wood wrote in a status update. 'Which makes me think it's him. 'And she has no reason to not be home by now if she was just somewhere with a friend. Something isnt [sic] right. I don't believe she is safe.' Matthews is considered armed and dangerous, according to the sheriff's office. An unspecified reward is being offered for information on his whereabouts. Anyone who comes across the suspect is being asked to call 911 immediately. STCs attempts to procure a $2 billion loan in order to acquire a stake in Vodafone Egypt have been put on hold due to the Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak. The Saudi operator reached a $2.4 billion agreement to acquire the UK-based Vodafone Groups 55% stake in its Egyptian unit. STC had been discussing a package with various banks in order to finance the deal. Bloomberg reported that STC wants the deal to proceed but the current global economic turmoil caused by the pandemic has forced it to shelve discussions around debt-based financing. STC may resume these talks in the future but is also looking into other avenues. STC and Vodafone expected the deal to close by the end of June 2020, although Vodafone Egypts minority shareholder Telecom Egypt suggested in February that there could be regulatory complications. The 45% stakeholder noted that the countrys Financial Regulatory Authority wanted STC to assume control over 100% of Vodafone Egypt and would therefore be unlikely to approve any other arrangement. A total of 714,000 people are now claiming unemployment benefits following a surge in claims for emergency support due to the coronavirus pandemic. There are now 507,000 people receiving the new Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment worth 350 a week following a government-ordered business shutdown. This is on top of 207,000 people who are on standard jobseekers benefits. In addition, 39,000 employers who have registered for a wage subsidy scheme to avoid laying off staff are receiving state support. Under the terms of the scheme, the government is paying 70pc of wages for employers whose income has fallen by 25pc. A further 23,800 applications for an enhanced lllness Benefit payment for those in self-isolation or diagnosed with the virus have been made. The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection said in a statement that the level of payments reflects the unprecedented demand for its income supports. An analysis of the 507,000 people receiving the emergency welfare payment shows that most 284,000 are men, while 223,000 are women. Read More The highest number of payments being made are to people in Dublin, at 147,100, followed by 52,500 to people in Cork, 27,300 in Galway, and 22,300 in Kildare. The lowest number of payments 3,500 are being made in Leitrim. The department said it has processed 583,000 applications for the pandemic unemployment payment and standard jobseekers payments since the emergency payment was launched on March 16. However, it said 19,000 people have asked to close their payment. The department said it has issued payments to 90pc of people who made claims but 46,000 were withheld for various reasons. It said among the reasons payments were not made included the fact that people were already receiving jobseekers payments or were still employed. The department said some had not been employed before claiming the payment or a wages subsidy was being paid in their name. Others were not resident in Ireland or had submitted incorrect details. The department is continuing to resolve any issues, such as invalid IBANS or PPSNs, with legitimate applications and is contacting the people concerned directly over the next few days, it said. We wish to remind people to take care when submitting applications, to ensure that critical information such as dates of birth, PPSN and IBANs are entered correctly. An IBAN has 22 characters and people should take care that it is entered correctly. One common mistake people are making for those with Bank of Ireland accounts. It said some customers when filling out the IBAN are using BO1 as opposed to BOI, causing their application to be rejected. Meanwhile, a Revenue spokesperson said it is processing refunds worth 14m as part of the wage subsidy scheme today, and the total value of payments made is 87m. Labour's new shadow chancellor handled her first big test in the role when her young daughter burst into the room during a live TV interview this morning. Anneliese Dodds argued on Sky News today that the coronavirus crisis has further exposed the need to properly fund public services and rebalance the economy. She said she wants to work 'constructively' with Chancellor Rishi Sunak in improving the Government's emergency packages, warning against any 'partisan knockabout'. But she endured a tense moment when she was interrupted during her first round of broadcast appearances after being promoted by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. Appearing via a videolink from home in Oxford, the mother-of-two coolly smiled and continued with barely any sign of disturbance when Isabella burst into the room. "We need to get to the best possible situation for dealing with the virus, and then ensuring we have that economic support there for businesses and individuals" - Shadow Chancellor @AnnelieseDodds. .#KayBurley Get the latest on #COVID19: https://t.co/3hzFzZYNUf pic.twitter.com/oZhBOmc4r0 Sky News (@SkyNews) April 6, 2020 'I thought she was going to stay asleep, sorry so embarrassing,' she said, asked about the moment at the interview's close. 'She's thankfully under the chair now.' Only elected to Parliament in 2017, the Oxford East MP leapt from the role of a junior shadow Treasury minister to one of the most senior roles in politics after Sir Keir succeeded Jeremy Corbyn over the weekend. Anneliese Dodds: Already risen high after first being elected in 2017 Labour MP for Oxford East since June 2017, Anneliese Dodds previously served under Jeremy Corbyn as a shadow Treasury minister a position she took up just a month after being elected to Parliament. Before taking up her seat in Westminster three years ago, the new shadow chancellor represented Oxford as an MEP, where she served on the economic and monetary affairs committee. In her life before politics, Ms Dodds worked as an academic and it is thought her research focused on public policy and risk in different industries, sectors and nations. According to her website, housing and investment in public services including the NHS, social care and schools are among her key interests. Her website also says that she lives on Rose Hill, Oxfordshire, with her partner Ed and two children, Freddie and Isabella. Advertisement The 42-year-old former academic warned the necessity of many Labour policies was being desperately highlighted by the Covid-19 outbreak, but said the public did not trust the party to implement them under the previous leadership. 'When we look at Labour's policies around areas like properly funding public services, having a fair economy, a labour market that actually works for people, I think, sadly, we can see as a result of this crisis that many of those policies are really needed but clearly the British public in the last election didn't trust us to deliver those policies,' she told BBC Breakfast. She said she would be speaking with her counterpart in Government later on Monday, saying she would press ministers on improving the emergency package to shore up the economy. And as the world faces economic uncertainty not seen since the financial crisis in 2008, she praised former Labour chancellor and prime minister Gordon Brown as an inspiration. 'I was very engaged in politics at the time when Gordon Brown led that international response to the financial crisis that occurred back in 2008-9 and I was inspired by his international leadership back then,' she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'I think we need to have that kind of approach coming from the UK now as well, so certainly that's something that I'll be pushing as hard as I possibly can.' Yesterday, Sir Keir Starmer announced the senior members of his new shadow cabinet - and has given a top job to former leadership rival Lisa Nandy. Anneliese Dodds (centre) was interrupted live on TV today by her daughter Isabella (right) The mother-of-two coolly smiled and continued today with barely any sign of disturbance The Wigan MP, who came third in the contest to replace Jeremy Corbyn, will serve as shadow foreign secretary. Nick Thomas-Symonds has been appointed shadow home secretary, Rachel Reeves is shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Jonathan Ashworth will remain shadow health secretary. Nick Brown has been re-appointed chief whip and Angela Smith remains shadow leader of the Lords. John McDonnell and Diane Abbott, who served under Mr Corbyn, are out of the shadow cabinet, but former shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry is expected to remain - albeit in a different role. Sir Keir Starmer made Anneliese Dodds the new shadow chancellor. The Labour leader is pictured yesterday at BBC Broadcasting House in London to appear on the Andrew Marr Show Sir Keir secured 56 per cent of the 490,731 votes cast in the three-month contest - beating his rivals Rebecca Long-Bailey and Ms Nandy to replace Mr Corbyn. He has vowed to engage constructively with the Government amid the coronavirus crisis, saying he will not seek to score party political points - nor demand the impossible. On Brexit, Sir Keir said the Government 'should extend' the transition period 'if it's necessary to do so' because of the pandemic. Angela Rayner won the deputy leadership with 52.6 per cent of the vote in the third round, and promised to 'do everything' to repay her supporters' trust. 06.04.2020 LISTEN The Asutifi CSOs Platform on SDGs and WASH in collaboration with NADeF Scholarship Beneficiaries & Associates (NASBA), Organization for Interest (OPI), Ahafo NGO Network (ANGONET), Sharine foundation, National Youth Authority (NYA), AMEND Foundation has taken a considerable ingenuity to launch Hack COVID 19 Initiative which included Asutifi North CSOs Platform COVID-19 Fund. The initiative is aimed at keeping Asutifi North District from recording cases of COVID-19. As of 1st April, 2020 Asutifi North District has no record cases of the Corona Virus. With this knowledge, Hack COVID-19 is strategically designed to mobilize and build capacity of health volunteers and frontlines staff who will spearhead an extensive educational and awareness program to advance prevention, reduce stigmatization and enlighten deprived community on COVID-19 and the necessary precautionary measures to be taken to combat the spread of the pandemic. Other major activities outlined for the Hack COVID- 19 initiative will be; Distribution of personal safety equipment like gloves, hand sanitizers, veronica buckets and supply of preventive equipment to the needy and vulnerable. The Initiated is estimated to cost 12, 400 cedis. The Asutifi North CSO Platform on SDGs and WASH and its partners are therefore calling on Individuals, the private sectors and other local agencies to make donations to Asutifi North CSO COVID-19 Response Fund to help meet the goal of the initiative by contacting Fatima Abdulai on 0546 159 333. The Asutifi North Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Platform on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was established to ensure more coordinated civil society efforts in achieving the ANAM WASH & SDGs targets in Asutifi North . The Platform convened by Ahafo NGOs Network (ANGONET) counts over 13-member organisations, including coalitions, associations, unions, community-based organisations, religious groups, and local non-governmental organisations and national and international non-governmental organisations working in Asutifi North District. The NADeF Scholarship Beneficiaries and other Associates in Ahafo have come together to form a philanthropy group known as NADeF Scholarship Beneficiaries & Associates (NASBA) with aim of giving back to support education, youth development and job creation in our communities. NASBA believes that through giving back, some development challenges in communities will be solved hence our motto Solutions through Giving Emmanuel Owusu Adjei Project Communication Lead Contact: +233 (0) 543029199 Homeland In Full Flight Season 8 Episode 9 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * * Previous Next Photo: Courtesy of Showtime/2019 SHOWTIME NETWORKS INC. All rights reserved. Carrie Mathison finally catches up with the flight recorder that proves that mechanical error and not the Taliban resulted in the death of President Warner, but she once again places too much trust in the wrong man. Shes been underestimating people around her for years, and her emotional connection this season makes her fall into that trap again. After all, international chaos and even world wars are good for people like Yevgeny Gromov. Why on Earth would the Russians want people to know that there is no one to blame except a poorly allocated military budget that allows helicopters carrying world leaders to crash? And so he drugs Carrie in the final scene, fleeing with both her and the recorder, just as it appears Pakistan could be on the verge of using a nuclear weapon to respond to U.S. aggression. With only four episodes to go in the entire arc of Homeland, how can Saul and Carrie save the world again? Leading up the momentous ending, In Full Flight is a relatively slow episode, working on rising tension with people on the edge of world-changing crisis, but its strong scene by scene. Tasneem Qureshi learns the hard way that Jalal Haqqani has already risen in power in a way that she and her country of Pakistan will not be able to control. President Hayes continues to speak in sound bites about vengeance and power, ignoring the advice of people who know more than he does and certainly know more than his buddy John Zabel. Again, the writers of Homeland couldnt have known what would be happening to the world in April 2020, but an image of a president leading a country down the wrong path while defying experts who know more than he does feels like looking in a terrifying funhouse mirror of our reality. When Saul meets with the president of the United States, and suggests that he vets information before delivering it to the American people, its not hard to imagine those exact words coming out of the mouth of Dr. Anthony Fauci. Speaking of Saul Berenson, hes back in D.C., seeing firsthand how messed up things are in the White House since the death of Warner. Theres a strong parallel this week between Saul and his buddy Tasneem, given both are realizing that their countries are in dire circumstances beyond their control and moving quickly toward violence. Even as Saul points out that Zabel has never been to Pakistan, Hayes seems more interested in the rhetoric than the intelligence. And David Wellington just looks like a shell of a man, someone who knows bad days are ahead and all the smart people in the White House can do is hold on to the ride and hope they dont fall off. Meanwhile, Carrie and Yevgeny are heading into the mountains after the recorder. One of the key scenes this week comes when Carrie calls Jenna and tricks her into giving up the safe house location so that American operatives can be arrested. Carrie is selling out her own people, but she tells herself its for the right cause. Something to consider: What if she hadnt? What if the exfil team was right outside the door when she bought the recorder and busted in in time to save her and get it? She actually cleared the path for Yevgeny and his people by making that call to Jenna. While Carrie and Saul are trying to stop chaos, Tasneem finally tracks down Jalal and learns a hard truth: the dumb kid she pulled out of a ditch a few weeks ago is now one of the most powerful people in the region. Its an interesting commentary on how quickly power can shift, especially when it involves a disenfranchised people who have been trained to expect and require violence. And the man whos really to blame for this shift is Hayes. If he hadnt turned Jalal into a President Killer on international television, Tasneem probably could have gotten him under control, but hes now arguably even more powerful than his father. After all, dad didnt kill the president. Most of In Full Flight consists of this push and pull between Carrie/Yevgeny and the rest of the world, one in which Carrie is blinded to the real issue at play. She thinks shes seeking a recorder to stop World War III, but she has always been too trusting of Yevgeny Gromov. Even in the final scenes, as she makes out with him and promises more action in Islamabad, she seems to be either too trusting or playing too long a game. She never suspects that Yevgeny will drug her right there and bring in accomplices to take the recorder. Yevgeny doesnt kill her, taking her back to a safe place, but she may wake up and wish he had. Final Notes Most couples on shows like Homeland have a cute hybrid nickname. I wonder if Yevgeny and Carrie have one on message boards? Cargeny? Yevarrie? Yevarrie is in trouble unless Yevgeny has one more move that were not expecting. Is it possible that he could still be turned or is he now 100 percent a villain? He doesnt kill Carrie or leave her there. He still either has use for her or cares for her. Either way could leave a door open for Carrie to stop World War III. The best line this week had to be Yevgeny saying, Im more of a planner. Not only was it excellent foreshadowing given the plan he puts in place in the final scene, but it reminded us all that theres every chance that Yevgeny has been playing Carrie this entire season. She asks him about appearing outside Guloms office and wonders if that was planned, but what if all of it was a plan? Yevgeny realized that turmoil in the region and the ascendance of the Taliban was better for his people than the peace Haqqani and Saul were negotiating, and he used Carrie to make sure both those things would happen. Speaking of Yevgeny, Costa Ronin is great here, just as he was great on The Americans. Lets hope he uses this as a springboard to another great role in a series or film. Same for Nimrat Kaur, whos been excellent as Tasneem Qureshi. I hope to see her in another series soon. Four episodes left! Unless the show ends in WWIII, Carrie and Saul are going to save the day. But how? And do you think we could see any more carnage before the end? Could either Carrie or Saul die in the finale? A final sacrifice to save the world? Or would that be a disappointment? Well know in about a month. Stay safe and stay healthy. And thanks for reading. Every Major Death on 'Homeland' Joe Biden has a YUGE political (and maybe criminal) problem that the Republicans should exploit, given that the mainstream media is something of a joke and has largely ignored this story. Lets just say if Joe Biden were a Republican instead of a Democrat, this story would be competing with the coronavirus epidemic for the front-page headlines, if the #MeToo movement were to hold Biden to the same standard as a Republican. Even so, there is plenty of time between now and November to hammer Biden and the Democratic Party in general for serious allegations of sexual assault dating back to the early 1990s. These allegations ought to destroy the presidential aspirations of Joe Biden if there is anything resembling equal justice in the court of public opinion because, unlike Christine Blasey Ford, Tara Reade actually has witnesses who reportedly corroborate her allegations. Of course, Joe does have much of the mainstream media on his side -- my hat tip comes from a professional journalist who said hed get fired if he wrote this story himself. Tara Reade (YouTube screen grab) Nor is Reade Bidens only accuser. According to Business Insider, at least eight different women have accused Biden of inappropriate behavior over the years. As If to eliminate the possibility of the claim being disputed, an oversized photo accompanied the article showing Biden with his nose practically pressed against the face of Coast Guard officer Erin Talbot at her commencement ceremony. Cant really say it aint so, Joe. Well, you could, but nobody would believe you. Weve seen it too many times on live television, right before our very eyes. Lucy Flores claimed that Biden had inappropriately sniffed her hair and kissed the back of her hand at a 2014 campaign rally. We have ubiquitous video evidence that Biden routinely manhandles women and female children, even in front of the media, so it really isnt debatable whether or not we should believe Flores. Just click on the hyperlink in the paragraph above if you have any residual doubts that Biden deserves the nickname Creepy Joe, not Sleepy Joe. The Democrats have three strategies they typically employ when one of their own get the Bret Kavanaugh treatment. First, they try to simply ignore the story. Democrats and the liberal media can try, but the details are out there, ready and waiting to be shared with the general public. There is a difference between successfully suppressing harmful information and keeping it from being widely disseminated. These women deserve to be afforded the right to have their voices heard, correct? Or, do we have to wear ridiculous pink hats and scream accusations only about Republicans at the top of our lungs to be heard? Plan A, ignoring the problem, simply wont work in this case. As Plan B, the tactic favored by Democrats and their media allies is to attack the source of the story (because most of the media turns a blind eye to Democrat indiscretions most of the time) as biased right-wing media. Especially If they can demonize Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity in the process. If all else fails, they can blame it on Fox News. The problem with that strategy is I first read about Tara Reade in VOX, not Fox. Lucy Flores wrote about her unpleasant experience with Joe Biden at The Cut. To say these are not conservative or right-wing media outlets would be an understatement bordering on absurdity; it would be like arguing Josef Stalin was a compassionate humanitarian in spite of overwhelming evidence of the Holodomor. According to Reades very troubling #MeToo account, Joe Biden digitally raped her in 1993 when she was working for him as a staffer in his Senate office at the time. As that Vox article described the horrific incident: he pushed her up against a wall in a secluded area, began kissing her, and reached under her skirt to penetrate her with his fingers. After she pulled away, she says he responded with something along the lines of, Come on, man, I heard you liked me. Reade said Biden also said something that sticks with her today: Youre nothing to me. Finally, if all else fails, plan C is to assassinate the character of the accuser. Remember how James Carville famously said that you could drag a $100-dollar bill through the parking lot of a trailer park to find a woman like Paula Jones after she had accused President Clinton of sexual harassment? But the legal settlement actually cost Clinton eight thousand Benjamins. Not just one. Speaking of Benjamins dont hold your breath waiting for Medea Benjamin of Code Pink to side with the accusers over Joe Biden. Its about the politics, or should I say the party affiliation of the political figure involved in the given controversy. Liberals simply dont care about the sexual improprieties of Democrats, as long as the politician supports abortion. When Republicans were told we had to believe Christine Blasey Ford in spite of the total absence of evidence, we were reminded that it was Doctor Ford to us peons. Hillary Clinton had the audacity to tell Rachel Maddow that in her opinion Ford and other sexual assault accusers deserved the benefit of our doubt (in spite of Fords witnesses actually disputing her story). In fact, Hillary even had the chutzpah to say there cant be one set of rules for Democrats and one set of rules for Republicans with a straight face, although it may be possible that was only because Botox made any other face impossible. But unlike Christine Blasey Ford, we actually have good reasons to believe Tara Reade and Lucy Flores. Both of them are Democrats. In the instance of Flores, who made the slightly less troubling accusation that Biden had kissed her and touched her inappropriately, the incident happened at her own political rally. Shortly after Biden allegedly assaulted Tara Reade in 1993, she confided her account in a friend and her brother shortly after the sexual assault happened, which makes two more corroborating witnesses than Christine Blasey Ford. Unfortunately, also unlike Christine Blasey Ford, Flores and Reade shouldnt expect any to receive any outside help or to have a seven-figure GoFundMe account fully funded for their legal fees. Nor should they hope to receive any of the $600k excess funds that Ford donated to organizations that support trauma survivors, because Democrats tend to only support other Democrats who accuse Republicans of inappropriate behavior. Accuse a Democrat, and youre on your own. The Times Up Legal Defense Fund, founded as part of the MeToo movement, refused to help Reade because they were afraid it might jeopardize their nonprofit status. Please remember that Lucy Flores is a former Democrat politician, and she is the person who wrote about Biden, I had never experienced anything so blatantly inappropriate and unnerving before. Biden was the second-most powerful man in the country and arguably, one of the most powerful men in the world. He was there to promote me as the right person for the lieutenant governor job. Instead, he made me feel uneasy, gross, and confused. The vice-president of the United States of America had just touched me in an intimate way reserved for close friends, family, or romantic partners and I felt powerless to do anything about it. And then remember, Reades allegations are worse. Even if one cant expect the media to do their job, it shouldnt be too difficult to get this story into the mainstream between now and November. All it should take is one person mentioning Reade or Flores by name and Joe will be almost sure to lose his mind and start threatening people. Joe cant even handle questions about Hunters inappropriate treatment of women and illegitimate children without losing his temper. In the event Bidens mind is so far gone that he didnt recognize their names and vacuously stared off into space should Trump mention them in a debate, that wont be a good look for old Creepy Joe, either. If Biden gets angry and loses his cool, thats bad for his image. If he looks lost and confused as he is also prone to do, arguably thats even worse. Either way, Joe is going to look terrible no matter how he reacts when confronted about these allegations. The only reasons people might think they have to vote for Biden are the constant criticisms about Trumps character and the claim hes unfit to hold the office, but now we know that isnt a legitimate reason to vote for Joe Biden -- not for President, the Senate, or any other office he thinks hes running for, in his perpetual state of mental confusion. When Democrats demonstrate their own hypocrisy by continuing to support Biden in spite of his many character flaws and his inability to complete a coherent sentence without a Teleprompter, they deserve to get hammered relentlessly about it in the media as well as the ballot box in November. Hat Tip: Dave John Leonard is a freelance writer and most recently editor of the Rootstock series of epic fantasy novels. You may find him on Facebook or contact him through his website at southernprose.com. Season 3, Episode 4: The Mother of Exiles No one knows you like I do. No one knows me like you. Those were Doloress words to Charlotte-bot in a hotel room on last weeks episode of Westworld, which went out of its way to withhold the answer to a question that the shows fans had been guessing about since the end of Season 2: Whose pearl is inside Charlotte-bot? The line suggested that somehow Dolores had saved Teddys pearl and popped it in Charlotte-bots head, or maybe it was her father, since both of them had been part of her loop. It was obvious that the writers were teasing us with a little misdirection, but the possible candidates were narrowed. And now this week, in a flurry of crosscuts across multiple planes of action, comes a mega-reveal: Charlotte-bot is Dolores. Martin Connells, the glowering fixer for Liam Dempsey Jr., is now a host and also Dolores. And Musashi (Hiroyuki Sanada), the Singapore yakuza boss sitting on barrels of android amniotic fluid? Hes Dolores, too. Dolores is clearly a believer in the idea that if you want something done right, do it yourself. Now the replicated control units she smuggled out of the park are a Borg-like hive of deadly, calculating, mission-oriented robots who have elegantly coordinated roles to play in the A.I. rebellion. The twist feels like a cheat, just as the shows agonizing coyness about Charlottes host identity felt like a cheat. The assumption had been that bodies could be reproduced but control units could not, and that the pearls Charlotte-bot took out of the park each belonged to a separate host. But the writers of Westworld seek out assumptions like lemon juice to paper cuts, and this particular reveal has been calibrated to sting a little. Keep in mind, too, that Charlotte-bot told Dolores last week that she felt the real Charlotte was asserting herself, so along with these copies of pearls and copies of bodies, other metaphysical struggles are possible. So the question will then become not only who controls what body but also how much control those bodies can exert over them. Which is essentially a question about what who even means. Buckle up for that. I have spent the last few weeks watching the great bull market, so beloved by Donald Trump, curl up and die a sudden and painful death. The coronavirus has been just one of the factors behind those tumbling share values as recession stalked the markets like a medieval plague. Not surprisingly, the biggest hits so far have been reserved for sectors like airlines, leisure, aircraft leasing, hotels, events and the drinks industries. Nevertheless the technology business, though not immune to the massive shake-out, can muster some resistance, so I thought I'd look at how one market leader, Amazon, was faring amidst all the heartache. It is, after all, one of the strongest brands in the world. It is hard to credit that the Seattle-based outfit has been around for a mere quarter of a century. Founder Jeff Bezos started out selling books online in the 1990s, but Amazon today is the largest internet company in the world. It has a market cap of $955bn and Bezos, by virtue of his stake in the company, is richest man around. It is also the second largest private employer in the US with 760,000 employees. While it might have broken a great deal of growth records on the way up, Amazon has not escaped criticism for its hyper competitiveness and a difficult work culture. Its business is centred on Amazon Prime Subscription, Amazon Market Place and Cloud-based services. The prime subscription platform gives its customers cheap prices, free deliveries and access to its video screening, e-books and music. It has evolved into a retail giant selling electronics, video games, toys, jewels, food, furniture and apparel. Its Market Place platform helps other businesses sell their products in return for a percentage of their sales. This is being examined by the EU. It is looking to see if there is a conflict of interest where Amazon competes with its sellers and if the web site favours its own products. While most attention is given to Amazon's retail business, its cloud-based computer service (AWS) is the real star and its most profitable. Margins in this division are an impressive 30pc. It offers customers cloud storage with data and analytical services. The success of cloud computing has helped the group deliver growth and free cash flow now close to $30bn (27.7bn). North America is Amazon's largest market with 60pc of its $280bn (259bn) sales. While North American margins have doubled in the last two years, they still remain low at 5pc. Its international business revenues are less than half of North America and have been losing significant money. This business is concentrated on Japan, Germany and the UK. The company is eyeing growing markets like India but finding the Chinese market challenging in terms of revenue and profit. There is no denying that over the years Amazon's growth has been stunning and its share price clearly implies it expects to keep growing. In the last decade it has seen revenues jump from $24bn to $280bn and net income rise from under $900m to $11.5bn. Amazon's financial position is very healthy with strong cash balances and considerable barriers to entry. Analysts believe the outlook is positive for profits, revenues and cash flow. They are also of the opinion the company can grow by targeting new markets like India and new sectors in North America. The shares are expensive at just under $1,900 (1,758) each - down 10pc since last February - and they trade at a stunning 83 times earnings. With margins improving, the shares could offer some upside. The biggest threat to Amazon is political and regulatory, exactly as John D Rockefeller found a century ago. However, the lack of a level playing field between online retailers and the high street is an issue most governments want to sort out and remains an issue overhanging Amazon. Nothing in this section should be taken as a recommendation, either explicit or implicit to buy any of the shares mentioned. The National Commission of Women said it will take action against those involved in reportedly assaulting a woman doctor in Surat for being in close proximity to coronavirus patients. The matter came to the fore after a purported video showing the doctor working in Surat Civil Hospital being physically assaulted by her neighbours, went viral. Tagging the video, the National Commission of Women (NCW) said the safety of doctors who are the frontline workers in the period of distress is paramount. It said they are doing a commendable service to the nation when the world is battling with COVID-19 pandemic. "The Commission shall take action to such incident of harassment," the rights body said in a tweet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Munis massive cutback in service to cope with the coronavirus pandemic will leave just 17 bus routes active in San Francisco, with the rollout starting in phases Tuesday and taking full effect Wednesday. The decision to eliminate service on 51 of Munis 68 bus lines was made because almost 40% of the citywide transit systems drivers were not expected to report for shifts Monday, said Jeffrey Tumlin, the agencys transportation director. The drivers are considered to be in high-risk groups if they were to contract the virus. When the cuts are completed, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agencys system will be slashed to the following lines: N Judah Bus; L Taraval Bus; T Third Bus; 1 California; 8 Bayshore; 9 San Bruno; 14 Mission; 14R Mission Rapid; 19 Polk; 22 Fillmore; 24 Divisadero; 25 Treasure Island; 29 Sunset; 38 Geary; 38R Geary Rapid; 44 OShaughnessy; and 49 Van Ness/Mission. Muni Metros subway and light rail operations were shut down a week ago and replaced with buses. At a news conference Monday, Tumlin made an unfamiliar plea for people to stay away from Muni if possible. Only essential workers like doctors and nurses, shelter and hotel workers, as well as San Franciscans headed to work, the supermarket or pharmacy, should get on the bus, he said. As a lifelong advocate of transit and director of the SFMTA, I never thought Id say this, but please, if you have any other option getting around, please do not ride Muni, Tumlin said. While all Muni lines were still scheduled to operate Monday, officials warned that a shortage of operators would cause havoc on many lines, as buses were expected to run late and have large gaps in service. Those problems are expected again Tuesday, when Muni starts eliminating service. These routes include: 2 Clement; 3 Jackson; 5 Fulton; 7 Haight; 10 Townsend; 21 Hayes; and 31 Balboa. Mayor London Breed and Tumlin both praised Muni operators as heroes, and the mayor said operators will be given access to a special testing site for city workers on the Embarcadero to help alleviate concerns. One of the main reasons weve had to reduce service is theres a lot of uncertainty around, Breed said. We want to give our drivers some certainty. The announcement of Munis new bare-bones schedule evoked concern among some passengers and elected officials, including District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who said on Twitter he was worried about transit-dependent residents getting to grocery stores and other critical services. I am especially concerned about seniors, people with disabilities and other vulnerable residents living in the hills and other parts of the District who will rely on public transportation to get food, medicine or other supplies, Mandelman tweeted. I spoke with SFMTA Director Tumlin about this concern and he is aware and working on solutions. The cutbacks come as the coronavirus continues to sweep across the globe and cases climb in the U.S. and California. The Bay Area had 3,721 cases as of Monday afternoon, while there were more than 15,800 in the state. The U.S. had almost 357,000 cases Monday afternoon, accounting for more than a quarter of the 1.3 million cases worldwide. 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 big cuts Wednesday will leave Muni with what it has labeled its core network, providing service within a mile of every San Francisco resident. Thats a big cutback from Munis usual operations, which provide buses within about a quarter-mile of each resident and often offers multiple lines to choose from. Rather than simply cut 30% of service to make up for the lack of operators which would have led to extreme overcrowding Muni identified its 15 highest ridership lines, beefed up service on them and included two backup lines that supplement existing lines. It also chose lines that go past or near necessary services such as hospitals and supermarkets. The cuts are painful in every single neighborhood, Tumlin said. If the response weve got is any measure of success, weve made every single neighborhood unhappy. The frequency between buses will vary by line in an effort to provide sufficient space for passengers to stand 6 feet apart from each other and follow social distancing standards, officials said. AC Transit on Monday also announced a shift in service after an employee in Emeryville tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. The agency has temporarily moved Emeryville-based bus lines to other divisions, a spokesman said. San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Tatiana Sanchez contributed to this story. Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan Following the outbreak of COVID-19 and the sudden impact on tourism and aviation markets, Auckland Airport today provided a further update on its response to the pandemic. Chief Executive Adrian Littlewood said Auckland Airport had moved quickly to respond to the swift reduction in flight and traveller numbers, with international passenger numbers expected to be close to zero in the near term. Our first priorities have been to respond to the daily changes announced by the Government and airlines and to keep our people and passengers safe and well. We are working hard to maintain our airport operations so people can get home and to support the Ministry of Health and border agencies in protecting New Zealand from the spread of COVID-19. Auckland Airport is a resilient business, but these are unprecedented times and we are now moving quickly to identify ways that we can manage the impact on our organisation. As we face an uncertain future, we are having to make some tough decisions. Mr Littlewood said Auckland Airport had taken steps to confirm its liquidity position and introduced measures to substantially reduce its future operating costs and capital expenditures. Auckland Airport has unrestricted cash of $340 million and an additional $485 million of undrawn bank facilities. Today Auckland Airport has decided to suspend selected capital expenditure projects with a completed value of more than $2 billion, until there is more certainty about future market conditions. In its recent interim results, Auckland Airport demonstrated strong operating cost control and in the current environment that focus is being accelerated with the elimination of all discretionary spend where possible. These follow earlier decisions from Auckland Airport to withdraw earnings and capital expenditure guidance for the current financial year to 30 June 2020, and to cancel its interim dividend. Mr Littlewood said a small number of projects were still under review, but those suspended included the second runway, the Domestic Jet Hub, a multi-storey carpark, Park & Ride South and construction of the 146-room Mercure Hotel near the airport shopping centre. Our long-term plans remain the same, but until we know more about how long the market will take to rebuild and recover, its not possible to keep these projects open, on hold and continuing to generate significant costs. While some of these projects were in construction, several were about to start so it was important that we made these decisions early before physical works began on site. For many years we have been working towards our ambition to build New Zealand an airport of the future, so for our partners and the team here at Auckland Airport, it is enormously difficult to see progress stall. Mr Littlewood said Auckland Airport remained committed to completing a number of key infrastructure projects, including construction works associated with various roading projects and upgrading the runway pavement. The runway pavement works have long been planned, and we are absolutely committed to this project and working through the detail of when we complete the works, while maintaining safe and reliable airfield operations. Auckland Airport is also consulting with a large number of its employees around a proposal to reduce hours and salaries by 20%. The Board of Directors, the Chief Executive and the Leadership Team have already agreed to reduce their remuneration by 20%. Over the last week Auckland Airport has also made the difficult decision to release about 90 fixed term and independent contractors, who are working in positions that are no longer needed given the current circumstances. These roles do not relate to essential airport services. The decision to release these contractors was not taken lightly. Many of these people have strong connections to Auckland Airport and we are very sorry to see them go, said Mr Littlewood. Auckland Airport has been serving New Zealanders for more than 50 years, and we are working hard to ensure we are in a strong position to rebuild quickly once market conditions improve. I would like to thank our people for all the professionalism and dedication theyve shown at a really challenging time. Auckland Airport will continue to keep the market updated as significant new information emerges. Source: AIA NZX Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 11th January 2022 Morning Report Greenfern Industries Limited (NZX: GFI) Announces Cannvalate Transaction 10th January 2022 Morning Report 7th January 2022 Morning Report 6th January 2022 Morning Report 5th January 2022 Morning Report Harmoney Corp Limited (NZX: HMY) HMY Signs A$20m Corporate Debt Facility 24th December 2021 Morning Report Goodman Property Trust (NZX: GMT) GMT to develop North Shore facility for NZ Post 23rd December 2021 Morning Report Three Sudanese refugees were in custody in France today following the first terrorist attack in Europe during the coronavirus lockdown - raising fears that they were part of an ISIS -style cell. One, identified as 33-year-old Abdallah A.O, stabbed two people to death and severely wounded seven others during a bloody rampage in the French town of Romans-sur-Isere, south of Lyon, on Saturday. (snip) Detectives later found extremist literature in his house, including a complaint by Abdallah that he hated 'living in a country of non-believers'. (snip) All are thought to have entered France in early 2017, and were seeking asylum having complained about persecution in the east African country. Now investigators are trying to work out whether they made up a terrorist cell linked to extremist Islamists in Sudan. (snip) His attack on Saturday corresponded to numerous suicidal knife attacks carried out by Islamic State-linked terrorists in France in recent years. (snip) Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday imposed a three-week ban on movement in and out of four main coronavirus "infected areas", including the capital Nairobi, ahead of the usually busy Easter weekend. Kenyatta stopped short of a full lockdown within these areas, but warned "we must be ready to go even further if necessary" in a televised address to the nation. He ordered "cessation of all movement by road, rail or air in and out of" Nairobi, and the coastal towns of Kilifi and Kwale and the country's second largest city of Mombasa for 21 days, starting from Monday at 7pm (1600 GMT). "The movement of food supplies and other cargo will continue as normal during the declared containment period through road, railway and air," he said. Kenya currently counts 158 cases and six deaths from the virus, most of them in the capital, with a few cases also along the coast. It is the second worst-hit nation in eastern Africa after Mauritius which has 227 cases. Kenya country has already imposed a 7pm-5am curfew in a bid to curb the spread of the virus. After several incidents of police brutality in implementing the curfew, Kenyatta urged law enforcement officers to be "mindful and sensitive as they enforce the curfew and the additional measures we are taking today." However he urged them to remain "firm" and "fair". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A police department in Texas says it will charge a woman who has said on social media that she has coronavirus and is purposely spreading it, according to News 4 San Antonio. Carrollton Texas Police Department said on Facebook, We have identified the woman seen on social media claiming to be COVID-19 positive and willfully spreading it as 18-year-old Lorraine Maradiaga of Carrollton. We are charging her with Terroristic Threat. Police said we have no confirmation Maradiaga is actually a threat to public health. We are, however, taking her social media threats very seriously. Police are searching for Maradiaga and asking for the publics help. MORE CORONAVIRUS NEWS ON PENNLIVE 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. Almost 500,000 requests for mortgage deferrals due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have already been completed or are in process, according to the Canadian Bankers Association (CBA). According to CBA, the country's six largest banks have deferred more than 10% of the mortgages in their portfolio, allowing affected Canadians to increase their cash flow by roughly $663 million per month given an average monthly mortgage payment of $1,326. Read more: Hundreds of thousands of homeowners seek mortgage payment deferral Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-07 00:36:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday evening reshuffled the federal cabinet by changing portfolios for different ministers and by making fresh appointments in different ministries and ministerial departments, the Prime Minister Office said. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister Office, Khan has appointed Muhammad Hammad Azhar as Federal Minister for Industries, who was earlier serving as Minister for Economic Affairs. Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar who was serving Minister for National Food Security has replaced Azhar as Minister for Economic Affairs while Syed Fakhar Imam has replaced Bakhtiar in his previous portfolio. The prime minister also accepted the resignation of Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui as Federal Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunication, said the statement, adding that Syed Amin Ul Haque has been appointed as Federal Minister for Telecom. In addition to the above-mentioned changes, the prime minister also made some replacements and appoints in his advisors and bureaucracy, including the appointment of Babar Awan as an Advisor to the Prime Minister for Parliamentary Affairs. The Prime Minister Office did not disclose the reason behind the reshuffle. However, local media quoted sources close to the prime minister as saying that the changes were made in the backdrop of an inquiry into the sugar crises which caused high rates and shortage of the commodity in the country. No official confirmed the reports yet. The prime minister on Sunday said on Twitter that he has made the preliminary reports into sudden price hikes of sugar and wheat public which would lead the country to transparency, promising that "no powerful lobby will be able to profiteer at the expense of our public." The reshuffle was made at a time when the country is running a nationwide campaign to fight against the spreading COVID-19. Pakistan has reported over 3,400 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 50 deaths so far. The entire country, in an effort to show solidarity with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's '9 pm 9-minute' initiative, lit diyas and candles on Sunday night. However, the bursting of firecrackers by some citizens was a matter of surprise and was highly frowned upon by netizens and several Bollywood celebrities. The initiative was meant to be a silent support or prayer for those in need and suffering, but the bursting of firecrackers set a celebratory tone to the event. Celebrities like Taapsee Pannu, Sonam Kapoor, Richa Chadha and others took to their social media handles and expressed their objection to the same. Sonam Kapoor, who is currently staying in Delhi with husband Anand Ahuja, shared her amazement on her Twitter handle and wrote, "People are bursting crackers. Just FYI . The dogs are freaking out. Do people think it's Diwali? I'm so confused." In another tweet, Sonam added, "There was complete peace and quiet, and now the birds, dogs and sirens are freaking out in south Delhi because some morons decided to burst firecrackers tonight." Actor Adil Hussain who also lives in South Delhi, replied to Sonam's tweet and wrote, "We are with Dia! Some people are bursting crackers in South Delhi!" Taapsee Pannu, on the other hand, after sharing a picture with her sister and two lit candles, posted several video clips on her Instagram stories and captioned it as "Wrong memo." The video shows people in her neighbourhood burning crackers, and she also pointed out how someone had ended up starting a fire. Displeased with the event, Richa took to her Twitter and wrote, "Why crackers? Why?" She also reacted to a video from Sunday night which showed a group of people walking on the street with burning torches in their hands. "Am sure the virus is on it's way back now...#SocialDistancingkakyahua ?" According to new reports, on Monday, 33 new cases of Coronavirus have been found in Maharashtra, while 16 in Gujarat. India'stotal COVID-19 positive cases tally is currently at 4,361 people with a death toll of 122. Salman Khan Says There Is No Point In Being Brave, 'I Am Scared I Haven't Seen My Father In 3 Weeks' ALSO READ: Amitabh Bachchan To Provide Monthly Ration To 1 Lakh Daily Wage Workers Willis Towers Watson is postponing its planned sale of its London wholesale broker subsidiary, Miller Insurance Services. Given the current COVID-19 outbreak and associated uncertainty, we have paused our current efforts to explore strategic alternatives for Miller. WTW and Miller remain committed to the process and will make an announcement in due course, said a statement issued by WTW on Friday, April 3. In a Feb. 20, 2020 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, WTW announced that it was considering strategic alternatives with respect to Miller, in which it purchased an 85% stake in 2015. The company is not commenting on the status of its planned merger with Aon, which was announced on March 9, at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis. Related: Topics Willis Towers Watson ITV's Liar viewers blasted tonight's final episode, branding it an 'anti-climax' after serial rapist Andrew Earlham's killer was revealed to be his victim, Laura Nielson, all along. Throughout tonight's show characters were knocked off the suspect list - up until rape survivor Laura Nielson (played by Joanne Froggatt) was questioned by DI Karen Renton (Katherine Kelly). In a shocking flashback, Laura repeatedly stabbed Andrew (Ioan Gruffudd) in the neck before leaving him for dead in the local marshes. But many viewers claimed they weren't surprised the killer turned out to be Laura, suggesting it meant the drama came 'full circle'. One tweeted: 'Knew it had to be Laura. Series 1 started with us thinking she was a lair, so it had to do a full circle back to the start.' Gobsmacked fans were quick to comment on the final episode of series two yet many were left disappointed and begged ITV producers not to consider a third series Another tweeted: 'All of that for that ending. What an anticlimax.' At the start of the episode, viewers witnessed Andrew's son Luke (Jamie Flatters) be questioned by Laura and her sister Katy Sutcliffe (Zoe Tapper) about Oliver Graham (Sam Spruell). In previous episodes, Oliver has been trying to set Laura up for the murder of Andrew, believing she killed him. After discovering his identity, Laura and her sister travelled to the headteacher Oliver's primary school in Scotland to question him. ITV's Liar viewers blasted tonight's final episode, branding it an 'anti-climax' after serial rapist Andrew Earlham's killer was revealed to be his victim, Laura Nielson, all along Rape survivor Laura Nielson (played by Joanne Froggatt) was questioned by DI Karen Renton (Katherine Kelly) at the end of the episode - pictured together This lead to him calling up Greg Maxwel (Jack Colgrave Hirst) and trying to further blackmail him to help his scheme - but unbeknownst to him, the police were listening into the conversation. Oliver had been blackmailing Greg about his previous drug overdose, as it wouldn't look good for an up-and-coming star of the National Crime Agency. To Laura's relief, Oliver was arrested and questioned, with DI Renton explaining that they'd found the clip Andrew used to blackmail the headteacher for his help before his death. The footage showed Oliver sexually abusing a man and lead the police to charge the headteacher with his friend's murder, suggesting he killed Andrew to stop being blackmailed. At the start of the episode, viewers witnessed Andrew's son Luke (Jamie Flatters) be questioned by Laura and her sister Katy Sutcliffe (Zoe Tapper) about Oliver Graham (pictured) (Sam Spruell) After discovering his identity, Laura and her sister travelled to the headteacher Oliver's primary school in Scotland to question him (pictured). Soon after, Oliver was arrested for Andrew's murder However, as Laura happily sat in a cafe with her sister, DI Renton turned up to speak with her. To Laura's shock the detective admitted she didn't believe Oliver killed Andrew and instead suggested Laura had done it after all. 'I've figured out,' DI Renton said. 'What happened to Andrew Earlham. Oliver Graham, he had motive, Andrew was holding something over him. 'Let's put it this way, it was something pretty grim, plenty of reason to point the finger at you... So we're going to charge him with Andrew Earlham's murder. But to Laura's (pictured) shock DI Renton later admitted she doesn't believe that Oliver killed Andrew and instead suggested the rape survivor did it 'I've figured out,' DI Renton (pictured) declared to Laura. 'What happened to Andrew Earlham' 'Except I still think you're the one who killed him.' Following this shock announcement, viewers were shown how Andrew drugged Laura whilst she was out, hoping to frame her in his 'disappearance' before he left town. However, Laura woke up before he could take her anywhere and fought back before quickly rushing off to the nearby marshes. Andrew followed her and a dangerous game of cat and mouse ensued before the serial rapist withdrew a knife and attacked Laura. But the rape survivor gained the upper hand and repeatedly stabbed Andrew in the neck before leaving him. Elsewhere, Oliver was supposed to be moving Laura's car to the prearranged spot, showed to him by Andrew. Following this shock announcement, viewers were shown how Andrew drugged Laura whilst she was out. However, Laura woke up before he can take her anywhere and fought back before quickly rushing off to the nearby marshes (pictured) Andrew (pictured) followed her and a dangerous game of cat and mouse ensued before the serial rapist pulled out a knife and attacked Laura But soon, the rape survivor had the upper hand and repeatedly stabbed Andrew in the neck before leaving him (pictured) However, as DI Renton told Laura: 'Oliver Graham told me he couldn't get to your car so he came back to the boathouse and saw signs of a struggle.' Laura quickly questioned: 'How can you believe anything that man says?' but the detective explained: 'Because he's admitting to everything now. 'He admits to bribing DI Maxwell (Danny Webb) to re-programme the Sat Nav in your car, he admits that once he knew Andrew was dead he broke into your flat and planted the car key. 'He said he thought if he could point the finger at you, maybe no one would come looking for him.' 'Sounds like you've got it all worked out?' Laura said, before adding: 'Except for, you know, evidence.' 'You're right and that's always the tricky bit,' replied DI Renton. 'Whatever went down between you and Andrew at those marshes, you should've called the police.' To the shock of viewers, DI Renton (pictured) finished with: 'I'm stepping off this case, as far as I'm concerned, it's done. Goodnight Laura' 'After what I've been through, you think I could ever trust the police,' Laura admitted. 'Sometimes bad things happen and you just have to deal with them. Right there and then. 'Andrew Earlham ripped into so many lives. Even the lives of the people who loved him, people he called friends, that man destroyed everything he touched. 'And despite all that, despite him, we have to carry on don't we, we have to leave the darkness behind and try and remind ourselves of all the good things. That there is a future for us all, however bad things may seem. 'We have to try don't we, we have to try and find the hope, somewhere, in all the mess. I've had enough of nightmares.' To the shock of viewers, DI Renton then declared: 'I'm stepping off this case, as far as I'm concerned, it's done. Goodnight Laura.' Following the final episode of series two, many viewers were left disappointed and begged ITV producers not to consider a third series. Kayleigh Jayne Beaton wrote: 'I genuinely feel like this completely defeats the object of the series.' Sam Martin added: 'Oh dear God please don't be lining this up for a third series.' Another user described the series as 'convoluted and far-fetched' and said wouldn't have been surprised if the gnome, where Andrew hid his spare key, was in on it. [April 06, 2020] SOC Telemed, SCP Health Announce Partnership RESTON, Va., April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SOC Telemed (SOC), the leader in acute care telemedicine, and SCP Health (SCP), an industry leader in clinical practice management, today announced a partnership to deliver scalable, flexible emergency and hospital medicine services via telemedicine. SCP will conduct rapid-cycle deployments of SOC Telemed's IQ platform in multiple SCP emergency and hospital medicine programs, each week. The services are staffed by SCP clinicians and will enable surge coverage needs during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. SCP Health operates in 33 states and more than 400 facilities. By partnering with SOC Telemed, SCP Health can now augment emergency and hospital medicine capacity via telemedicine, a critical capability for hospitals embattled with the rapid spread of COVID-19. As hospitals around America fill and become overwhelmed, the SCP/SOC partnership will deliver vital provider resources to aid the current overworked system. Additional benefits include stemming the spread of disease, as well as shifting physicians to remote triage should they become compromised and require quarantine. "Our organizational partnership has been a priority for ome time; together SCP and SOC can provide telemedicine services around the country, on-demand. But with the spread of the COVID-19 virus and the subsequent need for virtual care, we're operating on an accelerated timeline," notes Hai Tran, COO of SOC Telemed. "By partnering with SCP Health, our two organizations can rapidly deploy the people and technology needed on the front lines of the fight against coronavirus today and stand ready for the medical challenges of tomorrow." "Delivering health in all its many forms from servicing patients to leading innovation with our hospital partners is in keeping with SCP's mission. The SOC telemedicine platform connects our emergency and hospital medicine providers seamlessly with patients, especially critical now on the COVID-19 healthcare battlefield," added Lisa Fry, Chief Growth Officer, SCP Health. SOC's proven enterprise-wide telemedicine platform Telemed IQ is already in use today in over 550 hospitals nationwide, and with plans for rapid expansion, should be in the majority of SCP's programs in the near future. About SCP Health SCP Health (SCP) is a clinical company. At our core we work to bring hospitals and healers together in the pursuit of clinical effectiveness. With a portfolio of over 8 million patients, 7500 providers, 30 states, and 400 healthcare facilities, SCP Health has grown to be a leader in acute unscheduled care. And with the expansion of our national reach, so, too, have our clinical offerings evolved to span the entire continuum of care, from hospital-based medicine to telemedicine, intensive care, and ambulatory care. About SOC Telemed SOC Telemed (SOC) is the largest national provider of telemedicine technology and solutions to hospitals, health systems, post-acute providers, physician networks, and value-based care organizations. Built on proven and scalable infrastructure as an enterprise-wide solution, SOC's technology platform, Telemed IQ, rapidly deploys and seamlessly optimizes telemedicine programs across the continuum of care. SOC virtually delivers clinicians to patients through teleNeurology, telePsychiatry and teleICU as well as enables healthcare organizations to build sustainable telemedicine programs in any clinical specialty. SOC helps organizations to enrich their care models and touch more lives by supplying healthcare teams with industry-leading solutions that drive improved clinical care, patient outcomes, and organizational health. Media Contact: Lauren Shankman Trevelino/Keller (404) 214-0722 ext. 121 [email protected] Maura Nelson VP Marketing/Communications, SCP (337) 609-2757 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/soc-telemed-scp-health-announce-partnership-301035420.html SOURCE SOC Telemed [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] There has been a great deal of discussion about the impact of the coronavirus epidemic on the economy, on physically fragile individuals, and on people over 60. What has garnered far less attention, but is equally as pressing and real, is the impact on adolescents. In some respects, adolescents are a forgotten group. Adults continue to scramble to provide for their families; children find increased recreational time and live for the moment. It is the adolescents who are experiencing iconoclastic change in their development. Today, there are almost 42 million adolescents in the United States, making up 12.9% of the population. They are home; they are out of school, and they are hurting. Adolescence is a time when individuals are expected to individuate, separate from their families, and connect with their peers. How do they do that in the age of social distancing and sequestering at home? The closing of schools and other social distancing strategies disrupt adolescents' lives. Family stress levels increase as children of all ages are home from school and loved ones fall ill. Cancelations of rituals and rites of passage (such as proms, graduations, school plays, sporting events, and college visits) impede their capacity to navigate developmental transitions and think about their futures. At a time when developmentally adolescents are supposed to distance from family and embrace peer relationships, the opposite is happening. They are stuck at home with their families and are prohibited from seeing their friends. An additional strain on adolescents is social media. While social media provides opportunities to connect, it also offers a distorted version of peer relationships. People do not tend to post their honest feelings or activities; rather, they present extreme versions of themselves. With the anonymity that writing at home provides, adolescents can resort to bullying or vicious attacks on one another. In the worst case, adolescents are lured into areas over the internet that can be dysregulating, toxic, and disruptive to their healthy development. The solution is not to lock your adolescent away and prevent them from accessing social media. The solution is to provide as much normalcy as possible during decidedly abnormal times. Here are a few suggestions: Appreciate the need for grieving Here, I am not talking about the death toll from the pandemic, but rather a recognition of the numerous disruptions to the life adolescents had before school closures and sequestering. Do not dismiss their concerns. Allow them room to talk about how it feels different and strange not to see friends or even go to school. Set reasonable goals Think about your own stress. It is unlikely that, in moments of distress, you could focus on learning something new. Yes, it is important to encourage adolescents to continue to grow intellectually, but be reasonable about what they can accomplish during this stressful period in their lives. Do not put pressure on adolescents to accomplish something grand simply because they "have the time" because they are not in school. Encourage one to two hours a day to be spent in any intellectually stimulating activity and then back off. Do not require unnecessary and superfluous homework assignments. The world will eventually adjust to this unprecedented disruption to education and life goals, and you will find that your adolescent has not lost any ground. Encourage reasonable ways to connect with peers: While it is a bonus to spend family time together during this pandemic, that is not the natural tendency for most adolescents. Set a reasonable expectation of time spent with family (e.g. maybe dinner together or game night) and then allow your adolescent to hole themselves up in their room or to connect with peers in create ways. Many adolescents have driven to parking lots, sat in the back of their vehicles six feet apart from one another and conversed in real time. Encourage virtual, real-time, face-to-face contact over Skype, Zoom, Facebook, or other media in lieu of reading endless posts on Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat. The more the interaction approximates real human interaction with peers the better. When you are aware that a friend has been safe from possible contaminants, allow limited contact with valued friends. Teach life lessons: There are plenty of lessons to impart to adolescents during this pandemic. Although it is natural for adolescents to be self-focused, encourage awareness of the bigger picture. Adolescents do need to be reminded that their behavior affects, and potentially could harm, others. However, also seek creative ways for them to help others, such as giving to food banks, offering to walk an elderly neighbor's dog, putting a skit online for friends and family, or sewing protective face masks. Provide a model of calm: Although as adults responsible for family welfare you might feel anxious right now, provide a calming sense that things will turn out okay. Even as adolescents seem to dismiss most of what adults say, they are actually listening intently to all that goes on around them. Let them know that you are doing everything you can to keep them and the family safe, fed, and healthy. Seek professional help: If you see your adolescent struggling emotionally, seek professional mental health services. Mental health concerns continue despite the pandemic, and the isolation can pose its own challenges. Most therapists are available to have virtual sessions on line through confidential platforms like doxy.me. Tracey M. Allan is a licensed psychologist from Midland. Australians may never know who is to blame for the Ruby Princess fiasco at the end of a criminal investigation which could take at least 18 months to reach open court. The New South Wales state government has ordered a criminal inquiry into why 2,700 people were allowed to leave the coronavirus-ridden cruise ship on March 19. The family of grandmother Janet Lieben, from NSW, are also calling for justice after she became one of the 12 passengers on board to die from the virus. She is among 612 from the ship to contract COVID-19. But revelations from a police investigation may be kept secret unless an individual has criminal charges laid against them. Scroll down for video Jerry Lieben is calling for justice for his wife, Janet, (pictured together) after she became one of the 12 passengers from the ill-fated Ruby Princess to contract the coronavirus The Ruby Princess, with only crew onboard, docks at Port Kembla south of Sydney to refuel and for staff to be tested for COVID-19. The result of a criminal investigation into its docking in Sydney Harbour on March 19 be kept secret unless an individual faces criminal charges Even if someone faces charges only a reduced amount of evidence will be made publicly available in open court, The Australian reported. New jury trials from March 16 have been suspended - adding to a backlog of cases scheduled to go before the courts - meaning the Ruby Princess case may not be heard until late 2021. The investigation, announced by NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller on Sunday, may be given special funding by the state government because of the scale on the inquiries needed. Commissioner Fuller said in the weekend press conference the investigation would seek to uncover whether any breaches of the Biosecurity Act and NSW laws had been made. Interviewing many of the 4,000 passengers, the ship's captain, crew members and staff from government agencies will likely form a large part of the investigation. NSW Labor Leader Jodi McKay last week called for 'an independent inquiry with Royal Commission powers' into the ship's docking in Sydney Harbour. Timeline of Ruby Princess fiasco March 18: The Ruby Princess issues an urgent mayday call for an ambulance for two of its passengers presenting with coronavirus-like symptoms 24 hours before the ship is allowed to dock in Sydney. March 19: The Ruby Princess arrives in Sydney Harbour. More than 2,700 guests are allowed to disembark without adequate health checks. March 25: Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram says New South Wales Health is responsible for letting coronavirus patients disembark the ship. March 29: Several crew members are evacuated and taken to hospital after being diagnosed with coronavirus. April 2: A 66-year-old crew member is taken off the Ruby Princess for medical treatment. More than 200 crew members are sick and in self-isolation. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian defends the actions of NSW Health and the Australian Border Force and points the finger at the Ruby Princess. She claims staff onboard may have misled NSW Health about the extent of illnesses in passengers. April 3: Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton alleges Ruby Princess' operators weren't transparent about the health of crew: 'It was 'clear that some of the companies have been lying about the health of passengers and crew on board'. April 4: Leaked emails show NSW Health knew of the coronavirus risk on board the Ruby Princess before allowing its thousands of passengers to disembark. April 5: A criminal investigation is launched into how passengers were able to disembark without health checks April 8: A team of 30 detectives from state crime, counter terrorism and marine area command start investigating the handling of the Ruby Princess coronavirus scandal. The first briefing into the investigation is held. April 9: NSW Police clad in PPE equipment raid the vessel, questioning its captain and searching for evidence in a rapid escalation of the criminal investigation. April 11: NSW Health confirms that at least 46 crew members of the Ruby Princess cruise ship have contracted COVID-19 April 13: NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller says patient zero on board may have been a crew member serving meals to hundreds of passengers April 15: NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian announces an independent special commission to investigate the Ruby Princess fiasco April 23: With 500 crew left on board, the Ruby Princess left Australian waters to sail to Manila in the Phillipines Advertisement It comes after Jerry Lieben and his wife, Janet, both developed symptoms of the deadly respiratory infection on the Ruby Princess just one day after they were allowed to disembark the ship. Mr Lieben told A Current Affair on Monday night someone needed to be held accountable for the debacle. 'Why did they put us on the ship?' he asked. 'Why did they let us board? There must have been red flags,' he said. He claims the ship was under lockdown and their boarding time on March 8 was delayed - and not enough was done to ensure they were healthy when they disembarked after the trip to New Zealand. Jerry (pictured, left) and Janet Lieben (right) had been enjoying a special 11-day cruise with old army friends around New Zealand on the doomed Ruby Princess The now widowed great-great-grandfather also recalled his last conversation with his wife, telling her he loved her while she was fighting for life in a hospital bed. 'I was in the room next to her, I managed to see her before she died. But it was too rough of her on her breathing so I had to leave,' he said while tears streamed down his face. 'She was really getting upset, I combed her hair and told her I loved her and left the room and that's the last I seen her.' There is 'clear evidence' COVID-19 has come off the Ruby Princess (pictured off coast of Sydney on Sunday) and at least 12 passengers have died in Australia because of it Ruby Princess is pictured docked at Circular Quay as passengers disembarked in Sydney on March 19 Poll SHOULD PASSENGERS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED OFF THE RUBY PRINCESS CRUISE SHIP? YES NO SHOULD PASSENGERS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED OFF THE RUBY PRINCESS CRUISE SHIP? YES 39 votes NO 563 votes Now share your opinion He said while he initially felt nothing but pain and sorrow over the loss of the love of his life, grief has now turned to anger. 'After what happened, I just think I need justice for my beautiful wife, because none of this should have happened,' he said. The couple returned to Sydney Harbour from the trip of a lifetime on March 19, and had heard whispers of respiratory infections on board. So they were shocked at the ease in which they disembarked the ship. 'When it was our turn to leave, we said ''ah well, we're going to get checked'', but nothing happened... We collected our luggage, but nothing got checked.' Mr Lieben said they were handed a form asking them to self isolate at home for 12 days, but that there were no checkpoints to ensure they were of good health before making the trip home to central New South Wales. The couple began developing COVID-19 symptoms the day after returning home from the cruise So far, at least 5,795 people in Australia have been infected with coronavirus, including 41 people who have died Mr Lieben said he wants justice for his wife and doesn't believe they should have been allowed to board the ship Within 24 hours of arriving home, the pair knew something wasn't right. They called Orange Hospital and were asked to visit the facility for a COVID-19 test. Both results returned a positive reading. Despite their age, the pair continued to quarantine at home before Mr Lieben experienced a nasty fall. Both were rushed to hospital, and Ms Lieben's condition deteriorated. Janet Lieben (pictured) with her beloved dog Benny. The doting great, great grandmother died after suffering complications from COVID-19 Mr Lieben has opted against a funeral for his wife because nobody - not even himself - would be able to attend. He is still quarantined and showing symptoms of coronavirus and has been granted daily 15-minute visits with his son to provide him care. 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 army veteran made the difficult decision to cremate his wife's body, and will celebrate her life with a memorial 'once this is all over,' he said. On Sunday, NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller confirmed a criminal investigation will look into the handling of the fiasco. The commissioner said it was 'too early to tell' whether a crime was committed, but said there was 'no doubt' coronavirus was brought off the ship. The investigation - led by the NSW police homicide squad - aims to identity how passengers were allowed to disembark the Ruby Princess in Sydney, resulting in several deaths and COVID-19 outbreaks throughout the country. 'The only way I can get to the bottom of whether our national biosecurity laws and our state laws were broken is through a criminal investigation,' Mr Fuller said. He told reporters transparency regarding patient health on board the cruise ship was a key question for the investigation. In view of the ongoing crisis, the government has come up with several measures to aid the economy. Recently it allowed states to avail of up to 50 per cent of their 2020-21 (FY21) borrowing requirements. Heres the latest on the outbreak and government measures to contain its impact on the economy: Last month, even before the (RBI) issued the indicative borrowing calendar for the states for April-June and the one for the Centre for April-September, the Centre gave states the permission to borrow up to 50 per cent of their limit. Here is what this means: Even in normal times, states have their fiscal limits to borrow. While those fiscal responsibility and budget management limits are still in place, officials at the Centre and in states acknowledged that these are not normal times. Now, according to the RBIs indicative calendar for borrowing by the states in the April-June quarter, they are expected to borrow Rs 1.27 trillion. Of that, around Rs 55,225 crore is expected to happen in April. That amount, and the estimate for the quarter, will certainly be breached. While there are no official estimates of how much states will borrow in FY21, as all the state budgets are not out yet, economists like of estimate it could be close to Rs 7 trillion. Besides, on Thursday, Prime Minister held a video conference meeting with chief ministers of various states on the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. A day later, the released Rs 17,287.08 crore to states in revenue-deficit grants and state disaster response mitigation funds for FY21. However, the amount released by the is just a fraction of what states have been demanding, in financial support as well as clearing pending dues. And to this, Central government officials say there is understandably a resource crunch, but more will be given to states. Now, speaking state wise, Maharashtra had sought a special package worth Rs 25,000 crore from the central government and asked it to release pending dues worth Rs 16,654 crore under various heads by March 31, to fight the economic crisis stemming from the new Covid-19 outbreak. Tamil Nadu has sought a special assistance of Rs 4,000 crore and a slew of other forms of financial support. West Bengal has also asked for a package of Rs 25,000 crore and clearance of dues worth Rs 36,000 crore. Additionally, all states have sought relaxation of their borrowing limits. Now, coming to the latest on the outbreak. In India, the number of cases saw a dramatic increase of over 700 to 4,298 and death toll rose to 118, according to the Worldometer data. Meanwhile, amid criticism for not reaching out to the Opposition even as the country faced a grave health crisis and a 21-day lockdown, Prime Minister on Sunday called up several Opposition leaders, including Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, besides former prime ministers and presidents of the country. Globally, the death toll surpassed 69,479 and the number of infections rose to 1,274,346. The death toll is nearing the 10,000-mark, even as the total number of cases in that country now stands at 3,36,670. In the UK, Prime Minister was admitted to a hospital because of persistent symptoms of the coronavirus, a spokesman confirmed on Sunday. Dame Vera Lynn was known as the forces' sweetheart. (Getty Images) As the Queen gave a special message in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, she harked back to her own childhood in the Second World War, and quoted the Forces sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn. On Sunday evening, the Queen said: We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again. The final words echoed the song of Dame Vera, who rose to fame during the Second World War and lifted the spirits of Britons, and soldiers, during the Blitz. The chorus to the song, recorded by Dame Vera in 1942, is: We'll meet again, Don't know where, Don't know when, But I know we'll meet again some sunny day. Read more: Coronavirus: Queen says 'better days will return' as she addresses nation and Commonwealth Speaking to Saga magazine in 2009, Dame Vera said: I always tried to choose cheerful songs, that soldiers missing their wives and sweethearts could relate to. We weren't psychologists, but we understood that it was important to express the right meaning, and we put a lot of effort into getting the songs right. She didnt get an official hit when it was first released, because the chart did not exist, but a compilation album of her songs which was released in 2009 went to number one, making her the oldest living artist to get to the UK top spot. She was 93. Dame Vera Lynn became the Forces' Sweetheart during the Second World War. (Getty Images) The classic song has been covered by Rod Stewart, Sheridan Smith, and Katherine Jenkins, among others. Dame Vera released her own message of hope just over two weeks ago, as she celebrated her 103rd birthday. Read more: Coronavirus: 'Nobody else alive could have done that' - Queen wins praise for her message In a video message she said: We are facing a very challenging time at the moment, and I know many people are worried about the future. Im greatly encouraged that despite these struggles we have seen people joining together. They are supporting one another, reaching into the homes of their neighbours by offering assistance to the elderly and sending messages of support and singing into the streets. Story continues Music is so good for the soul, and during these hard times we must all help each other to find moments of joy. Keep smiling and keep singing. In another message, calling on people to pull together, she said: I am reminded of World War Two, when our country faced the darkest of times and yet, despite our struggles, pulled together for the common good and we faced the common threat together as a country, and as a community of countries that joined as one right across the world. Dame Vera was born in East Ham, London, and rose to fame while performing for the troops during the war in countries including Egypt, India and Burma. Her best-known songs include The White Cliffs Of Dover and Therell Always Be An England. The Queen also spoke of her own involvement in World War Two. She mentioned her first ever broadcast, as Princess Elizabeth, with her sister, the late Princess Margaret. Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world Fact-checker: The number of COVID-19 cases in your local area 6 charts and maps that explain how COVID-19 is spreading Dame Vera Lynn with a cutout of herself after she was named personality of the century. (Press Association) Broadcasting from Windsor Castle aged 14, the then princess spoke to children around the country to offer comfort. It reminds me of the very first broadcast I made, in 1940, helped by my sister. We, as children, spoke from here at Windsor to children who had been evacuated from their homes and sent away for their own safety. Today, once again, many will feel a painful sense of separation from their loved ones. But now, as then, we know, deep down, that it is the right thing to do, she said on Sunday evening. Read more: Queen's message: Four other times the Queen gave a special address Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret making a broadcast to the children of the Empire during World War Two. (Getty Images) During her Childrens Hour broadcast on October 13 1940, Princess Elizabeth sent her best wishes to the children who had been evacuated from Britain to America, Canada and elsewhere. In the crackling radio message, she said: Thousands of you in this country have had to leave your homes and be separated from your fathers and mothers. My sister Margaret Rose and I feel so much for you as we know from experience what it means to be away from those we love most of all. Margaret, then aged 10, joined in to say goodbye. The Queen went on to serve in the Army, training as a mechanic. ---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK--- Redmi has announced a new smartphone, and this one is extremely affordable. Were talking about the Redmi 8A Pro handset, which actually costs less than $100, but well talk about that a bit later. The Redmi 8A Pro is a phone made out of polycarbonate, which includes a waterdrop display notch. The phone also has a chin below the display, but its bezels are not thick at all. Theyre certainly thinner than youd expect considering this phones pricing. The companys logo is included on the phones chin, while all the physical keys lie on the right. The companys branding is also included on the back, while the device offers two rear cameras. Advertisement Those two cameras are vertically-aligned, and an LED flash is placed above them. The back side of the phone is moderately curved, though the curvature is more pronounced on the edges. The Redmi 8A Pro includes a Dot Notch display, with Gorilla Glass 5 on top of it This smartphone features a 6.22-inch HD+ (1520 x 720) Dot Notch display. Curved glass is placed on top of that display, and were looking at Gorilla Glass 5 here. The display itself is flat, though, just to be clear. The Snapdragon 429 octa-core processor fuels this smartphone, and that is Qualcomms entry-level SoC. The phone also includes 2GB / 3GB of LPDDR3 RAM and 32GB of eMMC 5.1 flash storage. Advertisement You can expand this devices storage via a microSD card up to 512GB. Android 9 Pie comes pre-installed on the device, along with MIUI 11. There are two SIM card slots inside of this phone, while a 3.5mm headphone jack is also available. Wireless FM Radio is also supported, and the phone is splash resistant (P2i coating). A 5,000mAh battery is included, along with 18W charging A 5,000mAh battery lies inside of this smartphone, and it supports 18W fast charging. A 13-megapixel camera sits on the back (f/2.2 aperture), along with a 2-megapixel (f/2.4) secondary camera. Advertisement An 8-megapixel front-facing camera is also a part of the package, by the way. The phone also includes Bluetooth 4.2, and it supports dual 4G VoLTE. A Type-C USB port is included on the bottom, and youll be charging the device via that port. The phone measures 156.48 x 75.41 x 9.4mm, and weighs 188 grams. The phone comes in Midnight Gray, Sea Blue, and Sky White color variants. The device is priced at the equivalent of $93 in Indonesia, for the 2GB RAM model. The 3GB RAM model costs $99. So both variants are cheaper than $100. Well see to how many markets this phone will arrive. At least 25 Malian soldiers have been killed in an attack on a military base in the northern town of Bamba, the government said in the latest bout of violence in the West African nation. A dozen assailants were also neutralised during the terrorist attack early on Monday morning, the government said in a statement, without specifying which group may have been involved in the assault. A resident of Bamba, who spoke to AFP news agency on condition of anonymity, said armed men had been riding motorbikes around nearby villages since Sunday, before gathering for the dawn attack. We saw 23 bodies on the spot, the Bamba resident said, describing the aftermath of the raid, adding that fighters had destroyed the camp and stolen equipment. No civilian was hurt, this was an operation against the camp, the resident added. Fireball of conflict No group has claimed responsibility for Mondays attack. Malis army has repeatedly suffered heavy casualties from armed groups active in the area with links to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS). A localised revolt that began in northern Mali in 2012 has spread to the centre of the country and to neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso, where security has swiftly deteriorated over the past year amid a fireball of conflict involving multiple armed groups, military campaigns by national armies and international partners as well as local militias. About 4,000 people died in the three countries last year, a fivefold increase compared with 2016, according to the United Nations figures. Former colonial power France has deployed thousands of troops across the semi-arid swath of land beneath the Sahara desert known as the Sahel, but French officials acknowledge they have failed to slow the violence. The Mali attack comes despite attempts to reinvigorate the countrys political life in the hope of staunching the bloodshed. The former French colony braved threats of violence and coronavirus infection to stage much-delayed parliamentary elections on March 29. The hope is that the new National Assembly will implement reforms from a 2015 peace agreement brokered between the government in Bamako and several armed groups. The implementation has been painfully slow, although this year saw the Malian army deploy units made up of both former rebels and regulars a key provision of the deal. The pact also provides for government decentralisation, a demand of some of the rebel groups. Parallel to these efforts, the government in Bamako has also said it is prepared to enter into talks with armed groups. Al-Qaeda-affiliated armed groups have indicated that they are prepared to negotiate with the government, but only if French and UN troops pull out. Ukrainian firefighters battled two wildfires on Sunday and Monday near the Chernobyl nuclear power station, which was evacuated during the Soviet era after a 1986 nuclear-reactor explosion, The Associated Press reports. Radiation levels at blazes, which covered dozens of acres in the 1,000-square-mile Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, rose to 16 times above normal, said the head of the state ecological inspection service, Yehor Firsov. The zone has been unpopulated, except for about 200 people who refuse to leave, since the disaster at the plant produced a cloud of radioactive fallout that drifted over Europe. Fires in the forests around the shuttered plant have been common. Radiation levels in the capital, Kyiv, remained within the normal range. More stories from theweek.com Trump has a 'small personal financial interest' in hydroxycholorquine drugmaker. Allies have bigger stakes. Police find drowned body of Robert Kennedy's granddaughter, whose son is also presumed dead Late night hosts recap Trump's coronavirus weekend: 'snake oil salesman,' face mask refusenik By Trend Slovenia and Azerbaijan should unleash the untapped opportunities not only in trade cooperation but also in services and investments, Minister of Economic Development and Technology Zdravko Pocivalsek told Trend. "Slovenia and Azerbaijan have long and friendly diplomatic relationship, although the economic cooperation is quite modest. Currently it is based on the trade and in the vast majority on the export of goods from Slovenia to Azerbaijan," said the minister. "This is something we need to work on although Slovenian business community cooperates quite well with the Azerbaijani companies." Pocivalsek pointed out that the cooperation has been supported by the Association of Friendship between Slovenia and Azerbaijan and also by the Slovenian-Azerbaijani Business Council. "Nonetheless, we are aware that it could be upgraded and that the exchange of information about the potentials of each country is essential." As for the new spheres of cooperation, the minister pointed out those which are green, creative and smart, which is also in line with Slovenias slogan for economy and also with the sustainable development. "I am convinced that we can create a lot of green solutions, creative ideas and take smart decisions for mutual benefit and increase the economic cooperation between Slovenia and Azerbaijan. We just need to get to know each other better," he said. Pocivalsek went on to add that in Slovenia business has been thriving, which has resulted in strong economic growth in the last few years. "Every company and investor, which has a clear vision of business in Slovenia, sustainable attitude and responsibility is more than welcome in Slovenia. We offer a stimulating and stable business environment," he said. The minister said the Slovenian government is committed to improve it even further with proactive reforms and is constantly taking measures to create a competitive, transparent, simple and investor-friendly environment. "Our central geostrategic position at the heart of Europe with direct access to the Adriatic sea and modern infrastructure are important factors of our competitiveness. Among all our comparative advantages I would like to emphasise that our important advantage lies in people who are highly motivated, educated and experienced with good knowledge of languages and strong regional connections. They can offer tailor made services and customized solutions in combination with innovative products and technologies," said Pocivalsek. He pointed out that the companies, which are operating in Slovenia, are demonstrating every day that they can compete effectively in the global market while at the same time exploring local advantages. "We are committed to diversify our exports further and to develop products and services with high added value. In order to accelerate this process, we wish to attract investment with high-tech products and services. Slovenia prides itself also with numerous institutions of innovative environment and research institutions, which are getting high awards on different levels and benefit from our support environment and incentives for R&D. R&D and technology transfer is just one more option for the increase of our cooperation," Pocivalsek concluded. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Coronavirus and the experts: Which will cause more harm? By Greg Strange Experts cant live with em, cant live without em! We need their expertise, but one expert will tell you one thing while another tells you the opposite. Sometimes the same expert will tell you opposite things at two different times. What the . . .?! Take President Fauci er, I mean, Dr. Fauci for instance. That would be President Donald Trumps head honcho bigwig infectious disease doctor advising him on all things coronavirus. On January 26, 2020, this medical expert said during an interview on a radio program that, pertaining to the coronavirus, Its a very, very low risk to the United States. That was his expert opinion at the time. Funny thing is, though, the last time I checked, the United States is now closed for business, lights out, curtains drawn, shut down until further notice. Presumably, either Dr. Fauci or some other equally brilliant expert will let us all know when its safe to go back to normal again if indeed anything will ever be normal again. Incidentally, five days after Fauci delivered his monumentally incorrect expert opinion on the radio, Trump correctly ceased incoming travel from China, one millisecond after which he was branded a racist and his action was referred to by Joe Biden as hysterical xenophobia. Now, we actually have certain states, in the throes of their lockdown madness, trying to prevent fellow Americans from other states from coming in. What is that, hysterical out-of-state-ophobia? But the larger point is, the same expert who originally said there was nothing to worry about, proceeded to do a one-eighty and now believes that anything less than destroying the worlds greatest economy could result in millions of deaths. Damn these "experts!" The problem with "experts" is, just because they know a lot about some particular subject or field of science doesnt mean they have any wisdom, or a good grasp of the big picture, or even plain old common sense. So, not withstanding that Dr. Fauci was monumentally wrong about the virus back in late January, he came to understand that it is highly contagious and the best way to stop it must be to isolate everybody from each other, and thus, a national shutdown was needed. And he may be right about that one issue of stopping the spread. But if you ask him what will be the economic and social consequences of that, his response might well be, Thats not my area of expertise. Im just trying to stop the virus. So, if the cure turns out to be worse than the disease, well, we should have consulted other experts about all of that other messy stuff. Well, heres something that any unsophisticated, nonexpert deplorable can understand. If you shut down the worlds most dynamic economy, the consequences will without a doubt be catastrophic and potentially far worse than anything the virus alone would have caused. Tens of millions of people will experience financial, social and psychological devastation, the likes of which few now living have ever seen. Broken lives, broken families, desperation, hopelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, poverty, hunger and crime will all be the result. And also . . . death, plenty of death, the avoidance of which is what the shutdown was supposed to have been all about in the first place. But death on a potentially large scale will come, not immediately, but over time. So for instance, because of all the shattered lives caused by the economic catastrophe, there will be increased suicides and various forms of self-destructive behaviors that will result in death. There will also be millions of unemployed people who no longer have their employer-provided health insurance and whose health concerns will go unattended, in many cases leading to death. There will be an increase in the use of alcohol and drugs, which in many cases will result in death. There will be an increase in violent crime, some of which will result in death. Does an expert in epidemiology or virology think about any of these very real consequences or does the expert only focus like a laser beam on his/her area of expertise, leaving the rest of it to get sorted out by someone else? The fact is that expertise, without accompanying wisdom, common sense or humility, can be extremely dangerous on a large scale. It reminds one of another global emergency, about which we are constantly warned by experts, as well as eager leftists, and that emergency is . . . wait for it . . . you know whats coming . . . climate change! Experts tell us that if we dont do something, and pronto, its gonna be curtains for Planet Earth, or at least for the human beings inhabiting it. Its a climate emergency, were told. But every apocalyptic climate prediction that has been made for nearly fifty years now has been wrong, and yet, we are still advised to listen to the experts. First it was the impending ice age. Then, after a classic one-eighty, it was global warming and the melting of the polar ice caps. After that, it was simply climate change, which would encompass virtually anything that could possibly happen, meteorologically speaking. So, under that absurdly broad umbrella it became standard procedure to gratuitously blame every extreme of weather on climate change and then to scream that the sky is falling. And what do the experts advise us to do about this alleged emergency? Reduce carbon emissions. And how do we do that? By getting rid of fossil fuels. And what do we replace them with? Windmills and solar panels. And are those viable alternatives to fossil fuels? No, of course not. So what would happen if we got rid of fossil fuels? We would have to go back to the horse and buggy days. Is anybody willing to do that? Dont make me laugh. Seriously, if we followed the advice of climate experts, the global economy and the modern world would collapse. But theyre the experts on climate, damn it! And they know what theyre talking about! We only have __ years left to do something, or else! Or else what? Or else millions nay, billions may die! And how many will die if we destroy the modern world? Thats not our field, we just do climate. There are dark days ahead and the experts wont be able to shield us from whats coming. In fact, experts may well be responsible for much of it. It is totally possible that a more moderate response to the coronavirus might have worked. Granted, there would have been a higher death toll, but that could well have been balanced out by not having a ruined economy, which itself will cause much misery and death. We can be certain of one thing. The left has seen very clearly how a national emergency can be used to exercise maximum control over a submissive population. At the moment, nearly the entire country has willingly submitted to what is basically house arrest, even at the price of a ruined economy which will have its own devastating consequences. If or rather, when the Democrat Party regains the presidency and the senate, look for large scale emergencies to come out of the woodwork which will require authoritarian solutions. Will anybody have the will to resist by then? Its an open question. Greg Strange can be reached at gpstrange30341@yahoo.com. (c) 2020 Greg Strange. Home A 28-year-old man died in a car crash in North York late Saturday night that also left a 50-year-old woman with life-threatening injuries, Toronto police say. Shortly after 11 p.m., Toronto police responded to a call about a collision on Steeles Avenue West, west of Islington Avenue. A 28-year-old man was driving a Lexus west on Steeles, made a U-turn, and struck by the drivers of two vehicles headed east, police said. A 53-year-old Nissan driver struck the passenger side of his car, while a 45-year-old Honda driver struck another part of the vehicle. The Lexus driver was pronounced dead at the scene. A 50-year-old female passenger in the Nissan was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries. The Nissan and Honda drivers were rushed to hospital, but police did not detail the extent of their injuries. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1900 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477). Amid growing pressure from countries like the US and easing supplies from China, India on Monday lifted the curbs on exports of 13 active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and their formulations. Sources claim the ban on exports of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) claimed to be effective to treat coronavirus may also be lifted. Exports were banned given the shortage of raw material in the country that could have, in turn, led to a crisis in the home market, especially for key drugs like paracetamol. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Iran rallies to produce crucial supplies as US retains sanctions despite coronavirus Iran Press TV Sunday, 05 April 2020 8:47 AM Iran will increase the production of protective masks for coronavirus relief to 4 million per day by the end of this month, Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Reza Rahmani says. Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, Iran had an overall capacity to manufacture 700,000 masks per day, the minister said, adding Iran's production of sanitizers has also risen eight-fold. Iran is the worse-hit country in the Middle East amid a draconian sanctions regime which the United States has been tightening since the virus outbreak. That means Iran has to rely on its own resources to cope with the crisis, so it does. Since its outbreak, the coronavirus has united and mobilized the country to help bring the scourge under check. Presenting the latest update on Sunday, Iran's Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour reported 2,483 new infections and 151 more deaths from the virus over the past 24 hours. In total, 58,226 Iranians have tested positive for COVID-19 while 3,603 have died, he pointed out, adding 22,011 patients have fully recovered so far On Saturday, a new artificial intelligence-based COVID-19 diagnosis system was unveiled by government officials in Tehran. "We have also been able to develop a new method with new technology in the field of artificial intelligence in order to detect the disease," explained Iranian Vice-President for Science and Technology Sorena Sattari. The new system, he said, should bring a "new perspective" to the diagnosis and treatment of the virus." The CT-scan based new method comes as the country has reported a shortage of radiologists. Officials say the situation is stabilizing across Iran as comprehensive screening and testing programs and other necessary measures are taken to rein in the virus spread. One area of concern, however, is the greater Tehran area where some residents have been flouting advisories to stay home, crowding streets and causing traffic jams across the city as the country's New Year holidays ended on Saturday. "We are still concerned about the virus, for example with the level of traffic in Tehran today and queues of cars stuck on freeways, because these people can take the virus to their homes or workplaces," Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi said, who has himself recovered from COVID-19. The official dismissed the US offer of aid to Iran in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic as "nonsensical" as he visited one of Iran's largest shopping malls transformed into a center to treat coronavirus patients. Iran Mall in west Tehran, which is one of the world's largest commercial complexes, has been fitted with ventilators, health monitoring systems and hundreds of hospital beds. In a rare commentary published in Britain's Guardian newspaper, Tehran Mayor Pirouz Hanachi said US sanctions are crippling Iran's fight against the coronavirus. "As a result (of sanctions), the ability of my colleagues and I to provide the health, logistical and other essential infrastructure necessary to combat the disease has been drastically reduced. We experience this loss every day, and it can be counted in people that would not have died," Hanachi said. Hanachi said that the lives of many Iranians are lost every day as the US restrictions have deprived them of medicines and protective equipment they need to fight the virus. The Trump administration's refusal to halt its economic warfare against Iran is directly impeding our efforts to deal with a virus which knows no borders, he said. "The US embargo not only prohibits American companies and individuals from conducting lawful trade with Iranian counterparts, but given that the sanctions are extra-territorial, all other countries and companies are also bullied into refraining from doing legitimate business with Iranians, even the selling of medicines," said Hanachi. He blasted the US administration for its unjust treatment of Iran. "The outcome of such irresponsible policies and behavior is not limited to Iran; they have also inflicted harm on the American public." Hanachi underlined the significance of collective international efforts in reducing injustice and inequality beyond national and racial boundaries or "global crises will continue to indiscriminately endanger every country in the world". Iranian officials, world bodies and politicians have called for the removal of US sanctions on Iran to help the country fight off the spread of the virus. Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN office in Geneva Esmaeil Baqaei Hamaneh said on Friday that the US medical sanctions constituted an "unprecedented threat" to global public health, urging the international community to react in earnest to Washington's restrictions. In a letter to Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Baqaei Hamaneh said the imposition of cruel and illegal sanctions on Iran, which has resulted in the ordinary Iranian people being denied access to medicine and medical equipment and services, clearly exemplifies a crime against humanity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Police have issued an anniversary appeal 20 years on from the disappearance of a 14-year-old girl - saying 'It's now time to tell'. Sarah Benford was last seen in the Kettering area of Northamptonshire on April 6 2000, before a murder probe was launched three years later. Speaking on the anniversary of her disappearance, Detective Sergeant Julie Gallagher, of Northamptonshire Police, said that, despite having no current suspects, officers believe somebody knows what the teenager's last movements were. She told the press assocation: 'Today is the anniversary - it's been 20 years since Sarah Benford went missing. We're desperate to try and find where Sarah is. 'It's still a live investigation and we still regularly receive intelligence. We're currently reviewing all lines of investigation just to see if something has been missed or if there's something that someone can pick up to give us a new line of inquiry.' On the 20-year anniversary of the disappearance of Sarah Benford (pictured), police are calling for anybody with information to finally come forward in a 'time to tell' plea Asked about the latest development in the case, DS Gallagher said: 'The last development was 2016 when we did some searches in Kettering. We had some intelligence and we did some digs. 'Fortunately we did find a gun but we've been unable to link that weapon to the crime scene.' Asked if she feared the case would go unsolved, DS Gallagher said: 'I really, really hope it doesn't. 'I've been working on the case for seven years. I don't intend to go anywhere and I actively work on it every day. 'I really think there is a chance we can find Sarah, but we do need the people, certainly in Kettering, to work with us - because somebody knows what her last movements were, and they just need to talk to us.' Addressing what the motive could be behind the schoolgirl's disappearance, DS Gallagher said: 'Sarah had only just recently turned 14 when she went missing - she was a child. 'I don't know what anybody's motive could be to murder anybody, certainly not a child. 'Whether something has gone wrong, whether she has been caught up in the middle of something - either way, somebody must know because we haven't found her body so somebody is involved.' Benford was last seen in the Kettering area of Northamptonshire on April 6 2000, disappearing at the age of 14 before a murder probe was launched three years later Asked if she had a message for anybody with information, DS Gallagher said: 'Time moves on, it's been 20 years. It must play on people's minds. 'If people were there that didn't commit the murder but saw something, it's now time to tell. 'We want to find Sarah and we want to take her home to her family.' Addressing how the family had been coping throughout the past 20 years, she said: 'Unfortunately it will never go away for them. 'We remain actively investigating the inquiry, they are aware of that, so they are living it. 'It was Sarah's birthday a couple of weeks ago and then this appeal today - they will have to relive things. 'It must be so hard to lose a child and even harder when we've not been able to find where Sarah is, and let the family give her the funeral they want to say goodbye.' Local police insist the historic case 'will not be forgotten any time soon' and hold strong hopes of being able to bring Sarah home to her family and provide closure Speaking about the size of the investigation, DS Gallagher said: 'It's been a really large-scale investigation for the past 20 years. 'We've had over 800 statements that have been taken, people have been arrested during this inquiry, and we still have a team of five people on this inquiry. 'The searches have taken us to London, to Wales and all over the country - it's a really big inquiry. 'It's certainly one that will not be forgotten any time soon.' DS Gallagher urged anyone with information about Sarah's disappearance to contact Northamptonshire Police free of charge on 101 and ask for the cold case team, quoting Operation Yacht Thousands of Bangladeshi clothes labourers were ordered home after arriving at work to find their factories remained shut, despite owners asking them to come in during a coronavirus lockdown. There were chaotic scenes as staff arrived in Dhaka hoping to get paid for March and resume work after a 10-day break enforced by the government to tackle the spread of the coronavirus. Although the government later extended the shutdown to April 14, workers said owners asked them to return by April 5. Thousands of workers had walked from their villages following a shutdown of public transport to get to work. When they arrived they found factories remain closed and many had been laid off. Above, workers return to their village homes at the Shimulia ferry terminal in Mawa The Ministry of Labour and Employment in Bangladesh has asked garment factory owners not to sack workers and pay them full salaries for March Thousands of employed had arrived at work only to find a government-enforced shut down of factories had been extended, meaning they were ordered back home Labour leaders said the majority of workers had been temporarily laid off or sent on leave. Some said they had permanently lost their jobs. Khadiza Akter, vice president of the union Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation, said: 'When they reached the factories this morning, most of the workers were told that they were laid off or that the factory would resume after the shutdown.' Bangladesh relies heavily on the garment industry for more than 80% of its exports, with around 4,000 factories employing four million people, most who are women. It second-biggest supplier of clothes to Western countries, behind only China. Two major industry bodies warned last week that Bangladesh was set to lose about $6 billion in export revenue this financial year amid cancellations from brands and retailers Many top Western fashion brands manufacture clothing in Bangladesh but cancellations have been increasing daily amid coronavirus-driven lockdown. Akter said thousands of workers had put their lives at risk due to 'mismanagement' in a bid to get back to work, ignoring advice over social distancing with police outside the factories telling them to return home. She said: 'They didn't have to come back. They could have been told on the phone about the factory closures.' Garment worker unions are calling on the government, buyers, or factory owners to pay workers who will struggle to feed themselves and their families with no income. Babul Rahman is a garment worker who travelled more than 95 miles by auto-rickshaw and on foot to get to work because of the suspension of public transport. Unions and human rights groups have asked major Western buyers to support Bangladesh's garment workers financially The global garment industry in Bangladesh is valued at more than $1 trillion and brings approximately $22 billion worth of revenue into the country When he arrived, he was told he had been laid off. He said: 'The management asked me to come here on April 5 and now they are closed. 'I had to spend thrice as much money to come to Dhaka because buses are closed due to the shut down.' According to Bangladesh's labour law, workers who have been laid off will be paid less than their usual earnings until the factories reopen. Rahman added: 'Everything is more expensive because of the coronavirus as it is, and now if my salary decreases, I don't know how I will survive.' Bangladesh's Ministry of Labour and Employment has asked garment factory owners not to sack workers and pay them full salaries for March by April 12. Ministry spokesman Shib Nath Roy said: 'We know that there have been some issues, but we are hopeful that the owners will accept our request.' In Bangladesh there have so far been 113 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 13 deaths, according to John Hopkins University. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association has been forced to keep factories closed to prevent a further spread of coronavirus. There have been 13 deaths and 113 confirmed cases of the virus in Bangladesh The Bangladeshi clothing industry is made up of around four million people, most of whom are women Two major industry bodies warned last week that Bangladesh was set to lose about $6 billion in export revenue this financial year amid cancellations from brands and retailers. Unions and human rights groups have asked major Western buyers to support Bangladesh's garment workers financially. Apoorva Kaiwar from the IndustriALL Global Union said: 'We ... are working with our affiliates to make this happen,' when asked if brands were discussing packages for workers. She added: 'The brands are still having their internal discussions and we hope to hear about positive developments soon,' she added. Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda on Monday appreciated efforts of Karnatka government in identifying and testing Tablighi event returnees for COVID-19 and sought action against those trying to project the entire minority community in bad light on social media for the spread of the pandemic. In a letter to Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, he also condemned incidents of attacks on doctors and health department workers and sought protection for them. Referring to the Tablighi-Jamaat congregationat Nizamuddin in Delhli, the country's biggest hotspot for the spread of coronavirus, Gowda complemented the governmentfor its efforts in identifying, quarantining and and testing those who attended the religious meet. He said it was important for the government to take strict action against the elements in the community for their wrong deeds. However, for the "misdeeds of a few, comments blaming the whole minority community for the spread of the coronavirus infection and showing them in bad light were being posted on social media," Gowda said. He urged the governmentto immediatelytake legal action against those projecting the minority community in a bad light on social media. Complementing doctors, nurses, paramedic staff, civic and health workers, the JD(S) patriarch condemned incidents of attack on them, and demanded that governmentprovide protection for them and take action against the culprits. Noting that the government has provided Rs 2,000 cash assistance to about 15 lakh construction labourers in the state affected by the lockdown, he demanded that it should be increased to Rs 5000, considering families dependent on them. He also sought Rs 5,000 relief to unorganized sector employees, garment workers, those working at hotels, malls, small and micro industries and small time artisans. Referring to incidents of dairy and other farmers throwing their products on roads in view of fall in demand in the backdrop of the lockdown, he said if government did not come to their rescue, the situation would lead to sucidies. He suggested that districtin-charge Ministers should travel in their respective districts and like in Kerala should make an arrangement to purchase vegetables and fruits through district administration by paying fair price. In case the farmers were not able to harvest their crops, they should be provided with adequate compensation, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Himachal Pradesh Police have registered FIRs against four persons, who were linked to the Tablighi Jamaat event, recently hosted in Delhi. The FIRs were registered under Sections 188, 269 and 270 of IPC and Section 51 of Disaster Management Act in Nerwa area of Shimla. Three out of the four persons attended Markaz at Delhi's Nizamuddin area on March 9 and the fourth person attended it on March 18. As many as 109 deaths have been reported across the country due to the deadly disease. There are 3,666 active cases in the country while 292 people have been cured/discharged/migrated. Maharashtra has reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases so far, with 690 cases, followed by Tamil Nadu and Delhi with 571 and 503 cases, respectively. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cruise ship passengers exited their cabins, disembarked and began their journey home after weeks at sea while ships were denied arrival in Florida for fear of overwhelming hospitals amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Carnival Cruises-owned Holland America Line sister ships Zaandam and Rotterdam unloaded about 1,200 passengers at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, April 3, with the help of the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and state and local authorities, according to a Coast Guard news release. In the past three weeks, the Coast Guard has led the processing of more than 120 vessels to remove 250,000 passengers from cruise ships due, the release said. Since March 7, when COVID-19 cases on cruise ships operating around the U.S. escalated, the Coast Guard has enabled 31 life-saving medevacs. Fourteen critically ill people were taken off the Zaandam and Rotterdam on stretchers Friday, and brought to Florida hospitals, The Associated Press reports. Nine people on the ships had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Two of four passengers who died on the Zaandam had the virus. Passengers who headed home after disembarking were instructed to wear face masks while traveling and to begin a 14-day self-quarantine upon arriving home, the report said. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was initially opposed to allowing cruise ships to disembark at the states ports but changed his mind after finding out many passengers were U.S. citizens, including about 50 from Florida, the report said. He told Fox News it was the humanitarian thing to do. Most of the cruise industry voluntarily suspended ship operations from U.S. ports of call on March 13. On March 14, the Centers for Disease Control issued a no sail order to stop cruise lines that didnt voluntarily suspend operations. We commend the decision by the cruise industry to cease operations. However, pausing a global tourist industry does not happen instantaneously or easily, said Vice Admiral Dan Abel, Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Operations. The Federal, state, local and industry cooperation to achieve this feat truly represents the whole-of-nation approach directed by the President and is essential to fighting the spread of this virus and working to minimize the loss of life. However, hundreds of crew members remain on dozens of ships that are either docks or waiting off the shore of Florida. The Coast Guard last week directed cruise lines to prepare to treat all but the worst cases on board. As of Saturday, there were 114 cruise ships carrying 93,000 crew members, either in or near U.S. ports and waters, including 73 cruise ships, with 52,000 crew members, moored or anchored in U.S. ports and anchorages. Another 41 cruise ships with 41,000 crew members were in the vicinity of the United States. RELATED: Coast Guard halts cruise ship docking indefinitely amid coronavirus pandemic As of Monday, April 6, the United States had nearly 331,000 confirmed COVID-19 coronavirus cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There have been 8,910 deaths related to the virus. Florida has nearly 12,000 cases. On Sunday, Michigan had 15,718 confirmed COVID-19 coronavirus cases and 617 related deaths. Schoolcraft County, where Manistique is located, had zero confirmed cases. Neighboring Delta County had seven cases and zero deaths. Neighboring Luce and Mackinac counties each had one case and zero deaths. 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: Monday, April 6: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Michigan State Police troopers are delivering groceries in this U.P. town Whitmer extends order banning non-essential visits to hospitals, care facilities Without coronavirus aid, point of no return looms for Michigan small businesses Next Michigan legislative session will look a lot different amid coronavirus outbreak In this file photo taken on March 28, 2020 A handout picture released by 10 Downing Street, the office of the British prime minister on March 28, 2020, shows an image of Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson on a screen as he remotely chairs the morning novel coronavirus Covid-19 meeting by video link, in Downing Street in central London. - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was taken to hospital on April 5, 2020 for tests, his office said, 10 days after he tested positive for coronavirus. Johnson, 55, announced he had mild symptoms of COVID-19 on March 27 and had been in self-isolation at his Downing Street residence for seven days. (Photo by Andrew PARSONS / 10 Downing Street / AFP) British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to hospital for tests on Sunday after suffering persistent coronavirus symptoms 10 days after testing positive for the virus, though Downing Street said he remained in charge of the government. Johnson, who was isolating in Downing Street after testing positive last month, still had a high temperature and so his doctors felt he should go to an undisclosed hospital for tests in what the government said was a "precautionary step". "On the advice of his doctor, the prime minister has tonight been admitted to hospital for tests," his Downing Street office said in a statement. Johnson is expected to stay overnight. "This is a precautionary step, as the prime minister continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus ten days after testing positive for the virus," the statement added. News of his hospitalisation came only after an hour after Queen Elizabeth delivered a rallying call to the British public saying they would overcome the coronavirus outbreak if they stayed resolute. Johnson, 55, on March 27 became the first leader of a major power to announce that he had tested positive. He went into isolation at an apartment in Downing Street and said on Friday he was staying there as he still had a high temperature. Downing Street underscored that this was not an emergency admission and that Johnson remained in charge of the government. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will chair the government's emergency COVID-19 meeting on Monday, a source said. With only an unwieldy collection of sometimes ancient and contradictory precedents to go by, there is no simple, formally-enshrined "Plan B" or succession scenario should the prime minister become incapacitated. The pound briefly fell 0.4% vs the U.S. dollar to $1.2215 before trimming some losses to trade at $1.2230, down 0.3%. Queen Elizabeth had been informed of Johnson's admission to hospital, Buckingham Palace said. It made no further comment. U.S. President Donald Trump said Johnson was a "strong man" as he passed on his nation's best wishes. "All Americans are praying for him," Trump told a news conference. "He's a friend of mine, he's a great gentleman and a great leader, and as you know he went to the hospital today but I'm hopeful and sure that he's going to be fine." (Reuters) A police officer died of the coronavirus in Mexico City three weeks after working at a two-day rock festival attended by more than 60,000 people. Efrain Santillan Morales passed away Saturday, according to his wife, who notified the Department of Public Safety. A department spokesman confirmed to DailyMail.com on Monday that officer Santillan Morales is the first cop to die of the global pandemic in Mexico. He was part of the security detail that was assigned to work the Vive Latino festival on March 14 and 15, despite heavy scrutiny from health and government officials after the city government allowed organizers to proceed with the show that was headlined by Guns N' Roses. Officer Efrain Santillan Morales sadly passed away Saturday due to the coronavirus, three weeks after he was assigned to work at rock-and-roll festival in Mexico City. He is the first cop to die of the deadly virus in Mexico More than 60,000 fans attended the Vive Latino music festival in Mexico City on March 14 and 15 despite concerns of the spread of coronavirus in Mexico In the days following one of the country's most important music festivals, Santillan Morales developed bouts of diarrhea and vomiting. On March 27, Santillan Morales visited Zaragosa General Hospital and tested positive for COVID-19 on three different occasions on that day. Efrain Santillan Morales is the first cop to die of the coronavirus in Mexico, a police official confirmed to DailyMail.com According to Mexico newspaper La Jornada, at least two police officers who had come into contact with Santillan Morales were placed under medical supervision. It is unknown if either one of them had tested positive for the coronavirus. Only 53 confirmed COVID-19 cases had been reported in Mexico up until the weekend of the rock-and-roll festival. As of Monday, Mexico health officials registered 94 deaths due to the virus. Another 2,143 have tested positive. The health ministry reports at least nine cops have tested positive and 50 others who have presented symptoms are being kept in isolation. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who in recent weeks has been criticized for his handling of the epidemic, announced Saturday that his government hopes to build ventilators domestically. The leftist leader said Mexico is also is seeking to buy up to 5,000 ventilators abroad. Nearly 7,000 workers at 33 companies in Tan Thuan Processing Zone have become unemployed due to Covid-19. Nearly 7,000 workers at 33 companies in Tan Thuan Processing Zone have become unemployed due to Covid-19. Nguyen Thanh Long, chairman of HCM City People's Committee, inspects Tan Thuan Processing Zone Nguyen Thanh Long, chairman of HCM City People's Committee and head of the Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, visited the prevention work at Tan Thuan Processing Zone in District 7. According to the report to the chairman, the processing zone has 168 firms with 56,000 Vietnamese and 585 foreign workers. Since the start of the outbreak, the industrial zone has used all measures as regulated by the Ministry of Health and the Department of Health in HCM City. Tsao Chung Hung, director of Tan Thuan Company and investor of the processing zone, said the outbreak had affected 33 firms and nearly 7,000 workers were without work. 6,000 of them were temporarily laid off and 1,000 lost their jobs due to production downsizing. Textile companies are the most affected because of the lack of materials. "We are co-operating with the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to support firms and employees for the time being. Everyone is worried that the outbreak will further affect their jobs and incomes," he said. Phong gave high regards to the zone's prevention work and asked the HCM City Federation of Labour to work with the Department of Information and Communication for promotion and awareness programme. Firms with tens of thousands of workers should install dividers in the cafeteria and firms must sign a commitment to continue prevention work. "Protecting workers is protecting the production line. One sick worker means the whole sector and the production line would be affected," Phong said. Dtinews Nearly 70,000 labourers in Hanoi lose jobs amid COVID-19 pandemic Nearly 70,000 labourers had lost their jobs amid the COVID-19 crisis as many enterprises in Ha Noi have been forced to scale down production or temporarily suspended operations, the citys Confederation of Labour has announced. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 16:11:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BANGKOK, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The Thai government on Monday categorically dismissed rumors that a 24-hour curfew would shortly be imposed nationwide from the upcoming Friday, compared to the six-hour curfew currently. Thaveesilp Wisanuyothin, spokesman of the government-run Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), dismissed the 24-hour curfew rumors widely circulated in social media. A daily curfew between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. were imposed from April 2. Thaveesilp commented such unconfirmed hearsay may have stemmed from a written directive recently sent from the Ministry of Interior's Permanent Secretary Chatchai Phromlert to all provincial governors calling for "preparations to upgrade the measures and operations" against the COVID-19 pandemic at local level throughout the country. Many people may have been misled or misinterpreted the message as a step to be promptly taken in advent of curfew around the clock, according to the CCSA spokesman. Thailand has reported 51 new cases on Monday. Given the number of cases reported on daily basis by the Ministry of Public Health, no such thing as a 24-hour curfew will be declared anytime soon, according to the CCSA spokesman. Thaveesilp commented such unconfirmed rumors have merely sent panics and that those who might share untruthful, misleading content such as the 24-hour curfew could possibly be faced with severe legal penalties under current emergency rule. A woman whose hairdresser appointment was cancelled amid the coronavirus crisis has taken matters into her own hands by hacking off her hair with a knife. Corrie Walker had booked herself in for a hair cut but it was indefinitely delayed after New Zealand went into lockdown on March 25. Sick of her locks, Ms Walker decided to chop them off herself in a nerve-racking video posted to Facebook on Saturday. Corrie Walker (pictured) has gone viral for cutting her hair with a knife while in home isolation in New Zealand 'I have been in lockdown for two weeks now and I am kinda over it and I am kinda over this,' she says, tugging at her hair. 'I literally haven't brushed it in two weeks, so I am going to cut it off.' 'Don't have any scissors though so I've got this knife. So I guess I'll just get to it. I've tied it off, that's what they do right? And then we just saw it off.' She then pulls her pony tail up taught vertically over her head with her right hand while she uses the left to saw the long serrated blade through her hair. 'If you're wondering, no, I am not having a mental breakdown, I just don't have any scissors,' she says. After the first knife fails, she goes to the kitchen and returns with three more to try. The second knife is a success, and she continues to gouge out chunks of hair for five more minutes as the sharp edge teeters terrifyingly close to her scalp and ear. 'That feels so good,' she says combing through her thinned-out do,' I understand it looks like trash at the moment because I literally just sawed my hair off with a knife but I am kinda digging it.' She then uses an electric razor to tidy up the uneven strands, finishing up with a mullet. When complete, she walks into a bedroom to surprise her wife with her new cut, causing them to both laugh uncontrollably. 'You look ridiculous,' her wife says. Ms Walker said she did not intend to cut her hair into a mullet but is 'actually loves it' The video has gone viral racking up more than 237,000 views and almost 7000 shares. Ms Walker, who appeared good-humoured through out the clip, was praised by commentators for her hilarious approach 'I'm a hairstylist and THIS is Hysterical. You're Hysterical!! Thanks for making my day! Rawk that mullet gurl!' one person wrote. 'I was living for every minute. Thank you for bringing much needed laughter,' another comment read. Someone else added: 'Youve got giant lady b**ls !!! I love it LOL. I AM a hairstylist and the knives freaked me out but the end result it not so bad ! You go girl.' Many hairdressers took to the comment section to applaud Ms Walker for her hilarious video Ms Walker later took to Facebook to address the publicity her clip received, explaining it was made for her family and friends 'to have a laugh' and she did not expect it to go viral. 'Thanks for everyone who enjoyed the video,' she wrote. 'My hair will grow back, I am going to be in lockdown for the next 3 weeks minimum and until NZ is back down to level 1, I will not be leaving the house due to respiratory illness so only my poor wife has to deal with this look!' New Zealand is currently on alert Level 4, with people instructed to stay at home, schools and universities closed, as well as non-essential businesses and travel severly limited. Rajesh Shah lives by the adage 'Service to mankind is service to God'. A religious man, he cooked food for hundreds every day at a roadside eatery here, until the lockdown came into force. With his employer having downed shutters, Shah has registered himself with a community kitchen, where he cooks meal for essential service providers. Much like him, several cooks and restaurant helpers have also joined community kitchens across the city to feed the destitute and those engaged in emergency services, amid the growing COVID-19 crisis. Shah, a resident of Bihar's Gaya district, was approached by a local club in Kankurgachi area for preparing lunch of 100-odd policemen, civic volunteers and group-D staff of a nearby state hospital. "After living in Kolkata for around 10 years, I can now cook all Bengali delicacies, including egg curry, chicken curry and khichri. I have two assistants to help me with grocery shopping and distribution. I am happy that I could be of some help," the 40-year-old said. Ranjit Dey, a member of the club that runs the kitchen, said Shah has refused to take any money for his service. "We are glad that he is agreed to help. He hasn't charged a penny for his job," Dey said. A similar initiative in the city's Burrabazar area has also met with success, thanks to Shibu, a teenager employed with Basanta Hotel in the BBD Bagh area. He had been whipping up vegetarian dishes for the homeless and daily wagers at a community kitchen run by an NGO for the past 11 days. "This is a new experience for me, and I am cherishing it. Also, I no longer have to worry about my meals and expenses as the NGO takes good care of me," the Midnapore resident said. The story is no different for 20-year-old Bachcha, who is employed at an eatery in Sodepur, on the outskirts of the city. He is fairly popular for his fish curry among the auto drivers in the area. A spokesperson at Prantik, an organisation that runs a local canteen, said Bachcha cooks food for 100 people every day, with help from one or two more persons. "He is doing a great job...He takes all safety precautions while cooking," the spokesperson said. In another noble initiative, Anisha Paul, a student at Presidency University here, distributes home-cooked food among pavement dwellers. "I have asked my friends to join me in the initiative. Two days ago, I distributed food in the Park Street area. Tomorrow, I will be visiting another area with food. We must all chip in," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three men have been arrested following a stabbing in Belfast. A 29-year-old man has been left in a critical condition in hospital following the attack. The incident occurred in the Ardglen Place area in the north of the city on Sunday night. He was stabbed in the arm and back. Two 18-year-olds and a 20-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. A PSNI spokesman has urged anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that can assist the investigation to contact detectives at Musgrave Police Station on 101. Supermodel Elle MacPherson certainly lives up to her name 'The Body' on the May cover of Harper's Bazaar Australia. In the sexy shoot, the ageless 56-year-old shows off her endless legs and incredible figure in a metallic Gucci bodysuit and a pair of Bottega Veneta heels. The model's natural beauty is on full display in the glamorous images, which was taken by photographer Darren McDonald. Supermodel Elle MacPherson (pictured), 56, says she has 'found her purpose in life' as she shines bright in a metallic bodysuit on the cover of Harper's Bazaar Australia Hair stylist Sophie Roberts opted to give the beauty a relaxed look, letting her signature blonde locks fall naturally over her shoulders. Meanwhile, make-up artist Linda Jefferyes applied a subtle eyeliner and a nude lip. In another photo for the shoot, styled by Naomi Smith, Elle oozes sex appeal in a pair of high waisted yellow trousers with a rope-like belt and a brown bralette from Fendi. In her interview with the publication, Elle said she had now found her purpose in life with her wellness brand WelleCo, which sells plant-based supplements and beauty products. Chic: In another photo for the shoot, styled by Naomi Smith, Elle oozes sex appeal in a pair of high waisted yellow trousers with a rope-like belt and a brown bralette from Fendi 'Finding my purpose in life has been really empowering. It's a time of life when every decision I make, I ask, "Is this helping me? Is this adding to my purpose of not?"' she said. 'My first purpose was to be financially independent but then after that, then what, it's not a given. 'Today, my personal purpose is to share that the body can heal, given the right environment.' The model also praised Gwyneth Paltrow's wellness empire Goop, which currently has its own Netflix series. 'Today, my personal purpose is to share that the body can heal, given the right environment,' Elle said of her new-found purpose in her life Elle was 'honoured' to be on the cover and shared a photo of it to Instagram, referencing the coronavirus pandemic in her caption. 'Thank you Bazaar Australia - never a more important time to be talking about wellness,' she captioned the post. 'We could never have anticipated the health crisis we now face. I remain optimistic that we will evolve though this with grace.' By Imani Moise (Reuters) - Wells Fargo & Co said late Sunday that it will cap its participation in the U.S. government's small business coronavirus rescue program at $10 billion due to regulatory constraints. The $350 billion loan program, which launched on Friday, will provide low-interest loans to help small businesses cover payroll and other fixed costs such as rent, mortgages and utilities over the next eight weeks. "While we are actively working to create balance sheet capacity to lend, we are limited in our ongoing ability to use our strong capital and liquidity position to extend additional credit," Chief Executive Charlie Scharf said in a statement. The Federal Reserve in early 2018 ordered Wells Fargo to keep its assets below $1.95 trillion, until it had improved its governance and risk controls following a wave of sales practice scandals. The bank started 2020 with roughly $20 billion of room under the cap, according to filings. Wells Fargo, the fourth largest U.S. lender, has urged the U.S. Federal Reserve to lift the asset cap on the bank to help it support businesses and customers hit by economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak, Reuters has reported. But so far regulators have been cold on the idea. "We are committed to helping our customers during these unprecedented and challenging times, but are restricted in our ability to serve as many customers as we would like," Scharf said. The San Francisco-based lender said it has likely reached its $10 billion limit based on the applications it has already received, and will prioritize giving loans to non-profits and businesses with fewer than 50 employees. The bank will also give fees received from the program to non-profits focused on small business. Small businesses, which employ about half of U.S. private sector employees, have been dramatically hurt by the coronavirus pandemic as states have halted non-essential businesses and consumers curb their spending. Story continues Banks have been flooded with applications from clients looking for a piece of bailout fund. Bank of America Corp, the first large bank to begin accepting applications on Friday morning, said it received 85,000 applications requesting $22 billion on the first day. Wells Fargo opened its portal on Saturday. The bank said it was helping customers in other ways including deferring payments and waiving fees. Last month the bank deferred nearly $1.8 billion in payments and waved more than $28 million in fees for customers affected by the coronavirus recession. (Reporting by Imani Moise; editing by Richard Pullin) Google Maps San Antonio police are searching for three men after numerous houses were shot at on the East Side early Monday morning. Witnesses said three men in a silver SUV pulled up to the 200 block of Beaver Lane just before 2 a.m. and one of the men started shooting at houses, police said. A Kathmandu Press article highlighting an alleged scam involving high level government employee and the sons of the defence minister and the prime ministers chief advisor was removed from the Kathmandu Press website without their approval. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliates, the Nepal Press Union (NPU) and Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), condemn the illegal removal of the news story and call on the Nepal government to investigate the incident. Shiran Technologies who developed the Kathmandu Press website removed the article on April 1 citing immense pressure from above. The article, first published on March 31 alleged the prime minister, KP Sharma Olis IT consultant, Ali Asgar, the son of Olis chief advisor Bishnu Rimal and the son of the defence minister Ishwar Pokhrel were involved in a controversial medical equipment purchase contract to a company without any competitive bidding. The Nepal government scrapped the agreement to purchase medical equipment the day the article was removed. Although Kathmandu Press warned the company to not remove the story, Shiran Technologies removed the article and disabled the site for two hours between 2pm - 4pm on April 1. According to a My Republicanews article, it is alleged Biswas Dhakal, president of F1 Soft International. and Asgar Ali, founder and director of F1 Soft International exerted pressure on Shiran Technologies to remove the article. F1 Soft International owns a number of companies including Shiran Technologies. Kathmandu Press re-uploaded the news article on April 2. Kosmos Bishwokarma, the editor in chief of the Kathmandu Press said: the removal of the news story in kathmandupress.com is a blatant violation of media rights that involved the IT adviser of the Prime Minister who owns the IT company, and who was also the subject of the story. A group of media editors and the Online Journalists Association issued a statement condemning the illegal removal of news article. FNJ said, Overt pressurize to remove the news- story by using state- power is blatant violation of constitutionally enshrined right to freedom of expression and the press. We condemn the illegal removal of the news- story and demand independent investigation into the incident, FNJ added. NPU said: The Involvement of the Prime Ministers office in the illegal removal of the news story is against the spirit of the constitution of Nepal and violates the right to freedom of expression and the press. NPU urges the KP Oli administration to punish the guilty. IFJ said: The removal of the article suggests the government poses an underlying threat to journalists and the media who seek to hold the administration accountable. The IFJ urges the Nepal government to commission an independent inquiry to prevent any further government intervention. Chattanooga State Community College is now offering Tennessee Reconnect Virtual Information Sessions. The Tennessee Reconnect Scholarship is a last-dollar scholarship that will allow all Tennessee adults who qualify to attend an eligible institution free of tuition and mandatory fees. Reservations for Tennessee Reconnect Virtual Information Sessions can be made at chattanoogastate.edu/tnreconnect for any of the following dates: Thursday, April 9 @ 5 p.m. Thursday, April 16 @ 5 p.m. Monday, April 13 @ 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18 @ 10 a.m. Marsha Barker, director of Adult Services, conducts the sessions that include how to apply for TN Reconnect, FAFSA, and to Chattanooga State, eligibility requirements, covered costs and how to access Adult Student Success Stories for inspiration. Tennessee Reconnect has opened a door that has been nailed shut for over twenty years, and I am taking full advantage of this opportunity to leap through it! My advice to any adult wishing to change careers or further their education, is to take advantage of Tennessee Reconnect, shared Antwon Baldwin, 41, digital and media production major. Katrina Griffin, 34, a communications major, was named ChattState Outstanding Student of the Year, and recently, a finalist in the statewide SOAR competition. I am just so thankful for ChattState. It's such an amazing school, stated Ms. Griffin. Thankful for the Reconnect program after dropping out of college in 1997, and again in 2009, Latonya Henderson, 41, now a hospitality and tourism management graduate-elect, almost decided that college was just not in her reach. Ms. Henderson said that after doing some research about the Reconnect program, she decided to try one last time. My family, friends, instructors, classmates, co-workers, and Chattanooga State have supported my journey tremendously. I am thankful for Tennessee Reconnect for making it all possible, said Ms. Henderson. Tennessee Reconnect students continue to receive outstanding support from the Adult Services program throughout their academic journey. Join me for a TN Reconnect Info Session via WebEx to learn more about the last-dollar scholarship for adults to earn an associate degree free of tuition and mandatory fees, invites Ms. Barker. Chattanooga State wants you to know that We Are With You. DUBLIN, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "The Contract Cleaning Industry in South Africa 2020" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report on the Contract Cleaning Industry includes information on the state and size of the industry, the major players and the factors that influence the sector. There are profiles of 27 companies including major players such as Bidvest Services, which owns Bidvest Prestige, Supercare Services and Supercare Hygiene, which are owned by the Empact Group, and Servest. Other companies profiled include SweepSouth, in which Naspers Foundry invested R30m, and Tsebo Solutions, which is in 23 African countries servicing industries from mining and industrial to corporate, healthcare and leisure. The Contract Cleaning Industry The contract cleaning industry plays an important role in job creation in South Africa and it is estimated that the sector contributed about 0.8% to GDP in Q3 2019. Due to the informal nature of cleaning businesses, the majority of workers in the sector are employed under fixed-term commercial contracts. Based on National Contract Cleaners Association membership, the sector is growing strongly as entry into the industry is easy and startups are flooding the market. The industry is susceptible to economic downturns as customers try to cut costs and negotiate lower rates. Threats and Growth Drivers The biggest threat to the industry is insourcing. Some companies decide to insource to save money, but soon realise that equipment is expensive and they have to deal with human resource issues and source cleaning materials themselves. The construction industry recession puts a further constraint on future growth. However, the drive to provide clean and safe work environments, and the move towards green cleaning are growth drivers. There are opportunities for entrepreneurs to enter the industry by employing a few people, usually on a temporary basis, acquiring some second-hand cleaning equipment and offering cleaning services to home owners or businesses where the major players are not present. Key Topics Covered 1. Introduction 2. Description of the Industry 2.1. Industry Value Chain 2.2. Geographic Position 3. Size of the Industry 4. State of the Industry 4.1. Local 4.1.1. Corporate Actions 4.1.2. Regulations 4.1.3. Enterprise Development and Socio-Economic Development 4.2. Continental 4.3. International 5. Influencing Factors 5.1. Economic Environment 5.2. Input Costs 5.3. Technology, Research & Development (R&D) and Innovation 5.4. Labour 5.5. Environmental Concerns 5.6. Standards and Compliance 5.7. Electricity and Water Supply Constraints 6. Competition 6.1. Barriers to Entry 7. SWOT Analysis 8. Outlook 9. Industry Associations 10. References 10.1. Publications 10.2. Websites Company Profiles Supercare Services Group (Pty) Ltd Bidvest Services (Pty) Ltd Servest (Pty) Ltd Suburban Services (Pty) Ltd BidAir Services (Pty) Ltd TMS Group Industrial Services (Pty) Ltd S A Cleaning Services (Pty) Ltd Red Alert TSS (Pty) Ltd Rentokil Initial (Pty) Ltd Industrial Waste and Environmental Services (Pty) Ltd Metro Sanitary Solutions CC Cleaning Africa Services (Pty) Ltd African Corporate Cleaning (Pty) Ltd Specialists Franchise Group (Pty) Ltd (The) Teloc Waste Management (Pty) Ltd Excellerate Services (Pty) Ltd Tsebo Solutions Group (Pty) Ltd Supercare Hygiene (Pty) Ltd AfriServ (Pty) Ltd Waco Africa (Pty) Ltd (Pty) Ltd Guardian Angel Security (Pty) Ltd Blue 60 Town Trading (Pty) Ltd Meondo Holdings (Pty) Ltd Bontiware (Pty) Ltd Danic Pest Control and Cleaning CC M M A Security Services CC Sweep South (Pty) Ltd For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ecuq2v 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] 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 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com With ceasefire in place, a number of families have returned to their homes in the western countryside of Idleb, but they fear an outbreak of the coronavirus reports Brocar Press. A number of Syrian families left the displacement camps in Idlebs western countryside, after calm prevailed in their villages, but fear the outbreak of the new coronavirus. People returned to the towns of Bidama, Najiya, Kindah, Maraand, and Obeen. Speaking to Brocar Press, Samer Hassoun, one of the returnees to Badama said that the situation in the camps is frustrating, stressing that theyre living in constant fear of the spread of the coronavirus. Hassoun says if the virus spreads it would be hard not to get infected, considering the lack of preventive methods, because its impossible to stay in the tent permanently, especially for kids. The space is limited while the water supply and toilets are shared. Returning home is much better, even if the rooms were damaged. They can either be fixed or simply abandoned, he said, adding that the camps were not deserted for good. People would return to their tents if battles resumed in their areas, noted Hassoun. Other Reasons Why The planting season was an additional factor that encouraged people to return to their towns, as most of them work in agriculture. For them, this is the perfect period to work and prepare for the finest agricultural products, in the hope to reap their harvests in summer. They took advantage of the calm that prevailed following the deal reached between Turkey and Russia earlier in March. Meanwhile, other families returned to rebuild their damaged homes supported by aid agencies that are working to restore life in the area, with assistance from the Civil Defense teams. For his part, activist Ahmed al-Hajj told the Brocar Press that the Civil Defense teams were working tirelessly to restore streets, clean and sterilize public facilities, such as mosques and schools, and continuously taking care of cities and villages by removing rubble and reopening closed roads. Hajj also highlighted several initiatives working to secure water for returning families and tackling hygiene-related issues in cooperation with the local council and other organizations operating in the region. Villages and towns in the western countryside witnessed huge waves of displacement last year as people escaped the constant shelling from the battles between the regime and other factions on the fronts of Lattakias countryside. People resorted to the camps on the border, waiting for the situation to settle. Idleb has been witnessing relative calm since the ceasefire agreement between Russia and Turkey was announced in Moscow, under which a safe corridor was established on both sides of the international Aleppo-Lattakia road, also known as M4. Ever since the deal was announced, Russian and regime warplanes stopped flying above Idleb and the regimes breaches were limited to using artillery and attempting to infiltrate the Idleb and Hama fronts. 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. Advertisement A Cape Cod waterfront property owned by gas-and-oil businessman, Jamie Clark, has sold for $20million, making it the priciest-ever home to sell on the Massachusetts peninsula. The sale of the nearly 10-acre Woods Hole property broke the record previously set by Bill Koch's $19.5million purchase of a 26-acre Osterville estate in 2013. In December 2019, the residence was put on the market by Jamie and his wife, Kathy, with an asking price of $25million. The Clarks inherited the estate from Jamie's father, Jim Clark, who was a Wall Street executive and a philanthropist, according to The Wall Street Journal. A Cape Cod waterfront property (pictured) owned by gas-and-oil businessman, Jamie Clark, has sold for $20million, making it the priciest-ever home to sell on the Massachusetts peninsula The sale of the nearly 10-acre Woods Hole property broke the record previously set by Bill Koch's $19.5million purchase of a 26-acre Osterville estate in 2013 In December 2019, the residence was put on the market by Jamie and his wife, Kathy, with an asking price of $25million The Clarks inherited the estate from Jamie's father, Jim Clark, who was a Wall Street executive and a philanthropist The property is equipped with a boathouse (pictured) and a deep water dock for larger vessels The couple also have another home on the peninsula, which they have decided to keep. It's unclear who purchased the residence because the buyer closed the deal through a trust, according to the Journal. The home sits on the Penzance Point peninsula and is surrounded by three sides of water. Its features include a guesthouse, a 36-foot swimming pool, a boathouse and a dock, according to the listing from Sothebys International Realty. The home also has its own private beach. The home, as it stands, was built in 1993 and is complete with five bedrooms and 6.5 baths, multiple wet bars and four fireplaces. However, its sunroom, brick floors, stone walls, and wooden ceiling, date back to 1911, relics of the original estate. The home, as it stands, was built in 1993, but its sunroom, brick floors, stone walls, and wooden ceiling, date back to 1911, relics of the original estate It's unclear who purchased the residence (kitchen pictured) because the buyer closed the deal through a trust The home sits on the Penzance Point peninsula. Its features include a guesthouse and a 36-foot swimming pool, according to the listing from Sothebys International Realty The guesthouse offers two bedrooms, one and one-half baths, a living room with a wood-burning fireplace, a kitchen with a dining area, a quiet patio, a sunny waterfront deck, and its own laundry facilities and two-car garage Jamie Clark told the Journal that the sell of the home during a global pandemic didn't surprise him at all because 'it's something you can enjoy long-term'. 'You have to look past all this and say, whats something Id still like to own two years from now?' he told the newspaper. The New England-style home was designed by Rhode Island architect Michele Foster. Nearly every room has an opening to a deck or is overlooking the water. According to the original listing, the home is equipped with an elevator that gives easy access to all levels. The guesthouse offers two bedrooms, one and one-half baths, a living room with a wood-burning fireplace, a kitchen with a dining area, a quiet patio, a sunny waterfront deck, and its own laundry facilities and two-car garage. This image shows the home's lavish living area complete with a fireplace (right) and views of the water Jamie Clark said that the sell of the home during a global pandemic didn't surprise him at all because 'it's something you can enjoy long-term' 'You have to look past all this and say, whats something Id still like to own two years from now?' he said Director Cathy Yan is all praise for her "Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey" actor Margot Robbie. The filmmaker said she was impressed by the Oscar-nominated actor's "personal" commitment to the role, which she first played in 2016's "Suicide Squad". "When she's in character, she's so fully in that character. Harley is a character that's very close to her heart, and this movie is so personal to her as well. It's hard for me, sometimes, to really be able to see the border between Margot and Harley because she brings so much of herself to the character as well," Yan told The Hollywood Reporter. The director said Robbie, who also served as producer on the film, acts with her entire body, which was really "interesting". "Margot is such a physical actor... She changes the way that she moves depending on the character that she's playing, yet she's still able to switch it off and on. "She could walk off set, immediately ask me a producer question and I'd be like, 'Whoa, what's going on?' She's really incredible in that way," she added. "Birds of Prey" also features Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress, Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary, Ella Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain and Rosie Perez as Renee Montoya. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Australia's universities have warned their viability is threatened from major revenue losses of more than $3 billion, declaring they need government to step in to sustain their teaching and research efforts amid the coronavirus pandemic. The alarm from the sector, which has suffered major losses in international student revenue since the outbreak, came after universities were denied greater access to the JobKeeper wage subsidy despite easing of eligibility conditions for organisations with charity status. Universities Australia, the peak body for the country's 39 universities, said on Monday it was now clear there would be a "significant" decline in international student numbers in second semester and government support was "more important than ever". "A conservative estimate of the revenue decline that will hit the sector is between $3 billion [and] $4.6 billion. Universities estimate that more than 21,000 jobs are at risk in the next six months, and more after that," Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said in a statement. Amid nationwide lockdown, police personnel in Mahuva taluka of Surat district donned coronavirus-themed dresses on Sunday while appealing people to stay at home and practice social distancing. We have done this to spread awareness amongst people. We are trying to reach out to as many places as possible to make people aware of the situation, said a policeman. As many as 122 positive cases and 11 deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported so far in the state. Gujarat: Police personnel in Mahuva taluka of Surat district dressed up as '#Coronavirus' while appealing to people to stay at home and practice social distancing. 122 positive cases and 11 deaths due to the COVID-19 have been reported so far in the state. (05.04.2020) pic.twitter.com/3tQXUPX3dD ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2020 As per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is 3,577 with 83 deaths. This job expired on 4 May 2020. Kwara State has recorded two cases of coronavirus. Mr Rafiu Ajakaye, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor confirmed this in a statement on Monday. One is the wife of the UITH patient, a UK returnee, who died last Thursday and the other is another UK returnee, the statement said. Ajakaye explained that the statement was issued after the government received official confirmation of the results from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Test Centre in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. He added that the governor would address the state on Tuesday to give more details and highlight further measures being taken to tackle COVID-19. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates India and Australia on Monday agreed on collaboration between researchers of the two nations to find an effective cure for the COVID-19 and to develop a vaccine to keep the virus away. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison spoke to each other over the phone and discussed the COVID-19 pandemic. They briefed each other about the domestic response strategies being adopted by their respective Governments. They agreed on the importance of bilateral sharing of experiences in the context of the health crisis (COVID-19 pandemic), including through collaborative research efforts, the Prime Ministers Office said in a press release issued in New Delhi after the talks between the two leaders. Modi conveyed to Morrison that his government would always stand ready to provide necessary facilitation and support to any citizen of Australia stranded in India due to travel restrictions imposed to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. Morrison too assured Modi that the Indian students and other Indian nationals in Australia would continue to be valued as a vibrant part of the society in Australia. A warm discussion by phone today with my good friend Prime Minister @narendramodi on our responses to the #coronavirus crisis. We shared our experiences on managing the crisis and will continue to share knowledge on treatment for the virus and as we work towards a vaccine, Australian Prime Minister posted on Twitter. Morrison would have been the first foreign leader to visit New Delhi and meet Modi in 2020. But his visit scheduled from January 13 to 16 had to be indefinitely postponed as he had to cancel all foreign tours to remain in Canberra and oversee efforts to control a devastating bushfire in southeastern Australia. With the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown imposed to contain it making it difficult to reschedule Morrisons visit to New Delhi, he and Modi on Monday agreed to hold a virtual summit soon through video-conferencing. We agreed to schedule a virtual summit very soon, given we wont be able to meet in person. We also discussed the important role being played by the Australian Indian community, particularly in supporting the vulnerable in our community and rallying around those in need, tweeted Morrison. The Prime Minister and the Australian Prime Minister agreed to remain attentive to the wider significance of the India-Australia partnership, including in the Indo-Pacific region, even as they focus on solving the present health crisis, according to the press-release issued by the Government of India in New Delhi. By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 06, 2020 | 02:07 PM | WESTERN KENTUCKY Local McDonald's franchisee, Mike Love, has announced that his organization is donating 17,000 gift cards for free menu items to local school districts across western Kentucky and southern Illinois. "We know some families are struggling to put food on their tables right now," said Love. "By distributing these gift cards through the schools food service programs that are already doing so much to provide for our local children, we hope they reach those who need it most and spread some cheer throughout our communities." The school districts that will be receiving the gift cards are as follows: McCracken County Paducah Calloway County Murray Mayfield Livingston County Marshall County Massac County The Love Organization has also donated 3,000 bags to the Mayfield school's food service program. Love has also partnered with City of Paducah officials to provide free meals to city employees. The Love Family McDonald's organization owns and operates ten McDonald's restaurants throughout western Kentucky and southern Illinois. A local McDonald's has donated gift cards to eight local school districts. Reuters British trade minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan will visit India this week to hold talks to try to deepen trade and economic ties as part of London's push in the Indo-Pacific region, her department said on Sunday. As part of a two-day visit to New Delhi, Trevelyan will hold bilateral talks with Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Thursday on green trade, the removal of market access barriers and other issues. They are also expected to confirm the launch of official negotiations on a new UK-India free trade deal, the trade department said in a statement. Caltex's temporary shutdown of one of Australia's four remaining oil refineries has reignited concerns about the industry's viability, as the coronavirus crisis wipes out global fuel demand and guts profits. On the same day that Caltex announced it would extend a planned maintenance shutdown of its Brisbane plant until "margin conditions" recovered, petroleum industry representatives said the nation's other refineries, including Exxon's Melbourne refinery, Viva's Geelong refinery and BP's operation in Western Australia, were all under similar pressure. Caltex will temporarily close its Lytton refinery in Brisbane in May. Credit:Bloomberg "All the refiners are experiencing the same problems as Caltex, to a greater or lesser degree" said Australian Petroleum Institute chief executive Paul Barrett. "It's a bit premature to talk about government assistance at this stage, but the industry is obviously adjusting. So, how this goes going forward will depend on how long this goes for." (left to right) Lily Wolfson, former MOM's employee, Dani Shuster, current MOM's employee and Kaylee McGuffin, recently fired from MOM's, protest outside of MOM's Organic Market on South 11th St in Philadelphia, Pa. on Monday, April 6, 2020. Workers at MOM's are frustrated by the store's lack of precautions during the coronavirus pandemic. Read more When Scott Nash, the CEO of Moms Organic Market, emailed his employees last month to thank them for rising to the occasion heroically" as "front-line emergency workers, some workers in Philadelphia thought that his words fell flat. They say the chain had barely implemented any safety precautions for workers or customers. Staff were putting in 10- to 12-hour days just to keep up with demand and coworkers who had called out. Meanwhile, as recently as last weekend, customers were still coming in to the Center City store to buy a Clif bar, as if everything were normal something that would change, workers said, if the store limited the number of customers who could come in at once. Im not a hero, said Mariane Leon, 31. I didnt sign up to work in a grocery store to be a hero. ... Im scared that I have to work, but I dont have anyone financially supporting me except myself. Leon is part of a group of almost 20 employees who are calling for greater safety precautions at Moms, where a worker at the Center City store tested positive for the coronavirus. Their demands include limiting the number of customers in the store, as well as hazard pay and two weeks paid time off for immuno-compromised workers. Masked workers delivered their demands to their manager Monday morning, as a line of honking cars circled the store a protest in the age of social distancing. Moms also has local locations in Bryn Mawr and Cherry Hill. On the heels of a nationwide day of action focused on Instacart delivery workers, theirs was the first grocery worker protest the region has seen during the pandemic. The Moms protest offers a window into what its like for grocery workers low-wage workers, most of whom are not unionized who have found themselves on the front lines of a public health crisis as the coronavirus spreads across the country. They field droves of panicked customers as they risk catching the virus themselves and theyre supposed to do it with a smile on their face. Some have already died from the virus, including workers at Trader Joes, Giant, and Walmart. Workers have called for hazard pay, and some chains have responded: Whole Foods, which is owned by Amazon, is paying its workers $2 more an hour for the month of April, and some independent grocers are paying $6 or $7 more an hour, according to the United Food and Commercial Workers union. Moms, which recently raised its minimum wage to $14 an hour, paid its workers $7 more an hour from March 11 to March 21. A spokesperson said it will also pay workers $4 more an hour from March 22 to April 5, though two employees who worked during that period said they had yet to be informed of the pay rate. The chain saw record sales of more than $100,000 in one day at some locations, Nash wrote in an email sent to workers on March 18. Moms spokesperson Christine Koetz said the store has taken numerous steps to protect its customers and workers, including instituting rigorous cleaning practices" and touchless payment, paying double-overtime to any worker who works more than 40 hour a week, and installing protective plexiglass at the registers. Koetz added that managers have the authority to shut off customer flow to the store whenever a store becomes too crowded. Other chains, such as Giant Eagle, have reduced their hours in order to be able to properly clean and restock stores, as well as give their workers a break, said Wendell Young, president of the UFCW Local 1776, which represents employees for ShopRite, Acme, Rite Aid, and Giant Eagle. The union has allowed employers to break the terms of its contract and hire non-union labor, he said, because demand is so high and workers are exhausted. Employees who arent represented by a union have seen the pandemic as an opportunity to organize and call for greater protections: Some workers at Whole Foods staged a sick-out last week to fight for, among other things, paid leave for workers who are in self-quarantine and hazard pay thats double the currently hourly wage. A worker tests positive It was Friday evening when Alicia Serna Frausto heard that a co-worker had tested positive. The worker self-quarantined eight days ago, when the first symptoms appeared, the company said in an email. This employee was last in your store on March 25. Word traveled between workers on the shop floor because not everyone was checking email. But Frausto, 25, was frustrated that management didnt mention it to any of the workers until the very end of the night-time huddle, hours after the email had gone out. To Frausto, it was another sign that the company didnt care about the safety of its workers. Every time I clock in, it feels like Im stepping into a war zone, Frausto said. The store likes to pretend that everything is OK. There have been very little changes to the regular operations. On Saturday, a day after finding out about the positive case, Frausto decided to take an unpaid leave of absence. 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 store has taken some measures to attempt to ensure the safety of its workers, employees said. There are signs around the store encouraging social distancing and tape demarcating six-foot distances for customers to line up, a measure that other grocery stores have implemented to mixed effectiveness. Its offering one week of paid leave for workers over 60 who are not comfortable coming to work, and two weeks paid leave for workers who have tested positive for the virus workers only need to show a doctors note, not a positive test result. In an email sent on March 25, Nash said he didnt believe it was possible to enforce social distancing in the store and that limiting the number of customers in the store would heighten anxiety. He estimated that, at the busiest times, Moms stores would field at most 50 customers at once much less foot traffic than the Trader Joes locations where theyre limiting customers, he said and that was a low enough figure to allow customers to keep their distance. Mayor Jim Kenney has said grocers and other essential businesses should manage store occupancy to allow for social distancing. At the end of March, Nash reprimanded a group of workers from several different Moms locations for replying-all to an employee listserv with questions about Moms efforts to take care of its workers. We are inundated right now from EVERY direction and Im sorry, but are not able to jump to meet your demands on your schedule, he wrote. One of them was Kaylee McGuffin, who has worked for the company on and off since 2014, when she lived in Virginia. McGuffin, 23, was fired a few days later and banned from all Moms stores. She said that she was told she was too negative" and that a coworker had said she seemed unhappy at work. (A Moms spokesperson said: All we will say is that there is evidence to support our decision.) It was true, McGuffin said, as "working during a pandemic is not a happy experience. In fact, she said, it sucks." It sucks seeing customers come in and coughing on the card machines, she said. "It sucks seeing customers touching five or six different apples. It sucks seeing people come in with a friend to buy a candy bar. So, yeah, it is not a happy experience working at a store that has not put in the proper safety measures during a pandemic. That is not a happy experience. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The government on Monday, while divulging details of those who have contracted COVID-19 in the country so far, said that 76 per cent of those who have the disease are males while women constitute just 24 per cent of the total patients. The government also said that of those who have died due to the infection, 73 per cent are males while rest are females. At the time of the daily press briefing, there were 4,067 confirmed coronavirus cases in India with 109 deaths of which 30 were reported on Sunday alone. The government also said that of total patients, 47 per cent are below 40, 34 per cent between 40-60 and 19 per cent are above 60. "63 per cent deaths have been reported in the people who are 60 years or above and 30 per cent in the people from 40-60 years and 7 per cent death among those who are below 40 years," informed Lav Agarwal, joint secretary, Health. Also, 86 per cent of those who died, had co-morbidity like hypertension, diabetes, asthma and other respiratory illnesses. The official also said that 1,445 cases out of a total of 4,067 cases are now related to Tablighi Jamaat gathering and 693 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in the last 24 hours. ALSO READ | Hydroxychloroquine: Too much hype, too little evidence? The health ministry also said that supply lines from abroad opened up on Monday with the receipt of 1.70 lakh Personal Protection Equipment coveralls from China which have been donated to India. Along with domestic supplies of 20,000 coveralls, a total of 1.90 lakh coveralls will now be distributed to hospitals and will add to nearly 3.9 Personal Protection Equipments (PPEs) already available in the country as of now. A total of 2.94 lakh PPE coveralls have been arranged and supplied by the Centre now. In addition to this, 2 lakh domestically produced N95 masks are also being sent to various hospitals. Including these, over 20 lakh N95 masks have been supplied by the Centre. About 16 lakh N95 masks are presently available in the country. Major portions of the fresh supplies are being sent to states with comparatively higher number of cases such as Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Delhi, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rajasthan. Supplies are also being sent to central institutions like AIIMS, Safdarjung and RML hospitals, among others. "There was a meeting of the Council of Ministers on Monday in which further discussion took place on the plan of action regarding COVID-19 challenges. A detailed guideline has been released by the Health Ministry in which we have focused on signs, symptoms and segregating cases," said Agarwal. "Rs 1,100 crore has already been released from the National Health Mission Funds for the States. Also, an additional amount of Rs 3,000 crore has been released today," he said. Total confirmed cases Gender-wise distribution: * 76% are male * 24% are female Age-wise distribution: * 47% people - below 40 years age group * 34% people - between 40 to 60 years age group * 19% people - 60 and above age group Deaths so far Gender-wise distribution: * 73% are male * 27% are female Age-wise distribution: * 63% deaths among elderly people (60 and above) * 30% deaths among those between 40 to 60 years * 7% deaths among those below 40 years Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday paid floral tribute to Syama Prasad Mukherjee and Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya at his residence here on Bharatiya Janata Party's 40th foundation day. Taking to Twitter, Amit Shah also called the party a "true carrier" of the country's democracy. "Hearty greetings to all activists and countrymen on the foundation day of Bharatiya Janata Party, the true carrier of India's democracy," Shah tweeted in Hindi. "The BJP has always devoted itself for the interest with its nationalist ideology and principles," he added. Shah said that BJP is realising the idea of reconstruction and social welfare under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. "Today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, BJP is realising the idea of reconstruction and welfare of the country's poor in accordance with the glorious culture of India," he said. On the ongoing battle against coronavirus, the Union Home Minister stated that every party worker stands in solidarity with the Prime Minister. "We are proud that in this odd situation, every BJP worker is strengthening Modiji's hand in this fight against coronavirus," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India on Sunday heeded Prime Minister Narendra Modis call for switching off lights for 9 minutes at 9 pm, with the national power grid managing the unprecedented ramp down and build up of electricity load in a short time duration successfully. This was the second such appeal by Modi, which leveraged his popularity among Indians to enlist them in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic. Modi had in a Friday broadcast urged the country's 1.3 billion people to switch off lights of their home at 9 pm for 9 minutes on Sunday night and light candles, lamps and even use mobile torches standing in their balconies. Modi said that such a gesture will dispel the darkness created by the coronavirus and show that people are together in their fight against the epidemic. The Indian PM had appreciated the discipline shown by 130 crore Indians during the 21-day countrywide lockdown to contain the deadly coronavirus pandemic. He 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. "Friends, amidst the darkness spread by the corona pandemic, we must continuously progress towards light and hope. We must defeat the deep darkness of the crisis by spreading the glory of light in all four directions," said the Prime Minister in a video message. "And that is why, this Sunday, on April 5, we must all together, challenge the darkness spread by the corona crisis, introducing it to the power of light. On this day, we must awaken the superpower of 130 crore Indians. We must take the super resolve of 130 crore Indians to even greater heights," Modi had said. Millions of people switched off non-essential lights and lit diyas (earthen lamps) and candles in their balconies and verandas on Sunday night following a call this week from Modi to "challenge the darkness spread by the coronavirus crisis", which today crossed 3,500 cases nationwide. As the clock struck 9 pm tens of thousands of diyas, a traditional lamp usually seen during Diwali and other festive occasions, were lit as people wearing face masks burst firecrackers, blew conches (horns) and shouted and cheered in response to the Prime Minister's call. In some big cities like Mumbai and New Delhi, residents of some housing associations stood in balconies and sang patriotic songs. Although the Prime Minister had requested diyas be lit for nine minutes from 9 pm, people kept up the chanting and cheering for nearly 30 minutes, with the lamps left burning for much longer. People also kept lights switched off in their homes for much longer than the Prime Minister had asked. At around 9.30 pm, Modi tweeted a photo of him lighting a lamp at his official residence in Delhi. Wearing a blue kurta, the Prime Minister also posted a short Sanskrit poem that, roughly translated, read: "Salutations to the light of the lamp which brings auspiciousness, health and prosperity (and) which destroys inimical feelings; Salutations to the light of the lamp". In Gujarat, the Prime Minister's mother, 93-year-old Hiraben also joined in, lighting an earthen lamp after turning off all the lights in her home. President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and their respective families also lit lamps outside their homes, as did Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and BJP chief JP Nadda. The chief ministers of several states, including Tamil Nadu (E Palaniswami) Uttar Pradesh (Yogi Adityanath), Bihar (Nitish Kumar), Uttarakhand (Trivendra Singh Rawat) and Telangana (K Chandrashekar Rao), also lit diyas, as did Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and former Andhra Chief Minister N Chandrababu. The entire event led to #9MinutesForIndia emerging as one of the top trends on Twitter. India has been under a strict lockdown since March 25, halting public transport and closing offices and shops apart from essential services. But the shutdown has badly hit rural migrant workers, leaving them jobless with hundreds of thousands trying to return to their villages, many on foot. Many others have been blocked from returning home. The government has set up tens of thousands of makeshift camps and feeding centers for 7.5 million people. India's power consumption has already plunged over the last 10 days, as the lockdown has forced most industries to suspend operations. Even as the total number of coronavirus cases in India rose to 3577, including 83 deaths, the Indian Council of Medical Research said there was no evidence of Covid-19 being an airborne infection. Thousands of migrant workers from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) including daily wagers, factory workers and labourers are stuck in the Karachi city of Pakistan's Sindh province due to Coronavirus lock-down. The workers hail from far-flung areas of PoK such as Niyal, Kotli, Neelum, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur and Gilgit, sources revealed. "They have no food rations neither any arrangements have been made for their emergency accommodation while they remain jobless and homeless", said a political activist, who posted a video of the affected people on social media. He has criticised the Muzaffarabad government headed by so-called Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider for failing to attend to the needs of PoK migrant workers and demanded that the government of PoK enters into negotiations with the government of Sindh to provide them with food rations, temporary free accommodation, and screening for Coronavirus. "I fear that Coronavirus might spread on a large scale among PoK migrant workers since they have not been maintaining policies such as social distancing and cleanliness," Dr Amjad Mirza, a PoK activist, told ANI. "The issues faced by the PoK migrant workers in Karachi must be addressed on war footing", he added. The number of the coronavirus cases in Pakistan on Monday reached 3,277 with the infections in the worst-hit Punjab province approaching 1,500 despite government claims that the ongoing lockdown in the country has slowed down the spread of the deadly virus. Ministry of National Health Services said that 50 patients have so far died of the disease, while 257 people have recovered. Punjab recorded 1,493 cases, Sindh 881, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 405, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) 210, Balochistan 191, Islamabad 82 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 15. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Kazeem Ugbodaga Former Senator, Dino Melaye has said he received international threats warning him to back off on the issue of 5G. 5G is believed to be behind the raging Coronavirus pandemic in the world, which has so far infected over a million people and killed over 60,000. Melaye had two days ago called on the Federal Government to demobilise every 5G technology in Nigeria. The former lawmaker, on his Instagram page on Sunday said he received two international calls threatening and warning him to back off the 5G issue. According to him, he was told by the last caller that 5G was bigger than presidents of nations and that he should stop advocating against it. I have received 2 international calls threatening me and warning me to back off the 5G issue. I was told by the last caller that 5G is bigger than Presidents of nations, so I should stop. And I told him it is not bigger than God. I am not killable by man. You will know the truth and the truth will set you free. I have conquered FEAR. They should try someone else, he said. Melaye had also said recently that the cure for Coronavirus pandemic was going back to God through repentance. 06.04.2020 LISTEN The Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, Eric Norgbey has expressed disappointment over the Presidents failure to condemn the incident in his address delivered last night [Sunday]. He is demanding justice for a civilian, Eric Ofotsu, who was accidentally shot by a soldier in Accra on Sunday, April 5, 2020. We in Ashaiman are disappointed in President Akufo-Addo who is Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces for his unacceptable silence on this major development when he addressed the nation on Sunday night, particularly as he sought to downplay the many incidents of human right violations and unwarranted excesses by security personnel enforcing his lockdown directives. A situation which the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice had had cause to publicly condemn. The said incident, according to the Ghana Armed Forces, occurred when Mr. Ofotsu tried to disarm a soldier who was conducting an arrest as part of the COVID-19 restrictions on movement. The MP in a statement called for the withdrawal of the soldier responsible for the incident, saying this will be useful in managing tensions and preventing any further escalation. Meanwhile, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) said it has commenced investigations into the incident. The suspect sustained life-threatening injuries and while being conveyed to the hospital for medical attention, unfortunately, passed on. The body has been deposited at the Police Hospital morgue in Accra. Investigations have already commenced into the incident, GAF said in a statement. Below is the statement from the Ashaiman MP TO ALL MEDIA HOUSES FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE KILLING OF MR. ERIC OFOTSU ASHAIMAN MP DEMANDS JUSTICE I have received with shock and outrage news of the cold-blooded killing of Mr. Eric Ofotsu (A.K.A. No Yawa), a constituent of mine in his mid-thirties who was allegedly shot by a military officer working to ensure compliance of the Presidents COVID-19 lockdown directives. As Member of Parliament for the Ashaiman Constituency, I condemn in the strongest possible terms this barbaric and wicked act of a trigger-happy military officer. Information gathered from the scene which I have no basis to doubt and contrary to the claims contained in the Militarys statement suggests that the deceased did not warrant this inhumane and disproportionate use of force from a professional military officer whose training demands a far worthy example. As much as the life of this young innocent gentleman cannot be brought back, I demand with immediate effect thorough and independent investigations into circumstances leading to the death of this young man. We are also calling for the withdrawal of the trigger-happy soldier and all his colleagues on duty as at the time of the incident with immediate effect. This would be useful in managing tensions and preventing any further escalation. I wish to commend the good people of Ashaiman for exercising great restraint in the face of needless provocation. We in Ashaiman are disappointed in President Akufo-Addo who is Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces for his unacceptable silence on this major development when he addressed the nation on Sunday night, particularly as he sought to downplay the many incidents of human right violations and unwarranted excesses by security personnel enforcing his lockdown directives. A situation which the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice has had cause to publicly condemn. May I add that as much as many military officers have been quite professional in enforcing the lockdown, I would want to decry the manner in which some unscrupulous few are bringing the much-respected image of the Ghana Armed Forces into utter disrepute. I reiterate our demand for an independent investigation and swift sanctions for those who would be found culpable. In the meantime, I urge calm and plead with the youth who are currently agitating to exercise patience and wait for the outcome of investigations. We shall not rest or be silent until justice is secured for the family of Mr. Ofotsu and for my constituents. May the Good Lord accept the soul of Mr. Eric Ofotsu especially on this holy Palm Sunday. Signed, Hon. Ernest Henry Norgbey [MP, Ashaiman Constituency] 5th April, 2020. A Texas man said he spent five hours with his dying mother at a nursing home before staff told him that she had tested positive for COVID-19. Samuel Roy Quinn was able to kiss his mother, Peggy Smith, 87, goodbye during his visit to The Resort at Texas City nursing home on Friday. He told The New York Times that it wasn't until he was getting ready to leave the center that staffer told him that his mother was one of 83 residents and employees who had tested positive for the coronavirus. Smith, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, died on Saturday morning. Samuel Roy Quinn said he spent five hours with his elderly mother, Peggy Smith (pictured together), 87, at The Resort at Texas City facility before staff told him that she tested positive for COVID-19 He said that it wasn't until he was getting ready to leave the center that staffer told him that his mother was one of 83 residents and employees who had tested positive for the coronavirus. Smith, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, died on Saturday morning 'We werent able to see her in final days, but she gets it anyway,' Quinn said of his mother getting the coronavirus. Quinn told the Times that staffers hadn't warned him that his mother may have had the virus despite her labored breathing, which is one of the more severe symptoms. 'They let me go in there without telling me,' he said. There have been multiple outbreaks in Texas nursing homes, including one at the Southeast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center where 75 out of 84 patients became infected with the disease. One of the San Antonio patients has died. According to local reports, the Southeast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is now being investigated by officials from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Smith was a resident at The Resort at Texas City (pictured) when she died A total of 89 residents and employees at the Denton State Supported Living Center in Denton, Texas, have also tested positive for the virus. In Texas, there are more than 6,800 confirmed cases with more than 120 deaths. The coronavirus pandemic has affected nursing homes, where some of the most vulnerable people reside, across the US. It began in Washington state where the virus killed at least 35 people at the Life Care Center of Kirkland. The virus infected two-thirds of the facility's residents and dozens of staff members. In a bid to stop the rapid spread of the virus at nursing homes, family members have been kept away and unable to see their loved ones. Some family members have even been seen sitting outside the nursing home windows of their relatives while speaking to them on the phone. In the United States, there are more than 347,000 confirmed cases with more than 10,000 deaths. A recent study shows San Antonio's social distancing efforts are saving lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. San Antonio's and Bexar County's "Stay Home, Work Safe" orders have been in effect since March 24, restricting non-essential activities and mandating social distancing measures. In the first seven days of the order, residents have kept 8,832 people from hospitalization and saved 1,271 lives, according to the study touted by city officials. READ MORE: The latest news and features about coronavirus in San Antonio Community Information Now (CI:Now), a non-profit in partnership with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health in San Antonio, calculated the estimates by using a epidemiological model published by the New York Times and applying the information locally, CI:Now previously told the San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board. The group said the information is intended to show residents the positive effects social distancing measures can have. "Sometimes its hard to trust that staying at home to slow COVID-19 is worth the price were paying. We put numbers to the hospitalizations & deaths in Bexar County that can be prevented between now and October by our staying home," the group said online. CI:Now included projections from seven to 60 days spent at home. The current order is in effect through April 9 but is expected to be extended until April 30. The city council will vote on the extension this week, according to a San Antonio Express-News report. After the first week of the stay-at-home order, the next tier on CI:Now's infographic is an 18-day outlook. At that point, the group's model estimates 26,180 people will be kept from hospitalization and 2,542 lives will be saved. At 60 days, 91,947 people will not be hospitalized and 9,644 lives will be saved, according to the model. CI:Now says online that the graphic is the first in a planned series of related information, put into analyses, maps and infographics. The group is considerate of residents who are unable stay home and the economic and personal struggles suffered citywide. "We know, though, that staying home is made possible by privilege that too many of our neighbors dont have. We also know that staying home is not enough if we cant identify people with infection and house them safely and separately until they recover," the group said online. "So we offer this infographic painfully aware that it cant tell the whole story or predict every possible future, nor can it ease any economic or personal hardships." CI:Now said the numbers are not expected to remain exact, due to how dynamic the coronavirus has proven to be. District 7 Councilwoman Ana Sandoval supported the information on Twitter, where she said staying home is "critical." As of Monday morning, Bexar County has reported 410 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths. Madalyn Mendoza covers news and puro pop culture for MySA.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @maddyskye MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: The ocean's 'biological pump' captures more carbon than expected Every spring in the Northern Hemisphere, the ocean surface erupts in a massive bloom of phytoplankton. Like plants, these single-celled floating organisms use photosynthesis to turn light into energy, consuming carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen in the process. When phytoplankton die or are eaten by zooplankton, the carbon-rich fragments sinks deeper into the ocean, where it is, in turn, eaten by other creatures or buried in sediments. This process is key to the "biological carbon pump," an important part of the global carbon cycle. Scientists have long known that the ocean plays an essential role in capturing carbon from the atmosphere, but a new study from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) shows that the efficiency of the ocean's "biological carbon pump" has been drastically underestimated, with implications for future climate assessments. In a paper published April 6 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, WHOI geochemist Ken Buesseler and colleagues demonstrated that the depth of the sunlit area where photosynthesis occurs varies significantly throughout the ocean. This matters because the phytoplankton's ability to take up carbon depends on amount of sunlight that's able to penetrate the ocean's upper layer. By taking account of the depth of the euphotic, or sunlit zone, the authors found that about twice as much carbon sinks into the ocean per year than previously estimated. The paper relies on previous studies of the carbon pump, including the authors' own. "If you look at the same data in a new way, you get a very different view of the ocean's role in processing carbon, hence its role in regulating climate," says Buesseler. "Using the new metrics, we will be able to refine the models to not just tell us how the ocean looks today, but how it will look in the future," he adds. "Is the amount of carbon sinking in the ocean going up or down? That number affects the climate of the world we live in." In the paper, Buesseler and his coauthors call on their fellow oceanographers to consider their data in context of the actual boundary of the euphotic zone. "If we're going to call something a euphotic zone, we need to define that," he says. "So we're insisting on a more formal definition so that we can compare sites." Rather than taking measurements at fixed depths, the authors used chlorophyll sensors --indicating the presence of phytoplankton-- to rapidly assess the depth of the sunlit region. They also suggest using the signature from a naturally-occuring thorium isotope to estimate the rate at which carbon particles are sinking. ### Buesseler is a principal investigator with WHOI's Ocean Twilight Zone project, which focuses on the little-understood but vastly important mid-ocean region. In a commentary published in Nature on March 31, Buesseler and colleagues call on the international marine research community to intensify their studies of the twilight zone during the upcoming United Nations Decade of the Ocean (2021-2030). Increased understanding of the twilight zone ecosystem and its role in regulating climate, the authors say, will lead to global policy to protect the area from exploitation. Coauthors of the paper include: Phillip Boyd of University of Tasmania, Australia; Erin Black of Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, and Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, New York; and David Siegel, University of California, Santa Barbara. This work was funded by: WHOI's Ocean Twilight Zone project; NASA as part of the EXport Processes in the global Ocean from RemoTe Sensing (EXPORTS) program; the Ocean Frontier Institute at Dalhousie University; and the Australian Research Council. Key takeaways: Using photosynthesis, phytoplankton floating on the ocean's surface absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The depth of this sunlit layer affects the efficiency of the ocean's "biological carbon pump" or ability to take up carbon. By measuring the depth of the ocean's sunlit surface area, or "euphotic zone", scientists found that the "biological carbon pump" is twice as efficient as previously estimated. Using this method could lead to more accurate climate models, such as those used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to set global climate policy. More study of the mid-ocean "twilight zone" will lead to better understanding of the biological carbon pump's role in regulating climate and the productivity of fisheries. This story has been published on: 2020-04-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Mumbai, April 6 : Amid the ongoing lockdown due to the coronavirus crisis, the Cine And TV Artistes' Association (CINTAA) has appealed to A-list members as well as masses to pitch in with rations and funds as donation for daily wage workers. CINTAA is an autonomous body registered under the Indian Trade Union Act. "Since CINTAA has a very limited corpus, we are not a cash-rich association. Our charitable sister trust, the Cine Artist Welfare Trust (CAWT) is also running out of funds," said actor Amit Behl, Senior Joint Secretary & Chairperson Outreach Committee CINTAA. "We have appealed to all our members and A-listers to start helping us by donating ration and some funds. We have also circulated the account number and IFSC of Cine Artist Welfare Trust giving them the benefit of 80G certificate," Behl added. The responses have already started pouring in. There are many many of CINTAA's senior and well-established actors who are also sending their appeal videos. CINTAA has also approached the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Government of Maharashtra, urging them to request the broadcasters to release payments in times of crisis. "Generally, there is a 90-120 day cycle where payments are cleared," said Behl. Meanwhile, the association has pledged to help their members in need. They have been making and distributing ration packets, also, Rs. 2000 per member based on the actual needs is also being compensated. "The start has happened. We are trying our best to help our members," Behl added. Potential Jete Power Holdings Limited (HKG:8133) shareholders may wish to note that insider Sheng Xu recently bought HK$800k worth of stock, paying HK$0.02 for each share. We reckon that's a good sign, especially since the purchase boosted their holding by 97%. View our latest analysis for Jete Power Holdings Jete Power Holdings Insider Transactions Over The Last Year Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by insider Yun Nan Yuan for HK$13m worth of shares, at about HK$0.028 per share. That means that even when the share price was higher than HK$0.017 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price. In the last twelve months Jete Power Holdings insiders were buying shares, but not selling. You can see the insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! SEHK:8133 Recent Insider Trading April 6th 2020 There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Does Jete Power Holdings Boast High Insider Ownership? Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. Jete Power Holdings insiders own about HK$31m worth of shares (which is 43% of the company). I like to see this level of insider ownership, because it increases the chances that management are thinking about the best interests of shareholders. Story continues So What Does This Data Suggest About Jete Power Holdings Insiders? It's certainly positive to see the recent insider purchase. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. But on the other hand, the company made a loss last year, which makes us a little cautious. Once you factor in the high insider ownership, it certainly seems like insiders are positive about Jete Power Holdings. Looks promising! In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Jete Power Holdings. Case in point: We've spotted 4 warning signs for Jete Power Holdings you should be aware of, and 2 of these are a bit concerning. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Residents of Oman who are unable to return to the country due to travel restrictions imposed due to Covid-19 can now renew their expired visas online, a report said. The residence visa can be renewed online through the website of Royal Oman Police (https://www.rop.gov.om/OnlineServices/eVisa/en/ApplyforVisaRenewal.aspx), an Oman Daily Observer report said quoting Major Mohammed al Hashmi of Royal Oman Police. Al Hashmi said: The residents currently abroad cannot enter the Sultanate with an expired visa but it can be renewed online. The system is not just meant for residents who are currently in Oman. It does not differentiate whether the person is applying from Oman or abroad. When the individual reaches the airport, the system will show that the visa has been renewed. The process of the stamping of the visa can be completed later. Even residents in Oman should renew their visa via the websites of ROP or e-Visa (https://evisa.rop.gov.om/) with the stamping to be done after the crisis period, he said. If there are individuals who have not renewed due to technical reasons, they should try to renew their visa online and the technical issues can be sorted out after the current situation, he added. With President Trump, we've learned not to take him literally. He says things for his own reasons, and his words are an uncertain guide to his actions. This is one aspect of his art of the deal: keep your opponent guessing. For a president, such subterfuge is justified by raison d'etat. Does he really want the Saudis and the Russians to cut a deal on oil and drive the price back up? Or would he prefer to keep the price war going, severely punishing the Russians? He can easily protect the American oil industry with a tariff, which he discussed in his meeting with oil executives on Friday. This is what his most trusted oil adviser, Harold Hamm, is pushing. In 2014, Peter Zeihan wrote The Accidental Superpower, which foretold the breakdown of globalism now taking place. He's always worth reading, and he's now saying we're headed to negative oil prices. That's regardless of the price war, based only on demand destruction. For our oil industry to survive, it must have tariffs. In the big geopolitical picture, American energy dominance is a powerful tool for advancing American interests. We have a dominant economy, a dominant culture, and a dominant military. Add energy dominance, and it's America First across the board. A long price war outside our borders will crush marginal producers around the world, and it would hurt the Russians severely. When the dust settles, American shale can continue its ascendance to domination in world markets. The OPEC meeting on Monday, which caused the oil price to jump, has been postponed. The Russians said some mean things about the Saudis, and that was all it took. Look for the Saudis to slow-walk this process, while they claim to want a deal. They are in the catbird's seat, and they have been inflicting pain on other producers for only a month. They're just getting started. If they back down now, they lose face. Mohammed bin Salman has been in ascendance only since 2017, but in that short time, he has seized unchallenged power within the Saudi royal family. He has arrested hundreds of them and made some powerful enemies. Those excluded from his circle, and from power, thirst for vengeance. If he shows weakness in his handling of this price war, it can increase his vulnerability. He can't afford to let that happen. Losers in Saudi royal intrigues can pay with their lives. He has every incentive to continue this war especially if President Trump is winking at him in encouragement. The whole world is watching, especially his enemies at home. Image: www.kremlin.ru via Wikimedia Commons. In 1976, Vickie McGiboney stood with other graduates from the Baptist School of Nursing for the lighted ceremony that marked the rite of passage into a noble profession. In the warmth of a lamps glow, McGiboney recited the Florence Nightingale pledge to devote her life to caring for the sick and injured. More than 40 years later, McGiboney still has crystal-clear memories of that moment. She remembers that she was thinking of how her childhood dreams of wanting to be a nurse like her mother and three aunts were coming true. She remembers standing there with her fellow graduates, all wearing white dresses, white hose, white shoes and white cap, just like her Aunt Lakie Rose wore when she would arrive at little Vickies home to take care of her while her parents worked. The passion I started with in childhood still goes on, said McGiboney, 64. I was born to do this. Im grateful to God to be able to make a difference in one persons life. On ExpressNews.com: Lifting spirits is the heart of this San Antonio business About the author A 22-year veteran of the Air Force, Vincent T. Davis embarked on a second career as a journalist and found his calling. Observing and listening across San Antonio, he finds intriguing tales to tell about everyday people. He shares his stories with Express-News subscribers every Monday morning. See More Collapse Over the years as a nurse and healthcare administrator, McGiboney has made a difference in many lives. And she knows first-hand what its like to be on the front lines of a health crisis. But the coronavirus pandemic is a major challenge. As a nurse I never encountered anything that moves so quickly, she said. As a registered nurse administrator for Interim HealthCare of San Antonio shes enforcing policies to protect her employees and clients. She takes the temperature of employees every morning before they go into the field to make sure they dont have a fever. She does her best to equip them with personal protective equipment to take care of clients. Still waiting for a shipment of masks, shes had to ration out the small supply she has on hand. Whether its a catastrophic event or a pandemic, you implement the disaster plan according to state and federal regulations, she said. Thats one of my responsibilities to the very end. McGiboney has had more than her share of close encounters with difficult situations over the years, including a drive-by shooting and gang members in tough neighborhoods. She was mugged on a neighborhood street but kept on going to the home of the client who was waiting for her. Shes helped Katrina evacuees and Hurricane Harvey survivors whose worlds were turned upside down. Through it all, she has continued to fulfill the pledge she made in 1976. The first year of home healthcare was smooth, but when she took on community care state programs life got, well, exciting. In 1985, McGiboney was arriving at a clients home when she noticed police officers at the address. When she stepped out of her red Toyota the officers yelled Get down! Theres a drive-by shooting going on! As they shouted the warning, she dropped to the ground and three gunshots rang out. When she rose from the pavement she saw that not one bullet had struck her or her car. Later, McGiboney learned the gunmans target was a relative of her client. The bullets strafed the living room, missing the woman who was in the back of the home. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio web entrepreneur offers lessons learned to help others cope with coronavirus Days later she was writing an assessment of a 90-year-old man who took a liking to her. As she finished the paperwork, the man said she couldnt leave; he loved her and she was going to stay and be his nurse. He walked to the kitchen, picked up a rusty knife and jabbed her in the upper right shoulder. The man protested when she left and stopped at a medical clinic for a tetanus shot. Until hiring a team of nurses, McGiboney adapted to her clients surroundings. She learned to speak Spanish to clients living in an area that covered a 60-mile radius. Not all of her patients were keen on the traditional medications she brought. One client sprayed her with a mystery liquid to ward off evil spirits. She witnessed the family of an older man who couldnt walk apply leeches to his knees. She was surprised to see the man rise and walk after the treatment that dates back to ancient Egypt. By the mid-1980s, as evidenced by the drive-by shooting, McGiboneys job had taken her to the gang turfs around San Antonio. After visiting a client, two boys on a bike grabbed her around her neck and stole her purse at knife point. Within hours, a gang member whose father she was treating helped get her purse back and most of the contents. McGiboney said she always prayed up on her field visits, strengthened by her favorite scripture Philippians 4:13 that says, I can do all things through him who gives me strength. The gang members would walk her to her car, but she also had a can of mace handy that police officers suggested she carry in case she needed it. She wore colors associated with the neighborhood gangs for protection, laying the appropriate colored bandanna on the dash of her car. If you wanted to survive as a home health care nurse in the 1980s, McGiboney said, you had to get to know the gang members. It was fearful, but I couldnt show fear. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio pastor ministers to those in need at East Side church She also faced challenges in her personal life. In 1989, she was 34 years old when she became a cancer survivor. There were times when she felt burned out, but the pledge she took 43 years ago has seen her through her experiences. One of her lasting memories is when the daughter of one of her employees who had died several years earlier asked McGiboney to confer her nursing pin on her at graduation. The graduates father had worked for McGiboney in the South region of Texas. Your dad is looking down and hes so proud of you, McGiboney said, as she pinned the young woman and hugged her. She wept as the inductee recited the Florence Nightingale pledge, thinking back to her own 1976 pinning ceremony and achieving her dream of becoming a nurse. It was all worth it, McGiboney said. But when I leave at night, I have to leave it behind. Tomorrow is another challenge. Vincent T. Davis is a reporter in the Greater San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Vincent, become a subscriber. vtdavis@express-news.net | Twitter: @vincentdavis (Note that it is very unlikely that any large community has acquired sufficient herd immunity to the novel coronavirus yet, even where it has hit hardest. Nor do we have enough information about the people known to have been infected and to have recovered so far thats why it is so urgent to conduct serology, or blood work, to study how many people in countries that have already experienced a first wave of infections, like China and South Korea, are producing antibodies.) And so to see us through the next year or more, we must all prepare for several cycles of a suppress and lift policy cycles during which restrictions are applied and relaxed, applied again and relaxed again, in ways that can keep the pandemic under control but at an acceptable economic and social cost. How best to do that will vary by country, depending on its means, its tolerance for disruption and its peoples collective will. In all cases, however, the challenge essentially is a three-way tug of war between combating the disease, protecting the economy and keeping society on an even keel. Here is a formal framework for how governments could monitor the state of this pandemic much more accurately than many seem to be doing now, and how then, acting on the evidence, they could tune their interventions quickly enough to stay ahead of the outbreak trajectory. For starters, one needs robust data. Policy must not be determined based on the daily count of reported cases the tallies you read about constantly in the news because those are unreliable. Whats needed instead is the coronaviruss real-time, effective reproduction number, or its actual ability to spread at a particular time. And one needs to understand that number properly, in context. The rate at which a virus is transmitted known as the R-naught (R0), or basic reproductive number refers to the average number of people to whom an infected person passes on the virus in a population with no pre-existing immunity. The R0 can vary from place to place because of the populations age structure and how frequently people come into contact with each other. The effective version of that number, the Rt or the reproductive number at time t is the viruss actual transmission rate at a given moment. It varies according to the measures to control the epidemic quarantine and isolation protocols, travel restrictions, school closures, physical distancing, the use of face masks that have been put in place. Today, we'll introduce the concept of the P/E ratio for those who are learning about investing. We'll show how you can use Xiamen International Port Co., Ltd's (HKG:3378) P/E ratio to inform your assessment of the investment opportunity. Based on the last twelve months, Xiamen International Port's P/E ratio is 5.97. That is equivalent to an earnings yield of about 16.7%. See our latest analysis for Xiamen International Port How Do You Calculate A P/E Ratio? The formula for P/E is: Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price (in reporting currency) Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Xiamen International Port: P/E of 5.97 = CN0.613 CN0.103 (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2019.) (Note: the above calculation uses the share price in the reporting currency, namely CNY and the calculation results may not be precise due to rounding.) Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good? A higher P/E ratio implies that investors pay a higher price for the earning power of the business. That is not a good or a bad thing per se, but a high P/E does imply buyers are optimistic about the future. Does Xiamen International Port Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry? The P/E ratio indicates whether the market has higher or lower expectations of a company. As you can see below Xiamen International Port has a P/E ratio that is fairly close for the average for the infrastructure industry, which is 6.4. SEHK:3378 Price Estimation Relative to Market April 6th 2020 Its P/E ratio suggests that Xiamen International Port shareholders think that in the future it will perform about the same as other companies in its industry classification. The company could surprise by performing better than average, in the future. Further research into factors such as insider buying and selling, could help you form your own view on whether that is likely. How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios When earnings fall, the 'E' decreases, over time. That means even if the current P/E is low, it will increase over time if the share price stays flat. So while a stock may look cheap based on past earnings, it could be expensive based on future earnings. Story continues It's great to see that Xiamen International Port grew EPS by 14% in the last year. Unfortunately, earnings per share are down 8.2% a year, over 5 years. A Limitation: P/E Ratios Ignore Debt and Cash In The Bank Don't forget that the P/E ratio considers market capitalization. Thus, the metric does not reflect cash or debt held by the company. Theoretically, a business can improve its earnings (and produce a lower P/E in the future) by investing in growth. That means taking on debt (or spending its cash). Such spending might be good or bad, overall, but the key point here is that you need to look at debt to understand the P/E ratio in context. Xiamen International Port's Balance Sheet Xiamen International Port's net debt is considerable, at 278% of its market cap. This is a relatively high level of debt, so the stock probably deserves a relatively low P/E ratio. Keep that in mind when comparing it to other companies. The Bottom Line On Xiamen International Port's P/E Ratio Xiamen International Port trades on a P/E ratio of 6.0, which is below the HK market average of 9.1. While the EPS growth last year was strong, the significant debt levels reduce the number of options available to management. The low P/E ratio suggests current market expectations are muted, implying these levels of growth will not continue. Investors have an opportunity when market expectations about a stock are wrong. If it is underestimating a company, investors can make money by buying and holding the shares until the market corrects itself. So this free report on the analyst consensus forecasts could help you make a master move on this stock. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a few good candidates. So take a peek at this free list of companies with modest (or no) debt, trading on a P/E below 20. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has directed Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mangudya to ensure that international money transfer agents immediately provide services as a lot of citizens need to access funds sent by their relatives abroad. Most financial services had closed their banking halls as part of the measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Dr Mangudya immediately issued a statement authorising the transfer agents to start operating with effect from tomorrow. Money transfer agencies such as World Remit, Western Union, Money Gram and Mukuru had closed shop, leaving many stranded. Banks and financial service institutions are urging clients to utilise online banking facilities which have turned out to be unreliable. Chronicle published an article yesterday highlighting the desperation faced by most citizens struggling to access wired funds. In a statement yesterday, President Mnangagwa said he made the directive in view of the challenges faced by those who depend on diaspora remittances for their survival. In view of the ongoing Covid-19-related national lockdown and following concerns from users of money transfer services, I have now directed the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to immediately address constraints around this essential financial service, said President Mnangagwa. The new environment arising from the national lockdown has increased our peoples dependence on remittances, which also have the added advantage of reaching directly the most marginalised members of our nation. Because of the necessary national lockdown, livelihoods in the informal sector have been disrupted, thus forcing many households to depend on the support from their loved ones abroad. He said it was critical financial service institutions adapt their operations to the new emergency situation. The President hailed the diaspora for continually supporting their relatives during the difficult period. Let me, in the same spirit, pay tribute to our citizens abroad who continue to demonstrate abundant compassion by assisting their families back home through various interventions, including financial remittances, said the President. Dr Mangudya, also in a statement, said in line with the Presidents directive, money transfer agents should strictly observe rules on social distancing. Money Transfer Agencies (MTAs) with branches operating in retail outlets shall, with effect from Wednesday 8 April 2020, operate daily within the timelines prescribed for opening of retail outlets or shops; and MTAs owned by banks and those with own banking halls and branches outside banks and retail outlets or shops, shall open for business three times a week, that is, on Tuesday to Thursday, between 0900 and 1500hrs. To allow for operational adjustment, this directive takes effect from Wednesday 8 April, 2020, said Dr Mangudya. He said the decision in respect of the extension of the above services is to allow for the receipt of foreign currency remittances which cannot be transacted on any digital or electronic platforms. Anti-government protests that began in October and raged through Iraq for months were officially suspended in late March as part of efforts against the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic. Major squares, however, remain occupied. Some protesters say they have to stay amid continued assassinations of activists. Umm Abbass, a well-known female activist in Nasiriyah, was killed on April 5 when militias allegedly stormed her home at dawn. Security forces have found it difficult to make much of the population fully comply with orders to close all non-essential businesses. Flights from Iran seem to have continued despite the ban and religious processions have gone ahead despite risks of contagion. It is unclear whether force will be employed to clear the squares at some point under the justification that they pose a public health risk. On April 2, clashes reportedly broke out in Sadr City when security forces attempted to make the local working-class population abide by the government-imposed curfew. Though the regulations are meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the lower classes in many countries restricting movement have found it difficult if not impossible to comply with them. As for those still in Tahrir Square, The virus will not matter to the protesters until their demands are met, activist Nizar told Al-Monitor during a Whatsapp conversation on April 1. He sent a video of himself disinfecting the square, as the activists have been doing since mid-March. Iraq confirmed its first case of COVID-19 in late February after the protests had already lost much of their initial momentum. Tension between the United States and Iran as well as other power struggles reduced participation significantly in the prior two months. When Al-Monitor visited the square in the early afternoon of Feb. 26, the iconic high-rise known as the Turkish restaurant, which had been occupied by protestors for months, was empty and men stood guard nearby, watching everyone suspiciously. There were a few people in the tents and a loudspeaker blaring a recording of an Islamic greeting followed by the words by Muqtada Sadr about Iraqis of all sects and religion being Iraqis first and foremost and ending with We will not let the corrupt politicians divide us. Al-Monitor had first met Nizar that afternoon in late February near Khilani Square, when protesters were trying to regain the square that they had lost in previous weeks. Many were throwing rocks at the security forces, lighting fires and yelling angrily. Three young men had died there the previous day, allegedly shot by security forces. For months the protesters had held three major bridges and the squares near them, only to have their protest area reduced to Tahrir Square and its surroundings. The tunnel under Tahrir Square, embellished with revolutionary graffiti, has been frequently featured by the international press since the protests started. For months, the street linking the two squares was filled with slogan-chanting marchers waving the Iraqi flag and other banners. Al-Monitor had been warned by one Sadr supporter in January, however, not to go past a certain point on the street at night, as those are a different type of people down there closer to Khilani Square, near Sinak Bridge leading to the Iranian Embassy on the other side of the river. In February, Nizar had noted that he thought the protesters should not be trying to regain Khilani Square, and especially not through violent means. He said he was there to be a good influence on them and try to convince them to go back. During the April 1 Whatsapp conversation, Nizar denied that there had been any clashes in the area or that protesters had been attacked in recent weeks. Other sources claim that security forces and others had attacked them in recent days. Many protesters and activists are hesitant to speak after a rash of kidnappings and killings in previous months. In Nasiriya, a city known for decades as a revolutionary incubator and where dozens were killed in a brutal crackdown on a single day in November, protesters remain in the now-iconic Habboubi Square. Clashes reportedly broke out between security forces and protesters in Nasiriyah April 3. Ali, an activist and education ministry official Al-Monitor met during a previous reporting trip to the city in November, said in a Whatsapp conversation on April 1 that about 200 protesters remain in the area but protesting had been suspended in order to protect public health, the safeguarding of which was one of the reasons for the protests in the first place. The widespread corruption protesters have railed against has long been seen as detrimental to vital health care and services for the countrys citizens. This sentiment was acutely felt and frequently expressed to Al-Monitor during visits to homes in impoverished areas such as Sadr City, where this reporter met with family members of young men killed by security forces or others in the first protests in October. In those homes, elections were seldom mentioned but demands for access to proper health care were constant. In Basra, violent protests were sparked last year over a serious crisis created by contaminated water that had hospitalized thousands of residents. Now, in Nasiriyas Habboubi Square, Ali said, We have formed teams to clean the tents and the square constantly, adding that the teams are provided masks and gloves. During Al-Monitor's November trip prior to the discovery of the COVID-19 virus, those tasked with cleaning had already been wearing masks and volunteers had been regularly cleaning the streets and tents. Ali claimed that in late January, militias linked to Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl al-Haq, which have recently been disseminating videos of their supporters spraying disinfectant on Baghdad's streets, burned our tents, killed six protesters and wounded many others. Engaging key tribal leaders in negotiations with the militias, he said, has lowered the threats they posed for the moment. But I still cant sleep at home, he claimed, saying he hadnt been able to do so for months due to his initial high profile within the citys protests and the risks of being kidnapped or killed even now. [April 06, 2020] Houlihan Lokey Hires Industry Veteran to Lead Its Transaction Advisory Services Practice Houlihan Lokey (NYSE:HLI), the global investment bank, announced today that Sean Murphy has joined its Financial and Valuation Advisory business to lead its Transaction Advisory Services practice. He is based in Dallas. Mr. Murphy joins following more than two decades at KPMG, where he was a Principal in the firm's Deal Advisory group with oversight of both global and domestic transaction-related engagements in connection with mergers, acquisitions, and dispositions. Mr. Murphy led some of KPMG's largest global private equity accounts, served on the U.S. private equity leadership team and was the Advisory Leader for the Dallas and North Texas markets for KPMG. "Sean's breadth of experience and reputation for client service is impressive. He is an ideal fit with our goal of providing clients with superior, value-creation focused insights and independent advice at deal speed," said Drew Koecher, Global Co-Head of Houlihan Lokey's Financial and Valuation Advisory business. "We are thrilled he has joind us to lead our Transaction Advisory Services practice and we are confident his expertise will be of tremendous value to our clients around the world as we continue to grow our diligence practice." "The opportunity to join Houlihan Lokey, with its global platform, broad service offering, and reputation for thoughtful, conflict-free advice is exciting," said Mr. Murphy. "I look forward to contributing to the long tradition of excellent client service, growth, and superior results for which Houlihan Lokey and its Transaction Advisory Services team are known." Mr. Murphy holds a B.B.A. in Finance from Texas A&M University and an M.S. in Finance from the Lowry Mays College & Graduate School of Business (now known as Mays Business School) at Texas A&M. About Houlihan Lokey Houlihan Lokey (NYSE:HLI) is a global investment bank with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructuring, and valuation. The firm serves corporations, institutions, and governments worldwide with offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region. Independent advice and intellectual rigor are hallmarks of the firm's commitment to client success across its advisory services. Houlihan Lokey is the No. 1 M&A advisor for the past five consecutive years in the U.S., the No. 1 global restructuring advisor for the past six consecutive years, and the No. 1 global M&A fairness opinion advisor over the past 20 years, all based on number of transactions and according to data provided by Refinitiv (formerly Thomson Reuters (News - Alert)). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005477/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Its not exactly business as usual at Upstate New Yorks breweries, but nothing, not even the coronavirus outbreak, is stopping them from producing new or seasonal products. Breweries, after all, are considered essential businesses part of the agriculture-to-food supply chain. They cant welcome customers into their taprooms, but they can make beer and sell it through distribution channels. Even small breweries can offer beer for pick-up or delivery and, for now, through delivery via services like UPS. This week, two of the states largest brewers Rochesters Genesee and Uticas F.X. Matt (Saranac) have noteworthy releases coming out and hitting store shelves through their distribution networks. Both are on the light and refreshing side. Genesee Brewery is hitting the market early with its Ruby Red Kolsch, a light, 4.5% alcohol, German-style ale infused with tart grapefruit. It began as a summer seasonal in 2018. The brewery moved up the release to April this year to bring a little bit of sunshine to Upstate New York this season, said Genesee brand director Janine Schoos. Even though its a seasonal, it was Genesees fastest-growing brand in 2019, outpacing other beers and even seltzers. Ruby Red Kolsch should hit stores in the Syracuse area by Wednesday. Its been on the market in places like Rochester and Buffalo since late last week. The Saranac Brewery, meanwhile, hasnt let the coronavirus pandemic interfere with its plans to join the fast-growing hard seltzer category. This month it officially launches its Saranac Green Tea Spiked Seltzer, which is a seltzer infused with green tea leaves and available in three flavors, Lemon, Peach Mango and Raspberry. They are 4.5% alcohol, gluten-free and have just 100 calories and 2 grams of sugar per 12-ounce serving. It was a natural fit to add green tea to spiked seltzer once our research found an 81% overlap in green tea and seltzer drinkers, said brewery president Fred Matt. The Matt / Saranac brewery announced its intention to make the green tea hard seltzer in February. It will be sold across New York and is available in a variety 12-pack with all three flavors. The hard seltzer category is still hot. Led by White Claw, it grew more than 200 percent in 2019, with more than $500 million in sales, according to the market research company Nielsen. It is still expected to be a fast-growing drinks category in 2020. Meanwhile smaller brewers in Central New York, and beyond, continue to produce an evolving array of beers to sell under the states new to go rules. Watch Facebook for their brew news: xxx xxx xxx xxx RELATED Deemed essential, Upstate NY wineries carry on Youre getting your food and drinks to go. How much do you tip? MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Onondaga County calls for voluntary shelter in place, shuts golf courses to fight coronavirus Onondaga County warns of potential coronavirus exposure at 3 pharmacies, liquor store Coronavirus in NY: State releases deaths by ages, counties NY coronavirus wreaks havoc on separated families: Who gets custody of the children? Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. Flash Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is planning to declare a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak in Japan, due to the recent surging COVID-19 cases in Tokyo and other large cities, government sources said Monday. Pressure had been mounting on Abe to make the declaration amid a surge in COVID-19 cases recently, with calls for the move from Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and the Japan Medical Association intensifying. The Tokyo metropolitan government along with healthcare specialists 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 recently that 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. Prior to a state of emergency being declared over the virus, the prime minister will have to seek the opinions from an advisory panel comprised of medical experts, and the level of emergency will have to meet specific criteria. The first being that the outbreak of the virus be deemed serious enough to result in extreme damage being caused to people's lives and health, and the second being that the rapid spread of the virus threatens to have a serious impact on people's livelihoods and the country's economy. If a state of emergency were to be declared by Abe, the government would have extended powers to instruct people to stay at home on a regional or national basis, issue closures to schools, and restrict the use of locations for mass gatherings. The government would also have the authority to demand that supplies deemed essential to combating the spread of the virus be sold to them or requisitioned, and be able to temporarily commandeer private land or facilities for the purposes of providing medical care. As of Sunday, 143 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Tokyo, a record daily high for the capital, bringing the total to 1,034, with Japan's health ministry and local governments adding that nationwide cases had risen to 3,531 as of Sunday afternoon. A 104-year-old Italian woman who survived the 1918 Spanish Flu has become the world's oldest person to survive the coronavirus. Ada Zanusso fell ill at her nursing home in Biella in northern Italy on March 17, eight days after the Government imposed a lockdown on the country. She was tested positive for Covid-19 after experiencing a relentless bout of vomiting, fever, and difficulty with breathing last month. Her son Giampiero told The Sun: 'I suspected it was coronavirus because of the number of cases at the care home. They have sadly had a few fatalities there.' Carla Furno Marchese, Ada's doctor, added: 'She is up and about and not lying in bed and she can walk to her chair. 'She has lost none of her lucidity and intelligence. Her recovery is a great joy for us and a sign of good hope for all that are suffering in these difficult days.' Ada Zanusso (pictured) fell ill at her nursing home in Biella in northern Italy on March 17, eight days after the Government imposed a lockdown on the country The WHO has said nearly 1.2million people worldwide have been infected with the coronavirus The good news comes as Italian officials said yesterday they may soon ease restrictions after the daily coronavirus death toll fell. Yesterday's 525 Covid-19 fatalities reported by the civil protection service were the Mediterranean country's lowest since 427 deaths were registered on March 19. They represented a decline of 23 percent from the 681 deaths reported on Saturday. 'The curve has started its descent and the number of deaths has started to drop,' Italy's ISS national health institute director Silvio Brusaferro told reporters. 'If these data are confirmed (in the coming days), we will have to start thinking about phase two,' he said in reference to an easing of a month-long national lockdown. Italian officials said yesterday they may soon ease restrictions after the daily coronavirus death toll fell (pictured, Green Cross volunteers and health workers) People are turned away by local police as parish priest Maurizio Mirilli celebrates Palm Sunday mass from the his church's bell tower, in Rome, during the coronavirus lockdown Parish priest Don Antonio Lauri blesses a resident's palm branch after celebrating Palm Sunday mass from the rooftop of the San Gabriele dell'Addolorata church in Rome Italy's second phase of the battle against a virus that has now officially killed 15,887 may be trickier than the first. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte decided to address Italy's biggest crisis in generations by sacrificing the economy for the benefit of public health. The nation of 60 million became the first Western democracy to voluntarily shut down almost all businesses and ban public gatherings. Officials reported the first decline Sunday in the number of non-critical Covid-19 patients receiving hospital care across the country's 22 regions. That number fell from 29,010 on Saturday to 28,949 on Sunday. The number of patients in critical condition edged down from 3,994 on Saturday to 3,977 on Sunday - the second successive drop. But the hit to the Italian economy will be enormous. A view of a empty Colosseum in Rome at the end of fourth week of the coronavirus lockdown Police check pedestrians during the lockdown to stem the spread of the coronavirus in Milan A military woman with mask in front of Piazza Duomo in Milan during the Covid-19 lockdown The country's big business lobby Confindustria estimates that this year's production will shrink by six percent if the lockdown remains in place until the end of May. Confindustria believes that any additional week after that will chop another 0.75 percent off Italy's total output - the European Union's third-largest last year. PM Conte's Government is expected Monday to announce new emergency support measures for small businesses and families that expand on a 25 billion euro ($27billion) programme unveiled last month. The coming easing in Italy has not been tried by any other Western nation since the virus spread from China to Europe in February. Parish priest Don Antonio Lauri prays as he celebrates Palm Sunday mass for nearby residents from the rooftop of the San Gabriele dell'Addolorata church in Rome The governor of Region Lombardy, the coronavirus worst-hit region of Italy, Attilio Fontana wears a face mask as he walks in Milan during the pandemic crisis Pedestrians wearing stand in a line to buy the newspaper during the crisis in Venice Italian health officials remain extremely cautious because they know that the death toll is falling almost certainly because most people are self-isolating. Civil protection service chief Angelo Borrelli called Sunday's drop in reported deaths 'good news'. 'But we should not let our guard down,' he warned. Italian media said the Government was preparing a five-point plan that would open up businesses in stages while keeping social distancing measures in place. The Corriere della Sera daily said Italians would be asked to go to work with facemasks and required to stay 6ft apart in public at all times. Seagulls fly in front of the dome of the St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican A woman prays in Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Turin, on Palm Sunday Anyone who shows the slightest coronavirus symptoms must be immediately reported to the health authorities and isolated for two weeks. PM Conte's Government also intends to secure tens of thousands of certified blood test kits to see how many people have developed antibodies for the disease. Those with the antibodies might have immunity and be allowed to work. But Italy does not have any certified kits at the moment. It is also unclear whether people with antibodies can still spread the disease. Italy is also reportedly planning to build more coronavirus-specific hospitals across the country. The Government's final proposal involves using phone apps to 'strengthen contact tracing' - a controversial measure opposed by privacy advocates that has been tried in countries such as South Korea and Israel. Some Canadians who are stranded abroad and desperately waiting for an emergency loan from the federal government have been told by Global Affairs Canada that a "technical issue" stopped some loan applications from being received, and thus processed, over an eight-day period from March 26 to April 3. The repayable loan of up to $5,000 is intended to help cash-strapped citizens book flights back to Canada and pay for basic expenses, such as hotels and food, until they can return home. Some travellers have reported maxing out their credit cards on flights that got cancelled, and being unable to pay hotel bills. Loan applicants must prove that they have no other source of funds and that they had a plan to return home that got disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. "I feel trapped," said Montreal resident Pepe Baiamonte, 36, who is stuck in Mexico. He applied for the emergency loan last week in order to pay for a flight home to Canada. He didn't receive any confirmation, so today he called the emergency response centre in Ottawa. "I spoke with this lady, and she told me they have my information but it's as if they didn't submit it," Baiamonte said. Submitted by Pepe Biamonte The Canadian government says it has so far paid out $2.5 million in loans to 775 recipients through the COVID-19 Emergency Loan Program for Canadians Abroad. It's processing roughly 1,600 more loan applications, according to Global Affairs. However, it's unknown how many applications were blocked by the technical issues. Some travellers should reapply Two travellers forwarded identical emails to CBC News that they received from Global Affairs on Friday. "Earlier today, we discovered and fixed a technical issue which resulted in some web forms not being properly transmitted following submission," the emails said. "Web forms submitted between March 26, 09:15 (EDT) and April 3, 16:30 (EDT) may have been impacted and not received by our teams." Story continues The email also said that anyone who applied for a loan but did not receive a response from a consular official should resubmit an online form. People who received a response do not need to resubmit their loan application. CBC News requested more information from Global Affairs, but did not receive a response. Its most recent statement to the media did not mention the technical issue. Security concerns Natasha Briggs, 27, who was stranded in Guatemala for a couple of weeks and applied for the loan, is worried that the technical issue may have jeopardized the security of her personal information. "How did you lose my information? And who has it? There was debit card information, there was bank account information, passport information ... I hope it didn't get into the wrong hands," Briggs said. Briggs had rushed to the airport at the end of March to try to get on a government-organized repatriation flight, but quickly discovered that she didn't have enough room on her credit card to pay for the plane ticket. A consular affairs worker helped her apply for the loan in the airport, then let her get on the plane back to Canada. Francis Ferland/CBC Now under mandatory self-isolation for 14 days in Victoria, B.C., Briggs considers herself lucky that she got a flight home, but she still wants to know the status of her loan application. "That loan is supposed to pay for the flight, and eventually I'm sure they're going to contact me and tell me that I have to pay them back somehow, I mean, I hope. I don't want to find out past the deadline that I owe the government with interest." Briggs also said that other people stranded abroad who can't even afford food need the money much more urgently, Global Affairs said its emergency call centre responded to 837 calls and 3,816 emails from Canadians this past Saturday alone. Iran's President Rohani calls for necessary measures to resume economic activities 03/29/20 Source: Tehran Times TEHRAN - President Hassan Rohani said late on Sunday that all required measured must be adopted to resume economic activities in the country with the people's health prioritized. talking to his cabinet members, Rohani said, "People's health is the country's first priority, but employment, production and businesses in a year that is named 'Surge in Production' must be considered as well." "Although the government has the responsibility to support less-privileged classes of the society, it has the responsibility to provide all necessary requirements for jump-starting businesses," he said, according to his office's website. "Therefore, all necessary measures must be taken for jump-starting the country's economy by observing health protocols with people's health prioritized," he said. During the session, the Health Ministry presented a report on the process of containing the outbreak of coronavirus in the country. According to the figures released on Monday, the COVIC-19 has infected 60,500 individuals and cost the lives of more than 3,700 people in Iran. Official Iran's statistics on coronavirus as of April 6 Infections: 60,500 Deaths: 3,739 New Cases: 2,274 Recovered: 14,236 Earlier on Sunday, Rohani had also pointed to the necessity of resuming economic activities, saying, "Both economic activities and health protocols can be carried out together. All our administrative, productive and economic activities must continue, provided that all health protocols are followed by everyone." "All low-risk jobs in all provinces across the country can resume activity from April 11," the president said. "But high-risk jobs, such as sports complexes, will remain shut down until April 19. Further decisions regarding these professions will be made afterward." Mumbai: Actor, model and Pinkathon founder Milind Soman at a press conference to announce the 7th edition of Pinkathon, in Mumbai on Nov 13, 2018. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: PK Mumbai, April 6 : Actor-model-fitness enthusiast Milind Soman suggests meditation for peace of mind in these times of COVID-19 stress, often triggered off by all the rumours, speculations and fake news emanating about the disease. "So much conflicting information online. So much uncertainty. What will the world be like in a few months. What about the virus. What about the economy. Let's not overthink this. Go with the flow. Whatever shape the world takes, we must be prepared. Our minds must be prepared. Strong. And centered," Milind wrote on Instagram. "Meditation, if practiced for as few as 10 minutes each day, can help you control stress, decrease anxiety, improve cardiovascular health, and achieve a greater capacity for relaxation," added the 54-year-old. He also offered suggestions about how to perform meditation for those who do not know. Milind wrote: "How to Start Meditating? Set a timer. Start with 5 mins. Put on Music that you find calming. Sit or lie down comfortably in a quiet place Breathe normally through your nose, with your mouth closed. Focus on your breath, as you inhale and exhale. If you notice your mind being distracted by thoughts, gently bring it back to the breath." The International Youth and Students for Social Equality, the youth wing of the Socialist Equality Party (Australia), is holding an online meeting this Tuesday evening on Socialist Alternative and the politics of the pseudo-left. The event is the third in a series of lectures being delivered by leading World Socialist Web Site writer Nick Beams entitled, Capitalisms war on society: Why you need to fight for socialism. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time on the GoToMeeting app. Beams will explain that in the midst of the deepest crisis of the world capitalist system in decades, the critical issue is the development of a mass socialist movement of the working class internationally. This task requires the exposure of all those organisations that seek to channel the working class behind one or another section of the ruling elite. In Australia, Socialist Alternative, speaking for affluent layers of the upper- middle class, continuously seeks to promote illusions in Labor, a party of big business, and the trade unions. The unions that Socialist Alternative supports, including the CFMMEU, are forcing workers to labour in unsafe conditions so that profits from the construction boom continue. ACTU secretary Sally McManus has joined a de facto united front with the Morrison government, collaborating with it on a daily basis as it provides billions of dollars to the banks and refuses to boost funding to public healthcare. The aim of this government-union operation, in which Socialist Alternative is implicated, is to force the working class to pay for the deepening crisis and to suppress mounting social and political opposition. Internationally, Socialist Alternative has promoted Syriza in Greece, Jeremy Corbyn in Britain and Bernie Sanders in the US. All of them have sought to channel mounting discontent behind the widely-despised political establishments through the use of left-populist phrases, before carrying out one betrayal after another. Beams will explain that the fight for socialism requires an understanding of the historical experiences of the working class and an examination of the class interests represented by all political parties. To take part in the lecture download the GoToMeeting app now and then on the day of the meeting click here. Alternatively, you can call +61 2 8355 1050 on your phone, you will need the access code 670-326-765. The Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbais Agripada was sealed on Monday after 26 nurses and three doctors tested positive for coronavirus. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had declared the hospital as a containment zone on Sunday. Suresh Kakani, additional municipal commissioner (health), BMC, said they have sealed the hospital and the staffers are not allowed to go out until they test negative for a coronavirus test. It is the fault of the hospital administration that they didnt take precautionary measures, due to which nearly 300 staffers have been quarantined. We have also set up a team to probe how the virus spread among so many people in a hospital setting, he said. As HT had reported earlier, the Covid-19 positive nurses alleged that due to the negligence of the hospital, the infection spread to other staffers. On March 20 two suspected and positive Covid-19 patients were brought to the hospital from Kasturba Gandhi Hospital. The confirmed cases were kept in isolation wards, while suspects were kept in general ICU wards where non-Covid-19 patients were also being provided care. Also Watch | Why Mumbais lack of isolation beds could pose problems in battling pandemic On March 28, two nurses working in the same general ICU ward tested positive for Covid-19. But soon, 10 nurses got infected and later the infection spread to 26 nurses and three doctors. We have contracted the infection after we were exposed to suspected coronavirus patients who were undergoing treatment in a general ward at the hospital, said a nurse from the hospital who has been found positive. The relatives of the patients also claimed that the infected nurses shared the same canteen, hostels and bathrooms with uninfected medical staffers. Staff members said that the hospital did not quarantine the nurses and forced them to work resulting in the spread of the virus to other staff members. While recounting the alleged harassment, a nurse said when the BMC came for inspection on April 1, few of the nurses informed them about their symptoms but they were reprimanded by the senior officers from the hospital. Meanwhile, the nurses who tested positive have been shifted to the hospital from their quarters in Vile Parle, while two of the infected doctors are admitted to Seven Hills and the third one to SL Raheja Hospital, Mahim. The swab samples of more than 270 hospital staff and some patients have been sent for tests. The nursing association has filed a complaint with the BMC commissioner seeking action against the hospital. Mumbai and other cities in Maharashtra like Pune and Nagpur have recorded a substantial rise in the number of Covid-19 patients in last few daysof these nearly 85% are in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Pune district, the most urbanised areas of the state. The state government has said it will focus on these areas to contain the spread of the virus. The municipal corporations in these cities have been directed to implement the cluster containment action plan minutely to restrict the spread of the coronavirus disease. In a Twitter video posted on Friday from quarantine in No11, where he has been in self-isolation, an exhausted-looking Mr Johnson revealed he was still suffering from a high temperature Downing Street insisted that Boris Johnson remained in charge of the UK's coronavirus battle today despite being hospitalised for treatment. But the Prime Minster's admission to St Thomas's Hospital in London meant that Dominic Raab chaired this morning's daily meeting of ministers. The Foreign Secretary - who is also First Secretary of State - has been appointed the senior minister who takes over if the PM's health fails to the point where he cannot lead the Government. Mr Johnson is thought to have been given oxygen treatment, with claims he had 'risked his health' by keeping up a frantic workrate during more than a week in self-isolation in Downing Street. This evening Number 10 announced that the Prime Minister had been admitted to the intensive care unit. The UK does not have a deputy prime minister but first secretary has been used by a number of governments to show who is second in command. However, it is not immediately clear what would happen if Mr Raab also became incapacitated, with the UK not having a formal system of succession like other countries, for example the US. Downing Street is said to have drawn up plans to ensure the continuation of government in all circumstances but details have not been divulged publicly. Mr Raab's status as the person waiting in the wings reportedly sparked furious rows within the government a fortnight ago, with other ministers adamant Michael Gove, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, should be the one to take over. But Number 10 is likely to face intense pressure in the coming days to set out exactly what would happen if Mr Johnson and other senior ministers can no longer work. The Prime Minster's admission to St Thomas's Hospital in London meant that Dominic Raab chaired this morning's daily meeting of ministers. Police officers are seen today outside St Thomas' Hospital in London, a short distance from Downing Street, after Mr Johnson was admitted for tests on Sunday In a coronavirus press conference last week, Mr Raab went viral after licking his finger to turn a page of his speech - Government advice is to avoid touching your face How are ministers ranked? 1. Boris Johnson, Prime Minister 2. Dominic Raab, Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State 3. Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer 4. Priti Patel, Home Secretary 5. Michael Gove, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 6. Robert Buckland, Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary 7. Ben Wallace, Defence Secretary 8. Matt Hancock, Health Secretary 9. Alok Sharma, Business Secretary 10. Liz Truss, International Trade Secretary 11. Therese Coffey, Work and Pensions Secretary 12. Gavin Williamson, Education Secretary 13. George Eustice, Environment Secretary 14. Robert Jenrick, Communities Secretary 15. Brandon Lewis, Northern Ireland Secretary 16. Alister Jack, Scotland Secretary 17. Simon Hart, Wales Secretary 18. Baroness Evans, Leader of the House of Lords 19. Oliver Dowden, Culture Secretary 20. Anne-Marie Trevelyan, International Development Secretary 21. Amanda Milling, Minister without Portfolio (Conservative Party chairwoman) Advertisement At the weekend it was revealed that two of the most senior Ministers leading the Government response to the coronavirus crisis are locked in battle over when to lift the economically devastating lockdown. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has made 'robust' representations to Health Secretary Matt Hancock, arguing that unless a path is mapped now for a swift return to normal economic activity it could cause lasting damage to the country. Government critics of Mr Hancock argue his 'careerist' fear of being personally blamed for a collapse in the NHS is blinding him to the dangers of a protracted lockdown. But allies of Mr Hancock hit back, saying: 'He is just doing his job, which is to protect the NHS.' One MP suggested that the PM was too keen to emulate his hero, Winston Churchill and should rest. But Downing Street described last night's shock move as a 'precautionary step', insisting that he continued to lead the Government, and remained in touch with ministers and senior officials. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick stressed it was not an emergency admission and that he expected him to be back in Downing Street 'shortly'. 'He's been working extremely hard leading the Government and being constantly updated,' he told BBC Breakfast. 'That's going to continue. 'Obviously today he's in hospital having the tests but he will continue to be kept informed as to what's happening and to be in charge of the Government. 'I'm sure this is very frustrating for him, for somebody like Boris who wants to be hands on running the Government from the front, but nonetheless he's still very much in charge of the Government.' In a Twitter video posted on Friday from quarantine in No11, where he has been in self-isolation, an exhausted-looking Mr Johnson revealed he was still suffering from a high temperature. Experts say there is a risk of pneumonia when a temperature lasts more than a week. There have been claims Mr Johnson has been coughing heavily during conference calls. Boris Johnson's positive test for coronavirus has sparked scrutiny of the government's line of succession plans. Downing Street said Dominic Raab (pictured right) will take over if the PM is incapacitated but some ministers have pushed for Michael Gove to be given the job Mr Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock both today revealed they have tested positive for coronavirus The UK has four great offices of state: Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary. But beyond that there is no public plan on the line of succession should the PM be struck down. The US is one of a number of countries which has such a plan: If the President cannot work, the Vice President takes over and so on down a long list of government figures. The US also has a 'designated survivor' - someone in the line of succession who is told to stay away from major events like inaugurations and State of the Union Addresses in case something bad happens and they can then step in as commander in chief. Successive prime ministers have resisted calls to formally set out succession plans because of the message they fear it would convey to the public and because of the damage it could do to their political standing. But there have been repeated attempts by backbench MPs to pass a law formalising the succession issue. Mr Raab, Mr Gove, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Matt Hancock are widely seen as the most important ministers in the government at the moment in terms of combating coronavirus. Each chairs a committee coordinating different parts of the government's response to the crisis. Mr Gove's is focused on public sector preparedness, Mr Hancock's is focused on NHS capacity, Mr Raab's deals with the overseas response and Mr Sunak's looks at the economy. Later, when the buses (surprisingly not trains) were arranged to bring the people to the villages, the people were packed into them like the livestock transportation, for example, a bus with 100 people inside and 50 on the roof of the bus. Then there are some who are even stopped from returning and are brought to camps made at schools/night shelters with meagre precautions on social-physical distancing due to overcrowding and poor preparation with the essentials. They are going to live in this situation for the lock down period. While the peoples exodus via walking or transporting saw some extraordinary humanitarian gestures from the NGOs, locals and individuals and government in providing them essentials, the atrocities by few government officials, especially the policemen punishing instead of protecting are concerning and devaluing the efforts made by the others. Nevertheless, it is heartening to hear that several of the returnees have reached their homes in villages and towns while some had to succumb to the hardships. Their struggles may not be over yet. With the strong stigma socio-economic surrounding reverse migration, the returnees may be haunted with the daunting issues of employment, acceptance besides exclusion for the time being for social-physical distancing. What is hurting most is that the corona virus which is more of an upper/middle class affair in the country got mixed up with the class virus already existing making the poor people, the most affected lot. After a week of the lock down when the corona cum class viruses were causing havoc, the Disaster Management Act (2005) is implemented on April 1 to regulate the corona news that were heavily supplemented with the class news. So, now most of the news of the class exodus evaporated from all types of media. And suddenly since couple of days most of the news on communal virus has resurfaced with pointing one community as the source of corona in the country. The communal conflict since was fresh before the arrival of corona because of the proposed (now postponed) Citizenship Amendment Act and the implemented Jammu-Kashmir lock down since August2019, its spread now is way too faster to bring back the hatred between the people across the class and unfortunately even between the people in the family and the friends. Lock down pushed me to relook at classical historical novelTrain to Pakistan by Khushwant Singh about exodus during Partition So, on the one hand, the government lacked enough preparedness, strategy and more seriously empathy for the poor; and on the other hand the poor people defied the government orders amidst ignorance and loss of trust on the urban society despite the government screaming from the top of its voice about its care provisions.What is hurting most is that the corona virus which is more of an upper/middle class affair in the country got mixed up with the class virus already existing making the poor people, the most affected lot.After a week of the lock down when the corona cum class viruses were causing havoc, the Disaster Management Act (2005) is implemented on April 1 to regulate the corona news that were heavily supplemented with the class news. So, now most of the news of the class exodus evaporated from all types of media.And suddenly since couple of days most of the news on communal virus has resurfaced with pointing one community as the source of corona in the country. The communal conflict since was fresh before the arrival of corona because of the proposed (now postponed) Citizenship Amendment Act and the implemented Jammu-Kashmir lock down since August2019, its spread now is way too faster to bring back the hatred between the people across the class and unfortunately even between the people in the family and the friends. The narrative of social media too changed overnight after the implementation of the Act and hence we are back to the pre-COVID state of communal tensions. The communal virus has divided the people of different religious faiths and ideological differences for over a century already, but its infection within the living and working places in this lock down period is extremely difficult to cope with especially, when we are flooded with communal information to read/hear/view that are sensitive to trigger hatred and angst. Also, because the strong identity of the majority population that transcends the class are endorsing the communal angle to corona, people like me who defy any religious inclination are the new minority as well as vulnerable. Ironically and interestingly, the corona after arriving in India found a religious identity for itself. We are Amazing here in India! Coming towards the end of my letter, it is crucial to keep you updated also on two crucial laws that were passed before the arrival of the corona in the country, the National Security Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for preventive detention in certain cases and prevention of unlawful activities; which in other words mean that, anyone can now be arrested on the basis of suspicion of doing anti-national activity. What is that anti-national activity, however that will be at the discretion of the administration. These Acts with the latest one may now be used strategically in case of dissent from individuals, activists, ngos and media like before. It is puzzling to realize that a medical emergency seems to have turned into an administrative emergency in the country. Ive to say with a heavy heart that the leaderships alone cannot be blamed for all these as the leadership reflects, We the People. This is where the most saddening and surprising part lie, when the majority (including family and friends) population with high education and spiritual/religious inclinations endorse the need for class and communal divisions stating a belief that the superior may prevail and that the others (class-community) must peril. It is more puzzling, that if we have advanced by learning from the mistakes of the past centuries socio-economic unrests, why would we (collective majority) wish to change (scrap) the diverse social landscape to a make a New India. One may defend it as Darwinism but, imagining the coming together of these three viruses itself is scary and serious! Some of us feel that this is coming since, amidst the fear of an unknown virus, the known viruses are forced to overlay the unknown. We also feel that repeating history may cost humanity, a fortune. Ill end my letter here with a faith in science as it is certain that the scientists will find a way for prevention and cure from the corona virus. It is also certain that the memories of the corona virus will fade away like the Zika and SARS viruses of the yesteryears. However, the long-standing class and communal viruses with no signs of diminishing but more signs of devastations for the democracy, development and humanity make many of us feel helpless. Since, this will haunt and daunt the growth of this beautiful civilization that Im proud of and leave the wounds in our minds and hearts forever. It is quite possible that as a society we succeed in failing the mysterious unknown corona virus. It is equally possible, and Ill wish that we use the corona virus as a timely (rather too late) means to succeed in failing the mainstream known class and communal viruses for emerging as a more Humanitarian Inclusive New India. I wrote this letter for you to know that, though my expressions here are depressing in the state of physical fitness and emotional illness, my position to stand for right and righteousness is strengthening every day. Since, you know me as a person, I believe you will understand that many things are not expressed since there is a global phenomenon now where the social-communal colours are veiled to counter the rising economic crisis.It is quite possible that as a society we succeed in failing the mysterious unknown corona virus. It is equally possible, and Ill wish that we use the corona virus as a timely (rather too late) means to succeed in failing the mainstream known class and communal viruses for emerging as a more Humanitarian Inclusive New India. I thank all those who are serving the corona as well as the class and communal issues in this difficult time. A big thank you for reading the letter till the end! In this social-physical distancing and work from home period, I send wishes for good health, happiness and some deep thoughts for humanity. Please pardon my long expression and English language if there are errors. With love and care, Mansee, Ahmedabad. 04.04.2020. 00.00hrs. --- *Amity University Chhattisgarh, Raipur. Freelancer at Environmental Design Consultants, Ahmedabad Immediately after the lock down announcement, thousands of urban migrant workers rushed (rather gathered with no social-physical distancing) to the transport hubs to return to their villages but, alas! Only to find that the buses and trains are all stopped too in the lock down.It pushed me to relook at the classic historical novel of 1956, Train to Pakistan by Khushwant Singh about the exodus during the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947 post-independence from the Britishers; and learn that the current state of the urban to rural exodus seems to be worse than the exodus during the partition time, especially if one looks at it through the development of the country in 70 years and yet the absence of strategy to support the poor people with transport as well as essentials while keeping the social-physical distancing.Amidst this uncertainty, several urban poor dared walking to their villages and thinking of that walk length of 200 to even 1000 kilometres is itself horrifying let alone doing it, but hats off to them that they could dared to rather they were pushed to that panic to make that choice. Gloucester County will open its first drive-thru coronavirus testing site this Wednesday at Rowan College of South Jersey in Deptford Township. Tests will be performed by appointment only, county officials announced. County residents 18 and older with symptoms of COVID-19 must call 856-218-4142 to be prescreened. Callers should have their insurance information handy. Those without symptoms are not eligible for testing. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage Once residents are prescreened, an appointment time will be scheduled. Proof of residency in Gloucester County, such as a drivers license or passport, will be required. Additional county testing dates will be announced, officials said. Testing will be provided for symptomatic residents at a crucial point in our fight against COVID-19, Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger said in a statement. I'm grateful for the bravery of our local health care professionals who are on the front lines as they work to slow the spread of the virus and save lives. Gloucester County has reported 284 cases of COVID-19 and three deaths. The testing site is a partnership between Inspira Health, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Josette Palmer of Happy Healthy You Medical Practice, Cooper University Health Care, the Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Gloucester County Department of Health and the Gloucester County Office of Emergency Management. More information on the countys response to COVID-19 can be found online. New Jersey has reported more than 41,000 cases and 1,003 deaths from COVID-19. Nationwide, more than 10,000 deaths have been reported, while the global death toll is nearly 74,000. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook. WASHINGTON - Rudy Giuliani, who was in the center of the impeachment storm earlier this year as an unpaid private attorney for President Donald Trump, has cast himself in a new role: as personal science adviser to a president eager to find ways to short circuit the coronavirus epidemic. In one-on-one phone calls with Trump, Giuliani said, he has been touting the use of an anti-malarial drug cocktail that has shown some early promise in treating covid-19, but whose effectiveness has not yet been proved. He said he now spends his days on the phone with doctors, coronavirus patients and hospital executives promoting the treatment, which Trump has also publicly lauded. "I discussed it with the president after he talked about it," Giuliani said in an interview. "I told him what I had on the drugs." Giuliani's advice to Trump echoes comments the former New York mayor has made on his popular Twitter feed and a podcast that he records in a makeshift radio studio installed at his New York City apartment, where he has repeatedly pushed the drug combination, as well as a stem cell therapy that involves the extraction of what Giuliani termed "placenta 'killer cells.' " The former New York mayor is part of a chorus of prominent pro-Trump voices who at first downplayed the severity of the virus and then embraced possible cures - worrying health experts who fear such comments undermine efforts to slow the virus's spread and downplay the risks of the unproven treatments. Giuliani's controversial comments have helped him regain a bit of the prominence he had during impeachment - last week, he was back in the spotlight when Twitter briefly locked his account for promoting misinformation about covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. "He's been out of the news and out of the limelight since the end of the impeachment drama," said Andrew Kirtzman, a Giuliani biographer who is writing his second book about the former New York mayor. "What you're seeing is an effort to regain relevance." The White House did not respond to a request for comment about the president's conversations with Giuliani. Giuliani's name has not come up during meetings of the administration's coronavirus task force, according to two members of the group, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal dynamics. However, Giuliani said he has spoken directly to Trump "three or four times" about the potential coronavirus treatment, describing to him the results of an initial small-scale study in France that suggested the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine may help treat covid-19. Giuliani said he has not spoken to other White House officials about his views. "There are obviously other people around him who agree with me," Giuliani said. The drug cocktail has been touted on Fox News and One America News Network, a cable news favorite of the president, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, has said there is a "good basis" to believe the treatment could work and directed that it be distributed to New York hospitals. At his daily briefings, Trump has praised the drug combo, saying it could be one of "the biggest game changers in the history of medicine." Last week, the FDA issued emergency authorization for the use of the anti-malarial drug for some covid-19 patients. FDA spokesman Michael Felberbaum said decision was made by expert career staffers, after extensive discussions with officials at other government agencies and based on the scientific evidence available. "The known and potential benefits to treat this serious or life-threatening virus outweigh the known and potential risks when used under the conditions described in [the order]," he said. On Saturday, Trump said the drug had passed the "safety test" and that he had seen results that were positive. "I hope they use it, because I'll tell you what, what do you have to lose?" the president said, adding: "I may take it. I'll have to ask my doctors about that." - - - In his newly fashioned role, Giuliani - who was widely praised for steering New York City with a steady hand through the 2001 terrorist attacks - has solicited medical tips from a controversial Long Island family doctor with a following in the conservative media, as well as a former pharmacist who once pleaded guilty to conspiring to extort the actor Steven Seagal. "Got lots of positive reports on hydroxy and Zithromax," Giuliani tweeted on March 26. It was one of at least 14 messages Giuliani posted during the past three weeks referring to the combination of the anti-malarial drug and the antibiotic azithromycin. "The Hydroxy treatment, first introduced by POTUS, appears to be working so far!" he tweeted two days later. Another message blasted the "demented left" that he claimed wished to ban the therapy. Giuliani said that while he is hoping to turn his podcast into a moneymaking venture, he is not working for any of the companies involved with the treatments he has promoted. He said he last worked for medical companies a decade ago, when he represented Pfizer and Purdue. "I'm not trying to get a dime out of this," he said. Some doctors say the anti-malarial treatment has appeared anecdotally to help some covid-19 patients, but it has not yet been proved effective in valid clinical trials. Anthony Fauci, the White House task force's infectious-disease expert, has repeatedly counseled caution until more research is completed. Fauci warned in an interview on "Fox and Friends" on Friday that there is not yet any "strong" evidence that it is effective in treating covid-19, and he has been aggressive in making that argument internally, officials said. Giuliani said that he has not discussed the treatment with Fauci, but that Trump agrees with him. "I'm sure he thinks I am an ignoramus," he said of Fauci. "They've thrown cold water on it because they are academics," he said of scientists such as Fauci. " 'You can't blind test it.' I know you can't blind test it. But we've got thousands of people dying, sweetheart. And by the time you blind test it, we'll have 100,000 people who are dead. Why don't we get in the real world of being a doctor instead of being an academic?" "We've got to take a little risk . . . if we want to save lives," he added. "We are looking at a slaughter." Giuliani said he knew the medicine had side effects, but he said that even if it is "marginally" helpful, it should be used. Joel Farley, a professor at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, said it concerned him to hear prominent political figures publicly advocate for FDA action on any specific covid-19 treatment. "It worries me that political pressure could be applied and potentially distract from other possible treatments," Farley said. The avid promotion of the unproven treatment by nonmedical experts has worried scientists, who are concerned they downplay some known side effects of the medications and could lead to hoarding of drugs used to treat other ailments, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. "You should be listening to credible scientists, ideally physicians and researchers who approach this issue with a respect for the scientific method. Rudolph W. Giuliani is the opposite of that kind of person," said David Juurlink, an internist and head of the division of clinical pharmacology at the University of Toronto. Juurlink said that some of Giuliani's "statements are dangerous and are not to be believed." On March 27, Twitter locked Giuliani's account until he deleted one of his messages that indicated the treatment had been "100 percent effective" in treating covid-19, part of an effort to crack down on misinformation about the virus being spread on the platform, a company spokeswoman said. Giuliani said he "didn't think" he knew of the action by Twitter. He says he has been consulting widely with medical professionals on the treatment and that at least 20 have told him that they are enthusiastic about its promise. While some doctors in China and France have said they have used hydroxychloroquine on patients with covid-19 and seen improvements, Juurlink said the studies have been small and contradictory. And the medicine does in rare cases have serious side effects, including lethal cardiac complications. Its interactions when used in combination with azithromycin, as Giuliani has promoted, are not well-understood, he said. "The issue is that these are powerful medications that may or may not work for the desired efficacy but nevertheless have a side-effect package," said Michael Ackerman, a genetic cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic who published an article last week in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings warning health-care providers about hydroxycholoroquine's cardiac side effects. Still, he said, it may not hurt for figures such as Giuliani and Trump to share their enthusiasm over the early reports that the medicine has helped some people. "Hope is a powerful medicine," he said, cautioning against drawing political battle lines over treatments that could work. - - - Many of Trump's allies had hoped Giuliani's influence over Trump might end with the impeachment crisis - a drama he helped spark with his efforts to find damaging information about Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden in Ukraine. Two Giuliani associates who assisted in the project were arrested and charged with campaign finance violations. Late last year, federal prosecutors in New York sought information that indicated that they were scrutinizing Giuliani's consulting and legal work on behalf of foreign clients. He has not been charged, and Giuliani has denied wrongdoing. In early February, when Trump was acquitted by the Senate of charges that he had abused his office, Giuliani declared vindication. ("Acquitted for life!" he tweeted just after the vote). He then spent weeks continuing to press his case against Biden in his podcast "Common Sense," which debuted in January. By March, as the virus spread across the globe, Giuliani changed his focus to the growing crisis - at times calling for unity and comparing the moment to how the U.S. pulled together after the Sept. 11 attacks, and at other times issuing biting attacks against Trump's perceived enemies. In early March, he posted a sobering interview about the virus with Joe Lhota, a former mayoral aide who now serves as a top executive at New York University's Langone Health center. Lhota explained that researchers increasingly believed that people with no symptoms could be spreading the deadly virus. "They may not even know they have it?" Giuliani responded, exclaiming, "Oh my goodness!" But days later, like other Trump supporters who at the time believed the virus was being exaggerated by Democrats to hurt the president's poll numbers, Giuliani appeared to play down the threat. On March 10, he tweeted statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing how many people die of various ailments in the U.S. each year. "Heart Disease: 635,260; Cancer: 598,038," the list began, followed by four other common causes of death, including the flu. "Likely at the very bottom, Coronavirus: 27," he wrote. On March 26, he tweeted a quote from prominent Trump supporter Candace Owens: "Approximately 7500 people die every day in the United States. That's approximately 645,000 people so far this year. Coronavirus has killed about 1,000 Americans this year. Just a little perspective." Giuliani said his tweets were referring to the fact that a small percentage of people who contract coronavirus will die. "I was right," he said. He did not address projections that more than 100,000 people in the United States could die from the virus. His messages echoed arguments made at the time by Trump, who repeatedly compared the coronavirus to the flu and played down its severity as he resisted efforts to shut down the economy. Among those with whom Giuliani has consulted about the virus are Vladimir "Zev" Zelenko, a family doctor from Monroe, New York, who has repeatedly been featured in conservative media after reporting that he successfully treated hundreds of suspected covid-19 patients with what he called a cocktail of hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and zinc sulfate. Experts say his results are anecdotal and need to be validated through controlled scientific studies. "We text," Zelenko said in an interview when asked about his communication with Giuliani. Zelenko has also been in touch with White House officials, including Trump's new chief of staff, Mark Meadows, as The Washington Post previously reported. Giuliani said he met the New York doctor through a rabbi and now speaks with him several times a day to compare notes. Appearing on Giuliani's podcast last week, Zelenko said that no one under 60 should be given the medications, because they would overcome infections from the coronavirus without them. "Your immune system is strong enough. Statistically, it's been proven. You will recover," Zelenko said. While younger people are less at risk, Juurlink said it is "just not true" that people under 60 all recover. - - - On March 27, Giuliani hosted Robert Hariri, a doctor and chief executive of a New Jersey biotech firm Celularity that has been experimenting with using stem cells harvested from placentas to treat various forms of cancer. Hariri said he believes the treatment could be effective with covid-19. Giuliani pressed to know when Hariri's company would receive approval to begin administering the experimental treatment to covid-19 patients. "The general reputation of the FDA - and I don't mean to be critical at a time like this - but that it's very slow," Giuliani said. "I've represented pharmaceutical companies in very, very difficult situations, and it was my observation that they just took forever." Hariri told Giuliani that he expected to hear from the FDA on a request to conduct an early clinical trial within days; five days later, the company announced that the FDA had approved a study using the therapy in up to 86 covid-19 patients. Felberbaum, the FDA spokesman, said the agency cannot by law comment on pending applications, but he said they are subject to "internal scientific review" to determine whether it is "reasonably safe to move forward with testing the drug in humans." Through a spokeswoman, Hariri declined to comment. He told The New York Times last week that he has known Giuliani for years. He described the podcast appearance as "a friendly chat between people who know each other and who share a common interest in this particular response to this disease." He said Giuliani had no financial relationship with him or his company. Another recent podcast guest, Julius Nasso, who runs a company that supplies medical equipment to the shipping and cruise industries, used his March 25 appearance to pitch U.S. and state authorities on his idea for them to lease empty cruise ships to care for covid-19 patients. "You can't have any higher than the president's personal attorney," Nasso said in an interview. "He's the one that basically gets it to the right channels." Nasso said he had been in touch with federal officials about his idea. He also credited himself with prompting Trump's March 26 suggestion that cruise companies repatriate their holdings from tax havens to receive state aid. "That was all a result of my interview with Rudolph W. Giuliani," Nasso said. He declined to provide additional details. Giuliani denied connecting Nasso with the White House. But, he said, "I did put him on my podcast, and I know people there listen." The White House did not respond to a request for comment. On the broadcast, Giuliani praised Nasso's cruise ship idea. "Frankly, a lot of these people are not that sick. It'd be kind of a nice environment for them, too," Giuliani said, adding: "Could they use the pool?" The former mayor described Nasso as a Brooklyn-raised pharmacist and shipping industry figure who was "another one of those great American success stories." In August 2003, Nasso pleaded guilty to conspiring to extort Seagal, the actor, and was sentenced to a year in prison. In 2008, he received a payment from Seagal in a civil legal settlement to resolve a business dispute. The year before he was indicted, Nasso launched a film-production company whose board members included Paul Manafort, the political strategist who would go on to chair Trump's presidential campaign. Manafort is now serving a 7 1/2-year federal prison sentence for financial crimes. In a telephone interview, Nasso said that he had known Giuliani for 35 years but that they had no business relationship. Nasso declined to comment on his criminal conviction. - - - Before the pandemic, Giuliani would spend long hours with friends at exclusive cigar bars and traveled the world tending to foreign clients. These days, Giuliani said, he "keeps up with the six-foot thing," but spends time with his usual "six or seven people around him," including Denny Young, his former chief counsel at City Hall, who is now living with him. The former mayor says he goes on drives every other day to inspect New York. When he records his podcast in his apartment, ambulance sounds often intrude. "I don't think the Grand Havana Room is open," he said of one of his favorite cigar haunts in New York City. "If it was open, nobody would be there. I can dream of it coming back. That's what I did after 9/11. I dreamed of all the things coming back." BRIEFLY Axton man dies in crash An Axton man man died Sunday as the result of a wreck in Henry County. According to Virginia State Police Sgt. Rick Garletts, John Lee Scott, 63, was driving a 2002 Ford Taurus north on Route 697 (Mitchell Road) at 12:40 p.m. when he failed to yield the right of way at the intersection of Route 650 (Irisburg Road) and was struck by a 2020 GMC Terrain. Scott was wearing his seat belt and died at the scene. The crash is under investigation. No other details were made available. COVID-19 business event Longwood Small Business Development Center Director Michael Scales will be at the main shelter at the J. Frank Wilson Park on East Church Street Extension in Martinsville at 10 a.m. Wednesday to explain how small business owners apply for federal money related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Application forms will be available. Because of social distancing, the session will be limited to eight people at a time but will be repeated as needed. Recent cancellations The Bassett Ruritan Club on Philpott Dam Road has canceled its monthly breakfast and regular meeting for April. Pocahontas Baptist Church has canceled its Holy Week services. This includes the Pickers & Fiddlers event scheduled for Saturday and a community meal scheduled for April 16. Henry County Voter Registration office will be closed to the public until further notice. But the office will serve the voting public. You can call 276-638-5108, 276-634-4697 or 276-634-4698 or email estone@co.henry.va.us. To register to vote, update voter registration or request an absentee ballot, visit https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation or call or email to have an application mailed to you. Voter registrar offices in Martinsville are closed. Online voter registration and applying for a ballot by mail can be accomplished at https://www.elections.virginia.gov./. A form also can be printed at https://www.martinsville-va.gov/government/registrar and then mailed to P.O. Box 1323, Martinsville, 24114, or faxed to 276-403-5258. For questions call 276-403-5122. For the complete list of cancellations and closings because of the coronavirus pandemic, visit www.martinsvillebulletin.com. For the complete list of cancellations and closings because of the coronavirus pandemic, visit www.martinsvillebulletin.com. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Local TD Malcolm Noonan has said that bereavement support and other community-based mental health services are in need of financial support due to the drying up of fundraising opportunities. Speaking in the Dail during a debate on the Coronavirus pandemic, Deputy Noonan highlighted the fact that many families losing loved ones to either the pandemic or other causes of death were being denied the ability to grieve or celebrate their life due to necessary restrictions on funeral ceremonies. "It is widely held that culturally, the Irish means of saying goodbye to a loved one is the most empathetic in the world," said Deputy Noonan. "Not having a proper funeral, can delay the grieving process and that is where bereavement support services are vital to help people, families and children deal with loss and grief." The Green Party TD and Community Development Spokesperson appealed to Minister Harris to ensure that bereavement support, counselling, suicide prevention and community based mental health services are supported financially to maintain the service they offer to the community at a time when people and communities need them most. "The response to the health crisis by the State has been immense but we cannot forget that the impact on our collective psyche will be long lasting and leave a deep scar. It is important that our collective mental health is taken care of too; being able to grieve is a healing process and many will be grateful for bereavement support to help them on their journey. State support for such services needs to be ring-fenced from emergency funds," he said. PORTLAND, Ore. - Scientists have developed a precise, nanotechnology-based treatment to alleviate the pain and fertility problems associated with endometriosis, a common gynecological condition in women of childbearing age. Research led by Oleh Taratula of the Oregon State University College of Pharmacy and Ov Slayden of the Oregon National Primate Research Center at Oregon Health & Science University used photo-responsive nanoparticles loaded with dye to find and remove the lesions associated with the disorder. Findings were published today in the journal Small. The endometrium is the innermost layer of the uterus, and endometriosis occurs when endometrium-like tissue forms lesions outside of the uterine cavity - usually involving the ovaries, the fallopian tubes and the tissue lining the pelvis. On rare occasions, endometrial tissue may spread beyond the pelvic organs. Roughly 10% of childbearing-age women will experience endometriosis, and 35% to 50% of women with pelvic pain and or infertility suffer from the disorder. There's no cure, although surgical removal of the lesions can improve fertility. The downside, however, is that the lesions come back about half the time, and more than one-quarter of endometriosis surgery patients need three or more operations because it's hard to find all of the diseased tissue that needs to be removed. Taratula and Slayden, in a collaboration that also included OSU's Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, used tiny - less than 100 nanometers in size - polymeric materials packed with a dye that can generate both a fluorescence signal and cell-killing heat under near-infrared light. For doctors, that means it can be both an imaging tool and a lesion-removal technique. "We built our strong team to combine expertise in both nanomedicine and endometriosis," said Olena Taratula, also a researcher with the College of Pharmacy. "This is a devastating disease, and we developed and evaluated the photo-responsive nanoagent to detect and eliminate unwanted endometrial tissue with photothermal ablation." That means injecting the dye-loaded nanoparticles into the body, where they fluoresce to show where the lesions are, and also kil them with heat because the particles soar to 115 degrees Fahrenheit upon exposure to near-infrared light. "The challenge has been to find the right type of nanoparticles," Oleh Taratula said. "Ones that can predominantly accumulate in endometriotic lesions without toxic effect on the body, while preserving their imaging and heating properties." By using a clinically relevant animal model of endometriosis developed by Slayden's group at the primate center, the scientists showed that the nanoparticles constructed by the Taratula group can efficiently accumulate in endometrial tissue 24 hours after being administered. Slayden is a professor of reproductive and developmental sciences at the Oregon National Primate Research Center and a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and molecular and cellular biosciences at the OHSU School of Medicine. "The heat is produced under near-infrared laser light that is harmless to tissue without the presence of the nanoparticles," Oleh Taratula said. "The generated heat eradicates the endometrial lesions completely within a day or two. Dr. Slayden and I built this team years ago to help surgeons to better visualize and treat endometriosis lesions, and we're getting close." To advance the technology to human clinical trials, future studies are needed to validate the treatment approach in animals that develop endometriosis similar to how it presents in humans, he added. The research team has received a grant from the National Institutes of Health to evaluate the efficiency of the nanoparticles in macaques with endometriotic lesions. "We believe that our developed strategy can eventually shift the current paradigm for endometriosis detection and treatment," Oleh Taratula said. "In general, nanomedicine has barely been explored for imaging and treatment of endometriosis. Our results validate that some fundamental principles of cancer nanomedicine can potentially be used for the development of novel nanoparticle-based strategies for treatment and imaging of endometriosis." ### The National Institutes of Health, the OSU College of Pharmacy and the Oregon National Primate Research Center funded this research. Oleh and Olena Taratula each has an adjunct appointment with OHSU. NORTHERN VIRGINIA Guidepost Montessori, a national network of schools that operates several schools in Northern Virginia, is offering a special daycare program to the children of essential workers during the coronavirus crisis. With schools closed across the D.C. area, Guidepost Montessori wants to ensure that essential workers have a safe place to take their children while they are at their jobs. The special program, called Emergency Care for Essential Workers, has the capacity to serve children from eight weeks to 12 years old. Enrollment is open for qualifying families at Guidepost's facilities across Northern Virginia, which are offering childcare from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with the option for extended hours based on local need. To successfully address this global pandemic, we inescapably rely on certain critical work forces, and these essential workers in turn rely on accessible, reliable, and pedagogically exceptional childcare for their own children, Ray Girn, CEO of Higher Ground Education and founder of Guidepost Montessori, said in a statement. Our country is and will increasingly be challenged by an emerging crisis in childcare capacity. The special Emergency Care for Essential Workers program kicked off a week ago at the Guidepost Montessori school at Chantilly. "The parents are really grateful to be able to have this opportunity," Nancy Kaplan, Head of School at the Guidepost Montessori at Chantilly, told Patch. Before the program started last week, the school underwent an extra deep clean, including the areas of the school that will be used for the special program. Professional cleaners come in every day to follow up with the same cleaning regimen. Kaplan said she meets each child outside the Chantilly school, takes their temperature and asks them how they are feeling. The teachers and children practice the proper social distancing protocol throughout the day. They also follow other rules like when to take off their shoes and put them back on. Story continues The program at the Guidepost Montessori schools is open to children of essential workers who are already members of the school and children who are not a part of the school. (Courtesy of Guidepost Montessori at Chantilly) The Northern Virginia area has six Guidepost Montessori schools. In normal times, the Chantilly school has an enrollment of about 15o children. "We recognize that the one of the biggest needs out there is childcare for the people who have to be working," Kaplan said. "What it means to be an essential worker is something that goes beyond your typical thought of that. It's anybody who has to work in order to have people get the things they need." Even for people who work remotely, they may still qualify for the special childcare services because they need to get their work done. "You may need this and you may qualify for it and not realize it," she said. Get the latest updates on the new coronavirus in Virginia as they happen. Sign up for free news alerts and a newsletter in your Patch town. The Guidepost Montessori schools in Northern Virginia underwent a major transition nearly a year ago. Higher Ground Education Inc., a company based in Lake Forest California, acquired six LePort Montessori schools in Northern Virginia last June and turned them into Guidepost Montessori schools. There are about 50 Guidepost Montessori schools across the country. Kaplan, who worked under the previous ownership, said she is thrilled with how the new owners have implemented a caring philosophy for the children. "We are an oganization that feels intensely about wanting to do right by children and wanting to do right by families and we want to be able to take the philosophies of Montessori that have to do with a profound respect for the individual capabilities of a child and bring that out into the world in a huge way," Kaplan said. At Guidepost Montessori at Broadlands in Ashburn, the school is prepared to welcome its first children under the Emergency Care for Essential Workers program. The school has the capacity to serve many children and is waiting for the enough parents to express interest before it starts up the program. A child at Guidepost Montessori at Chantilly takes care of a plant as part of the school's Emergency Care for Essential Workers program. (Courtesy of Guidepost Montessori at Chantilly) "Right now, childcare is in crisis mode," said James Rice, Head of School at Guidepost Montessori at Broadlands. Childcare is especially a "critical need" for the children of essential workers, he said in an interview with Patch. Along with offering the emergency care, the Broadlands school has been providing virtual learning for its regular students since the coronavirus crisis began and is now accepting students for its Elementary Distance Learning Program. The Broadlands school also has rolled out an At-Home Care program where teachers can go to the home of a family that is willing to host other students. For the emergency care program, the tuitition fees are already discounted. But if an essential worker needs help taking care of their children, Guidepost will see what type of additional accommodations it can make to help a family. Families interested in Guidepost Montessori's emergency care service should visit the school network's website. The societal stresses caused by the coronavirus crisis are serving as a new "call to action" among educators, Rice said. "You dont work in education if you dont want to take care of the community," he said. RELATED: This article originally appeared on the Ashburn Patch Taking cognisance of the plight of 50-60 labourers who despite having been accommodated at a zilla parishad school are not getting proper facilities, the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay high court (HC) has directed the Aurangabad administration to take the help of voluntary organisations to comply with the directions of the Supreme Court (SC) on the issue of migrants. These labourers were sheltered in the school after they were stopped by the police when they were walking to their homes in Madhya Pradesh from various areas in Aurangabad. The court also directed the administration to investigate a message on social media that some foreigners were receiving treatment for Covid-19 in a private clinic and ensure that proper measures are initiated to avoid spread of the virus in the city. After news reports on the plight of the labourers sheltered at the school came to light, the bench of justice Prasanna Varale took up suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) to address the issue. While referring to the news reports, the court observed that though the mirgrants had been provided with food, the administration was not following the guidelines directed by the SC and the central government, and hence the authorities should rope in voluntary organisations for providing proper facilities to the labourers. The bench also admonished the Aurangabad municipal corporation for not taking cognisance of the message on social media which stated that some foreign nationals were receiving treatment for the Covid-19 virus in a private clinic. The court directed the authorities to investigate the message and if it was found to be true to take measures to contain the spread of the virus in the city. Referring to a report of health workers being pelted with stones in Indore, the bench directed the administrators to apply the provisions of the National Security Act if such an incident were to take place in Aurangabad. The bench however, added that to avoid imposing the stringent National Security Act, the administration should rope in reputed organisations and individuals to create awareness among the masses and avert a repeat of the Indore incident. The PIL was then posted for further hearing on Wednesday for which the administration, police and corporation were asked to make statements about their respective actions and measures initiated by them to contain the spread of the virus. The bench also appointed advocate Amol Joshi as amicus curiae to get first-hand information on the condition of the labourers and file a petition thereafter. Ways to make an ever-popular New Year's resolution a reality Getting started on a healthy program can be easy with some professional help. A crazed shopper in Walmart was filmed coughing and spitting on a cashier in shocking footage. The woman was paying for her items at an outlet in Yreka, California last week and reportedly became enraged after accusing the cashier of overcharging her. The vile video shows her coughing and spitting at the worker as he calls the police and other shoppers look on in shock. The woman was paying for her items at an outlet in Yreka, California last week and reportedly became enraged after accusing the cashier of overcharging her The woman was paying for her items at the register and believed she had been overcharged. She demanded to look at the screen, which the cashier refused. A store manager then came over and asked the unidentified woman to leave, at which point she became even more enraged before coughing and spitting at the staffer. 'I'm now calling the police,' the Walmart staffer can be heard saying. The woman is heard shouting and using expletives as the cashier calls the police, before she begins an incomprehensible rant about the coronavirus. Police eventually arrived to escort her off the premises, according to reports. It is unclear whether she was arrested for her actions. The incident comes after a woman who coughed on groceries forcing the Pennsylvania supermarket to throw out $35,000 worth of food was arrested and charged with four felonies, including terrorist threats. The woman was paying for her items at the register and believed she had been overcharged. She demanded to look at the screen, which the cashier refused The state of California has reported just over 14,700 cases of Covid-19 and 339 deaths, as of Sunday. Government officials and public health experts say the COVID-19 pandemic is 'almost certainly' killing a number of Americans who are not included in the country's climbing death toll. At least 25,607 new coronavirus cases and 1,134 new deaths were reported in the US on Sunday, bringing the nationwide totals to 337,915 and 9,622 respectively. The family of a Walmart employee in Illinois who died from complications of COVID-19 filed a wrongful death lawsuit Monday, alleging the retailer knew about the man's symptoms and disregarded them. Wando Evans, 51, died March 25. He was a 15-year employee of Walmart who worked as an overnight stock and maintenance associate at a store in Evergreen Park, which is near Chicago, according to the lawsuit. Evans told store managers about his symptoms, but was ignored, the lawsuit, which was filed in Cook County said. The store sent him home from work on March 23 and he was found dead in his home two days later, the lawsuit said. It alleged the retailer knew other employees in addition to Evans were showing signs of the coronavirus, too. It said that another man who worked at the store died on March 29. In a statement Monday, Walmart said the company is "heartbroken at the passing of two associates at our Evergreen Park store and we are mourning along with their families." The lawsuit alleges Walmart was negligent because it did not adequately clean the store, enforce social distancing, notify employees about colleagues who were showing coronavirus symptoms and provide protective gear, such as gloves and masks. The retailer said it deep-cleaned the store, even though the two employees had not been there in more than a week. It said it also hired a company to clean the store and had a third-party and a health department inspect it. Walmart said it has also increased safety measures across the company by adding sneeze guards at cash registers, putting decals on the floors about social distancing and limiting the number of customers in stores. "We take this issue seriously and will respond with the court once we have been served with the complaint," it said. The family's attorney, Tony S. Kalogerakos, said Evans' brother, Toney Evans, tried to contact store managers and Walmart's corporate offices to cover burial expenses through a emergency relief fund for employees. He said Wando's brother did not get an answer and decided to file the lawsuit after learning about the working conditions of the store. Walmart, the largest private employer in the U.S., has seen a surge in sales as customers have stocked up on food, cleaning products and paper goods. The retailer announced on March 19 that it would give bonuses to full- and part-time employees and hire 150,000 new workers to keep up with that increased demand. As coronavirus cases increase in the U.S., Walmart has announced new measures to keep customers and employees safe. Walmart reduced store hours in mid-March to allow more time for restocking and cleaning. It announced last week that it will limit the number of customers in stores, provide gloves and masks to employees, and take employees' temperatures when they report to work. CNBC's Dan Mangan contributed to this report. Europe's hardest-hit nations saw some tentative signs of hope in the fight against the coronavirus on Monday but the United States braced for its "Pearl Harbour moment" as the country's death toll raced towards 10,000. The virus has infected virtually every corner of the planet, confining nearly half of humanity to their homes and turning life upside down for billions on a deadly march that has claimed nearly 70,000 victims. Queen Elizabeth II delivered only her fourth emergency address in a 68-year reign to urge Britain and Commonwealth nations to "remain united and resolute" as Prime Minister Boris Johnson was hospitalised with the disease. But there was cause for cheer in some European hotspots, with Italy reporting its lowest death toll in two weeks, Spanish fatalities dropping for the third straight day and France seeing its fewest dead in a week. "The curve has started its descent and the number of deaths has started to drop," said top Italian health official Silvio Brusaferro, adding the next phase could be a gradual easing of a strict month-long lockdown. In Spain, nurse Empar Loren said: "The situation is more stable. The number of patients in intensive care is not growing much anymore, and we are starting to discharge quite a few." At a field hospital set up at a Madrid conference centre, staff applauded whenever a patient was healthy enough to be sent home. Builder Eduardo Lopez, 59, gave a "10/10" rating to the staff who cared for him "with tenderness and a great dose of humanity". But while the curve was bending in Europe, there was little sign of let-up in the United States, where the death toll approached 10,000 and authorities warned worse was around the corner. "This is going to be the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans' lives, quite frankly," US Surgeon General Jerome Adams told Fox "This is going to be our Pearl Harbour moment, our 9/11 moment, only it's not going to be localised." The death toll in hardest-hit New York state rose to 4,159, Governor Andrew Cuomo said, up from 3,565 a day prior. It was the first time the daily toll had dropped but Cuomo said it was too early to tell whether that was a "blip". Images from New York showed medics in protective gear wheeling bodies on stretchers to refrigerated trailers repurposed as makeshift morgues. The city that never sleeps was quiet, the streets around Time Square deserted as neon lights continued to flicker, one reading: "2020. To those fighting for our lives. Thank you." President Donald Trump has warned of "horrific" death toll numbers and John Hopkins University said more than 1,200 people had died of coronavirus complications over the past day. In an empty Saint Peter's Square, Pope Francis, head of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, appealed for people to show courage in the face of the pandemic. The elderly pontiff, who himself has been tested twice for the virus, celebrated his Palm Sunday mass by livestream. Other religious leaders went to more extraordinary lengths to deliver the traditional Palm Sunday blessing, with Archbishop Jose Domingo Ulloa of Panama celebrating from a helicopter. The effective mothballing of the global economy is beginning to hit hard with analysts warning poverty levels will spike with millions of jobs lost despite unprecedented stimulus programmes. Iran, whose economy has suffered the double blow of the virus and punishing US sanctions, said it would allow "low-risk" economic activity to resume as daily infection rates fell for a fifth straight day. But some in poorer countries are already chafing against curfews destroying their livelihoods. "How can anyone stay home without anything to eat?" asked Garcia Landu, a motorcycle taxi driver in Angola's bustling capital Luanda. "Better to die of this disease or gunshot than to starve to death," he said. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged governments to protect women from rising domestic violence. "For many women and girls, the threat looms largest where they should be safest. In their own homes," he said. Describing a rise in abuse as "horrifying," he said authorities should "make the prevention and redress of violence against women a key part of their national response plans for COVID-19." Despite the gloom, heartwarming examples of humanity around the globe have lifted spirits, with ordinary people doing what they can to help those on the medical front line. In a Barcelona restaurant, chefs flipped burgers to deliver to nurses and doctors. "When you deliver the food and you see they're happy, that makes us happy and it makes us stronger," said delivery man Daniel Valls. And in the southern Italian city of Naples, a street artist lowered a "solidarity food basket" from his balcony, hollering "If you can, put something in. If you can't, take something out." "We started by putting a piece of bread, a bag of pasta, a box of peeled tomatoes," said English-language tutor Teresa Cardo, who also lowered a basket. "And two hours later, the basket was completely full. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The first federal inmate to die of coronavirus wrote a letter to the US District Court months before his death pleading for release to support his youngest son, who he had not seen in nearly 13 years. Patrick Jones, 47, contracted the virus while serving 27 years at a low-security prison in Oakdale, Louisiana, for possession with intent to distribute 425.1 grams of crack cocaine within 1000ft of a junior college. The penitentiary is dealing with the largest outbreak of the virus among the US's 122 federal facilities, with 22 inmates and four staff testing positive for the virus at Oakdale. Five inmates have since died at Oakdale while in three have died at Elkton, Ohio. Nationally, 138 inmates and 59 staff have tested positive. On 15 October, Jones wrote to Judge Alan Albright asking for release so he could help the teenage son he hadn't see since he was three years old. He wrote: "I feel that my conviction and sentence was also a punishment that my child has had to endure also and there are no words for how remorseful I am. Years of 'I am sorry' don't seem to justify the absence of a father or the chance of having purpose in life by raising my child. "I am hoping and praying that I be truly given the opportunity to become a father to my son whom will become lost if I don't find him and put him on track where a child his age needs to be," Jones added. Judge Albright denied the request in February, and Jones died in custody weeks later on 28 March. Jones' request was made under the First Step Act, which gives nonviolent offenders an opportunity to re-enter society. Lawyer Alison Looman, who represented Jones previously, told NBC he spent the last 12 years contesting his sentence. "Ironically, it seems it is his death that might finally bring his case some attention." The Bureau of Prisons confirmed Jones who had long-term, pre-existing medical conditions complained of a persistent cough before being transferred to a local hospital, where he tested positive for Covid-19. The next day his condition declined and he was put on a ventilator until his death on 28 March. Actor Amitabh Bachchan is being called out for sharing a fake photo on Twitter. On Sunday, after lighting lamps for the 9pm 9 minutes initiative by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amitabh shared a tweet that showed India glowing on a dark world map. The original tweet read, When the world was in darkness, India was illuminated. Todays picture says it all. Retweeting it, Amitabh wrote, The World sees us .. we are ONE. The World sees us .. we are ONE .. https://t.co/68k9NagfkI Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) April 5, 2020 Amitabhs tweet earned him a lot of flak from Twitter users. Many asked him to stop posting fake forwards. And this is FAKE, sojao sir, read one tweet. Mr. Bacchan, please check the photo before posting, read another. Also read:Irrfan Khans Angrezi Medium premieres online after being pulled out from theatres due to lockdown The actor perhaps meant to convey with his tweet that India was glowing metaphorically with hope amid a gloomy time. However, Amitabh -- who has been at the forefront of spreading awareness about coronavirus -- was asked to be extra careful about the veracity of information. Amitabh took to Twitter on Friday to express: As a beneficiary of homoeopathy Im encouraged to see the efforts of the AYUSH Ministry to counter Corona. I pray that india leads the World in finding preventive and curative solutions for such epidemics. He also faced flak for sharing a video where he talked of Chinese experts discovering that the common housefly, which sits on excreta, can transmit the coronavirus -- a fact which was denied by the health ministry. Follow @htshowbiz for more The Union Health Ministry on Sunday said the total tally of cases in Delhi has left behind the worst-hit Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. With 503 in the national capital, the total tally of coronavirus cases reached 3,577. The updated data was put out by the Health Ministry in the evening. At least 274 people have recovered from the deadly coronavirus across the country. However 83 deaths have also been reported from different states. The total number includes 65 foreign nationals and one person has migrated. There are now, 3,219 active cases of COVID-19, said the ministry. According to Health Ministry data, Delhi has left behind the worst hit state of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu and has 503 cases, while there are 490 cases in Maharashtra, 485 cases in Tamil Nadu. Kerala has 306 cases, Telangana reported 269 cases, Uttar Pradesh has 227, Rajasthan has 200 cases so far. Other states and UTs that have reported the novel coronavirus cases, are Andhra Pradesh (190), Gujarat (122), Jammu and Kashmir (106), Karnataka (144), Madhya Pradesh (165), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (10), Arunachal Pradesh (1), Assam (26), Bihar (30), Chandigarh (18), Chhattisgarh (9), Goa (7), Haryana (59), Himachal Pradesh (6), Jharkhand (3), Ladakh (14), Manipur (2), Mizoram (1), Odisha (20) Puducherry (5), Punjab (57), Uttarakhand (22) and West Bengal(80). Speaking to media, Joint Secretary of the Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said, "The doubling rate, which means in how many days the number of COVID-19 cases double, at present is 4.1 days. But if cases reported due to the Tablighi Jamaat event had not come, then the doubling rate would have been 7.4 days." He said at least 274 districts have covid cases in India. According to the Health Ministry, at least 472 new cases and 11 new deaths have been reported since yesterday. Dr Alex George has likened his busy hospital in Lewisham, south London, to a 'war-zone' and said it's like 'preparing for battle' amid the global coronavirus pandemic. The Love Island star, 30, appeared on Monday's Good Morning Britain where he gave a first-hand report from the frontline to Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid. When asked if his hospital in Lewisham was like a 'war-zone', Dr Alex admitted: 'Yeah, it's getting so busy now. When you go to work, you are in many ways, preparing for battle emotionally and physically. 'War-zone': Dr Alex George has likened his busy hospital in Lewisham, south London, to a 'war-zone' and said it's like 'preparing for battle' amid the global coronavirus pandemic 'When you get there, you're going into A&E and seeing difficult situations. You're seeing people incredibly unwell, we are obviously trying to do our best for everyone, but you are seeing people dying of the coronavirus. That's very difficult.' Alex also revealed that he is unable to let COVID-19 patients see their families, which he finds 'difficult' and 'heartbreaking'. He continued: 'In regards to the family, we're not able to let patients see their family even if they're really really unwell in A&E, which is very difficult. Frontline: The Love Island star, 30, appeared on Monday's Good Morning Britain where he gave a first-hand report from the frontline to Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid 'It's an unnatural instinct, you want to comfort the family and comfort the patient in those situations as comfortably as we can. But we're not able to do so in a way that we want to, which is heartbreaking.' As well as patients, NHS workers have also lost their lives to COVID-19 during the pandemic which has infected 47,806 and killed 4,934 in the UK. Asking if Dr Alex was scared for his own health while working in the hospital, he admitted: 'I think anyone who says they are not concerned is not being completely open.' Battle: When asked if his hospital in Lewisham was like a 'war-zone', Dr Alex admitted: 'Yeah, it's getting so busy now. When you go to work, you are in many ways, preparing for battle emotionally and physically.' It comes after he 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 on Thursday. 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. 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. Life on the frontline: It comes after he 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 on Thursday '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 '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.' 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 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. 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) 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. 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 '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. Morocco aims to bolster its mask production capacity from 2.35 million units currently to 3.3 million amid a global trend towards generalizing masks to counter the coronavirus outbreak, Moroccan media reported. The Moroccan government has not yet recommended wearing masks for ordinary citizens in line with WHO guidance, which was reverted recently to recommending masks for everybody. Speaking to Media24 news outlet, communication official at trade and industry ministry Taoufique Moucharraf said that many textile operators are transforming their production chains to meet the needs of Moroccans in terms of masks. Morocco aims to increase its masks production to 3.3 million units daily and overpass that number in the upcoming weeks, he said. The masks will be available in supermarkets and shops selling foodstuff across the country, he said. Le Desk, a French speaking media outlet, said that milk distributors will cooperate to supply masks to 70,000 small shops in popular neighborhoods and small towns across Morocco. Pharmacies will sell such masks without a profit margin, le Desk cited pharmacy union as saying. Morocco also issued a decree in the official gazette regulating the price of the disposable masks at 2.5 dirhams maximum. Carey Mulligan has discussed her thoughts on #MeToo, life before children and toxic masculinity in her new film Promising Young Woman in a new interview. Talking in the latest issue of NET-A-PORTER's digital title, PORTER, the screen star, 34, revealed she noticed the positive changes within the TV and film industry when she was given a code of conduct for the first time back in 2017. The award-winning actress, who shares Evelyn, four, and Wilfred, two, with husband Marcus Mumford, 33, also insisted she's content with juggling her career with her role as a mother, sharing: 'I haven't been in a bar in ages, and Im very glad of that'. Candid: Carey Mulligan has discussed her thoughts on #MeToo, life before children and toxic masculinity in her new film Promising Young Woman in a new interview for PORTER Carey has been keeping busy promoting her new movie Promising Young Woman, which follows the story of her character Cassie, a barista who feels unfulfilled in her life. In a bid to lift her spirits, the medical school dropout lets loose at bars every week, where she becomes intoxicated and on the brink of passing out. During one raucous outing, men who pretend to 'help' her end up attempting to take advantage of her drunken state. The thespian claimed her project, penned and directed by Killing Eve showrunner Emerald Fennell, highlights the importance of awareness surrounding topics such as sexual assault and toxic masculinity. 'I was given a code of conduct': Talking in the latest issue of NET-A-PORTER's digital title, the screen star, 34, revealed she's noticed the positive changes within the industry Blonde beauty Carey said: 'Its funny, because the reaction I first had when I read the script was, "This is soooo romantic". '[But] Emeralds [point] was: if [you] take someone home and they are really drunk, and then that person reveals they are not drunk, and you feel guilty, then you know what you are doing isnt right.' 'What we reflected on, making this film, was the amount of real-life stories like this we know. A lot of this film is stuff that pretty much every woman I know has experienced in some way. ' #MeToo is a social media movement against sexual harassment which grew following a wave of allegations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, who was found guilty of two of five felonies on February 24. In character: The TV and film star has been keeping busy promoting her new movie, which follows the story of Cassie, a barista who feels unfulfilled in her life (pictured left) The Wildlife star revealed she witnessed her field was making a change for the better when she received a code of conduct document while starring in Dennis Kelly and Lyndsey Turner's play Girls & Boys. 'The first concrete measure I saw was doing a play at the Royal Court called Girls & Boys', she recalled. 'They gave us a document that was a code of conduct I had never had that in my career. 'If that had been going on when I started at 18, it would have felt different. Now, I really think it would be wild for something to happen on set. No one would turn a blind eye.' Family first: The thespian shares children Evelyn, four, and Wilfred, two, with husband Marcus Mumford, 33 (pictured in May 2012) When asked whether she misses her life before welcoming her kids, the mother-of-two, who wed musician Marcus in April 2012, declared: 'Noooo. 'In fact, every time we stepped into a new bar set, Emerald and I would both be like, "God, we havent been in a bar in a really long time". And Im very glad of that.' Available now: You can read the full interview over at Porter Carey has been able to identify with her on-screen characters, many of which have seen her portray a parent. On switching up the narrative for Promising Young Woman, she said: 'One part that really struck me was that, for the last couple of years, I have been playing moms. 'I was a mother in Mudbound, I had a 14-year-old in Wildlife. And then I read this script where I am working in a coffee shop and have no dependents.' The Doctor Who actress posed up a storm in a series of fashion-forward designer outfits for the publication's accompanying shoot captured by critically-acclaimed photographer Rory Payne. To see the full interview, read Porter here or download the NET-A-PORTER app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Search for NET-A-PORTER on the App Store and Google Play. As the United States continues its pause, shuttering businesses and public spaces in order to prevent transmission of the coronavirus, residents are compelled to shelter inside their homes. Meantime, those who live on the streets remain outside. San Francisco is well known for its persistent homeless population, made up heavily of drug addicts, the mentally ill, or both. For now, individuals congregate in tents and encampments and drug suppliers continue to deal. Before Covid-19 struck, San Francisco officials took no meaningful action to address the squalid conditions under which so many homeless people live. They threw money at the problem, but the problem grew. Homeless activists and some city leaders have argued that living on the street is a right, but today it presents a serious public-health dilemma: how will officials get homeless people to comply with social-distancing requirements, and what should they do with those whove contracted the virus? The city is working to set up the Moscone Center as a shelter, a sensible idea. An even better one would be to revive the recently closed California Pacific Medical Center hospital campus and erect MASH-style medical units. These would allow for closely monitored and efficient care. In fact, the city could use this as an opportunity to provide intensive integrated treatment, including substance-abuse services. Instead, Mayor London Breed and the Human Services Agency came up with the plan to route over 3,000 people currently living in shelters and navigation centers into hotels. The city is planning to put thousands of physically and psychologically sick people into private hotel rooms, in some of the most luxurious hotels in San Franciscothe InterContinental, Mark Hopkins, and The Palace. Occupants would receive three meals per day, hygiene products, and access to nurses. At first glance, the plan appears sensible. The shutdown has devastated the hospitality industry, and hotels stand empty. Filling rooms with guests of any kind is attractive for hotel owners, especially since tax dollars will foot nearly all of the bill. On closer examination, however, serious problems emerge. According to Matt Haney, a city supervisor actively promoting the proposal, occupants would be quarantined to their assigned rooms and be required to follow strict rules. But many of these future luxury hotel guests are hardcore drug addicts. How will the city manage their drug needs in the midst of a pandemic? Haney concedes that intravenous drug use presents a major challenge to the citys plan. Its likely, for instance, that many guests will overdose in their rooms. Others may detox, alone and in agony. Providing addicts with access to maintenance medication such as Suboxone or methadone is a good idea, Haney says, yet these treatments require precise administration. No one has figured out the logistics of providing drug treatment to thousands of addicted residents who may not be interested in receiving it. Additionally, if the hotels are quarantined, and drug dealers arent allowed in, what will prevent the contagious residents from leaving to score the substances they seek? As cravings intensify, violence may erupt that can put hotel staff and other occupants at risk. Armed security guards patrolling the halls and buildings might be required to keep the right people in and the wrong people out. Could the police be expected to maintain order and prevent antisocial drug addicts from leaving their rooms? Apparently the city will offer some type of case management, but theres already a dearth of needed homeless services, including high-quality psychiatric care. Treating this service-resistant population is challenging under the best circumstances. Its not going to be a perfect system, says Haney. Theres also no exit plan. A four-month contract for the room occupants is being considered, but where all these people will go afterward is undetermined. California law stipulates that a person lodging in a hotel room for longer than 30 days is considered a tenant. Therefore, thousands of homeless people who have stayed in the posh hotels would become legal permanent residents, with protections against eviction. Even Haney acknowledges the problem. The city should make it clear that they would not be considered tenants, he says. It needs to be temporary. Once the emergency is over, they should leave. Yet sending people back onto the streets will surely be met with resistance from homeless-rights activists, some government officials, and the homeless themselves. Who would want to pack up and move from The Palace, after all? Few of the citys decision-makers are looking at the long-term effects of placing sick, drug-addicted homeless people into hotel rooms. Once again, San Francisco is ignoring the law of unintended consequences. Beijing, April 6 : China has freed human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang after he spent nearly five years behind bars for "subversion of state power", a charge often used by the Chinese government against activists and dissidents. Wang's wife Li Wenzu tweeted that she had received a call from her husband early on Sunday informing her that he had been released at 5 a.m., reports Efe news. The lawyer was taken by the police to a house he owned in Jinan, Shandong province. It was not immediately clear for how long the authorities meant to keep the activist in Jinan and if he would be quarantined there. The European Union (EU) welcomed the activist's release as a "positive development" and urged China to allow him freedom of movement and residence. Virginie Battu Henriksson, EU foreign affairs spokeswoman, said in a statement: "The EU expects that Mr Wang's release will be unconditional." She added that reports of his mistreatment and torture in prison must be investigated. Earlier this week, another nonprofit International Service for Human Rights had expressed concerns that the lawyer's impending release would not be unconditional. The NGO had said that Wang could be taken to Jinan even though he had lived and worked in Beijing before his arrest. Wang was arrested in August 2015 during a government crackdown against law firms specialising in human rights cases, which led to the detention of around 250 lawyers and activists. He had defended groups persecuted by Chinese authorities for years, including members of the spiritual group Falun Gong (banned in China since 1999), dissidents and activists. After his arrest, the lawyer's family had no information of his whereabouts until July 2018 when another lawyer revealed that he was being kept in under custody in the northern Tianjin province. In January 2019 he was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. SPRINGFIELD Baystate Health President and CEO Dr. Mark Keroack and other officials donned protective masks Monday for the citys weekly coronavirus update, which included Keroack offering an estimate that Western Massachusetts may not see its peak in cases until weeks after the surge predicted by state and federal officials. National epidemiological models have suggested the peak could be in mid-April in some parts of the country, and Gov. Charlie Baker has said cases in the state are expected to surge between April 10 and 20. But Keroack said Monday that some models suggest Western Massachusetts may not see its peak until May or early June. That delay instead of an explosion in cases in the coming two weeks would help hospital systems be more prepared. Thats really our goal," Keroack said. "Our goal is to do a nice slow burn here that doesnt exhaust the capacity of our hospital systems. Not to have some big explosion like they had in Northern Italy and are currently having in New York, which causes a whole system to be overwhelmed. Which direction we go depends very much on our community and their willingness to tolerate maybe for even longer than we expected some of these so-called social distancing guidelines, Keroack said. I think when this is all over, we are going to appreciate very ordinary things in a much higher level than we do now. Like all pandemics, we will be changed by it, but I think in some ways it will be change for the better in terms of our appreciation of things in life that really count. Keroack said that, so far, the number of coronavirus cases is not threatening to overwhelm resources at Baystate Medical Center. About 500 of the hospitals 720 beds are occupied. Patients testing positive for COVID-19 or believed to be ailing from the disease caused by the new coronavirus account for 200 of the occupied beds. The hospital also has the potential to expand its capacity through the use of non-traditional areas. So as of today, we still have head room for another 300-plus patients, Keroack said. Baystate Health has tested slightly more than 2,000 people, and 437 have tested positive. Results are pending for 118, Keroack said. Across the Baystate Health system, 43 COVID-19 patients are under critical care. About a third of the patients treated for COVID-19 infection have been able to be discharged really good news, Keroack said. The hospital system is not seeing any spread among health care workers who are caring for COVID-19 patients, he said. It says to us our method is working, and were pleased about that, Keroack said. Testing is beginning this week at the Holyoke laboratory center, and drive-up testing sites will be announced possibly next week, Keroack said. Currently, the hospital is testing health care workers, first-responders and inpatients. Officials want to move next to congregate housing residents. Dr. Robert Roose, chief medical officer of Mercy Medical Center, said the hospital and its affiliates under Trinity Health New England have tested a total of 1,209 people for the coronavirus, with 274 testing positive. There have been 747 negative results and the rest are pending, he said. Keroack, Roose and a number of other officials Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood and Fire Commissioner Bernard J. Calvi wore face masks at the press conference, in line with Centers for Disease Control recommendations that Mayor Domenic J. Sarno also called on residents to adopt last week. Keroack said his mask was homemade. Sarno kept his face mask next to him at the podium, rather than wearing it. Keroack and other officials stressed that people need to continue to observe social distancing, wash their hands frequently and cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing. Thats really the biggest bang for the buck in terms keeping this from spreading," Keroack said. Related Content: Current Covid-19 related projects Our Corona Combat Drone (CCD) can disinfect an area of 500*500m or 2 kms in length in less than 9 minutes. It has an attached carrier with a capacity of 10L which can be expanded to 20L. It was originally aimed to kill pests by agricultural spraying of pesticides & insecticides but now, seeing the present situation, it had to be reengineered to spray disinfectants & to deliver medicines and essentials. The other project which we have just completed is a Thermal Imaging CCD, Indias first integrated drone which uses image processing to give thermal images of people it captures as well as disinfects the area. Its a smart device which can assist the authorities to do the principal scanning of a crowd and can pick out the people who are having a high temp thus ensuring that corona doesnt spread amongst the others. Otherwise we have drones which can assist the police department to do aerial surveillance which can help them to restrict people who are coming out or who arent following law and order. Some of the latest industry trends In the past few weeks, a lot of home-grown companies are jumping in this drive to disinfect their respective areas through drones. We had also completed a few projects with NDMC North Delhi Municipal Corporation and after our Narela quarantine camp drive, I remember seeing a lot of updates from various drone companies regarding their endeavour to fight corona through drones. Speaking about the industry in general, major corporations are getting their drones NPNT complaint by the DGCA. I am sure in the coming few days we will also see drones being used for delivering of food & essentials too. IRSs role in drone surveillance as well as disinfection drives Till now Corona Combat Drone has covered over 15 locations, 87 Kms area, sanitized residential areas of over 5,00,000 people in Delhi namely Shakurpur, Lal Bagh basti, Sadar Bazaar, Karol Bagh, Patel Nagar etc. The targeted areas are those which are remotely located and are not easily accessible through the MCD sanitizing tanks. We started this drive at 30th March from Shakurpur basti, partnering with NDMC. We are already in talks with various state police departments as well as the Govt. of Haryana, Bihar & UP so that all our drones, be it CCD, Thermal Imaging CCD or Surveillance drone will be deployed for the betterment of the general public. New product development, feature enhancement in existing products Our team at IRS are in the final testing phase of developing a drone which is easy to assemble all the parts as well, once detached can come inside your office bag. This drone will have the capacity to lift over 12 kgs. We will be integrating an AI based system in the CCD as well as thermal imaging CCD by the end of this month. Expansion Plan We already have offices in Delhi and Bhopal and are planning to start one in Hyderabad soon. We are in talks with some private VCs and Hedge Funds who would be an excellent asset to our already great team. Moving forward, we would be working on making robotic solutions such as stealth land rovers as well as transformable drones which can go on water, air and all terrain for the Indian Intelligence Agencies. We are already working with the army from the past 3 years and I am sure we would be able to assist the defence authorities better in the time to come. A simple, low-cost ventilator based on the resuscitation bags carried in ambulances - and widely available in hospitals - has been designed by an international team of university researchers. The device, which is powered by a 12-volt motor, could help meet peak medical demands in the industrialized world and serve resource-constrained countries that don't have supplies of conventional ventilators. "The high transmission rate and debilitating respiratory consequences of COVID-19 are creating an unmet demand for ventilators worldwide. It is heartwarming to see US manufacturers open-source some of their FDA-approved designs to stimulate production." said Susan Margulies, chair of the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, an expert in ventilator-associated lung injuries. "Our strategy to rapidly expand the supply of ventilators focuses on a simple, low-cost design based on common resuscitation bags carried by ambulances." The device, which can serve two patients simultaneously, can be produced from inexpensive metal stock and plastic gearing. Power comes from standard wall adapters or 12-volt vehicle batteries. The research team is working with the Emory University Office of Technology Transfer to move the design into manufacturing. "We are adapting the bag-valve-mask (BVM) resuscitators that are already in place, designed to be manually squeezed for reviving a patient," said Shannon Yee, an associate professor in Georgia Tech's George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. "We are providing the mechanical assist that allows the bags to be squeezed continuously for days rather than for short periods of time. We are using infrastructure already in place." The device was designed at Cranfield University in the United Kingdom and built and tested at Georgia Tech in collaboration with Emory University. At Cranfield, Professor Leon Williams, head of the Centre for Competitive Creative Design, specializes in rapid prototyping, and has been iterating the designs with researchers in Atlanta. "We have paid special attention to the requirements of medical specialists to ensure that the system is fit for the purpose," said Williams. "For example, we have ensured that the operator of the system is able to manually adjust the tidal volume - the volume of air delivered to the lungs with each breath - to safeguard the patient." Yee said the device is intended to meet the critical needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic. "What's unique about our design is that we have two BVM's per ventilator, which allows two people to breathe with each device that is built," Yee said. "Our goal was to provide the bare essentials for a ventilator to help with patients who have COVID-19 or acute respiratory distress syndrome." Though each emergency ventilator can serve two patients simultaneously, their air flow is separate to avoid cross-contamination. Flow volumes can be controlled independently to meet the needs of each patient. In addition to Yee and Williams, Kyle Azevedo, a research engineer with the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), has been supporting quality control and test procedures for the device, collaborating with GTRI researchers Jonathan Holmes and Wiley Holcombe. A small batch of the devices has already been assembled for bench testing and shared with Georgia hospitals for evaluation. "We believe these devices can be mass manufactured in quantities that make a tangible impact on ventilator shortages nationally or worldwide," Azevedo said. "Leveraging the BVM resuscitators reduces the need for complex electronics, and most of the parts can be cut from flat stock or 3D printed. Actuation is via a simple DC motor and regulator, which are widely available." GTRI has experience with bringing concepts to reality, and is advising on manufacturing scale-up for the devices. "It's very important to pay attention to design for mass manufacture," he said. The automated BVM ventilation system has been designed for use in emergency situations where all other ventilators are occupied, or in resource-restricted areas where traditional ventilators are simply not available. The systems are intended to be used on a temporary basis until a conventional ventilator becomes available. The system is designed to be inexpensive to produce. "The BVM system is purposely designed to be modular and reconfigurable," Williams said. "If we need to make further improvements to the system over time, this is possible." Because it is intended for global production and use, the BVM ventilator design emphasized using as few parts as possible, Yee said. The ventilator can supply oxygen from a hospital's built-in supply system, or from a portable oxygen generator. The device must be used in conjunction with a pulse oximeter or other device that reliably provides a real-time reading of patient oxygen levels. "We designed the ventilator to be simple to make, cut from sheets of steel," Yee explained. "Kits can be assembled and packaged flat for shipping, then reassembled where needed. The manufacturing requires skills that are readily available, and hand tools could even be used." With just a few weeks until the demand for medical support from ventilators is expected to peak in some hard-hit communities, the researchers understand the race against time to get their engineering drawings out to manufacturers. "We really need to get this out to people," Yee said. "Time is of the essence." ### Tamil Nadu Health Secretary Beela Rajesh on Monday said that the total number of positive COVID-19 cases in the state has reached 621. "With 50 new COVID19 positive cases in Tamil Nadu today including 48 from Tablighi Jamaat, the total positive cases in the state is 621 including 570 Tablighi Jamaat returnees," said Rajesh. According to the latest update of the Health Ministry, there are 4,281 cases in the country including 3,851 active cases and 318 cured or discharged and 111 deaths. It said there has been an increase of 704 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, which is the biggest rise so far in India in a day. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Strengths The best performing precious metal for the week was gold, off only 0.45 percent. The yellow metal is continuing its strong showing. Gold futures had its sixth straight quarterly gain in the first three months of this year the longest stretch of gains since 2011. Bullion rose 4.8 percent in the first quarter. Last week, the gold market was thrown into turmoil as logistical disruptions caused speculation that there wouldnt be enough bullion in New York to deliver against contracts traded on the Comex, but things turned around this week. Bloomberg News writes: Open interest in April futures or the amount of outstanding contracts eligible for potential delivery on Tuesday was the equivalent of 737,800 ounces, down from as much as 1.96 million ounces last week. By comparison, total deliverable stocks in Comex warehouses were 3.7 million ounces on Wednesday, jumping from about 1.8 million ounces a week earlier. Logistical issues in the gold market could be transitory, according to Bart Melek, head commodity strategist at Toronto Dominion Bank. Hedge funds cut their short positions in gold by 78 percent in the week ended Tuesday, the most in government records going back more than a decade. Bloomberg notes that the exit came amid speculation bearish speculators might get squeezed as investors holding April futures seek delivery of the metal as suppliers are facing disruptions. Commerzbank AG analysts said in a note this week that it is obvious that gold an alternative currency that cannot be reproduced at will will profit from this unprecedented orgy of money-printing. Gold coins sold by the U.S. Mint were bought in March at the fastest pace in over three years as investors continued to flock to gold. Investors bought 142,000 ounces of American Eagle coins. Long-only ETFs linked to gold have grown by $13 billion so far in 2020, the most since data was collected in 2004, when the first gold ETFs began trading, reports Bloomberg. The SPDR Gold Shares saw a quarter of that inflow. Blackrocks iShares Gold Trust attracted $332 million on Monday alone. Bob Phillips, managing principal at Spectrum Management Group, said demand for gold is going to stay pretty high because gold is a hedge against currency devaluation. Weaknesses The worst performing precious metal for the week was palladium, off 4.47 percent, on likely anticipated falling automobile sales in the near term. Impala Platinum, one of South Africas largest platinum-group metals producers, declared force majeure due to the 21-day nationwide lockdown, reports Bloomberg. Impala is seeking government approvals for limited smelting operations and permission to conduct limited underground ore transport and milling to keep some operations running. Zimbabwes government did grant permission for the companys local operations to continue amid Zimbabwes own 21-day lockdown. Russias central bank, a long-time gold buyer for domestic producers, said that it will pause purchases from April 1 onward. Further decisions on purchasing gold will be made depending on the situation on financial markets, read a statement on the banks website. Russias gold stockpile is valued at $119.8 billion, or about 73.6 million troy ounces. Although it is negative that the country stopped buying gold amid economic challenges, Russia is simply pausing purchases for now, rather than ending the entire buying program; western news media tried to spin the storys translation into an end of central bank buying everywhere. Jeffrey Gundlach has warned investors that are piling into gold-backed ETFs such as the GLD about possibly not getting the physical gold back. Gundlach says these investment products are paper gold and that buyers should be aware that holding shares doesnt amount to having gold bars. Bloomberg reports that the legendary investor said these statements in a webcast this week. What happens if physical gold is in short supply and everyone wants to take delivery of their paper gold? They cant squeeze blood out of a stone. Opportunities UBS responded to the resurgent gold price by boosting its 2020 price forecast to $1,649 an ounce, noting that most stocks are pricing in a gold price of between $1,300 and $1,500 an ounce, reports the Australian Financial Review. UBS added that its preferred stocks for gaining exposure to gold are Saracen Resources, Evolution Mining and Alacer Gold. The Australian dollar is weak, which has boosted cash flows, but travel restrictions in the country could challenge production. Matthew Sigel, CLSA Portfolio Strategist, in his recent iconic Hello Investors makes the case for owning gold mining stocks as Central Bank balance sheets are exploding upward and budget deficits are expanding. Matthew shows how gold miners were the first to bottom in 2008 in the prior crisis and then became one of the strongest performers with the stressed financial conditions. Gold in the ground held by miners is the cheapest way to acquire access to future cash flow stream that will likely be rising in magnitude. Premier Gold Mines Ltd. announced that an offer has been made to acquire Centerra Gold Inc.s 50 percent stake in the Greenstone Gold Mines Partnership in a deal worth $205 million. Argonaut Gold and Alio Gold announced that they entered into a definitive agreement for an at-market merger where Argonaut will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Alio. TD analysts said that Barrick Gold has been upgraded to action list buy from hold due to the improving gold price outlook. Bloomberg reports that TD also raised Centerra Gold to a buy from hold after a recent selloff. BNP Paribas highlighted in a recent report that the growing fallout amid COVID-19 suggests investors are likely to continue to seek refuge in gold. We expect demand for gold to remain strong, at least until such time that economic conditions stabilize and the outlook begins to improve following the raft of unprecedented stimulus measures put in place by governments and central banks alike, wrote Michael Sneyd in a March 30 report titled Gold: The Jack of all Trades. Threats According to bond manager Jeffrey Gundlach, the March lows that the S&P 500 reached are likely to be surpassed in April as economic uncertainty continues, reports Bloomberg. Gundlach said in a webcast this week that I think were going to get something that resembles that panicky feeling again during the month of April. The S&P 500 dropped 12.5 percent in the month of March its worst month since October 2008. The rush to get hands on U.S. dollars continued this week. Foreign official holdings of Treasuries at the Federal Reserve dropped by $109 billion in March the largest monthly drop on record. Bloomberg reports that international governments and central banks are struggling with the economic fallout from the pandemic and is a sign of the global rush to raise U.S. dollars. Countries that are especially reliant on oil exports have been selling U.S. debt and offloading older, less-liquid Treasuries. The economic impact of COVID-19-induced lockdowns became incredibly visible in the U.S. this week. A record 6.6 million Americans filed unemployment claims. This is a record high number of weekly claims and double the previous weeks 3.3 million. Unemployment in March was reported at 4.4 percent, up from 3.5 percent in February. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. economy lost 701,000 jobs in March. A number of gold mining operations have reduced operations at some mines while in Mexico; they have called for halt to mining to battle transmission of the virus. By Frank E. Holmes Contributing to kitco.com Follow @bulldogholmes www.goldnewsletter.com 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. Samsung has now weighed in on the ongoing Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 vs Exynos 990 debate. Since the release of the Galaxy S20 series, discussions around the disparity between the two chips have intensified. In a statement, Samsung said that whether you use the Snapdragon or the Exynos variant of the Galaxy S20, performance will be the same. The company says that both the processors go through strict testing procedures to ensure performance is optimal and consistent throughout the entire lifecycle of the product. However, the statement does little to address the questions consumers have in mind. Advertisement Snapdragon 865 vs Exynos 990: Qualcomm seems to be winning It seems like Samsung also thinks that in the Snapdragon 865 vs Exynos 990 battle, its not doing so great. Of course, it cannot just swallow its pride and admit outright that the Exynos SoC has failed to keep up with the Qualcomm silicon. Before the Galaxy S20 was released, it was reported that only the European bound variant of the phone will be powered by Exynos 990. Apparently, the decision was taken because the performance gap between the Snapdragon 865 and the Exynos 990 was deemed too large. Usually, the American, Chinese, and Japanese variants get the Snapdragon chip, while other models stick with Exynos. However, this time around, even the South Korean variant has the Snapdragon 865 inside. Advertisement If a greater proportion of the Galaxy S series phones are favoring the flagship Snapdragon chip now, it speaks volumes about Samsungs confidence in its own chips. Apparently, Samsungs chip division is not happy with the decision. They reportedly feel humiliated that only the European bound versions have the Exynos 990 SoC inside this year. Even angrier are the fans in Europe and other regions that got the Exynos 990. They feel they have been ripped off, as the Exynos-powered models cost the same as the Qualcomm counterpart despite poorer performance. Advertisement Exynos 990 clearly lags behind its Qualcomm counterpart Even though Samsung claims that both variants perform the same, benchmark results prove otherwise. Not only are their performance disparities, but the Exynos 990 also throttles the GPU sooner. And its not just about benchmark results and user experiences alone. Even specs-wise, the Snapdragon 865 looks better on paper. It uses ARMs Cortex-A77 CPU cores that perform better than the older Cortex-A76 CPU cores on the Exynos 990. Moreover, Snapdragon 865s Adreno 650 GPU is also better than Exynos 990s ARM Mali G77. Advertisement Fans have taken to the website Change.org to convince Samsung to stop using proprietary chips on its flagships. Its racking up signatures pretty quickly. And its not just the Galaxy S20 users who have problems with the Exynos chipset. Apparently, the companys own shareholders arent happy about the problems with the silicon. However, Samsung still reportedly plans to stick with the chip to remain competitive. After all, not only is this a revenue stream for the company but it also allows it to negotiate prices with chip vendors. Moreover, using an in-house chip allows for better integration with the rest of the hardware and software. Advertisement So, perhaps, if Samsung works a little harder, it can turn the tide. The company has already shut down its custom CPU wing, and will supposedly stick with Arm Cortex CPUs going forward. Its also working with AMD on new GPUs. President Akufo-Addo has revealed that some 804 persons who arrived in Ghana in March and sent into 14-mandatory quarantine have been freed. He thanked the quarantined individuals for their collaboration with health officials in ensuring that go through the necessary tests. The individuals had arrived in Ghana at the time when President Akufo-Addo had ordered closure of borders including air, land and sea. They were bused from the Kotoka International Airport to various hotels in Accra to begin the quarantine process. Delivering his fifth address to the nation on April 5, 2020, the President said efforts in contract tracing have been ramped up over the past weeks. He called for continuous patience from people across the country as government address the virus situation in the country. Daily Guide Humiliated Nicola Sturgeon today admitted that the resignation of Scotland's chief medical officer for flouting her own lockdown rules will damage the country's coronavirus response. The Scottish First Minister said it was 'far from ideal' to have lost the expertise of Dr Catherine Calderwood - who twice drove to a second home in defiance of the crucial guidelines. Ms Sturgeon said she was 'trying to make the best judgements' after initially trying to keep Dr Calderwood in post, before finally conceding she had to go late last night. The shambolic departure came after the medic made a grovelling apology live on TV after being given a police warning for twice visiting her family's coastal retreat in Earlsferry, Fife, more than 40 miles from her main home. Ms Sturgeon told Good Morning Britain that it might have been 'easier' to have sacked Dr Calderwood immediately, but added: 'I did hope that I could continue to call on her advice and expertise because at this point in dealing with the pandemic continuity of advice - she's somebody who's been immersed in this from the very outset - was important. 'My view then, my view now is that it is far from ideal to have lost (her) at this stage but by last night it became very clear to me that whatever the risk of that was - and I think that was and is a risk - was outweighed by our message being crowded out and undermined.' Ms Sturgeon has been at pains in recent weeks to be seen as acting more quickly and more decisively than Boris Johnson over coronavirus, including holding daily press conferences before senior UK ministers speak to the nation in the early evening. In a press conference beside Ms Sturgeon yesterday, Dr Calderwood said her actions were 'a mistake and human error' and that were 'no excuses'. Dr Calderwood issued an apology and was initially backed by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to remain in the role. However after further conversations with Ms Sturgeon, it emerged that Dr Calderwood would no longer front the public health campaign. The medic then finally announced late last night that she had resigned 'with a heavy heart', agreeing the 'justifiable focus on my behaviour risks becoming a distraction from the hugely important job'. Humiliated Nicola Sturgeon today admitted that the resignation of Scotland's chief medical officer for flouting her own lockdown rules will damage the coronavirus response Dr Calderwood and Ms Sturgeon together at yesterday's press conference Last week Dr Calderwood, 51, tweeted a photo of her family from their main residence in Edinburgh as they clapped for the front-line NHS staff working to stop the spread of Covid-19 But at the weekend it emerged the family had swapped the house in the Scottish capital (pictured) They left he city for their coastal retreat in Earlsferry, Fife, more than 40 miles away (pictured) Facing the music in a round of broadcast interviews today, Ms Sturgeon said: 'She made a big mistake in how she acted I understand people's anger, she was right to apologise. Doctor Catherine Calderwood's initial apology in full Here is the statement issued by Doctor Catherine Calderwood earlier today: 'I wish to apologise unreservedly for the issue reported in the media today. 'While there are reasons for what I did, they do not justify it and they were not legitimate reasons to be out of my home. 'While I and my family followed the guidance on social distancing at all times, I understand that I did not follow the advice I am giving to others, and I am truly sorry for that. 'I know how important this advice is and I do not want my mistake to distract from that. 'I have a job to do as chief medical officer to provide advice to ministers on the path of this virus and to support the medical profession as they work night and day to save lives, and having spoken with the First Minister this morning I will continue to focus entirely on that job.' Advertisement 'It was clear to us yesterday she couldn't be the face of the public advice campaign and we said she wouldn't be. 'I did hope that I could continue to call on her advice and expertise at this point in dealing with the pandemic continuity of advice from somebody who's been immersed in this from the outset from the very outset was important.' Ms Sturgeon added: 'Her advice to me throughout this has been good, high quality advice. 'It's not okay, its not one rule for her and another for somebody else, I know how hard it is right now on a whole range of fronts and I don't want anything to undermine that. 'I'm very sorry that this situation has arisen I can't stress that enough.' In a statement last night, Dr Calderwood said: 'The most important thing to me now and over the next few very difficult months is that people across Scotland know what they need to do to reduce the spread of this virus, and that means they must have complete trust in those who give them advice.' Dr Calderwood will now work 'over the next few days to ensure a smooth transition' to her successor. Ms Sturgeon has insisted she did not know about Dr Calderwood's visits to the home, a drive of more than an hour from Edinburgh, until Saturday night. The First Minister paid tribute to Dr Calderwood, saying she was a 'transformational' chief medical officer (CMO). 'Catherine has been a transformational CMO, bringing changes to the way medicine is delivered in Scotland and in particular using her experience to bring an overdue focus to women's health. 'While she has made a very serious mistake in her actions, that should not detract from the fact that as CMO she has made a highly valuable contribution to the medical profession and to health in Scotland, and I have no doubt she will continue to do so in future. 'She leaves office with my thanks and admiration.' It comes after photographs, published in The Scottish Sun on Saturday, showed Dr Calderwood and her family near their coastal retreat in Earlsferry, Fife, over the weekend. In the press conference, Dr Calderwood also admitted to visiting the cottage with her husband the previous weekend. Dr Calderwood's main home is just two-and-a-half miles from the Scottish Government building in Edinburgh, where she delivers daily briefings on the virus with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Earlsferry is 44 miles away from Edinburgh - a drive of around an hour. Earlsferry, Fife, is 44 miles away from Edinburgh - a drive of around an hour Police Scotland has issued a statement from its Chief Constable Iain Livingstone on Twitter today. In the statement, Mr Livingston said Dr Calderwood had been warned by officers A source for the Scottish Sun accused the doctor of 'dangerous double standards', while users of social media site, Twitter, have branded her actions as 'ridiculous' and embarrassing'. The photographs prompted Police Scotland's Chief Constable, Iain Livingston, to issue a statement today, in which he said that Dr Calderwood had been visited by officers and warned about her future conduct. In a statement, Dr Calderwood described her actions as a 'mistake' and apologised 'unreservedly'. But this afternoon she took part in a press conference in which she read out a statement. Speaking at the press conference, she said: 'I have already issued a statement today apologising unreservedly for travelling away from my home while restrictions were in place. 'As well as this weekend, it is important to be clear that was also there last weekend with my husband. 'I did not follow advice I am giving to others. I am truly sorry for that.' 'What I did was wrong. I am very sorry. It will not happen again. 'I realise how important the advice is that I have issued, I do not want my mistake to distract from that.' The images emerged amid continuing advice from the Scottish government, the chief medical officer herself, and other leading medical professionals to stay at home in order to save lives and protect the NHS. It also comes just days after the 51-year-old tweeted a photo of her family from their main residence in Edinburgh as they clapped for the front-line NHS staff working to stop the spread of Covid-19. Last month, the Scottish Government issued a travel warning criticising the 'irresponsible behaviour' of people with second homes and campervans travelling to the Highlands in a bid to isolate. On Friday, the First Minister said the upcoming Easter break would be 'a holiday period unlike any we've had in our lifetimes'. Dr Calderwood, a trained consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, stressed people should adhere to the restrictions, and said it was looking less likely summer holidays will take place this year as they have done previously. The incident has sparked criticism from Scottish Conservative leader, Jackson Carlaw MSP, who described Dr Calderwood's position as 'untenable'. In a statement, posted on Twitter, he said: 'Dr Calderwood's position is very difficult, untenable even, given the damage this has caused public trust. 'The vast majority of Scots are complying with official advice to stay at home and protect the NHS. 'There cannot be one rule for the bosses and another for everyone else.' But Ms Sturgeon resisted the calls initially, instead saying it was important that the government was 'able to count on the continued expertise of the chief medical officer at this critical time'. Speaking at the press conference, Ms Sturgeon said: 'The chief medical officer made a mistake in travelling away from her home. 'Whatever her reasons for doing so, she was wrong and she knows that. 'It was not in line with the advice we are asking everyone to follow. 'She has apologised unreservedly to me and to the public and she's right to have done so. She added: 'What I also know is that over these past few weeks as we have been dealing with this crisis her advice and expertise has been invaluable to me and it continues to be so. 'If I am to do what I need to do to steer the country through this crisis to the very best of my ability I need her to be able to focus on the job that she is doing a job that, not withstanding her mistake on this, she is doing extremely well.' Today the Scottish Government announced the latest Covid-19 figures, which show a total of 3,706 confirmed cases, up from 3,345 the previous day. A total of 220 people have died from coronavirus in Scotland. As of today, there have been 47,806 confirmed cases of Covid-19 across the UK. A total of 4,934 people are known to have died from the virus. A Scottish Government spokesman said on Saturday: 'Since this start of this epidemic, the CMO has been working seven days a week preparing Scotland's response. 'She took the opportunity this weekend to check on a family home in Fife as she knows she will not be back again until the crisis is over. 'She stayed overnight before returning to Edinburgh. 'In line with guidance, she stayed within her own household group and observed social distancing with anyone she was in passing in the village.' This afternoon, Police Scotland issued a statement from its Chief Constable, Iain Livingston. In the statement, he said: 'Local officers have visited Dr Calderwood and spoke about her actions, reiterated crucial advice and issued a warning about her future conduct, all of which she accepted. 'The legal instructions on not leaving your home without a reasonable excuse apply to everyone. 'Social distancing is the key intervention to curtail the spread of coronavirus and it is essential the instructions are followed to protect each other, support key workers, take strain from the NHS, and save lives. 'Individuals must not make personal exemptions bespoke to their own circumstances. It is vital that everyone adheres to these requirements. 'Police officers and staff are putting themselves in harm's way day and night to explain these instructions to our communities, encourage co-operation and, where necessary, enforce them. 'I want to thank the overwhelming majority of people across the country who are doing their duty during this public health emergency. 'Our fellow citizens are observing the guidance and making significant sacrifices and changes to their lifestyles and daily routines. 'I am grateful for their continued support and co-operation during this critical period.' Canadians are overwhelmingly in support of financial subsidies for news outlets in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Nanos study published Monday. The study, commissioned by Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, found that nearly two in every three Canadians agree or somewhat agree that media bankruptcies should be treated as an emergency by the federal government. Our democracy and our future as an independent country are at stake. A country that cant talk to itself ceases to be. If we lose our media, we lose our country, said Friends executive director Daniel Bernhard. The survey found that more than two-thirds of Canadians support or somewhat support the government sending aid to failing news providers. With 250 Canadian newspapers having closed in the last 10 years, the study also found that almost 60 per cent of Canadians think having an independent CBC is critical. In regards to information about the pandemic, 80 per cent of people said traditional media outlets such as newspapers (including their online versions), private broadcasters and radio stations and CBC are the most trusted sources of information. CBC is the most trusted pandemic news source by Canadians, at 41 per cent, private broadcasters were second at 20 per cent, newspapers and their online products are trusted by 19 per cent of Canadians. Facebook, meanwhile, was trusted by five per cent of those surveyed. The survey also shows that almost 80 per cent of Liberal voters, 73 per cent of NDP voters, 90 per cent of Bloc Quebecois voters and 88 per cent of Green Party voters believe social media platforms like Facebook are less accurate than traditional media, whereas 63 per cent of conservative voters feel the same way. The conclusions in this Nanos survey are based on 1,036 randomly selected Canadians, 18 years of age or older, between March 30 and April 2, 2020 as part of an omnibus survey. The margin of error for this survey is plus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. The federal government of Australia should push for policies that will support the residential construction sector to help the economy weather the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak, according to the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA). Simon Basheer, national president of UDIA, said housing construction is a "central pillar" of the economy, contributing 7.5% of the overall growth and supporting 750,000 jobs. "The advice so far is building sites can remain open and the industry will play its part in sustaining work and activity as long as it is healthy and safe to do so," he said. UDIA laid out six recommendations that could help support the sector achieve a swift recovery. These recommendations lean on and expand existing policies and initiatives. "Australia's residential development sector is traditionally well-capitalised, resourceful and able to move quickly once the barriers to commencing projects are removed," Basheer said. Also read: Landlords' wish-list amid COVID-19 The first recommendation is to release the second tranche of the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme. The scheme helps homebuyers break into the market with as little as a 5% deposit. UDIA said the expected 10,000 slots for the scheme should be released as soon as possible and should be exclusively provided to those who intend to buy new houses. UDIA also proposed a policy that would clear the backlog of projects under assessment via the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. UDIA also recommended that the government to accelerate investment in infrastructure projects, especially those that can support new urban development. Also included in UDIA's proposal is the implementation of an incentive for state and territory governments to reduce the timeframes for major project approvals. At the same time, this policy also includes the removal of regulatory barriers to shovel-ready housing projects. The fifth suggestion is to ensure the continuous flow of credit. Lastly, UDIA said it is crucial to expand stamp-duty exemption schemes, roll back barriers to foreign investment, and boost build-to-rent. These will help underpin new land release and off-the-plan stock. "Industry values the broader economic stimulus governments and regulators have already advanced to maintain liquidity, boost cash flow and keep as many people in jobs as possible," Basheer said. We understand there will be tough days ahead but want to collaborate with governments and our workforces on ideas to minimise the impact and maximise the recovery." Atlantic City, N.J., April 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Greater Atlantic City Chamber, the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce and Cooper Levenson, Attorneys at Law will host a free webinar entitled Good News for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 on Wed. April 8 from 11 a.m. noon. Topics will include the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or the CARES Act (Act), which was signed into law on March 27. Small business owners will learn more about how the Act may help them remain operational and how they can determine if they qualify for relief. In this session, Cooper Levenson attorneys will discuss: CARES Act and Related Issues, including: Paycheck Protection Program Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program Financial Support for the Fishing Industry Restructuring for Small Business Chapter 12 Bankruptcy for Family Farmers and Family Fishermen Nicholas F. Talvacchia will moderate the webinar. Jennifer B. Barr, Eric A. Browdorf, and Kevin J. Thornton will serve as panelists. Saudi Arabia and Russia are close to a deal on cutting oil output to reduce a global glut, a top Russian oil negotiator said on Monday, but details such as how to share production curbs remained unclear, ahead of talks planned for later this week. A supply deal between OPEC and its allies led by Russia, a group known as OPEC+, that had propped up oil prices for three years collapsed in March, while the coronavirus is hammering demand. Riyadh and Moscow blamed each other for the failure and launched a battle for market share, sending oil prices to their lowest in two decades, straining the budgets of oil-producing nations and hurting higher-cost producers in the United States. US President Donald Trump said last week he had brokered a ceasefire between Moscow and Riyadh. But initial plans for an OPEC+ meeting on Monday have been pushed back and a video conference will now be held on Thursday, two OPEC sources told Reuters news agency. I think the whole market understands that this deal is important and it will bring lots of stability, so much important stability to the market, and we are very close, Kirill Dmitriev, one of Moscows top oil negotiators who also heads Russians sovereign wealth fund, told CNBC. Dmitriev was the first to make a public declaration last month about the need for an enlarged supply pact, potentially involving producers outside the OPEC+ group. Trump has said a deal could see cuts of 10 percent to 15 percent of global supply, although analysts say even such a huge reduction would still not solve the immediate problem of oversupply which by some estimates has crashed demand by 20 percent to 30 percent. Russia and Saudi Arabia have long been frustrated that output curbs by OPEC+ have left a gap that has been filled by shale oil firms in the US, which have become the worlds biggest crude producer. Producers also differ over the level from which they should make any output cuts. Riyadh, with by far the worlds biggest reserve of extra capacity, has insisted it will no longer carry what it considers an unfair burden of cuts. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the base should be production levels in the first quarter. In its race for secure a bigger share of the market after the OPEC+ deal fell apart, Saudi Arabia raised its crude output to 12.3 million bpd on April 1 and said it planned to export to more than 10 million bpd starting from April. An OPEC source said the base was negotiable, adding every producer faced the same threat that the worlds oil storage capacity was fast reaching a limit. The cliff is visible to everyone, the source added. OPEC member Iraq said on Sunday any new deal needed support from major producers from outside OPEC+, such as the United States, Canada and Norway. Antitrust laws prohibit oil producers in the United States from taking steps to push up oil prices. But curbing output would be legal if state regulators or the federal government set lower production levels, antitrust experts said. The US authorities have yet to indicate what, if any, action it might take. Trump said on Sunday he could slap very substantial tariffs on oil imports if prices stayed low, but he also said he did not expect this would be needed. In rare moves, Canada and Norway have signalled their willingness to curtail production. After Thursdays scheduled OPEC+ talks, G20 energy ministers and members of some other international organisations will hold a video conference, hosted by Saudi Arabia, on Friday, a senior Russian source told Reuters, as part of the efforts to get the United States involved in a new deal on production cuts. The coronavirus can spread about one to three days before symptoms start, a top official of the World Health Organization said Monday. Whether the person is symptomatic or presymptomatic, the disease is still spread in the same way through droplets from the nose and mouth, said the official, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's team lead on the coronavirus. "What we know from reports, what we know from published literature, is that the predominant way in which transmission is occurring is among symptomatic individuals. These are people who can be symptomatic early on in symptoms, even when they start to feel a little bit unwell, "Kerkhove said at a news conference at WHO headquarters in Geneva. "We also know it's possible that people can transmit in the few days before they become symptomatic in their presymptomatic phase." She said some people can "shed [the] virus one to three days before having symptoms." She added that models of the outbreak suggest there are "large numbers of unrecognized transmission," and she emphasized those are unrecognized patients, not asymptomatic. "I'm saying we may be missing people who are out there who are infected but we're missing them because of certain surveillance strategies," she said. Dr. Mike Ryan, the WHO's executive director for emergencies program, agreed that more people are "infected unknowingly." He said part of understanding the way the virus transmits is not only finding how many people have been infected, but whether more severe cases are linked to people being infected with higher levels of the disease from other individuals or surfaces. "If somebody's exposed to a high dose from an individual directly or a surface that's heavily contaminated, you can imagine a large dose," Ryan said. "In other circumstances, individual virus particles potentially floating through the air, it can be demonstrated that that may happen in certain circumstances certainly in health care settings but is that significant in terms of driving infection? These are all very important things that still need to be studied," Ryan said. A study from Singapore released last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examined how presymptomatic or asymptomatic coronavirus carriers could spread the deadly virus. Researchers concluded that people who spread the virus, despite feeling healthy, could pose a threat to disease control. "These findings also suggest that to control the pandemic it might not be enough for only persons with symptoms to limit their contact with others because persons without symptoms might transmit infection," the CDC researchers said. The researchers examined all 243 coronavirus cases reported in Singapore from Jan. 23 to March 16. They identified seven clusters of cases where presymptomatic transmission most likely occurred. The seven clusters occurred between Jan. 19 and March 12 and involved two to five patients each, according to the report. Ten cases within the clusters could be attributed to presymptomatic transmission, and accounted for 6.4% of the 157 locally acquired cases reported as of March 16, the researchers added. "The possibility of presymptomatic transmission of [the coronavirus] increases the challenges of COVID-19 containment measures, which are predicated on early detection and isolation of symptomatic persons," the researchers said in their findings. "The magnitude of this impact is dependent upon the extent and duration of transmissibility while a patient is presymptomatic, which, to date, have not been clearly established." CNBC's Jessica Bursztynsky contributed to this article. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had a comfortable night in hospital, is in good spirits and continues to carry out work as leader of the government but will remain in hospital under observation, his spokesman said on Monday. Johnson was said to be in good spirits after being taken to St Thomas Hospital in London as a precaution. He remains under observation and the spokesman declined to give details of any treatment he had received or when he might be discharged. The Prime Minister was admitted to hospital for tests last night as a precaution. The issue is that his symptoms remain persistent, the spokesman said. He added: The Prime Minister had a comfortable night at St Thomas Hospital in London and is in good spirits. He remains in hospital under observation. In Mr Johnsons absence, the daily government coronavirus meeting was chaired by Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State. However, the PMs spokesman said that he had received his ministerial red box containing his official papers and was continuing to work from hospital. He continues to receive a box. The Prime Minister remains in charge of the Government. Meanwhile, the Duchess of Cornwall has been reunited with the Prince of Wales after coming out of self isolation just days before their 15th wedding anniversary. Camilla, 72, tested negative for coronavirus but isolated for 14 days after heir to the throne Charles contracted the Covid-19 illness. The couple, who had been staying apart from one another at their Scottish retreat Birkhall in Aberdeenshire, reach a milestone 15 years of marriage on Thursday. A source said: She came out of isolation this morning. Charles finished his isolation a week ago and spoke of the strange, frustrating and often distressing experience of being without friends and family. The prince, who had mild symptoms of coronavirus, worked throughout at Birkhall, and appeared via video-link on Friday to open the new NHS Nightingale hospital. The news came the day after the Queen gave a rare televised address to the nation, saying: We will meet again. In her message of hope, the monarch said if we remain united and resolute in the face of the coronavirus outbreak we will overcome it. A fourth person in North Dakota has died of COVID-19, Gov. Doug Burgum reported Monday, but he also stressed that the state remains in good shape when it comes to preserving hospital capacity for the weeks and months ahead. An Emmons County man in his 70s with underlying health conditions died of the coronavirus disease, Burgum said during an afternoon briefing. The man became infected through community spread, according to the governor. The man is the only resident of the south central county to so far have tested positive. Eighteen more cases statewide were confirmed Monday, including one each in Burleigh and Morton counties. The cases announced by the state Department of Health raise the state's total to 225, with 32 people hospitalized, 74 recovered and three deaths. The department also has started reporting the number of people currently hospitalized. On Monday morning that total stood at 19. Burgum noted that the state's hospital capacity is estimated to be 2,600 beds even without temporary field hospitals. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has identified the University of Mary in Bismarck and the Fargodome as sites for potential field hospitals. Burgum told people to "take a breath and understand" that 99% of hospital capacity in the state is still available. He also said that North Dakota's rate of positive cases is at 3.1%, compared to states like New York at 40%. While there have been increased calls by officials including Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, for all states to implement shelter-in-place orders, Burgum said "we are clearly one of the states that remains in the very best position." The governor the past few weeks has resisted a stay-at-home mandate. He reiterated that stance Monday, imploring residents to take "pragmatic and sensible" precautions such as washing hands frequently, minimizing travel and social distancing. "There's hundreds and hundreds of things that could never be encompassed in an executive order that we as smart North Dakotans can go out and do," he said. "I will use every tool at my disposal and all the powers that are granted to me as governor, to help protect the health and the safety of the citizens of North Dakota," he said. "But for those that are putting out calls for us to do more, I encourage them to look at the data we're sharing today, and know that when it makes sense, we'll take those steps, and if it makes sense, we'll take those steps." Burgum did issue two executive orders Monday reinforcing what earlier had been guidelines. People who test positive for COVID-19 are now required to self-quarantine for at least 14 days, along with any family members or others in the household. Burgum also suspended visitation at long-term care facilities, many of which already have their own restrictions in place. Violating an executive order is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $1,500 fine. Ramped-up testing The new case numbers are for Sunday. They include 11 new cases in Cass County, home to Fargo, two apiece in Ward and Walsh counties and one in Slope County. Cass leads the state with 65 confirmed cases. There are 38 confirmed cases in Burleigh County and 17 in neighboring Morton. State and private labs have tested 7,213 people, with 6,988 being negative. The number of people tested is up 426 from the previous day. North Dakota has steadily been ramping up testing and over the weekend conducted a pilot project in the rural southwestern towns of Amidon and Gladstone, setting up drive-thru surveillance testing for people who weren't showing any signs of COVID-19. "This is probably where we've had some issues, where people are asymptomatic -- meaning showing no symptoms -- but they're spreading it unwittingly," Burgum said. A total of 735 samples were collected, and some people had to be turned away because testing kits ran out. Full results won't be known until Wednesday. It was "so successful that it was oversubscribed," Burgum said, adding that "this would not have been possible if we had not been able to build up our testing capacity." Melvin Pierces family was second in line for the testing on Saturday in Amidon. Werent too concerned about us being positive, but if we can help figure stuff out, thats good, the southeastern Slope County farmer said. He was still awaiting results early Monday afternoon. Pierce, 65, said the testing site was busy, with more than 100 vehicles in line. His family arrived 45 minutes early, anticipating a wait. They did good, Pierce said of the testing. It was organized well, but the holdup was getting the personal information from everybody. That took a little while. The swabbing took 15 seconds. Rick Lemke participated in the testing on Sunday in Gladstone, considering it a civic duty. The Gladstone testing also was busy. Lemke and his wife, Ashley, waited about 2 hours before their tests, which were administered orally. There were cars winding around city blocks waiting to take their turns, said Lemke, who sells parts for Nelson International Trucks in Bismarck and Dickinson. The 45-year-old Gladstone resident had yet to hear results. He said he felt no symptoms of COVID-19. Burgum said the pilot project validated that oral swab testing is working, and will show whether people who aren't showing symptoms might be carrying the disease. "This is data that could help really shape our models, not just here in North Dakota, but the models in this country," Burgum said. The state is considering similar testing in Mountrail County, which encompasses the Fort Berthold Reservation and where 12 of 51 tests have been positive, said Burgum, who called it "a potential hotspot." Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. JACK DURA Capitol Reporter Follow JACK DURA Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today LAGOS, Monday, April 6, 2020: Media Rights Agenda (MRA) today accused Police authorities in Adamawa State of condoning and encouraging crimes against journalists following the failure of the State Police Command to arrest and prosecute men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) who invaded the State secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Jimeta on April 2, 2020 where they brutalized a dozen journalists, illegally arrested and detained them at the SARS detention facility. In a statement in Lagos, MRA gave Police authorities 14 days to arrest and initiate criminal proceedings against the SARS agents involved in the incident, failing which, the organization said it would issue a formal report to the United Nations Secretary General and request him to bring the matter to the attention of the UN General Assembly so that appropriate action can be taken against Nigeria for crimes against journalists in violation of several UN instruments. According to MRAs programme director, Mr Ayode Longe, at about 6.28pm on April 2, the Officer in Charge of SARS in Adamawa State reportedly went to the state secretariat of the NUJ where he met reporters in the process of filing news reports to their different media organizations, using the internet services at the press centre due to the closure of business centres around the city. Shortly after arriving at the press centre, the SARS officer started making phone calls and a few minutes later, six Toyota Hilux vans filled with heavily armed police operatives invaded the press centre and started beating and forcing journalists into the vehicles. In all, 12 journalists, including the state chairman of the NUJ, Mr. Ishaku Dedan, and 11 other journalists were taken to SARS detention facility where they were detained. The journalists were, however, released after two hours in custody on the orders of the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Audu Adamu Madaki, who also directed the police officers involved in the arrest to apologize to the NUJ within three days. Expressing dissatisfaction with the failure of the Police authorities to sanction its officers for their egregious action, Mr. Longe said: By failing to take any punitive or disciplinary action against the police officers involved in the outrage, the Police authorities have ensured impunity for crimes against journalists in breach of Nigerias international commitments and obligations, a situation which is bound to encourage similar action in future as it sends a message to policemen everywhere that there will never be consequences for them for such unacceptable behaviour. He noted that there was no justification whatsoever for the Police officers to have gone to the NUJ secretariat because when President Muhammadu Buhari announced the lockdown in response to the Coronavirus on March 30, 2020, he was clear that it would only apply to Abuja as well as Lagos and Ogun States and specifically exempted journalists and media workers from the lockdown. In addition, Mr. Longe said, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, went further to clarify that journalists and media workers only needed to show their identity cards and should be allowed to go about their professional duties freely to access places of work and assignment venues during the Covid-19 lockdown. He remarked that It is ironic while SARS operatives were brutalizing and arresting journalists who were apparently engaged in their professional pursuits at the NUJ secretariat, a place of business for media professionals, on a false allegation that they were socializing, a birthday party for one of the police officers was actually going on at about the same time at the police officers mess located on Galadima Aminu Way in the same town with over 100 people in attendance. Mr. Longe contended that given the facts and circumstances, it was apparent that the police officer who led the invasion of the NUJ secretariat, was nursing a grudge against journalists and merely used the lockdown as an excuse to launch an unwarranted assault on the NUJ Secretariat and the journalists he met there. Observing that such attacks on journalists had become too rampant, he re-echoed last months joint statement by Mr David Kaye, UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression; Mr Harlem Desir, Representative on Freedom of the Media for the organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE); and Mr Edison Lanza, Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression for the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights; to the effect that the right of access to information means that governments must be making exceptional efforts to protect the work of journalists, as journalism serves a crucial function at a moment of public health emergency, particularly when it aims to inform the public of critical information and monitors government actions. Mr Longe called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, to restore discipline within the Force, saying the constant resort by policemen to brutalizing journalists and other innocent citizens with impunity was no longer acceptable. For further information, please contact: Idowu Adewale Communications Officer Media Rights Agenda Email: [email protected] Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) on Friday (3 April 2020) said its board held a special meeting to review investment in SsangYong Motor Company (SYMC) and to discuss the approach to capital allocation amid COVID 19 impact. The request from the management and labour union of SYMC for fresh injection of equity from M&M to help the company fund 500 billion KRW (South Korean won), or ($406 million) of requirements over the next three years, was considered by the board. The board noted that large parts of the global economy are under shutdown. India particularly is under an unprecedented 21-day complete lockdown. The board has initiated several measures to tighten capital allocation norms and ensure that M&M remains strong through the current crisis and beyond. After lengthy deliberation given the current and projected cash flows, the M&M board took a decision 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, with a view 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 upto 40 billion KRW ($32 million) over the next three months. Moreover, M&M would make every effort to continue to support to all other non-fund initiatives that are currently in place to help SYMC reduce capex, save costs and secure funds. SYMC will get capex-free access to M&M's new platforms such as W601. M&M will support technology programs which would help reduce SYMC's capex. M&M will also support the material cost reduction program that is currently underway. Further, M&M will also support SYMC management to find new investors. On a consolidated basis, M&M's net profit slumped 84.74% to 199.94 crore on a 4.45% decrease in net sales to Rs 25,019.86 crore in Q3 December 2019 over Q3 December 2018. M&M's segments include automotive, farm equipment, financial services, real estate, hospitality and others. Automotive segment comprises of sale of automobiles, spares, mobility solutions and construction equipment. Its farm equipment segment comprises of sale of tractors, implements and spares. Shares of M&M advanced 3.03% to close at Rs 280.90 on Friday, 3 April 2020. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) L ondon could be weeks away from seeing a peak in coronavirus infections and deaths unless the effect of the lockdown starts to kick in , doctors said today. The number of deaths in the capitals hospitals rose by 301 over the weekend to 1,361 while new diagnoses of Covid-19 increased to 11,978. Brent is Londons worst-hit borough, with 728 cases. Professor Karim Brohi, director of the London major trauma network, said that the number of new cases in London was roughly doubling every seven days, with 1,214 declared yesterday. He tweeted: At projected peak of end April we will be pushing 10,000/day, unless effect of lock-down kicks in soon. Weve likely seen less than 10 per cent of pandemic patients so far. 4,406 Admissions to London hospitals of patients with coronavirus as of yesterday Professor Peter Openshaw, of Imperial College London, said: There is inevitably a delay in seeing the effects of social distancing measures on deaths because deaths typically occur almost three weeks after the onset of disease, which is usually about five days after exposure to the virus. 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 Reduction in deaths would not be expected until about a month after measures are put in place. NHS England figures collated by the Standard suggest at least 165 patients have died at London North West Healthcare trust, which runs Northwick Park and Ealing hospitals. Loading.... A total of 132 have died at Kings College trust, which includes the Princess Royal in Orpington. There have been 121 deaths at Barts Health, which runs five east London hospitals, and 107 at the Royal Free trust, which includes Barnet General. Government figures yesterday showed there had been 4,406 admissions of patients with coronavirus to London hospitals, up 570 on the previous 24 hours. Listen to The Leader: Coronavirus Daily podcast Deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said the number of recorded fatalities was of Covid-associated deaths, meaning that patients may have had the virus but it was not the direct cause of death. Today it was reported that a number of London trusts had been prioritised for extra oxygen supplies, amid concerns that some hospitals were running short of medical gases as a result of extra admissions. THE government and the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) have established an online link to help them collect and process complaints and share responses from either side in order to easy the progress of investment and improve business environment in the country. The link which is set to become operational in 2020/21 fiscal year was unveiled by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa in his budget speech for the year 2020/21 he presented here last week. He told MPs that Tanzanias efforts towards building a modern economy were not in vain. Tanzania had done extremely well in improving the investment environment and climate for doing business, a fact appreciated by the World Bank, the Prime Minister told the national assembly to the thumbing of MPs and to the smiles and nodding of members of the public in the public gallery. I have pleasure to this august house that the investment climate and the environment for doing business have improved steadily in our country. This is evident in the WBs 2020 report. In that report Tanzania is put in the 141st position, up from the 144th position. I believe the online link we have established will raise to even a higher level of efficiency in promoting investment and doing business in our country, the PM said. The PM called on all public institutions to support the business community in all possible ways in order to raise the level of investment and improve conditions for doing business and commended regions for what he described as great efforts being done by regional leaders in exposing investment opportunities. He told the house that 854, 821 hectares had been set aside countrywide for investment adding that Investment Guidelines had been unveiled in Ruvuma, Songwe, Coast, Lindi, Mtwara, Kagera, Geita, Kilimanjaro, Simiyu, Manyara, Dodoma, Mwanza, Kigoma and Morogoro. The TPSF is the umbrella organisation of the private sector and has 14 clusters to facilitate representation in the apex body. The clusters are agriculture, industries, tourism, financial institutions, minerals, services, women entrepreneurs, Zanzibar traders, construction and engineering, oil and gas, transportation, companies, trade and vending. On Last Week Tonight With John Oliver Sunday, Oliver ripped Republican governors who have been slow to respond to the growing coronavirus crisis in the United States, particularly those who have resisted issuing stay-at-home orders. As of Sunday, nine states had yet to issue such orders. One governor Oliver singled out was Alabamas Kay Ivey, who finally issued a stay-at-home order on Friday. When originally refusing to do so, Ivey stated that Alabama is not California or New York. Oliver, while showing a graph of new COVID-19 cases in Alabama compared to California, pointed out that Alabama actually has a higher growth rate of new cases per capita than California. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp was also late to issue a stay-at-home order, and even after doing so, he kept the states beaches open. Kemp received backlash and ridicule last week after he said during a press conference that hed just learned that even those without symptoms can pass the virus to others, even though that information has been out for months. We didnt know that until the last 24 hours, Kemp said at the press conference. No, you didnt know that until the last 24 hours, Oliver responded. Most of the rest of us have known that since February. And that information, much like COVID-19, has spread around a bit since then. Then Oliver got to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who resisted issuing a statewide stay-at-home order because he was waiting for direction from the White House, even as new COVID-19 cases in his state skyrocketed last month. Even while issuing the order, DeSantis exempted religious services. Thats actually even stupider than it sounds, Oliver said, because DeSantis not only exempted churches from bans on large gatherings, he also exempted them from social-distancing requirements and made it impossible for localities, even in hotspots, to override him, which is clearly dangerous. Its because of governors in states like these and others that some, like the leading infectious disease expert in the country, Dr. Anthony Fauci, are calling for nationwide orders. As Oliver pointed out, success in defeating the virus is contingent on the cooperation of all states. Story continues The problem is, as a nation, our success in containing COVID-19 is only going to be as good as our worst governor, Oliver said, especially with the federal government abdicating so much responsibility. That is what is so infuriating here. Oliver also took aim at presidential advisor, and President Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who said last week that the Strategic National Stockpile of medical supplies werent for the states to use. The Department of Health and Human Services even changed its website to echo what Kushner had said. The notion of the federal stockpile was, its supposed to be our stockpile, Kushner said. Its not supposed to be states stockpiles that they then use. Wait, Our stockpile? Its not your stockpile, Oliver said in response. Its a national stockpile for use by the United States, you f***ing moron. And heres the interesting thing about the United States, its almost entirely made of states. Theres states everywhere. Id say more than 40 of them, Jared. And some parts of them badly need supplies right now. Last Week Tonight With John Oliver airs Sundays at 11 p.m. on HBO. Watch Tucker Carlson attack medical experts over the handling of the coronavirus: 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. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Want daily pop culture news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Entertainment & Lifestyle's newsletter. D.C. Makes It A Crime To Wear Masks. [:][quino] , 2020040522:09:07 ,1369,1 APP 0 [:1 ] quino board=USANews&u=quino [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [ 1 ] : quino (quino), : USANews : D.C. Makes It A Crime To Wear Masks. : BBS (Sun Apr 5 22:09:07 2020, ) D.C. Makes It A Crime To Wear Masks. Holding U.S. flags and marching in orderly formation as they shouted " Reclaim America!" the 100 or so white nationalists who demonstrated in D.C. last Saturday wore matching hats, pants, jackets and white face masks. And it was that last sartorial choice that attracted attention on social media, where some people asked why the group Patriot Front, an organization promoting "American Fascism" and deemed a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center was able to get away with what seemed like a violation of D.C. law. It's currently illegal in the city to wear a mask under a number of circumstances, notably to avoid identification while engaging in illegal activities. But the law, which dates back to 1982, also says mask-wearing is prohibited if the wearer intends to intimidate or threaten another person, or if they try to deprive someone of other rights guaranteed by law. Virginia has a similar law on the books, which was tested last month, when a single person was arrested during a large pro-gun demonstration in Richmond. https://www.npr.org/local/305/2020/02/12/805290397/d-c-makes-it-a-crime-to- wear-masks-so-why-was-a-group-of-white-nationalists-able-to -- :WWW mitbbs.com [FROM: 47.] [] ChinaGirl board=USANews&u=ChinaGirl [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [ 2 ] : ChinaGirl (), : USANews : Re: D.C. Makes It A Crime To Wear Masks. : BBS (Mon Apr 6 04:58:58 2020, ) DC quino (quino) : : D.C. Makes It A Crime To Wear Masks. : Holding U.S. flags and marching in orderly formation as they shouted " : Reclaim America!" the 100 or so white nationalists who demonstrated in D.C . : last Saturday wore matching hats, pants, jackets and white face masks. : And it was that last sartorial choice that attracted attention on social : media, where some people asked why the group Patriot Front, an : organization promoting "American Fascism" and deemed a hate group by the : Southern Poverty Law Center was able to get away with what seemed like a : violation of D.C. law. : It's currently illegal in the city to wear a mask under a number of : ................... -- :WWW mitbbs.com [FROM: 68.] [:1 ] 0 [] [ ] [] Tracy Radich, a fourth-grade teacher at the Joseph M. Gallagher School in Cleveland, spent Tuesday and Wednesday going down her roster of 20 students, trying to call each students parents and make individual plans to help each of them learn from home. Some of her students families speak Somali, Swahili or Spanish, so she asked colleagues who speak those languages to help. So far, only three of her students have been consistently engaged with online lessons, she said. About six do not have regular access to the internet. One boy typically goes to the library to get online, but the citys libraries are now closed, too. She expects to interact with several students mostly through phone calls. We are going to come together and meet everybody where they are, Ms. Radich said. School funding is typically tied to student enrollment or attendance counts across the country, but Ohio has unlinked funding from those counts, a policy that education experts expect most states to adopt in the coming weeks. In rural Minford, a town of about 700 in southern Ohio near the border with Kentucky, the district is distributing laptops as well as work packets on paper to students without internet or technology access, estimated at 25 to 30 percent of the student body by the districts superintendent. Regardless of whether Minfords students can participate in online classes or turn in work, administrators expect to promote a majority of them to the next grade, said Marin Applegate, the districts school psychologist. We do not feel they are in control and cannot be held accountable, she said. Some school systems, like the District of Columbia Public Schools, have stopped taking formal attendance altogether. The nations largest school district, New York City, which is at the center of the coronavirus crisis, has not yet released data on the number of children participating in online learning. The district said it would officially begin tracking remote attendance on Monday. The strident support from the hotels comes at a time when the industry is itself caught off guard with a sharp dip in both in-bound traffic from foreign markets, reduced domestic traction as well as a total shut-down of MICE business that has led the country top players by market cap to lose over half their value in just a little over a month. Hotel chains of all sizes across the country are rallying resources to support local authorities, medical teams, and those in need of basics such as food and medicine. In some cases, companies are even taking hotel supplies and using them for personal protection. Ajay Bakaya, managing director at Sarovar Hotels & Resorts, says: We are taking fresh linen from half a dozen properties and those are being made into masks for those in need. Sarovar is operating 14 of its 83 properties because of a national vacuum in business, but is dishing out 500 free meals a day in conjunction with local police and authorities in Chandigarh at its Hometel property. Similarly, Tata-owned IHCL, which runs the Taj and other hotel brands, has dedicated resources to feed migrant workers in Mumbai, officials say. During these challenging times The Taj Mahal Palace, Taj Lands End, Taj Santacruz, The President and Ginger MIDC Andheri in Mumbai; and Ginger Madgaon and Ginger City Centre, Noida, are offering rooms free of charge to the medical fraternity, an IHCL spokesperson said. Four other Ginger hotels across the country are also being used for quarantine purposes, and include Ginger in Bhubaneshwar, Faridabad, Bengaluru, and Andheri to accommodate medical workers. In addition, IHCL is distributing meals cooked at by the TajSats to colleges (Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi) and seven hospitals in the National Capital Region. Marriott International, the worlds largest hotel chain, is driving on ground-assistance in a bid to help flatten the curve and support local government. The JW Marriott Aerocity, New Delhi, and the Westin Gurgaon are distributing cooked meals, with as many as 500 packed meal boxes being distributed every day. The Delhi hotel has distributed close to 5,000 boxes to date. In Maharashtra, hit hardest by coronavirus so far, the JW Marriott, Pune, the Ritz Carlton and the Marriott Pune Hinjewad, in collaboration with the Panchshil Foundation, are distributing Care Packages across the city. The package contains 1 kg rice, 750 gm lentil, 1 litre of cooking oil and six eggs. Marriott is aiming to distribute 30,000 packets through the city collectors office in Pune. Vijay Dewan, managing director, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, says: Amidst the current lockdown the senior citizens and the underprivileged suffer the most. The Park Hotels has launched a neighbourhood service initiative, wherein anybody especially senior citizens can call for help groceries, medicines or food, and a team responds to the request immediately taking all safety precautions. Locals can directly call these hotels for any emergencies or any pharmaceutical needs, and the concierge of the hotel will help them get those, he says. All these hotels are centrally located and anyone living within the 5 km radius can avail this service, available 24X7, with no additional charges, to help in time of crisis. Park Hotels is also providing free food to the underprivileged and has ear-marked 20 free rooms for doctors and staff fighting corona in Kolkata. Europes biggest hotel chain, the Accor Group, through its hotel Ibis New Delhi Aerocity, is extending its assistance as a quarantine facility. Zubin Saxena, managing director and vice-president, Operations, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group, says along with their partners his company has collectively reaching out to some 20,000 beneficiaries per day with food and food supplies. The strident support from the hotels comes at a time when the industry is itself caught off guard with a sharp dip in both in-bound traffic from foreign markets, reduced domestic traction as well as a total shut-down of MICE (meetings, incentives conferences and exhibitions) business that has led the country top players by market cap to lose over half their value in just a little over a month. Photograph: Kham/Reuters Hong Kong: CHP explains Peru infections (To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.) The Centre for Health Protection today provided details about confirmed COVID-19 cases involving people who returned to Hong Kong from Peru. The centres Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan said five Peru returnees tested positive for the virus and because three of them were touring with a group of 21 people, the rest of the tour group will be sent to a quarantine centre. There are a total of 65 returnees from Peru and 21 of them joined a tour (with) Morning Star Travel Service. Some of them joined the 24-day tour to Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Peru and a few others joined the same tour but it was a 30-day tour. They left Hong Kong on February 27 and stopped (the tour) there after the city was locked down. Three of them among this tour group have been confirmed (as COVID-19 cases). The rest of the 18 travellers who went together with the tour group members will be quarantined in the quarantine centre." Dr Chuang also said one couple among the Peru returnees also tested positive for the virus but they did not have close contacts. For the couple who travelled there alone, they did not join the other tours and other Peru returnees. They did not mix with them. So there are no other close contacts for these two cases. The rest of the 65 returnees have all tested negative, so they will be sent back home for home quarantine. She also provided details about a COVID-19 case linked to a cluster of infections at karaoke bars. The case involves a 48-year-old man who works in Windsor House in Causeway Bay. He began showing symptoms on March 23 and four days later his wife fell ill. For case number 903, he had mild symptoms of runny nose since March 23. That is probably why he continued to work until March 28, but with a mask on. Because his wife had developed symptoms on March 27 and was confirmed (as being infected) on April 2, he was sent (to undergo) testing yesterday. Dr Chuang explained that the man wore a mask while working, but he did not do so when he attended a farewell gathering at a karaoke bar with several colleagues. During his work, he would usually (put) a mask on and (work) with around 20 colleagues in a shop. But they had a farewell (gathering) with a colleague on March 25, with five to six colleagues together but we need to double check (the numbers). We plan to send all of these close contacts to the quarantine centre. I understand that one or two of them developed symptoms. Thats why they wont be sent to a quarantine centre, they will be sent to the hospital for testing. For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage. This story has been published on: 2020-04-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Civil Aviation, in a tweet has said that the government is yet to take any decision on resumption of flight services both on domestic and international sectors. A senior Civil Aviation Ministry official earlier told PTI that the government is likely to allow domestic and international flight operations in India in a staggered manner post the 21-day lockdown period which is slated to end on April 14. The minister reacted to the report claiming it to be a mere speculation and said the correct position was spelt out on 2nd April 2020. The minister earlier tweeted that the services of international flights will most likely resume from April 15 depending on case-to-case basis, and on basis of country of arrival and departure. News about resumption of passenger flights in a staggered manner from 15 April is mere speculation.The correct position is spelt out in my tweet of 2nd April 2020.@PTI_News @PIB_India @MoCA_GoI @DGCAIndia @AAI_Official pic.twitter.com/XRxfeDKHBV Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) April 5, 2020 The aviation sector has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. On Sunday, Air Deccan became the latest casualty of the crisis as it announced indefinite suspension of flight operations and asked all employees to go on sabbatical without pay. "As the virus is still spreading in India, we are thinking to permit domestic and international flight operations post April 14 in a staggered manner. Airlines are free to take bookings for any date post April 14," a senior Civil Aviation Ministry official said. "However, if the lockdown is extended post April 14, airlines will have to cancel the tickets booked for that time period," the official noted. All major airlines except Air India are taking domestic bookings for dates post April 14. Air India is taking bookings for dates post April 30 only. As it has sent all employees on sabbatical without pay, Air Deccan is not taking any bookings and it is not clear when it would restart operations. As revenues have fallen significantly, IndiGo has announced a pay cut of up to 25 per cent for its senior employees and Vistara has announced a compulsory leave without pay of up to three days for its senior employees in March. SpiceJet has stated that its employees' salaries would be reduced between 10 to 30 per cent and Air India has announced a 10 per cent cut in allowances for every employee, except cabin crew, for the coming three months. GoAir has cut salaries of its employees, laid off its expat pilots and introduced leave without pay for employees on a rotational basis. India has imposed a 21-day lockdown from March 25 to curb spread of the coronavirus pandemic. 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 this lockdown. Health Minister Robin Swann today visited the main distribution centre for Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for frontline health and social care workers. The Belfast visit came on the day the first batch of a fresh order from the NHS was delivered to Northern Ireland. The order will comprise some 5.5 million items in total. Todays batch includes 1,320,000 aprons and 307,800 FFP3 respirator masks. This mornings delivery comprises around 50% of the aprons from the NHS consignment and some 40% of the FFP3 masks. The remainder is expected early this week. The Minister visited the Boucher Road warehouse of the Procurement and Logistics Service, which is part of the HSCs Business Services Organisation. He said: The extra 5.5 million items of PPE for Northern Ireland is very welcome news for our frontline staff. The first part of this shipment arrived this morning. I want to make clear that we have sufficient PPE supply for current demand and will continue to actively model projected demand. We are working extremely hard to secure more supplies, given anticipated future demand and the likelihood of a second surge later in the year. As I have stated, theres not a country in the world that can definitively say it has enough PPE in stock, given the global uncertainty about the path this virus will take. We are continuing to proactively pursue all feasible PPE supply routes, both international and local. I can confirm that further supply is being sourced from the local economy. The Minister again acknowledged staff concerns on PPE, stressing: I recognise that its not enough for me to simply say our stocks are significant or sufficient for current pressures. We need to make sure our distribution and deployment to all frontline settings is the best it can be and that all staff know where to turn within their organisations when they have concerns or questions. Frontline settings include hospitals, ambulance crews, primary care Covid centres, care homes, domiciliary care workers and other parts of the system where staff are working flat out to care for people. Newly updated UK-wide NHS PPE guidance has been issued in recent days, providing detailed guidelines on the types of PPE required for different clinical settings. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, Royal College of Nursing and Royal College of Midwives were involved in developing the guidance. NEW YORK A tiger at the Bronx Zoo has tested positive for the new coronavirus, in what is believed to be the first known infection in an animal in the U.S. or a tiger anywhere, federal officials and the zoo said Sunday. The 4-year-old Malayan tiger named Nadia and six other tigers and lions that have also fallen ill are believed to have been infected by a zoo employee who wasnt yet showing symptoms, the zoo said. The first animal started showing symptoms March 27, and all are doing well and expected to recover, said the zoo, which has been closed to the public since March 16 amid the surging coronavirus outbreak in New York. The test result stunned zoo officials: I couldnt believe it, director Jim Breheny said. But he hopes the finding can contribute to the global fight against the virus that causes COVID-19. Any kind of knowledge that we get on how its transmitted, how different species react to it, that knowledge somehow is going to provide a greater base resource for people, he said in an interview. The finding raises new questions about transmission of the virus in animals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which confirmed Nadias test result at its veterinary lab, said there are no known cases of the virus in U.S. pets or livestock. There doesnt appear to be, at this time, any evidence that suggests that the animals can spread the virus to people or that they can be a source of the infection in the United States, Dr. Jane Rooney, a veterinarian and a USDA official, said in an interview. The USDA said Sunday its not recommending routine coronavirus testing of animals, in zoos or elsewhere, or of zoo employees. Still, Rooney said a small number of animals in the U.S. have been tested through the USDAs National Veterinary Services Laboratories, and all those tests came back negative except Nadias. The coronavirus outbreaks around the world are driven by person-to-person transmission, experts say. There have been a handful of reports outside the U.S. of pet dogs or cats becoming infected after close contact with contagious people, including a Hong Kong dog that tested positive for a low level of the pathogen in February and early March. Hong Kong agriculture authorities concluded that pet dogs and cats couldnt pass the virus to human beings but could test positive if exposed by their owners. Some researchers have been trying to understand the susceptibility of different animal species to the virus, and to determine how it spreads among animals, according to the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health. The American Veterinary Medical Association and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been recommending that out of an abundance of caution, people ill with the coronavirus should limit contact with animals advice that the veterinary group reiterated after learning of the tigers test result. In general, the CDC also advises people to wash their hands after handling animals and do other things to keep pets and their homes clean. At the Bronx Zoo, Nadia, her sister Azul, two Amur tigers and three African lions developed dry coughs, and some of the cats exhibited some wheezing and loss of appetite, said Dr. Paul Calle, the zoos chief veterinarian. The staff figured there could be a relatively routine explanation for the cats symptoms but tested Nadia for coronavirus out of due diligence and an abundance of caution, Breheny said. Only Nadia was tested because it takes anesthesia to get a sample from a big cat, and she had already been knocked out to be examined. Calle said the test was different from the one used for people and was carried out by a veterinary school laboratory, not one that handles human samples. There is no competition for testing between these two very different situations, he said. The seven sickened cats live in two areas at the zoo, and the animals had contact with the same worker, who is doing OK, zoo officials said. They said there are no signs of illness in other big cats on the property. Staffers who work with the cats will now wear infection-protection garb, as primate keepers have done for years because of the animals closer genetic ties to human beings, Breheny said. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as a fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and can be fatal. ___ Associated Press Medical Writer Mike Stobbe contributed to this report. ___ Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak. Authorities in Georgia have announced an arrest in a 2012 cold-case murder of an 18-year-old Atlanta girl who was shot dead after walking in on a robbery in progress. Donald Ashe, 34, was arrested on Friday afternoon and charged with second-degree murder and, concealing facts and false statements in the slaying of Vanessa 'Honey' Malone. DeKalb County police did not immediately reveal how investigators linked Ashe to the crime, only writing in a Facebook post: 'We credit todays arrest to never giving up, and extensive detective work that led us to new evidence, which ultimately resulted in Ashes arrest.' Cold case: Donald Ashe, 34 (left), has been charged with second-degree murder, concealing facts and false statements in the 2012 slaying of Vanessa 'Honey' Malone, 18 (right) Malone was shot in the back and chest after entering her friend's apartment and interrupting an armed robbery in progress Malone told her mother she was going to a friends house on October 23, 2012. A DeKalb police report said the teen interrupted an armed robbery when she entered her friends apartment. The couple living in the home told police three to six armed men clad in black stormed into their home, tied them up and put them in a bathroom, the report said. The woman told police she heard Malone enter the apartment and scream, then she heard several shots, the report said. When police arrived, the couple was outside the apartment and Malone was 'unconscious and not breathing, lying on her right side with several gunshot wounds to the body', the report said. The 18-year-old was shot once in the chest and once in the back. Her death sparked an outcry on social media and her case was featured on The Dr. Oz Show in March. Her family had previously spoken out about the case and expressed distrust in the couples statements. Honey's family members rejoiced at the news of Ashe's arrest. 'OMG...I am so excited for this news we received today,' the victim' sister, Cassandra Pierce-Kennedy, wrote on Facebook. 'They have finally made an arrest in my sister's murder. Please Lord let this be the beginning of the answers we need to solve the case completely.' Honey's death sparked an outcry on social media and her case was featured on The Dr. Oz Show in March. Her family members rejoiced at the news of Ashe's arrest Honey and Cassandra's mother, Flora Malone, spoke to CBS46 after getting the call from the police announcing the break in the case. She said Ashe was an acquaintance of her daughter's, and she said she had been telling investigators about him for years. 'Hes been out there in the streets, having fun, living his life,' Malone said. 'I want to know how its possible to live with yourself after doing something like that. How can you get up every day and look in the mirror, and think youre an okay person?' Police said they expect to make additional arrests in connection to Honey's killing. Online records indicate that Ashe has a lengthy criminal history, which includes convictions on charges of robbery, aggravated assault, kidnapping and burglary, pre-dating Malone' killing. A day after the girl was shot dead, Ashe was arrested for firearms possession by a felon and theft by receiving stolen property. Around 1,000 migrants have been placed under quarantine in a camp in Malta after eight asylum seekers were diagnosed with coronavirus. It comes after a second Greek migrant camp housing 1,700 people was placed under lockdown when an asylum seeker was diagnosed with the killer bug. Refugees in the Hal Far Open Centre for Migrants in Malta - who live in crammed mobile homes - are to remain quarantined for 14 days. The lockdown began at 6pm yesterday evening and both the police and the army have been called in to ensure the rules are followed. Malta has recorded at least 240 cases of coronavirus but no fatalities. Around 1,000 migrants have been placed under quarantine in a camp in Malta after eight residents were diagnosed with coronavirus It comes after a second Greek migrant camp housing 1,700 people (pictured) was placed under lockdown when an Afghan resident was diagnosed with the killer bug Residents in the Hal Far Open Centre for Migrants in Malta - who live in crammed mobile homes - are to remain quarantined for 14 days Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Chris Fearne told a Malta news website: 'This is not a question of race, not a question of colour or religion. The virus does not discriminate between one person and another and infects everyone. 'Treatment for an infected person must be the same for everyone. 'Every person who has the symptoms of the virus will be treated with dignity and will receive all the medical treatment needed.' The Red Cross has been providing medical care for residents. One resident tested positive on Friday. Two people they lived with were later diagnosed. The lockdown in the Malta facility began at 6pm yesterday evening and both the police and the army have been called in to ensure the rules are followed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Chris Fearne told a Malta news website : 'This is not a question of race, not a question of colour or religion. The virus does not discriminate between one person and another and infects everyone.' Pictured: A security officer wears protective clothing inside the Malta migrant centre The Red Cross has been providing medical care for residents. Pictured: A resident of the quarantined camp in Malta peers through a window The second person who tested positive had no contact with the first. Two people who stayed in the second migrants room also came down with the bug. A 31-year-old also tested positive, as did a hospital patient who was diagnosed there. In Greece, a second migrant camp near Athens was placed under lockdown after an Afghan resident tested positive for coronavirus. Officials said the camp in Malakasa, some 24 miles northeast of Athens, had been placed under 'full sanitary isolation' for 14 days, with no one allowed to enter or leave. One resident tested positive on Friday. Two people they lived with were later diagnosed. Pictured: Army officers patrol the outskirts of the camp in Malta A migration ministry source said the Malakasa facility currently shelters over 1,700 people. The ministry said the 53-year-old Afghan man, who has a prior condition, had personally sought help with virus symptoms at the in-camp medical facility. He was subsequently taken to an Athens hospital where he tested positive, and his family was quarantined. In Greece, a second migrant camp near Athens was placed under lockdown. Pictured: Residents inside the Greek camp A screening of the camp is in process, the ministry said. The ministry said this would involve staff, close contacts of the ailing man and any with suspect symptoms. The health ministry has ruled out a general screening campaign at the camps, noting that such a process would be costly and impractical given that the situation changes every day. The first camp outbreak surfaced earlier this week at a facility in Ritsona near Athens where 23 people - out of more than 2,500 - tested positive. The ministry said the 53-year-old Afghan man, who has a prior condition, had personally sought help with virus symptoms at the in-camp medical facility. Pictured: A child is seen wearing a mask inside the Greek camp In Greek migrant camps, where tens of thousands of asylum-seekers live in dire conditions, regulations had already been announced in March to keep residents in all camps as far from the local population as possible. Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi has warned that asylum seekers who attempt to break the lockdown will be prosecuted. Greece is sheltering some 100,000 asylum seekers, mostly in camps and in hotel rooms and flats. The worst congestion occurs in camps on five Aegean islands near Turkey where there are over 36,000 people for fewer than 6,100 places. Specialised medical teams have been deployed to the camps and virus isolation areas and inspection points have been set up. But social distancing is practically impossible as thousands of refugees and migrants jostle in the queues for toilets and showers. Authorities over the weekend said they had also tested 176 migrants quarantined on the island of Kea near Athens since mid-March after arriving in a Turkish-flagged freighter that ran aground during a storm. They will be transported to a camp in mainland Greece within the week, a ministry source said. The country of 11 million has so far registered 73 deaths and 1,735 cases. Sweden Considering Tightening Screws on COVID-19 Amid Growing Death Toll Report Sputnik News Oleg Burunov. Sputnik International 06:13 GMT 05.04.2020(updated 06:18 GMT 05.04.2020) Last month, the Swedish government introduced a temporary entry ban in order to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus outbreak. Swedish media reported on Saturday that the country's government is seeking extraordinary powers to bypass Parliament and fulfill a lockdown or impose stricter restrictions on public life to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. With the government reportedly hoping that the relevant proposal will be approved in the coming days, opposition parties have demanded that they should be allowed to take part in the decision-making process. The move comes as the newspaper Dagens Nyhete cited Prime Minister Stefan Lofven as saying that Sweden may face "thousands" of coronavirus deaths, and that the COVID-19 crisis will likely persist for months. He spoke after the government banned gatherings of more than 50 people late last month, also prohibiting visits to retirement homes for the elderly and closing universities and colleges; schools with students under 16 remain open. Also in March, Stockholm announced a temporary entry ban, saying that as of 19 March, it applies to all foreign nationals trying to enter Sweden from a country which is not part of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. "It is an exceptional measure that should not last longer than necessary. It was a relatively easy decision to make, given the situation we are in", Interior Minister Mikael Damberg told the newspaper Goteborgs-Posten. Swedish citizens or residents are not covered by the entry ban nor are people who have "particularly important reasons" to travel there, such as healthcare professionals and people who transport goods. While many EU countries and Sweden's immediate neighbours, including Denmark and Norway earlier chose to lock down their frontiers to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Stockholm refrained from doing so as Sweden's chief epidemiologist Anders Tegnell admitted that the strategy of building up so-called "herd immunity" is "partially correct". "Our main purpose now is to slow down the spread of infection as much as possible, and of course in the long term build up some kind of immunity in society that prevents it from spreading so quickly in the future", Tegnell said. He was echoed by former state epidemiologist Annika Linde who said the Public Health Authority strategy stipulates that [] "as many people as possible should be infected and thereby become immune, without being seriously ill". Right now, there are already more than 6,440 confirmed coronavirus cases in Sweden, with the death toll rising to 373 on Saturday, which is a 12 percent increase compared with the previous day. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Veteran Canadian actor Shirley Douglas has died at 86. Her son, actor Kiefer Sutherland, said she died due to complications from pneumonia unrelated to coronavirus. My mother was an extraordinary woman who led an extraordinary life. Sadly she had been battling for her health for quite some time and we, as a family, knew this day was coming. "To any families who have lost loved ones unexpectedly to the coronavirus, my heart breaks for you. Please stay safe, Kiefer posted on Twitter. Douglas is best known for starring in Stanley Kubrick's 1962 film Lolita and David Cronenberg's 1988 feature Dead Ringers. She married actor Donald Sutherland in 1966 but they parted ways in 1971. The couple had twins Kiefer and Rachel. In 1999, she starred alongside son Kiefer in drama Woman Wanted. Her last film was The Law of Enclosures (2000). Douglas celebrated her birthday three days ago. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Social media posts can be ever so revealing. Who is the unlikeliest fan of Labour's new leader Sir Keir Starmer? None other, it seems, than our Tory Prime Minister's own younger brother, Leo Johnson, who has 'liked' a series of gushingly positive tweets about the millionaire former lawyer. One of the missives Leo, 52, has approved was posted by Starmer himself, showing a room full of cheering fans bearing the slogan: 'Together, we can achieve the impossible.' Another, from London Mayor Sadiq Khan, claimed that Starmer was 'the best person to unite our party, take the fight to the Tories and put Labour in government'. The Prime Minister's brother Leo is said to be a fan of Labour Leader Keir Starmer Leo is perhaps the least wellknown of Boris's spotlighthogging siblings, after journalist Rachel and former minister Jo. He works as a forecaster for accountancy firm PwC . Yet Boris is used to fraternal disloyalty. Jo quit his own broth - er's Government last September, while Rachel unsuccessfully fought to be an MEP for pro-EU party Change UK and was once a member of the Lib Dems. Leo has said he differs from his ferociously ambitious relatives: 'I'm born with the gene for self-publicity missing or at least defective. It comes on and off, and when it comes on, no one is interested.' No one, perhaps, except Boris, who might look askance at the fact that Leo is quietly informing the world he supports kicking his LEFT TO RIGHT: Boris's mum Charlotte Johnson Wahl, sister Rachel Johnson, brother Leo Johnson and Boris Johnson Landing with a smack on Starmer's desk on his first day as leader was a damning indictment of why Labour lost the last election, written by the New Labour pressure group Progress. 'Jeremy Corbyn and the politics he represents alienated the general public,' declares the group. ' Our contorted Brexit policy ended up pleasing no one.' And which political contortionist was responsible for this policy? Step forward exLabour Brexit spokesman Sir Keir Starmer! Is Foreign Office Minister James Cleverly daring to mock Rishi Sunak's groaning library shelves, paraded to the world by the hoodie-sporting Chancellor in a recent post to social media? The cheeky Cleverly wonders: 'I'm going to post a working from-home picture tomorrow. Is it mandatory to take it in front of bookshelves?' Perhaps the answer lies with former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, who spoke to ITV's GMB from her home on Friday. Smith, appearing in front of a shelf of crockery, piped up with: 'I've got my jugs on display today!' Labour MP Rupa Huq moaned of Friday's coronavirus briefing: 'When will Downing Street allow a woman minister to front up one of these press shindigs?' One might also ask: when will Labour allow a woman to lead the party? Surely Rupa is the first to cry out against this blatant sexism? Or not. 'Keir Starmer smashed it . .. Looking forward to working with him in the years to come and seeing him as PM,' Huq gushed. An audience of 200,000 enjoyed the National Theatre's live-stream of James Corden's farce One Man, Two Guvnors. Paul Mason, the hardLeft commentator, proposed a rival attraction. 'The Croatian National Theatre is streaming a discussion from 2018 between me and [philosopher] Srecko Horvat about post-capitalism, Labour and Europe,' he tweeted. Sorry, Paul. I think I'm washing my hair. Is it time we all took advice from Ronnie Barker? In the classic Porridge episode A Night In available to watch now on BB C iPlayer Barker's jailbird character Fletch says: 'That's what you've got to tell yourself: you're just having a quiet night in.' Fellow lag Godber replies: 'Trouble is, I've got 698 'quiet nights in' to go!' Let's hope the lockdown doesn't last for quite so long a stretch And finally, many thanks for your messages after I came down with Covid-19. I'm almost fighting fit, but clearly not 100 per cent, as I discovered when I walked into my kitchen yesterday and found the air thick with black smoke. The toast had charred without me realising anything. One common symptom is the loss of taste and smell: clearly mine have yet to return. At least the smoke alarm now has a working battery. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has announced the UAE Cabinet decision to cancel fines for residence visa holders until the end of the year. He also gave directives to reinforce the nation's strategic stockpile and directed factories to support the needs of the health sector in the country. He said that the UAE is going ahead with accomplishing its aspirations and national projects as planned. He also said that work is ongoing to provide highest level of quality of life to its residents and citizens, through a number of value added services and initiatives across the sphere, to make a real positive impact on peoples lives. We are constantly on the move, and every day we learn new things and improve our services, and improve our tools to serve our citizens, Sheikh Mohammed said. The value of the government work is measured by what added value to the nation, as well as to the life of citizens and residents. Amid the current situation, we want to have access to more people to support them and facilitate their services. Life is constantly changing, but our generosity is continuous, in our houses and entities and everywhere on this land. If we needed to change the government work, we will do it without hesitation, he added. During the meeting, Sheikh Mohammed was briefed by ministers about the precautionary and preventive measures to contain Covid-19 pandemic outbreak. TradeArabia News Service Geoff Chutter is the founder of Whitewater West, the world's largest water park design firm. Geoff Chutter says that when hiring staff he looks for positivity rather than skills. In 1980 Geoff Chutter found himself "mortgaged to the underside of the nostrils", and the owner of a brand new water park. The then 28-year-old had no previous experience of working in the world of giant water slides and swimming pools, but he thought it would be more fun than continuing to work as an accountant. So he decided to build his own. Geoff had previously spent five years employed by the auditing firm KPMG Canada, until one day he came across the country's first water park in the western province of British Columbia. He was sent there on a work assignment, and he was immediately intrigued. "It had some basic component that I thought was hugely fun," says Geoff. "How good would it be to spend your life putting smiles on families' faces?" So, inspired, he decided to quit the day job, take a leap of faith, and open Canada's second water park. Joining with a business partner, he found 18 acres of land in the city of Penticton, British Columbia, and constructed one. Fast forward 40 years, and Geoff's business - Whitewater West - is today the world's largest designer and manufacturer of water parks. When he opened that first park back in 1980, Geoff says it was "very much house is on the line, savings on the line - modest as they were". He adds: "In reflection, the only thing more naive than myself was the Royal Bank of Canada [who gave us the money]." At the time, the water parks industry was in its infancy, with the first modern attraction opening in Florida in 1977. So Geoff couldn't simply buy in slides, or even follow some already drawn up plans. Instead he had to design and build his park from scratch, working with an engineering firm to create everything. During the park's inaugural summer, something fortuitous happened. "Four [separate] fellows came by and said 'Gee, I'd like to do that in my home town. How'd you do it?'" he says. Geoff ended up signing contracts to build four new parks, three in Canada and one in Washington State, in the US. Launching his new endeavour he had soothed his stress with the thought that, if the venture failed miserably, he always had accounting to fall back on. But riding that first wave of success, he says that he has "frankly never looking back". Three years after his park opened, he sold it, divesting completely from park ownership and operations, to instead focus on waterslide and pool design, engineering, manufacturing, and delivery. Today, Whitewater has 600 employees around the world, and projects across six continents, from Russia to India, Brazil to the US, and Australia to South Africa. With annual sales of $200m (116m), the firm works with everyone from hotels, to amusement park behemoths like Disney, for whom it designed the vast Typhoon Lagoon wave pool in Orlando, Florida. "We're the big boys in the industry - we're the gorillas in the living room, for sure," says Geoff. The water parks industry has boomed over the decades, with 30.9 million visiting the top 20 water parks in the world alone in 2018, according to sector-wide figures. To try to stay ahead of the curve in an industry always seeking bigger thrills and fresh experiences, Geoff says that the company focuses on innovation. Teams of designers, architects and engineers work at its headquarters in Vancouver, alongside artists and sculptors, to create the next most popular water slides, and other aqueous attractions. While some of Whitewater's North American rivals have not expanded outside of the US and Canada, Geoff says that he was always keen to build a truly global presence. Paths to Success He credits the time he spent in France as a teenager - he attended the American School of Paris from 1966 to 1969 - with making him see the world "an awful lot smaller", and that "it's your oyster". So he was always keen to explore the possibilities of expanding the company worldwide. "We saw our competition - North American-based - afraid to venture out," he says. "So we went to Asia, we went to Europe." On occasions, he says the company was warned by sceptics that water parks just wouldn't work in some countries. In Japan, for example, where Whitewater opened its first overseas project in 1988, there were concerns that Japanese women would be too worried about sun exposure to embrace a water park. "Yet to this day our number one attendance day was 68,000 in a park in Tokyo, completely blowing up that theory," he says. Image caption Sculptors at Whitewater's Canadian headquarters help craft the park's themed rides The business was also told that modesty concerns would get in the way of any success in the Middle East, but Geoff says that women-only events at a park in Dubai are a hit. "A lot of cultures we've gone into, we've been told 'Nice idea, but you're going to fail there'," says Geoff. "[Yet], those components of water, sun, family, friends - they're very powerful when they're together." The firm now has regional offices in Barcelona, Dubai, and Shanghai, and manufacturing operations in Turkey, the Philippines and Canada. David Sangree, present of consulting firm Hotel & Leisure Advisors, says that Geoff's stewardship of Whitewater has been "impressive". Turning his attention to the wider water park industry, Mr Sangree says that it is expected to only continue to grow, especially in Africa and parts of Asia where the market is not fully developed. "You have a growing middle-class worldwide, people love to spend time with their children worldwide, and water parks are certainly a fun alternative," adds Mr Sangree. Back at Whitewater's headquarters, Geoff is particularly excited about developing and building surf pools. "I think it's going to be huge fun to be able to say, surf in Saskatoon, surf in Toronto, and have world-class waves [miles from the ocean]," he says. It does sound more enjoyable than being an accountant. BBC Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - Determined to fully support the fight against COVID-19, the staff of the Intergovernmental Authority on development (IGAD) have donated some US$ 700,000 towards the fight against the disease in the region Indonesian health personnel take a swab from a man to test for coronavirus in Depok city, near Jakarta, April 6, 2020. The Indonesian Medical Association expressed alarm Monday after the number of doctors who died of COVID-19 jumped to 25, and urged the government to be transparent about its coronavirus data amid criticism about low testing rates. Health authorities confirmed 218 new infections on Monday, the biggest daily rise during the pandemic in Southeast Asias most populous nation, taking the national tally to 2,491. The national death toll rose to 209 after officials recorded 11 new coronavirus-related deaths. We need data that everyone can refer to and can be the basis for preventive strategies for health workers, so that we can focus on tackling COVID-19, Halik Malik, spokesman for the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) told BenarNews. Naek L. Tobing, a well-known columnist on sexual health, was the latest physician to die of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, Halik said. At least 18 other doctors and six dentists have died from the pneumonia-like disease, he said, as he also called on the government to be transparent about the number of health workers who had tested positive for the new coronavirus. On Monday, President Joko Jokowi Widodo said that Indonesia was not among the 10 countries hit hardest by the virus. Let the public be aware that Indonesia is not alone in facing this epidemic, to put things in perspective, he told reporters. Globally, more than 73,700 people have died and almost 1,325,000 have been infected, according to the latest data compiled by disease experts at Johns Hopkins University in the United States. Halik demanded that the government ensure the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) for all health workers. If more health workers test positive (for COVID-19), health services will be disrupted, not to mention that they could transmit the disease to patients and their families, he said. Indonesia has one doctor per 3,000 people, compared to about five for neighboring Malaysia, according to the World Bank. The chairman of the COVID-19 task force, Doni Monardo, said he would ask authorities to compel some doctors and dentists to avoid practicing their professions during the coronavirus outbreak. Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto said last week that there were more than 8,400 ventilators in 2,867 hospitals across the archipelago nation of 260 million people. He told parliament that Indonesia had more than 40,000 specialist doctors and 11,000 medical interns. Meanwhile, Jokowi urged authorities on Monday to increase the capacity of laboratories, amid criticism about the countrys low rates of testing. The speed of laboratory examinations should be increased, so that we can find out test results more quickly, Jokowi said. So far, the government has tested 11,500 people using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, said COVID-19 task force spokesman Achmad Yurianto. Yurianto said the government had distributed 390,000 pieces of PPE to all hospitals that treat COVID-19 patients and would continue to send more until the outbreak is under control. About 50,000 test kits would be arriving in Jakarta from South Korea on Sunday, local reports said. No Mass Eid Prayers Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi said on Monday all congregation prayers including tarawih during the fasting month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr prayers would be banned to curb the spread of COVID-19. The tarawih prayers should be performed individually or in congregation with the family at home. Eid gatherings can be done through social media and video calls, Razi said in a ministry circular distributed last week. Ramadan is expected to start on April 23, subject to the sighting of the new moon. He also said there would be no iftar (breaking of the fast) gatherings at government offices, in mosques and private companies during Ramadan. The Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesias largest mass Islamic organization, has also urged Muslims to follow government recommendations on COVID-19 prevention. To all NU members, always obey guidelines and policies of the central and regional governments to prevent the spread of COVID-19, NU deputy chairman Robikin Emhas said in a circular last week. On Friday, the Indonesian Council of Ulema, the countrys Islamic affairs authority, issued a statement forbidding Muslim revelers from traveling home for the Eid al-Fitr holiday, saying to do so during the coronavirus pandemic would be a sin. Bangladesh bans group prayers at all mosques Other Muslim-majority nations, such as Bangladesh, have also taken drastic steps, including restricting the size of Friday prayers and daily prayers at mosques, to control the daily spike in COVID-19 infections. The disease (coronavirus) is spreading through mass gatherings at mosques, temples, pagodas and other religious centers. Our neighboring countries have experienced such incidents, the Bangladeshi religious affairs ministry said in a statement Monday. It said the governments move to restrict Friday prayers was in line with opinions of Muslim scholars, as well as Saudi Arabias decision last month to temporarily halt daily prayers inside and outside the walls of the two mosques in Mecca and Medina. Only 10 people, including five mosque officials, will be allowed for Friday prayers at mosques, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Bangladesh, with a population of 165 million, has so far reported a total of 123 cases of coronavirus infections and 12 deaths. The South Asian country, where testing is not widespread, has ordered a 10-day break from work and later extended the shutdown of job activities to April 14 to tackle the spread of the coronavirus. The government has also unveiled a multibillion-dollar economic stimulus package to prop up key industries battered by the coronavirus pandemic. Malaysia announces stimulus package On Monday, Malaysia announced a $2.3 billion stimulus package to lighten the financial impact of COVID-19, following an earlier round of support outlay announced last month, bringing the governments total economic package to 260 billion ringgit ($59.6 billion). In a report released last week, the World Bank slashed economic growth forecasts in Southeast Asia, with predictions that Malaysia and Thailand would plunge into recession even in a best-case scenario. Malaysia, which has reported 62 deaths and 3,793 coronavirus infections the highest reported number of COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia imposed restrictions on movement and ordered schools and some shops to close since March 18 in a bid to block the pandemics spread. Authorities had extended the initial two-week lockdown to April 14 as the government ordered more stringent restraints. Also on Monday, Malaysias foreign ministry said 161 of its nationals who had participated in a religious gathering in New Delhi last month had been placed under quarantine by the Indian government. From the total, 126 were at various quarantine centers in New Delhi while 35 others outside New Delhi, Deputy Foreign Minister Kamarudin Jaffar said in a press statement. The ministry also acknowledged that New Delhi authorities had arrested eight Malaysian nationals believed to have joined an event organized in March near the Indian capital by Tablighi Jamaat, a prominent Muslim missionary group. It did not provide details. 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 Tablighi gathering. India has reported 4,778 confirmed cases with 136 deaths as of Monday, according to JHUs latest data. Malaysian health authorities, meanwhile, announced on Monday that about 82 people linked to a mass gathering in February at a church in Sarawak state had been infected by the virus and two deaths had been reported among that cluster of confirmed cases. Noah Lee and Nisha David in Kuala Lumpur and Kamran Reza Chowdhury in Dhaka contributed to this report. In Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency of Varanasi, CCTV cameras and GIS technology accessed through a command and control centre set up under the Smart Cities Mission are being used keeping a tight vigil on people's movement during the lockdown period. Till now, the command centre was being used for municipal services, traffic management and water supply among others. But following the imposition of the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, it has been turned into a 'COVID-19 War Room'. Around 15,600 people have been quarantined so far in the wake of the contagion. Geographic information system (GIS) technology is being used to map each case and keep tab on home-quarantined people. The 'COVID-19 War Room' has mapped each case, home-quarantined person using the GIS technology, Varanasi Municipal Commissioner Gaurang Rathi said. "Partial functioning of dedicated departments like police, health, food and civil supplies, district administration and municipal corporation has also been shifted to smart command and control centre. "Through hi-tech CCTV cameras, a strict vigil is being maintained across Varanasi during the ongoing 21-day lockdown period," Rathi told PTI. He said LED screens installed in different parts of the city are being used to make people aware about preventive measures against coronavirus. The Union Housing and Urban Ministry, the nodal ministry for the Smart Cities Mission, provides funds to 100 selected smart cities for their all-round development. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Editors note: Jose Galang is a senior copy editor at CNN Philippines. He is a veteran business/economics/political economy journalist and has previously headed newsroom operations at The Manila Chronicle, Business Day, and Business World, among others. He has also written for the Far Eastern Economic Review, Financial Times, and a London-based online science and development journal. Manila (CNN Philippines Life) Instead of letting the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine expire next week as originally scheduled, the government has chosen to bite the bullet and extend it by two weeks until the end of April. The extension will prevent people from again converging in large numbers in shopping malls, offices, schools, and various public places. There is a good chance now that social distancing, a crucial part of the quarantine strategy aimed at preventing COVID-19 infections from growing further on a massive scale, will not simply evaporate in the summer heat while medical experts continue to focus on ways to tame the spread of the still mysterious coronavirus. The quarantine, now on its fourth week, is showing us that if people just observe simple social distancing, the number of new infections and deaths from the vicious coronavirus could be held down significantly. An untimely lifting of controls of people movement could reverse that and spark a new wave of people getting sick, experts in killer epidemics argue. One recently published study estimated that in the Philippines, the number of COVID-19 cases can potentially reach well over 90 million making practically the countrys entire population sick if no mitigation measures and related safeguards are put in place. Intensive social distancing occupies a high ranking among those recommended measures. But the number of infections could be reduced dramatically with strict quarantine and social distancing, particularly among senior citizens. As is now widely recognized, the great majority of people who catch the virus will recover after getting timely treatment. Many will die, however. These are among the projections made by a group of experts and researchers on infectious diseases at the Imperial College London, a public research university specializing in science, technology, and medicine, as stated in a research report released last March. The numbers they came up with are staggering, even hard to believe. The estimates are calculated from available data from government and international institutions like the World Health Organization and the World Bank. Actual patterns seen in COVID-19s spread in China and elsewhere, along with known behaviors of past viruses, were also factored into the calculations. If nations fail to implement mitigation measures, the Imperial College London study says, the coronavirus could spread wildly and infect up to around seven billion people worldwide. The worldwide death toll could reach 40 million this year. But the projected death toll could be cut in half, saving 20 million lives, with the help of mitigation strategies focusing on shielding the elderly (with a 60 percent reduction in social contacts) and slowing but not interrupting transmission, according to the study. If the Philippines now terminates quarantine measures and related restrictions, most analysts believe there would likely be a return to sharp increases in new infections. The country cannot afford that. Photo by JL JAVIER In the Philippines, the study estimates, there could be up to 93.6 million cases of infections without any mitigation measures. If the government implements restrictions like lockdowns and isolation of patients, and if people seriously observe social distancing and good personal hygiene, the number of infections is projected to be around 62.3 million. That grim scenario may have been averted now, with the implementation of rigid controls on people interactions and with the continuing acquisition of critical goods like face masks and alcohol. Even with restrictions, the Imperial College London study says, there could still be around 1.4 million cases that will require hospital treatment, with over 220,000 of them needing critical care. The estimated death toll, on the other hand, could reach 250,000 under an unmitigated environment, but that number could be slashed to around 167,000 with relevant restrictions and social distancing. The report concludes that the only approaches that can avert health system failure in the coming months are likely to be intensive social distancing measures preferably combined with high levels of testing. It is heartening to note that Philippine authorities are implementing a host of measures that mirror the experts recommendations. But still, a few local politicians have until lately disregarded the imperative of keeping distance from others or refraining from attending or hosting parties and other gatherings that can become centers of virus transmission. Furthermore, despite the enhanced community quarantine now in force, there are still many going out and loitering in public places. Understandably, many of them go out in search of livelihood and of supplies for their daily sustenance, and officials have not been quick in providing assistance. The Imperial College London research is one of the early studies that focus on the rampaging COVID-19 pandemic. An earlier modeling conducted by Harvard University professor Marc Lipsitch projected that between 20 percent and 60 percent of the world population will inevitably get sick of COVID-19. Lipsitch, head of the Harvard Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, said among other recommendations that the sooner social distancing measures are taken, the better to contain the coronaviruss spread. The epidemiologist, in a press conference streamed from Harvard on March 23, also predicted that eventually COVID-19 will become a seasonal ailment like the flu. All these statements could be taken to imply that without intensive social distancing, the local epidemic could overwhelm the healthcare system. In Metro Manila, there are now clear signs that the strain on hospitals and healthcare workers is becoming increasingly heavy. How the virus spreads Understanding how the coronavirus is contracted and passed on to others will encourage people to heed experts calls for such measures as social distancing and staying at home for the duration of the pandemic. Many scientific reports say that, on top of the droplets that come from COVID-19-sick people when they cough or sneeze, there is one characteristic of the coronavirus that makes its spread rapid. Medical experts say that once the virus enters a persons body, it quickly starts to reproduce in that persons cells. The virus attacks one cell in the human body and quickly moves on to other cells and further out of the body into the environment around the infected person. The process is called viral shedding. A study published on March 8 says that viral shedding can happen even among people who show no symptoms of COVID-19 they dont experience fever, cold or other ailments usually related to the infection. The study, conducted by a German team, and reported last week in the science journal Nature, confirms previous suspicions that some people infected with the virus can be highly contagious when they have mild or no symptoms. Further research is being done on viral shedding, but it is already being cited as a possible cause of transmissions that are not always detected by health personnel. Researchers are still studying how fast the viral shedding is from asymptomatic people and how contagious those individuals remain over time. A report in the journal Lancet says that based on actual cases in Wuhan, the city in China where the pandemic first erupted, viral shedding can last for a median period of 20 days, with some cases even registering 37 days. That means an infected person, without knowing it, could potentially be capable of making others sick for over a month. Every COVID-19-sick person can be capable of transmitting the virus to around three others. One public health expert in Wuhan has been recently quoted as saying that at least 59 percent of those infected during the start of the outbreak there remained active and continued to interact with others. More recent observations, including those in the World Health Organization, indicate that the coronavirus could even be airborne. The head of WHOs emerging diseases and zoonosis unit told a virtual media briefing last March 16 that coronavirus particles can stay in the air a little bit longer. Extending the implementation of lockdowns including asking people to maintain social distancing and healthful habits appears to be the only viable option now to avoid a disaster of epic proportions. Photo by JL JAVIER Months of suppression Warning that delays in setting up strategies to contain transmission will lead to worse outcomes and fewer lives saved, the Imperial College London study also says suppression strategies will need to be maintained until vaccines or effective treatments become available to avoid the risk of later epidemics. The study identified the household as a key context for COVID-19 transmission. The average size of households that have a resident over the age of 65 years is substantially higher in countries with lower income compared with middle- and high-income countries, it says. In the Philippines, based on government statistics, around two-thirds of the nearly 23 million households account for the nearly 8 million elderly population aged 60 years and above. That indicates the large-scale challenge for the country in containing COVID-19 transmission. The World Health Organization continues to urge people to clean their hands frequently with soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand-rub. Also on the WHO menu of protective measures is social distancing. If the Philippines now terminates quarantine measures and related restrictions, most analysts believe there would likely be a return to sharp increases in new infections. The country cannot afford that. A more recent study conducted by another set of researchers at the Imperial College London concludes that in Europe, strategies such as isolation of patients and social distancing among healthy individuals could have prevented around 59,000 deaths amid an estimated number of infections of up to 43 million people in March. Extending the implementation of lockdowns including asking people to maintain social distancing and healthful habits appears to be the only viable option now to avoid a disaster of epic proportions. One of my best school friends lost her mother at the weekend to coronavirus. Her mum, a delightful lady who used to cook me fabulous lasagne, was living in a care home near the south coast of England and died without her family being able to see her during her final days. Their last contact was via FaceTime, an incredibly valuable tool in these times of enforced separation, but a horribly impersonal replacement for human contact and touch when a loved one is dying. Meanwhile, in another care home in South London, a second great friend is quarantined in a room with her mother, also a delightful lady, who has been fighting for her life against the virus for two weeks. A fight she is thankfully starting to show signs of winning. In a North London hospital, the husband of one of my Good Morning Britain co-presenters, Kate Garraway, is seriously ill in an intensive care unit rammed full of coronavirus patients. Scroll down for video Queen Elizabeth II addressed the nation and the Commonwealth from Windsor Castle on Sunday And in a different London hospital, the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a man Ive known for 30 years, now also lies very sick from the virus. So, I feel the Coronavirus crisis now hitting home hard and personally, just as it is to millions of other people around the world. These are extraordinarily unsettling times, and as both the US and UK now surge towards their peak top of the curve virus hell over the next two weeks, much more loss and grief will sadly ensue, interspersed with flashes of hope and the ecstatic joy of people surviving against all odds. The last time the planet was engulfed in a global fight like this was during World War 2 from 1939-45. Then, the British people were roused and inspired to eventual victory by the tremendous spirit and oratory of Sir Winston Churchill. President Donald Trump speaks during a coronavirus task force briefing at the White House, Sunday But with our current Prime Minister sadly incapacitated, and a series of bumbling government ministers having the combined comforting effect of lying on a bed of rusty nails, all eyes turned last night to a 93-year-old woman sitting in a castle where she has been self-isolating with her 98-year-old husband. Queen Elizabeth II has reigned in the United Kingdom for a staggering 68 years. During that entire time - the longest period served by a current ruler of any kind - she has barely put a regal foot wrong and on only four occasions has she felt compelled to address the nation outside of her annual Christmas speech: at the time of the first Gulf War in 1991, after the deaths of Princess Diana and then her mother in 1997 and 2002, and on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tested positive for coronavirus But this was her most important address, one that came when every single person in Britain has been profoundly affected by a deadly virus that is destroying lives as fast as it is destroying jobs and economies. And in just five short minutes, Her Majesty gave the greatest speech of her life. It was eloquent, powerful, evocative, and perfectly pitched thanking health workers for risking their lives to save ours, and the public for (largely) obeying government lockdown rules, but also urging all of us to dig deep into our individual reservoirs of stoic strength to get us collectively through this endurance test. Together we are tackling this disease, she said, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it. I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge. And those who come after us will say Britons of this generation were as strong as any. That the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good-humoured resolve and of fellow-feeling still characterise this country. The pride in who we are is not a part of our past, it defines our present and the future. Then she got personal. The Queen could have done this by saying that her own 71-year-old son and heir Prince Charles was infected by the virus, a worrying time for any mother given his age. But she didnt. Instead, she reminded us of the time during WW2 when thousands of young children were evacuated from British cities into the countryside, separated from their parents for their own safety. She and her late sister Princess Margaret, themselves both very young at the time, recorded a radio message to those kids to offer them comfort, and hope. It was the Queens first ever broadcast and was also taped at Windsor Castle, where she taped the latest one. Pictured above The Queen and her late sister Princess Margaret recorded a radio message to children to offer them comfort, and hope during WW2 Today, once again, she said last night, many will feel a painful sense of separation from their loved ones. But now, as then, we know, deep down, that it is the right thing to do. The Queen ended with this rally-cry: We should take comfort that while we have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again. I felt a tear in my eye well up when I heard those words, and Im sure I wasnt alone as social media instantly exploded with emotional praise. In her own uniquely influential way, the Queen made the British people feel better, lifted our spirits, and gave us hope for the future. A magnificent speech from a magnificent lady, I tweeted as soon as the address finished. Thank you, Your Majesty, this was your finest moment as our Monarch. And I meant it. But not everyone felt the same. Man, I dont get it! came an instant snarky response from a London-based American comedienne named Molly Mulshine. Youre American, I retorted. You dont need to get it. Shes OUR Queen and tonight she spoke for every one of us in Britain. And we love her for it. And if we friends from either side of the great pond are going to level with each other, then let me be brutally frank in return: the Queen did more to comfort the British people in five minutes last night than President Trump has done in over 50 hours of self-aggrandising, contradictory, inaccurate, inflammatory, point-scoring addresses to the American people during this crisis. Let me be clear: I wouldnt wish the burden of trying to lead a country during this pandemic on my worst enemy, let alone a friend like Trump with no experience of anything like this. But thats why people go into politics to lead. And Trumps leadership so far has been woefully erratic and singularly lacking in the gravitas, empathy and calm, measured tone that all Americans are crying out for right now of the kind that New Yorks impressive governor Andrew Cuomo has displayed on a daily basis. A woman arrives by ambulance to Wyckoff Hospital in the Bushwick in Brooklyn, NYC, Sunday From Trumps shocking complacency during the first weeks of crisis and his frequent bogus statistical claims about everything from coronavirus tests to protection equipment for health workers, to his constant disingenuous boasts of how well he is handling things, and unduly confident predictions that it will all be over soon when theres no evidence that it will, its frankly been an unedifying masterclass in how not to be a wartime leader. In fact, the more Trump talks, the less comforting he is. Yesterday, things reached a nadir when he was involved in a ridiculous press briefing debacle in which he barred Americas top medic Dr Fauci from telling reporters whether anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine can be used to treat coronavirus patients because he knew Fauci doesnt think it should yet, and Trump wants to pump up an unproven miracle cure to make himself look good. Its preposterous, and very dangerous, for a president to contradict his senior medical expert over something so serious. Yet its unfortunately typical of Trump to try to make this whole crisis all about him and paint himself as the hero of the hour even as America lurches into a catastrophic week of inevitable record daily coronavirus death tolls. Compare and contrast his self-obsessed podium ramblings with the concise, precise, classy and considered words of Queen Elizabeth, a woman whom he never tires of saying how much he admires. Sometimes, less is more. And the main job of a wartime leader, as Churchill and Queen Elizabeth showed, is to instill in people a sense of national pride, purpose, responsibility, fortitude and resolve - not a sense of cack-handed chaos. President Trump should watch the Queens speech as many times as it takes until he gets it. 25 years ago: One-day strike in Russia Boris Yeltsin On April 12, 1995, more than 1 million Russian workers carried out a one-day strike protesting nonpayment of wages and calling for the resignation of the government of President Boris Yeltsin. It was the most widespread strike action in Russia since the 1989 coal miners walkouts. The one-day strike came on the heels of the February 8, 1995 coal miners strike, in which over 600,000 workers shut down coal mines across Russia over the same concerns. Many had not been paid since the previous October and had been threatening a general strike should the back wages not be paid. Nine different unions were involved in the strikes, which affected 74 regions of Russia, ranging from St. Petersburg in the west to the Pacific coastal region in the far east. Strikes and demonstrations were reported in St. Petersburg, Moscow, and other cities in European Russia, and in Siberian industrial centers like Omsk, Krasnoyarsk, and Barnaul. Some 38,000 state-owned factories, starved for funds under the pro-capitalist policies of the Yeltsin regime, owed an estimated 5.6 trillion rubles in back wages to workers. Many workers had continued to labor without pay for three, and in some cases up to six, months, fearing that a stoppage of work would be followed by a closure of their factory. On the day of the strike, the ruble fell to an all-time low of more than 5,000-to-1 against the US dollar. The further decline in the Russian currency came despite final approval of a $6.8 billion loan to Moscow by the International Monetary Fund, conditioned on further privatization and cuts in subsidies to state-owned industry. The strike in Russia coincided with a one-day strike of longshoremen in Brazil and a one-day strike of public transit workers in France. 50 years ago: Israeli airstrike kills 46 Egyptian children Children maimed in Israels Bahar El-Baquar elementary school bombing On April 8, 1970 an Israeli bombing raid struck the Bahr El-Baqar elementary school in Egypts northeastern Sharqiya province, killing 46 children and maiming scores more. The Israeli Air Force dropped five bombs from US-made F4 Phantom II fighters and fired two air-to-ground missiles at the school building, completely destroying it. The attack was part of Israel's Operation Priha during the ongoing War of Attrition with Egypt for control of the Sinai Peninsula and the Suez Canal. The objective of the mission was to carry out strikes deep within Egyptian territory, rather than focusing attacks on the heavily fortified defenses along the canal, and to lower Egyptian morale by demonstrating Israeli strikes could hit any target within Egypt with impunity. Israel had a major aerial advantage in the war. Egypts air force had been mostly destroyed at this point in the conflict, and was dependent on limited assistance from the Soviet Union. Israel officially said the bombing of the school was due to human error and that intelligence had suggested the school was a military installation. Israeli Minister of Defense Moshe Dayan sought to shift the blame for the deaths onto Egypt saying, Maybe the Egyptians put elementary students in a military base. Nasser responded by deepening his military dependence on the Soviet Union, which began to play a more direct role in the War of Attrition after the Bahr El-Baqar bombing. The deaths of the children, along with the increase in Soviet military presence, brought an end to Operation Priha strikes deep in Egyptian territory. Throughout the next several months the Soviet Air Force would shift the balance of forces in Egypts favor. Looking to avoid a larger conflict with the USSR, Israel was forced to limit their air attacks as Soviet planes filled Egyptian airspace, providing cover for Nasser to rebuild his defenses along the canal. 75 years ago: Nazi regime on brink of defeat as defense of Berlin abandoned A Krupp factory in Essen, destroyed by Allied bombing On April 10, 1945, the US air force dealt a decisive blow to the German Luftwaffe, wiping out almost half of its assault force and rendering it incapable of defending Berlin amid rapid Allied ground advances. The defeat was one of a series in the first weeks of April that signaled the approaching fall of the Nazi Third Reich and the end of the Second World War in the European theater. The air battles took place after days of US air force raids on Luftwaffe bases. Hermann Goring, commander of the Luftwaffe, ordered an offensive response involving 50 Me262 jets. The operation resulted in 16 Allied deaths, but the Luftwaffes toll was far greater. Nearly 25 of the Me262s were shot down, accounting for half of the Luftwaffes crack offensive force. Ensuing raids on German airfields, over the course of the day, destroyed another 284 German aircraft, including another 25 fighter jets. The battle became known as The day of the great jet massacre. It meant that the Luftwaffe was no longer able to mount any defense of Berlin or central Germany, which had been the political, military and logistical hub of Nazi power. The Luftwaffe had been the only means of counteracting a series of aerial raids targeting Berlin, conducted by the Allies throughout the first months of 1945. The Luftwaffes fighting division would be transferred to southern Bavaria, where it had only primitive grass airfields and would not play a significant role in subsequent hostilities. On April 7, three days before the decisive battle, German command sent 120 student pilots to confront 1,000 American bombers. The operation, which testified to the desperation of German command, was destined to result in a massacre. Almost all of the student pilots perished, with only a handful achieving their mission of ramming the Allied bombers and rendering them nonoperational. The same week, the Allies began a spring offensive in Italy, which would result in the decisive defeat of fascist forces in that country. In Western Europe, French and British troops completed an operation to take control of the strategically critical canals and waterways, along with airfields, of Holland. On the Eastern Front, the Soviet Red Army won the Battle of Konigsberg. By the end of the week, Allied troops had captured Hanover, the capital and largest city in the German state of Lower Saxony, and Essen, the second largest city of the Ruhr. 100 years ago: New York City railroad and transit workers join national wildcat strike A group of Great Northern Railway workers, ca. 1920 On April 9, 1920, at least 8,000 railroad workers in the New York City area joined a national wildcat strike that shut down most train traffic into the city. They were joined by transit workers later in that evening. The railway and transit unions opposed the strike, as they had other rail strikes around the United States. Firemen (workers who regulated the fuel on board trains) struck on the Erie railroad just before midnight, effectively stopping freight and passenger service. Subway workers met in Jersey City late on Friday and voted to cease work on the Hudson and Manhattan lines. (At the time, subway lines were owned and operated by private companies.) Over the next few days, the strike spread to workers on the New York Central and Lackawanna railroads. The trade union bureaucracy not only refused to sanction the strike, but actively intervened to stop it. Along the Erie line in New York, unions sought to prevent shopmen (workers who built, repaired and maintained rolling stock) from striking. One union president attended an unsanctioned strike meeting in Harrison, New Jersey, and told workers to keep working since the contract with the rail company had not expired. As the New York Times described it: Many of the men declared for an immediate walkout. For more than two hours the meeting was in tumult. One railway owners group called the strike a revolution of the workers, pure and simple. By April 10, over 40,000 railway workers were on strike across the US, including those in New England, St. Louis, Kansas City, Detroit and California. Part of the largest strike wave in American history, up until that time, lasting from 1916 to 1922, the strikes that gripped the rail industry after World War I were often defensive in nature, as workers attempted to hold on to wartime gains against a vicious corporate counteroffensive that began with the severe recession in the winter of 1920. April 3, 2020, Santiago de Chile 25 Latin American and Caribbean countries expressed their commitment to coordinate the supply of sufficient, safe and nutritious food for the 620 million inhabitants of the region during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 and the Risks to Food Supply Chains The Ministers and Secretaries of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Food and Rural Development of 25 Latin American and Caribbean countries agree to inform public opinion about the measures we have taken and will continue to take in order to ensure the supply of sufficient, safe food and nutritious for the 620 million consumers in our region. Currently, the regions markets have enough food to ensure supplies. Global stocks of major foods are at a good level, and harvests in major producing countries have been good. Eighteen million farmers, fisher folk, ranchers and fish farmers, men and women, continue to work day by day in our region, so that food is not lacking on our tables. So do workers in agribusiness, transportation, import and export companies, and wholesale and retail markets. Unlike previous crises, the food supply has remained stable in the world and in our region. Therefore, there are no reasons that justify significant increases in international food prices, and we call on all actors in the food system to prevent speculation at this time of emergency. However, if the pandemic spreads over time, food supply chains will come under increased pressure. In this sense, if all countries strive to keep local, national, regional and global supply chains operating, we can ensure food in a sustainable way for the entire population. For this, we commit ourselves to act in coordination, exchanging information and good practices, and to adopt appropriate measures in accordance with the reality of each country, such as the following: a. Provide technical and financial assistance to small and medium-sized agricultural, fishing, aquaculture, livestock, and small and medium-sized agro-industrial producers, who provide a high proportion of basic foodstuffs for national consumption. Sustaining and, in some instances, increasing their production is essential. b. Ensure the regular functioning of local, regional and national wholesale markets, ensuring their liquidity, access to products and workers, coordinating actions in this same direction with importers and distributors of food from the private sector. c. Implement emergency programs to prevent food losses and waste, including those that stimulate and facilitate the operation of food banks. d. Constantly monitor logistics chains, especially those that include two or more countries, and establish measures to expeditiously resolve any bottleneck that may affect their operation. e. Introduce and promote the use of electronic food commerce platforms and applications and other measures to reduce the impact of healthy social distance and to favor chains with fewer intermediaries between producers, small and medium-sized businesses in neighborhoods, and consumers. f. Promote that fiscal or trade policies, defined by governments as part of their response to the economic effect of the crisis, do not weaken the normal functioning of regional and global food trade. g. Establish agile, public-private mechanisms that operate as emergency committees of food systems, to facilitate constant monitoring of supply and the situation of the markets, and coordination of adequate responses in real time. We will again resort to global platforms established in response to the price crisis of 2007-2008, such as AMIS. Finally, the Secretaries and Ministers who sign this public declaration, with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and other multilateral organizations such as the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the World Food Program (WFP), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the Caribbean Research and Development Institute (CARDI), the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA), and the International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health ( OIRSA), commit ourselves to keep in touch and collaborate in all necessary measures to ensure that the 620 million Latin American and Caribbean people continue to have enough, safe and healthy food every day at their tables. Panic in the financial markets over the coronavirus pandemic has squeezed Wells Fargos business up to the very limits of the Feds asset cap of nearly $2 trillion. First came the flood of new deposits as investors sold risky assets and converted those holdings to cash to store in their bank accounts; then came the rush of businesses seeking loans, much of which will go to paying their employees during the economic shutdown. Senior Wells Fargo executives are now talking with Fed officials about a short-term pause in the penalties just long enough to let the bank handle more loan volume, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Bank executives first approached the Fed about lifting the growth restrictions three weeks ago, before the small business aid program was created. The discussions have intensified over the past week as the problems processing the avalanche of loan requests have grown, the people said. (Lenders websites have often crashed, or bankers simply dont have any advice for the borrowers on how to proceed.) Fed officials had earlier said they would remove the restrictions only after Wells Fargo demonstrated that it had improved itself enough that its customers would be safe from further harm something that has not happened yet. The two people said they did not know when the Fed would make a decision. A Wells Fargo spokesman and a Federal Reserve spokeswoman each declined to comment. A former Derry nurse has heroically come out of retirement to take on a senior role at the NHS Nightingale hospital in London which is expected to treat thousands of COVID-19 patients. Deirdre Barr (62) who is originally from Rossville Street in the Bogside has been appointed Director of Operations at the newly established emergency facility in Canning Town, east London. The former St John Ambulance cadet has relocated from her Kent home to London to lead the frontline. Englands capital is the epicentre of COVID-19 cases in the UK with around 10,000 people testing positive and many thousand more expected to in the coming days and weeks. On Friday, the hospital at the ExCeL conference centre in London Docklands was officially opened. The conversion of the centre into a field hospital with 4,000 beds is the most ambitious medical project Britain has seen since the end of the second world war. Deirdre started her career at the age of 11 as a St Johns Ambulance cadet in Belmont Division Derry. She moved to London in 1975 to do her nurse training at St James Hospital, before returning to Belfast to specialise in intensive care at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast in 1980. For a period during the Troubles the Derry woman was home when she took part in an intensive care course at the Royal focusing on bullet wounds and conflict related injuries. Over her career of 43 years, Deirdre has worked across a variety of roles from Ward Sister at St James Hospital, Transplant Coordinator, Senior Nurse at Kings College Hospital to Deputy Chief Operating Office at Newham hospital and South London Director of Operations. In her role at Kings College Hospital, Deirdre also transformed emergency care and oversaw the development of a new wing which was opened by the Queen in 2002, and she has had a number of advisory/consultancy roles including Department of Health and Social Care where she has led projects which looked at bed management and patient flow. Throughout her career, Deirdre has continued to volunteer with St John Ambulance, and she is now Regional Clinical Manager in the London and South Region. In 2019, Deirdre was awarded the Order of St John for her services to St John Ambulance. Deirdre only had to pause for a nanosecond when making the decision to come out of retirement and join the NHS Nightingale Hospital team. On receipt of a text message asking for her support, she accepted the role of Director of Operations for the hospital on Monday March 23. Whilst she acknowledges that this is one of the biggest challenges she will have faced in her career, Deirdre is motivated by the idea that this is a true collective effort and that she is surrounded by an excellent team of individuals who she trusts implicitly. She says: Were all in this together. We need to do the very best we can to get us out the other side. This is a national crisis and we are all absolutely focused on doing what we can to save lives. When asked why she accepted the role, Deirdre added: It comes back to why I ever went into nursing; it is to make a difference. And this really is the ultimate opportunity to make a difference. VERY PROUD Deirdre comes from a family of six girls and three boys who are all worried sick about her but know that this is the job she was born to do. Speaking to the Derry News on Friday her sisters Dolores and Angela said they are very, very proud of her but obviously very worried about her at the same time given the circumstances. Theyve been communicating with her daily by telephone and understand that a lot of hard work has been undertaken to ready the hospital for patients. Dolores said: I cant begin to tell how proud we are of her, my mammy and daddy would have been over the moon, absolutely over the moon. Theres a serious side to Deirdre and a fun side, shes always up to mischief if there are jokes to be had. But once it comes to her work the professional Deirdre switches on and she is really, really dedicated. Angela added: This job is unbelievably big, we just hope that they are all safe and well. A surge in coronavirus patients is also anticipated in Northern Ireland in the coming days. The government has recognised an urgent need to increase critical care beds and ventilators. Belfast City Hospital's tower block is being transformed into NIs first Nightingale hospital. It will become a 230-bed unit for critically ill patients, staffed by a team drawn from across NI. Preparations are also underway to establish large temporary field hospitals for coronavirus patients. The Department of Health plans include prioritisation of patient care, reconfiguration of hospital services, urgent discharge of all medically fit patients, and an end to general hospital visiting with very limited exceptions. Trusts will also be maximising and utilising all spare capacity in residential, nursing, and domiciliary care. The Kaduna State government says it has recorded a new case of the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing the total number of confirmed positive cases in the state to five. This was made known in a statement issued on Monday by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Baloni, on Monday. According to her, the state sent samples to Abuja for testing and five samples were positive, 77 were negative and eight samples were pending. So far, the State has sent 89 samples to Abuja for testing, among which 5 samples were positive, 77 samples were negative, and 8 samples are pending, she noted. Read Also: COVID-19: Kaduna Sends 89 Samples For Testing The State Government has been taking vigorous actions to contain the spread of COVID-19 since February, by reaching out to the Chief Medical Directors of all hospitals in the state, daily evaluation of the pandemic and devising new ways to check the spread, Baloni noted. The Commissioner also added that the Ministry of Health has set up an Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), which will take proactive measures against further spread of the Covid19 pandemic in the state. In the same vein, Kaduna State Government has also concluded arrangements for the establishment of a testing laboratory in collaboration with Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital(ABUTH), Zaria, for quick diagnosis A bride, a groom, a priest and 40 guests were arrested after defying lockdown rules for a wedding in South Africa. Jabulani Zulu, 48, and his bride Nomthandazo Mkhize, 38, said 'I do' in KwaZulu Natal province shortly before South African army officers stormed their wedding brandishing guns and wearing face masks. The country is on its second week of a nation-wide lockdown to slow the spread of the virus, which has killed 11 people and infected more than 1,600. A bride and groom were been arrested in Nseleni, northern KwaZulu-Natal, a short while ago. Police sources have confirmed to @TimesLIVE that the pastor, groomsmen and bridesmaids were also arrested for contravening regulations around the lockdown. @SundayTimesZA pic.twitter.com/4C0tru2fXr Orrin Singh (@orrin417) April 5, 2020 Jabulani Zulu, 48, and his bride Nomthandazo Mkhize, 38, said 'I do' in KwaZulu Natal province shortly before South African army officers stormed their wedding. The bride was escorted into the police car by her groom Footage taken after the raid shows the groom helping his wife - still clad in her gown - into the back of a police car. They were arrested for breaching rules set out in the Disaster Management Act but were released on 43 bail, the Zululand Observer reports. A concerned member of the public called the police to report the party. The officers stormed their wedding brandishing guns and wearing face masks because they defied South Africa's Disaster Management Act Appearing in a broadcast on a South African news channel ENCA, police spokesman Vish Naidoo said: 'When they got there they arrested the pastor, the pastor, the bridal couple as well as approximately 40 other people.' When asked by the anchor: 'Was the pastor not aware that we are in a lockdown at the present moment?' The spokesman replied: 'Well, I think the whole nation is aware. But people are still trying to take chances not realising the seriousness of this virus.' Footage of the arrest shows the bride being forced into the back of a police car wearing her wedding dress in KwaZulu Natal province The deadly bug has infected more than one million people and killed at least 69,500. He added: 'For now I don't think they can have any reasonable explanation to be continuing with that wedding. 'We will be interviewing each one individually and the charges will be put to them.' It comes as experts suggest South Africa's knowledge and and infrastructure to conduct mass testing might give them an advantage in battling coronavirus. Years of fighting HIV and tuberculosis has endowed South Africa with a network of testing sites and laboratories in diverse communities across the country that may help it cope, say experts. Appearing in a broadcast on a South African news channel ENCA , police spokesman Vish Naidoo said: 'When they got there they arrested the pastor, the pastor, the bridal couple as well as approximately 40 other people' Health experts stress that the best way to slow the spread of the virus is through extensive testing, the quick quarantine of people who are positive, and tracking who those people came into contact with. Francois Venter, deputy director of the Reproductive Health Institute at the University of Witswatersrand, said: 'We have testing infrastructure, testing history and expertise that is unprecedented in the world. 'It is an opportunity that we cannot afford to squander.' The country imposed a three-week lockdown March 27 that bought it some time, said Venter. INDIANAPOLIS (WLFI) Kroger is limiting the number of people in its stores to improve social distancing efforts. The company, which includes Payless locally, will cap the access for customers at any given time to half the fire safety limit. That's one person per 120 square feet. Kroger says it already has technology that gives them a live read of capcity through sensors that count people at the doors. Above that number, customers would have to wait in line to enter. The company is also waiving delivery fees for prescriptions and providing facemasks and gloves for employees. Krogers introduction of customer capacity limits is one more way we are doing our part to flatten the curve while operating as an essential business, providing our customers with access to fresh, affordable food and products, said Mary Ellen Adcock, Krogers senior vice president of operations. During this national pandemic, we are committed to adopting preventive measures to help protect the safety and health of our associates, customers and communities. By Rania El Gamal DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will delay the release of its crude official selling prices (OSP) for May until April 10 to wait for the outcome of a meeting between OPEC and its allies regarding possible output cuts, a senior Saudi source familiar with the matter said on Sunday. By Rania El Gamal DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will delay the release of its crude official selling prices (OSP) for May until April 10 to wait for the outcome of a meeting between OPEC and its allies regarding possible output cuts, a senior Saudi source familiar with the matter said on Sunday. OPEC and allies led by Russia, a group known as OPEC+, are due to meet virtually on Thursday to discuss a possible new global oil supply cut to end a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia which has prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene. "It is an unprecedented measure that has not been taken by Aramco before. May OSPs will depend on how the OPEC+ meeting concludes. We are doing what we can to make it (the meeting) successful, including taking this extraordinary step to delay the OSPs," the Saudi source said. National oil company Saudi Aramco typically issues its OSPs by the 5th of each month, setting the trend for Iranian, Kuwaiti and Iraqi prices and affecting more than 12 million barrels of oil per day bound for Asia. The OPEC+ meeting was initially due to take place on Monday, but was postponed to April 9 "to allow for more time to reach out to all producers, including OPEC+ and others", the Saudi source said. The Saudi source said that Riyadh wants to avoid a repeat of the outcome of a March meeting where oil talks collapsed due to Russia's refusal to cut output. Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed the crash in prices on Saudi Arabia on Friday, prompting a firm response from Riyadh the following day disputing Putin's claims. On Sunday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia wants constructive talks on the situation in the oil market and sees no alternative to dialogue, Interfax news agency reported. "Russia was not in favour of terminating the OPEC+ deal. President (Vladimir) Putin and Russia are committed to a constructive negotiation process, which does not have an alternative for stabilising the international energy market," Peskov said. Coordinated cuts between OPEC+ members expired on March 31, having helped support crude prices since they began in January 2017. Oil prices hit an 18-year low on March 30 due to a slump in demand caused by lockdowns to contain the coronavirus outbreak, and the failure of OPEC and other producers to deepen or extend coordinated output cuts. On Friday, Brent crude futures LCOc1 rose 13.9%, or $4.17 a barrel, to settle at $34.11. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 rose $3.02, or 11.93% to settle at $28.34. OPEC and its allies are working on a global agreement for an unprecedented oil production cut equivalent to around 10% of worldwide supply, an OPEC source said on Friday. They expect that to be part of a global effort including countries that do not exert state control over output, such as the United States. Iraq's oil minister said on Sunday that any new deal needs support from key producers from outside the OPEC+ alliance, such as the United States, Canada and Norway. Trump has however made no commitment to take the extraordinary step of persuading U.S. companies to cut output. The United States is not part of OPEC+ and the idea of Washington curbing production has long been seen as impossible, not least because of U.S. antitrust laws. On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump focused instead on tariffs as a response to the oil price crash. "If I have to do tariffs on oil coming from outside or if I have to do something to protect our ... tens of thousands of energy workers and our great companies that produce all these jobs, I'll do whatever I have to do," Trump told reporters in a briefing about the coronavirus outbreak. Other oil producers that do not belong to OPEC+ have indicated a willingness to help. Canada's Alberta province, home to the world's third-largest oil reserves, is open to joining any potential global pact. Norway, Western Europe's largest oil and gas producer, said on Saturday it would consider cuts to its oil output if a wide global deal is agreed. (Reporting by Rania El Gamal; additional reporting by Maxim Rodionov and Ahmed Rasheed; editing by Jason Neely and Jan Harvey) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. More than half the world may be on lockdown, but more people than ever are going on safari. Jarryd Du Preez, a guide at andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, recently fielded questions from safari goers in India, Chile, Bahrain, Germany, Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Saint Lucia, and Russia as he pointed out two white rhino calves hidden behind an adult female. Can you tell the sex of the calves? (They were males.) Are poachers a danger? (Always.) Africas golden light cast its magical glow as a soft breeze rustled through patches of shrubbery called stinking grass. What does stinking grass smell like? someone asked. In person, the skunk-like odor is easy to discern; over social media, where this scene played out in real time, scents are imperceptible. But luckily for andBeyondwhich has been posting twice-daily game drives via Instagram Live since March 28few viewers seem to mind. Already, the company has seen a 50% increase in engagement, a 100% increase in its daily new followers, and a 130% increase in organic reach to its Instagram page, says Nicole Robinson, andBeyonds chief marketing officer. Success came so fast and furiously that within four days, the company was supplementing its efforts with twice-daily, three-hour-long WILDwatch broadcasts in collaboration with WildEarth on Facebook and YouTube, where the longtime purveyor of safari videos is also garnering record-setting numbers. These livestream game drives arent just a promising pathway toward economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic, says Robinson. Theyre also a desperately needed balm for quarantine wanderlust and, in less obvious ways, an important lifeline for the animals on screen. Beyond Armchair Travel Like andBeyond, Singitawhich operates 15 ultra-luxe lodges and camps across four countries in Africahas been livestreaming virtual game drives twice daily on Facebook and Instagram since March 25. Theyre led by resident photographer and former guide Ross Couper, whose broadcasts have included a female leopard and her two young cubs, the roaring Nkuhuma pride of lions, and parades of elephants. Giving our viewers a daily, live glimpse of our wilderness areas reminds one of the simplicity of nature, says Couper. Its soul restoring. The drives also elicit important discussions about conservation. While answering viewer queries about how social distancing works in the bush, Couper and his colleagues have spent time discussing the importance of not sheltering in place within a game reserve: It would put the animals at risk. Without guests, they explain, guides at these lodges have taken on additional patrolling responsibilities. Fewer tourist vehicles mean fewer eyes and ears on the ground. And that means more potential poachers. Coronavirus vs. Conservation If tourism collapses, the ripple effect could wipe out decades of proactive conservation work on the continent, warns Luke Bailes, Singitas founder and chief executive officer. Financial strain among rural communities tends to link directly to a rise in illegal bushmeat hunting and poaching, he explains. Then theres the question of conservation NGOs running out of money in the absence of tourism revenues. Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, which operates nine lodges in Kenya, has also recently launched live safaris. CEO Mike Watson says the halt in tourism will deplete more than 22% of the Conservancys core revenue, or roughly $1.2 million in 2020all money that ordinarily supports wildlife conservation and vital community programs. Worse, hes anticipating increased poaching pressure in the coming months; some reports in Asia are touting rhino horn as a cure for this coronavirus. Without guests staying with us to experience Africas most extraordinary wilderness areas, our ability to fund their ongoing protection will erode fast, says Keith Vincent, CEO of Wilderness Safaris, referring to the small conservation levies baked into the price of luxury trips. (It often costs as little as $5 per person, per night, but adds up.) On April 2, his 41-camp company joined its friendly rivals in sharing guided nature walks on Instagram stories and, where Wi-Fi allows, Facebook Live and Instagram Live. It is in difficult times like these that we need to come together with creative solutions to ensure a sustainable future for ecotourism, Vincent says. He hopes that creating grassroots awareness of these issues might inspire small donations to compensate for the incremental fees that customarily fund philanthropic work. Striking the Right Tone Given the urgency of the pandemic and its downstream implications on wildlife, social media managers such as andBeyonds Robinson are trying to toe the lines between sensitive marketing, philanthropic calls to action, and pure escapism. A refreshing alternative to the Netflix series Tiger King, footage of hippos laughing in a watering hole and baby elephants at play has gotten people yearning for the bush at a moment of insatiable wanderlust. This is getting me through quarantine and wonderful escape from isolation status are common sentiments shared by viewers. Many say they cant wait to take a trip in 2021. Its too early to tell if theyll follow through with bookings, says Robinson, but she hopes that if people engage with our guides and fall in love with andBeyond now, theyll keep us top of mind when they are ready to book. Singitas game drives engage viewers in a deeper way than still images on social feeds do, says Lindy Rousseau, marketing director. She adds that live safaris have yielded a 351% increase in impressions and a 407% increase in engagement, with comments skewing more toward optimism (you are giving me hope) than the superficial (wow, pretty). This engagement has helped maintain a trickle of inquiries and some new bookings for later this year and 2021. Every bit matters for a company with just 298 guest beds in its entire portfolio. Deposits for future trips can help retain Singitas 1,600 employees, including 130 poachers-turned-game scouts. Not everyone has the good fortune of being able to livestream from the bush; Beks Ndlovu, founder of African Bush Camps, says his camps are too remote for reliable Wi-Fi. But many small safari businesses are still finding ways to get in on the trend. For example, Tswalu, a private game reserve in South Africa, and Angama Mara lodge in Kenya have been streaming Q&As with resident researchers and photographers. Says Wilderness Safaris Vincent: We hope that when we all come out of this crisis togetherstronger and more unifiedthe worlds intrepid travellers will come back to visit us in Africa to experience life-changing journeys that make a difference. Now read: Netflix and Showmax series launching during the lockdown As hospitals across the world run out of protective gear against COVID-19, China ramps up medical supplies production. The Chinese government is donating 1,000 ventilators to the hard-hit US state of New York, one of the many jurisdictions across the world competing for medical gear made in mainland China. But the equipment is sometimes faulty and critics say the Chinese governments donation drive is self-serving. Al Jazeeras Katrina Yu reports from Beijing, China. Asylum seekers wait for news outside El Chaparral port of entry on the U.S.-Mexico border in Tijuana, Mexico, on March 19, 2020. The United States and what it means to be American represent different things to different people, but for Canadians and Mexicans themselves continental Americans the first words that come to mind relate to U.S. president and the country's economy, according to a survey published Monday by Pew Research Center, a Washington, D.C. research group. In a nutshell: "Trump," "money" and "work." In fact, America's neighbors to the north and south give somewhat different answers when asked to provide a descriptor, in a single word, that reflects their views of the U.S. On world stage: Trump loathed as much as Obama loved, Pew survey says President Donald Trump's last name is by far the most frequently mentioned word in Canada, followed by various mostly negative characteristics such as "chaos," "confused" and "bully." In Mexico, Trump also features prominently in response to the question. But the most commonly cited words are "money," "work" and "migration," alongside more negative expressions like "discrimination" and "racism." The survey was conducted in spring 2019, well before the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic came under scrutiny. It also found that large majorities in both countries lack confidence in Trump to do the right thing on world affairs and disapprove of some of his key foreign policies. Few Canadians or Mexicans offered positive words about the U.S., the survey showed, although men were about twice as likely in both places to do so. In Canada, the figure was 11% of men versus 5% of women; in Mexico, 17% of men versus 8% of women. Previous Pew studies have shown that America's global image is complicated. Majorities of international populations give the U.S. high favorability ratings when it comes to respecting the civil liberties of individuals, and most countries prefer the U.S. as the world's leading superpower over authoritarian China, but confidence in the U.S. presidency has plunged under Trump compared with his predecessor, Barack Obama. Western European countries France, Germany and the United Kingdom, in particular, now say that the U.S. does not do enough to protect individual liberties. Story continues Since taking office in 2017, Trump has clashed with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over a range of issues from climate change to North Atlantic Treaty Organization military alliance commitments. The two leaders have also, at times, appeared to mend fences; for example, over the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) free trade deal ratified by each nation, and Mexico. USMCA may take effect this summer. In recent days, Trudeau has said he won't retaliate against Washington after Trump ordered 3M, a Minnesota-based manufacturer of protective health care equipment, to stop exporting face masks to Canada amid the coronavirus pandemic. U.S.-Canada border closes: What it means for travelers Trump has made reducing the flow of hundreds of thousands of people who travel through Central America to the U.S. a cornerstone of his foreign policy. Rule changes to reduce asylum claims and efforts to build a physical barrier on the U.S. border with Mexico form part of his efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. Pew's survey found that Mexicans more frequently used neutral words rather than negative ones to describe the U.S. However, among the negative words, "bad," "racist" and "injustice" were among the most cited. There was a link in Mexico between wanting to live in the U.S. and the words chosen, although it represented a small proportion. Mexicans who had the means and opportunity to live in the U.S., but chose not to, were twice as likely (38%) to say something negative about the USA compared with those who would like to live and work there but had no obvious path to make it happen (19%). Disputes roil NATO meetings in London: Trump calls Canadas Trudeau two-faced This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump, chaos, money: What Canada, Mexico think of US, Pew poll says Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News City officials say more than 1,600 residents have called in complaints of others or businesses violating stay-at-home orders since San Antonio's Public Health Emergency Declaration on March 18. As of Monday, city departments and the San Antonio Police Department have received 1,647 calls, 20 of which have resulted in citations, according to officials. Another 1,017 locations have been given warnings. A few weeks ago, a healthy 24-year-old young man from Michigan with no previous underlying health conditions suddenly experienced some physical complications. Ben Hirschmann, from the Detroit suburb of Roseville, suddenly got what seemed to be COVID-19 symptoms and died just 12 days later, dropping dead in his parents living room, FOX2 reported. The young mans mother, Denise Hirschmann, shared her story with news outlet WXYZ and said her son had a video appointment with a doctor who told Ben he had to self-quarantine since he seemed to be having COVID-19 symptoms. Denise said the symptoms her son was having did not get better, so he made another appointment with the doctor on March 31. The doctor told the young man again to stay home and self-quarantine. He said the symptoms Ben had were probably due to a cold and prescribed him some cough medicine. The next morning at 6:30 a.m. on April 1, Ben died and an autopsy showed he passed away from acute pneumonia, a symptom of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Denise said his son woke up that morning and told her he wanted to go to the hospital, so Denise called 911. I got him out into the living room sat him down and he coded, his eyes went into the back of his head and I started CPR EMS got here they could not revive, Denise told FOX2. His lungs were filled with disease, she said. How would I ever know that the next day my son would be dead. Ben was denied a test for the CCP virus. His father told FOX2 that if medical officials would have intervened when he was feeling unwell and showing these symptoms, his life could have been saved. Denise said the way doctors are currently being forced to treat patients, not seeing them in person but via a video appointment, is putting everyone at risk. She told WXYZ that Bens father, a two-time cancer survivor with lung disease, is now also showing symptoms from the virus and is getting the same instructions from doctors as her son. It shouldnt be, lock everyone up and then when theyre ready to die take them to the hospital and hope we have a ventilator, she told FOX2. Ben worked as a political intern for state Senator Pete Lucido of Macomb County, was heavily involved in the Republican Party, and loved politics. Senator Lucido said Ben was a wonderful individual who cared about people and wanted to make sure people were taken care of. Lucido said he is currently working on finding a way for doctors to get better access to patients and proposed drive-ups to check patients, but said that there are many challenges during the pandemic, especially in getting the required staff. Germany will put all arriving travellers in quarantine for 14 days, the interior ministry said Monday, as Berlin ramps up entry curbs to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The measure, which will come into force on April 10, is expected to affect mostly German or EU nationals and residents, as the European Union has already banned all arrivals from outside the bloc. Workers in the health sector living outside Germany in border regions will be exempted from the restriction, which will also not apply for business travellers entering for a short period of time. Chancellor Angela Merkel's government had decided on the toughened rule during a cabinet meeting focus on the battle against the coronavirus pandemic. During the same meeting, which is ongoing, ministers agreed that 100 percent of loans made by banks to small- and medium-sized firms will be guaranteed by the state. The federal government will stand fully behind 500,000 euros ($540,000) of lending to companies with up to 50 employees and 800,000 euros for larger ones, upping its guarantee level from a previous 80 percent for large firms or 90 percent for smaller ones. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hyderabad, April 6 : A year after dealing a big blow to Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) by bagging four Lok Sabha seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) still appears far from reaching its goal of emerging as an alternative to the ruling party. The continued domination of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao over state politics and lack of strong leadership is what is believed to be preventing the BJP from building on the inroads it made in Lok Sabha elections in May last year. As the BJP celebrates its formation day under the new state unit chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar, it faces a herculean task to take on the TRS, which virtually decimated the main opposition Congress since retaining power in 2018. Sanjay Kumar, one of the four party MPs from the state who took over the reins of the party last month, will be hoping to at least replace Congress as the principal opposition party. The 48-year-old leader, who belongs to the backward class and was associated with the RSS since his childhood, may find it difficult to challenge the TRS, which continues to hold a stranglehold over Telangana politics. By retaining its lone Lok Sabha seat and wresting three seats from TRS, the BJP had caused a big political upset. It not only garnered 19 per cent votes but also dealt a huge blow to TRS by defeating Chief Minister and TRS president K. Chandrashekhar Rao's daughter K. Kavitha in Nizamabad parliamentary constituency. Bandi Sanjay Kumar himself wrested the Karimnagar seat from senior TRS leader B. Vinod Kumar. G. Kishan Reddy, who was defeated in Assembly elections, was elected from Secunderabad despite replacing veteran leader and former central minister Bandaru Dattatreya. Kishan Reddy's induction as Union Minister of State for Home was also expected to give a shot in the arm to the party. Buoyed by the impressive performance, the BJP's central leadership started focusing on Telangana with the 2023 Assembly elections as the target. Union Home Minister and then BJP chief Amit Shah visited Hyderabad in July to launch the party's membership drive and declared that formation of BJP government in the state is certain. However, the BJP failed to build on the success in Lok Sabha polls. Continuing its good show, the TRS swept the polls for rural and urban local bodies. In the municipal elections, the BJP's marginal gains were confined to a couple of Lok Sabha constituencies. Though BJP leaders have been making tall claims that several TRS leaders will be switching loyalties, KCR kept his flock intact. Only a handful of Congress leaders joined the BJP ranks. The BJP was expected to emerge as a major force in separate Telangana state and anticipating this, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) had been opposing bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. However, the BJP, along with its then ally Telugu Desam Party (TDP), finished far behind the TRS in 2014 polls. Though subsequently, the BJP severed ties with the TDP as the latter was dubbed as party of Andhra Pradesh by its rivals, the saffron party faced humiliating defeat in 2018. It could win only one seat in 119-member Assembly. "Though one out of the only two seats BJP won in the first-ever general election (1984) the party contested was from Telangana (Hanamkonda), it could never emerge into the force to reckon with in the region," political analyst Raghava Reddy told IANS. The lack of strong leadership has also hampered the party's growth. "Though there were few leaders like Vidyasagar Rao, Bandaru Dattatreya who had strong connections at the national level, none could attain the stature of Venkaiah Naidu. Bangaru Laxman, who was installed as party chief but the elevation was short-lived and his fall was monumental." The analyst pointed out that the party leadership in Telangana and even Andhra Pradesh believed in coalitions and partnerships, instead of charting its own path. Even younger leaders like K. Laxman and Kishan Reddy Acould not motivate the cadre to form a strong force that would take on more mainstream Congress or the TDP. He believes that with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the top and ground being fertile enough to create religious polarization, the BJP will be hoping for a breakthrough in Telangana. "Presence of a legislator like Raja Singh who is known for hate-filled speeches, and elevation of an activist like Bandi Sanjay to the post of party chief will do good to the saffron brigade," Reddy said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 10:51:45|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia had found no new cases of COVID-19 infections in the last three days, while three more patients had recovered, bringing the number of patients cured in the kingdom to 53, said a Ministry of Health (MoH) statement released on Monday. The latest recovered patients are Malaysian Islamic preachers, aged 26, 39 and 40 years old respectively, who were treated at the Kampong Cham provincial hospital, the statement said. The group had come to Kang Meas district in southeast Kampong Cham province to participate in a smaller scale religious gathering after attending a mass Islamic religious gathering in Kuala Lumpur at the end of February. "To date, 53, or 46.49 percent, out of the 114 COVID-19 positive patients in Cambodia have recovered," the statement said. It added that the remaining 61 patients have been receiving treatment at various designated hospitals. NEW HAVEN - Police have identified the pedestrian who was struck and killed Saturday as Anthony Little, 31, of New Haven Capt. Anthony Duff said investigators have learned Little was driving on Ella Grasso Boulevard when he stopped his motor vehicle and exited the car to retrieve a tablet or similar electronic device which had been left on the roof of his car and had fallen onto the roadway. CHINA has maintained that it has been releasing accurate data on the number of coronavirus victims and fatalities in its territory, trashing rumors that the disease erupted before December last year, but covered. Spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms Hua Chunying at a press conference over the weekend said that throughout, they have been releasing open, transparent and timely updates to the world. Ms Chunying was of a view that the same data were sent to the World Health Organisation (WHO) for documentation and other uses as required in an effort to contain the situation. She also gave the countdown of the disease, since it was diagnosed in the first cases announced, adding that all professional measures were taken to control its further spread. For the first time, three suspects of the coronavirus cases were announced on December 27 last year at the Hubei Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, and thereafter epidemiological investigations were carried on December 29, she said. According to her on the origin of the virus, her government's position has been consistent, adding that they have routinely invited WHO experts to visit Wuhan as part of a joint mission. It is a serious matter that requires scientific, fact-based and professional assessment made by experts. Now there are various reports on the experts' science-based and authoritative opinions, said Ms Chunying, while assuring that China has been giving total cooperation. Expounding, she noted that a day after December 30, the Wuhan Municipal Health Committee issued an urgent notice on the treatment of the respiratory disease with unknown cause. On December 31, the National Health Committee (NHC) sent an expert group to Wuhan to investigate on the site. On January 3, 2020, China started to send timely updates to the WHO and other countries, including the United States (US). After that, on January 11, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on January 11 uploaded five whole genome sequences of the novel coronavirus on the website and shared data with the world, being the total lockdown for Wuhan that was announced on January 23, she added. So far, Mainland China has recorded a total of 81,669 infection cases and 3,329 deaths in comparison to 76,964, who have recovered, and 1,376 being monitored. What happened Shares of Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK) fell 43.6% in March, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, as the airline was caught up in a broader sell-off in the airline sector. The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is hitting the sector particularly hard and raising questions about the viability of the industry. So what Airlines have seen their businesses decimated by the pandemic, as global travel demand has all but evaporated overnight. Alaska is no exception. The company in March cut its April and May schedules by 70%, suspending its cash dividend and drawing down $400 million from a credit line and borrowing $425 million in fresh cash. Alaska Air came into this in the early stages of a turnaround story as it completes the integration of Virgin America and revamps its network to focus on areas of competitive strength. The company said June's schedule will be based on demand, with substantial cuts expected for the next several months. The airlines late in March did win $50 billion in loans and grants from the U.S. government as part of a broader $2 trillion economic stimulus package, but the money only buys time. The sector is going to need travel demand to return to avoid potential bankruptcies. Now what Alaska's troubles didn't end on the last day of March. Shares fell another 13% in the opening trading sessions of April as investors continue to worry that the downturn will be long and severe. In a recession, airlines historically have been able to use sales to bring tourists back, but more lucrative business travelers tend to stay away. And given what caused this particular slowdown, there is no assurance tourists will be looking to travel even if prices are low. Alaska likely needs to see some sort of normalization in bookings, even if it is typical recession-level bookings, but midsummer to avoid more serious problems. I'm optimistic, but it is by no means certain. And until there's more certainty surrounding the pandemic and the economic ramifications, expect these shares to continue to be under pressure. The Ministry of Health issued an urgent notification on Sunday advising those visiting four places in Hanoi to contact health facilities for assistance, as a person catching novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) had come to the venues. The four places include: * Moc Linh Oriental Medicine Clinic at 182 Ngoc Ha Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi; time frames: 8:30 am on March 17, 10:30 am to 11:00 am on March 18, 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm on March 22, 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm on March 23, and 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm on March 24. * Jc Caze Clinic at 5 Hang Chuoi Street, Hanoi; time frames: 1:30 pm to 2:00 pm on March 18, 10:00 am to 11:30 am on March 19. * Huong Sen Healthcare Center at 5 Le Van Thiem Street, Hanoi; time frame: 9:00 am to 10:30 am on March 18. * Sheraton Hotel K5 Nghi Tam at 11 Xuan Dieu Street, Hanoi; time frame: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm on March 20. The health ministry recommended that anyone having visited the said places at the times indicated should contact local Centers for Disease Control to have their health monitored. A reporter of the national English-language daily Viet Nam News tested positive for the novel coronavirus on March 29. On March 12, T.H., the 43-year-old reporter, interviewed a former French ambassador to Vietnam. The diplomat was later diagnosed with COVID-19 and became Vietnams 148th patient on March 26. The reporter then visited her workplace at 79 Ly Thuong Kiet Street in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi and was in contact with her coworkers in their office on the 10th floor. Once the former ambassador was pronounced to be at high risk of COVID-19 infection, H. and other people who had close contact with him were sent to a collective quarantine camp. On March 27, authorities fumigated the entire building at 79 Ly Thuong Kiet Street as well as the neighborhood where H. resides in Trung Hoa Ward, Cau Giay District. The building was briefly on lockdown on March 29 before the lockdown was lifted later the same day. The Viet Nam News then announced that its print daily would be suspended from March 31 to April 15. Vietnam has confirmed 241 COVID-19 cases so far, 91 of them having fully recovered. The Southeast Asian country reported only one new patient on Sunday while having recorded no additional infection as of 11:00 am on Monday. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A British woman stranded in the Gambia by the coronavirus lockdown has issued an impassioned plea to the government to bring her and the other 200 Britons stuck in the west African tourist destination home. Pauline Pearce was dubbed the 'Heroine of Hackney' after she chastised looters wrecking her east London neighbourhood during the 2011 riots in a spontaneous outburst that went viral on social media. Now Pauline, 54, who went to Gambia with her 84-year-old father to attend her daughter's wedding, has turned her anger on the government who she accuses of 'doing s***' to rescue the hundreds of Britons stranded there. Pauline Pearce, who is stranded in the Gambia, has issued an impassioned plea to the government to bring her and other stranded Britons home In an emotional video posted on Facebook Pauline said: 'Gambia is beautiful but I want to come home. There are so many other of us that want to come home. We need to come home. 'We are not getting no help. There are over 200 plus [Britons] out here that are stranded. We don't have a clue about how we are going to get home or when we are going to get home. 'What brought tears to my eyes was when my dad said to me: "Pauline I just want to go home. I'm too old now. If I'm going to die I want to die at home." She was dubbed the 'Heroine of Hackney' after she chastised looters wrecking her east London neighbourhood during the 2011 riots (pictured) 'What do you say to an 84-year-old?' She added: 'We only came for a couple of weeks now we're stranded here. And we've got no money. We've managed to rake up enough for another months' rent. But we've probably got another two months or three months here. 'We bought return tickets so why is no one sending for us? All the other countries have got their people home. 'I've told everybody, I've emailed everybody, no one is doing s***! And it's the same for everyone. No one is doing s***. No one is helping us! 'People out here are suffering. It's not just me and mine.' Pauline (centre) went to Gambia with her 84-year-old father Wilbert (second right) to attend her daughter's wedding Breaking into West Indian patois she added: 'I know it's lock-down there [in Britain]. But I'd rather be locked down there, in me yard [home]. At least I'm in me yard [home].' Pauline, who has campaigned against knife-crime, stood for Hackney Council as a LibDem candidate in 2018 and flew out to Gambia at the beginning of March to attend her daughter Iesha's wedding, with her other daughter Serena and her 84-year-old father Wilbert Carlise Pearce. But the family from Clapton, East London, became stranded when their return flight to the UK was cancelled due to the Coronavirus outbreak. The Foreign Office has urged Britons in Gambia wishing to return home to book tickets with commercial airlines that are still operating. An Air Senegal flight is leaving Gambia's Banjul Airport for London Stansted on Tuesday lunchtime and there are seats available. Pauline, pictured at her daughter's wedding, became stranded when her return flight to the UK was cancelled due to the Coronavirus outbreak A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We know it's difficult for many British travellers abroad especially those with challenging circumstances. 'Our consular teams are doing everything they can, especially for those in difficulty, keep Brits informed on the latest developments and help them return on commercial flights where they are still available or special charter flights as well. 'We'll continue working around the clock to bring people home.' But Pauline claims she cannot afford the 681.51 per seat price, after spending her limited funds on accommodation. She said: 'We don't have the money. It works out to nearly 3000 for four of us to come home. I'm fed up. 'They're telling me I've got to buy tickets with money that I've spent on accommodation.' The campaigner, pictured with Paddy Ashdown, stood for Hackney Council as a LibDem candidate in 2018 On Saturday her friend Ian Roberts set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to get Pauline and her family home. By lunchtime today the fundraising had reached 1,629. But Ian Roberts fears the money will not reach Pauline in time to make the Air Senegal flight. He told MailOnline: 'I only set this GoFundMe up on Saturday and we've already raised more than 1,600. But I'm worried about how long it's going to take for the money to reach Pauline.' https://www.gofundme.com/f/stranded-in-gambia?utm_source=facebook The cargo jets cockpit was on a different deck than where passengers were seated, sealed off for safety purposes. For such evacuations, seats are installed in the aircrafts cargo deck because they are easier to disinfect than on passenger airliners, Ting said. The pilots precious cargo was U.S. government staff and families, as well as other Americans who wanted out of Wuhan. They included children from 1 month old to teenagers. A pair of U.S. military medics and a State Department staff member worked directly with his passengers, Ting said. When the return leg stopped in Anchorage, Ting handed over the 747s controls to another pilot. He had reached his flight-hours limit; regulations required that he rest. Being the first flight, we were all quite concerned, but we knew we were their only hope, Ting said. So we just did it. The company did a good job protecting us. No one involved [in working on the flight] has become sick. He said he saw piloting the rescue mission as a way of giving back to America, where he and his parents have built a wonderful life. When Ting, now 51, enrolled at Germanna in 1986, he was adrift. VALPARAISO After teasing last month to a likely delay, Valparaiso University President Mark Heckler announced over the weekend VU will postpone its annual commencement ceremony. Heckler first introduced the idea in a March video statement, saying "at this time, given how rapidly this situation has been evolving, we cannot be sure commencement week activities can be held as scheduled this May." The VU president sealed this decision in writing, addressing the Class of 2020 in an April 5 letter. "While we all would prefer a May commencement, our commitment to hosting a safe and healthy ceremony is more important," Heckler's letter reads. "At this time, we have decided to postpone commencement until this commitment can be honored." The university will still put on a commencement ceremony honoring the spring class of 2020, Heckler said. More details will be shared on the scheduling of this event will be shared with students at a later date. Heckler also shared letters Sunday night with Valparaiso University graduate students and law students postponing their commencement ceremonies as well. Following the Hungarian Parliaments decision on Monday to accept Prime Minister Viktor Orbans request for unlimited power to rule by decree in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Helsinki Commission Chairman Rep. Alcee L. Hastings (FL-20) issued the following statement: Prime Minister Orban has taken gross advantage of the fear and uncertainty brought on by a global pandemic to secure the power to rule by decree in perpetuity. Instead of focusing on the well-being of Hungarian citizens likely to suffer from the coronavirus, he has chosen to prioritize preserving his parliamentary majority and permanently consolidating his control of the Hungarian Government. At both the global and national levels, defeating the coronavirus will require extraordinary social solidarity, not unchecked executive power. The further concentration of powers in Hungary will only pave the way for the further concentration of corruption. Among other provisions, the new law allows for up to a five-year prison sentence for spreading false or distorted information regarding the fight against the coronavirus, which could be used against journalists reporting on the state of Hungarys hospitals or health care delivery. The law also suspends elections. Hungary has recently completed a cycle of elections (parliamentary, European Parliament, and municipal) with no other major elections scheduled until 2022. In the meantime, by-elections and referenda are prohibited. The law, which lacks a sunset clause, may only be repealed by a two-thirds vote of parliament, or terminated by the Prime Minister himself. In 1991, Hungaryalong with all other OSCE participating Statesadopted the Moscow Document in the aftermath of a coup attempt in Russia. The agreement includes specific provisions on states of emergency. In particular, the OSCE participating States agreed to in conformity with international standards regarding the freedom of expression, take no measures aimed at barring journalists from the legitimate exercise of their profession other than those strictly required by the exigencies of the situation. On March 30, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Director Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir warned that emergency legislation being adopted by governments across the OSCE region, including Hungary, must include a time limit and guarantee parliamentary oversight. Since 2010, Viktor Orban has systematically dismantled a system of checks and balances, facilitating the consolidation of control by the Fidesz government. In April 2019, the Helsinki Commission hosted a briefing to explore developments in Hungary, including issues related to the rule of law and corruption. This opinion does not necessarily represent the views of XpatLoop.com or the publisher. Your opinions are welcome too - for editorial review before possible publication online. [April 06, 2020] H Code Partners with PubMatic to Extend Reach to All Hispanics by 10x H Code, the only advertising entity reaching the U.S. Hispanic market at scale digitally, announces the premier solution for executing scaled programmatic campaigns that reach all U.S. Hispanics with digital advertising technology company PubMatic. Through PubMatic's newly launched Audience (News - Alert) Encore, H Code will layer its first party dataset of 32MM Hispanic users and 40+ proprietary Hispanic audience segments over PubMatic's high-performing inventory of 10,000+ publishers in order to extend reach of acculturated Hispanic audiences in English-language environments using programmatic pipes. "Being able to break through challenges surrounding acculturation is the next major area of opportunity for brands and publishers as the USH population grows and evolves," said Parker Morse, CEO & Founder of H Code. "We're thrilled to be able to offer this level of reach to ensure that this audience is being served effectively and at scale - and our partnership with PubMatic will allow us to deliver stronger on that initiative." The traditional modes of advertising to U.S. Hispanics focus primarily on delivering Spanish-language content, but fall short of navigating the nuances of acculturation within this audience and adjusting outreach and messaging accordingly. Through this new offering, H Code is able to help programmatic buyers reach acculturated USH segments on a wider scale and with higher precision previously not possible. This new solution allows programmatic buyers to deliver their meda campaigns to all USH segments at a scale 10x greater than before, helping solve challenges associated with reach when trying to connect with U.S. Hispanics programmatically. "Companies have long struggled with identifying the distinctions that exist within the cultural landscape of the Hispanic community and have faced challenges with tailoring communications that serve their disparate needs and preferences. By joining forces with PubMatic, we're now in a position to address those challenges head-on," says Mark Murrin, Vice President of Business Development at H Code. Through this partnership, brands and advertisers will gain the ability to leverage exclusive Hispanic audience data and premium inventory to deliver their campaigns programmatically across ad formats and outside of traditional Spanish-language channels, ensuring high performance and control across their initiatives. "We're excited to have H Code join as a partner on our new solution that will allow marketers and data owners to target the USH market with higher accuracy and relevancy," said Alex DeSanctis, Vice President of Audience Solutions at PubMatic. "This audience is particularly valuable to our customers, and H Code is the best resource to allow us to optimize our offerings in that space." H Code provides brands the opportunity to target the influential Hispanic market through insight-driven advertising campaigns. To learn more, visit www.hcodemedia.com. About H Code Founded in 2015, H Code is the largest Hispanic digital media company in the U.S. The company was formed to better connect brands and advertisers with U.S. Hispanics online across all channels. It reaches this coveted audience at scale through digital and integrated campaigns that bring together targetable data, exclusive inventory, impactful creative, branded content, and more. Through H Code, brands can more effectively reach and influence Hispanics than with any other partner in the Hispanic market. Key clients include Disney Theatrical, Toyota, General Mills, Target, Walmart, Delta Air Lines, Chase, Kaiser Permanente, Clorox, Sprint (News - Alert), and USPS. About PubMatic PubMatic delivers superior revenue to publishers by being the sell-side platform of choice for agencies and advertisers. The PubMatic platform empowers independent app developers and publishers to maximize their digital advertising monetization while enabling advertisers to increase ROI by reaching and engaging their target audiences in brand-safe, premium environments across ad formats and devices. Since 2006, PubMatic has created an efficient, global infrastructure and remains at the forefront of programmatic innovation. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, PubMatic operates 14 offices and nine data centers worldwide. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005090/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A flag flies at half mask outside the world headquarters of the Mormon Church for Thomas S. Monson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (The Mormon church) in Salt Lake City By Keith Zhai and Tony Munroe (Reuters) - The Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon church, plans to open its first temple in mainland China at a time when Beijing has been clamping down steadily on religious freedoms. The temple in the eastern Chinese city of Shanghai will help fill a gap left by renovation work since last July at the church's temple in Hong Kong, Russell M. Nelson, president of the church, announced on Sunday. He also said seven other temples would open, including one in Dubai, its first in the Middle East. "In Shanghai, a modest, multipurpose meeting place will provide a way for Chinese members to continue to participate in ordinances of the temple," Nelson said. "Because we respect the laws and regulations of the People's Republic of China, the Church does not send proselytizing missionaries there; nor will we do so now," he said. A former cardiac surgeon, Nelson has spent time in China, studied Mandarin and was granted an honorary professorship by China's Shandong University School of Medicine. In January, the church sent two planeloads of protective medical equipment to the Children's Medical Center in Shanghai to help manage the coronavirus outbreak. No official figure is available for the number of Mormons in China. China's constitution guarantees religious freedom but under President Xi, Jinping Beijing has tightened restrictions on religions seen as a challenge to the authority of the ruling Communist Party. The government has cracked down on underground churches, both Protestant and Catholic, and has rolled out legislation to increase oversight of religious education and practices. Chinese law requires that places of worship register and submit to government oversight, but some have declined to register and are known as "house" or "underground" churches. The Chinese government formally recognizes five religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism. Story continues "Expatriate and Chinese congregations will continue to meet separately. The Church's legal status there remains unchanged," Nelson said. "In an initial phase of facility use, entry will be by appointment only. The Shanghai Temple will not be a temple for tourists from other countries," he said. In 2018, the Vatican and China signed an agreement on the appointment of Roman Catholic bishops, a breakthrough on an issue that for decades fuelled tensions between the Holy See and Beijing and thwarted efforts toward diplomatic relations. (Reporting by Keith Zhai, Editing by Timothy Heritage) As many as 469 foreign returnees have completed their mandatory 28-day home-quarantine period in Ghaziabad district while 1,492 others are undergoing it with a green "Thanks for Co-operation" poster stuck outside their homes, said an official on Monday. A total of 1,961 persons had arrived here in the district between February 5 and March 21, District magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey told PTI, adding 469 of them have completed their home-quarantine period. The remaining 1,492 persons are still in isolation at their homes, he said. The DM added that a green colour poster carrying words "Thanks for Co-operation" have been affixed outside of their homes. Besides this, teams of 30 officials of health and other government departments are interacting thrice a day to all those persons who are still home quarantined and asking 11 questions related to their health. Every day, I and SSP Kalanidhi Naithani are am inspecting the temporarily set up isolation wards in the district and taking stock of the sanitization of roads and colonies, said Pandey. The Health Department, meanwhile, on Monday received results of 18 samples for coronavirus-infection testing, all of which were found negative, said Ghaziabad Chief medical Officer, Dr N K Gupta. Apart from this, the first testing report of three suspects who are admitted in isolation ward, too have been reported negative, he added. Out of the 586 samples, 353 have been reported negative, while reports for 173 other samples are still awaited, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 'Low Risk" Business to Resume in Iran By VOA News April 05, 2020 Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Sunday that "low risk" economic activities would resume on April 11 as the country continues to battle an outbreak of the novel coronavirus. "Restarting these activities does not mean we have abandoned the principle of staying at home," Rouhani said in a televised meeting. The president did not specify what constitutes "low-risk" activities, but said that "high-risk" ones such as school and large gatherings would continue to be banned until April 18. The announcement comes as Iran reports a decline in new infections for the fifth straight day, but the number of recorded deaths continue to climb. Over 150 people have perished from COVID-19 in Iran just in the last 24 hours, raising the country's total to 3,603, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. Health authorities have warned that Iran could see a new wave of infections and suspect that the current rate is underestimated. Rouhani has been resistant to lock down cities, but banned intercity travel until April 8. Economic experts warn that lockdowns could devastate the country's economy, which is already inhibited by international sanctions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dorothea Puente earned many nicknames: 'Death house landlady,' 'the black widow of Sacramento,' and 'the grandma serial killer.' In late 1988, Puente and the boarding house she ran at 1426 F Street in Sacramento transfixed a nation when police discovered seven bodies buried in the yard one of which was just a torso. The media attention heightened when Puente, then 59, managed to escape and evade the police. She was eventually caught, found guilty of three killings, and died in prison at the age of 82. Fast forward to 2010 when a couple looking for a new home decided to buy the notorious and gawker-attracting property at 1426 F Street. 'I'm Tom Williams. I'm Barbara Holmes. And we live in a murder house.' And so begins Murder House Flip, a new show where true crime meets home makeover. Dorothea Puente ran a boarding house in Sacramento for the elderly and those with mental health issues. For many social workers, Puente was willing to take on difficult clients. On November 11, 1988, one social worker looking for a missing client referred police to the boarding house at 1426 F Street. 'A search of the home showed nothing amiss. But a bit of digging in the backyarda tenant had reported seeing large holes excavated and filled behind the houseunearthed a human leg bone and a decomposed foot,' according to a 2009 Sactown Magazine article. Above, the backyard at 1426 F Street being dug up to look for bodies in November 1988 After the initial discovery of the body parts in the backyard, police had their suspicions about Puente. Nonetheless, when she asked to get a coffee with her nephew, the police let her go. Puente, then 59, was soon on the run and the fact that she was able to evade the police intensified media attention. The police eventually discovered more bodies and Puente was caught and arrested, according to the Sactown Magazine article. Above, Puente was arrested after being brought back from Los Angeles to Sacramento on November 17, 1988 Above, Puente's mugshot from November 17, 1988. Puente faced nine murder charges during her trial in 1993, but was convicted of three killings and sentenced to life in prison. She died in prison at the age of 82 in 2011. Reporter Martin Kuz visited Puente in prison for his 2009 article. Puente told Kuz she was not guilty and she never took responsibility for her crimes Barbara and Tom know the lore of the house well and explain to the show's two designers Mikel Welch and Joelle Uzyel about how Puente carried out her crimes. 'She took in people who had no families and had them sign over their social security checks,' says Barbara. 'And gave them creme de menthe with poison in it,' Tom adds. 'After she poisoned them, she would put them in what is now our bedroom,' Barbara explains. Barbara and Tom met on Match.com and got married in 2005. They bought the house because 'it was cheap,' Barbara recalled in the 2015 documentary This House is Innocent. A newspaper article showed that their winning bid for the property was $215,000. They gutted and renovated the Victorian-style home, which has been included as part of tours. Tom embraced the house's history: posting plaques and wearing a T-shirt that showed Puente with a shovel and the tagline, 'I Dig It,' according to the documentary. In Murder House Flip, the couple, who are now both retired, want a space for their grandchildren to play and for the yard to be redone. 'The backyard represents the crimes more than the house definitely,' Tom says. 'There's still the aura of Dorothea around there. There's something here that is unsavory and not happy.' Barbara adds: 'As time has gone by, it is hard to get rid of that negative energy. Time to get rid of Dorothea.' Mikel Welch and Joelle Uzyel told DailyMail.com that the show was about giving people their homes back. 'We were designers, therapists and spiritual healers all at the same time,' Welch said. In 2010, the former boarding house was up for sale. The property at 1426 F Street in Sacramento had become infamous and attracted gawkers. Tom Williams and Barbara Holmes purchased the home for $215,000. They bought the house because 'it was cheap,' Barbara recalled in the 2015 documentary This House is Innocent. While the couple gutted and renovated the home, the yard was not redone and the drawing above shows where six of the bodies were buried. Another was found in the front area of the yard. Now retired, the couple wanted the yard as a space for their grandchildren to play Enter designers Joelle Uzyel, left, and Mikel Welch, right, above in a still from Murder House Flip. They told DailyMail.com that the show was about giving people their homes back. 'We were designers, therapists and spiritual healers all at the same time,' Welch said. Filming at Barbara and Tom's house was an eerie experience for both designers. The show is a part of a new mobile streaming called Quibi, which is launching April 6 Uzyel has been a designer for 15 years and described her style as 'modern, clean, crisp.' Murder House Flip is her first foray into television and she said that initially the concept 'sounded bizarre to me. I was very apprehensive.' But then she decided she had nothing to lose and went for the opportunity. Welch is a home makeover show veteran who described his design as primitive modern: Barney Rubble meets today. 'When my agent called, I laughed. I was waiting for Ashton Kutcher to jump out and I was being punked,' he recalled. 'I didn't believe it was real until I got my flight info.' Filming at the homes was eerie for both designers. The first night at Barbara and Tom's house was the scariest moment for Uzyel. 'I walk into a home where seven people were murdered and buried. It was a creepy experience.' For Welch, the experience was similar: 'I was shell-shocked the entire time. My father is a minister and this was against everything that I grew up as a kid.' Star Price, Murder House Flip's showrunner and executive producer, said the designers' reactions at the Puente house were genuine. 'You can really feel some sort of darkness there,' he told DailyMail.com. 'It was one of the most famous murder houses in the entire country.' The challenge of the show, he explained, was to merge two popular formats that had never been put together before: true crime, which is serious and somber, with makeover shows that are light and fun. 'The first thing people say is how could you live in a murder house?,' he said about the show. 'We wanted to find homeowners who were genuinely uncomfortable living in their own house.' All three pointed out that some owners were not informed of what happened at the home and, at times, heard the news from a neighbor. Disclosure laws about what are called 'stigmatized property' places where, for example, crimes, deaths or murders occurred - vary from state to state. In California, a potential buyer has to be informed if a death happened in the past three years. Homeowners, Price noted, didn't even feel that the house was theirs. 'It was owned by the tragedy. Our job was to give the house back to them. One of the best things about the show is when we revealed what we've done, we got an emotional response every time.' Including, he said, from Barbara after she sees the transformed yard. Murder House Flip is part of a new mobile streaming service called Quibi the combination of quick with bites that offers movies and shows with episodes and parts that are between four and 10 minutes and are designed to be watched on your phone. Hollywood heavyweights Steven Spielberg, Reese Witherspoon, Sophie Turner and Jennifer Lopez are starring in and creating its original content. 'Quibi is meant to inform, entertain and inspire you. To offer you this amazing quantity and quality of Hollywood content made beautiful for your phone,' founder Jeffrey Katzenberg told DailyMail.com. He called Murder House Flips 'completely enthralling.' For the show's first season, Uzyel and Welch makeover four homes, with three episodes for each house. The former boarding house 1426 F Street where seven bodies were buried - one of which was only a torso - was notorious in Sacramento. When Tom Williams and Barbara Holmes bought the property in 2010, they gutted and renovated the Victorian-style home, which has been included as part of tours as seen above in September 2013. Tom embraced the house's history: posting plaques and wearing a T-shirt that showed Puente with a shovel and the tagline, 'I Dig It,' according to 2015 documentary This House is Innocent Above, Jeffrey Katzenberg, who founded Quibi, earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. He told DailyMail.com that Murder House Flip is 'completely enthralling.' The show is part of a new mobile streaming service called Quibi the combination of quick with bites that offers movies and shows with episodes and parts that are between four and 10 minutes and are designed to be watched on your phone. Hollywood heavyweights Steven Spielberg, Reese Witherspoon, Sophie Turner and Jennifer Lopez are starring in and creating its original content Katzenberg, a former chairman of Walt Disney Studios and a co-founder of DreamWorks, said there were a couple a-ha moments that led to Quibi. In 1999, Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Katzenberg formed a company called Pop.com. 'We were going to make short comedy videos to monetize on the Internet,' he said, adding that the venture didn't work out. When Google bought YouTube in 2006, Brian Robbins, a producer Katzenberg knew, started a channel called AwesomenessTV. The idea was to make a movie in chapters, he explained, and he called Robbins Yoda for pioneering the concept. In the early 2000s, Dan Bown's hugely popular novel, The Da Vinci Code, was released. The author had divided the book into short chapters. 'If Dan Brown can do that for a novel, why can't we do that for a movie,' Katzenberg said. About three years ago, he was 'looking for the next Mount Everest' to climb. The latest revolution is mobile, he said at the CES convention earlier this year, with the amount of minutes people watching video on their phone jumping from about six minutes in 2012 to nearly 80 minutes last year for those between the ages of 18 to 44. Meg Whitman, the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, joined Quibi as CEO around two years ago, he said. Together they raised funding - reportedly $1.75 billion - for the new platform and attracted Hollywood's top talent. The slated launch of April 6 was a few weeks away when Katzenberg and Whitman discussed whether to move forward in light of the pandemic. They decided to stay the course 'with one significant change,' he said, by offering the service for a free 90-day trial. He said: 'Quibi may actually be a diversion - have a laugh, a little bit of joy.' The number of COVID-19 cases in Pakistan reached 3,278 on Monday as health authorities in the country scramble to contain the spread of the lethal disease by appealing to the public to remain inside their homes, after many of them were seen flouting government orders and roaming on the streets. The health ministry, showing a break-up of the figures of each province, posted on its dedicated website and showed that Punjab registered a maximum of 1,493 cases, followed by Sindh with 881, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 405, Geo News reported. Balochistan reported 191 cases, Gilgit-Baltistan 210 cases, capital Islamabad 82 cases and 15 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmi, respectively. So far, 50 people died due to the disease. Despite reiterating emergency measures, there was little impact on the masses. In several cities, people were seen roaming out while security officials were trying to convince them to go back to their homes. In many places, Islamic religious clerics were also seen addressing a gathering irrespective of the fact that religious congregation has been restricted by the government in view of the rapidly spreading contagion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jeff Cummings plans to start the week with a recorded video conference, including a PowerPoint presentation, and then assign his students a case study or some kind of analysis. Hell continue to connect with them online during the week as they complete their assignments. The Grade 12 teacher had a feeling before the March break that classes may not resume because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so he asked students to connect that week on the online platform he uses, to normalize the experience of being in a virtual learning environment. Now, if students have a question, theyll ask it virtually and Cummings might send back a video tutorial in response. Hes waiting for some direction on live video conferences, given security concerns, but said they can be done without images so students faces would not be seen. For me, its a great challenge, said Cummings, who teaches Canadian history in Guelph and who spent a number of years working as a technology expert within the Wellington Catholic District School Board. Its not ideal, obviously its a scary time but we can do a really good job and at the end of it I want my students to say they had a great learning experience. Starting Monday, learning gears up across the province for some two million students who have not been at school for two weeks following the March break because of school closures that will last at least until May 4. As boards and teachers prepare for the massive change in the way education is delivered, concerns have been raised about equity, given that not all families have computers or access to the internet. To that end, on Monday, the Toronto District School Board will start delivering 28,000 laptops and iPads to students. Some of the iPads have built-in Wi-Fi for families who need it. It will take the board just over a week until Tuesday, April 14 to finish distributing them using their in-house courier. We are trying to do all kinds of work to move some mountains to get kids back to some learning soon, by Monday, said John Malloy, director of education for the board, one of the largest in North America. Educators in Toronto will mostly use the online platforms Google Classroom and Brightspace. Example of a student checklist View document on Scribd Boards have been directed to provide five hours of instruction per week for students up to Grade 6, 10 hours for those in grades 7 and 8, and three hours per course per week for students in high school. But boards are being flexible about how that instruction is delivered: theres no specific way each class will look, as teachers determine how best to reach their students. There will be some paper packages for students who dont work well online. We cant replicate what school usually looks like, Malloy said. There is an expectation that theres some engagement and interaction, Malloy added, but its not going to be a Zoom (video) conference that starts at 9 and ends at noon or 3. It cant be that, and it wont be that. The Peel District School Board has said that it would like students to try to keep to a routine and do their best to finish their work on time. No students marks should drop below what they were before the March break and they can improve for the final report card in June. At Hickory Wood Public School in Brampton, principal Della Lataille-Herdsman held a virtual staff meeting last week in which she told teachers they need to support one another and look after their students, but also themselves and their families. Its important that we are all humane in all that we are dealing with right now, said Lataille-Herdsman, noting she is shopping for her own elderly parents because they cant get to a grocery store. She said her message to staff is that regardless of me being a principal, I am in this with you. I get it. I dont want to distance myself from reality. Shes also volunteering her time to deliver food to families from her school who are in need. Bev Fiddler, who works at a high-needs school in Oshawa, said she has been teaching for 24 years and this has been a learning curve for me. I can create an assignment and watch students online doing it, she said. I can connect to Google Classroom, and, if there are problems, I can check in with them. They can click to put their hand up. Shes also urging her Grade 4 students to practise their times tables every day, and for families who dont yet have access to technology, shes encouraging reading or activities such as finding favourite recipes or drawing pictures of animal habitats. There could be families who dont have paper at home. Shes told them to find anything around the house to draw on the back of. For the Grade 4s, the position is about an hour a day even 45 minutes where they are focused would be good, she said. She worries about kids in the Durham District School Board for whom school is their only refuge, the only place they can go and they are not dealing with some of the issues that go on poverty, or theres not enough food in the house today. Shannon Smith, who teaches at Jack Callaghan Public School in Lindsay, in the Trillium Lakelands District School Board, said the principal and vice-principal will drop by the homes of families they werent able to reach over the past two weeks keeping a safe distance when they do. We have a few families without internet access, and the board is working hard to fix that, she said. But what weve invited parents to do (in the meantime) is to come to any school parking lot (where they can access the schools Wi-Fi) and download what they need. She said teachers can also text information to students or parents. John Ippolito, an education professor at York University, said its not going to be perfect and we have to realize some students will be disadvantaged by this because of differing access to devices and parental support. This should be offered as a resource and learning to keep students motivated and interested and thinking, he said. Nearly 30,000 employees of the country's major ports and shipping PSUs have contributed a day's salary totalling over Rs 7 crore to the PM-CARES Fund to support the fight against COVID-19, the government said on Monday. India has 12 major ports -- Deendayal (erstwhile Kandla), Mumbai, JNPT, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Kamarajar (earlier Ennore), V.O. Chidambaranar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia). "Employees of all the major ports and PSUs (public sector undertakings) under the Ministry of Shipping have come forward to donate a day's salary amounting to Rs 7 crore to the PM-CARES Fund, for providing assistance to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic," the Ministry of Shipping said in a statement. These ports and entities have about 30,000 employees, with the highest 6,324 employees with the Mumbai Port Trust, who contributed Rs 1.27 crore; followed by 3,891 employees with Chennai Port Trust who contributed Rs 0.72 crore; 3,700 employees with Kolkata Port Trust who contributed Rs 1 crore; and Rs 3,177 crore contributed by Vishakhapatnam Port Trust's employees. Apart from employees' contribution, these ports and entities have also contributed Rs 52 crore to the PM-CARES Fund to fight the pandemic. Among the major ports, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust contributed the highest Rs 16.40 crore from corporate social responsibility (CSR) to the PM-CARES Fund, followed by Rs 8 crore each by Deendayal Port Trust and Paradip Port Trust, and Rs 4 crore each by Kamarjar Port and New Mangalore Port Trust. V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust gave Rs 2 crore to the Fund for fight against COVID-19, while Vishakhapatnam Port Trust, Kolkata Port Trust and Mumbai Port Trust contributed Rs 1 crore each to the Fund. Among others, Cochin Port Trust contributed Rs 0.54 crore, Chennai Port Trust Rs 0.50 crore and Mormagao Port Trust Rs 0.25 crore. The death toll due to novel coronavirus in the country rose to 109 and the number of cases climbed to 4,067 on Monday, according to the Union health ministry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 23:23:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BUDAPEST, April 6 (Xinhua) -- In a video message aired on public television channel M1 on Monday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced the launch of a new five-point economic protection plan to shield the country from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. "The situation is unfair, in 10 years we have achieved a great many things and put the country on the right track, and then the pandemic came," Orban said. "The challenge is serious, but we must meet it, and we will create as many jobs as have been lost because of the pandemic," he said. The plan includes a workplace preservation program, under which the government will subsidize the wages of employees whose working hours are reduced; a workplace creation program involving investments to the tune of 450 billion Hungarian forints (1.3 billion U.S. dollars); special loans with interest subsidies or state guarantees to key sectors of the economy, such as tourism, construction or the creative industries; and a family and pension protection scheme, granting a 13th month pension to seniors Orban also noted that details of the programs will be announced by Ministers Mihaly Varga of finance and Laszlo Palkovics of innovation and technology. Orban said that the country's 2020 budget is being amended, and that the budget deficit target would be modified from one percent to 2.7 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) this year. He said that the stimulus package would amount 18 percent to 20 percent of Hungary's GDP, including central bank programs. According to official figures, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Hungary stood at 744 on Monday, with 67 reported recoveries and 38 fatalities. (1 U.S. dollar = 336.65 Hungarian forints) Officials from Yeongdeungpo-gu Office hold signs near Yeouinaru Station in Seoul, Monday, calling for people to keep a distance of two meters from one another, while citizens walk along and view the cherry blossoms. Yonhap By Jun Ji-hye The health authorities voiced concern Monday over a weakening in the public's participation in the government's social distancing campaign aimed at containing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, with outdoor crowds being seen frequently over the weekend. The government warned the public about lowering their guard against the coronavirus, noting that further mass infections in Seoul and the surrounding areas could lead to a more serious public health crisis similar to those seen in Europe and the United States. According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, there was a 20 percent increase in the movement of people going outside for leisure purposes Saturday and Sunday, compared to the end of February. The government has analyzed people's movements utilizing statistical information collected by SK Telecom's base stations. Many people still gathered at churches to participate in worship services, while others visited parks or streets lined with trees sporting spring blossoms. Young people gathered at nightclubs, although the government announced Saturday that it was extending its social distancing campaign for another two weeks. "Despite the government's plea to maintain a high-level of physical distancing, people's participation in the campaign has weakened for the past two weeks as an increasing number have felt mental fatigue over the prolonged practice," Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip said during a briefing. Korea to share clinical data of COVID-19 patients Korea deports Taiwanese woman for refusing to stay at quarantine facility S. Korea reports fewer than 50 new cases for the first time since Feb. 29 peak According to Daegu, more than 200 churches pushed ahead with indoor Sunday services, with more than 12,000 people attending them. In North Chungcheong Province, 730 churches held services, despite the government recommendation to conduct them online. Many visitors were also seen near Yunjung-no, the cherry blossom tree-lined street behind the National Assembly on Yeouido, although Yeongdeungpo-gu Office closed it off due to public health concerns. Kim said the data showed that the number of visitors to Yeouido, the Han River and Mount Nam where cherry blossom trees were in full bloom increased rapidly at 4 p.m. Sunday. "Korea could have seen better results in its fight against COVID-19 if people had participated in social distancing more actively," Kim said. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) confirmed 47 new cases and three more deaths, Sunday, bringing the nation's total infections to 10,284, and the death toll to 186. Infection clusters in Seoul and surrounding areas, as well as cases of foreign origin have continued to emerge. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun once again asked people to continue with a high-level physical distancing, saying, "Physical distancing is a consideration for others and the most effective way to protect yourself." Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice said it had deported a Taiwanese woman late Sunday in accordance with the government's zero-tolerance policy against quarantine violators, as she refused to stay at a quarantine facility. According to the ministry, the woman refused to pay the cost for staying in the government-designated facility. Hungarys opposition parties called for implementing a mix of economic stimulus measures different from the ones announced by the head of the Prime Ministers Office. Socialist lawmaker Agnes Kunhalmi (pictured on top) called for a proportionate and less selective left-wing package of measures that are more effective in terms of solidarity and preserving competitiveness. The Socialists welcome the 500,000 forint bonus pledged to be paid in the summer to health-care workers whom Kunhalmi said should receive it right away instead. The party proposes further wage increases for health-care and social sector workers, she told an online press conference on Facebook. It also proposes further measures that include setting a minimum payment of 100,000 forints as an unemployment benefit and extending its eligibility period from 3 months to 9, increasing pensions by at least 6.5% instead of 2.8% and allowing early retirement for employees over the age of 60. The Socialists further propose a government takeover of 75-80% of wage payments for business sector employees and introducing a moratorium on layoffs, as well as centrally setting a fixed price for basic foodstuffs, protective gears and disinfectants, she said. Democratic Coalition leader Ferenc Gyurcsany proposed implementing a 3,000 billion forint stimulus package accounting for 7% of GDP. The partys package of proposals include protecting all jobs where possible with centrally provided wage benefits to ailing companies. He said DK further proposes guaranteeing employees the payment of 80% of their monthly wages while extending eligibility for a jobseekers allowance for 6 months. DK is also calling for a 100% wage increase for health-care and social sector workers and an additional 500,000 forint bonus payment for law enforcement and army staff, Gyurcsany said. DKs proposals further include imposing a moratorium on terminating basic public utility services in households over unpaid utility bills and a 400 billion forint bailout programme for state and local council-run companies, he said. Green LMP also welcomed the one-off payment to health workers, but called for a 50% general wage increase in the sector. The party called on the government to terminate luxury investments such as the large-scale Liget museum quarter project in Budapests City Park or the billions of forints worth of state support going to the Hungaroring company and to spend the money on combatting the coronavirus outbreak. LMP is also calling for more support and supplies for local governments that are on the frontline of the efforts to contain the virus, lawmaker Antal Csardi told an online press conference. The Parbeszed party called for a 100% immediate wage increase for coronavirus health-care workers. The party rejects any further financing cuts for local governments which are at the forefront of coronavirus response efforts and are at the same time losing out on revenues they would otherwise generate in local business taxes and parking fees, spokesman Richard Barabas told an online press conference. Balazs Ander, deputy leader of conservative Jobbik, called the measures disproportionate. While the government has left in place a thousand billion forints for the upgrade of the Budapest-Belgrade railway line, it has allocated a mere 70 billion for coronavirus frontline workers, who risk their lives every day to save others, he said. Ander also criticised the only 55 billion forints planned to be collected from banks that had destroyed the livelihoods of many forex loan holders via tricks. MTI Photo: Szilard Koszticsak Farmers across Northern Ireland are urging dog walkers to stay off their land as the number of sheep killed has escalated since the Covid-19 pandemic began. April traditionally sees the fields full of newborn lambs, which to the public creates an idyllic view but to some dogs the innocent lambs present a target. With virus restrictions in place many public spaces where dog owners usually walked their animals are now closed. Farmers are now witnessing increased numbers of people walking across their land with dogs, some even assuming the land has public access. The latest incident occurred on yesterday morning when a young farmer went to check her sheep near Saintfield and found her valuable ram dead in a small river with dog teeth marks on the carcass. She said: "I went to see my rams on Sunday morning and found one dead in the shallow river with dog bites on it. The river has a stone bottom and only runs maybe three or four inches deep with water. "Sadly, I didn't see the dog but there are increased numbers of people, many not from the area, out walking with dogs not on leads. That ram cost me 500 and for someone to be careless like this is disgusting," she said. Another farmer near Broughshane said he is turning walkers off his land almost weekly. He said: "A few days ago I was installing a water pipe and drinker for my sheep when a group of six people came walking along my lane towards me with dogs, some not on leads. "On the other side of the fence are sheep and young lambs so I asked if I could help them. One lady thought my lane was a right of way to the main road but I told her it is private. "We have had problems in the past with lambs being killed but it's with this outbreak that I have felt stronger about trespassers and potentially spreading infection climbing gates." A Ballynahinch farmer has also lost 2,500 after dogs killed three of her pedigree Texel ewes which were in lamb. Ulster Farmers' Union beef and sheep committee chairman Sam Chesney said the public need to realise the dangers of letting dogs off leads. "The UFU is very concerned about the number of reports we are receiving about dog attacks which seem to have escalated with the virus crisis," he said. Hours after Bollywood producer Karim Morani revealed that his daughter Shaza Morani had tested positive for COVID-19, her actor-sister Zoa has also been infected, according to family sources. Shaza, who had returned from Sri Lanka in the first week of March, showed no symptoms but was admitted to Nanavati Hospital here, on Monday. According to sources, Zoa, who had returned from Rajasthan around mid-March, tested positive for COVID-19. "She had tested today for COVID-19 and her results came positive by evening. She is in Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, whereas Shaza is under medication at Nanavati. "Shaza will be tested again after two days. As of now, the immediate family, house helps are also getting tested. They are all under quarantine," a source told PTI. Earlier in the day, Morani had said that both the daughters were under observation. "Shaza had no symptoms but has tested positive. Zoa, my other daughter, has a few symptoms so we got both of them tested. Zoa, however, tested negative. Both have been admitted to Nanavati hospital. They are in isolation and under observation," Morani had said. The producer has backed many Bollywood films, including Shah Rukh Khan's "Ra.One", "Chennai Express", "Happy New Year" and "Dilwale". As of Monday evening, the number of coronavirus cases rose to 4,281 in India with the pandemic claiming 111 lives. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Norman Harsono & Wahyoe Boediwardhana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta, Surabaya Mon, April 6, 2020 Indonesia's plan to roll out sugarcane-based biogasoline will miss another deadline this year as upstream problems in the countrys sugarcane heartland remain unsolved. The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry issued five years ago a regulation mandating the nationwide use of 10 percent bioethanol-mixed gasoline (E10) starting this year, an increase from 2 percent in 2015, yet the target has still not been achieved. The biogasoline will be made from molasses, a byproduct of sugar production. However, a sugarcane farmers association in East Java, a province that accounts for half of domestic production, told The Jakarta Post that crop productivity had actually been falling over the past four years. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Victoria and NSW are poised to face deep recessions due to the coronavirus pandemic with warnings their economic dependence on tourism and education have put them at particular risk from the looming slowdown. As the nation's debt agency sold $2 billion of debt to cover the cost of the Morrison government's vast efforts to stabilise the economy and protect workers' incomes, Westpac analysts said the nation's economic powerhouses would suffer the most from the coronavirus and efforts to stop its spread. The heavy dependence of the NSW and Victorian economies on tourism and education have left them particularly exposed. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer The government has conceded the nation is unlikely to avoid recession with some economists tipping the economy could contract by up to 10 per cent in the current June quarter alone. But the shutdowns, bans on international travel and social distancing arrangements will affect the various states in different ways. TDT | Manama An 81-year-old Bahraini is among those who have recovered from the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease and been discharged from the treatment and quarantine facilities. According to the Ministry of Health website, the elderly man had tested positive upon his arrival at Bahrain International Airport in late February, after travelling back to the Kingdom from Iran. He is one of a total of 431 individuals who already fought the virus and recovered. This is following an additional four treated cases announced yesterday by the Health Ministry. The total number of active cases as of last night was 265, of which three were indicated as critical. There is another 81-year old Bahraini still amongst the active cases. The woman tested positive as a contact of another positive case. She had reported this after being present at one of the locations of the other active case. The oldest active case in Bahrain is one of an 87-year old Bahraini man, who had arrived from Germany last month and was also in contact with another active case. The number of total tested so far is 44,386. You might not think your local booze maker is going to have what you need during a public health crisis. But they really just might. As the United States faces a pandemic, concerned denizens have made moves to protect themselves, stocking up on disinfectants, masks, gloves, and, especially, hand sanitizer. The alcohol-based disinfectant is a quick-acting first line of defense that doesnt require a stop in the restroom. But by the second week in March, stores and online sources were reporting that they had run out of supply. On March 20, the FDA issued new relaxed emergency guidelines for the making of hand sanitizer to provide flexibility to help meet demand during this outbreak. Rather than wait for the market to catch up, local distillers realized they could swap over from liquor production to provide immediate assistance to their communities. Loon Liquor Co. Loon Liquor Co. is a distillery in Northfield, Minnesota (pop. 21,000), co-founded in 2011 by high-school friends Mark Schiller and Simeon Rossi. Rossi had invited Schiller to a White Russian party where he served drinks made with his homemade coffee liqueur, and the idea for the distillery was born. Today, they produce thousands of gallons of vodka, gin, whiskey, and several liqueurs each year. Earlier in March, Schiller started looking into producing sanitizer just for the distillery cocktail room but saw varying standards online. I didnt want to do this for the public until I received guidance, he said. On March 18, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) released a statement that allowed any Distilled Spirits Permittee to start producing sanitizer immediately if following the posted WHO guidelines, a recipe that calls for 80 percent ethanol (or 75 percent isopropyl alcohol), 1.45 percent glycerol, and 0.125 percent hydrogen peroxide. Im producing 95 percent alcohol to make vodka. Ive got way over that, Schiller said. They needed to mix down that 95 percent base alcohol to the proper specification. Any distiller knows how to do this. We do this all day long, Schiller said. For the two ingredients they didnt have, glycerol and hydrogen peroxide, they reached out to their local cleaning supply company, Triton Chemical, to purchase five gallons of each. The company gladly donated both. Said Schiller, We had a whole batch [of base spirit] ready to be turned into product, the equivalent of about 1,000 bottles of liquor. We took all of it and put it immediately into sanitizer. We said, The community needs it more than us. Within 20 hours of the TTB press release, they started supplying to the public. At the moment, most of their production is prioritized for organizations with essential personnel, but they also have a limited supply of six-ounce bottles to go along with their curbside liquor sales pickups. So far, a mix of donations and sales have covered the costs. Dancing Goat Distillery From Cambridge, Wisconsin, a town of less than 1,600, Nick Brady Maas, head distiller of Dancing Goat Distillery answered questions by phone while in the middle of making a batch of sanitizer. They had shut down the distillery earlier in March, even before the state called for the closing of non-essential businesses, but people started begging me to make [hand sanitizer]. Adults calling, begging, Maas said in disbelief. We decided we could no longer not make it. So they re-opened for production only, but with staff limited to two people at a time in separate areas of the distillery to safeguard their health. Jugs of hand sanitizer at Dancing Goat Distillery. (Courtesy of Dancing Goat Distillery) Dancing Goat Distillery produced their first batch of sanitizer with their own vodka, a very expensive endeavor with organic grains selected for flavor, not necessarily efficiency in alcohol production. Now, because they have the ability to do so, they are buying tanks of alcohol to make larger amounts of sanitizer more quickly. We made 1,200 gallons this week, and its all gone, Maas said. Were getting people calling us saying, Well take everything you can make us. Thats fire departments, the state of Wisconsin, the state of Illinois, railroads, trucking companies. The need is overwhelming. They are not fielding requests from consumers for small bottles, but focusing on large quantities for first responders. We try to get our costs covered, and were getting donations, said Maas. Anything earned from sales goes into buying more supplies. All of the labor is donation. When asked about the future, Maas simply stated: Im not an epidemiologist. As long as the community needs us to produce, were going to produce. Hand sanitizer in the making at the Dancing Goat Distillery in Cambridge, Wis. (Courtesy of Dancing Goat Distillery) The Little Boats At the time of writing, the American Craft Spirits Association estimated that 75 percent of the roughly 2,000 craft distilleries in the United States are producing or planning to produce hand sanitizer. Schiller at Loon Liquor Co. came up with an analogy. You know the story of Dunkirk? he asked. In the Battle of Dunkirk, during World War II, the retreating British army had backed up against the sea along the French coast, pinned down by the advancing Nazi military. Because of damaged docks and the strafing Luftwaffe, the navy was unable to move larger ships in for an effective evacuation. Hundreds of private fishing vessels, pleasure cruisers, and ferries from all over the UK came together and managed to land on the beach to help save more than 330,000 souls. All of us, the little microdistilleries that have the capacity to do it? Were the little boats. Kevin Revolinski is an avid traveler and the author of 15 books, including The Yogurt Man Cometh: Tales of an American Teacher in Turkey and several outdoor and brewery guidebooks. He is based in Madison, Wis., and his website is TheMadTraveler.com A New York Muslim firefighter has tested positive for coronavirus after three Jewish teenagers allegedly deliberately sneezed in his face. Omar Sattar, whose father was convicted of terrorism offenses in 2005, was reportedly sneezed on by a group of Hasidic youths in Borough Park, Brooklyn. The 33-year-old was said to have been inspecting a hydrant when he was approached by 'three Hasidic Jewish teens' on March 18. In a letter to the FDNY's chief of operations, Thomas Richardson, Lt. Kasey Koslowski alleges that Sattar was 'taunted' by the group who 'asked him if he was afraid of the coronavirus'. According to the New York Post, the trio then ran away after the alleged sneeze attack. Omar Sattar was allegedly inspecting a hydrant in Brooklyn when three Jewish teenagers sneezed in his face The letter states: 'After repeated attempts to keep [his] distance from the boys, one of them sneezed into his face and they ran off.' Four days later Sattar then began suffering from flu-like symptoms and tested for coronavirus. He was placed on medical leave on March 24 while awaiting the results, which came back positive on March 27. Koslowski's letter goes on to say that although it cannot be certain the incident led to Satter's illness, it shows a 'lack of disregard' for New York's lockdown. It read: 'Although we will not be able to tell if this positive COVID-19 test result is a direct outcome of the previous incident, what we do know is the continued lack of disregard by the citizens of [Borough] Park for the state of emergency policy. 'In a time when personal space and social distancing is at an all-time high, it is going to take a cumulative effort from everyone to defeat this virus, including the residents of [Borough] Park.' Assemblyman Dov Hikind said the incident described in the FDNY letter is 'sick and outrageous'. He is pictured during a protest outside The New York Times offices last March Ahmed Abdel Sattar who was convicted of issuing a fatwa against Jews Ahmed Abdel Sattar was an associate of the late radical Egyptian cleric, Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman. Abdel-Rahman was the blind cleric who masterminded the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center in which six people died. Abdel-Rahman and his co-conspirators were also convicted of plotting to bomb New York landmarks, tunnels, and bridges. Ahmed Abdel Sattar, of Staten Island, was convicted by federal authorities in 2005 of 'soliciting crimes of violence' and conspiracy to murder Jews. He is currently serving a 24-year prison sentence in the federal penitentiary in Marion, Illinois. Abdel Sattar, the Egyptian-born postal worker, was also tried by the government for issuing a fatwa, which called for the killing of Jews. Abdel Sattar long maintained his innocence, claiming the charges against him were part of a conspiracy orchestrated by the former Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak. Advertisement The FDNY dismissed the letter as 'not official', with spokesman Jim Long telling the Post that, 'we cannot comment on the veracity of the report'. Long added that as of Saturday, 426 FDNY members, including EMS, firefighters and civilians, are off sick with confirmed COVID-19, with a total of 3,000 on medical leave believed to have the virus. Former Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind, who is Orthodox Jewish, said the incident described in the letter is 'sick and outrageous'. He denounced 'a minority' in the religious community who are rejecting social-distancing restrictions during the coronavirus crisis. In particular, one such incident included Hasidic Jews gathering in Brooklyn for the funeral of a rabbi who died of coronavirus. The religious community flouted social distancing rules and held at least two packed funerals on the streets of Brooklyn on Sunday. Police tried to disperse the crowds by ordering attendees to leave the area using loud speakers. Orthodox neighborhoods are understood to be at higher risk of contracting the virus due to their close-nit communities, according to authorities. Four heavily Orthodox areas of Brooklyn have especially high rates of coronavirus, according to data released by this citys Department of Health last week. Sattar is the eldest son of Ahmed Abdel Sattar, who was an associate of radical Egyptian cleric Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman - the mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing in which six people died. Ahmed Abdel Sattar (right) leaving a mosque in the Brooklyn borough of New York in July 1993, with Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman (left). In 2005, Ahmed Sattar was convicted of 'soliciting crimes of violence' and conspiracy to murder Jews In 2005, Ahmed Sattar was convicted of 'soliciting crimes of violence' and conspiracy to murder Jews. Ahmed Sattar, now 60, was sentenced Ahmed Sattar to 24 years in prison by a Manhattan Federal Court judge. The court found the postal-service worker was an extremist who used his home in Staten Island as a communications for the late blind cleric, Abdel-Rahman. He was also tried by the government for issuing a fatwa, which called for the killing of Jews. His son, Omar Sattar, who was 18 at the time, wrote a letter to the sentencing judge asking for leniency for his father. He wrote: 'I know that he did not commit any crimes or plan to. I feel that an injustice has been done. My father is a man of honesty and kindness, he wouldn't attempt to hurt anyone or even think about it.' What is the coronavirus? A coronavirus is a type of virus which can cause illness in animals and people. Viruses break into cells inside their host and use them to reproduce itself and disrupt the body's normal functions. Coronaviruses are named after the Latin word 'corona', which means crown, because they are encased by a spiked shell which resembles a royal crown. The coronavirus from Wuhan is one which has never been seen before this outbreak. It has been named SARS-CoV-2 by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. The name stands for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2. Experts say the bug, which has killed around one in 50 patients since the outbreak began in December, is a 'sister' of the SARS illness which hit China in 2002, so has been named after it. The disease that the virus causes has been named COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019. Dr Helena Maier, from the Pirbright Institute, said: 'Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that infect a wide range of different species including humans, cattle, pigs, chickens, dogs, cats and wild animals. 'Until this new coronavirus was identified, there were only six different coronaviruses known to infect humans. Four of these cause a mild common cold-type illness, but since 2002 there has been the emergence of two new coronaviruses that can infect humans and result in more severe disease (Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronaviruses). 'Coronaviruses are known to be able to occasionally jump from one species to another and that is what happened in the case of SARS, MERS and the new coronavirus. The animal origin of the new coronavirus is not yet known.' The first human cases were publicly reported from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where approximately 11million people live, after medics first started publicly reporting infections on December 31. By January 8, 59 suspected cases had been reported and seven people were in critical condition. Tests were developed for the new virus and recorded cases started to surge. The first person died that week and, by January 16, two were dead and 41 cases were confirmed. The next day, scientists predicted that 1,700 people had become infected, possibly up to 7,000. Where does the virus come from? According to scientists, the virus almost certainly came from bats. Coronaviruses in general tend to originate in animals the similar SARS and MERS viruses are believed to have originated in civet cats and camels, respectively. The first cases of COVID-19 came from people visiting or working in a live animal market in Wuhan, which has since been closed down for investigation. Although the market is officially a seafood market, other dead and living animals were being sold there, including wolf cubs, salamanders, snakes, peacocks, porcupines and camel meat. A study by the Wuhan Institute of Virology, published in February 2020 in the scientific journal Nature, found that the genetic make-up virus samples found in patients in China is 96 per cent identical to a coronavirus they found in bats. However, there were not many bats at the market so scientists say it was likely there was an animal which acted as a middle-man, contracting it from a bat before then transmitting it to a human. It has not yet been confirmed what type of animal this was. Dr Michael Skinner, a virologist at Imperial College London, was not involved with the research but said: 'The discovery definitely places the origin of nCoV in bats in China. 'We still do not know whether another species served as an intermediate host to amplify the virus, and possibly even to bring it to the market, nor what species that host might have been.' So far the fatalities are quite low. Why are health experts so worried about it? Experts say the international community is concerned about the virus because so little is known about it and it appears to be spreading quickly. It is similar to SARS, which infected 8,000 people and killed nearly 800 in an outbreak in Asia in 2003, in that it is a type of coronavirus which infects humans' lungs. It is less deadly than SARS, however, which killed around one in 10 people, compared to approximately one in 50 for COVID-19. Another reason for concern is that nobody has any immunity to the virus because they've never encountered it before. This means it may be able to cause more damage than viruses we come across often, like the flu or common cold. Speaking at a briefing in January, Oxford University professor, Dr Peter Horby, said: 'Novel viruses can spread much faster through the population than viruses which circulate all the time because we have no immunity to them. 'Most seasonal flu viruses have a case fatality rate of less than one in 1,000 people. Here we're talking about a virus where we don't understand fully the severity spectrum but it's possible the case fatality rate could be as high as two per cent.' If the death rate is truly two per cent, that means two out of every 100 patients who get it will die. 'My feeling is it's lower,' Dr Horby added. 'We're probably missing this iceberg of milder cases. But that's the current circumstance we're in. 'Two per cent case fatality rate is comparable to the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918 so it is a significant concern globally.' How does the virus spread? The illness can spread between people just through coughs and sneezes, making it an extremely contagious infection. And it may also spread even before someone has symptoms. It is believed to travel in the saliva and even through water in the eyes, therefore close contact, kissing, and sharing cutlery or utensils are all risky. It can also live on surfaces, such as plastic and steel, for up to 72 hours, meaning people can catch it by touching contaminated surfaces. Originally, people were thought to be catching it from a live animal market in Wuhan city. But cases soon began to emerge in people who had never been there, which forced medics to realise it was spreading from person to person. What does the virus do to you? What are the symptoms? Once someone has caught the COVID-19 virus it may take between two and 14 days, or even longer, for them to show any symptoms but they may still be contagious during this time. If and when they do become ill, typical signs include a runny nose, a cough, sore throat and a fever (high temperature). The vast majority of patients will recover from these without any issues, and many will need no medical help at all. In a small group of patients, who seem mainly to be the elderly or those with long-term illnesses, it can lead to pneumonia. Pneumonia is an infection in which the insides of the lungs swell up and fill with fluid. It makes it increasingly difficult to breathe and, if left untreated, can be fatal and suffocate people. Figures are showing that young children do not seem to be particularly badly affected by the virus, which they say is peculiar considering their susceptibility to flu, but it is not clear why. What have genetic tests revealed about the virus? Scientists in China have recorded the genetic sequences of around 19 strains of the virus and released them to experts working around the world. This allows others to study them, develop tests and potentially look into treating the illness they cause. Examinations have revealed the coronavirus did not change much changing is known as mutating much during the early stages of its spread. However, the director-general of China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Gao Fu, said the virus was mutating and adapting as it spread through people. This means efforts to study the virus and to potentially control it may be made extra difficult because the virus might look different every time scientists analyse it. More study may be able to reveal whether the virus first infected a small number of people then change and spread from them, or whether there were various versions of the virus coming from animals which have developed separately. How dangerous is the virus? The virus has a death rate of around two per cent. This is a similar death rate to the Spanish Flu outbreak which, in 1918, went on to kill around 50million people. Experts have been conflicted since the beginning of the outbreak about whether the true number of people who are infected is significantly higher than the official numbers of recorded cases. Some people are expected to have such mild symptoms that they never even realise they are ill unless they're tested, so only the more serious cases get discovered, making the death toll seem higher than it really is. However, an investigation into government surveillance in China said it had found no reason to believe this was true. Dr Bruce Aylward, a World Health Organization official who went on a mission to China, said there was no evidence that figures were only showing the tip of the iceberg, and said recording appeared to be accurate, Stat News reported. Can the virus be cured? The COVID-19 virus cannot be cured and it is proving difficult to contain. Antibiotics do not work against viruses, so they are out of the question. Antiviral drugs can work, but the process of understanding a virus then developing and producing drugs to treat it would take years and huge amounts of money. No vaccine exists for the coronavirus yet and it's not likely one will be developed in time to be of any use in this outbreak, for similar reasons to the above. The National Institutes of Health in the US, and Baylor University in Waco, Texas, say they are working on a vaccine based on what they know about coronaviruses in general, using information from the SARS outbreak. But this may take a year or more to develop, according to Pharmaceutical Technology. Currently, governments and health authorities are working to contain the virus and to care for patients who are sick and stop them infecting other people. People who catch the illness are being quarantined in hospitals, where their symptoms can be treated and they will be away from the uninfected public. And airports around the world are putting in place screening measures such as having doctors on-site, taking people's temperatures to check for fevers and using thermal screening to spot those who might be ill (infection causes a raised temperature). However, it can take weeks for symptoms to appear, so there is only a small likelihood that patients will be spotted up in an airport. Is this outbreak an epidemic or a pandemic? The outbreak was declared a pandemic on March 11. A pandemic is defined by the World Health Organization as the 'worldwide spread of a new disease'. Previously, the UN agency said most cases outside of Hubei had been 'spillover' from the epicentre, so the disease wasn't actually spreading actively around the world. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 6 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has today signed a Decree pardoning 176 prisoners aged over 65. The Decree says the decision on pardon was made after considering appeals of convicts over the age of 65 who are in need of special care due to their age and health in connection with the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in the world, as well as their family members to the head of state, taking into account the health state of convicts, their behavior during the conviction, and being guided by the principles of humanism. Under the Decree, 176 convicts aged over 65 are released from the unserved part of their prison sentence. What makes this Passover different from all other Passovers? With the coronavirus resembling a plague of biblical proportions and requiring stringent social distancing, the only guests at this years festivities may be from the Haggadah: a prayer book that guides celebrants through the 14-part ceremonial dinner known as the Seder. The Haggadahs pages are filled with classic Passover characters like Moses, Pharaoh, Elijah the Prophet and Harry Potter. Even as the Haggadah continues to document millenniums-old traditions in Hebrew and Aramaic text, editions released in recent years have also begun to incorporate modern themes like abstract concepts (memory), political realities (refugees, presidents) and pop culture icons (Jerry Seinfeld, emoji!), as well as works from authors like Jonathan Safran Foer, or the late Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel. They have been produced with the zeal and creative interpretations that are often seen in fan fiction. Thats the wonderful thing about Judaism: Its the most do-it-yourself religion, the humor writer Dave Barry said. You dont even have to be Jewish to rewrite Jewish texts. Mr. Barry, for example, is the son of a Presbyterian minister, though that did not stop him from writing For This We Left Egypt? with Alan Zweibel and Adam Mansbach, both of whom are Jewish. (Mr. Barry is married to a Jewish woman, has a Jewish daughter and has attended a fair share of seders.) A hospital closure crisis has been creeping across rural swaths of Texas for years, leaving thousands of people without easy access to health care. The coronavirus pandemic could make it even worse. No matter how the spread of the coronavirus unfolds whether it infects large numbers of people or leaves communities relatively unscathed health executives say the pandemic could wreak havoc on rural hospitals. Already struggling to recruit staff, some of those hospitals may not have enough nurses and doctors to treat a massive influx of patients. The pandemic also has threatened their financial well-being. With elective procedures postponed, revenue is plunging and hospitals are hemorrhaging cash in order to keep the doors open. On ExpressNews.com: A timeline of COVID-19 in San Antonio Even as more and more counties report cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, some hospitals have been forced to send staff members home and cut their hours. The problem were having is not the surges, its the complete opposite: We have no patients, said John Graves, CEO of Dimmit Regional Hospital in South Texas. Everybody is doing the right thing theyre staying home, which is what we want but its a major disruption to health care in general in rural communities. Across the nation, about one-fourth of all rural hospitals are considered vulnerable to closure. The crisis is particularly acute in Texas: In the 1960s, there were 300 hospitals in rural Texas, according to the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals. Today, there are 158. More than a dozen are in rural counties near San Antonio. Over the last decade, Texas has experienced the highest number of hospital closures of all U.S. states, a trend blamed on declining reimbursements from government insurers, rising operating costs, shrinking populations in rural communities and a growing number of medical bills that patients cant afford to pay. Industry experts and hospital administrators fear that added costs from the pandemic could push some hospitals over the edge sooner than anyone expected. Dimmit Regional Hospital is the only one serving about 22,000 people in Dimmit and Zavala counties, close to the U.S.-Mexico border. The nearest major cities are Laredo, 80 miles away, and San Antonio, 116 miles away. The hospital serves as the regions primary laboratory, medical imaging and health care hub. With 25 licensed beds, Dimmit Regional typically cares for half a dozen patients at a time. The number can increase to 20 during flu season. Patients needing higher levels of care are transferred to medical centers in major cities. On ExpressNews.com: Ventilators can be key to surviving COVID-19. Does San Antonio have enough? When Graves arrived for work on the last Monday in March, there were only two patients. Because Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered hospitals to postpone or cancel all procedures that are not immediately medically necessary, Graves said there werent the usual number of people seeking outpatient care such as testing and minor procedures. Those procedures are some of the largest moneymakers for his hospital. That is killing us financially, Graves said. In March, patient volume dropped by an estimated 40 percent. Graves recently moved to cut hours for most of the staff by 20 percent. Hes also asking employees to go home if they arent needed to care for patients. Texas hospitals are mandated to have an emergency room, inpatient capabilities, and lab and radiology services. But if a hospital cant afford to stay open, it can step down services for example, by providing an emergency room and shuttering other services. I dont have cash reserves, Graves said. Within the next two pay periods, Im going to have to look at getting a line of credit just to cover my payroll. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio area sees increase in novel coronavirus cases Health policy experts say the coronavirus pandemic could widen the health care gap between rural and urban areas even further. Rural Americans are more likely to be older and disabled. They have higher rates of poverty and are less likely to have health insurance. The hospitals that care for them are often among the largest employers in their communities. When they close or lay off staff, the local economy suffers. So does public health. Im sending home staff who are now not getting their hours, and they could be the sole breadwinner in their household and their significant other is already not working, said Lynn Falcone, CEO of Cuero Regional Hospital in DeWitt County (population: 20,000), southeast of San Antonio. Its just going to have a huge economic impact on our staff and our community. The hospital has cut employees hours by at least 20 percent as patient volume has dropped, Falcone said. At the same time, the hospital is bracing for a wave of COVID-19 patients that could force employees to work double overtime shifts. You feel very psychotic sitting in the middle of that, Falcone said. Staffing shortages Although most of the COVID-19 cases have been clustered in metropolitan areas, the states first death was reported in rural Texas. On March 16, a 97-year-old man died at Matagorda Regional Medical Center in Bay City. Today, at least 157 Texas counties are reporting cases, and dozens of Texans have died. The virus has, however, been slower to spread across Texas sparsely populated communities, giving health executives more time to prepare. About an hours drive southwest of San Antonio on Interstate 35, Frio Regional Hospital in Pearsall has been planning for a surge for weeks. John Hughson, the hospitals CEO, said his staff canceled all elective procedures two weeks before the governor issued his order. On ExpressNews.com: Planning for the worst, hoping for the best: San Antonio hospitals brace for surge With rules on hospital capacity waived because of the crisis, the hospital began mulling how to add more beds than the 25 it is licensed for. Last week, Frio Regional set up a drive-through COVID-19 testing clinic in its parking lot. Its the only one serving surrounding rural counties, and since it opened, patients have driven from as far as Carrizo Springs 60 miles away for testing. Like many other hospital executives, Hughson said he is concerned that a sudden spike in patients could overwhelm his hospitals supply of face masks, gowns and gloves. But his biggest concern isnt running out of protective gear, hospital beds or ventilators its whether hell have enough doctors and nurses. For years, health executives in small Texas towns have struggled to find nurses and doctors. Last year, 32 counties had no primary care physicians at all, according to state data. Within the next decade, Texas is expected to face a shortage of almost 16,000 registered nurses, a problem expected in urban hubs as well as rural areas. Even while offering $12,000 signing and referral bonuses, Frio Regional has found it difficult to recruit medical staff. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio hospitals cut hours, furlough workers even in face of pandemic Nursing is in short supply everywhere; San Antonio struggles in recruiting and retaining licensed nurses, Hughson said. We have the same challenges. Hughson and other rural health executives worry about what will happen if their own staff members fall ill or need to be quarantined. Hughson has laid plans to hire medics and life-flight nurses to care for patients if the need arises. A major metropolitan hospital could absorb the loss of one physician to quarantine. But Frio Regional employs just two physicians and two advanced practitioners, plus a contracted nurse anesthetist. Losing even one of those people to illness would cause serious problems for patient care. Its not so much that space is an issue. We can deal with space, and we can deal with large numbers of people, Hughson said. Its really challenging to find the staff to do that. Are you a health care worker, hospital administrator or employee on the front lines of the pandemic? We want to hear from you. Marina Starleaf Riker is an investigative reporter for the San Antonio Express-News with extensive experience covering affordable housing, inequality and disaster recovery. To read more from Marina, become a subscriber. marina.riker@express-news.net | Twitter: @MarinaStarleaf The batch of COVID-19 tests will be ready next week The Ministry of Health of Ukraine will receive a batch of Ukrainian PCR tests next week. Deputy Health Minister Viktor Lyashko informed about it during a briefing that was broadcasted by 112 Ukraine TV channel. He added that the Ukrainian manufacturer would provide 20 thousand PCR systems, which would allow testing about two million people. "The Ukrainian manufacturer is ready to produce about a thousand PCR tests a day, and this will allow us to cover all the need for testing that is needed in order to respond to outbreaks of a coronavirus epidemic in Ukraine," Lyashko said. As we reported earlier, the general number of people infected with COVID-19 in Ukraine grew to 1,319. The Healthcare Ministry reported that, claiming 68 new cases over the last 24 hours. The largest number of cases is observed in Kyiv (234), Chernivtsi region (220), Ternopil region (160), Ivano-Frankivsk region (116). 14,205 people turned to Ukrainian consulate institutions within the Protection system presented by the Foreign Ministry. A pro-China Labor MP has copped a wave of criticism for an opinion piece praising Beijing and accusing the Australian media of spreading racial hatred. NSW MP Shaoquett Moselmane made the remarks in a February essay for the East China Normal University, where he praised Xi Jinping's handling of the coronavirus crisis and lashed out at anti-China racism in Australia. 'Today, media xenophobia and full-scale war against China have become the norm,' the Assistant President of the State's Legislative Council wrote in the opinion piece, seen by the Sydney Morning Herald. 'Today, the obsolete scum of "white Australia" is once again flooding, and the theory of yellow fever has once again surfaced. 'Some mainstream media have bred and spread these racial viruses in our multicultural community with the purpose of inciting hatred.' Shaoquett Moselmane (left) says 'obsolete scum of white Australia is flooding Australia's mainstream media Shaoquett Moselmane (above) is known in the New South Wales Labor Party for his pro-China views and praise of Xi Jinping In response New South Wales opposition leader Jodi McKay distanced herself from Mr Moselmane. 'They are not the views nor are they views held by the New South Wales Parliamentary Labor Party,' she said in a statement. 'I have spoken to Mr Moselmane and have indicated his comments were inappropriate, particularly given what New South Wales is currently dealing with.' But former Federal Labor Party leader turned One Nation MP Mark Latham told Daily Mail Australia on Monday, Moselmane 'has to go'. 'He has to go as Assistant President, he is the Presiding Officer of the Chamber on an extra $57,000 per year and his comments are completely unacceptable,' he said. According to Latham, who is now the New South Wales One Nation Party leader, Moselmane's behaviour is part of a pattern. 'We had Sam Dastyari , we had Aldi bags full of money now you've got someone the Labor Party supported to be Assistant President in the (state's) Upper House parodying Chinese Community Party Propaganda,' he said. New South Wales One Nation leader Mark Latham (above) says Mr Moselmane's comments are fantasy and unacceptable Xi Jinping (above) and China's authoritarian regime have faced international scrutiny over their handling of the coronavirus crisis Mr Latham said it's a 'fantasy' to believe China has done a good job during the coronavirus emergency. 'China has been a problem every step of the way,' 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 'In reality, China has acted like a rogue state failing to close these wet markets, not giving proper international notification as to what was going on earlier this year and not providing all the records from the Wuhan Seafood Market (where the outbreak began) so that scientists can develop a vaccine.' Mr Moselmane has made nine privately-funded trips to China since entering parliament in 2009, with his transport and hospitality costs usually paid for by government officials or agencies connected to the Communist regime. Days ago he also came under fire for a similar opinion essay titled A Nation in Crisis Needs Leadership which was posted to his website. Mr Moselmane described the Chinese President's authoritarian leadership style during the coronavirus crisis as 'emphatic' and 'decisive'. 'President Xi stepped up and provided that leadership. He mustered the resources of the nation and together with the great people of China fought it and contained it,' he said. 'The combined phenomenal effort of the state and the people in the fight to contain the virus was breathtaking.' Li Wenliang is pictured at the Central Hospital of Wuhan in China's Hubei Province hooked up to a respirator suffering from COVID-19 Chinese residents gather to pay their respects to Li Wenliang who is now seen a hero in China after public anger on social media led to his exoneration China has come under scrutiny since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Li Wenliang, a doctor who tried to warn of 'a new SARS' virus in early December, was arrested by authorities and forced to sign a confession admitting to 'spreading false rumours'. He later died of coronavirus in February. But due to public anger inside China, an investigation officially exonerated the 33-year-old. 'It's unlikely China will take responsibility in any way because of the risk that carries in terms of China's domestic population,' Natasha Kassam, a China expert at the Lowy Institute told Daily Mail Australia. 'I don't think we will ever really know what happened, it's an extraordinarily opaque system and those early days will remain opaque. 'China's recent propaganda push aimed at how they can help other countries struggling with the virus is based in part on their actual expertise gained through this pandemic, but also an attempt to rewrite history.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Moselmane's office for comment. Hujan wants their fans to enjoy their music while staying safe at home during the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia. 6 Apr One way for fans of Malaysian rock band Hujan to stave off their boredom at home is by blasting the band's music all day long! "We miss performing in front of you guys but in the meantime, do enjoy our latest additions via digital platforms from the comfort of your home," the band recently posted on their Instagram. The post was to announce the release of their 2018 album "Suria" and 2020 album "Pelangi Dan Kau" on various digital platforms such as Joox, YouTube Music and Spotify. So now their fans or Raingers, as the band affectionately calls them can enjoy their songs anytime, anywhere. Anywhere at home, that is. They also reminded their fans: "Let's stay home and do our part to fight this Corona Virus." Hujan posted this on Instagram announcing their albums' release on digital platforms. Currently, Malaysians are on week 3 of the Movement Control Order (MCO) enforced by the local government since 18 March to stop the spread of COVID-19. Originally set for two weeks, it was later extended to this 14 April. The MCO requires everyone in the country to stay at home (though this doesn't apply to essential workers and front-liners, obviously), except for infrequent trips to the outside world to replenish grocery stock or for medical needs. As it also prohibits large gatherings, a couple of shows that Hujan was supposed to perform at, such as "Let's Rock Cancer Malaysia Concert x UUM" and "Riot Fest 2020", have also been postponed until further notice. (Photo source: Hujan's Facebook) Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday donated Rs 1 crore to state-run St George Hospital, which has been converted into an exclusive facility to treat COVID-19 patients in the metropolis. The former Union minister has sent a letter to the director of the Maharashtra government's medical education department informing about his donation of Rs 1 crore to the hospital from his MP Local Area Development Scheme, a state Congress spokesperson said here. An official of the deparment said the money donated by Chidambaram will be used to buy medical equipment and protective gear needed in the fight againsst coronavirus. It would be helpful for the state to purchase two digital portable X-ray machines, 10 para-monitors, four defibrillators, four suction machines and some 2,000 PPE (personal protective equipment) kits, among others, he said. Chidambaram is a Rajya Sabha member from Maharashtra. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Executive Director of Child Rights International (CRI), Mr Bright Appiah, has applauded President Akufo-Addos decision to roll out social protection programmes to support the vulnerable and frontline workers in the wake of the global coronavirus pandemic. According to him, the presidents address to the nation on Sunday, demonstrates his resolve to ensuring that every citizen, particularly, the vulnerable groups and frontline workers are not left to their fate and are catered for. Appiah added that the gesture of the president does not only address the needs of the vulnerable groups and frontline workers but also builds the confidence of citizens to obey directives and collectively fight the pandemic. So far, the President has done so well in handling the coronavirus situation in the country. CRI believes he deserves commendation, Mr Appiah added. Earlier before the statement, the CRIs Director expressed concerns regarding measures being put in place to protect the vulnerable in society. Mr Appiah expressed worry that if proper mechanisms were not put in place to protect the vulnerable following the partial lockdown as a result of the COVID-19, a lot could go wrong for the entire nation. No matter the decision you make the welfare of the vulnerable must first be a greater consideration in the decision making, he said. Mr Appiah, therefore, said the measures announced by President Nana Addo on Sunday goes a long way to offer certain protections for the vulnerable. He said the responsibility now rests on state agencies and key institutions to ensure that every single action of the President was implemented fully. He urged the private sector and corporate bodies to follow suit to demonstrate their commitment through their corporate social responsibility programmes. We are all in it together, he noted. Mr Appiah also stressed the need for non-governmental organisations to also come out and emulate the examples set by the government by announcing their own social protection programmes in the communities they operate. This is the time we expect NGOs to also come out and assist the government by rolling out their social protection programmes for the vulnerable, he said. 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 Hassan Zaggi, President of Association of Nigeria Health Journalists (ANHEJ), has advised the Federal Government against accepting the medical team from China to fight Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country. Zaggi, who gave the advice in Abuja, said that Nigerian health experts could handle COVID-19. The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, had on Friday at Ministerial Press briefing on COVID-19 announced that 18-man team of Chinese medical experts would soon be coming to support the country. The medical team, comprising doctors, nurses and public health advisers, are coming to the country courtesy of a group of Chinese companies working in Nigeria. We appreciate China for accepting to come and support our effort in containing COVID-19 in Nigeria. However, in my opinion, I dont think we need them; we do not need China. As it is now, our health experts are not overwhelmed; they are doing well as far as I am concerned in handling the pandemic in Nigeria. Even though our confirmed COVID-19 cases are rising on a daily basis, however, when you also take a cursory look at the efforts of our medical experts, you will discover that they are doing well. Zaggi noted that some medical experts and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) had earlier called on the government to take a different approach in combating the disease. He said that even though the Chinese doctors had some experience in handling COVID-19 because it originated from them, Nigerian doctors had been doing exceptionally well in managing the situation here. The only thing the Federal Government needs to do is to provide the enabling environment for our medical and health professionals in the country. There should be incentives that will motivate them to put in their best. Considering the risk involved in managing the COVID-19, our medical experts should be given life insurance and good allowances, bearing in mind that they are currently working 24/7, he said. Zaggi expressed optimism that medical experts in the country who treated Ebola would do their best in curbing the pandemic. As I mentioned earlier, our medical experts only need enabling environment and motivation; with well-equiped health facilities and a secured environment, our medical team has the capacity to do wonders at this crucial moment. ANHEJ is excited with level of financial and material support coming from wealthy Nigerians, corporate organisations, including religious bodies, for the fight against the COVID-19, he said. The official, however, called on the Federal Government to ensure the judicious use of the funds, block all avenues of wastages, misappropriation and even outright embezzlement State governments should also mobilise similar funds in their various states so that they can be fully prepared for any eventuality. States that are yet to record COVID-19 cases should tighten all loose areas and entry points and ensure that they sustain the tempo and continue to remain without a case. They should prepare in case the unexpected happens, he said Zaggi also urged the Federal Government to recruit more hands to assist in contact tracing of all those who are suspected to have had contact with any suspected cases. I, therefore, call on all Nigerians to support all initiatives put forward by the government at both the federal and state levels in an effort to halt the spread of the disease. With our collective support and cooperation, very soon, COVID-19 will be a thing of the past, he said. Disbelief, anger, sadness, acceptance and hope are the five stages of emotion we will experience as coronavirus forces large swathes of the globe into lockdown, a leading psychologist has revealed. Anne Marie Collins is President of the Australian Association of Psychologists in Melbourne, Victoria, where she works with patients who are battling personal trauma and difficult family circumstances. Ms Collins told Daily Mail Australia the extraordinary challenges and monumental disruptions to daily routine thrust on us by the COVID-19 pandemic cause us to feel overwhelming emotions as we suddenly lose agency over our lives and our futures. Disbelief, anger, sadness, acceptance and hope are the five waves of emotion we will experience as coronavirus forces large swathes of the globe into lockdown She said reactions to the crisis vary from one person to the next and people do not experience emotions in any sort of linear order, something Ms Collins encourages us to remember as we come to terms with the reality of our new normal. 'You can't really put a time frame on it. You have to allow people to move through the stages at different paces - it's a very organic process that's totally individual to us all. Just know that whatever you are feeling is absolutely justified,' she said. Ms Collins revealed how to embrace each emotion, addressing the painful sensations of disbelief, anger and sadness head on to reach a state of acceptance and hopeful optimism, the final and most beneficial stage which is the key to overcoming adversity in the face of coronavirus. 1. DISBELIEF CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement Ms Collins said striking similarities exist between the stages of grief and the stages of emotion we are feeling in the midst of this pandemic because both are connected to a profound sense of loss. 'Coronavirus has triggered a sudden loss of structure and a loss of social contact for people all over the world, who are now trying to create a new routine for themselves working from home, or perhaps not working at all,' she said. It can be difficult to fathom how much life has changed since coronavirus reached Australian shores on January 25, with drive-thru testing clinics and deserted shopping malls now par for the course as infections reach 5,997 and the death toll stands at 50. As we grapple with these overwhelming changes, the first sensation many experience is a sense of disbelief that the healthcare and associated economic crisis are really happening at all. With roughly a third of the global population now living under restrictive quarantine and news bulletins covering developments from every continent, Ms Collins said most have already overcome denial to enter the second phase: anger. The new normal: It can be difficult to fathom how much life has changed since coronavirus reached Australian shores on January 25, with drive-thru testing clinics like this one at Bondi Beach pictured on Monday, April 6 now par for the course HOW TO COPE Ms Collins warned that people who are experiencing 'acute stress', which is typically triggered by intense situations involving violence or extreme financial hardship, are at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder. Poll What emotional stage of lockdown are you in now? Stage One - Disbelief Stage Two - Anger Stage Three - Sadness Stage Four - Acceptance Stage Five - Optimism What emotional stage of lockdown are you in now? Stage One - Disbelief 47 votes Stage Two - Anger 100 votes Stage Three - Sadness 221 votes Stage Four - Acceptance 156 votes Stage Five - Optimism 54 votes Now share your opinion 'Acute stress would apply to say, a couple who have both lost their jobs simultaneously, people living in a situation of domestic violence or people on visas who have lost their right to work and have no support from the government,' she said. 'Long-term effects like PTSD come from being stuck in enormous stress and not being able to do anything to change it.' Ms Collins advised those suddenly faced with extreme situations to identify what they can physically do to reclaim a sense of control over their circumstances, from fuelling the body with nutritious food to exercising for 30 minutes once a day. 'Telling people to exercise is not a platitude. It's vital in times like these because when we get out and move, we have a feeling of agency, at least about our body,' she said. Ms Collins urged anyone experiencing domestic violence or intimidation in the home to contact a support agency like 1800Respect or White Ribbon Australia to create an escape plan if the situation becomes so severe they need to leave. How the 'psychological strategy' of panic buying unfolded in Australia MARCH 1: Panic buying of toilet paper starts, with supermarket shelves around the country cleared out of loo roll as coronavirus fears ramp up MARCH 4: Coles introduces a four-pack limit on toilet paper. MARCH 6: Three women are filmed in a fist fight over toilet paper at a Woolworths in Chullora in Sydney's west. MARCH 7: Video goes viral of an elderly woman slapping another shopper across the face as they scrap over the last packet of toilet paper in a Melbourne Coles. MARCH 13: Woolworths introduces a one-packet limit on paper towels and napkins. MARCH 17: Woolworths and Coles introduce a dedicated shopping hour for the elderly and disabled to stock up without being overwhelmed by the panic buying chaos within some stores. MARCH 18: Woolworths says customers will only be able to purchase two items from any single category from most packaged products, with the exception of some fresh foods. MARCH 18: Prime Minister Scott Morrison demands Australians stop hoarding food and other essential supplies in impassioned press conference. MARCH 24: Coles announces it is allowing emergency service workers - including nurses and police officers - to shop during its dedicated 'community hour'. APRIL 1: Panic-buying shoppers forces Woolworths and Coles to scale back their weekly specials Advertisement 2. ANGER Just as we feel anger when grieving the death of a loved one, it is normal to feel angry about the loss of normality and sudden upheaval foisted on us by the coronavirus crisis. But long-term problems arise when we continuously blame ourselves or those around us for the situation the world is facing, Ms Collins warned. 'Blame causes us to get rooted in our anger, which prevents us from letting go and moving on to the next stage,' she said. HOW TO COPE Alongside fear and uncertainty, the pandemic has created an opportunity for reflection and reassessment about how we live our lives and what we value most. 'We don't usually have a chance to reflect on thing; in our culture, things are fast paced and we have to keep up with the rat race,' Ms Collins said. TOOLS TO REDUCE ANXIETY 1. The 'Calm' app 2. 'Headspace' app 2. The Little Book of Anxiety Fixes by Lorraine Corne 3. The Little Book of Tools for the Blues by Lorraine Corne Advertisement 'Now we are looking back on how we've been operating, in terms of money, consumerism, capitalism and so on, and how these structures have led us to where we are now.' She said anger can be released by identifying the morals and values we wish to live by in the future, and making whatever changes necessary to make those wishes a reality. 'An exercise we often do with people who are suffering from depression is to ask, "what would you like people to say about you when you die?" - and then we deal with what they can do to make that happen,' she said. 'It's a similar idea.' Ms Collins said newfound connections between neighbours and small communities which are being seen all over the world will also help to soften anger and bitterness about the crisis and improve mental health in the long run. 'People have told me they are chatting with their neighbours at social distance over the fence or the balcony, debriefing about what happened that day. It's reinvigorating the sense of community we had lost,' she said. 'This togetherness is beneficial for mental health because what cripples us is our loss of agency. We know we can't fix the problem, we can't cure coronavirus, but we can form new connections that we can carry into the future.' It's understandable to feel angry and frustrated about the sweeping restrictions that have overtaken our lives almost overnight, like strict social distancing measures which limit the amount of people allowed in supermarkets at any one time (pictured, a security guard waits to allow shoppers into Coles in Rose Bay in Sydney on April 6) The five stages of emotion during life in isolation 1. Disbelief: A profound sense of loss will trigger sensations of denial. COVID-19 has caused sudden loss of structure and social life, so the first emotion we experience is often disbelief that this is actually happening. 2. Anger: Just as we feel anger when grieving the death of a loved one, it is normal to feel angry about the loss of normality and sudden upheaval foisted on us by the coronavirus crisis. It's important to relinquish anger to move on to the acceptance phase of the situation. 3. Sadness: It's normal to feel sadness and other negative emotions during this time, and we must accept that despair can grip us at any stage in our lockdown journey. Tears should never be seen as a sign of weakness, rather as a natural reaction to shock and change. Notice your emotions, describe them to yourself or those around you, analyse what triggered them and let them go without judgment. 4. Acceptance: When anger dissipates, we accept the reality of our situation and create new routines to give us a sense of energy and purpose. 5. Hope and optimism: The final and most beneficial stage where we develop new skills and develop solutions to the challenges of life under lockdown. Source: President of the AAPi Anne Marie Collins Advertisement 3. SADNESS It's perfectly normal to experience waves of sadness and floods of tears as the crisis continues, even as we come to terms with life under lockdown, Ms Collins assured. 'Sadness and crying are normal reactions to shock and change. We have tears for healthy reasons, they are part of our physiology. 'We must accept that tears are normal, they serve a purpose and they usually pass very quickly,' she said. Anne Marie Collins is President of the Australian Association of Psychologists HOW TO COPE Ms Collins encouraged people to embrace sadness and other negative emotions when they appear, regarding them as a 'natural part' of the healing process. She said moments of sadness and a longing to return to the way things were can grip us at any point in our lockdown journey, and should be accepted as normal and never viewed as a sign of weakness or inability to cope. Notice negative emotions, describe them to yourself or to those around you, analyse what - if anything - triggered them, and let them go without judgement or shame. 'Remember that we are all experiencing profound loss, a loss of normality, and everything we feel is normal and justified,' she said. How Australia is supporting workers, pensioners and the unemployed during COVID-19 The Australian government has announced a raft of measures to keep Australians in jobs and support those out of work during the coronavirus crisis. The economic stimulus package is made up of $214billion in direct, on-budget spending from the federal government, individual states and in lending from the Reserve Bank and the federal government. The handouts from this tripartite initiative are broken down as follows: WORKERS: $1,500 fortnightly payments to six million workers as part of the $130billion JobKeeper stimulus package starting on May 1. This caters for businesses forced to stand down staff as pubs, clubs, cinemas, gyms and dine-in restaurants closed to slow the spread of COVID-19. The payment will be paid to employers for up to six months, for each eligible employee that was on their books on March 1, 2020 and who has been kept on during this time. UNEMPLOYED: A doubling of jobless benefits from April 27 as the $550 coronavirus supplement is added on top of the usual $565.70 JobSeeker payment. This measure was announced as part of the second $66.1billion stimulus package. PENSIONERS AND STUDENTS: $750 payments to 6.5million Australians who are unemployed, on the aged or disability pension, are studying for a degree, qualification or an apprenticeship or are parents eligible for Tax Benefit Part B. Advertisement 4. ACCEPTANCE It's entirely normal to feel unsettled and anxious about the upending of life as we know it, but humans are resilient creatures and sooner rather than later we will come to accept our situation and the sweeping changes brought with it. 'We reach a point where this is our new reality and we accept it, whether it's working from home, homeschooling our kids, settling into the aftermath of job loss or seeking support from the government,' Ms Collins said. HOW TO COPE While relinquishing anger helps us to reach a state of true acceptance, finding peace with our new reality is something we cannot force. 'Acceptance is something that just arrives - you wake up with it one day,' she said. 'Being stuck in anger certainly blocks you from reaching a point of acceptance, but you can't force yourself into it before you're ready.' Creating new routines and a structure of predictability in our day gives us a sense of energy and purpose that can be used to enrich our lives with excitement we didn't know we were missing before the crisis. Learning an instrument, mastering a new language or teaching children to cook focuses our mind on the positive changes that have emerged from the current situation. 5. OPTIMISM After we reach a point of acceptance, the nervous system settles and emerges from the adrenaline-fuelled 'fight or flight' mode to a state of balance where creativity flows and rational thinking dominates. 'This hopeful, optimistic state is where we're able to be more creative about how to make this situation work for us - the constructive, productive part of our brain is open for business again,' Ms Collins said. HOW TO BENEFIT Optimism allows us to look at life differently and view sudden changes as challenges to overcome rather than insurmountable stumbling blocks. 'Now we start thinking about the positives brought about by this crisis - things like spending more time at home with family and being present for big milestones in our children's lives,' she said. 'We're doing things that we haven't done for years - making bread from scratch, baking cakes, building deeper connections, and that's all because a lot of the pressure of the rat race has been relieved for people.' Ms Collins said most psychologists are now offering video consultations to guide clients through these uncertain of times, and encouraged people of all ages and circumstances to speak to a professional for reassurance about this strange new world. 'Speaking to someone reassures you about what's happening and gives you the tools to move through it. The option is there and it's for anyone - you don't need to be suffering extreme depression to benefit from a session,' she said. For confidential support in Australia call Lifeline: 13 11 14 In Pakistan's southwestern city of Quetta, police arrested dozens of doctors and paramedics who refused to work in hospitals amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The medical workers say they lack the protective gear needed to safely treat patients with the coronavirus. Police beat protesters with batons as they broke up an April 6 sit-in by medical staff from Quetta's Civil Hospital and Bolan Medical College. Market forces rained on the parade of China Hongqiao Group Limited (HKG:1378) shareholders today, when the analysts downgraded their forecasts for this year. Both revenue and earnings per share (EPS) forecasts went under the knife, suggesting the analysts have soured majorly on the business. Following the downgrade, the consensus from four analysts covering China Hongqiao Group is for revenues of CN79b in 2020, implying a small 6.1% decline in sales compared to the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are anticipated to plunge 26% to CN0.53 in the same period. Previously, the analysts had been modelling revenues of CN88b and earnings per share (EPS) of CN0.62 in 2020. Indeed, we can see that the analysts are a lot more bearish about China Hongqiao Group's prospects, administering a substantial drop in revenue estimates and slashing their EPS estimates to boot. See our latest analysis for China Hongqiao Group SEHK:1378 Past and Future Earnings April 6th 2020 It'll come as no surprise then, to learn that the analysts have cut their price target 7.5% to CN4.90. Fixating on a single price target can be unwise though, since the consensus target is effectively the average of analyst price targets. As a result, some investors like to look at the range of estimates to see if there are any diverging opinions on the company's valuation. The most optimistic China Hongqiao Group analyst has a price target of CN6.91 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at CN3.20. This is a fairly broad spread of estimates, suggesting that the analysts are forecasting a wide range of possible outcomes for the business. Of course, another way to look at these forecasts is to place them into context against the industry itself. We would highlight that sales are expected to reverse, with the forecast 6.1% revenue decline a notable change from historical growth of 19% over the last five years. Compare this with our data, which suggests that other companies in the same industry are, in aggregate, expected to see their revenue grow 4.1% next year. So although its revenues are forecast to shrink, this cloud does not come with a silver lining - China Hongqiao Group is expected to lag the wider industry. Story continues The Bottom Line The biggest issue in the new estimates is that analysts have reduced their earnings per share estimates, suggesting business headwinds lay ahead for China Hongqiao Group. Regrettably, they also downgraded their revenue estimates, and the latest forecasts imply the business will grow sales slower than the wider market. Given the scope of the downgrades, it would not be a surprise to see the market become more wary of the business. Still, the long-term prospects of the business are much more relevant than next year's earnings. At Simply Wall St, we have a full range of analyst estimates for China Hongqiao Group going out to 2022, and you can see them free on our platform here. Another way to search for interesting companies that could be reaching an inflection point is to track whether management are buying or selling, with our free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Russia is prepared to undertake significant cuts to its oil production, according to two Russian sources who spoke to Reuters on Monday. The markets are hanging on every word from Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the United States about who is prepared to do what, for how long, and with what conditions. Oil markets were largely trading down on Monday after OPEC over the weekend postponed the emergency meeting originally scheduled for today at the behest of the United States for later in the week. Although both Saudi Arabia and Russia have signaled its continued intent to curb oil production, the actions spooked markets. At 1:05pm EDT, WTI was trading down 6.21% at $26.58, with Brent crude trading down 3.96% at $32.76. Both benchmarks are still up significantly week on week on the news that Russia and Saudi Arabia might finally be coming to their senses and reign in their oil production that far exceeds demand. OPEC+ is now scheduled to hold a videoconference on Thursday this week to discuss the markets. Potential production cut figures between 10 million bpd and 15 million bpd have been thrown out as possible by Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, although it is for the most part understood that even those massive figures may not be enough to offset the drop in demand due to Covid-19 that some say is more than 20 million bpd. Until late last week, Saudi Arabia was determined to continue over producing, at over 12 million barrels per day at a time when the coronavirus is sapping the demand out of the market. A handful of other producers followed suit in an effort not to lose market share. But as reality set in that the virus was interrupting demand more than the producers thought possible, cooler heads appear to be prevailing. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Indigenous tribes in the Amazon rainforest and other parts of Brazil are at risk of being wiped out by Covid-19, health experts have warned. Brazil confirmed its first indigenous coronavirus case on 1 April, in a 20-year-old woman from the Kokama tribe in the district of Santo Antonio do Ica, about 550 miles up the Amazon river from the state capital Manaus. The health ministrys indigenous health service Sesai said the woman was a medical worker who had been in contact with a Brazilian doctor who tested positive last week in the same district, where there have been four confirmed cases. Sofia Mendonca, a researcher at the Federal University of Sao Paulo (Unifesp) told the BBC: There is an incredible risk of the virus spreading across the native communities and wiping them out. Dr Mendonca is also the coordinator of Xingu, a health project led by Unifesp that has been monitoring the health of indigenous peoples in the Xingu river basin in the Amazon rainforest. Respiratory illnesses are already the main cause of death among native people in the region. Coronavirus could have a devastating impact on the communities similar to that of previous major outbreaks of respiratory diseases, such as measles. A measles outbreak among members of the Yanomami community, who were located near the border with Venezuela, killed nine percent of those infected in the 1960s. Dr Mendonca added that if everyone falls ill, you lose all the old people, their wisdom and social organisation. Its chaos, she said. Fears that the indigenous communities are in danger because of the virus have grown as coronavirus infections spread across the country, after being initially concentrated in the state of Sao Paulo. Brazil now has more than 11,000 positive cases and 486 deaths. Roque Paloschi, president of the Indigenous Missionary Council, told local news agency Telesur the federal government had no plan and may even use the virus outbreak to withdraw assistance from the indigenous communities. He was quoted as saying: We are concerned that the government will take advantage of the situation and withdraw all assistance to the communities. In this pandemic, the government has no plan to deal with the most basic needs of not only indigenous peoples but also the poorest and most vulnerable people. Dr Mendonca said some communities have planned to seek refuge inside the forest, a strategy also adopted by an indigenous tribe in Malaysia. There, members of the Jemeri tribe in the central state of Pahang have isolated themselves in the forest to shield against the virus, reported Reuters on Friday. Brazils indigenous people who are planning to do the same will gather the materials they need to survive and set up camps to wait until the dust settles, said Dr Mendonca. 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 Activist groups have warned the presence of goldminers, ranchers and loggers in the territories of indigenous tribes could bring an even bigger risk of the virus spreading, especially to uncontacted communities. Survival Brazil campaigner Sarah Shenker said in a statement: If their lands are properly protected from outsiders, uncontacted tribes should be relatively safe from the coronavirus pandemic. But many of their territories are being invaded and stolen for logging, mining and agribusiness, with the encouragement of President [Jair] Bolsonaro, who has virtually declared war on Brazils indigenous peoples. Where invaders are present, coronavirus could wipe out whole peoples, she added. Its a matter of life and death. Ms Shenker also said that government cuts to the indigenous health service must be reversed urgently, given the susceptibility of indigenous communities to highly contagious diseases. Mr Bolsonaro is a controversial figure among indigenous leaders and activists as he has said their lands are too big and they should share the natural resources with the rest of the population. He has also dismissed the severity of the outbreak and compared coronavirus to just a little flu. His comments came last month after Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo went into partial lockdown, which he said mayors and governors should roll back on because we must get back to normal. Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms to choose ones attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose ones own way.Viktor Frankl We still have choices. Just because were fighting an unseen enemy in the form of a virus doesnt mean we have to relinquish every shred of our humanity, our common sense, or our freedoms to a nanny state that thinks it can do a better job of keeping us safe. Whatever we give up willingly nowwhether its basic human decency, the ability to manage our private affairs, the right to have a say in how the government navigates this crisis, or the few rights still left to us that havent been disemboweled in recent years by a power-hungry police statewe wont get back so easily once this crisis is past. The government never cedes power willingly. Neither should we. Every day brings a drastic new set of restrictions by government bodies (most have been delivered by way of executive orders) at the local, state and federal level that are eager to flex their muscles for the so-called good of the populace. This is where we run the risk of this whole fly-by-night operation going completely off the rails. Its one thing to attempt an experiment in social distancing in order to flatten the curve of this virus because we cant afford to risk overwhelming the hospitals and exposing the most vulnerable in the nation to unavoidable loss of life scenarios. However, theres a fine line between strongly worded suggestions for citizens to voluntarily stay at home and strong-armed house arrest orders with penalties in place for non-compliance. More than three-quarters of all Americans have now been ordered to stay at home and that number is growing as more states fall in line. Schools have cancelled physical classes, many for the remainder of the academic year. Many of the states have banned gatherings of more than 10 people. At least three states (Nevada, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania) have ordered non-essential businesses to close. In Washington, DC, residents face 90 days in jail and a $5,000 fine if they leave their homes during the coronavirus outbreak. Residents of Maryland, Hawaii and Washington State also risk severe penalties of up to a year in prison and a $5,000 fine for violating the stay-at-home orders. Violators in Alaska could face jail time and up to $25,000 in fines. Kentucky residents are prohibited from traveling outside the state, with a few exceptions. New York City, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S., is offering its Rikers Island prisoners $6 an hour to help dig mass graves. In San Francisco, cannabis dispensaries were included among the essential businesses allowed to keep operating during the city-wide lockdown. New Jerseys governor canceled gatherings of any number, including parties, weddings and religious ceremonies, and warned the restrictions could continue for weeks or months. One city actually threatened to prosecute residents who spread false information about the virus. Oregon banned all nonessential social and recreational gatherings, regardless of size. Rhode Island has given police the go-ahead to pull over anyone with New York license plates to record their contact information and order them to self-quarantine for 14 days. South Carolinas police have been empowered to break up any public gatherings of more than three people. Of course, there are exceptions to all of these stay-at-home orders (in more than 30 states and counting), the longest of which runs until June 10. Essential workers (doctors, firefighters, police and grocery store workers) can go to work. Everyone else will have to fit themselves into a variety of exceptions in order to leave their homes: for grocery runs, doctor visits, to get exercise, to visit a family member, etc. Throughout the country, more than 14,000 Citizen-Soldiers of the National Guard have been mobilized to support the states and the federal government in their fight against the coronavirus. While the Guard officials insist they have not been tasked with martial law, they are coordinating with the Pentagon, FEMA and the states/territories on COVID-19 response missions. A quick civics lesson: Martial law is a raw exercise of executive power that can override the other branches of government and assume control over the functioning of a nation, state, or smaller area within a state. The power has been exercised by the president, as President Lincoln did soon after the start of the Civil War, and by governors, as was done in Idaho to quell a miners strike that broke out there in 1892. In areas under martial law, all power rests with the military authority in charge. As British General Wellington wrote, martial law is not law at all, but martial rule; it abolishes all law and substitutes for it the will of the military commander. Military personnel are not bound by constitutional restrictions requiring a warrant, and may enter and search homes at without judicial authorization or oversight. Indeed, civil courts would no longer be functioning to hear citizen complaints or to enforce their constitutional rights. Thus far, we have not breached the Constitutions crisis point: martial law has yet to be overtly imposed (although an argument could be made to the contrary given the militarized nature of the American police state). Its just a matter of time before all hell breaks loose. If this is not the defining point at which we cross over into all-out totalitarianism, then it is at a minimum a test to see how easily we will surrender. Curiously enough, although Americans have been generally compliant with the governments suggestions and orders with a few notable exceptions, theres been a small groundswell of resistance within parts of the religious community over whether churches, synagogues and other religious institutions that hold worship services should be exempt from state-wide bans on mass gatherings. While many churches have resorted to drive-in services and live-streamed services for its congregants, others have refused to close their doors. One pastor of a 4,000-member church who stood his ground, claiming that the governments orders violate his right to religious freedom, was arrested after holding multiple church services during which attendees were reportedly given hand sanitizer and made to keep a six-foot distance between family groups. Its an interesting test of the First Amendments freedom of assembly and religious freedom clauses versus the governments compelling state interest in prohibiting mass gatherings in order to prevent the spread of the virus. Generally, the government has to show a compelling state interest before it can override certain critical rights such as free speech, assembly, press, search and seizure, etc. Most of the time, it lacks that compelling state interest, but it still manages to violate those rights, setting itself up for legal battles further down the road. These lockdown measureson the right of the people to peaceably assemble, to travel, to engage in commerce, etc.unquestionably restrict fundamental constitutional rights, which might pass muster for a short period of time, but can it be sustained for longer stretches legally? Thats the challenge before us, of course, if these days and weeks potentially stretch into months-long quarantines. For example, the First Amendment guarantees the right of the people peaceably to assemble. While the freedom to travel has been specifically recognized only as in the context of interstate or international travel, the freedom of movement is implicit liberty given that government agents may not stop and question or search persons unless they have some legal justification. As Supreme Court Justice William Douglas once wrote: The right to travel is a part of the liberty of which the citizen cannot be deprived without the due process of law under the Fifth Amendment. . . . Freedom of movement across frontiers in either direction, and inside frontiers as well, was a part of our heritage. Travel abroad, like travel within the country, may be necessary for a livelihood. It may be as close to the heart of the individual as the choice of what he eats, or wears, or reads. Freedom of movement is basic in our scheme of values. As a rule, people are free to roam and loiter in public places and are not required to provide police with their identity or give an account of their purpose for exercising their freedom. However, as with all constitutional rights, these freedoms, as the Courts have ruled, are not unqualified. Even content-based restrictions on speech are allowed under the First Amendment if the restriction is needed to serve a compelling government interest. The Supreme Court long ago distinctly recognized the authority of a state to enact quarantine laws and health laws of every description[.] Such laws are an exercise of the states police power, and if there is a rational basis for believing they are needed to protect the public health, they will be deemed to serve a compelling government interest. The point was made over 100 years ago in circumstances similar to todays COVID-19 outbreak when a smallpox outbreak occurred in Cambridge, Mass., invoking a state law allowing localities to make vaccinations mandatory and enforceable by criminal penalties. In upholding the law and local order against a claim that it violated the constitutional liberty to control ones own body and health, the Supreme Court declared: The possession and enjoyment of all rights are subject to such reasonable conditions as may be deemed by the governing authority of the country essential to the safety, health, peace, good order, and morals of the community. Even liberty itself, the greatest of all rights, is not unrestricted license to act according to ones own will. The Court went on to write that [u]pon the principle of self-defense, of paramount necessity, a community has the right to protect itself against an epidemic of disease which threatens the safety of its members. Most states have enacted laws that recognize the need for prompt action in times of emergency, including epidemics, and have delegated the authority to and executive officer to take action to address that emergency. For example, Tennessee law provides that the governor is given the power to issue orders that have the force and effect of law to address emergencies, which include disease outbreaks and epidemics. That states law similarly grants mayors or other local chief executive officers the power to issue orders and directives deemed necessary, including closing public facilities, in order to address civil emergencies. Courts have ruled that they will defer to the decisions of an executive authority on the decision as to whether an emergency exists and whether the means employed to address the emergency are reasonable and legal, although there could be situations where a court would declare that the executive decision is arbitrary and unreasonable. When governments act under their police power to control plagues and epidemics, those laws are valid even though they may restrict individuals in the exercise of constitutional rights. As one legal scholar recently noted, the balance between individual rights and protection of the public assumes that there will be times when there are truly compelling emergencies justifying severe measures. A global pandemic that spreads even among those who are asymptomatic and could exceed the capacity of the American health care system would appear to be just such a compelling situation. At the moment, the government believes it has a compelling interestalbeit a temporary onein restricting gatherings, assemblies and movement in public in order to minimize the spread of this virus. The key point is this: while we may tolerate these restrictions on our liberties in the short term, we should never fail to be on guard lest these one-time constraints become a slippery slope to a total lockdown mindset. What we must guard against, more than ever before, is the tendency to become so accustomed to our prison wallsthese lockdowns, authoritarian dictates, and police state tactics justified as necessary for national securitythat we allow the government to keep having its way in all things, without any civic resistance or objections being raised. Martin Niemoller learned that particular lesson the hard way. A German military officer turned theologian, Niemoller was an early supporter of Hitlers rise to power, having believed his promises to protect the church and not allow pogroms against the Jewish people. It didnt take long for Hitler to break those promises, but by the time the German people realized they had been double-crossed, it was too late. As Niemoller warned: First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak outBecause I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak outBecause I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak outBecause I was not a Jew. Then they came for meand there was no one left to speak for me. The lesson for those of us housebound and watching from a distance as the Fourth Reich emerges from the shadows is this: all freedoms hang together. Niemollers warning for our modern age would probably go something like this: First the government went after the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, and I did not object, because I had nothing to hide. Then they went after the right to not be spied upon, and I did not object, because I had done nothing wrong. Then they went after the right to criticize the government, and I still did not object, because I had nothing to criticize them for. Then they went after the right to speakworshipand assemble freely, and I did not object, because I had nothing to say, no one to worship, and nowhere to congregate. By the time the government came to lock me up, there was no one left to set me free. In other words, dont be naive: the government will use this crisis to expand its powers far beyond the reach of the Constitution. The Justice Department has already signaled its desire to suspend parts of the Constitution indefinitely. Thats how it starts. Travel too far down that slippery slope, and there will be no turning back. Curiously enough, although Americans have not been inclined to agree on anything much lately, given the extreme polarization of the country politically, a recent survey indicates that people of both parties seem rather okay with undermining core civil liberties in order to fight the pandemic. This way lies madness. As I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People, if you wait to speak outstand upand resist until the governments lockdowns impact your freedoms personally, it could be too late. What would be far worse, however, is handing over your freedoms voluntarilywithout even a semblance of protestto a government that cares little to nothing about your freedoms or your lives. WC: 2484 When he went into self isolation, she quietly left Downing Street, and it is thought she has been with her mother. She is pictured in self isolation with Dilyn the dog The attention of the nation was focused last night on the worsening condition of Boris Johnson. But there is one person above all whose agony will be immeasurably greater than any other his heavily pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds. With the birth of her first baby only weeks away, the 32-year-old was already under tremendous strain. Even before the Prime Minister, 55, had to go into self isolation after contracting Covid-19 she has barely seen him for weeks. He has no choice but to put caring for her in her delicate condition second in order to chair endless Cobra meetings to discuss coronavirus. To her credit, Miss Symonds, a highly independent woman with a passion for life and a successful professional career behind her and still in her 30s has coped remarkably well. She has appeared occasionally on social media but put her own welfare to one side to help Boris cope with the massive political pressures he has been under. When he went into self isolation, she quietly left Downing Street, and it is thought she has been with her mother. Instead of having just an hour or so a day with Boris, she could not see him at all. Even before the Prime Minister, 55, had to go into self isolation after contracting Covid-19 she has barely seen him for weeks. The couple are pictured in September At the weekend it emerged that Miss Symonds has also experienced the symptoms of the virus. Although there is no evidence that it can harm a foetus, medical and scientific understanding of coronavirus is so limited, no one can be absolutely certain. And as any mother will testify, the birth of a first child is one of the most physically and emotional stressful times of their life and joyous if all goes well. If Miss Symonds is at her mothers home in East Sheen, South West London, she will be several miles from her partners hospital ward. But she will be unable to visit him because of his and her condition. When Mr Johnson and former Tory Party head of press Miss Symonds fell in love, many were sceptical that it could last. How the intimacy of those blissful weeks at Chevening, when they were alone and constantly in each others company must seem like a world away. Little did they know that their lives were about to be thrown into such personal and political turmoil She was too young and inexperienced and Johnson with his roving eye would soon tire of her. The cynics appeared to have been proved right when they were overheard having a spectacular domestic spat in their London house early in their relationship. But they have proved the doubters wrong. Despite not being married, they negotiated tricky moments like visiting the Queen at Balmoral as an unmarried couple, with great dignity. Miss Symonds proved a great asset to Mr Johnson in the election campaign. She curbed her love of the limelight and made sure he was the centre of attention. She was seen with him occasionally, but busied herself campaigning for a number of female Tory friends standing as candidates. Her friends say that that when she and Mr Johnson became a fixed item, Carrie made it clear that she expected to become a mother. Within weeks of becoming Prime Minister she became pregnant. Mr Johnson was heavily criticised soon into his premiership when many parts of Britain were badly flooded and he failed to visit them. At the time he was staying with Miss Symonds at the Foreign Secretarys official residence, Chevening in Kent, while repairs were being carried out at Chequers. Mr Johnson fell in love with Chequers in his days as Foreign Secretary in Theresa Mays government. Outpouring of support for PM Political heavyweights of all colours united to wish Boris Johnson a speedy recovery and hundreds of messages of support were sent. Newly-appointed Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: Terribly sad news. All the countrys thoughts are with the Prime Minister and his family during this incredibly difficult time. Chancellor Rishi Sunak wrote: My thoughts tonight are with Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds. I know hell be getting the best care possible and will come out of this even stronger. Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: My thoughts are with the PM and his family sending him every good wish. Shadow justice secretary David Lammy wrote on Twitter: Awful news. My very best wishes to the Prime Minister, as well as his partner Carrie, family and friends. Get well soon. French president Emmanuel Macron said: All my support for Boris Johnson, his family and the British people at this difficult time. I wish him to overcome this ordeal quickly. Advertisement He regularly went for swims in the Chevening lake, urging male guests to strip off and join him. One MP who has known him since before he became an MP said: He was excited at being able to be with Carrie at Chevening officially. It is no secret that they used to go there for trysts before they were officially an item. They had a brief break in Mustique but it was at Chevening that they had the time and space to get to know each other better. Then Carrie got pregnant. It was wonderful. How the intimacy of those blissful weeks at Chevening, when they were alone and constantly in each others company must seem like a world away. Little did they know that their lives were about to be thrown into such personal and political turmoil. Five unidentified militants and an equal number of soldiers were killed as the Indian Army foiled an infiltration bid by terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmirs Kupwara district. A defense spokesperson said in a statement issued Monday, Indian Army launched a daring operation at the Line of Control and engaged Pakistan supported infiltrators in a close quarter battle in heavy snow, neutralizing the entire infiltrating batch of five. Four soldiers under the command of a Junior Commissioned Officer from elite Para units were heli dropped near the LoC after information on the infiltrators was received. An intense hand to hand battle ensued and all five terrorists were eliminated, the statement said. It added, Army lost five of its soldiers, three on the site and two more succumbed while they were airlifted to a nearby military hospital. READ | No Visitors Due To COVID-19 Lockdown Haunts Kashmirs Blooming Tulip Garden The Indian Army squad was led by Subedar Sanjeev Kumar and included Havildar Davendra Singh, Paratrooper Bal Krishan, Paratrooper Amit Kumar and Paratrooper Chhatrapal Singh. While paying tribute to the martyrs, Indian Army salutes the brave hearts killed in action and shall continue to protect its borders from inimical forces at all costs at all times, the statement said. READ | Restrictions Remain In Force In Kashmir, Sampling Of Coronavirus Suspects Increased Terrorists' families claim body Meanwhile, three families from South Kashmir have approached J&K police, claiming that their kins are among five terrorists killed in a gunfight in the snowbound woods of Kupwara. The families, two from the Shopian district and another one from the Kulgam are said to have reached Kupwara, demanding handing over of the bodies for performing the last rites. However, police said that it was premature to comment as the identification process would be done once the bodies are handed over to them by the Army. READ | COVID-19: 330 Of 523 Delhi Cases Linked To Markaz Says Kejriwal, Vows More Testing Army's operation Pertinently, on Saturday evening, the Army had rushed elite paratroopers to Rangdoori, Guguldara and Teen Behak area of Jumgund in Kupwara. Sources said that firing continued throughout the night, reaching peak wee hours of Sunday. The operation was launched initially by the Armys 8 JAT after intercepting a group of militants on Wednesday. Besides, they said, the searches continued along the Safawali, Kumkadi, Zurhuma, Batpora, Awaoora and Haihama areas by the joint team of the Armys 41 and 57 Rashtriya Rifles, 160 Territorial Army and J&K police. READ | J&K: COVID-19 Toll Mounts To 109, Srinagar's Chattabal Declared 'Red Zone' Pakistan's nefarious tactic With COVID-19 pandemic spreading chaos everywhere, the Pakistan Army is trying to take advantage of the crisis and push militants into J&K. In recent days, several attempts were made by the infiltrators with the Pakistani Army giving them covering fire along the LoC in to enter the Indian side. (PTI Photo) AN ASSESSMENT OF THE RENT STRIKE On the 31st March, the COVID-19 Rent Strike Australia group sent out letters to a list of real estate agencies informing them that tenants involved in the strike will be withholding rent during the COVID-19 public health crisis as of 1st April. On the same day the group also produced an open letter to members of parliament to demand a universal amnesty on rent payments and mortgages, stating that, as of 31st March, almost 17,000 people had pledged to withhold rent on an online petition. The organising of this rent strike began not long ago, in the middle of March, just around when COVID-19 began to seriously affect Australia. The purpose of this article is to explore the risks involved in spontaneous action. In What is to be Done? Lenin commented on the strikes in Russia in the late 1800s and said at best they were a struggle only in its embryonic form; more in the nature of outbursts of desperation and vengeance than of struggle. The same can be said of the Rent Strike. The Rent Strike was not carefully planned over the past year, it did not precisely analyse the target of its strike and it did not organise apartment blocks or neighbourhoods. It began with a petition, simply calling on people to withhold rent, mortgage payments, and a rent and mortgage amnesty to be extended. Following this, it called for the following demands: An indefinite amnesty on all rental payments A continuing ban on all evictions, until everyone has recovered from the crisis No renters will be left with debts or fines, or retaliatory rent increases No adverse rental histories for tenants who dont pay rent The target of the strike seemed confused and the organisation lacked direction, with some participants wondering ok, so we signed a petition, now what? It was not clear whether people were to be organised based on councils or agencies. Nobody seemed to know when or how to strike until one week before the chosen date. Then, individuals were sorted into real estate agencies, with many left alone as a sole tenant striking at a sole agency. Rent strikers were fragmented and out of touch of their neighbourhoods, especially because of the inability to organise in person due to COVID-19. Perhaps, from the beginning, the plan was flawed since organisation was not a question of building support from a local level up, but a task of organising 17,000 people who pledged to rent strike into local groups. This task became near impossible when the time frame was set to as little as two weeks. The strike is clearly an outburst of desperation. The organisers correctly identified a flaw in the system but acted on it when it was too late. Organising community unions takes time and preparation, and its especially important that no rash actions are taken that could put people at risk. Unfortunately, no amount of solidarity can overcome the mishaps of an unsuccessful strike. An unsuccessful strike can ripple throughout the consciousness of the working class, demoralising whole generations. The group, responding with a knee-jerk reaction to the sudden threat of their housing and livelihoods, did not consider other vital questions of housing during COVID-19. Under the list of demands, where was the demand for emergency housing for those who are already in insecure housing? What about people in public housing getting kicked out of their homes due to ongoing privatisation? A final question that failed to be properly addressed is: what of people who lose their homes because of the rent strike? Will these people have to move, couch surf, or move into a squat? As mentioned previously, during a public health crisis, insecure housing can be dangerous. There needs to be an actual militant response in which marshals can guard the front of apartment buildings and hold off cops. This is how the Unemployed Workers Movement protected tenants in the 1930s. But for this to work, we need to be able to spend time preparing, planning, and organising in the community. To reiterate, it is not a rent strike we oppose, it is the way it has been done, and we wish to learn from this experience. It is possible, as the rent strike group have pointed out, that they are able to succeed at their goal because of the current moratorium on evictions. However, to organise in a rash way can risk peoples livelihoods and break morale. Hopefully, the rent strike and the situation with COVID-19 will awaken working-class consciousness and demonstrate that preparation for capitalisms ups and downs through union and community organising is vital. Thirteen more people, including three who had returned after attending the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in New Delhi, have tested positive for coronavirus in Kerala on Monday, taking the total number of active cases to 266, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said. Kasaragod, the worst affected district in the state, accounted for nine cases, while two cases were reported from Malappuram and one each from Kollam and Pathanamthitta, he told reporters after taking stock of the COVID-19 situation at a review meeting here. "Six out of the nine cases in Kasaragod are foreign returnees while three from there are the contacts of affected persons," he said. The two people from Malappuram and one person from Kollam had returned to the state from the Tablighi congregation at Delhi last month and the new case from Pathanamthitta was also a foreign-returnee, Vijayan said. So far, the southern state has reported 327 positive cases and two fatalities. As many as 1,52,804 people are under observation, including 795 in isolation wards across the state. In some relief for people living in the bordering district of Kasaragod, the neighbouring Karnataka, which had closed all its roads following the lockdown, has agreed to open the national highway at Talapady to enable patients, other than those infected with COVID-19, to reach Mangaluru for medical treatment, Vijayan said. At least eight people from bordering villages of Kasaragod who required advanced treatment in Mangaluru hospitals had died since the lockdown following the closure of the national highway. "Karanataka will open Talpady check post and allow ambulances carrying people other than COVID-19 patients. A medical team of Karnataka will be stationed there and would examine the patient before allowing them to enter that state. The patients from Kerala need to carry a certificate mentioning the hospital which they plan to visit," the chief minister said. Expressing concern about the safety of Keralites living abroad, he said the state government had the responsibility to ensure their safety as well. At least 18 Keralites in various parts of the world, including US, UK and the Gulf, have died of the virus,he said. Pointing that 51 nurses from Kerala, working in hospitals in Mumbai and Delhi, have tested positive for the virus, he said around 150 other para-medics were under observation in Mumbai. Fortysix of the affected nurses are from Mumbai and five are from Delhi. Noting that there were allegations that the nurses were not provided with necessary personal protection equipment, he said the Kerala government has written to Maharashtra and Delhi chief ministers regarding this. The Prime Minister has also been intimated about the incident, VIjayan added. On the problems being faced by Keralites in the Gulf, he said several schools there were demanding fees from students even though they are shut due to the pandemic. He assured that steps would be taken to discuss the matter with the school management. "Although families in gulf are financially stable, this is a crisis period even for them. The state would request them not to force people to pay fees now," he said. On his support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for candlelight vigil on Apr 5 while the CPI(M) Polit Bureau itself had dubbed it as "unscientific", Vijayan said he agreed with the criticism. "Different opinions will be there when a Prime Minister calls for an unscientific move. But when today the whole country is fighting a pandemic, we need to give importance to the words of the Prime Minister. "Many had supported that move also. I had expressed my opinion earlier itself. We are not against spreading light. But we need to spread light into lives of those who are suffering due to the pandemic. We need financial assistance for them. Hope the centre will provide it. That was my opinion," Vijayan said. Meanwhile, the 17-member task force, constituted on the basis of the suggestion by Modi, on Monday submitted its suggestion regarding the COVID-19 situation in the state. As of Monday, Kasaragod with 128 patients has the most number of the positive cases in Kerala, followed by neighbouring Kannur with 48 and Ernakulam with 18. Kozhikode with 21,934 people has the most under observation followed by Palakkad district with 18,427. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Opposition parties on Monday came down heavily on the government over its decision to suspend Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds for two years, saying it undermines the role of MPs, who will 'lose their voice' and an instrument to manage distress at the micro level. Criticising the government for the action, leaders cutting across party lines demanded a review of the decision saying development works in the country would suffer. The Congress, Left parties, Trinamool Congress and some others were in the forefront of this attack on the government, which is set to garner around Rs 7,900 crore through the decision. The Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme was formulated in December 1993 and enables the MPs to recommend developmental work in their constituencies. Under the scheme, each MP has the choice to suggest to the district collector developmental works of Rs 5 crore per year in his/her constituency. Initially, this scheme was administered by Ministry of Rural Development but in October 1994 the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation started monitoring it. The scheme started with an allocation of Rs 5 lakh in 1993-94 but the amount was increased to Rs 2 crore annually in 1998-99 and to Rs 5 crore annually since 2011-12. On Monday, the Union Cabinet gave its nod to government's decision to suspend MPLADS scheme for two years. Rs 10 crore from each MPLAD fund will now go to the Consolidated Fund and the decision has been taken in view of the coronavirus pandemic. There are 543 MPs in Lok Sabha and 245 MPs in Rajya Sabha, totalling 788. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said MPLADS fund is not the 'personal fund' of MPs. This money is for natural calamities and for fighting against diseases like COVID-19 at the local level at the discretion of the MPs, he said. "If this money is finished, then this will have a direct negative impact on the people of the MP's area and people of the country will lose out. "If the country's MPs lose their voice, then how will the Parliament function effectively. Hence, this needs to be restored," he said. 'Dear PM, INC supports the salary cut for MP's! Please note that MPLAD is meant to execute developmental works in the constituency. 'Suspending it is a huge disservice to the constituents and will undermine therole and functions of MP,' Surjewala tweeted. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, however, went against the party line saying, "I welcome the decision on MPLADS. I have been arguing for long that the approximately Rs 7,000 crore given to MPs & MLAs annually fordevelopment works should be used as a corpus for State funding of elections." Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Sitaram Yechury said by taking away MPLADS fund, the government is taking away the expenditure that could take care of the needs of the area and this centralisation goes against federalism. "Transfer of money to Consolidated Fund of India, instead of being directed towards fighting COVID19, shows that it is a measure to deal with the economic destruction caused in last six years. There is enough evidence that COVID19 is best fought at the state and local level," Yechury said. "If there's no money with the government, why doesn't it abandon the Central Vista project in Delhi? Does it deserve a higher priority than lives of lakhs of Indians? BJP has abundant funds from opaque electoral bonds, why isn't it transferring it all to the govt during this crisis," he said. Trinamool Congress said the government decision was 'arbitrary and whimsical' as it has enough money to tackle COVID-19. The Union Cabinet and Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the decision without consulting all the parties, senior TMC leader and MP Sougata Roy said. "The decision to temporarily suspend the MPLAD is arbitrary and whimsical.We are opposing it," Roy, a veteran parliamentarian, said. Congress leaders Manish Tewari and Shashi Tharoor urged the prime minister to reconsider the decision. Tewari said this seems to be a knee-jerk reaction. 'Suspension of MPLADS is a bit of an overstretch. At this time of grave humanitarian distress that will get only worse in the months ahead. MPLADS is a targeted and nimble instrument to customise micro level interventions to alleviate distress. It is something that is required. 'Please re-think it once again. It is a knee jerk reaction much like the lockdown at a 4 hour notice.It will hurt poor most," he said adding that this will not help the battle against COVID-19 but harm it. Tharoor in a letter to PM expressed concern. 'As I am sure you will agree, by design, the MPLADS has traditionally been utilised to address and remedy gaps in our governance initiatives that may have been overlooked by the state and central government in their announcements of major development projects,' Tharoor said. 'By removing the resources at their (MPs) disposal to make critical interventions and bringing them under the ambit of the Consolidated Fund of India, it would centralise the allocation of funds, in turn, potentially leading to significant delays in the devolution of funds. 'MPLADS preserved the sense of direct responsibility for thewell-being of constituents that is a hallmark of an Indian MPs work,' he said. Congress whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore, said, 'I welcome the government's decision to cut MP's salaries by 30 percent. However, suspending #MPLAD funds for two years is problematic & must be reconsidered.MPLAD is crucial for every constituency's development needs. MPs have, and will, use this to fight #coronavirus, on a need-basis.' I know too much has already been asked of you, but we ask you to proceed with your Election Day preparations as we do not know the outcome of any possible litigation, and we need to be prepared if the election is held tomorrow, wrote Meagan Wolfe, the state election administrator. (Natural News) On March 24, Bill Gates had a digital talk with Chris Anderson, Curator of TED, the nonprofit group that runs TED Talks, during which he gave his take on the handling of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. And during their conversation, Gates admitted that the purpose of these extreme lockdown and quarantine measures is to stop people from naturally catching the virus so that people like Gates can sell them more pharmaceuticals and vaccines later on down the road. About halfway through their talk, Gates stated that we dont want to have a lot of recovered people from the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). Instead, the goal is to not get to one percent of the population infected, Gates stated, because hed rather the general population be forced into first getting tested, then vaccinated, for this novel virus. To be clear, were trying through the shut-down in the United States to not get to one percent of the population infected, Gates is quoted as saying. Were well below that today, but with exponentiation, you could get past that three million [people or approximately one percent of the U.S. population being infected with COVID-19 and the vast majority recovery]. I believe we will be able to avoid that with having this economic pain. In other words, Gates and whomever else hes colluding with to make things as difficult as possible for the American people through this crisis are intentionally doing this in preparation for the rollout of their solution, which will involve selling the public billions of dollars worth of new antiviral drugs and vaccines for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). Eventually what well have to have is certificates of whos a recovered person, whos a vaccinated person, Gates went on to explain. Because you dont want people moving around the world where youll have some countries that wont have it under control, sadly. You dont want to completely block off the ability for people to go there and come back and move around, he added. So eventually there will be this digital immunity proof that will help facilitate the global reopening up. Listen below to The Health Ranger Report as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about how people like Bill Gates who are pushing vaccines as the solution to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) are nothing but quacks: If people want to return to normal, theyll have to get jabbed by Bill Gates If all goes according to plan, Gates plans to hold the world hostage until everyone or at least everyone who wants to return back to a normal way of living agrees to whatever he declares as the remedy for this coronavirus, which hes already indicated will include mandatory vaccination. As we reported the other day, the vaccines that Gates is planning to introduce will come with so-called quantum dot tattoos, a type of small microchip that will have to be inserted underneath the skin in order to function. Much like if not the embodiment of the Mark of the Beat spoken about in the book of Revelation, Gates digital microchip vaccinations will be required for all people who want to open back up their businesses and participate in society. Theyll also likely store the digital dollar cryptocurrency that was included as part of the stimulus bill recently signed by President Trump. Whats truly amazing about all of this is that people like Gates arent even trying to hide their true intentions anymore. The general public is apparently so distracted, disinterested or just plain dumb that the truth being laid out right in front of their faces isnt motivating enough to get them to rise up against it. Its a full-on war against humanity, and Gates himself described it as such during another TED Talks event he spoke at several years back before a live audience. Gates warned about a future pandemic, comparing it to a weapon of war for the new world. Today, the greatest risk of global catastrophe doesnt look like this, Gates stated, pointing to an image of an atomic bomb explosion. Instead, it looks like this, he added, pointing to another image of a virus, which closely resembles the digital imagery of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) thats being attached to many of todays news articles. In other words, the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) was predicted long ago by Bill Gates, and likened to a wartime weapon, suggesting that it was intentionally unleashed for such a time as this in order to force people into quarantine, and eventually force them to be vaccinated in order to be let out of quarantine. If anything kills over 10 million people in the next few decades, its most likely to be a highly infectious virus rather than a war, Gates went on to admit. Not missiles, but microbes. More of the latest news about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is available at Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com NaturalNews.com YouTu.be Boris Johnson, 55, 'continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus', a spokesperson said on Sunday. British prime minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to hospital for tests 10 days after testing positive for coronavirus, Downing Street said. Johnson, 55, "continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus", a spokesperson said on Sunday. His hospitalisation was described as a "precautionary step" taken on the advice of his doctor. Johnson had 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. He 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, Johnson said in a new video message. "I still have a temperature and so, in accordance with government advice, I must continue my self-isolation until that symptom itself goes," he 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. The British public has been warned not to make an impulsive decision to get a new pet during the coronavirus lockdown. On Monday, The Kennel Club revealed that recent figures have shown a surge in interest in adopting puppies. While the animal welfare organisation said it was unsurprising that more people were considering getting a dog during such an uncertain time, it added that no one should rush into doing so. According to The Kennel Club, searches via its find a puppy tool had risen by 53 per cent between February and March, with the biggest increase coming in the week before Boris Johnson announced the UK lockdown. Elsewhere, searches between 16 and 23 March were up 37 per cent compared with the previous week and up 84 per cent on the same week last year. The top three most searched-for breeds were labradors, cocker spaniels and golden retrievers, it added. The warning comes on the same day that legislation known as Lucys law, which bans the sale of puppies and kittens from third-party sellers, comes into effect. The Kennel Club said it hoped that as well as improving welfare conditions, the new rules would encourage people thinking of getting a puppy to do their research and find a responsible breeder. Holly Conway, the head of public affairs at the Kennel Club, said: While we would underline that now isnt the right time to bring home a puppy, or make an impulsive decision to get a pet, these [search] figures could be a sign of more people looking to find a breeder directly in the future, which is extremely positive and what Lucys law aims to impose. Preventing suffering caused by quick, careless decisions and deceptive, profit-hungry puppy farmers is what Lucys law is all about. She added: The more time you spend, the more aware you will be, and the much more likely you are to bring home a happy, healthy puppy from a responsible, caring breeder rather than fuelling untold suffering and heartache as a result of third-party sellers hiding horrific breeding conditions. Under the new legislation, puppies and kittens can no longer be sold in England by a third party such as a pet shop or dealer but only those who have bred the animal. It means that buyers planning to buy or adopt an animal younger than six months old must deal directly with the breeder or an animal rehoming centre. The law is named after a cavalier King Charles spaniel called Lucy who died in 2016 after being kept in poor conditions on a puppy farm. Crufts 2020: Best dog pictures from this year's show Show all 20 1 /20 Crufts 2020: Best dog pictures from this year's show Crufts 2020: Best dog pictures from this year's show A poodle sits in the prepartation area ahead of going on show at Crufts 2020 on 5 March Getty Crufts 2020: Best dog pictures from this year's show Dogs and their owners arrive at Crufts 2020 in Birmingham on 5 March PA Crufts 2020: Best dog pictures from this year's show An owner and her poodle arrive at Crufts 2020 in Birmingham on 5 March Reuters Crufts 2020: Best dog pictures from this year's show A standard poodle arriving for the first day of Crufts 20220 in Birmingham on 5 March Jason Skarratt/Flick.digital Crufts 2020: Best dog pictures from this year's show A dressed-up border terrier stands on a penny board as it arrives at Crufts 2020 in Birmingham on 5 March Reuters Crufts 2020: Best dog pictures from this year's show Peggy the poodle arrives at the show on the first day of Crufts 2020 Jason Skarratt/Flick.digital Crufts 2020: Best dog pictures from this year's show Parkour Display at Crufts 2020 Jason Skarratt/Flick.digital Crufts 2020: Best dog pictures from this year's show A dog arrives with its owner at Crufts 2020 in Birmingham on 5 March Adam Hughes/SWNS Crufts 2020: Best dog pictures from this year's show An afghan hound and a dachshund arrive on the first day of Crufts 2020 Jason Skarratt/Flick.digital Crufts 2020: Best dog pictures from this year's show Owners arrive with their dogs at Crufts 2020 in Birmingham on 5 March PA Crufts 2020: Best dog pictures from this year's show A pair of jackapoos in their prams on the first day of Crufts 2020 Jason Skarratt/Flick.digital Crufts 2020: Best dog pictures from this year's show A yorkshire terrier on the first day of Crufts 2020 Jason Skarratt/Flick.digital Crufts 2020: Best dog pictures from this year's show A girl arrives with her dalmatian at Crufts 2020 in Birmingham on 5 March Adam Hughes/SWNS Crufts 2020: Best dog pictures from this year's show Owners arrive with their dogs in prams at Crufts 2020 in Birmingham on 5 March PA Crufts 2020: Best dog pictures from this year's show A dressed-up whippet arrives at Crufts 2020 in Birmingham on 5 March PA Crufts 2020: Best dog pictures from this year's show Dogs are prepared to go on show at Crufts 2020 in Birmingham on 5 March Getty Crufts 2020: Best dog pictures from this year's show Dogs are prepared to go on show at Crufts 2020 in Birmingham on 5 March Adam Hughes/SWNS Crufts 2020: Best dog pictures from this year's show Dogs are prepared to go on show at Crufts 2020 in Birmingham on 5 March Adam Hughes/SWNS Crufts 2020: Best dog pictures from this year's show Dogs are prepared to go on show at Crufts 2020 in Birmingham on 5 March Adam Hughes/SWNS Crufts 2020: Best dog pictures from this year's show Dogs are prepared to go on show at Crufts 2020 in Birmingham on 5 March AFP/Getty Following the announcement of the new law in May 2019, Michael Gove, the minister for the cabinet office, said: This is about giving our animals the best possible start in life and making sure that no other animal suffers the same fate as Lucy. It will put an end to the early separation of puppies and kittens from their mothers, as well as the terrible conditions in which some of these animals are bred. Recommended How pets are supporting people through the loneliness of lockdown Last month, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home revealed that it had seen an increase in the number of people providing new homes for pets. For the week starting 16 March, the animal shelter found forever homes for 86 dogs and 69 cats, a marked increase from the same week last year, when just 42 dogs and 29 cats were adopted. Rob Young, head of operations at Battersea Home, said it was not surprising that people in self-isolation were seeking companionship. As many people are preparing to spend a significant amount of time at home over the coming weeks, it is only expected that some may be thinking about the companionship a pet could offer, Mr Young said. People are now having some more time to settle pets into their home, and are looking to do some good by rescuing animals who are waiting for their own home. New Delhi, April 6 : The Delhi Police has served a second notice to Mohammad Saad, Tablighi Jamaat chief, on Monday and sought additional information and documents from him pertaining to congregation of Tablighi Jamaat at Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz. A case has been registered against him and six other members of the Tablighi Jamaat for organising a congregation amid lockdown because of COVID-19 in India. The Crime Branch of Delhi Police is probing the matter and Deputy Commissioner of Police Joy Tirkey is supervising it. Saad has been served notice under section 91 (summons to produce document or other things) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The police have sought only information from him. The investigators have stated that they do not want Saad to join the probe as of now. However, Shahid Ali, a lawyer hired by Tablighi Jamaat, told IANS that they have not received any second notice from police as of now. Saad had informed police that he is in self-quarantine and shared his address with the police. Further, for two continuous days, Tirkey along with his team went to Markaz in Nizamauddin to collect some evidences. He also spoke to some of the people living in the nearby areas. Earlier, Saad, through his lawyer, had submitted some documents, mostly in Urdu, to police. The police had served notice to Saad and sought answers and documents on 26 queries. The lawyer Shahid Ali had stated that they had submitted only available information to police and sought more time as the entire Markaz is closed and lockdown is implemented. "We were unable to share more information or documents at this point of time. We had informed the police and they have given more time," Ali had stated. The Crime Branch had asked 26 questions and sought relevant documents in support of the answers from the organiser. The questions were addressed to Mohammad Saad, the organiser of the event. 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? The police has sought information like full name, address and registration details of the organisation's details of office bearers, details of persons in Markaz committee and details of Income Tax returns filed by the organisation in last three years. It has also asked for PAN number, bank account and bank statements of the organisation, list of employees working in the organisation and number of religious gathering 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 the Markaz after March 12. The policemen, probing the case, further sought details of a map or site plan of the premises. They also asked whether CCTV was installed in the premises and if yes then sought details of the cameras. The sleuths also want to know whether any written guidelines were issued to Mohammad Saad by any authority to hold religious events and any other correspondence between management and government authorities. The police sought audio or video recording of the persons participating in Markaz. The police also wanted to know whether any devotee fell sick. The police sought information regarding all steps 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 are also sought. The police also want to know 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 Markaz and died thereafter. The police also sought details of curfew passes issued to anyone. (Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumit.k@ians.in) Sewell Ford Lincoln moved from its Eighth Street dealership to a new dealership at 7500 E. State Highway 191 in 2018. Now, the Sewell Family of Cos. will be on the move again. The company plans to break ground on a new non-car-dealership, car dealership in Midland no later than the spring of 2021, said Collin Sewell, president of Sewell Family of Cos. When we looked at our (then) current facility on Eighth Street, we just knew wed completely outgrown what was built in 1968, he said. So, the question was, Wheres the best place to be able to serve the most number of people? That happened to be (State Highway) 191 because it really is kind of the new growth corridor from Midland and Odessa. The new dealership will be located by the Sewell BMW of the Permian Basin, 5715 Andrews Highway, which the company acquired in 2017. The company also has Sewell Cadillac of the Permian Basin, 3205 W. Wall St., which will be moved to the new dealership. I said to our team, just the other day, that it feels like 1935 in Midland for us, he said. What I mean by that is, its when my grandfather and his brother started our Ford store in Odessa. For me, this kind of represents 1935 for us, with the benefit of tons of hard work by a lot of people, not just me, but a lot of people on our team over the last 10 decades to be able to have that as a foundation to build on. The Sewell family has had a legacy of selling cars and trucks in Texas since 1911. Collins great-great-grandfather, Frank Sewell, sold Ford Model Ts out of a hardware store in Arlington. During the Great Depression, he moved his family and business to Crane. Franks son, Carl, founded the Crane Motor Co. in 1930 with the help of his brother, Woody. The brothers ventured into Odessas car dealership market in 1935 and bought the Ford dealership off of Eighth Street. Collins father, Ron, built a new dealership at 2425 E. Eighth St. in 1968. This site is now home to Sewell Auto Tech -- a partnership between Odessa College, the Sewell Family of Cos., the Ford ASSET program and Odessa Development Corp. -- which opened its doors in February and will help train automobile technicians in the area. Sewell said that the new dealership will allow the Sewell Family of Cos. to create an experience for people that is totally unique, rare and one-of-a-kind. I would say that the new dealership in Midland will be very similar -- it wont be the same size because the businesses are different, Sewell said. The goal still is to be the most non-car dealership, car dealership in the world. He said he wants to continue to have a different type of car dealerships people dont like typical car dealerships. It is like no car dealership in the world, Sewell said. I say that, because when the president of Ford division was here at the grand opening (in 2018), he said the only dealership he could find that he had traveled to in his entire 30-year career remotely close to this was in Singapore. Sewell said he wants to build something that people would want to be a part of and would want to come and visit. Weve proven here that there are things that were going to do that will be totally different than other dealerships, he said. Step one is that well take Press Cafe and E.F. Outfitters to an entirely new level. Obviously, the dealership is going to be great. Its going to be wonderful for people to be able to get great products in a great environment with great service. Sewell said that he hopes Press Cafe will be open for not only breakfast and lunch but for dinner, as well. He also hopes that E.F. Outfitters, which is a retail store located inside Sewell Ford Lincoln, will expand beyond what it has done at Sewell Ford Lincoln. I would love for it to have a barbershop attached to it for men, as well as a floral shop part of E.F. Outfitters as well, he said. Renne Elfert, the Press Cafe manager, said she has known Sewell for years and their families go back generations. Elfret said she doesnt have any professional training. She learned by watching the women in her family cook. I grew up sitting on the counter of my grandmothers (kitchen) making spaghetti and brownies and cookies. I just always enjoyed it, she said. I never had a desire or a dream to have a restaurant or be a cook like that. But the opportunity presented itself. She once owned a small restaurant called Look whos Cooking, which was located in the back of Harmony Health Food. Elfret said Press Cafe has started to implement events, such as trivia night, by testing it on the Sewell Ford Lincoln team members. I would love to have a fun couples cooking classes in a larger space, she said. I think it would be fun for us to have more opportunities like that to engage the community. She said that most of the people they serve at Press Cafe arent team members at Sewell Ford Lincoln. The cafe has maintained a five out of five-star rating on Facebook, which is unusual for restaurants in this area, said the companys marketing director, Andrew Marshall. Everything we make is made from scratch, Elfret said. We make our hamburger buns, we make our cinnamon rolls; we do all of that by hand every day. Sewell said that it was important for him to have a restaurant that provides great meals. His wife, mother and grandmother are all great cooks, so it was important to provide that type of meal at Press Cafe, he said. I dont think we have a real appreciation for what real food tastes like anymore, Sewell said. Renne and I both said that we want this to be the kind of food that we would feed our families at home. Press Cafe was able to develop relationships with local farmers in the area last spring, Elfret said. I have reached out to them again to have them bring their trucks by after they do the market over here at Parks Legado, so we can buy all these vegetables, Elfret said. We have specials on Tuesdays and Thursdays, then we can see which fresh vegetables and all the produce that they bring us to create the menu for that week. She said she would like to buy from local producers as much as possible, especially when they expand to Midland. Vendors that Press Cafe buys from include Farmer Troy, Mandujano Brothers Produce in Pecos and Schwartz Boys Produce from San Angelo, Marshall said. Sewell said that everything they have accomplished at Sewell Ford Lincoln, along with E.F. Outfitters and Press Cafe, stems from the fact that they really love people. We want to serve people really well, he said. We want to give them an experience that they would not have anywhere else. He said he believes people still long for community. In a world where were more and more digitally addicted, those experiences in moments over a cup of coffee is what people still long for -- that sense of community, Sewell said. If we can do that -- if people can have coffee and they can have their Bible studies, their ladies luncheon, where men can come and get a haircut and hang out after work. We want to be that place where they can feel that sense of community and have friendship. Parks Legado Town Center is a retail and restaurant area built by the Sewell Family of Cos. in 2013. It serves as a gathering place for West Texans, according to the website. During certain times of the year, Parks Legado Town Center will host markets including the Parks Legado Farmers Market and Christmas Market. Parks Legado was the seed that needed to be planted in order for us to build the dealership, Sewell said. When we bought this land a decade ago, there was nothing here -- it was all pasture. The idea was: how do we draw people east on 191 as part of the growth of Odessa so that we could really help build the foundation for the dealership. Also, how do we create a place that people in West Texas could really be proud of. Parks Legado Town Center is completing construction on spaces that will be home to Growler USA, Popbar, AT&T, Grub Burger Bar. First Basin Credit Union is also building along State Highway 191 and Walk-Ons Bistreaux and Bar is nearing completion. The Egg & I Restaurant recently closed and was replaced with Flipped Breakfast and Brunch. Proof Lounge also closed. Marshall said there have been ideas thrown around with Sewell and CFO Jose Mendez for what could go into the space. They are trying to find really cool conceptual businesses, Marshall said. They have talked about a barbecue joint for Parks Legado, he said. Collin always tries to work with the concept first, then tries to figure out how to make it work with either the space we have or building them a space Theyve talked about hot yoga, cycle bar and a Mexican food concept. Sewell said State Highway 191 between Midland and Odessa has the opportunity even as it sits today, to be the most beautiful connector between two cities in Texas. Highway 191 absolutely has a place for industry, but it also has a place for retail opportunities, lifestyle opportunities, residences, and it should serve as this beautiful connector between our two towns, he said. He is excited that the new dealership will be able to serve the people of Midland. It is a great honor for us to be able to serve the people in the Midland community directly instead of having to do that remotely, he said. [April 06, 2020] Chimera Investment Corporation Announces Public Offering of Convertible Senior Notes Chimera Investment Corporation (NYSE: CIM) (the "Company") today announced that it has commenced an underwritten public offering of $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2023 (the "Notes"), subject to market and other conditions. The Company expects to grant the underwriter a 13-day option to purchase up to an additional $37.5 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes to cover over-allotments. The Notes will be senior unsecured obligations of the Company. In connection with the offering of the Notes, the Company expects to enter into one or more privately negotiated capped call transactions with the underwriter, and/or its affiliates or other financial institutions (the "option counterparties"). The capped call transactions are expected generally to reduce potential dilution to the Company's common stock (the "Common Stock") upon any conversion of Notes and/or offset any cash payments the Company is required to make in excess of the principal amount of converted Notes, as the case may be, with such reduction and/or offset subject to a cap. If the underwriter exercises its over-allotment option, the Company expects to enter into additional capped call transactions with the option counterparties. The Company intends to use a portion of the net proceeds of the offering to pay the cost of the capped call transactions and the remainder to finance the acquisition of mortgage assets including residential mortgage loans, non-Agency RMBS, Agency RMBS, Agency and non-Agency CMBS and other targeted assets, and for other general corporate purposes such as repayment of outstanding indebtedness or to pay down other liabilities, working capital and for liquidity needs. In connection with establishing their initial hedges of the capped call transactions, the option counterparties or their respective affiliates expect to enter into various derivative transactions with respect to the Common Stock concurrently with or shortly after the pricing of the Notes. This activity could increase (or reduce the size of any decrease in) the market price of the Common Stock or the Notes at that time. In addition, the option counterparties or their respective affiliates may modify their hedge positions by entering into or unwinding various derivatives with respect to the Common Stock and/or purchasing or selling the Common Stock or other securities of the Company in secondary market transactions following the pricing of the Notes and prior to the maturity of the Notes (and are likely to do so during any observation period related to a conversion of Notes). This activty could also cause or avoid an increase or a decrease in the market price of the Common Stock or the Notes, which could affect the ability of holders to convert the Notes and, to the extent the activity occurs during any observation period related to a conversion of Notes, it could affect the number of shares of Common Stock and value of the consideration that holders will receive upon conversion of the Notes. The Notes will be senior unsecured obligations of the Company, pay interest semiannually in cash on April 1 and October 1 of each year and will be convertible at the option of the holders at any time until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day prior to the maturity date into shares of Common Stock. The Notes will mature on April 1, 2023, unless earlier converted, redeemed or repurchased in accordance with their terms. The Company will not have the right to redeem the Notes prior to maturity, except to the extent necessary to preserve its status as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Company may redeem all or part of the Notes at a cash redemption price equal to the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. Holders of Notes may require the Company to purchase their Notes upon the occurrence of certain events that constitute a fundamental change under the indenture governing the Notes at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of purchase. Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC is acting as book-running manager for the offering. This offering is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement and prospectus and related preliminary prospectus supplement filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Copies of the prospectus supplement and related prospectus for this offering may be obtained by contacting Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10010, Attn: Prospectus Department, telephone: 1-800-221-1037, e-mail: [email protected]. About Chimera Investment Corporation We are a publicly traded REIT that is primarily engaged in the business of investing directly or indirectly through our subsidiaries, on a leveraged basis, in a diversified portfolio of real estate assets, including mortgage loans, Agency RMBS, Non-Agency RMBS, Agency CMBS, and other real estate assets. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ from expectations, estimates and projections and, consequently, readers should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "expect," "target," "assume," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believe," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's offering of Notes and the use of proceeds from the offering. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors is contained in the Company's most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the Company or matters attributable to the Company or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005816/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] UkrLandFarming's owner says NABU's director who has a direct conflict of interests in open cases is engaged in common revenge and is trying to destroy the company. Oleg Bakhmatyuk, the owner of UkrLandFarming, one of the largest Ukrainian agricultural holdings, has appealed to Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova with a request to intervene and stop the unlawful pressure exerted by the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) on the company. The relevant appeal has been posted on the UkrLandFarming Group of Companies' website. In this appeal, Bakhmatyuk reiterates the company's importance to the country's economy, especially during the economic crisis, since it has created 27,000 jobs, accounting for 1% of Ukraine's GDP, and has paid UAH 7.7 billion (US$281.3 million) in taxes for three years. He asks to intervene in the issue of unlawful prosecution of the company by NABU. "It's not a secret for anyone that we have a conflict with NABU Director Artem Sytnyk, who actually destroys my company over his own ambitions driven by a desire for personal revenge," Bakhmatyuk said. "The company is being terrorized by these things, contrary to common sense, contrary to logic, since I am the only owner from among those of liquidated banks who offered debt repayments to the state, using a restructuring mechanism. The repayments are much higher than the amounts mentioned in illegally initiated cases." UkrLandFarming's owner says NABU's director who has a direct conflict of interests in open cases is busy with common revenge and is trying to destroy the company by engaging 30% of NABU's staff, paralyzing the work of an important anti-corruption agency over his own interests. "And this happens instead of investigating real corruption since Ukrainian society has never seen any successful cases in that area," Bakhmatyuk said. The businessman notes the company does not ask for any preferences, but seeks justice, impartial justice and the protection of state interests. "Liquidation scenarios for such companies, as the Deposit Guarantee Fund's practice shows, usually bring about 1% of the value of assets to the budget and this is about 30 times lower than what I, as the owner of the company, offer to the state," Bakhmatyuk said. As UNIAN reported earlier, NABU investigates cases on suspicion of misuse of the refinancing granted by the National Bank of Ukraine to VAB Bank owned by Oleg Bakhmatyuk. The National Bank itself said the funds had been spent by the bank for its intended purpose, namely for payments to bank depositors during the financial crisis that began in 2014. NABU Director Artem Sytnyk was found guilty of committing acts of corruption and included in the official register of corrupt officials, which is kept by the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP). The adviser to Bakhmatyuk's sister was the main witness against the accused in trial on corruption charges against Sytnyk. Bloomberg photo by Kiyoshi Ota Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is seen moving closer to declaring a state of emergency in a matter of days after confirmed coronavirus infections in Tokyo surged over the weekend to top 1,000 for the first time, a newspaper report said. Abe will make public as soon as Monday his intention, with the declaration for the Tokyo area coming as early as Tuesday, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported, without attribution. Osaka and Hyogo prefectures may also be under emergency, it said. Calls for more stringent measures to contain the deadly virus had been growing, as a recent spike in infections sparked concerns Japan is headed for a crisis on the levels seen in the U.S. and several countries in Europe. NHS workers can get a free will service during the coronavirus pandemic as applications surge from healthcare workers nationwide. Farewill, based in Haggerston, London, is offering a free service to make staff on the frontline of Covid-19 treatment have their affairs in order. At least seven members of the NHS have died since the coronavirus pandemic arrived in Britain in February. NHS workers will be able to have a will written free of charge after a London company announced it was waiving its 90 fee for health care workers The law firm said it has seen 12 times more NHS workers using their website since the COVID-19 outbreak. It tweeted: 'Were now offering a free will to all NHS staff. 'In the last few weeks, weve seen 12 times more NHS workers using our will service than usual. 'So we wanted to do our bit to help.' Doctors and nurses can apply online from their NHS email addresses. John Alagos, 24, became the youngest British nurse known to have died with Covid-19. He returned home from a 12 hour shift at Watford General Hospital where he collapsed and died on Friday night. Last week, two other frontline nurses died of Covid-19, believed to have become infected by patients. Mother of three Areema Nasreen, 36, who had no underlying conditions, died in intensive care at Walsall Manor Hospital, where she had worked for 16 years. And Aimee ORourke, 39, also a mother of three, died in intensive care at Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, Kent, where she worked. John Alagos, 24, became the youngest British nurse known to have died with Covid-19. The nurse at Watford General Hospital died at home after a 12-hour shift at the hospital Mother of three Areema Nasreen, 36, who had no underlying conditions, died in intensive care at Walsall Manor Hospital, where she had worked for 16 years Social media users have shared their support for NHS workers and praised Farewill for providing free will writing. Michael Theodoulou commented: 'NHS workers, this is a tough subject thats worth tackling: 'The excellent Farewill are offering their online will writing services for free to anyone with an NHS email address. A little peace of mind for 30 mins work.' Another wrote: 'This is great! It would be even better if it extended to key workers if feasible obviously!' Aimee ORourke, 39, a mother of three, died in intensive care at Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, Kent, where she worked Another customer said: 'These are the people Ive been recommending if you need a will. 'Very decent of them to do it free for NHS workers!' It comes after Talbots Law has seen a 70 per cent spike in demand for wills. There are now 47,806 confirmed cases of coronavirus and the death toll has topped 4,000 in the UK. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is pushing back on criticisms that it rolled back environmental rules for companies during the coronavirus pandemic. In an open letter from TCEQ Chairman Jon Niermann published Monday, the agency said it has not relaxed any requirements to ensure safe drinking water, the safe management of waste, or limits on air emissions and water discharges. Instead, Niermann writes, the agency is using its discretion and choosing not to enforce rules on a case-by-case basis when it finds violations were unavoidable due to the coronavirus pandemic. Situations that would merit enforcement discretion, Niermann writes, could include compliance that would have created an unreasonable risk of transmitting COVID-19. The TCEQ announced three weeks ago that it would use discretion to bring violations against regulated entities on a case-by-case basis. Nationally, the Environmental Protection Agency also announced a policy of enforcement discretion. The policies led to criticism by environmental groups that said agencies should have continued usual enforcement. Environmental regulators, they added, already have discretion in enforcement. (The TCEQ) can forgive unavoidable violations without announcing an opportunity for polluters to circumvent the law, said Adrian Shelley, director of Public Citizens Texas office, in a March statement after the change was announced. POLICY ANNOUNCED IN MARCH: Companies encouraged to comply with Texas environment rules during pandemic, may not have to Niermann points out that the agency did not temporarily suspend rules, as it did in other disasters, such as Hurricane Harvey, moves that were highly criticized by environmental groups. Public Citizen, a consumer rights nonprofit, had advocated for enforcement discretion instead of rule suspensions during Tropical Storm Imelda in Houston. This is certainly not an exemption from agency rules, Niermann said. It is a judicious use of the agencys existing authority. Shelley said Monday that he was pleased that the agency didnt issue a blanket waiver of environmental rules, but notice of further leniency from the agency sends the wrong message. Industry already knows latitude is available for them, Shelley said. Its a thing that has always existed. Most of the TCEQ is working from home, but the agency said it still has investigators in the field to respond to complaints and ensure compliance. Social distancing has slowed or prevented some compliance activities, Niermann said, such as routine reporting of emissions by companies and compliance audits conducted by regulated companies. The agency has also canceled several public meetings and hearings on permitting cases. Niermann commended companies still operating that in some cases are delivering supplies to fight the virus, writing about one company that delivered chemical containers of ethyl alcohol, the main ingredient in hand sanitizer. I am glad those entities are not all staying home but are showing up, he said. TCEQ is showing up too. We are here to serve all Texans as we see our way through this deadly pandemic. erin.douglas@chron.com Twitter.com/erinmdouglas23 Many will be left frustrated after their holidays around the globe have been cancelled due to the coronavirus. This could leave them with a case of post-holiday blues, without ever being able to take the trip in the first place and locked down in their homes to boot. However, those looking for adventure shouldn't despair. It is still possible to take a detailed tour around some of the world's most recognisable sights - which could be a great way to educate children and adults alike - from the comfort of their own sofa. The millions who were planning to head abroad this year to visit well known attractions, explore new places as well as educate themselves at art and history museums, can do so at home whether this is a trip cancelled or one that could potentially be canned. Trip: Disappointed tourists can take a virtual tour through Disney World in Orlando, Florida While it might not have the same romance - the smells, sounds and tastes for example - those who had been saving up for years to visit the Vatican and the Louvre can now take a trip to the famous sights this summer thanks to the increase of virtual tours available to the public online. The trips are now becoming increasingly popular with museums, theme parks and even safaris inviting households to come and join in the fun from their living room. This is Money has compiled a list of the best virtual tours you can take, from the Guggenheim in New York to Disney World in Orlando. Museums Guggenheim, New York: Those who have also wanted to visit New York City's famous art gallery now can via Google Street View tour. Visitors can virtually walk through the corridors and view some works up close, such as the Homeless Lamp, the Juice Sucker by Ivan Navarro's and paintings by Catherine Opie. Click here to visit. The Louvre, Paris: Although the Louvre itself is shut, customers can still visit the world famous Parisian museum. Some of the virtual tours visitors can take includes of the Egyptian Antiques, the Galerie d'Apollon and the Remains of the Louvre's Moat. Click here to visit. The Louvre offers tours of exhibits including Egyptian Antiquities and artwork from Rembrandt Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, US: The Washington DC museum is currently closed due to the coronavirus but visitors can take a virtual tour of the huge history centre online. Current exhibits people can browse include African Voices, the Bone Hall and David H. Koch's Hall of Human Origins. Click here to visit. Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam: Thanks to Google Arts & Culture, visitors can take a virtual tour of some of Gogh's most famous works including Sunflowers and his instantly recognisable self portrait amongst others. Click here to visit. Disney is letting virtual tourists take a walk around their parks, including Disneyland Resort Theme parks Disney parks: A great option for families with children of all ages, Disney is letting virtual tourists take a walk around their parks, including Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Take a virtual walk around the world famous parks and meet all your favourite Disney characters including Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Pluto. Click here to visit. If you are more of a thrill seeker and prefer to go to Disney parks for the fun rollercoasters, you can take a virtual ride on one of their many attractions by visiting here. Trip: People can now take a tour around Central Park in New York with a guided voiceover Popular tourist sites The Vatican, Rome: One of the most well known tourist sites in the world, The Vatican, will be letting tourists take a virtual tour around the Pope's home. There are seven tours where viewers can explore 360 degree views including the world famous Sistine Chapel, the Chiaramonti Museum and Raphael's Rooms, amongst others. Click here to visit. Anne Frank House, Amsterdam: The Anne Frank House is one of the most important historical sites to visit in the Netherlands. You can now discover where Anne spent her time hiding from the Nazis in World War Two in a virtual 360 degree tour. Click here to visit. One Day in...: There are a series of virtual tours tourists can take to various cities and countries around the world including Jerusalem, Sydney and Bangkok. Click on the video of the area you want to explore and listen to the commentary attached which gives you a history of each area and a 360 degree view of the entire location. Vatican tour: Virtual tourists can take a look around the world famous Sistine Chapel online Icehotel, Swedish Lapland: If you've always wanted to see the Northern Lights, now is your chance. Photography company, Lights over Lapland, has put together a series of videos giving viewers an all encompassing experience of Swedish Lapland. Viewers can visit the local Arctic wilderness, meet local huskies and reindeer as well as go dogsledding. Click here to experience. Central Park, New York: One of America's most iconic landmarks, Central Park, is now available to explore online. Not only can people take a look around the area, they can find out the history of the area with a voiceover guide. Click here to explore. Virtual tours of the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California are now available to online tourists Zoos and safaris Africam: For those who have always wanted to go on safari, this will be the one for you. Tune it to watch animals in the wild live going about their daily business. You can choose from watching elephants in South Africa, pandas in China and eagles in Iowa. Click here to visit. Melbourne Zoo: The Australian zoo has a number of live cams set up so people can watch their favourite animals online. This includes watching what snow leopards are up to during the day and seeing the penguins and giraffes being fed. Click here to explore. Monterey Bay Aquarium: Monterey Bay is one of America's busiest aquariums, usually receiving around two million visitors a year. Now instead of travelling all the way to California to see the sights, tourists can take a look at the fish online. Not only does Monterey Bay have a Jelly Cam, an Aviary Cam and a Penguin Cam but it also has a Sea Otter and Shark Cam. Click here to visit. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speak during a press briefing with the coronavirus task force, at the White House, Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Associated Press Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, warned Sunday that the novel coronavirus outbreak could become "seasonal." Fauci said that the difficulty in containing the outbreak globally meant there could be a resurgence in the outbreak by next season. Officials should prepare for a second rise of the virus by pushing for increased resources, including a vaccine, Fauci said. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious-disease expert, said Sunday that the novel coronavirus could likely become "seasonal" as he emphasized the possibility of a resurgence in the outbreak later this year. Fauci said on CBS's "Face The Nation" that even if the global number of cases shrinks to a significantly low number, the difficulty in containing the outbreak means it is "unlikely to be completely eradicated from the planet," and the next season could see a second rise of the outbreak. In that case, Fauci said the federal government is "pushing so hard" to improve its preparedness, including developing a vaccine and completing "clinical trials on therapeutic interventions." "Hopefully, if in fact we do see that resurgence, we will have interventions that we did not have in the beginning of the situation that we're in right now," he said. Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) April 5, 2020 Fauci previously said that the earliest the US could get a coronavirus vaccine would be in 12 to 18 months, an impressive timeline for a vaccine, as fundraisers like Bill Gates rushed to support early-stage candidates. There are currently at least 40 vaccines for the novel coronavirus in development according to the World Health Organization, some of which have advanced to conducting human trials. Story continues The infectious disease expert also said Sunday that it would be "a false statement" to say the US government has the outbreak "under control," despite President Donald Trump's regular reassurances on behalf of his administration. The US is currently the global epicenter for the pandemic, with more than 324,000 cases and at least 9,100 deaths. Read the original article on Business Insider (Newser) Prime Minister Boris Johnson is "still very much in charge" of the UK despite his hospitalization for COVID-19 over the weekend, says a British government official. The official word is that the 55-year-old Johnson entered the hospital as a precautionary measure for more tests because he continued to show symptoms 10 days after testing positive for the coronavirus, reports the BBC. "We hope that as a result of these tests [the prime minister] will be able to come back to Downing Street as soon as possible," says Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick. Still, a few reports out of Britain suggest that might not happen quickly. story continues below The Times of London reports that Johnson received oxygen therapy upon his arrival at London's St. Thomas Hospital on Sunday. And the Guardian reported last week that Johnson's condition was worse than Downing Street was suggesting, with doctors particularly worried about his breathing. It was unclear what type of precautionary tests Johnson might be receiving for COVID-19 complications, notes Reuters. Over the weekend, President Trump wished Johnson well. "All Americans are praying for him," said Trump. "He's a great friend of mine, a great gentleman and a great leader." (Read more Boris Johnson stories.) The funding from CIBC Innovation Banking serves as another proof point for the strong demand for low-code applications that streamline data collection and deliver AI-based workflow automation for mobile workforces. Spatial Networks, the creator of Fulcrum, a leading data collection, workflow automation and analytics platform for field operations, today announced that the company has closed additional funding from CIBC Innovation Banking. The funding closely follows the Company Series A round, led by Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. and Kennet Partners Ltd. that was announced in January 2020. The new funding brings the total amount raised in 2020 to $47M. The funding will primarily be used to scale the companys sales and marketing capabilities, accelerate its product development roadmap, and further expand the Fulcrum platform into international markets. The funding from CIBC Innovation Banking serves as another proof point for the strong demand for low-code applications that streamline data collection and deliver AI-based workflow automation for mobile workforces, said Jim Grady, CEO, Spatial Networks. With nearly $50M raised in three months, Spatial Networks is uniquely positioned to lead the market in 2020 and beyond. We are proud to be working with an innovative company that is transforming the way field workers gather information, said Mark McQueen, President and Executive Managing Director, CIBC Innovation Banking. By providing a software solution with geotagging capabilities, Spatial Networks enables organizations to address data management challenges, improve decision making and streamline workflows. Spatial Networks drives digital transformation of field workforces via Fulcrum, an AI-powered SaaS-based data-collection platform for commercial field workers. The market-leading platform is built on multiple decades of expertise in mobile field data collection and geospatial analytics. It has been adopted by more than 30,000 users and 2,100 customers in field-intensive industries such as utilities, construction, environmental services and engineering. Fulcrum optimizes field operations by enabling rapid deployment of mobile applications using a low-code development environment. Using the platform, field workers can rapidly gather a vast range of data types including audio and video using user-built forms with geotagging capabilities. Key decision-makers gain real time insights into field operations efficiency and performance through visualization, quality assurance and data management tools, along with flexible reporting. About Spatial Networks: Headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, Spatial Networks, Inc. develops and provides AI-powered geospatial data intelligence solutions that transform field force operations. Since its inception, the Company has offered products and services to collect, analyze, and manage ground collected geospatial data. The Fulcrum software platform allows customizable, fast, and flexible data collection, reporting, and analysis for fieldworkers and managers to enhance their customers experiences, increase efficiency, and maximize performance. For more information, please visit: spatialnetworks.com About CIBC Innovation Banking: CIBC Innovation Banking delivers strategic advice, cash management and funding to North American innovation companies at each stage of their business cycle, from start up to IPO and beyond. With offices in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Denver, Menlo Park, Montreal, Reston, Toronto and Vancouver, the team has extensive experience and a strong, collaborative approach that extends across CIBCs commercial banking and capital markets businesses in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, please visit: CIBC Innovation Banking After days of chaos and sickness, sailors aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt listened on Monday as the Navy's top political official took to a loudspeaker and fumed about how wrong it was that their captain had raised the alarm about the Navy's handling of a coronavirus outbreak on his ship in a letter that leaked to the media. Acting Navy secretary Thomas Modly told the sailors that Navy Capt. Brett Crozier, relieved of command on Thursday, committed a "betrayal" by writing the letter and distributing it to some people who were not in his chain of command. Modly left open two possibilities. "It was my opinion that if he didn't think information was going to get out into the public in this information age that we live in, then he was either A, too naive or too stupid to be the commanding officer of a ship like this," Modly said. "The alternate is that he did it on purpose, and that's a serious violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which you are all familiar with." The fiery speech, sprinkled with obscenities, plunged the Navy and the Trump administration deeper into a political crisis and prompted calls from Democratic lawmakers for Modly's resignation. It also promised to keep the plight of the Theodore Roosevelt under the microscope, now that Crozier and 172 more of its crew of 4,800 have tested positive for the virus. Crozier's removal has drawn widespread attention, especially after videos of sailors cheering him as he left the ship circulated Friday. In his remarks, Modly raged against the media, saying it "has an agenda and the agenda that they have depends on which side of the political aisle they sit." And he criticized former vice president Joe Biden, the leading Democratic presidential nominee, saying that his allegation that the removal of Crozier was "close to criminal" was inaccurate and that "what your captain did was very, very wrong." A Navy official said in an emailed statement on Monday morning that Modly's remarks, initially published by The Daily Caller, were "intended to be private, between the secretary and each member of the crew." The official and others spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. But after an audio recording of the remarks leaked a couple of hours later on the website Task & Purpose, Modly doubled down. "The spoken words were from the heart, and meant for them," Modly said in a statement. "I stand by every word I said, even, regrettably any profanity that may have been used for emphasis. Anyone who has served on a Navy ship would understand. I ask, but don't expect, that people read them in their entirety." Among sailors on the ship and some of their family members, Modly's speech was met with disbelief. Margalis Fjelstad, whose daughter is among the Theodore Roosevelt's sailors who have tested positive for the virus, said she was "sad and offended at the crass, unsympathetic, hostile and bitter response" by Modly. "His emphasis shows that his public image seems to be his greatest concern and makes obvious his unsuitability for the job he is filling in currently," she said. On Monday evening, Modly issued an apology. "Let me be clear, I do not think Captain Brett Crozier is naive nor stupid. I think, and always believed him to be the opposite," Modly said. "I believe, precisely because he is not naive and stupid, that he sent his alarming email with the intention of getting it into the public domain in an effort to draw public attention to the situation on his ship. I apologize for any confusion this choice of words may have caused." Modly pledged to get the ship to full health and back to sea, "where we can move beyond this unfortunate situation." Modly became the de facto top political official in the Navy after his predecessor was fired amid Trump's personal intervention in a Navy SEAL's war crimes case. In an interview with The Washington Post's David Ignatius, Modly said he fired Crozier so as not to get into a situation where Trump would think that he needed to intervene. Modly said he was aware that his predecessor lost his job because the Navy "got crossways with the president," and "I didn't want that to happen again." Modly's speech followed a tumultuous month in which sailors began testing positive for the coronavirus after a multiday port stop in Vietnam that had been approved by Adm. Philip Davidson, the top U.S. commander in the Pacific. It marked 25 years of relations between the United States and Vietnam, as the Pentagon seeks to deepen ties in the region in the shadow of China. While President Donald Trump said over the weekend that "I guess the captain stopped in Vietnam," the decision was directed by more-senior Navy commanders. It was defended last week by Modly and Adm. Michael Gilday, the chief of naval operations, as being made while there were no reported cases within hundreds of miles. According to relatives of sailors on board the vessel, crew members weren't issued any particular warning about the possibility of contracting covid-19, the disease the virus causes, even as people on shore in Vietnam were wearing face masks in certain places to avoid getting the virus. Less than a week after the ship left Vietnam on March 9, the nation's government mandated that people wear face masks in public spaces. Modly said in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt last week that the Navy didn't know who was "case zero" on the ship, and that the outbreak might not even have originated in Vietnam. "They're flying in and out from all over the place," Modly said. "You know, this could have been contracted by a crew member who was in San Diego on leave before he arrived on the ship. We just don't know." Whatever its origin, the outbreak became apparent within days. On March 24, Modly informed the public that three individuals aboard the Theodore Roosevelt had tested positive and been evacuated from the carrier. He said others aboard the vessel who had contact with them had been identified and quarantined. "This is an example of how we are able to keep our ships deployed at sea and underway, even with active covid-19 cases." Soon, Modly's confident portrayal of the Navy's handling of the situation aboard the aircraft carrier would be undercut. According to one relative of a sailor aboard the ship, many crew members didn't find out about the coronavirus cases until reading media reports. For many, the revelation was unnerving. The social distancing that health experts had begun advising in the United States was all but impossible aboard the carrier, where crew members are housed in tight spaces, share restrooms and dining facilities, and often bunk together. As the crisis mounted, the Navy leadership grouped the crew into those who were deemed essential to continue operating the carrier and those who were considered nonessential. Many of those deemed essential were piled into a gym aboard the carrier and given cots to sleep on. But according to the relatives of two sailors who were moved to the gym, crew members weren't tested or screened for the virus first. Soon enough, positive cases of covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, began showing up among the group that was put there. Those crew members were told they would soon be moved to hotels on Guam, even as they crowded together for meetings, in contradiction to public health guidance. Crozier and his superior officers, meanwhile, were struggling to reach a consensus on a plan of action, according to three people familiar with the discussions. Among them were Rear Adm. Stuart Baker, who was embarked on the ship as its strike group commander, and Adm. John Aquilino, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Both admirals favored smaller mitigation efforts than Crozier wanted because of concerns about taking the carrier out of action and jeopardizing the mission, while Crozier wanted a more aggressive effort up front in the hope that it would protect his crew's health and allow the ship to return to sea more quickly. On March 30, Crozier sent his letter to Navy officials. While Modly described it at one point as a "blast-out email" to 20 to 30 people, a person interviewed said many of the people who received it were on Crozier's staff. Baker and at least one other admiral were not on it. "The characterization that he did not go through the chain is not accurate," the friend of Crozier's said. "He did not route it to them for distribution because they were not buying in on the plan." Crozier said in the letter that while the Theodore Roosevelt could set sail at any time, he was requesting that 90% of the crew be removed for testing and quarantining and the disinfecting of the ship. "We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die," Crozier wrote. "If we do not act now - we are failing to take care of our most trusted asset - our Sailors." The following day, the letter leaked and was published by the San Francisco Chronicle, angering senior Navy officials still sensitive to any perception that they might put a mission before the well-being of sailors. After the death of 17 sailors in two ship collisions in 2017, the service promised it would listen to ship captains who raise concerns about whether they are ready to sail. On Wednesday, Gilday said at the Pentagon that the Navy wasn't "looking to shoot the messenger" in Crozier's case. But Modly sounded less committed to keeping the captain on. A day later, Modly announced that he had directed the removal of Crozier and that he already had been thinking of doing so on Wednesday. Word of Crozier's removal was met by the crew of the Theodore Roosevelt with a mixture of shock, anger and disappointment, according to family members and one sailor still aboard the ship. "We were excited to see what else he could have brought to the table as far as being a great leader," said one enlisted sailor. In an emotional send-off, hundreds of sailors crowded into an aircraft hangar on the ship as Crozier exited early Friday, chanting his name as he exited off a gangway alone. The visuals, captured by numerous sailors on video, put senior U.S. officials on the defensive. Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Army Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, defended Modly's decision. Gilday, the Navy's top officer, had advocated against Crozier's removal but ultimately supported Modly. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said he disagreed with the way Modly has handled the outbreak. "His decision to relieve Captain Crozier was at best an overreaction to the extraordinary steps the Captain took to protect his crew," he said in a statement. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., a Marine veteran, said Modly "spectacularly disqualified himself as an effective leader" of the Navy. "President Trump or Secretary Esper should fire him," Gallego said. Trump, asked about the controversy at the White House on Saturday, said he supported Crozier's dismissal but noted that he didn't make the decision. The president said Crozier's letter was "terrible" and not appropriate. Modly left to visit Guam over the weekend, seeking to quell the outcry. Asked Monday evening about Modly's statement, Trump said he "hadn't heard it exactly," but he called it "strong." The president said sending the letter was a "mistake," but then he suggested that Crozier's career might not be over. "With all of that said, his career prior to that was very good, so I'm going to get involved and see exactly what's going on there, because I don't want to destroy somebody for having a bad day," he said. - - - The Washington Post's Missy Ryan and Julie Tate contributed to this report. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) A high-ranking member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said Sunday that the world will conquer the coronavirus. Even as we speak, we are waging an all hands on deck war with COVID-19, a solemn reminder that a virus 1,000 times smaller than a grain of sand can bring entire populations and global economies to their knees, said Jeffrey R. Holland, speaking at the churchs signature gathering. When we have conquered it and we will may we be equally committed to freeing the world from the virus of hunger and freeing neighborhoods and nations from the virus of poverty, he said. The church has temporarily closed 168 temples around the world to help prevent the spread of the virus. Speeches at the conference had no in-person audiences and were livestreamed to millions around the world. Utah has 1,436 confirmed cases and eight deaths because of the virus, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally on Sunday afternoon. During the Sunday morning session of the conference, President Russell M. Nelson presented a proclamation in honor of the 200th anniversary of Joseph Smiths First Vision. Titled The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World, the document outlines core Latter-day Saint beliefs. These include the supremacy of Jesus Christ in salvation, the divinity of Joseph Smiths revelations and the Book of Mormon, the mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the ongoing nature of the Restoration that began with Smiths First Vision in 1820. Nelson introduced and delivered the proclamation in a previously recorded video from the Sacred Grove in Palmyra, New York. The location is where Smith, the first prophet of the church, stated he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ in a vision. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 6) Vice President Leni Robredo stressed that the COVID-19 pandemic is a time to be united and set aside politics, responding to President Rodrigo Dutertes defending her from an anti-corruption commissioner who sought a probe on her efforts to help out during the crisis. Hindi ito kumpetisyon. We step in every time we see a need. So tingin ko dapat hindi namin ito tinitingnan na ako 'yung mas mabilis, ako 'yung mas marami, Robredo told CNN Philippines News Night. [Translation: This is not a competition. We step in every time we see a need. So I think they should not say that I am faster or I have given out more.] Duterte said Friday that he fired Presidential Anti-Corruption Commissioner Manuelito Luna for recommending an investigation on Robredo for supposedly competing with the government. He also went on to commend Robredo for her efforts in seeking help from private companies to provide for the public amid the coronavirus disease pandemic. Si Leni was calling the private sector na magtulong. Naghingi siya ng tulong. Tama 'yan. Maghingi ka ng tulong sa kapwa mong tao, he said. [Translation: Leni was calling the private sector to help. She was asking for help. That was right. You should ask for help from your compatriots.] Ang mensahe ni Pangulo is very important if only to emphasize na kailangan nating magkaisa, Robredo said. [Translation: The message of the President is very important, if only to emphasize that we need to be united.] Robredo said that her offices COVID-19 donation drive has raised P46,850,734, which would translate to over 106,000 sets of personal protective equipment for medical frontliners tending to patients with the contagious viral disease. Of these, she said 43,575 have been distributed, while 87,570 are scheduled to be delivered. She expects that the distribution of PPEs would be faster after Holy Week, as local production of the protective suits would pick up after that period. Her office is also offering a shuttle to ferry health workers to hospitals on eight routes. Their nine buses on these routes carry around 400 to 500 passengers a day, Robredo said. The shuttle service, however, is only scheduled to run until April 14, but the Vice President said they are now in talks with the Transportation Department for them to continue the project. Robredos office is also offering dormitories for health workers who may have been kicked out of their dwellings due to discrimination, or those who do not want to go home out of fear that they may endanger their families. Congratulations, man-trends.com got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Man-trends.com scored 71 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 3.5/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 23 Dec 2012, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. man-trends.com is very popular in Facebook. Furthermore its facebook page has 6073 likes. The total number of people who shared the man-trends homepage on StumbleUpon. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the man-trends homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if man-trends has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the man-trends homepage on Delicious. The total number of people who shared the man-trends homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the man-trends homepage on Twitter + the total number of man-trends followers (if man-trends has a Twitter account). 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Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND (Photo : ALY SONG on Reuters) How Coronavirus Kills 5G: In UK, Citizens Burned Down $57,000 Worth 5G Stations Allegedly Causing Virus (Photo : FLORION GOGA on Reuters ) How Coronavirus Kills 5G: In UK, Citizens Burned Down $57,000 Worth 5G Stations Allegedly Causing Virus Coronavirus does not only infect humans, but it also disrupts businesses, especially in 5G technology. Due to false reports claiming that 5G technology could cause the spread of COVID-19, a few citizens in the United Kingdom have resorted to burning down 5G stations to stop the virus. Why did it come to this? Why are 5G stations being burned in the UK? People say they cause Coronavirus According to a report by the BBC, there have been cases of 5G stations worth $57,000 being burned down in several areas of the country after false reports of an alleged connection of the technology with the increased spread of the Coronavirus. U.K. authorities have seen massive fire cases in Birmingham, Liverpool, and Melling in Merseyside within last week. A video of citizens burning down a station in Aigburth -- which is now deleted -- was circulating in U.K. social media this past weekend. In Birmingham, police said that the tower that was burned down had a height of 70 feet. Police authorities have neither confirmed nor denied the involvement of false 5G tech rumors as the main reason why these people attacked the towers. 5G and Coronavirus: How did this theory start? As early as March, false stories about 5G tech's involvement with the Coronavirus were already being spread all over the world. Tech Times reported on Mar. 9 the main cause why people tend to believe this theory: One of The Verge's senior editor Tom Warren shared on Twitter, a video of an "unidentified doctor'' who claimed to discover the connection between the two. 5G causes coronavirus because its sucking the oxygen out of your lungs, according to a video being spread on Facebook. I want to but the fact people believe this bullshit is genuinely scary pic.twitter.com/kY3g5MJtu9 Tom Warren (@tomwarren) March 3, 2020 In the U.K., a Facebook group named "Stop 5G UK" claimed that the technology weakens the immune system of a person -- making them more prone to viral disease. "What if all we are seeing in Wuhan is a sickness from exposure to excessive 5G radiation, and weakened immune systems?," claimed by a Facebook post in the group. There is no connection between the Coronavirus and 5G technology The country's National Health Service (NHS) already debunked this rumor. As said by their director Stephen Powis, "I'm absolutely outraged and disgusted that people would be taking action against the infrastructure we need to tackle this emergency. 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." YouTube stops releasing videos related to 5G and the Coronavirus Meanwhile, The Guardian earlier reported that YouTube is now taking steps to take down videos claiming 5G's false relation to Coronavirus. All videos relating to these kinds of videos will be automatically removed from the search results. Other videos about the 5G conspiracy may still be uploaded on the platform -- but mentioning of the Coronavirus together without is not allowed anymore. ALSO READ: Amanda Holden Receives Backlash After Sharing 'No to 5G' Petition as 5G Coronavirus Conspiracy Theory Continues Causing Fear to Some Essential Workers 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The German army's so-called Coronavirus operation got under way officially on Friday. It is the largest military operation in post-war Germany. It is in fact the case that for the first time in our history, we have established in the context of the crisis our own Coronavirus task force with 15,000 active soldiers, Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (Christian Democrats, CDU) announced Thursday on public broadcaster ARD's Morgenmagazin. In reality, the number of soldiers being deployed is even higher. Internally, the total number of soldiers being made available is set at 32,000 for the 'Coronavirus assistance' contingent, reported the military blog Augen geradeaus! (Eyes front!). In addition to the 15,000 armed forces personnel from the army, air force, and navy, a further 17,000 soldiers from the medical service are involved. An army spokesman commented that the soldiers could be ready for operational deployment in between 12 to 72 hours. The official propaganda is portraying the army operation as a medical assistance mission. The task is to make available medical institutions that are already integrated into the civilian system, the task is logistics, offering a helping hand, stated Kramp-Karrenbauer. They are already playing a major part in assistance in a range of ways, from helping provide for car drivers stranded at the border to assisting with ambulances. So we are helping where we can. In a previous comment, the WSWS remarked that the major nationwide deployment of the military sheds light on the disastrous state of the civilian health care system. Following decades of vicious spending cuts and privatizations, it is not even close to being prepared to deal with a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitals everywhere lack personal protective equipment, trained medical personnel, and intensive care beds. According to reports, the military has received hundreds of appeals for help from the federal states and municipalities over recent days. But regardless of how much medical assistance the army actually provides, the deployment serves another goal. Leading generals are openly declaring that the key issue is imposing military-police control over the population and defending the institutions of the capitalist state. In an interview with the online news platform t-online.de, Lieutenant Gen. Martin Schelleis, who as territorial commander of the army is head of the Coronavirus operation, answered the question of where the army could be especially important by saying, That is difficult to predict, both for us and the civilian authorities which have to request us. At the same time, we are reserving the soldiers for a few potential capabilities that could be called for not least for tasks related to security and protection. Police activities on the basis of Germany's Basic Law are also possible, he added. According to Schelleis, a federal state could request assistance from the army in case of a catastrophe occurring or at least being imminent, and their own police is incapable of handling the situation with support from police forces in other federal states or from the federal police. Soldiers could then be deployed domestically to support the police or under police command. The army's official website declares menacingly, The army is armed and ready for any situation. The army's soldiers always remain operational, guarantee international stability and stand ready to protect the country domestically and provide assistance to the public authorities. To accomplish these tasks it is necessary for the units to ensure that during the coronavirus crisis, the number of infected army personnel remains as low as possible. In the context of German history, this is a serious warning. Under the Kaiser, in the Weimar Republic, and under Nazi rule, the army served as an instrument of domestic repression, and was deployed to suppress social and political protests, and revolutionary uprisings. Exactly 100 years ago, in early April 1920, regular army units supported by the far-right Freikorps, who had taken part in the Kapp Putsch, marched into the Ruhr region to brutally suppress opposition from the Red Ruhr Army and sympathising workers. Under conditions of the deepest crisis of capitalism since the 1930s, which are being intensified by the social and economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the ruling elite once again fears the spectre of socialist revolution. In a guest commentary for Der Spiegel, Marko Buschmann, the former head of federal affairs for the Free Democrats, warned, The brief period of time bought by the state for society, notwithstanding the use of vast resources, will soon run out. Nobody should deceive themselves. The people won't accept this for very long. To put the matter bluntly: revolution could soon be in the air if it goes on like this. Already in late February the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung acknowledged, Capitalism is on the defensive, and socialist thought is on the march. In Germany as well. With concern, the mouthpiece of the Frankfurt stock exchange pointed to a poll in which 55 percent said capitalism does more harm than good. Other polls showed that capitalism was only viewed positively by 16 percent of respondents. By contrast, 45 percent of respondents agreed with the statement that socialist ideas are currently valuable for the progress of society. The dramatic effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the response by the ruling elite have discredited capitalism still further. As in the financial crisis of 2008-9, the government has transferred billions into the pockets of the major corporations and financial oligarchy. At the same time, it is making clear that it is ready to sacrifice the health and lives of millions of workers to protect private profit. Although the pandemic continues to escalatewith cases in Germany surpassing 100,000 and more than 1,500 deathsthe media and politicians are demanding that businesses need to get up and running as soon as possible. Under these conditions, all parties in parliament support the military. On Thursday, Social Democrat (SPD) Foreign Minister Heiko Maas declared his support for the NATO target of spending 2 percent of GDP on defence. We stick to our promises, he said in Berlin prior to a video conference with his NATO colleagues. Germany has already increased its defence spending by 45 percent since 2014, he boasted. The grand coalition could not make its priorities clearer. The so-called opposition parties also support the army's domestic deployment. According to the army's official website, requests for assistance have also been made by the federal states of Berlin and Thuringia. Both states are governed by SPD/Left Party/Green coalitions. The state government in Thuringia, which is headed by Left Party Minister President Bodo Ramelow, is even preparing to hand over responsibility for the security at a refugee accommodation centre in Suhl to the military. According to an army spokesman, the state has applied for the supplying of soldiers to enforce house rules on a shift schedule. The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei opposes the domestic deployment of the military. The working class must counterpose its own socialist programme of action to the German bourgeoisie's attempts to return to militarism and dictatorship. All of the militarys medical capabilitiesincluding intensive care beds, ventilators, and protective masksmust be transferred to the civilian authorities and used to protect the population's health. The same applies to the tens of billions spent annually on rearmament and war. Foreign military interventions, which also cost billions and are aimed at ruthlessly exploiting and oppressing other countries, must be ended immediately. (CNN) Britain's Queen Elizabeth II addressed the nation Sunday in a rare televised speech and called for unity amid the coronavirus pandemic. "Together we are tackling this disease, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it," the Queen said. "I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge." Speaking in a pre-recorded video shot at Windsor Castle, the Queen also thanked frontline staff at the United Kingdom's National Health Service, carers and others carrying out essential roles. "The moments when the United Kingdom has come together to applaud its care and essential workers will be remembered as an expression of our national spirit; and its symbol will be the rainbows drawn by children," she said. The monarch said this "challenging" time reminded her of addressing the nation in World War II. "It reminds me of the very first broadcast I made, in 1940, helped by my sister. We, as children, spoke from here at Windsor to children who had been evacuated from their homes and sent away for their own safety," the Queen said, adding "today, once again, many will feel a painful sense of separation from their loved ones." The Queen concluded by again calling for unity saying, "we will succeed." "This time we join with all nations across the globe in a common endeavor, using the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to heal. We will succeed -- and that success will belong to every one of us," the Queen said. The Queen rarely makes national addresses, typically speaking to the country only at Christmastime and when a new Parliament is installed. Her address comes as UK authorities issue warnings to people to stay at home over the weekend, as the country emerges from winter and the weather gets warmer. Sunday, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock urged people in the UK not to sunbathe. Crowds have filled parks in central London as shops and other attractions across the country have closed. Britain has reported more than 4,000 coronavirus-related deaths, the fourth-highest recorded in the world, according to Johns Hopkins University. The country is carrying out social distancing measures, closing schools and nurseries to most children, and all non-essential businesses. After initially deciding not to carry out widespread testing, the UK government has reversed its policy and aims to test 100,000 people a day. The decision appeared to have been made as 8% of NHS staff were unable to work because of illness or to take periods of self-isolation. The decision also comes as evidence grows that people can carry the virus but show no symptoms. Hancock said Friday the deadliest peak of the coronavirus outbreak in the United Kingdom could hit on Easter Sunday. A leading UK epidemiologist, Neil Ferguson, told the BBC on Saturday that social distancing rules could be relaxed in weeks if there are signs the coronavirus spread is slowing, but he also hinted that special measures could be needed until the end of May. Prince Charles, the 71-year-old heir to the throne, tested positive for Covid-19 recently and underwent a period of self-isolation. Friday, the Prince of Wales opened the temporary NHS Nightingale hospital at a London convention center via videolink, saying that he considered himself "lucky" to have experienced only mild symptoms. The Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes has directed Deputy Commissioner and Police Commissioner, Amritsar to probe delaying of cremation of Padma Shri awardee Nirmal Singh, who tested positive for COVID-19 and passed away on April 2. The commission demanded that the report should be submitted within seven days. On April 4, Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal urged Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan to look into the alleged medical negligence against the family of Singh after three more of his family were tested positive for COVID-19. "After the tragic death of Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa Ji, now 3 of his family members tested positive of COVID-19 and have complained that they are suffering from the same medical negligence in Amritsar government hospital. I request Dr. Harsh Vardhanji to intervene and take stock of things in Punjab," Harsimrat had tweeted. Singh, a bronchial asthma patient, had tested positive for COVID-19. Meanwhile, the death toll in Punjab due to novel coronavirus rose to seven on Sunday with a 75-year-old woman succumbing to the infection in Amritsar hospital, officials said. The number of positive cases of coronavirus in the country continue to surge. As per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is 3,577 with 83 deaths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) KYODO NEWS - Apr 6, 2020 - 14:20 | Feature, All, Coronavirus Five Japanese chefs came together and put their skills to work on Sunday to show their appreciation for the staff of a hospital in Dijon, France, who are working to save lives during the coronavirus pandemic. Takashi Kinoshita, 40, head chef at the hotel and restaurant Chateau de Courban in the Burgundy region, took the initiative to cook for the approximately 100 medical professionals as he looked to chip in to support their fight. (Japanese chefs Takashi Kinoshita, second from left, Keigo Kimura, fourth from left, Tomofumi Uchimura, fifth from left, and Keishi Sugimura, sixth from left, and others deliver food to a hospital in Dijon, France, on April 5, 2020.) [Courtesy of Lionel Dupouy/Chateau de Courban] After consulting the owner of his eatery and the local hospital, he decided to sharpen his knives and get to work preparing some fine dining options for the hard-working hospital workers. Local producers and suppliers donated free ingredients to the first effort on March 29 which also saw 36-year-old Sae Hasegawa, the head dessert chef at the eatery, getting involved in feeding the hungry hospital staff. The move garnered attention from Burgundy restaurant owners Tomofumi Uchimura, 40, Keigo Kimura, 43, and Keishi Sugimura, 43, who decided to participate the second time around. They prepared appetizers using asparagus, main dishes of chicken cooked in red wine and desserts featuring lashings of cheese and chocolate. After supplying the first batch of food, Kinoshita received numerous phone calls and messages from grateful doctors and others thanking him. He will continue to provide food every weekend at the hospital and plans to do the same for other hospitals in the area. "We have been frustrated that we are unable to cook since the restaurants are closed. So we're happy to express our gratitude and be of some assistance," Konoshita said. (Japanese chef Takashi Kinoshita, left, and others deliver food to a hospital in Dijon, France, on April 5, 2020.) [Courtesy of Lionel Dupouy/Chateau de Courban] Pro-Life Activists Assert Right to Public Prayer During Pandemic Pro-life activists who had been praying on public sidewalks outside an abortion provider in Greensboro, North Carolina, are suing that citys mayor after local police threatened to arrest them for allegedly violating stay-at-home orders aimed at containing the CCP virus. The lawsuit comes as the nations governors have invoked sweeping emergency powers to combat the virus, placing most Americans under stay-at-home orders. Government officials claim the so-called lockdowns, in which some states are threatening to fine and imprison violators, are critical components in the effort to flatten the curve of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, or prevent the health care system from being overwhelmed. Some critics have been questioning the wisdom of stay-home orders, which can vary widely from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. And some advocates say the economy must be re-opened, even if only in stages, because the damage caused by economic and social upheaval may be greater than the suffering caused by the virus. The plaintiffs in this case are pro-life witnesses who had been walking and praying on public ways outside an abortion clinic known as A Womans Choice of Greensboro. Their activities consisted primarily in walking and praying in order to share alternatives and inform the women going to the clinic of the dangers they say are inherent in abortion. Some were wearing love life shirts, according to their lawyer. The mayor being sued is Nancy Vaughan, a Democrat, whom critics have accused of suppressing free speech at city council meetings. She didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. Its almost completely non-obstructive, non-confrontational, as peaceful and benign as you could imagine, Stephen Crampton, senior counsel at the Chicago-based Thomas More Society, a public-interest law firm specializing in religious freedom issues, told The Epoch Times. Our people were complying with all so-called social distancing requirements and health and safety requirements here. The issue is whether you have any First Amendment right to engage in peaceful expressive conduct under these circumstances. Of course, you should. You must, he said. If we allow them to shut down all free speech in public right out of the box, what does that mean in the next go-around? Weve got the next worst thing to martial law going on around here, and are we just going to roll over and forfeit our rights without even a whimper? The lawsuit challenges Greenboros Stay-at-Home Order and the states Stay-at-Home Order, known as Executive Order 121, which was issued by Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, claiming they violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments. The plaintiffs seek injunctions preventing the orders from being enforced. Prayer is still legal during this pandemic, Crampton said. Greensboros Mayor Vaughan should be ashamed of herself for using the cover of this national crisis to attack public expressions of religious faith that she disagrees with. If Mayor Vaughan were truly interested in saving lives, she would shut down this abortion clinic, which is using up critical personal protective equipment needed for COVID-19 response. Crampton said, Our many other clients have continued their life-affirming witness on public sidewalks outside abortion providers across the country, in full compliance with other states stay-at-home orders. Greensboro police have misused the stay-at-home orders here to silence the free speech and free exercise of religion guaranteed to every American citizen by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Even some abortion opponents have been reluctant to support the prayer-walkers involved in this legal dispute, he said. Some folks, even people who would otherwise be in favor of our clients activities are a little squeamish because of the pandemic and health and safety concerns and so forth. I think its really important that we not lose sight of the bigger picture; we cant just compromise and in fact forfeit fundamental constitutional rights every time theres an emergency or a disaster. And the whole point of the so-called outdoor activity exception in these stay-home orders is to allow, in fact, encourage people to go out walking, biking, jogging, get your outdoor activities so that youre not just going nuts on the inside and maintaining healthy lifestyles. So walking is encouraged. It appears the city of Greensboro just doesnt want you walking and praying outside their abortion clinic. Crampton said he expects there will be a hearing in the case, known as Nisley v. Vaughan, on April 7 in federal court in Greensboro. The lawsuit was initiated April 2. Correction: A previous version of this article stated the pro-life activists praying on public sidewalks outside an abortion clinic in Greensboro, North Carolina, are suing the city after being arrested by police for violating stay-at-home orders. In fact, the activists involved in the lawsuit were threatened with arrest by police, after which they complied with police orders to disperse. The Epoch Times regrets the error. Soldiers at a checkpoint in the Philippines at midnight in March. Lisa Marie David/NurPhoto / Getty Philippine police reportedly killed a man for disobeying President Rodrigo Duterte's strict quarantine rules. The man, 63, threatened local officials with a scythe after they told him to wear a face mask, a local police report said, according to Al Jazeera. This appears to be the first reported case of someone being shot dead in the Philippines for disobeying lockdown rules. Duterte told the country on Wednesday that he had ordered the police and military to shoot perceived troublemakers amid the coronavirus outbreak. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories Philippine police reportedly killed a man for disobeying President Rodrigo Duterte's strict quarantine rules, a day after the president ordered the military and police to shoot any lockdown troublemakers dead. On Thursday, a 63-year-old man became angry and threatened local officials and police after he was cautioned for not wearing a face mask, Al Jazeera reported, citing a local police report. The incident happened in Agusan del Norte, a southern province in the Philippines. According to the report, the man, who was thought to have been drunk, attacked local officials with a scythe. A police officer who was trying to subdue the man opened fire, killing him. The incident happened the day after Duterte told the country's 107 million people in a televised address that he had ordered the police and military to shoot perceived troublemakers amid the coronavirus outbreak. "My orders to the police and the military, if anyone creates trouble, and their lives are in danger: Shoot them dead," Duterte said. Duterte said the government's orders needed to be followed and the country needed to maintain order. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during a late night live broadcast in Malacanang, Manila, Philippines on April 3. Toto Lozano/Malacanang Presidential Photographers Divisiion / AP On Friday, Duterte reiterated his point in another TV address, telling the nation that without strong restrictions, the pandemic would not end. "So if you don't want to follow, then I will finish you to protect the lives of the innocent who don't want to die," he said. Story continues The man killed was the first reported case of someone being shot dead for not following coronavirus lockdown rules in the Philippines. As of April 5, the Philippines had 3,246 confirmed cases of COVID-10, with 152 deaths. Read the original article on Insider Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 13:51:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, April 6 (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. - - - - NEW DELHI -- India's federal health ministry Monday morning said the death toll from COVID-19 in India rose to 109 and that the total number of confirmed cases in the country reached 4,067. This is a jump of 26 deaths and an increase of 490 cases since Sunday evening. - - - - KABUL -- Thirty more confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported in Afghanistan, bringing the number of the infected people in the country to 367 as of Monday morning, a Ministry of Public Health spokesman confirmed. Sixteen of the new cases were confirmed in western Herat province, the country's epicenter of the disease bordering Iran, six cases were recorded in the capital of Kabul, three in Nimroz province, two in Kunduz province, two in Faryab and one in Daikundi provinces, respectively, Wahidullah Mayar, the spokesman said in a statement. - - - - SUVA -- Fiji confirmed on Monday two more COVID-19 cases, bringing the tally to 14. In a televised speech on Monday afternoon, Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said that the first new case is the wife of the 54-year-old man from Labasa, a city in Fiji's second largest island of Vanua Levu, who is the father of patients 6 and 7 (a couple) at Nabua, Suva. - - - - CANBERRA -- Popular support for Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has surged to a record high amid the coronavirus crisis, according to a recent poll. The latest edition of Newspoll published on Sunday night revealed universal support for the government's 130 billion Australian dollar (77.9 billion U.S. dollar) wage subsidy scheme. - - - - WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump claimed Sunday that some 1.6 million people in the United States have been tested for COVID-19 and received results. Trump, who made the remarks during the White House Coronavirus Task Force news briefing, said that by Tuesday, 3,000 military and public health workers will have been deployed across the nation to cope with the pandemic. - - - - WASHINGTON -- While a recent study shows that U.S. unemployment rate could jump to 32 percent due to the spread of COVID-19, the U.S. job market was not in "free fall", a senior U.S. Federal Reserve official said on Sunday. "I would push back against the idea of the economy or the job market being in free fall," James Bullard, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, said in the "Face the Nation" program on CBS. - - - - WASHINGTON -- The anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine will be used in a trial covering 3,000 patients at a hospital in Detroit, Michigan, and the results will be tracked in a formal study, said U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday. Pence told a White House briefing that they are "more than prepared" to make hydroxychloroquine available to doctors' offices and pharmacies in the Detroit area. - - - - CANBERRA -- Australia's Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said on Sunday that Australia was in a "good place" in its response to the virus, with the spread having slowed significantly in recent days. In the 24 hours prior to Murphy's press conference, 139 additional cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Australia, bringing the national total to 5,687. With no good alternatives, the town has concentrated its efforts on the twin challenges of emptying the town of skiers and snowboarders and blocking access to people fleeing the likes of Los Angeles and San Francisco to wait out the pandemic in their vacation homes. If theyre here and theyre sick, we cant help them, Ingrid Braun, the sheriff of Mono County, explained. On March 15, a day before San Francisco became the first major metro area in the nation to order residents to shelter in place, Dr. Boo declared a local health emergency in Mono County. Ski areas were closed, followed by hotels, motels and bars. In the days since, Dr. Boo has issued increasingly severe directives, including the threat of a $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail for going to work sick, even for jobs deemed essential. The Mono County tourism commission started a social media campaign to actually discourage tourism #MonoPause. When people kept coming, local leaders considered simply shutting down the state highway into town. They settled on a slightly less severe option: establishing the highway checkpoint. Once this step gets state approval, everyone headed into Mammoth Lakes will be stopped and questioned. Only locals and those with essential business will be allowed through. Were not xenophobes, Sheriff Braun said. Were just really worried about being able to take care of the people who live here. [Read more about how vulnerable ski communities are responding to the coronavirus.] Dr. Boo is spending restless nights brainstorming new ways to keep his friends and neighbors safe. The hospital has been split into Covid-19 positive and negative areas. An ethics plan about who will get access to lifesaving equipment is in place, a matter of urgency since the state said it could take weeks or months to supply a half-dozen more ventilators. And Dr. Boo is wondering when it will be necessary to close everything thats still open grocery stores included to buy the town a little more time. Lying here at 5:20 a.m., the story isnt really a road checkpoint, Dr. Boo wrote in a recent email. Its about a little mountain town and its little hospital on the verge of getting crushed. Singapore 66 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Monday (April 6), along with two new clusters, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in an update. All but one are local cases. Among the local cases, 35 are linked to existing clusters25 to linked to clusters at foreign worker dormitories and 11 to non-dormitory clusters. Contact tracing is ongoing for the remaining 30 cases. At the same time, two new clusters have also been identified, said MOH. Two new COVID-19 clusters Two new COVID-19 clusters One new cluster formed at Little Gems Preschool at Ang Mo Kio Street 62. | Image Source: Little Gem Preschool/Facebook Two of the new COVID-19 clusters that emerged: one at a Kranji Lodge and another at Little Gems Preschool at Ang Mo Kio Street 62. The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), in a media statement, said it was informed on 4 April that teaching staff at Little Gems Preschool at 3 Ang Mo Kio Street 62 tested positive for COVID-19. Contact tracing is ongoing. It ordered temporary closure for the preschool centre which will last until 14 April. This covers the 14-day incubation period as the staff was last in the Centre on 31 March 2020, said ECDA, adding that all affected staff and children will be placed on a Leave of Absence (LOA) during the closure period. During the closure, the centre will conduct a thorough cleaning and disinfection of the preschool premises and is closely monitoring its staff and parents on the health of their children. ECDA said it will continue to monitor the situation closely, and work with the management, staff, parents and children at the centre to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all. The preschool centre will resume limited service provision on Wednesday (15 April), barring any new developments, to serve the group of parents who are working in essential services and are unable to extend their alternative care arrangements beyond the closure period. Preschools, Student Care Centres To Be Suspended Until 4 May Story continues Preschool All preschools and student care centres will suspend general services from next week 8 April, in alignment with the Multi-Ministry Taskforces latest efforts to further enhance safe distancing measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency, along with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), said it will continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation to assess if these measures need to be prolonged. The post COVID-19: New Cluster Emerges At Little Gems Preschool In Ang Mo Kio appeared first on theAsianparent - Your Guide to Pregnancy, Baby & Raising Kids. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjees nephew and Trinamool Congress youth wing chief Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday night criticised the way Prime Minister Narendra Modis light-out call for 9 minutes at 9pm was observed and asked if the government was preaching isolation or destruction. In Kolkata, firecrackers burst at several places right after 9pm, following which the police launched a crackdown and arrested 98 people. With the firecrackers, fancy diyas & sky lanterns, we have become the first ever Nation to celebrate a pandemic #COVID19 I am also contemplating how many actually followed the norms of #lockdown to gear up for this. What was being preached: self-isolation or self-destruction? (sic) Abhishek Banerjee wrote on Twitter late on Sunday night. On Saturday, Mamata Banerjee had refused to comment on the Prime Ministers call for switching off the lights for nine minutes in a show of solidarity with those fighting the battle against Covid-19 from the front. Also read: What you need to know today If someone wishes to participate, its up to him and her. What do I have to say? she had said when journalists asked her about Modis announcement. Incidentally, in a tweet posted an hour before 9pm on Sunday, TMC Rajya Sabha leader Derek OBrien wrote without referring to the event that the Centre needed to take nine urgent steps. We need to take these 9 urgent steps to fight the #COVID19 challenge, OBrien wrote in a tweet that accompanied a photo of a burning candle. Also read: Will districts with no Covid-19 cases be first to be unlocked? Meanwhile, the Raj Bhavan on Sunday was all decked up with candles as Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar observed the light-out event. Raj Bhavan Kolkata at 9 PM was lighted with Candles and Diyas with all electric lights off in the entire premises. Governor Dhankhar and First Lady Sudesh Dhankhar lighted up with Candles and Diyas Raj Bhavan in response to the visionary call @narendramodi (sic), Dhankhar tweeted on Sunday night. A 55-year-old railway employee who tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday and was admitted at a hospital in Siliguri died on Sunday, marking the second death in the region and eighth in the state. The state government said 80 people have tested positive till Saturday night, out of whom 49 are active cases. Advertisement The Department of Defense has shared photographs of inside the Javits Center in New York City, which has become the largest hospital in the United States, after it started accepting COVID-19 patients ahead of the pandemic 'peak' that will hit the city this week. The center was an exposition center but was transformed in just five days to become a field hospital. The Army Corps of Engineers and the National Guard teamed up to fit it out after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio made repeated pleas to the federal government for military help. Originally, it was going to serve as an overflow hospital for non-COVID patients to clear out the hospital system and make room for coronavirus patients. But as the number of virus patients overwhelmed the hospital system and with fewer non-COVID patients needing hospital care, it pivoted to become one of the most significant facilities in treating coronavirus sufferers. President Trump granted the order to turn it from a non-coronavirus facility to a coronavirus facility at the request of Gov. Cuomo, despite objections from FEMA. Scroll down for video The the Javits Center in New York City which has 2,500 beds for coronavirus patients and started accepting patients this weekend A patient arrives at the ambulance bay to be wheeled inside by army medics Medical personnel move a person from the hospital bay indoors to begin treatment for coronavirus Soldiers assigned to Javits New York Medical Station conduct check-in procedures on an incoming COVID-19 patient with local emergency workers in the facility's medical bay Army Maj. Sean Shirley, assigned to the 9th Hospital Center, holds a meeting with staff in the Javits New York Medical Station (JNYMS) intensive care unit bay Soldiers assigned to the Javits New York Medical Station (JNYMS) monitor COVID-19 patients in the facility's intensive care unit. There are 2,500 beds in the facility which was constructed by the military in just five days Staff Sgt. DeAngela Cranor, assigned to the Javits New York Medical Station, monitors a COVID-19 patient in the facility's intensive care unit This US Navy photo obtained April 6, 2020 shows Army Spc. Daniel Fields, assigned to the 9th Hospital Center, taking a patients blood pressure reading in the Javits New York Medical Station Soldiers assigned to Javits New York Medical Station conduct check-in procedures on an incoming COVID-19 patient in the facility's medical bay Staff Sgt. Kierstin Pontious, assigned to the Javits New York Medical Station, conducts a quality control check on a piece of sample-testing equipment in the facility's intensive care unit Soldiers set up a portable x-ray machine in the facility's medical bay on Saturday as the first patients started arriving 200404-N-OE749-0154 Army Maj. Sean Shirley, assigned to the 9th Hospital Center, holds a meeting with staff The center is being staffed by military medics and the supplies there have been largely provided by the federal government. Soldiers from the 44th Medical Brigade deployed from Ft. Bragg, N.C., Ft. Hood, Texas, and Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, are among those now working at the facility. It started accepting patients as New York City braced for its apex - when deaths and cases will hit their peaks - this week. As of Monday morning, there were more than 64,000 cases of coronavirus in New York City and more than 2,400 people had died. It has been the epicenter of the crisis in America, where more than 330,000 are infected and there have been more than 10,000 deaths. By the time the pandemic is predicted to be over - which varies by expert but could be August - around 100,000 people are expected to die. The US is expected to hit its peak on April 16, according to new data released by the University of Washington School of Medicine on Sunday. On that day, 2,400 people are expected to die. Surgeon General Jerome Adams has called this week the 'Pearl Harbor' or '9/11' of this generation, and says it will likely be the 'saddest' and 'hardest' day of many people's lives. U.S. Army Spc. Perry Wolf, left, and Staff Sgt. Kierstin Pontious, both assigned to the Javits New York Medical Station, conduct a quality control check on a piece of sample-testing equipment in the facility's intensive care unit A soldier assigned to the Javits New York Medical Station checks on a COVID-19 patient in the facility's intensive care unit Sgt. Brodie VanBrunt, assigned to Javits New York Medical Station, takes a COVID-19 patient's vital signs upon receiving them in the facility's medical bay Soldiers assigned review a COVID-19 patient's medical chart in the facility's intensive care unit Army Spc. Fredrick Spencer, assigned to the 531st Hospital Center, assembles a T1 Hamilton ventilator in a mobile lab unit at Javits New York Medical Station Chief Yeoman Joshua Scanlon, assigned to Task Force Northeast, sets up a joint reception, staging, onward movement and integration station A similar facility is being built out at the TFC Center in Detroit in anticipation of its peak Floors being mopped at the TCF center on Monday, April 6, before patients arrive A soldier builds a walker at the TCF Center in Detroit on Monday. Detroit is being touted as one of the next hotspots The Javits Center is just one of at least 8 field hospitals that is being built in New York to battle the virus. BILL GATES SAYS PANDEMIC IS 'NIGHTMARE SCENARIO' BUT FEWER WILL DIE THAN PREDICTED Bill Gates has described the pandemic as a 'nightmare scenario' but believes the death toll will be lower than the 100,000 predicted by the White House if social distancing is done properly. Trump said that between 100,000 and 240,000 people would die from the virus by the time it has swept the nation. 'If we do the social distancing properly, we should be able to get out of this with a death number well short of that,' Gates said on Sunday during an appearance on Fox. 'This is a nightmare scenario because human-to-human transmittal respiratory viruses can grow exponentially. 'And you know, if we had kept on going to work, traveling like we were, you know, that curve would never bend until you had the majority of the people infected and then a massive number seeking hospital care and lots of lots of deaths,' he said. He added that life will not 'go back to truly normal until we have a vaccine that weve gotten out to basically the entire world.' Advertisement There is also the USNS Comfort, a Navy ship with the capacity for 1,000 beds, but it is not taking coronavirus patients. There has been outrage over the decision not to allow COVID-19 patients on board. The Navy said it was because it would become too complicated to disinfect the ship afterwards. Health executives in New York City said it was a 'joke' that it was in sitting in New York Harbor with only 21 patients when thousands were overwhelming emergency rooms in the city and doctors were struggling to keep up. Gov. Cuomo said over the weekend that he planned to speak to the Defense Secretary Mark Esper about the ship's use and to try to work out a solution. President Trump said over the weekend that if the ship would take coronavirus patients if the city needed it. There is now hope for what will come after the virus peaks - 'quick' blood tests that can determine whether or not a person has had the virus and recovered from it. If they have, it suggests they are immune to it and might be able to return to work. Admiral Brett Giroir said this week would be the worst week for those three states but 'that doesn't mean we're over it'. 'This week is going to be the peak - peak hospitalizations, peak ICU's and, unfortunately, peak deaths. 'That doesn't mean we're over it. There are other parts of the country that will peak a a later date; New Orleans, Louisiana etc. 'Do the social distancing, wear the masks - that's how we're going to defeat this virus,' he said. He also said he was 'very optimistic' about blood tests that are in development that will allow tens of millions of people to be tested to find out if they have had the virus and recovered from it or not. If the test proves they have recovered from it, it will suggest they are immune and are able to go back to work. There are two types of that test that are being discussed; both center on antibodies and blood plasma that could then be used to treat those who are sick with the virus and build up their immunity to it. Coronavirus outbreak in the US is predicted to peak in 10 days with over 3,000 deaths in 24 hours but is expected to be level out by June due to strict social distancing measures, new data shows The peak of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States could come sooner than first predicted given the lockdown and social distancing measures currently in place across much of the country, new research shows. Forecasters at the University of Washington's School of Medicine released updated coronavirus estimates on Sunday that show the pandemic could be over quicker than initially thought and level out as early as June. The estimated peak day of the US outbreak is expected to occur in 10 days on April 16 with a projected 3,130 deaths that day, the data shows. The team warns that the protections for each state is assuming that social distancing measures are maintained, such as people staying home and nursing homes barring visitors The estimated peak day of the US outbreak is expected to occur in 10 days on April 16 with a projected 3,130 deaths that day, the data shows While the data still shows a predicted 81,000 deaths from COVID-19 over the next four months, the estimate range has lowered. It was initially thought the range could be as high as 162,000 deaths but it is now predicted to be as high as 136,000 fatalities Peak resource use for hospitals is predicted to occur on April 15 - the day before the peak death toll - where an estimated 25,000 ventilators, 140,000 beds and 29,000 ICU beds will be needed. Data shows there will be a shortage of 36,000 hospital beds and 16,000 ICU beds by that day. As of Monday, there has been nearly 10,000 deaths in the US and more than 337,000 confirmed cases. 'If social distancing measures are relaxed or not implemented, the US will see greater death tolls, the death peak will be later, the burden on hospitals will be much greater and the economic costs will continue to grow.' New data on health service use from multiple states, including New York, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Florida and California, since the pandemic started escalating has also led to decreases in the estimated need to deal with the outbreak. The need for ICU beds and ventilators are less than previously estimated and will dramatically decrease by June 1, according to the data. Dr Murray said the data showed the the length of stay for COVID-19 patients in ICU had increased but the length of stay had gone down for patients not requiring intensive care. The lower numbers of required hospital beds could reflect how moderately ill patients in cities like New York are not being admitted because of the demand on the over-stretched system. 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. Last month, Dr. Fauci insisted at a White House task force press briefing that there was no evidence that pets were vulnerable to the novel coronavirus. Then scientists in Belgium and Hong Kong confirmed that they had found pet cats owned by people infected with the virus that had somehow caught it, as evidence was detected in their urine. At least one pet dog has also been infected. As CNN so aptly points out, the "weak positives" produced in tests of these animals haven't offered any reason for scientists to suspect that these animals could infect humans - only that these pets could be infected by humans, as humans were once, in turn, infected by animals. No article that we've seen in the mainstream US press has offered a detailed explanation for the scientific community's reasoning in thinking that these tests suggest that pets can't infect humans. But while CNN and others have reveled in mocking alarmists who believed in this Internet 'conspiracy theory', they neglected to explain that there are two critical reasons for this: the first being that dogs and cats infected in past coronavirus outbreaks (namely, the SARS outbreak in 2002-2003) have shown that the strains they typically pick up don't cause respiratory problems. Have we confirmed the same is true for the novel coronavirus? No. The second is that they haven't found enough examples, and investigators tracing cases haven't found a case yet where it's obvious that a pet infected a human. Still, the World Organization For Animal Health warns that pets who test positive should be quarantined, and any humans who interact with them should wash and sanitize. But we digress. We bring up all of this because a few hours ago, the management at the Bronx Zoo learned that Nadia, a 4-year-old Malayan tiger, has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to statements from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Wildlife Conservation Society, which manages the New York City zoo. The tiger is believed to have contracted the virus from an asymptomatic zookeeper. The Bronx Zoo closed to the public in mid-March, and the tiger that tested positive began showing symptoms on March 27. Here's a statement from the Wildlife Conservation Society: Nadia, a 4-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo, has tested positive for COVID-19. She, her sister Azul, two Amur tigers, and three African lions had developed a dry cough and all are expected to recover. This positive COVID-19 test for the tiger was confirmed by USDAs National Veterinary Services Laboratory, based in Ames, Iowa. We tested the cat out of an abundance of caution and will ensure any knowledge we gain about COVID-19 will contribute to the worlds continuing understanding of this novel coronavirus. Right now, millions of New Yorkers are probably wondering how this tiger managed to get a test before their friend/brother/sister/mother/father/grandfather/aunt/etc. Of course, the USDA stressed to the public that this is the "first case of its kind" and that "further studies are needed to understand if and how different animals could be affected by COVID-19." Meanwhile, they urged any pet owners who test positive to also quarantine their pets. Speaking at the event, Hung said Vietnam has been also struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with the tradition of standing side by side together in any circumstance, the Vietnamese Government and people have and would strive to take measures in support of the Lao counterparts to fight the epidemic. He added that the equipment include protective clothing, medical and anti-septic clothing masks, test kits and a Realtime PCR testing system. On the occasion, the Vietnamese Government Office also presented boxes of medical masks to the the Lao Prime Minister's Office, while the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology granted 500 test kits worth VND250 million to the Lao counterpart. Except the Realtime PCR testing system, all are made and widely used in Vietnam, he said. Hung affirmed that the Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities will continue supporting Laos in the near future. Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Somdy Duangdy, who is also head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, lauded the move as a great source of encouragement for Lao medical staff and people amid challenges arising from the pandemic. He said the Vietnamese Governments dispatch of a special flight carrying the equipment to Laos proves great friendship and special solidarity between the two fraternal countries. Somdy expressed his gratitude for the Vietnamese Party, Government and people for providing invaluable and timely support for Laos whenever the country meets difficulties and pledged to use the equipment in the most effective way. On the occasion, he also thanked the Vietnamese Government for creating favourable conditions and providing care for Lao people and students in the country. On April 3 night, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines carried the medical equipment weighing about 4.8 tonnes to Wattay international airport in Vientiane. Stocks in Japan market finished session higher Monday, 06 April 2020, as investor sentiment received a boost on slowdown in the number of coronavirus-related deaths toll, optimism about increasing oil prices, and more promises from US President Donald Trump about economic support. At closing bell, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 756.11 points, or 4.24%, to 18,576.30. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange jumped 51.17 points, or 3.86%, at 1,376.30. All 33 industry category of Topix index surged, with Marine Transportation, Securities & Commodities Futures, Transportation Equipment, Mining, Information & Communication, and Real Estate issues being notable gainers. Investor sentiment received a boost amid optimism that the number of coronavirus cases in New York, a U. S. hotspot for the pandemic, may be peaking, after U. S. President Donald Trump expressed hope the country was seeing a "levelling off" of the coronavirus crisis. New York State reported its first decline in the number of daily coronavirus-related deaths as well as hospitalizations on Sunday. Major European nations reported lower coronavirus-related fatality toll, with Italy seeing the number of patients in intensive care falling for the second consecutive day, while Spanish officials said deaths fell for the third straight day and France reported its lowest daily toll in a week. However, a rise in cases and deaths in Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines kept gains under check. In Japan, media reports said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to declare a state of emergency in parts of Japan including Tokyo as the number of people infected with the new coronavirus continues to increase. Developments on the global coronavirus virus pandemic continue to be watched, as concerns over the virus' economic impact have sent markets into a whirlwind in recent weeks. Globally, more than 1.2 million have been infected while at least 65,711 lives have been taken by the virus, according to latest data compiled by John Hopkins University. Investors also remained focused on oil prices. Oil prices trimmed some of last Friday gains on Monday after meeting between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, initially set to take place Monday, was delayed. Brent crude fell as much as $3 in Asian trading after Saudi Arabia and Russia postponed a meeting over a potential pact to cut production to Thursday. Last week, both Brent and U. S. crude futures surged to their best week on record as Saudi Arabia called for a OPEC+ meeting, signalling there could be progress on a production cut. Exporters' shares were higher across the board on weaker yen, with Toyota advancing 6.2% to 6,580 yen and Sony 4.6% to 6,550 yen. A cheaper yen is good for Japanese exporters as it makes their products more competitive abroad while inflating profits when repatriated. Fujifilm Holdings gained 7% to 6,166 yen amid expectations for its medicine Avigan as anti-coronavirus treatment. Shares in telecoms firms benefitted from a surge in usage by people working from home. Mobile phone carrier KDDI rose 5.8% to 3,278 yen and its bigger rival NTT Docomo climbed 6.8% to 3,369 yen. CURRENCY: The U. S. dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of its peers, was last at 100.688 after crossing the 100 level last week. The Japanese yen, often seen as a safe-haven currency, traded at 108.82 per dollar after weakening from levels below 107.4 last week. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An assisted living facility is the epicenter of an outbreak in Gage County, accounting for the majority of the confirmed positive tests of the novel coronavirus there. Eight people six residents and two staff members at the Gold Crest Retirement Center in Adams, Nebraska, have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. One of those residents, a woman in her 90s, died last Tuesday from complications of the virus. Officials couldnt determine how the woman caught the virus, so they deemed it a community spread case, said Public Health Solutions Health Director Kim Showalter. On Sunday, the health agency, which oversees Gage, Fillmore, Jefferson, Saline and Thayer Counties, announced the additional positive tests of seven people connected to Gold Crest. The five residents who recently tested positive were transferred to a facility in Lincoln, but Showalter didnt say whether that was a hospital or another assisted living facility. The Delhi Nizamuddin cluster has become a massive challenge for the health departments across the state as 60% of the average cases are related to the Tablighi Jamaat meeting which happened at the national capital. 522 cases out of 571 cases in Tamil Nadu are related to the Nizamuddin cluster directly, which shows the intensity of the issue. Read: Assam Govt To File Cases Against Markaz Cases Who Have Tested Positive For Coronavirus At this point, 10 Malaysian Nationals who attended the Delhi Tablighi Jamaat Conference were stopped from boarding a special flight bound to Malaysia by Indian immigration officials on Sunday at this Chennai airport. The group had attended the Delhi conference and reached Tenkasi district in Tamilnadu which is 550 kilometers from the Chennai. The group was stopped by the immigration officials as they did not complete the mandatory quarantine period of 28 days. Read: Crime Branch Likely To Issue Second Notice To Markaz Head Maulana Saad They were also were taken to a quarantine center in Chennai by the health and police department officials. Meanwhile, the Chennai police have booked the Malaysian Tablighis who tried to flee under 8 sections. They have been booked under Sections 188, 269, 270, 271 IPC, sec 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897,134 & 135 of TN Public Health Act 1939,51(b) of national disaster management act 2005 r/w sec 13 & 14 of foreigners Act by the Central Crime Branch. The police are also enquiring as to how the Malaysian nationals reached Chennai from the Thenkasi district which is a distance of 650 kilometers during the time of lockdown and closure of district borders. The police will conduct an inquiry once their mandatory quarantine period comes to an end. They are right now in a government quarantine facility which is in the outskirts of Chennai city. Read: U'khand DGP Warns Markaz Attendees Of 'attempt To Murder' Charge Unless They Step Forward Due to the coronavirus pandemic, families are practicing self-isolation at home. Couples, therefore, have more time to be together and snuggle. However, experts give out a warning: it may not be the best time to get pregnant. US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin warns people of the possible increase in the unemployment rate to 20 percent due to the coronavirus. Couples whose jobs are in critical condition right now should think twice before trying to conceive. It is also possible the couples would split up because of spending too much time together. The marriage registry official in China reported an increase in the number of divorce cases due to the quarantine. It may be harder to get pregnant now The global health crisis is causing stress to couples, thereby decreasing the libido and affecting menstrual cycles. Thus, it may be hard to conceive, said Dr. Renee Wellenstein, an OBGYN and functional medicine specialist in upstate New York. She advises couples to "absolutely not" get pregnant now due to the uncertainty brought about by the coronavirus. There are many risk factors, including having less care available in many areas, as the priority of most hospitals is to help those infected by COVID-19. Pregnant women who go to the hospitals carry additional risks because when they get infected by any virus, no one knows how it might impact the baby in their womb, said Dr. Wellestein. Adding to that, she said that entering hospitals already put the pregnant woman at risk. Wellestein further stated that there is still no clear statement as to how the coronavirus affects the baby when it crosses the placenta, but it is not worth the risk. She added that once the baby is born, it will be immediately exposed to the virus, which might easily infect the baby. Will there be a baby boom after nine months? Dr. Wellenstein told CNN that she does not foresee a baby boom in nine months. It could be possible, but no one is certain. She said that in the northeast, more babies are born in the late summer and fall months, meaning couples mostly try to get pregnant during the late fall and winter. A study by scientists at the University of Texas and John Hopkins University revealed that a relatively minor storm that causes power outages increased the birth rate a little. However, it showed that a more severe storm that caused a lot of deaths and destruction had a more negative impact on the birth rate. Larger disasters can lower birth rates Scholar Lyman Stone wrote in an article published by the Institute for Family Studies in March that illness, quarantine, and death can have a significant impact on conception, pregnancy, and birth. He found in the previous academic literature that events that caused many deaths, such as famines, earthquakes, heatwaves, and disease, reduce the number of live births after nine months. Stone stressed that Hurricanes Maria and Katrina in the US, the 2015 Ebola outbreaks in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea all significantly associated with a decline in birth rates. On the contrary, events like the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Oklahoma City bombing could have led to higher birth rates because couples cling more closely together as these affect the American psyche. Coronavirus Uncertainty There is still uncertainty whether the coronavirus gets transmitted through the placenta or not. A recent study was published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics showed that only three newborns tested positive in the first week of their lives out of the 33 mothers that gave birth after being infected with COVID. Emeritus professor of neonatal medicine at the University of Bristol, Andrew Whitelaw, told the Science Media Center in the UK that they tested the amniotic fluid and umbilical cord of all the infants, and the result was negative, so the three babies likely contracted the virus after delivery. Still, many doctors are concerned if it would be safe for the mother to expose their baby to the virus after birth. While there is no certainty if the pandemic might cause an increase in the birth rate nine months from now, Wellenstein said that a few months from now, we might see more pregnancies so long as the pandemic is resolved. Then, everybody can do their normal activities just like before. New Jersey has ordered 20 refrigerated trucks capable of storing 1,680 bodies to take the stress off morgues and funeral homes as the battle against the coronavirus continues with the projected peak in cases at least 10 days away, officials said Monday. Acting State Police Superintendent Patrick Callahan made the announcement as New Jersey passed 1,000 deaths in the outbreak. The news came less than a week after officials said they planned to ask for the trucks. I dont have a specific day, but soon," Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday when asked at his daily coronavirus press briefing if they would be needed and asked for from the federal government. Murphy announced Monday New Jerseys deaths from the coronavirus increased to 1,003, while health officials announced the total COVID-19 positive tests jumped to at least 41,090. The governor said on Sunday the state is set to receive another 500 much-needed ventilators from the national stockpile to treat people. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage The new shipment means the state has or will receive 1,350 of the ventilators Murphy has asked President Donald Trump to send to New Jersey. Several of the machines from the federal government, however, werent working properly upon arrival and required repair. As of Monday morning, New Jersey had 6,390 patients in hospital with confirmed or suspected coronavirus cases, state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said. Of those, 1,505 were in intensive care, she said. Officials said the states first pop-up field hospital to help handle an overflow of patients is set to open Monday at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus. The first patients could start arriving within days. The federal government is helping build two other field hospitals in the state. One is set to open April 8 at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison and another April 14 at the Atlantic City Convention Center, officials said. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey: Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Lawyers in the national capital can now e-file their petitions for the Delhi High Court at the facilitation counters of all the district court complexes, the district judge of Tis Hazari Court, who is the administrative head of all trial courts in Delhi, said on Monday said. District and Sessions Judge Girish Kathpalia issued the notification to the presidents and secretaries of the six district courts bar associations -- Tis Hazari, Karkardooma, Saket, Dwarka, Patiala House Rohini Courts and New Delhi as per the directions of the high Court for extension of e-filing counters. The facility of the extension counters for e-filing of cases, which will be heard in the Delhi High Court, will be available from April 7 in the respective facilitation counters or filing sections of each district court complexes, including the Rouse Avenue Courts Complex, Judge Kathpalia said. Judge Kathpalia also made a note for everyone to stay healthy in wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak in the country. Pursuant to the directions of the Delhi High Court, the facility for e-filing of cases, pertaining to the Delhi High Court, has now been made available at all court complexes of Delhi district courts. This facility of the extension counters for e-filing will be available with effect from April 7 in the respective facilitation counters or filing sections of each district court complex, including the Rouse Avenue Courts Complex in New Delhi. May all stay healthy, the notification said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 13:14:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A woman walks on a street in Turin, Italy, on April 4, 2020. Between Saturday and Sunday, the COVID-19 death toll in Italy was 525, the lowest one-day total since March 19, when COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, claimed 427 lives. (Photo by Federico Tardito/Xinhua) BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- There are now nearly 1.3 million cases of the novel coronavirus with close to 70,000 deaths reported around the world as the pandemic rages. As of 0300 GMT Monday, nations and regions reported a total of 69,444 deaths from COVID-19, along with 1,273,990 confirmed cases, while more than 260,000 people have recovered, an interactive map maintained by Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering showed. SURGING CASES, DEATHS The United States recorded more than 1,200 deaths from COVID-19 in the past day, bringing the death toll in the country to more than 9,600, Johns Hopkins University said Sunday evening. There are more than 337,000 confirmed infections in the United States, said the Baltimore-based university. In Europe, France has registered more than 8,000 deaths from COVID-19 since the outbreak of the epidemic, the Health Ministry announced on Sunday. The disease claimed 357 lives in hospitals in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll in hospitals to 5,889. In addition, the counting by elderly nursing homes across the country showed that there were 2,189 deaths since March 1, the ministry said in a press release. Around 100,000 infections with the new coronavirus have been registered in Germany, with more than 1,500 deaths. In Asia, as of Sunday, 143 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Japan's Tokyo, a record daily high for the capital, bringing the total to 1,034, with the country's Health Ministry and local governments saying that nationwide cases had risen to 3,531 as of Sunday afternoon. India's Health Ministry on Sunday evening said the death toll from COVID-19 in India rose to 83 and the total number of confirmed cases in the country reached 3,577. In South Africa, the nation hardest hit by the coronavirus on the African continent, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases had risen to 1,655 with the death toll standing at 11, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Sunday. In Latin America, Brazil's Health Ministry said on Sunday the country's death toll from COVID-19 had climbed to 486 as 11,130 people tested positive of the coronavirus disease. In the past 24 hours, 54 patients died, up 12.5 percent compared with the day before, and 852 new infections were detected, placing the mortality rate at 4.4 percent, said the authorities. "TIME OF DISRUPTION" British Queen Elizabeth II, in a rare broadcast Sunday night, spoke about the coronavirus pandemic, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to hospital for tests, 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19. In the short speech meant to lift the nation's spirits, the 93-year-old monarch said: "I am speaking to you at what I know is an increasingly challenging time." She spoke of a time of disruption in the life of the country, a disruption that has brought grief to some, financial difficulties to many, and enormous changes to the daily lives of all people. Her brief message continued: "I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge. And those who come after us will say that the Britons of this generation were as strong as any." "That the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good-humored resolve and of fellow-feeling still characterize this country," she said. She said although there was still more to endure, people should take comfort that better days will return. Other than her annual Christmas Day speech, the British monarch had only previously made four speeches during periods of crisis or grief in her near 70-year reign. Also facing mounting pressure posed by the pandemic, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is planning to declare a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak in Japan, due to the recent surge of COVID-19 cases in Tokyo and other large cities, government sources said Monday. The Tokyo metropolitan government along with healthcare specialists said the number of hospital beds available for coronavirus patients will soon reach capacity, with the health ministry rapidly trying to secure more. Adding pressure to the government on demonstrably bolstering its preventive and counter measures to the spread of the virus, a panel of government experts warned recently that the country's healthcare system could collapse if coronavirus cases continue to spike. If a state of emergency is declared by Abe, the government will have extended powers to instruct people to stay at home on a regional or national basis, issue closures to schools, and restrict the use of locations for mass gatherings. Sahil Jaggi, RE/MAX Realtron Realty (Mississauga, ON): There is some insecurity in our jobs as we are 100% commission, so without showings or meetings its hard for agents to be as productive. Ive been focusing a lot on organizing my CRM systems and accounting. Its also a good time to educate yourself with bebinars, podcasts, books etc. Anthony Brown, Royal LePage Atlantic (Halifax, NS): I love learning, so I've been reading a ton and taking doing one webinar or online training activity every day. I've also been doing some business mapping exercises. Patty Mack, RE/MAX Camosun (Victoria, BC): I have been self-isolating, but I stay in touch with clients by email, text and calling, just to touch base and say hi. Providing virtual tours, Docusign and electronic file exchanging is critical until health experts tell us we can return to normal. We are an essential service and must show leadership in this crisis. We all have to do our part to get over this curve. David Fleming, Bosley Real Estate (Toronto, ON): Ive been writing three blogs per week since 2007, and Im not going to change that now. Im continuing to produce new content, and even doing my Pick5 video every Thursday, even though there arent many new listings, since I know people are starved for content and might be tired of Netlfix. Paul Roussel, RE/MAX Escarpment Woolcott Realty (Burlington, ON): Were maintaining communication with our current and past clients as well as keeping up with our warm calls to leads in our database. Our message has less to do with real estate and more to do with supporting our community and offering help in any way we can. We are still listing homes and, amazingly, they are getting some showings and even selling. We havent seen a big price dip but its certainly taking a little longer to sell than our crazy hot sellers market in the first 2 months of the year. CLEVELAND, Ohio JobsOhio has inked deals with the Sherwin-Williams Co. for $37.5 million in grants to support the global paint makers planned headquarters and research and development projects in Cuyahoga County. The statewide economic-development corporation disclosed the grants Monday, in a roundup of March deals posted on its website. The money will flow to Sherwin-Williams after construction starts on the projects, as reimbursement for costs associated with building new corporate offices in downtown Clevelands Warehouse District and a new R&D complex on a former hospital site in Brecksville. The package unveiled Monday clearly isnt the states complete offering for Sherwin-Williams, which announced in early February that it would stay true to its Ohio roots after a national site search. Amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has put legislative approvals for new spending on hold, it could be months before the total public pledge to the company is clear. The JobsOhio incentives include a $32.5 million economic development grant and a $5 million revitalization grant. But the organization, a nonprofit corporation funded by profits on state liquor sales, notably hasnt announced any Sherwin-Williams funding tied to workforce development another tool JobsOhio uses to assist growing companies. In its online metrics, JobsOhio said the Sherwin-Williams projects represent a combined investment of nearly $600 million. The Fortune 500 company has committed to keeping 3,524 jobs here and creating 400 new positions, generating $35.8 million in additional payroll. Sherwin-Williams has played a critical role in Clevelands growth and its community for more than 154 years while having an incredibly positive economic impact for the entire state, J.P. Nauseef, JobsOhios president and chief executive officer, said in a written statement. This project will spur thousands of additional construction jobs, create millions in new annual revenue for the communities and local school districts and be a catalyst for additional development in both Cleveland and Brecksville. Both cities, along with Cuyahoga County, approved incentive packages for Sherwin-Williams earlier this year. Brecksvilles bundle of rebates, on new income-tax and property-tax revenues from the R&D project, is likely worth more than $100 million over three decades. Cleveland also put an estimated $100-million package on the table, between tax breaks tied to new jobs and real estate investments and a construction grant of up to $13.5 million. The county is providing a $14 million grant toward construction at both sites. In late March, the Ohio Controlling Board was scheduled to vote on $70 million in interest-free loans for the projects, with $35 million earmarked for the headquarters and $35 million tagged for the research complex. But the Ohio Development Services Agency shelved those requests once Gov. Mike DeWine ordered a state hiring freeze to offset the anticipated blow to Ohios coffers from the coronavirus crisis and told state agencies to table new spending items that required legislative approval. Development agreements between Sherwin-Williams and Cleveland and Brecksville also allude to possible state roadwork grants that flow to municipalities. Such grants require a local match and can cover costs including design, engineering and construction of public roads tied to projects that create or keep jobs. The roadwork grant program puts an emphasis on headquarters projects and investments in manufacturing, distribution, technology, research and development. The pandemic hasnt changed Sherwin-Williams timeline for moving into its new facilities, which are scheduled to open in 2023 at the earliest. On March 18, the company bought its future headquarters site for $49.4 million, according to real estate records. But Sherwin-Williams has put short-term spending on the projects on hold, a spokeswoman said Monday afternoon. The most critical planning activities for the project will continue, though at a slower pace, the spokeswoman, Julie Young, wrote in an email. We will continue to work with state and local partners and look forward to finalizing the remaining economic development package agreements. The strategic reasons weve previously outlined for a new global headquarters and new R&D center remain unchanged. Sherwin-Willliams operates out of a 90-year-old headquarters building that is no longer able to meet the needs of our 21st-century, growing workforce. Police in Ho on Sunday arrested Bishop George Kunu, General Overseer of the Miracle Life Temple at Sokode-Lokoe, with five members of his church for disobeying President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's directive against social gatherings. Some members of the Lokoe Pentecost Church were also picked up by the Police for flouting the directive. Mr Anthony Danso, Ho Municipal Police Commander, who confirmed the arrest to the Ghana News Agency said the culprits were yet to be interrogated. Meanwhile, churches have generally suspended church services in the Volta regional capital, with many reaching their members through social media and radio stations. Few churches on Sunday, April 05, Palm Sunday decorated their premises with palm fronds but did not organise church services in the auditoriums. The President in a national address on Sunday, March 15, 2020, banned all public gatherings including conferences, funerals, political rallies, church activities and other related events to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the country. 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. Featured Video The continuing flood of patients into hospital emergency rooms has presented a daunting challenge to policymakers like Mr. Cuomo who are trying to predict on the fly not only where the crisis might be headed, but also when New York might be able to return to a semblance of normalcy. The governor said on Monday that schools and nonessential stores would remain closed at least through April 29. The governors staff, in attempting to divine the course of the outbreak, has been using statistical models created by the Institute for Health Metrics at the University of Washington, which has received funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as predictions generated by McKinsey & Company and Weill Cornell Medicine. Much of the uncertainty comes from the fact that the statistics themselves are far from solid indicators. The number of hospitalizations, for instance, depends partly on admission standards. Some overwhelmed hospitals are sending home people who are in less dire shape, but whom they would admit in normal circumstances. There are also indications that Covid-19 deaths are being undercounted especially those who die of the illness at home, rather than a hospital. And studies have shown that many people never even know they have been infected, one reason the governor spent much of his time in front of the camera scolding those New Yorkers who found the outdoors too inviting to resist. Frankly, there has been a laxness on social distancing, especially over this past weekend, he said. Now is not the time to be playing Frisbee with your friends in the park. Nows not the time to go to a funeral with 200 people. I understand how the religious services can help with the grieving process, he said. But, as a society, the risk is too great. To ensure that downward trends continued, officials in New York City announced that they were closing all dog parks and dog runs because people using them were not practicing adequate social distancing. City officials also promised to crack down on funerals where people were ignoring separation measures. Thanks to Tablighi, COVID-19 doubling rate is 4.1 days and not 7.4 India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Apr 06: The States have started sending in their confirmations about the cases that have been booked against members of the Tablighi Jamaat, who have now been termed as the super spreaders of the coronavirus. Despite repeated requests and advise, Maulana Saad remained adamant and went ahead with the congregation. His adamance not only put the lives of his followers to risk, but also ensured that the number of cases across the country spiked as the members passed on the virus to many others. Currently 21,000 Tablighi workers and their contacts have been placed under quarantine. Most of these members have been traced and it was nothing short of a nightmare for the agencies to track these persons and their contacts. The hunt for several more Tablighi members is still on. In Uttarakhand an ultimatum has been given to these persons and the state's police chief said that if these members do not turn up by the end of the day, then attempt to murder charges will be filed against them. In case a death is caused due to this, then murder charges under the Indian Penal Code would be slapped and the Disaster Management Act will also be invoked. Show up or face attempt to murder charges: DGP Uttarakhand to Tablighi members Various reports have said that the Maulana was advised repeatedly not to go ahead with the congregation owing to the pandemic. However he is said to have remained adamant and paid no heed to the advise. Joint Secretary in the Health Ministry, Lav Agarwal explained how the Tablighi linked cases across the 17 cases had led to a sudden spike in the number of cases. He said that India's coronavirus cases had doubled in 4.1 days due to the Tablighi Jamaat cases. Had it not been for the congregation, India's rate of doubling would have been at 7.4 days, he also said. While the Maulana did not pay heed to the advise, there was also resistance on part of the Tablighi members to vacate the premises at Nizamuddin. This had promoted the Union Home Ministry to send National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval to convince the Jamaat members to vacate the Banglewali Masjid. In addition to this, the agencies also had to deal with the fact that many Tablighi members were trying to escape from the country. Several were stopped while trying to leave the country. Most of the persons who tried to leave the country were from Malaysia. It was also found that several of these persons had taken shelter in the various Mosques in Delhi. The police identified 16 Mosques in which these persons were hiding. By PTI GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday said though several people in the state have been found COVID-19 positive, there is no need to panic as the health department is prepared to deal with the situation and all patients are being provided with the best medical treatment. The state has so far reported 26 coronavirus cases. Interacting with the media in Hojai, Nagaon and Morigaon districts where he reviewed COVID-19 preparedness, Sonowal said all health workers are working round the clock to save the lives of the people. He directed officials to ensure supply of quality goods to people apart from keeping a close watch on hoarding to avoid escalation of prices of essential commodities. Lauding the medias role in the fight against COVID- 19, he said they have taken the message of preventive measures to every nook and corner of the state. ALSO READ: COVID-19 LIVE Meanwhile, Hailakandi district has stepped up security measures along the inter-district border with Cachar where one person was tested positive for coronavirus. Superintendent of Police Pabindra Kumar Nath said, "No movement of vehicles and people from within and outside Hailakandi district are allowed except those on emergency and essential services." The district administration has also sealed all the border roads with Mizoram to prevent people from sneaking into Assam. The Assam government on Monday said a total of 67,317 persons have been placed under home quarantine across the state. In its daily bulletin, the Health and Family Welfare Department said 76,774 travellers from COVID-19 affected countries and states have been identified so far. "Out of them, 9,457 passengers completed observation period for 28 days and the remaining 67,317 are under home isolation," it added. Till date, 2,000 samples have been tested and 26 of them have come positive for COVID-19. Meanwhile, 1,174 people have been arrested across the state in the last 13 days for violating the ongoing lockdown to contain COVID-19 and collected over Rs 17 lakh fines, police said on Monday. Lana Gray I wanted a CD recorded with my own compositions and arrangements, so I'm proud to have been able to produce it all by myself with gorgeous musicians. Jazz vocalist Lana Gray brings a myriad of cultures to her musical flavors. Having traveled many countries such as Senegal, Vietnam, Italy, Corsica and United Kingdom one can only imagine the blend she possesses in her multicultural coloring of songs. As a uniquely styled chanteuse Gray draws her repertoire from her original compositions as well as, jazz standards, blues, pop and Brazilian popular music. Having studied at the Bill Evans Piano Academy in Paris, Lana expanded her musical horizons as a vocalist, melodist and poetic songwriter. Lanas inspirational love of music is culturally rich, embodied by her favored literature and past and present life experiences. Gray currently appears on stage at several well-known venues in Paris such as the Sunset-Sunside, the Marcounet Riverboat, the 38'Riv, the Jazz en Touraine and Jazz a Louviers Festivals. Brilliantly accompanied by pianist Philippe Baden Powell de Aquino, percussionist Thomas Delor, and bassist Patrick Laroche collectively deliver a great night of jazz. When the pandemic of the coronavirus is over Lana seeks to perform in Jazz clubs and festivals worldwide. The colors of my soul recording has captured superbly Grays velvety, delicate and powerful dynamics complimented by her band Amina Mezaache on flute, Roland Seilhes on Saxophone and flute, and Franck Delpeut on trumpet. I wanted a CD recorded with my own compositions and arrangements, so I'm proud to have been able to produce it all by myself with gorgeous musicians. I cant help thinking of Paolo Coelhos quote in the Alchemist, '...And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it,'" says Gray. Lana channels her listeners through the history of great jazz standards and other influences by immersing herself in a story-telling world of enchantment. Her ability to convey her authenticity translates to the likes of a consummate artist. Its an honor to be featuring Lana Grays new CD project for it has an international flare that will be appreciated worldwide. I know her goals to be entertaining audiences on global stages will be in her future, shes got something special to share, says Jaijai Jackson creator of The Jazz Network Worldwide and the Not Just Jazz Network. The colors of my soul can be purchased at these various online music outlets: http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1498354222?ls=1&app=itunes https://www.deezer.com/search/lana-gray https://open.spotify.com/artist/1vcuzmqcFOp0YvD0sizlJ1?si=ddc-pVeLTdKMUR7qKagr4w https://www.amazon.com/Colors-My-Soul-Lana-Gray/dp/B084M6BLDV/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=lana+gray&qid=1583345069&s=dmusic&sr=1-2 Be sure to check out Lana Grays feature this week at the Not Just Jazz Network http://notjustjaznetwork.com and to learn more visit Lanas official website at https://www.lanagray-jazz.paris. ## Follow Lana Gray on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Lana-Gray-1079359135457759/about/?ref=page_internal Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lana-gray-b85313140/?originalSubdomain=fr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnkoXLLYxUzQwGrk25FweJA?view_as=subscriber Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Stuttgart, Germany Mon, April 6, 2020 21:07 644 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd01b327 2 Art & Culture Porsche-Museum,Porsche,Museum,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free If they have a mind to marvel at miracles of engineering, automobile fans living under quarantine can visit the fabulous Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, Germany, where they can embark on a virtual stroll through the renowned exhibition space and admire all of the collection on show. Inaugurated in 2009, the Porsche Museum has already welcomed almost five million visitors. Read also: Coronavirus: Take in some of France's museums without leaving your couch In the purpose-built exhibition space of around 5,600 sqm, visitors can see 80 iconic models that highlight the history of the brand, from the Beetle (designed by Ferdinand Porsche) to the latest generation of 911s, the Porsche Type 64, the 356 and the 550. Motor sport enthusiasts will also linger in front of the German firm's models that were responsible for the Porsche legend at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Fans of the brand should also be aware that Porsche has made it possible to customize the Porsche of your dreams with the Porsche AR Visualiser augmented reality application, which is available free of charge for Android and iOS. Over the last week, nurses in New York, California and other states, along with General Electric workers in Massachusetts, have demanded that the production of personal protective equipment and life-saving ventilators be massively ramped up to address critical shortages. It has been widely reported that the US has less than 200,000 ventilators, although 900,000 or more may be needed, according to the Society for Critical Care Medicine. The shortage of breathing machines in Italy, Spain and other countries led to thousands of avoidable deaths, and New York City officials have announced they will run out of ventilators by Wednesday. US governors are already competing against each other and the federal government for dwindling supplies, while hospitals are putting two patients on breathing machines designed for one. This is inherently dangerous because if one patient requires changes in the volume of oxygen, pressure or other settings, it could cause severe lung damage or worse to the other. Nurses protesting outside the Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx President Trump has responded with typical ignorance and contempt to requests for supplies from the National Strategic Stockpile, suggesting that states are exaggerating the need and probably hoarding machines. On Saturday, the president sought to dismiss the question of shortages altogether, suggesting that the availability of ventilators would do little to lessen the death toll. The question I most hate the answer to, he said, is what happens if you do have a ventilator? What are your chances? A University of Washington study of Seattle-area COVID-19 patients recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine found a fatality rate of 50 percent for intubated patients. Put in another way, breathing machines can save at least half of those who would otherwise die! The survival rate would be even higher if there was systematic testing and those diagnosed with COVID-19 were given immediate medical care, rather than staying at home and being admitted to the hospital only after suffering severe respiratory deterioration. When I have an early diagnosis and can treat patients earlyfor example, put them on a ventilator before they deterioratethe chance of survival is much higher, Professor Hans-Georg Krausslich, the head of virology at University Hospital in Heidelberg, one of the leading research hospitals in Germany, told the New York Times . Despite Trumps declaration that he is a wartime president and his invoking of the Defense Production Act against GM, there is no World War II-style mobilization of Americas industrial capacity to produce life-saving ventilators. In 1942, the Roosevelt administration banned civilian auto production, forced the auto industry to pool and convert its tools and its factories and mobilize hundreds of thousands of workers to produce tanks, planes and other weapons of war. This was part of the conversion of one-half of the gross national product of the United States to wartime production. Today what is needed is the mass production not of the instruments of death, but of life. Millions of workers are willing and able to work to build ventilators, protective gear for healthcare workers and other necessities, if they are well protected themselves. As one Fiat Chrysler worker said, We could be mobilized to do what we have to do to save lives. In China, they built hospitals in 10 days. But the urgency is not there. They are dragging their feet while people are dying. Production charter for Ford-GE-UAW ventilator project (Source: Ford Media Center) The greatest obstacle to building and distributing ventilators is the subordination of healthcare to the profit interests of the giant medical equipment, hospital and pharmaceutical companies. The proposals by the US automakers and several medical device makers to ramp up production, which have been touted by Trump and the news media, are woefully inadequate. The auto industry certainly has the capacity to retool and ramp up production. General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler operate 100 assembly and other manufacturing plants in the US, Canada and Mexico and oversee a vast global network of component suppliers and logistics. One analyst recently noted that in just 48 hours, GM had sourced all 600 components that make up a ventilator through its own system of suppliers. However, only a handful of auto plants are being utilized and the numbers of ventilators being produced will be too little and too late. For example, Ford Motor Co. is teaming up with GE Healthcare, a large ventilator producer, to employ 500 autoworkers, who have volunteered to work on the project, to build ventilators at a Ford plant in Rawsonville, Michigan. But the joint effort is on schedule to produce only 50,000 ventilators by July, months after the peak of the pandemic in the US from mid-April to mid-May, and too late to avert thousands of deaths. General Motors is partnering with a small Seattle-based company, Ventec Life Systems, which shipped only 250 units last month, to produce breathing machines at a plant in Kokomo, Indiana. Ventec CEO Chris Kiple told NBC News, We plan to be producing together over 1,000 units by the end of April and, of course, with GMs talent and skill, well be ramping up to 3,000, 5,000 and 10,000. The major preoccupation of the automakers is not stockpiling ventilators but getting workers back into the factories as soon as possible, despite the threat to their lives, to stockpile vehicles and generate future profits. A Model A-E ventilator, left, and a simple test lung (Source: Ford Media Center) At the same time, the major medical device manufacturers have been reluctant to disclose business secrets and patents to facilitate the mass production of their ventilators. In a recent forum sponsored by the industry-funded Center for Automotive Research, Colin Dhillon, chief technical officer of the Automotive Parts Manufacturing Association in Canada, said, When we talk to these medical companies to help ramp up their volumes, one of their concerns was, what is going to stop you from staying in this and becoming a competitor. To which you have to answer that is up to every company and only share the IP (intellectual property) that you feel you can share. Ten global medical device companies control the production of ventilators: Becton, Dickinson and Co. (US); Philips (Netherlands); Hamilton Medical AG (Switzerland); Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (New Zealand); Draegerwerk (Germany); Medtronic (US); GE Healthcare (US); Smiths Group (UK); ResMed (US) and Maquet (Germany). These companies are able to sell ventilators as fast as they come off existing assembly lines now, one writer on the website ArsTechnica recently wrote, but big increases in ventilator output will require companies to make expensive investments in new manufacturing capacity. He continued, Thats a risky bet because the investments might become worthless if the coronavirus crisis peters out in a few months. In addition, hospitals have been reluctant to purchase the machines, which cost between $25,000 and $50,000 apiece. Hospitals are holding back from ordering more medical ventilators, the Washington Post recently wrote, because of the high cost for what may be only a shortterm spike in demand from the coronavirus epidemic, supply chain experts and health researchers say, intensifying an anticipated shortage of lifesaving equipment for patients who become critically ill. As far back as 13 years ago, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) convened a panel of experts to develop a new generation of lower-cost, mobile and easier-to-use ventilators, the New York Times reported. Code-named Project Aura, the plan was to buy as many as 40,000 ventilators to add to the national stockpile. In 2010, the Obama administration paid $6.1 million in up-front money to a small California manufacturer, Newport Medical Instruments, to produce the ventilators. By 2013, after a series of prototypes, the company was ready to roll out the machines. In May 2012, however, a larger medical device manufacturer, Covidien, had bought out Newport for $100 million. The last automobile to come off the line prior to Packard Motor Co. focusing on war time production (Source: Detroit Historical Society Covidien produced its own line of more expensive ventilators and did not deem the development of inexpensive portable ventilators to be a top priority. It soon scrapped the project without a single ventilator being added to the national stockpile. Government officials and executives at rival ventilator companies suspected that Covidien had acquired Newport to prevent it from building a cheaper product that would undermine Covidiens profits from its existing ventilator business, the Times wrote. In a gross understatement, the newspaper added, The stalled efforts to create a new class of cheap, easy-to-use ventilators highlight the perils of outsourcing projects with critical public-health implications to private companies; their focus on maximizing profits is not always consistent with the governments goal of preparing for a future crisis. In the course of the wave of mergers and acquisitions of the past decade, Covidien was bought out by Minnesota-based Medtronic, which switched its legal registration to Ireland to avoid paying taxes. While the pandemic is producing death and sorrow for millions, it is seen as a giant profit opportunity for the medical device companies and Wall Street. In a March 18 note to investors, Tim Smith, a professional trader and former employee of Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Citigroup and Morgan Stanley, recommended buying stocks in Medtronic, ResMed and St. Louis-based Allied Healthcare Products, saying, Traders should add these three ventilator manufacturer stocks to their watchlist as the illness spreads and the demand for respiratory products grows. The bipartisan stimulus package signed by Trump will hand over trillions more to Wall Street and the giant corporations, which spent the bulk of the profits they made since the 2008-09 bailout on stock buybacks and dividend payments for their wealthiest investors and executives. Despite the warnings of the deadly consequences of ventilator shortagesincluding a June 2017 report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)the US government, under both Republican and Democratic administrations, has refused to invest in ventilators, even as trillions were spent on corporate payouts and endless wars. The cost of producing one million fully featured ventilators is roughly the same as the $50 billion the government spends each year on homeland security. Only a massive mobilization of societys human and material resources in the US and around the world can halt the current pandemic and prevent new ones. As the Socialist Equality Party wrote in its program of action for the working class: The essential principle that must guide the response to the crisis is that the needs of working people must take absolute and unconditional priority over all considerations of corporate profit and private wealth. It is not a matter of what the ruling class claims it can afford, but what masses of people need. There is already a spreading movement of workers around the world demanding the closure of nonessential workplaces and the provision of the necessary equipment to protect those workers engaged in critical industries, including health care, food preparation and delivery, sanitation and public transit. In the face of the campaign to rush autoworkers and other workers into infected plants, workers are insisting that our lives matter and their health must take precedence over corporate profit. In every workplace needed for essential production and services, workers should organize rank-and-file committees, independent of the United Auto Workers and other corrupt unions, to demand universal testing and the provision of masks, gloves and other protective gear. These committees should monitor safety conditions in conjunction with medical professionals. Plans must be drawn up to audit all available productive capacity, regardless of the individual company or country, and coordinate the retooling of factories, global supply chains, logistics and the use of manpower. All business secrets must be abolished, and any executives engaged in price-gouging and other antisocial activities held to account. This crisis has exposed the incompatibility of public health with for-profit medicine and the private control of the hospitals, pharmaceutical and insurance corporations. This system must be replaced with socialized medicine, guaranteeing free and equal health care to all. Nor can the production and distribution of ventilators and other medical equipment be left in the hands of giant corporations. Instead, the auto and medical device industries should be nationalized, with no compensation to the CEOs and big shareholders, and transformed into public utilities democratically controlled and collectively owned by working people. These necessary measures can only be accomplished if the rising opposition of workers is guided by a socialist political perspective and strategy, aimed at replacing the capitalist government and its two corporate-controlled parties with a workers government committed to the allocation of resources based on human need not private profit. This pandemic has shown that the fight for socialism is now a life-and-death matter. We urge workers to join the Socialist Equality Party to take this program to the broadest sections of the working class. The Health Department of Chandigarh UT Administration on Monday said the total number of COVID-19 positive cases stood 18 including five those who have been discharged till now. India recorded the highest number of 704 positive cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India have mounted to 4,281. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) But Turkish authorities knew what had happened. They knew the bone-saw doctor had expressed the hope, just before Khashoggi entered the consulate, that it would be easy. Joints will be separated. It is not a problem. The body is heavy. First time I cut on the ground. If we take plastic bags and cut it into pieces, it will be finished. We will wrap each of them. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed all universities and colleges to set up mental health helplines to address psychosocial concerns of students during the lockdown imposed to combat coronavirus. "During the period of national lockdown, it is equally important to address any kind of mental health and psychosocial concerns of student community during and after COVID-19 situation issue," UGC Secretary Rajnish Jain said in a letter to vice chancellors. "Therefore, in order to reassure the student community to avoid any kind of stress or panic in the prevailing situation vis--vis their studies, health and other issues, the universities and colleges may set up mental health helplines for the purpose. The helpline should be regularly monitored and managed by counsellors and identified faculty members," the letter said. The commission has suggested that there should be regular mentoring of students through interactions and appeals to remain calm and stress-free. "The universities may form COVID-19 help groups of students, headed by hostel wardens and senior faculty, who can identify friends and classmates in need of help," Jain said. The Union health ministry has launched a toll-free helpline (08046110007) for people who may face mental health issues due to the ongoing 21-day countrywide lockdown. Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' had on Sunday said a decision would be taken on reopening schools and colleges on April 14 after reviewing the situation. The death toll due to the coronavirus outbreak in the country rose to 109 on Monday and the number of cases climbed to 4,067, according to the Union Health Ministry. While the number of active COVID-19 cases stands at 3,666, as many as 291 people have been cured and discharged, and one has migrated, the ministry stated. The total number of cases include 65 foreign nationals. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Let Singapore be a lesson. We are a long way from knowing how to beat the Coronavirus. Since the beginning of the Coronavirus outbreak, there has been an enormous amount of debate about which country is controlling the spread most effectively. Arguably one of the most praised in the battle against the disease is Singapore. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said it is very impressed with the countrys approach, which involves a strict regime of surveillance and quarantine all the while avoiding a full lockdown. Like South Korea, it has been enormously efficient at mass testing. Resultantly, cases of the Coronavirus appeared to deplete in the country, and flattering articles followed. Overall, there seemed an overarching consensus that Singapore had the best approach that it had beaten the virus, even and should be a model for everyone else. Unfortunately, recent developments suggest that its much more complicated than that. Yesterday, 120 new cases of the Coronavirus were confirmed in Singapore, the highest daily rise for the country so far (a 60 percent increase from Saturdays rate of 75 people). One hundred and sixteen of these were locally transmitted and many were linked to two dormitories that housed migrant workers. The government quickly opted for a lockdown approach, and told 20,000 foreign workers to stay in their accommodation for 14 days. They will be paid and have three meals a day, but face huge fines and jail time if they ignore the rules. Additionally, on Friday, Singapores government announced a so-called circuit-breaker policy, similar to the policies seen in many other countries. It means that schools and non-essential businesses are set to close this week, with citizens encouraged to stay at home. Though Singapore has been consistently praised, its Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has always been reluctant to claim he knows best, telling CNN: I hesitate to talk about success because we are right in the midst of a battle, which is intensifying. I am under no illusions that we have won. Perhaps his words, not Singapores mass testing, is the real lesson everyone needs to pay attention to. In Britain, at least, it does seem that journalists have been rather quick to decide which country has got it right, with those opting for mass testing being highly praised, whereas Sweden with its herd immunity trial is considered controversial and dangerous. But in the former case, it only takes for one carrier of the virus to set everything off again. The truth is that were only going to find out whose plan works the hard way. Yes, there are modelling experts to carve out the predictions, but they are just that predictions. Fundamentally, it is impossible to totally compare countries, anyway, as they have so many individual variations. Even how liberal a society is and whether it can tolerate lockdown influences the delivery of government strategies. So it is all going to be a horrible learning curve. In essence, let Singapore be a reminder: we are a long way from knowing whos right. Donald Trump's economic adviser claims he is qualified to measure the effectiveness of an anti-malarial drug against the novel coronavirus because he is a "social scientist" despite not having a degree in medicine. Peter Navarro told CNN on Monday that he understands "how to read statistical studies, whether it's in medicine, the law, economics or whatever". He has a master's degree in public administration and a PhD in economics. He does not have a background in public health or medicine. Asked why he believes he's more qualified to talk about the controversial drug hydroxychloroquine than Dr Anthony Fauci, the top doctor leading the White House coronavirus task force response, Mr Navarro said: "Doctors disagree with things all the time." Dr Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has repeatedly clarified that early reports of the drug's use against Covid-19 are anecdotal and not clinically proven to combat the virus. Mr Navarro said he is relying on the president's "intuition" to determine the drug's efficacy, from "all the doctors I've talked to and all the scientific papers I've read." His statements follow reports that he had clashed with White House officials while insisting that hydroxychloroquine which has been used to treat malaria, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis should also be used to treat coronavirus patients, and reportedly lashed out at Dr Fauci about the drug's efficacy, as reported by Axios. The president has pressed for doctors to use the drug to treat their patients, despite his own health officials contradicting his claims. At a White House briefing on Sunday, the president refused to allow Dr Fauci to answer questions about the drug. In March, the federal Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency authorisation to distribute the drug from a national stockpile, but made clear that the two drugs -- chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine sulfate -- are not approved by the agency for Covid-19 treatment. Recommended Trump prevents virus expert answering question on untested treatment The US Department of Health and Human Services has also stressed that despite anecdotal reports, the drug still requires clinical trials "to provide scientific evidence that these treatments are effective" against the virus. In March, an Arizona man died and his wife was in critical condition after they ingested chloroquine phosphate, commonly found in fish tank cleaners. She told NBC that the president said the chemical "was pretty much a cure." U.S. biotechnology firm Gilead Sciences has announced it will be donating 1.5 million doses of its experimental anti-CCP virus drug, remdesivir, for compassionate use, expanded access, and clinical trials. The doses are intended for patients with severe symptoms of CCP virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, who will receive them through daily intravenous infusions in a hospital setting. They could be part of treatment courses for as many as 140,000 patients, according to a statement by Gilead CEO Daniel ODay on April 4. Over the course of the past week, Gilead has been working in consultation with regulatory authorities to establish additional expanded access programs for remdesivir, our investigational medicine for COVID-19, ODay said. The programs enable hospitals or physicians to apply for emergency use of remdesivir for multiple severely ill patients at a time. These are patients who cannot take part in clinical trials and where the word emergency is all too real for them, their families, and the healthcare providers advocating on their behalf. The company has also set an ambitious goal of boosting its supply of remdesivir to more than 500,000 treatment courses by October and more than 1 million treatment courses by the end of this year. Production time has also been accelerated and, as a result, the end-to-end manufacturing timeline has been reduced from approximately one year to around six months, according to the statement. Our efforts to increase supply continue with a strong sense of urgency. There is a long way to go and a lot of work to be done but Im pleased that, despite the challenges we have been able to get supply levels to where they are today in a very short space of timethrough the resourcefulness of our teams, creative approaches, and collaboration, ODay said. Remdesivir, which has not been given regulatory approval, was initially developed by Gilead as a potential treatment for the Ebola virus. ODay noted that the safety and efficacy of the drug are not yet known and that while we feel the greatest sense of urgency in our work with remdesivir, we must take the responsible, ethical approach of determining whether it is indeed a safe, effective treatment. Multiple clinical trials for the drug are underway, with thousands of patients with CCP virus participating across the world, the CEO said. Remdesivir is already being tested in clinical trials in China and the results from those trials are expected in April, a Gilead spokesman told The Epoch Times in an email. The drug received an endorsement from World Health Organization expert Bruce Aylward on Feb. 24. It was used in the treatment of the first American patient with the virus, according to a case study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on March 5. The patients clinical condition improved a day after receiving the drug intravenously and he was asymptomatic aside from intermittent dry cough and rhinorrhea. Researchers noted that randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the safety and efficacy of remdesivir and any other investigational agents for treatment of patients with 2019-nCoV infection. Another drug being investigated as a CCP virus treatment is hydroxychloroquine, which has traditionally been used to treat malaria, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. President Donald Trump announced at the daily White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing on April 5 that his administration is purchasing and stockpiling hydroxychloroquine, after calling it a game-changer, in combating the virus. Doctors in the United States are currently prescribing hydroxychloroquine, as are France and Bahrain, while India has recommended it for health care workers. However, health officials have warned the public to remain cautious until larger clinical trials validate smaller studies. From The Epoch Times The Communications Director of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Sammy Gyamfi, has lauded the social intervention measures announced by President Akufo-Addo to cushion Ghanaians due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a lengthy write-up, Mr Gyamfi stated that though the measures are commendable, the government must do more to cover other vulnerable people during these difficult times. As a party that is inclined to social democratic principles, the NDC believes that providing some safety net to cushion the vulnerable and Ghanaians at large, is a vital necessity in a time like this. We, therefore, support any policy or program, that is intended to cushion Ghanaians against the impact of the pandemic. On Sunday, April 5, President Akufo-Addo announced all health workers in the country are to enjoy tax holiday for three months as part of government incentive for their sacrifices in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, frontline health workers will receive a 50% allowance on their March to June basic salary. They are also to enjoy free rides to and from work on Ayalolo buses. Government has also absorbed water bills for all Ghanaians for the next three months. Mr. Gyamfi, however, believes that the government must consider some recommendations made NDC flagbearer John Mahama, which he believes will go a long way to further cushion Ghanaians. Below is the full write up by Sammy Gyamfi: COMRADE SAMMY GYAMFI WRITES ON THE NEW SOCIAL INTERVENTIONS ANNOUNCED BY PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO IN HIS LATEST ADDRESS TO THE NATION ON COVID-19: Folks, the new social intervention measures announced by President Akufo-Addo relative to the COVID-19 pandemic are laudable. As a party that is inclined to social democratic principles, the NDC believes that providing some safety net to cushion the vulnerable and Ghanaians at large, is a vital necessity in a time like this. We therefore support any policy or program, that is intended to cushion Ghanaians against the impact of the pandemic. Indeed, most of the newly announced interventions, such as free water, distribution of free food to deprived communities in lockdown areas, provision of insurance to our frontline health workers, local production of PPEs among others, were first canvassed by H.E John Dramani Mahama. We are glad that at long last, President Akufo-Addo is beginning to adopt these recommendations. But aside the announced interventions, the Flag-bearer of the NDC, H.E John Dramani Mahama has made other far-sighted proposals, that government must adopt to enhance our mitigation efforts against the socio-economic impact of the pandemic. President Mahama has proposed that: 1. government cancels the 50% increment in the Communication Service Tax (CST) and negotiate with Telcos to suppress their pricing (airtime and data cost), in exchange for free 6-months extension of licenses and other incentives. 2. government scraps taxes on essential products such as sanitizers, wipes, food, among others to make these items readily available and accessible for our people. 3. government provides Ghanaians with free electricity, as has been done by the Government of Togo. https://citinewsroom.com/2020/04/covid-19-togo-declares-state-of-emergency-imposes-curfew/ 4. government expands the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program to cover more poor households in this time of crisis. 5. The Ghana Buffer Stock Company should release and distribute free food to more deprived households in lockdown areas. These far-reaching suggestions if adopted by President Akufo-Addo, will go a long way to further enhance our mitigation plans against the socio-economic impact of the pandemic on the nation. Admittedly, the newly announced interventions, will bring some relief to Ghanaians, but the critical issue that remains to be seen is their implementation. President Akufo-Addo has proven time and again to be an expert in delivering flowery speeches laced with lofty promises, but he is always found wanting, when it comes to actual implementation. For instance, in the last few weeks, the President has given several assurances to our frontline health workers that government is procuring and will be providing them with PPEs. However till date, this promise has not been fulfilled and has compelled doctors and nurses at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to threaten a sit-down strike action over lack of PPEs and other essential logistics. This is just a reflection of the general apprehension among our frontline health workers across the country. Various health facilities, be they clinics or hospitals are reeling under the burden of lack of basic PPEs. This has put our frontline health professionals at great risk as the first line of contact with victims of COVID-19. It is disheartening to note that above four (4) Doctors and Nurses have tested positive for the virus in the last few days. There can be no greater disincentive to the sacrifices of our health professionals than to deny them personal protective gears to work with. Also, during one of his recent addresses, the President told the nation that his government has ordered 50,000 test kits which were to arrive in the country weeks ago to enhance our response plan against the pandemic. But as we speak, this promise has not been fulfilled. But for the 20,000 test kits donated to the country by Jack Ma, we would have experienced a shortage of test kits by now. The general rate of testing even in lockdown areas remains very low and there is no specific indication as to when mass testing or voluntary testing will commence. These two (2) examples, underscore the need for the nation to remain focused on the implementation of the new social interventions announced by the President rather than the mere announcement. As a responsible opposition, we will do our part to follow-through on the actualisation of the social mitigation measures announced by the President to ensure that they dont end up as pipe dreams, as has been the trend under President Akufo-Addo in the last three (3) years. But It is worth adding, that some of the announced social interventions raise pertinent questions that need to be addressed. For instance, the President indicated that he has directed the Ghana Water Company Ltd (GWCL) and the Electricity Company of Ghana to ensure the stable supply of water and electricity during this period. How reliable is this directive given the recent press statement of the GWCL, in which they indicated that they are experiencing challenges with water supply in Accra and several parts of the country, and admonished consumers to brace ourselves for imminent water rationing, which by the way, has already began? https://www.pulse.com.gh/news/local/brace-yourselves-for-imminent-water-rationing-gwcl-warn-ghanaians/t1jhh13 How reliable is this directive, given recent lamentations of GRIDCO about the lack of sustained financing to fuel various dual power generation plants? This is what is partly accounting for the intermittent power outages we are experiencing in several parts of the country as recently reported by several news portals including: rehttps://citinewsroom.com/2020/03/gridco-blames-intermittent-power-outages-on-lack-of-fuel-to-power-plants/ How has the President addressed these critical issues to assure the nation that the directives he has given to GWCL and ECG to ensure the stable supply of water and power respectively, will be kept. Again, the President indicated that government is collaborating with some faith-based organizations to provide dry food and hot meals to 400,000 individuals in lockdown areas. Question is; what is the selection criteria for these 400,000 individuals?; on what basis (daily or weekly) will this be done?; and how can we assess and evaluate the implementation and impact of this program to ensure that it is not exploited for the benefit of the rich and political apparatchiks of the ruling NPP as we have seen in similar ventures? Before I conclude, may I remind President Akufo-Addo that although he has heeded good counsel in these difficult times, the announced socio-economic impact mitigation measures cannot be a substitute for the management of the pandemic as a science. Most of the serious challenges confronting our fight and response plan against the COVID-19 pandemic havent been resolved and that should not be lost on any of us. In fact, this should give every Ghanaian genuine cause for concern because: As we speak: 1. Our frontline health workers across the country lack PPEs and basic logistics to work with. 2. We are yet to see the establishment of additional isolation centers in the other 14 regions of the country, especially in the northern part of Ghana. 3. Governments promise to establish additional testing centers has not been fulfilled. 4. Public education and sensitization on the pandemic still remains low, especially in deprived communities. Even in some of the Metropolitan Epicenters, some public spaces such as markets are still choked with little to no social distancing. 5. The lockdown is not being observed in deprived areas in the lockdown zone. Also, the excesses of some of our men in uniform in enforcing the lockdown have not stopped and have even resulted in the killing of a citizen at Ashaiman; an incident the President failed to condemn in his address to the nation. 6. Surveillance along our land borders is still very weak, thereby exposing us to illegal migrants who could be infected like the 10 Guinean nationals entered the country illegally a couple of days ago. 7. Information and communication on community infections hasnt been transparent to aid in contact tracing. In conclusion, let me commend the visionary John Dramani Mahama for his unprecedented investments in health Infrastructure (BOG Hospital, Ridge Hospital, UGMC etc.), the provision of potable water (Teshie desalination project, Kpone water project, etc.) and the Transport sector (Ayaloloo Buses), which have become pivotal to our response plan against the COVID-19 pandemic. We thank him for the constructive alternative solutions he continues to offer and we are grateful for his donation of PPEs and other medical supplies to hospitals and our frontline health workers across the country. Folks, it is clear from all indications, that we are likely to see an astronomical jump in positive cases as the Ghana Health Service is due to receive the results of some 15,384 individuals, out of a total of 19,276 persons, who have been reached through contact tracing. So far, Governments response to the pandemic has been one of Public Relations and Information Management. There are a lot of things government is not telling us. We must brace ourselves for a possible extended lockdown and extreme hard times in the coming weeks. In critical times like this, we must celebrate works and not words. Promises are not achievements! SAMMY GYAMFI Esq. (National Communication Officer, NDC) The cessation of LIAT and other international airline flights into the AIA will severely affect the airports capacity to generate revenue. Regional Airline LIAT announced in the early afternoon hours of last Thursday, that it will suspend all passenger services from April 4, across its regional network. The suspension will be for 14 days, at the end of which the decision will be reviewed. The airlines Cargo Service, however, will remain open during the period concerned. LIAT now joins international carriers American Airlines, Air Canada and Caribbean Airlines in suspending passenger service into the AIA. As expected, the airlines, including LIAT, attributed their decisions to the impact of COVID-19, including border closures and travel restrictions across the globe. Until April 4, it is expected that LIAT, as it had earlier indicated, will have one daily scheduled flight into the AIA, having reduced that schedule from seven. Subsequent to that decision, Airport Authorities here issued a revised operating schedule for airports across the multi-island state. The Argyle International Airport (AIA) was expected to operate from 7am 6pm, and the airports in Bequia, Canouan, Union Island from 8am to 6pm. There was no reference to the airport on Mustique in the advisory. The changes were expected to remain in effect until April 1, 2020. Up to press time, there was no advisory to say that the adjusted operating schedule has been change. And while AIA remains open, other ports of entry have been closed. Acting on the advice of Mr. Brenton Cain, Commander of the SVG Coast Guard, government had announced on March 27, the immediate closure of seaports of entry in Bequia, Canouan and Union Island, to yachts and other vessels. Mustique was later added to this list. Ports in Kingstown, Blue Lagoon, and Wallilabou remain in operation. Given the expected reduced traffic into the AIA in particular and the closure of at least four seaports of entry, movement of persons in and out of SVG is anticipated to be severely curtailed. "Crash Landing on You" leading man Hyun Bin is considered as a god amongst men. Well, everyone is quite curious about what he was like before he became the superstar that he is today. There have been a lot of good-looking stars who opened up about how they were not considered very attractive during their middle school days, but lo and behold. Here's where our man Hyun Bin is an exception. It seems like the actor has always attracted the attention of people wherever he is. He is just so gorgeous that nobody would fail to notice. And yes, we're revealing to you now that he has always been quite a head-turner even in high school. Some of his old high school friends shared about how he was considered by his entire school for being one of the most good looking students. They said that whenever Hyun Bin was. Inside the school bus, some girls couldn't hide their feelings and couldn't help but exclaim how handsome he was, and then the actor would just turn red because he was shy. He even had his very own fan club ever since his high school years! Hyun Bin has once again made his fans drool with his looks. Just recently, there was a photo of Hyun Bin from middle school that was released and has been circulating in different online communities. According to the fan who uploaded the photo, it was taken way back when Hyun Bin was in his 9th grade. A lot of fans were amazed by the looks of the actor. There were a lot of comments like: "Why was there no guy like him in my class?" "How can a 9th-grader look this handsome?" "Look at how handsome he really was." This is not the first time that old photos of the actor went around social media. His pre-debut photos, plus the photos from his childhood and high school took the internet by storm. Hyun Bin was born on September 25, 1982 and was raised in Seoul, South Korea. He graduated from Youngdong High School. In his college days, he studied at Chung-Ang University. In 2004, he majored in theater Studies and 2009, he entered the same university to get his Master's degree. Hyun Bin then volunteered to serve his 21 months of compulsory military service in the Marine Corps on March 7, 2011, which was considered as the toughest service branch. On December 6, 2012 Hyun Bin was released from his service and received a citation for being an exemplary soldier. The actor also received the President's award at the 50th Savings Day held by the Financial Services Committee last October 28, 2013. The award was for saving 35 billion won approximately USD 3.3 million in 17 years. Troops will only be allowed to enter and exit the operations area under the permission of the head of the army Open source Turkey cuts the movement of forces in operation areas in Syria because of the increase of victims of Covid-19 among Turkish citizens. The Defense Ministry reported that as quoted by Reuters. "Turkey, which is ninth globally in coronavirus cases, has curbed much social movement, mostly sealed its borders and shuttered businesses. In the latest step, the defence ministry said it had set up a new unit to battle the spread of the disease. Troops deployed in Syria will now enter and exit operation areas only with the permission of the head of the army, the ministry said. Thus, the movement of staff and troops is minimized, unless it is mandatory, it added", reads the news piece. Turkey has been supporting Syrian rebels in Idlib. The military action calmed down last month, as Turkey and Russia that supported Bashaar al-Assad's government forces agreed on a ceaseifre. Turkish troops control Syrian borderline areas to the east of Idlib. According to Tukey's Healthcare Minister Fahrettin Koca, the number of fatal cases in Turkey increased to 574 people (with 73 new deaths over the last 24 hours). The number of new infections made 3,135 over 24 hours, and now the overall number makes 27,069. By any objective measure, Mat Giachetti is tough. The Monmouth County resident teaches health and safety classes for emergency medical technicians, offers self-defense tactics for training officers and earned the top martial arts award in 1999 from the International Black Belt Hall of Fame. Yet, hes scared. And Giachetti, the captain of the Wall Community First Aid Squad, is not afraid to admit it. Weve never seen anything like this before," Giachetti said of COVID-19. Were scared. But were still going out there. Hes hardly alone in his fear. Hundreds of first-aid squads throughout New Jersey have been pressed into duty like never before, receiving the first call to action in a coronavirus pandemic that has resulted in at least 37,505 cases and 917 deaths in this state alone. New Jersey has the second-highest number of COVID-19 patients in the United States, where there have been 312,245 confirmed cases and at least 8,503 deaths as of Sunday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. EMS responders are on the front lines of the crisis. This is life and death for their patients, and for themselves. We lost an EMT the other day up in Passaic, Giachetti said. A 33-year-old father of two." Israel Tolentino, a New Jersey firefighter-EMT, died Tuesday from complications of the coronavirus, after battling COVID-19 for nearly two weeks. A firefighter since December 2018, Tolentino would volunteer as an EMT and a member of the citys community emergency response team. Tolentinos death reverberated within the states EMS community, according to Giachetti. Its just very sad," he said. A few of our guys have had to be put in quarantined protocol, but weve been fortunate so far." But Giachetti said hes heard cautionary tales of other men and women in surrounding towns getting sick." The more cases you have, the higher the likelihood that one of us is going to get it," he said. You dont know if youre going to recover or not." Like Giachetti, Ken Krohe presides over a unit with a couple dozen volunteer emergency medical service responders. The Keyport chief was pressed into duty during Superstorm Sandy, when the 2012 storm resulted in flood levels of 6.7 feet above the waterfronts promenade and caused $6 million in property-value loss, according to a recent study. But I dont remember anything like this before," Krohe said. Its every bit as bad as its been described in the news," said the chief of the 1.4 square-mile towns first-aid squad. I see some stress (inside the squad). But were taking it as it goes." CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage One misstep = disaster It starts with a 911 call. A dispatcher gathers as much information as possible about whats troubling the patient. Is it a bad cough? A high fever? Chest pains? Difficult breathing? If it sounds like a respiratory issue, the dispatcher will alert the responding EMTs that its a possible COVID-19 case. Over the radio theyll tell us, Use PPE," Giachetti said, referring to the commonly used acronym for personal protective equipment. Well always go in with masks and gloves. But when we hear that, were putting gowns on. Were putting goggles on. Were duct-taping the sleeves where our first pair of gloves are on. If you dont do every step, theres a chance for exposure." This is how calls go for first-aid squads in the age of coronavirus, according to EMS workers interviewed for this story. Giachetti has been responding to emergency calls since his first volunteer gig in the 1980s. Hes walked into homes to treat cardiac arrests, strokes, drug overdoses and countless other critical-care situations. But because the coronavirus is extremely contagious, he knows these calls are different. Theres steps to put on equipment. Theres steps to take it off its called donning and doffing," he said. Youre being careful to decontaminate your (ambulance), sanitizing every square inch of the rig." Giachetti knows the tiniest misstep could result in disaster. My first time suiting up a couple weeks ago, when we got the patient on (to the ambulance) and she was stable, I sat as close as I could to the window like a dog sticking his head out of the car," he said. I tried to stay as far away from the patient as I could, with the window open, sucking in fresh air. I know we have to save the patient. Well get to the hospital. Well go through the protocols. Itll go from there. But all Im thinking about is my wife and kids back home and not getting them sick, too." PPE shortage Lately, the calls dont stop. As the chief of the Metuchen EMS, Jake Kay says his squad has fielded a higher call volume of respiratory conditions" than ever before. Theyre calling when theyre just starting to have shortness of breath," he said. Its good that people are in-tuned to the fact that (the symptoms) could get worse." Kay, who primarily transports COVID-19 patients to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick and Hackensack Meridian Health JFK Medical Center in Edison, said the biggest issue his squad faces is securing enough PPE. From an EMS perspective, were able to handle the calls," Kay said. The few issues that we are seeing is ordering supplies. When youre a full-time unit, they have caches of supplies like the hospitals do. But as a volunteer unit in a small town, we have a limited supply. What weve ordered is on back order, so once we run out of what we have, were going to have to start limiting our response to just our township. Kays concerns are not unique. Doctors, nurses and other critical-care responders fear a shortage of masks, goggles, surgical gowns and other protective equipment especially with New Jersey health officials saying COVID-19 cases will not reach their peak for weeks. Its why one Monmouth County lawmaker took a step to fix what he calls a horrendous" situation. State Sen. Vin Gopal (D-11th District) announced Friday that his foundation raised $25,000 for protective gear such as breathing masks, latex gloves and bottles of hand sanitizer to be donated to five hospitals and 75 police departments and first-aid squads in Monmouth County. As a government, whether its the state, county or local levels, we have a moral responsibility to make sure our first responders have every supply necessary every mask necessary to make sure they and their loved ones are protected," Gopal said. Including the EMS units from the countys 53 municipalities was no accident. Gopal, a 34-year-old Long Branch resident, is a non-active member in two squads within his home city after previously volunteering as an EMT in Freehold and Colts Neck. When I was active, I went on hundreds of calls, and you dont know what youre walking into in a lot of those calls," Gopal said. At a minimum, first responders need KN95 masks, he said. Shipments of 1,400 KN95 masks went out Saturday, and a second round of fundraising is underway, Gopal said. People interested in donating supplies can do so in an online portal or visit www.vingopalcivic.org. The No. 1 message were trying to push is to make sure that every KN95 mask out there is going to first responders like EMS, or health care workers like doctors and nurses, and not to the general public," he said. Unfortunately, theres a limited supply as it is. We need every mask out there." Gopal, who recently was re-certified as an EMT following a four-month program, noted the majority of first-aid squads in Monmouth County are comprised of volunteers. These guys are not getting paid to do this," he said. They go out every day while they have their full-time jobs doing this. So we have to make sure theyre all protected." In DNA to help In Keyport, Krohe says the towns call volume is down a little bit." He attributes it to people avoiding hospitals unless its a dire emergency. But that doesnt mean his squad of about 30 volunteers isnt busy. As one of more than 200 units in the New Jersey EMS Task Force, Keyport dispatches members to emergencies throughout the state. Weve supplied manpower to the (PNC Bank Arts Center) testing center in Holmdel and to help with the Woodbridge nursing home facility evacuation," Krohe said. Were a small town, but were a task force agency and most of our people are volunteering to help out with this crisis." Its a statement echoed by Giachetti, who said its in our DNA to want to help." The captain of the Wall first-aid squad says he subscribes to two philosophies, adopting John F. Kennedys Ask not what your country can do for you" and Travis Manions If not me, then who " mantras into his daily life. Theres something ingrained in us to help," Giachetti said. I dont think that makes us any more heroic than a doctor, or a nurse. Theres really no difference in your mindset whether youre paid to do this or youre a volunteer. The biggest thing is the support from my family. When they hear, Daddys gotta go, my wife probably hates saying it, but shell always say, Im proud of you. Thats what the volunteers get paid in that support of knowing were going out to deal with some bad stuff. But its the need to help your fellow man that keeps us going." If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey: Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. During Franklin D. Roosevelts inaugural address, at the height of the Great Depression, he said, The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Until Covid-19 ceases to be a threat, those of us who are able should stay at home, when possible, from public places, wash your hands with soap, repeatedly during the day. Dont touch your face or rub your eyes and distance yourselves from others. If you think youve been recently hearing a different Trump, more accepting of the Covid-19 pandemic. You havent. The new Trump is the same as the old Trump, who surrounds himself with yes-people. His daily news briefings peddle false and dangerous information; he undermines public health officials while praising political allies. During a televised press conference, Trump was asked by a reporter, What do you say to Americans who are watching right now and are scared? Trump responded: I say youre a terrible reporter I think thats a nasty question Its a very bad signal youre sending out. Trump is using taxpayer paid medical aid to coerce and extort reelection support. At a news conference, Trump said that he instructed Mike Pence, who has no medical qualifications, to be in charge of the Covid-19 response. To not call the governors of some Blue States where the pandemic is raging. I say: Mike, dont call the governor of Washington. Youre wasting your time with him. Dont call the woman (Gretchen Whitmer) in Michigan. If they dont treat you right, I dont call. At a time when we need real presidential leadership, like Franklin Roosevelt, we dont have it. Trump is incapable of leading us out of the pandemic; he is unprofessional and incompetent and has no moral compass (conscience) to guide oneself. Trump and Pence should step aside and resign. Larry Larsen, Mandan Love 21 Funny 1 Wow 2 Sad 1 Angry 7 Five teenagers were arrested in connection with a robbery attempt that turned into a shootout with an off-duty Universal City police officer on the North Side, according to the San Antonio Police Department. Domagio Byron Johnson, 17, was booked as an adult. He is charged with aggravated robbery with bail set at $100,000. Four other teens two 16-year-old males, one 16-year-old female and one 15-year-old female face various charges, including aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. At about 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nathan Jaramillo, the off-duty officer, was walking his dog at an apartment complex in the 13400 block of Blanco Road. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox According to Johnsons arrest warrant affidavit, Jaramillo noticed a gray Ford Focus driving through the parking lot. The passengers appeared to Jaramillo to be checking to see if vehicles in the lot were locked. Jaramillo said he began writing down the license plate number on the Focus. Johnson and another 16-year-old teen got out and approached him, according to the affidavit. With the barrels of their weapons aimed at the officer, they demanded his wallet and phone, the affidavit states. Jaramillo threw his wallet and phone to the asphalt. One teen, a 16-year-old, then asked Jaramillo if he was ready to die, the affidavit states. Fearing for his life, Jaramillo made a tactical move for his own gun, police said. Jaramillo said that as he ducked, the teen fired a shot at his head and missed. The officer then pulled a gun from his waistband and returned fire, hitting the teen in the right thigh, investigators said. He fired at least 13 rounds back at the teens, who continued shooting at him as they retreated. Johnson ran to a nearby apartment and collapsed from a gunshot wound to the back while the others fled in a stolen vehicle, police said. Johnson was unconscious and taken to University Hospital for treatment. Security cameras at the apartment captured the entire incident, according to the affidavit. While at the scene, police were called to a second shooting near the 1200 block of Blanco Road. There, officers found the suspects who had fled the shootout with Jaramillo. The Health Ministry announced Monday that three women and a man in central and southern Vietnam have recovered fully from their coronavirus infections. This brings the country's total of Covid-19 recoveries to 95 out of its 241 confirmed infections so far. "Patient 154," a 23-year-old woman from the northern province of Quang Ninh, had flown in from the U.K. to Can Tho on March 22 and was confirmed Covid-19 positive on March 27. She was treated at the Can Tho Hospital before being discharged Monday. She will remain quarantined for the next 14 days at the Can Tho Military School. Patients "117" and "118," both residents of Mekong Delta localities, had returned to Vietnam from Cambodia on March 19 and tested positive four days later. They were treated at the Tay Ninh General Hospital, and they will continue their post-recovery quarantine at the same facility for another 14 days "Patient 117" is a 30-year-old man from Long An Province and "Patient 118" is a 23-year-old woman from An Giang Province. "Patient 122" is a 24-year-old woman from north-central province of Ha Tinh Province whod flown in from Bangkok to Da Nang on March 20 and confirmed positive on March 23. She was treated at the Da Nang General Hospital. She was discharged Monday and would continue to be quarantined at home and monitored for the next 14 days, local media reported. All four patients have tested Covid-19 negative at least twice, the reports said. Most of the active cases are people coming in from abroad, especially Europe and the U.S.; and people whod come into close contact with them. Thus far, the Covid-19 pandemic has claimed over 70,100 lives. 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"See you on the other side, in paradise," the 95-year-old said in his last phone call before he died in the Italian city of Bergamo last month, shortly after the picture was taken. The photograph symbolises the high price being paid by clergy in Italy, where 120,000 people have been infected and more than 14,000 have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Priests have succumbed to the virus as they tend to the dying, trying to offer comfort in the absence of loved ones, who are not allowed to say a final farewell for fear of being infected. "They die alone," said Aquilino Apassiti (84), a priest from Bergamo who spent 25 years as a missionary in the jungles of Brazil and now works in a chapel attached to the city's hospital. "In the Amazon, I dealt with leprosy and malaria, but I have never seen scenes as shocking as those of recent weeks," he said. Families are left to grieve without the comfort of the funeral rites embedded in Catholic tradition for centuries. The pandemic in Italy has taken a terrible toll on medical staff, with more than 10,000 infected, and nearly 70 doctors losing their lives. But what has received less attention is the impact it has had on clergy, killing more than 90 priests, as well as dozens of missionaries, monks and nuns. Many worked in hospitals, prisons and care homes, and were particularly exposed. "The deaths of doctors get our attention, but there are many priests who have fallen victim while working as well," said Alessandro Rondoni, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Bologna. Ethiopian bishop Angelo Moreschi (67) became the first Catholic bishop to die of the virus last week. Moreschi, who had spent decades as a missionary in Ethiopia, contracted the virus while in Italy for medical treatment. He died at a seminary in Brescia. The diocese of Bergamo has lost 25 priests, the diocese of Milan 11, and the diocese of Piacenza-Bobbio six, including Don Paolo Camminati (53), from the city of Piacenza on the border of Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy. 'Camo', as he was affectionately known around town, was especially popular among young people, church officials said. He taught in several schools and spearheaded community projects, including Alpine treks and social events that sometimes would end with him playing a guitar. The virus has also raced through monasteries and convents. In the Saveriani care home for retired missionaries in Parma, the virus killed 12 men who had spent their careers battling the harsh conditions of Africa and South America. More than half of the 41 sisters in the Little Missionary Sisters of Charity in Turin caught the virus in March, and five have since died. As Easter approaches, the centuries-old message of the Catholic Church is the same, but the methods are changing. Priests are recording and live-streaming Masses. One parish priest who conducted his service to an empty church filled the pews with prints of selfies of his parishioners to give the proceedings an element of humanity. Fr Giuseppe Corbari, from Robbiano, north of Milan, said he had been saddened to see the church devoid of faces, and put out an appeal for people's photos. "I was very moved by the response," he said. "These are terrible times, and we need to stay close to each other." Despite the grim death toll among clergy and the enforced separation between priests and their flocks, there has been a resurgence in religious faith as people under lockdown reassess their lifestyles and priorities. "This virus hit Italy hard," said Fr Gianluca Busi, a parish priest in Emilia-Romagna. "But I think my church will be fuller after all this. Many of us are seeing a rebirth of spirituality as people reconsider the things that are most essential in their lives." Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] John Vecchiarello was going to the hospital for appendicitis when he heard his son came down with a sudden fever. His ex-wife, who was supposed to drive him to the hospital, called to say she had to take their son to his pediatrician urgently. Then Vecchiarello got the news that his son was sick with COVID-19. Until then, aside from following the social distancing rules, Vecchiarello hadnt given special thought to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus that had become a pandemic. But this hit so close to home Vecchiarello was spurred into action. He started doing all the research he could; he wanted to know what was being done about the virus, and what he personally could do for his son. The more he read the more he realized this started in China and might have been contained if the authorities had reacted properly. He remembered reading news that the Berman Law Group was suing China over mishandling the virus, often called the novel coronavirus, in a class action lawsuit, and Vecchiarello thought about joining. I reached out, they answered all my questions, and I felt very confident thats what I wanted to do, said Vecchiarello, who lives in the New York area. When I started to find out more about China where the outbreak had started, I wanted to have them held accountable, he said. Vecchiarello was upset to discover just how early the virus had started, and that the CCP had silenced doctors instead of containing the outbreak. Theres not really much else I can do as a parent. Im pretty powerless, and Im not a doctor. I really want China to be held accountable for this. I want this to be something thats not going to happen again. If it was preventable, then I want the future problem to be prevented, he said. Vecchiarellos son is now recovering with fading symptoms, but hes changed Vecchiarellos perspective on the CCP virus. He said before his son came down with COVID-19, he would go out with a mask. Now he dons a full Tyvek suit. Vecchiarello says its obvious why the dense urban areas are getting hit harder, but he hopes people in smaller towns, even rural areas, take serious precautions as well. Fifty cases can become a thousand cases in only a short matter of time, he said. CCP Must be Held Accountable The Berman Law Group filed a class action suit on March 12, seeking damages from the CCP over the mishandling over the outbreak. Its a trans-continental effort wherein the Florida-based Berman Law Group is partnering with Washingtons Lucas Compton in the suit. Within two weeks, the group was fielding close to 10,000 inquiries across the country from those who wanted to participate, as well as lawyers and citizens from other countries who wanted to bring their own class action lawsuit against China. Theyve set up a website, DemandChinaPay.org. Because the CCP withheld information, it has broken the International Health Regulations agreement that requires it to notify the World Health Organization of public health emergencies of international concern in a timely manner. They decided to silence doctors who were going to talk about it, and as a result, in an effort to protect their own economic interests, and with their commercial and bioterrorism breaches, they have unleashed this on the world and must be held accountable, they must be made to pay, said Jeremy Alters, the chief strategist and non-attorney spokesperson of the lawsuit from Berman Law Group. The American people and the people around the world are suffering greatly. Our economy is devastated, economies around the world are devastated, and we are not in a position to just say You know what? Its China, theyre a world superpower, lets let them go. We are in a position to hold that superpower accountable for what theyve done. And we intend on doing that in any way we can through this lawsuit, Alters said. Were sitting here watching on TV whats happening in New York, he said. Where doctors and nurses are using garbage bagsgarbage bags!to try to protect themselves from this virus, because we dont have masks, and we dont have gowns, and we dont have face shields. But why dont we have them? He points to the fact that China nationalized corporations that manufacture such products weeks ago, and yet is not helping solve the problem it created. These are the types of questions that discovery during the lawsuit would help answer. George Sorial, a partner of Lucas Compton, says support from Congress and their staff has been building. He hopes this case becomes something that unifies the United States. Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Texas) is introducing a bill that would open China up to litigation in American courts. I have never seen suffering and strife at this level, in my life, he said. Look at what is going on right now, there is a level of anxiety and sufferingemotional suffering, economic sufferingthat is unparalleled simply because the government of China failed. A Life of Service Raymond Bodine, in Texas, lost his elderly aunt Lenora just recently after she tested positive for COVID-19. Lenora lived in a nursing home with her twin sister Lauretta, who has dementia, but is aware her sister is gone. The twins had moved into a nursing facility in Washington state late 2018. On March 5, 2020, the facility called Bodine to ask for permission to tests his aunts for COVID-19. Lenora had a fever and refused the test, and Lauretta has been asymptomatic but the test came back positive on March 10. Lenora stopped talking, and then in her last few days stopped eating. After she died on March 23, the countys medical examiner tested and confirmed she was COVID-19 positive. Bodine spoke to his Aunt Lauretta recently, who told him I feel fine, honey. Talking to her the evening that Lenora passed, she had fabulous clarity, said Bodine, who adds that his aunts are 87. Because even speaking to them a year ago, they were ready to go to the Lord whenever it was time, because they have their faith, theyre very strong in that. Bodine is most interested in the discovery the lawsuit would bringreams of documents and information if China does complythat can shed light on a crisis that is leaving many in the dark. His aunts were both formerly Catholic nuns and teachers and lived a life of service, and he wants to honor the memory of his aunt by helping play a part to bring truth to the world. China didnt disclose everything that they probably could have disclosed back in December, January, when they started fighting it, Bodine said. My heart moved me forward to get to the truth. I just hope for the truth. Janita Kan contributed to this report. From The Epoch Times WASHINGTON Xerox, known for making copies, is set to announce Monday that it will be rapidly scaling up production of inexpensive, disposable ventilators that could serve as a critical stopgap for hospital-grade ventilators now in short supply amid the coronavirus pandemic, company officials said. Xerox confirmed to NBC News that it has a deal with Vortran Medical, a small medical device manufacturer in California, to scale up production of the Go2Vent, a low-cost resuscitation device commonly used by first responders in emergencies and disasters. The companies aim to produce 150,000 to 200,000 devices a month by June and could produce as many as 1 million ventilators in the coming months. They project making 40,000 ventilators this month alone. The Go2Vent is already FDA approved, has been on the market for years, doesnt require electricity and is relatively inexpensive. Xerox plans to charge hospitals approximately $120 per unit. The partnership with Xerox has one clear goal to help save as many lives as possible, Vortran's co-founder and CEO, Gordon A. Wong, MD, said in a statement. For all of us, this will be the most important thing we ever do." Xerox Corp. headquarters in Norwalk, Conn., on Jan. 5, 2017. (Michael Nagle / Bloomberg via Getty Images) While the device is not a replacement for hospital-grade ventilators, it could help ease the pressure on states and health systems facing a crush of patients so severe that some hospitals have begun splitting ventilators to serve two patients at a time. At least another began using 3D printing to convert BiPap machines designed to be used for those with lung disease and sleep apnea. It takes off the overload on the system," so the sickest patients can go onto the ICU-grade ventilators, Naresh Shanker, Xeroxs chief technology officer, said in an interview. Those exhibiting lower-level symptoms, whom studies show account for the majority of coronavirus patients, can significantly benefit from the Go2Vent, he said. The devices were widely used, for instance, around the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks in New York and during the SARS outbreak 17 years ago. Story continues The deal will also give major manufacturers, including Ford Motor Co., the time they need to ramp up production of hospital grade ventilators, according to Sacramento-based Vortran. Xerox says it plans to manufacture these FDA-approved ventilators and APM-Plus devices at its facility outside of Rochester, New York, where the company was founded and maintains a large presence, while Vortran will continue to make ventilators at its current facility in Sacramento, California. The disposable Go2Vent can be set up within minutes and discarded after use by a single patient. It can be operated on a compressor and could provide ventilatory support for up to 30 days. Given the shortage of ICU-grade ventilators, medical professionals are utilizing tools like this and other technology to support patients who do not yet or no longer need an ICU-level breathing device, which can be freed up for another patient, the companies said in a statement. Dr. Timothy Albertson, the chair of internal medicine at UC Davis whose expertise includes adult respiratory distress syndrome, said the units would be welcomed by health care professionals. Our nation needs all the help we can get," he said. "ICU ventilators are in short supply and will be so for the foreseeable future. This proven, simple low cost ventilator can help fill the gap in the meantime. Doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists need all the help they can get. And fast. Shanker said it is aiming to produce 1 million units as needed and based on global demand. Several governors are warning that the ventilator shortage is dire as the death toll climbs from the coronavirus. Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York said prices for hospital-grade ventilators had shot up to $50,000, if you can find them. While federal officials have already sent more than 4,000 ventilators to the state, Cuomo has said first responders expect to need 30,000 to 40,000 ventilators in the next two weeks. Many governors are saying they are facing bidding wars between states and the national government. Ventilators cost $5,000 to $50,000. A recent American Hospital Association estimate projected that 4.8 million patients would be hospitalized, with 1.9 million admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, and 960,000 requiring ventilation. Yet the total number of ventilators in the country is estimated at roughly 170,000, including in hospitals and the National Stockpile. The companies are also producing a battery-operated portable device that connects to the Go2Vent and to monitor patients and their key respiratory parameters. Wong said that over the last few weeks Vortran has been approached by multiple businesses, academic institutions, and several ad hoc groups seeking a possible arrangements to manufacture, distribute and sell the device. All along, my priority was finding the right company or group who could deliver the most ventilators to the largest number of hospitals in the shortest possible time, Wong said of the arrangement with Xerox. CORRECTION (April 7, 2020, 5:00 p.m. ET): An earlier version of this article misspelled the last name of Xeroxs chief technology officer. He is Naresh Shanker, not Shankar. MOUNT PLEASANT, MI -- A union representing nurses at three McLaren Health Care locations is pushing the healthcare system to provide workers with additional protections while they fight the spread of COVID-19. Nurses at McLaren Central Michigan Hospital in Mount Pleasant, McLaren Home Care Greater Lansing and McLaren Lapeer Region Hospital have given proposals to hospital officials and had not received a formal response as of Monday morning, according to a news release. The nurses, represented by the Michigan Nurses Association union, are asking for policies that include paid time off for nurses exposed to COVID-19 at work so they dont lose their income while quarantined, protections so vulnerable nurses do not have to treat COVID-19 patients, and more. The nurses are also asking for cross-training or other efforts to put laid-off nurses to work in other areas of the hospital. Nurses are on the frontlines risking our lives and McLaren needs to work with us on ways to protect us so we can protect the public, said Tom Hall, president of the Lapeer hospitals RN Staff Council, in the release. McLaren should be collaborating with nurses, not abandoning us. The McLaren corporation can afford to provide the protections nurses need they just refuse to." In a statement, McLaren said employee safety is paramount and it has worked to address nurses concerns before the proposals. The system has started a process for vulnerable nurses to be given other assignents or acommodations when necessary, the statement reads. The company has also made adjustments to its PTO program. We have met with MNA on multiple occasions over the last three weeks to address those issues and share McLarens COVID-19 response plan, the statement reads. This is an evolving crisis that requires us to be flexible and responsive to many daily changes... We will continue to work proactively with our staff and union partners to ensure that our staff are safe, continue to have the resources to care for patients and are informed about our response plan throughout this crisis. The nurses claim other hospitals and county health departments with fewer resources than McLaren have guaranteed paid time off to nurses who contract COVID-19, according to the release. If we dont take care of our nurses, who will be left to take care of COVID-19 patients?" said Christie Serniak, president of the McLaren Central Michigan RN Association, in the release. "These protections cannot wait. Nurses are here doing our jobs as always, but we must have support from McLaren to keep ourselves, our families and our patients safe. Shannon Sharrar, a registered nurse at the Mount Pleasant hospital and a union executive, fears daily that shell expose her three small children to COVID-19 through work. Nursing is based on a culture of safety, focused generally on patients first, she said -- but the outbreak is forcing healthcare workers to put their health and the health of their loved ones at risk like never before. I do feel comfortable trying to advocate and do whats best for my fellow nurses, Sharrar said. Our stress levels are very high and we have to work together with the administration on this." Read more: Coronavirus cases climb in mid-Michigan, led by Genesee County Michigan House Democratic Leader pushes for remote sessions as coronavirus persists Monday, April 6: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram The Committee to Protect Journalists today joined other human rights and free expression organizations in a letter calling on the Bahraini government to release all imprisoned journalists and other political prisoners. The letter notes the notoriously poor conditions in Bahraini prisons, including overcrowding and lack of medical care, and cites the Bahraini governments recent decision to pardon 1,486 prisoners to stem the spread of COVID-19 in the countrys penal system. At least six journalists were imprisoned for their work in Bahrain at the time of CPJs most recent prison census. CPJ has documented the cases of Abduljalil al-Singace, who has repeatedly been denied access to adequate medical care despite his deteriorating health, and Ahmed Humaidan, who has suffered persistent eye infections due to inadequate hygiene in Jaw Central Prison. The letter can be viewed here. Former US Vice President and Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden speaks about COVID-19, known as the Coronavirus, during a press event in Wilmington, Delaware on March 12, 2020. In an interview that will air on NBC's 3rd Hour of the TODAY show Tuesday, Biden said that the White House had offered a call with Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president. The call came hours after Trump teased the Democratic front-runner on Twitter about his offer to provide advice on how to handle the response to the pandemic ravaging the nation. Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden on Monday spoke to President Donald Trump, his likely rival in November, about his response to the coronavirus outbreak, his campaign confirmed to CNBC. The call was set to happen days after Biden first offered to have a conversation with Trump. "Well, I - we contacted - we got back to the White House indicating that we were prepared to talk if he would like that, and as recently as 5 minutes before I got on your show, I got a call from the White house asking if I could speak with Miss Conway at 3:15 or thereabouts, so I hope it means we're going to talk," Biden said in the interview. "And all I can do is offer the President the things that we prepared, not the same exact thing, but give him my view of what the lessons learned and what I think we should be doing. And I'm not here to criticize him, I'm here to try to promote more rapid response to the things that have to be acted on. But I'm ready to do that." But the call went forward with the president himself. Trump tore into Biden earlier Monday for proposing a phone call to discuss the U.S. response to the virus, suggesting the former vice president never followed up on it. The president also came down on Biden for suggesting that the Democratic National Convention which has been delayed, could be virtual. "Joe Biden wanted the date for the Democrat National Convention moved to a later time period," Trump tweeted. "Now he wants a 'Virtual' Convention, one where he doesn't have to show up. Gee, I wonder why? Also, what ever happened to that phone call he told the Fake News he wanted to make to me?" Biden offered a direct response, tweeting at Trump with a link-out to his proposal for addressing the outbreak on his 2020 campaign website. "Happy to discuss anytime," Biden said. Tweet Trump, when asked if he'd be receptive to a phone call with Biden about the response to the outbreak, said he'd "absolutely" be open it. "I'd love to speak with him," he said. When asked about the details of the call between Biden and Trump, Biden's campaign sent this statement to CNBC: "Vice President Biden and President Trump had a good call. VP Biden shared several suggestions for actions the Administration can take now to address the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and expressed his appreciation for the spirit of the American people in meeting the challenges facing the nation." Their discussion comes days after the decision to postpone the Democratic National Convention, which was originally set for July, to August because of the spread of the coronavirus. "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," said DNC Convention Committee CEO Joe Solmonese in a press release. Biden raised the idea in an interview of having a virtual convention last week. More than a dozen states and U.S. territories have adjusted their nominating contests due to the coronavirus, with some opting for a mail-in system to replace in-person voting and others delaying the primaries entirely. The moves have upended the Democratic primary between Biden and his Democratic rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Both campaigns no longer do in-person events or rallies and have been relying on digital outreach to connect with voters. The upcoming discussion with the White House could be seen as a way to generate talk about the campaign and keep its gears in motion as nominating contests are delayed. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. But Trump during the daily coronavirus task force briefing on Monday also confirmed the discussion between him and Biden, saying, "We had a really wonderful warm conversation. It was a very nice conversation. We talked about pretty much this," referring to the coronavirus outbreak. "He gave me his point of view, and I fully understood that and we just had a very friendly conversation. Lasted probably 15 minutes. And it was really good. ... I appreciate his calling." The coronavirus, which is believed to have originated in Wuhan, China, has spread to dozens of countries globally, with more than 1.3 million confirmed cases worldwide and over 72,638 deaths so far, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. There are at least 347,003 cases in the United States and at least 10,335 deaths, according to the latest tallies. Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the correct timing of when the interview will be aired. A 43-inch TV under the Realme brand has been listed on BIS. The filing carries the name Realme TV 43 The BIS listing also reveals the panel on the Realme TV will be an LED panel Realme has already declared its intention to go beyond manufacturing just smartphones and enter into lifestyle tech products. That has so far included a few pair of wireless headphones and a fitness band. But the young upstart also plans to launch its own TV in Q2, 2020, and thanks to BIS certification filings, we have some more information regarding the upcoming Realme TV. According to a leakster, the Realme TV has popped up on the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) website. The filing carries the name Realme TV 43 with the model number JSC55LSQL. Looking at the name, its easy to guess this particular model will come with a 43-inch panel. Thats not the largest screen we have seen on a Smart TV but it does indicate that Realme will be aiming at the affordable segment. The certification was granted on February 26, 2020. Only one TV model is listed. Furthermore, the listing reveals the panel on the Realme TV will be an LED panel. Interestingly, searching with the model number on the BIS website also reveals another listing (with the same model number). This ones labelled Sansui, a Japanese brand that makes audio-video equipment. Both models appear to have been manufactured in the same factory in Guangdong, China. This is not a confirmation, however, that only one variant of the TV will be launched in India. For now, at least, its pretty certain that a 43-inch TV from Realme will land in India. Its most likely to be powered by Android TV with some customisation done by the company. Considering the listing, the TV is also expected to launch sometime in this quarter. Fort Bend County Judge KP George has denied additional funding for the Fort Bend County Sheriffs Offices free disinfectant distribution efforts, and deputies from the sheriffs office are not holding back displeasure over the decision. George stated in a Facebook post on March 25 that he would be diverting the requested funds to other programs. In this rapidly evolving crisis, our priorities must change to meet the needs of the community, he said. George originally allocated $100,000 to the program. Using those funds, the sheriffs office was able to distribute 13,811 bottles of liquid disinfectant to residents of Fort Bend County. Another 877 one-gallon jugs, 1,354 32-ounce spray bottles and 590 gallons of non-diluted concentrate were given to entities like nonprofits or essential services. The disinfectant is sodium hypochlorite, similar in composition to bleach. It is one of the most effective commercially available surface disinfectants. The initial funding of $100,000 was quickly exhausted. Individuals and organizations contributed another $30,000 to continue funding the program, but that, too, was depleted quickly. When the sheriffs office requested additional funding, George denied it. Maj. Chad Norvell of the sheriffs office called the response from the community overwhelming and expressed frustration that the distribution has been denied funding. Every single person we dealt with was so appreciative, he said. We kept hearing again and again that this cleaner wasnt available anywhere. George contested that bleach is now plentiful in stores, and the sheriffs program is no longer a valid use of county funds. I've called through the grocery stores in Fort Bend County, and rest assured, cheap bleach is plentiful and available, he said. As of April 4, the Target located at Westheimer Parkway and the Grand Parkway had no surface disinfecting products available. An employee, who wished to remain anonymous, citing Targets policy of not allowing employees to speak to the press said, Weve hardly gotten any (cleaning products) in, and when we do, they sell out immediately. I open a box, and people just swarm. We have a limit of two per person, but people take them right out of my hands. They never even make it to the shelves. George also stated that ceasing the program would enable the deputies who were doing the distribution to resume other duties. The deputies who participated in the disinfectant distribution will return to their normal duties, which will also keep our community healthy and safe, he said. Norvell disputed both Georges claims. Theres no cleaning products. Theres no bleach on the shelves anywhere, he said. If there were, people would not be lined up 1.7 miles and waiting hours to get some. This is their best hope to try and mitigate the spread of this virus. He also challenged Georges assertion that the deputies involved in distribution were needed back on patrol. The deputies out there doing (the distribution) are not patrol deputies. Theyre bailiffs, and the courts over here are all closed. So we have 26 bailiffs doing nothing, he explained. George furthered his argument against the disinfectant, noting that the solution costs over $16 per bottle to manufacture. At the Kroger on the Grand Parkway and Highland Knolls, a gallon-sized bottle of bleach cost $2.99. However, none were available. Norvell countered, Even at $16, (the cleaning solution) is cheap prevention, considering the consequences of not having it. How do you put a price on a life? Because thats where we are right now. This disinfectant can save lives. Airbnb owners breaching the coronavirus lockdown rules by advertising their properties as 'Covid-19 retreats' have been branded as 'dangerous and irresponsible'. The hosts, who have listed their homes as being 'perfect for isolating with family' or an 'idyllic cottage', have continued to flout Government lockdown rules which state only keyworkers should be the sole recipients of holiday accommodation amid the coronavirus outbreak. The property owners on the popular rental site have also been allowing those seeking a home away from home to make instant bookings without any vetting, the BBC reported. The SNP's Westminster Leader Ian Blackford, whose constituency includes Skye which has of the highest concentrations of such lets in the country, warned today that 'irresponsible' Airbnb hosts must stop immediately. Some Airbnb hosts have been breaching the coronavirus lockdown rules by advertising their properties as 'Covid-19 retreats'. (Stock image) The SNP's Westminster Leader Ian Blackford warned that 'irresponsible' Airbnb hosts must stop immediately Mr Blackford said: 'Irresponsible letting must stop immediately. I will have no hesitation in bringing it to the attention of the police. We need people to stay away from the Highlands at this crucial time.' Following the discovery, Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston told the BBC: 'Our advice is clear. Essential travel does not include holidays, leisure travel and visits to second homes - and people must remain in their primary residence. 'It is incredibly irresponsible, and dangerous for some property owners to be marketing themselves as 'isolation retreats'. 'We are writing to companies today to remind them of their responsibilities at this time.' An Airbnb spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We want hosts and guests to follow the rules and we have no tolerance for listings that ignore health or travel advisories. 'The government has set out clear guidance on the limited conditions under which necessary travel is permitted and we have taken a number of steps to support these measures, including blocking private room bookings and switching off our ''instant book'' function for whole properties. 'Hosts in the UK are also opening their homes to NHS and other healthcare providers as part of a global initiative that has seen more than 100,000 places to stay made available so far.' The discovery comes after a recent survey showed that the north-west of Skye had the second-highest concentration of Airbnb in the UK, at 25 listings per 100 properties. A previous analysis by the Chartered Institute of Housing found that one in 10 properties on Skye were being listed on Airbnb. The island's housing association even wrote to tenants warning them against cashing-in by sub-letting their homes to visitors. Skye and Lochalsh Housing Association said they could be violating their tenancy agreement by using short-term letting websites such as Airbnb. Last month one owner offered 23 lets on Skye as 'isolation solutions' for 100 per person per night. Ben Greer urged those on the mainland to 'protect your loved ones' from the spread of Covid-19 by heading to 'one of the most beautiful destinations on the planet where it's easy to avoid people'. The property owners have been allowing people to stay at their retreats despite the Government lockdown guidelines in place. (Stock image) However the former Royal Air Force Chinook crewman later retracted the invitation. Mr Greer said that he came up with the plan before the government hardened its guidance on non-essential travel. He added that he had removed the advertisement and accepted that he had made a 'huge mistake'. Mr Blackford said he had been told of some companies who have been advertising 'late availability' - including over Easter - in the Highlands. The MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber has already called for emergency powers to be used to stop second home owners seeking to self isolate in the Highlands. Mr Blackford said the law should be used to stop such people trying to out run coronavirus - but who were at the same time endangering local residents. Now Mr Blackford says those seeking to cash-in and let out their homes during the lochdown should feel the full force of the law. He continued: 'One constituent contacted me about one company which was adversing 'late availability' on a number of properties in the Highlands, including over Easter. 'But I'm now assured that this was a case of the website not catching up with the changed situation and that no properties are being let. 'However I have heard of other examples and I find this absolutely incredible when the emergency legislation forbids this. It is a brazen flouting of the law and puts local communities needlessly at risk - and I won't hesitate to contact the police.' Mahmoud Jibril, the former head of Libyan rebel government that helped overthrow Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, died from coronavirus infection on April 5 in Cairo, Egypt. Jibril breathed his last at the age of 68 on April 5 after his medical condition started deteriorating following a brief recovery. Jibrils party secretary said that the former Libyan leader was admitted at Ganzouri Specialized Hospital in Cairo after suffering a cardiac arrest and was later diagnosed with COVID-19. Libya has reported 18 confirmed coronavirus cases with single death but Egypt, where Jibril was residing, has reported around 1,173 cases with 78 fatalities. Read: EU Launches New Naval Mission To Police Libya Arms Embargo Jibril was an economic adviser to the Gaddafi government but later formed National Transitional Council (NTC) which worked as an interim government during NATO-backed rebellion. According to media reports, he made several foreign trips during the uprising to mobilise support from the United States and European nations. Lost support in Parliament After the authoritarian regime was toppled and Gaddafi was killed, Jibril was elected as the leader of the newly-founded National Forces Alliance (NFA). Jibrils party won the poll in the first free elections in four decades but the Libyan leader lost the vote in Parliament which chose an independent candidate to become the Prime Minister. Read: Tripoli Officials Say Clashes Escalating Over Libyan Capital Jibril left Libya amid growing violence due to a political crisis which is still ongoing. Libya has been facing a political and humanitarian crisis after the self-styled Libyan National Army, headed by Khalifa Haftar, launched a battle against the Tripolis UN-recognised government. Thousands of Tripoli residents have been displaced due to the shelling that started earlier this year targeting the outskirts of the Libyan capital. Last month, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the positive response from warring parties of the Government of National Accord and the Libyan National Army. Guterres hoped that the positive response to the calls for a humanitarian pause to stop the fighting will be translated into an immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities. Read: UN Chief Urges Warring Libyan Parties To Accept Draft Ceasefire Deal Read: UN Welcomes Positive Responses To Fighting Pause In Libya Kylie Jenner has been a hands-on mom as she self-quarantines inside her mega mansion in Hidden Hills, California during the spread of COVID-19. On Sunday the 22-year-old billionaire shared several videos with her mini me daughter Stormi, aged two, whose father is rapper Travis Scott. The pinup wore no makeup and had her highlighted hair pulled back as she held onto her little girl while they kissed each other. Good mommy: Kylie Jenner has been a hands-on mom as she self-quarantines inside her mega mansion in Hidden Hills, California during the spread of COVID-19 Arm in arm: On Sunday the 22-year-old billionaire shared several videos with her mini me daughter Stormi, aged two, whose father is rapper Travis Scott Kylie pointed out a temporary tattoo she put on her child's head. It was a dark purple dinosaur. 'What did we put on your today? A dinosaur,' said the reality TV star who seemed to have enormous patience for her child as well as a natural fascination. Jenner was also seen feeding Stormi a bottle of what looked like formula. Tat's all folks: Kylie pointed out a temporary tattoo she put on her child's head. It was a dark purple dinosaur. Here the child sticks out her tongue Kisses: The pinup wore no makeup and had her highlighted hair pulled back as she held onto her little girl while they kissed each other And she pulled her hair out as she patted her child while adding butterflies to her face with the help of the effects button. Then the two were seeing cooing at each other. Stormi has a new nickname for her mom: Mommy goose. The TV icon seemed happy with it. She also added the caption, 'Baby love.' Stormi had on S earrings for her first name. And then Kylie showed off what appeared to be a rhinestone decorated board. Loves her child: Then the two were seeing cooing at each other. Stormi has a new nickname for her mom: Mommy goose. The TV icon seemed happy with it. She also added the caption, 'Baby love' A fun look for the weekend: The makeup mogul added colorful butterflies to her face Bling it on: And then Kylie showed off what appeared to be a rhinestone decorated board Meanwhile....: Sister Kim Kardashian shared a flashback photo with Kanye and North Over the weekend Jenner was being interviewed. The 22-year-old guest-starred on an Instagram Live session by her best pal Stassie Karanikolaou and dished about her parenting methods. 'I have bought her every single outdoor toy you could imagine. She has bouncy houses out there, water toys,' said the makeup billionaire. Doing her best: Jenner told her friend Stassie Karanikolaou about her efforts to make sure her two-year-old daughter Stormi stays' entertained' amid the coronavirus lockdowns 'She's been in the pool everyday,' Kylie revealed, sharing that she has ordered a Slip N Slide but that it has not arrived yet. Kylie, who shares Stormi with her ex Travis Scott, shared: 'She's been outside everyday, just living her best life - I'm trying to keep her entertained.' The mother of one told Stassie that amid the ongoing pandemic the toddler 'has no idea what's going on, it's amazing.' Kylie and Stassie did the livestream as part of the #DoYourPartChallenge with DoorDash to get food to the needy during lockdown. Keeping her busy: Earlier this week Kylie let her Instagram followers know that she and Stormi were both 'tuned in' to the latest episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians Earlier this week Kylie let her Instagram followers know that she and Stormi were both 'tuned in' to the latest episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Last November Kylie offered her Instagram followers a glimpse into Kylie's playroom, which includes Barbies galore amid other toys. The daughter of Kris Jenner also showed off Stormi's playroom closet, which was strung with clothes and featured a Louis Vuitton bag with the baby's name on it. In a YouTube vlog last June she revealed that she has set up a whole extra bedroom for her little pride and joy at her Kylie HQ office. Lap of luxury: Last November Kylie offered her Instagram followers a glimpse into Kylie's playroom, which includes Barbies galore amid other toys For both of the little girl's birthday parties Kylie famously had a gigantic Stormi World setpiece put up where the entrance was a giant facsimile of the little girl's face. Party guests entered the cavernous venue through the mouth of the giant Stormi head, and this year they were treated to rooms with themes like Frozen and Trolls. Kylie fired up her Insta Stories last week and shared that 'my pregnancy prepared me for' the coronavirus lockdowns as 'i didn't leave the house for months.' Swank: The daughter of Kris Jenner also showed off Stormi's playroom closet, which was strung with clothes and featured a Louis Vuitton bag with the baby's name on it Despite a swirl of rumors, she did not announce she was having a baby until after her daughter Stormi was born on February 1, 2018. Travis and Kylie have been so amicable as exes there have been rumors of a reunion, but her 10-year-old nephew Mason Disick put the kibosh on them on Instagram. Mason briefly got on the social media platform without permission from his parents Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick, who have taken him off Instagram. North Chinas Tianjin and the city of Anyang in Central Chinas Henan province both reported two new cases of the highly transmissible omicron variant over the weekend. Both cities have launched new rounds of mass testing and designated more Covid-19 risk areas to control the spread of the virus Jan 10, 2022 06:18 PM (Photo : Photo from Pixabay) Firefighters make progress in containing a fire in Florida Airport. A fire that spread through a grassy location of Southwest Florida International Airport has destroyed thousands of condominium cars, fire officials said. Officials said the blaze started on Friday, Apr. 3, spanned 15 acres, and initially involved around 20 cars in the grassy rental car overflow area on the airport in Fort Myers. ALSO READ: Watch Stunning Video of A Mysterious Fireball That Flashes Over Florida As an Asteroid Nearly Collided with Earth Firefighters managed to contain the blaze by unloading water at the flames with the help of helicopters. More than 3,500 cars destroyed The Lee County Port Authority told USA Today the fire started in an area where rental cars are stored, east of Terminal Access Road. A Lee County Port spokesperson told CNN affiliate WINK the flames had destroyed more than 3,500 rental cars by the time it was extinguished. According to DailyMail, witnesses heard a couple of small explosions and flames leaping excessive into the air as the fire spread throughout the area. The Sheriff's Office posted a series of pics showing the volume of the damage to hundreds of cars. Photos from after the fire was extinguished showed rows of burnt-out vehicles spread across the lot. It is thought the automobile rental parking lot was busier than usual due to the coronavirus lockdown as fewer clients had hired motors. Most flights are suspended, and travel arrangements are in place. Another 3,850 automobiles had been undamaged, airport spokeswoman Vicki Moreland told DailyMail. Fort Myers News-Press added the vehicles were not occupied. Melinda Avni, a Mitigation Specialist for Florida Forestry Service of Caloosahatchee, said officials contained the heat at around 5 pm Friday. At the same time, there had been about 20 vehicles involved. The forestry provider deemed the blaze contained by 10:30 a.m. Saturday, nearly 18 hours after it commenced, Avni stated. The brush surrounding the overflow region caught fireplace and assist its brief spread, however no systems on the airport had been affected, Avni said. She said no injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation. ALSO READ: [VIDEO] Aerial Footage in Florida Show Beachgoers Defying Self-Distancing Rule Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic Fire didn't affect air traffic, airport operations In a Facebook post, the airport thanked all the companies who responded to the blaze. "Thank you to the regional mutual aid fire departments and Division of Forestry for their heroic efforts in aiding RSW in last night's fire We appreciate their courage and willingness to help our Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting Department. Together they were able to keep all our passengers and airport visitors safe," the post read. Arlene Salac, a spokeswoman for the FAA, told the DailyMail the fire did not affect air traffic or operations at the airport. The airport is fully operational, and the inbound lanes of Terminal Access Road reopened at 11 p.m. Friday, Moreland said. Fire officials stated the fire was completely contained and extinguished by Saturday morning. The Forest Service also made sure the fireplace would not start again in the scene. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Michigan residents are officially being encouraged to wear some sort of face covering when out in public settings in an effort to reduce the spread of coronavirus COVID-19. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in a press conference Monday asked residents to wear homemade masks if they have to leave their homes. Residents are still urged to continue washing their hands, limit leaving their homes to essential trips and practice social distancing. The governors message Monday, April 6, follows the most recent guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and comes with a continued plea to leave N95 and surgical masks for medical professionals already dealing with a shortage of necessary protective equipment. Let me be clear though, wearing a mask does not mean that you are immune and that you dont need to observe all of the other CDC guidelines, Whitmer said. We still need to say six feet away from people when youre out in public, washing your hands coughing into or sneezing into the crook of your arm. Its crucial that just wearing a mask doesnt give you a false sense of security and think that you can resume normal life. Its just an added protection." For weeks, health officials have flip-flopped on whether its necessary, or even effective, to wear face coverings in public if people arent already ill or caring for someone who is sick. The CDC previously said healthy people should only wear masks when taking care of someone who was infected with the virus. The World Health Organization recommended the same as health care workers have been dealing with a shortage of personal protective equipment like masks. Late Friday afternoon, April 4, the CDC pivoted. The CDC now recommends that people should wear nonsurgical cloth face coverings when they go out in public during the pandemic. Members of the public should still avoid wearing N95 respirators, which should be left for health care professionals who are interacting directly with sick patients. We have to leave the surgical masks or N95 masks for our front-line health care workers, said Michigan Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun. If you must go out, you should wear a mask to protect yourself and others. We are asking people to join the MI mask challenge, make a mask from a cloth or a bandana, and wear one every time you go out. Wearing some form of covering over your nose and mouth can prevent people who are infected, but not symptomatic, from spreading the virus when they speak, cough or sneeze in public. Even hours before the CDC came out with its new guidance on masks Friday, The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency asked the public to avoid wearing masks in public. The data from infectious disease experts, and it is well referenced, does not recommend requiring the general public who do not have symptoms of COVID-19 like illness to routinely wear cloth or surgical masks because there is no scientific evidence that they are effective in reducing the risk of virus transmission, said Medical Director Lauren Vogel in a press release Friday. Also, we need to preserve the supply of surgical masks for at-risk healthcare workers. It remains that social distancing and good hygiene are the best means of reducing COVID-19 spread. President Donald Trump announced the CDCs new guidance Friday during a press conference, but added that he doesnt think hell be wearing one in public. Michigan Technological University Virologist Ebenezar Tumban said whats most important is that medical professionals, who are guaranteed to interact with sick patients, need to have access to the N95 masks. For the rest of the public, he said using homemade masks out of cloth, bandanas or scarves wont hurt and can act as a shield that reduces the likelihood of being infected or infecting others around you. In late February, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams asked residents to stop buying masks and said they were not effective in preventing general public from catching coronavirus. By April 2, Michigans chief medical executive said residents should strongly consider wearing masks in public during the pandemic. If there is an N95 mask or surgical mask, we want it to go directly to our hospital partners, Khaldun said. That said, we know that some people may have a mask at home or they may be able to make a mask out of cloth or a bandana, and if they want to do they can. They should strongly consider it and it certainly wont cause any harm. Claire Danielson, a medical lab scientist at Michigan Tech, said people who chose to wear face coverings and gloves in public need to remember that theyre not meant to be worn all day and to different locations. Additionally, if you wear a mask and you keep adjusting it or you touch other surfaces and dont wash your hands, you could end up being infected anyway. Its really more about preventing the droplets from being spread," she said. "It wont necessarily protect you from getting sick but it might reduce the chances and prevent you from further spreading it. One way to make a homemade mask, Danielson said, is sewing a new vacuum filter into a piece of cloth that could be worn to cover your nose and mouth. She said those filters are known to filter out very small particulate matter. Essexville resident Carol Heron has shared a demonstration for how citizens can sew their own masks at home. She said she follows recommended guidelines for making her masks. 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. More on MLive: Monday, April 6: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Second Michigan legislator confirmed positive for coronavirus $7M economic impact predicted after coronavirus cancels dozens of sports events in Kalamazoo Portage student-athlete sews face masks to fight coronavirus spread European governments fear often overcrowded prisons are virus timebombs during this pandemic and are looking at early releases and other ways to reduce the risk for those behind bars. The issue of those locked up while whole countries were locked down was discussed during a video conference of EU justice ministers held on Monday. EU justice commissioner Didier Reynders, who also took part, tweeted that the impact of COVID-19 was looked at, along with "measures taken relating to the functioning of (the) justice system". Croatia, which chaired the meeting in its role holding the rotating EU presidency, said there was an exchange of information on prison and pre-trial detention in relation to the pandemic. While no EU-wide policy has yet emerged, individual member states have already taken steps to reduce penitentiary populations, aware that social distancing is impossible for those incarcerated. France, for instance, has since mid-March reduced its prisoner and detainee population by nearly 10 percent, by putting off custodial sentences for less-serious crimes, suspending terms for medical reasons, freeing some who were jailed awaiting trial, and allowing early release. That has cut its number of inmates to 66,300, the French justice minister told AFP last week -- though many of its 188 prisons are overcrowded. - Alternative to prisons 'imperative' - Greece has taken similar measures to release 1,500 prisoners. Non-EU member Britain, too, has announced the early release of 4,000 prisoners with less than two months left on their sentences, barring those convicted of violent, sexual or paedophilia crimes or posing national security threats. The human rights commissioner for the Council of Europe, an organisation promoting rights and democracy whose membership goes well beyond the EU, called on Monday for more countries to follow suit. "The resort to alternatives to deprivation of liberty is imperative in situations of overcrowding and even more so in cases of emergency," Dunja Mijatovic wrote in a statement. At the same time, prisons in some countries have cut visiting rights for inmates' lawyers and banned those for family members, sparking episodes of unrest in Italy and in Sweden. In Romania, three prisoners died and another two were wounded in a riot that broke out in a prison in the northern town of Satu Mare, reportedly because of curtailed visiting hours. While confirmed cases of infection are currently relatively low, concerns are swiftly intensifying that the virus could take hold within prisons, where convicts share cells, showers and eating halls. Prison staff also complain they lack sufficient protective gear to safely carry out their duties. - Death toll mounting - Already in Italy, a 76-year-old inmate and two guards have died of COVID-19. Another 19 of the country's 58,000 prisoners have tested positive, along with 116 guards, according to official figures given last week. In Spain, one female prisoner and a guard have died. Another six prisoners are infected, its interior ministry said. France also has recorded the deaths of one prisoner and one guard, along with another 48 prisoners infected as well as 114 guards. In Britain, two guards at London's Pentonville prison died last week after coming down with COVID-19 symptoms, their union said. Belgium has reported that 32 of its guards have tested positive, as have four inmates. Those figures underline the growing risk in penitentiaries. In Russia, Eva Merkatcheva, a member of a prisoners' rights group known as the Commission of Observers, told AFP that "the situation in Russian prisons could quickly become a catastrophe, especially in holding centres where detainees are squeezed together in sometimes overcrowded cells". As a stopgap measure to try to prevent prison revolts in this time of crisis, authorities in certain countries have eased some conditions inside. France has rolled out free television, telephone credits and assistance for those in need. Spain has handed out smartphones to allow prisoners to make video calls. Fearing the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus in prisons, EU states have taken steps to reduce the number of those incarcerated, such as early release or freeing some still awaiting trial With social distancing against the virus impossible behind bars, governments are mindful that moves such as limiting relatives' visits in some countries have sparked unrest, notably in Italy As a way of helping to lessen the burden on residents of the Manhyia South Constituency during the two weeks' partial lockdown period, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh a.k.a Napo has donated 1,200 bags of rice and 1,200 boxes of cooking oil for onward distribution to his constituents. The items will be distributed to all the households in the six electoral areas in the Manhyia South Constituency, which he represents in parliament. Obviously, the temporary break of businesses during the lockdown period, will adversely affect my constituents, hence my widow's mite to give them a cushion in these trying times, he said The donation is to send a clear message to Ghanaians about the need for us to unite; stay positive; do not panic; remain strong, and be each others keeper in these trying times, which will definitely pass soon. Napo also used the opportunity to admonish Ghanaians to stay at home, practice social distancing and uphold all other directives from health experts, to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus. 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. Featured Video The railroad commissioners are scheduled to hold a virtual meeting to consider the request by Parsley Energy and Pioneer Natural Resources that the agency determine reasonable market demand for Teas crude. The meeting is set for 9:30 a.m. April 14. Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton said he expects a variety of shareholders -- from the industry to economists to statisticians -- to participate. During his recent YouTube video discussing what has been happening with the oil and gas industry, he said that he hasnt formed an opinion yet on whether the agency should require Texas producers to shut in production. Stability is the focus of the April 14 meeting, he said. He chided criticism from those who say enacting prorationing for the first time since the 1970s was government manipulation. I find prejudging a conversation that hasnt been had yet to be arrogant, he said. The crux of the issue is stability for the energy industry, Sitton said. Producers can independently shut in their own production, but it would be more beneficial to have the commission oversee shutting in wells in a more orderly way. RELATED: Parsley, Pioneer ask RRC for market demand hearing We applaud the commissions efforts to hold a Market Demand hearing later this month, Ben Shepperd, president of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association, told the Reporter-Telegram by email. These are extraordinary times and I appreciate the commissions efforts to gather as much data as possible. Some in the industry strongly favor the commission implementing their proration statutes. Others feel the dramatic drop in oil and gas demand and the corresponding voluntary shutting-in of wells and reduction in drilling will have the desired effect of limiting production. Drilling rigs have been idled at a rapid clip since prices began collapsing, but Sitton said that will take production off the market 30, 60 or 90 days from now just as demand is ramping up. One thing they miss in a downturn like this is -- even at 120 days of shelter in place two years from now, the world will want even more (reliable, affordable energy) as they come out of the COVID-19 recession, he said. The April 14 meeting will look at whether prorationing production is a good idea, how it can best be done and how that can be used to drive international agreements. He acknowledged that, by itself, Texas cutting production would have little impact on the global oil market. It gives us the opportunity to drive the conversation, in a leadership position, with Saudi Arabia, with OPEC, with Russia. Thats important, Sitton said. If, after the meeting, its agreed that prorationing the states production is a good idea and a method is devised, Sitton said action could be taken quickly as soon as April 21. Several rockets were fired and landed on Monday near a residential district in southern Iraq, where many foreign oil firms have their headquarters and where oil workers live, without causing damage or injuring people, sources with the police and oil firms told Reuters. The oil district near Iraqs major city of Basra was largely empty because many foreign oil companies had evacuated their personnel due to the coronavirus pandemic. An employee at Halliburton in the area told Reuters that the rockets landed far from the site. Rocket fire is not uncommon in Iraq, where the U.S. embassy in Baghdad has been targeted a few times this year, by what the U.S. attributed to Iran-backed paramilitary factions. The rocket fire of three Katyusha rockets on Monday did not disrupt oil production or exports from Basra, Iraqs key outlet of oil in the south, officials with Iraqi state firm Basra Oil Co told Reuters. The rockets may not affect Iraqs oil exports, but the crash in oil prices has significantly cut Iraqs main government revenue sourceoil income. Iraq saw its oil revenues cut nearly in half in March when oil prices collapsed, even though OPECs second-largest producer exported more barrels of crude last month than it did in February. According to data from Iraqs oil ministry, cited by AFP - Agence France Presse, Iraqs crude oil sales amounted to 105 million barrels in March. For these barrels, Iraq earned a revenue of US$2.99 billion. To compare, Iraqs February sales of 98.3 million barrels of crude oil earned OPECs producer almost twice that, at US$5.5 billion. Last month, Iraq, one of the oil producers worst hit by the oil price crash, was said to be proposing that all foreign oil firms operating in the country cut their budgets by 30 percent on the condition that crude production levels do not suffer. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The first signs of a fire at the Guadelupe Home for Girls situated in Cane End, Mesopotamia, were reported at just after seven oclock on the night of Monday 30th March. Reports are that the original blaze had begun in one of the lower levels of the two-storey building. When THE VINCENTIAN visited the scene early Tuesday morning, members of the Fire Department were busy attending to a facia board that had shown signs of reigniting. At the time of the fire, the Guadelupe Home for Girls housed twelve girls and a resident House Mother, Ms. Dannette Dowers. The building comprised three levels. A ground floor served as the laundry area. The first floor provided one dormitory for sixteen girls, quarters for the House Mother and Assistant House Mother, two offices, a Chapel and bathroom, kitchen and dining areas. The upper floor an open area was used for skills training programmes. Absolutely nothing, in terms of contents and personal effects, was saved! The Administrators account House Mother Dannette was too distraught to comment so Administrator of the Home, Ms. Salene Dopwell recalled: "I got a call from one of the girls around 7:35 last night, saying the house was on fire. I rushed to the spot. By that time, I saw a blaze coming from downstairs; it was not widespread. The girls were already outside up at the St. Josephs Convent Marriaqua. I was told community residents had helped to take them there after they had rushed outside to save themselves. I subsequently brought them down to the Sisters House on the compound. The Administrator applauded the work of community members whom she described as first responders to the fire. "Everybody came out! They were very supportive. Neighbours deployed themselves to move the 100lb cooking gas cylinders that could have made matters worse. They also made earnest attempts at putting the fire out before the authorities arrived. They were, however, advised to desist and let the trained officers from the Fire Department handle the matter when they arrived. She also was heartened that community members voluntarily prepared dinner for the girls, and she noted how quickly social case workers and counsellors arrived to lend support. In addition, members of the Homes Board, personnel from the Ministry of Mobilization and the area representative had all gathered at the scene. In addition, members of the Homes Board, personnel from the Ministry of Mobilization and the area representative had all gathered at the scene. Sleeping gear and toiletries were quickly sought and distributed to the distressed girls. It took some doing to get them settled for the night. A community members account A group of residents volunteered to give their two-cents on the issue of the fire. "My son called to say the Guadeloupe Home was burning down. When I came up, I saw black smoke coming from downstairs. I heard some girls saying to call the police. One man was rushing inside with a hose to try out the fire but a plain-clothes police officer told him to come back outside, the spokesperson recounted. Apparently, their main grouse stemmed from the fact that villagers were willing to make an effort to diminish the blaze but were prevented from doing so, even as the officials took "more than an hour to arrive. Additionally, the residents were upset that the fire truck had to refill about "six times. "Three fire trucks come, she said, "and it was only the last one that was able to out the fire! Residents felt that they should have been allowed to do more. A Statement from the Board Mr. Yohance Gibson, Secretary of the Board, is appealing for people to contribute to the rebuilding of the home the physical structure as well as the social environment. Items in need include but are not restricted to: clothing, food items, kitchen utensils, beds, mattresses, linens, stove and fridge. Donations, Gibson said, can be dropped off at St. Josephs Convent House in Kingstown, at the home of Ms. Sandra Davis in La Croix, and at the Social Welfare Department in Pauls Avenue. Gibson encouraged that whatever is to be given should be in partnership with the Home. This, he said, will guarantee the protection of the interest of those who are willing to give but are not certain if their donations will get to the Home. The Guadelupe Home for Girls was established on 8th September, 2007 as the realization of a lifelong dream of Sis. Patricia Ann Douglas to help her underprivileged students who, because of societal ills, needed a secure place to live. This was achieved some two years after Sis. Pats passing, and it has been operational up until the fire. By Trend After forty-five days from the spread of the coronavirus (COVID 19) in Iran, it became clear that the virus is more dangerous than the H1N1 flu (swine flu), said Kiyanush Jahanpur, spokesman for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Trend reports citing Ministry. According to Jahanpur so far, it was thought that the virus was not so dangerous. He added that at first wearing face masks was not recommended for healthy citizens? however the opinion has changed recently, and the facts show that wearing a mask in places where distance is not maintained can prevent the spread of the virus. The official said that over the past 2-3 days, Tehran is again crowded. "However, not all labor activities have been allowed yet. If this trend continues, the spread of the virus in Tehran will increase again," he said. Jahanpur said that China has provided the most assistance to Iran in the fight against the coronavirus in recent weeks, and it should not be forgotten. 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. Iran is one of the countries heavily affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 60,500 people have been infected, 3,739 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 24,200 have reportedly recovered from the disease. The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease. The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Boston, Mass. - While the majority of people with COVID-19 won't require hospitalization, those who do are likely to seek medical help as a result of acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS, a severe lung injury common in patients with critical illnesses. At present, there is no effective treatment for ARDS other than supportive care with mechanical ventilation. A team of physician-scientists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) -- part of Beth Israel Lahey Health -- are now enrolling patients in a clinical trial to evaluate a common anti-clotting drug for the treatment of COVID-19-positive patients with ARDS. The newly launched trial follows a special report the team published in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery that suggested the use of a drug called tPA could reduce deaths among patients with ARDS as a complication of COVID-19. Epidemiological models predict that thousands of Americans will require mechanical ventilation in the coming months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, far exceeding the estimated 200,000 ventilators currently available in the United States. "As the global pandemic of COVID-19 begins to oversaturate the world's medical capacity to accommodate a surge of patients with ARDS, it's critical we consider how existing therapies that are widely available may be of use in this unprecedented public health emergency," said the special report's lead author and clinical trial investigator, Christopher D. Barrett, MD, a senior surgical resident at BIDMC and a research fellow at MIT. "If effective and safe for the treatment of ARDS in patients with COVID-19, tPA could save lives by reducing recovery time and freeing up more ventilators for other patients in need." An anticoagulant naturally produced by the body, tPA was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1996 for use in patients experiencing heart attack, stroke and pulmonary embolism. Researchers have considered the use of anti-coagulant drugs to reduce ARDS-induced death for two decades. Though the approach has never been widely adopted or formally FDA-approved, a clinical observation made about a subset of patients with COVID-19 induced ARDS made the idea seem newly relevant. "We're hearing anecdotally that a subset of patients with COVID-19 induced ARDS are clotting abnormally around their catheters and IV lines," said senior author, Michael B. Yaffe, MD, PhD, an attending surgeon in the departments of Acute Care Surgery, Trauma, and Surgical Critical Care, and in Surgical Oncology at BIDMC. "We suspect these patients with aggressive clotting are will show the most benefit from tPA treatment, and this new clinical trial will reveal whether that's the case." Led by Yaffe, Barrett, and colleagues from BIDMC's Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, including Shahzad Shaefi, MD, and Department Chair Daniel S. Talmor, MD, MPH, the tPA clinical trial is now open and enrolling patients with COVID-19 induced ARDS admitted to BIDMC. Next steps will include identifying biomarkers -- measurable characteristics such as blood levels of clotting factors -- to help more accurately determine which patients are most likely to respond to tPA as a treatment for ARDS, said Yaffe, who is also a Professor of Biology and Biological Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The collaborative research was facilitated by Beth Israel Lahey Health COVID-19 Innovation Hub -- an effort led by Gyongyi Szabo, MD, PhD, Chief Academic Officer at Beth Israel Lahey Health -- to address the emerging challenges related to the pandemic. Since the publication of the special report on March 23, Barrett and Yaffe have already heard from physicians across the country eager to try tPA for the treatment of COVID-19 induced ARDS. Because the medication is an FDA-approved drug already in widespread use for patients who have had heart attacks or strokes, doctors are permitted to prescribe it for off-label usage. ### In addition to Barrett and Yaffe, co-authors on the special report included: Daniel S. Talmor, MD, Chief of the Division of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine at BIDMC; Hunter B. Moore MD, PhD, Ernest E. Moore MD, Peter K. Moore, MD, and Robert C. McIntyre MD, of the University of Colorado; Frederick A. Moore, MD, of the University of Florida, Gainesville. About Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is a patient care, teaching and research affiliate of Harvard Medical School and consistently ranks as a national leader among independent hospitals in National Institutes of Health funding. For more information, visit http://www.bidmc.org. BIDMC is part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, a new health care system that brings together academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, community and specialty hospitals, more than 4,000 physicians and 35,000 employees in a shared mission to expand access to great care and advance the science and practice of medicine through groundbreaking research and education. The brother-in-law of murder victim Irene White has warned that the people protecting the person who ordered her killing "no longer have anywhere to hide". Ken Delcassian, the husband of Ms White's sister Anne, said he believes associates of the "mastermind" behind the murder are withholding "damning evidence". Today marks the 15th anniversary of the brutal murder. "If these people think they aren't going to be identified they are sadly very mistaken. "Irene feared she was about to be murdered and asked her friends to pray for her. Ironically, the people protecting her killer find themselves in the same position. They are living in fear of a murderer." Two people have been convicted for the murder of Ms White, who was stabbed to death in Dundalk on April 6, 2005. However, the person who is believed to have ordered the killing has never been brought to justice. It is understood gardai in Dundalk are in the final stages of preparing an investigation file for the DPP and that this person will face a murder charge before the end of the year. Sources said there is "a lot of evidence" to incriminate the third suspect. Ms White was stabbed 34 times in a frenzied knife attack at Ice House, her home on the Demesne Road. Anthony Lambe was first convicted of carrying out the murder of the mother of three in January of 2018, while Niall Power also pleaded guilty to his part. Power, who lived in Dundalk, presented himself to gardai and confessed to the killing in January 2018 just hours after being informed that Lambe had pleaded guilty to the murder at the Central Criminal Court. Power described himself to gardai as the "middle man" in the conspiracy. In the years after Ms White's murder, her sister Anne Delcassian campaigned tirelessly for justice. She was terminally ill when Power and Lambe were convicted. She died in August 2019. "This is not over simply because two men have been convicted," said Mr Delcassian. "Even if justice isn't delivered to the person who ordered her killing in an open court, I would hope that the people in the locality where that person is living finally realise that there is a murderer among them and no longer tolerate his presence." His late wife had compiled detailed documents throughout her lengthy campaign for justice for her sister. He said there was also "explosive" material contained in a diary owned by Irene and Anne's mother, Maureen. Maureen (Mo) was the first person to discover her daughter's body within hours of the killing. She died six months later. "Maureen made a diary entry about who she saw outside Anne's house that day," he said. "We know who that person is and who they are related to. They should do the decent thing and come forward about what they know. An entire family has been wiped out because of this." Magellan chief executive Hamish Douglass has questioned who the "winners and losers" of the coronavirus pandemic will be, as sliding asset values caused the company's funds under management to fall by $6.6 billion in one month to under $100 billion. Mr Douglass warned investors the crisis could lead to fundamental and permanent changes to consumer behaviour in an update on the fund's global equities strategy via video link last Wednesday. Magellan Financial Group CEO Hamish Douglass has been raising the issue of fundamental changes in consumer behaviour. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui "We know significant events, like a world war or depression, have lasting impacts on consumer behaviour," he said. "The cruise line industry would be an obvious example." "This will create relative winners and losers." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 6, 2020 16:08 644 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd009963 1 Health hoax,fake-news,fact-checking,COVID-19,Indonesia,news,pandemic,atamerica,events Free Potential cures or preventive remedies for COVID-19 have become the most consumed and shared information on social media during the current health crisis, no matter how obviously unreliable they might be. In Indonesia, for example, a viral video purported to be from a TV interview suggested to a toddler that eating boiled eggs before midnight could "make people immune" to COVID-19. It was a poorly doctored video, and viewers could clearly see that an adult's mouth had been superimposed on the child's face, but apparently, many people actually believed it and started following the suggestion. Co-founder Rut Rismanta Silalahi of REDAXI, which provides digital literacy education, said that posts claiming cures for COVID-19 was the most fact-checked information at present. The three top fact-checked information [...] are information on politics, racism, and health, she said on April 2 during a live-streamed discussion to mark International Fact-Checking Day. We dont have the data yet, but I believe that the most fact-checked information during this period are [COVID-19] cures. Because people are waiting in uncertainty, producers of fake news are using [the situation] to spread misinformation on cures and effective ways of boosting immunity, Rut added. The International Fact-Checking Day discussion, organized by @america in Jakarta, was moderated by director of student affairs Devie Rahmawati of the University of Indonesia with an introduction by the US Embassy's regional public engagement specialist, Scott E. Hartmann. It was held to "learn how fact-checkers from Indo-Pacific countries Indonesia, India, and Nepal are seeking truth and combating fake news" according to @america, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prasanna Joshi, senior producer and anchor of ABP Majha, a TV news channel in Maharashtra, India, said that news consumers these days were most concerned about three keywords or phrases. Fact-checking 101: Senior producer and anchor Prasanna Joshi (inset) of 'TV news channel ABP Majha' in Maharashtra, India, provides basic steps on how to sort fact from fiction during a virtual discussion to mark International Fact-Checking Day on April 2, 2020. (www.youtube.com/user/atamerica/-) He said the first was lockdown, as the public needed certainty regarding the period of restrictions on their movement, whether it would be prolonged to the summer school holiday. The second was spread of the virus, as some information had emerged that the COVID-19 virus had become airborne or was spreading through pets and poultry products, or through Chinese goods. And then it's 'cure' or 'vaccine'. In Maharashtra, where I live, somebody raised the issue that you need to drink black coffee with some spices added not only that, you need to drink it at the stroke of midnight and it will cure you or at least it will protect you from [the] coronavirus. People actually did it. Its happening here, said Joshi. Laxman Datt Pant, who chairs the non-governmental advocacy group Media Action Nepal (MAN) and is senior special correspondent of TV Today in Kathmandu, also shared stories of how misleading news headlines and unverified videos were being shared on social media with little effort from consumers on checking the facts. Like wildfire: Media Action Nepal (MAN) chair Laxman Datt Pant (inset), who is also senior special correspondent of Kathmandu's 'TV Today', presents examples of fake news and hoaxes during the online International Fact-Checking Day discussion hosted by @america Jakarta on April 2, 2020. (www.youtube.com/user/atamerica/-) He said that MAN had recorded 110 news with fake content including those on COVID-19 that had been published in 11 daily newspapers, and 50 fake news published on 10 online news portals. A reputed news portal claimed in its headline that about 500 million Indians would be infected by the COVID-19 [virus] by the end of July this year that cited an opinion article from The New York Times, and that [headline] caused fear among Nepalis, said Pant. The two foreign panelists said that authorities in India and Nepal had acknowledged the difficulties in stemming the COVID-19 infodemic a portmanteau combining "information" and "pandemic" coined by political scientist David J. Rothkopf during the 2003 SARS endemic. The government and the Supreme Court of India have expressed their concerns. The government has officially said, We can contain the virus, but we cannot contain the fake news, said Joshi. All three panelists pointed out that news consumers had a role to play, both in spreading and curbing the COVID-19 infodemic. Joshi said that the infodemic involved misinformation or the more harmful disinformation, as well as mal-information, all of which people might consume easily because they confirmed peoples beliefs or biases, or because the information was presented in a manner that only a trained person would recognize as contrived. The rule of thumb is, if it is too good to be true, then it [is likely to] be too good to be true, he said. Joshi stressed that people should refrain from forwarding information before verifying the news source as well as the content. Meanwhile, Rut pointed out that scolding family members publicly in a chat group for forwarding unverified content was culturally unacceptable. She added, however, that there were ways to provide other information in a polite way to debunk a previous message or post. We need to do our part, even though you might not be a professional fact-checker or journalist. You can learn more about fake information and how to combat it, she said. An emergency doctor has said Australian senior medics fighting coronavirus on the frontline have been forced to source their staffs own personal protective equipment (PPE) from Bunnings. Former vice president of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) Dr Stephen Parnis made the claim on ABCs Q&A on Monday night amid a shortage of PPE for those testing and treating COVID-19 patients. Were all very worried about the provision of personal protective equipment, he said. Ive seen department directors going to Bunnings, Ive seen people look and hope they might have contacts overseas and its probably the number one concern of health workers. The AMA has continuously stressed PPE is in scarce supply for Australias medical teams around the country, with medics suffering anxiety and stress over the situation. Dr Stephen Parnis said a lack of PPE was a major concern of medical teams in Australia. Source: ABC What is the government doing to supply health workers with ample hand sanitizer and PPE? #QandA pic.twitter.com/Ykx91yOg0E QandA (@QandA) April 6, 2020 An AMA Queensland survey of more than 600 doctors found 70 per cent said they did not have enough protective equipment. More than 50 per cent of doctors were buying their own equipment, while almost 85 per cent said they were not confident they would have enough in the near future. Some doctors said they were resorting to making their own hand sanitiser, the survey found. Its a stressful time for us all ... weve seen whats happened overseas, Dr Parnis said, revealing he too has been forced to ration supplies at his practice. Senior doctors are resorting to buying PPE from Bunnings, Dr Parnis claims. Source: Getty However state governments around the country have stressed stockpiles of PPE are sufficient, while the government has announced production of face masks and other items will be ramped up in the coming weeks. Adelaide business Demtold will churn out 145 million masks to be distributed nationally alone. Story continues But Dr Parnis said increasing PPE supplies was complex, and relied on the government bringing supplies in from overseas, where global demand has resulted in countries bidding against one another to land the coveted supplies. Two female medical staff wear PPE at a South Australian hospital. Source: AAP Telehealth has also been implemented which allows patients to call their doctors instead of paying them a visit. Critically, it will reduce avoidable use of PPE, President of the AMA Dr Tony Bartone said. Yet Dr Parnis said medics fear the situation could worsen in Australia and being overwhelmed has left those fighting the virus really worried. Another concern is the widespread public use of masks, which if it continues to increase, could decimate the supply for hospitals and medical centres. ABCs medical expert Dr Norman Swan previously warned against the use of masks to protect stock levels for those most in need, however with a number of countries now advising the use of masks, some making it compulsory, Australia has seen a rise in face mask usage from the public. In a recent Yahoo News Australia poll of 13,500 people, 40 per cent of people said they were now wearing masks to leave the home. Research suggesting up to 50 per cent of coronavirus cases are asymptomatic has contributed to the rise in usage, however Associate Professor Ben Mullins at Curtin Universitys School of Public Health, an aerosol deposition expert, stressed to Yahoo News Australia face masks were no substitute for the social distancing Australia was currently enacting. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. The death toll due to coronavirus rose to 12 in Gujarat after a 62-year-old woman succumbed to the disease in Vadodara on Monday, an official said. The woman had travelled to Sri Lanka. After returning from the neighbouring country, she fell ill and was on March 18 admitted to Vadodara's SSG Hospital where she later tested positive for coronavirus, Vadodara Municipal Commissioner Nalin Upadhyay said. She was part of a group that travelled to Sri Lanka. Earlier, another group member from Vadodara tested positive for coronavirus and he died on April 2, Upadhyay said. Out of the total 12 deaths in the state, five have been reported from Ahmedabad, two each from Surat, Vadodara and Bhavnagar, and one in Panchmahal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Housing costs got you down? Though apartment hunting can be frustrating, there are deals to be had. So what does the budget rent on a rental in Mid West look like these days and what might you get for your money? According to Walk Score's assessment, the neighborhood is quite walkable, is fairly bikeable and has a few nearby public transportation options. It also features median rents for a one bedroom that hover around $850, compared to a $1,209 one-bedroom median for Houston as a whole. A look at local listings in Mid West via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide offers an overview of what budget-minded apartment seekers can expect to find in this Houston neighborhood. Take a look at the cheapest listings available right now, below. (Note: Prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 3777 S. Gessner Road, Office Listed at $630/month, this 576-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom abode, located at 3777 S. Gessner Road, Office, is 25.9% less than the $850/month median rent for a one bedroom in Mid West. The building offers garage parking, outdoor space and a business center. The apartment features in-unit laundry. Pets are not allowed. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee. (See the complete listing here.) 8162 Richmond Ave. Next, this one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment, situated at 8162 Richmond Ave., is listed for $695/month for its 676 square feet. The unit features carpeted floors and a dishwasher. The building offers assigned parking, on-site laundry and secured entry. For those with furry friends in tow, this rental is pet-friendly. (See the complete listing here.) Westheimer and Fondren roads Check out this apartment with one bedroom and one bathroom at Westheimer and Fondren roads, listed at $700/month. In the unit, you're promised a mix of hardwood floors and carpeting, a dishwasher and a walk-in closet. Pet lovers are in luck: This rental is both dog-friendly and cat-friendly. (See the listing here.) 3000 Greenridge Drive Then, there's this one-bedroom, one-bathroom living space situated at 3000 Greenridge Drive. It's listed for $787/month for its 656 square feet. Cats and dogs are not welcome. When it comes to building amenities, expect a fitness center, on-site laundry, a swimming pool and secured entry. (See the listing here.) 8155 Richmond Ave. Finally, here's a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment at 8155 Richmond Ave. At 676 square feet, it's going for $805/month. The building offers on-site laundry and assigned parking. You can also expect to see carpeted floors, a dishwasher and a walk-in closet in the apartment. Pet owners, take heed: This rental is both dog-friendly and cat-friendly. The listing specifies a $300 pet fee. (See the full listing here.) This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Additionally, get free local real estate marketing ideas and tools for agents, brokers and more. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. Americans are bracing for the "hardest and saddest" week of their lives with tragedies similar to the 9/11 attacks and the Pearl Harbour bombing, the country's top doctor has warned while the death toll approached the 10,000-mark as President Donald Trump expressed hope that coronavirus cases were "levelling off" in major US hotspots. Surgeon General Vice Admiral Jerome Adams' remarks came a day after President Trump said that the next week is going to be a "very very difficult" time for the country. He said the coronavirus pandemic rivals some of the darkest moments in the US history, including the two worst foreign attacks on American soil: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the September 11 terrorist attacks. "The next week is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment. It's going to be our 9/11 moment; it's going to be the hardest moment for many Americans in their entire lives. "And we really need to understand that if we want to flatten that curve and get through to the other side, everyone needs to do their part, Adams told 'Meet the Press' Sunday talk show. The death toll in the US due to coronavirus on Sunday crossed 9,500, which is three times more than the number of people who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. A total of 2,977 people besides hijackers were killed in the September 11, 2001, attacks. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and America officially entered World War II, more than 2,400 casualties had occurred as a result of the attack. More than 3.3 lakh Americans have been infected by coronavirus. Over 4,000 deaths have reported in the New York state only. Members of the White House Task Force on COVID-19 have predicted between 100,000 to 200,000 lakh deaths in the next several weeks. Peak in New York is expected in the next six-seven days, during which the US authorities are urging people to strictly enforce the social mitigation measures including social distancing. Nearly 95 per cent of the country's 330 million population are under stay-in-home orders. "Ninety per cent of Americans are doing their part, even in the states where they haven't had a shelter in place I wish every governor would encourage the people in their states to follow these guidelines for 30 days, that's what I want. But I want them to do what they can within their states," the Surgeon General said in a passionate plea to his countrymen. In addition to declaration of a national emergency, President Trump has notified major disaster declaration in more than 42 of the 50 states. "This is going to be a hard week, it's going to test our resolve. It's going to be the hardest week of our lives, but I'm confident based on the numbers in Washington and in California and Italy and in Spain, we can get through this, we will get through this. I know the American people will do the right thing and stay-at-home," Adams said. The US armed forces have deployed more than 50,000 of its soldiers, including 1,000 doctors and nurses in the fight against coronavirus. They have built or in the process of building 30 hospitals. The US Navy has deployed two of its hospital ships - in New York and Los Angeles - to treat the rush of COVID 19 patients. Meanwhile Trump, during a press briefing at the White House on Sunday, said the US has so far conducted 1.6 million tests, more than any other country. "It really is an all-out military operation that we have waged and especially over the last number of weeks. Fifty states and territories have now been approved for major disaster declarations, which is very unusual, Trump said. As New York reported a drop in the number of new infections and deaths, Trump described the dip as a "good sign", but warned of more deaths as the pandemic neared its "peak" in the US. "In the days ahead, America will endure the peak of this pandemic," he said, expressing hope that coronavirus cases were "levelling off" in US hotspots. Reiterating his push for using Hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug in the fight against coronavirus, Trump said the US has procured some 29 million doses of Hydroxychloroquine tablets to be distributed across the country. President Trump on Saturday said that he has sought help from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow the sale of Hydroxychloroquine tablets ordered by the US to treat the growing number of coronavirus patients in his country, hours after India banned the export of the anti-malarial drug. In the last seven days, Trump has told reporters that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has airlifted critical supplies and protective equipment from the every corner of earth. "They are coming from all over the planet including from within the United States, where the equipment isn't as necessary. "Since last Sunday, cargo planes have delivered almost 300 million gloves, almost eight million masks and three million gowns. Similarly many more fully loaded cargo planes are right now on the way; three big ones landed today and these supplies are being distributed directly to the hospitals and healthcare providers all across the nation," he said. In a related development, Governor Jay Inslee announced on Sunday that Washington will be returning more than 400 ventilators from the federal government to help New York. Washington recently purchased more than 750 ventilators that will arrive in the coming weeks. "These ventilators are going to New York and others states hardest hit by this virus. I've said many times over the last few weeks, we are in this together," Inslee said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After a leaked letter expressing concern for the crew over the coronavirus pandemic that led to Capt. Brett E. Crozier being removed from command of the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt has now tested positive for COVID-19, according to the New York Times. The Times reported that Crozier was showing symptoms before he was relieved of duty on Thursday. The U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt is a nuclear aircraft carrier with 155 sailors confirmed to have been infected with the coronavirus among the crew of more than 4,000 that has docked in Guam because of the outbreak. Due to a warships inherent limitations of space, we are not doing this, Crozier wrote in the email obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle. The spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating." Acting secretary of the Navy Thomas B. Modly said he had lost confidence in Croziers ability to command the ship effectively as he dealt with the evolving crisis after Crozier sent the letter on an unclassified email system to 20 to 30 people. There is an investigation ongoing, said Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper in an interview on CNN. All the services at times relieve commanders without the benefit of an investigation upfront because theyve lost confidence in them. Its certainly not unique to the Navy. A video posted to Twitter shows sailors chanting Cap-tain Cro-zier as he disembarked. The user who uploaded the Twitter video captioned as: Wrongfully relieved of command but did right by the sailors. Related Content: Before there were farms in southwest Michigan, there were prairies. For thousands of years, tall grass prairies stood undisturbed until European settlers turned the rich, highly productive soils to agriculture. Today, tall grass prairies East of the Mississippi are virtually extinct. But some landowners want to return land throughout the Midwest to its incredibly deep roots, converting abandoned, depleted and fallow agricultural fields to native prairie--with varying degrees of success. Michigan State University's Lars Brudvig, associate professor in the Department of Plant Biology, and former MSU graduate student Anna Funk investigated fields of data going back 20 years to find out why some replanted prairies are healthier than others. Their research is published in Scientific Reports. "Native prairie plants are rare on the landscape, so land managers need to intentionally spread seeds on the ground for them to come back," said Brudvig, whose lab partnered closely with farmers, land managers and various nature conservancies across Illinois, Indiana and Michigan for the study. Each of the 83 sites Brudvig and Funk studied started from roughly the same point and had similar processes of ecological management. Controlled burning, targeted herbicides and regular mowing were common strategies, but every site had widely different outcomes. The big question was, why? "There was a bit of tantalizing evidence from just a couple of studies that suggested the weather you get during a prairie restoration can actually have a long-lasting effect on the success of the project," said Funk, who revisited northern Illinois prairies where she got her start as a plant ecologist with her mentor, Tom Simpson, at the McHenry County Conservation District. "It was an idea that land managers were familiar with anecdotally, but it hadn't been carefully studied." The researchers looked at a wide swath of restored prairies--the best and the worst--to see if they could identify any patterns in fields planted in a particularly rainy or hot year. They interviewed the people who had planted each of the prairies in order to pinpoint planting dates, the number of prairie species planted and other details about ongoing management at each of the sites. Then, they went out to each prairie, surveying the abundance and diversity of both weeds and native prairie plants and taking samples of the soil to test how productive each site was. "When I did a big analysis of all of our data, I hoped to find some effect of the planting year, but I still assumed other factors would be most important, like how often the site had been managed with prescribed fire," Funk said. "I was very surprised to find not only an effect of weather, but that sometimes planting-year weather conditions had the biggest effect of all." "We expected that in years where it rained more when the prairie was initially planted, it should turn out better because plants need water," Brudvig added. "But it's exactly the opposite because there are not only prairie plants at these sites, but weedy plant species that really respond to precipitation." Even more surprising was how long the first year's weather left its mark on restored prairie systems. "We thought rainfall would matter at first, but that we should see that signature in the data become less and less important as the sites got older and older," Brudvig said. "Instead, we saw the first-year weather conditions had a signature that persisted for decades." The findings may seem disheartening as climate change brings wetter springs more often to the Midwest but recognizing weather signatures may be an important tool for restoration practitioners who are fighting to re-establish these extremely imperiled ecosystems. "We suggest they use long-term weather forecasts to help predict if it will be a rainy or dry year so that it might be possible for land managers to focus more effort on starting prairies in what is expected to be a drier year," Brudvig explained. "They may also be able to invest more in weed control during rainy planting years by mowing the weeds above the prairie plants." "I really hope this knowledge will be helpful to anyone planting prairies, as well as to ecologists more broadly who are doing experiments that could be affected by the weather," Funk said. "The next step will be to figure out how to best mitigate the weed-bomb that extra rain causes. I'm sure prairie managers already have lots of ideas on what to explore next." ### Former Reserve Bank Governor Urjit Patel has said that the policies rolled out by the central government against coronavirus are "sensible", but reminded that India must maintain relative macroeconomic stability to avoid a "second wave of financial crisis after the COVID-19 lockdown". "The temporal uncertainty around the persistence of the virus is the most important reason for keeping some policy gun powder dry, even as we meet the challenge on all fronts," Urjit Patel wrote in the Indian Express newspaper. Patel, who quit as RBI Governor in December 2018 amid differences with the finance ministry over autonomy of central bank, hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government for providing food and money to the nation's poorest citizens, while calling for more COVID-19 tests. The central government should mobilise more resources to increase testing rate to contain spread of COVID-19 as it would "help avoid another national lockdown or reduce the need for multiple localised lockdowns later," the daily quoted him as saying. Given the size of our population, the numbers of tests conducted in India so far seems to be too few, he said, adding that the government should bear the entire cost for testing. He said that without the requisite data the government will have no clue when making the difficult calls in the weeks ahead. "The benefits are obvious, viz., credible data will infuse confidence in both the health and economic spheres, and lack of credibility will breed uncertainty, slowing down economic recovery," he said. While there is high demand for economic stimulus, India cannot afford to widen its high budget deficit, Urjit Patel said. On government's recent policy initiative, he said the decision to include Indian bonds in global indexes may lead to unstable foreign capital inflows and the administration must be mindful about the banking sector. "At some point, international investors will begin to sharply distinguish between countries along the principal measure of how successfully the health challenge is being met, which will determine how quickly and durably individual economies will get back on their feet," Patel said. "This could induce another financial 'wave' that we need to prepare for by maintaining relative macroeconomic stability."> According to him, banks should retain almost all profits, rather than distributing dividends, to boost the liquidity in the system to deal with the unfolding loss in economic activity. "Perhaps, in December the decision can be revisited based on their results till then," he said. "It is also noticeable that investor confidence has affected our banking sector more than the broader equity market; the latter declined by 23 per cent in dollar terms last month, but financials declined by about 35 per cent. We need to be vigilant," Patel said. By Chitranjan Kumar Also Read: Coronavirus update: 697 fresh COVID-19 cases, 109 deaths reported so far Also Read: Infosys Q4 revenue to take 130bps hit; FY21 outlook gloomy: Analyst report Rare criticism by an Iranian Health Ministry official of China's controversial COVID-19 figures has angered hard-liners in Tehran, some of whom asked if he was speaking on behalf of the country's archrival, the United States. Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said at a press briefing on April 5 that China's statistics about the number of deaths and infections from the coronavirus are "a bitter joke." He added that, if Beijing said it got the coronavirus epidemic under control within two months of its outbreak, "one should really wonder [if it is true]." The comments did not go down well with Chinese officials or hard-liners in Iran who reminded Jahanpur that China has stood with Iran at a time of severe crisis caused by the coronavirus outbreak and crushing economic sanctions applied by Washington. Many questions have been raised in the Western media recently about China's official coronavirus figures amid suggestions that the real numbers are likely much higher. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused China's ruling Communist Party on April 3 of being involved in a "disinformation campaign" regarding the virus that is being used to "deflect from what has really taken place." But similar criticism from an Iranian official whose country enjoys strong relations with China led to raised eyebrows and has provoked crunching criticism. "At a time when China has been Iran's major helper in the fight against the coronavirus and has provided the country with several strategic products while bypassing the [U.S.] sanctions, Jahanpur suddenly becomes the spokesperson of [U.S. President Donald Trump] and [Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin] Netanyahu," the editor of the hard-line Mashreghnews.ir, Hassan Soleimani, said on Twitter on April 5. Others, including Hossein Dalirian, a former editor with Tasnim news, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), went as far as calling for Jahanpur's dismissal from the ministry. 'Unforgettable' Support China's ambassador to Iran, Chang Hua, also joined the chorus, telling Jahanpur he should follow press briefings by China's Health Ministry "carefully" in order to draw his conclusions. Amid the mounting criticism and in what appeared to be damage control, Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Musavi tweeted in support of China, saying the country has led the way in suppressing the coronavirus while also "generously" helping other countries. "The Chinese bravery, dedication, and professionalism in COVID-19 containment deserves acknowledgement," Musavi tweeted on April 5, adding that Iran has been grateful to China in these trying times with the hashtag #Strongertogether. Musavi's tweet was retweeted by Chang, who said "Rumors cannot destroy our friendship." For his part, Jahanpur attempted to calm the waters by publicly praising China for supporting his country during the outbreak. "The support of China for the Iranian nation in [these] difficult days is unforgettable," he said on Twitter on April 6. He also said the Iranian government and the nation are grateful and will not forget the countries that stood with them during the pandemic. Jahanpur's tweet was welcomed by Ambassador Chang, who retweeted it while writing in Persian: "Friends should help each other, we fight together." 'Understated' Numbers Citing current and former intelligence officials, The New York Times reported last week that the CIA has told the White House since February that China has understated the number of its infections. China has claimed that it has been open and transparent about the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country, which emerged in December in Wuhan, where the virus has officially claimed the lives of 2,563 people and a nationwide total of 3,331 as of April 6. Beijing also claims some 81,708 total infections. Radio Free Asia issued a report on March 27 suggesting tens of thousands of more people had died in Wuhan from the coronavirus than the official total given by Beijing. Some Iranian officials believe the country's coronavirus outbreak, by far the worst in the Middle East, began because of Tehran's ties to China, which has been buying a limited amount of Iranian oil despite strict U.S. sanctions and penalties. Iranian officials think the virus reached Qom, Iran's epicenter of the outbreak, through Chinese workers and students residing in the city who had recently traveled to China. Flights conducted to and from China by Iran's Mahan Air -- even after coronavirus cases were registered -- have been also blamed for exacerbating the epidemic. Since the outbreak in Qom in February, Chinese officials have sent Iran regular shipments of relief materials -- including masks, test kits, and other equipment -- to help the country battle against the coronavirus. According to official figures released on April 6, COVID-19 in Iran has killed 3,739 people and infected 60,500. Much like the case of China, many people inside and outside of Iran have questioned Tehran's official figures on the pandemic. An ongoing investigation by RFE/RL's Radio Farda that studies figures released by officials from Iran's 31 provinces puts the total number of deaths in Iran at 6,872 people as of April 5, with some 94,956 infections. Michael Atkinson, Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, leaves a meeting in the Capitol in Washington on Oct. 4, 2019. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Atkinson Claims Trump Fired Him for Role in Impeachment; Critical IG Memo Also May Have Been Factor Inspector General for the Intelligence Community (ICIG) Michael Atkinson said late on April 5 that President Donald Trump fired him in reprisal for referring the impeachment whistleblowers complaint to House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). It is hard not to think that the presidents loss of confidence in me derives from my having faithfully discharged my legal obligations as an independent and impartial inspector general, and from my commitment to continue to do so, Atkinson said in a statement made public late April 5. Trump told Schiff and other congressional intelligence officials on April 3 that he was terminating Atkinson effective in 30 days after losing confidence in him. Trump named National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency General Counsel Thomas Monheim as Atkinsons acting replacement. Asked about the action during the White House coronavirus task force media briefing on April 4, Trump said Atkinsons actions regarding the whistleblowers complaint were a total disgrace. Trump said Atkinson did a terrible job. Absolutely terrible. He took a whistleblower report, which turned out to be a fake report, it was a fake, it was about my conversation with the president of Ukraine, and he brought it to Congress with an emergency. Trumps conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky occurred July 25, 2019, and a transcript was released Sept. 25, 2019. The whistleblower, who hasnt been officially identified, wasnt among the White House and intelligence officials who overheard the conversation. House Democrats impeached Trump on two charges, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, based largely on the complaint. The Senate, which is controlled by Republicans, decisively rejected both charges in acquitting Trump. Trumps description of Atkinsons job performance as absolutely terrible may have, besides the impeachment events, alluded to recent controversies involving him. Atkinson figured prominently in multiple controversies in the FBIs spying on members of Trumps 2016 campaign, based on allegations that campaign staff were cooperating with Russian intelligence interests against the Democratic nominee, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitzwho issued a statement lauding Atkinson following Trumps announcementreleased a March 30 memorandum on those FBI abuses, citing serious flaws found in 25 of 29 bureau applications to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court seeking permission to spy on individuals between October 2014 and September 2019. All of the flaws in the applications submitted by the Bureau to the court were related to Woods Procedures, which require the FBI to document its evidence to justify such applications and certifying to the credibility and accuracy of the evidence. Additionally, for all 25 FISA applications with Woods Files that we have reviewed to date, we identified facts stated in the FISA application that were: (a) not supported by any documentation in the Woods File, (b) not clearly corroborated by the supporting documentation in the Woods File, or (c) inconsistent with the supporting documentation in the Woods File, Horowitz said in the memorandum. The DOJ IG said there were on average 20 serious flaws in the applications reviewed. Atkinson was acting deputy assistant attorney general and senior counsel to the assistant attorney general of the National Security division, Mary McCord, during much of the period covered by the IGs review and was responsible for accuracy reviews to ensure application compliance with the Woods Procedures. After leaving the Justice Department, McCord became a counsel to Schiffs impeachment effort. A White House spokesman declined to comment when asked April 6 by The Epoch Times if the Horowitz memorandum was a factor in the presidents deliberations in firing Atkinson. It was also reported after Atkinson forwarded the whistleblowers complaint to Congress as an urgent matter that the ICIG had changed a key requirement for such a document to be accepted as credible. In a Sept. 30, 2019, statement, Atkinsons office admitted that consistent with the law, the new forms do not require whistleblowers to possess first-hand information in order to file a complaint or information with respect to an urgent concern. The changed form was first reported by The Federalist co-founder Sean Davis. Schiff has since refused repeated requests from congressional Republicans and members of the media to make public the transcript of Atkinsons secret testimony about his role in the whistleblower complaint saga. Congress is on its Easter recess, so reaction has been quiet. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), a longtime defender of the IG system and a critic of the FBIs conduct regarding the FISA court, said in a statement April 4 that Congress has been crystal clear that written reasons must be given when IGs are removed for a lack of confidence. More details are needed from the administration. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called Trumps action a shameful late-night firing and a brazen act against a patriotic public servant. Schiff, who led the House Democrats drive that resulted in Trumps impeachment in December 2019, tweeted Atkinsons statement late on April 5. Schiff described Trumps action as a retaliatory firing. Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc Chinese security personnel wearing protective masks march through Tiananmen Square during a national mourning of victims of COVID-19 in Beijing on April 4, 2020. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images) Legal Body Seeks Damages Against China at the UN Human Rights Council for Causing Pandemic London-based International Council of Jurists (ICJ) and All India Bar Association (AIBA) have jointly filed a complaint against China with the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), seeking unspecified compensation for Beijings role in causing a pandemic. The complaint dated April 4 was penned by ICJ President and AIBA Chairman Dr. Adish C. Aggarwala. It alleged that China has committed grave offenses against the humanity throughout the world due to its inaction and negligence in the face of the CCP virus outbreak. 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. The complaint asked that the UNHRC ensure and direct Beijing to adequately compensate the international community and member states and particularly India. Aggarwala told The Epoch Times in an email that ICJ also intends to file a lawsuit in India and London against China, to hold it accountable for the spread of the virus. The inaction and irresponsibility of the Chinese government in dealing with the early outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus has directly led to the global pandemic in the present scenario, the complaint said. Aggarwala pointed to the case of Li Wenliang, a whistleblower doctor who was silenced by Beijing after he posted on Chinese social media in December about a new form of pneumonia that was spreading in Wuhan, the capital of central Chinas Hubei province. When China announced its first steps for a quarantine of Wuhan on Jan. 23, a significant number of Chinese citizens had traveled abroad as asymptomatic, oblivious carriers, the complaint said. The Wuhan mayor said five million people left the city before it was placed under lockdown. More than 40,000 families who lived in the Baibuting residential compound also attended an annual banquet on Jan. 18. The banquet was organized by local authorities despite a warning from neighborhood committee staff over fears of the pneumonia spreading. Less than a week later, on Jan. 24, Chinese Lunar New year festivities began, a time when hundreds of millions of Chinese travel around China and abroad to celebrate the occasion with their families. The complaint added: The Chinese governmentdid not sufficiently contain and curb the travel of infected persons from further contaminating the world. It also said Beijing deliberately misled the WHO (World Health Organization) in their disclosure relating to the deadly COVID-19 virus. On Jan. 27, the WHO admitted in a report that it had wrongfully assessed the risk of the virus. In a footnote, it explained that it had stated incorrectly the global risk as moderate in its earlier reports from Jan. 23 to 25. It added that the risk was in fact very high in China, high in the region, and high globally. The complaint alleged that Beijings response to the virus has violated various charters and guidelines issued by the United Nations. The lack of transparency in the dissemination of information relating to the spread of this virus and continued misleading statements had resulted in the violation of human rights of the entire global community warranting immediate interference and prompt action against China as mandated under Article 25 (1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Aggarwala said in a statement given to Indian media. The complaint also alleged that the virus was developed by Wuhan Institute of Virologya P4 laboratory that handles the most dangerous types of pathogensto fulfill Beijings desire to take control of the worlds economy. There is currently no conclusive evidence that the virus is manmadenor that the Wuhan lab was involved. The lab has also denied the allegations, but the complaint cited a February report by Indian newspaper Economic Times, in which it detailed how Chinese scientists at Canadas National Microbiology Lab, who are being investigated by Canadian authorities, had traveled to the P4 lab in Wuhan in 2017 to 2018. The report alleged that the researchers later developed and released the virus. The complaint named China, Wuhan Institute of Virology, and Chinas military, the Peoples Liberation Army, as the respondents. The P4 lab is part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which has close ties to the Chinese military in its research programs. The Chinese regime is also being sued in several lawsuits filed in the United States, seeking to hold it accountable for the damage it has infected on Americans. Florida law firm The Berman Law Group, in partnership with Washington-based lobbying firm Lucas Compton, filed a class-action lawsuit against the Chinese regime on March 12, alleging that Beijings initial coverup resulted in the worldwide pandemic. The lawsuit alleges that the Chinese regime knew that COVID-19 was dangerous and capable of causing a pandemic, yet slowly acted, proverbially put their head in the sand, and/or covered it up for their own economic self-interest. Although Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that Ukraine International Airline's (UIA) passenger plane "was shot down due to human error" in January, an influential member of parliament says the military did the right thing by shooting down the airliner. On January 8, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps' (IRGC) missiles shot down the Boeing plane killing all 176 onboard, as it was taking off from Tehran, but initially Iran claimed the plane crashed due to unknown reasons. It took three days for officials to admit that the military had shot down the aircraft and later claimed that some personnel were arrested. However, a member of parliament's Legal and Judicial Commission, Hassan Norouzi, now says that nobody was arrested for the incident, and the military forces did their job well by downing the passenger plane. "The Iranian military did well by downing the passenger plane," mid-ranking cleric, Norouzi said on Sunday, April 5, adding, "Contrary to the official claims, no arrests have been made concerning the downing." Speaking to a local daily, Hamdeli, the ultraconservative spokesman for the parliaments Legal and Judicial Commission claimed that "the plane was no longer under the control of the tower and appeared to have come under Americas control." Furthermore, Norouzi maintained that the UIA's plane "was in Israel the week before the incident and appeared to have been tampered with and manipulated, there." Norouzi went even further by claiming that as the passenger plane was controlled by "others", the Iranian military had no option but shoot it down. "Given the fact that other countries were controlling the plane, our military forces did their job well,", Norouzi reiterated, concluding that it would have been meaningless to arrest elements responsible for the downing. However, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) had earlier accepted "full responsibility" for the downing of a UIA passenger plane. Three days after the disaster, in a video posted online by the state-run TV, the Chief Commander of the IRGC's Aerospace Force, General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, accepted full responsibility for the disaster. "We accept full responsibility for this act (shooting down the plane), and we will obey and carry out what decisions the authorities will make I wish I could die and not witness such an accident," Hajizadeh said. Days after the incident, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also said in a statement the armed forces internal investigation had concluded that regrettably, missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people. Moreover, Rouhani said in a tweet, "Investigations continue to identify and prosecute those responsible for this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake. The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences." Rouhani and the IRGC commanders have not yet reacted to Norouzi's unprecedented remarks but the website of the Judicial Organization of the Armed Forces on Monday refuted his statement and said "a number of people were arrested and indicted" without giving further details. In the meantime, the Islamic Republic has not yet yielded to international demands to hand over the doomed Boeings data and voice recorders for professional examnation. Shumookh Investment and Services, the investment arm of Omans Public Establishment for Industrial Estates Madayn, has signed a partnership agreement with Ibn Al Muallem United Trading to manage and operate Barkha Application. The agreement was signed by Eng Musallam Al Hudaifi, Chief Executive Officer of Shumookh Investment and Services, and Jumaa Al Rawahi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ibn Al Muallem United Trading. Barkha Application is dedicated to road freight transportation services, which aims at providing job opportunities for Omanis in the field of logistics. The application serves companies and individuals wishing to transport freight from one place to another whether within or outside the sultanate, as well as owners of trucks and Omani drivers working in 100% Omani transportation companies. The two sides have also confirmed their partnership in Shumookhs Makhazen Logistics Company. Madayn established Shumookh Investment and Services in 2010 to develop infrastructure projects and encourage investments in Madayns industrial cities. The vision of Shumookh is to develop globally competitive industrial infrastructure in the industrial cities of Madayn and create the best environment for the growth of industries in Oman through the attraction of strategic partnerships to invest and implementation of diverse infrastructure development projects in the industrial cities pertaining to Madayn, it said.- TradeArabia News Service Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye 06.04.2020 LISTEN There is no better warning about the growing confusion that seems to be gradually beclouding the federal governments response to the coronavirus challenge than the belief it betrayed last week that, perhaps, all it needs to calm the fears and apprehensions of Nigerians about its ability to halt the spread of the virus is to reel out a catalogue of activities President Buhari was said to have undertaken so far concerning the pestilence, whether the people felt their impact or not. Now, if your family is starving badly, do you solve the rumbling signs of biting hunger in their stomach with some wild tales of the efforts deployed by you so far to feed them, or just keep quiet, give them food, and they will see and feel for themselves that you have played your role responsively and effectively? Or if you must talk, tell them something you have done whose benefits they can readily verify and identify with. Indeed, some Nigerians are beginning to achieve the conviction that there must be something about being in government in this country that seems to diminish the reasoning ability of people once they get in there and deprives them of the capacity to realize when they have stopped making sense or even become downright annoying. This is very pathetic. And so, last week, presidential spokesperson, Mr. Femi Adesina, issued a document entitled: COVID-19: What President Buhari Has Done And Is Doing. And, I suppose that with the release of that handout, the virus immediately received a deadly blow and vanished from the country! Arent we so blessed? Why then are Nigerians not on the streets celebrating the unprecedented feat? A prominent item on Mr. Adesinas list is the presidents March 29 broadcast. And what exactly did the broadcast achieve? The two things I can readily remember now is that Gen Buhari had announced the continuation of the school feeding programme for pupils who are all at home now due to the closure of schools as part of the efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Probably, nobody remembered to inform him and his speech writers that school children were on compulsory holidays, or are they going to send the food to them in their homes? Or, perhaps, somebody is trying to find a justification for the billions of naira we will be informed later was spent on the exercise? Also, the president proclaimed the lockdown of Lagos and Ogun states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). And when he was through, he returned to his hideout where only a few privileged eyes and ears see and hear from him, and then come out to tell us what they think he has said or done. Now, what exactly was the lockdown meant to achieve? Okay, as social interactions are reduced, the chances of spreading the virus decrease. Yes, but what else? Has anyone seen any evidence that there were any plans to use the stay-at-home period to access the people and step up medical tests to determine how many people have become infected with the virus and how they could be attended to? The government that was boasting that it was adequately prepared to tackle the virus was later to prove when the virus eventually arrived that it was only making empty claims as usual. A country of 200 million people has yet to demonstrate any capacity to test even a reasonable fraction of one percent of her population. And somebody is publishing a document to tell us what the president was supposed to have done or is doing. As if such boring tales will remove the cloud of gloom hovering over Nigeria? Again, in a country where electric power is just an unaffordable luxury for many, how can a leader just lock down some states and return to his hideout to continue his vacation that was rudely interrupted by the loud, persistent and widespread demands that he should address his country even though some other presidents were doing daily briefings and leading the war against the virus from the front? As the markets closed and movements became restricted, how are those who could afford to buy and stock food items at home preserve them without electric power? What of the greater population which depend on daily earnings for their survival? What is the governments plan for them? Okay, we are hearing of palliatives that have been extended to this category of people and the billions of naira that have already been transferred to their accounts? Now, who has encountered the happy recipients of the twenty thousand naira (N20, 000) said to have been given to each of them? Are there really existing data showing the social and economic status of every Nigerian which is in the possession of the authorities? So, all the poor and vulnerable Nigerians now have bank accounts whose details are known to the government? So, why then are too many Nigerians very suspicious of these claims as shown in their social media comments? And why is such a rare display of kindness by this government not being celebrated? Or have the funds (if indeed any were shared) ended up in the hands of the same people who have more than enough to need them while those who are genuinely deprived remain terribly famished? Already, the biting hunger out there is forcing a growing number of people to defy the no-movement decree and soon, the whole effort might be defeated, and the country will return to square one. Information Minister, Mr. Lai Mohammed, is threatening that the lockdown may be extended if Nigerians fail to behave themselves. But what he should rather have done is to hasten to school himself to realize that there is always a price to pay when leaders leave the country they claim to be governing in great disarray only to suddenly wake up when there is an emergency to grope for fix-quick solutions. A few days after the presidents broadcast (that is, Tuesday, March 31), Daily Independent carried a front page lead story about 26 Americans who came into the country through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport and headed to Calabar without being screened. Now, who cleared their trip to the country and why were there no health officials available to screen them and ensure they were quarantined for 14 days before being allowed to fly to Calabar? Is it because they are Americans or clients of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) or both? Does that automatically exempt any of them from being a carrier of the virus which is presently ravaging their own country? What kind of government claims to be fighting a virus with one hand and using the other hand to be undermining the efforts being deployed to contain it? Okay, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, has just announced that an 18-man Chinese team of medical experts will soon arrive the country to assist Nigeria in the fight against the coronavirus. Now, is it the federal government that asked China for help or was it China that volunteered their assistance? Indeed many Nigerians are vehemently opposed to this gesture at this time. Our own local medical experts have not shown any signs of being overburdened by the work, so what difference are these 18 Chinese doctors and nurses going to make? Will they, like the 26 privileged Americans, also be given express entry into the country or will they be isolated for 14 days as should be the case, before they would be allowed to start rendering their assistance? Do we really need this Chinese gift now or is it that the government lacks the liver to politely decline their offer of help, despite the widespread apprehension among the citizenry about their involvement (since many Nigerians, habour strong fears that the gesture might turn out a Greek gift)? Even the umbrella body of Nigerian doctors, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has come out to strongly oppose the coming of the Chinese medical team. Is it that our government is too intimidated to say NO to Chinas offer probably because it has yoked itself so much with crushing debts due to its excessive borrowings from them debts, whose positive effects on Nigerian lives many are yet to see? I raise these points because, although, Nigeria has recorded one of the lowest deaths from coronavirus, it was the stubborn refusal of the government to close our borders when it became very necessary and urgent (and despite calls from well-meaning Nigerians) that led to the explosion in the number of confirmed cases that the country has recorded today. In saner climes, the government should have profusely apologized for that terrible miscalculation that is costing the nation so much now. But it now has another opportunity now to gratify the yearning of Nigerians and reject the Chinese offer even if it is well-meaning and the fears about it are misplaced. Now, what lessons is the government taking away from the scourge of coronavirus? Will they see the need to equip our hospitals this time and upgrade at least few of them to world standard now that they have realized the folly of always waiting to use public funds to send themselves and their families abroad to treat even minor ailments? For the first time in Nigeria, the naive and largely misguided Nigerian leaders have found out that it is not always safe to seek solutions for health challenges outside the country and that there is afterall no place like home. This is hoping that the lesson will endure and be redemptive. *Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye, a Nigerian journalist and writer, is author of the book, NIGERIA: Why Looting May Not Stop ( [email protected] ) Advertisement Dramatic images from South Florida on Monday show a long line of cars backed up bumper to bumper on a roadway while motorists wait hours to get food from a food bank. A drone captured aerial shots of vehicles waiting in line in Sunrise, Florida, just northwest of Fort Lauderdale, on Monday. The motorists were waiting to receive food from Feeding South Florida, a food bank that relies on donations to feed the poor. Feeding South Florida has seen a 600 per cent increase in the number of people asking for food as millions have been laid off due to the coronavirus outbreak. An aerial view from a drone shows vehicles lineup to receive food provided by the food bank Feeding South Florida in Sunrise, Florida, on Monday Feeding South Florida has seen a 600 per cent increase in the those asking for food aid as people, some of whom have lost jobs, need to make ends meet during the coronavirus pandemic The groceries being given away included milk, chicken, apples, tomatoes, cantaloupe as well as Easter eggs Feeding South Florida set up a drive-thru distribution site in order to conform to social distancing measures Floridians lined up to receive produce ranging from milk, chicken, apples, tomatoes, cantaloupes, and eggs. According to the Miami Herald, food banks like Feeding South Florida and others have a glut of fresh produce to give away. Thats because the coronavirus outbreak has forced governments to shut down the hospitality industry, which includes restaurants, hotels, airlines, cruise ships, school cafeterias, and other businesses that serve food to customers. That means farmers who rely on these businesses to buy their crops have an excess of perishable food and nothing to do with it. Jose Martinez waits in line next to his car to receive groceries provided by the food bank Feeding South Florida Angelica Pichardo, an official with the City of Sunrise, gives vouchers for groceries to a local motorist on Monday A couple wait in their car as groceries from the food bank Feeding South Florida are put in their car by City of Sunrise employees on Monday A city employee wearing a mask and gloves places groceries provided by the food bank into the vehicles of needy Floridians on Monday Two city employees load groceries into the trunk of a car outside the food bank distribution site in Sunrise on Monday Food that isnt donated to food banks is simply thrown away or turned into mulch as there is no set mechanism to efficiently redistribute the excess produce to those in need. The volume is at a level weve never seen before, said Stephen Shelley, president and CEO of Farm Share. It is overwhelming the system. Farm Share distributes food every day through partnerships with food pantries, churches, school, and other nonprofits. The organization has dozens of drop sites throughout Florida. It is running at maximum capacity using every one of its 25 refrigerated trucks and six warehouses to get food to those who need it. Feeding South Florida said it welcomes the excess donations. It is operating at a pace to deliver 2.5 million meals a week to hungry Floridians. We absolutely can handle it, said Sari Vatske, executive vice president of Feeding South Florida. We cant get it in and out fast enough. Vatske said that while the number of people asking for food has increased six-fold, the number of staff has been cut by three-fourths as people are adhering to stay-at-home orders. Cars lining up outside food banks has become a more frequent sight in recent weeks as the United States has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic City employees take the proper precautions while loading food into the trunk of needy Floridians on Monday With the hospitality industry shut down, farmers have a glut of unused food, some of which has been collected by food banks across the country City employees load groceries into the trunk of a motorist's car in Sunrise, Florida, on Monday One city employee loads several packages of what appears to be orange juice in Sunrise, Florida, on Monday Easter eggs provided by the Feeding South Florida food bank are loaded into the trunk of a car in Sunrise on Monday A city employee places some green vegetables into a bag of groceries in Sunrise, Florida, on Monday Floridians who have been laid off from work are turning to food banks to provide meals as the coronavirus pandemic has effectively shut down much of the economy A city employee wears gloves and a head covering while loading groceries into the trunk of a car in Sunrise on Monday The image above shows vegetables provided by the Feeding South Florida food bank in Sunrise, Florida, on Monday More people have come to rely on food banks as several industries have been shut down by the coronavirus pandemic The math is not on our side, Vatske said. More than 520,000 Floridians have applied for unemployment since March 15, compared to 326,000 in all of last year. State statistics show that as of Monday, almost 13,000 people have been diagnosed with the disease and 235 have died since the outbreak began being tracked a month ago. About 1,600 people are hospitalized in the state. More than 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits at the end of last month - doubling a record high set just one week earlier - a sign that layoffs are accelerating in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak. Combined with last weeks report that 3.3 million people sought unemployment aid three weeks ago, the US economy has now suffered nearly 10 million layoffs in just the past few weeks far exceeding the figure for any corresponding period on record. More than 520,000 Floridians have applied for unemployment since March 15, compared to 326,000 in all of last year State statistics show that almost 13,000 people have been diagnosed with the disease and 235 have died since the outbreak began being tracked a month ago About 1,600 people are hospitalized in the state, which was criticized for not shutting down businesses sooner to prevent the spread of coronavirus More than 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits at the end of last month - doubling a record high set just one week earlier - a sign that layoffs are accelerating in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak The stunning report issued last Thursday by the Labor Department showed that 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. 'This kind of upending of the labor market in such a short time is unheard of,' said Heidi Shierholz, an economist at the Economic Policy Institute, a progressive think tank. The sight of long rows of cars waiting outside food banks has become more frequent since the pandemic has made its impact on the United States. On Thursday, hundreds of motorists waited hours to collect food from a food bank in Orlando, a city that has seen a surge in unemployment after the town's famous theme parks were forced to close its doors to the coronavirus outbreak. Last week, hundreds of families flocked to the parking lot of Mount Olive Seventh-day Adventist Church in Orlando to collect food during the coronavirus pandemic DailyMail.com witnessed a 50-vehicle line stretching a half mile waiting to collect food from the church Motorists were forced to wait on a mile-long line (pictured) for a drive-up emergency food distribution set up in Pittsburgh Monday to meet social distancing requirements due to the coronavirus outbreak Last Monday, motorists were forced to wait on a mile-long line for a drive-up emergency food distribution set up in Pittsburgh to meet social distancing requirements due to the coronavirus outbreak. The Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank in Duquesne, Pennsylvania, had only 1500 food boxes as local police set up portable toilets every 3/10ths of a mile to handle the large crowds who showed up. The food bank, which is about 10 miles outside Pittsburgh and serves 11 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania, is considered an essential facility during containment efforts underway to slow the spread of the deadly flu-like virus, also known as COVID-19. However, officials at the non-profit have had to cancel several food distributions and not have volunteers at its warehouse to meet mandates set up by health officials in response to the virus, WTAE reports. The measures come as the food bank moves to protect its staff and the community from unnecessary exposure. In the middle of the coronavirus attack, ugly politics still thrive. For Democrats to vote for the stimulus package, some of their pet projects had to be approved. The Kennedy Center got millions and then laid off employees. Look up other demands and decide for yourself if they help Americans who are sick, who are losing jobs and perhaps their homes. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is planning to create a special House committee to investigate the administrations handling of this crisis. How much will that cost? Remember the Trump-Russia investigation and impeachment nonsense? Politicians historically add riders to bills before they pass them. In the midst of this epidemic, while spending outlandish amounts of tax money, seeing our economy in trouble, our citizens sick and dying, losing jobs and businesses in trouble, Democrats demand more for their agendas before signing the stimulus package. Look where this money goes. Democrats in Trenton left some Republican counties without funding from the first wave of stimulus money. Warren County has been hit hard but didnt get any money. Why dont reporters ask officials, since taxpayers already support undocumented immigrants, if will they receive stimulus money? Among the worse scams are our politicians sneaky ways to get our money. China is responsible for this worldwide epidemic, but some in the media are praising China for its response to the coronavirus while criticizing our president. It is way past time to praise America. Bea Mackey Harmony Township A TD is returning a wage increase due to the Covid-19 crisis. Eoin O Broin a Sinn Fein deputy and writer who has been a TD for the Dublin Mid-West constituency since 2016 general election said he is waiving the 8,188.44 which was owed to him. Taking to social media deputy O Broin said: At a time when so many people have lost their jobs and funding is needed for front line health and care services I cant accept a wage increase. I am again returning the full post FEMPI pay restoration and increase of 8,188.44 to the exchequer. I am paid more than enough. Three years ago, the 47-year-old who lives in Cabinteely, Co Dublin made a call to his constituency colleagues to refuse a proposed pay increase for TDs due to come into effect next month, saying it's the "right thing to do". He made the plea to politicians from other parties in his constituency Mr O Broin said: "This month TDs will get the first of two pay increases worth a total of 5,000 per year. "At a time when many families are struggling to get by on low wages or with rising prices and high levels of household debt, the right thing for all TDs to do is to gift this substantial pay increase back to the State." The pay increase saw politicians' wages restored to pre-recession levels, when it was cut under the Haddington Road Agreement from 92,672 to 87,258. [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] Flash Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai on Sunday called for cooperation between Beijing and Washington to combat the coronavirus pandemic, saying "this is a time for solidarity, collaboration and mutual support." "Let's acknowledge there has been unpleasant talk between our nations about this disease. But this is not the time for finger-pointing. This is a time for solidarity, collaboration and mutual support," Cui wrote in an opinion article on The New York Times. "We will always remember that in our most difficult days, our friends in so many places -- many of them Americans, many of them New Yorkers -- offered us a helping hand. We stand ready now to repay their kindness and help them make it through too," said he. Cui noted that China is doing whatever it can to support the related countries in need, including the United States. "We are facilitating the U.S. government's purchase of personal protective equipment made in China. Indeed, factories are operating in full swing to fulfill the orders of medical supplies from New York State and other parts of America. China's provincial and city governments are rushing to help their sister states and cities in America too. And donations are pouring in from the country's business sector," he said. Cui suggested China and the United States make joint efforts to defeat the pandemic. "China and the United States need to lead international efforts in collaborative research into treatments and vaccines, and explore the sharing of pharmaceutical technologies among nations. We need to help countries with underdeveloped medical systems and contribute to better global health governance," he said. Cui also called for the two biggest economies in the world to "enhance our coordination of macroeconomic policy to stabilize markets; ensure growth and people's livelihoods; and keep the global industrial and supply chains open, stable and secure." In the meantime, the Chinese ambassador warned against fanning racism and xenophobia as well as scapegoating other countries or races at this moment, when solidarity is essential. "Such acrimony will not only undercut cooperation between our nations, but also sow seeds of suspicion and confrontation that could put our peoples -- and even the world -- in grave danger from this runaway virus and the economic fallout it is causing," he cautioned. Emma Heathcote-James, 43, founded Little Soap Company in 2008 to make pure, natural bar soap accessible to all. It became the first all-natural organic soap on supermarket shelves. She lives in the Cotswolds with her wife, a conservationist, and their son, 15. Soap was my grandmothers passion, and when she got back from a holiday she would give us a paper bag full of the most delicious handmade soap. After she died we found her wardrobe stacked with unused soap. When I moved to the Cotswolds, I became frustrated that I couldnt buy proper soap in supermarkets. Back in 2008, it was all coal tar or synthetic detergent bars, which dried out your skin. So I began making soap as a hobby. I bought raw oils and essential oil and started perfecting recipes. Emma Heathcote-James, 43, (pictured) who lives in the Cotswolds, revealed the inspiration behind her natural bar soap business From the start it was important the soap was ethical, sustainable, vegan and cruelty-free. I began by selling to farm shops, then at farmers markets. Then, before the end of the first three months, I got the soap into the local independent supermarket. As I now knew how to produce a barcode, I thought I might as well try Waitrose. I persuaded the buyer to talk to me, and she put it in eight local stores. Next, I was speaking at a women in rural business conference and, unbeknown to me, a buyer from Tesco was in the audience. They asked me to create a range for the supermarket and be a regional supplier. Along the way, the best business decision I made was taking time to do the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses programme at Aston University in Birmingham. It took five months (like a mini master of business administration course) and enabled me to take the business off the kitchen table by taking on a premises and staff. Floral: Organic Pamper Pack Pure Rose Geranium, 45, littlesoapcompany.co.uk The soaps are now sold in eight major supermarkets and retailers, and they are all made in Britain. No one could have foreseen that our soap would be suddenly playing a crucial role in the fight against the spread of coronavirus. A bar lasts a lot longer than a bottle of hand wash, so works out far cheaper. Youre also reducing plastic and landfill waste, while protecting yourself. The bars have naturally occurring glycerine locked inside, too, so are super moisturising great for constant hand-washing. By PTI MUMBAI: Bollywood producer Karim Morani's daughter Shaza Morani has tested positive for novel coronavirus. Shaza had returned from Sri Lanka in the first week of March. "Shaza had no symptoms but has has tested positive. "Zoa my other daughter has a few symptoms so we got both of them tested. Zoa, however, tested negative. Both have been admitted to Nanavati hospital. They are in isolation and under observation," Morani told PTI. CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES "Shaza had returned from Sri Lanka in the first week of March and Zoa from Rajasthan on March 15," he added. The producer has backed many Bollywood films including Shah Rukh Khan's "Ra.One", "Chennai Express", "Happy New Year" and "Dilwale". As of Monday morning, the number of coronavirus cases rose to 4067 in India with the pandemic claiming 109 lives. The global death toll is nearing 70,000 with almost 1.3 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. Romania Romanian President Klaus Iohannis says he intends to extend the country's state of emergency by another 30 days as the number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the country exceeded 4,000. "We need to do this again. It's an absolute necessity. People should understand that without this measure, the virus cannot be stopped," Iohannis announced in a live video address on April 6. Romania has been under a state of emergency since March 16, and Iohannis said he will issue a decree next week prolonging the measure until May 16. The day-to-day number of confirmed COVID-19 cases went up by 196 on April 6 to 4,057, the government crisis group announced, while 11 more fatalities brought the total death toll to 162. Some 627 Romanians have been infected abroad and at least 26 died -- most of them in Italy, as well as in France, Spain, and Germany. More than 4 million Romanians work in Western Europe, and hundreds of thousands have returned since the start of the outbreak there despite the government's repeated appeals that they delay coming home for the Orthodox Easter holiday. Six Romanian counties, including Suceava, the current epicenter of the outbreak in Romania, have imposed the mandatory wearing of face coverings with fines of more than $100 for those who violate the measure. More than 100,000 people have been placed in self-isolation, while almost 24,000 are under quarantine -- most of them having returned from abroad. Tensions have risen in the southern Romanian town of Tandarei, which has been placed under army lockdown after those who had returned from abroad ignored self-quarantine orders and came into conflict with riot police. Many of the town's 13,000 inhabitants are ethnic Roma who had migrated to the West but returned after the start of the pandemic. Russia Russia's tally of confirmed coronavirus cases jumped sharply, as regional authorities struggled to enforce restrictive lockdown measures across the sprawling country. Nearly 1,000 new confirmed cases were announced April 6 by the government's main coronavirus task force, along with 47 confirmed deaths from the disease. The rise amounted to an 11 percent jump, which was a lower increase than in past days, bringing the official number of infections to 6,343. The official tally has been doubted by critics in Russia and abroad, who suspect the number is being undercounted by health authorities. President Vladimir Putin has advised Russians to stay home for the rest of the month and only go outside when necessary. Among the restrictions was limiting people walking their dogs to just 100 meters from their homes. Most of the country's nearly 90 regions have imposed lockdown measures, though it's unclear how rigorously they were being enforced, particularly in regions distant from Moscow. Some regions, however, have gone further than others. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov last week announced that the southern region would close its borders entirely. That drew a veiled rebuke from Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on April 6. "The government's signals about the unacceptability of this were heard," Mishustin said. I would like once again to address the leaders of the regions: do not confuse regional powers with federal [powers]." Several hours later, Kadyrov responded, writing on social media that the region had not restricted the entry of transport or cargo. Still, he said, Chechnya would not allow entry to anyone not registered as living there. Putin himself has been working remotely since a doctor at one of Russia's leading infectious-disease hospitals, whom Putin met personally during a visit, tested positive for the coronavirus. The government has also been working to repatriate Russian citizens who were stranded in recent weeks as governments shut down borders and enacted new travel restrictions. On April 6, Russian officials said some international flights to repatriate citizens had resumed after having suspended all flights last week. The government task force monitoring the outbreak said two flights carrying Russian nationals -- one from Kyrgyzstan and one from Bangladesh -- would take place on April 6. The Foreign Ministry has said that 25,000 Russians abroad had appealed for help getting home. Russia is temporarily halting passenger train service between its two largest cities and the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad as it tries to slow the spread of the coronavirus. State-owned Russian Railroads will halt service from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Kaliningrad effective April 6, state media reported. The rail trips take 20 and 26 hours, respectively, and pass through Belarus and Lithuania. Passenger train service will also be halted from the exclave to mainland Russia. Russian Railroads did not say when service would be resumed. Kaliningrad is sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania with an opening to the Baltic Sea. Iran Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the United States to ease sanctions on Irans economy and expand the licensing of sanctions-exempt items to ensure the country has access to essential humanitarian resources during the coronavirus pandemic. HRW made the call on April 6 as Tehran, as well as several other countries, the United Nations, and some U.S. lawmakers voiced similar pleas to ease sanctions, which have cut off oil revenue and devastated the Iranian economy. U.S. President Donald Trump has offered Iran humanitarian assistance, but Iranian officials have rejected the offer, saying Washington should instead lift the unjust and illegal sanctions imposed after Washington unilaterally withdrew from a landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers in 2018. The situation has added to the difficulty of dealing with the pandemic in one of the world's hardest-hit countries by the coronavirus. The outbreak has officially infected almost 60,000 people and killed over 3,600 in Iran, though many experts and critics of Tehran have said the actual figures may be much higher due to underreporting by officials. As the burden on the countrys debilitated health-care system has dramatically increased, the broad U.S. economic sanctions resulting in severe international banking restrictions have drastically constrained the ability of the country to finance humanitarian imports, including medicines and medical equipment, HRW said in its statement. Kenneth Roth, executive director at HRW, also criticized Irans brutal, self-serving government for refusing to release wrongfully detained people in crowded prisons despite the risk of the coronavirus, but added that "it is wrong and callous for the [U.S.] administration to compound Iranians misery by depriving them of access to the critical medical resources they urgently need, he added. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Musavi reiterated Tehrans message refusing U.S. aid on April 6, saying that "Iran has never asked and will not ask America to help Tehran in its fight against the outbreak." Iranian authorities have been criticized for their slow initial response to the pandemic, and 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. On April 5, President Hassan Rohani announced that "low-risk economic activities" would resume starting April 11. Rohani told officials at a televised meeting that two-thirds of government employees will return to working from their offices on the same date. He did not elaborate on what he meant by "low-risk activities." Pakistan Police in Pakistan's southwestern city of Quetta have detained dozens of doctors and other medical personnel who were protesting the lack of proper equipment in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Personnel from the Quetta Civil Hospital and Bolan Medical College were marching toward the provincial government building on April 6 when they were stopped by officers and detained. Video from the operation shows some security forces beating the protesters during the police operation. A police official was quoted as saying 30 demonstrators were arrested for defying a ban on public gatherings imposed during a lockdown to fight the spread of the coronavirus. RFE/RL's Coronavirus Coverage Features and analysis, videos, and infographics explore how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the countries in our region. The protesters said that 12 of their colleagues who were treating patients suffering from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, had tested positive and that they would return to their duties only after the government provides them with personal protection equipment. The government in Balochistan Province, of which Quetta is the capital, says hospitals in the province have been fully equipped with all of the necessary items needed to battle the outbreak. Amnesty Internationals South Asia section called for the immediate release of the detained health workers and said "police must stop using excessive force. Their arrests in Balochistan today are an attack on their right to peaceful protest and an affront to the risks they face, the watchdog said. Pakistani authorities have almost 3,300 confirmed cases of coronavirus so far, including 50 deaths. Tajikistan Tajik authorities say 13 people, including several health workers, have been ordered into quarantine after a patient at a rural hospital in the countrys north died from what officials said was pneumonia. Health officials said that the group, which includes a top doctor at the Jabbor Rasulov hospital, had tested negative for COVID-19, as had the original patient whose relatives said fell ill after traveling to neighboring Kyrgyzstan for a wedding. However, the confusion about conditions at Jabbor Rasulov hospital in Sughd Province added to mounting concern over the coronavirus situation in Tajikistan, one of the poorest countries in Central Asia. Government authorities have said there are no registered cases in the nation, and last week, the in-country representative for the World Health Organization backed up that claim. But Tajikistans health-care system is rickety and underfunded, and the country is surrounded by neighbors where coronavirus cases have been reported and increasing. Tajikistans authoritarian government has also long suppressed independent media and nongovernmental civil-society groups. Thats only added to concern that authorities are either hiding the true scope of infections, or are unable to test widely in the population. The 13 people were ordered into quarantine on April 5 and taken from the Jabbor Rasulov hospital to the Khujand regional infectious-disease facility. Marufjon Hojiboev, the deputy head of the Sughd Provincial Health Department, told reporters on April 6 that the national laboratory in Dushanbe found negative results for COVID-19 among the 13 individuals. Three of those under quarantine had high fever that has since returned to normal, Hojiboev said, and further tests would be conducted as a routine procedure. Bibikhonum Darveszoda, a spokeswoman for the Tajik Health Ministry, told RFE/RL that all those put in quarantine were recovering and their lives are not in danger. She did not explain what exactly the group was recovering from, though one doctor at the Jabbor Rasulov hospital told RFE/RL that all reported fevers, and some had pain in their throats. The patient, whose death on March 31 initially sparked concern, was identified as a 60-year-old man who lived in a village near the border with Kyrgyzstan. Relatives of the man told RFE/RL that the man had attended a wedding in Kyrgyzstan sometime before March 21 and felt unwell after returning home to Tajikistan the same day. Kyrgyzstan had 216 confirmed coronavirus infections as of April 6, according to official figures. Deputy Tajik Health Minister Mirhamuddin Kamolzoda told RFE/RL that tests on the man who died were negative for the coronavirus. He added that the ministry was prepared to release those results publicly to allay any concerns. Tajik officials came under criticism last month for celebrating Norouz, the Persian New Year, with parades and concerts, ignoring warnings by the World Health Organization against mass gatherings. Azerbaijan Azerbaijan says it is pardoning inmates older than 65 to slow the progress of the coronavirus outbreak in the country. President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on the measure on April 6. According to the decree, 176 inmates, including one Russian citizen, will be released in the coming days. Aliyev also extended until at least April 20 the quarantine rules imposed late last month. "The next steps will be taken in accordance with the situation," Aliyev said at the opening of a medical mask factory in Baku. As of April 6, there were 641 coronavirus cases officially registered in Azerbaijan, including seven deaths and 44 patients who have recovered. With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal, Reuters, Interfax, TASS, RFE/RL's Romanian Service, digi24.ro, g4media.ro, hotnews.ro, and adevarul.ro CPI general secretary D Raja on Monday urged the government to call an all-party meeting to brief leaders of recognised political parties on the situation arising out of COVID-19 pandemic and hear out their concerns. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a meeting of floor leaders of both houses of Parliament on April 8. The 21-day nationwide lockdown is scheduled to end on April 14. Only those political parties which have five or more members have been invited for the interaction, leaving out parties like the CPI which has one member in Rajya Sabha and two members in Lok Sabha. "In fact this interaction should have happened during the last days of the Budget Session of Parliament or immediately after the adjournment of the Session," Raja wrote. "The government, political parties and all those who matter in shaping the political, economic and social course of the country must come together and put their heads and efforts together to contain the disaster," he said. The death toll due to novel coronavirus rose to 109 and the number of cases in the country climbed to 4,067 on Monday, according to the Union Health Ministry. While the number of active COVID-19 cases stands at 3,666, as many as 291 people have been cured and discharged, the ministry said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 25,000 Tablighi workers, their contacts quarantined, India orders 5 lakh testing kits India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Apr 06: At least 25,500 local workers of the Tablighi Jamaat and the people who came in contact with them have been quarantined, the Union Government has said. Five Haryana villages where they visited have been sealed: Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs said. During the daily briefing, Joint Secretary in the Health Ministry, Lav Agarwal said that in the last 13 days, Indian Railways transported sugar through 1,340 wagons, salt through 958 wagons and edible oil through 316 wagons/tanks, to different parts of the country, amidst the lockdown. 16.94 lakh metric tonnes of food grains have been transported across India till now. In 13 states, 1.3 lakh metric tonnes of wheat and in 8 states, 1.32 lakh metric tonnes of rice have been allotted, Agarwal also said. Thanks to Tablighi, COVID-19 doubling rate is 4.1 days and not 7.4 The Indian Council of Medical Research said that an order has been placed for 5 lakh testing kits for COVID-19. The ICMR also said that 2.5 lakh kits will be delivered on April 8-9. On Sunday,Agarwal explained how the Tablighi linked cases across the 17 cases had led to a sudden spike in the number of cases. He said that India's coronavirus cases had doubled in 4.1 days due to the Tablighi Jamaat cases. Had it not been for the congregation, India's rate of doubling would have been at 7.4 days, he also said. While the Maulana did not pay heed to the advise, there was also resistance on part of the Tablighi members to vacate the premises at Nizamuddin. This had promoted the Union Home Ministry to send National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval to convince the Jamaat members to vacate the Banglewali Masjid. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, April 6, 2020, 16:47 [IST] By Gina Lee Investing.com - Asian stock markets were up on Monday morning even as oil prices continued to slump. Oil prices experienced a more than 6% drop as OPEC+ delayed its meeting to discuss fragile oil prices. The meeting will now take place on Thursday. Down Under, the S&P/ASX 200 led the gains as it rose 2.72% by 10:23 PM ET (3:23 AM GMT). South Koreas KOSPI gained 2.11% whilst Hong Kongs Hang Seng advanced 0.89%. Japans Nikkei 225 gained 2.45%. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to declare a state of emergency by Tuesday to curb the spiking numbers of COVID-19 cases in the country. The World Health Organization said that there are 3,271 Japanese cases as of April 5. Chinas markets are closed today for a holiday. As the number of COVID-19 cases globally tops one million, some current epicenters of the virus such as New York City, Italy, France and Spain reported falling fatalities over the weekend. There is light at the end of the tunnel bute its still a long tunnel, Erik Nielsen, UniCredit chief economist, told Bloomberg. Lindsey Piegza, chief economist at Stifel Nicolaus&Co, was also optimistic as she said in a Bloomberg TV interview, We are still optimistic that the administration will be able to get this virus under control and reopen the economy by the end of April, early May. If that does occur, its likely that were able to control the downturn from a depressionary scenario into a recessionary scenario. Related Articles Wells Fargo caps role in coronavirus rescue program at $10 billion Oil skids on oversupply fears, stocks jump on virus slowdown Rolls-Royce to ditch targets and suspend dividend due to coronavirus: FT Neil Lambert turned to alcohol after an abrupt break-up A civil servant who refused to pay a taxi fare and began banging aggressively on a garda station door had turned to alcohol after a relationship ended "abruptly", a court has heard. Neil Lambert (33) had little recollection of the incident, which came "out of the blue" for him. Judge Michael Walsh said he would strike out the case, leaving Lambert without a criminal record, if he made a 300 charity donation. Father-of-one Lambert, of Blarney Park, Crumlin, admitted non-payment of a taxi fare, threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour and failing to comply with garda directions. An officer told Dublin District Court the accused went to Sundrive Road Garda Station in the early hours of last February 22 and aggressively banged on the public office door. Recollection When gardai told him to leave, he became verbally abusive and refused before being arrested. He was "extremely aggressive to the officers", the court was told. A garda said Lambert had refused to pay a taxi fare. He worked in the civil service and had no previous convictions of any kind. He had been in a relationship for six years and, when it ended abruptly, he turned to alcohol, his solicitor Brian Doherty said. In relation to the night of the offence, this was "something that came out of the blue" and Lambert had little recollection of what happened, Mr Doherty said. Lambert was genuinely remorseful and asked the judge to consider leaving him without convictions. Adjourning the case, Judge Walsh said he would do this if the accused paid 300 to Ronald McDonald House. By Express News Service CHENNAI: The City corporations psychological support helpline 044 4612 2300, operated with the help of the Department of Social Work in Loyola College, is responding to an average of 5,000 calls a day. According to a release from the corporation, a team of 80 psychosocial volunteers, comprising social workers, psychologists and mental health professionals are operating the helpline, which was launched on March 31. What primarily started as a platform to cater to the psycho-social needs of those under home quarantine by calling them up on alternate days, has also begun to accept distress calls. Associate professor, Department of Social Work at Loyola College, Gladston Xavier said that they handle psychological needs, ranging from loneliness, depression and other issues, of people isolated and placed under home quarantine. There is a stigma that they have to face in the society, Xavier, who is also the helpline programme coordinator, said. People also tell us that they are unable to access relief measures when under home quarantine. We need to understand that not everyone who returns from abroad is rich, he added. The helpline volunteers also help people get access to food and other essential supplies. Andrew Sesuraj M, an assistant professor from the same department, recalled a heartwarming incident on how the team gave great joy to an elderly woman: We recently called up a 65-year-old woman who told us that it was her birthday and we were the first ones to call her on the day. The team sang her Happy Birthday and wished her many more returns of the day. There was another senior citizen who told us that she was very happy that we kept checking up on her as even her own children were not finding time to call her, he added. Some, on the other hand, take out their frustration on the volunteers. Many are angered by the stickers pasted on their doors. In the fight against the novel coronavirus, Iran has been slow to implement the severe lockdown measures seen in other high-case countries such as Italy due to economic concerns around providing basic services for its population while the country is under US sanctions. On March 27, as cases continued to grow, Iran implemented what it called social distancing measures that restricted travel outside of home provinces and closed most office buildings and nonessential businesses. Now, due to economic concerns, the president has called for the reopening of certain sectors of the economy by April 8 in what he is calling a smart social distancing policy. In an April 5 cabinet meeting, Rouhani said, Although the responsibility of the administration is to support the classes most at risk, at the same time it has a responsibility to provide all the necessary conditions for employment and business. Therefore with the protection of health as a priority and with all the necessary health protocols, we must adopt measures to move the wheel of the economy. To meet economic needs, Rouhani had previously made a request for a 1 billion euro withdrawal from the countrys National Development Fund that was approved today, April 6, by Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The request to withdraw from the countrys sovereign wealth fund was reportedly made to help the state meet the needs of the Health Ministry, purchase and produce medicine for domestic consumption and pay unemployment benefits. Irans Health Ministry and officials tasked with combatting the spread of the novel coronavirus have, however, warned that the outbreak still poses a major threat. Alireza Zaali, the head of the task force in Tehran, warned April 6 on an Iranian television program, Not only have we not reached the phase of controlling this virus, but it is increasing. He added, The coronavirus has reached the pandemic stage in Tehran. Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said April 6 no province in the country has reached a clear point. Addressing Tehran province specifically, Jahanpour said it is in a red state, meaning the situation is critical. He warned that while the numbers were not increasing, he attributed the respite to people staying home for the Nowruz holidays and said the province is not yet ready to resume regular activity. In response to a push by the Industry Ministry, Irans Health Minister Saeed Namaki warned in an April 2 open letter against any institutions, governmental or non-governmental, opening back up on their own, saying, Its flames will quickly engulf the health system and consequently the countrys economy. Namaki warned that the smallest activity" could do "irreparable harm. According to Jahanpour, there have been 2,274 new cases in the last 24 hours, bringing Iran's total to 60,500 cases. There have been a total of 3,739 deaths, 136 of them in the last 24 hours. A 43-year-old New Jersey woman coughed and spit at police officers multiple times while claiming to have the coronavirus Saturday as she was being arrested on charges she violated a restraining order, authorities said. Sughuy Cepeda, 43, of Teaneck, was charged by Englewood police with making terroristic threats during an emergency, two counts aggravated assault on an officer, obstruction, resisting arrest and violation of a temporary restraining order, the state Office of the Attorney General said Sunday. While in custody Cepeda told cops she had tested positive for COVID-19 while spitting and coughing on the officers on several occasions, authorities said. Police then brought her to Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus. There, she coughed at two police officers and spit a mouthful of water at them, authorities said. She was one of a group of people authorities accused on Sunday of violating the governors coronavirus-related lockdown orders, including an outdoor lawn concert, and making threats involving the virus. In another incident, a 16-year-old girl purposely coughed on another customer during a dispute at Wegmans in West Windsor on March 31, officials said. Police charged then teen with harassment and obstruction of justice. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. (@FahadShabbir) VILNIUS/MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 06th April, 2020) The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Lithuania has reached 843 with 32 registered over the past 24 hours, the national government said on Monday. According to the authorities, so far, seven patients have recovered from the disease and 14 others have died. As a part of measures to combat the pandemic, the authorities announced a nationwide quarantine until April 13, the violation of which entails a criminal penalty. In addition, Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis decided to restrict entry to all cities and towns during the Catholic Easter holidays, which will run from April 11-13 in the country. Police, volunteers and, if needed, the armed forces will be involved in enforcing the restrictions, Skvernelis wrote on Facebook on Monday. The municipalities will be also asked to limit all non-essential travels. Exceptions will be applied to travels related to a death of relatives, serious illness or another emergency. Individuals involved in providing essential services or medical assistance will be also exempt from the restrictions, according to the prime minister. Jasper County has recorded its first coronavirus death -- the fourth person in Southeast Texas to be claimed by the virus. Jasper County Judge Mark Allen said the man died Sunday at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital. James "Jim" Washburn, 69 , of Jasper, was checked into the hospital with the virus last week as the county's first positive case of coronavirus. "We are saddened by the loss," Allen said. "I was really hoping he could make it, but he passed away yesterday evening." He said the confirmation of Washburn's case is what really spurred the county to begin pressing healthcare providers for more information so they could know the best way to keep community members safe and informed. The county's two other positive cases, Buna residents, are still at home in self-quarantine. Allen said he expected there will be another round of coronavirus testing to make sure those those two individuals are negative for the virus before they're allowed out of quarantine. "Were going to continue to pray for his family and the other victims and the county," he said. Saudi Arabia, Russia and other large oil producers are racing to negotiate a deal to stem the historic price crash as diplomats said some progress was made on Sunday. The talks still face significant obstacles: a meeting of producers from OPEC+ and beyond -- delayed once -- is only tentatively scheduled for Thursday. Russia and Saudi Arabia want the U.S. to join in, but U.S. President Donald Trump has so far shown little willingness to do so. Oil diplomats are trying to stitch together a meeting of G20 energy ministers for Friday, part of an effort to bring the U.S. on board, according to two people familiar with the situation. Crude prices have fallen 50% this year, as the economic effects of the pandemic have knocked out about a third of global demand. The price crash is so dramatic that its threatening the stability of oil-dependent nations, the existence of U.S. shale producers, and poses an extra challenge to central banks. Even the International Energy Agency, which represents nations that consume oil, is calling for action. Oil officials know that if a deal to cut supply in an orderly way isnt reached, the market will simply force producers to slash output as storage space runs out. We see a huge oversupply in the oil market, Fatih Birol, the head of the IEA, said in an interview on Sunday. Theres a need for the G20 in the driving seat, led by its current chair, Saudi Arabia. The aim of talks, first revealed by Trump last week, is to cut oil production by about 10% -- the biggest ever coordinated reduction. Crude rallied on Trumps comments but pared those gains as the diplomatic intricacies became clearer. Brent futures fell 4% on Monday in Asia to $32.60 a barrel. Even if a deal is struck for as much as 10 million barrels per day, that will barely dent the supply glut, which is estimated at as much as 35 million barrels a day. In some corners of the physical market prices have already turned negative, and traders have been putting oil into tankers at a record pace to store it at sea. Jump together Saudi Arabia and Russia both say they want the U.S., which has become the worlds largest producer thanks to its shale revolution, to join the cuts. But Trump had only hostile words for OPEC on Saturday, threatening tariffs on foreign oil, though at a briefing late Sunday he said he didnt expect hed have to use them. G20 may be an easier forum for the U.S. to embrace than OPEC. If the Americans dont take part, the problem which existed before for the Russians and Saudis will remain -- that they cut output while the U.S ramps it up, and that makes the whole thing impossible, said Fyodor Lukyanov, head of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, a research group that advises the Kremlin. 'WORLD STANDING STILL': Oil sector faces unprecedented crisis Its not clear if Russia and Saudi Arabia will require the U.S. to publicly commit to cut production -- a challenge in the private, fragmented American industry -- or if a compromise gesture would be enough. Alexander Dynkin, president of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations in Moscow, a state-run think tank, said Moscow would like the U.S. to lift some sanctions as a compromise. Trump said last week he was confident Saudi Arabia and Russia would make a deal to cut production and has applied pressure to both. All three players -- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump -- appeared to be maneuvering to avoid blame if talks fail. Saudi Arabia and Russia have been indulging in blame games since early last month, when OPEC+ talks broke down because Russia refused to back cuts and Saudi Arabia responded by launching a price war. The fight between the former allies has had brutal consequences for the U.S. shale industry, dragging Trump into the fray. Back channels The chances of a meaningful deal that delivers real production cuts are low but back-channel talks are ongoing, said Amrita Sen, chief oil analyst at consultant Energy Aspects Ltd. Mohammed bin Salman is under heavy political pressure from Trump to demonstrate the Kingdom isnt trying to bankrupt the U.S. shale industry. Any agreement will require diplomatic agility at a time when nations are devoting massive resources to fighting the pandemic itself. Russia and Saudi Arabia -- which sparred publicly between themselves over the weekend -- have also disagreed about how they would calculate the cuts, according to a person familiar with the talks. Russia favors using an average of the first quarter output as the baseline, while Saudi Arabia wants to use its current April production. The difference is huge: the kingdom pumped 9.8 million barrels a day on average between January and March. In April -- as it wages its battle for market share -- its producing more than 12 million. New Delhi, April 6 : The civil and the police administration had started deploying senior division NCC cadets in the fight against coronavirus pandemic, said the Ministry of Defence, here on Monday. "Some of them (cadets) have started contributing their services from Monday," the Ministry said. Last week, the Ministry had allowed their temporary deployment under the 'Exercise NCC Yogdan' and issued guidelines for it. These cadets are to help the state and municipal authorities in augmenting relief efforts. The Union Territory of Ladakh has deployed eight NCC cadets for the supply chain management. The Neemuch Superintendent of Police has requested the Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Directorate of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) for services of 245 cadets in the supply chain and traffic management. 64 senior division cadets, including seven women, have already been deployed. The Collector of Bilaspur has requested the NCC cadets' services and is training them in Covid-19 preventive measures. The Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh Directorate has received request from the Deputy Commissioner of the Kangra district in HP for services of 86 cadets till April 14 to assist the police in ensuring social distancing. The Kancheepuram district police in Tamil Nadu has approached the Covid-19 district nodal officer for services of NCC cadets. 57 cadets, including two women, are to be deployed soon. The Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andaman Nicobar Directorate has provided services of 75 cadets in Tamil Nadu and 57 in Puducherry. The Balsrampur district administration in UP has also sought services of volunteer cadets from the NCC Group Headquarters Gorakhpur. In East Khasi Hills district 80 NCC cadets started helping the Meghalaya Police in monitoring ration distribution and senitisation on Monday. "The types of tasks envisaged for cadets included managing helpline/call centres; distribution of relief, medicines, food/essential commodities; community assistance; data management, queue & traffic management, and managing CCTV control rooms," the Ministry said. According to the deployment guidelines, state governments or district administration has to send the request for volunteer cadets through State NCC Directorates. -IANS sk/pcj -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The claim: "China is to blame because the culture where people eat bats and snakes and dogs and things like that, these viruses are transmitted from the animal to the people and that's why China has been the source of a lot of these viruses like SARS, like MERS, the Swine Flu and now the coronavirus." U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. Cornyn made the comments in interviews with reporters on March 18. PolitiFact ruling: False. Cornyn is wrong that MERS and the Swine Flu were first identified in humans in China. He is right that SARS and the new coronavirus were first identified in humans there. The problem with Cornyns claim is his assertion that Chinese culture is at fault. Experts said the threat of viral transmission from animal to human is not unique to China, and the risk of this kind of spillover is growing globally as humans come into closer contact with animals. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox Plus, experts noted that any consumption of the animals Cornyn mentioned is not, in itself, the problem. About PolitiFact PolitiFact is a fact-checking project to help you sort out fact from fiction in politics. Truth-O-Meter ratings are determined by a panel of three editors. The burden of proof is on the speaker, and PolitiFact rates statements based on the information known at the time the statement is made See More Collapse Discussion: Cornyn spokesman Drew Brandewie said Cornyns statement is referring to the culture behind so-called wet markets in China, where live animals are slaughtered on the premises and then sold. "If people didnt eat that type of meat, wet markets would not exist," he said in an interview, referencing the animals Cornyn identified in his remarks. But Peter Li, associate professor of East Asian Politics at the University of Houston, said this type of cuisine is not representative of Chinese culture. "Chinese as a whole do not have wildlife eating habit," Li said in an email. "It is the eating habit of a small number of people, just like a small number of people in the U.S. dare to eat rattlesnakes or the like. The eating habit is not Chinese and not traditional." Even considering the small population that may consume these animals, Adam Kamradt-Scott, an associate professor of global health security at the University of Sydney in Australia, said "The consumption of exotic meats is not, in itself, the problem." "The issue is instead the level and extent of the human-animal interface that wet markets permit," he said in an email. "Having said this, we have yet to identify the host animal for the COVID-19 virus. It has also not been verified whether the COVID-19 virus infected humans at the wet market in Wuhan, only that some of the first cases to be identified had a history of having visited the wet market." Researchers have yet to pinpoint when, where or how the virus was transmitted from animals to humans. "It was originally suggested that it began at the Wuhan fish market, but there is no longer good evidence to support that," said Vincent Racaniello, a virology professor in the Microbiology and Immunology Department at Columbia University who is researching the virus. "The first case was not associated with that market and now we think there were earlier clusters in November not associated with the market." Racaniello pointed to a paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine at the end of January by researchers in China looking at the first 425 confirmed cases of the virus. The data shows that while the first reported cases of the new virus were linked to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, the first identified case of the virus predated the publicly reported cases and was found in a person with no connection to the market. Other researchers also identified early cases unrelated to the market. Its true that wet markets pose a risk of viruses to be transmitted from animals to humans, but experts said this risk exists across the globe and is not unique to China. "No country in the world monopolizes the outbreaks of epidemics," said Li, the University of Houston professor. Peter Daszak, a disease ecologist and president of the research organization EcoHealth Alliance, said pandemics are on the rise and the worlds strategy for dealing with these illnesses is "woefully inadequate," in an op-ed for the New York Times. Daszak wrote: "These spillovers are increasing exponentially as our ecological footprint brings us closer to wildlife in remote areas and the wildlife trade brings these animals into urban centers. Unprecedented road-building, deforestation, land clearing and agricultural development, as well as globalized travel and trade, make us supremely susceptible to pathogens like coronaviruses." The Springfield Police Department is strong, united and proactive as we remain ahead of the COVID-19 curve. We have made strategic moves to prepare ourselves for worst-case scenarios while our officers continue to enforce the law and patrol our neighborhoods. We are currently at full staff. Mayor Sarno and I are extremely appreciative of our officers and their efforts during these trying times. Since March 23, Springfield Police officers have seized five illegal firearms, made two homicide arrests, recovered more than 200 bags of heroin and seized three illegal dirt bikes, a long-standing source of citizen complaints. Public Safety remains the highest priority in our city as calls for service and illegal activity continues. I also have provided officers with recommendations on how to deal with specific situations. Officers have been instructed to not respond to certain medical calls where medical professionals are already on site and dont involve a violent encounter. Springfield police officers continue to enforce the law and protect public safety during this crisis. Our officers continue to put themselves in dangerous situations and are experiencing new situations involving potential cases of COVID-19. There have been instances where officers have been spat on several times. The disrespect of our officers, especially in these trying times, is unjust. The court system must take aggressive measures to help curb this egregious behavior before it gets out of hand. Our neighborhoods continue to be patrolled by a full complement of Springfield Police officers on all three shifts without utilizing additional overtime due to the virus. On Friday, 29 officers were out sick, which includes eight officers who tested positive for COVID-19, others suffering from other illnesses and those self-isolating from potential exposure to the virus and awaiting test results. In contrast, last year yielded 19 officers out sick for various illnesses one day that week. To maintain proper staffing, I have proactively and strategically moved our officers to report to different buildings or substations. We also have provided necessary personal protective equipment to all patrol officers and continue to work to gather more PPE items, which only have a limited lifespan. My number-one priority is the safety and well-being of our officers. Mayor Sarno and I talk every day during a teleconference; I share our staffing numbers and give him my best recommendations. Ultimately, he makes the final call for whats best for the city. On Friday, Mayor Sarno and I, out of an abundance of caution, both agreed to request 75 National Guard members to assist the city. This is to assist with our public health crisis, not any public safety crisis. These members will be under my command. Their initial mission will be to assist with large tents for the homeless population on Worthington Street and any other locations that may be necessary, including the MassMutual Center. There is no plan or need for the National Guard to patrol the streets of the city. Many of the National Guardswomen and men are not military police, but instead will provide medical services as we advocated for Gov. Baker to not include the National Guard as first responders. Twenty-three Springfield Police officers are also members of the National Guard. Activating our officers would be counterproductive to our mission in Springfield. The request to the governor for 75 guardswomen and men was done proactively as the commonwealth has many needs and the mayor and I acted quickly to ensure Springfield will have access to the National Guard in a similar manner as we did after the 2011 tornado. The second layer of help is the Massachusetts State Police. The State Police is enlisting its members in different communities across the commonwealth during this pandemic, and Springfield is no different. Lt. Colonel Christopher Mason reached out to us and has available patrols that are familiar with our city and methods of operation. The majority of these troopers and our officers have prior working relationships, and I anticipate a seamless transition. The addition of these troopers, on average 9-12 per day spread across all three shifts, supplement a portion of the troopers who were already working in the city in the Gaming Enforcement Unit at MGM Springfield. Springfield Police officers and supervisors continue to serve our city in an exemplary manner, going above and beyond amid this crisis, and are to be commended for their actions and work ethic. We currently do not have staffing problems patrolling our city. I applaud our officers for showing up to work each day under these extraordinary circumstances. I also acknowledge a city councilors letter to the editor to the Republican about enlisting the services of the Sheriffs Department. I speak with Sheriff Cocchi regularly. He has helped me with Forest Park patrols and with N95 masks, and I am appreciative that these resources are available, if required. The sheriffs help with the prisoners we are booking and other transportation issues is not taken for granted, and we appreciate the dedicated work of the sheriff. We also have about 15 retirees who have kept up their certifications and let us know they are available to assist. In keeping with this dedication, we have the services of a sergeant who has postponed his retirement. The Springfield Police Department is healthy, strong and will continue to serve our city. We have made these proactive measures to ensure if something drastic were to happen, we have done everything possible for the best interests of public safety and our community. Cheryl Clapprood is Springfield Police Commissioner. New Delhi, April 6 : The Union Health Ministry on Monday said that 76 per cent males constitute positive coronavirus cases in the country, which indicate men are more susceptible to contract the deadly infection, and 86 per cent deaths occur due to comorbidity and young people with comorbidity are at high risk from the coronavirus infection. According to Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary at the Health Ministry, 47 per cent positive cases are in people below the age of 40 years, 34 per cent cases in the age group of 40 to 60 years and 19 per cent cases are above 60 years of age, while people above 60 years account for 63 per cent of all Covid-19 deaths. Agarwal added, "86% per cent death cases have exhibited comorbidity related to diabetes, chronic kidney issues, hypertension and heart related problems. Although 19 per cent confirmed cases have been reported among the elderly, since 63 per cent deaths have been observed among them, elderly people form a high risk population. Further, though 37 per cent deaths are reported from people below 60 years, approximately 86 per cent of deaths amongst people with comorbidities indicate that young people with comorbidities are also at high risk for Covid-19." Out of the total positive cases, men comprise 76 per cent and women 24 per cent. He emphasised that elders should be protected and every youth has to be careful that they maintain sufficient social distance to not pass infection to anyone in the family, particularly the elderly. "We urge social distancing in the long term and all the dos and don'ts followed by everybody in the family," added Agarwal. Clarifying the queries connected with community transmission in the country, the health ministry said if at all there is any community transmission, it will alert the people. "Localised community transmission implies that increase in cases was observed in a particular area. Our action plan is that we should not reach stage 3 (which is the community transmission stage)," added Agarwal. The official also clarified that whenever a drastic increase is observed in the number of cases in an area, the ministry adopts a containment action plan. "All the districts have been informed to have an action plan on Covid-19, if there are cases or no cases", added Agarwal. As many as 693 new positive Covid-19 cases have been reported in the last 24 hours in India, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 4,067. (Sumit Saxena can be contacted at sumit.s@ians.in) Lav Agarwal broke down the demographics of the pandemic in India and said that confirmed cases consist of 76% males and 24% females. In a press briefing at 4 pm today, Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry apprised the media on the latest COVID-19 developments in the country. The MoHFW (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) website has been updated with information on quarantine facilities, handling and disposing of biohazard waste, as well as taking care of your mental health during these difficult times. Agarwal re-emphasized the importance of wearing protective face covers if going out or when in densely populated areas. Under central initiatives, rural self-employment training is teaching individuals how to make face covers to provide remuneration and beef up production as well. He added that that the National Health Mission had previously released Rs 1,100 crore in assistance to states, and now an additional 3,000 crore has been released as well. The latest roundup of cases Agarwal said that 4,065 cases have been confirmed so far, 693 of which have been in the last 24 hours. Out of these, 291 people have recovered and 109 have died, 30 of them yesterday. Of all cases, 1,455 have been linked to the Tablighi Jamaat meeting. Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, added that around 25,500 of those linked to the meeting have been quarantined, and 1,705 foreigners involved have been blacklisted from entering the country again. 73% of deaths are in males Agarwal broke down the demographics of the pandemic in India and said that confirmed cases consist of 76% males and 24% females. As for deaths, 73% have been males and 27% have been females. The age breakdown of confirmed cases also had some surprises: 47% of cases in those under 40 34% of cases in those aged 40-60 19% of cases in those aged 60 and above. However, the breakdown of deaths was different: 63% of those who died were over 60 30% of those who died were between 40 to 60 7% of those who died were below 40. Further, 86% of those who have died had comorbidities such as chronic heart disease, kidney disease and hypertension. Agarwal stressed that even young people with comorbidities are at risk and that everyone needs to practice social distancing to cut transmission and protect communities. 5 lakh rapid action test kits on the way Dr Raman Gangakhedkar, Head Scientist of ICMR said that contrary to earlier notions, 5 lakh kits have been ordered from abroad, not 8 lakhs. Of this, 2.5 lakh are expected to be delivered by the 8th or 9th of April. He added the countrys current capacity is 13,000 tests a day which can be expanded to 25,000 a day if labs work in double shifts. The number of tests conducted is expected to increase soon, he said. However, he added, that it is not about the number of tests that are undertaken, but that the right people come forward to get tested so that they can get tested and isolated should the need arise. This statement underlined the governments current approach of avoiding blanket testing and focussing on at risk-individuals and populations. For more information, read our article on COVID-19 Myths and the Truth About Them. 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. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 6) A doctor at Asian Hospital and Medical Center at the frontline of the fight against COVID-19 has died, the hospital confirmed Monday. The hospital honored Dr. Mary Grace Lim, who was assigned at its emergency medicine and quality management department, as a great frontliner who willingly risked her life to help save others. She has affected and helped countless lives in her wonderful journey in Asian Hospital and Medical Center, the hospital said. We have lost a remarkable doctor, a good friend, and mentor to our budding health care workers. The hospital did not mention her cause of death. The Philippine Medical Association has recorded 17 doctors who have died while in the frontline battling COVID-19, blaming the lack of personal protective equipment for the deaths. The Philippines will begin producing 10,000 coveralls daily after Holy Week in partnership with member-companies of the Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines to ensure there is enough gear to protect medical frontliners. This is the first time the Philippines will produce medical-grade protective gear that can be used in COVID-19 positive wards, operating rooms, and internal care units. This will be on top of the one million sets of PPE procured by the Department of Health. The Trade Department said San Miguel Corporation will procure the initial 10,000 pieces of PPE coveralls and donate these to PGH. Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye 06.04.2020 LISTEN I know that the dominant health topic now is Coronavirus (or, if you like, Chinese Virus), but I feel compelled to draw attention to some egregious practices by some callous and cruel Nigerians that are ruining many lives daily in this country. These vile characters are able to unleash this grievous harm on innocent Nigerians because the various regulatory agencies like, the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) or the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON, are either in very deep slumber or very sick and nigh unto death, or even dead and awaiting burial! I think that if some far-reaching interventions are not urgently undertaken, we would not be able to rule out the possibility that the rest of the world might wake up one day and discover that this large, unproductive territory called Nigeria has become one wide stretch of empty space, devoid of humans or littered with decaying corpses? Is it that human life has since totally lost its value before Nigerians or what? How far should rational human beings tread on the path of mutual annihilation before they realise that it is, perhaps, time to do a rethink, beat a retreat and commence the homeward journey to self-reclamation? Let me explain. Just recently a young Nigerian medical doctor put out a message on the social media warning Nigerians about these beverages mostly prepared at home by diverse vendors and supplied to offices, business places and at events to Nigerians who eagerly purchase them these days because of the growing emphasis on natural drinks as healthy alternatives to machine processed beverages which have been established to contain very harmful (especially, carcinogenic) chemicals used as either preservatives or sweeteners. Some of the sodas (or what Nigerians call minerals) people drink with relish here are just concoctions of carbonated water, flavours, colourings and lots of sugar or sweeteners. A growing number of Nigerians are becoming aware that sugar, amino acids and fats in the body constitute rich food for cancer cells and that their growth might be halted if they could no longer find any of these to feed on. But more specifically, too much sugar (especially, the processed variety) hastens ones embrace with diabetes and the disastrous consequences that go with it. This awareness also appears to be reducing the seductive capacity of the usually attractively packaged concoctions called fruit juice sold in our supermarkets. And so, the natural drinks, like Zobo, Kunu, or diverse mixtures of juices extracted from either tigre nuts, dates or different kinds of fruits have grown to become the favourites of many Nigerians. And because of their growing popularity, many restaurants now either produce them or engage the producers to ensure they get sufficient supplies of these natural drinks in order to meet the growing demand by their customers for them. The young doctors worry is not even the mostly unregulated nature of their productions which (judging by merely looking at many of the people that produce and market them) are most likely prepared in very unhygienic environments with largely contaminated water. His main concern is with the plastic bottles in which these drinks are stored and sold. These people go to all manner of places to gather these bottles which people had discarded after drinking the water they once contained. Many of the bottles are even from hospitals and were mostly used by patients. Many of these patients are battling terrible infectious diseases like Tuberculosis and others, and after drinking the water, several of them keep the bottles for a while and spit into them each time they are pressured by the disease to do so. There are also patients who are too weak to visit the lavatories and so urinate into these bottles. At the end of the day, these are disposed of at the hospital dustbins (where other disease-carrying unmentionables are also thrown into) from where the cleaners retrieve them, pour away the various liquids they saw inside them and sell them to these natural beverage producers, who may only rinse them with even the unhealthy water available to them and use them to bottle the Zobos, Kunusand the diverse natural fruit juices they bottle and sell to unsuspecting Nigerians. Now, if companies that are subjected to periodic inspections by regulatory agencies could be caught cutting corners to the detriment of the health of the citizenry, what should one expect from people who produce these beverages in the safe confines of their homes and whose eyes are solely glued to the profits they are expecting to rake in? And so, with your N100 or even less, you buy and take home diseases-bearing liquids in unsterilised bottles from which you might contract ailments that might either eventually take your life or consume millions of naira before leaving you. Now, while you are chewing on that, lets look at another aspect of the problem. Recently, I read a report that a Lagos-based journalist had taken ill after consuming some fruits he bought from some vendors. He was taken to the hospital where he eventually died. The doctors blamed the death on food poisoning. It is a popular belief in Lagos that traders use some chemicals (calcium carbide and others) to ripen fruits or even preserve them from over-ripening and spoiling. According to a Wikipaedia entry, when calcium carbide comes in contact with moisture, it produces acetylene gas, which is quite similar in its effects to the natural ripening agent, ethylene. Acetylene acts like ethylene and accelerates the ripening process. Now, have you noticed that sometimes after consuming some fruits banana, mango, pawpaw, etc., you would begin to have this strange, uncomfortable taste lingering down your throat. Thats the residual taste of the chemical used in accelerating the ripening of the fruits or preserving them. And they could be very dangerous to health. The best alternative for wary consumers has been to go to some markets where the local farmers supply these fruits, buy unripe ones, take them home and keep them until they become ripe naturally and ready for consumption. Nigeria is suddenly having too many cases of organ failures, cancer and other malignant ailments attacking both young and old people. These have largely been attributed to these chemicals people take in while consuming these fruits and other food items. Now, who among our health bodies and regulatory agencies are trying to find out if there is indeed a proliferation of these harmful practices by fruit sellers (as is widely believed) and are deploying preventive measures to save the lives of Nigerians? The other day, a video of a girl peeling some unripe oranges was in circulation. After removing the outer coverings, the girl would dip them into some liquid in a basin and immediately the oranges would assume the colour of ripe ones? Now, in the process of doing this, who knows the amount of poison transferred into the oranges? There are other varieties of these dangerous practices. Recently, a video featuring some beans sellers (who were heard discussing in the Hausa language) spraying the Sniper brand of pesticide on the beans they had spread on large mats, perhaps, to prevent weevils from attacking them, was widely circulated on the social media, especially, WhatsApp. It is popular knowledge that Sniper is one of the deadliest pesticides today. Most of the cases of suicides reported in Nigeria in the recent past had showed that majority of the people involved had used it to end their lives, prompting calls for it to be banned in the country. Now how can human beings use this same deadly poison to safeguard a favourite food item from infestation by weevils? How far can Nigerians go to sell poisoned food items just to make huge profits? What are the authorities and regulatory agencies doing about this? Have they investigated it, and what are they doing to discourage this dangerous method of preservation? Or would they continue to pretend that those viral videos had not got to them? Shouldnt the people perpetrating these criminal activities be fished out and prosecuted for attempted murder to serve as deterrence? By the way, what healthy alternatives have the authorities offered to the grains traders for the preservation of their goods since it is possible that these fellows engaging in these dangerous practices might be quite oblivious of the many lives they are harming, including their own, since they also eat from their stock of the commodities? Some months ago, the social media was awash with reports that dried fish sellers also use this same Sniper to prevent weevil infestation of their fishes. Now, what is being done to save the eager consumers of this food item relished by many? There is also the information trending on the social media that people use a mixture of transformer oil and vegetable oil to fry Akara, Puff-puff, Yam, etc., for sale while butchers and fish sellers also use Sniper to ward off flies from their wares. Again, on January 10, 2020, the Nigerian Tribune published an editorial on the warning reportedly handed down by the Osun State Government to caterers and food vendors involved in pernicious practice of using paracetamol to [boil and] tenderise meat and using bleaching detergents for cassava processing, ostensibly to induce whiteness in the popular foods, fufu and gari. According to the Tribune, at a joint news conference in Oshogbo, the Governors Special Adviser on Public Health, Siji Olamiju, and the state Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, stressed the harmful effects of the practices on vital organs of the body such as the liver, kidneys, heart and the small intestines. Now, with all these harmful situations facing hapless Nigerians, where are our public health authorities? Where are NAFDAC and SON? The story out there is that NAFDAC died with Dr. Dora Akunyili. And as for SON, I wonder if anybody has ever taken them serious. There is another body called the Consumer Protection Council, what exactly is it doing to justify its existence? How is it protecting the consumer? Not too long ago, I stumbled on a news item conveying the warning by the Director-General of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, about the grievous damage fruits ripened with calcium carbide could inflict on the health of the people. Now what are Nigerians supposed to do with this vacuous warning? Do they have the equipments for detecting fruits ripened by calcium carbide? Shouldnt NAFDAC be out there fishing out the people involved in this devilish practice and prosecuting them to deter others in order to save the lives of Nigerians? How exactly will this empty warning help save Nigerian lives? In societies where human lives are valued, regulatory agencies do not just sit behind their huge desks and issue useless warnings. They swing into actions to halt every practice that poses danger to the lives of the citizenry. They prosecute the perpetrators to deter others. Well, what do you expect from a country where some group of herdsmen wake up almost daily to kill, maim, rape and sack villages without any consequence? And the authorities do not lift any finger to ensure they are punished for their crimes. Does Nigeria qualify to be called the land of rational human beings? A huge shame! *Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye, a Nigerian journalist and writer, is author of the book, NIGERIA: Why Looting May Not Stop ( [email protected] ) Workers manning the frontlines amid worldwide coronavirus lockdowns continue to strike across the United States. Staff at an Amazon delivery facility in Chicago, Illinois protested Saturday, looking for more protections as they work. Police who broke up the vehicular picket were told they should be 'ashamed' of themselves, Patch.com reports. Their colleagues in New York City - where one worker was fired after protesting last week - are also planning more walkouts after dozens of employees are said to have been hit with the virus at the Staten Island facility. In Massachusetts 10,000 construction workers plan to strike Monday. 'Nothing we've seen has been able to ensure the safety of our members, or workers at other sites', Union executive Tom Flynn said. And in California McDonald's staff walked out after their colleague contracted the virus - but say bosses did not tell them. Cook Bartolome Perez told City News Service: 'We've been pleading for protective equipment for more than a month now, but McDonald's is putting its profits ahead of our health. We don't want to die for McDonald's burgers and fries.' Grocery workers - many in low-wage jobs - are manning the frontlines amid worldwide lockdowns, their work deemed essential to keep food and critical goods flowing. They are insisting employers pay them more and provide masks, gloves, gowns and access to testing. Staff at an Amazon delivery facility in Chicago, Illinois protested Saturday, looking for more protections as they work. Police who broke up the vehicular picket were told they should be 'ashamed' of themselves, Patch.com reports Workers take part in a drive-thru ''strike'' at a McDonald's restaurant on Sunday in Los Angeles The workers are demanding a two-week quarantine period, with full pay for a co-worker who tested positive for COVID-19 In a handful of states - Minnesota and Vermont were the first - have given grocery workers a special classification that allows them to put their children in state-paid child care while they work. Unions in Colorado, Alaska, Texas and many other states are pressing governors to elevate grocery workers to the status of first responders. 'The government's responsibility is to step up in these moments,' said Sarah Cherin, chief of staff for the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union in Seattle, the first U.S. epicenter of COVID-19. The union, which represents about 23,000 grocery workers and 18,000 health care workers, won early concessions for higher pay. 'We have always been a group of people who come to work when others stay home,' Cherin said. 'Our workers need the same protection others get.' Whole Foods workers called for a recent 'sickout' to demand better conditions, including double pay. A group of independent contractors for the Instacart grocery delivery service walked out to force more protections. Some of the biggest employers in the U.S. are responding. To alliviate the concerns of some their workers Amazon, the world's largest online retailer, said it is rolling out face masks and temperature checks at all its U.S. and European warehouses by next week. The company has also been in contact with the CEOs of two coronavirus test makers as it considers how to screen its staff and reduce the risk of infection at its warehouses, according to internal meeting notes seen by Reuters. Worker at the Chicago facility who went on strike over the weekend said they were concerned about a lack of communication when one of their colleagues tested positive for the virus. One driver said: Two people got confirmed with coronavirus and they never told us it was in the warehouse. The drivers also, we've got to go in the warehouse, load our vans and everything. 'There is no such thing as social distancing [in there] because you're all up close on each other.' Amazon say they have made 'several changes to align with social distancing guidance' including increased cleaning and disinfecting at sites, no longer holding stand-up meetings during shifts, and a new cell phone process for those who need to be in contact with their families or childcare providers'. A spokesman told the DailyMail.com: 'Our employees are heroes fighting for their communities and helping people get critical items they need in this crisis. Like all businesses grappling with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, we are working hard to keep employees safe while serving communities and the most vulnerable. 'We have taken extreme measures to keep people safe, tripling down on deep cleaning, procuring safety supplies that are available and changing processes to ensure those in our buildings are keeping safe distances. We are committed to protecting our employees through our preventative health measures, enhanced cleaning and sanitation, and a broad suite of new benefits, including extended paid leave options for fulltime employees, additional $2 per hour, double time for overtime, and paid time off (PTO) benefits for regular part-time and seasonal employees. We enforce strict 6 social distancing on our property and throughout our facilities. 'We also communicate when a COVID-19 case is confirmed in one of our buildings to all individuals who work at that site not just to those whove come in close contact with the diagnosed individual.' Kroger, the nation's largest grocery chain, said it will give all hourly employees a $2-an-hour 'Hero Bonus' through April 18. That follows temporary $2 pay bumps by Walmart, Target and others. Walmarts raise is just for hourly employees in distribution centers, but its also giving bonuses to full- and part-time workers. Walmart, the nations largest private employer, and Target will provide masks and gloves to front-line workers and limit the number of customers in stores. Walmart is taking the temperatures of its nearly 1.5 million employees when they report to work. 'Most will see it as a welcome relief,' Walmart spokesman Dan Bartlett said of the new measures. But that doesn't alleviate the fear when shoppers won't follow the rules, including social distancing. Jake Pinelli, who works at a ShopRite in Aberdeen, New Jersey, said customers don't stay 6 feet away from others and typically don't wear masks or gloves. Staffers have protective gear, but the younger employees often give it to older co-workers or those they know have health conditions. 'Most of us are terrified,' Pinelli said. But he stays on because he wants to help. 'I have not only bills to pay, but it's the only way right now I feel like I can do anything for my community and help out,' Pinelli said. Some have fallen sick. A view of a Amazon Prime delivery van in Amazon hub, Woodside, a day after protest in Staten Island Borough in New York City amid Coronavirus Pandemic on April 1 The Shaw's supermarket chain told workers last week at six stores in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont that one of its employees had been diagnosed with COVID-19. The company reminded workers to wash their hands regularly and stay home if they don't feel well. At the Organic Food Depot in Norfolk, Virginia, cash is no longer used. Customers can't bring reusable bags. Children under 16 are banned. 'If somebody fell sick in the store, the store is most likely going to shut down,' manager Jamie Gass said. Gass, 47, said his wife has asthma, which means she would be more vulnerable to the coronavirus. Yet he feels pride going to a job that helps ensure people get fed in a crisis. 'Am I scared that I could catch this? Absolutely,' Gass said. 'But Im sure everybody is in that position. Im just taking as many precautions as I can, so I dont have to worry as much.' More than 10,000 Americans have now died from the coronavirus and the number of infections increased to over 347,000 - as new data predicts the outbreak in the US will peak in 10 days with over 3,000 deaths in 24 hours. The death toll in the United States increased by 1,147 overnight to bring the total number of fatalities to 10,358. The number of confirmed cases across the country increased by 25,841 to bring the infection total to 347,516. Ex Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen says the real unemployment level could be 21 MILLION and that GDP is down by 30% as she warns of a depression Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said Monday the real unemployment level could be far higher than officially recorded as she warned of a depression. Yellen told CNBC second-quarter GDP could decline by 30 per cent and unemployment is already at 12 per cent and 13 per cent amid the coronavirus outbreak. She warned the downturn is 'absolutely shocking', adding: 'If we had a timely unemployment statistic, the unemployment rate probably would be up to 12 or 13% at this point and moving higher.' Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, pictured, said second-quarter GDP could decline by 30 per cent and unemployment is already at between 12 per cent and 13 per cent 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. Janet Yellen told CNBC second-quarter GDP could decline by 30 per cent and unemployment is already at 12 per cent and 13 per cent amid the coronavirus outbreak With a labor forced of 165 million that means up to 21 million Americans unemployed by Yellen's calculations. Yellen said: 'This is a huge, unprecedented, devastating hit, and my hope is that we will get back to business as quickly as possible.' On whether the economy can recover quickly with a sudden 'V' upturn, she warned: 'I think a 'V' is possible, but I am worried that the outcome will be worse and it really depend to my mind on just how much damage is down during the time that the economy is shut down in the way it is now. 'The more damage of that sort is done, the more likely we are to see a 'U,' and there are worse letters like 'L' and I hope we don't see something like that.' The number of Americans officially 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. More than 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, according to new figures released by the Department of Labor on Thursday. About 50 people lined up (above) outside an Arkansas unemployment office on Monday 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. The idea is that, if there is some labor or employees who do not fit with the new vision of the firm and private-equity firm, they can be let go and find a job somewhere else, said Amit Seru, finance expert at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. In the process, their hope is that the firm creates more value for their investors and the economy. The vilified nature comes typically from the fact that there are, many times, employees that get fired. Even as the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, scientists have found a silver lining that could possibly help fill the chinks in the essential public services. One in 34,000 persons on the planet have tested positive for Covid-19 and have later recovered from it, writes Peretz Partensky for Wired. The real figures of those who have recovered are much higher and will continue to increase. They are a greatly underappreciated resource, the report adds. Their privileged immune condition makes them an ideal contender for a hopeful concept the CoronaCorps. The CoronaCorps, Partensky writes, is a civilian army that may be able to fill the gaps in public services, shield the vulnerable from the infection, help chart the proliferation of the virus and give the US medical system some much-needed breathing room. The detection of this civilian army must become a priority. According to the article, it is imperative that as many immune individuals as possible, be recognised, their immunity be certified in an official manner and they be stationed in places where their utility can be maximized. We are at war, and this is our draft. Immunity comes with responsibility, writes Partensky. Doctors in Germany are looking to start issuing immunity certificates this month, giving clearances to people to go back to work, the report said. The United Kingdom, too, had recently announced its plan of allocating immunity passports in this regard. To make this system work, one needs to enable those who have this newfound superpower and help them use it for the common good. Partensky lists six steps that must be followed for it to happen. 1. Award Immunity Certificates The FDA should make headway in license at-home, direct-to-consumer testing for immunity using pinpricks, at the earliest, the report said. It, however, also cautioned against its limitations, including false-positives. Such tests could likely be imperfectFor example, if detected antibodies were produced in response to coronaviruses other than SARS-CoV-2, or if they target SARS-CoV-2 in such a way that fails to neutralize it, the report said. Even then, this could at least help recognizing contenders for more rigorous follow-up testing and official certification. They may also facilitate crowd-sourced contact tracing and improve our understanding of the total prevalence of Covid-19 in the US population, the report said. 2. Give Candidates Formal Immune-status Certification Candidates spotted through at-home tests or tele-screenings should be scheduled for formal immune-status certification at drive-through clinics, the report said. The criteria for this certification should be kept at a national level and updated frequently. To start with, the standard might specify a threshold for detection of persistent antibodies targeting currently known neutralizing sites on the virus, Partensky writes. The methodology for testing is likely to progress quickly, which will be of consequence to the certificates period of validity and needed frequency for retesting. Official guidance for the standard must accept and acknowledge this fact, the report adds. 3. Enlist and Strategically Deploy the Army of the Recovered and Immune Whoever gets their immune certification should be persuaded to volunteer for the CoronaCorps. One does not need to be infected to be of help, the report adds. However, the edge that the immune-certified have is that they can move through and between the quarantined, ensuring the supply of essential goods and services, while minimizing personal risks. Public health specialists and epidemiologists should provide guidance for the most efficient deployment of immune individuals to slow the spread, Partensky adds. 4. Support the Census Given the operational-challenges of the US census, Partensky says that it could be used to deploy the CoronaCorps in large numbers. The 2010 census employed over 600,000 people, he writes. It is our constitutional responsibility to allow the census to go on and give it meaning in our current moment, the report adds. Now, more than ever, it is important to let each person know they count. 5. Design a Global Adaptive Immune System Creating an army of those who have recovered is more than a pandemic surge-remediation strategy, the report says. The bodies of CoronaCorps volunteers would be instrumental to our collective immune system. This is an advantage humanity has over the virus: Our defense strategies are more mutable; we adapt at multiple scales, the report says. We are capable of self-organising and designating our resources for maximum efficiency, the report adds. It may become possible to reallocate the antibodies in our blood, wielding them as a medicine to safeguard others. We can asses and modify our battle formation based on epidemiological models and insulate paths of transmission, Partensky adds. Let us mobilize this advantage, he concluded. OTTAWA - New Democrats say the COVID-19 pandemic is distracting the federal and provincial governments from helping a northern-Ontario First Nation whose residents have been forced to evacuate each spring due to flooding. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/4/2020 (644 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. NDP MP Charlie Angus speaks during a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Monday, March 9, 2020. New Democrats say they are concerned COVID-19 is distracting the federal and provincial governments from helping a northern Ontario First Nation that has been evacuated for the past few years due to flooding. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld OTTAWA - New Democrats say the COVID-19 pandemic is distracting the federal and provincial governments from helping a northern-Ontario First Nation whose residents have been forced to evacuate each spring due to flooding. The spring evacuation has become an annual event for the roughly 2,000 residents of Kashechewan, who have seen their community north of Fort Albany flooded by nearby James Bay and the Albany River for years thanks to melting winter ice and snow. But federal NDP MP Charlie Angus and his Ontario counterpart Guy Bourgouin, whose respective ridings include Kashechewan, say they have yet to see a plan for helping the community this year as the federal and provincial governments appear preoccupied with COVID-19. "Normally at this time of the year, there's a whole team," Angus said in an interview Monday of past efforts to prepare for an evacuation. "It seems everybody is preoccupied with COVID. And the community doesn't seem to have a lot of support right now." It doesn't help that temporarily relocating residents to southern communities, as in previous years, is not an option, Angus added. Not only are those communities already facing their own challenges with the pandemic, but people in Kashechewan are wary of being exposed to the illness. To draw attention to the situation, Angus and Bourgouin sent a letter Friday to federal Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller and Ontario Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford in which they asked what the two governments were planning to do for Kashechewan. The ministers' offices did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday. The federal government established Kashechewan on the northern shore of the Albany River in the 1950s, one of two First Nations that trace their origins to a former Hudson's Bay Company trading post nearby. Residents have long claimed that they warned the federal government against the site because of the threat of flooding, but their advice was ignored. An agreement to move the community to a new site about 30 kilometres south of the current site was signed with the federal and provincial governments last year, but Angus said minimal progress has been made. The federal Indigenous-services minister at the time, Seamus O'Regan, suggested it could take eight years to complete the move. Angus said when it became clear a few weeks ago that COVID-19 was rendering past plans to evacuate residents to Timmins, Sudbury and other southern towns infeasible, residents suggested the government erect a tent city on Site 5. "So the first option the community took was to try and prompt the government with military help to set up this temporary village at the site of their future community," he said. "And the government said that was too complicated." Residents are now being encouraged to live off the land, Angus said. But while some have resources and experience through traditional hunting camps and similar arrangements, and geese are returning to the area, Angus is worried about hundreds of people being forced to "wait it out" with limited support. None of which accounts for what happens if COVID-19 gets in amongst the community. Faced with the dual threat of COVID-19 and floods, the Mushkegowuk Council of Chiefs, whose members include Kashechewan, declared a state of emergency on March 18. The move aimed to ensure federal and provincial action to support the council's seven First Nations. "They've been forced to do the annual evacuations that cost in the millions every year to undertake," Angus said. "But this year, where are people going to go and how are they going to be safe? I'm just very concerned. ... If the worst-case scenario hits, people could be very affected." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 6, 2020. Berlin will guarantee 100 per cent of loans made by banks to small- and medium-sized firms, German government sources told AFP Monday, in an extension to the 1.1-trillion-euro coronavirus crisis package in Europe's top economy. The federal government will stand fully behind 500,000 euros (USD 540,000) of lending to companies with up to 50 employees and 800,000 euros for larger ones, upping its guarantee level from a previous 80 percent for large firms or 90 percent for smaller ones. Berlin's economic aid so far totals over 1.1 trillion euros, the finance ministry said in an answer to an opposition parliamentary question seen by AFP Monday. Ministers have agreed a 600-billion-euro "economic stabilisation fund" offering 400 billion euros of guarantees for companies' debts, 100 billion to lend directly to or buy stakes in troubled firms, and 100 billion euros to fund state investment bank KfW. Meanwhile the amount of company borrowing KfW can guarantee has been boosted by 357 billion euros, for a total of 822 billion. To keep their liquidity flowing, companies will also be able to delay tax payments. Berlin says it will offer 50 billion euros of support for small and one-man-band companies, like photographers, musicians or carers. Depending on the number of employees, individual companies will receive up to 15,000 euros each to keep the lights on over a period of three months. Meanwhile freelancers applying for unemployment benefit will not be forced to seek new work. Germany has also eased access to a programme that tops up workers' pay with government cash when their hours are slashed. The scheme is widely credited with saving large numbers of jobs during the financial crisis of 2008-9. Berlin expects more than two million people to work shorter hours in the coronavirus crisis, far outstripping the peak seen over a decade ago. To cover the costs, the federal labour agency (BA) will start eating into its massive cash reserves of 26 billion euros. With 156 billion euros in new borrowing to fund the largesse and extra health spending, Berlin has been forced to suspend a "debt brake" added to the constitution at the height of the financial crisis in 2009. A further 82.2 billion euros of measures have been announced by Germany's federal states and municipal governments, as well as 63.2 billion in guarantees. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) COVID-19 crisis helps John Kasich rediscover his faith in Jesus: 'The most powerful being cares for us' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Former Ohio Governor John Kasich said the fear and panic surrounding the new coronavirus pandemic led him to ask some deep questions about his faith in Jesus, which in turn renewed his confidence about what he believes in. Writing for USA Today, the former presidential candidate admitted that hes been in and out of a funk these past weeks, ever since the full force of this global COVID-19 pandemic started to impact our communities here at home. In the midst of the spread of the disease, Kasich recalled he walked for over six miles, keeping a safe social distance from others and the whole time thinking about where we were as a society and where I was with God. He spoke to Father Kevin Maney, from St. Augustine's Anglican Church in Westerville, Ohio, about the disconnect he was feeling, believing wholeheartedly in the resurrection of Christ and the promise of a new creation and a life after death, while at the same time harboring these feelings of fear and anxiety. "I told him that what had me frustrated was that it sometimes felt to me as if my faith was in my head and not in my heart." Maney responded to him, Its normal for us to be afraid, John. Were born to live, not to die, so our focus should be on living, not dying. Kasich, a senior political contributor for CNN, said he shared about his sense of lacking in his faith also with his friend Tom Barrett, whose wife never complained or questioned her faith despite having and eventually dying of cancer. Barrett responded, Youve just forgotten for the moment that God answers our needs, not necessarily when we ask for them to be answered, but when we need Him to answer them. Kasich admitted that after the sudden death of his parents, who were killed in 1987 by a drunk driver, he wasn't sure he believed in God. In times of crisis and doubt, "we are pushed to examine our beliefs, and perhaps even to steady ourselves in those beliefs," he wrote, acknowledging that a largely unknown pandemic could shake a person's faith. But he assured that his faith foundation is sound. "Religion for me is not a mind game Ive learned to play to help me answer some of lifes unanswerable questions. This is not a workaround or a get-out-of-jail-free card I choose to play when things get tough," he said. "No, this is me, knowing with dead-solid certainty that we are graced by the most powerful being to ever exist in the universe, who cares for us, who cares for our families, who cares about what we do and how we live our lives and the footprints we mean to leave behind. He does. Absolutely, He does. "And if you come to embrace this truth, as I have come to embrace this truth, you can internalize it and grow from it, and it can give you the hope and strength and confidence you need to get to the other side of even an unknowable difficulty such as this one and to somehow emerge all the better for it." In the end, he said, what matters is not "what we've gained" but rather "what we've built." Its our legacy that matters in the end. Its the example weve set for our children, the impact weve managed to make in our community," he emphasized. As of Monday morning, the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus had risen to over 1.27 million around the world with 69,527 deaths, out of which 337,646 cases were in the United States with 9,648 deaths, according to Johns Hoskins University. Kasich concluded, Right now, I am in a hopeful place, because I do know we will get through this. And given the opportunity, it allows me to figure out what is really important and where my real treasures are. The Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCOD) has said it forecast a drop in remittances by Zimbabweans working outside the country due to a global economic downturn as a result of the coronavirus. In 2019, Zimbabwe received US$635 million in remittances, representing a 2.6 percent increase from US$619.25 million in 2018. With a diaspora population of over three million, as recorded by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), remittances form a very important aspect of Zimbabwes economy. In its recent report, titled Zimbabwe COVID-19 Response Mechanism: The Resource Factor, ZIMCOD said the countrys economy was going to be affected negatively by the coronavirus. Most host economies around the world for Zimbabweans are contracting owing to COVID-19, reducing remittances to the country. With South Africa being the biggest host nation to Zimbabwes diaspora population and accounting for over 56 percent of remittances, the restrictions in terms of movement of goods and the disruption to business will have negative effects to the majority of ordinary Zimbabweans, it said. Diaspora cash remittances is a vital source of foreign currency liquidity for the countrys economy and income for many households. According to the central bank, individual diaspora remittances have contributed at least nine percent to the countrys foreign currency receipts in 2018 and 2019, which makes diaspora remittances a key factor in terms of foreign currency receipts. Consequently, the expected decline in diaspora remittances has a net effect on the countrys current acute foreign currency challenges. A decline in individual cash remittances is also going to affect small- to medium-scale businesses in retail, hardware as the remittances form a primary source market for these back of the value chain businesses. According to the World Bank, Zimbabweans living abroad send back home goods and money upwards of US$1.8 billion annually. Personal remittances consist of all current transfers in cash or in kind received by households in the southern African nation and these make a considerable contribution to both urban and rural livelihoods. However, last week the government availed significant funding for social welfare support for one million people in urban areas, mostly informal workers, whose business activities have been affected by the 21-day Covid-19 lockdown. Treasury said it will be initially availing ZWL$200 million per month under a cash transfer program which will be reviewed as necessary. The Department of Social Welfare will run the programme, in which development partners are also expected to chip in. Saudi Press: Saudi Arabia is Keen on Maintaining Stability of Global Oil Markets Saudi Press Agency Sunday 1441/8/12 - 2020/04/05 Riyadh, April 05, 2020, SPA -- Saudi newspapers highlighted in their editorials today a number of issues at local, regional and international arenas. Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper said in its editorial that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its Presidency of G20 summit is leading the international efforts to face Coronavirus, in addition to inspiring the whole world with its leadership and decisions that it takes. The newspaper added that immediately after the declaration of Coronavirus pandemic, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has issued unprecedented orders and directives to limit the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and to protect people's lives. In another context, Al-Yaum newspaper reported in its editorial that in implementation of directives by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the expatriate residency ID "Iqama" will be automatically extended for a period of three additional months free of charges whether one is inside or outside the lands of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The newspaper added that this comes as a part of the efforts being exerted by the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in dealing with the financial and economic implications of the global pandemic (COVID-19). Al-Bilad newspaper reported that Saudi Arabia's oil policy is based on maintaining the stability of global oil markets and preserving the interests of oil producers and consumers. In this regard, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the world's largest crude oil production and as the largest exporter of petroleum is keen to provide continuous global cooperation with OPEC+ countries and the other countries to maintain stability in the global oil market. --SPA 09:26 LOCAL TIME 06:26 GMT 0002 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says he wants the world to donate 10% of world GDP toward fighting the coronavirus in the developing world. He goes on to talk of all the socialist platitudes the world needs to adopt, which this new money would promote. You have to wonder how stupid this man thinks we are in the United States. Such a multi-trillion-dollar fund would only fill the pockets of corruptocrats the world over, especially in Africa and the Orient, and by far the biggest part of it would come from the United States. Said to have the worlds second-largest economy, China knows what happens to money given to the UN -- it just gets parceled out a mong a cabal of dictators who burn it up on lavish living, fancy cars, and personal jets. The Chinese will just hang onto their dough for their own dictator. After all, they can claim with wounded humility that they, too, are still developing. Then theres the fact that the only countries capable of actually doing something about the virus are America and Germany, with help from Asians who have trained in American and German universities. The labs where they do this work get support from their own pipelines and dont need someone elses probably dirty money with its political demands on how its to be used. Thats all in addition to the difficulty in these times of raising such amounts. The world economy has taken a heavy hit already from this virus and banks arent likely to have the liquidity to support such a drain on resources. Pretty near everybody is in hock up to their necks with nearly all loanable capital in the needed range already obligated. These facts are evident to anybody who watches whats going on, yet Guterres pitches his plan before the UN anyway. We can guess the script from here: Donald Trump turns it down, the world ignores it, liberals cry havoc and let slip the dogs of slander. That, after all, is all they know and what they do best. 90 Day Fiance fans have been watching Usman Umar and Babygirl Lisa Hamme closely since the couple first debuted on the new season of Before the 90 Days. 30-year-old Usman Umar is an aspiring musician in Nigeria, and 52-year-old Lisa Hamme hails from Pennsylvania. Umar and Hamme met online, and Umar, in a bid to show Hamme his feelings for her, created a music video dedicated to their relationship entitled I Love You. However, Hamme has exhibited something of a jealous and controlling streak during their time together, and Usman Umar seems to have had enough. Lisa Hamme gets shady on Instagram, changes name 24 times Lisa Hamme has an interesting history when it comes to Instagram. The 90 Day Fiance star previously threw some major shade at Usman Umar on her social media, before deleting the posts and changing her Instagram handle. In fact, Lisa Hamme has had 24 Instagram handles in 17 months an impressive number of changes for a single account. A Redditors dive into her handle history revealed some interesting name choices, which fans can find here. Additionally, Hamme posted about Usman Umar several times, seemingly throwing shade at her Nigerian lover. In one post she mocked his living situation, and in another, she commented that Umar has bad body order. She also included a screenshot of a message Umar wrote on Facebook that read, Hello Lisa Renee Hamme Im very sorry for what I said TV, maybe it hurt U bcus of language barrier but i dont mean HURT to YOU [sic]. When losing the chance at a K1 becomes reality, Hamme captioned the screenshot. Since Hamme changed her handle, these posts have been removed. Hamme has also exhibited some serious jealousy when it comes to Umar. She attacks his female fans on social media, and was frustrated to see that they used a model in his music video about her. Usman Umar fights back Now, it seems as if Usman Umar has had enough of Lisa Hammes behavior. During a recent episode of 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days, Umar confessed to Hamme that her behavior makes him anxious about his future with her in the United States. Umar told Hamme, You know, anything I do is not enough. And Im kind of tired of that you know. Hamme replied, Lets get it straight, nobody is perfect. You need to make up your mind and make it quick. I am scared about you right now, let me just tell you the truth, Umar continued. I am scared. Because if in Nigeria you can be playing this, then what about if I come to United States? He later added, I have never insult you for a good two years, directly or indirectly. I have so much respect for you. Sometimes you come around and say, You are *******, you are this, you are that. I have never insulted you. But you did, and I take it. So if I should be receiving these kinds of things right now in Nigeria, what is going to happen to me if I go to America? Where I have no father, no mother, no brother, no friends, nobody to run to. Lisa Hamme, seemingly sensing that she was losing control, tried to turn it around on Umar. She told him, You are very insecure about this relationship, I thought we were further than this. However, Umar was not going to be cowed. He continued to push his point home to Lisa Hamme, telling her that hes scared of how shes behaving. 90 Day Fiance fans react to Usman Umars comments Lisa Hamme and Usman Umar of 90 Day Fiance | _90_day_babygirl_lisa via Instagram 90 Day Fiance fans appeared to be largely supportive of Umar and his comments. As for Lisa Hammes attempt to take back control, many seemed to think her behavior was similar to gaslighting. One Reddit user commented, Shes just trying to throw him off balance and undermine his chain of thought here. She doesnt like this mini rebellion one bit. Another added, Shes fearing she lost control over him so shes putting all of her issues on him you need to make up your mind, youre insecure, etc. I dont see one [something] wrong with what he said. Hes absolutely right. She tried damn hard to get control of the conversation and him again the more and more he stood up for himself. Love that he didnt back down when she started her bs. Go Usman! added another fan. ABINGDON, Va., April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As the COVID-19 situation evolves, community banks in Southwest Virginia are stepping up to help their neighbors and friends navigate through this crisis. These banks have taken prudent steps to safeguard the health and safety of their customers, staff and communities while maintaining the normal delivery of critical financial services such as money and credit availability. They want the community to know they are open for business, and they are ready to serve customers who need help. Financial institutions want the community to know that the safest place for customers to keep their money is in a deposit account at an FDIC-insured bank, backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America. Funds are insured up to $250,000 per depositor, and since 1933, no depositor has ever lost a penny of FDIC insured funds. Federal and state regulation requires banks to have continuity plans and testing processes in place which address pandemic response scenarios. Community banks in Southwest Virginia have such a plan in place, and have already implemented many changes to accommodate the COVID-19 pandemic. Among them are: Closing lobbies and asking customers who desire personal or specific banker services to request office appointments. Encouraging customers to utilize drive-thru, digital and ATM channels for transactional services. Enhancing cleaning and sanitary practices to help mitigate the potential spread of the virus. Implementing travel restrictions for staff members. Asking many non-customer-facing bank employees to work from home. Requesting customers facing financial hardships as a result of COVID-19 to contact their respective bankers to discuss their individual situations. Urging customers to take advantage of their debit and credit cards when making purchases. Encouraging customers to check their banks' websites and social media channels for updates as the situation evolves. The American financial system is strong, and while social distancing has temporarily changed how many people conduct their banking business, it is business as usual otherwise. Banks can deliver products and services through enhanced mobile and digital channels such as mobile banking, online bill pay, ATMs, ITMs and touchless payments as well as person-to-person payments and remote deposit services. Providing safe and reliable service is a key priority for all banks, especially in challenging times, and they are proud to play a small part in working to defeat this health challenge by following suggested business operating guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization and other local and regional healthcare facilities. Like all other employers, banks are taking common sense steps to keep people healthy. The financial system is strong, and the business of banking continues in Southwest Virginia communities as well as communities across the state. About Southwest Virginia Banks United Southwest Virginia Banks United is an informal association of banks that came together to voice strong financial support for the communities we serve across this great region in this time of crisis. "While we are all required to adjust our lives and our ways of conducting business, we are adaptable, and we are all in this together. As we move forward in these trying times, rest assured that your community banks in Southwest Virginia are united in a common purpose. We pledge to maintain the high standards of financial support that our customers and communities deserve and expect in this time of crisis." If you would like to schedule an interview with a bank representative, please contact your local community bank, listed in alphabetical order below. Jeff Haley, CEO - American National Bank [email protected] Chris Snodgrass, CEO - Bank of Marion [email protected] Litz VanDyke, CEO - Carter Bank & Trust [email protected] Bill Sage, CEO - Farmers and Miners Bank [email protected] W. Mark Nelson, CEO - First Bank & Trust Company [email protected] Gary Mills, CEO - First Community Bank [email protected] John Thompson, CEO - First Sentinel Bank [email protected] Donna Thompson, CEO - Grundy National Bank [email protected] Robert Coffey, CEO - Lee Bank & Trust [email protected] Jibber Ward, CEO - Miners Exchange Bank [email protected] Brad Denardo, CEO - National Bank [email protected] Todd Asbury, CEO - New Peoples Bank [email protected] Leton Harding, CEO - Powell Valley Bank [email protected] Blake Edwards, CEO - Skyline National Bank [email protected] Barry Elswick, CEO - TruPoint Bank [email protected] SOURCE Southwest Virginia Banks United Updated: The HSE has said it is not recommending people wear face masks to prevent the spread of Covid 19 despite growing attention and debate on the issue. Other countries, like the US, have told people to cover their faces as the number of cases rises. Dr Breda Smyth from the HSE has said, however, that is not the advice here. "What is important for the public is to wash their hands and not to reduce their appetite for washing their hands. This is the best way to break the chain of transmission." Despite the HSE position the The Regional Group of Independents said that on reviewing the evolving medical evidence regarding modes of transmission of coronavirus, it was asking government and the National Public Health Emergency Team to immediately consider initiatives for cloth faced coverings to be worn in public and work areas. In a statement the group said that while it was critical that the public continued to observe two meter social distancing, it felt more proactive and proven measures to prevent cough and sneeze droplet spread were now also required. It read: "Simple cloth face coverings can slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. "The Regional Group of independents believe Cloth face coverings fashioned from common materials as being done in other countries at present can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure and that the present Community Call initiative announced by government could immediately take a leading role here in providing mask templates and designs for people to copy and manufacture at home or in small businesses. "We believe cloth masks may well offer a solution also in coming weeks to allow some numbers of people rejoin work activity while continuing to observe social distance and hygiene protection measures. "We would emphasise that these clothes masks are not the respirators or ventilator type that are used to protect health care workers and these important mask protectors must be reserved for our frontline healthcare workers and medical first responders who are at most serious risk. "We have no doubt that the continuing community participation of the Irish people in observing COVID-19 quarantine measures can be directed to provide significant impetus for community manufacture and delivery of this extra protection measure and we would ask government to approve a supporting initiative as soon as possible to energize and deliver this initiative." The Independent Wexford TD Verona Murphy has joined a Regional technical group of fellow Independents, saying it will allow her the best possibility of getting speaking time in the Dail. 'The Regional Group' is a technical group is made up of Independent Wexford TD Verona Murphy, Waterford Independent TD Matt Shanahan, Galway East TD Sean Canney, Galway West TD Noel Grealish, Roscommon/Galway TD Denis Naughten, Cathal Berry representing Kildare South, Peter Fitzpatrick representing Dundalk, Michael Lowry representing Tipperary and Peader Toibin from Meath West. Meanwhile, the Social Democrats Co-Leader is calling on the government to bring Irish experts together to produce Personal Protective Equipment. Deputy Roisin Shortall believes Ireland has the facilities to make the equipment to protect frontline healthcare workers. She said pharmaceutical companies could also make re-agent, which is used to test for the coronavirus and is in short supply. "Surely with so many pharma companies in this country we should be able to produce it here in Ireland." EMERYVILLE, Calif., April 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gritstone Oncology, Inc. (GRTS), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing the next generation of cancer immunotherapies to fight multiple cancer types, today announced the appointment of Rahsaan W. Thompson as its executive vice president and general counsel. Mr. Thompson joins Gritstone with over 20 years of experience as corporate counsel. We are excited to welcome Rahsaan to our senior executive team, said Andrew Allen, M.D., Ph.D., co-founder, president and chief executive officer of Gritstone Oncology. Rahsaan has deep biopharmaceutical legal and senior executive experience. With expertise broadly across corporate matters, including intellectual property, clinical development and commercialization, Rahsaan is equipped to contribute immediately and well into the future of our organization as we work to bring innovative and meaningful therapies to patients. Prior to Gritstone, Mr. Thompson was the general counsel for Opiant Pharmaceuticals, where he was responsible for all legal aspects of corporate strategy, intellectual property, transactions, compliance and regulatory matters. Previously, as the vice president of law for Actelion Pharmaceuticals, he led the Actelion Law Department based in San Francisco, California. In this position, Mr. Thompson was responsible for overseeing the law departments support for the Actelion U.S. business. In earlier years at Actelion, he served as associate general counsel and corporate secretary, where he led litigation, government investigations and acquisitions. Before joining Actelion, he worked for the law firm of Quarles & Brady in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Thompson was the associate general counsel at Abraxis Bioscience, before its acquisition by Celegene. Mr. Thompson also served as Corporate Counsel at McKesson Corporation. He began his career as an assistant district attorney in the Philadelphia District Attorneys office. Mr. Thompson obtained his bachelors degree from Southern Methodist University and his law degree from Hofstra University. He has served on various non-profit boards and presently serves on the Board of Directors for the Oakland Museum of California Board of Directors as the finance committee chair. Story continues About Gritstone Oncology Gritstone Oncology (GRTS), a clinical-stage biotechnology company, is developing the next generation of cancer immunotherapies to fight multiple cancer types. Gritstone develops its products by leveraging two key pillarsfirst, a proprietary machine learning-based platform, Gritstone EDGETM, which is designed to predict, from a routine tumor biopsy, the tumor-specific neoantigens (TSNA) that are presented on a patients tumor cells; and second, the ability to develop and manufacture potent immunotherapies utilizing patients TSNA to potentially drive the patients immune system to specifically attack and destroy tumors. The companys off the shelf shared neoantigen-based immunotherapy, SLATE, and its individualized neoantigen-based immunotherapy, GRANITE, are being evaluated in Phase 1 clinical studies. Novel tumor-specific antigens can also provide targets for bispecific antibody (BiSAb) therapeutics for solid tumors, and Gritstones BiSAb program is currently in lead optimization. For more information, please visit gritstoneoncology.com. Gritstone Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements related to the potential of Gritstones therapeutic programs. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause Gritstones research and clinical development programs, future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainties inherent in the drug development process, including Gritstones programs early stage of development, the process of designing and conducting preclinical and clinical trials, the regulatory approval processes, the timing of regulatory filings, the challenges associated with manufacturing drug products, Gritstones ability to successfully establish, protect and defend its intellectual property and other matters that could affect the sufficiency of existing cash to fund operations. Gritstone undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of the company in general, see Gritstones most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 11, 2020 and any current and periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The goal of this article is to teach you how to use price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We'll show how you can use Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited's (HKG:1398) P/E ratio to inform your assessment of the investment opportunity. Looking at earnings over the last twelve months, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China has a P/E ratio of 5.46. In other words, at today's prices, investors are paying HK$5.46 for every HK$1 in prior year profit. See our latest analysis for Industrial and Commercial Bank of China How Do You Calculate Industrial and Commercial Bank of China's P/E Ratio? The formula for P/E is: Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price (in reporting currency) Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Industrial and Commercial Bank of China: P/E of 5.46 = CN4.710 CN0.863 (Based on the year to December 2019.) (Note: the above calculation uses the share price in the reporting currency, namely CNY and the calculation results may not be precise due to rounding.) Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good? A higher P/E ratio means that buyers have to pay a higher price for each CN1 the company has earned over the last year. That isn't necessarily good or bad, but a high P/E implies relatively high expectations of what a company can achieve in the future. Does Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry? The P/E ratio essentially measures market expectations of a company. You can see in the image below that the average P/E (5.2) for companies in the banks industry is roughly the same as Industrial and Commercial Bank of China's P/E. SEHK:1398 Price Estimation Relative to Market April 6th 2020 That indicates that the market expects Industrial and Commercial Bank of China will perform roughly in line with other companies in its industry. The company could surprise by performing better than average, in the future. Further research into factors such as insider buying and selling, could help you form your own view on whether that is likely. Story continues How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios Earnings growth rates have a big influence on P/E ratios. When earnings grow, the 'E' increases, over time. That means unless the share price increases, the P/E will reduce in a few years. A lower P/E should indicate the stock is cheap relative to others -- and that may attract buyers. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China's earnings per share grew by 5.0% in the last twelve months. And earnings per share have improved by 1.9% annually, over the last five years. A Limitation: P/E Ratios Ignore Debt and Cash In The Bank Don't forget that the P/E ratio considers market capitalization. Thus, the metric does not reflect cash or debt held by the company. Theoretically, a business can improve its earnings (and produce a lower P/E in the future) by investing in growth. That means taking on debt (or spending its cash). Such expenditure might be good or bad, in the long term, but the point here is that the balance sheet is not reflected by this ratio. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China's Balance Sheet With net cash of CN845b, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China has a very strong balance sheet, which may be important for its business. Having said that, at 47% of its market capitalization the cash hoard would contribute towards a higher P/E ratio. The Verdict On Industrial and Commercial Bank of China's P/E Ratio Industrial and Commercial Bank of China has a P/E of 5.5. That's below the average in the HK market, which is 9.1. EPS was up modestly better over the last twelve months. And the net cash position gives the company many options. So it's strange that the low P/E indicates low expectations. Investors have an opportunity when market expectations about a stock are wrong. If it is underestimating a company, investors can make money by buying and holding the shares until the market corrects itself. So this free visual report on analyst forecasts could hold the key to an excellent investment decision. But note: Industrial and Commercial Bank of China may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a P/E ratio below 20). If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. [April 06, 2020] New York Law Firm Wins "Amazon Reinstatement" For People And Companies Falsely Accused Of Price Gouging On Amazon LONG BEACH, N.Y., April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosenbaum & Famularo, P.C. the law firm behind AmazonSellersLawyer.com, won the re-opening of multiple Amazon Sellers' businesses were falsely accused of price gouging on Amazon.com. When it comes to Amazon: Amazon allows approximately five million people and companies to sell products on Amazon.com and to use Amazon's warehouses and shipping systems; People and companies that sell products on Amazon are called "Amazon Sellers" or "Amazon Third party Sellers" Price Gouging is defined as "the increase of prices by retailers in the absence of a viable alternative" 1 When Amazon accuses an Amazon Seller of price gouging, the Amazon Seller often loses the ability to sell the product on Amazon.com and Amazon also often shuts down the Amazon Seller's entire business and withholds the suspended Amazon Seller's inventory and money. The effect of a price gouging accusation against an Amazon Seller is the same whether the price gouging accusation is accurate or when Amazon's price gouging accusation is baseless. Rosenbaum Famularo, P.C. sccessfully helped multiple Amazon Sellers get their Amazon Sellers' accounts, their inventory and their money from Amazon. CJ Rosenbaum stated that "we are winning these issues with Amazon by pointing out that price increases are solely related to increased costs to obtain the products. Our clients are NOT price gouging." CJ Rosenbaum further expressed that "it seems that Amazon is just passing the buck: when a State Attorney General contacts Amazon, Amazon seemingly points the finger at Amazon Sellers. We saw this before with sales tax issues." Attorney Travis Stockman and paralegal Vincent Famularo are on the team addressing false accusations of price gouging. Travis Stockman stated that "setting prices for a product that include the wholesale cost of the goods and estimated shipping costs to make a minimal profit...this is not price gouging." A short video explaining how the firm is winning the reinstatement of Amazon Sellers accused of price gouging can be accessed by clicking here. Rosenbaum Famularo, P.C., is a law firm dedicated to helping Amazon Sellers with offices located in Long Beach, New York and Shenzhen and Yiwu, China. 1 https://thelawdictionary.org/price-gouging/ CJ Rosenbaum Rosenbaum Famularo, P.C. AmazonSellersLawyers.Com [email protected] 212-256-1109 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-york-law-firm-wins-amazon-reinstatement-for-people-and-companies-falsely-accused-of-price-gouging-on-amazon-301036006.html SOURCE Rosenbaum Famularo, P.C. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Seoul, April 6 : Fifty-one people in South Korea, who recovered after contracting COVID-19, have tested positive again, but the results might have been due to the reactivation of the novel coronavirus, health authorities here said on Monday. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said the people from Daegu and the surrounding North Gyeongsang province, the epicentres of the pandemic in South Korea, tested positive for the virus after they were released from quarantine, rports Yonhap News Agency. KCDC Director-General Jeong Eun-kyeong said the virus was highly likely to have been reactivated, instead of the people being reinfected, as they tested positive again in a relatively short time after being released from quarantine. The health authorities said a team of investigators has been sent to Daegu to conduct an epidemiological investigation into the cases. Meanwhile, Kim Tae-kyung, an infectious disease expert at Soonchunhyang University Hospital, said: "Patients who retested positive are people in which the virus was reactivated or who relapsed." A COVID-19 patient is deemed fully recovered after showing negative results for two tests performed with a 24-hour interval. The country recorded fewer than 50 new cases of the novel coronavirus Monday, bringing the nation's total infections to 10,284, reports Yonhap News Agency. It marked the lowest daily increase since late February. The nation's death toll rose by three to 186, while more than 130 recovered from the virus Sunday, raising the total number of cured people to 6,598, according to the KCDC. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The Air Jordan summer 2020 rollout began with the April 4 European release of the Air Jordan I "Court Purple." (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) Jordan Brand has officially revealed their highly anticipated summer collection, full of modified takes on beloved silhouettes and re-releases of their popular retro models. Beginning with the April 4 European release of the Air Jordan I Court Purple, the rollout will proceed over the next several months both on the official Nike SNKRS app and online website. This year, the namesake operation of Michael Jordan is celebrating 30 years of the Air Jordan V Retro, marking the milestone with the return of the inaugural Fire Red colorway. The updated look, which features a flashy blue rubber outsole, maintains the aesthetic of the 1990 original, like the iconic reflective silver tongue, red Jumpman and Nike Air branding. In addition to Fire Red, you can also look forward to the releases of Metallic and Grape colorways. The well-known Air Jordan I High are dropping in two fresh hues in time for warmer weather, a Court Purple and a Tie-Dye colorway, the latter dropping exclusively in sizes for women. Other designs arriving just for women include the Air Jordan IV Retro and a new Air Jordan XI Low Concord shade. Check out the full cast below. Official release dates and prices are yet to be revealed, but make sure to download the Nike SNKRS app to stay up to date on all things Jordan. Air Jordan V Retro Fire Red Air Jordan V Retro "Fire Red" Air Jordan V Retro Top 3 Air Jordan V Retro "Top 3" Air Jordan I Retro High OG Court Purple Air Jordan I Retro High OG Court Purple Air Jordan I Retro High OG Womens Tie-Dye Air Jordan I Retro High OG Womens "Tie-Dye" Air Jordan IV Retro Womens Air Jordan IV Retro Women's Air Jordan IV Retro Orange Metallic Air Jordan IV Retro "Orange Metallic" Air Jordan IV Retro Purple Metallic Air Jordan IV Retro Purple Metallic Air Jordan IV Retro Red Metallic Air Jordan IV Retro Red Metallic Air Jordan IV Retro Green Metallic Air Jordan IV Retro Green Metallic Air Jordan VII Retro Hare Air Jordan VII Retro Hare Air Jordan XI Low Womens Concord Air Jordan XI Low Women's Concord Air Jordan XI Retro Low Air Jordan XI Retro Low Air Jordan XIII Retro Flint The Kerala High Court has given the nod to the medical termination of 24 week long pregnancy of a 14- year-old rape survivor. The plea seeking termination of the pregnancy was moved by the victim's father. The Division bench, comprising Justices A K Jayasankaran Nambiar and Shaji P Chaly allowed the plea after considering recommendations of the medical board that continuation of the pregnancy would pose a risk to the mental and physical health of the victim. The order was issued after consulting with the chairperson of the medical board through video conferencing, ensuring that there would not be any health issues to the victim. The teenager had gone missing from her home nearly five months ago. A 28-year-old man who allegedly raped the minor, was arrested and charged under relevant sections of the IPC and POCSO. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Soaring lipstick sales, usually an indicator of an economic downturn, have been absent in the coronavirus pandemic, according to top beauty retailers. With customers stuck inside their homes, they don't seem to be bothering to wear or purchase lipstick and instead are stocking up on sheet masks and sanitiser. Mecca founder Jo Horgan is looking to skincare rather than lipstick sales. Credit:Jason South It makes a change from typical customer behaviour, with lipstick sales historically booming during economic crises. In the four years from 1929 to 1933, industrial production in the US halved but sales of cosmetics rose, while an executive at Estee Lauder identified a "lipstick index" after sales of expensive lipstick soared followingthe September 11 terror attacks. Researchers from Osaka University have developed a new kind of plastic that can be used to make watertight containers that are also biodegradable in certain kinds of ocean water. The project was a joint effort from Osaka University and Nippon Shokuhin Kako Company, a Japanese agricultural giant that produces starch-based food products. The team extracted starch from cassava provided by Nippon Shokuhin Kako and combined it with cellulose taken from wood pulp. Researchers from Osaka University have developed a new plastic (pictured above) that's both water tight and fully biodegradable in ocean water, depending on the levels of microorganisms present in the water sample The mixture was dissolved in a water solution and spread into a transparent sheet that's just 100 micrometers thick. The sheet was then heated to turn it into a solid plastic, according to a report in the Asahi Shimbun. The team says the resulting plastic is twice as strong as conventional plastic made from polyethylene, one of the main components in plastic bags. To test its biodegradability, they placed samples of the new plastic in several different containers filled with seawater, each of which had varying levels of microorganisms in them. The team found that the plastic fully broke down within 30 days in the seawater sample with the highest concentration of microorganisms. In other containers with lesser amounts of microorganisms the plastic remained in tact after the 30 day observation period. The plastic is made by blending starch from cassava and cellulose form wood pulp, dissolving the mixture in a thin sheet and then heating it to transform it into a solid. The resulting plastic is twice as strong as conventional polyethylene plastic In comparison, a plastic bag in the ocean takes around 20 years to decompose, while plastic bottles can take as long as 450 years. 'We would first like to use it as food packaging materials, which are very familiar to people and are often contained in the waste in the sea, Osaka University's Hiroshi Uyama said. 'I hope that this will be a part of the solution to the issue and raise the interest of people.' Every year an estimated eight million metric tons of plastic waste is thrown into the ocean, and for every square mile of ocean water there are a reported 46,000 pieces of plastic waste. An estimated eight million metric tons of plastic waste are thrown into the ocean every year, with around 46,000 pieces per square mile of ocean By 2050, The World Economic Forum estimates that microplastics in the ocean will outweigh all of the world's fish. The accumulation of plastic waste has posed a growing threat for sealife of all kinds. Earlier this year, a study of loggerhead sea turtles found significant amounts of plastic debris trapped in the turtle's digestive system. According to the researchers, the turtles were drawn to the plastic because they still smelled like the food items they had once contained, making the turtles think they were edible. The team from Osaka University hopes their new kind of plastic could cut down on the harm food containers and other plastic waste causes in the ocean. 'Because these materials are cheap and the manufacturing process is simple, we can expect that the developed material will be put to practical use soon,' Osaka University's Taka-Aki Asoh told Anthropocene Magazine. 'We have great expectations that our material will help solve the growing global problem of marine debris accumulation and have a major societal impact.' From illegal takeover charges to initiating changes to law: how Inskoy mine case is unfolding pixabay. com 19:09 06/04/2020 In 2020, new essential details came to light in the case over extortion of shares in Inskoy mine, what made it even more difficult for the court to rule on. Since early 2019, RAPSI has regularly reported on the Inskoy mine case progress and related developments. Two ex-deputies of Governor Aman Tuleyev and their colleague, a retired Investigative Committee general, as well as two investigators, a businessman and his authorized representative are charged with the extortion of shares. The defendants and the prosecution differ in estimating the value of these shares, as well as in defining the motives behind defendants actions. Nevertheless, the more details of the case are analyzed, the more the picture offered by the prosecution changes. Here, we present a review of the current status of the case. Development of the situation Inskoy mine has been since long viewed in the region as a problem-ridden object as it has accumulated wage and tax arears, debts to creditors and has failed to meet its social commitments. It has experienced a pit disaster and shortage of equipment. However, the key event in Inskoy mine fate was an erroneous decision of the management to overcome a geological disturbance, what resulted in an 18-month coal production suspending. The regional administration had been monitoring the situation, but took no active measures until in July 2016 a team of miners refused to go to work because of wage arrears. The administration reacted: a vice-governor Alexander Danilchenko and his deputy, officers of the Interior Ministry, Prosecutors Office and Investigative Committee visited the mine. At the same time, Alexander Shchukin was asked to transfer 100 million rubles (about $1.3 million at the current exchange rate) to a charity in order it could pay wages mine employees. The local Investigative Committee directorate initiated a criminal case over abuse of office resulting in damages and found the nominal owner of the controlling interest in the mine. Having no money to repay debts, the nominal owner agreed to transfer shares to another businessman, Alexander Shchukin. Over several few days, Shchukins experts visited the mine and could perform emergency works restoring safe operation of the facility. After Shchukin had contacted the real owner of the mine, billionaire Gavril Yushvaev, the two at a meeting agreed to jointly manage the mine; however, next day Shchukin refused to take any part in the operation of the mine. As a result, he was pressured by the Tuleyev administration, the operation of his mines was suspended by Russias environment and nuclear supervision agency Rostekhnadzor, an anti-Shchukin campaign was launched by mass media outlets, Shchukin refused to register shares in his name and they reminded in possession of Inskoy mine previous owner. In November 2016, a criminal case was opened. Position in prosecution The wronged person is Anton Tsygankov, the owner of 51% interest in Inskoy mine at the time these events took place. According to him, the mine could earn him 1.5 billion rubles (about $20 million) over a 5 to 7 years period. However, he claims, investigators forced him under threat of arrest to give away his interest in the mine as he voluntary visited the Investigative Committee. The defendants are charged with extortion of shares in the mine of nominal value of 250,000 rubles ($3,250) and property rights of book value of 2.7 billion rubles ($35 million). Nevertheless, the position of the prosecution does not answer the following questions raised by the defense at the hearings: The book value has been determined on the basis of the data presented in a bookkeeping balance sheet with respect to the fixed assets value, whereas the prosecution has failed to take into account the mines liabilities amounting to 11 billion rubles (about $143 million) at all, although they critically complicate gaining of any profits, and therefore any dividends, even in midterm perspective. Inskoy mine has produced energy grade coal, a low-margin product, especially in the situation of falling demand. The equipment used in the mine was significantly worn, including the cleaning combine, emergency repairs were needed, the most experienced personnel had since long left the enterprise, in other words, additional expenditures were needed to put the mine at its rated capacity. As Maxim Sidorov, who was directly involved in the events, told the court the mine even experienced a shortage of shovels, while mine operators most of the time had to write several copies of reports by hand as they had no printers at their disposal; at the same time mine emergency escape routes were at risk of collapse. Position in defense As Alexander Danilchenko, Alexey Ivanov, Sergey Kalinkin and their colleagues believe, they acted on the basis of permission and decisions of Aman Tuleyev, as well as the respective guidelines governing the measures the Investigative Committee was to undertake when it went about massive wage arrears. It was necessary to liquidate the hotbed of social tensions by any means available. Readouts of telephone conversations among the witnesses and participants of the events confirm this interpretation, since the aim of the actions was ensuring of normal operation of the enterprise with about 1,000 jobs. Characteristically, it was a routine modus operandi under Tuleyev. Moreover, such an approach has been observed across some other regions as well. Ex-head of the Kemerovo Investigative Committee directorate Sergey Kalinkin acted in compliance with the instructions given from the center, which required dealing directly with owners and force real beneficiaries to engage in the dialog as soon as possible in cases where the issue was wage arrears. This directive had worked as no wage arrears had been registered at Inskoy mine until December 2019, when the shares were purchased by yet another businessman, who repaid the arrears from his personal pocket. The administration approached Alexander Shchukin to settle the situation in his capacity of a professional in the coal mining and the owner of a large holding. Readouts of telephone conversations show that all large businesses in the region were obliged to make significant contributions to the charity controlled by Tuleyev. The charity financed some social commitments of the regional authorities, although in certain cases regional oligarchs were made to act directly; in one instance, Shchukin paid for ambulances from his personal account. In total, in the first six months of 2016 the businessman transferred 200 million rubles (about $2.6 million) to meet administrations needs. In the case of Inskoy mine, Shchukin initially acted as a consultant, later he was in fact appointed as a person responsible to ensure the mine operation. After he had refused to participate in the Inskoy mine operations, Tuleyev, via his subordinates, initiated a campaign aimed at forcing Shchukin to help; moreover, Yurginskaya combined heat and power plant and Mashzavod enterprise being in pre-crisis state, were additionally included in his area of responsibility. As a result of this pressure, Shchukin retired. As it follows from the readouts of the conversations, Aman Tuleyev has personally taken key decisions, from an option to settle the aftermath of the strike at Inskoy mine by force to pressuring Shchukin to engage in the operations of the enterprise. At the hearings the Kuzbass ex-Governor is only a witness; however, he has failed to personally attend the court citing his health condition, so his testimony given to investigators has been read out in his absence. Context of proceedings: why Inskoy mine case raises serious questions The Inskoy mine case has already drawn attention of legal experts because raising a number of actual issues. Firstly, it is the lack of state interference mechanisms as concerns periods of crises at private enterprises affecting public interests. Each time, local administrations and even federal authorities have to search for new methods aimed at supporting key industrial facilities, thus giving rise to extra risks for businesses and representatives of authorities themselves. Secondly, law enforcement practices lack a uniform interpretation of the title of ownership. In particular, there is the question if a shareholder acquires the title of property at its balance value when purchasing shares in an enterprise. Does a shareholder accept an enterprises liabilities when purchasing the shares therein? There is no uniform opinion also if the amount of enterprise liabilities affects the cost of the shares as well. Thirdly, the financial monitoring system and preventive measures to be undertaken in reaction to crisis situations leaving businesses more options to search for ways to overcome pre-crisis situations needs to be reformed. The questions raised [in relation to the Inskoy mine case] have been being discussed at conferences on legal issues, for instance, at the International Research-to-Practice Conference dedicated to the memory of M.I. Kovalyov in Yekaterinburg and within the working group on drafting proposals for establishment of a Business Recovery Center at the Federation Council, which is developing a draft of a federal law on the establishment of a structure to support industrial enterprises in crisis situations to prevent their bankruptcy. Moreover, the Working Group on Anti-Crisis Regulation of Socially Important Businesses at the Moscow office of the Association of Russian Lawyers has been also involved in the study of this problem. Fierce gun battles leave a dozen dead in Indian-controlled Kashmir Iran Press TV Sunday, 05 April 2020 2:45 PM At least three Indian troops and nine pro-independence fighters have been killed in two separate incidents in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Indian army spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that five fighters were killed early Sunday in the northern Keran area close to the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan. The clashes also left three soldiers dead and several more critically injured, he added. The fierce fighting came within 24 hours of another deadly gun battle between pro-independence fighters and New Delhi government forces in the southern Kulgam area. Police said four fighters from the local area were killed. The fighting came days after India introduced a new law that would make its citizens eligible to become permanent residents of the Indian-controlled Kashmir, raising fears of demographic change in the Muslim-majority, Himalayan region. The new law was introduced as the country of 1.3 billion people is under a 21-day lockdown in an attempt to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, raising speculation that the timing is intentional. Indian-controlled Kashmir has been in a state of lockdown since August 5, when administration of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stripped the region of its semi-autonomous status. New Delhi dispatched thousands of additional troops to the region, declared a strict curfew, shut down telecommunications and internet services, and arrested political leaders and pro-independence campaigners as well. New Delhi had promised special status to Kashmir when the region was partitioned between India and Pakistan seven decades ago. However, Modi and his nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have long opposed Kashmir's autonomy. After gaining a larger mandate from his Hindu power base in elections earlier last year, Modi's government wasted no time in implementing their manifesto of creating a Hindu-first nation, where Muslim opposition and dissent has no say and will be silenced. India's decision in Kashmir has sparked protests from the local population and outrage from Pakistan. Kashmir has long been a flash point between India and Pakistan, which have fought three of their four wars over the disputed Himalayan territory. Both countries rule parts of Kashmir while claiming it in full. Indian troops are in constant clashes with the armed groups seeking independence across the Muslim-majority valley of Kashmir. India regularly accuses Pakistan of arming and training the fighters and allowing them across the restive frontier in an attempt to launch attacks. Pakistan denies the allegation. Thousands of people have been killed in the unrest in Kashmir over the past two decades. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The president voices hope that cases are "levelling off" in US hotspots, but warns of more deaths. President Donald Trump has expressed hope coronavirus cases were "levelling off" in US hotspots, saying he saw "light at the end of the tunnel". On Sunday, New York, the epicentre of the US outbreak, reported a drop in the number of new infections and deaths. Mr Trump described the dip as a "good sign", but warned of more deaths as the pandemic neared its "peak" in the US. "In the days ahead, America will endure the peak of this pandemic," Mr Trump said at his daily coronavirus briefing. He said more medical personnel and supplies, including masks and ventilators, would be sent to the states that are most in need of assistance. Deborah Birx, a member of the president's coronavirus task force, said the situation in Italy and Spain, where infections and deaths have fallen in recent days, was "giving us hope on what our future could be". "We're hopeful over the next week that we'll see a stabilisation of cases in these metropolitan areas where the outbreak began several weeks ago," Dr Birx said at the same news conference. Optimism from Dr Birx and Mr Trump contrasted with other leading US experts, including top advisor Dr Anthony Fauci, who earlier said the short-term outlook was "really bad". The US surgeon general, meanwhile, warned that this will be "the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans' lives". "This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment," Surgeon General Jerome Adams told Fox News on Sunday. The US has reported 337,274 confirmed infections and 9,619 deaths from Covid-19, by far the highest tally in the world. What's the latest in New York? On Sunday, Governor Andrew Cuomo reported 594 new deaths giving an overall total of 4,159 deaths in New York, the state hit hardest by the coronavirus so far. He said there were now 122,000 New York residents who had been infected. But he added that nearly 75% of patients who have required hospitalisation had now been discharged. Patients requiring hospital are down for the first time in a week, and deaths are down from the previous day, he said. There were 630 deaths reported in the previous 24 hours. "The coronavirus is truly vicious and effective at what the virus does," he told reporters in Albany, the state capital. "It's an effective killer." It's too early to know if New York is currently experiencing its apex - the highest rate of infection that graphics behind Mr Cuomo referred to as "the Battle on the Mountain Top". He also said it was too early to know if cases would drop off quickly after the apex, or if they would decline slowly - and at a rate that would still overwhelm hospitals. "The statisticians will not give you a straight answer on anything," he said about the so-called "curve" - the chart that tracks the rate of infections. "At first it was straight up and straight down, or a total 'V'. Or maybe its up with a plateau and we're somewhere on the plateau. They don't know." In other developments around the world: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to hospital, 10 days after he tested positive for coronavirus. He was expected to remain there overnight for what Downing Street described as "routine tests" The Queen has said the UK "will succeed" in its fight against the pandemic, in a rallying message to the nation In the UK's daily coronavirus briefing, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he "cannot rule out further steps" being introduced in terms of social distancing - but that none are imminent Hours later,Scotland's chief medical officer, Dr Catherine Calderwood, resigned after it emerged she had visited her second home, despite the lockdown measures Italy reported that 525 people had died in the previous 24 hours - the lowest daily figure since 19 March Another 674 people died in Spain - the lowest daily death toll in over a week Millions of Indians have turned off their lights for a nationwide candle-lit vigil, heeding a call for unity as the country battles coronavirus A SIMPLE GUIDE: How do I protect myself? AVOIDING CONTACT: The rules on self-isolation and exercise LOOK-UP TOOL: Check cases in your area MAPS AND CHARTS: Visual guide to the outbreak VIDEO: The 20-second hand wash What is the situation around the US? Infection rates and new deaths are growing in cities such as Washington DC, Detroit and New Orleans, even as around 90% of Americans are under some form of mandatory lockdown requiring them to stay home. Governors of states continue to warn of a dire shortage of needed medical supplies, including ventilators and face masks. New Jersey, a state that borders New York, reported more than 3,000 new infections on Sunday, bringing the state-wide total to 37,505. There have been 917 coronavirus-related deaths in New Jersey. The southern state of Louisiana - one of the hardest hit in the US - reported a 20% increase on Sunday with 3,010 new cases. It also reported 477 deaths. Michigan - with the third worst outbreak in the US - has suffered nearly 16,000 cases and 617 deaths, officials said on Sunday. Detroit continues to be the state's major hotspot with nearly 5,000 cases and 158 deaths. Speaking to NBC News earlier on Sunday, Dr Anthony Fauci - the nation's chief immunologist - said it was too early to say the situation was "under control," as President Donald Trump has frequently claimed. "That would be a false statement. We are struggling to get it under control and that's the issue that's at hand right now." Surgeon General Adams said that California and Washington had seen their transmission rates slow due to mitigation efforts, but warned that everyone must follow the federal government's health guidance, including wearing a face mask in public. "I want Americans to understand that, as hard as this week is going to be, there is a light at the end of the tunnel if everyone does their part for the next 30 days," he said. What else did President Trump say? President Trump devoted a large part of Sunday's news conference to discussing an anti-malaria drug being used to treat Covid-19 in the US. The drug, hydroxychloroquine, had shown some "very strong, powerful signs" of its potential, Mr Trump said. Most experts say hydroxychloroquine is an unproven, experimental treatment whose effectiveness in treating Covid-19 is not well understood. Yet the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the drug for "emergency use" in Covid-19 patients admitted to hospital. Mr Trump said his administration had ordered 29 million doses of the drug, which were to be distributed across the US. "If it does work, it would be a shame if we didn't do it early," Mr Trump said. "I'm not a doctor, but I have common sense." Elsewhere in the US: Several governors say Mr Trump should issue a national 'stay-at-home' order, after nine mostly southern and Midwestern states have resisted enforcing a lockdown A tiger at the Bronx Zoo has tested positive for coronavirus and several other big cats are exhibiting symptoms. They are thought to have been infected by a zookeeper Mr Trump says he will defy the government's guidance to wear masks in public, after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the new mandate last week BBC A man who spat at and made threats to kill a custody detention officer has been jailed for 13 weeks. Peter Cooper, 36, of Westleigh, Warminster, appeared before Swindon Magistrates' Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and being drunk and disorderly in a public place. Cooper was placed under arrest on Saturday night after police were called to an incident at Westleigh, Warminster. He was detained at the Melksham custody centre on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly. Peter Cooper (pictured) wearing what appears to be a 3M protective face mask While in custody, Cooper threatened to kill a detention officer and his family. He was also abusive towards other members of staff. Cooper spat at the detention officer several times through the cell hatch as he attempted to carry out a welfare check on the prisoner. Cooper was further arrested and charged with assaulting an emergency worker. The detention officer is now self-isolating concerned Cooper could have coronavirus. Cooper pleaded guilty to both charges at Swindon Magistrates' Court and was jailed. Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Kier Pritchard said: 'This behaviour is absolutely disgusting at any time, but given the current situation when everyone's anxieties are heightened, it is despicable. 'His actions have left the detention officer feeling shocked, angry, extremely upset and anxious about their own health, and the health of their family. 'He has now been left with no other option but to self-isolate due to concerns Cooper may have had coronavirus.' Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson added: 'I am extremely saddened to hear news of this incident while this member of the force was simply carrying out his duties. 'I am pleased the court has seen fit to issue Cooper with a custodial sentence - this was a deliberate attack with the intention of causing distress and upset to the detention officer and this behaviour is unacceptable.' The Andrews government has belatedly rejected the proposed rezoning of land at the heart of the Casey planning scandal, denying developers as much as $150 million in windfall profits but leaving key questions unanswered. On Friday Planning Minister Richard Wynne officially refused the rezoning of the parcel of land in Cranbourne West from industrial to the much more lucrative residential first proposed by construction giant Leighton six years ago and championed by allegedly corrupt planner and developer, John Woodman. Developer John Woodman leaving an IBAC hearing in November. Credit:Justin McManus The Age first raised concerns about the rezoning process with Mr Wynnes office in 2018 as part of research for stories about Mr Woodmans influence with Casey Council and state MPs in Melbournes south east. At the same time he was fielding inquiries from The Age, Mr Wynne deferred a rezoning and launched a review of industrial land supply in outer Melbourne. One of the two initial passengers on the Ruby Princess to show symptoms of coronavirus says he has no idea how he contracted the disease. Anthony Londero, 62, was taken from the cruise ship by ambulance on March 19 to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, after spending three days in the liner's hospital ward in isolation. Mr Londero, who went on the cruise to New Zealand with his wife and another couple, was one of the first two people to present with respiratory issues before the ship's disastrous disembarkation in Sydney. Homicide detectives have announced they will lead a criminal investigation into how almost 2700 passengers were allowed to disembark on March 19. More than 600 have since tested positive for coronavirus and 11 people have died. Saudi Arabia has extended a 24-hour curfew to all parts of five cities in the kingdom, including captial Riyadh, said a Saudi Press Agency report. Other cities included in the Ministry of Ministry of Interior order are: Tabuk, Dammam, Dhahran and Hofuf. The curfew will also be extended throughout the provinces of Jeddah, Taif, Qatif and Khobar until further notice in an effort to combat the spread of the novel Coronavirus. An official source at the Ministry of Interior stated that the move is in line with the implementation of the recommendations of the competent health authorities to raise the degree of precautionary measures and preventive measures to preserve the health and safety of citizens and residents, said a Saudi Press Agency report However, the prohibition of entry and exit does not include employees of the vital areas in the public and private sectors. The ministry said it is allowed - in the narrowest range - for residents to leave their homes to buy only the essential needs, such as medicines and food, within the residential neighbourhood in which they reside, and during the period from 6 am until 3 pm every day. Motor transportation within residential neighbourhoods during this period is limited to only one person, in addition to the driver, to reduce contact to the minimum. The order prohibits any commercial activities, except for health facilities, pharmacies, foodstuff stores, petrol stations, gas stores, banking services, maintenance and operation works, plumbing works, electrical and air conditioning, water delivery services and sewage tanks. A specialised committee in the Ministry of the Interior periodically reviews the excluded activities, and updates them continuously, according to an evaluation by the committee, it said. The Ministry of the Interior urged people to leave homes, only if necessary, and use delivery services by smart device apps to request food and drug needs. A woman has been fined for ignoring coronavirus self-isolation protocols to shop at seven stores after returning home from Bali. The 65-year-old flew into Sydney from Indonesia on March 22 and was told to self-isolate to prevent the spread of the deadly disease. All returning travellers must self-isolate for 14 days, with more than two thirds of Australian coronavirus patients contracting the virus from an overseas source. The woman was spotted ten days later on April 1 at a shopping centre in Grafton, northern NSW, and was stopped in her car by police two hours later. A woman was fined $1,000 after ignoring self-isolation protocols and going shopping in Grafton. Pictured: a policeman stops a car at the NSW and QLD border on Friday NSW Police have given 98 fines and 8 court attendance notices since March 17 for breaching the Public Health Act in relation to coronavirus restrictions. Pictured: Police speak with a woman at Bondi Beach on Saturday The woman told police she had shopped in seven stores that day, including a supermarket, despite her self-isolation order. Police ordered the woman to return home and issued her with a $1,000 fine. NSW Police have handed 98 fines and 8 court attendance notices since March 17 for breaching the Public Health Act in relation to coronavirus restrictions. They include four women who were found in a car near bushland in North Nowra at 2.15am on Sunday. The group had attended a party nearby and three of them were laying in the back of the car. They each received a $1,000 fine. An officer chats with a driver at the NSW and QLD border on Friday. Anyone who is not a Queensland resident or does not have a border pass can not enter the state A 32-year-old male and 31-year-old female were given a warning by police to return home in South Kempsey at 11am on Sunday, before being spotted again in a vehicle nearly three hours later. The man told police they were 'bored' and both were given $1,000 fines. 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 New South Wales has been the state most affected by the coronavirus and has implemented strict social distancing measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. The Public Health Act states that residents may not gather in groups over two people and can only leave their homes for one of 16 essential reasons. These allowable excuses include exercise, medical appointments, providing care and attending school or work. In the 24 hours to 8am on Monday, Victoria Police issued 108 fines. In Queensland, police fined 139 people last week, including 19 people at a car rally. One man who was enjoying a kebab on a park bench in Newcastle was slapped with a $1,000 fine last week. Police stopped a car in Quakers Hill around midday on Saturday and issued a $1,000 fine after speaking with the two people in the front seat. The driver was employed delivering food but the 33-year-old passenger was fined after admitting she was only there because she was 'bored' at home. Officers also pulled over a car in Bankstown in Sydney's western suburbs on Friday night and spoke to a 20-year-old driver and her 21-year-old passenger. The pair were unable to provide a valid reason for driving around and the passenger was issued with a fine when she gave false identification and became argumentative. NSW Police officers have also issued fines to residents who were out drinking and socialising. A 37-year-old Newtown man was threatened with a Penalty Infringement Notice on Friday night after police warned him against socialising with four other adults on Federation Road. The man was given a $1,000 fine two hours later after he was stopped again on King Street. On Saturday night police officers responded to noise complaints from a caravan park in Tenterfield, in northern NSW. Officers found five people gathered for a barbecue and issued two fines and three warnings. Meanwhile, four men in their 20s were handed fines after they were found drinking and having a barbecue at the Lillie Pilli Baths, in Sydney's south, on Sunday night. [April 06, 2020] The quantum computing market valued $507.1 million in 2019, from where it is projected to grow at a CAGR of 56.0% during 2020-2030 (forecast period), to ultimately reach $64,988.3 million by 2030 NEW YORK, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Quantum Computing Market Research Report: By Offering (Hardware, Software, Service), Deployment Type (On-Premises, Cloud-Based), Application (Optimization, Simulation and Data Problems, Sampling, Machine Learning), Technology (Quantum Dots, Trapped Ions, Quantum Annealing), Industry (BFSI, Aerospace & Defense, Manufacturing, Healthcare, IT & Telecom, Energy & Utilities) Industry Share, Growth, Drivers, Trends and Demand Forecast to 2030 Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05879070/?utm_source=PRN The quantum computing market valued $507.1 million in 2019, from where it is projected to grow at a CAGR of 56.0% during 20202030 (forecast period), to ultimately reach $64,988.3 million by 2030. Machine learning (ML) is expected to progress at the highest CAGR, during the forecast period, among all application categories, owing to the fact that quantum computing is being integrated in ML for improving the latter's use case. Government support for the development and deployment of the technology is a prominent trend in the quantum computing market, with companies as well as public bodies realizing the importance of a coordinated funding strategy. For instance, the National Quantum Initiative Act, which became a law in December 2018, included a funding of $1.2 billion from the U.S. House of Representatives for the National Quantum Initiative Program. The aim behind the funding was to facilitate the development of technology applications and quantum information science, over a 10-year period, by setting its priorities and goals. Moreover, efforts are being made to come wit standards for the quantum computing technology. Among the numerous standards being developed by the IEEE Standards Association Quantum Computing Working Group are the benchmarks and performance matrix, which would help in analyzing the performance of quantum computers against that of conventional computers. Other noteworthy standards are those related to the nomenclature and definitions, in order to create a common language for quantum computers. In 2019, the quantum computing market was dominated by the quantum annealing category, on the basis of technology. This is because the physical challenges in its development have been overcome, and it is now being deployed in larger systems. That year, the banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) division held the largest share in the market, on account of the rapid expansion of this industry. Additionally, banks and other financial institutions are quickly deploying this technology to make their business process streamlined as well as secure their data. By 2030, Europe and North America are expected to account for more than 78.0% in the quantum computing market, as Canada , the U.S., the U.K., Germany , and Russia are witnessing heavy investments in the field. For instance, the National Security Agency (NSA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Los Alamos National Laboratory are engaged in quantum computing technology development. Additionally, an increasing number of collaborations and partnerships are being witnessed in these regions, along with the entry of several startups. The major players operating in the highly competitive quantum computing market are Telstra Corporation Limited, International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation, Silicon Quantum Computing, IonQ Inc., Alphabet Inc., Huawei Investment & Holding Co. Ltd., Microsoft Corporation, Rigetti & Co. Inc., Zapata Computing Inc., D-Wave Systems Inc., and Intel Corporation. Google LLC, the main operating subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. is establishing the Quantum AI Laboratory, in collaboration with the NSA, wherein the quantum computers developed by D-Wave Systems Inc. are being used. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05879070/?utm_source=PRN About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-quantum-computing-market-valued-507-1-million-in-2019--from-where-it-is-projected-to-grow-at-a-cagr-of-56-0-during-20202030-forecast-period-to-ultimately-reach-64-988-3-million-by-2030--301036177.html SOURCE Reportlinker [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] WUHAN, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Around 5.57 million people in central China's Hubei Province, hit hard by the novel coronavirus outbreak, had returned to work by Friday, according to the provincial department of human resources and social security. Among them, a total of 3.46 million people had been back to their workplaces outside Hubei, with Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces as the top three destinations. An official with the department said Hubei had arranged over 22,600 chartered bus trips and 60 trains to send 630,000 migrant workers directly from their homes to factories outside the province at a time when plants across China are rushing to resume work. No new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported Saturday in Hubei. The province has so far reported 67,803 confirmed COVID-19 cases in total, including 50,008 in the provincial capital of Wuhan, Hubei health commission said Sunday. When NASA sends astronauts to the surface of the Moon in 2024, it will be the first time outside of watching historical footage most people witness humans walking on another planetary body. Building on these footsteps, future robotic and human explorers will put in place infrastructure for a long-term sustainable presence on the Moon. NASA recently proposed a plan to go from limited, short-term Apollo-era exploration of the 1960s, to a 21st Century plan in a report to the National Space Council. With the Artemis program, we will explore more of the Moon than ever before to make the next giant leap - sending astronauts to Mars. "After 20 years of continuously living in low-Earth orbit, we're now ready for the next great challenge of space exploration - the development of a sustained presence on and around the Moon," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. "For years to come, Artemis will serve as our North Star as we continue to work toward even greater exploration of the Moon, where we will demonstrate key elements needed for the first human mission to Mars." On the surface, the core elements for a sustained presence would include an emphasis on mobility to allow astronauts to explore more of the Moon and conduct more science: A lunar terrain vehicle or LTV, would transport crew around the landing zone The habitable mobility platform would enable crews to take trips across the Moon lasting up to 45 days A lunar foundation surface habitat would house as many as four crew members on shorter surface stays Astronauts working on the lunar surface also could test advanced robotics, as well as a wide set of new technologies identified in the Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative, focusing on tech development in the areas such as of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and power systems. Rovers will carry a variety of instruments including ISRU experiments that will generate information on the availability and extraction of usable resources (e.g., oxygen and water). Advancing these technologies could enable the production of fuel, water, and/or oxygen from local materials, enabling sustainable surface operations with decreasing supply needs from Earth. Another key difference from Apollo and Artemis will be use of the Gateway in lunar orbit, built with commercial and international partners. The lunar outpost will serve as a command and control module for surface expeditions and an office and home for astronauts away from Earth. Operating autonomously when crew is not present, it also will be a platform for new science and technology demonstrations around the Moon. Over time, NASA and its partners will enhance the lunar Gateway's habitation capabilities and related life support systems. Adding a large-volume deep space habitation element would allow astronauts to test capabilities around the Moon for long-duration deep space missions. While the goal of Apollo was to land the first humans on the Moon, the Artemis program will use the Moon as a testbed for crewed exploration farther into the solar system, beginning with Mars. This is America's Moon to Mars space exploration approach. A proposed multi-month split-crew operation at the Gateway and on the lunar surface would test the agency's concept for a human mission to the Red Planet. For such a mission, NASA envisions a four-person crew traveling to the Gateway and living aboard the outpost for a multi-month stay to simulate the outbound trip to Mars. Later, two crew members would travel to the lunar surface and explore with the habitable mobility platform, while the remaining two astronauts stay aboard Gateway. The four crew members are later reunited aboard the lunar outpost for another multi-month stay, simulating the return trip to Earth. This mission would be the longest duration human deep space mission in history and would be the first operational test of the readiness of our deep-space systems. The report also highlights a robotic return to the surface beginning next year for scientific discovery. The Moon is a natural laboratory to study planetary processes and evolution, and a platform from which to observe the universe. NASA will send dozens of new science instruments and technology demonstrations to the Moon with its Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative. Some of these robotic precursors, including the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover or VIPER, will study the terrain, and metal and ice resources at the lunar South Pole. The Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft, human landing systems and modern spacesuits will round out the agency's deep space systems. As part of the Artemis III mission, the first human expedition back on the Moon will last approximately seven days. NASA plans to send Artemis Generation astronauts on increasingly longer missions about once per year thereafter. With strong support in NASA, America and its partners will test new technologies and reduce exploration costs over time. Supporting infrastructure including power, radiation shielding, a landing pad, as well as waste disposal and storage could be built up in the coming decades, too. "The U.S. is still the only nation to have successfully landed humans on the Moon and spacecraft on the surface of Mars," the report states. "As other nations increasingly move out into space, American leadership is now called for to lead the next phase of humanity's quest to open up the future to endless discovery and growth." Read the full report: NASA's Plan for Sustained Lunar Exploration and Development Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Amidst the torrent of news on the adverse impacts of COVID-19, recent developments in Guyana stand out as something of a countercurrent. In times when the entire world seems to be bracing for an impending economic catastrophe, Guyana is paralyzed by a political impasse that not only jeopardizes its spectacular oil surge but also seems to be taking its toll on the countrys reputation. On March 2nd, Guyana held its long-awaited presidential elections highly anticipated ones, as the next President would preside over mesmerizing GDP growth and a massive influx of oil money into the national treasury. More than a month later, the South American nation still does not know its new President and is still collectively pinning its hopes on the ballots being counted fair and square. Getting to know the results of the presidential elections will take further weeks if not months. This Friday the Guyanese Elections Commission has decided on a full recount of the votes cast, in chronological order from Region 01 to Region 10. This comes on the back of recurrent electoral fraud allegations, with the Electoral Commission (EC) first declaring the incumbent President APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) coalition winners, then Guyanas High Court granted an injunction barring the EC from announcing the winner until all results are verified. Region 04 and the capital Georgetown in particular is the focal point of controversy being by far the most populous region, it was here where the alleged one-seat majority of the incumbents materialized itself (33 seats for APNU, 32 to PPP). Needless to say, the Guyanese media are replete with stories of widespread voting fraud in the capital and it has become very difficult to grasp who will emerge in the end as the final winner of the hotly contested elections. The elections themselves took some time to organize they shouldve been held in March 2019 after a no-confidence vote to Grangers government, however have been delayed to the maximum extent possible. Fraudulent elections are no novelty for Guyana, a country that has long suffered from national chauvinism and omnipresent corruption no surprise migration rates are among the highest in all of the Americas often morphing into bloody skirmishes. This years elections already have one (Indo-Guyanese) victim and might have more if the vote recount does not clear all suspicions of misconduct. Story continues Related: The Only Logical End To The Oil War The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expected an 86% GDP growth in 2020, spearheaded by the incoming oil windfall. The first-ever Guyanese deepwater flagship project, Liza, was commissioned this Christmas and in many ways the ongoing Presidential election is a litmus test on how the population perceives the nations oil production. In a wonderfully odd twist of events, the opposition PPP party wants to revamp the way Guyana handles oil revenues, eliminating the sovereign wealth fund altogether (apparently it gives politicians way more control over money flows as it should) and pouring more money to the people directly instead. With a reputation as tarnished on corruption-related issues, it is difficult not to see the adverse consequences of such a move, however it most certainly has a much bigger appeal amongst the populace for whom infrastructure projects like building highways or bridges across the Essequibo River are of little to no interest. At the time of this writing, it seems that a return of the opposition backed by Guyanas Indo-Guyanese populace is the most probable outcome. David Grangers bid was significantly weakened by 3 main factors: 1. His own illness The President underwent treatment for cancer in 2018-2019 and it was only in late 2019 that he declared the cancer in remission. At 74 years of age Granger might be perceived as less agile than his rival, the 39-year old Irfaan Ali who has already served as Minister of Housing and Minister of Tourism (having become a MP at the of 26). 2. The claim that he sold Guyanas hydrocarbon bounty on the cheap As the Stabroek Block terms and conditions were set before Guyana boasted any offshore discoveries, it might be perceived as quite business-friendly. The government takes in a 2% royalty and 50% of profit oil, which stands out in an overwhelmingly driller-fleecing Latin American government. 3. The immutable demographics and hard-to-shake sectarianism of Guyana Guyana still votes based predominantly on race roughly 30% of the population is Afro-Guyanese, whilst the Indo-Guyanese take up somewhere around 40%. In the meantime, as long as the Granger administration remains in place in the status of a caretaker government, oil majors present in Guyana can consider themselves relatively lucky. It is highly unlikely that Granger as caretaker would change anything in the countrys oil taxation regime or other upstream terms, hence the first months of Liza production need not be marred by political obstructionism. Moreover, many of previously agreed moves ought to be placed on the back burner without a legally formed government, the adoption of long-mooted local content rules and the final bringing of regulatory norms in accordance with todays upstream practices. Related: China's Plan To Capitalize On The Oil Price War Source: authors estimates. Plunging oil prices have so far not impacted Liza production in the Stabroek Block, with lifting costs around $10 per barrel (the total breakeven cost of Liza-1 is around $35 per barrel) assumed to be enough to weather the adverse consequences. Yet any new projects breakeven price level will be not lower than 35 USD per barrel the Liza benchmark and thus might be postponed until prices increase to an acceptable level. So far Liza (35 API and 0.51% Sulphur) has loaded two cargoes per month in February and March, priced within a $0-1 premium per barrel to Dated Brent FOB. It has to be noted that even though Guyanas oil production from the 8Bbbls of offshore reserves it boasts is expected to reach 0.8-1mbpd by 2030, only Liza-1 and Liza-2 have so far been sanctioned. This leaves roughly 80% of current appraised discoveries in unsanctioned territory, which in the current uncertain environment is no good news for Guyana, not to speak of its elections travails. By Viktor Katona for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Read this article on OilPrice.com Entrance to the University of Chicago, where educational reformer John Dewey taught. Dewey founded the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools in 1896, where he was able to apply and test his progressive ideas. (Michael Barera/CC BY-SA 4.0) Why Millennials Favour Socialism Commentary Two surveys, one in Canada and one south of the border, found that millennials tend to hold a positive view of socialism and socialist policies, with the U.S. poll showing that 70 percent of millennials say they are likely to vote for a socialist candidate. If these findings come as a surprise, you might not have been paying close enough attention in school. In fact, this viewpoint is a direct result of a half-century of Marxist-inspired history and humanities courses. In the early 1960s, debates over educational policy were mostly about classroom methods. Traditional teachers liked direct instruction and Socratic discourse. Progressive educators sought to develop more cooperative learning experiences and student centred schools. By the late Sixties, education became more political. Teachers unions became more partisan. They aligned with more radical political parties. Teachers, myself included, earned graduate degrees from progressive education faculties, qualifying us for significant pay raises and influential positions in the educational establishment. By the late 1970s, teaching had been transformed from a low-paid but prestigious vocation to a well-paid revolutionary mission. Traditional Narratives Dismissed Manipulating the lessons of history became a common strategy for ideologically motivated educators. Traditional narratives about North American colonies advancing toward free, open, and democratic nations were dismissed as patently absurd. Patriotic feelings were washed away by radical politics. Ironically, this progressive disposition first emerged from the prosperous democratic-capitalist U.S. heartland. By the late 19th century, the classical curriculum of the British grammar school imported in the early years of colonial North America gave way to the ideas of European social revolutionaries. By the early 20th century, the European influence was complemented by the theories of American philosopher John Dewey. Dewey launched a fierce assault on the traditional school beginning with the publication of his persuasive dual treatise The School and Society and The Child and the Curriculum in 1899 and 1902. Deweys major 1916 work Democracy and Education had a Promethean effect on educational theory throughout the world. The progressive movement was woven around a common socialist philosophy with roots in the radical intellectual life of 19th century Europe. Dewey was a Marxist and to this day his influence has had a profound effect on educational practice. Deweys pragmatism and activity methods captured the imagination of educational theorists who removed a weakened traditional establishment and ultimately formed a new one. In a 2015 speech, former Republican senator and conservative presidential hopeful Rick Santorum asked an audience: Do you know the most popular textbook thats taught in our high schools in America is written by a man named Howard Zinn, who is an anti-American Marxist, and that is the most common textbook? The book Santorum referred to was A Peoples History of the United States, an enormously popular Marxist interpretation that continues to receive splendid endorsements from progressive trend-setters as the only history that every American student should read. Over the years, progressives produced millions of so-called critical thinkers who became uncritical opponents of democratic capitalism and western civilization. Among well-schooled young people, our history became a shameful record of heartless oppression and moral inferiority. The Canadian Experience In Canada, we were enormously influenced by progressive intellectual trends from the United States. Evidence of the new school movement became increasingly apparent in my part of the country by the 1970s. In 1979, a newly elected Quebec government introduced a state-of-the-art pedagogical regime which encouraged progressive practices across the board. Among the landmark initiatives of the new regime was a compulsory Quebec history course. The new program was developed by the Quebec Ministry of Education, but an English-speaking professional organization called the Quebec Association of Teachers of History was invited to evaluate the syllabus. Myself and a colleague served as the evaluators. Our findings came as a shock to local educators. We said the new course gave little or no attention to the contribution of European culture, religion, customs, laws, or ideas on the development of Quebec and Canada. In fact, we reported, the emergence of the social democratic Parti Quebecois between 1968 and 1979 was given more attention than the entire 350-year history of the Roman Catholic Church in North America. The course, we concluded, focused on dark relationships between oppressors and oppressed. Canadas FrenchEnglish discord was linked to class conflict. An inspiring story of Colony to Nation had been dismantled in favour of a smokescreen for the development of a Marxist, liberationist, political agenda. The fallout from our report was swift. The board of our history teachers association voted not to circulate it to our membership and we felt obliged to resign from the organization. The report attracted some local press coverage but was generally considered too provocative to be taken seriously. Marx Alive and Well in the 21st Century Last year, some 40 years later, it came to my attention that Quebec had implemented a revised compulsory history course, and this time the English Montreal School Board commissioned an independent History Experts Committee to evaluate the new program. At least one of the contributing experts remarked that the program presented economic and social developments through a Marxist lens using Marxist terminology, without any contextualizing or defining of terms. The reviewer went on to point out that: As the ideology is not presented or examined, the views expressed which reflect this worldview can easily be taken by the reader to be correct, rather than one way of making sense of social, economic and political events. That was exactly what we had said in 1979. But it would appear that, once again, policy-makers concluded that an unexamined Marxist worldview should be a compulsory requirement for graduation in a democratic-capitalist society. The Schizophrenic Relationship Between School and Society The present dominance of Marxist socio-economic analysis in the study of history and the humanities is certainly not unique to the Province of Quebec. In fact, this schizophrenic relationship between school and society is ubiquitous throughout North America. The progressive movement has produced a profound disconnect between the values of modern educators and the foundational principles of free nations. Outside radical intellectual circles, most ordinary folk have been conditioned by the progressive movement to evaluate schools solely on the basis of how well students learn. Parents ask sensible, material questions about school performance. Are students acquiring academic competencies? Do they have adequate facilities, resources, and technical equipment? Are young people becoming literate and more accomplished in math and science? These are all reasonable and important concerns. But the progressive focus across North America on how students learn has become a useful deception for drawing public attention away from what is being taught. Practical men and women dont pay much attention to the content of their kids lessons; they just want to know that they are doing well on their exams. Unimpeded by any meaningful oversight or public concern about what schools teach, the progressive movement has literally captured the academic culture in North America. Assessing the Reasoning of Marxist Ideology Assessing the impact of Marxist influence since the publication of The Communist Manifesto in 1848 and Das Kapital in 1867 requires a critical understanding of Marxist analysis. American scholar Robert L. Heilbroner went a long way toward demystifying Marxism for the average reader and providing a clear description of the essential elements of Marxist thought. For Heilbroner, Marxism contains a common set of premises; the dialectical approach to knowledge, a materialist approach to history, a consciousness-raising deconstruction of capitalism, and a commitment to socialism. Dialectical reasoning points to dynamic, adversarial relationships, originally between proletarians and capitalists but presently extended to black vs. white, women vs. men, secular vs. religious, gay vs. straight, energy consumers vs. environmentalists, and so on down the line. The imperative to resolve contradictory attributes always vindicates the Marxist commitment to some form of social action. Basic dialectical reasoning asserts that change is the essence of being. It also posits the Hegelian notion of contradiction, meaning that reality consists of the unstable coexistence between inherently incompatible forces. Old-school Marxists located the principal motive for historical change in the struggle between economically determined social classes. This led to the adversarial view of history prominent in Howard Zinns progressive textbook and Quebecs history program. The fusion of materialist and dialectical reasoning gave Marxism a distinctive combative character that appeals naturally to intellectual idealists. Marxist history promises a double victory for mankinda victory over capitalist class domination and the elimination of all forms of discrimination. More recently, progressives have gone all in on a myriad of post-modern dialectical crusades, from Indigenous land claims to radical environmentalism and the mandatory acknowledgement of transgender entitlements. Victimology always plays well in the theatres of the left. Socialisms Unkept Promises To predispose public sentiment in favour of progressive change Marxist intellectuals seek to influence formative institutions like schools and universities. But socialism has never lived up to its promises. Revolutionary parties like the Russian Bolsheviks and Chinese Maoists seized power in the wake of national catastrophes and unleashed decades of terror and deprivation on their citizens. Western Marxists, such as British Fabians, Euro-communists, and American progressives, rejected violent revolution and have sought to achieve socialism through democratic elections. Where they succeeded, economies were hobbled by over-regulation and high taxes. The latest revolution at the ballot box took place in the once prosperous central American country of Venezuela. In 1998, Hugo Chavez got himself elected under the banner of democratic socialism. When world oil prices fell and the money supply from capitalist market transactions began dwindling it became evident that the country was headed down the road to serfdom. By 2018, under Chavezs successor Nicolas Maduro, 80 percent of the population was living below the poverty line. Nevertheless, liberal-left parties in Canada and the United States are seldom shy to use a crisis to increase the power of the bureaucratic state. In the midst of the current public health and economic dilemma created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal Liberals sought to seize powers to raise taxes or create brand new ones without parliamentary approval. American Democrats sought to load relief legislation with billions of dollars in support of progressive causes that had nothing to do with the economic crisis. Grabbing more power in difficult times is part of the progressive DNA. A Modest Proposal In 1967, German student movement leader Rudi Dutschke reformulated the strategy of capturing the culture put forward in the 1930s by Italian communist philosopher Antonio Gramsci. Dutschke proposed a long march through the institutions. That march has been in progress through North American schools since the 1970s. So far, when free nations experimented with crippling socialist economic policies, they have pulled back by electing strong liberal-conservative leaders like Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, Brian Mulroney, Stephen Harper, Boris Johnson, and Donald Trump. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee this will continue. In the January 1989 edition of the New Yorker, Robert L. Heilbroner wrote: [T]he contest between capitalism and socialism is over: capitalism has won. We know now that rumours of socialisms demise have been greatly exaggerated. In fact, socialist doctrines are gaining in popularity, especially among young people. An October 2019 YouGov poll showed increased support for socialism (36 percent) among American millennials compared to 2018. Only 57 percent believe the Declaration of Independence better guarantees freedom and equality than The Communist Manifesto. According to an October 2018 Canadian Millennials Report, those aged 18 to 34 are more comfortable with socialist polices like the redistribution of wealth and government interventionist measures. Fifty-four percent thought a more socialist system would be beneficial to Canada. Heres a modest proposal for educational reform: put a little less focus on ruminating about how students learn and pay a little more attention to the equally important issue of what is being taught. The lefts long march through our classrooms has not produced graduates with a great deal of common sense and understanding. Our culture is broken, and well-educated young people have been conditioned to loathe the foundational values of their own society. In fact, the only citizens who appear capable of forming reality-based, independent judgements are blue collar workers and tradespeople with minimal exposure to formal academic influence. For now, they may be our last best hope to secure liberty and overcome the enormous challenges that lie ahead as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. William Brooks is a Montreal writer and educator. He currently serves as editor of The civil Conversation for Canadas Civitas Society and is an Epoch Times contributor. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. ALBANY New York schools will remain closed through April 29, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Monday. The state shuttered educational institutions throughout the state in mid-March, part of statewide social distancing measures intended to stem the spread of COVID-19. Non-essential businesses have also been ordered to remain closed for the duration of the month. People talk about... [1] REPATRIATION FLIGHTS FROM CEBU. An April 5 story of the British news site Independent says United Kingdom citizens criticize the payment of 1,000 pounds each for a repatriation flight out of Manila, four times more than what travelers flown home from Peru pay. Connecting flights operate from Cebu, Bohol, Punta Princesa and Siargao for British travelers in those locations. One traveler tweeted though that Russia repat flights direct from Cebu cost less. It is not known if those flying out of Cebu managed to step out of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport or just stayed there until their home trip. [2] BEEF AGAINST BAKERIES. Bakery owners are apparently not the favorite of Gov. Gwen Garcia. In a broadcast or two, she slammed some bakery owners apparently for not cooperating with Capitol on its move to have their out-of-Cebu City workers billeted in the city instead of commuting constantly to and from the province. Two kinds of ECQ pass See if the public got this right on enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) passes in Cebu City: [1] Checkpoints and patrols in Cebu City will honor electronic, online or digital passes the city government has issued. The holder of such a pass will present (a) his smart phone where the ECQ pass is unloaded and (b) one valid ID card. [2] They will still honor the hard-copy or printed color-coded ECQ passes that were issued earlier. It is assumed that the pass holder is also required to present one valid ID. [3] Whatever the pass, it shall be used only for essential purposes: to secure food, medicine or medical service. It is assumed that the checkpoint or patrol decides whether the purpose of the out-of-the-house trip is essential, plainly giving police or barangay tanods a lot of discretion. Mayor Edgardo Labella is quoted in a news story that he decided to honor the online ECQ pass after City Councilor Alvin Dizon proposed that City Hall suspend the issuance of hard-copy or cardboard passes, saying that it only created confusion and chaos and could help transmit coronavirus. Story continues Not suspended The text of Councilor Alvins request to the mayor contained a citation of the World Health Organization and other health agencies, to the effect that the coronavirus can survive on cardboards for 24 hours, thus creating another dangerous channel for transmission. From Labellas announcement, the digital pass plus a valid ID will be honored but the hard-copy pass plus, presumably, one valid ID card will also be accepted. Does the use of online ECQ pass now avert the chaos and confusion cited by the councilor? Among the gripes of residents that prompted Alvins request to the mayor: alleged delay in issuance of ECQ pass for households with medical emergency for members of the family and other essential purposes; alleged snafu in procedure in preparing the passes, which involved Labella signing all the cards and control numbers being sent through the mails. And how may the spread of the virus be checked significantly if the hard-copy passes are still being used? Maybe the cops and tanods can avoid touching the card or even the phone and the ID card the resident still has to present to get through. On the questioning of the resident on the purpose of the use of his ECQ pass, images on the conduct of checkpoints show that police and law enforcers assigned have not been diligent in observing the rule on physical distancing. Make website accessible The mayor reportedly has rolled out a website where a resident can register and download the soft copy of the ECQ pass. The location has not been announced but if it is the Cebu City government website (www.cebucity.gov.ph), often this site cant be reached because its server IP address could not be found. Added to that difficulty of access is that many residents dont have smart phones. Many others dont know how to hurdle the downloading process. Thats maybe the reason the mayor has not stopped the use of hard-copy ECQ passes. ** Tell us about it. [paseares1@gmail.com] Disinfecting an empty office in Thailand (Source: AFP/VNA) In the policy paper on the Asia Pacific region issued on March 26, ESCAP noted that while exact data on the impact of the pandemic on employment remained unavailable, the impact is likely to be substantial as services and labour-intensive manufacturing comprise over 80 percent of the region's informal sector and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and contribute to most of the jobs in the region. The report stressed the need for countries with weak social protection systems to have ample policy space to save jobs and support minimum living standards for households. Meanwhile, in its report issued on April 3, the Asia Development Bank projected that growth in Southeast Asia will decelerate from 4.4 percent in 2019 to 1 percent this year before rebounding to 4.7 percent in 2021, partly because of the region's strong trade and investment ties with China. Based on the ADB's projections, Indonesia's growth is expected to shrink from 5 percent last year to 2.5 percent this year. Thailand is expected to slow to minus 4.8 percent. Vietnam's annual average growth of 7 percent will slow to 4.8 percent in 2020, while Singapore is expected to eke out just 0.2 percent growth. Already, several governments have rushed out programmes to support the masses of newly unemployed from sectors like tourism, hospitality and garment production. Thailand is giving a 5,000 baht (150 USD) monthly support for three months to some nine million informal or self-employed workers. Singapore's supplementary budget worth some 48 billion SGD (33.36 billion USD) pays unemployed workers 800 SGD a month, for three months, to help them look for a new job or undergo training. Did the 2010 Polish plane tragedy at Smolensk have an impact on Canada? By Mark Wegierski April 10, 2010 (ten years ago) is the date of the Polish plane tragedy at Smolensk. One does recall that in its aftermath, the Polish-Canadian community may have finally broken through to the consciousness at least some Canadians. Prime Minister Stephen Harpers declaration of a day of national mourning for Canada, in solidarity with Poland, and his participation and speech in the mass memorial held at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Mississauga, Ontario, on April 15, 2010, could have been very important moments in the history of the Polish-Canadian community. Whenever Poland grieves, Canada grieves, Stephen Harper said. We stand with the victims of Katyn then and now. Finally, a Canadian Prime Minister was expressing what seemed like genuine sympathy for Poles, combined with at least some real knowledge of Polish history a knowledge that was sadly lacking among most of his predecessors and, indeed, most Canadians. There is some irony in the fact that a Conservative Prime Minister and government had apparently delivered more to the Polish-Canadian community than earlier Liberal administrations. The height of the Liberal engagement with Polish-Canadians came in the 1970s and 1980s, with the long-serving M.P.s Stanley Haidasz (Canadas first Minister of State for Multiculturalism, and also later a Senator), and Jesse Flis (who represented the riding of Parkdale-High Park, which includes the Polish Roncesvalles Avenue village). Jean Chretiens attitudes to Polish-Canadians were mostly indifferent. He parachuted a non-Polish candidate into the Parkdale-High Park riding. In 1995, he revoked veterans benefits for veterans of the Polish armed forces, who had faithfully fought at the side of the Allies. For Poles, who had suffered so much during the Second World War, and who had unstintingly fought for your freedom and ours this was a cruel blow. Harper and the Conservative Party clearly perceived that Polish-Canadians could be attracted by them. In the relatively short period since January 2006, the Harper government had carried out a number of initiatives of importance to Polish-Canadians. The veterans benefits were restored to Polish veterans. There was the lifting of visa requirements for Polish citizens travelling to Canada. This had been a long-time irritant for Polish-Canadians, and their relatives in Poland. There was the signing of an agreement for interchangeability of Canadian and Polish pension plans. The processes of student exchanges between Canada and Poland became more streamlined. In the May 2011 federal election, there were at least two, emphatically Polish-Canadian M.P.s elected in the Conservative caucus Wladyslaw Lizon (Mississauga East-Cooksville), and Ted Opitz (Etobicoke-Centre). In the October 2015 federal election, they were both defeated, but Tom Kmiec (Calgary-Shepard) was elected. He was easily re-elected in the October 2019 federal election. Nevertheless, despite over a million persons of Polish descent in Canada today, the political and cultural saliency of Polish-Canadians is still rather low. One would guess that the affect of their identity, for most Polish-Canadians, is fairly weak. Thus, it was highly important for the community to have its concerns and history acknowledged in April 2010 in so public a fashion although it was most unfortunate that it was in the wake of such a huge tragedy for Poland. Perhaps it may be hoped that there would be, in the wake of the tragedy, some quickening in the life of the Polish-Canadian community for example, through increased support by the community to its organizations and the few, mostly impecunious foundations. This moment of great tragedy in the history of Poland could perhaps become, it may be hoped, part of the beginning of a process of the Polish-Canadian community finally making a significant impact on the Canadian scene, and finally breaking through to the consciousness of many more Canadians. Mark Wegierski is a Toronto-based writer and historical researcher. He was born in Toronto of Polish immigrant parents. Home The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) has successfully managed to enhance its role as a representative and voice of the business community and the private sector to overcome the challenges they face in light of the global changes and developments due to the spread of the new coronavirus (Covid-19). The SCCIs actions have been taken in coordination with the Sharjah Executive Council, the relevant government agencies, and the chambers strategic partners from the private sector. This is in addition to the vital role of the SCCIs sectoral business groups in communicating with the various economic sectors to identify their needs and raise them to the concerned departments to come up with effective initiatives and incentives helping them continue their business. The recently-approved stimulus package by the Sharjah government to support the government and private sectors, business sectors and businessmen comprises seven initiatives from the SCCI. This includes exempting tenants of the buildings (1 and 2) of the SCCI of rental for a period of three months as of April 1; exempting tenants of Expo Centre Sharjahs building from rental for three months; a 30 percent discount to members of the SCCI to participate in Expo Sharjah exhibitions for the year 2020/2021; 50 per cent discount for shops, commercial centers and central markets participating in the marketing campaigns organised by the SCCI for the year 2020; exempting the participants in the permanent national industries exhibition from rental fees for a period of three months; exempting participating stores from the Central and Eastern Regions (Al Dhaid - Kalba - Khorfakkan - Dibba) from participation fees in the marketing campaigns organised by the SCCI for the year 2020; and exempting employees of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in 101 Trade Centre from the rental fees until the end of 2020. Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al-Awadi, SCCIs Director-General, said: The SCCI has communicated the needs and demands of the emirates business community to the relevant bodies, the matter which led to a stimulus package for the benefit of the public interest and the business community in Sharjah, thanks to the rapid response of Sharjah government under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah and the relentless follow up of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah. A number of the heads of sectoral business groups and businessmen and SCCI members underlined that the stimulus package announced by the Sharjah Executive Council is an important message that all the support and priority are given to the commercial and industrial companies, stressing that such initiatives will have a positive impact on the different business sectors and they will enhance the confidence of investors and companies. TradeArabia News Service A recent study in Japan has finally explained that the reason behind Uranus unique traits including its tilt and the ring system, is apparently due to an ancient giant icy impact. A research team led by Professor Shigeru Ida from the Earth-Life Science Institute at Tokyo Institute of Technology studied the planet with an unusual set of properties and came to the conclusion when they were constructing a computer simulation of moon formation around the icy planets. Uranus has been known as a tiny icy planet and left scientists clueless for a very long time. While most planets rotate around the sun in the same direction with their poles at 90 degrees to the plane of revolvement, Uranus is tilted over about 98 degrees with a ring system similar to Saturn and has 27 moons which orbit the planet around its equator. According to the official press release, Ida said that the model in the research is first to explain the configuration of Uranus moon system. He added that this new study would help the scientists understand the configuration of other icy planets in the Solar System such as Neptune. Ida also said, Beyond this, astronomers have now discovered thousands of planets around other stars, so-called exoplanets, and observations suggest that many of the newly discovered planets known as super-Earths in exoplanetary systems may consist largely of water ice and this model can also be applied to these planets. [Press Release] Mysteries of Uranus Oddities Explained by Japanese Astronomers https://t.co/MLGIPsTTjN pic.twitter.com/Xz3J1RYzDB Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) (@ELSI_origins) April 6, 2020 Read - 300 'minor Planets' Discovered In Solar System Beyond Neptune Read - 'For A Healthier Planet...': PM Modi Thanks All For Suggesting Ways To Fight COVID-19 Planet with temperature exceeding 2,400 Celcius While this study in Japan was about icy planets, a team of astronomers has observed a distant exoplanet where it probably rains liquid iron. According to findings published in the journal Nature, the planet is known as WASP 76b and is estimated to be located 640-light-years away from Earth. The team of scientists led by professor David Ehrenreich studied the chemistry of the planet using Echelle Spectrograph for Rocky Exoplanets and Stable Spectroscopic Observations (ESPRESSO) at the European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope (VLT) located on Cerro Paranal, Chile. As per the study, WASP 76b orbits so close to its host star, which is Sun for planet Earth, that daytime temperatures on the exoplanet exceeds 2,400 degrees Celcius, hot enough to vaporise metals. However, the night time temperatures on the exoplanet fall by a whopping 1,000 degrees, allowing the metal to condense and rain out. The study says that the exoplanet is so close to its host star that it takes just 48 hours to complete one revolution, in contrast, the Earth takes 365 days and 5 hours to complete one revolution around the Sun. Read - Astronauts About To Leave Planet In Quarantine Read - New Planet Discovered With Temperature Exceeding 2,400 Celsius Image Source: Unsplash/Representative Dr Alex George has revealed he has been forced to move out of the flat he is staying in and has asked his social media followers for help finding a new place. The Love Island star, 30, who is working on the frontline with the NHS amid the coronavirus pandemic, explained his tenancy period has expired and he now needs a new place to stay near his hospital in Lewisham, south London. Posting a message on Instagram Stories, Alex wrote: 'I need to move out of where I am staying due to the tenancy period expiring. Does anyone have a place I could rent short term for the next month or so. Moving: Dr Alex George, 30, has revealed he has been forced to move out of the flat he is staying in and has asked his social media followers for help finding a new place 'Need to be in central/south/southwest London to be close to A&E. Thank you.' Alex explained in a later post he has moved out of his recently renovated flat in south west London and has been staying at girlfriend Amelia Bath's flat alone. He said: 'I've been staying on my own so I don't risk infecting friends and family.' Amelia has been dating Alex since October 2018 and recently gushed about the work he is doing with the NHS. Flat: Alex, who is working on the frontline with the NHS amid the coronavirus pandemic, explained his tenancy period has expired and he now needs a new place to stay Relationship: Alex explained in a later post he has moved out of his recently renovated flat in south west London and has been staying at girlfriend Amelia Bath's flat alone She wrote last week: 'Im so proud of him and Im endlessly grateful for all the NHS staff and key workers who are working tirelessly during such uncertain times.' It comes after Alex likened his busy hospital in Lewisham to a 'war-zone' and said it's like 'preparing for battle' amid the global coronavirus pandemic. The former Love Islander appeared on Monday's Good Morning Britain where he gave a first-hand report from the frontline to Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid. When asked if his hospital in Lewisham was like a 'war-zone', Dr Alex admitted: 'Yeah, it's getting so busy now. When you go to work, you are in many ways, preparing for battle emotionally and physically. 'War-zone': Alex likened his busy hospital in Lewisham, south London, to a 'war-zone' and said it's like 'preparing for battle' amid the global coronavirus pandemic 'When you get there, you're going into A&E and seeing difficult situations. You're seeing people incredibly unwell, we are obviously trying to do our best for everyone, but you are seeing people dying of the coronavirus. That's very difficult.' Alex also revealed that he is unable to let COVID-19 patients see their families, which he finds 'difficult' and 'heartbreaking'. He continued: 'In regards to the family, we're not able to let patients see their family even if they're really really unwell in A&E, which is very difficult. Frontline: The Love Island star appeared on Monday's Good Morning Britain where he gave a first-hand report from the frontline to Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid 'It's an unnatural instinct, you want to comfort the family and comfort the patient in those situations as comfortably as we can. But we're not able to do so in a way that we want to, which is heartbreaking.' As well as patients, NHS workers have also lost their lives to COVID-19 during the pandemic which has infected 47,806 and killed 4,934 in the UK. Asking if Dr Alex was scared for his own health while working in the hospital, he admitted: 'I think anyone who says they are not concerned is not being completely open.' Battle: When asked if his hospital in Lewisham was like a 'war-zone', Dr Alex admitted: 'Yeah, it's getting so busy now. When you go to work, you are in many ways, preparing for battle emotionally and physically.' It comes after he 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 on Thursday. 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. 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. Life on the frontline: It comes after he 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 on Thursday '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 '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.' 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 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. 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) 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. 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 '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. Orthodox Jewish men move a wooden casket from a hearse at a funeral home in Brooklyn, New York, on April 5, 2020. The funeral industry is grappling with new challenges as the mortality rate increases across the nation from the coronavirus crisis. Funeral directors' jobs have changed overnight to accommodate the influx of bodies coming in and to provide services to grieving family members who face social-distancing demands. White House officials are predicting that 100,000 to 240,000 people in the United States will die from the coronavirus. The challenges for funeral homes include the inability to provide a traditional services for the deceased. State laws in nearly every locality have placed limits on the number of people permitted to gather, and that includes funeral services. In most cases, the number of people is limited to five to 10 and includes only immediate family. "The hardest part for me is, I think, it's sad that people can't be with their loved ones, and they can't share the grief," said David Jacobson, founder of Chicago Jewish Funerals. Jacobson and other funeral directors have turned to offering their customers virtual services like shiva.com, a site created by Sympathy Brands for Jewish mourning. The company also operates eCondolence.com and other related websites. "We're trying to find any possible way to give people comfort that they're not getting. Keep in mind, people are not being able to say goodbye to their loved ones in the hospital," he said. Michael Schimmel, CEO of Sympathy Brands, said its new Viewneral service was created in response to COVID-19. Viewneral serves as a resource for funeral homes and mourners for end-of-life services. An 11-year-old, who was to make her Confirmation over the weekend, has donated the money she received to help fight the Covid-19 crisis. Libby Fallon received money from her relatives to celebrate the big day although the ceremonies have been one of the many events cancelled throughout the country. On Friday, the Singapore government announced new circuit breaker measures to close most workplaces island-wide along with schools, in a bid to meaningfully reduce the number of COVID-19 cases. Many companies will be impacted, but a select group will be relatively unaffected by the latest regulatory move. This entire exercise will be in place for four weeks from April 7 till May 4, including both dates. All essential services can continue operating, as well as hospitals, polyclinics and dialysis centres. Here are three companies that will continue to operate most of their operations despite the imposition of a circuit breaker. Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX: S68) Singapore Exchange Limited, or SGX, is Singapores sole stock exchange operator. Last week, SGX announced that its securities and derivatives markets will remain open to provide international and retail investors with access to manage their investment portfolios. The government said that banking and financial services will remain accessible at all times to the public, and SGX is among the firms that are included in this segment. SGXs share price has remained resilient throughout the crisis, registering a year-to-date gain of 2.6%. For those who are looking to deploy some spare capital to buy blue-chip companies, they can rest assured that they will still be able to do so. Sheng Siong Group Ltd (SGX: OV8) When it comes to essentials, nothing beats basic fresh produce, meat and vegetables. The government has to allow the supermarkets, wet markets and minimarts to continue to operate, as these supply necessities to the public. Sheng Siong has one of the largest supermarket chains in Singapore, with 61 outlets mainly located in the heartland (i.e. HDB) areas. Investors can rest assured that business can continue uninterrupted and may even see a spike in demand as people buy more goods to stock up at home. Even if the virus situation were to worsen, Sheng Siong will most likely still be allowed to operate as the selling of groceries and fresh food are essentials for life to carry on. Story continues That said, social distancing could limit the number of shoppers in each shop at any point in time. The measures may have a temporary negative impact but should be more than made up for by increased patronage as people are left with fewer choices to shop. VICOM Ltd (SGX: V01) VICOM is one of the leading vehicle testing and inspection centres in Singapore, with a market share of more than 70%. Vehicle repair and servicing are listed as one of the essential services that are allowed to operate even with the circuit breaker. Note that VICOMs vehicle inspection divisions core market focuses on Singapore and is less likely to be affected. However, its non-vehicle inspection division, which has contracts with multinationals and other types of businesses, might be more negatively impacted. Get Smart: Keep calm and carry on investing Though the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented in its scale and reach, I believe that things are still pretty much under control in Singapore. The government is ready to do what it takes to support individuals and businesses through this tough period. So, fear not, dear investor, you can just keep calm and carry on investing. FREE special report: The Bear Market Survival Guide. If youd like to learn how to survive this bear market, CLICK HERE to download our special free report. Get more stock updates on our Facebook page or Telegram. Click here to like and follow us on Facebook and here for our Telegram group. Disclaimer: Royston Yang owns shares in Singapore Exchange Limited and VICOM Ltd. The post 3 Businesses That Can Continue Despite the Governments Circuit Breaker appeared first on The Smart Investor. WASHINGTON The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that police officers may stop vehicles registered to people whose drivers licenses had been suspended on the assumption that the driver was the owner, rather than, say, a family member. The court also ruled that federal workers can win age discrimination suits under a more relaxed standard than employees in the private sector. And it turned down an appeal challenging a transit systems ban on religious advertising. Traffic Stops In spring 2016, a sheriffs deputy in Lawrence, Kan., ran a check of the license plate of a moving Chevrolet pickup truck. The deputy learned that the vehicle was registered to Charles Glover Jr. and that Mr. Glovers drivers license had been revoked. Based on that information and nothing more, the deputy stopped the truck, which Mr. Glover turned out to be driving. Mr. Glover was prosecuted for driving without a license, and he moved to suppress the evidence against him, arguing that the stop had violated the Fourth Amendment, which forbids unreasonable searches and seizures. The Kansas Supreme Court ruled for Mr. Glover, saying the deputy had made two unreasonable assumptions: that a vehicles registered owner is likely the primary driver and that people whose drivers licenses are suspended or revoked will likely disregard the suspension or revocation and continue to drive. (Bloomberg) -- Credit Suisse Group AG has dropped off the initial public offering of one of Chinas top online health-care startups, dealing a fresh blow to its business taking companies in the region public after the Swiss bank was sued for its role on Luckin Coffee Inc.s U.S. share sale. The Swiss bank is no longer working on the WeDoctor deal, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified as the discussions are private. Credit Suisse was picked alongside JPMorgan Chase & Co. and CMB International to lead the share sale, which was expected to happen before the end of the year, Bloomberg News reported last month. WeDoctor aims to raise between $500 million and $1 billion, a person familiar with the matter has said. A representative for Credit Suisse declined to comment, while a representative for WeDoctor said the company is still choosing partners and has not finalized the banks for the share sale. Credit Suisses exit comes at a difficult time for the bank, which was last week hit with a shareholder suit alleging Luckin Coffee and several underwriters made false and misleading statements that caused its stock price to be inflated. Credit Suisse was among the coffee chains IPO underwriters named in the complaint. Luckins shares have lost almost 80% since saying its chief operating officer and some of its employees may have fabricated billions of yuan in sales, upending what was supposed to be one of Chinas best growth stories. Read More: Luckin Coffee Scandal Deals Blow to China Inc.s Reputation WeDoctor, backed by Tencent Holdings Ltd., joins a growing contingent of tech giants hoping to revolutionize the traditional health-care industry after the coronavirus pandemic underscored the shortcomings. The company is on the prowl for expansion capital and this year laid the foundation for a public debut by hiring John Cai, formerly chief executive officer for AIA Group Ltd.s operations in markets including China, Malaysia and Vietnam. Story continues The startup, whose business spans from insurance policies and medical supplies to online appointment-booking and clinics, was valued at around $5.5 billion in a 2018 funding round. The Hong Kong IPO market has slowed amid the worst stock market rout in more than 30 years. Companies have raised about $1.8 billion via first-time share sales in the city so far in 2020, a 34% drop from the same period a year ago, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. 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. Four Indian nationals in the US have died due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a Malayalee diaspora organization. Aleyamma Kuriakose (65) died in New York due to the COVID-19 infection. The Federation of Kerala Associations in North America (FOKANA) confirmed the deaths of three other Indian nationals due to coronavirus - Thankachan Enchenattu, 51, Abraham Samuel, 45, and Shawn Abraham, 21. FOKANA is an umbrella organisation of Malayalee associations in North America and Canada. The organisation and members of the community expressed profound sadness over the demise of the persons, expressing condolences to their family and friends. The Consulate General of India in New York said that it is in touch with the families of the deceased. New York, the epicentre of the pandemic in the US, has over 113,000 coronavirus cases in the US. New York City alone has more than 63,000 coronavirus patients, and over 2,620 deaths. The state had also recorded the highest single increase in the number of deaths from COVID-19 in a single day between April 2 and 3 when 562 people had died, one person dying from coronavirus almost every two-and-a-half minutes. In the 24 hours since April 4, the death toll grew to 630, all-time increase up to a total of 3565, up from 2,935 on Friday morning, Governor Andrew Cuomo said. Cuomo has said the apex in the state, the point where the number of infections on a daily basis hits the high point, is still about 4-8 days away. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 14:26:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NANJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- A town in the city of Kunshan, eastern China's Jiangsu Province, has donated a batch of medical supplies to assist Spain in fighting against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the city government said Monday. The supplies donated by Qiandeng Town, including 50,000 disposable masks, 5,000 gloves and 5,000 protective suits, were sent to the Shanghai Office of Mondragon Corporation, one of the leading Spanish business groups. Igor Eceiza, general manager of Orkli Electronics (Kunshan) Co., Ltd, affiliated to Mondragon Corporation, said that the important thing is that Kunshan and Qiandeng donated the medical stuff although they are also in great demand of them. "We believe that two countries can pull through and overcome the epidemic." Since the epidemic outbreak in January, many Spanish enterprises in the Kunshan Mondragon Industrial Park, located in Qiandeng Town, have donated medical supplies to the local government. Last month, Mondragon Corporation as well as its Shanghai Office donated 2,960 KN95 masks, 100 protective suits and disinfectants to Qiandeng Town. Mondragon Assembly (Kunshan) Co., Ltd also donated 10,000 medical masks to the town. In 2010, the Kunshan Mondragon Industrial Park was jointly established by Kunshan government and Mondragon, a corporation and federation of worker cooperatives based in the Basque region of Spain. Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates: No COVID-19 cases in Goa on Tuesday, the total number of positive coronavirus cases in the state stands at seven, the state health department said. Auto refresh feeds Further, 28 deaths have been reported in the past 24 hours. With this, the total number of deaths in the country has crossed the 100-mark. The Union government on Monday said that there has been an increase of 704 COVID-19 cases taking the total number to 4,067 in the last 24 hours, the biggest rise so far in India. A health bulletin said so far 256 persons in the state have tested positive for COVID-19 and 151 of them are from Indore. These patients were already suffering from asthma, diabetes, high BP and other ailments before getting infected with COVID-19, he said. Three men and a woman have died in the last five days in different hospitals in Indore and their test reports received on Monday revealed they were infected with COVID-19, an official of the government-MGM medical college said. Indore alone now accounts for 13 deaths. Four more persons succumbed to the dreaded coronavirus in the city, taking the toll to 18 in Madhya Pradesh on Monday, a health official said. According to the Union health ministry update, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India has reached 4,281. While 111 people have died, 318 patients have been cured. The government said 11 deaths have been reported due to COVID-19 in the state, so far. "30 more persons have tested positive for the coronavirus in Telangana, while 12 patients have been cured/discharged, today. There are 308 active cases," state health department bulletin said. Telangana on Monday reported 30 new positive coronavirus cases, taking the total number of active cases to 308 in the state. Banerjee also urged people not to "indulge in politics" with the figures related to COVID-19 infection and deaths. Most of these 61 people have either returned from abroad or came in contact with someone who is a foreign returnee, she said. "Till Monday noon, there were 61 active COVID-19 cases in West Bengal. Out of these, 55 belong to seven families," Banerjee told reporters. So far, there are only three COVID-19 related deaths in the state, Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said 12 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the state since Saturday evening, taking the total number of active cases to 61. The prime minister has asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is the First Secretary of State, to deputise for him where necessary," the spokesperson said. Over the course of this afternoon (Monday), the condition of the Prime Minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the ICU at the hospital, a Downing Street spokesperson said. Johnson, 55, asked UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab to deputise for him as he was moved on Monday to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at St Thomas' Hospital in London, a move Downing Street said was a precaution should he require ventilation to aid his recovery. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was in the hospital due to persistent coronavirus symptoms, has been taken into intensive care after his condition worsened, Downing Street has said. Vijayan said the nurses have requested that necessary steps be taken to separate people who are diagnosed positive for Coronavirus and those who presently have no symptoms. "I request that the concerned state governments may be advised to urgently look into the facts and circumstances... and provide due care, attention, and necessary precautions so that the standard health protocols are followed and utmost protection is given to the health personnel who are rendering valuable service to our society," Vijayan said in the letter. He said, five nurses at Delhi's prestigious Cancer Institute have been infected with the virus amid complaints regarding lack of PPE across the country. In a press meet after the evaluation meet on COVID-19, Vijayan said 46 nurses from Kerala working in Mumbai have contracted the deadly virus and more than 150 nurses are under observation there. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has written a letter to Modi seeking his "attention to the situation", an official said. The Kerala government on Monday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to look into reports of nurses from the state getting infected with COVID-19 in Delhi and Maharashtra allegedly due to lack of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). Meanwhile, the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has asked all zoos across the country to monitor the health of kept animals as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of COVID-19 after a tiger in a US zoo tested positive for the virus. Among other precautionary measures include food provided to the animals being disinfected, the official said. "Only 50 percent of Lucknow Zoo's staff are working and they are maintaining high standards of hygiene. We are disinfecting food before providing it to animals. We have also made a quarantine ward for animals possibly infected by the COVID-19 if the need arises," said Zoo Director, Rajendra Kumar Singh. Director of the Lucknow Zoo on Monday said the Zoo was taking additional precautionary measures for animals and its staff amid coronavirus outbreak. Hydroxychloroquine tablet is used to prevent and treat malaria, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, among other ailments. I would be surprised if he would, you know, because India does very well with the United States, Trump told reporters during a press briefing at the White House on Monday. Last week Trump said that he has sought help from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow the sale of Hydroxychloroquine tablets ordered by the US to treat the growing number of coronavirus patients in his country, hours after India banned the export of the anti-malarial drug. US President Donald Trump has said he would be surprised if India did not allow the export of Hydroxychloroquine tablets to the United States despite a request made to New Delhi over the subject. On 6 March, Union Minister of State for Shipping, and Chemical and Fertilizers, Mansukh Mandaviya had said that the government has imposed short term restrictions on some active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) with regards to coronavirus preparedness. The notice said APIs and formulation made from these APIs are made free for export, with immediate effect. Restrictions on paracetamol have however not been lifted yet. A notice issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry highlighted the 24 pharma ingredients and formulations. These include Tinidazole, Metronidazole, Acyclovir, Vitamin BI, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12. The Central government has removed restrictions on the export of 12 Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and their formulations, the Union Commerce and Industry Ministry said on Monday. Nurses are particularly lacking across Africa, in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, and Venezuela, it added. There is still a global shortage of nearly 6 million nurses, mainly in low- and lower-middle-income countries, where the number of new recruits barely keeps pace with population growth, the report said. The worlds 28 million nurses, 59 percent of all health workers, were overstretched before the crisis began, the WHO, the Nursing Now campaign, and Geneva-based council said in the first State of the Worlds Nursing Report. Some 100 medical workers are reported to have died from the disease so far, including many nurses, Howard Catton, CEO of the International Council of Nurses, told a news briefing. Authorities must protect nurses and other health workers from harassment and attacks compounding the already heavy toll they are paying in the pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) and top nursing officials said on Tuesday. Last week, Special Envoy from Dominican Republic to UN Ambassador Jose Singer and President of Security Council for April said that a Council meeting on the coronavirus situation had been requested by five or six ambassadors and the Dominican Republic was working to schedule the discussion. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will participate in the session on Thursday afternoon as a briefer. It remains to be seen whether any press statement on the COVID-19 situation is issued after the meeting. Council President for the month of April, the Dominican Republic, said it has formally scheduled a closed video-teleconferencing (VTC) "regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the issues that fall under the UNSC mandate". The United Nations Security Council will hold a closed session on Thursday to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, the first time the powerful UN organ is holding a meeting on coronavirus that has killed more than 74,000 people and infected over 1.3 million globally. British prime minister Boris Johnson is in hospital for tests after suffering persistent symptoms of the coronavirus, but he continues to lead the government and work on official business. On the International platform, Air India will be operating dedicated scheduled cargo flights to China for the uplifting of critical medical equipment as per the requirement. The statement said domestic cargo operators; Blue Dart, Spicejet and Indigo are operating cargo flights on a commercial basis. "With support from Air India, Alliance Air, IAF and private airlines, medical supplies of more than 184 tons have been delivered to date during lockdown period," a release of Ministry of Civil Aviation said. Under Lifeline UDAN initiative of Ministry of Civil Aviation, 132 cargo flights have been operated so far across the country to transport medical cargo including to remote and hilly areas, said an official statement on Monday. "The decision follows a telephone conversation between Trump and Narendra Modi on Saturday", claim reports. There are currently no approved treatments, or preventive vaccines for COVID-19, the highly contagious, sometimes deadly respiratory illness caused by coronavirus. Last month, India had banned the export of hydroxychloroquine and formulations of the malaria drug while experts test its efficacy in helping treat COVID-19 patients. Amid rising global pressure to allow exports of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol which is being tested on patients infected with coronavirus, the government is likely to clear the move after calculating sufficient stocks for the country, sources have told CNBC-TV18. The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in India has risen to 4,421, according to the Union Health Ministry's latest data. The reported active cases of currently stands at 3,981, while the toll from the novel coronavirus pandemic has reached 114. "There are a total of 26 coronavirus positive cases in Assam so far. We have tested 2,000 samples till date. The reports for 165 samples are pending and are expected to come by this evening," Sarma said during a press conference at NHM office. State minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said that over 2,000 samples have been tested in the state, out of which 26 tested positive for coronavirus so far. "1,182 people have been arrested and 504 cases registered so far in Assam for violating the coronavirus lockdown," said GP Singh, Assam Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order. As many as 1,182 people have been arrested and 504 cases registered so far in Assam for not following the lockdown restrictions imposed in view of the coronavirus outbreak, an official said. In New York, the epicenter of COVID-19 in the US, the fatalities on Monday increased to 4,758 and confirmed cases to 130,000, with officials saying that new cases and deaths have now slowed down in the Big Apple. Globally it has infected more than 13 lakhs people and resulted in the death of more than 74,000. By Monday, more than 10,800 Americans died due to the deadly coronavirus and over 366,000 tested positive, to which top American scientists are racing against time to develop either a vaccine or a successful treatment. The death toll in the US from the coronavirus crossed the 10,000-mark on Monday as the country entered the most difficult phase during this pandemic with officials stating that there are encouraging signs in the fight against the dreaded disease mainly due to the aggressive implementation of the mitigation measures. The sample collection kiosk can be mounted on a vehicle and transported to any location, he said. The model can also be useful for collecting samples in COVID-19 hotspots and border checkpoints, the official said, adding that each model costs about Rs 15,000-20,000. "The phone booth COVID-19 sample collection centre is a unique, low-cost and portable unit. It ensures the safety of health workers while collecting sample from a suspected patient," the official said. The unit looks like a public telephone booth and will reduce manpower needed for collecting samples for coronavirus tests, he said. In a bid to ensure safety of health workers, the West Singhbhum administration in Jharkhand has introduced an innovative portable unit for collecting samples from suspected coronavirus-infected persons, an official said. The Prime Minister further threw light on the importance of personal fitness to stay healthy. Modi has been continuously encouraging people to show support to the doctors and paramedical staff for their selfless work during the COVID-19 threat. On the occasion of World Health Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said we should show gratitude to the healthcare staff who are braving all odds to fight the coronavirus crisis. Since the outbreak of coronavirus, police personnel in parts of the country have been coming up with novel ideas to spread information about the deadly viral infection and urging people to follow the lockdown and social distancing properly. The policemen have been repeatedly telling people that if they unnecessarily step out of their houses, they may carry the virus back home along with them. To make people aware about the severity of the viral infection, they laugh like devils and call themselves "corona demon". They have been going around the town wearing red body suits with coronavirus-like spikes on it, and warning those violating the lockdown protocol. Two policemen in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district have been moving around streets wearing coronavirus-themed outfits to make people aware about the lethality of the disease and urging them to strictly follow the prescribed guidelines to stay protected. All the four who tested positive were from Tissa area of Chamba district and had attended the Jamaat event in the national capital, he said. Additional Chief Secretary (Health) R D Dhiman said 83 samples were collected in the state on Monday and the report of 81 was out, of which four tested positive, two samples will be tested again and the rest came out negative. Four Tablighi Jamaat members who attended a religious congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin have tested positive for coronavirus in Himachal Pradesh, a senior health official said. With this, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state rose to 19. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will be announcing a five-point strategy to counter the spread of COVID-19 in the national capital at 1.00 pm today, reports suggest. The strategy may include randomised testing in hotspots and quarantine centers being set up in large numbers. On the other hand, Bajaj Finance was the sole loser. Similarly, the NSE Nifty soared 347.95 points, or 4.30 percent, to 8,431.75. IndusInd Bank was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, surging up to 15 percent, followed by Mahindra and Mahindra, HCL Tech, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and Infosys. Equity benchmark Sensex rallied over 1,300 points in early trade on Tuesday led gains in bank, IT and auto stocks amid recovery in global equities. After hitting a high of 28,963.25, the 30-share BSE barometer was trading 1,127.57 points or 4.09 percent higher at 28,718.52. The overall confirmed cases on the mainland have reached 81,740 by Monday, including 1,242 patients still being treated, 77,167 patients discharged after recovery, and 3,331 people died of the disease, the NHC said. China's National Health Commission (NHC) on Tuesday said that no death was reported on Monday. The official death toll in China is 3,331. It is a landmark in China's over two-month-long fight against the deadly virus as the country continued to report coronavirus deaths till Sunday, especially from the epicentre Hubei province. China on Tuesday reported no new deaths from the deadly coronavirus for the first time since it started publishing figures in January but the number of imported infections increased to 983 with 32 new confirmed cases, health officials said. With 120 new cases of COVID-19, the total number of confirmed cases in the state increased to 868 on Monday, Maharashtra Health Department informed in the daily media bulletin. In the last 24 hours, four people have tested positive for COVID-19 out of which three are close contacts of persons who attended the Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi. Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra has a total of twenty-five COVID-19 positive cases, as per the local administration. Twenty-one out of these twenty-five patients includes Tablighi Jamaat returnees and their close contacts. He said the total number of coronavirus positive cases in the state has risen to 325. While there were nine cases in Jodhpur, Jaisalmer saw 7 cases. Banswara recorded 4 cases, Jaipur (3) and Churu (1). "24 new cases have come up today, including in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Banswara and Churu districts. All have contact and travel history," Additional Chief Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said. The virus has so far claimed six lives in the state. However, officials maintain that deaths occurred due to co-morbidity, more than one illness or disease occurring in one person at the same time. Rajasthan recorded 24 more cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, taking the total number of virus cases in the state to 325, an official said. Two more cases of the novel coronavirus disease have been found in the Dharavi area of Mumbai, Maharashtra. The cases have been reported in Dr Baliga Nagar. They are the father, 80, and brother, 49, of the second case from the area. The total cases in the area now stand at four. She advised that the zoos/deer parks in the state remain on "highest alert" and watch animals on 24x7 basis using CCTV for any abnormal behaviour/symptoms. State Principal Chief Conservator of Forests R Sobha in communication on Monday to officials, said the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) informed about the confirmation of COVID- 19 in a tiger housed in a zoo in New York, USA. The Forest Department in Telangana has asked zoos and deer parks in the state to be on "highest alert" while issuing a set of directives to its officers after a tiger in a New York zoo tested positive for coronavirus. The MEA further said: "We will also be supplying these essential drugs to some nations who have been particularly badly affected by the pandemic. We would, therefore, discourage any speculation in this regard or any attempts to politicise the matter. In view of the humanitarian aspects of COVID-19 pandemic, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday announced that India has decided to licence Paracetamol and Hydroxychloroquine in appropriate quantities to all its neighbouring countries which are dependent on its capabilities. "Our colleague nurses and the doctors identified as COVID-19 positive are presently being treated. The hospital is currently declared containment zone by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and we are closely working with the authorities," Wockhardt Hospital said in a statement. Several of our healthcare professionals tested positive for COVID-19 at a South Mumbai facility, ANI reports. The source of the infection is identified as a 70-year-old patient who was admitted on March 17 for a cardiac emergency. Later, he tested positive for coronavirus, said Wockhardt Hospital. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 75.92, then gained ground and touched 75.87, registering a rise of 26 paise over its previous close. On Friday, rupee had settled at 76.13 against the US dollar. The forex market was closed on Monday on account of Mahavir Jayanti. Forex traders said a higher opening in domestic equities supported the local unit, while sustained foreign fund outflows and concerns over coronavirus outbreak weighed on the local unit. The Indian rupee appreciated by 26 paise to 75.87 against the US dollar in early trade on Tuesday tracking positive opening in domestic equities. Hundreds of suspected illegal migrants, many of them Muslims, are lodged in the detention centres in Assam after they did not figure in the controversial updated National Register of Citizens. He also purportedly said the living conditions there were worse than those at the detention centres. An audio clip containing a telephonic conversation purportedy between Islam and another person was doing the rounds on social media where the lawmaker was heard talking "disparagingly" about the quarantine facilities and hospitals. Aminul Islam, the All India United Democratic Front (AIDUF) legislator from Dhing constituency was apprehended early in the morning after preliminary interrogation, state police chief Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta told PTI. An opposition MLA in Assam was arrested on Tuesday for making "objectionable" remarks about the condition of quarantine facilities and hospitals treating COVID 19 patients, calling them worse than detention centres, police said. "Anchors and reporters working in news channels are being specifically targeted through social media platforms like WhatsApp, TikTok and Twitter," the statement said. This particular trend has been noticed after the electronic media recently exposed the Tablighi Jamaat link in nationwide spurt in coronavirus cases and subsequent deaths. The news broadcasters' body said it views with "grave concern" the tendency among people belonging to a certain section of society resorting to abuses and threats against anchors and reporters working in news channels. The NBA, in a statement released by its president Rajat Sharma, said videos are circulating on social media in which some religious preachers are naming some TV news anchors and threatening attacks on the reporters of those channels. The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has expressed "grave concern" over the tendency among people belonging to a certain section of the society in resorting to threats against news channel journalists after the electronic media "exposed" the Tablighi Jamaat link in the nationwide spurt in coronavirus cases. The second was a 60 year old man who had returned from Dubai but had showed no symptoms since. Both patients were tested because their contact and travel history pertained to known hotspots of the virus. Two asymptomatic persons who finished 14 day quarantine period tested positive in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, News18 reported. Kerala has been asking the high-risk category patients to be on quarantine for 28 days so both were under quarantine, according to health official. The first person is a 19 year old student who had returned from Delhi's Nizammudin area considered a local hotspot after the Tablighi Jamaat event. Maharashtra has recorded the highest number of cases in India. With 23 new patients in the last 24 hours, the total number of positive cases in the state rises to 891. In the last 24 hours, Sangali has reported one new case, Pune four, Anagar three, Buldhana two, Mumbai 10, Thane one and two cases. The Congress leader observed that India should help all countries in need in the time of pandemic, but adequate quantity of the drug should be made available to Indians first. The context of his tweet was MEA's previous order of a blanket ban on a malaria drug touted to be effective against coronavirus, and a partial roleback later, after Trump threatened of a retaliation, in case exports were not opened up for the US. Out of the total 268 coronavirus cases in the state, maximum 151 have been reported from Indore. So far, 18 people have died, including 13 from Indore, two from Ujjain and one each from Khargone, Chhindwara and Bhopal. With this, the total number of coronavirus cases in the state capital has gone up to 74. Two persons from Bhopal have so far been discharged after recovery, he said. Among the new patients, seven are police personnel and their family members, and five are health department employees, Bhopal's Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Sudhir Kumar Deharia said. Twelve more coronavirus cases have been found in Bhopal, taking the number of such cases in Madhya Pradesh to 268, a health official said on Tuesday. Cases under relevant sections of the law have been registered against all of them and further investigation has been initiated, they said. Similarly, the officials said, in the jurisdiction of police station Khanyar, police arrested five persons for violating the restrictions. In the jurisdiction of police stations RM Bagh and Nowgam, police arrested nine persons and also seized eight vehicles for violating the government prohibitory orders, they added. Police arrested three persons, including a shopkeeper, and seized a vehicle for violating the prohibitory orders in the jurisdiction of police stations Nishat and Harwan. Strict restrictions on the movement of people in Kashmir to contain the spread of coronavirus remained in force for the twentieth consecutive day on Tuesday, even as police arrested 17 persons for defying the lockdown orders here, officials said. Acting tough against violators of prohibitory orders, police on Monday arrested the 17 persons. Bihar government Tuesday sought an explanation from 76 Health Officials after they were found to be absent from duty. They've been asked to submit their replies within 3 days explaining why action should not be taken against them under Disaster Management Act-2005 & Epidemic Disease Act-1897. Bihar government is also taking action against 122 other health officials of the state who were found to be absent from duty. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday has ordered that all accused involved in assaulting three policemen on duty amid the coronavirus lockdown in Madhya Pradesg will be booked under the National Security Act (NSA). Some youths in the old city had attacked cops with knives after they were asking locals to follow lockdown orders in Bhopal on Monday. He was said to be suffering from Type-2 diabetes and died on April 3, according to the state nodal officer Arja Srikanth. The person, who died tested positive for coronavirus, the official said. The 45-year old person in Kurnool did not have any travel history but was admitted to the government hospital with symptoms of COVID-19 on 1 April. The total number of coronavirus cases in the state has now touched 304 while the active cases remained at 294, according to the bulletin issued by the Medical and Health Department on Tuesday. A 45-year old person died of coronavirus in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, taking the toll to four even as one more case of COVID-19 was reported overnight. The business information company tracks unemployment data on a weekly basis. According to its estimates, unemployment has risen from 8.4 percent in the week ended March 22 to 23.4 percent as of the week ended 5 April, reports moneycontrol . Initial estimates of job data show that the coronavirus pandemic could have caused unemployment to rise to 23.4 percent, the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) stated. If a user receives a frequently forwarded message one which has been forwarded more than five times under the new curbs, they will only be able to send it on to a single chat at a time, reports The Guardian . WhatsApp is set to impose a strict new limit on message forwarding as the Facebook-owned chat app seeks to slow the dissemination of fake news, the company has announced on Tuesday. According to the officials, Punjab has 1,918 cases, Sindh 932, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 500, Gilgit-Baltistan 211, Balochistan 202, Islamabad 83 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 18. The total number of patients who died due to COVID-19 has reached 54. As many as 429 have recovered while 28 were in critical condition, it said. The Ministry of National Health Services, in an early morning update on its website, reported that four patients died of coronavirus in the last 24 hours. The total number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan has sharply increased to 3,864 with more than 500 fresh infections while the death toll reached 54, the health officials said on Monday. Arvind Kejriwal briefed the media about his 5-step programme to curb the pandemic in the National Capital on Tuesday. "We have to stay three steps ahead of the coronavirus. Hence, we have decided to implement a five-step plan to tackle the outbreak in Delhi" Delhi chief minister that the world has seen how mass-testing has helped many countries such as South Korea. "If we dont test, we will not know who is getting infected. There was an issue with getting testing kits, that situation is now easing. We have ordered testing kits to carry out rapid testing on one lakh people in hotspots." Arvind Kerjirwal says that the plan is in 5 parts which can be called the '5-T's'. The first is testing, the second step is to enhancing tracing, said Delhi chief minister. He said, "We will self-quarantine, monitor and seal areas based on tracing." The third T in our plan is treatment, announced Delhi chief minister on Tuesday. He said that the government has converted a few hospitals only for treatment of COVID-19 patients. "We have enough patients right now to handle 30,000 active cases in the national capital. We will convert more hospitals if and when we need," he said. "The fifth T is tracking. I am tracking everything that is happening in Delhi right now." he said. He also added that the Delhi government has already calculated as to how many PPE kits, ventilators and other medical equipments will be required at which stage. He said, "I am glad that everyone is working like a team Centre, Delhi government and all other state governments. Doctors and nurses are the most important part of this team. We have to keep them safe at any cost. People in the country must stay at home." The fourth T in the 5-tie plan is teamwork, said Arvind Kejriwal during the briefing on Tuesday. He noted that everyone in the country, from centre to state government and Opposition parties are working 'like a team.' "We have submitted 2,000 numbers of the Markaz members to the police, based on the tracing of these numbers we will seal and lock down affected areas," he said. "We are increasing COVID-19 treatment centres, LNJP and GB Pant are corona hospitals and no other treatments are going on there, we have over 2400 beds." Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said that the government had a team of doctors and healthcare workers who were tracing people who had come in contact with positive cases, and that the police was also helping in the task. The Mumbai Police on Monday requested the Tablighi Jamaat members to approach the BMC and inform it about their travel details or face action. The Tablighi Jamaat's congregation in Delhi has emerged as one of the major COVID-19 hotspots in the country. The offence was registered on a complant lodged by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) at the Azad Maidan Police Station, he said. Mumbai Police have registered an FIR against 150 people who attended the religious congregation of Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin in New Delhi last month for alleged negligent act during the coronavirus outbreak, an official said on Tuesday. The order will not be applicable to the essential and emergency services, the commissioner said. Till Monday, the Thane region, which includes Kalyan and Dombivali cities, reported 85 coronavirus cases and nine deaths. In an order issued on Monday, Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Commissioner Dr Vijay Suryavanshi said it was absolutely essential to seal the borders of the two cities. Police personnel have been deployed to ensure strict implementation of the directive. Civic authorities have ordered sealing of borders of the Kalyan and Dombivali cities in Maharashtra with immediate effect to check the spread of coronavirus. Among the 12 new cases, four (one from Bagalkote, two from Bengaluru city and one from Bengaluru Rural) had attended Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Delhi from March 13-18; while three from Mandya are contacts of patients with history of attending the Jamaat congregation. "Twelve new positive cases have been reported from last evening to this noon...Till date 175 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed. This includes 4 deaths and 25 discharges," the department said in its mid-day situation update. Twelve new positive coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Karnataka, taking the total number of affected in the state to 175, the Health department said on Tuesday. Of the 175 positive cases, 25 have been discharged, it said. A 45-year old man tests positive in Bhubhaneshwar in Odisha. This brings the total reported cases of coronavirus in Odisha to 22. Among the total people infected as on date, two have recovered and none have passed away. The prohibitory order would be effective until 14 April, in addition to the already existing regulatory order issued earlier for the lockdown, the DC said in his order. The order was issued on Monday evening by Capital Complex Deputy Commissioner Komar Dolom as people have considerably violated the protocol of total lockdown on the ground. The Capital Complex administration in Arunachal Pradesh has imposed prohibitory order under section 144 CrPC on movement of people from Tuesday evening till 14 April. The suggestions came after Modi reached out to several opposition leaders, including Gandhi, on Monday. Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggesting five measures to conserve money for the fight against COVID-19, including a complete ban on media advertisements by government and PSUs for two years and suspending the Central Vista beautification project. The man was from Jharpada and had been admitted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar on 4 April complaining of respiratory distress and had a history of chronic hypertension. Later, he was tested positive for coronavirus. He died on 6 April, reported ANI. Odisha has reported its first COVID-19 death after a 72-year-old man being treated for the coronavirus died at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, said Health department on Tuesday. India's tally of COVID-19 positive cases rose to 4,421, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Tuesday. Mewat Civil Surgeon confirmed to ANI that 16 returnees from the Tablighi Jamaat event held recently in Delhi, tested positive for coronavirus, in Haryana on Tuesday. With 16 new cases, the tally of positive cases in Mewat stands at 30. The bench also said it cannot take a "better policy decision" at this stage and moreover, it also does not want to interfere with the policy decisions for the next ten-fifteen days. "We do not plan to supplant the wisdom of the government with our wisdom. We are not experts in health or management and will ask the government to create a helpline for complaints," the bench said while fixing the PIL for further hearing on 13 April. A bench comprising Chief Justice SA Bobde and justices S K Kaul and Deepak Gupta, through video conferencing, was hearing the plea filed by two civil rights activists seeking enforcement of fundamental right to life for migrant workers and payment of wages to them as they have been left without work or food following the lockdown. The Supreme Court Tuesday said it was not an "expert" body on dealing with health and management issues of migrant workers arising from the 21-day nationwide lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic and would rather ask the government to set up helpline for the needy. The 21-day nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 24 March and it came into force on 25 March. He also appealed to the people to abide by whatever decision is ultimately taken by the government and cooperate with the same spirit that has so far been evident "even if it meant to continue with some degree of hardship still beyond 14 April". Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said the final week of the ongoing lockdown is "critical" for evolving an exit strategy as data regarding the spread of coronavirus will have a bearing on the decision to be taken by the government. Ahmedabad has reported the maximum cases at 77, followed by Surat- 19, Bhavnagar-14, Gandhinagar-13, Vadodara- 12, Rajkot-10, Patan-five, Porbandar-three, Kutch, Mehsana, and Gir Somnath- two each, and Chhota Udepur, Anand, Sabarkantha, Jamnagar, and Morbi- one each. Anand and Sabarkantha districts reported their first cases on Tuesday. With this, coronavirus cases have now been reported from 17 districts out of the total 33 in the state. Out of 19 new cases, 13 have been reported from Ahmedabad, three from Patan, and one each from Bhavnagar, Anand and Sabarkantha, Principal Secretary (Health) Jayanti Ravi said. The number of coronavirus cases in Gujarat jumped to 165 on Tuesday, with 19 more people testing positive for the viral infection in the state, an official said. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday declared a state of emergency to fight new coronavirus infections in major population centres and unveiled a stimulus package he described as among the world's biggest to soften the economic blow. His cabinet will also finalise the stimulus package worth 108 trillion yen ($990 billion) - equal to 20 percent of Japan's economic output. A lot of state governments, as well as experts, are requesting the Central Government to extend the lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic in India. The Centre is considering this decision, say government sources, reports CNN-News18. Earlier on Monday, the BMC declared the city's Wockhardt Hospital a containment zone after three doctors and 26 nurses tested positive for coronavirus within a span of one week. Sources also told ANI that along with the tea seller, four more people residing in his building have been put into a quarantine facility by the authorities. The civic body has also put up posters informing the same near the government guest house. According to Mumbai police sources, the Maharashtra Chief Minister's security personnel deployed at Matoshree, who were the frequent visitors to the tea stall, have been kept in isolation as a precautionary measure. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) sealed off the Kalanagar area in Mumbai's Bandra East after a tea seller was suspected to have contracted COVID-19 near a government guest house, located near Matoshree, the private residence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Among the accused, 42 were arrested, while three were released on bail, he said. The incident took place in Karampur Chaudhary area in Izzatnagar when two policemen had gone to enforce the lockdown and were attacked. "An FIR was registered against 150 persons on Monday night under relevant sections of IPC for attacking policemen and trying to set ablaze police outpost," Superintendent of Police, City, Ravindra Kumar said. An FIR was registered against 150 people for allegedly attacking a police team trying to enforce lockdown in Izatnagar area here, police said on Tuesday. Forty-two people were arrested in this connection, out of which three women were released on bail. "An inquiry by a sitting or retired Supreme Court judge should be conducted in the Nizamuddin episode to make clear who all are responsible. Those who are at fault should be booked and punished. It will also make clear whether there was any mistake on part of the administration," Gehlot told PTI. He said questions should not be raised on the ground of religion because any person from any caste or community can commit a mistake and only those at fault should be punished. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday demanded an inquiry by a sitting or retired Supreme Court judge to fix responsibility for the Delhi congregation of Tablighi Jamaat. Taking note of it, an FIR has been registered against 40 people for violating lockdown norms, he said, adding that a strict action will be taken against those found flouting the government orders. "While people across the country lit earthen lamps and candles on the prime minister's call, some people in Tulsipur Bazar here came out on the roads in large numbers," ASP Arvind Kumar Mishra. Millions of Indians across the country switched off lights at their homes and lit candles and diyas or turned on mobile phone torches on Sunday night, responding to Modi's appeal to show the nation's "collective resolve and solidarity" in its fight against coronavirus. A case has been registered against 40 people in this district of Uttar Pradesh for defying lockdown norms and coming out on the roads despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's request to lit lamps indoors, police said on Tuesday. "The approved one will be used for making this overall by other workshops.Facilities are being geared up in Railways to make up to 1,000 such protective overalls for railway doctors and paramedics every day. Around 17 workshops would be striving to contribute to this exercise." The Ministry of Railways on Tuesday said that the Indian Railways has taken up the production of a personal protective equipment-type 'overall'. An overall produced by Jagadhari workshop was recently cleared by a DRDO lab. SpiceJet operated Indias first cargo-on-seat flight, carrying 11 tons of vital supplies in passenger cabin and belly space from Delhi to Chennai. B737 passenger aircraft to do five rotations on Tuesday carrying crucial supplies, the airlines said. The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Assam government on a plea seeking the release of people from detention centres in the state who have completed more than two years to avoid spreading of coronavirus, "as centres are overcrowded", ANI reported. "Screened five crore people out of around 7.50 crore population. 15,000 tests have been done in different districts. Rs 25 crore incentive planned for doctors and health workers," he said. "We held meetings with all political parties,doctors, Army, IAF, Railway, CRPF, CISF, and medical universities. We've somewhat managed to keep cases under control,though they are still coming. We've made control rooms at state level for monitoring. I'm also personally monitoring. Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said that the state government had taken immediate precautions in the state to control the coronavirus pandemic "from the beginning". Maharashtra has recorded the highest number of cases in India. With 23 new patients in the last 24 hours, the total number of positive cases in the state rises to 891. In the last 24 hours, Sangali has reported one new case, Pune four, Anagar three, Buldhana two, Mumbai 10, Thane one and two cases. Three deaths have been reported in Pune on Tuesday, the district magistrate said. All patients were COVID-19 positive and are cases of comorbidity. Toll in Pune has risen to eight. The Union health ministry on Tuesday said that so far, 326 coronavirus patients across the country have been discharged after recovery. There are 4,421 COVID-19 positive cases in the country, including 354 cases in the last 24 hours. The Union health ministry on Tuesday, in its daily briefing on the coronavirus pandemic situation in the country, said that the Centre has been "adopting a strategy for cluster containment and for outbreaks that are amenable to management. This strategy is producing positive results, especially in Agra, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Pathanamthitta, Bhilwara and East Delhi," said Lav Aggarwal, Union Health Ministry. "They are making 375 isolation beds daily and this is going on across 133 locations across the country," said Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry. The Indian Railways has prepared 40,000 isolation beds in 2,500 coaches, the Union health ministry said in its briefing on Tuesday. "The status of essential goods and services is by and large satisfactory. The home minister conducted a detailed review of the status of essential commodities and lockdown measures, he gave directions to take appropriate measures and ensure hoarding and black marketing is not done," said PS Srivastav of the MHA. The Union health ministry said that the COVID-19 care centres for those with mild symptoms or suspected cases, while the COVID-199 health centres are for those at the clinically moderate stage. The Union health ministry quoted an ICMR study as saying that if someone doesn't follow social distancing then in 30 days a single infected person can infect 406 people. 2.5 persons will be infected if social distancing maintained by a single individual, Joint Secretary Lav Aggarwal said. ICMR's R Gangakhedkar said that 1,07,006 tests have been conducted for coronavirus so far. Currently, 136 government labs are working and 59 private labs have been given permission. Nepal on Tuesday extended the ban on international flights till 30 April, whereas, the ban on domestic flights to remain in effect till 15 April. In light of the coronavirus outbreak, students of classes 1 to 9 of the Jammu division in Jammu and Kashmir are to be promoted to next class and all examinees, who appeared in the Class 11 examination falling under will be promoted to Class 12, the Jammu school education department said. He also said that the pharma ministry is monitoring the situation, adding, "...assure you we have sufficient quantity (of the drug)." Lav Aggarwal, health ministry joint secretary, said that the hydrochloroquine drug is being used only in particular cases for critical patients and health workers. The Delhi government has given the phone numbers of 1,950 people connected to the Tablighi Jamat event to the Delhi Police, a statement said. According to reports, they said that the Uddhav Thackeray governemnt should look at the way Kerala is handling the crisis to understand why the mortality rate in Kerala is low. In a meeting of the Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday, state ministers expressed concern over the high mortality rate in COVID-19 patients in the state. The state is the worst-hit, with the toll touching 50. Reports said that in a meeting of the Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday, ministers said that the decision on whether the lockdown over coronavirus should be extended in the state is still to be taken and that a call will be taken depending on the state's position in the coming days. In a meeting on the situation, the Maharashtra cabinet also reportedly discussed the issue of migrants stuck in the state. BMC commissioner Praveen Pardeshi on Tuesday made a presentation before the state cabinet about the situation of coronavirus in Mumbai. He also said that of the new cases, four people had returned from abroad, two are attendees of the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi and three people were affected from contact. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that nine people tested positive for coronavirus in the state on Tuesday, of which four are from Kasargod, three are from Kannur, one each from Kollam and Malappuram. Tamil Nadu health secretary Beela Rajesh said that 69 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the state on Tuesday, taking the total number of cases to 690. Of the new 69 new cases, 63 cases are related to the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi, which has become one of the hotspots for coronavirus in the country. "For this purpose, a central database of clinical and laboratory parameters of hospitalised COVID-19 cases is being created. All hospitals currently managing COVID-19 patients are invited to become partners in the network," the statement added. "Its goal is to enhance clinical understanding of COVID-19 to develop specific clinical management protocols and further research and development for therapeutics," the ICMR said. The ICMR on Tuesday said that the national task force set up to tackle the coronavirus pandemic in the country has recommended establishing an 'India COVID-19 Clinical Research Collaborative Network which will be coordinated by ICMR. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said that the toll due to coronavirus rose to five in the state on Tuesday, after two more patients passed away. Eight new active cases were reported on Tuesday, taking the number of active cases to 69 in the state. "All those coming inside the state after lockdown is removed will first be kept in quarantine... I would rather call these centres "safe houses" instead of quarantine centres," she added. Mamata Banerjee said that if the complete nationwide lockdown over coronavirus is "abruptly removed" in West Bengal, migrant workers stuck outside the state will start pouring in and people will violate social distancing. "It will create health hazards," she said. The Haryana health department said that 33 new coronavirus positive cases have been reported in the state on Tuesday. Total coronavirus positive cases in the state stand at 129, which includes two deaths and 17 people who have now been discharged. He added that of the 468 Tablighi Jamaat attendees who came back to Punjab from Delhi, 448 have been traced and 15 have tested positive for COVID-19. Punjab health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said that the state government has planned to buy 10 lakh rapid testing kits, adding that the total cases of coronavirus are 99 in the state as of Tuesday, after eight more cases were reported. He also wrote to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, seeking her personal intervention to revive manufacturing and loading at the jute mills in her state against the pending indents for gunny bales placed by Punjab government, a statement by the Punjab CMO said. Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said that it has set up a control room for the coordination and for providing logistic support during the upcoming wheat harvesting and marketing season, which is set to begin on 15 April under tight security and safety measures to ensure smooth operations amid the coronavirus lockdown. The Union health ministry said that 508 more COVID-19 positive cases and 13 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. India's positive cases rise to 4,789 (including 4312 active cases, 353 cured/discharged/migrated people and 124 deaths). The statement also said that 10,317 Isolation beds are ready and available and 2,666 ICU beds are available. The Maharashtra government on Tuesday said that currently there are 3,02,795 N-95 masks available in the state, and 41,400 personal protective equipment (PPEs) are available. The BMC said that 100 new COVID-19 cases and five new deaths have been reported in Mumbai on Tuesday, the toll in the city rose to 40. The total number of positive cases in Mumbai stand at 590. Reports said that the BMC is likely to disallow vegetable vendors in containment zones in Mumbai, which are 241 where COVID-19 positive patients have been found. Because people have not adhered to the guidelines of the lockdown to go to the market, the BMC said it had decided that streetside vegetable vendors won't be allowed in the zones The Assam government on Tuesday announced a 30 percent cut in the salaries of the chief minister, ministers and MLAs for one year to save money for fight against COVID-19, PTI reported. But his condition rapidly deteriorated over the next 24 hours, and he was moved on Monday to an intensive care unit, where the most serious cases are treated, in case he needed to be put on a ventilator. He was still conscious, his office said. Johnson, 55, was admitted to St Thomas Hospital across the River Thames from the House of Commons late on Sunday after suffering persistent coronavirus symptoms, including a high temperature and a cough, for more than 10 days. British prime minister Boris Johnson was stable in intensive care on Tuesday after receiving oxygen support to help him battle COVID-19, while his foreign minister led the governments response to the outbreak. Karnataka health minister B Sriramulu said that 100 Ola cabs and 100 Uber cabs will be used for medical emergency in Bengaluru. US president Donald Trump criticised the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s action plan over the coronavirus pandemic and said the "largely US-funded organisation" was being "very China-centric". Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that in the last 24 hours, 25 new cases of coronavirus and 2 deaths have been reported in the National Capital. The National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune has validated seven antibody-based rapid tests for coronavirus and found them to be satisfactory, ANI reported on Tuesday. He added, "After 1 March, whoever visited Markaz Nizamuddin should inform their concerned police stations. If they don't do so it will be considered as concealment of facts and legal action will be taken against the violators." Delhi Police PRO MS Randhawa said that all hospitals must inform the police, the Delhi health department the COVID-19 authorized hospitals if they admit any COVID-19 positive patient. "If this is not followed it will be considered as concealment of facts and legal action will be taken," he said. ANI reported that taxi drivers in Bengaluru said that they are struggling to pay for their loans with no income amid COVID-19 lockdown. Sunder Kumar said, "I don't have any work currently. How will I pay EMIs in coming months? Banks also continue to add interest on EMIs. The government should help us." The Delhi government issued an order on Tuesday to provide a compensation of Rs 1 crore for doctors, nurses, and sanitation workers if the death will occur due to COVID-19. "Restrictions are applicable in the areas which fall in jurisdiction of police stations such as Kondhwa, Swargate, Khadak, and Faraskhana. These areas were sealed by Pune Municipal corporation yesterday. Restrictions to be imposed from 7 pm on Tuesday to 14 April," the statement said. Pune Police on Tuesday imposed restrictions in several areas of the city to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Shops related to essential services (excluding medicals and hospitals) to remain open from 10 am to 12 pm (for 2 hours only), the police said. The Maharashtra health department said that 150 more COVID-19 positive cases were reported in the state on Tuesday, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the state to 1,018. The Gujarat government said that 19 COVID-19 positive cases and two deaths have been reported in the state on Tuesday. Both the deceased had comorbidity condition. Total positive cases in the state stand at 175. The Jammu and Kashmir government said that 125 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Jammu and Kashmir as of 6 pm on Tuesday. This includes 118 active cases, four recovered patients and three deaths. No COVID-19 cases in Goa on Tuesday, the total number of positive coronavirus cases in the state stands at seven, the state health department said. For the first time, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has issued guidelines for sample collection sites for COVID-19 testing. Few state governments had suggested establishing sample collection sites, over which ICMR said it has no objection and released an advisory. A 14 month old chil who had tested positive for coronavirus in Gujarat's Jamnagar, passed away on Tuesday evening, reports said . Behind every one of those numbers is an individual. Theres a family, theres a mother, theres a father, theres a sister, theres a brother. So a lot of pain again today for many New Yorkers, he said. The deadliest terror attack on US soil killed 2,753 people in the city and 2,977 overall, when hijacked planes slammed into the twin towers, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field on 11 September, 2001. New York state recorded 731 new coronavirus deaths, its biggest one-day jump yet, for a statewide toll of nearly 5,500, Governor Andrew Cuomo said. New York Citys death toll from the coronavirus eclipsed the number of those killed at the World Trade Center on 9/11, health officials said Tuesday. At least 3,202 people have died in New York from COVID-19, according to the count released by the city. The Delhi government said that 51 fresh cases of coronavirus were reported in the National Capital in the last 24 hours. The thinking in the government is that schools and colleges will more less remain shut till end of June as the summer vacation will start from middle of May. A meeting of the GoM chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and participated by Home Minister Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman concluded that religious centres, shopping malls and educational institutions must not be allowed to resume normal functioning at least for four weeks from April 14 when the current lockdown ends. A Group of Ministers on COVID19 on Tuesday recommended extension of closure of all educational institutions and restricting all religious activities having public participation till May 15 irrespective of whether the government extends the 21-day lockdown or not, PTI reported. A DRDO made disinfectant chamber was today deployed at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi. The chamber uses a solution that is known to kill COVID-19 and will help in controlling the spread of coronavirus. Two more villages (Gund-Jehangeer and Naidkhai) in Bandipora district were declared as red zones and their surrounding villages as buffer zones to prevent the spread of coronavirus after two persons from these villages had tested positive for COVID-19 in past 2 days, the Jammu and Kashmir government said. For the first time, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has issued guidelines for sample collection sites for #COVID19 testing. Few state governments had suggested establishing sample collection sites, over which ICMR said it has no objection & released an advisory. pic.twitter.com/GsmtWgTf01 For the first time, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has issued guidelines for sample collection sites for COVID-19 testing. Few state governments had suggested establishing sample collection sites, over which ICMR said it has no objection and released an advisory. A 14 month old chil who had tested positive for coronavirus in Gujarat's Jamnagar, passed away on Tuesday evening, reports said . Behind every one of those numbers is an individual. Theres a family, theres a mother, theres a father, theres a sister, theres a brother. So a lot of pain again today for many New Yorkers, he said. The deadliest terror attack on US soil killed 2,753 people in the city and 2,977 overall, when hijacked planes slammed into the twin towers, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field on 11 September, 2001. New York state recorded 731 new coronavirus deaths, its biggest one-day jump yet, for a statewide toll of nearly 5,500, Governor Andrew Cuomo said. New York Citys death toll from the coronavirus eclipsed the number of those killed at the World Trade Center on 9/11, health officials said Tuesday. At least 3,202 people have died in New York from COVID-19, according to the count released by the city. The Delhi government said that 51 fresh cases of coronavirus were reported in the National Capital in the last 24 hours. The thinking in the government is that schools and colleges will more less remain shut till end of June as the summer vacation will start from middle of May. A meeting of the GoM chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and participated by Home Minister Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman concluded that religious centres, shopping malls and educational institutions must not be allowed to resume normal functioning at least for four weeks from April 14 when the current lockdown ends. A Group of Ministers on COVID19 on Tuesday recommended extension of closure of all educational institutions and restricting all religious activities having public participation till May 15 irrespective of whether the government extends the 21-day lockdown or not, PTI reported. Another COVID-19 case has been reported in Assam, reports said, adding that the patient is from the Hailakandi district with a travel to Saudi Arabia. The total number of COVID-19 patients in Assam now stands at 28, said Assam Mminister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Figure of action taken across the state of Assam #lockdown by @assampolice till April 7th, 2000 Hrs @DGPAssamPolice @CMOfficeAssam pic.twitter.com/AWPHjMuvUW #WATCH A DRDO made disinfectant chamber was today deployed at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi. The chamber uses a solution that is known to kill #COVID19 & will help in controlling the spread of coronavirus. (Video source - DRDO) pic.twitter.com/Qx6wNlq1Vd A DRDO made disinfectant chamber was today deployed at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi. The chamber uses a solution that is known to kill COVID-19 and will help in controlling the spread of coronavirus. No new cases were found in Noida Sector 8. Only as a precautionary measure of 'cluster containment' where previous cases have been found, people have been shifted and will be put under observation for welfare of them and their surroundings. Request you to dispel rumours, said Gautam Budh Nagar DM. Two more villages (Gund-Jehangeer and Naidkhai) in Bandipora district were declared as red zones and their surrounding villages as buffer zones to prevent the spread of coronavirus after two persons from these villages had tested positive for COVID-19 in past 2 days, the Jammu and Kashmir government said. Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates: No COVID-19 cases in Goa on Tuesday, the total number of positive coronavirus cases in the state stands at seven, the state health department said. The Delhi government issued an order on Tuesday to provide a compensation of Rs 1 crore for doctors, nurses, and sanitation workers if the death will occur due to COVID-19. US president Donald Trump criticised the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s action plan over the coronavirus pandemic and said the "largely US-funded organisation" was being "very China-centric". The Maharashtra government on Tuesday said that currently there are 3,02,795 N-95 masks available in the state, and 41,400 personal protective equipment (PPEs) are available. The statement also said that 10,317 Isolation beds are ready and available and 2,666 ICU beds are available. The Union health ministry said that 508 more COVID-19 positive cases and 13 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. India's positive cases rise to 4,789 (including 4312 active cases, 353 cured/discharged/migrated people and 124 deaths). West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said that the toll due to coronavirus rose to five in the state on Tuesday, after two more patients passed away. Eight new active cases were reported on Tuesday, taking the number of active cases to 69 in the state. Ministers of the Maharashtra government on Tuesday discussed the need for more aggressive testing of coronavirus in the state. According to reports, the government is likely to seek more labs for testing. In a meeting of the Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday, state ministers expressed concern over the high mortality rate in COVID-19 patients in the state. The state is the worst-hit, with the toll touching 50. According to reports, they said that the Uddhav Thackeray governemnt should look at the way Kerala is handling the crisis to understand why the mortality rate in Kerala is low. ICMR's R Gangakhedkar said that 1,07,006 tests have been conducted for coronavirus so far. Currently, 136 government labs are working and 59 private labs have been given permission. The Union health ministry on Tuesday said that so far, 326 coronavirus patients across the country have been discharged after recovery. There are 4,421 COVID-19 positive cases in the country, including 354 cases in the last 24 hours. A lot of state governments, as well as experts, are requesting the Central Government to extend the lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic in India. The Centre is considering this decision, say government sources, reports CNN-News18. Odisha has reported its first COVID-19 death after a 72-year-old man being treated for the coronavirus died at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, said Health department on Tuesday. Civic authorities have ordered sealing of borders of the Kalyan and Dombivali cities in Maharashtra with immediate effect to check the spread of coronavirus. Arvind Kejriwal briefed the media about his 5-step programme to curb the pandemic in the National Capital on Tuesday. 'We have to stay three steps ahead of the coronavirus. Hence, we have decided to implement a five-step plan to tackle the outbreak in Delhi'. WhatsApp is set to impose a strict new limit on message forwarding as the Facebook-owned chat app seeks to slow the dissemination of fake news, the company has announced on Tuesday. WhatsApp is to limit sharing of frequently forwarded messages to only one chat at a time. Maharashtra has recorded the highest number of cases in India. With 23 new patients in the last 24 hours, the total number of positive cases in the state rises to 891. In the last 24 hours, Sangali has reported one new case, Pune four, Anagar three, Buldhana two, Mumbai 10, Thane one and two cases. In view of the humanitarian aspects of COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday announced that India has decided to license Paracetamol and Hydroxychloroquine in appropriate quantities to all its neighbouring countries which are dependent on its capabilities. Two more cases of the novel coronavirus disease have been found in the Dharavi area of Mumbai, Maharashtra. The cases have been reported in Dr Baliga Nagar. They are the father, 80, and brother, 49, of the second case from the area as total cases in Dharavi stand at four. As many as 1,182 people have been arrested and 504 cases registered so far in Assam for not following the lockdown restrictions imposed in view of the coronavirus outbreak, an official said. Amid rising global pressure to allow exports of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol which is being tested on patients infected with coronavirus, the government is likely to clear the move after calculating sufficient stocks for the country, say reports. US President Donald Trump on Tuesday hinted at a possible retaliation if India does not lift its hold on the export of Hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug used in the treatment of coronavirus patients. While India has lifted restrictions on the export of 24 pharmaceutical ingredients and medicines made from them, it is not clear what prompted the move. However, Reuters has quoted Indian government sources as saying that the bans had prompted intense pressure from the United States. The Union government on Monday said that there has been an increase of 704 COVID-19 cases taking the total number to 4,067 in the last 24 hours, the biggest rise so far in India. Further, 28 deaths have been reported in the past 24 hours. With this, the total number of deaths in the country has crossed the 100-mark. The total number of positive cases in India includes 3,851 active cases, 318 cured/discharged/migrated people and 111 deaths. Out of the total deaths, 73 percent of deaths were of males, and 27 percent were of females, the health ministry said in a media briefing. Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary in the health ministry, also said that 63 percent of deaths were of people aged 60 years and above, 30 percent were of people between 40 and 60 years, and seven percent were of people below 40 years of age. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with Union ministers through video conferencing, and asked them to prepare a list of ten major decisions and 'ten priority areas of focus' once the lockdown ends. Modi said that Central ministries should prepare a business continuity plan and asked all departments to maintain an objective index on how their work will promote 'Make in India.' The Cabinet has approved an ordinance amending the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954, which will result in the reduction of allowances and pension of the politicians by 30 percent from 1 April, 2020 for a year. State-wise figures The number of coronavirus cases in Maharashtra rose to 781, with 33 people more people testing positive for the disease on Monday, a health official said. Among the new cases, 19 were reported from Pune city, 11 from Mumbai and one each from Satara, Ahmednagar and Vasai (in Palghar district), said the official. "The state health department on Monday received reports of 33 people testing positive for coronavirus. With this, the state tally increased to 781, he said. The state has so far reported 45 deaths due to the viral disease. Gujarat reported 16 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number of such cases in the state to 144, a health department official said. Ten of these new patients have direct or indirect link to religious congregation organised by Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin in Delhi last month, Principal Secretary (Health) Jayanti Ravi said. Of the 16 new cases, 11 are from Ahmedabad, two from Vadodara, and one each in Mehsana, Patan and Surat. Tamil Nadu health secretary Beela Rajesh said that 50 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in the state on Monday, taking the total cases to 621. 48 of the new cases are connected to the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi, 570 of the total COVID-19 cases are Tablighi Jamaat returnees. Follow LIVE updates on the coronavirus outbreak here The Karnataka government said that as of 5 pm on Monday, 12 new coronavirus cases were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of positive cases to 163 in the state. Additionally, the state has reported four deaths while 20 people have recovered. The health bulletin said that the government is still trying to get details of whether the COVID-19 cases in Mysuru with travel history to Delhi are connected to the Tablighi Jamaat event, adding that one of the 12 new cases from Bangalore Rural attended the event and returned on 20 March. In Delhi, cases of coronavirus rose to 532 after 20 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said. Of the new cases, 10 are attendees of the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in the Nizammudin area of the National Capital. Additionally, he said one patient had died in the last 24 hours and 25 others are on ventilators. The total number of deaths is at 7 now. Administrative measures The Delhi Police shifted 17 pregnant women to different hospitals in the national capital amid the lockdown imposed to combat the coronavirus threat, officials said on Sunday. "The PCR vehicles of Delhi Police shifted as many as 17 women, who were in labour, to various hospitals in the city," Deputy Commissioner of Police (PCR) Sharat Kumar Sinha said. Four calls about pregnant woman going into labour were received from west Delhi, three from outer-north, three from Dwarka, two from east Delhi, two from outer part of the city, one from northeast, one from northwest and one from south Delhi, the DCP said. In Bengaluru, the South Western Railways said that a 50-bedded hospital for COVID-19, with six ICU beds, has become fully operational at Divisional Railway Hospital. In Goa, the fisheries department has decided to allow sale of fish in the state from Monday, with certain riders, including strict implementation of social distancing guidelines the curb the spread of coronavirus. Fish is a key kitchen staple of people in the coastal state and its sale was banned since the enforcement of lockdown last month. Goa Fisheries Minister Philip Neri Rodrigues told PTI that the stock of fish caught before the imposition of ban is lying at different cold storages in the state. However, the traditional fish markets will continue to be closed to contain the spread of coronavirus, he said, adding that they are trying to work out modalities on how to allow people to buy fish without the markets being opened. Global picture The number of the coronavirus cases in Pakistan reached 3,277 with the infections in the worst-hit Punjab province approaching 1,500 despite government claims that the ongoing lockdown in the country has slowed down the spread of the deadly virus. Ministry of National Health Services said that 50 patients have so far died of the disease, while 257 people have recovered. Punjab recorded 1,493 cases, Sindh 881, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 405, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) 210, Balochistan 191, Islamabad 82 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 15. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that he will declare a state of emergency for Tokyo and six other prefectures as early as Tuesday to bolster measures to fight the coronavirus, but that there will be no hard lockdowns. Abe also told reporters Monday that his government will launch a 108 trillion yen ($1 trillion) stimulus package Japans largest ever and nearly twice as much as expected to help counter the economic impact of the pandemic, including cash payouts to households in need and financial support to protect businesses and jobs. Abe said experts on a government-commissioned task force urged him to prepare to declare a state of emergency, with the COVID-19 outbreak rapidly expanding in major cities including Tokyo, and hospitals and medical staff overburdened with patients. He said the state of emergency will cover Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and four other hard-hit prefectures, and will be in effect for about a month. With inputs from agencies Military choppers are parked at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. / Yonhap By Kang Seung-woo The defense cost-sharing talks between Korea and the United States are still showing no signs of progress, raising concerns that the furlough of Korean employees of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) may be extended indefinitely. This is a huge U-turn from last week's expectations that the allies were moving closer to signing the latest Special Measure Agreement (SMA) that determines the amount of money Korea will contribute toward the upkeep of 28,500 American troops stationed here. Although the foreign ministry has said the negotiation hit a last-minute snag, experts believe Seoul's refusal to accept Washington's demand for a hefty increase in its share is the reason behind the stalled months-long negotiations being dragged out further. "The defense cost-sharing talks have returned back to the fifth round position, in which the U.S. demanded that Korea pay $4 billion," said Park Won-gon, a professor of international politics at Handong Global University. They have had seven rounds of talks since last September. "Amid expectations that the allies had tentatively agreed on the SMA, President Trump seems to have vetoed it." Despite the Trump administration wanting nearly $4 billion (4.94 trillion won) per year, the allies were said to have agreed tentatively on the Korean government position of a 10 percent increase from last year's payment of 1.39 trillion won. Park said the U.S. has tossed the ball into Korea's court, so without an increased offer, the SMA talks are likely to remain stalled despite the possible massive consequences for both sides. The SMA covers the wages of 8,600 Korean workers at U.S. military bases here as well as payment for construction projects and logistical support, so the absence of a new SMA has placed nearly half of the workers on unpaid leave. "The deal failure poses a great burden to both Korea and the U.S. and should it prolong, a massive fallout is expected to occur. In that respect, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper visited the White House, March 31, but to no avail," Park said. "The biggest sticking point to a settlement is that increasing Korea's SMA contribution was one of President Trump's campaign pledges." Last week, a government source told local media outlets that the two sides had reached a tentative agreement, but in the wake of the report, the U.S. government strongly denied it to lower positive expectations. Diplomatic pundits say the Korean government was too hasty in its expectations regarding the SMA negotiations. "I think Korean reporting about the negotiations was premature, and it would be bad bargaining for the Moon administration to portray the talks as positive before any outcomes are locked in," said Van Jackson, a professor of Victoria University of Wellington and a former Pentagon official. "Unless there's some backroom deal relating to the coronavirus, I'm quite skeptical the alliance will reach a negotiated deal anytime soon." While Korea showed hasty expectations about the deal, a tweet by USFK Commander Gen. Robert Abrams was met with controversy. One day after local media reports, he tweeted, "Don't eat your kimchi stew before the time is right," which means "Don't count your chickens before they hatch." As controversy arose that he was ridiculing the Korean government, the USFK said he had just learned a new expression while studying Korean language and culture. But he had never posted a Korean expression before. Critics say it did not come at the right time. "It is quite inappropriate and rude for a military leader to mention a diplomatic issue," an online user said on a portal site, adding that some 4,000 USFK Korean employees were on unpaid leave. New Delhi, April 6 : The Resident Doctors' Association of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, here on Monday, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing concern over targeting of doctors and other healthcare professionals for raising genuine issues related to Covid-19. "Over the last few days, our frontline healthcare workers -- doctors, nurses and other support staff -- have come forward with issues related to availability of personal protective equipment (PPEs), Covid-19 testing equipment and quarantine facilities on social media," the association said. Speaking to IANS, RDA president Adarsh Pratap Singh said, "There have been incidents when doctors were targeted for raising genuine concerns related to Covid-19. They are even transferred or sacked in some cases." Dr Singh said many doctors had reported to the association threats issued by their institutions for raising geniune concerns saying "their social media accounts are under scrutiny and they will face the consequences." Condemning those incidents, the association said it would be thankful if the government helped create healthy space for debate and discussion to aid healthcare workers rather than ridicule them. "We demand all punishments withdrawn and their honour restored," the association said. Singh said the government should use the feedback given by the healthcare workers "instead of rejecting them." (Sfoorti Mishra can be contacted at sfoorti.m@IANS.in) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Commissioners, The Chairman asked that we prepare for an in-person meeting for April 6th with the possibility of converting to a virtual meeting in the future. With that direction, the County Attorney has reviewed the Governors Executive Order to make sure we are complying with it. The Health Director has also reviewed the layout of the meeting room to make sure it is compliant with social distancing measures. The layout of the room will allow for the Chairman and 2 Commissioners on the dais, 2 Commissioners at the staff table and 2 Commissioners at a second table directly across from the staff table. We will use the wireless mics for the additional table. The podium has been moved to the center of the room and staff will sit in the audience seats. The audience seats will be marked off to allow for social distancing. This will allow for 12 seats (4 staff and 8 public) in the audience. We will keep presenters out of the room until they are called in order to not take up seats. If you are not comfortable with attending in person, we can make arrangements for you to call into the meeting but please let me know as soon as possible so we can get it arranged. Thanks. Brian M. Alligood, County Manager Beaufort County, North Carolina This next Monday night, April 6, 2020, Beaufort County's Commissioners will meet in their monthly general meeting , in compliance with North Carolina's Open Meeting statutes, which dictate the condition and manner that North Carolina politicians do the People's business. What may seem irrational to some - the gathering of public officials to act publicly to mind the local government of Beaufort County - is truly a necessity on so many levels, but mainly - to govern openly as elected to serve no matter what may occur.To accomplish this feat of governing necessity, the Beaufort will meet this April 6th while achieving all social distancing guidelines, which will dramatically restrict the space available for the public and staff in Beaufort County government's new and spacious public chambers. As a member of the public, if you are unable to be accommodated by there being enough space to for you to attend, you can always watch and hear the entire meeting at a later date here on BCN Here below are theas set out by Beaufort County's manager Brian Alligood. Chennai, April 6 (IANS) The Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday celebrated the party's 40th Foundation Day in a simple manner with the nation fighting the coronavirus pandemic. (File Photo: IANS) Image Source: PK Chennai, April 6 : The Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday celebrated the party's 40th Foundation Day in a simple manner with the nation fighting the coronavirus pandemic. The BJP's Tamil Nadu President L.Murugan hoisted the party flag at the party headquarters here with a limited number of members being present. Social distance was maintained at the event. IRON MOUNTAIN, MI The Iron Mountain Police Department is investigating malicious destruction of cemetery headstones. Police say thousands of dollars of damage was caused to at least 32 headstones at Iron Mountain Cemetery Park. The damage was done overnight, from Sunday, April 5, to Monday, April 6. Most of the damage is due to headstones being kicked over, police said. The Iron Mountain Police Department was assisted on scene by an evidence technician from the Michigan State Police. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Iron Mountain Police Department at 906-774-1234. Inside the Syncreon distribution center outside of Carlisle, business - which involves getting shipments of Apple computers, tablets, iPhones, watches and more to Walmarts, BestBuys and all the other major retailers that are selling through the coronavirus crisis - its business as usual, workers say. And thats exactly what has them spooked. While much of the nation is in a mandated economic lockdown, they are being asked to keep coming to work with scores of shift mates, mixing in a workplace - or more importantly, the biome of that workplace - that is shared by hundreds of people a day, at times in fairly close quarters, at a time when every message they see from the president, the governor and the TV tells them to stay home. Its like this, said Stephania Severe, a 19-year-old Fayetteville resident who quit her job at the Syncreon plant in Carlisle last month over a bout of coronavirus anxiety. They had meetings and they told us to stay three feet apart, Severe, who has the cushion of living with her father, told PennLive this week. But when youre there, youre stacking boxes on a pallet with everybody, the pallets are where they are. You cant just put these boxes anywhere. Workers around the midstate told us similar stories featuring details that wouldnt have mattered so much a month ago, but that fill their conversations now: empty hand sanitizer dispensers, cafeterias that require use of touch screens to place a food order; not enough janitors to properly sanitize the building. To be clear, these are not the voices of people who are arguing about unfair workplace conditions, low pay or lack of benefits. Many of them are longtime staffers who stressed that they like their jobs, and take pride in doing them well. Their beef, they said over and over again, is that in this current instance, they felt that employers were putting interest in the bottom line over their workers safety. And in some cases, they are choosing to quit, seeing it as a matter of choosing physical health over financial health. I see all of these big corporations advertising on the television to stay safe, stay home, and order online, Jacqueline Minarick, a worker at the hbc.com distribution center near Pottsville, Schuylkill County, said Friday. I dont know if people realize that its human beings that are filling those orders, not robots. Gov. Tom Wolfs working list of essential businesses that are permitted to operate under his public health emergency includes electronic shopping and mail order houses, as well as the more general category of warehousing and storage. Warehousing and most merchant wholesalers are considered life-sustaining. Also generally, warehouses (but not warehouse construction) have been aligned to any online sales / e-commerce they may support, Casey Smith, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Community and Economic Development said Friday. Mail order and online fulfillment may continue with essential staff but telework should be employed whenever possible, and social distancing must be observed, she added. Those classifications appear to have given these firms the legal justification they need to stay open. But it has many of the workers scratching their heads, especially those moving product thats not food, pharmaceuticals or medical supplies. Another Syncreon employee said he understands the need to keep supply lines open for those kinds of goods. iPhones, to him, are another matter. Especially, when Apple - his companys sole client at this center - has closed its own retail stores, and is taking bows for donating two million masks to New York state when hes working without one while moving its product. Is the world paying attention to this?" the Harrisburg resident, who like many speaking for this report asked not to be identified by name, asked. How do you have hundreds of people working at a warehouse all mingled up and working right next to each other, and then going back out into the community? Like Severe, he said he has decided to quit the job after Sunday - Syncreons temporary $2-per hour raise notwithstanding - for the safety of his 95-year-old grandmother who lives with him. What it comes down to, their making their money is coming before peoples lives. Theres no other way they can dress that up. PennLive reached out Syncreon and hbc.com, but had not heard back as of Friday evening. There were no known confirmed cases of COVID-19, the name for the disease associated with the coronavirus, among workers at either of those sites. But there were six confirmed cases, as of Tuesday, at another of the regions largest distribution centers, the Defense Logistics Agency base in Fairview Township, York County. The base has since stopped releasing specific counts. At midweek, there were at least six reported COVID-19 cases at the Defense Logistics Agency's New Cumberland distribution facility. Base Commander Col. Marchant Callis said in a statement this week that the affected facilities were closed and employees in contact with those infected had been notified and directed to self-isolate. But some DLA workers who reached out to PennLive this Friday said at least four staffers in one of the affected buildings had since been moved to their worksite, and that was very unnerving to them. We dont know if one of them was exposed, and now we might be exposed, one of the workers said. They werent calling for a total shutdown, of the base, necessarily. The military is still protecting us, and they need supplies, one of the DLA staffers said. But she said she did wish the bases leaders would provide more information, and consider reducing the workforce, or putting some of the staff on an every other week schedule. The workers complaints come at a time, ironically, when job losses in other sectors of the economy are mounting because of pandemic-related lockdowns. In Pennsylvania alone, more than one million new unemployment claims have been filed since March 15. Workers are many of those firms are irate because their businesses have been forced to shut down. Adding another layer of irony, Amazon announced last month that it wants to hire 100,000 additional workers in its fulfillment centers and delivery networks as its remote shopping channel has been the only game in town for millions of home-bound Americans. But that is part of the great quandary of this particular crisis; the anxiety level, and the causes of that anxiety, varies greatly from person to person depending on where their risk lies. Some - out of work but safe at home - are more concerned about their economic well-being, and others - with steady paychecks still available - find themselves wishing they could be safe at home. Minarick, 51, summed up the dilemma. "I love my job. I love going to work. I love trying to provide excellent customer service. But right now I feel like Im disobeying what the nation is trying to do by keeping people separated at this point.... I honestly dont see how shipping shoes is life-sustaining. At work, she said, even though the company has taken steps like propping doors open to minimize repeated touching, and many workers are wearing face masks and gloves, the picking of merchandise constantly brings workers into close proximity with one another and there are certain choke points that everyone has to pass. HBC, like Apple, has closed its brick-and-mortar retail stores, which include the top-flight chains like Saks Fifth Avenue, Saks Off Fifth, and, in Canada, Hudsons Bay department stores. It also also closed the distribution centers that service those stores, she noted. The e-commerce fulfillment center in Pottsville, is the only facility thats operating. Shes not quitting. But she did use some of her leave time to take off this weekend to relieve some stress. All day long I see the reason why the governor ordered businesses to close," Minarick said. "Its almost as if youre in a PacMan game. Someone turns a corner and you want to quick turn around and go the other way. State government is not turning a deaf ear to the workers concerns. On Sunday state Health Secretary Rachel Levine issued a new order under the states public health emergency declaration that will require operators on most of the states essential businesses, including warehouses, " to clean and disinfect high-touch areas routinely in accordance with CDC guidelines, in spaces that are accessible to customers, tenants, or other individuals." Levines order will also obligate business owners to make sure they are employing enough workers to perform the above protocols effectively and in a manner that ensures the safety of occupants and employees. The local workers concerns are echoing across the land as the COVID-19 case count has climbed over the past month. Amazon fulfillment center workers walk off the job due to what they deem unfavorable working conditions as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Monday, March 30, 2020. (Staten Island Advance/Alexandra Salmieri) In perhaps the most highly-watched case nationally, a worker at an Amazon fulfillment center in Staten Island, N.Y. was fired March 30 after leading a group of colleagues in a lunch hour protest of what they saw as that companys inadequate response to the pandemic. They wanted their building to be temporarily closed and deep-cleaned, and for workers to be paid during the hiatus as several had become sick. Amazon said Christian Smalls was fired because he returned to work to lead the demonstration while he supposed to be observing a paid, 14-day quarantine after coming into contact with someone at the facility who was sick. We terminated his employment for putting the health and safety of others at risk and violations of his terms of his employment, a spokeswoman said. Many companies, like the supermarket and pharmacies with their public-facing clerks, have bumped up worker salaries in the short-term to reward workers for sticking with it. But higher wages dont wash the worries away. I was one of the ones who didnt see the coronavirus as a big deal at first, this too shall pass mentality, said a grocery selector at United Natural Foods, a York-based wholesaler that supplies chains like Giant and Wegmans. The company has given staff a $2 per hour raise while placing everyone on mandatory six-day work weeks. Now that it (COVID-19) is in York County and working with 500-plus people, its a little unsettling knowing anybody could have it and not even know. Im more worried about bringing it home to my children at this point. Severe, who walked away from Syncreon shortly before it raised pay for its shippers by $2 an hour, said she has no regrets, even if quitting costs her unemployment benefits. That pay raise isnt going to pay for your hospital bill when you have to go get treated for coronavirus, she said. Angela Merkel's chief of staff has been forced to deny rumours that the German Chancellor will run for a fifth term. Merkel has led the country for 15 years in four different terms but said she would not seek re-election in autumn 2021. But German newspaper Bild has speculated that Merkel might run again following her success handling the coronavirus crisis. Angela Merkel has led Germany for 15 years in four different terms but said she would not seek re-election in autumn 2021 The disease has killed 1,400 people in Germany and infected more than 95,000. German politicians - who were not named in the report - told Bild they were 'really glad' that Merkel is still in charge. Helge Braun, Merkel's chief of staff, said: 'I don't think this is any time to discuss something like that. 'She has said that this is her last term in office and I believe nothing has changed about that.' Merkel returned to work on Friday after two weeks of self isolation because a doctor who gave her a vaccination tested positive for coronavirus. Helge Braun, Merkel's chief of staff, said: 'She has said that this is her last term in office and I believe nothing has changed about that.' Pictured: Merkel and Braun last month This graph shows the daily number of deaths added to the tally in Germany. Today's figure of 92 was far lower than in recent days This graph shows the daily number of new cases, with today's figure of 3,677 marking the lowest in two weeks The doctor had visited Merkel, 65, last month to vaccinate her against the pneumococcus bacteria. Germany today saw sharp falls in both its daily death toll and its new infection count, offering fresh hope that the coronavirus lockdown is working. The number of infections rose by 3,677 - the smallest since March 22 - to bring the overall tally from 91,714 to 95,391. Meanwhile the death toll jumped by only 92, the lowest in a week, taking the total from 1,342 to 1,434. The resulting fatality rate of 1.5 per cent remains lower than many of Germany's neighbours, although it has risen every day for more than two weeks. PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-06 11:14:02 FPT Joins Keidanren, Japan's Largest Business Association Media Hue Le (Ms.) FPT Corporation Email: hueltm@fsoft.com.vn Mobile: +84866867745 FPT has recently become a member of Keidanren, also known as Japan Business Association, in an attempt to strengthen ties with the Japanese Government and the local business community. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005 FPT hosted Vietnam Prime Minister's Breakfast to discuss trade collaboration with Japanese Government and businesses on the sideline of G20 Osaka Summit in June 2019. (Photo: Business Wire) Established in 1946, Keidanren has been the powerful voice of businesses in Japan with more than 1,400 members, ranging from startups to major manufacturers and tech giants such as Toyota, Sumitomo, Toshiba, and Facebook. FPT is the first Vietnamese IT firm to join the business lobby. FPT once had the pleasure to attend the meeting between Keidanren and senior officials of the Vietnamese Government, and now we are very proud to be a member of this federation. By joining Keidanren, FPT hopes to contribute to the growth of the Japanese economy and society through partnerships and collaborations with member companies, FPT Chairman Truong Gia Binh said. Membership in Keidanren also helps FPT reinforce its position in the Japanese market as well as facilitate trade and investment cooperation between the two countries, he added. Being a digital transformation pioneer, we look forward to exploring how innovations could be harnessed to create positive changes in our world. As Keidanren Chairman Nakanishi Hiroaki said on its website, the federations focus is to implement Japans Society 5.0, where technologies such as robotics, blockchain, and AI could be combined with human imagination and creativity to resolve social issues and create new value at the same time. We are pleased to welcome a global IT firm like FPT to join our business community, said Keidanrens Managing Director Kiyoaki Fujiwara. This membership will not only strengthen the economic ties between Vietnam and Japan, but also contribute to the realisation of Society 5.0 and accelerate our digital transformation journey. Since entering Japan in 2005, FPT has grown its local workforce to more than 1,500 employees with 12 offices nationwide, making it the largest foreign IT employer in the country. More than half of its offshore revenue is generated in Japan, where the company helps major companies like Toppan Printing, SCSK, and ISE Foods to accelerate digital transformation. Being Vietnams leading IT and digital transformation services provider, FPT has made a significant contribution in driving the adoption of technologies for businesses around the world. FPT Japan, its largest subsidiary overseas, is expected to gain US$ 600 million in revenue this year and set to become Japans top 20 IT firm by 2022. About FPT Corporation FPT Corporation is a global leading technology and IT services provider headquartered in Vietnam, with nearly US$2 billion in revenue and 28,000 employees. As a pioneer in digital transformation, FPT delivers world-class services in Smart factory, Digital platforms, RPA, AI, IoT, Enterprise Mobility, Cloud, AR/VR, Embedded Systems, Managed services, Testing, Platform modernization, Business Applications, Application Services, BPO, and more. The company has served over 700+ customers worldwide, a hundred of which are Fortune Global 500 companies in the industries of Aerospace & Aviation, Automotive, Banking and Finance, Logistics & Transportation, Utilities and more. For more information, please visit www.fpt-software.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005 FPT has recently become a member of Keidanren, hoping to strengthen ties with the Japanese Government and the local business community. Former Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan, who escaped from the custody of Pakistani security agencies in February this year, has accused the Pakistan Army of kidnapping ten members of his family. In a letter written to Prime Minister Imran Khan, a copy of which IANS accessed, the former Taliban militant said, the Pakistan army kidnapped ten members of my family, "detaining them in an unknown location for the past three months, and without regard for the laws of Pakistan." Incidentally, before Imran Khan got elected, he was a vocal critic of Pakistan Army's counter-insurgency campaign and US drone strikes against Taliban. He was seen as a sympathizer of Taliban and shared a very good relationship with the militant group. Ehsanullah, held responsible for terror attacks on Malala Yousafzai and Peshawar Army Public school, had surrendered before Pakistan Army three years ago. But in February, according to sources, he was set free by the Pakistani security establishment in lieu of credible information he provided against other Pakistani militants. After his escape, the former Taliban official claimed that as per the pact between the two sides, the Pakistan Army and ISI had promised not only to rebuild Ehsanullah's destroyed house in his native village, but also committed to not subject him to any torture and instead give him a safe place and protection, (Pakistani) Rs 1 crore and permission to use a cell phone and internet. In the letter to PM Khan, Ehsanullah introduced himself as Liaqat Ali and revealed that after he quit violence in 2017 and signed a peace treaty with the Pakistan Army (MI). "I was given a guarantee that all resources would be used to support me to live a peaceful life but the promises made were unfortunately not kept. I was imprisoned in a house with my family for three years until we were left with little option but to escape because of our uncertain future." Following his departure, Ehsanullah said, the Pakistan Army attacked his father's house in Mohmand district and abducted his father Sher Mohammad and brother Asad Shafiq. Two of his brothers, Hashmat Khan and Shaukat Khan were arrested from their shop in Chitral. In addition, the army kidnapped, his uncle, cousin, brother-in-law and a friend from their homes, he said. "They have all been detained in some prison for the past three months but I do not know where they are being held," the former militant said adding that no case was filed against his father nor was he brought before any court. None of his relatives and friends, he said, had anything to do with any of his actions. Revealing that his brother and cousin were part of Imran Khan's party "Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf and a member of the cabinet of Safi Tehsil, Ehsanullah appealed to the Prime Minister to ensure justice for his citizens. "I don't want any sympathy from you personally but those arrested have no role in any illegal activities. I appeal to you as a man of faith, please take notice of these illegal arrests," he wrote adding that Pakistan is required to follow a process of law. Anyone detained, he said, must be given an open and fair trial to establish innocence or guilt. "To keep a person without establishing guilt is cruel and immoral," he said in his letter to Prime Minister Khan. One of the sheep sector's most prominent events in the UK calendar will be postponed until October due to coronavirus restrictions in the UK. The ongoing spread of Covid-19 continues to affect all aspects of life including the many popular agricultural events held each summer. Mainstream farming events such as the Great Yorkshire Show, Royal Welsh and the Royal Highland Show have been called off due the virus. NSA Sheep Event is the latest to fall victim to the coronavirus. The flagship event of the National Sheep Association will now take place on Monday 19 October. Event organiser, Helen Roberts, said this year will be a 'difficult year' for the sector and for the nation as a whole. "The NSA prides itself on being a member led organisation and delivering our iconic event is incredibly important to us," she said. "However, with the government advising against attending mass gatherings, NSA felt there was no other option at this time than to postpone our main event until October." She added: "We will all be affected by the financial outcome of this scenario but we do hope sheep farmers will support as we now recommence plans for what we are confident will be a fantastic event once again. Also taking place this year is NSA Scotsheep, the main event of the industry in Scotland. Differing slightly from the NSA Sheep Event in Worcestershire, NSA Scotsheep is set to take place on farm, hosted in 2020 by Robert and Hazel McNee at their home in Angus. The event had been planned for early June but has now been tentatively moved to Wednesday 8 July. NSA Scotsheep organiser, Euan Emslie, said the date is 'optimistic' and it may need to be reviewed again in light of the Covid-19 situation in the UK. We have very tentatively set a new date which most importantly suits the hosts who need to fit this event around their farming operation. And federal officials have said that seeking medical care will not activate the so-called public charge rule, which penalizes green card applicants if they have used public benefits. Yet advocates for immigrants say that is not enough. They have criticized the exclusion of undocumented immigrants from the federal governments $2 trillion dollar stimulus package. Even couples where one spouse is documented and the other is not are ineligible. They argue that, regardless of their legal status, immigrants make up a large portion of the work force doing jobs that will keep the country afloat: farm work, stocking grocery stores, delivering food, taking care of older people and the disabled and cleaning homes and buildings. Immigrants continue to be on the front lines of this response, said Steven Choi, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition in New York. Since the coronavirus crisis erupted, Luzs workload has actually grown. She now has to cook for the family, which is quarantined because the virus was detected at one childs school, she said, and entertain the children, 8 and 12, who get restless when their schoolwork is done and they cant go outside. Luz takes them into the hallway outside the apartment to play catch so their parents can quietly work from home. This is hard for them, too, she said of her employers. She also has to clean even more wiping down surfaces, washing hands, taking care not to let the towels she uses to dry her hands get mixed in with the familys laundry. Her 10-hour workdays are exhausting. Her weekly salary of $700 has not changed. Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Cho Yong-byoung speaks at a ceremony marking the launch of Shinhan Card's subsidiary, Shinhan Vietnam Finance Company, in Ho Chi Minh City, last July 2. / Courtesy of Shinhan Card By Kim Bo-eun Korea's major card firms saw their overseas businesses switch to a surplus last year, indicating that their seamless efforts to find new revenue sources abroad have finally paid off amid deteriorating circumstances here. Shinhan, KB Kookmin and Woori Card all enjoyed significant earnings growth in their businesses in Southeast Asia in 2019. Shinhan Card, the nation's largest plastic issuer by assets and net profit, recorded 20.5 billion won in net profit from four subsidiaries in Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia and Kazakhstan. Shinhan Vietnam Finance Company (SVFC) alone posted 18.3 billion won in net profit. SVFC was launched in July 2019 after Shinhan acquired Prudential Vietnam Finance Company, which was the U.K.-based Prudential Financial Services Group's Vietnam unit. "Our overseas earnings surged after SVFC was launched, as it is a subsidiary based on the acquisition of a major local unit," a Shinhan Card official said. Shinhan Finance in Kazakhstan posted 1.31 billion won in net profit, Shinhan Microfinance in Myanmar posted 359 million won and Shinhan Indo Finance 465 million won. KB Kookmin Card also saw its subsidiary in Cambodia post a surplus last year. KB Kookmin launched KB Daehan Specialized Bank in 2018, after acquiring Cambodia's Tomato Specialized Bank the same year. The subsidiary posted a net loss of 255 million won in 2018, but saw a net profit of 107 million won last year. KB Kookmin's Cambodian subsidiary opened a branch in Sen Sok, Phnom Penh, in February, as it seeks to expand its presence in the Southeast Asian country. KB has subsidiaries in Laos and Myanmar and is set to launch a subsidiary in Indonesia this year, after signing a deal in November to acquire PT Financial Multi Finance, a local credit finance company. Woori Card's Myanmar subsidiary Tutu Finance also switched to a surplus last year. Tutu Finance recorded a 346 million won net loss in 2018, but posted 2.71 billion won in net profit last year. Card firms had geared up to accelerate their overseas business this year, but face uncertainties based on the coronavirus pandemic. Southeast Asian countries, where their subsidiaries are located, have been less affected by the virus compared to the U.S. and countries in Europe. However, card firms remain vigilant over the potential impact from the rapid spread of COVID-19. "Southeast Asian countries have so far been less affected by the pandemic but they will inevitably be hit hard if Western economies suffer several blows," an official of a card firm said. Transfer of money from hand to hand. By Fred Schulte, Kaiser Health News The coronavirus stimulus package Congress rushed out last week to help the nations hospitals and health care networks hands the industry billions of dollars in windfall subsidies and other spending that has little to do with defeating the COVID-19 pandemic. The $2 trillion legislation, which President Donald Trump signed Friday, includes more than $100 billion in emergency funds to compensate hospitals and other health care providers for lost revenue and other costs associated with COVID-19. The measure also calls for spending up to $16 billion to replenish the nations depleted stockpile of medical gear, such as ventilators, medicines and personal protective equipment, or PPE. But health care businesses will get billions of dollars in additional funding not directly related to the pandemic, in some cases because Congress agreed to reverse scheduled cuts in the rates paid by Medicaid and Medicare, which the federal government had tried for years to impose. Related: A Coronavirus Test May Now Be Available, but It Might Not Be Cheap Anything that could tangentially be related to the crisis lobbyists tried to get stuffed in this bill particularly health-care-related items, said Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, a nonpartisan watchdog group. While the stimulus package is not as big a Christmas tree as some other bills, Ellis said, Im sure well find a few baubles and gifts along the way. Hospitals have won widespread praise as their doctors and other medical staffs labor under perilous conditions, including shortages of protective gear. And, perhaps not surprisingly, the industry emerged as a big winner in the stimulus negotiations. Not only can hospitals draw on the $100 billion fund to stem their losses and cover other costs, but they will also see a boost in one stream of revenue as Congress overturned some planned rate cuts. More than 3,000 hospitals that treat outsize numbers of Medicaid or uninsured patients, for instance, will share in an $8 billion windfall through the stimulus provision that reverses cuts in their Medicaid payments for 2020 and 2021. Story continues Related: Surviving the Collective Trauma of COVID-19 While We're Apart Separately, hospitals will rake in at least $3 billion more because of a temporary suspension of a 2% cut in Medicare fees, according to the Federation of American Hospitals, which represents more than 1,000 for-profit hospitals and health systems. The infusion of cash also benefits doctors, nursing homes, home health companies and others. Thats welcome news during this time of crisis, said Joanne Cunningham, executive director of the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare. Also tucked into the stimulus: a rollback of planned rate cuts to clinical laboratories and some medical equipment suppliers. At this stage, it is unclear how much these measures will add to the COVID-19 tab or if far more stimulus would be required for the health care industry to rebound. Take the 2% rate cut known as the sequester. The Office of Management and Budget expected it would save Medicare $16.2 billion in fiscal 2021. But the stimulus bill rescinds that rate cut from May 1 through the end of this year. As part of the legislation, Congress said it would, in effect, recoup the payments later by adding another year to the sequester. Whether lawmakers will follow through on that is anyones guess. Related: Our Family Time During COVID-19 Quarantine Looks Different -- and That's OK Anders Gilberg, senior vice president of government affairs for the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), expects the sequester relief to translate to a huge financial boost for more than 15,000 medical practices his group represents. This would never have been done under any other circumstances, Gilberg said. The situation was recognized as dire. Dr. Patrice Harris, president of the American Medical Association, said the stimulus offers needed financial relief to hard-hit workers, health systems and physician practices. At this critical moment, physician practices need significant financial support to sustain themselves and continue to meet the health care needs of all Americans during this time. Similarly, American Hospital Association CEO Rick Pollack called the legislation an important first step forward. But, he added, more will need to be done to deal with the unprecedented challenge of this virus. In a nod to clinical laboratories, which have helped bail out the federal governments early failure to supply enough COVID-19 tests, the stimulus delayed planned rate cuts in 2021 likely to amount to tens of millions of dollars in revenue. Medicare officials have been at odds with the lab industry for years over rates for lab tests. While other health care interests praised the bill, the laboratory trade association said it comes up short. Just before the Senate passed the stimulus bill Wednesday, American Clinical Laboratory Association President Julie Khani slammed Congress for not designating funding to support labs. She said labs were in an untenable situation, absorbing growing, uncompensated costs for testing specimens with no assurance that they will be appropriately or fairly reimbursed for all the tests they are performing. She added a not-so-veiled threat, saying: If Congress fails to designate essential emergency funding for clinical laboratories to support our efforts, labs will be soon be forced to make difficult decisions about whether they can keep building the [testing] capacity our nation needs. The lab association, in a statement to Kaiser Health News, said labs have absorbed staggering Medicare reimbursement cuts of as much as 30% for many common tests in recent years. In public securities filings this year, lab giants Quest Diagnostics Inc. and Laboratory Corp of America Holdings, known as LabCorp, reported they expected rate cuts in 2020 totaling more than $150 million. LabCorp said it supported the views of the lab association. Quest did not respond to a request for comment. While labs processing COVID-19 tests missed out on direct funding, they could be eligible for some of the $100 billion allocated for hospitals and other providers to cover their losses, congressional aides said. And the stimulus measure states that even in the event a lab is out-of-network, health plans are expected to pay the price it sets as long as the lab publishes that price online or negotiate with the lab. Given that laws in some states ban surprise billing in particular, this provision seems to favor the labs, said Katie Keith, a Georgetown University law professor and health policy expert. No one just lets the provider set the price, she said. The lab association disputes that, saying that many health plans are expected to pay them less than the $51.50 government recommended for a COVID-19 test. Just how the $100 billion in health care funding will be distributed and how much oversight will occur is another unknown. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar has the authority to decide how long the emergency provisions remain in effect. Tracking all that money will be a challenge as well. Ellis, the taxpayer advocate, noted that no government agency is ready to handle the rush of extra funding. He said that the stimulus grants extra resources to inspector general offices to monitor spending. There will be waste, there will be abuse, he said. Its about exposing and rooting it out. The HHS Office of Inspector General expects to receive $4 million to support this oversight, according to spokesman Donald White. Some groups arent waiting to compete over the $100 billion. The MGMA sent a letter March 27 to Azar and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services chief Seema Verma asking for more direct help. Gilberg noted that some medical practices, such as doctors who perform colonoscopies, have not been able to continue their work. Doctors and physician practices are having a lot of trouble right now, Gilberg said. They are literally shut down, and they are having financial troubles. Their operations have come to a full halt. Originally published on Kaiser Health News. KHN correspondents Rachana Pradhan and Emmarie Huetteman contributed to this report. Read more stories like this on The Mighty: What PTSD Can Teach Us All About Dealing With the COVID-19 Pandemic How It Feels to Begin Therapy for Anxiety During the COVID-19 Outbreak 9 Ways to Stay Positive Through COVID-19 Anxiety and Depression AL.com reporter Christopher Harress talks about his trip to a packed Orange Beach early in the COVID-19 crisis. Listen to Outbreak Alabama: Stories from a Pandemic, above. The show will release two or three episodes per week, chronicling the experiences of those directly impacted by COVID-19s spread, including health care professionals, business owners, city leaders, artists, AL.com reporters and many others. Listen and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, Acast or wherever you get your podcasts. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday appealed to the doctors to support the state government's initiative of launching a dedicated COVID-19 telemedicine helpline. "I am appealing to all the doctors, across the state and India, to support the government in this initiative. Please come forward and register to provide free service to citizens," Patnaik said. He said doctors are at the frontline of the fight against coronavirus. After readying seven special COVID-19 hospitals in different regions of Odisha, the state government has now decided to launch a dedicated COVID-19 telemedicine helpline 14410 to provide medical assistance to people exhibiting coronavirus-like symptoms. "This is a completely free service and anybody who is suffering from coronavirus-like symptoms such as cough, fever, breathlessness can call the number," he said. Doctors willing to provide their voluntary services in the fight against COVID-19 can register themselves at www.bit.ly//IndiaTeleMed, the chief minister said. "The state will be ever grateful to the doctors for their sacrifice in these testing times," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) American Airlines on Sunday slashed its flights to the New York City area by more than 90%, the latest carrier to drastically reduce service to the region, now a coronavirus hot spot. "As coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in New York City and the surrounding region continues to increase, along with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for travel to the area, the demand for flights to the New York area is rapidly evaporating," David Seymour, American's senior vice president of operations, wrote to employees in a memo. New York-area airports are normally among the busiest in the country and the area has some of the most congested airspace, but coronavirus has prompted several carriers to cut service to bare bones, leaving the region more isolated. The cuts in the tri-state region are deeper in some cases than those carriers are making throughout their networks, as demand for air travel craters because of the disease. More than 120,000 people have tested positive for the disease in New York state, more than half of those in New York City, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just over a week ago urged residents of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to refrain from nonessential domestic travel for 14 days. Fort Worth, Texas-based American Airlines said it will operate eight departures from New York's LaGuardia Airport, down from about 170 in April 2019. It will also fly three daily flights from John F. Kennedy International Airport, down from around 80 midweek peak departures in the same month last year. And the airline will operate one daily flight to its Charlotte hub and another to its home at Dallas-Fort Worth from Newark Liberty International Airport. American will operate the newly reduced schedule through May 6. President Donald Trump last week hinted that he was considering restrictions on flights between coronavirus "hot spots." His administration hasn't taken such a step, but airlines have pulled back almost all of their service in the area. Other airlines including United and JetBlue have announced deep cuts to their New York City-area service because of the virus. United Airlines said Saturday that it is slashing service at its Newark hub from 139 daily flights to just 15, and from New York's LaGuardia Airport from 18 to two daily flights for at least the next three weeks. "While New York and New Jersey are the primary COVID-19 hotspots today, we will also watch the situation on the ground in stations all across our network and evaluate additional mitigation measures we can take in those locations as well," Greg Hart, United's chief operations officer, wrote to employees on Saturday. United's local employees will continue to be paid with benefits despite the reduction, Hart said. The Association of Flight Attendants, which represents some 50,000 cabin crew members, including those at United, applauded the move and had previously called for a halt to leisure flights in favor of just essential service. "Our first job is to stop the spread of the virus," AFA's president, Sara Nelson, said in statement. "Aviation has a role to play in that but there's a clear line. Essential service to our communities is important, but not one flight more than necessary." Delta Air Lines also cutting its New York-area flights by around 90% "with only essential service to hubs and top U.S. markets," a spokeswoman said. The Atlanta-based airline, for example, will have just 15 flights at LaGuardia, down from nearly 270 in April 2019. Spirit Airlines last week would suspend operations at five airports in the tri-state area, including LaGuardia, Newark and Hartford, through at least May 4 because of the CDC warning. American said that it will also operate a reduced schedule from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Newark, LaGuardia and JFK and staff flights by crews based outside of the New York City area. U.S. airlines on Friday applied for portions of $25 billion in government grants that would require them not to furlough or cut the pay rates of their employees through Sept. 30. Democratic lawmakers, labor unions and some industry members have urged Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin not to place onerous conditions on the aid, such as equity stakes they argue could make the relief less attractive to airlines, and ultimately cost jobs. Conditions for that aid also require airlines to maintain service to cities airlines served before March 1, 2020, according to Treasury Department guidelines, but carriers can reduce frequencies and consolidate flights into one airport serving a city. By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: The State government will procure paddy and other agricultural produce at village-level and ensure MSP to all farmers besides bringing out a harvesting calendar, said Minister for Agriculture K Kanna Babu. Speaking to mediapersons on Sunday, the minister said Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has given strict orders that all farmers should get MSP for their crops. Be it paddy cultivated during Rabbi or other crops, the government will procure them, he said. The farmers have to contact the agriculture assistant at their Village Secretariat who will register their names and the paddy will be purchased by the government ensuring MSP. Paddy will be procured through Paddy Procurement Centres while maize would be procured by MARKFED. Perishable agriculture or horticulture produce like banana and papaya will be marketed through Rythu Bazaars. To that effect, we have issued directions to the horticulture department, he said. Kanna Babu said they have procured 57,000 tonnes so far. Harvest calendar will be brought out to standardise the process up to procurement, he said adding that the calendar would give district wise details of crops and their harvest season. Several of Melbourne's biggest cultural organisations are coming to the rescue of parents by offering virtual activities to help keep their children entertained at home. Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the National Gallery of Victoria are moving workshops that were traditionally conducted in person online for the first time, in a bid to both entertain and educate kids. Tessa Anderson, 10, with her rice shaker instruments. Credit:Joe Armao The MSO's Jams for Juniors program will launch online via their website on Wednesday. The sessions have been running for the past nine years, led by violinist and music teacher Karen Kyriakou. She often writes lyrics for classical favourites so kids can remember the tunes. "One of the great things is I get to pull apart all this amazing music and put it back together," Kyriakou says. She provides basic rhythm patterns, which she plays and the child copies they're guided every step of the way. "It's structured and musically balanced. They start to hear patterns and themes without consciously realising they are." Sorry, we can't find the content you're looking for at this URL. Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has criticised the federal government for giving a N10 billion grant to Lagos State to fight the novel coronavirus while abandoning other states of the federation. The confirmed cases of coronavirus infection in Nigeria stood at 232 as of Sunday evening. Lagos has 120, which is the highest in the country, while Rivers state has one confirmed case. Mr Wike, in a statewide broadcast on Sunday, accused President Buharis administration of politicising the nations effort to halt the spread of the virus. Mr Wike said Lagos is Nigerias commercial hub, but that Rivers, as the nations oil and gas hub, produces a greater percentage of the nations wealth and therefore deserves federal support. One wonders why Federal Government should single out a state out of 36 States to give support. Does it mean that support will come when a State has a record of over 50 infected persons? No state should be seen as more important than any other state. This is a Federal Republic. No state is superior to others, the governor said. Rivers State is entitled to support from the Federal Government. Every day, we are inundated with letters from the Federal Government to allow oil companies to fly in expatriates to drill oil. Then we ask, what is the status of those coming from Lagos? Nobody has told us their status as regards coronavirus. If they come to Rivers without us knowing their status, what will be the implication assuming they have the virus? The governor said the restriction of movement in the state would be relaxed in the state on Tuesday and Wednesday to allow residents to do their shopping for Easter and also replenish their stocks. He also announced a committee to oversee the state governments food distribution programme to cushion the impact of the stay-at-home order. READ ALSO: Mr Wike disclosed that the index case of the coronavirus in Rivers State is now negative and would soon be discharged from the treatment centre. We thank our frontline health professionals who have displayed a deep sense of professionalism and patriotism during this trying period. The State Government is also grateful to all Rivers people and private individuals who have contributed to support us in this fight. At the appropriate time, Government will publish the names of these individuals. May I urge our religious leaders to continue to intercede on behalf of the state as we fight to contain this virus. Susanna Reid and Piers Morgan paid tribute to Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper during Monday's edition of Good Morning Britain. Their co-host Kate is reportedly 'sick with worry' as Derek battles COVID-19 in intensive care, after being admitted to the hospital a week ago and testing positive for the virus. Susanna, 49, said: 'I know I speak for all of the team and all of our viewers when we send our love to Kate Garraway and her husband Derek Draper. Expressing their support: Susanna Reid and Piers Morgan paid tribute to Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper during Monday's edition of Good Morning Britain, as he continues to battle COVID-19 in hospital 'We send him every ounce of strength as he recovers from coronavirus and our love to Kate.' She continued: 'You may have read over the last couple of days that Derek is in intensive care, he's tested positive for coronavirus. 'On Thursday night, Kate posted a video on Instagram when she and her family were clapping for carers, and said that she had an extra reason to do that. 'We thank all of the NHS workers who are working so hard at the moment treating those who are suffering from the virus.' Piers, 55, also discussed the ordeal, describing it as 'agonising for everyone involved'. Heartbreaking: Kate, 52, has been left 'sick with worry' after her husband was rushed to hospital on Monday where he was tested positive for the virus (pictured in December 2019) Concerning: Piers, 55, also discussed the ordeal, describing it as 'agonising for everyone involved' Kate, 52, is now self-isolating at home with her two children after displaying mild symptoms. Taking to Twitter to express her support, Susanna shared: 'All my love to Kate and Derek' with a heart emoji. Piers took to his account and penned: 'Now its been made public, I can say this horrendous situation has brought the Coronavirus crisis sharply into the hearts of all of us. My love & prayers to Kate & Derek', alongside a praying hands emoji. Also sharing his well wishes was Ben Shephard, who tweeted a message of support for his co-presenter. He wrote: 'Just wanted to send all my love to Darcey and Billy. Sending Derek strength and positivity. Love to everyone going through this right now.' Heartfelt: On Friday, Piers and Susanna first shared their well wishes for co-star Kate via the medium of social media Kind words: A host of Kate Garraway's Good Morning Britain colleagues and friends sent their love to the presenter (GMB team pictured at National Television Awards last year) This was retweeted by GMB star Richard Arnold, who added a praying hands emoji. Also revealing his support for Kate on Twitter were Lord Alan Sugar and Spandau Ballet frontman Martin Kemp. The Apprentice star wrote: 'Sorry to hear about your husband via @piersmorgan. I wish him well and a speedy recovery.' Martin added: 'sending so much love to @kategarraway and her husband Derek. Wishing your man well Kate! xxx'. Reaching out: Her co-presenters have shared tweets sending love to the journalist who is now self-isolating at home with her two children after displaying mild symptoms On the frontline: ITV Love Island star Dr Alex George vowed to stand up and fight back as he shared a selfie in protective clothing during his shift at a London hospital Derek, who was a former adviser to Tony Blair, was rushed to hospital on Monday where he was tested positive for coronavirus. Kate met Prince Charles at an event on March 11, but began displaying symptoms on Monday, which is beyond the two-week incubation period. It comes as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK topped 38,000 on Friday, with 3,605 deaths. Concerns: Just days ago, the presenter voiced her fears on GMB meeting with Prince Charles before he tested positive for coronavirus (pictured at the Prince's Trust Awards on March 11) Kate's meeting with Prince Charles Fears that Kate could have contracted coronavirus from Prince Charles have been ruled out. The ITV presenter met Prince Charles at an event on March 11, but began displaying symptoms on Monday, which is beyond the two-week incubation period. The 'incubation period' means the time between catching the virus and beginning to have symptoms of the disease. Most estimates of the incubation period for COVID-19 range from 1-14 days, most commonly around five days. Advertisement The GMB presenter, who hasn't been tested but is displaying 'mild symptoms' is self-isolating at home with their two children - Darcey, 14, and William (Bill), ten. Just days ago, the presenter voiced her fears on Good Morning Britain after meeting with Prince Charles before he tested positive for coronavirus. She spoke about their encounter live on air, revealing that the pair had got 'relatively close' at the Prince's Trust Awards on March 11. Kate's spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Kate's husband, Derek Draper, has been taken to hospital and is being treated in intensive care with a confirmed case of COVID-19. He was admitted on Monday and has since tested positive for the virus. 'Kate, hasn't been tested, however she has also been displaying mild symptoms, also since Monday, and as a result has been on strict isolation with her children at home.' A source added to The Sun: 'This is a desperate situation for Kate who is sick with worry about Derek's health. 'She is obviously off TV too. Everyone at GMB is so worried for her.' 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 Kate shared a video of herself clapping for the NHS on Thursday night where she said her family had an 'extra special reason' to clap for our carers. She wrote: 'We had a an extra special reason to #clapthecarers in our house tonight but there's a special reason for us all isn't there. 'Thank thank you to all the health workers caring for our loved ones and key workers keeping our lives going [clapping emojis] you are incredible.' Kate's GMB co-star Susanna Reid, who just ended her own quarantine after someone in her household displayed COVID-19 symptoms, commented with a heart emoji. 'I don't have any symptoms, so I'm not blaming him for anything at all, but people are going to be concerned. He's a man that meets a lot of people.' Just a day later, Kate assured fans that she was in 'perfect' health and had been to hospital to have her eye checked over, following reports conjunctivitis is listed as a symptom of COVID-19. The Prince of Wales has a 'mild' form of the illness and his doctor believes that the royal may have been contagious from March 13 at the earliest. Family: Former Blair adviser M, 52, pictured with their two children Darcey, 14, and William (Bill), ten, in November Shortly after Kate met Prince Charles on March 11, GMB played footage of the two together. The presenter pointed out: 'We're relatively close there, as indeed were all the other people that were involved in that. Kate and Derek have been married for fourteen years, with the former lobbyist cheering his wife on for the duration of her stint on I'm A Celebrity last year, he flew out to Australia with their two children to meet her. The couple, who wed in September 2005, have previously discussed their union, with Derek admitting that he feared she was 'a high-maintenance TV bimbo'. Following her stint on I'm A Celebrity, the couple were planning to renew their vows in the coming months. Kate, who was married to Ian Rumsey from 1998 to 2002, met Derek when they were set up by mutual friend, then-political editor of GMTV Gloria De Piero. The I'm A Celeb star told The Times: 'One day, as the sun was rising, she said, 'I'm having an epiphany. You and Derek Draper.' I was, like, 'Who?' 'Derek had just moved back from America, having left politics and retrained as a psychotherapist, and she thought we'd be perfect for each other... 'She set up drinks with a group of people at Claridge's. Derek arrived thinking it was a date and that I was being incredibly cool by ignoring him.' Derek then admitted he was relieved he went on the date as Kate dispelled all the myths he believed of dating a TV personality. Kate's GMB co-star Piers Morgan has previously spoken about Derek as they used to butt heads when he was a press chief for Labour and Piers was editor of the Daily Mirror. (left) Julia Dewey, a second year medical student and volunteer with JeffVotes, hands Ruth Edwards an absentee ballot at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Thursday, October 31, 2019. Read more Pennsylvanias primary election has been rescheduled for June 2nd. While postponing the primary may give county boards of elections more time to plan, it will not solve the looming problems of coordinating in-person voting during the current public health crisis. Voter turnout is likely to plummet given current recommendations for social distancing. The number of poll workers willing to work in elections is predicted to decline. Consequently, county boards of elections will have to consolidate polling places, adding yet another element of confusion as voters try to locate new polling places. Decreased voter participation always damages the fabric of democracy. At this moment of crisis, we need to work hard and creatively to enable as many voters as possible to participate in this years primary and general elections. Under Act 77, which was passed last year, any Pennsylvania registered voter can request a mail-in ballot without providing a reason (such as illness or absence). However, relatively few people are aware of the change, and this lack of information creates a substantial barrier to using this mail-in option. That is why I and 67 other Democratic Committeepeople in Philadelphia signed a petition pledging to educate voters regarding mail-in ballots and calling on the PA state legislature to help Pennsylvanians exercise their right to vote from home. The Pennsylvania state government should send each registered voter an application for a mail-in-ballot with postage prepaid. The state legislature should also appropriate the funds necessary for county boards of elections to educate voters regarding the mail-in option and to process the resulting increase in mail-in ballots. While this initiative would not supplant an in-person primary, it would preserve voter participation for many voters who are concerned in-person voting would pose a potential health risk. Furthermore, this initiative would enable Pennsylvania to be better positioned to run a mail-in election in November, should that be necessary. Faced with the prospect that many would-be voters might stay home on Election Day out of concern for their health, it is imperative that we find solutions to ensure as many people as possible are able to participate in the electoral process. Lets work together to help Pennsylvanians exercise their right to vote. Dont let democracy be one of the victims of COVID-19. Rebecca Poyourow is a Philadelphia Democratic Committeeperson in the 21st Ward, 19th Division. For the Marshall Islands, a collection of narrow coral atolls in the middle of the Pacific, climate change is an immediate and existential threat. The Marshall Islands could be submerged within a century; well before that, they will be uninhabitable. Already, regular flooding has damaged infrastructure. Food and water are scarce. Storms lash with increasing frequency. This is the part of the story where climate journalism would typically stop. But in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, where theres no higher ground to speak of, the climate story is not typical. Every story is a climate story. The following pages showcase journalism that has risen to the challenge. Drawing from a three-part series in Mashable by Kim Wall and two visual collaborators, Susanne Rusts reporting for the Los Angeles Times, and a piece by Amanda Sakuma for MSNBC, the climate story that emerges here is complex, ongoing, and unexpected. These journalists traced the climate narrative through a legacy of American militarism, the mass migration of Marshallese to an unlikely new home, and the geopolitical tensions that underscore the islands precarious future. This work offers a road map for the climate journalism that we urgently need everywhere. The Republic of the Marshall Islands consists of five islands and twenty-nine coral atolls, situated between Hawaii and Australia. Though independent since 1986, the nation is financially dependent on aid from the United States, exchanged for the use of Kwajalein Atoll as a US military base. A Marshallese child plays near a makeshift seawall. The Marshall Islands sit, on average, 6.5 feet above sea level. Studies show that since 1993, sea levels in the western Pacific have been rising at a rate of 0.3 inches per year, which is twice as fast as theyre rising elsewhere in the world. The Los Angeles Times photographed dead fish littering the shores of Bikini Atoll as a result of ocean warming. Climate change has killed local seafood and crops; flooding has contaminated groundwater reserves, polluting the drinking-water supply. The Nuclear Backstory In 1944, the US forcibly displaced Marshallese communities in order to build a military base and test nuclear weapons. Over the next fourteen years, the US dropped sixty-seven atomic bombs on the Marshall Islands. Marshallese life was irrevocably changed: radiation poisoning wreaked havoc on islanders and their food systems; cultural practices broke down with the loss of ancestral land. Susanne Rust wrote about how the US has declined to take full responsibility for its actions, by underpaying on promised reparations and downplaying health risks to people returning to radioactive areas. Kim Wall reported on a familys resettlement on Enewetak, an atoll that was evacuated and then bombed forty-three times. Before the familys return, the US military scraped the island bare and then dumped radioactive soil and other nuclear waste into a crater, sealing it with a concrete dome. The structure, known as Runit Dome, has been hit by rising tides; its now cracked and could collapse entirely. The islands are plutonium-poisoned. Residents must rely on supply ships for food. An atomic-bomb crater next to Runit Dome, a concrete structure built on Enewetak Atoll to contain American nuclear waste. A woman sits in the Bikini Atoll town hall under images of nuclear-bomb testing and forced relocation. One Way Out As the scars of nuclear testing and climate change have made the Marshall Islands increasingly uninhabitable, almost a third of the Marshallese population has found the same solution: a one-way ticket to the United States. A Compact of Free Association, signed in 1986 to provide reparations, allows islanders to live and work indefinitely in the US without visas (and also without access to Social Security, Medicaid, or citizenship). Walls reporting for Mashable introduced readers to some of the ten to fifteen thousand Marshallese who have settled in Springdale, Arkansas. She described their struggles to adapt to poultry-processing jobs and traffic laws, and their impossible dreams of returning home. These are the realities of a new class of displaced people, wrote Amanda Sakuma of MSNBC, highlighting climate refugees as part of the global migrant crisis. Coolers packed with fish and fruit for loved ones in the US have become symbolic of Marshallese migration. Downtown Springdale, Arkansas Marshallese churchgoers in Springdale, Arkansas Ferdinand Muller, a Marshallese migrant, holds a friends baby at a lakeside barbecue. Brinson Bear Andrew, who moved to the US as a child, works at an Arkansas Walmart. Political Ties In December 2019, flooding inundated Majuro, the capital of the Marshall Islands, while an unprecedented outbreak of dengue fever filled the nations hospitals. At the same time, Susanne Rust reported, the nation faced a critical juncture: votes were being counted to elect members of the Nitijela, the Marshallese parliament, who could end an alliance with the US and start a relationship with China. For the US and China, the Marshall Islands provide a setting for military access and regional domination. But for the Marshallese, the election was about the climate. The incumbent president supported maintaining ties with the US; her opposition advocated forming a link with China, which has recently been making investments across the western Pacific. For a nation in dire need of seawalls, desalination, and landscape reconstruction, the most appealing global partners are those offering aid and infrastructure investment. The pro-China camp won. It remains to be seen what will happen, but if the US wants to hold on to its strategic position in the Marshall Islands, it will have to do better for local peoplestarting with making good on a promise to extend the Compact of Free Association, which is up for renegotiation in 2023. As sea levels continue to rise, there is a sense of urgency for both the nations coastline and its political future. Job Atlaia, who lives in the Marshall Islands, builds a seawall as part of a government project on Majuro. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Laura Thorne is a Canadian writer, artist, and oral historian with a background in radical and community-based publishing. She lives in Brooklyn. The new few days are slated to bring new efforts to achieved a coordinated cut in global oil production, but success is hardly a sure thing. Why it matters: The coronavirus outbreak is fueling an unprecedented collapse in demand and has cratered prices, so new cutbacks could at least temper though hardly alleviate the market's tailspin. Driving the news: The OPEC+ group led by megaproducers Saudi Arabia and Russia is tentatively scheduled to meet remotely Thursday, per multiple reports. But Saudi and Russian officials, as well as other OPEC members, want an agreement that includes other big producers outside the group, notably the United States. Officials from Alberta, Canada the country's main producing province are slated to take part in the meeting, per the Financial Times and others. Norway, Europe's largest producer, on Saturday signaled a willingness to cut, per Reuters. The big question: Whether there's an opening for U.S. participation in a deal, even though the U.S. market and legal system does not enable top-down production decisions or coordinated industry action. However, U.S. production is slated to start falling in the months ahead anyway thanks to the collapse in prices and demand. But, but, but: Trump has also hinted at more of a stick than carrot approach, while repeatedly claiming in recent days that the Saudis and Russians are closing in on a deal to enable a cut of 10-15 million barrels per day. He said at briefings on Saturday and Sunday that he's weighing tariffs on imported oil if the Saudis and Russians don't reach an agreement. Trump administration officials have not said whether they would take part in Thursday's OPEC+ session in any way. Where it stands: Prices surged Thursday and Friday on the prospect of a Saudi-Russia agreement, but fell when markets opened last night after weekend signs of the fraught path to a deal. The OPEC+ meeting that had been slated for today was postponed Saturday amid sniping between the Russians and Saudis. Brent crude ended Friday around $34-per-barrel, compared to the $22 range a few days earlier. It has bounced back to $33.08 this morning after tumbling last night. What they're saying Tea leaves this morning seem to be pointing toward a deal between Russia and Saudi Arabia to revive their joint supply curbs. Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, tells CNBC that they're "very close" to an agreement. "I think the whole market understands that this deal is important and it will bring lots of stability, so much important stability to the market, and we are very close," he said. Amrita Sen, analyst with the firm Energy Aspects, tells Bloomberg that she thinks chances for major deal are low, but that said, she points out the forces prodding the Saudis. [Crown Prince] Mohammed bin Salman is under heavy political pressure from Trump to demonstrate the Kingdom isnt trying to bankrupt the U.S. shale industry," she said. The big picture: Regardless of how the diplomatic initiatives play out, the most powerful market force by far will remain the demand collapse from the pandemic. Hanoi will earmark VND650 billion ($28.2 million), the first stage, in support of the poor and other social beneficiaries via the local branch of Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP), amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) The municipal authorities asked the VBSP branch to work closely with local administrations, mass organisations and associations to promptly disburse the sum, which is expected to meet about 65 percent of loan demand. Priority will be given to households enjoying debt payment rescheduling and extension, poor and near-poor households, cooperatives and small and medium-sized enterprises, mostly those working in agriculture, food supply, health care and necessities. According to the VBSP, sectors hardest hit by the pandemic include animal farming, small-scale businesses and services, health care and transportation, with total outstanding loans of over 2.3 trillion VND (100 million USD), accounting for 28 percent of the total. Minister: Relief for pandemic-hit groups must be swift A lottery ticket seller (L) is instructed in hand washing before receiving charity gifts Support policies for people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic need to be carried out immediately as they are facing a raft of difficulties, according to Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung. At a recent meeting of the Governments permanent members, Dung also pointed out the necessity of taking into account implementation lag, so as to ensure the timeliness and effectiveness of policies. The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) recently compiled a draft resolution on measures for assisting people with sharply declining incomes as well as those who have lost their jobs and are unable to make ends meet due to the direct impact of the pandemic. It stated that support measures aim to express the Party and States focus on vulnerable groups, including ex-revolutionaries, people subject to social protection, and poor and near-poor households. Policies also look at promoting employers access to credit and encourages them to pay adequate salaries to employees with labor contracts who have been forced to temporarily cease working because of the coronavirus outbreak. If employers are still unable to pay salaries even when they have received soft loans, the draft policies also encourage them not to fire affected workers. Under the draft resolution, the State is set to provide aid to cover part of the daily expenses incurred by workers and by business households and informal workers disadvantaged by the COVID-19 outbreak, quarantine measures, and travel restrictions, MPI noted. The draft resolution was discussed and received consensus at the Governments meeting on April 1. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has assigned the MPI to work with relevant ministries and sectors to collect opinions and fine-tune the draft in preparation for issuance./.VNA/VNN UNFPA assists Vietnam in COVID-19 prevention and control The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is providing Vietnam with hand sanitiser as support for the country in the fight against COVID-19. San Francisco, April 6 : California-based biotechnology company Gilead Sciences is ready with 1.5 individual doses of promising remdesivir drug against COVID-19 disease for compassionate use, expanded access and clinical trials, its CEO has announced. Gilead said it is providing the existing supply at no cost, to treat patients with the most severe symptoms of COVID-19. "These doses are for treating patients with severe symptoms, through daily intravenous infusions in a hospital setting. Having a potential treatment in our hands comes with significant responsibility. Providing our existing supplies at no charge is the right thing to do," Daniel O'Day said in a blog post. Originally developed by Gilead to combat Ebola and related viruses, remdesivir shuts down viral replication by inhibiting a key viral enzyme, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The first COVID-19 patient diagnosed in the US -- a young man in Snohomish County, Washington state -- was given remdesivir when his condition worsened and he improved the next day, according to a case report in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). A Californian patient who received remdesivir recovered as well. According to Gilead CEO, more than 1,700 COVID-19 patients have now been treated through the company's programmes. "New US sites have been initiated and we are adding more on an ongoing basis. We are also making progress in Europe. The European Medicines Agency announced that it has provided EU member states with recommendations on implementing expanded access programmes for remdesivir in their countries," informed Daniel. Remdesivir is still an investigational medicine and has not been approved by regulatory authorities anywhere in the world. "The safety and efficacy are not yet known so while we feel the greatest sense of urgency in our work with remdesivir, we must take the responsible, ethical approach of determining whether it is indeed a safe, effective treatment. "This is why multiple clinical trials for remdesivir are underway, involving thousands of patients with COVID-19 across the world," said the CEO. Scientists have suggested dozens of existing compounds for testing but WHO is focusing on the four most promising therapies. These are "an experimental antiviral compound called remdesivir; the malaria medications chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine; a combination of two HIV drugs, lopinavir and ritonavir; and that same combination plus interferon-beta, an immune system messenger that can help cripple viruses". Gilead has reduced the end-to-end manufacturing timeline from approximately one year, to around six months. "We have set an ambitious goal of producing more than 500,000 treatment courses by October and more than 1 million treatment courses by the end of this year," informed the CEO. Minsk, Belarus: Ukrainian firefighters spent the weekend trying to put out two forest blazes in the area around the Chernobyl nuclear power station, which was evacuated because of radioactive contamination after the 1986 explosion at the plant. A Geiger counter shows increased radiation level against the background of the forest fire burning near the village of Volodymyrivka in the exclusion zone around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Ukraine. Credit:AP Ukraine's emergencies service said one of the fires, covering about five hectares, had been localised. It said the other fire was about 20 hectares. Earlier on Sunday, the head of the state ecological inspection service, Yehor Firsov, said the fires had spread to about 100 hectares. The discrepancy in sizes could not immediately be resolved. Firsov said radiation levels at the fire were substantially higher than normal. But the emergencies service said radiation levels in the capital of Kyiv, about 100 kilometres south, were within norms. By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 05, 2020 | 07:09 PM | PADUCAH Paducah businesses and homes have responded to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear's suggestion to display green lights to bring hope and solidarity as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.Beshear also asked churches to ring their bells at 10 am daily, if possible.Some neighborhoods are stepping out on their front porches applauding healthcare workers and those sustaining essential services at 7 pm each evening. Some are honking, clapping, cheering a big thank you.Children out walking with their families are on the lookout for teddy bears displayed in windows.Believers are praying wherever they may be at 7 pm each evenings, lifting up those on the front lines providing essential services and saving lives.Whatever your form of expression may be, this is a time of uniting to be supportive of those who are out there risking their lives to keep the rest of us safe and healthy. The president expressed gratitude to the United States for its continued support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a telephone conversation on Monday, April 6, discussed coronavirus cooperation. President Zelensky has expressed support for the United States in their fight against the pandemic and condolences to the Americans who have lost loved ones, also wishing a speedy recovery to those who contracted the virus, the President's Office reported. The president thanked the U.S. for providing assistance to Ukraine to tackle the spreading disease. "I am grateful to the United States for providing targeted assistance, $1.2 million, to fight coronavirus," Volodymyr Zelensky said. Read alsoZelensky responds to petition on recalling officials' signatures from paper signed in Minsk The parties also discussed the possibility of Ukraine receiving from the United States loan guarantees required to stabilize the economy that's in addition to the resources that Ukraine is planning to get from the IMF, the World Bank, and other foreign partners. The president expressed gratitude to the United States for its continued support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, both bilaterally and within the UN, as well as for its consistent policy of sanctions against Russia. The head of state briefed Pompeo on the latest developments in Donbas and the implementation of the agreements following the latest Normandy Four meeting held in Paris in December 2019. One way to understand socialism is that it is what happens when everybody is in the army and the army runs everything. In such a situation, the government does not have to worry about contract negotiations when it wants some respirator masks or ventilators command gives the order and the order is carried out. If command thinks the work at hand calls for 100,000 more truck drivers, then 100,000 workers in less-essential fields are reassigned. Ezra Pound, the American poet and fascist propagandist, marveled at the efficiency (or what he took to be the efficiency) of the collectivist economics of the Mussolini government, which, by abolishing the middlemens extortion and the wiles of the monopolists, gave the state a free hand to impose rational programs (or what he took to be rational programs) on the production and distribution of Italys economic output, with the state able to use these materials as it needs them. Il Duce described his economic ideal the marriage of central planning with the urgency of war-mobilization as the socialism of the trenches. When the newly empowered leader of the German National Socialist Workers Party was asked if he planned to nationalize industries, he responded, Why should I nationalize the industry? I shall nationalize the people. The urgency of war and the instinct for centralization constitute a marriage whose offspring inherit exaggerated versions of family traits. And so in response to the current epidemics consequent economic crisis, the Danes are effectively nationalizing private payrolls, as the New York Times puts it, a unified national response that stands in contrast to the patchwork American system. One of those American patches is the Defense Production Act, which, in theory, empowers the U.S. government to behave like Mussolinis, ordering firms to produce what the government demands on the governments timeline, prioritizing the governments priorities. Story continues President Trump being President Trump, the task of overseeing these programs has been entrusted to Peter Navarro, a former economics professor with no expertise in the relevant issues, an amateur China crank (that is his main appeal to Trump) whose area of study has been the economics of utilities companies. Trump has been tweeting orders at General Motors, but Navarro on Thursday told Politico that he has no idea whether GM has actually done anything. Portrait of administrative impotence: Navarro apparently cannot even get a meeting with the brass at GM. Ive talked to a number of their proxies, he told Politico. Pardon me, but: Proxies? He went on to whimper that he had been promised daily updates which have not materialized. The poor lamb. Also writing in Politico, under the headline On the Coronavirus, the Nationalists Arent Nationalist Enough, National Review editor and The Case for Nationalism author Rich Lowry lamented the early denial and slow response of the Trump administration to what should have been a natural populist nationalist issue. But there we see those exaggerated family traits: The Danish program of nationalization of payrolls was part of a genuinely national effort rooted in national consensus, involving many different political parties, business groups, unions, etc. The Trump administrations nationalism is not a substantive nationalism but a nationalism of rhetoric with no strong relationship to any kind of coherent policy agenda. Trumps nationalism is in no small part about the word nationalism Trumps fondness for it and the irritation it causes to people not well-disposed to Trump. It is what one automotive analyst called Trumps attempts to boss around GM via the DPA: a rhetorical flourish. The current state of emergency is offering a dramatic illustration of the fact that many of our self-proclaimed nationalists on the right are running into the same wall that has broken so many noses belonging to self-proclaimed socialists on the left: American culture. The vagaries of American political discourse notwithstanding, Denmark is not a socialist country, and neither are Sweden, Norway, Finland, et al. these are liberal-democratic capitalist countries with relatively large welfare states and relatively high taxes. But whatever you wish to call them, they are the products of a culture and a politics that cannot simply be grafted onto the United States. The Trump administrations troubles with the DPA and GM are part of a very long America tradition. We think of World War II as the good war and a time of patriotic and effective national mobilization a national effort that informs much of contemporary American progressive thinking about the possibilities of government intervention and that informs, at least in part, the Rights nationalist fantasies. But the history to which we pay insufficient attention includes the fact that the war contracting of that era was an absolute pig-sty of waste, inefficiency, mismanagement, and profiteering, as Harry Truman put it at the time. Efforts at imposing social and economic regimentation on American life are producing results that are very American, meaning that there is a relatively high level of noncompliance, not only with social distancing guidelines but also with heavy-handed government efforts to command and control the private economy. The Scandinavian countries are having a different experience, a more Scandinavian one. (As the Swedish journalist Lisa Bjurwald puts it, buttoned-down and emotionally remote Swedes were practicing the coronavirus lifestyle long before the virus hit.) Socialist or nationalist, Left or Right, the powers that be in Washington bark orders all day but they are barking those orders at Americans. Good luck. Emergencies, of course, eventually end. At the end of the Great War, there was an effort among progressives to keep alive the war socialism of the Wilson years as a new norm in American life. That was roundly rejected. A smaller version of the same story played out after World War II. Already, we are hearing from the Left and the Right a great deal of wishful thinking about maintaining certain emergency measures associated with this epidemic once the plague has passed. The Left wants to expand unemployment benefits, paid leave, and the like, while the Right is more fixated on the fact that Chinese factories make a lot of cheap paper goods and ibuprofen. (James Pethokoukis is not alone in wondering why none of these would-be central planners on the right had the foresight to fill national reserves with the necessary goods when they could be globally sourced at low prices rather than moan about it after it was too late.) Emergency measures are not the right way to govern these United States in ordinary times. They arent even all that good in emergencies. More from National Review The World Bank Group, which has just sanctioned a $1 billion loan to strengthen Indian government's efforts to contain novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) outbreak may be readying a similar package for India's private sector too. According to Junaid Ahmad, country director, India, World Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, is likely to allocate an equivalent amount or slightly more to directly support the Indian companies. The IFC support could form part of bigger economic stimulus package that is being worked out by the central government to stabilise the novel coronavirus hit domestic economy. "IFC is going to do its programme in India very shortly where it will directly support the firms that it works with to help stabilise them Ahmad", said in a telephonic interaction with Business Today. Also read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: It's going to be a long haul, don't tire, says PM; active cases 3,666 The World Bank is also working with the government to fund India's social protection measures. "The government has already moved ahead. What we're doing is coming and supporting those government programmes", Ahmad said. The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) is one such flagship programme focusing on social protection. According to him, the plan is to be ready with a coherent programme around social protection as quickly as possible. "I want to move as fast as we moved on the health - from the day government invited us in, it took us literally 10 to 12 days to take it to the board and get it cleared. I want to be working over a two week period to ensure that we come in with a coherent programme around social protection," Ahmad said. It is known that the government's strategy to seek multilateral funds to fight the health, social and economic emergency is not limited to the World Bank's support under its COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project. Ahmad says that the decision to seek $1 billion from the World Bank was part of a well thought out plan. "The government has looked at its own budget, its own programme and it is leveraging multilateral funding accordingly.You have $1 billion raised from the World Bank, there are other multilateral institutions like Asian Development Bank, Asian Investment Bank, National Development Bank also, which I think, will come in and piggyback on the World Bank loan", Ahmad said. The demand stimulus which countries provided during the 2008 economic crisis will not work this time because of the lockdown. "The health and social protection measures sequentially are the things you want to do immediately in order to get the economy to begin moving out of lockdown. The economic stimulus can be next," Ahmad says. Incidentally, the private sector could also benefit from the $1 billion already sanctioned by the World Bank as the money is expected to be used to strengthen India's ability to diagnose, treat and contain novel coronavirus infection by partnering with the private sector. Production of protective gears by having private firms retrofit, procurement of medicine, may all see private sector partnerships in the coming days. Also read: Power demand declines 32 GW as India turns off lights to challenge coronavirus pandemic Also read: Coronavirus fallout: Statue of Unity put up for sale on OLX at Rs 30,000 crore; case filed In New Zealand, as of April 6, there were 1,106 confirmed and probable cases of the COVID-19 virus, with the number of cases rising every day. Announcing a four-week lockdown on March 26, Prime Minister Ardern warned: If community transmission takes off in New Zealand the number of cases will double every five days. If that happens unchecked, our health system will be inundated, and tens of thousands New Zealanders will die. In fact, the lockdown, particularly the closure of schools, should have happened much sooner. It was only announced after significant pressure from nurses, healthcare workers, teachers and other workers, including two widely supported petitions circulated by doctors. The largest cluster of COVID-19 cases being tracked is at an Auckland girls school, Marist College, in the suburb of Mount Albert. The Catholic school now has 72 confirmed cases, having escalated from 47 over recent days. The entire school of 750 students plus staff and parents has been classed as close contacts. The New Zealand Herald described the colleges experience as a nightmare. On April 2, several primary school children from the nearby Marist School were reported to have tested positive for COVID-19, likely from contact with family members at the college. There have been unsubstantiated warnings of an explosion of cases among students from Lynfield College and Mt Albert Grammar who share the same school buses as Marist students. In the face of warnings by the World Health Organisation that all countries should carry out mass testing of anyone who may have been exposed to the virus, the response of NZs Labour Party-led government was slow and inadequate. Initially, only two laboratories were supplying 500 tests per week. The tests were rationed with priority given to people with severe symptoms and returning from overseas. Despite the governments own COVID-19 alert system requiring early intensive testing there have been reports of symptomatic individuals being denied tests. Only on March 31, a week into the lockdown and with over 700 confirmed cases, the government finally broadened testing criteria. There are now over 3,000 being conducted per day. Just under 40,000 tests have so far been done in a country with a population of five million. The outbreak at Marist College emerged under these conditions. There were two possible sources of infection. The first was a teacher who fell ill in mid-March and took sick leave. Despite exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms she was unable to access a test without a doctors referral because she had neither been overseas nor had contact with anyone recently returned. The teacher was swabbed on March 19 and three days later the school informed parents, initially by text message, of the positive test and declared the school would be closedbut only for three days. By March 24, there were three confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the school, with all staff and students considered close contacts. Principal Raechelle Taulu told the Herald the most likely point of transmission was the staffroom, which was a very small space with a lot of people. By March 25, a day before the nationwide lockdown, there were five cases, including the principal. The Marist teacher had also recently attended a conference for Catholic schools in the Auckland Central region. Officials determined that the teacher was not infectious while at the conference. However, they have been unable to discover where the teacher had picked up her infection. The second case involved a parent, Muliaga Brown, who has a daughter at the college. He told the media from hospital on April 1 that despite being severely ill for a week, he was twice denied testing over a four-day period because he didnt meet the criteria. Brown had begun feeling ill the week after he hosted an evening event at the college, which went ahead the day after the teacher was tested and was known by the schools management to be at risk. On his attempts to access a test, Brown told the Herald: I had fever, body aches, could barely get out of bedI knew something was not right. I even mentioned my daughter went to Marist, but was again told I didnt meet the criteria. Despite subsequently self-isolating, Brown could have already been carrying the infection when he attended the function, and passed it on while he was asymptomatic. The college continued to operate as normal throughout this period. A cultural night was held on March 14 and a parent and family meeting on March 18. The next day, the government banned gatherings of more than 100 people at indoor events, but this did not apply to schools, universities or other educational institutes. The government kept schools open, despite mounting evidence of the dangers. Logan Park High School in Dunedin was closed for three days from March 18, after a pupil tested positive, along with his father who had been overseas. The Ministry of Health advised the school it could reopen as long as close contacts of the student self-isolated. The teacher unions demanded the schools remain open, until the imminent lockdown finally forced the issue. In a YouTube video on March 19, Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) Vice-President Melanie Webber absurdly declared, schools are safe places. She echoed the governments self-serving argument that closures would cause widespread disruption to the community. In a PPTA members Facebook group another union official denounced calls for a strike as alarmist language. The unions position prompted angry comments including: Where is the union on this? Not representing their members thats for sure Are we all expendable? Two days before the national lockdown was announced, the Teachers Councilthe state-backed body that oversees teacher registration and performanceissued an open letter calling for all schools and early childhood centres to be shut forthwith. Labours Education Minister Chris Hipkins responded that there was no need to change course. The teacher unions again fell into line with the Ardern government and denounced the call. Liam Rutherford, president of the NZ Educational Institute, said the primary union supported the Ministry of Educations plan to close schools only when cases of coronavirus were found. PPTA President Jack Boyle said while provision should be made for teachers to teach online from home, schools must remain open for instruction. Sections of business and the political establishment are already clamoring for the lockdown to be ended, forcing working people to risk their lives and health to defend the capitalist economy. Taking its cue from US President Trump, the Sunday Star Times demanded to know on its April 5 front page: When will this end, and could the solution be worse than the disease? The author also recommends; New Zealand workers speak out on unsafe conditions, wage cuts [2 April 2020] Workers remain at risk during New Zealands COVID-19 lockdown [28 March 2020] New Zealand health workers speak out on lack of preparation for COVID-19 pandemic [24 March 2020] The Nigerian government has established an emergency operation centre to monitor the supply of essential commodities during the COVID-19 lockdown, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, has said. The centre, which is housed in the ministry, will monitor the real-time status of the transportation and delivery of essential goods to cut down on the difficulties being faced by manufacturers, transporters, and distributors of the commodities across the country. The minister said this on Monday at a press briefing on what the government is doing to curtail the negative impact of COVID-19 on the manufacturing, trade and related sectors of the economy. The minister said it is imperative for Nigerians to have free access to essential goods as a major segment of the countrys population lives off daily wages. He said President Muhammadu Buhari has directed his ministry to work with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN); the Nigerian Association of Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA); Nigerian Traders Association (NANTS); and other affiliated stakeholders to guarantee that the production of essential items like food, medical and pharmaceutical products continues unhindered. After subsequent engagements with the leadership of MAN and NACCIMA, one critical constraint that was identified is the fact that while working to comply with the directive of Mr President, distributors and manufacturers still had restricted movement due to the enforcement of the lockdown by the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, he said. Mr Adebayo also said the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and the police have so far been of assistance in ensuring that legitimate requests from the secretariat that haS been set up are promptly cleared. What this means is that the raw material needs of our manufacturers are being met, and recognised road transporters of essential goods are able to transport goods. This synergy, between our law enforcement agencies, our essential goods manufacturers and producers and the Ministry, has allowed us to be able to meet critical demands at this time, he said. Mr Adebayo thanked the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, for the partnership with his ministry. The Aviation Ministry has availed us the use of a number of aircraft to facilitate the movement of essential products and personnel across the nation, Mr Adebayo said. He also thanked the Nigeria Customs Service and its Comptroller-General, Hameed Ali, for ensuring free-flow of essential cargo through the ports to the final destinations across the country. Availability of essential goods Mr Adebayo said his ministry is working with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and NAFDAC to accelerate issuance of Certificates of Standards of essential items without sacrificing the quality of the items. He listed the items to include hand sanitizers; coveralls for medical workers; face masks; needles; goggles; gloves; Sodium Hypochlorite; and Digital Thermometers. We are also engaging our indigenous car manufacturers at this time to prepare themselves to tweak their operations to begin the manufacture of Made in Nigeria ventilators critical medical equipment in the fight against the virus. Post Covid-19 committee The minister said his ministry will also set up a committee to assess the vulnerability of the economy to avoid deeper risks in the future. We must continue to work to build an economy that is resilient and innovative; one that can withstand the impact of the risks and vulnerabilities that are accruable from an increasingly globalized economy, he said. He said the committee will be inaugurated to begin its work in the coming week. Scientists from Foundation for Ecological Research, Advocacy and Learning (India), Centre for Wildlife Studies (India), University of Goettingen (Germany) and Columbia University (USA) have suggested an environment- friendly approach towards future infrastructure development in India. Tropical forests are one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, and they are also among the most threatened ecosystems undergoing rapid land use change and fragmentation, according to them. "Infrastructure, especially linear structures such as roads, railway lines, power-transmission lines, canals, and pipelines create linear gaps which split a contiguous forested area into smaller patches. Forest fragmentation leads to habitat and biodiversity loss as well as disruption of critical ecosystem processes, they said. In a research study, Rajat Nayak, Dr Krithi K Karanth, Dr Trishna Dutta, Dr Ruth Defries, Dr K Ullas Karanth and Srinivas Vaidyanathan highlighted how infrastructure development projects in India have fragmented forests, and adversely affected wildlife in these areas. This is the first research study to quantify effects of linear-infrastructure development on forest structural- connectivity in India, according to a Centre for Wildlife Studies statement. "In a biodiversity-rich country like India, there is an urgent need to integrate conservation concerns into development projects. Fragmentation due to linear infrastructure developments can be minimised in future if these structures are re-routed to avoid fragmentation of such large forest patches or effective mitigation measures can be built," said Rajat Nayak who led the study in the Western Ghats and Central India. India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Its infrastructure-network is undergoing great expansion and up-gradation. In the process, tropical forests of India are increasingly impacted by infrastructure development. Fragmentation of habitat isolates animals, reduces their mobility, and adversely impacts the entire ecosystem. It can also reduce gene flow between patches, the study said. The presence of infrastructure creates a ripple effect in the forest. The authors said they found that 70 per cent of the protected areas in India that were investigated in the study had linear infrastructure passing through them. Among other linear infrastructures in the forest, power transmission lines and roads were found to be the most common. The study pointed towards a 71.5 per cent reduction in the number of large forest patches, the statement said. Comparing two ecologically valuable regions -- Central India and Western Ghats, they found that Central India has more number of large patches than the Western Ghats. However, patches in Central India are more isolated than patches in the Western Ghats. This study provides crucial information to decide 'where' and 'how' future infrastructure development activities should be undertaken, with the optimal balancing of development and biodiversity-conservation, the statement said. The scientists believe that the approach presented here could assist other developing countries, witnessing a rapid infrastructure expansion comparable to that in India, to smartly align development with conservation objectives. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's foreign minister says the government in Islamabad will file an appeal against a court decision overturning the conviction of the British-born Islamic militant accused murdering Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in 2002. "It has been decided to file an appeal against the decision in the Supreme Court," Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said in a statement on April 4. Washington has expressed concerns about the decision, which Qureshi said was "natural." "It is now up to the court either to dismiss or [uphold] the appeal," Qureshi said. The provincial government in Pakistan's Sindh Province on April 3 ordered British-born Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and three others connected to Pearl's brutal murder to remain in custody for at least three months on "public safety" grounds following Sheikh's April 2 acquittal by the High Court of Sindh Province. The court also overturned a death sentence issued against Sheikh for the 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." Pearl was The Wall Street Journal's South Asia bureau chief when he was abducted and beheaded in Karachi, Pakistan, 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, had been 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. With reporting by Reuters, AP, and Geo TV Queen Elizabeth II spoke to the people of the United Kingdom in a televised broadcast on April 4, 2020. The queen sat in a room at Windsor Castle, where she is in self-isolation with Prince Philip. She offered gratitude and encouragement that the U.K., and the world, will get through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Here are some of the highlights of her speech. You can watch the full four minute video via ITV below. First, Queen Elizabeth thanks the health workers Queen Elizabeth began her speech by thanking the National Health Service workers. That goes for anyone attending to those afflicted by coronavirus in the U.K. Queen Elizabeth II Televised Address | Getty Images I want to thank everyone on the NHS frontline as well as care workers and those carrying out essential roles who selflessly continue their day to day duties outside the home in support of us all, she said. Im sure the nation will join me in assuring you that what you do is appreciated. Every hour of your hard work brings us closer to a return to normal times. Queen Elizabeth says self-isolation will get us through coronavirus Next, Queen Elizabeth turned her attention to those in the U.K. following stay at home orders. She offered encouragement that taking those actions would be what eventually gets us through this. I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it, she said. I hope in the years to come, everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge. The queen added that beyond coronavirus, history would remember the U.K.s national response to the pandemic. The Hussein family watches Queen Elizabeth IIs national address | Samir Hussein/WireImage Those who come after us will say the Britons of this generation were as strong as any, that the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good humored resolve and a fellow feeling still characterize this country. The pride in who we are is not a part of our past. It defines our present and our future. The moments when the United Kingdom has come together to applaud its care and essential workers will be remembered as an expression of our national spirit. Its symbol will be the rainbows drawn by children. Queen Elizabeth II, national address on 4/5/2020 Self-isolating is difficult but there are reasons to feel inspired Queen Elizabeth extended her thanks to everyone who is going above and beyond. Across the commonwealth and around the world, we have seen heartwarming stories of people coming together to help others, she said. Be it through delivering food parcels and medicines, checking on neighbors or converting businesses to help the relief effort. Queen Elizabeth IIs national address on an iPhone | Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images) The queen also hoped that those staying inside could find value in the down time. And though self-isolating may at times be hard, many people of all faiths, and of none, are discovering that it presents an opportunity to slow down, pause and reflect in prayer or meditation, she said. Queen Elizabeths April 5 address reminded her of her World War II address Queen Elizabeth reflected on her reign too. The then future queen and Princess Margaret gave a public address during World War II. L-R: Princess Margaret and Princess Elizabeth, future Queen Elizabeth II, broadcasting to the children of the empire, 13h October, 1940. | Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images It reminds me of the very first broadcast I made in 1940, helped by my sister, Queen Elizabeth said. We as children spoke from here at Windsor to children who had been evacuated from their homes and sent away for their own safety. Today once again, many will feel a painful sense of separation from their loved ones, but now as then, we know deep down that it is the right thing to do. Its not over, but it will be Finally, Queen Elizabeth acknowledged that there are more difficult times ahead. She concluded with more inspiring words encouraging listeners to persevere. We have more of coronavirus to endure but better days will return, says Queen in national address | By @chrisshipitv https://t.co/lmqxb3otCs pic.twitter.com/M7V5qQatHT ITV News (@itvnews) April 5, 2020 We should take comfort that while we have more still to endure, better days will return, Queen Elizabeth said. We will be with our friends again, we will be with our families again, we will meet again. But for now, I send my thanks and warmest good wishes to you all. MADRID -- The rate of new coronavirus infections and deaths in Spain slowed again on Sunday as the country, suffering from one of the worlds worst outbreaks of the pandemic, began its fourth week under a near-total lockdown. Deaths from the highly infectious COVID-19 respiratory disease rose to 12,418 on Saturday - the second highest worldwide after Italy. However, the toll of 674 people who died during the past 24 hours was down from Saturdays 809 and well below Thursdays daily record of 950, the Health Ministry said. Sundays rise represented a 6% increase in total deaths, about half the rate reported a week ago. The total number of registered infections rose to 130,759 from Saturdays 124,736. The data from this week and today confirms the slowing down of infections, Health Minister Salvador Illa told a news conference. The data confirms that confinement is working. He said one million testing kits were to arrive in Spain on Sunday and Monday and would act as rapid screening in places such as hospitals and nursing homes, part of an effort to pinpoint the true extent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Defence Minister Margarita Robles told reporters: This data is encouraging and hopeful. The World Health Organizations director for Europe, Hans Kluge, tweeted about Spain: Careful optimism as result of bold measures, innovative approaches & courageous decisions. Government ministers cautioned it was too early to say when Spain could start lifting its lockdown on public life. Pre-Easter lockdown On Palm Sunday, a week before Easter, churches stood silent and empty in the capital Madrid, while streets that are usually packed with the stalls of the Rastro flea market were deserted. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, in a televised address to the nation on Saturday, announced an extension of the state of emergency lockdown until April 26 to help tackle the emergency. He said while lockdown measures would probably last longer than the next 15 days, some economic restrictions, such as keeping all non-essential workers at home, would be lifted after Easter. But shops, bars and restaurants will remain closed. We are facing the most serious crisis of our recent history and we must rise to the challenge, Transport Minister Jose Luis Abalos told a separate news conference. The government will have a greater role to play in the economy. This is not just the policy of this government but has been championed by liberal editorials. Business groups CEOE and CEPYME warned that while the lockdown extension will serve to accelerate the exit from the current health crisis it could deepen the economic recession in which many sectors and companies...are already mired. They called for the government to extend aid for companies to 50 billion euros ($54.04 billion) from 20 billion and suspend taxes for particularly badly hit sectors. Economy Minister Nadia Calvino rejected the idea in an interview with El Pais on Sunday. Asked when Spain would get back to normal, Calvino said, We cannot return to normal from 0 to 100 in one day. We must guarantee security. In an article published in a series of European newspapers on Sunday, Sanchez appealed for unity among the 27 European Union countries to combat the coronavirus outbreak. Solidarity is a key principle of the EU treaties. And it is shown at times like this. Without solidarity there can be no cohesion, without cohesion there will be disaffection and the credibility of the European project will be severely damaged. There have been complaints in Spain and Italy about a perceived slowness among less hard-hit EU member states to provide assistance in curbing the pandemic. At least 80 migrants risked their lives to try to cross the Channel as the UK experienced a sunny weekend in lockdown. Despite hefty restrictions on movement in both the UK and France, eight boats were intercepted in the Channel. Sunny weather in the South East of England may have contributed to the spike in attempts to cross the narrow Dover straits. Despite hefty restrictions on movement in both the UK and France, eight boats were intercepted in the Channel (pictured on Saturday) Overall nearly 150 migrants - including eight children - have attempted the perilous journey during the two weeks since Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced nationwide restrictions on movement. It is understood they are not specifically tested for the coronavirus but are checked for symptoms. The spike in crossing attempts over the weekend came after the first cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in migrant camps in northern France, raising fears of a 'humanitarian disaster'. Dover and Deal Tory MP Natalie Elphicke said the crossings were 'entirely unacceptable' and that migrants must not be taken to Dover. In the latest crossings over the weekend, Border Force intercepted five boats - four on Saturday and one on Sunday. In the latest crossings over the weekend, Border Force intercepted five boats - four on Saturday (pictured) and one on Sunday At about 2.20am on Saturday Border Force intercepted an inflatable boat carrying 15 men. At 5.40am, a group of 12 men and three women were found on board one boat, while another boat was intercepted carrying nine men at the same time. At about 6am, Border Force rescued a group of 13 men and one woman from a fourth inflatable boat. At about 5am on Sunday, Border Force were again in action, intercepting a boat carrying 12 men. All those on board were taken to Dover where it is expected they would have been monitored for coronavirus symptoms. French authorities also intercepted 15 migrants - including two women and a child - off the coast of Boulogne-sur-Mer on Saturday. Speaking on Saturday after the first batch of crossings, Ms Elphicke said: 'With Covid-19 known to be infecting the French camps, it is concerning that 53 more were able to motor over from France this morning. 'It is entirely unacceptable that Border Force officers and our community should be put at risk by people unlawfully breaking into Britain. 'Every illegal entrant must be immediately returned to France. If they are not returned, they must immediately be quarantined to protect public health. 'Illegal entrants must not be brought into Dover at this time. We cannot put our country's vital supply line at risk during the pandemic.' Overall nearly 150 migrants - including eight children - have attempted the perilous journey during the two weeks since Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced nationwide restrictions on movement. Pictured on Thursday Home Office Director for Crime & Enforcement Tony Eastaugh added: 'These crossings are facilitated by criminals. 'We are doing everything in our power to bring them to justice and stop this illegal activity. 'We are working around the clock with the NCA and French law enforcement agencies to arrest and dismantle organised crime gangs. 'Since January 2019, 110 people smugglers have been convicted and imprisoned and over 155 people who arrived on small boats have been returned. 'And that's not all, there are now extra patrols on French beaches, drones, specialist vehicles and detection equipment to stop small boats leaving European shores.' Kia Seltos | Kias Seltos has been doing extremely well ever since its launch. During the lockdown Kia managed to sell 27,650 units of the Seltos. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The coronavirus crisis could hit product development timetables of automobile companies, forcing some of them to relook at projects especially after the expected impact on world economies. Vehicle development work has a gestation period of around three years for novel products including new platform, about 18 months for a mid-life upgrade and about a year for a facelift. Not only will companies be inclined to conserve cash to keep the working capital going, they will look to reset the product launch clock to a phase when some demand recovery is guaranteed, according to some carmakers and parts suppliers Moneycontrol spoke to. While Maruti Suzuki and Kia Motors will have at least two launches each this year, Hyundai will have three. Renault is slated to have two launches as well. Tata Motors too would be having around three launches while Mahindra would have at least two launches before the end of this year. All these include new models and facelifts. Next year there are launches planned by VW, Citroen, Great Wall Motors and many other by existing manufacturers. The impact Certain work, such as product design and styling that are done using softwares, could continue, but other aspects such as coordination with other in-house departments or vehicle testing is possible only when the lockdown is lifted. The government had asked companies to adopt work-from-home before the lockdown began. Rajeev Chaba, president and managing director, MG Motor India said, One thing is clear that its not only product infrastructure but travel also is essentially required. Product experts training for on-ground support, testing of cars, trial build, validation, parts testing and training -- all these happen at various stages before the product launch. The current disruption will certainly delay the launch of new products. Chaba was giving an industry perspective about the impact of the pandemic on automobile launches. MG Motor itself has lined up two launches, Gloster and six-seater Hector, before Diwali. All vehicles manufactured in India need to get homologation certificate from the testing agencies before commencing sales. We are on time for the launch but we need to see the time required for validation and that is something we dont want to compromise on in India. This vehicle has achieved validation in other parts of the world but a local validation is required. Right now we are still holding the Diwali launch, added Chaba. A supplier who makes insulation material for carmakers said that for projects running in advanced stages - such as vehicle testing - the current disruption will have negligible impact. But those still in early stages, such as design and styling phase or secondary stage where the suppliers get involved, will be pushed back. If we dont get (component) designs from the manufacturer then we cannot provide any business to the Tier 2 suppliers who in turn coordinate with the Tier 3 suppliers sometimes. Video conferencing cannot replace physical validation of the product and get new business for us. During development stage we have clients come to us every week for evaluation, said the supplier. On an average, India gets 10-12 new models from non-luxury car makers and many more upgrades and facelifts every year. Work on many of these products started 2-3 years ago. Fixed costs are eating into the companys savings and short-term viability is getting challenged. Many component manufacturers wont have capital for new product development and testing even if new projects come by, said a Pune-based component manufacturer who supplies to carmakers. With development costs hitting more than Rs 2,000 crore for a new product including cost of new engines, companies with unhealthy balance sheets will be forced to review projects, said a senior executive of a Delhi-based carmaker. The shutdown is enforced not just in India but across the world. This means that the financial health of all the global brands will get impacted. Thus every project will be reviewed again. One can cut costs only to a certain level, (but) beyond that it is impossible. The 21-day shutdown will end up punching a hole of more than Rs 50,000 crore in India. Even after the lockdown is lifted it will be some time before foreign travel and foreigners travelling to India resume, said the executive. In March (minus the 9-day lockdown), the car industry comprising 14 manufacturers clocked India-wide sales of 1.4 lakh, which have been the monthly sales of Maruti Suzuki alone in some of the previous months. When compared to the same month last year the industry saw sales of 2.88 lakh. The title of Bonnie Tsuis ode to the aquatic art, Why We Swim, is emphatic. Like Orwells Why I Write. Or, borrowing from Rene Descartes, I swim, therefore I am. Its a tall order, you would think, getting ontological about the backstroke, the butterfly and the Australian crawl. But Tsui a Bay Area author whose previous book, American Chinatown, deftly explored Chinese American life from San Francisco to New York and Las Vegas succeeds brilliantly. Everyone has a swimming story to tell, Tsui begins. Hers starts at age 5 when her parents take her, her brother and multiple cousins to join the splashing mobs at New York Citys Jones Beach. Swimming was key to the family mythology. Her parents had met at a Hong Kong pool: He was the bronzed lifeguard, she was the bikini-clad beauty. As life worked out, that bond didnt suffice to keep the marriage or family intact. But Tsui fell forever in love with the water, swimming in it, surfing on it. From her own dip-toes-in beginnings, Tsui reaches back to explore Homo sapiens first attempts to feel at home in lakes and seas. It didnt come easy. Most land mammals possess instinctive swimming ability from birth, she notes, but humans do not. Scientists speculate that primates ancestors gave up swimming as they evolved to swing through trees. Still, eventually, we relearned what we had lost. The earliest record of human swimming can be found in Egypts Cave of Swimmers. Discovered in 1933, the cave contains Neolithic paintings depicting people in underwater poses. Ten thousand years ago, a paleontologist explains to Tsui, a much lusher Sahara was dotted with lakes. He thinks that over generations this green Saharas inhabitants taught themselves to enter the water to gather clams, spear fish and perhaps play. Today, theres hardly a body of water in the world that doesnt draw swimmers. Tsui introduces us to some of the most compelling. Theres Gudlaugur Fridporsson who, after his fishing boat capsized, endured a six-hour, 3-mile swim through the 41-degree North Atlantic, thereby becoming an Icelandic icon with an annual swim meet named after him. Theres San Franciscos Kim Chambers, who after an accident that nearly cost her a leg became one of the worlds best long-distance swimmers and the first woman to swim solo from the Farallon Islands to the Golden Gate Bridge, a route both frigid and notoriously shark-filled. Finally, theres U.S. Foreign Service officer Jay Taylor, who during the Iraq War commandeered Saddam Husseins opulent private pool and turned it into a swimming school for soldiers, pilots, translators and cooks from around the world, many of whom had never swum a single stroke before. Tsui also travels to Japan to learn the samurai-born swimming martial art, Nihon eiho, evolved to prize grace and elegance, with deliberate movements that reflected conditions such as ripples and waves, so that the body and the water could move harmoniously as one. That description could easily apply to Why We Swim. In theory, Tsuis globe- and topic-hopping structure could make the book seem scattered. But the breadth of her reporting and grace of her writing make the elements of Why We Swim move harmoniously as one. In its final section, Flow, Why We Swim takes a more introspective turn. Tsui quotes Ishmael in Moby Dick: Yes, as everyone knows, meditation and water are wedded forever. Now in her 40s, swimming with her husband and children, competing with a U.S. Masters Swimming team called the Albany Armada, Tsui cherishes the quasi-religious clarity and creative strength that swimming gives her. She cites physician, author and passionate swimmer Oliver Sacks: Swimming gave me a sort of joy, a sense of well-being so extreme that it became at times a sort of ecstasy. And Maxine Kumans poem, Morning Swim: and in the rhythm of the swim 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. I hummed a two-four-time slow hymn By books end, swimming has even helped heal, a bit, her broken family. The father who introduced her to the water at Jones Beach abandoned his family, returning to China. Tsui sees him infrequently. Then she makes plans to meet him at Hainan Island, famous for its beaches and tropically warm water. She coaxes him into joining her for an ocean swim. He, the former lifeguard, couldnt remember the last time he went swimming. But his butterfly wasnt half bad, she writes. Suspended in liquid space, father and daughter are happy. At these moments, Why We Swim deepens from informative and entertaining to transcendent and moving. Theres a poignancy to the fact that Why We Swim arrives just as COVID-19 has made so many bodies of water, from public swimming pools to beaches, off limits. But you can read it to remember just how good a swim can feel on a hot summer day and dream about when that day will come. Peter Fish is a San Francisco-based writer and editor, specializing in California and the American West. W ell, here we are, another new year. Another new variant in the coronavirus. And with the new year, the wine trade in Italy and America is ... Concerns among authorities grew after people living around Australia's renowned beaches gathered there over the weekend violating lockdown orders. According to reports, crowds gathered on Sydneys northern beaches and beaches along Queenslands famed tourist strip the Gold Coast, violating coronavirus preventive measures. Media reports suggest that surfers were spotted walking along Manly Beach in Sydney, Australia on April 5. Read: Australia Launches Investigation Into Docking, Disembarking Of Ruby Princess Cruise Ship Australia's most popular Bondi beach has been closed for visitors for the past two weeks with police issuing challan to violators for trespassing. Australian authorities had banned public gatherings of more than 500 people in mid-March and despite strict preventive measures adopted by the government people were seen violating orders. Read: Italy Moves Towards Phase Two As It Records Lowest Daily Rise In COVID-19 Death Toll Australia has so far recorded 5,795 confirmed coronavirus cases, of which 45 came in the last 24 hours. According to data by worldometer, there are currently 3,441 active cases in the country with 95 patients still under critical condition. There have been 39 deaths in Australia so far due to COVID-19. Australia recently recorded its highest number of concentration after it allowed passengers and crew members from Ruby Princess cruise ship to disembark in Sydney on March 19. As per reports, 342 passengers from the ship have tested positive for the virus so far, of which 11 have lost their lives. Read: COVID-19: Rouhani Says 'low-risk Economic Activities' To Resume In Iran From April 11 Coronavirus outbreak The coronavirus infection has claimed more than 69,500 lives across the world and has infected over 12,76,000 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, France, the United Kingdom, and Iran have also overtaken China in terms of death toll related to COVID-19. 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: COVID-19 Survivor Cheered By Patients, Medical Staff After Being Discharged; Watch (Image Credit: AP) A 23-year-old management student and resident of Sector 19, Chandigarh, who was the tricitys first Covid-19 case, has recovered. She was discharged from Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, on Monday night, 19 days after testing positive on March 18. Another patient, a 21-year-old youth from Sector 38, was also discharged from the hospital, taking the total number of recovered patients in Chandigarh to seven. GMCH director-cum-principal Dr BS Chavan confirmed that the two have been discharged after testing negative for Covid-19. The management student had returned from the UK and landed at the Amritsar airport on March 15, following which she reached the city the same day. The 21-year-old patient had came in contact with her brother and was later hospitalised on March 23. Around 12 persons who had come in direct contact with her were identified. Her mother and brother, who had also tested positive, were recently discharged from hospital. Along with virus, I was fighting stigma Today when I tested negative, I couldnt believe that it happened finally. Along with the virus, I was fighting the stigma, as a lot of rumours were going around when I tested positive, said the 23-year-old woman after being discharged. You need to have support a system by your side to defeat the virus. My mom and I spent time in isolation in the same room and eventually things got normal, she said. It was a really bad phase. I overcame it by reading books related to my course work. No fresh case in chandigarh, Panchkula With six people who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in New Delhi testing negative for Covid-19 on Monday, no fresh case was reported for fourth consecutive day in Chandigarh. However, reports of eight suspects are awaited. The UT officials had identified a total of 123 contacts associated with the six people, who were quarantined at their houses in Manimajra, Mauli Jagran, Bapu Dham Colony and Daria. Also, no fresh case was reported in Panchkula on Monday, with the coronavirus count staying at two since March 31. However, the Panchkula health department on Monday collected samples of around 50 people, who had attended religious gatherings in different states. Civil surgeon Dr Jasjeet Kaur said some of the reports have come negative, while others are awaited. On Panchkulas first case, she said a fresh sample of the 38-year-old woman salon worker was taken recently and she again tested positive. As per protocol, her sample will be taken again after 14 days and after two of her samples test negative consecutively in the stipulated time frame, she will be discharged, she said. (with inputs from Panchkula) Salman Khan has shared a new video message with fans on social media amid the coronavirus spread in the country and across the world. In the new clip, Salman features with his nephew Nirvan, Sohail Khan's son, as they share their own experiences during the 21 day lockdown period. Salman says in the video, "We came here for a few days and now we're stuck." He asks Nirvan, "How long has it been since you saw your father?" Nirvan says, "It must have been three weeks." Salman adds, "I have not seen my father since three weeks. We are here and he is alone at home." Salman then says to Nirvan, "You remember the film dialogue, 'the one who got scared, died (Jo Dar Gaya Woh Mar Gaya).' It does not apply here in this situation. We are terrified and bravely, we admit that. Please don't be brave in this situation." Nirvan adds, "I think it's better for everyone to stay home, avoid contact and I think the longer we stay indoors the faster this ends." Salman concurs with Nirvan and concludes by saying, "The one who got afraid saved himself and lives of others around him. Moral of the story, 'We're all terrified'." Meanwhile, Salman has extended help to 25,000-odd daily wage workers of the film industry whose lives have been affected by the lockdown. Additionally, he has also deposited money into the bank accounts of the crew of his forthcoming movie Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai even though shooting is stalled. Follow @News18Movies for more Over 1m was spent in a year by the UK Government to allow women from Northern Ireland to undergo abortion procedures in England. Approximately 1,080,000 was allocated to cover the cost of abortion procedures, travel and accommodation in the 12 months to April 2019. The figures were revealed by Social Care Minister Helen Whately in response to a parliamentary question by Conservative MP Fiona Bruce. A total of 1,053 women from here had an abortion in England in 2018/19, an increase of 192 from the previous year. Catherine Robinson from anti-abortion group Right To Life UK urged Stormont MLAs to bring forward legislation to repeal "the extreme change to the law in Northern Ireland". She called on Westminster to introduce policies that support women to keep their babies. Meanwhile, there is anger among the pro-choice lobby that the Stormont Executive has not set up termination services. Strict abortion laws in the region were overturned on March 31 following a change to the law voted in at Westminster last year. Decisions have not yet been made by Stormont officials on how to put the new legislation into practice. Women in England will be able to have a medical abortion at home using termination pills during the coronavirus lockdown period. That option has not been made available to women here. The Department of Health had intended that women continue to travel to England for terminations. However, restrictions on travel due to the coronavirus crisis have placed the arrangement into difficulty. The Executive discussed the issue yesterday. Afterwards Health Minister Robin Swann said: "It was discussed at the Executive today and the decision is with the Executive." Alliance for Choice expressed frustration and claimed Stormont is "blocking" abortion services. Naomi Connor, Alliance for Choice co-convenor in Belfast, said: "The World Health Organisation notes that abortion is essential healthcare in a pandemic, and yet the Northern Ireland Office and the Department of Health in NI have found it acceptable to do absolutely nothing, except to release videos extolling travel to England for treatment, when the reality of clinic accessibility is limited to an eight-hour each-way freight ferry with no companions and only for those who are not quarantined or self-isolating." DUP MP Carla Lockhart spoke of her alarm at the idea of abortion pills being taken in the home without medical supervision. She has been in a low-key relationship with screen star Zach Braff for about a year. And Florence Pugh, 24, decided to make a very public gesture as she celebrated her beau's 45th birthday on Monday, when she posted a snap of him on Instagram. The British actress took to the image-sharing platform to post a heartwarming shot of the former Scrubs star snuggling his pet pooch as he relaxed on an outdoor chair while she added a personal touch by donning socks bearing his face. It's your birthday: Florence Pugh, 24, celebrated boyfriend Zach Braff's 45th birthday on Monday by posting a snap on Instagram of the star snuggling his adorable pet pooch Donning spectacles and a green top, Zach was shown lying on a foliage-covered deck as his face rested against his puppy, who slept atop a slate grey blanket. Captioning the image, Oxford native Florence wrote: 'Today we shall smile wider than the clouds are grey. April 6th and were celebrating hard! Happy Birthday wishes, boogies and cheers for this special person. Raise those bubbles and jiggle!' Showing how dedicated she was to marking the day in style, the actress lifted her leg to show off her pink socks in a snap shared on Zach's Instagram Stories. Let's face it: The British actress added a personal touch by donning pink socks bearing his face Zach also uploaded an image of himself and his adorable dog as he wrote: 'All I wanted for my birthday was overalls and a puppy.' Two days earlier, the couple who have been isolating together amid the COVID-19 crisis were seen stocking up on goods together at a Los Angeles supermarket. Florence has been keeping herself busy while in quarantine during the ongoing pandemic by documenting her cooking sessions. The actress shared a number of recipes to her Instagram and putting them onto her highlights section, delighting fans with her culinary exploits. Flour-legged friend: Zach also uploaded an image of himself and his adorable dog as he wrote, 'All I wanted for my birthday was overalls and a puppy' Showing off her culinary skills with dishes such as a butternut squash soup, and a marmalade sandwich for dessert, Florence was sure to delight and amaze. Of how she decides what to make, she said: 'Lots of my recipes are all to do with well, they're not my recipes, I've copied them off someone, pretended they're mine. 'I'm always trying to use as much of the stuff I have in my fridge as possible. Or I'm trying to reuse an old vegetable. 'Or make sure that it gets the longest life possible. I think it's really important to use all the things that were originally going to be wasted.' Special: He also posted a selfie of himself and his dog, adding the caption, 'Its my special day' Florence shared a number of recipes and also showed off an Italian sausage and a tomato sauce pasta dish for her 1.3million followers. Enjoying herself during the cooking session Florence talked with a wine in hand, and dressed to impress with a series of chic ensembles. During one of her videos from the kitchen, the Little Women star also wore a stylish apron that had a honey-bee pattern across the front. Back in December, Florence hit back at criticism of the 20-year age gap she has between her and boyfriend Zach Braff. Sip: The day before, he appeared to be celebrating early, as he posed with a champagne flute The actress met the actor when they worked on the short film In the Time It Takes to Get There together and they were first spotted out together in April. After Zach commented with a princess emoji on one of Florence's Instagram pictures, one person wrote: 'You're 44 years old.' Florence was not impressed with the person trying to shade their relationship and she wrote back 'And yet he got it'. This marked the first time Florence or Zach had publicly acknowledged their romantic relationship. Cooking up a storm: Florence has been delighting fans by sharing recipes on her Instagram Gandhinagar, April 7 : With the states tally of Covid-19 positive cases rising to 146 on Monday, including 12 deaths, the Gujarat government has announced that maximum testing will be conducted in 15 identified hotspots under the Cluster Containment Strategy in four major cities of Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Bhavnagar. Gujarat witnessed two more positive cases and one more death on Monday as one female (65) from Vadodara succumbed to the dreaded virus. Two ladies, aged 45 and 70, were found to be positive in Surat, taking the total number of cases in the state to 146. A total of 22 persons have been discharged so far. Health authorities have found that out of the 39 positive cases detected in the last two days, 32 were from the Muslim dominated areas where Tablighi Jamaat members had returned from a religious congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin area. "The state government has announced 15 hotspots in the state's four major cities where a strict lockdown needs to be implemented," Gujarat Health Secretary Jayanti Ravi said on Monday. "We have declared certain areas in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat and Bhavnagar as the hotspots. A strict lockdown will be implemented in these areas," said Ravi. "Maximum testing will be carried out in these clusters. Every positive case has been admitted to the hospital, but all those who have been in contact with such cases will be tested. These areas will be sanitised. Surveillance in these areas will be intensified by the local municipal corporation and police officials," added Ravi. He said that over 14,000 people stay in these hotspots across the four cities. "A second round of survey will be carried out by the health department. We will now focus on the rural areas," added Ravi. The maximum number of cases has surfaced in Ahmedabad (64), followed by Surat (19), Gandhinagar and Bhavnagar (13 each), Vadodara (12), Rajkot (10), Porbandar (3), Kutch, Mehsana, Patan and Gir-Somnath (2 each) and one each in Panchmahal, Chhota Udepur, Jamnagar and Morbi. Islamabad/IBNS: Amid reports of improper implementation of policies by PM Imran Khan-led government, Pakistan continues to witness a major surge in the number of COVID-19 patients with the figure on Monday touching 3520, media reports said. Pakistan has so far registered 52 deaths. Punjab region in the country seems to be the worst hit as it recorded 1684 cases till Monday. A huge number of new cases emerged from amongst 10,263 preachers of Tableeghi Jamat staying at quarantine facilities in 33 districts across the province. Of the 443 confirmed COVID19 preachers, 359 are at quarantine centre at Raiwind, 31 in Hafizabad, 13 each in Sargodha and Vehari, eight in Gujrat, six in Rawalpindi, four in Khushab, three in Mandi Bahauddin, two each in Nankana Sahib and Rahim Yar Khan and one each in Bhakkar and Rajanpur, reported The Nation. Doctors, Police in troubled waters: Doctors in the region seem to be suffering as 10 medical professionals, including a female doctor, in Dera Ghazi Khan have been declared COVID19 positive as they contracted the disease while providing treatment to the coronavirus patients in DG Khan, the host district of Zaireen from Iran. The YDA, Punjab President Dr Haseeb Chaudhry has, however, lambasted the Punjab government for failing to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to the doctors and medical staff, which resulted in virus transmission among the doctors and medical staff, reported The Nation. Apart from doctors, policemen are also facing the plight of the disease. Forty per cent of the total police force (128,319) deployed all over the province has been exposed to the coronavirus threat after the Punjab government provided only five per cent of the demanded personal protective equipment (PPE), reported Dawn News. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has also witnessed three per cent mortality due to the infection. Physicians told Dawn that the asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic cases werent tested in the province due to limited testing capacity, so they later developed complications and faced critical situation. Doctors protest: Facing troubles while performing their duties, several doctors have started protesting in different pockets of the country. A joint action committee (JAC) of Sindh doctors has threatened to stop working in coronavirus-related areas in all hospitals from Monday if they are not provided personal protective equipment (PPE), reported Dawn News. In an online meeting held on Sunday, the committee expressed concern that performing duties in the infected areas was tantamount to putting the life of doctors at a risk, reported the news paper. It noted that the government had failed in providing the PPE and other basic facilities to doctors and paramedics in quarantine centres and isolation wards, and not withdrawn from deducting their salaries etc, reported Dawn News. Pakistan Medical Association Sindh and Young Doctors Association (YDA) Sindh, including PMA Sindh general secretary Dr Pir Manzoor, YDA Sindh chairman Dr Umer Sultan, Dr Mohammad Khan Shar, Dr Abdul Razzaq Rajpar, Dr Yasin Umrani and others attended the meeting. Asking doctors to perform duties without the PPE was like pushing them to death, they said, adding that the PMA had been demanding the equipment for doctors from day one, but those calls remained unheeded, reported Dawn News. They also said that the medical practitioners were performing their duties by wearing black armbands. In Quetta, police arrested protesting doctors near the Red Zone region. According to Young Doctors Association (YDA) president Dr Yasir Achakzai, YDA and paramedical staff in Balochistan staged a protest against the unavailability of Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) in their fight against Covid-19, reported Dawn News. They were later baton-charged by security forces and dozens of them were arrested near Red Zone, he told the newspaper. "Yes, the police arrested dozens of protesting doctors today," Razzaq Cheema, Quetta deputy inspector general police, confirmed to the news channel, not commenting on the allegations of high-handedness. Unmanageable Mosques: Even as COVID-19 infection continues to grow in India, the mosque remained open in the country on Friday. Prime Minister Imran Khan is relying on restricting the size of congregations attending mosques and advice to stay at home from religious groups like the Islamic Ideology Council, reported Daily Times. However, the governments call for complete lockdown on Friday from noon to 3 pm was defied by some mosques as congregational prayers were held as per routine, reported newspaper. Majority of the people who attended the congregations and the prayer leaders who led them were of the view that they have left the current situation to the Will of God and no harm will befall them unless it was Divine Will, read the newspaper report. In capital Islamabad, the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) even flouted ban on congregational prayers on Friday. The Abpara police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the Red Mosque former khateeb (ex-prayer leader) Maulana Abdul Aziz and seven others on charges of provoking people against the state, playing jihadi anthems and organising congregational prayer despite ban, The Express Tribune reported. The district government had banned congregation for Friday prayers to contain COVID-19 spread. Maulana Aziz started delivered a sermon and provoked people to resist the states decisions, reported the newspaper. Askin them to stop the congregation, the police showed official notification issued by the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) to mosques management. However, the former Red Mosque cleric continued his speech and started chanting slogans and playing jihadi anthems to incite the worshippers. Aziz said that they did not accept orders of a state that followed international agenda, adding that they would only abide by their own rules and laws, reported The Express Tribune. COVID-19: A Brutal Picture The federal health ministry has told the apex court that coronavirus infections in Pakistan may rise to 50,000 by April 25 a projection based on the pandemics trends in other countries, reported The Express Tribune. Meanwhile, doctors from China, the country which Pakistan considers as an all-weather ally, are visiting Lahore and they have suggested to the Punjab government to extend the current lockdown for 28 days to save the province from Covid-19 havoc. According to Dawn News, a Chinese delegation leader Dr Maming Hoi busted the myth that the coronavirus would fade away with the advent of summer, saying, the possibility of spread of the coronavirus in hot weather cannot be ruled out and ignored. At times, the coronavirus symptoms do not appear and people having better immune system and immunity recover early while coronavirus can prove to be dangerous for the elderly and for those suffering from other ailments, a Chinese doctor told the newspaper. Images: Pixabay, Wikimedia Commons The Catholic Church is encouraging people to follow Holy Week from their homes. Many parishes will be broadcasting mass through webcams with each diocese providing services. They also say they want to help people who are suffering from loneliness and allow them to stay in touch with their spiritual side. Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin Denis Nulty says people can still take part. Bishop Nulty said that every diocesan website will have details on how to access the livestreamed services in their local parish. "We have become very much a digital church community and we've had to and that's important. "There are great prayer resources available for people at this time. "I'm aware that people can be quite lonely, people can also suffer from mental health issues and strains and we want to support people as best we can and that is so, so important." In a joint Holy Week and Easter message, Archbishop Eamon Martin and Archbishop-elect John McDowell said: "What once was familiar has become unfamiliar and we are now in so many ways cut off from our normal routine and way of living. "Family and friends are isolated and kept apart, with doors closed to keep out an unseen enemy. Every day we search for good news and some sort of light upon the horizon." They pointed to healthcare and other frontline workers and simple acts of kindness carried out within communities as examples of good news. They said that despite the "uncertainty, suffering and grief" many are feeling during the Covid-19 crisis "we must never give up hope". [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] Nobody knew it at the time, but March 3, Super Tuesday, would be the last election night when candidates could encourage their supporters to come to rallies. For Joe Biden, that meant a rally in Los Angeles. He had hardly begun to speak when two women rushed the stage, one after the other, screaming, "Let dairy die!" before being dragged away. The protest was a coup for Direct Action Everywhere, a group of animal rights activists who had been interrupting candidates since before the Iowa caucuses. One month later, every element of it - the crowd larger than 10 people, the protesters pushing through it, the staffers grabbing them - would become impossible. No rallies, no disruption, no instant media attention. "The Biden action blew away our wildest dreams in terms of media coverage," said Matt Johnson, a spokesman for Direct Action Everywhere. "A few days later, I was talking to people in Cleveland, where the next big Biden and Sanders events were going to be held. And then, one by one, every event started getting canceled. So, it's been an adjustment." The past decade of American politics had seen a vast new wave of protests, mass organizing and direct action, from Occupy Wall Street to the Women's March, protests of Flint, Michigan's water crisis and of Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination, most of it on the left. The election of Donald Trump gave conservatives fewer reasons to protest, while turning suburban moderates into Democratic activists. And from its inception, the Bernie Sanders campaign worked to stitch together dozens of grass-roots movements into an electoral force. Then came the novel coronavirus. Traditional protests are now violations of stay-home orders. Politicians are quarantined. Legislative chambers are empty. That has sent organizers searching for new tactics and temporarily has deprived activists of their most powerful, visible tools - right when state and federal governments are moving billions of dollars around. "This is a very new world for a lot of front-line organizers, especially for people like myself, who would never think twice about putting our whole bodies on the line for a cause," said Winnie Wong, an Occupy organizer who went on to found the grass-roots group People for Bernie and who now works for the Sanders campaign. "That's changed, because we are faced with a whole new set of rules." Wong, who was arrested during the Kavanaugh protests, had spent years working on inventive ways to organize as many people as possible. After the 2016 election, organizers had more bodies than they sometimes knew what to do with. The 2017 Women's March, for example, was hardly a march at all - the largest crowd ever gathered in Washington was too big to move through the streets, so marchers stood in place, inches apart. That world has vanished, at least for now. Congressional town halls, which activists on the right and left used to pressure legislators, have been canceled and occasionally replaced with phone-in events. Canvassing and voter registration drives, which both major political parties had invested in, were impossible. Conservative groups and Republican campaigns that had mobilized against Democrats hit the pause button, and so did the "resistance," the catchall term for activists who organized against the Trump presidency. "So much of the pushback against the Trump administration was about showing up," said Tim Hogan, who helped promote Trump-era protests such as the Tax March and efforts to protect the Affordable Care Act before signing up with Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota's presidential campaign. "Massive crowds, or even decent-sized crowds, draw attention and create pressure. The question now is how you keep the pressure on without that." Hogan pointed to the scandal surrounding Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., who dumped stock shortly after a confidential briefing on the coronavirus, as an example of what has been lost. The story had been covered, but activists had no opportunity to pressure Loeffler publicly. "The fact that you can't confront these people in the halls of Congress or in their states means there's no coverage of this back home," he said, "and the pandemic is drowning out coverage of everything else, anyway. It's a double whammy." The new world is grimmer for working-class activists and the people trying to mobilize the very poor. Last year, organizer Cea Weaver helped bring 2,000 New York City renters to Albany to "shut down the Capitol," as she put it, and win rent control from the new Democratic legislature. Since the start of March, housing advocates have taken their work online and were preparing for the end of the crisis, when they could again gather for protest. "It's unacceptable to just throw up our hands and say, 'Well, you know, we can't protest in person,' " Weaver said. "Things can't just go back to business as usual, and mass mobilizations of people on the streets is [going] to be a really critical tactic." In some ways, the demobilization has hurt conservatives, with protesters at abortion clinics being cited for violating the new restrictions on public gatherings. It has probably hurt Democrats even more. Wisconsin activists who once packed the Capitol, for example, are unable to protest Republicans as they refuse to allow universal mail voting for the April 7 primary. But the crisis also has short-circuited protests of the Democratic Party itself. Laurie Cestnick, who helped bring thousands of Sanders supporters from New England to the 2016 Democratic National Convention, had planned another round of protests for this year's event in Milwaukee. Last week, the party moved back the date that protesters were planning around; on Sunday, former vice president Biden told ABC's "This Week" that the entire convention might become "virtual," with no in-person interactions. "We were organizing a protest, and that is over for now," Cestnick said. "People had booked places to stay, they'd arranged shared rides. We even started to book campsites, like we did last time. And clearly, we have no idea what's going to happen now. People are even more heartbroken than last time." Organizers with more long-term goals, such as the housing advocates, are more optimistic about riding out the crisis. Jennifer Epps-Addison, the president of the Center for Popular Democracy Action, said ruefully that her group's network of organizers had hoped to knock on at least 7 million doors before the election and spend the summer registering voters at large events. But community organizers had been drawing attention to problems in the middle of the crisis, she pointed out, such as Amazon workers threatening a strike. (Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.) "They're called 'essential' now, but just a few weeks ago, they were 'low-skilled workers,' " Epps-Addison said. "Our people are the ones who keep this economy going. The way we execute our task is necessarily going to look different, but the goal is the same: transforming our country so that we have a real social safety net and aren't just putting up scaffolding during a crisis." Other activists were in for a bigger struggle. Direct Action Everywhere had gotten plenty of attention after disrupting Biden and Sanders events and had plenty to say about the coronavirus itself. "It happens to be the case that the pandemic itself is centered on the actual issue we're talking about," Johnson said. "These are zoonotic diseases." But so long as the pandemic continued, activists could not crash events to raise awareness, and most of the public's attention was consumed by the pandemic. This month's Animal Liberation Conference had already been transformed into the Animal Liberation Online Assembly. Biden was not expected to attend. Factories, offices and markets have fallen silent for now. As the lockdown drags on and movement remains restricted for all in India, consumer companies are assessing the impact of the shutdown on their businesses. Though the Centre has clarified that the lockdown will not extend beyond April 14, states may still take their time to lift the curfew in their regions, depending on the number of cases that emerge every day. The picture hardly inspires confidence in companies, keen to protect their employees even as they aspire to continue business operations. A snap poll by the ... During a national shortage, local distilleries have started making hand sanitizer. Pictured is Faber Liquors' hand sanitizer, made by Theobald & Oppenheimer in Bucks County. Read more When David Johnston tried to buy several bottles of hydrogen peroxide the other week, the clerk at his local Walgreens gave him a hard time. They were only going to let me buy two bottles, and Im like, I was contacted last night by someone from Abington Hospital and they say they need sanitizer. Fortunately, Johnston, the owner of Huntingdon Valleys Mermaid Spirits and a research scientist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was wearing a shirt with the distillerys logo, plus his federal ID badge. It didnt take much convincing, Johnston said with a laugh. And the salesperson, she says, If you need more, you come back and see me, sweetie. Johnston is one of hundreds of distillery owners in the United States who have curbed regular production of rum, vodka, whiskey, and other spirits in order to concoct something with less favorable profit margins and, at the moment, exponentially more demand: hand sanitizer. After hand sanitizer evaporated from store shelves and the internet in early March, distilleries all over the country started brewing makeshift substitutes with various formulas. On March 18, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) issued a letter to the nations distilleries, authorizing them to make it according to World Health Organizations guidelines, which call for a mix of ethanol, glycerol, and hydrogen peroxide. Small distilleries have been quick to act since then, cobbling together hydrogen peroxide, diverting their own booze for sanitizer, using whatever vessels they can to bottle it. At least 12 distilleries in the Philadelphia area, including New Jersey, have started making sanitizer. And customers have lined up in droves for free bottles of the stuff. READ MORE: These distilleries are making hand sanitizer and, don't forget, booze But although the sanitizer is desperately needed, the pivot to it isnt straightforward. Distilleries regular business events, tasting room sales, and distribution to bars, restaurants, and liquor stores has been upended. For some, producing sanitizer is a way to stay busy, allowing distilleries to fill the void and keep employees on, or even add more. For others, especially smaller, lesser-known outfits, its all they can do to stay afloat during an indefinite stretch of economic uncertainty. None of this is free Theres no war chest that you can create in a start-up company after two or three years to take you through something like this, said Mark Ganter, co-owner of Atlantic Citys Little Water Distillery, which began making hand sanitizer shortly after the TTBs letter went out. Ganter is fielding orders for hundreds of gallons worth from Amazon and other shipping organizations, and giving free bottles to locals. In normal times, Little Water makes 48 Blocks Vodka, Liberty Rum, Whitecap American Whiskey, and other brands. New Jersey distilleries can sell bottles to-go from their sites under the states stay-at-home order, but current laws prevent them from delivering to consumers. With Little Waters restaurant and bar clients shut down, regular production is on hold as the distillery blends hand sanitizer. Even getting involved in an endeavor like this is an enormous risk to us, because none of this is free, Ganter said. Without having any outlet to sell our products, theres no money coming in the door. Pennsylvania distilleries have an advantage in that theyre able to ship directly to in-state customers. But even with pickup and delivery capabilities, the loss of tasting room sales is significant, said Bluebird Distilling founder Jared Adkins. All of the distilleries that I know, we all make our money off of the tasting rooms, Adkins said. [Theyre] 80% or 90% of our business. Bluebirds main location is in Phoenixville, and it has two locations in downtown Philadelphia. With enough inventory on hand for online orders, Bluebird still has shifted to sanitizer. Requests have flowed in from ambulance services, police forces, an energy company, even Lockheed Martin. The company prioritizes orders for hospitals and community centers, but organizations with purchasing power are essential. The companies that can pay for it are happy to donate to the cause, Adkins said. Bluebird donates sanitizer to organizations that cant pay. FAQ: Your coronavirus questions, answered. Its getting much tougher As with materials for DIY hand sanitizer, professional-grade ingredients have become harder to find, and prices have spiked with demand. Adkins staff luckily secured glycerin off Amazon while they still could. They scoured pharmacies and grocery stores for hydrogen peroxide. For ethanol, they used a combination of their own high-proof alcohol (which otherwise would have been used to make Bluebirds regular line of spirits) and some from wholesalers. But even thats in short supply. Its getting much tougher, Adkins said. Even containers it started out there was an abundance of containers. Now, 2 gallons [was] the smallest container anywhere online that we could find. Johnston, of Mermaid Spirits, was in a similar predicament. He had planned to buy 2-ounce bottles for sanitizer that he could give away to customers, but when he went online, there were none. Instead, hell use bottles intended for his Forbidden Drive Vodka. I cant get anything else, he said. Mermaid Spirits is tiny: It produced 2,700 bottles last year (Bacardi spills more in the shift than I make in a year, Johnston likes to joke) and has three part-time employees, plus family help. After the Montgomery County shutdown closed his bar at Huntingdon Valleys Penn Cinema, Johnston redirected his bartenders and salesperson to help make deliveries and blend sanitizer. Were getting orders left and right Bucks Countys Theobald & Oppenheimer is on the opposite end of the spectrum: The second-largest distillery in the state, it made $2 million worth of alcohol last year between its two brands, Faber Liquors and Single Prop Rum. Like its smaller peers, Theobald has pivoted to hand sanitizer also using its own bottles but it can churn it out by the pallet. We bought ethanol at 200 [proof] and we get a tanker in a day, said T&O chief financial officer Kelly Festa. We mix it with hydrogen peroxide and glycerin, and then we run it through the bottling lines. The Trumbauersville company has increased the number of production shifts and employees. Were running three shifts a day, seven days a week, trying to get as much out the door as possible, Festa said. Were getting orders left and right, from hospitals, the U.S. Postal Service, huge supermarket chains, you name it. By the end of March, T&O had filled 167,300 one-liter glass bottles with hand sanitizer branded with the Faber Liquors label. (Do not drink! it cautions.) It was prioritizing orders for health-care facilities, nursing homes, and first responders organizations that are buying it by the truckload, Festa said. But the company also sold a small amount (at $8 a bottle) online through Art in the Ages website; it quickly sold out. Customers who order liquor for pickup at T&Os Telford outpost can buy sanitizer there, as well while supplies last. At the moment, hand sanitizer is all T&O is making. Like Bluebird and Little Water, it has enough existing inventory for online orders. READ MORE: What you need to know about buying food (and booze) during the shutdown Its kind of hard for us to make as much money [selling to individuals] to begin with, vs. huge orders that bars place, Festa said. So it is in our best interest financially to make the sanitizer as well. Pull everybody together for a common good Theobald & Oppenheimer has no tasting rooms. Though its brands are less familiar than local standouts such as Bluecoat Gin or Dads Hat Rye, the company is better positioned to weather the coronavirus-induced quarantine than its craft competitors. The successful model for building a craft distillery in modern times starting small, selling directly out of your tasting room, giving people tours of your distillery, with only limited retail distribution will be challenged in this time, said Rob Cassell, master distiller at Kensingtons New Liberty Whiskey Distillery. The way things have kind of panned out, if your model was leaning toward that or still in that phase before youve gone to the larger three-tier distribution model, youre definitely in a danger zone right now, he said. Cassell, also president of the Pennsylvania Distillers Guild, has been involved in an initiative that might level the playing field and aid smaller distilleries making sanitizer. The guild centralized purchasing power eliminating markups on ethanol and hydrogen peroxide and partnered with a plastics supplier in Boyertown to produce 1.3 million bottles. It also secured funding from Pennsylvanias state government and PIDC to reimburse distilleries for materials and labor. That allows us to deliver a product to the state at actually less than what you would buy a bottle of hand sanitizer before the crisis, Cassell said. Were able to deliver a 4-ounce bottle for $1.50. He estimates a 1-ounce bottle would have cost about $1 precrisis. The guild initiative also centralized blending at a few larger facilities like Philadelphia Distilling, so it can distribute the liquid to smaller partner distilleries. From there, distillers can use their bottling lines and professional networks to get sanitizer out to organizations in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and beyond. The effort will enable some distilleries to hire contract employees. Cassell and his colleagues have been on-boarding new distilleries for the last few weeks. He projects having 21 to 24 online by mid-April, with more on the way enough to produce 450,000 four-ounce bottles daily. Its a good thing when you can organize and pull everybody together for a common good, Cassell said. Pennsylvania distilleries ability to ship alcohol directly to consumer was also a result of organizing. Until the coronavirus quarantine cut off access to state stores, it was little-utilized by the public at large. But its become central to distilleries and customers alike in recent weeks. We probably have more people than ever experimenting with stuff from their local distilleries, Cassell said. For small distilleries making a suddenly precious commodity if only temporarily this may be a moment to bring in new customers: Come for the hand sanitizer, stay for the craft booze. When we all get back to work, Little Waters Ganter said, "the hope is that therell be some kind of public support for what was endured here. 06.04.2020 LISTEN The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) says customers who have defaulted in the payment of their water bills will not enjoy the free water supply announced by President Akufo-Addo. The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Dr. Clifford Braimah says all customers whose lines have been disconnected for non-payment of bills will not also be reconnected. He said those who owe the company must pay their debts in order to be guaranteed the free water supply. The people who are owing us, we expect that they pay before they get free water. Somebody said those of them who have been disconnected, we have to connect them so that they will benefit from the three months [free water service]. I said the President is not telling me to give free water to those who are not connected because the president is not paying for January or February. And so those owing will have to pay, he said in an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show today, Monday. President Nana Akufo-Addo while addressing the country on developments regarding the national fight against COVID-19 said the government will foot the water bill of Ghanaians for April, May and June 2020 to provide relief for Ghanaians amidst the partial lockdown in some parts of the country. Ghana Water Company Ltd and the Electricity Company of Ghana have been directed to ensure the stable supply of water and electricity during this period. In addition, there will be no disconnection of supply. Furthermore, the government will absorb the water bills for all Ghanaians for the next three months, ie, April, May, and June. All water tankers, publicly and privately-owned, are also going to be mobilized to ensure the supply of water to all vulnerable communities, Akufo-Addo said. He also indicated that arrangements were being made for communities that do not enjoy water supply to be served by water tankers. Dr. Braimah said a meeting will be held later today to discuss the modalities involved in having water tankers supply water to communities not served by the Ghana Water Company Limited. There are some people in Accra who already do not have connection and we are setting aside tanker services to be able to attend to them. We will consider those who have been disconnected as those that are to benefit from the tanker service, he said. Many Ghanaians are expecting to benefit from the gesture which they believe will ease pressure on their finances especially as the announced partial lockdown and suspension of most businesses have affected their livelihoods. The availability of water has become critical due to the need for regular handwashing as part of efforts to fight COVID-19 in Ghana. ---citinewsroom With the heightened alert to the growing coronavirus, there are several things you can do to protect yourself and your family, in addition to monitoring for signs and symptoms, as well as exposure to the virus. Q. What is COVID-19? A. COVID-19 is a disease caused by a newly identified coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. We are closely monitoring and following guidance from the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and are in close contact with state and local health authorities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, human coronaviruses are common throughout the world and usually cause mild to moderate illness in people. This new virus is a public health concern because it is newly identified with much still unknown about it. It also is now widely community spread. Q. What is the best way to protect myself from getting COVID-19? A. The best way to prevent the spread of this virus is by practicing social distancing and proper hygiene, such as hand washing and not touching our faces. With these two measures we are all significantly less likely to get the illness because we will be less likely to come into contact with the virus. Q. What are the most common symptoms of COVID-19? A. A fever that is higher than 100.4, a cough and shortness of breath are three of the most common symptoms of coronavirus. If you have developed these symptoms and/or have been exposed to a COVID19 person, please call your doctor's office for further instruction. Q. Who is at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19? A. The exposure risk is higher for those who work in health care, first responders, and those who have prolonged close contact with someone who has COVID-19. In addition, elderly people and those with chronic medical conditions are at increased risk of more severe infection. Q. If I've developed symptoms of COVID-19, what should I do? A. Please call your doctor's office first, before visiting an Urgent Care or the Emergency Room if you've developed a fever greater than 100.4, a cough and shortness of breath. Your doctor's office will be able to provide further instruction. People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to isolate at home during their illness. You should restrict activities outside your home, except for getting medical care. Seek prompt medical attention if your illness is worsening (e.g., difficulty breathing). Q. What if a member of my household comes down with symptoms of COVID-19? A. If someone in your home begins to present symptoms of COVID-19, they are encouraged to contact their health care provider right away to assess their symptoms. If they do not have a health care provider, MidMichigan Health encourages you to contact your local urgent care or Emergency Department for next steps. If they are confirmed COVID-19, or a patient under investigation, they should remain in a separate room or portion of the house away from the rest of the household and follow any additional instructions given to them by their health care provider. In addition, household members should immediately begin to monitor their own health and contact their health care provider right away if they begin to exhibit symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough or shortness of breath. Above all, household members should continue to practice preventative measures including frequent hand washing, disinfecting surfaces often and social distancing. These measures are known to help stop the spread of illness. As a service to the community, MidMichigan Health has also published a COVID-19 informational hotline with a reminder of CDC guidelines and recommendations. Staff is also available to help answer community questions Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The hotline can be reached toll-free at 800-445-7356 or 989-794-7600. Those interested in learning more about COVID-19 may visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus. Lydia Watson, M.D., is a senior vice president and the chief medical officer at MidMichigan Health. With coronavirus pandemic becoming a major humanitarian crisis, tales of humanity and caring for the poor are coming to the fore. In worst-hit Mumbai, a constable of Mumbai Police rushed to the aid of an elderly couple whose only source of income--selling plastic bags at Andheri railway station--dried up since the lockdown was imposed in view of coronavirus outbreak around two weeks ago. As soon as the constable, Prakash Warange, came to know about the plight of Arun Pancholi (80) and his wife Sharda (78), he visited their shanty along with his daughter and provided them essential things and some cash; the exact amount he refused to disclose. "I decided to help them out as the elderly couple doesn't have any other means for survival," said Warange, who is posted in Goregaon police station. A local social worker had also offered help to the elderly couple. "Since I lost my sons around eight years ago, I have been stitching plastic bags at home and selling them at railway station every day. But due to the lockdown, my meagre income dried up," said Arun Pancholi. When asked about how he felt about the police constable coming forward to help him, the old man said, "It is very difficult to survive in the present times, but we are happy that Mumbaikars are coming forward to help us". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hanoi's chairman Nguyen Duc Chung said on Monday a resident in the capital city has tested positive for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) 23 days after visiting a major hospital that is Vietnams largest known cluster of infections to date. The patient is one of two new COVID-19 cases mentioned by Chung as he chaired a meeting of the citys steering committee on prevention and control of the disease on Monday morning. According to Chung, the 47-year-old patient from Me Linh District visited the Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at Bach Mai Hospital in Dong Da District on March 12. The medical center of Me Linh District sampled the patient on April 4, after at least 44 COVID-19 patients in Vietnam had been linked to Bach Mai Hospital. The sample was sent to the Hanoi Center for Disease Control for testing, with the result coming back positive on Sunday. It had been 23 days since [the patient] last came to Bach Mai Hospital for treatment and test results have now returned positive [for the virus], Chung emphasized at Mondays meeting, claiming that the patient stayed inside her home without any social interaction between the hospital visit and her positive result. It is unclear from Chungs statement whether the patient was tested between March 12 and April 4. After citing the case as an example, Chung warned meeting attendees of infections with an incubation period of more than 14 days. He claimed that there has been a case in South Korea that did not test positive for the virus until after 27 days from suspected exposure and one case in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where the virus first emerged, that did not test positive until after 39 days. The average time between exposure and testing positive in the U.S. is 22.5 days, Chung said, without elaborating. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the incubation period, or the time from exposure to development of symptoms, of the novel coronavirus ranges from two to 14 days. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that the incubation period for COVID-19 is on average five to six days, and can be up to 14 days. According to Vietnams Ministry of Health, the incubation period for COVID-19 is 2-14 days, with 5-7 days being the average. The other case mentioned by Chung at Mondays meeting was detected at a centralized quarantined camp at a campus of FPT University in Hanoi. The patient, 35, from Cam Quang Commune in Cam Xuyen District, located in the north-central province of Ha Tinh, was one of the passengers on board a flight from Moscow that arrived in Hanoi on March 25. The patient was sampled for the first time upon their arrival with results turning out negative for the virus. The patient was sampled again on Sunday with results returning positive on Monday morning. Hanoi has reported 107 cases of COVID-19 infection, the highest number among all of Vietnams provinces and cities, according to numbers pooled by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. The infection cases in Hanoi can be divided into three groups, Chung said, including imported cases quarantined upon arrival, cross infections detected in the community, and patients linked to Bach Mai Hospital. Vietnam has so far confirmed 245 COVID-19 patients, 95 of whom have recovered and been discharged from the hospital, including 38 recoveries in Hanoi. No death related to the disease has been recorded in the country. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Savannah Guthrie has revealed she will be working from home for the foreseeable future as she re-joins the millions of people self-isolating in their houses amid the coronavirus pandemic, less than a week after she returned to the Today studio. The 48-year-old joined her co-anchor Hoda Kotb via video feed on Monday morning, when she explained her decision to viewers, who had questioned why the TV host was not in the studio on Friday - having only returned to NBC's Studio 1A on Tuesday after spending two weeks at home while dealing with a 'mild sore throat'. 'I'm here in Studio 1A, Savannah is working from home like much of the country and people are asking, "Where are you?"' Hoda, 55, said to her co-host at the top of the show. New normal: Savannah Guthrie joined the Today show from home on Monday morning, when she revealed she will be working from her house for the foreseeable future Social distance: The 48-year-old told her co-anchor Hoda Kotb that she wants to 'stick close to her family' in upstate New York, while also following official self-isolation advice 'I'm home, I'm home,' Savannah replied, before explaining: 'You know the reason Hoda, my family is upstate, so I'm sticking close to the family and coming to the city less and less. 'So I'm trying to work from home. And also frankly, that's what these officials are telling us to do, so that's exactly what I'm going to do.' Mother-of-two Hoda praised Savannah's decision, telling the New Yorker: 'You're doing all the right things.' Questions were raised on social media on Friday about why Savannah was not present in the studio with her co-host when the show failed to address the fact that the on-air talent appeared to have returned to her home. 'Why were you home today Savannah?' one person asked on Instagram, while another person commented: 'Why are you back home? Hope no one else is sick!' Savannah has certainly been relishing the opportunity to spent more time at home with her children, revealing over the weekend that she, daughter Vale, and son Charley, teamed up to make a delicious-looking rainbow cheesecake. The Today anchor proudly shared images of the trio at work - as well as their final product - on Instagram, while joking that the cheesecake was 'not as pretty as the picture in the cookbook but we had fun'. Savannah's return to her at-home studio set-up comes just a few days after the Today host enjoyed a happy reunion with Hoda on Tuesday, two weeks after she revealed that she would be working from home out of an 'abundance of caution', having come down with a 'mild sore throat' and 'the sniffles'. Questions: Savannah actually began working from home again on Friday, however the show did not address the subject, leading many viewers to ask why she was not in the studio Sending love! The Today anchor sent love to her co-stars, including Hoda, 55, who continues to broadcast from NBC's Studio 1A in Manhattan She made a surprise appearance in NBC's Studio 1A on Tuesday, having kept quiet about her plans to return on social media until just moments before the show began. Savannah took to Instagram and Twitter to share an in-studio selfie with Hoda, which she captioned simply: 'Reunited!' Moments later, Savannah and Hoda appeared on-air together, with both kicking off the morning show by celebrating their reunion. 'This is Studio 1A, I haven't been here in a while!' Savannah said, while looking around the familiar space. 'I was going to say, so many things are not normal, and in this moment right now as I'm looking at you, something finally is,' Hoda added. 'It's good to see your face.' But while Savannah is happily back in the studio, the two anchors are still making sure to observe social distancing guidelines - sitting six feet apart from one another at their Today desk. 'It feels good to be in the same room, [but] I wish we were closer like we used to snuggle up,' Savannah told her co-anchor. 'We are practicing our social distancing... it's good to be back in the studio.' The pair then shared that they will be co-anchoring a special prime-time show about the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday night, with Savannah saying: 'We want to encourage folks to join us tonight, Hoda and I are hosting a special prime-time show about the pandemic. Activities: Savannah spent the weekend hanging out with her children, daughter Vale and son Charley, who helped her make a rainbow cheesecake Martha Stewart watch out! The TV star shared several images of their efforts, while also showing off her weekend-themed sweater Delicious! Both Vale and Charley seemed thrilled with the final results, although Savannah joked that the cheesecake was 'not as pretty as the picture in the cookbook' 'This is the first in a series that NBC News will be doing in the weeks ahead. We're going to examine the outbreak's toll, the country's potential new hotspots, and answer your questions.' The duo's happy reunion comes nearly two weeks after Savannah announced that she would be working from home out of 'an abundance of caution', having come down with a 'mild sore throat' and 'the sniffles' just as it was revealed that a staffer on the Third Hour of Today had been diagnosed with the coronavirus. Savannah made Today history on Wednesday, March 18 when she co-anchored the morning show from her basement at home, after revealing on Tuesday night that she would be joining Hoda via video link, while sharing images of the mini studio that had been set up in her New York City basement. 'Hi everybody! Well, this will be a first. Im going to be anchoring Today from my house!' she wrote on Instagram - while insisting that she is simply acting out of 'an abundance of caution' and 'to model the super vigilance the CDC has asked of us'. 'Im staying home because I have a mild sore throat and runny nose,' she continued. 'This was the advice of NBCs superb medical team and my bosses. I feel good and am sure I will be back in no time - but during these days, its on all of us to be extra cautious and caring of those around us. 'So see you tomorrow on Today - from my basement!' It was revealed at the beginning of March that a staffer on the Third Hour of Today had tested positive for COVID-19, which NBC announcing on Monday that it had asked hosts Al Roker and Craig Melvin to remain home and 'trace their contacts' to ensure they had not come into contact with the person. She's back! Savannah was reunited with co-anchor Hoda last Tuesday morning when she returned to the Today studio after nearly two weeks of working from home Celebration: She kept quiet about her return to the studio until moments before the show went on the air, when she shared a selfie of the two women in the studio Caution: At the time, Savannah and Hoda expressed their excitement at being reunited, after the former took the decision to work from home having developed a 'mild sore throat' Were very happy to have our @savannahguthrie back in Studio 1A this morning! pic.twitter.com/omj07fILGl TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 31, 2020 As of March 17, both were also tuning into the show from home, with Al and Savannah both joining Hoda via video link on Wednesday morning - a first for the popular morning show. 'And we are back on a busy Wednesday morning, one not like a normal one here on Today,' Savannah said while opening the show. 'This show has been around a long time, 60-something years, but never has this happened before. Comfy! Savannah shared regular updates about her working from home wardrobe while she remained away from the studio 'We've got Hoda in our studio, Al and I are working from home, Craig is actually [working] from home as well, we're going to talk to him a little bit later this morning.' Hoda then admitted that the set-up on viewers' screens - which showed Savannah in one box, Hoda in another, and Al in a third - was 'a little funky', but said that she was 'happy to be sitting in between you guys'. She did however confess that she was 'feeling a little lonely' in the studio and missing her 'partner in crime'. 'Things look a little different, I feel a little lonely here, I'm missing my partner in crime, she's usually six feet away here!' Hoda joked. For his part, Al, 65, seemed more than happy with his at-home set-up, telling his two co-stars that he had 'just got the coffee maker going'. 'It is very weird I will admit, but... venturing out, making sure you keep that physical distance, [even though] it's eerie, everybody is practicing what [the experts] are preaching.' WFH: On Wednesday, March 18, Savannah made history when she tuned in to anchor the Today show from home, after coming down with 'the sniffles' and a 'sore throat' Something different: She shared images of her at-home studio set-up on Tuesday evening, revealing to Today viewers that she would not be coming into the studio Helping hand: Savannah revealed that her husband, Mike Feldman, had been roped in to serve as a producer and technician while she works from home Solo: Her co-anchor Hoda remained in Studio 1A, despite a staffer on the Third Hour of Today testing positive for COVID-19 Savannah joined Al in urging viewers to follow CDC guidelines for social distancing, noting that she is not showing any of the most serious symptoms connected with the coronavirus, but that she feels it is more important than ever to take extra precautions when feeling unwell. 'I have a sore throat and I have the sniffles,' she explained. 'I didn't even think anything of it, because frankly that doesn't seem to be on the official list of symptoms. 'But what I've been told is number one, doctors are getting new information about this novel coronavirus, it's new, that means we're learning about it and the symptoms that present. 'And the other thing is, if you're sick at all, the CDC is saying this is the time to stay home, and so, I had to admit it, and you know me, I like to come rain or shine and spread my germs around, but we don't do that anymore. We stay home, and we keep everybody safe. 'And like I told you, I think of it as a way of loving your neighbor. Love your neighbor and keep them safe.' One upside to Savannah's new working arrangement is the opportunity to spend more time with her husband, Mike Feldman, who - she revealed on Instagram - has stepped in to serve as a producer and technician while she is working from home. 'Big shoutout to my husband @feldmike who has turned into producer and technician!!' she wrote on Instagram, while sharing an image of Mike sitting on a bed while working away on a laptop. In the days that she was working from home, Savannah posted a slew of images of her two children - Vale, five, and Charley, three - while jokingly noting in one caption that she is struggling slightly with all the 'family time'. Struggling: Savannah appeared to have grown a bit exasperated with all of the 'family time' she's getting after starting to work from home Special moments: She shared this image of her children enjoying the snow on Monday morning, days after revealing she had come down with 'a mild sore throat' New normal: Savannah had been posting regular updates from her home, at one point joking that her children were 'destroying the house' Last Monday morning, instead of her normal trip to the NBC studios in Manhattan, the TV host shared an image of her kids looking out at a snowy backyard, having spent much of the weekend sharing updates about how her kids are 'destroying the house'. 'Our neck of the woods,' Savannah captioned Monday's post, which showed her two children wearing what appear to be Christmas-themed pajamas while gazing out of the window at the snow. Last week, the mother-of-two posted an image of her children's playroom floor, where she was listening to Kenny Rogers, after he passed away on Friday, while joking that they were busy 'destroying the house'. 'Listening to Kenny Rogers on repeat as my kids destroy the house,' she wrote. The day before, she shared an image of her gray sweatpants, with the same colorful floor in the background, captioning it: 'Is there a statute of limitations on how many days in a row you can wear the same sweat pants?' But while working from home has given Savannah a chance to spend most of her day in sweatpants, it has meant that she is spending much more time with both kids, something that she seems to be finding fairly tiring. Last Thursday she posted a hilarious selfie, pulling a less than thrilled face as her daughter Vale was playing in the background. 'So. Much. Family Time.' she captioned the post, which also featured a photo of Vale and Charley playing together, as well as a video of them outside wearing bike helmets. Irish oil and gas exploration company Providence Resources is set to raise $3.3m (3.05m) in emergency funding and hopes to formally have a new development partner for its flagship Barryroe field in place by the end of October. Despite a Covid-19-prompted drop in investment and corporate spending, cash-strapped Providence has managed to tap institutional investors and attract Norwegian company SpotOn Energy to take a punt on Barryroe, which lies off the Cork coast and is a potential gas as well as oil play. The bulk of the money will be raised through the sale of extra shares to institutional investors, a move which is reliant on shareholder approval at a meeting next month. It is the second time Providence has tapped shareholders for money since the breakdown late last year of an initial Barryroe development deal with Chinese consortium APEC Energy. That investor support gave it enough money to survive until the end of last month. The new funds will cover Providences costs until April 2021, but the company warned that if shareholders fail to back the plan its chances of survival beyond mid-May would be materially compromised. SpotOn will also partake in the share placing, through an initial $370,000 investment, before adding a further 200,000 (230,000). SpotOn has entered a period of exclusivity regarding Barryroe and Providences chief executive Alan Linn who replaced Tony OReilly Jr in January said he hopes the farm-in deal can be completed by the end of October. Mr Linn said Providence is targeting the drilling of fresh appraisal wells at Barryroe by late summer 2021 and could be producing oil from the field by the middle of 2022. Providence is currently engaged in due diligence proceedings with SpotOn including proving it has necessary funding capacity ahead of full commercial terms being agreed. Providence recently re-took 80% control of Barryroe, with Lansdowne Oil and Gas its 20% junior partner. Mr Linn said it was likely that much like the previous deal with APEC Providence would dilute its Barryroe share to around 40% in the next farm-out deal. He also said that following additional cost reductions across its licence portfolio, Providence will likely have a sole focus on the northern part of the Celtic Sea and effectively pull out of Irelands Atlantic coastal area. With Brent crude trading at between $33 and $34 per barrel, Mr Linn said Providence could still make money against a price backdrop of $26 per barrel. Mr Linn said Providence had spoken to a number of parties interested in investing in Barryroe and said the exploration farm-out market is likely to be pretty quiet over the next six months as companies protect their operating costs and row back on spend. Thomas Modly, acting Secretary of the US Navy, reportedly belittled Capt. Brett Crozier of the USS Theodore Roosevelt after the captain was relieved of his command for sending a letter asking for his sailors to be evacuated from the ship due to a rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak on board. The inflammatory comments were reportedly from a speech Mr Modly gave to sailors on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt. The Daily Caller claims it obtained a transcript of the speech. "If [Crozier] didn't think, in my opinion, that [the letter] wasn't going to get out into the public, in this day and information age that we line in, then he was either A, too naive or too stupid to be a commanding officer of a ship like this," Mr Modly said. "The alternative is that he did this on purpose." Mr Modly said the letter was a "betrayal of trust" and that it contained "sensitive information" about the condition of the carrier. More than 100 sailors from the USS Theodore Roosevelt - including Mr Crozier - have tested positive for COVID-19 since the outbreak began on the ship. Videos of Mr Crozier leaving the USS Theodore Roosevelt went viral as hundreds of sailors packed in to see the commanding officer depart, cheering and chanting his name as he left. Mr Crozier was widely praised for sounding the alarm to try to secure the safety of his crew despite the professional costs. Mr Modly reportedly chastised the sailors for cheering for Mr Crozier. "So think about [him betraying the Navy's trust] when you cheer the man off the ship who exposed you to that," Modly said. "I understand you love the guy. It's good that you love him. But you're not required to love him." The Secretary of the Navy was met with hostility by the ships sailors for attacking Mr Crozier. A recording of the speech, posted at Task & Purpose, includes an angry sailor shouting what the f*** after Modly insulted the captain, and another sailor yelling He was trying to help us! When Mr Modly suggested Mr Crozier had committed a betrayal, they began shouting in defiance. He also criticised Mr Crozier for not going through proper chain of command channels to address his needs, and accused the media of having an agenda. "And I'm gonna tell you something, all of you, there is never a situation where you should consider the media a part of your chain of command," Mr Modly said, apparently warning his sailors not to whistleblow. "The media has an agenda and the agenda that they have depends on which side of the political aisle they sit, and I'm sorry that's the way the country is now, but its the truth. And so they use it to divide us and use it to embarrass the Navy. They use it to embarrass you." Mr Modlys statements are in line with President Donald Trumps tendency to paint the US government as a victim of Chinas response to the virus rather than as having been unprepared to deal with the crisis. Mr Trump has taken to calling the virus the Chinese virus, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attempted to strong-arm G8 ministers into calling the virus the Wuhan Virus and Mr Trumps son Donald Trump Jr as well as other staffers in the Trump White House have referred to it as the Kung-Flu. Mr Trump and Mark Esper, the US Secretary of Defense, said they disagreed with Mr Croziers call for an evacuation of the ship. The president blamed Mr Crozier for allowing the sailors on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt shore leave in Vietnam during the early days of the pandemics spread in the US. I guess the captain stopped in Vietnam and people got off in Vietnam and perhaps you dont do that in the middle of a pandemic, Mr Trump said. History would say you dont necessarily stop and let your sailors get off. Vietnam currently has fewer than 300 confirmed cases of coronavirus, and no signs of wide-spread viral outbreak were apparent in early March when the ship stopped there. Mr Trump was still expressing doubt as to the severity of the coronavirus in early March. Recommended Ousted US Navy captain tests positive for coronavirus Meanwhile, Mr Esper said he disagreed with Mr Croziers pleas for evacuation during a CBS News interview, but admitted he had not even read the letter Mr Crozier sent pleading for help. At the end of his speech, Mr Modly told the sailors they could be angry with him for the rest of your lives but assured them they would receive the help they need as the virus continues to work its way through their ranks. Mr Modly's office has not returned a request for comment. Trump defends firing of 'terrible' top intelligence watchdog Iran Press TV Sunday, 05 April 2020 1:43 PM US President Donald Trump has defended his decision to fire the top watchdog of the intelligence community, calling Michael Atkinson a "total disgrace" for the way he handled a whistleblower complaint that led to the president's impeachment. "He took a fake report, and he brought it to Congress," Trump said during a briefing on the novel coronavirus pandemic at the White House on Saturday. Atkinson was a key figure in the run-up to Trump's impeachment, having reported to Congress a credible complaint from a whistleblower within the administration that the president had abused his office by soliciting Ukraine's meddling in the 2020 US election in exchange for military aid. Trump complained that Atkinson should not have submitted what he described as a "fraudulent" whistleblower complaint to Congress. "I thought he did a terrible job. Absolutely terrible," the president said. Atkinson's firing comes as US inspectors general, who have independent oversight of federal agencies, were recently tasked with broad surveillance of the federal government's response to the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed over 8,000 people across the US so far. Congressman Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, charged that the president's conduct was "unconscionable." The California Democrat accused Trump of "decapitating" the leadership of the intelligence community "in the middle of a national crisis." "And of course it sends a message throughout the federal government and in particular to other inspectors general that if they do their job as this professional did, and Michael Atkinson was a complete professional, they too may be fired by a vindictive president," Schiff said. Trump mused about Schiff being the still-unnamed whistleblower's "informer," without offering any evidence. Schiff was the public face of the House's effort to impeach the president. The president also railed against the whistleblower, calling him a "fake." "They give this whistleblower a status that he doesn't deserve. He's a fake whistleblower," Trump concluded. "And frankly, somebody ought to sue his ass off." The firing of Atkinson underscores the president's deep disdain toward the officials and lawmakers who played a role in his impeachment in the House early this year. Trump was acquitted by his fellow Republican allies in the Senate. Even some Republicans expressed uneasiness about the president's action and praised Atkinson. "Like any political appointee, the inspector general serves at the behest of the Executive," Senator Richard Burr, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a statement on Saturday. "However, in order to be effective, the IG must be allowed to conduct his or her work independent of internal or external pressure," the North Carolina Republican added. Senator Charles Grassley, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, demanded a better explanation for Atkinson's firing, but stopped short of criticizing the president. "Congress has been crystal clear that written reasons must be given when IGs are removed for a lack of confidence," the Republican of Iowa said. "More details are needed from the administration." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man in east Belfast. They are appealing for anyone who noticed anything suspicious in the Cloghan Park area on Sunday to get in contact with them on their 101 number. Police have released no further information in connection with their investigation. Opinion banner Business Insider Not this time, Tesla. Matthew DeBord/BI I recently bought a new car, but it wasn't a Tesla Model 3. The Tesla Model 3 has wildly impressed me in the multiple times I've driven and tested it. But while I seriously considered buying one, I ultimately chose something closer to my old Toyota Prius. I haven't ruled out future Tesla ownership, of course. There's a pretty good chance I'll own one on the next decade. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. For various reasons, I had to buy a car last summer. The details aren't terribly important, but I ended up with a certified pre-owned Toyota RAV4 hybrid. I'm quite happy with the RAV4, and for the record, I was already a proud Toyota Prius owner. Of course, the vehicle that's most influenced my thinking about cars in the past year or so has easily been the Tesla Model 3. I seriously considered ordering one, and for the record, I fully expect to own some sort of Tesla vehicle in the next 10 years. I didn't go for it this time around, however. And I had my reasons! Here they are: 1. The Model 3 is a bit too new in the market. I'm no early adopter. I prefer to wait until something new has taken a few spins around the block. The Model 3 is sufficiently different from the Model S and Model X that I'd rather wait a few years while the kinks are ironed out. tesla Justin Sullivan / Getty Images 2. I don't have a charger at my house (yet). We don't test enough electric and plug-in vehicles at Business Insider to justify a Level 2 home charger, so I usually just charge off a wall outlet and run the cable into my front yard. BMW i3 Matthew DeBord/Business Insider Tesla can set you up with home charging, but it is an additional initial expense. And were I to go for it, I'd be limited to charging only my Tesla, as the company's chargers aren't compatible with other EVs. 3. The Model 3 is still more expensive than what I like in a car. Story continues Tesla Model 3 Hollis Johnson/Business Insider I've sampled several different versions of the Model 3, and while the current Standard Range Plus, rear-wheel-drive (single motor) trim level is priced under $40,000, I prefer to spend around $25,000 (or less) for my family's basic transportation needs. Some of this is because of my job. I test at least one new car each week, so we don't require anything too fancy for getting around. Our "second car" can be fairly basic. We chose the RAV4 because I already had a relationship with a local dealer and because we figured a hybrid crossover with all-wheel-drive would would be a little bit better for us than the Prius we had been driving. It helps in life to be of two minds about cars. These days, you can find a perfectly good used car that might have given you pause 10 years ago because in had close to 100,000 miles on it. But quality has improved so much that the sub-$10,o00 used cars of 2019 are a world better than the el-cheapo rides of the past. So, you can obtain transportation for not a lot of money and spend far less time worrying about it than people used to. But, you can also indulge yourself. There's more variety in the marketplace than ever before, and EVs are a legit options. In many cases, however, you have to pay up. The upshot here is to figure out which mind you're in. I know that I can spend on the low side and bee happy. But that's just me. 4. The Model 3 fits my lifestyle perfectly but I still need an everyday gas-powered car. DeBord Prius Matthew DeBord/Business Insider I essentially use my car for local errands and ferrying my kids around, with an occasional longer trip thrown in. On paper, I'm an ideal candidate for an EV. And in my estimation, if you're going to buy an EV, you might as well make it a Tesla. (You can always get something else if you're unhappy after a few years.) A Model 3 would also be extremely cheap for me to operate, if somewhat more expensive to buy or lease. I'd end up recharging the cheapest Model 3, with its 240 miles of range, perhaps two or three times per month with my typical use pattern. Still, having the ease of a gas-powered car remains something I need. It boils down to the longer trips and the need to avoid any sort of range anxiety, largely because we drive our car so infrequently that we gas up only about once a month. We forget about how much fuel is in the tank, and in that context, being able to fully refuel in five minutes makes a difference. 5. The sound system is magnificent. Tesla Model 3 Review Matthew DeBord/BI The Model 3 is a darn good car, and even though I should buy one but haven't, I must note that the Tesla-designed sound systems is incredible among the best I've ever experienced. Just throwing that in because I'm somebody who likes a great audio setup in his ride. 6. I like hatchbacks. The Model 3 has a groovy fastback roofline, but it terminates in a trunk, not a hatch (there's also a front trunk, or "frunk.") Toyota Sienna Matthew DeBord/BI Cargo capacity is good, and the frunk helps. But for me, a proper hatchback better suits my needs. Tesla Model 3 Hollis Johnson/Business Insider 7. The Model 3's dashboard and touchscreen are cool but I prefer knobs and buttons. Tesla Model 3 Hollis Johnson/Business Insider Testing the Model 3 in several configurations made me a believer in the ultra-minimalist dashboard, with the central touchscreen controlling almost all vehicle functions and providing crucial driving information, such as speed. But in practice, I still prefer knobs and buttons. Being able to change the temperature, for example, is just easier with a knob. And truth be told, even though the Model 3's voice-command system is superb, having to interact with a tablet all the time isn't for me ideally. It's often distracting. 8. The Model 3 wouldn't be my first choice for a road-trip-mobile. Tesla Model X Road Trip Matthew DeBord/BI I usually arrange for test vehicles when I take road trips, but at least half a dozen times each year, we need to use our personal vehicle to cover a few hundred miles. The Model 3 can be had in a trim level that delivers 310 miles of range on a full charge, but that's not quite enough to guarantee that you won't have to hit a Supercharger at some point in a journey. Supercharging is great, and Tesla has a passel of destination-charging partners that offer slower, Level 2 charging. So the abundance of re-juicing options isn't the issue. Rather, it's the time required to recharge. While not at all slow when Supercharging, it's much more time-consuming than simply stopping for gas. This is OK if you're flying solo, but when I've taken Teslas on road trips, the recharging stops have been met with protest from my family. My kids made me promise to never line up a Tesla for a road trip ever again, in fact, after a jaunt to Maryland from New Jersey. Faster charging times should eventually solve this problem, but for now, I need a car that fits into the old gas-and-go tradition. 9. I lack confidence in Tesla service. Mechanic sturti/Getty Images Tesla has gone its own way by avoiding franchise dealerships, preferring to keep its entire operation in-house. In practice, this has meant that Tesla is still figuring out service. But I don't expect miracles, and it would be foolish to think that buying a car from a 15-year-old automaker, on the first iteration of that car, wouldn't lead to some service issues. When it comes to service, I like to have two choices: my local mechanic; and the dealership. The former is ideal for tire rotations, small-scale maintenance, oil changes, and so on. The latter is good for scheduled maintenance and anything model-specific or a recall. While the simple stuff on a Model 3 could be handled by a local mechanic, with such a new vehicle, you're looking at dealing with Tesla's work-in-progress service department, and I decided I wasn't yet ready to go there. Plus, I fixed my new RAV4 after it got backed into a truck bumper and all I needed was a cheap roll of tape! Yeah, yeah, I could fix the Model 3 with tape, too, but it wouldn't look so cool anymore. Toyota's are legendary for wearing their battle scars well. RAV4 Repair Matthew DeBord/BI 10. The Model 3 isn't the ideal family car. But the Model X is. Tesla Model X Road Trip Matthew DeBord/BI If I were to buy a Tesla, the logical choice would be a Model X, given that I have three kids and would want to be able to use the car for road trips, taking advantage of the Supercharger network. Of course, if the Model 3 is too rich for my blood, the $150,000 Model X that I test drove is out of the question. Read the original article on Business Insider Update: A Texas woman has been arrested for allegedly claiming on Snapchat to be "intentionally spreading" COVID-19, police said. The Carrollton Police Department said Lorraine Maradiaga, 18, was charged with making a terroristic threat, a third-degree felony. The teen told police she is COVID-19 negative. Officials for the city north of Dallas said they have no proof she tested positive. Maradiaga turned herself in Tuesday morning. Her bond was set at $20,000 and she was taken to the Denton County Jail. As a precaution, she will be ordered to quarantine for 21 days after she is released from jail, police said. Original: A police department in Texas is searching for a woman who it says allegedly claimed to be spreading COVID-19 on purpose. The Carrollton Police Department said Lorraine Maradiaga, 18, was "seen on social media claiming to be COVID-19 positive and willfully spreading it." CURBSIDE: An updated list of San Antonio restaurants offering takeout and delivery Officers in the suburb north of Dallas have yet to locate Maradiaga, a Carrollton resident. According to police, Maradiaga will be charged with making a terroristic threat. "We have no confirmation Maradiaga is actually a threat to public health," police wrote on Facebook. "We are, however, taking her social media actions very seriously." Carrollton police are asking anyone who knows where she is to call (972) 466-3333 or email CrimeTips@CityofCarrollton.com. Mark Dunphy is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | mark.dunphy@express-news.net | @m_b_dunphy Assyrian New Year Canceled in Syria Amid Fear of Coronavirus Outbreak HASAKAH, Syria -- Christian Assyrian and Syriac political parties in northeastern Syria canceled celebrations marking the 6770th anniversary of the Assyrian Babylonian New Year and Akito's Day over fears of the spread of the coronavirus. Assyrians, Syriacs and Chaldeans celebrate on April 1 of every year, and the festivities continue for the following 12 days as families wearing folkloric dresses go out in nature and dance. In a March 30 statement on its Facebook page, the Syriac Union Party, based in Qamishli city, called on people not to gather and to abide by the precautionary measures and stay home to curb the spread of the virus. "Akito's Day comes this year amid a worldwide crisis as a result of the broad spread of the coronavirus," the statement read. "In order to curb this epidemic, we call on all our people throughout the world to stick to all instructions issued by official authorities." Read the full story here. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Alexandra Ulmer (Reuters) Mumbai Mon, April 6, 2020 22:21 644 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd01b5a6 2 World COVID-19,India,COVID-19-test Free A statistical oddity in India's new coronavirus testing numbers has sparked questions about the country's data management. Every day for over a week in late March, government data on the difference between the number of overall samples tested and number of individuals tested remained exactly the same - 890. That is despite both sets of numbers increasing every day. While the number of overall tests will be greater than or equal to the number of individuals tested, given some people get re-tested, the repetition of the number baffled experts. "When it is exactly 890 [repeatedly], that needs further explanation," said India-based epidemiologist Tanmay Mahapatra. The recurrence of the 890-gap in the Indian Council of Medical Research's data was reported by data journalism outlet IndiaSpend. The issue has reignited researchers' calls for the Indian government to share more granular data. Giridhar Babu, a professor of epidemiology with the Public Health Foundation of India, said that would allow researchers to spot potential issues with numbers more quickly. A researcher advising the Indian government on modelling the virus's spread said his team had been "tearing [their] hair out" trying to get authorities to ramp up testing. "Now, it seems we can't even trust the little data we have," said the researcher, asking to remain anonymous to avoid repercussions from authorities. The gap stems from counting Indians evacuated from abroad who were tested twice, Rajni Kant, a doctor with the Indian Council of Medical Research, told Reuters on Monday. The government said in March that 890 people had been evacuated from overseas. That suggests authorities appeared to have been subtracting 890 from the overall number of samples tested to provide an approximation of the number of tested individuals. Overall, India has conducted a little more than 96,000 tests, a tiny proportion of its 1.3-billion population. Reporting forms did not initially have any way to signal if an individual had already been tested, according to employees at two testing centres interviewed by Reuters. New government forms issued in recent days, however, include the question, "Is this a repeated sample?" Intimate partner violence is a broad problem. An estimated one in four women (24%) and one in seven men (14%) aged 18 and older in the United States have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner. Current stay-at-home restrictions preventing the spread of COVID-19 may drastically increase these incidents. Some agencies in the United States are already reporting an increase in such reports. And on March 30, a Pennsylvania man, upset about losing his job during the pandemic, shot his girlfriend and killed himself. His girlfriend was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Also called domestic violence, intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global health problem that primarily though not exclusively affects women in every country. Here in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that one in four women will experience domestic violence during her lifetime. IPV can happen to anyone, affecting people across socioeconomic groups. Partner abuse or aggression can begin in subtle or insidious ways, starting with calling the woman rude names, making negative and sarcastic remarks, and escalating to intense verbal abuse on a daily basis. It can further accelerate into increasingly dangerous and damaging forms of violence, life-threatening trauma, and even death. This pattern of harmful behaviors tends to continue over time as the perpetrator uses the abuse, or threat of violence, to maintain power and control over the woman. The perpetrators abusive behavior can be obvious or subtle. In many cases, that person uses both approaches to induce fear and self-doubt, leading to the womans capitulation to the will of the perpetrator. The abused womans sense of self diminishes over time as the abuse erodes her self-confidence, ability to function, and decision-making. Although there are many forms of IPV, the most universally known are physical, psychological, emotional, sexual, and financial, along with intimidation, isolation, and abuse of male privilege. My research has focused on disabled and nondisabled women who have experienced IPV, and those women who have extricated themselves from these situations. More recently, I studied verbal abuse that precedes more serious and life-threatening forms of abuse, as well as the destruction of the womans personal property. My work, looking at both nonmilitary and military wives experiences, has found that verbal abuse tends to accentuate ones vulnerability and becomes a precursor for the person developing other health problems, especially mental health issues. Now, given the need to maintain social distance and shelter-in-place, one local outpatient community behavioral mental health center has received fewer than usual calls from women for mental health services. Although services are available, and the center has embraced telehealth through digital communication to provide care, some women that use weekly services have declined to use telehealth. When counselors have reached out to check in with clients via phone, its been women who are known victims of IPV, or those most at risk for abuse, who either do not answer their phones or say they are too busy to talk. Only a few women have indicated the presence of a partner or spouse nearby, with remarks such as: Im needed by my husband or Im busy with someone right now. These brief interactions between the counselor and client are limited to a few words. Questions asking the woman when a good time would be to call back go unanswered with phrases like: I dont know or You dont have to call back. These comments suggest to the counselor that these women cannot speak freely, and they sound different, as if something is amiss. Although one may say that this is only an assumption on the counselors part, I believe it is typically an educated and intuitive supposition based on the counselors knowledge and clinical experience from working with that specific client. If the services usually in-place such as hotlines, phone resources, and agencies serving women experiencing abuse are not accessible, then these women will go unserved. One of the limitations of telehealth is privacy in the home setting, where other people can hear or even purposely listen to an individual or group counseling session. Perpetrators of abuse who maintain control of a woman and secrecy surrounding their lives together are the last people who would accept a woman participating in group therapy or a support group session via telehealth. It could be even more dangerous for a woman experiencing IPV to reach out for help at this time. Nurses, including those in advanced practice, will continue to use established standards of practice to assess and effectively intervene with victims of IPV. Nurses are well prepared to identify and educate women on types of abuse and help formulate plans for safety, family care, and treatment interventions for the victim. Hotlines, crisis centers, and shelters have remained open during the pandemic. Additionally, two places women can still frequent during this pandemic are grocery stores and pharmacies, which could be used to provide information about domestic violence services in local areas. This crisis isnt going away, and nor should our support. Linda Carman Copel is a professor at Villanova Universitys M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, a certified psychiatric mental health clinical nurse specialist, and a marriage and family therapist. The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) says it is in touch with the World Bank for funds for states to mitigate the economic and social costs of the Covid-19 pandemic. Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, the NGF chairman, said this in a statement on Monday. Mr Fayemi also said there are ongoing plans to include disbursement of existing and new financing for states under the State Fiscal, Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Programme-for-Results (PforR) project. The SFTAS is an agreement signed between the Federal Government and the World Bank, designed to strengthen the fiscal transparency, accountability and sustainability in Nigerian states. The initiative aims to improve states revenue, increase fiscal efficiency in public expenditure and reduce their debts with a grant of $750 million open to the 36 states between 2018 and 2021, according to their performances. In February, the World Bank announced that 12 states missed out on its $4.5 million (N1.37 billion) 2018 grant for not meeting the eligibility criteria. The Forum also expressed gratitude to the Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) set up by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for their pledge to support states to increase their capacity to mitigate the spread of the virus and care for confirmed cases through the construction of isolation centres and the distribution of personal protective equipment to states. The CACOVID Relief Fund is domiciled at the CBN. As at April 1, it has realised about N15.325 billion as contributions to tackle coronavirus in the country. Ongoing plans include accelerated disbursement of existing and new financing for States under the State Fiscal, Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability Programme-for-Results, and mitigation and recovery support for expenditures to protect livelihoods, support local economic activity and recovery over the next 18 months to 2 years. The forum also expressed full support for the federal governments timely implementation of the petrol price modulation mechanism to eliminate petrol subsidy permanently in the country. READ FULL NGF STATEMENT We, members of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), at our meeting held today deliberated on the COVID-19 pandemic in the country and resolved as follows: The NGF Chairman briefed State Governors on ongoing coordination with the World Bank to mobilise support for States to mitigate the economic and social cost of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ongoing plans include accelerated disbursement of existing and new financing for States under the State Fiscal, Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Programme-for-Results, and mitigation and recovery support for expenditures to protect livelihoods, support local economic activity and recovery over the next 18 months to 2 years. The Forum expressed appreciation to the Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) set up by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for their pledge to support States increase their capacity to mitigate the spread of the virus and care for confirmed cases through the construction of isolation centres and the distribution of personal protective equipment to States. Members underscored the need for CACOVID to work directly with the States in the distribution of palliatives. Following a briefing from Mr. Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) on the activities of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 which he chairs, the Forum commended the SGF and his team for the commitment in leading a national response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Members also emphasized the necessity for stronger collaboration with States because they are best positioned to administer palliatives to mitigate the impact of the crisis, includingthe distribution of food and essential materials to households to help them cope with the expected loss of income and livelihoods. The Forum received presentation from Mazen Mroue, Chief Operating Officer and Olubayo Adekanmbi, Chief Transformation Officer, MTN Nigeria on ongoing collaboration with the NGF Secretariat to profile States vulnerability to the spread of the coronavirus based on parameters such as population, age and density, travel history, location, income level, etc. Governors approved the vulnerability model and resolved to use the model to drive a data-driven approach to stopping the spread of the virus in the country. The Forum also expressed full support for the federal governments timely implementation of the petrol price modulation mechanism to eliminate petrol subsidy permanently in the country. Governors unanimously supported the unification of exchange rates into a single, market-determined window and the use of the market-determined exchange rate to calculate all revenues due to the Federation. Finally, Governors reiterated the importance of canceling all deductions and deferring or restructuring all commercial debt service payments on federal government and CBN-owned debts. Governor Kayode Fayemi Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum 5th April 2020 Actor Chris Hemsworth has a special message for his Indian fans, ahead of the release of his new action film, Extraction, which was majorly shot in several cities across the nation. Hemsworth is currently in Australia, and has apologised for not being able to visit India as planned. Namaste India. Chris Hemsworth here, coming to you all the way from Australia. As you may have heard, I was incredibly excited to come to India and to celebrate this movie where it was filmed. My time in your country during production was unforgettable and I was so looking forward to returning, he said. A message to India from @ChrisHemsworth and also the easiest way to get lost in his eyes today. pic.twitter.com/Amh55F8xmm Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) April 6, 2020 Hemsworth continued, But you know whats happening in the world at the moment. I, like you, am staying home. I know things are not easy right now for everyone, so I wanted to share something I hope you all will enjoy. Hemsworth said it was an honour to work with some of the best local talent on the film, and that the trailer would be released on Tuesday. Extraction also features actors Pankaj Tripathi, Randeep Hooda and Manoj Bajpayee. Directed by Sam Hargrave, the film is produced by Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo, based on a script by Joe. Also read: Chris Hemsworth on injuring Randeep Hooda during Extraction: Felt very embarrassed. He wasnt angry at me In the film, Hemsworth plays Tyler Rake, a black market mercenary in the film, who embarks on a deadly mission when hes enlisted to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord. Extraction was shot in Ahmedabad and Mumbai, and is slated for release on April 24. Follow @htshowbiz for more While adults are being strained with working remotely, dealing with lost income or disruptions to their schedules, many children have seen their routines completely disrupted due to the COVID-19 outbreak. There is no school to go to, no friends to meet outside and no playdates. They may see parents at home, stressed due to the ongoing emergency around them. Debra Cutler, a pediatrician at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic-Berghelsen Main Campus, stresses it is important to help children navigate their anxiety. It is virtually impossible to keep children from hearing about the COVID-19 outbreak so it is best to confront it in meaningful ways. Set their minds at ease, Cutler said in a news release. Let your kids talk about their worries and fears and then reassure them by explaining what you are doing to help protect them. If their school is closed, let them know its only a precautionary measure to keep them safe. Emphasize that not everyone will get the coronavirus and that there are things we may all do to help prevent getting sick. There is a point where shielding children from whats happening needs to take a backseat to providing meaningful information without overwhelming them. Give children information. Keep it simple and use words that are age appropriate, Cutler said. Stick to facts and focus on the positives. Give them the opportunity to ask questions or voice fears. Its okay to let them know you dont have all the answers. As with their parents, it is sometimes okay to escape all the news that is around them. Get their minds off it. Choose to receive news through alerts on your phone to help reduce the amount of news children in your house are exposed to, Cutler said. Instead, join them in playing video games or board games, camping in the backyard, or just having a good time doing something they enjoy. Fun and laughter are excellent stress relievers for little ones. For most kids, theres no reason for them to see or hear the news, so limit or eliminate their exposure to it, and to social media. As for protecting against the violence, Cutler stressed the need to make taking care of themselves fun. Sing songs while washing hands and reward them when they take good care of themselves. Time should also be taken to teach children how to take care of themselves. Give reminders and practice healthy habits, Cutler said. Remind them to stay away from people who are coughing, sneezing, or otherwise sick. Teach and remind them to cough or sneeze into their elbow, or a tissue, and then throw the tissue into the trash and wash their hands. And while children are still amid a school year with school districts doing what they can to maintain their education, a normal routine can help. Sticking with a regular schedule may be reassuring, Cutler said. Encourage children to keep up with schoolwork. Enforce regular bedtimes. Eat meals together as a family whenever possible. Give your kids lots of affection. The Centers for Disease Control also stresses keeping children engaged in the fight against COVID-19 can only help all involved. Having children join in keeping areas around the house clean can help them feel useful. Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily in household common areas (like tables, hard-backed chairs, doorknobs, light switches, remotes, handles, desks, toilets, and sinks), according to the CDC. Another important aspect for parents is make sure they lead the way. Be a role model, the CDC reports. Take breaks, get plenty of sleep, exercise and eat well. Connect with your friends and family members. For more information from the CDC, go to www.cdc.gov/coronavirus. Kelsey-Seybold Clinic was founded in 1949 by Dr. Mavis Kelsey in the Texas Medical Center. It now has more than 400 physicians and allied health professionals practicing at 20 locations in the greater Houston area. For more information go to www.kelsey-seybold.com. rkent@hcnonline.com This is an opinion cartoon. She may have been slow in telling us what to do, but Kay Ivey herself was socially distanced and hunkered down way before the coronavirus pandemic. Whitmire: Alabama is stuck on autopilot The governor was late to the party, but Friday she told Alabama citizens what she should have said weeks ago: Stay at home. Ivey has been the most socially distanced governor in the country from the get-go. She wont debate or answer questions, her public appearances are few, far between, brief and controlled. Who had the bright idea for Ivey to wade into the snake pit of a Twitter coronavirus Q&A? I think someone in her inner circle played a late April Fools joke on the governor. Check out more cartoons by JD Crowe Journalists and media personnel hit the streets of Pakistan occupied Kashmir's Gilgit Baltistan to protest against police forces. They took to the streets after a fellow journalist was tortured by the police while reporting from the ground amid the COVID-19 lockdown. The territory has been under lockdown in order to control the spread of the deadly Coronavirus. However, the government has issued special passes to media personnel that allow them to report and perform their duties. While protesting one of the journalists said "Targeting media personnel like this is an unjust act by the administration and it should be stopped. When passes have been issued by the authorities then there is no sense that the ACP comes and shows brutality on the journalist. After all, unless media functions properly, both the administration and the governments can't". Another protesting journalist said that they think that attacking one of them would mean attacking all of them and this is not the first incidence of firing that has been observed during the lockdown. "Some of the passes were also torn by the authorities. If these incidences continue then they may think about the last options as well. Despite the permission granted by authorities, several incidences of police brutality and incorporative behaviour have been reported in the region", he said. These protestors demand an apology from the Assistant Commissioner of Police for their impetuous behaviour. Also, this is not the first time when incidences of brutality and barbarism were seen by the authorities in the illegally occupied territory. As it is, freedom of the press in the illegally occupied territory is at its lowest but journalists of the region are working hard and fulfilling their duties of keeping the citizens well-informed. However, acts like these on media persons have left the citizens of the region without any hopes for a better future. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Google on Monday said it will now show the locations of food shelters and night shelters on Google Maps in cities across India to help people find these essential services during the ongoing lockdown. Google, in a statement, said it is working closely with state and central government authorities to surface the locations of these relief centres. "To date, across 30 cities, people can now find these locations on Google Maps, Search and Google Assistant," it added. Users can search for 'Food shelters in ' or 'Night shelters in ' in any of these Google products. The service will also be made available in Hindi soon, the statement said. Google is working to bring this service to other Indian languages over the coming weeks, as well as adding additional shelters in more cities across the country, it added. "As the COVID-19 situation develops, we are making a concerted effort to build solutions that help people during these times of need," Google India Senior Programme Manager Anal Ghosh said. He added that highlighting the locations of food and night shelters on Google Maps is a step to make this information easily available to the users in need, and ensure they can avail the food and shelter services being provided by the government authorities. "With the help of volunteers, NGOs, and traffic authorities, we hope to convey this important information to the affected people, many of whom may not have access to a smartphone or mobile device during this time," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) I believe CommLoan is in a position to disrupt the ideology of a fragmented commercial lending market through technology designed to improve the borrowers experience with the lenders. CommLoan, a leading CRE lending tech company connecting borrowers to lenders, just announced John Dorsey as the President of Sales and Business Development. John will be responsible for the leadership of the CommLoan sales team, developing new business opportunities, and working alongside CEO Mitch Ginsberg on strategic direction of the company. Dorsey has more than 20 years of senior management experience, including 15 years of business relationship development and plan execution at a national multi-family utility billing service company. Most recently, he was Chief Sales Officer of Conservice, LLC. I am very excited to have John Dorsey as a member of the CommLoan team, said Mitch Ginsberg, CEO and founder of CommLoan. As CommLoan continues its rapid growth and focuses on expansion to new US markets, Johns sales leadership and his strong background in building top performing sales teams will accelerate CommLoans growth. We are thrilled to have him onboard! stated Mitch. I am honored to be joining the CommLoan team, said John Dorsey. I believe CommLoan has a great business model with a talented management team, contributing to its unique position to capitalize on the everchanging commercial lending environment. As technological utilization continually evolves to optimize business transactions, the commercial mortgage industry is being left behind. This is why CommLoan introduced a new way of streamlining the borrowers experience through the CUPID (Commercial Underwriting Pricing Index Data) platform. I believe CommLoan is in a position to disrupt the ideology of a fragmented commercial lending market through technology designed to improve the borrowers experience with the lenders. As one of the original founders and Chief Sales Officer of Conservice, Dorsey successfully grew revenue from 0 to 80+ million. He led the company through strategic partnerships, led them to win numerous notable service awards and industry recognition before exiting through a private equity acquisition of Conservice. Dorsey earned a BA Degree in Geography from Arizona State University and an MBA in International Business from Grand Canyon University. Prior to his formal education, John Dorsey proudly served his country in the US Army Armored Division. About CommLoan Founded in 2014, CommLoan is the true commercial real estate lending marketplace with the innovative platform CUPID. CommLoan has streamlined the multifaceted process of obtaining commercial real estate financing. With the touch of a button, CUPID can sort through hundreds of lenders and thousands of loan programs to find the right loan that fits borrowers specific needs. Combined with concierge service throughout the process, leaves the borrower with a world class lending experience. Further information about how CommLoans technology disrupts the commercial real estate mortgage industry, please visit https://www.commloan.com With the temporary closing of nonessential businesses and strict limitations imposed on restaurants, individuals and organizations across New Mexico have stepped up to help with the creation of multiple online directories, social media campaigns and funds all designed to help promote and support local businesses. The world changed dramatically with COVID-19 and for our partners, theres been a dispro-portionate and catastro-phic impact on our industry, the hospitality industry, said Tania Armenta, president and CEO of Visit Albuquerque. Businesses deemed nonessential including many locally owned retail shops, beauty salons, gyms and more were ordered to close after March 23. But as companies closed their doors or had to dramatically restructure operations, sites and campaigns urging New Mexicans to shop local began cropping up. For Max Baptiste, it became clear local businesses needed help weathering the pandemic when he saw a heartfelt social media post made by Zendo Coffees owner Pilar Westell announcing some tough decisions she had to make as a business owner. It just really hurt me because shes a small business owner, shes been doing well for years, she has the community support, said Baptiste, who works as art curator for the Albuquerque International Sunport. With an assist from partners Electric Playhouse, the Albuquerque Economic Development Department, New Mexico United and Explora, Baptiste created iHeartABQ within a day. As of last week, iHeartABQ.com showed listings of 125 different businesses ranging from restaurants to auto body shops to salons to visual artists. T-shirts are for sale on the site, with $5.05 of sales going to a fund that will support local businesses. While devastating to Albuquerques economy, Baptiste said the virus has highlighted the citys strengths. It really lets people come together, he said. I think thats an amazing thing. Baptistes site is far from the only local directory that cropped up in the wake of the health pandemic. The New Mexico Restaurant Association and the New Mexico Hospitality Association teamed up to create Whats Open NM, to give consumers an updated list of restaurants still open for takeout and/or delivery, as well as other businesses. The Buy for Tomorrow Today site, created by the New Mexico Economic Development Department, lists businesses from across the state that in some cases may be closed but which are offering gift cards that can be redeemed later. We know New Mexicans have loyalty to local businesses, and those businesses need our support now more than ever, said Alicia Keyes, New Mexico Economic Development secretary. We hope this website becomes one of many tools that can help businesses through this crisis. Online campaigns launched by both the City of Albuquerque and Visit Albuquerque are trying to encourage people to shop locally as much as possible. We realize that many small businesses are directly being impacted and were doing all that we can to support them, said Jennifer Esquivel, spokeswoman for the Albuquerque Economic Development Department, which released a guidebook for businesses and consumers. The city has also been running a social campaign under the hashtag #SupportLocalABQ to encourage people to shop from local businesses whenever possible. Visit Albuquerque has taken a similar approach. Its been really remarkable just to see the depth and breadth of that type of sharing, of that type of creativity and the kindness that has been happening throughout the city, Armenta said. She said that in addition to the online campaign, Visit Albuquerque has been compiling up-to-date resources for businesses and running business directory. For a number of years weve used the hashtag #TrueABQ so we repurposed that brand hashtag for the time being and were keeping an eye out and sharing acts of kindness, Armenta said. One of the Fulani herdsmen notorious for r.a.p.i.n.g women at Umulungbe in Udi Local Government Area has been arrested and handed over to the police. Daily Sun gathered that the suspect was one of the three herdsmen accused of r.a.p.i.n.g a 75 year old woman in her farm at Umulungbe. The culprit was apprehended around 5:30pm last Friday, after attacking the woman, alongside another in their farms. Sources said the culprit was nabbed and brought to the Ninth Mile police division, while leaders of the Fulani herdsmen camping in the community were also summoned. They denied knowing the suspect claiming that he and his gang members, still at large, might have sneaked into the community. The Sun correspondent also gathered that both the culprit and the r3pe victim were currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital. Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, when contacted, confirmed the incident and revealed that the matter has been transferred to the State CID for further investigation. Chairman of Udi Local Government Area, Ifeanyi Agu condemned the incident, adding that, prior to his swearing in as council boss; he had consulted widely to ensure absolute security of lives and property in area. He said: We have the states security committee that has been very active. We also have our Forest Guards and neighbourhood watch. I personally advocate farming for our people because of the relative peace in our area. But what happened indicates that we need to re-strengthen our security apparatus to ensure that such never occurred again. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot once again on Monday urged the Centre to release a one-time grant of Rs 1 lakh crore for all states, citing fund crunch in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Shooting second letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the past a few days, the chief minister said the financial situation of the states is deteriorating rapidly due to a huge decline in revenue. "The government of India should announce an economic package, including a one-time grant of Rs 1 lakh crore for all states," he said. The chief minister demanded that state governments should be provided an interest-free wage and means advance facility to ensure effective handling of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Centre should consider giving wage subsidy as done in countries like Canada as workers in the unorganised sector are staring at the loss of livelihood, he added. Praising the Garib Kalyan Yojana and the economic package announced by the Union government to contain the economic downturn, Gehlot said, "Its timely implementation will be in public interest." Among other demand, Gehlot also requested to increase testing facilities to get the accurate picture of the coronavirus spread in the country. The CM requested the PM to make arrangements for the import of testing kits and personal protection equipment (PPE) for doctors and the other medical staff. He reiterated that the Centre should put in place the clearly laid down interstate supply chain protocol for the movement of essential goods while requesting to provide foodgrain on a par with the National Food Security Scheme (NFSS) beneficiaries to migrant labourers, street vendors, rickshaw-pullers, registered construction and factory workers. He also sought an advance wage payment for 21 days to the registered and active labourers engaged under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), which may be adjusted once the work starts at sites. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thank you for tuning in to episode 67 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your host Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com. This episode is brought to you by our friends at PSCU. As the nations premier payments CUSO, PSCU proudly supports the success of more than 1,500 credit unions. When it comes to digital transformation, how do you stay ahead of the pace of change, while also providing value? What role can digital technology and data play in the success of the credit union industry? To answer all that and more, I sat down with Pete Hilger, CEO and President of Allied Solutions, to chat about his companys shift from solely a distribution/manufacturing business to a booming service and technology company. Throughout the episode, Pete and I discuss many of the challenges Allied Solutions has had to overcome to remain relevant, including modernizing their core platform, investing in meaningful service solutions, and diversifying their business. Pete also shares how theyve been able to build a better and bigger, NOT bigger and better business and work environment, while remaining true to their roots and culture. Additionally, we learn about Petes time in the military and how those experiences, among others, helped get him to where he is today. We also talk about the leadership lessons hes learned over the years, the mentors hes had along the way, and the need to let go and trust your employees. As usual, we wrap up with the rapid-fire questions, where Pete gives us a glimpse into his day, chats about what he does to recharge, and tells us about his rigorous daily workout routine I get tired just thinking about it. Be sure to give this episode a listen! Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List How to find Pete: Pete Hilger, CEO and President of Allied Solutions pete.hilger@alliedsolutions.net www.alliedsolutions.net LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter Show notes from this episode: Shout-out: To our friends at PSCU, an amazing sponsor of The CUInsight Experience podcast. Thank you! Check out all the work Pete and his team are doing at Allied Solutions here Shout-out: Chuck Fagan Shout-out: Carmel, Indiana Shout-out: St. Paul, Minnesota Shout-out: Dakota Dunes, South Dakota Shout-out: Plano, Texas Shout-out: Petes mom, Melissa Eldredge Shout-out: Chris Hilger Shout-out: Securian Financial Shout-out: Lauren Culp Shout-out: Petes wife Shout-out: Petes kids Shout-out: Tampa Bay Lightning Shout-out: North Central High School Shout-out: Joe Walsh Shout-out: Jill Nowacki Band mentioned: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Running Down a Dream by Tom Petty Book mentioned: The Art of Racing in The Rain by Garth Stein Previous guests mentioned in this episode: Chuck Fagan, Lauren Culp, Jill Nowacki (episodes 4, 18, 37 & 64) You can find all past episodes of The CUInsight Experience here. In This Episode: [01:57] Pete, welcome to the show! [02:45] Pete shares a little of Allied Solutions history and what has changed in the last few years. [04:34] What do you think needs to change with credit unions to keep them relevant fundamentally? [05:54] Pete shares how they are staying afloat with the changing technology in todays market. [08:46] Pete speaks about where he finds great employees and keeping the ones he has. [10:54] How do you keep the culture that made you successful through all of the growth Allied has experienced? [12:46] Pete chats about what he will be proud to have accomplished a year from now. [14:17] Pete shares what inspired him to take the position as CEO of Allied Solutions. [17:02] Pete speaks about the things he learned from the shredding company he bought that went under. [19:19] How would you describe your leadership style and how has that changed over the years? [21:25] Our success or failures drip down to the lowest person within our organization to the highest person within our organization. Is something Pete says all the time to his team. [22:33] Pete says that the military helped cultivate his ability to make the hard decisions. [23:50] He believes that the biggest lesson he has learned over the years was to treat people better. [24:48] Is there a piece or life lesson you learned that you keep going back to? [25:40] Pete shares who his mentors were as he came up in his career. [27:00] He speaks about a couple of times in his career with Allied that he was really torn about what to do. [28:48] What does your typical workday look like and describe what the perfect day would be. [30:35] Pete describes what he does to recharge when he has a day off. [31:56] What were you like in high school and what was the first time you got into memorable trouble? [33:45] Pete shares what he wanted to be when he grew up. [34:45] Pete says that if he doesnt work out every day, he feels off. [35:33] What is your favorite album? [36:26] What book do you think everyone should read? [37:21] Pete believes that knowing everything has become less important and the condition of the company has become more important. [38:48] Donald Trump and his mom are the first people that come to mind when Pete hears the word success. [40:55] Petes final thoughts for the listeners. [42:10] Thank you for being on the show, Pete! [April 06, 2020] New Data Repository May Revolutionize Precision Medicine ROCKVILLE, Md., April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ESAC, Inc. is pleased to announce the successful launch of the Proteomic Data Commons (PDC) within the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Cancer Research Data Commons (CRDC) on the cancer.gov domain on March 23, 2020. According to ESAC Project Manager, Ratna Thangudu, Ph.D., "The PDC is a next-generation proteomic data repository within NCI's CRDC that facilitates proteogenomics to revolutionize precision medicine." The PDC provides the largest collection of freely available cancer proteomic data on a highly scalable cloud-based infrastructure that facilitates bringing analysis tools to the data instead of the opposite. Whereas in the past, data sets have been analyzed with separate computational pipelines, the PDC harmonizes proteomic data with a common set of analytic pipelines to facilitate comparisons between different samples and cancer types. The PDC makes it possible for any researcher to ask new and fundamental questions about cancer and provides much-needed tools to accelerate research and the developmen of personalized treatments for individual patients. Cancer researchers can now easily access the multi-omics (proteomic, genomic, imaging, etc.) data from many sources across the CRDC's virtual, expandable infrastructure, thus lowering the entry barrier for anyone who wants to get involved in integrative research. According to Michael Holck, Vice President of Software Engineering at ESAC, the PDC is hosted within the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud allowing for easy access anywhere in the world and provides extremely large scalability to accommodate large volumes of data and compute power for data analysis. The PDC Data Browser provides an easy-to-use user interface to query the available data. In addition, there are robust APIs available for bioinformaticians to use to access data programmatically. "What this means is that from anywhere in the world PDC users can obtain the data they need as quickly and easily as they can stream a movie from Netflix," he said. "We are excited to support the Cancer Research Data Commons and the larger cancer research community with the first public release of the Proteomic Data Commons," said ESAC President, Anand Basu. "We look forward to building upon this open science platform with input from data submitters and users in the coming months through new releases and much anticipated features in support of cancer proteogenomics research." This project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Task Order No. GS-35F-0539X/HHSN261201700175U. ESAC, Inc. provides research data management, bioinformatics, and healthcare information technology solutions for government, commercial and academic clients. We are dedicated to improving human health and the healthcare experience worldwide through our expertise in life sciences, engineering, research, and medicine. Headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, we are committed to delivering advanced technological solutions and scientific expertise. Contact: Eleni Z. Antoniou, ESAC, Inc. Phone: (301) 979-7444 Email: [email protected] LinkedIn Twitter View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-data-repository-may-revolutionize-precision-medicine-301035843.html SOURCE ESAC, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] One option would involve Year 12 students completing short courses at university before they began their formal first-year studies. All universities have the ability to put short courses in place, which will enable students to catch up in areas where they mightnt have been able to get that knowledge that they will require for a course like medicine, for example, Mr Tehan said. So, weve got the ability to look at all these things, be flexible, be innovative, and just say to students, Look, you might be required to do this eight-week short course at the start of your medicine degree, so that you get that knowledge. Mr Tehan said there had already been discussions with Australian universities. Theyd be happy to look at a mix of whats happened during the students assessments in Year 11, and then look at whats happened in Year 12, and look at a mixture then of both, he said. Amazon allows approximately five million people and companies to sell products on Amazon.com and to use Amazon's warehouses and shipping systems; People and companies that sell products on Amazon are called "Amazon Sellers" or "Amazon Third party Sellers" Price Gouging is defined as "the increase of prices by retailers in the absence of a viable alternative" 1 When Amazon accuses an Amazon Seller of price gouging, the Amazon Seller often loses the ability to sell the product on Amazon.com and Amazon also often shuts down the Amazon Seller's entire business and withholds the suspended Amazon Seller's inventory and money. The effect of a price gouging accusation against an Amazon Seller is the same whether the price gouging accusation is accurate or when Amazon's price gouging accusation is baseless. Rosenbaum Famularo, P.C. successfully helped multiple Amazon Sellers get their Amazon Sellers' accounts, their inventory and their money from Amazon. CJ Rosenbaum stated that "we are winning these issues with Amazon by pointing out that price increases are solely related to increased costs to obtain the products. Our clients are NOT price gouging." CJ Rosenbaum further expressed that "it seems that Amazon is just passing the buck: when a State Attorney General contacts Amazon, Amazon seemingly points the finger at Amazon Sellers. We saw this before with sales tax issues." Attorney Travis Stockman and paralegal Vincent Famularo are on the team addressing false accusations of price gouging. Travis Stockman stated that "setting prices for a product that include the wholesale cost of the goods and estimated shipping costs to make a minimal profit...this is not price gouging." A short video explaining how the firm is winning the reinstatement of Amazon Sellers accused of price gouging can be accessed by clicking here. Rosenbaum Famularo, P.C., is a law firm dedicated to helping Amazon Sellers with offices located in Long Beach, New York and Shenzhen and Yiwu, China. 1 https://thelawdictionary.org/price-gouging/ CJ Rosenbaum Rosenbaum Famularo, P.C. AmazonSellersLawyers.Com [email protected] 212-256-1109 SOURCE Rosenbaum Famularo, P.C. Related Links www.amazonsellerslawyer.com The Trump administration is weighing legal actions against China after leading US manufacturers claimed the Asian country prohibited them from exporting their products to the USA amid COVID-19 pandemic. Two US manufacturing companies, 3M and Honeywell, said they were not allowed to export supplies of N95 respirators, booties, gloves, and other medical equipment produced in their factories located in China since January. The Chinese government reportedly paid their products at a standard rate, but vehemently prohibited the manufacturers from selling it to other nations. Official data posted by China showed it imported 2.6 billion pieces of protective gear from January 24 and February 29, items they procured from countries in the European Union. The materials included 2 billion masks and 25 million PPE. Last week, US President Donald Trump invoked the Defense Production Act in a bid to get manufacturing giants to churn out more protective gear amid the dwindling number of medical supplies in the nation. @RealSaavedra https://t.co/SwPRbbBtdm They [China] have victimized the world once and now they are re-victimizing with their profiteering off of PPE that is desperately needed in the countries that are being ravaged by the Chinese coronavirus. Good piece via @realDailyWire Jenna Ellis (@JennaEllisEsq) April 6, 2020 Jenna Ellis, Trump's senior legal adviser, said China's actions equate to murder in criminal law. She also said prohibiting the exportation of necessary medical equipment used to save coronavirus patients and lower risk of infection in front liners are "cold-blood, premeditated actions." Michael Wessel, a commission member, said the ban is affecting American health care facilities, effectively starving them of PPEs. He also said China is hoarding the products for their use at the expense of other countries. Wessel believes the Chinese policy aims to curry goodwill with Americans after the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak was brought about by the Chinese government's decisions. A senior trade adviser describes the ban "political warfare." Steve Bannon, a former White House strategist, said China's behavior resembles a "biological Chernobyl." "They're at war with the West," he said. The US government is now looking at legal options, including filing a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights or the United Nations. Medical Supply Shortage President Trump said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is cooperating with various states to provide them with much needed medical supplies in the next coming days. According to reports, the Trump administration sent out more than 300 million gloves, 8 million face masks, and 3 million gowns to state hospitals and health care providers across the nation. They also expect more supplies to come in via cargo planes. FEMA has also delivered ventilators to numerous states, including New Jersey, Michigan, and Illinois. The state of Washington donated 400 working ventilators to be used by other states. The Trump administration recently purchased almost 29 million doses of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug, to be distributed to the states. President Trump has publicly touted the drug as a potential treatment for coronavirus. There is a lack of evidence about its effectivity; however, initial reports produced promising results. "We have it stockpiled," Trump said. "We have a lot of it. We hope it works." Read More: with reporting from Press Association Seven more people have died from coronavirus in Northern Ireland, Stormont officials have reported. First Minister Arlene Foster said most people in Northern Ireland were observing social distancing guidance as the total number of people who with the virus who have died in the North reached 70. It is essential in this critical period that we do not relax our guard, especially in the lead-up to and during the Easter period, she said. She said ministers would continue to work with private businesses which are shifting production lines to make protective equipment. She expressed hope the testing of healthcare staff at Belfasts SSE Arena will free up more frontline NHS staff to treat coronavirus patients. Meanwhile, a total of 5,373 patients have died in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Sunday, the UK Department of Health said, up by 439 from 4,934 the day before. The Department of Health in Britain said that, as of 9am on Monday, 208,837 people have been tested of which 51,608 tested positive. So far, 252,958 tests have concluded, with 13,069 tests carried out on Sunday, excluding data from Northern Ireland. The data provided above has changed from previous updates. 1 we're now including the total number of tests (not just the number of people tested) 2 we're expanding test figures to include all 5 pillars of the UK Testing Strategy announced last week https://t.co/aqU3s3OKC7 Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) April 6, 2020 The numbers come as the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains under observation at St Thomas hospital in London where he was said to be continuing to work on his official papers from his hospital bed. In a tweet, the British Prime Minister said that he was in good spirits after being taken to hospital on the advice of his doctor to undergo some routine tests. He said: Last night, on the advice of my doctor, I went into hospital for some routine tests as Im still experiencing coronavirus symptoms. Im in good spirits and keeping in touch with my team, as we work together to fight this virus and keep everyone safe," he said. Earlier Mr Johnsons official spokesman said he continued to lead the UK Government after spending a comfortable night. The spokesman, however, declined to give details of any treatment he had received or when he might be discharged. The Prime Minister was admitted to hospital for tests last night as a precaution. The issue is that his symptoms remain persistent, the spokesman said. The Prime Minister had a comfortable night at St Thomas Hospital in London and is in good spirits. He remains in hospital under observation. In Mr Johnsons absence, the daily government coronavirus meeting was chaired by Dominic Raab, the UK Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State. However, the UK Prime Ministers spokesman said that he had received his ministerial red box containing his official papers and was continuing to work from the hospital. He continues to receive a box. The Prime Minister remains in charge of the Government. The spokesman dismissed a report in Russian state media that Mr Johnson was on a ventilator as disinformation. Our specialist Government units have seen a rise in false and misleading narratives since the coronavirus pandemic started. Its vital that any disinformation is knocked down quickly, the spokesman said. Mr Johnson was tested positive for coronavirus on March 27 and had been self-isolating in the Downing Street flat. The decision to admit him to hospital was taken on the advice of his doctor as the symptoms of a cough and a high temperature continued to persist more than a week after his original diagnosis. The national economy is in an unprecedented economic shutdown. But at least one report suggests that Alabamas economy is at lower risk, long term, compared to other states. Its a lot to keep up with. Heres Alabamas latest economic news -- good and bad. And a few things to know about how swiftly-changing national policies could affect you. What you need to know tonight National: More than 25 percent of the U.S. economy is shut down right now, according to a study conducted by Moodys Analytics for the Wall Street Journal. Eighty-two percent of American counties are currently under lockdown orders, as the country surpassed 10,000 total deaths due to COVID-19. The countrys daily economic output has dropped 29 percent. Some economists are optimistic that sectors of the economy will reopen in the summer, but there is less confidence now that well experience a V-shaped rebound of a recession. This is a natural disaster, Mark Zandi, Moodys chief economist told the Wall Street Journal. Theres nothing in the Great Depression that is analogous to what were experiencing now. But, counterintuitively, the stock market rose today, based on optimism that shutdowns across the world may have successfully flattened the curve. The new federal small business loan program has gotten off to a rough start, with some major banks hesitant to offer the government-backed loans, and a larger demand than the Small Business Administration initially expected -- or was prepared to handle. The Federal Reserve has stepped in to say it will supplement the work being done by the SBAs Paycheck Protection Program, either through direct loans to banks or by purchasing the loans from the banks so that banks arent saddled with the debt. State: Some good news for Alabama, Moodys Analytics also projects Alabamas economy could be among the least affected by the coronavirus shutdown. Take this with a grain of salt as these projections seem to change by the hour, not the day. But Moodys compiled data on March 30 and looked at six metrics: exposure to COVID-19, demographics, trade and travel disruptions, tourism, finance and commodities. Alabamas relatively strong ranking was based, in part, on data that showed the state was less exposed to the virus than others. Thats a number that could change as the state approaches its peak. Also good news for Alabamians, the state has set up a new website intended to ease the process of applying for economic resources during the pandemic. Gov. Kay Ivey announced the new website altogetheralabama.org as the states official guide to COVID-19 relief efforts. People can receive information about coronavirus testing, filing for unemployment, food banks, and other needs. Businesses can receive information about federal assistance loans, unemployment claims, and other needs. Its a needed resource because the state paid out $6 million in coronavirus-related unemployment claims last week. Market update Dow Open: 21,693.63 Dow Close: 22,722.75 (Up 7.73%) In case you missed it What were watching How safe is the working environment for essential employees these days? Birmingham-based grocery delivery company, Shipt, is preparing for a nationwide walk-off of employee demands are not met for safety improvements, better pay and other measures arent met. Resources Coronavirus in Alabama: How many infected; where to get tested; key information you need Coronavirus in Alabama: How to help, how to get help What happens if you lose your job due to coronavirus? What to do if you cant pay your bills How much will I get from the coronavirus stimulus? How do you apply for small business funds from the stimulus package? COVID-19 COVERAGE RESOURCES: Follow our live updates. Find all of our coronavirus stories. A continuously updated vital information post. A free text-messaging service so you can receive the most urgent coronavirus updates on your cellphone. And ask questions. To sign up, subscribe to Alabama Coronavirus Urgent Alerts. A new weekday newsletter is available. You can subscribe here. Also, download our mobile app where you can receive on-the-go notifications. T he Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy have both been deemed essential workers amid New Zealands coronavirus lockdown, the nations Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern promised children in her daily press conference. Asked about worries from younger citizens over the Easter Bunny being able to fulfil its duties, she said: Youll be pleased to know that we consider both the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny to be essential workers. "But as you can imagine at this time of course theyre going to be potentially quite busy at home with their families as well. I say to the children of New Zealand - if the Easter bunny doesnt make it to your household then we have to understand that its a bit difficult at the moment. New Zealand is in a four-week lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus there. 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 This has been going on for nearly two weeks so far. This means it will extend beyond Easter Sunday on April 12. Anyone but essential workers has been ordered to stay at home, unless they are accessing essential services such as healthcare, shopping for essentials or some safe forms of exercise. People must also observe social distancing. The nation has suffered just more than 1,100 cases since the start of the outbreak. Around the end of his shift, Joe Federico heard that the hospital closest to him CHI St. Lukes in the Woodlands had put out an emergency call, asking for donations of N95 masks. It was around 9 p.m. on Monday, March 23, and the coronavirus mask shortage was beginning to hammer the Houston areas medical providers. The hospital, he heard, was down to its last 35 masks. Federico texted his boss at Extra Space Storage. He knew that in a storage unit, the company still had around 100 left over from Harvey cleanup. His boss didnt get back to him right away, and Federico didnt wait. Hed worked at Extra Space for six years. He loved the company. He liked its values. It was the kind of place, he thought, that would do the right thing. It was like grabbing a fire extinguisher to put out a fire, he said. He loaded up around 80 of the masks and on his way home dropped them off outside the emergency room. The grateful doctors posted their thanks on social media. He didnt think they needed to thank him. Mainly he thought it was a shame that a hospital would need a stranger to drop off masks at 9:30 p.m. The next day, Federicos manager was far less pleased than the doctors. She thought he should have waited. Requisitioning company property without permission is, after all, straight-up theft. Federico didnt apologize, but he offered to pay for the masks. His boss wasnt mollified. He texted a joke: So fire me. Maybe he should have used an emoji. Maybe it was the heat of the moment. She fired him. His friends angrily posted their accounts of the story to Facebook. Some people saw him as a Robin Hood figure. Federico, though, didnt buy that. Not so much Hood, he jokes. But robbin, yeah. Soon after hed been fired, a division vice president of Extra Space called him. There had been a misunderstanding, the veep said. Federico had been right about Extra Space. The company wanted those doctors to have those masks. The veep offered Federico his job back. We take our company values seriously, said McKall Morris, Extra Spaces corporate spokesperson. When we do something that isnt in line with them, we correct that. Federico considered their offer. He talked it over with his family. Finally, after maybe a day-and-a-half of unemployment, he decided to go back. Now, he says, its like he never left. Or actually, its better. Because of him, Extra Space has asked its other 1,800 or so locations to see whether they, too, have masks in storage that can be donated. Federico likes that. I just wish I didnt have to get fired first, he said. lisa.gray@chron.com, LisaGray_HouTX Hundreds of German nationals were set to be flown out of New Zealand on Monday amid growing restrictions on movement to fight the spread of the new coronavirus. British tourists have also begun to leave. About 100,000 tourists found themselves stranded in New Zealand after it went into a strict lockdown 12 days ago in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus. Late last week, officials relaxed the rules enough to allow tourists to begin catching connecting domestic flights and for charter flights to start operating. About 12,000 Germans signed up for a repatriation programme, and about the same number of British tourists told officials they were trying to get home. For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But the virus is highly contagious and can be spread by those with mild or no visible symptoms. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and could lead to death. While other airlines have introduced various cost cutting measures such as laying off pilots, leave without pay and salary cuts, Air Deccan is the first casualty of the coronavirus pandemic. New Delhi: With revenues in the aviation sector having drastically reduced amid the 21-day lockdown imposed to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, Air Deccan announced on Sunday that it is ceasing its operations until further notice and all employees are being put on sabbatical without pay with immediate effect. In an email to his employees, Air Deccan CEO Arun Kumar Singh said, "In view of the recent global and domestic issues and subsequent directive by the Indian regulator (to suspend all flights till 14 April), Air Deccan has no choice but to cease its operations until further notice." "With heavy heart, I am also compelled to inform that all existing employees of Air Deccan (permanent, temporary and contractual) are being put on sabbatical without pay with immediate effect," he added in the email, which has been accessed by the PTI. Air Deccan has a fleet of four 18-seater Beechcraft aircraft to fly on regional routes in western India, focusing on Gujarat. Singh said in his email: "Next week, the management will hold meetings with department heads for continuity of certain key personnel (with continuity of employment terms) to ensure that when the right time arrives, the airline can be restarted with nominal efforts." "I personally assure you as and when Air Deccan recommences the operations under conducive circumstances, all existing employees will be offered first right of refusal for their current positions," he added. India has imposed a 21-day lockdown from 25 March to curb the coronavirus pandemic. 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 operating during this lockdown. Many airlines in India are close to bankruptcy as their cash reserves are running out amid the lockdown, industry body FICCI had told Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman through a letter last Wednesday. While other airlines have introduced various cost cutting measures such as laying off pilots, leave without pay and salary cuts, Air Deccan is the first casualty of the coronavirus pandemic. All major airlines except Air India are taking domestic bookings for dates post 14 April. As it has sent all employees on sabbatical without pay, Air Deccan is not taking any bookings and it is unsure when it would restart operations. IndiGo has announced a pay cut of up to 25 per cent for its senior employees and Vistara has announced a compulsory leave without pay of up to three days for its senior employees in March. SpiceJet has stated that its employees' salaries would be reduced between 10 to 30 percent and Air India has announced a 10 per cent cut in allowances for every employee, except cabin crew, for the coming three months. GoAir has cut salaries of its employees, laid off its expat pilots and introduced leave without pay for employees on a rotational basis. The Casimir Force is a well-known effect originating from the quantum fluctuation of electromagnetic fields in a vacuum. Now an international group of researchers have reported a counterpoint to that theory, adding to the understanding of energy fluctuations within fluids. Ultimately, said Rodolfo Ostilla-Monico, the goal is to apply the findings to better understand the collective behavior of bacteria and other organisms. Ostilla-Monico, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Houston, is co-corresponding author of a paper describing the discovery, published Friday in Science Advances. The customary effect of the Casimir Force is well understood, Ostilla-Monico said. "This is an analog to this force in a non-quantum system. We are especially interested in the biological implications." In addition to Ostilla-Monico, researchers involved in the project include Daniel Putt, a graduate student at UH; Vamsi Spandan from Harvard University; and Alpha A. Lee of the University of Cambridge. The work builds upon the Casimir Force, one of the governing principles of physics which describes a force arising from the unending electromagnetic waves found in a vacuum. It suggests that a vacuum, rather than being empty, is filled with energy, and this is demonstrated by measuring the force as two plates placed in the vacuum are attracted and move closer to one another because they confine the fluctuations of the electromagnetic field. Dutch physicist Hendrick Casimir first predicted the effect in 1948. The current work similarly focused on the study of fluctuation-induced force between two plates; in this case the plates were immersed in isotropic turbulence, a scenario in which turbulent fluctuations are the same in all directions. It was designed to illustrate how hydrodynamic turbulence generates force between objects even when the flow has no preferred direction. The work, the researchers wrote, "sheds light on how length scale-dependent distributions of energy and high-intensity vortex structures determine Casimir forces." Ostilla-Monico said they were able to quantify that Casimir forces depend on specific parameters, including turbulence and positioning of the plates. The findings have implications for micro and nanomanufacturing, but Ostilla-Monico said the work grew out of the researchers' interest in learning more about the behavior of bacteria. Bacteria are more complex to study, even computationally, but they determined that the study of turbulence would offer some parallels, because both continuously consume energy and generate similar flow fields. "Turbulence needs energy to keep going," he said. "Bacteria need to be constantly fed in order to keep moving." ### The person(s) responsible for killing Marlon Jermaine John, better known as Mob, a 34-year-old labourer of Fairbaine Pasture, and shooting and injuring a 30-year-old labourer of the same address, is (are) still at large. And the police are soliciting information from the general public that will aid with the investigation, the arrest and prosecution of the offender(s). Around 3:15pm on March 29th, a group of men were cooking outside a shop in Fairbaine Pasture when two masked men approached them and opened fire. John was shot multiple times about his body, while the other man was shot in his left leg. They were taken to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH), where John was pronounced dead on arrival by the District Medical Officer (DMO). The other man received medical attention and has since been discharged. Residents in the community were tight-lipped when THE VINCENTIAN sought to solicit reactions to the shooting death. "Me aint have nothing to say, was one residents response, and he all but summed up the attitude. However, THE VINCENTIAN spoke with Lawrence John, the father of the deceased. Lawrence admitted that his son would hang out regularly at the spot where he was killed. He recalled that he was repairing a door lock when his son came home, took a bottle of water and left "and go up the road. Lawrence continued to attend to the lock, and a short while after, he heard loud, continuous explosions. "Me left the lock then go to see wha happening. Me see people a run then me hear somebody saying, John come. Same time a guy coming down the road say Marlon dead and dey on the ground up dey, Lawrence recalled. "When me left and go up the road, me see Marlon in a blood like he a try fi get up, he continued. His final helping hand to his son, was assisting him into a car to be transported to the MCMH. "Me feel um because ah me son, said Lawrence, on the impact his sons death has on him. Just like the police, Lawrence is searching for "clues as to why his son was gunned down. "I would like to know why he get gun down. Is 15 bullet dey (doctors) took out of him today. They mek certain they kill him. It just get me in a suspense. What did he do? Lawrence pondered. He paused a minute or so and then blurted that he would, from time to time, speak to his son about the friends he chose. His son, he asserted, never told him if his life was in danger. "I want justice. Whoever shoot him, the government should deal with them, said Lawrence on what he would like to see happen from here on. Marlon John was the sixth of eight children for his father. His mother passed away almost three years ago, and he has been living with his father since then, save and except for short periods when he stayed away. Johns death marked the eighth (8th) homicide for the year 2020. Mayor Andy Berke said, due to the coronavirus crisis, that recent talk about robust job growth at Chattanooga is "a distant memory." He said: I appreciate everyone in Chattanooga who observed our shelter-in-place order this past weekend -- your good judgement now makes a difference and will save lives. If you see a place of business or public gathering that is out of compliance, please call Chattanooga 311 and let them know so that we can follow up. Please keep checking cha.city/covidfaqs if you have questions. I realize how difficult and strange all of this is. The next couple of weeks will dictate how hard this crisis hits our local hospital systems, so please know how much we appreciate the sacrifice that each of you are making. It's always been true that when times are toughest, we see the best in ourselves and our neighbors. Remember -- staying at home and keeping yourself safe protects your friends and family every bit as much as it protects you. To that point, you may have seen some recent media reports about the Governor's plan to establish "overflow centers" for non-critical COVID-19 patients in cities across Tennessee, including here in Chattanooga. I am in frequent contact with the Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency and the Health Department as they make these preparations. My office will do whatever is necessary to assist them so that we are as prepared as possible for patients who need urgent care. Two months ago, Forbes said Chattanooga would have the strongest job growth in the country this year. Today, that seems like a distant memory. We continue to reach out to locally-owned small businesses to connect them with resources that will help them weather the current economic storm. I'm glad that Congress has taken some meaningful steps that will stimulate the economy and help workers who are feeling the worst shocks right now. Our safety net is being stretched to its limit, so we must take action to prevent as many people we can from falling through. Right now, recovery feels very far away and we're focusing all of our energies on protecting the public's health. At the same time, we know that we'll need to be more proactive, rather than reactive, in thinking about how we want Chattanooga's economy to look in the future so that we can be prepared when the recovery begins. Congress has a chance to enact more legislation that will employ Americans this fall, address long-term needs, and eventually build our middle class. Today, I offered some thoughts about this in The Hill. Building a nationwide fiber plan, upskilling displaced workers, and investing in more research hubs are a few of the things that I think we need to do to make our economy more equitable, fair, and resilient. I'll be talking more about this in the weeks and months ahead. Please take a look and let me know what you think. I look forward to answering your questions about coronavirus this evening during our Facebook chat at 5:30 p.m. Stay safe and thank you again for all you're doing. Another police officer in central Tokyo has tested positive for the coronavirus, leading dozens of her colleagues to be put on leave. The Metropolitan Police Department says the test result for the 23-year-old officer at the Akasaka Police Station in Minato Ward came back on Saturday. The department says the officer had been diagnosed with a cold when she visited a hospital on Tuesday, complaining of a sore throat and fever. It says the officer had since stayed at home until she took the test at another medical institution. The department says none of her colleagues have complained of symptoms possibly caused by the virus. But it furloughed more than 60 of them starting Saturday. The department had the police station disinfected and plans to dispatch upward of 100 officers to maintain its functions. A police officer at a driver's license center in Tokyo tested positive for the virus on Thursday. He is the first officer in the capital's police department to be confirmed infected. S tephen Fry, Russell Tovey, Emily Atack and Layton Williams are among actors to appear in a star-studded new radio play to raise money for charity. Two-part play The Understudy, based on the best-selling novel by author David Nicholls, will also feature performances from Sheila Atim, Sarah Hadland, Mina Anwar, Jake Ferretti, Sasha Frost, James McNicholas, Marie Lawrence and Lizzie Muncey. Listeners can tune in on May 20 and 27 by buying a ticket for 5 each, with funds raised being split between charitable organisations the Theatre Development Trust, Acting For Others and Equity Charitable Trust which help those struggling because of coronavirus. Henry Filloux-Bennett has adapted Nichollss book about a West End understudy who starts to fall for the leading mans wife. The cast and creative team will put the show together from their own homes. Stephen Fry said: I am just so delighted to be working on Henry Filloux-Bennett's superb adaptation of David Nichollss The Understudy. I do hope lots of you will listen in and combine a good time with support for our wonderful theatre industry. Advertisement New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday lashed out at racist attacks against Asian Americans over the coronavirus pandemic as he paid tribute to two apparel makers who are manufacturing gowns and other personal protective equipment for healthcare workers. In the midst of this crisis, there is another crisis that weve all been disgusted by which is discrimination and hatred directed against our Asian American community, particularly our Chinese American community, the mayor said on Monday. I think it is absolutely unacceptable and legally unacceptable, de Blasio said. Anyone found to have committed hate crimes against Asian Americans are those who we want to throw the full weight of the law at them, the mayor said. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday lashed out at the uptick in hate crimes directed against Asian Americans The mayor has his temperature checked while touring the Brooklyn Navy Yard on Monday De Blasio paid a visit to a factory jointly run by two companies - Crye Precision and Lafayette 148 - who merged their operations to mass-produce surgical gowns The New York Police Department said that at least 11 hate crimes against Asian Americans were reported around the city during the last two weeks of March. Even though overall crime is down in New York, local leaders are concerned about the uptick in racially motivated incidents. The California-based groups Chinese for Affirmative Action and the Asian Pacific Planning and Policy Council set up a hate reporting center last month. New Yorks attorney general also launched a hotline. Chinese for Affirmative Action has fielded more than 1,000 reports from across the United States, ranging from people spitting to throwing bottles from cars. The mayor is seen above on Monday thanking the employees at Brooklyn Navy Yard for making surgical gowns An employee is seen above making a surgical gown at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on Monday The employees reported to work, some of them wearing protective hazmat suits, in order to mass-produce badly needed gowns for local hospitals The workers are spread out at least six feet apart in the factory in Brooklyn on Monday as they sew together surgical gowns An FBI report distributed to local law enforcement predicts the attacks will surge and pointed to the stabbing of an Asian American man and his two children at a Sam's Club in Texas last month, ABC News reported. According to the report, the 19-year-old suspect said he thought they were infecting people. The victims have recovered. Meanwhile, President Trump has walked back on calling COVID-19 the Chinese virus, saying at a media briefing and on Twitter last week that Asian Americans should not be blamed in any way, shape or form. The mayor on Monday spoke while visiting the Brooklyn Navy Yard where two of its tenants, Crye Precision and Lafayette 148, merged their operations to mass-produce the emergency gear. Crye Precision is a body armor company whose products are geared toward the military and police. Lafayette 148 is a womens fashion brand originally founded in the trendy SoHo section of Manhattan. The mayor on Monday marveled at how the companies, some of whose employees are Asian American, have banded together to manufacture a product that they are normally not accustomed to making. It is is inspiring to see how quickly people figured out a way to do something that was needed and not just do it in a small way but do it in a very big way, and to pull together the talent, the designs, to pull together all the equipment they needed, all the fabric, the mayor said. Many of the workers in the factory are Asian Americans, prompting the mayor to condemn the recent uptick in hate crimes against the community New York City hospitals are badly in need of surgical gowns and other protective personal equipment The mayor has pleaded for help from the federal government as city hospitals are overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients Crye Precision and Lafayette 148 have suspended their normal operations during the crisis to help stop the spread of coronavirus Crye Precision, which normally makes clothing used by the military and other defense agencies, is putting its expertise to use in making surgical gowns The above images show the surgical gowns being produced in Brooklyn Navy Yard to help the city's frontline health care workers I was just hearing how much it took to improvise this and create this, and its very very moving. The mayor continued: As I was touring and seeing what was happening, I felt this real surge of emotion that it was clearer than ever that New York City is fighting back. New York City is fighting back. We have an invisible enemy. We have a ferocious enemy. But this city is fighting back with everything weve got. It makes me very, very convinced that were going to get through this when I see these kinds of amazing efforts. The mayor said that the jointly run factory will produce 9,200 surgical gowns by the end of the day. By the end of the week, almost 19,000, de Blasio said. By the end of the month, 320,000. Amazing contribution to this effort. The mayor said that while the effort was commendable, there was still a long way to go to meet the demand. He said that all hospitals in the city used 1.8 million surgical gowns just in the last week. The mayor said that this week, the hospitals are expected to use some 2.5 million gowns. So we have to find more surgical gowns urgently, de Blasio said. The mayor thanked President Trump and his senior adviser, Jared Kushner, for providing 600,000 N95 masks that he said will get the city through the week. De Blasio said that New York City needs 45,000 medical volunteers to help fill staffing needs for the rest of the month. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday said that 599 more people had died in the state, raising the total number of dead statewide to 4,758. In New York City, a number almost identical with that of the previous day. The total number of deaths is 4,758. New York City will bury coronavirus victims in public parks in 10-body trenches if the relentless death toll keeps climbing as officials warn the pandemic is like 'an ongoing 9/11' for medical examiners New York City will start temporarily burying coronavirus victims in public parks in trenches dug for 10 caskets if the death roll keeps climbing past a rate hospitals and morgues can keep up with. The shockingly grim announcement came from Councilman Mark Levine who said it would be done in a 'dignified' manner but that it was what was necessary. He called it 'temporary interment'. It was unclear if he meant the bodies would later be exhumed, or if it was a temporary measure the city would be taking until the death rate slowed down, but that the bodies would remain in the parks permanently. He said the medical examiner is coping with the 'equivalent of an ongoing 9/11' and that there were 10 times as many at-home deaths as well as the soaring number of people dying in hospitals. New York City councilman Mark Levine made the grim announcement New York City's death toll is already at more than 2,000 and a spike in deaths is expected this week, when the apex hits. There are makeshift morgues all over the city where bodies are being kept in refrigerated trailers outside hospitals because there is nowhere else for them to go. Levine tweeted: 'Soon we'll start temporary interment. This likely will be done by using a NYC park for burials (yes you read that right). Trenches will be dug for 10 caskets in a line. 'It will be done in a dignified, orderly--and temporary--manner. But it will be tough for NYers to take. 'The goal is to avoid scenes like those in Italy, where the military was forced to collect bodies from churches and even off the streets. OCME is going to need much more staff to achieve that goal,' he said. After the tweet sparked panic, outrage and shock among other users, he clarified that it was a 'contingency' and was not yet in motion but that it was something the city was forced to consider. 'As New York City continues to appeal to the nation for help, we need to ask not just for doctors and nurses and respiratory therapists. We also need mortuary affairs staff. This is tough to talk about and maybe tough to ask for. But we have no choice. The stakes are too high. 'Nothing matters more in this crisis than saving the living. But we need to face the gruesome reality that we need more resources to manage our dead as well. 'Or the pain of this crisis will be compounded almost beyond comprehension,' he said. Levine also said there were a number of at-home deaths leading to the problem. 'Its not just deaths in hospitals which are up. On an average day before this crisis there were 20-25 deaths at home in NYC. Now in the midst of this pandemic the number is 200-215. *Every day*,' he tweeted. A temporarily hospital has been set up by Samaritans in Central Park. Councilman Levine did not say whether this would be one of the parks where 'temporary interment' takes place Soldiers assigned to the Javits New York Medical Station (JNYMS) monitor COVID-19 patients in the facility's intensive care unit. There are 2,500 beds in the facility which was constructed by the military in just five days Levine later added in a separate tweet: 'This tweet has gotten a lot of attention. 'So I want to clarify: the is a contingency NYC is preparing for BUT if the death rate drops enough it will not be necessary.' The death rate is still climbing and is expected to for the rest of the week. Then, the city is expected to start coming down from the peak but social distancing measures will remain in place for at least April and possibly into May. It also does not take away from the fact the pandemic will peak elsewhere around the country later. Admiral Brett Giroir said this week would be the worst week for those three states but 'that doesn't mean we're over it'. 'This week is going to be the peak - peak hospitalizations, peak ICU's and, unfortunately, peak deaths. 'That doesn't mean we're over it. There are other parts of the country that will peak a a later date; New Orleans, Louisiana etc. 'Do the social distancing, wear the masks - that's how we're going to defeat this virus,' he said. He also said he was 'very optimistic' about blood tests that are in development that will allow tens of millions of people to be tested to find out if they have had the virus and recovered from it or not. If the test proves they have recovered from it, it will suggest they are immune and are able to go back to work. There are two types of that test that are being discussed; both center on antibodies and blood plasma that could then be used to treat those who are sick with the virus and build up their immunity to it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday had a telephone conversation with King of Bahrain, Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa to discuss the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis and its consequences. The two leaders also spoke about logistical chains between the two countries and the current financial markets. King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa assured PM Modi that he will look after the welfare of the vast Indian community in Bahrain, during the present health crisis faced across the world due to COVID-19. Prime Minister Modi also expressed his heartfelt appreciation for the care and affection that the Bahrain authorities have always extended towards the Indian diaspora in the kingdom. Spoke to HM Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain. We discussed the prevailing situation due to COVID-19 and how we can work together to fight the pandemic. Thanked him for the care extended by Bahrain towards the Indian diaspora there. https://t.co/V6HCFpSUsh Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 6, 2020 Further, both the leaders have agreed that their officials would remain in regular contact to ensure constant support to each other in tackling the COVID-19 crisis. PM Modi conveyed King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa that India regards Bahrain as an essential part of its extended neighbourhood. PM also warmly recalled his visit to the Kingdom in 2018. READ | 'India Among Those Countries That Sensed Covid's Threat And Waged A Timely War': PM Modi PM Modi discusses COVID-19 spread with Australian PM Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi also had a telephonic discussion with his Australian counterpart, Scott Morrison. This comes as Australia now has over 3,400 active COVID-19 infections and 39 deaths in addition to 95 critical cases. Meanwhile, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in India stands at 3,577 with 83 deaths. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi stated that the two leaders agreed to cooperate against Coronavirus and further stated that PM Morrison assured the well being Indian community in Australia. READ | 'WHO & World Leaders Appreciating India's Efforts In Tackling Coronavirus', Says PM Modi PM Modi holds separate talks with Trump, Brazilian Prez, Spanish PM PM Modi and US President Donald Trump held a detailed discussion on the coronavirus crisis on Saturday and resolved to deploy the full strength of the Indo-US partnership to fight the global pandemic. PM also had separate telephonic conversations with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon, during which the leaders deliberated upon the situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic. "We had a good discussion and agreed to deploy the full strength of the India-US partnership to fight COVID-19," Modi wrote on Twitter on his "extensive" telephonic conversation with Trump. READ | Resident Doctors' Association Writes Letter To PM Modi For Inadequate PPE Supply READ | PM Modi Discusses COVID-19 Spread With Australian PM; Assures Collaborative Research Our Commonwealth Parliament in Canberra has stopped sitting and won't properly resume until August. That's a concern. But it's not actually the parliament we should be most worried about. Most of the serious emergency measures and limitations on our civil liberties are administered at the state level. Our state parliament in NSW was quietly adjourned last month and is not scheduled to sit again until September. So who cares, right? With a public health crisis, so many out of work, businesses closing, is parliamentary democracy really an "essential service"? But before dismissing this as mere procedural guff, just pause and consider how we ensure the best public policy response to the health and economic crisis we face. NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard. Credit:AAP The Public Health Order signed by Health Minister Brad Hazzard on March 30 now dictates our basic human rights. It applies extremely tight restrictions on our movement and our right to gather and associate. If we're suspected of breaching these restrictions, it's basically up to the discretion of the police to decide whether or not we're warned, fined, or arrested to face a possible prison sentence. We are living under the heaviest ever peacetime restrictions on our civil liberties by a country mile. And how do we get our information about what these restrictions mean and how long we will be subject to them? We await a daily press conference by NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller. Now of course we expect the Police Commissioner and the Premier to act in good faith. We expect them to relinquish the absolute power they've temporarily seized. I guess the question is, is this expectation really the best we can do? If President Donald Trump wins a second term in the White House, what health care policies might the nation expect from his administration? Julie Rovner, Kaiser Health News chief Washington correspondent, examines that issue in the new edition of Washington Monthly magazine. Although changes in health care might not have ranked high on the presidents priorities for a second term - particularly if Democrats retain a majority in the House of Representatives external factors such as the coronavirus pandemic could force the White House and Congress to work together to improve the nation's public health infrastructure. And the administration might move to weaken the Affordable Care Act through regulations. You can read the article here. The country was thrown into a state of ecstasy following President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos address to the nation, Sunday, which announced some interventions by the government as it strives to limit and stop the importation of Coronavirus, contain its spread, provide adequate care for the sick and limit the impact of the virus on social and economic life. Among others, the president mentioned that the government will absorb the water bills for all Ghanaians for April, May and June; roll out a soft loan scheme up to a total of six hundred million cedis (GH600 million), which will have a one-year moratorium and two-year repayment period for micro, small and medium scale businesses. An insurance package, he said with an assured sum of three hundred and fifty thousand cedis (GH350,000) for each health personnel and allied professional at the forefront of the fight, has been put in place, with a daily allowance of one hundred and fifty cedis (GH150) being paid to contact tracers. A tax holiday for all health workers, for the next three months was also announced while disclosing that all frontline health workers will receive an additional allowance of fifty per cent (50%) of their basic salary per month, i.e April, May, and June. The March allowance will be paid alongside that of April. The wild jubilation however became political as some social media users turned the conversation into an election game changer. They suggested that the president has scored political points, slimming former president John Mahamas chance of bringing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) back to power. Read few post below Copy to Clipboard Someone said the way Ghanaians are finding it difficult to pay utility bills and Nana is making it free for 3 months yi de3 unless Mahama promises 1 man 1benz this 2020 election foxzybilly (@foxzybilly) April 6, 2020 Mahama when Nana Addo said free water bills for 3months pic.twitter.com/nGTGDigyK8 666 (@Micky5312) April 6, 2020 No payment of utility bills How the thing dey go, unless Mahama shift go Assembly Man category JAYDEN (@JaydenTwitts) April 5, 2020 Right now Mahama for go contest plus Honourable Aponkye for DCE Eli Kofi (@eli___k) April 5, 2020 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 WASHINGTON The intelligence community inspector general whom President Trump fired late Friday night has called on whistle-blowers to overcome any fears and come forward with information about waste and illegality in the government despite the administrations reprisals. The American people deserve an honest and effective government, the fired official, Michael K. Atkinson, said in a lengthy statement late on Sunday. They are counting on you to use authorized channels to bravely speak up there is no disgrace for doing so. He added: Please do not allow recent events to silence your voices. Mr. Atkinson, who was appointed by Mr. Trump in 2018, drew the presidents ire last year after he received a whistle-blower complaint from an intelligence community official accusing the president of abusing his power over foreign policy to coerce Ukraines government into announcing investigations that could deliver him personal political benefits. Mr. Atkinson deemed the complaint to be credible and to have raised an urgent concern. Under a federal whistle-blower law, if the intelligence community inspector general makes such a determination, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence shall disclose it to Congress. On this weeks episode of Working, June Thomas spoke with author Veronica Roth, who wrote the first part of the multimillion-selling Divergent trilogy when she was still at Northwestern University. They discussed how the writing process has differed for each of her books, where she found trusted advisers to offer feedback on her work, and how she creates believable antagonists. This partial transcript of their conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. June Thomas: You wrote your first published book, Divergent, very quicklyI believe you wrote a first draft on your winter break from Northwestern. Have your other books come so easily? Advertisement Veronica Roth: No, absolutely not. That was the first time it ever happened, and it was also the last time. Why was that one so easy, or why were the other ones harder? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I had written a complete manuscript before Divergent, so I knew that I could finish a novel-length story. I had also gotten this one really useful piece of feedback from a professor. She circled a really simply and straightforwardly written paragraph in one of my pieces, and she said, This is the best writing in the piece. Implying, stop trying so hard to overwrite everything else. So I decided, based on that feedback, to embrace an extremely pared down and straightforward writing style. I think that is my natural style, but I had resisted it for a long time because it didnt feel that was poetic enough, or thats not what good writers do. So Divergent was the first time I really let myself be the writer I actually was instead of the one I thought I was supposed to be. Advertisement Advertisement Was that the only time you have had that sort of feedback loop? No, Ive had that a lot. I was in the creative writing program at Northwestern University, which is a very small program. I remember I submitted a short story, and then you have to sit there for workshop, which means youre not allowed to speak, and people just pick apart your work for about a half-hour and you cant respond, which is an amazing system. Someone just sat there and summarized my story to me. He said everything that happened in it. And I realized, Oh, my gosh, this story is packed full of drama, and I really need to pare down what I try to focus on in this short-story form. And that was another moment of big creative shift I think. Advertisement Advertisement Back to your experience of writing. Did your other books feel the same as you were writing them? Were there different challenges each time? Advertisement Advertisement There definitely were. When I was writing the second one, Insurgent, that was the first time I had written a book knowing that people would read it. So I had to learn how to navigate writing while a lot of eyes were on me. I knew people would read it, and their opinions and my anticipation of their opinions was really hard to navigate. I think everyone who has gotten published and then tries to write their second book has this feeling. But then that one did well. How did that affect the third one? I was writing the third one, Allegiant, while they were making the Divergent movie. I had written a draft, and then they started filming, but I was sometimes editing Allegiant on the set of Divergent. That was a real trip. It was a pretty wonderful time, but also a strange time to be making anything creative and to try to remind myself that it was OK to take risks. With Allegiant, I had planned from the beginning to take a very big risk at the end, so committing to that was the oddest part of writing that book. I also realized that in the first book of the series, I had set myself up with a real structural problem and in the third book, I had to contend with it, and there was just nothing I could do about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was about world-building? Yes. The first two books are contained in the city of Chicago, which is a dystopian city at this point, and then in the third book, they have to leave, which sets you up for this huge uploading of information. And thats not a great thing for a book. It might work in a movie, which can go, Here you are; were going to explain everything to you, but in a book, its like 30 pages of backstory, which isnt good. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Can you say a bit more about how the filming of Divergent affected the writing of Allegiant? I think it made me occasionally consider the visual part of scenes differently, like what was possible to film. I also had to very consciously ignore certain things, because there were a lot of characters that looked different in the book than on the screen. You find yourself describing this character and thinking, Oh, thats not what they look like. Keeping that straight was a challenge. But it sometimes worked in a positive way. One of the main problems of the first movie is that they cast Kate Winslet as my main antagonist, Jeanine, and the trick was that Jeanine, as a character in the book, is a bit of a mustache-twirling archvillain. They were struggling with that because Kate Winslet is a very capable actress, and they wanted to write a more nuanced character for her. As I was hearing about that, I was developing a new antagonist for Allegiant, and it made me think you really have to focus on making sure that this person is more complicated. Ever since then Ive tried to do a better job of making sure that even the bad guys have an inner life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im very curious how you came up with the idea of the big bad in Chosen Ones, the Dark Lord. How did you go about creating a character whos designed to be hated and who you really want your readers to believe is the absolute worst? My idea for Chosen Ones is that its very much about this post-adolescent experience of entering the world and trying to navigate being an adult in the world. If you fight something evil when you are a teenager, youre going to see it as very black and white. This guys a bad guy, and he needs to be stopped. Its a very simplistic view of evil. And as you get older, you realize that situations and people are more complicated than that. So Chosen Ones is meant to be unraveling my main character, Sloanes, understanding of what happened to her before and also whats happening to her now. How everything has become more gray and more weird and more muddled as shes gotten older, because thats the experience I had in my 20s, just realizing how complicated things are. Advertisement Youve written two seriesa trilogy that began with Divergent and a duology that began with Carve the Mark. How do you decide if something will be part of a series, and then how do you decide how many books it will take to tell the overall story? Advertisement When an idea comes to me, I have an idea of its size. I write a lot of short fiction, and its always clear what is a short story idea and whats a novel idea. Sometimes the idea feels even bigger than a novel, and thats usually when I know that its a series. However, with the Divergent series and with Carve the Mark, I proposed each of those as both a duology and a trilogy. So I outlined the duology and then I outlined the trilogy, and then I would ask my trusted friend and agent to tell me which one she thought was a better shape for those books. Which one allows a little bit of room to breathe, conceptually. Which one feels like its maybe stretched out too far? That was what happened with Carve the Mark. I sent her the trilogy outline and the duology outline, and she said the trilogy outline has a lot of filler, so just do the duology. And Divergent was the opposite. Advertisement Advertisement How did you find the person who you trust to give important feedback on your writing? There are two people. One of them is my husband. Hes not a writer, hes just a reader, and thats very important, because he can tell me this doesnt make sense, this is boring, this is interesting. Very normal reader reactions. He is very helpful that way. But my agent has been my biggest writing adviser throughout the years. I met her at a writers conference 11 or 12 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement When you had that first draft of Divergent? I had submitted my first manuscriptthe one that has not been published and never will beto her and she rejected it, but she gave me some good notes. So when I wrote Divergent, I sent it to her because she had said, I like your writing, but this project isnt working, so send me the next thing you do. For Divergent, I got two offers from two different agents. One of them was her, and she had nine pages of single-spaced notes. The other agent was like, This is ready to go right now. I thought, One of these people is right, and one of them is not. And I always trust the person who gives me notes. So I trusted her from the beginning, because she wasnt afraid to tell me what was wrong with my draft. To listen to the full episode of Working, in which Roth also discussed how writing for adults is different from writing YA fiction, responding to feedback from young readers, and the themes she finds herself returning to again and again, click the player below or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Winnipeg, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/06/2020 -- Your Canada Drug Store is an online prescription referral service that provides their customers with direct access to affordable prescription and over-the-counter medications. The company contracts licensed pharmacy partners in Canada to fill all orders placed for Canadian medication. They also work with licensed pharmacy partners in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, and Singapore so that their clients receive access to high-quality international medications at the lowest prices. All of their customers receive world-class service and access to a wide range of products and services from these contracted pharmacies. 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In professional drifting youll notice more and more drivers are choosing to use newer models. These renderings of a GR Supra represent the modifications that Papadakis Racing are planning for Formula Drift driver Fredric Aasbo. While it might still look like a GR Supra on the outside, it has been completely transformed for drifting. The most obvious change to the Papadakis Racing GR Supra would be the subtle widebody kit, penned by Filipino designer Jon Sibal. Its quite hard to tell but, yes it has been widened. Meanwhile, the whole suspension has been reworked by in order for the Supra to be competitive. In order to make the Supra look good, wide wheels have been fitted to match the kit. They are then wrapped in sticky Nitto tires. The Supra is finished in the same Yellow-Black RockStar energy drink livery as Aasbos previous Corolla competition car. For those wondering, the Aasbos upcoming competition-spec GR Supra continues to use the same BMW-sourced B58 inline-6 engine. No V8 or 2JZ swaps here. However, the vehicles original engine has been extensively modified by Papadakis Racing and now produces 1,000 horsepower. Combined with Aasbos skills, it should be enough for him to go up against this years competitors. With a new car, hopefully, we get to see Aasbo up on the podium more often once the 2020 season of Formula Drift begins. Currently, the Formula Drift season opener at Long Beach has been already postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. It is uncertain when the drift series will resume. Power consumption load in India dropped around 85,300 Megawatts (MW) as people switched off electric lights for nine minutes at 9 pm on Sunday. According to the Ministry of Power, the demand in the grid went down from 1,17,300 MW at 8:49 pm to 85, 300 MW across India till 9:09 pm on April -- a reduction of 32,000 MW (32GW). The power-demand started to rise once the blackout was over. Therefore, the voltage was kept stable at a frequency between 49.7 to 50. 26 Hz, the ministry added. The demand went down from 117300 Megawatts at 2049 hrs to 85300 Megawatts till 2109 hrs; that is a reduction of 32000 Megawatts. Then it started increasing. Frequency was maintained within a band of 49.7 to 50. 26 Hz, which means the voltage was kept stable. (2/4) R. K. Singh (@RajKSinghIndia) April 5, 2020 Demand in the grid came down by 32000 MW within a few minutes but the frequency and voltage was mantained within the normal range. The drop in national demand by 32000 megawatts shows a huge response of the nation to the call of the Prime Minister. (2/2)@narendramodi@PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/yuxkdPXYBK R. K. Singh (@RajKSinghIndia) April 5, 2020 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 3 had urged Indian citizens to switch off lights at their homes and light lamps, candles or turn on mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 pm on Sunday as a gesture to "challenge the darkness spread by the corona crisis". Union Power Minister RK Singh congratulated all electricity-producing bodies. "The national grid operator POSOCO and the national, regional and state load despatch centres did a great job with support from all generators; NHPC, NEEPCO, THDC, SJVNL, BBMB, NTPC, all state gencos and IPPs, Transcos and Distribution companies and their officers and staff," he said. The national grid operator POSOCO and the national, regional and state load despatch centres did a great job with support from all generators; NHPC, NEEPCO, THDC, SJVNL, BBMB, NTPC, all state gencos and IPPs, Transcos and Distribution companies and their officers and staff. (3/4) R. K. Singh (@RajKSinghIndia) April 5, 2020 In Delhi, the power consumption declined around 726 MW on Sunday night. The minimum power load of 1,235 MW was recorded for eight minutes past 9 pm. Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL), which supplies power to roughly 70 crore consumers of north and north-west Delhi, said the company successfully managed the meagre drop of 157 MW in the power demand during these nine minutes. The Maharashtra State Load Dispatch Centre (MSLDC) also witnessed a demand drop by 3,237 MW. The demand for power, which was at 13,160 MW at 8.59 pm in the state, dropped to 9,923 MW at 9.05 pm. Of this, the demand in Mumbai alone dropped to 1,255 MW at 9.05 pm from 1,722 MW at 8.59 pm. Also read: Coronavirus pandemic: India faces 'greatest emergency' since Independence, says Raghuram Rajan Also read: Coronavirus impact: CEOs fear job losses, fall in revenue, profit, reveals CII snap poll By Jun Ji-hye Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung has strongly criticized the nation's leading food delivery app Baedal Minjok, operated by Woowa Brothers, for abusing its market power over restaurant owners, saying the company is trying to profit excessively by raising costs on restaurants. Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung / Courtesy of Gyeonggi Provincial Government Lee said the provincial government will push for developing a low-fee food delivery app to help restaurant owners save costs. The criticism comes as Woowa Brothers implemented its new advertising fee system, dubbed "Open Service," April 1, charging restaurant owners a 5.8 percent fee per order to get their banners displayed on the upper section of the app. A flat sum system dubbed Ultra Call, which charges the owners 88,000 won ($71) per month, was scaled back. Restaurant owners have reacted against the new fee system, saying it will force them to pay more fees. Governor Lee wrote on his Facebook account, Sunday, that the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) as well as municipal administrations and other government offices are all responsible for inhibiting monopolies and abuses of market power. "It will be the most appropriate to resolve the issue through the passage of relevant laws, but I will not wait for this. Gyeonggi Province will begin with things it can do now, including the development of an app operated by the public sector," Lee wrote. Lee said he will consult with Gunsan Mayor Kang Im-june on developing the app, as Gunsan City has already developed a similar app. Woowa Brothers founder Kim Bong-jin / Korea Times photo by Ryu Hyo-jin Regulatory News: Tikehau Capital (Paris:TKO), the alternative asset management and investment Group, announces today jointly with City Developments Limited (CDL), a leading Singapore-listed real estate company, the increase of their stake in IREIT Global1, a real estate investment trust listed in Singapore and focused on the European real estate market, and in which Tikehau Capital invested in November of 2016. The purchase, alongside an affiliate of AT Capital, a Singapore-based family office, of a 26.04% stake in IREIT Global, enables Tikehau Capital and CDL to increase their stake in IREIT Global respectively from 16.64% to 29.20% and 12.52% to 20.87% upon completion of the transaction. Together, Tikehau Capital and CDL now own more than half of IREIT Global's capital. For Tikehau Capital, this acquisition represents a cash investment of circa 25m. IREIT Global is a real estate investment trust listed in Singapore with an investment mandate of investing directly and indirectly in a portfolio of rent--generating real estate in Europe, used primarily for office, retail,industrial or logistics purposes. IREIT's current portfolio comprises nine assets in Germany and Spain valued at c. 630 million as at 2019 year-end. Strategically located in key cities such as Barcelona, Berlin, Bonn, Madrid and Munich, IREIT's portfolio has a total attributable lettable area of over 230,000 sqm with c. 4,000 parking lots. The transaction reflects both Tikehau Capital and CDL's common long-term objectives of growing IREIT Global as well diversifying its portfolio. The reinforcement of this partnership with CDL is a positive step in the development of IREIT Global's activities and will allow the tapping of each other's complementary strengths to fuel IREIT's growth. It will provide the company with a strong support for its development while leveraging the know-how and local knowledge of a major player in the Asian real estate sector in addition to the European outreach and expertise of Tikehau Capital. About Tikehau Capital: Tikehau Capital is an asset management and investment group with 25.8bn of assets under management and shareholders' equity of 3.1bn (as at 31 December 2019). The Group invests in various asset classes (private debt, real estate, private equity and capital markets strategies), including through its asset management subsidiaries, on behalf of institutional and private investors. Controlled by its managers, alongside leading institutional partners, Tikehau Capital employs more than 530 staff (as at 31 December 2019) in its Paris, London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, New York, Seoul, Singapore and Tokyo offices. Tikehau Capital is listed on the regulated market of Euronext Paris, Compartment A (ISIN code: FR0013230612; Ticker: TKO.FP) www.tikehaucapital.com Disclaimer This document is not an offer of securities for sale or investment advisory services. This document contains general information only and is not intended to represent general or specific investment advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results and targets are not guaranteed. Certain statements and forecasted data are based on current expectations, current market and economic conditions, estimates, projections, opinions and beliefs of Tikehau Capital and/or its affiliates. Due to various risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements or in any of the case studies or forecasts. All references to Tikehau Capital's advisory activities in the US or with respect to US persons relates to Tikehau Capital North America. 1 Tikehau Capital and CDL co-own IREIT Global Group Pte. Ltd., the manager of IREIT Global View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005601/en/ Contacts: Press: Tikehau Capital: Valerie Sueur +33 1 40 06 39 30 Finsbury: Arnaud Salla Charles O'Brien +44 207 251 3801 press@tikehaucapital.com Shareholders and Investors: Louis Igonet +33 1 40 06 11 11 shareholders@tikehaucapital.com One of NASA's satellites that can measure the rate in which rainfall is occurring in storms passed over powerful Tropical Cyclone Harold just after it made landfall in Vanuatu in the Southern Pacific Ocean. Tropical Cyclone Harold developed from a low-pressure system that was observed to the east of Papua New Guinea last week, and has tracked to the southeast, where it has already caused flooding and loss of life in the Solomon Islands. Now a Category 4 cyclone, the most powerful yet of 2020, Harold made landfall on the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu on Monday, April 6, not long before the Global Precipitation Measurement mission or GPM passed overhead. GPM's Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar and GPM Microwave Imager data provided data on rainfall rates. "The highest rates were in the rain band to the southeast of the eye, at 48 mm (1.8 inches) per hour," said B. Jason West, Science Data Analyst at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. "Near the eye, rates in some areas also exceeded 40 mm (1.6 inches) per hour." Early reports from Vanuatu indicate heavy flooding and property damage. The Vanuatu Meteorological Service (VMS) posted Tropical Cyclone Warning Number 27 for the Sanma, Penama, Malampa and Shefa Provinces. At 8 a.m. EDT (11:00 p.m. Vanuatu local time), VMS noted that "Severe Tropical Cyclone Harold was located at latitude 16.0 degrees south and longitude 168.8 degrees east, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) east northeast of Ambrym and 105 km (65 miles) northeast of Epi. Severe Tropical Cyclone Harold has been moving in an east-southeasterly direction at 19 kph (10 knots/12 mph) in the past 3 hours. Maximum sustained winds close to the center are estimated at 230 kph (125 Knots/143 mph). The VMS warning noted, "Damaging gale force winds, destructive storm force winds and hurricane force winds with heavy rainfalls and flash flooding over low lying areas and areas close to river banks including coastal flooding is expected over Sanma, Penama, Malampa and Shefa Provinces including Torba province tonight. Very rough to phenomenal seas with heavy to phenomenal swells are expected over northern and central open and coastal waters tonight as the system continues to move over the Central Islands of Vanuatu. High Seas wind warning and a Marine strong wind warning are current for all coastal and open waters of Vanuatu. People, including sea-going vessels are strongly advised not to go out to sea within affected area until the system has moved out of the area." The Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) advises that Red Alert is in effect for Sanma, Penama, Malampa and Shefa Provinces, while Yellow Alert for Torba provinces. ### The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department updates are available on VMGD's website: https://www.vmgd.gov.vu and on its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/vmgd.gov.vu. Harold is forecast to continue to Fiji later this week. By Rob Gutro NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center The Times Union has lifted the paywall on this developing coverage to provide critical information to our community. To support our journalists work, consider a digital subscription. Total COVID-19 cases: 131,815 in New York state, including 4,758 deaths 367,507 in the U.S., including 10,908 deaths 1,346,299 worldwide, including 74,679 deaths. 276,636 recovered Note: The number of positive confirmed cases is cumulative and includes people who have recovered as well as those who died. Explore charts showing the spread of the coronavirus in the U.S. and across the globe Flu fatalities 2018-19 season: U.S.: 34,157 (75% were 65 and older) Additional resources: Here are the latest cancellations and postponements. For a detailed map, check out the Times Unions New York Coronavirus Tracker To get regular updates on our coverage, sign up for our coronavirus newsletter. Today's coronavirus updates: 6:40 p.m.: Spectrum raising minimum wage of front-line workers Spectrum is raising the minimum wage it pays its field and customer operations workers that have had to be on the frontline of the COVID-19 outbreak through visits to hospitals and customer locations. The $1.50 increase minimum wage at the cable TV and internet company is $15 would be applied retroactively to March when employees were awarded annual merit increases in hourly pay. Read more ___ 6:14 p.m.: USNS Comfort being used for COVID-19 patients The USNS Comfort is now being used for COVID-19 patients. President Trump confirmed that hed called New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo earlier Monday to let him know that the USNS Comfort can now be used for COVID-19 patients. Were going to let him do it, said Trump, adding that the ship will will be used for patients from both New York and New Jersey. Hopefully that will be very helpful for both states, he said. Cuomo had tweeted shortly before Trumps news conference began that the ship would add 1,000 beds staffed by federal personnel. The Associated Press ___ 5:03 p.m.: Rensselaer County officials report one new death from COVID-19 The person had underlying medical conditions when they were stricken, said Rich Crist, the county's director of operations. Family were being notified Monday afternoon. Rensselaer County reported its first known death from the disease last week. Read more ___ 4:29 p.m.: Saratoga County reports three new deaths from COVID-19 Saratoga County said Monday that it had lost three more residents to the deadly virus, marking the county's fourth known death. Two Clifton Park residents in their mid to late 80s died after being treated at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, and a 59-year-old Ballston Spa resident died after being treated at Saratoga Hospital. All three were men. We are saddened to learn of the passing of these Saratoga County residents who had tested positive for COVID-19, said town of Day Supervisor and Board of Supervisors chairman Preston Allen. Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of these residents. Together, we must continue to stay strong as a community, and do our part to prevent the spread of this virus. The county Department of Public Health said the state has reported one other death in the county, but that it is still investigating that report. Read more ___ 4 p.m.: Schenectady County updates COVID-19 cases The county has 138 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 69 confirmed hospitalizations. Twenty-one people have recovered and 592 people are in quarantine. To date, seven people have died of the virus. The county has also closed Plotter Kill and Indian Kill preserves. ___ 2:31 p.m.: Rensselaer County confirms four new COVID-19 cases The county's confirmed cases are at 78. This includes 24 cases that have been cleared for recovery, 19 in the hospital and one death. The county Health Department is monitoring 264 cases. ___ 2:11 p.m.: Warren County confirms two more COVID-19 cases The county now has a total of 25 confirmed cases. One of those is presumed to have the virus. The county also reports that 19 of the 25 are considered fully recovered. ___ 1:13 p.m.: Schools will remain closed through April 29 Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced the extension Monday, but also said the coronavirus pandemic in New York appears to be flattening. Non-essential business will also remain closed through the end of the month. Read more ___ 12:02 p.m.: Regents exams canceled Board of Regents Chancellor Betty Rosa made the announcement Monday morning. The board expects to give districts more guidance Tuesday on graduation standards during the coronavirus outbreak. Read more ___ 10:47 a.m.: Coronavirus cases rise in Albany County but no deaths overnight Albany County has 300 confirmed cases case, up from 288 on Sunday, County Executive Daniel McCoy said at a news briefing Monday morning. McCoy said there were no new deaths to report. Forty-one people are hospitalized, which translates into a 13.6% hospitalization rate for coronavirus patients in the county. Fifteen adults are in the intensive care. ___ 9:51 a.m.: Albany Symphony postpones April, May concerts April 18 at the Palace in Albany is now set for Sept. 12-13 at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall (and now including Beethovens Symphony No. 3, Eroica); the all-Gershwin Kevin Cole concerts slated for May 9-10 in Troy, now rescheduled as a single performance on Oct. 10 at the Palace; and the symphonys May 28-30 American Music Festival programming in Troy, now bumped to next years festival, set for June 4-6. ___ 9:26 a.m.: DEC closes Kaaterskill Falls The state is closing the view platform and trails for Kaaterskill Falls, the popular Catskill Mountains waterfall that has been a scene of several rescues. The Department of Environmental Conservation closed the viewing area and nearby parking lot amid concern tight quarters around the spot would allow for easier spread of the coronavirus. Despite calls for social distancing during the outbreak, the falls remained popular for early spring visitors this year. The parking lot is near a sharp turn in Route 23A and conservationists have complained that the lack of parking at the spot makes it difficult for walkers to hike from their cars and for drivers to navigate a road often dotted with people. Read more ___ 6:25 a.m.: Siena poll: Almost all NYers are social distancing amid pandemic Ninety-five percent of New Yorkers are quarantining themselves or social distancing as the state endures the highest number of COVID-19 cases across the country, according to a Siena College Research Institute poll released Monday. Four percent of adults are going about life as usual as the pandemic has shuttered schools, businesses, social gatherings and other aspects of daily life. But eighty-seven percent of New Yorkers said the crisis has either significantly or somewhat impacted their daily lives, and 82 percent worry about their health. Read more ___ 6:20 a.m.: Drive-through testing site opening Monday morning at University at Albany The testing facility is expected to open after 8 a.m. Tests will be administered to those who have appointments. ___ Sunday: COVID-19 continues to hit Columbia County nursing home Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb said Sunday that six additional residents of the Pine Haven Nursing Home & Rehabilitation Center have tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by coronavirus. The six new patients bring to 17 the total number of Pine Haven residents who have tested positive for the virus. Two of the residents have died after contracting COVID-19. Read more ___ Read Sunday's updates The Government of Nigeria wishes to assure the Nigerian and international communities that it is watching developments in the oil and gas industry with keen interest. Specifically, Nigeria is very mindful and appreciative of the role of Saudi Arabia and other members of the OPEC family. As Nigerias Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, I will continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on our, and the global, economy. In our consultations with global industry stakeholders in the lead up to the OPEC+ meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 09, 2020, the Nigerian Government will take a position that is in the best interest of our short term and long-term economic forecast. It is well known that Nigeria has always collaborated with key OPEC members such as Saudi Arabia in maintaining a balanced position that has helped to make OPEC one of the most successful global institutions in recent history. Nigeria intends to maintain this team spirit even as it takes into account, the position of OPEC strategic allies such as Russia. As always, the driving force of our OPEC policy is first the stability of our national economy as well as the stability of the global economy which is heavily dependent on OPEC and its strategic partners, popularly referred to as OPEC+. Nigeria, like the rest of the world, has been hit by the Global Pandemic, COVID-19, and is prepared to join the rest of the world in making the necessary sacrifices needed to stabilize the crude oil market; and to prevent what is likely to be a major global economic meltdown. Signed: Timipre Sylva Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Abuja, Nigeria April 06, 2020 President Donald Trump holds up an executive order that he signed during a meeting of the National Space Council at the East Room of the White House June 18, 2018 in Washington, DC. President Trump signed an executive order to establish the Space Force, an independent and co-equal military branch, as the sixth branch of the U.S. armed forces. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday that directs Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to seek further international support for the U.S. policy that allows organizations to collect and use resources in space. "This Executive Order establishes U.S. policy toward the recovery and use of space resources, such as water and certain minerals, in order to encourage the commercial development of space," Scott Pace, deputy assistant to the president and executive secretary of the National Space Council, said in a statement. In essence, Trump's executive order reaffirms a decision made by Congress in 2015, which Pace noted gives American individuals and corporations "the right to engage in the commercial exploration, recovery, and use of resources in outer space." The U.S., through the State Department, will look to make joint statements and agreements with other nations about the use of space resources. The U.S. and Luxembourg have each put in place legal frameworks that give companies a right to any resources collected in space. Trump's directive on Monday emphasizes the U.S. policy and that the country will seek to protect companies which make use of those resources. "Outer space is a legally and physically unique domain of human activity, and the United States does not view it as a global commons," the executive order states. A senior White House official told CNBC that the executive order has been in the works since last year but was recently catalyzed by NASA outlining its long-term approach to lunar exploration, which includes setting up a "base camp" on the moon's south pole. Trump's administration has also seen support for this view of space resources, the official said, including from Canada, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and even China. The White House also hopes the executive order will help improve the scientific basis for using space resources, the official added such as the state of water ice on the moon and how a company or organization could extract it to use for fuel. The existence of water ice on the surface of the moon is one reason NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine has given for why the agency wants to reestablish a human presence on the lunar surface. Subscribe to CNBC PRO for exclusive insights and analysis, and live business day programming from around the world. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A tiger at the Bronx Zoo has the coronavirus, the first known case of a tiger being infected, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. So what does that mean for your family pet? The USDA believes the tiger and several other big cats that developed respiratory symptoms caught COVID-19 from a zookeeper with the coronavirus. Experts are studying what that means for other animals. But the USDA currently says there is no evidence to suggest that any animals, including pets or livestock, can spread COVID-19 infection to people. Experts told cleveland.com that you cant get coronavirus from your pets. "We will not give this virus to our pets, and we are not going to get coronavirus from them, Dr. John Williams, the chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Centers Childrens Hospital, told cleveland.coms Adam Ferrise. The World Health Organization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preparedness both issued guidelines that say there is no evidence that pets can spread COVID-19. Williams said there is no evidence to suggest the virus can live on pet hair. According to National Geographic, several domestic animals have had COVID-19, including dogs in Hong Kong and a domestic cat in Belgium, reports National Geographic. Experts told the magazine that its possible the virus could take hold in a new species and reinfect people in the future. Health organizations say anyone sick with the coronavirus should not interact with their pets. The Animal Protective League recommends keeping two weeks of pet food and medications on hand and having a back-up person who could care for your pet. Although there have not been reports of pets becoming sick with COVID-19 in the United States, it is still recommended that people sick with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus, said the USDA. Pet stores and their employees are considered essential under the stay-at-home order issued Sunday by the Ohio Department of Health. President Donald Trump announced at his Friday press briefing that the CDC was now recommending that all Americans wear non-medical face masks. Just in time for the recommendation, many fashion brands are putting a pause on their regular garment production and shifting their focus to produce masks. From bridal companies to swimwear labels, FEMAIL rounds up the brands making stylish masks for personal use and protection. Breaking news: President Donald Trump announced at his Friday press briefing that the CDC was now recommending that Americans wear non-medical masks Repurpose: Los Angeles- based bridal designer Katie May launched a line of stylish masks made of their top quality fabrications Los Angeles-based bridal company Katie May launched a line of stylish masks made of their top quality wedding and evening dress fabrications. In a time when people aren't buying wedding gowns or evening wear, Katie launched the collection to keep her small business going. Unable to employ her team full time right now, workers are making the masks to earn a supplemental income. For every mask purchased, the company is donating three utility masks to frontliners in the community. Masks range from $25-$35. Katie May also launched a social campaign, #aMAYzinghuman, where they are giving away $750 worth of Katie May product each week to people on the front lines (by being nominated on social). Give back: For every mask purchased, the company is donating three utility masks to frontliners in the community Money well spent: Masks range from $25-$35 Not all masks offer equal protection. In a recent Cambridge study, researchers tested a wide range of household materials for homemade masks. They measured what percentage the materials could capture viruses and bacteria in comparison to common surgical medical-grade masks. 'Based on this research, we are confident that our masks are at minimum 65% effective in keeping out viruses and bacteria - and we dont need any research to prove they are 100% attractive,' said Katie. Sleek: A few weeks ago, Skatie Swimwear converted their main factory into making PPE- masks, gowns and n95 mask covers Buy one give oe: PQ Swim is also doing their part. The swimwear brand re-purposed it's production lines, materials, and resources to create a cloth MasQini A few weeks ago, Skatie Swimwear converted their main factory into making PPE- masks, gowns and n95 mask covers. Every purchase made on the Skatie site is in turn aiding the production of PPE, supporting healthcare workers, employees and their families. PQ Swim is also doing their part. The swimwear brand re-purposed it's production lines, materials, and resources to create a cloth MasQini. ALL the proceeds from the MasQinis will go to pay their employees; and to donate one for each that we sell to charity. Elaine Tran, CEO and founder of swimwear label Dippin Daisy's, has switched gears within her Los Angeles County garment factories and is now producing and donating face masks to those on the frontlines of the COVID-19 fight. In the last week, Elaine has made and shipped more than 5,000 masks and replaceable carbon filters to doctors, nurses, high-risk individuals and first responders across the country, at no cost to them. 'Were not doing this for business, were simply doing what we can to help during this pandemic,' Elaine said. Brandon Maxwell and Michael Costello led the COVID-19 designer response. The United States-based talents were the first to utilize their teams and resources to produce protective gear needed by heath-care workers. The GAP Inc. (which includes Gap, Old Navy, Athleta, Banana Republic, Intermix, Hill City and Janie and Jack brands) has pivoted resources so that factory partners can make masks, gowns and scrubs for healthcare workers on the frontlines. Repurpose: Los Angeles-based clothing company Rails put a pause on their garment production and are focusing on non-surgical masks for children and adult Giving: Baby accessory and lifestyle brand, Bazzle Baby, has partnered with No Kid Hungry to donate 30% of proceeds to the charity and has recently begun creating medical face masks out of their signature bib fabric material Los Angeles-based clothing company Rails put a pause on their garment production and are focusing on non-surgical masks for children and adult. Each pack contains 5 masks made from their custom plaid fabrication. For ever pack purchased Rails will donate a pack to essential workers and businesses in their local community. In addition to producing medical masks for the nation, Sanctuarys CCO & Co-Founder Deb Polanco is also designing lifestyle masks for consumers. The masks are available in disposable 5-pack sets for pre-order. Soon the brand will be releasing washable individuals that can be reused. Sanctuary is also using its resources to produce over 5 million N95 masks to support our medical community as they battle this virus on the frontlines across the nation. Baby accessory and lifestyle brand, Bazzle Baby, has partnered with No Kid Hungry to donate 30% of proceeds to the charity and has recently begun creating medical face masks out of their signature bib fabric material. Protection: In addition to producing medical masks for the nation, Sanctuarys CCO & Co-Founder Deb Polanco is also designing lifestyle masks for consumers Stylish: They are available in disposable 5-pack sets for pre-order (expected to ship by April 15) Corporations for good: In support of efforts to combat the global spread of COVID-19, UNIQLOs parent company Fast Retailing has enlisted the help of its manufacturing partners in China to procure approximately 10 million protective masks A-list: Designers Christian Siriano, Brandon Maxwell and Michael Costello were some of the first designers to utilize their teams and resources to produce protective gear needed by heath-care workers Giving: Clothing and accessories designer Johnny Was has made 10,000 face masks for donation Pretty: Similar to the California-based label's ready-to-wear collection, the masks are colorful and feature dreamy floral patterns Clothing and accessories designer Johnny Was has made 10,000 face masks for donation. Similar to the California-based label's ready-to-wear collection, the masks are colorful and feature dreamy floral patterns. UNIQLOs parent company Fast Retailing has enlisted the help of its manufacturing partners in China to procure approximately 10 million protective masks. These masks will be donated to high-priority medical facilities around the world where there is an urgent need for protective wear, namely the United States. Fast Retailing will donate 1.05 million masks through UNIQLO USA. They will be supplied to local medical facilities through the New York State Government. Current / Elliot, Equipment and Joies parent company, The Collected Group, is donating face masks to the medical community in NYC. Ben Sherman is proud to partner with Gladson to support the Costume Designers Guild in the production and delivery of 50,000 protective masks. Theyre happy to be helping healthcare workers on the frontline. #ClothforCorona Not your ordinary protective equipment: Kiki Boutique is making mask-wearing look really chic Kiki Boutique is designing street style worthy masks. From reversible to velcro options featuring designer logos, the New York-based company is taking orders on both children and adult styles. Prices range from $15-$35. Hickey Freeman Tailored Clothing (HFTC) reopened their factory to produce protective face masks for the medical staff at Rochester General Hospital. For over 120 years, Rochester, New York has been the home to the luxury menswear brand's manufacturing facility. 'We have hundreds of the best sewing machine operators in the country. When Rochester General made the request, of course we answered the call. We will do whatever it takes,' said Stephen Granovsky, CEO of HFTC. 'This is a small contribution compared to the health care workers we are helping protect.' Variations: From reversible to velcro options featuring designer logos, the New York-based company is taking orders on both children and adult styles People in need of cash during the lockdown due to COVID-19 need no longer go to banks or ATMs in Kerala as the state government has tied up with the postal department to deliver cash at their doorsteps. State Finance Minister Dr T M Thomas Issac on Monday launched the scheme by which the postman of a particular area would deliver cash to the people. "From April 8 onwards, you can call the post office in your area, tell them your bank's name, the amount required and your address.The postman will reach your home with the money," Isaac told reporters here. The facility has been made available with 93 banks for accounts linked with Aadhaar numbers through Aadhaar Enabled Payment System, a release issued by the finance said. "This is a simple method to withdraw money from your deposit in any bank without having to go to an ATM during the lockdown period and hence maintaining social distancing," the minister said. Issac said this would bring a revolutionary change in the "Direct Beneficiary Transfer facility" of social welfare pensioners as the beneficiaries need not waste their time going to banks to withdraw the amount from their accounts. The facility has been made available through the doorstep banking services of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), which rolled out the Aadhaar enabled payment system services in September 2019. After scanning or entering the Aadhaar number, the amount and the bank from which money is to be withdrawn, the customer has to place his or her finger on the biometric device with the postman to authenticate the identity, based on which up to Rs 10,000 can be withdrawn in a day. "The machine will be cleaned with sanitiser and the beneficiaries must also clean their hands. The postal department has purchased enough sanitisers for this purpose," the Minister said. He said the postal department has been entrusted with a new a responsibility and it was the only institution which has a reach to even the most emote places in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CRPF chief A P Maheshwari, senior security advisor in the Union Home Ministry K Vijay Kumar and about 14 other senior officers have tested negative for coronavirus after they came in the network of an infected force doctor, officials said on Monday. Others who tested negative include CRPF Additional Director General (Operations) Sanjay Arora and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and staff officer to the CRPF DG Sunil Joon. All these officers, totalling 16, had come in direct or indirect contact with a CRPF doctor who was found positive for COVID-19 on April 2 and is now admitted to AIIMS Jhajjar in Haryana. Maheshwari (59), K Vijay Kumar (67), Arora, Joon and few others had travelled on a special BSF aircraft to Chhattisgarh some days back to review anti-Naxal operations in the state. "Detailed contact history was worked out and found that one officer among these had travelled with several other CRPF officers, including DG CRPF to Chhattisgarh." "The DG Dr A P Maheshwari along with all personnel who went to Chhattisgarh have been tested for COVID-19 and have all been found to be negative," CRPF spokesperson DIG Moses Dhinakaran said He added, "They have also been cleared by medical officials. However, in compliance with WHO and government guidelines they shall complete the entire duration of self quarantine upto April 7."A senior official added that K Vijay Kumar too has been found negative for virus. "All officials are in good health and continue to perform their duties through telecommunications," Dhinakaran said. Maheshwari, a 1984-batch IPS officer of UttarPradesh cadre, had taken over the CRPF charge on January 15. Kumar, a 1975-batch IPS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, headed CRPF as its Director General between October, 2010 to September, 2012. He has also served as the advisor to the governor of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On Sunday, the President of Mexico had announced a plan to help boost the Mexican economy out of the COVID-19 crisis. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador promised to provide assistance to the poor and create jobs. However, his vow for fiscal discipline had resulted in criticism that the response is insufficient, says an article. AMLO's Promise AMLO promised to create 2 million jobs in nine months. Also, he plans to give a boost to small businesses and give out housing loans for Mexicans. Also, he plans to tighten the restrictions on the public sector to prevent excessive debt. Global Governments Governments from different parts of the world have released spending vows to minimize the damage of the COVID-19 crisis to their economies. These nations include the United States of America, Mexico's number one trading partner. The US had recently announced a $2-trillion package. Using a Budget Stabilization Fund and Public Trust Funds to Shield the Poor AMLO's approach to saving the Mexican economy amid the COVID-19 crisis is the usage of a budget stabilization fund and public trust funds to shield the poor from the potential decline. Experts are forecasting this decline as severe. According to AMLO, COVID-19 is a temporary and transitory crisis. He gives hope through a televised speech that normality will soon come, and the COVID-19 will be defeated. He reassures everyone that the economy will be reactivated at the passing of the pandemic. Check these out: COVID-19 Recoveries: Is the World Winning the Fight? Fighting Uncertainty Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic Latest Facts About the Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis Funds In the previous week, AMLO stated that approximately $10 billion would be available for multiple rainy day fund. According to the finance ministry, the economy's buffers included a stabilization fund of more or less $6.6 billion from the last day of 2019. Investment to the Energy Sector An investment in the energy sector amounting to $13.5 billion is to be announced next week. This move will help give the Mexican economy a boost. Some private analysts predict that this will contract by up to 10% this year. This total is less than the proposed $92-billion energy sector investments in the private sector. Fighting Recession with a Stimulus Package AMLO's speech had coincided with the increasing demands for his government to follow the United States of America and other European countries with a significant stimulus package to combat a recession. According to a political analyst in Mexico Viri Rios, the measures that AMLO had planned are insufficient to combat this type of recession. The Coparmex's head of employers, Gustavo de Hoyos, expressed his disagreement with the president's plan for the Mexican economy. De Hoyos stated that there are no significant measures to combat the economic decline brought by the COVID-19 crisis. Based on the latest estimate of the Mexican government, the economy could contract by up to 3.9% this year. However, AMLO expressed his disagreement with this prediction. He calls for more optimism on the Mexican economy, which was already contracting in 2019. A security guard wearing a face mask and gloves holds a branch of olive tree before the celebration of the Palm Sunday mass at the Santa Maria de Montserrat abbey in Monistrol de Montserrat on April 5, 2020, (Josep Lago/AFP via Getty Images) Spain, Amid Slowdown of New Virus Cases and Deaths, Prepares for De-Escalation Spain continued reporting a slowdown of new CCP virus cases and deaths on Monday as top officials prepare to lift restrictive lockdown measures that have been in place for over three weeks. Spains Ministry of Health reported 637 deaths overnight from COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus. The pace of new deaths, about 5 percent, was about half the pace of a week before. The country also reported fewer than 5,000 new cases and fewer than 100 new patients admitted into intensive care units while finding another 2,000-plus hospitalized patients fully recovered, a condition Spanish authorities have been describing as cured. We are observing that the pandemics growth rate is slowing down in almost every region, Maria Jose Sierra, deputy head of Spains health emergency committee, told reporters at a virtual news conference. Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez said preparations are being made to lift restrictions placed on Spaniards. A man speaks on his phone as he walks past the Royal Palace during lockdown, amid the CCP virus outbreak, in Madrid, Spain on April 5, 2020. (Juan Medina/Reuters) We are preparing ourselves for de-escalation for which it is important to know who is contaminated to be able to gradually lift Spanish citizens lockdown, she told TV station Antena 3, noting the importance of testing as the lockdown is eased. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a lockdown on March 14 and authorities tightened restrictions late last month in a bid to slow the spread of the CCP virus. Sanchez said over the weekend the lockdown would remain in place until April 26, although some of the restrictions could be eased. While so far only those infected or suspected of having the COVID-19 disease have been tested, now checks will focus on the wider population to try and find carriers who may not be displaying symptoms, Gonzalez said. A rash of recent studies have shown the prevalence of COVID-19 patients who never show symptoms. Some have pointed to those people and patients who do eventually show symptoms being able to transmit the virus. Relatives of Concepcion Molero who passed away on March 31 due to a CCP virus infection at the age of 80, keep social distancing measures as they attend to the funeral of her mother in El Prat de Llobregat, Spain on April 4, 2020. Authorities in the country are only allowing three relatives attend each funeral.(David Ramos/Getty Images) Spanish companies are manufacturing 240,000 test kits per week and are boosting capacity, the minister said, while equipment is also being bought from abroad. Spain has one of the highest case and death counts in the world, although some countries, principally China and Iran, have been manipulating their numbers of infected and dead. Spain and nearby Italy have seen much higher mortality rates than other countries, a condition attributed to healthcare systems in some areas being overrun with patients. The hardest hit area in Spain, Madrid, saw just over 1,000 new cases overnight and just 11 new patients in ICUs as the outbreak slows down dramatically there. Catalonia, Spains second most affected region, also saw few new cases and intensive care admissions. Checkpoints were lifted on Monday in Igualada and three other hard-hit towns in the Catalonia region, the health ministry said. Reuters contributed to this report. Hollywood superstar Chris Hemsworth on Monday said he was looking forward to celebrate "Extraction", a part of which he shot in India, with his fans here but that could not be possible amid the coronavirus spread. The actor said he had an unforgettable time in the country while shooting for the film with the local talent and would like his fans to enjoy the trailer, which drops Tuesday. Netflix is set to release the film on April 24. "Namaste India, Chris Hemsworth coming to you all the way from Australia. As you may have heard, I was incredibly excited to come to India, and to celebrate this movie where it was filmed. My time in your country during the production was unforgettable and I was so looking forward to returning. "But due to all that's happening in the world at the moment, I, like you, am staying home. I know things are not easy right now for everyone," the 36-year-old actor said. Asking fans to keep an eye on the trailer, Hemsworth said the film is an incredible action packed ride, directed by his good friend Sam Hargrave. "It was an absolute honour to work alongside some of your best local talent to make this movie possible, and I can't wait for you to see it. Sending you lots of love and good thoughts to everyone around the world, stay home. Stay safe, be well," he added. The film revolves around Hemsworth's character, Tyler Rake, a fearless black market mercenary, who embarks on the most deadly extraction of his career when he's enlisted to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord. Written by "Avengers: Endgame" co-director Joe Russo, the film was shot in India and Thailand and also Rudraksh Jaisawl, Randeep Hooda, Golshifteh Farahani, Pankaj Tripathi, Priyanshu Painyuli, and David Harbour. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) E conomists are fond of describing economic downswings using letters of the alphabet. A V-shaped downswing suggests an initial rapid contraction followed by a rapid recovery. A U-shaped downswing has roughly the same beginning and end but has a grim period of prolonged stagnation in between. An L-shaped downswing the worst of the lot offers only the misery of contraction: there is no subsequent expansion. Letters, however, tend to be roughly uniform in size. To capture the unique scale of the current crisis, we need to think about canyons, gorges and valleys. The Yarlung Zangbo Valley in Tibet is the deepest in the world, a whopping 5,382 metres below the mountains on either side. Since March, the world economy has, in effect, plunged off the top of either Namcha Barwa or Jala Peri, the surrounding peaks, on its way to the hardest of hard landings. More than 9 million Americans have lost their jobs over the last two weeks. Surveys of economic activity in Europe have fallen to their lowest ever levels. Singapore Airlines is cutting 96 per cent of its capacity. Businesses the world over are struggling. This reversal is worse than the Global Financial Crisis. Its beginning to rival the Great Depression. China offers a ray of hope: for the time being, Covid-19 appears to be under control and people are beginning to emerge from lockdown. We are, however, a long way from being out of the woods. The Chinese bounce may be the equivalent of a bungee jumps first upward oscillation. Demand is still brittle: reopened cinemas in Hubei province are apparently struggling to attract still-fearful customers. The risk of imported reinfection remains high, one reason why Singapore, a poster child for limiting Covid-19s spread, has imposed a new lockdown. Deaths in Italy, Spain and France are hopefully peaking, but theyre still very much on a rising trend in both the UK and the US. Meanwhile, many of the poorest nations, whose urban sprawls allow little room for social distancing and whose financial pockets are just not deep enough to provide wide-ranging economic bailouts, may be forced down the herd immunity path, a journey that threatens to leave them economically and financially marooned. China offers a ray of hope but were yet to discover how far the economy has fallen and how we can recover Even when the bungee rope eventually stabilises and we truly discover how far the world economy has fallen, well still be confronted with huge uncertainties. Will we quickly be able to scale the other side of the valley, returning to some semblance of business-as-usual as companies emerge from their enforced hibernation and furloughed workers are, once again, able to engage in productive activities? Or will we discover that the valley floor is an economic version of the Grand Canyon, requiring an extended trek in the stifling Arizona heat before we reach the other side? Stephen King / Alamy Stock Photo At this stage, we simply dont know. The absence of wide-ranging testing means we cannot tell how many people have been infected asymptomatically. We cannot yet assess whether those whove recovered are at risk of reinfection. Of those with Covid-19 who die, we dont yet know how many die from it. We dont know whether a vaccine will arrive any time soon. Its possible, therefore, that the trek along the bottom of the Grand Canyon might be long and arduous. That, in turn, raises another uncertainty. Most economists believe that a short-term lockdown will ultimately be better for our economic prospects than allowing the virus to run riot. During the 1918-1920 Spanish flu, for example, those US cities which went into lockdown subsequently fared better economically than those which didnt. What, however, if this lockdown is not the last? What if the other side of the Grand Canyon remains out of sight? We might then be forced to address some uncomfortable moral questions involving trade-offs between the quality of life for the majority determined in part by our collective economic futures and the heightened risk of mortality for an unfortunate minority. Hopefully, the current lockdown will do the trick, creating conditions in which the virus either disappears or becomes routinely treatable. That way, the tricky moral issues can remain the preserve of philosophers of ethics alone. Nothing, however, in this terrible crisis can yet be guaranteed. Coronavirus in New Jersey: Update on April 6, 2020 What do you want to see done about the coronavirus spread in New Jersey? Gov. Murphy is giving a live briefing now. Posted by NJ.com on Monday, April 6, 2020 Gov. Phil Murphy, state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli and other officials will discuss the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in New Jersey this afternoon when they hold their first press conference of the week as the outbreak continues to escalate with more than 37,000 cases. The briefing begins at 2 p.m. and can be viewed on the governors YouTube.com channel. NJ Advance Media will add the live stream to this post when it becomes available. State Epidemiologist Dr. Christina Tan, and State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan and Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness Director Jared Maples are also likely to be on hand to field questions from the media Occasionally, Murphy invites someone from the private sector, such as a hospital CEO, to offer additional perspective at gatherings that have been held six days a week and generally run for about 90 minutes. At least 917 people have been killed since the COVID-19 outbreak began in New Jersey a month ago. The states first pop-up hospital at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus is slated to have a soft opening on Monday. It will have about 250 beds and is intended to reduce the stress on North Jersey hospitals flooded with patients who have the coronavirus. Murphy toured the facility last week. Similar facilities in Edison and Atlantic City are expected to open in the coming days. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Rainscreen Cladding Market Overview The increased investment is anticipated to fuel the demand for rainscreen cladding market. Reports that judge the construction industry has been offered by Market Research Future, which generates reports on industry verticals that judge the market development and possibilities. A CAGR of 7 % is estimated to create an incremented scope for development in the coming period. The need to generate energy savings from buildings is expected to create a favorable boost for the rainscreen cladding market. The inclination towards eco-friendly buildings construction is anticipated to bolster the market for rainscreen cladding globally. Segmental Analysis The segmental outline of the rainscreen cladding market is carried out on the basis of type, end-use, and region. On the basis of type, the market for rainscreen cladding is segmented into laminates, composite, terracotta, cement, metal, and others. The end-use basis of segmenting the rainscreen cladding market consists of commercial, residential, and industrial. Based on regions, the rainscreen cladding market is segmented into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and other regions of the world. Request for Free Sample Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/3941 Detailed Regional Analysis The region-based scrutiny of the rainscreen cladding market is segmented into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and other regions of the world. The European region is the fastest mounting region for the rainscreen cladding, due to the speedy urbanization and the ever-increasing population in the region, which is contributing to amplification in the extent of construction activities. This increase in building activities is additionally contributing to the strengthening of the rainscreen cladding market in the region. The market is further determined with the opening of rules and regulations by the European Commission with the aim of motivating the use of energy in a resourceful way across all end-use industries such as housing, business, and industrial properties. Competitive Analysis The strategic intent in the market of players is enhancing the operations in the market overall. Furthermore, the market leaders are considering streamlining all aspects of operations at a macro and micro level in the global market. The fastest-growing companies are initiating a dramatic growth phase in the market in recent times. The extensive set of capabilities developed by market players is aiding in accelerating and delivering sustainable growth. The high-growth aspirations currently in place are inspiring a profound level of development in the market. Moreover, the companies are also well equipped to effectively implement their growth strategy over the long term. The market competitors are making decisions that are improving business performance and supervise risk. The change in the ways consumers interrelate with market companies is also opening up new business models. As the companies are making their customers an important focal point for strategy formulation, they are creating a strong competitive advantage in todays turbulent market. The focal contenders in the rainscreen cladding market are Carea Ltd. (London), MF Murray Companies (U.S.), Celotex Ltd. (U.K.), Kingspan Insulation PLC (Ireland), Rockwool International A/S (Denmark), Eco Earth Solutions (India), FunderMax Holding AG (Austria), Euramax (Netherlands), CGL Facades Ltd. (U.K.), Trespa International B.V. (Netherlands) and others. Industry Updates: Oct 2019 A ventilated glass cladding and rainscreen system from Bendheims ventilated glass cladding, and rainscreen system has been featured in the newest transformation of the classic Kinnick Stadium at the University of Iowa. Neumann Monson Architects selected the structure for its versatility, aesthetics, and pace of fabrication & installation in the recent overhaul of the iconic stadium. July 2019 SFS, experts in building envelope systems have launched its new generation NVF2F vertical cladding support structure. Produced by NVELOPE, division of the SFS business, the NVF2F upright cladding support system allows floor-to-floor span rainscreen facades to be put in quicker than previously with fewer gears and a stronger end product. An employee wearing protective gear, working for environmental services company AMSA, sprays disinfectant on Piazza Duomo in Milan, on March 31, 2020 during the country's lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. (Piero Cruciatti/AFP via Getty Images) Italy Daily Death Toll Rises, But New Cases Drop Sharply In Italy, the COVID-19 daily death tolla closely watched indicator of how the outbreak might be recedingrose again today, but new cases fell sharply. At 636, the death toll in Italy is still far short of the highest tally of 971 recorded a week ago, suggesting that the peak has passed. But deaths are up more than 100 from the previous daily number of 525. Meanwhile, underscoring the notion that the outbreak is losing momentum, the total number of new cases dropped to the lowest level in two weeks. Italy currently has the highest death toll anywhere in the world, if Chinas much-maligned official statics are to be believed. The total number of confirmed cases in Italy of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly referred to as the novel coronavirus, rose by just 3,599 to 132,547, marking the lowest rise since March 17. According to Reuters, the number of people in intensive care also dropped for the third day in a row. Italy was one of the first major hot spots for the virus outside of China, as COVID-19 began to gain a foothold in Europe. Italy began a nationwide lockdown on March 9, which will currently expire by law on April 13. That end date, however, does not mark the point at which officials believe the lockdown will endits just as far as lawmakers wanted to extend it for the meantime. Officials have indicated that they have no plans to lift the lockdown by any particular date, despite initially indicating that it might be lifted in mid-May. Male nurses wearing a face mask and overalls bring a patient on a stretcher into the newly built Columbus Covid 2 temporary hospital to fight the new coronavirus infection at the Gemelli hospital in Rome on March 16, 2020. (Andreas Solaro/AFP via Getty Images) Italys worst-hit region is Lombardy, in the northeast of the country. Authorities in the region, which is home to the capital, Milan, have begun testing health workers for antibodies that may help identify individuals with immunity, reported Reuters. Lombardy authorities have also now ordered anyone outside to cover their nose and mouth using home-made or improvised masks. Interest in the use of face coverings to block the spread of the virus has grown after initially being dismissed by the majority of health advisers in Europe and America who initially said masks were only useful to frontline medical staff. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday recommended that all Americans should start to wear cloth face coverings in public settings. The CDCs recommendation came on the heels of new evidence that COVID-19 can be spread by people before they display symptoms. The wearing of the face covering is not to protect the wearer, but to stop them inadvertently spreading the virus before they know they have it. Setting aside China, where experts say reliable information cannot be obtained, Spain today overtook Italy with the highest number of CCP virus deaths per-capita in the world. Spain now has a death toll of 265 per million, a little higher than Italys 262. The United States, where the total death toll has exceeded 10,000, currently has a per-capita death toll of 29 per million. In contrast, the official death toll in China, which is a couple of months further down the track, is just 2 per million. Numerous reports, including leaked documents, statistical analysis, and anecdotal reports from inside China, suggest that the official data is far from accurate. Reuters contributed to this report Construction workers' health is at risk from continued work amid the coronavirus pandemic, campaigners warn. (PA) UK building firms are slashing jobs at the fastest pace in almost a decade, suffering a steep downturn in work as the coronavirus ripples through the sector. A closely watched survey of construction leaders showed the fastest monthly decline in employment numbers since 2010 and in levels of business since 2009. New orders slumped and work stopped on many sites as the outbreak took its toll on activity, ending a fragile recovery since Decembers election boosted confidence. Analysts said it pointed to the worst economic downturn in a century, coming alongside separate figures on Monday showing UK consumer confidence and new car registrations collapsing. The headline figure on a purchasing managers index (PMI) for the sector plummeted to 39.3 in March from 52.6 in February. Figures above 50 show growth and below 50 show decline on the index, based on a survey carried out by IHS Markit and the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS). Read more: UK government under pressure to halt construction work Duncan Brock, group director of the CIPS, said builders lost their jobs on a frightening scale as the lockdown to contain the pandemic hobbled firms. The sector is stuck in quicksand and sinking further. Civil engineering, commercial and residential work have all taken a hit. Housebuilders have suffered the least damage so far, but expect their work levels to collapse. The UK property market has been knocked sideways by the pandemic, with estate agents forced to furlough staff as activity has collapsed. Coronavirus fears have not only stopped in-person viewings and valuations, but also battered confidence among buyers and sellers. Growing job losses and tighter lending conditions are also likely to hit the market in the months ahead. Separate analysis released by Knight Frank on Monday pointed to a sharp decline in UK residential property sales in 2020. The estate agent and consultancy predicted sale numbers would drop 38% on 2019 levels to 734,000 transactions this year. But it only expects UK house prices to slide 3% in 2020, and predicts they will recover sharply in 2021. Story continues But Andrew Wishart, UK economist at Capital Economics, said the PMI data indicated Britain was set for the sharpest fall economic output in a century in the second quarter of 2020. More confirmation that social distancing is obliterating economic activity, he wrote in a note to clients. Read more: Rising UK house price data irrelevant as lockdown batters property market The latest figures come amid enormous controversy over continued work on many construction sites, despite the governments lockdown and advice to stay at home. The government has ordered non-essential retailers and venues to close, but has not restricted most other businesses ability to continue to trade and order staff into work. Construction firms have been given the go-ahead to continue with projects, as long as social distancing guidelines such as staying two metres apart are followed. But construction workers, unions and opposition parties are urging the government to introduce further restrictions. They warn conditions on some sites and commuting prevent workers staying apart, putting their own and their families health at risk. Many workers face a stark choice between risking their health and losing their jobs or income by staying at home. Some housebuilders and other construction firms have voluntarily ceased work, however. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK A release hearing for a North Albany murder suspect has been postponed but will occur sometime within the month of April or in early May, according to paperwork filed in Benton County Circuit Court last week. Ryan Scott Williams, 21, is accused of second-degree murder for the fatal shooting of Glenn Colvin, 50, on March 17 at their home in North Albany. Williams had been scheduled for a three-hour release hearing on Monday. However, his defense attorney Clark Willes filed a motion on Thursday that sought a continuance. The matter will be reset within four weeks. Ryan Joslin, Benton County chief deputy district attorney, has agreed to the continuance, which will provide time for crime lab results to be reviewed, Willes wrote. Judge Joan Demarest signed an order issuing the continuance the same day Willes filed his motion. Colvin was the fiance of Williams mother, and was living with Williams family in the 1800 block of Laura Vista Drive N.W. in North Albany. Williams told authorities that he killed Colvin in self defense because he was being sexually assaulted by Colvin at gunpoint. Colvin was found lying on his back in bed, according to a probable cause affidavit in the case. The Albany Police Department led the investigation into the death. During his arraignment on March 18, Williams pleaded not guilty. He has no criminal history in Oregon, according to the states online courts database. The charge of second-degree murder is a new crime in Oregon that went into law in January. Certain egregious factors are necessary for a first-degree murder or aggravated murder charge. Kyle Odegard can be contacted at 541-812-6077 or kyle.odegard@lee.net. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Hey @alanhowze - Used @zoom_us for in-meeting participants, then attendee view was sent out to usual @Granicus, Twitter, FB Feeds. @Qualtrics for Form-based feedback, voicemail via @Cisco setup, @WeTransfer for vid submission. Add fair share of talented co-workers, & you're good. Mike Sarasti (@Sarasti) March 26, 2020 With social distancing being one of the keys to slowing down the COVID-19 outbreak, local governments face the fundamental question of what to do about public meetings.Some states, such as Tennessee and Nebraska , had to issue executive orders to allow virtual public meetings to occur. Assuming a government body is authorized to hold a virtual public meeting, how should it be done?Theres no one right answer to this, and the best solution for your municipality or governing body is something that youre already familiar with, if possible, said Brian Platt, business administrator for Jersey City, N.J. Dont try to copy a city that you think did it right.According to an email received by, Jersey City held its first fully virtual caucus meeting and city council meeting on March 23 and 25, respectively. The municipality upgraded and utilized Microsoft Teams, a tool the citys been using on a day-to-day basis.Platt contrasted the simplicity of his citys approach with the huge production that was Miamis virtual commission meeting on March 25. According to a tweet from CIO Mike Sarasti, Miamis meeting involved tech from Zoom, Granicus, Qualtrics, Cisco and WeTransfer. Sarasti could not be reached for comment.Louisville, Ky., had been using WebEx for virtual meetings before social distancing measures were put in place across the country. The city was in the middle of transitioning to a cloud version of the tool when COVID-19 struck, IT Director Chris Seidt said. The tech allows the city to continue holding its metro council, daily town hall and press briefing meetings.Seidt said making sure people stay muted might be the single most important tip to keep in mind, which means that walking everyone through functionalities or sending tips and tricks beforehand is a must.When we tried to go off mute in the first press briefing meeting, we had about 20 people trying to go in at the same time and ask questions, Seidt said. It didnt work very well.Seidt also suggests starting virtual public meetings a few minutes late. Meetings tend to be scheduled right on the hour, so allowing about five minutes to pass is a good way to avoid technical issues that may result from numerous organizations using a digital platform at the same time.Testing is key to making sure things go off without hitches. Seidt said its unwise to hold a meeting where people will be logging into a system for the first time. This is especially true for officials who may have problems joining the meeting from home.Were having them run some speed tests at their house and send us a screenshot just to make sure they have a good experience, Seidt said.Keeping the public connected is another challenge. Platt said Jersey City will change how it handled citizen comments for its first virtual council meeting, where they asked individuals to sign up to speak via email or phone. During the actual meeting, Jersey City would manually and individually call each person when it was their time to speak.Unfortunately, not everyone answered their phone when they were supposed to.That was a little slower than we would have liked, Platt said.To remedy this limitation, Jersey City is experimenting with a method that would allow citizens to call in and be placed in a virtual waiting room.Seidt said pumping content to residents through social media connectors is a great idea. Louisville has moderators collect questions on a Facebook Live feed and put them in the WebEx chat so that the mayor or whomever can address the concerns during the meeting.Weve seen four or five hundred residents on real-time with Facebook, Seidt said. He later added, You want to put it on as many platforms as you can.Seidt added that Louisville worked with the metro TV channel to set up a picture-in-picture overlay so that citizens can see the meeting video with a sign language interpreter.Security also cannot be overlooked. During a virtual public meeting in Kalamazoo, Mich., Internet trolls disrupted the proceedings with profanity and racial slurs.Making sure you have a secure platform with a password for the meeting is really critical, Seidt said. Albany, N.Y. Its possible New York is approaching the peak of the coronavirus pandemic in the state and so far, the health care system is meeting the challenge, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today. Have we saved everyone? No, Cuomo said during a press briefing in Albany. "But have we lost anyone because we didnt have a bed or we didnt have a ventilator or we didnt have health care staff? No. "Have we lost anyone who we could have saved? I don't believe so." Cuomo has been warning for weeks that the state didn't have enough beds or ventilators to meet its needs at the expected peak of the virus. Hospitals are using backup measures, including splitting single ventilators to support two patients and converting different breathing machines into full-scale ventilators, Cuomo said. But so far, sites around the state have enough ventilators and other equipment to manage. The state has been shifting supplies, including ventilators, from less stressed hospitals to those with the greatest needs, Cuomo said. He didnt say specifically if any equipment has been moved from Upstate New York hospitals. Everyone has what they need, Cuomo said. There is no one whos said, Im out of ventilators and I have a critical need who hasnt gotten them. After early projections showed the state could need as many as 110,000 hospital beds for coronavirus patients at the virus' peak, the current trends have been much lower, said Jim Malatras, a Cuomo aide. If infections continue at their current pace, the state will need between 10,000 and 20,000 beds. The numbers show the state's social distancing measures and school and business closures are helping, Malatras said. One model the state uses expects daily deaths due to the virus to peak on April 9 and then begin to decline. Cuomo urged caution and said the situation could turn worse rapidly if the restrictions are relaxed. He extended the shutdown of schools and nonessential businesses until April 29 and called for more local enforcement of social distancing rules. He also noted that models differ on what happens from here. It's possible new cases and deaths could start to fall rapidly. Its also possible that heightened stress on the health care system will continue for an extended period. Cuomo said hospitals are stretched to their limits. The system is running at red line, he said. "Has been for days. "People can't work any harder. The staff can't work any harder. And staying at this level is problematic." Cuomo said the 2,500-bed temporary hospital for coronavirus patients at the Javits Center in New York City will soon be fully up and running. And he said he plans to ask President Donald Trump to convert the Navy hospital ship Comfort to a coronavirus facility. Both Javits and the 1,000-bed Comfort were originally set to take only noncoronavirus patients, but there are few of those patients left in hospitals. "If we had those two facilities available as a relief valve, that would make a significant difference" Cuomo said. "That is the only way we sustain this level of intensity in the hospital system." The state is beginning to see some hopeful signs in daily statistics on the virus. New deaths have started to flatten with 599 yesterday and 594 the day before. Daily deaths have been hovering around 600 for four days now. New hospitalizations fell to 358 on Sunday from a high of 1,427 on Friday. New intensive care unit admissions and intubations have also dropped in recent days. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Coronavirus in NY: Cuomo extends school, business closures until April 29 Behind the Onondaga County execs latest move: Hes frustrated with coronavirus and some slackers Onondaga County warns of potential coronavirus exposure at 3 pharmacies, liquor store Coronavirus in NY: State releases deaths by ages, counties Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598 More than 700,000 people are now dependent on social welfare income supports, the Government has revealed. Last Friday, payments were issued to 507,000 recipients of the 350 per week Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Support payment, which is up from 283,000 a week ago. These payments are in addition to the 205,000 people on the Live Register receiving "standard" non-Covid-19 -related Jobseeker's Benefit of 203. In total, 712,000 people are receiving income supports, with 507,000 signing on since 16 March when the Covid-19 Pandemic payment was first announced. Meanwhile, Read More: At its daily briefing, the Department of An Taoiseach said the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme introduced by Government is continuing to have strong uptake. 39,000 employers are now registered with Revenue for the scheme. Revenue has generated further refunds under the scheme worth 14m. These payments will be in the bank accounts of the majority of the respective employers tomorrow. The cumulative value of payments made under the scheme is almost 87m, official Liz Canavan said. The weekly 350 payment run of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment issued from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection over the weekend and it will be available to customers from tomorrow 7th April, Ms Canavan said. She said that so far, a total of 66,000 duplicate applications were filed, while 15,000 people had given incorrect bank details while a further 15,000 applicants were deemed to be not eligible for the payment. Ms Canavan also gave details of an Posts Newspaper Delivery service which will provide same-day delivery to households nationwide Monday to Friday. An Post will provide a Read More: Ms Canavan said her department is aware of some concerns around the impact of Covid-19 in Direct Provision centres. Intensive work has been underway in the Department of Justice since the emergence of the Covid-19 crisis to ensure that to the best of their ability, they protect the health and welfare of asylum seekers and refugees availing of their accommodation services. They are guided in that by the HSE and the National Public Health Emergency Team, she said. Centres have been requested to generate on-site self-isolation capacity and as a further protection for residents, all centres have been temporarily closed to visitors. Last week, it was announced that 650 new temporary hotel beds have been procured following intensive negotiations by the Department of Justice within a very short space of time, Ms Canavan said. In terms of Irish returning home, Ms Canavan said over 70 Irish citizens departed India safely on 4 April on a flight organised by the Irish Embassy in New Delhi and Consulate General in Mumbai. The flight also carried over 100 citizens from a number of EU member states, the UK and Brazil. To date, the Government has assisted over 2,700 Irish citizens in returning home to Ireland since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, they are trying to help a further 2,000 of our citizens to return home. Many are small groups but the majority at the moment are in Australia with a couple of hundred in New Zealand. Citizens should contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate to update them on their situation and they should closely follow information provided on the Embassy Twitter account, she said. In relation to the high number of Covid-19 clusters in nursing homes, she said the HSE will be working closely with the sector to support a range of additional measures to reduce the risk of transmission within nursing homes: Importantly each nursing home will be identifying a COVID-19 lead. HSE will provide access to Personal Protective Equipment, expert advice and training. Staff movement across residential facilities will be minimised and the HSE will support staff with alternative accommodation and transport, if required. Staff screening will start in nursing homes twice a day, COVID-19 testing will be prioritised for staff A temporary Covid-19 Financial Support Scheme is being introduced by Government and will be established in the coming days, to support the critical services provided by nursing homes. The Scheme will provide a temporary assistance payment to support private and voluntary nursing homes in managing any outbreak that occurs. It will be reviewed after the first months operation, she said. In a gurdwara in Queens village, 30 cooks have made and served more than 145,000 free meals in just 10 weeks, The New York Times reported. They offered food to New York City hospital workers, people in poverty and anyone else in search of a hot meal. Gurdwaras like the Sikh Center of New York, in Queens Village, are mobilising their large-scale cooking resources to meet the skyrocketing need for food aid outside the places of worship, adds the report. Numerous online conspiracy theories have misleadingly linked cell towers to the coronavirus pandemic and now people in the UK are setting 5G phone masts on fire. According to The BBC, at least three 5G towers were set alight within the last week, and fire and police services were called to extinguish the flames. 5G towers in Britain burned down The UK spokesperson for Vodafone confirmed through an interview with The Verge that four of its cell towers were targeted in the past 24 hours. Investigations have now been launched to identify how the 5G towers caught fire. One tower in Birmingham that is operated by EE and does not provide 5G services was still set on fire. A spokesperson for EE stated that the company's engineers are now assessing the cause of the fire at one of their towers in Birmingham. If the investigation states that it was arson, the company will work to help West Midlands police identify the culprit. The site served thousands of people in the Birmingham area, providing important 2G, 3G, and 4G connectivity as it has done for years. EE will try to restore full coverage as fast as possible, according to the spokesperson, but the damage caused by the fire is massive so it will take some time. Also read: Zoomboming: FBI Warns Against Security Threats in Zoom 5G and the coronavirus pandemic Conspiracy theories and rumors over the connection between 5G connections and the coronavirus have been spread through social media networks. Numerous groups exist on Nextdoor and Facebook where thousands of members repeat false, misleading and inaccurate claims that 5G is harmful can cause the spread of the virus. One theory claims that the coronavirus originated in Wuhan because the city had been rolling out 5G. It has now spread to other cities that are also using 5G. These false claims neglect to point out that a highly contagious virus would spread more in densely populated cities with access to 5G, and that the virus has hit countries like Japan and Iran where 5G is not in use yet. There is no scientific evidence that links the 5G connection to the coronavirus pandemic and there is also no evidence that it has any negative health effects to 5G. This still has not stopped the spread of wild conspiracy theories from spreading, and some people are even harassing workers laying fiber optic cables for 5G installations. The operators in the UK now believe that the attacks are undermining the nation's security. The UK CEO of Vodafone, Nick Jeffery, stated that he is saddened that vandals have carried out a series of arson attacks on mobile phone masts during the pandemic. He states that it is a matter of national security. Counter-terrorism and police authorities are now investigating the incidents. The arson attacks caused significant damage that will affect services in Birmingham, just as the NHS is relying on mobile networks. According to the NHS director Stephen Powis, he is outraged that people would be taking action against the infrastructure that is needed to tackle the global emergency. The UK government's Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport or DCMS branded the conspiracy theories "crackpot" and noted that the department received reports of criminal damage to phone masts and abuse of telecoms engineers. DCMS is now calling on social media networks to control the spread of misinformation. Related article: Germany to Adopt Singapore's COVID-19 Contact Tracing App @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. VANCOUVER, Wash., April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bridge Chiropractic is offering free chiropractic care to physicians, physician's assistants and registered nurses working on the front lines of healthcare in hospital emergency rooms and urgent care centers during this critical and demanding time for healthcare professionals. Typically, hospital staff members spend 10-12 hours on their feet during each shift, a number that is likely much greater during times like these when hospital emergency departments and urgent care centers are experiencing an influx of patients. Standing for several hours can take a toll on anyone's spine, which can cause muscle soreness, headaches, and back and neck pain. At Bridge Chiropractic, we specialize in helping patients find relief from pain and discomfort through a unique combination of chiropractic adjustments and therapies. With four locations in Salmon Creek, Fisher's Landing, Mill Plain and Downtown Vancouver, we are able to serve a widespread population of healthcare professionals in Vancouver, WA, and the surrounding area. "Our community's front-line medical workers are a critical piece in helping us combat our current COVID-19 crisis. These teams are under extreme amounts of mental and physical stress while providing the necessary care. The doctors and support staff of the Bridge Chiropractic Clinics want to help all of the front liners stay healthy so they can continue to focus on helping our community recover from this crisis as quickly as possible. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary actions. That's why we are offering complimentary chiropractic care to support the hardworking men and women serving in our hospitals and healthcare centers," says Dr. Paul Reed, Owner and Founder of Bridge Chiropractic. We're thrilled to be able to support healthcare professionals serving on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Any physician, physician's assistant or registered nurse who currently works in a hospital emergency department or urgent care center is eligible to receive complimentary care at Bridge Chiropractic. About Bridge Chiropractic At Vancouver Washington's Bridge Chiropractic, we are a family chiropractic practice proudly serving 4 Washington locations for your convenience. We are a place for both children and adults of all ages. Under our chiropractic care, we have built specialized techniques for 20+ years. All of these techniques are focused on reducing and eliminating your pain. To learn more visit us at: bridgechiropractic.com Contact: Amanda Roszkowski Telephone: 630-399-9047 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Bridge Chiropractic Related Links https://bridgechiropractic.com President Donald Trump announced Sunday that the federal government has sent several hundred much-needed ventilators to states reeling from the coronavirus outbreak and grappling with a shortage of medical supplies. Over the past 24 hours Trump's administration delivered an additional 500 ventilators to New Jersey, 200 to Louisiana and 300 to Michigan. An additional 600 were sent out to Illinois and 100 to Massachusetts. The supply of the ventilators comes as governors demand Trump's administration intervene, with hospitals across the nation becoming overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients and healthcare facilities running out of live-saving medical supplies. These ventilators in particular are needed for seriously ill coronavirus patients to breathe as the respiratory disease attacks their lungs. President Donald Trump announced Sunday that the federal government has sent several hundred much-needed ventilators to states reeling from the coronavirus outbreak and grappling with a shortage of medical supplies Over the past 24 hours Trump's administration delivered an additional 500 ventilators to New Jersey, 200 to Louisiana and 300 to Michigan. An additional 600 were sent out to Illinois and 100 to Massachusetts. A map of COVID-19 hotspots across the US pictured above New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio have shed light on the severe shortage their state faces when it comes to medical supplies and equipment. On Sunday De Blasio warned that the city only has enough ventilators to last Wednesday. 'We have bought a few more days here. We believe now we can get to Tuesday or Wednesday with the supplies we have,' he said. 'I want to be clear, it only means a few more days, nothing more I can guarantee beyond that,' he added. In New York state there are over 123,000 cases and over 4,000 deaths reported as of Sunday. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards tweeted Saturday that in total the state has received 350 ventilators from the national stockpile. On CNN on Sunday he said that even with the ventilators, the state is slated to run out on April 9. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards tweeted Saturday that in total the state has received 350 ventilators from the national stockpile, but the state is slated to run out by April 9 New Orleans (above during the lockdown) remains a national virus hotspot. The death toll in the city is now at 409. The city's Mardi Gras celebrations had been blamed for the causing the virus to spread so rapidly across the state but underlying health conditions are also to blame A convention center in New Orleans has been converted into a makeshift hospital specifically to treat COVID-19 patients In New Orleans the outbreak has been far deadlier than the rest of the US, with a per-capita death rate twice than New York Citys, according to new research. Public health officials are casting the blame on the Big Easys high levels of obesity and related ailments. Orleans Parish, which encompasses the city, reported 153 confirmed coronavirus deaths as of Friday, the equivalent of 37.93 coronavirus deaths per 100,000 people. That rate for New York City was at 18.86 per 100,00 people on Friday, the Wall Street Journal reports. As of Saturday the state of Louisiana reported 12,496 cases and 409 deaths. 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. Jersey receives 500 ventilators: An overall view of The Covid-19 testing site on Marin Boulevard in Jersey City, New Jersey pictured April 2 Illinois receives 600 ventilators: Staff members inside the outdoor facility outside of Innovative Express Care on Chicago's Northwest Side, in Chicago, United States, on March 30 Michigan receives 300 ventilators: Stretches seen at the TCF Center in Detroit on April 1 as the city became a hotspot for the COVID-19 outbreak White House officials say that this next week will be devastating for the nation as it hurtles towards the projected April 16 peak date of the pandemic in the US. 'This is going to be the hardest and saddest week of most Americans' lives,' Surgeon General Jerome Adams said on Fox News Sunday. Some states say theyre in a bidding war for supplies, but some have shown solidarity and support for each other, as the nation sees over 312,000 cases of the virus and over 9,000 deaths as of Sunday. Washington state sent back 400 government issued ventilators for other states who need them more. Trump praised the move by Gov. Jay Inslee on Sunday saying, 'We appreciate that hes able to give them back.' In the US there are over 337,000 cases of COVID-19 and over 9,600 deaths from the virus Veteran Affairs hospitals are starting to make beds available to help with coronavirus patients, including 100 beds in New York, the US epicenter of the pandemic. Trump and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker have butt heads repeatedly, with the Chicago Democrat saying the president has not efficiently utilized the Defense Production Act to order businesses to ramp up the production of medical supplies and disseminate them to outbreak hotspots. In Illinois there are over 11,000 cases and 200 deaths. President Trump has kept his optimistic approach on the pandemic and says the outbreak is 'leveling off' in US hotspots. On Sunday Trump declared hes seeing the 'light at the end of the tunnel', pointing out how New York reported for the first time a drop in the number of new infections and deaths. While the decline is a 'good sign' more deaths are still on the horizon as the country nears its projected 'peak' of the virus in the coming two weeks. 'In the days ahead, America will endure the peak of this pandemic,' the president said at his daily briefing. 'We're hopeful over the next week that we'll see a stabilization of cases in these metropolitan areas where the outbreak began several weeks ago,' Dr Deborah Birx said at the briefing. Jose Daniel Ferrer's release apparently due to pressure exerted by the European Union Information obtained by DIARIO DE CUBA indicates that Josep Borrell's team dealt with a group of figures in the regime that did not include Raul Castro or Machado Ventura. The release of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) leader Jose Daniel Ferrer, and of another three members of the movement, held since October 1 in prisons in Santiago de Cuba, apparently came about after pressure was brought by the European Union, according to information obtained by DIARIO DE CUBA. Ferrer was jailed on October 1, and later tried on February 26, in a trial riddled with irregularities. Prior to the proceedings the European Socialist Group travelled to the island and attempted to attend them at the Municipal Court of Santiago de Cuba, but they were blocked by Cuban authorities. After this obstruction several members of the Socialist Group, including President Iratxe Garcia (Spain), Vice-president Kati Piri, and EUROLAT President and MEP Javi Lopez, three heavyweights on the European left, attended multiple meetings with high-ranking regime leaders, including the president of the National Assembly of Popular Power. At these talks the ideological isolation to which the regime could be subjected if it did not quickly improve its human rights record was apparently impressed upon them. European lawsuits cited arbitrary arrests, pre-trial imprisonments, suppressed freedom of expression, restricted movement, and, in particular thanks to Josep Borrell, senior representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy the case of Jose Daniel Ferrer. In fact, the day before the meetings Borrell demanded a fair trial for Ferrer and questioned the existence of due process in Cuba. Subsequently, the Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy's team intervened vigorously, appealing to a wing with the regime "open to dialogue" which, ostensibly, did not include Raul Castro or Jose Ramon Machado Ventura. After his release Ferrer stated that he had been taken to the Provincial Court of Santiago de Cuba, where judges informed him that he had been found guilty, and that his sentence was set at four and a half years, five for Jose Pupo Chaveco, and four for Fernando Gonzalez and Roilan Zarraga. They were then informed, however, that these sanctions had been replaced by house arrest measures. "I told them that I did not accept that sanction, because we had not done anything, and that they could leave me in prison, because I was not going to comply with any of the provisions governing house arrest," said Ferrer. Despite this, they gave him his clothing back, and took him home in a patrol car. Ferrer stated that for him "overthrowing tyranny is a sacred question." He acknowledged that, "without the solidarity of many brothers within Cuba and abroad, I wouldnt be alive, because its intention [of the regime] was to get rid of me and other activists in Cuba." The regime, he said, "was looking for ways to evade international pressure" brought due to his imprisonment. The arrest of Ferrer and three other activists, whom the regime accused of alleged infliction of injuries, unlawful confinement, and assaulting a citizen, triggered strong reactions abroad, with human rights groups like Amnesty International (AI) and institutions like the Organization of American States (OAS) requesting his release. Authorities such as the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Dita Charanzova, and United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had warned that they were monitoring the detainees' situations, and called for their immediate release. In its most recent report on the human rights situation in the world, the US State Department blasted the existence of "political prisoners" in Cuba and cited the case of Ferrer as an example. "Jose Daniel Ferrer's name appears 17 times in this report. He is one of thousands of political prisoners who for years have been dragged, shackled, and beaten by the regime. Tomorrow he will be sentenced by a Cuban court, " said Pompeo, who called the charges against him "false." Covid-19 may stay on the outer layer of medical mask for seven days Open source The researchers from the university in Hong Kong told how long the coronavirus may exist on different surfaces as South China Morning Post reported. They state that the virus may stay on paper for up to three hours, while on wood and fabric the whole day. On the glass, the virus remains to exist on the second day. On plastic and steel, the virus may stay up to 72 hours, while on cooper surface it exists not longer than four hours, on cardboard 24 hours. Besides, on the outer layer of the medical mask, the coronavirus was present for the whole week; it was found after seven days. The experts noted that it is very important not to touch the face during wearing the mask. Despite the long-term stay on different surfaces, its concentration quickly reduces. Besides, the accidental contact with the surface with virus does not mean the potential possibility of infection. However, the researchers state that people should not risk health, it is necessary to wash hands and use disinfectants. As we reported, the general number of people infected with Covid-19 in Ukraine grew to 1,319. The Healthcare Ministry reported that, claiming 68 new cases over the last 24 hours. In the world that is already abandoned, the only rule left is survival. Cinephiles who prefer the zombie genre most are surely familiar with the Korean horror film Train to Busan that was released in 2016. The story centers on the passengers aboard a speeding train that must fight off a very hungry zombie to survive until they reach their safest destination. And now, the very first trailer for the follow-up film, Peninsula is being produced by James Wan who also produced the box-office hits Insidious and Aquaman. Warning! There will be some spoilers for Train to Busan and the animated prequel below. Renowned actor Gong Yoo portrays the character of Seok-woo. He is a divorced and a workaholic fund manager who one day was not able to attend his daughter Su-an's singing recital. He decided to visit his mother in Busan for her birthday to make it up to her. As soon as the train was pulling out of the station, there was a young woman who suddenly jumped aboard the train. That woman unknowingly was already infected with a virus. While on the train the woman was already having some strange behavior and eventually turned into a zombie. And well, you know how this story goes, almost every passenger in the train was infected as the plague spread rapidly throughout the train. The passengers did whatever it takes to stick and help each other against the crowd of zombies but must face a lot of inevitable complications like having to change trains at a station filled with the undead. The viewers were able to witness the high-speed spread of the plague along with the passengers as the train passed city after city. It is quite impressive how well it captures the complicatedness of human nature in the middle of a scary epidemic, in which people are behaving both selflessly and selfishly due to the detriment of survival. Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula was at first scheduled for release on August 12, 2020, but it's currently undecided due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Hoping and praying that this pandemic will end soon and the theater might open again before them. Peninsula is also set in the same universe as the first film that was released. As seen in the trailer, it is very clear that the zombie outbreak has annihilated the region. There is a soldier named Jeong-seok, played by Gang Dong-won, who survived. He is a member of the covert military operation coming back to the infected zone. Most of the human survivors they come across seem to have largely gone untamed, forcing people to fight to the death against the zombies. There are only two lines of dialogue in the trailer: a panicked soldier screaming "Block the entrance!" and a little girl asking Jeong-seok if he was scared. In the meantime, if Korean zombie horror is your liking, you can always rewatch Train to Busan: Seoul Station or you can also binge on the fantastic Netflix series Kingdom while you're waiting for the forthcoming one. President Donald Trump speaks during the daily briefing on the CCP virus at the White House in Washington on April 4, 2020. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) Trump Names Thomas Monheim Acting Intelligence Community Inspector General President Donald Trump has named National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency general counsel Thomas Monheim as acting intelligence community inspector general, a day after he fired Michael Atkinson, telling reporters at the White House that Atkinson mishandled the whistleblower complaint that led to the first partisan impeachment of a president and his subsequent acquittal. Monheims appointment was announced by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in a statement on Twitter, shortly before the president said at a White House CCP virus Task Force briefing on April 5 that he had fired Atkinson. Thomas Monheim has been named the Acting IC Inspector General, the DNI said. Monheim is a career intelligence professional and retired colonel from the U.S. Air Force Reserves who has served our nation in a wide variety of roles throughout his distinguished career. President Trump on Michael Atkinson: I thought he did a terrible job. Absolutely terrible. He took a whistleblower report, which turned out to be a fake reportit was about my conversation with the president of Ukraine. He took a fake report and he brought it to Congress. pic.twitter.com/nctqgPNQ7T CSPAN (@cspan) April 4, 2020 During his time with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Monheim provided legal advice to enable NGAs mission consistent with the Constitution and law, the DNI said. His military service includes time as a prosecutor, defense counsel, military judge, and Deputy General Counsel of the White House Military Office, it continued. He mobilized for 9 months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and for another 9 months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Trump on Saturday described Atkinson as a total disgrace, as he defended his decision to remove him. Thats my decision. I have the absolute right, the president said. Trump noted that the anonymous whistleblowers complaint didnt have to be rushed and that Atkinson himself determined that there were indications of political bias by the complainant. In a letter to the Senate Intelligence Committee on April 3, Trump said that he would remove Atkinson from office effective 30 days from today. As is the case with regard to other positions where I, as president, have the power of appointment, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, it is vital that I have the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as inspectors general. That is no longer the case with regard to this inspector general, Trump said in the letter. Atkinson played a central role in the genesis of the impeachment probe against Trump. He vetted the whistleblower complaint and determined that it should be forwarded to Congress as an urgent concern. The complaint centered on Trumps July 25, 2019 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Many questions remain about some controversial aspects of Atkinsons involvement. Shortly after the submission of the Ukraine complaint, the intelligence community inspector generals (ICIG) office altered its whistleblower complaint form to remove instructions that directed complainants that the office would only review firsthand information. The impeachment whistleblowers complaint consisted almost entirely of secondhand claims. Atkinson issued a lengthy explanation as to why the form was altered, explaining that the firsthand requirement was removed due to scrutiny from the media. He explained that the ICIG does not actually have a requirement for firsthand information and that the form was adjusted accordingly. The whistleblower also falsely claimed on the complaint form that he or she hadnt spoken to Congress about the matter. Atkinson testified before the House Intelligence Committee during its impeachment inquiry. His testimony is the only one that remains classified and was never released by the Democrat-controlled committee. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) later revealed that his office had in fact communicated with the whistleblower prior to the submission of the complaint. Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this report. In a dramatic turn of events, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to hospital in London Sunday night with persistent symptoms of COVID-19. He tested positive for the disease 10 days ago. The Guardian reported that it was "told last week that Johnson was more seriously ill than either he or his officials were prepared to admit, and that he was being seen by doctors who were concerned about his breathing." The Times reported that Johnson was given oxygen treatment" at St Thomas' hospital. His pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds also has the virus, as does his key adviser Dominic Cummings. Cummings uncle, retired senior judge Sir John Laws, died from the disease yesterday after being hospitalised for three weeks with other health problems. Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a news conference giving the government's response to the new COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, at Downing Street in London, Thursday March 12, 2020. (Simon Dawson/Pool via AP) Thousands continue to die every day in Europe of COVID-19. On Saturday, a further nearly 3,000 people died across the continent. Deaths in Europe are approaching 50,000. By Sunday evening, overall deaths reached 49,096 as a further 2,902 people died. Europe is reporting nearly 40 percent of all new COVID-19 cases globally, with Sundays 26,786 taking the European total to 645,295. The reported death toll consists mainly of people who have died in hospital. Many countries are excluding those who die at home or in care/residential homes from their daily totals. There is mounting evidence that fatalities are much higher when deaths outside hospital are factored in. On Saturday, one care home in Glasgow, Scotland, reported that 13 of its elderly residents had died. There are more than 410,000 people in care homes in the UK. This represents four percent of the over-65 UK population and 16 percent of those aged 85 or above. French health authorities have recorded an extraordinary surge in the number of cases and deaths in recent days, with the number of newly dead rising from several hundred to over a thousand. April 2 saw 2,116 cases and 1,355 deaths, April 3 saw 23,060 new cases and 1,120 deaths, and April 4 saw 7,788 new cases and 1,053 deathsnearly doubling the overall death total over these three days alone. With Sundays figures of 1,873 new cases and 518 new deaths, the total in France to date is 92,839 cases and 8,078 deaths. The main reason for the extraordinary surge in the number of cases was evidently the sudden inclusion of contagion and mortality statistics from Frances rest homes. A horrific outbreak is ravaging Frances elder care homes, amid shocking and malign neglect by the authorities. The French government deliberately chose not to use the nationwide reporting system established in rest homes to report on flu deaths. It did not receive real-time data and refused to provide more than three COVID-19 testing kits per rest home, even after reports emerged that dozens were dying of COVID-19 in rest homes across the country. Now it appears that tens of thousands, at the very least, have died. In Italy, there have been nearly 16,000 deaths (15,887), representing almost a quarter of all global fatalities. Italy is one of many countries recording only hospital-based COVID-19 deaths. The 525 death total announced Sunday was the lowest figure since a record high 969 fatalities on March 27. Coffins with the bodies of victims of coronavirus are stored waiting for burial or cremation at the Collserola morgue in Barcelona, Spain (Image Credit: AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) A huge number of people remain hospitalised (28,949), but for the first time this figure fell (by 61) between Saturday and Sunday. Despite this, the number of new infections increased by 2,972. While this was an increase of more than 3 percent in 24 hours, it is a drop of nearly 50 percent from the height of new cases on March 20. Reuters reported the tragedy of one family. Silvia Bertuletti phoned health services for 11 days to try to get a doctor to see her 78-year-old father, Alessandro, who had a high fever and was struggling to breathe. Over the phone he was prescribed only a standard painkiller and a broad-spectrum antibiotic. An on-call doctor finally went to see Alessandro on the evening of March 18, but it was too late. When an ambulance arrived, hours after it was called, Alessandro had already been pronounced dead 10 minutes earlier. Reuters notes that Interviews with families, doctors and nurses in Italys stricken Lombardy region reveal that scores are dying at home as symptoms go unchecked In Bergamo province alone, according to a recent study of death records, the real death toll from the outbreak could be more than double the official tally of 2,060 According to one doctor, Riccardo Munda, the fear of infection and even death has led doctors to avoid making the required visits to patients at home who have symptoms. And I cant blame them, he said, because thats how they saved their own skin. If prompt medical attention was given to people at home, he added, many deaths could be avoided, but doctors were swamped, lacked enough masks and suits to protect themselves from infection, and were discouraged from making visits unless absolutely necessary. In the Bergamo area, 142 doctors were either sick or in quarantine, according to the state-run ATS health agency. A further 674 died in Spain Sunday, as total deaths rose to 12,418. Total infections rose by more than 6,000 to 130,759. Last Friday, a further 684 people perished in UK hospitals, as the number of people dead from COVID-19 rose five-fold in a week. An additional 708 deaths were announced Saturday, the biggest one-day rise since the outbreak began. Another 621 patients died Sunday, taking the total to 4,934. Despite talk of the cases plateauing in the UK, Sundays 5,903 new cases took the total to 47,806, the largest daily increase so far at 59 percent. As in every European country, health workers in Britain are dying and suffering horrifically due to years of health service cuts and a lack of basic protective equipment. A tiny proportion of frontline National Health Service (NHS) staff has been tested for the virus, despite thousands self-isolating after being infected. Just 0.3 percent (195,524) of the entire UKs population of 66 million had been tested by Sunday. Last Friday, the death of two NHS nurses, Areema Nasreen, 36, and Aimee ORourke, 39, was announced. This was followed by the weekends news that a 24-year-old nursing assistant, John Alagos, looking after coronavirus patients at Watford General Hospital in Hertfordshire, had died and is being tested for COVID-19. The Daily Mail reported that Alagos collapsed and died at home after an exhausting 12-hour shift. The young man returned home on Friday following a night shift, after complaining of suffering a headache and high temperature throughout the night. His mother, Gina Gustilo, said, I asked [John], Why didnt you come home? He said he had asked other staff, but they said they were short of staff and they did not let him go. I said, OK, take some paracetamol. After a few minutes, I found him turning blue in his bed. Lack of adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was no doubt a factor in his death, with Gina revealing she had been told by her sons co-workers that he was not wearing proper protective clothing. They wear PPE, she said, but not totally protective of the mouth. They wear the normal masks. Rinesh Parmar, chairman of the Doctors Association, said, I worry that if we dont sort out our issues with Personal Protection Equipment and testing of frontline staff in the coming days that we will start to follow a trend thats very similar with Italy. I dread to think how high it could go I worry its going to go in excess of 50. Warnings about the necessity for stockpiling ventilators, PPE and other essential resources were ignored by governments all over Europe, which adopted a slash and burn policy towards public health care in enforcing savage austerity over the past decade. In the UK, barely 5,000 ventilators were in operation when the pandemic began. Despite repeated promises to secure the required amount, Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted to the BBC Sunday that there may be only 13,500 ventilators in hospitals by Easter, when the government claims COVID-19 is expected to peak. In Germany, 132 new deaths were recorded Sunday, bringing deaths to 1,576. Previous days saw fatalities at around 140, meaning Sundays toll was an increase of around 1.5 percent. Brisbane ratepayers will learn in mid-June how their rates and charges will change under the new Brisbane City Council. Lord mayor-elect Adrian Schrinner made it clear last week he had no intention of delaying the Brisbane City Council budget, the largest local council budget in Australia. Lord mayor Adrian Schrinner with his daughter Octavia. Credit:Tony Moore He has already declared wage freezes for council staff to try to save $36 million in the coronavirus-interrupted budget preparations. Cr Schrinner's announcement last week prompted criticism from unions, from Labor's council opposition leader Cr Jared Cassidy, while Greens councillor Jonathan Sri suggested councillors receive a pay cut. There are over 120,000 schools that have closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The education of students is being affected, but children with disabilities receive the most impact of them all. While other students can do homeschooling, children with disabilities often rely on a litany of service at school; it ranges from speech therapy to physical therapy to occupational therapy that is not readily accessible at home. Adrienne Stuart, a mother of a 5-year-old child named Jack, is especially concerned about the current condition. Stuart has been looking forward to hearing her son say the word "hello." However, due to the closure of her son's school since mid-March, she is worried that she would have to wait some more time to hear from Jack. About 7 million students who receive special education services are struggling to be educated since they have to practice social distancing. The US Department of Education suggested that all public schools providing virtual assistance to their students should do their best to provide learning despite the distance to students with disabilities even if they feel that it is inadequate. However, in these few weeks, parents of students with disabilities said they are only receiving a portion of the services to which they are entitled. Schools have postponed meetings regarding updates in individualized education programs or IEPs, the legal document that contains an outline of the services for each disabled student. Classwork is not made to fit each student. Sometimes, paraprofessionals or adults that work closely with students are losing their occupation. The recent $2 trillion coronavirus bill has a provision that could allow the Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to waive portions of the Individuals with Disability Education Act. This federal law is responsible for the special education and calls for the disabled students to receive the same education with their non-disabled students. Stuart, the director of public policy at the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council, said that she does not know what to do as of the moment. Stuart's son has a Rett syndrome, a neurological disorder wherein a person's ability to speak, move, eat, and breathe are affected. Recently, the school uses an eye gaze device to track Jack's eye movement, which allows the doctors to communicate with him through the computer screens. Ever since Jack stopped schooling, his mom did not receive any instruction from the school. Since the device is complicated, Stuart feels unprepared as she directs her son. Stuart could not wait for the day when her son would be able to tell her if he is hungry, or if he is feeling hurt, or is frustrated. Jack's mother feels devastated because he could not get the support that he needs, and this might cause a delay in his development. Parents of disabled children are not sure whether to blame the school personnel because they understand that while school leaders are scared of facing lawsuits filed against them for lack of services to their clients, they are also afraid of the coronavirus. Many parents are worried about how hard it is for their children to adjust when they go back to schooling. But there is nothing they can do but to wait till the pandemic is over before their child could receive the support that they are entitled. A campaign encouraging homeowners to place crosses in their front yards has now spread to at least six states, with supporters hoping to spread an Easter message of hope during the COVID-19 pandemic. Facebook in recent days has been filled with thousands of pictures of crosses displayed by homeowners in Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Louisiana, Arkansas and Florida. The Faith over Fear movement originated in Middle Georgia. (Some are calling it Faith not Fear.) Many homeowners are putting Christmas lights on the crosses. Susan Polhill of Louisville, Ga., told The Augusta Chronicle she got the idea after reading about Californians hanging Christmas lights during the pandemic to bring people cheer. I thought, Gosh, that is awesome! It is the Easter season, so let us light up some crosses as they are packed with meaning, Polhill said. We post pictures on Facebook of all the crosses along with a special scripture or verse from a hymn or song. The cross is a symbol of what Jesus has done for us, all people. The Faith over Fears Crosses in Middle Georgia Facebook page has more than 10,000 members. Similar pages have been set up by Christians in Arkansas and Louisiana. A Jefferson County, Ky., Facebook page has 11,000 members. The Middle Georgia page encourages the community to place a cross in your yard to bring hope and assurance that faith is always stronger than fear. During this time of social distancing we can enjoy the beautiful crosses throughout neighborhoods and rural areas alike! the page says. Shelli Gibbons in Hart County, Ky., got the idea from her pastor. I think placing these crosses in our yards just has kinda given us something to take our minds off of everything and to put our minds and center our minds on God, she told WBKO. ... Some people have made crosses with their porch posts. There is even a guy that shared he has a cross on the front of his semi-truck because that's his main home. In Macon, Ga., two brothers built and sold wooden crosses until the governor issued a shelter-in-place order. They sold them for $20 apiece and used the proceeds to purchase snacks and drinks for hospital workers, 14-year-old Lane Rainey told WMAZ. I think we all need to pray, repent, and trust God and stop fearing, stop having a fear of the unknown. Just put your trust in the Lord and pray everything works out, Rainey said. Photo courtesy: Faith over Fear Crosses in Middle GA Facebook Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. HYDERABAD, India, April 3, 2020 (Morning Star News) Police arrested two pastors in Nepal on Saturday (March 28), falsely charging them with holding worship services amid the Himalayan countrys lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19, sources said. Police jumped over a locked gate and intruded into the Nissi Church building in Surkhet District, Karnali Province as 69-year-old pastor Mohan Gurung and other Christians who live on the church premises were chatting, Pastor Gurung said. Why are you gathered here? Will your Jesus save if you contract coronavirus? the officers said as they badgered him, Pastor Gurung said. The pastor, also known as Solomon Gurung, told Morning Star News that he was not holding a worship service but was spending time with his family and assistant pastors and their families, who also live on the church premises. But the police had jumped off the gate, barged inside the premises and accused me of holding a worship service, Pastor Gurung said. My attempts to explain to them that I was not holding a worship service failed, as they had already determined to arrest me. After the governments March 24 order of a full lockdown, he had announced that worship services were suspended, the pastor told Morning Star News. I also had stuck handbills on the walls of the church about coronavirus and safety measures to be followed and had kept the gate locked since government announced a lockdown on March 24, he said. On March 28 his family and the assistant pastors families who live on the church premises sat down together and were casually chatting about coronavirus and recent developments in the world, he said. I was having family time chatting and studying the Bible, he told Morning Star News. My wife and I consider the young pastors helping us in the ministry as our own family, and they also live in the same compound. We have meals together, sit and pray as a family. Normally at least 800 people attend worship services on Saturdays, and members had folded and put away carpets and cleared the furniture from the worship area on March 21, Pastor Gurung said. Only 10 of us sat chatting, and I still do not understand why the officers had to jump off the gates to arrest me. I had already suspended the services until we hear back from the government again, he told Morning Star News. Even at the police station, the officers were shouting at me, Are you a fool? Your Jesus could not save himself on the cross. How can he save you from coronavirus? The next day police presented him before the district magistrate and falsely accused him of conducting worship services during the lockdown, he said. I denied their accusations and told the officer that I was only sitting with my family, and the gate was also locked, he said. The police had taken me to the district magistrate handcuffed. Later that day, police also handcuffed him as they took him for a medical examination, he said. Pastor Mukunda Sharma, executive secretary of the Nepal Christian Society, told Morning Star News that the use of handcuffs in this case was unlawful. Article 7 of the Nepal Prisons Act prohibits use of fetters and handcuffs other than in special circumstances such as attempts to abscond, he said. The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, commonly called the Nelson Mandela Rules, also prohibits the use of instruments of restraint. Pastor Gurung was released on bail on March 29, along with another pastor who was falsely accused of violating the lockdown, sources said. Another Pastor Arrested At around noon on the same day Pastor Gurung was arrested, March 28, seven police officers intruded into a church building in the Karikhola area of Surkhet District, where pastor Prem Bahadur was informing some members not to gather. We had already decided not to conduct worship services, but I received a call on March 28 that a few believers had come to the church, he said. As it takes just a few minutes to walk from my home to the church building, I went there and made them understand that coronavirus is a pandemic and that we must follow the government orders. He had already distributed notices with pictures showing how they must take precautions to keep themselves healthy and was telling them that they must wash their hands often and keep physical distance from one another, he said. We were only talking when the police officers barged inside and charged three male members with lathis [clubs], Pastor Bahadur told Morning Star News. They accused me of violating the lockdown, and I had told them that I was sending the members away as they were illiterate and were not aware of the governments orders. The police paid him no heed and pushed him into their vehicle, he said. My wife and daughter-in-law had pleaded with police not to book me falsely, Pastor Bahadur told Morning Star News. The police told them not to be tensed, and that I would be released within two hours. Police put him in the same cell with Pastor Gurung, and Pastor Bahadur also was handcuffed as officers took him to the district magistrate and to the hospital for medical examination, he said. The two pastors were released on bail at about 8 p.m. on Sunday (March 29). Pastor Bahadur, 46, said he has faced opposition from hard-line Hindus and cow vigilantes, who protect cows regarded as sacred, during his 13 years ministering in the Karikhola area. They had been accusing me that I have been promoting a foreign faith and had defiled Hinduism, and that Jesus is not God, he said. The police personnel at the Surkhet District Police station informed me that a person from Karikhola neighborhood had called the police and had complained that I was conducting worship services. The arrest warrant issued to the pastors accuses them of violating the lockdown, thereby allegedly disturbing the peace and putting public health at risk. Surkhet District Inspector of Police Gopal Rayamajhi told media that the two pastors were arrested at around 2 pm. on Saturday (March 28) while they were gathering at their church sites. He reportedly said police had taken action against them based on information received about Christian worship. Pastor Sharma said he urged the chief district officer of police to carry out a fair enquiry and release the innocent pastors. The pastors had actually taken COVID-19 seriously and were also making efforts to make people aware of the pandemic, but police did not acknowledge their efforts, Pastor Sharma told Morning Star News. The news of pastors arrest has come as a shock. I have taken stock of both the cases, and it is clear that the accused pastors had not violated the lockdown. Nepalese Christian communities have shown solidarity with the government by obeying government orders, he said. All over Nepal, all the churches are closed no more gathering in the church buildings, he told Morning Star News. The Nepal Christian Society has circulated notice to all its district and state societies on what to do or not do amid the pandemic, using Facebook, Twitter, Zoom, Skype and WhatsApp, he said. We have already started to join hands together for assisting poor people by providing food, medical kits and awareness-raising activities with a sacrificial heart, Pastor Sharma said. We are working together with local governments all over Nepal. More than 1.5 million Nepali Christians are praying every day, he said. We are showing and want to continue showing our solidarity, and we are obeying and listening to the Nepal government and partnering in their efforts to defeat COVID-19, Pastor Sharma said. In the midst of the situation, the arrest of pastors indicates that the government has acted against Christians. The government should not be biased and should not be hostile towards the Christian community. The charges follow the arrest last week of a pastor accused of giving false information about COVID-19 in Nepal by saying Christian prayer could bring healing from the disease. Pastor Keshab Acharya, 32, was taken into custody March 23 from his home in Pokhara, Gandaki Pradesh Province, after a video appeared on social media of him rebuking the novel coronavirus as he preached to his church. A landlocked country between the giants of India and China, Nepal is said to be more than 75 percent Hindu and 16 percent Buddhist. Christians are estimated to make up nearly 3 percent of Nepals population, and Muslims 4.4 percent. Nepal is ranked 32nd on Christian support organization Open Doors 2020 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved. If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/? Article originally published by Morning Star News. Used with permission. Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Derek Brumby Ever since the UK was placed in lockdown on Monday 23 March, people across the nation have had to quickly acclimatise to spending an increased amount of time at home and indoors. Disruptions to everyday life have been far-reaching. While some have had to become accustomed to working from home every day, others have been unable to work at all. The way in which our lives have transformed in such a short space of time has heavily impacted our daily routines, as many individuals no longer have to wake up at a certain time in order to be punctual for school or work. This has seemingly resulted in an increasing number of people experiencing grogginess amid the coronavirus pandemic. Anybody else feeling seriously sluggish and groggy in the mornings since lockdown started? Assuming its down to routine completely stopping, one person recently tweeted. This lockdown has ruined my sleep cycle completely. Even when I do sleep, I wake up tired and groggy, someone else wrote. So what is grogginess? The medical term for grogginess is sleep inertia, Dr Natasha Bijlani, consultant psychiatrist at Priory Hospital Roehampton, explains to The Independent. Grogginess refers to a phase in between sleep and wakefulness when an individual doesnt feel fully awake. People who are affected feel drowsy, have difficulty thinking clearly and can be disorientated and clumsy for a while after waking. Matthew Walker, professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California and author of Why We Sleep, compares the way in which a brain wakes up to an old car engine, stating that sleep inertia occurs when sleepiness is still hanging around in the brain. You cant just switch it on and then drive very fast. It needs time to warm up, he says. 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 The reason why a person may be experiencing grogginess could be down to a variety of reasons, Walker tells The Independent. These include: sleeping at a time that doesnt suit your chronotype (such as being a night owl or an early bird); not sleeping for a long enough period of time; not enjoying good quality sleep or an underlying sleep issue, such as sleep apnea (a disorder that commonly results in snoring). While these reasons may indicate why a person is experiencing grogginess on an occasional regular basis, they do not clarify why there appear to be an increasing number of people frequently feeling groggy during the lockdown. Why do more people seem to be experiencing grogginess in the current climate? One of the main reasons why people may be feeling quite groggy as of late is reduced exposure to natural daylight, outlines Professor Colin Espie, professor of Sleep Medicine at the University of Oxford. With government guidelines dictating that members of the public can do one form of outdoor exercise a day and only leave the house for activities such as going to the supermarket or picking up medicine, time spent outdoors will have been drastically reduced in recent weeks. Professor Espie explains that daylight is the main biological signal to alertness, which is why lack of exposure to ambient daylight, or outdoor light, is making people feel less alert throughout the day. As we approach the sleep period, we get an increase in a hormone called melatonin, which is expressed during sleep, just prior to sleep and during sleep, he tells The Independent. [Melatonin] then reduces its expression towards the morning and is switched off by light, so if people are not actually getting exposure to light in the mornings as they normally do when they go to school or they go to work, then theres a likelihood that they will have more of a sleepiness propensity particularly into the mid-morning. Professor Espie further emphasises this point by comparing the intensity of external light to indoor light. External light is hundreds of thousands of lux [a measure of illuminance]. Even bright light indoors is probably only a few hundred, he says. Our eyes adjust so we dont necessarily realise how dark it is compared to outside. So I think thats a major part of it. Another significant factor is the impact of anxiety on quality of sleep, Dr Bijlani says. When people are unable to enjoy sufficient quality sleep, this can result in them feeling groggy the next day. We are in the midst of a global coronavirus pandemic and find ourselves in an unprecedented time of uncertainty and stress as we process the implications of all aspects of our lives, the psychiatrist states. Most of us will be feeling a degree of anxiety, even if it is at a low-grade background level and it is likely to affect the quality and duration of our sleep. Walker concurs that anxiety is likely to be affecting peoples ability to experience deep sleep that is of a good quality. We know that when people are anxious, the depth of their deep sleep isnt as deep anymore, he explains. So when you are anxious the day before, it usually leads to worse quality of sleep that night and unfortunately its a vicious cycle. Professor Espie adds that the constant influx of news regarding the Covid-19 outbreak is probably putting many people in a state of high alert and feeling a sense of helplessness, which may be energy-sapping for them. Furthermore, being at home all the time may be ridding many people of a regular routine, which would typically help them wake up and feel ready to start their day. I think the grogginess people are experiencing as the days go by is a natural response to all our normal routines being upset, says Jessica Alexander, a spokesperson for The Sleep Council. We need to work at establishing some new ones to help us get through. 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 If you are experiencing grogginess, what can you do about it? Firstly, it is important that you try your best to stick to a routine, both in the evening and in the morning, Dr Bijlani says. Try to maintain a regular sleep-wake routine even if you dont have to get up to travel to work at present. We function better when we keep to a regular rhythm and get enough sleep time for our individual needs. Professor Espie says that some people may be feeling groggy at the moment because they are spending more time in bed than they usually would, in addition to napping during the day when they do not sleep well at night. What this does is it tends to break down the pattern or discipline of regular bedtimes and rising times, he says. In order to figure out a sleep pattern that works for you, you need to consider what your individual sleep needs are, Professor Espie states. The professor explains that questioning how much sleep you actually need, what the best time it would be for you to go to sleep and when you are most productive during the day will help you ascertain what your chronotype is. Some people are natural night owls, some people are natural morning people. So an understanding of your natural sleep tendency is a good thing, he says. Professor Espie adds that good sleepers dont even think about it when they go to bed. Dont try and force it. Because if you try to sleep youre almost certainly going to keep yourself awake and get frustrated. If you are in bed and are unable to sleep, then getting out of bed and doing an activity could help put your mind at ease, Walker recommends. Just accept its ok, youre struggling with sleep tonight, get out of bed, go to a different room, then in dim light just read a book or listen to a podcast and only return to bed when youre sleepy, he says, explaining that if you stay in bed during times such as these, you may end up training your brain to believe that your bed is the place where you are always tossing and turning. When trying to improve your alertness, it would be wise to ensure you have a decent amount of exposure to natural daylight in the morning, Professor Espie says. You could do this, he suggests, by factoring your outdoor daily workout session into your morning ritual. You want to use light to improve your alertness and to facilitate coming out of sleep in the morning. So early morning bright light, natural daylight is good if you can, even if its standing outside, the professor says. Trying to alleviate your state of grogginess isnt just a case of making changes to your morning routine. Introducing a wind-down ritual in the evening could also have a positive impact on your wellbeing. Jonathan Warren, director at bed specialist Time4Sleep, stresses that in the current climate, making the transition between work and relaxation at home is all the more difficult. Getting a good nights sleep is more important than ever right now which is why you should ensure you have a comfortable and relaxing bedroom environment to help you properly wind down and switch off, he states. You can create a calm environment for yourself by doing things such as removing clutter from your bedroom and making sure that your bed looks cosy and inviting, Warren says. Alexander, of The Sleep Council, adds that you should disconnect from your devices for at least an hour before you go to bed and do relaxing activities such as having a hot bath, reading or meditating. Furthermore, you should try to limit the amount of caffeine you are consuming during the day and alcohol you are drinking at night, Walker says, explaining that too much of either can disrupt your sleep and lead to grogginess the next day. On the subject of ensuring you go to sleep in a calm state, Professor Espie states that it is important to protect the bedroom environment from being a place where you just lie and worry and ruminate. This isnt the place you should be trying to figure stuff out. This is the place that you go to get respite from the day and to get your recovery sleep so that youre ready for the next day. Those are things that you can schedule during your daytime, or during your early evening. However, Professor Espie understands that for some people, especially NHS healthcare workers, this may be easier said than done. This is why the digital platforms Sleepio and Daylight, which he designed, have been made available across the NHS workforce. All these guys working in the NHS and frontline working in a care environment are going to be pushing through all the time, just having to crack on and get things done, he says. These things are challenging for us but we should also put things in perspective. A patient is brought to the emergency room at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Read more WASHINGTON - A federal internal watchdog is corroborating warnings by governors and front-line health-care workers that hospitals' ability to combat the coronavirus pandemic is being impeded by shortages of tests, protective gear, staff and space, as well as inconsistent government advice. Some hospitals are so desperate for protective masks that they are scrounging them from auto body shops and nail salons, according to a report by the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services. At east one hospital is making its own hand sanitizer by mixing gel used for ultrasounds with alcohol from a nearby distillery, the report said. The report's findings are based on a survey of 343 hospitals spanning 46 states. It was conducted during five days at the end of March. "Hospitals across the country reported facing similar challenges, regardless of which stage of the process they were in - treating patients with [the virus], testing patients who were potentially infected, or preparing to treat covid-19 patients in the near future," the report says. The 34-page report, released Friday, says the findings are "not a review of HHS response to the covid-19 pandemic" but are intended "as an aid to HHS as it continues to lead efforts to address the public health emergency." The report is the first public federal critique of the capacity of the nation's hospitals to cope with the flood of infected patients in hotspot communities - an inundation expected to be repeated elsewhere soon. Its central findings include "severe shortages" of testing kits and delays in getting results after a patient is tested, and "widespread shortages" of personal protective equipment needed to help keep staff safe. Hospitals also reported that they cannot always maintain enough staff on duty and that the pandemic is "taking an emotional toll" on their doctors and other medical workers. The findings buttress dire descriptions of hospital conditions from physicians, nurses and health-care workers who have spoken out from wards overwhelmed with coronavirus patients, many fighting for their lives. Many governors have been pleading for supplies at news conferences, as well as in direct communications with federal officials all the way up to President Donald Trump. New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, whose state has tallied more than 4,000 deaths so far and is home to the nation's largest virus epicenter in New York City, frequently chronicles the shortage of ventilators for patients with the most severe breathing difficulties. The president has repeatedly warned states not to complain about insufficient respirators and other medical supplies from a federal stockpile, now managed by the Federal Emergency Management Administration. Just over a week ago, Trump said at a White House news briefing that he had instructed Vice President Mike Pence not to speak with governors critical of the administration's response to the pandemic. "I want them to be appreciative," the president said. But the inspector general's report documents that the concerns of governors, hospital executives and front-line health-care workers are warranted and are not simply naysaying from disgruntled political adversaries, as the president has suggested. The survey was conducted mainly by phone between March 23 and March 27 with one or more administrators at 323 hospitals - 85 percent of 380 hospitals surveyors tried to reach. FAQ: Your coronavirus questions, answered. Of the hospitals that responded - in 46 states, plus Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. - 117 reported treating patients confirmed to have covid-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus; 130 said they were treating suspected cases; and 32 said they had no cases. An additional 44 did not respond about their caseload. To reduce the number of patients coming to emergency departments, some hospitals have created triage systems by phone or by relying on community clinics, the survey found. Still, the findings point to the complexities facing the U.S. health-care system as it struggles to cope with the pandemic while the case count rises rapidly. For instance, the report notes that even when covid-19 patients get well enough to leave a hospital, freeing up a sorely needed bed, hospitals sometimes cannot send them promptly to rehabilitation facilities to continue their recovery. Rehab facilities are insisting on proof that people have tested negative before they will accept them. Hospitals reported an array of adaptations to cope with shortages of protective gear. They included buying masks from retailers including paint stores, auto body supply shops and beauty salons. Some hospitals said they were using masks intended for other kinds of workers, from veterinarians to nail salon technicians. The survey found that some hospitals were using sandwich bags as thermometer covers. Some hospitals reported that they needed more poles for intravenous therapy, bed linens, toilet paper and food. "Isolated and smaller hospitals faced special challenges" keeping supplies on hand and restocking, the report says. To conserve scarce supplies of protective equipment, some hospitals were reusing masks, face shields and gowns that are supposed to be discarded after a single use, restricting the use of such materials to patients and staff in intensive care units, or telling staff to interact with infected patients less often. To lower hospital workers stress, some hospitals were helping employees find child care, grocery and laundry services - and putting them up in hotels so they dont expose vulnerable relatives. FOX News explains why Georgia does not have COVID-19 deaths - GeorgianJournal Honourable Minister, Tackling Elder Abuse during and beyond confinement First of all, we congratulate you for the measures your Ministry has been undertaking to assist the needy and particularly older persons at a time when we are going through difficult and very trying challenges under COVID 19 attack. The 7 of April is World Health Day to be marked under a Damocles sword as close to 1 billion people are in obligatory or self -imposed or solitary confinement. In Mauritius the whole population, except for those of our fellow citizens working in essential services, are confined at home, in residential care homes, and in quarantine centers. We are appreciative of the measures taken by Government to protect people, to educate them, and mitigate transmission. The story of the old couple residing in Phoenix, an older man with disabilities following two strokes and his equally older wife staying without food for four days, is perhaps one of many stories going untold for quite some time. This one case would not be classified as one of ageism but this has triggered in many of us a special focus on older men and older women in similar situations and in abusive relationship. The cadres of your Ministry, the officers of the National Human Rights Commission, NGOs of whom DIS-MOI have, over the years, conducted sensitization programmes on Elderly Abuse and Ageism because Elderly Abuse and Ageism are a recognized fact of our society. As you aware Elder Abuse as well as Ageism is a tough hydra taking different aspects physical, verbal, uncare, theft, sexual abuse, abuse of trust in own homes, residential care homes, health care systems, or in public. Older people were not made to align separately in supermarkets as a matter of respect to their rights. Within the ambit of the Protection of Elderly Persons Act 2005, the Monitoring Committee and the Elderly Persons Protection Unit have over time constructed a list of potential risk cases which would require monitoring and follow up. Just as the officers of the Ministry are braced for house to house remittance of pensions to older persons in their residence, we are making a solemn request for visits by officers of the Ministry to households where there would be suspected cases of Elder Abuse. This initiative will go far in alleviating the stress and boosting the morale of many. Thank you for consideration of our letter. Vijay Naraidoo, Secretary-General of DIS-MOI Police reforms were made more quickly in, for instance, Georgia after the Revolution of Roses. This is what Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said in response to citizens questions today. Why were police reforms made more quickly in Georgia? One of the major reasons is that the revolution was made in the geopolitical context. There was no geopolitical context during the revolution that took place in Armenia, and the government still goes against the geopolitical context. Yes, Armenia has partners, but doesnt have sponsors. This is how we wanted it to be. Yes, this makes the process difficult, but there are also advantages, Pashinyan said. He recalled the rally that the Civil Contract Party had held at Liberty Square in Yerevan on September 10, 2016 and his speech in which he had stated that there must not be pro-European, pro-Western or pro-Russian forces in Armenia since that means anti-Armenianism and that there also shouldnt be anti-Russian, anti-American or anti-European forces. By John Geddie and Ruma Paul SINGAPORE/DHAKA (Reuters) - Migrant workers living in vast Singapore dormitories cut off from the outside world due to the coronavirus outbreak fear their cramped and squalid quarters are fast becoming a hotbed for infection. Singapore on Sunday said it had quarantined nearly 20,000 workers in two dormitories, made up of mainly Bangladeshi and other South Asian manual workers, after they were linked to at least 90 infections. The government said the action was needed to prevent broader transmission in the city-state - which is closing schools and offices this week due to a spike in cases - and said it had taken measures to reduce worker interaction in the dormitories and ensure they received salary, meals and medical support. But the move has been criticised by rights groups and others who say it may be discriminatory and risks exposing healthy individuals to a higher chance of infection. "If anyone is infected with the virus in our room or in our block, it is just a matter of time to catch the virus," said Majidul Haq, a 25-year-old Bangladeshi, who stays at the S11 Dormitory @Punggol with some 13,000 other workers. Haq and three other workers told Reuters they sleep in cramped 12-bed bunk rooms, share toilets and basins often blocked from overuse, and that cockroaches and overflowing refuse bins are a common sight. The manager of the dormitory did not respond to a request for comment. The government's manpower ministry said on Monday it was working with the dormitory operators to prioritise the wellbeing of workers, including stepping up cleaning. "We seek the public's understanding and patience as we work with the dormitory operators to resolve the ground challenges," the ministry said. When Reuters visited the Punggol site on Monday, six police cars lined the road outside the purpose-built, low-rise complex and a police tent had been erected at its entrance. The only activity came from the coming and going of several ambulances and masked workers ferrying rubbish into large plastic bins. Story continues Human Rights Watch said the quarantine created a "tinderbox" for infection and urged Singapore to quickly test all workers and move the sick out of the dormitories to medical facilities. Amnesty International called the lockdown "a recipe for disaster". "As it stands, the quarantine at these dormitories may be discriminatory and amount to an arbitrary deprivation of liberty," said the charity's Singapore researcher, Rachel Chhoa-Howard. Amnesty has raised similar concerns about lockdowns of migrant worker accommodation in Qatar, while mass transmission of the disease among people living in close quarters such as on cruise ships and in prisons has been a feature of the pandemic which has infected over a million people globally. TIP OF THE ICEBERG "This is the tip of the iceberg," said Alex Au, vice president of rights group, Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2). "When you pack people in such density...all this mantra about isolation and social distancing is useless." To combat rising virus cases, Singapore has advised its residents to stay home, not socialise and maintain a metre distance between each other if they have to go out for essential activities like shopping. Authorities have said they are also stepping up precautions in other dormitories as well, including trying to reduce the density of residents. The quarantining of the dormitories has also highlighted the broader issue of the treatment of foreign blue-collar workers critical to the development of gleaming, modern Singapore, said the city-state's former ambassador to the United Nations. "The dormitories were like a time bomb waiting to explode," Tommy Koh said in a widely shared Facebook post on Monday. "Singapore should treat this as a wake up call to treat our indispensable foreign workers like a First World country should and not in the disgraceful way in which they are treated now." Bangladeshi construction worker Shahadat Hossain, 30, said he and his colleagues were "so afraid" at the prospect of two weeks of confinement at the Punggol complex. "It would be a total disaster if someone is infected in my room," said Hossain. "How can we control the infection as we live in such a crowded place?" (Reporting by John Geddie, Fathin Ungku, Aradhana Aravindan and Edgar Su in Singapore and Ruma Paul in Dhaka; Editing by Nick Macfie) The Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) has temporarily banned exports of key foodstuffs from its member states, including Armenia, to other countries, a senior Armenian official confirmed on Monday. Deputy Economy Minister Varos Simonian said the Russian-led trade blocs executive body, the Eurasian Economic Commission, has initiated the three-month ban in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The ban will not apply to humanitarian aid that might be provided by Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan, he said. The foodstuffs in question include various cereals, soya beans, sunflower seeds, onions and garlics. Unlike Russia, Armenia is not a major exporter of these products. The Eurasian Economic Commission explained on its website that the export restrictions are meant to provide the population with sufficient quantities of such products during an escalation of the sanitary-epidemiological situation. The Moscow-based commission at the same time decided last week to temporarily lift import duties on foodstuffs imported by the EEU member states. We are talking, for example, about potatoes, onions, garlics, carrots and a number of other products, Simonian told a news conference. Their imports to the EEU area will be taxed at zero rates. This is aimed at preventing major increases in food prices in Russia and the four other ex-Soviet states. The prices of flour, sugar, butter and cooking oil sold in Yerevan supermarkets and smaller stores have already risen in recent days. Gegham Gevorgian, the head of Armenias State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition (SCPEC), blamed this on a coronavirus-related weakening of the national currency, the dram, which began last month. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian echoed this explanation when he answered questions from Facebook users later in the day. I must point out that some of these price hikes may be connected with exchange rate fluctuations, he said. Coronavirus: Tunisian parliament gives govt special powers To handle emergency, president goes to Carthage (ANSAmed) - TUNIS, APRIL 6 - The Tunisian parliament has voted in favour of applying Art. 70 of the constitution, which provides for the government to rule by decree for up to two months. The implementation of Art. 70 will help the government to speed up its actions to counter COVID-19 spread, especially as its peak in the country is expected to come next week or within the next ten days. In a parliamentary chamber half-empty since many of the MPs were working online, Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh said that he understood the concerns expressed by some MPs about risks to democracy, noting that the parliament continues to be able to monitor the government's actions and to withdraw the government's right top rule by decree if it were to be abused. Tunisian president Kais Said has meanwhile decide to move to the Carthage palace due to the COVID-19 emergency, according to an official statement. The pandemic, it noted, requires his constant presence in the palace. Tunisia has 574 recorded cases of COVID-19 an 22 people testing positive for it have died. (ANSAmed). Opposition parties on Monday came down heavily on the government over its decision to suspend MPLADS funds for two years, saying it undermines the role of MPs, who will lose their voice and an instrument to manage distress at the micro level. Criticising the government for the action, leaders cutting across party lines demanded a review of the decision saying development works in the country would suffer. The Congress,left parties, TMC and some others were in the forefront of this attack on the government, which is set to garner around Rs 7,900 crore through the decision. The Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme was formulated in December 1993 and enables the MPs to recommend developmental work in their constituencies. Under the scheme, each MP has the choice to suggest to the district collector developmental works of Rs 5 crore per year in his/her constituency.Initially, this scheme was administered by Ministry of Rural Development but in October 1994 the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation started monitoring it. The scheme started with an allocation of Rs 5 lakh in 1993-94 but the amount was increased to Rs 2 crore annually in 1998-99 and to Rs 5 crore annually since 2011-12. On Monday, the Union Cabinet gave its nod to government's decision to suspend MPLADS scheme for two years.Rs 10 crore from each MPLAD fund will now go to the Consolidated Fund and the decision has been taken in view of the coronavirus pandemic. There are 543 MPs in Lok Sabha and 245 MPs in Rajya Sabha, totalling 788. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said MPLADS fund is not the personal fund of MPs. This money is for natural calamities and for fighting against diseases like COVID-19 at the local level at the discretion of the MPs, he said. "If this money is finished, then this will have a direct negative impact on the people of the MP's area and people of the country will lose out. If the country's MPs lose their voice, then how will the Parliament function effectively. Hence, this needs to be restored,"he said. "Dear PM, INC supports the salary cut for MP's! Please note that MPLAD is meant to execute developmental works in the constituency. Suspending it is a huge disservice to the constituents and will undermine therole and functions of MP," Surjewala tweeted. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, however, went against the party line saying, "I welcome the decision on MPLADS. I have been arguing for long that the approximately Rs 7,000 crore given to MPs & MLAs annually fordevelopment works should be used as a corpus for State funding of elections." CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury said by taking away MPLADS fund, the government is taking away the expenditure that could take care of the needs of the area and this centralisation goes against federalism. "Transfer of money to Consolidated Fund of India, instead of being directed towards fighting COVID19, shows that it is a measure to deal with the economic destruction caused in last 6 years. There is enough evidence that COVID19 is best fought at the state and local level," Yechury said. "If there's no money with the government, why doesn't it abandon the Central Vista project in Delhi? Does it deserve a higher priority than lives of lakhs of Indians? BJP has abundant funds from opaque electoral bonds, why isn't it transferring it all to the govt during this crisis," he said. Trinamool Congress said the government decision was arbitrary and whimsicalas it has enough money to tackle COVID-19. The Union Cabinet and Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the decision without consulting all the parties, senior TMC leader and MP Sougata Roy said. "The decision to temporarily suspend the MPLAD is arbitrary and whimsical.We are opposing it," Roy, a veteran parliamentarian, said. Congress leaders Manish Tewari and Shashi Tharoor urged the prime minister to reconsider the decision. Tewari said this seems to be a knee-jerk reaction. "Suspension of MPLADS is a bit of an overstretch. At this time of grave humanitarian distress that will get only worse in the months ahead. MPLADS is a targeted and nimble instrument to customise micro level interventions to alleviate distress. It is something that is required. "Please re-think it once again. It is a knee jerk reaction much like the lockdown at a 4 hour notice.It will hurt poor most," he said adding that this will not help the battle against COVID-19 but harm it. Tharoor in a letter to PM expressed concern. "As I am sure you will agree, by design, the MPLADS has traditionally been utilised to address and remedy gaps in our governance initiatives that may have been overlooked by the state and central government in their announcements of major development projects," Tharoor said. "By removing the resources at their (MPs) disposal to make critical interventions and bringing them under the ambit of the Consolidated Fund of India, it would centralise the allocation of funds, in turn,potentially leading to significant delays in the devolution of funds.MPLADS preserved the sense of direct responsibility for thewell-being of constituents that is a hallmark of an Indian MPs work,"he said. Congress whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore. I welcome the government's decision to cut MP's salaries by 30 percent. However, suspending #MPLAD funds for two years is problematic & must be reconsidered.MPLAD is crucial for every constituency's development needs. MPs have, and will, use this to fight #coronavirus, on a need-basis. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram Blaz Zgaga is a freelance Slovenian investigative journalist and a member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists who covers national security and defense. In his reporting, he has uncovered corruption and written about arms trafficking in the region. Slovenia elected a right-wing government on March 13, and Zgaga told CPJ that officials in the new government have targeted him and other journalists over their criticism of the governments response to the coronavirus pandemic. The World Health Organization has confirmed 977 cases of COVID-19 in Slovenia as of April 5. CPJ spoke to Zgaga in a phone interview on March 31. His responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity. How has the pandemic affected your reporting? As my usual beat is national security reporting, and the coronavirus outbreak also has this aspect, I started to investigate and scrutinize the new governments response to the crisis, especially the fact that they immediately set up a new Crisis HQ, whichas I suspectedwas not in line with the existing laws in the country. I filed a freedom of information request about the legality of this institution and published the document on my Twitter account [on March 14]. Since the following day, I have been the target of a smear campaign. The HQs Twitter account retweeted and then deleted an anonymous tweet in which I am listed as someone who tested positive with the virus and escaped from quarantine. [Slovenia has since dismantled the Crisis HQ, according to news reports.] Pro-government media outlets regularly attack and smear me and journalists who scrutinize the governments response to the crisis, and label journalists as members of the deep state who try to hamper the governments efforts to curb the outbreak. What are the biggest challenges of doing your job in this environment? The biggest challenge comes from this toxic atmosphere which the government has created towards critical journalism. The prime minister regularly lashes out against news outlets, including the public broadcaster, accusing them of spreading lies and fake news. Photos of journalists critical to the government are regularly published in pro-government media. They frame us as terrorists and revolutionaries, which triggers online attacks from the public, mostly supporters of ruling parties, against us. In online attacks, we are called traitors and enemies of the nation. We receive daily threats on social media. A recent one, for example, came from a doctor who said that once I get the virus, I will not get treated properly. There have been already three cases when TV crews from the public broadcaster were attacked because of their journalistic work. What are you doing to keep yourself safe? As social distancing is in place here, with restrictions on going out, I work from home and go out only for shopping and short walks. But even for the short walks, I am afraid for my own safety. I might be targeted, as my photo appears regularly in online media, sometimes even on the front page. In such a volatile situation, when people get really emotional and when the politicians target critical journalists like me, I can be any time attacked by [government] supporters. So, for my physical safety, I am locked in my apartment, and I try to be extra vigilant and careful about suspicious people or cars going around my neighborhood. I also do not know how much I can trust the police, as the new government replaced the police Director General immediately [after taking power]. What about the safety of your sources? With these restrictions, it is impossible to go out to interview sources, so I must be extra careful with my digital safety. I only use encrypted communication both in writing and in phone calls. I only communicate with people I personally know, and introduced extra measures which I would not like to talk about for reasons of security. In Slovenia, like in many countries now, the government is discussing measures to track citizens mobile phones to combat the crisis. It will be a new challenge for journalists and for source protection, as well. The Slovenian Information Commissioner publicly warned that new law, proposed by ruling party, could change Slovenia into a police state. How would you rate the openness and access to information from the authorities in your country? I think it is extremely dangerous in times like thesewhen we should help each other and unite our community, when critical journalism would be an important tool to combat the crisis by highlighting the problems, checking facts, sorting out misinformation, and helping officials make better decisionsthat the government treats journalists not as allies but rather as enemies. The whole discussion around the crisis has become emotional, polarized, and extremely toxic. Such pressures will also lead to self-censorship in media outlets, which will also not help combating the crisis. CPJ emailed the Slovenian governments communication office for comment about claims made in this interview but did not receive any reply. PORTLAND, Ore. --- Arlene Schnitzer, a philanthropist who gave away more than $150 million to thousands of civic projects in Portland and helped bring arts in the city to another level, has died. She was 91. Her son, Jordan Schnitzer, said she died on Saturday after having intestinal issues. Portland's Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall is named after her. She and her husband, Harold Schnitzer, who died in 2011 at age 87, helped establish the Center for Northwest Art, and a curatorial and awards program. Harold and Arlene Schnitzer met in 1949 and were married five weeks later after Arlene proposed. Kimberley Process The Kimberley Process is an international organization that regulates the global circulation of rough diamonds. The main goal of the process is the fight against the so-called bloody diamonds. The bloody diamonds were mined illegally and the money from their sale were used to finance armed terrorist groups in the world, as well as the corrupt regimes in the African countries. The organization was named after the South African city of Kimberley where a meeting was held in 2000 at the initiative of South Africa, Botswana and Namibia to find a solution to the bloody diamond problem. At present, over 80 countries are the members of the Kimberley Process. Russia joined the organization in 2000, a few months after its establishing. In 2005, Russia chaired the Kimberley Process. In 2019, the chairmanship was held by India. In 2020, Russia chaired the Kimberley Process. The key idea of the Russia's chairmanship in the KP will be the fight against the inflow of synthetic stones in the global diamond market, as well as the providing of equal conditions for all the participants in this market. The organizations main document is the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) adopted in 2002. It was accepted in order to prevent illegal diamonds from entering the market. According to the Kimberley Process terms, since 2004, full statistics on the member countries have been published annually. At the end of July 2019, the annual report for 2018 was released. The figures on the diamond imports and exports by the main diamond trading countries is given below for 2015-2018, according to the Kimberley Process data. Diamond trade in 2015-2018 If we consider the diamond export-import operations in the countries of the world according to the Kimberley Process data, we can distinguish 8 top countries participating in the diamond trade with virtually no diamond mining in these countries (Table 1). Table 1 Top diamond importers and exporters, 2015-2018 Approximately two-thirds of the world exports by volume and by value usually go through the eight leading diamond trading countries. Given that the jewellery industry is also developed in these countries, it can be argued that rough diamonds are cut there into polished ones that are inserted into jewellery and then sold around the world as the diamond jewellery to provide the final value of the diamond products. The volume of world diamond imports and exports in 2018 was 2.6-2.9 times higher than the world diamond production by volume, and 3.3-3.4 times by value. This suggests that rough diamonds, before they are cut to become polished diamonds, go at least two more times through intermediaries who receive the additional profit from their resale. Among the intermediary countries, the United Arab Emirates should be mentioned that were able to become the world's leading diamond trading hub in a decade thanks to their advantageous geographical position. In monetary terms, the diamond trade surplus in 2018 in the UAE amounted to $2,123.8 mn. The results of 2019 and future prospects of the diamond market Based on the indicators of five top diamond mining companies - De Beers, ALROSA, Rio Tinto, Dominion Diamond Mines, and Petra Diamonds that produce approximately 75% of the worlds diamonds by volume and 80% by value - we can calculate that in 2019, 141.3 mn carats of diamonds worth $13,058.2 mn were mined in the world. Compared with 2018, in 2019, diamonds were mined by 4.8% less in carats and almost by 9.7% by their sales value. Consequently, the diamond imports and exports will be lower. In 2020, the pressure from the lab-grown diamonds will increase, and it can be argued that the decline in natural diamond production will continue in 2020. Yury Danilov, Ph. D., independent expert and analyst Kochi, April 6 : A cat owner on Monday got succour from the Kerala High Court, when it allowed him to go out and buy food for his pets, after the police refused his application. The court also informed that they will pass a general order to this effect . The court during Covid-19 lockdown now holds its sitting online with all the parties sitting where they are. Cat owner N.Prakash filed his petition after his request for a pass to go out was rejected by the police. He also pointed out that since he is a vegetarian, he is unable to cook non-vegetarian food for his three cats, all of which are of good breeds and his only way out is a particular brand of biscuits which is available in a shop near here. Substantiating his claims, he, along with his petition, put up the pictures of his cats and also the statement of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who has asked for feeding of stray dogs. The court, after going through his petition, gave him the green signal to proceed. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text A one-day-old baby in Louisiana has died following complications from coronavirus, according to East Baton Rouge coroner Beau Clark. The baby's mother was admitted to a hospital in Baton Rouge with symptoms of Covid-19 before going into labour three months early as her body fought the disease. She remains in the hospital on ventilator support. Dr Clark said the mother "went into pre-term labour and ultimately delivered the baby prematurely, and in doing so, the baby, because of the extreme prematurity, did not survive." The coroner said the child has not tested positive for Covid-19 but doctors and the state's epidemiologist agreed that the death can be ruled a coronavirus-related death. It's the first virus-related death of a newborn in the state. Doctors are investigating whether coronavirus can be transmitted to a baby from the mother through vertical transmission. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found more the 2,500 confirmed cases of coronavirus in children between 12 February through 2 April. Roughly 6 per cent of those cases required hospitalisation. The agency confirmed three paediatric deaths. The newborn was among seven virus-related deaths reported by Baton Rouge officials on Monday. Twenty-seven people in the state's capital have died following the outbreak. Louisiana has identified nearly 15,000 confirmed infections in the state, including 512 deaths. As of 6 April, 562 people are on ventilator support, though Governor John Bel Edwards said the hospitalisation rate is decreasing as officials point to the success of mitigation efforts and stringent social distancing measures that have been in place since early last month. The pandemic has claimed the lives of more than 10,500 people in the US, according to data from Johns Hopkins University on Monday. More than 356,000 people have been tested positive for the virus. The Michigan House of Representatives could need to meet throughout the coronavirus pandemic and some state legislators want such meetings to happen remotely. House Democratic Leader Christine Greig, D-Farmington Hills, plans to put forward a resolution Tuesday to allow for and strongly encourage remote participation at sessions while the pandemic persists. It would apply to House sessions and committee meetings. "We want to be able to execute our duties as elected officials, but we also want to protect our communities," said House Democratic Leader Christine Greig, D-Farmington Hills. "This allows us to do both." The House is meeting in person on Tuesday, a meeting Greig and others are questioning, as they caution their own constituents to take part in social distancing to slow the spread of the virus. Greig sent the resolution to House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, early Monday, but hadnt spoken to him about it yet as of early Monday afternoon. The resolution will be sent to committee on Tuesday, said Gideon DAssandro, Chatfields spokesperson. Remote participation for sessions would only be allowed while Michigan is under a state of emergency, per the resolution. Greig doesn't anticipate constitutional issues, since it's a temporary measure tied to the state of emergency. DAssandro said there are constitutional issues that arent addressed in the resolution. It would likely require the state to amend its constitution to allow for remote meetings for the legislature, he said. From appropriating funds to setting the next budget, Greig said they need to find a way to continue meeting in an environment that doesnt put peoples health at risk. The speaker, speaker pro tempore, majority floor leader, minority leader and minority floor leader would still attend the meeting in person under the resolution, while everybody else would be encouraged to attend and vote remotely. Residents could still attend in person, but must maintain social distancing, per the resolution. The Senate hasnt taken up a similar resolution yet, but Greig said some Senate lawmakers are on board with the idea. Other government bodies are already hosting remote meetings, like cities across Michigan and the Pennsylvania legislature. We've got to be able to be more nimble and flexible to respond to these types of emergencies," Greig said. "Let's move into the current century and let's deal with this." Lawmakers will decide Tuesday on how long they want to extend the state of emergency as Republicans want it extended through April while Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has said it should go through mid-June. The state of emergency allows Whitmer to make decisions and marshal resources via executive order, Greig said. Greig expects a number of legislators to not be in attendance for Tuesday's session, as representatives with COVID-19 symptoms or who've had contact with possible COVID-19 patients are being advised to stay home. Two state legislators have tested positive for the virus so far. State Rep. Isaac Robinson, D-Detroit, died on March 29. He was not tested for COVID-19 before his death, but multiple reports have linked his health issues to the coronavirus. The resolution doesnt specify which technology would be used for remote participation whether its a phone call or a video chat. Residents must be able to attend virtually, as well. 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 Monday, April 6: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Second Michigan legislator confirmed positive for coronavirus Michigan House leaders disagree on returning to session Tuesday Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 11:46:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, April 5 (Xinhua) -- While a recent study shows that U.S. unemployment rate could jump to 32 percent due to the spread of COVID-19, the U.S. job market was not in "free fall", a senior U.S. Federal Reserve official said on Sunday. "I would push back against the idea of the economy or the job market being in free fall," James Bullard, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, said in the "Face the Nation" program on CBS. "We're asking people to stay home to invest in national health, and we're asking them to use the unemployment insurance program in order to get the transfers they need to be able to pay bills while they're at home, while they're not able to work because health authorities are trying to get the virus under control," he said. Bullard's comments came after a study from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis estimated in late March that the coronavirus outbreak could cost 47 million American jobs in the second quarter, bringing the unemployment rate to 32 percent. "Our estimates, which are available at our blog, St. Louis Fed on the economy blog, suggest the unemployment rate could go anywhere between 10 percent and 42 percent," Bullard said, adding the projected 32 percent figure is "a compromise in the middle." The U.S. Labor Department reported on Friday that U.S. employers cut 701,000 jobs in March and the unemployment rate soared to 4.4 percent. The latest data, however, does not reflect many coronavirus-related business and school closures that occurred in the second half of the month, as the monthly survey is conducted in the middle of the month. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ripple across the country, experts believe that the labor market is going to see double-digit unemployment rate in the near future, with tens of millions of Americans losing their jobs. Diane Swonk, chief economist at Grant Thornton, a major accounting firm, wrote in a blog that "the drop in payrolls in March was unprecedented for the start of a recession and will get more than 20 times worse in April." "Unemployment will soar into the double digits, while participation plummets," Swonk said. "There is no scale to measure the misery associated with COVID-19 on all fronts." The United States reported more than 337,000 COVID-19 cases and over 9,600 deaths as of Sunday evening, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. A man and a woman tested positive for coronavirus in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh on Monday, the district magistrate said. The 23-year-old man, a resident of Shamli district, had attended a Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi, which has emerged as a major hotspot for the spread of the virus in different parts of the country. He was among 30 attendees of the Tablighi Jamaat who were traced to a mosque in Mathura district. The rest 29 tested negative for COVID-19, which has so far infected over 300 people in the state. Mathura District Magistrate Sarvagya Ram Mishra said the infected man has been sent to Agra for further treatment. The second infected patient, a 50-year-old woman from Agra, was admitted to Nayati Hospital here three days ago with kidney-related ailments. According to the district magistrate, her COVID-19 test result came positive on Monday. Efforts are being made to contain the spread of the virus, Mishra said. The areas visited by suspected and infected COVID-19 cases have been sealed and the authorities will carry out test on those who are believed to have come into contact with the infected patients. Mathura Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Grover appealed to the people not to panic and assured that essential supplies would be made available in these areas. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) - On Sunday, April 5, Cardinal John Njue led Catholics in the Palm Sunday service which was aired live on local TV stations - However, according to atheists, the cardinal and other clerics who participated in the mass did not observe the social distance rule - The non-believers asked for immediate arrest and prosecution of the clericks for flouting the Public Health law Atheists in Kenya Society has called for immediate arrest and prosecution of Kenya's Catholic church leader Cardinal John Njue for allegedly flouting the social distance directive from the government. The non-believers argued the cleric disregarded the Public Health laws and procedures which call for social distancing to combat the spread of the coronavirus. READ ALSO: Coronavirus: Tiger at Bronx Zoo in US tests positive for COVID-19 Cardinal John Njue during the Palm Sunday mass at Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi. Photo: The Standard Source: UGC READ ALSO: Janga la COVID19: Atwoli aidhinisha kufutwa kazi kwa wafanyakazi 50,000 In a press statement issued by the organisation's chairperson Harrison Mumia on Sunday, April 5, the group argued the government had been firm on arresting those who flouted the social distance directive and the clerics ought not to evade the prosecution. It should be recalled that 15 athletes were arrested in Elgeyo Marakwet earlier this week after they were found training in a group contrary to social distancing rules put in place to protect the public against the spread of Covid-19. The church leadership should not be given preferential treatment even as we battle this global pandemic, read the statement. READ ALSO: 68% of Kenyans support a complete lockdown to control coronavirus The group cited an incident in which the cardinal was seen standing next to unnamed clerics during the Palm Sunday mass that was broadcasted live from Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi. We observed that the priests conducting the mass led by his eminence, Cardinal Bishop John Njue disregarded the social distancing rule. For instance, one of the priests was seen holding a microphone next to Cardinal John Njue using his hand, said Mumia. The group asked that the church leaders be arrested for not taking the government directive seriously and therefore becoming a danger not only to themselves but to other people who interact with them. Atheists in Kenya Society chairman Harrison Mumia wants Cardinal John Njue arrested. Photo: Harrison Mumia Source: UGC READ ALSO: Fire razes down 3,500 rental cars at Florida Airport We are calling for the arrest of the Catholic Church leadership that conducted the mass at Holy Family Basilica today (Sunday), including His Eminence, Cardinal Bishop John Njue, they said in a statement. The atheists called on Kenyans and the government to adhere to the social distancing rules arguing that they were internationally proven to be effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19. Do you have an inspirational story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Follow us on Telegram: Tuko news Source: TUKO.co.ke Should a little green man green, that is, in outlook as well as hue visit Earth now, he might conclude that we have finally got our act together. He would see that the air is cleaner, waters clearer, streets and flight paths quieter and wildlife happier than at any time in living memory, just as Greta Thunberg and millions of young people want. The environment has improved in one fell swoop. The coronavirus lockdowns, now affecting almost half the worlds population in some form, have produced one beneficiary from the deadly, devastatingly disruptive disease: the planet itself. London, like the majority of the world, remains on coronavirus lockdown. Yet the planet appears to be benefitted from a vast decrease in human activity And that just might provide a tiny grain of hope, amid the nightmare of so much suffering, for a better, prosperous and more resilient world. Dormant As the Mail reported a week ago, Nature is breaking cover across Britain, with moles, weasels, oystercatchers, tawny owls, golden plover and other species glorying in having the countryside to themselves. Fish have filled Venices 150 canals; their murky water has turned blue and transparent as pollution has been cut and far fewer boat engines stir up the sediment. Ducks splash in Romes usually tourist-besieged fountains. A puma was seen prowling Santiago, Chiles capital, while wild turkeys have been strutting through Oakland, California. Meanwhile, satellites have reported spectacular falls in air pollution over much of China, where the pandemic and harsh measures to counter it began. The killer smogs that have long shrouded so many of its cities have been replaced by blue skies as factories closed and roads emptied. Ironically, Stanford University calculated that so far this has probably saved the lives of 4,000 children under five, and 73,000 adults over 70. A puma was seen prowling Santiago, Chiles capital; a signal that nature is beginning to venture forth as the human race takes a back seat to tackle the rising pandemic Air pollution levels have also plunged in Europe and the U.S. And they are down by a third to a half in London, Bristol, Birmingham and Cardiff. Slashed pollution, mainly from fossil fuel use, benefits the climate, too, as less carbon dioxide is released. Over February, Chinas emissions of the global-warming gas fell by 25 per cent. And air traffic worldwide is expected to fall by 38 per cent. Motorways are nearly empty, airports largely dormant. And the Beatles pedestrian crossing in St Johns Wood is being repainted because, just for once, nobody is using it. In the Lake District, where police are discouraging tourists, a latter-day Wordsworth could again wander lonely as a cloud. And hed have his golden daffodils, too. For, on top of all this, it is spring and, to date, a wonderfully sunny one. Whats not to like? Well, alas, we all know what. Such environmental benefits pale against the horror of a more perilous, anxious time than any of us could have imagined. So far, nearly 74,000 people have died from the coronavirus worldwide, nearly 5,400 of them in Britain. Hundreds of thousands more untimely deaths are expected. Many millions are in economic peril. Countless numbers of people leading modestly comfortable lives have been tipped into terrifying insecurity, through no fault of their own. A deeper depression than that of the 1930s may loom. In Britain, it is feared, the economy will contract by 15 per cent next quarter more than seven times as much as at the height of the 2008-09 financial crisis. Professor Philip Thomas, of Bristol University, warns that if the lockdown leads to Britains GDP falling by 6.4 per cent, more years of life will be lost than if the virus had been left to spread unchecked. The world has been turned completely upside down by a microscopic organism. Turning it around again will not be easy. And was what we had though incomparably better than at present really the right way up? There are compelling grounds for believing that it was poised for just what has happened the first truly global environmental/economic disaster and that, if we did get back to normal, more such catastrophes would follow. Covid-19 is thought to have originated in a bat and spread to people via an illegally traded pangolin in a Chinese wet market. Experts have long predicted a pandemic starting in some such way. Covid-19 is thought to have originated in a bat and spread to people via an illegally traded pangolin in a Chinese wet market, similar to the one pictured above Indeed, this coronavirus is only the latest in a series of diseases to have infected humans from wildlife, usually because of environmental destruction. As forests are felled, animals and their viruses are forced closer to people. Ebola, Zika and West Nile disease have all been linked to deforestation. HIV, Nipah virus and the previous coronaviruses Sars and Mers also originated in wildlife. The surprise is that a major pandemic has not come sooner. Incredibly, it could have been even worse. The percentage death rate from the coronavirus is in low single figures, whereas the bird flu that caused much concern some 15 years ago, but has not spread, kills half the people it infects. Emissions Climate change adds to the danger, causing species to move and releasing long-frozen viruses from melting ice. And it threatens catastrophes of its own, as the recent Australian bushfires testify. Indeed, there is likely to come a point where increasing heat makes it impossible for the world to grow enough food. Largely due to Greta Thunbergs campaign, a growing number of governments with ours in the lead have committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. But accelerating feedbacks in the climate system, such as melting Arctic sea ice which replaces a white shield that reflects the Suns heat with dark water that absorbs it threaten to send global warming out of control before then. Largely due to Greta Thunbergs campaign, a growing number of governments with ours in the lead have committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 So the choice is no longer between changing how we do things and business as usual, but between rapid change and a series of environmental disasters that devastate the world economy. Terrible and destructive though it is, the coronavirus crisis provides a pause for thought. It has revealed gaping cracks in our present system, and has already dramatically shifted what is thought to be possible. The environment and the economy, once thought irreconcilable, are increasingly seen to be inseparable. Opportunity The economy, as Covid-19 has made painfully clear, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment, dependent on healthy natural systems. And green investment is increasingly recognised as the best route to prosperity. Three years ago, an international commission of top business leaders identified 9.8 trillion of opportunities in green, sustainable development. Many businesses are already pioneering such a transformation. Imminent decisions could determine whether the world embraces the huge opportunity for low-carbon, environmentally attuned prosperity or tries to claw its way back to the old, unsustainable status quo. The vast stimulus packages now being prepared must ensure that assisted industries create public value in return. A bailed-out car company could be required to accelerate production of electric vehicles, an airline to use low-carbon fuel. Two global summits, on climate change and wildlife now expected next year provide an extraordinary opportunity for the world to set a new course. Britain hosts the climate one: a chance to establish post-Brexit global leadership. It could build bridges between China, with whose president, Xi Jinping, Boris Johnson discussed the summits by phone, the U.S. and the rest of the world, to enable agreement on the change the world so desperately requires. India reported 18 coronavirus deaths on April 5, the highest daily death toll since the pandemic hit the country and taking the total to 118. Coronavirus cases increased by 700 yesterday, increasing the total number of infected to over 4,280. These relatively low numbers, compared to Europe and the US, are under conditions where India is only conducting minimal testing. India, which has a population of over 1.3 billion, has done just 48,000 tests so far and there are only 51 government-approved testing centres in the country. Tests are even being refused to patients suffering from pneumonia, if they have no travel history. According to recent reports, India needs at least 38 million masks and 6.2 million pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical staff to protect them as they deal with the rapid spread of the virus. Indian medical workers are being forced to use raincoats and plastics bags as protective gear and there is a clear absence of eye protection. Currently six doctors and many more nurses and other medical staff are officially listed as COVID-19 infected. This dangerous situation underscores the dilapidated and overburdened character of Indias public health system that has been starved of necessary funding for years. Total health expenditure in India amounts to just 3.7 percent of the GDP, of which only around a quarter is government expenditure. The countrys health budget for 201920 was less than 630 billion rupees ($US8 billion). According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), India ranks 184th out of 191 countries in terms of the share of GDP spent on healthcare. Currently there is less than one doctor for every 1,457 Indians; WHO recommends a ratio of 1:1,000. The estimated total number of ventilators in the country is between 30,000 and 50,000, but at least 200,000 are required. In 2016, Reuters reported that while India needed over 50,000 critical-care specialists, the country only had 8,350. According to one estimate, India has only 3.63 public Intensive Care Unit beds per 100,000 people. In January 2020, the Bharathiya Janatha Party (BJP)-led government said that it was planning to hand over government-run district hospitals to private corporations, further undermining the state-owned public health care system and opening the way for global finance capital to dominate the health sector. Last week WSWS reporters spoke with three medical professionals in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu about the coronavirus pandemic. Dr Prabhu Manoharan, 33, is an orthopaedic Master of Surgery at Virudhunagar government medical college. WSWS: What are the major problems you and your colleagues face? Dr. Prabhu Manoharan Dr Prabhu Manoharan: There are no proper PPEs for doctors, nurses and paramedical workers. Nurses at my hospital fear that they, and their families, are in danger of coronavirus contraction. In countries like India, patients want to be in close contact with their doctors so social distancing between doctors and patients is not easy. The Indian government spends very little on health care. Theres a lack of proper sanitation facilities in rural areas and Ive seen doctors working at state and district border checking posts without gloves and masks. Theyre checking people with their bare hands. Some research says that N95 masks only have 10 percent protection but here weve only got a few basic triple-layer masks for doctors. WSWS: What do you think about the Indian governments 21-day coronavirus lockdown? PM: I feel its a total failure. The government should have been alerted two months earlier and so these measures could have been done very much earlier. I also feel that it was a mistake that WHO delayed its announcement that the coronavirus was a global pandemic. WSWS: How do you regard the coronavirus pandemic in the context of advanced scientific and technological developments? PM: This viral infection is not a new phenomenon. It was already present in bats and ants and has now evolved to affect human beings. So instead of allocating big budgets for the military and so much on space research, more money must be allocated to research about predicting and preventing this and future pandemics. The lockdown has completely affected the supply chains in both urban and rural areas and now poor people are dying from hunger. WSWS: What has been the impact of the governments privatisation policies on public health? Is there a relationship to the coronavirus pandemic in India? PM: Yes, exactly. WHO says test, test, test but there are very few testing kits in India, Africa and other poor countries. The corporate media promotes the government lies about this. Tamil Nadu state now has the second largest number of COVID-19 cases in India. The government and the media were hiding this for a long time. India has very few ventilators for patients but only now, at the last minute, is the Modi government thinking about whether to buy or manufacture these ventilators. Rakshitha is a health care worker in the social service sector. WSWS: What do you think of the Indian governments response to COVID-19? Rakshitha Rakshitha: I dont think its up to the mark. Coronavirus was identified as early as December 2019 in China. India is very near to China and so it should have been alerted much earlier. Now the Indian government says were not prepared. The mask being used by the majority of healthcare workers is a one-way mask that does not prevent entry of microbes from outside but only prevents their exit. The Indian government is very careless about public health and this sector is very weak. WSWS: Could you comment on the current situation in government hospitals? R: There is a severe shortage of staff in government hospitals and no proper PPE available for medical workers. Nurses are seen as machines and robots by the hospital authorities and theyre paid low salaries. Government hospitals in rural and semi-urban areas dont have proper basic facilities like water and sanitation. WSWS: What is the danger of a coronavirus outbreak in Chennai slums? R: In slum areas like Kannagi Nagar and Perumbakkam in Chennai there are up to 100 families living in a single building. In just one floor alone there can be more than 10 to 12 families. There are very few healthcare facilities in these areas and social distancing is not easy. There are many open drains where many germs breed. Water quality is very low and the same water is reused because of scarcity. Kannagi Nagar (Photo credit: Abdul Rahman) The government says handwash every 20 minutes but here theres very little water available for hand washing. Water, in fact, is only available once a week. These slum areas look like detention centres to me. A doctor in Chennai told the WSWS that community testing was urgently needed. The April 2020 supermoon will be the biggest and brightest of 2020 as its elliptical orbit brings it closer to the Earth in more than a year. On 7-8 April, the full moon will reach as close as 356,907km (221,772 miles), and will appear most impressive at moonrise on Tuesday and moonset on Wednesday. Clear skies in the UK, combined with unusually low air pollution due to the coronavirus lockdown, make it one of the best opportunities in years to view the rare celestial phenomenon. Heres how to take the perfect picture of it: Use a landmark to get perspective Everyone will be taking pictures of the supermoon by itself, but some of the best pictures show the moon next to a land mark or trees and houses, which is what helps to give the picture a sense of place, says Nasas senior photographer, Bill Ingalls. Think of how to be creative that means tying it into some land-based object. It can be a local landmark or anything to give your photo a sense of place. 9 best images of the 2016 supermoon Show all 9 1 /9 9 best images of the 2016 supermoon 9 best images of the 2016 supermoon The moon rises over the O2 Arena in south-east London PA 9 best images of the 2016 supermoon A commerical jet flies in front of the moon on its approach to Heathrow airport in west London on November 13, 2016. AFP/Getty Images 9 best images of the 2016 supermoon A super moon rises over the Statue of Freedom on the Capitol dome in Washington, DC November 13, 2016. AFP 9 best images of the 2016 supermoon The "supermoon", the closest the moon comes to Earth since 1948, rises over the Power and Light building in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, U.S., November 13, 2016 Reuters 9 best images of the 2016 supermoon A woman sits on the rooftop terrace of a house during the "supermoon" in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, November 13, 2016 Reuters 9 best images of the 2016 supermoon The moon rises behind the eagle sculpture high atop LeVeque Tower in Columbus, Ohio, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016 AP 9 best images of the 2016 supermoon The moon rises beyond the Arch in St. Louis as seen from the Compton Hill Water Tower on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016 AP 9 best images of the 2016 supermoon The moon rises behind Reunion Tower in downtown Dallas, Sunday evening, Nov. 13, 2016. AP 9 best images of the 2016 supermoon The moon rises over the harbor of the costal town of Lambert's Bay, South Africa, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016 AP Pick the best spot Location isnt everything, but it can definitely help with getting a perfect picture of the supermoon if you have time to plan it. You can look up the best monuments or statues in your area to photograph the image of the moon against, like Mr Ingalls does in Washington D.C., where he lives. It means doing a lot of homework. I use Google Maps and other apps even a compass to plan where to get just the right angle at the right time, he told Nasa. Use an app to find the moon Unless you're an astronomer, the best way to know where the moon will rise or set is to use a app on your smartphone to locate it. There are several free or cheap options you can choose from, each using your phone's inbuilt accelerometer to know which way you're facing. The apps can also tell you what phase the moon is in, while some even give other celestial details, like the location of planets and star constellations. Decent options for iOS and Android devices include Star Chart, Sky Safari and Skyview. Get the right exposure If youre using a camera where you can control the shutter speed, dont go for a long exposure even though the picture will be taken in low light, National Geographic photographer Mark Thiessen told the magazine, as it will lose any chance of capturing lunar detail and make the moon itself appear too bright. April's supermoon will offer the biggest and brightest view of the full moon in over a year (Getty Images/iStockphoto) If youre taking a picture on your camera, control the light balance by first tapping the screen where the moon appears to get the camera to focus on the object before dragging your finger up and down to play with the exposure. Youll usually want to drag it down for underexposure to be sure you have all the highlight detail, National Geographic photographer Michael Christopher Brown said. Use a tripod for your camera or rest your phone on a solid surface David Reneke, an astronomer and writer for Australian science magazine told ABC.net that if youre using an SLR or DSLR then its important to play with aperture settings on your camera to photograph the supermoon, but that using a tripod is essential. Its worth using a tripod for taking pictures with a smartphone too, as any camera shake can compromise the quality of the pictures but if you dont have one to hand you can simply rest your phone on a window ledge. For older smartphones that use a digital zoom rather than an optical zoom, its generally best not to use the zoom as it could compromise the quality of the image. Instead, take the picture and then crop it. Newer phones like the Huawei P30 and P40 series feature incredible zoom capabilities that can take detailed pictures of far away objects. Other cameras come with special features to improve pictures of the night sky, such as the Google Pixel 4s Astro mode. Professor Sir John Bell, from the University of Oxford, said officials are struggling to find a good quality antibody test Britain's hopes of going back to normal today suffered another blow after a top scientist checking coronavirus antibody tests for the Government said none of the ones he's seen so far are any good. Professor Sir John Bell, from Oxford University, said the testing kits he has examined so far 'have not performed well' and 'none of them would meet the criteria for a good test'. Dashing hopes of lockdown ending any time soon, Sir John said it would take 'at least a month' before antibody tests, which tell whether someone has already recovered from COVID-19, would be available for the public. He said: 'We see many false negatives... and we also see false positives. This is not a good result or test suppliers or for us.' Downing Street said today it will seek refunds from companies that cannot improve the failed antibody tests ordered by the Government. 'No test so far has proved to be good enough to use,' the PM's official spokesman said, raising accuracy concerns. 'We continue to work with the testing companies, we're in a constant dialogue with them and we give feedback to them when their products fail to meet the required standards. 'If the tests don't work then the orders that we placed will be cancelled and wherever possible we will recover the costs.' Sir John's comments come after the head of testing at Public Health England also said none of the tests it had evaluated were good enough for public use. Professor John Newton, director of health improvement at Public Health England, said the tests were not accurate enough on people who had only had mild illnesses. The tests are considered to be crucial to ending Britain's nationwide lockdown because they will give authorities a clear picture of how many people have caught the virus already and shaken it off. Currently, statistical guesswork is the only way of working out how many people might already be immune and therefore potentially safe to return to normal life. Estimates suggest up to five million people could have been infected to date. Professor Newton's comments come after one expert in New York said people who catch the virus but don't get seriously ill appear not to be making many antibodies, making it hard to test them. For this reason, he suggested, even good tests might only be 50-60 per cent accurate. Sir John Bell added that other countries have had to send back failed tests and that it is possible that some unreliable tests could have false positive results triggered by other viruses which produce similar antibodies to COVID-19. Public Health England has refused to reveal what the Government considers an acceptable level of accuracy. The US last week launched its first antibody test after a firm in North Carolina got approval from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). It is claimed to be 93.8 per cent accurate. Professor John Newton, chief of COVID-19 testing for Public Health England, said none of the tests examined so far were accurate enough to roll out across the UK In his blog post, published on the University of Oxford's website yesterday, Sir John, a royally-appointed medicine professor at the university, said the UK was not the only country struggling to find reliable tests. He wrote: 'The Spanish apparently returned test kits that were not working, and the Germans who are developing their own sensitive kits believe they are three months away from getting these available and validated.' Explaining the difficulties, he added: 'To validate these tests you need a gold standard test so you know the correct answer and you need [blood] from patients who have recovered from the virus infection they had approximately 28 days before. WHAT IS AN 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. Advertisement 'You also need blood from people who donated before the epidemic so you know whether you falsely see positive tests when there is no Covid-19 in the sample. 'For example, there are a number of other coronaviruses circulating that might stimulate antibodies that cross react to Covid-19 proteins. 'It has taken some time to gather these tools for validation but the UK is now uniquely positioned to evaluate and find the optimal test for this disease. 'We clearly want to avoid telling people they are immune when they are not, and we want all people who are immune to know accurately so they can get back to work.' And a boss at PHE, Professor Newton, told The Times that the antibody tests bought by the Government so far were 'not good enough to be worth rolling out'. Health Secretary Matt Hancock last week claimed that 3.5million of the tests had been bought but admitted officials couldn't confirm that they were any good. The Department of Health later rowed back and said it hadn't actually bought the tests yet, just put an agreement in place to do so if they were up to scratch. In a statement the Department said it had 'secured small numbers with potential to get much larger orders,' The Telegraph reported. HOW ACCURATE DO ANTIBODY TESTS ON THE MARKET CLAIM TO BE? Cellex qSARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM COUNTRIES APPROVED IN: US and Australia MANUFACTURER: Cellex Inc, North Carolina ACCURACY: 93.8% true positive, 96% true negative 2019-n-CoV IgG/IgM Rapid Test Cassette COUNTRIES APPROVED IN: Australia MANUFACTURER: Hangzhou Alltest Biotech Co Ltd (China) ACCURACY: Company claims up to 98.6 per cent COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test Cassette COUNTRIES APPROVED IN: Australia MANUFACTURER: Zhejiang Orient Gene Biotech Co Ltd (China) ACCURACY: 87.9-97.2% true positive, 100% true negative OnSite COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test COUNTRIES: Australia MANUFACTURER: CTK Biotech Inc (USA) ACCURACY: 96.9% true positive, 99.4% true negative SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Test (Lateral Flow Method) COUNTRIES: Australia, China MANUFACTURER: Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co Ltd (China) ACCURACY: Unknown SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG Antibody Rapid Test COUNTRIES: Australia, China MANUFACTURER: Hightop Biotech Co Ltd (China) ACCURACY: 82-93% true positive, 97% true negative VivaDiag COVID-19 IgM/IgG Rapid Test COUNTRIES: Australia, Singapore MANUFACTURER: VivaChek Biotech (China) ACCURACY: 81.25-97.1% true positive Biolidics 2019-nCoV IgG/IgM Detection Kit COUNTRIES: Singapore MANUFACTURER: Biolidics Limited (Singapore) ACCURACY: 91.54% true positive, 97.02% true negative Advertisement Officials have said they were working with at least nine manufacturers to try and get the project off the ground. It is not clear what the threshold is for UK approval - one Chinese manufacturer believed to have been turned down by the Government claims its test is up to 98.6 per cent accurate. PHE's Professor Newton, however, said Government scientists were now having to go back to manufacturers and work with them to make the tests better. Although tests appear accurate when used on people who were seriously ill with the coronavirus, they struggle to detect antibodies in people whose illnesses were mild. Professor Newton said: 'The test developed in China was validated against patients who were severely ill with a very large viral load, generating a large amount of antibodies,' The Times reports. 'We want to use the test in the context of a wider range of levels of infection including people who are quite mildly infected,' he added. 'So for our purposes, we need a test that performs better than some of these other tests.' Professor Newton's comments follow claims by an expert at Columbia University in New York, who said low levels of antibodies make long-term testing difficult. Dr David Ho said that people who don't get seriously ill appear to take much longer to develop antibodies and therefore might test negative in early stages of recovery. He told The Guardian: 'The problem is after a couple of weeks, the detection rate remains at about 50 per cent to 60 per cent, especially in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic cases. 'But this may not be a fault of the tests, because even using more sensitive methods in the lab we can see the antibody levels are quite low.' More detailed long-term follow-up of patients will be necessary to see whether antibody levels in the blood increase over time, he added. The US, which is now grappling with the worst coronavirus outbreak in the world - it has had more than 337,000 confirmed patients and 9,643 deaths - has already approved antibody tests and begun trialling them in Minnesota. The Food & Drug Administration has given emergency use approval for a test developed by North Carolina-based Cellex Inc. According to FDA paperwork the test is 93.8 per cent accurate at detecting positive cases of the virus. And another internally-developed test is expected to start being used this week in the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, without FDA approval. Government rules have been relaxed in the US so that companies can sell their antibody tests without getting approval from the FDA first. Antibody tests work by a drop of the patient's blood being placed into the sampler and then, as it flows through the device, the test catches any antibodies passing through and shows a line to indicate the types of antibodies that are present (Pictured: A scientist in a lab in Germany holds and antibody test) This move, made by President Donald Trump's administration in March, was intended to speed up the process of getting tests to patients. AMBULANCE DRIVER 'DENIED TEST AND PRESSURED TO KEEP WORKING' An ambulance driver in London who developed a sore throat and lost his senses of smell and taste says he feels pressured to continue working. None of the symptoms are listed as officials reasons to self-isolate by the NHS or Government, but are widely believed to be caused by COVID-19. The ambulance driver, who works around Croydon, south London, said he had been denied a coronavirus test to check he was still safe to work. He reported his manager said 'tests are expensive' and 'everyone is going to get it anyway'. The driver is employed by contractor HATS Group, which runs non-emergency healthcare transport. Public Health England guidance says there is no requirement for ambulance drivers to wear protective equipment if they do not come face-to-face with patients. Helen O'Connor, an organiser at the GMB union, of which the driver is a member, said: 'It is of great concern to GMB that this worker has not been immediately tested given he has COVID-19-type symptoms. 'This means he will struggle to get permission to self-isolate and protect others from harm. 'Once again serious questions must be asked about the failure of outsourced companies like HATs in their duty of care to workers, patients and the public.' MailOnline has contacted HATS Group for comment. Advertisement But experts say it is dangerous because bad tests giving false results could lead to people ignoring social distancing rules if they think they are immune to COVID-19. Scott Becker, CEO of the Association of Public Health Laboratories, said that none of the local public health labs in his organisation will use any of the tests on the market. He said: 'The public needs to understand that all tests are not created equal,' CNN reported. 'These tests could create dangerous scenarios by giving people a false sense of security.' Speaking about the tests being sold without FDA approval, Mr Becker added: 'They're selling these tests, but nobody has checked their quality. We need some level of scientific review and rigor on these tests.' At least one company in the UK claims to have approval from 'regulators' for its tests to be used by healthcare professionals. On Hive, an online pharmacy, a kit appearing to be made by Biopanda Reagents is advertised with the note: 'UPDATE @02APRIL2020: UK REGULATORS HAVE APPROVED THIS TEST FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS USE ONLY. STILL AWAITING APPROVAL FOR HOME SELF-TESTING.' Many online test manufacturers in Britain also claim to be out of stock of coronavirus tests on their websites. But the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which is in charge of permissions for devices to be used by the NHS, told the Financial Times it did not know of any antibody tests that had been approved for public use. Hive Pharmacy claims to be out of stock of an antibody test that has been 'approved by regulators for healthcare professionals use' Suggs last day working at Disney was March 15. Her time was cut short due to Disney Worlds closure to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Disney has never been in a situation like this, and it was really odd that the college programmers were termed, Suggs said. Our leaders sympathized with us and did everything they could to make us feel better. Before Suggs left Disney, her leaders surprised the Magic Kingdom custodial team with the opportunity to visit the Cinderella castle suite. People pay big money to tour the castle, and Disney has to ask you to stay in the castle for the night, Suggs said. Not many get the opportunity to see the suite, and it is definitely something I will brag about forever, Suggs said. It was surprisingly smaller than you would think but still stunning. Suggs also had the opportunity to walk through the tunnels in Magic Kingdom for work that she heard about but had never seen and to preview the new Disneys Hollywood Studios called Mickey and Minnies Runaway Railway. The ride was amazing, and I am proud to say I was one of the first people to ride it, Suggs said. Skydance Media, the diversified global media company founded by David Ellison in 2010, today announced it has acquired the animation unit of Madrid-based Ilion Studios, a world leader in state-of-the-art animation production, to form Skydance Animation Madrid. This strategic acquisition combines the creative capital of Skydance with Ilion's best-in-class talent, ensuring Skydance Animation's full oversight of all production aspects guaranteeing quality control throughout the life cycle of every project. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005457/en/ David Ellison (Photo: Business Wire) With a combined workforce of almost 500 employees across two continents, Skydance Animation now has the expanded creative capability, scale and leverage to deliver on its goal of becoming an industry-leading producer of high-end animated films and television series for audiences around the world. Led by animation visionary John Lasseter and industry veteran Holly Edwards, Skydance Animation has rapidly grown to support a robust development and expanded production slate. Since its inception, Skydance Animation's roster of creatives has grown to include an array of award-winning talent, including Vicky Jenson, director of the first ever Academy Award-winner for Best Animated Feature, Shrek; Peggy Holmes; Nathan Greno; Kiel Murray; Lauren Hynek; Elizabeth Martin and Tony Award-nominee and Writers Guild of America West's Animation Writers Caucus lifetime achievement honoree Linda Woolverton. "The world is going through an unprecedented and uncertain time. Today's acquisition marks the culmination of many months of work to build one studio across two continents, with the goal of creating the highest-quality animation, led by best-in-class talent from around the world," said David Ellison, chief executive officer of Skydance Media. "The addition of Skydance Animation Madrid to our portfolio of businesses underlines my passion and commitment to bringing iconic animated stories and characters to life from some of the most talented artists and voices in the industry." "We are excited to expand our partnership with Skydance Animation and to further collaborate with Skydance founder David Ellison and elite talent like John Lasseter and Holly Edwards," said Ignacio Perez Dolset, founder, president and chief creative officer of Ilion. "This is a phenomenal growth opportunity for our team in Spain and we're proud to be an integral part of Skydance's exciting future." Skydance Animation's upcoming feature slate includes: Luck Directed by Peggy Holmes ( The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning ) and written by Kiel Murray ( Cars , Cars 3 ) and Jonathan Aibel Glenn Berger (the Kung Fu Panda series). When the unluckiest girl alive stumbles upon the never-before-seen world of good and bad luck, she must join together with magical creatures to uncover a force more powerful than even luck itself. Spellbound (working title) Directed by Vicky Jenson ( Shrek , Shark Tale ) and written by Lauren Hynek Elizabeth Martin ( Mulan [2020] ) and Linda Woolverton ( Beauty and the Beast , The Lion King A musical fantasy set in a world of magic where a young girl sets out to break the spell that has split her kingdom in two. (working title) Pookoo (working title/currently in development) Written and directed by Nathan Greno ( Tangled) and produced by Jennifer Magee-Cook ( The Princess and the Frog). (working title/currently in development) In addition, Skydance Animation has a slate of soon-to-be-announced high-end television series in various stages of development. Ilion Animation Studios creates state-of-the-art computer animated feature films of the highest level, combining cutting-edge technology with top artistic quality. Ilion's animation unit has become a model studio on a global basis, capable of attracting talented individuals who create best-in-class animation production. Latham Watkins LLP (Los Angeles and Madrid) acted as legal adviser to Skydance Media and Loyra Abogados (Madrid) provided counsel to Ilion in this transaction. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005457/en/ Contacts: Contact Skydance Jack Horner SVP, Corporate Communications and Publicity 424-291-3464 jhorner@skydance.com The Delhi Police on Sunday urged Muslims to stay indoors on the upcoming Shab-e-Barat in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Shab-e-Barat, also known as the night of forgiveness, will be observed on April 8. Members of the Muslim community visit graveyards to remember their relatives who more. On Twitter, the Delhi Police shared a poster urging people to support them in the fight against Covid-19 by staying indoors. In its appeal, the police said lockdown is in force even on the sacred night of Shab-e-Barat. Dont misuse it by coming out on motorcycles and creating chaos on the streets of Delhi, the poster read. The police also asked for cooperation from religious leaders and RWAs in maintaining the lockdown. Unlawful behaviour will not be tolerated. Violators will face stern action. Observe the occasion solemnly, the poster added. On March 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared a country-wide lockdown for 21 days to contain the spread of coronavirus. England's chief medical officer played down the prospects of a swift lifting of the coronavirus lockdown today. Professor Chris Whitty said that discussions about moving on to the next stage of the response to the pandemic would be premature until the nation has passed the peak number of deaths. He downplayed reports that this figure could be reached this weekend as he returned to fronting the daily news conference, following a week in self isolation. Flanking Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab he also warned people not to expect too much, too soon, from antibody tests that could give those who have had coronavirus and built up immunity, a way to return to normal life. He said: 'The key thing is to get to the point where we are confident we have reached the peak and this is now beyond the peak and at that point I think it is possible to have a serious discussion about all the things we need to do step-by-step to move to the next phase of managing this. 'But I think to start having that discussion until we're confident that that's where we've got to, would I think be a mistake.' The UK has declared 439 more deaths caused by the coronavirus today, taking the total to 5,373, and 3,802 new positive tests have pushed the number of patients up to 51,608. Professor Chris Whitty said that such tests, which would show if someone has has a minor case of the infection and recovered, will be more effective 'later in the epidemic' Officials have reportedly bought test kits from the Chinese companies Wondo and Alltest but found that they are not accurate enough for official use He added: 'We've got to remember, just from the health point of view and clearly there are wider social and economic issues as well, that there are at least four different kinds of mortality and ill health we need to take into account over the period of this epidemic. WHAT IS AN 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. Advertisement 'There's the direct effects of people dying from coronavirus, there's the indirect effects of the NHS, if it were to become overwhelmed and therefore unable to provide emergency care for either coronavirus or other areas, and all the activities we're doing at the moment are to make sure that both of those are minimised. 'But it is really important also to remember that there will be effects from the fact that some healthcare has had to be postponed to make room for this within the NHS and of course anything that has an impact on the socio-economic status, particularly of people who are more deprived, will have a long-term health impact as well and we have to, in our exit strategy, balance all of these different elements which to some extent can be in tension.' In a glimmer of hope after a dark week for Britain, the number of people dying of COVID-19 has now fallen for two days in a row and today dropped 30 per cent from 621 yesterday. Today's death count is the lowest since March 31, last Tuesday, when it was 381, and marks a 39 per cent fall from the UK's worst day so far, Saturday, when the deaths of 708 people were recorded. The number of new cases is also lower than it was for almost all of last week, with the 3,802 new positive tests 2,101 fewer than 5,903 yesterday and only the second time since March that the number has been below 4,000. England accounted for 403 of the fatalities while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland declared 36 more deaths between them over the past day. Discussing the antibody tests, which would show if someone has has a minor case of the infection and recovered, he said they would will be more effective 'later in the epidemic'. Because of the slow way antibodies are generated and the relatively small percentage of the population likely to have caught coronavirus so far, the tests are currently of limited use, he told the daily press conference. It came after another top scientist checking the tests for the Government said it could be a month before a workable one is available. Professor Sir John Bell, from Oxford University, said the testing kits he has examined so far 'have not performed well' and 'none of them would meet the criteria for a good test'. Addressing the public this afternoon Prof Whitty, an epidemiologist, said: 'At this point in time we would expect quite a small proportion of the population has probably got antibodies. 'There's two reasons for that. There's the proportion actually infected and then there's a period of time between somebody getting an infection and antibodies being routinely detectable. 'And it depends which kind of antibody you're talking about how soon that is. 'Most of the labs that have looked at this would say 21 to 28 days would be the kind of timescale you'd be talking about. 'They do tend to be more effective later in the epidemic.' Addressing the public this afternoon after completing his own coronavirus self-isolation, Prof Whitty, an epidemiologist, said: 'At this point in time we would expect quite a small proportion of the population has probably got antibodies Downing Street said today it will seek refunds from companies that cannot improve the failed antibody tests ordered by the Government. 'No test so far has proved to be good enough to use,' the PM's official spokesman said, raising accuracy concerns. 'We continue to work with the testing companies, we're in a constant dialogue with them and we give feedback to them when their products fail to meet the required standards. 'If the tests don't work then the orders that we placed will be cancelled and wherever possible we will recover the costs.' The head of testing at Public Health England also said none of the tests it had evaluated were good enough for public use. Professor John Newton, director of health improvement at Public Health England, said the tests were not accurate enough on people who had only had mild illnesses. The tests are considered to be crucial to ending Britain's nationwide lockdown because they will give authorities a clear picture of how many people have caught the virus already and shaken it off. Currently, statistical guesswork is the only way of working out how many people might already be immune and therefore potentially safe to return to normal life. Estimates suggest up to five million people could have been infected to date. Number 10 tonight confirmed that Boris Johnson had been moved to intensive care in St Thomas' hospital after being admitted for tests last night as a precaution. A spokesperson said Dominic Raab would deputise for him as his 'persistent' coronavirus symptoms worsen. The first government report on the state of the nation's hospitals amid the coronavirus pandemic has confirmed that they are facing severe shortages of tests, critical protective gear and the staff needed to treat and protect both patients and healthcare workers. The 34-page report released Monday was based on hundreds of interviews of administrators at 323 medical centers coast to coast from March 23 to 27. It largely validated reports from news organizations, and painted a far more dire picture than the one President Trump describes at his daily news conferences. Later, at Monday's briefing, he angrily dismissed questions about the report, which was from the inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services. "Give me the name of the inspector general," he challenged one reporter. "Could politics be entered into that?" Last week he fired another inspector general, for the intelligence agencies in retaliation for his role in events that led to Trump's impeachment. The health department's inspector general found that hospital administrators were particularly frustrated by the lack of testing. They complained that scarce resources, especially protective equipment, had to be used for patients simply suspected of having the virus because doctors had to treat them as if they were infected. "The sooner the hospital knows whether patients are negative, the faster it can move them to a lower level of care that consumes fewer resources," one administrator told the government investigators. Extended stays by patients awaiting test results were also depleting stores of protective gear. One hospital reported churning through through 307 masks daily for just 23 patients. Another medical center, the report said, was using 2,000 masks a day a tenfold increase from before the outbreak. Administrators said they were not only running short of masks and gowns but also supplies such as thermometers, disinfectants and and hand sanitizer. They were particularly concerned they would not have enough ventilators, a key tool in treating the sickest coronavirus patients. Story continues At the time of the government's interviews, some administrators noted they had not received any medical equipment from the federal government's Strategic National Stockpile. Another reported receiving equipment but said it "won't even last a day." An official for a health system said it had received just 1,000 masks, half of which were for children and did not fit the staff. Unable to obtain critical gear from federal or state stockpiles, hospitals were competing with one another in the market and relying on unproved suppliers who did not always deliver what was promised, administrators said, and prices skyrocketed. "We are all competing for the same items and there are only so many people on the other end of the supply chain," one administrator told investigators. Administrators expressed concern that they would face serious staffing shortages. "Several hospitals reported that they would struggle to maintain hospital operations if even a few staff were exposed to the virus," the report said. Already some administrators said they did not have enough specialists to treat the sickest patients. Even if their hospitals received enough ventilators, they did not have enough doctors and nurses to operate them. "You can build thousands of ventilators," an administrator said, "but you need an army to manage that equipment and care for those patients." Administrators complained of inconsistent guidance from federal and state public health officials, and said that, as a result, they were wasting time educating the public about the threat of the virus. The misinformation that is out there, and the lack of serious understanding about what we could be facing, is extraordinary, one administrator said. The virus also was hurting hospitals financial well-being, administrators said, as they were forced to cut back on elective procedures to treat coronavirus patients. Hospitals reported that their most significant challenges centered on testing and caring for patients with known or suspected COVID-19 and keeping staff safe, the report said. Hospitals also reported substantial challenges maintaining or expanding their facilities' capacity to treat patients. The overall assessment was sharply at odds with the daily status reports from Trump. He and Vice President Mike Pence, the head of the president's coronavirus task force, have given daily, upbeat reports on how many masks, gloves and ventilators the federal government has distributed to hospitals. Over the weekend, the president claimed that many hospital administrators that weve been in touch with, even in the really hot spots you know what they are are communicating directly with us that their level of supplies are meeting essential needs. He added, At the current time, theyre really thrilled to be where they are." Trump repeatedly has suggested without evidence that states and hospitals were actually to blame for not having enough ventilators. He blamed some hospital workers for a shortage of masks, suggesting personnel were hoarding or stealing them. Somethings going on. And you ought to look into it as reporters. Where are the masks going? Are they going out the back door? he said March 29. And we have that happening in numerous places I dont think its hoarding. I think maybe its worse than hoarding. The inspector general's report came days after Trump informed Congress he was firing Michael Atkinson, the inspector general for the intelligence community. Atkinson last year disclosed to Congress, as required, a whistleblowers complaint about the presidents dealings with Ukraine, which led to Trumps impeachment. Most federal agencies have inspectors general to act as independent watchdogs to audit and investigate their operations. The inspector generals office for the Department of Health and Human Services has been led since January by Christi Grimm, the principal deputy inspector general. The department has not had a Senate-confirmed inspector general since 15-year veteran Daniel Levinson stepped down in May. Himachal Pradesh Police on Monday warned that coronavirus patients who spit at others will be charged with attempt to murder, in an apparent reaction to a recent case in the state. If the act leads to the victim contracting coronavirus and then succumbing to the disease, the offender will be booked for murder, Director General of Police Sita Ram Mardi said in a stern warning. Doctors say droplets expelled into the air through coughing and sneezing transmit the respiratory infection, one reason why people are advised to maintain social distancing. Countries like Britain have reported cases of deliberate spitting or a threat to do so by people who claim to be infected by coronavirus. In Ghaziabad recently, paramedics alleged that some Tablighi Jamaat members quarantined there were spitting and misbehaving with them. The Himachal Pradesh DGP said a case in which a coronavirus patient had spat at someone has taken place in the state, but did not give further details. If any coronavirus patient spits on any other person, that patient will be booked for attempt to murder under section 307 of the IPC, he said in a video message, adding that a murder charge will be slapped if this leads to death. Source later said a coronavirus positive woman, now cured, had spat at doctors in Tanda's Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC). She was booked under sections 269 and 270 of the Indian Penal Code, related to acts that spread disease, they said. The woman had returned from a trip abroad a few days before she tested positive. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Government agencies are failing to protect victims of domestic abuse from contracting coronavirus during the ongoing pandemic, a charity in Ireland says. Safe Ireland said that it is growing increasingly concerned that the government is not responding to the seriousness of the situation facing women and children living in refuges and temporary accommodation. We have an untenable situation at the moment, where women and children are living in communal refuges, with shared kitchens and bathrooms, a spokeswoman for the organisation said. These are potential sites for an outbreak of Covid-19. The women and children in these refuges should be moved into safe, self-contained accommodation as part of the emergency national response." Safe Ireland has submitted a proposal of emergency funding worth 1.6 million (1.4m) to the government so services can respond more adequately to the needs of women and children. If approved, the funding would help re-locate at-risk women and children within their local community and give them personal protection equipment, Safe Ireland said. The spokesperson continued: Overall the capacity of our emergency accommodation services is down about 20 per cent because we have to leave some units as isolation spaces. We need to be thinking creatively and at a national level about how we can accommodate all women and children safely when they look for support, particularly as the weeks of containment and isolation progress. Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness for women and children, Safe Ireland said. Housing instability is four times more likely for women and children who have experienced domestic violence. Meanwhile, on Monday Refuge a UK-based domestic abuse charity said that calls to its helpline had surged during the lockdown. The number of calls rose by 25 per cent in the five days from 30 March, while visits to the organisation's website increased by 150 per cent in the last week of February. While in lockdown or self-isolation, women and children are likely to be spending concentrated periods of time with perpetrators, potentially escalating the threat of domestic abuse and further restricting their freedom, said chief executive Sandra Horley. She added: Domestic abuse isnt always physical its a pattern of controlling, threatening and coercive behaviour, which can also be emotional, economic, psychological or sexual. Abuse is a choice a perpetrator makes, and isolation is already used by many perpetrators as a tool of control. Anyone who requires help or support can contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline which is open 24/7 365 days per year on 0808 2000 247 or via their website https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/ A robot bought from Sweden by a school in Maharashtra's Thane district lighted candles on Sunday night in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal in connection with the fight against the coronavirus outbreak. Videos of the robot lighting candles at the premises of Sacred Heart School in Varap area of Kalyan taluka in the district went viral soon after. "It lit nine candles as part of the PM's appeal to do so at 9pm for nine minutes. The robot was brought from Sweden. It can be programmed for many tasks and we decided to programme it so that it could light candles. We wanted to highlight a combination of science and culture," said the school's COO Albin Anthony. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Theres no easy way out of this for him, said Richmond political analyst Bob Holsworth. Its going to be extraordinarily difficult for him to prove hes innocent and wipe away all of the doubts that many people certainly have in their minds about this. Because its going to be in the back of everybodys mind, his decision to speak about it, to bring it up, to explain why he thinks hes innocent, is probably the best approach to a very challenging situation. A local council has come up with a creative way of emphasising the importance of following coronavirus lockdown rules - by sharing a fascinating story about the explosion of a sperm whale nearly 50 years ago. Doncaster Council used its Twitter account to share the story about officials in Oregon, USA, who decided to blow up a rotting whale carcass. The council said the tale could teach us some lessons about coronavirus. The story began when a 45-ft sperm whale washed up on a beach in Florence, Oregon on November 9, 1970. There was some debate about what to do with it. They could leave it to decompose, they could try and chop it up and bury it, or they could blow it up with dynamite and hope that seagulls ate the leftovers. It was decided that leaving the whale to decompose would be too unpleasant, so they decided to blow it up. George Thornton, who sensibly seemed to be wearing a hard hat in press reports from the time, was the engineer in charge of the explosion. 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 He said he wasnt sure how much dynamite would be needed to destroy one of the worlds largest mammals, so he opted for half a tonne. An ex-member of the military advised Mr Thornton and other officials that this was too much, and just a few sticks of dynamite would be enough for the job. But Mr Thornton ignored the advice. On November 12, in front of an excited crowd on the beach, the whale was blown up using half a tonne of dynamite. As experts had warned, the explosion sent massive chunks of blubber flying through the air, and it rained down on the terrified spectators. "The overwhelming smell sent people running for their homes as rotting whale plopped down around them," the council said. "The situation was dangerous - a car was even crushed by a huge lump of blubber a quarter of a mile away. "To cap everything off, the main bit of the whale stayed exactly where it had been. "The problem hadnt gone away, only now there were thousands of bits of problem spread for miles around." But the unique story presents three lessons which can be learned about the coronavirus lockdown, the council said. Don't ignore the advice that experts give you. They know what they are talking about. Sometimes, its better to just sit at home and do nothing than go outside and do something ridiculous. Let nature take its course. When you ignore expert advice and act like an idiot, you cover everyone else with decaying whale blubber. #StayHome and stop being selfish. Social media users praised the council's creative way of encouraging people to follow lockdown rules and stay home. One said: "I don't live in Doncaster and don't know anyone who does, and have no real need of civic updates from your lovely town. I am following you anyway for whale-related history and more. Long live Doncaster Council." By Express News Service RANCHI: Much to the concern of the health officials, Jharkhand on Monday reported fourth COVID-19 case a 54-year old woman was tested positive in Ranchi. Notably, the first COVID-19 case was also reported in Ranchi after a Malaysian woman was tested positive on March 31. This is the second consecutive case within 24 hours after a woman, who returned from Bangladesh after taking part in a religious congregation, was tested positive at Chandrapura of Bokaro. Second COVID-19 case, however, was found in Hazaribagh. This is again a woman, who had come in direct contact with the Malaysian woman, who was tested positive on March 31. This woman is a local resident of Hindpiri who lives in the same locality where that Malaysian woman was staying, said Principal Health Secretary Nitin Madan Kulkarni. This is high time that people living in the area voluntarily come forward for screening so that the virus could be checked to spread further to get, he added. After being identified that they came in direct contact with the Malaysian woman, more than 100 people were quarantined at Khelgaon in Ranchi. Official records from the State Government claimed that a total of 14, 228 persons have been quarantined at quarantine centres all over the State while 1, 43,227 people have been home quarantined in their respective homes. T he Duchess of Cornwall is back at work with the Royal Voluntary Service after 14 days in self-isolation. Camilla, who is President of the RVS, spoke with Doris Winfield, 85, from Rickmansworth, who has also spent the last two weeks self-isolating. While Doris has three daughters who she regularly speaks to, she lives alone and misses her friends and the active social life she used to enjoy before the coronavirus outbreak. Doris Winfield said: Having a chat with the HRH The Duchess of Cornwall meant the world to me. Ive been incredibly lonely over the last couple of weeks and it was wonderful to talk to her. We talked about life in isolation and shared hobbies, she was very interested in my family and how I was coping without them. Its really cheered me up! Camilla and Doris spoke about number of different topics, including how difficult it was being separated from family, but that being able to see them digitally helped enormously. The Duchess said the most difficult thing about being in isolation was not being able to hug her grandchildren. Camilla's husband the Prince of Wales, who had been diagnosed with coronavirus, is also out of self-isolation. Prince Charles gives official statement after coming out of isolation following coronavirus diagnosis The Duchess and Doris also discussed reading and how much they both enjoyed a good book particularly Agatha Christie. Camilla, who has been President of Royal Voluntary Service in December 2012, also sent a message of thanks to all those who have volunteered to help the NHS at this time. She said: As the proud President of the Royal Voluntary Service, I wanted to send my warmest thanks to all the NHS Volunteer Responders who have come forward in unprecedented numbers to offer help to the NHS. Royal Voluntary Service has been working with the NHS to recruit people in England who can assist those who are most in need of practical and emotional support at this time. Thankfully, the charity has a long and remarkable history of bringing willing volunteers together with the isolated and lonely. That experience is needed more than ever in these challenging times. And today many more NHS Volunteer Responders will get in touch with the people they have so kindly offered to help, she went on. Texas Black Expo Gives Mico-Grants to Small Businesses in Need Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, and like every other city in the nation, Houston companies need every possible resource available to help them keep open the doors of their operations. The Texas Black Expo, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, is committed to helping small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (coronavirus) through its Texas Small Business Emergency Micro-Grant Source (TSBEMS) fund, which offers grants to affected small business owners during this unprecedented global crisis. The Texas Black Expo has partnered with several major corporations including H-E-B, Enterprise Holdings, Chevron and UPS, in an ongoing effort to support small businesses affected by the devastation of COVID-19. The severe impact of the pandemic on Houston and surrounding areas has resulted in unprecedented losses for many, including thousands of small businesses whose operations have been shut down in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. To help local entrepreneurs, the Texas Black Expo created the small business emergency micro-grant source, which gives qualifying companies $1,000 each in grant funds. The grant portal is currently open. The first round of funding will be distributed by April 30. Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, and like every other city in the nation, Houston area companies need every possible resource available to help them keep open the doors of their operations. In addition, families depend on jobs provided by small businesses, so we want to do everything we can to help keep the local economy healthy, said Jerome Love, Texas Black Expo founder and president. We have partnered with Texas Black Expo for over 17 years, and we fully support their mission to build up small businesses within the underserved community, said James Harris, Director, Diversity & Inclusion and Supplier Diversity, H-E-B. Small businesses are critical to H-E-Bs success, so were committed to helping in however we can. The TSBEMS fund was originally created in 2017 as a response to the devastation small businesses faced after Hurricane Harvey. Since then, more than $45,000 has been awarded to assist entrepreneurs facing business interruption as a result of a disaster or emergency. Love says the goal is to help at least 100 small businesses through the program. Organizers continue to solicit donations to meet their goal of raising $100,000 for relief efforts through a GoFundMe effort. ABOUT TEXAS BLACK EXPO The Texas Black Expo, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, is dedicated to improving the quality of life within minority communities by strengthening businesses, inspiring youth, and building better lives. For more information about the Texas Black Expo, visit http://www.texasblackexpo.com. Hollywood superstar Chris Hemsworth on Monday said he was looking forward to celebrating Extraction's release on Netflix, a part of which he shot in India, with his fans here but that could not be possible amid the coronavirus spread. The actor said he had an unforgettable time in the country while shooting for the film with the local talent and would like his fans to enjoy the trailer, which drops Tuesday. Netflix is set to release the film on April 24. "Namaste India, Chris Hemsworth coming to you all the way from Australia. As you may have heard, I was incredibly excited to come to India, and to celebrate this movie where it was filmed. My time in your country during the production was unforgettable and I was so looking forward to returning. "But due to all that's happening in the world at the moment, I, like you, am staying home. I know things are not easy right now for everyone," the 36-year-old actor said. Asking fans to keep an eye on the trailer, Hemsworth said the film is an incredible action-packed ride, directed by his good friend Sam Hargrave. A message to India from @ChrisHemsworth and also the easiest way to get lost in his eyes today. pic.twitter.com/Amh55F8xmm Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) April 6, 2020 "It was an absolute honour to work alongside some of your best local talent to make this movie possible, and I can't wait for you to see it. Sending you lots of love and good thoughts to everyone around the world, stay home. Stay safe, be well," he added. The film revolves around Hemsworth's character, Tyler Rake, a fearless black market mercenary, who embarks on the most deadly extraction of his career when he's enlisted to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord. Written by Avengers: Endgame co-director Joe Russo, the film was shot in India and Thailand and also Rudraksh Jaisawl, Randeep Hooda, Golshifteh Farahani, Pankaj Tripathi, Priyanshu Painyuli, and David Harbour. April 2020: From Extraction, The Last Kingdom To Sergio, Everything Coming To Netflix Robert Downey Jr Birthday Special: Bloopers That Make Us Love Him Even More People should follow the rules imposed during the lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus, said senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti. "I appeal to people to follow the norms of the lockdown as it has been imposed to prevent the spread of coronavirus," Vijayvargiya told ANI. "Those who did not light diyas or candles yesterday caused the increase in the number of coronavirus cases in Indore," he claimed. Speaking on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, the BJP leader said, "Mahavirji had given the message -- live and let others live. Had the world followed the ahimsa message given by Mahavirji then coronavirus would not have happened." "Coronavirus occurred due to people eating non-vegetarian food," he added. Kailash Vijayvargiya along with his son also paid respects to the statue of Goddess Ahilya at Rajbada in Indore. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) DETROIT -- Detroit Police Chief James Craig says hes feeling better but still not ready to return to work as he continues to battle to COVID-19 virus. According to WXYZ Detroit, Craig says hes experienced severe symptoms such as chills, loss of strength and appetite and more. Craig said its been a journey but hes been able to continue his work from home and has been in contact with the department several times a day while he continues to recover. Craig said at times the virus impacted him so much that he was barely able to speak on the phone. The police chief has been in quarantine since March 27 after announcing hed tested positive for the virus. Hundreds of DPD officers have gone into quarantine after showing symptoms of COVID-19 and dozensmore have tested positive. A combination of plenty of rest, hot tea multiple times a day and lots of water has helped Craig make strides in his recovery, he said. Although hes feeling better, Craig says hes not planning on going back to work too early as he wants to ensure he has fully recovered before going back to the office. Craig says hes proud of the work his department has been doing during this difficult time and of the numerous multiple health care workers, EMS employees and firefighters who continue to serve the region. PREVENTION TIPS Michigans State Emergency Operations Center is coordinating state-government resources and the response to the coronavirus spread. It has shared the following tips: What you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases: Always cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or sleeve. Stay home if you are sick and advise others to do the same. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, if soap and warm water are not available. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces(computers, keyboards, desks, etc.). Its not too late to get your flu shot! While the influenza vaccine does not protect against COVID-19 infection, it can help keep you healthy during the flu season. READ MORE Complete coverage at mlive.com/coronavirus Monday, April 6: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Cambodia govt bans fish exports April 06,2020 | Source: The Phnom Penh Post The government of Cambodia has suspended fish exports in an effort to stabilise domestic supply in the face of the spreading coronavirus. In a Telegram message to leaders of the National Committee for Combating Covid-19, as well as government leaders and stakeholders on Saturday, Prime Minister Hun Sen decided to impose measures banning fish exports to avoid food shortages for locals and stabilise fish prices. To avoid rising fish prices, fish should be kept at home and banned from export to international markets. We previously announced a ban on only paddy and white rice but now we should ban fish exports because we can keep them and sell them at our markets, he said. The ban is the governments next move in maintaining ample food stocks. The ban on paddy and white rice exports went into effect on Sunday. Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhon told The Post on Sunday that the governments measures to increase domestic stockpiles are crucial to furthering Cambodias food security. This, he said, will prevent shortages and price increases as the Kingdom responds to the pandemic. This is a wonderful measure because if Covid-19 spreads, we may suffer from food shortages. However, no specific date has been determined as the fish exports bans effective date, he said, adding that the ministry is set to meet with the Ministry of Economy and Finance on Monday to address the issue. Meanwhile, he said his ministry is currently fortifying and expanding fish farming for local needs. Every year, Cambodia exports a small amount of freshwater fisheries to neighbouring countries, while importing a substantial amount of seafood products to cater to restaurant demands he said. The Kingdom imported 130,000 tonnes of seafood last year. The Ministry of Economy and Finance on Friday issued a decision on the establishment of an ad hoc working group for supply management and strategic goods during Covid-19. The working group will comprise representatives of the ministries of Economy and Finance; Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Health; Commerce; Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, as well as the Council for the Development of Cambodia, the Green Trade Company, and the Agricultural and Rural Development Bank. The working group will be given key tasks such as identifying the strategic commodities that best serve daily life; monitoring the status of their demand, supply and prices and ensure their viability and sustainability; and responding to a disruption to their supply chain. Last year, the Kingdom exported 9,190 tonnes of fresh fish products, down 3.4 per cent from 2018s 8,880 tonnes, and 4,910 tonnes of processed fish products, down 1.8 per cent from 2018s 4,820 tonnes, said a Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries report. The Kingdom harvested 478,850 tonnes of freshwater fisheries last year and 122,250 tonnes of marine, it said. Aquaculture, fish and shrimp farming accounted for 307,408 tonnes of freshwater fisheries. 2020 The Phnom Penh Post. All Rights Reserved. Theme(s): Others. Quebec's premier and its chief medical officer sounded cautiously optimistic on Monday about the province's battle against COVID-19. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/4/2020 (644 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Quebec Premier Francois Legault, flanked by Horacio Arruda, Quebec director of National Public Health, left, and Quebec Health Minister Danielle McCann, responds to reporters during a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic, Monday, April 6, 2020 at the legislature in Quebec City. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot Quebec's premier and its chief medical officer sounded cautiously optimistic on Monday about the province's battle against COVID-19. Premier Francois Legault said "only" eight people were hospitalized in the province with the disease over the day prior, a number he called "extraordinary." "If we can have this for a few days, that would mean we are approaching the peak," he told reporters in Quebec City. "I don't want to speculate, but it's just, the numbers are encouraging today." On Sunday, Legault extended the period businesses deemed "non-essential" would have to remain closed, from April 13 to May 4. But a day later, the premier was smiling more than he usually does during his routine news conferences and talking about "restarting the economy." "We may see the light at the end of the tunnel but we must continue to do everything we can to win the battle against the virus," he said. "We must also prepare the restart of our economy." He said that when the virus in Quebec passes its peak infection rate, the province could start allowing more businesses to open, provided they can maintain distancing directives. Quebec's chief medical officer, Horacio Arruda, told reporters when the peak is reached, many different businesses could open, "but with different conditions. "We'll need to protect the cashiers with Plexiglas those kinds of things will allow us to continue without putting (workers) in peril, and without having an intense resurgence of the virus." All of that will depend on when the peak comes and Arruda says his team is not comfortable releasing any projections to the public because there is still so much uncertainty. The government, however, said it will present a series of projections and scenarios on Tuesday regarding the expected evolution of the virus in the province. "My people are telling me: 'Announce nothing, Horacio. They will cut your head off if you have the wrong number,'" he said, in reference to the public and to journalists who are hungry for information. The province reported another 27 deaths on Monday, for a total of 121. Quebec also saw 636 new cases, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 8,580. And out of 533 people in hospital, Legault said, 10 more were moved to intensive care, for a total of 164 severe cases of COVID-19. Meanwhile, the Department of National Defence released details Monday about the deployment of 14 Canadian Ranger patrols in Nunavik, a vast territory covering much of the northern part of the province. The 2nd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group "plans to mobilize 40 Rangers on continuous standby and another 40 on call for short tasks, as long as their presence is required and authorized," the department said in a news release. There are about 305 Canadian Rangers in Nunavik. They are members of the Canadian Army Reserve Force and are residents of the country's northern communities. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 6, 2020. CPA STATEMENT ON THE GOVERNMENTS RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: THE GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED US. THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED US.CORONAVIRUS The coronavirus was brought into Australia by travellers from other countries, yet for weeks they were simply allowed to get off planes and ships without any government screening, at most being told to self-isolate for fourteen days. The onus was put on the individual traveller. This did not work. The governments inaction led to the virus spreading throughout the country and people dying. Why were travellers from Europe and the US (who have contributed to seventy-five per cent of our imported cases) not quarantined much earlier on, given the early signs of cases being imported from the US, including prominent Hollywood actors and Peter Dutton? The government was complicit in further endangering peoples lives by its complete mishandling of the docking of the Ruby Princess cruise ship at Sydney. Where has our government been in the need to protect frontline health workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) and resources, including ICU beds and ventilators, now with the looming health crisis? It has many questions to answer. Where are the billions of dollars, theyve taken out of Medicare every year; are they coming back? Why are thirty per cent of ICU beds and ventilators now transferred to the private hospitals? Where are our scientists including the CSIRO scientists that were forced out due to government cuts? Why has science and disaster readiness been such a low priority over the years? Where was our government when our children and teachers were left at school without screening or temperature checks, and even without adequate sanitation facilities like soap and sanitisers? Where is the governments temperature screening and sanitising teams in the community at schools or factories, in the mines or offices? How can the government shut down Parliament for six months to protect themselves and avoid public scrutiny but mine workers must continue to FIFO to keep the mineral bosses happy? Under what law can the government shut down Parliament for six months and hand over decision-making to a group of business magnates? The government has no concern for the people, and every concern for the financial and corporate world. The CPA reiterates our more comprehensive list of demands in our statement of the 16th March 2020, and calls for a stop to all profiteering from the peoples suffering during the emergency. The bankrolling of the private sector and the multinationals must stop. Instead, guarantee the essential areas of the economy by nationalising the health system, the banks, Qantas, the supermarkets, and other essential services like Aged Care and early childhood education. MILITARY SPENDING COVID-19 represents the biggest threat to Australian security in living memory. To properly defend ourselves, we need the full resources of the military defence budget to be used to defend the people against the virus. We must turn the submarines into ventilators, into hospital beds and into personal protective equipment for our frontline workers. We must turn the strike fighter jets into building surge capacity in our hospitals for the looming crisis in the health system. Now is the time to use our taxes more wisely. It is not the time to spend them on military toys for the boys. Taxpayers money is needed to feed and house the people, and to ensure that they get the healthcare they need, when they need it. Our government has failed us. They did it during the firestorms that raged across Australia. They are doing it now with COVID-19, but this time we will not accept a government that leaves us alone with buckets and hoses. We need a peoples government. Communist Party of Australia, CPA Central Committee, April 2020. 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ABOUT DOMINION SYSTEMS: Dominion Systems is a modern Payroll & HR solution for businesses of all sizes. Their intuitive, single-source platform enables you to do your payroll, time and attendance, and HR processes effortlessly so you can focus on the most important aspect of your business: your people. ABOUT ENQUIRON Enquiron, http://www.enquiron.com, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, provides consultative business solutions to employers in all 50 states, across various industries, sectors and sizes. Since 1996, Enquiron has revolutionized the way that services impacting Human Resources, Employment Law, Healthcare, Retirement, Cyber Security and more are delivered to and utilized by employers. Enquiron has locations across the United States and is a trusted partner to organizations who need specific answers to specific questions. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. According to reports, 137 nationals of Canada have been flown out of Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Monday. According to reports, the Canadians were this morning flown out of Lagos airport on board an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 767 flight marked ET8201 with registration number ET-ALO. Also Read: COVID-19: Air France Evacuates 399 Nationals Out Of Nigeria The aircraft, however, took off at exactly 1129hrs to Abuja to pick other evacuees slated for the flight. The aircraft took off with 137 Canadians and 11 crew. This is coming days after France and Germany evacuated over 600 of their citizens in Nigeria. Advertisement Dominic Raab arrives at Downing Street this morning Shell-shocked Dominic Raab is taking the reins of government today as Boris Johnson battles coronavirus in intensive care - sparking fears of a power vacuum in No10. The Foreign Secretary is chairing a meeting of the coronavirus 'war Cabinet' after he was officially 'deputised' by the PM as his condition deteriorated. Asked for an update on Mr Johnson's health as he entered No10, Mr Raab merely said: 'He is in very good hands.' A clearly shaken Mr Raab - who as First Secretary of State is officially the second highest ranking minister - tried to reassure the public last night that the government machine can still cope with the crisis. However, there are questions about how long Whitehall can function without an active PM. Mr Johnson has not resigned and so continues to be the formal leader of the government, but doctors have warned he faces a long recovery process. Cabinet minister Michael Gove played down concerns about paralysis this morning, saying Mr Raab was 'in charge', while adding: 'The Cabinet is the supreme decision making body.' But he dodged saying explicitly whether Mr Raab had been given control of the nuclear deterrent, or if he would have the power to hire and fire other ministers. New Prime Ministers usually write 'letters of last resort' to nuclear submarine captains, setting out instructions if government is wiped out by an enemy strike. But No10 said Mr Johnson's existing letters will continue to apply, rather than Mr Raab writing new ones. MPs have raised alarm that hostile states such as Russia - which has already been accused of spreading disinformation about Mr Johnson's condition - could try to exploit Britain's 'weakness'. General Sir Nick Carter, chief of the defence staff, said the armed forces 'work straight through to the Prime Minister', although he suggested the National Security Council (NSC) will now fill the gap. Asked who will be in control of the nuclear deterrent and armed forces, the PM's spokesman said: In relation to national security matters the First Secretary of State and the Cabinet have the authority and the ability to respond in the Prime Ministers absence. The Queen is being kept informed about Mr Johnson's condition, but she will not grant audiences to Mr Raab while he is standing in for the premier. The monarch appoints the PM, choosing the individual who is best placed to carry a majority in the Commons. The UK does not have a written constitution and the chain of command is largely based on convention. Since the end of the Tory-Lib Dem Coalition in 2015 there has not been a deputy PM. Instead Mr Cameron, Theresa May and now Mr Johnson appointed First Secretaries of State to denote who was second in line. Downing Street is said to have drawn up plans to ensure the continuation of government in all circumstances but details have not been divulged publicly. The Prime Minister (pictured on Thursday evening), who was admitted to St Thomas' Hospital in London last night, was taken to intensive care at 7pm this evening Mr Raab raised concerns as he was seen coughing leaving the Foreign Office to go to Downing Street this morning Mr Gove revealed today that he has gone into self-isolation after a family member started showing coronavirus symptoms Downing Street infection timeline March 10: Health minister Nadine Dorries became the first MP to test positive for coronavirus, shortly after attending a Downing Street reception. March 27: Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock both release Twitter videos saying they have coronavirus and are self-isolating. Hours later, chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty revealed he was self-isolating with symptoms. March 30: The PM's top adviser Dominic Cummings was revealed to be self-isolating with coronavirus symptoms. April 2: Matt Hancock returns to work after seven dies in isolation and making a recovery. April 3: Boris Johnson releases a video from his Number 11 flat saying he is continuing to self-isolate as he is still suffering a temperature. April 4: Carrie Symonds, the PM's pregnant fiancee reveals she has been self-isolating at her Camberwell flat. April 5: The PM is taken to St Thomas' Hospital as a precaution. April 6: The PM is moved to intensive care after his condition spiralled. Advertisement It is not immediately clear what would happen if Mr Raab also became incapacitated, with the UK not having a formal system of succession like other countries, for example the US. Mr Raab's status as the person waiting in the wings reportedly sparked furious rows within the government a fortnight ago, with other ministers adamant Mr Gove, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, should be the one to take over. But Number 10 is likely to face intense pressure in the coming days to set out exactly what would happen if Mr Johnson and other senior ministers can no longer work. If Mr Johnson is forced to resign, the Cabinet would in the first instance choose a successor. They would need to carry the support of the Conservative MPs and potentially the party members - although it is unlikely anyone would force a full leadership contest at a time of massive crisis. Asked about Mr Raab's authority and whether he would have the same power as the PM to hire and fire people in Cabinet, Mr Gove replied: 'The Prime Minister always remains the Prime Minister but I don't think there's any suggestion of anything other than a great team spirit in government as we all work together at this time.' Mr Gove said he could not comment about national security matters when asked if responsibilities connected to nuclear attack had been passed on to Foreign Secretary Mr Raab. 'Dominic is in charge. I won't go into the details of the different national security decisions and protocols that there are but there are appropriate ways in which decisions can be taken in order to keep this country safe,' he said, 'The ultimate decisions are always taken by politicians and in this case the PM has asked Dominic to deputise for him, so it's Dominic as Foreign Secretary who's in charge.' He also said any decisions about the lockdown would be 'taken collectively following appropriate advice', dismissing the idea there would be a delay. He told Good Morning Britain: 'No it won't be delayed. It will be the case that we will take that decision collectively as a Cabinet. 'The person who will chair that Cabinet, the person who will make the final decision of course is, as I mentioned earlier, the Foreign Secretary.' On the issue of a national government he added: 'I don't think anyone is talking in those terms, no.' Conservative MP and defence committee chairman Tobias Ellwood underlined the concerns about the nuclear deterrent. 'It is important to have 100% clarity as to where responsibility for UK national security decisions now lies. We must anticipate adversaries attempting to exploit any perceived weakness,' he tweeted. General Sir Nick said all the thoughts and prayers of the armed forces are with the Prime Minister. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We wish him well for a very, very speedy recovery.' Asked if there is a clear chain of command for the armed forces in such a situation, Sir Nick replied: 'Yes, it's very clear I think. We work straight through to the Prime Minister but of course there's the National Security Council (NSC) that's wrapped around him and formed of many of the Cabinet ministers and supported by the National Security Adviser. 'I think on that basis we're pretty confident it's business as usual as far as the operations are concerned.' Sir Nick said he believed Mr Raab would chair the NSC and be supported by others. Former Cabinet minister Lord Heseltine said there 'isn't a clarity' about what Mr Raab can do as deputy, noting: 'I was deputy prime minister but I was never prime minister, if you know what I mean. 'In other words, John Major was always in good health and in touch so the questions never really arose. 'There must come a time when a deputy is effectively prime minister, I don't think we've probably quite got to that now but the present urgency of the situation and the potential decisions that may need to be taken quickly does mean that Dominic Raab will have to use his discretion and know when to act. 'This is a very difficult thing to do because he will be surrounded by lots of people who know what Boris Johnson said, believe Boris will be quickly back and have their own personal agendas anyway, so it's a very difficult personal position and the man will be tested by the loneliness of the job.' At the weekend it was revealed that two of the most senior Ministers leading the Government response to the coronavirus crisis are locked in battle over when to lift the economically devastating lockdown. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has made 'robust' representations to Health Secretary Matt Hancock, arguing that unless a path is mapped now for a swift return to normal economic activity it could cause lasting damage to the country. Government critics of Mr Hancock argue his 'careerist' fear of being personally blamed for a collapse in the NHS is blinding him to the dangers of a protracted lockdown. Mr Johnson was moved to ICU at St Thomas' Hospital in central London and given oxygen after his health deteriorated sharply over just two hours, leaving doctors fearing he will need a ventilator. The 55-year-old was transferred to intensive care at 7pm because of breathing difficulties - forcing him to 'deputise' Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to take the reins of government. In a round of broadcast interviews this morning, Cabinet minister Michael Gove said Mr Johnson was getting the 'best care'. How are ministers ranked? 1. Boris Johnson, Prime Minister 2. Dominic Raab, Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State 3. Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer 4. Priti Patel, Home Secretary 5. Michael Gove, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 6. Robert Buckland, Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary 7. Ben Wallace, Defence Secretary 8. Matt Hancock, Health Secretary 9. Alok Sharma, Business Secretary 10. Liz Truss, International Trade Secretary 11. Therese Coffey, Work and Pensions Secretary 12. Gavin Williamson, Education Secretary 13. George Eustice, Environment Secretary 14. Robert Jenrick, Communities Secretary 15. Brandon Lewis, Northern Ireland Secretary 16. Alister Jack, Scotland Secretary 17. Simon Hart, Wales Secretary 18. Baroness Evans, Leader of the House of Lords 19. Oliver Dowden, Culture Secretary 20. Anne-Marie Trevelyan, International Development Secretary 21. Amanda Milling, Minister without Portfolio (Conservative Party chairwoman) Advertisement 'As we speak the PM is in intensive care being looked after by his medical team receiving the very, very best care from the team in St Thomas's and our hopes and prayers are with him and with his family,' he told BBC Breakfast. Mr Gove played down concerns that the government will be paralysed with the leader out of action. 'The Cabinet is the supreme decision making body,' he said. The Queen is being kept informed about Mr Johnson's condition, while Mr Raab will chair a meeting of the government coronavirus task force this morning. Meanwhile, Donald Trump revealed he has offered to send Mr Johnson experimental drugs to treat his coronavirus. 'I've asked two of the leading companies ... They've come with the solutions and just have done incredible jobs and I've asked him to contact London immediately,' Mr Trump said. 'The London office has whatever they need. We'll see if we can be of help. We've contacted all of Boris's doctors, and we'll see what is going to take place, but they are ready to go.' The PM's sharp downturn came 11 days after he first suffered coronavirus symptoms and went into isolation. He looked increasingly unwell when glimpsed in public and in 'selfie' videos posted on on social media, and ministers were then shocked by his grim appearance at a Zoom conference on Sunday. Downing Street sources confirmed Mr Johnson is not yet on a ventilator - but was moved to intensive care to be near one if needed. Some medical experts forecasting this course of action is now 'very likely'. Two thirds of patients in intensive care with coronavirus are sedated and put on a ventilator within 24 hours of arriving as the illness attacks their lungs. But last night one doctor told The Times Mr Johnson was conscious and had not been intubated - the process of putting a tube in the windpipe to aid breathing. He was said to have required around four litres of oxygen rather than the 15 litres used by an average Covid-19 ICU patient. Only two hours before his move to intensive care, No10 was insisting Mr Johnson was still spearheading the government's coronavirus response, despite de facto deputy Mr Raab chairing the morning crisis meeting. Dominic Raab, a karate black belt, is married without any children to Erika (together), a Brazilian-born marketing executive Mr Raab, also First Secretary of State, is primed to take charge of the government's coronavirus response, but it is understood he is not a temporary prime minister (pictured at today's No 10 press briefing) Armed police patrol St Thomas' hospital, where the PM is in intensive care Dominic Raab: Karate black belt and relative Cabinet novice The MP for Esher and Walton worked as an in-house lawyer for the Foreign Office in 2000, before returning to the department in Boris Johnson's post-election reshuffle. The former grammar school boy, born to a Czech Jewish father who fled the Nazis in 1938 to Britain as a refugee before the Second World War, helped bring war criminals to justice in The Hague during his first stint in the Foreign Office. Mr Raab is a karate black belt and former boxing blue at Oxford University in 1995. The 45-year-old is married without any children to Erika, a Brazilian-born marketing executive who was wheeled out for photoshoots in his leadership campaign. He has described how his father Peter fled the Nazis and came to Britain aged six. His father learned English, worked for M&S as a food manager and met his mother Jean, who was from Bromley, Kent. He died when Dominic was 12 after losing his battle with cancer. The appointment to Foreign Secretary was a major promotion for Mr Raab, who up to then had just four months experience in the Cabinet after a stint as Brexit Secretary last year. Last summer he stood in the Tory leadership race on a hardcore Brexiteer ticket even harder than Mr Johnson. But after being knocked out he quickly backed his former rival and supported him in his campaign. Advertisement Mr Raab's status as the person waiting in the wings reportedly sparked furious rows within the government a fortnight ago, with other ministers adamant Michael Gove, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, should be the one to take over. But Number 10 is likely to face intense pressure in the coming days to set out exactly what would happen if Mr Johnson and other senior ministers can no longer work. If Mr Johnson could no longer carry on in post and resigned, the Cabinet would in the first instance choose a successor. They would need to carry the support of the Conservative MPs - although it is unlikely anyone would force a leadership contest at a time of massive crisis. At the weekend it was revealed that two of the most senior Ministers leading the Government response to the coronavirus crisis are locked in battle over when to lift the economically devastating lockdown. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has made 'robust' representations to Health Secretary Matt Hancock, arguing that unless a path is mapped now for a swift return to normal economic activity it could cause lasting damage to the country. Government critics of Mr Hancock argue his 'careerist' fear of being personally blamed for a collapse in the NHS is blinding him to the dangers of a protracted lockdown. But allies of Mr Hancock hit back, saying: 'He is just doing his job, which is to protect the NHS.' One MP suggested that the PM was too keen to emulate his hero, Winston Churchill and should rest. But Downing Street described last night's shock move as a 'precautionary step', insisting that he continued to lead the Government, and remained in touch with ministers and senior officials. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick stressed it was not an emergency admission and that he expected him to be back in Downing Street 'shortly'. 'He's been working extremely hard leading the Government and being constantly updated,' he told BBC Breakfast. 'That's going to continue. 'Obviously today he's in hospital having the tests but he will continue to be kept informed as to what's happening and to be in charge of the Government. Downing Street said Dominic Raab (pictured right) will take over if the PM is incapacitated but there have been claims some ministers have pushed for Michael Gove to be given the job On Friday, the PM released a selfie-style video from self-isolation in Number 11 revealing he still had the symptoms of Covid-19 'I'm sure this is very frustrating for him, for somebody like Boris who wants to be hands on running the Government from the front, but nonetheless he's still very much in charge of the Government.' In a Twitter video posted on Friday from quarantine in No11, where he has been in self-isolation, an exhausted-looking Mr Johnson revealed he was still suffering from a high temperature. Experts say there is a risk of pneumonia when a temperature lasts more than a week. There have been claims Mr Johnson has been coughing heavily during conference calls. The UK has four great offices of state: Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary. But beyond that there is no public plan on the line of succession should the PM be struck down. The US is one of a number of countries which has such a plan: If the President cannot work, the Vice President takes over and so on down a long list of government figures. The US also has a 'designated survivor' - someone in the line of succession who is told to stay away from major events like inaugurations and State of the Union Addresses in case something bad happens and they can then step in as commander in chief. Successive prime ministers have resisted calls to formally set out succession plans because of the message they fear it would convey to the public and because of the damage it could do to their political standing. But there have been repeated attempts by backbench MPs to pass a law formalising the succession issue. Mr Raab, Mr Gove, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Matt Hancock are widely seen as the most important ministers in the government at the moment in terms of combating coronavirus. Each chairs a committee coordinating different parts of the government's response to the crisis. Mr Gove's is focused on public sector preparedness, Mr Hancock's is focused on NHS capacity, Mr Raab's deals with the overseas response and Mr Sunak's looks at the economy. The coronavirus death lag explained: How it can take three weeks between catching the disease and being hospitalised (and three days for the NHS to record the fatality) By Connor Boyd, health reporter for MailOnline The rate of coronavirus infections is starting to slow in the UK, figures suggest but it could take weeks before death rates fall. This is because there can be more than a three-week lag between the time someone is diagnosed with the virus, their symptoms become deadly and the death is recorded. The number of people dying in hospital with coronavirus is still doubling every three-and-a-half days despite confirmed cases and hospitalisations are slowing down. Scientists say the death rate will also fall, but they warn Britain could still suffer a record high number of casualties in the coming days due to the lag. It takes several days for a coronavirus patient to develop symptoms, and as long as a fortnight for the infection to become a life-threatening illness. There can be a time lag of more than three weeks between someone becoming infected with coronavirus and dying. Symptoms take days - if not weeks - to become life-threatening. The death has to be recorded and reported, and the family notified, in a process that takes days Fit for office? UK Prime Ministers who have fallen ill while at the helm On Monday evening Prime Minister Boris Johnson was taken into intensive care in London after his coronavirus symptoms worsened. But he's not the only British Prime Minister to become incapacitated by illness while serving at the helm. David Lloyd George: Lloyd George served as Prime Minister from 1916 to 1922. In September 1918 he developed a sore throat after visiting Manchester's Albert Square and mingling in crowds during a ceremony for soldiers and munitions workers. It later became clear he had Spanish influenza. He spent 11 days inside and was hooked up to a ventilator. Harold Wilson: Wilson served as Prime Minister from 1964 to 1970 and from 1974 to 1976. During his second term in office from 1974 to 1976 he suffered from colon cancer. It was also suggested that he had suffered from Alzheimer's after doctors analysed his speech patterns during his previous addresses. Winston Churchill: Churchill served as Prime Minister from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. His personal physician claimed he suffered from clinical depression throughout his time as Prime Minister. In 1941 he suffered a heart attack at the White House and contracted pneumonia a few years later. In 1949 he also suffered a stroke on holiday and suffered a third while in office in 1953, leaving him paralysed on one side. In 1956 he suffered another stroke. Tony Blair: Blair served as Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007. In 2004 he was rushed to Hammersmith Hospital, where he was found to be suffering from supraventricular tachycardia, which is when a person suffers from an abnormal heart rhythm. In 2005 he received treatment for a heart flutter. Gordon Brown: Brown served as Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010. After a rugby accident as a teenager Mr Brown lost his sight in one eye. In 2009 he told the Andrew Marr show that this had made it difficult for him over the years. He said: 'I feel that I have done everything to show people that I can do the job even with the handicap that I've had as a result of a rugby injury.' Theresa May: May served as Prime Minster from 2016-2019. In 2012 she visited the doctor because she thought she had bronchitis but was actually diagnosed as having Type 1 Diabetes. Advertisement If the patient succumbs to the illness, the death has to be recorded and reported and the family notified. This process that can take up to three days. The reporting delay means that once the UK has passed the peak of the outbreak, it may take several days for the death rate to reflect this. The UK today announced 3,802 new positive coronavirus tests - 2,101 fewer than 5,903 yesterday and only the second time since March that the number has been below 4,000. The number of new cases is also lower than it was for almost all of last week, suggesting the draconian social restrictions are working. More than 51,000 people have now been diagnosed with the infection in the UK. Officials also declared 439 more deaths, taking the total to 5,373. The number of people dying of COVID-19 has now fallen for two days in a row and today dropped 30 per cent from 621 yesterday. Today's death count is the lowest since March 31, last Tuesday, when it was 381, and marks a 39 per cent fall from the UK's worst day so far, Saturday, when the deaths of 708 people were recorded. Falling figures may be a reason to be cheerful, but experts have warned against pinning too much significance to day-by-day numbers. Statistics recorded on Sundays and published on Mondays have, since the outbreak in the UK began, been routinely followed by an upward surge on Tuesday. Last Monday's figure was 13 per cent lower than Sunday's. Over the past three weeks, the number of new deaths reported has been doubling every three-and-a-half days. Scientists expect this to continue. NHS England revealed 403 more deaths have been recorded in its hospitals, among people aged between 35 and 106. All but 15 of them had other health problems. Scotland, which was the first to declare new cases today, noted 255 new positive tests and just four new deaths, taking its totals to 222 and 3,961. Wales declared a further 302 cases and 27 more deaths, meaning it has now had 3,499 positive tests and 193 people have died. The majority of the deaths happened in London again, with a total of 129, followed by 75 in the Midlands, 67 in the North East and Yorkshire, 44 in the East of England, 43 in the North West, 27 in the South West and 18 in the South East. Hopes are rising across Europe now that governments' drastic lockdown measures are working. Italy yesterday recorded its lowest one-day death toll in two weeks - since March 20 - with 525 fatalities announced. Spain today revealed its fewest deaths in a day since March 24 (637) and Germany announced its lowest number in a week (92). The tumbling figures - if they carry on - show that strict government policies telling people to remain at home unless necessary are stopping the virus from spreading. And some countries in Europe have already started to draw up plans for their exits from lockdown, with Austria setting targets to start reopening businesses after the Easter weekend. Austria today became the first country to set out detailed plans for ending the standstill, with smaller shops re-opening on April 14 and larger ones on May 1. Denmark also plans to start lifting restrictions after Easter, but wants people to 'work in a more staggered way' to avoid crowding into trains and buses. Meanwhile Germany is willing to re-open schools on a regional basis and allow a limited number of people into restaurants if the infection rate stays sufficiently low. There have been more than 100,000 cases diagnosed in Germany. In Italy, which has been under lockdown longer than any other European country, officials are talking about a 'phase two' where society learns to 'live with the virus' by wearing masks and carrying out more tests. Italy and Germany are among the countries looking at smartphone tracking, which could allow them to jump on new outbreaks without sending everyone back inside. All of those countries, along with Spain, have seen signs of improvement in their recent figures which offer hope that the crisis is past its peak. That moment is still to come for Britain and America, which are bracing for one of their bleakest weeks. However, health officials across Europe warn that life cannot go back 'from 0 to 100' immediately and many lockdown measures will remain in place for several more weeks at least. Italy is openly talking about a 'phase two' in which society will have to 'create the conditions to live with the virus' until a vaccine is developed. Health minister Roberto Speranza says more testing and a beefed-up local health system would be necessary to allow an easing of the lockdown. He said social distancing would have to remain in place, with more widespread use of personal protective equipment such as face masks. Testing and 'contact tracing' would be extended, including with the use of smartphone apps, in order to contain new outbreaks. A network of hospitals would also be set up which are specifically dedicated to virus patients, after doctors on existing wards described having to make life-or-death decisions over access to intensive care. 'There are difficult months ahead. Our task is to create the conditions to live with the virus,' at least until a vaccine is developed, the health minister told La Repubblica newspaper. The national lockdown, strictly limiting people's movements and freezing all non-essential economic activity, will officially last until at least April 13 but it is widely expected to be extended. The president of Ukraines International Chamber of Commerce has warned of the potentially dire economic impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on his country Speaking exclusively to this website, Volodymyr Shchelkunov said, The effects are extremely negative and every effort should be made to ensure that economic problems do not turn into a deeper social crisis, which will then have to be resolved over the years. His comments come with most countries now bracing themselves for significant economic losses as a result of the global pandemic, including falling oil prices and collapse of energy markets. Addressing the possible consequences of the pandemic, he noted, The fact is that several million Ukrainians have worked abroad in the recent years, primarily in EU countries". Shchelkunov, a leading Ukraine economist, told EUToday, Each year, these migrant workers send about $12 billion in official money transfers to Ukraine. For the Ukrainian budget this is a colossal sum. But the fate of these people will depend on anti-crisis measures by the Ukrainian government as well as the governments of the EU. They will either return and stay home, continue to shuttle labour again or leave Ukraine for good. This should be taken into account when developing national anti-crisis measures and support for export-oriented industries that are the source of foreign currency inflows into the country. Asked if the policy for overcoming the crisis in Europe should be European and liberal or nationally oriented and protectionist, he said, Open markets and liberal economy are perfect but unfortunately just in a theory. He added, In the era of distress, such as a Coronavirus pandemic, borders are closed without any explanation and foreign labour is released as a matter of urgency and sent home. Everyone behaves as a hard pragmatist. At this point, the future of the Schengen area is uncertain. The Coronavirus pandemic forces national governments to seek new solutions to the question of the balance between freedom and control in emergencies. To my mind, national governments ought to resort to protectionism since they are completely dependent on their constituents. However, some Ukrainian companies have not been as badly affected as others, usually because they were integrated most into the global economy and not dependent on the commodity market. Related: Coronavirus to lead to largest economic crisis since WWII, - UN Secretary General One example he cites is Duglas Alliance, a company which designs and constructs industrial sites in different parts of the world. One of its projects is Sendje Hydroelectric Power Station, a hydroelectric plant on the Wele River in Equatorial Guinea mainland, which will be the countrys largest in terms of generating capacity. The project started in 2012 and, at the start of 2020, was 70% complete. To realise the high-tech project Duglas Alliance engaged not just experienced Ukrainian professionals but also contractors and suppliers from France, Switzerland, Germany, Bulgaria, Vietnam. The Ukraine ICC says it is one of the best examples of successful globalization and external business expansion. The ICC entered into partnership with the company, based on a mutual understanding that the African market is highly promising for Ukrainian business. Industry in Ukraine is oriented towards foreign markets. Currently, though, Ukrainian-Russian relations are frozen and Europe is mainly recognised by Ukrainian producers as a competitor. When asked the recipe for saving the Ukrainian industrial sector and moving to the next level of development, he said, The benefit of our industry is in the markets of dynamically developing economies. First of all, it is Asia, then the Arab world and Africa. Our professionals started to absorb these markets during Soviet times. In 1970-80s, our specialists supplied machinery and equipment there, built dams, factories, taught the local political and engineering elite. Then, in the 1990s, these ties largely collapsed but contacts remained and the business elite of the countries often graduated from our educational institutions and learnt our mentality. Related: Collapse in oil prices + coronavirus: Consequences of global crisis for Ukraine He believes that, despite the crisis, the example of Ukrainian industry, in providing consulting, design and construction services in a global construction and energy market, provides some hope for the future. He added So, in these regions, the future of Ukraine industry and our industrial exports remains bright. Sendje hydroelectric plant factbox: Design capacity: 200 MW; Power supply voltage: 220 kV; Average annual productivity: 1.402 million kWh; Design head: 67.5m; Reservoir area: 21.57km2; Retaining level of reservoir: 88 m; Volume of reservoir: 60.2million m3; Power line connection:230 kV.Constructed by Duglas Alliance Ltd and commissioned by the Government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. Read the original text at EU today. A Royal Mail postman wiped his nose with his hand and then repeatedly touched someone's front door with the same hand. Doorbell footage captures the postman delivering letters to a property in the West Midlands before wiping his nose with his hand. He then takes the that hand and drags it along the side of the entrance and all over the front door. The postman delivers letters to the front door of a property in the West Midlands in the UK during the coronavirus lockdown He opens his bag to collect more letters for another delivery and then wipes his nose with the hand he goes on to touch the entrance with As he is about to leave the Royal Mail employee then wipes his nose with his hand and repeatedly touches the left side of the property's entrance The shocking footage shows the postman using the hand he wiped his nose with to pat the side of the entrance, the handle and the front door. Social media has called for the employee to be fired for endangering people in insolation during coronavirus. 'I don't get why people are doing this? They just want to watch the world burn,' a user posted on Reddit. He drags his hand along the side of the entrance, touches the handle next to the door and then pats the front door The postman pats along the entire front door after wiping his nose with his hand during coronavirus The NHS advises people not to touch their face and to use tissues when sneezing or coughing to limit the spread of coronavirus. Royal Mail said that they have changed their parcel handling procedures in light of coronavirus. In response to this incident they have launched an investigation and have been in touch with the customer involved who has since taken the video down. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 27F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. Low 24F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. Sweden's prime minister has told his country to prepare for thousands of deaths as the country faces a backlash over its light-touch response to the coronavirus crisis. Stefan Lofven admitted that 'we will have more seriously ill people who need intensive care', but played down the distinctiveness of Sweden's approach. Swedes have been advised to practise social distancing, but schools, bars and restaurants remain open - to the amazement of neighbouring countries which are enforcing strict lockdowns. Thousands of doctors and academics including the head of the Nobel foundation have signed a petition urging tougher action, while one scientist accused Sweden of playing 'Russian roulette with the Swedish population' as cases gradually rise. The scepticism of Sweden comes amid promising signs that the lockdowns are working for its European neighbours such as Spain, Italy and Germany. Germany's 3,677 new cases today are the smallest jump since March 22, while growth in new cases in Spain and Italy has fallen to its slowest since the crisis began. This graph shows the daily number of new coronavirus cases in Sweden, which reached a peak of 612 new infections added to the tally on Friday This chart shows the daily number of deaths, with a peak so far of 59 new deaths which were added to the figures on April 1 'We will have more seriously ill people who need intensive care,' he said to Dagens Nyheter. 'We are facing thousands of deaths. We need to prepare for that.' This map shows the latest number of coronavirus cases around the world. The United States now has the world's largest outbreak by far, although Italy has the most deaths What measures has Sweden taken? Unlike in most European countries, Sweden has not closed shops, restaurants or cafes. Primary schools are still open, although high schools and universities are moving to online teaching. There is no limit on leaving the home or going outside, with Swedes merely advised to keep their distance. They have also been told to self-isolate at any sign of coronavirus. Among the stricter measures are bans on gatherings of more than 50 people and on visits to nursing homes. People over the age of 70 and in high- risk groups have been advised to avoid contact with other people. Officials have also been urging people to avoid unnecessary travel over Easter, a message which was fortified by a televised address from the King yesterday. Advertisement Rather than ordering a lockdown, Sweden has told its citizens to 'each take responsibility' for slowing the spread. Gatherings of up to 500 people initially remained permissible, although this has since been hacked down to 50. Only the most vulnerable citizens have been encouraged to self-isolate at home, while visits to nursing homes have been banned. Restaurants, bars and primary schools remain open, and the streets of Stockholm are quieter than usual but far from a ghost town. 'Everyone is responsible for their own well-being, for their neighbours and their own local community,' said foreign minister Ann Linde. '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. The government-backed Public Health Agency of Sweden contends that Swedes have enough common sense to practice social distancing of their own volition, adding that such restrictions should be light enough to be maintained for several months. However, the tone has shifted as cases begin to mount. Sweden's death toll is now at 401, with 6,830 confirmed infections. In the last week, the infection tally increased by an average of 447 per day, compared to an average 256 the previous week. The figures are likely much higher in reality, as only patients admitted to hospital and health care personnel are being tested for the virus. 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. Last week, the head of the Nobel foundation Carl-Henrik Heldin was among well over 2,000 physicians and academics who penned an open letter urging Sweden to shape up. Some even demanded Stockholm, the capital, be locked down after some 50 senior citizens perished in care homes from the virus. But public health officials have expressed scepticism about the viability of lengthy lockdowns. Crowds of people throng the streets in Stockholm - while most of the rest of the world is on lockdown Sunbathers soaking up the rays at the harbour in Malmo, Sweden as the country defied fears about the spread of coronavirus Germany's daily death toll and new infection count both fall Germany saw sharp falls in both its daily death toll and its new infection count today, offering fresh hope that the coronavirus lockdown is working. The number of infections rose by 3,677 - the smallest since March 22 - to bring the overall tally from 91,714 to 95,391. Meanwhile the death toll jumped by only 92, the lowest in a week, taking the total from 1,342 to 1,434. The resulting fatality rate of 1.5 per cent remains lower than many of Germany's neighbours, although it has risen every day for more than two weeks. The two southern states of Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg - closest to Italy - have been hardest hit, accounting for 824 of the 1,434 deaths between them. Bavaria alone recorded nearly a third of the new infections in the last 24 hours, according to the Robert Koch institute which compiles the figures. Bavaria's capital, Munich, has recorded some 3,500 coronavirus cases in total, although only nine deaths. Berlin has more than 3,600 infections while Hamburg has just under 3,000, the figures show. The mortality rate of 1.5 per cent means that one patient has died out of every 67 who have tested positive for the virus. The figure is notably lower than in Italy (12.3 per cent), Spain (9.5 per cent) or France (11.5 per cent), although it has risen from 0.5 per cent since March 26. The relatively low rate is thought to be linked to Germany's mass testing, meaning that many people with mild symptoms are added to the tally who are missed elsewhere. Advertisement PM Lofven has warned that although the pandemic's hold on Sweden was slower than in Italy and Spain, it did not necessarily mean fewer deaths. 'We will have more seriously ill people who need intensive care,' he said to Dagens Nyheter. 'We are facing thousands of deaths. We need to prepare for that.' However, he appeared to play down Sweden's approach when compared with other states, claiming Sweden also wanted to unburden its hospitals. 'I don't think you ought to dramatise [the differences],' he said. 'We're doing it in a different way. Sometimes that is because we are in difference phases [of the pandemic].' There are however signs the tide is turning. Some institutions, such as the Abba museum, closed of their own volition. The social gathering limit has been cut to 50, while high schools and universities are moving teaching online. Authorities have in recent days stepped up pleas to Swedes to stay home for Easter to slow the spread. King Carl XVI Gustaf yesterday urged Swedes to avoid unnecessary travel over Easter. The holiday is 'a time when we are keen to travel and perhaps spend time with family and friends. Many go to church,' the king said in a televised address. 'But, this Easter, some of this will not be possible. We have to accept this. We have to rethink, prepare ourselves for staying home,' he said. The king, 74, and Queen Silvia, 75, who are considered at risk because of their age, have been self-isolating at a royal castle south of Stockholm, Stenhammars Slott. One professor of endocrinology at the Karolinska Institute, Olle Kampe, claimed the government had 'cynically' permitted the virus to spread in hopes of reaching herd immunity. Herd immunity is achieved when so many people are immune to the virus that it cannot spread and the epidemic comes to a standstill. It was widely discussed in the UK when the government initially took a lighter touch, although ministers now deny that herd immunity was ever part of their strategy. Bars have remained open in Sweden (pictured, a venue in Stockholm on Saturday) meaning citizens have been free to socialise as normal despite the pandemic Young people socialise on a rooftop in Stockholm on Saturday. Officials in Sweden have so far refused to order a lockdown amid the coronavirus crisis Shops, restaurants and bars have remained open in Sweden's capital Stockholm, meaning the streets are still packed with citizens - few of whom are even wearing a face mask The sunny weather and lack of a lockdown order meant many Swedes were out enjoying the sunshine in Malmo over the weekend But, Anders Tegnell, Sweden's chief epidemiologist heading up a coronavirus strategy, said: 'We think we've already taken the most important measures. 'Stay home if you feel ill; work from home if you can; and ensure that we protect our older fellow citizens. You could alter other rules, such as those governing trips to the restaurant or gatherings, but you get the best effect when everyone simply sticks to the basic code of conduct.' Associate professor of political science at Sodertorn University in Stockholm, Nicholas Aylott, chimed in saying Sweden's strategy had been in part rooted in a national 'exceptionalism' - a younger and healthier population than other European countries. Power between Sweden's politicians and its civil service is also a factor, with ministers outlining policy and experts deciding how it should be delivered, meaning Sweden's Covid-19 strategy was directed by Tegnell rather Lofven. 'Who is right? Have Sweden's neighbours overreacted?' Dr Aylott blogged. 'Or has Sweden under-reacted? No one can tell yet. There is no guarantee that insulation from politics will bring better outcomes.' Italy unveils plans for ENDING lockdown: Health minister announces 'phase two' will involve more testing and continued social distancing - as nation records its lowest daily death toll for two weeks By Ross Ibbetson for MailOnline Italy has announced plans for ending its lockdown after the coronavirus-ravaged country today recorded its lowest daily death toll for more than two weeks. Rome recorded another 525 deaths, taking its total to 15,887 - the highest of any country in the world - however, this marked its lowest daily increase since the 427 registered on March 19. Furthermore, the number of people in intensive care (3,977), fell by 17 since Friday, and the number of cases rose to 128,948 from yesterday's 124,632, a lower increase than the day before. A patient is rushed away in an ambulance in Milan on Sunday. The death toll from the COVID-19 epidemic rose by 525 to 15,887, the lowest number of fatalities reported in a day by the civil protection service since the 427 registered on March 19. It comes amid growing signs that Spain's strict coronavirus lockdown may be working, as the country records its lowest death toll for a third consecutive day. The country recorded 674 deaths down from 809 the day before. And in France, the number of coronavirus deaths slowed for a second day running as the nation recorded 357 fatalities - its lowest daily death rate in a week. Earlier on Sunday Health Minister Roberto Speranza outlined plans for broader testing and boosted health services as part of a package of measures intended to ease Italy's lockdown, imposed since March 9. The government is also grappling with the economic devastation caused by the sudden halt to business across the country. Speranza said he had issued a note outlining five principles around which Rome planned to manage the so-called 'phase two' of the emergency, when lockdown restrictions will start to be lifted but before a full return to normal conditions. He said social distancing would have to remain, with wider use of individual protection devices such as face masks, while local health systems would be strengthened, to allow a faster and more efficient treatment of suspected COVID-19 cases. Parish priest Don Antonio Lauri blesses a resident's palm branch after celebrating Palm Sunday mass from the rooftop of the San Gabriele dell'Addolorata church in Rome on April 5 Testing and 'contact tracing' would be extended, including with the use of smartphone apps and other forms of digital technology while a network of hospitals dedicated solely to treating COVID-19 patients would be set up. 'Until a vaccine is distributed, we cannot rule out a new wave of the virus,' Speranza told La Repubblica. There are difficult months ahead. Our task is to create the conditions to live with the virus.' The national lockdown, strictly limiting people's movements and freezing on all non-essential economic activity, will officially last until at least April 13 but it is widely expected to be extended. 'If we're not rigorous we risk throwing away all the efforts we've made,' Speranza said in separate comments to the Corriere della Sera daily. These are difficult times and we want to hear what you have to say. The Star-Ledger, Times of Trenton and South Jersey Times encourage our readers to submit both op-eds and letters to the editor. Your submissions may illuminate an issue youve experienced, describe a problem or suggest a solution. When you write an op-ed: You should have a strong, clear opinion thats based on facts. As U.S. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan once said, Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts. Please send submissions for The Star-Ledger and Times of Trenton to oped@starledger.com. Submissions for the South Jersey Times should be sent to sjletters@njadvancemedia.com. All submissions must include the writers names, address and phone number. Your address and phone number are kept confidential. Op-ed submissions should be limited to 700 words. In the subject line, put the authors name followed by the topic or suggested headline. Paste the text of the piece into the body of the email message. No attachments, please. We may not be able to open them. If a piece is time-sensitive, please make it clear in the subject line. We give priority to pieces written by local residents and those on state and regional issues. Submissions must be exclusive to our publications and their online home, NJ.com; articles may be published in affiliated newspapers (The Star-Ledger, Times of Trenton and the South Jersey Times). When you write letters: Send letters for The Star-Ledger and Times of Trenton to eletters@starledger.com. Letters for the South Jersey Times should be sent to sjletters@njadvancemedia.com. No attachments, please. Letters must be no longer than 200 words and include your hometown, or name of organization and title. All op-ed and letter submissions become the property of The Star-Ledger/NJ.com. Submissions may be edited, published and otherwise reused in any medium. Because of the volume of email, we cannot always provide information on their status. 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. Two planes, chartered by the UAE government, will bring home over 80 Emiratis from the UK on April 5 and 7, said a report. These individuals were either studying or receiving medical treatment in the UK and were unable to return following the closure of UAE airports on March 24, said a report in WAM. Mansoor Abulhoul, UAE Ambassador to the UK, said: "The welfare of our citizens is our highest priority. That is why our government took strict measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus within the UAE. Such a firm obligation also means getting our citizens home safe and sound at this difficult time." Khaled Belhoul, undersecretary at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said: "This flight is one of 43 flights that we have organised to bring back 1,783 Emiratis from all around the world, and 22 evacuations are underway and shall be completed in the coming days to repatriate approximately 641 Emirati nationals. We are proud of our team, which has worked tirelessly for the past week to help UAE citizens return home." On April 5, through coordination between the UAE and UK governments, a chartered Emirates Airline plane flew out 345 British citizens who were unable to return home after the closure of UAE airports to international traffic on March 24. The 5,000 sailors aboard the U.S. Navys aircraft carrier Teddy Roosevelt showed up in force to say good-bye to their captain after he was fired on Thursday, cheering him as he walked down the gangplank for the last time, alone, before turning to salute them all at the end. The Pentagon said Capt. Brett Crozier was fired, and removed from the ship in Guam, because the civilian leaders in Washington had lost confidence in him. This came a few days after newspapers published a four-page letter Crozier wrote forcefully requesting that the Navy empty the ship and clean it in response to an alarming outbreak of Covid-19 aboard, where there is no chance to create social distance. The spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating, he wrote. Removing the majority of personnel from a deployed U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier and isolating them for two weeks may seem like an extraordinary measureThis is a necessary risk...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 was moving in that direction, but slowly. It said that it was difficult to find space in Guam to quarantine all those sailors, and that it would take some time. The Pentagon also criticized Crozier for sending his letter outside of classified channels, and for failing to first make the request to the admiral of the fleet, who on board the ship down the hallway from Crozier. Navy officials said they had no evidence that he actually leaked the letter, first published in the San Francisco Chronicle. Congress should look into those details, but with a skeptical eye. Firing the captain seems like a wild overreaction, one based on a familiar obsession with public perceptions. The priority for Crozier was keeping his men and women safe at a time when the nation is not at war. It is especially galling in light of Croziers service record. A 1992 graduate of the Naval Academy, he served in both the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters, and has logged 3,000 hours piloting Seahawk helicopter and F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets. His crews touching show of loyalty to him indicates he was true leader. Did he really need to be thrown off the ship and dismissed before the Pentagon even conducted a full investigation? Rep. Andy Kim (D-3rd), who served as a civilian advisor to Gen. David Petraeus in Afghanistan called for his immediate reinstatement, saying the move not only endangers the Sailors but sends a dangerous message that any dissent in the ranks would be met with punishment. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11th), a Navy vet who flew combat helicopters in the Middle East, was outraged as well. The first time I served on an aircraft carrier was aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt as a midshipman. I counted on our Captain to look after the ship and its crew. Capt. Crozier did just that. The Navy is in a tough spot in this crisis. To stop the spread aboard a ship is nearly hopeless, as in prisons and nursing homes. And national security demands that it must maintain defense of the nation while moving to protect the men and women who serve, a tough balancing act. But the answer cant be to move sluggishly, to put the Sailors in danger, and to fire anyone who complains about it. The U.S. Navy is better than that. But it sounds like Congress needs to deliver a reminder. More: Tom Moran columns Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Ghanas President, Nana Akufo-Addo, has announced a three-month free provision of water for all Ghanaians as parts of his governments efforts to tackle the spread of COVID-19 in the country. Mr Akufo-Addo said this on Sunday while addressing the nation on the measures being taken against the spread of the coronavirus, his fifth national update. The Ghana Water Company and the Electricity Company of Ghana have been directed to ensure stable supply and electricity during this period. In addition, there will be no disconnection of supply. Furthermore, government will absorb the water bills for all Ghanaians for the next three months, that is April, May and June. All water tankers, publicly and privately-owned are also going to be mobilised to ensure the supply of water to vulnerable communities, he said. The president said his government will this week decide whether to extend the two-week restriction of movement in some parts of the country. The government had imposed the restrictions to check the spread of COVID-19 in the West African country. According to the president, the decision of the government will be based on laboratory test results of 15,384 of the 19,276 persons traced to have had contact with Covid-19 patients. Mr Akufo-Addo said the results of the tests will determine the nations next course of action. We are, thus, about to enter a critical phase in our fight in the coming week as the Ghana Health Service is due to receive the results of some 15,384 out of 19,276 persons who have been reached through contact tracing. It is the results of these tests that will determine our future course of action. So in the course of the coming week, a determination will be made as to whether or not to extend the duration of the two-week restriction on movement and the implementation or otherwise of any more enhanced measures to deal with the virus, the president said. Meanwhile, the president has extended by two weeks, the closure of Ghanas borders to human traffic until further notice. Current Covid-19 Situation As of April 5, a total of 214 positive cases of coronavirus has been confirmed. Out of the number, three persons have fully recovered, 49 have been discharged and are receiving care from home while five have lost their lives to the disease. While the coronavirus quarantine challenges us all on many levels, it has particularly stark consequences for people, largely women and children, who are locked in with abusers with no exit. These include both victims in long-term abusive relationships who formerly got work breaks and now are worse off, and people newly victimized given the new pressures and close quarters. The combination of economic precarity, anxiety about the future and kids at home 24/7 amplifies stress across the board. Currently there are six domestic violence shelters in the greater Harris County/Houston area. This means our community regularly has under 450 beds designated to individuals and their children who are fleeing violence. These are full (as they have been for years). In the past two weeks, Houston has had two known domestic violence homicides and sadly, this number is expected to rise. The Houston Area Womens Center shared with us that their number of daily calls has risen roughly 40 percent since the COVID-19 emergency (even with abusers within earshot) and the proportion of those calls requesting immediate shelter has risen from a norm of 48 percent of calls per day in 2019, to an average of 62 percent of calls per day since COVID-19. With abuse surging, only a limited set can find refuge. And many victims cant reach out. Many dont report because they sense that nothing will really change, and if they do report, it might only make things worse. HOUSTON SEES INCREASE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALLS : Domestic violence calls on the rise in the Houston region under stay-at-home orders from coronavirus We know that natural disasters increase levels of domestic violence. Clearly the COVID-19 emergency is structured to up that effect, which will worsen as the quarantine continues. Economic violence trickles down to those most at risk, but the ripple effects of violence and trauma affect everyone in the community eventually. This viral violence can itself be considered a severe public health issue, and it deserves similar all-hands-on-deck community attention. While the many domestic violence agencies do yeomans work in the face of great adversity and are used to working under-resourced and under-staffed, during times of crisis it becomes even more apparent that they are stretched thin and they can no longer do it alone. Understanding the seriousness of this issue, assessing needs and working on a systems-level coordinated county/municipal response is necessary. Jurisdictions around the globe are innovating in the face of this challenge, and we can learn and innovate too. In France, now-empty hotels are providing additional refuge spots, and theyve located community touchpoints for help requests in the few places where most people still go, like groceries and pharmacies. In Spain if victims are accompanied by their abusers, and therefore cant ask directly in pharmacies, they can give a code word to call the police. In Italy, instead of forcing victims to leave their homes, abusers now must leave. Similar actions would be boons here, and to supervise and coordinate these and other interventions, as well as interactions among existent agencies, our region would greatly benefit from having the domestic violence community at the table in planning to make structural and policy decisions with the best interests of victims in mind. Many major cities like New York City, Chicago and even Dallas have city and county government leadership in discussions about ways to tackle this issue through a coordinated community response. Right now, the city and county have liaisons for education, homelessness, sex trafficking and criminal justice within their administrations. When will domestic violence be added to their prioritization? Until someone is hired in each administration, we can begin to tackle domestic violence by bringing together all the players who touch the problem shelters, law enforcement, the courts, the medical community, the district attorneys office, charitable foundations, victim services, school districts, even the morgue. We should also include others not typically brought into the conversation the criminal justice reform community, the homelessness coalition and the gun safety community with a mandate to put bureaucratic and political issues aside and quickly and efficiently develop and pass solid policies that prioritize the needs of the vulnerable and coordinate the efforts of all agencies to that end. This global challenge offers the Houston and Harris County community and our leaders the opportunity to stand up together, innovate proactively, and flatten the curve on violence too. Brashear is the executive director and Nuzzie is the director of strategic partnerships at the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council. Gregory is the director of the Institute for Research on Women, Gender & Sexuality at the University of Houston. The Lagos State Police Command says Naira Marley had yet to honour its invitation over a house party he attended in contravention of the lockdown order in Lagos State. Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele, had on Saturday hosted a party in honour of her husband, Abdulrasheed Bello, called JJC. When the video of the party leaked, the police arrested the actress and have arraigned she and her husband in court. The Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, has now confirmed that Naira Marley is yet to arrive at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, where he is expected to make himself available. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Global equity markets rebounded strongly Monday as some of the world's worst-hit countries reported falling coronavirus death rates, while oil prices sank after a meeting of top producers was delayed. Wall Street powered to a solid rally, with the Dow gaining 1,600 point to close 7.7 percent higher, while key eurozone markets closed five percent higher or more. "It's going up on hopes that perhaps we're reaching a peak in this coronavirus," said Peter Cardillo of Spartan Capital Securities. AvaTrade analyst Naeem Aslam said "investors are shrugging off the pessimism" as death rates slowed in a number of European countries like Italy, Spain and France. Besides news of the slowing deaths, US investor optimism was also fueled by "early signs that the virus' intensity in the epicenter of New York may be hitting an apex," said analysts at Charles Schwab. London gains were capped by a stronger pound, but some of that value was lost after news broke that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to intensive care due to the coronavirus. - 'Worst in 100 years ' - But even as traders were feeling more optimistic, European governments were reaching for superlatives to describe the economic damage of the pandemic. The French finance minister said his country was headed for its worst recession since World War II, while German leader Angela Merkel said the virus outbreak was the biggest challenge ever for the European Union. Analysts at Oxford Economics said the pandemic "may trigger annual GDP declines among the worst seen in the last 100 years." Meanwhile, the commodities' markets attention was on a planned meeting of OPEC and other key crude producers aimed at easing a supply glut that had sent oil prices crashing. Both main contracts had soared last week after Trump said Saudi Arabia and Russia would hold talks on ending their price war, and after it emerged that OPEC would be holding a teleconference on Monday. However, investors were dealt a blow over the weekend when the meeting was delayed until Thursday. Analysts warned there were doubts that the US would take part in the discussions, which could be a major sticking point for Moscow and Riyadh. But even if a deal is reached, there is skepticism the talked-about cuts of 10 million barrels a day would be enough to help the oil market, owing to a collapse in demand caused by the pandemic. - Key figures around 2100 GMT - New York - Dow: UP 7.7 percent at 22,679.99 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 7.0 percent at 2,663.68 (close) New York - Nasdaq: UP 7.3 percent at 7,913.24 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 3.1 percent at 5,582.39 (close) Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 5.8 percent at 10,075.17 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 4.6 percent at 4,346.14 (close) EURO STOXX 50: UP 5.0 percent at 2,795.97 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 4.2 percent at 18,576.30 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 2.2 percent at 23,749.12 (close) Shanghai - Composite: Closed for a holiday Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 2.4 percent at $33.30 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 7.2 percent at $26.29 per barrel Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0794 from $1.0801 at 2100 GMT on Friday Dollar/yen: UP at 109.23 yen from 108.55 Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2231 from $1.2269 Euro/pound: UP at 88.21 pence from 88.03 pence burs-jh/rl/cs/hs By Sharon Kelly, an attorney and freelance writer based in Philadelphia. She has reported for The New York Times, The Guardian, The Nation, National Wildlife, Earth Island Journal, and a variety of other publications.Originally published at DeSmogBlog. Last Friday, the Iowa Utilities Board issued an order that would allow the Dakota Access pipeline (DAPL) to double the amount of oil that flows through the state from 550,000 barrels a day to 1.1 million barrels a day. The utilities board, which also announced it had waived a hearing on the matter, made its move over the objections of environmental organizations and other civic groups opposed to DAPL operator Energy Transfers expansion plans. Iowas approval landed just two days after a federal judge in North Dakota found that the project must undergo a full environmental review in a March 25 order, throwing the pipelines legal status into question. U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg, who issued that order, also asked attorneys involved in that dispute to submit briefs on whether DAPL should be shut down while the pipeline undergoes its environmental review. The DAPL expansion, meanwhile, still needs approval from Illinois state regulators, and environmental groups have asked the Illinois Commerce Commission to hold off from making any decisions for the time being, citing not only Judge Boasbergs ruling but also the turmoil in the global oil market and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on oil demand. DAPL expansion plans previously were approved by state regulators in North Dakota and South Dakota, leaving only the Illinois permit left unobtained. A ruling from the Illinois Commerce Commission is expected this month, likely between April 7 and 16, according to those closely following the matter. That means the DAPL project now sits at a point of enormous uncertainty it could wind up, despite its lack of environmental review, allowed to carry twice as much oil a day as it has over the past three years or it could wind up without the legal authority to carry any oil at all. In other words, for DAPL the focus of years of grassroots organizing, legal battles, and protests worldwide this could be a double or nothing moment. From March 11, when COVID-19 was officially recognized by the World Health Organization as a pandemic, to today, with global confirmed COVID<-19 cases well over 1 million, developments in the oil and gas pipeline industry have nonetheless marched onwards. Below, youll find more important pipeline stories from across the US from the past few weeks that may have escaped the national spotlight many related to COVID-19 and others not for readers who seek to catch up on some of whats transpired during that time. East Coast In North Brooklyn, New York City, a National Grid pipeline the 30-inch diameter Metropolitan Reliability Infrastructure Project planned to carry gas from Long Island and Massachusetts had drawn community opposition and protests before the pandemic set in, in part due to climate concerns and objections to its $185 million price tag for National Grid customers, and in part because construction had proved disruptive for neighborhood businesses. On March 24, the Brooklyn Eagle reported that a construction worker had tested positive for COVID-19 but it wasnt until two days later, on March 26, that National Grid stopped work on the project, after photos showed workers were not social distancing (National Grid denied that there had been positive cases at its construction site, Brooklyn Eagle added). Were sheltering in our homes to protect our neighbors and the people that we love, Kevin Lacherra, an area resident, toldthe Eagle. And while we were doing that, buying food and medicine and checking in on the elderly people on our block, National Grid was working around the clock to keep up construction on this pipeline. In Pennsylvania, the troubled Mariner East project has also been at the heart of controversy after its builder, Energy Transfer, sought to continue construction following the states shut down of all non-life sustaining businesses. Though the order, by Governor Tom Wolf, lists pipeline construction among industries required to shut down, it allows companies to seek waivers. Energy Transfer sought and obtained waivers allowing it to continue construction at 15 sites across Pennsylvania, according toState Impact. The waivers were requested to ensure the continued safety, integrity, and stabilization of these construction sites, a spokesperson told the NPR affiliate. Those opposed to Mariner East described concerns that the company would rush construction forward at sites covered by the 10-day waivers, citing Energy Transfers rocky record in the state. A Mariner East worker was recently charged with a felony for forging weld records and the project reportedly remains under an ongoing investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and others. The approved waivers for Mariner East construction include plans for workers to utilize PPE. An export pipeline for plastics is NOT LIFE SUSTAINING. You know what is, @GovernorTomWolf? Our front-line medical professionals who are experiencing a PPE shortage! #HaltMarinerNow pic.twitter.com/zvlNCAkjZu Carrie (@UnlessPA) 1 April 2020 Meanwhile, a federal lawsuit brought by pipeline opponents against Energy Transfer, pipeline security contractor Tiger Swan, and others has largely survived a motion to dismiss by the defendants. In a ruling dated March 30, a federal judge in the Middle District of Pennsylvania allowed claims of nuisance, invasion of privacy, trespass, malicious prosecution, and false arrest to move forward in a federal lawsuit alleging that Energy Transfer, Tiger Swan, and other defendants had sent a hired infiltrator to the plaintiffs property and that the infiltrator then spread false allegations against pipeline opponents. Further south, in Virginia, opponents of the $5.5 billion Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) have urged against resumption of construction on that project, which had been slated to re-start construction this spring. Theyre coming from states in many cases that have higher COVID-19 rates than we do, like Louisiana where a lot of pipeline workers come from, said pipeline opponent Diana Christopulos told a local ABC News affiliate. In late March, federal regulators pushed back the deadline for their review of MVPs impacts on wildlife to April 27 and Kallanish Energy reports that construction cannot resume unless those biological permits and two other permits are granted. In the meantime, the Roanoke Times reports that Virginias environmental regulators have discovered erosion and sediment control problems persisted at the pipeline project and that violations had begun soon after a $2.15 million consent decree over earlier erosion problems had expired. Erosion and sediment control problems have been at the center of investigations into other pipeline explosions in recent years. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court is still deliberating on a case centered on the $8 billion Atlantic Coast pipeline and whether it would illegally cross the Appalachian Trail on federal land in Virginia. A decision in that case is expected before the end of June, according to a March 19 Energy News Network report. Gulf Coast Along the Gulf Coast, four contract workers tested positive for COVID-19 at a Dow Chemical plant in Plaquemine, Louisiana, WAFB9 reported on March 25. The plant, categorized as an essential business, remained operating, though Dow told reporters it was screening for fevers at plant entrances. Similarly, a BASF plant where chemicals used in the Roundup pesticide are manufactured and the Denka Performance Elastomer plant, both in Louisiana, have also discovered that workers have tested positive for the virus, according to The Advocate. Meanwhile, Shell dropped out of plans to build the Lake Charles liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in Calcasieu Parish but Energy Transfer has announced that it remains committed to the project, albeit at a reduced size, The Advocate also reports. A January 2020 report by the Environmental Integrity Project had found that the Lake Charles project was expected to be the second-largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions among the slew of petrochemical and LNG export projects proposed in the U.S. @Shells withdrawal from the Lake Charles LNG venture is a worrying sign for many projects planned for mid-2020s startup in the Gulf of Mexico. https://t.co/Co4x5cU1EO @EnergyTransfer #LNG #covid19 #Shell #oilandgasindustry Petroleum Economist (@PetroleumEcon) 2 April 2020 In Texas, the one-two punch of an oil price war and the reduced demand for gasoline amid the pandemic have left drillers in the Permian Basin reeling. Occidental, Chevron, Pioneer Natural Resources, Parsley, and other oil companies are sharply cutting operations in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico, the epicenter of the U.S shale-oil production boom, The New York Times reported on March 31. Schlumberger and other large service companies are cutting and furloughing thousands of workers. But its not clear yet that oil flows have subsided, leaving pipeline companies stuck between drillers who dont want to cut back and refiners that are overflowing with oil. If producers do not cooperate and refiners are not buying, pipeline operators can apply force majeure clauses, Anas Al-Hajji, an energy analyst, told the Houston Chronicle on March 29, referring to contract clauses that can sometimes offer businesses an out from deals in unforeseen circumstances. Meanwhile, environmental advocacy group Earthworks warns that their field organizers have observed an increase in the number of flares that are left unlit and that are venting raw methane gas a powerful contributor to climate change into the atmosphere across the Permian Basin. Because the gases from unlit flares are invisible to the eye, a infrared camera or other specialized device is necessary to spot the emissions spewing from unlit flares. Earthworks thermographers report a 34 percent rise in unlit flares in 2020, adding that we have documented flares that remain unlit for days, weeks, months and even over a year. And today, Kinder Morgan, builder of the Permian Highway natural gas pipeline, announced that it was suspending construction on that pipeline following a spill of drilling mud that affected water wells in Blanco County, Texas. That spill first came to light when locals discovered their tap water was muddy and contaminated, according to the Sierra Club. From the beginning, thousands of Texans and local governments have been concerned about the construction of this pipeline and its long-term impacts on the Texas Hill Country and local waterways and aquifers, Sierra Clubs Roddy Hughes said in a statementabout the spill. 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. Fossil fuel companies are continuing pipeline construction even though it could spread the coronavirus, threatening the health and safety of workers and communities. https://t.co/Go57CmqI0M Jamie Henn (@jamieclimate) 2 April 2020 Central US In contrast,TC Energy, the Canadian firm formerly known as TransCanada, is pushing forward with plans to build the Keystone XL pipeline project, which would carry 830,000 barrels a day of tar sands oil from Alberta into the United States. The Alberta government said it will be investing roughly $1.1 billion in the construction project and offering TC Energy $4.2 billion in loan guarantees. We cannot wait for the end of the pandemic and the global recession to act, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney told NPR. There are steps we must make now to build our future focused on jobs, the economy, and pipelines. Our rural communities are strained as it is for medical supplies and hospital beds amid a global pandemic, countered Jane Kleeb, founder of Bold Nebraska. TC Energy must put an end to any construction in our small towns as the pandemic grows across our country. GREAT news this week regarding the Keystone XL Pipeline moving forward with fantastic paying CONSTRUCTION jobs for hardworking Americans. Promises Made, Promises Kept! #MAGA Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 3 April 2020 Keystone XL, like many other oil and gas pipelines, will benefit from a designation as critical infrastructure in a growing number of states, 350s Bill McKibben wrote April 2 for The New Yorker. Since the pandemic was declared, three states Kentucky, South Dakota, and West Virginia have all signed critical infrastructure bills into law, according to EcoWatch. While we are all paying attention to COVID-19 and the congressional stimulus packages, state legislatures are quietly passing fossil-fuel-backed anti-protest laws, Greenpeace USA researcher Connor Gibson, told HuffPost. These laws do nothing new to protect communities. Instead they seek to crack down on the sort of nonviolent civil disobedience that has shaped much of our nations greatest political and social victories. West Coast On the West Coast, Pembinas Jordan Cove project in Oregon obtained approvals from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for an LNG terminal and associated pipeline project in mid-March. The project, however, still lacks state permits and the move by FERC drew immediate objection from Oregons Governor Kate Brown. Given a national and state emergency, in which the federal government and its agencies are unable to fulfill their basic responsibility to keep citizens safe, it is stunning that the FERC moved forward on this decision today, approving the Jordan Cove project and Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline, Gov. Brown said in a March 19 statement. And let me be clear to the concerned citizens of Southwest Oregon: until this project has received every single required permit from state and local agencies, I will use every available tool to prevent the company from taking early action on condemning private property or clearing land. Alaska In Alaska, a BP worker at Prudhoe Bay has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, Alaska Public Media reported on March 31. The patient traveled to the North Slope on March 25, and displayed symptoms within two days of arriving, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum said in a statement, APM reported. He was tested and put in quarantine, as were his immediately identified close contacts. Alaska regulators also asked for more information about how current market conditions will impact a proposed deal between BP and Hilcorp, APM separately reports. Hilcorp had proposed to buy out $5.6 billion of BPs Alaskan assets but state regulators appear concerned about Hilcorps capacity to finance that deal. National Nationwide, pipeline companies had already trimmed $1.9 billion from their 2020 budgets, according to a March 23 Houston Chronicle report. Noble Midstream Partners, Rattler Midstream, Targa Resources, EnLink Midstream, Oneok, and Pembina Pipeline made the budget cuts over the past two weeks representing an overall 30 percent cut in planned capital expenditures for new pipeline and storage projects in 2020, according to a research note from energy investment firm Simmons Energy, the Chronicle reported. Canadian pipeline operator Pembina made the largest cut of the six companies, slashing nearly $700 million, or 43 percent, from its nearly $1.6 billion budget. The company now plans to spend nearly $900 million this year. Apollo Clinics, a division of Apollo Health and Lifestyle Ltd, on Monday launched specialised clinics to address public concerns about fever and related symptoms in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. The facilities have been segregated to ensure that all patients are first screened as per ICMR guidelines at the very outset, and those whose symptoms are suggestive of Covid-19 are guided out to continue their treatments as prescribed by the government and ICMR guidelines, Apollo Clinics said in a statement. The complete safety of the patient, doctors and staff is ensured using infection control and cleaning protocols to prevent transmission of any infectious diseases, it added. "The Fever Clinic initiative was born out of consumer feedback, which showed that consumers exhibiting symptoms of fever were extremely concerned on whether their fever was due to COVID-19 or otherwise," Apollo Hospitals Group Chairman Prathap C Reddy said. It was decided to leverage the strength of Apollo Clinics, which is offering primary care to a larger population by virtue of its wide distribution network, he added. "We plan to launch 21 clinics across Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad in phase 1 and scale it up to 50 Fever clinics in next week," Reddy said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A fire-breather's mouth caught fire while he was performing a spectacular show for India's 'lights-off vigil' in solidarity with coronavirus frontline workers. The daredevil was attempting the amazing stunt on a virtually empty street in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh state. But within seconds the fire-breather's mouth catches fire and the footage shows an alarming flame across his mouth. Bystanders are seen rushing to his rescue and desperately patting his face to put out the blaze. An Indian fire-breather exhales huge flames from his mouth as a performance for a lights-off vigil for unity and solidarity with coronavirus frontline workers They then lead him towards a shelter where his mouth is doused with water. Indians had been asked to come out on to their balconies and light lamps or candles as part of the United India vigil. Prime Minister Modi told the entire nation to light the flames for nine minutes at 9pm last night, as a way to 'challenge the darkness' brought by coronavirus. But the fire-breather decided to defy lockdown rules to show off to residents of the mostly empty neighbourhood. A few bystanders rush to his rescue and desperately pat his face to put out the flame before leading him away to douse his face in water The man reportedly suffered minor burn injuries in his mouth, and police were not informed about the incident. This all comes after Mr Modi imposed a three-week lockdown across the nation on March 25, which caused mile-long queues for buses to transport workers back to small villages. Mr Modi has also apologised over the lack of warning for the lockdown, which has left millions without income. There are 4,693 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country, with the death toll standing at 129 after 11 more deaths were announced today. New Delhi, April 6 : As economies and several industries witness near standstill amid the coronavirus pandemic, a KPMG report says that the crisis may lead to greater protectionism globally. It said that the supply chain disruption has brought to light the immediate and tangible impact of black swan events. "That, along with the ongoing geopolitical environment and a globally recessionary climate is likely to lead to greater protectionism and risk aversion. This is expected to lead to greater localisation of supply chains, especially of essential commodities as well as for sectors that are perceived to be strategically important," said the report titled "Potential impact of COVID-19 on the Indian economy". It also said that companies may turn more towards the digital mode. Most companies have opted to work remotely and their employees are now 'online' and working from home. "While these trends were already 'in-motion', they have now hit the fast-forward button. Even the most traditional brick and mortar organisations have been forced to experiment with digital channels. This presents a real and immediate opportunity to drive efficiencies through digital media," said the report. At the same time, it said that this crisis has highlighted the importance of investment in enabling technologies like cloud, data and cyber security. It will change the way we work with far reaching implications on business-to-business, business-to-consumer, business-to-government services, commercial real estate, e-commerce, e-governance, cyber security, process automation, data analytics, self-service capabilities and so on. On the impact of the pandemic on the Indian economy, the report said that private consumption, investment and external trade will get affected. India's real GDP growth decelerated to its lowest in over six years in 3Q 2019-20, and the outbreak of the COVID-19 posed fresh challenges, the report said that steps taken to contain its spread, such as the nationwide lockdown have brought economic activity to a near-standstill, with impacts on both consumption and investment. "While Indian businesses, barring a few sectors, can possibly insulate themselves from the global supply chain disruptions caused by the outbreak due to relatively lower reliance on intermediate imports, their exports to COVID-19 infected nations could take a hit. In sum, the three major contributors to GDP -- private consumption, investment and external trade -- will all get affected." Click here to calculate income tax payable for the assessment year 2019-20 -- Syndicated from IANS Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Liz Thomas/Yan Zhao (Agence France-Presse) Hong Kong, China Mon, April 6, 2020 07:08 645 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206fdff64 2 Health coronavirus,pandemic,COVID-19,pregnancy,health,Hong-Kong,China,Indonesia Free 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 labor 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 labor," 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. Read also: Pregnant women scared to give birth in virus-hit China Women should have choices Banning labor 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 Ines 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 labor," 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 labor "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. Read also: A mothers stress before and during pregnancy could affect her babys brain: Study 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." Britain on Saturday reported a record 708 daily deaths from COVID-19, including a five-year-old child, who is thought to be the country's youngest victim. The health ministry said 4,313 people who tested positive for the virus in hospital had died as of 1600 GMT Friday while there were 41,903 confirmed cases as of 0800 GMT Saturday, up 3,735. The toll has been steadily increasing by more than 500 deaths a day this week and the country is bracing for an expected peak in the next week to 10 days. A total of 637 of the latest deaths were in England, the National Health Service (NHS) said. "Patients were aged between five years and 104 years old. 40 of the 637 patients (aged between 48 and 93 years old) had no known underlying health condition," it said in a statement. The NHS said it would not be giving further information about the five-year-old patient at the request of the family. A 13-year-old boy from London, Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab, died last week, days after testing positive for COVID-19. His family said he had no underlying illnesses. Senior minister Michael Gove told a daily briefing that the teenager's mother and siblings were now showing symptoms. The overall death toll now included seven healthcare professionals, he added. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is in self-isolation after developing mild symptoms of the disease, ordered a three-week lockdown of the country on March 23 to try to cut infections. But there has been concern that warmer weather forecast for this weekend could tempt people from their homes to green spaces and public parks. Health Secretary Matt Hancock has warned against any relaxation in social distancing, saying: "If we do, people will die." - 'Things will plateau' - Imperial College London epidemiologist Neil Ferguson, who is advising the government, told BBC radio on Saturday a peak was expected around the Easter weekend. "We still think things will plateau but we'll be at quite high levels of infection for weeks and weeks rather than seeing quite a rapid decline as the type seen in China," he said. But he said that was dependent on people staying at home. If that happened, it could lead to less stringent measures in place "at least by the end of May", he added. The announcement of another record rise in deaths came after 13 residents at a care home in Glasgow died in one week in a suspected outbreak of coronavirus. The Burlington Court Care Home said those who died had underlying medical conditions and two staff members were being treated for COVID-19. Tests for coronavirus are currently carried out on the most serious cases that require hospital treatment, suggesting the true extent of confirmed cases and deaths is an under-estimate. The government meanwhile announced that up to 4,000 low-risk prisoners near the end of their sentence could be release from jails in England and Wales to try to stop the spread of COVID-19. A total of 88 prisoners and 15 prison staff have tested positive for the virus, and there is concern it could spread rapidly because of shared cells and overcrowding. The justice ministry said those released would be electronically tagged and temporarily released on licence in stages. High-risk offenders will not be considered for early release. The national medical director for NHS England, Stephen Powis, condemned vandals who attacked new 5G mobile phone network masts, after discredited claims it helped spread the virus. Powis called the theory "absolute and utter rubbish" and said he was "absolutely outraged (and) disgusted" that vital infrastructure had been targeted during a national emergency. "The reality is that the mobile phone networks are absolutely critical to all of us, particularly in a time when we're askng people to stay at home and not to see relatives and friends. "But in particular they are also the phone networks that are used by our emergency services and our health workers," he added. [April 05, 2020] CommsChoice delivers 100 seat work from home solution in under three hours SYDNEY, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CommsChoice Group Limited (ASX: CCG) said that it had successfully rolled out a 100 seat work from home communications solution for one of Australia's largest Early Learning and Childcare Groups in less than three hours from the initial enquiry. Tony Dunphy, CommsChoice EGM Business & Dealer Channel, said the company received an urgent phone call at 9am Tuesday to deploy a 100-seat phone system to get staff out of the childcare centres and working effectively from home. "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the social isolation and distancing laws in place, many of our clients' staff were required to work remotely, effective immediately. They needed a system that would allow their key team members and Centre Directors to work remotely but stay well connected with voice calls, video conferencing, instant chat and other team collaboration tools," Mr Dunphy said. The client was already using MS Office 365 across their 60+ sits so choosing the MS Teams Phone System was an easy option. And from $15 per user with unlimited calls (some exclusions apply) it also made solid commercial sense. "The CommsChoice provisioning team got the job done the client was up and running by lunchtime that day! We used the CommsChoice Mass Rapid Deployment methodology, that was developed in early 2019. You can read more about MS Teams Mass Rapid Deployments here," said Mr Dunphy. "Products such as Microsoft Teams are ideal, as they provide a full collaborative solution with voice, video calling/conferencing, file sharing and messaging all included in the one package. Our Cloud Business phone handsets can be taken home and connected to any Internet connection with a power supply and the PBX will operate as normal." If you have an urgent need for a remote work phone system Contact CommsChoice now. About CommsChoice CommsChoice Group provides cloud communications for business. The company services mid-tier corporate customers in Australia, Asia and internationally using its cloud based global business phone platform and MS Teams Calling/Direct routing integration combined with innovative SD-WAN technology and fibre and NBN access products. For more information visit www.commschoice.com or follow the company on LinkedIn @CommsChoiceGroup or email us on [email protected] SOURCE CommsChoice Group Limited [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The upper layers in the atmospheres of gas giants -- Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune -- are hot, just like Earth's. But unlike Earth, the Sun is too far from these outer planets to account for the high temperatures. Their heat source has been one of the great mysteries of planetary science. New analysis of data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft finds a viable explanation for what's keeping the upper layers of Saturn, and possibly the other gas giants, so hot: auroras at the planet's north and south poles. Electric currents, triggered by interactions between solar winds and charged particles from Saturn's moons, spark the auroras and heat the upper atmosphere. (As with Earth's northern lights, studying auroras tells scientists what's going on in the planet's atmosphere.) The work, published today in Nature Astronomy, is the most complete mapping yet of both temperature and density of a gas giant's upper atmosphere - a region that has been poorly understood. "Understanding the dynamics really requires a global view. This dataset is the first time we've been able to look at the upper atmosphere from pole to pole while also seeing how temperature changes with depth," said Zarah Brown, lead author of the study and a graduate student in the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. By building a complete picture of how heat circulates in the atmosphere, scientists are better able to understand how auroral electric currents heat the upper layers of Saturn's atmosphere and drive winds. The global wind system can distribute this energy, which is initially deposited near the poles toward the equatorial regions, heating them to twice the temperatures expected from the sun's heating alone. "The results are vital to our general understanding of planetary upper atmospheres and are an important part of Cassini's legacy," said study co-author Tommi Koskinen, a member of Cassini's Ultraviolet Imaging Spectograph team. "They help address the question of why the uppermost part of the atmosphere is so hot, while the rest of the atmosphere - due to the large distance from the Sun - is cold." Managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, Cassini was an orbiter that observed Saturn for more than 13 years before exhausting its fuel supply. The mission plunged it into the planet's atmosphere in September 2017, in part to protect its moon Enceladus, which Cassini discovered might hold conditions suitable for life. But before its plunge, Cassini performed 22 ultra-close orbits of Saturn, a final tour called the Grand Finale. It was during the Grand Finale that the key data was collected for the new temperature map of Saturn's atmosphere. For six weeks, Cassini targeted several bright stars in the constellations of Orion and Canis Major as they passed behind Saturn. As the spacecraft observed the stars rise and set behind the giant planet, scientists analyzed how the starlight changed as it passed through the atmosphere. Measuring how dense the atmosphere is gave scientists the information they needed to find the temperatures. Density decreases with altitude, and the rate of decrease depends on temperature. They found that temperatures peak near the auroras, indicating that auroral electric currents heat the upper atmosphere. Density and temperature measurements together helped scientists figure out wind speeds. Understanding Saturn's upper atmosphere, where planet meets space, is key to understanding space weather and its impact on other planets in our solar system and exoplanets around other stars. "Even though thousands of exoplanets have been found, only the planets in our solar system can be studied in this kind of detail. Thanks to Cassini, we have a more detailed picture of Saturn's upper atmosphere right now than any other giant planet in the universe," Brown said. The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, or JPL, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, manages the mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. JPL designed, developed and assembled the Cassini orbiter. ### Police are looking for witnesses who ran from the scene of a fatal shooting Sunday night. Police received a call for sounds of gunshots at 10:42 p.m., in the area of Overlea Boulevard and Thorncliffe Park Drive, near E.T. Seton Park. When police arrived on scene, they found a victim suffering life-threatening injuries and asked for a rush on paramedics to arrive, Const. David Hopkinson said. The victim died on scene. Our officers arrived on scene and found someone in the car or van who seemed to be suffering from very serious injuries, Hopkinson said. Police are using a drone to investigate people seen fleeing into a park or ravine-type area and captured aerial pictures, according to Hopkinson. There is no suspect description at this time. Read more about: Richard Uzelac CEO of RealtyTech Inc. offers tactics for Agents during the COVID-19 Pandemic Here are 10 simple tactics to help agents navigate through the COVID-19 crisis. - Richard Uzelac, CEO of RealtyTech Inc. The COVID-19 Pandemic is Scary and New, requiring all Agents to change certain aspects on how they will conduct their business. However, many fundamental professional real estate practices and interpersonal skills are valid during these times. Folks, don't forget the basics that helped you get where you are today, just make some tactical changes. in the name of safety, professionalism and common sense. Here are 10 simple tactics to help agents navigate through the COVID-19 crisis. Richard Uzelac, CEO of RealtyTech Inc. 1. Website and IDX: First things first. Clean up your website to reflect the current situation. Update your website to show you are working through the Pandemic and you are there to help them. You will still be marketing their properties. You are still able to find them their dream home. State what you are doing to mitigate issues during with Buyers and Sellers during this time. Post a simple video on your website describing some of the aspects of this blog that you will be incorporating during this time. 2. Prospect all Contacts: Contact Old Buyers, Sellers, and Prospects and let them know you are still working. Sign them up for Listing Alerts from your website so that can track the live market themselves through the Pandemic. Build focused neighborhood listing pages they will be interested in seeing quickly. Keep in contact with them through calls, emails, listing alerts and Self-made phone videos. 3. Market to Your Farm: Let them know you are still active. Tell them whats happening in their neighborhood. Again, keep in contact with them through calls, emails, listing alerts from your website and IDX and Self-made phone videos. 4. Show the Property Virtually First: Introduce the properties online first. Offer more interaction during this phase of the process. Try to develop great interest in one to three homes you wish to show to a prospect. Tell them due to the situation, you want them to see a home online that the are really excited about and seriously interested in buying BEFORE you show these Pre-Approved properties. To help move this forward it is suggested you use some of the following tools to present the properties if possible: 5. Utilize the Current Virtual Technologies for introducing Prospects to their Dream homes. These technologies get Buyers to see the property better without actually stepping through the threshold of the home: IDX Property pages on your website with Images, Maps, Descriptions Virtual Tours Virtual Reality 3D interactive Property scans Floor plans Agent or Owner created videos of walk-throughs of a property. 6. Open Houses Broadcast Live: Google Meetings, YouTube Live, Facebook Live, Zoom. Plan your open house and set a date and time the Open house will be shown. Be available to answer questions of the viewers and walk around showing them the home and answer any questions they have by showing the home while you do it. Setup private calls with interested parties to discuss offers. 7. Set Your Physical and Interaction Boundaries for Property Showings or Listing Appointments: You and your prospects and clients have different levels of tolerance for face-to-face interactions. Make sure all parties are aware of your restrictions and get buy in from them before you interact. First establish your boundaries: Follow the distancing guidelines required by law and by your Broker as a minimum. Are you willing to interact with Clients at the minimum distance of six feet? Or do you only want to interact virtually by phone or video chat? Are you willing to follow a Buyer through a property at six feet, or will you [with Sellers permission] allow them to walk through the property unattended? Let them know you will be taking separate cars to the properties and then how the showing will be done. You should also always wear an N95 mask and gloves during the walk-through, for the Buyers, Sellers and YOUR safety and peace of mind. 8. Showing Only Pre-Approved Properties: Get strong signs of interest in a property from Prospects before you show it to them. Driving in separate cars, maintain distance from prospects during showing. Wearing Gloves and a mask. Providing gloves and a mask for prospects should they request one. Putting offers online for approvals from the Buyers and Sellers Maybe creating offers with an addendum that makes the offer contingent upon a initial physical walkthrough, if they, or you, are not comfortable in show the home in person at the time of the offer. 9. Virtual Escrow: Work with an Escrow company that can process all the paperwork virtually online and by electronic documents without any party needing to go to an Escrow office or anywhere. Each party reviews and signs documents in their own location. 10. Virtual Mortgage: Work with a Mortgage company that can process all the paperwork virtually online and by electronic documents. As with any real estate or human transaction for that matter, having the other party like you and trust you, will make to process much smoother and agreeable. Work with Buyers and Sellers on transactions in this COVID-19 real estate market with the goal of making them as comfortable as possible with your knowledge of real estate, of the COVID-19 safety precautions, and of your expertise in closing deals in these stressful times. Keep the faith, stay safe, and remember, this too shall pass. About RealtyTech: Richard Uzelac's RealtyTech Inc was created in 2002. Since that time RealtyTech has helped thousands of Agents and Offices to build strong brands and online presences to enhance their real estate businesses. RealtyTech specializes is Websites, IDX, and Internet Marketing and Advertising for the Real Estate Industry. Contact Richard Uzelac directly at RealtyTech Inc. at 805-413-7888 for more information. About Richard Uzelac: Richard Uzelac has been in the real estate business for over thirty years. He started as an agent in New Jersey then office owner in California to real estate technology leader. Richard Uzelac was the Senior Director of Realtor.com before starting RealtyTech Inc. in 2002. Richard has given thousands of presentations and talks on real estate technology. Richard Uzelac is available as a Speaker and Consultant for Franchises, Offices and Agents. Contact Richard Uzelac at 805.413.7888 The United States on Monday branded a Russian far-right organization a terrorist group, the first time it has targeted purported white supremacists with action frequently used against jihadist groups. The move comes after ambivalent messages about white supremacists by President Donald Trump, who notoriously defended participants in a neo-Nazi rally. The State Department said the Russian Imperial Movement runs two paramilitary training camps in Saint Petersburg and has pulled in neo-Nazis from across the Western world, including Swedish militants who carried out violent attacks. "This is the first time the United States has ever designated white supremacist terrorists, illustrating how seriously this administration takes the threat," said Nathan Sales, the State Department counterterrorism coordinator. "We are prepared to target any foreign terrorist group, regardless of ideology, that threatens our citizens, our interests abroad or our allies," he said. The Russian Imperial Movement and three of its leaders were blacklisted as Specially Designated Global Terrorists, meaning that they will not be admitted to the United States and that any US assets they hold will be blocked. The designation also aims to have a chilling effect on banks and other institutions overseas unlikely to want to deal with a US-described terrorist group. Sales said that two extremists from Sweden, known for its generosity toward refugees, traveled in August 2016 to Saint Petersburg to undergo 11 days of paramilitary training with the group. They returned to Sweden and carried out a series of attacks including a bombing outside a migrant center in Gothenburg that gravely injured one person, the State Department said. "This group has innocent blood on its hands," Sales said. - 'Nonsense,' leader says - The monarchist movement has deployed volunteers to fight in nationalist causes, including on behalf of pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine. "It's incredible. It's nonsense, of course," Denis Gariyev, one of three leaders put on the blacklist, told AFP of the designation. "In the same way you could recognize tens of thousands of volunteers as terrorists. Yes, we took part as volunteers," he said of the group's participation in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine. He denied that the group promoted racial supremacism, saying: "We couldn't do so because we are an Orthodox organization." "This is politics. Probably they want to use us as a bogeyman. They need an 'image of the enemy,' after all," he added. The group's website says its militants train in martial arts and knife-fighting in the belief that "not being a warrior for a modern man in Russia is criminal weakness." A Russian court in 2012 banned a group website as extremist, according to the justice ministry, but Moscow has not designated the group as a whole as terrorist. - Globalized nationalists - Sales said that white supremacists around the world have increasingly been interconnected. Last year a gunman targeting Hispanics killed 22 people at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, and said he was inspired by the white supremacist who massacred Muslims in Christchurch, New Zealand. Sales said the State Department had seen reports that the Russian Imperial Movement "reached out to Americans or even travelled to the United States," although he did not draw a link to any incidents. Trump himself has faced widespread criticism for his uncritical treatment of white supremacists as well as his rhetoric that demonizes non-white immigrants as criminals. In 2017, Trump said that neo-Nazis whose march in Charlottesville, Virginia devolved into violence included "very fine people." Violent hate crimes in the United States soared to a 16-year high in 2018, including a shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, according to the FBI. Sales said that Monday's designation was made possible after an order by Trump that allows designation of terrorists based on their training activities, not necessarily participation in violence. Despite the calls on Russia to act, the United States itself does not designate domestic groups as terrorists, owing largely to the US Constitution's broad guarantees of freedom of speech. Members of the Russian Imperial Movement who are volunteers of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic pose with weapon simulators at a training base in Saint Petersburg in 2015 Denis Gariyev, a member of the Russian Imperial Movement who along with the group was designated as a terrorist by the US State Department, holds a weapon simulator at a training base in Saint Petersburg in 2015 A man walks past a memorial to Heather Heyer and the other victims of a hit-and-run during a neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville, Virginia An Ohio state representative has said that Donald Trumps promotion of an anti-malarial drug that is unproven against coronavirus should see the president tried for crimes against humanity. The president suggested on Sunday that hydroxychloroquine, which has only been approved for emergency use against the coronavirus, could be a way out of the growing crisis. The president has continued to promote the drug despite the advice of White House medical experts, and its effects against Covid-19 are unproven. What do you have to lose? Im not looking at it one way or another. But we want to get out of this. If it does work, it would be a shame if we didnt do it early, said Mr Trump. Democrat Tavia Galonski said Sunday nights press conference was the last straw. I cant take it anymore. Ive been to The Hague. Im making a referral for crimes against humanity tomorrow. I know the need for a prosecution referral when I see one. As US cases of the coronavirus passed the 300,000 mark, President Trump said on Sunday that he himself may take it, after telling Americans to do the same. Mr Trump went on to suggest that if you dont have a heart problem, let your doctor think about it. The presidents diseases expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, has however expressed a different view on hydroxychloroquine. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) director told reporters in March that evidence supporting the drugs use is anecdotal evidence. On whether or not the anti-malarial drug was a treatment for coronavirus, Dr Fauci has previously said: The answer is no. On Sunday night, the NIAID director was blocked from responding to a reporters question on the drugs potential. President Trump intervened, saying: You know how many times hes answered that question? Maybe 15 times. You dont have to ask that question. Dr Fauci later commented on the presidents remarks on CBSs Face The Nation, saying that trials of hydroxychloroquine against coronavirus are really just at best suggestive, adding: I dont think we can definitively say it works. In the hope that Mr Trumps claims are realised, the US now has a stockpile of 29m hydroxychloroquine pills to treat coronavirus patients. CLEMSON, South Carolina -- Although mostly preventable, tooth decay is one of the most common chronic diseases in children worldwide, particularly in developing countries. If left untreated, cavities can be painful and may negatively affect a young child's overall health, development and quality of life. Clemson University College of Science researchers recently conducted a study that may someday lead to better cavity prevention measures and treatments. Specifically, biological sciences assistant professor Vincent Richards' group examined the oral mycobiome, including all the fungi that might live there. "This work provides valuable insight into the oral mycobiome and the role fungi play in the mouth as it relates to caries," said Richards. "If we understand that better then researchers can develop better cavity prevention measures. For example, perhaps they can put beneficial fungal species into a pro-biotic treatment." For years, the dental community has known that tooth decay occurs when the good and bad bacteria in our mouth become imbalanced and forms a biofilm (aka plaque). The biofilm absorbs the sugars we eat and the bacteria catabolize those sugars, turning them into acid, which decalcifies the teeth and causes cavities. Thanks to advances in genome sequencing technology, scientists recently discovered that there is also a high diversity of fungi in the mouth, albeit in far fewer numbers than bacteria. However, little was known about the fungi's role in cavity formation and caries disease progression. "The microbiome is a community-based thing and it's very complex," said biological sciences graduate student Lauren O'Connell, the lead author of the study. "Because fungi are present in the tooth biofilm, they're capable of utilizing these same sugars [as bacteria] and can produce acid, but we don't fully understand their role." In the study, O'Connell sequenced the DNA from plaque samples of 33 children with varying stages of tooth health, including healthy teeth with no cavities; teeth with enamel lesions, which are indicative of an early-stage cavity; and teeth with dentin lesions, which indicate an advanced-stage cavity requiring either a filling or extraction. She also examined the condition of the patients' mouths, including a mouth with no cavities or lesions; a mouth with some teeth that have enamel lesions; and a mouth that has some teeth with enamel and dentin lesions. "By looking at two variables--tooth and mouth health--we are taking a site-specific approach, which enables us to categorize each plaque sample six ways, or along a continuum," said Richards. "This is important because we have found that the bacterial microbiome from a healthy tooth in a diseased mouth is more similar to the microbiome of a diseased tooth. That microbiome has shifted its profile to more of a diseased state." "We wanted to see how the microbiome community changed as the disease progressed," explained O'Connell. "There's only been one other study that looked at the fungi in relation to cavities, but they examined only healthy teeth and severely diseased teeth." The research team identified 139 species of fungus that live in human dental plaque, and of those, nine were strongly associated with dental health--in other words they could be contributing to keeping teeth healthy. The fungi associated with healthy teeth may be producing a compound called xylitol, which has been shown to inhibit the growth of the Streptococcus mutans bacteria that is known to cause cavities. Xylitol is an ingredient in sugarless gum. "It's possible that the nine fungi are promoting health by creating xylitol and other advanced microbial compounds," said O'Connell. "But we have to do further functional testing to figure out if that is actually what is happening." The team also discovered interesting things about fungi associated with disease. For example, they learned that Candida dubliniensis was strongly associated with late-stage cavities and was found in abundance as tooth decay progressed, which could make it a potential indicator species of early childhood caries. According to O'Connell, a second finding related to possible disease-causing fungi was that Candida albicans, the fungus that causes yeast infections, was found in both healthy and diseased plaque samples, which makes its role in dental caries unclear. ### This research was published on March 18, 2020, in Applied and Environmental Microbiology as a spotlight article. The full title of the paper is "Site-specific profiling of the dental mycobiome reveals strong taxonomic shifts during progression of early childhood caries." This study was a collaborative effort with the University of Florida Dental School, which provided the plaque samples for sequencing and analysis. Clemson University genetics senior Ryan Santos and recent graduate Garrett Springer (BS, biological sciences and computer science 2019) completed sample processing. Funding for this research was provided, in part, by Clemson's Biological Sciences Graduate Professional Development Grants in Aid of Research. If Victorian schools reopen next week, Michelle Collett faces an impossible choice. As the sole breadwinner for her family, which lives in Newport, she needs to send her two children to school. But the decision risks the health of her husband, who has multiple sclerosis and takes medication to suppress his immune system. Michelle Collett, husband Donald and children Dylan, 11, and Emily, 8. Credit:Chris Hopkins "Its a catch-22," she says. "Hes a high risk of catching anything really, let alone coronavirus. We're just trying to make the best of a bad situation." Schools across the state are expected to reopen next week for term two, but only to accommodate children of essential workers and vulnerable pupils, while most students undertake remote study. A High Court judge has refused the State's bid to adjourn the late June hearing of a challenge over how the controversial 500m Shannon LNG terminal and pipeline was included in a list of EU Projects of Common Interest. The case, with European-wide implications, centres on the decision-making procedure involving the European Commission and the State leading to the inclusion of the Shannon project in the Fourth EU list of Projects of Common Interest (PCI), entitling projects to the most rapid treatment legally possible. Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) has brought the challenge against the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment and the State. The respondents sought an adjournment until October next on grounds of "exceptional circumstances" arising from the relevant public officials dealing with the implications and potential implications of the Covid-19 virus for the security of supply of Ireland's natural gas and electricity systems. Because they are working remotely, they do not currently have access to all the files necessary to provide lawyers with full instructions, it was stated. The adjournment was opposed by FIE whose solicitor Fred Logue said it seemed many of the issues the State respondents had said they "may" wish to file affidavits about were legal rather than factual issues. In his decision, Mr Justice Garrett Simons said the main relief sought in the case is for the High Court to make a reference to the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) to determine the validity of the adoption of the Fourth EU PCI list. Specifically, FIE challenged the inclusion of the Shannon LNG project in that list. The sides disagreed about the appropriate forum for challenging the adoption of the PCI list with the State arguing FIE could have brought proceedings directly before the General Court of the EU. The judge said the resolution of the case will turn largely on such legal, not factual, issues. It was difficult to see what affidavit evidence the State respondents could usefully advance in relation to these matters, he said. FIE's specific complaints against the State, including alleged absence of a clear procedure for obtaining a referral to the CJEU concerning acts of bodies and agencies of the EU, was also a legal issue. A claim by FIE the State did not appear to have conducted any or any adequate sustainability assessment before recommending the Shannon LNG project for the PCI list could be responded to "in relatively short course". Another claim the approval decision failed to comply with the Climate Change and Low Carbon Act 2015 did not appear to require "time-consuming effort" by officials. The High Court must have regard to its obligation to ensure proceedings like this, in the court's Strategic Infrastructure Development list, are determined quickly, he said. Against all that, Ireland is in an "unprecedented situation" and the court would never do anything which would impede the officials ability to discharge their vital role in this time of national crisis, he stressed. He was not satisfied there was any conflict between that role and this case going ahead on June 30. There was an obvious public interest it was determined expeditiously and the work required from officials for that appeared considerably less than apprehended as resolution of the case would turn largely on legal issues. The fact officials work from home is not a valid excuse for adjourning legal proceedings for more than three months, he added. Refusing the adjournment, he extended to May 12 the time for the State to file its opposition papers. This appeared to be a case which could be dealt with via a remote or virtual hearing, and perhaps on the basis of documents only, he said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 20:17:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JUBA, April 6 (Xinhua) -- China has donated about 1,040 tons of rice to South Sudan as part of emergency food assistance program to the east African nation. The food aid arrived in Juba on April 4 and will be distributed to vulnerable people affected by last year's devastating floods and an infestation of desert locusts, the Chinese Embassy in South Sudan said in a statement Monday. Hua Ning, Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan, said China has been collaborating with South Sudan in different areas such as food security, health, relief assistance. "While China is working with South Sudan closely in combating the virus (COVID-19), we are also doing our utmost to support the people struggling with hunger," Hua said. South Sudan, which has been ravaged by about six years of civil conflict, confirmed its first case of the COVID-19 over the weekend, adding to an already dire situation of severe food insecurity and malnutrition. Hua said the coronavirus pandemic has made the food supply more pressing, which requires a global response with solidarity and unity. The Chinese envoy pledged Beijing's firm support to help South Sudan attain lasting peace and stability. "We trust that with the continuous progress of the peace process and the joint efforts of South Sudan and the international community, the country will be able to overcome the challenges ahead. China will stay together with South Sudan through thick and thin," Hua said. House Full of Prayers: a touching and equally motivating account of a woman who grew up in a life filled with pain yet she didnt give up despite how the world seemingly wanted her to. House Full of Prayers is the creation of published author Bossy Qween, a southern God-loving woman with big dreams. She is a confident and beautiful female boss and hustler who isnt afraid of hard work while reaching unimaginable goals. Also, she exudes admirable inner strength. She has fought her way through life for the past two decades in men-driven careers, and with the love, guidance, and grace of God, she still continues to come out victoriously standing strong. Bossy Qween shares, Black Diamond is a southern girl growing up with two addicted parents who is lonely, lost, angry, and confused but ambitious and determined to become a better person and do better in life and with a great love for God through faith, prayers, and hard work despite Diamond's struggles, upbringing, failures, great losses, and many years of physical, mental, and sexual abuse. God showed her grace for being faithful and pure at heart, changing her life from victim into victor and helping Diamond to overcome every adversity. This book is based on a true story, showing us how God can take our lives from a mess and turn it into a miracle, making the impossible possible as long as we don't give up on ourselves. This heartwarming story is sure to help those in need of a miracle to keep hope over helplessness when facing hard times, to offer generosity instead of judgment, and to keep God first in everything. House Full of Prayers is a book to motivate, uplift, and encourage all of Gods children who are struggling with something to never give up no matter where they come from, what they have done in the past, their race, size, or gender. Showing us that, through prayer, hard work, and faith in God, dreams really do come true. We can achieve anything with God. Nothing is impossible. With God at the head of our lives, we should be happy with who he has created us to be and enjoy each day as a gift given by God himself, because faith in God gives us peace, freedom, and confidence. Without faith, it is impossible to do what God's standards demand because our human nature is weak. God has placed each of us in a prison of our own disobedience so that he may be merciful to, us because his riches, wisdom, and knowledge are so deep that it is impossible to explain his decisions or to understand his ways, but one thing is for sure; everything is from God, by God, and for God. Glory belongs to him forever, so we should dedicate our lives to God. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Bossy Qweens new book is a brilliant creation shared in the hopes of inspiring other people to never give up, no matter how tough things get. Believe that Gods greatness will see one through. View a synopsis of House Full of Prayers on YouTube. Consumers can purchase House Full of Prayers at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about House Full of Prayers, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. A Mumbai resident stuck in Delhi due to the national lockdown has expressed her gratitude for Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for coming to her aid in the hour of crisis and making arrangements for her accommodation in the Maharashtra Sadan there. The woman, Elizabeth Pingale, said that she felt like her own brother was standing behind her in the Chief Minister. "The moment the CM called me his sister, I realised my brother is firmly standing behind me to support," Pingale was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the state government. A resident of Mulund in Mumbai, Pingale was placed under quarantine after she had landed at the Delhi international airport on March 22 as per the protocol put in place to check the spread of novel coronavirus. "After my quarantine period got over, I had to vacate the place. The alternative accommodation offered to me was not acceptable to me, and I could not travel to Mumbai due to the restrictions" she recalled. Pingale said she shot a video of her woes and shared it with her friends which somehow reached the CM, who contacted her personally. "CM Uddhav Thackeray called me his sister and said I need not worry. 'My government will take care of you' were his comforting words when I had no clue about my next step in the national capital. It felt like my brother is standing behind me firmly and supporting me. I have been given a room in Delhi-based Maharashtra Sadan," she said. "Now, I am not in a haste to return to Mumbai. The accommodation is comfortable," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hong Kong: HK entry restrictions extended The Government today announced that it will extend the entry restriction on non-Hong Kong residents and quarantine and airport transit measures until further notice, in light of the COVID-19 infection. The measures took effect at midnight on March 25 and were set to be implemented tentatively for 14 days, ending April 7. All non-Hong Kong residents coming from overseas countries and regions by plane will be denied entry to Hong Kong; while non-Hong Kong residents coming from the Mainland, Macau and Taiwan will be denied entry if they have been to any overseas countries and regions in the past 14 days. In addition, all transit services at Hong Kong International Airport will be suspended; and all travellers coming from Macau and Taiwan, including Hong Kong and non-Hong Kong residents, will be subject to a 14-day compulsory quarantine, which is the same as the arrangements for people arriving from the Mainland. At present, the COVID-19 pandemic remains severe around the globe. As of this morning, the number of cases reported globally had exceeded 1.18 million. In Hong Kong, the number of cases as at 4pm today had reached 915, including one probable case, more than double the number of cases reported a fortnight ago. Over the past two weeks, around 75% of the confirmed cases either had a travel history during the incubation period or were close contacts. In view of the latest situation, the Government has decided to extend the above-mentioned entry restriction and airport transit service suspension until further notice. The exemptions granted to a small number of people in implementing the entry restriction measures remain applicable. On April 5, there were only 813 passenger arrivals via the airport, a drop of nearly 82% compared with March 24, before the measures were in place. Among them, only seven arrivals were non-Hong Kong residents. This story has been published on: 2020-04-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Ten Indonesian nationals have been booked for violating norms under the Foreigners Act. The ten, who had come on tourist visa, attended the Tablighi Jamaat in New Delhi. Later, they had come to the City. They were kept under home quarantine, said the City Police Commissioner B S Lokesh Kumar. The Malmaruti police have confiscated their passports. Three 15-year-old girls have been arrested for striking an Asian woman with an umbrella so hard that she needed stitches and hurling racist abuse on a New York city bus. One attacker reportedly yelled at the 51-year-old victim, 'you caused coronavirus b****!', before launching the attack as the bus moved through Highbridge in The Bronx. The group of four then fled the bus and three were quickly captured by police. NYPD are appealing for help identifying the fourth attacker and have released her photo. They all face charges of hate crime assaults, menacing and harassment. Police are appealing for information leading to the arrest of the fourth attacker. All face charges of hate crime assaults, menacing and harassment The girls asked the woman why she wasn't wearing a face mask before assaulting her on the MTA Bx13 in Highbridge, reports the New York Post. They then fled the vehicle as it pulled up in Ogden Avenue and West 166th street. A photo from the scene shows the attacker that is yet to be arrested appearing to shout across the vehicle. Officers are offering a $2,500 reward for information that will lead to her arrest. The victim was taken by ambulance to a local hospital after being cut in the head, where she received stitches. The attack took place at 3pm on March 28. Researchers have designed a machine learning method that can predict battery health with 10x higher accuracy than current industry standard, which could aid in the development of safer and more reliable batteries for electric vehicles and consumer electronics. The researchers, from Cambridge and Newcastle Universities, have designed a new way to monitor batteries by sending electrical pulses into them and measuring the response. The measurements are then processed by a machine learning algorithm to predict the battery's health and useful lifespan. Their method is non-invasive and is a simple add-on to any existing battery system. The results are reported in the journal Nature Communications. Predicting the state of health and the remaining useful lifespan of lithium-ion batteries is one of the big problems limiting widespread adoption of electric vehicles: it's also a familiar annoyance to mobile phone users. Over time, battery performance degrades via a complex network of subtle chemical processes. Individually, each of these processes doesn't have much of an effect on battery performance, but collectively they can severely shorten a battery's performance and lifespan. Current methods for predicting battery health are based on tracking the current and voltage during battery charging and discharging. This misses important features that indicate battery health. Tracking the many processes that are happening within the battery requires new ways of probing batteries in action, as well as new algorithms that can detect subtle signals as they are charged and discharged. "Safety and reliability are the most important design criteria as we develop batteries that can pack a lot of energy in a small space," said Dr Alpha Lee from Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory, who co-led the research. "By improving the software that monitors charging and discharging, and using data-driven software to control the charging process, I believe we can power a big improvement in battery performance." The researchers designed a way to monitor batteries by sending electrical pulses into it and measuring its response. A machine learning model is then used to discover specific features in the electrical response that are the tell-tale sign of battery aging. The researchers performed over 20,000 experimental measurements to train the model, the largest dataset of its kind. Importantly, the model learns how to distinguish important signals from irrelevant noise. Their method is non-invasive and is a simple add-on to any existing battery systems. The researchers also showed that the machine learning model can be interpreted to give hints about the physical mechanism of degradation. The model can inform which electrical signals are most correlated with aging, which in turn allows them to design specific experiments to probe why and how batteries degrade. "Machine learning complements and augments physical understanding," said co-first author Dr Yunwei Zhang, also from the Cavendish Laboratory. "The interpretable signals identified by our machine learning model are a starting point for future theoretical and experimental studies." The researchers are now using their machine learning platform to understand degradation in different battery chemistries. They are also developing optimal battery charging protocols, powering by machine learning, to enable fast charging and minimise degradation. ### This work was carried out with funding from the Faraday Institution. Dr Lee is also a Research Fellow at St Catharine's College. Q I am a 55-year-old lady who has mild asthma and high blood pressure. I take my medication and inhalers regularly and have never been admitted to hospital for either of these conditions. I also have grandchildren with asthma and am worried they might be at increased risk of death from Covid-19. Is there anything more, other than the general advice given to the whole population, that I could be doing to prevent getting the coronavirus? A Indeed it is true that patients with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory conditions and patients who are immuno-suppressed or suffering with cancer are at higher risk of serious complications and death due to Covid-19. Unfortunately, having asthma and hypertension puts you at higher risk of serious illness if you do contract the virus. But the scientific data tells us that advancing age, particularly over 70, is the highest risk factor for death. The average age of death is 79-81 (to date) for those who have sadly passed away in Ireland. Similarly, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and cancer are all conditions seen more commonly with advancing age. For example, while high blood pressure is consistently linked to poor outcomes, the strong likelihood is that hypertension itself is not an independent risk factor but rather a reflection of the age demographic of those patients that are at higher risk of death. Asthma is a common condition in Ireland, affecting roughly one in ten adults and one in five children. It is a disease of the lung airways (bronchioles) and doesn't typically affect the soft spongy tissue in the lung peripheries where oxygen is transported across into our bloodstream. Covid-19 infection, on the other hand, creates an inflammatory response in the lung tissue, known as pneumonitis, typically affecting the lung peripheries, leading to difficulty in extracting oxygen from air. Death tends to occur due to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), pneumonia, septic shock and the failure of other organs (heart, kidney, liver) or coagulation system dysfunction. If you were to suffer an exacerbation of your asthma and contract Covid-19, this could put you in danger. Therefore you must continue to manage your asthma as best as possible by taking your inhalers regularly, avoiding any known triggers where possible, stop smoking (if applicable) and have a spare inhaler (not a stockpile) and consider using your reliever inhaler through a spacer device. Reassuringly, to date, we have not seen a disproportionate amount of asthma patients in those severely affected by Covid-19. Nor have we seen poor outcomes in children. In fact, children tend to get a much milder form of Covid-19. On that note, I wouldn't worry too much about your grandchildren but you still have to avoid contact with them (protective self-separation) for the foreseeable future. You should also ensure your hypertension is well controlled at present. The two most common symptoms with Covid-19 are fever (present in up to 88pc of cases), followed by cough (68pc of cases). After these two symptoms, any of the following can occur: sputum production, shortness of breath and the typical flu-like symptoms, namely fatigue, aches/pains in muscles and joints, sore throat, headache and shivers/chills. Watch out for these symptoms and contact your GP by telephone if you have any concerns. Dr Jennifer Grant is a GP with the Beacon Hospital HealthCheck New Delhi, April 6 : Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani has announced that Reliance Life Sciences has developed its own confirmatory tests for COVID-19 which are available to all RIL employees on priority and will soon be rolled out in the community. In an internal note on Saturday, Ambani informed about the comprehensive COVID-19 tracking and treatment facility for all RIL staff and their dependents. He also announced that Reliance Life Sciences has developed its own confirmatory tests for COVID-19 which are available to all RIL employees on priority and will soon be rolled out in the community. RIL's company-wide online Symptoms Checker was available to all Reliance employees and family members and will soon be rolled out to its wider community in Mumbai and India. He advised staff to continue to practise safe social distancing, report daily on the RIL's company-wide online Symptoms Checker to track health of all staff and their dependents, to use the in-house technology platforms for virtual care and, most importantly, to stay positive, productive, and optimistic through these times. Ambani informed how the Symptom Checker was an end-to-end COVID-19 platform to manage the healthcare and well-being employees and family members by not only facilitating the daily self-monitoring of symptoms but also triggering emergency medical response for immediate attention, if required. RIL Chairman noted that RIL's collective efforts were appreciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself and said that "We should continue to live up to the trust that he has reposed in the Reliance family". "We bear a special responsibility because almost all our current businesses and all the current activities of Reliance Foundation are in the nature of 'Essential Services' for India's war against COVID-19," he added. In a note addressed to all staff of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and its group companies, Ambani wholeheartedly appreciated and applauded the commitment and service of each RIL staff to the country and the company. He said he was truly humbled to witness each one across the organisation displaying extraordinary levels of commitment in battling a most formidable adversity in modern history: the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that adversity has always brought out the best in Reliance throughout its history and it has proved this yet again now when our beloved country and the rest of the world are battling this formidable adversity. However, he noted that the war was not over and said, "While we have done tremendously well so far, we cannot rest until India has fully conquered the coronavirus calamity. The public health crisis is daunting alone, but the economic and humanitarian crises on our hands must also be addressed. Each one of you in the Reliance family has the power to make India safer, healthier, and stronger." Ambani noted how RIL staff in each of the businesses were playing their role for the country in these difficult times. "Therefore, I firmly believe that each one of our colleagues across our businesses deserves to be honoured as Frontline Warriors," he said. Ambani also shared with staff some of the key work being done by various RIL businesses including Jio, which has become the lifeline for nearly 40 crore Indians and providing specific online healthcare facilities. Reliance Retail is supplying most essential food and other items to millions of Indian families unceasingly and also sourcing equipment and materials required for testing, isolation and treatment, including sanitation and personal protective equipment Reliance Life Sciences is enhancing India's COVID-19 testing capabilities by developing its own confirmatory tests. RIL plants, ports, and sites are working non-stop to keep the wheels of the economy moving, ensuring India remains secure in fuel and energy. In addition, Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital established a dedicated 100-bed COVID-19 treatment facility at Seven Hills hospital in Andheri, Mumbai, in just a matter of 10 days. "Together, I am confident that we will be able to pull through this difficult time and emerge safely in health and in wellbeing as one big Reliance Family," Ambani concluded. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) New Delhi, April 6 : Days after raising $3 million as part of its Series-B funding round, ed-tech startup Lido Learning plans to hire around 500 online tutors across the country in April. In a statement, the company said that the coronavirus pandemic has forced the states to shut down schools affecting millions of students, creating an inclination towards online learning. "Given this tough time of unprecedented layoffs and a massive economic downturn in India, Lido Learning is one of the few startups to ramp up its hiring across teams," it said. Recently, Lido raised $3 million as part of a Series-B funding round, with existing investors doubling down, and new investors including Picus Capital and Paytm President Madhur Deora, coming onboard. Lido is an ed-tech company which provides live online tutorials with expert tutors, engaging content, immersive games and quizzes. Speaking on the ramp up of hiring, Founder and CEO Sahil Sheth said: "Whether it is through hiring tutors to meet the demands of an expanding new customer base, or hiring senior engineering talent to keep innovating on our platform, Lido is going full steam ahead. We expect our team to keep growing over the coming months, to keep pace with the huge demand for online learning." Lido has brought on board over 100 online tutors in the past few weeks, and plans to add another 500 more this month. LONDON - Prime Minister Boris Johnson, one of the first world leaders diagnosed with covid-19, was moved into an intensive care unit on Monday evening after his condition worsened, his official spokesman said. The prime minister asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to "deputise for him where necessary," giving Raab the power if needed to run the British government during this health crisis. Johnson remained conscious and was moved to the ICU as a precaution should he require mechanical ventilation, according to 10 Downing Street. Raab said Johnson was in "safe hands with a brilliant team" and was receiving "excellent care" at the hospital. Asked by the BBC whether he was confident that the government "was under control tonight," Raab said, "There's an incredibly strong team spirit behind the prime minister." Johnson, who had been in quarantine at his official residence since testing positive for coronavirus on the night of March 26, was admitted to St. Thomas' Hospital in London on Sunday evening with a persistent cough and fever. On Monday, while he was said to be "under observation," the prime minister tweeted, "Last night, on the advice of my doctor, I went into hospital for some routine tests as I'm still experiencing coronavirus symptoms. I'm in good spirits and keeping in touch with my team, as we work together to fight this virus and keep everyone safe." Britain has confirmed 52,276 coronavirus cases and reported 5,383 deaths. Johnson's move to the ICU - around 7 p.m. - demonstrated the seriousness of his condition. In Italy, Spain and China, experience has shown that mortality rates soar for those admitted to ICUs. Nathalie MacDermott, a clinical lecturer at King's College London, said that if Johnson was still conscious, it was highly unlikely he would be on a mechanical ventilator. "They might be putting him on some other form of noninvasive ventilatory support," she said. "So, a mask that delivers a degree of pressure, so it helps to offset some of the distressing breathing. That's what they would try first." Although Downing Street said the move was a precaution, MacDermott said the prime minister wouldn't be moved to intensive care without his doctors "giving him some form of breathing support - otherwise he could have stayed on the ward" where he was being observed. All day Monday, Johnson's office declined to describe what tests or treatments he had received or say whether he had developed breathing problems or pneumonia, two of the common symptoms for coronavirus patients sick enough to be admitted to the hospital. Until he was moved to the ICU, Johnson was said by his staff to be working from his bed. "Over the course of this afternoon, the condition of the Prime Minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the intensive care unit at the hospital," said the spokesman, who by protocol is not named. As the Downing Street statement was read out on the BBC, the state broadcaster showed aerial footage of St Thomas' Hospital, where police officers were stationed outside. The hospital is on the south bank of the River Thames, directly across from Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster. The 55-year-old Johnson has no known underlying health conditions. He was last seen by the public in a short video posted Friday on his Twitter feed, urging Britons to remain indoors except to go shopping, visit the doctor or exercise. In the clips, he looked ragged, with puffy eyes and pale skin. After the news broke that he had been transferred to the ICU, wishes for a speedy recovery poured in from around the world. President Donald Trump said at a news conference: "I also want to send best wishes to a very good friend of mine and a friend to our nation, Prime Minister Boris Johnson. We're very saddened to hear that he was taken into intensive care this afternoon, a little while ago. And Americans are all praying for his recovery. He's been a really good friend. He's been really something very special - strong, resolute, doesn't quit, doesn't give up." Trump said he asked two pharmaceutical companies he spoke with on Monday to "contact London immediately" to offer help to Johnson. French President Emmanuel Macron wrote, "I hope he quickly overcomes this ordeal." Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said these are difficult days and offered an embrace for the British people. Johnson's fiancee, Carrie Symonds, who is pregnant with the couple's first child, is herself recovering from the symptoms associated with covid-19, though she has not been tested. Buckingham Palace said Queen Elizabeth II has been kept informed of the prime minister's condition. On Sunday night, around the same time Johnson was admitted to the hospital, the queen delivered an extraordinary public address, in which she spoke of "an increasingly challenging time. A time of disruption in the life of our country: a disruption that has brought grief to some, financial difficulties to many, and enormous changes to the daily lives of us all." The rules for who takes over if the prime minister becomes incapacitated are not as straightforward in Britain as in the United States, where the vice president would assume the duties. Although Johnson has designated Raab as his stand-in, that might require cabinet approval. "It isn't as cut-and-dry and black-and-white as it is in the U.S.," said Tim Bale, a professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London. "Were somebody to be suddenly struck down and there were no named interim in place, it would ultimately be up to the cabinet to decide. . . . The prime minister is not the chief executive the way the president is." Bale said it wasn't surprising that Johnson didn't immediately step aside. "It's very difficult for prime ministers to relinquish their power, emotionally speaking," he said. He added that Raab getting the official nod would be complicated by his "limitations as a public communicator" and the fact that most people would point to another senior minister, Michael Gove, as the de facto deputy prime minister. Johnson announced he had the coronavirus on the same day as Health Secretary Matt Hancock and England's chief medical officer, Chris Whitty. But Hancock and Whitty were back at their lecterns for a news conference on Monday. - - - The Washington Post's Jennifer Hassan in London and Felicia Sonmez in Washington contributed to this report. (Newser) One of New York City's top health officials warned Monday that the city may need to prepare for a "gruesome reality" as COVID-19 deaths mount: the burial of bodies in a city park, with "trenches dug for 10 caskets in a line." "It will be done in a dignified, orderlyand temporarymanner," tweeted Councilman Mark Levine, chair of the City Council health committee. He added that the goal was to avoid scenes like those in Italy, where the military was forced to collect bodies from churches and even off the streets." Levine didn't say which park authorities were considering for the grim purpose, but he said it would be one "out of the way of the public," the New York Times reports. story continues below Levine warned that hospital morgues are full and a fleet of 80 refrigerated trailers sent to hospitals around the city, each with the capacity for 100 bodies, is now also mostly full. He later said that burying bodies in a park is a contingency the city is preparing for, but it may not be necessary if the death rate drops. Mayor Bill de Blasio said temporary burials are something the city "may be dealing with," but he declined to discuss details, NBC New York reports. "We have the capacity but it's going to be very tough. I don't want to go into detail because I don't think it's a great thing to be talking about publicly," he said. Hart Island, site of a public cemetery that holds more than 1 million bodies, has been floated as a potential location, reports CNBC. (New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says coronavirus deaths in the state may be "plateauing.") michael barbaro From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. [music] Today: The militarys handling of the coronavirus has cost both the captain of an aircraft carrier and the head of the Navy their jobs. Eric Schmitt on the crisis inside the Navy. Its Wednesday, April 8. Eric, tell me about this letter. eric schmitt So this letter dated March 30, 2020, is written by Captain Brett Crozier. Hes the commander of the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt, an aircraft carrier thats been in the Western Pacific. Several of his sailors have come down with the virus, and he has been doing all he can to get the entire crew, nearly 5,000 sailors michael barbaro Wow. eric schmitt off the ship. This letter its really an act of frustration. In fact, let me just read you from the letter. Subject line: Request for Assistance in Response to Covid-19 Pandemic. First paragraph reads, BLUF (bottom line up front): If required, the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt would embark all assigned sailors, set sail, and be ready to fight and beat any adversary that dares challenge the U.S. or our allies. The virus would certainly have an impact. But in combat, we are willing to take certain risks that are not acceptable in peacetime. However, we are not at war. And, therefore, cannot allow a single sailor to perish as a result of this pandemic unnecessarily. Decisive action is required now. And he then goes on, in the next three or four pages, to explain why its so difficult aboard an aircraft carrier. The cramped quarters, the fact that everybodys eating in the same dining halls and sharing the same restrooms. And theyre going up and down the ladders of this ship, and they cant but help but being very close together. In other words, its a social distancing nightmare. michael barbaro Right. eric schmitt In fact, he ends the letter with this: Keeping over 4,000 young men and women on board the T.R. (Teddy Roosevelt), is an unnecessary risk and breaks faith with those sailors entrusted to our care. Hes basically saying the most important thing here, since theyre in peacetime, is the health of the crew. Get them off. Get them safe. Get them well. And in his view, the Navy is not helping him fast enough with enough supplies to do that. michael barbaro Help me understand that. What exactly prompted this captain to write this letter to his superiors in the Navy? eric schmitt So we need to go back to early March. The Theodore Roosevelt was scheduled to make a port call in Da Nang, Vietnam. Vietnam borders China. So there was concern by Captain Crozier and many of his staff about the obvious impact of the Covid-19 virus there. But in checking with Navy health officials, they told him that there were very few cases in Vietnam at that time at the beginning of March and they were mostly in and around Hanoi and in northern Vietnam, several hundred miles north of Da Nang, where the U.S.S. Roosevelt would go. This was an important show of American military strength at a time when China is reasserting itself militarily in the South China Sea. It was important for the United States to follow through on its strategic commitments, and demonstrate to the government of Vietnam that it was willing to go ahead with this visit. michael barbaro So this ship showing up at a port in Vietnam is considered strategically important for United States national security. eric schmitt Thats right. So despite Captain Croziers concerns, the Roosevelt docks in Hanoi, and nearly 5,000 sailors and crew members pour into the city of Da Nang, going out to restaurants, going out to bars, going out to what sailors do in port calls. Now at the end of their port call, the sailors and crew get back on the ship. And so as the Roosevelt pulls out of Da Nang, Captain Crozier is still concerned. Because even though his crew has shown no open signs of infection, in his mind a clock is ticking roughly a 14-day clock in which the symptoms could appear. After which, theyll feel theyre more or less in the clear. And as they approach the end of the 14 days, Captain Crozier and his top aides believe theyre almost clear. And literally on the last day of that period of time that theyre watching, the first two sailors test positive for the virus. And the captain knows he has a huge problem on his hands. So the first two sailors who are infected with the virus are immediately flown off the ship. Captain Crozier, realizing that the infection is probably spreading silently through the crew, speeds up a scheduled visit to Guam, which is the home of a major naval base, a major naval hospital. And its over these next four days that the captain, working with his immediate boss and admiral on board the Roosevelt, as well as others up his chain of command, are doing all they can to follow through on the guidance that we now know. How many sailors can we get off this ship into some kind of quarantine basis? He wants to have proper social distancing. And, obviously, he wants to treat the sailors who are increasingly in numbers testing positive. But by March 30, we know Captain Crozier feels the Navy is not moving fast enough to help him. All his pleas, while they may have delivered some aid and some relief, theyre not getting the crew off fast enough. Theyre not getting supplies to the ship quickly enough. And so he writes this letter, and he sends it over an unclassified email to about 20 other people, all naval personnel. But by sending it over an unclassified email and not the usual classified system the Navy has, the captain almost certainly knows somebody will leak it to the media. And thats probably what he wants. Some kind of outside force to apply pressure to the Navy to respond faster to what he believes is essential. [music] michael barbaro So what happens after Crozier sends this letter? eric schmitt So the letter is sent, and within a day, its leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle, and it causes an immediate firestorm. The Navy Secretary Thomas Modly is outraged. First of all that this letter has leaked. And he had just had a conversation with Captain Crozier the night before, basically asking, have you got everything you need? Do I need to do anything more? And according to Modly, the captain said, you know, Id like things to go faster, but I realize youre doing as much as you can. So I think Modly feels a little bit blindsided by this. And the next day on April 2, he calls a press conference. archived recording (thomas modly) Im here today to inform you that today at my direction, the commanding officer of the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt, Captain Brett Crozier, was relieved of command by a carrier strike group commander Rear Adm. Stuart Baker. eric schmitt Secretary Modly reads a statement saying he is dismissing Captain Crozier. michael barbaro Wow. archived recording (thomas modly) I lost confidence in his ability to continue to lead that warship as it fights through this virus to get the crew healthy, and so that it continued to meet its important national security requirements. eric schmitt Basically says hes lost confidence in him. archived recording (thomas modly) 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. eric schmitt He may be a great officer most of the time. He may be well beloved by his crew. But in this case archived recording (thomas modly) But its my responsibility to ensure that his love and concern for you is matched by his sober and professional judgment under pressure. eric schmitt hes blown it. archived recording (thomas modly) OK, thank you. eric schmitt And so by the next day, back out in Guam, Captain Crozier is packing up his things. And as he walks down the gangway off the ship to an awaiting car, and its a scene its just remarkable, Michael. And the whole crew thats gathered, hundreds in this huge hangar bay are chanting and cheering for the captain. archived recording (crew) (CHANTING) Captain Crozier. [APPLAUSE] Captain Crozier. [APPLAUSE] eric schmitt Captain Crozier. Captain Cozier. archived recording (crew) Captain Crozier. [APPLAUSE] eric schmitt Captain Crozier. archived recording (crew) Captain Crozier. [APPLAUSE] archived recording (crew member) The GOAT, the man for the people. eric schmitt Theyre thanking him, because by now, theyve read the letter. They know whats happened here. And this is kind of his valedictory as he leaves, and gets into the car, and drives off to this really stunning ovation. archived recording (crew) [CHEERS] archived recording (crew member) Now thats how you send out one of the greatest captains you ever had! eric schmitt And this only makes the Navy brass back in Washington even angrier. [music] michael barbaro Well be right back. Eric, the scene you just described on the U.S.S. Roosevelt, I mean, it seems very clear from that that the Navy is not just at odds with the captain of the ship, but with its own sailors there. So how did that huge gap form between the top brass and the rank and file? eric schmitt So in part, that division is created essentially by the priorities that the military overall has. What the militarys job is, its first to be ready for combat. The secretary of the Navy, the defense secretary they have to worry about threats and how they would respond to them. Whereas the captains immediate view is that he is worried about the health of his crew. But theres another important factor in all of this, and thats President Trump. For these civilian leaders back in Washington at the Defense Department and the Navy, theyre worried of how President Trump is going to view this. And theyve got good reason to worry. archived recording Now President Trump has ignored advice from his military, and absolved three U.S. service members accused of war crimes. Mr. Trump pardoning eric schmitt The president has actively meddled in criminal investigations in the military. archived recording The president also pardoned eric schmitt Has intervened on the behalf of accused war criminals. archived recording He was charged with the murder of an Afghan bomb maker. eric schmitt And overturned their punishments repeatedly. archived recording And Mr. Trump reinstated Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher to the rank of Chief Petty Officer after he was convicted of posing with the corpse of an ISIS detainee. eric schmitt In fact, the last Navy secretary was fired archived recording The Navy secretary is out, asked to resign over his handling of disgraced Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher. Richard Spencer eric schmitt in trying to deal with one of these interventions that the president did. And so the president has gotten into the heads of civilian leaders, including the Navy. [music] So what Mr. Modly said, in fact, was he worried that the president had seen what had happened about this letter being released. The president would intervene and order the captain to be dismissed before the Navy could even act on it. And that would be further embarrassment to the Navy. Mr. Modly was basically trying to preempt the president from doing what he feared he might do. michael barbaro So what happens after the Navy secretary, possibly preempting the president, fires Crozier? eric schmitt So on Monday, Mr. Modly, trying to tamp down the furor of his dismissal of the captain, flew 8,000 miles to Guam to address the crew. archived recording (thomas modly) The American people believe in you. eric schmitt Aboard the ship, he gets on the intercom system, and in a 15-minute obscenity-laced tirade archived recording (thomas modly) Everyones scared about this thing. But Ill tell you something, if the ship was in combat and there were hypersonic missiles coming at it, youd be pretty [EXPLETIVE] scared too. But you do your jobs. eric schmitt criticizes Captain Crozier. archived recording (thomas modly) It is my opinion that if he didnt think that information was going to get out into the public, in this information age that we live in, then he was A, too naive or too stupid to be the commanding officer of a ship like this. archived recording What the EXPLETIVE? eric schmitt And then he rebukes the crew archived recording (thomas modly) So think about that when you cheer the man off a ship. eric schmitt for cheering this guy. archived recording (thomas modly) And let me say one other thing. Everything Im telling you guys right now I will never, ever, ever throw you guys under the bus in Washington, or anywhere else. In the media, anywhere else. eric schmitt He tells them how much he respects them and will never throw them under the bus. And then finally he says archived recording (thomas modly) Theres never a situation where you should consider the media a part of your chain of command. eric schmitt under no conditions and in no situation should you go to the media with your complaints. archived recording (thomas modly) Because the media has an agenda. And the agenda that they have depends on which side of the eric schmitt And of course, the irony is that the audio of Mr. Modlys speech was almost immediately leaked to the media, which is why you can hear it now. archived recording (thomas modly) They use it to embarrass the Navy. They use it to embarrass you. eric schmitt And this did not go over well. You had a number of retired Navy officers, lawmakers reacting, outraged that he would not just criticize the captain, which hed already done, but criticize the crew. This was just too much. And by Monday night archived recording May I please follow up on what you said with regard to Captain Crozier. eric schmitt the president is asked about it. archived recording (donald trump) Been a bad day, will be a bad week. archived recording Does that mean archived recording (donald trump) Yeah, Im going to look into it. eric schmitt And for the president, who had initially supported Captain Croziers firing, now he seems to be having second thoughts. archived recording (donald trump) It looks to me like hes an outstanding guy. eric schmitt Trumps says maybe hes not such a bad guy after all. archived recording (donald trump) You know, maybe I can help the situation out. I mean, you guys are saying why is the president getting involved? Well, I like to solve problems. Its a problem. eric schmitt And so theres a hint that the president may once again intervene in this case. michael barbaro But not the way that the Navy secretary feared. In the opposite way. eric schmitt Thats right, and maybe reinstate the captain. Thats when shortly after that archived recording In a letter overnight, Modly writing, I want to apologize to the Navy for my eric schmitt Mr. Modly issues this late night apology. archived recording I do not think Captain Brett Crozier is naive nor stupid. He is smart and passionate. I believe, precisely because he is not naive and stupid, that he sent his alarming email with the intention of getting it into the public domain. eric schmitt And by late Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Modly resigns. And it just kind of underscores the turmoil within the ranks of the Navy right now. But it also kind of shows the turmoil within the Pentagon overall, in this kind of revolving door, because remember, Mr. Modlys an acting secretary. He replaced a guy who was fired last November. And he in turn will be replaced by another acting secretary. So the Navy leadership now has gone through three different secretaries in just a few short months. michael barbaro Eric, youve been covering this from the moment that letter became public, and you have been covering the military for years. And what do you make of this entire episode? eric schmitt It is extraordinary. And I think what you have here is a conflict between, in many ways, the kind of storied history of the United States military, specifically the United States Navy, with its hierarchy its chains of command set against a very unusual enemy, this once in a century pandemic, and also a very unusual and unpredictable president. And caught in the middle of all this are the sailors. The sailors aboard the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt, with pandemic spreading through their ranks, even as they sit on the docks in Guam. And its those sailors who are kind of looking both to their captain, their now departed captain, and to Washington for some help. How do we get out of this? And how do we get back to our mission safely? michael barbaro Whats the answer? I mean, what has happened to these 5,000 sailors on the U.S.S. Roosevelt? eric schmitt Well, roughly half of the sailors have come off the ship. Some are in quarters on the naval base in Guam. Some have been put up in private hotels. There are more than 150 cases of sailors whove tested positive. So this process will go on for no doubt weeks until the crew is healthy enough, and the ship is clean enough again for the crew to get back on and go on its way and continue its mission. michael barbaro Eric, it sounds like Captain Crozier pretty much got what he asked for. The military is more or less emptying this ship and putting people in quarantine, right? eric schmitt I think youre right. And most important, he got the Navy to focus its attention even more on these sailors, which is what he wanted all along. michael barbaro What do you expect is going to happen to Captain Crozier? eric schmitt Well, Captain Crozier right now is in quarantine in Guam. He actually tested positive for coronavirus himself. So he is waiting. Friends say hes doing OK right now. But otherwise, the Navy has said he would be reassigned to his desk job in San Diego. But with all the twists and turns of the last few days, the man who fired Crozier has now been fired himself. And theres talk that Captain Crozier could possibly be reinstated. Theres a petition going online with more than 250,000 signatures demanding that he be reinstated. So the fate of Captain Crozier is still to be decided. [music] michael barbaro Thank you, Eric. eric schmitt Thank you, Michael. michael barbaro Well be right back. [music] michael barbaro Heres what else you need to know today. China has ended its lockdown of Wuhan, the city where the coronavirus epidemic began, allowing residents to travel in and out of the city for the first time in 76 days. archived recording [SPEAKING CHINESE] michael barbaro The news was greeted with chants and singing in Wuhan, where 50,000 people were infected with the virus and more than 2,500 died from it. archived recording [SINGING IN CHINESE] michael barbaro And on Tuesday, President Trump removed the federal official overseeing how trillions of taxpayer dollars from the coronavirus stimulus package are spent by his administration. archived recording (anderson cooper) Is this a wise move? I mean, shouldnt somebody be watching over this? archived recording (nancy pelosi) Yes, and the president thinks he should be the one, and thats exactly upside down. michael barbaro The stimulus bill specifically required such oversight, prompting Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on CNN, to immediately denounce the presidents move. archived recording (nancy pelosi) The presidents sending in some of his loyalists, so this is really a problem. michael barbaro Finally, thousands of Wisconsin voters headed to the polls on Tuesday at the height of the pandemic, after Republican lawmakers blocked an attempt by the states democratic governor to postpone the election. archived recording (voter) This is so wrong. This is just so wrong. This election should have been called off. michael barbaro Many voters expressed fury over the situation, saying that they should not have to choose between their health and their right to vote. archived recording (voter) You know, theyre telling us to stay in the house, and, you know, stand six feet from each other. But then, one of the most important times, theyre forcing us to come out here in a group. Stop playing politics with our lives. You know, thats what Im feeling. michael barbaro The results of the election, including the presidential primary, are not expected until Monday. [music] michael barbaro PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-06 08:04:02 Suominen Corporations press release on April 6, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. (EEST) Suominen and Ahlstrom-Munksjo have signed a multi-year commercial agreement that renews and strengthens the existing co-operation at the Stalldalen plant in Sweden. The agreement secures supplies from Stalldalen to Suominen's customers for several years and will also considerably improve the companies' joint service to the customers. Stalldalen manufactures Suominens HYDRASPUN product family mainly for the European market. HYDRASPUN products are 100% biodegradable and produced from renewable materials. The products are considered category leader in the Moist Toilet Tissue segment (MTT). Suominen produces the same products at its Windsor Locks and Bethune plants in the US and the signed commercial agreement further improves Suominen's ability to serve its customers around the world. The agreement gives the customers a possibility to cross-qualify production sites on different continents and hence increase their security of supply. This agreement is a very important milestone for Suominen and secures our ability to serve our customers for the coming years. The products manufactured by Stalldalen are an important part of our sustainable offering and thus an integral part of our strategy. The closer co-operation with Ahlstrom-Munksjo will also improve our ability to launch new sustainable innovations such as HYDRASPUN Royal with the Fine-to-Flush certificate or new products with dispersibility like toilet paper, says Petri Helsky, President & CEO of Suominen. Thanks to continuous product development, Stalldalen is on the forefront of manufacturing of wipes substrates. This long term agreement further reinforces the long lasting partnership that Ahlstrom-Munksjo and Suominen have in this segment. Our cooperation will allow us to better serve the market place and improve customer satisfaction thanks to greater agility, says Hans Sohlstrom, President and CEO of Ahlstrom-Munksjo. Suominen Corporation Corporate Communications Petri Helsky, President and CEO, Suominen Corporation, tel. +358 (0)10 214 3080 Suominen manufactures nonwovens as roll goods for wipes and other applications. Our vision is to be the frontrunner for nonwovens innovation and sustainability. The end products made of Suominens nonwovens, such as wet wipes, feminine care products and swabs, are present in peoples daily life worldwide. Suominens net sales in 2019 were EUR 411.4 million and we have nearly 700 professionals working in Europe and in the Americas. Suominens shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. Read more at www.suominen.fi. The US government, through its aid agency USAID, has announced a grant of USD 2.9 million to India to help it fight the pandemic. US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster said the assistance will further support India's response to COVID-19. The US government, through USAID, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other relevant agencies, is working closely with India to support the country's response to the pandemic, he said. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) is one of the leading aid agencies globally. "COVID-19 is a global public health threat that can be addressed best by close collaboration among governments and international organizations," a release issued by the US Embassy here quoted the envoy as saying. It said the new grant builds on a foundation of more than USD 1.4 billion in health assistance, and nearly USD 3 billion in total assistance, that the United States has provided to India over the last 20 years. It said the new funds will support the USAID's health strengthening project, implemented by Jhpiego, an international non-profit health organization affiliated with Johns Hopkins University. It will also support the World Health Organization (WHO) initiatives in India. "The funds will help the Government of India slow the spread of COVID-19, provide care for the affected, and support local communities with the tools needed to contain the disease," the US embassy said. Tech challenges are hampering federal and state government efforts to get funds from the $2 trillion coronavirus relief law into the hands of newly unemployed workers and struggling small businesses who need it. Why it matters: Many businesses and individuals need the money now for essentials, including meeting payroll and paying rent. Here are three major issues: The big picture: While the strain on the health systems is getting the most attention, governments are also being pressured as record numbers of people apply for aid programs. "We hear about those particular things quite a bit," Code for America founder Jen Pahlka told Axios. Many agencies are trying to embrace the challenge and "move at the speed of need," she said. To help, Pahlka recently launched a volunteer effort called U.S. Digital Response. It's already completed 25 projects for government agencies and has dozens more in the works. For example, USDR volunteers helped create an "emergency assistance eligibility wizard" for the state of New Jersey to help residents see what benefits they might be eligible for. Yes, but: It's easier to stand up a new informational site than to change the coding in an old unemployment system. Work to modernize such systems has been under way for some time. But, as this map shows, states are in widely different places in their progress. At the federal level, the U.S. Digital Service, created under the Obama administration and now led by former Googler Matt Cutts, also aims to solve problems like these when (or before) they arise. In an email, Cutts said he couldn't comment on his agency's COVID-19 work. Our thought bubble: It's not surprising that agencies are struggling to adapt their systems to these sudden new demands. Governments usually have months or years to make system changes, while the details of the CARES Act only emerged shortly before it passed, and the law went into effect almost immediately as the coronavirus crisis accelerated. Go deeper: America's small business bailout is off to a bad start CHATSWORTH, Calif.In an effort to support the caregivers on the front lines of the fight against the coronavirus, Pipedream Products has donated 150 powerful Jimmyjane muscle massagers to the emergency room staff of Los Angeles County and USC Medical Center (LAC/USC Medical Center), a 600-bed facility and the premier academic teaching hospital serving mostly low-income and uninsured residents in Southern California. The donated massage wheels provide on-the-go tension relief to the nurses, residents and support staff on the frontlines of battling the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Jessica Osterman, MD, is Clinical Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine (Clinician Educator) and Assistant Residency Director for Emergency Medicine at LAC/USC Medical Center distributed the Jimmyjane Evoke Sol-O and Jimmyjane Evoke Rol-O Massage Wheels to the ER staff over the weekend. Its an honor to work with Dr. Osterman and provide these support tools to the staff at LAC/USC, who are working tirelessly right now, Pipedream Products CEO Matthew Matsudaira said. These doctors, nurses, and support staff are true heroes working day and night to care for Angelenos in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak. After learning about the sacrifices Dr. Osterman and her colleagues were making for our community, we realized one of the ways we could directly thank staff was to provide them with self-care tools they can use on-site and on the go. The 600-bed Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center is one of the largest public hospitals in the country. Through its affiliations with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) and the Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health, it is one of the premier academic teaching hospitals in the nation and one of the states leading hospitals for training health professionals. Unlike typical massagers, Jimmyjane Evoke Sol-O and Jimmyjane Evoke Rol-O are not "sex toys." The premium silicone massage tools are designed to work out kinks and tension from smaller muscles, including the neck, shoulders and calves, with ease. We are so thankful to Jimmyjane for this unique donation, Dr. Osterman said. Our doctors, nurses, and the staff who help the hospital run day and night are working harder than ever, and were always looking for ways to support them through their shifts. They lost their minds when they received their gifts! Everyone sends tons of gratitude. For more information on the Jimmyjane Evoke massage wheels and other Pipedream products, to place an order or download images and videos, visit PipedreamProducts.com. New Delhi/Srinagar, April 6 : Five Indian Army special forces soldiers and five terrorists were killed in Sunday's hand-to-hand combat and gunfight on the Line of Control, in this year's bloodiest encounter in any operation against militants in Jammu & Kashmir. The Indian Army launched Operation Randori Behak in Keran sector, at the Line of Control and engaged Pakistan-supported infiltrators in a close quarters battle in heavy snow, neutralising the entire infiltrating batch of five terrorists. Four soldiers under the command of a Junior Commissioned Officer from one of the most professional Para Special Forces units were heli-dropped near the LoC after information on the infiltrators was received. "An intense hand-to-hand battle ensued and all five terrorists were eliminated," the Indian Army said in a statement. In this battle, however, the Army lost five of its best soldiers, three on the site and two more succumbed while they were airlifted to a nearby military hospital. Sources explained that at first light on April 1, footprints were noticed near Line of Control where fences were completely submerged in snow. "Area is completely rigged with razor sharp ridge line all routes cut off due to high snow levels," sources said. Terrorists attempted to exploit inclement weather as it was snowing since last two days. Search parties were launched. Brief contact established at approximately 1 pm on April 1. "Five bags were recovered, however terrorists broke contact," said the sources adding that additional troops were launched and area cordoned. Trail was followed at first light on April 2. Contact was re-established at 4:30 pm, however, terrorists managed to escape by jumping off a ledge. Search continued on April 3. Contact was again established at 4:30 pm and again at 6:30 pm on April 4. "Based on visuals from UAV, special troops staged forward to the nearest battalion headquarter by air as the battalion is still winter cut off," the sources said. "At first light April 5, one squad, following the footsteps on the snow failed to realise that they were on a cornice.... It broke.... They fell into the nallah...where they fell, the terrorists were sitting right there.... it led to a firefight and close quarters battle at virtually point blank range," sources explained. The forces said that due to training standards of the Army team, inspite of the fall, all five terrorists were killed. However, complete squad, five in all, were killed in action. "Mortal remains of the soldiers and terrorists found within two to three meters of each other," sources added. The Indian Army Special Forces squad was led by Subedar Sanjeev Kumar and included Havildar Davendra Singh, Paratrooper Bal Krishan, Paratrooper Amit Kumar and Paratrooper Chhatrapal Singh. All of them were killed in action. T he Queen tonight urged the nation, the Commonwealth and the world to unite in the war against coronavirus and within minutes she appeared to have achieved her aim. Just moments after the historic address was broadcast on screens across the globe, Brits up and down the country joined together in admiration for the 93-year-old monarch. The new Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was among the public figures to pay tribute to the head of state. Picking out words from her speech he tweeted: The pride in who we are is not a part of our past, it defines our present and our future. The Queen speaks for the whole country and our determination to defeat the coronavirus. Meanwhile, London Mayor Sadiq Khan praised her focus on frontline healthcare and key workers. He tweeted: The moments when the UK has come together to applaud our care & essential workers will be remembered as an expression of our national spirit. Great to see our hardworking heroes, working flat out on the frontline, at the centre of the #QueensSpeech. In the east of the city, staff at the new NHS Nightingale Hospital were pictured standing with rapt attention as they watched the televised speech. And in Hampstead, councillor Oliver Cooper wrote: "There is, quite simply, nobody that could have given that address, and nobody that could have rallied the country, the Commonwealth, and the world the way the Queen did. GSTQ." Further north, former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said the speech had surprised her. The Queens own quiet resolution on how we will see the other side of this and meet again was reassuring, I thought, she wrote. Didnt know I needed to hear that, but it turns out I did. Beyond the political sphere, TV personality Jeremy Clarkson joined in the praise, writing simply: God I love Mrs Queen." BBC presenter Victoria Coren Mitchell was enthusiastic, posting: Hurray for the Queen! I thought that speech was terrific. The message travelled overseas too, with Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness writing Watching the queens speech alongside a wistful gif of himself. When jails charge an exorbitant amount for a phone call, it makes it harder for inmates to stay in touch with their families. But studies show that family connections are the lifelines that help prevent released inmates from landing back in jail again. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Valentina Sedeno is adamant that it is never a burden to stay in touch with her brother. He has been incarcerated off and on for years in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Its a responsibility Ive taken on for my family, she said. But Sedeno's loyalty has been expensive. She has paid charges that could amount to more than $1,500 over a year, or $300 over an average 70-day jail stay. Until recently, such fees, paid to GTL, the communications company that contracts with many California counties to provide phone services, were required to cover two 15-minute phone calls a day in San Francisco's jail. Sometimes, Sedeno has had to choose between paying for groceries and paying her GTL bill. My mom has at times owed a lot of money to GTL and struggled to pay it, she said. And thats not the whole of what supporting her brother has cost. Sedenos family has also put money on the jail books so that her brother could buy basic food and hygiene items from the jail commissary, at prices that would outrage the average consumer. Charging exorbitant fees for jail phone calls and commissary goods is common across the country. The practice generates funds for essential county jail operations and big profits for the billion-dollar businesses the jails contract with. Its to be expected that the contractors will make a profit, but counties should get out of this revenue-producing game altogether. Jail operations such things as inmate education and reentry services shouldnt depend on fining the incarcerated above and beyond their sentences, or on gouging their families. In San Francisco, in large part because of the efforts of Sedeno and other activists, the city and county budget has been altered: The jail will no longer generate revenue for jail operations from phone calls or commissary markups. As of April 1, the prices of commissary items dropped an average of 43%, which was the jail's previous cut of the profits. This summer, when the county's contract with GTL is up, all phone calls will officially be free. In the meantime, with visiting hours canceled during the coronavirus crisis, San Francisco is already providing 75 minutes of free phone calls a week for inmates. Story continues It cant come too soon for the families of the incarcerated, most often their sisters, mothers and grandmothers. According to a report by the Ella Baker Center, 83% of those responsible for paying bail, court fines and fees are women, and mostly low-income women of color. The extra costs of their loved ones incarceration average about $13,000 nationwide. Men do the time, but women pay the fine. How the costs add up vary county to county, but it's easy to see how they can add up to unaffordable amounts over the course of a jail sentence. A 15-minute call from jail in Lassen County cost $17.80 in 2018, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. When a comparison was done by activists in Santa Clara County, in 2016, Nissin Chili Lime Ramen cost 99 cents in the jail; at Target it was 39 cents. A box of 16 Stay Free Maxi Pads with wings was $9.69 in the jail; at Ralphs, it was $2.99. Sedeno and other activists from the Young Womens Freedom Center made the case to San Francisco Mayor London Breed and the county sheriff that the higher the phone charges, the harder it is for incarcerated people to stay in touch with family and friends the lifelines theyll need to rely on when they get out. Studies show that inmates who maintain contact with their families are more likely to succeed after they are released and less likely to be reincarcerated. Thats important given that almost half of people who get out of San Francisco jails are rearrested within three years. San Franciscos local reforms are gaining momentum. The California Womens Policy Institute, working with California state Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles), is putting forward SB 555, which would permanently lower jail phone rates and markups in jail commissaries throughout the state. And activists everywhere are calling for jail phone calls to be free during the pandemic. Jacking up prices for phone calls and jail store items raises revenue, but the practice costs our state in the long run. We need to do everything we can to make it easier not harder for incarcerated people to stay in touch with their families. When we drain the bank accounts of incarcerated peoples families, were punishing people who have committed no crime, other than supporting their loved ones. That should be celebrated, not penalized. Anne Stuhldreher directs the Financial Justice Project in the treasurers office of the city and county of San Francisco. She is also a senior fellow with the Aspen Institutes Financial Security Program. [April 06, 2020] AgroScout Closes $3 Million Funding Round for Its AI-based Solution for Sustainable Crop Protection MISGAV, Israel, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AgroScout, a portfolio company of The Trendlines Group Ltd. (SGX: 42T) (OTC-QX: TRNLY), is pleased to announce that it has completed an investment round of $3 million for its AI-based solution for sustainable crop protection. The investment round was led by Kibbutz Yiron, and included other investors - Exit Valley crowd-funding platform, Agriline, The Trendlines Group and grants from the Israel Innovation Authority and the BIRD Foundation. AgroScout's solution integrates external data collected by drones (together with AI software, deep learning and computer vision) to accurately and autonomously detect, identify, and monitor diseases, pests, and other agronomic problems in field crops. Farmers lose 20%-40% of their yield to disease and pests (FAO). Today, to mitigate spread of disease in fields, agronomists perform manual, visual checks in different parts of the field every few days. This provides limited coverage (around 5-10%), and in most places, no scouting is done. Therefore, diseases are often only detected at later stages whenthe disease has escalated, and large amounts of pesticides are needed to control the problem. AgroScout's solution aims to dramatically reduce the amounts of chemicals used to treat disease. Using less pesticides lowers costs and meets increasing regulation and consumer demand for more sustainable agricultural practices. For most farmers, advanced agronomic and remote monitoring systems are too expensive and inaccessible, creating a tremendous market potential for AgroScout. As its system relies on off-the-shelf low-cost equipment, such as smartphones and small commercial drones, AgroScout provides an affordable and easy-to-use solution based solely on user-generated content. In 2019, AgroScout received an award of excellence by the Israel Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development. In December 2019, The BIRD Foundation awarded a conditional grant of $1 million for the project between AgroScout and Bird Stop (a docking system technology from Silicon Valley) to set up a fully autonomous solution for the field, enabling unprecedented daily data collection. This summer, AgroScout and Birdstop will deploy this autonomous solution for a large North American potato processor. Pilot projects are also under way in Latin America with PepsiCo and its growers. In parallel to its pilot programs, commercials sales have begun in the United States, Latin America and Israel. AgroScout is a member of Oracle for Startups, Oracle's initiative to support entrepreneurs and innovators worldwide, and is a proud early adopter of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Data Science. AgroScout CEO Simcha Shore commented, "The investment from a strategic investor such as Kibbutz Yiron, an agribusiness with a deep understanding of the sector's needs, is a vote of confidence in our technology and approach. The funding will allow us to expand our market reach significantly and broaden our services to our customers, offering them a viable and valuable solution to one of the most urgent issues facing farmers today. We expect this new round to enable us to deepen our strong relationship with Oracle, to offer a flexible, cutting-edge AI solution for farmers, enabling them to increase their yields and contribute to global food security for all." Kibbutz Yiron's Economic Committee Chairman Shalom Simchon, previously Israel's Minister of Agriculture, commented, "To maximize yields, mitigate disease and loss of produce, farmers have to incorporate advanced technology in their daily work. We are excited about AgroScout's abilities to provide early detection of pests, disease, and other risks for crops, enabling real-time farmer interventions to decrease pesticide use, lower production costs and grow produce in a more sustainable way." "We believe that companies like AgroScout, which Agriline has invested in, have tremendous potential to significantly impact and optimize more sustainable food production, that, in the long run, will reduce CO 2 and other pollutants that are contributing so much to the global warming crisis. We develop financial models - this is our expertise, these days we are in the process of developing a new financial model. This investment is strategic and in line with our model known as the 'Earth Ecosystem'." commented Mr. Vincent Tchenguiz. Contact Information Simcha Shore +972.52.925.6266 [email protected] https://agro-scout.com/ View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/agroscout-closes-3-million-funding-round-for-its-ai-based-solution-for-sustainable-crop-protection-301035681.html SOURCE AgroScout [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Show up or face attempt to murder charges: DGP Uttarakhand to Tablighi members India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Apr 06: Report by today or face attempt to murder charges, the Director General of Police, Uttarakhand has warned the Tablighi Jamaat members. The warning was made to those who attended the congregation in New Delhi last month. In Uttarakhand, 16 of the 26 COVID-19 cases are linked to the Jamaat's congregation. In his appeal, DGP Anil K Raturi said that anyone who has been part of the gatherings recently should produce themselves before the police and the administration by April 6. Their medical examination will be conducted and they will be put in quarantine and provided necessary medical assistance if the need be. 94 of 234 cases of COVID-19 in UP linked to Tablighi Jamaat If the police learn that somebody is deliberately hiding themselves and after that, that person has spread the infection in the area, then action will be taken under the charge of attempt to murder. They would also be booked under the Disaster Management Act and other sections of the Indian Penal Code. A case of murder will lodged in case someone dies in the village or locality due to the infection, the DGP also warned. The DGP said that the state intelligence was tracking all Tablighi members after March 1. Nine have left the state, the police also said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 19:43:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Wearing a mask used to risk being frowned upon, but people are coming to recognize that it can provide protection from coronavirus infection. by Xinhua writers Tian Ying, Ren Ke BERLIN/WASHINGTON, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Face masks, in either Europe or the United States, had never hit so many headlines as they do now. As the COVID-19 pandemic rages in Europe and the United States, some countries and cities have rolled out mandatory wearing-a-mask-in-public rules or recommendations, with louder calls from experts and significantly more people wearing masks than weeks ago. Such a development represents a gradual shift from Westerners' old view that face masks were only needed by special groups of people such as medical staff and the sick. Wearing a mask used to risk being frowned upon, but people are coming to recognize that it can provide protection from coronavirus infection. A passenger wears a face mask on a subway train in New York, the United States, March 17, 2020. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) LEARNING PHASE On Saturday, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said he wore a face mask when doing shopping. "I wear a mask. This is an idea that came from my grandchildren. He learned from the Chinese example. China has another tradition of using masks," the 71-year-old president was quoted by the Lusa news agency as saying in a report. On Thursday, the Nordhausen district in Germany's Thuringia state announced that mouth protection will be mandatory after the Easter holiday. Earlier, on Tuesday, Jena, also in Thuringia, ordered the wearing of masks in shops, public transport, and buildings with large movements of people. Given the shortages of protective masks, the town said covering the mouth and nose with towels or scarves will be acceptable while encouraging residents to sew masks for themselves. A man wearing a face mask is seen at a shopping center in Prague, the Czech Republic, March 13, 2020. (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua) A similar regulation was also introduced in Austria. People have to wear a face mask before entering supermarkets, said the government on March 30 as part of additional measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak. "I am fully aware that masks are something foreign to our culture," said Chancellor Sebastian Kurz at a press conference with other government officials. "It will be a learning phase." Mask wearing became mandatory in the Czech Republic on March 18, and its Prime Minister Andrej Babis has recommended this practice to European and U.S. leaders. On March 19, Babis in a tweet message called on Trump to adopt the measure to curb the virus's spread. "Wearing a simple cloth mask decreases the spread of the virus by 80 percent! Czech Republic has made it OBLIGATORY for its citizens to wear a mask in the public," he wrote. Also on Twitter, he said he had sent videos to urge most European presidents and prime ministers to do the same. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz wearing a face mask attends a session of Austria's lower house of parliament in Vienna, Austria, April 3, 2020. (Photo by Andy Wenzel/Xinhua) LOUDER CALL It was not a strong voice in Europe and the United States at the beginning of the pandemic. European researchers have re-evaluated the role of face masks before vocally supporting their use as a protection. Michael Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization (WHO) health emergencies program, said during a virtual press conference on Friday that the global health body supports governments in using masks part of their anti-virus strategies. He cited difficult circumstances for people to maintain a needed physical distance, noting, "There may be situations where the wearing of masks may reduce the rate of infection." Germany's disease control agency, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), recently said on its website that if people wear a mask as a precaution, even without symptoms, it could reduce the risk of virus being transmitted to others. Previously, the RKI only recommended mouth protection for people with acute respiratory diseases. With not so many COVID-19 cases confirmed a few weeks ago, a face mask was not necessary. "But now we're in the exponential phase," noted Alexander Kekule, a virologist with Germany's Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg in his podcast carried by the local media MDR. He urged everyone to wear surgical masks in public, protect others from infection as well as themselves to a certain extent. A bicyclist wearing a face mask is seen near the Brandenburger Gate in Berlin, capital of Germany, March 28, 2020. (Photo by Binh Truong/Xinhua) U.S. DIVIDE Even as more Europeans are seen wearing masks at groceries and on buses, they account for a small portion of the population. But a change is happening, though gradually. Across the Atlantic, public perception has also altered in the United States as the country now reported the largest number of confirmed cases. But there is still divide among Americans, and even between the U.S. first couple. Since infectious asymptomatic cases make it harder to fight COVID-19, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended Americans wear face coverings in public to prevent infection. On Friday, Trump repeatedly stressed at a Whited House briefing that the CDC-advised use of cloth face covering, which the CDC said could be one made at home of common materials at low cost, is "voluntary." "The CDC is advising the use of non-medical cloth face covering as a voluntary health measure," Trump said. "It is voluntary. They suggested for a period of time. This is voluntary." Minutes after the U.S. president announced the CDC guideline and said that he was opting not to personally follow it, his wife Melania tweeted: "I ask that everyone take social distancing & wearing a mask/face covering seriously. #COVID 19 is a virus that can spread to anyone." A staff member wearing a mask makes face masks at a tailor shop in Cologne, Germany, March 31, 2020. (Photo by Ulrich Hufnagel/Xinhua) SHORTAGE OF MASKS However, a wider mandatory use of face masks is hindered by a severe shortage in both Europe and the United Stats. According to official data, Switzerland currently has about 17 million masks in stock, and 2 million are used on a daily basis. As frontline medical workers are short of masks, the German association of cities and municipalities is against a general mask requirement over fear of panic buying. Given the shortage of masks, sewing one has become an option. A commentary carried by the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung wrote: "Sewing machines are rattling all over Germany ... school-children as well as grannies are now making face masks and thus supporting clinics and nursing homes that are running out of face protection." A mural depicting medical workers wearing protective masks is seen on a wall of a building in Warsaw, Poland, April 2, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhou Nan) Amid the campaign "Masks for Poland," cities like Slupsk and Pulawy are ordering and distributing face masks to residents. On Friday, Mayor of Gdansk, a major city of Poland, Aleksandra Dulkiewicz encouraged locals to wear protective masks and showed them how to sew one at home. "We must put on masks for everyone, sick or not, it's the only way to stop an epidemic like this," said Philippe Douste-Blazy, a former French minister of health. (Xinhua reporters Tan Jingjing in Washington, Nie Xiaoyang in Geneva, Yu Tao and Zhao Feifei in Vienna, Yang Xiaohong in Prague, Pan Geping and Yu Yue in Brussels, Xu Yongchun in Paris, Wen Xinnian in Lisbon, Zhang Zhang in Warsaw, Guo Mingfang in Vilnius, and Chen Jin in Bucharest contributed to the story.) Video reporters: Zhao Yuchao, Han Chong, Ji Li, Roberto Ferranti, Du Yang, Nie Xiaoyang, Guo Chen, Wang Pingping, Shi Zhongyu, Nemanja Cabric, Tang Ji, Sylvain; Video editor: Zheng Xin) SAN FRANCISCO (dpa-AFX) - Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC) announced Monday that it is targeting to distribute a total of $10 billion to small business customers under the requirements of the Paycheck Protection Program or PPP after receiving strong interest during the COVID-19 crisis. The company will focus on serving two segments of its customer population, such as nonprofits and small businesses with fewer than 50 employees. The company also announced that fees generated through the program will be distributed as charitable grants to nonprofits that support small businesses, which is a focus of Wells Fargo's philanthropic efforts. Wells Fargo will review all expressions of interest submitted by customers via online form through April 5 and provide them with updates in the coming days. Wells Fargo said that since the beginning of this health crisis, it has provided substantial credit and liquidity to customers to help them weather these uncertain times. The company noted that in the month of March alone, it extended nearly $70 billion in new and increased commitments and outstanding loans to customers including consumers, small businesses, and companies in the US. In addition, the company have deferred more than 700,000 payments, representing almost $1.8 billion, and provided over 750,000 fee waivers, exceeding $28 million, for customers impacted by this event. 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. Pennsylvania has reported 1,470 new cases of the coronavirus today, raising the statewide total to 12,980. At least 162 have died, including 12 new fatalities reported today, according to the state Department of Health. Cases have been reported in 65 of Pennsylvanias 67 counties. The health department released new numbers today. Three of the newly reported deaths are in Lancaster County, raising the countys total to 11. In the Harrisburg region, at least 16 have died due to the virus, according to state figures. For the second day in a row, the number of new cases dipped slightly. Nonetheless, the virus has spread rapidly across Pennsylvania. The states first cases were reported just a month ago. The bulk of the cases have been reported in the Philadelphia region. The city of Philadelphia alone has 3,611 cases and 28 deaths. Neighboring Montgomery County is second with 1,230 cases, along with 18 fatalities. However, cases are rising across the state. All of the counties in the Harrisburg region have reported cases. Lancaster County leads the midstate with 408 cases and 11 deaths. York County is second in the number of cases in the midstate (189 and one death). Heres a look at the number of cases in the other counties in the Harrisburg region: Dauphin (132 cases and 1 death); Lebanon (124 cases); Cumberland (68 cases and 2 deaths); Franklin (32 cases); Adams (25 cases); and Perry (5 cases and 1 death). The Lehigh Valley continues to see a troubling spike. Lehigh County along now has more than 1,000 cases (1,006) with 8 deaths, while neighboring Northampton County has reported 716 cases and 12 deaths. Western Pennsylvania isnt being spared. Allegheny County alone now has 642 cases and 4 fatalities. There are 70,874 patients who have tested negative, the health department said. Most people recover from the coronavirus but the department does not offer statistics on how many recover. Most who contract the virus dont require hospital care but older residents are more susceptible for more serious complications. The state has said hospitals inform the health department when patients are diagnosed but dont say when they are discharged. Gov. Tom Wolf has taken aggressive steps to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. He has issued a statewide order for all residents to stay at home, except for essential trips. The order is in effect through April 30. The governor has closed schools indefinitely. School districts have moved to remote instruction and administrators have braced for the prospect that schools wont reopen during the spring. Wolf has also ordered the closure of all businesses that arent life sustaining. Some businesses and trade groups have complained the order is too broad and is keeping essential businesses from operating. Thousands of businesses have sought waivers from the state to remain open. With many businesses shut down, hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania residents have filed for unemployment. With Passover and Easter coming over the next week, Wolf has asked faith leaders not to have their congregations come together to avoid potentially exposing more people to the virus. More from PennLive The Amish present unique challenges amid coronavirus Trump official cites Pa. as emerging coronavirus hotspot My paycheck or my health; warehouse workers see themselves as reluctant heroes of coronavirus pandemic Pa. mayors say theyre running short on supplies, ask Trump to appoint medical equipment czar Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. Boris Johnson, the British prime minister, was admitted to a hospital Sunday for tests as he continued to suffer symptoms 10 days after he was diagnosed with the coronavirus. The prime ministers office characterized the admission to an undisclosed London hospital as a precautionary step and clarified that Johnson remains in charge of the government. The admission comes after persistent rumors that Johnsons condition has been worsening. Advertisement Johnson, 55, is the first major government leader who is known to have contracted COVID-19. He has been in self-isolation since the diagnosis and has posted video messages on Twitter since then. His latest video came on Friday and Johnson looked tired as he revealed he still had a fever. Although Im feeling better and Ive done my seven days of isolation, alas I still have one of the symptoms, a minor symptom, I still have a temperature, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another quick update from me on our campaign against #coronavirus. You are saving lives by staying at home, so I urge you to stick with it this weekend, even if we do have some fine weather.#StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/4GHmJhxXQ0 Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) April 3, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Johnsons fiancee, Carrie Symonds, who is pregnant, said she had been sick with coronavirus symptoms but was not tested. Symonds said in a tweet that she was now on the mend. Ive spent the past week in bed with the main symptoms of Coronavirus. I havent needed to be tested and, after seven days of rest, I feel stronger and Im on the mend. Carrie Symonds (@carriesymonds) April 4, 2020 Advertisement President Donald Trump commented on Johnsons hospitalization during a news conference Sunday. All Americans are praying for him, Trump said. Hes a friend of mine, hes a great gentleman and a great leader, and as you know he went to the hospital today but Im hopeful and sure that hes going to be fine. Advertisement Advertisement President Trump: "I want to express our nation's well wishes to Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he wages his own personal fight with the virus." https://t.co/60hEMsKhkC pic.twitter.com/9fLpQUtRky The Hill (@thehill) April 5, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement The news of Johnsons hospitalization came on the same day as a rare television address by Queen Elizabeth II in which she urged citizens to remain united and resolute in fighting against the virus. We will succeedand that success will belong to every one of us, she said. We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return. Advertisement Advertisement Her Majesty The Queen addresses the UK and the Commonwealth in a special broadcast recorded at Windsor Castle. pic.twitter.com/HjO1uiV1Tm The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 5, 2020 Around 48,000 people have been confirmed to have COVID-19 in the United Kingdom and almost 5,000 have died. The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) has announced a unilateral ceasefire and announced that they would not attack security forces because of the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak across the country. CPI (Maoist) Malkangiri-Koraput-Visakha Border (MKVB) divisions committee secretary Kailasam released on Sunday a hand-written statement in Telugu to the Andhra Pradesh media that stated the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19, was creating havoc across the world. Our party, Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army (an armed wing of the CPI-Maoist), and various frontal organisations of the party have decided against carrying out any kind of attack on the security forces during this period, the statement said. Kailasam, however, warned that the party would be compelled to retaliate, if security forces resort to any kind of action. We demand that the government responds to our statement within five days, Kailsam said. Civil rights activists have welcomed the ceasefire proposal, urging both the Centre and Telangana and Andhra Pradesh (AP) governments to respond positively. In a joint statement, Civil Liberties Committees (CLC) Telangana unit president Dr Gaddam Laxman and AP chief V Chittababu said: The Centre and state governments should work in tandem to create a peaceful environment by accepting the proposal. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Just like other citizens of the country, these are unusual times for actor Pooja A Gor, too, who no longer has to rush for shooting schedules every day. Talking about the changes of the past few weeks, she shares her life has slowed down, and ponders over the simplicity and beauty of it. In her poem, Updating Software, which she recently posted on Instagram, Gor writes, In these times of #quarantine U & I, need to tap into our depths and find what brings us Peace, what brings us Joy, what makes us Happy These are tough times. But lets not be so hard on ourselves. Lets just keep things simple. Go back to basics. Go back to simpler times. (sic). With most things coming to a standstill due to the coronavirus outbreak, the 28-year-old says, This pause in life is a great time to go back to the basics, think and cherish the simplicity of life or just chill like we used to do when there was no internet. Paint, sing, dance, write, create or live life to the fullest. Ive realised that simplicity is very underrated in todays world and a lot of things have been complicated by us. Going back to simplicity is the most important thing for our mental health. Referring to peoples daily lifestyle as software, Gor emphasises, Life needs to be reset, updated to simplicity and restarted... Change mentally more than physically, because even now when we arent working and not having any kind of stress, people are anxious due to free time at hand. The solution, she says, lies in focussing on nurturing and nourishing ourselves and in utilising the time to learn something. Follow @htshowbiz for more There could have been more patients with coronavirus in Ukraine if quarantine measures were not introduced in the country, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said. He said this after a daily conference call with representatives of the government and state agencies involved in preventing the spread of coronavirus disease COVID-19, the presidential press service reported. "A reduction in the number of coronavirus patients is the result of the quarantine. We could have had far more ill people than in European countries. Therefore, our measures were timely and correct," Zelensky said. According to the report, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, in turn, said that the percentage of people infected with coronavirus in Ukraine had decreased over the past 24 hours. In particular, of the 1,319 coronavirus cases in Ukraine, 68 have been recorded over the past 24 hours, which is significantly less than in previous days. Six people have died due to serious chronic illnesses. At the same time, the head of state said that no hospitals could be closed at this time. "We get information about a closed children's regional department, the closure of TB dispensaries. We have no right to close hospitals or suspend funding during the coronavirus epidemic. It would be cruel irresponsibility before Ukrainians," Zelensky said. The National Police reported that the number of crimes had decreased significantly during the quarantine period, and the number of traffic accidents had shrunk by 63%. A report was also delivered on the situation with food markets that did not cease to operate in Ukraine. Some of them are currently crowded by people, which is a huge risk of the spread of coronavirus. The decision was made to tighten control over food markets. On March 11, the government approved a resolution establishing the quarantine in Ukraine from March 12 to April 3, 2020, imposing a ban on visits to educational establishments, holding all mass events in which more than 200 people participate, except for measures needed to ensure the work of state and local government bodies. Subsequently, the quarantine was extended until April 24. The requirements for restrictive quarantine measures have been tightened in Ukraine since April 6. A total of 1,319 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Ukraine so far. Thirty-eight people died of the disease, and 28 recovered. op The war being waged across the globe in a desperate effort to halt the march of the Covid-19 plague, like any conflict, has brought out the best and worst in all of us. In the space of a mere fortnight, when life as we knew it went through a cataclysmic change that would challenge the plot for a disaster movie, we are reliant on each other more than at any other time since World War II. The Covid-19 war has already produced an incredible army of exemplary heroes who are out there on the frontline fighting to protect us from the worst ravages of this invisible enemy: the nurses, doctors, pharmacists, gardai, Defence Forces and many, many more. The sight of a huge temporary morgue with a capacity to hold 488 dead bodies being built in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin is a grim reminder of the magnitude of what is happening, and underlines the war metaphor. It is a brutal twist of fate that the site chosen for the fallen in this 21st-century conflict was, for more than 200 years, a retirement home for old soldiers who had survived conflicts in the past. The vast majority of the population has put its collective shoulder to the wheel, assisting the war effort by complying with the strict isolation regime. Even many criminals are being forced - either through choice or drastically changed circumstances - to stay at home and ride out the storm. As we reported last week in the Irish Independent, one of the more welcome consequences of this crisis has been the dramatic, unprecedented drop in crime. But the current surreal environment has also focused attention on the lowest common denominator in our society, who weaponise Covid-19 and deliberately cough or spit at gardai, emergency workers or random citizens on the street. A health worker was forced into isolation after a man with the coronavirus spat in her face while she was working looking after the sick in a Dublin hospital. Such is the level of threat from such horrific acts of violence that gardai have ordered 16,000 spit hoods - something that most of us didn't know existed until the coronavirus hit our shores. It is only at a time like this that the public realise how random street violence is a daily occupational hazard for our police officers and not just a side-effect of a pandemic. There is also major concern among gardai that teenagers are taking part in a harmful prank called the 'TikTok coronavirus challenge', which involves coughing at people before telling them they are infected. The "buzz" apparently is recording the victim's naturally terrified reaction and uploading it to the TikTok app which is used by young teenagers. Whether it was fun, a prank, an idle threat or a premeditated threat, the motives behind these assaults are irrelevant. All of these incidents share a common factor: they are clearly intended to put people in fear of their lives at a time when anxiety and fear is palpable everywhere in our society. That is why there should be absolute zero tolerance for these crimes. Nor, in the event that some of the TikTok challengers are convicted of assault, should the courts give any latitude that boredom and immaturity motivated him/her to approach an elderly woman or man on the street and terrify the life out of them for a laugh. Coughing or spitting at others during this pandemic represents a serious criminal offence. Under the provisions of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1997, it is an offence to use "contaminated fluid" against someone - which certainly includes spittle - which is "contaminated with any disease, virus, agent or organism which if passed into the blood stream of another could infect the other with a life-threatening or potentially life-threatening disease". A threat to infect another person also constitutes a crime if the person against whom the threat is made was put in fear of their wellbeing because they believed the assailant had the capacity to carry out that threat when they made it. Hazard The 1997 Act was primarily aimed at codifying attacks and threats made by drug addicts against gardai using syringes loaded with HIV-infected blood, a problem that became a major hazard for officers on the streets of Dublin from the mid-80s after the virus swept through many of the city's heroin addicts. The Garda representative association has now called on Commissioner Drew Harris to make it official policy to object to bail for anyone arrested and charged with deliberately spitting or coughing at their members, emergency service workers or members of the public. It makes perfect sense at a time when society is locked in combat with a mortal foe that enemies within use it to instil unnecessary panic, fear and injury. And it doesn't matter whether the assailant was immature, stupid, mad or just bad - they should feel the full brunt of the law. Bridget Jones's love interest Mr Darcy is rumoured to have been based on new Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer. The human rights lawyer, played by Colin Firth in the films, is said to have been created by author Helen Fielding with the politician in mind. While Sir Keir - a former rights lawyer himself - previously suggested he was flattered by the claims, he insisted no one will ever know the truth - except for the writer herself. Claims: Bridget Jones's love interest Mr Darcy is rumoured to have been based on new Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer Speaking to ITV News, Sir Keir said: 'Everybody asks me this question when they should be asking her the question because she knows the answer and I dont. 'Its a rumour thats been doing the rounds for some years but I honestly dont know the answer to it.' When quizzed whether he'd be flattered if it was true, Sir Keir replied: 'Of course I would, but I honestly dont know the answer.' Sir Keir was a human rights lawyer, working on a series of high profile cases in the 90s at the time of Helen's columns in The Independent, which spawned the Bridget Jones's Diary series. Sir Keir previously told ITV: 'Its a rumour thats been doing the rounds for some years but I honestly dont know the answer to it' The writer may have met the politician when she lived in Leeds, while Keir read law at the city's university, or as his career blossomed while she was a journalist. Helen, 62, has remained tight-lipped about whether there is any truth to the claims. Sir Keir, who entered Parliament in 2015, has said Labour will 'make the argument for a better future' under his leadership but will first need to restore peoples trust in the party as a force for good and a force for change'. Rumour has it: Allegations Colin Firth's brooding character (right) was based on Labour's Sir Keir (left) have refused to go away Prime Minister Boris Johnson congratulated Sir Keir in a call on Saturday afternoon and the pair agreed to meet next week to discuss the Covid-19 crisis. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he looks forward to working with Sir Keir and deputy leader Angela Rayner, and told them leading the party is a great honour and responsibility. Sir Keir won 275,780 votes out of 490,731 returned ballots equivalent to 56.2 percent while Rebecca Long-Bailey came second with 135,218 votes and Lisa Nandy was last with 79,597. He won more votes than Corbyn, who in 2015 secured 251,417 of the 422,664 votes cast, but his predecessor secured a higher vote share (59.5 per cent). Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Monday complimented his counterparts in other states for voluntarily accepting a 30 per cent cut in their salaries and allowances in the fight against coronavirus. Talking to the PTI over the phone, Khan referred to the announcement in this regard made by the Centre on Monday and said he had already written to President Ram Nath Kovind, asking him to reduce his salary and allowances by 30 per cent. "It is everyone's duty to do this when the country is fighting the pandemic. Even if it is more than 30 per cent of the salary cut, we have to accept it, he said. The country is fighting an invisible enemy and it is everybody's duty to contribute to meet the challenge, the governor said. Khan appreciated the LDF government in Kerala and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for taking "proactive" measures in containing spread of coronavirus. "The government is keeping me informed about the measures taken by it and I on my part give them suggestions and ideas to tackle the menace," he said. In Kerala, "We have a capable and competent government and over 80 per cent of patients in the state are those Indians who returned from abroad or foreigners. The community spread cases are very less, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Bloomberg) -- The deadly coronavirus may infect as many as 95,000 people in Indonesia by next month before easing, a minister said, as authorities ordered people to wear face masks to contain the pandemic. The dire forecast, which came as the country reported its biggest daily spike in confirmed cases, is based on a projection by the nations intelligence agency, University of Indonesia and Bandung Institute of Technology, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati told lawmakers in Jakarta. The estimate was discussed at a cabinet meeting held by President Joko Widodo earlier on Monday, she said. Indonesia has seen a surge in infections in recent weeks after reporting its first cases only in early March. While the death toll from the pandemic at 209 is the highest in Asia after China, confirmed cases at 2,491 in a country of almost 270 million people is fewer than those reported in smaller countries such as Malaysia and the Philippines. Authorities reported 218 new Covid-19 cases on Monday. The situation is very dynamic, Indrawati said. The government continues to monitor and take more steps as estimates show that the cases may peak in April and May. Jokowi, as Widodo is known, has declared a national health emergency and ordered large scale social distancing to contain the spread of the virus that has infected almost 1.3 million people worldwide. On Monday, the president ordered authorities to ensure availability of face masks for every household as he appealed to citizens to cover their faces to contain the pandemic. The worlds fourth-most populous nation, along with India and the Philippines, could soon become the next Covid-19 hot spots given their large populations, weak health care infrastructure and social security net, according to Nomura Holdings Inc. Mortality Rate The highest mortality rate in Asia may signal the actual number of infections may be much higher than reported in Indonesia, reflecting a lack of Covid-19 testing capacity, Nomura said in a report last week. The country may eventually be forced to implement a complete lockdown in April and possibly for an extended period, Nomura said. Story continues The president has rejected calls to lock down cities and regions to fight the virus, saying such harsh steps would hurt the poor the most. But the surge in cases has overwhelmed the countrys health care system, with authorities struggling to procure enough personal protection equipment, hazmat suits and ventilators for medical workers. Some local administrations have sought permission to impose large scale social distancing measures under a new rule issued by the Health Ministry, Doni Monardo, chief of the governments task force on coronavirus said Monday. The steps will allow police and other law enforcement agencies to take measurable actions, according to officials. Indonesia Slashes Growth Forecast by More Than Half on Virus The police will step up a crackdown on gathering of people across the archipelago to aid the government efforts to break the virus chain, national police spokesman Argo Yuwono said in a televised briefing Monday. Law enforcement agencies have also investigated more than a dozen cases of hoarding of food, masks and other essential supplies and price gouging, he said. Jokowi said a plan to release prisoners from the nations crowded jails should be limited to those serving terms for general crimes and not those convicted for corruption and other serious offenses. The president also ordered speedier reallocation of budget to tackle the health and economic impact of the pandemic, his office said in a statement. (Updates with latest coronavirus data in third paragraph.) For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. A raging forest fire that engulfed 250 acres around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant this weekend was started 'for fun', police say. The blaze caused radiation levels in the exclusion zone to surge with some readings showing radioactivity at almost five times the permitted levels. A 27-year-old man was today arrested on suspicion of deliberately causing the fire and could face up to five years jail. The Ukrainian State Rescue Service said: 'The difficulty with extinguishing the fire is some areas have increased radiation.' A raging forest fire that engulfed 250 acres around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant this weekend was started 'for fun', police say The blaze caused radiation levels in the exclusion zone to surge with some readings showing radioactivity at almost five times the permitted levels The fires were started by burning grass on farmland. The flames then got out of control and caught trees in the exclusion zone, reports suggest. Two Antonov planes (AN-32P) and MI-8 helicopters were used to drop more than 200 tons of water on the flames. But two hot spots remain in the almost uninhabited 1,000-square-mile exclusion zone. A 27-year-old man was today arrested on suspicion of deliberately causing the fire (pictured) and could face up to five years jail The Ukrainian State Rescue Service said: 'The difficulty with extinguishing the fire (pictured) is some areas have increased radiation' Local law enforcement source said the suspect 'told police that he set the grass and litter on fire for fun in three areas. 'Then the wind blew the fire and the man couldn't extinguish the fire by himself.' Viktoria Ruban, press secretary of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, said: 'Investigative group will be working in the Chernobyl area, but preliminary data shows it was caused by man.' She confirmed the radiation had been over the norm in the epicentre of the fire. '99 per cent of fires in Chernobyl Zone and in Kyiv region are caused by humans', she added. The head of Ukraine's ecological inspection service Egor Firsov found readings of 2.3 microsievert per hour (Sv/h) around the fire outbreak The head of Ukraine's ecological inspection service Egor Firsov found readings of 2.3 microsievert per hour (Sv/h) around the fire outbreak. The norm is 0.14 whole the maximum value concidered safe is 0.5 Sv/h. Like most countries, Ukraine's frontline workers are already trying to wrestle its own coronavirus epidemic, which has infected 6,000 and killed 47. Residents in nearest city Kyiv were told it was safe to open their windows during the lockdown. The 1986 explosion sent radioactive fallout across Europe exposing millions to dangerous levels of radiation. Based on the spike in new enquiries that members have experienced over the last couple of weeks, the Association of Irish Mortgage Advisors say they are anticipating that the volume of people applying to switch their mortgage for a better deal will increase by 20% or more over the next 4-6 weeks. The AIMA report that while thousands of would-be homebuyers all over the country are desperately calling mortgage brokers and banks, wondering as to the status of their mortgage application or home purchase, a separate cohort of existing homeowners are making similar calls, to see if they can make some savings on their mortgage repayments by switching rates and/or lenders. Trevor Grant, Chairperson of the Association of Irish Mortgage Advisors (AIMA), which represents mortgage brokers throughout the country, spoke of the opportunity this time presents for some mortgage holders: Every household in the country is now pretty much confined to their homes. People are using this as an opportunity to get their financial affairs in order. A mortgage is most peoples largest monthly outgoing so the savings that can be made by switching are generally larger than the combined benefit of switching utilities, mobile providers and health insurance providers. Mortgage rates have reduced considerably in the last 6 months, with lowest market rate now standing at 2.2% and most lenders will cover any costs associated with switching. Our members are finding enquiries on switching are up now that people have more time. AIMA say their broker members have also been inundated with calls over the last few weeks from purchasers concerned as to whether or not their house purchase will now close, or their mortgage will be approved, as a result of the COVID-19 national emergency. The mortgage advisory experts say that brokers and lenders are working to the best of their ability to ensure pending house sales get over the line, though they are likely to take longer. Reports have also suggested that all parties involved are understanding of the current situation and are displaying great patience. Innovative ways of viewing homes online from estate agents and digital application submissions from lenders are helping matters. Mr Grant said that despite the crisis many people are still hoping to continue with their plans for buying a new home: Home buyers are understandably worried about how the crisis is going to impact the purchase of their dream home. Many people were on the cusp of buying their first home, they need these deals to go through, and we are assuring them that everything is being done to ensure this happens as soon as possible. "Of course, there are now obstacles in our paths in so many ways, and when it comes to mortgages, we are endeavouring to help clients navigate these. So, by deploying employees to their homes to work remotely, and maintaining contact with banks and clients via email or phone, our members can continue to help their clients just as before. AIMA are also advising those would-be homebuyers who had planned to submit mortgage applications for house purchase to continue to do so. They say that although delays mean approvals might take a little longer, they hope that by the time the mortgages applications are processed, homebuyers will be able to go view the properties they are looking to buy. Mr. Grant concluded: We appreciate that the financial situation of so many people has changed so suddenly, and we are united in the hope that they will change for the better just as quick, as soon as the crisis has passed. But for others, the COVID 19 emergency might not have had a direct impact on their finances, and it is to these people we are saying, push ahead with your mortgage application plans, it is absolutely worth your while to do so to mitigate the effect of any delays that may ensue. "When it comes to those looking to switch, we appreciate it can be a little overwhelming with so many lenders claiming to offer the best deal. For this reason, a market-based mortgage broker can be a very useful resource they can act as an impartial option to find out which mortgage is best for each individuals circumstances and to help switchers through the process. Gorgeous, amazing, beautiful, sensitive, kind, generous, caring, genius Sukanya Shankar reels out a string of adjectives as she remembers her husband and sitarist nonpareil Pandit Ravi Shankar ahead of his 100thbirth anniversary on Tuesday. It has been almost eight years since his death in December 2012, and Sukanya looks back with content at her years spent with the legendary musician, credited with taking the sound of the sitar to distant corners of the world. I always think of him as the most gorgeous, amazing, beautiful, sensitive, kind, generous and caring man and an absolutely genius and saintly musician, she told PTI in an interview a day ahead of his 100thbirth anniversary. To commemorate his centenary year, a series of Ravi Shankar Centennial Concerts' was planned featuring his daughters Norah Jones and Anoushka Shankar. However, the tour stands cancelled indefinitely due to the spread of the coronavirus. Sukanya describes her late husband as a man in love with love itself. The 63-year-old recalls her nine-year-old self watching him play for the first time, and their subsequent meeting eight years later to collaborate on stage. I saw him as a little girl of nine at Music Academy Chennai. Even though I didn't understand much of the Hindustani music that he was playing, I was impressed, she told PTI in an an email interaction from her home in London. Eight years later in 1972, she performed with him at London's Royal Albert Hall. She remembers being in awe of the absolutely gorgeous creature the moment she saw him. She was 17 and he 52, and the rest just followed.His niece Viji was a friend and Sukanya was herself a tanpura player. When I was in London, she (Viji) asked me if I could play the tanpura for him at Royal Albert Hall and of course I was so excited and looked forward to it. It was strange to me that he wanted to have a rehearsal for playing the tanpura for him. I will never forget the image of him walking down the stairs, this absolutely gorgeous creature called Ravi Shankar! I was just 17 years old then, she remembered. Sukanya, who called him kaku (uncle) at the time, recalls the perfectionist musician who cut her nails because they would hinder the sound of the tanpura. He went on to bring some nail clippers and started to cut my nails himself. He first cut my right hand nails and then looked at me and said that both hands needed to be balanced and cut my left hand nails as well! That was him a perfectionist! He was the sweetest man and I started to call him Kaku (uncle) like Viji did, the former musician said. The affection and admiration took root on that day and grew up to be a life-long amorous partnership. In 1978, when the affair started, Sukanya was married. My first marriage was one of convenience. There was no sexual attraction or love but there was great affection. My family was indeed a bit shocked in the beginning and so was the world I think and that was natural, she said. At the time, she added, American concert producer Sue Jones was one of Ravi Shankar's partners while he was also living with classical musician Kamala Chakravarty and still married to Annapurna Devi even though they had separated a long time ago. Along with Sue, he had several other partners too. Love happened from my side first. I really don't know when he fell in love with me. I think he was in love with love itself! Ravi Shankar, who was known for his many love affairs apart from his musical prowess, wrote in his autobiography Raga Mala that he could be in love with different women at different places. In 1979, Jones gave birth to Ravi Shankar's daughter, Norah Jones. Three years later, in 1981, his second daughter Anoushka was born to Sukanya. It was difficult and more difficult to hide Anoushka's identity as she was a spitting image of him. I wanted to have a part of him and I was honest with my close friends and didn't think it was anybody else's business, Sukanya remembered. The two eventually got married in 1989 when Anoushka was eight. Life wasn't easy for his two daughters as Anoushka remained away from him for the first seven years of her life and Norah didn't have him around during her teenage years. ...that was destiny. Norah came to us when she was 18 and we never looked back after that. Raviji loved her dearly as she was the first daughter that he always wanted. By God's grace everything was sorted out and I am so glad that Anoushka and Norah are so close now which is so important. Both his daughter are accomplished musicians. While Norah is a vocalist and pianist, Anoushka is a sitarist like her father. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) From IPL to CoWin: What Indians searched for most on Google in 2021 Do you know this was the most searched math problem by Indians on Google in 2021. Can you answer it? How to make oxygen at home among top 10 How to Google trends this year Google Maps to show locations of COVID-19 food, night shelters in India India pti-PTI New Delhi, Apr 06: Google on Monday said it will now show the locations of food and night shelters on Google Maps in cities across India to help people find these essential services during the ongoing lockdown. Google, in a statement, said it is working closely with state and central government authorities to surface the locations of these relief centres. "To date, across 30 cities, people can now find these locations on Google Maps, Search and Google Assistant," it added. Users can search for 'Food shelters in ' or 'Night shelters in ' in any of these Google products. The service will also be made available in Hindi soon, the statement said. Google is working to bring this service to other Indian languages over the coming weeks, as well as adding additional shelters in more cities across the country, it added. "As the COVID-19 situation develops, we are making a concerted effort to build solutions that help people during these times of need," Google India Senior Programme Manager Anal Ghosh said. He added that highlighting the locations of food and night shelters on Google Maps is a step to make this information easily available to the users in need, and ensure they can avail the food and shelter services being provided by the government authorities. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruption in people's lives, affecting aspects like livelihood, regular access to food and transportation. Many migrant workers started moving from various cities across the country towards their home on foot. "With the help of volunteers, NGOs, and traffic authorities, we hope to convey this important information to the affected people, many of whom may not have access to a smartphone or mobile device during this time," he said. IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also tweeted about the feature. "Now you can use Google Maps, Search and Google Assistant to find out food shelters and night shelters near you and help a needy person. This has been developed by @GoogleIndia in collaboration with @mygovindia," he wrote. UUP leader Steve Aiken said "blatant sectarian" threats made against Health Minister Robin Swann were an attack on the healthcare system. The BBC Stephen Nolan show reported an arrest had been made after threatening posts on social media. In one message Mr Swann's family were threatened and he was told to "leave Ireland". Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill condemned the attack as "disgraceful". "In very turbulent and challenging times there is no place for this nonsense as we work together to save lives," she tweeted. "Solidarity to Robin and his family." First Minister Arlene Foster described the threats as "vile and disgusting". "Especially at a time when we are focused on protecting life and getting Northern Ireland through Covid-19," she tweeted. This is an absolutely disgusting attack on someone who is doing their level best for everybody in Northern Ireland. Steve Aiken Steve Aiken said all political leaders should condemn the attack on the father of two young children, "particularly for someone who is doing his best for Northern Ireland and who is trying to do his best to make sure we are ready to face the biggest crisis we have faced in over 100 years". "Robin is a very robust character and will deal with this effectively. I have never heard so much support for a politician in Northern Ireland, he is doing a fantastic job." He added: "We also have to make sure Robin himself feels secure. Because he is doing an essential job as are many people across the health service and in other essential businesses across Northern Ireland. "This is an absolutely disgusting attack on someone who is doing their level best for everybody in Northern Ireland. "It is not just an attack on Robin, it is an attack on our whole system and our health service and on our health care. The fact it has sectarian overtones shows the how important it is for all political leaders to condemn it." Mr Aiken continued: "Robin wants to do the best, to make sure the Northern Ireland Executive is seen to be functioning effectively because everyone in NI needs to have confidence our Executive is doing the right thing. "When Arlene Foster talked of unity of purpose we believed that. Robin is minister dealing with crisis at the front end and he is the one that needs to see that and I would encourage all political leaders strongly to ensure we have this unity. "The reality is we need to work together and I hope that message has gotten very clearly through to the deputy first minister and her other ministers. "We want to be in a position to defeat this virus.. and the way to do it is to work together." Robin is working hard to protect the public and online abuse will not deter him. Brandon Lewis Police confirmed their investigation into the incident was ongoing. There was widespread condemnation of the threats. Northern Ireland Secretary of State Brandon Lewis also condemned the incident. "All public representatives should be allowed to serve the people who elected them without fear or intimidation," he said. "Robin is working hard to protect the public and online abuse will not deter him." SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP also condemned the abuse and threats targeting Health Minister Robin Swann and his family. Robin Swann is working night and day to reduce the impact of Coronavirus on our communities," he said. "The vile sectarian abuse and threats that he and his family have been subjected to are disgusting and those responsible must be held accountable. On behalf of the SDLP, I want to express our solidarity with Robin and his family. The Alliance MLA Andrew Muir added: "Utterly disgusting Robin Swann and his family having to endure this disgraceful abuse whilst working relentlessly as our health minister. I condemn it outright, it's shameful." DUP MLA Christopher Stalford described the threats as a "disgrace". "Robin Swann is doing what in normal circumstances is one of the hardest jobs in government," he said in a tweet. "He is doing so during a global pandemic. The threats to him and his family are a disgrace. Those behind them are a disgrace. Those calling it "holding him to account" are a disgrace." TUV leader Jim Allister added: To abuse the health minister is bad enough. To bring his family into it shows just how low some people can sink," he said. I welcome the fact that police have made an arrest and I hope those responsible are brought to justice. Speaking as a representative of a rival political party I think it is important to note that the vast majority of commentary I hear from members of the public is supportive of how the Robin has performed thus far. He and his family are in my thoughts and prayers. In a statement, the PSNI said: "Police are investigating after threatening and offensive comments were made on a social media platform on Friday April 3. "A 26-year-old man was arrested in the Ballymena area on Sunday on suspicion of improper use of telecommunications causing anxiety and subsequently released on police bail pending further enquiries. "The investigation is ongoing." The Department of Health added: "The department can confirm that a threatening communication was received by the minister via social media. This matter has been passed to the police. The department will not be making any further comment. Rahul Gaywala, the CEO of STPL has been with the Sahajanand Group since 1993 and in his tenure with STPL, he has proved to be a hard-core innovator and technocrat intent on helping to transform the diamond trade from a labour-intensive industry to an automated industry. Rahul handles the company's worldwide operations including business development, R&D, production, and supply chain. He has a tremendous cross culture and global exposures in diamond technology, industrial laser, medical devices, and life sciences industry. Rahul has 2 national and 4 international patents on his name. For his outstanding contribution in the global diamond industry, Rahul has been conferred with Awards as Man of Excellence award, 2014, by Brand Academy Institute as well as The Most Enterprising CEO award, 2013 by Indian Achievers Forum. Recently, STPL was awarded with Most Innovative Company of for production technology by JNA Awards at Hong Kong. STPL has won many international awards for innovation excellence, including Good design Award- Japan, Vision System Design Innovators Award USA and many more. STPL has been crowned with India Design Mark Award twice for its rough diamond planning and diamond cutting systems respectively. On a quality level STPL has won Platinum Level Quality Excellence Award by The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry Can you run us through STPLs products since the companys inception? Barring the Indian diamond industry, which other countries diamond sector does STPL supply its products? Since inception, STPL has launched several trendsetting products. In 1995, we have started our journey with an indigenous (Indias First) diamond cutting laser system which was mainly developed keeping accuracy, productivity and affordability as the main concern and to eliminate the scarcity for skilled labour. With this laser machine, the diamond manufacturing process started getting pace to meet the production of the diamond cutting process but the planning of rough stones was still a holding strand of this pace as it's very much essential to plan a rough stone to get an optimum polish yield from the particular rough stone. In 2003, we have developed Indias first rough diamond planner (The Magnus Digital) to eradicate this problem and since then we have installed more than 5000+ planners world-wide. Just to power the polish diamond trading process more secure and safe using our laser expertise in 2006, we have launched the diamond security and verification system (Smart-i15). STPL launched its four processes (4P) and blocking machine to accurately shape the rough diamond in the final diamond asked geometry. Through our 4P and blocking laser system, one gets almost ready diamond in a single setting. From 2011 to 2016 we have added many value-added features in our product line to make it more effective in term of getting maximum and accurate production. Finally, in 2017, we have launched the industry's first robot and we are continuing our legacy with recent machines. With continuous improvements and innovations, STPL always remained a trendsetter in the diamond industry. We have footprints in more than 27 countries across 5 continents. Majorly we are working with clients from the USA, China, Cambodia, Israel, Russia and Brazil. Apart from the natural diamond industry, we have introduced path-breaking technologies for lab-grown diamond industry as well. Till now in total, we have installed 12,000+ systems world-wide. STPLs worlds first diamond processing ROBOTs has caught the global diamond industrys attention. Can you give us more details on this novel product? Presuming that other high precision and mass productive industries other than diamond industry may have shown interested too, which other industries other does STPL cater to? It's called ROBOMATIC. Indeed, it is an absolute pleasure to see this ROBOT working in a fully automated way. The ROBOMATIC works in collaboration with our planner machine. One can load up to 600 stones at once in this Robot. To elaborate on how this works, Robot picks and places the stones one by one then, it identifies the correct cutting plan through AI and advanced image processing and fetches the plan from our planner. Going further Robot sets the stone by itself to initiate the cutting/shaping process. And then it starts cutting the stone as per the plan without any human intervention. It is highly accurate and reliable robotic System. It is as simple as loading up 600 stones in a ROBOT and collecting almost ready stones. So only loading up (rough stones) and collecting (shaped/cut diamonds) are the tasks operators need to do. Apart from the diamond industry, the medical industry is also precision-based such as the diamond industry. We cater to the medical industry by making laser machines for cardiovascular stent manufacturing. The precision and quality of finished products are the utmost requirements keeping in mind that the stents are going to be implanted inside the human body. We use our expertise with the medical industry leaders to make reliable and life-saving machines. Apart from Diamond and Medical, we also have industrial lasers for the manufacturing industry. STPL has been producing sophisticated products for many years now. Is there any new product on the anvil this year? And, how is STPL faring in India currently, given that other tech players are also aggressively entering the market? What steps is STPL taking to maintain its position as a global leader in the field, and a major tech supplier to the Indian sector as well as across the globe? Right from the beginning, we are working on a theme to produce/develop high-tech innovations/machines in very much affordable price range. STPL is well known across the world diamond industry in terms of setting up trends and standards for innovative technologies. When it comes to comparison or competition, STPL has always stood on the front line in terms of developing and innovating new technologies. For its innovation excellence, STPL has been crowned with many international and national awards. We can proudly say that STPL is the only company who comes up with innovative technology almost every calendar year. So giving a high-tech and high yield gainer technologies in most affordable price caps is a fundamental philosophy at the core STPL is having. This year too we have more robotic technologies into our development pipelines which will be eventually launched in the market. In current times, there is a need for tech-companies to keep pace the fast-changing scenario in technology upgrades, innovations etc. How does STPL keep abreast with this volatility in the tech-world? At STPL we believe that innovation and automation can conquer any challenges faced by any industry throughout the world. And to develop good innovation one needs a good team to innovate and execute the automation. We believe that the company's strength is its employees. At STPL, we are well-off to get the best talent in the industry under one roof in terms of all the departs from R&D Supply Chain - Manufacturing- F&A Marketing Sales HR & Admin etc. The entire team remains in constant touch with the clients and provides solutions for their problems. Sometimes they have to go beyond traditional ways but with the result-driven approach and complete freedom of work, our team creates world-class innovations and service experience. While most of STPL products seems to be in good demand, which of the new product/s have made a significant mark in the diamond industry in the past few years resulting in higher demand? How has this reflected on your companys financials over the year? STPL offers a complete range of products for the diamond industry. We have technologies from planning to cutting to final shaping of the diamond to safe polished diamond trading. They work superior in collaboration with each other and generally, the diamond manufacturer takes the whole setup to get the best out of the polished yield. It is hard to distinguish which is most selling and which is least in demand. All the machines are in continuous demand since their launch this includes our rough diamond planners, diamond cutting systems and diamond shape cutting & polish diamond security systems. Do we understand that you supply customized products tailored to meet your clients needs? Can you give us an example of a project which was challenging for STPL to execute and why? Worldwide for any diamond manufacturer, the diamond manufacturing process is such a challenging process in terms of getting maximum polished yield and that too for every rough diamond stone. Every diamond processer has some or other uniqueness in their manufacturing processes. On a routine basis, our R&D experts stay in contact with top diamond companies who are into mass manufacturing of polished diamonds. Our team analyse their processes and on a personalized ground develop a dedicated solution for them. Each and every product of ours have a development story of its own. Diamond manufacturing is always been very challenging craftsmanship. Now to get it done entirely through an AI-based ROBOT with maximum productivity and utmost accuracy is a challenge but team STPL always believes that a systematic approach in innovative advancement can get done any development. Moreover, STPL is a part of the industry since 1993, and from then on STPL has introduced many path-breaking innovations for the world diamond industry till date. Being a manufacturer of planner and lasers, both giving more power to STPL in terms of developing any further developments and planner and laser are the fundamentals. Wrapping up, what is STPL's approach in the current COVID-19 scenario where a shutdown is staring at the industry? What steps are being taken by the company, to remain relevant in the present challenging perspective; and be steadfast in the future as well? Your thoughts ? This is a very tough time for humankind and my prayers are with the infected peoples. As I said earlier, my colleagues are the most valuable assets for me. Their wellbeing is the top priority in current times. We have taken every precautions and safety steps like availability of sanitizers and facial masks, daily screening of employees at the security gate, temporarily disabling biometric attendance. To take the same to the next level since last week we have instructed the majority of our team members to work from home till next update. Aruna Gaitonde, Editor in Chief of the Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished [April 06, 2020] The Ogilvie Group wishes to set the record straight MONTREAL, April 6, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - The management of the Ogilvie Group deplores the comments made by the Journal de Montreal in its April 1st edition to the effect that the company is not recognized as an essential service in the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ogilvie Group (ARO Inc., Synergie-Contact and Ogilvie Acquisition) is a multi-divisional company that provides outsourcing services to telecommunications companies through its call centres and collection departments. The Ogilvie Group wishes to point out that the services offered by the company's call centres have been recognized and confirmed as essential services in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia by several telecommunications companies based in Quebec and Canada. Contrary to what was asserted by the Journal de Montreal, in its April 1st edition, all of our eployees who work for our Montreal collection division are working safely from home. And, because of the current situation, in collaboration with our partners, we are striving to be very flexible in our dealings with citizens. A few people are required to be present in our call centres because of our essential service status in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia. Although the majority of our team now telecommutes, we have implemented strict social distancing and workplace hygiene measures and have appealed to our employees' professionalism and sense of civic-mindedness. Also, we have informed all of our employees that we shall reimburse any and all expenses they incur to purchase cleaning products and disinfectants (wipes, Purell-type hand soap). Furthermore, we have asked the firms in charge of cleaning and housekeeping to increase the frequency of their cleaning and disinfection operations and to pay special attention to our workspaces and common areas such as elevators and bathrooms. Our Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia call centres comply with the most recent social distancing standards as laid down by the public health directorates. Our contribution to the fight against COVID-19 We have also given access to the 14th floor of the building that houses our Montreal-based call centre to the Quebec government and its Ministry of Health for their operations related to the COVID-19 pandemic. All are working to ensure the well-being of citizens and operate in exemplary conditions that respect the strict social distancing standards in place. The Ogilvie Group and its agents shall make no further comments. SOURCE Ogilvie Group [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A civilian has lost his life in Ashaiman for breaching rules governing the partial lock down in the Greater Accra Region. The yet-to-be identified man, failed to heed a command from the soldier to leave the area and go home since he had nothing doing in the streets. The man, reports indicate refused to obey the command forcing the man in uniform to hit him severally with a cane. The victim however attempted to seize the soldiers gun from him. In the ensuing battle over the gun, the soliders gun went off and killed the man instantly, an eye witness who pleaded anonymity said. Below is a release from the Military on the release: MILITARY PRESS RELEASE The Ghana Armed Forces is investigating an incident that occurred in Ashiaman, Accra on Sunday 5 April 2020.The incident involved an attempt by a civilian to disarm a soldier who was conducting an arrest as part of OP COVID SAFETY. The civilian was being arrested on suspicion of indulging in illegal conduct contrary to the Narcotics Act. Initial reports are that the suspect in resisting arrest attempted to disarm the soldier leading to a struggle during which the soldiers rifle accidentally went off. The suspect sustained life-threatening injuries and while being conveyed to the hospital for medical attention unfortunately passed on. The body has been deposited at the Police Hospital morgue in Accra. Investigations have already commenced into the incident. The Ghana Armed Forces wishes to assure the general public that details of its investigations will be duly communicated. SIGNED E AGGREY-QUASHIE Colonel Director Public Relations Issued by the Public Relations Directorate, General Headquarters, Burma Camp, Accra 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 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during his daily press conference on the COVID-19 pandemic outside his residence in Ottawa on April 5, 2020. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press) Federal COVID-19 Benefits Open for Application, Payments Will Be Made Within 3-5 Days The Canada emergency response benefit (CERB) became open for application starting at 6 a.m. ET on April 6. Applicants will receive the payments within three to five days by direct deposit, or within 10 days by mail. The government is expected to make further adjustments to encompass a broader range of applicants in the coming weeks. Announced last month as part of the COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, CERB provides a temporary relief payment of $500 per week for up to 16 weeks to people who lost their source of income due to the virus pandemic. The benefit is available to workers who did not voluntarily quit their jobs or who are already eligible for employment insurance (EI). To prevent overloading the website, applications are accepted on specific weekdays based on the applicants birth month. Applicants born in January through March may apply on April 6 and the subsequent Mondays; those born in April through June on Tuesdays beginning on April 7; those born in July through September on April 8 and the subsequent Wednesdays; and applicants born in the last quarter of the year may apply on April 9 or the following Thursdays. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays are open to all applicants. But research by David Macdonald, a senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) who has been tracking how well the federal programs benefit laid-off workers, suggests that an estimated one-third of unemployed Canadians are left out of both the EI and CERB programs. CERB stipulates that applicants must have had a minimum income of $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application. This excludes roughly 175,000 workers who were laid off prior to March 15 from the program, Macdonald estimates. Similarly, an estimated 719,000 Canadians who lost their jobs prior to the pandemic were not entitled to EI benefits. [T]here are big issues as the EI and CERB programs try to co-exist which, left unaddressed, could mean hundreds of thousands of unemployed Canadians falling through the cracks, Macdonald said in a blog on the CCPA website. Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre pointed out that the current CERB rules prevent those working reduced hours from applying, and suggested that they be also eligible for benefits while working limited hours. If they work and earn any money during the period when theyve received the benefit, they lose the benefit altogether theyre effectively banned from doing any amount of work, he said during a news conference on April 5. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged the limitations of CERB, particularly as it relates to students who are expected to join the job market in the near future. For now, those with student loans have their repayments and loans automatically suspended until Sept. 30, 2020. Trudeau said more help for students is on the way. We know that we need to do more for young people as they come out of university and look for projects and ways of securing income this summer, he said during a press briefing on April 5. The United Kingdom has announced the first charter flights which will take British nationals stranded in India back home. These flights will depart from Delhi, Mumbai and Goa on different dates. Currently, there are 35000 UK citizens in India and the country's High Commission based in Delhi is working with its counterparts to send people back as soon as possible. More flights will be arranged from different locations in India shortly. Read: Londoners Enjoy Park Despite Virus Lockdown Seven charter flights have been scheduled from different Indian cities to bring home British nationals stranded in India due to lock-down. The flights announce will be taking the passengers directly to London. While flights from Delhi and Mumbai will depart on the same dates (9 and 11 April), they will depart on 8, 10 and 12 April from Goa. In a statement, the High Commission said that more flights will leave from other location in India regarding which they will inform shortly. Read: COVID-19: NHS Staff 'unite In Grief' After Midwife Dies From Deadly Virus In a statement, the Acting High Commissioner to India Jan Thompson said: "We know how worrying the past few weeks have been for British nationals in India. I hope this announcement will bring relief, especially to those in greatest need. Due to the large numbers of British travellers involved, the scale of this operation is huge. The UK Government continues to work hard with our Indian counterparts in New Delhi and London to arrange a safe journey back for as many people as possible." Read: UK Govt Warns People Of Tougher Social Distancing Measures Amid Coronavirus Outbreak The high commission requested people to visit the booking portal for reserving their seats while adding that there would more flights from different Indian cities regarding which the information will be shared soon. The mission said that ''ensuring the safety and well-being of British nationals'' was its top priority and it will ''continue to provide consular support to any British nationals who remain in India and require assistance''. Foreign Office Minister of State, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon said: "The UK is working around the clock to support the large numbers of British travellers who wish to return to the UK from India and around the world. In the absence of commercial flights, these first charter flights from India should provide relief to some of our British travellers who are desperate to return home, especially for the most vulnerable and those in greatest need." Currently, the estimated number of British nationals in India is 35000. According to the High Commission, about 20000 people have made requests to go back. The flight arrangements are strictly for British nationals and their direct dependants. A number of seats will be reserved for those considered ''vulnerable'' and they will be ''contacted directly'', read the statement from the High Commission. Read: COVID-19: British Airways Could Suspend 36,000 Employees As Aviation Sector Hit Hard President Cyril Ramaphosa of the Republic of South Africa, and Chairperson of the African Union (AU) convened a second and follow-up teleconference meeting of the AU Bureau of Heads of State and Government, on 3 April 2020, to discuss the African response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The following members of the Bureau participated in the teleconference meeting: President Abdel Fattah al Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of the Republic of Mali, President Uhuru Kenyatta of the Republic of Kenya, and President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat . President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, President Macky Sall of the Republic of Senegal, and President Emmerson Mnangagwa of the Republic of Zimbabwe also participated in the teleconference. The Bureau received presentations from Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus the Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr John Nkengasong, Director of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and President Emmanuel Macron of France. Chairperson Faki briefed the Bureau on actions undertaken by the Commission on recommendations from the Bureau meeting on Covid19 held on 26 March 2020. Dr John Nkengasong, Director of Africa CDC gave a continental update which highlighted rapidly increasing Covid-19 infection rates across the continent. Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus emphasised the importance of acting now to test and to guarantee equitable access to test kits, masks and personal protective equipment (PPEs), vaccines and therapeutics as soon as they become available. The Bureau of Heads of State and Government commended the able stewardship of exemplary leadership of Dr Tedros in leading the global response to the pandemic. The Heads of States highlighted the unprecedented threat that Covid-19 presents to the health of African citizens and to the continents hard-won developmental and economic gains. They also recognised the imperative to establish humanitarian and trade corridors in a spirit of African solidarity and integration. Given the urgent need for medical supplies and equipment, the Heads of states called for international cooperation and support while up-scaling local production on the continent. The Heads of States noted with satisfaction progress made in operationalising the African Union Covid-19 Response Fund established on 26 March 2020 to which members pledged the sum of US$12.5 million and an additional US$4.5million to the Africa CDC. It was agreed to establish continental ministerial coordination committees on Health, Finance and Transport to coordinate in order to support the comprehensive continental strategy. The Heads of States underscored the need for a comprehensive and coordinated continental approach, and to speak with one voice on Africas priorities. Cognizant of the devastating socio-economic and political impact of the pandemic on African countries, the Bureau reiterated the need for rapid and concrete support as pledged by the G20 and other international partners, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. It is critical that these institutions review their current disbursement policies to display flexibility and speed, including raising the availability of IMF Special Drawing Rights (SDRs). The Bureau also echoed the call for a comprehensive stimulus package for Africa, including, deferred payments, the immediate suspension of interest payments on Africas external public and private debt in order to create fiscal space for Covid-19 response measures. Lifesaving supplies including PPEs, masks, gowns, and ventilators and other support devices are urgently needed. The Bureau commended the rapid action coordinated by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Jack Ma Foundation in mobilising and distributing, with the support of the World Food Programme (WFP) and Africa CDC, over one million diagnostic tests, six million masks and 600,000 PPE items to all African Union member states in less than a week. The Heads of States and Government strongly urged for the immediate lifting of all economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and Sudan to allow them to adequately respond to the pandemic and save lives. The African Union has repeatedly called for the lifting of these punitive sanctions, which the Bureau consider intolerable and inhumane in the present context. It was noted that the Sahel region need special attention in the light of terrorist activity, and pledge solidarity with the countries in this region who have to fight the twin scourge of terrorism and COVID-19. The Heads of States and Government thanked President Emmanuel Macron for his strong support for Africa during the Extraordinary G20 Summit. The Bureau expressed its support for the proposals he raised regarding a comprehensive approach to mobilising international support for Africas health, economic, humanitarian, and medical research priorities, which are aligned with the in African position. The Bureau also acknowledged the commitment of the Peoples Republic of China for its support and solidarity with Africa. RIO DE JANEIROChinas embassy in Brazil responded with outrage Monday to a social media post by Brazils Education Minister Abraham Weintraub that appeared to mock Chinese accents while insinuating the Asian giant stood to benefit from the coronavirus pandemic apparently reigniting a smouldering diplomatic row between Brazil and its largest trading partner. The embassy described the post as defamatory, stigmatizing, completely absurd and despicable, and having a strongly racist manner. Weintraub posted a cartoon depicting China with a message with rs swapped for ls, apparently to ridicule the Chinese accent that insinuated the Asian giant could gain geopolitical advantages from the ongoing pandemic. The dispute comes just weeks after President Jair Bolsonaro sought to pacify a similar dispute sparked by his son. We demand that some Brazilian individuals immediately correct the errors they have committed and stop with unfounded accusations against China, said the embassy statement published just after midnight. Chinas ambassador Yang Wanming followed up hours later, saying he still awaits an official declaration from Brazils government. The blowup comes at an inconvienient time for policymakers from Latin Americas largest economy, who are scrambling for measures to minimize the looming recession spawned by the virus. China gobbles up Brazils soy, iron and crude oil, and its $14 billion in exports to China in the first quarter of 2020 were equal to 29 per cent of its global total. During Bolsonaros 2018 presidential campaign, he issued a series of attacks against China, calling its people heartless and saying he wouldnt let it buy up Brazil. Since taking office in January 2019, however, he has reined in his vitriol, struck a more conciliatory tone and travelled to Beijing where he met Chinas President Xi Jinping and courted foreign investment to help the economic recovery. Bolsonaros son Eduardo, a lawmaker who chairs the lower houses foreign relations committee, said on social media on March 18 that, similar to the Soviet Unions response to the Chornobyl nuclear accident, the Chinese government had covered up the new coronavirus and was to blame for lives lost. China responded with open criticism, including from its ambassador. President Bolsonaro worked to patch things up on a March 24 phone call to Preident Xi, with several ministers sitting beside him. Vice-President Hamilton Mourao explained away the incident publicly, saying the younger Bolsonaro doesnt form part of his fathers administration and his statement didnt reflect policymakers opinions. That excuse wouldnt apply to Cabinet member Weintraub. The press office of the presidency declined to comment on why Weintraub made the post or removed it. The press office of the Education Ministry didnt respond to a request for comment. It is becoming quite serious now, because it is escalating, said Mauricio Santoro, an international relations professor at Rio de Janeiros state university, with a focus on China. It was bad enough with the presidents son saying these things. Now its a minister, someone who is part of the government. Its much more complicated. Even if I dont believe this is part of a big plan, something organized, it is hard for the Chinese government to believe that. There is some basis for criticism of Chinese governments outbreak response, Santoro said by phone, particularly in the crucial first weeks, during which it silenced some who were sounding the alarm. And thats providing ammunition to some in Bolsonaros administration with an anti-globalist bent, and who frequently turn to social media to mobilize their support base, he said. On Monday, one of the top trending topics on Brazilian Twitter was #ChineseTradeBlockadeNow. Another was Weintraub, the minister who had made the controversial post over the weekend. A tutor allegedly flouted a sexual offences prevention order by contacting children at nearly 40 schools across Northern Ireland, a court heard today. Police claimed Ching Lun Tsang used year group photos as part of social media approaches to more than 200 pupils. The developing scale of the investigation emerged as the 34-year-old was refused bail. District Judge Fiona Bagnall said: "I think he's a danger to the public in light of the information I'm hearing from police." Tsang, of Larkfield Road in Belfast, is charged with 24 counts of breaching the order on dates between December 2018 and November 2019. The alleged offences involve contacting a number of children at secondary and grammar schools. He is also accused of sending an advertisement for online and face-to-face tutoring services, as well as supplying private teaching, despite prohibitions on such actions. Further alleged breaches involve having a female under the age of 18 at his home address without prior approval from social services or a designated risk manager, and reactivating two tutoring accounts. None of the schools can be identified due to reporting restrictions. Belfast Magistrates' Court was told today police have now gained access to previously encrypted computer equipment. Opposing Tsang's bid to be released from custody, a PSNI officer claimed Tsang could commit further offences or interfere with the investigation. She said: "He has contacted in excess of 200 children at 37 schools across Northern Ireland. "He may have been targeting them by school web pages, downloading and storing names and year group photos, and making contact on Snapchat." Defence barrister Luke Curran countered that Tsang is not accused of touching or any physical contact with children. "The alleged offences involve the internet," he insisted. Denying bail, however, Mrs Bagnall ruled: "There's a strong likelihood of re-offending." She remanded Tsang in custody to appear again by video-link in four weeks time. Spiritual Practice Continues to Be Persecuted in China Amid the CCP Virus Pandemic The Chinese Communist Party continues to persecute millions of people who practice Falun Gong in China as the world is focused on battling the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus pandemic. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is an ancient Chinese spiritual practice known to relieve stress and increase energy. It consists of simple slow-moving exercises and meditation with an emphasis on incorporating the principles of truth, compassion, and forbearance in everyday life. According to Minghui.org, a website that documents the CCPs campaign of persecution against Falun Gong, 48-year-old Gong Fengqian lost consciousness from being tortured for his faith at Yilan Detention Center on Jan. 27. He was then secretly transferred to a hospital and put in a quarantine room for COVID-19 patients although he did not have the disease. COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus. Gongs current condition is unknown as the Chinese Communist officials have refused to allow family visitation. For the past 20 years, Gong has been repeatedly harassed, arrested, tortured, and imprisoned for refusing to renounce his faith. His wife, who also practiced Falun Gong, died in December while trying to escape from the persecution. Over 4,300 Falun Gong adherents have been killed in the persecution in China, according to Minghui.org. The actual number of deaths is thought to be much higher as thousands of cases remain unconfirmed due to the CCPs tight-fisted control over details of the persecution. Zhu Tonggui, a resident of Shandong Province, was secretly sentenced to prison in March, according to a report on the Minghui website. He and his older brother were both arrested on May 23, 2018, for their belief in Falun Gong. During his detention, Zhu was beaten, deprived of sleep for three consecutive days, and handcuffed and shackled in a position that did not allow him to stand up straight. Infection of COVID-19 at Wuhan Womens Prison According to a Minghui report, the official data published on Feb. 21, Wuhan Womens Prison had 230 confirmed coronavirus cases. Even with the high numbers of CCP virus cases, the prison authorities refused to release any inmates, including prisoners of conscience. Wuhan Womens Prison is known for severely torturing Falun Gong adherents who are imprisoned for refusing to renounce their faith in the practice. The prison was named a Model Prison for its role in persecuting practitioners. Officers from other provinces were mobilized to Wuhan during the epidemic. According to the Chinese media Beijing Spring, 24 police officers in Hunan Province were sent to Wuhan Womens Prison on Feb. 23. Around the same time, officers from three different provinces were also sent to Wuhan. According to the report, officers working in the prison are all wearing protective gowns and goggles and their cellphones have been confiscated. The CCP has been trying to prevent Chinese citizens from leaking information about the pandemic. Families Separated by the Persecution A woman doing Falun Dafa meditation. After an experiment with brain scans, a group of longtime meditators were able to transform the anatomy of the brain in surprising ways. (Minghui.org) When Falun Gong was publicly introduced in 1992, it became widely popular with Chinese citizens because of its health benefits and focus on spirituality and morality. Laura Liu, an elementary school teacher who resides in the United States, said she began practicing Falun Gong in China with her mother when she was seven years old in 1995. Her mother used to suffer from a lumbar disc herniation and pleuritis, and was in constant pain and relied on medications daily. Soon after practicing, she claimed that all of her illnesses disappeared, she no longer lived with pain, and was happier. Lius mother was the first person to learn the practice in her hometown in northern China. She naturally became the local coordinator, organizing morning exercises in the park and an evening study group where people got together to read the teachings of Falun Gong. Life for Liu and her family changed after the CCP reversed its support of Falun Gong and launched a nationwide crackdown on the practice on July 20, 1999. An earlier government survey found 70 million to 100 million people practicing Falun Gong, more than members of the Party, causing concern for the legitimacy of the atheist, totalitarian regime. Millions of law-abiding citizens became the number one enemy of the state, and were subjected to arrests, torture, imprisonment, hard labor, and forced organ harvesting while still alive. Lius mother went to Tiananmen Square in Beijing to appeal for the right to practice her belief and was arrested. She was put into a detention center for almost 40 days, Liu said. Afterward, the police would continue to try to arrest Lius mother, harass the family, and ransack their home almost every year, looking for Falun Gong books or informational flyers about the persecution to use as evidence for justification of the arrest. Liu said her mother was arrested at least six times for refusing to renounce her belief in truth, compassion, and forbearance. While held in a detention center or a forced labor camp, Lius mother was forced to do hard labor from morning to night making childrens toys and plastic flowers similar to those sold in large chain stores in the United States. In June 2019, the police broke into Lius mothers home again and ransacked it. They found Falun Gong books and leaflets about the persecution and used them as evidence to issue an arrest warrant for her mother. Lius mother was forced to leave home to avoid arrest and further persecution. Liu has not talked to her mother for nearly six months. Im very worried about her safety, Liu said. Since then, the police have continued to harass Lius brother to inquire about their mothers whereabouts. Plainclothes officers have also been monitoring her mothers home. Last week during the pandemic, someone from the government office called my brother to ask about my mom. Levi Browde, executive director of the Falun Dafa Information Center, told The Epoch Times, Back in February, Minghui was reporting 282 people were arrested, which is a significant uptick from February of the prior year. We do see some things that you would attribute to the lockdown like a decrease in actual sentencing because the courts arent coming together, Browde said. So there are fewer sentencing, but if you look at just the arrest number, which I think is the most accurate number for determining how much of the persecution is still going on under the pandemic. Falun Gong practitioners protest the persecution inside China at United Nations Plaza on Sept. 24, 2019. (Eva Fu/The Epoch Times) Vivian, a mother of a 2-year-old daughter who lives in the United States, said her mother was back at her hometown in northeastern China when the CCP virus broke out. The local police and city managers forced people to stay inside without informing them of the reason. Without any notice, The rule was enforced before the Chinese New Year, Vivian said. Family gatherings were all canceled by the CCP. Nobody can go visit other family members. Buying food and other supplies were strictly regulated and went through the police. They have to call the policeman, just like you call 911 in America, Vivian said. The government and the police control everything. Vivian said the police also charged a higher price and refused to allow farmers to sell their food. Vivian cannot go back to China for fear of being arrested and detained. Both she and her husband practice Falun Gong and have been active in raising awareness about the persecution. She was in middle school when the persecution began. Her parents were imprisoned for appealing for the right to practice Falun Gong. She said she was demeaned and bullied at school by teachers and students. Even relatives refused to help her when she barely had any food to eat and had to take care of her ill grandmother by herself. They feared being targeted by the CCP for associating with her and her parents. Like Vivian, Liu also faced discrimination and bullying while growing up because of her belief. For a long time, she said she felt ashamed. My mom told me, dont feel shameful of being a practitioner. This is the most, right thing were doing. Practicing Dafa is not wrong. It is the government that is doing the evil thing. Liu, now an American citizen, says being in America and having access to uncensored information has helped her understand how evil the CCP is and how the regime used the education system to brainwash Chinese people into misunderstanding and being fearful of Falun Gong. She says witnessing her family being continuously harassed while being bullied at school in China has made her an introvert, but her spiritual belief has given her unyielding strength. I should be proud of my mom, Liu said. I should be proud of my family and I should be proud of myself being a practitioner because Falun Dafa asks us to be compassionate. Were always doing the right things, we never hurt people. Double Lung Transplant Raises Concerns of Illegal Organ Harvesting Doctors carry fresh organs for transplant at a hospital in Henan Province, China, on Aug. 16, 2012. (Screenshot via Sohu.com) A double-lung transplant was performed for the first time in China on Feb. 29 on a patient who was diagnosed with COVID-19, but eventually tested negative for the disease. The lungs came from a brain-dead patient. Browde says with organ harvesting, The idea that they have the ability to reverse match meaning the moment someone needs an organ, that organ suddenly materializes within hours or days. The only way thats possible is they have living people pretested, ready to kill to supply those organs, Browde said. While in the United States and other western countries, finding an organ match can take months or years. An independent tribunal that investigated the Chinese regimes killing of prisoners of conscience and sale of their organs for profit, headed by Sir Geoffrey Nice QC, concluded in its final judgment (pdf) on March 1 that There is no evidence of the practice having been stopped. The report further states that physical acts have been carried out that are indicative of the crime of genocide. Moving On Linda (who is using an alias to protect her family in China) is a data analyst in the United States. She said when she began practicing Falun Gong in middle school, a lot of people practiced it, and the government actually awarded it and encouraged people to practice because its good for both physical and mental health. Linda picked up the practice after witnessing her mothers health and temper improve. Linda said her mother was more than a mom, she was a close friend to me. When her mother passed away in January 2018 after being ill for two years, Linda was not able to go back to China to attend the funeral. I didnt get a chance to say good-bye to her. As the persecution of Falun Gong is still prevalent in China, and knowing that the Chinese consulates collect information on all practitioners overseas, Linda feared getting arrested if she went back. She said her mother also told her, no matter what happens to her, dont go back. Linda says her mothers death was hard on her, but she has learned to move on and think about the next best thing I can do. To honor her mother, Linda says she will continue my practice and continue to raise awarenessI think thats the best thing I can do right now. Linda has a message for people who are still participating in the persecution of Falun Gong, I hope people in China can have a more open mind, try to read and try to accept the news reported outside of China. Hopefully, by opening their hearts, they will start to realize all the news they see in China are actually lies. By recognizing that, more people will be awakened in China and fewer people will follow the CCPs lies. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday (local time) urged governments across the to protect women as part of the response to the lethal coronavirus outbreak. "Peace is not just the absence of war. Many women under lockdown for #COVID19 face violence where they should be safest: in their own homes. Today I appeal for peace in homes around the I urge all governments to put women's safety first as they respond to the pandemic," the UN chief said on Twitter. The combination of economic and social stresses brought on by the pandemic, as well as restrictions on movement, have dramatically increased the numbers of women and girls facing abuse, in almost all countries, he said. Providing further examples of such issues, which also likely affects both the developed as well as the poorer economies, Guterres noted that nearly a quarter of female college students reported having experienced sexual assault or misconduct in the US, whilst in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, partner violence to be a reality for 65 per cent of women. Responding to the rise in violence is further complicated by the fact the institutions are already under a huge strain from the demands of dealing with the pandemic. "Healthcare providers and police are overwhelmed and understaffed", said Guterres, adding that the "local support groups are paralysed or short of funds." "Some domestic violence shelters are closed, others are full," he added. During a briefing at the UN Headquarters, Guterres said that that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) may meet soon to discuss the pandemic, which has infected more than 1.2 million worldwide and killed close to 70,000. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) U.S. President Donald Trump listens as Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks during a coronavirus briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., April 5. The next two weeks will be crucial in the United States' fight against the coronavirus, warn health officials, who are urging Americans to continue practicing social distancing. /UPI-Yonhap By Hakim Djaballah Former British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, once said "a pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." And before him, the French statesman, Napoleon Bonaparte, said "China is a sleeping giant. Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will move the world." The world finds itself today facing a real crisis with human lives lost every hour to a disease called COVID-19 caused by a virus named SARS-CoV2, which originated in the Hubei region in China and has spread across the planet. Diplomatic etiquette means that we name both virus and disease something unrelated to China SARS-CoV2 for the virus and COVID-19 for the disease in order to avoid upsetting China and to prevent the closing of borders. U.S. President Trump feels otherwise, he prefers to refer to the SARS-CoV2 virus as the "Chinese virus" or the "Wuhan virus." What President Trump feels about the virus or its origin is irrelevant. As many have rightly pointed out, it's simply racist rhetoric on his part to drum up support from his far right base, which in turn, is endangering the lives of our Asian brothers and sisters in the U.S. and around the world. We do not need added hatred and racism during this global crisis. Is it a coincidence that the Western countries most affected by this coronavirus are members of the group of seven (G7), with the exception of Spain? Migrants wearing protective face masks queue outside a migration control center to prolong their stay in Russia amid the ongoing coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic in St. Petersburg, Russia, April 3. /EPA-Yonhap The combined number of cases and deaths from their respective countries has surpassed the total numbers reported by China and in a much shorter period of time. As they say, numbers don't lie but the math does not add up here. As we are entering the belly of the SARS-CoV2 beast as it were, China has not yet come clean with the truth about the outbreak and the real numbers. How much more diplomacy would it take to get answers? The G7 leaders must be furious and let down by the World Health Organization (WHO) about the crisis and of course, believing the reassurances given by their Chinese counterpart. They should turn their full attention to the incompetence of the WHO, and call for the immediate resignation of its director general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. What's more, three countries are also permanent members of the United Nations' Security Council and their respective countries are at war against a silent enemy unleashed by China. The city that never sleeps, and hosts the United Nations, has been sleeping for a while now; with only the sounds of ambulances and refrigerated trucks to take away the casualties, moving along the usually bustling streets of Manhattan. I hope this city will recover and shine again. A volunteer sprays disinfectant in Shwedagon Pagoda compound as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Yangon on March 31. Myanmar reported its first coronavirus death a 69-year-old man who returned to the country in mid-March after receiving cancer treatment in Australia. / AFP-Yonhap Dr. Tedros is the main culprit in the unfolding of this crisis and an accomplice in the causes of the pandemic. By failing to let the rest of the world know about the gravity of the situation, by providing inaccurate information about the virus, and by not sounding the alarm when it mattered most, Dr. Tedros single-handedly comprised a somehow trusted organization, and we are all paying the price because of him. Seventy percent of this crisis is at the heart of the incompetence at the WHO, including those who were part of this advanced team in China, and who appear almost on a regular basis for daily briefings. Briefings which have not helped us get out of this storm. Dr. Tedros has forever changed our way of life; he has caused the slowdown and disruption of many of the world's economies, leading us towards a most likely scenario of a long recession. He is solely responsible for a new humanitarian crisis wave ongoing around the world. As the rest of the world is busy with this crisis, thanks to Dr. Tedros, China continues to persecute the Uighur Muslims with no country coming to their aid. Where is the humanitarian distress call from the United Nation's general secretary, Antonio Guterres? Guterres was kind enough to share his hand-washing experience with the world, but failed to share videos of the Uighur people washing their hands in concentration camps, or even videos of his visits to check on their health. I am no defender of President Trump, but I would happily give him the benefit of the doubt under these circumstances. Perhaps, in his own way, he is reminding us of the ever increasing number of deaths from only 17 recorded on Jan. 22, 2020 to over 50,000 recorded as of April 2, 2020 and the total number of worldwide cases passing the 1,000,000 mark with no end in sight. And these numbers do not really reflect the real ones the reality on the ground in many countries is far worse than has been reported. A dire reminder to these infected countries that prevention is always better than any cure. In this case, borders should have been closed back in earlier January 2020 and global air traffic to or from China grounded. Fear of diplomatic retaliation by China led many countries to keep borders open and the flow of infected travelers from China, with only one single and late exception. President Trump is the only G7 leader who through diplomatic channels offered help to China as this crisis became a worldwide concern. China refused the U.S.' offer, and President Trump was left with no other choice but to close U.S. borders to China and stop the influx of infected Chinese travelers back in earlier February 2020. President Trump has been criticized for the mishandling of the crisis and rightly so as he has no excuses. However, we Americans should never forget that his actions saved the nation from what could have been an even worse humanitarian disaster on U.S. soil, if its borders were left open to incoming infected Chinese travelers. More infections and casualties will be recorded worldwide in the coming weeks and months. China, with a population of 1.4 billion people only reported 3,315 deaths, when compared to other developed countries with lower population density, reporting numbers of deaths over the 5,000 mark. Are we to believe that China has done an impossible job to curb the virus and avoided larger numbers of casualties? Or is it merely a diplomatic choreography involving Dr. Tedros and the WHO? Knowing the source of a problem, often times provides clues to finding solutions. This virus crossed from the wild animal kingdom to the human kingdom in China; based on many published public reports on the timing question, my own estimate is that the crossing must have happened either in October or November 2019. The first infection of a human could not have been in December 2019 as reported by China, and certainly not at the seafood market. Patient zero remains AWOL. We need information on patient zero now. The most critical questions of this global crisis are the following: 1) How many G7 leaders knew of this outbreak because of information offered by their respective intelligence services in late 2019? 2) Was the obtained information on this potential outbreak shared with other members of the G20 forum, whose members could have obtained similar intelligence? 3) How much preparedness was undertaken by many of these elected leaders to protect their countries, knowing full well the coronavirus tsunami was on its way? 4) How many of the G20 forum countries believed and adhered, in their fight against the virus, to the WHO rhetoric and directives? A Sri Lankan fire brigade officer has his body sprayed with disinfectant after assisting transporting the coffin of a person who died, from the coronavirus, at an apartment building during an island-wide curfew, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 5. The Sri Lankan government has implemented an island-wide curfew until further notice in order to slow down the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 disease. / EPA-Yonhap Rajesh Kumar Thakur By Express News Service PATNA: A 45- year-old yoga expert Mahendra Priyadarshi expressed his solidarity in fight against the Covid-19 with a difference on Sunday night. He performed the "Deep-Sadhana" in which he went into a deep meditation with members of his family standing at distance with dias (burning traditional lights) in hands. Seven burning diyas were placed on his body, six on his both hands and one on the top of his head. He maintained stillness in meditation with breath control yogic practices. "Deep-sadhana is a sadhna in which internal concentration and communication with the supreme energy is maintained and spread across the humanity without being disturbed even a bit",he said. Throughout this posture of yoga,the practitioner recites vedic mantra of God without involving lips that is called 'manas'jap . "It goes on for longer period depending upon the enduring and practicing capacity of performer.It kills bacteria and virus transmitted through air and contacts within the performer.It conditioned the performer through balancing the biological and chemical reactions in the body",he said. Dr Mahendra Priyadarshi is one of the renowned and rigorous yoga instructors of Bihar.He runs a publication and goes on instructing yoga exercises to the people for free as a patanjali yoga instructor. Thailand logs 51 new coronavirus cases, 3 more deaths THAILAND: There were 51 new confirmed coronavirus cases nationwide, including 13 health workers, and three additional deaths today (April 6), a health official said. CoronavirusCOVID-19healthdeath By Bangkok Post Monday 6 April 2020, 01:51PM A police officer checks the temperature of a motorcyclist in Bangkoks Prawet district on Saturday (April 4). Photo: Bangkok Post Total infections in the country now stand at 2,220, with the cumulative death toll at 26 since the virus outbreak. The number of new cases was exactly half the 102 reported yesterday, and the lowest number of new cases since March 20. Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman of the governments Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration, said the 24th death was a Thai man aged 28 who was an employee at a company in Bangkok. A colleague of his wife had earlier tested positive for the disease. The man fell sick on March 27 with a fever, cough and sore throat. He first visited a private hospital in Bangkok and then moved to another hospital in Samut Prakan province. On Saturday his fever rose to 39.2 degrees Celsius and his blood oxygen saturation plunged. He was moved to a private hospital in Bangkok and died late Saturday night. The 25th death was a self-employed Thai man aged 51 who suffered from diabetes, hypertension and obesity. The man fell sick on March 28 and went to a private hospital in Bangkok with coughing, headache and muscle pain. He was admitted on April 1 for muscle pain and breathing difficulties. He was diagnosed with severe pneumonia and tested positive for COVID-19 last Thursday (April 2). He died on Saturday. The 26th death was a 59-year-old female vendor who suffered from diabetes. Dr Taweesin said she gambled at many locations in Bangkok and fell sick on March 29. She was admitted to a private hospital in Bangkok on April 1 with breathing difficulties, low blood oxygen and severe pneumonia. She tested positive for the disease last Thursday and died on Saturday. The last three deaths were of people under 60 years of age and one of them was 28 years old, Dr Taweesin said. He warned that people should not feel comfortable with todays lower number of 51 new infections because many suspected new cases are being investigated could be confirmed later. The 2,220 local cases were reported in 66 provinces. That number includes 793 people who recovered and were discharged from hospitals. Bangkok recorded the largest number of cases, 1,051, followed by 143 in Nonthaburi, 135 in Phuket, 103 in Samut Prakan, 66 in Chon Buri, 54 in Yala, 46 in Pattani, 37 each in Chiang Mai and Songkhla, and 28 in Pathum Thani. No COVID-19 cases were reported in the 11 provinces of Ang Thong, Bung Kan, Chai Nat, Kamphaeng Phet, Nan, Phangnga, Phichit, Ranong, Satun, Singburi and Trat. The 51 new cases included 22 people in close contact with previous patients, 13 health workers (11 at private hospitals), three attendees of religious ceremonies, three people who worked in crowded areas or in close promixity to foreigners, one returnee, one foreign visitor and one in close contact with arrivals from overseas. Seven cases were under investigation. GREENWICH Police are continuing to give warnings to people found congregating in town parks. Five warnings were issued over the weekend, according to Greenwich police. Town authorities have closed town parks and other recreational sites to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Last week, officers issued roughly a dozen warnings, and one person was issued a misdemeanor summons for allegedly jumping a fence at Greenwich Point. First Selectman Fred Camillo issued an order that closed town parks effective March 22, after thousands of people visited Greenwich Point over that weekend. Were not looking to give tickets and throw people in jail, Camillo said of the closure order. Were not looking to make peoples lives more frustrating than they are now. But were very, very, very serious about this. If we close the parks, that means theyre closed. Greenwich police have also been keeping tabs on local grocery stores, to make sure shoppers and employees are following social-distancing measures. Lt. Mark Zuccerella that the stores were operating and in compliance. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has declared Mumbai's Wockhardt Hospital a containment zone after three doctors and 26 nurses tested positive for coronavirus within a span of one week. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has declared Mumbais Wockhardt Hospital a containment zone after three doctors and 26 nurses tested positive for coronavirus within a span of one week. BMC had stopped services at the hospital last week, swinging into action after the cases began to rise, The Times of India reported. No one will be allowed to enter or leave the central Mumbai hospital until those infected fully recover and test negative for coronavirus twice. The crisis at Wockhardt hospital comes at a time when the Mumbais health and civic officials are combating cases from the slums in Dharavi and Worli Koliwada. A designated COVID-19 ward at the hospital is mainly occupied by its own staff, The Hindu reported. Samples of over 250 hospital staff and patients have been sent for testing and BMC has ordered the hospital canteen to provide food to the staff. According to the media reports, two nurses who attended to a 70-year-old heart patient who was later tested positive for coronavirus were infected with coronavirus. It is believed that the virus might have transmitted from these two nurses to other hospital staff. According to the report in The Times of India, the hospital staff have alleged that the colleagues and roommates of the infected nurses were not quarantined immediately, leading to rapid transmission of the deadly virus. Two of the three doctors positive who tested have been admitted to Seven Hills Hospital, while the other one is undergoing treatment at SL Raheja Hospital in Mahim. Kerala: Fishers lock horns over fishing ban by Navamy Sudhish April 06,2020 | Source: The Hindu Mechanised trawlers want the ban to be lifted to cater to huge export demand. The fishers in traditional and mechanised sectors have locked horns over the annual fishing ban that begins in the East Coast States on April 15. A proposal to merge the lockdown days with the ban period, allowing mechanised vessels to resume operations three weeks early, has not gone down well with traditional fishers who believe it will wreck the marine ecosystem. Meanwhile, boat owners from the State, one of the West Coast States where the trawl ban comes into effect from June 1, have approached the Centre to call off the ban as a one-time measure to revive the pandemic-hit seafood industry. Stagnant since January The mechanised sector became nearly stagnant from January due to the dip in exports and we had completely stopped operations after the lockdown. During the past three months there was minimal activity and we want the authorities the to call off the ban this year considering this, says Peter Mathias, president, All Kerala Fishing Boat Operators Association. The mechanised sector is keen on getting the ban lifted since they anticipate enormous export demand as overseas cargo movement improves. Trawlers mainly cater to the export industry and a lot of others, including processors, ice plants, peeling units and vendors are dependent on us. If the ban is not lifted, we will lose a golden chance to revive our countrys economy and we feel banning trawlers immediately after the COVID-19 crisis will cause irreparable damage to the industry, Mr. Mathias said. He adds that around 2.5 lakh vessels across India will have to stay idle during the ban period. Traditional fishers view According to traditional fishers, changing the dates will beat the purpose of the ban that was introduced to conserve the fishery resources and protect the habitat during the spawning season. It is the time during which the marine stock gets replenished and blocking it will affect the sector in long-term. According to the proposal, the ban period for the East Coast should be considered to have begun from March 24 which is unacceptable from the environmental perspective. Just like all other sectors, the lockdown has affected the entire population engaged in fishing and allied activities. Lifting the ban early or cancelling it altogether will create serious repercussions since its not environmentally sustainable, says T.Peter, general secretary, National Fishworkers Forum. The lockdown has also affected a large section of traditional fishers who could not venture into the sea since several restrictions were in place. The lockdown has hit all stakeholders in the sector uniformly. So instead of protecting the short-term interests of mechanised sector, we should think about the future. To preserve the marine environment and ensure sustainability its very important to maintain the ban in both coasts, he adds. The much-awaited TV series "Snowpiercer" is set to be released earlier than expected. It is an adaptation of director Bong Joon Ho's movie in 2013. "Snowpiercer" is a unique science-fiction thriller released 2013 from, held by the critically-acclaimed director of "Parasite." It has an unpredictable plot and a fascinating location already, but the outstanding look adds another layer of oddness. The sudden burst of violence is a riveting and challenging story. This will also be the first Korean-inspired English-language series and Bong Joon Ho's debut in the industry. The story revolves around a setting that took place seven years ago, wherein the last people in the new ice age are traveling in a moving train and divided by societal hierarchy. While the train travels around the globe, members of the lower class feel left behind and have less privilege. They then plan for rebellion against the higher class. The actors who appeared in 2013 are Hollywood stars Ed Harris, Tilda Swinton, Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, and Korean actor Song Kang-ho. Cinephiles and Bong Joon Ho's fans are getting more excited as the TV adaptation's schedule is a month from now. US cable network TNT concluded to broadcast the series two weeks earlier than the planned date. People are bound to stay at home due to the pandemic, hence any drama series that airs provide more response in ratings and hits. Regarding this, they agreed to air "Snowpiercer" on May 17, 2020. The television series will air on TNT US and will be broadcast around the globe via Netflix (except the United States and China). "Snowpiercer is one of the most anticipated original series of 2020, and in this climate, viewers are craving thrilling, engaging, edge-of-your-seat content that speaks to them on a deeper level. It is extremely important that we continue with our promise to meet audiences where they are, and to that effect, we are moving up "Snowpiercer's premiere so that fans can enjoy this futuristic series even earlier" TNT, TBS, and Brett Weitz general manager said in a statement, adding that Bong Joon Ho will be active on the show as an executive producer. Due to the pandemic, the Emmy Awards changed its rules and policy. Originally scheduled this coming September 2020, the Emmy organizers moved all entries to premiere before May 31, 2020. This is in the right timing since "Snowpiercer" will be released on the 17th. Therefore, it gives it the eligibility to join. Director Bong Joon Ho's masterpieces are nonstop. His Academy Award movie "Parasite" was one of the first non-English language movies to receive the Best Picture Film in Oscars. People might also put this well-received film on their list as HBO confirmed secured rights for the "Parasite" remake. The education of a monarchist: Advantages of the heritage of Caesar's corona By J.K. Baltzersen On the last Saturday of this January Her Britannic Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had reigned for an equal amount of days as the Austrian Emperor Francis Joseph. For more than a century the late Emperor had held the record of the longest reigning European monarch of imperial or royal rank without minority. Now he has been surpassed. It has been almost seven decades since the Duchess and Duke of Edinburgh flew into Nairobi, and shortly thereafter they ascended a treetop hotel, Elizabeth as Princess, descended the next morning as Queen, although she learnt of this fact only later, at the royal residence of Sagana Lodge. Growing Up Where the Queen Acceded I remember it well, flying into Nairobi for the first time. It was early morning, the Sun had risen, and the dust was red. It was October 4 of 1979. This was to be my home for a few years. I was to learn the Swahili word for lion, simba, long before it became a part of popular culture through The Lion King. A few times I have wondered whether the almost fairy-tale-like story of the Queen's accession and the story connection of it to the country in which I partly grew up has affected me towards monarchism. Certainly it would be foolish of me to claim that growing up in Kenya necessarily makes one a monarchist, as I am sure there are many non-monarchists who also have grown up in the country. But for me it was perhaps a contributing factor. I never did visit Treetops or Sagana Lodge while living in the country, and I still havent. But I have been in the area around Mt. Kenya a few times and once at another resort in the Aberdare Forest, The Ark, which didnt have as tough age restrictions as Treetops. The summer before the year we moved to Kenya, we had been on vacation to the United Kingdom. My parents had taught me a few English words and phrases to say. Before the move down to the equator, I received private English lessons at the university. However, after some time at the international school with a Danish (our languages are rather similar) classmate as mentor without attending English-as-a-Second-Language classes, the school concluded I needed ESL. I did have Norwegian classes on the side, and I did speak Norwegian at home and with Norwegian friends, but it was stricken down by teachers if done in regular class. Upon returning to Norway, my English was better than my Norwegian. At one incident in class, I was speaking Norwegian, and a word unintentionally came out in English with an American-sounding accent. That was the laugh of the day for the rest of the class. It has been pointed out to me a few times a claimed irony in that I am a monarchist who sounds more American than British when speaking English. I have heard a few American monarchists speak, and guess what, they all have American accents. Canadian monarchists, which is more common than American ones, sound more American than British too. Who would have known? A few times I have been asked how long I have lived in the United States. At times, some have even guessed I do live in the States. Some claim they can hear a Nordic accent in my English, others say they don't. Americans are stationed around the world. They have schools for their kids. I happen to have attended one of them. "We're a Democracy!" I remember hearing the news of the attempted assassination of President Reagan. The attempt took place late in the evening my time. So it was probably the next morning. I heard the news outdoors at school. A classmate uttered: "The President has been shot." I thought she meant President Moi, who recently passed away, as this was my closest association at the time with the term "the President," but my misunderstanding was quickly resolved. I recall a few years later in a childish way telling someone in my class: "You don't have a royal embassy." The response was something along the lines of: "That's because we're a democracy." I wasn't at the time capable of making an argument against that claim. It was only many years later I learnt of the democracy vs. republic issue, and of course, all European kingdoms and the grand duchy are democracies. At some point I found Star Wars annoying for its glorification of a republic, but the main issue there, as I understand, is republic vs. empire, not republic vs. monarchy. Don't Mess with Other People I lived in Nairobi in a 30-apartment estate one storey tall, shaped somewhat like a stadium. 15 apartments were reserved for Norwegian families (of the development aid agency), and 15 of them were reserved for native Kenyan families. I remember once I told some of the Kenyan kids that we were there to help. I had to know how to run after doing so. They took great pride in that they didn't need any help. I can recollect also the American seniors in high school watching videos with news from back home. Yes, tapes had to be sent in the mail in those days. Part of it was about foreign policy. I remember I was a staunch supporter of the invasion of Iraq, expressing this to an American couple in Acapulco in 2002. LRC later taught me this was a mistake. I have also wondered whether growing up in a more tribal country although greatly isolated from the tribalism has instilled slightly at the least in me a skepticism towards the less natural institution of modern democracy. An American Education and Exposure to Several Perspectives At school in Kenya, social studies had a specific theme at each class level in elementary school. In fifth grade, the theme was American history. I recall watching the series The Blue and the Gray and my teacher making jokes about her being Yankee and her husband being Dixie. This was also the year I was bitten by the bug apparently for life with my interest in constitutional matters. We learnt about the U.S. Constitution. Back at school in Norway, I was supposed to be learning that it was a good thing that the Norwegian constitutional order was changed through a packed impeachment tribunal, introducing parliamentary government, the concept that the cabinet/administration must have the confidence of the parliament/legislature. I didnt get this to fit very well with what I had learnt about checks and balances at school in Nairobi. I also noticed how much attention history of labor unions got in Norwegian textbooks. I did not recall at the time that this got attention at my international school. Lesson: if you want to instill in someone one way of thinking, dont expose them to different kinds of thinking and perspectives, especially if they are potentially contradictory. On the other hand, if you want yourself and/or your kids to be independently thinking, bring in stuff from all sorts of angles. Computers and Constitutions I have recollections of writing down constitutional rights when being in my familys mountain cabin with no connected electricity or running water. Later I developed a skepticism towards constitutional design. While I had a significant interest in constitutions, I also had interest in computers, which I demonstrated by sitting voluntarily in the computer room at my school in Nairobi after school hours on Fridays (Monday - Thursday was for swimming) when I was around ten. My having one foot in the study of society and one foot in technology was illustrated also by the fact that I wrote one of my two junior high school papers on the Kings role during the German invasion of Norway in 1940 and the other one on laser technology. I have more than once been told that I seem like someone who would be a lawyer or study law. But I chose to go into computer science/engineering, from where I also have a course in industrial law. When choosing between social studies/humanities and natural science/technology an argument in favor of the latter was that it is/was not tainted. But that was perhaps before climate science came to dominate the world stage. I joined the Norwegian Young Conservatives as an active member when in high school. I thought that was the right side of politics to be on. That was before I became more aware of false dichotomies. When the government decided it was a good idea to get rid of government representatives in the representative bodies of commercial banks, I thought it was a good idea to follow suit, and I put forward a motion with the Oslo Young Conservatives to get rid of mandatory employee representation in representative bodies of corporations/businesses. The motion failed. When I went to Trondhjem for studies, I continued as an active member for a little while, but I found more connection with the local Conservative Students, who, like the Young Conservatives, had a formal link to the Conservative Party, but was more independent, not in the same way considered a part of the Party. Sadly, I had to witness the decay in this independence. At the time when Norway entered the European Economic Area (EEA) and applied for membership in the EU, I was very much a supporter of Norwegian membership. Now, I believe Brexit can give hope for the UK leading by example. There are good chances the UK on the outside of the union will provide empirical evidence that things can go quite well outside the EU, and that it will give motivation for others to secede from a union that is all too fond of regulation. What I noticed also at this time, was that Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein had threatened his people with his own exile if they didnt approve membership in the EEA. I liked that, a monarch who was more than a figurehead. A fond memory from database class is an example for the entity-relationship model, an example where Harald (the King) was the boss of Gro (the Prime Minister). Yes, it was an example used by the teacher in a lecture in front of the full class. Imagine something like that happening in a political science class: it would cause a real uproar, especially in these times of the easily offended. Being active in student politics, I had the pleasure of representing my faculty at a national convention for a student "trade union." There was another guy from the same school but another faculty who was more or less in line with me. We were called the Balkans at the Trondhjem table. As an example, we didnt want unemployment benefits for students. The so-called rightist group actually called moderate group, apparently inspired by the Moderate Party of Sweden did want such benefits. I was given an award for all the motions I upheld, i.e., forced a floor vote on despite no support for them in the committee. I remember also while being active in student politics that I fought against a higher scholarship fraction in the handouts from the government (scholarship fraction vs. loan fraction). I realize that I probably should have gone even lower, but you learn as you go in life. "Free" Education Norwegian higher education except for some private exceptions has no tuition. There is a small welfare fee, but it goes to organizations for student welfare, not to the institutions of education. I remember one conversation with a couple of my classmates, discussing an opinion of Norwegian Nobel physics laureate Ivar Giver, who had recently publicly opined that Norwegian students should pay for their studies. I thought he had a point, although I might not have been very clear about it in the conversation. One of the others was hostile, and the other one showed some sympathy. I call to mind also a feeling of envy at times of those who could work for it all without government support. I got my first e-mail account in 1992. It was a university account. Within the next few years, I wondered whether one could send letters to the editor via e-mail. So I called one of the largest newspapers in Oslo, Aftenposten. I asked if I could send them e-mail. That depended on whom I wanted to send to. I told them it was the letters department. That was out of the question. The answer to the follow-up I should have recorded on tape or somehow. They actually told me that e-mail reception of letters to the editor would never happen. Never! Democracy or Monarchy I followed up my monarchism at the national convention for Conservative Students with a motion to amend the proposed ideological manifesto. The motion was to express the need for regal powers to be a check on popular power. It was laughed at. Later I met a few like-minded people in the European Democrat Students, an organization for center-right student organizations in Europe, where I attended amongst several events the summer university in Austria, starting in Vienna, in 1998. This was also when I got to visit Bad Ischl, where I saw the desk where war had been declared against the Kingdom of Serbia on that fateful day of July 28, 1914. I traveled to Innsbruck, the small city below the town of Lans where Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn lived, without any knowledge at the time of the great scholar, whose last summer amongst us this was. For some time I believed that democracy and absolute monarchy were equally bad, I even admit to in younger days to have indulged in competitive misuse of the term democracy. I believe it was the American monarchist Charles A. Coulombes FAQ on monarchy that started my transition from (absolute) democracy and (absolute) monarchy as equally bad to into democracy being worse, but I have no clear memory of any distinct transitional moments. Discovering the Mises Institute I have memories from my days as a student that I had almost vowed to myself not to read anything on political philosophy, as it would affect my independent thinking. It did not last many years. After all, an important rule for an engineer is to use solutions/knowledge already acquired, not to reinvent the wheel. It must have been 2001 or thereabouts I discovered the Mises Institute. I think I had looked at a few articles from the website before my real discovery, which came through a search for monarchy and democracy. I discovered Hoppe and the Mises Institute that way. Beyond the knowledge of the existence of F.A. von Hayek and The Road to Serfdom, I knew nothing about the Austrian school before this time. I read Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihns Liberty or Equality in the summer of 2002. I read Leftism Revisited and Hoppes Democracy The God that Failed shortly thereafter. The next summer I debuted as writer for LRC. A Rubber Stamp? Queen Elizabeth surpassed another reign in March, and is set to surpass another two in a bit over two years, and finally the Sun King in four years and a couple of months. It is something to have ambivalent feelings about, because I cant let go of sensing that Sean Gabb has a point when he says it has been a reign of a rubber stamp, not a queen. What good comes out of the reserve and advisory powers? I have wondered at times. When I went to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee in 2012, I witnessed two guys putting on a show, and ending it with saying jolly good show. It was illustrative of what has gone on in Britain for a long time. The Brits are good at maintaining the facade, while decay goes on inside although with royal divorces etc. the facade has its problems as well. But I have serious doubts any formally republican replacement will be any better. Peter Hitchens suggests a monarchy without a monarch when the Queen goes. Maybe? Maybe? I remember the attempted coup against President Moi well. We were relatively safe in our apartment in Nairobi. The drama was at a good distance, but it was still in the same city. Hayek makes a very good point in favor of democracy with the argument that it provides peaceful transition of power, but Hayek was in favor of something more limited than most modern democracies, and he knew that democracy empowered government. Also, in a lecture in Sydney in October of 1976, he admitted to preferring limited non-democracy over unlimited democracy. Democracy has a lot of problems, amongst which is empowering of government. It is a complex matter and the fight must go on against the deification of democracy. It requires knowledge. As Tom Woods has noted, you must study and be knowledgeable in order to stand up against your intellectual enemies. In these corona virus times, it is especially important to be aware of how crises empower government. The philosophy of "the government is us" and crises is a particularly toxic mixture. It is not only important to keep the torch of liberty up against government, but also to keep in mind that democracy also is a threat to liberty. Having something that can check the forces of the masses might not be such a bad idea. The crown, the symbol of monarchy, may have developed from the corona worn by Julius Caesar. May we be so lucky that crowns or coronas may protect us from the encroachments that likely will develop from the coronavirus crisis? If so, that might be a somewhat morbid irony. Or are we simply out of luck? J.K. Baltzersen writes from the capital of the Oil Kingdom of Norway. He is the editor of the book Grunnlov og frihet: turtelduer eller erkefiender? (in Norwegian and Swedish; translated title: Constitution and Liberty: Lovebirds or Archenemies?), with Cato Institutes Johan Norberg amongst the contributors. Home A staff member at the Oregon State Hospital has tested positive for coronavirus, officials said Friday. The Oregon Health Authority did not report at which facility the staff member worked, when the positive case was discovered or whether other staff members had been tested. Officials said three patients at the hospital have undergone testing and all have come back negative. The Oregon State Hospital offers in-patient psychiatric treatment for adults at facilities in Salem and Junction City. The hospital has taken several steps to slow the spread of coronavirus, including requiring staff members to wear masks, monitoring all patients for fevers or other respiratory symptoms and tracing the contacts of anyone who tests positive for the illness. The hospital is also staggering gym and outdoor time to allow for social distancing, creating special areas for high-risk patients and admitting new patients to a special unit where they are monitored for two weeks before being allowed access to other parts of the hospital. On Friday, the first inmate in the Oregon prison system tested positive for coronavirus at Santiam Correctional Institution in Salem, officials said. The inmate was being treated at the facility but was expected to be moved to an institution with 24-hour care. The Department of Corrections didnt say how many others were being tested but said those being tested or awaiting results were in respiratory isolation. As of Monday morning, Oregon has 1,068 confirmed cases of coronavirus, and 27 people have died. The actual number of infected people is thought to be higher because access to testing has been low. -- Kale Williams; kwilliams@oregonian.com; 503-294-4048; @sfkale Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Ta Puong Waterfall is one of Vietnam Centrals most impressive natural sights, with an unspoilt beauty. It is located in Ta Puong Village, Huong Hoa District, 120km from ong Ha Town of Quang Tri Province. The waterfall is 30-35m hight, with large water flow, maintained throughout the year. Ta Puong waterfall majestically pours water all year, like white silk. A 20-minute walk further downstream leads you to another waterfall. Though lower at 10 meters, the second waterfall is wider than the first. From afar, as locals describe, its cascading waters resemble the luscious hair of local girls. Phu Cuong Waterfall, a silk strip amidst the Gia Lai Mountains The Central Highland is endowed with many beautiful waterfalls such as Pongour, Prenn and Dambri, Draynur, Dray Sap and especially Phu Cuong in Gia Lai Province. Photo: Jessica Furtney/Unsplash Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Atlanta. Civil rights hero Lowery honored at private Atlanta funeral A horse-drawn caisson attended by men in black suits and top hats carried Lowery's casket on Saturday to Westview Cemetery, where about 10 family members attended a graveside service. Read the full story on ABC World News Tonight with David Muir. Buford Highway restaurants offering takeout, delivery These Buford Highway restaurants, ice cream shops and bakeries are currently open for limited takeout and delivery. Read the full story on Eater Atlanta. Kemp faces criticism for reopening beaches Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp faces backlash because his stay-at-home order also reopened all state beaches. Read the full story on Patch.com. States first nurse to die of COVID-19 worked at Piedmont Henry, employees say The metro Atlanta nurse who died last week of COVID-19 worked at Piedmont Henry Hospital, two employees of the suburban facility said. Read the full story on www.gwinnettdailypost.com. 6,647 COVID-19 cases, 211 deaths in state as of Sunday Fulton County has had the most cases in the state, with 962 cases and 27 deaths. Read the full story on www.gwinnettdailypost.com. This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. Opinion Article 6 April 2020 During the COVID-19 crisis, many hotels will unfortunately have to stop their operations and close temporarily. This can be out of necessity if your forecasts suggest the losses experienced at these low occupancy levels are not sustainable. While closing down several floors could have saved enough variable costs in the past, the introduction of systems such as LED lights have made these savings minimal and insufficient in the current crisis. In many European countries, such as the Czech Republic and Spain, all hotels have been ordered to close by their governments. While companies like Marriott and IHG have already reopened over half of the hotels they previously closed in Greater China, we expect a larger amount of hotel closures in the US over the next few weeks. Advertisements We've put together a brief checklist for every hotelier faced with the difficult decision of a hotel closure. 1. Review your current hotel management, operating, loan or lease agreements to make any necessary adjustments. Identify any key provisions that can be affected, paying close attention to "force majeure" or "materially changed circumstances" clauses in all the agreements listed. Check your current liquidity to ensure it can satisfy any immediate needs, such as taxes and payroll. You should forecast your yearly P&L and cash flow statements using several scenarios with varying re-opening dates. Once these documents are ready, it is important you update your investors and lenders on what your capital needs could be. This shows that you are proactive, aware of contract clauses and debt covenants, and that measures are being taken accordingly. Many banks are practicing goodwill; see whether you can benefit from delaying your loan repayments, debt moratoria, overdrafts and other lines of credit. When making new contracts, reflect on how to communicate regarding the virus, considering that it is no longer seen as an unexpected event. 2. Review your current HR needs and any necessary terminations. Pay attention to employees' current benefits, payment addresses and severance options if the termination is deemed necessary. Ensure you check and comply with your local governments' unemployment policies and see whether there are any schemes available to support those laid off. We also suggest you consider alternative working arrangements for your employees; while corporate and admin personnel can work from home, there are still ways you can re-deploy and improve your on-property operational staff. Identify any essential tasks that cannot be performed remotely and search for ways with the affected staff to find solutions. We will be exploring this topic further in an article next week. 3. Contact all suppliers and modify or terminate your order to suit your current operating needs. While variable costs should be cut immediately, we advise you to attempt to limit your fixed costs and explore the possibility of negotiating credit terms or payment reductions. It is best to delay all payments to the hotel's re-opening when the cash inflows are in effect once more. Your Head of Purchasing should engage in honest, ongoing conversations with suppliers and ensure their on-boarding for the re-opening. Review the possibility of buyback programs to reduce your current inventory. Some hotels and restaurants, most notably Walt Disney World, have received publicity and praise for donating their excess food inventory to local food banks [i]. Of course, ensure you check your government's relevant hospitality food surplus redistribution guidelines when considering this option. 4. Consider your current tenants. Communication is key with any retail, F&B or other leased outlets before and during the closure. Address any payment issues that your current tenants might have and be forthcoming. We suggest, for instance, that you let them pay 50% of the rent and that the rest can be paid monthly until the end of the year. You don't want to lose any good tenants and it is important to show goodwill, especially when expecting goodwill from your own investors or lenders. Inform them well in advance of the re-opening. 5. Contact any pending reservations during the forecasted period of closure. Reach out to the guests and inform them of your reasoning. It is best to be as flexible as possible with booking deposits and returning them as per the booker's request, while still encouraging guests to change the booking to an indefinite date in order to keep some cash flow. Ensure your own website has a clear message of the hotel's temporary closure when entering the booking engine and inform your OTA channel representatives as well. 6. Evaluate available insurance claims which may continue to evolve based on government intervention. The most relevant policies include Business Interruption, Contingent Business Interruption and Civil Authority coverage [ii]. Insurance coverage varies amongst operators and it is good to speak with other owners. It is crucial to check the fine print of your Business Continuity Insurance and consider decreasing your monthly payments during the closure as there are no guests in-house. Make sure to verify whether the hotel must be occupied at all times for insurance coverage. If yes, you will have to schedule a few employees or security personnel to constantly be on the property. 7. Remain informed of all government orders and Business Relief programs, and sign up if applicable. Monitor regulations on a daily basis, keep note of the decree on accommodation providers and their effective dates. Many European countries, including the UK, have either postponed the deadline or will waive penalties for late VAT returns [iii]. 8. Operational procedures. When cleaning all areas of your hotel, refer to your government's guidance for disinfection and cleaning in non-healthcare public facilities against COVID-19 [iv]. It is recommended to continue cleaning the hotel a minimum of once a week during walkthroughs while it is closed. Digital checklists for hotel closures, maintenance, cleaning and more are being released on various apps, such as ALICE and the Whispr app offered for Beekeeper clients [v], [vi]. We will post more information when we have fully explored the housekeeping aspect of the COVID-19 calamity. Examples of actions to take are as follows [vii]: Empty and disinfect all trash bins Deep clean all areas and surfaces Clean, disinfect and remove all display items or furniture Set the thermostats to ~20 C Set all exterior and lobby lighting on timers Remove all food from the fridge so it can be cleaned and turned off Sanitize and completely cover all kitchenware, glassware, cutlery and dinnerware Place all meeting room furniture into storage Unplug guest laundry machines and turn off water access Unplug all guestroom lighting and equipment Remove decorative bedding Remove, disinfect and store all guest bathroom amenities Flush toilets regularly Lock all guestrooms and secure all access Shut down pool equipment and cover, but keep safety equipment in place Display hotel closure signs throughout the property Most hotels are delaying their regular renovations to mitigate financial impacts 1&2, but you may look into small upkeep tasks such as repainting We encourage you to start planning for a self or government-imposed temporary cessation. Please contact us at [email protected]. We would be delighted to offer you our assistance and tailor-make an action and implementation plan for optimal closure and future reopening. References: [i] Johnson, K. (2020, March 13). Disneyland Resort Donating Excess Food During Temporary Closure. [Blog post]. Retrieved from: https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2020/03/disneyland-resort-donating-excess-food-during-temporary-closure/ [ii] Wakerley, S., Neighbour, T. (2020, March). COVID-19 - Business Interruption and Event Cancellation. Retrieved from: https://www.hfw.com/COVID-19-Business-Interruption-and-Event-Cancellation-Mar-20 [iii] Hughes, R. (2020, March 25). COVID-19 VAT Measures Introduced by EU Tax Authorities. Retrieved from: https://www.accordancevat.com/eu/covid-19-vat-measures/ [iv] European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. (2020, February 18). Interim guidance for environmental cleaning in non-healthcare facilities exposed to SARS-CoV-2. Retrieved from: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/coronavirus-SARS-CoV-2-guidance-environmental-cleaning-non-healthcare-facilities.pdf [v] Sandmeyer, A. (2020, March 24). Beekeeper, Whispr Offering Hotels a FREE 'Cleaning Task Lists' App to Fight Covid-19. Retrieved from: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4097737.html [vi] Alice Platform. (n.d). COVID-19 Recovery Checklist Software. Retrieved from: https://www.aliceplatform.com/checklists [vii] Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. (2020). Temporary Hotel Closure Checklist. All Americans are praying for him, the US President told a news conference. Hes a friend of mine, hes a great gentleman and a great leader, and as you know he went to the hospital today ... Im sure he is going to be fine, hes a strong man, a strong person. The pound fell against the dollar after it was announced last night that the Prime Minster, 55, had been taken to hospital. It lifted this morning when Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick confidently predicted the PM would be back at work shortly . However, there was no indication from Downing Street when Mr Johnson would be out of hospital, nor what tests were being carried out. He did not require an ambulance, No 10 sources said, but they did not say how he travelled to hospital and did not comment on a Times report that the PM was given oxygen treatment en route to St Thomas near Westminster. Donald Trump sent his best wishes to Boris Johnson / Getty Images Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab took over as chairman of the daily morning emergency conference of ministers and officials leading the battle against Covid-19. A claim by Conservative MP and former minister Tobias Ellwood that day-to-day operations were being handed to the Foreign Secretary was denied. The Prime Minister announced on March 27 that he had coronavirus and was self-isolating in the flat above 11 Downing Street while continuing to work by videophone. He posted several video messages via Twitter which showed him looking under the weather and No 10 said he was still running a temperature. Boris Johnson spends night in hospital over Covid-19 symptoms Sarah Vine, the columnist wife of Cabinet minister Michael Gove, said: Boris has worked non-stop throughout his illness and now we see the result. Dr Rupert Beale, of the Francis Crick Institute, said: Doctors will be monitoring important vital signs such as oxygen saturations. They will also check blood tests to see what the immune response to the virus looks like, and to assess liver and kidney function. They will perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check the heart. More sophisticated tests may include a CT scan of the chest to get an accurate picture of the lungs. They will consider the best way to deliver oxygen, and will also consider other treatments depending on test results. We are in a struggle between humanity and a deadly virus. Whatever your politics, we are all on the same side. Mr Johnsons pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds has said she is on the mend after a week in bed with coronavirus symptoms. Lord Kerslake, a former head of the civil service, said it may be sensible for Mr Johnson to step back. In key developments: LONDON, April 5 (Reuters) - Britain's Queen Elizabeth made a highly rare broadcast to her nation on Sunday to rally the public in the face of the coronavirus outbreak. Here is the text of the 93-year-old monarch's address, only the fifth special televised broadcast she has made during her reign, the longest in British history. "I am speaking to you at what I know is an increasingly challenging time. A time of disruption in the life of our country: a disruption that has brought grief to some, financial difficulties to many, and enormous changes to the daily lives of us all. "I want to thank everyone on the NHS (National Health Service) front line, as well as care workers and those carrying out essential roles, who selflessly continue their day-to-day duties outside the home in support of us all. I am sure the nation will join me in assuring you that what you do is appreciated and every hour of your hard work brings us closer to a return to more normal times. "I also want to thank those of you who are staying at home, thereby helping to protect the vulnerable and sparing many families the pain already felt by those who have lost loved ones. Together we are tackling this disease, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it. "I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge. And those who come after us will say the Britons of this generation were as strong as any. That the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good-humoured resolve and of fellow-feeling still characterise this country. The pride in who we are is not a part of our past, it defines our present and our future. "The moments when the United Kingdom has come together to applaud its care and essential workers will be remembered as an expression of our national spirit; and its symbol will be the rainbows drawn by children. "Across the Commonwealth and around the world, we have seen heart-warming stories of people coming together to help others, be it through delivering food parcels and medicines, checking on neighbours, or converting businesses to help the relief effort. Story continues "And though self-isolating may at times be hard, many people of all faiths, and of none, are discovering that it presents an opportunity to slow down, pause and reflect, in prayer or meditation. "It reminds me of the very first broadcast I made, in 1940, helped by my sister. We, as children, spoke from here at Windsor to children who had been evacuated from their homes and sent away for their own safety. Today, once again, many will feel a painful sense of separation from their loved ones. But now, as then, we know, deep down, that it is the right thing to do. While we have faced challenges before, this one is different. This time we join with all nations across the globe in a common endeavour, using the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to heal. We will succeed - and that success will belong to every one of us. "We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again. "But for now, I send my thanks and warmest good wishes to you all." (Reporting by Michael Holden) Naftogaz's ratings are equalized with those of Ukraine (B/Positive). Fitch Ratings has affirmed National Joint-Stock Company Naftogaz of Ukraine's Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at 'B' with the positive outlook. Read alsoUkraine's gas transit revenue not to shrink despite crisis in EU Naftogaz CEO "In line with Fitch's Government-Related Entities (GRE) Rating Criteria, Naftogaz's ratings are equalized with those of Ukraine (B/Positive), reflecting the company's strong links with the sovereign and our assessment of the company's standalone credit profile (SCP) at 'b-'," Fitch Ratings said in a statement on its website on April 2. "The SCP of Naftogaz reflects the transformation of its business profile, after the unbundling of its gas transmission business, to primarily a natural gas-producing and -wholesale supply company. It also captures likely deterioration of its financial profile due to expected volatility in operations after the unbundling, expected 2020 earnings decrease due to significantly weaker gas prices, uncertainty over domestic price regulation and macro-economic challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we also expect leverage to remain low but weak, albeit, manageable liquidity," it said. As UNIAN reported earlier, Fitch Ratings in March 2019 affirmed Naftogaz's Long-Term Foreign- and Local-Currency Issuer Default Ratings at 'B-' with the stable outlook. UNIAN memo. NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine is the largest state-run vertically integrated oil and gas holding whose subsidiaries account for about 90% of oil and gas production in Ukraine. Naftogaz develops oil and gas fields, produces crude oil and natural gas. Its core business is also transportation and trade in fuel through its own network of filling stations. An Indonesian who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi, tested positive for coronavirus, the Prayagraj district administration said. He is currently under quarantine at a hospital in the district. Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday said that 278 people have been found positive for coronavirus in the state so far. Of them, 138 had attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi last month. The Uttar Pradesh Directorate of Health Services said, "Out of the 278 people who have been found positive in the state, 138 had attended Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi. Three deaths have been reported so far. 21 people have been discharged after recovering from the illness till date." Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said, "1,499 people have been identified who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat event out of which 1,205 have been quarantined. 305 foreigners have also been identified out of which passports of 249 people have been seized." 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Chernobyl nuclear plant was evacuated in 1986 following an explosion that caused radioactive contamination. Firefighters in Ukraine put out blazes in two areas of the forest surrounding the infamous Chernobyl nuclear power station on Monday. The nuclear plant was evacuated in 1986 following an explosion that caused radioactive contamination. According to a report in Associated Press, emergency services in Ukraine said that one fire covered an area of 12 acres while the second one spread about 50 acres. While the zone is mostly unpopulated, the 200 people living close by stayed back despite being asked to leave, the report added. Yehor Firsov, the head of the state ecological inspection service, told the agency that radiation levels at the fire were higher than normal but emergencies service said that radiation levels in Ukranian capital Kyiv were within the normal range. Firsov had earlier taken to Facebook to share the news of the high radiation level in the forest fire. There is bad news -- radiation is above normal in the fire's centre, he wrote. In April, 1986, the explosion in a nuclear reactor in Chernobyl led to widespread contamination and wreaked havoc. Two operating staff died immediately after the explosion, while many were hospitalized due to the radiation and finally 28 more people lost their lives. The Chernobyl incident is considered to be one of the worst nuclear disasters the world has ever seen. ALTON The first criminal complaints have been issued by Alton Police for people violating the March 20 coronavirus order by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Alton Police said lat week they received several citizen complaints alleging Hirams Tavern, 219 W. 3rd St., Alton, was continuing to operate on weekends despite Pritzkers executive order prohibiting all public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single household or living unit. At the time, officers investigated the complaints and observed no unauthorized activity. According to Alton Police, at 1 a.m. Sunday several people were located inside Hirams Tavern in an area outside public view, clearly disregarding the executive order and public pleas for compliance. A criminal complaint for reckless conduct, a Class A misdemeanor charge, was signed against every person gathering at the bar. Police said each will be summoned to court at a later date. Two of the individuals contacted had warrants for their arrest from other counties, but were released because of the issuing countys unwillingness to extradite at this time. Hiram Y. Lewis, the bars owner, was found to have an active warrant for his arrest out of Madison County for domestic battery. He was taken into custody and transported to the Alton jail. There seems to be a lot of confusion in our community about why we will, and will not, charge individuals during this time, said Alton Police Chief Jason Simmons. The Alton Police will not arbitrarily stop vehicles traveling in our community. We will, however, continue to enforce all Illinois laws and protect our community. If members of our community will not protect each other, and will be so brazen as to gather in public places, we will be forced to take action like we did this weekend without hesitation, Simmons said. On the other side of this issue, if you are obeying Illinois laws while traveling for essential purposes, you will not be stopped. As of Sunday there were 48 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Madison County. Alton Police are encouraging residents to adhere to the Stay-At-Home portion of Pritzkers executive order and not leave their homes for anything other than those tasks that are absolutely essential. As schools lie empty, students still have to learn. But officials in New York City say schools are not permitted to use Zoom for remote teaching, citing security concerns with the video conferencing service. "Providing a safe and secure remote learning experience for our students is essential, and upon further review of security concerns, schools should move away from using Zoom as soon as possible," said Danielle Filson, a spokesperson for the New York City Dept. of Education. "There are many new components to remote learning, and we are making real-time decisions in the best interest of our staff and students." Instead, the city's Dept. of Education is transitioning schools to Microsoft Teams, which the spokesperson said has the "same capabilities with appropriate security measures in place." The ban will cover some 1.1 million students in more than 1,800 schools across the city's five boroughs. The decision to ban Zoom from schools was made in part by New York City's Cyber Command, which launched in 2018 to help keep the city's residents safe. Zoom did not comment by the time of publication, but Zoom's chief marketing officer Janine Pelosi later told TechCrunch that the company was in "continued dialogue" with the city "about how Zoom can be of service during this time." News of the ban comes after a barrage of criticism over the company's security policies and privacy practices, as hundreds of millions of users forced to work during the pandemic from home turn to the video calling platform. On Friday, Zoom's chief executive apologized for "mistakenly" routing some calls through China, after researchers said the setup would put ostensibly encrypted calls at risk of interception by Chinese authorities. Zoom also apologized for claiming its service was end-to-end encrypted when it was not. Zoom also changed its default settings to enable passwords on video calls by default after a wave of "Zoombombing" attacks, which saw unprotected calls invaded by trolls and used to broadcast abusive content. Story continues Not all schools are said to be finding the transition easy. As first reported by Chalkbeat, Zoom quickly became the popular video calling service of choice after city schools closed on March 16. But one school principal in Brooklyn warned the publication that the shift away from Zoom would make it harder to remotely teach their classes, citing a "clunkiness" of Microsoft's service. The city spokesperson said it had been training schools on Microsoft Teams for "several weeks." But the spokesperson did not rule out an eventual return to Zoom, saying that the department "continues to review and monitor developments with Zoom," and will update schools with any changes. Updated with comment from Zoom. 06.04.2020 LISTEN The death of a disease control Field Technician at Tease Presbyterian Health Center in the District Capital of Afram Plains South of the Eastern region has sparked uproar among some residents blaming the death on the unavailability of Ambulance. The deceased, Linus Lang-Yin, reported to be a BP patient died Thursday, April 2, 2020 while on night duty. He was attending to his friend Felix Beringa, a staff at the Department of Planning at the Afram Plains South District Assembly who was in critical condition after being involved in a bizarre motorbike accident. Information gathered indicates that the deceased before his passing called the Afram Plains South District Ambulance Service to convey the accident victim to Donkokrom Hospital but was told the Ambulance could not attend to the case over a mechanical Challenge. He, therefore, called the Afram Plains North District Ambulance but while waiting he collapsed. His colleague health workers were waiting for the ambulance to convey the two but the health worker died before the arrival of the Ambulance from Donkokrom. Meanwhile, the accident victim who was taken to Donkokrom Presbyterian Hospital is responding to treatment. It is not clear if the sudden rise in the Blood Pressure of the deceased health worker was triggered by the case he was handling or the delay in the arrival of the ambulance vehicle. But a group calling itself, Afram Plains Concerned Citizens has issued a statement Monday, April 6, 2020, blaming the passing of the health worker on the delay in the arrival of the Ambulance. The nurse on duty called for the ambulance parked at the district assembly to move his friend who was almost unconscious to Donkorkrom Presbyterian Hospital but the operators of the ambulance were nowhere to be found, they had to call the Donkorkrom District Ambulance and that took them more than three (3) hours and out of frustration his friend Nurse on duty BP rose cand collapsed yet the ambulance was still not in since it has to come from Donkorkrom which is far and because of the bad nature of the road it took a very long time for them to get to the clinic and the nurse couldnt survive . The group added that this is not the first time issue of this nature has occurred since the ambulance came to the district. We dont understand why we have our ambulance parked at the district assembly while we have a DCE and other management members but we have to always resort to the ambulance at Donkorkrom for emergency situations We are therefore by this release asking the following legitimate questions Responding to this claims, the District Chief Executive for Afram Plains South, George Ofori told Starr News, managers of the Ambulance Service in the District told him, that the Ambulance had a burst tyre last week hence has no spare tyre which is not advisable in a standard Operative Procedure to embark on a long journey. ---starrfmonline Officials search for thousands more who attended Tablighi Jamaat gathering in Lahore despite coronavirus pandemic. Pakistan has quarantined 20,000 people and is still searching for thousands more who attended a Muslim groups gathering in the city of Lahore last month despite the worsening coronavirus pandemic, officials said on Sunday. Authorities said they want to test or quarantine those who congregated at the event held by the missionary movement, Tablighi Jamaat, between March 10-12 over fears they are now spreading COVID-19 across Pakistan and overseas. More than 100,000 people went to the meeting, organisers said, undeterred by government requests for it to be cancelled as the virus hit the country. In northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, authorities have so far quarantined 5,300 tablighis, or Islamic preachers, who attended the meeting. Health officials are conducting tests for coronavirus, and some of them have tested positive, Ajmal Wazir, a spokesman for the region, told AFP news agency on Sunday. Wazir said thousands of tablighis from his province were stranded in other regions because of the closure of major highways across the country. About 7,000 have been quarantined in the central Punjab city of Lahore, while in southern Sindh province up to 8,000 tablighis have been quarantined, government officials said. Dozens more have been forced to self-quarantine in southwestern Balochistan province. Tablighi mosques and the movements other places of worship were shut down or marked as quarantine centres at the end of March. At least 154 worshippers who went to last months Jamaat had tested positive for coronavirus, with two fatalities, authorities told AFP. Coronavirus has killed at least 45 people in Pakistan but, with only limited testing available, observers worry the number is far higher. Tablighi Jamaat is considered one of the worlds largest faith-based movements, with millions of followers, particularly in South Asia, and sends preachers to countries to spread Islams ideas. Stubbornness of the clergy Numerous foreign nationals attended this year from countries including China, Indonesia, Nigeria and Afghanistan, organisers said. About 1,500 foreigners are now quarantined in Pakistan, but others left the country without being tested. Gazas health ministry confirmed last month its first two cases of coronavirus were Palestinians who had attended the gathering. Pakistans Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry earlier expressed exasperation that the event had gone ahead, blaming the stubbornness of the clergy. Organisers said they cut the gathering short following advice from the authorities; however, at the time, they said it was due to rainy weather. Similar Tablighi Jamaat congregations held in Malaysia and India during the coronavirus pandemic have been blamed for spreading the virus to other nations. ANN ARBOR, MI With springs arrival, curbside compost pickup has returned in Ann Arbor, but there are some changes due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. To protect city workers against potential COVID-19 exposure, all compost collection will be done using the mechanical lift arm on solid waste vehicles. That means, until further notice, only yard waste and food scraps placed in compost carts will be collected by the city, and yard waste bags and bundled brush will not be picked up. City officials are asking residents to keep bags and bundles away from the curb and in a dry place until full collections resume at a later date. Monday, April 6: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan The city's compost facility also is closed for all residential and contractor drop-off and pickup services until further notice. The city understands this change in service will be inconvenient and very much appreciates the communitys help in keeping city staff safe and healthy, the city stated in a news release. In the meantime, the city is offering free delivery of a compost cart 64- or 96-gallon size to any home that doesn't currently have one. To order a cart, contact the city by phone at 734-994-7336, or via email at customerservice@a2gov.org. Supplies are limited, the city stated. Orders for additional carts will be charged the additional cart fee, but delivery will be free. Please note that repeat orders will be placed behind first-time orders. Residents are encouraged to visit www.a2gov.org/compost for more information and updates. As of Sunday, April 5, there were 521 reported cases of COVID-19 in Washtenaw County, including 138 hospitalizations, eight deaths and 69 recoveries. Statewide, there were 15,718 reported cases and 617 deaths across Michigan. 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. MORE FROM MLIVE AND THE ANN ARBOR NEWS: 48% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Washtenaw County are black, health department says Michigan small businesses encouraged to apply for $349B Paycheck Protection Program Whitmer extends order banning non-essential visits to hospitals, care facilities 17 new coronavirus cases confirmed in Washtenaw County Hash Bash 2020 held online as police make sure Diag stays clear Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 07:23:37|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close WASHINGTON, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Captain Brett Crozier, who has commanded aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt until his recent removal by the Navy for sounding the alarm about a coronavirus outbreak on board, has tested positive for the virus, The New York Times reported on Sunday. The Times, citing Crozier's Naval Academy classmates, said Crozier exhibited symptoms before he was relieved of his duty on the warship Thursday. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Sunday an investigation into Crozier's actions is ongoing. "All the services at times relieve commanders without the benefit of an investigation up front because they've lost confidence in them. It's certainly not unique to the Navy," he said on CNN's "State of the Union" program. The secretary also confirmed that there have been 155 positive tests among sailors on board the Roosevelt, that more than half of the crew have been tested, and that there have been no hospitalizations. The Navy planned to evacuate 2,700 of the roughly 5,000 crew members on the vessel, leaving the rest on board to maintain the ship's operation. As of Saturday, 1,548 service members have disembarked the ship, and The Times, citing local hotel association, said at least an additional 400 service members will be moved to Guam hotels Sunday. Crozier sent a five-page internal letter earlier this week to higher-ranking officials in the chain of command, pleading for help from the Pentagon to contain a COVID-19 outbreak aboard the Roosevelt by transferring 90 percent of the crew onto Guam for quarantine. The ship now docks in Guam. "We are not at war," the captain wrote in the letter, which was first made public by the San Francisco Chronicle. "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's ousting was announced Thursday by Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly, who said the captain 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." "In sending it out pretty broadly, he did not take care to ensure that it couldn't be leaked," Modly said. "And that's part of his responsibility." President Donald Trump said Saturday that he supported Crozier's firing, adding "it was terrible what he did." The Democrats, however, condemned the Navy. Democratic lawmakers in both the Senate and the House asked for a probe into the matter. Immediately following Crozier's ouster Thursday, the Democratic leaders of the House Armed Services Committee issued a statement condemning his removal. "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, adding that "relieving him of his command is an overreaction." "Throwing the commanding officer overboard without a thorough investigation is not going to solve the growing crisis aboard the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt," they said. Democratic senators Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland wrote a letter co-signed by 15 of their colleagues Friday to Acting Inspector General for the Department of Defense Glenn Fine, urging him to launch a formal investigation into the Navy's response to the COVID-19 outbreak on the Roosevelt, as well as its decision to fire the captain. "It is essential that your office conduct a comprehensive investigation to avoid any potential conflicts of interest within the Navy chain of command, and we encourage you to evaluate all relevant matters associated with the dismissal and the outbreak on the ship," they wrote in the letter. Former Vice President Joe Biden criticized the Navy's actions. "I think it's close to criminal the way they're dealing with this guy," Biden said Sunday on ABC's "This Week," adding that Crozier "should have a commendation rather than be fired." In a Friday tweet hailing the captain, Biden said Crozier "was faithful to his duty-both to his sailors and his country." "Navy leadership sent a chilling message about speaking truth to power," the former vice president said. "The poor judgment here belongs to the Trump Admin, not a courageous officer trying to protect his sailors." In an op-ed carried by The Times on Friday titled "Captain Crozier Is a Hero," Tweed Roosevelt said what Crozier did to protect sailors under his command showed judgment similar to that of Theodore Roosevelt - Tweed's great grandfather and the 26th President of the United States - during the Spanish-American War. "In this era when so many seem to place expediency over honor, it is heartening that so many others are showing great courage, some even risking their lives. Theodore Roosevelt, in his time, chose the honorable course. Captain Crozier has done the same," Roosevelt wrote. The First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, site of a 2017 mass shooting that killed 26 people and wounded 20, has continued to hold Sunday services in its sanctuary, despite the potential danger posed by the novel coronavirus. Lord God Thank you for this opportunity to gather in your house and be able to openly proclaim your righteousness in a world today that is afraid and panicked, Pastor Frank Pomeroy said Sunday in the opening prayer, before delivering a sermon on the dangers of worry traps. Parishioners say it was their faith that helped them recover after the November 2017 massacre. In the midst of a viral pandemic, its what many still hold onto even if attending church in-person flies in the face of public health guidance. Gov. Greg Abbotts stay at home order limiting business activity and social interaction exempted religious services as an essential activity. But Abbott encouraged churches to offer remote services whenever possible and said those that choose to hold in-person services must keep parishioners six feet apart. On ExpressNews.com: Abbott overrides San Antonio, Bexar County rules on religious gatherings The Archdiocese of San Antonio and the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas have suspended in-person gatherings and encouraged clergy to livestream services. First Baptist does livestream services, but its leaders dont see that as a substitute for in-person worship. On Sunday, more than 40 people filled the pews of the churchs new sanctuary a 250-seat, $3 million building donated to the congregation. It sits next to the quaint, clapboard church where the mass shooting occurred. That building is now a memorial with 26 chairs one for each of the congregants who died. On ExpressNews.com: Sutherland Springs congregation marks first service in new home More than a dozen people on the worship team and a few church members operating audio-visual equipment were also in attendance Sunday. Greetings ranged from fist-bumps to bear hugs. Paper bulletins were passed out to congregants as they streamed into the sanctuary. No one wore face masks, despite a federal recommendation that Americans do so when outside their homes. The church members sat in their usual places in some cases right next to one another. Others sat in isolation, with no one near. Pomeroy who lost his 14-year-old daughter in the mass shooting told parishioners the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that people stay six feet apart. Now that I said that, its up to you what you do with that, he added. Health experts have warned that the coronavirus can spread quickly in church environments, which often involve dozens of people in an enclosed space and frequent physical contact. The CDC has strongly advised against gatherings of more than 10 people. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio churches are cautious about Abbotts new path to reopen Sutherland Springs is in Wilson County, a rural area southeast of San Antonio that has just six reported cases of coronavirus. But as the threat deepens, the number of First Baptist attendees has been dwindling. Two weeks ago, more than 100 congregants showed up. On March 29, there were about 60. Normally, Id say lets walk around a bit, but were not. What were going to do today is the parade wave. Amen? There you go, Pomeroy told the congregation Sunday, giving a slow wave a substitute for the hugs that the tight-knit group of survivors and victims family members look forward to every Sunday. He announced that the mens fishing and ladies spa retreats had been postponed due to the coronavirus. The rest of the churchs activities Sunday breakfasts and bible studies have been suspended or switched to livestream. The church has started a COVID-19 taskforce to arrange grocery runs and other assistance for members who are afraid to leave their homes. John Holcombe, who lost three children, his pregnant wife, his parents and other relatives in the 2017 shooting, films every service for remote viewing. On ExpressNews.com: A family recovers after losing nine in Sutherland Springs massacre From the perspective of someone who has been shot at, I can tell you when its your time, its your time, Holcombe said. Whether by coronavirus or by flu or by getting shot. Or by anything else. I do think its important for us to be careful. But if it is your time, theres nothing you can do to stop it. And if its not your time, theres nothing you can do to cause it. Gunny Macias, who was shot five times during the 2017 massacre, said he wont let the virus stop him from coming to church. If all these bullets werent going to stop me, a virus isnt going to stop me, he said. If God wanted me, he wouldve taken me then. Pomeroy, who is running for Texas Senate as a Republican in District 21, said requiring churches to close their doors would violate the First Amendments guarantee of freedom of religion. He said streaming services cant replace the sense of community and togetherness found in a church setting, and those who dont have internet access cant participate. On ExpressNews.com: Sutherland Springs pastor to enter Republican primary for state Senate If it had been mandated into law, a true shutdown The scriptures say I have to adhere to the laws of the land. So I wouldve had to lock the doors. But yes, I wouldve pursued a constitutional lawsuit at that point, Pomeroy said in an interview. Sallie Watson, General Presbyter of Mission Presbytery, which oversees a network of 130 churches in South Texas, is one of several faith leaders who signed a letter urging Abbott to require churches to hold services remotely. Noting new evidence that people who suffer no symptoms from the virus can nevertheless transmit it to others, Watson said closing churches isnt an infringement on anyones rights, especially when livestream is an option. I know its hard, and I know its difficult, but weve got to find other ways to connect in a time like this that would not be potentially lethal, Watson said. I couldnt live with myself if I knew I was the reason someone else got the virus and died. Still, First Baptists services have brought in several new members. Charlene Cummings usually attends The Country Church in Marion, Northwest of San Antonio. When the church stopped in-person services, she started attending First Baptist. This is my way of not letting fear control me, she said. Cummings wore a black-and-white shirt that read Faith over fear. Yes, its a scary virus, people are in danger, but when were giving up our freedoms thats scary to us, when we see our freedoms being stripped away, she said. Silvia Foster-Frau covers immigration news in the San Antonio, Bexar County and South Texas area. To read more from Silvia, become a subscriber. sfosterfrau@express-news.net | Twitter: @SilviaElenaFF Deepak Sathish By Express News Service COIMBATORE: Five patients, who tested positive for COVID-19 and were being treated at ESI Hospital in Coimbatore, were discharged on Monday after samples came back negative for coronavirus in two consecutive tests. Among the five patients who were discharged were a 26-year-old woman who had returned from Spain, a 48-year-old man from Tirupur who had returned from the UK, a 29-year-old railway doctor, her 10-month-old baby boy, and their domestic worker. The doctor had contracted the infection while on duty when she had contact with one of the patients in Erode who tested positive for COVID-19. "Following the completion of the isolation period at the hospital, their samples were tested. For the second time, their samples were either sent to Guindy or other testing centres for confirmation," a senior official at ESI Hospital said. Collector K Rajamani confirmed the developments and said the discharged patients had been asked to remain under house quarantine for 28 days. COVID-19 LIVE | With 704 new cases and 111 deaths, India sees biggest one-day spike in last 24 hours Meanwhile, the total number of COVID-19 patients reported from Coimbatore district reached 59 on Monday, with a 52-year-old man working as a railway engineer with Southern Railway testing positive. Health department sources said the patient was admitted to a private hospital a few days ago after he developed breathing issues. Sources said the man had recently travelled to Salem to bring his pregnant daughter to his house in Podanur. After he tested positive, he was referred to ESI Hospital on Monday; his family members are being monitored. As 22 out of 29 persons who tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday living within the city limits, the health department is planning to conduct a rigorous containment survey in some localities to identify residents with symptoms of viral infection. Some of the containment zones declared in major areas of Coimbatore city are in KK Pudur, Cheranmanagar, Vilankuruchi, Podanur, Sundarapuram, Ukkadam, RS Puram and Kuniamuthur. The containment survey is also underway at some areas in Mettupalayam, Annur, Pollachi, Anamalai and Madukkarai. The health department would reach out to the residents in the aforesaid areas to identify fever symptoms among the people. Collector K Rajamani told TNIE the residents may not be allowed outside the containment zones during the ongoing survey. He said, 'The revenue department has been asked to help residents purchase essential commodities with the latter's money. The products would be handed over to them at the border of the containment zones.' Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 6, 2020 15:54 644 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd008b62 1 News Oyo,COVID-19,Hotel,coronavirus,Accommodation,OYO-Hotels-and-Homes Free Hotel chain OYO Hotels and Homes Indonesia has transformed one of its properties into housing for medical personnel who are fighting a surge in COVID-19 cases. According to a statement, the property is mainly for medical workers at Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital in Central Jakarta, a referral hospital for COVID-19 treatment. OYO especially allocates a number of rooms at our hotel for healthcare warriors, including doctors, nurses and other medical personnel, to ease their access to accommodation [and to] clean themselves, or at least to take a rest amid this difficult time, OYO Hotels and Homes Indonesia country head Alfian Lim said in the statement. The facility also aims to offer a solution for medical workers who need to maintain a safe distance from their family members or relatives due to their daily direct interactions with COVID-19 patients. The company previously launched similar initiatives in other countries, such as India, Malaysia and the United States. As a precaution to maintain the health and comfort of its hotel staff and guests, OYO is said to apply standard operating procedures in accordance with health protocols that include body temperature checks prior to check-in, the use of face masks, the provision of hand sanitizers, a hand-washing requirement and the spraying of disinfectant in all rooms before check-in and after check-out. For those who need a place to stay for a long period of time during this health crisis, the hotel company, based in Gurugram, India, also introduced its Long Stay program with three options: seven-day stay for Rp 499,000 (US$30.19); 14-day stay for Rp 699,000; and 30-day stay for Rp 899,000. Since late March the government has been working with several hotels, including Accor Group, to accommodate doctors and other medical workers who are on the frontline in the battle against COVID-19. Hotel booking platform RedDoorz recently opened more than 100 of its rooms near hospitals in Jakarta to accommodate for free medical workers treating COVID-19 patients. (gis/kes) Natalie Rahey and Blair Skrupski were supposed to be standing under a wedding canopy in three weeks, hand in hand on a Caribbean beach surrounded by friends and family. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/4/2020 (644 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Natalie Rahey and Blair Skrupski are shown in a handout photo. The Halifax couple in their 30s whose wedding in Mexico's Riviera Maya later this month is now on hold after Air Canada Vacations cancelled their flight, say they and their nearly three-dozen guests are now out more than $50,000. Rahey says she is "incredibly disappointed" that the voucher requires them to rebook at the same resort for the same price or more within the next two years, even if cheaper options become available. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Natalie Rahey MANDATORY CREDIT Natalie Rahey and Blair Skrupski were supposed to be standing under a wedding canopy in three weeks, hand in hand on a Caribbean beach surrounded by friends and family. Instead the Halifax couple was left holding nothing but a travel voucher and a lighter bank statement after Air Canada Vacations cancelled their flight one of thousands cut amid the near-total shutdown of the airline industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Their nuptials in Mexico's Riviera Maya are on hold as they and their nearly three dozen guests grapple with the more than $50,000 that now sits in an Air Canada account. Rahey said their travel voucher valid for the next 24 months requires them to rebook at the same resort for the same price or more within the next two years, even if cheaper options become available. "If the cost to rebook our wedding is more expensive, we have to pay more. But if its less, we dont get the difference back. Air Canada gets to keep that money. And no refund was offered," Rahey said. "To feel like were not being taken care of is just incredibly disappointing." Travellers and travel agents alike are increasingly fed up with refund policies and customer service at Canadian airlines amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with no word yet on what strings might come attached to a potential bailout for the struggling sector. A petition calling on Ottawa to refuse an aid package to any airline that does not refund customers for cancelled flights now touts roughly 3,000 signatures. Most Canadian carriers are offering customers flights rebookings or vouchers but not refunds amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars in effective interest-free loans to airlines from passengers, said Toronto resident Bob Scott, who launched the petition last week. "Its absolutely disgraceful," he said. "Ive never seen anything anything like the fury thats being unleashed at the airlines by consumers on this issue." Customers aren't the only ones getting sick of the turbulence. Travel agent Barbara Broomel says Air Canada has been "very hard" to reach, leaving her torn about whether a tour group should make their next $6,000 payment for a European trip that may yet be cancelled. "Theyre asking me, 'What do we do? Do I make the final payment?' This is all up in the air," said Broomel, who is based near Buffalo, N.Y., and works with Canadian clients. Faced with an unprecedented drop in travel demand, Air Canada has nonetheless worked with the federal government to overcome border closures and repatriate tens of thousands of Canadians stranded in places ranging from Morocco to Peru. "I know their hands are full," Broomel said, but noted that carriers such as Lufthansa and Delta Air Lines offer agents regular updates or dedicated help lines. "It doesnt have to be like this. And Im in agony over making the wrong decision for other people." Air Canada, which has cut flying by about 90 per cent for the next two months, did not respond to a request for comment Monday. Its website states that "cancellations that are caused by COVID-19 are beyond our control," but that the company will provide "a flight credit of equal value for a future ticket purchased within 24 months" of the cancellation date. While U.S. and European Union officials have ordered airlines to reimburse customers for cancelled flights, a statement on the Canadian Transportation Agency website says airlines are not obliged to refund passengers for flights suspended due to the novel coronavirus or other reasons outside a carrier's control. Advocates say the statement, which is unsigned, lacks the authority of an official ruling, each of which is signed by one or more of the members who comprise the tribunal. If a flight is cancelled because of events beyond an airline's control, the carrier must provide alternate arrangements, but not a refund, according to passenger rights rules passed last year. However, most airlines have a tariff the contract between airline and passenger that stipulates refunds in such cases. WestJet's tariff that states that "the unused portion of the passenger's ticket(s) will be refunded...should the alternate transportation proposed by the carrier not meet the passenger's satisfaction," in the event of a cancellation beyond the carrier's control. Despite that pledge, WestJet's website says that it is "not processing refunds to original form of payment at this time," and highlights future travel credit instead. The Canadian branch of the Air Line Pilots Association, which represents pilots at WestJet and 13 other domestic carriers, is calling for a stimulus package similar to relief measures announced in the U.S. Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The aid bundle stipulates that airlines seeking a slice of US$25 billion in federal grants cannot impose furloughs or pay reductions until October. Stock buybacks are prohibited for more than a year and executive compensation must be reigned in. Air Canada, which netted $1.48 billion in profits last year, has seen its share price soar over the past decade, outperforming all other Toronto Stock Exchange companies to earn a 3,575 per cent return between 2010 and 2019, CEO Calin Rovinescu noted in February. Helping to boost the price was the companys share repurchase program, where it poured more than $800 million into buying back its own stock since 2015, shrinking the supply of shares on the market. Air Canada had $7.3 billion in cash as of last month, more than the most profitable U.S. carrier, Delta Air Lines. Assuming severe travel restrictions last for three months, airlines around the globe will see passenger revenues drop by $252 billion, according to the International Air Transport Association trade group. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 6, 2020. Companies in this story: (TSX:AC) With the coronavirus pandemic rapidly spreading and the country in a lockdown, Akshay Kumar and Jackky Bhagnani teamed up to release a song of hope titled Muskurayega India. The single has been sung and composed by Vishal Mishra, with lyrics by Kaushal Kishore. The video begins with a snippet from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation, in which he says that we will fight the coronavirus pandemic and emerge victorious. It features a host of Bollywood celebrities, including Akshay, Kartik Aaryan, Tiger Shroff, Vicky Kaushal, Rajkummar Rao, Sidharth Malhotra, Kriti Sanon, Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar, Kiara Advani and Ananya Panday, among others. The stars recorded their portions for the video from their respective homes, and their shots are interspersed with visuals of the country in all its glory. Watch it here: Earlier, on Monday, Akshay announced the single and wrote on Twitter, At a time like this when our days are clouded with uncertainty and life has come to a standstill, bringing you a song of hope. #MuskurayegaIndia song out at 6 PM today. @Jjust_Music #CapeOfGoodFilms @VishalMMishra @jackkybhagnani. Jackky, who is presenting Muskurayega India under his label Jjust Music in association with Akshays Cape Of Good Films, told Mid-Day that the proceeds from this song will be used for the immediate and long-term relief of those affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Akshay sir and I felt the only thing that helps, in times of uncertainty, is hope. The proceeds from this song will go towards supporting the central and state governments efforts in fighting the virus, Jackky told the newspaper. Also read | Bigg Boss 13 finalist Arti Singh on lockdown: You might see me all happy and decked up but I have cried too Last month, Akshay pledged 25 crore to the Prime Ministers Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-Cares) fund. He told Hindustan Times that the contribution was not his, but from his mother to his motherland. Main kaun hota hoon charity ya donate karne wala (Who am I to donate or make any charity)? he said, adding, Doosri baat ki hum apni country ko Bharat Maa kehte hain. Mera yeh contribution actually mera nahi hai. Yeh meri maa ki taraf se Bharat Maa ko hai. (We address our country as Bharat Maa. So this contribution is not from me. It is from my mother to my motherland, Bharat Maa.) Follow @htshowbiz for more Queen Elizabeth II rallied her fellow Britons on Sunday evening to confront the coronavirus pandemic in a rare televised address that was followed almost immediately by news that the nations most prominent victim of the virus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, had been admitted to the hospital. Johnsons office said he was hospitalized because he still has symptoms 10 days after testing positive for the virus. Downing Street said his admission was a precautionary step and Johnson remains in charge of the government. Johnson, 55, has been quarantined in his Downing Street residence since being diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 26. News of Johnsons admission to a hospital came an hour after the queen made her address to the nation, urging Britons to remain united and resolute in the fight against the virus. Drawing parallels to the struggle of World War II, the 93-year-old queen said that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return. I am speaking to you at what I know is an increasingly challenging time, the queen said in taped remarks from Windsor Castle, where she has sequestered herself against a virus that has infected at least 40,000 people in Britain. Among them are her eldest son and heir, Prince Charles. The queen called it a time of disruption in the life of our country: a disruption that has brought grief to some, financial difficulties to many and enormous changes to the daily lives of us all. It was only the fourth time in her 66-year reign that the queen has addressed the British people, apart from her annual Christmas greeting. FRANCE Transit mobilized to move patients The high-speed train whooshing past historic World War I battle zones and through the chateau-speckled Loire Valley carried a delicate cargo: 20 critically ill COVID-19 patients and the machines helping keep them alive. The TGV-turned-mobile-intensive-care-unit is just one piece of Frances nationwide mobilization of trains, helicopters, jets and even a warship, deployed to relieve congested hospitals and move hundreds of patients and medical personnel in and out of coronavirus hot spots. The Rungis food market south of Paris, Europes biggest, is transforming into a morgue as Frances death count surpassed 8,000. Nearly 7,000 patients are in intensive care, pushing French hospitals to their limit and beyond. Doctors are rationing painkillers and re-using masks. VATICAN Few are in pews for Palm Sunday Pope Francis celebrated Palm Sunday Mass in the shelter of St. Peters Basilica without the public because of the coronavirus pandemic, while parish priests elsewhere in Rome took to church rooftops and bell towers to lead services so at least some faithful could follow the ritual. Looking pensive and sounding subdued, Francis led the first of several solemn Holy Week ceremonies that will shut out rank-and-file faithful from attending, as Italys rigid lockdown measures forbid public gatherings. Normally, tens of thousands of Romans, tourists and pilgrims would have flocked to an outdoor Mass led by the pontiff. Instead, Francis celebrated Mass inside St. Peters Basilica. A few invited prelates, nuns and laypeople were present, staggered far apart in the pews to reduce the risks of contagion. BRAZIL Warning issued on shortage of tests Brazilian health officials grappling with the new coronavirus outbreak have issued a stark warning about a lack of hospital beds, masks, testing devices and trained staff across Latin Americas largest nation. A Health Ministry report found Brazil can carry out 6,700 COVID-19 tests a day, but that it will need to process as many as 50,000 tests daily during the peak of the outbreak, expected in June. The assessment raises serious questions about its capacity to face the outbreak in a country of more than 210 million. CZECH REPUBLIC Volunteer pilots deliver medical aid More than 300 pilots in the Czech Republic have joined forces in a group of volunteers who use their private planes to distribute medical equipment across the country. The Pilots to the People project is meant to help the state authorities fighting the coronavirus to deliver supplies to any place in the country as soon as possible. Chronicle News Services President Akufo Addo has announced that Ghana is about to enter a critical phase of the countrys fight against COVID-19 in this week as the Ghana Health Service is due to the receive results of some 15,384 out 19,276 persons who have been reached through contact tracing. According to the President, it is the result of these tests that will determine Ghanas future course of action. Speaking on Sunday during his fifth address to the nation since the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease, President Akufo Addo stated that the governments policies and measures will continue to be driven by the size of this matter. He added that in the course of the week, a determination will be made as to whether or not to extend the duration of the two-week restriction on movement and the implementation or otherwise of anymore enhanced measures to deal with the virus. Ghana as of Sunday, April 5, 2020 has confirmed 214 cases of COVID-19 from a previous recorded figure of 205. For the additional nine (9) COVID-19 cases; six (6) were recorded from Greater Accra and three (3) from Ashanti region. Among the cases from Greater Accra, one is a 37-year-old woman with no history of travel nor contact with a confirmed case. One is a repeat test of a traveller under quarantine who was initially negative but converted to positive on repeat test. Four are contacts of confirmed cases with no symptoms and were detected during the enhanced contact tracing and testing. Of the three (3) cases from Ashanti region, two (2) are Ghanaians who travelled to Ghana from France within the past 14 days and the third one is a Ghanaian who has no history of travel out of the country nor contact with a any confirmed case. Currently, the number of regions reporting cases are as follows: Greater Accra, Ashanti, Northern, Upper West Eastern and Upper East Region. The Greater Accra Region has most cases (189) followed by the Ashanti Region (12), Northern Region (10), Upper West Region (1), Eastern Region (1) and Upper East Region (1). Most of the cases are reported from routine / enhanced surveillance activities. Cases from travellers under mandatory quarantine are 90. All five (5) deaths recorded in the country had underlying chronic medical conditions prior to COVID-19 infection. ---kasapafmonline In South Africa, 75% of CEOs stated that the increasing complexity of cyber threats is shaping their businesses. Protect your data Take precautions Invest in an antivirus: Organisations need to have a trusted antivirus software package and make sure its up to date. Install browser protection: Put procedures in place to prevent staff from accessing unauthorised or dodgy sites. This is most often where these hackers gain access to your computers. Email filters: Set up strong junk mail filters on your emails, and teach and remind staff not to open emails from unknown or suspicious sources. Make regular, different backups: Dont back-up over your last back-up. Have multiple back-ups. Cloud accounting software automatically backs up data, taking that burden away from businesses. Follow up on notifications of data changes or logins: It may be just an SMS, but make sure its valid. This is according to the PwC 23rd Annual CEO Survey 2020 which also highlights the growing public concern over data privacy and vulnerabilities in supply chains and business partners. However, with many businesses working from home during the national lockdown, these results may increase.Louis Aucamp, managing director at Equality Group and Intuit QuickBooks trainer, says that it is for these reasons that businesses are adopting technological security solutions.As we are well into the Fourth Industrial Revolution and many companies are run using the internet, online security has become a priority, much like the steps every business needs to take to protect physical assets such as buildings and documents.When it comes to local small and medium enterprise (SME) owners, they should note that cloud is shifting the paradigm for growing businesses and that it is something they should consider implementing to remain competitive, Aucamp adds.Cloud accounting software is a surefire way for businesses to ensure that their data is protected because global security standards are built-in as a standard feature, he says.For example, cloud-based accounting software uses encryption to send and store data. This means that the information stored is rewritten into a secret unbreakable code. This is the same type of security used to make online banking safe.Businesses also need to protect themselves from the inside, he says. With cloud accounting software, it gives business owners the option of creating varying levels of access to their data. This is not unlike only giving certain staff members keys to the payroll cabinet in years gone by. This is very important because you may want a contractor to log hours but not access your books or invoicing.Automation has freed very important work hours for small business owners, many of whom perform many tasks in their businesses. An entrepreneur who is running a company, managing staff and chasing new business needs as much help as possible, says Aucamp. When you use reputable software, you have peace of mind that the service provider has done everything possible to assist businesses in securing their data.He says there are also general precautions business owners can take to ensure that their house is in order from an internet perspective. These include:It is prudent to make online security a business priority, along with other important business considerations. The good news, says Aucamp, is that once accounting and other software is secure in the cloud, business owners can have peace of mind that the security of their data is in good hands. For the record, I like every actor who has played James Bond. Yes, that includes George Lazenby. And yes, that also includes Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace, a movie which has the important distinction of being the last Bond before the insufferable new Q came into the mix. (Dont email me.) As a fan, Ill happily jump in whenever someone starts up the timeless bar debate about which Bond is best. But the truth is, the James Bond movie franchise is great not because we, the audience, are split off into different factions, but because the various actors, and even the individual films themselves, fill different voids at different times. Sometimes you need a martini shaken, not stirred, sometimes you need a whisky, straight up, with a scorpion. A week from now, No Time to Die, the 25th official Bond movie and Daniel Craigs final turn as the spy, was supposed to hit theaters in the U.S. As a result of the pandemic, it has been postponed until November. But you know what? Thats actually OK, because after rewatching four Bond films recently, it occurred to me that Craig isnt the Bond we, as a society, need right now Pierce Brosnan is. Netflix currently has all four Pierce Brosnan Bond films available to stream, which are, for those who only remember him from the N64 cartridge, 1995s GoldenEye, 1997s Tomorrow Never Dies, 1999s The World Is Not Enough and 2002s Die Another Day. And while I certainly went into this exercise in coronavirus escapism hoping to mainline nostalgia (Die Another Day is the first Bond film I remember seeing in theaters), I came away thinking Brosnan has got to be the most unfairly maligned Bond in franchise history. In recent years, there seems to have been a general downward trend in public opinion of Brosnans portrayal of the spy, at least in relation to the others. (I wont legitimize the supremely bad takes by linking to them here, but theyre not hard to find.) And while there is certainly a time and place for Roger Moore, Sean Connery and Daniel Craig, this time, a time of global upheaval, collective anxiety and yearning for a time before, requires the Irishman. Whats so special about Pierce, a man whose name sounds like a second-rate villain in a James Bond film? More than any other actor, Brosnan is the most reliable. You never doubt his ability to escape a sinking submarine or parry with an absolutely bonkers one-liner from a beady-eyed villain. The crises he navigates are not like the ones Craig faces realistic manifestations of contemporary fears. Rather, Brosnan tends to deal in suspend-all-disbelief cinematic extremes: stolen plutonium in Istanbul, villains with diamond acne, a steel-thighed Famke Janssen or Jonathan Pryce with frosted tips. Even when presented with the most traumatic circumstances (read: the scene in which hes tortured by North Koreans in Die Another Day), Brosnans Bond emerges five minutes later strolling through a five-star star hotel with a castaway beard and exposed pecs. While streaming in the age of quarantine has mostly celebrated movies and shows that mirror our collective existential dread, these Bond movies are pure, unfiltered escapism. And if you think for even a moment about your problems outside the movie, Brosnan has an arsenal of tools to draw you back in: rapid-fire quips, the most memorable garage of vehicles imaginable (Chainsaw copters! The Q Boat!) and an old-growth forest of chest hair. The real kicker here, though, is that while Craigs movies are more situationally realistic than the video-game landscape that Brosnan always seems to encounter (Why are there barrels of oil in every scene?!), Craig himself isnt a very realistic person. Hes an extension of superhero culture. You know how many Google results there are when you search Daniel Craig James Bond workout? Over three million. You know how many for Pierce Brosnan James Bond workout? Just over 400K. I dont actually know if that measure means anything anymore, but the point is, no one is researching how to get Brosnan-buff, and thats a good thing. Despite all the extravagant trappings, he somehow feels more tangible, more relatable, as if you (or your uncle with the closetful of Hawaiian shirts and an affinity for using a leaf blower) were a secret agent. And thats a comforting thought. And speaking of Hawaiian shirts, despite some claims that his films are littered with product placement, rewatching them didnt drive me to consumerism. I didnt get the urge to finally shell out for a Barbour jacket or a pair of Vuarnet shades. I didnt even bemoan my 2004 Jetta and dream of an Aston Martin Vanish (thats not a typo). Brosnans wardrobe, especially in the warmer-weather scenes, looks like he raided any upper-middle-class 50-somethings closet. Hes the one Bond who inspires people to put on their own damn vacation shirts and live their lives. Of course, not all the praise can go to ol Pierce himself. There are some circumstantial benefits to his tenure. Sean Connery appeared in seven films over the course of a whopping 21 years (though 1983s Never Say Never Again was admittedly a bit of an outlier). Roger Moore appeared in seven films over 12 years. And Daniel Craig, if he is really done this time, will have done five over 14 years. Brosnan did just four films, and packed them all into a brief stint of just seven years. While the casual viewer may take that as a sign he couldnt hack it we would argue that unlike other actors, he merely exited with grace before he aged out what this outlier statistic really shows is yet another reason why these films feel so distinctive from the rest. Because the entirety of Brosnans oeuvre took place over the shortest duration of time, his movies were less at the whim of outside forces like filmmaking trends, social mores and audience desires. Whereas some of Connerys and Moores separate outings feel as if they were made in separate decades (because they were) and Craigs films sometimes seem to be catering to the producers idea of what modern audiences want (for better and worse), the Brosnan era feels refreshingly cohesive. And yet, despite that, he is also the spy who transcends generations. I have a feeling Brosnans Bond would have been the best at Twitter and TikTok. I havent looked at the script myself, but his dialogue with Halle Berry in Die Another Day has to be at least 90% quips, comebacks and double entendres. Plus, I could watch Bond adjust his tie underwater at 60 mph in a six-second loop forever. Of course, the nature of the character (and the time in which these films were made) means there will always be room for justifiable complaints concerning female objectification. But with Brosnan, there tends to be a measure of self-awareness the helps strike a balance that none of the other Bonds have been able to replicate. Michelle Yeoh, Sophie Marceau and Halle Berry are treated as action heroes in their own right, and represent some of the best foils in the franchise. And dont forget, GoldenEye is the first appearance of Judi Dench as M, the first woman to play that role. She comes out of the gates swinging with one of the entire franchises most memorable lines, I think youre a sexist misogynist dinosaur, a relic of the Cold War. It only gets better from there. Maybe come November Daniel Craig will make his way back to the front of the pack. But what the world needs now is the perfectly coifed zaddy Pierce Brosnan and a strong mojito. The post Pierce Brosnan Is the James Bond We Need Right Now appeared first on InsideHook. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was said to be still in charge of the UK government on Monday after he was hospitalised on Sunday night as a precautionary step for tests, 10 days after he tested positive for coronavirus that isolated him in Downing Street. A spokesperson on Monday dismissed as disinformation reports that Johnson is on ventilator, but did not deny that he received oxygen on Sunday night. He was described as being in good spirits, having spent a comfortable night in hospital, where he will stay another day. Johnsons move to a London hospital was announced on Sunday night soon after Queen Elizabeth delivered a rare message to the Commonwealth, reassuring people that we will succeed in the fight against the pandemic, and that better days will returnwe will meet again. Johnsons hospitalisation prompted a fall in the pounds value and apprehension in various quarters that authorities were not disclosing the full extent of Johnsons ailment that needed the move to hospital, after he was said to have minor symptoms. Downing Street previously announced if he were unable to perform prime ministerial functions, foreign secretary Dominic Raab would lead the government, but housing secretary Robert Jenrick insisted on Monday that he remains in charge. Raab chaired Mondays meeting on coronavirus-related developments. Jenrick said, We hope that as a result of these tests (the prime minister) will be able to come back to Downing Street as soon as possible. Hes been working extremely hard leading the government and being constantly updated. Thats going to continue. Im sure this is very frustrating for him, for somebody like Boris who wants to be hands on running the government from the front, but nonetheless hes still very much in charge of the government, he added. Chancellor Rishi Sunak, home secretary Priti Patel and business secretary Alok Sharma were among several leading figures across the political spectrum to wish Johnson speedy recovery. The Downing Street spokesperson said on Sunday night: On the advice of his doctor, the Prime Minister has tonight been admitted to hospital for tests. This is a precautionary step, as the Prime Minister continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus ten days after testing positive for the virus. The Prime Minister thanks National Health Service staff for all of their incredible hard work and urges the public to continue to follow the Governments advice to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. Johnsons partner, Carrie Symonds, who is pregnant, also tested positive but is said to be recovering. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON It appears the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has warmed the hearts of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) with his latest address on the coronavirus pandemic. Last night, the President for the fifth time addressed the nation and announced some relief packages for businesses, nurses and the citizens at large. Among the mouthwatering packages was the absorption of the water bills of Ghanaians for three months and free transport for health workers at the frontline of the battle. He also indicated that a decision on an extension of the two weeks lockdown will be taken in the coming days. He noted that, "the Ghana Water Company Ltd and the Electricity Company of Ghana have been directed to ensure the stable supply of water and electricity during this period. In addition, there will be no disconnection of supply." This declaration by the President was received with commendations by some Ghanaians on social media who also used the chance to troll the NDCs Presidential candidate, John Mahama. Since the first the first case of the virus was recorded in Ghana, every address by the President draws a reaction from the opposition. Like the previous speeches, the morning of Monday, April 6 has seen reactions by some bigwigs in the NDC but unlike the previous responses which were usually full of critiques, the latest comments have some praises albeit demands for more. Leading the praise-singing team is the former deputy General Secretary of the party who claims the Presidents latest speech has the major ingredients of crises communication. When the crises started, the president did not make any hasty decisions. He consulted people from the health sectors, security agencies, clergy and the media. It is obvious that the president has been doing serious consultation, Koku Anyidoho said. The General-Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketia also welcomed the latest speech but just like the proverbial Oliver Twist, asked for more. "Its good that the government is doing all that for the people. We all agree that we are not in normal times, but this the time government can intervene and ensure that those who are hard hit by this coronavirus stress will also enjoy some sort of freedom," he stressed. Sammy Gyamfi, the NDCs Communication Director in one his usual post-Akufo-Addo speech epistles lauded the government for implementing proposals by the partys flagbearer. It is a vital necessity in a time like this. We, therefore, support any policy or program that is intended to cushion Ghanaians against the impact of the pandemic. Indeed, most of the newly announced interventions, such as free water, distribution of free food to deprived communities in lockdown areas, provision of insurance to our frontline health workers, local production of PPEs among others, were first canvassed by H.E John Dramani Mahama. We are glad that at long last, President Akufo-Addo is beginning to adopt these recommendations. For the National Youth Organizer of the party, the best response to the speech is a concession and admiration of the governments approach in dealing with the virus. He believes that it should be the rallying point for all Ghanaians to unite against the virus. I must admit that the speech from the president was an encouraging one but country men and women, flowery speeches does not necessarily mean they would be followed through. We are supposed to be united in this fight against COVID-19 but anytime the president speaks then his social media robots begin to politicize the whole process. If we continue like this it will be extremely difficult to defeat this virus, He averred. 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 A pregnant South Jersey mother took matters into her own hands Friday after her husband was turned away from a hospital due to new coronavirus rules. Erin Persia of Blackwood, told 6ABC that the staff at Virtua Voorhees Hospital told her husband to wait in the car while she delivered. She went through contractions alone in the triage unit before they stopped. The couple returned home when the contractions returned. Her husband suggested calling 911, but there wasnt time. So she gave birth in their tub. Their daughter, Ameila Gracelyn Persia, was born at 10:30 a.m., on April 3. So we did a thing today, in our bath tub, just the two of us! Now presenting Amelia Gracelyn Persia. Shes literally... Posted by Erin Persia on Friday, April 3, 2020 CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage Virtua told the news outlet it was a misunderstanding, and that expectant mothers are left alone in triage and their support person can enter if the mom-to-be is admitted to the hospital. Most hospitals have additional restrictions in place because of the coronavirus pandemic, barring visitors in many cases to prevent the spread of the virus, which has killed more than 900 people in New Jersey. But a new state rule says pregnant women are allowed to designate one support person - like a spouse or relative - to accompany them during delivery. Acting Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli instituted an order last week amid concerns among some expectant mothers that they would have to deliver their babies without a loved one nearby. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey: Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Musical theatre costume designers are making scrubs for NHS medics working on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus. Sue Simmerling, the owner of costume design company Carry on Costumes, has volunteered the services of her team, who are already in the process of making 70 sets of scrubs for Guys Hospital in London. She was contacted by fellow designer Dulcie Scott, who started the crowdfunding group Helping Dress Medics, which aims is to purchase fabrics that are then made into protective clothing. Simmerling recently worked on costumes for the world premiere of Sleepless, A Musical Romance and show producers Michael Rose and Damien Sanders offered to share the costs with her to pay for 800 metres of fabric, which will be sent to seamstresses around the country. The producers will also devote a performance of their show to NHS workers, who will be able to watch the show for free when it opens. The performance of the show, based on the original screenplay Sleepless In Seattle, will be dubbed A Night For Sleepless Heroes. The musical, starring Jay McGuiness and Kimberley Walsh, was due to start performances on March 24 at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre in London. Expand Close Sleepless (Handout) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sleepless (Handout) Theatres around the country are closed in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus and thousands of creatives have found themselves out of work as a result. Video of the Day Rose and Sanders said: We were so glad to help Sue and her team. While theatres are closed, this is something we can do to help the people on the frontline in this fight against Covid-19. And, as a thank you to these NHS heroes, we wanted to welcome them to the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre once were all back up and running and to see Sleepless free-of-charge. As numbers of US citizens in Nigeria clamour for evacuation from Nigeria over the novel coronavirus, the US mission in Nigeria has issued a strong warning in the regard. According to a statement on the official website of the mission, the citizens have been warned that the US health care is currently overwhelmed as a result of increasing coronavirus cases. Read Also: Im Ashamed Of Pastors Misleading People On Coronavirus: Pastor Ashimolowo (Video) Also, they have been warned that if they seek medical care in the US, they may be required to foot the bills from their own purse. U.S. Embassy Abuja and U.S. Consulate General Lagos would like potential evacuees to bear in mind the following considerations in determining if an evacuation flight is in the best interest of you and your family, the statement read. This is a self-funded, one-way flight to a single destination in the United States. All passengers must sign a promissory note and repay the full cost of their seat(s). In addition, travellers are responsible for organizing and funding any travel to their final destination in the United States, all living expenses while in the United States, and any return travel to Nigeria. Evacuation flights can range between $1,300 and $2,400 per person. Healthcare systems in many localities in the United States are currently overwhelmed. If you need to seek medical care while in the United States, you will be responsible for all costs not covered by your insurance. Many hotels in the United States have closed or are closing. If you plan to evacuate to the United States, please ensure you secure accommodations BEFORE you travel. At this time, Nigerian airports are closed to all commercial international flights. If you evacuate to the United States, it is unlikely you will be able to return to Nigeria until the Nigerian government reopens the airports and commercial flights resume. US President Donald Trump had warned Americans to prepare for the toughest week, predicting that there would be an increase in deaths from the disease. The Federal Government has set machinery into motion to evacuate willing Nigerians from the United States of America (USA) over the COVID-19 pandemic. In a memo titled evacuation of Nigerians from the US by the Consulate General of Nigeria, Nigerians interested in leaving the US were told to indicate interest. The memo signed by Consul (Information and Community Relations) Mrs. Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, the willing Nigerians were asked to provide the details, including COVID-19 status, travel document status, location and reason for the request to the Consulate. Information received will be compiled and forwarded to the Nigerian Government for appropriate action. As soon as necessary arrangements are made, all concerned individuals will be informed accordingly. Please note that the financial implications of the evacuation will be borne by the prospective evacuees, the memo dated April 3, 2020 stated. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Police in Massachusetts are searching for a woman they say sprayed a Walmart cashier in the eyes with Lysol last month. A woman was checking out at the Leicester store on March 27 when the cashier informed her that there was a limit on how many cans of Lysol she could purchase, police said in a news release. The cashier explained to the shopper that she had too many, police said. Thats when the woman sprayed the cashier in the eyes with the disinfectant, according to the release. The cashier required treatment from EMS. The woman ultimately completed her purchase and left the store in what police believe was an Uber, the release said. Now, officials are looking for the woman. Police in Massachusetts are looking for this woman who they say sprayed a cashier in the eyes with Lysol. Police shared the suspects photo on social media and asked anyone with information to contact Officer Matthew Soojian at (508) 892-7010, ext. 2066, or soojianm@leicesterpd.org. With so many items consistently out of stock at stores across the country, Facebook users had a lot to say about the incident, commenting on the police departments post. That employee needs a massive raise. Hazard pay at least, and that is exactly why, one user wrote. That is not funny!! Please are crazy out there, wrote another. Shame on her, wrote a third. Leicester is roughly 53 miles west of Boston. The real estate industry has warned the coronavirus situation facing tenants, landlords and agents is "a mess" as cash-strapped residents struggle to pay rent and owners face mounting costs. Real Estate Institute of Australia president Adrian Kelly said the residential industry was hoping for a rent assistance package after billions of dollars in subsidies were delivered to tourism and other coronavirus-hit sectors. Landlords, agents and renters are battling with the flow on economic effects of the coronavirus. Credit:Henry Zwartz "There's nothing specifically for real estate industries," he said. "The easiest way to fix this problem from our point of view is to keep rents flowing. "It's a mess and it's yet to play out." By Vicente Gaibor del Pino and Yury Garcia GUAYAQUIL (Reuters) - Ecuador's government has begun storing the bodies of victims of the coronavirus in giant refrigerated containers as hundreds of deaths in the city of Guayaquil, the center of the country's outbreak, have already filled morgues and hospitals. Ecuador has confirmed 318 deaths from the virus, one of the highest tallies in Latin America. But President Lenin Moreno said this week that the real figure was higher as authorities were collecting more than 100 bodies a day, many from relatives' homes as a strict quarantine prevented them from being buried By Vicente Gaibor del Pino and Yury Garcia GUAYAQUIL (Reuters) - Ecuador's government has begun storing the bodies of victims of the coronavirus in giant refrigerated containers as hundreds of deaths in the city of Guayaquil, the center of the country's outbreak, have already filled morgues and hospitals. Ecuador has confirmed 318 deaths from the virus, one of the highest tallies in Latin America. But President Lenin Moreno said this week that the real figure was higher as authorities were collecting more than 100 bodies a day, many from relatives' homes as a strict quarantine prevented them from being buried. The government has installed three containers, the largest about 12 meters (40 ft) long, at public hospitals to preserve bodies until graves were prepared, according to Guayaquil's mayor, Cynthia Viteri. So far 150 victims have been buried in a private cemetery in the port city. At Guayaquil's Teodoro Maldonado Carbo hospital on Saturday, medical workers wearing protective gear removed bodies wrapped in plastic from a storage room and used a pallet to wheel them to one container, according to a Reuters photographer. "This pandemic is overcoming the capacity of our hospital services," the hospital said in a statement on Friday. The hospital on Sunday confirmed that it had set up a refrigerated container to hold the bodies of those who died amid the pandemic, adding that the arrangement was being operated in accordance with World Health Organization protocols. The Ecuadorean Institute of Social Security, which runs Teodoro Maldonado Carbo, said on Saturday on Twitter that it had disinfected all areas of the hospital to guarantee the safety of patients and medical professionals. On Saturday, Ecuador's government said it would activate a new digital system that would allow families to find out where their dead relatives were buried. Moreno said the government expected the total number of deaths in Guayaquil's surrounding province to reach up to 3,500, and said a "special camp" was being built to bury the dead. (Additional reporting by Alexandra Valencia in Quito; Writing by Angus Berwick; Editing by Daniel Wallis) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. F ormer Love Island contestant Dr Alex George has said he feels heartbroken when he sees groups flouting social distancing guidelines during the coronavirus crisis. George, 29, is working in the A&E department of a London hospital and told Good Morning Britain that each shift feels like a battle. Youre preparing for battle emotionally and physically, he told presenters Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid on Monday. Youre going into an A&E and seeing difficult situations. Youre seeing people dying of coronavirus and thats very difficult. Admitting that he and other healthcare workers felt concerned about being exposed to the virus, he added: I think anyone whos not concerned about catching coronavirus is not being completely open. Of course were concerned. Nodding to the NHS workers who have sadly died of Covid-19 to date, he said: Some of my colleagues have passed away. Just because youre young, it isnt guaranteed that youre going to have the mild illness. Were going to lose more colleagues which is frightening. We know weve got a job to do and were doing our best. 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 Revealing that he noticed groups of people ignoring social distancing rules, which state that people should stay at home and only leave for daily exercise or essential food shopping, while on his way to work, he suggested that if they were fully aware of the risks of their actions, they would chance their behaviour. It is absolutely heartbreaking seeing people not following the guidance, he said. I drove past Clapham Common the other day to work and I saw people lying out and sunbathing. If they knew the risks, they wouldnt do it. More than 400,000 Latino and Hispanic farmworkers who continue to work amid COVID-19 in the American fields to sustain the food chain of the country are at risk, according to a recently published article. LATINO FARMWORKERS There are nearly 60 million Latinos and Hispanics living in the United States, and they are the largest minority group in the country as well. Many of them work as farmworkers and continue to work in the fields, even amid the health threat of COVID-19. However, these Latino farmworkers who are exempted from the stay-at-home policy to make sure that the food supply remains steady are now at a considerable risk of getting the virus because of the lack of surgical masks and gloves. Amadeo Sumano, one of the farmworkers, said that he and his co-workers received a letter from their employers informing them of the importance of handwashing. However, it is very ironic for them because how can they be protected and the products that they are touching like fruits and vegetables if they do not have gloves. Sumano said: "Nothing has changed at work. The distance principle, six feet between people, does not work in agriculture." Adding up to their worries is their migration status in the country because most of them are undocumented. Sumano also shared that they also get pressured to work because they have to make sure that the country has enough food. The irony here is Latinos, and Hispanic farmworkers are working night and day with low wages and yet are not receiving masks or even just gloves to protect themselves from COVID-19 while many Americans are staying in their home safe and away from the virus. LATINO FARMWORKERS ARE AT RISK There are many growers and labor contractors who said that they are putting restrictive measures and practices to make sure that the farmworkers are practicing social distancing, and their common facilities are maintained sanitized. However, farmworker advocates and workers tell a different story. The workers said that they received low wages even though they worked night and day, did not receive personal protective equipment just like masks or gloves, and, most of all, don't have expanded unemployment benefits once they get ill or lose work. In California alone, there are roughly 400,000 Latino and Hispanic farmworkers. Once these workers got sick due to a lack of personal protective equipment, the country will be on the brink of hunger. California produced two-thirds of the country's fruits and nuts while they also produced one-third of the country's vegetables. Armando Elenes, secretary-treasurer of the United Farm Workers of America, said: "What we noted immediately was that workers were not being provided protections or information. [Growers are] not even trying. And that's gotten workers very scared. The last hands that touched that produce before the consumer puts it in their mouth is a farm worker's hands, so we better care about what happens to these workers." He also clarified that they are not receiving hazard pays as what the growers said. The hazard pay did not reflect their paycheck, and he also added that it's too lucky for a farmworker if he or she received a minimum wage. This information only confirms that Hispanic farmworkers are receiving low-wages. Irene de Barraicua, a spokesperson for Lideres Campesinas, an advocacy organization of California female farmworkers, said: "They're getting paid the same, yet they're exposing themselves to more dangers. There is no standard for a safety orientation. Sometimes we hear they just get a five-minute talk - stay six feet apart, don't do this, don't do that - but they're working in big crowds. It feels like it's not being taken seriously because the money is more important." In a country like the United States, where Latino farmworkers sustain the food supply, they need to make sure that the health of these farmworkers is attended to, and they need to be paid well. Working night and day without proper compensation is killing them more than a virus ever would. Read related articles: PARIS, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tikehau Capital, the alternative asset management and investment Group, announces today jointly with City Developments Limited (CDL), a leading Singapore-listed real estate company, the increase of their stake in IREIT Global1, a real estate investment trust listed in Singapore and focused on the European real estate market, and in which Tikehau Capital invested in November of 2016. The purchase, alongside an affiliate of AT Capital, a Singapore-based family office, of a 26.04% stake in IREIT Global, enables Tikehau Capital and CDL to increase their stake in IREIT Global respectively from 16.64% to 29.20% and 12.52% to 20.87% upon completion of the transaction. Together, Tikehau Capital and CDL now own more than half of IREIT Global's capital. For Tikehau Capital, this acquisition represents a cash investment of circa 25m. IREIT Global is a real estate investment trust listed in Singapore with an investment mandate of investing directly and indirectly in a portfolio of rent--generating real estate in Europe, used primarily for office, retail, industrial or logistics purposes. IREIT's current portfolio comprises nine assets in Germany and Spain valued at c. 630 million as at 2019 year-end. Strategically located in key cities such as Barcelona, Berlin, Bonn, Madrid and Munich, IREIT's portfolio has a total attributable lettable area of over 230,000 sqm with c. 4,000 parking lots. The transaction reflects both Tikehau Capital and CDL's common long-term objectives of growing IREIT Global as well diversifying its portfolio. The reinforcement of this partnership with CDL is a positive step in the development of IREIT Global's activities and will allow the tapping of each other's complementary strengths to fuel IREIT's growth. It will provide the company with a strong support for its development while leveraging the know-how and local knowledge of a major player in the Asian real estate sector in addition to the European outreach and expertise of Tikehau Capital. About Tikehau Capital: Tikehau Capital is an asset management and investment group with 25.8bn of assets under management and shareholders' equity of 3.1bn (as at 31 December 2019). The Group invests in various asset classes (private debt, real estate, private equity and capital markets strategies), including through its asset management subsidiaries, on behalf of institutional and private investors. Controlled by its managers, alongside leading institutional partners, Tikehau Capital employs more than 530 staff (as at 31 December 2019) in its Paris, London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, New York, Seoul, Singapore and Tokyo offices. Tikehau Capital is listed on the regulated market of Euronext Paris, Compartment A (ISIN code: FR0013230612; Ticker: TKO.FP) www.tikehaucapital.com Press Contacts: Tikehau Capital: Valerie Sueur +33 1 40 06 39 30 Prosek Partners: Trevor Gibbons +1 646 818 9238 [email protected] Shareholders and Investors Contact: Louis Igonet - +33 1 40 06 11 11 [email protected] Disclaimer This document is not an offer of securities for sale or investment advisory services. This document contains general information only and is not intended to represent general or specific investment advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results and targets are not guaranteed. Certain statements and forecasted data are based on current expectations, current market and economic conditions, estimates, projections, opinions and beliefs of Tikehau Capital and/or its affiliates. Due to various risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those reflected or contemplated in such forward-looking statements or in any of the case studies or forecasts. All references to Tikehau Capital's advisory activities in the US or with respect to US persons relates to Tikehau Capital North America. 1 Tikehau Capital and CDL co-own IREIT Global Group Pte. Ltd., the manager of IREIT Global SOURCE Tikehau Capital A lowlife thief has been jailed after he stole a laptop and bank cards from a district nurse's car while she visited patients during the coronavirus crisis. Shameless Gareth Gilson, 37, broke into the NHS worker's vehicle while she was on her rounds in Bilborough, Nottingham, amid the coronavirus outbreak last Tuesday. After pocketing a bag containing her laptop and bank cards the callous crook went on to use her bank cards to purchase items from shops across the city. Gareth Gilson (pictured) has been jailed for 16 weeks after snatching bank cards and a laptop from the NHS worker Gilson, of Nottingham, went on to plead guilty to one count of theft and five counts of fraud by false representation after being arrested by police. On Friday, he was caged for 16 weeks at Nottingham Magistrates' Court. Inspector Gordon Fenwick, of Nottinghamshire Police, said after the case: 'We are living in an unprecedented time and NHS staff are providing vital services for the people in city and county. 'To think that someone would steal from someone who is putting themselves at risk every day in order to protect our residents is sickening. 'Our officers acted quickly to make an arrest as part of this investigation and I am pleased with a swift result.' The UK has declared 439 more deaths caused by the coronavirus today, taking its total to 5,373. England accounted for 403 of the fatalities while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland declared 36 more deaths between them over the past day. The statistics are a ray of hope as the daily death count has fallen for the second day in a row and was today the lowest it has been since March 31, when it was 381. Today's number is a 30 per cent drop from the 621 fatalities recorded yesterday, and a 39 per cent fall from Saturday, which was the worst day so far with 708. As the number people killed by the coronavirus in the United States topped 10,000 by Monday night, the country's top medical officials warned that the worst was yet to come. The number of cases has ballooned to at least 364,167 nearly three times higher than in the second-worst hit country, Spain with 10,772 people killed as of 7:30 p.m. ET, according to NBC News' tracker. At the center of the outbreak in the U.S., New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said critical medical supplies and personnel have been secured but warned that the magnitude of the crisis equals that of the 1918-19 flu and the Great Depression. Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak As of Monday night, the city had recorded at least 2,738 deaths due to the virus, according to the Health Department. While 2,865 ventilators and 1,780 more breathing assistance machines had been distributed through the city, de Blasio said, it needs 1,000 to 1,500 more ventilators by Sunday. Image: Wyckoff Hospital in Brooklyn (Bryan R. Smith / AFP - Getty Images) Surgeon General Jerome Adams urged the nation to stay home and practice social distancing Sunday, saying this week would be this generation's "Pearl Harbor moment." "It's going to be the hardest moment for many Americans in their entire lives," Adams said NBC' News' "Meet the Press," adding: "And we really need to understand that if we want to flatten that curve and get through the other side, everyone needs to do their part." Meanwhile, the country's top infectious diseases expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, acknowledged that the nation is "struggling" to get the outbreak under control. In an interview Sunday on CBS News' "Face the Nation," Fauci said: "Things are going to get bad, and we need to be prepared for that." Image: A train in Tokyo (Philip Fong / AFP - Getty Images) Veterans across the country are also losing their lives to the virus, accounting for 103 deaths as of Sunday evening, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Nearly 25,000 tests have been administered to veterans, revealing 2,699 confirmed cases an increase of 183 from the previous day. Story continues Overseas, Japan is also bracing for the worst. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was expected to declare a state of emergency as early as Tuesday morning as the number of cases surpasses 3,600, according to local media reports. The Tokyo Medical Association issued a statement Monday calling on Abe to issue the declaration to make necessary resources available for the country's medical system. The statement follows mounting criticism from business owners and politicians that the country has not reacted quickly enough. U.S. Forces Japan, meanwhile, declared a health emergency Monday for its bases in the Kanto region, which includes Tokyo, in response to the rise in cases. In Italy where 15,887 people have died, the most in the world the latest data showed signs that a peak may have been reached with three days of declining daily death tolls. The country reported 525 more deaths Sunday, a big drop from the height of 969 on March 27. Image: A child in Milan (Daniele Mascolo / Reuters) The country's health minister, Roberto Speranza, said that Italy is exploring options to ease lockdown restrictions but that a return to normal life is still far off and social distancing rules will likely remain to prevent a rebound in cases. Also appearing on "Meet the Press," Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte discussed the "devastating pain" the country has experienced through the loss of life and the weeks of social isolation. "We are asking our people a great sacrifice. I'm aware of it. But it is the only way to defeat the pandemic altogether. The more we respect the rules, the sooner we will get out," he said. Download the NBC News app for full coverage and alerts about the coronavirus outbreak The number of new cases in Spain also appears to be slowing, according to Health Minister Salvador Illa. Sunday saw a 5 percent increase in new cases, compared to a daily rate of 22 percent three weeks ago. Spain is among the hardest-hit countries, with 12,641 deaths and 131,646 cases. Illa said the country continues to face "very tough weeks ahead" as the number of patients going into intensive care reaches "especially worrying" levels. Brussels, 05 April 2020 (SPS) - In a letter addressed to Human Rights Watchs Brussels office, the Frente POLISARIO Representation to the EU expresses its deep concern about the appalling situation afflicting the Sahrawi political prisoners held illegally in Morocco jails amidst the growing COVID-19 pandemic. These are trying times for all of us, but none more so than those languishing in arbitrary detention. As you are aware, dozens of innocent Sahrawi civilians are currently being held illegally in Moroccan jails. Victims of ill treatment, torture and intentional medical neglect, these prisoners are not only at high risk for falling gravely ill due to COVID-19, they are also easy targets for the Moroccan regime. It is therefore imperative that Morocco allow immediate access to these prisoners by independent human rights monitors. The letter reads. The statement outlined the urgent call of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, on 25 March 2020 on all governments to take urgent action to protect the health and safety of people in detention and other closed facilities, as part of overall efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The High Commissioner stressed that Now, more than ever, governments should release every person detained without sufficient legal basis, including political prisoners and others detained simply for expressing critical or dissenting view. Under international human rights law, States have an obligation to take steps to prevent foreseeable threats to public health and have a duty to ensure that all who need vital medical care can receive it. The Frente POLISARIO Representations letter calls upon HRW to urge the European Council and the Commission to intervene immediately to guarantee the safety of all Sahrawi political prisoners in Moroccan jails. Beyond their immediate release, these prisoners need urgent protection from the COVID-19 virus. Referring to the responsibilities of the EU towards the long-standing conflict in Western Sahara The EU for too long has played a second-tier role in finding a political solution to the Western Sahara conflict. But this is a context that can change given the levers the EU has at its disposal, including the opportunity of a fresh start with the new leadership at the Commission. While the challenge in securing a just political settlement remains difficult, there are steps that can be taken now to deter retribution against those most vulnerable to COVID-19. Moroccan authorities should be sent a clear and strong message that they cannot use the current health emergency to retaliate against political detainees and further curtail the rights and dignity of the Sahrawi people. Concludes the letter. Its against this backdrop in particular that on 22nd last month, as the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe, the Saharawi President and Frente POLISARIO Secretary General Mr. Brahim Ghali sent a letter addressed to the UN Secretary-General outlining the appalling situation afflicting the Sahrawi political prisoners held illegally in Morocco jails. He warned that the outbreak of this dangerous virus and the urgent measures required, in particular relating to avoiding large gatherings and overcrowding, totally contradicts the situation in which these civilian prisoners are held in overpopulated Moroccan prisons. (SPS) 062/SPS Donald Trump mocked Joe Biden Monday morning for proposing the Democratic National Committee hold a virtual nominating convention this summer in midst of the coronavirus crisis. 'Joe Biden wanted the date for the Democrat National Convention moved to a later time period. Now he wants a 'Virtual' Convention, one where he doesn't have to show up,' Trump tweeted. 'Gee, I wonder why? Also, what ever happened to that phone call he told the Fake News he wanted to make to me?' the president continued in his post. Biden, the 77-year-old presumed Democratic nominee, told ABC News Sunday morning that he believes the DNC Convention should be moved to a digital platform just days after the committee announced it was postponing the event until August. 'Well we're going to have to do a convention may have to do a virtual convention,' Biden conceded. 'I think we should be thinking about that right now.' Donald Trump slammed Joe Biden on Monday morning for proposing the Democratic National Committee change its plans to hold a 'virtual' nominating convention this summer instead of in-person Trump and the RNC have not signaled any plans have changed for the convention that will re-nominate the president as the Republican candidate 'The idea of holding a convention is going to be necessary, but we may not be able to put 10, 20, 30,000 people in one place,' the candidate continued. 'And that's very possible. Again, let's see where it is. What we do between now and then is going to dictate a lot of that, as well.' Biden has proposed speaking with Trump about his response to the coronavirus outbreak, including advising him on how to handle the pandemic. 'Our teams will be in touch and we will arrange a call,' Kate Bedingfield, Biden's deputy campaign manager, said in a statement last Wednesday after Trump was aksed if he would speak with the former vice president. 'I would absolutely take his call,' Trump said at a coronavirus press briefing last week. 'I would love to speak with him, sure.' Biden's suggestion of a non-in-person convention comes after the DNC announced last week that it is moving the convention dates from July 13-16 to August 17-20 the days just before the Republican National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Democratic National Committee made it official on Thursday, the morning after Biden said it would likely be delayed a month due to the coronavirus outbreak. The convention will remain in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Biden said just a before the announcement that the convention should be delayed as health experts predict the outbreak could last well into the summer and many states have implemented lockdown orders extending into June. Joe Biden suggested in an interview Sunday that the convention be changed to a digital platform. 'We're going to have to do a convention may have to do a virtual convention,' Biden conceded. 'I think we should be thinking about that right now' So far the RNC has not announced any plans to change course for the convention in August. The CEO of the DNCC Joe Solmonese suggested exact convention plans are still up in the air. '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,' he said in a statement Thursday. He was optimistic that Democrats would hold some sort of convention this summer in Milwaukee. 'I have always believed that American innovation and ingenuity shine brightest during our darkest days, and for that reason, I'm confident our convention planning team and our partners will find a way to deliver a convention in Milwaukee this summer that places our Democratic nominee on the path to victory in November,' Solmonese continued in the statement. Trump predicted Saturday that the Republican National Convention will go on as scheduled in Charlotte on August 24. 'We have no contingency plan,' Trump said Saturday of the convention that will renominate him. The political nominating conventions are attended by thousands of people every four years, and if the RNCC were to go forward with no changes to the schedule, thousands of Americans could be headed to Charlotte in August. More than 9,600 people have died from coronavirus in the U.S. since the first death last month and there are nearly 338,000 confirmed cases, more than any other country has reported. Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya on Monday donated one-third of her annual salary amounting to Rs 14 lakh to the PM-CARES fund for fighting the coronavirus pandemic, officials said. A letter to this effect with an enclosed bank draft of the amount was sent by the governor to the President of India. Besides this, all employees of the Governor's Secretariat also donated their one day salaries to the fund. The governor also appealed to people at large to contribute to the PM-CARES fund as much as they can, a Raj Bhawan official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tyler Perry left a $21,000 tip for out-of-work restaurant workers. The 50-year-old actor-and-director is a big fan of the Houston's chain and has made regular trips to one in Atlanta to pick up food and on his visit on Sunday (05.04.20), he generously handed over the sum, so the 42 servers, who are no longer working due to the coronavirus pandemic, could receive $500 each, TMZ reports. This isn't the first time the 'Alex Cross' star has helped people in need. Last September, Tyler offered his personal seaplane, which is based in Nassau, to fly relief supplies to the Abaco Islands, which were hit hard by Hurricane Dorian. The filmmaker's craft made multiple trips to provide residents on the islands with water, juice, sleeping bags, diapers and various hygiene products, and also brought back a number of passengers, including small children, a pregnant woman and others who needed medical attention. And a few months ago, the 'The Haves and the Have Nots' creator agreed to pay the $14,000 medical bill and travel costs for a couple stranded in Mexico after Stephen Johnson fell ill with pancreatitis and diabetes while onboard a Carnival Dream cruise ship with fiancee Tori Austin. The holidaymaker was urged to seek treatment and spent three days in intensive care at a hospital in Progreso, Mexico, but when he was on the mend, he and his partner were presented with a huge bill which they were unable to pay as they had neither health nor travel insurance. Tori wrote on Facebook at the time: "Today I am thankful for and will always be thankful for Tyler Perry. My mom was also a huge fan of his." THE black market for subsidised roller meal is thriving during the 21-day lockdown due to shortages that have seen many people spending long hours in queues and not maintaining social distances meant to curb the spread of Covid-19. Some residents told Chronicle yesterday that they have to leave home as early as 4AM to join the mealie-meal queues but that does not guarantee getting the product, forcing desperate families to turn to the black market. Depending on the area, some unscrupulous dealers are selling the subsidised mealie-meal, whose price is officially pegged at $70 a 10kg bag. Bulawayo residents who spoke to our news crew said the situation is worsened by mini-cartels operating in various suburbs getting mealie-meal at the expense of those in need. Shop owners, local councillors and unscrupulous police officers controlling queues are said to be used as a conduit to divert the mealie-meal to the black market. The distribution of Governments subsidised mealie-meal has been marred with corruption for some time and recently a Silo Food Industries employee from Bulawayo was arrested for diverting the product to the black market. The case against Buhle Dube (37) of Kensington is still before the courts and she is jointly charged with the Stanley Chimatira and Samkeliso Nyathi who are former employees at Silo Food Industries and are still at large. Yesterday, a Chronicle news crew observed that some shops are demanding that residents pay for the product in cash only even though it is scarce as most banks are closed to mitigate against Covid-19. Residents who spoke to the news crew said it was worrying that certain familiar faces were always the ones getting the mealie-meal at the expense of everyone. Some of them blamed police who would be tasked to bring order at mealie-meal queues for causing confusion and also fuelling the black market in selling of the product. In Pumula South, some police officers who were maintaining order in the queues were replaced by another team following complaints that they were involved in underhand dealings to get mealie-meal. In an interview, Choppies Pumula South manager Mr Lawrence Mbano said after the chaotic selling of mealie-meal at his shop on Saturday, he was visited by the Officer-in-Charge of Old Pumula Police Station, who revealed that police details who were controlling mealie-meal queues would be replaced. He did not state what the cops had done, but community members accused them of being part of the problem in the sale of mealie-meal. Mr Mbano said the biggest challenge is that there is never enough mealie-meal supplied to shops. He admitted that there was chaos in selling of mealie-meal but exonerated himself of any wrong doing. When mealie-meal is delivered there will be chaos that is why we rope in police. But the challenge that is there is that we have a huge population and we can receive just over 200 bags of mealie-meal which is never enough. If people do not get the mealie-meal they will always complain. We are a community shop and we try to service the community, said Mr Mbano. Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Paul Mavima said Government was addressing the mealie-meal shortage issue. Although this is not something that is directly being handled by my Ministry, I am aware that Government is seized with the matter and has tasked an inter-ministerial team headed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to bring grain into the country. I know they are doing a lot to improve the situation. The private sector is also doing something. With the two we are hopeful that the mealie-meal situation will improve, said Minister Mavima. He said the Department of Social Welfare will continue grain distribution in rural areas while providing cash transfers to urban area particularly Bulawayo and Harare. Minister Mavima said Government was being complemented by the World Food Programme and its various agencies to provide humanitarian aid to the vulnerable even during the lockdown period. Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Moyo could not be reached for comment last night. Commerce and Industry Deputy Minister Raj Modi who heads a mealie-meal taskforce that must ensure that there is a steady supply of the subsidised roller meal on the market was said to be out of the country. Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) spokesperson, Garikai Chaunza said they were not involved in the supply of subsidised mealie-meal. He said millers have offered Government 40 000 metric tonnes of maize to purchase to avert the prevailing mealie-meal shortages, an offer Government is yet to take. A Chronicle new crew observed that the seemingly perennial and long mealie-meal queues being experienced during the lockdown period are partly due to corrupt shop managers who only sell a limited number of stocks to the general public and reserve the rest for their friends including security agents. Despite the Government making sure mealie-meal is supplied almost on a daily basis, queues have not subsided with customers not observing social distancing calls by health authorities so as to flatten the Covid-19 virus curve. This is not fair at all, we have been coming here every day wanting to buy mealie-meal but failing yet we see police officers, some of them on a daily basis accessing it. The very same officers channel the product to the black market where a 10kg bag costs between $170 and $190 in cash. Government must put an end to this, yes police officers must also get mealie meal but not daily surely, fumed Mrs Sinanzeni Dube of Cowdray Park. She, like most residents, had been queuing at TM Cowdray Park for more than six hours. When Chronicle asked one of the managers at TM Cowdray Park about allegations levelled against the shop, he claimed they were only reserving mealie meal for police officers who were on duty controlling the queue. SEYMOUR The Seymour Lions Club, along with fellow Lions across the state, recently delivered carloads of clothing and everyday essentials to homeless, female veterans trying to get back on their feet. Lions Clubs statewide selected Homes for the Brave in Bridgeport, and specifically its program called Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes at the PFC Nicholas A. Maderas Home, as the benefactor of the clubs recent service project. The collection, according to Pam Mainero, District 23-As chairman for women and children, surpassed expectations. Two carloads of bins and bags loaded to the brim with clothing, socks, coats, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, soap, sheets, household items and other everyday necessities were collected by the various Lions Clubs, for women housed at the facility. We are so grateful for organizations like the Lions Club, said Elizabeth Gorenbergh, director of communications and outreach for Homes for the Brave. With their support, we can continue to help our female veterans to gain the foundation they need to achieve their goals, beginning their life-transforming journeys. Seymour Lions Treasurer Melissa Smith said she and her fellow Seymour Lions were happy to contribute six cases of shaving cream, as well as numerous grocery bags loaded with essentials. We think that it is very important to support our veterans, spotlighting the women who supported our country, Smith said. If it wasnt for all vets, we would not have the freedoms that we do. The Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes facility opened in 2011, and is Connecticuts only community-based transitional home exclusively for homeless, female veterans and their young children, according to the Homes of the Brave website. The facility serves homeless women returning from active duty, and provides them with a safe, secure home and food, while empowering them to work toward long-term goals of finding permanent housing and financial stability. Helping the organization was a no-brainer for Bill Manthey, District Governor for Connecticut Lions District 23-A and a Cheshire Lions Club member. The Lions motto is we serve, said Manthey. We are always looking to serve those in need in our communities. One of our goals this year was to help women and family centers. Our collection of items for these centers at our mid-winter convention was embraced by Lions Clubs throughout Fairfield and New Haven counties who brought carloads of necessities. We also work to help veterans, so helping the Home for the Brave in Bridgeport made sense. Because of the ongoing needs of the Home for the Brave and all the good they do, our Lions Clubs plan to continue our support in the future. Lions Clubs International is the largest service club organization in the world. Its 1.4 million members in more than 46,000 clubs serve communities around the globe. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired, championed youth initiatives and strengthened local communities through hands-on service and humanitarian projects. For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit www.lionsclubs.org. jean.sos@snet.net (Newser) Most governors have issued statewide stay-at-home orders amid the coronavirus outbreak, but nine have opted against it. USA Today, the New York Times, and ABC News take a look at the holdouts. One common denominator is that all nine are run by Republican governors, and the Times sums up a sentiment: "For many conservative governors who believe strongly in small government and personal responsibility, the prospect of mandatory stay-at-home orders is anathema and they rejected what they called a catchall approach that could wreck their states economies." Generally, the governors argue that a shutdown is unnecessary because they have taken other steps such as shutting schools and nonessential business, and issuing social-distancing advisories. I cant lock the state down, is how Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds puts it. "People also have to be responsible for themselves." Here are the nine: story continues below Arkansas Iowa Nebraska North Dakota Oklahoma South Carolina South Dakota Utah Wyoming WASHINGTON In three days, Connecticut small businesses applied and were approved for nearly 1,300 new federal loans as the coronavirus forces widespread business closures. New numbers from the Small Business Administration indicated that as of 6 a.m. Monday, Connecticut businesses were approved for 1,299 loans under the Paycheck Protection Program, which gives aid to companies that keep their employees on the payroll. A total of $643 million in loans have been made to these Connecticut small businesses. It is not yet known how many Connecticut businesses applied for the loans since the $350 billion program started accepting applications Friday morning. Across the nation, the program has approved $38 billion in 130,000 loans to small businesses using 2,400 lenders, Larry Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, said Monday. The lenders include big banks and small community banks. Weve had a great start on that, Kudlow said. I think were doing okay frankly. I think there are always a few glitches, but Id give it an A. Meanwhile, the Small Business Administrations loan processing platform went down Monday for as long as four hours, temporarily halting the ability of lenders to process any loans for small business owners seeking relief from the impact of the coronavirus, Bloomberg News reported. The SBA did not respond to further requests for comment Monday. The program was created by the $2.2 trillion stimulus bill signed into law by President Donald Trump on March 28. Businesses can qualify for up to $10 million in loans, which can be forgiven if the employer maintains its payroll. Up to 25 percent of the proceeds can be used as well for other major costs like lease payments. The program is open to businesses and nonprofits with up to 500 employees with some exceptions under SBA guidelines. Independent contractors and other solo entrepreneurs can apply as well starting April 10. The U.S. Department of the Treasury has posted information about the program and required documentation at home.treasury.gov. Some Connecticut banks had already had hundreds of businesses apply on Friday. The National Federation of Independent Business reported late Friday afternoon that many small businesses were complaining of being shut out of the program after rejections of their initial loan applications. Meanwhile, a state program intended to aid struggling businesses was similar swamped when it launched before the SBA program was available. The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development maxed out within a few days a $25 million bridge loan program intended to provide short-term financing. The DECD is readying another $25 million in capacity. emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson One Gnarly Big Supermoon in April for Oregon, Washington, Coast Published 04/04/2020 at 6:24 PM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Oregon Coast) Nick Drake would be proud: this Pink Moon will be a massive one. Oregon, Washington and their coastlines are about to get seriously mooned with the largest supermoon of the year. Also called the Grass Moon or Egg Moon, its the second of three such supermoons happening in 2020, happening on April 7. Jim Todd of Portlands OMSI said it will be the closest and largest of the whole year, but other than that and the possibility of some stellar comet sightings its not too unusual. At least two, or perhaps a half dozen, occur each year, Todd said. So, this phenomenon is not unusual or unheard of. From the Portland area, the precise instant of full moon comes to pass on April 7, at 7:35 p.m. (times will differ in places like Seattle, Ashland or the Washington coast and south Oregon coast). It will be just barely rising above the horizon. Earlier in the day, this 'supermoon' will be below the horizon at perigee, or its closest distance to earth, at 11:08 a.m. PDT, at a distance of 221,773 miles from earth, Todd said. On Tuesday, the near full moon will rise directly from the east at 7:32 p.m., followed by sunset at 7:47 p.m. in the west. Full moons happen in the middle of the lunar cycle of 29.5 days, and its recognizable by a near-perfect spherical shape. In strictly technical terms, the full moon actually only lasts for about one second a difference that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Without a telescope, it is difficult to distinguish between a moon that is 100% illuminated and a moon that is 99% illuminated, Todd said. While the Moon may only be 100% full for about one minute, it looks full for about three days. On Tuesday, April 7, Todd said the precise instant of full moon happens at 7:35 p.m. when it is just before sunset and barely above the eastern horizon. The orbit of the moon around the Earth is an ellipse shape, which brings it closer in towards Earth and then farther out. When its at its most distant that is called apogee, an average distance of 251,966 miles from us. Perigee is when the moon is closest, which is an average of 225,744 miles away. On average, the distance from earth to the moon is about 238,855 miles, Todd said. During every 27-day orbit around earth, the Moon reaches both its apogee and perigee. What youll see at perigee is a moon that looks 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than usual, hence the term supermoon. Have you ever wondered what would happen if there were no moon? The Washington coast and Oregon coast would be vastly different. In fact, both would be much farther inland than where they are now. Sea levels would be on average some 30 feet higher and there would virtually be no tides not much of a difference in fluctuation at all. The sun does affect tides some, but only about one foot or less. Its the gravitational pull of the moon that really creates the tides we know. The difference in night and day could also be extremely small, only about six hours of night and six hours of day. Things were vastly different just after what is called the great impact - when a large planetary mass collided with the proto Earth billions of years ago, and the subsequent debris from both formed the moon. For a long time, Earths spin was so fast that day and night were only about six hours. It was the interaction between it and the moon that slowed down our spin to what it is today. More moon photos below: See Washington Coast Weather - Oregon Coast Weather More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Dear Answer Man: So much about the arrival of the coronavirus in the area remains hard to interpret. For instance: 1) Where do the COVID-19 patients in Olmsted County come from this county or from elsewhere? If someone in the region is diagnosed with the illness, how much follow-up is done on the contacts that diagnosed patients had? 2) Are they in a designated COVID-19 hospital, or in a hospital that happens to be locally available? 3) Who is being tested for the virus in addition to actual patients? 4) Is the necessary equipment for medical staff and patients available in adequate numbers at present and for the predicted increased load? Dear Reader: While they are all surely valid, some of your questions are more easily answered than others, just because of the rapidly moving target now facing our tireless servants in public health and the state's extensive health care system, all of whom, if a proper sense of gratitude shall prevail, will be remembered for their service in this hour for decades to come. The provider of answers to whom you have come for guidance, who is not nearly so brave, will try to parse them for you one by one: 1) The coronavirus is a reportable diagnosis, meaning health care providers must inform the state of every positive case and county of residence. The Minnesota Department of Health, armed with emergency funds to do just this sort of thing, then calls each patient to identify who they may have exposed, if anyone, and then a call to those parties to ask them to self-quarantine for 14 days. The state totals showing cases in Olmsted County, therefore, reflect the home addresses of patients testing positive for the virus. ADVERTISEMENT They don't have to have been tested positive here, but to be included in our case count, they do have to live here. 2) To answer your second question, the vast majority of those who test positive are recovering under instructions to stay in isolation at home. While the state is preparing locations to be used as emergency COVID-19 overflow hospitalization facilities, only one dedicated COVID-19 facility has opened so far a smaller facility at a previously closed site in the metro. That said, Mayo Clinic and other hospitals have been busily converting their facilities to become suitable for the treatment of large numbers of contagious patients, reversing airflow and creating dedicated staffing and intake procedures. You have to remember, they have had several weeks now of no elective procedures, freeing up vast amounts of space, technology and manpower for the exclusive care of patients needing hospitalization for the coronavirus. I'm out of space for now to get to the last two answers, so I'll continue this reply in tomorrow's column. Stay tuned, and stay well! People at a village in Jharkhand's Godda district said that they are going hungry due to the nationwide lockdown and are not getting supplies as they do not have ration cards, prompting Chief Minister Hemant Soren to step in and direct local authorities to take action. The incident happened in the Dumarya panchayat area where a large number of people from the Santhali community live. The locals complained that people are going hungry in the area due to the lockdown and they don't even have salt. Further, they are not getting supplies as they don't possess ration cards. As soon as Soren got to know of it, he asked Godda deputy commissioner Kiran Passi to ensure ration and food to the people and also file an action taken report, according to an official statement. He said that more than five lakh people are getting meals in the state through the Mukhya Mantri Didi Kitchens and the police departments kitchens. Our aim is that no person in Jharkhand remains hungry, Soren said. The chief minister also took strong exception to a ration dealer's alleged taunts to a woman who went to his shop in Latehar district. It is alleged that the dealer drove the woman away, saying, You people went outside to work and brought the disease. Go away, ration will not be given. Soren asked the Latehar district administration to look into the incident. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When a flu-like virus tore through the world, killing tens of millions and infecting far more, the papers in Europe told readers of Spanish flu. King Alfonso XIII of Spain was one of many stricken, they reported in 1918. What they didnt say was that their own populations were being decimated, too. It was the largest pandemic in modern history, but due to wartime censorship in many European countries, few citizens would know it at first. Only Spain, a nation neutral in the fight, allowed its press to work largely uncensored, and so it was that stories of the contagion spread too. A century later, coronavirus is again testing the resilience of independent media around the world as governments exploit concerns over coverage of the epidemic to clamp down on press freedoms. From Latin America to Russia, governments have tried to shape coverage so it avoids criticism or information that authorities deem harmful to public order. Questioning of official accounts has drawn fines, police investigations and the expulsion of foreign correspondents. In some countries, the virus has provided a pretext for governments to pass emergency legislation that is likely to curb freedoms long after the contagion has been extinguished. The consequences could amount to life or death, free-press advocates say. During a public health emergency, there are extremely strong requirements of governments to provide truthful information to the public so that we as individuals and in our communities can make decisions about what we should be doing, said David Kaye, the United Nations special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression. That depends on a vibrant press that doesnt feel that when it reports that it could be subject to intimidation, threats or even criminal sanction. In the Middle East, governments have detained or otherwise punished reporters who question the states response to the epidemic. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have announced fines in the hundreds of thousands of dollars for individuals deemed to be sharing fake news, a fluid term that press advocates have long described as open to abuse by governments seeking to quash scrutiny. As Iraqi doctors work overtime to contain the spread of the virus, authorities in Baghdad said on Thursday they were temporarily suspending the Reuters news agencys licence to work, after it published a report suggesting there may be thousands more confirmed cases in Iraq than the figure of 772 provided by the Health Ministry. Similarly, Egypt said last month that it was revoking the press credentials of The Guardians correspondent there, Ruth Michaelson, after she reported on a study by a team of infectious disease specialists, mostly based in Canada, that questioned Egypts official number of coronavirus cases. She was forced to leave the country days later. Many aspects of the virus, such as its effect on animals, have been under-reported in Egypt (AFP) (AFP via Getty Images) In Turkey, where the government of president Recep Tayyip Erdogan is one of the worlds leading jailers of journalists, figures are released daily for the number of people who have died or been infected with the virus, as well as the number of tests health officials have conducted. But authorities for weeks kept a tight lid on other information, including the location of cases in Turkey, on the grounds that publicising the information might lead to an exodus from trouble spots and further the spread of the virus. According to Reporters Without Borders, eight Turkish journalists are now waiting to learn whether they will face charges after prosecutors interrogated them over their Covid-19 reporting. Some of those detentions smacked of panic. A newspaper owner and editor in the northern Turkish city of Bartin were detained in mid-March for publishing a headline saying a local doctor had tested positive for coronavirus, according to Baris Yarkadas, a former opposition member of parliament who tweeted about the arrests. The two were accused of inciting the public to panic, Mr Yarkadas wrote. He added that the charge was strange, because the local government confirmed the news about the doctor, about an hour after the journalists were detained. In many former Soviet countries, repression of journalists, activists and opposition figures has long been stifling, and some governments have used the Covid-19 crisis as a pretext to further tighten control, using bans on fake news and disinformation. Russia, known for its strict media regulation, has tightened its output even more when reporting the pandemic (Valery Sharifulin/TASS) Russian media that question official figures or the states response to the virus run the risk of steep fines or having their licenses stripped. In Armenia, journalists have complained that officials have forced them to change stories or remove them, while Azerbaijani opposition figures have been arrested for posting criticisms on social media of their governments handling of the crisis. In Belarus, Sergey Satsouk, director and editor of the news website Ezhednevnik, was arrested in late March, after critical coverage of the governments handling of coronavirus. Russian state media watchdog Roskomnadzor has warned against the publication of false information that could create a threat of massive disruption of public order and public safety. Several outlets have been ordered to remove reports suggesting that virus cases might be greater than official figures. Individuals convicted of spreading alleged fake news face fines of up to $6,400 (5,200), and action has been taken against ordinary citizens for social media posts as well. In Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev is using the crisis to crack down on free speech, amending the countrys information law so website owners are obliged to prevent the publication of false information about a wide-ranging list of topics, from the health system to transport networks. Sir Roger Gale, a rapporteur on Azerbaijan with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, described the government moves as a shameful exploitation of the pandemic. It beggars belief that any head of state would abuse a public health emergency to tighten his grip on power, he said. Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Show all 20 1 /20 Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Top: Nabi Younes market, Mosul Bottom: Charles Bridge, Prague Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Grand Mosque, Mecca Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Nabi Younes market, Mosul Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Basra Grand Mosque, Iraq Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Charles Bridge, Prague Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Taj Mahal hotel, India Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Dubai Mall, UAE Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Beirut March, Lebanon Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Gateway of India, Mumbai Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo University, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Beirut March, Lebanon Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Cairo University, Egypt Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Victoria Memorial, India Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Amman Citadel, Jordan Reuters Before and after photos show impact of coronavirus around the world Sidon, Lebanon Reuters Echoes of that playbook are being heard around the world. On Saturday, police in the Philippines charged a television station owner and an online reporter under a new law that imposes a punishment of two months in jail or a fine of almost $20,000 (16,250) for publishing what the government deems false news about the virus. In Hungary, which has seen at least 525 cases and 20 deaths, prime minister Viktor Orbans government has handed parliament an emergency bill that would formalise a years-long slide from democracy into dictatorship. The emergency bill, more than anything, is about dropping the facade of democracy in Hungary, said Zselyke Csaky, Freedom Houses research director for Europe and Eurasia. Submitted last week, it allows the government to declare a state of emergency for as long as Mr Orban sees fit, and punishes those who distort or publish false information on the outbreak with five years in jail. The move will likely have devastating effects on what remains of the countrys already embattled independent press, and at a crucial point in a public health crisis, Ms Csaky said. Perhaps, if we are hopeful, one silver lining could be that once this is over, people realise how important it is to have access to news that one can trust, she said. In a letter to Marija Pejcinovic Buric, secretary general of the Council of Europe, Mr Orban dismissed the international criticism, urging critics to read the law itself again. If you are not able to help us in the current crisis, please at least refrain from hindering our defensive efforts, the prime minister wrote. But pro-Orban commentators have publicly joked about critical journalists being arrested and argued that those who criticise the governments proposed restrictions are siding with the coronavirus. Hungary is in a war situation, the pro-government editor and historian Marton Bekes told viewers on a current affairs show recently. And some opposition outlets, he said, were openly rooting for the virus. In Latin America, journalists are facing similar pressures. Honduras has also declared a state of emergency, withdrawing the legal guarantees for journalists to work without being subjected to any kind of persecution. Recommended Coronavirus news you might have missed overnight In Brazil, president Jair Bolsonaro moved to indefinitely extend deadlines for freedom of information requests with a late-night decree that press advocates said would have deprived the public of information at a time when it most needs it. The countrys supreme court temporarily stayed his decree. (In India, likewise, that countrys supreme court denied a government request that news outlets be ordered to refrain from publishing on the virus without official clearance.) And in Venezuela, authorities arrested journalist Darvinson Rojas and interrogated him about his reporting on the countrys coronavirus outbreak, at one point suggesting that he was himself infected. He live-tweeted part of the interrogation. The Washington Post Keeping your finger on the pulse of whats new means bakers can keep up with consumer demand, develop new products and as a result, shape their business, even in the toughest of climates. In the swirl of daily tasks faced by the bakery owner, staying abreast of consumer trends is one that can sometimes end up on the back boiler, but understanding what makes your customers tick can make a direct impact on elevating your business and driving sales. Eight Global Trends have been identified by Dawn Foods, which are important for every baker to have on their horizon. Keeping your finger on the pulse of whats new means bakers can keep up with consumer demand, develop new products and as a result, shape their business, even in the toughest of climates, such as the one we are now experiencing. 2020 will go down in history as one of the most challenging in recent history and inevitably consumer behaviour will change as a result. As we come out of this current challenging situation, we can begin to consider how to take advantage of these trends, explains Jacqui Passmore, marketing manager UK and Ireland at Dawn Foods. Trends evolve as consumer tastes change and, no doubt, current market situations will have an impact on the way in which consumers enjoy their sweet bakery goods in the future. We are already seeing how the influence of technology is having a big impact on consumers relationships with food and bakery and this is set to continue along with the other key drivers indulgence, destination, discovery and ethics shaping consumers food buying and eating patterns. Blissful Indulgence The Trend: To pause their stressful lives and boost their moods, consumers yearn for a fleeting escape to the bliss of a decadent treat. And they expect this luxurious reward tucked into eye-catching packages that remind them they deserve pampering. Tip: Consumers want to make every bite count, so consider creating luxurious treats bursting with premium ingredients that wow their taste buds. #Eatertainment The Trend: Food plays the universal denominator of visual experiences, with people worldwide transforming eating into a more immersive experience that can be dubbed as eatertainment. From ambience and decor to food and special events, consumers want a dining destination beyond todays special. Tip: Chefs and bakers can create new culinary sensory encounters with experiential demonstrations in-store, creating innovative flavour pairings and on-demand customisation. 25/7 The Trend: People seek to adapt to the daily hustle, tapping into technology for quicker ordering and food delivery. They shift eating patterns by grazing throughout the day and shave time off food preparation with meal-kit delivery services and new gadgets and concepts. Tip: Bakeries can simplify their customers lives and save them time by offering innovative bakery goods both in-store and in a food-to-go format. My Food ID The Trend: Consumers identity intertwines with the food and backstory of their favourite bakery. When they connect with a bakery, they may make an outward expression of personal identity by sharing the bakerys social media posts or carrying a paper bag with its logo. Tip: Bakeries can tap into what makes their business unique and provide products and services that offer memorable and shareable consumer experiences. Just for Me The Trend: Consumers are fatigued with mass-produced products, where they feel nameless and unimportant. But businesses can use technology to forge authentic relationships by treating interactions as the channel for building close, personal connections. As artificial intelligence seeps into everyday lives, consumers expect companies to know them. Tip: Nurture existing relationships and build new ones that demand loyalty by getting smart with technology and creating an experience that shapes personal relationships with customers. Transparency 360 The Trend: To feel better about products they purchase, consumers want to buy local and choose brands that share their beliefs and values. Consumers seek transparency from the companies they support and their chosen brands, expecting honesty and integrity. Tip: Bakeries may benefit from adopting a holistic approach to their business, aligning their values with sustainable practices and business stewardship, so consumers feel good about buying from them. Enlightened Eating The Trend: Todays hyper-informed consumers demand food with benefits healthier options fuelling their bodies and pleasing their palates. They opt for products with added nutrients, such as fruits, veggies and ancient grains and without allergens, animal products and artificial ingredients. Tip: Replace undesirable ingredients with healthier alternatives and incorporate good-for-you options to transform traditional products into offerings that also power the body. Mash-up Adventure The Trend: To bust out of daily routines, people yearn for new experiences, and food offers an easy, low-risk path. Inspired by global influences, bakeries can push boundaries with sensory experiences mingling new flavours and aromas for surprising twists. Tip: Quench consumers thirst for out-of-the-box experiences with a fusion of food textures, forms and flavours, offering a fresh take on the traditional. In 2020, Dawn Foods reflects on 100 years of providing ingredients, innovation and partnership to bakers around the world. For us, its not just a time to take stock of this milestone in our Dawn story, its about recognising the role bakers play in their communities. One of the secrets to keeping customers coming back for more is understanding how the trends impact the industry and provide opportunities to introduce items customers will seek out, explains Passmore. Dawns Eight Global Trends have been devised to assist bakers with developing new solutions to meet the needs of todays fast-moving consumer. Technology has changed the way in which consumers interact with food as everything is much faster. Consumers seek even the briefest of moments to relax or indulge, which is good news for manufacturers of sweet bakery products. Our trends show that despite the need for me time consumers are also concerned about healthier ingredients and the bigger picture regarding ingredients provenance, for example. Click here to find out more about our eight Global Trends. See Dawn Foods video on its eight Global Trends below: By Express News Service CHENNAI: With the number of people infected with COVID-19 on the rise everyday, Tamil Nadu is all set to enter the rapid test mode from this week. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday announced that the state government had placed orders for procuring one lakh Rapid Test Kits from China. These kits would arrive on April 9 and be dispatched to all districts immediately, he said. The rapid tests would begin in the state from April 10 and the results could be known within 30 minutes. Addressing a press conference after reviewing the measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 with all district collectors through video conferencing at the secretariat, the Chief Minister said the intensity of the virus was increasing in India gradually. As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, 2,10,538 passengers have been screened at airports in Tamil Nadu and of them, 90,541 are under home quarantine. 10,816 persons have completed the 28-day quarantine period, the Chief Minister said and added that at present there were 17 testing labs in government and private hospitals and the state government had sought permission for 21 more labs. All medical equipment required for the additional labs have already arrived. Once the central government gives its approval for the new labs, there would be 38 testing labs in Tamil Nadu. So far, 4,612 persons have undergone lab tests and of them, 571 have tested positive for the coronavirus. Besides, 1848 persons are in isolation, Palaniswami said. Stating that the government was ready to face any eventuality, the Chief Minister said 22,049 beds and 3,371 ventilators in government and private hospitals have been kept ready to treat those infected with the coronavirus. While orders have been placed for procuring 2,500 more ventilators, the state has sufficient number of PPEs, masks and N95 masks. ALSO READ| More areas in Tiruchy designated as containment zones Rs 1000 to reach more The Chief Minister also announced that the Rs 1000 financial assistance already given to construction workers, auto rickshaw and taxi drivers and others would be extended to workers engaged in other jobs in the unorganised sector. They include members of Tamil Nadu Washermen Welfare Board, Tamil Nadu Palmyra Workers Welfare Board, Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Workers Welfare Board, Tamil Nadu Handlooms and Handlooms Silk Weavers Welfare Board, Tamil Nadu Footwear, Leathers Goods Manufactory and Tannery Workers Welfare Board, Tamil Nadu Artists Welfare Board, Tamil Nadu Goldsmiths Welfare Board, Tamil Nadu Pottery Workers Welfare Board, Tamil Nadu Domestic Workers Welfare board, Tamil Nadu Powerloom Weavers Welfare Board, Tamil Nadu Cooking Workers Welfare Board and Tamil Nadu Folk Artists Welfare Board. Taking a cue from abroad Reiterating the need for self-discipline among the public, the Chief Minister said, If this virus spreads, then prevention will be very difficult. Despite repeated requests, a large section of the people do not adhere to social distancing. We should take lessons from other countries like China, Italy, United States of America etc. in this regard. The Chief Minister said many had tested positive for the coronavirus after being asymptomatic for many days. So, everyone should understand the seriousness of this infection and remaining in their houses alone would be the solution, he added. 94,873 cases have been registered for violating the lockdown restrictions. 94,158 persons have been arrested and let out on bail. 72,242 vehicles have been seized so far. Rs 25.14 lakh has been collected as penalty for violating the restrictions. Asked about the status of Tamil Nadus demand for financial assistance from the Centre, the Chief Minister said in the first phase, the Centre had sanctioned Rs 500 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund. See Full Image Gallery >> The 2020 Mini Cooper SE is Mini's first electric car that it's actually selling widely to the public, rather than a quasi-experimental product a select few could lease. While in most respects, it looks like a plain Mini Hardtop or Cooper S, it instead has a BMW i3 electric motor under the hood. The SE makes 181 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque. Between the front seats and under the rear seats are battery packs that give the Mini an estimated 110 miles of range. The new powertrain means the electric Mini sits ever so slightly higher, but it has a lower center of gravity than other Minis, and it has a perfectly even weight distribution front to rear. To get an idea as to what it's like to live with this spunky little commuter, Managing Editor Greg Rasa in Seattle and News Editor Joel Stocksdale in Detroit each spent a week with one. Both cars were the top shelf Iconic trim, bringing the starting price to $37,750 after the $850 destination charge. The SE is also eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit, making that high price sting a bit less. Check out their thoughts in the discussion below. Joel Stocksdale: Want to talk Mini? Greg Rasa: Sure. So, how to begin ... Fun car. Way fun. JS: So much fun! I took it out for pleasure cruises at least every other day just because it was such a blast. GR: I took mine on some long outings and was pleased with it in every respect. Some background: I drove a 2013 Leaf as a commuter for a couple of years, so that's kind of my baseline for an EV utilitarian, basic, purpose-built for commuting. And of course I have driven other EVs quite a bit, Niro, etc. The difference with the Mini is apparent from the first impression. Stepping into it, there's a wow factor. Nice interior, quilted seats, yellow racing stripe in the carbon fiber-look dash, goofy space-age sounds. Everything screams fun. JS: What really got me fired up about the driving was the handling. Minis are already great in corners, but this one feels particularly good, and I think a lot of it has to do with the weight balance. It's an even 50/50 front/rear distribution, and you can feel that in turns. It's very neutral and has loads of grip despite the low-rolling-resistance tires. I desperately want to take one to an autocross event. Story continues GR: Yes, very grippy. All EVs tend to handle well, I think, given how planted they are with the battery weight down low, but the Mini is the best yet. You're in a John Cooper Works (JCW) now, right? So you're kind of benchmarking against that? JS: A little bit. It's a Countryman JCW, so it's bigger, and the seating position is higher. I'm actually not enjoying it as much, and part of that is that I miss the responsiveness of the electric motor. It's so nice having immediate and precise throttle response. Also loved the aggressive regenerative braking setting on the SE. GR: I live at the top of a pretty steep hill, so in my last drive yesterday I launched it from a stop at the beginning of the hillclimb. Felt like a light plane taking off. I haven't looked up 0-to-60 on the electric Mini (6.9 seconds, 0.4 second slower than a Cooper S -Ed), but it at least gave the illusion of speed with its responsiveness and torque. JS: It's a quick little thing. Though I wouldn't mind a bit more power. The surge feels like it falls off a bit as the speed rises, and it doesn't launch as hard as the Hyundai, Kia and Chevy EVs. More power isn't necessary by any means, it's still gutsy and fun, and I can't help but imagine a Mini Cooper JCWE with like, 200 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. It would be hilarious. Actually, maybe that would be a little too much power. Even now, I was noticing some torque steer when flooring it, and it doesn't have a limited-slip differential, so without careful throttle application, you could spin the inside tire powering out of corners. See Full Image Gallery >> GR: So let's talk about range, since the EPA 110-mile rating might cause some people to dismiss it out of hand. I have quite a few thoughts about that, but am wondering what your experience was. JS: That's been a bit of a concern of mine, too, especially since I tend to take longer drives out of state at least once a month. Or at least I did until the pandemic hit. But I think it would still cover the other, let's say 90%, of my driving needs. I visit friends over in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area often, so I did a trial drive to Ypsilanti and back (I didn't actually have contact with anyone). I left with a full charge and an indicated range of about 105 miles. I arrived back home with an estimated range of about 15 miles. The actual distance was 96.8 miles round trip. I did adhere to speed limits, and I had it in the Green+ mode, which deactivates temperature control to help with range. GR: That's excellent, and consistent with the car I drove. I took two longish trips. When we discovered we were both scheduled to get a Mini SE, we discussed taking photos of our cars in characteristically Seattle and Detroit settings, so on day one I wound through the backroads of King County, from the wine country of Woodinville down through the "Twin Peaks" territory of Snoqualmie Falls and North Bend. The second half of the trip was all highway back home. The outing was 72 miles, and the car's readout said I had depleted 40 miles of range with 55 remaining, and the battery half-depleted. Which brings me to a gripe about this car: Most EV drivers take the "guessometer" mileage reading with a grain of salt, and pay closer attention to percentage of battery life remaining. But in all the displays, I could not find that. The main display's battery gauge simply shows battery life in eighths, as in, I had four-eighths left. I've not seen an EV before that didn't show an exact number. On the second outing, I headed to West Seattle for the classic shot with the Seattle skyline in the background (the one you see in a lot of car ads), and swung by the Museum of Flight along the way. That trip was 65 miles, half surface streets and half highway, with roughly the same results. Oh yes, there was also a shorter trip north to hit the Mukilteo lighthouse and to eat some clams at Ivar's. JS: Yeah, it would be nice to have a more precise battery percentage gauge. And this also shows that your driving efficiency will make a difference in your range. I maxed out at about 3.8 miles per kWh, and I think you said you got more. GR: Yes, I was getting 4.3 miles/kWh. The regenerative braking on this car is very heavy at the max, one-pedal driving. Your miles were all highway, so 3.8 is also quite good. My sense of this car is that it could do the EPA number of 110 miles entirely on the highway, as you demonstrated. And just around town, with all that regen in play, well ... I think I could do even better than 4.3, and could squeeze 140 miles out of a charge. As a city and all-around fun car, zero qualms about the range of the Mini SE. JS: One other note on range, I did my trip when it was high-40 to low-50 degrees. I'd be a little worried about the range dropping further in the middle of a Michigan winter. On the plus side, the Mini does come standard with DC fast charging, in addition to Level 2 charging and 120-volt household outlet charging. The DC fast charging can get you to an 80% charge in a little over half an hour, according to Mini. I didn't try it out, instead doing all my charging on the household charger. I was surprised at how adequate that was. Plugging it in overnight usually got me to about 80% in the morning, or 80% at quitting time if I had depleted it down to that 15 mile mark. I think a Level 2 charger would be nice to have, but I don't think it would be necessary with this car. How were you going about charging? GR: I charged at Level 1 (120 volts, via the cord the car comes with), which I knew would be just fine. In all my time with a Leaf, I never got a Level 2 charger. I'd leave for work at 80%, come home at 30%, plug it in, and it'd be good to go again by morning. The same thing happened with this Mini. After each of these trips, it took an overnight charge and was set to jet. So, did you like the wheels? I liked the wheels. (They're the shape of a British electrical socket.) JS: Yes I love the funky wheels. They're very cool. Admittedly, if I owned one, I would probably be looking for some aftermarket wheels because I like to personalize my cars, but these are very good stock wheels. They're only available on the top trim level, though. All other trims get very basic, normal Mini wheels. So really, it's a very normal looking car except for those optional wheels and the filled-in grille. GR: So your mention of top trim reminds me: The Monroney on this car was $37,750 including $850 destination charge. So you'd get it down to $30,000 with the federal incentive and maybe way below that given all the market factors in play right now. And the interior is so stylish, handling is great ... this car is a bargain for how it looks and drives. JS: I totally agree, and you can get lower trim models for well under $30,000 with the federal tax incentive, and they're all fairly well equipped. And really, there's hardly anything about this car I dislike except for the range. I suppose I wish the infotainment system was a little easier to use. Like a lot of BMW products, there are a lot of menus to dig through to find things. But it's as stylish as any Mini, and I appreciate the fact that you can sit nice and low in this car. So many EVs are little crossovers, which already put you high up, and then the batteries are right under the floor, so that pushes you up even more. In this car, the batteries are down the center and under the rear seats, so you get the same Mini seating position. If there was anything I'd really like to see, it would be a slightly longer-range one, close to 200 miles. Even if that meant they had to remove the rear seats to make some space for extra batteries. And really, the Mini's rear seats are unusable for anyone other than a small child or a dog, so why not pitch them, add a couple batteries, and make a huge flat load area? GR: Great idea! And yes, I had issues with the menus. To me, the most important screen on an EV is the trip computer. But every time you start the car, you have to go digging through menus again to find it, two or three levels down. Maybe there's a way to save screen preference, but the screen that's up when you leave should simply come back when you climb in again. But the only big gripe was that inability to see a precise battery life percentage. There were little quirks, but hey, it wouldn't be a British (German) car without a couple of those. That reminds me to mention a final, great thing about choosing an EV: There's very little maintenance. JS: Yeah, it's nice that there aren't as many parts to go wrong in the Mini SE as a gas one. GR: Final thoughts? JS: I really love this little car. It's pretty much the electric car I've been waiting for, even if the range is a touch shorter than I'd like. It's an affordable EV that's actually fun to drive and stylish. Up until now, almost every truly affordable EV, no matter how good to drive, has been a staid or frumpy machine, or an uninspired compliance car. This is actually something exciting that combines the inherent advantages of EV powertrains with a fun chassis, and again, it doesn't require luxury car money. I hope this is just the first of many fun little EVs. GR: Once people drive it, they'll discover that the range will work for them a lot better than they thought. I'm with you right down the line. It was great fun. Related Video: Click here to See Video >> You Might Also Like The dynamics of relations with Kazakhstan will be preserved despite the pandemic, and the arrangements have been reached to hold the second meeting of the working group on increasing Ukraine-Kazakhstan trade in the near future. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tleuberdi discussed this in a telephone conversation on April 4, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine informs. "Dmytro Kuleba stressed that the efforts should be made to develop Ukraine-Kazakhstan dialogue in order not to lose the dynamics of cooperation. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan supported this approach. An important step in this direction was an arrangement to hold the second meeting of the working group on increasing Ukraine-Kazakhstan trade in the teleconference mode in the near future," the statement reads. It is also noted that the authorized representatives of both countries will hold a regular meeting of the Interstate Ukraine-Kazakhstan Economic Cooperation Commission after the normalization of the epidemiological situation. The foreign ministers also agreed to intensify ministry-level cooperation. To this end, the diplomats agreed to exchange visits. Last year, Ukraine-Kazakhstan total trade amounted to $894.3 million and decreased by $29.71 million, or 3.2%, compared to 2018. ol The government said 243 of those tested positive had either participated in the Tablighi Jamaat meeting or were the primary contacts of such participants. The deceased, a 66-year-old patient who came in contact with a relative who had just returned from Saudi Arabia and a 55-year-old businessman who travelled to Berhampur in Odisha on February 27, died on Saturday while undergoing treatment, according to the medical ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor (Photo : NASA on Unsplash) NASA's New Telescope Predicts Earthquakes (Photo : Jarrett Mills on Unsplash) NASA's New Telescope Predicts Earthquakes NASA has always been know to pioneer technology in space exploration that has given scientists opportunities to explore worlds different from our own. This time, however, NASA will be looking more inward as they attempt to monitor volcanic activities on Earth using their CubeSats satellite. It will orbit our planet to gather relevant information that can predict volcanic eruptions. It is their hope that this will help us prepare for large earthquakes in the future, as well as decrease its impact on human life and infrastructure. NASA deploys Cubesats for Global Map Detailing to predict massive volcanic eruptions Aside from venturing into space and discovering mysteries of the universe, a research team at NASA is also monitoring fiery globs of molten lava on Earth. On the July 4, 2018, a team of NASAS researchers flew above the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii demonstrating how can a new instrument can give way for the future deployment of small satellites that have the ability to monitor volcanic activities and changes on the land's surface. The mission gave way to the creation of CIRES that will help in predicting earthquakes. This was led by Lauren Wye, the principal investigator who also led the recent CubeSats development at SRI International in Menlo Park, California. Although the previous eruption of the said volcano covered over 50 square miles, the ground deformation is still not completely visible. A piece of highly specialized equipment, however, can locate and gather information regarding these land changes. During the development of CIRES, the team ran into many issues, but these gave way to the team's innovative actions. "The team ran into a lot of hiccups. It led to a lot of fun exercises," said Wye. One of the innovative exercises that the team conducted was strapping the instrument to a moving car. They called the car "CarSAR" which carried the equipment along bumpy and elevated roads to see how CIRES picked up information of the valley in the Bay Area of Northern California. The team was able to successfully gather snapshot imagery (SAR) on the previous volcanic eruption of Kilauea Volcano but wasn't able to obtain comparison images or InSAR. The result that was obtained helped the team understand which aspects didn't work. This led to the optimization of CIRES -- improving its size, management, ability to withstand heat, and its sensor capabilities. How does CIRES predict earthquakes? NASA deployed more than 1200 CubeSats, a mini-satellite used for different space research since the beginning of 2020. During the launch of these satellites, 80 of them were destroyed during deployment but more than 1,100 are currently orbiting outer space. CIRES or "CubeSat Imaging Radar for Earth Sciences" will provide a global map that will give more detailed information on the Earth's geographical changes that can help scientists pinpoint ground motion before an earthquake happens. CIRES is able to do this because of a new kind of radar called "Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar" (InSAR) that creates two-dimensional or three-dimensional images that can help analyze the differences of those images -- even millimetric pictures. At the moment, there are no concrete results yet that CIRES can predict future massive earthquakes. Further studies are still underway. But if it does work in the near future, it will help us prepare for large catastrophic events that will save millions of lives. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The COVID-19 threat has brought the movement of people and goods to a halt, triggering a rapid economic downturn. Many businesses are suffering from falling sales; smaller businesses with limited reserves are particularly concerned about their prospects. We visited Ota in Tokyo, where many smaller companies are concentrated, to speak with proprietors about their concerns. Extremely Concerned March saw an increased spread of coronavirus in Japan, causing concern among smaller businesses faced with impending payments for labor and other necessities. According to the credit-reporting agency Tokyo Shoko Research, many small firms only have cash and savings equivalent to around 1.5 times monthly sales. The national and local governments are starting to adopt measures to provide funding for such businesses. For many Japanese businesses, March is the end of the fiscal year, increasing their need for funding, while tightening supply. The city of Ota in Tokyo is prioritizing support for these firms, on March 9 introducing special financing to a maximum of 5 million. The lending rate is effectively zero, with the city covering interest. The preferential measures allow businesses to defer repayments for up to six months and give them three years to repay the loans in full. Tanaka Yuji (a pseudonym) manages a dry-cleaning firm. In late March, he and his wife visited the Ota Industry Plaza finance inquiry counter in the citys Kamata district. Their sales have fallen 30%40% compared with the same month in 2019. In order to ensure their finances, they applied to the city for a loan, which was approved on the spot. The couple were caught off-guard by the decline in people wearing business attire, a result of current government recommendations for people to stay at home. Evidently, with the increase in people remote working, fewer people are wearing suits to work, causing demand for dry cleaning to plummet. In a typical year, the Tanakas work overtime to keep up with demand, but currently, their work is finished early in the afternoon. They are at a loss as to what to do. Cherry blossoms are blooming earlier than last year, which would usually lead to a rise in demand, as people switch their winter wardrobes for more seasonal wear. Early spring through to the start of the rainy season in June is ordinarily the peak season for dry cleaning. This period helps the Tanakas to cover losses incurred at other times of the year, so the decline is a grave concern for the couple. The special financing guarantees operational funds for now, but Yuji says he is still extremely concerned. Inbound Tourism and Manufacturing Haneda Airport, also in Ota, welcomes vast numbers of tourists visiting Japan at ordinary times, but it is also feeling the effects of the present turmoil. Yoshii Koichi (another pseudonym), who manages a local antique shop dealing in luxury watches, also visited the lending inquiry counter. He claims the demand he previously enjoyed from Chinese and other tourists has been devastated. The collapse of the market has kept the sellers he usually relies on for fresh stock at home; unable to source watches to sell, he basically cant do business. Suzuki Taichi (also a pseudonym), who manages a Spanish-style bar near the airport, says that in around February, Western tourists simply stopped coming. It was around the time that news of the COVID-19 outbreak on board the Diamond Princess cruise liner berthed in Yokohama was gaining significant coverage in overseas media. Although he is coping, thanks to the support of local customers, February sales were down 30% from the same month in 2019. Since Ota established its special loan counter, it has been inundated with inquiries. According to the city governments Industrial Promotion Section, 102 loans were approved in just 10 days. Initially, many applications were businesses hard hit by the fall in visitors, such as retailers and food service establishments. But recently, applications from manufacturers have also increased, and now account for roughly 30% of the total. Tokyo Shoko Research reports that smaller manufacturers nationwide are struggling to procure parts and materials due to chaos at Chinese production sites, and are unable to continue operations. Fighting Against the Clock The epidemic will eventually end, and people will return to their normal lives, but this depends on the effectiveness of the medical response and it is far from clear when this might happen. A meeting of experts discussing measures to deal with the coronavirus has warned of the risk of an explosion in infections in Japans main cities. Consequently, the government is asking for continued restraint nationwide regarding organized events, and has requested residents in Tokyo and surrounding prefectures to stay at home. But will the capital regions small businesses be able to endure? Many proprietors are pessimistic. Tanaka, the dry cleaner, believes that his firm could make it if conditions settle down in April and May, but he does not expect the spread of the infection to subside for some time. If limits continue on peoples movement, his business will miss the high season prior to the rainy season entirely. He believes this could lead to around half of Japans dry cleaners closing up shop. Yoshimoto Hiroshi (another pseudonym) owns a bar near JR Kamata Station, in an area now almost deserted at nights. His bars takings halved during March. From his experience of the 2008 financial crisis, he is keenly aware that, aside from regular customers, it takes time for patronage to return to normal. He is concerned that it may take up to a year again this time. Repayments of Otas special loans will begin around September, following the six-month deferment period, but loan recipients are increasingly concerned about the degree to which trade will bounce back. Bankruptcy or Closing Shop The anxiety seen in Ota is reflected across Japan. According to a nationwide credit survey of businesses conducted by Tokyo Shoko Research, 52.7% of small and medium-sized enterprises responded that the impact of the coronavirus was already being felt in February, when COVID-19 started to spread in Japan. Some 40% responded that sales had fallen by more than 10% compared with 2019. Inevitably, March saw a further drop in sales, due to official calls to cancel events and to restrict unnecessary outings, coupled with school closures nationwide. As of March 30, 17 companies had gone bankrupt as a result of the coronavirus epidemic. The first was an inn in Aichi Prefecture, which felt the effects of the sudden drop in tourist numbers from China. But the impact quickly spread to cruise companies, the tourism industry as a whole, sushi restaurants, and others. Tomoda Nobuo, head of the information department at Tokyo Shoko Research, believes further bankruptcies are unavoidable. In addition, he expects some proprietors without a successor may decide to wind up their businesses. Kumano Hideo, chief economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute, agrees with efforts by the national and local governments to provide funding to smaller firms, but believes the priority should be exhaustive implementation of testing for the SARS-CoV-2 virus to eliminate uncertainty by ensuring an early end to the spread of COVID-19. Should the situation continue as is, he holds grave concerns about employment, regardless of company size. The Japanese government has recently formulated a revised budget with emergency economic measures, including cash handouts to affected individuals and companies, and stronger support for smaller businesses that keep workers employed. (Originally published in Japanese on March 31, 2020. Banner photo: Fewer people than usual appear on March 28 at Shibuyas famous scramble crossing following the call to stay at home. Jiji.) Calls to the state child abuse and neglect hotline have dropped 44% since Montana's public K-12 schools were closed to slow the spread of COVID-19, another sign of how a world altered by the coronavirus has upended what used to be normal social frameworks. Teachers and school employees have frequent and sustained contact with students, which means they may be the best people in a child's life to spot suspected abuse or neglect. School employees are also mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse and neglect, meaning they must relay concerns to the state's Child and Family Services Division. Teachers have close and personal contact with kids on a daily basis and they really are a safety net for kids, and not having that contact does impact our report numbers, said Marti Vining, the administrator of the state Child and Family Services Division, on Monday. The hotline can be reached at 1-866-820-5437. When Gov. Steve Bullock ordered public K-12 schools closed on March 15, a directive he's expected to extend this week, the intention was to keep children and Montanans safe from the spread of the coronavirus. An unintended and unavoidable side effect has been the drop in calls to the hotline. The week prior to Bullock's order, the hotline received 765 calls. That number has dropped to an average of 425 calls per week since the closure. Scott Appel, the executive director of CASA of Missoula, said its a challenge that's come of the new day-to-day reality of social distancing. CASA provides advocates for abused and neglected children. We rely on teachers and principals and other people active at schools to spot problems and then theyre obligated to report those, Appel said. When the kids arent in class, youre sort of depending on other family members or neighbors or friends to see if there are things going on. Nikki Grossberg, deputy administrator of the state Child and Family Services, said schools are still engaging students through online distance learning, and that can be one window into a child's life. The things the schools are doing actually helps keep that contact with their kids and their families, Grossberg said. Vining added that family, friends, neighbors and others can all play a role in looking out for children and families who might need some extra support. Even when its not possible to physically visit someone, Vining said people can use technology to stay in touch, gauge how others are doing and offer support or a connection to services. You can do that by just reaching out via FaceTime or phone contact, Vining said. We all have to be creative in how we stay connected to people we are or maybe are worried about." Families that need support should reach out to any existing services they've used before, Vining said, or can call the hotline for help. Abuse can also spike during times of stress, Vining said. As COVID-19 has reached across Montana, hitting more than 300 cases Monday, it's also imposed a financial toll, with more than 51,000 people filing for unemployment because of jobs or wages lost due to the statewide stay-at-home order. That can come on top of the weight of being confined at home, in addition to normal parenting pressure enhanced by children who aren't in school for part of the day. Any time stress increases in homes, the risk of child abuse and neglect increases, Vining said. The challenges our families are facing dont just stop because of a pandemic is occurring, and sometimes those stresses can be exacerbated by isolation, financial insecurity, parenting stress. All those things can increase the stress that can lead to child abuse and neglect. Many of those who care for children who have been removed from their homes are also navigating a new landscape of FaceTime family visits and explaining to children both very young and in their teens why their day-to-day lives are dramatically changed. Emma Anderson, the executive director of Watson Children's Shelter in Missoula, said the kids being cared for at the shelters, as well as the staff, are navigating their new reality together and leaning on digital alternatives to in-person interaction, though there are still challenges. "This new technology that we have access to now allows kids to have face-to-face contact over the computer, and that's especially vital right now. But consider children who are 2 years old, 3 years old. Their capacity to be able to look at a computer screen or have a visit over the phone is really limited," Anderson said. Skip Rosenthal, executive director of Youth Homes, said his agency and others are anticipating an increase in need for safe places for children as the pandemic persists. We are operating under the assumption that as this thing goes on, it will increase some of the stressors that families have, Rosenthal said. Were operating under the assumption times will be stressful and the need to be available to these families and keep them engaged and supported will be heightened. Vining emphasized that child protection specialists are still doing their jobs, equipped with personal protective equipment and training on how to use it. The way we respond to child abuse and neglect really has not changed, Vining said. We still go out to the home and we investigate allegations. We are still in homes to monitor child home visits and protection plans where we have children placed in the home. Child protection specialists are considered essential workers under the stay-at-home order issued by Bullock and by law must continue investigating reports of child abuse and neglect made to the hotline. Some other operations have changed, such as family visitations conducted over Skype or FaceTime, if that's an option. In some parts of the state, protection workers have joined with schools to stay in touch with students, such as in Glasgow, where workers are helping deliver lunches to children in rural areas. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. LACK OF CLARITY | No clarity on AIs terms of agreements with aircraft suppliers (Boeing and Airbus) and its vendors. Typically compared to private airlines, AIs terms and conditions are very favourable to the other side, making its own cost of operations very high -- something a new buyer would never have liked. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More How do you maintain your car when you can't drive it for an extended period, say during the lockdown for example? Maybe clean it periodically, switch it on for a while so that the battery doesn't drain out; and even take it for a short spin around the apartment. The methods are a little similar, but much more varied, methodical and complex, when it comes to maintaining the 650 aircraft that are parked across airports in the country. "There is a well-defined manual with instructions on how airlines should store and maintain these aircraft. No one has to put their heads and racked their brains to understand how to do it," says Ashwani Acharya, CEO, CAE Simulation Training. At the same time, adds the industry veteran, maintenance is integral to any airline's plan to get back to service as soon as possible. "The maintenance drill has to be carefully monitored and recorded so that all the checks are done, and the aircraft is ready for operation whenever possible. If the maintenance is not done now, then the airline will have to spend more resources and time when the plane has to be operated once the skies reopen," explained Acharya. 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 All airlines, including IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir, have parked their aircraft after the lockdown call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For some of these airlines, especially IndiGo, the aircraft are parked in over a dozen airports. This means maintenance could also be a logistical challenge. "Wherever an airline has a base, it will have a basic team of engineers, equipped with necessary tools. If an airline has parked its planes in airports where it doesn't have an engineering team, then this will have to be outsourced," says a senior executive from the industry. The drill The maintenance, industry executives say, depends on the aircraft type, duration of the grounding, and also the environment. For instance, if the aircraft is parked in one of the airports in Rajasthan, where the air is dry and hot, the maintenance manual will differ, from say what an engineer will follow for a plane in Chennai, which is more humid. Still, there are some parts that are critical and the protocol is intense irrespective of the variables. The most critical is the engine, which is also the most expensive part of an aircraft. Depending on the duration of the grounding, dry and wet motoring runs are conducted to check the engine. In simple terms, just like we switch on the car once in a while to check if the engine is ok, for planes too this exercise is done. In dry motoring, fuel is not introduced, and in wet, it is. It helps engineers check the vitals of an engine. Motoring the engines also helps in removing the moisture that could build up in fuel tanks and lead to condensation, which contaminates fuel or corrodes the tank. Fuel tanks also tend to have microbial growth at the bottom where the water collects. Periodically cleaning and draining out the water helps prevent microbial growth. Attention is also given to the tyres. To ensure tyres are healthy, they are rotated periodically to ensure against wear and tear. How are they rotated? With the use of a jack, just like in a car. Inside the aircraft, importance is given to keep the cabin clean of food particles, which may otherwise attract rodents. Inside the cockpit too, periodic testing is done to ensure all the vitals are functioning. "If the grounding is long, then electricity supply is switched off, and all openings are covered to prevent dust," says a senior engineer. An Australia man has been forced to say his last farewell to his family via a video link after contracting coronavirus on a trip to the United States. Graham Findlay spent his final moments with his wife and three children on FaceTime while in isolation at a Melbourne Hospital. He was among about 20 Australians who are believed to have been infected with COVID-19 in the luxury ski resort town of Aspen, Colorado, in early March. Graham Findlay (right) and his wife Gabby (left) both contracted coronavirus on a ski trip to Aspen, Colorado, in the United States Doctors tried desperately to treat Mr Findlay with anti-viral malarial drugs in a last-ditch effort to save his life. But Mr Findlay's condition worsened and he died at Frankston Hospital in Melbourne on Thursday. Both Mr Findlay and his wife Gabby tested positive for the virus weeks after they returned home from their skiing holiday. Soon after testing positive Mr Findlay was hospitalised with a high temperature and severe cough. Mr Findlay was a popular figure in the community and a member of the Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club, but a large funeral service is not possible due to the COVID-19 crisis. 'Vale Graham Findlay "Vice Commodore" Western Port Bay Marina. Graham passed away last night in Frankston Hospital from coronavirus. Our thoughts are with Gabby, family and friends,' the yacht club posted on their Facebook page. Graham Findlay was in isolation due to coronavirus and spent his final moments with his wife and three children on FaceTime Melbourne's 'Colorado cluster': Coronavirus swept through the city's rich suburbs after a group of skiers returned from Aspen 'There will be no service due to the current situation however, in time there may be a memorial service for Graham. 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 'At 6pm this evening raise a glass to Graham. God Bless.' It's understood Gabby is now out of isolation. With a total of 1135 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Victoria to date and eight deaths, a large number of those infections have been linked to what has become known as the 'Colorado cluster'. Dozens who came in contact with members of the group are believed to have been infected while attending exclusive school cocktail parties in Toorak and Armadale. Last week Health Minister Greg Hunt slammed an unnamed couple accused of ignoring quarantine advice after contracting the virus at a party in Aspen. 'Some people think that the laws and, even more importantly, the notion of socially responsible behaviour does not apply to them,' Mr Hunt said. 'In my view, that's a disgrace ... The police should feel free to throw the book at them.' (left to right) Faraz Zaidi, project manager, and Daniel Park, Penn graduate student, do a western blot analysis to compare different versions of the Coronavirus vaccine at the Wistar Institute. Read more TL;DR: As Philly and its surrounding suburbs brace for a surge in coronavirus cases, local leaders asked Gov. Tom Wolf to allow them to send patients elsewhere if hospitals here become overwhelmed by cases. Philadelphians are trying to flatten the curve, with more than two-thirds saying they are following social distancing rules very closely. A coronavirus vaccine study is getting started in Philly, and in international news, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has tested positive for the virus, has been moved to intensive care. See these photos on how the coronavirus continues to disrupt the everyday lives of people in the Philadelphia area, make sure you check Inquirer.com/coronavirus for the latest news, and please feel free to tell your family and friends to sign up. Enjoy getting our journalism through email? You can also sign up for The Inquirer Morning Newsletter to get the latest news, features, investigations and more sent straight to your inbox each morning Sunday-Friday. Sign up here. Ellie Silverman (@esilverman11, health@inquirer.com) What you need to know Mayor Jim Kenney and leaders of Phillys four suburban counties asked Gov. Tom Wolf to allow hospitals in this region to send some patients elsewhere if they become overwhelmed by cases. They predict ICU bed needs will exceed availability. In New Jersey, deaths from the virus have topped 1,000, but Gov. Phil Murphy said the pace of new infections is slowing. One in six Pennsylvania workers has now filed for unemployment since coronavirus shutdowns started. Philadelphia Police Lt. James Walker, 59, died from the coronavirus, the citys first employee to die as a result of the pandemic. A city survey shows that more than two-thirds of Philadelphians say they are following social distancing rules very closely. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has tested positive for the virus, has been moved to intensive care. Local coronavirus cases As of Monday evening, there are more than 8,000 reported cases in the Philadelphia area. Track the spread here. PHILADELPHIA: 3,611 confirmed cases (up 422 since yesterday) SUBURBAN PA: 2,897 confirmed cases (up 300 since yesterday) SOUTH JERSEY: 1,616 confirmed cases (up 226 since yesterday) Pennsylvania closed schools March 13, New Jersey followed days later, and teachers, students, and families have been left to figure out how to continue learning remotely. While New Jersey has required schools to keep teaching its students, Pennsylvania initially did not. Now Pennsylvania is requiring a good-faith effort." Even though lessons have been moved online, computers sent to students, training provided for staff, there are still hurdles. Many students in the Philadelphia School District lack internet access, in addition to computers. The school district has been distributing Chromebooks and is negotiating purchasing mobile hot-spots for students. They hope to start online learning the week of April 20. My colleagues Maddie Hanna and Kristen A. Graham put it this way: How do you track attendance? What lessons do you prioritize? And how much work is too much, for children being supervised by older siblings or by parents juggling jobs or dealing with job losses? Being out of school is especially difficult for children already struggling. My colleague Wendy Ruderman writes about how now, 9-year-old Dean Pagan, who suffered brain damage from lead poisoning, no longer receives the occupational therapy and counseling his Ambler school provides. Inovio Pharmaceuticals of Plymouth Meeting is administering the first dose of an experimental vaccine against the coronavirus to a group of Philadelphia-area volunteers. The company began work on its vaccine in January and at least one other vaccine candidate, by Cambridge, Mass.-based Moderna Inc., has started human testing. But most of the several dozen in development havent reached this more advanced stage yet. Inovio will be looking to make sure the vaccine, now called INO-4800, does not cause any adverse effects. Researchers will be able to tell if the volunteers bodies would be able to fight off an infection by analyzing blood samples. There is still a long road ahead before we have a safe, effective, and globally accessible vaccine ready for broader use, but today we have reached an important milestone on that journey, Richard Hatchett, chief executive officer of the the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, which helped fund development of the Inovio vaccine, said in a statement. Helpful resources Lets take a quick break Philadelphia hip-hop band The Roots will now stream YouTube content five nights a week. Larry Bowa, 74, is still going strong, 50 years after unlikely major-league debut. Why National Treasure was our latest One Movie, One Philadelphia pick. Social distancing tip of the day: You can still get your bike fixed Bike shops are on the Philadelphias list of essential businesses allowed to remain open, and bike maintenance and repair shops are on Pennsylvanias list of life-sustaining businesses. While some have closed to protect their staffs, most are open with changes to store hours and customer experience, my colleague Grace Dickinson reports. Here is a list of where you can get your bike serviced and what to expect when you get there. Have a social distancing tip or question to share? Let us know at health@inquirer.com and your input might be featured in a future edition of this newsletter. What were paying attention to Its not all horrible The Flyers Charities is donating $250,000 to help Philabundance, one of the areas largest hunger-relief organizations, feed people during the pandemic. The donation will help provide meals for thousands of children, families, and seniors. Prior to COVID-19, approximately 700,000 people across our nine-county service area went to bed at night not knowing where their next meal would come from, said Sara Hertz, chief development officer at Philabundance. Several weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic, that number is steadily increasing. Last week, the 76ers and the Sixers Youth Foundation donated $250,000 to Philabundance. News about coronavirus is changing quickly. Go to inquirer.com/coronavirus to make sure you are seeing the newest information. Maharastra minister for higher and technical education Uday Samant on Monday interacted via a video-conferencing facility with all state-run universities vice-chancellors (VCs) after all the examination schedules went for a toss because of the ongoing 21-day nationwide lockdown that has been enforced since March 25 to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak. The agenda of the meeting was to convey to the VCs how to calm the nerves of anxious students and answer their queries, if any, regarding the suspension of their examinations and also brief them about the governments efforts to contain the pandemic. The minister urged all heads of universities to release a fresh examination schedule, as a plan B after the lockdown is lifted. Weve to keep more than one examination schedule ready assuming the lockdown doesnt end on April 14, said one of the officials who attended the virtual meeting. Samant also inquired about the various techniques adopted by the universities and institutes to ensure completion of the unfinished curriculum for the academic session, which has been affected because of the viral outbreak. Weve put together a set of mobile and computer applications that could be used by all polytechnic and technical institutes in a bid to ensure that students are not at a loss and their learning isnt affected because of this extraordinary situation. The application also checks attendance of teachers and the content being taught daily as part of the transparency mechanism, said Abhay Wagh, director, state Directorate of Technical Education (DTE). Samant also urged the universities to set up laboratories in their respective institutions to tackle the Covid-19 crisis. The University of Mumbai has recently launched a helpline for its students. The minister has urged more universities to follow suit and reach out to students amid this healthcare crisis, said another official. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Omans LNG sector, represented by Oman LNG and Qalhat LNG, has pledged RO6 million ($15.6 million) to support the national efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact. RO2 million of this will be contributed to the fund set up by the Supreme Committee for Covid-19 and the Ministry of Health to combat the impact of Covid-19 outbreak, while the remaining RO4 million will be deployed to directly support the Job Security Fund established by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, who initiated the fund with a personal contribution of RO10 million, said a Oman News Agency report. Oman LNG has been working closely with the Ministry of Health in sponsoring various initiatives and projects to identify the requirements in hospitals and clinics, as the ministry puts great efforts to control the spread of the virus and provide the necessary treatment for those affected around the Sultanate. The company has recently funded the purchase of critical tools and equipment for hospitals and clinics in South Sharqiya Governorate, in coordination with Ministry of Health. In addition, Oman LNG has also recently funded an advanced isolation ward at Sur Hospital, uplifting the health services provided in the Sultanate and in particular South Sharqiya Governorate. Harib Al-Kitani, Oman LNG CEO, said: We express our sincere gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and the authorities for their efforts and precautionary measures to ensure the safety of our communities and people during such challenging times. We at Oman LNG have been accustomed to meet the countrys expectations from private sector in both good and challenging times. Libyan forces shoot down 3 Sukhoi fighter jets operated by rebels: Report Iran Press TV Sunday, 05 April 2020 10:24 AM Libyan government forces have reportedly shot down three Sukhoi fighter jets operated by rebel forces under the command of renegade general Khalifa Haftar. The Turkish state news agency Anadolu said the forces of the internationally-recognized government of Libya shot down three Sukhoi-22 warplanes on Friday, also targeting several tanks, artillery, armored vehicles, and heavy weapons belonging to Haftar's militia. The government forces had a day earlier announced the destruction of three fuel tankers that had been on their way to supply the rebels in the south of the capital, Tripoli. The Libyan forces also said they had targeted an ammunition store and 10 armored vehicles southeast of the al-Washka area, located on the outskirts of the northern coastal city of Sirte. The government later announced that an airstrike carried out by its forces had targeted rebel sites in the vicinity of Sirte, leaving more than 20 militants dead. On March 21, Haftar claimed full adherence to a humanitarian truce that focused on efforts to combat the coronavirus outbreak in the African country, but his forces continued violating the ceasefire and bombing various locations in the capital. The breach compelled the Libyan government forces to launch an operation on March 25 to push the rebels back. Libya plunged into chaos in 2011, when a popular uprising and a NATO intervention led to the ouster of long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Since 2014, two rival seats of power have emerged in the North African country the United Nations (UN)-recognized government of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, and another group based in the eastern city of Tobruk, supported militarily by Haftar's rebel forces. The rebel leader, who is primarily supported by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Jordan, launched a deadly offensive to capture Tripoli in April last year. His forces have been bogged down outside the city. Haftar has often rejected opportunities to make peace with the government. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and Foreign Minister of Finland Pekka Haavisto share the view that sanctions pressure on Russia must be maintained until Kremlin fulfils its obligations and terminates the occupation of Crimea. "The ministers agreed that sanctions pressure on Russia must be maintained until Moscow fully fulfils its obligations under the Minsk agreements and terminates the occupation of Crimea and that it [sanctions pressure] cannot be considered in the context of a humanitarian response to [coronavirus] pandemic," the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine informs following the telephone conversation between Kuleba and Haavisto. It is noted that Haavisto assured of the further support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity and the process of implementation of internal structural reforms. The parties also discussed continued cooperation within the UN and other international and intergovernmental organizations. The ministers expressed mutual gratitude for facilitating the return of Ukrainian and Finnish citizens amid traffic restrictions. Kuleba and Haavisto agreed to promptly exchange information in order to effectively fight coronavirus and protect the legal rights and interests of citizens against the background of the COVID-19 pandemic. ol According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the RoK committed to apply a preferential tax rate of 5% for the quota volume of 408,700 tonnes of imported rice for 10 years, starting from 2020, including rice imports from Vietnam. Meanwhile, the tax rate applied to imported rice outside the quota is 531%. The RoK will hold several tenders for the rice quotas of each country. The quota of imported rice will be divided into several tenders. The RoK planned to import 50% of its total rice quota from five countries in the first half of 2020. Tenders are scheduled to take place in January, March and May but the plan may be changed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The country is considering the possibility of a tender for Vietnamese rice in early May with expected imports of 50% of the total quota of 55,112 tonnes allocated for Vietnam in 2020. RICHMOND, Va. - The world was crashing down around Virginia Democratic Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax. One woman had accused him of sexual assault, and five days later, a second sent a letter suggesting she'd go public with her own allegation unless he resigned. Fairfax's first move, just minutes after his lawyers alerted him to the letter, was to call a friend in another state. They exchanged six phone calls that day before the allegation became public, according to phone records Fairfax provided recently to The Washington Post. Fairfax may have been looking for moral support from the friend, who had been a fraternity brother at Duke and a groomsman at Fairfax's wedding. But he says he was seeking something else: a witness who could clear him. In the year since, the friend has never come forward, despite Fairfax's increasingly vociferous efforts to draw him out. And Fairfax has been stuck in an excruciating state of limbo, neither convicted nor cleared of an offense that, while disqualifying in any era, would be especially toxic in the time of #MeToo. As lieutenant governor, a part-time job that pays $36,000 a year, Fairfax still broke ties in the state Senate during the recently concluded legislative session. He made public appearances around Virginia until the coronavirus pandemic hit, then shifted to conference calls with faith leaders and others struggling with the crisis. He plans to run for governor next year. But he lost his job as a partner at the law firm Morrison & Foerster and has not found new work in the private sector. Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam and Democratic Attorney General Mark Herring have largely recovered from their own scandals, which involved the long-ago use of blackface and erupted the same week that claims against Fairfax became public. Only Fairfax keeps urging Virginia not to move on. Even as the pandemic descended on the state, he has stayed focused on the allegations against him, using his personal Twitter account to urge his friend to come forward and clear his name. Fairfax has also tweeted pointedly and repeatedly at lawyers for his accusers, pressed law enforcement in two states to investigate, taken a lie-detector test and brought a lawsuit against CBS over its reporting on the allegations. The lawsuit has since been thrown out. "Everyone's saying, 'Why is he still talking about it?' " Fairfax, 41, a former federal prosecutor, said in a recent interview. "People are exonerated all the time in our justice system. They're not exonerated because they've been quiet." Duke classmate Meredith Watson accused Fairfax of raping her on campus in 2000. Her lawyer, Nancy Erika Smith, has never directly answered questions about whether someone else was in the room during the alleged assault. She declined to do so again for this article. "Ms. Watson continues to call for a public hearing in which all parties testify under oath about Fairfax's rape," Smith said, referring to a legislative hearing that Republicans pitched last year but Democrats rebuffed as political theater. "Fairfax prefers to do whatever possible to avoid that and would rather continue these despicable distractions." Watson and Vanessa Tyson say Fairfax sexually assaulted them in separate incidents in the early 2000s. They came forward in February 2019, at a moment when Fairfax seemed poised to take over for Northam because of the governor's blackface scandal. Tyson said Fairfax assaulted her at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. The claim was largely greeted with silence. But when Watson came forward days later, calls for his resignation were deafening. Fairfax insists both encounters were consensual. He has both personal and political motives for wanting to clear his name, with the June 2021 Democratic gubernatorial primary just 15 months away. But Fairfax says he's largely driven to prove a fundamental point: that allegation is not conviction. "It's really outrageous, the lack of due process, the lack of investigation," he said. Before the scandal, Fairfax was widely viewed as a front-runner to replace Northam, who's barred by law from serving back-to-back terms. His decision to press ahead in what could be an unusually crowded primary gives some Democrats heartburn. "Let's say it's five people. All you need is 21%," said one Democratic lawmaker, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to be frank. "I always think about the headline: 'Democrats nominate alleged rapist for governor.' " As he's disputed Tyson's claims, Fairfax has blamed Thad Williamson - a former adviser to Richmond Democratic Mayor Levar Stoney, a potential gubernatorial rival - for encouraging Tyson to come forward. Stoney denies any involvement. Williamson, through his lawyer, said he only wanted to "support a friend in crisis." In Watson's case, Fairfax's defense has largely focused on the friend who the lieutenant governor says was in the room. Fairfax recently shared his personal cellphone records with The Post, showing a flurry of calls between him and the friend on Feb. 8, 2019, and for weeks after. A Fairfax adviser referred to the friend by name in an email to Fairfax and others that was sent just minutes after Watson went public with her allegation, according to a copy obtained by The Post. "Justin, will [the friend] go on the record?" it said. ". . . if he will go on the record and deny the allegation it may be worth it." Fairfax put out a statement that day saying Watson's claim was "demonstrably false" - a reference to the friend he says could be a witness, he later explained, although he would not elaborate at the time. The Post is not identifying the friend because he did not return repeated calls and emails and The Post could not independently confirm he is a witness. Watson made no mention of a third person in her only detailed account of the alleged assault, an interview with CBS's Gayle King in April 2019. It was months later that Fairfax publicly claimed there was a witness, in a letter urging the district attorney in Durham, North Carolina, to investigate. Smith has declined to comment on that claim or to make Watson available for an interview - a point that Fairfax says is telling. "This is not a 'no comment' moment," he said. Having failed to coax his friend to come forward, Fairfax has tried to force him out. He sought to have him questioned in a criminal investigation, but the district attorney has given no indication such a probe is underway. Fairfax also tried to have his friend subpoenaed in his unsuccessful lawsuit against CBS. Fairfax's habit of publicly invoking and disputing the allegations has critics accusing him of "bullying" his alleged victims. Even some allies think he should move on. But some analysts think he has little choice but to keep doing what he's doing. "There's no easy way out of this for him," said Richmond political analyst Bob Holsworth. "It's going to be extraordinarily difficult for him to prove he's innocent and wipe away all of the doubts that many people certainly have in their minds about this. Because it's going to be in the back of everybody's mind, his decision to speak about it, to bring it up, to explain why he thinks he's innocent, is probably the best approach to a very challenging situation." The first Darien resident has died of the coronavirus, according to an announcement from First Selectman Jayme Stevenson Sunday evening via Facebook live. Watch here. Stevenson said she addressed the community in person on Sunday night to share the sad news. She said she could not add any further information due to privacy. She added that it hits home for me because this individual was about my age and the age of my husband, so the virus isnt sparing anyone at this point. Currently, 100 people in Darien have been diagnosed with the coronavirus as of April 4, up 4 from Friday. The split is 50/50 between males and females. Stevenson said the most impacted have been the ages of 40 to 69. Gov. Ned Lamont announced 24 new deaths associated with coronavirus Sunday, raising the states death toll to 189 and surpassing the number killed by the worst flu season on record. The state saw 399 more people test positive for COVID-19, raising the total number of cases to 5,675 as of Sunday afternoon. Sundays death toll rises above the 2017-18 flu season, the worst on record in the state, which saw 184 flu-related deaths. On the same day, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo reported daily deaths in his state decreased, though he tempered optimism by saying it was too early to tell if the state had reached its peak. Coronavirus in Connecticut: Live updates, hour-by-hour Coronavirus: A list of resources we compiled to help you As of Saturday, 109 additional people were hospitalized in Connecticut, bringing the total up to 1,142, according to the governors office. An additional 1,241 people have been tested for the virus, for a total of 23,270 tests. Stevenson also said that the surgeon general has suggested that everyone should wear masks outdoors, especially in areas that social distancing is more challenging like the grocery store and pharmacy. She encouraged Darien residents to make their own from a handkerchief or a cloth napkin, and asked that residents leave the medical N95 masks for medical professionals and first responders. Stevenson also said she was working on obtaining masks for everyone in town and would be sharing more information on that soon. The testing that is currently set for Mondays at Darien High School from 1 to 4 has been increased to include Friday mornings from 9 to 12, starting this Friday, April 10. Stevenson said that those who want a test do not need a doctors prescription, they can visit coronatestct.com. Stevenson continued the Facebook live by advising Darien residents to adhere to the social distancing and staying home. Read more on DarienTimes.com for the latest updates. A tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York City has tested positive for the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, in the first known case of a human infecting an animal and making it sick, the zoo's chief veterinarian said on Sunday. Nadia, the 4-year-old Malayan tiger that tested positive, was screened for the COVID-19 disease after developing a dry cough along with three other tigers and three lions, the Wildlife Conservation Society, which manages the zoo, said in a statement. All of the cats are expected to recover, it said. The infection of the cats, however, caused quite a bit of alarm as well as nervous humour on social media. Many wondered what prompted those to in charge of the tiger to get it tested. In fact, many wondered if the tigers were heard coughing, one of the first symptoms of coronavirus in humans. Was the tiger coughing? Did it have a fever? Was it feeling fatigued? Nori J (@j_cabrillavuela) April 6, 2020 Was the tiger coughing? Im struggling to figure out why they tested it https://t.co/5Utp66xmfN Waterbottle Francis (@StillDrowzee) April 6, 2020 I want to know what prompted the test. Was the tiger coughing? https://t.co/dNDXKrUHTE Justin W. (@JBLDub) April 5, 2020 How in the hell did this tiger get a test. Its not like he walked into a hospital with a high fever, cough, loss of taste and smell and unable to breath. WTF https://t.co/naQGoi75lH Tom Colicchio (@tomcolicchio) April 6, 2020 Many others expressed anger about the fact that in the United States, it was apparently easier for a tiger to get tested for coronavirus than humans. How did the tiger get tested? Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) April 6, 2020 So a tiger got tested for coronavirus but we cant do random population sample antibody tests on PEOPLE?! Got it. Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) April 5, 2020 Why the hell is a tiger getting tested when millions of poor Americans cant get a test. https://t.co/ESnFWSxXj1 Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) April 6, 2020 BREAKING:A Tiger in the Bronx Zoo just tested POSITIVE for COVID19.....Thats right a TIGER got a test?!Do we have a shortage or not? Riddle me that!RT!#coronavirus #Covid_19 #CoronavirusPandemic Graham Allen (@GrahamAllen_1) April 5, 2020 My son cant get tested, but the government has tests for animals?https://t.co/W8el3cjmlw via @6abc John Stossel (@JohnStossel) April 6, 2020 How is a damn tiger getting a test, yet I personally know 4 people exposed with symptoms that cannot get tested? #COVID19 #WhereAreTheTests https://t.co/bpbi3qwSYA Ern D (@orendorkdigger) April 6, 2020 Was the tiger a Republican? Is that how he got tested? Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) April 6, 2020 How did a tiger get tested for Corona but Im supposed to wait it out like I took too many drugs at a house party Amber Nelson (@AmberSmelson) April 5, 2020 The virus that causes COVID-19 is believed to have spread from animals to humans, and a handful of animals have tested positive in Hong Kong. But officials believe this is a unique case because Nadia became sick after exposure to an asymptomatic zoo employee, Paul Calle, chief veterinarian at the Bronx Zoo, told Reuters. Calle said they did not know which employee infected the tiger. This is the first time that any of us know of anywhere in the world that a person infected the animal and the animal got sick, Calle said, adding that they planned to share the findings with other zoos and institutions. "Hopefully we will all have a better understanding as a result." On Monday, the US recorded over 9,600 deaths due to coronavirus and over 3 lakh cases. (With inputs from Reuters) China has allegedly sold personal protective equipments (PPEs) to Italy which it received as donation from the European country in the early days of coronavirus outbreak. When Covid-19 was at its peak in China, Italy had donated PPEs to China. China is now believed to have sold the same PPE kits to Italy, ANI reported quoting Spectator magazine. A senior Trump administration official told Spectator magazine that China had "forced Italy to buy back the PPE supply that it gave to China during the initial coronavirus outbreak." Coronavirus in India Live Updates: 693 new cases in 24 hours; 1,445 related to Tablighi Jamaat "Before the virus hit Europe, Italy sent tonnes of PPE to China to help China protect its own population," the administration official explained. "China then has sent Italian PPE back to Italy-some of it, not even all of it and charged them for it," he added. The virus, which originated in China, has now made Italy its epicentre, claiming over 15,000 lives. Those facing maximum risk are medical staff who are exposed to the patients of the communicable disease. > Hence, need for PPE arises to insulate the medical staff from the deadly infection. By Aseem Thapliyal PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-06 09:05:32 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 971 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE /April 6, 2020 / ZincX Resources Corp. "ZincX Resources" or the "Company", (TSX Venture Exchange: ZNX) (FRA:M9R) is pleased to announce that its largest shareholder, Tongling Non-Ferrous Metals of China (Tongling), has agreed to participate in the funding of a drill program in 2020 on the Akie Property. The program is intended to provide new drill core for advanced metallurgical testing that Tongling plans to conduct after the conclusion of the exploration season.The Company has been in regular communication with Tongling since a meeting held in Vancouver in July 2019. The Company's technical team and its advisors have worked with Tongling to design a work program and agreement for the upcoming season that will have Tongling conduct its own metallurgical/processing studies in China to be in addition to the metallurgical work conducted and reported by the Company to date.The Company is in discussion and in general agreement with Tongling to convert the proceeds, which have already been advanced to the Company, into shares at a price of 30 cents per share - a 400% premium to the Company's current share price. Tongling would thus be increasing its involvement and investment in the Company by $1.398 million.Tongling had previously purchased shares of the Company through two large private placements and an exercise of warrants. Tongling currently owns a total of 48,636,224 common shares representing a 28.55% equity position in ZincX Resources and is the Company's largest strategic investor.Peeyush Varshney, CEO of the Company, stated: "We have had a long-standing and mutually beneficial relationship with Tongling and have greatly valued their investment in the Company starting in mid-2009. They have provided guidance and technical expertise over the years which have helped shape exploration at the Akie Project. Today we announce an increased level of participation which is most welcome in these very challenging global market conditions.Until recently, Tongling had been focused on bringing the Mirador Project in Ecuador into full production since its acquisition in 2010. We now again have their attention and support in our efforts to advance the significant value and merit of the Cardiac Creek deposit. To have the support and increasing interest of one of the world's premier base metal companies is a great advantage for the Company.Tongling is thoroughly familiar with the progress to-date on the Akie property, including the 2017 metallurgical test program and the robust and positive results from the 2018 PEA. Tongling last toured the Akie property in 2018 and to this day recognizes the inherent value of the Company's significant prospective land package and the potential long-term district development opportunity. We are encouraged by the increased engagement with Tongling and look forward to working closely with them this upcoming season." 2020 Drill Program:The planned 2020 drill program will consist of three holes totalling approximately 2,000 metres of drilling with a primary objective of acquiring mineralised drill core sample material for advanced metallurgical testing. The holes will target specific areas of the deposit that will provide mineralised sample material representative of the deposit across its strike and width. This material will be used to further investigate the metallurgical response of the mineralisation with a focus on enhancing the recoveries for both zinc and lead into high-grade concentrates; using state-of-the-art metallurgical testing at Tongling's laboratories.Representative intervals from the 2020 drill program will be selected from the 3 drill holes. Individual drill hole composites will be generated using half of the diamond drill core. Hanging wall and footwall dilution will be included in each composite in order to simulate mined material. From these individual composites a global composite will be constructed. The other half of the drill core will be submitted for conventional assay as per standard procedure for Akie drilling.ZincX Resources successfully demonstrated positive metallurgical recoveries in its extensive 2017 metallurgical program. Highlights from that program included:Flotation testing on the global composite indicated that a conventional reagent scheme produced clean, marketable concentratesZinc Concentrate: Zinc was 89% recovered into a concentrate grading 52.4%Lead Concentrate: Lead was 46% recovered into a concentrate grading 45%Saleable concentrates can be produced for both Zn and PbNo potential impurity or penalty elements were identified in the concentratesZincX Resources will manage the 2020 drill program on behalf of Tongling and will follow strict, industry standard QA/QC guidelines. Pulverized blanks, duplicate samples and independently prepared laboratory standards will be used. The blanks, standards or duplicate samples will be inserted into the sample stream at intervals of every 10 samples. The assay lab will also apply their own QA/QC procedures by systematically inserting standards, blanks and duplicates into sample batches. Approximately 10% of all the samples submitted to the assay lab will be forwarded to an accredited referee lab for check assay purposes.Tongling has indicated a desire to send a technical delegation to visit the project site to inspect the drilling and give guidance to the sampling to create the metallurgical composites.About Tongling Non-Ferrous Metals Group Co. Ltd.:Tongling Nonferrous Metals Group Holdings Company Limited is a state-owned enterprise involved in mining and smelting copper and other non-ferrous metals. It was founded in 1949 in Tongling, Anhui, China and the first mine was put into production in 1952. Over the past 60 years Tongling has grown to a large-scale, diverse, fully integrated mining and smelting enterprise engaged in mining, mineral processing, smelting and refining of copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver and other nonferrous metals. The subsidiary and listed company, Tongling Nonferrous Metals Group Company Limited, was established in 1992 and listed on the main board of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 1996.Tongling has established economic, technical and trade cooperation relationships with more than 30 countries and regions around the world. Its products are exported to over 10 countries including Japan, Germany, United States, and Singapore. The corporation also invests in resource exploration and development in many countries such as Canada, Ecuador and Chile. The Company's main pr Popular Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele , also known as Jenifa, has apologised for hosting a celebrity-studded birthday party despite the governments COVID-19 lockdown directives. The actress said Naira Marley had been at her residence before the lockdown was announced. She also pledged to support the Nigerian government in creating more awareness in eradicating the coronavirus pandemic. Akindele, also known as Jenifa, stated this in a video released on her Social Media platforms a few hours before her arrest on Sunday. The actress was arrested by the officers of the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Command, for hosting a house party that contravened the lockdown order of the government. She was taken from her residence in Amen Estate off the Lekki-Epe Expressway to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba. In the video, Akindele apologised to her fans for not leading by example amid the COVID-19 stay-at-home order of the government. She said, I have seen all the messages on Social Media. I will not intentionally mislead people. CONNECT WITH US Senior Producers, Larger-Cap Near-Term Production Royalty & Streaming Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 3-Apr-20 (MM) (US$MM) 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2020E % Altius Minerals Corp ALS 1.8 C$6.87 42 $204 0.55 0.39 0.45 17.8 15.2 1.03 0.80 0.90 8.6 7.6 -- 1.6% Anglo Pacific Group PLC (UK) APF 1.8 GBP$1.14 181 $254 0.21 0.21 0.23 5.4 5.0 0.22 0.22 0.23 5.3 4.9 12.3 4.6% Franco-Nevada FNV 2.4 US$107.63 189 $20,384 1.82 2.28 2.30 47.1 46.8 3.29 3.88 4.02 27.8 26.8 41.6 1.0% Maverix Metals (CA) MMX 2.1 C$4.78 120 $403 0.09 0.11 0.16 42.7 30.3 0.25 0.31 0.35 15.4 13.7 -- 0.2% Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd OR 2.1 C$10.67 157 $1,184 0.28 0.32 0.39 33.8 27.6 0.61 0.73 0.85 14.7 12.5 45.0 1.6% Royal Gold Inc RGLD 3.1 US$93.50 66 $6,131 2.02 2.75 2.99 34.0 31.3 4.53 5.41 5.71 17.3 16.4 22.6 0.9% Sandstorm Gold Ltd (CA) SAND 2.2 US$5.30 174 $923 0.09 0.11 0.15 46.7 36.5 0.30 0.37 0.40 14.4 13.2 25.2 0.0% Wheaton Precious Metals WPM 1.9 US$27.82 448 $12,407 0.56 0.87 0.95 31.8 29.4 1.12 1.49 1.59 18.7 17.5 21.8 1.2% Average 32.4 27.8 15.3 14.1 28.1 Gold Large-Cap Gold Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd AEM 2.0 US$44.67 241 $10,703 0.96 1.29 1.81 34.6 24.6 3.70 4.33 5.15 10.3 8.7 13.8 0.9% Barrick Gold Corp ABX 2.1 US$19.89 1778 $35,368 0.51 0.76 0.80 26.1 25.0 1.61 2.27 2.34 8.8 8.5 12.0 1.1% Kirkland Lake Gold (CA) KL 2.0 US$32.93 287 $9,485 2.74 2.74 2.73 12.0 12.1 4.38 4.39 4.60 7.5 7.2 49.9 0.4% Newcrest Mining Ltd (AU) NCM 2.8 US$14.71 769 $11,312 0.79 0.91 0.98 16.1 15.0 1.75 1.74 1.86 8.5 7.9 9.4 1.1% Newmont Goldcorp NEM 2.0 US$47.15 808 $38,087 1.32 2.09 2.61 22.5 18.0 3.89 4.77 5.26 9.9 9.0 18.4 1.3% Polyus Gold International (UK) PGIL 2.0 RU$10,394.5 134 $18,269 769.61 1028.14 1092.20 10.1 9.5 1054.82 1244.95 1226.97 8.3 8.5 -- 2.3% Zijin Mining Group (HK) 2899 1.7 CNY$2.69 25377 $12,424 0.18 0.27 0.41 10.0 6.5 0.45 0.46 0.53 5.9 5.1 20.8 2.9% Average 18.8 15.8 8.5 7.8 20.7 Mid-Cap Gold Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 3-Apr-20 (MM) (US$MM) 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2020E % Alamos Gold AGI 2.3 US$5.63 391 $2,214 0.21 0.26 0.39 21.4 14.3 0.66 0.72 0.96 7.8 5.9 13.4 0.7% AngloGold Ashanti Ltd AU 2.7 US$18.25 416 $7,598 0.91 2.14 2.24 8.5 8.1 2.50 3.45 3.65 5.3 5.0 6.1 0.5% B2Gold Corp BTG 1.6 US$3.43 1030 $3,551 0.23 0.40 0.33 8.7 10.4 0.49 0.69 0.61 4.9 5.6 11.4 0.2% Buenaventura (ADR) BVN 2.9 US$6.95 276 $1,991 (0.05) 0.43 0.56 16.2 12.3 0.20 0.94 0.88 7.4 7.9 8.0 0.6% Centamin PLC (CA) CEE 2.1 US$1.52 1156 $1,758 0.07 0.14 0.11 11.3 14.0 0.16 0.19 0.18 8.1 8.6 3.7 4.8% Centerra Gold (CA) CG 2.3 US$6.13 294 $1,801 0.62 1.01 1.10 6.1 5.6 1.44 2.08 2.18 3.0 2.8 5.3 0.0% Endeavour Mining Corp (CA) EDV 1.8 US$15.23 110 $1,674 0.67 1.38 1.91 11.1 8.0 2.75 3.72 4.37 4.1 3.5 9.9 0.0% Evolution Mining Ltd (AU) EVN 2.5 AUD$4.10 1704 $4,189 0.17 0.23 0.25 17.9 16.3 0.43 0.51 0.51 8.0 8.0 10.4 3.4% Gold Fields Ltd (ADR) GFI 2.8 US$5.21 883 $4,683 0.20 0.50 0.63 10.4 8.3 1.08 1.33 1.52 3.9 3.4 5.3 0.2% Harmony Gold Mining Ltd HAR 2.0 ZAR$40.31 543 $1,149 3.88 7.16 8.16 5.6 4.9 11.45 16.62 17.70 2.4 2.3 5.9 0.0% Kinross Gold Corp KGC 2.4 US$4.87 1257 $6,109 0.34 0.43 0.42 11.4 11.7 0.97 1.07 1.12 4.6 4.3 8.7 0.0% Lundin Gold Inc (CA) LUG 2.2 US$5.58 224 $1,259 (0.10) 0.35 0.60 15.9 9.4 (0.10) 0.57 0.91 9.7 6.1 -- 0.0% Northern Star Resources (AU) NST 2.7 AUD$10.18 740 $4,516 0.42 0.75 0.97 13.6 10.5 0.76 1.15 1.42 8.8 7.1 15.7 1.3% NovaGold Resources Inc NG 2.0 US$8.65 329 $2,840 (0.09) (0.08) -- -- -- -- -- (0.03) -- -- -- -- Polymetal International PLC (UK) POLY 2.1 US$16.78 470 $7,895 1.25 1.67 1.77 10.0 9.5 1.46 2.07 1.99 8.1 8.4 12.4 3.9% Saracen Mineral Holdings (AU) SAR 2.1 AUD$3.76 1103 $2,486 0.17 0.29 0.33 13.1 11.3 0.32 0.44 0.53 8.5 7.1 46.5 0.0% Sibanye Gold Ltd (SA) SGL -- ZAR$44.33 2670 $7,646 -- (0.40) 9.55 -- 4.6 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- SSR Mining SSRM 2.0 US$12.50 123 $1,539 0.81 1.23 1.62 10.1 7.7 1.10 2.09 2.43 6.0 5.1 6.3 0.0% Yamana Gold Inc AUY 2.4 US$3.08 950 $2,925 0.35 0.16 0.17 19.8 17.8 0.55 0.63 0.70 4.9 4.4 6.1 0.8% Zhaojin Mining Industry Co Ltd (HK) 1818 1.9 CNY$7.06 3270 $3,257 0.15 0.29 0.35 24.1 20.4 0.78 0.68 0.82 10.4 8.6 19.3 -- Average 13.1 10.8 6.4 5.8 11.4 Note: Currency shown is that used by the company for financial reporting. Currency does not always reflect the country/market in which the company/stock symbol trades. GAAP may differ between stocks due to countries and markets. The tables are compiled from the Thomson Reuters database of consensus Ratings & Estimates of equity analysts. The historicals and estimates of earnings and cash flows exclude non-operating, special items. Thomson Reuters Rating System: Buy (1.0), Buy/Hold (2.0), Hold (3.0), Sell/Hold (4.0), Sell (5.0) Source: Thomson Reuters. Small-Cap Gold Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 3-Apr-20 (MM) (US$MM) 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2020E % Alacer Gold Corp (CA) ASR 2.5 US$3.46 295 $1,026 0.37 0.45 0.46 7.6 7.5 0.86 0.92 0.94 3.8 3.7 39.5 0.0% DRDGold Ltd (ADR) DROOY 5.0 ZAR$11.00 865 $500 0.49 0.94 0.50 11.8 22.0 1.17 1.26 -- 8.7 -- 23.1 0.0% Dundee Precious Metals (CA) DPM 1.8 US$3.57 181 $648 0.19 0.49 0.53 7.3 6.7 0.55 0.96 1.12 3.7 3.2 8.8 0.0% Eldorado Gold Corp EGO 2.8 US$6.59 165 $1,071 0.04 0.77 0.41 8.6 16.1 0.93 2.01 1.53 3.3 4.3 9.1 0.0% Equinox Gold Corp (CA) EQX 2.1 US$6.86 216 $1,488 (0.16) 0.68 0.78 10.1 8.8 0.53 1.31 1.71 5.2 4.0 -- 0.0% Gold Resource Corp GORO 2.0 US$3.07 66 $202 0.09 0.42 0.16 7.4 19.2 -- -- -- -- 0.4% Gold Road Resources Ltd (AU) GOR 2.1 AUD$1.30 880 $686 0.01 0.09 0.09 13.8 13.7 0.04 0.15 0.15 8.9 8.9 -- 0.0% Golden Star Resources GSS 2.5 US$2.48 161 $271 0.16 0.24 0.31 10.5 8.0 0.21 0.68 0.71 3.6 3.5 6.9 0.0% Gran Colombia Gold Corp (CA) GCM 2.0 US$2.99 61 $182 0.73 1.22 0.93 2.5 3.2 1.24 1.46 1.32 2.0 2.3 -- 0.0% Great Bear Resources (CA) GBR 1.5 C$5.95 46 $193 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.0% Hecla Mining Co HL 2.9 US$1.70 523 $889 (0.13) 0.02 0.09 89.1 19.1 0.25 0.31 0.38 5.4 4.5 5.6 0.3% Highland Gold Mining Ltd (UK) HGM 2.0 US$2.52 364 $915 0.31 0.32 0.36 7.9 7.1 0.44 0.49 0.51 5.1 5.0 7.4 6.1% Hochschild Mining PLC (UK) HOC 2.5 US$1.30 514 $669 0.09 0.13 0.15 9.8 8.8 0.55 0.45 0.49 2.9 2.6 2.4 1.8% Iamgold Corp IAG 2.6 US$2.48 470 $1,171 (0.04) 0.19 0.20 12.9 12.6 0.78 0.78 0.81 3.2 3.1 2.7 0.0% K92 Mining (CA) KNT 1.4 US$2.20 213 $470 0.12 0.21 0.30 10.3 7.3 0.13 0.32 0.40 7.0 5.5 -- 0.0% McEwen Mining Inc. MUX 2.0 US$0.70 400 $282 (0.17) (0.03) 0.06 -- 11.3 (0.11) (0.03) 0.01 -- NM -- 0.0% New Gold Inc NGD 2.7 US$0.55 676 $371 (0.08) (0.05) 0.00 -- NM 0.43 0.36 0.42 1.5 1.3 3.4 0.0% Oceanagold Corp (AU) OGC 2.1 US$1.03 622 $640 0.05 0.10 0.22 10.0 4.7 0.32 0.35 0.55 2.9 1.9 2.9 0.0% Orla Mining Ltd (CA) OLA 2.0 C$2.01 187 $265 (0.16) (0.09) (0.04) -- -- (0.14) (0.08) 0.01 -- NM -- 0.0% Osisko Mining Corp (CA) OSK 1.8 C$2.44 291 $501 (0.17) (0.05) (0.05) -- -- (0.01) (0.04) (0.04) -- -- -- 0.0% Pan African Resources (UK) PAF 1.0 US$0.12 1928 $233 0.02 0.04 0.05 2.9 2.5 0.03 0.04 -- 2.9 -- 9.2 1.0% Perseus Mining Ltd (AU) PRU 2.0 AUD$0.93 1168 $648 0.03 0.06 0.12 14.9 7.9 0.15 0.19 0.26 4.8 3.5 86.8 0.0% Petropavlovsk PLC (UK) POG 2.2 US$0.23 3310 $766 0.02 0.04 0.05 5.3 5.1 0.01 0.04 0.07 5.8 3.5 6.7 0.0% Pretium Resources PVG 2.4 US$6.23 185 $1,161 0.55 0.53 0.52 11.8 11.9 1.21 1.15 1.18 5.4 5.3 -- 0.0% Regis Resources Ltd (AU) RRL 2.4 AUD$3.76 508 $1,145 0.37 0.45 0.50 8.4 7.5 0.58 0.64 0.69 5.9 5.5 7.3 3.7% Ramelius Resources Ltd (AU) RMS 1.8 AUD$0.97 730 $425 0.06 0.10 0.13 9.8 7.2 0.25 0.26 0.28 3.7 3.4 8.4 0.8% Resolute Mining Ltd (AU) RSG 2.0 AUD$0.79 1057 $501 0.02 0.14 0.17 5.8 4.6 0.15 0.26 0.28 3.0 2.8 -- 0.0% St Barbara Ltd (AU) SBM 2.3 AUD$2.09 703 $881 0.23 0.26 0.31 8.0 6.7 0.40 0.46 0.54 4.6 3.9 5.0 2.9% Sabina Gold & Silver Corp (CA) SBB 2.3 C$1.21 297 $253 (0.01) (0.01) 0.01 -- NM (0.01) (0.01) 0.03 -- 40.3 -- 0.0% Seabridge Gold SA 2.0 C$13.06 64 $586 (0.19) (0.14) (0.02) -- -- (0.17) (2.63) -- -- -- -- 0.0% Semafo (CA) SMF 2.0 US$2.12 334 $709 0.22 0.27 0.40 7.8 5.3 0.66 0.73 0.85 2.9 2.5 5.0 0.0% Silver Lake Resources (AU) SLR 2.4 AUD$1.42 880 $754 0.06 0.10 0.12 14.8 12.2 0.17 0.22 0.24 6.4 6.0 17.2 0.0% Silvercrest Metals Inc SILV 1.8 C$6.60 109 $508 (0.67) (0.11) (0.15) -- -- (0.62) (0.09) (0.10) -- -- -- 0.0% Teranga Gold Corp (CA) TGZ 1.3 US$4.85 168 $813 0.01 0.30 0.61 16.4 8.0 0.93 1.17 1.61 4.2 3.0 9.4 0.0% Torex Gold Resources (CA) TXG 2.3 US$9.18 85 $788 0.79 0.42 0.66 22.1 14.0 3.51 3.08 3.31 3.0 2.8 5.0 0.0% Victoria Gold Corp (CA) VIT 2.0 C$6.69 58 $275 -- -- -- -- -- -- (0.40) 0.18 -- 38.2 -- 0.0% Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd (CA) WDO 1.8 C$7.98 138 $779 0.29 0.40 0.82 19.9 9.7 0.51 0.61 1.07 13.1 7.5 63.1 0.0% West African Resources Ltd (CA) WAF -- AUD$0.26 871 $214 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.04 -- 7.1 -- -- Westgold Resources Ltd (AU) WGX 2.0 AUD$1.74 400 $416 0.06 0.20 0.36 8.8 4.8 0.31 0.49 0.65 3.5 2.7 -- 0.0% Average 13.0 9.4 4.7 6.4 15.2 Select (Gold >US$20MM Mkt Cap) Gold Springs Resource Corp (CA)* GRC 2.0 US$0.05 249 $13 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Lion One Metals Ltd (CA)* LIO 2.0 C$1.22 107 $92 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.0% Minera Alamos Inc (CA) MAI 2.0 C$0.24 407 $69 (0.02) 0.01 0.03 24.0 8.0 0.03 0.03 -- 8.0 -- -- 0.0% Northern Vertex Mining Corp (CA)* NEE 2.0 US$0.12 251 $31 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.0% Paramount Gold Nevada Corp* PZG 2.0 US$0.59 28 $18 (0.21) (0.17) -- -- -- (0.19) (0.16) -- -- -- 0.0% Average 24.0 8.0 8.0 *includes research coverage by Scarsdale Equities. Note: Currency shown is that used by the company for financial reporting. Currency does not always reflect the country/market in which the company/stock symbol trades. GAAP may differ between stocks due to countries and markets. The tables are compiled from the Thomson Reuters database of consensus Ratings & Estimates of equity analysts. The historicals and estimates of earnings and cash flows exclude non-operating, special items. Thomson Reuters Rating System: Buy (1.0), Buy/Hold (2.0), Hold (3.0), Sell/Hold (4.0), Sell (5.0) Source: Thomson Reuters. Silver Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 3-Apr-20 (MM) (US$MM) 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2020E % Alexco Resource Corp* AXU 2.3 C$1.73 125 $152 (0.08) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.0% Americas Gold & Silver Corp (CA) USA 1.8 US$1.48 87 $128 (0.46) 0.11 0.21 12.9 7.0 0.00 0.43 0.76 3.4 2.0 32.1 0.0% Coeur Mining Corp CDE 2.4 US$3.12 244 $760 (0.25) 0.01 0.17 NM 18.8 0.42 0.68 0.97 4.6 3.2 4.6 0.0% Endeavour Silver Corp EXK 3.2 US$1.19 142 $169 (0.36) 0.03 0.01 43.3 NM (0.07) 0.22 0.19 5.4 6.2 4.6 0.0% First Majestic Silver Corp AG 2.6 US$6.05 210 $1,269 0.04 0.21 0.22 29.2 27.2 0.69 0.47 0.77 12.9 7.8 11.3 0.0% Fortuna Silver Mines FSM 2.3 US$2.04 160 $326 0.17 0.30 0.56 6.8 3.6 0.63 0.63 1.15 3.2 1.8 5.0 0.0% Fresnillo (UK) FRES 3.0 US$7.80 737 $5,746 0.23 0.29 0.38 27.3 20.7 0.59 0.86 0.91 9.0 8.5 6.2 1.7% MAG Silver Corp MAG 1.8 US$7.48 87 $647 (0.05) 0.13 0.28 56.7 27.2 (0.04) 0.27 0.57 28.0 13.1 76.8 0.0% New Pacific Metals Corp (CA) NUAG 2.7 C$5.00 148 $523 (0.02) (0.02) (0.01) -- -- (0.02) (0.02) (0.01) -- -- -- 0.0% Pan American Silver PAAS 2.2 US$15.00 210 $3,143 0.78 0.77 1.36 19.5 11.1 1.40 2.21 2.80 6.8 5.4 11.8 0.6% Silvercorp Metals Inc SVM 2.0 US$3.23 173 $560 0.21 0.21 0.19 15.2 16.9 0.43 0.40 0.38 8.0 8.5 -- 0.4% Average 26.3 16.6 9.0 6.3 19.1 *includes research coverage by Scarsdale Equities. Platinum Group Metals African Rainbow Minerals (SA) ARI 2.1 ZAR$100.00 223 $1,173 27.33 26.65 23.04 3.8 4.3 16.23 18.19 23.92 5.5 4.2 20.2 8.6% Anglo American Platinum Ltd (SA) AMS 3.1 ZAR$756.14 270 $10,713 70.61 97.69 101.64 7.7 7.4 107.94 88.92 124.15 8.5 6.1 20.0 2.2% Impala Platinum (SA) IMP 2.1 ZAR$78.00 799 $3,535 11.84 21.56 21.53 3.6 3.6 17.63 25.91 28.77 3.0 2.7 22.6 0.9% Northam Platinum Ltd (SA) NHM 1.7 ZAR$69.24 510 $1,854 5.29 13.12 13.77 5.3 5.0 13.55 22.30 27.22 3.1 2.5 54.3 0.0% Average 5.1 5.1 5.0 3.9 29.3 Base Metals & Diversified Large-Cap Base Metals Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 3-Apr-20 (MM) (US$MM) 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2020E % Anglo American PLC (UK) AAL 2.4 US$14.93 1363 $20,347 2.70 2.22 2.59 6.7 5.8 5.97 5.07 5.71 2.9 2.6 5.2 3.8% Antofagasta PLC (UK) ANTO 2.7 US$9.28 986 $9,152 0.51 0.29 0.51 31.5 18.2 2.12 1.52 1.55 6.1 6.0 7.8 2.8% BHP Billiton Ltd BHP 2.4 US$18.18 5058 $85,703 1.87 1.86 1.76 9.8 10.3 3.31 3.14 3.06 5.8 5.9 6.3 5.5% China Molybdenum Co Ltd (HK) 3993 2.4 CNY$2.07 21599 $9,941 0.09 0.09 0.12 23.2 16.8 0.08 0.13 (0.10) 16.5 -- 42.9 1.4% Freeport McMoran C&G FCX 2.3 US$6.32 1451 $9,170 0.02 0.06 1.10 NM 5.7 1.02 1.30 2.77 4.9 2.3 5.4 1.5% Glencore International PLC (UK) GLEN 2.2 US$1.47 13324 $19,603 0.18 0.11 0.19 13.2 7.6 0.63 0.63 0.60 2.4 2.5 5.2 6.4% Grupo Mexico (MX) GMEXICOB 2.5 US$1.65 7785 $12,878 0.29 0.21 0.24 8.0 6.8 0.51 0.31 0.34 5.4 4.8 6.2 6.1% Hindustan Zinc (IN) HZ 2.1 INR$161.55 4225 $8,954 17.64 18.04 19.28 9.0 8.4 21.35 22.23 23.85 7.3 6.8 4.6 0.0% MMC Norilsk Nickel (RU) GMKN -- RU$5,429.84 158 $39,424 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 15.7 7.8% Rio Tinto PLC (UK) RIO 2.6 US$46.11 1618 $77,275 6.36 5.14 4.56 9.0 10.1 9.15 7.95 7.37 5.8 6.3 6.9 2.7% Southern Copper Corp SCCO 2.4 US$26.80 773 $20,718 1.92 2.02 2.20 13.3 12.2 2.47 2.93 3.33 9.2 8.1 11.6 3.8% Vale SA (ADR) VALE 2.0 BRL$40.56 5284 $39,999 5.01 7.69 7.87 5.3 5.2 10.56 11.24 11.48 3.6 3.5 7.3 2.6% Average 12.9 9.7 6.3 4.9 10.4 Note: Currency shown is that used by the company for financial reporting. Currency does not always reflect the country/market in which the company/stock symbol trades. GAAP may differ between stocks due to countries and markets. The tables are compiled from the Thomson Reuters database of consensus Ratings & Estimates of equity analysts. The historicals and estimates of earnings and cash flows exclude non-operating, special items. Thomson Reuters Rating System: Buy (1.0), Buy/Hold (2.0), Hold (3.0), Sell/Hold (4.0), Sell (5.0) Source: Thomson Reuters. Mid-Cap Base Metals Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 3-Apr-20 (MM) (US$MM) 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2020E % Assore Ltd (SA) ASR 3.3 ZAR$303.00 140 $2,222 54.15 46.01 40.75 6.6 7.4 -- 18.27 27.33 16.6 11.1 11.5 7.7% Aurubis AG (GR) NDA 2.8 EUR$39.10 45 $1,900 3.12 3.42 4.04 11.4 9.7 5.55 5.80 6.61 6.7 5.9 5.1 2.3% Boliden AB (SW) BOL 2.4 SEK$177.55 274 $4,786 21.15 18.93 21.38 9.4 8.3 34.52 39.39 40.01 4.5 4.4 5.4 2.8% Exxaro Resources Ltd (SA) EXX 1.6 ZAR$105.41 359 $1,987 29.62 25.47 24.22 4.1 4.4 (9.28) 20.75 23.55 5.1 4.5 8.9 4.3% First Quantum Minerals (CA) FM 2.1 US$4.31 689 $2,971 0.36 (0.07) 0.35 -- 12.3 1.29 2.17 2.38 2.0 1.8 12.3 0.1% Iluka Resources Ltd (AU) ILU 2.3 AUD$7.08 423 $1,794 0.66 0.73 0.91 9.7 7.8 0.76 1.16 1.25 6.1 5.7 -- 1.4% Independence Group NL (AU) IGO 2.2 AUD$4.50 591 $1,594 0.22 0.32 0.36 13.8 12.6 0.73 0.83 0.80 5.4 5.6 15.5 2.2% Ivanhoe Mines Ltd (CA) IVP 2.1 US$1.63 1197 $1,956 0.02 (0.03) 0.01 -- NM (0.01) (0.03) 0.22 -- 7.3 -- 0.0% Jiangxi Copper Co "H" (HK) 358 2.5 CNY$6.46 3463 $4,969 0.70 0.63 0.78 10.3 8.2 1.75 1.38 1.52 4.7 4.3 12.8 1.0% Kazakhmys PLC (UK) KAZ 2.2 US$4.09 472 $1,931 1.17 0.77 0.90 5.3 4.5 1.04 1.33 1.29 3.1 3.2 20.2 1.7% KGHM Polska Miedz (PO) KGH 3.4 PLN$59.24 200 $2,796 7.11 5.86 9.24 10.1 6.4 25.24 14.70 19.46 4.0 3.0 4.0 0.0% Lundin Mining Corp (CA) LUN 2.0 US$3.63 735 $2,665 0.22 0.37 0.58 9.9 6.3 0.77 0.98 1.27 3.7 2.9 5.4 0.0% Mineral Resources Ltd (AU) MIN 1.8 AUD$15.12 188 $1,708 1.38 1.65 1.47 9.2 10.3 1.41 1.87 2.04 8.1 7.4 7.0 3.3% Oz Minerals (AU) OZL 2.1 AUD$7.07 324 $1,374 0.51 0.25 0.73 28.2 9.7 1.58 1.10 1.71 6.4 4.1 6.3 2.2% Sesa Sterlite Ltd (ADR) SSLT 2.2 INR$62.80 3702 $3,050 15.14 14.49 16.57 4.3 3.8 52.82 47.84 50.48 1.3 1.2 3.0 3.8% South32 Ltd (AU) S32 2.1 US$1.10 4846 $5,317 0.13 0.10 0.14 11.4 7.7 0.30 0.26 0.30 4.2 3.7 2.8 2.2% Sumitomo Metal Mining (JP) 5713 2.3 JPY$2,190 291 $5,901 206.43 200.35 252.62 10.9 8.7 412.34 447.33 491.80 4.9 4.5 8.8 1.7% Teck Resources Ltd TCK 2.0 C$10.07 547 $3,910 2.75 1.57 2.42 6.4 4.2 6.16 4.52 6.22 2.2 1.6 3.3 0.9% Vale Indonesia Tbk PT (ID) INCO 2.2 US$0.14 9936 $1,400 0.01 0.01 0.01 18.6 12.1 0.01 0.02 0.02 7.1 5.9 8.3 0.0% Vedanta Resources PLC (UK) VED -- US$10.85 285 $3,089 -- 0.87 1.24 12.5 8.7 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Average 10.7 8.1 5.3 4.6 8.3 Small-Cap Base Metals Adriatic Metals PLC (AU) ADT 1.7 GBP$0.47 310 $191 (0.02) 0.01 0.30 44.0 1.6 (0.02) (0.01) -- -- -- 0.0% Atalaya Mining PLC (UK) ATYM 1.2 EUR$1.02 137 $153 0.24 0.32 0.58 3.2 1.8 0.17 0.27 0.37 3.9 2.8 9.3 0.0% Eramet (FR) ERA 2.0 EUR$27.78 27 $800 (6.93) 2.38 4.31 11.7 6.4 3.24 12.64 13.86 2.2 2.0 6.1 0.0% Ero Copper Corp (CA) ERO 2.2 US$6.72 86 $576 0.94 0.95 1.28 7.1 5.2 1.40 1.61 1.97 4.2 3.4 -- 0.0% Hudbay Minerals HBM 2.5 US$1.73 261 $451 (0.20) (0.35) 0.10 -- 17.2 1.19 0.99 1.27 1.8 1.4 2.4 0.4% Kenmare Resources (UK) KMR 1.8 US$2.32 110 $255 0.40 0.38 0.89 6.1 2.6 0.69 0.49 6.07 4.7 0.4 45.5 2.6% Mitsui Mining & Smelting (JP) 5706 2.6 JPY$1,709 57 $908 99.54 196.78 273.98 8.7 6.2 627.97 732.11 820.02 2.3 2.1 5.4 2.4% MMG Ltd (HK) 1208 2.7 US$0.14 8055 $1,164 (0.01) 0.00 0.01 NM 14.0 0.14 0.09 0.14 1.6 1.0 11.0 0.0% Nexa Resources NA NEXA 3.0 US$3.03 133 $404 (0.03) (0.39) 0.05 -- 60.6 0.93 2.25 2.88 1.3 1.1 -- 6.5% Outokumpu (FN) OUT1V 2.8 EUR$2.10 416 $945 (0.20) (0.01) 0.27 -- 7.6 0.90 0.58 0.71 3.6 2.9 6.1 3.6% PolyMet Mining Corp PLM -- US$0.23 1006 $234 (0.08) (0.01) 0.03 -- 7.7 -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.0% Sandfire Resources NL (AU) SFR 2.3 AUD$3.46 178 $369 0.57 0.60 0.64 5.7 5.4 1.45 1.67 1.49 2.1 2.3 2.1 3.5% SolGold PLC (UK) SOLG 1.6 US$0.21 1923 $413 (0.01) (0.00) (0.01) -- -- (0.00) 0.00 0.00 -- -- -- 0.0% Trilogy Metals Inc TMQ 2.2 US$1.42 140 $200 (0.20) (0.09) -- -- -- (0.16) -- -- -- -- 0.0% Turquoise Hill Resources TRQ 3.0 US$0.39 2012 $783 0.23 0.02 0.12 22.2 3.2 (0.01) 0.00 0.14 NM 2.8 5.5 0.0% Volcan Cia Ninera VOLABC1 3.0 US$0.08 4077 $1,797 (0.02) 0.01 0.01 6.0 6.2 -- -- -- -- -- 9.0 0.0% Western Areas NL (AU) WSA 2.1 AUD$1.97 274 $323 0.13 0.22 0.23 8.8 8.5 0.44 0.50 0.47 3.9 4.2 5.8 1.0% Average 12.3 10.3 2.9 2.2 9.8 Note: Currency shown is that used by the company for financial reporting. Currency does not always reflect the country/market in which the company/stock symbol trades. GAAP may differ between stocks due to countries and markets. The tables are compiled from the Thomson Reuters database of consensus Ratings & Estimates of equity analysts. The historicals and estimates of earnings and cash flows exclude non-operating, special items. Thomson Consensus Rating System: Buy (1.0), Buy/Hold (2.0), Hold (3.0), Sell/Hold (4.0), Sell (5.0) Source: Thomson Reuters. Aluminum Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 3-Apr-20 (MM) (US$MM) 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2020E % Alcoa Inc AA 2.6 US$5.97 186 $1,110 (0.99) (0.83) (0.21) -- -- 3.70 1.69 3.79 3.5 1.6 3.4 0.0% Alumina Ltd AWC 2.4 US$0.79 2880 $2,288 0.11 0.07 0.08 11.0 10.2 0.13 0.09 0.07 8.8 11.2 3.1 5.3% Aluminum Corp China Ltd (ADR) ACH 2.5 CNY$1.39 17023 $6,110 0.04 0.07 0.12 21.2 11.9 0.73 0.78 0.68 1.8 2.1 13.5 0.0% Century Aluminum CENX 2.8 US$3.04 89 $271 (1.35) (0.10) 0.30 -- 10.1 0.20 1.15 1.53 2.6 2.0 17.9 0.0% United Company Rusal Ltd (HK) 486 2.1 US$0.32 15193 $4,919 0.08 0.09 0.10 3.5 3.1 0.11 0.08 0.09 3.9 3.8 7.5 0.0% Average 11.9 8.9 4.1 4.1 9.1 Iron Ore Cliffs Natural Resources CLF 2.9 US$3.76 399 $1,499 1.05 (0.04) 0.34 -- 11.1 1.98 0.88 0.94 4.3 4.0 9.7 2.7% Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (AU) FMG 2.8 US$6.33 3079 $19,700 1.20 1.13 0.77 5.6 8.2 1.60 1.52 1.15 4.2 5.5 5.1 9.4% Kumba Iron Ore Ltd (SA) KIO 3.2 ZAR$301.53 322 $5,102 50.73 43.73 34.09 6.9 8.8 85.20 61.38 50.32 4.9 6.0 5.2 11.2% Labrador Iron Ore Royalty (CA) LIF 2.1 C$15.59 64 $706 3.21 2.52 2.23 6.2 7.0 3.51 2.27 2.18 6.9 7.2 10.2 5.1% Mount Gibson Iron Limited (AU) MGX 3.3 AUD$0.67 1158 $466 0.10 0.09 0.08 7.7 8.2 0.10 0.14 0.17 4.7 4.0 18.1 4.2% Average 6.6 8.7 5.0 5.3 9.7 Fertilizers CF Industries CF 2.5 US$25.77 216 $5,571 2.31 1.68 2.15 15.3 12.0 6.79 5.80 6.06 4.4 4.3 14.0 2.5% Compass Minerals CMP 2.2 US$35.78 34 $1,213 1.90 3.15 3.73 11.4 9.6 4.71 6.89 9.51 5.2 3.8 9.5 4.7% Incitec Pivot Ltd (AU) IPL 2.6 AUD$2.05 1613 $1,983 0.11 0.16 0.21 12.6 10.0 0.29 0.39 0.41 5.3 5.0 7.7 1.4% Intrepid Potash IPI 3.0 US$0.70 132 $92 0.10 0.05 0.08 14.0 9.0 0.38 0.32 0.34 2.2 2.1 -- 0.0% Israel Chemical (IS) ICL 2.4 US$2.82 1280 $3,607 0.37 0.35 0.43 8.0 6.5 0.77 0.67 0.69 4.2 4.1 5.9 3.9% K & S Aktiengesellschaft (GR) SDF 2.8 EUR$5.20 191 $1,075 0.46 0.03 0.63 NM 8.2 3.34 2.39 2.33 2.2 2.2 7.6 1.3% Mosaic Co MOS 2.4 US$9.94 379 $3,765 0.19 0.38 1.12 26.3 8.8 2.85 2.95 3.43 3.4 2.9 7.2 0.8% Nutrien Ltd NTR 2.0 US$32.64 573 $18,458 2.17 2.11 2.58 15.5 12.6 6.29 5.01 5.32 6.5 6.1 -- 3.7% Sociedad Quimica Minera (ADR) SQM 3.2 US$21.10 263 $5,633 1.06 1.15 1.47 18.4 14.4 1.62 1.81 1.99 11.7 10.6 8.4 4.6% Yara International ASA (NO) YAR 1.9 US$32.42 272 $8,830 3.09 3.12 3.74 10.4 8.7 7.00 6.23 6.37 5.2 5.1 7.6 4.1% Average 14.6 10.0 5.0 4.6 8.5 Coal Large - Mid Cap Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 3-Apr-20 (MM) (US$MM) 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2020E % Adaro Energy TBK (ID) ADRO 2.6 US$0.07 31986 $2,145 0.01 0.01 0.01 5.9 5.9 0.03 0.02 0.02 3.4 3.3 3.4 4.2% Banpu Public Co Ltd (TH) BANPU 3.3 US$0.17 5162 $899 0.01 0.03 0.03 6.6 6.1 0.08 0.05 0.06 3.3 2.9 14.4 5.0% China Coal Energy Co (HK) 1898 2.3 CNY$1.96 13259 $6,232 0.47 0.43 0.44 4.5 4.5 1.55 1.14 1.43 1.7 1.4 10.8 4.6% China Shenhua Energy Co (HK) 1088 2.2 CNY$12.93 19890 $43,689 2.10 1.93 1.94 6.7 6.7 3.17 3.09 3.44 4.2 3.8 4.7 8.7% Consol Energy CNX 2.1 US$6.93 187 $1,296 0.60 0.43 0.40 16.2 17.3 5.12 3.86 3.93 1.8 1.8 7.1 0.0% Whitehaven Coal Ltd (AU) WHC 2.2 AUD$2.01 1026 $1,236 0.34 0.16 0.21 13.0 9.5 0.61 0.37 0.46 5.4 4.4 5.9 5.5% Yancoal Australia Ltd YAL 3.0 AUD$2.52 1320 $1,704 0.69 0.29 0.33 8.7 7.6 -- -- -- -- -- -- 11.4% Yanzhou Coal Mining Co Ltd (HK) 1171 2.5 CNY$5.52 4912 $5,090 1.91 1.55 1.51 3.6 3.7 3.58 2.59 3.47 2.1 1.6 17.0 0.0% Average 8.1 7.6 3.1 2.7 9.0 Small Cap Alliance Resource Partners LP ARLP 2.3 US$3.00 127 $382 3.07 0.27 0.36 11.3 8.5 1.81 1.60 1.90 1.9 1.6 1.7 19.8% Arch Coal Inc ARCH 1.8 US$30.92 15 $468 12.58 8.84 13.60 3.5 2.3 24.26 20.78 27.12 1.5 1.1 -- 2.5% Fushan Int'l Energy Group (HK) 639 2.3 HK$1.37 5302 $937 0.22 0.22 0.22 6.1 6.2 0.37 0.38 0.42 3.6 3.3 4.6 10.2% Natural Resource Partners LP NRP 2.0 US$11.30 12 $139 6.40 6.25 6.45 1.8 1.8 10.69 10.58 5.28 1.1 2.1 2.8 9.0% New Hope Corp Ltd (AU) NHC 1.8 AUD$1.45 832 $723 0.27 0.16 0.14 8.8 10.1 0.36 0.32 0.27 4.5 5.5 10.4 8.0% PT Tambang Batubara Bukit (ID) PTBA 2.6 IDR$2,110 11521 $1,482 371.00 304.70 312.57 6.9 6.8 383.90 340.95 341.42 6.2 6.2 7.1 0.0% Average 6.4 5.9 3.1 3.3 5.3 Note: Currency shown is that used by the company for financial reporting. Currency does not always reflect the country/market in which the company/stock symbol trades. GAAP may differ between stocks due to countries and markets. The tables are compiled from the Thomson Reuters database of consensus Ratings & Estimates of equity analysts. The historicals and estimates of earnings and cash flows exclude non-operating, special items. Thomson Reuters Rating System: Buy (1.0), Buy/Hold (2.0), Hold (3.0), Sell/Hold (4.0), Sell (5.0) Source: Thomson Reuters. Uranium Price Shrs O/S Mkt Cap Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Cash Flow Per Share Price/Cash Flow EV/EBITDA Div Yld Symbol Rating 3-Apr-20 (MM) (US$MM) 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2019 2020E 2021E 2020E 2021E 2020E % Cameco Corp CCJ 2.4 C$12.08 396 $3,367 0.10 (0.02) (0.01) -- -- 1.33 0.63 0.72 19.2 16.7 8.1 0.7% Denison Mines DNN 2.2 C$0.45 597 $188 (0.03) (0.04) (0.02) -- -- (0.03) (0.03) (0.01) -- -- -- 0.0% Energy Resources Australia (AU) ERA 4.0 AUD$0.16 3691 $343 0.01 0.00 0.00 -- -- (0.19) 0.02 0.00 7.8 -- 21.4 0.0% Nexgen Energy Ltd (CA) NXE 1.6 C$1.32 360 $337 (0.04) (0.08) (0.06) -- -- (0.04) (0.04) (0.03) -- -- -- 0.0% Uranium Participation Corp (CA) U 2.1 C$3.90 138 $381 0.01 0.15 0.16 25.4 25.2 (0.03) (0.05) (0.04) -- -- -- 0.0% Average 25.4 25.2 13.5 16.7 14.8 Note: Currency shown is that used by the company for financial reporting. Currency does not always reflect the country/market in which the company/stock symbol trades. GAAP may differ between stocks due to countries and markets. The tables are compiled from the Thomson Reuters database of consensus Ratings & Estimates of equity analysts. The historicals and estimates of earnings and cash flows exclude non-operating, special items. Thomson Reuters Rating System: Buy (1.0), Buy/Hold (2.0), Hold (3.0), Sell/Hold (4.0), Sell (5.0) Source: Thomson Reuters. Commodity Prices Cash Price (3-Apr-20) Silver ($14.38 / oz) Palladium ($2118 / oz) Platinum ($726 / oz) Aluminum ($0.66 / lb) Cobalt ($13.38 / lb) Copper ($2.21 / lb) Lead ($0.75 / lb) Molybdenum ($8.13 / lb) Nickel ($5.08 / lb) Tin ($6.56 / lb) Zinc ($0.84 / lb) Uranium ($27.40 / lb) With the coronavirus pandemic confining many to their homes, its a boom time for video streaming. Collaboration software. E-commerce tools. While much of the American economy falters and unemployment soars, tech companies in the Bay Area the industrys heartland are seeing demand for their services soar. Some are even hiring. Whether that wealth spills over to the rest of the economy depends on the depth and thoughtfulness of those companies philanthropic efforts and how closely they work with state and local authorities, according to experts. Left to its own devices, the situation could lead to an even wider gulf and an exaggeration of the problems the Bay Area is already facing, said Margaret OMara, a professor at University of Washington and a fellow at the Institute for Regional Studies at Joint Venture Silicon Valley. In order to deliver for the billions of people and millions of businesses who rely on us, we aim to hire 10,000 people across tech and product in 2020. We also remain committed to making critical hires across the business, said Chloe Meyere, a Facebook spokeswoman. The company has plans to build or expand offices in Burlingame, Fremont and Menlo Park. Construction has stopped temporarily under shelter-in-place orders, but growth is still planned. We continue to hire and have many open roles, said a Google spokesman, who declined to disclose specific numbers. Googles website lists more than 600 openings in the Bay Area. The company said in February it plans to spend $10 billion on offices and data centers. Salesforce, San Franciscos largest private employer, said it has 2,200 open positions. The company is prioritizing the hiring of employees friends and family members who have lost jobs because of the effects of the coronavirus through a referral program. Companies like Facebook and Google have gargantuan cash reserves, and can safely continue to hire. As other sectors of the economy wither, mid- and low-wage workers could get pushed out of the housing market, calcifying the economic divide, OMara observed. The majority of laid-off and furloughed workers in the Bay Area are in the service sector, according to Californias Employment Development Department, and likely lack the skills to benefit from tech job openings. Other companies, particularly in e-commerce, may bring some relief to the jobless. Amazon, which is headquartered in Seattle but employs thousands in the Bay Area from software engineers to hardware designers to Whole Foods cashiers, said last week it already hired more than 80,000 out of an additional 100,000 warehouse employees to handle exploding demand for shipped goods. Grocery stores, shipping firms and other e-commerce operators are hiring, too. Yet those ambitious hiring plans will do little to thin the skyrocketing ranks of the jobless. The unemployment rate could top joblessness during the Great Depression, economists said. Other efforts beyond direct hiring, like Googles plan to distribute 100,000 internet hotspots throughout the state to help students study at home during school closures, could lay the foundation for a stronger, more educated workforce, according to Belinda Archibong, professor of economics and development at Barnard College. Internet access could also ease child care burdens, boosting parents productivity while working from home with concerns about excessive screen time temporarily cast aside. How can we use technology so we dont have to have these situations where the kids are out of school and its usually the women who have to take charge of teaching these children? Archibong said. She added that with so many out of work, companies should create and strengthen training programs offered to the public while so much of the workforce is idle. Archibong said doing so would create a stronger pipeline of skilled candidates for companies that are hiring. That kind of retraining could be crucial. Tech job postings in the U.S. have fallen at a smaller rate than other sectors, according to data from the job site Indeed. As of March 31, U.S. job listings were down 20% from a year ago. But software development was down only 12% compared to 2019, and information technology, operations and help desk listings were down 14% compared to 2019. Hospitality and tourism listings plunged by 62% compared to 2019. The Bay Area is not as dependent on leisure and hospitality as some other places are like Orlando or Las Vegas, said Jed Kolko, Indeeds chief economist. The Bay Area has a higher share of professional and technical jobs that can be done from home. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Still, the industry can expect to take a hit, along with the rest of the economy, he said. Theres a limit to how much techs largesse can blunt the havoc the coronavirus has wrought on the economy, said Sean Randolph, the senior director of the Bay Area Council Economic Institute. The longer-term question about exacerbating inequality isnt something we should necessarily look to the tech companies to resolve, he said. Demand for digital work is broader than just the best-known tech companies, said Adam Bennett, director of permanent placement services at recruiting firm Robert Half Technology. The big influx over the last three weeks is what I would call general (tech) support type of jobs, as demand for remote technology services has increased, Bennett said. Any consistent hiring weve seen in the last three weeks has been around supporting remote work. The U.S. information technology sector added about 8,500 jobs in March, according to technology industry trade association CompTIA. Techs biggest contribution may be in providing tools and services that help businesses in other sectors get back on their feet, said Issi Romem, an economist and founder of MetroSight and an affiliate researcher and economic adviser to the Silicon Valley Institute for Regional Studies. The longer this period continues, its a good time for adapting the way work is done, Romem said. Jobs that traditionally require an in-person aspect, like retail or plumbing, could be done virtually with the right video technology, for example. Its as simple as ... finding a group of plumbers who are sufficiently articulate and well-meaning and friendly to be able to guide someone effectively to do a job themselves, Romem said. That kind of shift might last well past the shelter-in-place orders. Chase DiFeliciantonio and Roland Li are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: chase.difeliciantonio@sfchronicle.com, roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ChaseDiFelice, @rolandlisf Advertisement First-time camera access to NHS intensive care units has laid bare the mounting pressure being loaded upon medics treating coronavirus patients. A glimpse inside Royal Bournemouth Hospital (RBH) showcases health workers' daily grind on the front line, which they described as emotionally draining and 'scary'. Tonight's reports from the BBC and ITV from the so-called 'red zone' - where the sickest patients are cared for - included dire warnings from medics concerned about dwindling oxygen supplies as the NHS creaks under the pressure of new infections. Cases and fatalities continue to climb, and the UK today sadly declared a further 439 deaths, taking the toll to 5,373, while the number of patients rose by 3,802 to 51,608. In a glimmer of hope after a dark week for Britain, the number of people dying of COVID-19 has now fallen for two days in a row and dropped 30 per cent from 621 yesterday. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is deputising for the virus-stricken Prime Minister, confirmed the figures at this afternoon's Downing Street press briefing. Number 10 tonight confirmed that Boris Johnson had been moved to intensive care in St Thomas' hospital after being admitted for tests last night as a precaution. A spokesperson said Dominic Raab would deputise for him as his 'persistent' coronavirus symptoms worsen. On another difficult day in the UK's war on coronavirus: Humiliated Nicola Sturgeon has admitted the effort to combat coronavirus has been damaged after she was forced to accept the resignation of Scotland's chief medical officer for flouting her own lockdown rules; Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty is out of self-isolation and has been working after recovering from coronavirus; Worrying figures showed the UK's coronavirus epidemic was set to overtake that suffered by France and Italy; Health Secretary Matt Hancock threatened to revoke the right to exercise outdoors if people continued to flout social distancing measures; The Prime Minister's spokesperson confirmed that sunbathing in public is not allowed and flouts rules allowing only essential movement; Top scientists said it would take at least a month for the UK to develop antibody tests that could be rolled out widely to check who has had the virus already; A report by the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre has found that ethnic minority people are at a greater risk of becoming seriously ill with the coronavirus. A glimpse inside Royal Bournemouth Hospital (RBH) showcases health workers' daily grind on the front line, which they described as emotionally draining and potentially perilous Coronavirus patient Linda New, who was today discharged after a stint in intensive care said 'never in a million years' did she think the effects of the disease would be so debilitating One nurse working in the RBH ward, where two people died overnight, said she was worried about her own wellbeing after several NHS health workers passed away with the infection. Ami Curtis, a staff nurse at the RBH, told ITV News: 'I have asthma, but we have a duty to our patients. It is scary, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared.' She said she was even suffering eczema on her hands after washing them so frequently. Tonight's exclusive report also revealed that 'every death takes its toll' on the NHS workers, and spoke to night manager Ella Gordula, who became emotional when discussing two fatalities in the past 24-hours. The footage showed an intensely busy ward bustling with medics all wearing personal protective equipment. Everyone has to wear face-masks and gowns because each new patient displaying symptoms is assumed to have the virus, even if they have not been tested. A patient battling coronavirus in London's University College Hospital, revealed in harrowing footage taken by the BBC inside the hospital A busy ward at UCL, with facemask-wearing medics looking after patients in the London hospital amid the coronavirus outbreak The BBC's Fergus Walsh showed NHS staff treating patients inside intensive care at University College Hospital in London Elaine Thorpe, the hospital's matron for critical care told BBC News at Six: 'I have been an intensive care nurse for about 23 years now and I have never seen anything like this Ms Thorpe told the BBC that the intensive care unit was more busy than it had been in the aftermath of the London bombings Medics also feared a shortage in oxygen, which is rapidly dwindling amid spikes in Covid-19 admissions. Michelle Scott, a critical consultant in the so-called 'red zone', said in normal times such vital supplies would never be threatened, but the NHS is creaking under the strain of the crisis. One coronavirus patient who was today discharged after a stint in intensive care said 'never in a million years' did she think the effects of the disease would be so debilitating. Linda New, a hos was clapped out by staff as she left the hospital, said: 'I just wanted to get through it for my children. Without this lot I would never have done it. They're so so good.' Another patient, Alan Hunt, 62, who has been in the intensive care unit (ICU) for eight days, underlined the exhausting effects of the illness. One nurse working in the so-called 'red zone' (entrance to ICU pictured), where two people died overnight, said she was worried about her own wellbeing after several NHS health workers passed away with the infection The footage showed an intensely busy ward bustling with medics all wearing personal protective equipment Everyone has to wear face-masks and gowns because each new patient displaying symptoms is assumed to have the virus, even if they have not been tested He said: It's so easy to catch and you can't get rid once you got it. It infected both my lungs, I'm on the repair but I'm still getting out of breath doing anything at all.' The BBC's Fergus Walsh showed NHS staff treating patients inside intensive care at University College Hospital in London. Harrowing footage showed doctors monitoring patients strapped to ventilators as they battled the virus. Elaine Thorpe, the hospital's matron for critical care told BBC News at Six: 'I have been an intensive care nurse for about 23 years now and I have never seen anything like this - even the London bombings. 'I have never seen it in such a short, condensed period of time.' At the hospital, 43 people have died from coronavirus since the outbreak began with some staff suffering panic attacks as they try to cope with the pandemic. The victims in the ward are critically ill, with footage showing them heavily sedated by the doctors treating them. Dr Jim Down, a critical care consultant at the hospital, said: 'It is completely unimaginable. We can't cope with a big spike (in patient numbers) - we just can't.' He also shared his surprise at the number of 'young and fit' people have been struck down with the illness. The government is urgently trying to crank up the capacity of the country's ICU's as the UK approaches the peak of its epidemic. At UCL hospital, 43 people have died from coronavirus since the outbreak began with some staff suffering panic attacks as they try to cope with the pandemic The victims in the ward are critically ill, with footage showing them heavily sedated by the doctors treating them and hooked up to ventilators Dr Jim Down, a critical care consultant at the hospital, said: 'It is completely unimaginable. We can't cope with a big spike (inpatient numbers) - we just can't' The government is urgently trying to crank up the capacity of the country's ICU's as the UK approaches the peak of its epidemic Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty today said it was 'critical' for the NHS to always have an excess of available critical beds during the fight against coronavirus. He told this evening's Downing Street press briefing: 'Our principle aim... is to ensure the gap between the number beds available for intensive care and those that are needed is always in a situation where we have some room to spare. 'And if we end up in a situation where we have more ICU beds at all times during this epidemic than we absolutely need to deal with Covid and other areas, that will be a success. 'That is something which is critical for our overall aim. What we would like to see is some headroom between what we need and what we have available at any given time, both for Covid and other conditions.' Mr Raab said the building of additional NHS Nightingale hospitals in areas such as Bristol, Harrogate and Birmingham was about ensuring there was a spread of critical care beds across England. Countries across Europe, including the UK, Italy and Spain, have seen the numbers of people dying from coronavirus fall in recent days, offering hope that their outbreaks may be slowing down Data collected by the Department of Transport show how the use of public transport and cars has dramatically dropped since the lockdown was brought into place Figures also show how the number of new cases recorded every day has risen since the crisis began to take hold in mid-March Hospital admissions have started to slow down across England but are still rising, according to graphs presented at a Number 10 press conference tonight Figures show how the UK's rising death toll compares to other nations with similar outbreaks, including Spain, the US, Italy, Germany and France He added: 'We are not remotely complacent. We are doing everything we can to make sure we not only have the capacity but also room for manoeuvre. Today's death count is the lowest since March 31, last Tuesday, when it was 381, and marks a 39 per cent fall from the UK's worst day so far, Saturday, when the deaths of 708 people were recorded. The number of new cases is also lower than it was for almost all of last week, with the 3,802 new positive tests 2,101 fewer than 5,903 yesterday and only the second time since March that the number has been below 4,000. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick, said authorities will start to consider easing the UK's lockdown in the coming weeks if the numbers of people being admitted to hospital remains stable. There are fears a long quarantine will cause permanent damage to the economy and the NHS appears to be coping well so far. However, for normality to return experts say antibody tests - which reveal who has already recovered from COVID-19 - will be necessary. But leading scientists have warned the UK is at least a month away from having any that work, adding that all the kits that have been checked already have 'not performed well' and are not worth using. More optimistic statistics come as countries around Europe, including Italy, Spain and Germany, appear to be seeing death rates fall - Germany's outbreak appears to have hit is peak already with just 1,600 deaths. The Indiana Historical Society isnt waiting for the Coronavirus crisis to make it into the history books to prepare to tell the story. The historical society thats been documenting Indianas past since 1830 is for the first time collecting documents at the exact time the historic event is unfolding. As historians were looking back 10, 15, and even 20 years because with historical perspective, you get a sense of something that is significant, Jody Blankenship, president and CEO of Indiana Historical Society, told WISH-TV. So this is new for us. The museum has thus far collected more than 260 items from people all over the state. Once items are collected the historical societys researchers will start to digitize and understand the submissions. Items the museum is looking for include photographs, paintings, drawings, writings and whatever else might help tell the story of how the global pandemic played out in Indiana. And the museum doesnt want people to think that because theyre not famous, their submissions arent important. Oftentimes, people will look at their own history and say its not history. Not everything in history has to be because youre a general or a famous person, said Blankenship. France has introduced a new smartphone version of its permission form to be outdoors during the coronavirus lockdown. The government says no personal data will be collected. But it is considering tracking movements of infected people via their phone's geolocation services in order to trace contacts. A digital version of travel documents people in France must carry during lockdown has been made available on the website of the French Interior Ministry. Since 17 March, people have been under obligation to provide documents that justify their reason for not being at home. The government provided five options for being outside and failure to comply results in fines, or even jail sentences. The government stressed that the new digital document is only to be found on the Interior Ministrys website in order to avoid scams on unauthorised sites. Just like the handwritten or printed document already in use, people have to specify their name and address as well as the time, date and the reason for an outdoor trip. A QR code will validate the time and date the digital document was created. Police officers will then be able to scan cell phone or tablets without touching the devices. The Interior Ministry stressed that QR codes are not to be shared on social media as it enables anyone scanning them with a cell phone to access the data it contains. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said that no personal data will be stored with the new digital travel documents. Tracking infected Covid-19 patients In a bid to relax lockdown measures, governments are looking at new ways to help contain the spread of the coronavirus. One of them involves tracking the movements of infected people and those who have been in contact with them. Governments in a number of countries including Russia, Israel, South Korea, Singapore and China are already using such apps, claiming it helps to slow down the spread of the virus. Story continues Germany is expected to announce a virus-tracking app shortly. On 1 April, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe dismissed suggestions that his government could use geo-localisation tools to fight the spread of Covid-19. In France, such a tracking system is not legally feasible. And we are not working on such options, he said. Philippe admitted that in other countries, the tools had helped isolate infected patients and people who have been in contact with them. The prime minister did not rule out, however, developing new tools "to trace the circulation of the virus". But if they were available, he said, it would be up to citizens to choose whether or not to use them. Tokyo, April 6 : Early in the history of our solar system, Uranus was struck by a small icy planet -- roughly 1-3 times the mass of the Earth -- which tipped the young planet over, and left behind unusual properties in its moons and ring system, says a study. The ice giant Uranus' unusual attributes have long puzzled scientists. All of the planets in our solar system revolve around the Sun in the same direction and in the same plane, which astronomers believe is a vestige of how our solar system formed from a spinning disc of gas and dust. Most of the planets in our solar system also rotate in the same direction, with their poles orientated perpendicular to the plane the planets revolve in. However, uniquely among all the planets, Uranus' is tilted over about 98 degrees. Uranus also has a ring system, like Saturn's, and a slew of 27 moons which orbit the planet around its equator, so they too are tipped over. A research team led by Professor Shigeru Ida from the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) at Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan has now explained how Uranus' unusual set of properties came to be. Their findings, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, suggest that Uranus' strange axis of rotation and the unusual properties of its moons and ring system are likely due to an ancient giant icy impact. The team came to this conclusion while they were constructing a novel computer simulation of moon formation around icy planets. "This model is the first to explain the configuration of Uranus' moon system, and it may help explain the configurations of other icy planets in our Solar System such as Neptune," Professor Ida explained. "Beyond this, astronomers have now discovered thousands of planets around other stars, so-called exoplanets, and observations suggest that many of the newly discovered planets known as super-Earths in exoplanetary systems may consist largely of water ice and this model can also be applied to these planets," Ida said. Here is Captain Crozier walking away from his ship while sailors chant his name after he was relieved from duty for blowing the whistle on a coronavirus contamination aboard the USS Roosevelt. He sacrificed himself and it sounds like everyone knows it. pic.twitter.com/hwiu7Z1MVV Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) April 3, 2020 The ironies abound. As Samuel Clemens is said to have said, history doesnt repeat itself, but it often rhymes. The cashiering of Captain Brett E. Cozier of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt evokes the sometimes-controversial career of Colonel Theodore Roosevelt in several ways.Crozier was relieved of his command when he wrote a letter about the coronavirus on board the giant aircraft carrier and sent it to a couple of dozen people rather than to his immediate superiors. The letter was leaked to the press. His superiors rightly argued that he violated long-established U.S. military protocols in including so many recipients, most of them not in the chain of command, and one or more of whom leaked the letter to the press.In his letter, dated Monday, March 30, 2020, Crozier pleaded for permission to unload the crew of the U.S.S. Roosevelt in Guam, including dozens of sailors who had become infected with the coronavirus Covid-19. 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 assetour sailors. It was the publication of the letter in the, not the response of the letters immediate recipients, that led the U.S. Navy to authorize the removal of most of the crew from the carrier. A skeleton crew will remain on board to make sure the nuclear reactor is properly monitored and maintained. Just how and when the U.S.S. Roosevelt will find its way back to Norfolk has not yet been determined.Captain Croziers gamble worked. He accomplished his goal at what proved to be the ruin of his Navy career.When he walked down the gangplank for the final time Friday, April 3, in Guam, Crozier was wildly cheered by many of the 5,000 sailors on the U.S.S. Roosevelt. But that which is popular with the enlisted men and women is not necessarily good for military protocol and discipline, as Roosevelt learned in San Antonio in the spring of 1898 when he told his troops they could drink all they wished at his expense at a local saloon. That evening at an officers dinner, his superior officer Colonel Leonard Wood made it clear that an officer who would go out with a large batch of men and drink with them was quite unfit to hold a commission, as historian Hermann Hagedorn paraphrased Woods after-dinner remarks years later. Soon TR appeared at Woods tent: I wish to tell you sir, that I took the squadron, without thinking about this question of officers drinking with their men, and I gave them all a schooner of beer. I wish to say, sir, that I agree with what you said. I consider myself the damnedest ass within ten miles of this camp. Good night. Roosevelt was an amateur soldier and a volunteer getting used to his first command. His error of judgment, therefore, was easier to forgive than the insubordination of a career naval officer.According to acting Navy Secretary Thomas B. Modly, Captain Crozier did not inform him that he was going to write and send the letter. Croziers supporters say he had tried repeatedly to get his superiors to give orders that would limit the outbreak of the pandemic on the carrier, where sleeping quarters, hallways, and other facilities force the kind of close contact that causes the rapid spread of the highly contagious disease. Croziers defenders argue that he did what he had to do to protect his crew in a time of unprecedented urgency and that, in retrospect, his actions will be shown to have been not just appropriate but necessary. Acting Secretary Modly said Croziers action undermines our efforts and the chain of commands efforts to address this problem and creates a panic.Captain Crozier was fired within three days of his letter becoming public, without an investigation, hearings, a court martial, or any other form of due process.Theodore Roosevelt did much the same thing in the last days of the Spanish-American War in Cuba, and similarly earned the wrath of the United States Army. The historical rhyming is so clear that TRs great grandson Tweed Roosevelt felt compelled to point out the parallels in a New York Times op-ed piece on April 3 . Tweed said that 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. And he said, I suppose it is too much to hope that the Navy, if only for its own benefit, will see its way to reverse this unfortunate decision.As everyone knows, Roosevelt was Americas greatest advocate for armed intervention in Cuba in 1898, and though he couched his advocacy in the need to protect the human rights of the Cuban people and oust the Spanish colonial authority from the western hemisphere once and for all, he was also sporting for war. He believed the country needed a war now and then to keep us from becoming over-civilized and physically and mentally flabby. He said, all great nations are warring nations, and all great men have a little of the wolf in them. When President McKinley finally called for a declaration of war, Roosevelt resigned from his position as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, got permission to assemble a harum scarum group of rough riders, and threw himself into training with his volunteer cavalry unit at San Antonio. Roosevelt jumped over a number of difficult hurtles to get himself into the war, from the pleas of his physically ailing wife Edith, who had just endured a dangerous abdominal surgery, to the requests by Secretary Long and President McKinley (three times) that he remain in his post at the Naval Department, where he could do more to help the war effort than by going off on some romantic quest for heroism in the Caribbean. TRs closest friend and political adviser, Henry Cabot Lodge, warned him that rushing off to Cuba would probably end his political career. Secretary Long may have opposed TRs plan, but he understood his assistant better than did Lodge. In his excellent diary, Long wrote, He has lost his head to this unutterable folly of deserting the post where he is of the most service and running off to ride a horse and, probably, brush mosquitos from his neck on the Florida sands. And yet how absurd all this will sound, if by some turn of fortune, he should accomplish some great thing and strike a very high mark.Years later Roosevelt said he would have left his wife Ediths deathbed to get himself into the war.On July 1, 1898, Roosevelt led the charge up Kettle Hill in the San Juan Heights near Santiago, Cuba. He called it his crowded hour. He boasted that his volunteer regiment had suffered greater casualties than any other regiment in the war. Roosevelt was one of the few on horseback on that great day in his life, while his men went down like ninepins, he reported in his book. Journalists who covered the assault said it was nearly a miracle that Roosevelt was not killed by Spanish troops at the crest of Kettle Hill who rained down bullets from smokeless Mauser rifles.Roosevelts heroics in Cuba propelled him into the governorship of New York. Two years later he was elected Vice President of the United States and, after President McKinley was assassinated in September 1901, Roosevelt became the youngest President of the United States. It is a dreadful thing to come into the Presidency this way, he wrote to Lodge, but it would be a far worse thing to be morbid about it.When the war in Cuba was essentially over, the now-idle U.S. troops on the ground began to succumb to heat prostration, dehydration, malaria, and yellow fever. Since their work was done, they wanted either to be returned to the United States or sent on to Puerto Rico to continue the fighting. The War Department in Washington, D.C., preoccupied with more compelling concerns, left the troops in place and paid no particular attention to requests by General William Shafter, and others, to relieve their suffering.Roosevelt was rightly appalled that the government of the United States would condemn hundreds, perhaps thousands, to death from disease when they might easily be relocated elsewhere. Roosevelt convinced his journalist friend Richard Harding Davis to write what historian Clay Risen calls a scathing article for the [New York] Herald, describing the conditions of the camps and the hospitals, pinning the blame less on [General] Shafter than on the militarys overall incompetence. Davis did not cite Roosevelt or any other military officer in the dispatch. Still, nothing happened, and TR watched men die for no good reason, thanks to the ineptitude or indifference of Secretary of War Russell Alger.It was at this point that Colonel Roosevelt wrote what he called a round robin letter criticizing the militarys handling of the campaign: logistics, supplies, food, sanitation, and medical attention. Because of the militarys failure to send sufficient medical staff and supplies, thousands of American men were in danger of dying, he explained. If we are kept here, Roosevelt wrote, it will in all human possibility mean an appalling disaster, for the surgeons here estimate that over half the army, if kept here during the sickly season, will die. Roosevelt called it a round robin letter because he wanted other officers to sign it. Many did, but Roosevelt did not attempt to hide his leadership or authorship. As a volunteer officer, I am willing to be the scapegoat. He vetted the letter among newspaper correspondents in the camp before releasing it. Meanwhile General Shafter actually encouraged Roosevelt to voice his concernson the recordto the press corps. Shafter shared TRs view that the War Department was not listening, but he did not want to jeopardize his career by speaking out.The man who typed Roosevelts letter, Henry Bardshar, warned TR that it was too severe an indictment of the militarys handling of the invasion. If you send it to the War Department, he said, they will have you shot at sunrise. Roosevelt revised the letterslightlyto soften the level of righteousness. When the final version of the letter was finished, Roosevelt insisted that General Shafter hold it in his hands so that he could not later deny that he had anything to do with it.Meanwhile, in even more candid letters to his friend Henry Cabot Lodge, Roosevelt wrote, If the army is not brought away from here with all possible expedition, and if an epidemic does really break out, the President and the Secretary of War will have incurred a debt as heavy as Walpole incurred when he wasted the lives of Admiral Hoziers 3,000 men in these same West Indian waters against this same Spanish foe. Perhaps you think I write too bitterly. I can only say, old man, that what I have seen during the last five weeks has been enough to make one bitter.As biographer H.W. Brands has said, Administration officials in Washington didnt appreciate the pressure. The War Department already distrusted Roosevelt. Secretary of War Alger made clear his displeasure in his reply to Roosevelt. I suggest that, unless you want to spoil the efforts and glory of your victory, you make ho invidious comparisons. The Rough Riders are no better than other volunteers. They had an advantage in their arms, for which they ought to be very grateful.Roosevelts impulsive and insubordinate letter probably cost the Medal of Honor. He wanted it badly. To Lodge he wrote, I do wish you would get that medal of honor for me anyhow, as I should awfully like to have it, and I think I earned it. TR was disappointed and hurt when the Army refused to grant it to him. Still, he felt that in going to war in Cuba he had brought honor to his family and lived according to his core principle that an able-bodied patriot should not shun any just war that occurred during his lifetime.Roosevelt was posthumously awarded his Medal of Honor by President William Clinton in 2001. That was when President Clinton also gave William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition his long-delayed captaincy, and the Shoshone-Hidatsa Indian woman Sacagawea was made an honorary sergeant.Theodore Roosevelt knew that nature abhors a vacuum. He spent his lifetime rushing into the arena with disregard, sometimes reckless disregard, for the consequences. In early 1898 he took advantage of Secretary John Longs gentlemanly neurasthenia to take control of the Naval Department in the runup to the Spanish-American War in the Philippines. In fact, it was on one of Longs spa days that young Roosevelt sent the famous telegram to Admiral Dewey to bottle up the Spanish fleet in the Bay of Manila in the event of war. After he left the presidency in 1909, Roosevelt meddled in the administrations of his successors William Howard Taft and Woodrow Wilson, whom he treated with savage contempt in the run-up to Americas entry into World War I. When his successor Taft failed to honor TRs administrative progressive agenda, Roosevelt challenged him for the 1912 Republican nomination. When that failed, Roosevelt bolted to form the Bull Moose (Progressive) Party. He received the largest third-party vote (29 percent) in American history. The result, however, was to dis-elect Taft and make it possible for Wilson to win the presidency. His daughter Alice was right when she said her father wanted to be the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral.However reckless Roosevelts letter of July 1898 might have been, it exhibited his characteristic concern for the well-being of the men under his command. Earlier in the Cuban campaign, when his famished men were suffering from a lack of edible food, Roosevelt ventured away from camp to a commissary, where he declared that he needed eleven hundred pounds of beans. The commissary sergeant explained that the beans were reserved for officers only, at which point TR said, You dont know what appetites my officers have. The sergeant handed over the half-ton of beans but warned Roosevelt that he would probably have to pay for the beans from his salary. He was never held to account.Brett Crozier may take considerable comfort in having followed the lead of the man for whom the U.S.S. Roosevelt is named. He is undoubtedly aware that a stubborn adherence to higher laws can be damaging to ones military career. His star is rising beyond the strict hierarchies of the U.S. Navy. Who knows? He may find that doing the right thing when the lives of hundredsor thousandsare in jeopardy brings greater rewards than the U.S. military can dispense. One thing is certain: the 5,000 men and women of the U.S.S. Roosevelt will never forget his leadership. Radio waves emitted by cellphones or mobile phones and cellphone towers, as well as microwave ovens, do not damage cells of the body. Chennai: While Covidiots in India banged plates, in the belief that sound frequencies would kill the coronavirus, and burst crackers to scare away the virus demon, another myth in the UK fuelled arson on cellphone towersa conspiracy theory that 5G network uses radiowaves that compromise the immune system of the body and allow the coronavirus to thrive. The police in the UK are investigating at least three cases of cellphone towers being set afire in Birmingham, Liverpool and Melling. The incidents prompted the UKs Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to bust the myth on Twitter. "There is absolutely no credible evidence" of a link between the coronavirus spread and 5G technology, the tweet said. Its just as well that we do not have 5G in India, or we might have seen this theory spreading like wildfire on WhatsApp groupswhere astrological humbug is shared widely, trumping science and rationale. In the UK, however, it was false information masquerading as purported science itself that sparked arson. An activist and philosophy lecturer at the Isle of Wight College was quoted by the tabloid Daily Star as saying that electromagnetic radiation from 5G suppresses the immune system and damages cells in the body. Another myth that caused concern was a hypothesis that said pathogens communicate with each other through electromagnetic signals before infecting a host. Lets bust the myths, step by step 1) Take inspiration from Sherlock Holmes. First examine the messenger. The person making the claims about 5G compromising immune systems is allegedly a lecturer of philosophy. Philosophy has nothing to do with electromagnetic radiation or the immune system. One might take the persons words seriously if they were an immunologist, that is an expert on how the immune system of the body works, or a physicist who studies electromagnetic waves. Even then, such a theory would have to be peer-reviewed before it can be accepted. 2) The hypothesis about pathogens communicating through electromagnetic signals referred to bacteria, and not to viruses. More importantly, the 2011 research paper that the Daily Star tabloid pointed to is disputed, fullfact.org reported. That means other scientists who reviewed the study have disagreed with its findings. Therefore, it is not considered scientific fact. 3) Why the words electromagnetic radiation cause alarm among common folk is because X-rays, and other medical diagnostic tools such as CT scan machines also emit radio waves. Radio waves are among the spectrum of electromagnetic waves that emit energy called electromagnetic radiation. However, radio waves emitted by cellphones or mobile phones and cellphone towers, as well as microwave ovens, produce only non-ionising radiation. Non-ionising radio waves do not damage cells, whereas higher frequency radio waves emitted by X-ray machines and CT scan equipment are thought to cause cancer if a person is exposed to them for too long. That is why at least six months' gap is recommended between two CT scans on a person. 4) Why is 5G, not 4G or 3G, being targeted by conspiracy theorists? 5G technology uses a higher frequency of radio waves than 4G and 3G. Yet, it is well within prescribed safety limits. The maximum levels of electromagnetic radiation emitted by 5G equipment measured by UKs communications regulator Ofcom was about 66 times lower than the safety limits set by international guidelines. 5) Apart from the science, logic too busts the 5G myth. Countries such as Iran, which had the worlds sixth largest population of Covid-19 infected persons, more than 58,000 on April 6, do not have 5G. In fact, many parts of the UK which have been hit by the virus also do not have 5G networks. This disproves the conspiracy that 5G is the cause of spread of the coronavirus. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Although COVID-19 has all but shut down Canadian Forces Base Shilo, troops continue to be deployed overseas while others have now returned home, the base commander said Saturday. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/4/2020 (644 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Although COVID-19 has all but shut down Canadian Forces Base Shilo, troops continue to be deployed overseas while others have now returned home, the base commander said Saturday. A group deployed to Latvia in August last year as part of a major NATO military mission returned recently to the base east of Brandon and are going through the self-isolation process, Lt.-Col. Jeff Lyttle said in a telephone interview with the Sun. Lt.-Col. Jeff Lyttle As well, a small rotation of soldiers, primarily from the First Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, left this past weekend for a deployment to Ukraine as part Operation Unifier, the Canadian Armed Forces mission to support security forces there. Canada had an estimated 200 Forces members scheduled to deploy, but with COVID-19, approximately 60 members will relieve the current rotation, according to a Government of Canada website. The members involved in the six-month rotation will maintain essential and mission-critical activities with allied, partner and host nations, the website noted, and maintain co-ordination and planning activities for future training and exercises. The base is also home to Second Battalion Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry (2PPCLI). Meanwhile, all training exercises on the base have been halted, Lyttle said. "There was a cessation order for training that was sent out about a week ago now, and weve stopped all training," he said. That includes Exercise Maple Resolve, an annual international exercise held at Wainwright, Alta., which is designed to prepare a brigade and its soldiers for deployment. "Its definitely something thats got our attention," Lyttle said when asked if there were concerns about a possibly lengthy disruption in training. "Its definitely on the mind of the army commander and the chief of the defence staff as to how we go about restarting both the individual and the collective training elements," he said, adding they will still be ready for domestic operations. The base has instituted its business continuity plans, which include retaining essential services on the base such as the fire hall, military police and health services, while the community centre and recreational facilities have been closed, he said. While the CANEX mall on the base is operating on reduced hours, the Garrison Grill and Forbidden Flavours coffee outlet have both been closed during the pandemic. "The majority of our military and civilian folks ... are working from home primarily," Lyttle said, including himself as much as possible. "Were telling people to practise social distancing, not to gather in large groups." The base is also limiting access to all but essential services. "I think everyones under a bit of stress when it comes to having access to stores and services, right now," Lyttle said. "Its challenging across the country, not just here in Manitoba or Shilo specifically." He added the base is making efforts to join the virtual world, offering online services such as social counselling or assistance for various programs, as well as provisions for emergency child care, during this difficult time. The current essential services orders is in effect until April 30, at which point the base will either continue with what its doing now or "return to business as normal, or somewhere in between," Lyttle said. brobertson@brandonsun.com Some substances are known to exist in several different structurally disordered solid states, a phenomenon known as polyamorphism. The first and perhaps most celebrated example of polyamorphic behavior was discovered in water ice in 1984 by Mishima et al. Two different forms of amorphous water ice were identified, known as low-density amorphous and high-density amorphous ices. Later on, similar phenomena were also observed in other important systems such as Si, SiO 2 , and GeO 2 . In condensed matter physics, polyamorphism is a very interesting but poorly understood phenomenon. Recently, a team of scientists from Institute of Solid State Physics of Hefei Institutes of Physical Science in China and their international collaborators from Comenius University in Slovakia, European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy in Italy, The University of Edinburgh in UK and et al. , examined polyamorphism in the molecular substance SO 2 . While exploring phase transition in dense SO 2 , they found pressure-induced amorphization in dense sulfur SO 2 and a reversible pressure-induced structural transformation between the molecular amorphous and polymeric amorphous forms of SO 2 . This work was published in PNAS on April 4, 2020. SO 2 plays a significant part in chemistry research and in the physics of the Earth and atmosphere. While properties of similar solid molecular systems such as CO 2 or N 2 at high pressures have been extensively studied, more research on dense SO 2 , especially its behavior and properties, still needs to be done. In this study, scientists took a closer look at this simple molecule through a combined experimental and computational effort that tried to describe some new and unexpected phenomena. By using experimental techniques of Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction at high pressures, they compressed SO 2 up to 60 GPa with a diamond anvil cell and explored the phase transitions and structures of SO 2 up to 60 GPa and at temperatures ranging from 77-300 K. At 77 K and below 16 GPa, sulfur dioxide was crystalline. When compressed to 16 GPa, the sulfur dioxide in the crystalline phase went through pressure-induced amorphization and entered the amorphous phase of the molecular state. When further compressed to above 26 GPa, a phase transition occurred from the molecular amorphous phase (two-coordinated sulfur) to the chain polymeric amorphous phase (three-coordinated sulfur). The researchers studied several different temperature paths and found that the phase transition path in dense SO 2 proceeded from the crystalline to the molecular amorphous phase and then to the polymeric amorphous phase over the entire temperature range of 77-300 K. They also discovered that the phase transition path was reversible. Furthermore, the amorphization pressure changed with temperature, ranging from 10-16 GPa across the 77-300 K temperature range. To test their observations, the team used molecular dynamics simulations and the same phenomenon was also observed. In particular, the high-pressure polymeric amorphous form was found to consist mainly of disordered polymeric chains made of three-coordinated sulfur atoms connected via oxygen atoms, and few residual intact molecules. The amorphous molecular to amorphous polymeric transition identified in this research may also suggest the possible existence of a similar transition in the liquid state. ### This work was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Presidents International Fellowship Initiative, the Science Challenge Project, the CAS Innovation Fund and the Directors Fund of Science Island, the Slovak Research and Development Agency, the supercomputing infrastructure in Computing Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. The Times repeatedly underscores that the treatment has not yet been proven to be effective by officials and highlights "concerns" among health experts about the Trump and Cuomo-promoted medications, which sometimes have dangerous side effects, like "fatal heart arrhythmia and vision loss." Like The Washington Post's editorial board, which has accused Trump of causing "damage" by pointing to the treatment as a potential "cure," the Times suggests Trump, and to a lesser extent Cuomo, may be guilty of "raising false hopes in the American public" and "contribut[ing] to runs on supply and hoarding" of the drugs. On Sunday night, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, drugs often used to treat malaria and recently touted by President Donald Trump as a possible "game-changer" in the fight against the China-originated novel coronavirus, or COVID-19.The United States Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced in a statement on Sunday that the FDA will allow the drugs to be Politico report said.The statement noted thatTrump made it clear weeks ago that his administration would work to fast-track promising drugs like hydroxychloroquine with the FDA, all in an effort to combat COVID-19.Democratic New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is on the same page as President Trump when it comes to the popular anti-malaria drugs, permitting trials of hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, and azithromycin to commence in his state.Trump said Sunday, with regard to the New York trials.On the same day as the FDA authorization, Novartis Chief Executive Vas Narasimhan told a Swiss newspaper that hydroxychloroquine is our biggest hope in combating COVID-19.Narasimhan told SonntagsZeitung.The French government also cleared a larger pathway for the use of chloroquine this weekend, officially sanctioning the drug for certain patients infected with the novel virus, The Daily Wire noted. France 24 English reported Saturday.France's director general of health Jerome Salomon said.The move from the French government comes on the heels of infectious disease specialist Didier Raoult announcing new clinical results, which can be accessed HERE , that show 78 out of 80 patients treated with chloroquine recovered within five days, a report from Trustnodes said.The five-day recovery time is "considerably" fasterTrustnodes added.As highlighted by The Daily Wire , positive results from the drugs have thus far been largely anecdotal: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to hospital for tests, 10 days after testing positive for coronavirus. Johnson, 55, "continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus", a Downing Street spokesperson said on Sunday. His hospitalisation was described as a "precautionary step" taken on the advice of his doctor. On the advice of his doctor, the Prime Minister has tonight been admitted to hospital for tests. This is a precautionary step, as the Prime Minister continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus ten days after testing positive for the virus," the spokesperson said. The Prime Minister thanks NHS staff for all of their incredible hard work and urges the public to continue to follow the Government's advice to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives, the spokesperson added. Johnson had 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. He 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, Johnson said in a new video message. "I still have a temperature and so, in accordance with government advice, I must continue my self-isolation until that symptom itself goes," he 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sailing out of the Sydney Heads just before sunset one afternoon in early March, the 2700 passengers and 1000-odd crew aboard the Ruby Princess could not have imagined that by early April, their otherwise routine cruise to New Zealand would become the focus of a criminal investigation amid a public health emergency. The circumstances that led to passengers disembarking the ship without even a basic temperature check deserves full examination. The bungled operation allowed more than 600 people infected with COVID-19 at least 10 of whom have since died to wander freely through the community to make their way home. And it's not just the passengers caught up in this medical calamity. About 1000 crew from the ship are now quarantined on board, docked at Port Kembla, 80 kilometres south of Sydney. Of those, about 200 are showing possible symptoms of COVID-19. NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller says the criminal investigation's main focus will be on whether the operators of the Ruby Princess breached biosecurity laws in failing to alert local authorities as to the extent of sickness on board. They are not the only ones in the line of fire. The heat is also on state and federal agencies that gave the green light for passengers to disembark the ship. Once on shore, those passengers caught trains, buses and even overseas flights to get home. While there is no shortage of finger pointing, it is confounding that only a month earlier a cruise liner from the same company the Diamond Princess had captured the world's attention. Passengers were quarantined for weeks in Yokohama, Japan, after many were found to be infected with COVID-19. It was a medical disaster, with the virus spreading throughout the ship even as people were confined to their cabins. At least 12 deaths ensued. Alarm bells should have been ringing around the world on the potential catastrophe that every cruise liner posed, but particularly one that had admitted to having a number of passengers onboard with flu-like symptoms. This is not a matter of hindsight. The experience in Japan, where the Australian government had to eventually charter a Qantas flight to rescue more than 200 Australians onboard, gave officials first-hand experience of what can go wrong. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, that has led to 109 deaths in the country, has led to a new worry among policyholders. It is whether the life insurance product will pay for COVID-19 death claims. However, both insurance companies as well industry body Life Insurance Council have clarified that death claims will be cleared without delay. Since a few insurers had the word Force Majeure in their policy terms and conditions, there was a worry that this clause would be invoked to reject COVID-19 claims. This clause meant policy is held at abeyance in case of a sudden incident like an epidemic, natural calamity, riots or civil unrest. The insurance regulator had on March 23 asked life insurance companies to expeditiously settle death claims related to COVID-19. The Life Insurance Council has further clarified that Force Majeure will not apply in case of COVID-19 death claims. 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 Also Read: Live updates on the Coronavirus outbreak in India The life insurance industry is taking every measure to ensure that the disruption caused to policyholders due to the lockdown is minimal, by providing them uninterrupted support digitally, be it for honouring death claims related to COVID-19 or servicing their policy. We reiterate that all life insurance companies stand by their customers in these difficult times and the customer should not be swayed by misinformation or misrepresentation, said Life Insurance Council in a statement on April 6. This step was taken to reassure customers who had reached out to individual life insurance companies seeking clarity on this clause in their contract as well as to dispel rumours to the contrary. All life insurance companies have communicated to their customers individually in this regard as well. Both term insurance plans as well as savings plans cover death claims during the policy term. However, there were some rumours circulating on social media that the Force Majeure clause would be invoked to not pay death claims. Now the industry has classified these reports as inaccurate. Originated as a term in French law in the 1880s, the 'Force Majeure clause was used to absolve companies of liabilities from unprecedented events that were beyond the control of the entities. Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here The Tiger King Joe Exotic became the talk of the town after Netflix US released a docu-series named Tiger King. Joseph Maldanado-Passage, popularly know as Joe Exotic is being held at the FMC Worth prison after he was sentenced to 22 years of imprisonment. While many know Joe Exotic for his skills with big cats, people are unaware of the reason why Joe was given imprisonment in the first place. ALSO READ | Joe Exotic's Coronavirus Diagnosis Has Left Netizens Confused, Here's Why Why is Joe Exotic in jail? Joe Exotic was the owner of the GE Exotic Animal Park from Oklahoma, which was home to more than 1200 animals. Joe claimed himself to be the most prolific breeder of tigers in the USA. He became famous for his zoo antics and used the animals for dangerous stunts. ALSO READ | Netflix's 'Tiger King' A.ka. Joe Exotic Tests Positive For Coronavirus While In Jail The Big Cat Rescue owner Carole Baskin soon targetted Joe for his antics and his treatment of animals. Baskin took upon herself to insult and call out Exotic, which disturbed and frustrated him. As per a news source, Joe Exotic then paid a hitman to target Carole and gave him $3,000. According to the US Attorney's Office Western District Unit of Oklahoma, Joe also promised the hitman more money if he is successful. After he was convicted, it was slowly revealed that Joe killed five tigers, sold baby lemurs and also falsified paperwork to claim that these animals were donated. It was also revealed that Joe designated on delivery forms and veterinary inspection certificates that these animals are being donated or transported from exhibition only. They were being sold in interstate commerce. ALSO READ | Shaquille O'Neal Says Joe Exotic Is 'not My Friend' While Defending 'Tiger King' Cameo Joe was found guilty for two counts of murder-for-hire, eight for violating the Lacey Act for falsifying wildlife records and nine counts of violating the Endangered Species Act. He has filed a lawsuit for $94 million in damages against the Department of the Interior, a prosecutor and many others. He also claims that the case against is based on perjured testimony and discrimination for being 'an openly gay male.' ALSO READ | Trevor Noah Compares Donald Trump To 'Tiger King' Sensation, Joe Exotic When does Joe Exotic get released from jail? Joe Exotic was sentenced to 22 years of imprisonment. The Tiger King will be serving his time in jail until the year 2042. AS per a news article, he is eligible to apply for parole after 2034. In recent news, Joe Exotic was quarantined in his jail after two to three inmates from the prison were tested positive for coronavirus. The international media reports then claimed that he has been shifted to quarantine in a hospital. The most recent report in a leading news source claims that Joe has been tested positive for COVID-19. ALSO READ | Tiger King's Carole Baskin, Joe Exotic And Others: Where Is The Cast Now? 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. An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.9 rattled much of inland Southern California on Friday evening but no damage or injuries were reported, the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed. The quake struck just after 6:53 p.m. and was centered near Anza in a remote desert area of Riverside County, southeast of Los Angeles and not far from Palm Springs. However, it was felt as much as 100 miles from the epicenter, according to a U.S. Geological Survey website. It was followed by several aftershocks. Several were larger than magnitude-3.0 and included a magnitude-3.7 temblor. Its a common place to have it, not a surprise, said seismologist Lucy Jones, head of the Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society and a visiting research associate at the California Institute of Technology. Its one of the most (seismically) active places in Southern California, Jones told KNBC-TV. Youve had multiple magnitude 4s and even some 5s coming through there over the last 20 years. One Anza resident told KNBC-TV that the quake was nosiy but caused no damage. There was a jolt and a rumbling, almost like a train coming through, she said. It was very loud. All of my animals scattered. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics California Catastrophe Natural Disasters Earthquake The U.S. aerospace company Boeing is launching a voluntary layoff plan as a response to market conditions struggling with coronavirus pandemic. 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. After first appearing in Wuhan, China in December, the novel coronavirus has spread to at least 181 countries and regions. Data compiled by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University shows worldwide infections surpassing 1 million, with more than 53,100 deaths. Over 211,800 have recovered. Image Credit: (c) AA Chinese people have accused America's top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci of 'misleading the public' and 'appeasing Trump' after he suggested that people who tested negative for coronavirus did not need face masks. Dr Fauci, who has been advising Washington on the pandemic, was explaining to a journalist why he was not wearing a mask at a press briefing when he said: 'The major reason to wear a face mask is to protect [the wearer] from infecting [others]. 'I have [sic] my test yesterday and it's negative.' The head of China's CDC, however, previously said that it was a 'big mistake' for people in Europe and the United States to fight the coronavirus without wearing face masks. Dr Anthony Fauci, a top infectious disease expert in the US, told a journalist after a press briefing yesterday that he was not wearing a face mask because he had tested negative Chinese experts, however, have claimed that a mandatory order for everyone to wear face coverings was one of the reason why the country managed to contain the virus outbreak. A woman is pictured wearing a face mask near the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan on April 1 The news comes after US President Trump on Friday announced that the US CDC was telling everybody to wear masks or face coverings 'voluntarily' but said 'I don't think I'm going to be doing that'. Dr Fauci, the 79-year-old director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was standing next to Trump when he made the above comments after the daily press briefing yesterday. Trump, who did not wear a mask either, immediately said: 'It's a very good answer.' The pandemic has so far killed more than 9,660 people and infected over 337,000 in the United States, with the state of New York being the current epicentre. Dr Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was standing next to Trump when he made the comments after the daily press briefing yesterday (pictured) The virus has killed more than 9,660 people and infected over 337,000 in the United States Dr Fauci's remarks have caused an outcry on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent to Twitter, amid an escalating diplomatic tussle between the two countries over the global outbreak. Some have questioned Dr Fauci's qualifications and motivations on a topic page, called 'American infectious disease expert explaining why he is not wearing a face mask'. One typical reply from a user known as 'Li Shu-Bin Ge' read: 'This old man is fishing for fame and compliments, and misleading the public.' A second person, 'Shi Ning Meng Ya', agreed: 'An infectious disease expert should popularise science to the public like this. It's utterly conscienceless. Are the American public so easily conned?' A third commenter, 'Da Fan Zaing', teased: '[He] was not afraid of being transmitted by others such a great man!' Another participant, called 'Quan Yuan 18CM', wrote: 'That's fine. You will [tested] positive tomorrow. Other observers suggested that Dr Fauci was kowtowing to Trump and accused him of downplaying the use of the masks. Chinese news website Guancha speculated that Dr Fauci gave the answer because he was trying to keep his position in Washington's coronavirus task forces. The state of New York is the current epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States. The picture shows a woman arriving at the Wyckoff Hospital in Bushwick, Brooklyn, on April 5 A commentary from Guancha said Dr Fauci was 'full of desire to survive' as he stood next to President Trump. Multiple Chinese experts have backed the claims that wearing face masks is effective in stemming the coronavirus outbreak. Other Asian countries, such as South Korea and Singapore, have also adopted the measure to prevent the pathogen from taking hold. George Gao, director-general of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told Science in an interview: 'The big mistake in the U.S. and Europe, in my opinion, is that people aren't wearing masks.' The file picture shows Gao, also known as Gao Fu, on January 26 George Gao, director-general of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told Science in an interview: 'The big mistake in the U.S. and Europe, in my opinion, is that people aren't wearing masks. '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 presymptomatic infections. If they are wearing face masks, it can prevent droplets that carry the virus from escaping and infecting others.' Dr Zhong Nanshan, Beijing's chief medical advisor on the coronavirus, said that the mandatory order for everyone to don a face mask was one of the reasons China managed to contain the outbreak. Dr Gerald Keusch, a Boston-based professor, told MailOnline that it was hard to know if ordinary face masks not the N95 respirators could prevent the transmission. Workers wearing face masks are pictured making mask masks in Ankara, Turkey, on March 26 Dr Gerald Keusch, a Boston-based professor, told MailOnline that it was hard to know if ordinary face masks not the N95 respirators could prevent the transmission. He said: 'We don't really know [how well ordinary masks can stop the virus], especially for the smaller sized aerosols, but probably not very well. 'They would be better for droplets, but still not foolproof and one could easily contaminate their fingers while removing the mask and so losing whatever benefits it had. 'Staying away from other people, which is social distancing, provides significant protection from droplets.' Dr Keusch, Professor of Medicine and International Health at Boston University's Schools of Medicine and Public Health, attributed the different attitudes towards masks in the West and East to cultural differences. He said: 'Asian populations often wear masks for the common cold. Caucasians don't, and to us, it seems odd a mark of anxiety and a social barrier.' Flash One of China's leading physicians who helped lead the battle against COVID-19 in Wuhan, China's COVID-19 epicenter, advised American physicians that controlling the virus requires a coordinated effort from the top on down, a system many American officials and physicians are also clamoring for. "American physicians should have national guidelines for the treatment of COVID-19," urged Dr. Bin Cao, a respiratory expert and vice president of China-Japan Friendship Hospital (CJFH) in Beijing on a conference call with American physicians early this week. Cao was among the first wave of stalwart medical professionals who raced to Wuhan to support the overwhelmed healthcare system on the verge of collapse. He and his team used their extensive experience to set up and implement the emergency system that saved countless lives that had been hanging by a thread. Facing the brutal coronavirus outbreak during the Chinese Lunar New Year's holiday in January, Chinese doctors, public health officers and government officials kicked into overdrive to contain the rapidly spreading virus. Now, seeing the United States in the same predicament, Cao expressed concern that the United States would have a hard time containing the outbreak if the efforts to contain COVID-19 are not coordinated. "So far we have seen that many institutes in the U.S. have their own guidelines for the coronavirus," he noted. At present, the White House has not issued strict public health protocols that are required to be followed by every state and U.S. hospital to stop the virus nationwide. Hospitals across the country have to invent their own protocols or decide which of the CDC recommendations they feel like following. Cao believed that leadership must come from the top so that every medical facility in every state is following the same guidelines and using the same effective techniques as those that worked successfully in China and South Korea. Cao's advice mirrored the call for federal government intervention that has risen to a clamor in the country too. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and a host of American medical professionals have all urgently called for White House and America's top health officials to step up and establish comprehensive and proven guidelines for all the states to follow to slow the raging outbreak in the nation - which is now the worst in the world. "This is truly frightening," said Governor Cuomo, "I've handled a lot of emergencies as governor and in the federal government ... but nothing comes close to this in terms of the need for intelligent, rigorous, muscled government to respond quickly and smartly." He added, "States don't do public health emergencies. If it's beyond the capacity of the local state, then the federal government has to step in. No state is equipped to handle this on their own." China's successful control of the COVID-19 created a roadmap for others to follow, based largely on the efforts of Chinese doctors who managed the most challenging public health disaster in decades. Dr. Qingyuan Zhan, the Chief of Medical ICU at the CJFH in Beijing and Chair of the Critical Care Committee of the Chinese Association of Chest Physicians, spearheaded the medical response in the Wuhan hospital designated to treat the most severe COVID-19 cases. He stressed the vital need to learn how to establish temporary medical facilities virtually overnight and discussed how to be better prepared and how, in the future, to have a well thought out Standard Operating Procedure in place well in advance that can kick into effect in a crisis like this. He told over 1,500 members of American College of Chest Physicians joining the online conference that the need for doctors and hospitals everywhere to do what they can to immediately organize adequate medical facilities and supplies and ensure an adequate supply of vitally important ventilators, life support equipment, monitors, testing kits, mobile x-rays, among other equipment. Zhan also advised that the doctor-nurse respiratory critical care team should be led by a designated team leader and include specialists in nosocomial infection control, CPR and urgent intubation, PICC insertion, percutaneous tracheostomy, bronchoscopy exams, and ECMO establishment, and respiratory therapists, who should work in six-hour shifts to avoid exhaustion and over-exposing themselves to the virus. Based on China's experience, Zhan said that the U.S. pattern for COVID-19 is likely to match China's which was 80 percent mild cases, 15 percent severe patients and 5 percent critical ones -which would need prioritized treatment. "COVID-19 is all around us. COVID-19 is our common enemy," he said. Russia's major oil companies resume oil supplies to Belarus in April - sources Full moon rises over the Gazprom Neft's oil refinery in Omsk MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's major oil companies, Rosneft, Lukoil and Gazprom, are set to resume Urals crude supplies to Belarus refineries in April after a three month suspension after Moscow and Minsk agreed supply terms, four industry sources familiar with supply plans told Reuters on Monday. Russia's oil supplies to Belarus are set at roughly 0.6 million tonnes for April so far, according to the sources. Companies may decide to send more oil to Belarus in April if they find the supplies profitable, they added. Major Russian oil companies suspended supplies to Belarus from Jan. 1 after failing to agree supply terms with state energy company Belneftekhim. Refineries in Belarus started signing oil supply contracts with Russian companies on Thursday, Belneftekhim said last week. (Reporting by Olga Yagova and Gleb Gorodyankin; Editing by Alison Williams) Singing and praising in the name of Jesus Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and Pastor Benny Hinn had been praying together for a few days before inviting the world to join them. Three billion people answered the evangelical leaders' call to prayer. The global community was able to access these prayers across multiple media platforms including radio, television, and the internet. Pastor Benny Hinn asked the participants to come together as one, as prayers said in unity are powerful. The fear people have over the spread of COVID-19 is real as the world grapples with panic and turmoil. Pastor Benny invoked the message from Second Chronicles in Chapter Seven, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." A true global miracle Ministers from many different Christian denominations encouraged their members to join in the Global Prayer Service. An astounding 406 local television stations in 95 different countries broadcast the service offering views access to the uplifting and inspirational prayers. The focus on prayers The radio is a medium that reaches millions. The power of the 472 stations transmitting the Global Prayer service was felt across 189 countries united by the prayers of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome. The Global Prayer Service was just the start of an epochal event, as it has ignited a prayer chain that is set to grow. Pastor Chris invited the world to keep praying and fasting so the power of the meeting will continue and strengthen. These prayers are very important as they are working to counter the fear and uncertainty that affects minds and spirits during the crisis created by the coronavirus pandemic. Pray for the leaders of nations At this time, Pastor Chris has told Christians to pray for the leaders of the nations of the world so that they may make the right decisions. He noted that nations put their interests first, which is derived from man's inherent selfishness. He reminded those listening that this is a time to listen to what God is saying to us. The ministers of the Gospel have spread this message all over the world, and they emphasized that it is this unity of action that will make a difference. Pastor Benny Hinn thanked Pastor Chris for bringing the message of what Jesus did for his people to those who need to hear it during this difficult time. Pray for the sick Pastor Chris called on participants in the Global Prayer Service to pray for those afflicted by the infectious coronavirus. He asked us to pray for the sick to have healing and for their faith to return to them. It is human to congregate and pray together but during these times, we must keep our social distance. Advances in technology enable us to not only communicate but come together in fellowship. Pray to strengthen the resolve of the Church Pastor Chris has vowed to help Christian worldwide to continue praying in this time of need. With regular broadcasts of "Your LoveWorld", Pastor Chris is providing ongoing spiritual support to people of all nations and forms of Christianity. "No matter what trouble we are in, this is why we pray because no matter what the situation is when we pray, we can prevail over things and change things. Remember that as you pray to halt the spread of the coronavirus," said Pastor Chris. "We are not in this world as victims, power belongs to us! The world belongs to us. We have no fear. But we must pray!" As Pastor Chris reminded those praying together, faith is what will unite us and conquer the effects of the coronavirus. WALTHAM, Mass., April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA), the nation's leading provider of kidney care products and services, announced record growth of home therapies. The company also announced additional steps it has taken to expand telehealth and other technologies to support patients during the response to COVID-19, including: Record adoption of virtual visits between patients, care teams, and physicians with more than 22,000 remote visits logged in the past two weeks. An update to ProviderHub, the company's connected health platform, allowing physicians to better monitor home patients. New functionality added to Acumen 2.0, the company's next-generation EHR software, for all physicians, including: Patient screening for COVID-19 in MyChart and physician workflows. Telehealth workflow added with 7,000 virtual visits in the past two weeks. The number of FMCNA patients on home dialysis, whether home hemodialysis (HHD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD), has increased almost 15 percent during the past year*, a record rate of growth in home modalities that is nine times the growth rate of patients treated in-center. Additionally, HHD has increased 40 percent in the past year, and the company saw a 25 percent increase in home trainings conducted in Q1 2020 compared to Q1 2019. "Our success in growing home treatments is a direct result of our commitment to improving patient and physician education, and investing in technology to improve the home experience," said Bill Valle, Chief Executive Officer of Fresenius Medical Care North America. "More than ever during this challenging time, the impact of home dialysis and telehealth technologies are clear. We are committed to ensuring that every patient who has the ability and desire to receive dialysis treatment at home has the opportunity to do so." As a result of a presidential executive order announced in July 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has encouraged the shift to home therapies. Since their merger with NxStage in February 2019, FMCNA has already achieved these additional home dialysis initiatives and milestones: Launched theHub, a connected health platform with enhanced remote patient monitoring, which has been shown to improve patients outcomes. Added hundreds of new direct patient care staff who are specialized in home therapies. Educated 57,000 patients with chronic kidney disease or end stage renal disease about home dialysis with the help of almost 200 Kidney Care Advocates. Provided more than 70,000 learning sessions to dialysis staff and nephrologists in live workshops and online courses through the Advanced Renal Education Program. Made a major investment in BioIntelliSense, which recently announced FDA 510(k) clearance of the BioSticker on-body sensor for scalable remote care. Invested in new significant manufacturing and distribution capacity in Knoxville, Tenn. to accommodate increased production of peritoneal dialysis solution. The company continues to offer meaningful, educational information to the public through its Fresenius Kidney Care patient-facing website and its Fresenius Medical Care North America website. For more details on the company's response to COVID-19 visit here. *Measured by the one year period from March 1, 2019 to March 1, 2020. About Fresenius Medical Care North America Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA) is the premier healthcare company focused on providing the highest quality care to people with renal and other chronic conditions. Through its industry-leading network of dialysis facilities and outpatient cardiac and vascular labs, Fresenius Medical Care North America provides coordinated healthcare services at pivotal care points for hundreds of thousands of chronically ill customers throughout the continent. As the world's largest fully integrated renal company, it offers specialty pharmacy and laboratory services, and manufactures and distributes the most comprehensive line of dialysis equipment, disposable products, and renal pharmaceuticals. For more information, visit the FMCNA website at https://fmcna.com. Media Contact: Fresenius Medical Care North America Brad Puffer Corporate Communications [email protected] (781) 699-3331 SOURCE Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc. Related Links https://fmcna.com/ A patient diagnosed with COVID-19 died in Nantucket on Sunday, the first death there due to the virus. Nantucket Cottage Hospital confirmed the death in a statement Monday. The patient died as a result of complications related to the disease, the statement read. We want to express our deepest sympathy to the family and loved ones of this patient. No details about the patient were released while the hospital maintained patient confidentiality. The Massachusetts Department of Health statistics released Monday show a man in his 80s died and was from the Dukes County and Nantucket areas. The state listed nine confirmed COVID-19 cases on Nantucket as of Monday. The hospital said the news should also serve as a somber reminder to the island community that we must continue to take this situation extremely seriously, take every precaution, and continue to adhere to the orders put in place by the Town of Nantucket to protect the island. The number of coronavirus-related deaths in Massachusetts increased to 260, after health officials reported 29 new fatalities on Monday. Statewide, there are now 13,837 cases of the virus, according to the latest figures. The vast majority of those reported to have died on Monday were in their 70s, 80s and 90s. Two individuals in their 50s were also reported to have died. Related Content: From the beginning, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex have been insistent on shielding their son Archie from the public eye. Unlike their royal sibling and in-law Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge the Sussexes often do not invite press members to their familys private affairs. They have also expressed their desire to raise Archie in a more normal setting. Because of this, its very hard for many fans to know much about Baby Archie. Prince Harry and Meghan usually keep information about him on the down-low, though fans occasionally do get to hear a few fun facts about Archie here and there. For example, it has recently been revealed that Archie really loves being out and about in nature. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were living in a secluded part of Canada Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and baby Archie | Toby Melville/Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage Prince Harry and Meghan went on vacation with their son to Vancouver Island, Canada, back in December. The family ended up staying there for a few months after that, only returning to the U.K. for work or family reasons. In January, the Sussexes revealed that they would like to step down as senior members of the royal family. Additionally, they also were looking to split their time between North America and the U.K. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity, said the duke and duchess in a statement. While living on Vancouver Island, Prince Harry, Meghan, and Archie resided in a $14-million mansion. The house has five bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a two-story living room, a wine tasting room, and more. Meghan Markle reportedly took walks with Archie every day The Sussexs Vancouver Island mansion is surrounded by a lot of nature. As such, Meghan who is known for taking health and fitness seriously reportedly took walks with Archie every day while she was living there. She either pushes him in a stroller through the paved trails through the public woods by their home or straps him on and walks the more rustic routes, an insider shared, adding that Meghan would do this for an hour or two every day. Additionally, Meghan also often stops to talk to locals. The insider said that Meghan is usually very kind and pleasant. Archie loves being outside Its clear that Meghan enjoys walking around the woods with her son, and according to another source, Archie likes it too. Us Weekly shared that Archie loves being outside in nature. Back in January, Prince Harry also revealed that Archie saw snow for the first time in Canada and thought it was bloody brilliant. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have moved to Los Angeles Although the Sussexes seemed to have a fun time in Canada, in late March, it was reported that the family has quietly moved to Los Angeles, California. According to a source who spoke to The Sun, the family left Vancouver Island just before the border between the United States and Canada was shut. They realized Canada would not work out for various reasons and they want to be based in the Los Angeles area, the source said. 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. While we do not know exactly where they are staying at the moment, it has been said that their current location is in a secluded compound in the Hollywood area. Some insiders have also said that the couple are looking for a more permanent home in Malibu, where they can be far away from prying eyes. We've been laying out the possible case for the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic could be social unrest. Millions of Americans have just lost their jobs, have no saving, and insurmountable debts, are flooding food banks across the nation to survive. With the economy crashed and now entering a depression, last week was a significant milestone in the progression of the crisis, as looting of businesses in California and South Carolina began. Now the looting is spreading across the nation. We noted how stores in New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Chicago, were boarding up their windows, preparing for civil unrest. After all, when 10 million people lose their jobs in two weeks, and an estimated unemployment rate that could reach 15-20% in the second quarter, as per RealInvestmentAdvice.com's Lance Roberts latest report, the ripple effect on society is so sudden that there could very well be an outbreak of unrest when the weather shifts too much warmer trends, and geographically be situated in low-income areas of inner cities. Hence why the National Guard was called up and now being positioned around and or in major metros. The beginning innings of social unrest could now be unfolding across New York City. Households are cracking as hundreds of thousands have lost their jobs over several weeks. The city has become the epicenter of the virus crisis, recording 103,060 confirmed cases and 2,935 deaths (as of Saturday afternoon, April 4). The Wall Street Journal reports an increase in burglaries of commercial establishments across all five boroughs from March 12-31, coinciding when mass shutdowns went into effect. The New York City Police Department (NYPD) recorded a 75% jump in burglaries of businesses during the period, or about 254 burglaries, compared with 145 over the same period last year. "The increase in burglaries coincided with steps to stop the spread of the coronavirus. On March 15, the city ordered restaurants and bars to cease on-site service, prompting many establishments to close altogether or limit operations. A March 20 decree by Gov. Andrew Cuomo called for the closure of all nonessential businesses, leading many retail stores to shutter," the Journal noted. "We knew with the closing of many stores that we could see an increase and, unfortunately, we are," said NYPD Chief of Crime Control Strategies Michael LiPetri. LiPetri said the most targeted establishments by criminals had been restaurants, supermarkets, and retail stores. Between March 12-31, there were over 30 reports of burglaries of supermarkets, a 400% increase over the same period last year. He said thieves were specifically after food, alcohol, and retail goods. Many gained entry from rooftops and or forcing doors open or breaking windows. The Journal notes that some retail chains have boarded up shops across the city, citing fears that social unrest could soon follow. Here are some shops that have already boarded up windows: Thousands of stores in New York have boarded up their doors and windows to avoid possible looting pic.twitter.com/Bc0UvZGuoO TRT World (@trtworld) March 31, 2020 New York Gazette Store owners boarding up buildings across Manhattan: https://t.co/aEawtKmPAq - NEW YORK - A growing scene for those who venture out into the streets of Manhattan these days is boarded up storefronts. From luxury retailers to small https://t.co/te7a7D74at pic.twitter.com/Bo5wbvFMWh George Mentz JD MBA (@GeorgeMentz) April 4, 2020 As looting surges in New York City, the next fear is that the NYPD could become overwhelmed by virus-related incidents and or a shortage of officers. On Friday, one out of every six NYPD officers was sick or in quarantine. Over 1,500 have tested positive for the virus, which could lead to decreased patrols while crime is surging across the city. "It's a worst-case scenario across the board," a sergeant told The New York Times. And now it should make sense why President Trump recently signed an executive order to activate up to one million troops that is because the evolution of the virus crisis and economic collapse, is social unrest and looting and whatever else that may bring. The indiatimes.com privacy policy has been updated to align with the new data regulations in European Union. Please review and accept these changes below to continue using the website. We use cookies to ensure the best experience for you on our website. An experimental program led by Google parent Alphabet to wipe out disease-causing mosquitoes succeeded in nearly eliminating them from three test sites in California's Central Valley. Stamping out illness caused by mosquitoes is one of Alphabet unit Verily's most ambitious public-health projects. The effort appears to be paying off, according to a paper published in the journal Nature Biotechnology on Monday. Verily is also running coronavirus triage and testing in parts of California. Bradley White, the lead scientist on the Debug initiative, said mosquito-suppression is even more important during the pandemic because outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever can further overwhelm hospitals. Since 2017, the company has released millions of lab-bred Aedes aegypti male mosquitoes into several Fresno County neighborhoods during mosquito season. The insects are bred in Verily labs to be infected with a common bacterium called Wolbachia. When these male mosquitoes mate with females in the wild, the offspring never hatch. In results of the trial published Monday, Verily revealed that throughout the peak of the 2018 mosquito season, from July to October, Wolbachia-infected males successfully suppressed more than 93% of the female mosquito population at field test sites. Only female mosquitoes typically bite. Working with the local mosquito abatement district and MosquitoMate, which developed the mosquitoes originally, Verily released as many as 80,000 mosquitoes each day in three neighborhoods from April 2018 through October 2018. In most collections, per night Verily found one or zero female mosquitoes in each trap designed to monitor the population. At other sites without the lab-bred bugs, there were as many as 16 females per trap. "We had a vision of what this should look like and we managed to do that pretty perfectly," said Jacob Crawford, a senior scientist on the Debug project. In the arid climate of the Central Valley, disease is an unlikely result of a mosquito bite. But in the hot, humid regions of the tropics and subtropics, diseases caused by the Aedes aegypti, such as dengue fever, zika virus and chikungunya, kill tens of thousands of people every year. Releasing masses of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes into the wild might wipe out entire populations of deadly mosquitoes and the diseases they carry. Verily is not the only organization pursuing an end to mosquito-borne disease. Bill Gates has pledged more than $1 billion to help wipe out malaria, including controversial efforts to genetically modify mosquitoes. Infecting mosquitoes with Wolbachia, which occurs naturally in some mosquito species, is a popular approach rooted in an old insect control strategy called sterile insect technique. What Verily's efforts offer is not just evidence that Wolbachia can help wipe out disease-causing mosquitoes but potential ways to make such efforts work on a massive scale. Last year, Verily released about 14.4 million mosquitoes in Fresno County. Initial small-scale Fresno trials in 2016, run by an upstart called MosquitoMate, were the first time male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infected with the bacteria were ever released in the U.S. The following year, Verily stepped in, bringing more advanced technology to the breeding and release process that could make it possible to expand such efforts to entire cities or regions. The new paper details many of those technologies, such as an automated process for separating male and female mosquitoes in the lab, and software that helps to determine exactly where to release altered male mosquitoes for maximum effectiveness. "Once you try to start rearing hundreds of thousands of mosquitoes a week, you run into all sorts of problems," said White. "Mosquitoes may be everywhere, but they are really finicky and difficult to grow." Verily has expanded its partnerships to include Singapore's National Environment Agency. Trials there have entered a fourth phase to cover 121 urban residential blocks and about 45,000 residents. Verily is eyeing partnerships in South America and is in talks to launch in the Caribbean. Within a few years, said Crawford, Verily hopes the program will cover entire regions. Without intervention, he said, the public health toll of mosquito-born illness will only grow. Laguna Phuket Obstacle Trail Run postponed until November TRIATHLON: Laguna Phuket has confirmed that the Singha Obstacle Trail Run 2020 has been postponed due to health and safety precautions relating to the coronavirus COVID-19. Triathlon By The Phuket News Monday 6 April 2020, 10:57AM The event has now been postponed until November 1, 2020. Photo: Laguna Phuket PR Originally scheduled for May 2 at Laguna Phuket (see story here), the event has now been confirmed to take place on Sunday, November 1 at Sugar Palm Arena Laguna Phuket. Laguna Phuket helped explain via their website what exactly Singha Obstacle Trail is all about: - It is about how much fun you have crossing the finish line. - It is about putting a smile on your face - It is about pushing yourself (and your team/family/group) to discover how strong you are. - It is about teamwork, camaraderie and doing something fun to remember. - It is about helping people around you that need it and pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone. - It is about enjoying the Great Outdoors We are encouraging you to register with friends as a group or team. You can go through the course helping each other and having fun. Distances & Categories 8km ( Age group Male & Female ) 15km ( Age group Male & Female ) 24km ( Team Open ) 2km Family & Kids walk run To learn more about the event, please visit the site here. Alexis E. Blais Across sectors, companies continue to operate in uncharted waters as the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted public health, disrupted the economy, upended social norms and dramatically altered how companies work and communicate with their various stakeholders. Along with these impacts, COVID-19 was a fierce reminder of the importance of accurate and timely journalism, especially in times of crisis. Since mid-March, the virus has completely dominated national headlines, leaving many companies with the question, What are the current rules of media engagement? While no one can say for certain, we can share our observations on how businesses are positioning themselves in response to medias appetite for insight into how theyre faring, as well as considerations companies and CEOs should make before engaging with media during this time. CEO interviews CEOs are discussing, first and foremost, how theyre supporting their own workforce, with most citing employee safety and security as their top priority. Featured CEOs remain highly focused on identifying and pulling the various levers they have available to avoid layoffs and maintain business continuity. CEOs are being asked how their industry is being disrupted, to shed light on their plans moving forward and to comment on the sort of federal assistance neededwithout going too far on whats next, given so much remains unknown. When asked when normalcy will resume, most are conveying positive, encouraging messages, while noting the crisis will likely forever change business. CEOs of industries benefiting from the stay-at-home economy are in high demand to discuss the potential boom, albeit with a very humble tone. CEOs are appropriately spotlighting efforts to respond to COVID-19: retail CEOs on producing masks and other equipment, restaurant CEOs on safety procedures, healthcare CEOs on managing the crisis, CEOs from a variety of industries offering free services and other efforts. Corporate announcements similar to these have legitimate news value in the current climate and can be used to book CEO interviews. CEOs are primarily doing interviews from their home officessome polished, some in their natural state. Whether or not to feature branding behind a CEO in their home office is a matter of preference, but with many anchors at home, matching their setting is often most appropriate. In addition to COVID-19 containment and testing, a major editorial focus is workforces: whos getting furloughed, whos pledging no layoffs, worker strikes, keeping employees safe and so forth. Theres significant editorial demand for CEOs and directors of industry groups who can speak credibly about an industry at large. Across networks, unless its a hyper-relevant expert, the spokesperson from featured companies is the CEO. Given the magnitude of this crisis, audiences want to hear from the chief executive. Tone of voice across CEOs reflects the seriousness of the issue, along with considerable empathy, but theres still room for humor and light banter. Joking about home offices, funny challenges and missing certain aspects of office life are working to balance the severity of the situation. Theres a high threshold for what warrants coverage related to COVID-19 support efforts. Basic corporate donations are no longer receiving airtime. More unique initiatives such as special bonuses, supporting employees who cant work from home and converting factories to make critical healthcare supplies are whats breaking through. CEOs who can discuss positive developments as a result of other countries beginning to recover, such as China, are in high demand. While executive spokespeople have been trained to condense their key messages for broadcasts time-constrained format, networks are allowing CEOs more room to convey the full breadth of their position at this time. Planning your media strategy for the next 90 days is highly dependent on your particular industry, given a majority are still assessing COVID-19s impact. Overall, CEOs are reluctant to discuss with media long-term adjustments in strategy, simply because its too early. Unless chief executives have a legitimate reason to be interviewed, CEOs in so-called non-essential industries should have modest expectations of national broadcast coverage for the foreseeable future. *** Alexis E. Blais is Vice President of ICRs technology group. Ventilator Demand Slows in New York, California New York doesnt need any more ventilators and California is in good enough condition to send 500 ventilators to states in worse shape, their governors said on Monday, a sign that the CCP virus curve appears to be flattening in both states. We dont need any additional ventilators right now, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told reporters at a press conference after repeatedly warning in recent days that the state needed up to 40,000 of the breathing machines. Cuomo declined to state how many ventilators the state has in stock and his office hasnt responded to requests for information about the states ventilator situation. One updated model indicated the state would need only 10,606 ventilators. California, meanwhile, has seen a slowdown of new cases, prompting Gov. Gavin Newsom to loan 500 ventilators to states where the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, has gotten worse. California is stepping up to help our fellow Americans in New York and across the country who are being impacted the hardest right now by the COVID-19 pandemic, Newsom said in a statement. Modeling shows the state wont hit its peak of cases until next month, the governor said. A worker disinfects handrails at the emergency entrance outside the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center during the outbreak of the CCP virus in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York on April 6, 2020. (Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters) The CCP virus causes COVID-19, a disease. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown sent 140 ventilators directly to New York over the weekend while Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said Sunday his state would return more than 400 ventilators it received from the Strategic National Stockpile to help states dealing with more COVID-19 cases. These ventilators are going to New York and others states hardest hit by this virus, Inslee said in a statement. Ive said many times over the last few weeks, we are in this together. This should guide all of our actions at an individual and state level in the coming days and weeks. Early social distancing measures in the western states have been credited by some experts with slowing the spread of the virus and preventing an explosion in cases like the one New York has experienced. Inslee said Washington recently purchased more than 750 ventilators, which it expects to receive over the next several weeks. The updated model, from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, dropped the projected deaths from COVID-19 by some 12,000, with modelers citing data from New York, California, and other states. It also dropped the projected number of hospital beds, intensive care unit beds, and ventilators needed in many states. California will need between 432 and 1,278 ventilators during its projected peak on April 15, models predicted, while Washington will need just 165 of the machines during its peak on April 6. A ventilator is seen at the New York City Emergency Management Warehouse, where 400 ventilators arrived and before being shipped out for distribution, due to concerns over the rapid spread of the CCP virus in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on March 24, 2020. (Caitlin Ochs/Reuters) Heart of Tension Ventilators have been at the heart of tension between some governors and President Donald Trump, who has questioned the requests from some quarters while having the national stockpile send machines to the hardest-hit states. Look, we had one state asking for 40,000 ventilators. Forty thousand. Think of it: 40,000. Its not possible. They wont need that many, and now theyre admitting they dont need that many. But were getting as many as we can to them, Trump said in Washington over the weekend at a White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing. The federal government has sent 4,400 to New York, which scrambled to obtain more machines when faced with dire predictions. Now that those have been rolled back, it wasnt clear if the state still needed more. Around 80 percent of patients who contract COVID-19 require hospital care and a subset of those need intensive care. Many of the patients in ICUs need assistance breathing, which is typically done through ventilators. Fears of ventilator shortages prompted drastic action in some states, including exploring a method known as splitting where one ventilator serves two patients. New York officials have approved the method and hospitals in the state have been using some anesthesia machines as ventilators, as well as BiPAP machines, normally used on patients who are having trouble sleeping. Michael Dowling, CEO of Northwell Health, the largest healthcare provider in the state, said on Sunday that a memo outlining guidance to medical staff on how to deal with a lack of ventilators leaked to a news outlet was a draft, adding, We are not at that point at all. We have sufficient ventilators for the foreseeable future, and were obviously getting more supply, he said on CBSs Face the Nation. About 20 percent of patients who go on a ventilator survive, according to Dowling. Patients with COVID-19 who require assistance breathing spend weeks on the machines, state officials have said, versus non-COVID patients, who spend just two or three days on them. Coronavirus Live Updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday interacted with the Central Ministers via video conference. He appreciated the leadership of the Ministers and said that the continuous feedback provided by them had been effective in strategizing for tackling COVID-19. The total number of coronavirus cases in India has risen to 4,281 today, with the country 3,851 active cases and 111 deaths. Check all the latest updates on coronavirus outbreak in India on BusinessToday.In live blog 10:35 pm: 1,01,068 samples tested on April 6, says ICMR A total of 1,01,068 samples have been tested as on April 6, 2020, ICMR said in its latest report on Monday night. As per the report, 4,135 individuals have been confirmed positive among suspected cases and contacts of known positive cases in India. "Today, on April 6, 2020, till 9 PM IST, 11,432 samples have been reported. Of these, 311 were positive for SARS-CoV-2," it said. 10:30 pm: PM Modi, Bahrain King discuss COVID-19 crisis Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation with King of Bahrain Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa over coronavirus crisis on Monday. The two leaders discussed the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis and its consequences, including on logistics chains and financial markets. The leaders agreed that their officials would remain in regular touch and ensure all possible support to each other for dealing with the challenges of COVID-19. 10:05 pm: Madhya Pradesh reports 63 new positive COVID-19 cases Madhya Pradesh on Monday reported 63 new positive COVID-19 cases, including 43 in Bhopal, 16 in Indore, 1 each in Betul, Vidisha and Ujjain and 1 more in another district. As a result, the total number of cases in the state rose to 256, says Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Health Commissioner, Madhya Pradesh. 10:00 pm: One more doctor, 11 nursing officers of Delhi State Cancer Institute tested positive for COVID-19 One more doctor and 11 nursing officers of Delhi State Cancer Institute have tested positive for coronavirus, news agency ANI reported. A total of 2 doctors and 16 nursing officers of the institute have tested positive till now, it added. 9:30 pm: Maharashtra reports 120 new COVID19 positive cases, 7 deaths on Monday Maharashtra Health Department has said that the state has reported as many as 120 new COVID19 positive cases and 7 deaths today. As a result, the total number of positive cases in Maharashtra increased to 868, while death tally increased to 52. 9:10 pm: Telangana CM KCR suggests extension of lockdown by 2 weeks Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday suggested that the coronavirus lockdown in the state shall extend by 2 weeks. However, there is no official announcement on extension yet. Telangana Chief Minister's Office now clarifies that CM K Chandrasekhar Rao suggested extension of lockdown for 2 more weeks (after April 15). He took a reference from BCG report which suggested lockdown in India will be good until June 3. No announcement of extension yet. pic.twitter.com/dxLb89RapT - ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2020 An empowered committee met today in North Block to discuss exit plan from April 14. Officials from NITI Aayog, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Minitry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Railway Board, Department of Health and Research, Information and Broadcasting Secretary, Ministry of HRD, and representatives from FICCI and CII attended the meeting. 8.02 PM: IAF continues coronavirus support operations Indian Air Force sent a consignment of medical supplies from Baghdogra to Gangtok in a Mi17V5 helicopter as part of its coronavirus support operations. 7.54 PM: Irish PM Leo Varadkar returns to duties as a doctor amid coronavirus pandemic Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has announced that the #CoronavirusLockdown shall continue in the state after April 14 till June 3. pic.twitter.com/e0zwmp3Ety ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2020 7.47 PM: Producer Karima Morani's daughters Shaza, Zoya test positive for coronavirus Bollywood producer Karima Morani's daughter Shaza and Zoya have tested positive for novel coronavirus. Now the entire will be tested for infection. 7.35 PM: Advisory asks to look for coronavirus symptoms in tigers An advisory by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to Central Zoo Authority, tiger reserves and Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, asked them to observe tigers for symptoms consistent with COVID-19 through direct observation and camera trap images. The advisory came after a tiger at Bronx Zoo in New York tested positive for coronavirus. 7.05 PM: Coronavirus news: India receives 1.7 lakh PPEs from China 7.05 PM: Decision to suspend MPLADS fund "ill-advised": RJD MP Manoj Jha An order for 80 lakh complete PPE kits (including N95 masks) had been placed on a Singapore based platform earlier & now it has been indicated that supplies will commence from 11th April with 2 lakhs, followed by 8 lakhs more in a week: Government of India ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2020 7.03 PM: Coronavirus in India: Total cases at 4,281; death toll at 111 Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated that as on April 6, 6PM, the total number of coronavirus cases in India is 4,281. Out of these, 3851 are active cases, 318 have been cured and discharged, whereas 111 have died due to the respiratory infection. 6.44 PM: Coronavirus update: 13 new cases in Kerala, total tally at 327 Kerala has reported 13 new coronavirus cases today. Out of these 9 are in Kasargod, 2 in Malappuram, 1 in Pathanamthitta and 1 in Kollam, informed CM Pinarayi Vijayan. Total number of COVID-19 cases in the state now stands at 327, he added. 6.34 PM: Rapido collaborates with Big Basket, Big Bazaar, Spencer's for delivering essentials Online bike taxi aggregator Rapido has joined hands with BigBasket, Big Baazar and Spencer's Retail to help last-mile deliveries of essential items during the 21-day lockdown period. Rapido said it would not charge any commission and will act as the platform to facilitate deliveries. 6.26 PM: 50 new coronavirus cases in Tamil Nadu; 48 of them attended Tablighi Jamaat Fifty new cases of coronavirus have emegred in Tamil Nadu, informed state Health Secretary Beela Rajesh. These patients include 48 attendees from Tablighi Jamaat, she further added. Total positive COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu is 621, including 570 Tablighi Jamaat attendees. 6.20 PM: No legal action against WhatsApp group admins, members over coronavirus jokes: PIB Fact Check Government has refuted rumours that legal action will be taken against WhatsApp group admins and members over jokes on coronavirus, and the group shall be closed for two days. "Fake message is going around on social media claiming that legal action would be taken against admin and group members who post jokes on #Coronavirus , hence group admin should close the group for 2 days. This is #Fake! No such order has been issued by the Government," PIB Fact Check tweeted. RJD MP Manoj Jha writes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Union Cabinet's decision to suspend the MPLAD funds a period of two years, states, the decision "appears to be ill-advised". #COVID19pic.twitter.com/gJlm7TdEOy ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2020 6.00 PM: Suspending MPLADS fund knee-jerk reaction; will hurt poor most, says Congress leader Manish Tewari Fake message is going around on social media claiming that legal action would be taken against admin and group members who post jokes on #Coronavirus , hence group admin should close the group for 2 days. This is #Fake! No such order has been issued by the Government pic.twitter.com/TFB5GCH2Vg PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) April 6, 2020 5.55 PM: Lifting lockdown not possible even if a single coronavirus case remains: UP Additional Chief Secretary There is little possibility of lifting lockdown after April 15 as claimed in a section of media, said Uttar Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Avanish Awasthi. We will not be in a position to lift the lockdown even if a single case of COVID-19 is left in Uttar Pradesh, he added. 5.46 PM: 4kg wheat, 1 kg rice will be given to poor without ration cards, says Kejriwal 1/2 months ahead.MPLADS is a targeted&nimble instrument to customise micro level interventions to alliviate distress. I think MPLAD Funds need to be restored.Plz re-think it once again. It is a knee jerk reaction much like the lockdown at a 4 hour notice. It will hurt poor most Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) April 6, 2020 5.35 PM: 20 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours, 10 from Nizamuddin Markaz event: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Number of coronavirus cases in Delhi has reached 523, informed CM Arvind Kejriwal. In the last 24 hours, 20 fresh cases have been reported, including 10 attendees of Tablighi Jamaat event. One person has died due to novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 7, said Kejriwal. 5.25 PM: Only 3,000 PPEs sent by Centre; I arranged 2,27,000 myself, says West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee From tomorrow, ration will be distributed at 421 govt schools to the poor who don't have ration card in Delhi. Each person will get 4 kg wheat &one kg rice. We aim to give ration to 10 lakh such people & will take more food grains from the Centre if need arises:CM Arvind Kejriwal pic.twitter.com/W8mjmnu9tg ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2020 5.18 PM: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh seeks immediate release of GST arrears and resolution of other pending issue for better preparedness against coronavirus, Only 3000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) have been sent by the Centre yesterday, I myself arranged 2,27,000 PPEs: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. #COVID19https://t.co/3HD0y3UjRk ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2020 5.17 PM: Coronavirus update: 3 new cases in Kashmir Three new cases of coronavirus have been identified in Kashmir, informed Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary-Planning, Jammu and Kashmir. So far, there are 109 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Jammu Kashmir, out of which 103 are active - 85 in Kashmir division and 18 in Jammu division. 5.05 PM: Coronavirus: India Army to bolster manpower at Narela quarantine camp The Indian Army is increasing its strength at Narela quarantine camp to 5 doctors and 31 paramedics, sources told ANI. A team of Army medical personnel has been deployed there to assist the local administration there. 5.01 PM: Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jaganmohan Reddy takes stock of coronavirus preparedness Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention for the immediate release of the states GST arrears and resolution of other pending issues to enable effective management of COVID19 crisis. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/O2qd3luiRt ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2020 4.50PM: CM Mamata Banerjee, on Monday, said that West Bengal should have a policy-making body for coronavirus, and nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee must be be engaged into it. 4.19 PM: Orders placed for 5 lakh rapid antibody testing kits for conducting COVID-19 tests in hotspots: ICMR 4.18 PM: People above 60 years account for 63 per cent COVID-19 deaths: Health ministry official 4.15 PM: During coronavirus lockdown, 16.94 lakh metric tonnes of food grains have been transported across India till now. In 13 states, 1.3 lakh metric tonnes of wheat and in 8 states, 1.32 lakh metric tonnes of rice have been allotted: Lav Agarwal, Health Ministry 4.13 PM: 25,000 Tablighi Jamaat workers quarantined The government has quarantined over 25,000 Tablighi Jamaat workers and their contacts; 5 Haryana villages where they visited have been sealed: Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) 4.12 PM: Males account for 73 pc total COVID-19 deaths, female 27 per cent: Health ministry official 4.11 PM: 693 new coronavirus cases reported since Sunday: Health ministry official 4.10 PM: 22 fresh Coronavirus positive cases reported in Rajashtan, taking the total number of cases in the state to 288. 4.05 PM: PM Modi during Cabinet meet The PM also said government would provide all possible help to farmers in harvesting season. PM suggested harnessing technology and encouraging exploration of innovative solutions like using 'truck aggregators' to connect farmers with mandis, on the lines of app-based cab services. The PM said it was imperative that leaders communicate exhaustively with the state and district administration, especially in districts which are hotspots for COVID-19 pandemic, to be apprised of the ground situation and also provide solutions to the emerging problems. 3.50 PM: Coronavirus cases in UP: 227 Sixteen more persons have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh. Areas that have reported fresh COVID-19 cases include Lucknow (6), Sitapur (8) and Agra (2), an official KGMU statement said. 3.40 PM: Hollywood superstar Chris Hemsworth's message for Indians "Namaste India, Chris Hemsworth coming to you all the way from Australia. As you may have heard, I was incredibly excited to come to India, and to celebrate this movie where it was filmed. My time in your country during the production was unforgettable and I was so looking forward to returning. But due to all that's happening in the world at the moment, I, like you, am staying home. I know things are not easy right now for everyone," he said in a video. 3.36 PM: Time to put aside differences: Rahul Gandhi Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said coronavirus is an opportunity for India to unite as "one people", putting aside differences of religion, caste and class and to forge one common purpose: the defeat of this deadly virus. "Compassion, empathy and self-sacrifice are central to this idea. Together we will win this battle," the Congress leader said. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy today held a review of COVID19 situation in the state and measures being taken to contain its spread. pic.twitter.com/OYjUkSaT40 ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2020 3.27 PM: Maulana Saad served another notice The Delhi Police's Crime Branch has served its second notice under section 91 of CrPC with more questions to the chief of Markaz, Maulana Saad, officials said. The Delhi Police issued the second notice after the reply by Maulana Saad against the first notice by crime branch was found unsatisfactory. Under section 91 of CrPC, the person or the suspect has to provide details and documents as asked by the officer. 3.26 PM: Liquor shop looted in Delhi amid lockdown rising Another incident of liquor theft has come to light from liquor shops in Delhi and NCR on the 13th day of the 21-day lockdown. Thieves broke into a shop in Delhi and stole several boxes of liquor. Thieves fled with liquor worth lakhs from a closed liquor government shop in PVC market located in Mundka area of Outer Delhi, where the entire market is closed due to lockdown. 3.15 PM: Coronavirus cases in Delhi: 503 Delhi Government has decided that Lok Nayak Hospital (that includes GB Pant Hospital) with a capacity of 2000 beds and Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital that can accommodate 450 beds will now be dedicated for coronavirus cases only. The UT has reported 7 deaths. 3.10 PM: Coronavirus cases in Punjab: 68 One more person in Mohali has tested COVID-19 positive. He is the son of one of the two persons from Mohali who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi and had tested positive earlier. He is being moved to Gian Sagar Isolation facility, Banur. The state has reported six deaths so far. 3.10 PM: 1,000 cases in Russia in one day Russia's coronavirus case tally has risen to 6,343 in the past 24 hours, a record daily increase of 954, the country's crisis response centre said on Monday. Cases have been recorded widely, but Moscow remains the epicentre of the outbreak with 591 new cases, the centre said. Forty-seven people have died across the country, it said. - Reuters 3.04 PM: AIIMS docs allege targetting The Resident Doctor's Association (RDA) of All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over 'targeting of doctors for raising genuine concerns related to COVID19 preparedness'. The #Coronavirus is an opportunity for India to unite as one people, putting aside differences of religion, caste & class; to forge one common purpose: the defeat of this deadly virus. Compassion, empathy& self sacrifice are central to this idea. Together we will win this battle. pic.twitter.com/rVmJg6tan2 Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 6, 2020 3.03 PM: Wockhardt Hospital shut amid COVID-19 scare Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai has been declared a containment zone after 26 nurses and three doctors tested positive for the deadly virus, The Times of India reported. The civic body officials have started testing people inside the hospital and no one will be allowed to leave or enter the premises unless everyone tests negative twice, the authorities said. 2.30 PM: Coronavirus cases in West Bangal The state has reported 80 cases so far, including 3 deaths. 10 patients have also bee discharged or cured. Here in the picture, West Bengal Minister Dr Sashi Panja distributes food items & Ludo game kit among people of her constituency Shyampukur in Kolkata. 2.25 PM: Coronavirus cases in Assam There are a total of 26 coronavirus positive cases in Assam so far. We have tested 2,000 samples till date, report of 165 samples to come by this evening, says Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. No death has been reported from the northeastern state so far 2.20 PM: Coronavirus cases in Karnataka Twelve new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Karnataka; total number of infections in state at 163: Govt 2.19 PM: PM Modi practices social distancing while chairing Cabinet meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs a meeting of Council of Ministers via video conferencing. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also present. Resident Doctor's Association (RDA) of All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi writes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over 'targeting of doctors for raising genuine concerns related to #COVID19 preparedness'. pic.twitter.com/hEWaiaJQRz ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2020 2.14 PM: IAF sergeant tests positive The Indian Air Force Sergeant, who was in the Nizamuddin area around the Tablighi Jamaat event, has tested negative for COVID-19 in the initial tests. As per protocol, more tests would be carried out. He was put in quarantine as a precautionary measure: Indian Air Force officials 1.57 PM: Coronavirus cases in Karnataka Karnataka has reported four deaths, taking the overall state tally to 151. Total 12 patients have recovered so far. 1.23 PM: PSUs, ports donate Rs 52 crore All major ports and public sector undertakings under Ministry of Shipping have decided to contribute Rs 52 crore as CSR fund to 'Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund' (PM CARES Fund). 1.20 PM: 769 foreigners register on 'Stranded in India' portal The Ministry of Tourism has launched portal strandedinindia.com on 31st March 2020, with a view to identify, assist and facilitate foreign tourists who are stranded in various parts of India due to the lockdown situation necessitated by the COVID-19 global pandemic. Such tourists would need to log on to the portal, provide some basic contact information and narrate the nature of issues being faced by them, if any. In the first 5 days of its operation, 769 foreign tourists from all over the country registered on the portal. 12.50 PM: Total 697 fresh COVID-19 cases in 24 hours According to Health Ministry data, India has reported a total of 3,666 active COVID-19 positive cases whereas 109 people have died due to the virus. The updated health Ministry figures also show that 291 people have been cured till date. Also read: Coronavirus update: 697 fresh COVID-19 cases, 109 deaths reported so far 12.45 PM: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II delivers rare address Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, in a rare televised address to the nation, invoked a war-time spirit of self-discipline and resolve to fight the coronavirus pandemic which has killed nearly 5,000 in the country and about 70,000 people globally, assuring Britons that "better days will return". - PTI Also read: Coronavirus in UK: Queen delivers special address, says 'better days will return' 12.40 PM: Another area in Rajashtan becomes hotspot Thirty-nine fresh cases of coronavirus have been reported in the Ramganj area of Jaipur on Sunday. The residents of Ramganj area are in a state of panic as the area has become a hotspot for coronavirus. Seventy-four cases have been reported until now. Also read: Panic is Jaipur as 39 fresh cases reported in Ramganj area 12.30 PM: Download Aarogya Setu app: PM Modi Govt has developed an Aarogya Setu app. I request all of you to tell people about it, everyone should make sure that at least 40 others install it. They will get info through it about possibly infected cases around them. In these tough times, we have to ensure this. 12.25 PM: PM Modi: We experienced yesterday at 9 pm, the strength of togetherness of 130 crores people of our country. People from every section of society and age group demonstrated this unity and strengthened the resolve in fight against COVID-19. 12.20 PM: PM Modi: I state it with full responsibility that this is a long war against coronavirus pandemic. But we do not have to get tired or take a rest in this war. We have to emerge victorious. Today, the country has only one goal and one resolve - to win this war. 12.11 PM: Indians have shown unprecedented maturity: PM Modi The maturity shown by the people during lockdown, in a large country like India, is unprecedented. No one could have imagined that the people will abide by this with such obedience and sense of service: PM Narendra Modi 12.10 PM: Tried best to implement decisions: PM Modi India's efforts have set an example before the world in tackling coronavisus pandemic. India is one of the countries which understood seriousness of this disease and waged a timely war against it. India took several decisions & tried its best to implement them on ground. 12.09 PM: All countries should come together and fight this: PM Modi India has worked rapidly with a holistic approach that is being appreciated by not only Indians but also WHO. All countries should come together and fight this, so India had active participation in the meeting of the SAARC countries and the G20 meeting: PM Narendra Modi 12.06 PM: Humanity is facing a crisis: PM Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi: "This foundation day of BJP has come at a time when not only the country but also the world is going through a difficult time. Humanity is facing a crisis, our devotion to service of the country creates our path during this challenging time." 12.00 AM: Some contacts couldn't be traced in Delhi Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain says the Delhi government has not been able to trace the contact of 70 people, out of the total number of positive cases found in Delhi. "Many of them were found to be positive only yesterday, so we will find it out by this evening," he added. West Bengal Minister Dr Sashi Panja distributes food items & Ludo game kit among people of her constituency Shyampukur in Kolkata. "It is very difficult for people to stay at home for a long time. Ludo will help them keep engaged at home & get rid of mobile addiction," she says. pic.twitter.com/sT5riel3wm ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2020 11.59 AM: Plight of cattle owners amid lockdown Cattle owners in the Union Territory say they are facing difficulties due to corona lockdown. A cattle owner says: "Price of fodder has doubled and veterinarians have stopped visiting. We had to decrease the amount of fodder that we give to our cattle." - ANI Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs a meeting of Council of Ministers via video conferencing. Union Home Minister Amit Shah & Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also present. pic.twitter.com/BposTFEIOS ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2020 11.56 AM: Almora resident tests positive for coronavirus A resident of Almora who had recently attended the Tablighi Jamaat event at Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi has tested positive for COVID-19. Total positive corona virus cases in Uttarakhand at 27. - ANI 11.52 AM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started addressing BJP workers on the party's foundation day. We have not been able to trace the contact of 70 people, out of the total number of positive cases found in Delhi. Many of them were found to be positive only yesterday, so we will find it out by this evening: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain #Coronaviruspic.twitter.com/xEkx57Fyzi ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2020 11.29 AM: Statue of Unity put up for sale on OLX An FIR has been filed against an unknown person in Gujarat who had placed an online advertisement to sell the Statue of Unity in Kevadiya in Narmada district for Rs 30,000 crore. According to the ad, the money generated would have been used to help the government meet its expenses for hospital equipment and medical infrastructure amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Also read: Coronavirus fallout: Statue of Unity put up for sale on OLX at Rs 30,000 crore; case filed 10.45 AM: PM to address BJP workers Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers today on party's 40th foundation day. 10.30 AM: India ranks extremely low in coronavirus-hit countries' list India ranks extremely low in the coronavirus-hit countries list based on the number of tests done per million population. India has reported less than 4,300 infected cases and 1,30,000 tests so far. This means India has carried out 93 tests per million population and reported only three cases per million population. Also read: Coronavirus: Is India testing enough people for coronavirus? 10.10 AM: Govt clears air around 'fake' WHO lockdown schedule The government has clarified the World Health Organisation (WHO) circular regarding the coronavirus lockdown schedule is fake. A WHO circular containing a detailed schedule of the coronavirus lockdown had been doing rounds on social media on Sunday. Chandigarh: Cattle owners in the Union Territory say they are facing difficulties due to #CoronaLockdown. A cattle owner says, "Price of fodder has doubled & veterinarians have stopped visiting. We had to decrease the amount of fodder that we give to our cattle". #COVID19pic.twitter.com/b3fjVSyAwt ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2020 10.00 AM: Check latest state-wise tally on coronavirus in India 9.45 AM: Coronavirus cases in Rajashtan: 274 Eight more people test positive for coronavirus in Rajasthan - 5 in Jhunjhunu, 2 in Dungarpur and 1 in Kota. The five people in Jhunjhunu and one in Dungarpur had attended Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi. "The total number of positive cases in the state increased to 274," says the Rajasthan Health Department. #WATCH: PM Modi's message on BJP's 40th foundation day today https://t.co/jm24WBQpLB ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2020 9.35 AM: 490 cases in 12 hours India has seen an increase of 490 COVID-19 cases in the last 12 hours. India's positive cases cross 4,000 mark -- at 4067, including 3,666 active cases, 292 cured and 109 death), says the health ministry data. 9.28 AM: Six test positive in Rajasthan Six more persons tested positive for #COVID19 in Rajasthan's Bikaner. 5 of them are relatives of 60-yr-old COVID-19 positive woman who died earlier. 1 of them is a 17-yr-old male & is a contact of a Tablighi Jamaat returnee positive case. Total 266 cases in state: State Health Dept. - ANI 9.25 AM: Assam police, govt's frontline staff to get Rs 50 lakh insurance Police personnel and other Assam government employees directly engaged in the fight against COVID-19 will get Rs 50 lakh insurance coverage, besides health workers, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced on Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the insurance coverage for the healthcare workers and the state government has decided to extend it to police personnel and all other frontline employees of departments directly engaged in containing the outbreak, Sonowal told reporters at the police headquarters here. - PTI 9.20 AM: Tiger at New York zoo tests positive The 4-year-old Malayan tiger named Nadia - and six other tigers and lions that have also fallen ill - are believed to have been infected by a zoo employee who wasn't yet showing symptoms, the zoo said. The first animal started showing symptoms March 27, and all are doing well and expected to recover, said the zoo, which has been closed to the public since March 16 amid the surging coronavirus outbreak in New York. Also read: Coronavirus in US: Tiger at NYC's Bronx Zoo tests positive for COVID-19 9.15 AM: US braces for 'toughest' week The United States on Sunday entered one of the most critical weeks so far in the coronavirus crisis, with government officials warning that the death toll in places such as New York, Michigan and Louisiana was a sign of trouble to come in other states. Also read: Coronavirus: US braces for 'toughest' week as death toll rises 9.10 AM: Coronavirus cases doubled in 4.1 days The rate of doubling of Covid-19 cases in India is 4.1 days presently but if the cases linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation would not have happened, it would have been 7.4 days, the Health Ministry said on Sunday. Also read: Coronavirus cases doubled in 4.1 days; without Markaz incident, it would have taken 7.4: Govt 9.00 AM: CEOs fear job losses, fall in revenue A snap poll conducted by apex industry chamber Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on 200 chief executives across sectors found majority of them fearing their revenues would fall more than 10 per cent and profits dip by over 5 per cent during the first six months of the current year 2020-21. While 80 per cent claimed their inventory was lying idle, 52 per cent are foreseeing job losses in their respective sectors, resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and the ensuing 21-day lockdown. Also read: Coronavirus impact: CEOs fear job losses, fall in revenue, profit, reveals CII snap poll 8.45 PM: Power demand declines 32 GW Power consumption load in India dropped around 85,300 Megawatts (MW) as people switched off electric lights for nine minutes at 9 pm on Sunday. According to the Ministry of Power, the demand in the grid went down from 1,17,300 MW at 8:49 pm to 85, 300 MW across India till 9:09 pm on April -- a reduction of 32,000 MW (32GW). The power-demand started to rise once the blackout was over. Therefore, the voltage was kept stable at a frequency between 49.7 to 50. 26 Hz, the ministry added. Also read: Power demand declines 32 GW as India turns off lights to challenge coronavirus pandemic 8.30 AM: All BJP Karyakartas to give up one meal on our Foundation Day as a way to show solidarity with people facing hardships during the lockdown. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Galih Gumelar (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 6, 2020 18:38 644 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd0157d0 1 National #COVID19,COVID-19,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,coronavirus,prison,#prison,corruption,#corruption Free The government is facing scrutiny over its plan to grant inmates early release as part of its efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in overcrowded correctional facilities, with some alleging a proposal to free graft convicts is motivated by ulterior political interests. A plan to release inmates, including graft convicts, was first brought up by Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly in a virtual meeting with the House of Representatives Commission III overseeing legal affairs last week. He said overcrowding in prisons could worsen the spread of COVID-19 and suggested that 50,000 inmates should be released to mitigate contagion. Yasonna, an Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician, said the 50,000 inmates eligible for early release included some 15,442 drug convicts who had served five to 10 years in prison, 300 graft inmates aged 60 years and above, 1,457 special crime convicts with chronic diseases and 53 foreign prisoners who had served two-thirds of their sentences. To support the plan, Yasonna said the government had considered relaxing a 2012 government regulation that stipulates strict requirements be met when considering granting remissions and parole for those convicted of extraordinary crimes, including corruption. Yasonnas plan was immediately met with criticism from analysts and antigraft activists, who suspected it would enable prominent figures from political parties now serving time in prison to return to the political stage. The executive director of the Indonesian Political Review (IPR) Ujang Komarudin said these figures were still valuable to their respective parties because of their influence, connections, financial resources and negotiating power. As a simple example, they can exert their influence when controversial bills are set to be deliberated by the House, Ujang told The Jakarta Post on Monday. So, is the plan really focused on halting the spread of the disease? I think not. I sense there is a strong political agenda. According to data from antigraft watchdog Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), many political figures stand to benefit from the early release plan, including former Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto and former United Development Party (PPP) chairman Suryadharma Ali. Other potential names include former Riau governor Rusli Zainal of Golkar and former Papua governor Barnabas Suebu, who was also a former NasDem Party member. Ujang also accused the government of misusing its power to accommodate the interests of other political parties allied with the PDI-P, noting that the ruling party was supported by six of the nine parties in the House. Bear in mind that the law minister is a member of the ruling party. As a politician, he will likely follow the party line, he said. Donal Fariz of the ICW said the plan was another sign that political powers within Joko Jokowi Widodos administration had been looking to undermine the countrys anticorruption campaign ever since Jokowis began his second term in October. Last year, Jokowis administration was condemned for allowing a contentious amendment to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law to pass. It contains long-disputed articles that observers and antigraft activists said would defang the KPK, currently the most powerful corruption-fighting body in the country. Looking at the governments past moves, its evident that COVID-19 is merely a justification for the ruling powers to allow early release [of graft convicts], Donal said. PDI-P lawmaker Heri Herman denied the accusations, saying that Yasonnas plan was a manifestation of the governments humane approach to the pandemic. We believe the government should put humanity first in times of crisis; Thats why we support the idea [of releasing inmates], Heri told the Post. During his recent [virtual] meeting with the lawmakers, the minister made clear that inmates would be required to have fulfilled two-thirds of their sentences and be above 60 years of age. So, its not just about graft convicts, he said. Taufik Basari, a NasDem lawmaker, concurred with Heri, saying that the government needed to step up its effort to contain the virus. I believe the plan [of releasing convicts] is aimed only at saving lives, as we are now in a state of emergency. The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), however, has voiced opposition to the plan, with party spokesperson Ahmad Fathul Bari arguing that corruption was an extraordinary crime, which often resulted in intolerable state losses. The PKS, he said, suspected there was an ulterior motive behind the plan. In a nutshell, we oppose the idea of releasing graft convicts, even if its based on humanitarian considerations. Jokowi, however, was quick to clarify the governments stance on Monday, saying it had no intention to release graft convicts, who are categorized as special crime inmates. He said the governments plan would only include inmates incarcerated for general criminal offenses. I want to say that we have never talked about graft prisoners in our meetings, the President said in a Cabinet meeting on Monday. -- Marchio Irfan Gorbiano contributed to this story Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan today convened a regular consultation devoted to the implementation of capital projects for water supply for this year and the loan programs of previous years. The Prime Minister was reported on the improvement and modernization of irrigation and water supply systems in Armenia, as well as the works for construction of dams in Kaps and Vedi. Prime Minister Pashinyan emphasized that the course of implementation of capital projects in all sectors will be in his focus and stated that these projects will help solve major social and economic issues. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 02:00:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Volunteer nurses arrive at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi airport in Italy, April 4, 2020. (Photo by Gianni Schicchi/Xinhua) Italy has registered 128,948 infections since the start of the outbreak, up from Saturday's 124,632. ROME, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Italy registered 525 coronavirus deaths over the past 24 hours, the lowest one-day total since March 19, health officials said Sunday. The country registered its one-day high of 969 fatalities on March 27. The death toll has decreased in five of nine days since then. Still, the coronavirus pandemic that claimed its first life in Italy on Feb. 20 has now resulted in a total of 15,887 deaths, more than in any other country based on official figures. Police clean the ground in Rome, Italy, April 4, 2020. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua) All told, Italy has registered 128,948 infections since the start of the outbreak, up from Saturday's 124,632. The number of active cases in the country climbed to 91,246, up from 88,274 a day earlier. Of those infected, 28,949 are hospitalized with symptoms and 3,977 are in intensive care. The remaining nearly 60,000 cases represent people convalescing at home in self-isolation. The total number of recovered individuals rose to 21,815, an increase of 819. That number is smaller than the 1,238 registered as cured in the previous 24-hour period. A carousel is closed due to the coronavirus pandemic in Rome, Italy, April 3, 2020. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua) As the novel coronavirus has wrecked work schedules and shut down large gatherings across the New Orleans area, its residents have embraced the outdoors, reviving solo pastimes they had long abandoned. Others have turned outdoor trips that used to be social and boisterous into smaller-scale affairs, and say they have forged stronger family ties in the process. Robert Bohne, 50, has been regularly heading to the banks of various rivers and lakes near his Mandeville home. To cut their risk of catching the disease, his family escapes to spots few locals would think to go, like along the Mississippi River close to Natchez. Bohne, a financial advisor, said it's the most he has fished in years. "It's funny, because my first memory was in a boat with my father, in the Atchafalaya Basin," he said. "We relied on that to feed ourselves. This time has brought back those feelings I had forgotten all about." Outdoor adventures are some of the few activities allowed by Gov. John Bel Edwards and local parishes during the coronavirus crisis. As long as too many people don't gather in one place, and maintain a six-foot distance from each other, residents may exercise, fish or hunt, according to the governor's order. Experts say that distancing should help slow the spread of the disease and relieve the burdens on area hospitals, though not everyone has followed the guidelines. From New Orleans to Covington, there have been instances where people have gathered in large numbers, prompting closures and arrests in some cases. Meanwhile, Bohne and others have sought solitude in the outdoors. On Saturday, Al LaBostrie of Lacombe stood in the mud with bucket and net off of Lake Road, catching grass shrimp to be used as bait. Soon after, decked in a wide-brimmed hat to protect from the sun, he headed out into the bayou. Knowing there are few better ways to socially distance than on the open water, anglers have grabbed their fishing poles and found their way to Anthony Puglia Jr. in recent weeks. "We saw an increase in sales when it came to fishing supplies, crab nets, and things like that," said Puglia, of Puglia's Sporting Goods in Metairie. "A lot of customers are taking an opportunity and calling local fishing guides and going in shore, and off shore." Most fish species spawn in the spring, so March through May can mean sizable hauls for anyone with a bait and a hook, said Randall Shaw Jr., captain and owner of Louisiana Fishing Charters in Delacroix. The past few weeks of warm, breezy weather have made the water doubly appealing for local anglers. 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 Still, the increasing allure of fishing among locals isn't enough to make up for what Shaw is losing because of the decline in tourists and corporate bookings. His catch is only a handful of bookings a week, compared with the 20 to 50 in normal times. "One end hurts, the other end does well. That's the industry," Shaw said. To bounce back, Shaw's running a "COVID-19 special" - a discount - for New Orleanians who want to get on the water. Biking, already a popular activity in and around New Orleans, has surged amid disease-induced shutdowns. At Massey's Outfitters in Mid-City, manager Will Estes has been fielding 10 or 12 requests for bike repairs a day. New bikes were sold out two weeks ago at Dick's Sporting Goods in Metairie, manager Carmen Johnson said. Hikers have also taken to the trails, despite the closure of national parks and new limited hours for state parks. But clustering has made for awkward moments in some areas. On a recent trip to Boy Scout Boardwalk in Lacombe, Shannon and Russell Bolin-Elfers's two children ran into friends from school. "All of the adults were constantly saying, '6 feet, y'all! 6 feet!' And the kids just groaned and stepped back," Shannon Bolin-Elfers said. The time off from school, and in some cases, from work, has afforded families more experiences together than they ever would have had when things were faster paced. The limits on large social groups, meanwhile, have locked in time with family that had once been reserved for friends. Before all this, Michael Patrick Welch would get together with 10 of his buddies in hours-long "fishing therapy sessions" that were more social than family-oriented. But since school closed last month, Welch and daughters Cleopatra, 10, and Xyla, 5, have been launching his 16-foot boat at Shell Beach in St. Bernard, steering out into the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet Canal and to Lake Borgne. They hook speckled trout and redfish with live shrimp bought from Campo's, a family-run marina. When they get home to Algiers, Cleo and Xyla play in the backyard sprinklers, or take their bikes around the neighborhood. Recently, Xyla, full of glee, screamed, "'I love the coronavirus!'" Welch recalled. He laughed, then groaned. "'Like, I know what you mean, but you shouldn't say that out loud.'" 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 per cent 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 worlds 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 Chinas 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 Gabons reported 21 cases are in the city, where a large proportion of the countrys 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. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. ) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Kapfidze said that one way to gauge homebuyer interest was by measuring internet searches, since most homebuyers begin the process online. LendingTree analyzed Google search data to see how popular the term homes for sale was in the 50 largest metro areas in the US. Google measures search popularity on a scale of zero to 100, with 100 meaning the search is at peak popularity. LendingTree found that the number of people searching for homes for sale grew from 2019 to early 2020 but interest in the search term has fallen off significantly over the last few weeks as COVID-19 has spread. The company also projected what the searchs popularity may be in the weeks to come. It is difficult to predict how the virus will continue to impact the economy and consumer behavior; however, if the decline in homebuying search interest persists, the average search-interest value across these 50 metros could drop from an average of 90.3 at its peak this year to 32.5 by the end of May, Kapfidze said. Ultimately, this could be an indicator of a significant slowdown in home sales. Searches for homes for sale have declined across all 50 metro areas studied by LendingTree. The average decline was 32% from each metros 2020 peak value, LendingTree said. Tucson, Ariz., Columbus, Ohio, and San Diego posted the largest drops in search interest, according to LendingTree. The average decline in those metro areas was 45% from their peak 2020 values. Charlotte, N.C., Raleigh, N.C., and Austin, Texas, posted the smallest decline, with the popularity of the search term falling only 19%% from its 2020 peak. London: Boris Johnson is in intensive care with coronavirus after the British Prime Minister's condition worsened, 24 hours after he was first admitted to a London hospital. Johnson remains conscious and was moved into intensive care in case he needs a ventilator - a treatment that is required for the most serious COVID-19 cases. Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks from self isolation on April 3. Credit:AP Early on Tuesday, local time, there had been no further change in Johnson's condition, according to two sources close to him. He was first admitted on Sunday night because his coronavirus symptoms persisted, more than seven days after testing positive for COVID-19. In this image provided by the U.S. Army, recent Army basic combat training graduates have their temperatures taken as they arrive at Fort Lee, Va. Read more WASHINGTON The Army will temporarily hold off on sending new recruits to basic training in order to strengthen protective measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus on those bases, the head of Army Training and Doctrine Command said Monday. The pause will be in effect for at least two weeks and affects new recruits who would be going to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga., Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C., and Fort Sill in Lawton, Okla. This COVID-19 virus is a new condition in our training environment, Gen. Paul Funk III, Commanding General of Army Training and Doctrine Command, told reporters at the Pentagon. The pause will allow the Army to refine how it accepts and transports recruits during the pandemic, Funk said. The command had initially put in place policies where recruits would be screened outside the gate with a questionnaire and temperature check before they entered the base. In recent weeks the command has added requirements to contact each recruit multiple times in the days before they ship to ensure they are feeling well and that they have been isolating and social distancing. Those who are currently in BCT and Advanced Individual Training will continue training under the screening and monitoring guidelines established last month and will proceed to their next assignments upon graduation, the Army said in a statement. FAQ: Your coronavirus questions, answered. This tactical pause will allow (bases) to ensure appropriate safety measures are in place and are operating effectively at training installations, the Army said. Funk would not specify how many coronavirus cases there were among recruits at each base, but said the numbers were low, and that across the roughly 100,000 personnel in his command, including recruits, trainers and support, there were 102 current cases. Recruits already going through basic training will continue and be kept on base, he said. Funk said the decision was based on lessons learned from Army commanders at bases in South Korea and Italy, where, despite an outbreak in communities in those countries, strict lockdown measures have helped keep the numbers of infections low among service members based there. Weve taken their lessons learned from establishing a bubble around their forces, and adjusted them to our particular circumstances, Funk said. The man police allege hosted a Pink Floyd cover concert at his Rumson home - in violation of the states restrictions aimed at combating the coronavirus - never invited the approximately 30 partiers who cops said they found on his front lawn, his attorney said Monday. John Maldjian, 54, was charged with disorderly persons offenses, including reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and charges for violating the emergency orders, according to authorities. Authorities said they found Maldjian playing an acoustic guitar for a gathering of middle-aged adults, some in lawn chairs in the front yard Saturday night. When officers moved in to shut down the party, they were met with shouts of F-the police and Welcome to Nazi Germany, according to borough police. Gov. Phil Murphy has labeled people who violate his social distancing orders as members of the knucklehead hall of shame. The regulations were put in place to stop the fast-spreading virus. Maldjians attorney, however, on Monday called the incident a misunderstanding. The event was supposed to be viewed via an online broadcast from peoples homes. Johns intention last Saturday was to perform a Facebook Live concert for his friends online, attorney Mitchell J. Ansell, of Ansell, Grimm and Aaron, said. As a matter of fact, the name of this performance on Facebook was Stay At Home. John decided at the last minute to conduct this performance on his front porch. He never intended, nor invited, a crowd of people to come watch him play in person, Ansell said in a statement. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage A couple of neighbors stopped over to watch the impromptu show while practicing social distancing, according to the attorney. "As the night went on, and it became dark, my client was unable to see the extent of people that had gathered to watch, Ansell said. "Once the police arrived, John ended the performance and went inside. To be clear, there was never a band or even two guitarists playing, it was just John and his guitar. Ansell said his client didnt know about the insults and Nazi references that police said they encountered at the scene. Most importantly, John has absolutely no knowledge of the horrible and vulgar things that people allegedly said to the police. He is disgusted that anyone would address the police in such a fashion. He hopes that whomever said these terrible statements is apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, Ansell said. Maldjian had absolutely no malicious intentions on Saturday night, and never wanted this to escalate like it has, his attorneys statement added. My client did make the mistake of conducting this virtual concert on his front porch. This is a mistake that John will have to live with for the rest of his life, Ansell said. The story received widespread coverage and led to a flood of posts on social media outraged over the allegations amid the global pandemic. He is truly sorry for making this decision, and wishes to convey his apology to not only the Rumson Police Department, but to the entire community at large. John is fully prepared to accept whatever consequences are deemed appropriate for making this mistake, Ansell said. Meanwhile on Monday, the state Attorney Generals Office said a second person was charged for his alleged role in the Pink Floyd party. Ryan Sheftel, 46, of Rumson, faces charges of disorderly conduct and violating a borough ordinance by disturbing the peace. Sheftel cursed at police as they dispersed the crowd and was the one who shouted, Welcome to Nazi Germany, according to the Attorney Generals Office. New Jersey ranks second in the country for the number of infected residents, with 41,090 people positive for the illness and 1,003 deaths statewide. 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. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A 53-year-old COVID-19 positive railway technician has died at a hospital in Siliguri, following which at least 12 railway medical staffers have been sent to home-quarantine, officials said on Monday. The deceased, who was a technician at the diesel shed at West Bengal's Siliguri, died at the isolation ward of the North Bengal Medical College & Hospital in the town on Sunday, they said, adding he had tested positive for coronavirus. Initially, he was admitted with fever and cough on March 24 at NJP Railway Hospital, from where he was referred to the Desun Nursing Home on March 25, the officials said. The next day, he was shifted to the isolation ward of the North Bengal Medical College & Hospital (NBMC&H). Officials said that although his first two test reports for COVID-19' returned negative at NBMC&H, he was quarantined for further observation. Another test conducted on April 4 was found positive, they said. Following his death, the railways' 12 medical staffers -- two doctors and 10 paramedical staff -- have been sent for home-quarantine, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) This new entity should give priority to negotiating peace with the Taliban and minimising corruption by the elites. Several weeks after the historic United States-Taliban agreement in Doha, the situation in Afghanistan seems more intractable than at any time in the last 19 years. Contrary to the promises, the war continues while the hope for peace is slimming. Disappointed in the Afghan leadership, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo slashed $1bn in aid to the country after he failed to broker a power-sharing deal between political rivals incumbent President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah. Both declared themselves president after presidential election results were announced and simultaneously held inauguration ceremonies on March 9. In Washington, the opportunity to finally end the USs longest war outweighs any criticism about the confusing parameters of the deal. In Kabul, some significant players, including Ghani, are only reluctantly cooperating with Zalmay Khalilzad, the US peace envoy, who is pushing to convene the intra-Afghan dialogue as soon as possible, now that the agreements March 10 deadline has passed. The initial political resistance to the Doha accords, including Ghanis decision not to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners or to name a negotiating team, indicates that reconciling the conflicting interests of the Afghan players will not be easy. Optimistic policymakers hoped that Afghanistans September 2019 presidential election would deliver a legitimate president who could unify the nation around peace, ease the US military withdrawal, and lead the intra-Afghan dialogue with the Taliban. That did not happen. Ghanis reelection remains clouded in controversy, surrounded by doubts at the impartiality of the electoral commissions. The election conundrum continues to undermine the peace process. So what is the solution? The way to bring these two processes together is to create a Government of National Reconciliation (GNR) with, ideally, Ghani responsible for governance and Abdullah for the peace and reconciliation efforts. The GNR would be fundamentally different from the National Unity Government (NUG) which has run Afghanistan for the past five years. Unlike the NUG, which had a reform agenda, the mandate of the GNR would be to focus on negotiations with the Taliban to reach a political settlement on the modalities of the Talibans participation in power and the type of future Afghan state. Its executive and administrative scope would be circumscribed, lessening the opportunities for the president to abuse or centralise power. This could be done by introducing an executive prime minister whose defined and meaningful set of authorities could provide checks on the unrestrained king-style authorities of the office of president. The GNRs goal would essentially be to negotiate itself out of existence, not serve five years. The current parliament could continue to sit and debate, and this could even be helpful if its members took their representation role more seriously, but they would have little practical impact on the work of the GNR beyond confirming ministers. This is not so different from their current weak role. The Afghan political class would likely resist this reduction of their prerogatives, but in the end, the government is almost entirely dependent on the international community, which funds two-thirds of the budget. A coordinated donor effort to only fund essential functions of the government while negotiations proceed would reduce the possibilities of corruption and force Afghan government officials to focus on the peace process. The defence and interior ministries and the security agencies, still backed by Operation Resolute Support, as well as the finance ministry, would need to continue, but if there is a ceasefire even their role would become less important. The GNR would have as its priority naming a representative team, which would ideally be comprised of younger, more politically astute Afghans who have a stake in the political future of the country, to negotiate with the Talibans existing team. It could also name an authoritative national reconciliation council to set the broad parameters of the governments position. The president could be part of this council or even chair it, but his role should be to shape consensus, not dictate to it. Within this broad structural conception, many details would have to be worked out. The record of Afghan elites in finding consensus or even thinking of the long term is hardly positive. But this proposal would structure incentives in a way that is more conducive to consensus than the questionable election of a weak president who has divided the political elite. Things have moved far beyond the realm of ideal outcomes. Too many opportunities have been squandered and we are now in the realm of last chances. The growing desire of the international community to remove troops from Afghanistan should focus minds. Diminishing the importance and rent value of ministries and other executive positions should reduce infighting. The expected short life of the government itself should sharpen focus on a future Afghanistan that involves the reconcilable Taliban, but is not dominated by them. As intra-Afghan negotiations begin, the Taliban may even consider joining the GNR. International impatience is driven by fatigue but also by a sense of frustration that its resources have been squandered on subsidising the squabbles of Afghan elites. Their past corruption has paradoxically given them a great deal to lose. The international community should not give them further opportunities for self-enrichment without responsibility. They must make way for the next generation to negotiate a long-lasting political settlement with the Taliban. The international community should use its power of incentives to ensure that this is the only way forward. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 04/06/2020 ADVERTISEMENT LISA AND USMAN ADVERTISEMENT ED AND ROSEMARIE ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT GEOFFREY AND VARYA ADVERTISEMENT DARCEY AND TOM ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT STEPHANIE AND ERIKA ADVERTISEMENT YOLANDA AND WILLIAMS ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT AVERY AND ASH ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. : Before the 90 Days featured Darcey Silva and Tom Brooks breaking up once and for all, Yolanda getting blackmailed, Usman threatening to end his relationship with Lisa over her being controlling, Stephanie Matto getting into an explosive fight with Erika, and Ed Brown revealing he and Rosemarie made love during Sunday night's Season 4 episode on TLC.Like : Before the 90 Days' first three seasons, the fourth season follows Americans who started online romantic relationships with overseas partners as they travel overseas hoping to get engaged to someone they've never met in person and then begin the K-1 Visa immigration process.Along the way, they'll encounter challenges that include large age gaps, language barriers, cultural issues, and questionable pasts.The couples who appeared on Episode 7 of : Before the 90 Days' fourth season were Darcey, a 45-year-old from Middletown, CT, and Tom, a 39-year-old from Nottingham, United Kingdom; Ed, a 54-year-old San Diego, CA, and Rosemarie, a 23-year-old from the Philippines; Lisa, a 52-year-old from York, PA, and Usman "SojaBoy," a 30-year-old from Nigeria; Avery, a 32-year-old from Seattle, WA, and Ash, a 38-year-old from Australia; Yolanda, a 51-year-old from Las Vegas, NV; Stephanie, a 29-year-old from Yonkers, NY, and Erika, a 24 year-old from Australia; and Geoffrey Paschel, a 41-year-old from Knoxville, TN, and Varya, a 30-year-old from Russia.David, a 60-year-old from Las Vegas, NV, was not featured in this episode.And viewers have yet to discover whether Yolanda's boyfriend Williams, a 40-year-old from England, and David's girlfriend Lana, a 27-year-old from Ukraine, actually exist and are who they say they are.Below is what was shown on the latest episode of : Before the 90 Days.The day arrived in which Lisa was supposed to meet Usman's mother, but Usman suddenly disappeared after he told his fiancee he was going to walk a friend to his car and say goodbye.Lisa wasn't okay with Usman leaving her alone in a foreign country, but he said it wasn't okay for him to apologize to her day and night for things."You are not a god," Usman said. "You are not up to 10 days in Nigeria and how many times have I said, 'I'm sorry?' I can't even count."Lisa told Usman not to be a "drama queen," but he wasn't about to let Lisa control his life.Usman thought it was ridiculous Lisa got mad at him for just escorting his friend out of the hotel, and he told Lisa they had a serious problem."I guarantee you tomorrow we'll have [another] problem. I cannot live in that kind of life," Usman told Lisa."Because it's better to live in prison... I can't put myself in prison just to make you happy all the time. If this is how you want me to be, then I think it's better for you to just go your way and let me go my way."Usman said in a confessional he had been complying with Lisa and finally had enough. Usman was ready to make a decision about the future of his relationship, and he wasn't sure his future included Lisa being his wife."If this is how it's going to continue, we don't need to get married," Usman told the cameras.After their big fight, Usman took off for a while and wouldn't speak to Lisa. He said Lisa was bossier than he had ever expected. He dreamed of being a famous musician in the United States, but he didn't want to sacrifice too much just to make his dream come true.Lisa felt everything she did for Usman wasn't enough, and she insisted no one is perfect and Usman had to make up his mind about her quickly.Usman told Lisa that he never insulted her for two years and he had so much respect for her but he worried about how she would treat him in the United States when he'd have no family or friends to run to.Lisa called her stay "very stressful," but Usman was scared to move to America because of how Lisa had been acting.Lisa said her behavior was a result of not sleeping well and being in a foreign country, so she asked Usman for another chance and to move on with the next chapter of their life together."I love Lisa and I want to make her happy, but if we get married, we need a plan to fix our problems," Usman said in a confessional.Lisa had taken a risk for love and feared returning to America alone. She said the breakup would destroy the both of them.Rose had given Ed a second chance after their big fight, and he was so thankful and feeling much more comfortable about things considering Rose had finally shared some things about her past with him.When the couple returned to Ed's hotel, Rose was feeling much better because she just wanted Ed to support her like a girlfriend and future wife.Ed asked Rose to put her robe and slippers on for a day of relaxation, and he ordered a bottle of champagne for them to enjoy. Ed was looking forward to his first kiss with Rose, but he was fine with taking things slowly."I don't have her temperature yet when it comes to romance, but I want to show Rose how romantic I can be," Ed said in a confessional.When Rose exited the hotel bathroom, he gave her a glass of champagne with a strawberry in it and toasted to his "queen." Ed then gave Rose a foot massage, but she seemed totally weirded out by it.While rubbing her feet with oil, Ed asked Rose if he could kiss her. Rose allowed Ed to kiss her on the cheek, and then she let him give her a little sweet kiss on the lips.Ed said the kiss was amazing and he wanted Rose to feel his love, but she appeared a little uncomfortable. The pair then exchanged professions of love.After sleeping in the same bed, Rose refused to tell the cameras what happened. However, Ed shared that he and his girlfriend had "made love" and "it was awesome." Ed gushed about how he was on Cloud 9 and couldn't wait to have sex again.Rose said she didn't like Ed's beard and it hurt her to kiss him, and Ed noticed Rose didn't shave her legs and they were really hairy. Ed therefore made a deal with Rose to shave his beard if she'd be willing to shave her legs.Ed explained leg hair isn't very feminine for a woman and he doesn't like it and thinks "it's gross." Ed told Rose that she could have soft legs and he'd love that. Rose decided to shave her legs, and then Ed followed suit.Ed was about to meet Rose's family, and he was especially nervous about meeting her sister Maria because Maria had asked him for money to keep her store open and supposedly asked him not to tell Rose.Ed seemed to feel guilty about keeping a secret from Rose.The pair then traveled three hours away from Manila, and they'd be staying with Rose's sister. Ed was shocked by the conditions and couldn't believe how terrible they were, but he knew he couldn't back out of staying there now.There were stray dogs and chickens running around, trash in the streets, and tiny vendor carts -- including one that belonged to Rose's sister Maria, who sold flip flops.Ed seemed even more surprised when he walked into Rose's home."It's all open up above and they don't really have a front door. It's just a curtain of CD covers, and it's all concrete with sheets hanging and covering to, I guess, make it more homely," Ed told the cameras, as he was sweating from the heat and lack of air conditioning."I expected it to be pretty bad, but this is really bad."Ed finally met Rose's "adorable" son Prince, who called Ed "Daddy," and Ed said he was "enamored with" the little boy.Ed knew if he proposed to Rose, he was going to be a father again at 54 years old. Ed also met Rose's parents as well as Maria, who thought Ed was smaller and fatter than she had expected.Ed said the place was made of all concrete with sheets hanging up to make it seem more welcoming. Ed and Rose's family dined on some chicken and fish, and Ed asked Rose's dad if he approved of their relationship given the age difference.Rose's father wanted to know Ed's intentions with his daughter, and Ed said he just wanted to get to know Rose and wasn't going to play any games. Ed, however, worried he was just Rose's way to get out of the Philippines and move to America.Geoffrey had been in Russia for a week and was about to travel to Varya's hometown of Siberia by taking a red-eye flight to meet her mother and family. Geoffrey thought all drama was behind them, and so he was excited but a little bit nervous.Varya's mother was worried and not thrilled about the idea of her daughter moving to the United States, so Varya wasn't sure how this meeting was going to go.Geoffrey and Varya filmed themselves in a bathroom supposedly joining the mile-high club, and then they landed in a "wild land with bears, far from civilization," according to Varya.Varya wanted her mother to really like Geoffrey, so she advised her boyfriend to not show up empty-handed. She couldn't believe Geoffrey didn't even pick up some flowers, so on the drive over, Geoffrey asked their driver to stop so he could pick some wildflowers from a field."My mom is a traditional Siberian woman. That makes me nervous that she won't like Geoffrey, and I will never marry a man who my family does not like," Varya told the cameras.Geoffrey was then introduced to Varya's mother, who joked about how Geoffrey seemed to pick her flowers from a nearby schoolyard. Geoffrey's first impression was that Varya's mother was "sweet and loving."Geoffrey and Varya went into the kitchen and began cooking together, and Varya's mother Larissa thought Geoffrey seemed nice and pleasant. Larissa, however, was against Varya moving so far away from her.But Geoffrey told Larissa that Varya already lived a five-hour plane ride away from her. Larissa wanted to know her daughter was okay and safe at all times, so Larissa wanted to find out whether she and Varya could really trust Geoffrey.Geoffrey had a tough time saying they could trust him because he was withholding a secret from Varya about his criminal past and having spent time in prison. The ex-convict had spent some time behind bars for stealing drugs, and he just hoped Varya wouldn't walk away from him forever.Darcey finally met Tom in New York to talk, but she had spent weeks being "totally confused" about where she stood with him, especially after seeing photos of Tom with another woman.Tom said he still had romantic feelings for Darcey but they had some issues they needed to work out.When the pair reunited at a table in a restaurant, Darcey wouldn't accept a kiss from Tom and noted that a handshake would be fine. She was clearly ticked off, and Tom seemed a bit caught off-guard.Darcey had apparently just returned from Malta, while Tom had traveled from Toronto. Darcey revealed she was upset and disappointed Tom had not called her on her birthday, and it appeared she was choking back some tears.Darcey sarcastically thanked Tom for squeezing her into his schedule for a brief coffee meeting, and then he said, "What actually happened to us?""I don't know. It seemed like you just shut down," Darcey replied."I don't ever want to hurt you. That was never my intention. It wasn't," Tom said. "You are my best friend who I spent a lot of time talking to for quite some years, and you were this lovely and wonderful woman."Tom told Darcey that she had a certain set of things she wanted, while he had his own set of expectations. Tom said he needed a woman who could be there for him yet Darcey was always preoccupied with talking about herself.Darcey said the situation was actually the opposite, and Tom accused Darcey of interrupting and talking over him.Darcey told Tom that he was probably just trying to cover up something, and then she demanded that he man up and tell her what was going on. Darcey didn't want to be fed any "B-S."Darcey told Tom that she knew about his "new girl," and Tom replied, "Yeah. The person you are talking about is from three weeks ago."Darcey asked Tom to come clean, and he told the cameras he had met someone named Shannon in Milan during Fashion Week while he and Darcey were spending time apart.Tom revealed he and Shannon enjoyed some drinks and spent the night together but he hadn't told Darcey about this woman because he was "confused about a few things."Tom then dropped a bombshell and told Darcey, "I met someone who loves me the way I wanted to be loved.""I'm not okay with that," Darcey replied.Darcey thought she and Tom were going to talk about and work on their own relationship, and she said it hurt to hear the truth. Tom accused Darcey of being preoccupied with other things and said it was really hard for him to listen about her ex Jesse Meester all the time.Tom admitted he felt jealous, saying he wished he could have loved Darcey the way Jesse did."Because your notion of love is not me," Tom insisted. "You had it with him, and I love you in a different way. I love you like you are my sister. I ended up feeling like you were my sister or a friend.""Oh boy, well you should have told me that before we got in the sack," Darcey replied. "Awkward."Darcey said Tom was deflecting things onto her so he would feel better about being unfaithful. Tom asked to remain friends, but Darcey said she wanted to walk away and have a totally fresh start."Move on with your life. I don't want anything to do with you. You are nothing to me right now," Darcey told Tom."I am glad. And try not to ruin the next one," Tom noted.Darcey felt Tom had never respected her as a partner, a lover, or a friend. Darcey vented about how Tom needed to give her a break because he was with another woman for weeks.Tom then asked Darcey, "Did you put weight on?""Yeah, good. Wonderful. Enjoy your life," Darcey griped."I will now that you're not in it," Tom said."Good, same here. Good riddance," Darcey responded, before venting to the cameras Tom is "disgusting" and "not a good person."Tom claimed there was nothing worth holding onto from his relationship with Darcey and their romance was 100 percent over and done with.Darcey insisted she was glad her relationship was finished and he should've told her that over the phone weeks ago. Darcey cried and told the cameras, "He's not perfect! That's not someone I want to be around. I don't deserve to be treated that way, and no one will take advantage of me ever again."Stephanie had been in Australia for two days, and she said Erika had been very "gentle and sweet." Stephanie wasn't ready to be intimate yet, but Erika said she respected Stephanie's decision not to have sex right away.Stephanie felt she was really getting to know Erika better, and she had high hopes they might be able to spend the rest of their lives together.Erika then took Stephanie to an arts and crafts place where they were going to make decorative and colorful molds of their breasts. Erika thought the activity was fun and silly and would loosen Stephanie up, but Stephanie seemed shock when she discovered the girls were supposed to create molds of each other's chests.Stephanie thought the activity was "really strange" since other women were around, and she didn't know what Erika was trying to communicate to her.Stephanie said it was "a little too much" for their stage of dating, and she wished Erika had asked her if she wanted to or would even be willing do something like this before just diving in to the intimate experience.Erika admitted it was unfair of Stephanie to expect her to pick up her entire life and move to the United States, and Erika felt a lot of pressure because Stephanie basically suggested their relationship was not going to work out long-term unless she moved to New York.Erika is a professional photographer who had weddings booked, so she wasn't thrilled. Stephanie, however, said she and Erika had already talked about moving to New York and Erika previously seemed interested in relocating."You're telling me that you want to have this next big relationship [and have me move] and whatever, and then on the other hand, you're essentially telling me you're not ready to be intimate, and that's really confusing," Erika confessed to Stephanie.Later on, Stephanie decided to take Erika out on a dinner date, and she even gifted Erika a crystal flower crown to wear.Erika was a little confused since Stephanie was sending her mixed signals, but Stephanie explained Erika probably got the wrong idea of her based on her social media accounts. Stephanie posts very sexy photos, and so Erika admitted she thought Stephanie was going to be a little bit different.However, Erika assured Stephanie that her feelings for her were strong.Stephanie then confronted Erika about having seen a dating app installed on her phone. Stephanie asked if Erika had been dating anyone else during their four months of getting to know each other, and Erika said that wasn't the case.Stephanie asked Erika if she would delete the app, and Erika snapped about a lack of trust in their romance. Erika went on to delete the app, but she thought Stephanie went about it completely the wrong way.Erika vented about how everything seemed to make Stephanie uncomfortable, and then Stephanie broke down into tears at the table. Stephanie said Erika clearly didn't understand her at all, and then Erika took off saying her girlfriend had treated her "like sh-t.""It shouldn't have been a big deal. I just asked her to delete an app that bothered me. I honestly don't see how, like, I can come back from that, because she really just showed her true colors to me right then and there," Stephanie cried to the cameras."I really just want to go home now."Yolanda and her daughter Kara went to a coffee shop to get some work done for their online retail business. Yolanda had yet to buy a ticket to visit Williams in England in order to meet him for the first time, but he had yet to tell her which airport to fly into.Yolanda had been talking to Williams on Instagram and online for seven months, so she wanted to move forward with their relationship. However, Williams' Instagram suddenly got deleted, and Williams apparently claimed he had no idea what happened and he couldn't sign into his account.Williams sent Yolanda heart emojis, and so she chose to believe him. However, Williams' Instagram account remained shut down, and Kara was very suspicious of her mother's boyfriend and his intentions.Yolanda was still positive she wanted to travel to England, but Kara was convinced Williams was sending her mother fake pictures of himself and that Yolanda was being catfished and lied to.Williams changed his name on his Instagram account, and so Kara suggested they research the new name online. During a search on the Internet, Kara discovered it was a Nigerian name -- and multiple photos surfaced of a man who did not look like Williams.Kara said it looked like some student organization in Nigeria and none of the photos on the website looked like Williams. There was also a Nigerian phone number written on the website, so Yolanda was determined to find out what was going on since Williams was allegedly from England.Yolanda therefore called Williams on the phone, and a person answered but hung up. Yolanda and Kara said they heard a woman on the other line, so this raised a major red flag for them both.Yolanda said Williams had been so loving, respectful and supportive, so she hoped this was all just a mistake or big misunderstanding."We know that's a Nigerian phone number. Suppose he's Nigerian, there is a history of scams," Kara began."From that country," Yolanda interjected.Kara told Yolanda to flat out ask Williams if he's Nigerian, but Yolanda still believed otherwise."How could he be Nigerian with a British accent? What if a Nigerian hacked his account? I've been pouring my heart out for seven months. A part of him still has my heart, so I need to ask him these questions," Yolanda told the cameras."I am in love with Williams. He came into my life when my heart was broken... [and] he made me smile again."Yolanda, however, was confused and admitted she'd be "devastated" if Williams is not who he said he is.After three or four days of Williams not answering his phone, Yolanda grew very concerned but was still willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. She maintained optimism but was admittedly beside herself over this turn of events.Yolanda was calling to find out if Williams was truly Nigerian, but she couldn't get in touch with him via phone calls. Yolanda therefore texted and asked if he was Nigerian after four days of not speaking."My daughter is 100 percent positive he's scamming me. But in my heart, I still want to be hopeful that he's not scamming me and he's just afraid to talk to me for some reason," Yolanda said in a confessional.Yolanda continued to reach out to Williams for two more days with no response.Finally, Yolanda received an email from a stranger saying he or she would "release some private pictures" if Yolanda did not send money. The email also apparently threatened to harm her if she didn't pay up."They claim to know where I live, so that is frightening. The only one I gave private pictures to is Williams, so he's the only one that has them," Yolanda explained."These were provocative, nude photos I sent to Williams in private. I've never done that before. It's very frightening that a total stranger has my pictures and they're threatening to embarrass me with them."Yolanda was concerned both for herself and her family. She didn't think this person was Williams, and so she believed Williams' accounts were hacked and someone got into his messages and were able to retrieve her email and photos through that way."It must be how the pictures got out and how they got into this person's hands," Yolanda said. "I do feel Williams is real and that he does love me. I just hope Williams writes me back and we can figure this out together."Yolanda said it would be "a major betrayal" if she found out Williams had something to do with this, and she wasn't sure how she would cope with that.Avery said she could definitely see a future with Ash after experiencing their chemistry in person, but she didn't think Ash's brother accepted or embraced her the night prior.However, Ash had planned a romantic three-night getaway for the pair in Australia, so she was really looking forward to some time alone with Ash.Two hours later, the pair arrived at a beautiful beach, and Ash had a picnic basket, wine and flowers ready for Avery. Avery was falling for Ash, but she was a little bit concerned about some things his brother had said the previous night.Ash assured Avery that his brother was supportive of their relationship, but Avery felt his words were "rehearsed," and she argued being positive in every situation isn't real life.Avery said, for instance, Ash sugarcoated conversations they had about moving his 10-year-old son Taj to America. Avery said Ash's brother led her to believe the situation was more complicated than Ash was letting on.Avery wanted Ash to be honest with her about sensitive subjects, but he admitted he worried Avery would leave him during difficult times."You live in Australia and I live in America. If you are trying to hide anything from me because you fear losing me, that's going to open up a ton of problems," Avery insisted.Ash appreciated that Avery cared for him and wanted their relationship to work, but Avery was looking for the truth and more answers, which Ash didn't seem willing to provide in the moment.Avery had her doubts Ash was being honest that moving his son would be easy, and so she wanted to meet with Ash's ex-wife to get to the bottom of things.Want spoilers? Click here to visit our Spoilers webpage! The Taliban in a statement Sunday said their peace deal with the United States was nearing a breaking point, accusing Washington of violations that included drone attacks on civilians, while also chastising the Afghan government for delaying the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners promised in the agreement. The Taliban said they had restricted attacks against Afghan security forces to rural outposts, had not attacked international forces and had not attacked Afghan forces in cities or military installations. The Taliban said these limits on their attacks had not been specifically laid out in the agreement with the U.S. signed in February. The Taliban warned of more violence if the U.S. and the Afghan government continue alleged violations of the deal. The terror organisation said they had reduced their attacks compared to last year, but said continued violations would create an atmosphere of mistrust that will not only damage the agreements, but also force mujaheddin to a similar response and will increase the level of fighting. READ| Afghan Peace Deal: Ashraf Ghani agrees to release 1,500 Taliban prisoners to initiate talk The Taliban have accused the Afghan government of using indefensible arguments to explain the repeated delays in releasing a promised 5,000 Taliban prisoners in exchange for 1,000 government personnel. The Afghan government's foot-dragging has also left Washington frustrated. Attempts to negotiate an end to the political turmoil roiling Kabul have made little progress, frustrating the U.S. and potentially derailing the next stage in the Afghan peace process. Washington has threatened to withhold $1 billion in aid this year if Ghani and Abdullah can't reach a compromise. US-Taliban peace deal Diplomats from the Afghanistan, United States, India, Pakistan and other members of the United Nations gathered alongside the Taliban representatives in Doha's Sheraton Hotel on February 29. The deal if signed, will end the 18-year-old long war of the United States in Afghanistan. "The United States will reduce the number of US military forces in Afghanistan to 8,600 and implement other commitments in the US-Taliban agreement within 135 days of the announcement of this joint declaration and the US-Taliban agreement and will work with its allies and the Coalition to reduce proportionally the number of Coalition forces in Afghanistan over an equivalent period, subject to the Talibans fulfillment of its commitments under the US-Taliban agreement," the joint Afghan-US declaration read. READ| Pakistan backs Taliban; counters India's support for democratic Afghan READ| Taliban refuses to negotiate with Afghan's new 21-member delegation (With AP inputs) Actor Kartik Aaryan in a new interview with journalist Rajeev Masand asked why he hasnt been invited to any of his famed roundtable interviews, despite appearing in several hit films. Kartik proceeded to invite three actors -- Bhumi Pednekar, Kriti Sanon and Janhvi Kapoor -- to the chat to back him up. In the humorous exchange, Kartik said, I want to ask you a question sir. Ive done so many films, have I done good work in them? But why havent you invited me to one of your roundtables? Masand said, I feel your best performance is ahead of you, and thats the one I feel you should be on. Kartik said that since hes a relative newcomer, he could have been called on the newcomers roundtable. Kartik then invited his Pati Patni Aur Woh co-star Bhumi Pednekar to the call. Bhumi, continuing the humorous bit, said that the reason Kartik hasnt been called is probably because hes too method in his performances. What mistakes have I made that I havent been invited to the roundtable, and youve been invited twice? he asked. Bhumi said, Kartik has really been in method for the last few years, maybe if he gets out of this method... Bhumi pointed out that Kartiks recent viral coronavirus video earned him a place on a roundtable. He then invited his Luka Chuppi co-star Kriti Sanon to the conversation. Kriti first scolded him for not being in touch, and said that she feels his pain because she, too, hasnt been invited to the roundtable since her appearance on the newcomers roundtable six years ago. Also read: Janhvi Kapoor, do you have Chinese visa? jokes Kartik Aaryan as she applies for role in Baghbaan remake Kartik finished the interaction by inviting his Dostana 2 co-star Janhvi Kapoor, who agreed with Masand that Kartiks best performance was ahead of him. When Masand asked them what the status of Dostana 2 was, she said that now isnt the right time to talk about it, considering the gravity of what is happening in the world. Follow @htshowbiz for more Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari has launched a campaign to reach out to people from different walks of life and collect a substantial donation for the PM-CARES Fund to fight the coronavirus outbreak. A public charitable trust - Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund- has been set up by the government where people are donating money to help in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak. Tiwari said he has collected over Rs 1.14 crore for PM-CARES Fund through his campaign that will continue till the end of the lockdown. "A significant donation of Rs one crore was made by a logistics businessman Roshanlal Jaipuria for the PM-CARES Fund at my residence on Sunday. Many more people have come forward to donate money to help the nation in fighting coronavirus under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Tiwari said. On Monday, Tiwari visited Gandhi Nagar area where he collected over Rs 14 lakh with the help of local BJP MLA Anil Bajpai. "It is heartening to see how people love the country and are ready to do anything to help if there is any crisis," Tiwari said. He said more visits will be made by him in coming days to collect funds. "I have received messages from many people committing to donate money to PM-CARES Fund and I will approach them all in coming days," he said. Delhi BJP leaders, including its office bearers, have also been distributing food packets and dry ration kits among the poor, needy and the people affected by the 21-day lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A line of people wait outside of the Philadelphia Gun and Archery Club in South Philadelphia last month. Read more The government is closing businesses to stop the spread of coronavirus even though "the numbers are nothing compared to H1N1 or Ebola. Everyone needs to realize our government is up to something ... Facebook post, March 16, 2020 A few days after President Donald Trump declared the coronavirus a national emergency and cautioned against gathering in groups, a Facebook post accusing the government of being up to something went viral in Pennsylvania. Heres the full post: Is anyone paying attention to the bigger picture? And not what the media is feeding you? This virus is a distraction from the truth. Coming through Pennsylvania and stopped at a store and they have stopped selling gun ammo until further notice and all the cases are full so its not like they have run out. They are closing liquor stores. Next will be the banks. Then our phones will stop working. They dont want venues of 50 or more people because they would have trouble trying to control 50-plus people. Somethings not right here and everyone is dumb enough to think its really just a virus. The numbers are nothing compared to H1N1 or Ebola. Everyone needs to realize our government is up to something and we are dumb enough to believe what you see on TV or on Facebook. Everyone better stock up on defense supplies because that toilet paper isnt going to protect you when they come. Before we go any further, lets get one thing straight: The coronavirus is real. The number of cases in the United States. and the tally of deaths caused by the virus climbs exponentially every day, and the restrictions that drew skepticism from this Facebook user are the very measures that public health experts say will help slow the virus spread. Theres a lot to unpack in this misleading Facebook post, so well take the claims one by one. When the post first appeared on March 16, there were no restrictions on the sale of guns or ammunition in Pennsylvania, and customers anxious about the coronavirus flooded firearms dealers. Then Gov. Tom Wolf ordered gun sellers and other businesses not deemed life-sustaining to close their doors. But he quickly reversed course under pressure from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and allowed them to reopen so long as the shops agreed to keep customers six feet apart. The Trump administration also advised states to consider gun sellers and shooting ranges essential businesses on par with grocery stores and pharmacies. The post gets one thing right. Pennsylvania did initially close liquor stores, which are state run. Liquor stores reopened on Wednesday for online sales, but demand was so overwhelming that the Pennsylvania Fine Wine and Good Spirits website was unavailable for most users. The state Liquor Control Board said access to the site would be randomized to prevent it from crashing. READ MORE: Pa. congressman says U.S. coronavirus trajectory is like South Koreas. Is that true? | PolitiFact The Facebook user also warned that the government would soon close banks and cut the phone lines. Theres no evidence of this. Banks appear on Wolfs list of life-sustaining businesses allowed to remain open, although some bank branches have closed voluntarily to keep customers and staff safe and others have reduced their hours or moved to drive-through service. Telecommunications companies like Philadelphias Comcast are easing shutoffs and waiving late fees to accommodate customers. Next the post argues that new rules against gathering in large groups are designed to prevent people from organizing. In fact, theyre the most important tool government officials have to stop the spread of the coronavirus, which scientists say is far more contagious than the flu. Pennsylvanians who defy the rules now risk arrest, and in New Jersey, 15 men who attended an ultra-Orthodox Jewish funeral were charged Wednesday with violating that states ban on large gatherings. Finally, the post suggests that coronavirus numbers dont compare to H1N1 or Ebola, but top government scientists now predict that the coronavirus will be far deadlier than either of those diseases. READ MORE: Fact-checking coronavirus claims by Pennsylvania politicians During the H1N1 outbreak that started in 2009, more than 12,000 people in the United States died. About a dozen people were sickened with Ebola in 2014, but no one died. Last week, members of the Trump administration leading the governments response to the coronavirus outbreak announced that the deadly pathogen could kill between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans. So far, more than 7,000 people have died over 130 in Pennsylvania and more than 840 in New Jersey. Our ruling State-run liquor stores did close in Pennsylvania as government officials scrambled to halt the spread of the coronavirus, but all the other claims made in this post are false. Most important, any suggestion that the coronavirus isnt real or that its part of a government conspiracy is a ridiculous claim. The deadly virus is killing Americans right now, and abiding by unprecedented orders to stay home is the best way to halt its spread. We rate the posts claim about the government being up to something Pants on Fire. Our Sources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Cases in the U.S. Associated Press, Wolf reopens gun shops, orders more residents to stay home, March 24, 2020 Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Announces Closure of All Fine Wine & Good Spirits Stores, March 16, 2020 State of Pennsylvania, Industry Operation Guidance, Updated April 1, 2020 The Philadelphia Inquirer, Comcast offers free WiFi, waives data cap and late fees, wont disconnect service during coronavirus outbreak, March 16, 2020 State of Pennsylvania, Gov. Wolf, Sec. of Health: Pennsylvania on Statewide Stay-at-Home Order Beginning at 8 p.m. Tonight, Most Prudent Option to Stop the Spread, April 1, 2020 Pennsylvania Department of Health, Help Stop the Spread, Updated March 24, 2020 The Wall Street Journal, White House Projects 100,000 to 240,000 U.S. Coronavirus Deaths, April 1, 2020 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009 H1N1 Pandemic (H1N1pdm09 virus), June 11, 2019 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014-2016 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa, March 8, 2019 Pennsylvania Department of Health, COVID-19 Cases in Pennsylvania, Updated April 2, 2020 PolitiFact is a nonpartisan, fact-checking website operated by the nonprofit Poynter Institute for Media Studies. Singapore reports 120 new COVID-19 cases on April 5, quarantines 20,000 foreign workers Singapore reported 120 additional cases of COID-19 infection as of 12pm on April 5, of which 116 are local cases with no recent travel history. The remaining four are imported cases. Of the local cases, 39 are Singapore citizens or permanent residents, and 76 are long-term work pass holders. Ministry of Health (MOH) said it has established links to existing clusters for 50 cases. Contact tracing is ongoing for the remaining 66 cases. Photo courtesy: Twitter/sporeMOH Two foreign worker dormitories S11 Dormitory @ Punggol and Westlite in Toh Guan have been identified as isolation areas, according to reports. Around 20,000 w0rkers at the two dormitories, which have seen large numbers of infected cases, will be quarantined in their rooms for the next 14 days. Measures will be taken to minimise interaction of workers in other dormitories. The workers will not be allowed to intermingle between different blocks and floors at dormitories; and meal and recreation times will be staggered. Meanwhile, 23 more cases of COVID-19 infection have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities. In all, 320 have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged. An intensive care nurse on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic has warned young people are being struck down by the virus and said seeing people flouting coronavirus lockdown rules felt like a 'slap in the face'. Joanne Morrell says 99% of the patients she has seen at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary (HRI) have coronavirus, as hospitals across the country struggle to cope with the growing number of Covid-19 cases. Speaking on Good Morning Britain today the frontline nurse warned: 'We're seeing young people, normally fit and well, who are being struck down and are now unwell. 'When you hear about NHS staff dying it's like one of your own family has died. It really hits home like a punch in the chest.' Joanne Morrell is an intensive care nurse at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, she is warning 99% of the patients she sees on a daily basis have Covid-19, many of whom were previously fit and healthy young people who have been struck down by the virus Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Monday, Huddersfield nurse Joanne Morrell said it was 'heartbreaking' speaking to families of Covid-19 patients The Huddersfield mother-of-two was speaking after a weekend of sunshine saw some people ignore guidelines to stay at home and instead go sunbathing at parks and beaches. The 47-year-old said today: 'We're going to work, putting ourselves out there on the front line. When people are flouting the advice they're given it's like a slap in the face. It's honestly like they're saying: "So what? It doesn't matter."'. At least 23 people have died with coronavirus at HRI and its sister hospital Calderdale Royal Hospital so far. Staff are facing mounting pressure as families are kept apart from loved ones. Ms Morell explained what it was like trying to communicate with families over the phone while standing in the middle of ward frantically trying to help a growing number of patients. At least 23 people have died with coronavirus at HRI and its sister hospital Calderdale Royal Hospital during the global pandemic so far Huddersfield nurse Joanna Morrell was joined on Good Morning Britain by former Love Island contestant Dr Alex George, who has been working at Lewisham Hospital's A&E department during the coronavirus pandemic She said: 'We're trying to convey emotion with a mask over our face, trying to shout down the phone. Just listening to people crying is heartbreaking. I can't describe it as anything other than that. 'Relatives will say "please can you pass on a message; I love you, please get better soon, we want your home," it is just so heartbreaking. 'I cried five times yesterday, I feel so desperate for the relatives.' The ICU nurse was joined on Good Morning Britain by former Love Island contestant Dr Alex George, who has been working at Lewisham Hospital's A&E department in south east London. Dr Alex George told Good Morning Britain the things he and other NHS staff have seen on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic would put the public off the idea of flouting social distancing rules On Sunday Shirley Watts, from Basildon, Essex, pleaded with the public to stay inside as health staff struggle to cope with the number of Covid-19 cases growing day by day in Britain Dr George echoed the words of his colleague regarding social distancing, saying: 'It's absolutely heartbreaking when you see people not following the guidance. I drove past Clapham Common on the way to work and saw people heading out sunbathing. If they could see what we've seen they wouldn't do it.' Staff from across the NHS have been begging the minority of people who continue to flout social distancing rules. On Sunday MailOnline shared the video of tearful ICU nurse Shirley Watts after a shift at Basildon University Hospital. In it she said: 'We're desperately short of staff. Things are really difficult and we're all struggling. 'If you stay in and you don't spread it and you don't catch it, that takes the pressure off of us because we're all on our knees at the moment.' The World Health Organization chief angrily slammed recent comments made by scientists suggesting a vaccine for the new coronavirus should be tested in Africa as "racist" and a hangover from the "colonial mentality". "Africa cannot and will not be a testing ground for any vaccine," WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual conference, insisting "we will follow all the rules to test any vaccine or therapeutics all over the world... whether it is in Europe, Africa or wherever. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 1k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard White House trade adviser Peter Navarro defended his decision to disagree with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, on the unproven efficacy of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial, in treating coronavirus. Doctors disagree about things all the time. My qualifications in terms of looking at the science is that Im a social scientist, he told CNNs John Berman. I have a Ph.D. And I understand how to read statistical studies, whether its in medicine, the law, economics or whatever. That doesnt qualify you to treat patients, Berman responded. Berman: What are your qualifications to weigh in on medicines more than Dr. Fauci? Navarro: My qualifications in terms of looking at the science is that I'm a social scientist. I have a PHD, I understand how to read studies Berman: That doesn't qualify you to treat patients! pic.twitter.com/ZugKSZXFPs Lis Power (@LisPower1) April 6, 2020 Navarros comments come after Axios reported about the confrontation between Fauci and Navarro, which took place during a meeting in the White House Situation Room. And the first words out of his [Navarros] mouth are that the studies that hes seen, I believe theyre mostly overseas, show clear therapeutic efficacy,' said a source familiar with the conversation. Those are the exact words out of his mouth. Fauci disagreed, noting that there is only anecdotal evidence that hydroxychloroquine can treat coronavirus. Thats science, not anecdote, Navarro retorted, before falsely accusing Fauci of objecting to President Donald Trumps decision to restrict travel from China, where the coronavirus originated. There has never been a confrontation in the task force meetings like the one yesterday, said a source familiar with the argument. People speak up and theres robust debate, but theres never been a confrontation. Yesterday was the first confrontation. [April 06, 2020] H.I.G. Capital Provides Financing to Modern Logistics in Brazil H.I.G. Capital, LLC ("H.I.G."), a leading global private equity investment firm with $37 billion of equity capital under management, announced today that one of its affiliates has invested, through convertible debt, into Modern Logistics, a leading Brazilian one-stop-shop full service logistics firm. Terms were not disclosed. Modern Logistics, the only firm of its kind in Brazil to have its own fully integrated air cargo operation dedicated to long distance, time-sensitive, and warehousing capabilities, was founded by former JetBlue VP and Co-founder of Azul airlines, Gerald Lee. The company is backed by DXA Investments, a private equity and venture capital investment firm. Fernando Marques Oliveira, Managing Director and Head of H.I.G. Brazil/Latin America, commented: "This transaction confirms our commitment to the region. We are very excited to work alongside Gerald Lee and DXA Investments in taking Modern Logistics to the next level." "We are excited to have H.I.G. participating in our future. Modern is transforming Brazil by creating the most efficient logistics network in the region," said Gerald Lee, CEO and Founder of Modern Logistics. Including this convertible debt issuance, Modern has raised U$65 million in funding from H.I.G. and other investors. Modern expects to raise up to U$150 million, to be used for working capital needs for its expansion. "Being able to secure this investment during this difficult time is outstanding. We congratulate Gerald and the team at Modern, who will continue to generate jobs, reduce distaces and connect producers with customers in a country that lacks infrastructure," said Oscar Decotelli, CEO and Founder of DXA Investments. About Modern Logistics Modern Logistics is the only one-stop-shop logistics player in Brazil. The company has 8 distribution centers, more than 14,000 trucks connected to its network and operates its own air cargo operation, with a current fleet of 4 aircrafts. Modern's approach enables businesses to use its unique platform to create jobs, reduce inefficiencies and create new markets in a U$150 billion addressable market. www.modern.com.br About H.I.G. Capital H.I.G. is a leading global private equity and alternative assets investment firm with $37 billion of equity capital under management.* Based in Miami, and with offices in New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Atlanta in the U.S., as well as international affiliate offices in London, Hamburg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Bogota, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to small and mid-sized companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/value-added approach: H.I.G.'s equity funds invest in management buyouts, recapitalizations and corporate carve-outs of both profitable as well as underperforming manufacturing and service businesses. H.I.G.'s debt funds invest in senior, unitranche and junior debt financing to companies across the size spectrum, both on a primary (direct origination) basis, as well as in the secondary markets. H.I.G. is also a leading CLO manager, through its WhiteHorse family of vehicles, and manages a publicly traded BDC, WhiteHorse Finance. H.I.G.'s real estate funds invest in value-added properties, which can benefit from improved asset management practices. Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 300 companies worldwide. The firm's current portfolio includes more than 100 companies. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at www.higcapital.com. * Based on total capital commitments managed by H.I.G. Capital and affiliates. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005105/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Actress Sharmiela Mandre and her friend have been booked for rash driving after they met with an accident in the wee hours on Saturday (April 4) while driving a Jaguar car in Vasanthnagar. According to the police, the incident took place at around 3 am. On Saturday early morning, the cops received a call from the locals about a car accident. When they reached the spot, the car was lying vacant with no occupants. In an investigation, police found that the car had hit a pillar at the underbridge and was unoccupied. Later, police visited the nearby hospitals to see if anyone was admitted. In an enquiry, they realized that it was actress Sharmiela Mandre who was in the car along with her friend Lokesh. Reportedly, Sharmiela and Lokesh were admitted at the Fortis Hospital with injuries. The police officials have registered a Suo Moto case regarding the accident. Speaking about the whole incident, Sharmiela Mandre told India Today, "I suffered severe stomach pain early morning on April 4 and called my friends Lokesh and Dawn Thomas (who had a curfew pass) to take me to a hospital nearby. We met with an accident on our way to the hospital. Dawn was driving the car and I was on the back seat. I hurt my neck and blacked out. I was not out, returning from a party, as claimed by some media reports. I have been stressing on the need for social-distancing since the day the pandemic broke out in our country and so, I will be the last one to not follow the rules." The high ground traffic inspector told a leading portal, "Our ASI received the call and he went to the spot and found no one near the car at 3 am. Later, we realised it was the actress and her friend in the car."(sic) Also Read : Sharmiela Mandre To Act With G.V. Prakash According to the cops, they still couldn't record the statement of the actor because she was shifted to a different hospital. The car had a valid curfew movement pass issued by the Bangalore police. However, the police officials have not mentioned Dawn's name in the FIR. The reason behind driving at 3 am will soon be revealed after the investigation. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has extended US$355 million in emergency financing to the Chinese cities of Beijing and Chongqing to upgrade their public health response capacities to help fight the current Covid-19 pandemic as well as future health crises. The AIIB said its funding would cover money spent by the two cities when the crisis was most acute in China. The funds will help improve the capacity of the centres for disease control and prevention in both cities, buy emergency supplies and equipment, as well as upgrading hospital facilities to treat epidemics. [The loans are] both for emergency supplies and equipment but also for permanent infrastructure so that the developments will last beyond the current crisis period, said Joachim von Amsberg, vice-president for policy and strategy at the AIIB. It was very important to act as quickly as possible to help finance China in this situation given that they were first hit by this crisis. The Beijing-based banks support for Chinas health care sector has broadened its investment scope beyond the infrastructure projects it has financed since it was established four years ago. Von Amsberg said its experiences could be shared with its 102 member states as they faced similar challenges. The AIIB is also creating a crisis recovery fund of US$5 billion dedicated to countries or private businesses facing urgent economic, financial and public health pressures to help them cope with economic recession and pursue crisis-related expenditure over the next 18 months, von Amsberg continued. Being one of the countries hardest hit by the epidemic, Chinas efforts to monitor, track, trace, and test individuals for infections on a very large scale along with quick expansion of hospital capacity are important lessons, he said, and its experience in the containing the virus that causes Covid-19 shows that there is a possible exit from the crisis. Story continues China has now moved beyond the initial response stage of its own lockdown, and has ample resources to offset the loss of income and business activity by taking the necessary measures to kick-start the economy as restrictions are being removed, Von Amsberg said. Some developed countries have also pledged to do whatever it takes to overcome the pandemic, undertaking massive fiscal and monetary interventions. But the problem with many developing countries in Asia is that their governments are struggling to handle the health crisis while having less capacity to protect households and companies cope with an economic slump, von Amsberg said. This could mean a longer lasting and more severe economic contraction for many of these lower income countries. Over 20 countries, including Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Turkey, have requested crisis-related financing and a number of public health infrastructure projects are expected to be approved in the next few weeks. We are worried that if you have [lockdowns in these countries] prolonged for several weeks, or even months, that will create not just a loss of temporary income but you actually damage the economy in the longer term, Von Amsberg said. Companies go bankrupt, people lose jobs and housing, and supply chains are broken. Those things cannot simply be turned on the moment you lift the curfew or lockdown. The AIIBs moves come after leaders of the Group of 20 top advanced economies last month pledged to inject US$5 trillion in fiscal spending into the global economy to deal with the crisis. The World Bank last week approved some 25 health sector emergency loans for 25 countries, amounting to US$1.9 billion. The Asian Development Bank announced a US$6.5 billion package and the International Finance Corporation has put together a US$8 billion package. The International Monetary Fund said it was ready to mobilise US$1 trillion in lending capacity. Sign up now and get a 10% discount (original price US$400) off the China AI Report 2020 by SCMP Research. Learn about the AI ambitions of Alibaba, Baidu & JD.com through our in-depth case studies, and explore new applications of AI across industries. The report also includes exclusive access to webinars to interact with C-level executives from leading China AI companies (via live Q&A sessions). Offer valid until 31 May 2020. This article Coronavirus: Asian multilateral bank lends US$355 million to Chinese public health projects first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. Rumor mill: Samsung and Apple dont just compete in the smartphone market; they also make rival wireless earbuds. Now, what could be the next generation of the Korean firms Galaxy Buds have appeared online, and theyre quite different from whats come before. Back in November, Consumer Reports said Samsungs Galaxy Buds beat Apples latest AirPods Pro in sound quality tests. Earlier this year, the Korean firm released the $150 Galaxy Buds+, which, while only an iterative update, offer better sound, longer battery life, better built-in microphones, and upgraded Ambient Sound noise cancelation. What they do lack, however, is active noise cancelation and water resistance. According to a new report from WinFuture, Samsungs next earbuds will undergo a major design change. Using leaked information, the site has created some 3D renders of the buds, which go by the codename beans as they resemble kidney beans. Measuring around 2.8 cm in length, the buds lack their predecessors stems and silicon tips that help them stay in ears. We can see a speaker hole and sensor on the inside, along with magnetic connectors that might be used for charging or measuring a users heart rate. A microphone and vents are placed on the outer section. Without any silicone components to create a full seal, the earbuds might not have a noise-canceling option. And while the shape could work well for smaller ears, they're unlikely to be a good fit for everyone. Samsung is reportedly just in the testing phase of development, so the buds, which have the model number SM-R180, could undergo a major redesign before the final product arrives. Crude oil prices have fallen 50% this year in response, in large part to the debilitating economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic knocking out approximately a third of global demand. Even though OPEC and other oil producers are still pumping 15 million barrels a day more in oil than the current global demand and there is such an immense oil glut that storage for the black gold is becoming impossible to locate. Russia, Saudi Arabia, and another member of OPEC+ are blaming the price crash on the United States shale oil, fracking industry. The price collapse is so dramatic that its threatening the political and economic stability of oil-dependent nations. Their solution is to try to get U.S. shale producers to agree to a production cut. In essence, price-fixing and walking away from the free market to rescue the global industry. The United States should not help Russia in any way while it insists on building hypersonic missiles, nuclear missiles and continues its occupation of Ukraine. Supporting the bloodthirsty Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud and his regime that did nothing to prevent 9/11 and has committed atrocities against humanity is entirely against our countrys interests. The kind of price-fixing OPEC+ also wants is illegal in the United States and functionally impossible. The U.S. economic system is not set up to promote cartels. Saudi Arabia, Russia, and other large oil producers are attempting to negotiate a deal to stem the historic price collapse over the last several days at the encouragement of President Trump. The talks still face significant obstacles. A meeting of producers from OPEC+ and beyond already was delayed once, is tentatively scheduled for Thursday. The biggest obstacle is Russia and Saudi Arabia insistence that the U.S. to join in the production cuts, but U.S. President Donald Trump has so far shown little willingness to do so. In fact, he has no Constitutional power that would force the U.S. shale oil industry to capitulate and cut its production. President Trump has bragged that he will impose tariffs on oil imports to protect the U.S. shale oil industry if Russia, Saudi Arabia, and other OPEC+ members dont cut 15 million or more barrels from their daily production. This clear obstacle could lead to oil collapsing in price further with some analysts like James Davidson, the editor of Strategic Investment, saying that the price collapse in oil could fall below $10 a barrel. Davidson President Trump would put himself between a rock and a hard place illegally ordering the U.S. shale oil industry to effectively join the global OPEC+ cartel and aiding them in driving the price at the gas pumps up before the U.S. general election. James Davison also points out the oil is likely headed much lower in price because neither OPEC+ nor U.S. producers have cut back their production are almost impossible. Meaning we could see the price of oil go negative as natural gas did a few years ago. There were reports from Wyoming this past week that those selling oil had to pay buyers to take oil production. OPEC+ emergency virtual meeting postponed: Reuters The UAE has supported Saudi Arabia's proposal to call for an emergency meeting of the Opec+ and a group of other countries to ensure the balance and stability of the global oil market. ''A joint and combined effort by all oil producing countries is required, not only the group of Opec+ countries, in order to address the weakness of demand in the global oil market,'' said Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Industry, in a statement published by Wam news agency. The minister stated: "The UAE government appreciates the positive and pivotal role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its great efforts to achieve balance in global markets. We note the important role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Opec+ agreement, and that the kingdom incurred a reduction rate greater than its share. ''We also appreciate the important role played by countries outside OPEC, especially Russia, for their constructive cooperation to achieve balance in global markets. ''The UAE is confident that, if an agreement can be reached, all producing countries will work quickly and cooperatively to address the weak demand for oil in global markets, helping to rebalance the market and maintain global oil inventories at reasonable levels,'' he concluded. For two years, as an undergraduate student, I served as a volunteer emergency medical technician for a local EMT squad. During our training, the importance of scene safety and body-substance isolation were drilled into us: We were not to enter a situation without first ensuring our own health and safety. If you get hurt, not only are you unable to help others, but who is going to help you? At best, you become a burden to your team. Longtime ABC News Correspondent Bob Woodruffs 28 year-old son, Mack, has been diagnosed with COVID-19. He believes he came down with the virus while traveling from Europe to Sydney, Australia, while on a film project. Bob Woodruff spoke to his son Mack, about what he saw countries doing as the virus continued to spread across borders. "Traveling from France to Switzerland was not an issue. I think if you are traveling on the other side of the border, Italy's border with Switzerland, it was a huge issue," Mack said. Listen to the full interview with Cheri Preston and the rest of this past week's highlights here: MORE: With coronavirus apex still to come, some US hospitals reeling from capacity crunch Mack says he may have caught the virus while at a dinner gathering with a large group of people while restaurants and bars were packed to enjoy their last day open for what they would anticipate to be the next four to five months. During this time, however, Europe was peaking -- although people didnt seem to be too concerned, according to Mack. Parties and gatherings were in full swing as President Macron of France appeared on television to announce all non-essential businesses would be shut down. So when the guy sitting next to me ordered a cheeseburger, the waiter came and said, this is probably going to be the last cheeseburger served in this town for six months," Mack shared. PHOTO: A medical worker stands outside a COVID-19 screening tent of the Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York City's Brooklyn borough on March 31, 2020. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images) The following day, Mack got on his flight to Sydney. "My chances of being infected in those airports, Geneva and Dubai and Sydney, the only other thing places I can think that it could have happened," Mack said. When the plane landed in Sydney, an announcement came over the speaker as they taxied to the gate explaining that the health organization would board the plane and hand out flyers. MORE: George W. Bush in 2005: 'If we wait for a pandemic to appear, it will be too late to prepare' "I believe it was a guy and a girl came onto the flight dressed pretty much in a full hazmat suit. They had face masks, and they handed out flyers about what you should be doing during the first two weeks that you are back in Australia. Self-quarantine is a mandatory 14 day quarantine. You can't go outside. If you do, you have to wear a mask, but only for mandatory activities," Mack explains. Story continues Assuming his headaches were caused by jetlag, Mack overlooked the novel coronavirus symptom. Not until he had a loss of smell and taste did he come to the conclusion he may be infected with COVID-19. "I've lost my sense of taste before, but never to this extent. Still to this day, I could bite into a chocolate bar and bite into a lemon and I don't decipher any difference in taste," Mack says. MORE: Answering the call: Working a coronavirus hotline Staying in good spirits though, he jokes about his fathers food saying, now I can finally eat [his] cooking." The road to recovery is tough, but a big relief when its possible. Those recovering look forward to the simple pleasures in life, for some the sunshine touching their face again, and for Mack -- cookies. Recovering from COVID-19: ABCs Bob Woodruffs son shares his story originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Unemployment, the 78209 zip code, "Tiger King" and the 2020 Census are some of the most-searched topics and queries in San Antonio since stay-at-home orders went into effect, according to Google. Google Trends makes data available for searches made through the website. The information can be tailored to show searches in a specific area over a period of time, which is then categorized into "topics" and "queries." READ MORE: The latest news and features about coronavirus in San Antonio Data for searches in San Antonio, starting on March 24, the first day of the city's stay-at-home order, show the top 25 points of interest for residents. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the searches include financial assistance for those left without a job due to the economic impact from the virus. Topics like Blackboard and Zoom show how the city's classrooms and offices are staying connected during social distancing. There was also significant traffic in terms related to the hit Netfix docuseries "Tiger King." "Tiger" and "Carole Baskin" filled the top 3 searches on the topics and queries lists, respectively. On Thursday, Google honored the birth of Dame Jean Macnamara, the Australian doctor who helped find a vaccine for polio, with a "doodle." Google Doodles are the creative redesigns of the search engine's logo on the site's homepages. On certain days, Google users will see the doodles on the site's landing page to honor people, celebrations and events. That day, the Google Doodle depicted Macnamara treating a young patient with polio. San Antonians who used Google evidently wanted to learn more about the imagery because terms related to the doctor were No. 1 in both categories. RELATED: 'Tiger King' rival Carole Baskin was born in San Antonio See the top 10 lists for searches beginning on March 24 below. The full data set for the time frame can be explored here. Queries 1. dame jean macnamara 2. what is the 2020 census #census 3. carole baskin 4. joe diffie 5. until tomorrow 6. 78209 zip code 7. tiger king 8. until tomorrow meaning 9. my2020census.gov login 10. hantavirus Topics 1. Jean Macnamara 2. Tiger 3. Texas Workforce Commission 4. Census 5. Zip Code 6. Unemployment 7. Google Classroom 8. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 9. Stimulus 10. Blackboard 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: Pregnant fiancee of Johnson, 32-year-old Carrie Symonds spent a week in bed with coronavirus symptoms; however, she was not tested Open source Prime Minister of the UK Boris Johnson, diagnosed with coronavirus 10 days ago, was hospitalized to London hospital as Associated press reported. Johnson was admitted to a hospital Sunday for tests because he is still suffering symptoms, Johnsons office said. The hospitalization was not urgent. The PM decided to be admitted to the hospital on the recommendation of the doctor. He is still responsible for government. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Dominic Raab, appointed as the head of the government in case of Johnson becomes incapacitated, has to hold a governmental meeting on coronavirus. Fiancee of Johnson, 32-year-old Carrie Symonds spent a week in bed with coronavirus symptoms; however, she was not tested. She is pregnant and gets better. Symonds was not staying with Johnson as he was diagnosed with Covid-19. On March 26, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was diagnosed with coronavirus. He was the first head of the government who was infected with this disease. As we reported, the general number of people infected with Covid-19 in Ukraine grew to 1,319. The Healthcare Ministry reported that, claiming 68 new cases over the last 24 hours. For Joshua Weber, service to the country also means service to the community. The Cedar Cliff High School senior joined the schools Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) out of patriotic interest and a desire to be well-rounded, he said. But the program has given him a chance to give back to his community and learn more about it. Its a really great learning opportunity, to go out and learn more about people and the community, talk to leaders, just help people and improve the environment, Weber said. Starting with the program as a freshman, Weber has become the Cedar Cliff Battalion Commander for the 2019-2020 school year, a role which involves a great deal of logistical know-how. The JROTC group plans and runs multiple community events in a given year, many of them large in scope; Weber estimated he commits at least 100 hours to this each year, including the twice-annual blood drive in the West Shore School District that the JROTC organizes. We have to plan, execute, organize the entire event start to finish, Weber said. Its been really, really successful. In fact were the biggest donor in Central PA. Weber didnt really know what to expect when he threw himself full-force into the JROTC program. Most of it was just an impulse toward achievement and service. All I knew about it was that theyre kind of the cream of the crop, he said of the program. I really wanted to just stand out as much as I could and accomplish as much as possible in school. That interest manifests itself in large and small ways. Two years ago, Weber said, he noticed that there wasnt any kind of public memorial or recognition on the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. Not a moment of silence or anything like that, Weber said. We talked to the administration about it and they agreed but there werent really any actions taken. So this past year, Weber said, he made up his own memorial speech, and was allowed to read it over the schools public address system on the morning of the anniversary; something the JROTC plans to continue doing each year. Even if it was 18 years ago, it still rings in many peoples hearts. Its something that we should still remember, Weber said. Webers commitment to JROTC has led him onto bigger things, including a Marine Corps ROTC scholarship to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, to train as a pilot. The deal comes with a six year commitment to fly for the Marines after graduation, Weber said. Getting things wrapped up in preparation to move to Florida in the fall isnt easy, given that the coronavirus pandemic has pushed Cedar Cliffs classes online, and limited his contact with his JROTC comrades. We were having a lot of events in the coming months that were all canceled, and were trying to figure out when we can make them up later on, Weber said. The group still meets in online video conferences, and tries to stay engaged. I try to just stay well rounded, thats the biggest thing, Weber said. Email Zack at zhoopes@cumberlink.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. We have posted several contributions by our friend Brian Sullivan. Brian is a serial entrepreneur who founded and now runs a cutting-edge cancer research company. He is an exceptionally able man in several respects; among other things, he understands mathematics. Unlike, apparently, every journalist in the United States. Brian has been analyzing international data on COVID-19 and has come to some striking conclusions. One month ago, the coronavirus pandemics impact was still uncertain and little data was available to guide public policy decisions. Today nearly every advanced country is touched by the pandemic, which gives us real-world data to check key assertions public health experts are making. Analysis of testings impact on death rates and Asias experience with face masks yields surprising results. Masks may be more important than testing to control COVID-19s spread. Trump administration critics claim the United States slow rollout of Wuhan virus tests has worsened the outbreak here and will lead to more deaths. This reflects an article of faith amongst public health experts about the need for widespread testing to control the Wuhan viruss spread within a population. South Koreas experience rapidly rolling out Wuhan virus tests seemingly provides evidence for this argument. Today, the number of new cases reported in South Korea is only 10 percent of the cases reported at the epidemics peak there 30 days ago (89 vs. 851). If test and death rates are correlated, then it is hard to explain why countries with the two highest death rates, Italy and Spain, have per capita testing levels 30 times higher than the country with the lowest death rate, Japan. According to Worldometer, Italy and Spain have performed nearly 11,000 tests per million people while Japan has only performed 310 tests per million. The country with the highest testing rate in Europe, Luxembourg, has performed 9x the number of per capita tests than the US (36k vs. 4k) but has 2x the number of per capita deaths (50 vs. 24). These comparisons are no fluke. A Pearsons correlation analysis using data reported on the Worldometer website showed there is NO correlation (Pearsons correlation coefficient = -0.01) between per capita tests performed and per capita deaths among Western European countries, Japan, South Korea, Canada, and the US. The same analysis found a high correlation (r = 0.77) between testing and cases rates, as one would expect. What should one make of this? First, this analysis doesnt mean testing isnt important. It simply highlights that more testing may not provide the benefits public health experts are touting. Second, it highlights the speciousness of using testing as a metric to judge the Trump administrations response to the Wuhan virus outbreak. The data strongly suggest the slow test rollout of testing in the US will have had no effect on the spread of the virus. Math-challenged critics find it convenient to use test numbers as a cudgel against Trump, but test numbers are meaningless as a predictor of epidemic outcome. The only metric that matters is the number of deaths. To assess the USs response, one should compare the number of US deaths per capita to similar countries, such as those used in the analysis above. On this basis, the US is doing well. Our per capita death rate per million is 40 percent (24 vs. 62) of the average level in these other countries, and 10 percent of the levels in Spain and Italy. Some may argue that it is too early to use our lower deaths per capita for comparative purposes. But the US recorded its first test positive case no later, and in many cases, weeks earlier, than the other advanced countries. Third, the test data suggests we should search for other factors that may promote lower death rates. One factor may be use of face masks. In the US, until this past Friday, public health officials told us face masks were of no help. Even now, they suggest face mask use is optional. Public health experts in Asia, though, question this policy. They believe widespread use of face masks was a key factor in their reduction of infection and, ultimately, death rates. The data from South Korea and Japan support this hypothesis. The countries have the first and second lowest per capita death rates amongst the countries analyzed but a widely divergent level of testing. South Korea has performed 30x more tests than Japan yet has a per capita death rate 6x higher than Japans. Interestingly, the largest cities in each country, Seoul and Tokyo, have very low numbers of virus patients. Contrast this to the US, where our largest city, New York City, has infection and death rates 10x the rest of the countrys. In the United States, we are in the thrall of public health experts and their models. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the USs leading infectious disease expert, stated on January 25 that the US had little to worry about from the Wuhan virus. Last Thursday, he suggested the country should remain under lockdown until there are no more Wuhan virus deaths. Meanwhile, the model du jour, IMHE, barely a week old, is already proving to have wildly overstated ICU and ventilator shortfalls across the country. Perhaps these experts should look harder at the actual data and not just their models. The data certainly suggest more testing may not be our savior. Alternatively, the Trump administration should consider asking governors to mandate, not suggest, that their citizens wear face masks in public. South Koreas and Japans experience suggests that combining this policy with one that more surgically isolated the elderly and most vulnerable while allowing most of the country to go back to work would provide more effective protection from the virus and at a far, far lower cost. Syracuse, N.Y. Questions about unemployment? Worried about credit card debt? Getting harassed by a landlord? Fighting to see your child? A corps of Central New York lawyers are offering free advice for the complex challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic. A hotline for advice covers a 13-county region: Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga, Madison, Oneida, Herkimer, Lewis, Jefferson, Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware and Otsego. Hotline for free legal help: Call toll free 1-877-777-6152. (See full list of providers below) Report domestic violence: Call Vera Houses Hotline at 315-468-3260, the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673, or 211. The non-profit lawyer groups include: Legal Services of Central New York, Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Hiscock Legal Aid Society, of Syracuse, and the Onondaga County Volunteer Lawyers Project. Related: Coronavirus wreaks havoc on separated families: Who gets custody of the children? These lawyers work each day on life-changing issues like landlord-tenant disputes, unemployment, domestic abuse, child custody, healthcare and public benefits. Each of the groups works on different types of legal issues; you will be directed to the right service once you call the hotline. Their work is essential in a time when more people are out of work, wracking up debt, stuck inside with abusive spouses and facing eviction because theres no money to pay rent. These lawyers know crucial things that you might not. Samuel Young, director of advocacy for legal services, said for example: Its illegal to evict someone during the coronavirus pandemic: Unofficial evictions like shutting off water or heat are always illegal, and courts are not hearing official eviction cases. That means you cant be kicked out if you cant afford to pay rent during the economic shutdown. Judgments for credit card debt are suspended: Its not a free ride, but courts are not entering default credit card judgments during the pandemic. That means credit cards cant act behind your back during the crisis. Your debt, however, will still remain. Unemployment benefits now open to gig economy: Federal and state unemployment funds are available for Uber drivers, musicians, home contractors and other self-employed people. Those people can now apply for unemployment the same way as people laid off from corporations. Public benefits are not going away: Social service officials have extended benefits, including SNAP and WIC, for people whose certification was near expiration. Most transactions can be done remotely, though the county social services office downtown remains open for emergencies. Not only do these lawyers keep up with the daily changes in your rights during the pandemic, but they have some special leverage to get things done, too. For example, if your landlord turns off the water, you can call the lawyers and they will contact the landlord directly, Young said. If that doesnt get the job done, theyll call local law enforcement and explain that someone has been illegally evicted during the pandemic (turning off essential services is considered an illegal eviction). And if that doesnt work, the lawyers can file an emergency petition to get a judges order. If in doubt, call if you have an essential need thats not being met during the crisis, said Sally Curran, director of the Volunteer Lawyer Project (VLP). I think that the most important thing for people to know right now is that VLP, Legal Services and Hiscock Legal Aid are all still available and helping, Curran said. Getting the word out is so important. In perhaps the most emotional problem caused by the pandemic, all the groups are getting calls from parents struggling with how to handle joint child custody during the states stay-at-home order. Should you let the other parent visit? What if the other parent refuses to let you visit? Its very sad, heart-breaking, said Linda Gehron, executive director for Hiscock Legal Aid. Her office is handling dozens of those types of cases. But Young said that public service lawyers who are paid primarily through grant money from the state and federal governments are still working full-time from home across the region to address such issues. The number of non-essential cases has dropped off for now, leaving time for coronavirus-related emergencies, he said. People are primarily concerned with having a roof over their heads, food on the table and keeping their family safe, while not suffering financial ruin during the crisis, Young said. If you need a lawyer to help figure out those issues, call: Toll-free hotline: 1-877-777-6152 Legal Services of Central New York: 315-703-6500 Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York: 315-703-6600 Hiscock Legal Aid Society (of Syracuse): 315-218-0141 Volunteer Lawyer Project of Onondaga County: 315-471-3409 Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or 315-470-6070. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Coronavirus in NY: Cuomo extends school, business closures until April 29 Behind the Onondaga County execs latest move: Hes frustrated with coronavirus and some slackers Onondaga County warns of potential coronavirus exposure at 3 pharmacies, liquor store Coronavirus in NY: State releases deaths by ages, counties Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com UPDATE: Ascension Borgess issued this statement: As our hospitals in southeast Michigan have been experiencing a surge in COVID-19 related cases, associates from across Ascension Michigan have been readily volunteering to assist their fellow caregivers as we deal with this pandemic. Compensation, housing and expenses are provided for during any relocation. Ascension Michigan has not implemented any mandatory reassignments to southeast Michigan, but as we continue to navigate providing care during this global pandemic, emergency response plans are in place for ensuring we have the resources required to provide care to all who need it. KALAMAZOO, MI - Nurses at Ascension healthcare, which includes Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, say they face mandatory reassignments to Ascension hospitals in the Detroit area, hard hit by COVID-19. Southeast Michigan -- in particular, Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties -- is a hotspot for the coronavirus. The Borgess Staff Nurse Council said Ascension has threatened to force nurses to work with COVID-19 patients in Detroit. It said Ascension notified workers that 'mandatory reassignments will begin immediately and continue until the (state and national) States of Emergency are lifted,' according to a statement issued Monday, April 6, by Michigan Nurses Association. Although nurses want to help wherever were needed, its unreasonable to force us to uproot our lives, especially when many of us are single parents, said Jamie Brown, a critical-care nurse at Borgess. Brown is president of the Borgess Staff Nurse Council, which is an affiliate of the Michigan Nurses Association. She is also president of the state organization. Brown said nurses have not been guaranteed they would have proper equipment, such as N95 masks, if they are reassigned. The Michigan Nurses Association says the reassignments are supposed to be voluntary but many nurses think they have been targeted for a mandatory shift to the east side of the state. Nurses would receive an additional $2 per hour. They would be reimbursed for gas and food and stay in a dormitory, the association said on its website. "We are willing to talk about a meaningful incentive program for nurses who volunteer, Brown said. Thats what should have happened Ascension should be working with us. No one wants to be forced to leave their home and family like this. We want to be partners, not pawns. Detroit reported 537 new cases Sunday, April 5, bringing the citys total up to 4,495. The city also reported 27 additional deaths, putting the new figure at 158. As of Sunday, April 5, Kalamazoo County has a total of 53 cases and three deaths. 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. More from MLive: Sunday, April 5: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Stabenow, Peters call on Trump administration to ensure veterans, Social Security beneficiaries receive stimulus automatically Michigan orders quicker reporting of coronavirus deaths by physicians, funeral homes Inside Detroits TCF Center as soldiers, engineers build field hospital for coronavirus patients Michigan National Guard expands food bank assistance amid coronavirus crisis While the unprecedented outbreak of coronavirus has forced world leaders to intensify their precautionary measures to curb the spread, a 63-year-old man in the Philippines has been shot dead for violating isolation rules. According to international reports, the police said that the man threatened the village officials and the policemen with a scythe checkpoint assembled for COVID-19 outbreak. Apparently, the man is believed to be intoxicated with alcohol when he threatened the villagers as well as the police officials in Nasipit in the southern province of Agusan del Norte. As of April 6, the Philippines has recorded at least 3,414 confirmed cases of the coronavirus with 152 fatalities. However, according to the police report, the suspect was first cautioned by a worker in the village for not wearing a mask to prevent COVID-19 spread. But that made the man furious who later uttered provocative words and then attacked the personnel with a scythe. Since the police officials failed to pacify the man, he was shot dead making it the first reported case of a police officer shooting a civilian who refused to follow coronavirus restrictions. This also came after Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte warned that he would order the police officials to shoot anyone who violated the rules set by the government to stem virus spread. Read - Philippines Ambassador To Lebanon Dies Of Coronavirus Complications Read - 'Shoot Them Dead': Philippine President Duterte Warns Against Violating COVID-19 Lockdown Coronavirus outbreak After originating from Chinas wet markets, the coronavirus has now claimed over 69,480 lives worldwide as of April 6. According to the tally by international news agency, the pandemic has now spread to 208 countries and has infected at least 1,274,346 people. Out of the total infections, 264,838 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. The World Health Organisation (WHO) had declared the coronavirus as a global pandemic on March 11 while the virus has now spread to all continents except Antarctica, resulting in thousands of deaths worldwide. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom further even urged all nations to get very serious over the issue and take all necessary measures to contain the virus from spreading at this rate. Tedros said, that the word 'Pandemic' cannot be used lightly or carelessly due to its strong connotation. Read - Philippines Grounds Company's Aircraft After Deadly Fire Read - Philippines: 8 Killed As Plane Carrying Medical Crew, Patient Crashes At Manila Airport Dr Karl Kruszelnicki released his latest podcast on Science with Dr Karl One of Australia's leading science commentators has answered all of the major questions people have about coronavirus based on scientific studies that have been done - and revealed why this kind of pandemic could happen again. Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, who has degrees in medicine and biomedical engineering, has uploaded a number of COVID-19 related podcasts on Science with Dr Karl looking at what surfaces are most likely to transmit the infectious disease, how the eventual vaccine will work and whether surfing is a low-risk activity. As Australia attempts to 'flatten the curve', Dr Karl insists the most important measures are to uphold social distancing regulations and wash your hands. Will getting the flu shot increase your chances of getting coronavirus? Medical professionals are recommending Australians get the flu shot this year when it is released in late April. It will not increase your chances of getting coronavirus, nor will it decrease it, but it will ease the burden on our hospitals for those who might need emergency care should they get the flu this winter. Dr Karl recommends getting the vaccine, especially since there is none for COVID-19. Medical professionals are highly recommending individuals get the flu shot this year when it is released in late April, but it won't protect you against coronavirus Can the virus spread on petrol pumps? If you get infected by the coronavirus you don't start showing symptoms before 5-12 days. It could technically be possible but Dr Karl didn't know of any reliable research that links those two things directly because it's difficult to trace back after five or 12 days. It's best to apply hand sanitiser after using a petrol pump just to be cautious. Should we be disinfecting our phones? Absolutely. The best way to think of a phone is as your 'third hand', Dr Karl revealed. It's very possible that germs you're picking up with your hands can get onto your phone and then touch your face when you answer a call. Wipe your phone down with alcohol wipes once a day to ensure it stays clean. Would COVID-19 survive on paper receipts? 'The closest to paper we have is cardboard and it seems to last on cardboard for 24 hours,' Dr Karl said. If you throw it away, and then go home and wash your hands, the virus will die on the paper within 24 hours and you won't be infected. Scientists believe an infectious dose of the virus requires about 100,000 particles, which means a large surface is needed for transmission. 'The closest to paper we have is cardboard and it seems to last on cardboard for 24 hours,' Dr Karl said How long does coronavirus last on a surface? According to tests the virus lasts the least amount of time on copper and cardboard. On cardboard there is no coronavirus detected after 24 hours, which is different to stainless steel and plastic where it was detected after 72 hours. But Dr Karl said that the 'detections' might only be trace amounts existing on the surfaces and may not be enough to actually infect anyone. It's not yet known how potent these trace amounts have to be to infect a person. How will the vaccine work? At the moment people who catch the virus are waiting up to two weeks for their immune system, or immunoglobulins, to 'kick in' and fight the disease - in which time there is a risk of complications and death. Once people are exposed to a tiny amount of the disease in the form of a vaccine, their bodies will produce immunoglobulins after two weeks that stay in the body - meaning when they encounter coronavirus in the broader world their natural immunoglobulins will kick in within hours - not a fortnight. Dr Karl said this is the ultimate aim of the vaccine scientists are attempting to make within the next 12 to 18 months. Dr Karl said this is the ultimate aim of the vaccine scientists are attempting to make within the next 12 to 18 months (pictured is a vaccine lab in England) Coronavirus symptoms and how it spreads: Symptoms of coronavirus Symptoms can range from mild illness to pneumonia. Some people will recover easily, and others may get very sick very quickly. People with coronavirus may experience: fever flu-like symptoms such as coughing, sore throat and fatigue shortness of breath How it spreads There is evidence that the virus spreads from person-to-person. The virus is most likely spread through: close contact with an infectious person contact with droplets from an infected person's cough or sneeze touching objects or surfaces (like doorknobs or tables) that have cough or sneeze droplets from an infected person, and then touching your mouth or face How to prevent it Everyone should practice good hygiene to protect against infections. Good hygiene includes: washing your hands often with soap and water using a tissue and cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze avoiding close contact with others, such as touching Advertisement Is surfing a low-risk activity? At the moment Australians can still exercise outside as long as they're 1.5 metres apart. Being out in the ocean to swim or surf is considered low-risk so long as you keep your distance and don't touch anyone out there. 'It's very unlikely that the virus will be able to live in salt water or a very well chlorinated pool,' Dr Karl said, citing the chemicals and expansive nature of the ocean. At the moment Australians can still exercise outside as long as they're 1.5 metres apart (swimmers pictured in Manly, Sydney) Being out in the ocean to swim or surf is considered low-risk so long as you keep your distance and don't touch anyone out there (surfers at Freshwater Beach in Sydney) How does soap get rid of the virus? Most viruses consist of three key building blocks: ribonucleic acid (RNA), proteins and lipids. The fat-like substances in soap 'loosens' the connections between these three building blocks, breaking them down and 'killing' the virus - or rendering it inactive. Just washing with water isn't strong enough to loosen the connections, which is why soap is such a useful protector. Advertisement Can we expect these types of pandemics to come around more often in the future? Dr Karl pointed to the SARS and swine flu outbreaks as evidence that other pandemics are certainly possible. 'These pandemics are just part of nature because we want to live and viruses want to live. We were warned by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that were was another one going to come,' he said. 'Australia didn't set up a pandemic team at the time and we need to be ready for it in the future.' It's likely we could see a similar pandemic again in our lifetime, but Australia will be in a better place to deal with it Is coronavirus more severe in a hot summer or cold winter? A lot of the largest outbreaks have happened in countries that have cooler temperatures, so people have suggested that the disease will die off when the weather warms up, but this may not be the case. It's early days so it's too soon to have any firm numbers but the Spanish flu in 1918 peaked in the summer months, despite the flu normally being associated with winter. So it's best not to assume that things will cool off as summer hits the Northern Hemisphere. Is anyone immune to the virus? COVID-19 is a brand new virus, meaning that no one is immune to it the first time they are exposed. If you get it and recover, it's not known yet if people have lasting immunity. There were some reports earlier this year of people contracting it twice, but it's Dr Karl's understanding that these people just weren't fully cured the first time. COVID-19 is a brand new virus, meaning that no one is immune to it the first time they are exposed Are there a lot of cases out in the community that the government doesn't know about? We have not been doing enough testing according to Dr Karl, so there are certainly people who have not been tested that have had the disease. Those that believe they have the virus should try to get tested as much as possible so the numbers recorded are as effective as they can be. Once they have been tested they should remain isolated for at least 14 days. AMES, Iowa April 6, 2020 Christine Navarre Louisiana State University noon CST April 7 Dr. Christine Navarre , Chair, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center , Chair, Agricultural Center Dr. Angela Daniels , Texas Animal Health Commission , Texas Animal Health Commission Dr. Michael O. Johnston , William Penn University , William Penn University Dr. Clay Mathis , Texas A&M University-Kingsville , Dr. Tye Perrett, Feedlot Health Management Services Dr. Dan Posey , Texas A&M Veterinary Education, Research, & Outreach, West Texas A&M University , Texas A&M Veterinary Education, Research, & Outreach, Dr. Alejandro Ramirez , College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University , Dr. Anjel Stough-Hunter , Department of Sociology, Ohio Dominican University , Department of Sociology, Ohio Dr. Carie Telgen , Battenkill Veterinary Bovine , Battenkill Veterinary Bovine Dr. David Welch , American Association of Bovine Practitioners , American Association of Bovine Practitioners Dr. Nicole Olynk Widmar , Department of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Food animal veterinarians (FAVs) are vital for the health and well-being of our nation's food supply, but the profession faces challenges that are not well understood, which ultimately impacts the workforce's ability to recruit and retain professionals."FAVs are key to providing the world with a safe and secure food supply," says Dr., DVM, MS, DACVIM, of. "They work directly with producers to ensure the health and welfare of food producing animals as well as working in food safety and other public health areas."Navarre recently chaired a task force addressing the issue in a new paper published by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST). She, along with other veterinary scientists and experts, focused on two themes affecting the profession: economic and social factors.The authors describe economic challenges as changes in the agricultural industry that affect supply and demand. The latter are often informed by available databases, for example, the American Veterinary Medical Association's membership database, which represents 82 percent of U.S. veterinarians. However, it is difficult to determine how many individuals in the database work with food-producing animals due to missing or outdated self-reported information.Other inconsistencies also cause issues in workforce studies that are often used to inform the amount of FAV professionals in the workforce and how many are needed. "A lack of detailed employment data, differences in methodology and an ever-changing animal agricultural landscape make predicting how many FAVs are needed difficult," Navarre says.Social factors also influence students' and professional veterinarians' choices for where and what they practice. Among the top social challenges include the student's income-to-debt ratio, which is considerably high for FAVs. Many veterinarians also cite the lack of support in rural agricultural communities among the barriers that curb them from this type of work. For example, veterinarians with spouses tend to search for communities that are capable of providing a career for their significant other.While there are challenges to building a strong FAV workforce, the CAST paper's authors outline strategies that may increase recruitment and retention for the profession."Despite the difficulties, FAVs and the producers they serve are innovative and adaptable, and will find ways to keep providing for the health and welfare of food animals and producing safe and affordable food," Navarre says.The paper, Impact of Recruitment and Retention of Food Animal Veterinarians on the U.S. Food Supply, is available to download for free on the CAST website. A free webinar will take place aton. More information about the webinar can be found here: https://conta.cc/3bljbxl.Task Force Authors:About CAST The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology is an international consortium of scientific and professional societies, companies, and nonprofit organizations. Through its network of experts, CAST assembles, interprets, and communicates credible, balanced, science-based information to policymakers, the media, the private sector, and the public. http://www.cast-science.orgSOURCE Council for Agricultural Science and Technology The Speaker of the House Of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila on his twitter account announced that he just met with two Ministers in charge of Health concerning citizens expressions over the engagement of Chinese Doctors and Nurses for the management of Covid19 in Nigeria. The speaker tweeted: I just met with two Ministers in charge of Health over concerns expressed by indigenous medical practitioners and many Nigerians on the engagement of Chinese Doctors and Nurses for the management of COVID-19 in Nigeria. We extracted the following commitments from them I just met with the two Ministers in charge of Health over concerns expressed by indigenous medical practitioners and many Nigerians on the engagement of Chinese Doctors and Nurses for the management of COVID-19 in Nigeria. We extracted the following commitments from them: pic.twitter.com/so9vOy3ot8 Femi Gbajabiamila (@femigbaja) April 6, 2020 The Minister assured Nigerians and tehe medical practitioners that the expected chinese doctors and nurses will follow the right protocol and be quarantined for 14 days after arrival and will not have any physical contact with patients. 1. The Doctors and Nurses will follow the protocol and be quarantined for 14 days once they arrive in Nigeria 2. The Doctors and Nurses will at no time have any physical contact with any patient pic.twitter.com/J37fsSdDUq Femi Gbajabiamila (@femigbaja) April 6, 2020 Gbajabiamila assured Nigerians that there will be strict compliance to the immigration laws while they remain vigilant and continue the engagement with the Chinese. 3. There will be strict compliance with all relevant immigration laws regarding work permits. We remain vigilant and Our engagment continues. pic.twitter.com/GcexNxCzko Femi Gbajabiamila (@femigbaja) April 6, 2020 The Speaker also tweeted that the Ministers of health informed him that the chinese Doctors were coming to Nigeria for a specific upgrade and training of laboratories The Ministers of Health informed me that the Chinese Doctors are here for specific training and upgrading of molecular laboratories. Like I said we remain vigilant and continue to engage. pic.twitter.com/0Tuw0Y6wXD Femi Gbajabiamila (@femigbaja) April 6, 2020 See Photos below An elderly passenger whose wife died of coronavirus after they both contracted the infection on the ill-fated Ruby Princess cruise says they 'never should have been able to board the ship'. Jerry Lieben and his wife, Janet, both developed symptoms of the deadly respiratory infection just one day after they were allowed to disembark the ship along with 2,700 others on March 19. The decision to allow the cruise liner to dock is now under police investigation, after 12 passengers died and at least 612 contracted the virus while on board. Mr Lieben told A Current Affair on Monday night somebody needed to be held accountable for the debacle. Jerry (pictured, left) and Janet Lieben (right) had been enjoying a special 11-day cruise with old army friends around New Zealand on the doomed Ruby Princess 'Why did they put us on the ship?' he asked. 'Why did they let us board? There must have been red flags,' he said. He claims the ship was under lockdown and their boarding time on March 8 was delayed - and that not enough was done to ensure they were healthy when they disembarked after the trip to New Zealand. The now widowed great-great-grandfather also recalled his last conversation with his wife, telling her he loved her while she was fighting for life in a hospital bed. 'I was in the room next to her, I managed to see her before she died. But it was too rough of her on her breathing so I had to leave,' he said while tears streamed down his face. 'She was really getting upset, I combed her hair and told her I loved her and left the room and that's the last I seen her.' Jerry Lieben and his wife, Janet, were on the trip of a lifetime to celebrate a reunion with his army mates from the Vietnam War There is 'clear evidence' COVID-19 has come off the Ruby Princess (pictured off coast of Sydney on Sunday) and at least 12 passengers have died in Australia because of it Poll SHOULD PASSENGERS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED OFF THE RUBY PRINCESS CRUISE SHIP? YES NO SHOULD PASSENGERS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED OFF THE RUBY PRINCESS CRUISE SHIP? YES 39 votes NO 563 votes Now share your opinion He said while he initially felt nothing but pain and sorrow over the loss of the love of his life, grief has now turned to anger. 'After what happened, I just think I need justice for my beautiful wife, because none of this should have happened,' he said. The couple returned to Sydney Harbour from the trip of a lifetime on March 19, and had heard whispers of respiratory infections on board. So they were shocked at the ease in which they disembarked the ship. 'When it was our turn to leave, we said ''ah well, we're going to get checked'', but nothing happened... We collected our luggage, but nothing got checked.' Mr Lieben said they were handed a form asking them to self isolate at home for 12 days, but that there were no checkpoints to ensure they were of good health before making the trip home to central New South Wales. The couple began developing COVID-19 symptoms the day after returning home from the cruise So far, at least 5,795 people in Australia have been infected with coronavirus, including 41 people who have died Mr Lieben said he wants justice for his wife and doesn't believe they should have been allowed to board the ship Within 24 hours of arriving home, the pair knew something wasn't right. They called Orange Hospital and were asked to visit the facility for a COVID-19 test. Both results returned a positive reading. Despite their age, the pair continued to quarantine at home before Mr Lieben experienced a nasty fall. Both were rushed to hospital, and Ms Lieben's condition deteriorated. Mr Lieben has opted against a funeral for his wife because nobody - not even himself - would be able to attend. He is still quarantined and showing symptoms of coronavirus and has been granted daily 15-minute visits with his son to provide him care. The army veteran made the difficult decision to cremate his wife's body, and will celebrate her life with a memorial 'once this is all over,' he said. On Sunday, NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller confirmed a criminal investigation will look into the handling of the fiasco. Janet Lieben (pictured) with her beloved dog Benny. The doting great, great grandmother died after suffering complications from COVID-19 The testing process for coronavirus includes a swab of each nostril and the back of the throat Hospital staff wear protective gear while testing patients with symptoms of coronavirus in northeast Adelaide CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement The commissioner said it was 'too early to tell' whether a crime was committed, but said there was 'no doubt' coronavirus was brought off the ship. The investigation - led by the NSW police homicide squad - aims to identity how passengers were allowed to disembark the Ruby Princess in Sydney, resulting in several deaths and COVID-19 outbreaks throughout the country. 'The only way I can get to the bottom of whether our national biosecurity laws and our state laws were broken is through a criminal investigation,' Mr Fuller said. He told reporters transparency regarding patient health on board the cruise ship was a key question for the investigation. Mr Lieben said he'd been following along with the news, and agreed they were let off the ship too quickly. 'We thought we would get tested, but nothing happened... It was just bang and we were off. 'Before we boarded the ship, the ship was under lockdown. That should've been a red flag to NSW Health, but they are the ones that cleared the ship and let us board. 'If somebody has done something wrong, it needs to come out,' he said. 'We should not have been able to board that ship. I just want to get some justice for my wife and that's the only thing I can do for her, because I can't help her where she is.' Mr Lieben said he believed it 'should have been me who died. Not her. Not the love of my life.' Ruby Princess is pictured docked at Circular Quay as passengers disembarked in Sydney on March 19 (TNS) An AWOL soldier was arrested Saturday after authorities said he was caught driving drunk, fled from a state trooper who tried to stop him and violated a statewide shelter-in-place order. Christian Lee Robinson, 20, is facing several charges, including reckless conduct, in connection with the incident, according to Coweta County jail records. A Georgia State Patrol trooper spotted Robinson driving his Pontiac Solstice at more than 120 mph on I-85, according to spokesman Cpl. Scott Tarpley. Tarpley said Robinson was swerving and did not slow down when a trooper tried to pull him over. The trooper used a PIT maneuver to disable Robinsons car near mile marker 49, Tarpley said. The Solstice spun out and hit a median wall, Tarpley said. Robinson was taken to a hospital and then to the Coweta jail, where he remains on a $6,200 bond. Robinson told authorities he was a soldier and was absent without leave from Fort Gordon in Augusta, according to Tarpley. Officials said he was trying to visit family in Alabama at the time of the incident. The GSP charged Robinson with reckless conduct, saying he violated the shelter-in-place order Gov. Brian Kemp put into place to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Robinson is also charged with DUI, obstruction of officers, possession of alcohol by a minor, fleeing or attempting to elude police officer, reckless driving, speeding, open container and failure to maintain lane. 2020 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Atlanta, Ga.) Visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Atlanta, Ga.) at www.ajc.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Rajesh Shah used to cook food at a hotel in Kankurgachi area of the city for years but now lockdown in force and his employer downing shutter he is preparing meal at a community kitchen for hundreds of essential service workers and street beggars. Like Shah there are several other cooks of closed hotels like him, scattered all over the city, who are now feeding hundreds of mouths every day during the lockdown period. Shah, a native of Gaya district in Bihar could not return to this native place as the lockdown started and his hotel downed the shutters on March 23. It was then that he was approached by a local club for cooking lunch for the 100-odd policemen, civic volunteers, group D staff of a nearby state hospital and private nursing home and he readily agreed refusing to take any money for the service. "Staying here for so many years I can cook all Bengali delicacies from 'lau-chingri', 'soyabeen torkari', 'dim curry', to 'murgir jhol' and 'khichuri' aided by two assistants arranged by the club," he said. "The club members discuss menus, to be cooked, with me after buying groceries, vegetables, egg and even occasionally fish or chicken. I cook accordingly. My sole aim is to make my food tasty to everyone. And that is my biggest satisfaction," the 40-year old said. Club member Ranjit Dey said, "we started the initiative from March 27, four days after the lockdown. And we are happy the way he has extended his help. He has even refused to accept even a token amount of money." Dey said local businessmen and people of the locality have extended help to the initiative which is completely apolitical. Like Sharma, several other cooks like Shibu of Basanta Hotel in BBD Bagh area, Santosh Rana who worked in a roadside hotel in Khidderpore, Bachha, the cook in a hotel in Sodepur - are busy in community kitchens run by different clubs and NGOs in the respective areas. Shibu, who is cooking vegetarian dishes for the homeless and dailywage earners at a community kitchen run by a club in Burrabazar area for past 11 days, said "this has been a new experience for me. My hotel had been closed since March 22 and this kitchen opened after four days." "I had very little to eat initially and all my savings got exhausted. But when I was approached by the club from Burrabazar area I agreed immediately. I am cooking mostly rice, daal, one or two vegetable curries for the 50 labourers in the nearby dharmasala. And they are happy," Shibu, the boy from Midnapore, said. A spokesman from Prantik, an organisation from Sodepur, said Bachha was popular among the autodrivers, hawkers at the roadside hotel in traffic more for his chicken and fish curries. "As the hotel is closed we have recruited his service for our community kichen for 100 people near Peerless Housing. And he is doing a great job while taking all precautions," the NGO spokesman said. In another initiative to feed the poor during lockdown, a student of Presidency University has given her homecooked food to the poor pavement dwellers in the city. "I have asked many of my friends to participate in the initiative launched by a fellow citizen on facebook. Responding to his call, I had given homecooked food to some people living on pavements in Park Street area two days back. I will do this again tomorrow. We must all chip in," the student Anisha Paul said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Trump warns of 'a lot of death' from coronavirus, blaming media-induced public 'panic' Iran Press TV Sunday, 05 April 2020 2:17 AM US President Donald Trump has warned there will be "a lot of death" in the weeks ahead over the coronavirus outbreak while blasting local media outlets for "spreading false rumors" and creating "fear" and "panic" among people. "This will be probably the toughest week, between this week and next week, and there will be a lot of death, unfortunately," Trump said Saturday during his daily briefing on the pandemic which has so far infected over 300,000 in the country with the death toll surpassing the 8,000 mark, according to official figures released by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Trump further underlined that the US is approaching a "horrendous" time in the outbreak, adding, "We are getting to that time where the numbers are going to peak and it is not going to be a good-looking situation." "I really believe we've probably have never seen anything like these kind of numbers; maybe during the war, during a world war, a world war one or two or something," he went on to note. "But this is a war, all into itself, and it's a terrible thing." Accusing media of generating public panic The US president also slammed press coverage of the virus outbreak in his country, accusing the media of generating public panic, saying: "It's therefore critical that certain media outlets stop spreading false rumors and creating fear and even panic with the public." "It's just incredible. I could name them but it's the same ones; always the same ones. I guess they're looking for ratings. I don't know what they're looking for. So bad for our country," he added. Trump further emphasized that his administration is using the Defense Production Act "very powerfully", noting that government emergency management and health services institutions such as FEMA and HHS have ordered 180 million N95 masks. "We need the masks," he underlined. "We don't want other people getting them. That's why we're instituting a lot of Defense Production Act. You could call it retaliations because that's what it is, it's a retaliation. If people don't give us what we need for our people, we're going to be very tough." 'We have to open out country again' Pledging to deploy 1,000 military personnel to New York City, which leads all major American cities as a "hotspot" for the coronavirus cases, Trump further added: "We will continue to use every power, every authority, every single resource we've got to keep our people healthy, safe, secure and get this thing over with. We want to finish this war." "We have to get back to work," he then insisted. "We have to open our country again. We have to open our country again. We don't want to be doing this for months and months and months. We have to open our country again. This country wasn't meant for this. Few were, few were. But we have to open our country again." This is while the White House announced earlier that Trump had issued disaster declarations for the states of Wisconsin and Nebraska, bringing the overall count to 36 states, the District of Columbia (Washington, DC) and four US territories. Relaxing stay-at-home orders for Easter events? Trump also pointed out that he had considered acting to relax stay-at-home orders nationwide so Christian churches across the US could celebrate Easter Sunday next week. "Palm Sunday, tomorrow," he said. "Think of it. We're not going to churches on Palm Sunday. But think of next Sunday: Easter. And I brought it up before, I said, maybe we could allow a special for churches. Maybe we could talk about it. Maybe we could allow them with great separation outside on Easter Sunday." Lobbying for untested hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 The US president further continued to lobby for hydroxychloroquine, the malaria drug he believes could work as a preventive for coronavirus, noting that he had called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day to urge the release of the unspecified amounts of the drug ordered by Washington. "I just hope that hydroxychloroquine wins, coupled with perhaps the Z-Pak as we call it, depending totally on your doctors and the doctors there," Trump asserted. "There is a possibility a possibility and I say it: what do you have to lose? Take it. I really think they should take it." However, FDA (Food and Drug Administration) Commissioner Dr Stephen Hahn emphasized right after Trump's prepared remarks on Saturday that "we are prioritizing this drug to come in for clinical trials and use if doctors think it's appropriate." Although the drug has not been approved by FDA, Trump insisted during his remarks that "I may take it," claiming that it may be a "game changer" for treating the virus. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address While most of the people of the nation including the celebrities were lighting candles and diyas in their balconies for #9pm9minutes initiative, actor-politician Kamal Haasan was perhaps writing down an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to criticise him and tell him that the 21-day lockdown isn't planned and that it has caused loss of lives and a lot of trouble to people, especially the poor. filmibeat.com Comparing the lockdown to demonetisation, he said that the PM is making a mistake again, this time on a large scale. Here's what he wrote: "Respected Sir, I pen this letter as a responsible but dismayed citizen of our country. In my first letter to you dated 23rd March, I had urged the government to not lose sight of the plight of the unsung heroes of our society, the most downtrodden, the weak and the dependent. The very next day, the nation heard the announcement of a strict and immediate lockdown, almost demonetisation style. I was taken aback but I chose to trust you, my elected leader, the one we would like to believe knows best. I had chosen to trust you even when you announced demonetisation but time proved I was wrong. Time proved you too were wrong sir. Twitter Firstly, let me assure you that you are still the nations chosen leader and 1.4 bn Indians including yours truly will follow every direction of yours during this crisis. Today, there is probably no other world leader who has such a mass following. You speak, they follow. Today the country has risen to the occasion and invested its trust in your office. You must have noticed that even your naysayers clapped and cheered when you gave the call to do so in order to appreciate the countless health-workers working selflessly and tirelessly for the masses. We will comply to your wishes and orders but our compliance must not be confused as our subjugation. My own role as a leader of my people entails me to speak my mind and question your ways. Please pardon my lack of etiquette, if any. My biggest fear is that the same mistake of demonetisation is being repeated albeit at a much bigger scale. While demonetisation led to loss of savings and livelihood of the poorest, this ill-planned lockdown is leading us to a fatal combination of loss of both life and livelihood. The poor have nobody to look upto except you sir. On one hand you are asking the more privileged people to put up a spectacle of lights while on the other hand the poor mans plight is itself becoming a shameful spectacle. While your world lit up oil diyas in their balconies, the poor are struggling to gather enough oil to bake their next roti. Unsplash Your last two addresses to the nation had you trying to calm the people which is necessary in these trying times but there is something more urgent as well as important than that. These psychotherapy techniques can address the first world anxiety problems of the haves who have a balcony to cheer. But what about those who dont even have a roof on their heads? I am sure you dont want to be a balcony government only for the balcony people by completely ignoring the poor who are biggest constituent of our society, our support system and the foundation on which the middle-class, the well-to-do and the rich build their lives. The poor man never makes it to the front page news but his contribution to nation building both in spirit and in GDP cannot be ignored. He has a majority stake in the nation. History has proven that any efforts to destroy the bottom has led to the toppling of the top. Even science will agree here! This is the first crisis, the first epidemic that the top of the society has inflicted upon the bottom. And the topmost, i.e, you sir seem interested in bailing out everybody but those at the bottom. As millions of daily wage labourers, house-helps, street-cart vendors, auto-rickshaw & taxi drivers and helpless migrant workers struggle to see light at the end of the tunnel, we seem to be securing only an already well-built middle-class fortress. Reuters Dont get me wrong sir, I am not suggesting we ignore the middle-class or any one segment. In fact, I am suggesting the exact opposite. I would like to see you doing more to secure everybodys fortress and ensure that nobody goes to bed hungry. COVID-19 will continue to find more victims but we are creating a fertile playground for Hunger(H), Exhaustion(E) and Deprivation(D) of the poor. HED 20 is a malady that is smaller in profile but far deadlier compared to COVID-19.Its impact will be felt long after COVID-19 has vanished. Every time there is a feeling that we have a chance to arrest the slide, you seem to be sliding into your comfort zone of unleashing a spirited election-style campaign idea. It seems you are comfortable outsourcing responsible behaviour to the common people and transparency to the State governments. This is the perception you are creating, especially amongst those who spend enough time working toward and intellectualising for a great today and tomorrow for India. I am sorry if I have offended you with the use of the word intellectual here, for I know that you and your government does not like that word. But I am a follower of Periyar and Gandhi and I know they were intellectuals first. Its the intellect that guides one into choosing a path of righteousness, equality and prosperity for all. twitter The focus on merely keeping peoples spirits alive through warm and fuzzy campaigning is probably leading your establishment into ignoring certain actionables that could actually save lives. Long into the epidemic, when the entire countrys law and order system had been primed, your system failed to stop congregations of ignorant and foolish people in different parts of the country. These have become the biggest hubs for the spread of the epidemic in India. Who is responsible for all the lives lost due to this negligence? As per the Chinese governments official statement to the WHO, the first confirmed case was reported on 8th December. Even if you concede the fact that the world took a lot of time to understand the gravity of the situation, by early February, the entire world knew that this is going to wreak havoc of an unprecedented kind. Indias first case was reported on 30th of January. We had seen what happened to Italy. Yet, we did not learn our lessons early enough. When we eventually woke out of our slumber, you ordered an entire nation of 1.4 bn people to shut down within 4 hours. A mere 4 hour notice period for the people when you had a 4 month notice period! Visionary leaders are ones who work on solutions long before problems become big. Twitter I am sorry to say that sir, this time your vision failed. Furthermore, your government and its appointees seem to be expending all their energies on a combative response to any feedback or constructive criticism. Sane, well-wishing voices with national interests in mind get quickly, intentionally and clinically drowned by the trolls of your army and are dubbed anti-national. I dare anyone to call me an anti-national this time. The common populace cannot be blamed for being ill-prepared for a crisis of this magnitude but you can be and shall be blamed for this. The government is appointed and paid by the people to keep their lives normal and safe. Events of these magnitude get etched in history for two reasons, one being the devastation (illness and death) that they cause due to their core nature. The second being the long term impact of what they teach humans to prioritise and the kind of socio-cultural changes they bring about. I am extremely saddened to see our society plagued by an outbreak that is far more dangerous and longer lasting that any virus that nature has ever hurled at us. Agencies Sir, this is the time to listen to voices who truly care. I do care. Its the time to smudge all boundaries and give a clarion call to everyone to come on to your side and help. Indias biggest potential is its human potential and we have tided over bigger crises in the past. We will overcome this too but it must be done in a way that brings everyone together and doesnt become yet another reason to choose sides. We are angry but we are still on your side. Jai Hind." For the unversed, Kamal Haasan is the founder of political party Makkal Needhi Maiam. After the lockdown was imposed, he had offered to convert his residence as a hospital to treat coronavirus patients. The coronavirus pandemic -- with a death toll nearing 10,000 -- is not yet under control, a top US health official warned as the nation prepares to enter its most critical week yet in the fight against the outbreak. Despite measures to enforce social distancing and supply medical workers with the resources necessary to treat patients, "we are struggling to get (the pandemic) under control," Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases said Sunday on CBS's "Face the Nation." The number of cases nationwide climbed to at least 337,620 on Sunday, and the death toll jumped to at least 9,643, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Officials have cautioned that the week ahead will be a grim one, bringing more cases and deaths. The US surgeon general said it will be the "hardest and the saddest" week many Americans have ever faced. "I want Americans to understand that as hard as this week is going to be, there is a light at the end of the tunnel," US surgeon general Vice Admiral Jerome Adams said on "Fox News Sunday." He described the week ahead as a "Pearl Harbor moment" and a "9/11 moment." New York reports drop in deaths Still, the weekend brought some promising news in New York, the state reporting the most cases and deaths. Gov. Andrew Cuomo reported a drop in the daily number of reported deaths in the state on Sunday for the first time in days. He also said ICU admissions and daily intubations were down and the hospital discharge rate was "way up." But Cuomo cautioned that it is still too soon to determine if the trend will hold, calling the developments "a few signs that are a little hopeful" that the state is approaching its peak in cases and will begin to plateau. Across the country, state leaders are still scrambling to pull together enough resources to battle the outbreak. The coroner's office and mortuaries in New Orleans have reached their limit, said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. She's asked the federal government for additional refrigeration. The city is also responding to the influx of patients by converting its convention center into an emergency hospital set to open Monday. There were more than 13,000 reported cases of coronavirus and 477 deaths in Louisiana early Monday. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said Sunday his state could run out of ventilators by the end of the week if cases continue to surge. Hard hit Pennsylvania saw an increase of 1,494 cases Sunday, the governor's office said, bringing the statewide total to more than 11,500. New Jersey reported another 3,482 cases on Sunday for a total of 37,505. At least 917 people have died in the state, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy's office said. Religious holidays threaten social distancing This week is Holy Week in the Christian faith, leading up to Easter. And with the Jewish holiday of Passover beginning Wednesday evening and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan later this month, those urging social distancing are warning against gatherings that go against coronavirus guidance. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh at a press conference Sunday urged worshipers to stay home this holiday. "I know it's a very difficult thing, as a Catholic, Easter Sunday for me next week, Palm Sunday today," Walsh said. "But that is not what we need right now. We need prayers right now, that's what we need." Many states have made exemptions from stay at home orders for religious gatherings. And even in states that haven't, some church leaders are still holding service. Rev. Tony Spell of Life Tabernacle Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was charged last week with violating the state's ban and Sunday he gathered again with 1,200 people. "We don't get our rights to worship freely from the government. We get those from God," Spell said Sunday. "We'd rather obey God than man." Other institutions are holding services virtually to maintain safety and spiritual connection. Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez on Sunday thanked religious leaders who held services online, calling it the "safest way to keep us all connected." Distributing help to hotspots Under the weight of the pandemic, individuals and officials are seeking innovative ways to help those most affected. The Department of Veterans Affairs will open more than 1,500 beds for civilians at hospitals in multiple states to alleviate the burden on hospitals under siege from coronavirus, according to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. Aid from the VA will be distributed in New York, New Jersey, Louisiana, Michigan and Massachusetts. Californians are wearing homemade masks to avoid buying the medical masks needed at hospitals that are low on supplies. President Donald Trump on Friday announced guidance that Americans wear face coverings. Elsewhere, additional personnel, hospital beds and medical equipment are being brought in with the hope of relieving the growing strain on medical workers like Dr. Sneha Topgi, who works in an emergency department in Brooklyn. She describes an emergency room where it seems almost every patient, no matter what they originally came in for, is found to have coronavirus and where medical professionals are maneuvering through hallways where patients are put in beds and stretchers. Staff writes their name on the body-covering personal protective equipment they wear so patients have some sense of connection with the people treating them. "I think we're still at the beginning and I am scared. I'm scared for myself and I'm scared for everyone in general." Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 05, 2020 | PADUCAH By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 05, 2020 | 06:08 PM | PADUCAH The Purchase District Health Department has confirmed two additional cases of COVID-19 in McCracken County. The positive cases were confirmed on Saturday, and are a 55 year-old woman and a 47 year-old woman. Both are in stable condition and are self-quarantined. The department is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Kentucky Department for Public Health to identify and contact all those who may have been exposed. McCracken County now has a total of sixteen reported positive cases of the virus since the first two reported cases on March 23. The Purchase District Health Department offers these tips to help guard against further spread of the virus: -Wash your hands often with soap and water -Avoid close contact with people who are sick. -Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. -Stay home when you are sick. -Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. -Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. If you are worried or concerned, but otherwise healthy, please see kycovid19.ky.gov for additional information or call the Ky Covid-19 hotline at 1-800-722-5725. Call your medical provider if you develop signs or symptoms of COVID-19. Call the Purchase District Health Department at 270-444-9631 or visit our website www.purchasehealth.org for more information. Fr. Gerard Lagleder and some of his staff in an Order of Malta clinic in Mandeni, South Africa The Order of Malta is on the ground with health-care services in South Africa where dramatic social inequalities compound the many challenges stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic. By Linda Bordoni The total number of confirmed coronavirus Covid-19 cases in South Africa has risen to more than 1,650 with 11 confirmed deaths. That number may be lower than in many other parts of the planet, but there are fears that Covid-19 could be a time-bomb ready to go off in a country marked by dramatic social inequalities. Father Gerard Lagleder OSB is on the frontlines of health care, preparing to assist a large community of poor and vulnerable people in South Africas eastern Kwazulu Natal Province. Fr. Gerard is the Founder and President of the Brotherhood of Blessed Gerard, the Order of Maltas care facility in Mandeni. It runs clinics, a hospice, an orphanage, as well as health-care services for outpatients in rural areas. He told Vatican Radios Linda Bordoni that hes worried a real tsunami wave of Covid-19 infections is yet to hit the country. Listen to the interview with Fr. Gerard Fr. Gerard says the South African Ministry of Health expects some 40 million new coronavirus infections in the country. These could result in between 90 thousand and 351 thousand deaths because of the high percentage of South Africas 59-million-strong population that has serious underlying health issues, such as HIV-Aids. The country has been in lockdown since 27 March, and so far, he notes, the figures seem low. But inequality, poverty, HIV-Aids, and a huge number of undocumented immigrants, provide an explosive mix of ingredients for potential catastrophe. Informal settlements and townships The big problem is that we have a large part of the population in informal settlements and in townships where there is no social distancing, Fr. Gerard explains. If you are living in a hut where there are 15 people in one room, you cant respect social distancing, he adds. A township in South Africa Furthermore, he says, in informal settlements and in slum-like townships, people have no means of washing their hands or following the rules for good hygiene: If you have to walk hundreds of meters to the river to fetch water, then you can't wash your hands and you have no means to disinfect yourself with chemical disinfectant: this is a major problem. Stigma and fear Fr. Gerard also pinpoints a cultural issue that has to do with stigma and fear: Many people don't even want to be tested or diagnosed, they dont want to be treated, just as it happened with HIV-Aids. Although the government has rolled out mobile testing units and set up clinics in the townships, Fr. Gerard says he is afraid people might avoid them, because they are afraid of being diagnosed; they are afraid to be taken away from home, and they think that if they run away they might avoid the whole situation. That is actually a deadly danger that we are in, he adds. Undocumented immigrants A recent United Nations estimate calculated the number of foreigners living illegally in South Africa as high as 10% to 15% of the population. Most of them are poor people from other African nations who come in search of work. Fr. Gerard says he is extremely worried about them because they are in hiding and they don't want to be detected at all. They are afraid of being identified as illegal immigrants and sent home, thus endangering the policy to test, track and treat infected persons. He recalls it is a problem the country already dealt with when it started extensive campaigns to treat HIV. Thankfully, the government decided to treat even those with no registered South African identity documentation. These people are particularly vulnerable, he says. Order of Malta healthcare facilities and Covid-19 Noting that 80% of the people served by the Brotherhood of the Blessed Gerard in Mandeni live under the poverty line, Fr. Gerard describes the assistance and support he and his personnel manage to provide. We are running the largest in-patient hospice in the whole of South Africa, he says. The hospice is full of immuno-compromised and frail geriatric patients, the very people who are most in danger of dying from the disease. We have close to 700 patients on Aids treatment in a very large treatment programme, he adds. In preparation for the lockdown, explains Fr. Gerard, patients were given their medication for two months in advance so they don't have to come here. And they are safe so far. A similar strategy was chosen for the Malnutrition Clinic where baby food was distributed to those in need for the whole of the lockdown period. And, he says, the same was done for the Orders Home Care Programme, leaving health care workers free to attend to emergencies and strengthen the ranks of the in-patient hospice personnel. The Brotherhood also runs a large children's in-patient home which currently hosts 55 children, many of them with previous conditions that make them especially vulnerable. Fr. Gerard is especially keen to express his gratitude and admiration for his staff: I am so happy about our personnel! They have been told that if they stay at home they can help prevent infection spreading, but he says, they are all true to their mission as health-care workers and are faithfully coming to look after their patients and the children. Trust in the Catholic Church Fr. Gerard agrees that most South Africans have trust in the Catholic church, especially when it comes to social care, healthcare and education, because it has always been at the side of the under-privileged and was a strong partner in the fight against injustice and apartheid. Also, in the liturgical sense, he says people are now asking us, at a time in which we cannot have public services, to broadcast them through streaming on the internet. And we do that. In the beginning, Fr. Gerard says, I thought it would be very lonely saying Mass on my own. But I look into the screen of the computer and I know that there are many people actually watching, and in my mind, those people are here (). Therefore, it is not that lonely. It is a different way of bringing the Good News that God is there for us, and especially in a difficult situation He is there for us, and that the Church finds ways of approaching the faithful and being there for them in different ways. Making it all work On the one hand, Fr. Gerard explains, the Brotherhood of the Blessed Gerard works closely with partners such as the Department of Health and of Social Development that has delivered disinfectant and face masks that we are very grateful for. On the other, he says, the entire work of the Order of Malta is financed by donations and grants: We do not sell our services because the people we serve are the have-nots, they cannot pay for the services we render to them. Thus, he concludes, in light of the fact that his annual fundraising tour to Europe has been cancelled, and the postal services in the country are completely disrupted, the Brotherhood of the Blessed Gerhard is fundraising online. And every drop in the ocean can help save a life. Just days after his release from prison, rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine returned to Instagram as well, with an unusual comment referring to him being labeled a 'snitch.' The 23-year-old rapper (real name Daniel Hernandez) was released from prison on Thursday, though he was still under house arrest, and he made his first Instagram comment on Sunday afternoon. The Dummy Boy rapper commented on a post about Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti offering rewards for citizens who 'snitch' on businesses violating the stay-at-home order due to the coronavirus outbreak, with Tekashi commenting, 'Coming to the rescue.' Comment: Just days after his release from prison, rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine returned to Instagram as well, with an unusual comment referring to him being labeled a 'snitch' The rapper was released from prison early on Thursday, serving the rest of his two-year prison sentence at home, according to TMZ. He will be on supervised release, and for the first four months, he'll have a GPS monitor and he will only be allowed to leave the home to seek medical treatment or visit his attorney. A judge granted the request by Hernandez Thursday, after he plead for his release to avoid getting infected with the coronavirus. Release: The rapper was released from prison early on Thursday, serving the rest of his two-year prison sentence at home, according to TMZ Court documents also revealed he was granted his release because the judge felt he wasn't a threat to society and because he had served most of his sentence already. The judge had originally denied the request, because he said he technically didn't have the 'power' to release him. But upon learning he did have to power to grant an early release, and with the prosecutors not opposing the release, he granted it on Thursday. Sentence: Court documents also revealed he was granted his release because the judge felt he wasn't a threat to society and because he had served most of his sentence already Tekashi 69 was convicted on racketeering charges, and he was facing a possible life sentence in prison. But in February 2019, the rapper reached a plea agreement for testifying against fellow members of the Trey Nine Gang. As a result, he was sentenced to serve just two years in prison, 13 months of which was already served, and he was slated to be released in August on good behavior but now he's a free man after his successful petition for early release due to the spread of COVID-19. Life in prison: Tekashi 69 was convicted on racketeering charges, and he was facing a possible life sentence in prison The rapper burst onto the scene in 2017 with his first single Gummo, which peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts. He released his first mixtape Day 69 in 2018 and his first studio album Dummy Boy in 2018. The rapper has not yet indicated if he will be heading back into the studio to make a new album now that he's out of prison. Operations Recommence at Proyecto Riotinto NICOSIA, CYPRUS / ACCESSWIRE / April 6, 2020 / Atalaya Mining Plc. ("Atalaya" or "the Company") Atalaya Mining Plc. (AIM:ATYM, TSX:AYM) is pleased to confirm that operations have recommenced at its Proyecto Riotinto copper mine. On 30 March 2020, Atalaya announced the stoppage of operations at Proyecto Riotinto in response to the Spanish government's Royal Decree released on 29 March 2020 which declared mining a non-essential industry. The Royal Decree was put in place to increase the national protective measures against COVID-19 and prevents workers in non-essential industries from attending their places of work and thereby results in a suspension of certain business operations. Further to the Royal Decree, the Company received, on 3 April 2020, from the mining department of the Junta de Andalucia, clarifications that the definition of essential industry is extended to mining as it is a required supplier to other essential industries included in the Royal Decree. Accordingly, operations at Proyecto Riotinto have now recommenced. Strict health and security measures imposed by the Spanish government continues to be mandatory for the critical workforce required on site. Associated to these measures, Atalaya will maximize the stockpiles available on site, defer all non-essential activities and focus on the production of concentrates to fulfill national and international commitments to supply other industries. The Company will continue to update the market in due course as necessary. Contacts: Newgate Communications Elisabeth Cowell / Adam Lloyd / Tom Carnegie + 44 20 3757 6880 4C Communications Carina Corbett +44 20 3170 7973 Canaccord Genuity (NOMAD and Joint Broker) Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor / James Asensio +44 20 7523 8000 BMO Capital Markets (Joint Broker) Tom Rider / Michael Rechsteiner / Neil Elliot +44 20 7236 1010 Peel Hunt LLP (Joint Broker) Ross Allister / David McKeown +44 20 7418 8900 About Atalaya Mining Plc Story continues Atalaya is an AIM and TSX-listed mining and development group which produces copper concentrates and silver by-product at its wholly owned Proyecto Riotinto site in southwest Spain. In addition, the Group has a phased, earn-in agreement for up to 80% ownership of Proyecto Touro, a brownfield copper project in the northwest of Spain which is currently in the permitting stage. For further information, visit www.atalayamining.com This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Atalaya Mining PLC View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/583994/Atalaya-Mining-PLC-Announces-Operations-Recommence-at-Proyecto-Riotinto KREUZLINGEN, Switzerland -- Constance, Germany, and Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, are divided cities these days, with a strip of grass and two fences separating them after the countries closed their borders to slow the spread of the coronavirus. In a park on Lake Constances shoreline residents of both cities normally move freely across an invisible line marking where one nation ends and the other begins. But everything has changed: Most Germans cannot come to Switzerland, most Swiss are barred from Germany. On Sunday, lovers, brothers and sisters, parents and their children, and old friends pressed against the chain links in the spring sunshine, just close enough to say I love you, too far apart to touch. This is our only chance to stand across from each other, face-to-face, said Jean-Pierre Walter, a Swiss who drove an hour from Zurich to see his German partner, Maja Bulic. We can at least speak to each other. Thats something. For weeks, they have telephoned or spoken over FaceTime. But fiber optic is no substitute for flesh and blood. At some point, you have to see somebody in person, said Bulic, who drove 2-1/2 hours from near Heidelberg. Its difficult, but I know one day it will be different. People talk through two fences set up by Swiss and German authorities on the German-Swiss border as a protection measure due to the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland April 5, 2020. Photo: Reuters This is a coronavirus no-mans land. It traces the route of a barbed wire-topped barrier that split Switzerland and Germany during World War Two and that was removed long ago. The fences have become a meeting point for people divided by the epidemic - and a reminder of its disruption for Europeans accustomed to traveling where they please. Switzerland is not in the European Union, but agreements allow Swiss and the blocs citizens to travel virtually unfettered, in normal times. As the coronavirus spread it has killed 559 people and infected 21,100 in Switzerland, while in Germany the toll is 1,342 dead and nearly 92,000 infected the governments clamped down on border traffic. A sign reads: 'Border crossing blocked - please use highway checkpoint' on the German-Swiss border, as protective measures are taken due to the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland April 5, 2020. Photo: Reuters Currently, those Swiss and Germans with cross-border jobs can go back and forth. For nearly everybody else, its forbidden. The fence went up in mid-March as a single layer. This week, officials added a second, since people were passing beers, playing cards and kissing through the chain links - hardly the required two-meter separation. Kreuzlingen officials said of the decision that too many people were not obeying the rules. Swiss border police, reinforced by the Swiss Army, patrol the Swiss side. An occasional German federal police squad car makes the rounds just opposite. A man and a woman talk through fences set up by Swiss and German authorities on the German-Swiss border as a protection measure due to the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in a park on the banks of Lake Constance in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland April 5, 2020. Photo: Reuters Thrown chocolate bars While those at the fences said they largely accepted personal deprivations to slow the spread of the disease, some observed that the power of states to halt activities once taken for granted was intimidating. Germans, for whom a wall long divided East from West, said they never imagined another one in Europe. Its like being in jail, said Veronica Campanile, a Constance resident meeting friends from the Kreuzlingen side. People sit on both sides of fences set up by Swiss and German authorities on the German-Swiss border as a protection measure due to the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in an park on the banks of Lake Constance in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland April 5, 2020. Photo: Reuters Dominik Loroff drove three hours from Munich to meet Michele Graf-Ludin, from Winterthur, 50 minutes away in Switzerland. They had read about the fence, how it had become a magnet for those trapped on different sides of the coronavirus divide. They had hoped to touch but settled for sharing chocolate bars thrown quickly across when border police werent looking. Its sad, when you consider the fate of individuals, Loroff said. If it was still just one fence, it would be OK. The second fence is tough. A German sign reads 'National border' in between of two fences built by Swiss and German authorities on the German-Swiss border, as a protection measure due to the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in an park on the banks of Lake Constance in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland April 5, 2020. Photo: Reuters A German sign reads 'National border' in between two fences built by Swiss and German authorities on the German-Swiss border as a protection measure due to the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland April 5, 2020. Photo: Reuters Budget hospitality chain Treebo Hotels has launched a paid voluntary resignation scheme (PVRS) for its employees under which they will be offered a month's salary apart from continuation of their insurance cover even after the end of the employment. The company has decided to take these steps as it looks at uncertain times due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. Besides, the founders of the company have also taken a 60 per cent pay cut and top management has also taken 40 per cent pay cut. "We've seen the COVID-19 pandemic radically and quickly transform our lives, the world, and our business in less than a month. Vast majority of our hotels are on stop-sell, all demand channels have dried up, revenue has nearly disappeared, and cash reserves are running low," the company said in an email to its employees. While the company continues to look for ways to improve its financial situation, it cannot say with certainty what the future would look like. In such a scenario, the company is keen to safeguard the interests of people right away should the situation worsen later on, and significantly reduce the cost base of the company to allow continuity, it added. "We are obviously badly impacted industry. We have just rolled out paid voluntary resignation scheme for our employees where we have told them that the company is in a difficult situation right now, both in terms of business as well as the financial situation of the company," Treebo Hotels co-founder Sidharth Gupta told PTI. The company wants to act proactively to help the employees secure their financial interests, he added. "The scheme is open to all employees. We are not selectively offering it to some and not to others or vice versa. We are hoping that people will exercise their judgement and will opt for the scheme, which will help us secure their financial interests by paying them some liquidity in advance and we can also start finding other opportunities for them, as part of an outplacement effort," Gupta said. It will also reduce some cost burden on the company. We at present have around 400 employees. When asked if the company is also planning for lay offs, Gupta said: "There are no lay offs. It is a completely voluntary scheme open to all employees. We are not terminating anyone. If people today say I am not opting in for the scheme, it is fine. He will remain on the rolls". The company has put a group of senior leaders who are working on finding alternate employment opportunities for all those who chose this PVR Scheme, Treebo Hotels said. Should this situation get better in the near future, the company will be reaching out to those employees who have opted for this scheme to see if there are opportunities for it to work with them again, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) People dont trust their governments for a good reason. Governments lie to them regularly. In the ongoing COVID-19 event, we in the U.S. initially were told that there was little risk. The first 15 people who came to the U.S. with the virus soon would get well, and the event then would be over. We were advised to go about our day and many people did. They got on planes, departed for cruises, and went about their lives. We were told not to wear masks. Moreover, we were told that wearing them might make us more likely to get sick and that advice didnt come only from Republicans either. Now were being advised that everyone should cover their faces in public. Now thousands of U.S. citizens are dead. The level of distrust in government appears to be at an all-time high when we need to follow government shelter and social distancing rules actively. We are still seeing pictures of parks and beaches crowded with people. Too many people still dont understand that 25 percent of those who have the virus and are spreading it have no symptoms. Once testing ramps up, how are those people going to deal with the fact that the relative they visited may have died as a consequence? Ill share my perspective on that and then close with my product of the week: Ciscos Country Digital Acceleration Program, which has been a massive success in Turin, Italy, helping the city become a beacon of hope during the past hideous few weeks. Breaching Trust This problem is hardly just a U.S. problem, as it seems that almost every government initially downplayed the virus only to reverse itself when the impact of the illness overcame the various coverups. This practice began in China where the virus might have been, but wasnt, contained. Bill Gates not only predicted this pandemic, but also identified the area where it would originate. We could have saved trillions of taxpayer dollars just by making sure there were strong early warning monitors in that area in case he was right which turned out to be the case. Given that two pandemics COVID-19 and SARS likely originated from the same region, the world should demand ongoing monitoring to prevent the next pandemic from arising there. If China refuses, it should force China to pay for the resulting economic impact. The real danger is that if people dont trust the government, they wont follow social distancing guidelines. There is also a good chance that once a vaccine is developed, many wont take it. The amount of distrust surrounding this pandemic seems unprecedented and anti-vaxxers effectively brought back the measles. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Lying to us about the need for masks was incredibly stupid (here is an explanation of how a sneeze from someone without a mask spreads). Saying there wasnt a problem was crazy. Arguing that older people would be OK with dying to protect the economy was insane. If government(s) cant be trusted, then dont be surprised if citizens dont listen. We need citizens to listen. Politicizing the Pandemic There is a general trend to agree with everything a politician you like says and disagree with everything a politician you dont like says. We tend to be critical of politicians we dont like and full of praise for those we like. This behavior makes everything seem partisan. This results in two sets of truths and ironically, neither is true because both are massively biased. This tendency drives behavior in politicians, because they know their backers will support anything they do, and their detractors wont support anything they do. CEOs who surround themselves with yes men and women tend to fail. The CEO who gets only negative feedback almost certainly will fail in spite of doing a good job. I would argue that if advisors are either continuously positive or consistently negative regardless of what a CEO does, the chief will avoid the always-negative advisors and fail, having not been able to learn from mistakes. If we fixed this feedback problem, we could improve the effectiveness of any administration regardless of party. Recently Ive been impressed by Californias Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. He went on CNN (picked up by Fox News), and praised the president for what he was doing right. As a result, Newsom is getting far better support for his state. Better support will save lives, and that is the goal not making political points. Right now the goal is to save lives not get elected. Dead people dont vote. Reelection comes more naturally for leaders who execute. This year is an election year, and I have no doubt that once the national campaigns take off again, the blame will get vetted fully, but we still have months to go and a lot of lives to save before that. Lets focus on what is essential now, and being universally critical is counterproductive to the effort of saving lives. Being universally positive likely doesnt help either, but I dont think it has as significant a negative short term impact. We should use Bill Gates as an example. He isnt focused on blame he is focused on fixing the problems we have today. Blame doesnt fix anything. We can play politics when we arent in as much risk of dying. Acting Like This Event Is Transitional We are working like the COVID-19 event is a one-time thing, and we pretty much did the same job with SARS. Its likely there will be more pandemics and theres nothing to indicate that COVID-19 is going anyplace. It may be seasonal, it probably will mutate, and that means we will have a new regular flu event and the new flu is 10 times more fatal than the old flu. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Im still struggling with the fact that we were OK with 12K to 61K deaths a year due to the old flu (thats in the U.S. worldwide, its 291K to 646K), but were not OK with 2 million deaths potentially resulting from COVID-19. If I were one of those 12K to 61K victims of the old flu or one of their relatives Im not sure Id see the difference. (For perspective, the U.S. lost around 58K troops during the entire Vietnam War.) Our behavior needs to change so that viruses like COVID-19 cant spread as quickly, to make sure those who are the most vulnerable dont die due to our unwillingness to break social conventions permanently. We dont need to kiss as a greeting. We dont need to shake hands. Also, we should stay home when were sick. I also think that if we are going to ask people to work during times like this, we shouldnt just give them protective clothing and better paid sick leave. We should also provide death benefits so that firms dont think it is cheaper to replace a dead employee than it is to keep them from dying. Were death benefits expensive enough, they automatically would fix the lack of employee protection, because it would make an employees death more costly than protection, and companies are financially driven.We need to adjust the employment laws so that companies and people are motivated to do the right thing including getting vaccinated. If we dont, this wont be the last time we have to shut the country down, and there is a reasonably good chance that many of us wont survive the next time (assuming we survive this time). Wrapping Up If people dont trust their governments, then they wont follow government guidelines, and the results from events like this one will be far more dire. If people, particularly politicians, praise and criticize based more on their political beliefs than on the truth, politicians wont do what we want and need them to do, which is to make the right reliable decisions. Trading lives to protect the economy not only should not be done there should be every effort to make sure that kind of choice is never necessary (and Im speaking as a boomer who effectively just landed on the OK to die list). We need to start thinking strategically. How do we prevent the next pandemic? There likely will be a next one. We need better early warnings, better long-term behavior changes, and changes to both governmental and company policies, so that everyone rewards good behavior and universally penalizes bad behavior. Trusted data during events like this is critical. As I was finishing this column, I became aware of a new resource, GNU Health, which uses the open source model and aggressive collaboration to get ahead of the next virus. Its worth checking out. Last week, I had a chance to talk with the mayor and vice mayor of Turino Chiara Appendino and Marco Pironti. Cisco aggressively worked with the Turino government back in 2016 and was part of a collaborative effort initially called the Turin Lab, which recently underwent a name change to Turin Love, because its focus has become connecting isolated people with loved ones. The Cisco CDA Program exists for this kind of opportunity. Im pointing this out because in Turin, they appear more focused on fixing problems than on blaming each other for mistakes, and the result is real progress. Theyve set up WebEx systems in prisons (this is broader than just Turin) as well as in retirement homes, so that people dont have to visit these locations physically to talk to loved ones. Ciscos Networking Academy already has been implemented both in prisons and in charitable facilities focused on homeless people, to help people in both groups get well-paying jobs. As a result, systems already were in place that could be re-missioned easily to address the current pandemic. Ciscos CDA Program in Action in Italy Because of the deep integration between the city and Cisco, they were able to move City Council meetings to virtual meetings in four days, over a weekend, minimizing disruption. Turin now is a shining example of how technology companies like Cisco and cities like Turin can collaborate to address national catastrophes. I was impressed with Guy Diedrich, Ph.D., who runs the Cisco CDA program, and Agostino Santoni, who helped drive the effort in Italy (though he was kind of slow getting a WebEx system for his mother). Also, I was impressed with both the mayor and vice mayor of Turino, who created the technology foundation that allowed the city to pivot quickly to enable effective social distancing and protect some of the most vulnerable citizens there. Because the Cisco CDA Program is an excellent example of how companies and politicians should behave, it is my product of the week and a program that other OEMs should consider emulating for the good of all of us. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ECT News Network. US-led coalition airdrops military equipment to Syria's biggest oil field: Report Iran Press TV Sunday, 05 April 2020 1:52 PM The so-called US-led military coalition purportedly formed to fight the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group has reportedly airdropped military and logistical equipment to oil-rich areas it has occupied in Syria's eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr, as Washington and some of its regional allies vie to seize oil reserves and plunder natural resources in the war-battered country. The Arabic-language Enab Baladi weekly newspaper, citing a video published by the local North Press news agency, reported that a military transport aircraft offloaded its cargo near al-Omar oil field in the eastern countryside of Dayr al-Zawr. The report noted that the operation took place late on Saturday. Back on March 11, the US-led alliance deployed long-range artillery systems to its base in the Omar oil field. The official website of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said at the time that such reinforcements, consisting of heavy artillery weapons, were aimed at protecting military bases and supporting joint operations between the Kurdish-led militants and US-led coalition forces against Daesh. "Americans are currently present in the northeastern part of the country, controlling all oil fields there and stealing our crude resources. If we manage to liberate the region from the American occupation, we will then revive our economy," the Arabic service of Russia's Sputnik news agency quoted the Syrian Ambassador to Russia, Riyad Haddad, as saying in an exclusive interview with Russia's state-owned Rossiya 24 television news network on March 12. In late October 2019, Washington reversed an earlier decision to pull out all of its troops from northeastern Syria, announcing the deployment of about 500 soldiers to the oil fields controlled by Kurdish forces in the Arab country. The Pentagon claimed that the move was aimed at protecting the fields and facilities from possible attacks by Daesh. That claim came although US President Donald Trump had earlier suggested that Washington sought economic interests in controlling the oil fields. US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper also threatened that the US troops deployed to the fields would use "military force" against any party that might seek to challenge control of the sites, even if it were Syrian government forces or their Russian allies. Syria, which has not authorized American military presence in its territory, has said the US is "plundering" the country's oil. On December 18, 2019, China's special envoy for Syria said the United States' pretext for extending its military presence in the Arab country, namely to protect Syrian oil fields, was untenable. "Who has given the Americans the right to do this? And, at whose invitation is the US protecting Syria's oil fields?" Xie Xiaoyan said at a press conference in Moscow. "Let's think the other way around: Will the US allow Syria to send troops to US territory to protect oil fields there?" NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Asian News International While taking too much stress can lead to depression and other mental health complications, it can also affect our decision-making ability. A recent study has found that stress can hinder our ability to develop informed plans by preventing us from being able to make decisions based on memory. According to Stanford psychologist Anthony Wagner, who is the senior author of the paper, "We draw on memory not just to project ourselves back into the past but to project ourselves forward, to plan." "Stress can rob you of the ability to draw on cognitive systems underlying memory and goal-directed behaviour that enable you to solve problems more quickly, more efficiently and more effectively," he said. The study led by Stanford University researchers was published in the journal of Current Biology. Combined with previous work from Wagner's Memory Lab and others, these findings could have broad implications for understanding how different people plan for the future - and how lack of stress may afford some people a greater neurologically-based opportunity to think ahead. "It's a form of neurocognitive privilege that people who are not stressed can draw on their memory systems to behave more optimally," said Wagner, who is the Lucie Stern Professor in the Social Sciences at Stanford's School of Humanities and Sciences. "And we may fail to actually appreciate that some individuals might not be behaving as effectively or efficiently because they are dealing with something, like a health or economic stressor, that reduces that privilege." The researchers conducted experiments where they monitored participants' behaviour and brain activity - via MRI - as they navigated through virtual towns. After participants became very familiar winding routes in a dozen towns, they were dropped onto one of the memorized paths and told to navigate to a goal location. To test the effects of stress, the researchers warned some participants that they could receive a mild electric shock, unrelated to their performance, during their virtual rambles. Participants who didn't have to worry about being randomly shocked tended to envision and take novel shortcuts based on memories acquired from prior journeys, whereas the stressed participants tended to fall back on the meandering, habitual routes. Prior to beginning their trek, the participants were virtually held in place at their starting position. Brain scans from this period showed that the stressed individuals were less likely than their counterparts to activate the hippocampus -- a brain structure that would have been active if they were mentally reviewing previous journeys. They also had less activity in their frontal-parietal lobe networks, which allows us to bring neural processes in line with our current goals. Previous work by the researchers had found that stress hinders this neural machinery, making it harder for us to retrieve and use memories. The researchers believe their new study is the first to show how hippocampal-frontal lobe network disruption takes memory replay offline during a planning session due to stress. "Its kind of like our brain is pushed into a more low-level thought-process state, and that corresponds with this reduced planning behaviour," said Thackery Brown, who was a postdoctoral scholar in the Memory Lab during this research and is the lead author of the paper. 'World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF)-Australia found that, since 2001, the number of koalas in Queensland had fallen by half, while in New South Wales numbers may have declined by up to 61pc' Drought, fires and land clearing have pushed Australia's koalas to the brink of extinction, animal welfare groups warned yesterday. They urged Australia to classify the marsupial as "endangered" in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory after research revealed a collapse in the koala population. World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF)-Australia found that, since 2001, the number of koalas in Queensland had fallen by half, while in New South Wales numbers may have declined by up to 61pc. Drought, deforestation and bush fires - including the devastating fires of 2019-2020 - were the main factors driving the collapse, said Dr Stuart Blanch, a WWF-Australia scientist, who said the situation was "worse than we thought". "We have gone from [koalas] not being a threatened species to [potentially] being listed as an endangered species on the east coast within a decade - I would never have thought that was possible. I never thought we would be losing them so quickly," he said. Raising the threat level to endangered would increase the protection for forests where koalas live and mobilise funding. "Koalas are the canaries of our forests. If we lose koalas, it means our forests are disappearing as well," warned Dr Blanch. Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Despite daily exhortations from health-care officials to stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic, and repeated pleas by remote communities to stay away, the Heiltsuk Nation on B.C.'s Central Coast says travellers in yachts and sailboats are still trying to access their shores and being turned away. On March 27, the Heiltsuk issued a bylaw banning non-residents and non-Heiltsuk from entering their territory, including Bella Bella, to avoid bringing infection into the community. Essential workers including health-care staff are exempt. On Saturday, the First Nation turned away two sailboats en route to Alaska, and have stopped other vessels from docking, said Chief Councillor Marilyn Slett. "I know that people are scared and trying to find a place of refuge, and maybe get away from the urban centres, but our community of Bella Bella is highly vulnerable to a COVID-19 outbreak," she said. "This is not the time to visit Bella Bella." Many small communities have pleaded with travellers not to come during the COVID-19 pandemic, from cottage country, to coastal getaways, to vulnerable First Nations communities. Slett says for her community, the travel restriction isn't a request, but a bylaw under Heiltsuk self-governance, and it will be enforced. One of the pleasure crafts looking for supplies did get groceries delivered by a neighbouring community, she said, but was not allowed to stop in Bella Bella. "They were provided with our bylaws and our travel restrictions, and we have our guardians out there monitoring, and certainly our community is taking this very seriously." 'Confusion, panic and fear' Indigenous communities have every reason to take the pandemic seriously, not just because of limited access to health care and vulnerable elders, but because of a long, difficult history of diseases introduced by outsiders from smallpox to measles to the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. "What we are experiencing in today's time gives me a greater insight into the ... sense of hopelessness and helplessness that our ancestors must have experienced during times of epidemics in the past when many of our people died," said Heiltsuk elder Pauline Waterfall, 76, in a video posted this week. Story continues Waterfall said her mother heard stories from her grandmother about the Spanish flu, and how so many people died each day that proper burials couldn't be done. She "described this time as utter chaos, confusion, panic and fear," said Waterfall. There are no cases of COVID-19 recorded in Bella Bella to date. However, there are only 10 hospital beds available in the community of 1,400 people, if the virus does spread there. "While we have a stellar medical team in place, our health-care system will collapse if an epidemic hits our community," said Waterfall. Slett said contingency plans are being made including taking over the community school gym for patients, should it be needed but outsiders should know there's little health care available, and an urgent air ambulance to Vancouver takes more than an hour. Watch Heiltsuk community leaders share advice on social distancing: Heiltsuk leaders are also telling their own people to self-isolate for 14 days when they return to the community, and avoid trips to Port Hardy for groceries or any other non-essential travel instead relying on BC Ferries to bring supplies in weekly by freight. BC Ferries is still travelling to Bella Bella and other coastal communities, at winter service levels, but with a warning to travellers to check advisories from local communities, including Bella Bella, before visiting. Pacific Coastal Airlines, which normally serves Bella Bella, has suspended flights on all routes until May 2. Slett says so far, the people turned away from Bella Bella have understood. "It's a hard thing for us to do, be we are thinking of everybody's safety." Long term investing works well, but it doesn't always work for each individual stock. We really hate to see fellow investors lose their hard-earned money. Anyone who held Mongolian Mining Corporation (HKG:975) for five years would be nursing their metaphorical wounds since the share price dropped 89% in that time. We also note that the stock has performed poorly over the last year, with the share price down 74%. Shareholders have had an even rougher run lately, with the share price down 42% in the last 90 days. This could be related to the recent financial results - you can catch up on the most recent data by reading our company report. We really hope anyone holding through that price crash has a diversified portfolio. Even when you lose money, you don't have to lose the lesson. See our latest analysis for Mongolian Mining 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. During five years of share price growth, Mongolian Mining moved from a loss to profitability. Most would consider that to be a good thing, so it's counter-intuitive to see the share price declining. Other metrics might give us a better handle on how its value is changing over time. Revenue is actually up 32% over the time period. So it seems one might have to take closer look at the fundamentals to understand why the share price languishes. After all, there may be an opportunity. The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). SEHK:975 Income Statement April 4th 2020 Take a more thorough look at Mongolian Mining's financial health with this free report on its balance sheet. A Different Perspective We regret to report that Mongolian Mining shareholders are down 74% for the year. Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 19%. However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case there's a good opportunity. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 36% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with Mongolian Mining , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. Story continues 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. Former President John Dramani Mahama on Monday presented a total of 100 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and 100 pairs of Gum Boots to health workers at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, to support their work towards managing the COVID-19 disease. The presentation is part of a total of 650 PPE and 650 gum boots procured by Mr. Mahama, who is also the Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for distribution to a number of medical facilities across the country. The Chairman of the NDC COVID-19 Technical Team, Prosper Bani, who presented the items on behalf of the NDC Flagbearer, thanked the countrys frontline health workers for their dedication, hard work and sacrifice as the nation grapples with the coronavirus. Mr. Bani, who was accompanied by other members of the NDC COVID-19 Team, urged government to work faster to ensure the urgent supply of the required protective clothing and logistics for the health workers to maintain their confidence as they come into contact with hundreds of people during these times. Chief Executive of Korle Bu, Dr. Daniel Asare, who received the items thanked President Mahama for the support, pledging that the hospital will put them to good use. As part of Mr. Mahamas support for the countrys health workers, a quantity of PPEs and gum boots are being presented to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the Ho Teaching Hospital, Effia Nkwanta Hospital, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital and Koforidua Government Hospital today. Speaking at a ceremony on Saturday to announce the supply of the materials, President Mahama said he was deeply touched by the enthusiasm and the sacrifice of the health workers, adding that I, John Dramani Mahama, appreciate you all, and Ghanaians appreciate you all. He also lamented the non-availability of protective clothing for the health workers. I must quickly add that it is not a good thing that health workers, across the country, still, do not have personal protective equipment. This is obviously because we did not plan early as a country and our importation of test kits was also late. Also the demand for test kits and PPEs have outstripped supply globally. Mr. Bani, who is also a former Chief of Staff was accompanied by his colleagues, former Minister for Health Mr. Alex Segbefia, Dr. Ebow Jehu-Appiah, a former General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association, and Dr. Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings, MP for Klottey Korle. Also in the delegation were the MP for Ablekuma South Alfred Oko Vanderpuye, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NDC Joseph Ade Coker and the Ablekuma South Constituency Chairman of the NDC Geoffrey Attakli Banini. Source: johnmahama.org 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 SANTIAGO, April 4 (Xinhua) -- "It is a final guide for ordinary people," said Monica Tejos, director of Simplemente Editores, a publisher that distributes a manual written by Chinese doctor Zhang Wenhong on COVID-19 prevention and control in Chile. The manual titled "Prevention and Control of COVID-19," which elaborates on the novel coronavirus, including its symptoms, treatment and prognosis, the susceptible population and the incubation period, also focuses on the importance of the wearing of masks and social distancing, Tejos told Xinhua. Zhang, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Fudan-Huashan Hospital in Shanghai, has led a team of medical experts to fight the epidemic in Shanghai since January 2020. The professor participated in the treatment and control of SARS in 2003 and H7N9 avian flu in 2013. "We chose this book from among others because it is very didactic and it is written in easy language that can reach the general population," said Tejos, adding that it is the most important instructional work of its kind. She discussed how the book supports the wearing of masks, a measure that has not been fully adopted in Chile and caused a great deal of confusion among the citizens. The book was published in China in February, the Chilean publisher said, adding that Simplemente Editores proposed editing it in March and now has the global copyright of the Spanish edition. Sun Xintang, the book's coordinator, told Xinhua that the book is very popular in China and other countries in Asia. According to data, the book has so far sold more than a million copies in China and abroad, with 1.6 million downloads of its digital versions. It has been translated into Spanish, English, Italian, Persian, Russian, Thai, and Vietnamese. "I think it is necessary to present these experiences to the Chilean public and I am very happy that the publisher Simplemente Editores has translated and published it with extraordinary efficiency," said Sun. "I am convinced that this knowledge and advice will be a timely and useful contribution to overcoming this pandemic that is attacking us in a way that is unprecedented in human history," Sun added. Russia is ready to hold constructive talks aimed at stabilizing the oil market, and those talks dont have alternative, Vladimir Putins press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday. Russia did not support the end of the OPEC+ deal, Peskov told Russian television channel Rossiya 24 on Sunday. President Putin and Russia as a whole are inclined to take part in a constructive negotiation process which doesnt have alternative right now to stabilize the international energy market, Peskov added. Saudi Arabia, Russia, and many other oil producers were set to video-meet on Monday to discuss ways of supporting collapsing oil prices by potentially cutting 10 million bpd, or even 15 million bpd, of global oil production. Over the weekend, however, Saudi Arabia and Russia traded accusations, claiming that the other was the reason the OPEC+ pact collapsed last month, widening the rift between the two former allies and leading to a postponement of the Monday meeting to Thursday, April 9. Putin said last week that Saudi Arabias oil price war and its readiness to offer steep discounts for its oil targeted to bankrupt U.S. shale. Saudi Arabia responded to that by accusing Russia of breaking up the OPEC+ coalition last month. The words attributed to Putin by media are fully devoid of truth, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, said in a statement late on Friday. The withdrawal of the kingdom from the agreement is not correct, but that Russia was the one that refused the agreement, while the Kingdom and 22 other countries were trying to persuade Russia to make further cuts and extend the agreement, yet Russia has not agreed, the official Saudi Press Agency quoted the Saudi foreign minister as saying. Meanwhile, both Saudi Arabia and Russia signal that while they are ready to talk potential production cuts, they would consider doing so only if major producers from outside the OPEC+ format, including the United States, join such cuts. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Times of crisis can often bring out the best in people. As the COVID-19 situation becomes more and more complicated in Vietnam, many have stepped up to help doctors and their communities, any way they can. Here are a few shining examples of the amazing people in Viet Nam. #1 HCM City 95 year old woman makes masks for poor people 95-year-old Ngo Thi Quyt spends her time making face masks to give to the poor in HCM Citys Go Vap District. browser not support iframe. #2 Ha Noi chef made hundreds of meals for medical staffs Nguyen Thanh Thuy, owner of a small restaurant in Ha Noi, has made hundreds of free healthy meals for medical staffs working at National Hospital of Tropical Diseases Facility No. 2, where many COVID 19 patients are being treated. Photo baotintuc.vn #3 Two 15 year old students donated savings of VN200 million Tran uc Phuong and Bui Le Thao Vy from Binh Phuoc province have donated VN200 million (US$8,447) to the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committee. The cash was their savings to study abroad in the future. VNA Photo Duong Chi Tuong #4 A vegetarian shop offers hundreds of free meals for people in HCM City Binh An vegetarian food shop on Ngo Quyen Street in HCM Citys District 10, offer 1,200-1,400 free meals for people in need every single day. VNA Photo Van Phuc #5 Volunteers deliver charity meals to poor locals in HCM City Volunteers are travelling all over HCM City taking free meals to people from the Nu Cuoi restaurant chain. Photo: baogiaothong.vn #6 Free hand liquid moisturizing soap distributed to Ha Noi residents Blooming Soap Company in Ha Noi gave away hundreds of free hand liquid moisturising soap to locals and gave 100 bottles to Help Hanois Homeless organisation. Photo: facebook.com #7 HCMC residents leave food outside for those in need Kind-hearted locals of HCM City have been leaving free food and necessities outside their houses and stores so those in need can take them for free. Free banh tet during COVID-19. Photo facebook.com People in need can come and take this home. Duck eggs and instant noodle. Lets get through COVID-19 together. Photo facebook.com Struggling people please take one portion. If you are fine please leave these for other people in need. Rice, noodle, rice porridge, mask. Photo facebook.com #8 Facebook user compiled a list of restaurants that sell cheap meals A Facebook user has gathered a list of restaurants that sell meals at a cheap price (below VN5,000) or give them away for free, so readers can direct struggling locals to such restaurants. Their post can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/VietnamIsAwesome/permalink/1620360148121125/ VNS Photo Viet Dung #9 Ha Noi University donates food to charity organisation UNIS Hanoi University has donated their pre-ordered groceries to Blossom House, a charity organisation focusing on helping disadvantaged girls. Photo facebook.com #10 Facebook group encourages people to cook more meals for people in need A Faceook page called Saigon Corona Support Network in HCM City has encouraged people to cook more food than usual, and each person would provide 3 free meals to one person in need in the next 15 days by putting up a sign outside their house. Every day at 8am 12pm 5pm, come to get food here at my house. I will provide meals for one person in the next 15 days."Photo: facebook.com #11 Old lady donates life saving to the fight against COVID-19 87-year-old ao Thi Hue from Quang Ngai province donated VN3 million and her jewelry to pay for emergency supplies. She said if she dies, she can't take her possessions with her. browser not support iframe. #12 Old woman donates life savings 84-year-old o Thi Mo from Thanh Hoa province donated VN2 million to the government to combat COVID-19. VNA Photo VNS Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 6) Dagupan City reported its first coronavirus death on Sunday after a patient under investigation was confirmed to have contracted the viral disease. The city's public information office said in a statement that an 80-year-old patient under investigation (PUI), who died on April 2, had tested positive for COVID-19. The city only received his test results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) on Sunday. The patient from Barangay Pogo Chico was the 6th confirmed COVID-19 case in the city. He was also one of the three PUIs who died before their test results were released; the two others are still awaiting results. The patient was cremated on April 3. He had no travel history, but he was exposed to a person who had traveled to Metro Manila. Dagupan City has a total of 1,867 persons under monitoring and 38 patients under investigation five of which remain admitted in hospitals. In the Philippines, there are 3,246 confirmed cases, 152 deaths, and 64 recoveries. A mass grave thought to contain the bodies of some 30,000 victims of Rwanda's genocide has been discovered in a valley near the capital. Fifty bodies have so-far been exhumed from the valley, which has a dam across it, but rescue efforts are being hampered by water filling the dam and the country's coronavirus lockdown. The discovery is being hailed as one of the most significant in years and was made ahead of the 26th anniversary of the start of the genocide on April 7. The Rwandan genocide saw 800,00 ethic Tutsis, Hutu moderates and their political allies massacred in 100 day of bloodshed. A mass grave containing the remains of an estimated 30,000 Rwandan genocide victims has been found near the capital Kigali (file image, the skulls of victims in a memorial) Word of the valley dam and the bodies it held emerged as many people convicted in the genocide are being released from prison after serving their sentences and offering new information on mass graves. Other information on the dam came from nearby residents. 'The challenge we face now is that the valley dam contains water, but we are trying to dry it up,' Naphtal Ahishakiye, the executive secretary of genocide survivor organization Ibuka, told The Associated Press. The valley is outside the capital, Kigali, in the country's east. Authorities said the dam was dug years before the genocide to provide water for rice farming. Exhuming bodies during the coronavirus pandemic is very challenging since people cannot gather, Ahishakiye said. 'But we try our best so that we give the dead a decent burial.' Rwanda will mark the anniversary of the genocide on television and social media as gatherings are banned. Around 50 bodies have been exhumed so far, but efforts are being hampered by the country's coronavirus lockdown (pictured, police on the streets of Kigali) The majority of Rwandans are ethic Hutus, but the country was ruled by the Tutsi minority for decades until 1959 when the Tutsi monarchy was overthrown. In 1990, a Tutsi rebel group called the Rwandan Patriotic Front that had formed in Uganda invaded the country. After several years of guerrilla fighting, a peace deal was signed in 1993 between President Juvenal Habyarimana and RPF leaders. However, the fragile peace lasted only until the night of April 6, 1994, when a plane carrying Habyarimana and Cyprien Ntaryamira, president of Burundi and a Hutu, was shot down. The Hutus blamed the RPF for the attack and enacted a 'final solution' to rid the country of Tutsis, with militias handed lists of names and told to kill them. Neighbours turned on each other, husbands murdered their Tutsi wives, and there were even accounts of priests and nuns killing those who sought shelter in churches. By July 15, almost 800,000 people had been killed - a massacre which only stopped when the RPF took control of the capital, causing some 2million Hutus who perpetrated the genocide or feared reprisal attacks to flee. Health experts have done a lot of disagreeing lately about COVID-19. Some have argued for stage 4 lockdowns, others have argued for gentler social restrictions. Their disagreements are often pitted in the media as the right advice versus the wrong advice. However, should we really be concerned when experts disagree? I have worked for 40 years in outbreak control. I led responses to large outbreaks in the Northern Territory, worked in WHO teams responding to outbreaks of SARS in south-east Asia, influenza in Hunan, China and cholera in South Sudan. I have also helped establish training programs focused on outbreak preparedness and response in countries including China, India and Vietnam. Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly was due to produce the government's modelling last week but did not. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen If Ive learnt one thing, its that disagreement among health experts is the rule rather than the exception. The disagreement may be stronger when the stakes are high and the facts of the disease are uncertain. The Australian government insists it followed the advice of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee on how best to block the spread of the virus. The committee consists of the chief health officers of the states and territories and engages infectious diseases experts from across the country. Manila (CNN Philippines Life) In celebration of the recently concluded International Womens Month, CNN Philippines has launched its first ever film contest, Reel Filipina. The digital shorts competition seeks to promote gender equality by sharing stories of women from all walks of life. Entries for the film competition each with a total running time of two to four minutes featured the theme of this years International Womens Month message, An equal world is an enabled world. The competition jury is composed of filmmakers Samantha Lee and Baby Ruth Villarama, actress Angeli Bayani, film historian and filmmaker Nick De Ocampo, and CNN Philippines Life editor-in-chief Don Jaucian. Out of 10 finalists, one competition winner and two awardees have been selected. Watch the films below: Digital Shorts Competition Winner: Shai by Sigrid Polon The Jurys Choice Awardee depicted how we, in our own ways, can be part of the gender equality advocacy. Shai follows its titular character, a young girl who has been living in the streets for a long time, as she tells a story of how a mother's love can make everything possible in life. A grand prize of 100,000.00 will be awarded to the competition winner. Digital Shorts Competition Peoples Choice Award: Gabi ang Paglaya ni Huli by Ron Canimo The Peoples Choice Awardee garnered the highest total number of online votes, with a total of 1,968 votes (29.53%). Inspired by the dark tale of Huli in El Filibusterismo, Gabi ang Paglaya ni Huli is a take on how the titular character comes back for a mission. Huli appears to be the savior of Karmela, a young lady who has been imprisoned in a large mansion. The film tackles how history haunts justice, particularly in cases of abuse. It is a story of courage, breaking the stigma that has been tied to a character we once knew. The Peoples Choice Awardee will receive 50,000. San Miguel Light Filipinas Can Awardee: Piyesa by John Harvey Tolosa and Hannah Briones This special award is given to the feature which challenges gender stereotypes through its progressive narrative. Piyesa follows Caleb Madlangbayan as he shares the goodness of his mother through a piece he reads in front of the class. He proudly talks about the real identity of his mother who raised him well. The San Miguel Light Filipinas Can Awardee will receive 20,000. Watch the Reel Filipina films on CNN Philippines YouTube channel. Reel Filipina is co-presented by by San Mig Light, BDO, and Montrey. In cooperation with Organique. Also made possible by McDonald's. The announcement of Beaumont's third coronavirus death means Southeast Texas on Sunday and Monday doubled the number of local deaths. The female patient was in her 60s with underlying health issues, according to a news release from the Public Health Department. [April 06, 2020] BrightInsight Named 2019 Google Cloud Technology Partner of the Year for the Healthcare Industry for Second Year in Row SAN JOSE, Calif., April 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BrightInsight, Inc., provider of a leading regulated Internet of Things (IoT) platform for biopharma and medtech, announced today that it has received the 2019 Google Cloud Technology Partner of the Year Award for the Healthcare Industry. BrightInsight previously received the 2018 Google Cloud Partner of the Year Award for the Healthcare Industry, demonstrating its continued growth year over year. BrightInsight was recognized for the companys achievements in the Google Cloud ecosystem, helping global biopharma and medtech customers build, scale and maintain regulated digital health offerings on its BrightInsight Platform. In partnership with Google Cloud , BrightInsight developed a highly differentiated change control process to maintain regulatory compliance and ensure that changes to the cloud platform do not affect BrightInsight customers' regulated intended uses. The worlds top biopharma and medtech companies have selected BrightInsight to develop and host digital health devices, apps, algorithms and Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) at scale while maintaining compliance with privacy, security, regulatory and quality requirements across the globe. BrightInsight has shown tremendous traction with leading biopharma companies including a recent announcement of a global digital health partnership with AstraZeneca. We are proud to once again be named Technology Partner of the Year for the Healthcare Industry, said Kal Patel, MD, CEO & Co-Founder, BrightInsight. This award celebrates Google Cloud and BrightInsights unique ability to help our joint customers scale their regulated digital health projects across regions and products in a compliant manner. Were pleased to recognize BrightInsight as Google Clouds Technology Partner of the Year for the Healthcare Industry, said Kevin Ichhpurani, Corporate Vice President, Global Ecosystem at Google Cloud. Through our close partnership, BrightInsight is helping medical technology and biopharma organizations scale their digital health initiatives in areas like IoT and analytics, securely and quickly on Google Cloud while maintaining regulatory compliance. Committed to the highest quality standards, BrightInsight, Inc. is ISO13485:2016 certified and its software development lifecycle process conforms to IEC 62304. From a security perspective, the BrightInsight Platform is HITRUST CSF v9.1 Certified and HITRUST Certified of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework to manage risk, improve security posture and meet compliance requirements. The Platform is also ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certified. To support our commitment to the utmost privacy standards, the BrightInsight Platform is HIPAA and GDPR compliant and certified under both the EU-U.S. and Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield frameworks. The BrightInsight Platform has also achieved the French HDS (Hebergeur de Donnees de Sante) certification, validating that BrightInsight ensures data confidentiality, integrity, and availability for biopharma and medtech customers. In addition to the 2018 and 2019 Google Cloud Technology Partner of the Year Awards for the Healthcare Industry, the BrightInsight Platform was selected as the Best IoT Healthcare Platform in the 2019 MedTech Breakthrough Awards, was featured as the cover story for CIO Review Magazines 20 Most Promising Biotech Solution Providers 2019 ," and was included in The Journal of mHealth's 2020 Global Digital Health 100 . ABOUT BRIGHTINSIGHT, INC. BrightInsight provides the leading global regulated Internet of Things (IoT) platform for biopharma and medtech. Every line of code of our BrightInsight Platform is built under a Quality Management System to support and optimize regulated drugs, devices and software through integrated data and actionable insights. The Platform can enable our customers to drive increased patient adherence and engagement across therapeutic areas, with active projects in diabetes, respiratory, oncology, ophthalmology, obesity, hematology and more. The BrightInsight Platform uses software and services to capture, transmit and analyze data from CE-marked and FDA-regulated medical devices, combination products, apps and Software as a Medical Device, in compliance with global security, privacy and regulatory requirements. Deployed as a managed service, the platform accelerates time to market for biopharma and medtech companies, reduces the cost of implementation and maintenance versus a custom solution, and scales across products and global markets. For more information, visit BrightInsights website , our blog , Twitter and LinkedIn pages. Media & Press Jamie Burgess 1.831.915.0295 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on Friday. Read more WASHINGTON The U.S. surgeon general said Sunday that Americans should brace for levels of tragedy reminiscent of the Sept. 11 attacks and the bombing of Pearl Harbor, while the nations infectious disease chief warned that the new coronavirus may never be completely eradicated from the globe. Those were some of the most grim assessments yet for the immediate future and beyond. But hours later, President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence tried to strike more optimistic tones, suggesting that hard weeks ahead could mean beginning to turn a corner. Were starting to see light at the end of the tunnel, Trump said at an evening White House briefing. Pence added, We are beginning to see glimmers of progress. The president also insisted that both assessments from his administration they came within 12 hours of each other didn't represent an about-face or were even that different." I think we all know that we have to reach a certain point and that point is going to be a horrific point in terms of death but its also a point at which things are going to start changing, Trump said. Were getting very close to that level right now. The president added that he thought the next two weeks are going to be very difficult. At the same time, we understand what they represent and what that time represents and, hopefully, we can get this over with. Still, Trump's own briefing also struck a somber tone at times. The president offered some of his most extensive comments to date to the families of those killed by the virus, urging the nation to pray for them and "ask God to comfort them in their hour of grief. With the faith of our families and the spirit of our people and the grace of our God we will endure, the president said. "We will overcome. Earlier Sunday, Surgeon General Jerome Adams told CNN, This is going to be the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans lives, quite frankly. This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment, only its not going to be localized," said Adams, the nations top doctor. "Its going to be happening all over the country. And I want America to understand that. READ MORE: Trump administration waited two months after learning of coronavirus before ordering needed equipment The number of people infected in the U.S. has exceeded 337,000, with the death toll climbing past 9,600. More than 4,100 of those deaths are in the state of New York, but a glimmer of hope there came on Sunday when Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo said his state registered a small dip in new fatalities over a 24-hour period. Still, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said his state may run out of ventilators by week's end. Former Vice President Joe Biden suggested his party's presidential nominating convention, already pushed from July into August because of the outbreak, may have to move fully online to avoid packing thousands of people into an arena in Milwaukee. Biden has all but clinched his party's presidential nomination and held an online town hall from his home in Delaware at the same time Trump was addressing reporters. His tone was far less confrontational than Trump, who clashed with reporters and criticized Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker as being demanding and complaining while having not performed well. Biden sought to be uplifting and almost grandfatherly, taking questions from children with his wife. But he also said the president has been awful slow to use the powers of his office to compel private companies to make protective equipment for doctors and nurses, adding that we should be much more aggressive. Trump angrily deflected questions regarding the slow pace of the federal governments response to the pandemic, praising federal officials he has elevated in recent weeks to coordinate the distribution of hard-to-find supplies. The people that youre looking at, FEMA, the military, what theyve done is a miracle, Trump told reporters. What theyve done is a miracle in getting all of this stuff. What they have done for states is incredible. For most people, the virus 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. Also Sunday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the toll in the coming week is going to be shocking to some, but thats what is going to happen before it turns around, so just buckle down. Fauci said the virus probably wont be wiped out entirely this year, and that unless the world gets it under control, it will assume a seasonal nature. We need to be prepared that, since it unlikely will be completely eradicated from the planet, that as we get into next season, we may see the beginning of a resurgence, Fauci said. Thats the reason why were pushing so hard in getting our preparedness much better than it was. The Defense Department released new requirements that all individuals on its property will wear cloth face coverings when they cannot maintain six feet of social distance in public areas or work centers. That is in compliance with new federal guidelines that Americans use face coverings when venturing out. Trump had said previously that he's choosing not to wear a face mask and scoffed at the idea of using one while answering questions as he held news briefings like Sunday night's. I would wear one," he said, but only if I thought it was important. Associated Press writer Brian Slodysko in Washington contributed to this report. I dont want to violate the presumption of innocence of anyone, but I want to say that the effectiveness of the judiciary is the major obstacle for bringing corrupt officials to liability. This is what Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said today, responding to a citizen who had asked him when Serzh Sargsyan will be held liable for all the acts that the Prime Minister is aware of the most. By increasing the effectiveness of the judiciary, we need to solve the issue of liability of all officials who have truly committed acts for which they need to be held liable by law. You know how I assess this, but I wouldnt like to make a statement that may be interpreted as a statement against the interest of justice later, Pashinyan said. In support of Honble Prime Minister Narendra Modis call to the Nation to help tackle the COVID-19 outbreak, PepsiCo India along with PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, has committed to provide over 5 million meals to support families impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. This initiative is part of PepsiCos #GiveMealsGiveHope global programme. The company is also extending support to the healthcare and diagnostic facilities, supplementing their efforts to combat the pandemic by providing 25,000 COVID-19 testing kits. PepsiCo India has partnered with Akshaya Patra Foundation to provide cooked meals to the underserved communities, through their centralized kitchens where they are partnering closely with the local authorities for distribution of meals. PepsiCo India has also partnered with Smile Foundation to provide dry food rations to support meals for over 8,000 vulnerable families adversely impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. PepsiCo India has partnered with Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), to provide 25,000 COVID-19 testing kits. FIND, a non-profit organization, is World Health Organizations (WHO) collaborating centre for laboratory strengthening and diagnostic technology evaluation. It works closely with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. These testing kits will be deployed across public and private healthcare laboratories identified by the Indian Government to scale up access to COVID-19 testing. Ahmed ElSheikh, President, PepsiCo India, said, India, like the rest of the world, is facing an unprecedented challenge. We at PepsiCo India are fully committed to supporting the nation in its fight against COVID-19. Providing meals to the economically weaker sections and testing kits to the diagnostic units are critical requirements at this stage. PepsiCo India will be activating its NGO partners - Akshaya Patra Foundation, Smile Foundation and Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), to provide over 5 million meals and 25,000 COVID-19 testing kits across the country. He further added that, PepsiCo India stands committed to lending its full support to both the Central and State Governments in their fight to collectively overcome the global health challenge. To further mobilize funds, PepsiCo India has launched a double matching gifts programme which involves its employees also lending their support to communities that are impacted by COVID-19. As part of the programme PepsiCo Foundation will match all employee donations by two-fold and give the total accumulated fund to the NGO partners working with the company. PepsiCo globally has announced its commitment to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The major focus of this global effort includes providing protective gear to healthcare workers, testing and screening services as well as providing 50 million meals through various partnerships. A team of data scientists, physicians, and engineers across the Mount Sinai Health System has come together to launch STOP COVID NYC, a web-based app to capture the symptoms and spread of COVID-19 in New York City--currently the epicenter of the nation's largest outbreak. The group is seeking citywide participation to survey the spread of COVID-19 and enhance medical response to the pandemic. The web app, now available by texting "COVID" to 64722, allows all Mount Sinai patients and city residents to enroll in the tool to monitor their symptoms. Users complete an initial survey with questions about demographics, exposure, and symptom history, followed by short daily surveys about their symptoms through text messages sent to their phones. "The new web app will track the spread of the virus throughout our New York City community, helping medical professionals and government officials to provide appropriate responses to deal with the crisis," said Laura Huckins, PhD, Assistant Professor of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, and Psychiatry, at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and a leader of this project. "To do this well, we need our whole city to help, not just those in hospitals or with access to health care. Everyone is included, and everyone can help. Capturing citywide coronavirus data from residents before, during, and after they become ill could help to reduce the pressure on medical resources and contribute to slowing the spread." Data collected from the survey could alert health care providers about growing clusters of outbreaks in specific communities across the five boroughs, helping to better allocate resources for rising numbers of patients. In broader global and public health efforts, the results from the exposure surveys could guide long-term research about factors affecting the spread of the virus and jumpstart enrollment for future clinical trials and studies for treatments. "Most data used to guide clinical decisions for COVID-19 have been generated in China, but with New York City among the cities with the largest number of cases--a number that continues to grow--we see a critical and urgent need to understand more about the clinical course of the disease," said Girish Nadkarni, MD, a team lead, Clinical Director of the Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health, faculty member in the Charles Bronfman Institute of Personalized Medicine, and Assistant Professor of Medicine (Nephrology) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "This is a unique opportunity to collect data in a diverse population during an outbreak surge, which could provide powerful predictions of the clinical outcomes of our most vulnerable patients." The systemwide effort to develop the app includes expertise from several medical disciplines, including the Departments of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Medicine, Pathology, and Radiology, plus the Mount Sinai App Lab, the Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health, the Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, The Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine, the Mount Sinai Data Office, and the Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine. Early developments of some of this work were a result of collaborations with Charite University Hospital in Berlin and Data4Life gGmbH. This project was made possible due to software and technical support from Mount Sinai spinout Rx.Health, whose platform makes it easy to prescribe digital medicine to patients. Paul O'Reilly, PhD, a team lead and Associate Professor of Genetics and Genomic Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, said all residents of New York City are encouraged to use the self-reporting app. "A really important aim of our survey is for the entire community to participate and share what they are experiencing in real time, so we can understand how the virus is affecting everyone," Dr. O'Reilly said. "We want feedback from as many people as possible, including those who are healthy and sick, young and old. This is a survey about New Yorkers, for New Yorkers." ### About the Mount Sinai Health System The Mount Sinai Health System is New York City's largest academic medical system, encompassing eight hospitals, a leading medical school, and a vast network of ambulatory practices throughout the greater New York region. Mount Sinai is a national and international source of unrivaled education, translational research and discovery, and collaborative clinical leadership ensuring that we deliver the highest quality care--from prevention to treatment of the most serious and complex human diseases. The Health System includes more than 7,200 physicians and features a robust and continually expanding network of multispecialty services, including more than 400 ambulatory practice locations throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, and Long Island. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked No. 14 on U.S. News & World Report's "Honor Roll" of the Top 20 Best Hospitals in the country and the Icahn School of Medicine as one of the Top 20 Best Medical Schools in country. Mount Sinai Health System hospitals are consistently ranked regionally by specialty and our physicians in the top 1% of all physicians nationally by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit https://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Murray Hamilton as the mayor of Amity Island, Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss in "Jaws." (Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock) We are all Lee Fierro now. Fierro, who died at 91 of complications from the coronavirus, was a drama teacher on Marthas Vineyard when Steven Spielberg cast her as Mrs. Kintner, the mother of a boy who becomes the second shark attack victim in Jaws. When she learns that Police Chief Brody (Roy Scheider) knew about the first death and allowed the beaches to remain open anyway, she confronts him, throwing back her black veil and slapping Brody across the face. You knew it, she says. You knew there was a shark out there, you knew it was dangerous. You knew all those things but still my boy is dead now. She should have, of course, been denouncing the mayor of Amity Island, who ignored proof of a deadly threat facing his constituency just as we should be denouncing our president, who has done exactly the same thing. In the early days of the pandemic, when President Trump finally addressed the virus ravaging China and Europe with assurances that he had things under control, that COVID-19 would affect only a small percentage of Americans and likely just vanish one day as the weather got warmer, comparisons were made to Jaws and its sweaty mayor, who kept the beaches open. It was a bit funny, to be honest. Sniveling in every disaster film is some craven bureaucrat, intent on saving money on the skyscrapers wiring or ignoring early signs that the Big One, wave or earthquake, is coming and admitting his mistake to the grim hero only when it is too late. But disaster movies tend to focus on the scrappy survivors; although occasionally one of the top-billed cast will succumb, the faceless thousands who perish are just that faceless. Which is why Fierros turn as Mrs. Kintner remains one of the most powerful scenes in Jaws. She is there to remind the audience that each person who is lost leaves grief and desolation in his or her wake. And, more important, that this loss, grief and desolation must be laid at the feet of those officials who chose to ignore the facts, the experts and the obvious. Those mayors and safety inspectors and presidents who, because it was easier for them, chose to simply hope for the best. Story continues We are all Mrs. Kintner now. As thousands die and millions lose their jobs; as hospitals become war zones and the mercifully uninfected huddle in their homes; as many wonder how they will get by with no paycheck and the more fortunate but no less anxious pretend to appreciate having time to learn how to knit or whatever a collective, roiling, righteous anger should be rising. And not just on Twitter. You knew, Mr. President. You knew there was a shark out there, you knew it was dangerous, you knew we were not prepared and now our sons and daughters, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, friends and neighbors are dead. Hospitals lack basic supplies, millions are out of work, entire industries are teetering on destruction, our relationship with the international community is frayed all because you knew and did nothing. Worse than nothing. Two years ago, the president dismantled this countrys global health security team. Last year, as The Times recently reported, his administration ended a pandemic early-warning program designed to train scientists to respond to a crisis just like COVID-19. The president learned about the coronavirus threat just after New Years. By mid-January, U.S. intelligence reports were warning of a likely pandemic, which Trump ignored. Even when the virus reached the United States, the president downplayed not just its threat but its factual characteristics. It is not an infection to be brought easily under control, or to wither under a hot sun. But in the immortal words of ABBA, I don't want to talk about what we've been through. There is no point getting into the nauseating sideshow of presidential news conferences held since Trump was forced to admit that people were dying because people were dying. Playing catch-up, the Trump administration has created a relief package, finally put manufacturers to work on supplying more ventilators and dispersed naval carriers to act as floating hospitals. But its pretty obvious that were going to need a bigger boat. Just as it's obvious that an increasing number of Americans, like Mrs. Kintner's boy, are not going to survive the increasingly horrific proof of what happens when you have a president who dismisses and openly defies scientific fact. As California and New York Govs. Gavin Newsom and Andrew Cuomo realized early on, and as Jared Kushner recently made abundantly clear, states are to a large extent on their own in gearing up for this crisis. The head of the federal government may defy the recommendation to wear a face mask but he has been washing his hands of this pandemic from the beginning. And so we will fight and die, isolate in health and illness, support our medical responders and pray they stay standing; we will wear our face masks and redistribute our wealth through various crisis funds. We will demand aid from the man we elected president but we won't expect much because he, like the Amity mayor, is there simply to be forced into better-late-than-never pronouncements while the real heroes do the work. But when its over and it will be over, although no one knows when or how many sequels will be spawned lets all take a moment to honor Fierro, who in 1975 became the voice of a fictional town and in 2020, the voice of us all. Let us all flip back our black veils and speak the undeniable truth to the man who ignored science, his own advisors and common sense: You knew all those things but still our people, who were supposed to be your people, are dead. Press Release April 5, 2020 On the 'Disconnect' Plaguing the P200B Aid Program for Poor Families More at: https://pinglacson.net/2020/04/05/on-the-disconnect-plaguing-the-p200b-aid-program-for-poor-families/ Under the present setup of the P200-billion cash aid program for poor families, local government units should be made to submit their data, subject to vetting by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and other concerned national agencies. This is a recurring mistake. What we are implementing now is a top-down mode of listing and distribution of funds to recipient families instead of a bottom-up approach, hence there is an obvious disconnect between the national government and the needs and priorities of the rightful recipients. More than the central government, the LGUs have a better grasp of their constituents' needs through their community-based surveys being undertaken periodically. As I post this, we have been receiving numerous complaints of incorrect data that do not tally with the actual number and identities of persons in need on the ground. Mayors are complaining that they bear the brunt of the blame and protests from their constituents because of too much centralization, further compounded by the President's recent pronouncements that there are enough funds to cover all the 18 million families in compliance with the Bayanihan Act. Unless immediate adjustments are made by the DSWD and other support agencies, I'm afraid the very purpose of the Social Amelioration Program and the disbursement of the P200 billion will not be accomplished. Worse, and I sincerely hope not, a potential social problem might occur due to the loss of income brought about by a prolonged business inactivity and work stoppage affecting a large segment of our labor force particularly the daily wage earners. We should all learn from Albert Einstein when he defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results. Stephen Fry, Emily Atack and Russell Tovey are among the stars taking part in a new radio play to raise money for the theatre industry dealing with the impact of the coronavirus crisis. The cast and creative team of The Understudy by Henry Filloux-Bennett, based on the best-selling novel by David Nicholls, will take part in the recording in isolation and actors will record their lines at home before they are compiled by a remote sound design team. Mina Anwar, Layton Williams, Sheila Atim and Sarah Hadland will also take part in the project, which will see The Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield split proceeds with Theatre Development Trust (SOLT and UK Theatre), Acting for Others and Equity Charitable Trust. Expand Close Sheila Atim will also take part (David Parry/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sheila Atim will also take part (David Parry/PA) The public will be able to tune in to listen to the play, which was originally commissioned by The Lowry as a stage adaptation, by buying a ticket, the funds from which will go to help individuals and organisations struggling because of coronavirus. The Understudy tells the story of failed husband, failing father and failing actor Stephen McQueen, who is going to be understudying film star Josh Harper in the brand-new show Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know. Fry said: I am just so delighted to be working on Henry Filloux-Bennetts superb adaptation of David Nicholls The Understudy. I do hope lots of you will listen in and combine a good time with support for our wonderful theatre industry. Nicholls added: Ive always had soft spot for The Understudy and was hugely excited to see it come to life on a new online stage, and with such a great team. Expand Close David Nicholls (Anthony Devlin/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp David Nicholls (Anthony Devlin/PA) So much is changing at such speed, and Im full of admiration for the way its now being reimagined. I cant wait. Video of the Day A spokesperson for SOLT and UK Theatre said: We welcome this initiative and are delighted that money raised will be donated to support theatres across the country particularly outside London where the industry needs it most. It has never been more vital that our industry pulls together, and it is fantastic to see artists and performers using creativity and ingenuity to help support the theatre workforce through this difficult time. The first part of The Understudy will be released on May 20 and part two will be released on May 27. More information is available at www.understudyplay.com. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 21:50:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a telephone conversation with Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Vladimir Norov on Monday and exchanged views on adopting an effective strategy to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The Foreign Ministry of Pakistan said that Qureshi briefed Norov on the measures being taken by Pakistan to contain COVID-19 pandemic. As of Monday, the Pakistani government confirmed 50 people have been killed so far due to COVID-19 while 3,277 are confirmed cases. "At a time when the entire world was facing this challenge, coordinated efforts through SCO platform were essential to adopt an effective strategy to control the pandemic," a foreign ministry statement quoted Qureshi as saying. He said that China is providing valuable support to Pakistan in dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak. Qureshi appreciated the SCO Secretariat's role in disseminating timely information on China's effective response to the pandemic, the statement said. Qureshi also lauded the Russian initiative to hold a video conference of the Experts of Health Ministries of SCO member states. In addition to coordination and collaboration in relief and containment efforts, he called for pooling of region-wide research capabilities to combat the disease. The SCO secretary general thanked Qureshi for the call. "The Secretary General conveyed his best wishes to the government and people of Pakistan in successfully facing the challenge posed by the pandemic and reiterated his resolve to utilize all possible means to ensure effective use of SCO in coordinating efforts of member states to combat the pandemic," the statement said. The Railways has reported its second COVID-19 casualty as a 53-year-old technician with no travel history died at a hospital in West Bengal's Siliguri, prompting authorities to order home-quarantine for his 12 colleagues and as many medics who treated him. The deceased, who was a technician at the diesel shed at West Bengal's Siliguri, died at the isolation ward of the North Bengal Medical College & Hospital in the town on Sunday, officials said, adding he had tested positive for coronavirus. The national transporter had reported its first COVID-19 fatality on March 23 when an accounts department employee at the general manager's office in the Eastern Railway had died in Kolkata. Giving details about the latest fatality, the officials said initially, he was admitted with fever and cough on March 24 at NJP Railway Hospital, from where he was referred to the Desun Nursing Home on March 25, The next day, he was shifted to the isolation ward of the North Bengal Medical College & Hospital (NBMC&H). Officials said that although his first two test reports for COVID-19' returned negative at NBMC&H, he was quarantined for further observation. Another test conducted on April 4 returned positive, they said. Sources said that while the employee had no travel history, he was admitted to the same isolation ward as a woman who had tested positive for coronavirus on March 30 and later died. On Sunday, the family of the staffer were also quarantined. Two doctors and 10 paramedical staff who have come in direct contact with the patient have been put in home quarantine. Extensive sanitisation of the hospital, diesel shed and railway colony where the staffer stayed is being taken up. Apart from this, 12 shed staff who worked with him have been given instructions to go into self-quarantine for 14 days, Northeast Frontier Railway spokesperson Subhanan Chanda told PTI. This is the second case of railway staffer dying after testing positive for coronavirus. In fact, the first railway staffer who died on May 23 in Kolkata was the first COVID-19 death reported by West Bengal. He worked in the accounts department at the general manager's office in the Eastern Railway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CHICAGO (April 6, 2020): Researchers from Stanford University's department of surgery (Stanford, Calif.) have created an algorithm that aims to protect operating room team members who perform urgent and emergency operations from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and rationally conserve the personal protective equipment (PPE) they wear. This best practice guideline is published as an "article in press" on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons website ahead of print. Stanford Health Care, verified as a Level 1 trauma center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), serves Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, which saw their first cases of COVID-19 infection in early March. The Stanford algorithm is based on the urgency of the procedure, potential for aerosolization and release of virus droplets at the surgical site, and evidence that a patient has been infected. The algorithm aligns with the goals of the ACS Statement on PPE Shortages during the COVID-19 Pandemic, released April 1, 2020. "We developed institutional guidelines based on how soon the surgical cases needed to be performed, the patient's condition, the risk that a surgeon would access an area of body where the amount of virus could be high, and the risk that a patient could be infected with COVID-19," said Joseph Forrester, MD, MSc, an assistant professor in general surgery and lead author of the algorithm article. Dr. Forrester was a field agent in Liberia during the 2014 Ebola outbreak where he conducted several investigations of the Ebola burden and preparedness as an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At Stanford, a PPE task force of hospital and medical school leaders from interventional suites, including the operating room, interventional radiology, and endoscopy, as well as quality improvement and infectious disease experts, convened on March 19 to create institutional guidelines that could be implemented within 72 hours. At that time, Stanford Health Care had approximately 10 patients infected with COVID-19. Guidelines incorporated current data about COVID-19 transmission in hospital and non-hospital settings and operating room risk during outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Ebola. Patients were triaged by severity of illness into urgent and emergency procedures. Urgent cases were stratified into high- and low-risk procedures depending on the expected viral burden at the surgical site. Procedures categorized as aerosol-generating (AGP) were classified as high-risk. These procedures include those that involve the aerodigestive tract, endoscopy, and open or laparoscopic surgery on the bowel with gross contamination. The Stanford guideline assumes, above all, that any patient could be infected with COVID-19 unless proven otherwise by a negative RT-PCR test. When operating on COVID-19-postive patients or performing an AGP, the guideline requires operating room team members to be fitted with an N-95 respirator mask and wear a gown, gloves, and eye protection. Only when an RT-PCR test is negative for COVID-19 may surgical team members wear standard surgical clothing. A surgeon may consider delaying an urgent or emergency procedure on a patient who exhibits viral symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat). If delay compromises the well-being of the patient, the surgeon orders in-house RT-PCR COVID-19 testing with a 24-hour turnaround. If the patient's status does not allow for a 24-hour wait, the case is considered to be an emergency and the patient is presumed to be COVID-19-positive. Special considerations are made for the use of PPE during and after bag mask ventilation and endotracheal intubation, which both pose a high risk for viral transmission. All health care providers who are not directly involved with intubation are asked to leave the operating room beforehand. Anesthesiologists should be fitted with N-95 face masks and droplet-protective PPE because they are positioned at the head of the bed throughout the procedure. Cleaning staff should take droplet precautions when cleaning any operating room. At the time the guideline was created at Stanford Health there was a nationwide shortage of N-95 face masks. To conserve the institution's supply, the algorithm requires a face shield to be placed over the mask. However, the federal government recently announced that millions of face masks, face shields, surgical masks, gloves, and gowns were entering the medical supply chain, which was encouraging, noted Dr. Forrester. Dr. Forrester nevertheless recommends that surgical centers where urgent and emergency procedures are performed follow strategies that protect providers and conserve equipment. "You never know what's going to happen, and it's better to be prepared and use the right PPE at the right time and be careful not to waste PPE. Guidelines like ours show that health care providers on the frontline are trying to take care of every person with a serious surgical condition and make sure they have enough equipment to carry that mission through safely." ### Dr. Forrester's coauthors are Aussama K. Nassar, MD, MSc, FACS; Paul M. Maggio, MD, MBA, FACS; and Mary T. Hawn, MD, FACS, all from Stanford University's Department of Surgery. "FACS" designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. The authors have no relevant financial disclosures. Citation: Precautions for Operating Room Team Members during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of the American College of Surgeons. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2020.03.030. About the American College of Surgeons The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for all surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 82,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit http://www.facs.org. With 20 new positive cases, 16 of which are linked to the Tablighi Jamaat event, the number of Covid-19 patients in Haryana jumped to 96 on Monday. Of the 20 fresh cases, Palwal has reported nine, followed by Nuh (6), Karnal (4) and Charkhi Dadri (1). The fresh data released on Monday places Palwal on top with 26 positive cases, Gurugram (18), Faridabad and Nuh (14 each), Karnal (5), Panipat (4) Ambala and Sirsa (3 each), Bhiwani and Panchkula (2 each) and Charkhi Dadri, Hisar, Rohtak, Kaithal and Sonepat (1 each). Total 15 people have been discharged from hospitals. As many as 2,194 samples have so far been taken of which, 1,639 tested negative while reports of 459 are awaited. Close to 13,400 people are still under surveillance in Haryana. DOCTOR, NURSE AMONG 4 KARNAL PATIENTS A doctor and a nurse of Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College and Hospital are among the four persons who tested positive for coronavirus in Karnal on Monday. Of the other two, one is the son of 58-year-old man, the third fatality of state, and a man with history of travel to Dubai. Karnal DC said Birachpur and Rasin villages have been sealed. Sonepat DC Ansaj Singh said a middle-aged man, who attended the Nizamuddin event, and a health worker posted at Faridabad tested positive for coronavirus. A 27-year-old man from Jind and a 60-year-old man from Dadri were said to have tested positive for the infection, but the official bulletin does not mention any case from Jind. FIRST CASE IN FATEHABAD A 26-year-old man from Jandwala Bagar village has turned out to be the first case of Covid-19 in Fatehabad district. Chief medical officer Dr Manish Bansal confirmed the development and said the youth had come in contact with some people who attended the Nizamuddin event. Vladimir Putin today wished Boris Johnson a speedy recovery from the coronavirus, saying his 'optimism and sense of humour' would help him get better. The Russian President said in a message to the Prime Minister today that he wanted to 'express my sincere support at this difficult moment for you'. The Kremlin also quoted Mr Putin as telling Mr Johnson: 'I am sure that your energy, optimism and sense of humour will help to defeat the disease.' It comes a day after Downing Street hit out at Russian 'disinformation' after a state-run news agency claimed Mr Johnson would be put on a ventilator in hospital. Downing Street had said he was well enough to receive his ministerial red box with official papers and had been in contact with aides, but Russia's RIA-Novosti claimed on Sunday that his condition was much worse and he would be put on a ventilator. The news agency claimed its source was 'close to the top of England's national healthcare system'. Kremlin-funded site Sputnik also carried the headline 'UK Prime Minister Will Undergo Lung Ventilation as His Covid-19 Symptoms Persist - Source'. Today, other world leaders from Emmanuel Macron to Justin Trudeau have been wishing Mr Johnson a speedy recovery as he battles the virus in intensive care. Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets Russian President Vladimir Putin in Berlin for the Libya Peace Conference on January 19 French President Emmanuel Macron (left) with Boris Johnson (right) in London last December The French President and Canadian Prime Minister were among those throwing their backing behind Britain's premier as he is treated at St Thomas Hospital in London. Also sending messages of support to Mr Johnson were US President Donald Trump, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Italian President Giuseppe Conte and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also got in touch to wish the 55-year-old well. Mr Macron said: 'All my support for Boris Johnson, his family and the British people at this difficult time. I wish him to overcome this ordeal quickly.' And Mr Trudeau wrote: 'Sending my best wishes to Prime Minister Boris Johnson for a full and speedy recovery. My thoughts are with you and your family right now. Hope to see you back at Number 10 soon.' Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (left) and Boris Johnson at Buckingham Palace last December US President Donald Trump, pictured at the White House in Washington DC yesterday, joined world leaders throwing their support behind Mr Johnson as he wished him a speedy recovery Hundreds of messages of support have been sent to Mr Johnson by world leaders in addition to Conservative colleagues and opposition MPs. Mr Trump said at a White House press briefing yesterday: 'I want to send best wishes to a great friend of mine, and a great friend of our nation, Boris Johnson. 'We are very saddened to hear that he was taken into intensive care this afternoon, a little while ago. Americans are all praying for him. He's been a really good friend. He's very strong, resolute. Doesn't quit, doesn't give up.' President Trump also told reporters that he's asked three 'genius' therapeutic drug companies to 'contact London' immediately to offer Mr Johnson medical support. He added: 'We'll see if we can be of help... we've contacted all of Boris's doctors, and we'll see what is going to take place.' 'They are ready to go. But when you get brought into intensive care it gets very serious, with this particular disease.' When questioned on what treatment was being offered, Mr Trump said: 'A very complex treatment of things they have just developed. They have already had meetings with the doctors and we will see whether they want to go down that road.' Ivanka Trump, the daughter of US president Donald Trump, added: 'My thoughts and prayers are with Boris Johnson and his family. Godspeed, Mr Prime Minister!' Mr Kurz also gave his best wishes, saying: 'Get well soon, dear Boris Johnson!' And Mr Morrison tweeted: 'Get well soon, Boris Johnson. Thinking of you, your family and all our UK friends at this tough time.' Hundreds of messages of support were posted by Mr Johnson's Tory colleagues, opposition MPs and world leaders. The PM is pictured in self-isolation at Downing Street last Friday Police outside at St Thomas' Hospital in London last night as Prime Minister Boris Johnson was moved to intensive care after his coronavirus symptoms worsened Mr Abe called Mr Johnson a 'dear friend' and said he was praying for his swift recovery. Mr Netanyahu tweeted that he 'and the People of Israel pray for the speedy and full recovery of our friend, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.' And Mr Conte said: 'My thoughts go to Boris Johnson and all the British people. I wish you a fast recovery. You have the whole Italian government's support and my personal one. We are all confident that your country will get through this difficult time.' Ireland Taoiseach Leo Varadkar tweeted: 'Boris Johnson is in our thoughts tonight. We wish him a speedy recovery and a rapid return to health.' And European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said: 'My thoughts are with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his family this evening. I wish him a speedy and full recovery.' Wellwishes in Britain came from across the political divide, with newly-appointed Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer quickly throwing his support to the Prime Minister after learning of the 'terribly sad news.' 'All the country's thoughts are with the Prime Minister and his family during this incredibly difficult time,' wrote Sir Keir. Mr Starmer's predecessor Jeremy Corbyn wrote: 'My thoughts are with Boris Johnson and his family tonight. 'Thanks to the NHS staff for their hard work and dedication.' Chancellor Rishi Sunak wrote on Twitter: 'My thoughts tonight are with Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds. 'I know he'll be getting the best care possible and will come out of this even stronger.' Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wrote: 'My thoughts are with the PM and his family - sending him every good wish.' David Cameron, the former Prime Minister, tweeted: 'Thinking of Boris Johnson and his family tonight. Get well soon. You are in great hands and we all want you safe, well and back in 10 Downing Street.' Former chancellor Sajid Javid said: 'Boris is one of the strongest people I know. Thinking of him, Carrie and his family tonight. Get well soon, the country needs you.' Shadow justice secretary David Lammy tweeted: 'Awful news. My very best wishes to the Prime Minister, as well as his partner Carrie, family and friends. Get well soon @BorisJohnson.' Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth tweeted: 'Tonight we're all wishing Boris Johnson well for a swift recovery. I know the NHS will be truly brilliant in caring for him and I again send my very best wishes to his family.' London Mayor Sadiq Khan wrote: 'Praying for the Prime Minister's swift recovery tonight. @GSTTnhs (Guy's and St Thomas' NHS) has some of the finest medical staff in the world, and he couldn't be in safer hands.' Trade Minister Liz Truss said: 'My thoughts are with the Prime Minister and his family as he is moved into intensive care this evening. Wishing him a speedy recovery.' Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage posted on Twitter: 'I hope and pray for @BorisJohnson to come through this ordeal quickly.' The Prime Minister was transferred to the ICU at St Thomas' Hospital in London at 7pm yesterday evening - 11 days after testing positive for the deadly disease. He remains conscious and Number 10 sources stressed he had been moved to the critical care unit as a precaution should he require a ventilator. A Number 10 spokesman said: 'Over the course of this afternoon, the condition of the Prime Minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the intensive care unit at the hospital. 'The PM is receiving excellent care, and thanks all NHS staff for their hard work and dedication.' But Mr Johnson has asked foreign secretary Dominic Raab to deputise for him 'where necessary', although it is understood Mr Raab will not formally become a temporary prime minister. Speaking last night after the PM was moved to intensive care, Mr Raab insisted that 'government business will continue' and said there is a fantastic 'team spirit' among ministers. He also reassured that the premier was 'receiving excellent care' and thanked the NHS medics who were treating him and other patients across Britain. The Prime Minister (pictured on Thursday evening), who was admitted to St Thomas' Hospital in London last night, was taken to intensive care at 7pm this evening Mr Raab's role as first secretary of state - the second most senior cabinet minister after the PM - means he is primed to take charge of the government's coronavirus response at this critical period as cases approach the peak. Following the PM's hospitalisation on the advice of his doctor, Mr Raab had already stepped up to chair the morning's daily meeting of top officials steering the nation through the health crisis. And at yesterday's afternoon's Downing Street press briefing, he confirmed a further 439 coronavirus deaths, taking the toll to 5,373, while the number of patients rose by 3,802 to 51,608. Mr Johnson was still in charge during this press conference, but his symptoms spiralled and he required oxygen, prompting the move to critical care, according to Sky News. Health experts last night appeared unanimous in their view that the PM's admission to intensive care means he is 'extremely sick'. Webb County and the City of Laredo have announced 16 new cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the total number of positive results in Laredo to 122. More information on the positive cases was not immediately available due to the city's policy of not revealing identifying information on coronavirus patients. On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed solidarity with his UK counterpart Boris Johnson and expressed hope that the latter would be discharged from the hospital. He also exuded confidence that Johnson would regain perfect health very soon. The UK PM was hospitalised on April 5 on the advice of his doctor as he was still experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Johnson had thanked the NHS on this occasion. Hang in there, Prime Minister @BorisJohnson! Hope to see you out of hospital and in perfect health very soon. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 6, 2020 Last night, on the advice of my doctor, I went into hospital for some routine tests as Im still experiencing coronavirus symptoms. Im in good spirits and keeping in touch with my team, as we work together to fight this virus and keep everyone safe. Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) April 6, 2020 Id like to say thank you to all the brilliant NHS staff taking care of me and others in this difficult time. You are the best of Britain. Stay safe everyone, and please remember to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) April 6, 2020 Boris Johnson tests positive for COVID-19 On March 27, the UK PM had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. He announced this via a post on Twitter. He mentioned that he developed mild symptoms of COVID-19 such as persistent cough and fever over the last 24 hours. Thereafter, he took a test on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer, which came out positive. As a result, Johnson stated that he was working from home and self-isolating. At the same time, he exuded confidence that the UK would get through this phase successfully by complying with the necessary measures. He urged upon everyone to stop the spread of COVID-19 from household to household. Bill Gates is spending billions of dollars building factories to develop a vaccine against coronavirus. The Microsoft co-founder and philanthropic billionaire said seven vaccine makers had secured funding but admitted that mountains of cash may be lost before a cure is found. He revealed the mammoth investment on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah after answering questions about the virus that has paralyzed the globe. The Microsoft co-founder revealed seven vaccine makers had received funding during an interview with Trevor Noah on The Daily Show The philanthropic billionaire said he hoped the money would accelerate vaccine development 'Our early money can accelerate things,' Gates said. 'Even though we'll end up picking at most two of them, we're going to fund factories for all seven. '(It's) so that we don't waste time in serially saying which vaccine works and then building the factory. 'The only thing that really lets us go back completely to normal and feel good about sitting in stadiums with lots of other people is to create a vaccine and not just take care of our country but take that vaccine out to the global population.' The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation confirmed they were exploring using funding to 'get the process (of building vaccines) moving'. 'Many of the current vaccine approaches are novel and have never been scaled for a commercialized product,' they said. 'Enhancements of global manufacturing capacity are clearly required given the population-level scale at which a Covid-19 vaccine will need to be given.' The Foundation has already awarded $20million to three institutions in the US and UK to fund clinical trials aiming to study the effectiveness of repurposed drugs in combating coronavirus. The recipients are the University of Washington, University of Oxford and La Jolla Institute for Immunology. 'These grants to leading institutions in their fields will advance our understanding of how existing drugs and antibodies can contribute to addressing the pandemic we're facing around the world,' said the Foundation's chief executive, Mark Suzman. Pictured are the number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the US since January up until now President Donald Trump stands in front of a chart labeled Goals of Community Mitigation showing projected deaths in the United States after exposure to coronavirus during the daily coronavirus response briefing at the White House in Washington on March 31 Speaking to Fox News yesterday, Gates said the pandemic is a 'nightmare scenario' but that fewer Americans will die than the 240,000 predicted if the government changes the way it tests people. He has pushed for a nationwide shutdown, limited domestic travel and administering more targeted testing to stop the overflow of patients at hospitals unable to cope with the surge in numbers. 'Well, if we do the social distancing properly, we should be able to get out of this with the death number well short of that,' Gates told Fox News Sunday. 'This is a nightmare scenario because human-to-human transmittal respiratory viruses can grow exponentially. And you know, if we had kept on going to work, traveling like we were, you know, that curve would never bend until you had the majority of the people infected and then a massive number seeking hospital care and lots of lots of deaths.' The US is predicted to see its worst day in the coronavirus outbreak in 11 days when more than 2,000 people are expected to die. Bill Gates said: 'If we do the social distancing properly, we should be able to get out of this with the death number well short of that' Gates believes that by obtaining test results within 24 hours, the US will be able to quickly identify those an infected person has come into contact with so they can be isolated and slow the spread. While there are strict international travel restrictions, Gates focused on the importance of domestic boundaries too. 'Well, when you have finite resources you need to allocate them to where there's the most need,' Gates told host Chris Wallace. 'Certainly because people move around the country, we have to have the shutdown or else you'll have exponential growth. It will spread back into other parts of the country.' The outbreak was identified in Wuhan, China in November with the first case in the US January. As early as February, before any lockdowns, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation donated $10million to help fight the virus. Gates has criticized the government's delay in taking precautions and serious action after the outbreak. 'Between 2015 and 2020, less than 5 percent of what should have been done was done,' Gates said. Gates is pictured in a 2015 TED talk where he warned about 'microbes' being the enemy in the next pandemic. 'Between 2015 and 2020, less than 5 percent of what should have been done was done,' Gates said Sunday During the interview from Microsoft's Skype service, Gates admitted that he wakes up every morning thinking the pandemic is only the subject of his nightmares. But he said compared to a disease like small pox, COVID-19 'isn't the worst case'. 'The one percent mortality rate when your system is not overloaded if that was small pox that would be 30 percent,' he explained. 'So this is super, super bad, but we will eventually get a vaccine. Even before then, if we do the right things we'll be able to open up significant parts of the economy,' he said. 'Once you're in the crisis you're doing your best to deal with this.' He added: 'I'm sure you know, once we get past this, we'll look back, understand what we could have done differently, and make sure that we're not letting it happen again, particularly because it could be even worse in terms of the fatality rate.' As many as 1,277,962 cases of coronavirus have been detected worldwide, according to John Hopkins University, and 69,527 deaths linked to the disease have been reported so far. Italy has been the worst affected, reporting 15,887 deaths, followed by Spain that has seen 12,641 deaths and France that has recorded 8,078 deaths due to coronavirus. New York has recorded the seventh highest number of deaths due to coronavirus worldwide at 3,048 at the time of writing. Researchers at Wits University in Johannesburg, South Africa, have found the answer to an enigma that has had geologists scratching their heads for years. The question is that of how certain magmatic rocks that are formed through crystallisation in magmatic chambers in the Earth's crust, defy the norm, and contain minerals in random proportions. Normally, magmatic rocks consist of some fixed proportions of various minerals. Geologists know, for instance, that a certain rock will have 90% of one mineral and 10% of another mineral. However, there are some magmatic rocks that defy this norm and do not adhere to this general rule of thumb. These rocks, called as non-cotectic rocks, contain minerals in completely random proportions. One example is chromite-bearing anorthosite from the famous Bushveld Complex in South Africa. These rocks contain up to 15% to 20% of chromite, instead of only 1%, as would normally be expected. "Traditionally, these rocks with a 'wrong' composition were attributed to either mechanical sorting of minerals that crystallised from a single magma or mechanical mixing of minerals formed from two or more different magmas," says Professor Rais Latypov from the Wits School of Geosciences. Seeing serious problems with both these approaches, Latypov and his colleague Dr Sofya Chistyakova, also from the Wits School of Geosciences, found that there is actually a simple explanation to this question -- and it has nothing to do with the mechanical sorting or mixing of minerals to produce these rocks. Their research, published in the journal Geology, shows that an excess amount of some minerals contained in these rocks may originate in the feeder conduits along which the magmas are travelling from the deep-seated staging chambers towards Earth's surface. "While travelling up through the feeder channels, the magma gets into contact with cold sidewalls and starts crystallising, thereby producing more of the mineral(s) than what should be expected," says Chistyakova. The general principle of this approach can be extended to any magmatic rocks with 'wrong' proportions of minerals in both plutonic and volcanic environments of the Earth. "It is possible that a clue to some other petrological problems of magmatic complexes should be searched for in the feeder conduits rather than in magma chambers themselves. This appealing approach holds great promise for igneous petrologists working with basaltic magma complexes," says Latypov. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, April 6, 2020 08:42 645 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206fe57b8 1 Editorial COVID-19,coronavirus,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,Jokowi Free In recent weeks, as the fight against COVID-19 intensifies, Indonesia has lost at least 20 medical professionals, including specialists, professors, hospital directors and nurses. Five of them reportedly died on Saturday alone. According to the Indonesian Medical Association, several physicians have succumbed to the coronavirus. Besides fatigue, overworked health workers are also faced with a lack of protective equipment, even as many parties are rushing to help supply masks, hazmat suits and face shields. The deeper concern is about managing the health crisis with limited medical facilities and an estimated national average of four doctors per 10,000 people. As of Sunday, 2,273 people had tested positive for COVID-19 and 198 patients had died. Read also: Indonesia's latest official COVID-19 figures Without serious intervention, including mandatory physical distancing measures and mass testing using swab samples, not the less accurate rapid test kits, the nation is projected to have 2.5 million COVID-19 cases by the end of this month, according to the National Development Planning Agency and University of Indonesia public health experts. Even with thorough intervention, some 500,000 people could be infected, according to modeling based on assumptions that the first undetected cases came in February. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said 401 bodies had been buried under standard protocol for COVID-19 patients between March 6 and April 1. The capitals death toll was 90 on Thursday. Last week, President Joko Jokowi Widodo announced large-scale social restrictions based on the Health Quarantine Law. However, without penalties, it falls on local authorities to discourage travel and to closely monitor people arriving in their respective regions and ensuring they self-quarantine. Regional leaders are thus nervously waiting for the annual homecoming mudik (exodus) ahead of post-Ramadan celebrations in mid-May, and following the Presidents announcement on the nationwide restrictions, some have had to cancel their local quarantine initiatives. The Health Ministry is authorized to approve proposed local quarantine plans, based on several criteria, including whether they can meet residents basic needs during the pandemic. Vice President Maruf Amin reportedly requested that the Indonesian Ulema Council issue a fatwa that declares mudik during a pandemic as haram, though President Jokowi has refused to ban the tradition. Regional leaders, citing a spike in COVID-19 cases in their areas, can only plead for people not to return home, as thousands of migrants whose workplaces have closed resulting in lost income continue with their early mudik plans, coming mainly from Greater Jakarta. Read also: COVID-19: VP calls for ulema council to issue haram edict against exodus The psychological toll of the pandemic goes beyond patients who test positive. As COVID-19 patients are being prioritized at hospitals, persons living with cancer and diabetes, for instance, have expressed fears of their worsening health, given their compromised immune system and overwhelmed health facilities. Health workers hope to treat everyone, and they have expressed their appreciation for all the supportive messages and flowers sent in gratitude for their heroism. But they hope just as much that we stay home, so they can avoid becoming victims themselves. In the meantime, they have no choice but to trudge on while mourning their fallen colleagues, all without being allowed to pay their final respects. Japan will declare a state of emergency Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he would declare a state of emergency for seven areas that include the countrys largest population centers. The emergency powers are limited: Mr. Abe will be able to request that prefectural governors close schools and ask that residents refrain from going out or holding events, but cannot issue stay-at-home orders or force businesses to close. Nearly three months into the outbreak, people in Japan were still gathering in crowds and going to restaurants. Leaders previously touted their ability to identify clusters of infection and trace close contacts of infected people, but a senior aide to Abe warned on Monday that in urban centers like Tokyo, the number of infections that cannot be tracked is increasing. Mr. Abe also announced a stimulus package worth nearly $1 trillion as the country faces a deep recession amid slowing trade and tourism. Positive - Baby boom-as legitimate spouses spend plenty of quality time together to, among other activities facilitate procreation. Effect - It has the effect of replenishing the world with a new generation, orientated with new political, economic and social management approaches. Positive - From information age to on-line ageas lower schools are struggling to conduct lessons via media channels, higher institutions {colleges and universities} are attempting to initiate on-line lectures. Whereas these innovations illustrate the widening income disparities among the urban-centered haves and deprived rural have-nots, they have effectively marked a transition from the information age to the new on-line age. It entails an expanded public investment in the internet connectivity intervention across the nation for inclusivity of all citizens. This transition is a requirement of the UN Sustainable Development Goal {SDG} on the provision of quality education. Effect - It has the effect of accelerating the switch from a cash economy to a cashless one, as more volumes of domestic and international transactions and services are henceforth to be moderated via on-line technologies. Positive - Improved health care systems-as governments eventually pick the sense of reasonable public investment in health sector to mitigate effects of future similar calamities. Ugandas is expected to shift upward from 7% even though still to remain short of the UN recommended 15%. Effect - Has the effect of increased life expectancy. Positive - Decline in prevalence of non-communicable diseases [diabetes, hypertension] as people adapt to the good in active not passive sport and physical exercise engagements. Effect - Increased labor productivity and output---leading to steady supply and lower consumer prices. This encourages aggregate demand, inviting for more investments to, among others, answer for the nearly 50% youth unemployment in least developed economies. Positive - Employment opportunitiesas people make a choice of saving in anticipation of future calamities. Effect - Expanded economic activities rising from invested savings. Positive - Spiritual revivalas people offer plenty of time to a non-monetized-God, religion and prayer services. Effect - A reformed world with new social interactions and individual straight connections to God. It entails a huge declined influence of clerics as intermediaries between God and the folk. There is a lack of clarity when considering the Force Majeure provisions for businesses in the region as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, a panel of experts has said. It is imperative that each contract must be considered on its own precise terms and in its specific context. This, in turn, puts a huge onus on companies and employers to act responsibly towards all their stakeholders and especially their employees in these extraordinary circumstances, said the experts. These were the key takeaways at a webinar held today by the GCC Board Directors Institute (GCC BDI), a not-for-profit organisation that helps board of directors acquire the expertise and tools for effective governance, and APCO Worldwide the global advisory and advocacy communications consultancy. Over 185 participants, including experts from multinational and local organisations operating across the region, joined the webinar, hosted in collaboration with Al Tamimi & Co (UAE and Bahrain) and Khoshaim & Associates (KSA). The webinar served as a platform to better understand the legal implications triggered by Covid -19 in the UAE, Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Bahrain. The panellists in the webinar included Zeyad Khoshaim, Managing Partner, Khoshaim & Associates, KSA; Naief Yahia, Partner, Al Tamimi & Company, UAE; Foutoun Hajjar, Partner - Head of Office, Al Tamimi & Company, Bahrain; and Nicholas Labuschagne, Head of Strategy and Crisis Management, Mena, APCO Worldwide. The webinar was moderated by Mamoon Sbeih, President Mena at APCO Worldwide. The discussions covered a constructive exchange of views on the impact of Force Majeure, the measures being adopted by companies in the Gulf region to sustain business and the obligations toward employees. The panel also highlighted the need to set up a robust crisis management infrastructure and consistent stakeholder communication in critical times to manage such extraordinary situations. In her opening remarks, Jane Valls, Executive Director, GCC Board Directors Institute, shed light on the trending risks imposed by Covid-19 and emphasised the importance of practical advice to firms. She said: These are indeed challenging times for businesses and it is important for Board Directors and Executive Management to understand the impact on their internal and external contracts and the key areas of focus during these times of crisis. Through our webinar today, we have been able to strengthen the dialogue around legal obligations in a timely manner and shed some important insights. During the panel, Zeyad Khoshaim focused on the contractual obligations of businesses in Saudi Arabia, while Foutoun Hajjar gave an overview of the legal implications of Covid-19 on businesses in Bahrain. Naief Yahia presented his views on the latest Ministry of Labour guidelines in the UAE, while Nicholas Labuschagne emphasized the need for businesses to have more clarity and empathy in their communications to their internal and external stakeholders. The recording of the webinar can be viewed on https://apco.box.com/v/apcogccbdiwebinar. GCC BDI will host another webinar on the topic Leadership in Extreme Times on April 8. For registration for the webinar, please visit https://gccbdi.org/events/event_list.asp -TradeArabia News Service What Do We Know about the Book of Job? The Book of Job is ultimately about the value of God in the midst of pain and suffering. The first two chapters present a series of descriptions and dialogue about a man named Job through the lens of God and Satan. Their dialogue, and the suffering that follows, give light to how humanity experiences suffering, how we should respond to suffering, and how God is sovereign over all suffering. Who Is Job and Did He Write the Book? Set in Uz, far away from Israel (1:1), comes a story about a man named Job. Job was not an Israelite, yet somehow came to know the God of Israel (1:21). He is found as righteous before God, although God grants Satan permission to attack Job, stripping him of his family, possessions, and health. The events seem to be set in the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the unknown author is believed to be a Hebrew who speaks great wisdom (due to his quotes from Proverbs). What Genre Is the Book of Job? The Book of Job is considered to be one of the three books of wisdom literature found within the Bible. It is broken into three main parts: The prologue, which provides context in the heavenly realm of Job's character and the circumstances of his suffering (1:1-2:13). The Dialogue, which consists of dense Hebrew poetry, and includes the conversations between Job, his 4 friends, and his suffering and standing with God (3:1-42:6). The book concludes in the epilogue, which provides the rebuke of Jobs friends and restoration and answer to Job (42:7-17). What Is the Main Theme of the Book of Job? The Book of Job seeks to speak into humanitys suffering and its relation to a sovereign God. The book cues questions such as: Is God just, and does He run the world according to justice? Is God better than the loss of our possessions? Our health? Is God better than life itself? Ultimately, the main theme and purpose of this book is to reveal that the value of God is supreme over all things (Psalm 66:3). God is just (Isaiah 30:18), but the purpose of this book reveals that our limited view of the world makes Gods justice incomprehensible. Rather, the book probes readers to consider that God is more satisfying than anything on earth. We see that God is not to be cursed, but rather to be feared, worshipped, and reverenced in the midst of suffering (Job 1:20-22). Throughout Job, and scripture as a whole, the book provides context for James 5:10-11 which says: Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Jobs perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. Photo credit: WikimediaCommons NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Monday asked who gave permission for the religious congregation of Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin in New Delhi, which has emerged as one of the major coronavirus hotspots in the country. The Maharashtra government earlier denied permission for a similar gathering here, Pawar pointed out in a live interaction with people on Facebook. He said two large gatherings were earlier proposed in Maharashtra one near Mumbai and another in Solapur district. Permission for the gathering near Mumbai was denied in advance, while police took stern action against the Solapur event (organisers) for violating the state advisory, he said. "If Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray can take such a decision, why the permission was not denied for a similar congregation in Delhi and who approved it?" he asked. The former Union minister also took a dim view of the media hype over the Nizamuddin event. "Why was it so necessary for the media to hype it? It unnecessarily targets one community in the country, he said. So far, more than 400 COVID-19 cases and about 15 deaths in the country have been found to be linked to the religious congregation held at the Nizamuddin headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat last month. At least 9,000 people participated in the religious congregation in Nizamuddin last month, after which many of the attendees travelled to various parts of the country. Action against foreign Tablighi Jamaat members was taken after over 2,300 activists, including 250 foreigners, were found to be living at its headquarters in Nizamuddin West last week, despite the 21-day nationwide lockdown imposed to check the spread of the coronavirus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The proclivity of some Nigerians to abuse noble concepts is alarming and appalling. Elsewhere, activism is a dignified enterprise and those who engage in it are translucently selfless, cerebral, purposeful and focused. But the concept of activism has been terribly bruised and abused in Nigeria. It is common to hear about branded versions of activism in Nigeria. The categories are many and varied. Often, one hears of emergency activists, hired activists, street activists" and lots more. And because of the extremely unstructured pattern of life in the country, it is difficult to even differentiate activists from critics. Anyone who has a personal grudge or is disgruntled with government for selfish reasons wears the badge of rights activist and begins to prance about making hallucinatory noise. Genuine activists crusade popular causes, which are unambiguously beneficial to the people. The actions tilt to pro-masses agenda. They do not personalize the struggle or hide under the veil of activism to champion self-centered interests in disguise. But Nigeria is unfortunate to have many of such fake and pseudo activists. The co-convener, #BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) group, and self-styled and accidental rights activist, Aisha Yesufu holds the latest flag of those who defame and traduce activism in Nigeria. Her involvement in BBOG under the pretext of campaigning for the release of abducted Chibok schoolgirls was to find a convenient platform to promote a personal agenda. Aisha Yesufu has goofed terribly and the frustration is making her endlessly restless. The popular story making the round is that she erroneously thought she had struck gold by her membership of BBOG group, which she could use to ascend to power. But President Muhammadu Buhari did not meet her expectations. The President disappointed her. The consequence is a nurtured and bubbling pathological hatred for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, his appointees and all who serve in the government at different capacities. She posits herself as the author of knowledge in Nigeria and so, faults everything done by government, but has no worthwhile clue on a better alternative. She spreads criticisms on the present government like Coronavirus. And some gullible people erroneously term her watery and fluid criticisms as activism. How can someone wake up everyday, looking for even the most irrelevant issues or insignificant matters to parrot? She parrots on everything under the sun, even on issues she is barren of knowledge. Aisha Yesufu feigns the posture of pro-masses activist. But her greatest burden is identifying the distinction between activism and criticism. There are those who think that she is out like some one on a revenge mission, but lacks the wisdom to prosecute it decently. She only manifests it in perpetually faulting everything done by the leaders of Nigeria. To many critical observers, she feigns fighting for the poor or projects herself as the voice of the voiceless. President Buharis government happens to be a victim of her unrestrained anger and frustration. So, she seeks every day to lower the esteem of the President and his administration in the eyes of Nigerians, but anchored on very feeble arguments and criticisms. Why does she hate PMB so much? It is believed by her critics that she is using the plank of the BBOG forum to strategically position herself to be noticed and consequently sneak her way into the administration of Buhari as Minister or head of a federal agency. But she was ignored and that spurred her indignation. They (her critics) concluded that she finds it difficult to forgive the administration for failing to name her a minister in the same manner, just like one former female minister of education was also mad at Mr. President. The irony in Nigeria is that people obviously pursue personal agenda and vendetta posture as pro-masses crusaders to attract public sympathy. Aisha Yesufus case is more shameful and pathetic because she lacks tact. For instance, when President Buhari addressed the nation in the aftermath of the outbreak of the Coronavirus in Nigeria and announced certain measures to curb the spread of the virus, Aisha Yesufu was in the news saying that she is not pleased with the advice given by the President. She created the impression of someone who is an expert in pandemic management; whilst she has no idea. Is Aisha advocating that President Buhari administer Nigeria based solely on the template defined by her? And when the Hate Speech Bill was introduced in the Senate, Aisha Yesufu pushed it back to President Buhari. She failed to recognize that the executive and legislature are separate arms of government and so, Mr. President cannot interfare with the conduct of their affairs. In any case, in her excitement to be noticed by the Presidency, Aisha Yesufu rushed to brand President Buhari as the number one hate speech purveyor, ludicrously citing the Presidents description of Nigerian youths as lazy as constituting hate speech. What wisdom equates the utterance laziness to hate speech? And if it is not the display of barefaced incense, what rationale should compel someone to question the decision of Mr. President directing the CBN to stop issuing forex for the importation of food? Nigeria has achieved a significant level of food sufficiency and has no reason to keep enriching foreign nations through food importation. But in Aisha Yesufus wisdom, hence forex is banned on food importation, it must also apply on importation of petroleum products. In juxtaposition, can a normal person claim Nigeria has achieved self-sufficiency on refining of crude oil to service its domestic consumption? Not long ago, Aisha Yesufu almost had a fisticuff with the Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi over the fake claims that the latter and passengers escaped kidnap by hoodlums at the Rigasa train station. She was not present at the scene of the incident; relied on secondary sources of information, but vouched for the concocted information as if she experienced it herself. It is the extent desperation has drenched her into a fake news monger for the simple reason of ridiculing the administration. It is easy to see the over-bloated ego in Aisha. It has become a serious burden to the management of her image and reputation. What she has failed to realize is that Nigerians now know that behind the veil-wearing woman is a notorious and lavish liar, an opportunist. So, the reality of her being not being considered for appointment as alleged by her critics has injected an endemic hatred into her against President Buhari and all that relates to him. Its only the President that she sees in her dreams. If she is not criticizing the military in the morning, she is criticizing Mrs. Buhari the next morning or the presidents ministers. No one should be fooled by Aisha Yesufus antics. Her criticisms are not for altruistic reasons. Charity begins at home, but Aisha has never ever spoken about her downtrodden and impoverished people of Auchi in Edo State. She is unaware that Nigerians already knows her person. Nobody should hide behind his or her personal interest as a camouflage to attack government in the name of activism. It is against public interest. Ochogwu is a concerned citizen and writes this piece from Wuye, Abuja At least five soldiers have got martyred in the ongoing operation against the terrorists at the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. Sources told Zee Media that two more soldiers succumbed to injuries at Army Base Hospital on Monday (April 6). It may be recalled that three soldiers were martyred on Sunday (March 5). On Sunday (April 50, Indian Army had said that a total of nine terrorists have been eliminated in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir by security forces in the last two days. According to Army, the terrorists were killed in two separate operations. Five terrorists were killed on Sunday during an anti-infiltration operation in Keran sector of North Kashmir. The terrorists were killed when they were trying to infiltrate across the Line of Control (LOC) by taking advantage of the bad weather. On Saturday (April 4), four terrorists were killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district. The encounter ensued at Khur Batpora village near Damhal Hanji Pora of Kulgam district in the early hours of Saturday morning at 5.45 am. The troops of the 18 battalion of CRPF, SOG of JKP and 9 Rashtriya Rifles were conducting a cordon and search operation in the area when they made contact with the terrorists affilated with Hizbul Mujahideen. After a brief encounter all four terrorists were killed. The terrorists had reportedly killing civilians over the last 12 days, four such killings took place in South Kashmir. The police was successful in tracking them down and an operation was launched this morning by Police, Special Forces and the Army in which all four of them have been neutralized. Terrotrists killed in the Kulgam Encounter are identified as Aijaz Ahmed Naiko (Moosa) from Kulgam, active since 2018; Shahid Ahmed Malik (Kulgam) and active since 2019; Waqar Farooq from Kulgam and missing since last month; and M. Ashraf Malik (Sadam) from Anantnag. Sitapur: The district administration was agitated after reports of 8 people of Tablighi Jamaat in the Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh being found to be infected with the coronavirus. Immediately, high officials of the health department including DM Akhilesh Tiwari and SP LR Kumar reached Khairabad town in Sitapur and then the police sealed the entire Khairabad area. More than 68,000 people died, 12 lakh people infected worldwide In fact, all 8 infected coronations of Tablighi Jamaat in Sitapur are present only in Khairabad town. Apart from this, the administration has appealed to people from all mosques of Khairabad to stay in their homes. It is noteworthy that 33 Jamatis came to Khairabad town of Sitapur after joining Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin, Delhi. Of these deposits, 10 Bangladeshi and 2 are from Maharashtra and the rest are from Khairabad. Ireland PM registers himself as doctor to treat his people from corona Earlier all these 33 people were quarantined at JLMDJ Inter College, Khairabad. After the report of 8 out of 33 patients found to be corona virus-positive, these 8 patients have been admitted to the Khairabad Health Center. Apart from this, the police have sealed the entire area including JLMDJ Inter College. Lockdown will end in one stroke! Modi government is doing preparation Afghanistan's health ministry on Monday said that the total coronavirus positive cases in the country stood at 367, after 30 new cases were registered in the within the past 24 hours. Herat confirmed 16 new cases, followed by Kabul (6), Nimruz (3), Kunduz (2), Faryab (2) and Daikundi (1) provinces, as per the Health Ministry data cited by TOLOnews. Meanwhile, seven people are reported dead from the contagious disease in Afghanistan and 12 others have recovered. Herat has the highest number of cases -- with 239 --, while Kabul is in second place with 57 cases. Coronavirus has infected more than 1.2 million worldwide and killed close to 70,000, according to the data compiled by the US-based John Hopkins University. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) I Agree This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Privacy Policy Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 6) The Labor Department would like to keep providing financial aid to displaced workers if the enhanced community quarantine gets extended, Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Monday. "Kapag nagkaroon ng extension itong enhanced community quarantine [If the enhanced quarantine will be extended], we will recommend for the extension of the program of cash assistance... Depende na po ito sa decision ng Inter-Agency Task Force," said Bello said during the government's Laging Handa briefing. Earlier, the agency set aside a 2-billion fund for financial assistance to workers unable to go to work due to quarantine protocols imposed in Luzon and later on implemented in other provinces and cities. Each worker whether a regular employee or a laborer in the informal sector will be getting a one-time financial aid of 5,000 from DOLE. Employers must prepare their payrolls "at the soonest possible time" and submit it to the agency, which will allow DOLE to transfer the amount within 48 hours. If companies do not hand in their list of employees, Bello said workers can file an application by themselves. Bello said it has approved the claims filed by 102,855 workers under formal employment and 72,703 informal sector beneficiaries as of Sunday. He added that they are still targeting to release millions of pesos to these displaced workers, who can still file for assistance until April 14. The enhanced quarantine ends Sunday, but authorities said they still need to determine if an extension is necessary to contain the spread of the disease. DOLE earlier projected that 250,000 Filipino workers would be covered by the funding aid, with priority given to those employes by small businesses and micro enterprises. However, Bello said an updated study by the National Economic and Development Authority showed that as much as 1.8 million Filipinos could lose their livelihood amid the COVID-19 crisis. "For exigency, we would have to ask for additional budget allotment from the national government," Bello added. Other workers may also choose to be employed under a 10-day temporary work arrangement, where they will be paid the daily minimum wage to disinfect their respective communities. Payouts will be given by April 14, Bello said. The Labor secretary also said overseas Filipino workers who lost their jobs due to COVID-19 may be given some relief. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is finalizing a plan Sunday night to eliminate service on many of its bus lines in and around San Francisco, and to add service to a few lines that serve hospitals and "essential businesses" during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, Muni officials said. The plan will go into effect over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday, Muni spokeswoman Erica Kato said Sunday night. "Right now, we want to prepare the public for increased wait times ... in the meantime on Monday," Kato said in an email. "While all current lines will be in operation (Monday), we will have a reduced number of operators" on those routes. Jeffrey Tumlin, Muni's director of transportation, said overall service could be cut by 30 to 40 percent this week. Muni operates approximately 80 bus, light rail, historic streetcar and cable car routes. Kato said the cuts are coming primarily to "minimize risk to our staff and public, while also being able to provide for the most essential needs/services with the appropriate social distancing where our riders actually are." Five Muni workers have been diagnosed as having COVID-19. Routes that appear safe, Tumlin said, include the 38-Geary, 14-Mission, 8-Bayshore and 9-San Bruno. One of California's first active COVID-19 coronavirus field respite centers, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, took in its first two patients Sunday, Santa Clara County officials said. Operated through a contract with the state, this field respire center will increase the county's capacity to treat residents diagnosed with COVID-19. Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg said in a statement that, "Today's patients will have the ability to recuperate in a safe setting while still sheltering in place (and) keeping all of our residents and essential workers protected." Santa Clara County, she said, will continue to look to local partners as well as state and federal resources to help treat COVID-19 patients. The converted convention center has 250 beds, plus supplies and medicines delivered by the National Guard, to serve patients with less-acute COVID-19 symptoms. This will free up hospital beds to treat more seriously ill patients. A man, a woman and a child in a white sedan all sustained moderate gunshot wounds Sunday night in a freeway shooting, and the California Highway Patrol is asking for help from the public in identifying suspects. CHP Officer John Franzen said the white sedan was on the transition ramp from eastbound Interstate Highway 580 to state Highway 24 in Oakland about 6 p.m. Sunday when the vehicle was hit by gunfire. Injured were a 28-year-old man, a 23-year-old woman and a 2-year-old child; all were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Franzen said he wasn't sure who reported the shootings in a call to 911. No one else in any other vehicles was injured. Franzen said that, as of late Sunday night, the CHP had no information on possible suspects. A Martinez man was seriously injured Sunday afternoon veered off state Highway 4 and flipped over onto a fire hydrant, the California Highway Patrol said. Michael Moore, 26, was also arrested on suspicion of DUI with injuries after he was admitted to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek with serious but not life-threatening injuries, said CHP Officer Brandon Correia. Moore remained hospitalized Sunday night. Moore, alone in his white Toyota Corolla, was headed west on Highway 4 about 4:50 p.m. Sunday just east of the Pine Street offramp when his car veered off the freeway, went through a fence, across Arnold Drive and flipped, landing on the hydrant. No other vehicles were involved, Correia said. The annual Artichoke Festival in Monterey has been postponed, but organizers of the 61-year-old nonprofit event are putting together a Drive-up/Drop-off Food Drive on Thursday to benefit the Food Bank for Monterey County. Donations of non-perishable food items can be dropped off at the Chevron station at 8695 Prunedale North Road in Prunedale or the Giant Artichoke Fruit Stand & Deli at 11221 Merritt St. in Castroville. Donors will not need to leave their car as donations will be retrieved from the trunk or back seat. The food bank is a charity partner of the festival and donations will assist families in need during the novel coronavirus emergency. Those unable to go to the drop-off locations can still assist the drive with a financial donation. Go online to www.artichokefestival.org, click the "donate now" button, choose a donation amount and a specific charity. All donations will be forwarded to the chosen charity, festival officials said. The festival itself was originally scheduled for May 30-31, but has been moved to Aug. 8-9 at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center in Monterey. Fire officials credit a quick fire attack with keeping a blaze at a home in Oakland's Foothill neighborhood to just one unit on Sunday night. The fire was reported just after 8 p.m. Sunday on the first floor of a two-story house in the 3000 block of Logan Street, just west of Fruitvale Avenue, fire officials said. Nobody was injured. At least two residents were displaced. An exact containment time wasn't provided. Monday will see showers likely and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs will be in the mid to upper 50s. North winds of 5 to 10 mph will become northwest winds at 10 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Monday night will be mostly cloudy in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy with a chance of showers in the evening. Lows will be in the upper 40s. West winds of 10 to 20 mph will become southeast winds at 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Tuesday will be partly cloudy. Highs will be near 60. East winds of around 5 mph will become west winds at 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. 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. Archbishop, Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese, (Anglican Communion), Most Reverend Alexander Chibuzor Ibezim, PhD, yesterday literally wept during his sermon over the COVID-19 pandemic, considering the extent of havoc it has caused in the world, and how it has affected the church of God globally. Archbishop Ibezim who spoke during the virtual Palm Sunday church service held at Our Saviour's Anglican Church, Emmaus House Awka, Anambra State Capital, also called on Christians to pray ceaselessly during this Holy Week for God Almighty to have mercy, and save mankind from the ravaging virus. Archbishop Ibezim was assisted in the worship by Venerable Clement Mgbemena who conducted the divine worship, Venerable Samuel Okonkwo who read the Old Testament lesson, Reverend Dr. Humphrey Bosah who the New Testament lesson, and Venerable Dr. Rex Kanu who led the intercessasory prayers. The wife of the Archbishop and President of the Mother's Union, Mrs. Martha Chioma Ibezim, the family and domestic staff attended the virtual service. The Palm Sunday church service which was beamed live by the Anambra Broadcasting Service Radio/Television stations, and Ogene FM, had other electronic, online and print media in attendance. The Palm Sunday service was held in adherence to the Anambra State Government's directive on social distancing, hand washing, use of hand sanitizers, and with no congregation, as congregation was meant to join the worship from their homes through the various media channels and platforms. While lamenting that Nigeria and other parts of the world are bleeding from the pains of the Coronavirus, Archbishop Ibezim reassured that God Almighty will save mankind from the pandemic. The Awka Anglican diocesan Bishop urged Christians to cry unto God to forgive the sins of mankind and have mercy in accordance with His words which He promised, that He will heal our infirmities and restore our health, saying that the Lord was compassionate. Archbishop Ibezim encouraged children of God to use the celebration of the triumphant entry of our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, to call on Him to heal and save the world from the Coronavirus pandemic, since viruses are subject to Jesus Christ's command. He charged Christians to focus on the word 'Hosanna' which means 'Please Save Us,' as only God has the power to save mankind from the plague. Archbishop Ibezim further appealed to God Almighty to hear the prayers of His servants and save mankind from the novel pandemic. He said, "People of God, looking at the light of the Covid-19 pandemic ravaging the world, we are witnessing crisis of in all fronts; but God Almighty will save mankind from the Coronavirus in Jesus Christ's name ...Amen." Extolling God and his supremacy, the Anglican prelate prayed Him to deliver people from fear, hunger, isolation and premature death, which are among the products of COVID-19. Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. The valiant-turned-tragic tale of Brett Crozierthe Navy captain who was fired for going outside the chain of command to save his sailors from a coronavirus outbreak on the aircraft carrier Theodore Rooseveltis getting seamier and seamier. To recap : On March 31, Crozier sent a letter to several senior Navy officers, asking them to accelerate the evacuation of his shipwhich hed docked in Guamafter dozens of sailors onboard had tested positive for the virus. Advertisement On Thursday, after the letter was leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle, the acting secretary of the Navy, Thomas Modly, declared that hed lost confidence in the captain and was therefore relieving him of his command. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two days later, David Ignatius reported in the Washington Post that Modly had told associates hed acted at the behest of President Donald Trump. Modly then phoned Ignatius at 1 a.m. to deny the story, saying hed moved against Crozier before he heard from Trump. Rather, he acted in anticipation that Trump would want him to do so. (In some ways, this is worse than acting in response to a direct order, because it shows that Modlys first instinct is to think of Trumps political motives, not the imperatives of his own job.) Advertisement Advertisement Now, in the most recent development, a recording of Modly addressing the 4,000 sailors of the Roosevelt has been obtained by Task & Purpose, and it deepens the Navys crisis even further. Croziers sin, according to Modly, was that he should have known his letter would leak to the press. If he didnt know this, given the information age that we live in, Modly told the crew, then he was either (a) too naive or too stupid to be a commanding officer of a ship like this. The alternative is that he did this on purpose, and that would be a betrayal of trust, with me, with his chain of command. Advertisement Gasps are audible on the recording, and one sailor is heard yelling, What the fuck? A widely circulated video, shot a few days earlier, showed Crozier disembarking from the ship to the applause and chants of hundreds of his sailors. It is a surefire act of alienation for an acting secretary of the Navy to suggest that the captainwho probably knew he was falling on his sword when he took action to save his menwas naive or stupid. Its even worse to suggest that he committed a betrayal of trust, whenas every officer knowsbetraying the Navy is grounds for court martial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And I can tell you one other thing, Modly continued. Because he did that, he put it in the publics forum and it is now a big controversy in Washington, D.C. This too says much more about Modly than it does about Crozier: It reflects an impulse to protect secrets more than sailorsand, at all costs, to avoid annoying Trump, who is trying to persuade the country that the coronavirus is under control. An obsession with secrets and protocol is a long-standing trait of the military brass, but in this case, the Navys top officers privately argued against Modlys decision, preferring instead to open an investigation into Croziers decision. (Ship officers are supposed to move up the chain of command with such letters, but in this case, the command was moving too slowly and his men were getting sick. Crozier himself has since tested positive for the virus.) At least two retired officersAdm. Mike Mullen, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Adm. James Stavridis, former commander of NATOhave spoken out in support of Croziers action and against his dismissal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if one accepts Modlys premise that ship commanders shouldnt go outside the chain of command under any circumstances, especially when doing so might incite panic about the health of the sailors and the readiness of the U.S. fleet, it is now inarguable that the secretarys own actionsthe outright firing of the captain and the insulting tone of his comments to the crewhave made things worse. He has also almost certainly torpedoed morale throughout the Navy, and it wouldnt be surprising if, in the next quarter, retention and recruitment rates plummet. Modlya businessman who graduated from the Navy Academy and once served as a Navy helicopter pilotwas nominated for his job just five months ago. He replaced Richard Spencer, who was fired after disagreeing with Trumps pardoning of Eddie Gallagher, a Navy SEAL accused of war crimes. Unless Trump wants the Navys image to suffer more deeply, or wants his efforts to counter the coronavirus to seem even more half-hearted, Thomas Modly should be next to get the boot, and Crozier should get a medal. For more on the impact of the coronavirus, listen to Mondays episode of What Next. A federal judge has blocked enforcement of provisions in a Kansas law that ban the secret filming at slaughterhouses and other livestock facilities. U.S. District Judge Kathryn Vratil issued the permanent injunction after finding in January that the states Ag-Gag law unconstitutionally criminalized free speech. The law, which was enacted in 1990, had made it a crime or anyone to take a picture or video at animal facilities without the owners consent or to enter them under false pretenses. We are disappointed with the ruling and we will be evaluating the next steps, including whether an appeal is warranted, the Kansas attorney generals office said in written statement. The litigation was brought by the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Center for Food Safety, Shy 38 Inc., and Hope Sanctuary. Vratil had mostly ruled in their favor earlier this year, but they subsequently sought an amended judgment that included a permanent injunction against enforcement. The groups argued that without such an injunction the law would continue to chill the exercise of First Amendment rights and that nothing would prevent the state from attempting to enforce those provisions. Vratil agreed with those arguments in issuing the permanent injunction. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Kansas Chairman of Doscar Group Holdings, Oscar Yao Doe has said no one, not even the president has the right to dictate what any Ghanaian posts on social media, because the right to freedom of expression is well enshrined in the constitution of Ghana. He was responding to the latest address by the President where he revealed his administration's resolve to deal with Ghanaians sharing unconfirmed information on social media. The address followed series of videos of security forces brutalizing some Ghanaians for not obeying the lockdown order given by the President. In a strongly-worded post this morning, HRH Doe said no one would stop him from doing his personal posts on social media, as long as he does not compromise his credibility. He reminded Ghanaians that their right to write, post, or discuss what they like on their own social media handles is crystal clear in the constitution. Read his full statement below.. I, His Royal Highness, The Colourful And Well Celebrated Oscar Yao Doe, Wish to Respond To President Akufo Addo's Address: I Thank God For Making Him President, And Mrs Rebecca Akufo Addo, The First Lady. In Ghana's 1992 Constitution, Freedom of Expression And Association is Guaranteed, It Is Well-Entrenched. No Other Law Can Override That. END OF STORY! The Framers (Writers Of The Constitution) Knew One Day, A Dictator Will Be President And (Would) Want To Dictate How Ghanaians Should Live Their Lives, Especially What They Can Write, Post, Or Discuss on Their Own Social Media Handles. Our Constitution Is Crystal Clear On "Freedom of Expression". Yes, There Were Overwhelming Evidence of Video Showing The Brutality Of Ghanaians By Security Forces. Have They (The Security Officers) Been Punished? It Is Also True, That Some Of The Videos Are Old, And Not Accurate. But How Can Ghanians Know That (A Particular) Video is Current Or Old? Or It Is Until We Begin To Send Such Videos To The Presidency For Approval Before They Can Be Posted? Ghanaians Wake Up From Your Sleep! No One Can Control What I Post On My Social Media (Handles). Whenever I Put Up An Information (Later Found To Be Wrong), And My Attention Is Drawn To Such, I Always Correct It For The Sake Of My Own Credibility. That's What Matters Most. We Are Not In Venezuela. It's Obvious Akufo-Addo Doesn't Care As He Portrayed Himself. Instances Are The Hospitals, Schools, Buses Etc He Abandoned Because It Was Done By Mahama. The Truth! If Akufo-Addo Wants To Control What People Put on Social Media, He Should Start With His Daughters At Home.Who Arrested Akufo-Addo For His "All Die Be Die Comments" (back then)? Kojo Oppong Nkrumah Lied On BBC That There Are Life Support Ventilators In Our Ambulances,Yet No One Reported Him For Misconduct. Ghana Is Not A Police State. It Is Also Not A Property Of Akufo-Addo And His Family, That He Can Dictate How Ghanaians Should Express Themselves On Social Media. It's a No Go Area! Our Constitution Guarantees Freedom of Expression And Association. (During This) Global Lockdown, It's Not Kojo Oppong Nkrumah Who Is Going To Pay Salaries For My Over 500 Workers in Ghana,Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria And France. I Am Job Creator, Not a Talker Like Others. Source: Thecityscoopng.blogspot.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 stakes are high for both parties: The ballot includes the presidential primaries, thousands of local offices and a competitive seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court itself. The states highest court has spoken: the governor cant unilaterally move the date of the election, Robin Vos, the speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly, and Scott Fitzgerald, the State Senate majority leader, who are both Republicans, said in a joint statement after the courts decision. The last-minute moves injected more chaos and confusion into an election already rife with legal challenges, court cases and public safety concerns. Some local officials worried on Monday that the whiplash could further depress turnout on Tuesday. Would-be voters who requested but did not receive absentee ballots a population as large as 12,000, officials said will have no recourse but to trek to the polls Tuesday. If they havent got their ballot in the mail, they are going to have to go to the polling place tomorrow, said Dean Knudson, a former Republican state legislator who serves as chairman of the Wisconsin Elections Commission. Mr. Knudson, during a rollicking 1-hour-40-minute online session late Monday, said the commission had directed local municipal and county clerks who administer the states elections not to release results until next Monday afternoon. Instead of having Iowa-style results where no one knows what to expect, if we stick to this were going to have a clean election tomorrow but were not going to report the results until the following week, he said. Stop! a masked man raises a gloved hand in front of a Toyota, his image visible in the blacked-out windows. Another takes over, spraying industrial-strength disinfectant over every inch of the sleek vehicle. Only then can the occupant drive through the first free coronavirus mobile testing centre in West Africa. Within 24 hours onwards, the driver will know the outcome of the test. On March 28, public drive-through testing kicked off in Nigeria, with 78 people tested within two days. Nigerias sole drive-through facility is in Lagos, the countrys economic capital (estimated population of 21 million); the coastal city is also where the first case of COVID-19 was recorded in the country. Further afield, in Kenya, mobile testing can cost between $100 and $123, a sum out of the reach of the general public. Nigerias reported 224 cases (as of April 5, 2020) and five deaths are deemed under-reported by sections of its local media and civil society groups, who urge for greater testing as the solution to combating the pandemic. The drive-through clinic was a response to this, and another concern the safety of Lagos small army of healthcare workers. Staff were afraid; they understandably didnt want to be infected, says Rosemary Audu, director of the Human Virology laboratory of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), who owns the car park where the drive-through is located. ROSEMARY AUDU Suspected cases were coming into the institute. We were concerned because we know that a good number of healthcare workers in some other countries have come down with the infection. We had to get space outside, so that we could attend to these patients. The next hurdle became anonymity: several people, regardless of their income or social status, did not want to queue out in the open, for fear of stigmatisation. A series of partnerships with private organisations resulted in the drive-through option, which Ms Audu says caused an immediate behavioural change. Patients visit the NIMR website and fill in a form that determines their eligibility. They are asked if they have any travel history outside Nigeria, any fever, coughs or breathing difficulties, or if they have come in contact with suspected cases. Also included are those exhibiting symptoms and living in an area with moderate or high COVID-19 infections. We are not testing everyone that indicates interest. This is because kits are scarce, and we do not want to waste what we have now, explains Babatunde Salako, the Director-General of the NIMR. The website generates unique appointment codes for eligible patients, and because Lagos is currently enforcing restricted movement to curtail the spread of coronavirus, they also get a personalized pass that lets them through police/military checkpoints as they make their way to the drive-through facility. Once there, each car gets sprayed over, before the patients can proceed to verify their data. Next, they drive up to the doctors and let down their windows, to get their noses and throats swabbed. The Lagos drive-through uses the WHO-approved polymerase chain reaction test, which pinpoints the existence of genetic material from the virus. The samples are immediately immersed in a transport medium that is not compromised by Lagos high temperatures, before being taken in batches to Ms Audus laboratory, which is a few meters away. The healthcare workers change their protective clothing frequently, and the entire facility is sprayed again, after each car leaves. Ms Audu says the extra precautions are based on reducing fear: we know that a good number of healthcare workers in some other countries have come down with the infection. If one person comes down with the infection, it will demoralise us because people will get scared and not want to be involved. Each test takes roughly 20 minutes, and results are available within 24-48 hours, and delivered electronically. In cases where a review is needed, the samples are sent for further testing; positive results are sent to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, which then commences isolation of patients. Majority of patients who drive-through have been Nigerians who travelled out of the country, adds Temie Giwa-Tubosun, CEO of LifeBank, the logistics partner at the facility. The following are key takeaways for Lagos, and any other regions or countries wanting to adopt public mobile testing, based on exclusive interviews with Uwe Koster, Deputy Press officer of the Lower Saxony Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians. Germany ranks among the worlds highest recorded testing rates, conducting more than half a million tests a week this is cited as a a major reason for the countrys, compared to infections. Nigerias total COVID-19 test figures pale in comparison, only just crossing the 4,000-mark. Even though Lower Saxony was an early adopter of drive-through testing, Mr Koester says the reality of the pandemic is that test kits will always be scarce, no matter the country in question. Advertisements His advice to Lagos is: you can only do a limited number of tests. It is important that there is somebody who pre-selects the peopleyou have to be very careful that you dont waste the test sets. In the UAE, tests are restricted to the elderly, pregnant, and those exhibiting symptoms, such that those for the wider community for reassurance purposes only are charged at 370 dirhams ($100). Illustrating Mr Koesters point is a document which leaked hours after our interview, where Germanys scientists told the government that the country still needed to increase its testing capacity. Test scarcity has also hit the US, Spain and the UK, a situation which worries Ms Giwa-Tubosun. As at this moment, we have about 2000 test kits available; this is phase onewe expect to have more test kits available, when we begin the second and third phase, she said. Takeaway: Regardless of the number of test kits available, patients must be pre-selected, to limit wastage the unwieldy nature of the Coronavirus pandemic means test kits will remain a scarce commodity in the immediate to long-term for all countries. While Lagos has relied on social and mass media to create awareness of its testing location, Lower Saxony does not. Mr Koster said this is to control numbers of patients and keep the centres organised. Both states have a pre-selection process that builds on existing realities Lower Saxony makes use of family doctors to refer patients, while Lagos relies on all patients registering online to generate an access code. The shutdown in Lagos also means the drive-through website allows patients print an exclusive pass that allows them through military and police checkpoints. In Lagos, there were teething issues on the first day, as people flocked to the place. We later reiterated that only those given appointments and invitations should come; to date, they have been complying, said Mr Salako. In Lower Saxony, police guards are present to maintain order, and Mr Koster says as time goes on, it will be important in Lagos that the test station is not overrun by worried people. Takeaway: Pre-selection yardsticks and testing location operation should adapt to the populations being served, whilst prioritising safety of patients and staff. A challenge for drive-through testing is finding sufficient staff and suitable room, says Mr. Koster. Lower Saxony is surmounting this hurdle by using retired doctors but personnel are also required for the paperwork and organization of the test do that the doctors can concentrate on the medical work. Lagos does not seem to have a staffing problem as yet, though the workload is increasing, such that onsite accommodation is now provided because Lagos is also officially in lockdown. Many workers are unable to go back to their families on a daily basis as samples have to be tested overnight, in order to cope with the load. In spite of the drive-in, we are still receiving samples from the Lagos state government, explained Mr. Salako. One of such workers is scientist Olufemi Amoo, who said despite the challenges, he is glad to be at the frontline combatting COVID-19 in Nigeria because many depend on ones little efforts for their survival. OLUFEMI AMOO Takeaway: Lagos should consider expanding its pool of sample collectors, particularly if it hopes to expand to other sites, or is forced to, by the pandemic, as is currently seen in other countries. Lower Saxony initially used garages owned by the German Red Cross but these spaces did not allow for free movement the shift was made to a trade fair hall, which allows ten cars to be spaced and attended to simultaneously. Testing times have now reduced to approximately 10 minutes, including a short interview, patient registration and testing. Spacious facilities are becoming the norm in mobile COVID-19 testing, with stadiums and car parks converted for use in Ireland and various US cities. Though Lagos sole centre is fairly spacious, its testing time is more than double Lower Saxonys. However, the bulk is used to disinfect all cars before entry, and to disinfect the testing area, after each car leaves, something which Mr. Koster considers good practise. He adds that the state limited its drive-through test centres to only two because doctors have a duty to examine a patient more closely if they appear to be ill there is no way to do this in a drive-through. Takeaway: Testing times may be impacted by various factors it is not a determinant of quality of testing, so operators should remain flexible, and aware that mobile locations are restrictive; extensive medical care for patients cannot be safely provided onsite. As drive-through testing progresses worldwide aspects of the COVID-19 logistics supply chain are affecting testing and treatment capacity. On April 1, the UKs oldest medical trade union of doctors issued a statement over a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), saying it was unacceptable that some health workers source their own equipment from DIY stores, and some have made agreements with local secondary schools to make visors on 3D printers. READ ALSO: In the U.S., a prominent Seattle laboratory reports an impending shortage of the cotton swabs used to collect samples from patients; Taiwan banned face mask exports, ramped up local production and currently rations them. Germany has its own challenges asides staffing, as earlier-mentioned, the reagents used in testing are drying up, produced by only three manufacturers. A similar challenge may be on the horizon for the Lagos drive-through. The transport medium used to preserve the viability of the samples before it gets to the laboratory is not enough now, which means it will affect the number of tests that can be done, said Mr Salako. He revealed that scientists at the NIMR have decided to be proactive: we have the capacity to produce this, and we are currently helping to do that in-country. Mr Koster notes that testing in Lower Saxony has reached a critical point, because doctors can do a large number of tests, but the labs are running out of capacity. It is not enough to set up test centres; there must also be enough laboratory capacity to evaluate the tests. To surmount this limitation, the state now uses veterinary laboratories for coronavirus test evaluations and Mr Koster proffers this as a solution Lagos can prepare towards, as test numbers begin to climb. In the industries of Nigeria, there are much more clinical capacities and you can switch them (laboratories in other industries) to other ways of testing. It is very important to try and switch them to this task for a couple of weeks. Takeaway: Several points of the COVID-19 treatment and response value chain may witness shortages at varying times of a countrys response anticipating the challenges and preparing solutions ahead is key. Amid plans by LifeBank to scale up drive-through testing to other locations within and beyond Lagos State, Ms Audus laboratory remains a first port of call: many people are calling in to find out how they can get sampled and tested. If there are other facilities that want to go for it, I would recommend it. It is a wonderful method of sample collection and testing. Lagos is currently saddled with a little over 50 per cent of all Nigerias 224 reported COVID-19 cases, and its densely populated neighbourhoods, cramped transport systems are a staunch opponent to effective social distancing. Furthermore, even as the state prioritises self-isolation and testing, patient stigmatisation remains a daunting hurdle. No journalist is allowed near the testing area, and only zoom lens can be used for non-intrusive photography. Some people are still concerned about anonymity and are still engaging us for a better alternative for them. We are currently looking at a scheme where we can test them at home, but this has logistic implications, said Mr Salako. Mr. Koster is however optimistic for Lagos: you have a really a good chance to stop this disease. You cant stop it completely, but you can lower down the infection rate. You have to encourage the people to wash their hands again and, as much as it is possible in a city like Lagos, to get apart from each other. London: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was taken to hospital on Sunday for tests, his office said, 10 days after he tested positive for coronavirus. Johnson, 55, announced he had mild symptoms of COVID-19 on March 27 and had been in self-isolation at his Downing Street residence for seven days. He had been scheduled to re-emerge on Friday after a week of recovery and working remotely, but said he would remain at home because he still had a high temperature -- one of the symptoms. Downing Street said in a statement on Sunday: "On the advice of his doctor, the Prime Minister has tonight been admitted to hospital for tests. "This is a precautionary step, as the Prime Minister continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus 10 days after testing positive for the virus." It is understood Johnson's admission to hospital was not an emergency and was considered sensible because of his ongoing symptoms. US President Donald Trump said he was "hopeful and sure" Britain's Prime Minister would recover from COVID-19. "He is a friend of mine, he is a great gentleman, a great leader. He was brought to the hospital today but I am hopeful and sure that he is going to be fine," Trump said at his White House briefing. "He is a strong man, a strong person." Queen Elizabeth II also expressed concern over the PM's condition. She said that a united effort would defeat the outbreak. Johnson is the most high-profile world leader to contract the virus. His pregnant partner, Carrie Symonds, said she has been ill with symptoms for a week but was now recovering. Health Secretary Matt Hancock returned to work on Friday after a week at home following his positive test for COVID-19. The chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, has also displayed symptoms. Johnson's close adviser Dominic Cummings has also had to self-isolate. Downing Street said at the time of Johnson's announcement that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab would take charge if the prime minister was incapacitated. But Johnson is understood to be still in charge of the government, and in contact with ministers and officials. The former London mayor was seen on Thursday night, joining in a weekly round of applause in appreciation of healthcare workers tackling the outbreak. In his video message on Friday, he said: "In my own case, although I'm feeling better and I have done my seven days of isolation, alas, I still have one of the minor symptoms... a temperature. "So, in accordance with government advice, I must continue my self-isolation until that symptom itself goes." Asked about the prime minister's health on Sunday, Hancock told Sky News television: "He's OK. I've been talking to him every day, several times a day throughout the time both of were off. "He's very much got his hand on the tiller." He said of his own experience: "Some people get it (COVID-19) pretty mildly, others very, very seriously. The PM is not at that end of the spectrum. "In dealing with him and working with him every day, he's in good spirits. "But he's also being absolutely careful and cautious to follow public health advice both for the direct impact and also as an example to the nation." As the number of critical COVID-19 cases increases by the day, various hospitals and medical facilities are rapidly falling short of ventilators. Ventilators, for those of you who don't know, are equipment used to help patients breathe. Luckily, a lot of companies have stepped forward to help build ventilators. Tesla is one of the companies that has decided to repurpose its facility and resources to build ventilators for COVID-19 patients. Today, the company released a short video showing how its engineers have managed to build a ventilator prototype. It's a short 3-minute video in which the engineers are giving us a behind-the-scenes look at the prototype. It's worth pointing out that Tesla is using parts of its vehicles to build these ventilators. Obviously, not all of them, but a huge chunk of the prototype consists of parts used in Model 3. In this case, the engineers are using the Model 3 infotainment system to control an airflow manifold. Similarly, the car's suspension air tank is being used as an oxygen chamber, and Model 3's touch screen is being used as a controller. clearly, there's a lot going on here and honestly, it's quite fascinating. YouTube/ Tesla We hope many more companies will step forward to help fight the coronavirus. It's been a couple of months since the outbreak and a lot of countries, including India, are still under lockdown. We hope to get out of this situation stronger. EU countries are nearing an economic rescue plan for European countries worst hit by the coronavirus outbreak, sources said on Monday, but not at the level of ambition called for by Italy and Spain. The EU's 27 finance ministers are to meet for a videoconference on Tuesday, where a deal to use the eurozone's 410-billion-euro (USD 443-billion) bailout fund was expected to be agreed. However, with deep divisions between the rich northern countries and those in the south with heavy debt, ministers were expected to sideline a proposal to issue "coronabonds" which would pool borrowing among EU nations to fight the crisis. A group of states including European heavyweights Italy, France and Spain has been imploring Germany, Austria and the Netherlands for common debt instruments to cushion the economic impact of the virus. But conservative politicians in the north fear the plans would mean the eventual sharing of all sovereign debts and their taxpayers footing the bill for supposed southern profligacy. German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday reiterated her government's stance of activating the European Stability Mechanism bailout fund to help countries that needed it, but pointedly did not mention shared borrowing. She also hailed the stimulus of 750 billion euros by the European Central Bank (ECB) towards averting economic catastrophe. But France insists that the economic destruction caused by the COVID-19 crisis demands a new way of thinking in Europe and wants member countries to help each other in unprecedented ways. "Nothing would be worse for Europe than for some states because they are richer get off to a quick start, while others because they cannot afford it, start slowly," French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told broadcaster France 2. "We all need to recover at the same speed in order to guarantee the cohesion, solidarity and unity of the eurozone and our common currency," he added. Sources said Germany and its allies would likely prevail in Tuesday's videoconference, although ministers would also agree to continue discussions on ideas such as coronabonds. Le Maire threatened to refuse the overall deal if this were not the case. In an interview with German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Le Maire added that "it doesn't make sense to come together every 14 days or month in order to define new instruments under time pressure. We have to have all instruments available from the beginning." European Council President Charles Michel, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, ECB chief Christine Lagarde and Eurogroup President Mario Centeno who chairs meetings of the eurozone finance ministers held a preparatory videoconference on Monday. "We call on all members of the Eurogroup to look at all possible instruments in a resourceful and constructive way," Michel tweeted. In a statement, he said: "There is a lot of room for solidarity within the existing instruments and institutions. We have to exploit these tools fully and remain open to doing more. A strong package is in the making." The European Stability Mechanism was created in 2012 during the eurozone debt crisis to help states that no longer had access to borrowing on the markets. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP president J P Nadda asked party workers to give up one mealto show solidarity with people facing hardships during the ongoing lockdown to mark the organisation's foundation day on Monday. Nadda issued a set of directives to party workers, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted it, urging them to follow these guidelines. "We mark our Party's 40th Anniversary when India is battling COVID-19. I appeal to BJP Karyakartas to follow the set of guidelines from our Party President J PNadda Ji, help those in need and reaffirm the importance of social distancing. Let's make India COVID-19 free," Modi said. Nadda has urged party workers to provide food packets to the needy, distribute home-made face covers and get signatures of people to express gratitude to emergency staff, from health professionals to sanitation workers and police besides bank and postal employees among others, working during the lockdown to combat the coronavirus pandemic. They must maintain social distancing, he said. "All BJP Karyakartas (workers) to give up one meal on our Foundation Day as a way to show solidarity with people facing hardships during the lockdown," one of his directions said. "In the next one week, put a system in place where we can provide two homemade face covers to each person at our booth. We should circulate videos of preparation and distribution of such face covers with #WearFaceCoverStaySafe," the guidelines added BJP Karyakartas should encourage 40 others to donate Rs. 100 each to PM-CARES Fund, it said. In every booth, they should contact 40 houses to get their signatures on thank you letters to emergency staff, he said. Nadda also asked them to read literature available in their house about the party and its senior leaders. The BJP was founded on this day in 1980 by leaders of the erstwhile Jana Sangh, which had merged with the Janata Party to put up a united fight against the Indira Gandhi-led Congress in the 1977 Lok Sabha polls, held after the Emergency. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Monday assured by Bahrains King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa that he would ensure the welfare of the large Indian community in the Arab state against the backdrop of the Covid-19 crisis. Modi had a telephone conversation with the king of Bahrain as part of his outreach to leaders around the world to discuss the Covid-19 pandemic and ways to counter the spread of the Coronavirus. Al Khalifa assured Modi of his personal attention to the welfare of the large Indian community in Bahrain during the present health crisis, said a statement from the external affairs ministry. Modi expressed his appreciation for the care and affection the Bahrain authorities have always extended to the Indian diaspora. The two leaders also discussed the consequences of the pandemic on logistics chains and financial markets. They agreed their officials will remain in touch and ensure all possible support to each other for dealing with the pandemic. Bahrain, a small country of just 765 sq km and a population of 1.4 million, is home to some 350,000 Indians, mainly from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. Almost 70% of them are unskilled labour. Modi told the king that India regards Bahrain as an important part of its extended neighbourhood, the statement said. The prime minister also had a conversation with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and discussed the response strategies being adopted by their respective governments to the pandemic. They agreed on bilateral experience-sharing during the health crisis, including collaborative research efforts. Modi said the Indian government is ready to provide facilitation and support to any Australian citizens stranded in the country due to travel restrictions. Morrison assured him the Indian community in Australia, including students, will continue to be valued as a vibrant part of Australian society. Both leaders agreed to focus on the wider significance of the India-Australia partnership, including in the Indo-Pacific region, as they work to tackle the health crisis. The Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA) is urging the federal and state governments to provide stamp duty relief to Australians to counter the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on sales activity. Recent market analysis from CoreLogic said that sales activity will likely get affected by the policies imposing social distancing and banning public gatherings like auctions. REIWA President Damian Collins said while the relief package of the state government which allows households to apply for an interest-free payment and waiver of late payment penalties is a welcome move, it would not make enough impact to boost the real estate industry amid the outbreak. "Simply deferring a payment doesn't make it more affordable and will only spread the cost over a longer period, whereas a short-term stamp duty concession or rebate of 75% will make buying property much more attractive, safeguarding thousands of jobs including mortgage brokers, removalists, settlement agents and tradespeople," he said. Also read: Economic Boost To Support Housing Market Collins said a weak outlook for home sales could put thousands of people out of work. "In addition, for those people who will need to sell their homes, they will need a buyer at the other end. Without this short-term incentive, there may not be many buyers in the market, which could be a double blow to those who need to sell," he said. Further support is needed in Western Australia's housing market, which was heading towards recovery right up until the last week of March. In fact, while house prices in the state grew by 0.5% in the month and 0.9% over the quarter, sales listings went down. "There were 12,294 properties listed for sale on reiwa.com; however, this number will continue to fall as we navigate through this uncertain time," Collins said. Furthermore, the state has already recorded a decline in activity over the month, down 23% to 2,205 sales. "We are hopeful that the government packages announced will keep the economy going and property prices will hold, but we will watch and continue urging the government to offer stamp duty relief if transaction volumes continue to fall further," Collins said. Boris Johnson has been moved to intensive care after his coronavirus symptoms worsened, just hours after Downing Street insisted he was in good spirits and in control of the governments response to the escalating crisis. The prime minister is understood to still be conscious and to have been moved as a precaution, in case he requires ventilation to aid his recovery. He was given oxygen to help his breathing before he went into the intensive care unit, sources said last night. The PM was said to be receiving excellent care and thanked all NHS staff for their hard work and dedication. Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, has been asked to deputise for the prime minister where necessary. No 10 sources said that Mr Johnson remains the prime minister but that Mr Raab will lead on the day-to-day running of the response to the coronavirus crisis and other matters. Mr Raab said that the prime minister asked me as first secretary to deputise for him where necessary in driving forward the governments plans to defeat coronavirus. Mr Johnson has been receiving excellent care at St Thomass hospital, Mr Raab added, and wed like to take this opportunity as a government to thank NHS staff up and down the country for all of their dedication, hard work and commitment in treating everyone whos been affected by this awful virus. Downing Street spent most of Monday insisting Mr Johnson was still in charge of the governments handling of the pandemic after he was admitted to hospital on Sunday night. Recommended No 10 refuses to say whether Johnson was given oxygen in hospital The decision to move Mr Johnson to intensive care was made by his doctors. It is understood he was moved to an intensive care unit at around 7pm on Monday evening, and that cabinet ministers were informed of the deterioration in the prime ministers condition in a phone call with Sir Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary. He was initially admitted to hospital on Sunday for tests after being unwell for more than a week. No 10 said on Sunday that Mr Johnson had been advised to go to hospital because his symptoms, which included a cough and a temperature, were persistent. On Monday evening, a No 10 spokesman said in a statement: Since Sunday evening, the prime minister has been under the care of doctors at St Thomas Hospital, in London, after being admitted with persistent symptoms of coronavirus. Over the course of this afternoon, the condition of the prime minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the intensive care unit at the hospital. The PM has asked foreign secretary Dominic Raab, who is the first secretary of state, to deputise for him where necessary. The PM is receiving excellent care, and thanks all NHS staff for their hard work and dedication. Earlier Mr Raab had chaired the governments emergency Cobra meeting on the crisis in Mr Johnsons absence. But the foreign secretary later admitted he had not spoken to the prime minister in days, amid growing pressure on Mr Johnson to temporarily hand over power if he does not recover quickly. Members of his own government had earlier urged the prime minister to rest, while former cabinet secretaries warned Mr Johnson should relinquish control if necessary. A Foreign Office minister, James Dudderidge, urged Mr Johnson to come back fighting but added: But for now rest, look after yourself and let the others do the heavy lift. Bob Kerslake, a former head of the civil service, said: If hes not well enough, it would be sensible to step back and let others take on the role. I think in the end, if hes not well, he will have to reflect on this because the jobs tough at the best of times and its doubly tough now, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. Lord ODonnell, another former cabinet secretary, said the government was not really set up to deal with a prime minister in hospital. He told BBC Radio 4s World At One: If a prime minister becomes so ill that they cant be [involved in big decisions] or the medical advice is look you really need to rest, you need to stop looking at all of these dreaded red boxes you need to hand on then I hope the prime minister ... is able to hand over. Andy Street, the Conservative West Midlands mayor, said: We all have to learn in life, dont we, that were not indispensable and the team around you will step into your shoes if he is not able to do what I know he will be so, so desperate to carry on doing himself. Ministers also declined to set out an exit strategy for the current restrictions designed to halt the spread of the disease. There are fears continued good weather could encourage more Britons to flout the guidelines. At the governments daily press conference on coronavirus, Mr Raab said he did not want to confuse the message as the country was not yet past the peak of the disease, estimated to hit this weekend. Dame Angela Maclean, the deputy chief scientific adviser, added: We can only make calculations about what we might do next if we have some reasonable data on how large the impact of what weve done is so far. Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, said his thoughts were with Mr Johnson and his pregnant partner Carrie Symonds. In a tweet, he added: I know hell be getting the best care possible and will come out of this even stronger. Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said the development should bring home the message that anyone can catch coronavirus and people have to obey the rules. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the speaker of the Commons, said the thoughts and prayers of MPs from all parties would be with the prime minister. That view was echoed by Sir Keir Starmer, the new Labour leader, who described the development as terribly sad and said the countrys thoughts were with the prime minister. Crispin Blunt, the Tory MP and former chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, said the implications of Mr Johnsons move to intensive care were serious and that the UK needed his leadership. First, the president announced that he would be firing Michael Atkinson, the inspector general for the intelligence community. Mr. Trump said in a required letter to Congress that he no longer had the fullest confidence in Atkinson; there was not even an effort to disguise the fact that what caused the president to lose that confidence was Atkinson following the law and allowing the truth to come out about Mr. Trumps lawless attempt to pressure a foreign power to announce politically helpful investigations. Mr. Atkinson will be fired 30 days after the letter went to Congress, the soonest he can be under law, but the president undercut even that law by putting Mr. Atkinson on immediate administrative leave. Michael Horowitz, the respected inspector general of the Department of Justice and chairman of a council that coordinates inspectors general, went out on a limb to vouch for Mr. Atkinson, praising his integrity and his handling of the Ukraine whistle-blower complaint. Mr. Horowitz is right, and his affirmation that the inspector general community will continue to conduct aggressive, independent oversight is heartening. But President Trumps further action makes that claim questionable at best. The president compounded the Atkinson announcement on Friday night with his intention to nominate White House lawyer Brian Miller to be special inspector general for pandemic recovery, a key position for oversight of the just-passed $2 trillion coronavirus relief package, which is ripe for fraud and corruption without aggressive review. The position demands ironclad independence, particularly with the risk that the presidents company, relatives, customers and donors could seek to benefit from the stimulus package. Mr. Miller, who served for nearly 10 years as inspector general at the General Services Administration, but more recently played a role in the White Houses response to the impeachment inquiry, is precisely the wrong person to ensure independence. A former senior Senate staff member praised Millers loyalty to the administration in explaining why hell make a good choice, even though loyalty is the exact opposite of what is needed. The one-two punch of Mr. Atkinson and Mr. Miller is, unfortunately, just the tip of the iceberg of the presidents dangerous attacks on the independence of inspectors general. Mr. Trump will likely fire additional inspectors general because he and his allies view them as deep state operatives who undermine him. Indeed, the president seems to view any independence within the government and certainly any checks on him as intolerable disloyalty; that notion, of course, runs counter to our entire system of checks and balances. Friday nights actions came at the end of a week of scary departures from democratic practices. Reporting indicates that more and more power has gone to the presidents son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, whose coronavirus shadow task force of government allies and private sector connections may run afoul of federal law. Mr. Kushner is meanwhile also reportedly playing a significant role in the Trump re-election campaign from the White House, which may also violate federal law. Nepotism and disregard for the law have characterized this administration from day one, but the volume and brazenness of these anti-democratic tendencies is increasing. By Express News Service BHOPAL: As Indore struggles to cope with the high number of COVID-19 cases, making it one of the hotspots in India, citizens ranging from a hotelier, businessman and doctor have come forward to not only help the administration fight the virus but are also serving the needy. Mukesh Arora, a leading hotelier in the city, has given out Hotel Shreemaya to the district administration for use by medical teams and other officials who are in the frontlines of the battle against the deadly virus. Mhow-based businessman Nitin Agrawal has so far spent over Rs 20 lakh helping daily wagers, migrant labourers returning to Madhya Pradesh and those rendering critical supplies to the Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital in Indore. He is doing it under the auspices of PATH Foundation. According to Agrawal, 2,500 plus food packets are being sent to the needy every day, besides providing 4,500 plus personal protective equipment (PPE) to Maharaja Yeshwantrao (MY) Hospital. Were working in coordination with MY Hospital and Indore district administration. We have also provided an ambulance to the hospital. Weve been given clearance by the NHAI to distribute food and other help to truckers, he said. Another businessman Neeraj Desai, who is into making PPEs has so far donated 100 PPE kits to the MY Hospital, which is treating the bulk of the COVID-19 positive patients. Owing to proactive people like Desai and Agrawal, the hospital has managed to cope with any shortage of medical equipment and services supplies, said Dr Sumit Shukla, professor of surgery at the MGM Medical College. Indores Rajiv Sanghi, who runs a construction equipment business, is also supplying food to daily wagers and the needy. He has been supplying food bags (containing three kg rice, one kg pulses, besides spices and salts) to daily wagers, students stuck in the city and migrant labourers on way from Gujarat to Gwalior. Till Saturday, Sanghi has given 2,500 food bags. Like Sanghi, another businessman Ankit Mittal has supplied over 1,600 food bags to the needy in the city. Scotlands chief medical officer has resigned from the government after breaking coronavirus lockdown rules by visiting her second home. Dr Catherine Calderwood agreed to step down just hours after unreservedly apologising for the trip to Fife and withdrawing from giving public briefings. She said that she took the decision following a discussion with first minister Nicola Sturgeon, who said that the issue risks undermining confidence in the governments advice. I am deeply sorry for my actions and the mistakes I have made, Dr Calderwood said in a statement. The first minister and I have had a further conversation this evening and we have agreed that the justifiable focus on my behaviour risks becoming a distraction from the hugely important job that government and the medical profession has to do in getting the country through this coronavirus pandemic. Having worked so hard on the governments response, that is the last thing I want. The most important thing to me now and over the next few very difficult months is that people across Scotland know what they need to do to reduce the spread of this virus and that means they must have complete trust in those who give them advice. It is with a heavy heart that I resign as Chief Medical Officer. I will work with my team over the next few days to ensure a smooth transition to my successor. It came after The Scottish Sun published photos of Dr Calderwood and her family near a coastal retreat in Earlsferry, more than an hour away from Edinburgh, late on Saturday. Dr Calderwood was visited by local police in Earlsferry and issued a warning about her future conduct, said Police Scotland. Ms Sturgeon, who had been criticised for defending the indefensible, accepted the resignation over the very serious mistake but praised Dr Calderwoods highly valuable contribution to health in Scotland. She said: It is however clear that the mistake she made even though she has apologised sincerely and honourably for it risks distracting from and undermining confidence in the governments public health message at this crucial time. That is not a risk either of us is willing to take. Catherine has been a transformational CMO, bringing changes to the way medicine is delivered in Scotland and in particular using her experience to bring an overdue focus to womens health. Also, as I said earlier, her advice to me on coronavirus will be missed which is why she will work to ensure a smooth transition in the days ahead. While she has made a very serious mistake in her actions, that should not detract from the fact that as CMO she has made a highly valuable contribution to the medical profession and to health in Scotland, and I have no doubt she will continue to do so in future. She leaves office with my thanks and admiration. Ohio man Rashaan Davis, 25, was arrested Saturday and charged with a misdemeanor for violating Ohio's stay at home order An Ohio man who livestreamed himself partying outdoors on Friday night while shouting 'We don't give a f**k about coronavirus', has been arrested. Rashaan Davis, 25, was arrested on Saturday afternoon and charged with a misdemeanor for violating Ohio state's stay at home order, according to police records. He is being held without bond at the Hamilton County Justice Center, according to WCPO. Davis livestreamed himself drinking and dancing on Friday in the Over-The-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati, showing himself partying nearby over 20 other people and bragging about not caring about the deadly COVID-19 bug. 'This is how we celebrate our coronavirus,' Davis said in his video clip that was streamed on Facebook then later reposted to YouTube. 'This is how we do it in my city, man. We don't give a f**k about this coronavirus,' he said. Davis livestreamed himself drinking and dancing on Friday in the Over-The-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati, showing himself partying nearby over 20 other people and bragging about not caring about the deadly COVID-19 bug 'This is how we do it in my city, man. We don't give a f**k about this coronavirus,' he said in the clip showing a large group partying People were seen dancing on top of cars and standing close to each other despite rules to practice social distancing and stay at home The group joked that they were at 'Club Shell' in reference to a Shell gas station in the background, and said they intended to gather again In the video Davis even said he hoped that his clip would get picked up by Worldstar Hip Hop, the outlet that aggregates viral clips. 'Man, f**k corona,' one party attendee shouts in the video. The group joked that they were at 'Club Shell' in reference to a Shell gas station in the background, and said they intended to gather again. The livestream racked up over 55,000 views. 'This particular offense is egregious in nature due to the fact arrested publicly acknowledged the COVID-19 pandemic and incited others to violate the "stay at home" order,' the arresting officer wrote in the arrest report. Some of the livestream viewers slammed Davis for disobeying safety orders in light of the crisis that has already led to over 9,000 deaths in the country. 'I cant wait until you catch it. Let the trash take itself out,' one angry commenter wrote. 'Well folks this is clearly why the virus is spreading so rapid,' another added. In the US there are over 337,000 cases of COVID-19 and over 9,600 deaths from the virus 'What are these people doing out? This is so irresponsible. This is a pandemic,' another wrote. After Fridays party Cincinnati police have bolstered patrols in the area. But reckless parties like this one are popping up all over the city. 'These are happening throughout all of our city, not just in Over-the-Rhine and not just in the African American community,' city council member Chris Seelbach said. 'So every report of people who are holding parties or congregating in groups of more than 10 people we're taking serious and police are taking serious. We're working very hard to break those things up.' In Ohio there are over 4,000 cases of COVID-19 and there have been over 100 deaths so far. By Trend Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 24 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry on Apr. 6. 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 Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of the conservative ruling party Law and Justice, second row right, takes part in a parliamentary session in Warsaw, Poland, Friday, April 3, 2020. Uncertainty deepened in Poland on Friday over whether the country will move forward with a presidential election scheduled for May despite the coronavirus pandemic. Kaczynski had hoped to move forward with the vote despite the epidemic by having a postal election, but the head of a faction in his coalition is opposed and wants the elections postponed by two years.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Poles Divided Over Holding Presidential Vote During Pandemic WARSAW, PolandUncertainty is deepening in Poland over how and when the country can move forward with a presidential election scheduled for May, amid the CCP virus 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 partywhich supports Dudahas 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 April 8 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 spreadingand 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 cant 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 timelinevoting on May 10 with a runoff on May 24 if no candidate wins 50 percent in the first roundis dictated by the constitution and should not be changed. The leader of the ruling party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, insisted early April 2 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 CCP virus infections and deaths than fellow EU countries such as Italy and Spain, but the numbers have been accelerating in recent days, reaching over 4,102 infections and at least 94 deaths on April 5. By Vanessa Gera The Epoch Times contributed to this report Cantor Fitzgerald's global chief market strategist said Monday that he is skeptical of the "dance" between Saudi Arabia and Russia over oil production and that a deal from OPEC and its allies would likely not be enough to save struggling United States energy companies. "I'm really, frankly, not all that convinced that this is an all out fist-fight between Saudi Arabia and Russia. I think it might be a little bit more of a veiled attempt, frankly, by both of them to take a swipe at US E&P while US E&P has been shut out of the capital markets," Peter Cecchini said on "Closing Bell." Oil prices fell on Monday, with West Texas International futures falling roughly 8% and Brent crude futures slipping 3.1%. A virtual meeting between OPEC and its allies that was originally scheduled for Monday will now likely take place Thursday, sources told CNBC. The head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund said a deal between his country and the Saudis was "very, very close." However, Cecchini said that a deal likely wouldn't boost oil prices enough to prevent more defaults in the energy industry. "I do, by the way, think on Thursday that we get some sort of deal that makes it look like there's cooperation afoot. But let's face it, with oil prices this low, for US E&P it doesn't really matter that much," Cecchini said. Energy stocks have been crushed this year, with the SPDR S&P Exploration and Production ETF down about 60% in 2020. However, Cecchini said investors should not try to buy the stocks that appear cheap because of the risk of bankruptcies. "I think it's time to wait and see relative to who the survivors are in the space, and then wait and pick spots until after the damage has been done in full," Cecchini said. Michael Grunwald on Twitter: @MikeGrunwald Buy Michael Grunwalds book The New New Deal in paperback HERE and for Kindle HERE. Buy Michael Grunwalds book The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise HERE. Michael Grunwald at Politico: The corporate bailout doesnt include the limits Democrats promised Michael Grunwald at Politico: What Trumps Trillion-Dollar Bailout Gets Right, and Wrong Michael Grunwald at Politico: The Mega-Bailout Leaves 4 Mega-Questions Michael Grunwald at Politico: Have We Learned Nothing? Adam Serwer at The Atlantic: We Can Finally See the Real Source of Washington Gridlock Derek Thompson at The Atlantic: The Economy Is Ruined. It Didnt Have to Be This Way. Progressives Everywhere on Twitter: @Progressives50 Help Progressives Everywhere elect progressives everywhere by clicking HERE and to support service workers and artists impacted by the coronavirus epidemic by clicking HERE. From Jordan: Ive started a new newsletter called Pandemic Stories in order to create a living history of this unprecedented time, which I believe will be a watershed moment for our nation (for better or worse). The virus has impacted literally everyone and I want to ensure that we capture and remember as many peoples stories as possible. Americans are great at pushing forward and protecting, but its absolutely essential we remember everything we can; everyones story deserves to be told, and we cant learn from history if we dont record it. There are already a number of sweet (and bittersweet) stories published in the newsletter, which will be sent out several times a week. The stories will make you smile, laugh, feel some real outrage, and connect with people across the country at a time when we feel so isolated. Id be honored if youd subscribe, which you can do by clicking HERE. Progressives Everywheres website: ProgressivesEverywhere.org Support Progressives Everywhere by becoming a Patreon donor HERE. Jordans important project: Election-Calendar.com Give us a five-star review at iTunes! The GOTMFV Show Facebook page is HERE! Music clips Intro and transition music: You Dress Like an Asshole by Not The 1s Progressives Everywhere intro/outro: Theyre Everywhere by Jims Big Ego Outro music: Complain (from the movie Bob Roberts) by David Robbins & Tim Robbins Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters The US surgeon general warned the country on Sunday that it will face a Pearl Harbor moment in the next week, with an unprecedented numbers of coronavirus deaths expected coast to coast. Related: Jared Kushner and his shadow corona unit: what is Trump's son-in-law up to? The next week is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment. Its going to be our 9/11 moment, Jerome Adams told NBC News Meet the Press. Its going to be the hardest moment for many Americans in their entire lives, and we really need to understand that if we want to flatten that curve and get through to the other side, everyone needs to do their part. Adamss thoughts were echoed by Dr Anthony Fauci, the countrys foremost infectious diseases expert, in a White House briefing on Sunday. This is probably going to be a very bad week, Fauci said. Donald Trump echoed similar language from the White House briefing room on Sunday, saying that the coming week would be difficult. The president said, however, theres a light at the end of the tunnel. We are feeling confident in the days ahead America will endure the peak of this terrible pandemic, he said. Our warriors in this life and death battle are the incredible doctors and nurses and health care workers on the frontline of the fight. In Sundays press conference, Trump also repeatedly encouraged Americans to try hydroxychloroquine to treat coronavirus, despite a lack of scientific evidence to support the use of the anti-malaria drug as a possible remedy for Covid-19. Trump said his administration has ordered 29m doses to be distributed across the United States, and later on prevented Fauci from answering a question on the efficacy of the treatment from the White House podium. Trump also said in the conference that Fema is airlifting supplies to affected states, including millions of masks, gloves, and sterile gowns. He also took the opportunity to take digs at the governor of Illinois, CNN and a reporter from the Associated Press, calling CNN fake news for asking about the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine and scolding the AP reporter for asking wise guy questions. Story continues The US had recorded nearly 331,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and nearly 9,500 deaths by Sunday evening, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. New York state, the worst hit by far, recorded 594 deaths on Saturday down from 630 deaths the day before, the first day-on-day decrease since the pandemic took off. The apex could be a plateau, and we could be on that plateau now, New York governor Andrew Cuomo said, adding that the coming days would make clear which direction the state was headed. Overall 4,159 New Yorkers have died and there have been 122,031 confirmed cases, Cuomo said. From Louisiana, a developing hotspot, Governor John Bel Edwards reiterated that his state was projected to run out of ventilators by Thursday and would reach intensive-care capacity two days after that. As of Sunday, 477 people had died from Covid-19 in Louisiana, with well over half in the New Orleans metro area. New Orleans now has the highest per capita death rate of any city in the US, according to data analysis by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. This is a tough emergency and its not different here than it is elsewhere, Edwards told CNNs State of the Union, confirming that 200 ventilators had arrived from the national stockpile on Saturday. On Monday, Louisiana will open its first makeshift field hospital, at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. It will house 1,000 beds and, like other temporary sites in New York and elsewhere, is designed to ease the burden on city hospitals. Senior infectious disease doctors, speaking to the Guardian last week, confirmed that hospitals in New Orleans have begun discussing the ethics of how to ration care should they become overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients. As the crisis accelerates, five states have declined to issue stay-at-home orders: Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Arkansas. All have Republican governors. On Sunday, Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson said there was no point issuing such an order because it would be ignored. You have a stay-at-home order, tomorrow 600,000 Arkansans will still go to work, Hutchinson said on NBC. Fauci said states without stay-at-home orders were putting themselves at risk. I will not say we have it under control, that would be a false statement, Fauci told CBSs Face the Nation. We are struggling to get it under control, and thats the issue thats at hand right now. He said the rate of increase in new cases was slowing, an encouraging sign. Adams, the surgeon general, urged people to stay at home no matter what rules are in place in their state. Ninety percent of Americans are doing their part, even in the states where they havent had a shelter in place [order], Adams said. But if you cant give us 30 days, governors, give us a week, give us what you can, so that we dont overwhelm our healthcare systems over this next week. And then lets reassess at that point. Reaching again for imagery from the second world war, he added: We want everyone to understand youve got to be Rosie the Riveter. Youve got to do your part. Adams also advised people to wear masks or otherwise cover their mouths and noses when out in public, in addition to staying six feet apart. You need to make sure youre not substituting social distancing with face masks, he said. Related: How science finally caught up with Trump's playbook with millions of lives at stake Trump, 73, said again on Sunday in the press conference he would not wear a mask despite such federal guidelines. Im not going to wear one, he said. I would wear it if I thought it was important. His prospective opponent in the November election, Joe Biden, 77, said on Sunday he would wear a mask if he left his home in Wilmington, Delaware. Look, I think its important to follow the science, listen to the experts, do what they tell you, Biden said. [Trump] may not like how he looks in a mask but the truth of the matter is that follow the science. Thats what theyre telling us. By AFP WASHINGTON: The US naval commander whose widely publicised plea for help for his coronavirus-affected crew led to his dismissal has reportedly himself tested positive for the disease. Captain Brett Crozier's COVID-19 test result was reported Sunday by the New York Times, just hours after US Defense Secretary Mark Esper defended the captain's firing. Esper told ABC that Navy Secretary Thomas Modly had "made a tough decision, tough call" in deciding to fire Crozier from his command of the aircraft carrier USS Roosevelt, now docked in Guam. Asked about a report that President Donald Trump wanted Crozier fired, Esper replied, "This was the secretary's call. He came and briefed me. It was the secretary's call. I told him I would support it." The firing was widely condemned as a callous and unfair punishment of a respected officer who was looking out for the welfare of his crew when he implored his superiors to let him quickly vacate the ship after it docked in Guam. CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES "We are not at war," Crozier wrote in a letter that leaked to the press. "Sailors do not need to die." But some senior Pentagon officials said Crozier erred by letting his plea go public. Crozier "demonstrated extremely poor judgment in the middle of a crisis," needlessly worrying family members and undermining the chain of command, Modly said. Trump, speaking in a news conference Saturday, supported the dismissal. "He shouldn't be talking that way in a letter," he said of Crozier. "I thought it was terrible what he did." The Times, in reporting Crozier's test result, cited two of his former classmates at the US Naval Academy. It said he had begun exhibiting symptoms before leaving the ship on Thursday. Hundreds of sailors cheered Crozier as he left the ship, as seen in video that quickly went viral. Some called him a hero. ALSO READ | COVID-19: US coronavirus death toll crosses 9500-mark with over 1,200 fatalities in last 24 hours Democrats have also sharply criticized the dismissal. Joe Biden, the leading Democratic candidate for president, condemned the firing on Sunday, telling ABC it was "close to criminal." "I think he should have a commendation rather than be fired," the former vice president said. And a statement from Democratic leaders of the House Armed Services Committee said Crozier might not have handled the matter perfectly, but that his dismissal was an "overreaction." Esper declined Sunday to say whether other Pentagon leaders agreed with the firing, pointing to an ongoing investigation. He told CNN that more than half the Roosevelt's 4,800-member crew had now been tested for the coronavirus. In all, 155 sailors tested positive but none required hospitalisation, he said. Crozier's dismissal came as the Pentagon struggles, amid the spreading pandemic, to maintain the readiness of its air, sea and ground forces worldwide. "We have had to cancel exercises. We've had to constrain basic training, for example," Esper said, before adding, "We think those are all manageable." Esper pointed to the particular challenges facing the military -- it is impossible to respect social distancing in a crowded bomber plane or in the confinement of a nuclear submarine, he told ABC. He said the military overall was "ahead of the curve" in balancing troops' health and military readiness. The military has also been called to help the fight against the coronavirus inside the US. Trump said Saturday that 1,000 military personnel, mostly doctors and nurses, would be deployed to help in New York City, the epicenter of the US outbreak. Troops have already been helping out at the Javits Convention Center, which has been transformed into an enormous hospital. A speech by acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly to the aircraft carrier crew whose captain he relieved April 2 has exposed him to accusations of hypocrisy and led to calls for him to be fired. Modly said Thursday that he relieved Capt. Brett Crozier for circulating too widely a memo expressing the captains concerns about how the Navy was handling a COVID-19 outbreak that had forced his ship, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, to remain docked in Guam. The acting secretary doubled down on that criticism in his remarks Monday to Croziers crew, telling them that if the captain hadnt realized that emailing the memo to over 20 people meant it was likely to go public, then Crozier was either too naive or too stupid to be left in command. At Monday's White House briefing of the coronavirus task force, President Trump said that he may just get involved in how the disciplining of Crozier was handled. Im good at settling these arguments, Trump said of Modly's remarks criticizing Crozier. While Trump said he had heard good things about both Crozier and Modly, he did not approve of the letter Crozier had written detailing that his sailors were ill. It shows weakness. And there's nothing weak about us now. Not anymore, Trump said. We don't want to have letter-writing campaigns where the fake news finds a letter, gets a leak. We don't want that. Hundreds of the ships crew members cheered Crozier as he departed the ship for the last time at the end of last week, chanting Cap-tain Cro-zier! Cap-tain Cro-zier! as he walked down the gangplank. But that didnt stop Modly from repeatedly telling the crew members that Croziers actions amounted to a betrayal of both them and his chain of command. Crozier and more than 150 of his former shipmates are now suffering from COVID-19. Acting U.S. Navy Secretary Thomas Modly, left, and U.S. Navy Capt. Brett Crozier. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Mark Wilson/Getty Images, Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nicholas Huynh via AP) Modly also took aim at the news media, telling the crew that there is no, no situation where you go to the media with concerns, because news media organizations in his view have partisan agendas and will use what sailors tell them to embarrass the Navy [and] to embarrass you. Story continues As might have been expected, Modlys speech rocketed around the internet, first as an almost completely accurate transcript, and then as an actual recording. The Navys initial response was to affect an air of surprise that the acting secretarys speech to thousands of sailors had reached the news media, just as Croziers email to what Modly himself described as 20 to 30 people had. Nobody in the Navys public affairs office in the Pentagon would respond to questions about the speech on the record. Those remarks were intended to be private, between the secretary and each member of the crew, said a Navy official. But Guy Snodgrass, a retired F-18 squadron commander who knows several officers on the Theodore Roosevelt, said Modlys comments were viewed as the definition of hypocritical by those on the ship. He told the sailors that he had to fire Capt. Crozier because of his indiscretion in sending up that memorandum and how that got to the media, but here he is, blasting this stuff out, said Snodgrass, who added that hed been told that everyone on the ship is livid. It wasnt just the text, but the manner of Modlys delivery that upset sailors, according to Snodgrass, adding that according to Theodore Roosevelt sailors hed heard, Modley marched onto the ship, gave a 15-minute tirade and immediately left the carrier. The acting secretary chose to speak over the ships intercom system rather than to address sailors in person in the carriers vast hangar bay, a decision that Snodgrass said most sailors believe was motivated by a desire to avoid public backlash from the crew. That backlash was nonetheless forthcoming, and from a much wider Navy audience, according to Snodgrass. The unofficial Navy channels on social media lit up like a Christmas tree as reaction built, all of it negative, he said. The most pervasive question was, How quickly will he be fired? The speech drew swift condemnation from Capitol Hill. TR sailors are on the frontlines of this pandemic and our nations defense in the Pacific, tweeted Virginia Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria, a member of the House Armed Services Committee and a retired Navy commander who served on multiple aircraft carriers. Acting @SECNAV remarks to the crew show that he is in no way fit to lead our Navy through this trying time. [Defense Secretary Mark Esper] should immediately fire him. Modlys comments were completely inappropriate and beneath the office of the secretary of the Navy, said another Virginia Democrat, Sen. Tim Kaine, in a statement. Its deeply disappointing that he would deliver a speech on board a U.S. aircraft carrier suggesting Capt. Crozier might be stupid and bashing the media for trying to report the truth. These dedicated sailors deserve better from their leadership. By mid-afternoon Eastern Time on Monday, Modly had issued his own statement. "I have not listened to a recording of my remarks since speaking to the crew so I cannot verify if the transcript is accurate, it said. The spoken words were from the heart, and meant for them. I stand by every word I said, even, regrettably, any profanity that may have been used for emphasis. Anyone who has served on a Navy ship would understand. I ask, but dont expect, that people read them in their entirety." That last sentence prompted some sarcastic comments online. Oh, theyre definitely being read in their entirety, tweeted Defense News Pentagon correspondent Aaron Mehta. _____ 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: Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 18:08:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LUSAKA, April 6 (Xinhua) -- In efforts aimed at preventing the further spread of COVID-19, the Zambian government announced a number of measures for people to adhere to. Among the measures included banning public gatherings, all drinking places, non-essential travels, and hand shaking as well as banning people from COVID-19 high risk areas from entering the country. The government further closed three of the country's four airports, among other measures. Another measure announced was social distancing, where people must leave at least one to two meters between them. However adhering to social distancing has proved to be a challenge especially in densely populated areas and trading places such as markets. In markets there is no enough trading place, forcing people to be over-crowded while public buses overload passengers, making social distance a challenge to observe. Government has acknowledged this and expressed concern that failure to adhere to social distancing poses a huge challenge in fighting the pandemic. President Edgar Lungu recently expressed concern over the failure by people in highly populated areas to observe social distance. The Zambian leader said it was imperative for people to observe social distance because it was one of the effective measures to prevent further spread of the pandemic. For Miles Sampa, mayor of Lusaka, the country's capital, social distancing needs to be adhered to but noted that it was proving difficult in markets and other trading places. Last week, the local authority removed vendors from trading on the streets in the central business district as part of efforts to reduce overcrowding and promote social distancing. Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya said it was important that all citizens understand the importance of social distancing as it was the only way to ensure safety. Speaking when she launched a campaign to promote social distancing, Siliya, who is also Minister of Information, said it was of grave concern to the government that people in high density areas and public places were not portraying behavior change. The "Social Distance Campaign", she said, places emphasis on keeping a meter apart and raise awareness for people to observe the measures put in place to contain the pandemic. Zambia has not been spared from the COVID-19 pandemic. The country has so far recorded 39 cases, and one death. Three patients have been discharged after treatment, leaving 35 patients still in isolation centers. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited AEM has provided an update on its Mexico operations in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Pursuant to the government of Mexico's decree, the company is ramping down its mining operations in Mexico, which includes Pinos Altos, Creston Mascota and La India. Notably, Agnico Eagle is expected to place each of the operations under care and maintenance until Apr 30, 2020. Additionally, the exploration activities will be suspended during the same period in Mexico. Agnico Eagle expects the actions to allow for the timely and safe restart of normal operations once the decree is lifted. The companys shares have gained 2.1% in the past year compared with the industrys 23.6% growth. In the last month, Agnico Eagle said that it is withdrawing its 2020 production and costs guidance in view of the lower production activities at the Quebec and Nunavut operations along with future uncertainties, the scope and severity of the coronavirus outbreak. The company expects payable gold production of around 400,000 ounces for the first quarter. However, gold sales may be potentially affected by transport and refining headwinds. Given the uncertainties surrounding the pandemic, it has also drawn down $1 billion from its $1.2-billion unsecured revolving bank credit facility in March. While Agnico Eagle has expressed no intentions to use the funds, it may use a portion to repay part of the $360 million of 6.67% series B notes due April 2020. Also, the company will review its 2020 sustaining and growth capital budget to lower expenditure. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited Price and Consensus Agnico Eagle Mines Limited Price and Consensus Agnico Eagle Mines Limited price-consensus-chart | Agnico Eagle Mines Limited Quote Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider Agnico Eagle currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space are Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited HMY, Franco-Nevada Corporation FNV and Barrick Gold Corporation GOLD. Story continues Harmony Gold has a projected earnings growth rate of 185.7% for 2020. The companys shares have gained 3.9% in a year. It currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Franco-Nevada has a projected earnings growth rate of 22% for 2020. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The companys shares have rallied 42.8% in a year. Barrick Gold currently has a Zacks Rank #2 and a projected earnings growth rate of 41.2% for 2020. The companys shares have surged 47.5% in a year. 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Click to get this free report Franco-Nevada Corporation (FNV) : Free Stock Analysis Report Barrick Gold Corporation (GOLD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (HMY) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research In this article @LCO.1 @CL.1 Russia and Saudi Arabia are "very, very close" to a deal on oil production cuts, according to the chief executive of Russia's sovereign wealth fund RDIF. "I think the whole market understands that this deal is important and it will bring lots of stability, so much important stability to the market, and we are very close," said Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund. A virtual meeting between OPEC and its allies was scheduled to happen on Monday, but is now "likely" to take place on Thursday instead, sources familiar with the matter told CNBC. Reductions in oil output were expected to be discussed at the meeting that could bring the price war in oil to an end. Oil futures pared earlier losses after the report on Monday in Asia, with U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude down 2.86% at $27.53 after falling as much as 9% earlier in the session, and Brent crude down 3.31% to $32.98 after briefly turning positive. When asked if Riyadh and Moscow will get together by the end of this week for some kind of deal, Dmitriev said: "Well actually look, a very positive message, I think they're very, very close." He pointed to comments by Russian President Vladimir Putin last week when he proposed a combined production cut of 10 million barrels per day, according to a Reuters report. "(Putin) talked about how important this oil deal is, so Russia is committed," Dmitriev told CNBC's "Capital Connection" on Monday. That sentiment was echoed by Andrey Kostin, chief executive of Russia's VTB Bank. "Russia is definitely very much interested in stabilizing oil prices and ... there's the political will," he told "Squawk Box Europe." "No one is interested in low oil prices. Neither the United States nor Russia, nor the Saudis," he said. "From this point of view, I think there should be a reasonable agreement achieved at the end of the day." Gov. Greg Abbott wants you to stay home and practice social distancing. And thats an order, apparently. The governor on Tuesday announced that he was issuing a new executive order related to the coronavirus pandemic. In a press conference at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Abbott explained that Texans would be required to stay home, unless theyre providing or obtaining essential services, through the end of the month. He also closed nonessential businesses for the same duration and announced that public schools will remain closed until May 4. Was this truly a stay-at-home order? It was impossible to say, according to local officials who began parsing the text. CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Stay informed with accurate reporting you can trust It certainly sounded similar to the stay-home order issued by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, a Democrat, a week earlier. And Abbotts guidelines are backed by the power of the state: Violations will be subject to fines and up to 180 days in jail. But Abbott himself insisted that this was not a shelter-in-place order, the type issued during emergencies such as hurricanes and plant explosions. He also declined to call it a stay-at-home order, arguing that to do so would wrongly give the impression that Texans literally cant leave the house. There are also loopholes built into the order, notably one that concerns churches and other houses of worship. Per Abbotts executive order, religious services are considered essential and may proceed as normal, albeit with attention to extant federal guidelines about sanitation and social distancing. And business owners that consider their businesses essential or arent sure can contact the Texas Division of Emergency Management for guidance. In a video released Wednesday night, Abbott clarified: His new executive order requires all Texans to stay at home, he said in his soothing baritone unless theyre doing essential things, like going to the grocery store. But he still didnt describe the order as a stay-at-home order. Responses to the video on social media may explain why. Public health experts, and many local officials, have been calling on the Republican governor to issue a stay-at-home order for several weeks. But according to some grassroots conservatives, that would border on tyranny. I just issued an executive order too for you to kiss my a$$, Houston father Joshua Grant retorted on Twitter. You lack the constitutional authority, you lack the resources to enforce this, and you lack the high ground to tell individuals what is and is not ESSENTIAL for them and their families. John Wittman, a spokesman for the governor, confirmed via email Friday that it is a stay-at-home order. Whether Texans realize that is another question, as is whether theyll comply. Even after Abbott issued the more stringent guidelines, officials in various parts of the state sparred over conflicting guidelines. And the disjunct between the governors guidelines and those issued by local officials, including Hidalgo, is causing confusion and headaches. Hidalgos order does not include an exemption for churches, for example, and three local pastors along with GOP activist Steve Hotze are suing Harris County over it. CORONAVIRUS IN HOUSTON: All of the latest news, numbers and analysis to keep you up-to-date, only on HoustonChronicle.com Many of us can relate to the sentiment that religious services are essential. But its not essential that congregations meet as usual during the course of this crisis, and most of them stopped doing so even before Abbott weighed in Tuesday. Texans are, like all Americans, fumbling our way through the pandemic without clear direction from the federal government. This comes as the death toll in New York City nearly doubled in three days to 2,935 on Friday. President Donald Trump, who played down the threat for weeks, has put the onus on governors to lead the way. Some have risen to the occasion. Gov. Mike DeWine of Ohio, a Republican, has earned praise for taking decisive action early in the crisis, despite the risk of backlash: He shut down the state in mid-March. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, has become a national hero in some quarters for his forthright daily briefings about the dire conditions facing many hospitals in New York City and other parts. Abbott has made some sound decisions, such as when he waived State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) requirements for the 2019-2020 school year. Texas is the second-largest state by population, and the number of positive cases continues to rise steeply, topping 6,000 as of Friday. Two Houston-area senior living communities have already been hit hard by COVID-19 an independent living community in The Woodlands that has seen three of its elderly residents die and a Texas City nursing home with more than 80 positive cases. Going forward, the governor might rile some of his supporters by taking clear and forthright stances. But hed earn the appreciation of far more Texans. erica.grieder@chron.com Apple has said it will soon be producing one million face shields a week for medical workers battling the coronavirus pandemic. The tech giant had already sourced 20 million surgical masks from around the world to help address a global shortage, chief executive Tim Cook said in a video posted to Twitter on Sunday. But the company had also designed its own transparent protective face shield and begun mass production at its factories in the US and China, he added. 'We plan to ship over one million by the end of this week,' said Cook. The tech giant had already sourced 20 million surgical masks from around the world to help address a global shortage, chief executive Tim Cook said in a video posted to Twitter on Sunday Initial distribution would be focused on the US but the company hoped to 'quickly expand distribution' to other countries, he said. In a tweet on Sunday afternoon, Cook said: 'Apple is dedicated to supporting the worldwide response to COVID-19. 'We've now sourced over 20M masks through our supply chain. Our design, engineering, operations and packaging teams are also working with suppliers to design, produce and ship face shields for medical workers.' According to Cook, the first shipment of face shields was delivered last week to some hospitals in Silicon Valley. A hospital worker wearing a face shield and mask is seen at a COVID-19 assessment center for staff at Lions Gate Hospital, in North Vancouver, British Columbia. Apple joins several global firms that have modified their production lines to meet demand for protective gear The plastic face shields can be assembled in under two minutes, Cook said, and ship 100 per box. Apple joins several global firms that have modified their production lines to meet demand for protective gear, including Italian luxury brand Prada. US President Donald Trump last month issued a federal order forcing auto giant General Motors to manufacture ventilators after a shortage of the hospital equipment, which is crucial for treating critical COVID-19 cases. Sixteen more people have tested positive for coronavirus in the state informed King George's Medical University administration. All the 16 people are men and are admitted at various hospitals in the state. The Uttar Pradesh government had on Sunday said that 278 people have been found positive for coronavirus in the state so far. Of them, 138 had attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi last month. Meanwhile, with an increase of 490 cases in the last 12 hours, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India climbed to 4067, said Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Arunachal Pradesh Police confirmed that a 21-year-old man was abducted by China's People's Liberation Army on 19 March from Asapila sector near the McMahon line in Upper Subansiri district. Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh Police on Monday confirmed that a 21-year-old man was abducted by China's People's Liberation Army on 19 March from Asapila sector near the McMahon line in Upper Subansiri district. The whereabouts of the young man, however, are yet to be known, they said. Inspector General of police (IGP) Chukhu Apa said district superintendent of police Taru Gusar had sent the Nacho police station officer in-charge to the spot, and an inquiry has confirmed the incident. "The state government will be apprised of it so as to act accordingly as the matter is under the purview of the external affairs ministry," Apa said. The Army's Eastern Command headquarters in Kolkata is yet to respond to queries about the alleged incident. In a memorandum to Governor BD Mishra on 27 March, the Tagin Cultural Society had said Togley Singkam and his two friends Gamshi Chadar and Ronya Nade were busy fishing when the Chinese security personnel ambushed them. "While his other two friends could successfully escape, Togley Sinkam was abducted at gunpoint by the Chinese security personnel," the memorandum said. A complaint was filed by Singkam's family at the Nacho police station on 23 March, it said. The governor's office had confirmed receipt of the memorandum, which also claimed that Singkam was picked up from a place that is part of the clan's land and well within the Indian territory. The McMahon Line demarcates the boundary between the Tibet autonomous region of China and Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims as its own. The McMahon Line is not properly demarcated and small cement pillars erected on the Indian side often get covered under wild growth. Meanwhile, a number of organisations in the state have appealed to the state government for taking up the matter with the Centre for the safe release of the man. The Siyum Nacho Limeking Taksing Students Union (SNLTSU) has threatened to launch a democratic movement in the state capital, if his early and safe release was not ensured. European markets closed sharply higher Monday as the rate of new coronavirus infections appeared to slow in the region. The pan-European Stoxx 600 provisionally closed 3.75% higher, with autos stocks climbing 9% to lead gains as all sectors and major bourses ended in positive territory. Stocks were buoyed by data showing the rate of new coronavirus infections and deaths in the region was slowing. Italy, which was the epicenter of Europe's pandemic before Spain overtook it in terms of the number of cases, reported its lowest daily COVID-19 death toll for more than two weeks on Sunday, Reuters noted. In Spain, the rate of new infections and deaths continued to decline, and Germany reported a slowdown in the rate of new cases on Sunday for the third day in a row. This has led the German government to reportedly draw up a list of measures which officials think should allow life to return to normal after the country's lockdown ends on April 19. These include an obligation to wear masks in public, limits on public gatherings and the rapid tracing of infection chains. OTTAWAThe threat of a total logjam of critical pandemic supplies at the border diminished Monday after a major respirator manufacturer said it will continue to ship medical masks to Canada, where it is the primary source of supply. The news came after a huge shipment of N95 masks to Ontario was briefly jeopardized by U.S. President Donald Trumps order to halt exports of protective medical gear. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said earlier in the day that Canadian officials have been working for the past three days to win an exemption to Trumps export ban to ensure critical equipment like surgical masks, N95 respirators and more will still be delivered from manufacturers south of the border. Then, on Monday evening, American-based company 3M announced it reached a deal to import more than 160 million N95 respirators to the United States. The deal will also allow 3M to continue sending the respirators to Canada and countries in Latin America, where the company is the biggest supplier, the statement said. A senior government official speaking on background called it an encouraging statement, but that talks continued late Monday between Canadian and American officials about a wider exemption on Trumps export ban. The push for an exemption comes amidst a frantic global scramble for critical pandemic supplies that will be required before domestic production fires up to fill Canadas needs. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said shipments from several unnamed countries have been delayed and some orders have been incomplete as Canada seeks tens of millions of new surgical masks, N95 respirators and testing kits, along with thousands of new mechanical ventilators for those dangerously stricken ill by COVID-19. Alongside Trumps order to ban exports, the European Union has also placed restrictions on the sale of medical protective equipment outside its membership zone. It is really a wild west when it comes to buying medical supplies right now. This is a global pandemic and every country in the world is doing its best in a truly fierce competition to get medical equipment, Freeland told reporters in Ottawa. It is absolutely very, very tough right now, she said. The race for supplies is getting more urgent by the day, as Ontario Premier Doug Ford warned Monday the province will run out of some personal protective equipment for front-line medical workers in a week. The provinces effort to stock up has also been hampered by Trumps order to withhold supplies of protective medical gear from other countries. Quebec also warned last week that it was running low on personal protective equipment, while federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu has said Ottawas national emergency stockpile is likely not big enough to meet Canadas needs for the pandemic. Trudeau pledged Saturday that millions of masks would arrive soon from China, and federal Public Service and Procurement Minister Anita Anands office confirmed that a plane carrying masks landed in Canada Monday morning with millions of surgical masks and separate supply orders for Quebec and Nova Scotia. Chinese telecom company Huawei is also donating masks and other supplies to provinces and the federal government that were gathered through its global supply chains, spokesperson Alykhan Velshi told the Star on Monday. At Queens Park, Ford praised Freeland for rattling some cages to ensure supplies flow after American officials stopped the provinces order of N95 respirator masks from U.S.-based 3M. I say Chrystia is a firecracker when shes on onto something. I should say, I apologize, deputy prime minister is a firecracker. Shes out there going full steam on this, said Ford. What I understand is we had 3 million masks that were stopped by U.S. officials coming out of 3M and South Dakota. I just was briefed not long ago saying that were able to get 500,000 N95 masks moving forward, he said. Im feeling a little more confident. Trump declared on Monday that the 3M saga, as he called it, is over. A senior official in Trudeaus office said that statement was encouraging a good sign, but not a victory yet. We still have work to do to ensure future planned shipments come through. But altogether, I think this reinforces what the PM said: we expect deliveries to happen. Ford said personal protective equipment supply (PPE) lines are on my mind. I dont sleep at night thinking of these PPEs, the premier acknowledged. There was some good news on supplies Woodbridge Auto received approval from Health Canada over the weekend to start manufacturing N95 respirator masks. Finally, we have prototypes. And Im going to bring them in tomorrow to show people and I dont want to give you an exact figure, but theyre going to start ramping up, going full steam ahead on it, said Ford. And Ill have better figures when I bring in the mask tomorrow to give you an exact count. But its, its a positive news story. Youre hearing some bleak comments some times but there is light at the end of the tunnel, he said. We are going to get through this. Weve hit a few bumps in the road, but Im confident were going to get through this. In recent weeks, the federal government has signed contracts with three companies to crank up production of surgical masks, testing kits and mechanical ventilators. This includes an agreement to help create a new factory for Pointe-Claire, Que.-based Medicom, which is working to supply tens of millions of masks to the federal government. Ottawa is also working with manufacturers to convert factories that previously made items such as auto parts into facilities that can make supplies Canada needs to confront the pandemic. Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association, told the Star on Monday that he has helped arrange production agreements with about a dozen Canadian companies who have signed orders to make huge amounts of equipment for the federal government and provinces. This includes orders for about 10,500 new mechanical ventilators from Thornhill Medical and O-Two Medical that Volpe predicted will start shipping in about a month. Other businesses are also preparing to make millions of masks, face shields and medical gowns that will start shipping in the coming days, Volpe said. Were in production or shortly starting production within a matter of days or weeks, he said, describing how major auto parts manufacturers like Magna International and Linamar are among the companies involved. You heard the premier of Ontario We might be short in a week. Well, the reinforcements are coming. Theyre in full gallop. We will get there in time on most, if not all, of the categories, Volpe said. Were not messing around. The country needs volume. And it needs it yesterday. Emily Harris, spokesperson for federal Public Service and Procurement Minister Anita Anand, could not confirm the new supply orders that Volpe described. But Harris said the government is expecting to make a procurement announcement Tuesday. With files from Susan Delacourt Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie Read more about: Olympic Gold medallist Helen Glover has finally introduced her twins to the world, Kit and Willow, over two months after their birth. Cradling her newborns alongside her eldest child Logan, 21 months, on a beach in Cornwall, the sportswoman, 33, enthused that becoming a family-of-five has been 'filled with wonderful moments'. The rower's husband, wildlife TV presenter Steve Backshall, also gave an accompanying interview in this week's HELLO! magazine, where he hailed Helen 'the best mum possible' for juggling her career with parenthood, two years after their miscarriage tragedy. Baby joy: Olympic rower Helen Glover has finally introduced her twins to the world, Kit and Willow, over two months after their birth (pictured together with son Logan, 21 months) In her first chat since welcoming Kit and Willow, Helen, who spent the first month calling her babies 'The Boy and The Girl', gushed: 'Steve and I say how we want to bottle this time, then the next day we think: 'This is even better."' The sporting champion gave birth naturally to the twins, with her baby boy arriving two and a half hours before Willow made her entrance. The Truro native highlighted new parents' 'phenomenal ability to go without resting' as she and her partner, 46, adjust to battling with sleepless nights. Deadly 60 star Steve sweetly praised Helen's role as a mother to their three children, stating: 'No one knows better than me quite what shes capable of. She has taken that same insane determination into being the best mum possible. Its humbling seeing how dedicated she is to our children.' 'It's humbling seeing how dedicated she is': The rower's husband, Steve Backshall, hailed the rower 'the best mum possible' for juggling her career with parenthood (pictured in 2017) Heartache: Her eldest child Logan's arrival was overshadowed by tragedy, with Helen miscarrying her son's twin three months before giving birth.(pictured last year) Announcement: The blonde confirmed her pregnancy at The Mirror Animal Hero Awards last September, cradling her baby bump in a black dress (pictured) 'I hope they love it as much as we do': The writer, who has won two BAFTAs for his work in naturalism, shared his hopes for Kit and Willow to develop his same passion for the outdoors The writer, who has won two BAFTAs for his work in naturalism, shared his hopes for Kit and Willow to develop his same passion for the outdoors. He explained: 'Seeing the world through their eyes changes everything. It gives me a renewed enthusiasm to protect the planet and make it a wonderful place for all of them. I hope that I can introduce them to the world of nature and the outdoors and that they love it as much as Helen and I do.' Helen and Steve have since returned to their home in Buckinghamshire after enjoying a refreshing break in the St Ives before the UK went into lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic. The pair, who have been married since September 2016, described their time on the eco-friendly coastal retreat as 'magical' due to Helen's upbringing in Cornwall. Available: This week's HELLO! Magazine is out now The blonde confirmed her pregnancy at The Mirror Animal Hero Awards last September, cradling her baby bump in a black dress. Her eldest child Logan's arrival was overshadowed by tragedy, with Helen miscarrying her son's twin three months before giving birth. Breaking the news on social media in April 2018, she tweeted: 'Thanks for all your lovely messages. We've had the hard news that one baby hasn't made it but we are very excited and hopeful for the remaining baby to arrive this summer.' Steve tweeted his own message, writing: 'Many thanks for all your kind messages. Weve had the news that one twin has not survived, but are still looking forward to our new addition this summer. Sb.' The world's number one female rower previously admitted that being a mother to Logan has helped change her priorities in a way that her unwavering dedication to sport never did. Senior government MPs have accused NSW Ports Minister Andrew Constance of failing to disclose crucial information that detailed the extent of illness on board the troubled Ruby Princess cruise ship. Speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the criminal investigation, a number of senior Coalition MPs and ministers told the Herald they felt the Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Health Minister Brad Hazzard had unfairly "taken a battering" over the debacle. The Ruby Princess docked in Port Kembla on Monday. Credit:Nick Moir Five sources said Mr Constance should have released call logs between the Port Authority of NSW and Carnival Australia because they showed the ship downplayed the risk of COVID-19. One senior Liberal said Mr Constance should have disclosed the logs, which show differing accounts of whether passengers were infected with the virus, as soon as he knew about them. Oil prices fell sharply Monday after a meeting to discuss output cuts between OPEC and its allies was delayed, dimming hopes of swift action to support coronavirus-ravaged energy markets. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate plunged eight percent at the open in Asia but clawed back some ground and was trading 5.7 percent lower, at $26.72 a barrel. International benchmark Brent crude was down 4.3 percent to trade at $32.64 per barrel. Oil prices have tumbled to levels not seen for years due to the coronavirus pandemic and a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia, the kingpin of exporting group OPEC. Business shutdowns, travel restrictions and other measures put in place to contain the virus outbreak have battered demand. Prices had bounced back from 18-year lows last week after US President Donald Trump said that Riyadh and Moscow would draw a line under their dispute and agree to major output cuts. But analysts had been sceptical about a quick resolution, and doubts only grew when the meeting between OPEC and its allies, including Russia, was delayed. They had been expected to meet via video conference to discuss oil production cuts on Monday but the meeting has been postponed to Thursday, the government of energy-rich Azerbaijan said at the weekend. Trump surprised investors last week by tweeting: "I expect & hope" Riyadh and Moscow will be cutting back "approximately 10 Million Barrels, and maybe substantially more". On Friday, Moscow said it was prepared to discuss a reduction in the volume of about 10 million barrels a day. But Stephen Innes, chief global markets strategist at AxiCorp, said that "traders remain extremely sceptical a deal will be forthcoming, and if one does occur, it will be woefully insufficient to stem the oil supply gushers." Bozeman, Montana has a population of 48,532, but just like big cities in New York and California, this small city in the southern part of the state has seen the demand for medical masks skyrocket. Located in Gallatin County, Bozeman is home to more than one third of Montana's confirmed COVID-19 cases, and is by far the hardest hit county in the state. As of Monday, April 6, there are about 299 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state and six deaths. The need to help protect local doctors and nurses, and their patients, has inspired a brigade of volunteers to take action and start making professional-grade medical masks. Health-care workers at Bozeman Health wearing donated masks. Montana masks for heroes "I guess you could say first and foremost, I'm in this because my daughter is a nurse supervisor at the Bozeman Hospital. She and her colleagues have their feet to the fire," said local small business owner turned volunteer, Karen Searle. Searle owns and operates Montana Bunkhouses, a company that connects travelers with hands-on ranch vacations, but after seeing the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on health-care workers in other cities, she put her hospitality business on hold to launch a grassroots mask-making effort. Karen Searle is one of the lead volunteers who helped launch the Bozeman, Montana mask-making effort. Karen Searle The hospital said we need them now! Karen Searle Volunteer and Owner of Montana Bunkhouses Searle teamed up with her daughter, Saundra Strasser, a registered nurse who supervises a team of nurses at Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital, and her colleague, nurse manager Rebecca Williamson. The trio spearheaded design and development of a professional-grade medical mask, sourced materials, enrolled production partners, spread the word on Facebook and created a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe. Medical masks made by volunteers for Bozeman Health in Montana. Montana masks for heros They researched mask guidelines put out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and watched lots of DIY videos on YouTube before developing their own design that includes a small pocket that can hold a replaceable high-efficiency particulate air, or HEPA, filter. Bozeman Health said it took a few design attempts before the medical facility's infection control specialists and patient safety leadership team greenlit a prototype and asked Searle to start pumping them out immediately. "You have to understand we offered 'beta' and 'go live' all in the same breath," said Searle. Medical workers at Bozeman Health wearing masks donated by volunteers. Montana masks for heroes The response was brisk. Volunteers across the county immediately powered-up their sewing machines and started stitching together approved masks, one-by-one from their homes. "I am grateful, deeply grateful, and I'm humbled by the heartfelt response of our community," said Searle, who quickly realized that the at-home production model wasn't enough. "We so appreciate our volunteers, however, early on we recognized the demand for high-quality medical grade masks would exceed what volunteers could provide." Health-care workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic don't need dozens of masks, they needed hundreds of them. To meet the demand, the volunteers enlisted the help of local businesses that could help scale production. It's really neat to be able to do something that makes a difference. Renee Sippel-Baker Co-founder, Mystery Ranch When Bozeman-based backpack manufacturer Mystery Ranch heard about the local shortage of medical masks, the company halted all other projects and focused on making masks by the hundreds. Mystery Ranch also donated precut anti-microbial fabric so others in the community could start producing masks with it as well. "I'm ecstatic to the point that it brings tears," said Mystery Ranch's co-owner Renee Sippel-Baker on the company's website. "What makes it even better is how happy all our employees are." West Paw, a pet product company that usually manufactures chew toys and dog beds, was a beneficiary of Mystery Ranch's fabric donation. CEO Spencer Williams said he's dedicated a portion of West Paw's factory and some of his 65-employee workforce to the fabrication of masks. It has already made hundreds of masks for Bozeman Health, but the goal is to ramp up production to a thousand per week, according to a company spokesperson. West Paw's dog product manufacturing facility now produces masks for healthcare workers. West Paw "Having something good like making medically approved masks gives everybody a sense of hope and optimism," Williams said. "We would like to think that this collaborative effort could be replicated in other places," Searle said. The volunteers have already shared their design specs with people who want to help in their own communities from Mansfield, Texas, to Portland, Oregon, she said. "We happily share our pattern. We encourage them to mobilize volunteers and we tell them: 'We are all in this together." When you think Netflixs hit docuseries, Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness, cant get any more bizarre, it does. More information has come to light since the show wrapped. This includes a few interesting tidbits from someone who once worked with Joseph Maldonado-Passage (aka Joe Exotic) before Tiger King fame documentarian, Louis Theroux. Louis Theroux and Joseph Maldonado-Passage have a history together Tiger King | Netflix Once upon a time, award-winning journalist, Louis Theroux, created the documentary, Louis Theroux: Americas Most Dangerous Pets. The 2011 film starred Maldonado-Passage and his animals. Theroux explored the world of dangerous pets at the previously titled G.W. Zoo in Oklahoma (now owned by Jeff and Lauren Lowe). Three years before Maldonado-Passage became the infamous Tiger King, Theroux caught an insiders glimpse at the big cat owners true colors. However, he also feels a slight twinge of envy with the success of the Netflix docuseries. I greatly enjoyed Tiger King, my pleasure only slightly attenuated by a sense of envy and missed opportunity that I wasnt involved in what has turned out to be a global smash, he told The Times. I do recall that, having made our documentary, which came out as Americas Most Dangerous Pets, I felt there was probably some kind of longer-form series to be made about that world, he said. Though I had no idea Joe would end up caught up in a murder-for-hire case and I really cant claim any kind of prescience other than noticing that it is pretty weird for Americans to be keeping multitudes of large exotic animals in small cages. With the obsession with Tiger King, Theroux is speaking out about Maldonado-Passage, Carole Baskin, and why its hard to dislike the former zookeeper. Theroux has a lot of feelings about Maldonado-Passages obsession with Carole Baskin Maldonado-Passage is serving a 22-year sentence for 17 counts that stem from animal abuse charges and a murder-for-hire scheme to kill Carole Baskin. Theroux claims Joe Exotic was preoccupied with his grudge against Baskin even in 2011. Theroux said he had no idea Maldonado-Passage could ever be a part of Baskins murder. However, he admitted he thought Maldonado-Passage was pretty weird, in that same interview with The Times. It was hard to dislike the man himself, maybe because he seemed neither to be hiding many of his misdeeds nor to take himself too seriously, Theroux said. Joes grudge against Carole preoccupied him when we filmed. He would rant about her, mentioning his belief that shed had one of her husbands killed. If you havent caught up to Tiger Kings madness, one of the subplots explores the disappearance of Baskins second husband, Don Lewis. Internet memes and circulating theories suggest Baskin had something to do with it something Maldonado-Passage spoke about often. Just this week, Maldonado-Passage gave his first interview since Tiger Kings release saying hes done with the Carole Baskin saga. Its now time to turn the tables and Joe gets out of jail a free man and exonerated from all these charges, he said. Heres what Joe Exotic wouldve done if the zoo went bankrupt Theroux previously spoke about his visit with Maldonado-Passage while filming the documentary. Maldonado-Passage said if Theroux got in the cage with the tigers, hed shoot Theroux in the head to spare him a worse fate. Theroux liked spending time with Maldonado-Passage. He described the zookeeper as an emotional dude who tried to shut down the documentary multiple times. He was allegedly worried about the producers angle of his story. I recall he was crying and then he took off his mic at one point and stomped off and then he came back, Theroux said. Theroux thinks allegations surrounding Baskins involvement in killing Lewis is very unlikely. Still, he found the most troubling part of his experience in a what-if scenario. The most troubling thing he said was probably that if the park went bankrupt he would kill all the animals, Theroux added. Luckily, viewers dont have to wait and see if that situation unfolds. A total of 100 FIRs have been registered by the Maharashtra Police against the people who have allegedly spread fake and unverified news on Twitter relating to COVID-19, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said on Monday. "A total of 1,410 arrests have been made for defying the lockdown in Maharashtra. 7,570 vehicles have been seized and a total fine of Rs 65,43,624 has been levied," added Deshmukh. The state Home Minister further also gave the figures of the people, who have been quarantined in the State. "49,708 people have been quarantined till now. 4,47,050 migrant labourers have been given shelter in 4,532 camps across the state," Deshmukh said. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India climbed to 4,281, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday. As many as 111 deaths have been reported across the country due to the deadly disease. There are 3,851 active cases in the country while 319 people have been cured/discharged/migrated. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The WHO (World Health Organization), Singapore and USA reversed their position on using face masks against coronavirus. The new position is that all people in a community should wear masks when they go out as part of an overall comprehensive response to this disease. There is growing evidence that some people infected with the coronavirus do not show symptoms and are able to make others sick. Almost all people in Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam wear masks in public. Those countries have the least COVID-19 coronavirus cases. In Europe, the Czech Republic and Slovakia bucked the western trend, encouraging the use of masks by everyone. The World Health Organization and disease control agencies in other countries need to stop thinking they know better than Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. All countries with high spread rates are doing it wrong and have been doing it wrong. The other steps being followed in the leading countries are using smart-phone apps to enhance the effectiveness of quarantines. The leading countries also deliver food to people who are quarantined. There is also contact tracing to find those who might have been infected by someone known to have the disease. China also sent people door to door to check on people with temperatures. SOURCES- SCMP Written By Brian Wang, Nextbigfuture.com Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East Additional reporting by Sarah Slater Tanaiste Simon Coveney has said that the 20% of personal protective equipment (PPE) received from China that is not suitable will be corrected in further deliveries due later this week. The HSE has been in direct discussions with the manufacturers in China from whom the PPE was sourced, Mr Coveney told the Morning Mix show on South East radio. The next shipment this week will contain replacements for the unsuitable 20% delivered last week. The HSE has done an incredible job here, Mr Coveney said. Internationally there is significant demand for PPE and Ireland managed to nail down a delivery that other countries are envious of. The procurement team have been doing a great job, he added. Testing will also significantly increase this week with some kits being sent to Germany for testing while laboratories in Ireland are waiting for new stocks of reagent. When asked would Ireland receive credit for the incorrect 20% of equipment, Mr Coveney said that will be part of the current negotiations. We will make sure we get value for money. But the priority was ensuring that health care workers are protected. The volume and quantity of PPE was a priority, cost was secondary, he said. A hospital surgeon has said that the lack of PPE has led to doctors making their own and manufacturing their own sanitiser. Dr Pat Rohan, from Wexford General Hospitals Department of Surgery said that it is not acceptable when everyone needs to be as safe as possible during the Covid-19 crisis. They need to be protected and kept as safe as possible, he said. Approximately 18% or 1,000 cases of Covid-19 diagnoses in Ireland are reported to be in active healthcare workers. Dr Rohan said a positive test in a healthcare worker obligates at least 14 day period of isolation and that Our healthcare professionals need to be protected - they need personal protective equipment (PPE), including scrubs, gloves, goggles, face-masks and respirators. Seeing GPs make their own PPE from hardware stores is not acceptable. A doctor manufacturing their own alcohol hand sanitisers is not acceptable. "In the short term, we need to be inventive but as safe as possible. Although in hindsight the warning signs from Wuhan were there and SARS/MERS alerted us to the pandemic potential of these viruses, the extent of this pandemic was difficult to comprehend. Our healthcare professionals are working tirelessly against one of the greatest challenges to ever confront our health service. "Our hospitals are staffed by doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, porters, cleaners, administrative staff among others. "These are the front-line workers who put themselves (and as a result their families) at risk on a daily basis. Dr Rohans comments, in this months Irish Medical Journal, are supported by three other colleagues, some of whom are Irish working in Canada and the US and they are urging that, we need to continue to think outside the box, to ensure the most basic of equipment is available to those who need it now and potentially in the future". However, the doctors, pointed out that medical professionals and companies across the world, people of diverse backgrounds and experience are offering ideas and specialised skills to crowd-source solutions to Covid-19, including the Open Source Covid-19 Medical Supplies (OSCMS) group and supply needs to be kept in the hands of the manufacturing professionals Methods with acceptable decontamination and preservation of filtration function have been adapted to clinical use in the current pandemic, including ultraviolet light germicidal irradiation and microwave steam heating - an avenue under development between the HSE and Trinity College. Dr Rohan added: The government is making huge efforts to increase the supply of PPE (with) 10 air freighters are en route to China at a cost of nearly 230 million. There are others, not directly involved in healthcare that should examine their supply chain to help meet the demands from this all-Ireland effort; local businesses such as ONeills sportswear have begun to manufacture scrubs in Ireland. These are testing times and no doubt everyone is playing their part by social and physical distancing." [snippet1]987600[/snippet1] Kia Motors India (KMI) on Monday pledged Rs 2 crore to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister's Relief Fund to provide immediate and long-term relief against the coronavirus outbreak in the state. Kia Motors India is committed to extending every possible support to the community and is taking all necessary measures to fight coronavirus that has wreaked havoc globally, the company said in a statement. While the Indian government has implemented several measures and announced economic aid to tackle the situation, Kia Motors is doing its bit in ensuring effective healthcare support to the citizens, it added. KMI will continue to support the country, governments and is committed to being a partner in the national fight against Coronavirus. "With the public life and businesses coming to a standstill amid the 21-day lockdown, the company is constantly analysing the situation on the ground and is ensuring relentless support to its customers," the company said, adding it will be providing extended free services to all its customers until July 2020. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Faced with the compelling need for more respirators on its national territory, the French government has asked, on March 22, a group of French industrial companies led by Air Liquide to study the possibility of increasing the production of respirators so as to provide 10,000 respirators in 50 days, between the beginning of April and mid-May. In response, Air Liquide, Groupe PSA, Schneider Electric and Valeo have set up a Task Force composed of about 30 purchasing and industrialisation experts in order to define an action plan to increase the production of Air Liquide Medical Systems respirators, which are already referenced by a great number of hospitals in France and abroad. To meet this industrial challenge, the exceptional contribution of 100 partner companies will also be sought so as to provide the 300 essential components that are necessary for the fabrication of these medical systems, a statement issued by Schneider Electric said. Within this Task Force, Schneider Electric has provided support by: Contributing to the overall design of the industrial production framework. Supplying equipment for the reconfiguration of production lines and providing support for securing supplies (electronic and electrical engineering). Making available Lean Manufacturing experts bringing their skills and experience to improve existing manufacturing lines to increase production of two types of respirators: T60 and the Osiris range, both needing to increase production by 3x and 70x, respectively. Gathering 100 Schneider Electric employee volunteers as qualified Operators to work 24/7 for approximately the next six weeks at the Air Liquide site in Antony (South of Paris). Schneider Electric said it thanks its global supply chain teams, mobilised to install these new production lines, as well as its employees who volunteered as operators to assemble the respirators. Schneider has committed itself alongside its partners, in solidarity, to make this important contribution to the production of life-saving medical devices, it added.TradeArabia News Service Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President and senior advocate Dushyant Dave and his wife Ami Dave have jointly donated Rs 1 crore to aid the nation's fight against the coronavirus pandemic. They have contributed Rs 50 lakh each to the PM CARES Fund and to the Delhi CM Relief Fund. Earlier, all Supreme Court judges including Chief Justice of India donated Rs 50,000 each to the PM CARES fund to aid the nation's fight against the coronavirus pandemic. In March, senior lawyer and constitutional law expert Rakesh Dwivedi donated Rs 1 crore to the Prime Minister Citizens' Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situation (PM CARES) fund. Justice N V Ramana, senior-most judge after CJI S A Bobde, had also donated Rs 1 lakh each to PM's fund and funds of chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh And Telangana. The death toll due to the novel coronavirus pandemic rose to 111 on Monday and the number of infections climbed to 4,281 in the country on Monday registering a record jump of 704 cases in 24 hours, according to Union Health Ministry data. The active COVID-19 cases stood at 3,851, while 318 people were either cured or discharged and one had migrated, the ministry stated. According to the data updated at 6 PM, 28 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours -- 21 from Maharashtra, two each from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, and one each from Punjab, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The doctors and nurses were desperate. Overrun with COVID-19 patients, University Hospital was stretched to its limits Saturday morning. The emergency department staff scrambled to keep up with the crush of the sick as the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the state and nation continued to intensify. More than 150 confirmed COVID-19 patients and a few dozen suspected cases were requiring care. Universitys staff needed help, so officials from the Newark hospital started calling around, searching for additional medical personnel. We were pretty desperate, Dr. Shereef Elnahal, president and CEO of University Hospital, told NJ Advance Media. One unit answered the call. Several members of Newarks emergency medical services team were off-duty, and some of them had just finished a full shift of their own. It didnt matter. Fourteen off-duty nurses, medics and EMTs as well as the Northstar helicopter that transports patients to the hospital responded. The call was frantic when it came through, said Terry Hoben, Newarks EMS coordinator, who was among those who responded Saturday. Hoben arrived on the helicopter, which was deployed from Somerset County. It landed on Universitys roof. The well was dry, he said. They couldnt get any more to come. The EMS unit is responsible for the entire city of 282,000 residents, as well as Orange, East Orange and Newark airport. And Saturday, it helped save University from being overwhelmed. Literally everyone" who was not on duty reported, Elnahal said. The emergency department suddenly had an influx of fresh staffers. Alongside the hospitals staff, the EMS workers set up monitors, helped intubate patients, assisted nurses, got the critically ill to ventilators and started IVs. Some even helped clean areas of the highly trafficked ward. There was no job they were not willing to do that night, Elnahal said. The EMS members worked into Saturday evening. Doctors and nurses, who have been pushed to their limits over the past six weeks, were in awe of the response. The EMS department has faced its own trials, as several of its members have contracted the coronavirus. When its personnel arrived, there was a collective feeling of relief a sense of trust, Hoben said. They were tired. They were frustrated. And when we came in, they were able to continue on with that level of care that they are known for, Hoben said. Staff members were crying ... they couldnt even form sentences," he added. Universitys emergency department staff cried not out of sadness or stress, but in reverence of those who had come to their rescue. The doctors and nurses who normally work in the emergency room were in tears with how helpful these guys were in a place where they normally wouldnt be, Elnahal said. Hospitals statewide have been grappling with staffing levels that can barely keep up with the surge of patients. Like other emergency rooms, University Hospital has been battling the seemingly endless flood of COVID-19 patients over the past month. Nearly every patient at the facility tested positive for the coronavirus or is suspected of having it, pending test results. Its very fast-paced down there (with) an unprecedented number of patients in the emergency room, Elnahal said. And those patients require a lot of attention, and what this staff did was allow us to give those patients the attention they need. He added: We have been less able to get staff we need because of the extremely high load of patients, so the demand for care cant possibly keep up with supply and staff." The worst might be yet to come. The apex of New Jerseys COVID-19 cases is predicted to come in the next week or two, and health care workers are preparing for what they know will be the ultimate test. We are very much bracing for the peak, Elnahal said. The state has made clear that the peak is coming earlier than we thought. Its likely that a week from now well see the peak thats what the data is looking like. He said the hospital is making do with a limited PPE stock it usually has only a one- or two-week supply at a given time. However, Elnahal said the hospital recently received 15 more ventilators from the national stockpile that the state was able to obtain. The staff is making do with less, and in a time when the risk to doctors, nurses and EMS workers has never been higher. Yet, they continue to respond when called upon. Ive been a paramedic here in Newark for 34 years, and it was one of the most challenging and emotional moments Ive seen in that time period, Hoben said. Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. 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. Escalating Violence in Burkina Faso Drives Thousands of Malian Refugees to Return Home By Lisa Schlein April 05, 2020 The U.N. refugee agency reports escalating violence in Burkina Faso is driving thousands of Malian refugees to leave their camps and return to the war-torn homes they fled in search of safety. The United Nations reports violence in Burkina Faso has forcibly displaced more than 838,000 from their homes since January 2019. The UN refugee agency reports the escalating militant attacks also are affecting some 25,000 Malian refugees living in remote camps near the border separating the two countries. UNHCR spokesman, Babar Baloch tells VOA most of the refugees are choosing to return home because of the growing violence in Burkina Faso, judging it to be the lesser of two evils. "Mali is not secure as well and many of the returning refugees cannot return to their places of origin. This was a hard decision for them to return back and this decision is linked with the insecurity inside Burkina Faso," he said. Baloch says the Goudoubo refugee camp in Burkina Faso is essentially empty following attacks and ultimatums by armed groups. He says this prompted some 9,000 Malians who lived there to flee for their lives. "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. They arrived in Mali panicked, many with horror stories and arriving on rented trucks or camel backs with their families," he said. Baloch says UNHCR is working with the Malian authorities to register the returning refugees. He says they are providing the returnees with shelter, relief items and cash to support their immediate needs. He says the returnees also are receiving health and hygiene equipment as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In this Feb. 29, 2020 file photo, U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, left, and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban group's top political leader sign a peace agreement between Taliban and U.S. officials in Doha, Qatar. AP Photo Islamabad: The Taliban said their peace deal with the United States was nearing a breaking point, accusing Washington of violations that included drone attacks on civilians, while also chastising the Afghan government for delaying the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners promised in the agreement. The Taliban said they had restricted attacks against Afghan security forces to rural outposts, had not attacked international forces and had not attacked Afghan forces in cities or military installations. The Taliban said these limits on their attacks had not been specifically laid out in the agreement with the U.S. signed in February. The Talibans statement issued Sunday warned of more violence if the U.S. and the Afghan government continue alleged violations of the deal. U.S. military spokesman Col. Sonny Leggett in a tweet overnight denied the Taliban allegation, saying the U.S. forces in Afghanistan has upheld and continues to uphold the military terms of the U.S.-TB (Taliban) agreement; any assertion otherwise is baseless. In his tweet, Leggett called for Taliban to reduce violence and said the U.S. military will continue to come to the aid of Afghanistans security forces if attacked, in line with the agreement. Meanwhile, the militants said they had reduced their attacks compared to last year, but said continued violations would create an atmosphere of mistrust that will not only damage the agreements, but also force mujaheddin to a similar response and will increase the level of fighting. A Jefferson County judges father has died as a result COVID-19 and she said the ordeal is by far one of the worst experiences her family has ever endured. Circuit Judge Nakita Perryman Bloctons father, 70-year-old Albert Sonie Dargan died one week ago today in a New York hospital. Her grandfather died the same day from what family members believe was a broken heart over his sons absence during his hospitalization. I am rarely lost for words but have yet to find the words to truly explain or express what my family has gone through and currently through or how I feel, Blocton said. Blocton is speaking out about her fathers coronavirus death because she fears people arent taking it seriously. She wants people do what is right and best to save and protect themselves, their families and others. It doesnt discriminate, she said. Alabama has an opportunity to get ahead. We need to be ready. The judge spoke at length Monday with AL.com about her fathers sudden illness, his eventual death and the aftermath of trying to identify his body and plan a funeral. Dargan was a U.S. Marine, a retired New York City Transit Authority worker and the father of seven daughters. He was a quiet man who didnt express much emotion. He was a man of very few words, just like my granddad, but when they spoke, they meant what they said. They were both very gentle, Blocton said. My dad spoke almost like a whisper. He could deliver good news and bad news all in the same voice. He never pandered and was always very direct. My granddad was the same way, she said. If you wanted drama, you werent going to get it from them. But, there was no doubt her father was a loving man. At one point, he bought a house in Brooklyn that contained 10 individual apartments in which all units were eventually occupied by his own family members. He was one of those where his actions spoke louder than words, Blocton said. But he didnt have a problem saying, I love you. The judge said he was a hands-on father who not only raised his own children, but also raised some of his grandchildren. Though Blocton was raised by her mother in Alabama, Dargan was a strong presence in her life when she was a child, often coming to spend holidays with her in Alabama and then taking her back to New York to make sure she was close to her sisters and extended family there. He was known to surprises to his kids and grandkids just because. One time, Blocton said, he sent a cactus to Bloctons daughter while she was away at college in Ohio. He sent her cactus with a note saying it was something even a college student couldnt kill, Blocton affectionately recalled. It was always something just to let you know he was thinking about you. Dargan and his wife often traveled, but mostly with family. His father and Bloctons grandfather 96-year-old David Dargan was his best friend. They were very close. My dad took him to every doctors appointment. He took him to dinner. Took him on walks. Cut his hair. They watched games together, Blocton said. My dad was the only one who could really take care of him. Two years ago, Dargan sold the family house and bought a condo. He and his wife moved his father, known to the family as Pops in with them. Both men were in good health with no known medical issues. One thing Dargan was very serious about was never saying goodbye. He was insistent that those closest to him always say see ya later or talk to ya later but never, ever goodbye. In late February or early March, Bloctons father developed flu-like symptoms and went to the doctor. He was briefly hospitalized, treated and sent home. When he didnt get better, he went again to the doctor and this time was diagnosed with pneumonia. He was given antibiotics and sent home to recuperate once again. His condition, however, worsened. He started getting sicker instead of better, Blocton said. My dad was not the type to lay down and he was laying in his char. Not sitting. That was so not like him. His wife and other family members urged him to go back to the doctor and, on March 16, he kissed his wife on the forehead and took himself to the emergency room at the VA Hospital in Brooklyn where he was admitted immediately. His wife and another daughter followed behind but found they were not allowed to visit him. They sent them to another side of the building, and it was a special unit they had created for patients a Covid-19 specialized unit, Blocton said. That was the first time coronavirus had come up. It had seemed so intangible up until then. I was like, My dad has coronavirus? He didnt do crowds. My grandfather was truly his best friend, Blocton said. He was a quiet person who didnt go anywhere. How did he get this? It truly didnt make any sense. He lived a very boring life. It would be two days before the family would hear anything about Dargan. Eventually he was allowed to use his cell phone to call family members, which he did. Blocton talked to him by phone on March 22. I could tell he was very weak. His breathing was labored, she said. He said it was worse in the beginning, but he never went into what worst mean. He sounded awful. Father and daughter talked briefly about the virus. He said he had been told he had one of the strands that was not considered to be the most-deadly. He also mentioned that someone there had died, and noted the victim was younger than he. I think he had become concerned and thats the first time Ive ever heard concern in his voice, Blocton said. I got a chance to tell him I loved, him. He was like I love you too and Ill talk to you later. Remember, we didnt ever say bye to each other. Within 10 hours of that conversation, Dargan was on a ventilator. Doctors were keeping the family up to date, with the updates being shared in a family group text message. Blocton said her father was being given hydroxychloroquine - the anti-malaria drug being used with COVID-19 patients as well as Zithromax and Vitamin C. He began to suffer from kidney issues in addition to lung problems and was requiring more oxygen. By Sunday, March 29, he seemed to be slightly improving. On Monday, March 30, Blocton got a phone call from her sister. That was unusual since they family had been communicating through the group text message. She immediately asked if her dad was OK, and then learned her grandfather had been found dead at home that morning. He had been asking for a week to talk to his son, who couldnt because of the ventilator. The senior Dargan became depressed, stopped eating and wouldnt get out of bed. He knew my dad would go a day without checking on him, Blocton said. He died of a broken heart. A few hours later, about 1 p.m., doctors notified the family that Bloctons father was improving and he was responding to medication. They were going to turn down his ventilator but were considering dialysis for his kidneys. Then, at 7 p.m., Blocton got another phone call from her sister. I said Youre not going to tell me dad is dead. You could hear it in her voice, Blocton said. The hospital told Bloctons stepmother she would have to wait about two days to come to the hospital to identify his body. When she showed up, however, they told her she couldnt see him and that the body had already been released to the morgue. When she got to the morgue by then it was Thursday she was told she couldnt see his body then either. Theyre constantly changing policies as they learn more about the virus, Blocton said. She was given Dargans belongings. However, someone elses belongings were also in that bag. The family was confused and concerned that they were not able to verify in any way that it was their loved one who had actually passed away. At this point, nobody had seen my dad since he said he was going to the doctor on March 16, Blocton said. The funeral home said they had not been able to yet pick up Dargans body from the hospital because the line was too long. Eventually the body was taken to the funeral home, but the family has yet to see proof it is him. They have requested a picture, which they are hoping to get soon. The funeral home has told them only eight family members can attend the funeral, and the U.S. National Cemetery said no one can attend the burial. My dad fought for this country and when he gets buried, nobody will be there, she said. People are dying left and right. Youve got funeral homes trying to pick up bodies and they cant. There are refrigerated trucks, Blocton said. These are children, fathers and mothers. The numbers are overwhelming, and nobody was prepared for this. Blocton said shes concerned that people in Alabama arent taking the illness seriously. She said shes cringed as shes watched people pack grocery stores and parks or gather in groups for parties or cookouts. Its something people are watching on TV, but I was living it, she said. I would like people to take precautions and be prepared. Save yourselves and your relatives. I cannot be still and be silent, Blocton said. I wanted to share my dads journey to help others live. The virtual Grand National raised 2.6 million pounds (USD 3.2 million) for Britain's National Health Service from the profit on betting on Saturday's computer-generated race donated by bookmakers. The animated event proved a popular replacement to the real thing with the world's most famous steeplechase a casualty of racing's shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. "We are overwhelmed with the public support for the Virtual Grand National and the support shown" for the NHS, said Michael Dugher, chairman of the Betting and Gaming Council. Shown live on television an audience of almost five million, more than double the figure that tuned in to see last year's Epsom Derby, watched Potters Corner take the virtual Aintree spoils at 18-1, with hat-trick seeker and favourite Tiger Roll in fourth. Coral spokesman David Stevens told The Racing Post: "We had no idea how popular the Virtual Grand National would be as it was a completely unique situation but throughout Saturday it became apparent that millions of people were still having their annual flutter on this famous race." There is no racing until at least the beginning of May due to COVID-19 in Britain where the virus has claimed 4,934 lives with 47,806 confirmed hospital cases according to the latest official figures. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The first of the month is a stressful day for many renters across Manitoba. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/4/2020 (644 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The first of the month is a stressful day for many renters across Manitoba. As of 2018, about 11 per cent of all Manitoban renters paid more than half their income on shelter costs. According to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, it takes on average two full-time workers to be able to afford a two-bedroom apartment. And for a single person making minimum wage to pay for a one-bedroom unit, theyd need to work 63.7 hours weekly. COVID-19 has made those statistics even more dire: workers are losing employment, wages are being lost, and many renters who have in the past been able to cover their rent without hesitation are now unsure whether theyll be able to pay it. Gord McIntyre, the co-ordinator of the Winnipeg Rental Network, said its a critical time for renters, and that its important for them to know their rights. The Free Press asked McIntyre general questions tenants may have about rent, evictions, and utilities, and included the provincial governments official stances as well. Can I get evicted right now? McIntyre said this is a two-pronged question. Tenants can still face eviction orders for whats referred to as "severe impairment of safety" toward other tenants in their building. That includes threatening people with weapons or engaging in illegal activity in their units, for example. However, the province announced on March 24 that non-urgent eviction hearings are postponed until May 31, meaning that no tenant can legally be evicted for being unable to pay their rent for the time being. McIntyre said if tenants cant pay their rent and are threatened with eviction for that reason, it is within their rights to stay put. Tenants have the right to fight their evictions in a hearing at the Residential Tenancies Branch, and although those are temporarily on hold, the right to represent yourself is not. The province says that if a tenant doesnt pay rent, a landlord still has the option of applying for an Order of Possession, with a hearing scheduled once the suspension is lifted. "The bottom line is, the landlord cant take any action against you (for non-urgent matters) until May 31," McIntyre said. Any evictions carried out for non-urgent reasons would be illegal ones. My income has been affected, and I cant afford to pay my rent right now McIntyre and the province both say if you find yourself in this spot, its important to communicate with your landlord and explain your situation. Thats the normal course of action as well, but right now, its especially vital to be forthcoming, McIntyre said. He says renters should look to explain whats happened to them, and ideally come up with an alternative payment plan. The province says that "tenant(s) are still obligated to pay their rent in full and on time," and that late fees may be charges if payment is not made in time. However, the government has also said that if rent cannot be paid on time, tenants should "talk to their landlord right away to see if alternative payment arrangements can be made." "Try to come up with a payment plan that you both agree with, and set out the agreement in writing," the province says. "Try to keep supporting documentation, like a Record of Employment or proof of EI claim in case its needed." McIntyre said that at this point, people should implement plans to pay what they can if they cant afford their full rent costs. A provincial spokesperson said that if alternate arrangements are made, the discussion should include whether or not the landlord can charge late fees on any outstanding rent. So, ask for no late fees if youre drafting an alternate plan. I am still able to afford my rent and my employment is stable. Should I still pay? The province is adamant on this, saying that renters with the means to do so should still pay their rent. McIntyre agrees. What has been done to make rent more affordable in Manitoba during COVID-19? The province has temporarily frozen rent increases which were set to take effect between Apr. 1 and May 31. That means that if a tenants rent was planned to climb, they will be allowed to pay the pre-increase total instead. The province says that once the rent freeze has been lifted, tenants "will be required to pay the increased amount for monthly rental payments going forward." The increased amount will not be withdrawn retroactively for the months during the freeze, a provincial spokesperson 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. Federally, the government has implemented economic response packages, including increased EI availability, tax payment deferrals, and wage subsidies. However, the province hasnt implemented any such programs targeted specifically at renter support. I might not be able to pay my Hydro. Will it get shut off? Manitoba Hydro has said it will not disconnect customers from its services during the pandemic. Hydro says that if a customer is unable to make payments for their bills by their due date, they should contact the Crown corporation to make a payment arrangement. That can be done through emailing credit@hydro.mb.ca or by calling 1-204-480-5900. More details are online at hydro.mb.ca/covid19. ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca Know of any newsworthy developments in the local office, retail, industrial or multi-family-residential sectors? Let us know at business@freepress.mb.ca. The disregard for truth and the rule of law laced through that rant is breathtaking. First, as a number of Republican senators subsequently acknowledged, the complaint that Mr. Atkinson forwarded was not fake but an accurate description of the pressure Mr. Trump placed on Ukraines president to investigate former vice president Joe Biden. Contrary to the presidents suggestion, Mr. Atkinsons duty was not to consult him about the whistleblower complaint much less to be a Trump fan but to determine whether the allegation was credible and, if so, forward it to Congress while protecting the whistleblower. A couple was arrested on Monday in Surat in Gujarat for allegedly harassing a woman doctor with taunts over the coronavirus outbreak, police said. The couple, identified as Chetan and Bhavna Mehta, would ask the doctor, who works in a civil hospital, if she was infected with the virus and hurl abuses at her, said an official quoting the application given by the victim. The couple and the doctor live on the same floor, police said. "Since the victim was not ready to file an FIR, Adajan police took her application and arrested Chetan and Bhavna Mehta under section 151 of CrPC. They will be produced in front of an executive magistrate who will grant them bail after obtaining an assurance of good behaviour," said Surat Assistant Commissioner of Police PL Chaudhari. The doctor made two videos on the harassment and shared it on social media on Sunday, and in one, Chetan Mehta, can be seen hurling abuses at the doctor and banging her door in anger. In another video, the doctor said she was tormented with coronavirus taunts. "Two days ago, Chetan Mehta asked me if I am infected with the virus, as I work at the civil hospital. Then on Sunday, her wife falsely claimed my dog attacked her. Chetan abused me in front of others," she said. "I was targetted just because I am a doctor at the civil hospital where coronavirus patients are treated," she said in her video. Surat police commissioner R B Brahmbhatt said strict action will be taken if healthcare workers are harassed for serving coronavirus patients. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Muong Thanh welcomes Bach Mai hospital staff To join hands with the government in fighting against COVID-19, Muong Thanh Group sponsors hotel rooms for all doctors, nurses, and other staff from Bach Mai Hospital, as well as donating 100 tonnes of rice. Accordingly, from April 1, all staff working at Bach Mai Hospital can come to stay at the 4-star Muong Thanh Grand Xa La in Ha Dong district, Hanoi. On the evening of March 31, the hotel welcomed the first group of 250 doctors, nurses, and staff to stay in the hotels provisional quarantine centre. In addition to sponsoring accommodation, the hotel also provides food and drinks as well as other needed services for the healthcare workers. All activities are under the strict guidance of the Ministry of Health to ensure hygiene and safety. Moreover, Muong Thanh also contributed 100 tonnes of rice to the Central Committee of The Vietnamese Fatherland Front to distribute to people in need. Doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers are the heroes on the battlefield against the pandemic. They are facing serious and stressful dangers day by day. So its necessary to provide them convenient accommodation and facilities as well as special care to promote their health and spirit to fight against the coronavirus, said Nguyen The Cuong, head of the COVID-19 prevention and combat board of Muong Thanh Group. Sanofi Indochina takes efforts Haissam Chraiteh, general manager of Sanofi Indochina, said We do understand the emergency of the novel coronavirus, which is getting more and more complicated across the world. Thus, we are paying great attention to this outbreak. An internal committee has been formed and is working in order to take immediate actions to provide necessary support to employees and ensure Sanofis business continuity. They have also had frequent communication to their employees to provide updates on the current situation in Vietnam and advice on international travel as well as alternative ways for working during the current time. We will continue to pay close attention to the situation and decide whether to take further actions in alignment with the guidance of Vietnams Ministry of Health, said Chraiteh. Currently, at the regional and global level, Sanofi said to be proud of its contributions to the public health sector and is committed to leveraging its unique expertise in infectious diseases to help the world combat the coronavirus outbreak. At this moment, the companys focus lies on sharing its expertise in infectious diseases with the global health community, guaranteeing the safety of employees by implementing measures in accordance with health authorities, and ensuring there is no discontinuation in the production and distribution of medicine. Grab Vietnam supports drivers and partners Grab Vietnam has launched a support fund worth VND70 billion ($3 million) to assist drivers and delivery partners, as well as supporting the governments initiatives during the tough times of the pandemic. Accordingly, Grab provides insurance packages worth VND100 million ($4,350) each for selected drivers with good performance on its platform. Should those drivers test positive for COVID-19, the insurance package will not only cover their medical expenses but also grant them an allowance of VND10 million ($435) in cash. If drivers are quarantined, Grab will offer them a one-time payment of VND100,000 ($4.35) per day for 14 days maximum. The company will also support restaurant chains and 500 merchant partners in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to mitigate the impacts of the health crisis. Grab will pay part of the rental fees of eligible merchant partners to maintain their operations during the pandemic. Furthermore, Grab will donate VND2 billion ($87,000) to the local COVID-19 fund and also support volunteers at quarantine areas at the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City with food and rides. For consumers, Grab delivers for free for every order on GrabFood. All shipping expenses are paid from Grabs pockets without affecting the earnings of drivers. Nestle hands out nutritional products Nestle Vietnam has distributed thousands of cartons of nutritional products valued at VND3 billion ($130,000) to heroic people fighting against the outbreak. Thanks to the support of the Committee of the Fatherland Front of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi and the Vietnam Womens Union, Nestle Vietnam offered presents including food and drinks to doctors, nurses, police officers, soldiers, and other volunteers, who are all working hard in isolation areas across the country. Nestle Vietnam, in collaboration with authorities and organisations, delivered the products including 3,640 cartons of Nestle Milo, 2,500 cartons of Nestle milk, 500 cartons of Nestea lemon tea, and 569 cartons of Nescafe, as well as many Maggi seasoning products to dozens of cities and provinces across the country, contributing to the battle against the novel coronavirus and its devastating impact. Nestle Vietnam said, We really appreciate the dedication, responsibility, and great sacrifices of those who are on the front lines against the epidemic. Through these practical activities, we would like to share those difficulties side by side and support the community. With unwavering determination and responsibility, we are confident of overcoming these challenges together. Panasonic Vietnam supports fight against COVID-19 In response to the governments directions and call for support, Panasonic Vietnam has donated 200 household electronic products directly to four hospitals in Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as 36,000 eco-friendly batteries with the help of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee. The total value of these products is estimated to be over VND2 billion ($87,000). Founded on March 7, 1918 by Konosuke Matsushita, the Panasonic Corporation has since followed its founders management philosophy of contributing to society and creating a better life for everyone. As a leading enterprise in consumer electronics in Vietnam, one of our strategic markets in Asia, Panasonic has been constantly innovating and pioneering lifestyle updates, providing products and services that evolve with the individual end-users personal preferences to create a better life for Vietnamese consumers, said Yoichi Marukawa, managing director of Panasonic Sales Vietnam. Le Thanh Phuc, director of Danang Lung Disease Hospital said in his letter that Panasonic Vietnams support has a deep humane meaning, and gave health workers a great encouragement as well as added motivation for the white-coated soldiers to cope with COVID-19. Managing director Marukawa also emphasised that Panasonic Vietnam will continue to accompany the government and the people in disease prevention. Unilever helps protecting livelihoods The surge in coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic doesn't seem to stop as the virus has infected over 13 lakh people across the globe by Monday (April 6, 2020). The virus that was first reported in Wuhan, China in late December 2019, has taken over 72,638 lives around the world and almost 13,09,439 people have been tested COVID-19 positive as of 11:45 PM IST on Monday, according to the data released by Johns Hopkins University`s Coronavirus Resource Centre. The United States (US) holds the first spot on the maximum number of positive cases globally, with over 3,47,003 confirmed cases. According to US Surgeon General Jerome Adams the country was yet to see thre worst of pandemic. He predicted that the US will face a Pearl Harbour moment in the next week, with lots of deaths due to the deadly coronavirus. The next week is going to be our Pearl Harbour moment. Its going to be our 9/11 moment, Jerome Adams told NBC News Meet the Press. On the list of worst-hit COVID-19 countries, the US is followed by the European countries which have massive death and infections in the last couple of months. Even German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the coronavirus is the EUs biggest ever crisis. She added that the pandemic is the biggest test the bloc has faced in its history. Everyone is just as affected as the other, and therefore, it is in everyones interest, and it is in Germanys interest for Europe to emerge strongly from this test," said Merkel. Spain is on the second spot in the world where around 1,35,032 positive cases have been reported. Italy has been the third worst-hit country in the world with 1,32,547 coronavirus positive cases, followed by Germany (1,01,178), France (93,785) and China (82,665). The global pandemic has claimed most lives in Italy where around 16,523 people have succumbed to the disease. Italy had reported fewer deaths in the past few days as compared to the initial stage of the outbreak in the country, but Mondays figures show the numbers accelerating again, with a further 636 new deaths; 111 more than the number registered on Sunday. Spain is the second worst-hit nation on the most deaths list, losing 13,169 of its citizens. The US is the third worst-hit nation where over 10,335 people have lost their lives. SPRINGFIELD Social distancing and stay-at-home orders, instituted to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic, are in direct conflict with Illinois ballot eligibility requirements, the Libertarian and Green parties of Illinois allege in a lawsuit filed Thursday. Both are considered new parties under state election rules, meaning a candidate running for office under those banners must receive a greater number of in-person petition signatures than those with established parties typically, the Democrats and Republicans. Libertarians and Greens have from March 24 until June 22 to gather enough signatures in person with a canvasser watching to qualify for inclusion on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. But party officials allege meeting that threshold will be practically impossible given Gov. J.B. Pritzkers social distancing and stay-at-home orders. Even assuming that the governors emergency orders were lifted on May 1, 2020, (the Libertarian and Green parties) and their candidates will have lost over five weeks of petitioning time, or more than one-third of the time allotted to them to collect signatures in person by Illinois law, according to the lawsuit. The parties are asking that Illinois signature collection mandates be waived or suspended this general election cycle so their candidates may be on the ballot, and also that the state reimburse their attorneys fees. Pritzkers office did not respond to separate letters sent from the two parties in mid-March, nor did a spokesperson return a request for comment from Capitol News Illinois. The Illinois State Board of Elections, in a letter, said it is unable to assist. We appreciate the unique dilemma you present in your letter and understand that you are tasked with the difficult and unprecedented duty of balancing obligations under the Elections Code with safety concerns for candidates, circulators and petition signers alike, the elections board said in court documents. However, the State Board of Elections does not have the authority to grant you the relief you request. It would take a court order or the General Assembly amending current law to address this concern, an elections board spokesperson said. Rich Whitney and Bennett Morris, chairs of the Green and Libertarian parties, respectively, each said this lawsuit is a matter of upholding democracy. Candidates running as Democrats or Republicans already have a guaranteed spot on the general election ballot. Under statute, the parties were allowed to petition in autumn and candidates were chosen in the March primary election. Those running under the banner of a new party or independent must collect petition signatures in the spring. Its normal for us to be on the ballot were good at it despite the obstacles that are put in place, Morris said. I think if there arent Libertarians, Greens or any independents allowed on the ballot in November, we do not have a democratic process and we do not have a legitimate election. An established party candidate for president, for example, needs at least 3,000 signatures or more if someone challenges their validity. That same person would need 5,000 signatures to run for U.S. Senate. Independents or those in a new party, including Libertarians and Greens, need at least 25,000 signatures for both positions. Whitney said candidates in his party often collect at least 40,000 signatures. He added it is ridiculous that in both cases, candidates have 90 days to gather the required number. What this means is that the minority parties the new parties trying to break through and become established are unfairly burdened and their campaigns are unfairly burdened. They have fewer resources because of all the time spent petitioning, Whitney said. Illinois signature requirements were established in 1891 and were not, according to the lawsuit, substantially updated or improved ... despite the availability of less burdensome alternatives enabled by modern technology The Libertarian and Green parties point to action taken by other states as examples of what Illinois government should consider. Voters in Arizona and New Jersey can sign candidates petitions electronically and those in Denver, Colorado, and the District of Columbia can use an application called E-Sign, which validates signatures against voter rolls. Those initiatives would be in line with executive orders issued by Pritzker, allowing public notaries to work through a two-way video, according to the lawsuit. A spokesperson for Attorney General Kwame Raoul did not return a request for comment. His office would represent Pritzker and members of the Illinois State Board of Elections. State-owned CIL has developed a sanitising chamberfor disinfecting its mine workers andcontaining the spread of the deadly coronavirus that has wreaked havoc across the world. The sanitising chamberat one of the mines of Coal India-armSouth Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) has already been commissioned, an official said. Each worker of SECL at theBartunga Hill Mine in Chhattisgarh enters the sanitising chamber where a disinfectant is sprayed over the full body, making the worker safe and sanitised, the official said. "A full-body sanitiser has been commissioned in Bartunga Hill Mine, Chirimiri area, SECL. The system consists of a water pump ... In the system there are total 16 misting nozzles which are installed on both sides of the chamber in two columns; four nozzles each on both side of the chamber which operates automatically by a timer circuit," the official said. When a person put his leg even for a second in the foot platform of timer circuit, the pump operates automatically in turn water misting starts from all the 16 nozzles, the official explained. The nozzles are operative for 20 seconds which is required for proper sanitisation, the official said adding that after that the pump stops automatically. The chemical used for sanitisation is sodium hypochlorite in recommended portion with water. According to the official, another Coal India subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) has pressed into service a "fog cannon" to sanitise peripheralareas among coal miners andpeopleliving in and around its operations. The single largest coal-producing company in the world has taken several measures to contain the spread of coronaviruspandemic. CILsubsidiaries have distributed more than 3.3 lakh facemasksto the people in and around coal mines. Thearmshave set up 1,509 isolation beds in eight states in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, an official said. The eight coal-bearing states are Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Assam. In its fight against the deadly virus,CIL had earlier pledged Rs 220 crore to the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situation (PM-CARES) Fund. Coal India accounts for over 80 per cent of domestic coal output. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A coroner has recommended Victoria dramatically change the way people with mental illnesses and brain injuries are treated on arrival in prison, to prevent more deaths in custody. In a damning report released on Monday, Coroner Simon McGregor described a string of institutional failures before the death of Melbourne man Darren Brandon in 2018. Darren Brandon, pictured shortly before the accident that left him with severe brain injuries. Photo courtesy of the Brandon family. Darren died by suicide days after being remanded in custody. His family told The Age they remained appalled at his "disgusting" treatment. "I'm sort of numb," Darren's brother Steven said. "You have to keep soldiering through, but I think about him every day." Mumbai, April 6 : Covid-19 has apparently reached the doorstep of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's private residence 'Matoshri' in Bandra. A tea-vendor selling tea near the VVIP home has been found Covid-19 positive, sending the state and health officials in a tizzy. As an immediate precaution, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday sprayed disinfectants in the entire locality and surroundings. The police, BMC and state health authorities have sealed off most parts of Kala Nagar where the CM's residence is located in Bandra east and now the tea-seller's contact tracking is underway. Contacted for their reaction, top aides of the CM and his office declined to comment on the matter, nor was it clear whether Thackeray was present at his residence on Monday. Boris Johnson was on Monday moved into Intensive Care after his COVID -19 symptoms worsened, according to a statement from his office, a day after the British Prime Minister was hospitalised for further tests. "Over the course of this afternoon, the condition of the Prime Minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital," 10 Downing Street spokesperson said. Johnson, 55, is in intensive care at St Thomas' Hospital, in London where he was admitted on Sunday for further tests as a precautionary step after showing prolonged symptoms of the novel coronavirus. Johnson was tested positive on March 27 and his symptoms included high temperature and a cough. Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab will deputise for Prime Minister. As soon as the news of Boris Johnson spread, wishes for his good health started pouring in. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also tweeted for the well being of the British Prime Minister. Modi's tweet came before Johnson was taken to the intensive care ward.Modi tweeted, "Hang in there, Prime Minister @BorisJohnson! Hope to see you out of hospital and in perfect health very soon." Earlier, US President Donald Trump and a good friend of Johnson said during the Coronavirus taskforce briefing from the White House on Sunday that the "nation's wishes are with the prime minister Trump said: "Want to express our nation's well wishes to Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he wages his own personal fight with the virus." He added, "All Americans are praying for him. He's a friend of mine, he's a great gentleman and a great leader." Trump added, "I'm hopeful and sure that he's going to be fine." Johnson had been running the government remotely during his isolation.Meanwhile, several others who came in close contact with Johnson during this time have also tested positive or experienced symptoms that strongly suggest a coronavirus infection. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK is on the rise, with nearly 48,000 people now testing positive across the country. The Department of Health and Social Care also reported that at least 4,934 people who confirmed to have had the virus have died. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Oil prices took another nosedive today after during the weekend Russia and Saudi Arabia postponed a meeting scheduled for Monday as they went at each others throats trading blame for the price collapse. CNN reported, citing an OPEC source, that the meeting was rescheduled for Thursday. The Financial Times reported that Norway and Alberta would be joining the meeting. Earlier today, CNBC quoted the head of Russias sovereign wealth fund Kiril Dmitriev as saying that Russia and Saudi Arabia were very, very close to a deal. The spike in hostility between Riyadh and Moscow did not bode well for the outcome of the meeting although the price situation is serious enough to motivate overlooking the differences the two might have regarding whose fault the crisis is, as the CNBC report suggests. However, a Bloomberg report from last week has indicated Russia would only agree to cuts if the United States cuts, too. This might make an agreement tricky as the U.S. has not signaled any readiness to join any cuts. Producers, meanwhile, are struggling to cope. Algerias energy minister said yesterday all oil producers should agree to reduce their production and implement it immediately. The situation in oil is unprecedented as the coronavirus outbreak, which has so far infected more than 1 million people globally has crippled demand to such an extent that some experts are warning of a looming storage capacity shortage that would push prices even lower. Related: Big Oil Raises Debt To Ride Out Price Crash According to Vitols Russell Hardy and IHS Markits Daniel Yergin, the effect of the outbreak on oil demand would be about 20 million bpd during the peak of the crisis. The International Energy Agencys Fatih Birol agrees and is even more pessimistic: he said, as quoted by Reuters, that the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on oil demand could reach a quarter of the average daily, which is close to 100 million bpd. At the time of writing, Brent crude was trading at $33.46 a barrel, with West Texas Intermediate at $27.33, both down from Fridays close, WTI by more than 3 percent and Brent crude by close to 2 percent, but both still higher than the troughs seen earlier this month, before President Trumps tweet. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: [April 06, 2020] Bluestream Health Platform Adopted by Signature Healthcare's 180 Providers to Slow COVID-19 Patient Surge NEW YORK, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In order to protect the health and safety of patients, staff and their community during the COVID-19 pandemic, Signature Healthcare adopted guidelines that include the use of telemedicine. Signature Healthcare selected Bluestream Health's telemedicine platform for its simple user experience and rapid deployment capability. Within several hours, a large portion of healthcare professionals at Signature Healthcare was onboard and providing virtual consults via the Rapid Response solution. Signature Healthcare is a premier local not-for-profit provider of safe, quality, personalized medical services in Southeastern Massachusetts consisting of Brockton Hospital, Signature Medical Group (180 physicians practicing in 18 ambulatory locations) and Brockton Hospital School of Nursing. "No special equipment is needed to access Telehealth. The system is patient-friendly using a SMART phone or laptop or tablet with a camera. We text or e-mail our patients a link and provide an appointment time. The patient then clicks on the link, agrees to the consent form, and will be connected with their doctor for a virtual visit," said Gerald Greeley, Chief Information Officer at Signature Healthcar. This change will not only benefit patients through social distancing but will also benefit those who find it difficult to travel to and from medical appointments. While COVID-19 may have been the catalyst for deploying telehealth services at Signature, the team is looking forward to expanding virtual services to other areas as part of their comprehensive patient-centered approach to affordable high-quality care in Southeastern MA. According to Sandeep Pulim, MD, Bluestream Health's Chief Medical Officer, "Our team is looking forward to helping optimize complex clinical workflows for virtual care delivery at Signature Healthcare." About Bluestream Health: Bluestream is a leading platform-as-a-service provider for online telemedicine to healthcare providers and health systems. With over 500 health facilities and 25 health provider partners, Bluestream is delivering over 2.5 million video minutes and 1.5 million virtual care sessions a month, with average wait times of 30 seconds. Its virtual care platform provides both third-party providers and health systems with a simple and low-cost way to build, deploy, and manage complex clinical workflows. Media Contact: Mike Quayle Phone: 206-327-9627 Email: [email protected] Related Images image1.jpg Related Links Rapid Response Form COVID-19 General Guidance View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bluestream-health-platform-adopted-by-signature-healthcares-180-providers-to-slow-covid-19-patient-surge-301035655.html SOURCE Bluestream Health [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] New Delhi, April 6 : Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth says he was "incredibly excited" about coming to India to celebrate his upcoming Netflix film "Extraction". Hemsworth was scheduled to be in Mumbai on March 16 to promote the film that has been shot in India. The promotional tour was called off due to the global coronavirus outbreak. Greeting fans the 'desi' way, Hemsworth sent his love to India in a new video, saying he was honoured to work with "some of your best local talents". He added that his time spent in the country will always remain close to his heart. "Namaste India. Chris Hemsworth here, all the way from Australia. As you may have heard, I was incredibly excited to come to India and celebrate this movie where it was filmed. My time in your country during production was unforgettable and I was looking forward to returning," he said in a video, posted on the official Instagram handle of Netflix India. "But, you know all that is happening in the world at the moment. I, like you, am staying home. I know things are not easy right now for everyone so I wanted to share something I hope you'll enjoy. I want to keep an eye out tomorrow for the trailer debut of my new film, 'Extraction''. This movie is an incredibly action-packed ride, directed by my good friend Sam Hargrave. Netflix will be releasing it everywhere on April 24," he added. Originally titled "Dhaka", the film also stars Indian actors Randeep Hooda, Pankaj Tripathi, Priyanshu Painyulli, and Rudraksh Jaiswal. It revolves around Tyler Rake (essayed by Hemsworth), a fearless, black market mercenary, who embarks on the most deadly extraction of his career when he is enlisted to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord. Hemsworth shot for the Netflix film in India in 2018. He shot in Ahmedabad and Mumbai. "It was an absolute honour to work alongside some of your best local talents to make this movie possible. I can't wait for you all to see it. Sending you lots of love and good thoughts to everyone around the world. Stay home, stay safe. Be well," he said while concluding his video message. Along with the special message, Netflix India announced an exclusive YouTube premiere for the trailer of "Extraction". The trailer is set to go live first on Netflix India's YouTube page, followed by the rest of the world, on April 7. Earlier, in an interview to IANS, Hemsworth opened up about shooting in India, saying he felt like a rockstar while doing so. "I love the place and the people. Shooting there... There were thousands of people on the streets every day and I have never experienced that on set. It was sort of intimidating as it was exciting because there were so many people," he said. "After every take (when the director) called 'cut', there was loud cheer. We felt like rock stars in a stadium. But the warmth and support we got while shooting there, no matter how disruptive we were to their daily lives, it was so good. People were so positive. I have huge appreciation to that," added Hemsworth, whose daughter is named India. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Hopital Central de Yaounde archives An expectant mother positive for the novel coronavirus has been delivered of her baby at the isolation unit of the Yaounde Central Hospital, government has said. According to Public Health Minister, Dr. Manaouda Malachie, the baby was delivered at 11:12 p.m. Saturday, April 4, 2020 by a team of medics led by Dr. Yaneu. We welcomed this 11:12 pm, the first baby born to covid-19 positive mother at the central hospital of Yaounde. Kudos to Dr. Yaneu and his team for this feat in an isolation unit, Minister Malachie tweeted Sunday afternoon. As at Saturday night, Cameroon had registered 555 cases of the novel coronavirus including nine deaths and 17 recoveries. 46 new cases were announced Saturday, a day after 203 new cases were confirmed. Public Health Minister Manaouda Malachie said the countrys active case finding strategy is starting to pay off, reason why more tests are being carried out. Some 800 tests were conducted with the majority of positive cases being those who recently returned to the country, the Minister announced Friday. Though most of them are positive but asymptomatic, they have been placed on treatment, taking Cameroons coronavirus tally sheets to 555 cases, 17 cured and 9 deaths as at press time. With regards to the focus on active case finding, Minister Malachie said that action in the field is perceptible with the launch of the massive testing campaign in Douala, involving community health workers, who go round the quarters to get potentially positive cases. In this connection, I would like to point out that during this week we took samples from eight hundred people who were considered to be suspect cases. The result of this large-scale sampling and testing approach has so far enabled us to get from the community more than 306 positive cases, which, although asymptomatic, have a high potential for contamination, said the Public Health Minister. The Minister says each and every Cameroonian can and must contribute to block the way to COVID-19, or at least prevent its spread. In order to do so, everyone must strictly adhere to the barrier measures enacted by the Government. Moreover, each of us must avoid spreading rumours or misinformation that could create confusion and panic in the minds of our brothers and sisters. It is also necessary to rigorously apply the usual hygiene rules of such as: regularly wash hands with clean running water and soap or use an alcohol-based solution; covering your nose and mouth with a handkerchief when coughing, sneezing or using a bent elbow; respecting social distancing measures. However, in order to keep up the fight against COVID-19, we encourage people to limit travelling as much as possible and make arrangements to cover their mouth and nose each time we leave. In other words, it would be advisable to stay at home. A pedestrian walks past closed-down shops on an empty Regent Street in London on April 2, 2020, as life in Britain continues during the nationwide lockdown to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Tolga Akmen The coronavirus pandemic is hitting U.K. commercial property hard, as retailers close for an indefinite period and shoppers remain locked down at home. The country's "bricks and mortar" retail sector has been in a precarious state for most of the last decade as a growing number of people opted to shop online. However, customers that still savored the in-store experience are now stuck at home, after the U.K. government imposed a nationwide lockdown in late March. Only grocery stores and pharmacies remain open, meaning that restaurants, pubs and other high street stores are closed, with no customers, and many are struggling to pay their rent. "We expect London commercial property values to fall sharply in the second quarter. The retail sector, which was already struggling with the structural shift towards online spending, is likely to be hardest hit," Amy Wood, property economist at Capital Economics, told CNBC last week. Intu, a real estate investment trust with total assets of 10 billion including retail spaces across the U.K., said it received only 29% of the rent due for the second quarter, ending on March 25. In comparison, the company had received 77% of the payments due the time last year. Hammerson, another major real estate developer with retail parks in Britain, also warned that by late March it had received only 35% of second-quarter rent from its premium outlets in the U.K.'s biggest cities. "We have received a variety of requests for rent deferrals, monthly payments, and waivers, which we are reviewing on a case-by-case basis," Hammerson said last week. Landsec, a U.K. real estate manager, has noted a "huge shift" in how its buildings are used due to the "rapid spread of CV-19". The company added that 65% of the rent due on 25 March was paid by 31 March, compared with 96% for the same period last year. "The situation looks very precarious," Osmaan Malik, global head of real estate at UBS, told CNBC last week. He added that the future prospects of retail property will very much depend on how long the lockdown lasts. Government orders to stay at home were introduced on March 23, and although they are due to be reviewed next week there is no end date for the lockdown yet. However, health experts and government officials have warned that life won't return to normal overnight. There are expected to be gradual steps towards normalization, which makes it unclear when shops, bars, cinemas and restaurants will open their doors again. WEYMOUTH, ENGLAND - APRIL 05: General views of closed Debenhams store on April 05, 2020 in Weymouth, United Kingdom. Finnbarr Webster Virtually no one can escape the economic fallout from Covid-19. Not even the owners of commercial real estate, who benefited so handsomely from the central bank-engineered bailouts and property bubbles of the past decade, are immune. In the UK, a decision by the government to grant retail tenants a three-month moratorium against eviction an essential lifeline for many businesses that have seen their incomes dry up or drop dramatically as a direct result of the lockdown has shifted the locus of immediate financial stress from tenants to property owners and their lenders. The shuttered bars and restaurants in central London are a case in point. Early last week, they received a collective quarterly rent bill of around 500 million. But most of the bars and restaurants took advantage of the governments moratorium: Instead of paying their rents, they decided to use the freed-up cash to try to weather the crisis. Now, its their landlords who are suddenly short of money and who may, as a result, struggle to pay their staff and meet fixed costs such as quarterly interest payments to lenders. The same is happening across the retail landscape. Some commercial landlords received less than a third of their expected rent on Wednesday. They include Intu, the embattled owner of dozens of semi-shuttered malls in the UK, as well as a handful in Spain, which revealed it had collected just 29% of expected first-quarter rent, even after offering a deferral and cutting service charges. That compares to 77% during the same period last year, which was already low. Even before the virus crisis, the company was already on its last legs having endured wave after wave of retail restructurings, resulting in soaring vacancies and plunging property values. In mid-March, two weeks before the UK government initiated a generalized lockdown of the retail sector, Intu warned it was on the brink of bankruptcy after declaring losses of 2 billion for 2019 and a debt of 4.5 billion. Its shares are now worth just four pennies a piece, having tumbled by 96% over the past year. Intu is now threatening to take legal action against non-paying tenants, saying it would not bankroll retailers that have just decided they dont want to pay their rent. Many other retail landlords are reportedly doing the same, despite the fact that many of their tenants have had to halt the lions share, if not all, of their business activity, decimating their earnings for the foreseeable future. Even before this crisis hit, many of these retailers were already struggling in the face of slowing sales, high costs, low profitability and rising competition from online rivals. Intu is also frantically lobbying the government to grant it access to the 330 billion of state-backed loans and guarantees the government has pledged to roll out in support of businesses affected by the lockdown. If the government caves, Intu may have a fighting chance of renegotiating the huge loans it owes to its lenders before the covenants on some of those loans are broken. Given the company already failed spectacularly in its bid to raise fresh funds from investors earlier this year, the banks may end up deciding not to throw yet more bad money after bad, even if the government agrees to guarantee up to 80% of any new loans. After all, once the lockdown begins to be lifted, the UKs bricks-and-mortar sector will be in an even more parlous state than it was before the crisis, as evidenced by department store Debenhams announcement Friday that it is filing for bankruptcy, less than a year after being rescued by lenders, which wiped out its stockholders. Theres no way of knowing how many more retail chains and store will follow in Debenhams doomed footsteps. Against this backdrop of unprecedented uncertainty, as tenants of shops, bars, restaurants and offices refuse to pay their rents en masse and almost all commercial property deals fall through, its all but impossible to put an accurate price on the current value of commercial real estate. This is the rationale being used to justify gating most of the UKs large open-end property mutual funds, trapping over 20 billion of investor funds. The first wave of closures, in mid-March, affected around a dozen mutual funds that offer daily withdrawals to their (predominantly retail) investors, even though the funds core investment offices, industrial property and retail parks is extremely illiquid, often taking months to offload. Between them, these funds manage some 11 billion of assets, equivalent to around a third of the total assets under management in the UKs property fund sector. At the end of March, a fresh wave of gatings hit, as the 3.4 billion BlackRock UK Property, the 2.4 billion Schroder UK Real Estate funds and five institutional funds managed by Royal London and Legal & General, including one with assets of 3.4 billion, announced they were suspending redemptions for the foreseeable future. Unlike the earlier round of closures, these funds have quarterly or monthly redemptions and are typically held by institutional investors with a more long-term investment approach. The basic issue is the same: theres fundamental uncertainty over the net asset value, said independent property consultant John Forbes. Thats compounded if the rent income doesnt arrive. That potentially makes the valuation more challenging. In times of extreme financial stress and uncertainty, its not unusual for real estate to be plagued by acute liquidity issues. In June 2016, in the aftermath of the Brexit vote, six commercial real estate (CRE) funds suspended redemptions. But never before have so many real estate funds shut the doors on so many real estate investors. Those investors are likely to have to wait quite some time before they see any of their money again. Material uncertainty is still going to be here on June 30. Im incredibly doubtful that well be through this on September 30. [The funds] cant resume trading until then, said Mr Forbes. If the recent experience of the gated (and eventually wound down) Woodford Equity Income fund is any indication, by that time the investors may suddenly find that the value of their investment has significantly shrunk. By Nick Corbishley, for WOLF STREET. In Hong Kong, sales at luxury goods stores, once the largest category, collapsed by 86% since their peak in 2013. Read... A Word About Hong Kongs Retail Sales Collapse: Its a Mess Enjoy reading WOLF STREET and want to support it? Using ad blockers I totally get why but want to support the site? You can donate. I appreciate it immensely. Click on the beer and iced-tea mug to find out how: SAN FRANCISCOOn a break from the front lines, nurse practitioner Gabe Westhemier tucked into a plate of duck confit, the work of one of the citys celebrity chefs. (It was wonderful.) Meanwhile, at another San Francisco emergency room, nurse Liz Sanderson still savors a sea salt caramel bread pudding from another posh eatery. (It was possibly the best thing I have ever eaten.) The best of foods is being sampled in the worst of times by the most besieged of heroesall thanks to a group of San Francisco friends who had the idea of helping both local restaurants that need customers, and health care workers who need nourishment during their long, stressful shifts. They sought donations and started small, with one restaurant and one hospital. Two weeks later, 42 restaurantsamong them some of the citys finestare churning out hundreds of meals a day to feed clinicians in emergency rooms and ICUs at San Franciscos six biggest hospitals. They have so far raised over $350,000 and have delivered about 5,000 meals, with funding for thousands more. And a newly formed network, aptly named Frontline Foods, has linked up with similar projects in more than a dozen cities. Its also in touch with groups like Help Feed the Frontline LA to the south, to ensure they dont double deliver to the same hospital. The original idea was born March 12 in a text message exchange between entrepreneur Frank Barbieri and his friend Sydney Gressler, an emergency room nurse at UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay. Barbieri knew Gressler was working double shifts in the battle against COVID-19, and texted: What can I do to help? I suggested he could buy us dinner, Gressler said. He took it to the next level. Ryan Sarver, a tech-savvy venture capitalist, tapped contacts in the restaurant world and helped solicit donations, initially for $1,000 that would fund 50 meals for health care workers priced at $20 each. Now smaller donations can be made. The money goes straight to the restaurants. We tell them youve got $20 to spend and we need a well-balanced, healthy meala starch, protein, and vegetablethat is going to sustain these people, said Sarver. That $20 has to cover the cost of food and delivery, but many chefs have been personally delivering their own food, after spending the day cooking and packing it into hundreds of individual boxes. Chef Kim Alter, who usually charges about $150 for a meal at Nightbird, her acclaimed San Francisco restaurant, has been donning mask and glovesin the kitchen and when she pulls her car up to hospitals to deliver her meals. People are afraid of going to a hospital. I feel like its my responsibility to do it, said Alter. Nightbird, known for its 10-course tasting menus, doesnt do take-out, so effectively lost all business when San Francisco went into a lockdown. Alter says now she can keep her staff employed. We try to make everything beautiful, she said. One of her early meals included flowers and microgreens still in her restaurants refrigerator, so their salads had $100 worth of flowers on it. That the meals are appreciated is an understatement. It puts a smile on my face for sure, said nurse Sanderson, and it feels like everyone is supporting us. It makes me want to work even harder. By Jocelyn Gecker Two house cats in different parts of New York tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. Both cats were tested after showing respiratory symptoms. The owner of the second cat tested positive for Covid-19, while the first cat is believed to have contracted the disease from an asymptomatic carrier. Luckily, both cats are expected to recover. While these are the first pets in the United States to be infected with the virus, on April 4, a tiger at the Bronx Zoo tested positive for Covid-19. The 4-year-old Malayan tiger, named Nadia, developed a dry cough and was tested "out of an abundance of caution," the Wildlife Conservation Society said in a statement. The Wildlife Conservation Society believes the cats were infected by a person caring for them who was either asymptomatic or had not yet shown symptoms of the Covid-19. So are all cats at risk of getting Covid-19? Technically, cats can contract different types of coronaviruses. A pet cat in Hong Kong tested positive for Covid-19 in late March, but showed no symptoms, as well as two dogs. And after a Belgian cat owner returned from a trip to Italy in late March, their cat developed digestive and respiratory symptoms and tested positive for Covid-19. However, dogs and cats aren't "readily infected with SARS-CoV-2," the specific virus that causes the disease Covid-19, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. "We have little to no evidence that they become ill, and no evidence that those that may be naturally infected spread SARS-CoV-2 to other pets or people." "Given the number of people in this country that have been infected with the virus and have become ill, and the number of people in this country that own domestic cats, it seems fairly improbable that cats are an important source of the virus for people if the first case we're diagnosing it in is a tiger," Karen A. Terio, head of the Zoological Pathology Program at the University of Illinois veterinary school, who tested the Bronx Zoo tigers, told The New York Times April 6. That said, people who are infected with Covid-19 and symptomatic should limit contact with pets if possible as a precaution, the Centers for Disease Control suggests. That means no petting, kissing, hugging, sharing food, dishes or bedding with your pets. Essentially, keep your distance like you would other humans, at least until more information about the virus is available. The CDC also says that you shouldn't let your pets interact with other people or animals outside of your household. One person in a household with Covid-19 should be in charge of taking care of pets, and they should follow good handwashing procedures before and after handling or caring for the pet. If you're the only person in your household, or you must care for your pet, the CDC recommends being diligent before and after. Even though these guidelines are in place, "there is currently no reason at this time to think that domestic animals, including pets, in the United States might be a source of infection with SARS-CoV-2," according to the AVMA. And if kitty rubs against something that you worry might be contaminated? There's no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can spread to people from the skin or fur of a pet, according to the CDC. Fur may be more porous than other materials that can carry a virus, so it doesn't survive as long as something that's hard. But as always, it's a good idea to wash your hands after touching, feeding or handling your pets, or disinfect surfaces that your pet has walked on, like counter tops or tables. Pets can transmit lots of other diseases besides Covid-19. More research needs to be done to fully understand how different animals could be affected by Covid-19, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratories. If you're worried about your own pet's symptoms, call your veterinarian and let them know if your pet was exposed to someone with the disease, the AVMA suggests. As for the tigers, Nadia's sibling, named Azul, plus two Amur tigers, and three African lions at the Bronx Zoo also have symptoms. Since testing a large cat for Covid-19 is different than a human test and requires anesthesia, the attending veterinarian felt it was in the cats' best interest to limit testing to one tiger at this time, according to the USDA. The big cats are expected to make a full recovery. Staff at the Bronx Zoo, which has been closed since March 16, is following "appropriate preventative measures" to ensure that the virus doesn't spread to more animals or humans, according to the statement. Check out: The best credit cards of 2020 could earn you over $1,000 in 5 years Don't miss: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has directed cooperative banks to extend the repayment of crop and agricultural loans by the farmers for three months. "About 3 lakh 50 thousand farmers have taken loans under various schemes in the state," read a statement from Uttarakhand Chief Minister Office. With an increase of 490 cases in the last 12 hours, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India climbed to 4067, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday. As many as 109 deaths have been reported across the country due to the deadly disease. There are 3666 active cases in the country while 292 people have been cured/discharged/migrated. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tata Global Beverages announced the appointment of Sunil Alaric D'Souza as managing director (MD) & chief executive officer (CEO) of the company. Sunil D'Souza assumed the position with effect from 4 April 2020, subsequent to the retirement of Ajoy Misra, who was the MD & CEO of the company. Sunil D'Souza, an engineering graduate and an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (IIM-C), brings in nearly three decades of experience working with some of the marquee brands in the country. Tata Consumer Products was formed in February 2020 following the merger of Tata Global Beverages (TGBL) and the consumer products business of Tata Chemicals (TCL). It is is a focused consumer products company uniting the principal food and beverage interests of the Tata Group under one umbrella. The company's portfolio of products includes tea, coffee, water, salt, pulses, spices, and ready-to-eat offerings. Shares of Tata Consumer Products dropped 4.60% to Rs 267.25 on Friday, 3 April 2020. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Silicon Valley Solutions Treats Receding Gums in San Jose, CA We have the tools to give our patients the best treatments that are available in dentistry today. Respected dentist, Dr. Amir HagShenas of Silicon Valley Smile Solutions, is treating those suffering from receding gums in San Jose, CA with modern and effective gum grafting solutions. When the gums begin to pull away from the teeth, the sensitive tooth roots become exposed to damage, decay and disease. If left untreated, gum recession can lead to gum disease and a weakened immune system. Through gum grafting or the Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST), the teeth can be protected again, and the gum line restored. We have the tools to give our patients the best treatments that are available in dentistry today, says Dr. HagShenas. We basically show patients what their dream smile looks like and then carry that out for them. The result they see at the end is exactly what we show them in the beginning. Receding gums are a common concern for many patients as the problem can occur for a variety of reasons, including disease, smoking, and genetics. The gums normally provide protection for tooth roots and help hold them firmly in place. However, when gum recession occurs, the gum tissue will pull away from the teeth, exposing the roots and often causing loose teeth. With exposed tooth roots, patients are susceptible to damage, discomfort and an unattractive smile. The gum tissue does not return to the healthy point in the smile naturally, and treatments like gum grafting or PST can be used to restore the health and beauty of a patients gums. Even patients who have replaced missing teeth with dental implants can suffer from gum recession, which exposes the metal threads and looks unnatural within the smile. Gum recession treatments can be used to improve these cases as well. Gum grafting is a time-tested procedure that takes a sample of soft tissue and sutures it over the site of recession. As the new tissue heals, it will fuse with existing gum tissue, creating a seamless and restored smile. In cases where gum disease is present, the infected gum tissue will need to be removed prior to gum grafting occurring. Dr. HagShenas also offers a minimally invasive solution to receding gums with the Pinhole Surgical Technique. By simply making a small hole in the gum tissue above the site of recession, Dr. HagShenas can gently reposition the existing gums back over the tooth roots and hold them in place for healing. This treatment requires advanced education and training which not many dentists have accomplished, but Dr. HagShenas has studied thoroughly. The end result is a healthy, attractive smile without the need for cutting or sutures. Silicon Valley Smile Solutions is a comprehensive dental practice that features state-of-the-art procedures to enhance patients lives and comfort. While PST is a revolutionary treatment for receding gums, the practice also offers full mouth dental implants for missing teeth. This modern solution to tooth loss allows patients with an entire mouth of missing or failing teeth to get brand-new teeth that can often last for a lifetime. Those in need of treatment for receding gums in San Jose, CA are invited to schedule an appointment with the dentist, Dr. HagShenas, at Silicon Valley Smile Solutions. Appointments can be made by calling 408-377-5134 or visiting the website at svsmilesolutions.com. About the Dentist Silicon Valley Smile Solutions offers full-service dentistry in San Jose, CA. Dr. Amir HagShenas has been practicing dentistry for nearly 30 years. Dr. HagShenas received his doctorate in dental surgery degree from the University of Minnesota, where he has since been honored with the Irwin A. Epstein Award for Excellence in Endodontics, among other numerous accomplishments. Every year, Dr. HagShenas completes many hours of continuing education in implant and surgical dentistry, far above the requirements mandated by the Dental State Board of California. His motive: I am committed to help my patients to receive the very best in dentistry. Dr. HagShenas and his team at Silicon Valley Smile Solutions are dedicated to staying up-to-date on the latest dental technologies in order to provide the highest quality of care for patients undergoing treatments like full arch dental implants. Skilled in numerous areas of dental treatments, Dr. HagShenas is particularly passionate about providing long-lasting, full arch dental implant treatments that are, in many cases, available in just one office visit. It is Dr. HagShenas goal to form lasting connections with every patient built on trust, partnership, and compassion. To learn more about Dr. HagShenas and the services offered at Silicon Valley Smile Solutions visit http://www.svsmilesolutions.com or call 408-377-5134 to schedule a consultation. Surbhi Chandna is a popular television actor. She is widely known for her role as Annika Trivedi in Ishqbaaz and Dr Ishani Arorain Sanjivani. Chandna marked her Bollywood debut with Bobby Jasoos (2014), starring Vidya Balan and Ali Fazal in the lead roles. Besides her skilful acting, Surbhi Chandna is famous for her impeccable sartorial choices. The Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashmah actor is also an internet sensation today. The actor has many Instagram followers and posts many pictures in order to keep fans updated. During an interview with a famous mens lifestyle magazine, Surbhi Chandna revealed what she finds sexy in a man. Read ahead to know more: Also Read | Surbhi Chandna Nails The Planks In Her Latest Instagram Video Amid Lockdown; See Here Surbhi Chandna revealed what she finds sexy in a man Surbhi Chandna spoke about various things during her interview with a leading magazine. When asked what the actor finds hot in a man, Surbhi said that the way a he speaks, the way he presents himself, the perfume he wears, and his choices of shoes. Surbhi thinks she finds all these things sexy in a man, she added. Also Read | Surbhi Chandna Misses Her Tan And Snorkelling Days Amidst Lockdown & This Post Proves It When Surbhi was asked about her favourite hangout spot for a romantic date, she said that she really enjoys having dinner at St. Regis by The Mekong. It is an Asian restaurant in London. Surbhi Chandna was also asked that what according to her is the one romantic getaway destination that one simply cannot miss out on. To this, the actor replied saying that she has not been to a lot of romantic destinations. She has been to Istanbul, that was very beautiful. But, She really loved the Maldives, and cried when she had to leave, said Surbhi. Also Read | Sanjivani 2 Star, Surbhi Chandna's Twitter Selfie Says, "Wake Me Up When 14th April Ends" On being asked about what Surbhi would cook to impress her man, as it is said that the key to a mans heart is through his tummy, Surbhi said, that she can really impress a man, as she can cook really well. If the man is a non-vegetarian, she might try her hands at some brown curry and rice, she said. If the man is a vegetarian, she might try something Indian, like rajma chawal, Surbhi added. Also Read | These Surbhi Chandna Pastel Outfits Are Ideal For Stepping Out This Summer! See Pictures 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. Fresh air and outdoor exercise may well be restricted to one hour a day, but Olivia Buckland still ensured she was dressed for warmer temperatures on Monday afternoon. The former Love Island star showed off her assets in a striking polka dot bikini while still adhering to government mandated rules regarding outdoor activity. Posing on her landing, Olivia, 26, inevitably commanded attention as she struck a pose for her 2.3 million Instagram followers. Hard to miss: Fresh air and outdoor exercise may well be restricted to one hour a day, but Olivia Buckland still ensured she was dressed for warmer temperatures on Monday afternoon The bold two-piece served to accentuate the reality star's toned physique, while fully exposing her range of intricate tattoos. Sharing a second shot on her Instagram stories, Olivia bemoaned the fact that Sunday's soaring temperatures had not continued into Monday. She wrote: 'Anyone spend their whole day in a bikini yday and now it's Baltic again.' Looking good: The former Love Island star showed off her assets in a striking polka dot bikini while still adhering to government mandated rules regarding outdoor activity Dress up: The post comes after Olivia shared snaps of a 'dress up' session, in which she tried on a series of racy looks and lingerie for her followers The post comes after Olivia shared snaps of a 'dress up' session, in which she tried on a series of racy looks and lingerie for her followers as she told them 'I can't wait to go out when all this is over.' One outfit she dug out of her vast wardrobe was a very racy sheer pink bodysuit. The stunning blonde tried on the skimpy garment with nothing underneath, flashing her ample assets as she posed in front of her bedroom mirror. Olivia flashed a glimpse of her huge back tattoo, as she admitted 'I always forget about this tattoo! It's a Phoenix - rose from the ashes and all dattt'. 'It's old, prob about 6 years but I love it,' she added as she showed her fans a closer glimpse of her ink. Bold look: One outfit she dug out of her vast wardrobe was a very racy sheer pink bodysuit Inked: Olivia flashed a glimpse of her huge back tattoo, as she admitted 'I always forget about this tattoo! It's a Phoenix - rose from the ashes and all dattt' Next up was a racy black lace bodysuit, with Olivia flashing even more of her tattoos as she stripped down to the lace lingerie. She also tried the daring bodysuit with jeans, telling her fans 'Omg I wanna wear jeans and heels again.' Olivia was soon interrupted by her hunky husband, who appeared behind her in one snap, mimicking her pose. Revealing all: 'It's old, prob about 6 years but I love it,' she added as she showed her fans a closer glimpse of her ink Sizzling: Next up was a racy black lace bodysuit, with Olivia flashing even more of her tattoos as she stripped down to the lace lingerie 'I was playing dress up for 5 mins & then this one comes in & says hes bored...,' she laughed in the photo's caption. Olivia recently revealed she would be donating 100% of her profits from her new In The Style clothing range to Age UK, in a bid to help the vulnerable older generation amid the coronavirus outbreak. And with all her upcoming projects postponed, Olivia has been focusing on spending quality time with her husband since going into self-isolation last week. All about the comfort: She also tried the daring bodysuit with jeans, telling her fans 'Omg I wanna wear jeans and heels again' The couple only recently moved into their new Essex home and have major renovation plans. Speaking about their grand new property, Olivia and Alex revealed that since they set up an Instagram account to document the refurbishment they've already got nearly 250,000 followers. The couple - who married in September 2018 - explained that they're going to gradually rework the house room by room, adding that this is the place they'd eventually like to start a family. Officials on Sunday said police have charged a Rumson man, who hosted an impromptu Pink Floyd cover band concert on his front lawn with about 30 middle-aged adults in violation of state restrictions aimed at curbing the coronavirus pandemic. John Maldjian, 54, is charged with disorderly persons offenses of reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and charges related to violating the emergency orders, according to the state Attorney Generals Office. Officers were called Saturday night to an unfortunate report of 30 people on the lawn of a home on Blackpoint Road, near Wood Lane, Rumson police said in a statement. When our patrols arrived we were met by a group of approx. 30 "40-50" year old ADULTS who were located in the middle of Blackpoint Rd and on the front [lawn] attending an acoustic concert of Pink Floyd's greatest hits. (Some even brought lawn chairs), the department said in a statement on Facebook. Maldjian and another man were playing acoustic guitars on the front porch while the festivities were being broadcast online with Facebook live, according to authorities. Officers tried to break up the group by flashing their patrol car lights, but the band played on, authorities said. Maldjian ultimately stopped singing and playing when he was approached by an officer before the crowd hurled insults at police. When we informed everyone that they must leave--in accordance with Governor Murphys executive orders regarding these so called corona-parties--we were met with well wishes of F-the police and Welcome to Nazi Germany from this group of "40-50 year old ADULTS, the police departments statement added. As the old saying goes, in the midst of all this chaos, the band still played on, that is until they were advised in the middle of the 1975 classic Wish you were here, that they must stop the show, the statement from police added. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage Authorities said charges against the concertgoers were pending. Police in New Jersey have repeatedly charged people with disregarding the governors ban on gatherings. When people like the partiers in Rumson flout the orders and show disrespect and hostility to police officers, they not only put themselves and the others immediately involved in peril, they risk inciting others to engage in such irresponsible and dangerous behavior, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said in a statement. Our police officers are working courageously every day to protect us all, and we will continue to charge anyone who violates the emergency orders, which literally are a matter of life and death. Grewals office on Sunday also made public a list of people authorities accused of violating the governors coronavirus-related orders and making threats involving the virus in separate cases. A 61-year-old Parsippany woman, Rita A Lacis, was charged with violating the emergency order on Saturday by Rockaway borough police, authorities said. She was initially given a warning but continued to operate her dog grooming service, which was deemed a non-essential business. In another case, Saul Rosen, 52, of Toms River, was charged with violating the emergency order for holding a backyard gathering at his home with more than 20 people, according to authorities. A Teaneck woman, Sughuy Cepeda, 43, was arrested on charges including terroristic threats during an emergency, two counts of third-degree aggravated assault on an officer and resisting arrest for spitting and coughing on officers after she was arrested in Englewood, authorities said. She told police she tested positive for the virus. Cepeda also coughed at two police officers and spit a mouthful of water at them after she was taken to an area hospital, according to officials. Meanwhile, police in Newark issued 180 summonses for violation of the emergency orders and ordered 11 non-essential businesses closed over Friday and Saturday, officials said. Murphy has called violators of the restrictions members of the knucklehead hall of shame," as the state works to limit the spread of the virus. Cases of the coronavirus reached 37,505 positive tests as of Sunday with 917 deaths, according to the health department. New Jersey ranks second in the country for reported cases of the virus. Officials have urged people to stay home and keep at least six feet away from others to stave off the spreading outbreak. 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. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Mumbai police has asked Tablighi Jamaat members who attended the Nizamuddin gathering in Delhi last month to approach the nearest police station or call on BMC helpline number 1916 as part of the efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The event, which had more than 9,000 participants, including from several foreign countries, is now being seen as a prime catalyst of the virus spread across states as many attendees have tested positive. The police, in a tweet, said. "We request all attendees of Tablighi Markaz at Nizamuddin, New Delhi to report their travel details on @mybmc helpline 1916 and help us in our fight against this pandemic." "Those failing to cooperate will face strict action under Indian Penal Code (IPC), Disaster Management Act and Epidemic Act. It is our request and your responsibility to report your travel details," it added. Deputy Commissioner of Police Pranay Ashok said the appeal was for everyone's health and safety, including members of the outfit. "We will take action if this dikat is not followed," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Boris Johnson has tweeted from hospital to thank the brilliant NHS staff as he continues to battle against coronavirus symptoms. The government insists the prime minister is still very much in charge despite spending the night in hospital after being admitted for tests. Downing Street said Johnson will stay there as long as needed after he was admitted on Sunday evening. He was taken to St Thomas Hospital in London as a precautionary step on the advice of his doctor, rather than as an emergency, a Number 10 spokeswoman said. Doctors said tests are likely to focus on his lungs. Id like to say thank you to all the brilliant NHS staff taking care of me and others in this difficult time. You are the best of Britain. Stay safe everyone, and please remember to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) April 6, 2020 On Monday, he tweeted: Last night, on the advice of my doctor, I went into hospital for some routine tests as Im still experiencing coronavirus symptoms. Id like to say thank you to all the brilliant NHS staff taking care of me and others in this difficult time. You are the best of Britain. The prime ministers official spokesman said Johnson had a comfortable night and is in good spirits. Communities secretary Robert Jenrick told BBC Breakfast: "I'm sure this is very frustrating for him, for somebody like Boris who wants to be hands on running the government from the front, but nonetheless he's still very much in charge of the government. "Obviously today he's in hospital having the tests but he will continue to be kept informed as to what's happening and to be in charge of the government. A total of 4,934 patients including frontline healthcare workers have died in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK, according to the latest figures issued by the Department of Health. Story continues On Sunday, the Queen delivered a message of hope to the nation amid the COVID-19 pandemic, saying we will overcome it, although we may have more still to endure. Johnson, 55, tested positive for the virus 10 days ago, and has been in self-isolation inside his Downing Street flat since then. Former prime minister Tony Blair said Johnsons hospital situation is hellish. He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: I have every sympathy and solidarity with him. I know it must be a hellish situation to be in. Asked whether the prime minister should hand over control while ill, Blair said: Im not going to second-guess them on that. He knows the state of his own condition and he will be judging it carefully himself, Im sure. Boris Johnson was last seen in public on Thursday, clapping for NHS staff. (PA) Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world Fact-checker: The number of COVID-19 cases in your local area 6 charts and maps that explain how COVID-19 is spreading A Downing Street spokeswoman said: On the advice of his doctor, the prime minister has tonight been admitted to hospital for tests. This is a precautionary step, as the prime minister continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus 10 days after testing positive for the virus. The prime minister thanks NHS staff for all of their incredible hard work and urges the public to continue to follow the governments advice to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. Johnson remains in charge of the government and in contact with ministerial colleagues and officials despite his hospital admission, said Downing Street. But de facto deputy prime minister Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, chaired the daily COVID-19 meeting on Monday morning in Johnsons place. 10 Downing Street on Sunday evening. (PA Images via Getty Images) His persistent symptoms are understood to include a high temperature. His fiancee, Carrie Symonds, said on Saturday she was on the mend after spending a week in bed after also suffering coronavirus symptoms. The 32-year-old, who is expecting the couples baby in early summer, has been self-isolating in Camberwell, south London, with their dog Dilyn. The prime minister revealed on 27 March that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and was self-isolating with mild symptoms including a high temperature and persistent cough. Boris Johnson posted an update on his Twitter account last week. (PA) He has shared several video updates from his Number 11 flat since the diagnosis, and stepped outside to join the nationwide clap for key workers on Thursday evening, but has not been seen publicly since. What tests will the prime minister have? Boris Johnson is likely to undergo several tests to check his oxygen levels, white blood cell count, and liver and kidney function before he is released from hospital following his admission over COVID-19, according to doctors. He is also likely to undergo an electrocardiogram to check his heart. GP Dr Sarah Jarvis told the BBC the PM would also have his chest X-rayed and lungs scanned, particularly if he was found to be struggling for breath. Dr Jarvis said around 80% of people who contract the virus only suffer from mild symptoms. The remaining 20% suffer moderate to severe illness. Dr Jarvis said: Under normal circumstances, given he is staying in charge of the government, that suggests to me that he probably has moderate disease. She added: The main focus, though, is going to be on his lungs. The majority of people [with moderate or severe symptoms] are going to progress to have inflammation of the lungs and that inflammation can result in damage to lung tissue but also importantly can prevent oxygen being transferred into the bloodstream. She said it would probably take a few hours for the tests to be conducted and the scans analysed by a consultant. Coronavirus: what happened today WILMINGTON, N.C., April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. George Astrakianakis, international pandemic infectious disease policy expert, co-chair of a national pandemic infectious disease policy plan, and former Director of Disease Prevention of the Occupational Health and Safety Agency for Healthcare, has joined CastleBranch to help in the fight against COVID-19. Dr. Astrakianakis is one of the world's leading experts in occupational health and infectious disease control. With a PhD in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, his experience includes working as an Affiliated Investigator with the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, the Fraser Health Authority Evaluation and Research organization, and an Associate Professor at the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia. He currently serves as a committee member on the Prevention and Control of Occupational Infections in Health Care Guideline Revision Working Group for the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the Provincial Infection Control Network on their Guidelines Steering Committee. Dr. Astrakianakis will be working hand-in-hand with CastleBranch on the company's infectious disease screening application, CB COVID-19 Compliance, which is being offered at no cost to healthcare education programs, students, and associated healthcare programs to help them slow the spread of COVID-19. It will also be offered to businesses, municipalities and other employers to ensure their staff can get back to work safely, and get ready for the next wave of COVID-19. "Dr. Astrakianakis has been a central figure in pandemic planning and preparedness for government and healthcare organizations," said Brett Martin, CEO of CastleBranch. "He will play a vital role in helping us strengthen our CB COVID-19 Compliance application for millions of students, schools, hospitals and businesses. His expertise in the field of infectious disease control is unparalleled, and his voice is crucial as we look for ways to help flatten the curve and mitigate risk." CB COVID-19 Compliance enables organizations to screen for common COVID-19 symptoms, including a fever. Participants are asked to provide twice-daily temperature readouts for 14 days prior to returning to a hospital, school or work. It also gathers information on an individual's travel and exposure to COVID-19, as well as provides educational training on preventing the spread of infectious diseases. All in, this creates a technological airlock around an individual to ensure they're healthy and safe before they return. CB COVID-19 Compliance is built upon CastleBranch's existing enterprise-level solution, CB Bridges, which spent six years in development, four years in the market, and has the proven ability to support millions of users. The platform is designed to remain compliant with all relevant regulations governing the collection and usage of private data, including FERPA, FCRA, CCPA and more. "COVID-19 has closed our schools, or businesses and our cities, but it won't keep us closed for long. After the storm has passed, we want to make sure we're doing everything we can to help people get back to work, back to school, and prepared for a second season," said Martin. About CastleBranch: Located in Wilmington, N.C., CastleBranch is a compliance management and infectious disease screening company serving over 17,700 healthcare programs, 1 million students, and thousands of employers and healthcare facilities nationwide. CastleBranch has 20+ years of experience, employs over 400 team members and has a long track record of providing innovative solutions for complex problems. To learn more about how CastleBranch can help, visit discover.castlebranch.com/covid-19-resources/ or call or email us at 888.723.4263 ext. 1066, [email protected] SOURCE CastleBranch Related Links http://www.castlebranch.com Mindray North America deploys key strategies to support U.S. healthcare response to coronavirus Mindray shares a social responsibility to actively and continuously participate in the fight against coronavirus; more specifically, we see our role in this healthcare crisis tying directly back to our mission to make the most advanced healthcare technology attainable to all. As a leading developer and manufacturer of medical device solutions and technologies used in healthcare facilities around the globe, Mindray recognizes the extraordinary stress the coronavirus pandemic is creating within our nations healthcare system. With its North American headquarters in Mahwah, New Jersey, adjacent to the epicenter of the pandemic, the Mindray North America team is experiencing the ravaging effects of the virus firsthand, through the eyes of our customers, our trusted partners and our dedicated employees and their families. The increased pressure being put on our nations healthcare infrastructure is unprecedented, manifesting itself in many ways, said Mindray North America President, Wayne Quinn. As a manufacturer dedicated solely to the medical industry, Mindray shares a social responsibility to actively and continuously participate in the fight against coronavirus; more specifically, we see our role in this healthcare crisis tying directly back to our mission to make the most advanced healthcare technology attainable to all, and we continue to shift our organizational focus toward doing just this. Given the extreme set of circumstances surrounding the coronavirus pandemic and the urgent need for ventilators, Mindray North America has put into action several key strategies to enable our customers to maximize the use of Mindray systems currently in place. The North American team has diligently worked with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to gain clearance from the agency for conversion and off label use of Mindray A-Series anesthesia delivery systems as continuous ventilators. This immediately increases availability of critical mechanical ventilation across the country. In addition, we have also published procedures for switching the drive gas (utilized to fill the bellows required for mechanical ventilation) in the anesthesia/ventilator from oxygen to compressed air. The ability to implement this conversion helps healthcare providers to preserve oxygen, which is also in short supply, for use in directly treating patients. Earlier this week, via an unprecedented global team effort, we not only successfully secured Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA allowing import of our ventilators (which previously were not cleared for sale in the US), but also procured a defined supply of standalone ventilators, to be immediately shipped and distributed to key hospitals in New York City which are presently in dire need. Finally, in anticipation of the increasing demand for vital signs, multi-parameter monitors (bedside and portable) and centralized monitoring systems, we have proactively ramped up production and supply of these products, while at the same time implementing procedures for simplified, rapid deployment of these systems. This pre-emptive move is enabling accelerated set up of ad hoc, ancillary treatment areas, while minimizing the need for onsite support and installation time. The entire Mindray North America team remains fully committed to aiding our nations response to this pandemic illness. As an essential business, we continue to work, each and every day supporting healthcare providers across the nation as they serve on the front lines, defending the health of our nation, one patient at a time. About Mindray Mindray is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of medical device solutions and technologies used in healthcare facilities around the globe. We believe we can change lives by making the most advanced healthcare technology attainable for all. We do this by empowering healthcare professionals through innovative, high-value solutions that help create the next generation of life-saving tools across three primary business segments: patient monitoring and life support, in-vitro diagnostics, and medical imaging. Mindray maintains its global headquarters in Shenzhen, China; Mindray North America is headquartered in Mahwah, New Jersey. Our Ultrasound Innovation Center is located in San Jose, California with additional facilities in major international markets around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.mindray.com. MBABANE Pay rent because we also have loans to repay. This is the call made by both commercial and private property owners after the plea by Minister of Housing and Urban Development Prince Simelane when requesting, in his personal capacity, landlords to consider suspending the payment of rent given the financially frustrating period imposed by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed tens of thousands of lives globally. Eswatini business tycoon Moses Motsa said there was nothing that he could do in helping the situation because he also had loans to repay at the bank and relied on the rental payments to service those loans. Motsa owns former Cafe de Flore building, The George hotel, old Bus Rank in Mbabane, Mvulane complex, Makhaya convenient Centre and many others, especially in Manzini. It is a difficult question because this is a chain, occupants pay the rent and then the rent payments are transferred to the bank to repay loans. It is only government that can address the issue because they can have a way to establish what could be the way forward. As a property owner, I can boldly declare that there is nothing I can do to assist the property occupants because I have loans that I have to service with the bank and if a tenant does not have the money to pay then I have to look for another source of funds to make the monthly loan payment at the bank. Where can one source that money if occupants are not coming through? he wondered. Enhanced Motsa said another way the property occupants could be enhanced was the suspending of loan repayments by financial institutions because in that way, the property owners would have no pressure to make the loan payments hence cutting the occupants some slack. However, he was not blind to the fact that some of the property owners made a living out of leasing out their properties and if rental payments were not made, that would mean they had no source of income and no money to spend on essential commodities. Another commercial property owner, who wished to remain anonymous, said his only source of livelihood was through leasing out his property. Trump Says Russia, Saudi Arabia 'Destroying' Themselves; Will Impose Oil Import Tariffs If Necessary By Todd Prince April 05, 2020 WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Russia and Saudi Arabia are "destroying" themselves with an oil price war, adding he will impose tariffs on their imports if necessary to protect the U.S. oil industry. Trump said April 4 during a press conference that the economies of Russia and Saudi Arabia are highly dependent on oil and "it is to their advantage" to find an agreement on an oil production cut. His comments follow reports a day earlier that a meeting of OPEC+, the oil alliance led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, to discuss cuts will not be held on April 6 amid a continued dispute between Moscow and Riyadh. During a meeting of OPEC+ on March 6, Russia refused to agree to a Saudi proposal for deeper production cuts. Riyadh, angered by Moscow's decision, announced it would ramp up production, sparking a price war that has sent Brent crude to as low as $20, a near two-decade low. Trump, who has been seeking to broker an agreement between the two nations, said on April 2 in a tweet that Russia and Saudi Arabia had agreed to a cut of 10 million barrels of oil a day, causing the price of crude to surge as much as 30 percent. Trump was understood to be referring to cuts by the 23-member OPEC+ alliance that the two countries lead. Saudi Arabia announced minutes later that it was calling an extraordinary meeting of OPEC+ members for April 6, which is now under doubt. The U.S. president also said April 4 the low oil price environment is hurting the U.S. oil industry, which has surpassed Saudi Arabia and Russia to become the largest in the world by daily production. Trump, who met with energy executives at the White House the day before, said the crisis is going "to hurt a lot of [American] jobs" but that he will take actions to protect it, including imposing tariffs on oil imports. Russia and Saudi Arabia are among the largest exporters of oil to the United States. "I will do whatever I have to do" to protect the U.S. oil industry, Trump said. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-russia- saudiarabia-oil/30532007.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Man gets prison time for second-degree murder A Ridgecrest man was sentenced to more than 23 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and multiple drug trafficking felonies, District Attorney Greg Newman announced. Raymon O. Flores Jr. pleaded guilty to sell/deliver schedule II drugs, sell/deliver schedule I drugs, deliver schedule II, two counts of trafficking in methamphetamine, trafficking opium or heroin, distribute drugs and second-degree murder. Flores was sentenced to seven years and nine months active time and fined $50,000 on the drug charges. In addition, Flores was also sentenced to 15 years, four months active time and ordered to pay $3,201 in restitution on the second-degree murder conviction. In other cases in a Superior Court term in Henderson County March 9-27: Ismael J. Batista, of 75 Ramsey Lane, Hendersonville, pleaded guilty to AWDW- Intent to kill inflicting serious injury. Batista was sentenced to 74 months active time. Jordan D. Gash, of 116 Cedar Bluffs Drive, pleaded guilty to crime against nature. Gash was sentenced to 17 months active time and no contact with victim. Julius. L. Hodges, of Dumfries, Virginia, pleaded guilty to larceny of a motor vehicle, resisting public officer, assault on a government official and DWI. Hodge was sentenced to 21 months active plus 60 days active on DWI. Sharday O. Kilgore, of 810 West Allen Street, pleaded guilty to felony possession of cocaine. Kilgore was sentenced to 15 months active. Hector B. Meadows, of 639 Maple Street, pleaded guilty to identity theft. Meadows was sentenced to 20 months active. Tyler J. Owens, of 3646 Chimney Rock Road, pleaded guilty to indecent liberties with a child. Owens was sentenced to 35 months active, no contact with victim and must register as a sex offender for 30 years. Ramsey R. Ramirez, of 175 Delozier Circle, pleaded guilty to fleeing to elude arrest with MV. Ramirez was sentenced to 17 months active. George Summey, of 240 Elson Ave., pleaded guilty to indecent liberties with a child. Summey was sentenced to 32 months active time, no contact with victim upon release and must register as a sex offender for 30yrs. Superior Court judges Tommy Davis & Peter Knight presided. New Delhi/IBNS: Leading editors and media professionals from South Asia have protested against the arrest of Jang-Geo Group Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman by Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The preoccupation of the world public and opinion makers with the COVID-19 pandemic has made it easier for those who want to try and gag critics in the media, said the South Asia Media Defenders Network (SAMDEN), which is anchored by co-convenors from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in a statement. While the harassment and imprisonment of journalists has been a distressing trend in all the countries of South Asia over the past few years, SAMDEN said, we have seen a sudden escalation in such actions over the past few weeks. It described the actions against Rahman as representative of a trend across the region. Mir Shakilur Rahman is the chief editor and proprietor of Pakistans largest media group, encompassing The News, Jang and Geo TV. The action against him is based on a 34-year old property transaction. Pakistans National Accountability Bureau detained Rahman, in violation of its own rules that do not allow arrest at the stage of verification. The authorities appear to be dragging this case out to teach the media a lesson, says SAMDEN. Rahmans arrest and detention follows a string of attacks on him and on his media group and its journalists by the Pakistani authorities and non-state elements over the past years. Organisations such as Amnesty International, Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters without Borders, Human Rights Watch and Association of International Broadcasters have denounced this latest action, the body said in the statement. Urgent appeals have been filed for his release to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression. Meanwhile, demanding his release, a veteran journalist has launched a campaign by observing a hunger strike at the Lahore Press Club. A feeble 65-year-old Azhar Munir, who has a long history of waging protest campaigns for the release of prisoners of conscience inside and outside the country, is on a hunger strike now since March 29, 2020, The News International reported. Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman was arrested on 12 March by the NAB in Pakistan in a case concerning a property transaction that dates back 34 years to 1986. He welcomed a baby girl with his girlfriend Anna Lundberg six months ago. And Michael Sheen has revealed their little one has given him a sense of routine while they isolate at his home in Wales during the COVID-19 pandemic. The actor, 51, said during a recent interview with the Guardian that it was 'helping' the couple find a sense of normality amid the ongoing global crisis. Sweet: Michael Sheen has revealed their little one has given him a sense of routine while they isolate at his home in Wales during the COVID-19 pandemic Reflecting on a recent appearance on Newsnight, Michael revealed he was asked about isolation coping tips, he revealed: ''And I said well the baby has a routine, and I've found that that's helping us.' However following his comments he noticed that someone had suggested it was and product of his 'privilege', he said: 'And then I noticed that somebody said that was an example of my condescending class-blind privilege.' The couple welcomed their daughter on September 23. At the time, the actor's father Meyrick, 80, confirmed the Swedish actress had given birth, and said they were 'thrilled to bits' about the news. Home life: The actor, 51, said during a recent interview with the Guardian that it was 'helping' the couple find a sense of normality amid the ongoing global crisis (pictured with Anna in January 2020) Michael's father gushed: 'We are thrilled to bits, over the moon.' Michael shared his own announcement on Twitter days later, with a photo of Lyra and Anna leaving the hospital. The actor wrote: 'Happy to say that at 8:41am on Monday September 23rd our beautiful daughter Lyra was born.' The Good Omens star confirmed he was expecting his first child with Anna last July, just two months after they were initially romantically linked in May following a series of loved-up social media posts. Congratulations! Michael welcomed a baby girl with his girlfriend Anna in September Lovely: The actor's father Meyrick, 80, confirmed the news that Swedish actress Anna who had given birth, and said they were 'thrilled to bits' with the news Revealing the happy news on Twitter, Michael told his followers: 'Very happy to let everyone know that my partner Anna and I are expecting a little angel of our own. (Just to be clear, were having a baby!) #nottheantichrist.' (sic) Michael also shares daughter Lily Mo Sheen, 21, with his ex Kate Beckinsale, and previously said parenting is the 'most challenging' job yet he revealed it is a necessary and rewarding role. He told The Guardian in 2010: 'I think being a parent is the most challenging thing you do. That's why we're here. It's at the heart of what it is to be a human being. Happy families: Michael already raises daughter Lily Mo Sheen, 20, (pictured together in November 2009, California) with his ex Kate Beckinsale 'It's the ultimate experience because it questions everything about who you are. But it's difficult. My job takes me away from my daughter, Lily a lot, so when I am with her the time is really important.' The actor was previously linked to Aisling Bea in April 2018 when the pair attended the Olivier Awards in London, but didn't walk the red carpet together. Michael's ex-girlfriend, American comedian Sarah Silverman, 48, later revealed he had split from Aisling in September 2018. Ex: Michael was previously linked to Come Fly With Me actress Aisling, from April 2018 to early 2019 (pictured May 2018) Former flame: Michael dated Sarah Silverman, 48, for four years until December 2017, with the relationship ending because he wanted to come back to Britain (pictured December 2016) Drama: Helen said there are still unanswered questions about Major Charles Ingram (Matthew Macfayden) who won the show in 2001 after Tecwen Whittock coughed if he said a right answer On the career front, Michael has most recently played Chris Tarrant in the ITV drama Quiz, which is set to air on April 23. Quiz documents Charles and Diana Ingram's plot to try and cheat their way to the top prize on Millionaire in 2001 with the help of contestant Tecwen Whittock, who would cough to indicate the correct answer. Quiz airs on ITV at 9pm on April 13 Supporting the community The company (Shinhan Finance) is furthering its efforts to fight the spread and impact of the virus by committing VND1.2 billion ($52,170) in cash to support urgent public needs and those on the frontlines. Of the sum, VND800 million ($34,780) will go to the Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee based in Ho Chi Minh City, VND200 million ($8,700) to the Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee in Danang city, while the remaining amount will go to the Vietnamese Fatherland Front Central Committee. More than 100 Shinhan Finance employees and the companys Trade Union joined hands to donate an average one-day salary to the Vietnamese Fatherland Front Central Committee to help the government fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Oh Tae Joon, deputy CEO of Shinhan Finance, presented the symbol of the VND800 million contribution to Tran Huu Phuoc, representative of Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee based in Ho Chi Minh City, on March 31, 2020 Bao Van, head of the Shinhan Finance Branch Network, presented the symbol of the VND200 million contribution to Tran Thanh Man, Chairman of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front Central Committee, on April 3, 2020 On the same day April 3, 2020, the contribution of VND200 million was also given by Shinhan Finance at the Vietnamese Fatherland Front Committee in Danang city Supporting customers and workforce Shinhan Finance has launched a nationwide public awareness contest to inform its customers and employees about the importance of social responsibility regarding the governments call for taking action to save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign aims to speak directly to current customers and employees across the nation about the COVID-19 health crisis in Vietnam, and what they can do to ensure safety for themselves and the community. Shinhan Finance also encourages customers to do transactions digitally and avoid visiting the branches and service points for 15 days. Information on the customer contest and mechanism is available at www.shinhanfinance.com.vn. Shinhan Finance has a strong system and the company believes it is well-placed to manage through this challenging time with minimal disruption to its services. Shinhan Finance has a strong system and the company believes it is well-placed to manage through this challenging time with minimal disruption to its services. Atul Dixit, Shinhan Finance CEO, said, We have seen the most incredible response from the Vietnamese government and people, showing solidarity and dedication, especially those on the frontline of the fight in field hospitals, quarantine centres, and airport zones. By practicing our core values and compassionate finance, we hope that our cash donation and other donations will make a significant contribution towards protecting peoples lives, and by that we are giving some peace of mind during this challenging time. We hope to see more hands joining the battle so we could get through together. Shinhan Finance follows its grandparent company Shinhan Financial Group in deploying a proactive corporate social responsibility policy with targets covering three pillars, namely Responsible Growth, Social Partnership, and Investments for the Future. At Shinhan Finance, our deep commitment to corporate social responsibility reflects our desire for sustainable growth. Many of us have the best intentions of helping others in urgent need. Im so proud of being a member of a responsible organisation like Shinhan Finance, said Oh Tae Joon, deputy CEO of Shinhan Finance. Shinhan Finance, a fully foreign-owned consumer finance company and a member of Shinhan Card (Korea), has officially been operating under the Shinhan Finance brand name since July 2019. With Shinhan Cards knowhow in financial products and more than 13 years of experience in Vietnams consumer lending market, Shinhan Finance aims to be named among the best customer-oriented finance companies in the country. With a widespread business network spanning the nation, the company is poised to serve customers with flexible financial solutions, enabling customers to fulfil their dreams and constantly enhance their living standards. The economic impact of the coronavirus is becoming evident in Southeast Asia with thousands of people in Indonesia driven out of jobs and a third round of financial aid relief announced in Singapore as part of efforts to prevent companies from laying off staff. Singapores latest stimulus package is worth S$5.1 billion and also includes S$600 cash payouts for each adult Singaporean. Indonesians mostly in Jakarta and Bali have been left out of jobs or forced to take unpaid leave, according to announcements made by local authorities today. The Philippines has welcomed medical workers from China to help in its battle against COVID-19 and will start mass producing protective gears for medical workers at its local garment factories. More updates from Coconuts newsrooms in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong: Singapore Singapore announced a third COVID-19 aid relief package today which includes S$600 (US$420) cash payouts for each adult Singaporean. Singapore will shut Terminal 2 of its Changi Airport until next year as part of cost-cutting measures during the COVID-19 outbreak, which has seriously affected the countrys tourism industry. Confirmed coronavirus cases rose to 1,309 in Singapore after a record number of 120 new infections were reported last night, with a bulk of which involving migrant workers at various dormitories. Two dormitories have been ordered to lock down due to escalating cases. Around 20,000 migrant workers have been put under quarantine. Malaysia Malaysia has identified a cluster of infections stemming from a person who had visited Italy. According to Health Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah, that person is case No. 1,580. About 37 patients and five deaths have been related to this cluster. Confirmed coronavirus cases rose to 3,793 after 131 new cases were reported today. The death toll rose to 62. Indonesia Wearing face masks in public is now mandatory for everyone in Indonesia. No penalties announced. The economic impact of the coronavirus has driven hundreds of people in Bali out of jobs and thousands others forced to take unpaid leave, local authorities said today. The number nearly triples for those in Jakarta. Indonesian millennials appear to be taking the lead in voicing opinions about the governments seemingly sluggish response to the COVID-19 crisis, read one persons detailed opinion, here. Confirmed coronavirus cases rose to 2,491 with 218 new cases. The death toll rose to 209. Story continues Philippines Local garment factories will on April 13 start mass producing much needed medical equipment for health workers, including protective gears, a spokesperson of the governments COVID-19 taskforce announced today. The Philippines yesterday welcomed 12 medical experts from China to help the country fight COVID-19. A pastor has been arrested for holding a worship service attended by hundreds despite social distancing measures. Confirmed coronavirus cases rose to 3,660 and the death toll to 163. Hong Kong City authorities have ordered the closure of bars, pubs, and nightclubs for two weeks as part of stricter COVID-19 measures. More than 100 riot police officers have been put under quarantine after two of them tested positive. Confirmed coronavirus cases rose to 914 after 24 new infections were reported today. Five of the new cases involve people who were repatriated from Peru. Thailand Confirmed coronavirus cases rose to 2,220 with 51 new infections and the death toll to 26 after three more deaths were reported. Most of the cases are located in Bangkok. This article, COVID-19 Report: Economic impact of coronavirus becoming evident in Southeast Asia, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters! Libyas former interim Prime Minister Mahmoud Jebril has died from coronavirus, according to his political party. The 67-year-old contracted the virus in Egypt in late March and died at a hospital in Cairo, according to his aide. He was in power as head of the National Transitional Council during months of civil war in 2011 which led to the ousting of former long-time ruler Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. Libyas internationally recognised government in Tripoli offered its condolences in a statement that described Mr Jebril as a national figure. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates In the Long Room of Our Hearts: Where Love and Memory Dwell By Ann Hedge-Carruthers I am eager for people to be aware of him and his exquisite poetry that I have sprinkled throughout the narrative of our life together. I hope my book will help individuals who are experiencing grief and those who are looking for something to believe in beyond themselves. Life comes with many situations that can lead to heartbreak. Losing someone you love can be earth-shattering. In the Long Room of Our Hearts: Where Love and Memory Dwell, Dr. Ann Hedge-Carruthers beautifully tells the love story between herself and her late husband, Robert Marsh Cooper. After feeling devastated by the loss of her spouse, Hedge-Carruthers began writing her way back to health. Throughout the process, she felt a connection with her partner and was able to tell their story with both wit and grace. Hedge-Carruthers memoir includes her husbands poems and letters so that his words can be heard directly. Her book is a touching tribute to Robert and is a testament to their everlasting love, life, bond and story. The author wrote her way through her profound mourning and throughout the process realized her husband was there by her side, while they both reminisced about their love story. I wrote this book as a tribute to my late husband who was a poet, priest, professor and psychotherapist, said Hedge-Carruthers. I am eager for people to be aware of him and his exquisite poetry that I have sprinkled throughout the narrative of our life together. I hope my book will help individuals who are experiencing grief and those who are looking for something to believe in beyond themselves. In the Long Room of Our Hearts will help individuals who have lost a piece of themselves when their loved one passed. Readers will be inspired by Hedge-Carruthers story of finding her way back from loss. Her memoir will show others dealing with crippling grief that they are not alone. In the Long Room of Our Hearts: Where Love and Memory Dwell By Ann Hedge-Carruthers ISBN: 9781982230432 (softcover); 9781982230449 (hardcover); 9781982230487 (eBook) Available at the Balboa Press Online Bookstore, Amazon and Barnes & Noble About the author Ann Hedge-Carruthers credits an eleventh-grade English teacher with opening her to the world of poetry, never guessing Hedge-Carruthers would one day fall in love with a poet. She attended the University of Texas, Austin, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in fine arts with a major in art history. Hedge-Carruthers returned to school and earned a Master of Divinity. She fell in love and married her former seminary professor, Robert M. Cooper, priest, poet, philosopher and psychotherapist. While living in Florida, she worked as a psychosocial oncology counselor at Morton Plant Cancer Center in Clearwater and commuted to Santa Barbara, California, where she earned a doctorate in clinical psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, with a particular focus on Jungian analysis and other depth psychologies. After the Rev. Dr. Coopers retirement, they moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, where she opened a private practice and he served as a semi-retired associate priest at Trinity Cathedral and then priest-in-charge of Good Shepherd Chapel. These were the bittersweet years as Hedge-Carruthers watched her husbands health fail and eventually tended to him at home until his death seventeen years later. She continues in private practice and lives in the home they once shared. For General Inquiries, Review Copies & Interview Requests: LAVIDGE Phoenix Grace Bywater 480-648-7534 gbywater(at)lavidge(dot)com QUETTA -- Police in Pakistan's southwestern city of Quetta have detained dozens of doctors and other medical personnel who were protesting the lack of proper equipment in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Personnel from the Quetta Civil Hospital and Bolan Medical College were marching toward the provincial government building on April 6 when they were stopped by officers and detained. Witnesses said there were instances of beatings during the police operation, which also dispersed a makeshift protest camp set up by personnel. The protesters said that 12 of their colleagues who were treating patients suffering from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, had tested positive and that they would return to their duties only after the government provides them with personal protection equipment. The government in Balochistan Province, of which Quetta is the capital, says hospitals in the province have been fully equipped with all of the necessary items needed to battle the outbreak. Pakistani authorities have reported 3,469 confirmed cases of coronavirus so far, including 50 deaths. Two more deaths were reported in Andhra Pradesh due to coronavirus disease Covid-19 on Monday, taking the overall toll in the state to three, an official bulletin said. The total number of Covid-19 positive cases in the state rose to 266 after 14 more cases were reported from Sunday night till 9 am on Monday, said the bulletin. Five patients have so far recovered - one each in East Godavari, Krishna, Nellore, Prakasam and Visakhapatnam. If three deaths and five cases of recovery are added, the cumulative number of Covid-19 positive cases in Andhra Pradesh reach 274. Kurnool recorded the maximum number of 56 cases, followed by 34 in Nellore, 32 in Guntur, 28 in Krishna, 23 each in Kadapa and Prakasam, 20 in Visakhapatnam, 17 in Chittoor, 16 in West Godavari, 11 in East Godavari and six in Anantapur districts. Out of the two people who died, one was from Anantapur. The 64-year-old man came in contact with his kin having travel history to Mecca. He was admitted to government hospital in Anantapur on April 1 with serious complications and he died on April 4. However, the test results were announced on Monday, indicating that he succumbed to Covid-19. Another death was that of 55-year-old man from Machilipatnam in Krishna district, who got admitted to the government hospital on April 4 with symptoms of asthma and bronchitis. He died on the same night and his sample test revealed that he was suffering from Covid-19. The patient reportedly travelled to Berhampur in Odisha in February and also Vijayawada in March on business purposes. It is not known where he contracted the disease, the bulletin said. Andhra Pradesh recorded a surge in number of infected people with 60 people Covid-19 positive cases on Sunday - 36 were reported between Saturday night to 10 am on Sunday morning and another 24 cases till Sunday evening. Of the total number of positive cases recorded till now, 235 patients are those who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat meeting in New Delhis Nizamuddin area last month and their direct contacts, the bulletin said. The government has so far disclosed the details, like age, gender and district, of as many as 190 patients who had connections with Jamaat attendees and said details of others would be disclosed in due course. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Boxes of N95 protective masks for use by medical field personnel are seen at a New York State emergency operations incident command center during the CCP virus outbreak in New Rochelle, N.Y., on March 17, 2020. (Mike Segar/Reuters) Trump Applauds Corrected Fake News on American Piracy of PPE German politician remains unapologetic for false allegations A spokesperson for the U.S. embassy in Thailand has confirmed that the United States did not divert a shipment of face masks bound for Germany from an airport in Bangkok, as falsely claimed on Friday by Berlins Senator of the Interior, Andreas Geisel. The left-wing German politician had claimed that in an act of modern piracy, 200,000 Germany-bound masks had been confiscated in Bangkok before being diverted to the United States. According to Reuters, U.S. embassy spokeswoman for Thailand Jillian Bonnardeaux said that The United States Government did not take any action to divert any 3M supplies that were destined to Germany nor did we have any knowledge of such a shipment. Among other products, 3M manufactures N95 face-masks deemed essential personal protective equipment (PPE) for police, medical practitioners, and emergency services in the fight to control the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. We remain concerned about pervasive attempts to divide international efforts through unsourced, unattributed disinformation campaigns, said Bonnardeaux. .@washingtonpost: A #Berlin official, who accused the U.S. administration of piracy after 200,000 #masks for the city police went missing, backtracked Saturday and said the masks were ordered from a #German firm. https://t.co/JfWfG0fXnn pic.twitter.com/6MqOUQh4s6 US-Botschaft Berlin (@usbotschaft) April 4, 2020 Geisel said Friday that the masks had been confiscated, and the allegations were repeated by both German and American media outlets before being retracted by Geisels office the next day. The office of Berlins Senator of the Interior said it was trying to find out how 200,000 masks destined for the citys police officers had been delivered to the United States. The masks had been manufactured by American company 3M but had been ordered from a German wholesaler. At a White House press briefing on Sunday, President Donald Trump said Theres been no act of piracy. No, theres been no act of piracy. Its the opposite. A statement from 3M on Sunday referred to inaccurate media reports on the issue, and said the company will continue to correct misinformation on its manufacturing and distribution operations. 3M has no evidence to suggest 3M products have been seized. 3M has no record of any order of respirators from China for the Berlin police. We cannot speculate where this report originated, said 3M in the statement. 3M has extended an offer of help to the German authorities to try to determine if this false report is the result of fraudulent activity. Doubling Down In an interview with Germanys ZDF broadcaster on Monday, however, Geisel continued to insinuate that the United States may have been involved in the botched delivery. When asked about his allegations that U.S. authorities had confiscated the delivery and his comments about modern piracy and American Wild West methods of procurement, Geisel was unrepentant. The fact is, we placed an order for 200,000 protective masks, we paid for this delivery, they were on their way to Berlin for the Berlin police force because we urgently need these breathing masks, said Geisel. And now regardless of whether they were confiscated, or whether they were cancelled and then diverted to the USA, or whether someone came with a briefcase full of money and diverted it to the USA, our protective masks landed in the USA, and that is not okay. This illustrates the situation that exists there at the moment, and I believe that contracts must still be observed. So I have nothing to take back, he said. Geisel said that his office was continuing to use all available channels to procure PPE materials, and that the city had thankfully been able to obtain a new delivery from China. When asked if his statements meant he was continuing to point fingers at the United Statesalthough it had not been confirmed that the United States was at faultGeisel replied: I dont want to talk about the question of guilt: In any case, the fact is that the protective masks were diverted to the USA. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. The winning bids totaled $533.85 million. The bankruptcy liquidation continued to unfold amid the COVID-19 pandemic because Dean Foods continues to hemorrhage money each and every day. As for the next deadlines, sale-related objections must be filed on April 1. That will be followed by an April 3 hearing to consider the proposed sale orders. Indeed, the final fate of Dean Foods could be settled by months end when the transactions are expected to close. Dean Foods originally filed for bankruptcy protection on November 12 as detailed in the item "Dean Foods goes bankrupt; to sell assets." Four winning bidders The United States District and Bankruptcy Court South District of Texas disclosed bids from 35 suitors for portions of the Dean Foods business entity. Of those 35 bids, six came from farmer-owned dairy cooperatives. As part of the court supervised sale process, Dean designated the following winning bidders: Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) : $433 million for 44 fluid and frozen assets. The offer from DFA excluded 13 currently operating production facilities, three currently operating supply depots, and 10 closed facilities. DFA is a dairy-farmer owned cooperative. : $433 million for 44 fluid and frozen assets. The offer from DFA excluded 13 currently operating production facilities, three currently operating supply depots, and 10 closed facilities. DFA is a dairy-farmer owned cooperative. Prairie Farms : $75 million for eight production facilities and two distribution plants. The locations included: Birmingham, Ala.; Tulsa, Okla.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Bismarck, N.D.; Woodbury, Minn.; Marietta, Ohio; Fallon, Ill.; Akron, Ohio; Livonia, Mich.; and Hammond, La. Prairie Farms is a dairy-farmer owned cooperative. : $75 million for eight production facilities and two distribution plants. The locations included: Birmingham, Ala.; Tulsa, Okla.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Bismarck, N.D.; Woodbury, Minn.; Marietta, Ohio; Fallon, Ill.; Akron, Ohio; Livonia, Mich.; and Hammond, La. Prairie Farms is a dairy-farmer owned cooperative. Mana Saves McArthur : $16.5 million for the McArthur Dairy Plant in Miami, Fla., and its distribution centers in West Palm Beach and Fort Myers, Fla. : $16.5 million for the McArthur Dairy Plant in Miami, Fla., and its distribution centers in West Palm Beach and Fort Myers, Fla. Harmoni : $7.25 million for Uncle Matts Organic Inc. : $7.25 million for Uncle Matts Organic Inc. Producers Dairy Foods: $2.1 million for the Model Dairy processing facility in Reno, Nev. The other dairy co-op bids The following bids were not accepted: California Dairies : $50.5 million for two dairy processing facilities in City of Industry, Calif., and distribution depots located in San Diego, Anaheim, Oxnard, and North Palm Springs, Calif. : $50.5 million for two dairy processing facilities in City of Industry, Calif., and distribution depots located in San Diego, Anaheim, Oxnard, and North Palm Springs, Calif. Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association : $18.129 million for facilities in High Point, N.C., and Chesapeake, Va. : $18.129 million for facilities in High Point, N.C., and Chesapeake, Va. Darigold : $13.2 million for the Billings, Mont.; Boise, Idaho; and Salt Lake City, Utah, entities. : $13.2 million for the Billings, Mont.; Boise, Idaho; and Salt Lake City, Utah, entities. Upstate Niagara Cooperative: $13.199 million for the Sharpsville, Pa., facility. To review the United States District and Bankruptcy Court South District of Texas portal for all 35 bids, go to the Southern Food Group LLC d/b/a Dean Foods. The docket is listed in chronological order and all bids were listed on March 31, 2020. To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com. (c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2020 April 1, 2020 In brief: Russia has been blamed for plenty of cyberattacks in the past, and we're seeing another example of that now. Web traffic intended for over 200 content delivery networks (including those owned by Digital Ocean, Google, and Amazon) was reportedly hijacked and routed through a Russian telecom's servers last week. The hijacking managed to impact "more than 8,800 internet traffic routes," according to ZDNet. We're not entirely sure what the purpose of the hijack was -- or even if it was malicious at all -- but it allegedly lasted about an hour. Some believe the Russian telecommunications firm behind this situation, known as Rostelecom, used a BGP hijack to accomplish this feat. BGP hijacking is the "malicious rerouting" of internet traffic that exploits the "trusting nature" of the internet's Border Gateway Protocol. Cloudflare has an excellent write-up that describes this type of hijack in more detail, but the following excerpt sums it up nicely: When an AS [an autonomous system managed by a single organization] announces a route to IP prefixes that it does not actually control, this announcement, if not filtered, can spread and be added to routing tables in BGP routers across the Internet. From then until somebody notices and corrects the routes, traffic to those IPs will be routed to that AS. Again, we can't say with certainty that Rostelecom did this intentionally. As ZDNet points out, mistakes can happen, and all it would take for a situation like this to unfold is a human operator "mistyping" an AS number. However, the outlet also notes that Rostelecom has been linked to similar events in the past, which could imply a pattern of misbehavior at worst or incompetence at best. Regardless, for the time being, no concrete damage has been proven. Rostelecom may have logged the rerouted traffic, but we can't be sure what it will do with the information, if anything. Either way, some skepticism is certainly warranted here, and it's no secret that Russia has stepped up its cyber warfare game over the past few years. WASHINGTON Hospitals across the country face dire shortages of vital medical equipment amid the coronavirus outbreak including testing kits and thermometers and fear they can't ensure the safety of health care workers needed to treat patients with COVID-19, according to an internal government watchdog report released Monday. The alarming findings, based on interviews conducted from March 23 to March 27, represent the first government assessment of how the country's hospitals are coping with the outbreak and confirm previous media reports and warnings from health workers that the medical system is under unprecedented strain. Hospital administrators also said conflicting guidance from federal, state and local governments on how to use personal protective gear and other issues has led to "a greater sense of confusion, fear and distrust among staff that they can rely on hospital procedures to protect them," according to the report from the inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS. Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak Despite the bleak outlook conveyed by the inspector generals report, President Donald Trump on Saturday said hospital administrators speaking to his administration were thrilled about their situation. Many hospital administrators that we've been in touch with, even in the really hotspots -- you know what they are are communicating directly with us that their level of supplies are meeting essential needs. And at the current time, they're really thrilled to be where they are, Trump told reporters. The report, which is based on interviews with administrators from 324 hospitals and hospital networks of varying sizes, said that equipment provided to hospitals from the federal government fell far short of what was needed and was sometimes not usable or of low quality. Image: Harborview Medical Center in Seattle (Ted S. Warren / AP) According to the report, one hospital received two shipments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency with protective gear that had expired in 2010. Another hospital system received 1,000 masks from federal and state governments, even though it expected a much larger delivery, and "500 of the masks were for children and therefore unusable for adult staff," the report said. Elastic on N95 masks from one state government reserve had "dry-rotted" and could not be used, it said. Story continues NBC News found its own examples of problems with the federal government's emergency national stockpile similar to those detailed in the report. State officials in Alabama, South Carolina and Pennsylvania said they had received expired medical supplies. In Michigan, hospitals were surprised to have made orders with suppliers only to find that they were diverted to the national stockpile, according to Ruthanne Sudderth, senior vice president for the Michigan Health & Hospital Association. "Vendors have told us that they need to send whatever they have to the national stockpile," Sudderth said. 'Unable to take employee temperatures' According to the inspector general's report, hospitals told investigators that thermometers were in short supply, undermining hospitals' ability to check temperatures of staff members and patients for indicators of the coronavirus. One hospital resorted to screening patients, staff members and vendors at random because it did not have enough thermometers, according to the report. Another hospital with more than 700 staff members reported having one or two thermometers and therefore was "unable to take employee temperatures," the report said. Ann Maxwell, assistant inspector general for HHS, said she was startled by what she heard from the hospital directors and the findings detailed in the report. "It is unprecedented," Maxwell said in an interview. "I think one moment that stands out for me is when I was talking to a hospital administrator and he told me that he had staff in the hospital out trying to procure masks and gloves from auto part shops, from home supply stores, from beauty salons, from art supply stores," Maxwell said. "I was just taken aback." In that example, she said, "you could see both the desperation of the challenges they are facing and the ingenuity they were putting forward in trying to solve these problems so they could provide good patient care and save lives." Image: Nurses' protest in Orange, Calif. (Mario Tama / Getty Images) Diagnostic testing kits to identify patients or staff members with the virus were also in short supply, according to the inspector general. Hospitals said they were struggling with "a severe shortage of test kits," limiting their ability to monitor the health of patients and staff members, the report said. There were also problems with incomplete testing kits missing nasal swabs or reagents to detect the virus. "Across the industry millions are needed and we only have hundreds," a hospital administrator was quoted as saying. The shortage of testing kits was aggravated by delays in testing results, straining hospital resources and bed capacity as doctors waited for the results, the report said. One hospital reported test results' taking as long as eight days, it said. Hospitals said that presumptive patients waiting for test results took up bed capacity needed for other patients, according to the report, and that staff members were forced to use personal protective equipment, or PPE, as a precaution because of the slow pace of test results, wasting precious resources. "Hospitals reported that when patient stays were extended while awaiting COVID-19 results, this depletes PPE capacity by the same number of days," according to the report. Hospitals said they were concerned that supplies of protective equipment would run out quickly if they faced a surge in patients. "One hospital administrator stated that before COVID-19, their medical center used around 200 masks per day and that they were now using 2,000 per day," the report said. One of the biggest challenges, hospital officials told the inspector general, was securing ventilators, given the machines' necessity in treating COVID-19 patients. With the supply of standard ventilators uncertain, some hospitals reported jury-rigging other equipment including anesthesia machines to serve as makeshift ventilators. In other cases, ventilators were adapted to serve two patients instead of one. Because of shortages of medical supplies, hospitals were "using new, unvetted, and non-traditional sources for equipment, but were concerned about quality, price gouging and fraud," it said. Chaun Powell, vice president of preparedness for Premier, a group purchasing organization for hospitals, told NBC News that the federal government or another independent organization needed to help vet products sold to hospitals. "Someone needs to say these have been tested and validated. They [sellers] request a material deposit on purchases frequently exceeding millions of dollars, and there is no current process for buyers to even know if the product that they are receiving is valid, fraudulent or faulty," Powell said. The disruption in the global medical supply chain and a spike in demand meant health care providers and various government agencies were competing for a limited pool of resources, the report said. "We are all trying to pull from the same small bucket," said a hospital administrator cited in the report. Apart from equipment shortages, hospital administrators also reported concerns about a lack of specialized health workers to meet the anticipated patient surge, including infectious disease specialists, respiratory therapists and doctors and nurses who can provide intensive and critical care. "You can build thousands of ventilators, but you need an army to manage the equipment and care for those patients," a hospital administrator said in the report. Lack of clear guidance from government Hospital directors said federal, state and local authorities had failed to provide clear guidance on the criteria for testing, on defining which nonemergency or elective medical procedures to delay or on supplies from the national stockpile and the use of personal protective gear. Hospital chiefs also told the inspector general's office that the federal government needed to offer advice on how to handle difficult ethical decisions about treating patients with limited resources and the potential legal liability for doctors. "For example, one hospital administrator described concerns about the liability embedded in decisions regarding which patients would receive assistance from a ventilator and which would not," the report said. Download the NBC News app for full coverage and alerts about the coronavirus outbreak The administrator told the inspector general: "Government needs to provide guidelines on ethics if health resources are limited and decisions need to be made about which patients to treat. Are physicians liable for their decisions if that happens?" Hospital directors voiced concerns about staffing for medical centers that already operate with stretched workforces with little or no surplus manpower, according to the report, and administrators at rural hospitals with small staffs are particularly worried. "One small, rural hospital explained that if one of its patients had tested positive for COVID-19 they would have had to put 16 staff members in quarantine, which the hospital said would essentially halt its operations," the report said. In a statement, an HHS spokesperson said: "HHS, alongside other federal agencies, has been working day and night to support local communities and take actions to help our healthcare system respond quickly and effectively. Secretary [Alex] Azar has already taken action on a recommendation in this report, requesting, among a series of proposals, that governors allow licensed healthcare providers to practice across state lines." "We appreciate valuable feedback from those on the frontlines of this pandemic, and we will continue to support [hospitals and other health care providers] in every way possible to defeat it." 'A world of hurt' In the aftermath of the Ebola outbreak in 2014 in West Africa, HHS required hospitals to submit preparedness plans for how they would handle the emergence of a serious infectious disease. In a sign that the hospitals could not imagine the magnitude of what they are facing now, 86 percent of hospital administrators told the HHS inspector general in October 2018 that they felt "prepared" for an infectious disease outbreak. More than 90 percent had purchased additional supplies, including personal protective gear. But hospital chiefs at the time said they were not focused as much on dealing with an emerging infectious disease because they were focused on the possibility of an active shooter or a natural disaster. One official noted the difficulty of "budgeting funds for the 'what ifs' when there is only so much money available and there are other priorities you know will happen." Another administrator told the inspector general in 2018, "We are prepared and have our processes in place, but if we were really hit with the large-scale influx of an [emerging infectious disease], we would be in a world of hurt." Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Leadership at the Montgomery County Hospital District is gathering Tuesday for a special meeting to discuss the handling of the coronavirus and is inviting the public to email questions about the outbreak. Scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday, the meeting will bring together MCHDs COO Melissa Miller, CEO Randy Johnson and EMS Chief James Campbell. MCHDs seven board members are also expected to attend via the Zoom video conferencing app, according to district spokeswoman Misti Willingham. Greg Laurie's Palm Sunday webcast draws 1.3M viewers, Trump: People are open to the Gospel Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment California megachurch pastor Greg Lauries Palm Sunday webcast service drew 1.3 million people, including President Donald Trump, with 11,207 people making decisions to have a relationship with Christ. Harvest Christian Fellowship, a multicampus church based in Riverside with campuses in California and Hawaii, said on Monday that "a lot of new people visited us" because of Trump's tweet, where he announced that he would be watching the service. Palm Sunday is the beginning of a Holy week for many people of Faith and a great day to lift our voices in Prayer, Trump tweeted on Saturday. I will be tuning into Pastor @greglaurie at @harvestorg Church in Riverside, California tomorrow at 11:00 A.M. Eastern. In a Facebook post, Laurie said that he was as surprised as anyone when he heard Trump say he would tune in for the service. I knew he might send a Tweet out about this, but I was not sure when, Laurie explained. Its not like he does not have a lot on his plate! I am thankful the President feels it is important for us as Americans to attend Church, even if it is only online now. Thank you, President Trump! Laurie, known for hosting evangelistic crusades at stadiums, mentioned that Trump had hoped to join Harvest's upcoming Easter service in person but "unfortunately that has not worked out." Although Trump said that it is sad that people have to watch Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday services on their computers, Laurie cited a verse from Matthew to stress that Jesus said that when two or more are gathered in my name, I am there in the midst of them. So we are having church in the home or wherever you are watching us, he said. The Lord is here with us. During the service, Associate Pastor Jason Powell said that the online response the church has received as been unbelievable. We never anticipated this work that God was prepared to do, Powell said. So what we did is we said, Lord, this is what we got. We offered our fish and loaf, so to speak. God has multiplied and cast a seed far beyond what we could imagine. The past three weeks, did you know we have had over 1 million people that have joined us online for Harvest at Home. Literally around the globe, from Texas to New York, from Hawaii to Germany and France, he added. Laurie contended during his sermon that there is a historic opportunity presented to Christians today. There is an open door for us right now into the world with the Gospel like I have not seen in my lifetime, he said. I have been preaching the Gospel for 45 years. I have never seen an opportunity like this, where people are open. We have the technology to reach them. Sure, we have always had satellite television and radio. But everybody carries [cell phones] around and you can access information that we are beaming across phones, tablets, and television screens. We can reach them with the Gospel. Laurie also used time during the service to voice his displeasure with people who dont seem to be responding appropriately to the threat of the coronavirus. We have been asked to maintain social distancing. So we are trying to do that up here [on stage]. But I hope you are doing it as well, the 67-year-old pastor said. Sometimes people are just ignoring it as though it has not been asked of us. I think we all want to be considerate of others. You could be a young person. You could get COVID-19 and not even be aware of it and pass it on to grandma without even realizing it. Lets respect one another. He also spoke out about people hoarding commodities like toilet paper, hand sanitizer and food items. Here is a great time for us to be selfless and not selfish to think of others, he said. He recited Ephesians 4:32: Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you. Palm Sunday is the first day of the Christian Holy Week leading up to Easter, which will take place next Sunday. Palm Sunday specifically celebrates Jesus journey into Jerusalem before He was crucified. Many churches across the globe are holding online-only services to observe social distancing in response to the novel coronavirus outbreak. This is not the first time that Trump watched a church service online during the coronavirus outbreak. In mid-March, Trump said he watched a March 15 church service led by pastor Jentezen Franklin at Free Chapel in Georgia. If you cant make great art during a global pandemic, when can you? Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/4/2020 (644 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion If you cant make great art during a global pandemic, when can you? Thats the view of Jordan Van Sewell, one of Manitobas best-known artists and a man who has been producing brilliantly whimsical ceramic sculptures for 47 years. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Van Sewell works in his South Point Douglas studio. "It certainly feeds the imagination, living in these times," Van Sewell, 65, told this columnist and longtime friend in a telephone interview from his home/studio in the Winnipeg neighbourhood of South Point Douglas. "For me, it gives me an opportunity to specifically address some of the big issues such as, are we going to make it through the pandemic? "When I look at some of the things that have happened in my work or my life whether its the Beatles on Ed Sullivan or the moon landing in 1969 or the birth of my children all these things are huge, but you think the possible end of the world is huge, too," he said. "Ive got to continue doing what I do through this pandemic and understanding it in my little artsy way. In the big picture, none of us has a voice in this." The silver lining amid the tragedy is it has given Van Sewell the two things an artist needs most: the time to create and inspiration to fuel the imagination. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS One of his latest pieces is called Heavy Seas, inspired by the pandemic and by artist Hieronymus Bosch. Van Sewell is hunkered down in his home/studio with wife, Joanne, son, Zane, and two cats, Pearl and Dude. His gallery on the second floor of The Forks Market has been shuttered since the novel coronavirus took its grip on Manitoba. "No responsibility other than stay home and take care of yourself," the artist explained. "Ive been staying home and making stuff... The pandemic has given me the opportunity to do a lot of work and the subject matter. You try to figure out what the heck is going on, and reflect that in your art." It has led him to create five remarkable pieces inspired by the outbreak, whimsical-yet-serious ceramic sculptures to offer a sense of hope in dark times. "All the pieces are meant to hang on the wall," he said. "Three of these are called Heavy Seas. Each... has a plague doctor (a physician who treated victims of the bubonic plague) in it like youd see in a painting by Hieronymus Bosch." The first features the long-nosed, sunglasses-and-babushka-wearing plague doctor on a raft with a skeleton and a dog. The second has the main character paddling a canoe in heavy waves. The third has the pointy-beaked figure and a surprised-looking dog in a barrel riding the waves. "Each one also has an element of optimism about it," Van Sewell offered. "The waves look like comforting arms that envelope you. Its a double-edged sword: the waves could topple the boat but, at the same time, they look like welcoming arms." The last two pandemic pieces depict heaven and hell. "Those are the logical options. The idea that, inevitably, thats where it ends, either heaven or hell." Van Sewell said hes not yet worried about keeping his famously beret-clad head and signature beard above water as the pandemic crushes the economy and threatens lives. However, he said, most artists throughout Manitoba are used to struggling, even during good times. "Everybody is going to be affected by it and, unfortunately, the effect is the money," he said. "Most artists are used to the idea (of scraping by). For a lot of these people, the idea of an income from art is not in the equation." His few outings in recent weeks have consisted mostly of visiting his shuttered gallery to water the plants. 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. "I go to The Forks, and theres nobody there," he said. "Its like one of those dystopian or apocalyptic movies. You can see how some people might feel its the end of the world." The upbeat, self-effacing artist considers the sculptures inspired by reality of a deadly pandemic to be among his best work, and said they are intended to reflect optimism and hope for the future. "I wouldnt be making this stuff even if it is tongue-in-cheek unless I knew there was a future for it and for me," Van Sewell said. "Its going to end, and well all end up in a new world and a better world as a result. Artists have a critical role to play in helping people get through dark times, providing insight and a sense of hope, he said. "It always has. Every day that goes by, art has helped me art hasnt failed us yet," he said. "Its a good thing to back during this pandemic. Im betting on art." doug.speirs@freepress.mb.ca Fighting body aches and chills and walking like a drunk, a veteran critical care nurse in Essex County said she continued to report to work, until her daughter described feeling just as lousy as she did. When her test came back positive for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, she called the human resources office at Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville to let them know she would not be in. They downplayed my symptoms and told me I should be back in five days, maybe seven days, said the nurse and single mother who requested anonymity because she said she feared retaliation. I am trying to gather all my energy and make myself feel better," she said. To be honest, I am scared. Five nurses, who say they either tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms, spoke to NJ Advance Media about their concerns in the workplace. The nurses, who work at hospitals in Essex and Bergen counties, said they understand the enormity of the disaster and how badly they are needed at work, but they said they dont feel like management is concerned enough about their safety. And they said they cant fathom how it makes sense to be sent back to work when they could possibly infect others. On Monday, the state Department of Health issued guidance for COVID-19-infected health care workers. Those with symptoms should stay home for seven days after symptoms first develop and for three days after the fever subsides without the aid of medication, whichever period is longer. Asymptomatic health care workers who test positive should stay home for a week after their first positive test, or longer if symptoms arise, the memo said. The state policy says when employees develop mild symptoms, they must cease patient care activities, don a face mask (if not already wearing), and notify their supervisor or occupational health services prior to leaving work. Debbie White, president of Health Professionals and Allied Employees, the largest health care worker union in New Jersey, said these guidelines appear stricter than those issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In comparison, the CDC policy says a worker who tests positive should not return until the fever is gone without medication, and there has been an improvement in respiratory symptoms and two tests taken at least 24 hours apart come back negative. The CDCs guidelines also present hospitals with a loophole, White said. Hospitals may decide the recommended approaches cannot be followed due to the need to mitigate HCP (health care professionals) staffing shortages," according to the CDC policy. Based on conversations with her members, it is clear some hospital executives in N.J. are following the looser CDC guidelines because staffing shortages are everywhere, White said. Its absolutely horrifying employees that are contagious can be brought back to work, White said. White said the public might expect the hospitals wouldnt want employees who are still sick taking care of patients. If they tell you to come back, are you insubordinate if you say no? My perception is this is an overly broad caveat by the CDC and they have put the public and other employees at risk," she said. Ellen Greene, a spokeswoman for RWJBarnabas Health, the parent company for 11 acute-care hospitals including Clara Maass, said in a statement that after consulting with the state health department, all facilities have determined that it is appropriate to have health care providers with all levels of exposure to COVID-19 continue to work if there is no evidence of even mild symptoms consistent with COVID-19. To protect our patients and employees, health care providers with known COVID-19 exposure will be screened prior to each shift in a non-clinical designated space for fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or GI symptoms prior to reporting to their department," Greenes statement said. Employees are required to wear a surgical mask for 14 days following exposure. Healthcare workers who test positive for COVID-19 should stay at home and self-quarantine if their symptoms are mild and isolate themselves from others. If respiratory distress occurs, they should go to the ER or call 911. If employees have signs or symptoms of illness, they should not report to work, Greenes statement said. New Jerseys hospitals, especially those in the northern and central part of the state, are overwhelmed. Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said on Saturday there were 4,000 patients in the hospital who have tested positive for COVID-19 with another 2,000 patients awaiting test results. There are 1,494 patients in intensive care units, with 1,263 on ventilators, Persichilli said. Asked about nurses claims that they are being forced back to work before they are recovered from COVID-19, Health Commissioner Persichilli said at the daily briefing Monday: "No individual that is symptomatic and our guidance is pretty specific on that - no individual should be returning to work. What awaits these returning nurses, respiratory therapists and other personnel in critical care units is an untenable workload. Last week, critical care nurses were assigned five patients on ventilators each, said another ICU nurse from Clara Maass who said she tested positive for the virus. The ratio for this time-consuming and labor-intensive job is usually two but no more than three patients per nurse, she said. On Saturday, the ratio climbed to one to six, she said. Clara Maass alerted the state health department it was divert status for at least a portion of every day from Monday through Saturday, according to the state website. It means a unit or the entire hospital does not have enough staffing, beds or both to accept new patients. The people who are out sick are trying to get well and go back to work. But it will be a cycle, she said. While she was home awaiting her test results, she said human resources called every day for four days asking if she was ready to come back to work. The health care workers are getting forced back to work even before their tests are back," she said. In the ICU, employees are issued one gown per patient, which they leave hanging in the patients room and slip on when they return, three critical care nurses said. Between administering medications, checking vital signs, suctioning airways, you are at high risk of catching it, said another ICU nurse at Clara Maass who was sidelined with a recurring fever last week. Pressured to prematurely return from her illness to a workplace rationing personal protective equipment, or PPE, the Clara Maass nurse with the infected child says she is resentful. She said she is aware of 20 employees who are infected. If you had taken care of the nurses taken care of us we can take care of patients," she said. I felt like a soldier being thrown on the front line and getting riddled with bullets with no ammunition. 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. Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. The U.S. had in a statement on February 3, said the Kebbi Governor was part of Abacha network that embezzled, misappropriated and extorted billions from the government of Nigeria. A suburban Chicago man shot dead his wife and then himself in what authorities say was a murder-suicide because he mistakenly thought the couple had contracted the coronavirus. According to a statement from the Will County Sheriff's Office, deputies who were dispatched to a home in the 400 block of Bruce Road in Lockport Township to conduct a welfare check discovered the bodies of 54-year-old Patrick Jesernik and 59-year-old Cheryl Schriefer. The two, whose bodies were found in separate rooms in the residence laying in pools of blood, had each been shot once in the head and a loaded revolver was near Jesernik's body. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Illinois man Patrick Jesernik, 54 (left), shot his wife, Cheryl Schriefer, 59 (right), in the back of the head and then turned the gun on himself, two days after she tested for coronavirus Officials wrote that all the doors and windows inside the house were locked from the inside, the home was 'neat and orderly' and there were no signs of struggle. The person who called police told deputies that he was contacted by Jesernik's family, who asked to check on him because they had not heard from him. A check of the address was conducted by detectives, which showed no previous calls for service in regards to domestic disputes. Deputies performing a welfare check on April 2 found the couple's bodies inside their home on Bruce Road in Lockport Township, Illinois It was reported that Schriefer was having a difficulty breathing, which is one of the symptoms of the coronavirus. The family said that to their knowledge, she had not received the test result. The next day, an autopsy was conducted on the couple and revealed that the woman was shot in the back of the head at close range. Her death was ruled a homicide. Jesernik died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and his death was ruled as a suicide. Both husband and wife tested negative for COVID-19. As of Monday afternoon, there were 347,516 cases of COVID-19 nationwide, including 11,260 in Illinois, and 10,358 deaths. Representative Image The government has said that tigers must be observed for symptoms consistent with COVID-19 such as respiratory signs of nasal discharge, coughing and laboured breathing through direct observation and camera trap images after one in New York's Bronx zoo tested positive. "Diligence needs to be exercised while handling post mortem cases to record location, age and sex of the animal while collecting samples for Corona virus diagnosis in consultation with the State Veterinary officials while safeguarding oneself through appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)," the government has written in a letter to wildlife wardens. In another letter, the government has said that the United States Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratories has confirmed the presence of COVID-19 in tiger housed in Bronx Zoo, New York, and therefore, all zoo personnel should remain in high alert. As Coronaviruses are known to affect gastrointestinal system in felines, requisite correlation may be made for characterizing the virus type in consultation with the state veterinary department, the letter 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 "For COVID-19 diagnosis as well as differential diagnoses and characterization as highlighted above, samples may be sent to ICAR approved laboratories as per enclosure," the letter said. Track this blog for latest updates on coronavirus outbreak The government has advised that frontline staff as well as veterinary officials should gear up to engage in monitoring tiger mortality in areas under the jurisdiction of the said authority to detect the disease and prevent any spread in tigers in the wild. "Being a notifiable disease, any positive case needs to be reported immediately to the NTCA for onward transmission to Authorities concerned," the letter said. Vietnam Airlines aircraft (Source: VNA) Accordingly, the carrier will conduct three flights per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on each route from April 7-15. It continues operating one flight a day from Hanoi to HCM City and vice versa. The carriers flight schedule at this time will flexibly rely on the reality. It commits to supporting passengers on domestic flights in changing their flights or routes as its current regulations. Crew members on all of its flights will be equipped with protective gears. They and passengers will have a body temperature check and must make health declarations before boarding flights. All planes will be disinfected after landing in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam Airlines has suspended international flights until April 30. Jitendra Kumar Rathod, who gained medical qualifications from Bombay University in 1977, moved to the UK and worked for years in the National Health Service (NHS), has died after being infected by coronavirus, officials in Wales said on Monday night. The Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: It is with profound sadness that we must inform you that Mr Jitendra Rathod, Associate Specialist in Cardio-thoracic Surgery at the University Hospital of Wales, has passed away. Indian doctors and nurses are among frontline NHS staff dealing with thousands of patients in hospitals across the UK. Doctors who qualified in India are the second largest group employed in the NHS, after those qualifying in the UK. The board added: He died early this morning on our General Intensive Care unit after testing positive for Covid-19. Jitu had worked in the Department of Cardio-thoracic Surgery since the mid-1990s and came back to UHW in 2006 after a brief stint abroad. He was an incredibly dedicated surgeon who cared deeply for his patients. He was well-liked and greatly respected by one and all. He was a very compassionate and a wonderful human being. His commitment to the specialty was exemplary, the board said in a tribute. Rathod is survived by his wife and two sons. The number of people dying of coronavirus in the UK rose on Monday to 5,373, most likely including many of Indian origin from the 1.5 million strong Indian community. The NHS does not disclose the ethnicity of the dead. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Prasun Sonwalkar Prasun Sonwalkar was Editor (UK & Europe), Hindustan Times. During more than three decades, he held senior positions on the Desk, besides reporting from Indias north-east and other states, including a decade covering politics from New Delhi. He has been reporting from UK and Europe since 1999. ...view detail People gather in front of the U.S. Supreme Court as decisions are handed down on June 27, 2019 in Washington, DC. The form does not ask about immigration status: the high court blocked a citizenship question from being added to the 2020 Census. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images) In context: coronavirus emergency legislation Unprecedented is a word that is used almost daily in these unprecedented times, but both the UK and Scottish governments have introduced emergency legislation of a kind that was last passed in the Second World War. Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill In the fastest turnaround for a bill in Scottish parliamentary history, the Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 31 March and all three stages were passed in a single day on 1 April. The bill introduces temporary measures to cover the expected period of disruption from coronavirus for six months until 30 September. If necessary, the measures can be extended for two further periods of six months, although they can also be cut short if no longer needed. Whats in it? The bill covers a number of areas from criminal justice to licensing to renting property. It offers more protection for tenants, with the period before a tenant can be evicted for rent arrears increased to six months, although tenants will still be able to be evicted in three months for criminal or antisocial behaviour or if the landlord wants to move into the property. For commercial tenants where the landlord has served notice for rent arrears, it extends the time by which the money must be paid from 14 days to 14 weeks. For those in serious debt who are considering a formal debt solution such as bankruptcy, it allows them to apply for a six-month breathing space during which creditors must hold off on taking enforcement action such as seizing money from bank accounts. Another key provision of the bill is the release of prisoners to ease pressure on the prison system. Certain categories of offender are excluded, such as those serving life sentences, those imprisoned for terrorist offences and anyone who is thought to pose a threat to the community. It also allows for the possibility of some court cases being conducted via video and audio link and extends the limit on when cases must be brought to court by three months for summary cases and six months for solemn cases. The bill allows local authorities to make decisions for the benefit of a vulnerable adult even if that adult has a welfare attorney to make decisions for them, extends planning permission by a year if it is about to expire within six months and allows licensing hearings to be conducted remotely. It also makes some amendments around timescales in the childrens hearings system. Jury trials have been a feature in Scotland since the reign of Alexander II in 1230. For almost 800 years people in Scotland who are victims or witnesses have been able to give their evidence to a jury, and for the accused to know that their peers are judging them. This is not something to abandon when we can adapt to meet the challenge in other ways Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton Anything controversial? Oh yes! The Scottish Government had originally proposed suspending jury trials for solemn cases (the most serious crimes) and simply having a judge preside over the trial instead, since it would put jury members at risk of coronavirus being in court. However, following an outcry from the legal profession, opposition parties and even some of his own party, justice secretary Humza Yousaf announced that the government would drop that part of the bill. He said he will discuss with the judiciary, legal profession, victims and opposition parties to find a practical, achievable solution. Separate legislation around trials will be brought back at the first sitting of parliament after Easter on 21 April. Another controversial proposal was extending the period of time for public bodies to respond to freedom of information (FOI) requests from the standard 20 working days (one month) to 60 working days (three months) and allowing public bodies to extend this by another 40 working days if it is not reasonably practicable to respond within the time period, plus the same extensions for review of the request, making a possible 200 working days for a response. The opposition tried to put through several amendments to this, but only one was passed, from Green MSP Ross Greer, removing the 40-day extension from the response and from the review, making the total maximum turnaround time for an FOI request 120 working days or just under six months. Anything else? Also controversial was the fact that there was a reduced number of MSPs in the chamber due to social distancing requirements and some MSPs self-isolating, but the reduction was not proportionate across parties, leaving the SNP and the opposition parties with equal numbers of MSPs, despite the SNP being a minority government. This meant that it was impossible for the opposition parties to get any amendments through without support from at least one SNP MSP, with the presiding officer casting a deciding vote against any amendment where there was a tie. Whats going on at UK level? The UK Governments emergency coronavirus legislation, now the Coronavirus Act 2020, was passed by MPs on 23 March and approved by the Lords on 25 March. This included wide-ranging changes, from allowing retired NHS staff to return to work to giving statutory sick pay from day one and giving the police and immigration services new quarantine powers. It also gives the UK Government power to ban events or public gatherings, close schools and childcare facilities and postpone local elections. Initially Boris Johnson had intended the act to be in place for two years, but under pressure from opposition parties, he reduced it to six months with the possibility of renewal. What about elsewhere? Two countries have been held up in particular as being good and bad examples of legislative response to coronavirus. Last week Hungary passed laws that effectively create a dictatorship, giving president Victor Orban power to rule by decree indefinitely with no elections and to jail anyone publishing false information for up to five years, which it is feared could be used against journalists criticising the government. New Zealand, on the other hand, has been praised for its handling of the situation, with an oversight group with a majority of opposition MPs and FOI issues dealt with simply through a statement from the ombudsman that they will take the circumstances into account regarding response times rather than changes to legislation. (TNS) The coronavirus pandemic has driven millions into their homes and forced them to rely on the Internet to maintain vital connections with family and friends. But it has also laid bare an underlying problem: spotty, sometimes non-existent wireless service in rural areas including some places in Madison County.Ive called a bunch of places and the best (service) I found is one thats like $100 a month, said Michael Clark, who lives outside Alexandria. A lot of places just dont offer it where I live.At least 20 million people in the United States lack broadband Internet access, according to a report from the Federal Communications Commission. The divide, perhaps not surprisingly, falls largely along economic lines. A 2017 study by Deloitte, the worlds largest professional services company, found that rural customers sometimes pay more than three times more for broadband service than suburban customers.During the pandemic, many major telecommunications companies are taking steps to mitigate cost issues, including waiving late payment fees and overage charges on data plans as well as opening public Wi-Fi hot spots for general use.Connectivity is always essential to our customers doctors and nurses, first responders, governments, banks, grocery stores, pharmacies and others delivering vital services, AT&T Communications CEO Jeff McElfresh wrote in an open letter on the companys website. Its even more critical during a public health crisis thats challenging everyone.In Madison County, officials are hearing scattered concerns about Internet access from residents who rely on public computers at libraries or community centers.We have had some people reach out to our office who are concerned with filing for unemployment, said Christy Clark, executive assistant with the City of Elwood. They dont have home computers, the library is closed and stuff. A lot of what were doing now is just seeing what we can do to help.A spokesperson for AT&T said the company has seen significant spikes in bandwidth usage since early March, especially with video conferencing as businesses conduct meetings virtually. One day last week saw an estimated 16 million minutes of video calls across the companys network, more than double the volume of an average day, according to Phil Hayes, lead public relations manager for AT&Ts corporate communications office in Chicago.We are adapting and adding capacity when and where needed to address the minimal congestion resulting from the shift of traffic from work and school to home, Hayes said in an email.As the federal government steps in to help businesses of all sizes with a $2.2 trillion stimulus package, some local officials see an opportunity to make meaningful improvements to the areas broadband grid.Its unfortunate that some of these issues have gone unaddressed for a long period of time, says Clayton Whitson, president and CEO of the Madison County Chamber of Commerce. But if were looking for a silver lining in all this, its that we could finally be seeing this come to the forefront of peoples minds as issues to be addressed. An FIR was registered under the Epidemic Diseases Act against 16 people, including seven minors, associated with Tablighi Jamaat in Chhattisgarh's Korba district on Monday for allegedly hiding their travel history and resisting medical screening, police said. A 16-year-old boy, who tested positive for COVID-19 on April 4 and admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Raipur, is among them, they said. According to police, at least one person among the 16 had attended the Jamaat congregation at the Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi last month, but didn't disclose this to authorities. The case was registered at Katghora police station based on a complaint lodged by Block Medical Officer (BMO), said Korba Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena. Earlier, the 16 people had informed authorities that they came to Korba from Nagpur in Maharashtra on March 2. However, investigation revealed that they reached Korba on March 14, he said. "They had also said that none of them had attended the religious congregation of Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin last month, but it was found that one among them had attended the event on March 8-9 before coming here," the SP said. The congregation, also attended by some foreign nationals, became a prime catalyst for rapid spread of infection in many states of the country. Besides, when health officials decided to take their samples they allegedly resisted and did not cooperate, Meena said. They allegedly came in contact with people of their community in the area and even ate meals with them in violation of the quarantine protocol, he said. All the 16, including their head Mohammad Anwar Kamaal, were booked under sections 188 (defying lawful order of a public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897, he said. Nobody is arrested so far, the SP said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ellen DeGeneres has spoken of her love for her crew as she returned to television amid accusations that she is mean off-camera. The US talk show host has been self-isolating at home since coronavirus led to a total shutdown of film and television production. She has now returned to air, however, with episodes filmed entirely in her living room. I wanted to start doing my new show as soon as possible because its really for people who are stuck at home, she said during her first episode back, which broadcast today (6 April). Especially my staff and crew. I love them. I miss them and the best way I can support them is to keep the show on the air. While DeGeneres was off-air, she was at the centre of a viral scandal, in which a comedian promised to donate $2 to a Los Angeles food bank in exchange for every insane story his followers tweeted him about DeGeneres. He branded the TV personality notoriously one of the meanest people alive. A number of unverified stories soon poured in, with apparent former employees of The Ellen Show, as well as Los Angeles residents, sharing alleged encounters with the star. Comedian Kevin T Porter, the man responsible for the campaign, ended up donating $600 in total. A representative for DeGeneres and The Ellen Show failed to comment on the thread when contacted by The Independent. In 2018, however, DeGeneres was asked by the New York Times about tabloid stories accusing her of being unpleasant to the staff on her show, and denied them. Its an outright lie, she said. DeGeneres has not directly spoken on the Twitter thread herself, but did potentially nod to the scandal in an Instagram message in which she addressed her former crew members. Ive asked them all to continue to stay home with their loved ones and disconnect for a week, DeGeneres said. And I wish I hadnt. I miss them. Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up In her first show back, DeGeneres spoke to guests Chrissy Teigen and John Legend via webcam. She also joked in the episode that staying self-isolated at home with wife Portia de Rossi was comparable to prison. DeGeneres said: Its mostly because Ive been wearing the same clothes for 10 days and everyone in here is gay. Notice is hereby given that on the initiative and by the resolution of the Board of AB Klaipedos nafta, legal entity code 110648893, with the registered office at Buriu str. 19, Klaipeda (hereinafter - the Company), Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company will be held on 28 April 2020 at 1:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Company's office at Buriu str. 19, Klaipeda, in the administrative office of the Company (in the hall of the meeting on the 2nd floor). Agenda of the meeting: Announcement of the Auditor's Report regarding the Financial Statements and Annual Report of the Company for the year 2019 to the shareholders; Announcement of the Annual Report of the Company for the year 2019 to the shareholders; Approval of the audited Financial Statements of the Company for the year 2019; Approval of the appropriation of profit (loss) of the Company for the year 2019; Approval of Remuneration Policy of AB Klaipedos nafta. In light of the fact that a lockdown has been extended in the Republic of Lithuania in accordance with Resolution No 264 of 25 March 2020 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, it is recommended that all shareholders participate in the meeting by completing the general ballot paper and submitting it in advance to the Company (Annex No 2). Please inform us about the need to physically attend the General Meeting of Shareholders no later than 3 business days before General Meeting of Shareholders via below specified emails. In all cases, Shareholders of the Company without personal protective equipment will not be allowed to participate in to the General Meeting of Shareholders. The Company reserves the right not to allow participation in to the General Meeting of Shareholders for those shareholders whose health condition are reasonably doubtful. The shareholders will be registered from 12:00 a.m. to 12:55 p.m. The persons intending to participate in the meeting shall have a personal ID document (an authorized representative shall have an authorization approved under the established procedure. The natural person's authorization shall be notarized. An authorization issued in a foreign state shall be translated into the Lithuanian language and legalized under the procedure prescribed by the laws). A shareholder or his proxy shall have the right to vote in writing in advance by filling in a general ballot paper. At the request of the shareholder, the Company shall send a general ballot paper to the shareholder by registered mail free of charge at least 10 days before the meeting. The filled-in general ballot paper and the document attesting the voting right shall be submitted to the Company no later than until the meeting, sending by registered mail or providing them at the address of the registered office of the Company indicated in the notice. The shareholders who hold shares carrying at least 1/20 of all the votes may propose additions to the agenda of the general meeting of shareholders by submitting with every proposed additional item of the agenda a draft resolution of the general meeting of shareholders or, when no resolution is required, an explanation. Proposals on addition to the agenda shall be submitted in writing or sent by e-mail. Written proposals shall be submitted to the Company on business days or sent by registered mail at the address of the registered office of the Company indicated in the notice. Proposals submitted by e-mail shall be sent to the following e-mails: info@kn.lt and i.berzauskas@kn.lt . The agenda shall be supplemented if the proposal is received no later than 14 days before the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. If the agenda of the general meeting of shareholders is supplemented, the Company shall notify on the additions no later than 10 days before the meeting in the same ways as in the case of convocation of the meeting. The shareholders, who hold shares carrying at least 1/20 of all the votes, at any time before the general meeting of shareholders or during the meeting, may propose new draft resolutions on items which are or will be included in the agenda of the meeting. The proposals may be submitted in writing or sent by e-mail. Written proposals shall be submitted to the Company on business days or sent by registered mail at the address of the registered office of the Company indicated in the notice. Proposals submitted by e-mail shall be sent to the following e-mails: info@kn.lt and i.berzauskas@kn.lt . The shareholders shall have the right to submit to the Company in advance questions relating to the items on the agenda of the meeting. The shareholders may submit their written questions to the Company on business days or send by registered mail at the address of the registered office of the Company indicated in the notice no later than 3 business days before the meeting. The Company will reply to the questions by e-mail or in writing before the meeting, except the questions which are related to the Company's commercial (industrial) secret, confidential information or which have been submitted later than 3 business days before the meeting. The Company does not provide the possibility of participating and voting at the meeting by means of electronic communications. The shareholder shall have the right to authorize through electronic communications means another personand i.berzauskas@kn.lt no later than until the last business day before the meeting at 1:00 p.m. The proxy and the notice must be issued in writing. The proxy and the notice to the Company shall be signed with the electronic signature but not the letter sent by e-mail. By submitting the notice to the Company, the shareholder shall include the internet address from which it would be possible to download software free of charge to verify the shareholder's electronic signature. The record date of the meeting shall be 21 April 2020 (only those persons who will be shareholders of the Company at the close of the record date of the general meeting of shareholders or their authorized persons, or persons with whom an agreement on assignment of the voting right has been executed, may participate and vote at the general meeting of shareholders). The record date which entitles shareholders to receive a portion of the Company's profit (dividend) - 13 May 2020. The shareholders of the Company may familiarise with the draft resolution of the meeting and the form of the general ballot paper under the procedure prescribed by the laws in the registered office of the Company at Buriu str. 19, Klaipeda. The following information and documents shall be provided on the abovementioned internet website of the Company: - The notification on convocation of the meeting; - Total number of the Company's shares and the number of shares with voting rights on the convening day of the meeting. Enclosed: Draft decisions; Ballot paper; Financial Statements, auditor's report and annual report; Remuneration policy. Jonas Lenksas, Chief Financial Officer, +370 694 80594. Attachments Just weeks ago, there was no such thing as a Covid doctor. Now there are thousands of us. Some of us feel unprepared. Some of us are afraid. But all of us will rise to the occasion. We will conquer our fear. We will acquire a new set of skills. We will learn things that we never thought we would. We will learn them fast. At times, we will feel lost. We will ask for help. On the front lines everybody gets lost, but no one gets left behind. As Covid doctors, we have put our egos aside. We are humbled by the task ahead of us. We are all back to being interns, learning all over again. And just as we found when we were interns, no job is too menial, no task is beneath us. Any contribution helps. Every one of us counts. Our enemy may have exposed our systems vulnerability, but it has also revealed our strengths. As the pandemic progresses, we will have to make difficult decisions. Vital equipment may become scarce; medications may run out. But we will have an endless supply of compassion, an endless supply of understanding, an endless supply of support. We are not fighting this war alone. The true front-line troops are the nurses, the respiratory therapists and the physician assistants. They are at the highest risk of getting hurt in this war. We doctors will support them in every way we can. We will protect them with every means necessary. Without them, we cannot win this battle. We feel privileged to serve humanity in ways that others cannot. It is not in our nature to sit by idly in times like these. We understand that it must be frustrating to those of you who cannot help. We feel your love. We feel your support. We may not be able to hear your sunset clapping or your cheers on the street; the ringing of ventilators is all we hear. Yet when we walk home, we know you are behind us. TOWN OF NORWAY Longtime Town Supervisor Ralph Schopp faces an in-house challenge in the April 7 election for Town Board one coming from within the town government. Challenging Schopp for the supervisor No. 3 post is Melissa Grohs, a member of the Town of Norway Planning Commission and former deputy town clerk. The term is two years and pays $7,000 annually. Timothy Hansen is running unopposed for supervisor No. 4. Christina L. Bass is running unopposed for municipal judge, which is a four-year term and pays $8,667 annually. The candidates running for supervisor No. 3 submitted written responses to the following two questions. What do you see as the issues in the race? GROHS: Government transparency is always an issue for most government municipalities. I want to make sure the residents are confident about their access they can obtain from the town and gain better feedback. I would like to see the agenda materials online, not just the agenda itself. This can provide a paperless packet for board members and eliminate paper copies thrown away after the meetings. I am a Planning Commissioner for the Town of Norway and see progressive development in our community. I want to make sure the plans fit the parcel. Lastly, a plan for employees retiring in the future. With long-term employees planning for retirement, I want to make sure the candidate selection is a smooth transition. SCHOPP: As far as issues in the race, our town is currently running smoothly. We must constantly be aware of the town road conditions and address any issues that may come up. What qualifications make you a good candidate? GROHS: My qualifications for making me a good candidate are having over 20 years of experience in business management including with government and nonprofits. As a former deputy clerk for the Town of Norway, I understand the full operational side of the town. I enjoyed connecting with residents and being able to resolve issues they brought to the town. If elected as a town supervisor, I would continue to connect with residents and be their voice on the board. SCHOPP: As a town supervisor since 1998, I have attended many trainings, town association meetings and other avenues of education to stay current with our town and State of Wisconsin. I represent the taxpayers of the township and take pride in keeping the town clean. I stay current with town drainage issues and strive to keep roads in good condition. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Kathmandu, April 6 The Nepal Army has broken its silence on a recent government decision about assigning it for purchasing and supplying the medical equipment necessary for the countrys Covid-19 response. Though the decision had triggered criticisms from multiple stakeholders including leaders of the ruling Nepal Communist Party, the national military institution was silent for the past few days. But the army hosted a video press conference in Kathmandu on Sunday and assured the purchase and supply process would be transparent. The army spokesperson Bigyan Dev Pandey said the institution was aware of the criticisms and concerns, stating the decision was legitimate enough as the Cabinet decided as per constitutional and legal provisions. If you look at the Cabinet decision, it says the Ministry of Defence, via Nepal Army, will purchase the supplies in the government-to-government model, Pandey said, We have already begun the procedure to purchase the goods as soon as possible in coordination with the concerned agencies. He was of the view that the army was not alone in the process, but others would also be involved, so there would not be any possibility of irregularities. He said the army would withdraw from the responsibility. The government trusted our mechanism and handed over responsibility. We are ready to meet them. Ukraine Says Fire Extinguished Near Contaminated Site Of Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service April 05, 2020 Emergency authorities in Ukraine say there are no signs of any fire still burning in the uninhabited exclusion zone around the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear plant after firefighters mobilized to put out a blaze. The country's State Emergency Service said early on April 5 that background radiation levels were "within normal limits." More than 130 firefighters, three aircraft, and 21 vehicles were deployed on April 4 to battle the fire, which was said to have burned around 20 hectares (50 acres) in the long-vacated area near where an explosion at a Soviet nuclear plant in 1986 sent a plume of radioactive fallout high into the air and across swaths of Europe. Fire and safety crews were said to be inspecting the area overnight on April 4-5 to eliminate any threat from sites where there was still smoldering. The blaze required seven airdrops of water, officials said. The Ukrainian State Emergency Service said that "as of April 5, 7:00 a.m., there was no open fire, only some isolated cells smoldering." It said firefighters hadn't seen any flames since around 8:00 p.m. on April 4. Officials had earlier shared images taken from an aircraft of white smoke blanketing the area, where it said firefighting was complicated by "an increased radiation background in individual areas of combustion." There was no threat to settlements, the State Emergency Service said. A number of regions of Ukraine this week have reported brushfires amid unseasonably dry conditions. WATCH: The Chernobyl Disaster: How It Happened Fires are a routine threat in the forested region around the exclusion zone where an explosion 33 years ago ripped a roof off the fourth reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant near the now-abandoned town of Pripyat. The 1986 explosion sent a cloud of radioactive material high into the air above then-Soviet Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia, as well as across Europe as Soviet officials denied there had been any accidents. Dozens of people in Ukraine died in the immediate aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster, and thousands more have since died from its effects, mainly exposure to radiation. A second massive protective shelter over the contaminated reactor was completed in 2016 in hopes of preventing further radiation leaks and setting the stage for the eventual dismantling of the structure. With additional reporting by Interfax Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-says-fire- extinguished-near-contaminated-site-of-chernobyl- nuclear-disaster/30532240.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address For the first time in many years, Christians in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis could not attend church services and embark on a procession to celebrate Palm Sunday. Christians could not be on the streets for the usual processions through some principal streets of Takoradi amidst brass band music, waving palm fronds and singing Hosanna. Before the social distancing guidelines were issued due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, Christians celebrated the day with processions and the distribution of palm branches while many churches were filled to capacity with the premises decorated with palm fronds. Though many of the churches visited by the Ghana News Agency were closed and filled with empty pews, the joyous message of Christs triumphant entry into Jerusalem were delivered through radio, television and social media to members. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on March 15, ordered the closure of all schools and universities and the suspension of all public gatherings for four weeks as a means to stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. These public gatherings included conferences, workshops, funerals, festivals, political rallies, sporting events and religious events such as services in churches and mosques. Hitherto, in the Twin-City, many churches were decorated with crafted crosses from palm leaves while children served as an integral part of the service since they enjoyed the processions with the crafted crossed palm fronds amidst singing Hosanna. At the Star of the Sea Catholic Cathedral Church and the Bethel Methodist Church in Takoradi, the main gates to the church compound were under locks while they were decorated with palm leaves. Some Christians who spoke to the Ghana News Agency were not even aware of the day since they were thinking about the COVID-19 pandemic and the threats it imposed on the economy. According to them, though they wont have the opportunity to congregate in church, the development offered them the opportunity to have a feel of what the early Christians encountered before most of them suffered persecution and annihilation. Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast celebrated in all major Christian churches, Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox. The day is also known as Passion Sunday in recognition of the beginning of Holy Week and Jesus final agonizing journey to His crucifixion, the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in each of the four canonical Gospels. 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. Featured Video Wits engineers make face shields to protect healthcare workers A team of innovative Witsies is using their design and engineering skills to create face shields in aid of the fight against COVID-19. An amazing sense of social solidarity and patriotism has pervaded South Africa recently with many people offering their knowledge and skills to aid the country in its fight against the coronavirus. The escalating spread of the virus has increased the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies as more people test positive for COVID-19 daily. Healthcare facilities in the country are seeing a shortage in these supplies for their staff. On Friday, 27 March 2020, Netcare 911, one of the healthcare facilities currently experiencing a massive shortage of protective gear, called on the 3D printing community to assist with printing head rings for face shields for use by medical staff treating patients with COVID-19. Teams at Wits from the Digital Incubator at the Tshimologong Precinct, the School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering (MIA) along with the Transnet Centre of Systems Engineering (TCSE) and the Transnet Matlafatso Centre (TMC) heeded the call and used their engineering prowess to assist with a solution to the problem. Recognising that each head ring for the face shields would take approximately 90 minutes to produce and with limited 3D printing capacity, a team made up of Guy Richards, Letlotlo Phohole, Moses Mogotlane, Palesa Riba and Randall Paton, ,decided on a laser cut solution that would save time. Netcare was going to provide the actual shield and clips to put it together. We were not happy with the limitation and wanted to use what is readily available to us, cheap to make, and light-weight. Most of all, we wanted to produce a complete product. We also anticipated long printing times with a 3D printer and possible filament shortages given the national drive for face shields and masks, said Letlotlo Phohole, Acting Director of TCSE and TMC. After numerous attempts on Monday, 30 March to cut the shield from downloaded files from GitHub and Thingiverse a software development platform where over 40 million developers collaborate online to host and review code, manage projects, and build software the Wits team re-designed the original designs, applying rapid prototyping processes, which they then cut using their laser cutter. The face shields, which are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheeting, are a flat pack consisting of two pieces that can be rapidly assembled. The School had stock of the PVC sheeting from another earlier project. The shields are therefore being provided at no cost to the hospitals, says Paton. Adhering to best safety practices is crucial in the production of these face shields. We ensure that after production they [face shields] are washed, rinsed, and dried to remove any potentially harmful residue from the laser cutting. This is done in a production line fashion and is now the tightest bottleneck in the project, given that we only have one working laser cutter, added Paton. With an average production time of 3 minutes (including setup time) to cut a set of pieces for each face shield, the team anticipates making 200 to 500 shields a day to help meet the growing demand of protective gear for medical staff. We have developed a system that lets us feed the rolled plastic directly into the cutting bed and draw more through when done so speed is climbing, said Paton. The team has reduced the cutting time to 90 second per shield but the washing and drying still add to that time. Four days since the call from Netcare 911, by Tuesday, 31 March, the Wits team had produced 140 face shields and distributed 120 to the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre and another 20 to the Wits Protection Services staff. An additional 300 face shields have been produced to date, of which 200 will be donated to Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and 100 to Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital. The Wits engineers hope to distribute face shields to Helen Joseph and Chris Hani Baragwanath hospitals, which are also Wits teaching hospitals. Head of MIA, Professor Robert Reid hailed the team for their extraordinary contribution to society saying that they are upholding one of the five core values of the School, botho (humanity). A core value of our School is botho. We strive to nurture and develop the community of which we are part. During this time of national crisis, it is imperative that we use our skills and facilities in any way that will serve our community. I am therefore delighted that we are able to help keep safe the healthcare workers on the frontline in their fight against this awful pandemic. Paton said the nationwide response to the call had inspired him. I think that many South Africans, as a nation of make-a-plan, are frustrated by not being able to help in a tangible way during the lockdown and this has channelled that energy somewhere. This has been as inspiring to be a part of as watching everyone trying to help Netcare with 3D printing for the face shields. These are extraordinary people in extraordinary times. The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment plans to develop other medical equipment, including respirators, devices to prevent people from touching their faces, and medical masks (with filters made out of vacuum cleaner bags and make-up cotton pads designed by students of their own volition). These cross-disciplinary projects will involve people from different faculties at Wits and other stakeholder groups. Over R100 000 has been raised for this initiative from 68 donors. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation towards this cause or other initiatives at Wits University against COVID-19, please follow https://wits.devman.co.za/devman/covid-19/giving/ and donate directly to the Wits Covid-19 Discretionary Fund or donate to the Wits Foundation. Bank details: Wits University Foundation Standard Bank of South Africa Ltd Current Account number: 002900076 Branch code: 00 48 05 Swift code: SB-ZAZ-AJJ For non-monetary donations for this initiative, email randall.paton@wits.ac.za US Hardens GPS Satellites After String of Hacking Attacks News Analysis The U.S. Space Force announced its Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite underwent a major digital hardening to withstand state and non-state jamming and hacking attacks. The Space Force announced on March 27 the operational deployment of GPS Block III, a third generation satellite constellation, and anti-jamming Ground Operational Control System software upgrade to harden the system against spoofing by hackers. Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are now used in everything from cellular communications, transportation, consumer goods, and securities trading to high-end military systems. But hackers since 2014 have successfully compromised positioning, navigational, and timing (PNT) data by employing electronic warfare (EW) capabilities. One of the most famous spoofing attacks occurred on May 15, 2018 when President Vladimir Putin inaugurated the 12-mile Kerch Strait Bridge that links Crimea to Russia. As Putin drove across the bridge in a bright-orange truck, Russian EW units tapped into Americas GPS network to spoof the control rooms of 24 vessels anchored nearby. The ships displayed false data about their location and showed they were sitting on Russias Anapa Airport runways 40 miles (65 kilometers) away. The incident alarmed national security circles because the Russians penetrated both the publicly available GPS signals, and the U.S. militarys encrypted Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX). The OCX provides the digital command and control interfaces for all ground, air, and space forces. The Obama administration launched OCX in 2012 with a budget of $3.7 billion to incorporate MATLAB programming language, M-code, as a standard for all encrypted military communications. But the budget had ballooned to $6.2 billion by 2016. A major cause of the cost spike was blamed on the decision by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to sell the IBM x86 Intel-based line to Chinese-owned Lenovo in Aug. 2014. The sale included 34 R&D labs, product development, and seven manufacturing plants. IBM held the prime hardware contract to supply all OCX servers. In April 2015, it was discovered that the U.S. Office of Personnel Managements employee files had been hacked since March 2014. The data was exported with the same tools used by Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) cyberespionage Unit 61398 that had already been indicted in absentia for hacking Anthem, Westinghouse, and U.S. Steel. In July 2018, China EW teams were found spoofing the locations for multiple container ships in Shanghai harbor that are required to broadcast GPS-linked Automatic Identification System locations to avoid collisions. Several nations, including Iran, have used electronic warfare tools to spoof the movement by one ship. But this was the first confirmed spoofing of multiple stationary ships moving to another harbor location and then forming into a circle. The Drive technology blog suggested the Chinese government may be using the Port of Shanghai as a testing ground for a new GPS spoofing system that its military or security forces could ultimately employ elsewhere. Such GPS spoofing attacks could imperil U.S. aircraft and ships operating in the contested waters of the South China Sea. The GPS 3 is over three times more accurate than the existing GPS technology. Its more powerful signal provides greater reliability and can overcome radio interference that often caused GPS signal degradation. With its 31 satellite constellation, it is also optimized for expanded 5G applications. With the Lenovo contract running through August 2022, the Trump administrations Space Force officially ruled on March 26 that the China-made servers are an unacceptable risk, and authorized a $378 million emergency expenditure for U.S.-based Hewlett-Packard Enterprises (HPE) to replace the Lenovo hardware. The Press Information Bureau has said that an image of a prominent news channel claiming Home Minister Amit Shah has coronavirus is completely fake. The morphed image has been doing rounds on social media since Sunday. The Press Information Bureau of India (PIB), through their fake news detection initiative PIB Fact Check, put out a tweet making the clarification. The PIB Fact Check said, "A morphed image being shared on social media cites a prominent Hindi news channel claiming Union Home Minister Amit Shah has been infected with COVID19. The image is fake and aims to spread confusion." The fact-checker also requested people to not share or forward such fake news on social media. A morphed image being shared on social media cites a prominent Hindi news channel claiming Union Home Minister @amitshah has been infected with #COVID19 The image is #Fake and aims to spread confusion. Please do not share or forward it. pic.twitter.com/3evj8DFUiA - PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) April 5, 2020 According to the Health Ministry, the number of active coronavirus cases in the country was at 3,666 as of 9:00 am on Monday. Two hundred and ninety-one people have been cured/discharged, so far 109 people have died due to the coronavirus. Also Read: Coronavirus Live Updates: 490 cases in 12 hours; active patients rise to 3,666; death toll 109 Also Read: Coronavirus pandemic: India faces 'greatest emergency' since Independence, says Raghuram Rajan If the old adage of curiosity killing the cat is true, it may well be that charisma saved the squirrel. Some invasive species, such as the North American grey squirrel, have the innate ability to endear themselves to humans. This leads to public opinion shifting in favour of the animals and away from the conservationists tying to limit their spread. Attempts to control populations of the foreign animal in Italy, for example, resulted in public opposition and long-drawn legal battles, stunting conservation efforts. Scroll down for video The popular North American grey squirrel in Italy (pictured) threatens the existence of the native red squirrel but its charisma endeared itself to the media and public which hindered population control efforts from conservationists This is despite the animal threatening native red squirrels as they carry a disease they are immune to but can be lethal to their auburn cousins. Conservationists in Italy proposed measures to control the grey squirrel's population and stop its spread but the scientists did not account for the animal's appeal. Emotive messages in the media and disgust from the public revealed adoration of bushy-tailed rodents extended to both trans-Atlantic species. Researchers say this is all driven by the 'charisma' of the animal, which they say is its popularity and perception by humans. A 'concept and question' paper published in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment sees researchers outline their findings. They write: 'Charisma can, and historically has, affected species introductions, media portrayal, public perceptions, opposition to management, research effort, and public participation in research and management.' They added explicit consideration of charisma of invasive species is 'critical for understanding the factors that shape people's attitudes toward particular species'. HOW IS THE GREY SQUIRREL KILLING THE RED SQUIRREL? Red squirrels are native to the UK and spend most of their time in the trees. Grey squirrels, however, were introduced to the UK in the late 19th-century from North America. Initially introduced as an ornamental species, they soon spread throughout the UK and other European nations, such as Italy. Grey squirrels carry a disease called squirrel parapox virus, which does not appear to affect their health but often kills red squirrels. Grey squirrels are more likely to eat green acorns, so will decimate the food source before reds get to them. Reds cant digest mature acorns, so can only eat green acorns. When red squirrels are put under pressure they will not breed as often which has amplified the initial problem of the grey squirrel. Another huge factor in their decline is the loss of woodland over the last century, but road traffic and predators are all threats too. Currently, it is estimated there could be as few as 15,000 red squirrels left in the UK. Advertisement Scientists list the well-loved grey squirrel in Italy, Britain's ruddy duck (pictured) and Spain's prickly pear as examples of species that won over humans with charisma Franck Courchamp, a researcher at the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) in Paris who specialises in conservation biology and one of the study authors, told PA: 'Biological invasions are considered the second cause of recent species extinctions, the current second threat to biodiversity, and the reason for an economic cost of hundreds of billions of dollars every year globally. 'We propose a claim that the charisma of species is likely to favour their invasion and we examine it under evidence of different aspects and processes with examples.' Meanwhile in the UK, the ruddy duck, an invasive species from North America, also embedded itself in the hearts of people. It was adopted as the emblem of a birdwatchers' club 50 years after it was introduced, although numbers have reduced drastically in the recent years. Another continental example is that of the prickly pear, introduced from Central America to Europe by the Spanish conquerors. It swiftly became an iconic symbols in the Spanish landscape, featuring on stamps and postmarks. According to the team, examples like these show many alien species are considered desirable and might even be subject to protection or restoration measures in situations where they are threatened or suffer population declines. Trump Has Approved Major Disaster Declarations for All 50 States All 50 states and territories in the United States have now been approved for major disaster declarations, President Donald Trump announced at the daily White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing April 5. The major disaster declaration provides a wide range of federal assistance programs for individuals and public infrastructure, including funds for both emergency and permanent work. The United States is already under a national emergency declaration issued March 13, which freed up $50 billion in emergency relief funds for cities and states. I just want to say this is an all-out military operation that weve waged and especially over the last number of weeks. Fifty states and territories have now been approved for major disaster declarations, which is very unusual thanks to the Army Corps of Engineers, Trump said. The president also noted that New York Citys Javits Center is now one of the largest hospitals in the United States, and staffed by hundreds of federal medical personnel deployed from two army hospital units, which he said are doing a great job. Trump said that his administration would be delivering an additional 600,000 N95 masks to the city on Monday to take care of the needs of the public hospital system. Ventilators will also be delivered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to hard-hit states, including Louisiana, which will be receiving 200. Michigan will get 300, Massachusetts will get 100, New Jersey will get 500, and 600 will be going to Illinois, Trump said. Trump also thanked Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington for returning 400 ventilators that they no longer needed, which can now be deployed elsewhere in our country. He said Inslee felt confident that they are in good shape for the coming weeks until we can declare a final victory. As of Tuesday, well have deployed over 3,000 military and public health professionals to New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and other parts of our country. Three thousand, and that number is going up, and we hope were seeing a leveling off in the hottest spots of them all. So well see. Youll be seeing that over the next few days. Lets see what happens. But were prepared, Trump said. Additionally, 1,200 brand new rapid point-of-care testing kits, which take 15 minutes to produce a result, and which the president said are very fast and very accurate, will be distributed to public health labs by Tuesday. Trump added that more are being produced and will be sent to other countries in the future. The president also said that 1.67 million Americans have now been tested and given the results for the virus. He noted that the United States would endure the peak of this terrible pandemic in the coming days before thanking the incredible doctors and nurses and healthcare workers on the front line of the fight, which he called warriors. His administration is also purchasing and stockpiling hydroxychloroquine, a drug that has been traditionally used to treat malaria, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. The president has touted the drug as a means to combat the CCP virus and previously called a game-changer. Doctors in the United States are currently prescribing hydroxychloroquine, as are France and Bahrain, while India has recommended it for health care workers. Despite it showing promising results, health officials have warned the public to remain cautious until larger clinical trials validate smaller studies. Among them is Dr. Anthony Fauci, the United States leading infectious disease expert and a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. At a White House news conference on March 20, he said data on the drug so far was not done in a controlled clinical trial. So you really cant make any definitive statement about it, and that only such studies would determine if the drug was truly safe and effective. WASHINGTON The coronavirus has shut down entire sectors of the economy, closed schools and forced millions of Americans to work from home. One thing the pandemic hasn't changed: discord within President Donald Trump's inner circle. From a battle over the president's enthusiasm for an unproven drug regimen to his firing of a watchdog who told Congress about a phone call with Ukraine that helped trigger the impeachment inquiry last year, drama has continued to spill out of the White House on a nearly daily basis during the nation's worst public health crisis in decades. As he approaches what could be the most consequential weeks of his presidency some have compared the expected psychological toll in coming days to the bombing of Pearl Harbor Trump must fight the virus while holding together warring internal factions that have been a defining characteristic of his administration. "The Trump White House has been marked by chaos from the beginning, but in earlier days, it was mostly benign," said Russell Riley, a presidential scholar at the Miller Center at the University of Virginia. "History will not judge this kindly." Interrupting Fauci: Trump interjects when reporter asks doctor about hydroxychloroquine As the number of coronavirus deaths in the country exceeded 10,000, public health officials warned 100,000 to 240,000 could die from the disease by the end of the year. Models used by the administration predict that the virus could peak in coming weeks in some of the hardest-hit hot spots of the country, such as New York. New approach , mixed results Unable to connect directly with supporters in campaign rallies that have long been his trademark, the president has relied on daily news briefings at the White House during the pandemic to deliver his message. At times contradictory, often combative, the exchanges have given Trump a platform to frame his administration's response, tout progress and defend against criticism that Washington is not acting quickly enough. Story continues Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has disagreed with President Donald Trump on some coronavirus matters. Trump has had some success: A series of public opinion polls showed the president's approval increased to one of the highest points of his presidency in the first few weeks of the crisis. A widely cited poll from ABC News and The Washington Post in late March showed more people approving of the president's work than disapproving. Trump dismissed any suggestion of internal disagreements. "To do what we've been able to do and to build it to a level, it should have taken a year. It should've taken two years," Trump said Sunday. "They did it in a matter of weeks." 'Our Pearl Harbor': Surgeon general warns USA of painful week ahead The news conferences have also at times amplified tensions within the administration. In a rare public appearance, Trump's son-in-law and top aide Jared Kushner addressed reporters last week, prompting questions about his specific role in the federal response to coronavirus and how it dovetailed with Vice President Mike Pence's effort leading the administration's task force on the issue. Republican strategist Ron Bonjean said some confusion is natural amid "an unprecedented crisis of this magnitude facing our country." Bonjean noted that the crisis hits as the president brings on a new chief of staff, former North Carolina congressman Mark Meadows. "Meadows now has the opportunity to assert his new authority and get people in line right away," he said. "However, it will be up to President Trump to give him the green light and backup in order to make this happen quickly." Jared Kushner speaks at one of President Donald Trump's news conferences on coronavirus April 2. 'Second opinion' Few issues underscore tension within the administration as much as the president's references to the drug hydroxychloroquine. Trump has repeatedly touted it as a medicine that could have a benefit for coronavirus patients even suggesting he might take it despite more cautious analysis from health experts such as Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. After reports of heated debates within the White House about the drug, Peter Navarro the president's top trade and manufacturing adviser signaled that he and Fauci disagreed on the efficacy. "I would have two words for you: second opinion," Navarro told CNN. "Doctors disagree about things all the time." Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has been cautious about a drug President Donald Trump has touted. Inspector general As the administration battles the virus, it has drawn new questions about controversial actions, some of which were entirely unrelated to the disease. Trump took bipartisan fire last week for firing the intelligence watchdog who handled a whistleblower's complaint about his interactions with Ukraine. The president notified Congress on Friday that he fired Michael Atkinson, the inspector general who informed Congress about an anonymous whistleblower complaint that described Trumps pressure on Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential front-runner. The complaint led to Trumps impeachment by the Democratic-controlled House. He was acquitted in the Republican-run Senate. Some Republicans, including Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, argued that the watchdog's "removal was not warranted." Andrew Rudalevige, a professor of government at Bowdoin College who studies the presidency, said Trump continues his role of being a divisive figure to large swaths of the country even as he seeks to coordinate getting medical supplies to hard-hit parts of the country and reduce mortality from the virus below projections. "I dont know that new fans are being converted by this," Rudalevige said. "I do wonder if the president risks being tuned out if he continues to be the end all and be all in terms of communications from the administration." Contributing: Rebecca Morin and Jordan Culver This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: Trump team wrestles with clashes, drama amid coronavirus Over 6m in business rates support claims processed by Wrexham Council This article is old - Published: Monday, Apr 6th, 2020 More that 6 million has now been awarded to businesses in Wrexham under the business rates relief support announced by Welsh Government. Last week we reported that Wrexham Council had moved quickly to process claims for economic support, many from small local businesses. Finance and ICT Staff, including many drafted in from other duties, have handled over 507 claims and theres 300 currently being processed which will be processed in the coming days. In the announced measures business are eligible for: A grant of 25,000 for occupied businesses in the retail, leisure and hospitality sector with a rateable value of between 12,001 and 51,000, or A grant of 10,000 to businesses eligible for Small Business Rates Relief with a rateable value of 12,000 or less. Both grants are only available to firms on the business rates register as of March 20th, 2020. Wrexham Council opened the scheme a week ago, well ahead of some nearby local authorities, and many businesses have seen the cash hit their bank accounts already. In comparison Flintshire Council first batch of emergency cash grants will start being be paid from today. Chief Executive, Ian Bancroft and Council Leader, Cllr Mark Pritchard welcomed the news and said: These are very difficult and worrying times for businesses in Wrexham and across the UK. Staff have been determined that the support given by Welsh Government gets to our businesses quickly in order to help them manage during these unprecedented times. Their commitment to this can be seen in the amount of claims that have already been processed in a very short time and we know that this will continue to ensure that every claim goes through with the speed and accuracy needed. If you have yet to apply please avoid any delays by carefully entering the details required on the application form. Saying the defense attorney dropped the ball, a state Superior Court panel Monday ordered a new trial for a Pennsylvania man convicted of the 1979 murder of a woman that was a cold case for 31 years. Gregory Hopkins lawyer simply wasnt effective in challenging expert witness testimony by famed pathologist Cyril Wecht during Hopkins 2013 trial for the slaying of his part-time lover Janet Walsh, Judge Victor P. Stabile found in overturning Hopkins third-degree murder conviction. A key issue in Stabiles decision was the defense attorneys failure to prevent testimony by Wecht that he believed that semen linked to Hopkins in 2010 via DNA testing had been deposited on a sheet in Walshs bedroom at the time of her killing. It is impossible, even with current technology, to determine when DNA was deposited on any surface, Stabile noted. He found the defense attorney should have sought to prevent Wecht from giving any DNA dating testimony to the jury on grounds that such testimony was not generally accepted in the forensic community. He found that Hopkins trial was skewed because the jurors apparently accepted the faulty time-related testimony from the famed Wecht. That is so even though Wecht stated on cross-examination that DNA dating isnt possible, Stabile concluded. The record demonstrates that no scientific method exists for dating DNA deposits, and that Dr. Wechts methodology is not generally accepted in the forensic pathology field, Stabile wrote. We conclude trial counsel had no reasonable basis for failing to seek preclusion of Dr. Wechts testimonyand the admission of his testimony caused substantial prejudice to Hopkins. Hopkins, now 74, has been serving an 8- to 16-year prison sentence. Walsh, who was in the process of going through a divorce, was found strangled in her Beaver County apartment on Sept. 1, 1979. Hopkins, who later became a councilman for Bridgewater Borough, told police at the time that he and the 23-year-old Walsh had been having occasional casual sex. No arrests were made until DNA testing, which wasnt available in 1979, detected Hopkins DNA on a bedsheet in the bedroom where Walsh was killed. In charging Hopkins with the slaying, prosecutors insisted he had strangled her with a bandanna during sex. Investigators said Walsh, who was wearing a nightgown, was found face-down on her bed. Her hands were bound with the cloth belt from a bathrobe. We do not reach this decision lightly, Stabile wrote in ordering a new trial. This case involves a heinous crime that snuffed out the life of a young and blameless woman. Decades after the victims death, the Commonwealth went to considerable lengths to solve the crime with cutting-edge technology. Nevertheless, he contined, the record establishes that the verdict was the product of ineffective assistance of trial counsel We believe that there is a reasonable probability the outcome of this case may well have been different had trial counsel moved to preclude Dr. Wechts testimony. When the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino near Gulfport, Mississippi shut down in early March, Jasmine Cooley raced to apply for unemployment aid. And that's when her headaches began. First it took hours to get someone on the phone. Then the state processed her information incorrectly. But her worst fears came to fruition about a week later - once she learned she had been rejected. A single mom now living with her own mother, Cooley said she didn't qualify because of Mississippi's strict rules, some of which the state would relax weeks later, but not before a deadly pandemic unleashed once-unfathomable hardship on local families. "We're extremely worried about paying bills," she said. Roughly 10 million people have filed unemployment claims over the past two weeks, only to face a similar struggle. Out of work, and soon to be out of cash, they've encountered local governments that are unprepared to handle the unprecedented strain. State websites are buckling, their phone lines are jammed, and the backlogs are mounting for jobless benefits, threatening as a result to delay checks to Americans who need help most. Complicating matters, the Department of Labor in the nation's capital has not yet disbursed all of the necessary money to the states, and it only issued guidelines for how local governments should implement its new programs over the weekend. The prior days of silence slowed down many states and sparked confusion nationwide, as jobless workers wondered how long it would take before larger checks reached their cash-starved bank accounts. Adding to the headaches, some labor experts said the Trump administration's approach may make it more difficult for some workers, including those who drive for gig-economy companies like Uber, to obtain money quickly. Others out of a job because they're taking care of a sick parent also may not qualify for some new federal funds, they said. The Labor Department did not respond to a request for comment. The pain is especially evident in states like Mississippi, which advocates had faulted for inadequate social safety-net programs long before a public-health emergency gripped the nation. Mississippi pays the least of any state to people who are out of a job. And fewer than one in 10 unemployed workers receive unemployment benefits in the first place, according to a report from the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which found Mississippi ill-equipped to handle a recession. Here and around the country, these and other deficiencies risk exacerbating the immense stress already facing vulnerable workers and families, some of whom say they never before have sought the government's help -- and now are struggling to get it when they need it most. "My job is not paying me. My government is not paying me. I've worked since I was 18," Cooley said. "I paid a lot of money into the state of Mississippi. What are they going to do for me?" The Mississippi Department of Employment Security, which manages the state's unemployment program, did not respond to a request for comment. But Jacqueline Turner, the office's executive director, acknowledged the strain on the system in recent days. "We have not abandoned our Mississippians," she said during an interview broadcast on Facebook. "We know this is our responsibility." The coronavirus pandemic's death toll is concentrated in certain parts of the country, but its economic havoc has proved widespread: In the week ending March 28, 6.6 million Americans sought unemployment benefits. That was up from a weekly total of just 215,000 claims in late February. Ultimately, millions of Americans are likely to receive some relief from their states and the federal government, through a mix of local programs and a new, $2 trillion coronavirus relief package signed last month by President Donald Trump. But the urgent question is whether any of this aid will arrive fast enough to help families struggling to pay their bills, manage their mortgages or purchase groceries and other goods amid a pandemic -- and in the process arrest an economic catastrophe not seen since the country entered a recession more than a decade ago. "We should have all hands on deck to give the unemployment insurance system the best shot," said Till von Wachter, a labor economist at the University of California Los Angeles. "If people can't get their claims in and they can't get the money Congress allocated them, they can't pay their rent." Unemployment insurance is overseen by the federal government, funded with the help of corporate payroll taxes and administered by individual states. Under the $2 trillion aid law, Congress gave these programs an across-the-board boost: Americans who qualify for jobless benefits stand to gain an additional $600 in their checks until July. Those who don't qualify instead may be eligible for a new pandemic relief fund, which is backed by federal dollars. Already, though, states across the country have struggled to meet the new demand, scrambling to answers calls, process claims, adapt their computer systems and hire new staff. On the front lines of an economic downturn, they've heard an earful for angry residents, despite the fact Washington is to blame for some of the delays in aid. Even in the nation's capital, residents must use a website built in the early 2000s that does not work on mobile phones. Workers filed nearly 44,000 unemployment claims in the past month, compared with 27,000 in all of 2019. In Maryland, some unemployment workers have continued to go into the office even after Gov. Larry Hogan, R, ordered state employees to telework, said Jason Suggs, the president of a local AFSCME union chapter representing labor employees. They were promised double pay, he said, but stopped receiving it. Inside, Suggs described a deluge of work that's only exacerbated by outdated technology. Sometimes, a federal database for determining if an out-of-work applicant made money in another state simply will "crash," he said, making it difficult to review a claim. Maryland's own computers also rely on software that's decades old: It's a DOS-based system, white text on black backgrounds, a far cry from what most people use today. Still, Suggs said Maryland had sought to do as much as it could to try to get benefits out as fast as possible, rarely as quickly as applicants would like. "It has been extremely busy," he said. A spokesman for the state did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Elsewhere, the economic carnage wrought by coronavirus has ravaged unemployment programs that some experts previously said had been hamstrung from years of mismanagement or neglect. In Florida, claims for unemployment benefits have surged, even as Gov. Ron DeSantis, R, faces immense criticism for a too-slow response to the coronavirus pandemic. But a history of missteps, dating to the days when Sen. Rick Scott, R, served as governor, has contributed to a mounting backlog, local leaders say. Under Scott, Florida slashed unemployment benefits and put in place a system to handle claims -- at a cost of $77 million -- that auditors repeatedly have said suffers from deficiencies, including errors that wrongly have denied people benefits. The state's director of unemployment, Ken Lawson, in April apologized for what he acknowledged is a "fiasco," but local officials contend the immense delays should have been avoidable. "This is designed to make it very difficult for people get service from the state, and we're seeing that now," said Adrian Hayes-Santos, a commissioner in the city Gainesville. Sarah Schwirian, a spokesman for now-Sen. Scott, defended his tenure as governor, saying his reforms "turned the program into a re-employment system so people could find employment." Florida's unemployment office did not response to a request for comment. In Mississippi, the technology underpinning its unemployment system is supposed to be state of the art, offering a "more accessible claim process," state leaders said in 2017 when they unveiled it. But local residents say the behind-the-scenes gadgetry appears to have made scant difference in a state that pays a maximum of $235-per-week in unemployment, less than anywhere else in the country. Even before the local mayor ordered residents to stay at home, shopping had slowed to a trickle at the antique marketplace in Oxford, Mississippi, where Stephanie Lockett sometimes sells pillows and artwork. Within days, though, her husband, who manages the store, received the bad news: He was going to have to file for unemployment. Lockett, who manages much of the family's finances, soon found herself facing the same struggle as millions of Americans around the country -- in dire need of financial help yet stymied at every attempt to obtain it. Every time she tried to submit an application for jobless benefits on her husband's behalf, the state unemployment website crashed. Only on midnight last Wednesday did she finally get through, learning that her husband is eligible for a $235-per-week check. It was unclear when he would actually receive the money or the hundreds of additional dollars the federal government has promised. "When you live in Mississippi, everything is already such a hot mess," Lockett said. "You just assume it's them screwing things up." The month of April usually is a booming time for Michelle Shad, an Uber driver who lives near the University of Mississippi. There's spring break, visits from parents, a slew of graduation parties and a weekend-long music festival that typically puts enough in her pocket that she can "ride it out" financially during the offseason, she said. But after the coronavirus prematurely brought Ole Miss and the nearby area to a screeching halt, Shad had no choice but to file for unemployment for the first time in her life, only to discover a slew of obstacles along the way. "Your heart stops beating," she said. Shad stands to benefit from a new program under the Cares Act, which allows millions of Uber drivers and other laborers in the so-called gig economy to collect unemployment for the first time. For weeks, though, she has received mixed messages from the state about when and how to apply -- and she's struggled to upload basic documents to the unemployment system. Weeks after completing her last ride, Shad found herself packing her apartment and preparing to move in with her daughter in a town known as the "sweet potato capital of the world." And she caught herself wondering how different it might be outside Mississippi. "By the time they figure this out, it's going to be three months down the road, and it's going to be too late for a lot people," Shad said. Long before the coronavirus rocked the state, advocates representing workers say Mississippi had fallen short by other means -- with policies that made it hard for people to obtain the aid in the first place. Experts said the state's low recipiency rate encapsulates the fact some people don't qualify because of Mississippi's strict criteria, or simply choose not to apply because it's too much of a hassle. When many states reformed their unemployment insurance rules in response to the 2008 recession -- motivated in large part the U.S. government offering additional aid for those that did -- Mississippi opted against major changes, said Rebecca Dixon, the executive director of the National Employment Law Project. She added that the state's strictures on jobless aid tended to disproportionately affect low-wage workers, who need help the most. "A lot of the way in which policy is designed in the state is from a presumption [that] folks don't want to work," she said. In early March, Cooley discovered those restrictions firsthand. When she applied for unemployment, the 30-year-old Gulfport resident said state officials told her she needed to demonstrate 18 months of continuous wages to qualify. But Cooley said she had been sidelined at one point in late 2018 due to a medical procedure. While though she was out of work now because of the coronavirus, she said Mississippi told her she still wasn't eligible -- and told her to apply again in a few weeks once Congress adopted its new stimulus law. Since then, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, R, has pledged to help those affected by the pandemic, including by lifting some unemployment insurance requirements. And Congress has adopted its $2 trillion aid package. Cooley, however, said she remains unable to get help from the state because of local bureaucracy and federal delays. "There are days when you kind of just have a little bit of a breakdown," she said, unsure of her next steps. "You really have no options, no resources." - - - The Washington Post's Jeff Stein and Heather Long contributed to this story. The Delhi Police received 855 calls till Monday on their helpline number within a period of 24 hours, seeking assistance in resolving issues being faced by people due to lockdown, officials said. The helpline number 23469526 has received up to 13,119 calls till date, they said. Between 2pm on April 5 to 2pm till April 6, a total of 855 calls were received. Out of these, 66 calls were related to outside Delhi, which were referred to respective state helpline numbers, police said. Forty-six calls were received related to no food and money, which were forwarded to an NGO for direct relief at their addresses. Twenty-four calls were received regarding medical issues and have been resolved through proper guidance to proceed incase of such emergencies, they said. While 610 calls were related to movement passes and they were advised to apply online on website of the Delhi Police for the same, police said. The food delivery network established in all 15 districts with involvement of nearly 400 NGOs, resident welfare associations or good samaritans facilitated by the Delhi Police has led to provision of meals and food packets at more than 250 locations, which enabled feeding of nearly 2,37,408 persons and dry ration kits to 1,837 people, they said. A team led by Special Commissioner of Police of Delhi Armed Police Robin Hibu distributed dry ration kits at Mother Theresa Charity Home in Nizamuddin here, which were donated by a good samaritan, police said. Besides, the Delhi Police also distributed 112 dry ration kits each containing 4.5 kg of rice at a Refugee Camp, Sharm Vihar near Shaheen Bagh Delhi in response to the help sought by an NGO, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indonesian Ambassador to Korea Umar Hadi, third from left, poses with LG International CEO Yoon Chun-sung, fourth from left, and others in Seoul in this photo taken in 2019. / Embassy of Indonesia By Yi Whan-woo Indonesian Ambassador to Korea Umar Hadi has thanked LG Group affiliates LG Electronics, LG Chem, LG Innotek, and LG International for donating coronavirus test kits to Indonesia. The donation comes after the Seoul government suggested that Indonesia would be a top priority country for Korean quarantine supplies. The diagnostic kits will be delivered to Indonesia within two weeks. "Active contribution from the private sector, such as LG's donation to Indonesia, is very much appreciated," Hadi said, adding that he especially had been in communication with LG International CEO Yoon Chun-sung over the donation. "We believe that the COVID-19 global pandemic can only be effectively addressed by solidarity and collaboration among countries in the world." All four LG Group affiliates have operations in Indonesia. LG Electronics has been active in Indonesia for more than 30 years. LG Chem produces petrochemicals and is looking at producing lithium batteries for electric vehicles. LG Innotek produces electronic parts and LG International operates palm oil plantations, coal mines and renewable energy plants. Mumbai, April 6 : Actress Sonakshi Sinha is hoping for the coronavirus crisis to end soon, and says she would like to dive into the sea once all this is over. The actress opened up about her wish with a post to celebrate getting 19 million followers on Instagram. After 8 days of social media distancing, diving right in to thank all 19 MILLION of you for following me this video is a #throwback and also what i would like to do once all this is over! pic.twitter.com/1pl2RlKmNw Sonakshi Sinha (@sonakshisinha) April 5, 2020 "After eight days of social media distancing, diving right into it to thank all 19 million of you for following me... this video is a throwback and also what I would like to do once all this is over," Sonakshi wrote on Instagram alongside a video. Sonakshi shared a video, which seems to be from one of her vacations. In the clip, she is seen jumping into the water, and looks happy. Recently, the actress shared her marriage plans with fans when a few of them showed interest in her personal life during an interaction on social media. It happened when Sonakshi put out a message on Instagram for a question and answer session with fans, titled 'Ask Sonakshi'. Soon, fans were shooting off questions like, 'When you are going to get marry' and if she would 'marry her husband name' (meaning, if she would take her husband's name after marriage). To the last question, the actress wittily quipped: "No will marry full husband not just his name". She added: "Kaha pe milta hai yeh? Where can I get it? Koi bata do. 'Ps: itni chinta toh mummy papa ko bhi nahi rehti'." -- Syndicated from IANS As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal exit has now become official, it is easy to assume that the 38-year-old Duchess is living the Hollywood life that she always dreamed of. After all, they even recently relocated to Los Angeles, California. But despite being one step closer to her celebrity dreams, the former "Suits" actress is said to be feeling devastated as she could not do one thing after moving back to her native city. Aside from reviving her acting career, Meghan and Harry chose to set up a permanent base in Los Angeles so the Duchess could live closer to her mom, Doria Ragland. Ever since marrying into the royal family, Meghan's 63-year-old mother is the only family member remaining close to her after having an estranged relationship with her father, Thomas, and her siblings. Nonetheless, despite living 10 miles away from mom Doria, Meghan has not been able to see her since landing on LA due to the health threats brought by the coronavirus. According to reports, the mother-and-daughter tandem has been advised not to see each other yet as the deadly virus continuously spread across the United States. As of writing, the country has over 336,000 positive cases of COVID-19 and almost 9,600 deaths. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to be following strict guidelines of social distancing and other preventive measures to protect their family, especially their 10-month-old son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, from getting the virus. Because of this, the Sussexes are only left to use virtual communications to stay connected with Meghan's mom. The family is said to be keeping in touch with Archie's grandmother through messaging applications like WhatsApp and FaceTime. However, a royal insider revealed that virtual communication had left Meghan "absolutely heartbroken" since she is already dying to see and spend time with her mother. "After all, one of the main reasons she decided to live in LA was to be near her mum," a source told UK news outlet. "They've been WhatsApping and FaceTiming almost daily, but obviously it's not the same." The insider added that due to her age, the former social worker is careful with her health, so she is affected by the strict guidelines set by Meghan and Harry against coronavirus. How is Meghan Dealing With Self-Isolation According to the same source, the Duchess is using her isolation time to plan her future away from the royal family. Meghan is said to be exploring several good causes that she and Harry could get involved in. And unlike the earlier reports, the insider revealed that Meghan is not keen on going back to acting anytime soon. "She has also had a big conference call with her agents and told them that at the moment she doesn't wish to be considered for any acting roles," the source added. "Those days are gone." Meghan and Harry flew from Canada to LA through a private jet just before the US-Canada border closed for nonessential travels to prevent the spread of coronavirus. PHOENIX An Iraqi immigrant who ran a Phoenix driving school and was arrested two months ago on charges of participating in the killings of two police officers in Iraq nearly 15 year ago should remain jailed until his extradition case is over, federal prosecutors said. Ali Yousif Ahmed Al-Nouri, who became a U.S. citizen in 2015, faces allegations that he led an al-Qaida group that fatally shot the officers in 2006 on the streets of Fallujah. His lawyer has denied the accusations. A detention hearing for Ahmed was scheduled for Tuesday, though information in online court documents suggested it could be postponed. Lawyers preparing for the hearing filed documents last week over the issue of whether Ahmed should be released while his extradition case plays out. Ahmeds lawyer, Jami Johnson, disputed arguments by prosecutors that Ahmed poses a danger to the community and poses a flight risk. She also said he could be killed if he is sent back to to Iraq. In arguing for his release, Johnson cited Ahmeds earlier work in the U.S. as a cultural adviser to military and said that her 42-year-old client, who suffers from heart and lung ailments, is vulnerable to being infected with coronavirus in the Florence, Arizona, detention center where he is being held. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. In both attacks on the two officers in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, armed men emerged from cars, fired on the officers and fled. In the first shooting, a masked attacker held a gun to a witness head, while another masked man tried to open fire at a police officer but his gun malfunctioned. Another attacker then killed police Lt. Issam Ahmed Hussein. The witness later identified Ahmed, who was not wearing a mask, as the groups leader, according to court records. Four months later, Iraqi authorities say Ahmed and other men fatally shot Officer Khalid Ibrahim Mohammad as the officer sat outside a store. A witness recognized Ahmed, whose mask had fallen off, as one of the assailants, according to court records. Ahmed has denied involvement in the killings and in being member of a terror group. Johnson said violence and turmoil in Iraq traumatized her client and prompted him to flee to Syria, where he lived in a refugee camp for three years before moving to the U.S. After settling in Arizona, Ahmed volunteered in Phoenixs refugee community and worked as a military cultural advisor, traveling to bases in other states to help personnel as they prepared to deploy to the Middle East to fight the Islamic State, his attorney said. He bought a home in Surprise on the northwestern edge of metro Phoenix and operated the driving school serving largely Middle Eastern immigrants. In the court records, prosecutors arguing for Ahmeds continued detention said he left Iraq after the killings to avoid prosecution. They also questioned Ahmeds credibility, saying he gave conflicting explanations on how he suffered gunshot wounds while in Iraq and that they could not determine why he spent time in a Syrian prison before moving to the United States. Johnson countered that the Ahmed would have a difficult time fleeing because the coronavirus pandemic has closed many borders and made international travel nearly impossible. Johnson questioned why the Iraqi criminal case against Ahmed took 14 years to be filed, doubts her client would get a fair trial in Iraq and alleged that there is pervasive corruption in the Iraqi justice system. Mr. Ahmed cannot return to Iraq, or he will almost certainly be killed, Johnson wrote. While the Trump administration isnt mentioned in Johnsons filing, she previously claimed the case emerged from information provided by informants who had everything to gain by delivering the Trump administration a supposed terrorist refugee in an election year. Its unclear whether Ahmed came to the United States as a refugee. Addison Bevere on 'life-changing' reason every Christian should identify as a 'saint' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment In a society where the term Christian increasingly has negative connotations, Addison Bevere is breathing new life into the word saint, an ancient term he believes is key to unlocking the meaning, identity, and purpose many believers crave. In an interview with The Christian Post, Bevere, COO of Messenger International, an organization that impacts millions of people in over 150 countries through its various initiatives, admitted he hasnt enjoyed calling himself a Christian in nearly two decades. Im not ashamed of Jesus, but I dont like the stereotypes and labels and stigmas that have attached themselves to what it means to be a Christian. It doesnt resonate with me, he shared. Its not that Christian is a bad word, but for me, its become something that feels cheap. When you Google Christians, so often youll see words like judgmental, hypocritical, backward, out of touch with reality. It almost feels like the world looks at Christians and says, We tried Christianity. We tried this pathway and it didnt work, so now were pursuing something else, a secular, do-it-yourself spirituality. My response is, we never tried it, really. The Gospel message is big enough for our big world. Five years ago, Bevere, son of popular ministry leaders John and Lisa Bevere, was reading a book where the author made mention of saints, describing them as people who participate in the mystery of the final day. That, he said, wasnt the picture of a saint I had in mind. I always associated saint with stained glass windows and being a part of a special, elite, unattainable group. But according to Bevere, the term Christian is used only three times throughout Scripture, whereas the Greek word hagios translated as saints is used more than 60 times. This, he said, indicates something special about the archaic term. As I read the Bible, I wondered, Why are so many people identifying as saints? Why would Paul address entire letters to saints? he said. I realized that the idea of a saint isnt something that belongs to people once they die; its something that identifies and energizes and gives meaning and purpose. It's a prophetic declaration. Its how God works. He sees us as we should be. He loves us along the spectrum. According to Bevere, a saint is someone whose life is marked by a hope and a purpose that astound our world and point people to the One who is life. I believe, he added, that when we view ourselves as saints, it's lifechanging. We find the meaning and purpose that so many of us crave. I believe that until we discover the life were created for, were going to find ourselves frustrated with existence and religion. Its time we re-think what it means to be a saint. In his new book Saints: Becoming More Than Christians, Bevere uses Scripture and personal stories to unpack what it means to be a saint and invites readers into the wonder of following Jesus as God intends. He challenges readers to reimagine what it means to follow Christ as they journey through a compelling retelling of ancient wisdom. For me, it was going back to the New Testament and really look at the person Jesus, why He came and chose to reveal God to us as He did, Bevere said. Jesus favorite subject was the idea of the Kingdom of God. He talked about it more than anything else. He calls us to be agents of reconciliation for our world and to our world. The Gospel message is supposed to cover every space and subvert cultural norms and reconcile people, he stressed. Weve lost sight of that. Weve been content to stay in our church space and make Christianity a mere reflection of that pursuit. But the Kingdom of God intersects at relationship. Thats where meaning and significance happens, he said, explaining that to be a saint is to be "plunged into Gods original design for humanity." One of Satans greatest tactics, the author said, is convincing us that meaning is in anywhere but the present. He doesnt want us to wake up in the present and see that this moment is the most significant thing, he said. The future and past is Gods, all we have is the present. If he can steal the present from us, he can undermine our work and sense of value and frustrate our efforts. Far too many Christians have a small view of both themselves and of God, Bevere said. Gods grace breaks that down and pulls off those layers and masquerades and reveals us as He sees us. When we see ourselves the way God sees us, we see the world the way He sees it. We need to change the way we see ourselves so we can see the world differently. Viewing oneself as a saint is only possible as we humble ourselves, Bevere argued. "Its the proud who cant see themselves the way God sees them. As we dive into what a saint is, we find it has everything we crave, undertones of meaning, purpose, and belonging," he said. Through his book, Bevere said he hopes readers discover that everything they do is sacred and learn to see themselves within Gods greater story of redemption and reconciliation. Its an invitation to toward understanding God-given purpose, identity, and loving a fallen world more fully. Ever since the enlightenment, weve forfeited so much to the secular world, he said. "We need to reclaim this space. The Apostle Paul was writing to gentiles, to people who didnt belong, and calling them saints. He was telling them, Your everyday, mundane life is significant and full of purpose. Whether we are parents, CEOs, mechanics, or wherever we find ourselves, I want people to see their lives as meaningful and valuable. I want people to realize how being a follower of Jesus intersects and gives meaning to our secular lives. So much is being stolen from people and its because we have a small view of God and the Gospel. Saints are people who refuse to not be astonished by God. They stand in awe of Him and go into the world and reveal His goodness and power." TDT | Manama Inspectors from the Marine Control Department at the Agriculture and Marine Resources Affairs seized yesterday a number of illegal shrimping nets. This came during an inspection tour of the west coast of Bahrain. The department indicated that the nets and other fishing equipment violated certain regulations that have been put into place to help protect the Kingdoms marine life. The department calls on all fishermen to adhere to the Kingdoms fishing laws to ensure the sustainability of important resources, in terms of achieving food security in Bahrain. Under the strain of nearly 10 million Americans filing for unemployment insurance as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in just the last two weeks, state legacy systems are crumbling. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy issued a call for mainframe programmers in a video address. "We have systems that are 40-plus years old. There will be lot of post-mortems, and one of them on our list will be how the heck did we get here when we literally needed COBOL programmers." Florida's unemployment system has crashed under the weight of hundreds of thousands of new applications. The state initially urged applicants to use an out-of-support version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser before switching to paper applications. Similar problems have hit other states, and they're likely to get worse as unemployment continues to skyrocket. The Labor Department reported that a record 9 million unemployment claims were filed in the two-week period ending April 2. U.S. Digital Response is a new effort that has sprung up to connect volunteers with governments struggling to scale their public facing technology systems, supply chains, digital communications and more to meet demand during the COVID-19 crisis. The group is looking to attract volunteers with expertise in legacy systems to help fill the gaps faced by state and local governments. Mark Headd, formerly chief data officer for the City of Philadelphia and currently at the General Services Administration, noted that the age and legacy codebase of government systems don't tell the whole story when it comes to failure and overload. "What if, instead of trying to replace mainframes for the last 30 years -- which has been an unmitigated failure -- governments had instead decided to find ways to work with them more or build on top of them?" Headd said on Twitter. Another issue he identified is outsourcing the maintenance and development of these systems. "Governments have mostly followed the strategy of contracting out for technical expertise for the last 30 years as well, rather than building up internal capacity," he said. "That also hasn't worked. At all." Federal problems Legacy tech problems aren't confined to states and their unemployment systems, or even to the public sector. Britain and many European countries trying to transmit state bailout aid to small and medium sized business looking to meet payroll during the crisis are having problems.. Similar chaos greeted the opening of U.S. government efforts to supply forgivable, emergency loans to small businesses looking to make payroll and avoid layoffs. The $350 billion program, which was included in the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, is being run largely through commercial lenders. The Small Business Administration released a two-page form designed to collect the information banks will need to process the loans. The program launched last Friday, with details still being hashed out the night before, with SBA and Treasury reportedly at odds over program administration. "The SBA and the Treasury need to quit the power struggle, get aligned, provide REAL guidance (for ALL lenders, business owners, and agents) so that we can get much need capital into the hands of SMBs that are suffering right now!" Brock Blake, the founder and CEO of small business loan marketplace Lendio said on Twitter the night before the program opened. Officials are hoping for improvements in the coming week. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) announced on Twitter that SBA's clunky loan processing system E-Tran is getting a boost from a new Amazon Web Services contract. "When you launch something this unprecedented & far reaching, just 7 days after it became law, you are going to have some problems," Rubio added. In an April 2 email to FCW, an SBA spokesperson said the agency was working with "technology partners" to provide "a user friendly front-end website on SBA.gov to assist lenders unfamiliar with SBA lending. SBA lenders will process their loans system-to-system via web services." The spokesperson said the agency has added "additional technical resources to assist existing lenders with their web service implementation." Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Twitter that $1.8 billion in paycheck protection loans were been processed by financial institutions in the opening day of the program, but there was no word on disbursements to borrower accounts. Rubio noted that financial technology firms such as PayPal and online lenders are looking to pitch in on processing loans applications, but they have to wait for Treasury to release applications to get certified to participate. Rubio said applications for non-bank lenders could be out by early this week. Mark Rockwell contributed reporting to this article, which was first posted on FCW, a sibling site to GCN. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a meeting of Council of Ministers via video conferencing. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were also in attendance at the meeting. This came shortly after the Prime Minister gave an address on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Bharatiya Janata Party earlier in the day. During his address, PM Modi said that the country took timely action in its fight against coronavirus. He also described the Covid-19 crisis as a long war. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs a meeting of Council of Ministers via video conferencing. Union Home Minister Amit Shah & Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also present. pic.twitter.com/BposTFEIOS ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2020 I state it with full responsibility that this is a long war against the coronavirus pandemic. But we do not have to get tired or take a rest in this war. We have to emerge victorious. Today, the country has only one goal and one resolve: to win this war, said PM Modi. The Prime Minister urged everyone to download the Aarogya Setu mobile application that has been developed to fight the coronavirus disease. He said the app can play an important role in curbing infection in the country. The number of coronavirus cases in the country crossed 4,000 on Monday. As per the latest figures by the Ministry of Health, Covid-19 cases in the country stand at 4,067 including 3,666 active cases and 109 deaths. As many as 291 people have recovered from the infection. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Delhi continue to be the worst-hit while northeast states like Tripura, Sikkim, Meghalaya and Nagaland have not reported any Covid-19 case yet. Mall developers and retailers are yet to find common ground on the contentious issue of rental waivers, with the differences coming at a time when the retail industry, barring grocery, has come to a halt because of the 21-day nationwide lockdown. Developers, such as DLF and Phoenix Mills, say the force majeure clause, which retailers have indicated they would apply, in case there was a complete breakdown in talks, does not apply to the lockdown period. "We will have to work with retailers (on the issue of rentals). We can take a call only after visibility regarding mall ... London: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II made a special reference to heart-warming stories coming out of different parts of the world, including the Commonwealth, during her historic address as a rallying call for resilience during the coronavirus pandemic which has killed nearly 70,000 people worldwide. The 93-year-old monarch, who is also Head of the 54-nation Commonwealth, referred to the very British attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good-humoured resolve and of fellow-feeling as she made a wider global callout to say that in the years to come, everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to the COVID-19 challenge. "Across the Commonwealth and around the world, we have seen heart-warming stories of people coming together to help others, be it through delivering food parcels and medicines, checking on neighbours, or converting businesses to help the relief effort, she said during her speech, pre-recorded at Windsor Castle and broadcast on television and radio on Sunday evening. And though self-isolating may at times be hard, many people of all faiths, and of none, are discovering that it presents an opportunity to slow down, pause and reflect, in prayer or meditation, she said. Besides her annual Christmas message, such broadcasts are rare and the Queen went down memory lane as she recalled the very first broadcast of the kind she had made as a young princess at the time in 1940 alongside her sister, Princess Margaret, during World War II. "We, as children, spoke from here at Windsor to children who had been evacuated from their homes and sent away for their own safety. Today, once again, many will feel a painful sense of separation from their loved ones. But now, as then, we know, deep down, that it is the right thing to do," she said. While we have faced challenges before, this one is different. This time we join with all nations across the globe in a common endeavour, using the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to heal. We will succeed and that success will belong to every one of us, she said. A key focus of her message was to express gratitude to the medical workers and carers on the frontlines of the pandemic in hospital wards and clinics. She also reiterated the UK government's message of staying at home and maintaining strict social distancing to ease some of the pressure on the UK's National Health Service (NHS) as hospital admissions and death toll from COVID-19 continue to mount. She ended on a hopeful note, looking into the future: Together we are tackling this disease, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it. We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again. The message was recorded in the White Drawing Room at her sprawling castle in Berkshire, south-east England, by a single BBC cameraperson dressed in a full-body protective suit as other technicians remained at a considerable distance in a separate room to comply with medical advice. Her deeply personal words were said to be chosen to echo those of her father, King George VI, during World War II, aimed at bringing the country together in a time of crisis. Downing Street said Sunday's message was intended as a means to lift the nation's spirits amid the strict lockdown rules designed to slow the spread of coronavirus and prevent the NHS being overwhelmed. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was admitted to hospital soon after the broadcast with persistent symptoms of COVID-19, has been conducting his weekly audiences with the Queen over the telephone. The Prime Minister and Her Majesty the Queen have been speaking regularly and No. 10 and Buckingham Palace have been speaking throughout about Her Majesty the Queen's address, a Downing Street official said. The Queen is the best judge of when to talk to the country and we absolutely agree that now is the right time. We have asked the country to make huge sacrifices and life is very difficult at the moment for a great number of people. Hearing from Her Majesty at this time is an important way of helping to lift the nation's spirits, the official said. More than 1.2 million cases and nearly 70,000 deaths, including about 5,000 in the UK, have been reported in 190 countries and territories around the world since the coronavirus first emerged in China in December last year (Alliance News) - Vesuvius PLC said Monday it is withdrawing its 2019 final dividend payment of 14.3 pence. The ceramics engineer said the trading environment has become "considerably more uncertain" so is looking for ways to preserve cash. "Although manufacturing plants across the group currently remain open, with the exception of South Africa, Argentina and Malaysia, there remains insufficient visibility to forecast the potential impact of the pandemic," the company added. Vesuvius said it has "significant" financial headroom, with available resources at the end of February of GBP375 million - with GBP185 million in available cash and GBP190 million in committed undrawn revolving credit facilities. Vesuvius has a debt maturity in December 2020 of USD140 million, from US private placement notes, but said it is "well advanced" in assessing multiple available refinancing options. The company also noted it is looking into additional government funding facilities. Vesuvius is hoping to save around GBP30 million over the remainder of 2020. Chief Executive Patrick Andre said: "We are also implementing significant pre-emptive cost control and cash preservation measures across the entire business to preserve liquidity. With this set of measures, I am confident that the group will not only meet the temporary challenges of the current crisis but emerge stronger once the market returns to its long-term growth path." Shares in Vesuvius were 2.7% higher in London on Monday afternoon at 331.40 pence each. By Paul McGowan; paulmcgowan@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. [April 06, 2020] SADA Earns Google Cloud's Reseller Partner of the Year Award for Second Straight Year LOS ANGELES, April 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SADA , a leading global business and technology consultancy, has once again been named the Google Cloud Reseller Partner of the Year for 2019. SADA also earned the global award in 2018. The Google Cloud Reseller Partner of the Year award recognizes SADAs success selling Google Cloud products and building relationships to help transform its customers businesses. SADAs services include enterprise consulting, cloud platform migration, custom application development, workplace transformation, cloud managed services, and change management. With five Google Cloud Specializations, SADA has demonstrated expertise across the entire Google Cloud portfolio of products, delivering on customer success for the enterprise and public sector. SADA has migrated thousands of companies to Google Cloud since 2007, including Colgate-Palmolive, DISH, Papa Johns, and the State of Arizona. SADA and Google Cloud announced in February a multi-year, $500 million agreement to drive adoption of Google Cloud solutions through SADAs expertise as a Managed Services Provider. Since selling its Microsoft business to Core BTS in March 2019, SADAs Google Cloud Platform business has grown nearly 400 percent. With even greater growth in mind, SADA recently announced new Anthos-specific services, new packaged solutions for smart analytcs and data warehouse modernization built on Google Cloud, and adding Google Cloud Contact Center AI solutions to its services portfolio. Winning this award back to back is a proud and humbling moment for SADA, said Tony Safoian, CEO at SADA. It means we are succeeding in our mission to increase the capabilities of the people, and the performance of the companies we serve with the power of Google Cloud. This is especially important during this critical time. And while we at SADA will certainly take a moment to congratulate ourselves for once again earning this prestigious accolade, we will quickly return our attention to helping our customers with business continuity and support. We are all in this together. Were proud to recognize SADAs expertise as a Google Cloud reseller and their contributions to customers successes over the past year, said Carolee Gearhart, Vice President, Worldwide Channel Sales at Google Cloud. SADA has demonstrated expertise across multiple verticals and Google Cloud product areas, and were excited to continue working together on behalf of customers. To learn more about SADA's commitment to helping remote workers remain productive, visit our CloudQuarters site . For more information about SADAs Google Cloud services, visit www.SADA.com . About SADA SADA is a privately-held global leader in providing business and technology consulting services that transform organizations. SADA has proven expertise in enterprise consulting, cloud platform migration, custom application development, workplace transformation, cloud managed services, and change management. As a Google Cloud Premier Partner with multiple Specializations, SADA has gained global accolades and awards including the Google Cloud Global Reseller Partner of the Year for 2018 and 2019. SADAs team of certified experts help enterprises modernize by providing innovative cloud solutions to accelerate digital transformation leveraging the entire Google Cloud portfolio, including G Suite, Google Anthos and GCP, Google Data Analytics and Machine Learning, Google Maps Platform, Google Chrome and Google Cloud Search. Recognized on the Inc. 5000 America's Fastest Growing Private Companies for twelve years, CRN's MSP Elite 150, the 2020 Best Places to Work in Los Angeles, and 2020 Inc.'s Top 50 Workplaces in the U.S., SADA prides itself on continuous innovation, strong partnerships and corporate culture, and exceptional customer experience. Media contact: Kevin Wolf TGPR (650) 483-1552 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Single-day deaths due to coronavirus will peak in New York in just three days, according to projections from the University of Washington. New Yorks high point for deaths in a single day of 878 will arrive April 9, according to the universitys Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, which is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Deaths in the state will total 873 on April 12 before beginning a steady decline. By May 8, the daily death count will be zero, the institute says. Total deaths in the state will be 15,618. The projections assume social distancing measures will continue through May. The state will reach its peak use of resources like hospitals beds and ventilators on April 8 and 9, according to the institute. At that point, over 25,000 beds will be needed and the state will have just 13,000 available. Over 6,700 intensive care unit beds will be needed with just 718 available. New York will also need 5,700 ventilators at that point. Gov. Andrew Cuomo mentioned the institutes model during one of his press briefings last week. But he has regularly been citing much higher numbers when it comes to how many beds and ventilators the state will need when the virus peaks. He has said New York coronavirus patients could need up to 110,000 hospitals beds and up to 40,000 ventilators. He has also said the state looks at numerous models that offer differing projections and is working with its own consultants to plan for the absolute worst. The IHME model projects nationwide single-day deaths from coronavirus will peak in 10 days at 3,130. Total deaths will be over 81,000. U.S. single-day deaths wont drop to zero until June, according to the institute. You can view the institutes full projections and data for other states online. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Onondaga County calls for voluntary shelter in place, shuts golf courses to fight coronavirus Onondaga County warns of potential coronavirus exposure at 3 pharmacies, liquor store Coronavirus in NY: State releases deaths by ages, counties NY coronavirus wreaks havoc on separated families: Who gets custody of the children? Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598 Advertisement The Assistant Health Secretary repeated other experts' claims on Monday that New York, New Jersey and Connecticut would see their coronavirus peak this week, with more hospitalizations and deaths expected than any other time. Speaking on Good Morning America, Admiral Brett Giroir said this week would be the worst week for those three states but 'that doesn't mean we're over it'. It comes after Surgeon General Jerome Adams' grave prediction that this week 'will be our 9/11' or this generation's Pearl Harbor in terms of the number of lives that will be lost to the virus. As of Monday morning, there had been nearly 10,000 deaths across the US including more than 4,000 in the state of New York. There are more than 330,000 cases of coronavirus across the country and experts fear the true number is far higher but is being concealed to a lack in testing. Scroll down for video Speaking on Good Morning America, Admiral Brett Giroir said this week would be the worst week for those three states but 'that doesn't mean we're over it' .@GStephanopoulos asks the federal official overseeing testing whether antibody testing will be made widely available before May 1st. https://t.co/KGTaJOeAHQ pic.twitter.com/3VoOWIehRD Good Morning America (@GMA) April 6, 2020 Admiral Giroir said: 'This week is going to be the peak - peak hospitalizations, peak ICU's and, unfortunately, peak deaths. 'That doesn't mean we're over it. There are other parts of the country that will peak a a later date; New Orleans, Louisiana etc. 'Do the social distancing, wear the masks - that's how we're going to defeat this virus,' he said. He also said he was 'very optimistic' about blood tests that are in development that will allow tens of millions of people to be tested to find out if they have had the virus and recovered from it or not. If the test proves they have recovered from it, it will suggest they are immune and are able to go back to work. There are two types of that test that are being discussed; both center on antibodies and blood plasma that could then be used to treat those who are sick with the virus and build up their immunity to it. 'When we get to the next phase, it will be a combination of the kind of tests we do now plus serologic tests which is a drop of blood, it's very, very quick. 'They will tell you if you've been exposed to the virus. That's very important as we think about reopening the country and the economy. 'If you've had the virus, in all probability, you are safe and immune. For the serologic test we're very optimistic. 'There are several going through the FDS right now. We want to make sure these tests are highly validated and that their performance is excellent,' he said, adding: 'I'm personally very optimistic that by May, we're going to have these in very large quantities.' Adm. Giroir added that the blood tests were much 'simpler' than the current COVID-19 tests being used in hospitals which involve swabs and more steps. He also weighed on the hydroxychloroquine - the anti-malarial drug that the White House has given conflicting messages over - and said it could be useful depending on the patient. On Sunday, President Trump, who touted the drug as a 'miracle cure' last week before it had been proven to be an effective coronavirus treatment, stopped Dr. Anthony Fauci from answering a question about it. A woman arrives at Wyckoff Hospital in Bushwick, Brooklyn, on Sunday April 5 to be treated for coronavirus. New York City - which has been terrorized by the virus for weeks - will see its peak this week Fauci has been more cautious in his descriptions of it as a cure for COVID-19. On Monday, Adm. Giroir said that whether or not it worked was dependent on each case. Surgeon General Jerome Adams warned this weekend that this week would be the 'Pearl Harbor' for this generation 'I think the decision to use hydroxychloroquine is physician and patient. We know a lot about it. It has some side effects and can be used off label,' he said, adding it was down to 'risk benefit analysis.' 'If a person is really sick and about to go onto a ventilator, the risk calculation in my mind is probably good. You would probably use it. ' 'It's an individualized decision and it's being made often throughout the country. 'We're going to support [healthcare workers] by making sure the supply is there should they decide it's what they want to do,' he said. He also said more needed to be learned about how the virus can affect pets after a tiger in the Bronx zoo tested positive. 'We have to learn more on that. There's some CDC guidance... hopefully no one has a pet tiger,' he said. On Sunday, Surgeon General Jerome Adams warned the public that the week would be the most tragic many would ever see. 'This is going to be the hardest and the saddest week of most Americans' lives, quite frankly. 'This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment only it's not going to be localized, it's going to be happening all over the country. 'And I want America to understand that,' he continued in his warning to Americans,' he told Fox News. New data suggests the United States is 11 days away from its coronavirus peak when it is predicted 2,644 people will die in 24 hours across the nation Researchers also warn 100,000 Americans will die by August 4, pictured. Previous White House predictions have put the figure between 100,000 and 240,000 deaths in the US if the nation continues on its trajectory and current social distancing guidelines are maintained The stark new model - created by researchers from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics - also shows the country is also 10 days from its peak resource use, when 262,092 hospital beds will be needed According to a model created by the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, coronavirus will reach its peak on April 16 in the U.S. Even President Trump, who has been one of the most optimistic voices throughout the pandemic, said the next 14 days would be 'horrific'. There is now not only a race against time to source enough medical equipment to get through the coming weeks of the pandemic, but scientists are rushing to find a treatment or vaccine that could prevent the virus coming back as a seasonal illness later in the year. Dr. Fauci has warned that it is a possibility it will read its head again in the colder months and that the country needs to be prepared for that. In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo has repeatedly told of the need for more ventilators before the state's hospitals become overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients this week. Over the weekend, China - which is where the virus originated - donated 100,000 ventilators to the state to help it combat the next phase of the pandemic. Doctors are also converting other medical machines like BiPaps and anesthesia machines to turn them into ventilators. There are makeshift morgues set up all over the city outside hospitals to cope with the staggering death toll. New Orleans has emerged as the next hot spot. The city's death rate is double what New York's is per capita and because its population is generally less healthy, there are grave fears over how it will impact the city. Detroit is also becoming a point of concern as are cities in Florida where much of the population is elderly. America is now reporting more cases than any other country in the world. Unidentified gunmen attacked on Monday a military campsite in Mali's northeastern Gao region, killing a total of 23 soldiers, media reported, citing local sources. The AMAP news agency reported that the attack took place in the town of Bamba, which is located on a bank of the Niger River. Heavily armed attackers stormed the city on cars and motorcycles. According to the media, the incident did not cause civilian casualties. The attack occurred against the backdrop of the state of health emergency that was declared in Mali as part of the fight against the spread of COVID-19. A total of 45 cases of infection have so far been confirmed in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lets quarantine some fake corona and energy news By Paul Driessen Some 40,000 children slave away in Chinese-operated Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) mines, digging out cobalt for cell phones, laptops, Teslas and Green New Deal technologies, the London-based Guardian has reported. Theyre exposed constantly to toxic and radioactive mud, dust, water and air. Blood and respiratory diseases, birth defects, cancer, paralysis and death by suffocation are common. Other investigators have confirmed the horrors. But the human rights violations continue. Unfortunately, other Guardian stories are a bizarre mix of fact, fake news, junk science, conjecture and nonsense. Is our destruction of nature responsible for Covid-19? a recent headline blared, adding As habitat and biodiversity loss increase globally, the coronavirus outbreak may be just the beginning of mass pandemics. The story blamed the destruction and virus on road building, mining and logging. The article opens with the tragic story of an Ebola-traumatized village in Gabon, just west of the DRC, on Africas west coast. Villagers had gotten the disease from eating a wild chimpanzee. Many had died. But what followed was eco-proselytizing right out of pagans, prophets and other ancient religious lore that attribute calamities to mankinds sins against gods, God or in this case Gaia. Some vague number of researchers in the new academic discipline of planetary health now believe it is humanitys destruction of biodiversity that creates the conditions for new viruses and diseases such as COVID-19. Humans invade wild landscapes where animals and plants live that harbor unknown viruses, says one supposed expert. We disrupt ecosystems and shake viruses loose from their natural hosts, he asserts. Research suggests that outbreaks of diseases crossing over from animals to humans are on the rise, the article continues. While rabies and bubonic plague crossed over centuries ago, its getting much worse: Marburg, Mers, Nipah, SARS, Zika and West Nile, for example; the Asian flu and AIDS. These zoonotic diseases are increasingly linked to environmental change and human behavior, such as human population growth, urbanization and the disruption of pristine forests, says another expert. It sounds plausible, especially for people with limited scientific, medical or analytical backgrounds. It definitely appeals to those who dislike mining, logging, roads and humanity. But it ignores history and reality, and relies on anti-technology ideologies that claim we are sinning against our Earth Mother. Malaria, dengue, yellow fever and sleeping sickness are also mentioned. But what about cholera, polio (which I had as a child), smallpox, measles, multiple plagues in various cities and countries through the ages, and countless iterations of influenza? We still dont know where they came from and many mutate frequently, often defying our best efforts to eradicate them or find vaccines and cures, even today. Many were carried to Europe or the Americas, Russia or other lands by sailing ships to populations that lacked natural or built-up immunities, before we knew about bacteria and viruses, even how to make soap. Todays emergent diseases can travel far more rapidly and widely, thanks to trains, cars, ships and planes. With billions living today in crowded cities, rapid transmission of virulent or novel diseases is greatly facilitated, despite modern clinics, hospitals, vaccinations, medicines, antibiotic soaps and proper hygienic practices, especially when responses are slow and the World Health Organization (WHO) colludes with Chinese government officials to spread disinformation about an absence of human-to-human transmission. Life-saving modern technologies, hospitals, labs, drugs and homes didnt just happen. They are the product of mining, logging, roads, drilling, modern agriculture, communication and transportation, and especially fossil fuel and nuclear energy which enable innovation to thrive, help keep Natures wrath and fury at safer distances, and helped extend average American life spans from 40 in 1800 to 47 in 1900 and 78 today. How and why this happened is an amazing saga. The story of penicillin is just as fascinating. The Guardian has it completely backward. Utilizing Earths surface and subsurface bounties Gods blessings did not unleash COVID-19 and other viruses, bacteria and diseases. Doing so helped save us from pestilence and starvation that have ravaged humanity throughout history. It still does today. Diseases will always be with us. They will evolve, mutate, cross over from animals to humans, and try to ravage us for as long as we inhabit this magnificent planet. Never forget: it was the fossil fuels that so many detest which enabled so much of humanity to escape the deprivation, starvation and disease that kept human, health and technological progress to barely measurable minimums until about 1800. Imagine what would happen if abundant, reliable, affordable heat and electricity from fossil, nuclear and hydroelectric were replaced by limited, intermittent, weather-dependent, expensive wind, solar and battery power. The impacts on our healthcare and living standards would be horrific. Try to picture life in African villages and cities, where electricity, clean water, sanitation and healthcare are still almost nonexistent. Imagine what our planet would look like, if we had to replace relatively few fossil, nuclear and hydroelectric power plants with millions of wind turbines, billions of solar panels and billions of backup batteries, sprawling across hundreds of millions of acres. We would have to open or expand thousands of mines, to provide the metals and minerals required to manufacture all that pseudo-renewable energy. Disruption of ecosystems and destruction of biodiversity would multiply by orders of magnitude. And switching to organic farming would at least double the acreage wed have to cultivate to feed humanity. The Guardian article subtly but harshly criticizes hunting chimpanzees and other wild animals. But why do African villagers do that? Its not rocket science. They are hungry! Living on the edge of survival. And yet UN and EU agencies, eco-imperialist pressure groups, anti-development banks and fossil fuel divestment campaigners demand that Africans compound the misery of already living without electricity, clean water and healthcare by turning their backs on modern seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and tractors. Instead, Africans are supposed to survive on whatever meager crops they can harvest using agro-ecology (primitive subsistence farming) and whatever might survive droughts and locust plagues. Theyre also supposed to be content with bed nets, avoid using insecticides to kill insects that carry diseases like malaria, dengue and sleeping sickness, and never use the long-lasting spatial insect repellant DDT, which keeps 80% of mosquitoes from entering a home with one spray on walls and doorways every six months. The article next cites disease ecologists, supposed experts from another new discipline, who claim these diseases increasingly come from wet markets that have only recently sprung up to provide fresh meat for large urban populations. Wet markets have certainly been tied to the coronavirus. But they have been around for centuries, due to culture and tradition, as places to meet and gossip, as symbols of wealth, as reflections of the belief that their meat is more natural and healthy and the reality that there is not enough farm-raised meat because agricultural practices in much of Asia and Africa are still antiquated. In a final bit of absurdity, the author says the solutions to this modern crisis of disease outbreaks start with education and awareness one must suppose like the junk science, fake news and half-baked ideas carelessly thrown about in his article. And then the newspaper weighs in, railing that under the Trump administration anger and cruelty disfigure public discourse and lying is commonplace. But with financial help from readers, The Guardian can keep delivering quality journalism like this fable. Nonsense like this masquerading as journalism and science does immense harm to energy policies, disease prevention, education for all ages, and the health and living standards that all humans deserve. One has to wonder. If we can close restaurants and parks, and ban gatherings of more than ten people, cant we quarantine nonsense about disease, mining, and wild ecosystems disrupted because we havent sufficiently adopted clean, green, renewable, sustainable wind, solar, battery and biofuel alternatives? If we cant quarantine nonsense, cant our print and electronic media at least refrain from propagating it? Paul Driessen is senior policy analyst for the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (www.CFACT.org) and author of books and articles on energy, environment, climate and human rights issues. Home In his resolve to squarely tame the fear and unwanted spread of Coronavirus pandemic and sustaining the stepped-up tempo across the state, governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state has evolved 3-Strategy mechanism against the virus and its behaviour. The mechanism involves Preventive, Curative and Palliative measures. Each of the 3 stages has its attaching demands, of which the state government prepares adequately for that. While in all the stages the state is also stepping up all the processes. This was disclosed by Governor Ganduje when he was receiving contributions of food items and other essentials, worth over One Hundred Million Naira (N100m), from the Lebanese community in Kano, Saturday, at a particular warehouse on Maganda road, Kano. They included 30 tonnes of rice, 2,000 spaghetti cartons, 1,000 bags of 1kg Dawavita, Hand Sanitizer 1,548 pieces, 500 cartons of Juice Drinks, 1,500 Protective Garments, 20 Boots among other essentials. For us to tame the fear and unneeded possible spread of this global pandemic, COVID-19, we are using 3 strategies for this purpose. We have Preventive measure, Curative measure and Palliative measure, governor said. He appreciated that, The donation we have just received falls under all the 3 strategies we have in place, in this fight against this global pandemic. Hand Sanitizers, Detergent and similar items are all used to prevent us from contracting the virus. While items like Protective Garments and Boots would be used to prevent our health workers who are on the frontline. And food items fall under palliative measures. At the preventive stage the state government is tirelessly engaged in creating awareness on how best to prevent self as a measure against contracting the disease. So also the closure of the state boundaries that serve as routes linking Kano with other states. As governor said in many occasions We have decided to close all routes to Kano state, so as to control the movement of other people from other states that have confirmed case indexes. This we are doing to prevent our people, while praying Allah to see all the affected states through and other parts of the global communities. The creation of State Task Force on COVID-19 among other efforts by the state government, are also part of the proactive as well as preventive measure against the pandemic. The Task Force is chaired by the Deputy Governor, Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna and Co-Chaired by Professor Abdulrazaq Garba Habib, from Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, (AKTH), Bayero University, Kano, (BUK). Stepping up on issues related to Isolation Centres by the state government is a giant stride towards preparing for curative response should there be need for it. Medical equipments that are needed in any advanced Isolation Centre are ready at the state designated Centres. Under ths category also the great interventions of Alhaji Aliko Dangote of Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Abdussamad Isyaka Rabiu of BUA Group of Companies, on the establishment of other Isolation Centres, among others, are also significant preparations for curative measures. From the palliative standpoint, Ganduje established Fund Raising Committee under the Chairmanship of Professor Muhammad Yahuza Bello and Co-Chaired by Alhaji Tajuddeen Dantata. It is part of the responsibilities of the Committee to look for contributions from corporate bodies and individuals, with the sole intent of helping the most vulnerable in the society during this pandemic crisis. Palliative measure for the needy in the state. Under this category Alhaji Aminu Dantata donated Three Hundred Million Naira (N300m) as his contribution, United Bank for Africa (UBA) donated over Twenty Eight Million Naira (N28m) and other contributions from other people and corporate bodies. All in an effort to have successful palliative response in this critical period. In a huge relief for Kerala, neighbouring Karnataka has agreed to allow ambulances carrying patients other than COVID-19 cases through Talapady border in Kasaragod district for treatment in hospitals in Mangaluru during the ongoing lockdown. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced the decision of the Karnataka government during his daily media briefing on COVID-19 situation. The breakthrough came two days after the Supreme Court through video conferencing asked the Chief Secretaries of Kerala and Karnataka to hold discussions with Union Health Secretary for an amicable settlement of the issue and decide on parameters to be maintained in case of health emergencies. The court on Friday gave the directive during the hearing of a petition by Karnataka challenging a high court order for opening of borders as to allow free movement of vehicles carrying persons for urgent medical treatment. It also orally asked the Kerala government to not to precipitate the issue of opening of borders till further hearing of the matter on Tuesday. At least eight seriously ill patients have died so far unable to get treatment in Mangaluru as the national highway at Talapady had been closed in view of the 21-day lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus. "Karanataka will open Talpady check post and allow ambulances carrying patients other than Covid-19 infected ones. A medical team of Karnataka will be stationed there and would examine the patient before allowing them to enter that state," Vijayan said. The patients from Kerala need to carry a certificate mentioning the hospital which they plan to visit in Mangaluru, he said. Karnataka had closed its borders with Kerala after Kasaragod became a hotspot of coronavirus with at least 128 positive cases till now. Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa had said opening of the state's borders will be like "embracing death". Meanwhile, Vijayan said Kerala has been allowing people from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to visit hospitals in Wayanad district despite lockdown. The northern part of Kasaragod district depends on Mangaluru for medical facilities especially dialysis patients. While Kasaragod was suffering from lack of medical facilities and rising virus cases, a new COVID-19 speciality center at Kasaragod Medical College has started its operation from Monday. "It took four days to complete the conversion of the medical college block into COVID-19 treatment centre. There are 200 beds and 10 ICU beds in the first phase," Vijayan said. Soon, 100 more beds and 10 more ICU beds will be made ready. Rs seven crore has been spent so far to arrange the modern facilities for the hospital, he added. A 26-member medical team including 11 doctors, 10 staff nurses, and 5 nursing assistants reached Kasaragod to coordinate the activities and train the staff for the treatment of COVID-19, officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Toto Wolff says he is staying in charge of Mercedes' works F1 team for "the short term". The Austrian has been linked strongly with Lawrence Stroll's Aston Martin project, amid rumours Wolff has fallen out with new Daimler boss Ola Kallenius. But he told Osterreich newspaper: "In most of the stories I read about it, people have added one plus one and come up with three." When asked what his current situation is, Wolff added: "My contract with Mercedes runs until the end of 2020, and we are still in good discussions about what we want to do together. "All of this has been pushed into the background by the coronavirus, because we all have bigger problems to solve now - human problems in our companies," he said. But Wolff has already ruled out becoming Aston Martin CEO, and he also insists: "I am not going to make a strategic investment there either." When pressed on his relationship with billionaire Stroll, though, he said: "Stroll and his team are a big customer of our team. In addition, Lawrence has been a good friend of mine for many years - regardless of our business relationships. "Lawrence is becoming chairman of Aston Martin and from this people added one and one and came up with three." However, the speculation is not likely to stop there - especially as Wolff almost admits to some internal problems behind the scenes. "I'm in my eighth year (at Mercedes) now - I love the sport and this team," he said. "However, I am somewhat surprised by the changes that have taken place over the winter and by the behaviour of individual people. This also has to do with my decision on what to do in 2020 and beyond. "But I am and will remain the head of Mercedes motorsport and in charge of the Formula 1 team, and nothing will change in the short term." Wolff also rubbished speculation that his relationship with Lewis Hamilton - whose contract also runs out this year - has become strained. "Total nonsense," he insisted. "Our relationship is closer than ever and we talk about our future every day. "Everything indicates that we will continue in a similar form to today." (GMM) Advertisement Councilman Mark Levine made the grave announcement on Monday New York City will start temporarily burying coronavirus victims in public parks in trenches dug for 10 caskets if the death roll keeps climbing past a rate hospitals and morgues can keep up with. The shockingly grim announcement came from Councilman Mark Levine who said it would be done in a 'dignified' manner but that it was what was necessary. He called it 'temporary interment'. He said the medical examiner is coping with the 'equivalent of an ongoing 9/11' and that there were 10 times as many at-home deaths as well as the soaring number of people dying in hospitals. New York City's death toll is already at more than 2,000 and a spike in deaths is expected this week, when the apex hits. There are makeshift morgues all over the city where bodies are being kept in refrigerated trailers outside hospitals because there is nowhere else for them to go. Levine tweeted: 'Soon we'll start temporary interment. This likely will be done by using a NYC park for burials (yes you read that right). Trenches will be dug for 10 caskets in a line. 'It will be done in a dignified, orderly--and temporary--manner. But it will be tough for NYers to take. Scroll down for video A coronavirus victim is taken out of Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn on Monday, April 6, when the death toll in New York City was more than 2,000 A row of makeshift morgues at Bellevue Hospital on April 5. Soon, they too will become overwhelmed with dead bodies 'The goal is to avoid scenes like those in Italy, where the military was forced to collect bodies from churches and even off the streets. OCME is going to need much more staff to achieve that goal,' he said. After the tweet sparked panic, outrage and shock among other users, he clarified that it was a 'contingency' and was not yet in motion but that it was something the city was forced to consider. New York City councilman Mark Levine made the grim announcement 'As New York City continues to appeal to the nation for help, we need to ask not just for doctors and nurses and respiratory therapists. We also need mortuary affairs staff. This is tough to talk about and maybe tough to ask for. But we have no choice. The stakes are too high. 'Nothing matters more in this crisis than saving the living. But we need to face the gruesome reality that we need more resources to manage our dead as well. 'Or the pain of this crisis will be compounded almost beyond comprehension,' he said. Levine also said there were a number of at-home deaths leading to the problem. 'Its not just deaths in hospitals which are up. On an average day before this crisis there were 20-25 deaths at home in NYC. Now in the midst of this pandemic the number is 200-215. *Every day*,' he tweeted. Levine later added in a separate tweet: 'This tweet has gotten a lot of attention. 'So I want to clarify: the is a contingency NYC is preparing for BUT if the death rate drops enough it will not be necessary.' The death rate is still climbing and is expected to for the rest of the week. Then, the city is expected to start coming down from the peak but social distancing measures will remain in place for at least April and possibly into May. It also does not take away from the fact the pandemic will peak elsewhere around the country later. A temporarily hospital has been set up by Samaritans in Central Park. Councilman Levine did not say whether this would be one of the parks where 'temporary interment' takes place Soldiers assigned to the Javits New York Medical Station (JNYMS) monitor COVID-19 patients in the facility's intensive care unit. There are 2,500 beds in the facility which was constructed by the military in just five days Admiral Brett Giroir said this week would be the worst week for those three states but 'that doesn't mean we're over it'. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said this week will be this generation's '9/11 or Pearl Harbor' 'This week is going to be the peak - peak hospitalizations, peak ICU's and, unfortunately, peak deaths. 'That doesn't mean we're over it. There are other parts of the country that will peak a a later date; New Orleans, Louisiana etc. 'Do the social distancing, wear the masks - that's how we're going to defeat this virus,' he said. He also said he was 'very optimistic' about blood tests that are in development that will allow tens of millions of people to be tested to find out if they have had the virus and recovered from it or not. If the test proves they have recovered from it, it will suggest they are immune and are able to go back to work. There are two types of that test that are being discussed; both center on antibodies and blood plasma that could then be used to treat those who are sick with the virus and build up their immunity to it. Coronavirus outbreak in the US is predicted to peak in 10 days with over 3,000 deaths in 24 hours but is expected to be level out by June due to strict social distancing measures, new data shows The peak of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States could come sooner than first predicted given the lockdown and social distancing measures currently in place across much of the country, new research shows. Forecasters at the University of Washington's School of Medicine released updated coronavirus estimates on Sunday that show the pandemic could be over quicker than initially thought and level out as early as June. The team warns that the protections for each state is assuming that social distancing measures are maintained, such as people staying home and nursing homes barring visitors The estimated peak day of the US outbreak is expected to occur in 10 days on April 16 with a projected 3,130 deaths that day, the data shows While the data still shows a predicted 81,000 deaths from COVID-19 over the next four months, the estimate range has lowered. It was initially thought the range could be as high as 162,000 deaths but it is now predicted to be as high as 136,000 fatalities BILL GATES SAYS PANDEMIC IS 'NIGHTMARE SCENARIO' BUT FEWER WILL DIE THAN PREDICTED Bill Gates has described the pandemic as a 'nightmare scenario' but believes the death toll will be lower than the 100,000 predicted by the White House if social distancing is done properly. Trump said that between 100,000 and 240,000 people would die from the virus by the time it has swept the nation. 'If we do the social distancing properly, we should be able to get out of this with a death number well short of that,' Gates said on Sunday during an appearance on Fox. 'This is a nightmare scenario because human-to-human transmittal respiratory viruses can grow exponentially. 'And you know, if we had kept on going to work, traveling like we were, you know, that curve would never bend until you had the majority of the people infected and then a massive number seeking hospital care and lots of lots of deaths,' he said. He added that life will not 'go back to truly normal until we have a vaccine that weve gotten out to basically the entire world.' Advertisement The estimated peak day of the US outbreak is expected to occur in 10 days on April 16 with a projected 3,130 deaths that day, the data shows. Peak resource use for hospitals is predicted to occur on April 15 - the day before the peak death toll - where an estimated 25,000 ventilators, 140,000 beds and 29,000 ICU beds will be needed. Data shows there will be a shortage of 36,000 hospital beds and 16,000 ICU beds by that day. As of Monday, there had been more than 10,000 deaths in the US and at least 347,000 confirmed cases. 'If social distancing measures are relaxed or not implemented, the US will see greater death tolls, the death peak will be later, the burden on hospitals will be much greater and the economic costs will continue to grow.' New data on health service use from multiple states, including New York, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Florida and California, since the pandemic started escalating has also led to decreases in the estimated need to deal with the outbreak. The need for ICU beds and ventilators are less than previously estimated and will dramatically decrease by June 1, according to the data. Dr Murray said the data showed the the length of stay for COVID-19 patients in ICU had increased but the length of stay had gone down for patients not requiring intensive care. The lower numbers of required hospital beds could reflect how moderately ill patients in cities like New York are not being admitted because of the demand on the over-stretched system. B ritish authorities have consistently reinforced the message that we need to stay home as much as possible to slow the spread of coronavirus. Despite this, there have been several stories of people flouting the lockdown - including Scottish chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood. But officers from Derbyshire Constabulary have taken an innovative approach to getting the lockdown message across - a rap song delivered from a slow-moving police car in Derby. The rap includes the lines: "Yo, this is Derby police, don't be afraid, we come in peace. The Government said it so listen up quick, take our advice and you may not get sick." A spokesperson for Derbyshire Constabulary told the Standard that although the rap wasn't an official initiative, officers are encouraged to think creatively and independently. He added: "We want our officers to engage with the public and this seems to have gone down well, which is nice. "Anything we can do to help get the message across of the importance of staying home as much as possible is a good thing." Local Lib Dem councillor Ajit Singh Atwal posted a video of the moment on Twitter. He told the Standard: "I think it's great. It's nice to have a bit of light-hearted fun - a bit of banter that gets the message across but in a positive way." Police have sometimes been criticised for a heavy-handed approach to enforcing the lockdown. Derbyshire Police dyed black the usually turquoise blue water of a lagoon that is popular with tourists and posted drone footage of people walking in the countryside to social media. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Atta-Mills Institute, Koku Anyidoho, has described as a pleasant communication the 5th address by His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on the COVID-19 to Ghanaians on Sunday, April 5 2020 at the Jubilee House. The former Director of Communication at the Presidency in the erstwhile late President John Evans Atta-Mills administration showered praises on President Akufo-Addo for exhibiting the three "p's" in crisis communication skills in his address to Ghanaians with regards to the update on COVID-19. For me, as a crisis communications expert, my take so far is that in terms of communication, H. E President Akufo-Addo has communicated pleasantly well on this COVID-19. In fact, when it comes to crisis communication we have three basic principles, namely Pity, Praise and Promise and the President used the principles very well, he commended. Analyzing the contents of the speech in an interview on Okay FMs Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, Koku Anyidoho, who revealed he would have crafted a similar speech for the President's address, also added that it is clear from the onset of the pandemic that the President has not been speaking out of a vacuum. In every crisis communication strategy, you pity, praise and promise and I think that yesterday, from the beginning to the end if I was the one writing the speech for the President, as I did for the late President Mills in so many instances, I would have used the same ingredient of crisis communication... The President has been engaging in stakeholder consultation when the COVID-19 started in the country; the President did not rush to come out to speak but rather he called on the health workers and the frontline workers including the military, the police and the security agencies, the clergy and the media. At all times, it is obvious that H.E President Akufo-Addo has been doing serious consultations, he pinpointed. Citing the mandatory quarantine as a very good decision of the President, Koku Anyidoho mentioned that President Akufo-Addo could not have taken that decision alone as his initial decision for the people who had travelled outside to do voluntary quarantine could not have provided the needed results. When you look at the mandatory quarantine, initially when it started, we said we should do voluntary quarantine within a matter of days, they realised that the people will not do the voluntary quarantine and so we should do mandatory and see the outcome of the mandatory quarantine . . it means that the decision that was taken by the President based on stakeholder analysis and consultation has worked, he averred. Source: Daniel Adu Darko/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 Drug firm Lupin on Monday said it has launched generic Mycophenolic acid delayed-release tablets, which is used to prevent organ rejection in patients receiving kidney transplants in the US market. The company has launched the tablets in the strengths of 180 mg and 360 mg, Lupin said in a statement. Company's alliance partner Concord Biotech Ltd had received an approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) earlier for the product, it added. The tablets are generic version of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation's Myfortic delayed-release tablets, 180 mg and 360 mg, Lupin said. According to IQVIA MAT February 2020 data, Mycophenolic acid delayed-release tablets USP had an annual sales of around USD 156 million in the US, it added. The tablets are indicated for prophylaxis of organ rejection in adult patients receiving kidney transplants and in pediatric patients at least 5 years of age and older who are at least 6 months post kidney transplant., Lupin said. It is indicated for use in combination with cyclosporine and corticosteroids, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A UN board of inquiry formed last summer to investigate attacks on civilian establishments in Syria, including hospitals, has refrained from directly holding Russia responsible, according to a summary of its report. The coordinates of the sites had been communicated to the belligerents by the United Nations precisely to protect them from air strikes. The summary obtained Monday by AFP noted that UN investigators were unable to visit the sites of the attacks because the Syrian government "did not respond to repeated requests for the issuance of visas to the members of the board." But, without mentioning Russia, the investigation concluded that in several cases studied by the board "the government of Syria and/or its allies had carried out the airstrike." In 2019, The New York Times published an exhaustive investigation, notably including recordings of Russian pilots, that directly incriminated Russia in attacks on hospitals in Syria. Moscow, the Damascus regime's main political and military supporter, has denied that its aircraft targeted civilian sites. The summary was prepared by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the basis of a 185-page confidential internal report, with 200 annexes. The roughly 20-page summary was submitted to the UN Security Council's 15 members. The UN investigation focused on seven air strikes, including one that was dropped from the report's conclusions because the UN had not relayed the coordinates of that site to the belligerents, Guterres said in a letter accompanying the summary. The UN chief attributed the small number of incidents examined to the absence of UN personnel on the ground, which made it difficult to determine what had happened. At the end of July 2019, 10 Security Council members issued a rare demarche -- a formal diplomatic petition - demanding that Guterres open an investigation into air strikes on medical installations, infuriating Russia. The 10 were Germany, France, Belgium, Britain, the United States, Indonesia, Kuwait, Peru, Poland and the Dominican Republic. The board of inquiry was established in September and began working September 30. Its report was supposed to have been submitted by the end of 2019, but was delayed until March 9. Western countries for months have demanded that a summary of the report be published, but that too was delayed until now. In his letter, Guterres stressed that the board of inquiry was not a criminal investigation and that its aim was to improve UN procedures and prevent attacks of this kind in the future. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Heston Blumenthal has revealed how 25 years of running his three-Michelin-starred restaurant left him feeling like a 'hamster on a wheel'. The British chef and father-of-four, who welcomed his youngest child with French estate agent Stephanie Gouveia in 2018, established The Fat Duck in Berkshire in 1995. But the London-born molecular gastronomer, 53, moved to a French village with his wife, 32, and their young daughter, around 18 months ago. Relocating to Eygalieres, a village 20 minutes from Les Baux, in Les Alpilles, Heston admitted to The Telegraph that he has 'calmed down' since he moved. Heston Blumenthal (pictured) has revealed how 25 years of running his three-Michelin-starred restaurant left him feeling like a 'hamster on a wheel' He explained how he had moved to the area because of its historical connection with water, because his business is looking into the properties of the liquid. Yet he also confessed that the move helped slow down his hectic life as he raises his youngest daughter, now two and a half, with his wife Stephanie. Heston said: 'Another major reason for relocating was that after 25 years of The Fat Duck, Id almost become a hamster on a wheel. 'Both my missus and I have calmed down since we moved. My youngest daughter doesnt know anything else shes two and a half.' He said his older daughters and son from his first marriage, who are in their 20s have been to visit and 'love it' because everyone who comes finds themselves 'so relaxed' within two days. The British chef and father-of-four (pictured in 2016), who welcomed his youngest child with French estate agent Stephanie Gouveia in 2018, established The Fat Duck in Berkshire in 1995 In 2018, Heston, 53, married his second wife - French estate agent Stephanie Gouveia (pictured), 32, the mother of his youngest child The London-born chef said he felt 'very privileged' to live in his village - despite finding the adjustment since the coronavirus pandemic began 'unsettling'. Heston explained how his new regime since the crisis now involves running or going out on his mountain bike after his local gym was forced to close. Heston divorced his first wife Zanna in 2017 after 28 years of marriage, and they share three children, son Jack, 26, and daughters Jessie, 24, and Joy, 22. The MasterChef Australia guest judge went on to marry French estate agent Stephanie Gouveia in 2018. They are believed to have wed in a secret ceremony on luxury island Soneva Fushi in the Maldives. The Delhi High Court Monday asked the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) to put on "priority list" the case of a man, whose minor daughter had sought permission to donate part of her liver to him, as he needs the transplant urgently. The daughter was denied the permission as according to an expert medical panel, set up on court orders, the procedure would pose long and short term health risks for her. Taking note of the panel's report, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva disposed of the girl's plea for permission to donate part of her liver to her father with a direction to NOTTO to put her father on "the priority list of deceased donor liver transplantation". The court also directed NOTTO to evaluate whether the man, suffering from a severe case of liver cirrhosis, satisfies the criteria for being classified as a 'super urgent case', as was contended by the girl's lawyers. It directed that all requisite documents be forwarded to NOTTO for its evaluation. The court had on April 3 asked the hospital, where the man was admitted and which had constituted the panel, to clarify if one of its members was a specialist in liver and biliary sciences. The hospital forwarded a clarification, through Delhi government additional standing counsel Naushad Ahmed Khan, that the panel did include a specialist in liver and biliary sciences. The panel was set up on the court's April 1 order for evaluating whether there would be any risk to the minor girl, who will turn 18-years-old in late May this year, if she donates part of her liver to her father. The girl had moved the court for permission as she had 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, had claimed in her plea that her father cannot wait till she turns 18 for her to donate 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 told the court that her representation was rejected as she was minor. The court 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) To protect herself from contracting the coronavirus, Dr. Adele Teodoro, a gynecologist in private practice in Milan, could have chosen to cancel her patients appointments and go into quarantine like most people in Italy. Instead, she has continued to work. I havent had the courage to abandon my pregnant patients, she says. We have to do check-ups every month. I follow all the necessary protective measures to ensure continuous care. But this decision has had very painful consequences: Teodoro cannot visit her dying father in a village in southern Italy. Although it is now against the law to leave your town of residence, I could have left Milan for something this serious, she says. But, as a doctor, my sense of responsibility has prevailed. How could I travel from a city that has been so badly hit by the virus, without running the risk of spreading it to my family and my hometown? Doctor Adele Teodoro. Alice Pavesi Fiori. Another Italian doctor, Federica Brena, posted a heartbreaking observation in a Facebook message that has been shared by more than 55,000 people. This picture [of my face mask] portrays the end of my guard yesterday, when after 12 hours spent breathing in that mask, I stripped of the war armor. Yeah cause it feels like war. Ive never experienced it, but I imagine a little like this, a war against a new and unknown enemy. Brena is an oncologist in Bergamo, the northern Italian city that is being devastated by the virus in mid-March the whole country was moved by the images of the army taking the coffins of the victims out of the town because there was no longer space at the local cemetery. The hospitals have been reduced to lazarettos [isolation hospitals for highly infectious patients], the health system is on the verge of collapse, Brenas post continues. What will happen to the other sick people? Although Covid-19 appears to kill more men than women the Italian Higher Institute of Health has observed a mortality rate of 7.2% for men compared to 4.1% for women it is women who are on the frontline of the fight against the disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), women represent 70% of workers in the health and social sector, though in the Chinese province of Hubei the epicenter of the outbreak that figure stands at 90%. Women are also primarily responsible for caring for children and the elderly. And they are in a more financially vulnerable position than men in Europe, the employment rate for women is 65% compared to 78% for men an issue that will be exacerbated by the economic fallout of the crisis. And yet, still no political or health authority has analyzed the impact of the coronavirus from a gender perspective. The epidemic has had a huge impact on domestic violence Wan Fei, the founder of an anti-domestic violence nonprofit in China The issue has been tackled, however, in an article published in The Lancet medical journal, titled Covid-19: The Gendered Impacts of the Outbreak. Recognizing the extent to which disease outbreaks affect women and men differently is a fundamental step to understanding the primary and secondary effects of a health emergency on different individuals and communities, and for creating effective, equitable policies and interventions, say the authors. It is hard not to link the lack of interest in this issue to the fact that healthcare organizations are largely run by men. According to the latest report from Global Health 50/50, a non-profit organization that promotes equal opportunities in the sector, more than 70% of the directors of health organizations in the world are men. The researchers of The Lancet article also highlight that there is a lack of female representation in the institutions responsible for making decisions on how to tackle Covid-19, from the WHO, to the White Houses special committee. And they launch this appeal: We call on governments and global health institutions to consider the sex and gender effects of the Covid-19 outbreak, both direct and indirect, and conduct an analysis of the gendered impacts of the multiple outbreaks, incorporating the voices of women on the frontline of the response to Covid-19 and of those most affected by the disease within preparedness and response policies or practices going forward, they write. Past epidemics have shown that a gender-blind approach in such crises, coupled with the almost non-existent presence of women in the higher echelons of power, not only highlights gender inequality, but puts women at greater risk. For example, during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa between 2014 and 2016, women were subjected to far greater exposure to infection because of their predominant role as family caregivers and health workers. Past epidemics have shown that a gender-blind approach puts women at greater risk During the same outbreak, Sierra Leone diverted resources from sexual and reproductive healthcare to address the Ebola crisis, resulting in increased female mortality during childbirth and pregnancy in a country that already had the highest rates of this in the world. The Lancet article also recalls that during the spread of the mosquito-borne Zika virus in the Americas between 2015 and 2016, differences in power between men and women meant that women did not have autonomy over their sexual and reproductive lives, which was compounded by their inadequate access to healthcare and insufficient financial resources to travel to hospitals for check-ups for their children. According to the head of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcukai, the economic issue will soon develop into another acute problem: Majority of women work in the informal economy, where health insurance is likely to be non-existent or inadequate, and income is not secure. Because they are not well targeted for bailouts, they are financially on their own. This is not simply a health issue for many women; it goes to the heart of gender equality. The closure of schools in countries affected by the coronavirus certainly does not help women, many of whom are forced to combine the stress of teleworking often for the first time with childcare, which in most countries is still the womens exclusive domain. This is compounded by mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, which in Europe are predominantly suffered by women. The Lancets analysis also looks at how travel restrictions cause economic hardship and uncertainty among foreign domestic workers, many of whom travel in Southeast Asia between Indonesia, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Singapore. Meanwhile, in Italy, the 25 billion package to save the economy fails to take into account the two million domestic workers, most of whom are women and foreign nationals. At a time when wages are plummeting, many families are having to lay off cleaners, carers and nannies, who will not be eligible for government subsidies. Women are more financially vulnerable than men in Europe, the employment rate for women is 65% compared to 78% for men Lastly, according to Claire Barnett, the executive director of UN Women UK, there is evident proof that domestic violence increases in times of economic precariousness and social instability. Wan Fei, the founder of an anti-domestic violence nonprofit in Jingzhou in the Chinese province of Hubei, told the online magazine Sixth Tone, The epidemic has had a huge impact on domestic violence. The former police officer said that the police station in Jianli County had received three times as many reports of domestic violence in February this year than in the same month the previous year. According to our statistics, 90% of the causes of violence are related to the Covid-19 epidemic, he explained. In Italy, where one woman in three is abused and 81% of femicides take place in the home, centers for victims are seeing a fall in requests for help. According to one of the countrys longest established centers, the Casa delle Donne in Bologna, confinement means that abusive partners are able to exercise even greater control over their victims who have far less freedom to call for help. With their capacity to leave the home strictly limited due to the lockdown rules, many choose to endure the abuse in silence, while those who are on the way to escaping the abuse with the help of meetings, therapy or activities in safe houses, are abruptly left to cope by themselves. Milan Judge Maria Letizia Mannella is all too aware that the number of reports of abuse has fallen since the coronavirus outbreak. It is still too early to have precise data, she says. But what we can say is that enforced cohabitation with abusive partners, husbands and children during this period makes women refrain from calling or going in person to the law. By the end of the year, more complete information could be available on how health crises affect both the health and lives of women. Diah Saminarsih, a WHO gender counselor, has announced that a study is already underway. Meanwhile, Soumya Swaminathan, WHO chief scientist, hopes that at least one positive will emerge from these challenging times. It may be the chance to finally shed light on womens role as the caregivers in the home, one that is seldom recognized, appreciated or paid for, she says. English version by Heather Galloway. Dr Anthony Fauci, the United Statess top infectious diseases specialist, said on Sunday that between 25% and 50% of people infected with the Sars-Cov-2 virus, which causes Covid-19, are asymptomatic one reason why it makes sense to wear masks. And British PM Boris Johnson was, on Sunday evening, hospitalised (for tests, the announcement said), 10 days after he was found positive, highlighting just how bad the situation in the country is (51,608 cases as of Monday evening, with 5,373 deaths). While the UK gave up on its building herd immunity approach early, the hospitalisation of Johnson, a prominent votary of that theory, highlights just how foolish and wrong it was. And Faucis comment underlines the imperative of wearing masks something many experts initially advised against. In hindsight, theres nothing as dangerous as a little science in dealing with a new virus such as the one that causes Covid-19. Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic The big focus for India this week will be containment and enhanced testing, at least in the containment zones. Of the 4,780 cases as of Monday, 31% are from top five cities, 41% from the top 10, and 51% from the top 20. Parts of Mumbai and Delhi have been declared containment zones. Also Read: How India performs on 6 steps to flatten coronavirus curve According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), around 500,000 of the 800,000 antibody testing kits it has ordered will arrive by April 8. States have also independently ordered these kits. The plan is to use them to test aggressively in containment zones using the protocol already established by ICMR. In Delhi, a private laboratory also launched drive-through testing . India will need more such to repeat what is perhaps the most-used line in 20 editions of this column. India needs to test more. Also Read: Coronavirus case count to guide lockdown future That will likely turn up more cases, but it will also reduce two key ratios the proportion of those who test positive to the total number tested, and the fatality rate. The week starting April 8 (when the use of antibody tests is expected to begin) will be critical for India, then; its also a week when the Prime Minister and the federal government team overseeing Indias response on the pandemic will have to take a call on the nationwide lockdown which is scheduled to end on April 14. Also Read: Hydroxychloroquine could become bone of contention between Trump and India Some states are already believed to be veering towards an extended lockdown, and the thinking in New Delhi is that there should be one, at least in the clusters and containment zones. But there are other issues to be decided as well. Will interstate movement be allowed freely or will there be restrictions? What of air and rail travel? And what of retail stores and businesses?. The answers to many of these questions will depend, at least to some extent, on the data that emerges from the antibody tests. The decision will also have to factor in the economic impact of the lockdown, not just on people in the so-called unorganised sector and daily wage labourers, but also on businesses, large and small. On Monday, Japan announced an economic stimulus package of $988 billion to support struggling households and businesses . India has announced one, focused on cash transfers and food, aimed at the most vulnerable, but needs to do more to help businesses. On Monday, the number of cases worldwide stood at 1,323,641, with 73,608 deaths, and the number of cases in India 4,780, with 130 deaths. Mondays fresh cases were similar to the increase in infections reported a day earlier. Meanwhile, work on a vaccine continues apace, both around the world and in India. But the timeline for one remains the same not before the middle of 2021. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Only a certain type engages in professional point-scoring in the midst of a pandemic. But Sir Paul Nurse, the Nobel prize-winning scientist, seems to fit that bill. On Saturday, in a lengthy interview for the Times, the geneticist and former president of the Royal Society laid into Boris Johnson for what he described as a belated reliance on experts. Such reliance was made visible after the PM began holding Downing Street coronavirus press conferences alongside scientific advisors. Boris is clever enough to know that he is out of his depth and hes flanked by people who are as good as any, said Nurse. Its galling when people who have denounced experts then come on the stage and start talking about experts. It doesnt fill you with great confidence. Only a certain type engages in professional point-scoring in the midst of a pandemic. But Sir Paul Nurse, the Nobel prize-winning scientist, seems to fit that bill (pictured at Francis Crick Institute, London) Grudge Sir Paul nurses a political grudge. He was passionately opposed to the campaign led by Johnson to leave the EU (weve got the economy trashed by Brexit, he inaccurately told the paper) and was referring to Michael Goves notorious phrase during the campaign that people have had enough of experts. What Gove actually said was: I think the people in this country have had enough of experts from organisations with acronyms that have got things so wrong in the past. He was referring to bodies such as the CBI, which had declared it would be a disaster if the pound left the European Exchange Rate Mechanism, and later, doubling down, argued it would be terrible for the economy if Britain refused to give up sterling for the euro. They were, in both cases, proved spectacularly wrong. On Saturday the geneticist and former president of the Royal Society laid into Boris Johnson for what he described as a belated reliance on experts Even if they had been proved right, and the euro had turned out to be a blessing, it misses the crucial point. Politicians are voted into high office when they convince a sufficient number of people that their judgment is sound, or at least properly reflects the prevailing mood of the country. So, for example, if the public in the main regards control of borders and immigration to be more important than maintaining the access of British business to an uninterruptible supply of workers from Europe, they will expect their politicians to listen to them, not just to the experts who warned that this would make the economy grow less quickly. When JK Galbraith (author of a best-selling book on the Wall Street crash of 1929) observed that the only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable, he was using humour to make the point that economics is not a science. But the medical experts who have flanked the PM (before he was struck down with the virus) Sir Patrick Vallance and Chris Whitty are true scientists. And epidemiology is a true science. Sir Paul nurses a political grudge. He was passionately opposed to the Leave EU campaign and was referring to Michael Goves notorious phrase that people have had enough of experts The medical experts who have flanked the PM (before he was struck down with the virus) Sir Patrick Vallance and Chris Whitty are true scientists. And epidemiology is a true science The trouble, however, is that this is an entirely new virus, with unique properties and effects on humans that are something of a mystery even to the experts. They let alone the rest of us have no idea if it is circulating in just one form, or in variants like the flu virus. They have no idea if genetics make Europeans more susceptible to it, or likelier to die from it, than Asians. They have no idea what proportion of a given population will contract the virus but display no symptoms. Even at the most basic level, there is confusion: various experts have differing views on whether or not it would help if all citizens wore face masks in public. This, in part, explains why Sweden is taking a much less draconian approach than the UK. Its government has followed the advice of its chief epidemiologist, Anders Tegnell, who, based on his own modelling of the likely path of the epidemic, regards a lockdown as unnecessary to keep the hospitalisation rate from Covid-19 at a manageable level. Scrapped Yesterday, Tegnell declared himself to be disappointed that Britain had abandoned its more relaxed policy, as earlier our own experts had advocated the same strategy, abjuring a decision to put the entire country other than key workers under a form of house arrest. On the superstitiously freighted date of Friday, March 13, the UK Governments chief scientific advisor, Sir Patrick Vallance, had told the nation that our aim is to reduce the peak [of infection], not suppress it completely . . . also, because the vast majority get a mild illness, to build up some kind of herd immunity. But three days later, that plan to allow the virus to spread through a socially active population, with the authorities advising only vulnerable people to withdraw from normal physical engagement with the outside world was scrapped. The reason was that the Governments own chosen top expert, Professor Neil Ferguson of Imperial College, had produced a paper suggesting that the existing policy would lead in short order to the deaths of a quarter of a million of our population. Within three days of Patrick Vallance announcing the Government's aim to build up 'herd immunity' the idea had been dropped following research by Professor Neil Ferguson of Imperial College (pictured) which suggested it could lead to 250,000 deaths Sweden is taking a much less draconian approach than the UK. Its government has followed the advice of its chief epidemiologist, Anders Tegnell (centre), who, based on his own modelling, regards a lockdown as unnecessary This was, to put it at its most cynical, politically unacceptable. Or as the Government would have it: the advice from the experts changed, so we adjusted our policy. The truth is that their initial expert-led policy contained a vast hole, which they were belatedly recognising. I have been speaking to a friend who previously advised government on health-related matters and who was scathing: Their plan ultimately rested on herd immunity, but that strategy makes sense only if you have a testing system which, on a massive scale, reveals when and whether people have actually become immune. Yet the test they devised has a sensitivity of only 25 per cent: that is, for every four people who were actually immune, it would correctly identify only one. It was not reliable. Also, they failed to pick up early enough just how easy it is for robust individuals to pass the virus to the non-robust: the elderly. Limitations My friend was also sceptical about the new plans, derived from Professor Fergusons latest paper: They are based on the idea that we will have to have lockdowns for two-thirds of the time between now and October of next year 2021! because it is thought that there wont be a vaccine universally available until then. I cant see the British public coping with that. This shows the limitations of experts in such circumstances. Their modelling of infection paths under different circumstances are not facts but only projections based on data that may be questionable (especially if coming out of China). But even supposing these epidemiological projections were impeccable, they cannot on their own determine government decisions. These come down to a purely political judgment. In this case: the balance between the publics tolerance for a wholesale, if temporary, curtailment of their physical liberty (plus the deleterious effect on their livelihoods), and their tolerance for a health service overwhelmed by a surge of infections, leading to a tsunami of fatalities. In this matter, it is the politicians who are the true experts. Their job is to understand the nature of the people they represent, and, when necessary, persuade them to accept what can only be the best of a terrible choice No scientific expert can help with such a decision, and though it is in large part a moral one neither can the Archbishop of Canterbury. In this matter, it is the politicians who are the true experts. Their job is to understand the nature of the people they represent, and, when necessary, persuade them to accept what can only be the best of a terrible choice. For Boris Johnson, whose self-confessed political maxim is to be pro-cake and pro-eating it, and whose eternally optimistic outlook resembles that of Dickenss character Wilkins Micawber, this necessity must seem almost unbelievable. But hes wanted to be world king since childhood. So he will not now complain at the loneliness of his decision, as the likes of Sir Paul Nurse sneer from the sidelines. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Khine Lin Kyaw (Bloomberg) Yangon, Myanmar Mon, April 6, 2020 10:45 645 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206fef061 2 SE Asia Myanmar,IMF,World-Bank,COVID-19 Free Myanmar said its considering whether to tap emergency financing from multilateral lenders including the International Monetary Fund to cushion the blow of the coronavirus outbreak. The government has held discussions with the IMF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and others, Aung Naing Oo, secretary of the government panel set up to tackle the economic impact of the virus, said in an interview. We may seek emergency funds in the future, if things lead to the need for that, Aung Naing Oo said Friday. Our plan is to minimize the impact of Covid-19 on the economy. Multilateral lenders have pledged to mobilize huge amounts to help countries grappling with the damage caused by the pathogen. The IMF has said its ready to deploy all of its $1 trillion lending capacity, while the World Bank expects to make as much as $160 billion available over the next 15 months. Factory closures, especially in the labor-intensive garment industry, are already leading to job losses in Myanmar. Economic growth is set to slow sharply to 2%-3% this year, compared with an earlier expectation of 6.4 percent, according to the World Bank. The Southeast Asian nation had 21 confirmed infections and one death as of Monday morning. There are fears the disease known as Covid-19 is more widespread than official numbers suggest because of limited testing, and that a major outbreak would overwhelm health care facilities. Aung San Suu Kyis government has so far announced a $70 million lending program to help businesses, but this is fraction of the countrys $71 billion gross domestic product. The central bank has also lowered borrowing costs. Cotonou, Benin (PANA) - The government of Benin announced on Monday the extension of the closure of churches, mosques and other places of worship to counter the spread of the coronavirus Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 11:02:52|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ALGIERS, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Algeria on Sunday received the first order of medical equipment from China to combat COVID-19, Prime Minister Office said in a statement. Two military cargo planes arrived on Sunday at Algiers International Airport, carrying a load of medical equipment worth 4.95 million U.S. dollars from the Chinese city of Shanghai, the statement said. Hailing the army's effort to bring this order from China within 48 hours, Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad, who was accompanied by Health Minister Abderrahmane Benbouzid, told reporters at the airport that the two planes carried 8.5 million 3-ply surgical masks and 100,000 FFP2 filter masks. He added that the second order will be delivered by China in the coming weeks, saying Algeria "will make every effort to get rid of this pandemic sooner or later." President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said last week that Algeria ordered 100 million surgical masks and 30,000 screening kits from China, as part of the North African nation's efforts to stem the spread of the virus. Earlier on Sunday, Djamel Fourar, head of the COVID-19 Detection and Follow-up Commission, said at a press briefing that the death toll from the virus reached 152, while total infections hit 1,320. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Pakistan on Monday soared past 3,600 with the maximum number of COVID-19 cases being reported from its Punjab province. 132 fresh cases have been confirmed on Monday in the Punjab province, taking the provincial tally to 1,816. Sindh reported 932, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa had 405, Balochistan, 202 Gilgit-Baltistan, 210, Islamabad, 82, and 15 cases were reported in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Out of the total cases of Punjab, 577 cases have been reported from the quarantine facility housing pilgrims, 52 people are in Raiwind. Furthermore, 49 jail inmates and other 663 citizens. Meanwhile, the Punjab provincial government has extended its partial lockdown till April 14, as per Dawn. According to a notification issued, the provincial government has asked citizens to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The Punjab government has also issued a notification that outlines the rules under which welfare activities can be done. The notification reads, "Any individual, organisation or any other entity that intends to undertake philanthropic activity on its own, shall have to submit an application to the deputy commissioner [...] who shall determine the mode, area, and extent of the activity," Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in his address to Parliamentary leaders on March 25 had said that the country does not have any migrated cases because of the government's decision to not bring students stuck in Wuhan, the epicentre. He had said, "Pakistan's decision to not bring back students from Wuhan -- where the virus first emerged -- was a tough but good decision as not even one COVID-19 case was brought from China," However, Pakistan's National Command and Operation Centre have said that 61 perc ent of the cases are imported from other countries. The percentage of local transmission has also increased with at least 39 per cent of cases in the country being of local transmission. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four Qantas crew members who operated a flight from Chile and did not have to go into quarantine have tested positive for coronavirus, raising concerns future international flights could weaken Australia's defences against the pandemic. All passengers on the flight from Santiago which landed in Sydney on March 29 were put in quarantine for 14 days in city hotels. But crew members were free to return to their homes under an exemption for airline crew granted by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, the key health crisis decision-making committee which is comprised of all state and territory chief health officers and chaired by Australia's chief medical officer. Qantas and Virgin Australia are preparing to resume international flying to bring stranded Australians back to home. The Age and Sydney Morning Herald can reveal four cabin crew on the flight have since tested positive for the virus. The positive test results have raised concerns inside Qantas that crew could spread the disease to family members or colleagues, according to employees who asked not to be named because they are not permitted to speak about their employer publicly. It comes as Qantas and Virgin Australia prepare to resume international services with government subsidised flights to London, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Auckland to bring stranded Australians home. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Sunday reissued temporary restrictions on visitors at health care and juvenile justice facilities amid the coronavirus outbreak. The governor signed an executive order to renew the restrictions issued March 14, which were set to expire Sunday, April 5. The new order is effective immediately and will remain in place until 11:59 p.m. May 3, the governors office announced. The order requires facilities to accommodate remote visitations with individuals under their care, using phone or video conferencing programs. Gov. Whitmer bans non-essential hospital visits, urges virtual meetings as COVID-19 count rises The order states non-essential visitors are prohibited from entering health care facilities, residential care facilities, congregate care facilities and juvenile justice facilities. That include visitors who are not: Necessary for the provision of medical care, the support of activities of daily living, or the exercise of power of attorney or court-appointed guardianship for an individual under the facilitys care. A parent, foster parent or guardian of an individual 21 years old or younger and who is under the facilitys care. Visiting an individual under the facilitys care that is in serious or critical condition or in hospice care. Visiting under exigent circumstances or for the purpose of performing official governmental functions. The birth of a child qualifies as an exigent circumstance, allowing a partner and doula to accompany a laboring mother, if they pass the health evaluation required by the order. We must continue to do everything we can to protect Michiganders, Whitmer said in a statement. This is a hard time for families, and we will continue to put their health and safety first when making these decisions. I encourage everyone in Michigan to remain flexible and do their part to slow the spread of COVID-19. The order clarifies that residential care facilities includes homes for the aged, nursing homes, adult foster care facilities, hospice facilities, substance abuse disorder residential facilities, independent living facilities, and assisted living facilities. View the full order here. The states latest statistical report on COVID-19, which was updated at 3 p.m. April 5, showed there were 15,718 confirmed cases with a total of 617 deaths. COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, counter tops) and when you go into places like stores. MORE: Michigan reports 1,493 new coronavirus cases on Sunday and 77 more deaths Sunday, April 5: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Kalamazoo County tops 50 coronavirus cases Coronavirus cases climb in mid-Michigan, led by Genesee County 3rd coronavirus death reported in Kent County 3rd coronavirus death reported in Kent County Michigan House leaders disagree on returning to session Tuesday Since Birmingham-area restaurants have pivoted to offering only takeout, curbside and delivery service, one of the biggest challenges for people who want to support their local dining scene is finding a comprehensive list of the citys restaurants and bars that are still open. Social media posts and lists (including a list from AL.com) started making the rounds in mid-March. Later, a crowd sourced Google sheet emerged with open restaurants and bars in the Birmingham area, as well as Huntsville, Mobile, and Montgomery. And while the citys dining scene has been in flux, owners of more than 20 restaurants and bars in the Birmingham area have also started restaurant relief funds to support their out-of-work staff. Until recently, patrons had to visit the different websites and social media accounts of their favorite businesses to find out if they are open, or how to buy gift cards and donate to aid funds. Bham Nom Nom, a new project from the independent restaurant collective Birmingham Originals and Birmingham Restaurant Week, compiles that information into one website. The site covers six locations in the Birmingham metro area: the city of Birmingham, Homewood, Hoover, Leeds, Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills. A key near the top of the site has symbols that indicate delivery, curbside and to-go service, as well as links to information on how to donate and buy gift cards. Users can select a metro area to find a list of restaurants in the location. Bham Nom Nom currently has more than 80 restaurants and bars. Businesses who wish to be added to the site can fill out the Google form or email info@bhamrestaurantweek.com. Bill Stoeffhaas, co-founder of Birmingham Restaurant Week and co-owner of Style Advertising, the marketing agency that designed the website, said that ensuring the site clearly listed a section pointing to gift cards and donation opportunities was the most important part of creating the blueprint for Bham Nom Nom. People need to remember that there are people who lost their jobs at the restaurants, Stoeffhaas told AL.com. We wanted that to be very readily available at the restaurants (as a way) to say 'Thank you for all the years of great meals. Restaurants and bars are trying to make the most out of takeout and curbside takeout, but operating with the decreased revenue from having no dining room is difficult. Theres also the responsibility of trying to protect the health of staff working in the kitchen, as well as patrons picking up meals. The statuses of the restaurants in Birmingham Originals vary. Eugenes Hot Chicken is still open. The Birmingham and Mountain Brook location Carrigans Public House and its sister restaurant Brat Brot have closed their doors and laid off their staff. After offering takeout and curbside service for nearly three weeks with a limited staff, chef Chris Hastings and his wife and co-proprietor Idie announced Saturday that they would close Hot & Hot Fish Club and OvenBird until the end of April due to evolving circumstances and Gov. Kay Iveys recent statewide shelter in place order. While restaurants are still allowed to order takeout, we did not make this decision lightly and feel it necessary to take this course of action for the well-being of our community and health care heroes, the Hastingses announced on the restaurants social media accounts. Bistro V in Vestavia Hills is also closed for the month. Restaurants outside of the collective are facing a similar fate. On Morris Avenue, Pilcrow Cocktail Cellar temporarily pivoted to curbside bottle sales after the ABC emergency order, but owner Joe Phelps later decided to hunker down and wait, announcing that the bar would temporarily close its doors on March 20. Since then, hes been working to connect employees in the service industry with odd jobs for extra money. Its neighbor, Cayo Coco Rum Bar, also offered curbside and takeout delivery, until announcing on April 1 that it would close through the rest of the month. After announcing its temporary closure in March, Red Sea Ethiopian Restaurant on Green Springs Highway has been preparing meals for first responders. Other owners and managers made the decision to close before the county health department issued health orders, including all three locations of Seafood King, as well as Frank Stitts family of restaurants. Since the closure, Stitt has spent most of his time working with the Independent Restaurant Coalition negotiating and trying to figure out a benefits package that will provide forgivable, government-backed loans to restaurants who keep their employees on the payroll during the coronavirus crisis as part of the $2.2 trillion stimulus plan passed on March 26. Chris Zapalowski, the president of Birmingham Originals and the owner of Homewood Gourmet, said he has been operating in survival mode since he heard news of the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Alabamaboth as a business owner and a community member. While he would love patrons to support the citys restaurants by buying meals and gift cards, he also knows that restaurant workers arent the only people facing financial hardship in the midst of this public health crisis. People cant eat out every night. So its going to take a little bit from everybody to kind of help the guys and girls in the restaurants survive, said Zapalowski, noting that those still employed at restaurants and bars were in for a long, hard road of work. And its going to take some hard work and a little bit of spending money from the community if they can do it. Which we greatly appreciate. The Homewood Gourmet owner said the past few weeks have felt like a roller coaster ride. Some days have been slow, but others have been busy. But at least the restaurant is still open, so maybe thats the the writing on the wall. You know, you just have to keep your head down and know that the light at the end of the tunnel may not be very bright," said Zapalowski. "But, its still there. And I think we can do this. We can make it. London markets jumped today as a slowdown in coronavirus deaths in France and Italy raised hopes that lockdown measures were starting to show results. The FTSE 100 index of Britain's biggest companies closed up 167 points or 3.08 per cent at 5,582 this afternoon. The markets had a relatively steady day and held onto early gains, although the rises were capped by fears over the health of Prime Minister Boris Johnson who is being treated in hospital for the infection. It comes after Italy saw its lowest daily deaths for more than two weeks yesterday, while France's daily death toll dropped and admissions into intensive care slowed. Stocks also rose in the US today after New York reported a fall in the number of daily deaths. The Dow Jones on Wall Street gained 5.12 per cent or 1,077 points to 22,129. AvaTrade analyst Naeem Aslam said: 'Investors are shrugging off the pessimism. They are focused on more optimistic things: the slowing death rate caused by coronavirus. Italy, Spain, France, and Germany have all seen declining numbers.' Shortly after the FTSE closed, the UK declared 439 more deaths caused by the coronavirus today, taking the total to 5,373. But in a glimmer of hope, the figure has now fallen for two days in a row and today dropped 30 per cent from 621 yesterday. TODAY: The FTSE 100 index closed up 167 points or 3.08 per cent at 5,582 this afternoon PAST WEEK: The FTSE had a topsy turvy week last week, but gained more than 3 per cent today PAST FORTNIGHT: The FTSE has overcome some coronavirus-related losses in recent weeks Ian Williams, an analyst at Peel Hunt LLP in London, told of 'tentative signs that equity investors may be looking through what remains a worrying pick-up in cases'. The worldwide spread of coronavirus has prompted nationwide stay-at-home orders, virtually halting economic activity. 'We're seeing slowing cases in certain sections of Europe and that's bringing a rush of buying into the market,' said Keith Temperton, a sales trader at Tavira Securities. 'However, longer-term impacts of what's happening and what happened are going to put pressure on the markets.' Despite policymakers injecting trillions of dollars into the global economy, the FTSE 100 is down about 28 per cent from its January peak due to company warnings and dismal economic data. A survey today showed British consumer confidence recorded its biggest fall in more than 45 years, adding to a batch of weak business activity data last week. A man wearing a face mask walks past a board at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange today The Milan Stock Exchange building 'Piazza degli Affari' on Saturday. The Italian government continues to enforce the nationwide lockdown measures to control the spread of coronavirus However, the risk-on sentiment pushed investors to buy some of the worst-hit sectors such as travel and leisure, which has nearly halved in value so far this year. Cruise operator Carnival Plc, IAG owned British Airways, easyJet jumped between 6 per cent and 9 per cent. Aero-engine maker Rolls-Royce rose 13 per cent after it secured an additional revolving credit facility, but said it was scrapping its targets and final dividend. Insurer Legal & General Group surged 17 per cent, recovering sharply from last week's losses after it said it would pay 2019 dividend even after a European Union regulator said insurers and reinsurers should temporarily halt payouts. Peers Prudential and Aviva rose about 7 per cent. Data last Friday showed business activity in the eurozone contracted severely in March, foreshadowing a deep economic and earnings recession. Meanwhile oil prices skidded today after Saudi-Russian negotiations to cut output were delayed, keeping oversupply concerns alive. Brent crude fell as much as $4 after Saudi Arabia and Russia shifted their meeting, initially scheduled for today, to Thursday even as the pandemic pummels demand. Overnight, Australia's benchmark index rose 3.3 per cent, Japan's Nikkei added 2.4 per cent after a slow start while South Korea's KOSPI index climbed 2.1 per cent. The pandemic has claimed 68,000 lives and infected over a million people globally. The United States has the highest number of reported cases, at more than 300,000. Concerns about heavy damage to the global economy have pushed investors into the perceived safety of government bonds where yields are at or near all-time lows. Le Le, a British Shorthair cat from Wuhan, China, has become a symbol of resistance during the current pandemic, showing us human that if she could survive by herself in a locked apartment for 40 days, then we can handle a bit of social distancing and isolation too. This story of feline endurance and survival began in January of 2020, when the Covid-19 crisis in Wuhan was still in its infancy. One by one, Le Les human family had to be hospitalized after becoming infected with the coronavirus, and before the Chinese New Year (January 25) rolled up, the heavily pregnant cat had been left by herself. Her owners had decided not to hire someone look after her, or even check in on her from time to time, because they didnt known whether their home was contaminated with the virus or not. So they just opened a bag of cat food and hoped for thee best. I had to find a solution myself, the cats owner told Chinese video platform Pear Video, adding that before he went to the hospital for a checkup, he built a delivery pad for Le Le, in case he didnt come back, so she had something soft to give birth on. He also opened a 20-pound bag of cat food, left the bathroom and the balcony doors open so she could move around, then left and locked the cat inside the apartment. I keep turtles and flowers on the balcony, and there is filtered water there safe for her to drink, the man added. She also knew how to use the cat toilet in our bathroom. For the 40 days that Le Les owners were hospitalized and prevented from returning home, no one knew anything about the feline what she was up to, or if she was even alive anymore. But when they returned and saw Le Le safe and sound, with four kittens running around the flat, they were overjoyed. I count myself very lucky. After all, I didnt take care of her [for so long], the owner said. But when I saw the newborns, it was like I saw hope. Le Le had reportedly lost about half of her normal weight, but her and the kittens were otherwise in perfect health. The only casualties of the ordeal were the familys pet fish, which ended up as food for Le Le and her brood. According to China Daily, Chen named the four kittensXiaowu, Hanhan, Xiaojia and Youyou, which together mean Wuhan, fighting in Chinese. The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 5 informed Vietnam citizens of new entry-exit regulations the Lao Government has issued as an effort to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Quang Tri's border guards control travels between Vietnam and Laos The ministry noted that the Lao government has completely closed all of its international border gates and not allowed any individuals to go through these border gates, except for trucks carrying goods and emergency cases from April 3-19. Laos has closed all main and auxiliary border gates along the Vietnam-Laos border from March 19 to April 20. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese Government has temporarily suspended cross-border activities of individuals at main and auxiliary border gates and trails in the two countries border areas since April 1. Vietnamese citizens were advised to avoid travels between the two countries and strictly follow Laos COVID-19 countermeasures, and get updated on both nations regulations. For support, they were recommended to contact the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos via hotline at +85 620 96 10 67 75, the Vietnamese Consulate General in Savanakhet at +85 620 98 20 86 66, the Vietnamese Consulate General in Pakse at +85 620 99 69 16 66, the Vietnamese Consulate General in Luang Prabang at +85 620 91 11 23 45, or call the Citizen Protection Hotline +84 981 84 84 84./.VNA SYDNEY, April 6 (Reuters) - Japanese shares advanced on Monday as markets were encouraged by a slowdown in coronavirus deaths and new cases in U.S. hot spots, although uncertainty about a potential lockdown in Tokyo kept some investors wary. The benchmark Nikkei average rose 2.4% to 18,249.57 by the midday break, led by futures tagging sharp gains in U.S. stock futures. E-mini futures for the S&P 500 index jumped as much as 3.3% after U.S. President Donald Trump expressed hope the country was seeing a "levelling off" of the coronavirus crisis in hot spots. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will impose a state of emergency as early as Tuesday in a bid to stop the coronavirus spreading, the Yomiuri newspaper reported, as the cumulative number of infections topped 1,000 in Tokyo alone. Abe will likely announce his plans to declare the emergency on Monday, the paper said, while the Kyodo news agency said new measures would likely come into force on Wednesday. Some analysts said the government could declare a state of emergency when it announces an economic stimulus package on Tuesday to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The broader Topix added 1.8% to 1,349.53 by the midday recess, with all but four of the 33 sector sub-indexes on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in positive territory. Information and communication was the top performing sector, rising 4.3% on hopes for growing demand for data as more people work from home or stay at home due to the coronavirus pandemic. NTT Docomo Inc climbed 6.0%, while KDDI Corp and SoftBank Corp gained 5.5% and 5.4%, respectively. Fujifilm Holdings Corp jumped 6.1% to hit a record high after Reuters and other media reported that Japan was planning to boost stockpiles of the Avigan anti-flu drug, which is being tested as a treatment for COVID-19 in China. Denka Co Ltd, which produces the raw chemicals used to make Avigan, soared 14.6%. (Reporting by Tomo Uetake; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) Chennai, April 6 : Actor-cum-politician Kamal Haasan, President of Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to focus on all sections of the society while combating the Coronavirus attack and its impact on the nation and not just the middle-class. Terming that he is angry at the way the Central government has handled the Coronavirus pandemic he told Modi: "This is the first crisis, the first epidemic that the top of the society has inflicted upon the bottom. And the topmost, i.e, you sir seem interested in bailing out everybody but those at the bottom." Kamal Haasan in an open letter to Modi said as millions of daily wage labourers, house-helps, street-cart vendors, auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers and helpless migrant workers struggle to see light at the end of the tunnel, the focus seems to be on securing only an already well-built middle class fortress. "I would like to see you doing more to secure everybody's fortress and ensure that nobody goes to bed hungry,a Kamal Haasan said. "Sir, this is the time to listen to voices who truly care. I do care. It's the time to smudge all boundaries and give a clarion call to everyone to come on to your side and help." "India's biggest potential is its human potential and we have tided over bigger crises in the past. We will overcome this too but it must be done in a way that brings everyone together and doesn't become yet another reason to choose sides," he added. According to Kamal Haasan, while Covid-19 will continue to find more victims, a fertile playground for hunger is being created in the nation. He said HED20 (Hunger, Exhaustion, Deprivation) is a malady that is smaller in profile but far deadlier compared to Covid-19 and would have a longer impact than the pandemic. Charging Modi of giving a spirited election-style campaign idea while addressing the nation Kamal Haasan added: "It seems you are comfortable outsourcing responsible behavior to the common people and transparency to the state governments. This is the perception you are creating, especially amongst those who spend enough time working toward and intellectualizing for a great today and tomorrow for India." "I am sorry if I have offended you with the use of the word intellectual here, for I know that you and your government does not like that word. But I am a follower of Periyar and Gandhi and I know they were intellectuals first. It's the intellect that guides one into choosing a path of righteousness, equality and prosperity for all," he added. On combating the Covid-19 pandemic Kamal Haasan told Modi that the country did not learn the lessons early enough. "When we eventually woke out of our slumber, you ordered an entire nation of 1.4 bn people to shut down within 4 hours. A mere 4 hour notice period for the people when you had a 4 month notice period!a he said. According to Kamal Haasan visionary leaders are ones who work on solutions long before problems become big. "The common populace cannot be blamed for being ill-prepared for a crisis of this magnitude but you can be and shall be blamed for this. The government is appointed and paid by the people to keep their lives normal and safe," he said. Events of these magnitude get etched in history for two reasons, one being the devastation (illness and death) that they cause due to their core nature. The second being the long term impact of what they teach humans to prioritise and the kind of socio-cultural changes they bring about, Kamal Haasan said. In conclusion Kamal Haasan said: "We are angry but we are still on your side." Latest updates on Gandhi Jayanti 2019 -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed To the annoyance of some shareholders, Banca Mediolanum (BIT:BMED) shares are down a considerable 31% in the last month. Even longer term holders have taken a real hit with the stock declining 30% in the last year. Assuming nothing else has changed, a lower share price makes a stock more attractive to potential buyers. While the market sentiment towards a stock is very changeable, in the long run, the share price will tend to move in the same direction as earnings per share. So, on certain occasions, long term focussed investors try to take advantage of pessimistic expectations to buy shares at a better price. Perhaps the simplest way to get a read on investors' expectations of a business is to look at its Price to Earnings Ratio (PE Ratio). Investors have optimistic expectations of companies with higher P/E ratios, compared to companies with lower P/E ratios. Check out our latest analysis for Banca Mediolanum Does Banca Mediolanum Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry? We can tell from its P/E ratio of 5.92 that sentiment around Banca Mediolanum isn't particularly high. We can see in the image below that the average P/E (7.3) for companies in the diversified financial industry is higher than Banca Mediolanum's P/E. BIT:BMED Price Estimation Relative to Market April 6th 2020 Its relatively low P/E ratio indicates that Banca Mediolanum shareholders think it will struggle to do as well as other companies in its industry classification. Since the market seems unimpressed with Banca Mediolanum, it's quite possible it could surprise on the upside. You should delve deeper. I like to check if company insiders have been buying or selling. How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios P/E ratios primarily reflect market expectations around earnings growth rates. If earnings are growing quickly, then the 'E' in the equation will increase faster than it would otherwise. And in that case, the P/E ratio itself will drop rather quickly. Then, a lower P/E should attract more buyers, pushing the share price up. Story continues In the last year, Banca Mediolanum grew EPS like Taylor Swift grew her fan base back in 2010; the 121% gain was both fast and well deserved. Having said that, the average EPS growth over the last three years wasn't so good, coming in at 13%. Remember: P/E Ratios Don't Consider The Balance Sheet It's important to note that the P/E ratio considers the market capitalization, not the enterprise value. So it won't reflect the advantage of cash, or disadvantage of debt. The exact same company would hypothetically deserve a higher P/E ratio if it had a strong balance sheet, than if it had a weak one with lots of debt, because a cashed up company can spend on growth. Such expenditure might be good or bad, in the long term, but the point here is that the balance sheet is not reflected by this ratio. How Does Banca Mediolanum's Debt Impact Its P/E Ratio? Banca Mediolanum has net debt worth a very significant 123% of its market capitalization. This level of debt justifies a relatively low P/E, so remain cognizant of the debt, if you're comparing it to other stocks. The Bottom Line On Banca Mediolanum's P/E Ratio Banca Mediolanum has a P/E of 5.9. That's below the average in the IT market, which is 12.7. While the EPS growth last year was strong, the significant debt levels reduce the number of options available to management. If the company can continue to grow earnings, then the current P/E may be unjustifiably low. Given Banca Mediolanum's P/E ratio has declined from 8.6 to 5.9 in the last month, we know for sure that the market is more worried about the business today, than it was back then. For those who prefer to invest with the flow of momentum, that might be a bad sign, but for deep value investors this stock might justify some research. When the market is wrong about a stock, it gives savvy investors an opportunity. If it is underestimating a company, investors can make money by buying and holding the shares until the market corrects itself. So this free visual report on analyst forecasts could hold the key to an excellent investment decision. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a few good candidates. So take a peek at this free list of companies with modest (or no) debt, trading on a P/E below 20. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Specimens from CCP virus tests are logged to be processed for a positive or negative result at the UW Medicine Virology lab in Seattle on March 18, 2020. (Brian Snyder/Reuters) Cause of Death for Infant Who Tested Positive for COVID-19 Still Under Investigation: Medical Examiner The official cause of death for an infant who tested positive for COVID-19 in Connecticut is still under investigation, The Epoch Times has confirmed. The 6-week-old baby died on March 26 at the Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut. Gov. Ned Lamont announced that day that the death of the child was caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus. Ive spent a lot of time trying to tell you that almost all the fatalities are related to people who are over 70 and over 80, but we have a tragic milestone in Connecticut, Lamont said at a press conference. Probably the youngest person ever to die of COVID has died here in Connecticut. That baby was less than 7 weeks old, and it just is a reminder that nobody is safe from this virus. But the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner told The Epoch Times that the cause of death is still being determined following the babys March 27 autopsy. 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, the office said. Those include histology, microbiology, and toxicology testing. A baby in a file photograph. (Fred Dufour/AFP/Getty Images) In normal times, it usually takes several weeks to complete all tests. The office didnt address queries on whether there would be a delay amid the pandemic or whether officials there were concerned about the governors early pronouncement linking the babys death to COVID-19. The baby did test positive for COVID-19, the office confirmed. Pressed on his declaration at a press conference last week, Lamont asked Connecticut State Epidemiologist Matthew Cartter to address the question. Cartter told reporters that public health officials werent sure what caused the death of the baby. Our definition, what were counting at the state health department, is different from what the medical examiner counts. I dont know the cause of death of this person that youre about or any of the people, because we dont determine cause of death, he said. We define laboratory confirmed COVID-19-associated deaths as anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19, tests positive on a COVID-19 test, before or around the time of death. We do not determine causality. Flu surveillance is done the same way, he said. The Hartford Police Department didnt respond to a request for comment on the infants death. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont speaks during SiriusXM Business Radios Making A Leader Series at SiriusXM Studios in New York City on Dec. 20, 2019. (Bonnie Biess/Getty Images for SiriusXM) Previous Death COVID-19 primarily affects the elderly and people with underlying health conditions. There was only one documented death caused by the disease among those aged 24 or younger in the United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That person was between 1 and 4 years old. No other information about the death was available. The Illinois Department of Public Health said in late March that an infant younger than 1 year old in Chicago tested positive for COVID-19. There has never before been a death associated with COVID-19 in an infant. A full investigation is underway to determine the cause of death, state Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said in a statement. We must do everything we can to prevent the spread of this deadly virus. If not to protect ourselves, but to protect those around us. Natalia Derevyanny, a spokeswoman for the Cook County Bureau of Administration, told The Epoch Times that the cause and manner of death of the Chicago infant hasnt been determined at this time. She declined to answer how long officials think the investigation will take. One infant death was also reported in China. The 10-month-old with intussusception suffered multiple organ failure and died a month after being admitted to a hospital. Medical staff treat COVID-19 patients at a hospital in Wuhan, China on March 19, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Other Clarifications At least two other deaths reported by U.S. officials as being caused by COVID-19 were later clarified. The Georgia Department of Public Health said that an 11-year-old boy in the Atlanta area died from the CCP virus. The department later said the characterization stemmed from an error. The reporting facility made an error when electronically submitting information about a death. Upon review of the medical record, the error was corrected, Nancy Nydam, a spokeswoman for the department, told The Epoch Times via email. California health officials said a 17-year-old boy died from the illness but later said theyre exploring the situation. Though early tests indicated a positive result for COVID-19, the case is complex, and there may be an alternate explanation for this fatality. Patient privacy prevents our offering further details at this time, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in a statement. The death was removed from the countys list of fatalities from the virus. 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 6, 2020 The number of deaths because of COVID-19 is beginning to plateau in certain parts of the world, but thats no excuse to stop social distancing. California, Oregon and Washington loan ventilators to New York to help them combat the virus. Meanwhile, police in several states are pulling over out-of-state drivers. And, in happier news, two Pa. companies are offering to disinfect the vehicles of first responders for free. 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. European nations most ravaged by the new coronavirus on Sunday reported encouraging signs in their fight against the deadly pandemic, as the United States braced for what may be a "horrific" few weeks ahead. While Queen Elizabeth II delivered a rare televised address in a bid to calm public nerves about the deadly outbreak, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was taken to hospital 10 days after he was diagnosed with coronavirus. Italy reported its lowest daily toll in two weeks, a possible indication the tide may be turning in the deadliest disaster the country has faced since World War II. "This is good news but we should not let our guard down," civil protection service chief Angelo Borrelli told reporters. In Spain, officials said fatality numbers fell for the third straight day while France reported its lowest daily toll in a week. Across the Atlantic, US President Donald Trump has warned Americans to brace for a "horrific" few weeks as the national death toll surged towards 10,000. The number of confirmed US cases passed 335,000 -- the highest in the world. "The next week and a half, two weeks, I think they're going to be very difficult," Trump told reporters. Pope Francis celebrated Palm Sunday mass behind closed doors. By Alberto PIZZOLI (POOL/AFP) The rapid march of the virus has claimed over 69,000 lives in just three months and left about half the planet confined to their homes, drastically altering life for billions and plunging the global economy into recession. With more than 1.25 million people confirmed as infected, the virus is also putting massive pressure on healthcare services, with nations both rich and poor struggling to find enough staff and equipment. Pope Francis, head of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, appealed for people to show courage in the face of the pandemic. The elderly pontiff, who himself has been tested twice for the virus, celebrated his Palm Sunday mass by livestream. But Saint Peter's Square was deserted and the basilica was almost empty. In Panama, Archbishop Jose Domingo Ulloa, wearing a white mask that covered his mouth and nose, delivered the traditional Palm Sunday blessing from a helicopter. As Christians prepare for Easter, the holiest event on their religious calendar, many churches are closed and masses are being transmitted on television and social networks. But not everywhere. In the latest sign of Americans defying stay-at-home orders, a Louisiana pastor continues to hold church services, a move blasted Sunday as "grossly irresponsible" by Governor John Bel Edwards. 'We will overcome' Queen Elizabeth II delivered a special address to Britain and Commonwealth nations that aired on April 5, 2020 and urged people to rise to the challenge posed by the coronavirus. By Paul ELLIS (AFP) In her address to Britain, which has almost 5,000 fatalities, the queen thanked healthcare workers. "Together we are tackling this disease, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it," she said. Prime Minister Johnson, 55, was taken to hospital as a "precautionary step," according to Downing Street, after failing to shake off coronavirus symptoms. In Italy, which has been under a strict lockdown for almost a month, officials reported 525 new deaths over the past 24 hours, the lowest since March 19. The easiest way to make your own face mask. By Alain BOMMENEL (AFP) But its overall death toll remains the highest in the world at 15,887. There were signs of hope too for Spain, which registered 674 deaths Sunday, its third straight day of declining numbers. The government has nevertheless announced it is extending a near-total lockdown until April 25. At a field hospital set up at a Madrid conference centre, staff applauded whenever a patient was healthy enough to be discharged. Builder Eduardo Lopez, 59, gave a "10/10" rating to the staff who cared for him "with tenderness and a great dose of humanity". 'Our Pearl Harbor' A couple wearing facemasks ride a bicycle over a bridge in Wuhan, where the new coronavirus first appeared in December. By Hector RETAMAL (AFP) In the United States, Surgeon General Jerome Adams warned that the country was facing unprecedented death tolls. "This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment, only it's not going to be localized," he told Fox News Sunday. "It's going to be happening all over the country." Sunday's one-day rise of 1,212 dead was among the largest daily increases yet. One member of Trump's coronavirus task force, Deborah Birx, said she was impressed that Italy and Spain were "coming across their apex" and seeing reduced deaths after weeks of intensive mitigation efforts. "That's extraordinarily hopeful," Birx said, adding she aimed to soon see a "stabilization" of cases across large cities like New York and Detroit. Trump has insisted that the world's largest economy could not remain shut forever, and has repeatedly discussed possibly reopening businesses. New York state, the US epicentre, saw 594 deaths Sunday, slightly down from the previous day, but Governor Andrew Cuomo said it was too early to tell whether it was a "blip". Virus death 'better' than starving Residents light candles and turn on their mobile phone lights to observe a nine-minute vigil in India. By Punit PARANJPE (AFP) Several Western countries including the US have encouraged mask use in public despite earlier saying only carers needed to cover their faces -- a U-turn that has angered and confused some citizens. The advice came after some studies suggested coronavirus could be spread through speaking and breathing, not just coughing and sneezing. The World Health Organization is reviewing its guidance. Governments have launched massive, unprecedented stimulus programmes to ease pain caused by the virus lockdowns, but economists warn that the crisis could worsen poverty levels with millions of jobs lost. Shortages of key personnel and equipment needed to fight the coronavirus.. By Alain BOMMENEL (AFP) Iran, whose economy has suffered the double blow of the virus and punishing US sanctions, said it would allow "low-risk" economic activity to resume as daily infection rates fell for a fifth straight day. Some people in poor countries are chafing against curfews destroying their livelihoods. "How can anyone stay home without anything to eat?" asked Garcia Landu, a motorcycle taxi driver in Angola's bustling capital Luanda. "Better to die of this disease or a gunshot than to starve to death," he said. burs-txw-mlm/bgs People pay tribute to the victims who lost their lives in the fight against Covid-19 in Wuhan, Hubei province. During the national mourning, flags fly at half-mast across the country, three minutes of silence is observed as sirens, and horns of cars, trains, and ships wail in grief. Most Victorian students will learn from home when school returns next Wednesday and Year 12 exams will be postponed until at least December, in an unprecedented move to slow the spread of coronavirus. If the pandemic is still not under control by the end of the year, VCE students could receive their ATAR without sitting final exams, but the Premier and Education Minister have reassured students there would be no need for a "Year 13". Premier Daniel Andrews outlines plans for the 2020 school year on Tuesday morning. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui The General Achievement Test for VCE and VCAL students will move from June to October or November, the number of School Assessed Courseworks (SACs) will be reduced and universities will be asked to delay the start of the first semester in 2021. All vulnerable students and children of essential workers will be allowed to return to the classroom for Term 2, and "small groups" of Year 12 students will be allowed to attend school for short periods of time if they cannot do the coursework at home (for example, a practical chemistry lesson). Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday asked people to raise their voice for "more and more testing", saying it is the only way to prevent the spread of coronavirus. She said the mantra should be to test as much as possible and then treat the infected people. "The only way to prevent infection of coronavirus is through more and more testing. Only then can we treat the infected person. Test as much as possible and treat - this should be our mantra. My request to all of you is - raise your voice for more testing," she said in a tweet in Hindi, using hashtag "TestMoreSaveIndia". In a video message, she said, "If testing is not exponentially ramped up, we will be wasting precious time in the fight to save lives. We just cannot afford even a single day." "Please raise your voice in whichever way you can by posting on social media or otherwise to convince our government to massively increase testing now. The lives of millions of people depend on it." Gandhi said as the country progresses to the second half of the coronavirus lockdown, it is very important for all of us to understand how crucial it is for India to increase its rate of testing. She said testing enables us to determine who has coronavirus, it also gives us extremely valuable information about the severity of the disease, disease clusters and areas that need to be immediately isolated. She said while Italy failed to conduct a large number of tests, South Korea tested thousands of people that helped it contain the virus. "Unfortunately, data shows the rate of testing in our country is nowhere near what it should be," she said. As all of you know reports about community transmission of the virus have now started coming in the next two weeks will determine our future, the Congress leader said. The Congress has been calling for more testing, saying India's testing has been the lowest in the world, going by its population. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Union cabinet on Monday decided to cut 30 per cent salary of all MPs for one year, and divert MPLAD funds for two years --nearly Rs 7,900 crores--to fund the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Announcing the cabinet decision, Union minister Prakash Javadekar also said the President, the Vice President, governors of states have also voluntarily decided to take a pay cut as a social responsibility. The cabinet gave its nod to an ordinance amending the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954 reducing allowances and pension by 30 per cent from April 1 2020 for a year, he told reporters, adding this will include the prime minister and the Union ministers. "Cha rity begins at home," he said. While the salary of all parliamentarians, including ministers, is more or less same at around Rs one lakh per month, there is a difference in allowances between ministers and common MPs. However, allowances have not seen any cut. A decision of more financial import and likely much political heartburn, is the temporary suspension of the MPLAD (Member of Parliament local Area Development) fund scheme during financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22.. While there are 543 MPs in Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha has 245 members --788 in all. Each MP gets Rs 5 crore per annum as MPLAD and for two years it would be nearly Rs 7880 crores while by salary cut the government will save about Rs 29 crores a year. The money will be put in the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI) and used for "managing health and adverse impact of outbreak of COVID19" in the country, Javadekar said. All the revenue received by the government by way of taxes like income tax, central excise, customs and other receipts flowing to the government are credited into the CFI. All government expenditure is incurred from this fund and no amount can be withdrawn from the CFI without authorization from Parliament. While the salary cut, not more than 30,000 per month for each MP, may not be a big amount for most of the lawmakers, the suspension of MPLAD fund for two years will deny MPs their biggest tool to push development projects in their constituency. BJP president J P Nadda welcomed the decision to cut salary, saying national interest has always been supreme for his party. He made no mention of the decision to suspend the MPLAD fund. BJP MP Subramanian Swamy, known for his frank views which are at times at variance with his party, said he welcomed the cut, and added that the construction of new parliament building should also be postponed for a year, claiming that it will cost Rs 25000 crores. Congress welcomed the decision to cut MPs' salaries, but said suspending MPLADs, as the development fund scheme is known, will undermine the role of an MP and called for its review. CPI(M) also slammed the suspension of the MLAD scheme, while Trinamool Congress called it "whimsical". The measure may upset some of the BJP MPs as well but there is a view within the party that the cabinet decision will strengthen the Modi government's image of being decisive and not afraid to take hard decisions for the larger good. Earlier in the day, Modi asked countrymen to be ready for a long battle against the outbreak, but also indicated some easing of restrictions in phased manner after the nationwide lockdown ends on April 14. At the forefront of his government's as well as the ruling BJP's efforts, including public outreach, Modi addressed party workers where he asked the countrymen to feel neither tired nor defeated in this long fight and then presided over the meetings of the Union Cabinet and Council of Ministers. Indicating a phased opening of the ongoing lockdown, Modi also asked Union ministers to prepare a "graded plan" to slowly open departments in areas that have not emerged as hotspots of the COVID-19 pandemic. Modi made this suggestion while chairing a meeting of the council of ministers through video conferencing. Talking about the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, the prime minister said that the government must work on war footing to mitigate the impact, adding that the ministries should prepare a business continuity plan, according to an official statement. "He noted that a graded plan to slowly open departments where hotspots aren't existing should be made," the statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) iaAnyware was initially formed to provide technology solutions for a new and rapidly growing general insurance adviser group, requiring distributed access for users as well as centralised management and accounting processes, said Denise Hughes (pictured), MD of iaAnyware. There were very few solutions available at that time and nothing which quite fitted the unique and individual structure of the business, being central control with a high number of remote locations. Originally based in North Sydney, iaAnyware moved all development to the Gold Coast in 2003, where the company built a solid foundational team, which Hughes says is key to its success. Many of our staff have been with the company for over 10 years and have a broad range of skills across both IT and general insurance, she said. Since the companys inception, iaAnyware has progressed through a diverse range of technology solutions, including using key processing centres dialling into a centralised database, replicated databases as well as smart client technology all while hosting its customer databases inhouse. It has been a long road to now utilising the latest in technology with our web applications utilising the Microsoft .NET Core Development Platform, Microsoft Office 365 and Power BI Reporting, as well as Microsoft Azure SaaS and IaaS services, Hughes said. We have always worked within an agile development structure and this has allowed us to grow and adapt to new technologies. We also want our customers to be able to grow and adapt quickly and one of the core values we adhere to is to provide simple self-serve customisation and management across all functions of our applications. Its this combination of both initiatives that Hughes believes will enable continuous growth and success into the future. Additionally, iaAnyware has recently launched two new insurance broking solutions across Australia and New Zealand, ensuring the company is delivering on its promise of anywhere and anytime access. For many years now, we have provided applications which can be accessed anywhere and anytime, and this will continue with the added benefit that we can now support additional web devices, she said. Our brokers can be in any location around the globe and we often see access from some desirable destinations as they combine overseas holidays and continue to service their clients. In fact, right now we have 800+ users connecting remotely from home due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Ensuring their clients had easy access to the companys solutions was cemented as a top priority after the company saw the impact natural disasters, such as the Christchurch earthquakes, had on brokers. Hughes says that clients impacted by the disaster benefitted from uninterrupted access to their clients policies and data, even though they had no access to their own damaged offices. The most important function of their business to drive impact and benefit to brokers moving forward is how quickly iaAnyware is able to develop new features and modules as well as connect with emerging technology, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI). We have already included a number of new features which use external data sources, and this provides our brokers with instant access to information about their prospect or clients business, enabling them to provide improved professional and detailed advice. Our brokers will also find an improved user experience and faster response times, she said. While iaAnyware has enjoyed international expansion and growth, there are changes the company and industry face. One of the greatest changes is not necessarily limited to the insurance market but more the general need for flexibility, that ability to work from anywhere, as well as the security of data, Hughes noted. The other change was the introduction of the Financial Services Reform and the requirement for licence holders to monitor their advisers. Our systems provide full process management and compliance to give our licence holders control and peace of mind. But despite these changes, the industrys response to digital innovation in business has been productive, she says. I think once they become aware that there is no magic solution most companies are finding innovative ways to overcome the roadblocks they are presented with, she said. With the surge of insurtech in Australia and the emergence of smarter technologies I am sure we will see an acceleration in better solutions Having worked hand in hand with a number of large insurers we really look forward to future projects to connect and share data. Finally, Hughes is also confident in the positioning of iaAnyware now and for the future resulting from the feedback they have received from their client base. We have had very positive feedback from users, and it has been great that they have taken the time to be in touch with us, she said. They are finding the improved usability and additional functions exciting and very useful in their everyday activities. We keep them up to date on planned features and they continue to work with us and look forward to these as they become available. NEW YORK (AP) A tiger at the Bronx Zoo has tested positive for the new coronavirus, in what is believed to be the first known infection in an animal in the U.S. or a tiger anywhere, federal officials and the zoo said Sunday. The 4-year-old Malayan tiger named Nadia, and six other tigers and lions that have also fallen ill, are believed to have been infected by a zoo employee who wasn't yet showing symptoms, the zoo said. The first animal started showing symptoms March 27, and all are doing well and expected to recover, said the zoo, which has been closed to the public since March 16 amid the surging coronavirus outbreak in New York. 'GASPING FOR AIR': 11 things that helped this Houston woman battle the symptoms of COVID-19 We tested the cat out of an abundance of caution" and aim to "contribute to the worlds continuing understanding of this novel coronavirus, said Dr. Paul Calle, the zoo's chief veterinarian. The finding raises new questions about transmission of the virus in animals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which confirmed Nadia's test result at its veterinary lab, says there are no known cases of the virus in U.S. pets or livestock. There doesnt appear to be, at this time, any evidence that suggests that the animals can spread the virus to people or that they can be a source of the infection in the United States," said Dr. Jane Rooney, a veterinarian and a USDA official. The USDA said Sunday its not recommending routine coronavirus testing of animals, in zoos or elsewhere, or of zoo employees. Still, Rooney said a small number of animals in the U.S. have been tested through the USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories, and all those tests came back negative except Nadia's. BEHIND THE CURVE: Here's why Texas lags behind on releasing timely information on the coronavirus The coronavirus outbreaks around the world are driven by person-to-person transmission, experts say. There have been reports of a small number of pets outside the United States becoming infected after close contact with contagious people, including a Hong Kong dog that tested positive for a low level of the pathogen in February and early March. Hong Kong agriculture authorities concluded that pet dogs and cats couldnt pass the virus to human beings but could test positive if exposed by their owners. Some researchers have been trying to understand the susceptibility of different animal species to the virus, and to determine how it spreads among animals, according to the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health. The American Veterinary Medical Association and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been recommending that out of an abundance of caution, people ill with the coronavirus should limit contact with animals. In general, the CDC advises people to wash their hands after handling animals and do other things to keep pets and their homes clean. At the Bronx Zoo, Nadia, her sister Azul, two Amur tigers and three African lions developed dry coughs, and some of the cats exhibited some wheezing and loss of appetite, Calle said. In a question of being thorough, we did want to specifically test for the virus that causes COVID-19, he said. Only Nadia was tested because it takes anesthesia to get a sample from a big cat. Her temperature was taken at the same time, and it was normal, Calle said. The seven sickened cats live in two areas at the zoo, and the animals had contact with the same worker, who is doing OK, zoo officials said. They said they are taking appropriate preventive measures for the staffers that care for the ailing animals, and there are no signs of illness in other big cats on the property. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as a fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and can be fatal. ___ Associated Press Medical Writer Mike Stobbe contributed. By Renee Maltezou ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece has quarantined a second migrant facility on its mainland after a 53-year-old man tested positive for the new coronavirus, the migration ministry said on Sunday. The Afghan man lives with his family at the Malakasa camp, just north of Athens, along with hundreds of asylum seekers By Renee Maltezou ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece has quarantined a second migrant facility on its mainland after a 53-year-old man tested positive for the new coronavirus, the migration ministry said on Sunday. The Afghan man lives with his family at the Malakasa camp, just north of Athens, along with hundreds of asylum seekers. He has been transferred to a hospital in Athens and tests on his contacts will continue as authorities try to trace the route of the virus. Greece confirmed 62 new cases of COVID-19 later in the day, bringing the total in the country to 1,735 since its first case wes reported in February. Seventy three people have died. Last week, the Ritsona camp in central Greece was sealed off after 20 tested positive for the new coronavirus. It was the first such facility in the country to be hit since the outbreak of the disease. [L8N2BQ1V9] Greece has been the main gateway into the European Union for people fleeing conflict in the Middle East and beyond. More than a million people reached its shores from Turkey in 2015-16. At least 110,000 people currently live in migrant facilities - 40,000 of them in overcrowded camps on five islands. "The number (of migrants and refugees) is very large, therefore it is a given, mathematically, that there will be confirmed cases," Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi told Skai TV. "We have an emergency plan in place ... But it is more difficult to implement it on the islands." No cases have been recorded in camps on Greek islands so far. The conservative government wants to replace all existing camps on islands with enclosed detention centres, but its plans have been met with resistance from local authorities and residents who want all facilities shut. To contain the spread of the virus the government also wants new arrivals isolated from the rest of the migrants but most islands have not designated areas of accommodation, ministry officials said. About 120 people who recently arrived on Lesbos have not yet found a shelter, according to sources. Aid groups have urged Greece to evacuate the camps, warning the risk of the fast-moving virus spreading among people living in squalid conditions is high and containing an outbreak in such settings would be "impossible". The camp in Malakasa, 40 km (25 miles) northeast of Athens, will be put into quarantine for two weeks, the ministry said on Sunday, adding that police guarding the site would be reinforced to ensure the restrictions are implemented. A separate, enclosed facility started operating last month for migrants who arrived after March 1, the ministry said. Greece has imposed a nationwide lockdown and banned arrivals from non-EU countries as well as Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain. The measures have hit its economy which is relying on tourism for a recovery after a decade-long debt crisis. (Reporting by Renee Maltezou; Editing by Mark Potter and Angus MacSwan) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The coronavirus, which originated in China, could have been stopped from turning into a pandemic if the Health Organisation paid heed to Taiwan's early warnings regarding the human to human transmission of the virus. However, the WHO chose to ignore the warnings by Taiwan at China's behest and now the whole is paying the price of it. Emerging from China's infamous wet market, the virus has so far infected at least 1.216 million people around the The global death toll from the deadly virus stands at 65,652. New York-based writer Wilfred Chan wrote for The Nation that despite early warnings from Taiwanese officials, the organization kept the island cut off from its global information networks. Now, it may be the rest of the world that's paying the price. Scientists from Taiwan informed the WHO as early as December 31 about the human to human transmission of the Chinese Virus from Wuhan but not only did WHO suppress this information, it continued peddling the lie that it doesn't spread from human to human, Chan stated in the article. Taiwan is an island nation off the southeastern coast of China, which the WHO refuses to recognise as a sovereign state. The WHO also allowed China to report Taiwan's coronavirus numbers as part of its own total, instead of reporting Taiwan's numbers alone--a conflation that created headaches for the smaller nation. Since the crisis unfolded, it seems Beijing is steering the WHO, which was so far known as an independent organization. Many experts believe that China has so much influence over the WHO because of its funding. China reported the first case of coronavirus in late December but the WHO intervened only at the end of January. The WHO only come to the forefront when its Director-General Tedros Adhanom visited the country. Before that, it was repeating Chinese government statements and was ignoring Taiwanese doctors. After the Beijing visit, though, WHO said in a statement that it appreciated "especially the commitment from top leadership and the transparency they have demonstrated." Only after the meeting did it declared, on January 30, a public health emergency of international concern. By the time the WHO finally declared a global health emergency on January 30, nearly 8,000 cases had been confirmed by Chinese authorities, hundreds of people had died, and the virus had surfaced in at least 18 countries outside of China. Still, the WHO continues to praise China. "This declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China," said Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "On the contrary, the WHO continues to have confidence in China's capacity to control the outbreak." Recently, Japan becomes the first country to highlight the unscrupulous collusion of the Chinese Communist Party and the WHO. Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso had said that the World Health Organisation should change its name. It shouldn't be called the WHO, it should be renamed the Chinese Health Organization (CHO). Speaking to Japanese lawmakers on Sunday, Aso referenced a Change.org petition calling for the removal of WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "Although the details are murky, the WHO's previous Director-General was a Chinese national, and at that time, there were complaints all around," Aso said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hamilton, ON (April 6, 2020) - The N95 respirator masks should be preserved for health-care workers involved in inserting breathing tubes for patients with COVID-19. More common medical masks are fine for all other COVID-19 treatment, says preliminary research from McMaster University. A systematic review of four randomized controlled trials on masks done between 1990 and last month shows the use of medical masks did not increase viral respiratory infection or clinical respiratory illness. However, there is a consensus that the N95 respirators, designed to fit tight and prevent inhalation of small airborne particles, are best for procedures such as intubation or bronchoscopy when health-care professionals must insert a tube through a patient's throat. "There is not convincing evidence that the loose-fitting medical masks are inferior to N95 respirators in protecting healthcare workers against viral respiratory infections during routine care during the pandemic," said Mark Loeb, a professor of pathology and molecular medicine at McMaster and an infectious disease physician in Hamilton. "But the N95 respirators are unanimously recommended by national and international guidelines for aerosol generating procedures. "This is an important distinction at a time when there is a serous concern about a shortage of N95 respirators because of COVID-19." He pointed out that there have been conflicting recommendations on the use of the N95 masks. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the European Centre for Disease and Prevention preferentially recommend the N95 respirator for routine care of patients with COVID-19, while the World Health Organization and Canadian Public Health Agency recommend medical masks. "Although COVID-19 transmission is not fully understood, it's believed to be mainly through respiratory droplets, and the medical masks provide barrier protection for that, and prevent hand to face contact." The study has been peer-reviewed and accepted for publication by the publication Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses of the International Society for Infection and Other Respiratory Virus Diseases and is available online at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/irv.12745?af=R Jessica Bartoszko, first author of the paper, said: "This evidence to support the relative effectiveness of medical masks compared to N95 respirators in routine care, might help preserve stockpiles of N95 respirators for high-risk, aerosol generating procedures." She is a PhD student with the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact. However, the question needs further research and this month Loeb and his research team are beginning a new study on whether the N95 respirators or medical masks are the best option for health-care providers caring for COVID-19 patients. In a multi-site randomized controlled trial, nurses will use either a medical mask or N95 respirator when providing care for patients with fever and respiratory illness. "This study is critical to ensure we're using personal protective equipment correctly during this, and any future infectious disease outbreak," said Loeb. ### The new research is funded through a gift of $300,000 from Hamilton philanthropists Charles and Margaret Juravinski as part of their $3.3 million donation announced April 3 to fast track COVID-19 and brain health research in Hamilton. For more information: Veronica McGuire Media Relations McMaster University vmcguir@mcmaster.ca 905-525-9140, ext. 22169 Veronica McGuire Media Relations Faculty of Health Sciences location: HSC-2E47 phone: (905) 525-9140 x 22169 email: vmcguir@mcmaster.ca There's no justice quite like swift justice, that drive-through satisfaction of seeing evil monsters get their just deserts piping hot. But sometimes, just like in the movies, we have to wait until the very, very end when it seems like all is lost and the bad guys have already jumped out of the plane to sweet freedom, only to find that Lady Justice packed their parachute with an anvil. We're talking about times like when ... 5 A Fake Buried Treasure Guilted A Maniac To Turn Himself In Yamashita's Gold is a famous Filipino legend. It claims that during World War II, the dread Japanese general Tomoyuki "The Tiger" Yamashita buried his trove of stolen gold and jewels on an island but was executed for war crimes before he could return. And while many believe that they can find the vast riches, less scrupulous Filipinos figured out that the real riches are in scamming those dummies out of theirs. In 2008, a bunch of crooks were doing just that as they claimed a dying general had given them a treasure map to Yamashita's Gold. Somehow, this obvious ruse ensnared an intensely religious Northern Irish dentist named Colin Howell who invested more than 350,000 pounds (roughly half a million dollars) into an expedition. An expedition that never went anywhere, as the Filipino "explorers" kept being thwarted by poison gas, bombs strapped to the gold, and whatever other Scooby-Doo booby trap they could make up to trap this boob in an endless cycle of payments. But before you start feeling sorry for ol' Howell, it might be important to note how he got all that adventuring money. See, Howell was the kind of devout Irish Catholic who cheated on his wife, Lesley. He was also the kind who, with the help of his mistress Hazel, then murdered both his wife Lesley and Hazel's husband Trevor Buchanan and framed it like a suicide pact. With no remorse, Howell collected his wife's insurance money so he could go play Pirates of the Caribbean on the other side of the globe. And he would've gotten away with it too if not for those Filipino scammers. Salman Khan on COVID-19: Actor Salman Khan shares a video with nephew Nirvan Khan that holds a strong message in it. He said, sometimes fearing of something is good, as it also saves others life too. Stop being brave and stay indoors. Salman Khan on COVID-19: By looking at the growing numbers of infected coronavirus cases is scary. Staying at home is the way to combat the spread of COVID-19. Meanwhile, all the Bollywood celebs are urging their fans to stay home and stay indoors. Now, actor Salman Khan released a video with nephew Nirvan Khan appealing to his fans, that its not the correct time to act brave, as the situation is critical. The actor said, he is proudly confessing his fear, and sometimes its good to be scared, as the current situation demands it. So, the dialogue Jo Dar Gya Vo Margya doesnt apply here, as this is the only way to save ourselves and others too. So, stay safe and indoors. Nirvan added by staying indoor we can break the spreading cycle of the virus, so there is no point to act brave here. Check the post here: Salman further said its been 3 weeks he and his nephew have not seen their father. The place from where the video was released, the actor said, they came here for a few days but now stuck here. Meanwhile, the actor also came forward to help the breadwinners of the Bollywood industry, by depositing money into their bank accounts. He announced to help 25,000 daily wage workers as they are the ones whose life has been severely affected, as shooting has been suspended for a while, amid coronavirus outbreak. Talking about the current infected cases in India, 4000 marks has been crossed, the number is multiplying rapidly, the total number is 4067 with 693 new cases, the death toll rose to 109 while 291 people have recovered. For all the latest Entertainment News, download NewsX App The Devadoss Law Firm, P.L.L.C. It is a great honor to be recognized as a Founding Member of Elite Lawer. With the ongoing support of our legal community, we will continue to seek justice on behalf of those who work tirelessly in many areas of the federal government, Devadoss commented. Elite Lawyer is a directory and rating service that awards and recognizes attorneys with a proven record of achievement in their practice areas and who have received acknowledgment from their peers in the legal community, local Bar Associations, and other committees. The honor is only bestowed upon lawyers who have met or exceeded the criteria of a rigorous, multi-phased selection process. Bobby represents federal employees from across the United States for disciplinary proceedings, civil rights advocacy, and work injury claims. He has worked with the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP). In addition, Bobby counsels labor unions and governmental agencies. Bobby concentrates his practice in the following areas: Employment Law - Employee; Government Agencies & Programs; Labor Law; Discrimination; Sexual Harassment; Federal Employment Law; and Whistleblower/Qui Tam. Before starting his own law firm, Bobby was a federal labor attorney with the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Bobby manages federal employment law offices in Dallas, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the Texas State Bar Association. It is a great honor to be recognized as a Founding Member of Elite Lawer. At the Devadoss Law Firm, we consider it a privilege to represent federal employees. With the ongoing support of our legal community, we will continue to seek justice on behalf of those who work tirelessly in many areas of the federal government, Devadoss commented. About The Devadoss Law Firm, P.L.L.C. The Devadoss Law Firm is focused on providing legal representation to government employees. Attorney Bobby Devadoss is a former federal attorney who has extensive experience in successfully resolving federal labor and employment law matters. The skilled attorneys at the Devadoss Law Firm will fight for your constitutional and civil rights and advocate on your behalf to secure the full compensation you need and deserve. In addition, they can help you protect your job if you are facing any kind of disciplinary action. To learn more about The Devadoss Law Firm, visit https://www.fedemploymentlaw.com/ or call 888-351-0424 for a free consultation. About Elite Lawyer Only the most outstanding attorneys receive the Elite Lawyer award, which sets these exceptional attorneys apart from their peers and gives consumers added peace of mind when searching for top-notch legal representation in their area. Elite Lawyer is open and working remotely during the Coronavirus crisis, serving our members across the country. To learn more about Elite Lawyer, visit https://www.elitelawyer.com/ or call 630-209-6660. Russia Confirms 658 New Coronavirus Cases in 24 Hours Bringing Total to 5,389 Sputnik News 10:33 GMT 05.04.2020(updated 11:07 GMT 05.04.2020) The country previously went had a paid week off, as Russian President Vladimir Putin urged people to stay at home to curb the coronavirus pandemic, also introducing travel bans and boosting the healthcare system. Russian authorities stated that 658 new people have been diagnosed with the COVID-19, bringing the total number of infected to 5,389. The highest number of confirmed cases has been reported in Moscow, with almost 3,900 infected. The nation, however, has so far managed to avoid explosive growth of the virus, according to Anna Popova, the head of the Russian consumer watchdog Rospotrebnador. Addressing the issue, Mayor of the Russian capital Sergei Sobyanin stated earlier in the day that medical facilities had been mobilised to fight the disease, reserving at least 20,000 hospital beds for new coronavirus patients. Currently, there are over 1,200,000 infected worldwide and the global death toll has reached 65,600. At the same time, more than 253,000 people have recovered from the disease. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday hit out at Narendra Modi for "denying" his party participation in an interaction with the Prime Minister scheduled for April 8 in an insult to the people of Hyderabad and Aurangabad -- the two constituencies it represents in the Parliament. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi had said on Saturday that floor leaders of parties with the combined strength of five or more MPs in both houses of the Parliament would be engaged for a discussion with Modi on the coronavirus pandemic. Owaisi tagged the PMO's official handle on Twitter and said that the people of Hyderabad and Aurangabad had been insulted, questioning whether they were any less human because they chose the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). He sought to know whether the party's representatives were not worthy of the PM's attention. . @PMOIndia this is tauheen of the proud people of Aurangabad &Hyderabad. Are they lesser humans because they chose @aimim_national? Pls explain why they're not worthy of your kind attention? As MPs it's our job to represent to you the economic & humanitarian misery of our people pic.twitter.com/AwEFtqOs92 Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) April 4, 2020 The MP said that he had suggestions for ways in which the pandemic could be tackled, as Hyderabad alone has 93 active COVID-19 cases. People of Hyd & Aurangabad elected me & @imtiaz_jaleel so that we'll raise THEIR issues. Now, we're being denied an audience with His Highness. Hyd has 93 active #COVID19 cases, I want to put forth our ideas on how we can fight this pandemic & identify areas where we're lacking pic.twitter.com/XwnEXewmPG Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) April 4, 2020 Leaders and functionaries of the AIMIM were involved in supplying food to the poor during the lockdown period, he said. (With inputs from PTI) Government and companies must prioritise prompt payment as businesses face a cashflow crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, an online event has heard. The Access to Finance webinar, hosted by the Institute of Directors Northern Ireland (IoD NI), Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and business advisory firm EY, drew 500 businesspeople. The UK Small Business Commissioner Philip King told those listening that responding to the crisis was about "collaboration not confrontation". He urged all struggling, to enter talks and negotiations with creditors. "The one thing that small businesses shouldn't do is bury their heads in the sand and hope this will go away," he said. "We want businesses to do the right thing and we want businesses to treat their supply chains responsibly. "We need businesses of all sizes to recognise the human element of what are often seen as transactional relationships. "It's not about waiting for the due date but making prompt payments. "Conversations are absolutely key. If you are unable to make a payment, then have that conversation." Kirsty McManus, national director of the IoD NI, said: "The fact that 500 business leaders participated in the Access to Finance webinar illustrates how deep worries around cash and finance continue to go." She said cashflow was a number one concern for firms, even with government help. Rates relief and the option of furloughing staff were welcome, she added. "However, for the many companies whose income has literally disappeared overnight, they simply cannot survive without additional assistance," she said. You may have seen Samsungs ads for the Galaxy S20 Ultra. The marketing proclaims that the souped up flagship is a pro-level studio wherever you go with a complete pro kit of camera features. With a 108-megapixel sensor and 100x zoom on its rear as well as a 40-MP selfie camera, the S20 Ultra promises to be a phone capable of capturing high-quality content ripe for YouTube. Since Engadgets video production team has had to adjust to life during a pandemic, many of us have had to shoot footage from home. I have an aging DSLR with a finicky lens, so I decided to see if the S20 Ultra is truly able to deliver the high-quality content that Samsung boasts. Im not currently reviewing anything, but I want to be prepared for the future when inevitably Ill have to become a one-woman film crew. Plus, I have long wanted to try creating makeup review videos and other vlogs for Instagram, YouTube or even Twitch. What better time to get started on my long-neglected side hustle ideas? Cherlynn Low / Engadget But first, work. I used the S20 Ultra to capture B-roll of a Galaxy S20 for an imaginary review video, getting pans and other clips of the phones, otherwise known in the biz as beauty shots. The footage I got was generally bright, thanks to the large windows In my well-lit apartment. I sent the files to our (talented, kind and infinitely patient) video producer Brian Oh to evaluate, asking him to ignore my lack of skills. He said the 8K footage was acceptable, although he noted that it looked jittery due to a low 24 fps frame rate. Using the S20 Ultras manual mode, I switched over to shoot in 4K at 60 fps -- the highest resolution and frame rate combination you can pick. Those results were much better, and Brian said he wouldnt mind using the footage if he was producing for the web. Overall, though, he said that while the quality of the S20 Ultras clips were acceptable, he would still only use them as a last resort. In other words, during these desperate times, the S20 Ultras rear camera is a decent desperate measure. A quick note on Samsungs Pro Video mode: It only allows me to control things like shutter speed, ISO, exposure compensation, autofocus and white balance. Dont expect the full suite of tools youll find on a DSLR, but the basics are there. I also shot a makeup test to see how well the S20 Ultra could show blemish-covering foundation on my less-than-perfect skin. Ive been dissatisfied with the quality of most makeup reviews on YouTube because its nearly impossible to see how well or poorly the product theyre applying adheres to their skin or settles into fine lines. I wanted to see if a high-res camera like the S20 Ultras could render my pores and spots clearly. Cherlynn Low / Engadget I ordered a ring light tripod kit from Amazon to try and mimic the super bright, no-shadow look that so many YouTubers adopt. But I also wanted to make sure that I had enough light on my face because I knew from experience that the S20 Ultra can sometimes produce noisy footage. I tried using the rear cameras first, since I wanted to see how well my terrible complexion would be rendered in 8K. But since I dont have an 8K screen, I could only play the footage back in 4K on my ThinkPad X1 Carbon. For both the beauty shots of the S20 as well as my face, Im still not convinced that 8K video is practical, since so few people own compatible devices and the download time for such large files is excruciatingly long. Even in the lower-res 4K playback, I could already see the scars and dark spots on my skin more clearly than in footage shot on my Pixel or older Galaxy flagships. I also wanted to get some establishing shots of the New York City skyline. Samsungs Super Steady software did a decent job of reducing motion and shakiness as I panned outside my window. It almost felt like drone footage. Sadly, it only works for full HD capture. A still from the full HD clip downscaled to 720p. Cherlynn Low / Engadget If youre trying to film yourself, though, youll probably be relying on the front facing cam more often than not. The S20 Ultras is 40-megapixels and can shoot in 4K -- thats pretty high-res for a selfie video. I used this to shoot my makeup tests, since I wanted to be able to see my face easily while filming, and I didnt have a monitor to show what the rear sensor was capturing in real time. Id also have to use this to shoot my standups for a review, since Id need to make sure I remain in focus. While the quality of the 4K videos was slightly sharper than Im used to seeing from my Pixel 3, it was a little less crisp compared to clips from the S20 Ultras rear cameras. Still, I was pleased to see that the front sensor clearly captured the liquid foundations lack of coverage on my face. Compared to a lot of videos Ive watched on YouTube where you can barely see a difference before and after someones applied powder, this was a nice change. Granted, many makeup influencers use lights that make their sets look more professional, but also subdue the appearance of imperfections. Like any hip, trendy influencer worth their salt, I also used the S20 Ultra to stream an Instagram Live session with all five of my eager followers. The camera delivered detailed footage to my audience, and you could make out individual strands of my hair, as well as faint acne scars on my face. Instagram Live streams at full HD, though, so the S20 Ultras higher-res cameras dont help very much in this scenario. Cherlynn Low / Engadget My biggest problem with the S20 Ultra is that it has trouble keeping focus locked on a subject. I didnt encounter this issue as much during my original review, but now its becoming more obvious. Samsung had promised a software fix in an upcoming over-the-air update. But here we are, more than a month later and there is still no fix. In my Instagram Live and selfie videos, the S20 Ultras autofocus system struggled to keep locked on to my face. This happens sometimes with other cameras too, whether theyre smartphones or DSLRs. But for the most part, they find their subject and refocus in a couple of seconds. It took the S20 Ultra a whopping 20 seconds to get my face back in focus after it lost track of me during my Instagram Live stream. Thats an embarrassingly long time to keep apologizing to an audience who might be waiting to see just how well a primer or concealer prepped your skin. The S20 Ultra lost focus a second time during the Live video, this time it took eight seconds to refocus. Thats slightly less egregious, but still pretty bad. And the fact that it happened twice within a four-and-a-half minute window is troubling. Samsung needs to deliver a solution soon. Aside from the autofocus woes, I was also a little bummed that I wasnt able to get nice depth of field with the cameras on either side of the phone. That is a telltale trait of the professional level video that DSLRs deliver. Its a look thats hard for smartphone cameras and their smaller sensors to recreate without software trickery. Despite packing larger sensors than its predecessor, the S20 Ultra didnt produce much bokeh. Professional producers will all tell you this: Good audio is one of the most important components of a high-quality video. Although youll probably get better sound if you use an external mic, lavalier or even an attached boom, I wanted to see how the S20 Ultras internal mics performed. After all, its supposed to be a pro studio in one. Surprisingly, the onboard mics were pretty effective. I sat about arms length away from the phone, and my voice came through clearly. Granted, my room was very quiet and there wasnt much noise to fight against, but my deadpan narration came through loud and clear with little echo. Considering my small studio apartment has very bare walls that dont absorb muffle noise, I was impressed by the minimal echo. If you want a more intimate vibe for your voice, Id recommend pairing a Bluetooth mic. Cherlynn Low / Engadget I uploaded my footage to a Google Drive folder to share with Brian, and the high-res files took forever to send through. As for my makeup clips, I tried to cut them together using Samsungs native video editor, but that app is way too basic to produce what I had in mind. You can splice separate files together, trim them, add text and soundtracks. But if you wanted to split a clipss image from its audio track to overlay some B-roll on top, forget it. This editor only supports a single-layer timeline. It feels more like Instagrams upload tool than a proper editing app. The S20 Ultras front and rear cameras capture adequately clear and bright videos that will satisfy Instagram viewers. That is, when it manages to stay in focus. The footage is more detailed than most smartphones deliver. But for a more discerning audience on a platform like YouTube, Twitch or Vimeo, for example, the S20 Ultra isnt really a substitute for a DSLR. It certainly isnt the pro-level studio wherever you go with a complete pro kit of camera features that Samsung claimed it is. For now, as we make do with what we have to prioritize our teams safety, I might use the S20 Ultra to shoot B-roll. But ultimately its, at best, a temporary stand-in until we get back to normal. As for my makeup vlogging dreams: After a disastrously awkward Instagram Live session, Ive decided to stick to writing. BJP president J P Nadda asked party workers to give up one meal to show solidarity with people facing hardships during the ongoing lockdown to mark the organisation's 40th foundation day on Monday. Nadda issued a set of directives to party workers, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted it, urging them to follow these guidelines. "We mark our Party's 40th Anniversary when India is battling COVID-19. I appeal to BJP Karyakartas to follow the set of guidelines from our Party President JP Nadda Ji, help those in need and reaffirm the importance of social distancing. Let's make India COVID-19 free," Modi said. Nadda has urged party workers to provide food packets to the needy, distribute home-made face covers and get signatures of people to express gratitude to emergency staff, from health professionals to sanitation workers and police besides bank and postal employees among others, working during the lockdown to combat the coronavirus pandemic. They must maintain social distancing, he said. "All BJP Karyakartas (workers) to give up one meal on our Foundation Day as a way to show solidarity with people facing hardships during the lockdown," one of his directions said. "In the next one week, put a system in place where we can provide two homemade face covers to each person at our booth. We should circulate videos of preparation and distribution of such face covers with #WearFaceCoverStaySafe," the guidelines added. BJP Karyakartas should encourage 40 others to donate Rs 100 each to PM-CARES Fund, it said. In every booth, they should contact 40 houses to get their signatures on thank you letters to emergency staff, he said. "We dedicate our party's foundation day to battle against Coronavirus, a guidelines has been issued to the party workers they will follow and stand with the people of the country in this battle," Nadda said. Talking about BJP's 40 years of journey, Nadda in a video message to party workers said it was was full of struggle and sacrifice of the party workers. Paying homage to the party workers and leaders, Nadda recalled Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He also mentioned party's senior leaders Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari and Rajnath Singh, who all have served on the party's top post. Noting that BJP never compromised from its ideology Nadda said there are broadly five fundamentals of the party; nationalism and national unity, democracy within country and in the party, positive secularism and appeasement to none looking at everybody with equality and value based The party and its workers always stood by these fundamentals and will continue to do so, he said. Later in a tweet, Nadda appealed to party workers to fulfil the five commitments sought by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during lockdown which includes providing ration to needy, giving a letter of thanks to health workers, police personnel, sanitation workers, post department and bank employees. Modi on Monday in his video message to the party workers asked them to do five things to help the people during this challenging time. The BJP was founded on this day in 1980 by leaders of the erstwhile Jana Sangh, which had merged with the Janata Party to put up a united fight against the Indira Gandhi-led Congress in the 1977 Lok Sabha polls, held after the Emergency. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The intelligence chief who alerted Congress to the whistleblower complaint that led to Donald Trumps impeachment has said that the president fired him for doing his job. Michael Atkinson said in a statement on Sunday that he was disappointed and saddened by the decision. It is hard not to think that the Presidents loss of confidence in me derives from my having faithfully discharged my legal obligations as an independent and impartial Inspector General, and from my commitment to continue to do so, said Mr Atkinson in a statement released on Sunday. The intelligence communitys inspector general last year told Congress that he had received a complaint stating that president Trump had pressured Ukraine to open an investigation into Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son. Mr Trump said on Friday that he no longer had confidence in the outgoing inspector general, who would be removed from office within 30 days. On Saturday, Mr Trump defended his decision before describing Mr Atkinson as a disgrace who had done a terrible job. Democrats described the dismissal as the latest retaliation against officials who were involved in the presidents impeachment trial, after Gordon Sondland was fired as US Ambassador to the EU following his witness testimony against Mr Trump. In a memo to senior members of the House and Senate Intelligence committees, the president wrote: it is vital that I have the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as Inspectors General. That is no longer the case with regard to this Inspector General. Mr Atkinson called on the intelligence community to continue protecting whistleblowers independently and effectively. He added: Please do not allow recent events to silence your voices. Mr Atkinson had served in his position since May 2018, and is set to be replaced by Thomas Monheim as acting intelligence community inspector general. Meghan's facialist revealed she worked with her before her wedding to Prince Harry. (Getty Images) Meghan Markles facialist has praised the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for being down to earth as she revealed her work with the former actor. Sarah Chapman, who runs Skinesis, revealed on her Instagram over the weekend that she had worked with the Duchess of Sussex throughout her time as a senior royal. She is another of the duchesss beauty team to confirm their time with her, after George Northwood, who runs a salon in Fitzrovia, said he was behind some of her key hair looks. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to be house hunting in Malibu, California, after leaving behind their lives as senior royals on 31 March. They decided they wanted to step back in January, and carried out final engagements in the UK in early March. However, their own plans have been put on hold during the coronavirus pandemic. Meghan worked with Sarah Chapman when she came back to the UK for their final engagements. (Getty Images) Read more: Meghan Markle 'taught me so much about mental health' says duchess's former hairdresser Writing on Instagram, Chapman said: Through my work I am fortunate to meet some incredible, interesting and inspirational people and over the past 2 years I feel honoured to have spent much time with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. With Meghan, what began as a client relationship quickly turned into a dear friendship and she welcomed me into their lives. I feel very grateful to be a small part of their journey observing the passion for everything they do and compassion for the causes and people they meet, but also to witness the moments other people dont see. Who they are at home, as parents, as partners, and friends, the kind and very down to earth people they are when no one is watching. Every day we learn something new and I have been taught so much by them, and I always leave our time together feeling fulfilled and inspired to help people in any small ways I can. She said she was happy to share the glowing skin moments she helped the Duchess of Sussex with, and said they had a natural approach to beauty. Read more: Harry and Meghan 'house hunting in same area Diana hoped to live' as they start California life Story continues She also hinted they will still work together, saying she looked forward to more in the future. Chapman signed off by adding: And to Meghan, Harry and little Archie: sending lots of love and positivity during this transition. I know there will be so many ways you will continue to touch peoples lives and enable positive change and we cant wait to see what you do next. See you soon and thank you for everything you do. Her post comes after Northwood, her hairdresser, revealed he had styled the duchesss hair both in the UK and on tour, and praised her for teaching him about the importance of good mental health. The duchesss first piece of work since leaving the family was released last week, as Disneynature started streaming the documentary Elephant, which she provided the narration for. But the couples other plans are likely to be put on hold for a few months, while the world tackles the outbreak of COVID-19. Meghan attends The Endeavour Fund Awards in London. (Getty Images) Read more: Coronavirus: Queen says 'better days will return' as she addresses nation and Commonwealth In their final Instagram post on SussexRoyal, the couple said they would look to see what role they could play. Royal commentator Omid Scobie said the pair needed a break themselves, even though there had been plenty of build-up to them dropping the use of their HRH titles. On the HeirPod podcast, he said: Because there was so much talk about the couple preparing projects and ready to launch initiatives. When actually it was two people that were like, We need a break too. Its thought the couple will base a non-profit organisation in the USA, but that Prince Harrys Travalyst will be based in the UK. ---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK--- White House Trade and Manufacturing Policy Director Peter Navarro speaks during a briefing on the coronavirus pandemic in the press briefing room of the White House on March 27, 2020 in Washington, DC. White House trade advisor Peter Navarro said Monday that he is qualified to disagree with Dr. Anthony Fauci on coronavirus research because "I'm a social scientist." "Doctors disagree about things all of the time. My qualifications in terms of looking at the science is that I'm a social scientist, Ph.D.," Navarro told CNN's John Berman during a televised interview. "I understand how to read statistical studies, whether it's in medicine, the law, economics or whatever." Navarro is White House director of trade and manufacturing policy, and Fauci has led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984. Navarro earned an economics Ph.D. from Harvard, according to the White House. The two officials reportedly tangled over administration messaging on hydroxychloroquine, a lupus and rheumatoid arthritis drug being studied for possible COVID-19 treatment, during a meeting in the White House Situation Room on Saturday. Fauci said that research on the drug's effectiveness against the new coronavirus was anecdotal, while Navarro countered it was "science, not anecdote," according to the news website Axios, which first reported on the blowup. President Donald Trump has also championed the use of hydroxycloroquine for COVID-19 patients, saying it could be a "game-changer." Navarro acknowledged the dispute with Fauci, saying in the interview on CNN that "if we didn't have disagreement and debate in the Trump administration, this administration wouldn't be as strong as it is." A 54-year-old man from Pimpri Chinchwad in Pune district was booked for allegedly posting a message on a social media group against a minority community amid the coronavirus outbreak, police said on Monday. Sushilkumar Khairalia, in his post, asked people not to buy vegetables from vendors of this community nor allow them into society premises, a Nigdi police station official said. "The post was hateful and detrimental to communal harmony, hence we registered a case against him for promoting enmity among groups," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pastor William Posey is on the hunt for Easter lilies. The flower has long been associated with the holiday and is often arranged on altars at church to symbolize the resurrection, a sign of hope and new life. And a sign of hope is exactly what people need right now, Posey explained. He wants his congregation Living Way United Methodist Church in Conroe to serve as a beacon in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. I want our church to shine a light in the midst of darkness, Posey said. The church always celebrates Easter with lilies, he explained. This year will be a little different. The pastor hopes to fill his parking lot with the blossoms. He envisions members placing the flowers on the hoods of their cars. Bumpers will basically transform into pews this Easter. Vehicles are invited to arrive in the church parking lot for sunrise service. Preaching in the parking lot Instead of the worshippers stepping out and heading inside the building, the pastor will meet them where they are parked. Posey is hosting his first drive-in Easter service. Picture a drive-in theatre with a religious twist instead of actors on the silver screen, a preacher on a make-shift pulpit will be the main feature. Posey wanted to do something more than offer online services. Im resistant to online, he said. It feels too informal and not intimate. Before the shutdown, the pastor was holding a Bible study, and church members began brainstorming ideas for worship during COVID-19. Thats when the drive-in service concept was born. Posey is no stranger to outdoor ministry. I began as a street preacher in the 1980s, he said. At the time, he was in Kansas, and wanted to help the homeless. His ministry had a disciple house that provided 40 beds for individuals in need of shelter. We would go out in the streets and preach Jesus on the corner, Posey recalled. Our goal was to connect people with the Lord, because that can liberate them from the difficulties in their lives. To see what God can do is amazing. He founded Living Way United Methodist Church in 2005. The congregation continues to host activities outdoors like its Halloween carnival, vacation bible school classes and musical concerts. Test drive The church already had the speakers and a mobile sound system. Cranking up the sound a bit louder to be heard through raised car windows was easy. Posey decided to take the drive-in service on a test drive on March 22 and the event was such a success that it has become the new norm. Posey send lyrics to hymns in advance to his congregation so they can sing along in their cars. He created an offering-on-a-stick so that people could tithe while still remaining socially distanced. We want people to feel comfortable, the pastor said. Its been a very positive experience. He stands on a covered porch along with the worship band. Members of the church park outside. Some open their hatchbacks and sit in the back, while others make use of pick-up truck beds. Some congregants prefer to stay safely inside with the windows up. Regardless, Posey enjoys seeing them. We dont shake hands anymore, but at least a smile and a look into each others eyes, thats important to me, he said. He uses a music stand as a pulpit, and has a wireless microphone so he can still walk around the porch. The past few Sundays, the service started at 10:50 a.m. and Living Way will continue as long as possible. Posey said that he wants to provide an option for congregants who still want to join in worship even if its now on four-wheels. At the same time, he is sensitive to the fact that a number of individuals would prefer to stay safe at home. I understand completely if you cannot come for whatever reason, he said. Spirit of celebration For those who plan to go to Easter sunrise, however, he plans to honor the joyous spirit of the celebration. Usually, the congregation hosts an egg hunt and an Easter bonnet parade. This year, he suggested that members decorate their cars instead. Posey points to the story of Job, who suffered but still praised God. We can feel like God is not around, he said. But truthfully, in a storm, God is closer than anything else. We have to be able to keep our eyes on that. Wendy Tucker has been a member of the church since it opened and was in Bible study when the idea for drive-in service arose. Tucker is grateful to be able to attend church again even when she is parked in front of the porch. I went, and it was wonderful, she said. The sermon was powerful, and we had visitors who dont normally come that said they would be back. She looks forward to returning on Easter and attending drive-in services in the future. Were all excited to be able to come to worship together again, she said. For more information, visit livingwayumc.org. Lindsay Peyton is a Houston-based freelance writer. Chandigarh, April 6 : Keeping in view the Covid-19 pandemic, the PGI Hospital here has decided to contribute one day's salary of all the categories of employees towards the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM-CARES Fund). The amount works out to Rs 2.15 crore, a statement by the hospital said on Monday. The Nehru Hospital Extension (NHE) block of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) has become fully functional for the treatment of coronavirus patients. Twelve positive patients have been admitted to the NHE block. One of the positive patients, who is on ventilator and has been admitted to the ICU of the NHE block, suffered renal shutdown and successfully underwent hemodialysis on Sunday and is stable. Quarantine facility for the PGI healthcare workers has also been arranged, said the statement. Those quarantined will be accommodated in private wards and guest houses of the institute and facilities provided by the Chandigarh administration. The PGI said that it is receiving support from Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator V.P. Singh Badnore to tackle the pandemic. It said the PGI team is working 24x7 from the frontline in managing Covid-19 suspected and positive patients, apart from treating the patients visiting the PGI emergency. After the ill-fated defeat of the Confederate Army at Missionary Ridge on November 23-25, 1863, under the leadership of General Braxton Bragg, the Southern Army lost its last big advantage and made a slow but gradual retreat towards Atlanta. Bragg had been replaced as commanding officer of the Confederate Army by General Joseph E. Johnston. After both sides engaged in winter quarters, the South gradually began retreating south pursued by Union Major General William T. Sherman, who continuously attempted to outflank Johnstons Army in a series of skirmishes in northwest Georgia. The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain took place on June 27 and was the most significant frontal assault between the two competing armies. After two months of using flanking movements against the Rebels which resulted in only minimal casualties on each side, Sherman began his large-scale frontal assault. Generals James B. McPherson, John A. Logan and George H. Thomas attacked on several fronts but sustained heavy casualties. However, General John M. Schofield was successful in threatening the Confederate armys left flank which resulted in the Confederates making another retreat towards Atlanta. The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain had been preceded by several encounters designed for the North to take over control of the two principal Southern cities of Richmond and Atlanta by destroying the armies defending them. On June 14, Sherman spied a group of Confederate officers on Pine Mountain and ordered his artillery batteries to open fire. One of the casualties was Lieutenant General Leonidas Polk who was an Episcopal Bishop and one of the founders of the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee. Polk was nicknamed the Fighting Bishop, although this descriptive title overstated his ability as a military officer. However, Johnston withdrew his troops from Pine Mountain and established military lines in an arc-shaped defensive position between Kennesaw Mountain and little Kennesaw Mountain. The lay of the land and the heavily entrenched Confederates prevented further southern advance by Shermans troops. A stalemate took place with the Union forces being stilled about 15 miles north of Atlanta. Sherman decided to use the same strategy that had worked successfully at Missionary Ridge by ordering Schofield to attack on the right and McPherson on the left at the northern outskirts of Marietta and the northeastern end of Kennesaw Mountain. General Thomas army would then attack the center of the weak Confederate lines. At 8:00 a.m. on June 27, the Union artillery barrage of over 200 cannons bombarded the enemys lines with the Rebel artillery responding likewise. For five days, the opposing armies fought in deadly combat, but on July 2, Sherman initiated a flanking movement on the left and Johnston was forced to retreat from the mountain to set up new positions outside Smyrna. On July 17, Johnston was released of command and replaced by the overly aggressive John Bell Hood. After other skirmishes at Peachtree Creek, Atlanta Ezra Church and Jonesboro on September 1, Hoods unsuccessful tactics resulted in Atlanta being evacuated. Sherman proudly proclaimed the victory and Abraham Lincoln was able to interject the favorable result in his re-election campaign in the fall of 1864. The battlefield is now part of Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Park where one of the lesser known but highly significant contests of the Civil War took place. Ottawa reports progress in talks with U.S. over medical supplies as 3M strikes deal to send masks to Canada Canadian officials working behind the scenes to secure a full exemption from the Trump administration for imports of critical medical equipment say they've made some progress as 3M announces that it has struck a deal with the U.S. government to allow the export of N95 respirator masks to Canada. Canadian ministers and officials have been trying to reverse the United States' decision to invoke the Defense Production Act to force Minnesota-based 3M to prioritize orders from the U.S. government for N95 respirators at the expense of foreign orders, including some from Canada. N95 masks, sometimes called respirators, are designed to filter out the tiny aerosol particles that carry the novel coronavirus. Other masks, such as surgical masks, are looser fitting and made of material that only protect against larger droplets. Earlier today, U.S. President Donald Trump said he had reached an agreement with the company and was now "very proud to be dealing with 3M." A statement from the company said it has struck a deal to import 166.5 million respirators into the U.S. over the next three months, primarily from its manufacturing facility in China. "The plan will also enable 3M to continue sending U.S. produced respirators to Canada and Latin America, where 3M is the primary source of supply," the statement said. The company said it is ramping up production and within about a year will be able to start producing two billion respirator masks a year. The first wave of that production is expected to come online in the next three months. It remains unclear how this deal will affect exports of other critically needed personal protection equipment, such as gowns, gloves and ventilators. WATCH: Reporters question Trudeau about U.S. blocking PPE supplies Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Ambassador to the United States Kirsten Hillman, Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne and staffers from the Prime Minister's Office are on the case and are reaching out to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and White House staff to settle the dispute. Story continues Freeland said the Canadian side has reminded the American administration that medical supplies flow both ways across the border. "That is why a win-win outcome, where both parties continue to help each other, is the very best outcome. That is the point we have been making and we had some positive conversations over the weekend and we will continue to have those conversations" Freeland told reporters during a briefing on Monday. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said earlier today that his province has just one week's worth of critical personal protective equipment for front-line health-care workers as it waits for more shipments. Ford said around three million masks ordered from the U.S. have been held up by American officials, but 500,000 masks are being released today. "We're putting pressure on the U.S. government from all sides," said the premier, adding those 500,000 masks "will buy us another week." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged earlier today that Canada has been having problems securing critical personal protective equipment in the past few weeks with some orders arriving with items missing, or not arriving at all. "We have recognized over the past weeks a number of situations in which shipments coming from different countries from around the world have been delayed, haven't arrived with as many products as we were hoping to see," Trudeau told reporters on Monday. WATCH: 'Grateful for anything we can get out of the U.S.,' Ford says "This continues to be an ongoing problem but specifically with the United States, we are working with them to ensure that the orders Canada has placed get delivered. We expect those shipments to come." DHS warns of disinformation campaigns Champagne and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed the issue earlier today. A spokesperson for Pompeo said the United States wants to work with Canada to "ensure the viability of international supply chains for crucial medical supplies and personnel, while also meeting the needs of regions with the most severe outbreaks." When asked about Ford's statement, an official with the Department of Homeland Security said the U.S. is working to provide humanitarian assistance during the fight against COVID-19. "We remain concerned about pervasive attempts to divide international efforts through unsourced, unattributed disinformation campaigns," said the official. The United States' move has sparked anger among leaders around the world, including some of Canada's provincial premiers. "To say that I'm infuriated with the recent actions of President Trump of the United States is an understatement," said Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Dwight Ball on Sunday. "I cannot believe for a second, in a time of crisis, that President Trump would even think about banning key medical supplies to Canada." COLONIE A rollover crash early Monday morning sent three children and their mother to the hospital. Colonie police went to the crash at Loudon and Boght roads after 2 a.m., where, they said, they found 40-year-old Jessica Neet in and out of consciousness. Rajesh Kumar Thakur By Express News Service PATNA: Bihars first COVID-19 patient, said that adversity has taught her to maintain positivity in life to weather the storm. She gave doctors and god credit for saving her life. Her message to the public is simple Dont panic. Like me, you can also overcome it. She said that no one should self medicate and if found COVID-19 positive, they must remain calm. My special request is to maintain social distancing even at home and try to be in isolation for 21 days, she said. Discharged on March 30, now she is self-isolating at her home in Patna. On March 2, my husband and I travelled to Nepal to visit an orphanage and returned on March 8. My son Vivin also returned from Italy and was asymptomatic. All my family members and seven of contacts thankfully tested negative, said the 45-year-old. After returning from Nepal, she felt feverish and had a cough and cold. After remaining under home quarantine for two weeks, she along with her son, visited AIIMS, Patna, on March 20. She tested positive and was admitted on March 22. She spent her days at AIIMS reading the Bible and a passage I will never leave you nor forsake you and will be with you till the end of the ages brought her comfort. The line gave me solace and support from medical staff helped me beat corona, she said with tears in her eyes. On March 25, my hopes increased when the second sample tested negative, she recalled. Finally, on March 27 and 29, two more tests were conducted and they were negative for COVID-19. The coronavirus pandemic has hit a major Orthodox monastery in central Kiev where four cases have been confirmed, the city mayor said Monday. The outbreak comes after the monastery's father-superior urged believers to continue going to church and to "hug each other." "There are four cases of the illness at the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra monastery," Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said at a daily online briefing. The picturesque monastery on the banks of the Dnipro river is Ukraine's most important Orthodox shrine, loyal to the Moscow-based Church rather than Ukraine's new independent Church. More than 200 monks live in the monastery, founded in the 11th century, but the mayor did not make clear who exactly had been infected or what their state of health was. In mid-March, when the Ukrainian authorities called on churches to hold services online to shield parishioners, But Metropolitan Pavel, the father-superior of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra monastery, urged believers to "hurry to church and hug each other". "The worst epidemic is of sin," the Metropolitan said in a video address on the monastery's YouTube channel. "Do not be afraid of anything," he added. Archbishop Kliment Vecherya, a spokesman for the Russian-aligned Ukrainian church, told AFP that the monastery is now under quarantine and disinfection is being carried out. All services are being held behind closed doors without parishioners but streamed online, he said. All four of those infected are being treated in hospital, Ukrainian journalist Sonya Koshkina wrote on Facebook. Ukraine has closed schools, universities and public spaces to stem the spread of COVID-19. The post-Soviet state has also banned events involving more than 10 people and closed metro systems in three cities. Ukraine has confirmed 1,319 cases of COVID-19 and 38 deaths, according to official statistics. A view of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra in Kiev on Monday. The monastery has been hit by the coronavirus A masked pedestrian carrying water bottles walks past the Charging Bull statue in lower Manhattan on April 02, 2020 in New York City. Bruce Bennett | Getty Images Tom Petty sang it 40 years ago and investors are living it now: The waiting is the hardest part. Waiting for enough data on coronavirus-infection trajectories to form a trackable metric for a shutdown timetable. Waiting to gauge how much erosion of corporate balance sheets occurs as the commercial halt carries on which will also dictate how many further layoffs and defaults will test the economy. Waiting for a sense of whether the stock market has priced in anything like a plausible path for business ahead. With even month-old economic numbers of scant relevance in a post-lockdown world, attention has turned to how the market's dramatic repricing stacks up to recessions past, and how the market reacts to its own extremes in terms of technical behavior. The S&P 500's heartbreaker of a 34% decline in about a month, culminating two weeks ago, matches up roughly with the sort of setback that accompanied "typical" recessions of the past. The near-20% rebound rally and subsequent 6% backslide through last week also map to the aftermath of earlier cascading index collapses. This suggests we're in a phase of choppy aftershocks and jumpy rallies that often but certainly not always leads toward another test of investors' nerve via a return to the vicinity of those panicky initial lows. Last week, stocks were down some 2%, but failed to break down significantly despite a load of lousy news, from accelerating outbreaks in additional states, to brutal 6-million new weekly unemployment claims, to huge retailers furloughing hundreds of thousands of employees collectively. To some observers, this was a win in the form of losing less. Coronavirus vs the VIX The slouching rather than collapsing nature of the drop was reflected in the S&P 500 Volatility Index sliding below 47 from 65, and from a peak a few weeks ago above 80. While not anything like an "all clear" signal, this drop shows the market has moved on from outright shock to grinding resignation that things are bad and will be so for a while. It also means traders bought an enormous amount of downside protection during March and so have less need to bid for option hedges now. Jason Hunter, technical strategist at JPMorgan, has been plotting various indicators of disease incidence with market indicators, including one tracking the number of states with 10%-plus daily Covid-19 case growth against the VIX. Source: JPMorgan Of course, almost any two variables can be made to appear correlated. And no doubt this somewhat-engineered statistical relationship will break down (states with rapid case growth will, at some point, reach zero and the VIX never will, for example). But there is some internal logic in the idea that when the propagation of the virus has seemed most unchecked, the urgency of selling and trader panic levels were most intense. Both have subsided for now. "Based on the recent correlation, case growth decelerationcan help put further downward pressure on implied equity volatility and blunt the nature of a retest of the march equity price low," Hunter says. He expects the March S&P lows between 2150 and 2200 to hold as this quarter's floor, with rallies capped perhaps 12% above Friday's closing level, as the waiting game plays out. Similarly, Julian Emmanuel of BTIG says, "If history is any sort of guide, we expect a 'divergent' retest of the March lows in April, as the public health and economic bad news is likely to reach its parabolic peak in coming weeks prior to the (aspirational?) date for easing social distancing, April 30." Credit markets ticking clock The credit market will have plenty to say about whether such an equity floor can hold and any rallies get traction. Corporate-debt markets are always crucial indicators for stocks, reflecting liquidity, risk-appetite and macro conditions in a fairly focused way. In recent weeks, the S&P 500 traded in lockstep with the iShares iBoxx High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG), to an unusual degree. (Bloomberg) -- Support for Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has soared during the coronavirus crisis, with her Social Democrats now enjoying the highest backing among voters since 1998. A poll by Voxmeter published by news agency Ritzau on Monday has the Social Democrats on 34%, a jump of 2.6 percentage points since the last poll two weeks ago. The party won 25.9% of the vote in the June elections. Frederiksens government was one of the first in Europe to ban large gatherings, shut down schools, restaurants and non-essential businesses, and was among the first to close the borders in an effort to halt the spread of the virus. An earlier poll showed that about 80% of the population has confidence in the way Frederiksen has handled the crisis. The prime minister has said the country may be in a position to gradually reopen after the Easter break. She is expected to present detailed plans in the coming days. Denmark to date has 4,647 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 179 related deaths. 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. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper speaks during the daily briefing on the CCP virus in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington on April 1, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Pentagon Has Deployed Many Ventilators From Department of Defense Stockpile: Esper The Pentagon has deployed many of its 2,000 ventilators amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said. Many of the ventilators have been deployed with USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy, military hospital ships that were sent to Los Angeles and New York City. Others are deployed with the field hospitals the military has been erecting in various states, including Texas, Louisiana, and New York. Several hundred have been prepositioned outside of New York and others are ready to be shipped to where officials are told to ship them to, Esper said on Sunday. Esper said a report from CNN claiming the Pentagon had not shipped any of its ventilators was not accurate. Only a few hundred have not been sent out, he said. The USNS Mercy enters the Port of Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California on March 27, 2020. (Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo) The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which still has several thousand ventilators in stock right now, is slated to deliver those before the military sends out the ones it still has, according to Esper. Were sitting on them in the sense that theyre prepared to ship once theyre needed, once HHS exhausts its stock, he said. Esper spoke about the ventilators during appearances on ABCs This Week and CNNs State of the Union. Ventilators have become a crucial issue because patients with severe cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, require assistance breathing. Patients with the disease stay much longer on ventilators than non-COVID patients and around 80 percent of patients with the new illness who require help breathing die, a top New York health executive Gov. Andrew Cuomo said over the weekend. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has estimated his state will need as many as 40,000 ventilators. A major model relied upon by the governor and federal officials was revised overnight and now says the state will need no more than 10,606. A ventilator is seen at the New York City Emergency Management Warehouse, where 400 ventilators arrived and before being shipped out for distribution, due to concerns over the rapid spread of the CCP virus in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on March 24, 2020. (Caitlin Ochs/Reuters) Cuomos office hasnt responded to requests for information about ventilators, including how many the state has on hand. According to information given at press conferences, the state has north of 12,500, with over 1,000 more on the way, even after an order for 17,000 fell through. It wasnt clear if that figure included those ready for deployment by the Pentagon. We have sufficient ventilators for the foreseeable future, and were obviously getting more supply, Michael Dowling, the president and CEO of Northwell Health, the largest healthcare provider in New York state, said during an appearance on CBS Face the Nation. Healthcare workers are not at the point of deciding who gets a ventilator and who does not, a point that would only be reached amid shortages. A woman arrives by ambulance to Wyckoff Hospital in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn in New York on April 5, 2020. (Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images) Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the former Food and Drug Administration commissioner, said on the same show that he thinks the New York City health system will be brought right to the brink but not go over. Theyre expanding their capacity to keep pace with their surge of demand, really a historic effort. And I dont think theyre gonna run out of ventilators. Theyre doing things to convert existing devices into ventilators. And I think theyll keep pace with it, he said. State officials have ordered anesthesia machines to be used as ventilators, the conversion of BiPAPs, and a splitting technique that lets a single ventilator serve two patients. Cuomo signed an executive order in recent days allowing the state to seize ventilators from hospitals they say dont need them. Hospital executives were asked how many they arent using and National Guard troops are taking 20 percent of that number from each hospital outside New York City and its environs, Cuomo told reporters at a press conference. With a slowdown of new cases, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown sent 140 ventilators to New York to help boost capacity. Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee sent 400 ventilators to the Strategic National Stockpile because of the low numbers of cases there after an early explosion in February. Washington is returning 400 ventilators so states like New York and others can have them, Inslee said in a statement. Those machines will be sent to the point of the need, Vice President Mike Pence told reporters on Sunday. In 2017, AT&T fitted a cell tower in St. George with new antennas to provide home and business internet service in rural Dorchester County. Many other rural areas still ack it. File/Thad Moore/Staff There have been discussions about a package but nothing has been finalised yet, the official said, adding that the idea is to revive consumption, 'so some measures might be needed.' New Delhi: The government has started working out the possible post-lockdown scenarios and is considering another booster shot to minimize the impact of coronavirus and revive the economy but nothing has been finalised yet, senior officials said on Sunday. The focus is on issues that may come up after the lockdown is lifted on 15 April, an official said. There have been discussions about a package but nothing has been finalised yet, the official said, adding that the idea is to revive consumption, "so some measures might be needed." If a package is announced, it would be the third major initiative by the government to tackle the challenges thrown up by the rapid spread of coronavirus. On 24 March, hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared a countrywide lockdown, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a slew of relief measures for taxpayers and businesses. Two days later, Sitharaman announced a Rs 1.7-lakh-crore relief package for those hit hardest. On Sunday, the officials said they are also looking at the possibility of redesigning some welfare and other government schemes to suit the post-lockdown situation. Various options are on the table such as scholarships and fellowships given by ministries, harvesting of rabi crops and the government has started to address them one by one, they said. Out of the 10 empowered groups of senior bureaucrats constituted by the prime minister to prepare India's response to COVID-19, one group is tasked to suggest economic measures. An informal group of ministers, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, is also looking into various aspects of the lockdown. PepsiCo India along with its philanthropic arm PepsiCo Foundation on Monday committed to provide over 50 lakh meals to support families impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. The initiative is part of PepsiCo's #GiveMealsGiveHope global programme. The company is also extending support to the healthcare and diagnostic facilities, supplementing their efforts to combat the pandemic by providing 25,000 COVID-19 testing kits. PepsiCo India has partnered with Akshaya Patra Foundation to provide cooked meals to the underserved communities through its centralised kitchens where it is partnering closely with the local authorities for distribution of meals. PepsiCo India has also partnered with Smile Foundation to provide dry food rations to support meals for over 8,000 vulnerable families adversely impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. PepsiCo India has partnered with Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) to provide 25,000 COVID-19 testing kits. FIND, a non-profit body, is the World Health Organisation's collaborating centre for laboratory strengthening and diagnostic technology evaluation. It works closely with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. These testing kits will be deployed across public and private healthcare laboratories identified by the government to scale up access to COVID-19 testing. PepsiCo India President Ahmed El Sheikh said the company stands committed to lending its full support to both the Central and state governments in their fight to collectively overcome the global health challenge. To further mobilise funds, PepsiCo India has launched a double matching gifts programme which involves its employees also lending their support to communities that are impacted by COVID-19. As part of the programme, PepsiCo Foundation will match all employee donations by two-fold and give the total accumulated fund to the NGO partners working with the company. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Louisiana pastor accused of violating government orders to limit crowds during the coronavirus pandemic hosted hundreds of churchgoers on Palm Sunday, according to police. Pastor Tony Spell welcomed worshipers at Life Tabernacle Church in Central, near Baton Rouge. Spell has already been hit with six misdemeanors for the six services he has held since March 16 when Gov. John Bel Edwards announced an order against gatherings of more than 50 people. Spell, who could not immediately be reached Monday, has previously said that the public health orders are a threat to religious freedoms and constitutional rights. Image: Outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Baton Rouge (Carlos Barria / Reuters) He has also said that he believes the pandemic is "politically motivated." Spell told CNN that on Palm Sunday, he hosted 1,220 churchgoers, including some who drove more than 100 miles to attend services. Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran told NBC News on Monday that Spell held two separate services at the church on Palm Sunday and that the pastor continues to inflate the number of people who attended. "He has done that since day one," Corcoran said during a phone interview. "At the most, he had 500. Between the two." Corcoran said Spell does not appear to intend to stop holding services and is still under investigation. The chief also said police were aware of the large services Sunday but did not enter the church or attempt to break them up. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a stay-at-home order for the state on March 22. When asked during an interview with CNN's Victor Blackwell if he believed in the science behind the governor's orders, Spell said, "We believe the science of this, however, we do have a command from God and there are no governing bodies that can tell us we cannot gather and worship freely." Blackwell asked Spell why, if the pastor is pro-life, he would "put people in jeopardy of getting a virus that has no treatment, no cure, often has no symptoms and has killed more than 8,500 people" in the United States in five weeks? Story continues "My response to that is: People's hope is in the house of God. If they do contract the virus, if they have fears of the virus, the church is more essential now than ever to pray with people, to let them know there is ... a physician in Jesus Christ," Spell said. Edwards said at a news conference Monday that while there is still a high number of coronavirus cases in Louisiana, "we are hopeful that we are seeing the beginning of the flattening of the curve." The governor noted that the stay-at-home order is an effective mitigation tactic. There have been 14,687 cases of the coronavirus reported in Louisiana, with at least 512 deaths. When the charges against Spell were announced last week, the police chief said Spell made clear his intentions to continue to violate the law. "Instead of showing the strength and resilience of our community during this difficult time, Mr. Spell has chosen to embarrass us for his own self-promotion," Corcoran said. US, Somalia Conduct Airstrike Against Al-Shabab Terrorist Group By VOA News April 05, 2020 The U.S. Africa Command says it has, in coordination with the Somali government, targeted al-Shabab, an al-Qaida-linked terrorist group in an airstrike Friday. The command issued a statement Saturday saying that the airstrike took place near Bush Madina on Friday. According to initial assessments, the statement said, five terrorists were killed during the airstrike, and no civilians were killed or injured. The U.S. Africa Command works with the Somali government to improve security conditions for the country and its people, and to enhance governance and economic development there. The command and its international partners "recognize that stability in Somalia will not be achieved through purely military means, the statement said, "it requires providing programs and opportunity for the Somali people." The International Committee of the Red Cross said Saturday that Somalia was at a critical juncture, as the country is threatened by the spread of COVID-19, while at the same time facing violence, conflict, displacement of people and malnutrition. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address People wearing face masks, push shopping cart with their grocery items in Christchurch on April 1. Sanka Vidanagama/NurPhoto / Getty A New Zealand man was charged with endangering life after filming himself sneezing and coughing all through a supermarket in Christchurch, New Zealand. The charges were later lowered to one count of offensive behavior. The man later apologized for his video, which he posted to Facebook, saying: "It never should've happened, the alcohol had really taken effect and I have no sensor when I get this messy." New Zealand has enhanced its social distancing measures amid the coronavirus outbreak. The country has reported 1,106 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 1 death as of Monday local time. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. A New Zealand man was arrested for filming himself coughing and sneezing on people in a supermarket as the country enforces strict social distancing measures amid the coronavirus outbreak. A police spokesperson confirmed to stuff.co.nz that Raymond Gary Coombs, 38, was arrested on Saturday evening local time for the stunt. A spokesperson said he had been charged with "endangering life by criminal nuisance and obstruction of a medical officer of health." Another police spokesperson told Stuff the man's actions were "abhorrent," even if they weren't done during a pandemic. New Zealand is currently on a nationwide lockdown and has reported 1,106 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 1 death as of Monday local time. In the now-deleted Facebook video seen by stuff.co.nz, Coombs holds a camera close to his face as he roams around a Fresh Choice supermarket in Christchurch. Grinning to the camera, he coughs and sneezes on several shoppers before apologizing. A spokesperson for Fresh Choice supermarket told stuff.co.nz: "The person in the video has since apologized and indicated it was a drunken prank, which is obviously not funny at all in these challenging times." According to the New Zealand Herald, Coombs later apologized on Facebook, saying: "I'm sorry for this prank. It never should've happened, the alcohol had really taken effect and I have no sensor when I get this messy. There is nothing else that I can say but apologize to everybody, and assure you all it will not happen again." Story continues Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Sunday that people who do not comply with lockdown measures, including Coombs, are "idiots." On Monday, Coombs appeared in court via a video link, according to stuff.co.nz. His charges were amended to one count of offensive behavior, which has a maximum penalty of an NZ$1,000 fine ($589). Reports indicate that he had also been jailed before for a prank gone wrong. In 2009, he left dry ice bombs around Christchurch, which exploded and damaged a man's hearing resulting in him having to wear hearing aids. Judge McMeeken who presided over Coombs' case said: "We are in a state of emergency, there is a lockdown. Many people in New Zealand are suffering. Your behavior would have added to that suffering. I am sure many people were scared and distressed when they saw what you did." Coombs is set to be sentenced on May 19. Read the original article on Insider By Jung Min-ho Korea has deported a Taiwanese woman for refusing to stay at a quarantine facility. According to the Ministry of Justice Monday, the woman, whose identity is being withheld, was deported late on Sunday after refusing to pay for a government-designated quarantine facility. This is the first time the government has deported a foreigner for violating the self-isolation rule over the COVID-19 pandemic, although there have been some cases in which foreigners were denied entry. In an effort to help contain the coronavirus, the government has imposed mandatory two-week self-isolation for all arrivals from overseas since Wednesday. Those subject to the rule must stay in their homes or the facilities. Daily expenses for staying at the facilities are about 100,000 won ($81). The woman, who arrived at Incheon International Airport Thursday, initially agreed to stay at the facility, but later refused to pay, the ministry said. As of Monday afternoon, the virus has infected 10,284 people and killed 186 in Korea. TUCSON, Ariz., April 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a letter to Arizona Governor Doug Ducey , the Arizona State Chapter of The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) expresses concern about an Executive Order that strictly prohibits prescribing hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for prophylactic use against COVID-19 unless peer-reviewed evidence becomes available. For nearly 20 years, there has been scientific evidence of the potential usefulness of the antimalarial drugs chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in the treatment of viral infections, including coronavirus, the letter states. Reviewing reports from ongoing studies by clinicians in China, South Korea, France, and the U.S., AAPS calculates that as of today the probability of hydroxychloroquine success in reducing morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 patients is 93 percent (426 of 459 patients benefited). Success is far more likely with early use. Since tests may not become positive until late, prophylactic use may really be early treatment, AAPS points out. We would not send troops into a malarious area without prophylaxis, even in the absence of a peer-reviewed study showing that more soldiers get sick and die when unprotected, the letter states. Should we wait months for a study likely to show that more nurses and doctors get infectedand remain contagious longerif not allowed to be protected? We urge you to take the lead in restraining government agencies from interfering in physicians decisions, and in encouraging freedom and innovation to bring this pandemic under control, AAPS concludes. As cases in the country spike, authorities have warned of invoking attempt to murder charge and the stringent Security Act(NSA) against those participants of the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi who fail to report for screening test. According to the latest updates from the Union on Monday, at least 1,445 of the total 4,067 COVID-19 positive cases are related to last month's Tablighi congregation in west which has emerged as the epicentre of the virus outbreak. More than 25,500 Tablighi members and their contacts have been quarantined in the country till now after the Centre and the state governments conducted a "mega operation" to identify them, Punya Salila Srivastava, a senior Union Home Ministry official, told reporters in Delhi. At least 9,000 people including nearly 1,000 foreigners participated in the religious congregation after which many of the attendees travelled to various parts of the country. According to reports from the states, several congregation participants are yet to show up before authorities. The Kanpur administration gave a last chance to those who attended the Tablighi event or who came in contact with them to report to authorities, warning the Securty Act(NSA) would be invoked against them if they failed to do so. "Those who have come in contact with any Jamaat member or were at the religious congregation in Delhi markaz have been given a last chance to come forward and present themselves before the district authorities for COVID-19 test, otherwise be ready to face the Security Act," said District Magistrate Brahmadeo Ram Tiwari. Under the NSA, a person can be detained for up to 12 months without a charge. A person can be also held for 10 days without being told about the charges against them. The magistrate said the decision was taken as three fresh COVID-19 cases were reported in Kanpur city in less than 20 hours and is aimed at making people take the pandemic seriously. We are trying hard to identify and treating people contracted with COVID-19. Police have made announcements in red-zones through public address systems, urging people to report themselves before Tuesday noon for the sake of their own life, Tiwari said. Uttarakhand DGP Anil Kumar Raturi appealed to Tablighi members who have returned to the state to report to the administration latest by Monday or face stern action. "If it is discovered after April 6 that you deliberately hid yourself and passed on the infection to others, you will be booked under the Disaster Management Act and under sections of the IPC, including attempt to murder and murder in case of a death caused by the contagion, " the DGP said in a video message. Uttarakhand has seen a sudden rise in positive cases of late with 19 people testing positive in four days. "You will be tested if necessary and treated so that you and those around you are safe but if you deliberately hide yourself and risk your life as well as that of others around you, you will be booked," DGP Raturi said. Heeding warnings of strict action, a total of 12 Tablighi event participants and their 52 primary contacts reported to the Himachal Pradesh police for testing. On Sunday, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and state DGP said Sita Ram Mardi had asked Jamaat members to come forward for testing by 5 pm on Monday, else they would be booked for attempt to murder. The DGP said 12 Jamaat members and their 52 primary contacts have reported to the police following which they were put under home quarantine. Seventeen FIRs have already been registered against 85 Jamaat members for deliberately hiding the information and violating curfew in the last five days, the DGP said. Besides, 277 people who returned to the state after attending the Jamaat have been identified and quarantined in various districts, he added. The Assam government also warned of strict action against the attendees who fail to report for testing for COVID-19 by the end of the day. "The government will register a case of wilful negligence against them if they do not report by today. There is a provision for that under the Disaster Management Act," Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters in Guwahati. Sarma said the Health Department estimates that 617 people from the state attended the event, of whom samples of 128 are yet to be taken. The Mumbai police also made a fresh appeal to the congregation participants to approach the nearest police station or call on BMC helpline number 1916 as part of the efforts to stop the spread of the The police, in a tweet, said. "We request all attendees of Tablighi Markaz at Nizamuddin, New Delhi to report their travel details on @mybmc helpline 1916 and help us in our fight against this pandemic." "Those failing to cooperate will face strict action under Indian Penal Code (IPC), Disaster Management Act and Epidemic Act. It is our request and your responsibility to report your travel details," it added. of the outfit. (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.) Pastor Victor Wafula preached to an empty auditorium as he decried low offerings due to low attendance, as his Nairobi congregants remained in their homes due to fear of the new coronavirus. We should be worried as preachers when people dont come to church due to fear of COVID-19, he said, pacing around the pulpit at Kibera United Kingdom Church with a microphone at hand. Today the seats are empty and we will have no offerings and tithes. How are we going to survive? Wafula, who hired a few members to videotape his March 22 sermon and later post it on Facebook for the wider congregation to watch from their homes, further encouraged members to give via mobile money transfer or online payment platforms. Many of his congregants live in Kibera, the largest urban slum in all of Africa. Lets honor God with our finances and stay faithful to him, he said. Coronavirus should not be the reason for people not to tithe. If we give out our offering, then truly God can end this virus. Wafulas appeal came two weeks after Kenyas president, Uhuru Kenyatta, suspended religious gatherings and worship services across the country indefinitely to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 disease, which has resulted in 6 deaths and more than 150 confirmed cases in the country. Governments across Africa have likewise suspended church services among other measures to curb the outbreak. Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, and Gabon have banned flights from affected countries, while Morocco has suspended all international travel. Rwanda and Mali have added quarantines for travelers from affected countries. Schools run by churches have also been shut down, and pilgrimages for religious observances and festivals have been canceled, both reducing church revenues. Africa has an estimated population of 1.2 billion people. A sizable percentage lives below the poverty line, and with the current pandemic, many face tough economic times. Some churches fear for their future as offerings and tithes continue to dwindle week by week, resulting in cutbacks to programs and personnel. Bishop Daniel Chemon of the Full Gospel Churches of Kenya said the COVID-19 outbreak has led to the cancellation of many church programs, including outreach to the needy, due to the lower offerings as many members heed government directives and no longer come to church. Our church used to overflow with worshipers. But today, you can see people are scattered and seats spread about two meters apart due to fear of COVID-19, Chemon said during a worship service last month. This has led to a drastic reduction in the offering that was collected across all the churches in the county. We need to pray for our country. Pastor Humphrey Wesonga of Winners of Soul Church in Kariobangi, a low-income residential estate in northeastern Nairobi, said some ruthless church leaders have been exploiting vulnerable worshipers by telling them to give lots of money for Gods work in order for them to be rewarded with riches. Now, he said, it was time for them to support their followers instead. They are used to getting easy money by fleecing their flocks, said Wesonga, who oversees a congregation of more than 500 people. This is the best time to also assist their members because of the current economy. People are not running their businesses, and others stay home because of the coronavirus. How can a man of God ask for tithes and offering at this time, when everyone is facing financial difficulties? People should not be forced to tithe, Wesonga said. God wants you to enjoy giving to him and to others. The situation is the same in neighboring countries. Rwanda, which has so far reported more than 100 COVID-19 infections, has seen an increase in churches soliciting digital offerings from members, even as many face economic hardship from coronavirus-related closures. This is the best time to try God by tithing, Olive Ndayisenga, pastor of Evangelical Reformed Church in Kigali, Rwandas capital, recently urged his congregants by text message. I encourage you to continue sending your tithes and offerings and God will bless you. The Association of Pentecostal Churches in Rwanda (ADEPR) circulated letters to its members encouraging them to still give their tithes. In one of the letters, members are advised to use offertory boxes located on church premises, or to send the money via mobile transfer. Seventh-day Adventist, Catholic, and Anglican leaders also directed their members to stay at home and to pay their tithes and offerings through mobile transfers. Such appeals by religious leaders have not gone well with some church members and government officials. Grace Uwimana was forced to close the Kigali restaurant she owns after the government suspended social gatherings to prevent the spread of the pandemic. It's very difficult to earn a living here since many of us closed our businesses, said the 45-year-old mother of three. We dont know when this virus will go away. Im just spending the money I used to save to buy food and other necessities. Uwimana attends Ndayisengas church and urges her head pastor to be compassionate amid the financial difficulties prompted by the pandemic. We have no money right now to give to the church, she said. We are also suffering and sleeping on an empty stomach because we are not going to work. Our head pastor should understand the situation and give us time to recover. Some members of Rwandas government have instead advised faith-based organizations and churches to support members who are going through financial difficulties and to stop demanding offerings from them. Its time for church leaders to use their influence and savings to support their members, stated Edouard Bamporiki, the state minister for youth and culture. They should be supporting vulnerable people rather than the vulnerable people supporting churches. Its unacceptable for leaders to demand offerings and tithes from their members at the time many are facing economic difficulties. Usta Kayitesi, the CEO of the Rwanda Governance Board which regulates faith-based organizations, said the government does not regulate tithing and it was normal for churches that already had digital offering options to remind congregants about them. But she also said the ADEPR statement was poorly timed and lacked the human connection. There was nothing to indicate what they intend to use the money for, whether it is to support vulnerable members or go towards activities that support people at this particular time, Kayitesi told KT Press, a Rwandan news outlet. We would expect the church to show responsibility and [empathy] and play its role in supporting the weak in their communities, show[ing] love and care instead of looking to get more money from the members who are already in a precarious situation. Pastor Peter Niyigena of Kigalis Fellowship Church of God agreed with the governments advice, saying the focus should not be on money as the country battles COVID-19. He noted that one cannot serve both God and money. Many of my colleagues think that we should always be receiving money and gifts from our worshipers, but thats wrong, said Niyigena, whose church is located in the Rwandan capitals Kangondo slum. We should also be people who can give and support others especially vulnerable people in society. Right now its time for the church to unite and pray for our country. Its not time to start soliciting for offerings and tithes. Wafula, pastor of the Kibera church, disagrees, saying government officials across the continent were misadvising members of the church to disobey the Word of God. People should be faithful in giving their tithes and offerings whether in crisis or not, he told CT. God doesnt change with seasons. In 1983, Ned Chilton, the gruff and tenacious publisher of West Virginias leading newspaper, The Charleston Gazette, gave a speech at the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association convention in Memphis. This was shortly after the founding of USA Today, with its tiny articles and bouncy castle graphics. Chilton told his peers that too many newspapers display only spurts of indignation. Whats needed, he said, is sustained outrage over basic injustices. The speech made ripples in the journalism world. My evidence for this is anecdotal: When I started my first newspaper job several years later, at a Vermont biweekly, the editor handed me a copy of the speech along with my welcome packet. Chiltons phrase sustained outrage has become the unofficial motto of Charlestons paper, now called The Charleston Gazette-Mail. The paper, like most others, has struggled in recent years. But a powerful new book, Death in Mud Lick: A Coal Country Fight Against the Drug Companies That Delivered the Opioid Epidemic, by one of its reporters, Eric Eyre, is evidence that Chiltons spirit still prevails there. (Or perhaps it did prevail there. I learned after turning in a first draft of this review that Eyre left the paper last week, not long after the gifted coal industry reporter Ken Ward Jr.) The governor of Wisconsin announced Monday that the presidential primary elections in the state, scheduled for Tuesday, will be postponed for two months in light of the continuously escalating coronavirus outbreak. Tony Evers' issued an executive order Monday delaying the in-person presidential primary vote until June 9. 'Frankly, there's no good answer to this problem - I wish it were easy,' Evers said in a statement Monday. 'I have been asking everyone to do their part to help keep our families, our neighbors, and our communities safe, and I had hoped that the Legislature would do its part - just as the rest of us are - to help keep people healthy and safe,' he continued. The announcement led an almost immediate court challenge from Republicans who say they will ask the Wisconsin Supreme Court to intervene, adding to the confusion over whether voters will be able to head to their polling places on Tuesday. They claim Evers' order to delay the vote is 'an unconstitutional overreach.' The governor, a Democrat, has questioned over the last month whether he has the power to reschedule the election, leaving the fate of the election up in the air less than 24 hours before polls are slated to open. Other states that were slated to vote this month have postponed their elections until May or June, but Republicans in Wisconsin have refused to delay. A federal judge already extended absentee voting deadlines for Wiconsin until April 13 because of the coronavirus pandemic when it appeared the state was not going to delay the in-person voting date. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers issued an executive order Monday for the state to postpone its presidential primary elections, scheduled for Tuesday, until June 9 in light of the growing coronavirus pandemic Several state that have yet to vote in the primary elections have delayed in-person voting as there is mounting pressure from public health officials to keep gatherings to 10 people or less Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumed nominee, and other Democrats have already floated the idea of fully remote primary and general elections should the levels continue to escalate through the summer. Biden has also suggested doing a 'virtual' nominating convention in August instead of hosting the in-person event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where tens of thousands of people from all over the country attend. The candidate already has a commanding delegate lead over his remaining competitor Bernie Sanders, and the Wisconsin results aren't likely to dampen his march to the Democratic nomination. But the tumult in one of the most critical general election battlegrounds underscored the challenge of voting during a pandemic when public health officials are discouraging groups from gathering for virtually any reason to prevent the spread of the virus. So far more than 9,600 people have died from coronavirus in the U.S., and the number of confirmed cases is nearing 338,000 more than any other country has reported. Republicans in Wisconsin are expected to take their case to the state Supreme Court, which is controlled 5-2 by conservative justices but is narrowed 4-2 as one is on Tuesday's ballot. Democrats claim the party is trying to suppress voter turnout. A separate legal fight over absentee ballots was already pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. While several states had scheduled primaries in recent weeks, Wisconsin had been the only one moving ahead with in-person voting in the midst of the pandemic. Evers and Republicans initially agreed it was imperative for the election to proceed because thousands of local offices are on the ballot Tuesday for terms that begin in two weeks including a state Supreme Court election putting the conservative incumbent against a liberal challenger. The election 'must happen' because of the terms that are ending, said Republican state Representative Ron Tusler, who tweeted over the weekend that elections continued during both the War of 1812 and the 1918 flu pandemic. But Democratic state Senator Jon Erpenbach said Republicans only wanted to move forward because they were attempting to suppress turnout, particularly in Democrat-heavy Milwaukee, because it will benefit Republicans and the conservative Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly, who is seeking a 10-year term. 'Democrats have always been good about getting out the vote on the day of,' Erpenbach said. 'If youre looking at the newspapers, watching TV, you know right now its dangerous.' Evers is among the dozens of governors who have issued a stay-at-home order and closed all nonessential businesses. Dozens of polling places have already been closed. 'Your choice is to go and vote in person and take a chance on contracting COVID-19 or stay home,' Erpenbach said. 'What do you think people are going to do?' The state and national Democratic parties, along with a host of other liberal and voter advocacy groups, filed federal lawsuits seeking a delay in the election and other changes. A federal court judge just last week handed Democrats a partial win, allowing for absentee ballots to be counted through April 13, delaying the reporting of election results until then. But the judge, and later a federal appeals court, declined to postpone the election. Republicans have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, asking that it not allow absentee ballots to be counted beyond Tuesday, arguing that partial results could be leaked. The court was considering whether to take action before the executive order was issued. Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe warned clerks not to defy the federal court order and release any results before April 13. To reduce the chance of that happening, Wolfe told clerks to minimize access to vote totals and not transmit any until after 4 p.m. on April 13. As of Monday morning, a record-high 1.2 million absentee ballots had been requested and more than 724,000 had been returned. Democrats fear that if the Supreme Court reverses the judge's ruling and cuts short the amount of time those ballots can be returned and still counted, thousands of voters will be disenfranchised and not have their votes counted. Even if the election proceeds on Tuesday, thousands of poll workers had said they wouldn't work, leading Milwaukee to reduce its planned number of polling sites from 180 to just five. The National Guard was distributing supplies, including hand sanitizer, to polling sites across the state. In Madison, city workers were erecting plexiglass barriers to protect poll workers, and voters were encouraged to bring their own pens to mark the ballots. George Dunst, 76, of Madison, is the former attorney for the state elections commission who has volunteered at his local polling site for nearly every election since he retired. But he's not going on Tuesday amid fears of contracting COVID-19. 'No matter what safety precautions you take, there's going to be exposure,' he said. 'Who knows who comes into the polling place?' AMERICAN POISON How Racial Hostility Destroyed Our Promise By Eduardo Porter A white liberal progressive as this reviewer would be labeled confronts the issue of race in America with beliefs that make it difficult to face a reality that their fellow citizens of black or Hispanic origin take for granted. Basic to the liberal creed, for example, is the idea, as Barack Obama liked to say, echoing Martin Luther King Jr., that the arc of history bends toward justice. For many Americans, the arc never bends in any direction, least of all toward justice. Likewise, liberals believe that we can empathize, truly understand the racial pain of Americans of color and the racial resentments of an abandoned white working class that thinks their salvation lies with Donald Trump. If any moral quality has been strained to the breaking point in the polarization of our era, it is empathy, ours included. This liberal astigmatism our belief that history is a story of racial progress, and our faith in our own empathy makes Eduardo Porters American Poison a tough read. It is a learned, well-written but relentless survey of social science studies on the racial polarization, animosity and social fragmentation of American life. A black or Hispanic American reader is likely to finish Porters summary of the evidence and say, So what else is new? For a white liberal, the book leaves many an illusion in tatters. One such illusion is that increasing racial proximity by integrating schools and housing is a good way to break down racial animosities and paranoias. Porter cites one study from Chicago that demonstrates the reverse. It was only when project housing for blacks was torn down that the attitudes of nearby whites toward blacks actually improved. Empathy seems to increase with social distance. Empathy, Porter argues, has always waged an unequal struggle against the racial animus that courses through American history, poisoning both those who hate and those who are hated. Race has contaminated American solidarity, making it impossible for poor whites, threatened by job loss, globalization and the death of carbon-intensive industries, to make common cause with African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans and immigrants. He writes, Unwilling to share the bounty of state with people of other races and creeds, heritages and colors, real Americans the white ones have prevented the erection of a welfare state at all. Refugees from Rwanda who have been forced to flee their homes by 12 days of ethnic carnage, are checked at Gasenyi border, about 144 miles northwest of Bujumbura, before being sent to a refugee camp on April 19, 1994. (PASCAL GUYOT/AFP/Getty Images) Rwanda Finds Genocide Grave That Could Contain 30,000 Bodies KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) A valley dam that authorities in Rwanda say could contain about 30,000 bodies has been discovered more than a quarter-century after the countrys genocide in which 800,000 ethnic Tutsi and Hutus who tried to protect them were killed. The discovery is being called the most significant in years, and 50 bodies have been exhumed so far in efforts that are challenged by the East African nations CCP virus-related lockdown. Rwanda on Tuesday marks the 26th anniversary of the genocide, but because of the lockdown, the country will follow events on television and social media as gatherings are banned. Word of the valley dam and the bodies it held emerged as many people convicted in the genocide are being released from prison after serving their sentences and offering new information on mass graves. Other information on the dam came from nearby residents. The challenge we face now is that the valley dam contains water, but we are trying to dry it up, Naphtal Ahishakiye, the executive secretary of genocide survivor organization Ibuka, told The Associated Press. The valley is outside the capital, Kigali, in the countrys east. Authorities said the dam was dug years before the genocide to provide water for rice farming. Now and then, as graves of genocide victims are discovered, some survivors question whether true reconciliation can be realized if perpetrators of the killings conceal information about where people were buried. Exhuming bodies during the coronavirus pandemic is very challenging since people cannot gather, Ahishakiye said. But we try our best so that we give the dead a decent burial. We are pleased that Paliscope leverages the power of LEADTOOLS recognition technologies within YOSE and that the research community will be able to use this application in the global battle to defeat COVID-19. LEAD Technologies is partnering with Paliscope, a member of the Safer Society Group, to help scientists and researchers combat COVID-19. Utilizing LEADTOOLS advanced recognition capabilities within their product YOSE, Paliscope will be providing free temporary licenses of its product to anyone researching or working on projects related to COVID-19. The goal when LEAD was started 30 years ago is the same as it is today: to help developers build better applications said Moe Daher, CEO of LEAD Technologies. We are pleased that Paliscope leverages the power of LEADTOOLS recognition technologies within YOSE and that the research community will be able to use this application in the global battle to defeat COVID-19. Powered by LEADs proprietary machine learning engine, LEADTOOLS OCR technology is integrated within Paliscope YOSE, a customizable AI-powered search engine that brings order to mass amounts of unstructured data. Information is currently coming in to COVID-19 research teams at a rapid pace, all through various types of documents, images, videos, scanned forms, and more. It is imperative that this data be quickly and accurately recognized, extracted, and organized so that it may be analyzed and collaborated on. At this critical moment in history, scientists are working around the clock in the fight against COVID-19, and a big part of their job is to find, structure, and analyze data, said Christian Berg, founder and CEO of Paliscope. By integrating LEADTOOLS and making the Paliscope platform accessible, we hope to empower researchers with the technology they need to ultimately find new answers. In addition to the LEADTOOLS Recognition toolkit, LEADs Document, Medical, Multimedia, and other AI enabling technologies have helped millions of developers solve everyday problems. With the world engulfed in this pandemic, LEAD is partnering with many organizations to help provide solutions for issues that people are currently facing, including document management and collaboration tools for remote workers, zero-footprint DICOM and medical viewers for the healthcare community, and audio/video streaming for conferencing, e-learning, and virtual classrooms. If you are interested in how LEAD can help your organization, email support@leadtools.com for more information. The free licenses of YOSE provided by Paliscope are available to use for up to 6 months for qualified applicants. Paliscope will be accepting applications until June 30, 2020. If interested, please fill out the form here to apply. About Paliscope: Paliscopes next-gen software unites data from various online and offline sources to help investigators discover relevant information and turn it into actionable intelligence. Serving as one place to locate, collect, organize and present case information, the software platform makes piles of data instantly more accessible and useful. And, ultimately, helps investigators close more cases in less time. For more information visit: http://www.paliscope.com About LEAD Technologies With a rich history of more than 30 years, LEAD has established itself as the world's leading provider of software development toolkits. LEAD's flagship product, LEADTOOLS, provides programmers with a powerful set of libraries for Recognition, Document, Vector, Medical, Imaging and Multimedia development. LEAD boasts a diverse customer base as well as a strong list of corporate partners including some of the largest and most influential organizations from around the globe.For more information visit http://www.leadtools.com (CNN) A beauty queen who was crowned Miss England in 2019 has returned to the United Kingdom from overseas charity work to continue her career as a doctor amid the coronavirus pandemic. Bhasha Mukherjee took a career break as a junior doctor after competing in the Miss World pageant in December 2019. Mukherjee represented England at the pageant after winning Miss England. Invited to be an ambassador for several charities, Mukherjee had planned to hang up her stethoscope and focus on humanitarian work until August this year. "I was invited to Africa, to Turkey, then to India, Pakistan and several other Asian countries to be an ambassador for various charity work," she told CNN. At the beginning of March, the 24-year-old had been in India for four weeks on behalf of Coventry Mercia Lions Club, a development and community charity for which she was ambassador. They visited schools with donations of stationery, and also gave money to a home for abandoned girls. But as the coronavirus situation worsened back home in the UK, Mukherjee was getting messages from former colleagues at her old hospital, the Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, eastern England, telling her how hard the situation was for them. Mukherjee contacted the hospital's management team to let them know that she wanted to return to work. She told CNN that it felt wrong to be wearing her Miss England crown, even for humanitarian work, while people around the world were dying from coronavirus and her colleagues were working so hard. "When you are doing all this humanitarian work abroad, you're still expected to put the crown on, get ready... look pretty." But, she added: "I wanted to come back home. I wanted to come and go straight to work." Mukherjee, who moved to the English city of Derby from Kolkata at the age of 9, said: "I felt a sense of this is what I'd got this degree for and what better time to be part of this particular sector than now." "It was incredible the way the whole world was celebrating all key workers, and I wanted to be one of those, and I knew I could help," she said. And so Mukherjee returned to the UK on Wednesday after working with the British High Commission in Kolkata to find a flight from India to Frankfurt, then to London. "There's no better time for me to be Miss England and helping England at a time of need," she said. Mukherjee is self-isolating for one to two weeks until she can return to work as a doctor at the Pilgrim Hospital. She specializes in respiratory medicine but said doctors are currently being rotated to wherever they are needed. As of Monday, the UK had recorded more than 48,000 cases of the novel coronavirus and nearly 5,000 deaths, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University. CNN has reached out to the Pilgrim Hospital for comment. NEW YORK - Tom Cheesemans phone rang at 3 a.m. Friday, soon after returning home from one of the worst days hes seen in 30 years as a Brooklyn funeral director. He just chauffeured the deceased for 12 hours some coronavirus victims, some not between houses, hospitals and funeral homes. But the call came: Another death. Another pick up. And so out he went, determined to help another person reach their final resting place with as much dignity as the situation would allow. We took a sworn oath to protect the dead, this is what we do, he said. Were the last responders. Our job is just as important as the first responders. He pulled into Daniel J. Schaefer funeral home around 8:20 a.m. on about three hours of sleep. His first act, he thought, would be to resolve unfinished business from the day before. Twice on Thursday, he had been called to hospitals, only to be told by staff that the remains he sought couldnt be found in the refrigerated trailers serving as makeshift morgues thats in addition to the 10 bodies he did pick up. The coronavirus pandemic has crunched New York Citys medical system, and that has left a mighty weight on the 52-year-olds broad shoulders. This is terrible, he said. I had tears in my eyes. He walked into the funeral home office a room with five desks buried in paperwork, phones ringing ceaselessly and realized immediately the hospitals would have to wait. House calls take precedent bodies cant be left there too long. And a long list was already building. Our plans that were laid out, theyre all changed, he said. 9:20 A.M. Cheeseman parked near the apartment building in his Dodge minivan, which has tinted windows to keep his cargo private. EMTs were on site and had already pronounced the death, but he had to wait for a colleague. He placed a sign on his dashboard Emergency Funeral Service Vehicle and stepped out of the van. A burly, imposing figure at 6-foot-5, Cheeseman is dressed like an early Tarantino character. White shirt, black tie, black suit, black trench, and as always, black sunglasses. He wears the shades for every call, even when its gray and rainy. He likes that light seeps into his peripheral vision, no matter how dreary. I see sun every day, he said. His associate arrived around 9:45 a.m. and pulled a gurney from the Dodge. Cheeseman put on an N95 facemask and gloves, tucked a plastic-wrapped white sheet under his arm, and helped wheel the gurney toward the apartment entrance. They emerged 15 minutes later and loaded the body into the Dodge. Cheeseman removed the mask and gloves, sanitized his hands and set off for a Jewish funeral home requested by the widow. 10:15 A.M. Another director called during Cheesemans drive, a longtime friend. They commiserated about the past week, when the pandemic began to put the funeral industry into crisis, and looked forward to beers on the beach later in the summer. Cheeseman has been at this for nearly his entire adult life. He had some affinity for funerals as a child Everybody in the room is dressed as if its a party, including the person in the box, he said. His father, a homicide detective, let him watch an autopsy as a teen, and the dead body didnt make him nervous or nauseous. So when a family friend offered him a job at his funeral home a few years later, he gave it a try. This is Gods plan for me, he said. The Dodge pulled into the Jewish funeral home in Brooklyn at 10:35 a.m. The director met Cheeseman in the driveway. Is this one COVID? he asks off the bat. No, Cheeseman answers. Died peacefully in the night. 10:45 A.M. Three pickups follow in similar fashion two from homes, one from a rehab facility. Those who die at home are less likely to have been tested for the new coronavirus, and many death certificates are listing the cause as pneumonia, with a note for possible COVID-19. It reminds Cheeseman of the AIDS crisis, when the deceased were listed with similarly uncertain causes. Im treating everybody like its a virus case, he said. 2:15 P.M. The next stop is Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, where Cheeseman spent an hour and 20 minutes Thursday waiting for hospital police to locate a body. He left empty handed. Remains had been piled into a refrigerated trailer Cheeseman estimated at least 40 bodies in each and the mounds of corpses had become difficult to navigate. Cheeseman said he became enraged and made a scene. This guys in there climbing over people, he said. They pointed to the trailer, and I said, Im not a mountain lion. I dont climb in there. Kingsbrook called him Friday morning and said they were changing protocols. He could call two hours before each pick up and someone would relocate the needed remains to the hospital morgue. Pulling into Kingsbrook, he wasnt immediately encouraged. The giant coolers could still be seen from the street. One body sat on a gurney outside, wrapped in a white body bag. More were easily visible on the trailer floor, hospital staff stepping over them. Cheeseman went in a side door, confirmed paperwork with administrative staff and headed to the morgue. The body was there as promised, held in a traditional silver cooler. The experience, he said, was like night and day. At least now we can call the family back and let them know, put their mind to ease that they are in our care, he said. So thats our gratification today. 4:40 P.M. Cheeseman made one more pickup the sixth of eight on Friday at a senior housing facility and headed back to the Schaefer home. He wheeled the bodies inside, then lumbered exhausted into the office. For the moment, he stood amid the frantic staff and thumbed through the paperwork. Just look at everybody in their eyes and youll see how mentally exhausted they truly are, he said. There is no catching up. ___ Follow Jake Seiner: https://twitter.com/Jake_Seiner Kalyan Jewellers, one of the leading jewellery chains in the country has launched a 'Goldsmith Relief Fund', in association with its brand ambassador Amitabh Bachchan's 'We Are One' initiative. The fund will support the 'kaarigars' or artisans and daily wage workers from the gems and jewellery industry, as well as the film industry. The 'We Are One' initiative aims to support 1 lakh families. On its part, Kalyan Jewellers will provide 50,000 households with monetary relief. For the gems and jewellery industry, Kalyan Jewellers will be working closely with the Jewellery Manufacturers Association (Kerala), Coimbatore Jewellers Association and the Mumbai-based Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). The fund will be used to provide relief material and monetary assistance to the daily wage workers. Help for daily wage workers in the film industry is supported through film associations like All India Film Employees Confederation (Mumbai) and Film Employees Federation of Kerala (Kochi). GJEPC has already announced to contribute Rs 500 crore for the welfare of daily workers in gems and jewellery business, mainly located in Surat, the largest diamond processing centre in the world. ALSO READ: Two coronavirus vaccine candidates enter human trials, 60 in pre-clinical stage: WHO "During these testing times, it is important to support the daily wage worker community which has been most affected due to the shutdown. The Goldsmith Relief Fund is a humble initiative that we have put together to try and bring some semblance of financial relief to the artisans working in our industry," said T S Kalyanaraman, Chairman and Managing Director, Kalyan Jewellers. Kalyan Jewellers is also partnering with the 'We Are One' public service announcement film to propagate the importance of staying home and maintaining social distancing to break the chain of COVID-19 outbreak. Led by Amitabh Bachchan, the film will feature celebrities like Rajinikanth, Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Alia Bhatt, Chiranjeevi, Mohanlal, Mammootty, Sonali Kulkarni, Shiv Raj Kumar, Prosenjit Chatterjee, and Diljit Dosanjh. This initiative is further supported by Sony Pictures Networks. ALSO READ: Coronavirus in India: State-wise COVID-19 cases, deaths, list of testing facilities People who are searching for short-term rental properties listed on websites such as Airbnb to during the coronavirus pandemic will have one less option beginning Sunday night. In an executive order issued by the city of Cape May, all seasonal and short-term rentals are banned beginning at 8 p.m. Sunday. The restriction is scheduled until May 22, but can be extended or amended depending on future developments related to the virus. Cape May joins Seaside Heights, Asbury Park, Ocean City, and Sea Isle City as locations that have banned short-term rentals. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage Officials across the state have been trying to slow the spread of the coronavirus, which has infected 37,0505 New Jersey residents, resulting in 917 deaths. Shore towns were given more authority - via executive order by Governor Phil Murphy - to prohibit short-term rentals during the outbreak. Last week, the mayors of the 16 shore towns in Cape May County sent a joint letter urging people to stay at home as well, and asking real estate businesses to heed the leaders suggestions. "We are strongly urging the elimination of all short-term rentals for the duration of the Governors executive orders, which continue indefinitely until rescinded. This appeal is made to all realtors, online rental platforms, and individuals, the mayors said in the joint letter. "Hotels and motels are considered to be essential services, and we ask that they rent only to individuals who are performing essential functions per the Governors executive orders, not to traditional tourists. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey: If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. Global health bosses should urge countries to shut down wild animal markets such as the one in China where coronavirus is believed to have started, say conservationists. More than 200 wildlife groups worldwide issued their call in an open letter to the World Health Organisation, saying it would stop future pandemics. The evidence suggests Covid-19 has animal origins, most likely from bats, and may have come from a wet market where live and dead creatures are sold for eating in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Controversial 'wet markets' are now being widely discussed by conservationists, with wildlife groups writing to the WHO to urge for their worldwide closure in order to prevent pandemics Other pandemics, including Sars and Ebola, have also been linked to viruses spreading from animals to people. Dr Mark Jones, head of policy at Born Free, one of the charities involved, said: Once Covid-19 is behind us, returning to business as usual cannot be an option. We need to dig deep and reset our fundamental relationship with the natural world, rethink our place in it and treat our planet and all its inhabitants with a great deal more respect, for its sake and for ours. The letter also wants the WHO to raise the alarm about the risks posed to human health by the wildlife trade. The charities back initiatives to find alternative sources of protein for people who survive by eating wild animals. Dr Jones said markets selling live wild animals were found in many countries and had rapidly expanded. Evidence suggests Covid-19 has animal origins, most likely from bats, and may have come from a wet market where live and dead creatures are sold for eating in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The trade in wild animals is also a major factor in global declines in wildlife, he added. The letter was co-ordinated by Born Free and its Lion Coalition partners. It has been backed by other groups including the Bat Conservation Trust and Zoological Society of London. Last month, a survey by wildlife charity WWF in Hong Kong, Japan, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam found 93 per cent backed official action to eliminate illegal markets. / -- Simbhaoli Sugars Limited, whose manufacturing units are located in rural Uttar Pradesh, will aim to distribute its sanitizers to over 50% of all rural districts of India, with a focus on affordability and packaging formats specifically designed for rural India. At the request of the Government of India and State of Uttar Pradesh, Simbhaoli Sugars Limited (SSL)'s manufacturing units located in rural Uttar Pradesh have initiated production of TrustTM Liquid Hand Sanitizers & Disinfectants to help the nation, and especially its rural districts, combat the COVID-19 pandemic. With the active encouragement and support of various arms of Government, SSL's team of technologists and chemists have worked tirelessly to manufacture its first batch of TrustTM Hand Sanitizers and Disinfectants, all within a span of less than a week. The first batch was donated to the local sugarcane farmers, whose hard work and produce is the key input in producing these sanitizers locally in rural India. SSL's ability to ramp up its capacity for production has been greatly facilitated by the quick pace and clarity with which the Government of India and the State of Uttar Pradesh have given the necessary approvals to enable SSL to play a role in dealing with the fast-evolving health crisis. It is a stellar example of a public-private partnership in times of a national crisis. Accordingly, arrangements are being established at Simbhaoli's manufacturing units to rapidly scale up the production of TrustTM Hand Sanitizers & Disinfectants with the intention to produce more than 100,000 units per month. SSL will use its technological experience and knowledge to upgrade systems for production and quality control for even higher volumes as needed by the nation and even the world, while adhering to all public health advisory guidelines to protect the safety and health of its workers. Further to this, SSL will utilize the existing PAN India distribution network of its FMCG Brand, TrustTM, to distribute the sanitizers & disinfectants to not just lakhs of farmers and the local communities in UP, but to reach people in rural districts across the country. The Company's goal is to ensure its sanitizers reach at least 50% of the rural districts of India. For this, SSL is working on making the sanitizers extremely affordable and also tailoring the packaging formats for rural India. This will become a shining example of the power of 'For Rural India, by Rural India.' In addition, in this time of health crisis, the TrustTM team shall also ensure quick access to sanitizers of global standards to Medical Relief Centers and Food Shelters, the Indian Army, the Police, and various other arms of the Local, State and Central Government, as well as the public health and all other workers who are working tirelessly and selflessly at the frontlines. Through its decades-old FMCG brand, TrustTM, SSL shall use its existing PAN-India distribution network to also reach kirana stores, modern trade stores, chemists and pharmacies, hospitals and all other institutions requiring sanitizers and disinfectants. "Our company is proud to support the efforts of the Government of India and State of Uttar Pradesh as well as communities across the country in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic," said Gursimran Mann, Managing Director, Simbhaoli Sugars Limited. "We credit the Government officials in helping us quickly navigate and obtain the necessary approvals, as well as lakhs of our farmers whose contribution is critical in producing locally-made sanitizers to curb any shortages. I am happy that we were able to collaborate to repurpose our production facilities to meet an urgent, national need. This kind of public-private partnership is truly a unique example showcasing the enterprise of our farmers and manufacturers in rural India. This product is truly ForRural India, by Rural India," Ms. Gursimran Mann added. About Simbhaoli Sugars Limited And TrustTM: Simbhaoli Sugars Limited was established in 1933 with a 400 TCD sugar unit at Simbhaoli in Western Uttar Pradesh region of India. Since then, in its 87 years of existence, SSL has evolved into a technology-led manufacturing and FMCG leader and has been publicly listed on the Stock Exchanges since 1989. The Company's business mix spans manufacturing, sale and marketing of sugar, power, bio-fertilizers, ethanol, FMCG products as well as technology and engineering consulting. Its focus on cutting edge technology and innovation has enabled the Company to pioneer path-breaking innovations in refining, clean energy and co-generation of power. Through the last few decades, TrustTM has grown quickly to become one of India's and Asia's largest trusted and reliable consumer FMCG brands. The Company manufactures and distributes a wide range of FMCG products and staples under various specialized brands spanning food products, beverages and personal and health care products. The range includes Food Products such as TrustTM White Refined Sugar and Candy (Mishri); SunehraTM Brown Mineral Sugar, Jaggery (gur) and Jaggery Powder (shakkar); G-LowTM Low-GI Sugar for diabetics; Beverages such as its SIPPTM line of Vitamin-enriched Instant Fruit Drink Mixes in a wide range of flavours such as coconut, orange, mango and lemon; as well as a range of personal and health care products such as TrustTM Hand Sanitizers and Disinfectants for retail and institutional clients. Its Domestic Distribution Network spans North, East, West, South and Central regions of the country, with a strong presence across all channels, including General Trade, Modern Trade, HORECA and Institutions as well as Online. In addition, its strong Export presence in countries in the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia has ensured that TrustTM products have reached over 45 countries around the world. Simbhaoli Sugars Limited is privileged to support the country at this hour of crisis. Any organizations requiring hand sanitizers and disinfectants may contact the undersigned. ISSUED By Simbhaoli Sugars Limited Village Simbhaoli, Dist. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) State and local governments are working to help medical workers and emergency responders fighting against the coronavirus outbreak who no longer have child care and day care centers for their children, AP reports. By the numbers: 4.6 million health care workers are parents of children under the age of 14, according to the Center for American Progress. About 15% of health care workers have children but don't have another family member to provide child care when schools close, possibly keeping some from going to work, a separate analysis shows. Some state governors have allowed some child care centers to stay open for essential workers like employees in health care. The New York City schools chief called for staffers to volunteer at emergency child care centers, per AP. In Washington, D.C., six emergency child care centers were opened in late March to help children of health care workers, the Washington Post reports. Other institutions and fellow nurses and doctors have created networks to take care of their colleagues' children in states with no other options. (Photo : Monoar Rahman Rony from Pixabay) A data scientist has reason to believe that eye pain is a rare symptom of COVID-19. A data scientist has claimed to have found another probable COVID-19 symptom by tracking down Google searches from the worst-hit areas. Data Scientist Explains How Google Searches are Important These Days As the public knows, the novel coronavirus disease, or COVID-19, has no universal symptom. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has listed the most common signs, several coronavirus patients have gone out and shared their "unique" symptoms and experiences. TechTimes has previously reported a young woman who was tested positive for COVID-19 who lost her sense of hearing during the early days of the infection, as well as tons of other people who reported losing their sense of taste and smell due to the coronavirus. Now, data scientist and author, Seth Stephens-Davidowitz explained how Google searches could help track down possible symptoms of the coronavirus infection, as well as how it could pinpoint another possible outbreak. In his post on The New York Times, Stephens-Davidowitz said that people tend to look up their symptoms on search engines like Google. The symptom anosmia, or the loss of sense of smell, has been searched far more during this period, especially the past weekend in the worst-hit areas like New York, Michigan, Louisiana, and New Jersey. Researchers have since then considered anosmia as a symptom of COVID-19, with 30% to 60% of coronavirus patients experiencing it. Read Also: Coronavirus Cure: Australian Scientists Find Drug that 'Completely Stops' COVID-19 From Replicating--But It's Originally for Head Lice! Predicting the Next Epicentre Stephens-Davidowitz even predicted that Ecuador would see a surge of COVID-19 cases and will become the new epicenter of the novel coronavirus based on the Google searches of the Ecuadoreans. "Searches for no puedo oler ('I can't smell') are some 10 times higher per Google search in Ecuador than they are in Spain, even though Ecuador officially reports more than ten times fewer COVID-19 cases per capita than Spain does," he wrote. Besides, "I can't smell," the data scientist has also seen a surge of Google searches for fever and chills, which are also common symptoms of the coronavirus infection, according to the WHO. Eye Pain as a Symptom of COVID-19? However, the fourth-highest Google search related to COVID-19 was a surprise: eye pain. According to a report by the Daily Mail, the data scientist has reason to believe that the people's Google searches are enough evidence to consider eye pain as a coronavirus symptom. He explained that searches for eye pain are prevalent in Spain and Iran, correlating to the increasing number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the countries. Italians have also been searching for bruciore occhi ("burning eyes") five times more this March than any other time--and Italy currently is one of the top countries with the most cases of coronavirus infections and deaths. Nevertheless, eye pain might only be affecting a small fraction of the total coronavirus patients as, despite the rising Google searches, it's still below the search volumes of other COVID-19 symptoms. However, it seemed to go hand in hand with a previous report by TODAY, saying that doctors believe pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is a rare symptom of the new coronavirus disease. Additionally, a veteran nurse has shared that they are using conjunctivitis or pink/red-eye to make decisions on whether to admit a suspected COVID-19 patient or not since all of the coronavirus patients she saw had them. Read Also: Coronavirus: A.I. Tool Finally Finds 3 Symptoms That Lead to Severe Cases; Knowledge Graph Created to Help Doctors with COVID-19 Diagnosis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. OAKLAND (BCN) Oakland Fire Department crews are battling a house fire Sunday night in the Foothill neighborhood, firefighters said. The fire was reported shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday on the first floor of a two-story house in the 3000 block of Logan Street, just west of Fruitvale Avenue. There are no immediate reports of injuries. No other information was immediately available. 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. Airplanes 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 worlds 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. More Plane Talking Further excerpts from Plane Talking, A.J. Gallaghers Aerospace Team publication, authored by Bruce Carman, chief underwriting officer, Hive Aero: Travel restrictions. We are all currently witnessing, first-hand, something akin to a dystopian drama with travel bans widespread and aircraft grounded in numbers (far greater than in the aftermath of 9/11) as COVID-19 wreaks havoc on an unprecedented scale, Carman writes, citing statistics that travel restrictions cover 98% of global passenger revenues. Beyond financial impact. The financial impact on the air transport industry is estimated to be around $252 billion. The true impact however may well be as much cultural as financial, as the publics appetite for travel will inevitably take time to recover, Carman writes. Airlines will need help. The insurance market plays an essential role in the world of air travel and we must work collaboratively with other key players such as banks and lessors, to help the airlines as far as we reasonably can in their hour of need. Market outlook. Average rates for Q1 renewals across most segments increased and early indications are that this trend is unlikely to reverse. Underwriters see this as a separate challenge to their long-term goal of achieving rate adequacy therefore they are unlikely to curtail the current level of rate increases they require on 2020 renewals, Carman concludes. 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) Topics COVID-19 Aviation A.J. Gallagher Across Pennsylvania, non-essential businesses including gyms are shut down during the coronavirus pandemic. So for those with health club memberships, it raises a question - are members still being charged monthly fees for services they arent using? Most gyms automatically withdrawal monthly fees from members bank accounts. Thanks to the Health Club Act, consumers in Pennsylvania with gym memberships are offered several protections during the COVID-19 crisis, according to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney Generals office. Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in a press release health clubs and gyms closed for 30 or more days are to stop billing members and freeze charges on accounts. In addition, Shapiro said gyms closed for more than 30 days are obligated to refund members who cancel their memberships. The Health Club Act requires facilities to register with the state and provides financial protections to consumers during closures or special circumstances. Consumers in Pennsylvania have legal protections when it comes to health club memberships, and we enforce those laws. Members should not be charged for services not provided and should have the ability to cancel membership services they cannot use during this pandemic, he said. Private gyms and health clubs need to stop charging fees for services they cannot provide until the public health emergency is over. READ MORE: Several chains including LA Fitness and Planet Fitness have already announced plans to suspend billing members or freeze memberships until the COVID-19 crisis is over. Some gyms are now offering online and virtual classes. But Shapiro said health clubs are not allowed to decline a cancellation request on the basis they offer those alternative services. Those who want to cancel memberships should send a letter confirming their cancellation to the health club or gym through certified mail or in person. During the state emergency Shapiro is making it easy by urging gyms to accept cancellations by email, phone or regular mail. The Attorney Generals Office said violations of the Health Club Act carry penalties of $1,000 for each violation and $3,000 for each violation involving a consumer age 60 or older. Consumers who wish to file a complaint about their gym to the office can submit a form on the Attorney Generals website. The novel coronavirus can be equally fatal to the young people having comorbiditieslike diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney and heart-related issues as to the elderly, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday. Presenting an analysis of the deaths due to COVID-19 reported so far in the country on the basis of age, Health Ministry's Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal urged young people having comorbidities to take precautions and follow social distancing to prevent contracting the disease. "As of now, 86 per cent death cases have exhibited co-morbidity related to diabetes, chronic kidney issues, hypertension and heart-related problems. Although 19 per cent confirmed cases have been reported among the elderly, since 63 per cent deaths have been observed among them, elderly people form a high risk population," Agarwal said. "Further, though 37 per cent deaths are reported from people below 60 years and approximately 86 per cent of deaths have happened in people with comorbidities highlights that young people with comorbidities are also at a high risk, " Agarwal said. Analysing the reported deaths due to COVID-19 based on gender distribution, Agarwal said males account for 73 per cent deaths due to coronavirus infection while females 27 per cent, adding that 63 per cent deaths have been reported among people aged 60 and above,30 per cent deaths among people between 40 to 60 years and 7 per cent among people below 40 years. Presenting an analysis of the cases based on gender distribution, Agarwal said males account for 76 per cent of the positive cases and 24 per cent females are were afflicted by the disease. The death toll due to the novel coronavirus pandemic rose to 111 and the number of infections climbed to 4,281 in the country on Monday registering a record jump of 704 cases in 24 hours, according to Union Health Ministry data. However,a PTI tally based on figures reported by states directly showed at least 137 deaths across the country, while the confirmed cases reaching 4,678. Of them, 344 have been cured and discharged. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Saudi Arabia and Russia are very, very close to reaching an agreement on how to react to the low oil prices, Kirill Dmitriev, chief executive at Russias sovereign wealth fund, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), told CNBC on Monday. I think the whole market understands that this deal is important and it will bring lots of stability, so much important stability to the market, and we are very close, Dmitriev told CNBC on the day on which the former allies were set to hold a video meeting with other major producers, including U.S. representatives, to try to hammer out an agreement for a global collective cut of 10 million bpd and even more. The meeting is now delayed to later this week, possibly April 9, OPEC sources told Reuters, after the spat between the Saudis and the Russians over who broke up their partnership took a turn for the worse over the weekend. First, Russias Energy Minister Alexander Novak and President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Saudi Arabia withdrew from the OPEC+ agreement, announcing significant additional discounts on their oil, as well as plans for a sharp increase in production, as per the Kremlins English translation of a meeting between Putin and Novak on the global energy markets. As I said, we did not initiate the breakup of the OPEC+ deal. We are always ready to reach an agreement with our partners, in the OPEC+ format, and we are prepared to cooperate with the United States on this issue. I consider it necessary to pool our efforts to balance the market and reduce production as a result of these concerted and well-coordinated efforts. Based on tentative estimates, I believe the reduction should be about 10 million barrels per day, more or less, Putin said. The key partners in balancing the market should be producers like the United States, Novak said, after noting that Unfortunately, our partners from Saudi Arabia did not agree to extend the current deal on the current conditions. In fact, they withdrew from the agreement and announced significant additional discounts on their oil, as well as plans for a sharp increase in production. Related: The Largest Rig Count Collapse In 5 Years Saudi Arabia reacted to these statements by putting out a statement from Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman, who said that, via the Saudi Press Agency: These claims are categorically false and contrary to fact. His Royal Highness noted that the Kingdom has exerted great efforts with OPEC+ countries to take action to prevent a glut in the oil market resulting from a decline in the global economic growth. However, this proposal made by the Kingdom and approved by 22 countries, unfortunately was not agreed upon by the Russian delegates, leading to non-agreement, Saudi Arabia said. While the Saudis and Russians spat over who is to blame, they both signal that they would not cut production if the U.S. doesnt join a global effort to reduce output. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The state has tested a lower percentage of its residents for the coronavirus than neighboring New York, but Connecticut authorities are pledging to step up testing. As of Sunday evening, 23,270 coronavirus tests had been performed in Connecticut, compared to 283,621 in New York state. That translates to about 0.65 percent of Connecticuts population being tested for coronavirus, as of Sunday night. Meanwhile, more than 1.45 percent of New York states total population has been tested. Weve been actively trying to boost our testing capacity through both the public lab and private labs, said Max Reiss, spokesman for Gov. Ned Lamont, who announced a testing push on Friday. Lamont said the state has ramped up our testing quite a bit. Stamford-based laboratory Sema4 is expected to provide as many as 1,250 tests to the state by this week, Lamont said. A 15-minute test developed by Illinois-based Abbott Laboratories was debuted in Detroit on April 1, and Lamont said it was already in use at Stamford Hospital. Thats almost in real time, he said. What a difference that will make. After the FDA granted the company emergency use authorization, Abbott said it expected to distribute 50,000 of the tests to health care professionals, Kaiser Health News reported that only 5,500 will remain in the United States, but a spokesperson for Abbott said that number represented only the units purchased by the federal government. We have already shipped more than 190,000 ID NOW rapid tests to customers in 21 states, According to Abbott spokesperson Kimberly LaFleur. When it comes to the number of tests performed, New York is the outlier Connecticut is on par with, if a little behind, other states in the region. Pennsylvania has done 70,030 tests, about double the number of tests as Connecticut, though it translates into 0.54 percent of its population. There have been 75,356 tests in New Jersey, and 68,800 in Massachusetts, and both have tested a larger percentage of their populations than Connecticut. Late last month, Lamont warned that testing in Connecticut was lagging. He said during a briefing on March 25 that shortages of personal protective equipment and reagents the substance that creates the chemical reaction during a test were to blame. The rate of infection is up and were not doing quite as many tests right now, Lamont said then. Were still looking to do everything we can to make sure we have the reagents and other devices to make the tests go. The following day, Lamont said tests would be administered only to front-line health care workers and patients hospitalized with a suspected coronavirus infection. In the meantime, Im going to put much more emphasis on self-diagnosis, he said. By contrast, New York has adopted a stance of aggressive testing. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced last week that New York-based Regeneron Pharmaceuticals would create 500,000 test kits for the state at no charge, doling out 25,000 each day. Rapid testing is the fastest way to return to normalcy and get the economy back up and running, and will also help end the anxiety that has become the most oppressive part of this situation, Cuomo said last week. An average of about 1,300 tests are performed each day in Connecticut. Testing for coronavirus has been a nationwide concern. President Donald Trump said on March 30 that, We have done more tests, by far, than any country in the world, by far, though that claim does require some context. There have been more than 1.64 million tests in the United States, about 0.5 percent of the population. South Korea, which has been widely praised for its aggressive testing tactics, has done less than half of the number of tests more than 440,000 as of Friday but a much larger percentage of the total population. The real difference between the two nations is what happens after the tests are performed. Josh Sharfstein, vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at Johns Hopkins University, said Friday during a public talk with Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., that the post-test analysis is where South Korea has excelled. The United States is ramping up testing capacity, but Sharfstein said we still have a long way to go to get to the level of access to testing that we will need. The status right now is that the United States is testing more every day, he said. Im more optimistic in the short term about getting more tests than I am about getting the followup to the tests that we really need. The number of tests is only one bottleneck for researchers, according to Yale School of Medicine Epidemiologist Ted Cohen, who said there are several levels of holes in the data. We still don't know enough about how many incident infections are actually symptomatic, how many symptomatic people actually present for diagnosis, how many of those that present for diagnosis actually get tested, what are the results of the tests, the operational characteristics of the tests, how many of those individuals get hospitalized, how many of those require ICU care, how many of those end up dying, he said. According to Cohen, without that data, its difficult for academics and policy makers to say, OK, given what weve observed, we think this is the current status of the epidemic. Ciaran 'Zack' Smyth was arrested for breach of his licence on Friday 27th March 2020. A DISSIDENT thug returned to prison for breaching his early release licence had stockpiled handguns held back from IRA decommissioning. Fears were growing that Ciaran 'Zack' Smyth planned to use the firearms in an attack on the Sinn Fein leadership - suspected threats that led to him being returned to jail last week. Among his alleged targets were deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill and the party's North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly. Ex-Provisional IRA member Smyth would have been friends with Kelly in the past, however he was sidelined by mainstream republicans in recent years because of his increasingly erratic behaviour. The 60-year-old part-time musician was known to have access to handguns held back from Provisional IRA decommissioning. He used one of them in a terrifying armed robbery of an elderly businessman at his Ballynahinch home in 2013. Along with criminal pal Eamonn O'Boyle (45), Smyth broke into their 82-year-old victim's home and threatened to cut off his son's fingers before fleeing with 5,000. They were later jailed for 16 years and 14 years respectively. Smyth was freed from prison last autumn having served 50 per cent of his sentence, much of it on the dissident republican wing at Maghaberry Prison. After his release he joined the New IRA's political wing Saoradh. Informed sources told Sunday Life that he also agreed to provide his handgun stash to the terror gang. Since then, and with the backing of dissidents, Smyth has been throwing his weight around west Belfast, threatening Sinn Fein members and ex-Provisional IRA figures. In February police told politicians Michelle O'Neill and Gerry Kelly that they were at risk of being attacked by the New IRA - a claim denied by the violent republican grouping. This warning was delivered after Smyth was reported to have publicly boasted of wanting to shoot them both in bars around west Belfast. Knowing that he had access to weaponry, his early release licence was suspended and he now faces spending the next six-and-a-half years behind bars - the duration of what should have been his probation term for his armed robbery conviction. Republican sources say Smyth's return to prison has prevented certain bloodshed in Belfast. "Zack thought he could intimidate Sinn Fein members because he had aligned himself with the New IRA," said one insider. "He would be considered dangerous as he has access to guns, and his behaviour in recent times has been extremely unpredictable. "That's a bad combination and it's best for everyone, Zack included, that he's off the scene." The guns Smyth is understood to have stockpiled were among batches of clean weapons with no ballistic history smuggled from America into Northern Ireland by the Provos after the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. Although originally from the Short Strand area of east Belfast, at the time he was a leading IRA member in the Beechmount area in the west of the city. Smyth, who was caged for nine years for IRA activity in the 1970s and took part in the blanket no-wash protests, has been linked to several high profile Provo attacks in the lower Falls area. Twenty-four hours before Smyth's return to prison last week, ex-IRA prisoner turned Community Restorative Justice director Harry Maguire appealed for dissidents to "cease all activity". He revealed community workers were continuing to be placed under threat from "anti-peace process armed republicans". Dissident republicans are convinced this public statement is what forced government officials to act and recall Zack Smyth to prison. The New IRA's political wing Saoradh condemned his treatment in an online statement, saying: "(We) demand the immediate release of Zack Smyth and an end to the ongoing use of internment by remand, via miscarriage of justice or through revocation of licence." (Bloomberg) -- Saudi Arabia, Russia and other OPEC+ nations are racing to negotiate a deal to stem the historic oil price crash, with the G-20 taking center stage to bring into the fold the U.S. and other energy producers. U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette held a productive discussion over the phone with his Saudi counterpart Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the U.S. government said, a further sign that the diplomatic talks continue apace. The talks still face significant obstacles: a meeting of producers from OPEC+ and beyond -- which has been delayed once already -- is only tentatively scheduled for Thursday. Russia and Saudi Arabia want the U.S. to join in, but U.S. President Donald Trump has so far shown little willingness to do so as part of a deal between the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies. As an alternative, oil diplomats are planning an emergency meeting of G-20 energy ministers for Friday, part of an effort to bring the U.S. and other big oil producers outside the OPEC+ alliance -- such as Canada and Brazil -- on board, according to two people familiar with the situation. Brouillette said on Monday that Washington was going to encourage the Saudis as chair of the G-20 to perhaps convene an energy ministerial toward the end of the week as a forum to discuss the oil market. I expect that thats going to happen later this week, he said. Crude prices have fallen 50% this year, as the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic have knocked out about a third of global demand. The price crash is so dramatic that its threatening the stability of oil-dependent nations, the existence of U.S. shale producers, and poses an extra challenge to central banks. Industry officials say that if a deal to cut supply in an orderly way isnt reached, the market will simply force producers to slash output as storage space runs out. The aim of talks, first revealed by Trump last week, is to cut oil production by about 10% -- the biggest ever coordinated reduction. Crude rallied on Trumps comments but pared those gains as the diplomatic intricacies became clearer. Brent futures fell 2% on Monday, trading near $33 a barrel. Story continues Russia and Saudi Arabia are very, very close to reaching a deal on oil-production cuts, Kirill Dmitriev, chief executive officer of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, said in an interview with CNBC. However, even if a deal is struck for as much as 10 million barrels per day, that will barely dent the supply glut, which is estimated at as much as 35 million barrels a day. In some corners of the physical market prices have already turned negative, and traders have been putting oil into tankers at a record pace to store it at sea. Jump Together Saudi Arabia and Russia both say they want the U.S., which has become the worlds largest producer thanks to its shale revolution, to join the cuts. But Trump had only hostile words for OPEC on Saturday, threatening tariffs on foreign oil, though at a briefing late Sunday he said he didnt expect hed have to use them. The G-20 may be an easier forum for the U.S. to embrace than OPEC. If the Americans dont take part, the problem which existed before for the Russians and Saudis will remain -- that they cut output while the U.S ramps it up, and that makes the whole thing impossible, said Fyodor Lukyanov, head of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, a research group that advises the Kremlin. Read more: Why OPEC-Russia Blowup Sparked All-Out Oil Price War: QuickTake Its not clear if Russia and Saudi Arabia will require the U.S. to publicly commit to cut production -- a challenge in the private, fragmented American industry -- or if a compromise gesture would be enough. Alexander Dynkin, president of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations in Moscow, a state-run think tank, said Moscow would like the U.S. to lift some sanctions as a compromise. Even a passive role for the American shale industry, whose output is already expected to go into decline at current prices, may be enough for a deal, said Jason Bordoff, director of the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University and a former oil official at the White House. Russia and Saudi Arabias condition that they will only cut production if the U.S. does too is going to be satisfied, because market forces will drive U.S. output down around 1 million barrels a day this year, said Bordoff. Back Channels Russia and Saudi Arabia -- which sparred publicly between themselves over the weekend -- have disagreed about how they would calculate the cuts, according to a person familiar with the talks. Russia favors using an average of the first quarter output as the baseline, while Saudi Arabia wants to use its current April production. The difference is huge: the kingdom pumped 9.8 million barrels a day on average between January and March. In April -- as it wages its battle for market share -- its producing more than 12 million. Any agreement will require diplomatic agility at a time when nations are devoting massive resources to fighting the pandemic itself. All three players -- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump -- appeared to be maneuvering to avoid blame if talks fail. Yet the U.S. president has also said hes confident therell be an agreement between Moscow and Riyadh to cut production. The chances of a meaningful deal that delivers real production cuts are low but back-channel talks are ongoing, said Amrita Sen, chief oil analyst at consultant Energy Aspects Ltd. Mohammed bin Salman is under heavy political pressure from Trump to demonstrate the Kingdom isnt trying to bankrupt the U.S. shale industry. 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. New York, April 6 : The ventilators that Tesla CEO Elon Musk promised to make wont be ready in time for the coronavirus pandemic, according to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. "The problem with ventilator construction is the supply chain, that's General Motors, that's Ford, that's Elon Musk. I don't care how big and how powerful," Cuomo said during the daily press briefing on Sunday. New York has become the epicentre of the fight against COVID-19, with more than 122,000 cases in the state and 4,159 deaths. "Their (Musk's) time-frame, frankly, does not work for our immediate apex, because whether we're talking two days or 10 days, you are not going to make ventilators at that time," Cuomo told the media. He continued to defend his plan to stockpile what ventilators as well as other resources the country has. "There is no other way to do that. I can't say to a hospital, 'I will send you all the supplies you need, I will send you all the ventilators you need.' We don't have them," said the New York Governor. Cuomo announced that for the first time in days, the state has seen less number of deaths. "There's something a little bit different in the data today," Cuomo said, as state officials reported 594 new deaths, down from 630 on Saturday. The governor stressed it was still too early to tell what that means for the long term. New York City Hospitals recently shared an image on Twitter thanking Musk and Tesla for delivering 40 ventilators to Elmhurst Hospital in Queens. Musk announced that he and his companies have access to additional FDA-approved ventilators that can be shipped free of cost to hospitals within regions where the electric car maker delivers. President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday greeted the countrymen on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti. "My heartiest wishes to all the countrymen, especially the Jain community, on the auspicious occasion of Mahavir Jayanti. Lord Mahavira's teachings of truth, non-violence, astey (non-stealing) and aparigraha (non-attachment) are still relevant today. I wish that this festival bring health, peace and prosperity in everyone's life," the President said in a tweet. Mahavir Jayanti, is an important religious festival in Jainism that celebrates the birth of Lord Mahavir. Jain temples, however, remained closed amid the nationwide lockdown imposed by the government to arrest the rise of coronavirus infections. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seinfeld creator Larry David said it is 'hard to believe Woody Allen did anything wrong' after he read his recently published memoir Apropos of Nothing. David, 72, who starred in Allen's 2009 film Whatever Works, spoke out in defence of the 84-year-old director after his book was dropped by original publisher Hachette. The publisher decided not to publish the book following public backlash sparked by another one of its authors, Allen's estranged son Ronan Farrow. Controversy centered on allegations that Allen abused his estranged adoptive daughter, Dylan Farrow. But speaking in an interview with the New York Times, David defended Allen and the book. He said: 'Yeah, it's pretty great, it's a fantastic book, so funny. You feel like you're in the room with him and yeah, it's just a great book and it's hard to walk away after reading that book thinking that this guy did anything wrong.' Larry David said it is 'hard to believe Woody Allen did anything wrong' after he read his recently-published memoir Apropos of Nothing. Pictured: The pair in 2009 Allen has maintained his innocence in the face of abuse allegations and his book was finally published last month by different publisher Arcade. Original publisher Hachette had pulped copies of the book which had been printed ahead of publication after protests led by Allen's son. Ronan Farrow, who shared the Pulitzer Prize with the New York Times for his New Yorker investigation into Harvey Weinstein, was enraged to learn that the book was being published by the same parent company, Hachette Book Group, that released his Catch and Kill. The book was dropped by original publisher Hachette after protests from staff Dozens of Hachette employees staged a walkout and Farrow said he would stop working with the publisher. Hachette then canceled the release less than a week later. The filmmaker recently accused Hachette of dumping his memoir like nuclear poison. The director wrote that Hachette imprint Grand Central 'dumped the book like it was a hunk of Xenon 135', an isotope found in nuclear reactors. Allen, 84, accused Hachette of 'cowering' in the face of MeToo but boasts he knew his book would be published somewhere 'because you can't keep the truth bottled up forever'. Allen claimed there was a silent majority of Hollywood actors and directors who supported him but could not speak up because they feared being fired. In the book, Allen opened up about his controversial relationship with his 49-year-old wife Soon-Yi Previn, the adopted daughter of his ex-girlfriend Mia Farrow. In one queasy passage, Allen admits that in the early days of their relationship 'lust reigned supreme and we couldn't keep our hands off each other'. David, 72, who starred in Allen's 2009 film Whatever Works, spoke out in defence of the 84-year-old director after his book was dropped by original publisher Hachette. Pictured: The pair in 2009 at a screening for Allen's film Whatever Works, which David starred in The publisher decided not to publish the book following public backlash sparked by another one of its authors, Allen's estranged son Ronan Farrow (pictured with his mother Mia Farrow) The book is also dedicated to Soon-Yi, with the filmmaker writing: 'For Soon-Yi, the best. I had her eating out of my hand and then I noticed my arm was missing. The 84-year-old began a relationship with Soon-Yi when she was 22, writing that despite the 35-year age gap between them, she was 'ready to ripen superbly if only someone would show her some love'. Their relationship was uncovered by Farrow, who found erotic photos of the two together. Allen explains they took the nude pictures in the 'very early stages of the relationship, when lust reigns supreme and we couldn't keep our hands off each other'. Allen was effectively the stepfather to Soon-Yi and describes how he and Soon-Yi went from 'two people who never particularly liked one another to a couple now married over twenty years and still passionately in love'. Actor Sonam Kapoor fielded trolls on Monday morning after her comment on people bursting firecrackers during Prime Minister Narendra Modis 9pm 9 minute call amid coronavirus spread went viral. Surprised at people clubbing crackers with what was intended as a show of solidarity against the pandemic, Sonam wrote, There was complete peace and quiet, and now the birds, dogs and sirens are freaking out in south Delhi because some morons decided to burst fire crackers tonight. She wrote in another tweet, People are bursting crackers. Just FYI. The dogs are freaking out. Do people think its Diwali? Im so confused. People are bursting crackers. Just FYI . They dogs are freaking out. Do people think its Diwali? Im so confused. Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) April 5, 2020 There was complete peace and quite, and now the birds ,dogs and sirens are freaking out in south Delhi because some morons decided to burst fire crackers tonight. Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) April 5, 2020 Several Bollywood celebrities including Taapsee Pannu, Sonam Kapoor and Richa Chadha registered their objection to the same on Twitter. The criticism of her tweet began soon, with many sharing photos of crackers being set off during her wedding. Im so glad you see common sense. That there is a time and place for everything. https://t.co/lgedwh7Adt Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) April 6, 2020 Sonam soon responded to trolls: Im so glad you see common sense. That there is a time and place for everything. Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit asked Sonam to condemn those seen as being responsible for spreading the virus and said that bursting of crackers was indeed a way of people trying to be happy in difficult times. Responding to him on Twitter, she wrote, Social distancing is a must ashokeji. Also making sure there isnt communal infighting. So that the government can concentrate on doing good like they are. Im sure you agree. Youre a sensible man who believes in being good and kind. She went on to ask him, Im sure you just lit a lamp for solidarity and hope and didnt burst crackers in a celebration. Youre not that type of man. In reply to another of his tweets, she refused to communalise the situation. Im not beating around the bush. Like I said, Social distancing is a must. And ANYONE not following that whether they are Hindu or Muslim or Christian or Sikh is wrong. Im sure you agree. You must have very important things to do now. I think we both made our point. Beating heart & Victory hand, Sonam said. Earlier, actor Adil Hussain also wrote about the firecrackers. We are with Dia! Some people are bursting crackers in South Delhi! We are with Dia! Some people are bursting crackers in South Delhi! Adil hussain (@_AdilHussain) April 5, 2020 Also read: 9pm 9minutes: Deepika Padukone-Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif light up diyas in response to PM Modis call Taapsee and her sister lit two candles in the balcony of their Mumbai apartment but couldnt stop talking about the bursting of firecrackers and those who chose not to switch off the lights at 9pm. The actor shared video clips on her Instagram stories from her neighbourhood and captioned it, Wrong memo. She also pointed out how someone had ended up setting up a fire. Taapsee Pannu lights candles in her balcony. Taapsee Pannu shared a glimpse of her neighbourhood. Why crackers ? Why? TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) April 5, 2020 Am sure the virus is on its way back now . . .#SocialDistancingkakyahua ? https://t.co/tM5sD2Usl3 TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) April 5, 2020 Richa also took to Twitter post the 9pm call and wrote, Why crackers ? Why? She also reacted to a video from Sunday night which showed a group of people walking on the street with burning torches in their hands. Am sure the virus is on its way back now...#SocialDistancingkakyahua ? Follow @htshowbiz for more Number of Coronavirus Cases in Spain Jumps to 130,759, Death Toll Rises to 12,418 Sputnik News 09:35 GMT 05.04.2020(updated 10:01 GMT 05.04.2020) The Spanish authorities will extend the state of emergency imposed throughout the country as part of measures to curb the coronavirus pandemic until 26 April, the TVE broadcaster reported on 4 April. Spain has confirmed 130,759 COVID-19 cases and 12,418 fatalities so far with more than 34,220 recoveries. A day earlier, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez met with members of Spain's coronavirus response centre. The high alert regime was imposed in Spain on 14 March for 15 days. On 26 March, it was extended until 11 April. People are allowed to go outside only to buy food or medication, get to a hospital, help people in need, and get to work. The government decided to stop all non-essential activities until 9 April. According to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Centre, there are over 1.2 million confirmed coronavirus cases globally and over 64,800 deaths from COVID-19. The three countries that currently have the largest numbers of cases are the United States, Spain, and Italy. They are also the countries with the highest death tolls. Meanwhile, according to the World Health Organisation's reports, 1,093,349 people have been infected with the coronavirus worldwide, with over 58,620 fatalities. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 997 personas ya han recibido el alta ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? #PeruEstaEnNuestrasManos El presidente @MartinVizcarraC informa sobre la situacion del Estado de Emergencia en el #Dia22 y las acciones que realiza el Gobierno para contener la propagacion del COVID-19. En vivo: https://t.co/i9G4wipY4M https://t.co/yG80nrFMpC WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the publication of Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) 16-20 providing guidance to states for implementation of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. Under PUA, individuals who do not qualify for regular unemployment compensation and are unable to continue working as a result of COVID-19, such as self-employed workers, independent contractors, and gig workers, are eligible for PUA benefits. This provision is contained in Section 2102 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act enacted on March 27, 2020. PUA provides up to 39 weeks of benefits to qualifying individuals who are otherwise able to work and available for work within the meaning of applicable state law, except that they are unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work due to COVID-19 related reasons, as defined in the CARES Act. Benefit payments under PUA are retroactive, for weeks of unemployment, partial employment, or inability to work due to COVID-19 reasons starting on or after January 27, 2020. The CARES Act specifies that PUA benefits cannot be paid for weeks of unemployment ending after December 31, 2020. Eligibility for PUA includes those individuals not eligible for regular unemployment compensation or extended benefits under state or federal law or pandemic emergency unemployment compensation (PEUC), including those who have exhausted all rights to such benefits. Covered individuals also include self-employed individuals, those seeking part-time employment, and individuals lacking sufficient work history. Depending on state law, covered individuals may also include clergy and those working for religious organizations who are not covered by regular unemployment compensation. The UIPL also includes guidance to states about protecting unemployment insurance program integrity. The department is actively working with states to provide benefits only to those who qualify for such benefits. For more information on UIPLs or previous guidance, please visit: https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/. For department resources on COVID-19, please visit: https://www.dol.gov/coronavirus. For more information about COVID-19, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. Saudi Arabia, Russia and other OPEC+ nations are racing to negotiate a deal to stem the historic oil price crash, with the G20 taking center stage to bring into the fold the U.S. and other energy producers. U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette held a "productive discussion" over the phone with his Saudi counterpart Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the U.S. government said, a further sign that the diplomatic talks continue apace. The talks still face significant obstacles: a meeting of producers from OPEC+ and beyond -- which has been delayed once already -- is only tentatively scheduled for Thursday. Russia and Saudi Arabia want the U.S. to join in, but President Donald Trump has so far shown little willingness to do so as part of a deal between the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies. As an alternative, oil diplomats are planning an emergency meeting of G20 energy ministers for Friday, part of an effort to bring the U.S. and other big oil producers outside the OPEC+ alliance -- such as Canada and Brazil -- on board, according to two people familiar with the situation. Brouillette said on Monday that Washington was "going to encourage the Saudis as chair of the G20 to perhaps convene an energy ministerial toward the end of the week" as a forum to discuss the oil market. "I expect that that's going to happen later this week," he said. Crude prices have fallen 50% this year, as the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic have knocked out about a third of global demand. The price crash is so dramatic that it is threatening the stability of oil-dependent nations and the existence of U.S. shale producers as well as posing an extra challenge to central banks. Industry officials say that if a deal to cut supply in an orderly way isn't reached, the market will simply force producers to slash output as storage space runs out. The aim of talks, first revealed by Trump last week, is to cut oil production by about 10% -- the biggest ever coordinated reduction. Crude rallied on Trump's comments but pared those gains as the diplomatic intricacies became clearer. Brent futures fell 2% on Monday, trading near $33 a barrel. Russia and Saudi Arabia are "very, very close" to reaching a deal on oil-production cuts, Kirill Dmitriev, chief executive officer of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, said in an interview with CNBC. However, even if a deal is struck for as much as 10 million barrels per day, that will barely dent the supply glut, which is estimated at as much as 35 million barrels a day. In some corners of the physical market prices have already turned negative, and traders have been putting oil into tankers at a record pace to store it at sea. Saudi Arabia and Russia both say they want the U.S., which has become the world's largest producer thanks to its shale revolution, to join the cuts. But Trump had only hostile words for OPEC on Saturday, threatening tariffs on foreign oil, though at a briefing late Sunday he said he didn't expect he'd have to use them. The G20 may be an easier forum for the U.S. to embrace than OPEC. "If the Americans don't take part, the problem which existed before for the Russians and Saudis will remain -- that they cut output while the U.S ramps it up, and that makes the whole thing impossible," said Fyodor Lukyanov, head of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, a research group that advises the Kremlin. It's not clear if Russia and Saudi Arabia will require the U.S. to publicly commit to cut production -- a challenge in the private, fragmented American industry -- or if a compromise gesture would be enough. Alexander Dynkin, president of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations in Moscow, a state-run think tank, said Moscow would like the U.S. to lift some sanctions as a compromise. Even a passive role for the American shale industry, whose output is already expected to go into decline at current prices, may be enough for a deal, said Jason Bordoff, director of the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University and a former oil official at the White House. "Russia and Saudi Arabia's condition that they will only cut production if the U.S. does too is going to be satisfied, because market forces will drive U.S. output down around 1 million barrels a day this year," said Bordoff. Russia and Saudi Arabia -- which sparred publicly between themselves over the weekend -- have disagreed about how they would calculate the cuts, according to a person familiar with the talks. Russia favors using an average of the first quarter output as the baseline, while Saudi Arabia wants to use its current April production. The difference is huge: the kingdom pumped 9.8 million barrels a day on average between January and March. In April -- as it wages its battle for market share -- it's producing more than 12 million. Any agreement will require diplomatic agility at a time when nations are devoting massive resources to fighting the pandemic itself. All three players -- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump -- appeared to be maneuvering to avoid blame if talks fail. Yet the U.S. president has also said he's confident there'll be an agreement between Moscow and Riyadh to cut production. "The chances of a meaningful deal that delivers real production cuts are low but back-channel talks are ongoing," said Amrita Sen, chief oil analyst at consultant Energy Aspects Ltd. "Mohammed bin Salman is under heavy political pressure from Trump to demonstrate the kingdom isn't trying to bankrupt the U.S. shale industry." London, April 6 : UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson continues to remain in a hospital here after he was admitted due to "persistent coronavirus symptoms", the Downing Street has confirmed. "On the advice of his doctor, the Prime Minister has tonight been admitted to hospital for tests," the Metro newspaper quoted a Downing Street spokesman as saying on Sunday night "This is a precautionary step, as the Prime Minister continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus 10 days after testing positive for the virus. "The Prime Minister thanks NHS staff for all of their incredible hard work and urges the public to continue to follow the government's advice to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives," the spokesman added. Johnson was not hospitalised on an emergency basis, the spokesperson said , adding that he remainsed in charge of the government and was in contact with ministerial colleagues and officials. The Prime Minister first announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19 on March 27, stating that he had "mild symptoms" of the virus, the Metro newspaper reported. Sunday night's development comes after Carrie Symonds, Johnson's pregnant fiance, said on Saturday that she was "on the mend" after spending the "past week in bed with the main symptoms of coronavirus". In Johnson's absence, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is expected to chair the government's next coronavirus meeting. Following the news of Johnson's hospitalisation, many MPs took to social media wishing the Prime Minister a speedy recovery. Former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt tweeted: "Thoughts with Boris Johnson this evening. Whatever political persuasion, the whole country is united in wanting our PM to get fit and well as soon as possible." Andrea Leadsom, former Business Secretary, also wrote: "Praying for a speedy recovery for our Prime Minister." Newly elected Labour leader Keir Starmer, who was said to have spoken to the Prime Minister on Saturday, also said he wished Johnson a "speedy recovery". Speaking at a daily briefing at the White House, US President Donald Trump on Sunday said: "I want to express our nation's well wishes to Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he wages his own personal fight with the virus. "All Americans are praying for him. He's a friend of mine. He's a great gentleman and a great leader and he's, as you know, he was brought to the hospital today, but I'm hopeful and sure that he's going to be fine. He's a strong man, strong person." The news of Johnson's hospitalisation comes as countries across the globe struggle to contain the virus. The UK currently has 48,440 confirmed cases and 4,943 deaths after recording 708 new fatalitie on Saturday. Bhopal, April 6 : A 55-year-old man from the old city area became the first victim of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Bhopal on Monday. The health officials announced that with 14 new confirmed cases -- including five health department employees and seven Jamaatis, in the state capital, the total tally has now reached 55 there. The authorities said that the 55-year-old man, who had got admitted to a private nursing home here four days back with symptoms associated with Covid-19, died at the hospital on Monday. Chief Medical and Health Officer, Bhopal Dr. Sudhir Kumar Daheria said 23 persons tested positive on Sunday, which included 12 Tablighi Jamaatis and 11 health department officials. With the infection spreading to new localities, the health department officials will reach out to areas earmarked for containment and door-to-door screening. The Covid-19 positive cases count in the state has reached 233. Indore has recorded 135, Bhopal 55, Morena 12, Jabalpur 8, Ujjain 8, Khargone 4, Barwani 3, Gwalior, Shivpuri and Chhindwara, Vidisha two each. So far 10 have died in Indore, 3 in Ujjain, one each in Bhopal, Chhindwara and Khargone. Besides one patient in Jabalpur, 3 in Bhopal 2 each in Shivpuri and Gwalior have been discharged. The Madhya Pradesh government has clamped a complete lockdown in the state capital from Sunday midnight in an attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus. However, milk booths and medicine shops have been exempted from the lockdown restrictions, besides, goods and other essential services will be available at the doorstep every day, state officials added. Speaking on Monday at the presidential task force briefing on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation, said the health professionals are expected to support Nigerias capacity by training and giving advice on how to manage the pandemic when necessary. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 23:52:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MANILA, April 6 (Xinhua) -- "From the Chinese experts, we'd like to ask a lot of things," Philippine Health Assistant Secretary Kenneth Ronquillo said after a briefing session with Chinese medical experts on Monday. The 12-member Chinese medical expert team dispatched by the Chinese government arrived in Manila on Sunday to share their learnings on how to handle COVID-19 cases with their Filipino medical counterparts. "We'd like to see how China did contact-tracing and surveillance, that's very important," Ronquillo said after the Department of Health staff briefed the Chinese experts on the COVID-19 situation in the country. Ronquillo said the Philippines also wants to see how to improve diagnostic capacities, including other ways of testing. "I believe that there are other ways to testing that can be introduced here based on your experience," he added. According to the Philippine government, now there are around 10 laboratories that can proceed with the COVID-19 testing, among which the largest one can conduct nearly 1,000 tests daily. The Philippine government is aiming to increase the testing capacity in the country in the future. Moreover, Ronquillo said that the Philippines wants to learn the "good practices and best practices" that China implemented to isolate and contain COVID-19 patients, including the proper way of doing things like personal hygiene, experiences like putting up the personal protective equipment. "We'd like to see and learn a lot of things from the Chinese experts," Ronquillo added. Ronquillo said the team's wealth of frontline experience is something that the Philippines wants to adapt and duplicate in its local fight against the disease. "We'd like to see this experience be brought here in the Philippines so we should be able to learn and eventually curtail and fight COVID-19 here in the Philippines," he added. Another thing that the Philippines also wants to learn is about the effectiveness of Chinese traditional medicine in treating COVID-19 patients. "That's what we want to learn, that's what we want to see, how you did it in China. We want to see if it's also practical and adjustable and usable here in the Philippines," he said. "We hope to see these experiences, medical management in terms of treating patients. We've seen how China managed to really lower down COVID-19 cases and we're interested to know all of these and see if it's adjustable and practical to adopt it here in the Philippines and actually do it," he added. During their stay in the Philippines, the Chinese experts are expected to visit COVID-19 hospitals, laboratories and community quarantine facilities, including those in the villages. "We'd like them to see our capacities for laboratory testing, and we'd like to see how they do social distancing measures. We'd all like to see how they did it in China," he added. According to Ronquillo, the team will also meet health officials both in Metro Manila and outside the capital. "They'll be meeting a lot of different types of professionals not only medical professionals that will actually solidify our plans here in the Philippines to really stop or kill COVID-19," Ronquillo said. The Philippines now has 3,660 COVID-19 cases, including 163 deaths. So far, the Department of Health said 73 people have recovered from the highly infectious disease. Malcolm X inherited the legacy of his parents, Earl Little and Louise Norton Little, proud disciples of the legendary Jamaican organizer Marcus Garvey. Malcolm grew up in a home that celebrated black pride, boldly proclaimed black dignity, and brandished political activism as practically a familial birthright. The members of the Little family were pioneer black nationalists who endeavored to follow Garveys dictum of establishing black political power across urban and rural American landscapes. Garvey tapped into deep currents of black political radicalism swirling in a newly reconfigured urban American landscape, one populated by black southern migrants and Caribbean immigrants. The Great Migration, which started between the world wars and crested in the immediate years after blacks won the right to vote, dispersed millions of southern migrants across the nations vast expanse, in the process creating archipelagoes of black cultural and political power in small and large cities. Inspired by the bootstrap racial uplift politics of Booker T. Washington and intrigued by anti-colonial rhetoric, Garvey promoted a philosophy of black nationalism that he offered, like Promethean fire, to any black person courageous enough to take it. Millions passionately embraced black nationalism, turning Garveyism into a global movement for self-determination. As a political philosophy, black nationalism promoted racial solidarity, the recognition of black history, culture, and beauty, and the right for black people to define solutions to their own problems as the keys to individual freedom, collective liberation, and political and economic power. Garveys personal stature grew until his 1924 arrest on charges of mail fraud related to his efforts to establish a Black Star Line of ships. The shipping line was to be funded by stock certificates purchased by the black community and facilitate the trade of black-owned goods between North America, the Caribbean, and Africa. The project faltered, hampered by mismanagement, corruption, and negligence on the part of Garvey and Universal Negro Improvement Association officials. J. Edgar Hoover, the youthfully dynamic head of the Bureau of Investigations, the forerunner of the FBI, orchestrated the investigation into Garvey, which reinterpreted his financial mismanagement as outright fraud. Federal officials used the charge to imprison and later deport him. Garveys exit from the American political stage dimmed but did not extinguish the burning embers of the movement he helped found. [ Return to the review of The Sword and the Shield. ] Following Garveys deportation, Garveyism did not so much decline as transform into diminished versions of his movement, scattered around the nation. Malcolm Little grew up the child of racial-justice pioneers daring enough to promote the radical philosophy of black self-determination in the far reaches of the Midwest: first, in Omaha, Nebraska, where Malcolm arrived on May 19, 1925, and then in Lansing, Michigan. There, the Little family formed a tiny star in the constellation of racial uplift that stretched from major cities swelled by black migration to more distant outposts in southern rural hamlets. Earl Little was a dark-skinned, barrelchested carpenter from Georgia who had moved to Montreal, where he met Louise Norton, who traced her roots to Grenada and was light enough to pass for white. Earl Little became an organizer for the Garvey movement, bolstered by Louises support. Earl and Louises shared love for social justice bound them in pursuit of an itinerant existence made predictable only by the frequency of childbirth and relocation. Black political activism in parts of the Midwest attracted white attention, disapproval, and threats that frequently escalated into physical violence and terror. Earls passionate commitment to racial justice triggered a backlash in Nebraska that forced the family to flee under threat from local Klansmen. Following brief stints in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and East Chicago, Indiana, the Littles settled in Lansing, Michigan, where Earl resumed his efforts to recruit local blacks into the UNIA. The Little households financial and emotional hardships were exacerbated by Earls violent behavior toward his wife and children, which Malcolm largely escaped; Malcolm remembered his dark-skinned father favoring him because of his light complexion. Earl Little established himself as one of the leaders of the fifteen UNIA chapters scattered across Michigan. He frequently led Garveyite caravans to Detroit, the city that a teenage Malcolm would derive his nickname from. Although he was only five or six years old at the time, Malcolm later vividly remembered his father leading UNIA meetings where members chanted the groups slogan, derived from Garvey himself: Up, you mighty race, you can accomplish what you will! Chewing gum and bubble gum makers have said that ban imposed by the state governments of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh as measures to curb spread of pandemic of Covid-19 is without any scientific evidence. The makers such as Perfetti Van Melle (PVM) andMars Wrigley are in discussion with the relevant authorities and contended that no other country imposed such restrictions. Last week, the Haryana government hadcompletely banned the sale and use of chewing or bubble gum citing possibility of spread of Covid-19 by spitting of chewing gum and bubble gum towards another person. This wasfollowed by Himachal Pradesh government also. Perfetti Van MelleIndia - which owns brands asCenter fresh,Happydent,Center fruit,Big Babol and Chupa Chups - said that there is no scientific evidence to assert that Covid-19 is spread through the exclusive spitting of gum. "We are currently in discussions with the Haryana Food and Drug Administration authorities to understand the basis of their ban of chewing gum sales in Haryana. "There appears to be no scientific evidence to support the assertion that Covid-19 is spread through the exclusive spitting of gum. None of the entities has recommended a ban on chewing gum. Nor has any other country chosen to implement such a ban," said Perfetti Van MelleIndiaManaging Director Rajesh Ramakrishnan. While Mars Wrigley India, which has brands asOrbit, Boomer and Doublemint gums, is also pursuing the matter with the state government, said an official spokesperson. We are working closely with local authorities to remain protective of public health while ensuring the products that customers value and expect to see on their shelves, are made availableto them during this period. As a Responsible Corporate Citizen, it has been always our endeavor to educate our consumers to dispose chewing gums responsibly to maintain a clean, hygienic environment," said Mars Wrigley India Mars Wrigley Spokesperson. It further said: "As a Responsible Corporate Citizen, it has been always our endeavour to educate our consumers to dispose chewing gums responsibly to maintain a clean, hygienic environment. This is displayed on every gum pack that the consumer buysand we remain committed to spreading awareness about responsible gum disposal." Passing an order on April 2,the Food and Drugs Administration Department of Haryana government said: "Whereas, COVID-19 transmitsthrough droplets, there may be possibility of transmitting of COVID-19 by spitting of chewing gum/bubble gum towards another person." According to data analytics firm Nielsen, the confectionery market is estimated to be around Rs 11,000 crore in which gums are around 20 per cent. Perfetti Van Melle'sCenter Freshis a leader share with31 per centmarket followed by, Centerfruit,Happydent,Boomer, Orbit,Gum on(ITC) andChingles(DS Group). India is presently going through an unprecedented complete lockdown of three weeks, ending on April 14, to prevent the spread of the virus. According to the latest report from the Union Health Ministry, the total number of COVID-19 cases has increased to 4,067 and the death toll is now 109. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Matt Hancock has refused to say whether or not Virgin Atlantic deserves a bailout from British taxpayers because of the coronavirus crisis. The health secretary dodged the question when asked if the government is preparing to take equity shares on taxpayers behalf from the stricken airline, the majority of which is owned by billionaire Sir Richard Branson. During the governments daily COVID-19 briefing on Sunday, he was asked via video link by Financial Times journalist Jim Pickard if Bransons Virgin Atlantic was a worthy recipient of taxpayer help given that Virgin Care previously sued the NHS. Virgin Atlantic, the majority of which is owned by Sir Richard Branson, is seeking a bailout from the government to get through the coronavirus crisis. (PA Images) In 2017, Virgin Care took legal action against NHS England and Surrey County Council after it failed in its bid to be awarded an 82m childrens community services contract across Surrey. The case was settled out of court, with Virgin Care receiving a 328,000 payout, Surrey Live reported, resulting in criticism from politicians. Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world Fact-checker: The number of COVID-19 cases in your local area 6 charts and maps that explain how COVID-19 is spreading Virgin responded by saying it has invested millions in its partnerships with the NHS. Sir Richards Virgin Group owns 51% of Virgin Atlantic the rest is held by US airline Delta. According to the Financial Times, Virgin Atlantic is seeking a 500m bailout package of commercial loans and guarantees in an effort to survive the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The bailout is reportedly supported by Airbus, Rolls-Royce and Heathrow Airport. Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic is reportedly seeking a government bailout. (Getty Images) Sky News reported that Branson has already ploughed $100m (80m) into Virgin Atlantic from his Virgin Group in response to the crisis. It said Virgin had asked the government for a 7.5bn industry-wide bailout to save the entire British aviation sector. There have also been reports the government is considering a tax equity bailout to save large companies during the coronavirus pandemic. Story continues This would mean the government buying shares in a company using taxpayers money. Labour MP John McDonnell criticised Hancocks refusal to answer the question, accusing him of passing the buck. Jim Pickard asks perfectly straightforward question whether the Government is going to subsidise tax exile Richard Bransons company, Hancock refuses to answer, passes the buck to Sunak, who isnt present. This is why we need Parliament in operation online to hold gvt to account. https://t.co/v8uVRFD3LB John McDonnell MP (@johnmcdonnellMP) April 5, 2020 A spokeswoman for the Virgin Group told Yahoo News UK: Neither Virgin, nor Richard, have taken a penny out of the NHS, nor do we intend to. All monies received by Virgin Care have been reinvested back into paying for delivering services, including the salaries of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, as well as being invested in transformation projects to improve the NHS. Virgin Group has invested more than 75m into Virgin Care, has not been paid any dividends and has pledged to reinvest any potential future dividends back into the business. Virgin Atlantic was criticised last month after it said it would ask staff to take eight weeks unpaid leave because of the coronavirus crisis. A spokeswoman for the airline told Yahoo News UK: Were incredibly grateful to our people who took unprecedented collective action to support Virgin Atlantic in this time of crisis, opting into voluntary severance, sabbatical or unpaid leave spread across six months. Over 99% of our people chose one of these options to help the company preserve cash and protect jobs. Those who chose to take unpaid leave are now on furlough and are able to benefit from the chancellors Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Last week, a special Virgin Atlantic charter from Shanghai, China, delivered 350,000 items of medical supplies, including personal protective equipment such as masks and aprons, to the NHS. Coronavirus: what happened today The Visa Foundation has launched two programs totaling $210m to support small and micro businesses. The two initiatives align with the Foundations long-term focus on womens economic advancement and inclusive economic development, and to address an urgent need from local communities following the spread of COVID-19. The first program of $10m is designated for immediate emergency relief to support charitable organizations on the frontlines responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as public health and food relief, in each of the five geographic regions in which Visa operates: North America; Latin America and the Caribbean; Europe; Asia Pacific; and Central Europe, Middle East and Africa. The second program is a five-year, strategic $200m commitment to support small and micro businesses around the world, with a focus on fostering womens economic advancement. This action expands the Visa Foundations long-standing support for small and micro businesses globally. The funds from the Visa Foundation will provide capital to non-government organizations (NGOs) and investment partners supporting small and micro businesses. Through the $200m small and micro business program, the Visa Foundation will provide $60m in grants to NGOs dedicated to supporting small and micro business owners, many of whom are women, in every region where Visa operates. The foundation will also allocate $140m with investment partners that generate positive social and financial returns for small and micro businesses. Led by Graham Macmillan, President, the Visa Foundation seeks to support inclusive economies where individuals, businesses and communities can thrive. Through grantmaking and investing, the foundation prioritizes the resilience and growth of micro and small businesses that benefit women. It also supports broader community needs and disaster response in times of crisis. The Visa Foundation is registered in the U.S. as a 501(c)3 entity. FinSMEs 06/04/2020 SOUTHEAST, NY As the number of confirmed cases of new coronavirus continue to rise in Putnam, the County Health Commissioner has issued an Isolation Order for anyone who tests positive and has symptoms. Putnam County's website lists the countywide total for positive cases at 343, slightly higher than the total listed on the New York State Health Department's website. There have been 68 cases confirmed in Southeast. The number of cases rose by 87 over the weekend. However, nearby counties, including Dutchess, Rockland and Westchester, have far higher numbers of positive cases, according to the data released at Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Monday morning news briefing, than are shown on the county's dashboard. New York Governor's Office Local updates Over the weekend, state public health officials began providing county-by-county information about the deaths so far from the new coronavirus. SEE: NY Coronavirus: Deaths In The Hudson Valley. As of April 4, 14 Putnam County residents have died, the state reported. On April 1, Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Nesheiwat issued a Standing Isolation Order for mandatory isolation related to the new coronavirus outbreak. The purpose is to separate sick people from healthy people and to help prevent the spread of the virus also known as COVID-19. This Standing Order directs any person who tests positive for COVID-19 to isolate themselves at home (or other places as ordered by the Putnam County Department of Health). The Order also dictates how long the person, depending on symptoms, must remain isolated at home. If this legal isolation order is not followed, residents may be fined up to $2,000 per violation per day. Parents and guardians are responsible for ensuring their child(ren) complies with the isolation order or face the same fines. The directions below can be found in the Commissioners Standing Isolation Order and are in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New York State Department of Health. Story continues If you test positive for COVID-19 and have symptoms (symptomatic confirmed positive), you must stay at home until at least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery defined as resolution of fever (without the use of fever-reducing medications) and improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) AND at least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. If you test positive for COVID-19 and have NO symptoms (asymptomatic confirmed positive), you must stay at home until at least 7 days after the first positive COVID-19 diagnostic test AND have remained asymptomatic. If symptoms develop, follow the instructions for symptomatic confirmed positive cases. If you test positive for COVID-19 and have been designated by your employer as Health Care Personnel, you must stay at home until at least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery defined as resolution of fever (without the use of fever-reducing medications) and improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) AND at least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. Then, upon returning to work, you should wear a facemask at all times while in the Health Care Facility until all symptoms have completely resolved or until 14 days after the illness started, whichever is longer. The health department is asking anyone who is or will be affected by this isolation order to cooperate with the Putnam County Department of Health and provide accurate information about their illness, potential exposure sites, and people who may have been exposed. If a person under isolation has worsening symptoms, they should call their healthcare provider and follow their instructions. The full isolation order is attached and can also be viewed online. "Everyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 must follow the guidance outlined in this order. In order to curb this disease and flatten the curve every residents cooperation with all guidance from the Putnam County Department of Health is needed," Dr. Nesheiwat said. "At this time every decision we make not only impacts ourselves and our family, but our entire community. Your actions throughout this outbreak will make the difference between life and death." From the Brewster school district: 2020 Mr. Brewster Competition Raises Almost $90K New York State The PAUSE program has been prolonged to April 29. All residents have been asked to stay home, including children and teens. Residents are being directed to stay home unless it is absolutely necessary. Acquiring food or medical supplies are considered essential reasons to leave the home. When you must go out remember to stay away from other people as much as possible, following the recommendation of staying 6 feet apart. It is important that everyone stay home, whether they are healthy, or sick. If you become mildly ill, stay home, and manage your symptoms. If you have symptoms indicative of COVID-19, call your healthcare provider to discuss your symptoms. Do not dial 9-1-1 unless you have an immediate medical emergency. Continue to practice good hygiene, including washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Cover your cough and sneeze into your elbow or a tissue, and do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands. If you have general COVID-19 concerns or questions please call 2-1-1. You can also call the New York State Department of Healths Novel Coronavirus 24-hour hotline at 1-888-364-3065. SEE ALSO: This article originally appeared on the Southeast-Brewster Patch T housands of people are still falling through gaps in the Governments financial rescue package, the new shadow chancellor warned today. Anneliese Dodds stressed the need to do everything possible to keep people in jobs, even if they are furloughed, rather than leaving them relying on benefits with all the costs to them as individuals and the wider economy. In a media round the day after being appointed the first female shadow chancellor, the Oxford East MP, aged 42, gave broad backing to Chancellor Rishi Sunaks huge economic rescue plan, which she described as necessary and not extravagant. But she argued that it still had flaws, particularly in the help offered to the self-employed and ensuring that firms can easily access loans to stop them going bust. There are quite a lot of people currently falling through the gaps so we really need to plug them, she told BBC Breakfast. Once people leave the labour market its much harder to re-employ them. Economists say that the UKs GDP could slump by 30 per cent in the second quarter, with the crisis costing a staggering 2.4 billion a day. Low earners, the young and women are being particularly affected, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Ms Dodds said a very large number of people were being forced into debt in the turmoil which was shining a light on inequalities in society. She signalled support for higher taxes on the rich in the crisis aftermath, saying I have long advocated a more progressive tax system. She also said the labour market had to be re-examined, particularly the large number believed to be in disguised self-employment. Ms Dodds, a former MEP and academic, was elected an MP in 2017. Her media round this morning was briefly interrupted by her daughter Isabella wandering into shot during a Sky News interview. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was continuing with shadow cabinet appointments today, with Lisa Nandy having been appointed shadow foreign secretary yesterday, Nick Thomas-Symonds shadow home secretary, Angela Rayner party chairwoman, Jonathan Ashworth shadow health secretary, and Rachel Reeves shadowing Michael Goves Cabinet Office post. The environment ministry on Monday advised the chief wildlife wardens of all states to take immediate steps to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in national parks and tiger reserves, including restricting the movement of people near national parks and sanctuaries. This was in response to the report of a Malayan tiger testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 in New Yorks Bronx zoo. Is it far-fetched to imagine that wildlife in national parks or outside could be infected with Covid-19? No. In fact, scientists have flagged that information on potential animal hosts of the virus is crucial to deal with the pandemic. This is because the virus could find new hosts, which can infect other animals or lead to the re-emergence of the disease in humans. This kind of possible cross-species transmission of infection can be dangerous, they said. A few reports of pet cats and dogs testing positive have surfaced in the past couple of months from Belgium and Hong Kong but a Malayan tiger testing positive (first infection in a wild animal after outbreak) has got many scientists worried about the potential of new animal reservoirs for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, outside China. Inter species transmission is extremely worrisome, whether it be from pangolins, bats, civets or tigers. Clearly mammals are vulnerable but we dont know enough at this point. From the science so far, it appears that there are multiple strains evolving and the potential to find new reservoirs exist, said Krithi Karanth, Chief Conservation Scientist at Centre for Wildlife Studies and Adjunct Associate Professor, Duke University (USA). Human activities, specifically consumption of wild meat, wildlife trade, habitat change and fragmentation, are leading to increasing contact between people and wildlife. Multiple zoonotic diseases have emerged, resulting in transmissions between wildlife, domestic animals and people. Covid-19 is perhaps the most destructive example, she added. On Monday, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) also directed states to observe tigers for symptoms like dry cough or laboured breathing through direct observation and camera trapping, careful handling of post mortem of dead tigers in consultation with state veterinary officials and safeguarding of staff with personal protective equipment (PPE), among others. NTCA has asked states to send samples of suspected cases to laboratories approved by the Indian Council for Agricultural Research. The Central Zoo Authority of India (CZAI) also issued an advisory to all zoos in India, asking them to remain on high alert and monitor animals for any abnormal behaviour. Samples of any suspect animals, if any, have to be sent to animal health institutes to initiate Covid-19 testing, the advisory added. Sometime in the past at an unknown time the SARS-CoV-2 crossed over to humans through an intermediate host. But we havent found that host animal. Cross-species transmissions happen all the time. The case of the tiger getting infected in Bronx tells me a few things. First, that there is a lot of infection in New York. Second, we should study if cross-species transmission is happening. Best would be to sequence the virus in the tiger and the humans working close to the tiger and to see the variables. We must also study the tiger very closely to see how long and how much virus it is shedding, and finally investigate if the human got infected by the tiger or vice versa. A body of knowledge on this is very important at this point, said a senior virologist, who declined to be named because of government advisories on not commenting on Covid-19. This can be done with more tests in labs and natural conditions, scientists said. Im not sure we have enough evidence to say that the Covid-19 virus has several potential animal reservoir hosts based on current spillback (transmission from humans to animals) evidence. We need to do a lot more testing and lab experiments to see if any other species can maintain reservoir host status for this virus. Thus far, all we know is that a few cases of spillback have been observed. What are the consequences of this? Does the animal get sick? Is it able to transmit the virus via the same routes (aerosol or droplets)? These are all questions that need further investigation, said Abi Tamim Vanak, fellow, Wellcome Trust and senior fellow at Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment. We do not know much about the condition of the animals inside the forests, There is a possibility of tigers contracting the infection. So we have asked field staff to observe the animals very carefully and look for signs of Covid-19 while conducting post mortem, said AK Nayak, member secretary, NTCA. Several scientific studies in the past have shown how coronaviruses are common among several wild species, including bats, pangolins, racoon dogs, masked palm civet, monkeys and mice. According to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 75% of all emerging infectious diseases in humans are zoonotic and that these zoonotic diseases are closely interlinked with the health of ecosystems. While scientists have been stressing on the impact of loss of biodiversity, a new study estimated that there has been a 71.5% reduction in large forest patches (> 10,000 km sq) in Central India and the Western Ghats if the existing size of forest patches are compared to a scenario that excludes land taken up by infrastructural projects. The study, by scientists from the Foundation for Ecological Research, Advocacy and Learning (India), Centre for Wildlife Studies (India), University of Goettingen (Germany) and Columbia University (US), was released on Monday. Across the country, empty churches welcomed the start of Holy Week celebrations. Traditional costumes, candles, processions canceled to avoid gatherings. The cardinal recalls the growing number of families living in poverty. In some villages, families let their children wear festive costumes, while respecting isolation. Beirut (AsiaNews / OLJ) - The new coronavirus, which has claimed tens of thousands of victims worldwide and forced half the population to remain at home, has turned Holy Week celebrations that began yesterday with Palm Sunday upside down. Maronite patriarch Beshara Rai celebrated mass in an empty church, as priests did in all the parishes across the Land of the Cedars. Traditional customs, candles and processions have been canceled due to the risk of possible gatherings. The faithful of Lebanon, as in many other parts of the world, from Europe to Asia and the United States, followed the masses on television from their homes, publishing family photos on social media to keep ties alive despite isolation. In empty churches, prayers rang out for an end of the pandemic that has revolutionized the lives of entire nations. Card Rai celebrated mass in the church of Our Lady in Bkerke, without any faithful from outside. During the homily, the cardinal recalled the ongoing health crisis and the growing number of families living in poverty. "We pray to God - he said - to forgive our sins and save the world from coronavirus, so that life on earth can return to normal. In Zahle, the archbishop of the Greek Catholic community Msgr. MgrIssam Darwiche celebrated mass in the church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. It is the first time in recent history - he underlined in the sermon - that this feast takes place without faithful and children, who fill the church with their cries of joy. I want them to know they are in our heart." The same scenes were repeated in the churches of the Bekaa valley: in some villages the priests toured the streets in a car, to bless - from afar - families and children. In Kobeyate, the largest Maronite village in the region, families respected the isolation orders, but wanted to dressed their children in traditional costumes lit the candles. In the parishes of Kobeyate and the other villages of Akkar, such as in Tripoli, Zghorta, Batroun, Marjeyoun, Bint Jbeil, Saida, Nabatiye, Jbeil, Kesrouan, Metn ... all the masses were celebrated without faithful, in a surreal atmosphere. 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Readers: Cincinnati, the Netherlands, Hilton Head (cleveland.com) Local news East Nine of 12 quarantined cops could be cleared by April 6: Cleveland Heights Coronavirus update (cleveland.com) Local news West Employee at Lakewood CVS tests positive for COVID-19 (WKYC Channel 3) Akron / Canton area Cuyahoga Valley National Park making changes to operations amid coronavirus (cleveland.com) Tariff on Purell packaging overturned due to coronavirus, a break for Akron-based Gojo Industries (cleveland.com) A former detective constable who exploited four women to feed his sexual desires has walked free from court after a judge heard no-one else could care for his one-year-old child during the Covid-19 lockdown. Stuart Lunt, 36, from Appley Bridge, Wigan, admitted inappropriate contact with the vulnerable women who he met in the course of his duties with Lancashire Police as either complainants or witnesses. The married father-of-two gained their trust and used it to his advantage as he attempted to engage in sexual relations with them, and was able to do so with one of his victims, Liverpool Crown Court was told. Laura Nash, defending, asked Judge David Aubrey QC to consider 'exceptional circumstances' in suspending a custodial sentence in what she said were 'exceptional times'. Former detective constable Stuart Lunt, who exploited four women to feed his sexual desires, has walked free from court after an unusual ruling The 36-year-old admitted inappropriate contact with the vulnerable women who he met in the course of his duties with Lancashire Police as either complainants or witnesses, one of which he went on to engage in sexual activity with Miss Nash explained that Lunt's wife was a designated key worker who was employed as a deputy manager at a pre-school nursery. The couple were still living together with their children, aged six and one, but Lunt had been staying at home with the younger child, she said. Immediate members of the Lunt family were also unable to offer assistance during the movement restrictions because they were in the vulnerable category range, the court was told. Miss Nash also pointed out as a first-time offender and police officer that the Prison Service faced an 'incredibly difficulty' in managing him in a custodial setting through the coronavirus pandemic. Sentencing Lunt, of Greaves Close, received 18 months in jail, suspended for two years, Judge Aubrey said: 'In the particular circumstances of this case, and at a time of deep concern, in the judgment of the court the balance weighs just in favour of suspending the custodial sentence.' Lunt must also perform 250 hours of unpaid work. He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to misconduct in a public office. Lunt stooped his head as he left Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, after the judge ruled a sentence of 18 months in jail, suspended for two years The defendant, who was based at Chorley and joined Lancashire Police in June 2015 after 12 years of service at Greater Manchester Police, resigned from the force last week. David Toal, prosecuting, said Lunt approached the women separately on various dates between 2017 and 2019. He first met one of the women as part of an investigation when he issued her with a personal safety warning that her life could be under threat, said the prosecutor. Soon after he engaged in 'flirty banter' in phone messages and told the single mother she was 'a pretty girl'. He later asked her out for a coffee before she blocked all contact, the court was told. Lunt became flirtatious with a second woman, a domestic violence sufferer, and tried to chat her up during a visit to her home where he stayed for up to three hours while on duty. She too declined his advances but then the defendant moved on to his next victim, a witness in a criminal investigation, who accepted she was 'flattered' by his attention. They went on to exchange sexually explicit messages, said Mr Toal, and at one point Lunt challenged the woman whether 'she had the bottle' to meet up for sex. The woman, who suffers from anxiety and depression, said later she felt 'humiliated and 'embarrassed' by her involvement with Lunt. Lunt told a fourth woman, another complainant, that his marriage was in difficulties and there was 'no fire' between him and his wife. The defendant made an excuse to his wife that he was popping out to get some petrol and drove to a secluded spot where he met the complainant who performed oral sex on him. The woman later said she had told Lunt she wanted a relationship but that he was only interested in sex. Mr Toal said: 'She described him as someone desperate for attention and gratification.' Miss Nash said Lunt had a history of mental health difficulties and was diagnosed with anxiety and depression in 2017. He was genuinely remorseful for his actions, she added, and that numerous character references spoke of his good work in the community. Judge Aubrey told Lunt: 'You gained the trust of vulnerable women and utilised that trust for your own sexual advantages and desires. 'You crossed the boundaries of your duties as a police officer and did so knowingly. 'All of the women were vulnerable to exploitation and that is precisely what you did. 'I am satisfied your conduct was akin to grooming.' In reaching his judgment, he said he also noted the defendant's 'strong personal mitigation', his realistic prospect of rehabilitation and the impact to others caused if he was jailed immediately. A DRUG-FUELLED attack resulted in an elderly man living in Limerick city being rushed to hospital. The 82-year-old resident of Lee Estate was struck over the head with a paddle after he put his bin out. The pensioner, who lives on his own, was taken to hospital and is very shaken explained former mayor or Limerick, John Gilligan. He went to put out his bin at 7am. A fellow in a balaclava rushed in. There were two more outside. He was pushed in the door. He banged his head off the door and went down on the ground. He was hit over the head with a paddle, that he had for a boat, inside in the hall. He was hit down the crown of the skull, said Mr Gilligan. The long-serving councillor said the pensioner was asked, Wheres your money? They were after money for drugs. They didnt get anything, said Mr Gilligan. The victim was taken to hospital where he was treated for head injuries. He has since been discharged. His face is all marked and he has a big plaster on the top of his head. That has to be utterly condemned and particularly such a vulnerable person, 82-years-of age. He is a lovely man who has lived in this area all his life. It is absolutely dreadful. Elderly people have been asked to cocoon themselves, and that somebody could come along and attack a person like that it goes beyond belief, said Mr Gilligan. He said the people of Lee Estate and surrounding areas have to be protected from this kind of thuggery. We would ask anyone who has any information to bring it forward to the gardai. An 82-year-old can not be attacked like that in his own home and people simply walk free, concluded Mr Gilligan. A garda spokesperson confirmed that they are investigating an alleged assault that occurred at approximately 7am on Wednesday, April 1 at a house at Lee Estate. A man received head injuries during the incident and he was taken to UHL with non-life threatening injuries. No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing, said the spokesperson. Henry Street Garda Station can be contacted at 061 212400. Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari President Buhari has issued an order to the Nigeria Customs Service NCS to release for immediate distribution, bags of rice seized from smugglers. Buhari said this directive will help reduce the suffering brought about by coronavirus and serve as part of the palliative measures by the Federal government to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, announced this during a media briefing in Abuja on Monday morning. The President has approved grains from the Stategic Grains Reserves. The Nigeria Customs Service has in its custody a lot of rice that has been seized and there is one hundred and fifty trucks of rice that is now been handed over to the humanitarian ministry for distribution to the states across the country she said Queen Elizabeth, shown in 2011, delivered a four-minute address Sunday to the public regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. (Corporal Paul Oldfield / Ministry of Defense / HO / EPA) Britains Queen Elizabeth on Sunday joined the chorus of world figures weighing in on the COVID-19 pandemic. In a rare televised speech, she offered no bluster, no drama, no scolding reminder that only six feet of distance stand between you and possible death. Nor were there any of the claims of accomplishment and ascriptions of blame that have become a staple on these shores. Instead, she offered comfort, gratitude to her nations health workers, a belief that life will go back to normal, and this simple poetic coda: We will meet again. It was only the fourth time in her 93 years that she's made a special broadcast related to current events, and she nailed it. I was in a village some 80 miles north of London, reporting on the aftermath of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, when the queen gave one of those speeches a special address from Buckingham Palace that helped recast her image among the British people (and the British press) from unfeeling monarch to caring former mother-in-law grieving Dianas death with everyone else. (Allowing a royal ceremonial funeral helped a lot, too.) But this speech on Sunday wasnt about a tribute to one individual who had died tragically. This was a check-in during a crisis in a nation with thousands of people, tragically, dying. At last count, in Great Britain, there were 48,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus and more than 4,000 deaths. Elizabeth never mentioned her eldest son, Prince Charles, 71, who appears to be recovering from the virus, or British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who's been hospitalized. She kept her focus on the British public. Elizabeth, of course, is not an elected official. Shes a member of a royal family that has seemingly been reduced to a public relations commodity over the past decades. But if thats so, then certainly the queen fulfilled that public relations duty on Sunday with her speech from Windsor Castle. Shes no orator. She was stoic. She didnt try to pretend she isnt well-cared for and wealthy. (She sat before the camera wearing pearls and a giant diamond brooch.) Story continues But she is a bit of a historian or, at least, a living history lesson being 93, living through World War II and the subsequent conflicts that Britain has played a part in, not to mention the turmoil in her own family, most recently the exit of her grandson Prince Harry and his wife from England and royal life. She hit all the appropriate notes, expressing her appreciation for healthcare workers and for people obeying orders to stay home, and acknowledging the financial difficulties that have disrupted so many lives. But what she brought to this crisis was the perspective informed by time, predicting that the self-discipline and good-humored resolve that the British are showing today will be honored tomorrow. The pride in who we are is not a part of our past," she told listeners. "It defines our present and our future. She also pointed out that this is, of course, a global fight. We will succeed, she noted, and that success will belong to every one of us. Well said. The National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) has urged the public to avoid stigmatizing families and persons suspected to be living with the COVID-19. It said stigmatization was a serious damaging social phenomenon that had negative effects on health outcomes including non- optimal medication adherence, lower visit adherence, higher depression, and lower quality of life. Mr Paul Tetteh, the Assin Central Municipal Director of the Commission who gave the advice at a public sensitization programme reiterated that stigmatizing suspected people and patients was not good as everyone was at risk. It was a huge hindrance to government's unflinching commitment to go all out to contain and prevent the spread of the deadly virus. Mr Tetteh explained that COVID-19 spread from person to person in close proximity, similar to other respiratory illnesses, such as the flu. He said one could contract the virus when droplets of bodily fluids such as saliva or mucus from an infected person dispersed in the air or land on surfaces through coughing or sneezing and got into direct contact with other people who may touch infected surfaces and then their faces. Mr Tetteh also stressed the need for the public to desist from the penchant of spreading false information about the virus saying "the pace of misinformation in the prime media and social media were fueling more fear and panic." The media was an indispensable stakeholder in democratic governance and for that matter it had a critical role to play in the national quest to contain the virus. He commended government for the mandatory quarantine policy saying it was yielding results and cautioned Ghanaians against playing politics and propounding conspiracy theories over the COVID-19 situation in Ghana. Let's stop the Ghanaian habit of engaging in unnecessary debates and arguments in commercial vehicles. Commercial drivers should put hand sanitizers in the vehicles for short distance journeys to protect themselves and the passengers while long-distance drivers should provide soap and water for passengers to wash their hands. Ghana's COVID-19 case increased to 214 as of Sunday, April 05. 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. Featured Video 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited Review by Mark Fulmer By Mark Fulmer The Auto Channel One year after its redesign, this midsized SUV has simplified its trims and added some cool tech and outstanding safety features. After all it's been a sweet driving vehicle throughout its 19 year lifespan. The Limited replaces the former top of the line Ultimate trim and like the other trims comes with standard front wheel drive, but if you need enhanced traction there is the HTRAC all wheel drive option which controls engine power, torque and braking at each wheel. Power.The 2.0L Inline 4-cylinder Turbo powers this 3,900-pound vehicle with the authority of 225 horses creating 269 lb.-ft. of torque. That power is transferred to its 8-speed automatic transmission in one of three driver selectable Drive Modes (Normal, Sport and Smart). When you stop at an intersection signal light, you may think it has stalled but it's just the Santa Fe's run/stop feature, which re-engages so smoothly you won't even get that Jurassic Park vibration ripple across the surface of the coffee in your cupholder. With an 18.8-gallon fuel tank you can cruise for 500 miles between pit stops. The ride. With MacPherson struts and gas-filled dampers front and a Multi-link w/gas-filled dampers rear, the rough spots are buffered, and at the same time the 19-inch alloy wheels with all-weather tires grip the road nicely. A cool addition for the driver is a seat extender that supports the thighs of we longer-limbed folks. Adding to that comfort is a Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control that comes complete with an ionizer which can cleanse the cabin air of particulants like dust, pet dander, and smoke. Interior. The passengers complimented the front and second row seat as quite comfortable with additional praise for both of the front seats having 8-way power adjusters, and the rear seats having heaters (or what my girls call "bun warmers"). Both front and second row seating is generous and comfortable. Seating is leather trimmed with front seats heated and ventilated with rear seats heated as well as having a recline feature. Up front the driver and passenger seats are 8-way power adjustable. Plenty of room is available for cargo: 35.9 cubic feet behind the second row and 71.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down, and a large under cargo floor hiding place as well. Tech. Kudos abound for the customizable full-color Heads-Up Display with 8.5-inch image projection on the windshield. Add to that an 8-inch Centerstack Touchscreen as well as a 7-inch TFT LCD info display, and my favorite parking tech, a birds-eye Surround-View Camera System. Audio comes at you courtesy of a killer Infinity 630-watt, 12-speaker audio system and absolutely delicious QuantumLogic Surround Sound Technology. Safety. The Santa Fe Limited is loaded to the gills with safety features, so it is not surprising that it's named by IIHS a 2020 Top Safety Pick+, their highest rating for safety. Blind View Monitor for side views when the turn signals are activated are new. Safe Exit Assist, Ultrasonic Rear Occupant Alert, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist w/Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance, just to name a few. Lane Keeping Assist and adaptive cruise control can turn that long freeway trip into a much safer and more comfortable experience. To top it off, Hyundai still offers the best warranty in the segment: A 5-Year/60,000-Mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty, a 10-Year/100,000-Mile Powertrain Limited Warranty and 5-Year/ Unlimited Miles 24-hour Roadside Assistance. Tesla opened strongly higher Monday. The stock was up more than 5% at midmorning after Jefferies upgraded it to buy on the company's leadership in the electric-vehicle market. Tesla also rallied Friday on solid first-quarter numbers. The automaker delivered more than 88,000 vehicles in the three months to March, up 40% from a year earlier. Bill Baruch, president of Blue Line Capital, said Tesla shares act as a "great trading vehicle." "Tesla has a very well-defined floor at $400. This is where the 200-day moving average is. It also aligns with what was a previous ceiling," Baruch said Friday on CNBC's "Trading Nation." "Until that breaks, you want to be buyer into $400, because at any point I feel that you could see a gain up towards $600." Tesla shares were trading Monday around $505. A move to at least $600 marks 18% upside for the stock. "There are some strong resistance levels up near $600, you have the [38.2%] retracement, the 50-day moving average, as well as the 50% retracement. So, I guess I would not press it out above there if you were to catch a nice swing in that manner," said Baruch. Gina Sanchez, CEO of Chantico Global, said volatility meets versatility when it comes to this company and stock. "This stock is so overpriced but [CEO Elon Musk] has certainly shown his ability to get the job done, and to continue to produce," Sanchez said during the same segment. "It has been a volatile stock, and that volatility continues because of the pessimism-optimism swing." Those extremes have made for wild moves for Tesla. Over the past year, the stock has traded as low as $177 and as high as a record $969. "Musk has announced that he's going to reopen the Gigafactory in New York in order to make ventilators and he's just proving that he's incredibly versatile as well as the company itself is versatile. So, I think that the volatility will continue, and it just continues to meet expectations. But there's a huge amount of expectation built in," said Sanchez. Shares of Tesla are up 21% for the year, bucking the sell-off in the broader market. Disclaimer New Delhi: Union Women and Child Development and Textiles Minister Smriti Irani briefs the media on Cabinet decisions in New Delhi on Feb 19, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS Lucknow, April 6 : Thirty-five migrant workers, including many from Amethi, left stranded in Karuvarakundu in Malappuram district of Kerala amid the nationwide lockdown got food and ration items due to the intervention of Union Minister Smriti Irani, who is the BJP MP from Amethi. The plight of the migrants came to light after two of them sought help from their friends in Amethi. After the matter was brought to the notice of Smriti Irani, her office coordinated with External Affairs Minister of State V. Muralidheeran's office and the Kerala unit of Sewa Bharati, an RSS affiliate, on March 30. The same day, Sewa Bharati reached out to the stuck labourers and its workers from Karuvarakundu Panchayat provided them rice bags and other grocery items. The Sewa Bharati volunteers said that they would take care of the workers and supply essential grocery items, whenever needed, in the coming days also. The office of Smriti Irani had handed over a list of 15 people to the office of Muraleedharan, who is from Kerala. Both the ministries coordinated with the Sewa Bharati state leadership to reach out to the stranded people. A Sewa Bharti volunteer said: "Along with the 15 people on the list, we found 20 others stuck in other camps. Two of them are from Amethi. Others are from states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Assam, and West Bengal," All of them had not eaten for three days. "A few kg rice and lentils was their sole demand. However, we bought them sufficient quantity of rice, groceries and vegetables. We also informed local police and made arrangements to ensure them food from a nearby community kitchen from the next day onwards," the volunteer said. Interestingly, Karuvarakundu is part of Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, which is now represented by Amethi's ex-MP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. At least eight people were killed and two others were critically injured following an airstrike on Afghanistans Uruzgan province on April 4, international media reported citing a source in regional government. According to reports, the injured were immediately taken to the Miwwais hospital in Kandhar. It is still unclear whether the attack was carried out by the Afghanistan government or the US, international media reported Read: Taliban's Health Commission Holds Coronavirus Session As Afghanistan Cases Soar To 110 Read: Pakistan Army Chief Bajwa & Afghanistan's Ghani Talk Trade Amid Covid; Exclude Imran Khan '6 militants killed' Meanwhile, a spokesperson of Uruzguns Governor denied any civilian casualties in the attack. Talking to international media, they confirmed that the airstrikes were conducted by the Afghan government and that six militants were killed in the ambush. On April 1, a roadside bombing in the southern part of the country killed at least eight civilians, including six children. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but both the Taliban and the Islamic State militants are active in the province. Read: Roadside Bombing In Afghanistan Kills 8, Mostly Children Read: India Shifts Staff In Herat, Jalalabad To Kabul In View Of COVID-19 Cases In Afghanistan Representative image, Credits: ANI A QUIET PRAYER: Edithon Delfish-Wiseman, a security guard employed at Our Lady of Perpetual Help RC Church on Harris Promenade in San Fernando, says a prayer in the church aisle in observance of Palm Sunday which was celebrated by Christians yesterday. Last week the Government issued a stay-at-home order for non-essential workers, in an effort to help combat the spread of the novel coronavirus. All churches in the city have remained closed to members of the public. This week Christians will observe Holy Week. Photo: DEXTER PHILIP B oris Johnson has received a flurry of messages of support from MPs after being moved to intensive care as his coronavirus symptoms worsened. The Prime Minister was admitted to St Thomas' hospital in Westminster on Sunday after his Covid-19 symptoms persisted for 10 days. But, having been in hospital for tests and observation, it emerged on Monday night that his doctors advised he be admitted to intensive care. MPs from across the political spectrum, world leaders and other official figures have spoken out to send Mr Johnson and his family messages of support after his condition deteriorated. Mr Johnson has been moved to intensive care / London Chancellor Rishi Sunak tweeted: "My thoughts tonight are with Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds. I know he'll be getting the best care possible and will come out of this even stronger." Home Secretery Priti Patel tweeted a picture of herself with the PM. She added: "My love & thoughts are with Boris Johnson, Carrie Symonds & the Prime Ministers family. for you & thinking of you." Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeted: "Sending all possible best wishes to Boris Johnson and his loved ones. I know he will receive the best possible care from our amazing NHS." Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, said: "This is terrible news. I know the thoughts and prayers of everyone across the House are with the Prime Minister and his family right now. "We all wish him a speedy recovery. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted: "Sending my best wishes to Prime Minister BorisJohnson for a full and speedy recovery. My thoughts are with you and your family right now. Hope to see you back at Number 10 soon. Pedro Sanchez, the Prime Minister of Spain, which has also suffered a high number of cases of coronavirus, tweeted: "My solidarity and wishes for a speedy recovery for the Prime Minister BorisJohnson. "These are difficult days for our countries, but from strength and unity, we will be able to win this battle. A hug to all the British people. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan tweeted: "Praying for the Prime Minister's swift recovery tonight. [Guys and St Thomas] has some of the finest medical staff in the world, and he couldn't be in safer hands." Boris Johnson in intensive care: Who runs the country if the PM is unfit? Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: "Terribly sad news. All the country's thoughts are with the Prime Minister and his family during this incredibly difficult time." Members of the newly-formed shadow cabinet also offered their support for Mr Johnson. Shadow justice secretary David Lammy tweeted: "Awful news. My very best wishes to the Prime Minister, as well as his partner Carrie, family and friends. Get well soon Boris Johnson." Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner posted: "Sending my best wishes at this worrying time to the PM BorisJohnson and Carrie Symonds and hoping that his condition stabilises in his battle with coronavirus." And shadow deputy mental health minister Dr Rosena Allin-Khan tweeted: "I wish the Prime Minister a full and speedy recovery and thank the NHS team looking after him and everyone at St Thomas'. "Coronavirus can affect anyone, the symptoms can be really awful. Please, please, remind your friends and family to stay at home! Mr Johnson's predecessor Theresa May tweeted: "My thoughts and prayers are with BorisJohnson and his family as he continues to receive treatment in hospital. This horrific virus does not discriminate. Anyone can get it. Anyone can spread it. Please #StayHomeSaveLives. Former Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron also sent a message of support to Mr Johnson. He said: "Thinking of Boris Johnson and his family tonight. Get well soon. You are in great hands and we all want you safe, wekk and back in 10 Downing Street." Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tweeted: "The news that our Prime Minister has been moved to intensive care deepens our compassion for all who are seriously ill and for those caring for them. I invite all people of faith to join me in praying for BorisJohnson and his loved ones." Loading.... Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will deputise where necessary while he is in intensive care, a No 10 spokesman said. The news came just a few hours after Mr Raab told a press briefing that the PM remained in charge of the Government despite remaining under observation. Mr Raab later said there was an "incredibly strong team spirit behind" Mr Johnson and that ministers were determined to carry out his "direction". Dominic Raab gives update on PM's condition "The Government's business will continue," he said. "The Prime Minister is in safe hands with that brilliant team at St Thomas' hospital, and the focus of the Government will continue to be on making sure that the Prime Minister's direction, all the plans for making sure that we can defeat coronavirus and can pull the country through this challenge, will be taken forward." Loading.... He added: "There's an incredibly strong team spirit behind the Prime Minister, and making sure that we get all of the plans the Prime Minister's instructed us to deliver, to get them implemented as soon as possible. The Conservative Party leader is understood to be conscious and has been moved to the ICU at about 7pm as a precaution should he require ventilation to aid his recovery. Listen to The Leader: Coronavirus Daily podcast Two uniformed police officers were stationed at the entrance to the hospital on Monday evening. BLOOMFIELD, Conn., April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cigna Corporation (NYSE:CI) announced today that, due to the public health impact of COVID-19, the company will hold its 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders in a virtual meeting format only, via audio webcast. The meeting webcast will be held on Wednesday, April 22 at 8:00 a.m. ET. Shareholders are encouraged to access the meeting prior to the start time and allow ample time to log into the meeting webcast and test their computer systems. To join the virtual meeting, shareholders can either: "Join as a Guest" or "Join as a Shareholder." Those participants that join as a "Shareholder" will be required to have a control number and password. The password for the meeting is CI2020. Shareholders attending the Annual Meeting may vote by following the instructions available on the meeting website during the meeting and are encouraged to vote and submit their proxy in advance of the meeting and return their proxies by Internet or by telephone, given the circumstances relating to COVID-19. They may also sign, date and return their proxy card or voting instruction form in the envelope provided. Shareholders are asked to vote as early as possible to avoid any COVID-19 related processing delays. Attending the Virtual Meeting as a Shareholder of Record If you were a shareholder of record as of February 24, 2020, you can attend the meeting by accessing www.meetingcenter.io/212561499 and entering the control number found on the Proxy Card or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and the meeting password, CI2020. Registering to Attend the Virtual Meeting as a Beneficial Owner If you were a beneficial owner of record as of February 24, 2020, and you wish to attend the Annual Meeting, you will need to obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other agent. Once you have received a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other agent, please email a scan or image of it to our transfer agent, Computershare, at [email protected], with "Legal Proxy" noted in the subject line. Please note that the voting instruction form or Notice of Access you received with the Cigna proxy statement or with any subsequent mailing from Cigna with respect to the Annual Meeting is not a legal proxy. If you do request a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other agent, the issuance of the legal proxy will invalidate any prior voting instructions you have given and will prevent you from giving any further voting instructions to your broker, bank or agent to vote on your behalf. You will only be able to vote at the virtual Annual Meeting. Requests for registration must be received by Computershare no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on April 17, 2020. You will then receive a confirmation of your registration, with a control number, by email from Computershare. At the time of the meeting, go to www.meetingcenter.io/212561499 and enter your control number and the meeting password, CI2020. The company intends to resume holding in-person meetings for its 2021 annual meeting and thereafter. About Cigna Cigna Corporation is a global health service company dedicated to improving the health, well-being and peace of mind of those we serve. Cigna delivers choice, predictability, affordability and access to quality care through integrated capabilities and connected, personalized solutions that advance whole person health. All products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Express Scripts companies or their affiliates, and Life Insurance Company of North America. Such products and services include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits, and other related products including group life, accident and disability insurance. Cigna maintains sales capability in over 30 countries and jurisdictions, and has more than 170 million customer relationships throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna, including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com. MEDIA CONTACT Ellie Polack (860) 902-4906 [email protected] SOURCE Cigna Related Links https://www.cigna.com The second prescription is to build on European joint procurement of vaccines and equipment. Much of the struggle right now is getting adequate supplies of equipment like masks to the right places. The pandemic is likely to finally end when there is a vaccine; the risk is that getting adequate supplies of a vaccine will not be easy or harmonious. The European Union has a secret weapon here: its size. With 446 million people, it is the worlds largest market for many drugs and medical devices. Since the H1N1 pandemic of 2009, E.U. member states have increasingly worked together to negotiate and purchase vaccines and medicines. Thats the good news. But it could be done faster and better. Negotiating a price together is hard enough, since some governments have more sympathy for the pharmaceutical companies than others. But even negotiating a price is not the same as buying enough and allocating it according to need. A transparent and reliable mechanism to purchase medicines and devices together and allocate them by need would be a major E.U. contribution to health. That is sure to be especially critical in the coming months once a coronavirus vaccine is developed. A bidding war over scarce vaccines is one individual European countries might often lose, but the Union as a whole, with its immense market, cannot lose. Finally, the member countries need to use the bloc to get their act together when it comes to disaster responses. RescEU, the European Unions organization for crisis response at home and abroad, is a year old. It is set up to look for win-win solutions, like pairing countries with spare firefighting capacity and countries with unexpected wildfires. It is not set up to manage continentwide crises like this pandemic. Nor does it really have its own resources. It relies on member states deciding, case by case, to help out. Only late last month did RescEU start developing stockpiles of key resources like masks, ventilators, vaccines and laboratory equipment for handling a pandemic. The European Union should allocate actual resources to RescEU: above all money that can be quickly released, but also dedicated stockpiles, staff and equipment for key risks. None of this will be easy. Member nations of all political affiliations have resisted E.U. intervention in health care and most public health policy. Driving down prices through joint procurement will be resisted by influential pharmaceutical lobbies, especially in countries like France and Germany. Politicians will resist allocating vital supplies by need rather than nationality. Even within decentralized countries, Spain and Italy as much as the United States, politicians will fight for their own jurisdictions and credit. Big and rich countries will see less value in cooperation than smaller and poorer ones. It is always easy to underfund stockpiles when there is no crisis. But European integration is too far along for it to be avoided. Europes economies are tightly woven together. They can no more be isolated for a year than their individual citizens can be. The European Union institutions will have to lead the members out of their shared public health crisis. That will require measures enable the member states to take joint action. These changes will help the European Union deal with its problems right now, so that its economies and societies can exit their medically-induced coma, and in the future, because threats to health like Covid-19 will not go away. Europe is only as safe as the least safe place in it, and that is why governments and citizens need to ensure the E.U. can make all of Europe safe. Scott L. Greer (@scottlgreer) is a professor of health management and policy, global public health and political science at the University of Michigan. 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. White House senior adviser Jared Kushner's 'ill-conceived' requests and questions for the COVID-19 task force have stolen valuable time from lead health experts during the pandemic, it has been claimed. Kushner has emerged from behind-the-scenes to take a leading role in President Trump's controversial coronavirus task force, but sources said the former real estate developer may be causing more harm than good. The Washington Post reports that comments and requests made by Kushner sidetracked busy task force members who are scrambling to fix the country's already delayed response. White House senior adviser Jared Kushner (pictured) is reportedly distracting health officials on the coronavirus task force, according to The Washington Post This comes amid reports that Trump began fielding advice from people with 'no credentials, experience or discernible insight in navigating a pandemic' whilst working with proven public health experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House's top infectious disease expert. Those people include Kushner, who ran a parallel COVID-19 team from the seventh floor of the Department of Health & Human Services and reportedly sent underdeveloped ideas to health experts who didn't have time to deal with them. One plan involved Google creating a national website to direct people with symptoms to testing sights in Walmart parking lots across America. Sources told WaPo that Dr. Fauci is 'trying to roll out the most ambitious clinical trial ever implemented [to hasten the development of a vaccine], And yet, the nations top health officials are getting calls from the White House or Jareds team asking, "Wouldnt it be nice to do this with Oracle?"' Another focused on an initiative championed by Oracle chairman Larry Ellison to use software to monitor the use of unproven anti-malaria drugs against coronavirus. Neither of these plans have materialized. But sources told The Post that Kushner's brainstorms have repeatedly interrupted health experts already under 'immense pressure' who don't believe they can ignore the first family. 'Right now Fauci is trying to roll out the most ambitious clinical trial ever implemented [to hasten the development of a vaccine]' said a former senior administration official in frequent touch with former colleagues to The Post. 'And yet, the nations top health officials are getting calls from the White House or Jareds team asking, "Wouldnt it be nice to do this with Oracle?"' On Thursday, Kushner spoke for the first time at Trump's daily briefings about fighting COVID-19. During a White coronavirus briefing, Kushner (pictured) was revealed to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency to oversee medical supplies distribution Vice President Mike Pence announced that Kushner would be heading the Federal Emergency Management Agency to spearhead the distribution of desperately needed medical supplies. Kushner, who has no previous government or medical experience, took the chance to blast state governors and senators for their management abilities. 'You have to take inventory in your state, and you have to be able to prove that theres a real need,' said in a lecture to state officials. 'This is a time of crisis, and you're seeing certain people are better managers than others.' He's also taken a swipe at New York over ventilators after Gov. Andrew Cuomo requested 30,000 of them ahead of the state's coronavirus apex. He said: 'I have all this data about I.C.U. capacity. Im doing my own projections, and Ive gotten a lot smarter about this. New York doesnt need all the ventilators.' '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 added. This echoes Trump's accusation that Cuomo is 'exaggerating' New York's medical needs, despite Dr. Fauci saying he trusts the Cuomo estimate. New York has since arranged to obtain 1,000 ventilators from China. On Sunday, Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City pleaded for at least 1,500 ventilators after revealing the city will run out by Wednesday. De Blasio said: 'We have bought a few more days here. We believe now we can get to Tuesday or Wednesday with the supplies we have. 'I want to be clear, it only means a few more days, nothing more I can guarantee beyond that.' Mayor Bill de Blasio (pictured) pleaded for more ventilators over reports that New York City will run out by Wednesday As of Sunday, New York state recorded 122,031 confirmed cases and 4,159 deaths. The Big Apple had a staggering 64,955 infections and a death toll of 2,472. Like his father-in-law, Kushner has received criticism over his response and role on the coronavirus task force. Some have pointed to nepotism that's become commonplace among the Trump administration, while others have questioned his ability to lead with no medical background. Kushner was blasted by fellow officials and on social media after suggesting federal stockpiles cannot be used by states. 'The notion of the federal stockpile was its supposed to be our stockpile, its not supposed to be states stockpiles that they then use,' Kushner said, directing contradicting what the Strategic National Stockpile's website said the stockpile was intended for. Rep. Maxine Waters lashed out at White House senior adviser Jared Kushner on Twitter An outraged Rep. Maxine Waters hit back at Kushner's comments on Twitter. She wrote: 'What the hell, Jared Kushner! What do you mean our stockpile vs state stockpile of health equipment? This is the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!' 'This is a CRISIS! U & your inept father in law bungled the response. You better get the PPE, respirators, ventilators to stars NOW!' As of Sunday, the United States has 337,915 confirmed cases and 9,662 deaths. Amid rising cases of coronavirus pandemic around the world, recruiters, especially multinationals, are rethinking their hiring plans, putting India's top management and technology institutes in trouble. US-based research and advisory firm Gartner has revoked job offers of many Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) students. IIM Calcutta and IIM Ahmedabad have confirmed the revocations. Accoriding to an IIM Calcutta official, "the institute is trying to contact the company to find an agreeable outcome". COVID-19 pandemic LIVE updates "Gartner has revoked offers made at the final placements. It had hired three students. No other firm has revoked final offers. The institute is finding new opportunities for affected students by reaching out to our alumni network, existing and new recruiters. Amit Karna, chairperson of placements at IIM Ahmedabad, 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 Summer placements and job offers were rescinded by a US-based firm, students of IIM Bangalore posted on Linkedin. IIM Bangalore said it was in touch with the company, and trying to find other offers for the affected students. All firms have told us they are going to stand by their commitments. Offers have only been postponed. The companies are trying to work out plans once there is clarity on the lockdown after April 15," U Dinesh Kumar, chair, career development services, IIM Bangalore, said. Similar cancellations are witnessed by Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), especially by international recruiters. The All IITs Placement Committee has written to recruiters, requesting them not to cancel offers. At least one recruiter has cancelled job offers so far for IITs including Delhi, Kanpur, and Madras. V Ramgopal Rao, director, IIT Delhi, said in a LinkedIn post that IIT directors have been appealing to companies not to withdraw offers. If a job or an internship offer is withdrawn at this stage, the student, having given up her/his right to apply for other similar jobs, will end up not having any job right now," he noted. Campuses are trying to ensure that the academic sessions of these students are not affected by the lockdown. 06.04.2020 LISTEN Ghana is on partial lockdown. Most businesses have ceased. Life has almost come to a standstill. A virus we cannot see is threatening our lives and everything around us. Whoever thought a day would come to that man, despite all his sophistication, would bolt at the name of a virus!? While we remain indoors, we should learn the lessons this outbreak is teaching us. The plethora of lessons this virus is teaching us remains one of the most significant facets of this season. People may die but the lessons that came with the outbreak may not. Today, life has been narrowed to its essentials. We are getting to understand that all we have ever needed is actually what can make us survive. Every other thing is a want the expensive cars, luxurious mansions and what have you. Courtesy corona, we know today what our needs are and what our wants are, too. This war against corona has taught us to carve our businesses around lifes needs. When it has all been said and done, people will buy what they NEED to survive. They will patronize services that will aid in their survival; nothing more; nothing less. In other words, if our businesses have the primary needs of people at heart, we will always be in business! Even though there is a lockdown, some businesses are still in business because without them, there is no survival. Without such businesses, it will be hard for many of us to live alone successfully after a few weeks. When we tie our businesses to the survival of people, those businesses will always survive come what may. After the hullabaloo of this outbreak has subsided, you may have to consider a side business in some of the areas listed below. We will always remember coronavirus as one virus that did not only bring death but also great business ideas. 1. Agriculture and the food value chain You cant underestimate the importance of food in life. All the hustle and bustle of life is geared towards putting food on our table. Everybody eats to survive and everybody survives to eat. In order words, if your business is tied to food, it is tied to the survival of people everywhere. It is a product/service everybody can patronize regardless of their race, tribe, religion or whatever. If you cant farm, sell a product or service farmers may need. If it is hard for you to farm, be interested in connecting the product from farmers to consumers. If farming is such a chore for you, carve for yourself a business that is food-related. Whatever regardless, create a business along the food value chain and you will always be in business. One can set up a grocery store. At all costs, everyone will need groceries at a point in their lives and the scare of a lockdown taught us this so well. Of the truth, everything that has gotten to do with food survives when done well. Agriculture is not the future. It is the present. It is what will determine whether or not we will make it to the future. If you have some seed money, try investing it into food after the outbreak is gone and trust me, you will never be out of food! 2. Delivery Service Operations of companies that have returns of millions of dollars have come to a halt but guess who is still operating delivery businesses. From what it seems now, delivery businesses are a need, not want. In the times we live in, we cant afford to transact some businesses in person. That is why we need the delivery man or woman. The secret about todays world is that because a chunk of our daily life has been digitized, we need delivery companies to connect us to our suppliers or service providers. In these times of a lockdown, it appears to be the peak season of delivery businesses because they are running errands for people who would not even patronize their services on a normal day. Starting a delivery company doesnt require much. You first start with a motorbike and every other thing will fall in place. If you have some money to spare and you want to invest such in a business, give the delivery business a thought. With a well-organized system, you can reap your investment in no time. If you invest in a delivery business, you are investing in a need. As long as people exist, needs exist, too. 3. Pharmaceuticals We all get ill at a point in our lives. No matter how much faith we have, it is human to get sick sometimes. Just as we need food to be healthy, we need medication to be healthy, too. Otherwise speaking, the pharmaceutical business is as important as agriculture. One business area that has profited very much from this outbreak is the pharmaceuticals. Though a business may not be booming, as usual, they have run out of face masks and gloves among others because everyone wants to stay safe and healthy. Starting a pharmaceutical business may be a bit capital intensive but one can always start from somewhere, especially, dealing in some specific medications. As long as people live, they will get ill. As long as they fall ill, they will need drugs to get better. In all your thinking, think about a business in the health sector. No matter which business you have, think of an extra one that is directly connected to the primary needs of people. As long as people need to survive, they will need your business to survive! Kobina Ansah is a Ghanaian playwright and Chief Scribe of Scribe Communications (www.scribecommltd.com), an Accra-based writing firm. His new play, Emergency Wedding, happens on Saturday, 25th & Sunday, 26th April 2020 at National Theatre. Call 0269654873 for details. The National Governors Association wants U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to release emergency education aid within the next two weeks in order to help state executives address critical needs due to the coronavirus pandemic. The letter two governors sent to DeVos Friday on behalf of the NGAs education and workforce committee also asks her to give them, their peers, and education leaders maximum flexibility in how they spend the money; a fast process for approving waivers from federal accountability mandates; and more information about the funding provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act signed into law by President Donald Trump last month. The letter underscores a crucial issue with respect to the CARES Act and its billions in aid for K-12 schools : speed. Even as states scramble to help students connect with educators so that some form of learning can continue, the relief money could take weeks to reach states and then educators and students in need, according to the timeline laid out in the law. DeVos has 30 days after the CARES Act was signed to officially invite states to apply for the aid, and must approve or deny those applications within 30 days of receiving them. School districts will get at least 90 percent of a $13.5 billion pot earmarked to help them address critical needs in the face of the coronavirus. And a separate fund of nearly $3 billion can be directed by governors to both K-12 and higher education. States need time to establish both structures to evaluate student needs and processes to rapidly deploy these funds. That work cannot begin until the Department provides guidance about how and when it will send funding to the states, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, and Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, told DeVos. We urge the Department to act quickly to distribute these funds. See: Education Weeks Map of Coronavirus and School Closures In an interview with Education Week blogger Rick Hess, DeVos said the Education Department is focused on implementing the CARES Act, but did not provide a timeline for when and how exactly states could access CARES Act money. She also said the Trump administration has taken prompt action to help educators and students, and that the president has been very supportive of our decisions to provide as much flexibility as possible to ensure learning continues for students of all ages. Education advocates and some lawmakers are already looking ahead to another round of coronavirus relief that many of them say should focus on access to the internet and connected devices . But Congress wont be back for over two weeks, and more federal aid money for schools (assuming its included in a new aid bill) could take several weeks longer than that to be enacted. The CARES Act makes it clear that school districts can use the money for a wide variety of purposes, from helping students learn remotely to mental health services. Schools that tap the aid money are supposed to make every effort to continue paying teachers and other staff amid the upheaval, as states and local communities brace for a major economic downturn. For more on the education and other emergency funds in the CARES Act, see the chart below: Photo: Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos testifies at a House appropriations subcommittee budget hearing in February. --Graeme Sloan/Education Week Follow us on Twitter @PoliticsK12 . And follow the Politics K-12 reporters @EvieBlad @Daarel and @AndrewUjifusa . (Bloomberg) -- Congresss near unanimity on last months $2.2 trillion coronavirus rescue bill has given way to partisan finger-pointing that threatens to poison the debate when lawmakers try to construct another emergency boost to the struggling economy. The crisis has only worsened since President Donald Trump signed the law on March 27. But there is little consensus on next steps as patients flood hospitals in some U.S. cities and leaders extend the economic shutdown. Trump and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer late last week exchanged biting letters accusing each other of fumbling the initial response. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blamed Democrats for distracting the nation from an emerging threat with an impeachment trial. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Trumps slow response has cost lives. The rancor was growing as the number of Covid-19 cases in the U.S. pushed past 325,000, deaths exceeded 9,200 and government data began showing the pandemics rapid and widespread impact on the worlds biggest economy. Meanwhile, the current rescue plan got off to a rocky start, as small businesses struggled to submit documents and lenders ran into trouble with the governments portal for loans. The increasingly alarming numbers prompted Pelosi to scale back her earlier ambitions for Congresss next coronavirus stimulus package. She said Congress should update the current legislation to provide more money for small businesses and individuals. Pelosi said over the weekend she wants the legislation to get a vote this month. Yet there isnt consensus on what the next stimulus should look like. McConnell told the Associated Press in an interview that there will be a fourth virus-related bill, but said he and Pelosi have a little different point of view about the timing of the next package and what should be included. Even after last weeks jobless claims shattered all records, House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy said he didnt think a fourth tranche of aid is appropriate at this time, adding that a tweak to the most recent legislation might be in order. He also took the opportunity to accuse Pelosi of delaying earlier stimulus packages. Story continues Senate Small Business Committee Chairman Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida, said Congress will have to at least approve more money for small business loans created in the last virus relief bill. He said Congress could try to plus up what we did already, which wouldnt require calling lawmakers back to Washington, as long as no members object. Were going to have to go back and do more, and probably more than once, Rubio said Monday in a CNBC interview. The House and Senate arent scheduled to return until at least April 20. Equipment Shortages Meanwhile, Trumps plan to nominate a White House lawyer to the newly created inspector general post overseeing coronavirus stimulus spending was panned by Democrats, who said an administration insider isnt the right person for the job. Lawmakers in both parties are already proposing an assessment of the U.S. response to the outbreak, which has exposed shortages of equipment and the faltering efforts of the federal government to get and distribute medical supplies where needed. But even what form that takes is the subject of partisan bickering. Pelosi said some after-action report on the governments virus response will come in time. Representative Steve Scalise, the second-ranking House Republican lit into Pelosi on Twitter: Youd think 3 years of failed investigations & an impeachment flop would teach Dems their lesson but apparently even a pandemic wont stop them. Impeachment has been a running theme for Republicans in countering criticism of Trumps actions. I think it diverted the attention of the government because everything every day was all about impeachment, McConnell said on the syndicated The Hugh Hewitt Show. In an unusual letter responding to Schumer on Thursday, Trump also raised the impeachment as a distraction and tried to turn it on his critics. 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. Grim Toll Schumer had written that as the virus outbreak spreads, 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. While the November election may be far from the minds of voters now, the outbreak is going to define the fight for the White House and control of Congress. Both sides are attempting to set the narrative for the campaign, including the GOP claims the impeachment trial distracted from the emerging threat. Based on how quickly voters pick up on partisan cues from their party, its likely to gain at least some traction with core supporters, Josh Huder, a senior fellow at Georgetown Universitys governmental affairs institute, said of that argument. But in Trumps first public comments about the virus on Jan. 22 -- the day that the first American case was reported and one day after his impeachment trial in the Senate began -- the president said he was not worried about the virus. No. Not at all, Trump said. 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. The White House on Jan. 29 did announce the formation of the Coronavirus Task Force to help monitor the spread of the virus and provide updates to the president. By Jan. 31, the administration declared the coronavirus a public health emergency, announced Chinese travel restrictions, and suspended entry into the U.S. for foreign nationals who pose a risk of transmitting the coronavirus. Concern Rising Still, Trump continued to publicly downplay the impacts, including on Feb. 10 in interviews and a speech suggesting the outbreak would dissipate with the warm spring weather. As late as Feb. 24 -- three weeks after the impeachment trial had ended -- Trump was still saying and tweeting that the outbreak was very much under control. The next day, he tweeted criticism of Schumer for proposing that the White House request for $2.5 billion to prepare for coronavirus was inadequate.Over the same period, concern in Congress was rising, but most lawmakers werent sounding alarms.There was a Senate briefing by administration health officials on Jan. 24 but not all senators attended. Republican Senators Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Jim Risch of Idaho, along with Democrats Patty Murray of Washington and Bob Menendez of New Jersey, afterward released a tepid joint statement saying they were monitoring the outbreak and in communication with agencies on actions and precautions to prevent further spread of this virus. Two days later, Schumer called on the Department of Health and Human Services to declare coronavirus a public health emergency, which would free up $85 million in funding for federal agencies -- a fraction of what was eventually needed. While the virus threat by the end of January was becoming a more prominent concern for other lawmakers, it still had not fully crystallized. On Jan. 27 Representative Rosa DeLauro, chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, issued a statement calling the diseases spread in China troubling and promised to provide federal health officials more funding if necessary. But DeLauro also said at the moment, prominent medical experts believe influenza poses a far greater risk to people across the United States than the coronavirus. Republican Senator Tom Cotton was one of the few who was early to warn about the threat from the virus. He said Tuesday on The Hugh Hewitt Show he began looking at the potential impacts of the virus in mid-January. But, Cotton said,I have to tell you that in mid-January and late-January, unfortunately, Washington, especially the Congress, was consumed with another matter you may recall the partisan impeachment of the president. (Updates with Rubio comment beginning in the eighth paragraph.) For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. KAMPALA All 231 samples tested for COVID-19 at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) in Entebbe today Monday April 06 have all returned negative. It is a good news day in Uganda as the countrys confirmed cases remain at 52. According to a press release by the Ministry of Health signed by the Director-General Health Services, Dr. Henry Mwebesa, the ministry is currently undertaking intensified efforts that are aimed at tracing and testing individuals who returned to Uganda between March 7-22. Therefore, we appeal to all those who will be contacted by the field teams to comply and avail themselves for testing. Dr. Mwebesa said all cumulative samples tested at UVRI stands at 3160 while a total of 657 are under follow-up in institutional quarantine while a total of 855 contacts of the confirmed cases are also under follow up. Monday MoH statement also adds all the 52 confirmed COVID-19 cases are in stable condition at Mulago, Entebbe Grade B , Adjumani and Hoima hospitals. Dr. Mwebesa re-emphasized that Uganda has not registered any COVID-19 related death. The Uganda government has taken firm steps to prevent the spread, including instituting a total lockdown in the country with movement of persons restricted and a night curfew enforced. The initiatives are intended to give the Ministry of Health the opportunity to trace all the persons at risk of contracting and spreading the virus such that its threat is completely decimated. President Museveni is expected to adress the country once again on Tuesday to enumerate new measures and updates. Add, on Monday Mr Museveni too said it was good news all the days tests were negative. He wrote on his Facebook page: Countrymen, Countrywomen and the Bazzukulu. Today, the 6th of April 2020, 231 samples were tested for Covid-19. A total of 119 samples were from those in quarantine and 112 were from the villages where the returnees who had bypassed the quarantine had had contact with them. The good thing is that all were negative. We shall continue informing you. Signed: Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Gen (rtd) President of Uganda Related A further 83 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Iraq, pushing the tally since the start of the outbreak to above 950, the country's Health Ministry confirmed on Sunday. The overall number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease in Iraq now stands at 961, the ministry announced in a Facebook post. A total of 279 people have recovered after contracting the disease and 61 people have died. The government has imposed a curfew to limit the population's movement as part of efforts to curb the spread of the disease. The curfew is set to expire on April 11, and the country's state institutions, schools, and universities have been closed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Partnership Demonstrates Safety and Utility of Unmanned Aircraft for Commercial Uses SAN DIEGO, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 3, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) flew its SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) in the skies above Southern California as part of a joint flight demonstration with NASA. GA-ASI was selected to participate in NASA's Systems Integration and Operationalization (SIO) activity, which includes multiple flight demonstrations focusing on different types of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and their respective flight environments. GA-ASI and NASA have worked collaboratively since 2014 to prove the safety of flying large UAS in the National Airspace System (NAS). GA-ASI demonstrated ways in which SkyGuardian can be used for a variety of commercial and public services applications, using its onboard sensors. Services featured in the demo included inspections of hundreds of miles of rail, power line, communication and canal infrastructure, agriculture monitoring and topological surveys, as well as wildfire and flood monitoring. "Our work with NASA is opening the eyes of regulators to the safety and utility of unmanned aircraft systems in the performance of certain tasks for public and commercial good," said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. "Our aircraft have already played important roles during crisis management events such as wildfire containment. Our airborne sensors can see through thick smoke, enabling us to inform ground personnel about the locations of fire lines so they can deploy resources efficiently. The SIO demonstration highlighted how the aircraft can be used for many other civilian and commercial missions." After taking off from GA-ASI's Gray Butte Flight Operations Facility near Palmdale, Calif., SkyGuardian flew through the NAS in Southern California towards Yuma, Ariz. while being operated by a remote pilot based at Gray Butte. The pilot used the GA-ASI-developed Detect and Avoid System (DAAS) to provide situational awareness of air traffic near the UAS. The DAAS includes a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS II) used in manned aircraft that fly in civil airspace. It also has an air-to-air, "Due Regard" Radar to provide detection and tracking capability of any nearby aircraft which may not have active transponders. Using the DAAS, the remote pilot was able to "see" and navigate around airborne traffic just like an airborne pilot. "NASA's goal to help accelerate routine UAS operations into the national airspace has moved one step closer with this successful flight demo," said Mauricio Rivas, UAS integration in the NAS project manager at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center. "Our efforts with General Atomics and our other SIO industry partners will help commercial UAS move closer towards certification." GA-ASI's technology partners for the demonstration include Honeywell (supplied the TCAS II for the DAAS), and Collins Aerospace for the Command and Non-Payload Communications (CNPC) datalink radios, which is part of the Command and Control datalinks system. Hi-resolution images of SkyGuardian are available to qualified media outlets from GA-ASI. For more information about the flight demonstration, go to http://www.ga-asi.com/nasa-sio-demo . About GA-ASI General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a leading designer and manufacturer of proven, reliable Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems, including the Predator RPA series and the Lynx Multi-mode Radar. With more than six million flight hours, GA-ASI provides long-endurance, mission-capable aircraft with integrated sensor and data link systems required to deliver persistent flight that enables situational awareness and rapid strike. The company also produces a variety of ground control stations and sensor control/image analysis software, offers pilot training and support services, and develops meta-material antennas. For more information, visit www.ga-asi.com. Predator, Lynx, SeaGuardian and SkyGuardian are registered trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. GA-ASI Media Relations General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. +1 (858) 524-8101 ASI-MediaRelations@ga-asi.com Related Images ga-asis-mq-9b-skyguardian.jpg GA-ASI's MQ-9B SkyGuardian The SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) in the skies above Southern California as part of a joint flight demonstration with NASA. Managing a blended family can be challenging at the best of times add in a contentious custody battle and a global pandemic and things get infinitely more complicated. Amy* is a Brooklyn-based mom who shares her 7-year-old son with an ex, as well as a 2-year-old baby girl and a 15-year-old stepson with her husband. Amy, with her lawyer Leslie Barbara, has been battling her ex over custody issues since 2017. But when the 42-year-old mother decided to temporarily stay in Virginia where her husband currently resides and works as New York City grew into a coronavirus hot spot, things escalated. Now, Amy opens up about managing everything amid an international health crisis. My ex and I already had a very contentious custody situation, and it has been exacerbated by everything going on with coronavirus. Because of the existing custody agreement with my ex, who is based in Brooklyn, I live in New York with our 7-year-old son Connor, and Sara, my 2-year-old daughter. My husband sees us maybe once a month at best as he lives and works in the Virginia area. Connor never had an intact family my ex and I were always apart, never lived together. He doesnt have that sense of a full family. But he has a decent relationship with his dad, and I think they have fun. We had not planned as far in advance for our visit to see my husband as we normally would have; we were scared and wanted to see one another. We planned to go Virginia on a Friday and be back on a Sunday, per usual. Things then changed rapidly, schools were canceled and concerns for N.Y.C. grew rapidly as well, so we arranged to stay in Virginia for a bit, but continue visitation as normal. The rapid advancement of N.Y.C. becoming a hotspot with severely limited medical resources even for non-COVID related things informed my request for Connor to skip a single visit with my ex just until the worst there had passed. However, my ex refused to make up his weekends at a later date; he wanted Connor to come back to the city. Story continues So now I am bringing Connor to Brooklyn for his two-night visit with his father. Im not happy risking everyones health as I cant predict how this pandemic will play out. My husband and I feel that because the population in New York is so dense, things are going to get scarier; things there just feel apocalyptic. [Editors Note: Virginia has issued a shelter-in-place order until June 10, while New York City has done the same through April 30.] Brazil Photo Press/SplashNews.com People are seen wearing masks in Central Park during the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic in the United States. If [my husband and kids] could all be living in the New York area by now, we would have been doing that. My husband looked for jobs there, but his work is very specific, and he needs to stay in Virginia. Plus, we wouldnt want to uproot him and Patrick, my stepson. Connor is very close to his sister and stepbrother, and he should be able to be with them, but because of the [custody] stipulations that existed before I was married, we have to go back and forth between the two states. In Virginia, we have a house with a backyard; Connor has his own room. It would be crushing to stay inside our N.Y.C. apartment all day, especially for a seven-year-old and a two-year-old. Its an emotionally challenging situation, even aside from having three kids in the house; two of them are homeschooling and my husband is working from home. And now, Im doing what feels like gymnastics just to be a family. We just want to keep things as normal as possible. And that does include with Connors dad. I know my ex wants to see his son. I understand that. I just want us to be able to have a conversation of how and when we can make that work in the safest way for everyone. I think this highlights how trapped kids can get in the parents choices, not allowing for the ability to really put the child first. Steve Sanchez/Pacific Press/Shutterstock The U.S.N.S. Comfort arrives in NYC to help with the overcrowding at city hospitals with Covid-19 patients. The challenges of dealing with a contentious relationship and sharing a child are so hard, especially with all thats going on. Sometimes I find myself thinking, Would I rather get sick than make my sons dad mad at me? And make what is already so complicated even more complicated? Its heartbreaking. My overall hope was that we could agree that a single weekend of missed visitation would be manageable to my sons father so we could pass the worst of the pandemic peak. However, he refused and has clearly maintained that he would use legal force against me. I have no desire for more legal complications for myself or Connor, and will let Connor return to see his dad. The hardest part? Upon his return to Virginia, Connor will have limited physical contact with his brother, sister and my husband. I will do my best to protect myself, but Connor and I are very close, he is deeply connected with his sister. In New York, its just the three of us almost all the time. As recommended for anyone leaving the New York tri-state area, we will treat ourselves as though we have been exposed to the coronavirus and follow local quarantine requirements. [Editors note: Names have been changed due to ongoing court proceedings.] As told to Morgan Evans MORE VOICES FROM THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS: Johnny Depp jokes that his severed finger gushed like Vesuvius after it was sliced off during a blood-curdling fight with ex-wife Amber Heard in exclusive video footage obtained by DailyMail.com. The Captain Jack Sparrow actor, 56, chuckles on camera as he reveals how he nicknamed the permanently-damaged digit Little Richard. He also claims during a series of clips that he protected Heard in the aftermath of the March 2015 dust-up, pretending he trapped it in a door when the gruesome injury allegedly happened when she hurled a vodka bottle at him. I was trying to get the finger back, you know, he says, with a wry smile. And then deal with the insanity of having had my finger chopped off by this woman that I was married to. The violent incident took place a month after the pair were married and while Depp was filming the fifth installment of the Pirates of Caribbean movie franchise in Australia. It has become the couples most memorable - and hotly contested - clash, with both sides offering radically different accounts in a string of legal cases that followed their bitter May 2016 split. Johnny Depp jokes that his severed finger gushed like 'Vesuvius' after it was sliced off during a blood-curdling fight with ex-wife Amber Heard in exclusive video footage obtained by DailyMail.com DailyMail.com's exclusive video is the first time the Oscar nominee has been seen on camera recalling the violent March 2015 night in his own words. Pictured: Depp's finger after the gruesome injury Heard, 33, maintains in court filings that Depp severed the tip of his right middle finger while smashing a phone against a wall during a three-day booze and ecstasy bender. She also accuses her ex-lover of ripping off her nightgown, grabbing her breasts and strangling her during the horrific ordeal, producing texts from Depp to suggest the injury was self-inflicted. I cut the top of my middle finger off What should I do!?? Except, of course, go to a hospital. Im so embarrassed for jumping into anything with her F**K THE WORLD!!! JD, he wrote in one message. The father-of-two also wrote to his personal doctor, David Kipper. Thank you for everything. I have chopped off my left middle finger as a reminder that I should never cut my finger off again!! I love you, brother. Johnny. Depp has addressed the bloody altercation in court documents but DailyMail.coms exclusive video is the first time the Oscar nominee has been seen on camera recalling it in his own words. The clip was part of a videotaped deposition for an entirely separate legal case settled last year in which Depp accused a former lawyer, Jake Bloom, of wrongly collecting millions of dollars in fees. Basically I had a pretty nasty injury that I actually had to protect her at the time, he says. And so I said that it was caught in the door in these huge accordion doors at this house, that wasn't the case at all. She smashed, she threw a vodka bottle at me and my, my hand was resting on the marble of the bar like that. The first bottle went whoosh just past my ear. And the second one was a larger bottle and she threw it from about this distance and it smashed into the bar, which, this finger who I now call little Richard, was, the tip of the finger was severed and all the bone in here was completely shattered. Pointing to the visible scar on his finger, Depp, looking uncharacteristically clean-cut in a navy Tom Ford suit and tie, goes on: I mean, it looked like Vesuvius and then I got infections. I ended up with MRSA twice, so it was very complicated. I was trying to just get the finger back, you know. And then deal with the insanity of having had my finger chopped off by this woman that I was married to. DailyMail.com understands that Blooms attorney, Bryan Freedman, brought the injury up because Blooms law firm had prepared the post-nup agreement that Heard was asked to sign the night before the fight. The violent incident took place a month after the pair were married and while Depp was filming the fifth installment of the Pirates of Caribbean movie franchise in Australia. The Captain Jack Sparrow actor, 56, chuckles on camera as he reveals how he nicknamed the permanently-damaged digit 'Little Richard.' Pictured: Depp's finger after surgery Heard, 33, maintains in court filings that Depp severed his middle finger while smashing a phone against a wall during a three-day booze and ecstasy bender It has become the couple's most memorable clash, with both offering different accounts in a string of legal cases that followed their bitter May 2016 split The clip was part of a videotaped deposition for an entirely separate legal case settled last year in which Depp accused a former lawyer of wrongly collecting millions of dollars in fees Pointing to the visible scar on his finger, Depp, looking uncharacteristically clean-cut in a navy Tom Ford suit and tie, goes on: 'I mean, it looked like Vesuvius and then I got infections' Depp has claimed in court filings that the Aquaman actress flew into a rage and attacked him after being asked to sign. She claims, however, that Depps temper flared as he accused her of having had an affair with her former co-star, Billy Bob Thornton. Depp does not dispute one of the more macabre elements of Heards horrifying account - that he dipped the gnarled digit in blue paint afterwards and wrote Billy Bob and Easy Amber on a mirror. Sources close to the star say he puts it down to being in an extreme state of shock. Freedman doesnt bring that up, but he does ask Depp about the story about a bottle and then Amber apparently created some story you punching a wall or something like that? She says that I did it myself, yeah, By punching a wall, Depp scoffs. I tell you, Id like to see the reactions from scientists, I mean, physicians, who are familiar with this sort of trauma, this sort of thing, because Id love to see her explain how someone hits a wall and if they put their fist through it, its dry wall or something. Depp and Bloom fell out after he accused his longtime lawyer Jake Bloom of improperly collecting more than $30m during their 18-year working relationship. An eight-figure settlement was reached last October, though Blooms camp said they paid out only fraction of the original demand. For Depp, the legal battles are far from over, however, as he prepares to square up to his ex-wife to in two separate defamation lawsuits either side of the Atlantic. The Charlie and Chocolate Factory star has taken on News Group Newspapers in London over a 2018 article in The Sun newspaper that described him as 'wife beater', with Heard scheduled to give testimony. Later this year hostilities will switch to Virginia where Depp has filed a $50m suit over a Washington Post op-ed in which Heard lamented her experiences as a domestic violence victim. Depp does not dispute one of the more macabre elements of Heard's horrifying account - that he dipped the gnarled digit in blue paint afterwards and wrote 'Billy Bob' and 'Easy Amber' on a mirror (pictured) Heard claims, however, that Depp's temper flared as he accused her of having had an affair with her former co-star, Billy Bob Thornton (pictured together on the set of London Fields) Depp also claims during a series of clips that he 'protected' Heard in the aftermath of the March 2015 dust-up, pretending he trapped it in a door when the gruesome injury allegedly happened when she hurled a vodka bottle at him'. Pictured: Depp waving with his other hand wrapped up as he headed back to the US for surgery after the fight As part of Depp's $50m defamation case against Heard, he included images of his own bruised and battered face (pictured ) following Heard's alleged attacks WHAT JOHNNY DEPP HAS SAID ABOUT THE INFAMOUS FIGHT: IN HIS 2019 DEFAMATION SUIT While I was in Australia filming a movie approximately one month after I married Ms. Heard, on a day where my then-lawyer tried to discuss with Ms. Heard the need that she sign a post-nuptial agreement with me, she went berserk and began throwing bottles at me. The first bottle sailed past my head and missed, but then she threw a large glass vodka bottle. The bottle struck the marble countertop where my hand was resting and exploded. The projectiles impact shattered the bone in my finger and entirely severed the tip of my finger ... I had to have 3 surgeries to reconstruct my finger and contracted MRSA three times. I feared that I would lose my finger, my arm, and my life.' 'To conceal the fact that her domestic violence against me caused me grievous bodily injury, Ms. Heard has concocted various, shifting, false stories claiming that I cut off my own finger. First, in the midst of our divorce case, Ms. Heard caused to be leaked to the media a fake story that I cut off my finger by punching a hole in a wall. Now, Ms. Heard has crafted a new, but equally fake, story that I cut off my finger by smashing a plastic phone to smithereens while violently beating her in a three-day ordeal. Advertisement The former lovebirds met on the set of The Rum Diary back in 2011, married four years later - but split in May 2016 amid a slew of shuddering domestic violence allegations and tabloid headlines. They looked to have put their feud behind them after agreeing to a $7m divorce settlement until Heard wrote in December 2018 that she was a domestic violence survivor. Her essay did not mention Depp by name but he filed for defamation in March 2019, saying it led to speculation that he was the abuser and caused him to lose the role of Captain Jack Sparrow. Heards team failed to have the case thrown out after a judge in Fairfax County, Virginia agreed last week that it could indeed be interpreted as a reference to her ex-husband. Depp has always argued that he was the victim of an 'elaborate hoax' instigated by his ex-wife, who faked her injuries with makeup after a blowout May 2016 fight that finally ended their toxic marriage. 'Ms. Heard is not a victim of domestic abuse; she is the perpetrator,' his defamation suit alleges. 'She hit, punched and kicked me. She also repeatedly and frequently threw objects into my body and head, including heavy bottles, soda cans, burning candles, television remote controls and paint thinner cans, which severely injured me.' Heard responded with a 300-page filing of her own, cataloguing the years of alleged abuse she suffered at the hands of the monster and recalling many of the allegations she made during their divorce The case is due to be heard in August. Amber Heard and her media co-conspirators continue to peddle the unsustainable hoax that Johnny Depp cut his own finger off in a series of ever-evolving and more ridiculous scenarios, Depps attorney Adam Waldman told DailyMail.com The evidence unambiguously shows, however, that the morning after Ms Heard was asked to sign a post-nuptial agreement, she severed Mr Depps finger with a thrown bottle. A lawyer for Heard countered: Just last month it was revealed in a UK court that Mr Depp admitted to cutting off his own finger and sent multiple text message to his doctor about it. Once again, the evidence is inconsistent with Mr Depps self-serving account. IN HIS DECEMBER 12, 2018 DEPOSITION IN THE BLOOM SUIT: Basically I had a pretty nasty injury that err, err, that I actually I, I, I had to protect her at the time. And so I said that it was caught in the door in these, these huge accordion doors at this house, that wasn't the case at all. Um, she, she smashed, uh, she threw a vodka bottle at me and my, my hand was resting on the marble of the bar like that. And the first bottle went whoosh just past my ear. And the second one was a larger bottle and she threw it from about this distance and it smashed into the bar, which, um, this, this finger who I now call little Richard, uh, um, was, was, uh, the, the tip of the finger was severed and the, the, all the, all the bone in here was, uh, completely shattered. I mean, it looked like Vesuvius and then I got infections. I ended up with MRSA twice, so it was very complicated. I was trying to just get the finger back, you know. Mmm. And, and then deal with the insanity of having had my finger chopped off by this woman that I was married to. I personally dont recall any of that stuff. When I was down, when I was off, not being able to work, because of the severity of the injury I had to go back to Los Angeles and have surgery. Erm, so most of the time what I was dealing with was just, erm recuperating, or just, you know, I didnt want to lose the finger because MRSA, the MRSA infection, is really quite evil and I ended up with it twice. I was really just worried about losing a finger or an arm or She says that I did it myself by punching a wall I tell you, ahh, Id like to see the reactions from scientists, I mean, physicians, who, you know, are familiar, you know, with this sort of trauma, this sort of thing, because Id love to see her explain how someone hits a wall and if they put their fist through it that means that its dry wall or something, Its not WHAT AMBER HEARD HAS SAID: IN HER 300-PAGE REPLY TO HIS DEFAMATION CASE In one of the most horrific and scariest moments of this three-day ordeal, Johnny grabbed me by the neck and collarbone and slammed me against the countertop. I struggled to stand up as he strangled me, but my arms and feet kept slipping and sliding on to the spilled alcohol and were dragged against the broken glass on the countertop and floor, which repeatedly slashed my feet and arms. Scared for my life, I told Johnny, You are hurting me and cutting me. Johnny ignored me, continuing to hit me with the back of one closed hand, and slamming a hard plastic phone against a wall with his other until it was smashed into smithereens. While he was smashing the phone, Johnny severely injured his finger, cutting off the tip of it Once I was able to get away, I barricaded myself in an upstairs bedroom. On the third day of Johnny staying awake without sleeping, I came downstairs to find numerous messages Johnny had written to me around the house, on the walls and on my clothes, written in a combination of oil paint and the blood from his broken and severed finger. Johnny also urinated all over the house. Advertisement The former lovebirds met on the set of The Rum Diary back in 2011, married four years later - but split in May 2016 amid a slew of shuddering domestic violence allegations and tabloid headlines. Pictured: Heard during her 2016 deposition where she described punching Depp in the face in attempt to stop him from hurting her sister, she said Heard cataloged the 'horrific' abuse she claims to have suffered at Depp's hands, describing him as 'the monster' and recalling many of the allegations she made during their divorce. The filing included photos of bruises and scars (left and right) By PTI HOWRAH: Amid a raging controversy over people bursting crackers in response to the prime minister's '9 pm-9 minutes' call, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Monday said there was nothing wrong with lighting fireworks as an "expression of happiness", amid the nationwide lockdown. Several overenthusiastic people on Sunday ventured out into the streets, lit firecrackers and released paper lanterns, blowing holes into the primary intent of the lockdown order. Social media exploded, with netizens questioning the reason behind such celebrations at a time when the country, and the entire world, was struggling to contain the pandemic. In Kolkata, police had launched a crackdown and arrested 98 people for flouting the norms. The prime minister had urged people to switch off lights at their homes and light up lamps, candles or mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 pm on Sunday to display the country's "collective resolve" to defeat coronavirus. ALSO READ: COVID-19 LIVE Ghosh on Monday came out in support of those that burst firecrackers and said there was nothing wrong with it. "People are living in a crisis situation due to this ongoing lockdown and the pandemic. Nobody had asked them to burst firecrackers. However, if they do, what is the harm in it? This is an expression of happiness. "I want to ask the environmentalists who said that the air quality deteriorated What about the entire year when the pollution is at its peak? I would request everybody not to make an issue out of this incident," Ghosh said here. Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee had on Sunday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's lights-out call and said India was the first-ever nation to celebrate a pandemic. "With the firecrackers, fancy diyas & sky lanterns, we have become the first-ever Nation to celebrate a pandemic #COVID19. I am also contemplating how many actually followed the norms of #lockdown to gear up for this. What was being preached: self-isolation or self-destruction? (sic)" he wrote on his Twitter handle. The nationwide lockdown in India is likely to impact the textiles sector both in terms of demand and supply and the EBITDA might drop by least 15 per cent in 2020-21 across the industry portfolio, a report said. India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) in a report said the fall in consumer income and increase in household leverage will continue to have a negative sentiment through FY21. While India's dependency on imports is limited, it is dependent on exports and hence, the return of demand from the key markets including the US, the UK, the UAE and China is critical. The EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) will drop at least 15 per cent in FY21 across its textile portfolio, the report said. Further, it said the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to continue to impact the global textile production and supply chains and thereby textile product prices. The Indian textiles industry has taken a major hit because most of Indian yarn exports are to China, it added. The agency estimated that India's exports will be substantially hit till the first half of FY21, which had already reduced by more than 40 per cent till January 2020 due to the US-China trade war. Meanwhile, it revealed that cotton prices continued to soften in February 2020, due to lower export demand and squeezed domestic consumption. They fell to Rs 111 per kg in February 2020, compared to Rs 118 in the same month in 2019, on account of reduced offtake by mill owners, which are facing the heat of excess production and supply disruptions amid the spread of COVID-19. However, the Cotton Corporation of India continues to hold up the stock (40 per cent of total arrivals) and would maintain the current prices over the short term. While in the long term, a higher uncertainty regarding the duration of lockdown would be negative for the prices and pressure the liquidity of cotton spinners who are holding a cotton inventory of three to four months. The cotton yarn industry continues to face a subdued export demand. With the sudden lockdown of the global market and lack of incremental orders from China, yarn players have begun to face pressure on liquidity, despite the softening of cotton prices. This has led to an oversupply in the domestic market which has impacted yarn prices, while the demand is not likely to improve owing to the lockdown in India and other export destinations, the opening of factories in China could be a light in the dark for theseplayers, it added. The majority of downstream players had to incur inventory losses due to the ongoing geo-political tensions in crude oil which led to the prices declining by more than 40 per cent month-in-month in March 2020. The losses are unlikely to be passed on till the short term. However, lower working capital requirements and reduced raw material costs could improve the margins of the man made fibre industry in the medium term. However, lower raw material availability (purified terephthalic acid) from China amid the COVID-19 led disruptions could lead to a steady increase in domestic prices. The fabric industry registered a marginal improvement in exports in 10 month of FY20, coupled with lower raw material costs and increased export demand from Bangladesh and other countries. However, Ind-Ra said, beginning February, the industry is facing a downfall with reduced domestic demand, leading to inventory piling up. The fabric industry is dominated by few players which have strong liquidity to manage the downside caused by COVID-19, while small and medium-size players would face the brunt of economic lockdown, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) LINCOLN The nations top infectious disease specialist spoke to Gov. Pete Ricketts on Monday, telling him they were on the same page about slowing the spread of coronavirus. Ricketts shared details from the noon call in his daily coronavirus briefing Monday afternoon. The call also included Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds. According to Ricketts, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is advising President Donald Trump on the pandemic, did not back away from his comment last week that he didnt understand why all states were not under a stay-at-home order to counter the sometimes deadly virus. Nebraska and Iowa are among eight states that have not issued such orders, despite urging from some state lawmakers, other governors and numerous state residents. (Fauci) said he did not mean that to override our ability as states to manage our states, Ricketts said. He certainly said it was not meant to be a criticism. At the White House press briefing later Monday, Fauci said that Nebraska and Iowa are doing the functional equivalent of stay-at-home orders and that their measures incorporate a lot of things that other states are doing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said it will be a long war against coronavirus and exhorted the citizens to not be tired or take rest as they have to emerge victorious. I state it with full responsibility that this is a long war against the coronavirus pandemic. But we do not have to get tired or take a rest in this war. We have to emerge victorious. Today, the country has only one goal and one resolve: to win this war, said PM Modi in his address to BJP karyakartas on the partys foundation day. The PM underlined how India understood seriousness of this disease and waged a timely war against it. He said Indias efforts have set an example before the world. The PM also praised the maturity shown by 130 crore Indians during this nationwide lockdown. Indias efforts have set an example before the world in tackling coronavisus.India is one of the countries which understood the seriousness of this disease and waged a timely war against it. India took several decisions and tried its best to implement them on ground, said the PM via video call to BJP members. PM Modi to Akshay Kumar & Mukesh Ambani: Watch who all lit diyas | 9 pm, 9 min The death toll due to novel coronavirus rose to 109 and the number of cases in the country climbed to 4,067 on Monday, according to the Union Health Ministry. Maharashtra has reported the most coronavirus deaths at 45, followed by Gujarat at 11, Madhya Pradesh at nine, Telangana and Delhi at seven each, Tamil Nadu at five and Punjab at six. The highest number of confirmed cases is from Maharashtra at 690, followed by Tamil Nadu at 571 and Delhi at 503. The number cases in Telengana has gone up to 321, in Kerala to 314 and in Rajasthan to 253. In March, in a video conference with leaders and representatives from SAARC nations, PM Modi, chalking out a joint strategy to fight the coronavirus outbreak, said prepare, but dont panic has been Indias guiding mantra in dealing with the pandemic. We started screening people entering India from mid-January itself, while gradually increasing restrictions on travel, Modi told the Saarc leader. In India, testing has now become more widespread and aggressive in clusters and containment zones, at least in a few states. And it will become even more widespread (and quicker) when some states start using the antibody test kits they have been allowed to procure. A document put out by the government on Saturday, and the Prime Ministers reference to a phased exit from the lockdown in a meeting with chief ministers last week seem to suggest that restrictions will continue in at least some parts of the country clusters and containment zones, for instance. Thiruvananthapuram, April 6 : There was nothing much to cheer about for the Kerala unit of the BJP on its foundation day on Monday. And it can be best described, if one traces its growth trajectory, as one step forward and two backwards. In figures, if one looks at the vote share of the BJP in the past elections, it shows a sorry state of affairs. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls the BJP had a vote share of 10.33 per cent, which touched 15.10 per cent at the 2016 Assembly polls and in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls it was 15.6 per cent . The only elected people's representative for the BJP in the 140 member Kerala Assembly is 90-year-old O.Rajagopal, who won the 2016 Assembly polls. And it wouldn't be any surprise if people attribute his victory just to his personal image and the good work he did as a Union Minister in the A.B.Vajpayee cabinet. One of the main reasons attributed why the Kerala unit of the BJP continues to languish, is it's been a divided house as time and again the egos of its state leaders surface. The most recent expression of dissent came when the national leadership named its new state president - K.Surendran in February. Another reason is that the national leadership of the party still appears to have a lack of faith in the faction ridden party unit here. Many supporters of the party, besides its own 'top leaders', were taken aback when they saw that posts were given to those who never had any experience either directly or indirectly with the grassroots workers. Though the state BJP leadership was on a high when the BJP-led NDA under Narendra Modi recorded a huge win in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the state leaders were stunned when the first beneficiary was superstar Suresh Gopi when he was nominated to the Upper House . Gopi reportedly had been trying to cosy up to the Congress party for long but failing in that took the first opportunity to get close to Modi and was rewarded. The state leadership got another shock when the national leadership nominated former bureaucrat turned CPI-M legislator K.J. Alphonse first as a Union Minister and then got him into the Upper House from Rajasthan. And it was not until 2018, when a home grown BJP leader became part of the power structure when V.Muraleedharan, a two time State BJP president, was first sent to the Upper House and then made a Union minister in the second NDA government. Soon after Muraleedharan, the national leadership gave a gubernatorial post for the first time to a Kerala BJP leader, when popular RSS face Kummanam Rajasekheran was asked to step down from the post of the State party president and was packed off to the Raj Bhavan in Mizoram. He quit the post to contest the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls but lost to Congress candidate Shashi Tharoor, who won by a margin very close to a lakh of votes. And after Modi won a stellar victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, sitting state BJP president P.S.Sreedharan Pillai was given the post of Rajasekheran. Another reason is that unlike in many other states, where the BJP attracted top politicians from many national parties, mostly from the Congress, in Kerala all it could manage were a few local Congress leaders with practically no following. Likewise if one looks at the allies of the NDA in Kerala, the list is unimpressive and the only party worth a mention is the Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) led by Thushar Vellapally, the son of the 'powerful' Vellapally Natesan, general secretary of the SNDP Yogam, a social organisation in Kerala. But here too, relations between the BJP and the BDJS blow hot and cold and today the situation is such that for all practical purpose, the BDJS has split leaving the BJP with nothing to cheer about. The party continues to be divided between Muraleedharan, former State president P.K.Krishnadas and leaders like Rajagopal, Rajasekheran and Pillai who have their own clique. For new state party president Surendran, the challenge is to get the BJP into the fast track of growth and he has a chance to do it, as the civic polls are scheduled to be held in October. Coronavirus relief Q&A: Answering your questions about the federal relief plan Live now: Were answering your questions about the coronavirus relief package with Lynn Mucenski-Keck, a partner at The Bonadio Group. Ask your questions in the comments! Posted by syracuse.com on Monday, April 6, 2020 You have lots of questions about the federal governments $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief package, and how you get your piece of it. Join us at 10 a.m. Monday, April 6, 2020, for a Facebook Live chat with an expert who will try to answer the most common ones. Lynn Mucenski-Keck is a partner at The Bonadio Group, a Top 50 CPA firm with offices across Upstate New York, including Syracuse. Mucenski-Keck, based in the Rochester area, is the firms tax innovation director. Congress passed, and President Donald Trump signed, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (or CARES Act) at the end of March. The act provides direct payments to individuals, unemployment benefits to people who have lost their jobs, loans for small businesses and aid to larger businesses. Many details of exactly who will get benefits and how they will be delivered are still being ironed out. We have lots of questions from Social Security recipients, parents of college students, people who get disability benefits and small business owners. Whats your question? Email questions to mmorelli@syracuse.com or ask a question in the comments during the Facebook Live event on our Facebook page. Well see you at 10 a.m. If you miss the live stream, come back to Syracuse.com for a replay. Check out our previous Facebook Live Q&A sessions with experts. Dr. Stephen Thomas, director of the Infectious Disease Division at SUNY Upstate, answered your medical questions about coronavirus. Gregory Germain, a business and corporate law professor at Syracuse Universitys School of Law, discussed essential and non-essential businesses. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus stimulus checks for Social Security: How do I get mine? IRS changes rule Coronavirus advice: How the $2.2 trillion stimulus package can help retirees and savers What should I do if I cant pay my mortgage or rent because of coronavirus? Coronavirus aid: How does it work if you skip mortgage payments? Mainland China equity market closed on Monday, 06 April 2020, for a holiday. Stocks in Asia Pacific rose on Monday, 06 April 2020, as investors were encouraged by a slowdown in coronavirus-related deaths and new cases. Investor sentiment received a boost amid optimism that the number of coronavirus cases in New York, a U. S. hotspot for the pandemic, may be peaking, after U. S. President Donald Trump expressed hope the country was seeing a "levelling off" of the coronavirus crisis. New York State reported its first decline in the number of daily coronavirus-related deaths as well as hospitalizations on Sunday. Major European nations reported lower coronavirus-related fatality toll in France and Italy, with Italy seeing the number of patients in intensive care falling for the second consecutive day. However, a rise in cases and deaths in Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines kept gains under check. Developments on the global coronavirus virus pandemic continue to be watched, as concerns over the virus' economic impact have sent markets into a whirlwind in recent weeks. Globally, more than 1.2 million have been infected while at least 65,711 lives have been taken by the virus, according to data compiled by John Hopkins University. Investors also remained focused on oil prices. Oil prices skid on Monday after meeting between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, initially set to take place Monday, was delayed. Brent crude fell as much as $3 in early Asian trading after Saudi Arabia and Russia postponed a meeting over a potential pact to cut production to Thursday. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A nurse has been struck down with coronavirus and forced into self-isolation one week after returning to the NHS frontline from the private sector to fight the deadly pandemic. Victoria Hume, 42, was diagnosed with Covid-19 on Saturday morning after having a swab test the day before. She had only returned to the A&E department of Maidstone Hospital, Kent, the previous Saturday and had been assessing potential in-patients at the door. The mother-of-two left the health service 18 months ago to focus on her private clinic Maidstone Aesthetics which she set up more than 10 years ago. But as the coronavirus pandemic spread across the UK, Victoria answered the call to arms and couldn't wait to get started, believing it was something she was 'born to do'. The mother-of-two left the health service 18 months ago to focus on her private clinic Maidstone Aesthetics which she set up more than 10 years ago (pictured) Unfortunately she will now need to self-isolate for 14 days but is already eager to return to helping her frontline colleagues. Mrs Hume said: 'I'm feeling okay. I've got very mild symptoms. The test came out positive and I was like 'oh, fine, there it is' but I'm actually quite well. I've just had a bit of a headache and a slight cough. 'The only reason I got tested is because I felt like I was starting to come down with something in the week and I knew I had been in contact with positive patients and a few of the staff members so thought it was a responsible thing to do. 'Me and my family are now locked down now and I should be able to get back to work after Bank Holiday Monday. I physically can't go out for this 14 day period and nor can my family but we will survive. Victoria Hume assessing patients at Maidstone Hospital in Kent last week 'It's a little bit frustrating because ultimately all I wanted to do was go back and help and the irony is that I can't now. I am really desperate to get back and help again. 'There is a bit of anxiety when you go into a situation when you're dealing with Covid-19 patients but now I'll be able to go in there reassured about my own health and knowing that I've built up the antibodies. I'll be more comfortable when I'm drafted into ICU now.' Victoria, whose husband works for Met Police, is classified as a key worker alongside her partner allowing daughters Lottie, seven, and Hattie, four, to stay in school. The A&E and critical care specialist from Aylesford, Kent, has worked as a nurse in London, Kent and Australia since qualifying in 2000 after three years of training. Returning to the hospital she left a little over a year ago, Victoria believes staff are remaining positive despite the number of confirmed coronavirus cases spiralling. As criticism surrounding a lack of protective equipment and testing for NHS staff grows, the 42-year-old actually never ran out of PPE and says there was a box of swabs available for staff showing symptoms which allowed her to be diagnosed within a matter of hours. The mother-of-two added: 'Catching Covid-19 certainly wasn't for the lack of PPE because the second I got into work I was fit tested appropriately and had the right equipment every single day at work. 'But it is a very different hospital now. The wards are transforming into ICUs. I found it strange walking round the corridors and there were no visitors. The nurse will now need to self-isolate for 14 days, but is keen to return to the frontline and help her colleagues 'There's definitely an increase in the amount of confirmed cases coming through the door who are more significantly poorly. 'Everybody is smiling through it but there is a sort of tension that's palpable in the air and you wonder when the tsunami of patients, as the government put it, is going to come. 'The staff are in quite good spirits and the morale is very good. Everyone's doing overtime and extra shifts because they want to help. When faced with adversity, people just get stuck in. 'But I think but there is this a sense of 'when is this going to happen'. There are fears and I think people are quite scared. 'Some parents are worried because they're staying in hotels and not seeing their children to protect them which provokes a lot of emotions.' Despite coming into contact with confirmed cases, Victoria believes she was potentially just as exposed when going shopping at a supermarket or through her key worker husband getting daily trains and tubes to London. She is fastidious about washing and disinfecting and constantly telling her daughters to follow suit but there is no way of knowing how she caught the virus. Doing all she could with protective equipment and good hygiene yet still testing positive makes the 42-year-old fear for those flaunting the stringent lockdown rules. Victoria warned: 'People need to be aware that it's so easily transmissible and has to be taken seriously. 'Ultimately people are dying and it's not necessarily just the elderly compromised. I think the scary thing now it's becoming younger and healthier people that are becoming affected by this. 'There's still this assumption that it's the frail and elderly who are dying but it's not. Every single person on this planet is at risk of catching and spreading it so everyone has the responsibility to do their bit. 'If people think they're not then they just have to take it seriously because it can affect their husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, children and parents. 'Nobody wants to not be able to be with someone if they're poorly in hospital if they're unwell or dying. Why run the risk of spreading it unnecessarily? 'It's so easily transferable that people just need to stay at home and wash their hands. Even though the sun is shining, don't go out because you don't need to.' Victoria is one of thousands of nurses and medical staff the Government asking to come back to the NHS to bolster numbers in the crisis. Edo State Government says it has recorded two new cases of coronavirus making a total of 11 confirmed cases in the state. The state Commissioner for Health, Patrick Okundia, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Benin City on Monday. The fight against coronavirus disease has been on in the state. Our people have been told, but the message we are getting is that our people are not taking these messages seriously. This is a serious business. We are receiving new cases every day. The state has been prepared in fighting this disease by providing different isolation centres across the state. We have four isolation centres in the state. One is at the Central Hospital Auchi, another one is at Irrua Specialist Hospital, we have one at University of Benin Teaching Hospital and one at Stella Obasanjo Hospital. The state has also provided a holding centre at the Stella Obasanjo Hospital where suspected cases of coronavirus who are awaiting results are going to be kept. Anybody with symptoms should go straight to Stella Obasanjo Hospital, doctors and nurses have been trained to attend to such people, he said. The commissioner further urged the residents to work together with the state government in fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Also speaking, the state representatives of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Faith Ireye, urged residents to maintain the social distance order of the government. Mrs Ireye stressed that social distancing was very key in the fight against Covid-19. (NAN) John Gotti Jr is reportedly under the FBI's spotlight after forging close ties with the Latin Kings. John Gotti Jr is reportedly under the FBI's spotlight after forging close ties with the Latin Kings. The mobster allegedly met with bigwigs Michael 'King Merlin' Cecchetelli and the latter man's uncle David 'Fat Chicky' Cecchetelli' at a social club long used by the Genovese crime family. He is also reportedly pictured in various Instagram shots with the pair, as well former MMA fighter named Damien 'The Omen' Trites. Gotti Jr, who was acting boss of the Gambino crime family in the 1990s, is said to have met with the Cecchetelli pair at the Mount Carmel Social Club, in Springfield, Massachusetts, according to the New York Daily News. It has long been used as a social club by members of the Genovese crime family. It is best known as the location for the gangland murder of Adolfo 'Big Al' Bruno, who was shot dead in the parking lot while leaving a card game in 2003. David Cecchetelli is reportedly an associate of of the Genovese crime family. King Merlin was one of more than 60 members of the Latin Kings who were arrested on federal racketeering, drug and firearms charges last December. 'We believe, under Cecchetelli's leadership, the eastern region of the Latin Kings is currently structured, organized and run like La Cosa Nostra,' FBI Special Agent Joseph Bonavolonta said at the time of the arrest. He and other leaders ran the Kings with a Mafia-style hierarchy, including a council of leaders and as many as 11 chapters across Massachusetts alone, authorities said. The Latin Kings have also grown to become the largest gang in Massachusetts prisons, with an estimated 400 members, including leaders who face charges for continuing to coordinate criminal activity outside the prison, authorities said. The mobster allegedly met with bigwigs Michael 'King Merlin' Cecchetelli and the latter man's uncle David 'Fat Chicky' Cecchetelli at a social club long used by the Genovese crime family Asked to confirm that Gotti was on the FBI's radar, an FBI spokeswoman told the New York Daily News that investigators would not comment 'because of the ongoing investigation and prosecution of the case.' Gotti Jr became acting head of the Gambino crime family in 1992 until 1999 after his father John Gotti was sent to prison. Gotti Jr himself was then sent to prison for racketeering in 1999. In a recording played at the third of four racketeering prosecutions he faced between 2004 and 2009, Gotti Jr, claimed he had been 'pushed' into a life of crime against his better judgement. He said: 'I'd rather be a Latin King than what I am. I mean it on my father's grave. I'm so ashamed. I'm so ashamed.' All four trials in the 2000s ended in mistrials. The Mount Carmel Social Club is best known as the location for the gangland murder of Adolfo 'Big Al' Bruno, who was shot dead in the parking lot while leaving a card game in 2003 Last year, Gotti Jr demanded an apology from police after mobster Francesco 'Frankie Boy' Cali's suspected killer was finally arrested and contrary to rumors, his mobster uncle Gene Gotti was not behind the murder. US Marshals apprehended Anthony Comello, 24, and he continues to face murder charges for killing Cali. Cali, the 53-year-old reputed boss of the notorious Gambino crime family, was murdered outside of his Staten Island home last March when he was hit by a hail of six bullets. Police were thought to be considering heroin dealer Gene Gotti, 72, as the man behind the murder, suspecting he committed the crime in a power move to take over the mob as he was released from prison six months ago after 29 long years. 'Today, an arrest was made. A 24-year-old individual who did it for personal reasons, not street reasons. Is somebody going to apologize to Gene and his family?' 55-year-old Gotti Jr said to the New York Post. 'I wonder if these tremendously insightful law enforcement individuals are going to issue an apology to Gene Gotti,' he added. Night Curfew in Maharashtra: Check guidelines, rules; what is allowed, what is not allowed Wockhardt hospital declared containment zone after 26 nurses, 3 doctors test COVID-19 positive India oi-Deepika S Mumbai, Apr 06: The Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai has been declared a containment zone after some staff at the hospital tested positive for Coronavirus. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) administration has barred the entry to and exit from the hospital. As many as 26 nurses and three doctors tested positive for COVID-19 in a span of one week. Reacting to the development, Additional municipal commissioner Suresh Kakani said a team has been set up under the executive health officer to probe how the infection spread among so many in a hospital setting. A 70-year-old heart attack patient, who was tested positive on March 27, is said to be the source of the infection. Soon after, a number of nurses developed symptoms and were tested positive. Two of the affected doctors of Wockhardt Hospital are admitted to SevenHills and one in SL Raheja Hospital, Mahim. Reportedly, the hospital did not quarantine the colleagues and roommates of the infected nurses, which could be a major reason behind the spread of the infection. Maharashtra's total number of confirmed cases has rised to 748. Of the 113 new cases, 81 are from Mumbai, 18 from Pune, 4 from Aurangabad, 3 from Ahmednagar, two from Kalyan- Dombivli and Thane, one each from Osmanabad and Vasai. A weather system moving in from Montana is expected to make roads treacherous across a wide stretch of Saskatchewan on Monday. In the south, a freezing rain warning was issued for the Swift Current area. Environment Canada said roads would remain an icy hazard until the ice starts melting later today. Further north, central and north-east Saskatchewan was expected to receive anywhere from 10 to 15 centimetres of snow today. Affected areas include Saskatoon, Rosthern, Prince Albert, La Ronge, Melfort, Cumberland House and Hudson Bay. Environment Canada The national weather service said the snow would start Monday morning and intensify by noon. The snow is expected to ease off as the low-pressure system moves into northern Manitoba. Drivers are asked to be extra cautious, especially during rush hour. Bengaluru, April 6 : The wife and brother of Karnataka's fourth Covid victim from Bagalkot have tested positive, along with 10 more, raising the total number of coronavirus cases to 163, an official said on Monday. "Till date, 163 covid positive cases have been confirmed. This includes four deaths and 18 discharges," said a health official. The fourth victim's wife, a 54-year-old woman and his brother, a 58-year-old man have turned Covid positive and designated as cases 161 and 162 respectively. As many as 12 cases have surfaced between Sunday 5 p.m. and Monday noon. The other cases include a 32-year-old man from Bengaluru, primary contact of cases 43 and 44. He is Karnataka's 152nd covid positive case. A 62-year-old woman from Kerala with travel history to Germany and a contact of cases 106 and 133 has emerged as the 153rd case. Next, a 20-year-old man from Mysuru, brother of 104th case, is the 154th case. A 37-year-old man from the same place with travel history to Delhi is the 155th case. Similarly, a 57-year-old man with the same background is the 156th case. A 22-year-old man from the same place with similar travel history is the 157th case. Likewise, a 26-year-old man from Mysuru is the 158th case. A 32-year-old woman from the Mysuru pharmaceutical company is the 159th case, another new case originating from the same point. The state's 160th case is a 35-year-old man from the same place with Dubai travel history. On Monday alone, seven new cases emerged from Mysuru. Cases 161 and 162 are connected to the state's fourth covid death in Bagalkot. The last case for Monday morning and the 163rd case is a 43-year-old man from Bengaluru rural. All cases have been admitted in designated hospitals across the state. In Karnataka, 10 new dedicated Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-supported laboratories have been notified for testing for coronavirus. Expressing concern over the growing number of doctors and nurses contracting coronavirus while treating patients, the Congress on Monday sought the Centre's urgent intervention to ensure sufficient availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) kits for healthcare workers. In a letter to Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal said clusters of transmission have been reported in hospitals in Mumbai and Delhi and underscored the need to ensure healthcare workers are provided protective gears like masks and hazmat suits. "In many instances, the healthcare workers got infected while attending to patients without securing themselves with personal protective equipment," he said. "It is deeply regrettable that they have been exposed to greater danger during this time of crisis, even as they were dedicating their life for saving ordinary Indians. "While the collective expression of gratitude to the health workers is the need of the hour, the utmost obligation to guarantee personal protective equipment to the health workers should not be neglected by the government," he added. The senior Congress leader urged the Centre to take immediate steps to ensure government and private hospitals have sufficient PPE kits. "Urgent measures need to be taken to implement protective protocol to avoid such cluster transmission among the health workers. Any failure in this direction would have a catastrophic impact on our collective fight against the COVID-19 transmission and treatment," he said. Reportedly, hospitals across the country are facing shortages of PPE kits, forcing doctors to use raincoats and helmets for protection while treating COVID-19 patients. India plans to import medical gears from China to tide over the shortage, according to reports. Venugopal also sought urgent measures to deal with the increasing number of coronavirus infections and casualties among Non-Resident Indians (NRI) living abroad. The absence of rapid testing and immediate access to the health facilities has put their lives in imminent danger, he claimed. He asked the health minister to coordinate with the Indian Embassies abroad to trace the affected NRIs and facilitate access to health facilities. Venugopal said proper control rooms should be set up and emergency medical teams constituted in the embassies to coordinate with the respective governments to provide urgent medical care to the people in need. The number of coronavirus cases in India climbed to 4,281 on Monday and the death toll rose to 111, according to the Union Health Ministry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fifty years ago, much of old Helena south of Sixth Avenue was leveled in an effort to reinvigorate the downtown. People who remember urban renewal often start by talking of the Marlow, the old movie theater that was demolished so Broadway could connect to Park. Tony Henfrey starts instead with a $99 Greyhound Bus ticket. Henfrey pitched up in Helena late July 1966. He was a 22-year-old Brit, just out of Oxford University, traveling the U.S. by bus on an unlimited travel pass and $5 a day. Someone in Great Falls had suggested he visit Helena because Its a very pretty place. His exotic foreign background or a slow news day got him an interview in the Independent Record (Britisher Likes Antique Helena Buildings). After commenting on his wide-brimmed cowboy hat, the reporter spent a couple of paragraphs on Henfreys views on urban renewal. In the U.S., a federal program funded locally designed urban renewal projects to save old cities by demolishing dilapidated neighborhoods or as opponents had it to remove poor urban communities by demolishing historic buildings. Either way, tearing down old buildings was common and increasingly controversial, in Helena and in the outside world. Henfrey arrived in Helena familiar with this sort of controversy. He had been a student while the fight to save St. Pancras Station in London was on. Helena didnt have anything like that ornate mid-century Victorian pile, but the buildings south of Sixth werent much younger. When Henfrey visited, most of those old buildings were still standing, though some more convincingly so than others. The city had only just begun to deal with the problem, starting with demolition of the Reinig Building two years previously. The city had inherited that derelict building when the owners failed to pay taxes. This early grocery and at one time nationally known coffee roaster stood at the corner of State and Joliet, about where the ME Anderson Apartments parking lot is now. This sort of one-off demolition was hardly urban renewal. Still, the Reinig was one of the buildings the city commission had in mind in 1963 when it proposed an urban renewal project using federal funds. At the time, the public had to approve starting such a project. The proposal was defeated by almost a 3 to 1 vote. So, technically, Henfrey was four years too early to see an urban renewal project underway. It wasnt till 1970, after the Legislature changed the law requiring a vote, that the city started knocking down buildings. But the possibility of such a project was in the air when Henfrey visited Helena. His first stop after climbing off the bus was the YMCA, at Fuller and Lawrence, to get a room. When we talked 53 years later, he remembered being absolutely struck that everything was in a time warp. Nothing very much had been done to the historic buildings. (And the further south you went on Last Chance Gulch, the truer that statement became.) His second stop was the visitors center at the Helena Chamber of Commerce. There he ran into Dean Keith, county sanitarian. Keith might have known as much about the condition of buildings in Helena as anybody. A few months earlier, he had chaired a windshield survey of housing conditions, driving around town assessing buildings using a methodology approved by the U.S. Public Health Service. From Keith and others he met, Henfrey sensed there were quite a lot of people who thought, well, Helena has only been there 80 or 90 years so theres no history. I was very conscious that everybody in America assumed that because the history of western settlements was relatively brief there was nothing to save. Keith offered to show Henfrey around the area. They spent part of one day up on the Rocky Mountain Front and the rest of it at the veterinarian, pulling porcupine quills out of the mouth of Keiths German shepherd. The next day Henfrey saw the Charlie Russell exhibit at the Historical Society and then took a wander around downtown Helena. He finished with an interview at the IR. Henfrey thought Helena was the only American city Ive seen so far that has any real character. Sensing his interest in old buildings, the reporter told Henfrey the city had slated several for condemnation, with more to be added to the list shortly. Henfrey replied, Future generations will damn you if you destroy them. That pretty much ended their discussion of demolishing old buildings. But to hear some people talk about urban renewal now, including folks who werent even here when the Marlow was open, Henfrey might have had a point. He left Helena the next day and still recalls it fondly. Meanwhile, Helena went on to have the largest urban renewal project in Montana, then or since. Paul Cartwright is a former Helena city commissioner and is currently working on a book about Helenas urban renewal project. Love 7 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 6 Angry 5 Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday that he would nominate a longtime aide to Sen. Elizabeth Warren to serve as his representative on the five-member board overseeing a $500 billion bailout fund intended to help businesses hammered by the coronavirus pandemic. The fund is part of the $2 trillion relief bill President Donald Trump signed late last month. Bharat Ramamurti, the Warren aide, will be accompanied by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, although the other leaders are expected to choose proxies, as well. McConnell and Pelosi will pick the committee's chair, in consultation with McCarthy and Schumer. The committee is one of three oversight prongs established to monitor government spending on coronavirus relief. The $500 billion fund will also be overseen by an inspector general who will be selected by Trump and approved by the Republican-led Senate. A board of inspectors general, meantime, will oversee the entirety of the more than $2 trillion deployed. That board will be led by the Defense Department's Glenn Fine. Ramamurti served as senior counsel to Warren from 2013 through 2019 and was her deputy policy director for economic policy during her presidential run. Warren has a reputation for being tough on big business and pushed for any federal relief to come with significant strings attached. She was a key figure in the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act that tightened bank oversight in the wake of the financial crisis. Ramamurti's work with Warren includes helping the senator with her staunch criticism of Wells Fargo in the wake of its sales practices scandal and her push for a criminal investigation into the company. He has a "great nose for figuring out wrongdoing," said Schumer on a press call Monday. Schumer also said on the call that he believes the country needs a "big and bold" fourth stimulus package, which he spoke to Pelosi about Sunday evening. He also spoke Sunday night to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, to whom he offered up three recommendations to fill the a prospective czar role to implement the Defense Production Act: Former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Paul Selva, retired Navy Adm. Sandy Winnefeld and Vice Admiral Mark Harnitchek. The Defense Production Act gives the government the authority to coordinate the national production of essential gear, such as ventilators and masks. Governors and hospitals have urged Trump to use the act to mitigate the shortages throughout the country. But Trump, who has said he already invoked it, has only used the power on a selective basis on companies like General Motors and General Electric, many of whom were already ramping up production. Schumer on Monday called on Trump to enact the act through a full, nationally coordinated response, rather than the ad hoc means he said Trump had been employing. A spokesperson for the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. When the crisis is over, there will be tough questions to be answered and explanations to be sought over how so many leading countries found themselves short of masks and other life-saving protective equipment. For now, the Western world must contend with the consequences of their lack of foresight: including the unsightly "mask wars" that have pitted neighbouring countries, even U.S. states and levels of government, against each other in the rush to acquire them prompting accusations of modern piracy. The country most often accused of undercutting the efforts of its allies in the so-called mask wars is the U.S., which not only attempted to halt exports of U.S.-made N95 masks to Canada and Latin America last week, but also stands accused of scuttling European deals to purchase them in China and elsewhere. But it isn't the only country out for itself. With the outbreak of the mask wars across shuttered Western borders, and alongside outright bans of exports of medical equipment, any hint of a unified global effort to fight the coronavirus is absent, beyond the work of scientists cooperating on a possible vaccine. The selfishness isn't a surprise under the circumstances, but the apparent desperation of some of the wealthiest countries on Earth is. It's a revelation that has justifiably raised eyebrows in less fortunate parts of the world, where some are now bracing for a similar spike in cases but with a fraction of the resources. Selfishness striking, says professor The cutthroat tactics of the mask wars risks making this crisis worse for everyone. Rich countries on the front lines of the melee have learned early lessons about the vulnerability of their supply chains and about their neighbours and allies. What the competition looks like when the number of infected and dead rises further in the weeks to come is unsettling to contemplate. Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP "It's normal for countries to take care of their own citizens first," says Roland Paris, professor of international affairs at the University of Ottawa and former foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Story continues But the selfishness and lack of coordination among leading countries, he says, "is striking." Instead of an international response "we're unfortunately seeing a mad scramble to grab whatever's available, to hell with the other guy." WATCH | Trudeau slams Trump's order to halt N95 masks to Canada: Closest to home, "to hell with the other guy" translated into Trump ordering Minnesota-based company 3M to halt exports of its masks to Canada and Latin America, using his authority under the Defence Production Act. The move caught Canada off guard, while the company pushed back against the order. European countries have shuttered their borders, with some like Italy and Germany among others cancelling deals to sell equipment to neighbours or blocking shipments at the last minute. Even more stark, the mask wars have seen American and other buyers scuttling European and Brazilian deals, some even snatching shipments already promised to other jurisdictions by outbidding themeven "on the tarmac" as planes prepared to take off. Some shipments reportedly just disappear. Lasting damage Among a number of examples, officials alleged that 200,000 masks en route to Germany were intercepted in Bangkok to redirect them to the U.S., prompting Andreas Geisel, Germany's Secretary of Interior to call it an "act of modern piracy." The details of the disputed case are still murky and the company, 3M, has said it had no indication of any wrongdoing. Trump insisted there had been "no act of piracy." WATCH | Can cloth masks protect you from COVID-19? Two doctors weigh in: Berlin Mayor Michael Muller tweeted, accusing Trump of failing to show solidarity, and that such actions are "inhuman and unacceptable." The Brazilian health minister described it all as "a problem of hyper demand." Translation of Muller's tweet: The behaviour of the U.S. president is anything but solidarity [promoting] and responsible. It's inhumane and unacceptable. Even in the time of the corona epidemic, the German government must insist that the U.S. comply with international rules. European Union officials wouldn't comment on the specific allegations but called for better international co-operation. "Now is the time for international solidarity and leadership, not isolation," said Brice de Schietere, charge d'affaires of the EU delegation to Canada. The everyone-out-for-themselves behaviour prompts yet more questions: if this cutthroat competition is happening over protective equipment and tests, what happens when there's a vaccine? Reports in the German press that the U.S. was seeking exclusive access to a possible vaccine in development by a German company was an early ominous sign. Tom Brenner/Reuters But even before we get there, the selfish approach now could lead to setbacks in the fight to flatten the curve and minimize the virus's spread, says Sarah Cliffe, director of the Center on International Cooperation at New York University. Understandable, says Cliffe, that each country wants to protect its own citizens. But that could backfire when countries right on the front line "don't get the medical equipment they need," because "it's more likely the virus will spread in the future." WATCH | Dr. Samir Gupta explains what you should consider before putting on a mask against COVID-19: Worse, says Cliffe, the cutthroat competition seems to be echoing the experience of the 2007-2008 global food price crisis when the price of food, initially pushed up by droughts and higher oil prices, only truly skyrocketed globally when countries began to compete to stockpile. "When everyone is doing that at the same time, the unintended consequence could be to make the overall situation worse," she says. Naturally, the countries that suffered most and waited the longest were the poorest. Plenty of lessons It's proving the same in the struggle to find and buy masks. Now, the price of masks and other protective equipment has skyrocketed too, with buyers in some cases offering several times the high prices on offer. Michael Wilson/CBC A French official likened the search to procure equipment abroad as a "treasure hunt." The Spanish health minister described the market as "crazy." All of it calls for a more co-ordinated international approach, said Cliffe. One possibility is the rotation of priority for global equipment to countries and regions that are at the height of their battle, "because if we help them to stop the spread, it helps countries that are next in the firing line," says Cliffe. There is little indication that will happen during this crisis. There is little evidence to indicate much cooperation among western countries at all. But there have been plenty of lessons. The Associated Press reported that Spain, which has suffered more than 130,000 infected and more than 12,000 dead, has started three weekly flights to China, the world's largest manufacturer of masks. The same report says Italy is using military planes to secure its shipments from China and other countries. WATCH | Ontario Premier Doug Ford reacts to U.S. clampdown on mask exports: The mask hysteria will lead to further more permanent changes in how countries source their medical supplies, says Cliffe. Many countries and regions will realize "they made a mistake in being so reliant on one unique global supply and that they want to, at the very least, diversify their sources of supply to avoid that problem in the future." The European Commission is centralising the stockpiling of ventilators, masks and other equipment to help member states, said de Schietere, and is, for the first time creating a European reserve of emergency medical equipment. It's also looking at other measures that could increase the EU's self-reliance, including the repurposing of existing factories For Canada, the "sad lesson," says Roland Paris, " is that we can't rely even on our closest partner. "For better or worse, that lesson that will guide Canada's future decisions about supply chains and stocks of vital medical supplies." Airbus is temporarily pausing its production of airplanes in Mobile due to the coronavirus pandemic. According to a company news release, all of the companys manufacturing of the A220/A320-series of planes at its Mobile manufacturing plant will be temporary halted until not earlier than April 29. The stoppage is effective this week. The reason for the stoppage, according to the company, is due to high inventory levels and various government recommendations and requirements which impact different stages of the overall industrial production flow." The company says that certain activities will continue at the Mobile site including building and facilities maintenance, aircraft maintenance, some critical product-safety and customer-drive operations, receipt and control of materials and components, critical administrative support and activities needed in preparation of restarting the operations. Those who remain at the Mobile plant will continue to adhere to social distancing measures. According to Kristi Tucker, spokeswoman at Airbus, there will be no layoffs during this time period. The company had announced, in January, that it was adding 275 new jobs this year to its Mobile plant as it continued to ramp up production of its popular single-aisle A320-family of planes with the hopes of reaching a production rate of seven per month. Airbus employs around 1,000 workers in Mobile. It opened the manufacturing plant in Mobile in 2015. There are no plans for staff reductions or layoffs at the Mobile (final assembly plant) at this time, she said. Those employees who can work remotely will continue to do so. Those who cannot work remotely will continue to be paid during the three-week pause. Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson praised the way Airbus was handling its employees during the temporary stoppage. It doesnt make sense to continue to pump out airplanes when its probably more prudent at this time to take a pause, Stimpson said during an afternoon news conference. I think the way they are handling it is very commendable in that they are continuing to pay their employees. Not every company can do that. Airbus doesnt anticipate the pause negatively affecting the companys ability to meet aircraft demands to U.S. customers. The company announced on Monday it was also temporarily halting production at two German manufacturing sites from April 6-27 in Bremen and April 5-11 in Stade. Within the past two weeks, Airbus -- the worlds No. 1 airplane manufacturing -- paused production and assembly work in France and Spain for four days to implement stringent health and safety measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Production and assembly in France has resumed gradually since March 23. Also halted are commercial aircraft wing production operations in the United Kingdom and commercial aircraft production in Spain and Canada. This story was updated at 4:37 p.m. on Monday, April 6, 2020, to include comments from Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson. Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussexs exit from the royal family has faced a fair amount of criticism, with a number of critics claiming that the timing could have been better. One royal expert notes that their departure was made at an unfortunate time, given the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan quit the royal family After taking an extended break from their royal duties in November, Prince Harry and Meghan returned with a huge announcement a plan to step back from their roles as senior royals and pursue a more normal life out of the spotlight. Queen Elizabeth signed off on their plan and made arrangements to finalize everything, issuing a statement at the time in support of their decision. Prince Harry and Meghan moved to Canada before making another move to Los Angeles but their final move happened to coincide with the coronavirus pandemic, something that one expert believes was a highly unfortunate time to break away from the family. The timing was unfortunate Of course, the official last day of their royal lives was decided long before the coronavirus pandemic emerged in Europe. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams shared that, had the Sussexes remained in the UK, they would have been available to help during this difficult time. If Prince Harry had been here during the pandemic he would have been as active and as busy as possible in helping those causes, Fitzwilliams told Express. It was his energy and initiative that launched the Invictus Games. Additionally, Fitzwilliams had high praise for how Meghan could have assisted with the crisis. Meghan is an activist with a deeply caring side, if she had been here she would undoubtedly have been involved with organizations helping those most affected, he noted. Obviously they would handle matters in ways commensurate with Government advice during the COVID-19 pandemic, he added. However their move to Hollywood has happened at a highly unfortunate time. They shared their final message with fans Before making their final exit, Prince Harry and Meghan shared a message of thanks with their Instagram followers. Whats most important right now is the health and wellbeing of everyone across the globe and finding solutions for the many issues that have presented themselves as a result of this pandemic, the Sussexes shared. They continued, As we all find the part we are to play in this global shift and changing of habits, we are focusing this new chapter to understand how we can best contribute. While you may not see us here, the work continues. Other royals have stepped up Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge have shown their support of hospital staff during the pandemic, as an April 1 Instagram post of the couple explained. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge this afternoon talked to staff at Queens Hospital Burton, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, via telephone. Their Royal Highnesses afterwards talked to staff at University Hospital Monklands, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, via telephone, the caption noted. Prince Charles recently recovered after testing positive for coronavirus, sharing in a video address, that it was an often distressing experience. Having recently gone through the process of contracting this coronavirus, luckily with relatively mild symptoms, I now find myself on the other side of the illness but still in no less a state of social distance and general isolation, he shared in the video. He continued, As we are all learning, this is a strange, frustrating and often distressing experience, when the presence of family and friends is no longer possible and the normal structures of life are suddenly removed. Queen Elizabeth addressed the nation with a statement that said, in part, I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge. And those who come after us will say that the Britons of this generation were as strong as any. That the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good-humored resolve and of fellow-feeling still characterize this country, she continued. Nigerias former president, Goodluck Jonathan, has attacked a former American ambassador, John Campbell over an article. In a statement by his spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, Mr Jonathan said he was replying to a recent article by Mr Campbell wherein he stated that the 2011 presidential election won by Mr Jonathan was rigged. The 2011 Nigerian Presidential elections were adjudged by both local and international observers including the Commonwealth Election Monitoring Group and even the US contingent of both the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute, as the most credible and transparent elections in Nigeria, since our great nation returned to civil rule in 1999, Mr Eze wrote. Mr Jonathan won the 2011 election but lost his reelection in 2015 to Muhammadu Buhari. Read the full statement by Mr Eze below. 2011 Elections and John Campbells distorted postulations Our attention has been drawn to regurgitated discredited comments by John Campbell, a former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, who in a recent article on political developments Nigeria, repeated his disproven assertions that the 2011 Presidential elections won by former President Goodluck Jonathan, was rigged. Mr. Campbell styles himself as a Nigeria expert at the Council for Foreign Relations, but in truth, he is regarded as a figure of ridicule in Nigeria for his postulations, which have repeatedly and consistently proven to be way off the mark. How he can continue to make pretensions to be an expert on Nigeria, beats our imagination. Besides serving as a diplomat in his countrys embassy in our dear country, what other competences does Campbell possesss to qualify as a Nigeria expert? Sadly, he has continued to deploy his half-baked knowledge of the nations political environment and his closeness to the United States power brokers not only to canvass his ill-conceived political agenda, but to also exploit some Nigerian politicians. For instance, because he is not well schooled in the tone and nuances of Nigerian politics, he had no way of knowing that the riots he cited in some cities in the north following the 2011 presidential election had nothing to do with his claims on rigging. Otherwise, why would Bauchi and Kano States, where former President Jonathan had only 16% and 15% of votes, witness the worst riots? However, for the benefit of his audience, we will like to further state the following facts: The 2011 Nigerian Presidential elections were adjudged by both local and international observers including the Commonwealth Election Monitoring Group and even the US contingent of both the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute, as the most credible and transparent elections in Nigeria, since our great nation returned to civil rule in 1999. Speaking on 18 April 2011, the chair of the Commonwealth Election Observer Group, former Botswana President Festus Mogae, said the 2011 Nigerian elections discarded the notion that the country can only hold flawed elections. He further said: Previously held notions that Nigeria can only hold flawed elections are now being discarded and this country can now shake off that stigma and redeem its image. Secondly, the 2011 elections saw a 75% reduction in election petition cases in Nigeria and the United States Institute for Peace described the elections as the best run election in Nigerias history, saying, inter alia, that Nigerias 2011 general electionsin particular the presidential electionwere seen widely as being well-run. This was especially important, given the universally decried elections of 2007. Thirdly, on December 29, 2011, the Nigerian Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, declared that then President Jonathan was validly elected. It is important to note that this was a seven man panel, and there was no dissenting judgment. The verdict had no such precedent in Nigerias political history. Former President Jonathan is known for his one man, one vote, one woman, one vote, one youth one vote policy. Before the 2011 elections, he said my ambition is not worth the blood of any citizen and was indeed guided by that creed throughout the process. He is also on record to have publicly called on members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to even attempt to rig for him, stating that he was a pencil in Gods hands. There is no doubt that Nigerians above 45 years witnessed the past six presidential elections in the country- 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019 and are in a better position than Campbell to objectively appraise the processes. Today, our compatriots are focusing on such issues as electronic voting and complete independence of the electoral body INEC, as a way of strengthening our democracy, ahead of the next general elections. Anyone who means well for the countrys democracy should rather focus his attention on perspectives that could illuminate this path, not offer jaundiced and self-serving opinions on a settled past. Perhaps this is the time to remind Campbell and other wheeling and dealing consultants like him that Nigerians have placed the 2011 elections behind them and are no longer in a position to welcome those who have nothing but sophistry to offer our citizens! As our own inimitable Fela would say, Mr. Teacher dont teach us nonsense! In the light of these overwhelming evidence to the contrary, the public, especially the esteemed audience of the Council on Foreign Relations, should ask themselves what Mr. Campbells motives are, especially as he has been known to act as a consultant to certain political interests in Nigeria. Ikechukwu Eze Spokesman to former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan New Delhi: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday (April 6) urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to further extend the lockdown beyond April 14 to contain the outbreak coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Chandrasekhar Rao, who is the first Chief Minister to make this appeal to the PM, stated, "due to congregation of Tablighi Jamaat members in Nizamuddin Markaz, several cases of COVID-19 are emerging and Telangana too is witnessing many new cases because of Jammat. In such a situation, there is no way but to extend the lockdown." Telangana CM further said, " I'm requesting the PM to talk to all CMs and take a call to extend the nationwide lockdown up to the first week of June, otherwise we cannot control coronavirus pandemic. Even a small country like Singapore is extending lockdown for one more month. Ours is a huge country." "We can recover the economy, but not lives. Our only weapon is a lockdown, we are not above the UK," said Chandrashekhar Rao. Notably, the nation-wide COVID-19 death toll has so far reached 111 with 4,281 confirmed cases. Of these, at least 1,445 have been found to be linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi, the Union health ministry said. The ministry's update today said that 76 per cent cases have been reported in males and 24 per cent in females, adding that the number of people who came in contact with Tablighi Jamaat members is with about 25,500. Out of total 2083 identified foreigners, 1750 have been blacklisted, said Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry. Notably, Maharashtra leads with the maximum number of coronavirus cases, followed by Tamil Nadu and Delhi. The total number of COVID-19 infections in India has crossed 4,000 mark with 693 new cases and 32 deaths being reported in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, first coronavirus case was reported in Hyderabad police of Telangana. A Head Constable, working with the Saifabad Police Station became COVID-19 positive in test. The police department also sent 12 other members to quarantine. The police department is also checking if any senior officers have also come in contact with the infected cop. CHICAGO, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dealroom has been selected for the 2020 Best of Chicago Award in the Investment Bank category by the Chicago Award Program. Each year, the Chicago Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Chicago area a great place to live, work and play. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2020 Chicago Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Chicago Award Program and data provided by third parties. About Chicago Award Program The Chicago Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Chicago area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value. The Chicago Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy. CONTACT: Chicago Award Program Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.2020-bizrecognition.org Media contact: Madeleine Martin (224) 436 5267 SOURCE Dealroom Every day, no matter what the subject is, almost all supposed journalists are on a relentless campaign to take out President Trump. The bias is not so hard to spot. When the UN or any other supposed experts spews forth with predictions on the climate, almost all media outlets either print or repeat them as if they are accurate with no questions asked. No matter how wrong previous predictions have been, they are never questioned because most journalists have the same extreme leftist agenda as the people making up the predictions. We will never see the so-called fact checker, Glenn Kessler, at the Washington Post, or any other fact checker, question these people pushing an agenda. When President Obama and his minions were continually lying in order to pass Obamacare, Congressional Budget Office (CBO) went along with the obvious made up numbers and most journalists just acted like the obvious lies were true and people who disagreed were called racists. The race card is always played, because facts are so inconvenient to the agenda. When CBO makes predictions of revenue shortfalls because of tax rate cuts, the media will just repeat them as if they are gospel even though previous predictions were massively wrong by amount and direction. When supposed experts predict that over two million Americans will die from the coronavirus, the number was repeated as if it was factual. When a short time later, the same experts lowered their prediction by 96% the media repeated that number as if it was factual. Somehow, being off by almost 100% did not give journalists pause. When California's Governor Gavin Newsom pulled a number out of his tail and said over twenty million Californians would get the virus, that was O.K. to engender panic. When New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo lectures the public, with no evidence, that the rest of the country is going to experience the severe problems of New York, they act like he is a genius and knows what he is talking about. But when Trump repeats numbers that he was given -- that 100,000 to 240,000 might die from the virus -- we get a headline from WP, that is repeated elsewhere, that the estimate is questioned and appeared rushed. I missed the headline that said the 2.2 million death estimate was rushed. Maybe the WP rushed the estimate in 1922 that coastal cities would soon be gone. Maybe the UN rushed its estimate that we only had ten years left to solve the climate problems in 1989. How many lives would be lost if we had implemented Democrat policies to get rid of petroleum products and we no longer had planes, ships, trucks and planes to transport medical supplies, equipment and drugs around the U.S and world quickly? How many potential lives would be lost if we didnt have hospital ships powered by oil? Does anyone believe that politicians and bureaucrats around the world can control temperatures, sea levels and storm activity forever if we just give them trillions of our hard-earned dollars when they see how they handled the virus? Here is a hint: The climate is much bigger and harder to control than the virus. Image credit: Pixabay public domain Italy engaged in a war of words with Russia on Friday over allegations Moscow hid spies among doctors it had sent to the country's coronavirus epicentre near Milan. The team is part of a large-scale Russian operation to assist Italy in its fight against the virus. But EU critics say Moscow has a hidden agenda. Russia strongly denies the charges. Planeloads filled with Russian aid arrived last week in northern Italy - the area that the virus hit hardest in the world - to help fighting the country's Covid-19 crisis. According to the website of the Kremlin, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conti requested Russia's help during a telephone conversation on March 21st with Russian president Vladimir Putin. According to the Russian embassy in London, the Russian defence ministry delivered 15 planeloads to Italy with 60 tons of cargo each, 122 experts, including 66 servicemen "of the radiological, chemical and biological defence troops," eight teams of doctors, and one full laboratory. But some observers in Italy are skeptical. Probably the assistance is useful to some extent, says Sergio Germani, director of the Gino Germani Institute for Social Sciences and Strategic Studies (GGISS), a Rome-based think tank. Intelligence activities But there are (a lot) of Russian military officers. The concern is that they would include Russian military intelligence representatives that could take advantage of this opportunity to undertake intelligence activities. It's also a propaganda operation that is aimed at Italian public opinion and reinforces the idea that Italy did not get any help from the EU or from Nato allies and that only countries like China and Russia are really helping, he says. After the arrival of the Russian military in Italy, Italy's La Stampa newspaper on April 2 quoted former Nato chemical weapons expert Hamish De Bretton-Gordon, saying that "without a doubt, there are GRU officers among them". The objective of Moscow, and possibly of the Chinese is the weakening, and possibly the collapse, of the European Union, says Germani, whose institute, the GGISS, studies the influence of Russian propaganda and pro-Moscow media on the internet. 'Kill elderly Italians' The Russian aid operation, he says, went accompanied by a surge of pro-Russian articles, videos and tweets. According to EU vs Disinfo, a European Commission watchdog against fake news, pro-Kremlin media outlets like Sputnik news agency and internet troll-factories are responsible for spreading unsubstantiated rumors. In an article dated March 31st, the Latvian version of Sputnik published a story suggesting that the coronavirus was created in EU-member state Latvia designed to kill elderly Italians. These are the messages they are pushing, says Germani - that the EU is incapable, that it is crumbling and that the EU does not exist anymore, They are messages that discredit liberal democracy as a form of government that is incapable of dealing with this kind of crisis, he says. Russia was quick to hit back at the criticism. Attacking the British press, that also reported on the article in La Stampa, the Russian embassy in London deplored that journalists are seeking to find discrepancies and a hidden agenda in Russian humanitarian assistance rendered to ... Italy in order to help them combat the coronavirus pandemic, stressing that this help is free of charge and humanitarian by nature. It is a sign of our solidarity with the Italian people, not linked to any political agenda. Europe steps up coordination On March 31st, EU leaders announced a concerted Roadmap" and an "Action Plan" to deal with the crisis. "The only way forward is a common strategy in a spirit of solidarity," said EU Council President Charles Michel. The EU is beginning to respond positively to this major challenge," says Germani. "They are moving in the right direction, because they are now aware of the fact that the Kremlin is trying to exploit the emergency," he says. Alcoholic beverages maker Pernod Ricard India on Monday pledged Rs 15 crore support to boost healthcare facilities in the country to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The company said Pernod Ricard India Foundation is extending support to state healthcare departments and public service and delivery professionals at forefront of the fight against Covid-19 spread in India. "The company is working across states to strengthen state government hospital ICUs to ensure preparedness of healthcare infrastructure. To empower those fighting to protect the affected, and protect the affected, we pledge Rs 15 crore towards healthcare, both towards critical healthcare and protection, and prevention," Pernod Ricard India said in a statement. As part of the initiative, Pernod Ricard India Foundation is providing vital resource support to State Public Health Departments across the country with over 45 ventilators, 100 ICU beds in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bengal, Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Jharkhand, the statement said. These new generation advanced ICU ventilators are approved by the state governments' respective medical sciences units, and costs between Rs 10-20 lakh. These imported ventilators are made by reputed brands like DRAEGER and BELLAVISTA (IMT Medical, Switzerland) and others with integrated diagnostic capabilities which can be very helpful to reduce number of intervention required to operate, it said. In the coming days, more ventilators and ICU beds will be set up in the ICUs in other states, it added. The company said it will also provide hand sanitizers, masks and personal protective equipment for medical personnel involved in providing essential services. Commenting on the initiative, Pernod Ricard India Managing Director Thibault Cuny said, "...we believe that urgent emergency resources need to be deployed to fight the COVID -19 crisis. We are committed to fill the demand-supply gap for critical care equipment like respiratory systems, ventilators, increase quantity of ICU beds, at the state government ICUs, and be prepared to serve and save critical cases. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-06 17:42:28 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 430 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / April 6, 2020 / Despite the downturn, some investment sectors are bucking the trend. The demand for psychedelic medicine investments has prompted D.A. Wallace, the Founder of Cannabis Investor Magazine and HempCBD Investor Magazine ( www.cannainvestormag.com and www.cannainvestorcanada.com) to launch a new title - Psychedelic Investor Magazine by Microdose, to cater to this growing market.As Mr. Wallace commented, "this sector has everything investors could ask for in terms of sophisticated approaches, strong teams, clear business models, and first mover advantages. It has been the preserve of some very early adopters so far, and my intention is to open this sector up to a wider investor base. With 110,000 subscribers for our current magazines, the new Psychedelic Investor Magazine by Microdose will build on our existing audience reach." Investing in psychedelic medicine is a relatively new niche, but with new ventures scheduled to go public this year and a new generation of seed investments continuing to rise, investor interest is at an all-time high. The new Psychedelic Investor Magazine by Microdose will feature industry companies, insights, and interviews with key players to help investors uncover the hidden gems in this fast-moving sector.As The Conscious Fund's co-founding partner Henri Sant-Cassia explained, "psychedelic medicine has a lot of attractions, but it's important to do your due diligence and stay informed before making investment decisions. It's also hard to find new companies without being an insider. The Psychedelic Investor Magazine by Microdose is a way to educate investors and give them early access to great investment deals." The new Psychedelic Investor Magazine by Microdose will be launched in time for the online Virtual Psychedelic Conference on the 14th - 15th of April, 2020. Given the mental health and well-being challenges facing the world, the conference is a timely look at the new treatments and therapies which have astonished researchers.As co-founding fund partner and venture capitalist Richard Skaife commented, "this sector is going to be one of the drivers of our collective recovery and we wanted to bring people together while they're currently practicing social distancing in their homes." The online virtual conference dates are 14th - 15th of April, 2020 at 17:00 PM (GMT) / 12:00 PM (EST) / 9:00 AM (PST) each day.To register for the online Virtual Psychedelic Conference please click on the link below. The code MAGAZINE will give readers a 20% discount on tickets.Contact:Cannabis Investor MagazineHempCBD Investor MagazineDerwin Wallaceteam@ cannainvestormag.com 1 (888) 575-1254, Ext.1SOURCE: Cannabis Investor Magazine [Warning: The video may contain graphic images. Viewer discretion is advised.] Residents of Ecuador published gruesome videos on social media showing dead corpses abandoned in the streets of one of Latin America's worst coronavirus-stricken countries. The COVID-19 pandemic's rapid spread overloaded Ecuador's public services. The country's health care system is at the point of collapse, with many facilities out of empty beds to serve the continuous wave of coronavirus victims. Morgues and cemeteries are also straining to create places to bury the dead. With no place left for the corpses, residents decide to leave the deceased in the streets. It remains unclear how many residents are dying because of the global pandemic coronavirus. Many say their loved ones suffered from symptoms but were unable to get medical attention due to overwhelmed medical facilities. 'We've been waiting for five days' In an interview, some families complained about the authorities' slow response in picking up their deceased family members. Fernando Espana, a relative of a COVID-19 victim, said they had been calling 911 for five days to no avail. Local hospitals are operating beyond capacity, forcing many patients to wait for health care officials---some die without receiving proper medical attention. A woman reportedly died in a wheelchair while waiting to be seen by doctors. According to the hospital staff, her body was left out for four hours before it was collected. Ecuadorian health officials reported 3,368 cases and 145 deaths nationwide. 102 fatalities were registered in the Guayas province. Health experts predict the Guayas province will see between 2,500 and 3,500 deaths in the coming months. Citizens believe there are more COVID-19 cases than what is being reported by the Ecuadorian government. They urge the government to address the outbreak and the lack of testing. Ecuador's vice president, Otto Sonnenholzner, apologized after videos showing dead bodies made rounds in social media. He said the situation should never have happened. Authorities began distributing thousands of temporary cardboard coffins in the country's biggest city. They also created a helpline where families can get the services they need to collect their deceased loved ones from their homes. 'Keeping secrets' The Guayas province is considered a coronavirus hotspot. Doctors describe the hospital scene as something resembling a war zone hospital. A medical worker at the Teodor Maldonado Carbo hospital likened their situation to "something straight from a horror film." A regional politician said they were asked not to divulge statistics about the province's death toll. He did, however, say that authorities issued 480 death certificates on April 4, 2020. It was also reported that officials collect more than 150 bodies each day. The Ecuadorian government has come under fire after failing to impose proper preventive measures and lockdown procedures to curb the spread of the virus. "When the virus appeared in China, we thought it would never reach us here," Lenin Moreno, Ecuador's president, said. "Now it's in all of us. We are breathing it." Twelve new positive cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Karnataka, taking the total number of affected in the state to 163, the Health department said on Monday. The active cases stood at 139 and of them three -- two on ventilator support and one on oxygen -- were in intensive care units (ICUs) while the others, including a pregnant woman, stable in isolation wards of designated hospitals, it said. "As of 5:00 PM of 6th April 2020, cumulatively 163 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, it includes 4 deaths and 20 discharges," a bulletin said. Out of total 163 cases detected and confirmed in the state so far, nine were transit passengers of Kerala who landed in airports in Karnataka. Among the 12 new cases, one from Bengaluru rural had attended Tablighi-Jamaat congregation at Delhi from March 13- 18, seven are from Mysuru, and two from Bagalkote -- wife and brother of a 75-year old man who died on April 3. Others include a woman, a resident of Kerala, with a history of travel to Germany and contact of patients already tested positive; and a man from Bengaluru, who is son of two patients already tested positive. Contact tracing has been initiated for all the cases, the department said. Among the 163 positive cases, 59 were reported from Bengaluru, 35 from Mysuru, 12 from Dakshina Kannada, ten from Bidar, eight from Uttara Kannada, seven from Chikkaballapur and Belagavi, five from Kalaburgai, six from Ballari, three each from Davangere, Bagalkote and Udupi, two from Bengaluru Rural and one each from Kodagu, Tumakuru and Dharwad. Those discharged included 15 patients from Bengaluru and two each from Kalaburagi and Davangere while and Kalaburgari, Bengaluru, Bagalkote and Tumakuru accounted for one death each. Meanwhile, the Department of Health Research has notified 10 dedicated laboratories supported by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) for COVID-19 in Karnataka. They areHassan Institute of Medical Sciences, Mysore Medical College & Research Institute, Shivamogga Institute of Medical Sciences, Command Hospital (Airforce), Bengaluru, Bengaluru Medical College & Research Institute, National Institute of Virology, Bengaluru Field Unit. Also, Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences, Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Sciences, Ballari, National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, and Wenlock Hospital, Mangaluru. The Karnataka State Board for Auqaf on Monday issued orders suspending congregational prayers and visit to the Qabrasthans (Muslim graveyards), Dargahs on the occasion of Shab-e-Barat on April 9 in view of the coronavirus pandemic. It said, no public shall be allowed to perform religious rituals in the Qabrasthans/Dargahs and all their gates shall be kept closed. Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Siddaramaiah on Monday urged Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa to announce a special package to help farmers, agriculture labourers and also the working class in various sectors who are affected by the lockdown. Siddaramaiah put forth his demands during a telephonic conversation and the Chief Minister positively responded to it, informing that he will formulate a programme keeping in mind the suggestions made by the opposition, a statement from the LoP's office said. Amid complaints of the entire Muslim community being targeted on the social media over the coronavirus spread in the backdrop of the Tablighi event, police in communally sensitive Dakshina Kannada district warned of strict action, including seizure of mobile phones, of those indulging in such acts. During this difficult period of COVID-19 crisis, some people are known to have been posting provocative and derogatory messages against a particular religious community, District superintendent of Police B M Laxmi Prasad said in a release in Mangaluru. Four cases have already been registered in connection with such incidents reported to the police, he said. Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda also flagged concerns over the trend and sought action against those trying to project the entire minority community in bad light on social media for the spread of the pandemic. Appreciating efforts of Karnatka government in identifying and testing Tablighi event returnees for COVID-19, in a letter to Yediyurappa, he also condemned incidents of attacks on doctors and health department workers and sought protection for them. Officials said the Home Quarantine Enforcement squad have shifted 15 home quarantined people to institutions on Sunday based on complaints from public about their movement. So far, 386 have been shifted from home quarantine to institutional quarantine in the state. The state government on Monday exemptedbakery and biscuit, condiments, confectionery and sweet units from lockdown and permitted them to operate with minimum staff. The units shall notpermit serving or dinning in the premises and only takeaways would be allowed, state Nodal Officer for Essential Commodities and Supply Chain Management Rajender Kumar Kataria said in a circular. A report Mangaluru also said four patients who were undergoing treatment at the Wenlock hospital were discharged Monday after revovery. Of this, three patients belong to neighbouring Kasaragod district in Kerala and were admitted here after they showed symptoms of coronavirus infection on their arrival from Dubai at the Mangaluru International Airport on March 24. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seen above is the headquarters of the Bank of Korea in Seoul. Yonhap BOK unveils 22-month pilot test plans By Lee Min-hyung Bank of Korea Governor Lee Ju-yeol By Representative Chris Freeland Apr. 06, 2020 | 03:26 PM | WESTERN KENTUCKY Members of the Kentucky House and Senate met in Frankfort this week to finalize work on several budget bills, including a one-year budget that guides the states spending for the fiscal year beginning on July 1. To conduct legislative business while following recommendations from public health officials to slow the spread of the coronavirus and COVID-19, the House made additional changes to the steps taken in early March. This week, we implemented a new procedure that allows us to vote from anywhere on the Capitol grounds. Doing so limited the number of individuals on the House Floor while still ensuring that we could cast votes on behalf of our constituents. While a legislative first, these actions reflect House Majority Leaderships intent to preserve each districts right to participate in the budget process. In addition to how we voted, this pandemic also affected what we voted on. Under normal circumstances, our state budget is crafted to cover two fiscal years. But with the uncertainties of the state's economy, we opted for a one-year budget that will allow us to take another look next session when we have more information about how COVID-19 impacts both our revenue and our needs. The approved budget plan includes $11.4 billion in funding for state agencies and programs, including public education, Medicaid, and programs aimed at lessening the spread of COVID-19 throughout this commonwealth. Much like our daily lives, the budget we sent to the Governor is a departure from the version approved by the House before the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, we were able to make great strides in funding for education, additional social worker positions, and raises for educators, school and state employees.The version of HB 352 we passed this week is much more austere and based on a pessimistic expectation of our revenue forecast. While always important, it became even more critical that we invest every dollar of our budget in areas that move this state forward. The approved version of HB 352 keeps funding flat for many areas of state government, including the SEEK, or per-pupil,allocation for Kentuckys public schools, which is the states main funding formula for K-12 schools. The version passed by the House had increased that SEEK spending to record levels for the second budget in a row. It also does not include an allocation for any public employee pay raises. It was a fight to be able to accomplish what we did, including funding the first phase of the School Safety Act and fully funding the actuarially required contributions to the Kentucky Retirement System and the Kentucky Teachers Retirement System, as well as fully funding the teachers health insurance commitment. It also continues the freeze on pension contribution rates for quasi-governmental agencies, which include regional universities, local health departments, and domestic violence shelters across the state. In addition to the executive branch budget, legislators also approved an updated version of the judicial branch budget, transportation road plan, and transportation cabinet budget. All bills have been sent to Governor Beshear for his consideration. The Governor has ten days to issue any vetoes he may wish to make, and we are scheduled to return on April 13 to consider overriding vetoes he might issue. Were going to work with what we have and do what needs to be done as we face COVID-19. But make no mistake, while our short term priorities have changed, our long term commitment to Kentucky and its people remains the same. As we finished session for the week, I am reflecting on all the work done by the General Assembly to fulfill our constitutional responsibility and moral obligation to our state. We worked through trying times to negotiate a budget that serves the states needs while being accountable to taxpayers. Now, we begin preparing for next session and how we can help our people and our state recover from COVID-19. The General Assembly will continue working to help move Kentucky forward through this crisis. I can be reached through the toll-free message line if you have any comments or questions, call 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via e-mail at Chris.Freeland@lrc.ky.gov. You can also keep track through the Kentucky Legislature Home Page at legislature.ky.gov. Views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed by the authors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, positions or strategies of West Kentucky Star.com, Bristol Broadcasting or any employee thereof. Bristol Broadcasting makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. Bristol Broadcasting reserves the right to delete, edit, or alter in any manner it sees fit comments that it, in its sole discretion, deems to be obscene, offensive, defamatory, threatening, in violation of trademark, copyright or other laws, or is otherwise unacceptable. [April 06, 2020] Ralph Lauren Corporation Provides Business Update on COVID-19 Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE: RL) today shared details regarding the additional steps the Company is taking to navigate the impacts of COVID-19. From the onset of the global pandemic, our priority has been to ensure the safety and well-being of our employees, consumers and the communities in which we operate globally. We have taken a number of related steps over the last few months, including the decision to temporarily close stores, during which we have been paying employees their normal salaries. On March 31, we provided additional updates on how we are managing our business through the unfolding health crisis, including pausing capital improvement projects and aligning inventory to anticipate future product demands. The Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation also allocated $10 million for emergency relief, with the majority of those funds earmarked to assist Company employees with urgent needs resulting from the global pandemic. The Foundation, in partnership with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), is also allocating a portion of the relief funds to manufacture and donate 250,000 masks and 25,000 isolation gowns to workers on the front lines. Over the past several weeks, as the scope and severity of the COVID-19 crisis has grown, the vast majority of our employees and consumers in North America, Europe and select other parts of the world have been under "stay at home" orders except for essential needs. During this time, we have evaluated the necessary steps for adapting to evolving circumstances. Throughout this process, we are focused on the need to support our employees and safeguard our business so that we are positioned to emerge quickly from this crisis in a place of strength. "The impact of COVID-19 on the world, on our industry and on our business is profound and wide-reaching," said Ralph Lauren, Executive Chairman & Chief Creative Officer. "For more than 50 years, we have embraced the idea of timelessness - focusing on what lasts. It has defined not only our products but our business and our culture. It has helped guide our actions in both the best and the most challenging times. And as we face the implications of this global pandemic, it will remain our guiding principle - so that we will not only endure this crisis but thrive again for years to come." "We have a great responsibility to all of our stakeholders - our teams, our consumers, our investors, our partners and the communities who count on us - to ensure that every decision we make in this unprecedented global health crisis considers our ability to serve them over the long-term," said Patrice Louvet, President & Chief Executive Officer. "We have overcome many challenges over the last 53 years because the Purpose and values of our Company have guided us and enabled us to come out stronger on the other side. They are our compass in this moment too, as we make tough decisions in the short-term to position us for continued long-term strength - as a company, a leader in our industry and an employer to thousands of people around the world." Below, the Company provides details on additional measures it is taking in response to the global pandemic. Executive Compensation Across the Company, business leaders will reduce their salaries and compensation as follows: Our Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, Ralph Lauren, will forego his entire salary for Fiscal Year 2021 in addition to his full Fiscal Year 2020 bonus. Our President & Chief Executive Officer, Patrice Louvet, will reduce his salary by 50% during the crisis. Every other member of the Executive and Global Leadership Team, a group of 140 business leaders across the Company, will reduce their salaries by 20% for the first quarter of Fiscal 2021. Lastly, our Board of Directors will forego their quarterly cash compensation for the first quarter of Fiscal 2021. A part of these compensation reductions will be contributed to the Company's Employee Relief Fund, administered by the Emergency Assistance Foundation, to provide grants to employees facing special circumstances and financial hardships during this time. This will build on the initial funding provided through the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation. Employee Compensation Our store employees in North America have been compensated since store closures went into effect in mid-March and will continue to be paid in full through April 11, 2020. International store employees in regions where retail operations are required to remain closed have received similar compensation to-date, as guided by local government regulations and authorities. Following this period, all of our store employees where retail operations are suspended, as well as employees whose jobs are not conducive to continued remote working, will be placed on unpaid temporary furlough. This includes the majority of our store employees and a portion of our corporate employees in North America, Europe and select other parts of the world. These employees will continue to receive regular employee benefits, including health benefits and any government assistance for those eligible. International store employees in regions where retail operations remain closed will receive compensation as guided by local governments and authorities. Our hope is to bring our employees back to work as soon as it is safe and practical. We are also working to leverage the talent and experience of our employees by actively reassigning them across other areas of our business, placing them in high-need functions directly involved in managing urgent business needs and continuity as well as our ongoing efforts to manufacture medical supplies, including masks and gowns, for donation. We will also continue to offer all employees, including those placed on furlough, access to our Employee Relief Fund, which provides aid to Ralph Lauren employees facing special circumstances and financial hardships duringthis time, including medical, eldercare or childcare needs. As stated above, the majority of the previously announced $10 million donation by the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation has been placed into the Company's Employee Relief Fund and a portion of executive compensation reductions will be added to this fund. Store Closures As previously shared, the majority of our retail stores in North America and Europe, as well as select other parts of the world, remain temporarily closed due to the global pandemic. We will continue to assess our operations location by location, taking into account the guidance of local governments and global health organizations to determine when our operations can begin returning to business. We are encouraged by the improving situation in China and South Korea, where most of our retail stores have reopened, and are applying lessons from the outbreaks in the region to effectively manage our operations globally. Online Operations Continue Our digital flagship businesses remain open and our fulfillment operations have also resumed following a brief closure period to enhance health and safety protocols in our distribution centers. These actions include extensive deep cleanings, implementation of social distancing on-site and staggered work shifts and break schedules. Supplier Payments Our suppliers around the world are another critical stakeholder for our Company. In accordance with our responsible purchasing practices, we will settle payment for finished goods and goods already in production. Understanding that the scale of the ongoing slowdown of future orders can have a significant impact on our partners' liquidity, we have a vendor payments program in place which enables suppliers to receive payments on a shortened time frame at favorable market rates. Over the long-term, we are committed to partnering with peers, non-governmental organizations and governments to advocate and generate new sources of support and long-term job security for factory workers, while strengthening the resilience of business in the countries in which we manufacture our products. -- The Company believes the additional measures announced today are necessary as we navigate an unprecedented and dynamic situation. We remain focused on the need to support our employees and safeguard our business in order to emerge from this crisis in a position of strength. ABOUT RALPH LAUREN Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, footwear & accessories, home, fragrances and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps and Club Monaco, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands. For more information, go to https://corporate.ralphlauren.com. SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release, and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company, may contain certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding, among other things, our current expectations about the Company's future results and financial condition, revenues, store openings and closings, employee reductions, margins, expenses, earnings, and citizenship and sustainability goals and are indicated by words or phrases such as "anticipate," "outlook," "estimate," "expect," "project," "we believe," "can," "will," and similar words or phrases. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the future results, performance or achievements expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based largely on the Company's expectations and judgments and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are unforeseeable and beyond our control. The factors that could cause actual results to materially differ include, among others: disease pandemics, epidemics and health related concerns, such as the current outbreak of COVID-19, which could result in and, in the case of the COVID-19 outbreak, has resulted in some of the following, supply chain disruptions due to closed factories, reduced workforces, scarcity of raw materials and scrutiny or embargoing of goods produced in affected areas, closed stores, reduced consumer traffic and purchasing as consumers become ill or limit or cease shopping in order to avoid exposure, or governments impose mandatory business closures, travel restrictions or the like to prevent the spread of disease, and market or other changes that could result in impairments to the Company's assets; disruption to capital markets; the loss of key personnel, including Mr. Ralph Lauren, or other changes in our executive and senior management team or to our operating structure, and our ability to effectively transfer knowledge during periods of transition; our ability to successfully implement our long-term growth strategy; our ability to continue to expand and grow our business internationally and the impact of related changes in our customer, channel, and geographic sales mix as a result, as well as our ability to accelerate growth in certain product categories; our ability to open new retail stores and concession shops, as well as enhance and expand our digital footprint and capabilities, all in an effort to expand our direct-to-consumer presence; our ability to respond to constantly changing fashion and retail trends and consumer demands in a timely manner, develop products that resonate with our existing customers and attract new customers, and execute marketing and advertising programs that appeal to consumers; our ability to effectively manage inventory levels and the increasing pressure on our margins in a highly promotional retail environment; our ability to continue to maintain our brand image and reputation and protect our trademarks; our ability to competitively price our products and create an acceptable value proposition for consumers; the impact to our business resulting from changes in consumers' ability, willingness, or preferences to purchase discretionary items and luxury retail products, which tends to decline during recessionary periods, and our ability to accurately forecast consumer demand, the failure of which could result in either a build-up or shortage of inventory; our ability to achieve anticipated operating enhancements and cost reductions from our restructuring plans, as well as the impact to our business resulting from restructuring-related charges, which may be dilutive to our earnings in the short term; the impact to our business resulting from potential costs and obligations related to the early closure of our stores or termination of our long-term, non-cancellable leases; a variety of legal, regulatory, tax, political, and economic risks, including risks related to the importation and exportation of products which our operations are currently subject to, or may become subject to as a result of potential changes in legislation, and other risks associated with our international operations, such as compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or violations of other anti-bribery and corruption laws prohibiting improper payments, and the burdens of complying with a variety of foreign laws and regulations, including tax laws, trade and labor restrictions, and related laws that may reduce the flexibility of our business; the potential impact to our business resulting from the imposition of additional duties, tariffs, taxes, and other charges or barriers to trade, including those resulting from current trade developments with China and the related impact to global stock markets, as well as our ability to implement mitigating sourcing strategies; the impact to our business resulting from the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union and the uncertainty surrounding its future relationship with the European Union, including trade agreements, as well as the related impact to global stock markets and currency exchange rates; the impact to our business resulting from increases in the costs of raw materials, transportation, and labor, including wages, healthcare, and other benefit-related costs; our ability to secure our facilities and systems and those of our third-party service providers from, among other things, cybersecurity breaches, acts of vandalism, computer viruses, or similar Internet or email events; our efforts to successfully enhance, upgrade, and/or transition our global information technology systems and digital commerce platforms; changes in our tax obligations and effective tax rate due to a variety of other factors, including potential changes in U.S. or foreign tax laws and regulations, accounting rules, or the mix and level of earnings by jurisdiction in future periods that are not currently known or anticipated; our exposure to currency exchange rate fluctuations from both a transactional and translational perspective; the potential impact to our business resulting from the financial difficulties of certain of our large wholesale customers, which may result in consolidations, liquidations, restructurings, and other ownership changes in the retail industry, as well as other changes in the competitive marketplace, including the introduction of new products or pricing changes by our competitors; the impact of economic, political, and other conditions on us, our customers, suppliers, vendors, and lenders, including business disruptions in Hong Kong resulting from ongoing protests and political unrest; the potential impact to our business if any of our distribution centers were to become inoperable or inaccessible; the potential impact on our operations and on our suppliers and customers resulting from man-made or natural disasters, such as severe weather, geological events, and epidemic diseases such as the COVID-19 outbreak, and other catastrophic events; the impact to our business of events of unrest and instability that are currently taking place in certain parts of the world, as well as from any terrorist action, retaliation, and the threat of further action or retaliation; our ability to access sources of liquidity to provide for our cash needs, including our debt obligations, tax obligations, payment of dividends, capital expenditures, and potential repurchases of our Class A common stock, as well as the ability of our customers, suppliers, vendors, and lenders to access sources of liquidity to provide for their own cash needs; the potential impact to the trading prices of our securities if our Class A common stock share repurchase activity and/or cash dividend payments differ from investors' expectations; our ability to maintain our credit profile and ratings within the financial community; our intention to introduce new products or brands, or enter into or renew alliances; changes in the business of, and our relationships with, major department store customers and licensing partners; our ability to achieve our goals regarding environmental, social, and governance practices; our ability to make certain strategic acquisitions and successfully integrate the acquired businesses into our existing operations; and other risk factors identified in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200406005479/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The idea of fighting an enemy infiltration also lends itself to bigotry against minorities and immigrants, as we've already seen during this pandemic. The grim corollary to histories of the plague are the stories of the pogroms and massacres of vulnerable communities scapegoated for spreading the outbreaks. "This is a persistent theme throughout American history. If there is a group that is already looked at askance, the medicalization of prejudice helps to rationalize their stigmatization," said Alan Kraut, a professor of history at American University in an interview with the New Statesman. "You can always argue, 'yeah, we hate these people, but with good reason, because they brought disease to our midst.' " And wars against tangible enemies - be they other national governments or guerrilla groups - are, in a certain sense, cleaner and easier to comprehend than the struggle against a new deadly virus. Twelve doctors at her hospital and the chief executive were sickened with the coronavirus. A colleague had died. Patients as young as 19 were being placed on ventilators. But Michele Acito, director of nursing at Holy Name Medical Center, in the hardest-hit town in New Jerseys hardest-hit county, felt like she was holding up. Then her mother-in-law, sister-in-law and brother-in-law arrived. The disease that has crippled New York City is now enveloping New Jerseys densely packed cities and suburbs. The states governor said on Friday that New Jersey was about a week behind New York, where scenes of panicked doctors have gripped the nation. Hospitals in the state are scrambling to convert cafeterias and pediatric wings into intensive care units. Ventilators are running low. One in three nursing homes has at least one resident with the virus. At Holy Name in Teaneck, just across the Hudson River from Manhattan, two doctors are among the 150 patients being treated for the virus. The ages of the 41 people on ventilators one day last week ranged from 19 to 90. Twenty patients died in 72 hours. One of them was Edna Acito, Michele Acitos mother-in-law. She had turned 89 on Thursday. It was a bittersweet day with a team of medical workers singing Happy Birthday from the hallway, just outside a modified door made from plastic sheathing and a zipper. No visitors were allowed in. But the older womans nine children expressed their love through an iPad as Michele Acito held her hand. She died early Saturday. You compartmentalize, Acito, 57, said. You go home. You shower it off. But when you have a family member here, you cant scrub that off. As of Saturday, at least 846 people in New Jersey had died of the virus, and 34,124 had been infected. New Jersey has the nations second-highest number of cases after New York. Were eyeball deep inside the surge, said Dr. Dan Varga, the chief physician executive at Hackensack Meridian Health, which runs Hackensack University Medical Center and 16 other hospitals in New Jersey. On Friday, Gov. Philip Murphy ordered that all flags be flown at half-staff. Behave as though youve got it, he said, adding, Its going to get worse before it gets better. Two hospitals notified state officials last week that they had run out of ventilators, the lifesaving devices that do the lungs work. One reported that it was nearly out of a medicine used to sedate patients on ventilators. That same day, Murphy and New Jerseys health commissioner explained the states provisional plans to move refrigerated trucks to some hospitals where the morgues were quickly filling with bodies. The fact that were having this conversation, folks this is real, said Murphy, who enacted a statewide stay-at-home order two weeks ago. New Jerseys fatality and infection rates are still dwarfed by New Yorks, where, as of Saturday, more than 113,000 people had been infected and more than 3,500 had died. The virus appeared to be spreading fastest in Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island, where there were more than 24,000 cases, only about 10,000 fewer than in all of New Jersey. The outbreak in New Jersey is most serious in Bergen County, the states most populous county. It has recorded 5,760 confirmed virus cases and at least 179 deaths. Teaneck, one of the countys biggest townships, has reported 421 cases. Acito said she expected her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, who were not on ventilators, to fully recover. She said that she considered it a blessing to be able to visit with her relatives in person. We know how fortunate we, as a family, are to have me on the inside, she said on Thursday. With hospitals closed to most visitors, nurses are the lifelines connecting patients and their families. At Holy Name, iPads wrapped in clear plastic to shield germs offer some patients the ability to communicate face-to-face with loved ones. Our role is not only to provide all this care, under these circumstances, Acito said. Its to be their advocate, their family member, their provider. She added, Theres so much to do, but we dont ever want to lose sight that its a person in that bed and, yes, they happen to be sick. Hackensack University Medical Center, about 6 miles to the west, reported the first virus-related death in the Northeast, on March 10. The man who died, John Brennan, is believed to have passed the virus to a relative of the Fusco family in Freehold, in Monmouth County. The virus soon claimed the lives of four members of the large Italian American family: Grace Fusco, the 73-year-old matriarch, and three of her children. Doctors at Hackensack University Medical Center are bracing for a surge in patients that is expected to last for weeks. The hospitals cafeteria has been outfitted as a makeshift intensive care unit for 74 noncritical virus patients. Murphy, a Democrat who has spoken frequently of his willingness to work with President Donald Trump to get supplies and funding needed to save lives during the outbreak, has stressed the states pressing need for more ventilators and personal protective equipment. About 650 ventilators have been sent to New Jersey from the national stockpile, but many more are needed if hospitalization rates in the state continue to climb. Fourteen of the devices had either missing or nonfunctioning parts, state officials said on Friday. Murphy has authorized the superintendent of the State Police to commandeer all available protective supplies masks, ventilators, gowns and face shields from private companies that may have stockpiles. Hackensack and Holy Name officials said they had enough ventilators for now, but that could change rapidly. Within Hackensacks network of hospitals, anesthesia machines have been retrofitted to operate as ventilators for patients who do not need the highest levels of care, Varga said. Holy Name has hired a Florida man who is believed to be the nations preeminent expert in ventilator operation and repair, said Dr. Adam Jarrett, the hospitals chief medical officer. Still, both Hackensack and Holy Name vitally need medical professionals who are trained in critical care. We have beds, Varga said, but you have to be able to manage critically ill patients in those beds. Jarrett said he had been calling medical personnel he knows around the country to come help at Holy Name. The hospital has begun preparing to treat as many as 100 critically ill patients at once in one of four new intensive-care areas it created in the past few weeks. New Jersey officials have also issued a plea for volunteers with medical training; as of Friday, 7,539 people had offered to help. Whenever you go to a busy hospital, the emergency department can go from busy to OK to frenetic, said Jarrett. Were frenetic all the time now. Before last month, Holy Name had 14 negative-pressure rooms areas designed so that air is not released into common areas, protecting patients and caregivers. It quickly built 136 more with material bought at home-supply stores. Nursing homes throughout New Jersey are under their own particular strain. More than a third of the states long-term health facilities 148 of 375 have had at least one patient infected with the virus, and 83 deaths have been linked to the homes. So many staff members and patients at St. Josephs Senior Home in Woodbridge got sick that the state temporarily closed it and moved nearly 100 patients to another long-term care center about a half-hour away. Judith Persichilli, the states health commissioner, has announced new rules that require nursing home staff members to wear surgical masks at all times. Patients with fevers or coughs must be outfitted with masks during direct care and kept isolated on separate wings or floors. Lisa Crowley, whose mother and stepfather live at the Paramus Veterans Memorial Home, said staff members had previously been told not to wear masks, to minimize fear among patients. Almost all of her parents regular caregivers, she said, were home sick. Everyone we know isnt here, her mother, who is 82 and has Alzheimers, tells her each day, Crowley said. All long-term care facilities in New Jersey have been closed to visitors for more than two weeks. The exception is final farewells to patients as the end of life nears. The lockdown, the lack of information and the fear of the virus have made families feel helpless, said Laurie Facciarossa Brewer, who runs an organization that investigates claims of elder abuse and neglect in long-term care homes. Were getting calls from them saying, I feed my mom every day, and she wont eat unless Im there, Facciarossa Brewer said. There are rays of hope. Varga said the rate of hospitalizations had shown signs of slowing. During the week that began March 22, the number of patients at Hackensack Meridian hospitals went from 550 patients to 1,400. Last week, it climbed by only 400, to 1,800. At Holy Name, Ashley Fitzpatrick, 32, was transferred from her regular nursing assignment, in the cardiac-catheterization unit, to assist with ICU patients. She has two small children, and she is self-distancing when she is not at work. My 2-year-old, he doesnt understand why Mommy cant pick him up, she said. Death surrounds the Holy Name nursing staff as of Saturday morning, 48 patients had died since the hospital had its first confirmed case but the crisis has also deepened the sense of camaraderie. Were leaning on each other hard, Fitzpatrick said. Local restaurants and Girl Scout troops have continued to send meals and snacks. On Friday, three patients had been deemed healthy enough to be removed from ventilators, Jarrett said. When theres a victory, its incredible, he said. But it also means when someone doesnt make it, its just devastating. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Mumbai, April 6 : Actress Bhumi Pednekar is giving social distancing tips to hundreds of children in Madhya Pradesh via video calls. She said: "The terms social distancing and self-isolation needs to be hammered into the minds of every individual of this vast country because such things are a privilege in a densely populated nation like ours. I decided that I will speak to all the children and the faculty and authorities of the institute through video calling facilities to discuss about COVID-19 and the threat it poses to every one of us." Bhumi has been supporting Abhyudaya Ashram, home and school for abandoned, socially backward and underprivileged children, including girls rescued from prostitution for nearly three years now. The Morena-based school was established in 1992 to fight the prostitution of girls in the valley and has expanded into housing boys too. The school looks to open up job opportunities for the children thus empowering them and also providing a better future to them. She added: "I have been speaking to each and every member of the ashram and telling them about the do's and don'ts at this time of crisis." The "Pati Patni Aur Woh" actress says she intends to keep as many of my near and dear ones safe and protected. "I'm hoping they will spread this message within their communities. The risk is high currently and we all have to do our bit to battle coronavirus and stop it from spreading further," she said. On the work front, Bhumi will next be seen in "Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare" directed by Alankrita Shrivastava. The film also stars Konkana Sen Sharma. -- Syndicated from IANS Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-06 15:44:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga on Monday once again proposed to postpone the country's parliamentary elections, citing economic risks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Battulga made the proposal while delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of a regular spring session of the country's parliament. "We need to take several measures to prevent and mitigate the risk of a possible recession due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Particularly, I believe that there is no other way but to postpone this year's parliamentary elections," Battulga told lawmakers. In late March, he made a six-point proposal, including postponing parliamentary elections, to prepare the Mongolian people for a possible recession caused by the pandemic. The legislative elections are scheduled for June 24. Mongolia's parliament, the State Great Khural, is unicameral, consisting of 76 lawmakers with each serving a four-year term. The previous parliamentary elections in Mongolia were held in June 2016. [April 06, 2020] Miaozhen Systems: 31.9% of digital ad traffic was invalid in China 2019, costing the industry 28 bil RMB BEIJING, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A new report by Miaozhen Systems, China's leading omni measurement and business intelligence analytics solutions provider, has found that 31.9% of all online advertising traffic in China was invalid in 2019, costing the China brand marketing industry an estimated 28 billion RMB. The report, "China Digital Advertising Invalid Traffic Report in 2019", is the first of its kind to examine invalid traffic in new advertising formats and media. In addition to PC and mobile ads, this report analyzed the state of invalid data in NEW TV ads, offline and outdoor ads, online consumer leads, social media ads, KOL marketing, and more. With data collected from 65,000 campaigns by 2,000 brands across 1,200 platforms, it is the most accurate and comprehensive report on this subject to date. Key findings for 2019 are summarized below: Invalid traffic (IVT) made up 31.9% of all digital advertising traffic in China , up 1.7pp from 2018; , up 1.7pp from 2018; 39.9% of vertical media traffic was invalid; IT verticals had the highest IVT rate at 49%, up 14pp from 2018; Across industries, internet and communications saw the greatest IVT increase (up 6.3pp from 2018) and suffered the highest IVT rate; 10% of NEW TV ad traffic was invalid; agencies contributed the most invalid exposure; 26% of all online consumer sales leads were invalid, with major implications for auto and other industries that rely on online lead collection; 4.2% of outdoor advertising was invalid or not displayed; 48% of social media advertising traffic was invalid. On average, 57.5% of KOL fans were invalid, with baby & mom KOLs having the highest rate of invalid fans (65.1%). Since 2013, Miaozhen has been dedicated to the healthy development of the China digital marketing ecosystem. Besides contributing to national digital marketing industry standards, Miaozhen offers innovative, cutting-edge IVT filtration and influencer evaluation solutions to help make the industry more transparent and trustworthy. Clients who used Miaozhen's intelligent IVT filtration solution SmartVerify had an average IVT rate of 4.7%, far lower than the 2019 average of 31.9%, and saved an estimated total of 4.5 billion RMB that would have been lost to invalid traffic. To learn more about Miaozhen Systems, please visit www.miaozhen.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/miaozhen-systems-31-9-of-digital-ad-traffic-was-invalid-in-china-2019--costing-the-industry-28-bil-rmb-301034778.html SOURCE Miaozhen Systems [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Oman Global Logistics Group (Asyad Group) has invited bids from top firms for development of a prime land owned by Mwasalat, the sultanate's public transport services company, in Azaiba region of capital Muscat. A key Omani asset, Asyad manages a diverse portfolio that includes port management, transportation, shipping, freight forwarding businesses and public services. One of its key subsidaries is Mwasalat, which is focused in providing public service and investing heavily in strengthening its fleet of buses, taxis and associated infrastructure to modernise public transportation in Oman. Asyad (as project promoter) on behalf of Mwasalat (project employer) seeks proposals to select a developer to invest and develop Mwasalats Project Site A-1 which is 54,104 sq m prime land in Azaiba, stated Asyad in its tender notification. As per the notification, interested parties can submit a proposal to develop a residential, commercial or a mixed-use project on the 54,104-sq-m prime land in Al Athaibah region of capital Muscat. Ther project may include retail shops, offices, mall, hypermarket, apartments, hotel etc. or any other commercial facility, it stated. The contractual agreement with potential investor and developer will include a design, build, finance, operate and transfer development model. As per the tender notification, the developer may also lease-out, sub-let or operate the facilities to recover its cost and earn profit over the period of the agreement. Developer may assign the individual facilities to different operators to operate and/or maintain, it said. According to Asyad, this will also include master planning, operation and maintenance of the facility for a four-year term and transfer all the assets to Mwasalat, at the end of the contract term. The deadine for submitting the bids is August 17, it added.-TradeArabia News Service Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion at 9 AM. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Wuhan, once epicentre of Covid-19, gets ready for life after lockdown China reported 30 new cases of coronavirus disease Covid-19 on Sunday, including five locally transmitted infections, even as nine of the 13 administrative districts of virus-hit Wuhan city were declared low-risk areas signifying a gradual return to normalcy, officials said.Read more. Will districts with no Covid-19 cases be first to be unlocked? Curbs on movement and commercial activity could be relaxed first in districts with no coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases, officials in multiple states have said, offering some pointers about how a staggered return to normal activity could work after April 15, when the nationwide lockdown is scheduled to end. Read more. 2 more soldiers killed, 5 terrorists gunned down in J-Ks Kupwara Two more soldiers of the Indian Army lost their lives as the force foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmirs Kupwara district in an operation in which five terrorists were killed on Sunday. Read more. Covid-19: What you need to know today Lets look at some numbers. The number of Covid-19 cases in the world was 1.25 million on Sunday night, and the number of deaths stood at 68,000. That works out to a fatality rate of around 5%. But, like all aggregates, this number is not representative. Read more. Was it Diwali?: Sonam Kapoor shocked as firecrackers go off during 9pm 9 min call, Taapsee Pannu says they felt its a rave As the entire county lit candles on Sunday to show solidarity with Prime Minister Narendra Modis 9pm 9 minute call amid coronavirus spread, the bursting of firecrackers in some cities was a matter of surprise. Several Bollywood celebrities including Taapsee Pannu, Sonam Kapoor and Richa Chadha registered their objection to the same on Twitter. Read more. Apple donated over 20 million masks, also working on custom face shields: Tim Cook Apple CEO Tim Cook earlier today updated the companys progress on providing medical gear to hospitals. Cook said Apple has so far sourced over 20 million masks globally through its supply chain. Apple is also working on custom face shields for medical works. Read more. Mahavir Jayanti 2020: Significance and history of the day Mahavir Jayanti is one of the most important festivals in Jainism, and it celebrates the birth anniversary of the 24th Tirthankara Mahavir. It was on the 13th day in the month of Chaitra in 599 BCE or 615 BCE that Mahavir was born, according to the Digambar and Swetambara school of Jainism respectively, in Kundagram. Read more. Drew McIntyre conquers the Conquerer Brock Lesnar at WWE WrestleMania 36 WWE Champion Brock Lesnar faced a daunting threat in the form of 65, 265 pounds Drew McIntyre. The Scottish Psychopath is thought to be the next big thing in the WWE and for that to happen, he had to overcome the Beast Incarnate. Read more. Sunday 9pm 9 minutes: When hope had the last laugh I Opinion India showed her support for Prime Minister Narendra Modis 9pm 9 minutes initiative as people across the country switched off lights in their homes and came to their balconies with diyas and candles. Read more.